Mice (singular: "Mouse") are small rodents that have a tendency to be an annoying thief in many peopleís homes. They steal and ruin food, furniture, and clothes, as well as many other objects. The mouse symbolizes both thievery and cunning. They eat grains, vegetables, and even meat, and can live nearly anywhere in Caelereth.
|Image description: A typical field mouse, a cousin of the rat. Picture drawn by Erelen.|
The body of a mouse is, on average, between 6 and 9 nailsbreadth long, not
including the tail, which tends to be the same length as the body if not a
little shorter. The weight tends to be between .03 and .04 muts, making it a
rather light creature indeed. The size, weight, and length of their tails,
however, can differ greatly among different species and even among individuals
of the same species. The fur of the Mouse tends to be very soft, though some
species may have very stiff, wiry hair. The color of the coats can vary between
light brown, dark brown, reddish brown, yellowish white, white, black, etc. The
patterns can vary, too. Some have dark backs and white underbellies, some have
sports, and others are of one solid color. The tails of the Mouse is usually
covered by scaly skin or small, fine hairs.
Mice have relatively small heads with a long snout where the whiskers grow on either side. These whiskers, just like the whiskers of a cat, help the animal to feel its way around in the dark. At the end of the snout, the Mice have a small nose that helps them sniff out food. The animal has rounded ears and eyes like look like large, black beads. Though their eyes are rather big in comparison to their body, Mice actually canít see very well, but have an excellent sense of hearing.
Like most other rodents, the Mice have two, strong front teeth that are sharp enough to tear holes in wood and damage books, clothing, furniture, etc. These teeth grow throughout the animalís life and must be constantly worn down. The front paws act as hands and have the capability to hold small objects such as nuts and seeds so that the animal can chew on it. Their back feet are not able to hold or pick up objects, but, for some Mice, the hind leg help them to jump long distances in order to escape danger.
Mice have a good sense of smell and hearing that helps them sense danger and
escape it as well as find food in even the most obscure places. The eyesight of
the Mouse, however, isnít so good and they depend upon their whiskers to guide
them, especially in the darkness where their eyes are practically useless. Their
sharp teeth also help them to gnaw through wood to tear through fabric or paper
in order to reach food.
Territory. Mice can be found almost everywhere, even in the most extreme climates. They are found on every continent in the whole of Caelereth, and have been tormenting people by eating food and ruining objects for generations. All a Mouse really needs to live in any environment is food, usually grains and seeds. Many also like a place to hide, often in some poor manís house or in his barn, if an army of barn cats does not protect it. They tend to thrive around farms where the earth provides plenty of food for them to eat.
Habitat/Behaviour. Mice live wherever they can find food and shelter. Any dark place that is warm and quiet provides an excellent place for a Mouse, though they arenít very picky about where they stay. A Mouse may build a comfortable nest in a warm corner in a barn or on a beam under the roof. Theyíll even make nests in small boxes in the attic or a closet. A Mouse will build its nest out of anything soft it can find, such as torn fabric, pillow-stuffing, and feathers. Some Mice dig holes in the ground and make a nest with grass which they bring inside.
Mice are not often territorial, though they may fight over food. Sometimes Mice will live in small colonies or groups. This is fairly popular behavior in colder regions where more roommates mean more warmth.
Diet. Mice are not terribly picky about what they eat and will eat just about anything humans or elves may eat. They feast on grains, meat, or vegetables, making barns perfect places for these furry little rodents. Mice will also eat household items like leather, paste, and even soap. They will gobble up insects and the leaves, stems, roots, and seeds of plants. Though Mice donít really eat that much, they are constantly looking for food.
Mating. Mice will mate year-around and, if they arenít regularly harvested by a hungry cat or some other animal, their population can explode and create a lot of problems for farmers especially. The mating process is quick: the male merely boards the female for a couple of moments before the two scurry off. Within 18 or 21 days after impregnation, the young Mice are born. A female Mouse will have four to seven micelings at one time. These Mice are helpless. They have no fur: only pink skin pulled about their little bodies. Their eyes are closed. Soft fur begins to cover their bodies by the time they are 10 days old and four days after this, their eyes will begin to open. Young Mice will hang out around their motherís nest for about three weeks after birth, then leave the nest to build nests and families of their own. Most female Mice can begin mating and having young when they are about 45 days old, and a female Mouse may give birth every 20 or 30 days.
Usages. Mice provide food for all sorts of animals including cats, dogs, foxes, snakes, and coyotes. Owls, hawks, and other predatory birds will swoop down upon these rodents if they see them scurrying about. Brownies will also typically hunt Mice. They will eat the meat of the Mouse and use their fur to make warm coats, pants, boots, and hats. Some Brownies may even raise Mice as a food source.
Information provided by Rayne Avalotus