A story inspired by sojushots image 'rats lead by rats' and LoFidelity's animatic version!

Rutger was an aspiring pipe star. Day in and day out he would compose melodies on his beloved pipe, belting out notes until he could belt no more and hoping that his hard work would bring him fame and fortune. But, as of yet, no patron would pay him for his art and no clients vied for his services. His ambitions were nothing but fanciful pipe dreams, until one fateful day…

The piper happened upon a most mystical melody, a tune so hypnotic that the rodents resident in the walls of his hovel emerged, mesmerized.  Our friend the piper was so pleased to have an audience that he left his seat and piped on out into the street, his trail of furry fans following behind.

The locals were astounded by the piper’s power. Excited at the prospect of a pest-free future, they offered Rutger a fine fee to rid the town of rats, and Rutger happily accepted.  That very day he lured the rodents to a far-off hill, piping happily the whole way there. Once the creatures were a fair distance from the town, he packed up his pipe and turned back, his duty done.

Immediately upon his return he was paid handsomely for his feat. The walls of his hovel were stacked high with gleaming gold coins, more than enough for him to live a life of luxury from that day forth.

But, for all his wealth, he found himself unsatisfied. No matter what he bought he couldn’t match the feeling he had felt that day, when a thousand pairs of ears hung on his every note, when with the power of his composition, he had changed the fate of the town.

So, he packed up his pipe and a few essentials and headed for the hill, hoping that the rats would still be nesting somewhere near.

At first it seemed that they had left, died or done a runner to more populated parts, but once the piper played his opening bar, the little critters cropped up from their hiding places, eager as ever to hear their siren song.

Rutger reveled in the rodent’s ardent appreciation of his art. This, after all, was all he had ever really wanted. So, Rutger lived among the rats for the rest of his days, playing his beloved pipe for his devoted fans, utterly content. His pipe dream, though somewhat changed along the way, had finally come true.