Larry

Larry is a main character of The Angel in the Forest.

Appearance
Larry is an adult Mouse with light blue fur, and pink inner ears. He has small black pupils, and a black nose.

History
While heading through the forest at night, Larry notices a Bat in the sky. He escapes in Panic, fails, and a Bat lands on top of him. Larry begs for mercy, and the Bat leaves him on the condition he remains where he is. He takes the chance to escape to a tree. He is later found by the same Bat, and taken to a tree on an island. He finds a baby Mouse inside, and is forced to take care of it. Larry continues to raise the baby Mouse for some time more, and wonders why the Bat brought them to the tree home; also bringing food. The baby Mouse wants to interact with the Bat, but Larry keeps her away. Noticing the bat is injured, he helps sling his arm. Larry avoided naming the baby Mouse girl, but agrees on the Bat’s suggestion of “Ronnie”.

As time passes, Larry gets more questions from Ron, and has more interaction with the anchored bat. Larry in turns questions Ron to why she likes the Bat. Ron persuades the Bat to join them sleeping under a blanket, to Larry’s discomfort. When Ron inadvertently poisons the Bat with food, and Larry contemplates strangling him while he is weakened. Larry’s conscience puts him off doing it, which puzzles him given the situation. He reassures the Bat that he will survive. The Bat recovers, and Larry notices Ron bonding with the Bat. After the bat leaves, Larry begins to question the Bat’s intentions. He calls out for the Bat, using Ron’s nickname for him “Angel”. The Bat hears it, and swoops in, startling Larry. The Bat gives Larry some tea, much to his delight. In an awkward encounter, he learns the Bat’s name, “Montimer”.

Larry has a nightmare where Montimer turns on them, killing them. He awakens paranoid and afraid of Montimer. Larry decides to leave on a rope bridge that Montimer sets out for him. With nothing to do, Larry returns to the tree he hid in originally from Montimer. Larry has a breakdown and regrets his reaction to the nightmare. He then sees two Bats enter the Tree. One of the bats, Maurice, pins him against a wall, and explains that Montimer prevented him from catching Larry. Hearing the truth, Larry wants to return, and bites the Bat’s hand. Maurice retaliates, gives him a black eye; but Larry escapes. Larry returns to the island tree, to find the rope bridge gone. He tries to cross the iced over lake between, but ends up falling in. Before he drowns, he is saved by Montimer. Once he awakens, he embraces Montimer and apologizes for his rashness. Montimer is reassured of his own Guilt by Larry, and Larry finds out Montimer refuses to eat meat or harm mice. Larry affirms his decision to stay with the group. On an expedition with Montimer, he watches as Montimer saves a Mouse from another Bat. The Bat, being Montimer’s Father, drags the restrained Montimer away. Larry ponders what to do, and ultimately sets off to rescue Montimer, armed with a sewing needle. Larry finds Montimer in his Father’s tree home and frees him. Larry rides on Montimer’s back, as he flies back to the tree home. Upon arrival, Larry carries the exhausted Bat to a bed. As they sleep, Larry notices a disturbance in the tree. He finds out from Montimer that the intruder is a young orphaned Bat. He attempts to care for the young Bat, who dislikes Mice. After hearing from Montimer about the promise of better survival at a House, Larry sets off with Montimer and the children. Having found refuge on the way, in a tree, Larry remarks that he and Montimer are acting as a couple. Curious to why Montimer appears to be in a down mood, he leans in and kisses Montimer. Montimer breaks away, and the two lie down apart in contemplation of the event.

Approaching the house, Larry questions to himself about his sudden infatuation for Montimer. Larry notices that the population of the house is prey animals, which are shown driving off a predator Bat. As they pass through, a Squirrel bumps into Montimer, redirecting her current outrage onto him. Larry jumps in to vehemently defend the disheartened Montimer. The squirrel apologizes, and offers them shelter. After accepting the offer, and entering the shelter, a deeply moved Montimer embraces Larry. While Larry keeps watch as Montimer rests, he contemplates his past actions along with his current knowledge. He becomes disturbed that he considered killing Montimer.

Awakened by the Squirrel the next morning, he diverts her from discovering Montimer. The squirrel tells Larry that he needs to pay to continue to reside in her living space. Larry decides to search for work, letting Montimer to take care of the children. Larry looks through town for a job, but gets rejected multiple times, returning home. He awakens at night and glaces at Montimer, his teeth, and claws, before falling back asleep. Larry continues to look for jobs without success, returning back to the shelter depressed. Larry awakens one night to find Montimer has left them. When Montimer returns with pelts, Larry becomes concerned Montimer is putting effort in to make up for his failure. Just after Larry checks with Montimer, he hears Montimer cry out, and rushes over to console him. Larry sheds tears in sympathy, and tells Montimer he loves him. The two embrace, with Larry deciding he is emotionally invested in being with Montimer. Larry hears Montimer’s story about his childhood Mouse friend, and suggests that they should give her a proper funeral; whose pelt Montimer inadvertently brought back. They head outdoors, and lay the pelt over a fire.

Later on, Larry resumes his job search. He returns home excited, with news of becoming a Carpenter’s assistant. With the promise of money, Larry is intent to talk to the Squirrel landlord Debora; albeit concerned about the discovery of the Bats. Debora comes out suddenly, causing the Bats to hastily disguise. Larry finds out from Debora that other Bats inhabit the attic above. Larry awakens to find the young Bat has disappeared from their care. He persuades the disillusioned Montimer to retrieve the young Bat. Frustrated, Larry goes to rescue the young Bat himself, but Montimer stops him, and heads out instead.

After retrieving the young Bat, Larry persuades the depressed child to eat, with no success. He heads off to work, leaving care to Montimer. Larry later finds out from Montimer the reason for the young Bat’s depression, and that he is nameless. Larry brings Bird meat for the young Bat, and leaves him with Montimer. Upon returning home from work, Larry is delighted to see Montimer has succeeded with the young Bat. Days later, with the young Bat “Richie” responsive, Larry heads to work. Larry’s boss decides to introduce him to Woodworking, to his surprise. Larry brings home gifts for Montimer and Richie with his earnings, and brings Ron to the market. Weeks later, Larry is doing well with his job. His boss asks him if he is married, and about his family. The boss ends up suggesting that Larry marries his daughter, leaving Larry troubled; already being invested in Montimer. Larry returns home, and finds Montimer is missing. Owing it to habit, he settles, only to see a bloodied Montimer stumble inside. He rushes to Montimer’s aid, lays him down, and goes out for help.

Distressed, Larry calls out to Debora, and brings her over. Debora finds out Montimer is a Bat, and Larry pleads in tears for her to help Montimer. After Debora heads for help, Larry stays by Montimer’s side. A Doctor comes in, and Larry waits outside the room. The doctor informs Larry that Montimer is stable, but needs to consume meat to recover. Larry asks the Doctor to stay silent about the Bats, to which the Doctor agrees. The doctor asks Larry about Ron, as the Doctor then reveals to know about her origin. Later, Larry is resting with the recovering Montimer laying on him. He recounts to Montimer about their early encounters with each other. He tells Montimer about his past anxieties and confusion, and that he began to eventually sympathize with Montimer. Revealing the details of his past nightmare, Larry apologizes to Montimer for his reaction leading to his feeling of rejection. Larry then receives a kiss from Montimer, to his delighted surprise.

As Montimer recovers, Larry asks Debora to keep an eye on Montimer and the children. Thinking Montimer is asleep, Larry asks Debora to put a hold on rent, as he intends to quit his job. Larry explains that he can’t take up his Boss’s offer of marriage. Debora advises Larry that he shouldn’t make assumptions, and reassures him. Larry talks to his boss, and explains his reasoning. Larry is relieved to find out the Boss was understanding. Larry returns home to find Montimer taking care of the kids, despite his need for rest.

Larry finds out that Montimer wants to separate from him, the Bat believing himself as a burden. Larry is shocked. Suddenly screams are heard, and Larry diverts his attention to the town outside, and Montimer grasps Larry’s Arm. Debora climbs inside and directs the group to follow her and hide, as Larry takes the children. Larry follows her with Montimer and the children, to the inside of the home.

Relationships
Montimer - Fearing him as a predator initially, Larry sympathized and has fallen in love with Montimer.

Ron - Larry takes care of Ron as if she was his child. Larry was brought to take care of Ron under duress, but bonded during the time on the tree island.

Richie - Due to being raised with predatory Bats, Richie has not always taken a liking to Larry. Regardless, Larry has always looked out for, and taken care of Richie.