A/N: We are now entering some dark territory and I am going to enjoy every moment of it.
The song for this one is by Avatar - Hail the Apocalypse.

Stuart, current head of the Hoops clan, was not someone to be called bloodthirsty. Never during his thirty years as the head did he declare a feud against another clan or settlement. No, he was known as a man of trade through and through, someone responsible for supplying best crops in the Trinity Borough. Yet, here the bunny was, sharpening his curved longsword (for someone his size), getting ready for bloodshed.

- But father, we can easily deal with the worthless Hindspaw clan on our own! We don't need mercenaries. - Judith, his firstborn daughter sat at his side, like she ought to do since after she learned to ask questions. Judith pestered the head buck constantly with countless questions all the time, and he loved her dearly, just like he loved all his 276 children. Creator bless his wife Bonnie, there would be still more to love.

- I agree with you Judith. We can. Losing half of the able bodied population of our clan. Your brothers and sisters. My sons and daughters. - Stuart knew how proud and overconfident his unbeaten in combat daughter was. She was the best spear wielder the bunny clans of the Trinity Borough had in the last three generations. Judith was the undisputed champion of the combat arena and one of the acclaimed masters many younglings sought out to learn from. However, she still was not, as the old buck would say, bloodied. His daughter saw not the real fights Stuart of the Hoops clan partook in his younger days.

- And that is we fight against the bunnies of Hindpaws clan. They have already dispatched their representatives to attract the Ramses's Woolers band. When those join the fight, I can no longer be sure our forces will be enough. Unless we hurry and add to our combat strength, our eradication is but assured, and there is no one to help us. The Boroughs lords only care for the cropps, not who sells them. And no other clan will join the feud, since it would only invite their own doom. Judith, you know as well as I do of the precarious situation our clan finds itself in. Yet you still allow pride to shadow your judgment. Is this how you are going to lead this clan after I pass?

The reprimand of her father caught the young doe off guard. She was the most obvious candidate for the post of the next clan chief and up till this day Stuart only ever praised her of her thoughtfulness and care for the clan's wellbeing. In all Judith ever did, she never once considered her pride to be a liability, since it was a warrior's pride, the firstborn pride, and not the haughty pride when everyone else was considered but dirt. But this time she would not be praised.

- Forgive me father. I was not thinking properly. I shall reflect on this properly, until then I beg your guidance. - Head bowed in submission, Judith tried to reign in her feelings and hurt. She knew her father was an honest and simple man, but he was also someone much more experienced than her in ways of the world and battle. Even if the doe did not agree with his decisions and actions sometimes, she would allow time to help her comprehend the reasoning of the elder buck behind them and correct her if need be.

- Please do, Judith. Do remember, that being straightforward does not mean being naive. There is no place for misguided pride in the matters of one's survival or war. We will not strike our allies in the back, that is honour speaking. We will not ally with anyone, that is misguided pride speaking. Remember the difference. You still have much to learn, my child, and that is why I am taking you with me. - The Hopps patriarch sheathed his sword in the scabbard he then hefted on his shoulder. The longsword would be impossible for the buck to retrieve should the scabbard be located behind his back or at his side, but when it will be needed, then Judith would help him by taking the scabbard off the blade.

- So, shall we go? - Giving her father a tepid smile and a nod, Judith followed the head out of the borough.

Both bunnies were dressed almost identically. Cotton trousers and shirts of grey colour, with sewed in hardened lizardskin plates for protection. Light chaimmails from iron covered their torsos against arrows and knives. Finishing Judith's traveling attire was lizard skin hat, spear two times her size with an iron point and a long battleknife. Her father had his iron helm, gifted to him long ago during his more adventurous times, the longsword and a short knife.

Both bunnies traveled light, since Stuart did not plan to go far, and went out of their borough to be greeted by the Hoops matriarch. Bonnie was aware of the duos early departure that day, so she at least made sure to make them have a healthy and full breakfast, and see them both off. Light peck on her daughter's cheek turned into a full blown lovers kiss with her husband, having Judith turn away with a slight smile and red coloring her ears with embarrassment and happiness of her parents love. Soon though, they were on their way.

The Frosted Forest was where Stuart hoped to find additional hands for the oncoming confrontation with the Hindpaws clan. He did not tell his daughter who those mammals were, amused much by her insatiable curiosity and tries to get him slip and give up the information. Their time to the treeline was spent laughing, sometimes stopping for a minute to chat with clan members or other mammals they knew.

When reaching the forest though, Judith was asked by her father to stay behind him and do not do anything she was not told to do. Slightly confused but obedient, the doe followed behind her father apprehensively. She would not be able to help with removing the scabbard from the longsword quick enough in case they were attacked and her spear was not that efficient with trees around. Did her father really believe those mercenaries to be honorable enough not to attack them during their weakest?

Mercenaries. The word brought with it a foul taste of money chasing and betrayal. Everybody knew that the mercs would turn on their employer the moment someone offered a higher price for their service. No refunds at that. Greedy bastards with no shred of consciousness or loyalty. Most mercenaries were groups of predators, renegades or disappointed warriors, the product of constant wars waged by the savage predator kingdoms to the north. Some mercenaries, of course, belonged to prey species, but those were rare and, due to being considered more civilized, expensive.

Judith was not aware of what kind of mercenaries her father wanted to hire. The doe just hoped they would be able to behave and reliable enough to build their clan's borough defence around. The little ones would have to be put away from them, naturally. And her sisters would have to be constantly on guard and under supervision. So much complications…

- We are close, Judith. Be polite and let me do the talking. - Her father's voice brought the young bunny out of her silent reverie, eliciting a nod out of her. Until that moment she operated on instincts alone, but now Judith consciously evaluated their surrounding. They stood just outside a small clearing, that housed some berry bushes and an old oak tree with a broad trunk. Stuart bent down on one knee and started searching around for something. The doe followed his hands with curious eyes, her ears high in the air listening for any suspicious sound. Finally the buck found what he was looking for - a thin fishing line, barely visible against the wild grass, fallen leaves and soil. He pulled at it three times, waited a while, pulled three times, waited and repeated one more time. At first, nothing seemed to happen. When at least half a minute have passed, Stuart called out.

- I am a messengers of clan Hopps and I am looking for one known as Wilde. - both bunnies looked around, ears on alert, trying to locate any change. Finally, they could see a figure emerging from the side of the oak that was hidden from their line of sight. A figure that made Judy clench her spear tighter and subconsciously lower it into a position from which she could spearhead her quarry.

- A messenger? What is it your clan has to say to me, Hopps? I have no more room for ears, so I will send a corpse this time to them if I don't like it. - The fox's tone was cold, full of malice and undisguised hatred. Not only was he almost twice the size of any of them, he was also dressed differently. His clothes was made from some kind of lizardskin, with plates of an unknown to the bunny metal covering it. In the left hand he held a curved sword, with the blade having some kind of wavy pattern along its sharp edge, and the hilt-guard being a small round piece. A battle axe could be seen hanging on his back, while several throwing knives, in their sheaths, were strapped to his chest. But the most outlandish thing on this figure was its belt. Made out of furs of many mammals sewn together, with many teeth and fangs decorating it, put on a display for all the world to see, while the fox's eyes were covered with a black silk cloth. Which was strange, since he did not show any sign of injury to them, or even being hindered by the cover.

- A business proposition, if you are interested in one, sir Wilde. The Hopps clan head is currently looking for a blade to hire. You are known to be one of the best, so I am to negotiate with you. If this is not to your liking, I would kindly ask you to spare us and allow to leave in one piece. - Stuart, despite the obviously dangerous situation both bunnies found themselves in, was not affected by it in any way. The buck had his fair share of life threatening situations and did not find them as scary or thrilling as he did all those years ago, when he was just an upstart bunny wanting to make a name. He was aware of the carnage the fox could bring to them, thus making sure to alert him in several ways. First, by using the alert system, erected by the fox, and then by calling him out.

- I did not put a notion to any board or tavern. How do you know of me, messenger?

- My name is Stuart of the clan Hopps. The clan has many eyes and ears and your apparel is quite outstanding. Your passage have been monitored since you arrived at Larsten, sir Wilde. You started your climb to fame almost fifteen years ago, and some of my northern howly friends told me about you. - Judith was immensely surprised by her father's words. Did he really have such wide connections? When did he even meet with the mammals that reported him on this fox's movement? And who were those "northern howly friends"? But more important why would the distant figure suddenly look a bit less likely to charge in and try to cut them into pieces (even though she was sure she could take him on any time)?

- Call me Nicholas. Join me by the fire. - Despite not changing in the coldness, the figure's tone now perceptibly lacked the malice and hatred of the moments before. The fox turned and once again vanished behind the oak. Stuart stepped into the clearing and went to the oak, seemingly unconcerned by anything, his longsword resting on his left shoulder. Judith followed, remaining a full three steps back, her spear still clutched in her right hand parallel to the ground, ready for anything.

- Daughter, make sure you do not point the spear at the fox. He is said to have a strong sense of self preservation, and since this is a predominantly prey land, do not make him even more anxious. Wilde won't hurt us if we don't pose any threat to him now that he invited us to the fire.

- As you wish, father. I will stand guard near you. - Stuart's nod was enough for the doe, and when they rounded the oak tree, her posture was still guarded, but no longer on the edge of starting a fight straight away.

There was not much to be seen on the other side. A small pit was made for the fire, that was clearly on the verge of going out just moments ago and only now was fed some more wood. There was a sleeping bag, still unraveled and bearing the signs of recent use. A stick stood in the ground, slightly leaning over the fire pit, holding remnants of what once was some kind of a wild bird. The fox himself was taking something out of what looked like his traveling backpack, the curved sword nowhere to be seen for the moment. Once Nicholas took out what he looked for, several folded woolen blankets, the fox put it in front of the fire on the side opposite to where his sleeping bag was. Upon the inviting gesture from the host, Stuart took the sit on these blankets, while the fox sat at his sleeping bag. He still wore that strange black cover over his eyes, but once more, they did not seem to hinder him in any way. The bunny doe stood to her father's right side, who remained silent, waiting for their host to be the first one to start the conversation. Which he did with a coldness and detachment that sent shivers down Judith's spine.

- Stuart of clan Hopps. What price are you ready to pay for me to slaughter your enemies?

A/N: Had to reload the whole freaking story cause the first time it effing contained code. Through the whole text. WTF. Anyways. Props to AeonFeral for managing to read through that load of code. Not sure how he did that but he did.

Anyways, like I said, I am going to enjoy writing this story. Will you? Don't care, that's your problem, as well as dealing with my sporadic nonexistent updating schedule.

If you see any grammar mistakes or plot holes feel free to point them out. I don't bite. Much.

Oh. Those who are able to savor good metal are always welcome.

That's it for today.