CHAPTER 1

The mountains of northern Mossflower were peaceful and serene. Pools of water gathered at the end of waterfalls that poured down the mountainside. Fruit laden trees grew thick around them, and flowers full of rich colors complimented the ground. The chilly, early spring air floated about, playing with the leaves and arousing the waterfalls into a soft mist. Only a single creature was there, enjoying the tranquility of the scene before her. Pearl Nodray, a young female squirrel, sat high in the branches of an apple tree, munching on its fruit. Her soft, brown fur moved slightly with the breeze and her blue eyes stared idly at the sky. A light green jerkin was wrapped around her slim figure and a sword hung in its sheath from her belt.

As she lay on her perch Pearl pushed way any thoughts that entered her head and simply closed her eyes and dosed in the lazy weather.

"

Pearl!" Suddenly she heard the piercing cry of a young voice calling out to her.

Pearl's eyes shot open and she stood, stunned at what she saw. She was no longer in the cool, peaceful mountains. Instead she was at a place she remembered from years long passed. "Home." She uttered the forbidden word as softly as she dared and felt tears creep into her eyes.

"Pearl! Help me, Pearl!" the desperate cry rang in her ears again. She rushed down the fruit tree she had been standing on and ran towards the voice. Her paws felt like hundred-pound weights as she tried to carry herself faster. She was quickly winded and had to pause to take breaths.

"Pearl! Don't let them take me, Pearl!" The young voice was closer now and more persistent. It seemed to call out with the urgency of one close to death.

Suddenly the young voice was joined by other voices, each calling out to her to help them.

"Oh, yes. Cry out you stupid creatures. Cry out for help. Cry! No help will come to you, not in this life or the next." The new voice was gruff, and evil. It belonged to one whom Pearl hated with everything inside of her.

Finally the squirrel maiden arrived to the scene. In a clearing creatures sat in a circle, surrounded by a score of vermin with armed bows. Pearl recognized the creatures as family and friends.

"Ah, so this is your liberator is it? A scrawny little squirrel babe with a dagger drawn?"

Pearl looked down at her paw. It was a child's paw which held a dagger that looked rather like a small sword compared to her. Pearl then turned to the voice. A fox, dressed in shining, silver armor and a black cape, stood, grinning menacingly at her.

"My thanks to you, little one. See what help you have been to me? You have given me something that I would have never found by myself. And, as a sign of gratitude, I will let you live and go free."

Pearl turned to the terrified creatures. They looked back, disbelief and puzzlement written on all of their faces.

"Why, didn't you know?" The fox grinned now at his horrified prisoners. "You're little rescuer is a double crosser and a traitor. She is the one who told me where to find you. She is the one who told me all your weaknesses."

The fox's words pierced Pearl like swords. She felt the breath leave her as she opened her mouth to protest. However, no words would come, not then, not ever. As Pearl watched, the expressions of the captive creatures changed from incredulous to angry while they listened to the fox's words. Their unspoken curses shouted at her and all Pearl could do was stand, helplessly, taking it all in. She knew what she had done and she knew that there was no way to undo it.

The evil fox laughed sinisterly and nodded to his vermin. He unsheathed a great, silver sword and raised it high. "Today, my peaceful prisoners, you will remember that there is no such thing as peace. As you die today you will question all that you had believed in before, for it has brought you to this point. Your peaceful ways have not saved you and it never will. You remember that too, young squirrel, as you watch all you know murdered before your eyes. Remember my little lesson when you think of peaceful ways and remember who your teacher was. Remember the name, Death Swift The Assassin! " The fox dropped his sword and twenty arrows were loosed on the pitiful circle of creatures, slaughtering them all.

Pearl awoke from her dream in a terrible sweat, screaming deafeningly. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched the branch she was resting on. Darkness had fallen on her. The soft breeze which had played with the leaves before had now grown into a strong wind which threatened to drive her out of the tree. Pearl climbed carefully to a lower perch, still weeping bitterly.

Night after night this terrible nightmare had haunted her sleep and had given her no rest. She had tried to chase it away by avoiding the subject of her childhood whenever possible, but it didn't help. She continued to have visions about the final moments with her family and about the evil fox, Death Swift The Assassin. In fact, Pearl could still remember the inscription written on the sword he carried: 'Those who live with peace, die with violence.'

"Death Swift!" Pearl called into the night, "I swear here and now, on my family's dead bodies, that you will feel the taste of death. I, and only I, will give you what you deserve, an arrow shaft through your black heart! Just as you have mercilessly killed peaceful creatures, so will I mercilessly kill you! You will feel fear when I find you. Beware, Death Swift, for Pearl Nodray will come and take her vengeance!"