Survivor: Laterose
Chapter One - Death of a Love
The old otter sat down heavily. He smiled at the rampaging Dibbuns.
"A stowy! Stowy!" pleaded the smallest, a tiny haremaid.
"A story, eh? If you tell me your names, I'll tell you a story," he replied.
"Starpaw," she gabbled.
There were another three maids, and four male babes, all of the rough and tumble type. The otter had taken to them immediately, and they delighted in his care.
"We're triplets," said the three squirrelmaids in unison. They were exactly alike, apart from that one wore a sky blue habit, the second a dress of light purple, and the third a white tunic, which for a wonder, was still clean.
"Asura," said the blue maiden.
"Lila," added the one in lilac. "And she's Blanche."
"I can talk," retorted Blanche, looking offended.
"I'm sure you can," interjected the otter. "And you four?"
"Oi'm Moy," said the mole, grinning at his companions.
"I'm Dradinis Rampunctious Efforment Wilton Walkfell - "
"But you can call him Rampant. It's easier. As for me, I'm Lansd."
An extremely sensible looking mouse gave this information, and last but definitely not least, there was a small badgerbabe by name of Manepike.
"The story!" cried Starpaw.
"The story," agreed the otter. "Where should I start? Where else but the beginning…that is, the battle of Marshank. You know the first part of this tale, I'm sure."
"Marshank?" asked Rampant. "Yes, Marm Koffsbry told us."
"Then I'll start here, at the very climax…"
Rose was running along the edge, just behind Martin. He reached Badrang first, and began his duel.
Left, right, feints to the throat and stomach slash - no. The body cut - slice at the legs, and with the back-cut - lucky there, Martin.
But Badrang had seen the mousemaid racing along the walltop, ready to support her friend. He decided to finish this as quickly as he could.
He charged past the mouse, smashing him into the stone wall. Martin sank down in a heap, and Rose knew he was dead. Her madness was too much to bear. Her eyes now the colour of her nameflower, she sprinted forward to meet the Tyrant. Filled with the Bloodwrath, she cut up and down with Martin's own swordplay, displaying the warrior's work. It was the beginning of that which in seasons to come would be known far and wide - Rose the Warrior!
Tears splashed down her cheeks, stinging the slashes in her face. Dancing the dance of death, she darted about, until finally she found herself looking down on Badrang's corpse. Then she collapsed by her love, resting her head on his shoulder. Just before darkness fell, she whispered something.
"Martin - I love you."
Then sleep came upon her, and she knew no more.
*
The words echoed about him, following him down to Dark Forest. 'I love you.'
"I love you, too, Rose."
*
Dawn was just breaking when Rose awoke. Tears fell down her cheeks as she realised that what had happened wasn't just a nightmare; not merely a dream from which she could wake up and remember was just a strange sleeping story. It was real life, and she wished it wasn't. Was that all life was, to be taken at a moment's notice? It couldn't be. There was more to it, there had to be…
But there wasn't.
A/N: The beginning of a new series from me. Martin's dead and Rose survives. The otter? You'll find out in the last part.
Dedication: Anyone who drowned when the Titanic sank. Why? I haven't a clue.
Mariel Gullwhacker.
P.S. I've been rooting through my CDs for ideas for songfics, and my best bet (apart from Enya) seems to be B*Witched. Any arguments against?