[[Before reading - I would like to note that this is my first attempt at this sort of thing and I would -really- appreciate any sort of review/critique, it would help me have a good idea as to how you, the reader, find the story.]]

To my dear friend and bright-furred companion Glathir,

Please be sure to execute your messenger immediately upon receiving this message as it is only to be seen by your eyes. The persistent attempts by the local rebelbeasts has caused me to take a few 'extra precautions' to ensure that our intentions are not found out ahead of time. With compliments to your previous foresight - we managed to intimidate the last tribe on Ashgrove Isle without having to shed a single drop of sweat or mangle a single paw. As eager as our warriors are getting, reserving our resources for the second stage of our plan is now top priority. From now onwards you are to keep that mind's eye of yours wide open and look for any good omens that I can use to rouse their belief in me. Re-kindling this fire , we should have enough time to plan and announce our next move ahead of schedule and begin our advance from the Southwards' border and move in through Mossflower Woods and beyond. We will rampage through their forests like a dreaded plague and our victory will be absolute!

I ask that you come to my chamber this night when the moon reaches it's peak in order to meet with me and tell me what you have seen. I am resting assured that you will have very clear and very promising visions and know very well that it is in your best interest. Leave your assistant behind during this visit, the last thing I need is a petulant little ferret in my private chamber. For now? Rest easy knowing that your contribution will be our road to victory.

The day fast approaches. May your omens bring doom to anybeast in our way and your visions of continued victories in our name be true,

Valatha the Everlasting.

Darkness enshrouded the Isle of Madness, dark clouds gathering overhead and suffocating the moon's light. As the rain pelted the islands within the Archipelago of Discord, the flash of lightning illuminating both the darkened sky and the islands below. The loud crash of thunder echoed through the halls of the Palace of the Everlasting - Nightshadow Hold. As the wind howled loudly through the narrow corridors that spread throughout the stronghold, another sound could be heard. Two sets of paws making their way briskly into the main hall, the sound of their scraping against the rough stone floor. Both beasts were obscured by grey robes, hoods draped over their heads and a short sword within it's scabbard attached to the belt of the taller beast. the taller one would occasionally stop, and inhale the dank and dusty air, searching for the scent of a watcher.

After a few moments, they had arrived to the carved oak door leading into the mess hall, both beasts stopping in front of it, but neither reaching out to open the door. The taller beast stepped to the side, reaching out and grasping one of the few unlit torches in the hall and giving it a sharp pull. The distant echo of a lever mechanism could be heard, as the stone wall seemed to come unhinged and slowly open. The larger figure gazed down at the other before removing a single torch from the wall and handing to him and without a single word nor motion, waited for him to enter and closed the hidden door behind him, standing guard. The lone beast now ascended a single flight of stairs before making his way through a narrow passage, stepping over the traps that had been carefully laid and arriving at a dead end. In-front of the wall was a pedestal, holding up the statue of a Pine Marten - relatively short in stature yet standing in a triumphant pose - paws on his hips, his eyes socketed with two circular red gems that seemed to give off an eerie glisten within the torch's light.

An uneasy murmur would leave the beast's lips before he would reach out to press a single paw finger upon the statue's left eye, another clicking being heard before the wall in front of him seemed to also unhinge, a dim light emerging from the other side. The beast gazed up above the passageway, spotting a slot to place his torch in and setting it in place, before slowly placing his paws upon the hidden door. Giving a single push, it opened.

The sound of the hidden door's opening was obscured by the loud rumble following the clash of thunder, allowing the beast to enter his destination - the chamber of Valatha. The room itself was not too immense in size, but spacious none the less. The room was decorated with an assortment of trophies, mounted blades, tapestries and the most chilling of all; the mounted heads of many different beasts upon the red walls of the chamber. The floor itself one of the few wooden floors within the stronghold and it definitely showed signs of regular cleaning and scrubbing. A single barred window overlooking the vast reaches of the sea, and set under it's ledge was a single alcove for her to lounge about. Valatha's four poster bed was far from neatly set, but it was decorated in such a way so foreign to her tastes, it was surely stolen from another. And finally, there was a desk, a bottle of ink set aside, and it's quill seemingly missing. And there, sitting upon an old ornate seat, a single paw digging it's claws into an alabaster armrest, sat a tall forest polecat, her dark brown eyes set upon an open book in front of her, ink staining the front of her red and black silk dress and her lips shaped into a chilling frown. There sat Valatha, quill in hand, the black-hearted Queen of the Archipelago of Discord.

Valatha's gaze would slowly move from the book to the corner of her eye, her ears letting loose a single flick as she clearly hear someone coming up behind her, the sound of the beast's paws upon the wooden floors had been evident. Knowing better then to startle a dangerous beast, he spoke up in his rather gravelly and slimy voice "It is I, Glathir." he whispers, raising a single paw instinctively, clearly fearing she might not believe him. His other paw would move to tug his hood back, revealing a light brown pine marten. Both his stature and the eerie glisten within his black eyes matching the statue he used to access her chamber. A peculiar old scar marked his snout, trailing from his chin to nose, sharp but visible, having cut the lip rather badly.

Valatha slowly pull her chair back, rising from it and turning to gaze upon Glathir, her frown turning into an oddly alluring smile. Her expression was that of relief, her arms slowly crossing over her chest as she spoke, her voice containing a tinge of dignity and elegance, though her verminous nature was still 'shining' through. "Your haste pleases me, Glathir. It has been far too long since we have met to discuss our next move." she says, her gaze moving from him to the hidden passage he had come from, making her way towards it. "With Ashgrove Isle now under our dominion, we have a significant amount of beasts under our control. In particular the seabeasts you...foretold might have significant interest in us." she says, slowly stopping half-way through the passage he had travelled through, having reached the very edge of the torch's light. "I trust you have seen visions of our mainland invasion." she points out, her eyes attempting to meet his own, clearly wanting to look for the slightest hint that he may be lying. Glathir would have been following her closely, and quickly found himself looking back at her, his lids narrowing as he would speak slowly and clearly, attempting to make his point "I have seen what I have seen. Our plans are - as of yet - unknown, but a significant resistance awaits. But I foresee that a time of shaking earth, cold winds and violent storms comes." he says, his final words punctuated by the clash of thunder echoing from the outside."We must act quickly if we to make our demands, I cannot predict the exact day that each shall occur, but I foresee fear shall wrack the lands if we time this correctly." he utters, a little smile gracing his lips. Valatha would share his smile, chuckling to herself at this thought. A hearty, happy chuckle. Nothing pleased her more then inflicting fear on others, a 'favor' she longed to return to many of the woodland creatures.

Another dull rumble filled the beasts' ears as they climbed up a ladder, leading to a trapdoor at the top of the stronghold, a sweeping view of the archipelago laying in front of them. Valatha stood at the ledge, paws upon her hips as she observed her 'kingdom', ignoring the rain beating down upon her, a wild grin forming on her features. "Fear shall weaken our enemies, weaken them enough to either surrender or perish before us." she confirmed, a certain degree of energy within her words, like she was giving a speech to rouse her soldiers "Glathir, your foresight has helped me fool and delude many. Because of you, they see me as untouchable, everlasting, unbreakable!" she says, cackling to herself. Clearly she was finding it very amusing "Beasts believe you can summon storms, make the earth shake beneath their paws, and smite down their young ones with my skybound wrath." she says, her eyes turning up to the sky, at the flashing and rippling of lightning within it, illuminating different portions of the sky, and the different islands below.

"You are the instrument of their demise, they believe you are a beast of magic, the blasted scum believe you are like I. Untouchable." she says, placing a paw on her own chest, the wild look within her eyes intensifying. Glathir was simply standing there, watching her curiously, unable to help but admire his friend's enjoyment. She spoke once more, bounding her way up to him and roughly grasping his scruff,pulling her snout uncomfortable close as she uttered "You and I, friend. Are going to ravage the Southwards, then burn Mossflower to ashes, flatten the badger lords of Salamandastron and blight the Northlands." she utters, pushing him away shortly after, Glathir stumbling back a tad before speaking up, enthusiasm clearly showing "And then, we will usher in a new age of pain and misery to all those who wronged us." he said, moving by her side to look out at the islands, the gleam within his eyes sparked brighter as he gazed upon each one as it was illuminated by the lightning. Valatha would move by his side, placing a paw upon his shoulder as she looked out into the distance, a sneer forming as she would give off a little growl "Ripe and bloody vengeance will be ours."