Part 1 The North Raiders.
"Look upon me, ye mighty, and tremble" –Percy Shelley "Ozymandius"
Across the dark seas rode a ship, the most feared ship in the Land of Snow and Ice. It was tar black with double mast and white and red striped sails. A golden figure head in the shape of a snarling dragon decorated the prow of the ship. A small golden plaque on the side told the ship's title. Her name was the "Sharkblood"!
The air around the ship smelt of pure evil. But it was not the ship itself. It was the white vermin on the black boat. The "Sharkblood's" crew consisted of ermine, arctic foxes, sables, snow and grey rats, and one fat albino wolverine. They were all cutthroats, armed to the teeth with sickle swords, axes, spears, clubs and other assorted nastiness.
Two sables were resting on the deck, one being an incredibly fat and one-eyed specimen and the other being a short and twitchy red-shirted one. The fat one poked his partner with a rapier, a weapon totally unsuited for him as he lacked even the smallest amount of elegance and skill. "Hey, Ajo, lookit duh boss". Ajo slapped the sword away. "Shut up, Snotty! He'll hear yew. And you know what happened to Glickwort."
"Duh Boss" was elegantly perched on the ship's masthead. He was an ermine, incredibly suave and handsome. He was dressed in a blue long coat that was yellow inside, with a red cape around his shoulders and a tricorn hat placed neatly on his head. Under his coat were a chainmail tunic and a black leather baldric. The ermine's eyes were dark brown and glittered like twin jewels. However, his most notable feature was the leather coverings worn over the tips of his tail, tips of his paws, and snout. The teeth and claws were replaced by sharp black iron hooks. Despite his attractiveness, he had the most evil and black heart of his species. His name was Maelstrom .K. Ermine.
Maelstrom and his crew of North Raiders had fled from their homeland when real trouble started to brew and the pickings became slim. All these beasts were murderers of the worst caliber, prone to wiping out entire villages, and eating the victims. For many seasons Maelstrom was almost king of the Land of Ice and Snow.
Maelstrom turned around and looked at Snotty. The sable could not help but stare at the dead brown eyes, whose pinpoint pupils showed not a hint of emotion. It was like staring into the eyes of a shark just before it eats you. "You know I can hear you, Snotty" said the ermine in a smooth, light voice. "Yes, sir" replied Snotty. The rest of the crew could not help but gather. The ermine had an almost magnetic charisma.
Maelstrom looked at nearby snow rat. "Weteye, have you seen anything?" he asked. Weteye saluted. "Yes sir" replied the rat. "I haves seen a mountain". Maelstrom raised an eyebrow. "A mountain, you say? That means land". Maelstrom looked around at his crew. "Friends, prepare to dock. We're going to pay this mountain a little visit"
It was the coldest winter Mossflower had ever seen, thought Urthwyte the Mighty as he hammered diligently on the shield he was making. All around the mountain of Salamandastron, snow and ice had covered the ground in thick layers. Because of this all travel had come to a stop, due to the danger of freezing to death. At least, thought the Badger lord, Vermin won't be attacking innocent woodlanders as much. Just then, one of Urthwyte's trusty hares, Sergeant Sapwood, walked in the Badgerlord's room. There was a worried look on the boxing hare's face. "Sah," he said, "There's been reports of a vermin ship. A bally big one at that!" Urthwyte nodded as he grabbed his massive oak club. "If there's a vermin ship out there, then let's be ready"
To be Continued...