Sorry for the long delay. A lot of things happened, some stuff about school and AP exam season is here. Not only that, but I got two new bunnies just about a week ago, but one of them was already sick when we bought it, so for a couple days, we tried to nurse Parsley back to health but sadly, the little guy just wasn't strong enough. RIP Parsley. :( Maybe someday I'll have a character named after her.

Anyways, special thanks to all who reviewed: Cinnamonpool, Persarr, Scyphi, Jarrtail, ry, Natureboy3, Red Squirrel Writer, Martin the Warrior, Snuff Snuff, Foeseeker, and Foxstar24. 11 reviews just for the first chapter? Those are very impressive numbers, so thank you all so much! :D

And yes, I know the hares are very dark. But that's just me. I like dark stories, and I think I made them a tad bit more realistic by making them like this. I like blurring lines between good guys and bad guys, so making the hares have some somewhat barbaric traits only helps my cause. Sorry if you guys have trouble envisioning the noble hares to be like this, but they really are still the good guys, though they don't treat their enemies kindly.

A Sealed Fate

Perhaps he'd been hoping for too much? What did he hope for, exactly? That the little savage would snap out of her foul behavior and learn to live like a proper lady? Pewter scoffed inwardly at the very notion. He didn't really know what future he had in mind for her while she was still in his arms. Chances were, he probably pictured her to be fully reformed to a perfect citizen: well-learned, polite, obedient, and highly social. She would listen to his every word and everybeast would praise his good will and patience while they looked wonderingly at how amicable she was. She would love to read and joke and she would get along swimmingly with his nephew.

Bradock... he closed his eyes. She's only just several seasons under Braddy's age.

He heard the ruckus of work being done all around him. Others were out in the field, gently gathering their fallen comrades while they chucked those repulsive vermin bodies into the middle of the ring of wood. And while that was being done, medics were running about, tending to the wounded and the liberated slaves.

He opened his eyes again only to be greeted by the sight of more firewood being piled around. Normally he would help, but he felt too drained now. Too exhausted to burn an innocent fox cub to the death. He had tried his best with her in those few precious moments, but in the end it was his word against everybeast else's. And even if he could save her, there were other innocents to be lost.

He remembered his shock when he saw a smattering of surviving children in the crowd. Those vermin were still so small, yet their paws were tainted with blood and calloused by the hilts of jagged weapons. Just a few more seasons, and the little fox cub would've joined their ranks and possibly been killed, simply a piece of flesh lost amongst the sea of corpses. He could feel the white-hot claws worming its way into his heart. These vermin aren't sentient beings. They're a plague upon every living thing in this tragic world we creep upon.

With that thought in mind, he turned scornfully to a desolate rat sitting close by. Just how many beasts had died at their paws and cruel rusty swords? How many? And do they know of the damages they do to their own kind in return? Of course they know! They kill each other; that much couldn't be denied. But they had also given every vermin a terrible, vile curse. The Long Patrol and just about any other goodbeast army would kill even the most innocent lives. And why?!

He saw the rat twist his head around to look in his direction. That thing could sense that he was being watched- being glared at and hated. He seemed to quail before his captor, watching as those eyes shone with an icy glint.

It's because of them. Because they destroy everything and never allow our wounds to heal. They just pester and pester and nip and nip and we never ever get to live our lives peacefully! How many other cubs and kits have died the same way she will? This cannot be the first. It's all because of you. It's all because of you because of you because of you because of you-

"VERMIN!" He gave the rat a hard kick in the gut. The bound creature thudded helplessly to the ground, gasping for breath. Like a ripple effect, eyes turned towards him, gaping at the usually-composed hare.

"And don't you forget it," the lieutenant growled behind clenched teeth. That vermin cowered some more, but he was done with him. It was going to meet his end soon anyways. The hares were already drizzling oil on the dried wood while all the other beasts were screaming and wailing, squirming with their bonds. But it was no use. Judgement comes for beasts at its own time, and it has been delayed up 'til now.

And they do not deserve a quick and painless death. They know it, and they know we know it.

"Pewter-"

"What?!" He paused, recognizing the hare. He took another breath, giving his tone another try. "I mean, yes Private Farrar, what is it?" The messenger looked taken aback, but he quickly shrugged it off as battle-shock and carried on with his duty.

"Lieutenant Pewter," he said carefully, "Colonel Vervain would like to see you where... where Badgerlord Urthbrawn lies, sah."

Pewter opened his mouth and closed it again, letting his brow furrow in contemplation. He had already mourned the loss of the dead; and he'd lingered over Urthbrawn's body the longest, so what was he being summoned for? With all this buzz with firewood and oil, were they deciding on building a funeral pyre or something? He forced himself to swallow down that constricted feeling in his throat.

"Wot's going on?"

Farrar simply shrugged his shoulders as he pursed his lips, probably thinking the same thing. With a heavy sigh and a sad shake of his head, Lieutenant Pewter jammed his paws in his pockets and made his way to the gigantic bloodied mound in the distance. He let his paws kick at the sand as he went, staring at the darkening sky. It seemed strange, how the first star out that night seemed to hover over the badger's body.

And there's a star for you, sah.

"Colonel." He saluted stiffly at the lonely figure facing away from him. There was silence at first, and Pewter couldn't help it as his eyes kept straying over to the gruesome gash on Urthbrawn's neck. He never thought that he would die quite like this. The blood was dried and some were caked on his coarse fur while the rest stained the sand. For some reason, he had always thought that if the great Lord of Salamandastron was going to fall in combat, he would go down with a score of arrows in his back or something of the sort. But this was just a little cut compared to all the wounds he'd imagined- wounds that would be fit for a glorious legend.

"Ah, Lieutenant Pewter," the old hare drawled. "Just the one I was waiting to see..."

"Yes sah," Pewter replied as coolly as he could, slightly disturbed by the delayed response.

"I was just here, talking to my old friend one last time," he continued solemnly. "He was quite young and obnoxious when he first came here. You should have seen him, Pewter. If I didn't know better, he was a giant striped leveret." He chortled at that joke, ignoring the grim silence that his companion kept. He sighed, looking up at that twinkling star before he continued.

"So many beasts died today. I had weighed down the possibilities of his death beforehand, but those chances always seemed so slim. He was always larger than life to all of us..."

"I know." Pewter couldn't help but feel that there was a sad disconnection between them. Their conversation was broken and disoriented, a three-second intermission between each and every line.

"So many of our friends died," the colonel breathed. He looked down at his footpaws, a cloud hanging over his head. Pewter raised a half-hearted paw, not sure if he should snap the elderly hare from his trance. In the end, he merely kept silent as Vervain brooded over his losses: his friends, family, so much of their strength.

"Our numbers are down thanks to that cursed corsair," the colonel finally growled. "And knowing how vermin are so bally sore and so very stupid, he'll be back with stronger forces. And mark my words lad, we'll be ready to defeat them once again." He turned back to the young lieutenant, all traces of sorrow replaced by a firm, rough kind of determination.

"Yes we will, sah." Pewter found himself relieved that grief hadn't ravaged the old colonel's spirit, but still all the same, he wasn't too sure about what his point was.

"Hmmm..." There seemed to be an amused spark in his eyes as his moustache twitched upwards. "I was hoping you'd say that, Lieutenant Major Pewter."

Silence. And then Pewter could feel his eyes bulge as he managed to stammer out, "L-lieutenant M-m-major?!"

"Did I stutter?" the old beast smiled. "Clean your ears out, lad."

"B-but, a... a promotion!" He knew should've given a 'thank you, sah' or a 'I won't let you down, sah' or something 'sah,' but he just couldn't muster it. He didn't expect this so soon... and on such a dark day. But even so, he couldn't help but let his face crack into a grin as he got himself back together and bent his arm in a smart salute.

"Thank you, sah! Won't let you down, sah!"

"Ahahahaha... HARRUMPH-kmph..." Vervain dug his handkerchief out of his pockets again, smothering his mouth as he coughed into it.

"Sah?"

The hare gave one more tiny little cough and sniffed. "Ah nothing, lad. Nothing to worry about. Nothing but a bit of a harmless dry cough, eh?" He clapped him on the shoulders, leading him away from the fallen body and towards the ring of firewood. At the very sight of that thing, Pewter felt his spine stiffen.

"You know, Lieutenant Major, your position at such a young age really is quite an achievement."

"Thank you, sah." Pewter swallowed dryly. It wasn't fair, really. At one point, he got one of his rising promotions through pity, after all.

"And Major Thornsbry was right about you all along. You really are a rising star. Right from the very day you were in the Patrol, he acknowledged you. He has quite an eye for spotting talent and honor, y'know?"

"Yes sah." Major Thornsbry. He really didn't know what to say. He didn't think he stood out that much. He was younger way back then, but he never thought anybeast paid any attention to him, much less a high-ranked officer. He should've thought a little higher of the stiff old hare, but he couldn't. Not after he spoke out against him. He immediately began to feel his mood sour as he got closer to the huddled mass of prisoners.

"Ah... still upset about the fox cub, eh?" As usual, nothing seemed to get past the colonel's nose.

"I... I would have rather she lived, sah," he admitted.

"Well," he gave a kindly old smile, nodding past his shoulder. "Take a good look, then." Curious, Pewter looked behind him to see that same little loud-mouthed flash of red. And what's more was that she was separated from the condemned.

"Leggo leggo leggo! Damn you, ye stupid long-eared fat-bellied..." She was standing between two towering hares that gripped her shoulders tight. She struggled against their grasp, but to no avail. But though she was rendered immobile, her mouth could still function just fine.

"Why don'cha go back t'yer dumb rock and git back t' bashing yer lumpy heads aginst it! GRAAAAGH!"

"You- but... she's being spared?" He couldn't believe it. Although a gentle beast, Colonel Vervain's words were made of steel and were difficult to bend. Even the late badgerlord found this characteristic to be quite vexing.

The colonel nodded, and for a second time that day, Pewter was practically at a loss for words as he gaped at him.

"Thank you. Thank you, sah. Thank you!" He didn't know why he was so happy. She was probably going to be sent packing all on her own anyways, but at least she wouldn't die.

"Don't thank me," the colonel was suddenly serious as he noticed a familiar hare approach them. "Thank Major Thornsby, here. He was the one who convinced me."

"Major Thornsby?" he breathed. "But why? He was against it from the start."

"Ah, see that's the thing." Pewter turned to the newest member of the conversation. "I thought about what you said back there, young'n, and I had a slight change of heart, wot."

"Really?" he raised a quizzical brow at the Major. "Then what will happen to her?"

"That's the thing, young'n," Thornsby replied. "Although the rude little savage will be spared, we cannot release her out on her own to live like some madbeast so it can terrorize others. No. And it simply wouldn't do to send it to the Redwallers only to be spoiled rotten by those naive and gentle souls. Oh no. In fact, Lieutenant Major, it is going to be staying here."

Pewter's face was now aching and he felt like an idiot for beaming like a fool. But he couldn't help it. Just as they say! Victory does come to those who wait!

"On one condition..." The Major struck a finger up into the air and Pewter's grin faltered, beginning to melt off his face. "The cub stays in my care and undergoes its education under my tutilage. I'll keep it on a tight leash so it doesn't go astray."

Pewter sucked in a breath. It all became clear now. It wasn't that the hardened old hare had felt a touch of pity. Rather, he took the cub's rearing as more of a challenge. After all, what better way to gather pride and praise than to do what was deemed the impossible? He could just picture her being drilled and scolded more rigorously than the others, forced to stay indoors in the library or scrubbing floors in the hall- safely away from the kitchen knives and armory. And she'd be forced to read and do bookwork to keep her out of the childish mischief that was only natural.

"But the cub..."

"You got what you wanted, young'n." Hearing that obnoxious hare call him 'young'n' all the time was making him sick to his stomach. "The cub lives, but we have to do what we can to ensure a proper life for her. A better life."

I beg to differ, he scoffed inwardly.

"It's for the best, lad." And now this time it was the colonel talking to him, his tone reassuring. "We won't harm it. We'll simply take it under our wing and teach it how to live like a civilized beast. It'll thank us for it someday. Understood?"

Pewter fought desperately to suppress a glare at Thornsbry's smug face. Instead, he distracted himself by focusing on the colonel's wisened smile.

"Yes sah," he swallowed. "Understood." Her fate was sealed.

Hm. Some foreshadowing and hinting at Pewter's background and personality. I wonder what you think about him. I got some mixed reviews about that particular character... somewhat.

And what do you think about the little fox cub there? I've already got a name picked out for her and everything, and yes, we'll get to paying more attention to her in future chapters, so wait a bit.

And if any of you guys were wondering, I haven't given up with "The Chains that Bind Us." Absolutely not. I'm just hitting some unforeseen Writer's Block is all. The chapters for these stories were already done weeks ago, but I haven't had the time to weed mistakes out and stuff, so I hope you understand. Heh. ^^;

So you know the drill. REVIEW and tell me what you think. It would be really depressing if I got so many reviews on my first chapter and a minimal number in my next, wouldn't you say? Can't be too encouraging that way. So please, even just a little "awesome" would suffice and raise my writer's morale.