The thefts continued on as they had for the last several years. The more wealthy citizens of Nottingham and the nobility were almost afraid to even venture out on the roads for fear of being robbed in their carriages. And no matter how the bandit and his cohorts were outnumbered, they always managed to escape with their prize.

Weeks passed and even with the large bounty on his head Robin Hood still remained at large. No one even knew who the mouse was or where he came from. What puzzled the Sheriff most was the motive; why would a criminal risk his own life robbing the rich nobility only to give the wealth away to the poor? Why not keep it for himself? Whatever his reasons, the Sheriff of Nottingham would be the one to capture the elusive thief, Ray swore as he leaned forward resting on the horn of the saddle holding the red feather in hand. He spinned the feather around, looking at it shining in the sunlight. The horses suddenly lifted their heads and their ears where rotating around to catch even the slightest sound. Ray gently petted its neck.

"Do you hear anything Ragnar?" he asked his horse. "Stay alert!" Ray instructed to the guards following him, who kept glancing around nervously, jumping at every sound. Ray scoffed and rode onward until he heard a muffled sound from behind him. The entire posse turned around to find the last horse in line standing by itself, its rider suddenly gone; along with the bags of money that had been hanging by the horse's saddle.

"H-He's here...!" one of the soldiers gasped in fear.

Ray grabbed the unfortunate mouse's shirt and growled in his face. "You're going to let one mouse scare you?"

"They say he has more followers now," another piped up. "A band of thieves!"

"So what?!" Ray retorted, pushing the guard he was holding away. "You're supposed to be the King's guardsmen, so start acting like it! Now shut up and keep moving!"

The soldiers obeyed and followed the Sheriff's orders, though a heavy silence fell over the troupe as they rode on. Ray glared at his men to keep them in line, but even he had a bad feeling. He started again when someone yelled and turned to see another empty saddle, with more money missing.

"Up there, in the trees!" someone yelled, and every head turned upward where the leaves rustled overhead. Several guards grabbed their weapons and notched arrows to their bows but Ray stopped them after one let an arrow fly into the trees.
"Don't shoot unless you can actually see your target, idiots!" Ray snapped. "It's just the wind. Keep your heads down and move on."

The group continued on the path to the castle, although by now even the horses were on edge, neighing and stomping their feet nervously. And much to Ray's dismay, minutes later the same thing happened again to the last guard in line. And again. Twice more it happened, and finally Ray lost his temper. Cursing at the guards in his native Danish tongue Ray moved to the back of the line himself. Half an hour passed with no mishaps, and Ray smiled confidently. It looked like the so-called king of thieves wasn't brave enough to take on a stronger opponent like him…

The fur on the back of Ray's neck stood on end as he suddenly felt a presence behind him. Glancing down out of the corner of his eye he saw a hand take the bag of coins hanging from his belt. In one swift move Ray unsheathed his sword and spun around where a figure hanging suspended from a rope tied around their waist from the trees, clutching Ray's bag in their hands. Ray's blade sliced through the rope, causing the mouse to drop to the ground with a grunt. The hooded figure rolled away and reached for an arrow in his quiver to notch into his bow but froze as the guards had him surrounded in an instant with their own weapons aimed at him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Ray warned. The mouse glared at him for a moment but obediently lowered his hands, letting both arms hang by his side, though he still clutched the bow in one hand and the bag of coins in the other. Ray studied the cloaked mouse for a moment and then smiled wide when he saw a familiar red feather hanging from a string like a necklace.

"So you're the infamous Robin Hood…"

"The one and only," the other answered, bowing with a flourish. Ray's eyebrows lifted in surprise. He had expected the thief to be a big and brawny sort, yet the mouse standing before him was a gangly youth whose voice was too high pitched to belong to an adult male. Ray could hardly believe his eyes; this so-called Robin Hood was just a kid!

Ray chuckled in amusement. "Funny, I thought you'd be taller."

"I could say the same about you," the young mouse shot back cheekily.

Ray's fur bristled and he drew his sword from its sheath. Boy or not, this mouse had to pay for his misdeeds. "You're under arrest for high crimes against the crown; stealing from nobility, destroying castle property, making a mockery of the royal name…" Ray's blood boiled when Robin put a hand over his mouth and yawned, appearing to be bored. "That cocky attitude of yours will change by the time Prince Fane is finished with you."

"You're a lot of bark with no bite," Robin remarked smugly. "Tell me, does the phony prince always send his loyal guard dog to do his dirty work? Or are you just in it for the reward money?"

"You dare calling me that! And to answer your question, I do my job to put thieving scum like you in your place!" Ray retorted angrily, pointing at the bags of coins clutched in Robin's hand. "And now that I have finally captured you that reward is as good as mine."

Robin laughed. "Why my dear Sheriff, I had no idea you wanted me so badly."

Ray's face turned scarlet and his fur stood on end. "I've had enough of your mouth, thief!" Ray hissed. "You won't be so talkative after a trip to the gallows. 'Robbing the rich to feed the poor'… You're just a little boy playing dressup."

That seemed to hit a nerve, Ray noticed with satisfaction as Robin's grip tightened on the bow in his other hand. "Looks can be deceiving," he retorted, glaring up at Ray.

"It looks to me like you're outnumbered," Ray replied with a smirk, pointing his sword at Robin's chest. "It would be wise for you to surrender now."

Much to the Sheriff's surprise Robin hung his head for a moment and actually seemed to appear to give in. Ray smiled and was about to give the order to put him in chains, but Robin looked up again with dark brown eyes flashing dangerously, and although Ray could only see his eyes he was sure that the mouse was smiling beneath that hood. "What makes you think I'm alone?"

Ray rose an eyebrow and yelped when two mice jumped down from the trees on the other guards' horses. His own horse Ragnar reared by the surprise and Ray had to hold on for his dear life. "Not so alone now, huh?" Robin smirked.

Once he gained control of Ragnar again Ray looked back to see Robin grab the bag of money and flee. "No!" Ray growled, seeing his prey get away with the other two mice close behind.

"Don't just stand there, you fools! After them!" Ray yelled as he snapped the reins and Ragnar took off. The few guards who were still conscious obeyed and soon Robin heard the sound of the hooves pounding the ground behind him. Robin nodded to the other two, and the three mice suddenly split off in different directions making the guards confused. However Ray suspected Robin would try this tactic and took control of the situation

"You, follow the tall one, and you follow the gray one," Ray instantly ordered, pointing at the soldiers . "You two come with me. Don't let him get away! Wound him if you must, but do not shoot to kill; I want him alive!"

Even with three soldiers and the Sheriff after him on horseback, Robin ran as swift as a deer through the forest, dodging nimbly through the trees and bushes. Ray growled and set his feet in the side of his horse to make it gallop at full speed. "Efter ham!" The horse neighed with its ears back. Determined to catch the thief Ray broke away from the guards and raced ahead on a different path, hoping to cut him off.

"Hurtigere!" Ray urged his horse. Ragnar instantly put on a burst of speed, muscles heaving as he raced through the forest. Robin glanced back over his shoulder and smirked when he saw the guards had fallen behind, but moments later Ray and Ragnar leapt out through the brush, right on Robin's heels. His heart raced as he heard the powerful black Friesian's hooves pounding the ground, and with his very long legs Ragnar had the advantage and speed. With Ray gaining on him so quickly Robin decided to try another strategy and darted through the thick foliage where the horses couldn't follow, but that didn't deter the Sheriff. He and Ragnar followed, leaping over fallen logs and bushes. Ray often had hold his arm up not to be hit by the low branches.

Soon the black Friesian's head was just next to Robin and he could clearly hear the heavy breathing from it. Ray smiled and took his sword out from the sheath and raised it high, one clear stroke on the thief's shoulder would be enough. His smile grew wider the closer he came. He was finally close enough and about the swing the sword when he felt a piercing pain in his head. The horse reared startled and Ray groaned when he felt his head hit the ground and leaves flew up around him. He tried upon his open his eyes, but couldn't see anything other than blurry and a big shadow looming over him as he lost his consciousness. The remaining guards retreated and ran to the castle, passing knocked out colleagues on their way from the ambush.

….

Later, Ray woke up with an agonized groan, his head pounding horribly. He tried to open his eyes but his vision was blurry so he shut them again. He waited a few seconds and tried again, and this time could see a little better. However there was a terrible pain in his left eye and he could only make out things on the right side of his vision. And something wet like blood felt like it was running down the side of his face. He tried to reach up and touch his face, but couldn't move his arms because of a rope wrapped around his torso binding him to a tree. Feeling panicked he began to thrash weakly against the ropes and yelled out in fright when a hand touched his shoulder.

"Shh," a familiar voice said quietly. "It's alright." He turned his head and felt his heart sink when he saw Robin Hood kneeling down beside him. He tried to move again but the pain in his head was just too much. Glancing around at his surroundings Ray saw that it was now nighttime. A small camp was set up nearby with a crackling fire that bathed the area in a warm orange glow. Ray tried to remember what had happened but it was all a blur. He remembered being knocked off of his horse but everything after that was blank...

"Wh-Where's Ragnar?" Ray asked suddenly, causing Robin to stop what he was doing.

"Who?" Robin asked confused.

"Ragnar… w-where is he…?!" Ray repeated, looking around frantically, the motion making him feel dizzy.

"Calm down-" Robin said, holding his hands up.

"No, let me go! I need to find him!" Ray insisted struggling against the ropes, but the effort exhausted him and he slumped over tiredly, letting out a painful moan. "Please let me go," he repeated, his voice quiet and weak. "I n-need him..."

Robin stared in shock at the sight. He'd never imagined that the Sheriff could become so scared and afraid. Looking around in confusion Robin remembered something.

"Is Ragnar your horse?" Ray's ears perked up at the name and Robin took that as a yes. "He's right over there." Ray slowly lifted his head and could barely see Ragnar grazing nearby, his reigns tethered to a tree. "Don't worry, he's not hurt," Robin added, trying to reassure him. Ray let out a small sigh of relief. Robin smiled, a little touched at the Sheriff's concern for his horse, but his ears lowered when Ray winced as his pain flared up again.

"You took a nasty fall," Robin remarked. Ray watched cautiously as the other dipped a cloth into a bowl and held it up for him to see. "This will sting a little, but the herbs will help the swelling go down." Ray tried to turn his head and protest, letting out a small groan. "It will get infected if you don't let me clean it," Robin pointed out.

Ray wanted to resist but his head was throbbing so badly that he didn't have the energy. Robin carefully placed the compress over Ray's eye… or where it used to be, and Ray tensed at the pressure and hissed in pain. But after a little while the cloth felt soothing on his face as the herbs worked. However, the branch had destroyed his left eye completely.

Ray shut his other eye tiredly. Here he was tied up at the mercy of his own prey, who for some unknown reason had enough compassion on him to nurse his injury, and on top of that he was now blinded in one eye. He had never felt so humiliated in his life.

A sudden thought made Ray tremble. What would Prince Fane do when he reported back to the castle? He was already in Fane's bad graces since Robin Hood had shown up; another failure like this surely would not go unpunished.

Then again, what if Robin Hood decided to punish him himself? After all, he was the one who collected the taxes from the poor and imprisoned those who couldn't afford to pay. He had no idea where he was; no one would hear his screams, or know what had happened to his body. It could be days before anyone at the castle even realized he was gone. And by then it might be too late.

Ray glanced at the mouse in front of him again. He was wearing the familiar dull green cloak with the hood covering his head, along with a black cloth covering the nose and mouth, hiding all but his eyes. He was dressed in brownish colored tunic and pants, and wore black knee length boots. The bow and quiver of arrows was lying nearby, but Ray noticed he was still armed with a knife that was tucked in a belt around his narrow waist. Ray's breathing became heavier and his heart raced as he stared at the dagger, wondering if Robin would use it to silence him forever.

"Hey, calm down," Robin said softly, putting a hand on Ray's quivering shoulder. Thinking that it would help calm him Robin slowly removed the hood. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Ray opened his eye when he felt gentle hands touch his cheek and looked up face to face with Robin for the first time. Those familiar dark brown irises were the first thing he noticed, but as he examined the rest of the face Ray froze in shock. The mouse had tan fur with dark brown bangs and a few loose curls framing the face, while the rest was tied back behind their head. Ray stared dumbfounded. The face smiling back at him was not the young adolescent male that Ray had expected, but a...

"Ok, take deep even breaths," the mouse instructed, breaking Ray's thoughts. "You're starting to hyperventilate and I don't want you passing out again."

"Y-You…!" Ray gasped out.

"What's wrong?" the mouse answered, head tilted to one side playfully. "Cat got your tongue?"

"You're a woman!" Ray blurted out.

She frowned and opened her mouth to retort but hesitated when Ray winced in pain again. "And you are one lucky mouse," she replied instead, dabbing at his eye with the cloth. "Good thing it only gouged your eye out and didn't go through your thick skull."

"Good?!" Ray exclaimed. "I lost my bloody eye! How can you say that's good…ugh…"

"Calm down," the girl shushed. "You're only hurting yourself worse."

Ray started to protest but his head hurt so badly he could barely even think straight. He reluctantly obeyed and allowed her to continue cleaning the wound.

"A woman," Ray repeated. "All this time I've been outsmarted by a… a..."

"Watch it," the girl warned.

Ray suddenly felt a chill run through him and fear came back into his eye. "If Prince Fane finds out then I'll be-"

"Fane will not find out," she stated firmly. Ray looked up to see a serious look in her eye, and he didn't miss the underlying threat of what would happen if he let her secret get out. What would he do anyway? Tell the Prince that she was behind these crimes all along and that he had been beaten by a woman? That would be suicide.

The girl's face softened when she felt Ray shiver. "Look, I know it's a lot to ask you to keep my secret; but I know that you have a reputation to keep too. So if you won't tell, I won't tell. Deal?"

Ray nodded slightly, then wished he hadn't. Every time he moved his head the pain would get worse. He close his eye tiredly letting his head fall toward his chest, but she caught it and cupped his face gently, holding the cloth to his ruined eye. Ray's head was so full of pain that he simply leaned his face into her hand tiredly, feeling comforted by her soft touch.

"I really am sorry," she added quietly. "About your eye."

"Serves him right," a voice said nearby. "It's time the Sheriff got a taste of his own medicine."

She turned and glared as two mice approached, returning with two horses they had gotten from the ambush. "Be nice, Loran."

"Loran? Oliver Loran?" Ray asked weakly. Loran's ear folded. "The Captain from Bradford. You... but..."

"Shut up kid! " Loran glared and looked back at Robin. "You think he would show the same mercy to you?"

Probably not, Ray thought with his ears folded back. He gulped as the two males glared at him. "What… what are you going to do with me?" he asked nervously. Ray was surprised to see them look to her for the answer. However she looked back and forth at them nervously.

"I'm not sure," she answered. "I'm still thinking about it."

"Why don't we use him to our advantage?" Loran suggested with a grim smile. "Send word to Fane, let him know we have his little dog hostage. Think of what a big ransom we could get for the Sheriff of Nottingham, and then we would give it back to the poor…"

Amber looked back at Ray, feeling torn. Loran had good intentions with wanting to give such wealth like that to the people, but somehow it still felt wrong. "I don't think Fane will agree to bargain with us," Amber finally answered, shaking her head. "And even if he did make a deal I doubt that he would keep his word and he'd end up double crossing us. Maybe we should just let him go," she added more quietly. The other two mice stared in shock for a moment, stunned at her words.

"Let him go? Are you insane?!" the taller mouse blurted out. "Amber you can't be serious!"

Ray looked up at the name. "Bastial," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "Now he knows my real name…" When it hit him Bastial's eyes got wide and he covered his mouth suddenly.

"Way to go genius," Loran reprimanded, hitting the back of Bastial's head making him yelp.

"Ouch! Sorry…" Bastial apologized sheepishly.

"I hate to say it but Bastial's right," Loran sighed. "What the hell are you thinking? After all he's done to make the people of Nottingham suffer you're just gonna let him go free?"

"And he knows your secret now!" Bastial added. "He'll go blabbing it to the whole kingdom!"

"He won't tell," Amber replied, glancing back at Ray with a smile. "Right, Sheriff?"

"R-Right," Ray quickly answered.

"How do you know he's not lying?" Bastial asked skeptically.

"Because… I trust him." Ray looked up in surprise but despite the fact that he was supposed to be the enemy, Amber felt that he was telling the truth. It wasn't because she knew he was afraid of what fate would befall him if the Prince found out; something inside told her that she just could.

"You trust the Prince's loyal guard dog?" Loran scoffed.

"Stop calling me that," Ray said weakly, shutting his eye tight.

"What was that, guard dog?" Loran repeated.

"Please stop..."

"Guard dog!"

"Stop it!"

"That's enough, Loran," Amber warned. Loran suddenly kneeled down and looked into Ray's eye.

"I guess you have the symbol too, soldier?" He asked. Ray looked up and nodded. "Then tell me what the symbol means."

"T-that I swear under the love of God that I will follow the words of my king and what I swear for my king shall be kept at all costs, under pain of death," Ray answered shaking.

"On the contrary. That what you swear to those above your rank shall be kept. Then swear you will not tell!" Loran almost shouted in his face. Ray remained silent and stared into his dark blue eyes. "Swear to your captain!"

"I swear!" Ray almost cried. "I swear I will not tell..." Bonded to the promise he made nine years ago when he joined the army he glanced up at the old captain who looked back with a satisfied smile on his face. Ray hung his head and hated himself for sinking so low, but realized that he really had no other choice and resorted to almost begging. "I-I promise I won't say a word. I will n-never tell your secret, I swear. Please, you must believe me."

Ray winced when Loran chuckled harshly. "You bark and bark, and then when you're beaten you cower with your tail between your legs. Weren't you supposed to be the King's guardsmen? Just look at the guard dog whimpering and crying now."

"I said that's enough!" Amber yelled, leaping to her feet. Even standing up to her full height she only reached his chin, yet she stared the older mouse in the eye without flinching. Loran frowned at her and pointed at Ray.

"I can't believe you're defending him. He's the Sheriff, remember? He steals and ruins lives every day, all for that selfish greedy Prince!"

"He's a mouse like anybody else, and I won't let you bully him," Amber replied evenly. "That makes you no better than those bloody castle guards." Her voice became more soft. "You should know what pain does to people." Loran suddenly fell quiet. "Oliver… You know it." The grey mouse sighed.

"Let me take the horses," Loran scoffed and took the reigns and walked away with them to let them graze with Ragnar. Amber watched concerned as he left.

"Don't worry," Bastial said to cheer her up. "He just needs space." Amber smiled a little. "So... " Bastial rubbed his neck. "You are letting him go?" he asked.

"I'm not sure yet… but I think we should let him stay for a few days; maybe we could get some information, without using torture," she added pointedly for Loran's sake. Bastial nodded.

"Robin… can I take one of the horses?" He asked. "I need to go to town."

"Allen?" Amber smiled. Bastial smiled back and nodded.

"With the money we got today I can pay Mrs. Dutch what she needs to feed him."

"You really are a great mouse, Bastial," she said and held his shoulder.

"Allen is worth more coins than I can afford, but he's the closest thing to a son I ever had," Bastial smiled fondly. "I'm not exactly on anyone's mind, and neither maiden nor man will hold my hand in intimacy. But, I love Allen just like any father would." Amber smiled, her cheeks red as Bastial mounted one of the the horses. Ray followed him until he was out of sight, he sighed and leaned back against the tree and closed his eye.

His ears perked when he heard footsteps and he looked up to see Loran walked with another man and in his hands some hunted down birds.

"It's illegal to hunt in the king's forest!" he glared. "You're both under arrest for-" The sheriff yelped when Loran quickly pointed his bow at him, only a few inches from his eye.

"You're not really in a position to be making threats now are you Sheriff?" Loran smirked and took his bow back. Ray shivered and watched them making the birds ready for dinner. Few hours later Ray could smell the food and hear the water boil over the fire. His own stomach was growling loud, he hadn't got anything to eat but some bread and cheese at the morning. Ray sighed, he was their prisoner. Why should they share their food with him?

Ray closed his eye and tried to forget the hunger. Minutes passed when he felt warmth on his face and the smell of dinner became stronger. He slowly opened his eye and it widened when he saw Amber kneeling in front of him, holding a bowl with the cooked bird.

"You looked hungry." She smiled and gave him the bowl. The rope only tied his torso and upper arms so he still had his forearms and hands free to eat.

"Thank you." Ray blushed and took the bowl. "But..."

"You are my guest and I will not let you starve," Amber said.

"Guest?" Ray chuckled and Amber shrugged blushing.

"I prefer that than prisoner... or hostage."

Ray's ears folded and looked at Ragnar grazing. "Amber… I-I mean Robin." He asked weakly. "Can I… have some rope?"

"For what?"

"Hanging himself..!" Loran coughed from the fire and both Ray and Amber glared at him.

"I just want to make a halter for Ragnar," Ray said. "I don't like he walks around with his saddle and bridle on. It can give him wounds." Amber smiled and gave him some ropes from a bag.

"Shall I bring him to you?" she asked gently.

"Just take the things off him." The sheriff smiled and started to tie the ropes together to make the halter. "He will not go anywhere." Amber got up and walked over the tall black horse and removed the equipment. The horse whinnied happily and trotted over the his owner and gently nuzzled him with his muzzle. Ray smiled and petted him and placed the halter on. "You don't like being tied, do you?" The Friesian stamped its hooves on the ground before it laid down and placed its big head on Ray's lap. "Sometimes you forget you're a horse huh?" He smiled and stroke it's head. Amber walked over and watching them, smiling.

"You think you two will be fine?" She asked and gently stroke his injured eye. "For the night."

"I will say so." Ray smiled and leaned his head into her hand and felt the soft skin and warmth. "Thank you… for all this." he blushed.

"You're welcome." Amber blushed and walked over to the others. "Good night… Sheriff of Nottingham." She smiled over her shoulder.

"God nat." Ray smiled back and sighed. "Amber…"

Author's Notes:

Ray Lehmann, Oliver Loran, and Ragnar (c)NightMagican
Bastial Rathbark (c)CherlnIDA
Amber/Robin Hood, Fane (c)Me

Story written by us three as well ^^