Mouse Guard: Winter 1152 (My version)
A/N: Hi everyone, and welcome to chapter 2 of my version of Winter. Here, we see were Saxon, Edward, Sadie and Kenzie fallen into. You all know how it is, I don't own Mouse Guard or it's characters, settings, or story line. They belong to David Petersen. I only own my OCs. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Darkheather
Three parties of Guardmice left Lockhaven in hope of gathering both supplies and medicines from the surrounding towns and villages and to deliver invitations to a meeting for each town governor. After Kenzie's group got attacked by a Great Horned Owl, the ground collapse opening a huge hole and taking 4 mice, preventing the group from returning to Lockhaven on time.
Saxon, Sadie, Kenzie and Edward fell into the bottom of the hole. Luckily, the snow broke their fall and all four mice are unharmed. However, some of their equipment got damaged.
Kenzie's lantern broke a bit, causing the oil to spill, Saxon's sword broke in two due to the cold and how the sword was made.
On top of the hole, Lieam struggle to hold on as he started to lose his grip.
"I'm slipping!" Lieam shouted to Celenawe as he feel his grip loosening.
Celenawe pulled the Axe from the root and swing it to Lieam.
"Quickly! Grab hold of the Axe!" Celenawe exclaimed.
Lieam responded by grabbing the head of the Black Axe as he hold on for dear life.
Remy pulled himself out of the edge and sheathe his sword as he ran to Celenawe to help.
"Let me help!" Remy said as he grabbed Celenawe's cloak.
"On three." Cenelawe said to Remy who nodded.
"One, two, three, pull!"
Celenawe and Remy pulled with all of their might as they struggle to help Lieam back up.
After a few minutes of muscle aching pulling, they finally got Lieam out of the hole.
"Thanks guys." Lieam said in relief.
"Not mention it Lieam." Remy replied while Celenawe removed the binding from the Axe.
Lieam then realize something.
"The others!" Lieam said in horror. "Do you think they survive that fall?"
"Only one way to find that out." Remy said to Lieam as he and Lieam went to the side of the hole, showing the bottom with the 4 guards knocked out by the fall.
"No one's moving down there." Lieam said to Remy in concern.
"The snow broke their fall, Lieam. They're not dead." Remy said to Lieam, trying to calm him.
Celenawe joined Lieam and Remy as he too looked down into the hole.
"Saxon? Kenzie? Sadie? Edward?" Lieam shouted to his four companions.
Kenzie wake up after being knocked out for a few minutes and saw that he, and the other four fell into a tunnel.
"Kenzie!" Lieam said in relief, seeing that one of his friend is still breathing.
"Are you and your others okay?"
Lieam question was answered as Saxon got up spitting the snow out of his mouth, Sadie also awake as she shake the snow off of her head and Edward got while getting the snow out of his ear.
"We seem to be alright down here Lieam." Kenzie said as he get up out of the snow.
"Where have you fallen into exactly?" Lieam ask.
"Well, we seen to be in a rather big tunnel." Sadie said as she viewed her surroundings.
"And from the looks of it, it's not made by mice." Edward said.
Saxon try to climbed out of the tunnel using his broken sword for support.
"It seems we fallen through a snow-drifted vent hole." Kenzie said observing the hole they fell in.
"Yeah, but a vent for whom?" Sadie ask Kenzie.
Celenawe notice something on the left side of the vent below the snow and said,
"Take a look at that emblem."
Lieam, and Remy saw a symbol of a weasel holding a spear in it's left paw and a pink flower above it's head.
"That's Darkheather's emblem!" Remy said in shock. He's friends have fallen into a weasel burrow.
"Weasels!" Saxon said with venom is his voice. He have a deep hatred for weasels since the Winter War.
"We'll get you four out of there!" Celenawe said as he use the binding as a rope and lower it.
"A weasel burrow is no place for mice to be. Not even for guardmice." Lieam said.
"Yeah. Once your in there turf, your never heard from again." Remy said.
"The weasels have abandon Darkheather after it was ruined during the war, right Kenzie?" Sadie asked Kenzie who pulled the lantern out of the snow and get the snow out.
"That's right Sadie, but last time I check, Darkheather shouldn't be this far." Kenzie said to Sadie.
"Yeah." Edward said in agreement. Darkheather wouldn't have gone this far into the Territories.
Saxon slide down after trying to climbed back up, but unfortunately it's too steep to climb.
"We can't climb our way out of here, Kenzie. It's way too steep." Saxon said in defeat.
"Also, Celenawe's binding is too high for us to reach." Kenzie said while pointing to the binding. Guess climbing is out of the question.
Kenzie gather a couple of twigs and a part of Saxon's broken sword, and a flint to light a fire for the lantern.
"So, Kenzie, how's the lantern?" Saxon ask.
"Lucky for us, there's oil in the front." Kenzie answer while lighting the lantern.
"Good." Edward said. "Hope we don't encounter anything that crawls in this dark, dusty place."
"Celenawe, can you give us direction?" Kenzie said to the oldfur.
"It's North." Celenawe said while pointing in the said direction.
"We're in luck, this tunnel point the same direction as well as East to Lockhaven." Kenzie said. They can use the tunnel back to Lockhaven and make it back on time.
"Seems here our paths split up." Kenzie said to Celenawe, Lieam, and Remy, as Sadie put her hood back on, Saxon sheathe his broken sword and Edward put his bow on his shoulder.
"You three continue to Lockhaven with those elixirs. We'll follow this tunnel til we find a way back to the surface."
"Good luck fellas." Remy said as Kenzie, Saxon, Sadie and Edward walked down the dark tunnel.
Edward forgot something and said,
"Hold up guys. I forgot something."
"Okay, we'll wait for you, Edward." Kenzie said as Edward ran to the vent and shouted to Lieam,
"Hey Lieam!"
"Yes Edward?" Lieam ask his brother-figure.
"You, Celenawe, and Remy be careful. That owl it still out there and it haven't give up."
"We'll be careful Edward. Don't worry." Lieam said to Edward.
"Okay. See you three back in Lockhaven." Edward said as he run back to Saxon, Kenzie and Sadie.
"Kenzie, do you really mean to take though Darkheather!?" Sadie said a bit scared.
"What i mean is to lead us out of this dark place." Kenzie said to Sadie.
"And if it mean going through Darkheather, then so be it."
"I hope your sure about this Kenzie." Edward said.
"I hate to get lost in a place like this."
As Kenzie, Saxon, Sadie, and Edward disappeared into the tunnel, Lieam said to Celenawe in concern,
"But we can't leave them down there!"
"Our duty Lieam, is to return to Lockhaven with the medicines." Celenawe said to the young guard while lighting his pipe.
"Or else, the entire mission have been all for nothing."
"He's right Lieam." Remy said agreeing with Celenawe's words.
"Beside, Kenzie and the others can handle themselves down there."
"Also, when you, Edward, and Twilight were prisoners in Midnight's army weeks ago, Saxon and Kenzie kept the greater good of Lockhaven in complete focus." Celenawe said, reminding Lieam of what happen last Fall.
"I remember that." Remy said as he recall Midnight besieging their home and they manage to beat Midnight and his army.
"Of course you do Remy." Celenawe said as he turn back to Lieam.
"Anyway, they didn't ignore the fates of thousands to search for you, or your friends."
"So, what your saying is a good guard mouse should abandon his fellow guards!?" Lieam said a little confused as he put the bag on his back and follow Celenawe and Remy.
"Don't think like that Lieam." Remy said a bit shock at what Lieam said.
"He's right." Celenawe said in agreement while walking on a branch.
"They knew that you, Edward, and Twilight would make it through, and I know they will right now".
Lieam, Celenawe, and Remy continue walking as Celenawe continue,
"Saxon, Kenzie and Edward and three accomplished Guardmice."
"That's true." Remy said in agreement.
"Plus, Sadie has impressed me on this Winter mission as well."
"She's a skilled slinger, as Edward and Remy are skilled archers." Lieam said to Celenawe.
"If Saxon and Kenzie can keep themselves from squabbling like two birds fighting over a berry, Edward can keep the two from fighting and Sadie can keep her eyes focus on other than Kenzie, they'll make it."
"But I never said that they wouldn't make it, I don't know if it's the right idea to leave-" Lieam said as he pushed through the grass as Celenawe interrupted him,
"Well, I hear that your time with the Guards have been short, right Lieam?"
"Well, he was recruited two years ago, so yeah." Remy said to the oldfur.
"You know, Lieam, you really need to make up your mind about what kind of mouse you wish to be." Celenawe said to the young guard.
"So tell me Lieam, do you wish to be like Saxon, or Kenzie?" Celenawe ask.
"Well, yes, I-" Lieam was about to say until Celenawe interrupted him once again.
"You know, you should always aim to be your own mouse, Lieam."
The three mice stopped by a cliff-side viewing the bare trees as they continue on.
"In fact, Lieam, you already are."
A while later, Celenawe saw wolf paw prints on the snow and order Lieam and Remy to keep quiet so they won't attract it's attention.
"You're not the one to jump into danger as Saxon, nor you're as wise as Kenzie, but for are brave as Edward."
Lieam and Remy drew their short swords as they and Celenawe follow the tracks.
"I believe they rely on each other too much."
The three followed the tracks to a eaten carcass of a deer. Guess mice wasn't on the wolf menu this season. Remy and Lieam sheathe their swords and Celenawe, Remy and Lieam continue their way to Lockhaven.
"Saxon know he can be reckless cause Kenzie and Edward act like his conscience."
Soon, the mice came to a river. They can't swim across cause the water is too cold. Luckily, Celenawe notice rocks on the river which go across the icy water.
"Kenzie can stay in his thoughts and ideas because he know that Saxon can protect him, while Edward keep the two in check."
Celenawe went first as he hoped from one rock to the next and Remy followed while Lieam watch the two mice.
"I tested Kenzie earlier last night."
Lieam followed Celenawe and Remy's pattern and follow them with ease.
"I wanted to he if he would be affected by my advise. Although, it took Saxon's flattery to change his mind."
Celenawe and Remy watch as Lieam hopped from one rock to the next. Both are impressed by this.
"You must be complete within yourself, redfur."
Lieam suddenly lost his balance and fell into the freezing river.
"You'll never disappoint, not even in solitude my friend."
Lieam burst out of the water, soaked to the bone as Remy grabbed his paw and pulled him to the other side.
"T-t-t-thanks R-R-Remy." Lieam said shivering from being in the water.
"Any time, Lieam." Remy said as he smiled.
A while after Lieams 'swim', Lieam sat on a branch drying by a fire made by Celenawe, who place Lieams cloak on his Axe over the fire to dry it out, while Lieams bag carrying the elixirs are placed behind Lieam and his short sword and gloves are placed next to the fire. Remy is busy poking the fire with stick as Celenawe said to the shivering mouse,
"You know, I heard of your brave deed before I meet you, and I got to admit, killing a snake through the mouth is impressive. Not many mice can do that."
Lieam is surprised by this. The oldfur know of Lieam killing the milksnake even before they first knew each other.
"B-b-b-b-b-ut h-h-h-h-how d-d-d-did y-y-y-you kn-n-n-now?" Lieam said still shivering.
"Yeah, how did you know about that?" Remy said.
"Well, such acts like that are spoken by many types of animals. We just need to listen."
"I see." Remy said. He know that a some animals can talk, and some can't.
Then, it began to rain.
"R-r-rain?" Lieam said as he put his gloves back on and rain begin to fall.
"Not just any rain, Lieam, freezing rain." Remy said to Lieam.
"He's right, it freezes as it hits." Celenawe said as the rain put out the fire.
Celenawe handed Lieam his cloak as he put it back on and put his short sword back on as well.
"'Our d-duty is to Lockhaven with the medicines.''' Lieam said as he recall what Celenawe said earlier.
"But are you warm enough after your dip?" Celenawe said in concern.
"'Or else the entire mission would be all for nothing.' I'll b-b-be fine." Lieam finished, shivering a little.
Celenawe smiled at the young guard and said,
"It seems to me I have an apprentice. "
"Come on." Remy said to the others, "We must get back and fast. I don't know how long Lockhaven will last without these elixirs."
Lieam and Celenawe nodded and the three mice continue to make their way to Lockhaven as the freezing rain continue to fall.
Meanwhile back with Kenzie's group, they continue into the dark tunnel with the lantern lighting their way. They left the vent hole for two hours and it feels like an entire day.
They saw a couple of broken wall tiles and Kenzie broke the silence,
"Feels like we're going a little deeper now. You can tell cause the soil is softer here and not frozen."
"Now I know these ruins are weasels." Sadie said as she saw the wall tiles with small weasels on them.
Saxon remove his Winter rode and said,
"Either they are or they were. We should've went the other way Kenzie. We need to go back to the surface and regroup with the others, not venture deeper into this place." Saxon to Kenzie.
"Come on Saxon, where's your sense of adventure?" Edward said to Saxon. "It wouldn't hurt to explore new places."
"He's right, my friend." Kenzie said agreeing with Edward. "We're exploring a potential treat to the entire Territories." Kenzie said to Saxon.
"Wait, this place have been empty for two years, how can it be a treat?" Saxon said confused.
"We'll figure that out once we get their, Saxon." Kenzie answer and continue,
"If this tunnel continue Northward, we may be under our towns and villages above our heads. Right know, our mission is no longer it return to Lockhaven with the supplies. Remy, Celenawe and Lieam are doing that right now."
"Lieam, Celenawe, and Remy?" Saxon said in disbelief, "The youngest, oldest and middle guardmice alive? Are you sure you trust their safe return to Lockhaven by themselves?"
"By themselves?" Kenzie repeated, "Nonsense, Saxon, they have each other. Lieam may be young, but he proven himself time and again Remy is the second skilled archer, and they're accompanied by the Black Axe for guardsake!"
Although, Gwen and Richard promise to keep their mouths shut of telling anyone that Celenawe is the Black Axe, Gwen tell Kenzie and Saxon since they're Lockhaven's finest, but the twins tell Saxon and Kenzie not to tell one soul.
"And I did warn them about the owl that's still on the hunt. They'll be fine." Edward said to Saxon.
After a few minutes of walking, the 4 mice hid behind a pile of broken wall titles.
"Quiet everyone, there's something up ahead." Kenzie whispered to the others.
A bit on dust tickled Edward's nose as he begin to sneeze.
"Ah-ah-AH-chi-" Luckily, he covered his mouth and sneezed quietly.
"I said we need to be quiet Edward." Kenzie whispered to the archer in annoyance.
"Sorry, Kenzie. It's my allergies." Edward apologize. Edward have a allergic reason to dust since he was little.
"You know, opossums used abandoned burrows like these." Said Sadie. Although some opossums eat mice, others prefer fruits, grains, and insects.
"Who says that they were empty?" Saxon said in disbelief.
In front on the 4 mice, is a gate leading inside Darkheather itself and on each side of the gate is what seems to be two weasels wearing fur hats, armor and holding a spear in their paws.
"This is like old times, right guys?" Saxon said as he draw his broken sword.
"Kenzie, you the one on the left while I take the one on the right."
"The one on t-" Kenzie said as he was cut off when Saxon leaped over the title and charged at the weasel.
"Saxon, Wait!" Kenzie shouted as Saxon ran to the weasel.
Edward look closely at the two weasels and to his surprise, their not real weasels at all, but statues.
"Saxon, wait a second! That's not-" Edward try to say.
However, Edward's warning came too late when Saxon yelled and trusted the sword at the statue, making a scratch in the stonework.
"Real." Edward said in defeat as he shook his head. Saxon never listen.
Saxon notice that it was just a statue the whole time as the dropped his sword and said to Kenzie, who is annoyed by his action,
"It's alright Kenzie, It's just a statue." Saxon said.
"That's what I've been trying to say before to charged at it." Edward said to the red-cloaked mouse annoyed.
"Plus, you didn't know that!" Kenzie said.
"If this was a real weasel, this one would've been gravely wounded." Saxon argue with Kenzie while pointing out to the scratch he made.
"You have endangered our lives again!" Kenzie argue.
"Oh yeah?" Saxon challenge as he and Kenzie continue to argue, "With Sadie being as I quote, 'A good shot' and you holding a basket of fire, I can figure out that the two of you could take on each other."
"You know, there are time where you don't plain Kenzie!"
"That's not a plain!" Kenzie said. "You just attacked that statue!"
Saxon didn't listen to him as he continue,
"You move ahead and adjust as challenges come, like that the distraction in Backstone last Fall."
"Oh?" Kenzie said in a challenging tone, "Were you adjusting then you attacked me? Or when you punch me in the face and both of us got dragged out of the city?"
Before Saxon could answer, Edward stepped in front of the two and said,
"Cut it out you two. Fighting don't take us anywhere. Unless you two stopped acting like kids, I suggest you dropped it and move on."
Kenzie and Saxon know their friend is right. Fighting with each-other take them nowhere.
Sadie walked to the gate and opened it.
"It seen to be empty from here." Sadie said to the others.
Kenzie lead the way and Sadie, Saxon and Edward followed into Darkheather. The 4 mice saw arches towering above the Guards.
"So, this is Darkheather. Nice place." Edward said to himself, impressed by the architect.
"This seems weird." Said said to Kenzie.
"None of this was damaged or destroyed in the war."
"Well, we didn't know this was below our feet." Kenzie said to Sadie.
"If that's true, then why is this place empty to begin with?" Sadie asked.
"That's what where gonna find out Sadie." Edward said to Edward as the group stopped at a flight of stairs. Saxon went first while Kenzie give Saxon light and Edward and Sadie stand guard.
"I'm not saying that Darkheather is empty as a well, I'm saying that the ghosts from two years ago still lurks in this place." Saxon said as he and his comrades climb up the stairs and around a dome structure.
Edward looked at the design and said,
"You know, for our enemies they sure are skilled architects."
"I agree with you Edward." Kenzie said in agreement. "Hopefully, we won't have another war with them."
Sadie heard something and said, "Guys, did you heard that?"
"Yeah. Sadie, you and Edward scout ahead and-" However, Saxon cut Kenzie off and said,
"Them? Why? Is it because my tactics don't have quality?"
"No, Saxon, your tactics do have quality and-"
"Good. Cause this is Darkheather." Saxon said as he again cut Kenzie off and draw his broken sword as the 4 mice enter another arch hallway.
"Darkheather, darkheather, darkheather." Said a dark voice which echoed around the hallway.
"What was that?" Edward said a bit scared as he, Saxon, Kenzie and Sadie walked in.
"I don't know Edward, but whatever that was, I think we need to fight our way out of this place." Saxon said to Edward.
However, Saxon was unknowingly right cause above the mice is a colony of brown bats as they watch the mice closely.
Back in Lockhaven, Richard is carrying a bag of sunflower seed to Lucy's room which is on a branch above the castle.
As he walked to a lift which takes mice to the higher part of the tree, he saw his sister making her way to the apothecary to check on Alvin again.
"Hey Gwen. Are you okay?" Richard said to his sister in concern.
"I'm fine Richard, I'm just gonna check on Alvin. You?"
"I'm gonna take this bag of sunflower seeds to Lucy." Richard said as he show Gwen the bag.
"Okay. Good luck." Gwen said as she continue her way to the apothecary while Richard walked to the lift.
Richard enter the lift and pulled the lever, making the lift go up. Soon, the lift stop a couple of feet above Lockhaven. Richard exit the lift and enter to a room filled with letters and at the back is a nest and resting in that nest is Lucy. She have return after a long day of delivering letters and surviving the blizzard from last night.
Richard cleared his throat and said to the sleeping robin,
"Hey, Lucy."
Lucy then wake up from her nap and she stretch her wings and said to the captain with a yawn,
"Hey Richard. What's up?"
"Not much, been trying to stay warm, you?"
"Tired. I've flown through a blizzard trying to deliver messages."
Richard laugh a bit and said,
"Well you know what they say, though snow, rain, or hail, the message must go through."
"Yeah, that's true." Lucy said as she chuckled.
"I brought your favorite, Sunflower seeds." Richard said as he handed the bag of seeds.
"Thanks Richard." Lucy said as she opened the bag and started eating the seeds.
"Anytime." Richard said to the messenger and he prepare to leave Lucy's room.
"Caught you later Richard." Lucy said, waving her wing at him.
"You too." Richard replied back and headed back to the lift.
Gwen walked in to the apothecary and said,
"Hey girls, I came to check..on..Alvin?"
Gwen can she that Alvin's bandages are open and Angela is getting a leaf out of the wound. Gwen can also see that Abigail is not in the room.
"Angela, have you seen Abigail?" Gwen said to the healer.
"No. Last time I saw her she said she'll give Alvin a 'special treatment' and left."
"Poison." Alvin said in a weak voice.
"Alvin, did you just say.."
"Yes. He did." Angela said, cutting the matriarch off. She then handed the leaf to Gwen and are shock.
"This is Hemlock!" Gwen said.
"Yes. Abigail must have put it there when I wasn't looking." Angela said to Gwen and looked at the book which read:
"Hemlock: A poison that bloomed in the Spring when most of the forage are gone. The leaves are poisonous, but the roots are fleshy, white and don't have branches. When crushed, the leafs and roots make an unpleasant smell that's the same as parsnips. The symptom of being poison by this planet include trembling, weakness, lose of coordination, a weak and slow heartbeat, and eventually, death."
"Abigail poisoned Alvin." Angela said.
"How long did you know?" Gwen said to Angela.
"For a week since Alvin got sick." Angela again said
"I'll tell the others. Meanwhile, you work up an antidote for the poison." Gwen said.
"I'm on it." Angela said as she gathered herbs to make the antidote.
Gwen then ran out of the apothecary to warn the others of what happen to Alvin and to find Abigail for questioning.
Richard was walking the hall after coming back from the lift and he saw her sister running.
"Gwen, what's the matter?" Richard asked Gwen.
"Alvin been poisoned with Hemlock. I have a hunch that Abigail did it."
"Abigail? You sure?" Richard asked.
"Yes. We need warn the others to put Lockhaven on lock-down til she's found."
"All right then." Richard said as he and Gwen ran to the study to order the lock-down. They need to find Abigail for questioning. If not, then they'll have no choice but to kill her.
A/N: Another chapter done. We find out that Saxon, Kenzie, Sadie, and Edward have fallen into a weasel burrow which have been abandon, or so they , along with Liam, Remy, and Celenawe went their separate ways to return to Lockhaven. Also, Alvin have been poisoned by Abigail and Gwen and Richard must organize a search party to find her. Be sure to Read and Review and no or flaming or they'll be used to light torches. See you all next time.
