Chapter Three: Luska Whipclaw
Luska Whipclaw was one of the most feared corsairs of his time. He and his large crew had ravaged the cold and desolate Northern Isles, taking slaves and workers. Indeed no one talked back to Luska, he had ways to deal with defiant beasts. He carried a whip at all times; the whip had a barbed point on one end to cut down any who opposed him, which was few.
Luska was an odd looking ferret. He lacked a few body parts: an ear, and three claws. He usually kept his bad paw in a thick iron glove that, when combined with his strength, could deal heavy damage. He couldn't hear very well at times, but the lack of that sense made his vision very keen.
One unique thing about the vermin leader was his ship, or rather, ships. His crew was so massive that they could not only occupy one ship. Mangepaw was Luska's right-hand beast, he took control of the other ship, and a large bridge connected the two.
Luska watched as an assortment of rats, stoats, ferrets, and weasels blundered around his ship, each doing a different task. The smell of cooking meat emanated from a cabin near the stern, where a group of vermin were doing there best at fishing. Luska laughed inwardly at their pathetic attempts, before leaning over the prow and staring at the water.
"'ey! Cap'n Luska!" hailed Dirgeeye from his perch atop the mast. He was a plump looking rat with a high-pitched voice. The morning sun shone behind the sea-faring rat, shining it's light over the seas.
Luska looked up to where Dirgeeye sat. "Wot is it, Dirgeeye? 'ave ye spotted land?" A tinge of excitement was in the vermin leader's voice as he asked. The crew had not set foot on land in a while.
"Aye, Cap'n. 'Peers to be a small island, t'ickly coted wid trees. Do we 'ead for it, Cap'n?" He waited for his Captain's response. Luska was literally shaking with excitement. To be on land meant to have more slaves, a thing he had been needing for awhile. Many of his slaves had died due to their treatment, and their carcasses were still chained to the rowing benches.
"Yes. Call over to Mangepaw in de udder ship, tell him to 'ead towards de island. I trust youse lot can 'andle dis, I'll be in my cabin if'n you needs me." The Whipclawed ferret retreated into the comfort of his cabin, knowing that his crew would get the job done.
It was mid-noon by the time the crew had hauled the ships into the coast. Luska had given the ships one collective name, Waveroller. The large crew was still climbing out of the ship and onto the ground as Luska gave his orders.
"Mangepaw! You takes de crew from yore side o' de ship and stay ashore. Guard de ships and make sure dat nobeast touches 'em. The rest of you, follow me into de woodlands. Any complaints?" Every beast knew the correct answer. The crew shook their heads vigorously en masse. Nobeast dared to defy him, especially not now, for a small smile had appeared on the vermin captain's face, and smiles always meant danger to some beast. Mangepaw drew his half to one side, letting Luska's pass off into the surrounding foliage. The half of the crew that remained there created a fire, roasting vittles from the ship.
"I'll tell ye mates, dis place looks mitey nice," commented a stoat named Stumptail. The stoat was older than most in the crew; he had gained his name after a pike took off his tail.
"I'll second dat, Stumpy," said Mangepaw, glancing around. "Why, I bets dere be plenny of birds, eggs, and fruits in dere." And he was right. The island that they had landed on was a jungle filled with lots of tropical looking fruit and exotic plants. Large leafs fanned the vermin as they talked. The sunlight lit patches of the ground beneath them, making small patterns on the forest floor.
"Aye, it does fill nice to be off o' dat ship. It's a good thing we found dis island, our vittles was runnin' a bit low," Stumptail added. He picked up a shell out of the sand. Holding it to his ear, he tried to listen to the waves. Instead he got a nasty surprise. The crab that lived in the shell had taken action, clamping down fiercely to the vermin's ear. "Yowwwch!" he wailed. The crew all turned and looked, hearing his cry of alarm. He wrenched the crab off of his ear, commenting darkly as the crew laughed around him, "It almost took me ear off."
A crew member was heard to comment, "Den ye'd be stumpear too! Haharr!" The crew snickered.
"Who said dat?" he bellowed. The crew fell hushed, leaving Stumptail clueless as to who made fun of him.
Luska Whipclaw hadn't made it very far into the woodlands before his crew became very disoriented. They stumbled around over roots and plants, falling into marshy puddles or into clear streams. They saw green snakes slither past in the trees, all keeping watchful eyes on the marching vermin. Luska roared at the blundering sea-goers.
"'urry it up, youse mangy lot! Ain't you ever walked on land afore?" The crew kept silent, trying to keep their balance over the heavily rooted ground. Though Luska would not admit it, he too was having trouble walking on the strange land.
The crew stopped marching in about a half hour. They were glad for the rest, they got to nurse the many cuts and bruises they had received from the ground, and it was a chance to rest their weary bones. They found fun in stomping the ants on the ground. They chuckled hoarsely.
Luska sat by himself, away from the rest of the crew, something he enjoyed doing. He couldn't stand the loud bicker of the crew, which usually messed up his thoughts. In order to process his thoughts, he need his time alone. But right now, he was having problems.
He hadn't found any slaves, or better yet, any signs of existence out here in this forest. He couldn't go back to his crew without a slave, he didn't want to look like a fool in front of his crew.
Getting up, he walked back to where the main group was. "Alright, crew! Geddup! We 'eadin' back out into de woods. C'mon, sharpish now!" The crew reluctantly got up, following their leader obediently.
Smoke curled up into the sky, rising from the stone chimney of the hut. There were many huts, all in a small village. Peaceful animals strolled casually down the streets, laughing, playing, and talking. Working animals got to their jobs with earnest, everyone in this village would gladly do their part for one another.
A young female squirrel ran after a mouse, laughing. She wore a simple homespun tunic- of a brownish gray color-, which billowed in the wind as she ran.
"Give it back, Talo!" She cried laughingly, jumping onto the young mouse's back. They both laughed as the rolled in the dirt. When the dust settled the young squirrel, Aditi, was on top. She grabbed a large volume from him. He sighed dejectedly.
"Okay, you beat me this time, Aditi." He smiled. She put the book beside her, pointing at it with a dusty claw.
"I've got to get that book back to Mama Vole." She got off of Talo, letting him sit upright. They brushed the dust off themselves.
"I can't wait for the feast tonight," Talo said, his eyes looking far-off and distant. Aditi nodded her agreement, from what she had heard the feast would be a good one. The villagers had a feast every start of summer, but this one would be especially good to them. Fate had been kind in giving them a great harvest and bountiful crops. Aditi could almost taste the wonderful treats she would be having.
"I think I'll go help in the kitchens," Aditi said, getting up and grabbing the large volume. "But first I'll take this back to Mama Vole, I have a feeling that she is expecting me."
Aditi walked over to a hut, designed like the rest, which was set a little off from the center of the village. She knocked on the door, politely waiting for a response. A gray furred water vole opened the door, a wide smile was on her face.
"Why, hello, Aditi. How nice of you to drop by." She allowed the squirrel maid inside of her homely house. Aditi felt the familiar soft moss beneath her feet. Candles were glowing on shelves in the house, and thick volumes were lined in cases along the wall. Aditi seated herself in one of the vole's thick and comfortable armchairs, watching as Mama Vole walked off into another room. She came back in a moment with some tea and small scones.
"Thanks, Mama Vole, it's really nice of you to share these with me," Aditi said politely.
"Oh, no problem at all. I was expecting you." Even though Aditi was used to Mama Vole saying things like that, a cold chill went down her spine. Mama Vole had been known to predict things, most like a seer working with good creatures.
"I came to bring back your book, marm," Aditi said as she sipped the steaming tea. "I read it all the way through, it was pretty interesting. But please tell me, is Redwall Abbey really real? Or did the author just make it up?" Mama Vole smiled warmly.
"It is a real place, my child. Everything you have just read is true. Fascinating, huh?" She placed her own cup of tea onto a small table. The candles flickered, making their shadows dance on the walls around them. Aditi watched them warily, feeling as if the very walls around her were watching her. But then, she always had that feeling in Mama Vole's house. She pushed the thought from her head as she asked the old vole a question that appeared in her mind.
"Have you ever been to Redwall, Mama Vole?" Aditi asked in wonder. Mama Vole's smile widened.
"Goodness no child! If I had ever gone to Redwall I would have stayed, though I often dream about it. I wish to go there someday." Aditi nodded noting the faraway dreamy look that flashed in Mama Vole's eyes. But, as soon as it came, the look vanished.
"Aye, I'll agree to that. Oh, I must be going. Sorry for rushing off, but I promised I would help in the kitchens today. I'll see you at the feast!" She placed the book on the table, smiling at Mama Vole. Though Aditi didn't see it, the vole had a grim expression on her face.
Stumptail looked at the dark night sky, listening to the crew around him. They were all chattering away happily, laying down by the many fires they had lit, or eating food they had cooked on them. Stumptail, however, was not part of these festivities, his ear had swollen considerably, and it ached badly. He winced in pain, the throbbing was causing him to have a headache. He muttered softly to himself.
"Confounded dis ear. Huh," he said, changing tones, "I wunner win de Cap'ns gonna be back?" He laid down to sleep by his fire.
Luska Whipclaw waited for his two forward scouts, Ripsnout and Bilrow to get back to where his crew was camped in the woodlands. The night was settling in beautifully atop the tropic paradise, and even evil vermin such as Luska could not ignore it. He slowly drifted off to sleep under the leafy boughs of the trees. The rest of the vermin followed suit, quickly falling asleep under the bright full moon.
Ripsnout and Bilrow arrived back at camp about a half hour later. They looked at the sleeping forms with curiosity. Ripsnout glanced over at Bilrow.
"Do ye t'ink we should wake de Cap'n, tell 'em wot we seen?" Bilrow looked nervous. He didn't want to wake his Captain from a peaceful slumber.
"I dunno, you wake 'em up." Ripsnout shook his head vigorously.
"Oh no, yore de one dat seen it, you 'ave to wake 'em up." Bilrow looked hesitant, but decided not to argue farther. He approached the Captain silently, gently shaking him. Luska's golden eyes flashed open, causing him to jump back. Luska sat bolt upright.
"Wadda'ya want?" he said groggily. Bilrow shook as he answered, his leader was in a bad mood. He twittered his paws.
"Well, me an' Ripsnout found a village, Cap'n. Looks like dey are getten' ready fer a feast, dere was a bunch of dem outside." Luska instantly snapped out of his grogginess, a smile spreading across his face.
"Haharr! Me buckoes! 'ow far is it to dere village?" Ripsnout stepped forward, answering the question with a new confidence.
"'bout a half of a half hour's march from 'ere. We kin make it dere real fast if'n we double our marchin' pace."
So it was that in only a short time Luska had the crew up and ready to march. Luska smiled a rare smile.
"March fast and strong," he said, "Cuz we're goin' to a feast."
A/N: I hope you all liked it. I'm a bit unsure about the introduction of the vermin, did the accents work out right? Please tell us what you thought of the chapter. Thanks to all reviewers: JadeTealeaf, Foxstar24, and Warrior4! Your reviews are really appreciated. I'm not sure if this url will work but here is the StripeEar website if you want it:
www. freewebs . com /stripeear , I hope that was clear enough. Don't put the spaces. Please review!