Skipper Raynor and Adena Riverlough were in a dilemma with their traveling band. As it usually was with elders, they all thought that each knew the way to Salamanstrom and were gossiping. The Dibbuns were running around helter skelter, with their mothers running right after them. The one hundred and sixty warriors could not do anything more than trying to calm the elders or help catch the babes. Both of them were sitting in a circle with other fighters discussing on how the trip was going to be traveled and what to do if they face any foe beasts.

"The problem is 'ow to defend ever'body if we do get attacked mates. Besides Zan's army, Painted Ones roam these parts o'the Woodlands, and they are dangerous if we go anywhere near their terr'tory. Once we trespass in, it will be hard to get out in one piece. 'arn 'arts, you get 'it with one, the muscles around tha area gets deadened for an entire day.

"Wha' about using fire?"

"What about it?"

"It 'as been proven that Painty Ones are afeared of fire mate. Dey always sh'ink back everytime they see fire aroun' der homes."

"Aye, that's true, but it's also dry and hot here. One spark will cause a fire and kill all of us. Don't forget that we also want to live through this too."

"We'll be careful then, if any fire starts, quickly smother it in dirt."

"Right, after that, what about the Juska on the coast?"

"Dem Juska 'ave bin woiped owt or joined Zun's army. We'm dun need to worry 'bowt them pesky vermunt."

"So, all we need to do is get down to the coast and we'd be home free then?"

"Aye, that seems 'bout right."

Skipper tapped his rudder impatiently,

"So what are we doing around here then mates? Let's go catch those babes and be on our way."

Soon after, the entire band of creatures were marching west with hopes high and confident that they will get through the Painted One's land. As they marched, the green pines of the Painted Ones became clearer and clearer until they could see the green gloom the overlapping tree branches created among the pines. As they neared Adena warned them,

"Everyone will need to be quiet now, anyone make a sound and we're all dead, got that mates?"

A chorus of murmured ayes answered him. To the babes, Skipper put on a scowl and said in a gruff voice,

"If you liddle scallywags make one sound, I'll tan your tails so hard, you won't be able to sit 'til next ten seasons come and you will be on pot washing duties, forever."

The Dibbuns promptly locked their mouths and threw away the key.

As Skipper and Adena entered the pines, Skipper drew the sword of Martin the Warrior and Adena armed herself with a double pointed otter javelin and a torch. They entered the pine quietly like oiled silk neither of them speaking and only communicating with signals. A wave of a paw or a twitch with the sword was all they needed. They were in their for a few hours and things were going well; they were almost out until an elder tripped and fell onto a hollow branch.

Crrrrunccccchhhhhhh

Then the trees began to scream with the voices of the Painted Ones. Pebbles shot from slings rained down like, well, rain, and their blowdarts were whistling from every angle, striking beast and tree alike.

"YaaYaa, killem all, dey be deadbeasts now, ohohoho yisyis."

As a group of warriors sent up arrow and stones, they felled Painted Ones by the dozens, but for every one they lost another ten sprung up. The fight was starting to go towards the Painted Ones, when the squirrel named Nia, shouted

Vallliiiidussss

and started to thrust at the Painted Ones with a torch in her paw.

The Painted Ones immediately scattered and screeching for their fear of fire was like facing a giant adder with nothing but your bare paws.

As the fighters broke and made a run for the exit, they picked up whatever friendly dead they came across. Then they made it, with the sun kissing on their faces and the dust making a little cloud by their footpaws, they shouted with joy and stopped running. Skipper rushed at Nia,

"Harharr, that was a reckless thing t'do Scout, but it worked. Nice job mate."

Nia smiled sadly,

"Aye, that it was Skip, but not everybody made it out safely."

She pointed at the row of dead that they managed to get out, some elders, babes, and fighters.

Skipper Raynor face was somber as he replied,

"Before we line up again, we'll make sure to give these beasts a proper burial and pay our last respects."

As willing paws dug holes in the ground with spear and sword, they gently lowered the bodies into the makeshift tombs and covered the burials with dirt again. Nia sang a short verse

For the ones who died

Let us not cry

It is surest

That they'll go in peace

T'the dark forest

The lines formed up again and marched silently out of the woodlands. A few days later they reached the Western coast and the vast endless ocean, a first experience for most of them. As they whooped and exclaimed delight, sinister eyes twinkled from a fair distance away, watching the traveler's progress across the coast.