Martin ran.
His footpaws drummed the floor as he raced back to Mossflower Woods. His legs burned and his heart hammered against his chest, straining under the panicked desperation that drove him onwards.
Once again, he had let Rose down.
Behind him, Gonff and Dinny stumbled along at their own versions of hasty. Less used to strenuous exercise as Martin, Gonff panted and held a stitch in his side. Even further behind, Dinny waddled towards the trees at a steady, manageable pace.
Neither of his friends felt the same cold fear as Martin did. As soon as Chibb had mentioned capture, he knew inside himself that he'd again let Rose down, and in doing so delayed their journey to Salamandastron by at least two days.
Guilt drove him forwards through the aches in his muscles.
The ground under his paws became springier, making it easier to run. Martin was suddenly under cover of the trees and felt the air cool down where it had been sheltered by the leaves.
He hurdled over rocks and fallen limbs, pushing branches out of the way when they snagged his tunic. Martin ran.
He barely managed to come to a stop when he saw the group of burly otters – Skipper had to steady the flighty mouse with his thick paws.
"Hold up there, matey. Don't go arunning over me troops afore they can save those fair maids." Martin closed his eyes and stretched, trying to catch up on breath. It took a moment for him to be able to reply.
"We have to get them back."
"Worry yourself none, me old warrior. We've arranged a rescue plan for right now, if you'll kindly help us." Skipper straightened up and grinned when he saw Gonff crashing through the woods towards them. "Watch yourself matey – you'll turn the entire woodland to toothpicks!"
"Hush your mouth, great waterwalloper." Gonff panted, doubling over so his voice was barely audible. "Great acorns it's been seasons since I've had to move so quickly."
"We'll have to start training you if you're going to be of any use to us." Lady Amber said quietly as she landed next to Skipper. Her tail was twitching nervously. "We're going to have to act now if we stand a chance against them. Before they get chance to reorganise and regroup."
Skipper nodded. "With me, otters. We'll provide cover for Lady Amber's lot." The otter fighters slipped into the forest silently, heading straight towards Kotir. "You stick next to me, mateys. We've got a special plan for you two."
Martin, Gonff and four otters lay in wait in the long grass for the small patrol of Kotir soldiers Beech the squirrel had seen coming out of the castle. For the last hour, squirrels had been tracking their movements and had predicted which direction they'd re-enter Kotir from – allowing the ambush to be placed exactly.
Sure enough, Martin's sharp ears soon heard the crashing and chatting of vermin trying to navigate their way through the woodland.
"Stop shoving!"
"I'm not shoving, wobble legs. It's Blackie – he's trying to trip me!"
"No I ain't! You keep slowing down is the problem."
"You're just in too much of a hurry to get back to the dinner hall. And what's the hurry? Won't be any food there for us anyway."
"I'd rather starve within them walls than out here. There's those squirrel archers out here and I'd hate to think what they'd do if they caught us."
"And them otters. Come on, let's get back – Yowch!" Just as the last ferret had past him, Gonff's paw had shot out and nicked the ferret's leg with a small dagger. The rest of the group yelled out and stopped where they stood, turning around to face the hidden attackers.
"Getem, troops!" Gonff roared and pounced on the tripped ferret, pinning him to the floor with a knifeblade to his throat. "Gotchya, fleabag."
The rest of the vermin were better prepared. Martin locked paws with one who wasn't quite quick enough to reach for its spear and wrestled it into a tree, a fierce strength driving him forwards. The surprised ferret stood no chance – Martin had its paws bound together and mouth gagged in moments.
Within moments, all four ferrets had been captured. The otters exchanged hoots of celebration and slapped paws with Gonff and Martin. The warrior wasn't in the mood to celebrate, however. He glared at the gagged ferrets with a stony expression.
"Let's hurry. I want them back before nightfall."
The otters swept up a ferret each, carrying them away towards the front gate of Kotir.
"You alright, matey?" Gonff asked when he noticed Martin wasn't following. The warrior took a deep breath and tore his eyes away from the sky. He faced his friend and confessed in a whisper.
"I just want her to finally be safe."