Chapter 9

Every able bodied hare was to report to the war room, Orlando eventually made it in the room. The Long Patrol limed up in rows of 10 and made a makeshift aisle for Orlando. The badger hobbled to his chair and sat down, he announced that Mattimeo and his band of fighters were outnumbered and he asked how many hares would volunteer to help the mouse. The hares looked at each other and raised their paws, this made Orlando smile and he nodded at his companions.

"Alright, it is agreed, you will go help Mattimeo."

"However, some of you blinkin' hares, will have to stay here and defend Salamandastron from any vermin raids. I recommend we take half of our fighters East. That way, Mattimeo and his lot will have plenty ot reinforcements and Salamandastron shall be well guarded."

Orlando rubbed his chin, he agreed with what Halsbrook said. The Lord of The mountain sat up and dismissed his creatures, the hares saluted their master and walked in straight lines. Halsbrook was the last to leave, meanwhile in the nusery. Cregga was beginning to crawl around the floor, she crawled to a baby hare who was playing with a wooden figure. The baby hare babbled in delight as he played with the figurine and little Cregga went to investigate. When the baby badger had finally made it to the hare, she sat down, holding her footpaws, and rocked back and forth. The tiny hare was skeptical about the newcomer, but he decided to share his toy with the baby badger. The hare's name was Eyebright. Little did both beasts know, that when the two would grow up, they would be good friends and excellent partners on the battlefield.

Mattimeo and the crew decided to have a late lunch. Cheek brought back a net full of water shrimps, the sack weighed about 50 pounds, but being the strong strapping otter that Sandra married, it felt like five to him. The Guosim cooked nodded at what Cheek had fished out. Brandishing a ladle and large cooking pot, he asked for Cheek to dump a quarter of the shrimps in the cauldron, Cheek nodded and did as the shrew needed of him, next the cook chopped up some celery, carrots, onions, and rutabaga. He threw those in the stewing pot. Then the shrew gathered a large bucket of water and carefully poured the liquid into the cauldron. The vegetables and shrimps danced around in the water, for add flavor, the shrew added some thyme, rosemary, and some salt. The cook began stirring the cauldron slowly, he turned and faced his comrades.

"I advise you to snack on an apple or a scone, this may a while."

He said to hungry beasts. Mattimeo nodded then looked up to the sky. The day was a perfect 70 degrees, the wind blew lightly and there was shade all around them to keep them cool. After an hour or so, the soup began to bubble, the water turned from clear to a reddish pink. The cook shrew got up and shouted the Guosim war cry. Lunch was ready. Everybeast lined up with wooden bowls and spoons in paws and they all got a heaping scoop of freshwater shrimp stew. Mattimeo sat down on a flat rock, Sam sat on a tuft of grass, Cheek, Elmtail, and Honeycomb sat down on a large log that had fallen from a lightning strike. Mattimeo took a sip of the soup and his eyes buldged with excitment. It felt like his tastebuds were singing in a heavenly choir. The various flavors danced around in Mattimeo mouth, he swallowed then took another spoonful of soup. This was the best soup he had ever had, all the other beasts had the same reaction, upon seeing this, the cooking shrew knew he did a great job. After eating the succlent meal, the warriors helped wash out their bowls and they packed up everything. Mattimeo stretched and dusted off his clothes.

"Is everybeast ready to go?"

Sam, Elmtail, Cheek, and Honeycomb got up, slung their satchels and haversacks over their shoulders, and nodded. Mattimeo smiled to the left cheek and he lead his fighters to their destination. Balah and the Guosim followed behind, to keep everybeast in spirits, the shrews sang a river shanty. Though it was more appropriate to sing it on the waters.

"Ho hum,

Ho hum,

We've rowed down the widest rivers,

They make somebeasts shake and shiver,

We've braved perilous rapids,

But to use they're tame and vapid,

If I was an otter I'd swim away,

to the deep blue sea is where I'd stay,

But I'm a fightin' shrew,

So I've decided to stay that way,

And so should you,

We fought many vermin,

On both land and water,

We give their tails a hurtin',

We've skewered stoats,

Walloped weasels, and fought off foxes,

Sent them all in wooden boxes,

If I were a bird I'd fly away,

Over the cliffs and the canons,

Is where I'd stay,

But I'm a fighting shrew,

So I've decided to stay that way,

And so should you."

Mattimeo and the rest all clapped at the song the Guosim sang, it certainly made the trip more entertaining, however their fun rudely ended when the warriors were ambushed by a tribe of unknown beasts. Mattimeo drew his sword, a stone arrow pinged off of the center of the blade.

"Ambush, everybeast find cover now!"

He ordered, the other drew their weapons, and began setting up a perimeter. Even though the woodlanders were more than ready to battle off any enemy creatures, they couldn't see where their enemies were, all they heard were scrwtching sounds, hissing noises, and the sounds of arms and legs scurring about. Soon a barage of stones flew directly at the warriors and at least half of them were knocked out cold, Cheek was one of the unlucky ones to get hit. Leaving only Mattimeo, Sam, Elmtail, Honeycomb, Balah, and a small pawful of shrews still up. Then in a flash a spear but smacked Mattimeo right between the eyes, everything went dark for him, and soon the rest followed. They had no idea what attacked them, but the last thing they heard before losing consciousness was the sounds of hissing.