"Just over those trees you'll catch a glimpse of your new home, Chitter. We should be there by midday," said Bruno.
Chitter's eyes followed where the badger pointed. Either he missed the place, or the trees hid it from his view. The cart bounced across the dirt path, which led them away from his master's stated destination. Chitter searched the horizon, but he saw nothing beyond the autumn leaves and the other woodlanders that jogged behind the cart.
That first day, a female hedgehog helped him into the cart before the badger raced across the countryside. When they stopped for the night, she carried his chain as he raced from the cart to the fires. One by one, he relayed the warrior's backpacks and unrolled their blankets. At dinner, the elders invited him to their fire where they talked nonstop about his new home.
His anxiety and anticipation made the wait a long one. Again, the cart made a turn as it followed the trail. Then he saw it. Never had he seen such a massive structure. As they cleared the last tree, bells rang. The rumble of a wooden bridge overrode the many greetings shouted by the field workers they passed. Bruno and the warriors raced to the open gateway.
The badger slowed the cart as they entered a wide cobblestoned courtyard. Chitter turned in place, looking at his new home. He wondered if the building with the many young faces peering out was the school Foremole told him about last night.
Bruno helped him out of the cart. As he regained his footing, a female squirrel dressed in green approached. Every beast she passed bowed. The female squirrel marched up to Lord Bruno, who also bowed his head.
"Welcome back, Bruno. Whatever happened to the slavers?"
"It's a long story, Mother Abbot, but there are no slavers, just this one kit squirrel."
The black-furred female glanced at him, and then faced the other returning warriors. When she spoke, they gave her their undivided attention.
"Captain Karteel, send out runners to the villages we warned yesterday. Let them know the danger has passed."
Bruno touched the black squirrel's shoulder. "Mother Abbot, how is my wife?"
"She's fine, Bruno. Our Healer released her when the bells announced your return. No doubt she is on her way here."
Bruno almost jogged towards one of the buildings. Since the badger still held his chain, Chitter had no choice. He kept close to his master's side. Bruno called out the name of his mate. Chitter didn't see the badger that answered, but could hear the slap of sandals from somewhere above him.
"If you're back, husband, then there should be lots of freed slaves with you. Let me hear of your victory and greet our new friends."
The marble stairs ended at a landing at the upper floor. The female badger reached the landing and now faced the doorway. Chitter found her attired in a light green dress bordered with white lace. She wore stockings of the same color topped with white that accentuated her natural black fur. Fingerless gloves covered her paws, leaving only her upper arms exposed.
Chitter felt confused by this beast. Unlike those he met earlier, this one wore a mask that hid her features. Only her deep brown eyes and two triangular black ears remained exposed.
As the creature approached, Bruno reached over and embraced her. He gave the masked beast a firm, but gentle hug. When they stood together, Chitter noticed another oddity about the female. Unlike Bruno, she had no tail.
"You have news for me, Tassel?"
Her open palm slap to Bruno's chest carried no power. "Don't change the subject. I expected my husband leading a whole village of freed slaves back here. Instead, you bring one chained child."
Bruno retold the story of their meeting. It sounded funny when Bruno described his reaction. He then expressed his deep concern for the other captive slaves. Bruno hastened through their journey homeward. Whenever he could, Lord Bruno complimented Chitter regarding his behavior.
"It's a disappointment that only this one dibbun escaped, husband."
"He'll be a fine addition to our gaggle of little beasties." Bruno ruffled the fur on Chitter's head. "While we are talking about an addition, perhaps you will tell me about ours?"
Tassel's voice lost some of its rasping quality. "Come; let me show you what has happened since last we were together." With that, the masked badger turned and hurried up the steps.
Bruno held the chain out at full length and counted. He got as high as five when Tassel snarled. The masked beast stopped halfway up the stairs, turned in place, and rushed back to where Bruno stood. She snatched the chain out of Bruno's paws.
"I suppose you were going to leave this poor child standing here? Apparently your mind is elsewhere."
As the female stomped along towards the main entrance, Chitter wondered why Bruno chuckled. Chitter scrambled after the upset female as she carried his chain towards the door. His mind whirled with unasked questions, but the masked female kept muttering in a tone that held a note of menace.
"My mind is elsewhere? Admit it, wife; yours was in the same place. What say I meet you upstairs in the Dormitory? Once Chitter is settled, you can introduce me to our newest addition."
xxxxx
The masked female badger didn't answer and Chitter watched his master climb the stairs. Just as he faced the door, it flew open. A female vole rushed him. The collision knocked Chitter onto the floor with the vole landing on top of him.
He tried extricating himself, but the chain entangled them. Tassel's snarl made him freeze in place. The female vole got back to her feet, pushing the heavy chain away from her. She brushed her skirt back in place as she gazed upon the masked badger.
"Sorry for running into you like this, but I did want to catch you, Mrs. Tassel."
"Speak your piece, girl. There are other things I need to do and I have no time to waste."
"Mother told me what you do when someone joined the Dibbun Dormitory. May I act as his sponsor; offer what you call first blood? You would allow it if my parents permit it?"
"As a favor to your mother for our past friendship, I'll allow it, Julia. Bring sufficient clothing for the five-day period and then locate Firelog and Highclimber. Tell them to report to the Dormitory."
Julia made a slight curtsy as she turned away. The masked female watched her speedy retreat through the very door she had entered but a moment earlier. The badger gave a slight snort, grabbed his chain, and marched outside.
"My Lady, how do you know of first blood? Were you once a slave like me?"
Tassel answered with a distant voice. "Long ago, before I came here, I was born a slave. As I grew in that distant land, I learned of first blood. Now, I use it here whenever a new dibbun is placed under my care."
They hurried across the courtyard until they reached an area enclosed on three sides. The cool of autumn did not reach inside the structure. Within this room, Chitter experienced the warmth of an early spring.
Tassel shouted. "Egress, where are you?"
A massive hedgehog dressed in a heavy leather apron entered the shop from a back door. He circled the workbench, grabbed Chitter with one paw, and the heavy chain with the other. He placed him on his workbench with a gentle touch. Once there, Egress pulled the chain close to his face as he examined both it and the metal cuff.
"When I heard the bells announcing Bruno's return, I fired up the forge. I must say I am surprised. What happened to the others, Badgermom?"
"This is the only one my mate found." Tassel pointed at the shackle as if the blacksmith had not already seen it. "So, how long before this thing can be removed?
"Give me half an hour. I'm certain I can get that shackle off by then."
The female threw her paws up in exasperation as she plopped onto a nearby bench. "That long? That's too much time for me to accomplish anything else. It looks like I'm stuck here until that thing is off his leg."
Egress chuckled. The hedgehog took his finger and traced a line above Chitter's ankle. "I could slice his foot off here and remove that cuff within a moment."
So many things frightened him about this place. First, a masked female with a voice that always sounded angry, and then a vole attacked him without provocation. Now, this hedgehog wanted to remove his foot. He gave into his fear and lunged for the exit. The hedgehog held his tail while the masked badger blocked his retreat. He cried, begging to keep his foot.
Tassel rushed to Chitter's side. "Your joke was in poor taste, Egress."
"My apology, Badgermom, I didn't intend to scare him."
Once he knew the blacksmith did not plan to remove his foot, Chitter stopped resisting the hedgehog's efforts to examine the shackle. The hedgehog went to the far wall and returned with two buckets in his paws. He placed the larger one on the table and Chitter knelt in it. Egress used the other bucket to fill his with enough water to cover his lower leg.
The hedgehog moved towards the forge and grabbed a wooden handle hanging from the ceiling. With a mighty pull, Egress pumped the bellows. With each stroke, the fire flared and the room went from spring warm to summer hot. The tools resting in the coals turned white.
The blacksmith removed one of the heated instruments and placed it over the clamp end of the shackle while lifting his leg clear of the water. As he squeezed, Chitter tried to withstand the intense heat that passed from the tool to the shackle. When it grew too painful, he whimpered. Egress lowered Chitter's leg into the cold water, and the pain diminished.
Tears ran down Chitter's muzzle as the hedgehog continued with his work. After seven tries, the clamp fell off the squirrel. Egress lifted him out of the water and ran his callused fingers through Chitter's fur, asking if anything hurt. Satisfied, the hedgehog pronounced him fit.
"Glad to know Healer Egress, but mind if I ask somebody that knows medicine?"
"Now relax, Badgermom, this youngster is one very brave squirrel. I'm just glad he didn't get burned while I removed that thing from his leg."
Badgermom Tassel's sharp voice softened. "My apologies, sir, I have yet to speak with Bruno about our blessed event. I am a bit nervous and distracted."
The blacksmith lifted Chitter off the workbench. In spite of the heat, Chitter shivered in his wet clothing. Egress pushed him towards Tassel with a light touch.
"I can understand what you're going through. My wife told me she spent several hours trying to find the right words when she announced the birth of our first child. Trust me when I tell you all your mate wants to know is if everyone is healthy. Nothing else matters."
She nodded. "Would you do me the honor of joining us in Cavern Hole when the clock strikes three? We will be making our presentation at that time."
The hedgehog lumbered over and embraced Tassel. Such was his strength that he lifted her without as much as a grunt. When he placed her sandaled feet back down, he gave her a light peck on her masked muzzle. Having exchanged farewells, the two elders parted and Chitter followed the female.