Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been a little busy this summer with a job and college and whatnot. I have been working a bit on both my fics but it's getting hard to focus on both of them. I want to make sure that none of my stories get left behind and abandoned, so I tried to only update when I finish both, but apparently they're both falling behind now. I admit, I'm running into a road bump with Chains, but I'll work on it later. I've found that it's quite helpful to get rid of writer's block when I start on a chapter I've been excited about. I will get around to it soon. :)

Special thanks to the reviewers: Myrkin, Persarr, Siran 774, Scyphi, Mosshadow, Icefox425, Jarrtail, Shards-of-Airan, Alizera Song, and Quavera Tava.

This chapter's just a little more heart-felt than the others and shows a little more about Pewter than the last chapters. The info and characterization are a little more explicit than i like, but I have to give you guys at least something.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy. :)

Homesick


The young hare came home, laying the certificate and decorated sword down on the table for his father to see when he got back. The colonel was planned to come to his award ceremony, but in his stead was an empty seat glaring back at the stage. Ever since Father got word that Parsley was coming back from the front, he had gone ahead to get her welcoming party arranged- reserving a dining hall and organizing some caterers. He was simply over-joyed at the news of her coming home and never bothered to question why.

"Probably because she did such a top-notch job in her unit," the colonel chortled to himself as he smacked the letter. Pewter had rarely ever seen him look quite so happy or proud. Ever since he had heard rumors of tribe rats in the North, he had lost sleep and appetite worrying about her, and now Captain Darche had given her early discharge. She was coming home.

Coming home...

"Father?" he asked. There was no response from the empty dorm. He sighed and arranged his awards neatly. The colonel couldn't stand untidiness- especially if guests were going to come into the house.

"A party to celebrate your sister's homecoming and your graduation, Pewter," Father had exclaimed as he jotted plans down on paper. "This should be a wonderful party!"

"A wonderful party, indeed!" Pewter muttered to himself. Couldn't Parsley have chosen a better day to come to them? Maybe the week after? Couldn't she at least give him some time as the center of attention? There were no plans or anything until after he got the let-

Creeeeeaaaaak...

He froze at the sound. "W-who's there?" Now the place seemed unnaturally still. Everything was quiet, all except for the window's drapes flapping with the wind. Did I... did I open the window before I left? Pewter stepped around lightly, ears flattened as he recalled all the Academy had taught him about stealth.

Keep yourself silent at all times, he rehearsed mentally. Keep an eye on every angle of your surroundings. Always fall into an offensive or defensive stance. Watch for any possible exits...

He rounded a corner in the hall, leaping out with his fists poised for a punch. But the only enemy that greeted him down that darkened hall was just the thought that he was going insane. Perhaps his father came back inside their home and opened the window?

He sighed, lowering his arms before something clamped a paw over shoulder. He yelped in alarm, spinning around as he lashed a paw out, feeling the sting on back of his paw as he struck something hard.

"Ooh! Pewter!" He stopped, panting as he studied the intruder.

"... Parsley?" She was bent over slightly, clutching at her nose while some liquid pooled out from between her claws. But other than that, she seemed fine but... He blinked, making sure he wasn't mistaken.

"Shhh!" she whispered. "You can't tell Father."

"B-but..." he stared at her swollen stomach. "... You can't hide it from him anyways..."

"No!" she panicked, hugging the unborn child as she sat down. "You can't tell him! You can't tell him!" And then it dawned on Pewter why she was given early leave.

---

Pewter blinked awake, his footpaws feeling cold. He groaned, stretching his back as he pushed himself off the armchair. Thump! He sighed, bending down and feeling the floor for whatever it is that fell. Finally, he felt the object and picked it up, identifying the book: Tale of Sunflash the Mace. Ah yes... the story of the Redwall ferret... He placed the book on the nightstand, raising his arms in a stretch.

It was dark and he supposed he had dozed off. He didn't remember falling asleep... how odd that there was a draft... He looked back up at his window, the curtains drifting up like ghosts.

"I'm not ashamed of Braddy." Her voice echoed in his mind. It surprised him and infuriated him at the same time. How could she possibly be so resilient and stubborn and shameless? But now she was dead and there was no more anger, no more frustration. Just a sad blankness.

Shivering, he stretched himself over the ledge and pulled the window shut, locking it tight before he drew the drapes back over it. It was strange, how it felt as though these nightmares were the usual. They came every so often that it seemed to be just a regular dream to him, a repeat of the past. Sometimes, he wondered if he'd acted differently than he had, would anything have changed? If anybeast had acted differently, would they it made the difference?

If he had bothered to turn around and talk to the cub when she was all alone, would that have made a difference? Or did he already make a difference- a negative one? His face set in a frown, he turned towards the dining table, noting how the stitched rag doll stared back at him questioningly.

Tonight there was a new moon. Scubb knew exactly what that meant- no light tonight. Her chamber contained no candles and no windows save for one, but it only showed a world of blank emptiness. And tonight, she would have no supper, as Major had ordered it.

"I swear, Ward," the elderly hare huffed. "What was going through my mind when I volunteered to take you in, I'll never know! Ever since you got here, you've been nothing but trouble. You should at least be grateful for all the opportunities we've supplied you with! You're just lucky that we did not throw you out into the wilderness- luckier still that we even spared you!"

"Fine then," she growled, her eyes watering as she touched her welts gingerly. "Then just throw me away. See if I care!"

And it seemed that he really did take her advice. He threw her in her prison he called a "room" and locked her in with nothing but a blanket and a straw bed. She was there the entire day and the few visitors she had were just there to plop a tray of food and water on the floor, nudge it towards her with a footpaw, and leave.

It had been at least five days since she'd been captured by them. How long would she have to wait before Bargra came for her… if she'd ever come at all…?

She was her mother and she always watched out for her and made her feel better if she got hurt. Scubb smiled to herself as she remembered the time when she played with the other children. It was only a little game that tested courage. The concept was simple, really: see who could get the closest to the slaves and poke them.

Usually the slavedrivers would see them and yell at them to get away- maybe even hit them. She remembered that one time, she was goaded on by her playmates as she snuck by an ugly rat who was busy whipping somebeast. The tiny cub scuttled up to a sea otter, his back scarred and bent over his work. She inched towards him, eyes constantly on the slavedriver. But that was a big mistake.

Just as she was about to jab one of the fresh scars on the slave's back, the otter raised a footpaw and slammed it hard on her tail. She howled in pain, cursing as she cried and tried to scramble away while he pinned her tail down. There was a loud crack as a whip snapped in the air and suddenly the weight on her tail lifted just so she could bolt out of the galley, past the laughing children, onto the deck, and into Bargra's arms.

She cried and cried and cried as the vixen smoothed out her tail's fur and wiped away her tears, glaring at the laughing onlookers. Even some of the slaves were chuckling to themselves. But what Scubb remembered most was the way Bargra cradled her in her arms and took her back to the hammock they shared. If it wasn't for her, Scubb had no idea what she would do. That otter that hurt her would've gotten away with it if Bargra wasn't there to whip that miserable slave afterwards. She used to feed her, protect her, talk to her, and give her things. But now she had no one.

Creeaaak...

She turned around, blinking back at the light.

"Whaddya want?" she demanded. "Gerraway from me!"

"It's alright, it's alright," a familiar voice said as the intruder got closer. "It's only me, Pewter."

"Oh, it's you," she spat. The hare closed the door behind them, banishing the light once more. Realizing the darkness she was in, he reopened it, leaving it ajar so some light slanted in.

"There," he said. "We can see better now."

"And why would I wanna see yer cross-eyed face?"

"You don't have to talk like that," he replied, his tone unscolding. He was closer now, and she could now see that he was holding some small bundle in his arms. Her eyes widened slightly, though she still kept them narrowed.

"What is it this time? Another ugly doll?" She scooted over as he kneeled next to her on the pile of straw.

"Got yourself in some more trouble, eh?" He didn't wait for her to answer as he held up the doll. It was in a red dress this time while stitches ringed its neck. "I got it fixed, see?" He offered it to her, noticing how she stared at it curiously. Slowly, she lifted it from his paws, cradling it in her arms as she looked down at it, her eyes seeming almost vacant.

"Pewter?"she asked in a small voice.

"Hm?"

"Do you... d'ye think you have any dolls of foxes?"

"Erm..." He paused awkwardly. "I might. I could check and see, I suppose."

"Are there any foxes or vermin here in this crummy mountain?" she asked in a flat voice. Again he paused, wishing that he could somehow tell her something comforting- tell her that she wasn't all alone here in this strange new world that had snatched her away.

"No." He felt his heart dip as she drew her knees up. She never seemed so small. Pewter watched as she stroked the doll's ears and gripped its arm. It was then that he noticed the red stripes on her paws. "What happened there?" he gasped, making a grab for her wrist, though she pulled away.

"That wart-gutted wrinkle-cheek whacked me, was what!" she flared, the angry look in her eyes cuing Pewter to back off.

"But on the back of your paws?!"

She shuffled her footpaws together as she looked at a blank wall, her mouth twisting before she answered. "He got mad at me for what happened at the Academy and made me face the wall and put my paws on it. And then..." she swallowed, "then he told me he was goin't'gimme five strikes on my bottom. He hit me some and I tried to block it and it hit my paws instead. Those whackings on m'paws didn't count, though."

"Did it hurt?"

"Of course it 'urt, addlebrain!" she hissed. And then her voice softened. "But it was nothin'."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I have some good news." She turned around, her eyes sparking with that old curiosity. "I talked to Miss Flannery today. She said that she was willing to give you some private tutoring, though her schedule is quite full, so you would probably have to take your lessons later at night- different times than most other hares. You would like that, wouldn't you? Do you like her?"

"The loud-mouth doesn't know when to shut up," she scowled, recalling how she had forced her to write all over the blackboard until the chalk powder dusted her clothes.

"Now that's not fair," Pewter argued, his voice a notch harsher. "It was very kind of her to offer you an education. If it wasn't for her, you would probably have to take your lessons from a strict taskmaster of sorts."

"I don't need an eddiction," she sulked.

"Yes you do," he pressed. "If you don't, you would never fit in with the rest of the children. They'd all learn to read and write and all sorts of useful things while you stay locked up in your dungeon."

"I don't wanna."

"Like it or not, you have to do this. If it's not Miss Flannery, then it would be somebeast that Major Thornsbry would appoint. You are going to learn and it will be for the best."

"Never!"

"Scubb," he insisted. "It's for your own good."

"No!" she screeched. "No! No! No!"

Now the hare's patience was reaching its limit. "You are being impossible!"

"You are being an idjit!"

"I'm trying to help you!" His voice cracked like a whip and Scubb fell silent, hugging her doll to her as her ears angled backwards. Pewter sighed, his shoulders sagging before he tried the phrase again. "I'm just trying to help you," he offered gently. "I'm on your side. I'm just here to make things easier for you."

"Why..." he caught the vibration of her voice, "... are you helpin' me?" The question caught him off-guard.

"B-because I want to help you." He offered a weak smile at that. "I like you. I care about you." She nodded slowly, turning away from him as she buried her nose between her knees. She felt her eyes brim with tears and she fought to keep them in, but the cruelness of everything suddenly came crashing down on her all at once. The little cub blinked, tears dribbling down her snout and onto the floor. It was too late now. She couldn't stop the onslaught of tears now that the first droplets had fallen.

Scubb swallowed, giving a choked snuffling sound as she rubbed her eyes with her sleeve, turning away from her benefactor before he could see her weakness. However, her attempts were futile, as her shoulders were shuddering violently with every shaking breath. Alarmed, Pewter dug a paw deep in his chest pocket, flipping out a white handkerchief.

"Here," he said, offering it to her, though she only snatched it away and flung it back at his face. Sighing, he picked up the crumpled cloth and laid a paw on her shoulder, turning her around. She fought to wrench herself free, though he held her still as he attempted to wipe the tears from her face. Again she resisted, slapping his paws away angrily.

"Stoppit! Stoppit! I said stoppit!" she growled. "Get that snot-covered rag off my face! I'll bite ye again!"

"Don't be ridiculous. It's clean," he said, all concentration honed in on his task. "Just hold still!"

"No!" she shouted, twisting her body around so that she faced the other way. "No I won't! I hate you!" She bit her lip as more tears began to flow. "I hate all of you," she cried. She was no longer struggling and Pewter was motionless. "It's all your fault, Pewter! Why'd ye take me here? Why?" Her chest heaved in and out as her sobs wracked her lungs and the next thing she knew, she was clutching at Pewter's shirt, weeping onto his shoulder. He teetered over slightly, almost knocked off balance before he steadied himself with his free paw.

He sighed wearily, patting her on the head as she unleashed all her anger unto the hare with her tiny, harmless fists. "It's not fair!" she shouted. "It's not fair! Why'd ye take me over here? Why'd ye do this t'me?"

"Sh-sh-sh," he soothed, patting her on the back and offering what little solace he could.

"I hate it!" She shuddered. She wasn't flailing her arms out at him anymore. Now, she was just weeping helplessly, finally safe in someone's arms after so long. "I didn't want to be here. I want to go home. I want to go home to Bargra."

"It's alright," he whispered. "It's alright, Scubb. It hurts, I know. It'll get better, though. It's not so bad here- you'll see."

"But I don't want to be here," she repeated miserably. "I just want my mamee back. I just want Bargra. I need 'er."

He had no idea how long he'd held her. The tears kept coming and for some reason, Pewter felt scared for her. She was usually so strong and snappish- so full of spirit. And now, he worried that her fire would fade here. He had no idea why it was so important that she stayed the same. After all, if she at least surrendered she would probably fit in better among the hares. But that was it- she would have to forsake her will, almost the same way a hopeless slave would.

Pewter supposed this is where his redemption would be found. After all, he had failed with Parsley and he was determined not to fail for Scubb.

It would be hard for her, he admitted, gently lowering the sleeping cub down on the bale of straw. He put a thin blanket over her, heaving an exasperated sigh as she stuck her thumb in her mouth again. However, he did his best and ignored that nasty habit, gently placing the rag doll next to her so that it nestled comfortably in the crook of her arm.

Grow up strong. Keep your chin up and keep your pride no matter what.

And then he left, soundlessly closing the door behind him.

Now, a lot of you are wondering if I'm going to have a big time-skip or something like that. The fact is, I will, but it won't be a big one. Rather, I'm going to show snap-shots of Scubb's life as time goes on. These little snap-shots will come around for about 4 or 5 more chapters until something big happens. As it stands, I have half that important chapter typed up and it's fueling my drive to write. :D

Please review and thank you for reading (and hopefully reviewing!)