Here is the next chapter! I want to start to introduce the new character in this one... I'm not sure how she is going to develop, but I want everything to pick up pace. Here we go!

A Fellow Prisoner

Roughly, they were thrown in a gloomy cell, nothing but shadows surrounding them. The ruffians laughed as Dr. Dawson grunted in pain; the rocks were painfully hard under him and his elbows felt skinned. Basil made no sound, sighing deeply as he hit the ground next to the doctor.

The cell they had arrived in was small, hardly a room, and it smelt of wet straw and damp clothes. There was a drip of water somewhere and Dawson could see nothing but the faint light of the moon when the clouds parted occasionally, casting enough light just so the bars over the little window of the door cast their own shadow over the prisoners. The stones were like ice and Dr. Dawson couldn't see his hand in front of his face.

"Oh, Basil, what dreaded place have we arrived in?" moaned the doctor, struggling to sit up; his hands and feet were still bound and he felt woozy after the ride on the animal to the prison, the lack of movement throwing him off.

The sound of a match being struck ripped through the silence and a flash of light illuminated the surroundings. A candle was lit, and then another, before the match was blown out, tendrils of smoke billowing throughout the room. Dr. Dawson was startled and even Basil, who could hardly see through of one of his eyes for the swelling, looked up in shock.

A mouse stood there, a small, petite figure dressed in hardly more than rags. The whiskers were slightly rumpled like Basil's were, as if the mouse had been in a fight similar to their own. There was a slight smell of mint as the mouse bent down next to Dr. Dawson and brought a knife out of some hidden spot, the blade flashing. Dr. Dawson cringed and was about to cry out for Basil until he felt the ropes falling from his hands and feet. The mouse had cut them free. Dr. Dawson looked over and saw the mouse doing the same for Basil, cutting him free of his bonds before slipping the dagger back into it's hiding spot.

"Who are you?" asked Dr. Dawson indigently. "Why are we here? Men of honor introduce themselves!"

"I am not a man," came a smooth, high voice as the figure stepped into the light. It was a lady mouse, her large eyes shining, her pale fur ruffled. Dr. Dawson instantly felt regret at snapping at her.

"My deepest apologies, madame. I did not know-"

"Apparently not!" she said, slightly indignant herself as she took a candle from the crate across the room and walked to Basil's side. The detective had been struggling to a sitting position, but Dr. Dawson could see his shaking all the way across the cell. "You don't know who you are talking to."

"I am talking to a woman, who has no right to be a prisoner! What evil scheme does Ratigan have in place for us? How long have you been here?"

"Almost a day, maybe two. You lose track of time easily alone in the dark."

"But, you have candles-"

"-that won't last forever. These are the only two I found."

"Along with that dagger?"

"This was my own long before I came here. Come help me with him."

Dr. Dawson crept to Basil's side as the lady took Basil's jacket off, unbuttoning his shirt. Dr. Dawson felt himself blush. This woman could be no more than a young lady, barely of age to be on her own, and here she was, undressing the detective with a steely look in her eye.

"I don't suppose you have any medical experience, or you would know that I am simply trying to get to his wounds," chastised the young lady to Dr. Dawson, who blushed deeper as she insulted him.

"I am a doctor, madame, trained and certified. I know that you only plan to-"

"Then be quiet and help me dress his wounds."

There was a rip of fabric as the young lady ripped the hem of her dress into several bandages for Dr. Dawson to use and the doctor did his best in fixing Basil up, who had slipped into unconsciousness once more.

Here we are! Who is she, you are probably wondering, who is she? Well, you'll find out in the next chapter! Please read and review! Thanks so much!