Author's note: Well, the holiday season is coming up, so I'll be spending more time at my copmuter during vacations, so stick with the story. I'm seriously thinking of canceling, though. It's too much, keeping up with my deadline(of ten days a chapter), and dealing with corrupted chapters. Anyways, don't be surprised if you come on and see a chapter that says 'This story is canceled'. Ok, anyways, here we go…
Chapter 12
Gonff settled nervously into a small, sort of beanbag-like chair, causing himself to sag backwards into a comfortable postion. He sighed happily, looking out the window. Martin sat across from him, twitching his nose. After a silent moment, Rose came in with tea. Silently, she set the teacups on the glass table in front of the fire. Gonff shrugged.
"So, what did you ask me to come here for? I mean, nothing's wrong, right?"
Martin gulped.
"Actually, yes…" He said, leaning back. Rose nodded, and Martin continued.
"You know that when good creatures die, they come here, right? Well, when vermin die, they go to hellgates. Well, we're not exactly sure where, but hellgates is accessible somewhere in the dark forest."
Gonff nodded.
"Aye, but what does this have to do with something going wrong?"
Martin nodded.
"I'm getting to that. Somewhere behind the hellgate , vermin plotted to break free from the spirits that kept them from getting out and into the forest. They've succeeded."
Gonff's eyes widended.
"Wow! So now we have a bunch of vermin running around here?"
Martin nodded.
"But that's not all. We had a small army attack us just two days ago. We fended them off, but… Gonff, many creatures died!"
Gonff was thunderstruck.
"Died? How- Who- How do they die? They're already dead!"
Martin shrugged.
"I honestly don't know. But we have to gather everybody in the dark forest. We have to find some way to fight back for the friends we lost…"
He sat back down heavily.
"Anyways, I'm going off to find my parents. I think they will help us. My father always knew what to do in situations like this. He will help the city find shelter from the evil, I'm sure of it!"
Gonff nodded.
"I'm going with you, matey. Can't count me out, even if you tied me up, threw me in a box, and put me under the ocean!"
He joined paws with Martin. Rose soon joined in.
"Me, too. I'm going, too." She said, happily.
Martin looked around.
"What about Pallum and Grumm? Shouldn't we find them?"
"Oh, yes. We must find them. They would be heartbroken if we didn't take them along…"
Gonff was confused.
"Do you mean the hedgehog and mole from the story? They're coming?"
Martin nodded. Gonff threw up his hands.
"Well, what are we waiting for, mate? We've got to find your parents!"
Peering out into the sunlight of mid-morning, Rose led Martin and Gonff to her house which was some distance from the dibbuns'. She snuck up the stairs, beckoning with a paw behind her. She carefully opened the door and went through, soon followed by Martin and Gonff. She turned back to them, clapping her paws in determination.
"Right, we'll stop here and get some things. I think Grumm and Pallum said they were going to sneak food from the kitchens, but…"
"Shouldn't that be Gonff's job?" Martin said slyly, watching Gonff's face become that of anxiousness. Rose laughed.
"Well he has plenty of experience, but probably not in that area."
Gonff shook his head.
"I've stolen from just about every situation you can think of, Miss. Kitchens, windowsills… vermin castle storerooms."
They all laughed. Rose regained composure and began giving out orders.
"Oh, here, Martin, pack up those scones, and that empty flask in the cupboard. We'll need it for fresh water from a stream. Gonff, why don't you go and get Grumm and Pallum. They should be done by now. Go on!"
Gonff saluted smartly, and dashed out the door, and tripped over the front steps.
"Ooch." He said, standing up and running again, only to halt and turn.
"Er, Martin? Rose?"
Rose stuck her head out of the door.
"Yes?"
Gonff twiddled his thumbs nervously.
"Where are the kitchens?"
Rose laughed and pointed.
"Go that way. It's a big building in the middle of all the houses. Just go in through the back."
Author's Note: Yep. Another short chapter. With thanksgiving coming up and everything, and I got to see 'The Polar Express' In an IMAX theater in 3D. It was amazing, I can tell you that. Anyways, enough about my life, let's talk about the story!
This chapter was short, no action, and lacked excitement just about… everywhere. But every book has a chapter like that, right? So next chapter(13) IS going to be long, filled with action, and a vermin attack… on Holt Harken! Yes, I finally got around to making Holt Harken exist, and Denjer the Otter, too! So that's what you can expect in the next chapter. Stick around!
