Ch

Ch.13

Secret Weapon

Sorry to keep you waiting! I returned home from Ohio on Tuesday evening and I was busy Wednesday. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter! Please R&R!

Sunrises were usually quite beautiful to behold as the orb of light rose into view, brightening the world and beckoning its inhabitants to wake up, but the beauty was lost upon those of Salamandastron. The sun had no beast to awaken, for everybeast was already up and about, preparing themselves for the impending battle.

Hardy wiped his sword with a rag, rubbing it until the legendary sword illuminated like the sun. "So, is everybeast ready?"

"I know I am," replied Edith as she toyed with her tonfas. "But where's the fat Highlander and mini fat Highlander?"

"Ah prefer thae term 'pleasantly round'," said Isaac as he joined the mouse, along with Aeneas, Darius, and Redwall's Champion. "As fer me son, he'll be snorin' fer thae next few hours. Who knew druggin' yer own son wi' sleepin' medicine could be so much fun!"

"Yeah, a blinkin' blast," added Darius, a hint of sarcasm in his tone as he pulled oh his spiked gauntlets. "So, do we have a plan?"

Aeneas scowled at the hare. "Ye weren't payin' attention when Lady Rhea went over th' battle plans? Fine, I'll tell ye, but pay attention this time! We'll be split into two groups. Lady Rhea will lead one group down the beach where she'll meet the vermin. The other group, led by Lieutenant Wyatt, will come around from the left, forcing the enemy back and into the water. Got it?"

However, Darius was too busy checking out two female recruits walk down the hall, completely missing every word the otter had said. "Umm, sure…what?" Aeneas brought his halberd down upon the hare's head.

"Ow!" shouted Darius as he rubbed his head vigorously. "What'd I do?"

Meanwhile, farther down the beach, the Grey Marauders were also busy preparing themselves for the battle. The vermin began to line up on the shore, forming a large blob of villainy. At the center of that blob stood their wildcat leader, Farrar. In his right paw was a large iron sword, which was about his height. "Alright ye lot, listen up! We're here fer th' treasure and th' treasure's inside that mountain! But if we want t' get inside, all we have t' do is take care of some badger and a few rabbits, not too hard, right? I mean, sure that stripedog can go insane at any moment an' those hares are annoyingly quick an' strong, but it ain't anything we can't deal with, right?"

A rat turned and whispered into the ear of a stoat. "Is this lil' speech supposed t' motivate us or scare us?"

"I dunno," replied the stoat as he shrugged. "I think he's jus' talkin' fer the sake of tryin' t' sound like he's not scared. Too bad everybeast can see his legs shakin'."

"So we should be terrified?" asked the rat.

The stoat nodded as he griped his spear tighter. "Pretty much."

A weasel squinted his eyes as he looked down the beach. "'Ere they come!" The wildcat recoiled, taking a few steps back. Remembering he was in the company of his horde, Farrar quickly regained his composure, swinging the flat side of his weapon into the backside of the weasel. "Y-Ye shouldn' startle me like that! You're goin' t' th' front!" He grabbed the luckless weasel and shoved him forward. "Get some guts an' be thankful we've got a secret weapon."

Devadas rolled his eyes as he stood outside of Sarika's tent. "I told you not to stay up too long. Now you're going to be late."

"But I was having the most wonderful dream," said the ferret in her defense as she continued to throw on her clothes. "I ripped that stripedog's head and bathed in her blood! I was about to gouge her eyes out when you woke me up."

"Dreaming of killing is one thing,' replied the raven. "Taking the life of a real creature is another, much more satisfying event.

Sarika emerged from her tent, carrying her hula hoop-like weapon. Her tent was relatively close to where the horde had gathered for battle, but what she saw disappointed her. "I have to wait all the way in the back before I can kill somebeast?"

"Let this be a lesson to you," said Devadas. "Don't stay up late thinking of uses for hare ears."

"Well I don't wanna wait behind those scared weaklings!" hissed the ferret. "If they're gonna go that way, then I'll just cut around them!" She hurried out of the camp, heading towards Salamandastron in a wide right arc.

Several yards up the beach, the beach was flooded in with hares (Along with Isaac and his friends) with Lady Rhea at the head of the front column, who carried her signature weapon, a large scythe with a spiked butt, in her paws. She wore a dark green battle tunic, which contrasted her ever increasing red eyes.

Every creature marching near the badger could tell that the Bloodwrath was beginning to overtake her, as they all took a couple steps away from her.

"Something tells me we won't have to do much of the fighting," Hardy whispered to Isaac.

The hedgehog nodded in agreement as a cheeky grin grew across his face. "Almost makes me feel sorry fer thae vermin…almost."

Without warning, Lady Rhea charged down the beach, bellowing the famous Laong Patrol war cry. Eulaliaaaaaa!" Not even getting halfway to the vermin, a large, bear trap-like contraption sprung up from the ground, clamping onto Rhea's entire right leg, its spikes digging into her flesh.

"Let's see that stripedog fight now wi' her leg torn up!" shouted Farrar. "Victory is mine!"

I hope you liked the chapter! War scenes are usually serious, so i decided to attempt some comic relief beforehand. I also thought that it would be unlikely for Ignatius to lead his comrades into war, so that's where Lieutenant Wyatt come it, though I'm not sure if he'll become an notable character or not. Only time will tell. Please update!