Chapter 14: Race Against Time

Beaver led the humans back through the woods at a fast pace. Suddenly, dozens of howls ripped through the chilly night air. There was no hesitation in any of them. They just ran as fast as they could.

"Come on! There's no time!" Beaver yelled at his wife as he burst through the doors of the dam.

Mrs. Beaver hurried around the kitchen, packing things into a small picnic basket. She held up a jar. "Do you think we'll need jam?"

Mr. Beaver growled and tried to drag her to the door. "Only if the Witch serves toast." He grumbled.

"Oh hush. You'll thank me later." She said, brushing his hand off of her arm. The group froze as the baying of wolves pierced the night air once more. They were trapped.

"If there is a later." Peter said, looking fearfully out the window.

Only moments later the wolves raced across the frozen river. It took them seconds to surround the dam. They waited patiently for the command to attack, and once it was given all hell broke loose. They tore savagely at the Beaver's home. Splinters flew as they broke their way inside. They ransacked the room, shredding practically everything. Maugrim entered the room slowly and looked around. The room stood quiet and empty He sniffed the air. The wolf's head swiveled to a small wardrobe sitting in the corner. He eased the door open with his nose to reveal a tunnel underneath the dam. His yellow eyes narrowed and he turned to look at the others.

"Smell them out."

In the tunnel, the group made their way quickly through the dark tunnel. Peter, Susan, and Ari had to crouch to avoid the low hanging beams.

"We'll be safe up ahead. A badger friend of mine dug this tunnel. It comes out right near his place." Beaver told them as they moved.

"And his barrel of ale, I shouldn't doubt." Mrs. Beaver scowled. Mr. Beaver just rolled his eyes in reply. Lucy's long coat suddenly caught on a root, causing her to fall to the ground. Susan reached to help her up but Lucy silenced her.

"Shh!" She whispered urgently. Everyone froze and listened at the sound of feet pounding against the ground filtered to their ears. Fear filled the group's eyes as howls ripped through the passageway, echoing off of the earthen walls. Lucy scrambled to her feet and the group barreled around a corner to a dead end.

"I told you we should have brought the map!" Mrs. Beaver hissed.

"Well, there wasn't room next to the jam!" Beaver exclaimed. He looked up at the ceiling and turned to Peter.

"Peter, kneel down." He commanded. He followed as ordered and Beaver climbed onto his back, reaching for the ceiling. Beaver pushed away what seemed to be a wooden plank with a grunt. Moonlight streamed through the opening it created. He jumped up through the hole in the roof and looked down. "Everybody out. Now!"

"Let me up first." Ari said, her voice commanding. Peter eyed her warily to which she answered with a glare. "Look, I don't mean to be rude but I'm stronger than Susan and you'll be wanting to help your sisters up, won't you, so you'll need someone with some muscle up top."

Peter didn't argue but still gave her a suspicious look. He gave her a boost and as soon as she was out of the tunnel, her hands were reaching back to help the next person up. Lucy was lifted next, then Susan holding Mrs. Beaver. Howls ripped through the tunnel once more. Peter looked at Ari.

"Just jump!" She ordered. He nodded and jumped as high as he could. Ari reached and grabbed his forearm and with Susan and Lucy's help she pulled him up. As soon as Peter was out of the hold Beaver rolled a large barrel over it to cover the opening.

"We've got to keep moving." Beaver said, pulling on Peter's coat. The group took off again but halted their movement when they reached a tiny village not too far from where they had escaped the tunnel. Ari stopped and listened. The forest around them was eerily silent.

"Something's wrong." She said, her voice earnest. From her days hunting she knew well enough that the forest was a place full of noises. It wasn't natural for it to be this quiet. The group looked around the small town and gaped with horrified expressions as they realized that everyone there had been turned to stone.

"Now do you see what we're up against?!" Beaver asked. He looked at the humans with devastation in his eyes as howling pierced the night air.

"Let them come!" Beaver growled as he turned back. "I'll chew them to shreds!"

"Brave words, Beaver." A voice said from the shadows. The group turned to see a red fox stepping into the moonlight. He leaned casually against a tree. "But words like that are better left for when the odds are in your favor."

"We don't need your help." He growled, distrust clear in his eyes.

"Speak for yourself!" Peter snapped. Beaver shot Peter an angry look while the fox just smiled smugly.

"Now there's a man who knows what's good." Fox drawled. Another howl ripped through the night, very close this time. Fox whipped his head to the side. "I know we've just met, but you might want to follow me."

"Is that what you told them?" Beaver asked, pointing at the statues around the small village. Fox just nodded his head towards the dirt flying from the hole in the ground.

"I'd hurry if I were you. They get rather unpleasant when they're hungry." He whispered urgently.

"Follow him." Peter ordered his sisters as the fox darted into the trees.

"But-" Susan began to protest.

"Just go!" Peter snapped, giving her a look that left no room for argument. The group dashed after the Fox when suddenly he stopped and sniffed the air.

"An item of your clothing please, Your Highness." He said to Susan with a smile.

"What?" She asked in confusion.

"Your sweater." Ari clarified. "It'll throw the sent off."

"I couldn't." Susan said as she looked down at her school cardigan.

"Wolves. Hungry wolves." Fox said as he looked into the forest behind her. Fear gripped her and she immediately began yanking the sweater over her head. She handed it to the fox. He bowed at her, then whistled. The trees above them rustled, causing the group to look up in alarm. Two fauns landed lightly in the snow near them. Fox tossed them the sweater.

"Take them on a run boys." He ordered. Without a word they took off into the trees, Susan's sweater fluttering behind them. Fox turned back to the group.

"Now, climb." He ordered as he started to sweep away their footprints. Peter began helping his sisters climb up to a high branch and the Beavers weren't far behind. As Ari made a move to grab onto a branch, howling filled the air once more. She looked over her shoulder and saw that there were merely moments left for her to hide. She darted behind a massive oak and held her breath just seconds before the wolves burst through the forest. Fox was still casually sweeping his tail against the ground.

"Greetings." He smiled innocently as the wolves skidded to a stop. "Lost something, have we?"

"Don't patronize me. I know where your allegiances lie." Maugrim snarled. He looked around the clearing. "Where are the humans?

"Now that's a valuable piece of information, don't you think?" Fox answered with a smile as he leaned against a tree. The very tree where Peter, Susan, Lucy, and the Beavers sat high above the ground. Peter gritted his teeth and glared as Fox absentmindedly groomed his tail. "I'd imagine that there would at least be a normal reward for something like that."

Maugrim's lieutenant, Varden leaped forward and clamped his teeth town on Fox's neck. Up in the tree, Lucy gasped. Susan clapped a hand over her sister's mouth. Peter looked over to where Ari was standing behind the tree and could tell that even from this distance that the girl was shaking. He didn't blame her.

"Your reward is your life." Maugrim said, leaning in to get close to Fox's face. "Now. Where are they?

Varden tightened his jaws more. Fox whimpered and yelped. Peter's hands clenched into a fist as he saw Fox raise his paw to point. Suddenly the wolves were darting off into the forest after something he had missed. He just barely caught the sight of a trail of flame-red hair disappearing into the night. Varden threw Fox to the ground and howled. The pair were gone a second later, chasing after a girl who had just risked everything for the sake of complete strangers that she didn't fully believe were real.

Author's Note: I apologize for the late update. Since it's been so long since I've posted, I'm going to post two chapters tonight. The other will be up later tonight some time after I edit it.

I don't know when I'll update after that. This week has been really rough. My remaining grandmother, who I was closer to, passed away. I'm still in shock, to be honest. I don't know how it's going to affect my writing in the long run, but those of you who have stuck by me know how badly it was last time. I just quit writing. I don't want that to happen again, but there's no telling.