Ugh, SO sorry about not being very active lately, things have been over-hectic and nuts around here. plus my idiot-brother XD was kind enough to venture into my fanfiction profile and somehow 'accidentally' delete alor of my stuff. "Yea right, talk to the frying pan!" Heh, anywho...don't expect the best of this chapter!
Kirtan had no idea what to think as he knelt on the ground inside Blackivy's tent, paws bound behind him. The fox guard stood beside the scout, keeping a watchful eye on the squirrel. The jet-black vixen that had called him to her tent sat on a pile of blankets and pillows that served for a soft bed. She was cooing a small fox kit to sleep in her arms, her eyes flashing motherly instincts. The babe snuggled in his mother's arms, a light layer of blood-red fur spread over his little form. Another kit lay in the fluffed blankets, watching the squirrel with curious, innocent and young eyes. Her light layer of fur was midnight and her eyes were big, green orbs like her mother's.
Kirtan could not help the slight smile that came over his features at the sight of the babe, who gurgled happily in reply. Though part of the offending species, it was nonetheless cute.
"Tell me of the fox that came to your abbey." The older vixen stated suddenly, tickling the cub she held on the nose. "What did he want?"
The scout lost his smile and frowned deeply. The question was a simple one, but even if he knew the answer he would be extremely reluctant to relay anything to the sly vixen. Indeed, he had not seen Copper in person, but had heard a great deal about him from his friends. Taking in the vision of the mother gently humming to the kits, he sighed.
"I don't know." He answered truthfully, knowing this answer would displease her.
And of course he was correct.
Blackivy gazed coldly at the squirrel, still rocking the babe.
"You're lying." She scowled.
The fox guarding the prisoner put his sword to the bound creature's throat, making the squirrel gulp nervously.
"I never met him." Kirtan added, hoping to get the cold steel away from his neck. However, the fox only pressed with slightly more pressure.
"Copper was his name." The vixen said, placing the now sleeping babe in the piles of blankets and picking up the second. "He is the son of Doxtriz and the brother of Slickcast, my mate." She eyed the captive with scrutiny. "Surely a fox in your Abbey would not go unnoticed."
Kirtan sighed.
"I hardly got a chance to meet him." He retorted harshly. "My patrol and I were far too busy cleaning up after your killing spree of slaves."
xpecting the coal fox to lash out in anger at his words, Kirtan was surprised. Blackivy chuckled as she rocked the twin in his arms.
"Useless that was. Useless, but amusing." She flashed her cruel emerald eyes at the scout. "Good to know that Mossflower has a waste committee."
Kirtan grit his teeth at the comment with restrained fury. This vixen was grotesque. She cooed the babe in her arms and poked her gently in the nose. The little kit squeaked in delight and began to crew on her mother's claw, her little fists clinging to Blackivy's paw. It confused the scout that the vixen could be such a cruel being and yet so loving to her cubs.
Blackivy looked as though she was going to speak again when a large red fox strode into the tent. His eyes widened when he saw Kirtan and looked at the black vixen. His dark eyes narrowed with disapproval at the captive as he approached his mate.
"What is he doing here?" He demanded, pointing at the squirrel with a claw. "Father wishes to speak to him now that we're outside the swamps. I was informed that he was here. Why is that?"
Blackivy cradled her daughter and looked up at the male fox with deceiving love in her eyes.
"Cool yourself Slick, my cunning warrior. I was getting information from the squirrel regarding your half-brother." She stood up and walked smoothly over to the fox, eyes gleaming wickedly. "Unfortunately, he knows little that could come to your use to our plans, my stout fighter. Besides, I have hardly had time to interrogate him."
Slickcast grinned at his mate, causing Kirtan to swallow thickly at what the vixen meant.
"My love, I'm pleased with your efforts. But you must be most careful. Father is not foolish." He looked down at the wide-eyed kit in her paws. "How is my little Ivy?"
Blackivy hummed softly, pulling the blankets round her child, who squeaked lightly. Kirtan watched silently, the whole scene was confusing to him. Then again, he'd never seen how vermin love their family.
"Both are well." She glanced at the squirrel, who still had a sword at his throat. "You best take that...thing...away then, my dearest." She turned and looked deep into her mates eyes. "We'll see you later and discuss...things."
Slickcast smiled and met his mates nose with his own, before suddenly turning about and grabbing Kirtan by the scruff of his neck. The squirrel was too shocked to fight back as he was dragged from the tent, catching Blackivy's smirk before the tent flap blocked his view, he shuddered to think of what the 'master raider' wanted.
The otter waited calmly.
It was a few minutes ago that Taft drifted off to a silent sleep curled by his protector's side. His soft breathing confirmed that he was in a deep sleep. Good. He desperately needed one and the otter was glad. Rogth shifted his eyes from the mouse, glancing over at Sharpfur. The ferret was slumbering silently by the dying fire, paw on one of his knives. He moaned lightly, scratched his nose and snuggled deeper into his blanket, seemingly oblivious to the watching chieftain.
Copper had not returned yet and the otter wondered where he had wondered off to. He didn't trust the beast to be doing something well, and his own thoughts screamed for him to fine out. Still, he felt obliged to make sure Taft was well and cared for before bounding off into the forest. Now that the mouse was asleep, he was determined to do as his mind told him.
Gently easing Taft from his side and onto the ground, he knelt up quietly. Grabbing the sword of Martin as he rose, he glanced over at the sleeping assassin again to make sure he had not heard his light movements. Satisfied as a quiet snore came, the otter covered the sleeping mouse by him with his own blanket. He smiled softly down at Taft before turning and slowly making his way from the camp in the direction the fox had left. With each step, a strong, yet strange emotion of anger overcame Rogth suddenly.
Twisting his head, he glared into the forest, eyes burning bright with red anger. The otter bared his teeth, drew the old sword from it's sheath and trudged on. The young moon shed it's beams over the silver metal, sending shimmers of light into the wood. But the Skipper took no notice. He crouched to the ground, studying the prints Copper's boots made in the snow. His eyes gleamed red as he looked up and peered deeper into the wood. He could smell the fox on the night air.
He walked, breathing heavily and grunting to himself in his thoughts. After some time, he came to a small bunch of trees surrounding a clearing. He was more than surprised to see the fox standing opposite of him, his gaze fixed on the otter expectantly. Copper was leaning on his blue-jemmed sword, his breaths coming soft and calm, clouding gently upon the chilly night air. His black garb blew softly in the winter breeze, giving his a deadly finishing touch. Muscles slightly tensed and ears twitching a little, he stared at his rival calmly as ever.
He was ready for battle.
"I wondered when you would come." Copper finally said after a few moments of silence, his eyes showing little emotion. He looked to the sky through the treetops, staring at the glittering stars. "A beautiful night, this is."
Rogth snorted, but also gazed into the clear sky, before dropping a glare back upon the vermin.
"A good night t'die." He suddenly growled, pointing Martin's sword at the fox. "Yew know why I've come."
Copper looked at him with interest.
"Ah. Finally coming to the point are we?" His lips twitched ever so slightly. "I imagine you've come to 'put me in my place'."
"Ye lied t'the Abbey!" Skipper gnashed his teeth at the simple, true statement. "What is it ye really want?"
Copper smirked without humor, his eyes still blank though looking a bit dreary.
"I did not lie to anybeast, my good otter. I stated exactly what I wanted."
"Yea." Rogth snarled. "What ye wanted at the time. Ye were good coverin' yore tracks, but now I understand why Taft's dead-scared against offending you. And it's not just because yore a fox, vermin." The red in his eyes increasing as he gazed at the fox. "Gorelimb."
Copper met his eyes and blinked, frowning slightly.
"Gorelimb..." He nodded slightly, whispering as his brow furrowed. "A name without honor."
The otter hissed, his grip becoming firm and hard on the hilt of the old sword.
"Ye slipped up fox." Rogth said with a voice like stone. "Ye let it slip when ye told us who you were. Why would Doxtriz notice ye've gone missing unless ye were important in his horde?"
Copper shrugged, looking into the forest.
"I may be a General or a Captain."
The Skipper nodded, slowly taking steps forward.
"Ye may be, but yore words has demolished that possibility." His eyes flared fiery red. "Ye are a Gorelimb! Ye said so yoreself while still at the Abbey. Yore choice o'words were so slick and soft, that none thought of it. But I remembered. You mentioned your father when we spoke of Doxtriz. I should have guessed it!" He raised the blade slightly, mirroring the moonlight beams on the metal. "Ye are that scumbag of a Warlord's son, ye are Slickcast's brother. Taft's master!"
Copper watched calmly as the otter began to shake in rage, eyes glowing in bloodwrath. He knew that once the beast reached fullness of that rage that none could stop him. Reasoning was a poor idea after that point. He would fight if need be, but reasoning came first.
"You forget that I freed Taft, Rogth." The fox said quietly, his own paw becoming tight about his sword's hilt. "You think I'm against you? Why would I have done it then?"
The otter snarled, eyes a bloody crimson color.
"I intend to find out." He charged at the fox suddenly, the sword of Martin raised tight in his paws.
Yet nobeast, if watching, could ever say that Copper was not ready. He swung his own blade blocking the strike that would have cleaved off his head. A loud clang of metal on metal marked the start of the dual. Each of the beasts met the other's eyes. If any spirit of reason had been between them, it would have withered in fear at the sight. The fox's gaze was calm as ever, but firm and determined. Rogth's orbs flamed of bloodwrath, seeking for vermin's bitter blood with crazed thinking.
So they stood, blade on blade, eye on eye, their weapons flashing in the moonlight.
"You know nothing of my motives!" Copper stated with bared teeth, reading his opponents movements with his peripheral vision.
"Perhaps then..." Rogth swung again, sparks in his veins. "You should make them clear!"
The fox blocked the heavy blow, which was soon followed by others. Skipper's swings were in raging madness, the skill in his weapon coming from a warrior's spirit. But that did not trouble Copper too much. Though he was not as strong as the otter, his skill was excellent. Doxtriz may have not favored his younger son, but he had still demanded thick, complex training towards him. Copper was superior to his brother's weaponry, often besting him in front of the horde. That was, at least, until Doxtriz forbade the two publicly fighting and eventually banning Copper from ever challenging his brother. Still, the fox had not lost heart, he merely practiced with the horde's Captains and officers or just plain soldiers. It wasn't often that he was beat, but he knew it wasn't impossible.
"All in good time, Rogth!" Copper said, parrying another blow and allowing the otter to force him backwards. He struck out a blow and cut his opponent's shoulder, causing a little blood to flow from the wound. "Oh, I've seem to have maimed you, sorry there."
The otter roared, not feeling pain from his wound and swung, his blade seeking to cut the fox in two. Copper's reflexes saved him and he sent a kick to Rogth's legs, causing him to stumble.
"Fight like a warrior!" The Skipper shouted, forcing the fox to block his blade yet again.
"I don't wish to kill you!" Copper hissed back, fighting as the otter forced him against a tree. "At least...not now!"
"Too bad! I do!" Rogth growled, and the vermin knew he meant what he said.
Something suddenly snapped in the woods around them, Copper's trained and sensitive ears caught it. Trying to keep his focus on Rogth as well, he listened intently. A whisper! He'd heard a whisper and...
His sword was ripped from his paws, sending it into the snow, away from the small battle scene. The fox looked in shock at his empty paws before glancing up to meet a very angry looking Skipper.
The otter had his blade to the fox's throat, his blood-red eyes gleaming in victory. Copper cursed to himself for letting his guard down so easily. The noise may have been nothing, but it had cost him.
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you." Rogth demanded, pressing on the blade slightly.
Though surprised that the bloodwrath monster before him had asked him a reasonable question, Copper met his gaze without emotion.
"The Abbey." He said in a level tone that didn't waver. "Without me the Abbey will fall into my father's paws."
"You're begging then?" The chieftain said with a grin, which disappeared when Copper shook his head stiffly.
"No, reasoning." The fox remained still, his eyes ever on Rogth's, but something moved in the corner of his eye.
"That's a lie and we both know it." Skipper growled. "Yew only said that t'get me away from there!" He pressed on the blade, making blood trickle down Copper's fur. "Now, if ye wish t'live ye'll tell me why!"
The fox smirked, looking discreetly beyond the otter.
"Why?" He repeated, looking back into Rogth's fired eyes with his own dark ones. "Why do we ever to anything, Rogth?"
Suddenly the vermin kicked out with his legs, sending the otter backwards and causing him to drop his sword. Rogth snarled angrily and launched himself at the fox again before something struck the otter hard across the back of his head, rendering him unconscious.
The Skipper fell, revealing a smirking Sharpfur, who stepping over to Copper as the fox retrieved his own sword.
"Are ya harmed?" The ferret asked, looking over the bump on Rogth's head. "I came as soon as I could."
The copper fox shook his head, glancing down at the unconscious otter.
"I'm fine." He sheathed his blue-jemmed blade and knelt beside Rogth's prostrate form, examining the head injury also. "He'll be alright as well. Bind him though. He's brought us ahead of schedule."
The ferret nodded, taking some rope from his pack and binding the strong otter's paws behind his back in tight knots. As he did so, he took stock of his surroundings as he had trained himself to do over time. His keen eyes caught a movement in the shadowed forest. There was a beast there, he could barely make out the form.
He gave a soft whistle to take Copper's fascinated attention away from Martin's sword. When the fox's dark eyes rose, Sharpfur gently inclined his head towards the trees where he had caught movement. The young Gorelimb nodded.
"Don't worry, the shadows bear us no harm." He stated quietly. The fox moved towards Rogth and hauled him from the ground, grunting as he lifted the creature over his shoulder. "How far are we?"
The ferret assassin smiled thinly.
"An hour or so."
Copper smirked.
"Perfect. I'm sure our friend will begin to stir about then."
And with that, the two vermin trudged off into the dark, Sharpfur taking a quick stop by the camp for their supplies. Taft still slept, oblivious to what was happening to his protector. Still, in his sleep, a cold ice overtook his heart, making him wonder in his dreams...
Why was it suddenly so cold?
Slickcast's guards unceremoniously dragged Kirtan across the camp to his father's black tent. About them the stink of the frozen swamp met their senses. The young squirrel shuddered involuntary when he thought of the creatures that lived in the dark, dreary and cold marshes. They were known well for their cannibalism, snatching unsuspecting beasts to invite to dinner. That is, being the main course of the meal.
The scout was almost relieved when they arrived at Doxtriz's blackened tent and emotionless guards. They parted the flaps for the red fox and the vermin restraining Kirtan as they entered. Instantly, the young scout was tossed carelessly to the floor. He struggled to regain control over the dizziness that clouded his mind as his head hit the freezing ground.
"My Lord and Father, the captive you requested." Slickcast said with a bow, while nudging the scout.
Kirtan bared his teeth, but kept silent. He glared his hate at the raiding warlord, who calmly gazed back from his stance in the corner of the tent. He wore a long, charcoal-colored cloak, his torso was clad in a black lorica with red cords. By his side hung his beautiful, yet deadly broadsword, tucked safely in it's shining sheath. His red fur clashed with his dark attire, making Kirtan wonder if the fox was truly a demon.
"Kirtan." Doxtriz greeted in a level voice, before waving the guards away. They bowed and left without incident, leaving the two blood hounds and the squirrel alone.
Slickcast prodded the scout with his paw.
"Show your respect, tree-rat!" He barked, making Kirtan flatten his ears to his head and glare.
"I cannot show what I do not have, vermin." He retorted.
The younger fox flushed angrily and balled his paws into fists. He would have had no problem beating the young squirrel to a pulp if it wasn't for his father wanted him conscious. Turning his dark eyes back to Doxtriz, Slickcast suppressed the urge to kill. Why was he so sensitive today? Ah well, he'd take it out on a slave once he was done here.
"Your choice of words are not the wisest, Kirtan." Doxtriz drummed, meeting his captive's eyes. "But you are young. You could not even comprehend the havoc and pain I could cause you." His eyes hardened. "However, I could easily change that if you don't do as I ask."
"And what is it you ask?" The squirrel snorted.
Doxtriz paused, looking over the scout with mild interest.
"I ask for information. You will give it to me. Through pain or will, I shall still have it." He rested his paw on the silver hilt of his sword. "There was a fox in your abbey by the name of Copper. He departed with three companions. I must know of these beasts."
Kirtan bared his teeth.
"Why?" He questioned with narrowed eyes.
The fox smiled thinly and without mirth.
"That is for me to know. The first I want to know of is the otter. Who is he?"
"I was not present when they left, so when you say 'otter', quite a lot of creatures come to mind." Kirtan grinned. "Redwall is currently swarming with otters since most bodies of water are frozen."
Doxtriz glared darkly at his prisoner.
"Well then, what otter is most likely to leave with a fox?"
The scout scowl. Regardless of his situation, he was really enjoying himself.
"None of them, they all despise your kind."
As Doxtriz and the young scout shared a glower, Slickcast growled under his breathe.
"Father, we're not getting anywhere with this."
The elder blood-hound ignored the comment, keeping his dark eyes on his captive's. Despite his greatest efforts to contain his discomfort, Kirtan couldn't stop the fur on the back of his neck rising as his two green orbs locked on the fox's. Vermin fed off of their victim's fear, and he wasn't going to let any visible shivers run down his spine to amuse them.
"He is obviously a strong, 'noble' warrior, more or less." The raider said in a dangerous voice. "That should narrow it down a bit."
Kirtan could not help the chuckle that escaped his lips.
"Most of our otter warriors are strong and definitely noble." He smirked. "That hardly narrows it down! Not very bright for a fox, are you?"
In truth, both Slickcast and Kirtan expected Doxtriz to be even slightly angered by the comment, but he only smiled.
"You had better hope he is strong." He leaned forward. "It would be a shame to have him captured by the inhabitants of this swamp." He paused. "Then again, they do like tough meat. Yes, yes indeed."
And with that he waved for the guards to take the confused squirrel away.
Kirtan didn't even want to think about what the Warlord had in mind.
Mwhahahahaaaaa...yea anywho...hopefully the next chapter won't take NINE YEARS to complete XD
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-Ireland Ranger-