Author note

One-Eye the Wildcat: Yup! She's in alright!

Firestar the Warrior: Lol. XD Yeah, I felt like I needed to have a bit more of Urthblaze so I decided to give him and Rockfur a little bonding time.

Waycaster: I don't think anyone was really expecting Keva's appearance. (Except Keva herself. XD) I briefly mentioned the Rogue Crew in the beginning but I decided it was high time for them to get their tails into the plot. XD Yay for teamwork but…I'm not sure that it'll be good for Salamandastron. XD

The Grey Coincidence: I guess I *am* a pretty cruel writer. XD Yeah, there is one book (Salamandastron I believe) where there were four badgers, but I still have a rather generous amount of the striped chaps, don't I?" XD

The villain's all have a different idea of strategy I guess, and you're right, Hookarm's does make sense. (That's why Blue-Eyes tried to link both of their ideas together I guess)

True, butI think if Hookarm went to abbeyschool he probably wouldn't be a corsair in the first place. XD

Socca Kingkiller: Thanks! I hope you enjoy the rest!

JP fanfic: Thank you for all of your reviews so far. They are very in depth. I'm glad that you like the names! (It gets a little hard to find original ones after a while. XD)

And now, on to the chapter!

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TERRAMORT

As they made their way to Fort Bloodgard, King Bloodfur showed Captain Slisk and her First Mate around the island. A few things had changed since Slisk had been at Terramort and the rat king wanted to show how things had improved. Though there were still a few places that Bloodfur purposely avoided. After all, there was no need for him to show all of his secrets, especially to Slisk of all rats. Bloodfur still had his doubts about the female rat.

"An' those are th' Coal Mines." Bloodfur declared from where he stood with his searat guards. Pointing a claw toward the massive caverns, he continued, "We dug them not long after yew 'ad left raiding. Apparently there 'ad been quite a lot of coal underneath Terramort that nobeast 'ad ever known 'bout, until now that is."

Slisk gazed out at the crowds of slaves who carried out carts of the dark coal. "Why so much focus on coal, yer majesty? I would've thought that y' would 'ave better things fer yer slaves t' do, like building more ships or rowin' 'em."

Bloodfur stared at the female corsair for a full minute before replying. "I never do anythin' by accident. Never forget that. If I want my slaves te gather coal then by thunder they will!"

Slisk shrugged. "It's yer island 'n' yer slaves I guess."

"Aye."

Bloodfur stared out at the creatures working in the coal mines for a second longer before he signaled for Bruggor and his other guards to continue to Fort Bloodgard.

The massive searat fortress had been built on a steeply sloped hill for defensive purposes. Along the eastern side of Fort Bloodgard there were taverns and houses where any of the vermin who weren't fighters or workers lived. Smoke rose into the sky from numerous chimneys as the vermin cooked their food.

"Th' town 'as gotten bigger," Slisk commented as the group of rats passed through the town on their way up to Fort Bloodgard's gates. "'Ave a lot more corsairs moved 'ere since y' became king?"

"Aye," Bloodfur replied, he chuckled as he continued, "It must 'ave been all of th' many rumors 'bout my might 'n' wealth that dragged 'em all out from where they were hidin'."

The rat king's words actually had a ring of truth to them. Terramort hadn't had a ruler since the time of Gabool the Wild, and once Gabool had died, the lot of the corsairs had packed up and left to try their luck elsewhere. However, since the rise of King Bloodfur, corsairs, pirates and searats all started flocking back once again to Terramort. They had missed the days when the woodlander crews were utterly terrified when they saw the corsair pennants on the horizon.

Seasons later, vermin and mercenaries of all sorts were still arriving to pledge their allegiance to King Bloodfur in exchange for food, gold, or power.

Once they reached Fort Bloodgard's main gate, Bloodfur yelled up to the guards stationed on the wall and the mighty gates were swung open.

They walked across the wide courtyard until they reached the Throne Room.

Once they entered, Bloodfur walked up to his massive throne and sat down gracefully, Bruggor remained standing at his side at ramrod attention along with the other guards.

"So, Slisk," Bloodfur began, "How 'as th' outside world been lately? Tough?"

"Eh, not too bad." Slisk nodded to Raggar and the First Mate ran over and grabbed a chair for her to sit on that he found by an empty table.

Sitting down, she glanced back up at King Bloodfur. "So let's just cut t' th' chase, shall we? I would be honored if yew would let me and my crew join yer ranks. Yew'll promise us protection 'n' a safe place t' dock our ship 'n' we'll split all of our future plunder with yew."

Bloodfur grinned. Leaning back on his throne, he tried his best not to grin. "I thought th' fearsome Capt'n Slisk didn't need help from anybeast. I must admit, I'll sure be pleased t' let th' other fellers know that even yew still need my protection."

The female rat grunted in reply.

Bloodfur could guess that Slisk was probably fuming at his words. He reminded his self not to take it too far. He needed more recruits as much as they needed him.

"So…do we 'ave a deal, yer majesty?"

Even though he didn't exactly like her tone of voice, Bloodfur smiled. "Of course! Welcome t' our 'appy family! I'll 'ave my beasts write up a contract by tonight."

"Thank yew. Now, y' must excuse me, I need te find a tavern fer my crew 'n' I te rest at while we're waiting."

"Of course! I'll send a few of my guards te show y' te the best taverns!"

"Thank y' fer yer generosity, yer majesty, but we should be able te find one just fine on our own."

Bloodfur shrugged. "Do whatever y' want. I'll be waiting 'ere tonight fer y' with the papers ready for yew to sign."

Slisk and Raggar both bowed to the Searat King then walked out, escorted by two rat guards.

"Bruggor?"

"Yes, yer majesty?"

"Send somebeast te follow 'em – Probably one of th' foxes if possible. I want te know where they are stayin' and if they're up te anythin' out of th' ordinary."

"Yes, yer majesty."

As Bruggor walked out the Throne Room, the small side door to Bloodfur's right opened slowly with a loud creak, and Queen Gabriella walked in and up the steps that led to her small throne beside Bloodfur's.

"Gabriella," Bloodfur smiled, "how are y' feeling, m'dear?"

"Just fine, thank you."

The female rat was dressed in a long, flowy, purple dress that she tried to straighten with her paws as she sat.

"How's our little prince doing?"

Gabrielle's smooth mouth curved into a smile. "Quite well. He bit one of the maids when she tried to clean up after him earlier today."

"Har har! He sounds like a little fighter already," the Searat King chuckled. "He must be takin' after me!"

"That he is," Gabriella replied, "Would you like to go see him? He's playing in his room."

Bloodfur shook his head. "Not now. There are some very important things I need t' figure out with some of th' newer captains."

"Oh," Gabriella said disappointedly, "I guess I should probably head back and check on him then."

"Good idea. Make sure he doesn't bite off anybeast's paws, wouldn't want any blood te stain th' floor," Bloodfur chuckled to his wife as she made her exit. Bloodfur remembered the time when he had stained the sea with blood when he had fed a crew of mice to the sharks. But that was back when he had been nothing more than a mere captain in charge of one, leaky, old ship. Now, he was the ruler of a whole kingdom of ships and vessels. It was funny he thought how one's fate could change so dramatically if a beast put his mind to something.

Bloodfur looked up as he heard Captain Bruggor re-enter the Throne Room and clomp up to Bloodfur, bowing low as he declared, "I sent a scout after Slisk like y' ordered, yer majesty."

Bloodfur nodded. "Good work, Bruggor. Let me know when he returns."

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Once they made it back to the dock, Slisk sent Raggar to gather the crew and to meet her at a tavern that they had passed on their way back.

The Rusty Cutlass was one of the newer taverns. It was owned by a large fox who called Barko Irongut and his family. The fox was cleaning a wooden mug with a rag when Slisk and her crew walked in.

"Kin I 'elp yew?"

Slisk walked up to the bar and slammed a dagger down into the wood. "Drinks fer me an' th' 'ole crew!" She pulled up a small bag of gold coins. "And make that some of yer finest rooms as well!"

Barko snatched the bag of coins and smiled. "Of course. Only th' best of th' best fer my customers."

Slisk grinned back and pulled her dagger out of the counter. "Good."

After she had grabbed herself a drink of seaweed grog, she sat down at a small table in the corner of the room, beckoning Raggar and a skinny weasel called Fang over to sit with her while they waited for their drinks.

She glanced around to see if anybeast was watching. She was surprised to see a young fox watching them from the doorway. Seeing how young and dirty he was, Slisk decided that he was probably nothing more than a curious tramp.

A pretty vixen –who Slisk assumed must be one of Barko's daughters since she had similar eyes and nose– walked up with a tray with two mugs on it and set it down on their table, before walking off.

Once she was gone, Slisk turned her back to the dirty fox who was causally standing by the door, and began to speak in a quiet voice, "So, Fang, did y' find everythin' that I told y' te get?"

Fang nodded his head. The small weasel rarely spoke if he could help it, though that didn't mean he was any less intelligent then anybeast else in the crew. If fact, it only made him more mysterious.

"So what do y' want us te do next, Capt'n?" Raggar asked as he sloshed down his ale. "I thought y' 'ad a plan te take this island fer yer own?"

Slisk kicked Raggar's footpaw as savagely as she could without attracting attention. "Shaddup, y' idiot! Nobeast is supposed te hear a word 'bout anythin' yet. If King Bloodfur ever figured out th' real reason why we're 'ere, he'd 'ave our 'eads impaled on th' end of a pike 'afore y' could say 'knife'!"

After she calmed herself down, Slisk continued, "Now listen, if we killed th' King now, then who's t' say that we'll become the next rulers? I'm sure that there are lots of vermin captains who would fancy callin' themselves ruler of Terramort as well, so we got te wait fer th' right time."

Raggar scratched his ear. "But 'ow kin yew make sure that we'll come out on the top in th' end? Because I doubt that King Bloodfur is going te name y' 'is successor anytime soon since he already 'as a queen 'n' heir."

"Yes." Slisk said, cleaning the tips of her claws with her throwing knife. "Those two are going t' be a problem that must be solved. Don't worry 'bout 'em though. I'll take care of 'em personally when th' time is ripe."

Ragger and Fang both glanced at each other. They had seen what had happened to beasts that Slisk had said that she would "take care of personally."

"Now," Slisk continued, "until then, I want–" the captain suddenly stopped. Taking a peek behind her, she saw that the dirty young fox that had been standing by the door had slowly made his way closer to them. His eyes were almost purposely avoiding them as he looked around the room of jostling and drinking pirates.

"Hmm…" Slisk tapped her chin with her knife. As the pretty vixen who was serving drinks walked by their table, Slisk grabbed her by arm.

"Excuse me," Slisk asked, "What do they call y' if I may ask?"

"Vixera," The female fox replied, "Did you need something?"

"Yes. Y' see that young fox over there in th' corner?" –Slisk pointed at him with her knife– I'll pay yew te distract 'im fer a while."

"Er… Distract him?"

"Yes!" Slisk sighed, rolling her eyes. "Distract 'im. Talk 'bout th' weather or somethin', just get 'im away from 'ere."

Seeing that there was still some doubt in Vixera's eyes, Slisk pulled out a solid gold coin. "'Ere," –she flicked the vixen the coin– "There's more where that came from if y' 'urry up 'n' do a good job."

Vixera smiled and pocketed the gold coin. Taking the tray, she went back to the counter and put three large cups of seaweed grog in them, then, she made her way to the young fox who was standing not far from Slisk's table.

"Hello," Slisk heard Vixera say to the male fox sweetly, "I think I miscounted an order, would you mind drinking these?"

"Er…uh… Sure." The fox stammered in reply.

Slisk, Raggar, and Fang continued to watch the two vulpines in silence until the dirty fox had drank two of the cups and started reaching for the third.

"Hehehe," Raggar chuckled silently, "That young 'un is probably gonna 'ave one 'ell of a 'eadache when he wakes up."

After the dirty fox had started to find it difficult to stand without wobbling, Vixera leaned on his shoulder and whispered something into his ear.

The fox nodded his head and allowed Vixera to help him over to a table in a different room.

"I wonder if he was one of Bloodfur's spies…" Fang wondered aloud.

Slisk shrugged. "Whoever he is, he seemed te be taking too much interest in our conversation then I liked. At least now we won't 'ave te worry 'bout 'im."

"Would you like me to…" Fang paused for a second, "dispose of him, Captain?"

The searat shook her head. "No, that would only cause unwanted attention. Now, back to business, we need te 'ead back te Fort Bloodgard te sign those papers once Bloodfur gets them ready."

"Will y' sign them, Capt'n?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I? After all," Slisk grinned, "I'm supposed te be one of Bloodfur's most loyal captains!" Slisk raised her mug of seaweed grog. "Te King Bloodfur."