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Ætharr swore as another slingstone battered against his leg. He swung his axes with redoubled effort, even as he joined his troops in a shield wall.

The shrews were held back by the organization of the Calador troops. They continued to attack, but the weasels managed to drive them back successfully.

Ignoring the wound on his face, Ptolemy helped the Ealdor rally the Calador soldiers forward, pushing the shrew army back to their logboats.

The shrew leader saw what was happening, and gave a call to retreat. In a flash, the shrews formed a rearguard action, even as many pulled wounded comrades to the boats.

Ætharr threw a throwing hatchet against the shrew chieftain, but missed and slew a shrew next to him. His depleted followers continued to attack, despite their weariness of the fight and their wounds.

The shrew chieftain was last to get onto the boats. He pointed his rapier at Ætharr, "Your forces will fall, Ætharr! We were merely the diversion!"

Ætharr spat, "I shall perish before I leave the mountain still standing!"

The shrew boats began paddling back to the mountain, heading further out to avoid any missiles from the beach.

Ptolemy suddenly yelled out Ætharr's name. The weasel turned to look back along the beach. The camp obscured any sight of the battle, but he could hear faint clashes of metal and horns blowing.

Ætharr felt bolts of fear lick up his body. He had to go back to the rest of his forces.

"Let's go! We must reach the main army and help before it's too late!" Despite the previous fight, Ætharr ran back along the beach, stumbling through the uneven sand.

Ptolemy looked up at one point and saw that the fight had been going on for at least three hours, if the sun's path was any indication.

He gasped at the effort of running back to the main battle area, noting that his old friend and Ealdor was showing no signs of weariness in the name of rallying his forces against possible defeat.

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Judos tripped over the body of a fallen Calador weasel. As he struggled to get up, a kick from a hare's leg nearly knocked him back down again. Gritting his teeth, the otter slashed at the hare's belly with his sword. Ignoring the gore that splattered down next to him, Judos stood up and swung his sword at another hare who had just cut down a Falcarragh fox.

The battle continued to rage amongst the two armies. Bodies seemed to be piled up all along the sand, even as more corpses were added to the battlefield.

Korari assaulted the vermin army's centre unceasingly, directing the Salamandastron hares to break the vermin line in two so that they would fall. Only the efforts of a few surviving officers, such as Craterus, somehow managed to keep the discipline intact.

Captain Sophus stood by his new lord, swinging his sword viciously in defence of his life. Korari continued to batter away with his own sword, even as his armour was pushed to its limits by vermin weapons.

Thornback screamed as he ran a Calador weasel through with his sword. Limping from a throwing hatchet in his leg, the badger continued to fight, refusing to back down at this crucial time which could finally drive back the vermin horde.

Blackaxe used his axe handle to deflect a sword swing from a Highlander, knocking the offending hare away with a swift punch from his leather-clad paw.

He turned to look for Snauw, only to see him knocked back by a pike-thrust. The Jeri captain attempted to strike back with a sabre, but another hare body-slammed into him and the two fighters fell, sprawled out on the ground.

Swiftly leaping away from his discarded sabre, Snauw got on all fours and started strangling the hare with his bare claws, snarling in anger. He failed to see the large figure of Thornback approaching him from behind.

"Snauw! Get out of there!" Blackaxe suddenly screamed. The yell was partially lost in the din of battle, and so Snauw was still looking up in confusion when Thornback struck with his sword blade. Blackaxe stared in horror as Snauw's headless body slumped into the sand, even as the badger waved his spear in the air, "Eulaliaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Gyras replied to that call as he led a dozen Caladors against Thornback's march. The badger resumed defending himself, even as Highland hares rallied to his stand.

On the far right flank of the army, Ben had also taken a stand upon his rock, swinging down at passing otters and squirrels, crushing helmets and shields with his shillelagh. Several Calador soldiers, including Ben's young friend Antigonus, rallied around the rock, seeking something to put their backs against while fighting.

Skipper, weary from the fight, leaned heavily on his javelin for a breather, flanked by several younger otters. He looked up and saw the raccoon upon his higher ground.

"Ben!"

The raccoon heard the shocked voice and groaned inwardly. He turned to see Skipper, staring at him in anger and surprise. Ben had no time for the reunion, however, as more creatures ran forward to slay the group about the rock. Ben yelled as a slingstone struck his shoulder, even as he leaped down from his rock to save Antigonus from a spear thrust. Skipper began working his way forward towards the raccoon, but was distracted by several Falcarragh troops and was forced to defend himself.

Barely thirty paces away from Skipper, Judos wailed as he swung his sword with increased desperation. The battle was descending into utter butchery, and the otter began to feel that he would face death this terrible day.

Suddenly, he heard several horns call out from behind him, and he turned around.

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Ignoring the wounded in the tents, Ætharr bolted through the mostly-deserted sight of the camp, desperate to reach his forces. The sounds of battle grew louder and louder, until there seemed to be nothing else happening. Forcing himself onward, the Ealdor was followed by Ptolemy, and the survivors of the fight against the shrews.

Finally, he ran past the last line of tents, but the sight of what he saw caused Ætharr to stop in horror. Around him, Ptolemy and the others slowed to a halt as well.

The battle was taking devastating casualties, as could be seen by the fact that the vermin army was stretched so thin in places that their enemies seemed ready to completely break through their lines.

Ætharr almost wanted to slump to the ground as he watched the breaking of his army. He had fought so many battles in his life, yet never had he seen a Calador army so splintered and embroiled in near-defeat.

"We must call a retreat, Ætharr!" Ptolemy yelled into his ear, "We'll be overrun!"

Many vermin were already pulling back. Wounded soldiers were struggling to drag themselves away from the hellish battlefield. Ætharr could see Craterus, covered in blood, wildly waving his weapon in an attempt to rally the forces, but to no avail.

The battle sounds suddenly seemed to dim in Ætharr's ears, as though he was going deaf. The shock of seeing his army so close to defeat suddenly seemed to fill Ætharr with a calm feeling. His weariness seemed to disappear, and his mind began to clear up.

He looked over at Ptolemy, who was still trying to speak to him. He could see the look of horror on the weasel's face, but he did not hear the words coming out of the weasel's mouth.

"Come on, Ptolemy."

The weasel stopped and stared at Ætharr, "What?

The Ealdor gestured to the battle ahead of them, "If it is to end here for us, then we shall make it a glorious end!" He felt the rage coursing through his blood, and as he spoke, he heard the savage edge to his words. He did not care, nor did he notice when Ptolemy stepped back from him in astonishment.

He turned to where the vermin army struggled to continue holding their ground, and gave a loud call, "Sound the horns!"

Those of his soldiers who had brought horns began blowing them, creating a wild sounding of deep music over the battle. Many turned to see what was going on.

Ætharr threw back his head, and yelled "Come on, Caladors and allies! Now is the time where we defy our fates! Now is the moment where we crush our enemies! With all your strength, ATTACK!"

With that, he rushed forward, axes and armour shining in the sun, straight at the large figure of Korari that so threatened the front of his lines. Ptolemy paused only for the briefest of moments before following Ætharr forward, screaming wildly. The others ran forward in a counter-charge without any order, except the order for glory and death.

Soldiers staggered to make way for Ætharr as he rushed forward, screaming his battle cry. Hares rushed forward, trying to slay this mightiest of vermin leaders. No weapon seemed to touch Ætharr, and he drove all before him backward. He strove to rally his forces, calling out for all to fight. Behind him, Ptolemy and the reinforcements sought to fill gaps made by the ferocity of the assault.

Judos stared with awe at Ætharr, who seemed to be single-handedly saving the army from ruin. Korari saw him too, and gave a great challenging roar.

Ætharr matched this roar as he attempted to cut his way through the hares in front of him. All across the line, creatures saw Ætharr's mighty counter-attack and were filled with hope and inspiration.

At that point, Ætharr was unaware of the battle's fate, even as he furiously strove to regain the advantage for his army. Finally, he found himself facing Korari.

The heavily armed badger was not quite as large as Roaveen had been, but there was no doubt that he was a fearsome warrior. Korari advanced upon Ætharr, "You will pay for murdering my brother!"

Ætharr snarled as he swung his axes at the badger. Korari parried the blows with his sword, and a great ring was made for the two combatants. Craterus and Ptolemy stood by and watched in anxious anticipation.

Ætharr ducked a sword swing and struck a blow upon the badger's armoured body. Roaring in pain, Korari back-swung, knocking the weasel to the side. Recovering quickly, Ætharr swung a flurry of blows against the badger, screaming and showing all his sharp teeth. Once again, Ætharr was in the grips of the Bloodwrath, a sight that was astonishing to any Salamandastron hare or ally who saw it.

Korari attempted to ward off the attacks, but despite his anger and his cause, he was not the warrior to slay Ætharr. The weasel struck blow upon blow against the badger's armour, which was already dented from the hours of combat upon the beach in the hot weather.

Finally, the armour came away, hacked apart by the furious assault of Ætharr. Korari backed away to prepare another swing of his large sword, but in his haste, he slipped on one of the many bodies lying around the battlefield. Ætharr swung furiously once again, and buried one of his axe blades into Korari's leg. Ignoring the badger's scream of pain, Ætharr raised his axes again to kill Korari.

Even as he sought to slay Korari now, just as he had slain Roaveen, a loud roar sounded, and from out of the crowd came Thornback, as fast as his limp allowed.

Ætharr parried the lunging spear that was sent his way, and gave a snarl as he slashed at the second badger. Even as Korari was shouldered by his hares and taken away, Thornback and Ætharr duelled fiercely.

Ben saw the charge, and was astounded. He saw that a great lull had occurred in the fighting due to this fight with the champions of both armies. The raccoon saw a chance, and waved his shillelagh, "Rally! Charge! In the name of Ætharr!"

The vermin, roused by Ben's yell, gave a great cry, "Ætharr!" and lunged forward again, striking against hare, otter, and squirrel.

The battle slowly turned back to the side of the vermin. Groups of vermin rallied their remaining strength and fought with the desperation given to soldiers in the most dire situations.

All the while, Ætharr fought against Thornback. The scarred badger looked savage as he slashed at the weasel with spear and sword, both of which being sticky with blood.

Ætharr matched strike for strike with his axes, unaware of the tide turning back to his army's side.

Thornback, however, saw better than the Ealdor, and so with one final rush that sent Ætharr backwards, Thornback began retreating in rearguard fashion, "Pull back! Pull back!"

Instead of pursuing Thornback, Ætharr gave a yell, "Rally to me!"

Vermin did so, regardless of tribal loyalty. They ran to the leader who had always given them victory despite the odds. Even the wounded struggled to answer Ætharr's call. All across the battlefield, the vermin headed to the centre, even as the Salamandastron forces and their allies pulled back to the mountain.

Judos could hardly believe it. They had won. So close to defeat, they had nevertheless been able to hold, and win.

As he looked around, though, he felt sick. The dead lay innumerable, butchered into shapes that did not resemble animals anymore.

Still from where he had made his stand, Ben saw that close to half of all the vermin were dead or wounded. The Salamandastron forces hadn't been much better off, but Ben knew that this was no true victory for Ætharr.

No cheers sounded. All were too busy trying to find fallen comrades, or tend to wounds. There was no joy in this victory.

Judos sat in the sand, tears of weariness and relief on his face. Many others were in this same position. So many had died, and they had come so close to utter defeat.

At the centre of it, stood Ætharr, no longer in the grips of Bloodwrath. He too, was overcome. He gave orders for the dead and the wounded in a low voice, his movements slowed down in the midst of all this sorrow and destruction.

Ptolemy approached the otter, "Let's go back to the camp, Judos."

Judos nodded, and dropped his sword in the sand. He never did find it again, but at that point, or any point after, he did not care. He was convinced only of the fact that he would never fight another battle again if he could help it.

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At the mountain, the allied forces were again demoralized by their defeat. It had been so close, too close! Once again, Ætharr had prevailed. And at such a cost to all sides in the fight.

Korari and Thornback sat together in silence, ashamed of their failure to slay Ætharr. There was something unthinkable about this weasel's love and prowess for warfare.

They were joined by Skipper, Colonel Seahawk, Lt. Col. Jackers, Adisa, and Log a Log.

Seahawk gave both brothers hot bowls of soup, "Don't worry, lads. Ætharr will 'ave lost most of his army in today's fight. I think we'll be seeing his undoing soon."

Thornback stared resentfully at Skipper, "Where in all blazes is this warrior of yours? He could end all this by slaying Ætharr, so why doesn't he?"

Skipper sighed, "I don't know, mates. I doubted it when I first heard it, but Martin the Warrior has always proven himself to be right in these things."

Adisa carefully sat down so as not to move his bandaged arm any more than he needed to, "All the same, we would not survive another battle such as what we just fought."

Korari nodded, "Tomorrow, we go back on the defensive. We've worn out Ætharr's forces, so we'll see if they want to keep fighting."

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At the vermin camps, all were quiet and subdued, except for the screams and sobs of the wounded. So many were dead on the battlefield, and many more died of their wounds that evening.

Including Horal. The Guosim shrew's blade had done its work. Ætharr had stood by his old friend, watching helplessly as Horal had breathed his last, paws gripping his weapons. After Horal had died, the Ealdor had shut himself away in his tent, refusing to speak to anybody. By that point, the sun had finally set, leaving a blue-black sky twinkling with faint starlight.

Judos lay on his back, staring up at the stars, trying to ignore the distant sounds of feasting. The seabirds and crows were plundering the ample amount of bodies left over from the conflict. The smell of death was hanging along the beach like an invisible shadow. Judos wished he could leave this place. Anywhere seemed better than here.

He was suddenly approached by a Calador soldier, "Theign Judos? The Ealdor wishes to speak to you."

Judos suddenly felt a terrible feeling of anger and hatred for Ætharr. His friend's bloody-mindedness had led to all this horrific death. The otter sat up and glared at the guard, "Have him come here and ask me that himself!"

The guard, rather than look mortified by Judos' insult, nodded slowly, "He said you might react something like this, and he can only beg his old friend to come speak to him about something urgent. He wants nobody else to hear what he has to say to you."

Judos frowned, and reluctantly got up on his feet.

When they got to Ætharr's tent, the place was deserted. Indeed, when Judos was about to enter, he noticed that the guard had gone away from the tent, clearly having been forbidden on pain of death not to eavesdrop.

Entering the tent, Judos saw his friend hunched over in his chair, holding an empty flask and looking towards the far corner of his tent.

"Hello, Judos," said Ætharr in a very low and surprisingly humble voice.

Judos was suddenly curious as to what this was all about, "Are you alright, Ætharr?"

The weasel turned to look at the otter, and Judos saw that Ætharr had been crying, "I've been thinking on what you said to me before."

Judos was confused; he couldn't remember what he had said before, it felt like weeks ago instead of the previous evening, "What are you talking about?"

The weasel lay down the empty flask, "You said that I would not be redeemed or content with the taking of Salamandastron."

Judos nodded, "And you're realizing that I was right?"

"I think I knew it was true all along," Ætharr commented sadly. He looked up at his friend, "All my life I've done what was best for Calador. It is what the Ealdor must do to protect his people."

Judos felt that surge of anger again, "Protect them? Protect them by sending them to die by the thousands on a beach miles from home? Every drop of blood that's been spilled here is because of you!"

Ætharr got up, staggering slightly, "Roaveen helped murder my son!"

"You abandoned Rosheen and your living children!" Judos nearly screamed.

For a second, the otter thought that Ætharr would attack him. Instead, the weasel simply swayed where he stood, his expression thunderous. However, his voice was calm when he spoke again, "What did you say?"

Judos glared at the drunken weasel before him, "You didn't have to come to Salamandastron, Ætharr. You avenged the murder of Ædron when you killed Ibos and drove out the Vireo tribe. You blighted a thousand lives in the name of Ibos' betrayal and your son's death. But that just wasn't enough for you, was it? You wanted any excuse to invade Salamandastron! So instead of going home to your family and your country you've led thousands to their deaths!"

Ætharr said nothing for a while, slowly sitting back down, anger wiped from his face. Judos stood where he was, unsure of what to do.

Finally, Ætharr looked up at Judos again, "I couldn't let Roaveen live for what he did to Calador."

Judos sighed angrily, "He was never going to come back! He posed no threat to us on our own soil! You reopened an old wound by coming here." Speaking of that, Judos remembered something else, "And all those weeks you were with your family, you were just thinking of war and planning another grand invasion while leaving Rosheen and your other children to fend for themselves."

Ætharr shook his head, "That's not true! I was helping them! I gave them a chance to recover and feel happy again! I gave them happy memories in case I..." He did not finish the last sentence, but what he had said was enough for Judos to understand.

"Why couldn't you have let it go, Ætharr?" Judos asked sadly, "Why did so many of us have to die because you couldn't get over your son's murder? Or was it because you wanted one more kingdom to rule?"

Ætharr spat in disgust, "Calador's enemies would be defeated once and for all!" When the otter did not respond, Ætharr spoke again, in a more defensive tone, "How could I forget Ædron?"

Judos closed his eyes, "I'm not saying you had to forget him, but you could have looked to your living children and let him rest in peace."

"He didn't rest in peace," Ætharr remarked darkly, "He came back to me in my dreams. He would never leave! I would see him as I always saw my father... no rest from it, always reminding me that I had failed them somehow." He looked angrily in the direction of where the mountain was, "I came so close!"

Judos looked at his friend, and he knew that Ætharr could never change, and would only get worse. He felt sadness possess him as he beheld the wreck in front of him, "You were so noble, Ætharr. You convinced me that all I'd heard about vermin was wrong. But you let your hate and your anger destroy you."

Ætharr heard the tone of the otter's comments, and stood up again, facing Judos with a suddenly direct look, "I loved my son. And I loved my father. If anything undid me, it was my love for them!"

"And your ambition, which clouded your judgment and made you confuse love with obsession," Judos remarked, but there was no more malice in his words. He felt only pity for his friend.

Ætharr sat back down slowly, and sat his chair down to the small table near his cot. He took a piece of parchment and began writing, "I just need to give you your orders for tomorrow and what is to be done when our army recovers its strength. For the sake of all that I've done for you and Calador, Judos, will you please put aside your disagreements with my conduct and help me end this war once and for all? If our next strategy works, it can end the conflict for good."

Yet another strategy, yet another attempt to win, Judos thought to himself bitterly. The otter stood where he was for a while, his expression difficult to read, but then he nodded, "I promise."

Ætharr nodded slowly, "When you leave tonight, make sure to tell the guards to change shifts. Everyone could use a bit of rest tonight."

The otter nodded again, "Just tell me what you want taken care of."