Tallulah awoke with a start, jackknifing upright and gasping. The other awake Sopranos and Altos turned to look at her, surprised and concerned at her sudden movement.
She stared back for a moment, then dropped her gaze to her tangled blankets, trying to calm her breath.
She finally got up and got dressed; she had a gaggle of siblings around her on their way downstairs. All through breakfast, her siblings didn't say a word; they conveyed themselves through despairing glances and brief touch. Tallulah tried to soothe them, but her eyes just couldn't manage what she wanted to say.
Her whole Singer family couldn't join the party that would lead her into the forest; they had to separate at the Abbey's front gates. Tallulah took a while to hug everybeast one last time; a tearful, fond goodbye.
The leaving group was made up of her closest family members and the military leaders: Rucci, Mrue, Rhea, Coda, Lyxa, Skipper, Log-a-log, and a Salamandastron hare she didn't know.
Marmy would've come, as well, but the soggy spring's moisture affected her bones. And Sister Perkle hadn't found Mack Kringle healed enough to walk beyond the Abbey, so he'd sent his head hare.
Pulling cloaks close, they started off. Rucci and her sisters crowded close. Sometime during their trek through Mossflower woods, somebeast started a song. The others immediately joined, latching onto the single normal element in the chaos, drawing comfort from it.
"'You can't lose me
Bet your life
I am here and I will always be
Just a wish away
Wherever you go
No matter how far
My love is where you are
You won't be lost if you believe
You can't lose me..'"
They continued, song after song, almost unable to stop themselves, until they reached the River Moss. They stood on the banks at the ford, not wanting to complete the inevitable. Tallulah felt as if her whole body, her very heart, was ripping in two as she stepped away from the group, turning back to face them and murmuring, "I guess this is it."
Rhea threw her arms around Tallulah, hugging her close and murmuring into her ear. "It's not to late to change your mind. You can still come home with us. Please, Tallulah..."
Tallulah hugged the ottermaid tightly. "I can't go back, Rhea. I love you, but I've gotta go."
Rhea held her a moment longer, then reluctantly tore herself away. Mrue was next, holding Tallulah tight and long. They said their "I love yous" and goodbyes, then came Coda. After their goodbye came Lyxa. The badgermaid knelt to Tallulah's level, hugging her close. "Whenever you want to come home, we'll come get you. Don't be afraid."
Tallulah was beginning to cry, and her words couldn't come out past the hard lump in her throat. Rucci came last, and Tallulah knelt down to accept her leader's bone-crushing hug and a fond, motherly kiss between the ears.
Skipper Roc and Log-a-Log Lanen also said goodbye, forgoing the hugs. Tallulah could barely hear the hare repeating her instructions past the beating of her heart; couldn't understand the words through her tears. They turned and left. Tallulah stayed where she stood, watching her family walk away, ushered on by Skip, Log-a-Log and the hare, often turning their heads back to get one last glance of her.
Tallulah waited until she couldn't see them through the trees Then, staring at the place they had left, she quietly sang a farewell into the forest.
'"I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you wanna go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.
But more than anything, more than anythingMy wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.'"
She stood for a bit longer, tears trickling down her face. Then she rubbed away the wetness and walked off. Gathering her long skirts, she slashed across the ford. Once she trudged up the other banks, she turned and looked back. "No going back now."
She turned back and began walking, distracting herself from the heartbreak by reviewing her part in the plan. "I'm supposed to wander and look lost until a find a horde member, and then either talk them into taking me back or sneakily follow them back. Try not to get myself killed, spy on the wolf's plans, report to Kramer each night."
Tallulah paused to free her long skirts from where it had snagged on a root. "Should be easy," she muttered.
She continued walking, holding her skirts up. The ground was sodden and soggy with melted snow, often muddy and marshy. Wandering aimlessly and resting whenever she felt the need, Tallulah was soon lost. She sat on a fallen tree, observing her surroundings and continuing talking to herself, trying to keep calm and not break down. "Well, no need to pretend. I'm well and truly lost. All is going according to plan." Tallulah allowed herself a laugh she knew was fake. "Roc said that, as soon as I'm far from the ford, I can start drawing attention to myself."
She paused and began singing.
"'You feel like a candle in a hurricaneJust like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless, like you've lost your fight
But you'll be all right, you'll be all right
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend till you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees, you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand, then you stand
Life's like a novel with the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon with only one way down
Take what you're given before it's gone
And start holdin' on, keep holdin' on
'Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend till you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees, you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand, yeah, then you stand...'"
The bushes near her shook. Tallulah abruptly cut off the song, turning to watch the bush. The fear she'd scarcely managed to hold back flooded through her as a big, burly rat pushed through, a blade in hand. She reminded herself of Kringle's words; she looked like them, and they might accept her. "Um... hello. Are you one of the wolf's horde."
The rat barked out a few harsh, guttural words. Tallulah stared at him for a moment, then covered her eyes. with a paw. "Oh great. They have a different language."
The rat said another bit in his strange language. Tallulah heard a rustling behind her and spun to see another rat emerge, just as muscular as the first and with a blade of his own. Tallulah sighed. "I don't suppose you can understand me?"
The second rat snarled a few angry words. Tallulah sighed again. The first rat stalked closer, speaking. Tallulah stared at him. "I can't understand you."
The second rat shoved her shoulder, repeating whatever his companion had said. Tallulah scowled at him. "Don't touch me!"
The first rat shoved her harder on her other shoulder. Tallulah threw up her paws. "I don't know what you're trying to say- don't touch me!"
Instantly, a blade was at her throat. One rat took some rope from his belt, moved behind Tallulah, and began forcing her arms behind her back. Tallulah protested and tried struggling, all too aware of the blade near her throat. "What're you doing? Please don't-that hurts!"
The rat behind her snarled and cuffed her ears. Tallulah shut up, wincing as her arms were wrenched behind her and her wrists tightly bound. She saw a rope as it passed her eyes, then felt the loop tighten around her neck. She stiffened and struggled anew, earning another cuff to her ears. Then the first rat raised her to her footpaws, shoving her forward. Tallulah stumbled and the loop around her neck tightened. They set off at a fast pace; the going was tough for Tallulah, struggling for breath with one rat shoving her from behind and the other tugging at her leash. Neither let her pause for a moment; each time she tripped and fell to the mucky ground, they punished her with kicks to her unprotected ribs, pulling the rope lead taunt as to cut off all air.
After hours of this torment, they finally arrived at the fringes of the large vermin camp. Once again, Tallulah was shoved to the hard earth, tree roots jabbing into a bruising her rips. Her rope was taken off, and she sucked in her first, painful breaths in hours. The coyotemaid struggled to get free, earning her another slap, hard enough that her vision dimmed around the edges, snapping her head to one side with bone-jarring force.
Exhausted and in pain, she was forcibly marched through the camp, receiving hard cuffs on the ears and strange, angry words each time her footpaws dragged. Exhausted and in pain, she was brought before a tent larger than the others, its flaps open. Through half-lidded eyes and with clouded vision, Tallulah could see the wolf, more massive in close proximity, flanked on either side by a ferret and stoat. The ferret and stoat spoke in the same harsh language the rats used, pointing to a parchment on the table. The wolf alternately nodded or spoke a few strange phrases.
The rat at Tallulah's left shoulder called out in reverent tones, making the wolf glance up. The second rat continued, speaking in their garbled tongue. There was no mistaking the self-pride in his voice. Then Tallulah was thrown to her knees, where she stayed, cowering into the ground, head down and ears flattened back. There was tense silence for a few moments, then the wolf slammed a fist on the tabletop, causing tankards to rattle and inkwells to spill. He roared at the rats in the harsh language, pure fury boiling in every word. Terrified, Tallulah let out a cry at his immense anger. The wolf made a gesture to his guards, who grabbed the rats and dragged them away. A short command sent the ferret and stoat advisors, scurrying out, closing the tent flaps behind them.
Tallulah kept her eyes cast down, biting her tongue to keep from crying out again. She tried not to tremble as the wolf prowled around the table to stand before her. She kept her head down, watching the huge footpaws. A muffled sob escaped her as she heard him draw his dagger, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Tallulah cringed away when she felt her paws, bound behind her back, seized in a strong grip. Tears of pure terror streamed freely down her face, and another sob of fear came free from her throat.
A firm, deep voice spoke in the native tongue, commanding, "Be still. I won't hurt you."
The voice was mellow, with a trace of remaining anger. Tallulah felt her bonds release, and she opened her eyes, pulling her sore and over-stretched arms back to her front. Her paws were numb, and her wrists cut and bloody raw.
After a few long, fear-filled moments, the deep voice sounded above her head. "Your name?"
Be brave, Tallulah thought. Don't be afraid. Tilting her head back, she tried to force herself to meet his eyes. "Tallulah." Surprisingly, her voice didn't shake too badly. She hoped.
The wolf chuckled. "You're afraid. But you try to fight it. I respect a creature who fights their fear, Tallulah."
The maid stayed silent. The wolf continued, "How did you come to be taken captive by two of my hordebeasts?"
"I was wandering and got lost. I'm not used to this region. My kind aren't from here." Tallulah bit her tongue. The longer she talked, the more her voice trembled. The wolf crouched to her level. He touched a bent knuckle undder her chin, a faint, cruel smile on his face. "And what are your kind called?"
"Coyote." Tallulah paused, hoping to see confusion on his face. The look didn't come; the wolf's face stayed as it was. Tallulah found herself looking away from his dark eyes. "My kind is not so different from yours."
The wolf nodded. "I will have to take your word for that, yes?"
Tallulah couldn't tell if he was mocking her or being sincere. The wolf stood, taking her elbow and raising her to her footpaws. Come, let us get to know eachother."
He led her to a chair and pulled it away from the table. Tallulah lightly sat, wiping her tears away and watching the wolf as he walked around the table and sat in his own chair. "I'll begin. I am a warlord. I have six-score warriors at my back. And I hate warriors." He flicked his ear towards Tallulah. "Any questions."
"You didn't tell me your name."
"Lachlan. Your turn."
"What do you want to know?"
"Just a little about you. Your home, your family. Whatever you want to tell."
"I have no home or family here. I came from far, far across the western sea."
"Pity. What about your hobbies? What do you do?"
Tallulah paused. After a moment of hesitation, she stammered, "I-I sing."
Lachlan looked slightly surprised. "Really? Would you sing for me?"
Tallulah kept her head down. "I normally only sing for myself, sir. I'm not very good."
His voice got low, scarily deep and quiet."I doubt that. Such a pretty maid must have a beautiful voice as well."
Still scared, Tallulah protested. "No, I'm not good at all! You wouldn't want to hear me-"
Lachlan cut her off, his black lips pulling up to show gleaming fangs much larger than hers. "I do want to hear you. Sing!"
Tallulah swallowed and took a breath. The only song that came to mind was was full of high, held-out notes.
"Country road, let me roam, and then return me to my home..."
Tallulah winced. Her voice trembled and cracked, and she was off-pitch and squeaky.
Lachlan looked expectantly at her. "Continue. Louder, this time."
Tallulah took a deeper breath and forced her voice to go louder. "I'll climb the mountains, tall and steep. I'll cross the rivers, wide and deep. Winding road, let me roam!"
At the last, high note, Tallulah gave a cry and brought her paws to her throat. Tears of pain pricked her eyes. Lachlan's ears pointed toward her, looking vaguely concerned. "Is there something wrong with your throat?"
Tallulah began to answer yes, but another pang from her throat turned the sound to a whimper.
Lachlan leaned toward her. "Let me look."
Tallulah leaned away, fearfully shaking her head 'no'. Lachlan paused, firmly stating, "I'm not going to hurt you, Tallulah. Let me look."
Tallulah eyed him warily. Lachlan kept his dark eyes steady on hers. "Just lower your paws and tilt back your chin."
Slowly, Tallulah did as he said. Out the bottom of her eyes, she watched his huge paw reach for her throat. She flinched at his touch. Lachlan seemed to be getting a bit irritated as he slowly repeated, "I won't hurt you, Tallulah." He reached for her throat again. Tallulah steeled herself. With surprising gentleness, Lachlan felt her throat.
"Tell me when it hurts," he warned. Then he pressed gently harder on her throat. Agony laced through Tallulah's neck. She gasped, choked and began coughing. Lachlan watched her double up, gasping and whimpering. When she finally straightened, tears were running down her cheeks. Lachlan watched her wipe her cheeks, bruised livid black and purple, commenting, "Your throat is quite bruised. Your windpipe was nearly crushed. Mind to tell me what happened?"
Tallulah slightly lowered her paws, speaking quietly in a vain attempt to lessen the pain. "Your soldiers brought me with a noose around my neck. They took it off before we entered the camp. It was much too tight."
She couldn't press down a yelp as Lachlan's paw flashed out, grabbing one of her paws, nestled on her chest. He coolly eyed the bloody, raw and cut mess of her wrist. "And this, too?"
Tallulah nodded. Lachlan called out to his guards in the strange tongue. They entered the tent, saluting. Lachlan let loose a string of guttural words. He paused for a moment, then added a short command. The two soldiers gave a short, unified nod; the larger left the tent, and the smaller grabbed Tallulah's arm. The coyotemaid shrunk away from him, looking fearfully to Lachlan. "What did you tell them?"
"Be calm, Tallulah. He's just detaining you while I attend to some business. He won't dare harm you."
Tallulah reluctantly let the slim guard tug her to her feet and out of the tent. She could feel the stares of the hordebeasts as the guard lead her to a pole near the edge of the camp, many paces away from Lachlan's tent. Taking a long rope from his belt, he tied it around one of her ankles, gave it a bit of slack, then tied the other end to the pole. Then he stood to the side, resuming the stiff position he had held outside Lachlan's tent. The slack allowed Tallulah to take a pace away from the pole. She stood, walking around the pole a few times. The guard watched her closely. Tallulah glanced at him. "You don't have to worry. I won't run. I can't."
The guard didn't relax his position and he didn't stop watching her. Tallulah sighed. Apparently, he didn't understand anything but his native tongue. Tallulah circled the pole again, then awkwardly sat.
The songs are:
You Can't Loose Me by Faith Hill
My Wish by Rascall Flats
and I own neither.
