The Great South Stream Crossing

Tharius and Anera were competent swimmers, and got across the Great South Stream easily. This did not fare similarly for the other four.

"Come on, Hurqu," urged Anera. "You and Brockhammer are so large, you'll be able to walk across, easily!"

The goat nodded nervously and placed his hoof in the water, he slipped a bit and his head went under. Seconds later, he emerged, chest-deep.

"Ach, the wee lassie's right, it is shallow 'nough! Come on, auld stripedawg, 'tis not so deep!"

As the goat made his way across as Brockhammer got in. The badger followed Hurqu as they made it across the stream. Aar Krullen and Amamo were not so like that. The brash rabbit leaped into the water, accidentally pushing Aar Krullen in. The hedgehog promptly curled into a ball and floated across to be grabbed by Brockhammer, but Amamo was not so lucky.

Tharius jumped into the water, leaving the Sword of Martin on the shore. He swam after the rabbit, following a trail of fallen katanas.

A young and small pike swam, striking his side. The pike bit down on his arm and dragged him down, as Tharius struggled for freedom and air. Kicking the pike with his footpaws, he grabbed one of the sunken katanas. He struck at the young pike, and struck again, forcing it to release his arm. He struck again, and the pike decided it wasn't worth it and swam off.

Dropping the blade Tharius continued swimming after the rabbit, haunted by the spirits of his long-dead family. He could not, would not, lose any others.

Obviously his limbs had other ideas. Exhausted from swimming and fighting the pike, he began to slack in speed and energy. He had to go up for air more and more, gasping for breath. He soon was just pushed by the force of the stream, floating along.

Then two paws grabbed his tail and yanked him ashore. Normally they never would have been able to do so, but in his weakened state, it was like pulling a feather from a bird. Choking up water, Tharius looked at his unwanted rescuer.

He was a very strange mouse in odd clothes. He had an emerald green cap with a feather, whimsical blue eyes, a pointed goatee and a curled mustache. He wore a black leather cloak with gold trimmings, a maroon under coat and green pants, with thin brown shoes. He had a fine lute slung over his back and was carrying a haversack.

"Well, well," said the mouse, amused. "You certainly got yourself in a spot of trouble, didn't you."

Tharius gave him a hateful glare. In a raspy voice he said, "I need to save my friend. Why did you stop me?"

"Tut-tut, I didn't stop you, I saved you. You were going to get yourself killed, my friend."

Tharius growled. "Tell me where we are!"

The mouse indicated the sludge Tharius was lying in. "We're in the swamplands, so don't be so loud, or the toads will hear us, my friend."

"I need to save my friend!"

"Didn't I say not to be so loud? Didn't I just say that? Ah, well. The toads aren't in this area at the moment, off preoccupied with something."

"I need to save my friend!"

"Listen-"

"No! I must save-"

"Findelo, wot's goin'- oh, 'ello Tharius!" called Amamo.

Tharius groaned and then started laughing. "Ahahah! Of course, I've made a fool of myself! Glad to see you alive!"

"Same for you my friend."

"That's what I was trying to tell you!" sighed the mouse, Findelo. He gave his paw to Tharius and helped him up. "Well, I think we need a proper instruction... Tharius. I am Findelo Gonfelin, son of Mario and Juliet, wanderer, Prince of Bards, and the one who returned that great sword to your troupe. And you?"

"I am Tharius Oakleaf Squirrelprince, son of Truffen and Karina. My family was killed and I have an oath of vengeance to kill the swine who did it."

Findelo whistled. "A Squirrelprince, aye? Well, sorry for your loss, then. So I guess you're traveling to find the swine?"

Tharius nodded. "We need to get back to Anera and the others."

Findelo shook his head. "Nay, they'll be sure to head downstream after you, then we'll meet up with them and head to the shore. I know a place we can stay."

ooooooooooooooo

"Ach, yer nah dead, Tharius!" called Hurqu.

"Hey Amamo isn't either!" exclaimed Aar Krullen.

"'Course I ain't. Take a lot more than water to kill me."

"And you're Findelo, the mouse from the stream!" shouted Anera.

Findelo laughed. "I am, I am! Guess who put yon sword in yon mountain?"

The mouse looked at "yon sword" and laughed. She gave Findelo a quick embrace. "Thank you, this means a lot to the Abbey."

"Well, if I didn't think that I would have stolen it, fair maiden." The mouse gave a small bow.

Anera chuckled.

"Findelo, you said you knew someplace we can stay?"

"Ah, yes. Well, I meant I know somebody who knows a place we can stay."

oooooooooooooo

"Not what I expected..." said Tharius.

A mole called Ergo the Hermit took them to a sand dune. Brushing some sand away, he revealed an ancient door. The mole left, not saying a word.

"Well, you can just stay outside. Remember what Ergo said?" asked Findelo.

The mole had told them how VafĂ­r's horde making an alliance with the toads. When Tharius wanted to go and attack the horde head on, the mole chastised him. Tharius retorted, and looked for the help of his friends. Aside from Amamo, they all agreed he was much to brash.

Findelo opened the door, revealing some rusty old tracks and a dark tunnel littered with cobwebs. "Now, we don't want to go too far into this, Ergo said things can get odd back there. 'Tis not much, but 'tis better than a freezing cold night."

"It's freezing cold in both places, Findelo," said Amamo. "I wouldn't sleep in there, no doubt we won't wake up."

"Ah, 'tis fine. Anythin' that's in here would have died long ago. Probably was an abandoned mine, by the tracks. Some gas came, it passed, everything's dead and the place is perfectly safe."

"Yeah, those two words don't go together, dead and safe," said Aar Krullen. "I'm not-"

"Och, ye wee cowards! Ah'll go through the whole place, just teh prove ye wrong!"

And with that the goat slung his axe over his back, took his grippers off and bounded on all fours through the mine.

Findelo shrugged and ran off after him. He was followed by Tharius, saying, "Well we can't let 'em go alone."

Amamo sighed. "Well, wot'll we do, my fellow travelers?"

Brockhammer looked to the great mountain in the distance. "If we travel through the night we'll get there by morn. I say we go through the toadlands and the massive horde that wishes us dead on no food or sleep until-"

"Goodbye!" called Amamo, hopping through the mine.

Chuckling, Brockhammer ran after him. Aar Krullen looked at Anera, an apologetic look on his face and shrugged, then walked cautiously into the mine.

Anera sighed. "Urgh! Ah well, I'm coming. Wait up!"

ooooooooooooo

"Oh my, what in the name Gonff Mousethief is that?"

Hurqu shrugged. "Och, the auld thang died a while ago, of its grand age. Must 'ave been ancient!"

The corpse of a massive tarantula lay on the ground, blocking two paths through the mine. It had died a good while ago, down in these mines.

Tharius came in, shortly followed by Amamo. "What is that?" asked the rabbit.

"Ah don't know, but ah d'know what path we're doin'." He pointed a hoof down the one unblocked path, "Let's go!"

Anera came into the room last, with a squeak of fear. Hastily following where the others would have gone to, she caught up to Aar Krullen, who was walking.

"Ah! Everything's dead, aye?" muttered the hedgehog. "That certainly didn't when this was a mine, it was just a few seasons ago. If it had just lasted a bit longer we all would die. Okay, maybe not Hurqu and Brockhammer, but the rest of us. Who knows what else is down here?"

"Och, Ah found some guld!" came the voice of Hurqu, far up the mine.

"Oh, I knew this was a good idea!" called Aar Krullen, bolting down the mine faster than Anera had ever seen a beast run, even the otters when hotroot soup was being served.

Hurqu did not just find gold, he found a pile of it, with precious gems, great swords, tough armor, and so on. It appeared to be a carved out room, though there wasn't a way out, as it seemed.

Laughing, Aar Krullen and Amamo threw themselves on the treasure, stuffing their pockets with the stuff. They were somewhat joined by Hurqu.

"Ah, nought like good gold, eh, matey?"

"Hah, unless there's good food t'be had!"

"Yer right there!"

"Ach, auld goat aumor! Ah thought this was only in yon North Mountains!"

The goat up on a helmet with holes for where his horns would go through. Putting on his grippers and hefting his axe, with the great helmet he looked fearsome indeed.

"Oh my," said Brockhammer, standing over a stone box.

Anera came over. "What... oh..."

"'Tis a tomb," said Brockhammer. "It says its for Urthstripe the Strong, one of the Great Lords of Salamandastron."

The others nodded grimly, then Brockhammer perked up.

"Wait, hang on. If Urthstripe was buried here..." The badger went over to where a large boulder was blocking the room from the other rocks on the outside. "This is the treasury of Salamandastron, and-"

"Treasury of Salamandastron?" asked Aar Krullen, as he and Amamo hastily emptied their pockets, and Hurqu sighed and took off his helmet.

Brockhammer chuckled to himself. Pressing his paws against the bolder, he pushed with all his might. His muscles bulging, the boulder slowly began moving to the left. The power needed for forging came back, helping him. The rock slowly moved to the side.

"Och, a braw feat ye did, auld Brock!" called Hurqu. "A way out!"

Hurqu bounded through the exit, followed by the others.

Brawblade was coming from the chamber his face grim. His surprise overcame his grimness when a goat, a brown rabbit, his cousin, a white-bellied hedgehog, a squirrel, a mousemaid, and an odd-dressed bard came running through the corridor.