The Western Mountains

Srav gave a contented sigh as he sat upon a rock and pulled the Golden One from his belt and began toying with it, chuckling.

Darkfang came behind him, gasping, and then collapsed upon the ground.

Srav chuckled as he pulled a beaker from his belt and poured it down the fox's throat. Darkfang sputtered, then awoke, blinking. "I'm up, I'm up!"

Srav smiled. "Good. We're almost out of these mountains, then we can easily head down to Silvertung, sound okay? We'll go in an hour."

Darkfang looked up at him, a tired look on his face.

Srav shrugged. "Fine, three hours. But if we get eaten by Painted Ones, you only have yourself to blame.

Darkfang sighed and got up, then sat on a rock next to Srav. "Don't we have any food?"

The ferret chuckled. "You ate it all, remember?"

Darkfang sighed. "I'm taking a nap. Wake me in three hours."

The fox immediately plopped down and went into a deep slumber. Srav sighed and walked around, then his eyes caught on something. Unsheathing his dagger, he watched as a young sparrow settled down on a rock. Aiming his knife, he threw.

"Lunch!"

ooooooooooooo

Arzemath and his Painted Ones were in a much worse position. They had finally reached the mountains, and weren't getting anywhere. His ancestors had once banished to the plains, but they had returned by the second generation. They kept jumping, expecting a branch to be there, then stumbled and fell to the ground. They slowly made their way across the plains, and now through the mountains, where their paint made them stand out.

"For the Golden One!" he called to the rats. "Go, we must catch'em!"

"Yesyes!" replied the rats. "Wegofaster! Runrunrun!"

Arzemath sighed and slumped back in his stretcher. The Golden One must be returned if they were to continue their life. "Gogogo!"

If he went to the Dark Forest without the Golden One there, he would suffer greater than any chieftain. So he must, he must, he must.

The sun was setting and the moon was rising. The rats revered the moon, and the night. As they saw it they began to pray to the moon for strength to get the Golden One.

The Swamp

Sanlo the Toad sighed as he saw the moon drifting slowly down. Waving Clawd's stiletto, he hopped over to where he saw a group of vermin walking through a trench to the swamp. He held his stiletto in the air. "Rrrrrreb! They're coming! They're coming! Rrrreb! Vermin!"

The Grubloe toads immediately hopped over and raised their bows. The vermin would be getting no help from them.

The Shore

Vafír Silvertung watched as General Zäev ran back to him. "Master Silvertung! I bear news! The toads have gone back on their deal, we must fight without them!"

Vafír waved his paw. "Of little consequence. We have the Blue Hordes now, you see. Tomorrow is the seventh day, then we will rule Salamandastron!"

The vermin around the camp began settling down into their cots. Tomorrow would be a long day.

oooooooooooo

Dedclaw the rat slavemaster and his weasel goons glared at the score of slaves they had. Vafír had given them equal rations to the horde, saying, "What use is a starved slave?" Now all the found had been taken out of slavemastering, he wasn't even allowed to use the whip.

The slaves were very happy about this. With the exception of Verane and Marko, they were content where they were. They were treated well enough, much better than they had before. But to the surprise of many, Branos Tuffkwill had become less content than before.

The hedgehog had enjoyed his first taste of freedom when they almost made it, and was determined for a second chance. They were not kept in a cage, but their waists were tied to a post. Branos slowly scooted over to where Verane and Marko where sitting.

"Listen, mates, I got an idea."

Verane sighed. "We can't do much, y'see. The fox gave us bandages, but that's it."

Marko and Verane were covered in bandages from their torture wounds. But the otters listened to Branos's plan nevertheless, as did a few surrounding slaves.

Once they heard it they nodded, with the exception of an old mousemaid called Jemmy. "Oh, we'll git caught, I'm sure of it. We're good enough–"

Branos brought his paw down hard on her head, and said to a big, hefty otter, "Ye'll carry her. Only Dedclaw an' a few o' 'is goons are up, we can take 'em, just follow the plan."

The strong hedgehog put his pas on the rope around his waist, and moved as far forward as he could. Each slave strong enough did the same thing as well, each looking at a different goon, while Branos aimed at Dedclaw.

Whump! Thump! Whump!

The slaves yanked at their ropes with all their might, and the posts flew threw the air, most landing atop the captors. Branos struck the rat's skull, and the slavemaster was never to rise again.

"Go!" whisper shouted Branos. The hedgehog grabbed Dedclaw's knife and began cutting the ropes. Quietly but quickly, they ran south along the coast, knowing the Wroots were up north. They ran until they heard a voice.

"Hurr, cumm 'ere, poor 'uns."

The escapees turned to see the homely face of Ergo Dubbo the mole, who beckoned them into his home carved from a hill.

Wordlessly they walked in. A stone stove was there, as was a small table. The shelter was small, but it was shelter. They were free!

ooooooooooooo

Lord Brawblade paced around his bedchamber as he watched the moon rising into the sky. The white fox knew what he was doing. The disease had taken nearly half his fighter, the vermin outnumbered them clearly. But what could they do? Give up, surely not. They would fight. What if they were to lose? Salamandastron would fall. It's fallen before, to the Blue Hordes of Ungatt Trunn. Now the Blue Hordes have returned. A few hares could escape. Then they could gather an army and return. But Silvertung has more warriors in the south and east, he could get their help.

Nervous thought zoomed through the badger's mind. He decided what he must do.

He walked to his forge. It was filled with great weapons, armor, ores, and a fire that was never to be put out. Going between a crack, Lord Brawblade began observing the carvings on the wall.

ooooooooooooo

Brigadier Bristlefur was creating all the strategies he could. The hare was a gifted strategist, and knew he must do all he could to win. The Rogue, The Long Patrol, and those travelers at the mountain, they would all be necessary. But he must know what the fox would do to counter him. The aged, tough hare sighed and flopped down into his chair, putting his head into his paws. What trouble had they gotten into?

ooooooooooooo

Alfar Miggory had recovered from his unconsciousness. He couldn't sleep with all the anxiety, so he was practicing with his katana. He needed to be ready for the fight tomorrow. Amamo had taught him many things, flicking the blade, cuts, and more. He gave a sigh with exhaustion and made the mistake of looking out his window into the distance. Once again he fainted as he saw a wicked-looking rat smiling back at him.

oooooooooooo

Anera sighed and slumped down on her bed. This was supposed to be her chance for an adventure! She had gotten more than she'd bargained for, doubting she would make it out alive. Brawblade had given her a dirk, and Findelo had taught her how to use it, but she hoped she wouldn't need to. It appears her mother was right...

oooooooooooo

Aar Krullen the hedgehog was in the near-empty dining room, eating apple pie. He watched a young hare working taking on a deeper-n-ever turnip-n-tater-n-beetroot pie. Aar chuckled as hr scoffed it, the hedgehog always had a soft spot for young ones. He sighed as he thought about what would happen to them in the coming battle.

Then he got an idea.

oooooooooooo

Amamo was surprised when Aar Krullen burst into his room. Jokingly, the hedgehog said, "I got an idea. If ye wanna steal credit for it, come on!"

Amamo laughed and followed his friend.

oooooooooooo

Hurqu strode into the dining room with Brockhammer, all had been called there. They chose their seats near Tharius, Anera, and Findelo, but they were not allowed to sit right next to each other in the Mortifer's time. Standing on a makeshift stage was Brawblade, Amamo, Brigadier Bristlefur and Aar Krullen.

"Ah wunder wot they called us 'ere for," said Hurqu.

He was answered as Brawblade spoke.

"Hares of the Long Patrol, Otters of the Rogue Crew, my cousin and his friends, I am proud to announce that we have a plan!"

There was a cheer from the audience. Brawblade held his massive paw in the air and they began to slowly quiet now. "Bristlefur?" said Brawblade.

The gruff hare walked forward. "H'I have created h'a plan based h'on wot I know h'of the fox. The h'answer h'is simple, we just can't let him h'in, wot wot! H'A boulder here, h'a boulder there, h'an' two-score hares guardin' the h'entrances, we're good, wot! Simple bur brilliant, h'I think!"

There was a scattered applause, expecting the plan to be more intricate and detailed, but there was no denying the practicality of it. They watched as Brigadier backed down, saying, "Now, there's more to the plan, made by these two good chaps, h'an' h'I think 'tis bally good!"

Aar Krullen and Amamo came to the front of the stage, and Amamo, quickly said, "Well, my good fellows, could ye believe, but I've come up with a plan, a good one, too!"

Brockhammer muttered to Hurqu, "Aar came up with this, I'm sure of it." The badger and goat stifled laughter as the rabbit continued.

"Well, as ye can see, we are in the lesser favor–" a chorus of boos came from the Long Patrol and Rogue Crew–"of fate, here, badly outnumbered. So ye see, I was thinkin', just in case, the ones that can't fight can escape through the tunnels me an' my friend went through, and if the battle turns an' the brigadier's plan fails... well, we can survive, then we can take revenge on the vermin!"

There was scattered, unenthusiastic applause. Sighing, Aar called out, "We have a plan to escape right under the nose of that white fox, then come back an' slay 'im! Eulaaaaaliiiiiiaaaa!"

There was laughter and applause from Aar's remark, especially from Brockhammer, Hurqu, Tharius, Findelo, and Anera. Brawblade stepped up and called to the hares, "Now go to sleep, no stayin' up late! Now! We'll need to have energy tomorrow!"

ooooooooooooooo

Tharius Squirrelprince was dreaming. The mouse was there again, Martin the Warrior.

"Tharius, listen to me."

The squirrel nodded. "What do you wish for me to do?"

The mouse walked up. They were in the middle of a large fortress, with graves around. The mouse strode forward. "You must follow Aar Krullen's plan."

Tharius's eyes widened. "What? No! This is my chance to get back at Vafír! If I get my chance I can beat him!"

Martin sighed and threw his sword on the ground. "You must learn wisdom and patience, young one. You are too brash. I was once like you, but it is important to learn that it is more than just waving a sword to become a warrior."

Tharius sighed. "Listen, I need–"

"You will have your chance for revenge. But if you do this battle, you will not get your chance."

The squirrel was in a fury. "Are you saying we'll lose?"

Martin neither confirmed this nor denied it, just said, "I'm saying you will not survive. I must go now, but you must think."

Before Tharius had a chance to argue, the scene and the mouse dissipated into the air, leaving the squirrel alone.