The Shore
Vafír awoke briskly and ready, a full night's rest.
Occisor ran into his tent, the Wroots leader making his report. "They've blocked the entrances with stone, even the top crater."
Silvertung waved his paw. "No matter, my water rat friend. Now, look..."
He pulled some gray powder from his coat. "Those stones won't last long."
oooooooooooo
Alca the weasel awoke groggily to see the dead bodies of the other weasels, the slavemaster, and the slaves gone.
His eyes widened. He jumped up and ran, shouting, "Escape! Escape!"
Zäev the pine marten held out his paw and tripped him, sending him flying. "Nobody cares about the slaves, we'll get them later, weasel. Now, we must focus on the battle at paw. It is the seventh day."
The weasel nodded. "Yes, yes, of course. Yer right. The mountain will be ours by the days end."
ooooooooooooo
Varjyl and the crew had full control over Radge the stoat. "Alright, so, once we win, we slip some wolfsbane in his drink. Simple as that, matey!"
Radge nodded. "Got it. Hoho, that fox'll pay fer gittin' Ole Bloodpatch. He was the best cap'n we've 'ad, mates!"
They all nodded their sincere agreement. Varjyl winked at Radge. "By t'night you'll rule the mountain, if we do this right, cap'n!
oooooooooooooo
The vermin hordes climbed out of their cots. They hefted their weapons proudly, donned helmets and armor. Across the shore the vermin stood proudly, ready to take the mountain. They looked to their leader. Vafír Silvertung, his general, Zäev, and Occisor the Wroots leader.
Vafír raised his sabre in the air.
"My horde, we have traveled a long way! We have lost good friends, but now victory is in sight! Each and every one of you are powerful and smart–" Mentally, Vafír said, Well, not those Blue Hordes beasts, but they have numbers, "And you can fight. We will be able to take this mountain, and we will become the strongest vermin horde in history! Our empire will flourish! Blue Hordes, the blood in your veins is the same as the blood that once conquered Salamandastron before! Wroots, you carry the blood of the great army that served the Marlfox! And my own warriors are the same beasts that conquered Southsward and everything south of it! Combined we will take Salamandastron and be the greatest of the great!"
The vermin cheered. They raised their weapons and pounded the sand to the beat of their war-cry. "Silvertung! Silvertung! Victory's in sight! Silvertung! Silvertung! We will win this fight!"
Salamandastron
Tharius awoke sadly. He walked down to the dining room for breakfast, where hares and otters were eating. However, though they would usually be scoffing in joy, they were to anxious to fully enjoy their meal, and most had hardly touched their food. The squirrel walked down to where Amamo, Aar Krullen, Brockhammer, Findelo, Anera, and Hurqu were sitting. The goat seemed to be enjoying his food the most, scoffing it. There was also the young hare Alfar, who had been invited by Amamo.
Tharius sighed as he sat down.
Hurqu nudged him. "Och, why the long face, laddie?"
Tharius frowned. "I was visited by Martin again."
Anera brightened up. "Really? What'd he tell you?"
The squirrel let his head hang. "I have to escape in the tunnels."
The others sighed as they realized his predicament.
"Och, sorry, lad. Ah mean, this was yer chance to get back at the fox."
Brockhammer frowned. "I know how you feel. I must go through the tunnels as well."
They looked at him. "What?"
The big badger nodded. "Brawblade asked me too. Just in case... something goes wrong... I can lead the survivors."
The were was a silence, broken by Brockhammer saying, "Doubt I'm ready. Brawblade was allus better than me at commandin' forces."
They nodded. Anera said, "Well, I'm going to. The abbeydwellers don't usually teach fight skills, I'm not very good."
Findelo nodded. "I can't go either, more o' a roamer than a fighter, see. Besides, if I die, who'll be left to sing about the battle."
With that the mouse leapt on the table and began strumming a tune with his lute. "This piece is called the Battle o' the Big Blueberry Bakewell Tart. Hope it'll liven things up."
He started tapping his feet to the beat as he sang.
"Ooooh, 'twas the thirty and fourth o' spring,
On that hot day the bells went ding ding ding!
And at that sound we began the charge and pushed forth our carts,
At the Battle o' the Big Blueberry Bakewell tart!
Oooh, the other side had mean ole beasts,
Foxes an' rats an' weasels ready to feast,
But so were we, especially me, don't ye see,
So I bowled 'em away with my big ole cart,
At the Battle o' the Big Blueberry Bakewell tart!
Quick as a flash I grabbed the prize,
And into my cart it went,
But as I ran hastily ran back, I got attacked by a nasty ole rat,
And their a leader the big ole wildcat,
So I battered that rat an' whacked the cat an got the tart back,
Threw the vermin aside an' put the food in the cart...
An' won the Battle o' the Big Blueberry Bakewell Tart!"
The hares and otters applauded the ditty. Findelo promptly bowed, saying, "Thank you, thank you!"
He returned to his seat where his friends were laughing.
"Thank you, Findelo, that was good," said Tharius.
The mouse dipped his feathered hat and winked. "Not a problem. Wait'll ye hear the Combat o' the Clotted Cream Crumble!"
oooooooooooooo
Lord Brawblade watched proudly as Findelo renewed his warrior's spirits. The warriors resumed eating with their normal energy, and started bragging about past battles. But it was still unknown if it would be enough for this battle.
oooooooooooooo
Young and old hares, Tharius, Anera, Findelo, and Brockhammer went into the dark, winding tunnels. The squirrel carried Martin's sword and a torch, as did a few others. Brockhammer led the way.
There was many forks in the road, and they didn't have a perfect memory of the place, but it was good enough. Once they found the body of the massive spider they would be sure of where they were.
Then Brockhammer stopped at a fork in the road. Tharius walked up to him. "What is it?"
The badger bit his lip. "The massive spider, it's not here!"
They were lost!
oooooooooooooo
Deep in the tunnels, the adder finished its meal. The massive spider was large, but it was in poor condition, and the adder wanted more. Now it smelled fur-covered creatures, it's favorite kind. It slithered through the tunnels.
"Furry creatures... They will not be able to hide from Ssssssssssalasssssssor Ssssssssssicksssssssssssleep! I will find them!"
oooooooooooooo
Vafír held up the paw holding the gray powder, and threw it on the rock in front of the entrance. "Zäev!"
The pine marten threw a pouch of water at the rock, then quickly jumped back just in time to avoid the explosion that killed the hares behind the rock. Then the pine marten drew his rapier and led the charge.
"Silvertung! Silvertung! Victory's in sight! Silvertung! Silvertung! We will win this fight!"