Salamandastron

Zäev was upon the hares, slashing with his rapier. The pine marten was a skilled fighter, he slew the hares with ease. Parrying, slashing, stabbing, cutting, thrusting, he slew the hares with ease. The vermin that charged behind him hardly had it easy, Zäev had already slain half of the score of hares positioned there. The vermin behind them had an easy job slaying the remaining hares viciously, not letting one survive.

Just before she was cut down, the final hare shouted, "They're coming from the front! We need back-up, now!"

Through the caverns poured hares and otters, armed to the teeth. In the limited space they had the position to be able to hold the mountain for hours. The vermin charged, hitting the Long Patrol and the Rogue hard, but between the axes flying, swords slashing, and spears thrusting, the vermin were unable to come close to making it past the powerful hares and sea otters.

A pretty young hare named Kally, who used to be a runner but was now a proud soldier stabbed with her sword, taking out a rat. The vermin screamed as she pulled the spear out and butted a weasel with the back of the spear.

Then the fox entered. He wore a red vest with a gold trim and a green tunic underneath, and dark blue pants and light brown boots. He had four scars on his face but his fur was neatly combed and it looked more like he would be going to a dinner party than a battle. His sabre was out and he walked slowly. A big, strong Rogue Crew Otter swung at him with a battle-axe, but the white fox gracefully and slightly dodged, and the axe swung down and hit the stone ground with such force it shook the sea otter's paws. Fluidly Vafír subtly turned and slashed with his sabre, slitting the otter's throat and killing it instantly.

Kally gave a short gasp of fear as the fox turned neatly and slashed at her neck as he did with the otter, slaying her. He then turned and did the same to the big hare next to her, ducking under the sweeping axe. He jumped over a swordblade and killed the fighter by slicing at the top of its head, and kicked an otter bigger than himself to the ground before killing it with a thrust to the heart.

The fox then quit his slow attack. He then took a step back, then charged forward, killing and slaying with upmost ease. He was followed by his horde, calling, "Silvertung! Silvertung! Victory's in Sight! Silvertung! Silvertung! We will win this fight!"

Zäev the Pine Marten took command of the other half of the horde, stopping the hares and otters that were attacking from the right side go after Vafír's warriors, attacking from behind. The Pine Marten was like lightning with his rapier, stabbing and slashing at his adversaries. Cutting down the warriors, he called to his group. "Come! We can win this battle, now!"

Radge and his crew followed the Vafír's group, hoping to get a chance at the fox's unprotected back. Bloodtoe took his chance and grabbed the searats Crabtooth and Ripjaw's arms. Though the battle was happening, he took his chance and held his knife to their neck. "I'm giving you a chance to live, rat. They plan on killing the emperor?"

Nervously, Crabtooth's first reaction was to nod. He tried to stop himself, but it was too late, especially when Ripjaw added, "Aye, yes, we were. But now we're not!"

Sighing, Bloodtoe kicked them away and mixed with the rest of the charging horde, then came up just behind Silvertung. "Emperor, the crew is coming behind you, they plan on killing you."

Nodding slightly, Vafír acknowledged the rat's warning while he cut down a big sea otter. Under his breath he began counting. "One... two... three... four... five... six... seven!"

Like a whirlwind the fox leaped into the air over the head of the weasel Varjyl, who stabbed into the air with his knife. Vafír ended his bafflement with a swift sword thrust, then turned and stabbed the charging Radge. Calling to the rest of the horde, "Keep going, we'll win this fight!", he slashed down a stoat. His keen, violet eyes caught the remaining crew, who were trying to meld back within the horde or retreat to the back. With efficiency he leaped through the air, not letting one survive.

"That'll teach you to mess with Vafír Silvertung, Emperor of the Lands, he said to the final vermin he killed, the rat Oiltail. The white fox then returned to the battle, leading his vermin to victory.

oooooooooooo

A gallant hare captain called Forleep had taken command of the Long Patrol soldiers near him. He saw the pine marten leading the vermin on an onslaught, slaying the hares and otters. The vermin were sustaining heavy losses, but it was worse to the hares and otters who already had severely depleted forces.

"Forward the buffs!" called Captain Forleep. "Spears h'an' pikes h'in front, prepare for h'a fight, wot wot! We'll take them by surprise, we'll charge h'against their charge, call h'it h'a counter charge h'if you like. Hold those spears h'an pikes h'out to get h'as much vermin as ye can, wot wot wot! Now, ready, hold h'on, charge! Eulaaaaaliiiiiiiaaaaaaaa!"

The hares and otters charged forward, the pikes and spears far out reaching the vermin's shorter weapons. It was only Zäev's swiftness that saved his life as he jumped up and kicked at the spear before jumping back and killing the hare with a rapier thrust while he was trying to regain control of the kicked spear.

Zäev pointed at the weak spot he had made, then shouted, "Charge! Silvertung! Silvertung! Victory's in Sight! Silvertung! Silvertung! We will win this fight!"

"Close h'in that gap, slay the pine marten, chaps!" commanded Captain Forleep.

Zäev realized he had made a mistake by leading the vermin through the gap in the spears. It would have been smarter to take the spear and pikebeasts from the sides while they had the chance, but now it was too late. The other vermin were easily slaughtered by the hares and otters closing in, but not the pine marten. Ducking down to dodge an axe swipe, he took a hare low, then ran forward and took out a big sea otter.

Letting the otter fall atop him, he used it as a heavy shield. Trying to stay up, he felt as the body was pierced with swords, spears, arrows, pikes, and axe swipes. Staying low, he pushed to the left wall, using the otter to shield his front and the wall to shield his back as he shuffled to the side, trying to break through back to his own men.

A reckless, loyal young rat called Bladewhisker shouted to the other vermin, "Git our leader! 'Elp 'im!"

Pulling out a spear he charged at one of the spearhares, taking it low. Running over the carcass, he slew another hare before nearly being taken down by a big otter.

The two dead were enough for the pine marten. Stabbing his rapier between the otter's shoulder blades and saving Bladewhisker's life, he broke back to his own fighters.

Pointing at the gap made by Bladewhisker's kill, he shouted, "Kill these hares, now!"

The vermin came and attacked the hares from the side at close range, slaughtering them.

Zaev pointed toward the hares. "Kill them all! Silvertung! Silvertung! Victory's in Siiiiiiiiiiiight!"

oooooooooooooo

Lord Brawblade Wildstripe stood in front of the large, boulder in front of Salamandastron's treasure room, along with Thorkrig Axehound and Brigadier Bristlefur when Amamo the rabbit leaped to them, wearing a helmet and wielding a small club, closely followed by Aar Krullen, unable to wear armor because of his spikes but using a solid bronze spear. Just behind them was Alfar Miggory, his katana blade reddened.

"They're comin', fast! They've got two groups, both led with powerful fighters!" cried Amamo.

Alfar was gasping. "My first h'an' second kill, h'I don't feel so good."

Thorkrig waved his big paw. "Ye'll git used to it. So the fox is leadin' one, from the front?"

Aar Krullen nodded. "Aye, 'tis so."

Thorkrig laughed. "We'll take 'im! Once their leader's down-"

"They're coming!" came a voice. Captain Fabian Longleep was running down the tunnel. "Nasty group, wot! Led by h'a marten, who killed Cap'n Forleep! Trouble, wot!"

Brawblade was paying attention to the hare's warning, but also to moving the boulder. In a deep voice, he said, "All of you. Go. I'll take the fox, this is an order inside my mountain. Now!"

Alfar opened his mouth to argue, but was silenced by a glare from his badger lord. He and Brigadier Bristlefur dutifully went into the rock tunnel, followed by Captain Fabian.

"No! I'm going to- hey!" Thorkrig was lifted by the scruff of his neck by the badger lord and thrown behind the boulder. He made to run back, but the Brigadier and Captain Fabian grabbed his arms and held him. His face red, the sea otter shouted, "Let me go an' fight, now! I never run from a battle, never! Hoolawhey! Hoolaaaaawheeeeey!"

The badger looked at Aar and Amamo. They began slowly walking to the tunnels, Aar a bit faster than Amamo.

"They're comin', they're- aaaagh!"

A running hare went down, a javelin in his throat.

"Run!" boomed Brawblade.

Aar Krullen leapt behind the boulder. Amamo was just behind him when a javelin flew threw the air, piercing the rabbit through the back.

"No!" shouted Aar Krullen, as Brawblade, his face sad, pushed the boulder back in place, blocking him off.

The badger lord turned back and grabbed the weasel that had thrown the javelins. Shouting, "Eulalia!", he crushed the vermin against the wall. More vermin came, and he could see the pine marten Captain Fabian spoke of leading them. Growling, he crushed another weasel and a rat against the floor, and called through the mountain tunnels.

"Come your death vermin, especially you, Silvertung! Come face me! Will you fight me like a warrior, or with your army in front of you, like the coward you are!"

"I am no coward!" shouted the white fox, appearing as if out of thin air. Immediately the vermin stopped fighting and backed away from the powerful badger.

The fox continued. "I led my charge from the very front, facing your soldiers bravely. You stayed in the back, as you say I did. Badger, I am not like other vermin warlords."

Silvertung went on, "Why do these hares follow you? Because you are a skilled fighter and intelligent strategist. But also because you happen to be a badger that came upon this mountain. You came here and the hares were already trained and you already had a fortress. Now me? I raised an empire from the ground, gathering the loyalty of tens of thousands, conquering everything in the south and personally training my soldiers. So I'm the coward? Let's see about that. Bloodtoe?"

The gray rat came and held up a red cloth. "This is a duel between chieftains! No interference is allowed. You may start when I say begin, and not before. Now, seven... six..."

The badger was unfazed by the fox's insults. The massive badger drew the great broadsword of Lord Brocktree, holding it in position. His vision began misting red as he glared at his hated enemy.

"Four..."

The white fox grinned maliciously, holding his sabre with both paws. His red vest was hardly rumpled from the battle, nor was his green tunic. His fur was no longer neatly combed though, and one of his four scars had started bleeding. Nevertheless, his violet eyes radiated confidence as he prepared for the fight.

"Two... One!" Bloodtoe leaped back to the ring the vermin made. "Begin!"

The badger charged, shouting, "Euuulaaaaliiiiaaa!" as the fox prepared to dodge.

The duel had begun!