Chapter 39

A few days later...

Dawn broke, dark and stormy. The air was heavy and humid. Brome woke up early, soaked to the skin and stiff after a night spent underneath bushes that dripped water on him all night. Unable to sleep any longer, he crawled out from under the yew bush he had slept under and walked past the others, still snoring away. Thunder rumbled in the distance as he made his way down a slope to the fork of the river that flowed into the Broadstream. They were very close to Noonvale now, thanks to their new friends. But he was still angry with them for not letting them know the foxes were on their trail. Luckily the rain helped wash away their scents and made hiding their tracks easier.

He turned his head, feeling eyes on his back. He looked around him, scanning the dripping woods. The few birds that were out had gone silent. Turning back to the stream, he slowly knelt down. He was about to take a drink when something cold and sharp made contact with the back of his neck. He silently cursed but remained still.

"You didn't think we'd catch up, did you?" A deep voice broke the silence. There were a few snickers of amusement. Slowly, Brome stood up but the blade stayed on his neck.

Greyfur nodded to Stoneclaw and the black eyed fox walked around so Brome could see him.

Brome glared at him, furious that he had let himself be caught and his friends were unaware.

Stoneclaw tilted his head, raising his eyebrows. "What do you have to say, Martin the Warrior?"

Brome gave him a fearless smile. "If I told you I wasn't Martin, what would you do?"

Stoneclaw blinked. "I guess I'd take you prisoner anyway." He frowned. "If you're not the one Verang the Vile is after, who are you?"

Greyfur pressed his blade harder against Brome's neck.

"Tell your henchman to drop his blade and I will tell you."

Stoneclaw nodded and Brome felt the blade move away.

"Alright, mouse. Enlighten me." Stoneclaw crossed his arms.

Without a single thought, Brome threw himself at the fox and they tumbled into the river with a loud splash. The mercenaries stared in shock, not expecting something like this to happen.

Stoneclaw came sputtering up, grabbing a hold of a fallen tree. He glared at Brome as the mouse scrambled up the opposite bank and into the trees.

"Don't just stand there gawkin' you idiots! Kill him!"

The foxes plunged into the river after their quarry.

Brome ran as fast as his injured foot would allow. He had to get the foxes away from his friends. If he died doing it, then so be it.

Martin stepped out of the shallows and onto the beach, looking through the drizzle at the dark trees. Noonvale was just upstream.

Atheria and Gonff stood on either side of him. She turned her head. "Is this it?"

Martin nodded. "We're here. I recognize the river. This is the Broadstream." He looked about, his face solemn.

Laurel ran towards the tree line but Martin ran after her and grabbed her paw.

"Wait, Laurel. Don't go dashing off just yet."

Laurel stared at him. "But we're here, Martin! I want to see my parents!"

"Shh!" Martin's tone surprised her but she held her tongue. He turned to the others, still holding Laurel's paw.

"Something's not right. Can you feel it, Gonff?"

Gonff nodded. "The birds aren't singing."

Trout, Quincy and Wally joined them with the rest of the crew and their friends behind them. They paused when they saw the grave looks on Martin and Gonff's faces.

"Dinny, you and Trimp are in charge of the two little ones." Martin ordered them.

Trimp blinked. "That's fine Martin, but what are you doing?"

Trout shushed her. "I 'ear shoutin'." They listened for a few moments. Wally huffed. "Sounds like its the wind."

Trout glared at him. "Yer ears are bigger then mine an' you can't 'ear that?"

Martin did. He pushed Laurel into Trimp's paws and took off running for the trees. Atheria darted after him.

"Let's go mates!" Trout hollered and the entire crew ran off after the two mice.

Brome was having difficulty breathing. He leaned against a tree, his lungs feeling like they were on fire. He looked behind him and to his dismay, he could see the foxes pushing through the wet foliage, yelling war cries and swinging their weapons. He picked himself up and started running again, slipping and sliding on the fallen leaves.

Greyfur saw Brome dash up a hillside. Pulling a knife from his belt, he tossed it. It embedded itself in the earth, just narrowly missing Brome. The mouse stopped climbing and turned to look at them briefly before scrambling up to the top and disappearing.

Greyfur growled in annoyance and dashed after him.

Near the bottom of the hill, Brome slipped and tumbled down the rest of the way, landing hard on his back. It drove the breath out of him and all he could do was lay there helpless. He rolled onto his stomach, clutching his ribs painfully.

Greyfur paused at the top and looked down. Stoneclaw, soaking wet from his dip in the river, stopped next to him. He chuckled evilly, straining to see through the drizzle.

"Nice try mouse!" He called down to Brome. "But I'm tired of running and chasing! Your life ends here." He turned to Greyfur and held out his paw. The gray fox gave his leader a knife. Stoneclaw aimed it at Brome, thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Do you have any words to say before you go to Dark Forest Gates?"

Brome glared up at him, unable to speak.

Stoneclaw didn't get a chance to throw the deadly knife. An arrow came shooting out of no where and embedded itself in his paw. He screamed in pain and dropped the knife at his feet. He danced about, cursing and swearing.

Greyfur narrowed his eyes through the drizzle. On the opposite hill stood another mouse, armed with a bow and arrow. A great sword was strapped to his back.

He tapped Stoneclaw's shoulder.

"What?!" Stoneclaw hissed through the pain.

"I've never seen him before, have you?"

Stoneclaw looked up and saw what Greyfur was pointing at. He stared in confusion.

Brome couldn't believe who he was seeing. He blinked against the rain, wondering if he was imagining things.

The other mouse strained the bowstring tighter. "Drop your weapons, fox or I shoot again." He commanded, his voice rang through the trees.

Stoneclaw held his bleeding paw and grinned. "Ha! You and what army, mouse?" He regretted those words when several creatures appeared behind him. Not just mice, but otters as well and a large hare.

The mercenaries backed away slowly. Brome looked back and forth, still lying on the ground.

"If I find any traces of you here again, I will kill you!" The mouse glared at Stoneclaw.

The black-eyed fox growled, pointing his uninjured paw. "This isn't over yet. I will dance on your grave!" Before the mouse changed his mind, the foxes dashed off into the rainy forest.

Brome sighed with relief and lay still for a few moments.

Martin dropped the bow and arrow and slid down the slope to Brome's side. The Chieftain of Noonvale sat up painfully. The two mice stared at each other, unsure what to do or say.

Brome was the one that broke the ice. "You haven't changed much. A little older but you're still Martin."

A small smile appeared on the warrior's face. "It's good to see you Brome."

Another cliffhanger to end on! Ha ha!