"So, squirrel…", Iblis said as he stood in front of the squirrel. "…might I inquire as to what you are doing in our territory?"
The squirrel glared at the rat as he tested the ropes that bound him to the post set in the middle of the vermin's camp.
"Nothing to say?", Iblis asked as he drew his mace, swinging it threateningly.
"Go boil your head rat.", the squirrel growled.
"I'd watch my words were I you.", Iblis said. "You may lose more than just your teeth."
"Soon we will cleanse the lands of you filth, vermin!", the squirrel shouted.
"How melodramatic.", Iblis commented, before jabbing the squirrel hard in the belly with his mace.
Azalea sat next to Tiwaz outside their hovel, watching as Iblis interrogated the captive woodlander.
"Why do the woodlanders not like us?", the little otter asked as she fiddled with her mortar & pestle.
"Well, they seem to think we're the cause of all their problems or we're going to enslave all of them if we get the chance or something else to that effect.", Tiwaz replied as he polished his bow stave.
"Is that why I have to wrap my tail?", Azalea asked. "Because it looks like an otter's rudder?"
"Yes.", Tiwaz replied.
"So what will happen to the squirrel that tried to attack us?"
"He will likely meet an untidy demise at the paws of the chief.", the weasel said to the otter.
"What are woodlanders like?", Azalea asked.
"Well, for one thing, they've more variation in their respective cultures than we do.", Tiwaz answered. "Each species seems to have their owns customs and ways of going about things."
"What are otters like?", Azalea asked, curious to hear about her own race.
"Hmm…I know they like swimming, slings, and spicy foods.", the weasel replied, petting his adopted daughter on the head. "Just like you."
"AAAIIIEEEE!", a high-pitched scream sounded suddenly throughout the settlement.
"Sounds like the chief's conversation with the woodlander is proceeding as usual.", Tiwaz commented. "Hopefully the squirrel will be done talking before bedtime."
"What was that, squirrel?", Iblis asked, drawing his curved dagger across the woodlander's mutilated face. "I couldn't understand you over the squealing."
"You heard right scum.", the squirrel spat, giving the rat a hateful glare. "Forty of the bravest
goodbeasts in the woodlands will be bearing down on this wretched little collection of thieves and murderers you've here come the morrow."
"Forty you say?", Iblis asked, twirling his mace around.
"Aye, more than enough to send your vile vermin to hellgates!", the squirrel boasted.
"Forty what?", the rat asked, placing his dagger against the squirrel's eye.
"Squirrels, hedgehogs, and otters!", the squirrel boasted. "More than a match for you!"
"Where are they coming from?", Iblis questioned, drawing his blade down the squirrel's face.
"Raagh!", the squirrel shouted as the rat's curved blade drew another red line across his face.
"Answer me.", Iblis said, thrusting his knife into the squirrel's eye, twisting it cruelly as the squirrel screamed.
"AAAHHH! AAAHH!", the woodlander screamed as the chieftain's dagger gouged out his eye.
Crack!
"Gah!", the squirrel cried as Iblis swung his mace into his good knee with a resounding crack.
"If you wish to remain in one piece, I suggest you talk."
"When us goodbeasts come charging through your gates, you'll regret this!", the squirrel yelled.
"Do tell just how you stupid little savages plan on storming a gate.", Iblis chuckled, swinging his mace into the squirrel's groin.
"AAIIIEEE!", the squirrel squealed as the hefty steel mace smashed into him with a sickening pop.
"Now Azalea, tomorrow may bring battle and bloodshed.", Tiwaz began as he and his adopted daughter laid on their hides. "You understand what to do?"
"Stay inside our hovel no matter what.", the young otter answered. "Unless it catches fire."
"And if you're captured?"
"I am to show them that I am an otter.", Azalea responded. "Preferably out of sight of any of our village."
"Good girl.", Tiwaz said, panting the otter on the head fondly. "Have you prepared your potions?"
"Yes sir.", Azalea affirmed, showing the weasel her extracts.
"Good.", Tiwaz said. "And you've your knife and sling ready?"
"Yes sir."
"Good girl, now to bed with you.", the weasel said.
"Aww…nightfall tis hours away.", the little otter whined.
"To bed, girl.", Tiwaz repeated, stifling a chuckle as he tossed one of the hides over Azalea.
The weasel continued making his preparations for the morrow as his adopted daughter settled herself beneath the hides, quickly drifting off to slumber in spite of her early protests.
Hopefully we'll both still be here come this time tomorrow, Tiwaz thought as he honed his blade. Hopefully.