As always the standard disclaimer applies: I do not own the Happy Tree Friends; they are the property of Mondo Media. Also Crush and Iron belong to the original HTF forums user MrKaos. I own only my own characters and this story.

85 – ZEFF

The four animals made their way down the slope and into the campsite below. Lifty and Shifty were amazed at what they saw. The rundown appearance of the camp from up above was not deceiving. The camp really did look like it was constructed in a hurry and in such a way that it could be torn down in a hurry too. However there was nothing hasty about the animals in the camp itself. Lifty and Shifty didn't find out exactly how many animals lived there as a standard safety precaution was to have some animals out on patrol watching the Marauders at all times. At the drop of a pebble the camp could be divided into two sections: in one section would be all of the truly fit animals who were willing and able to fight. This half of the camp would stay near the Marauders when trouble threatened while the rest of the animals, those who were too young, or too old, or who had been injured, or even too tired, or were unable to fight for any other reason, would retreat to a safer distance until the fighting force reported that it was safe to join up into one camp again. As Petunia had told Loco the mortality rate was pretty high and it was rare to have a month go by in the camp without a death or injury of some sort.

Although they never met everyone Lifty and Shifty did meet a fair number of animals that very day. Among them were Squonk, a male jaguar who was one of Crush's two co-leaders of the group, and his twin sister Squall. They were an interesting pair coming from a community far to the south that had been decimated years ago. Squonk was the more rational of the two whereas Squall, like her name would suggest, was often prone to angry outbursts of violence. In that aspect she took after Iron and the two of them would often go [Marauder] hunting together. Then there was Zeff, a somewhat elderly female chimpanzee who was considered the camp mother and looked after the children. She was also the camp healer and tended anyone who was injured. She was held in very high regard by everyone in the Placeless Pack and had as much sway with the group as any of the leaders did. Next were Asper and Argo, another pair of siblings, both males and both red foxes. Also there was an extended family of cats the current reigning matriarch and patriarch of whom were Mara, a blue-furred cat, and Jet, a grey striped one. Both Lifty and Shifty tried hard not to stare at Mara after they met her but it was hard since not only was she beautiful but there was something about her that seemed very familiar. Furthermore there were several deer, the most prominent being Gatch, a sturdy buck of his species. And there was also a sizable wolf-pack who, alongside the cat family, were perhaps the most cohesive species unit in the camp. The wolves, of whom there were about 20, were led by Carina who was a formidable she-wolf and the head of her family. She was a force to be reckoned with being both huge for her type and strong. She was also very intelligent and Crush had a great deal of respect for her. She was the third co-leader of the camp alongside Crush and Squonk.

There were many other animals in the camp from many other species. There were even a few raccoons present who looked at Lifty and Shifty with great interest. Lifty and Shifty, however, felt rather awkward and nervous in their new company and so kept close to Crush for the time being. For his part Crush, after introducing Lifty and Shifty to many of his comrades, called a meeting of the camp leaders to assess the new situation that Lifty and Shifty brought with them. Squonk and Carina were both there of course and, because of the great respect she commanded from everyone, Zeff was also invited. Iron and Squall rounded things out and, at the last minute, Mara and Jet also joined them.

"All right" said Crush beginning the meeting informally, "you've met our two guests from far away and I'd like to first put everyone at ease by vouching that they are not Marauder agents but are genuinely from the Animal City."

"Why would we be Marauder agents?" asked Shifty in surprise, "no animal has ever been a Marauder."

"That's true so far as it goes" said Iron darkly, "but it's more true to say that no animal has ever worked with Marauders of their own free will. There have been those, however, who have been, shall we say, "persuaded" to be of assistance to the enemy."

"I think" said Crush to Shifty "that you can probably figure out for yourselves what Iron means"

"I don't believe it!" said Shifty.

"But you're from the Animal City" said Carina calmly, "and while I won't say you have it easy you probably don't really know what life is like out here the way we do. You can believe what Iron says. She would know." Carina let that statement hang there for Lifty and Shifty to ponder.

"Yes I would" muttered Iron clenching her fists. Squonk gave Crush a meaningful look and Crush picked up the conversation again.

"Anyway" said Crush, "if I may finish what I started, I can affirm that our guests are really from the Animal City. I saw them arrive and they were teleported here. Also they were personally vouched for by the Mole."

"That's enough then" said Carina, "but why do they come here? What do they want with us?"

"They don't necessarily want anything from us" said Crush, "these two didn't know we were here. But maybe we can help them." Crush looked at the raccoon brothers and said "tell the group why you've come to this area."

Somewhat hesitantly Lifty and Shifty explained to the group why they had come west and exactly what their mission was. They were greeted with looks of incredulity from all around.

"You can't be serious!" exclaimed Squall, "you're expected to do that? By yourselves?"

"That's practically a suicide mission" said Iron, "what did you do to get stuck with this job?" Before either raccoon could answer Crush raised his paw.

"I think that's not really our business" he said, "so let's not go there."

"Do you have any idea how you're even going to begin carrying out this mission?" asked Squonk with interest.

"Actually yes" said Lifty, and he quickly outlined what they had in mind. When he was done the other animals all looked very thoughtful.

"That actually sounds like it could work" said Squonk slowly.

"Yes" said Carina, "if proper preparations are made at the right spot there would probably be enough wind to help things along very well."

"You should also have some projectiles available for faster spreading of material" said Iron, "it's better than relying solely on nature to do the job."

"Is this something that we can help them with?" said Crush, "practically speaking that is."

"The best thing we could do," said Carina slowly, "if we were to help them, would be to cause a diversion so that they could do their job with less of a risk of being caught."

"I agree" said Squonk, "what do the rest of you think? Is this something we would want to be involved in?"

"In other words" said Mara, speaking for the first time from where she was sitting, "do we want another excuse to go beat up on the Marauders? That's what you really mean isn't it?"

"Spoken like a true member of the Feline blood" responded Squonk not noticing the way Lifty and Shifty stiffened with surprise, "but from one cat – even though I'm much bigger than you – to another you're right."

"I thought so" said Mara quietly, "well I know my mind. I'm a direct descendent of the great Felinus himself and I don't shy away from a fight! But you" she said turning suddenly to Jet, "are staying here to look after the newest kittens." Jet nodded silently and it was quite clear, even to Lifty and Shifty, that this was a normal arrangement between the two of them. And now both raccoons realized what it was about Mara that kept attracting their attention; she reminded them a lot of Fresko but before they had any time to wonder about that their attention was drawn back to Crush who was speaking again.

"I think" he said, "that many, if not most of us, feel the same as Mara. We don't need any excuses to go after the Marauders. However not everyone feels that way all the time." He turned and looked at Zeff who had been sitting quietly and carefully grooming herself while she listened.

"What do you say?" Crush asked Zeff directly. There was a silence as everyone waited for Zeff to speak. Slowly the elderly chimp looked up at Crush.

"What do I say?" began Zeff slowly, "now that's an interesting question. What you really mean is am I willing to patch everyone up again when you all come back from beating up on the Marauders? You know I'll never turn away anyone who's hurt so what does it matter what I think about this?"

"Come Zeff you know better than that" said Crush, "you've often tried to stop us from going on raids and people respect you. If you raise your voice against this it will carry weight."

"Sure I talk against the raids" said Zeff, "we have enough grief in our lives as it is. It's one thing to fight because you have to, or for a larger cause, but just going out and hunting Marauders for fun? Haven't we already seen enough of our loved ones die?"

"Then you oppose this?" said Carina quietly. Zeff raised a finger.

"I didn't actually say that" she said, "but if I do will it make a difference? Have my protests ever mattered?"

"Yes!" said Iron suddenly and with force, "maybe some of us won't admit it but they do. You've actually stopped me at least five times from going out by myself and causing havoc in the Marauder camp."

"Have I now?" said Zeff looking at Iron, "this is the first I've heard of that."

"We're all proud people here" said Crush stepping in, "that's pretty obvious. So Zeff, I ask again, what do you think?"

"I want to know more" said Zeff and she turned to speak to Lifty and Shifty. "If you succeed and you stop the Marauder camp from moving for a while what does that achieve?"

"It buys time for the Animal City" said Lifty.

"Time for what?" asked Zeff. Lifty and Shifty looked at each other.

"Our leaders told us that it would buy time for them to prepare a defense" said Shifty.

"We don't know what they're planning" said Lifty, "we're not high enough in the command chain to be told stuff like that."

"But we do know something's up" said Shifty, "it was clear to us before we left that there are big plans in the works. Knowing our leaders they will be very effective whatever they are."

"Indeed" said Zeff shrewdly.

"Oh yes" interjected Crush, "if the Mole is involved I think Lifty and Shifty are right. We know the Mole and what he can do."

"And how does Metramegopolis come into it?" asked Zeff, "that city's flying, which it hasn't done in any of our lifetimes. I can't believe that your leaders will do anything big without involving them somehow."

"You're probably right" said Lifty, "from what we were told Metramegopolis is traveling in a straight line towards the Animal City which means the Marauders are also heading straight to our city. I'm sure the two cities will combine in some way before the Marauders can catch them but I want our side to have as much time as it can to prepare before the Marauders reach them."

Zeff considered this information gravely. "It would seem" she finally said to everyone present, "that we're all heading toward the same place. But what happens when we get there? What happens indeed?" She was silent for another moment, and then turned to Crush.

"So tell me" she said to Crush, "how many casualty beds should I have prepared for when you all come back from this adventure?" Crush smiled, realizing at once that Zeff had just given her support for aiding Lifty and Shifty. The matter was decided.

(To Be Continued)