Clear Shining After Rain - Chapter I
Springrain Streambattle watched the foaming current wash past. The gale did it's best to throw her over the high cliff, but to no avail. She shivered suddenly. Could she …
"No worries, King Truffen, Queen Amethyst, Dido. I'll get you out of there somehow. Count on yours truly."
Springrain was the daughter of Rab and Iris Streambattle. She was a tall young otter with sand-coloured fur and brown eyes, which never showed her feelings. She was a warrior in every way. Springrain drew her dagger. It was war!
"Mama, send the nasty stoats away," wailed Dido. She was a young squirrelbabe, unused to vermin.
"If only I could, Dido," sighed Queen Amethyst. "If only I could."
Lousefur stabbed at her with the butt end of his spear. "Quiet there, or I'll use the other end on the babe. I'm sure you wouldn't want such a young creature injured," he sneered.
Amethyst's eyes flashed, but she kept her silence. A tall, graceful young foxmaid tiptoed past.
Limmissa Duranad was close to death.
Ariana, her eldest daughter, knelt by her bed. Maliena, the youngest of the five foxchildren, paced the room. She had loved her mother dearly.
Sassan, the second, tripped her to relieve his feelings. The third and fourth, Damden and Searenis respectively, sniggered.
Springrain flung her dagger hard. It sank deep into the crack, and she smiled. Queen Amethyst glanced out. The escape was on!
A/N: Like it? Really? Disclaimer: Standard.
One last rattling gasp emitted from the dying foxqueen. Maliena tightened her jaw instinctively.
Limmissa Duranad was dead.
Slobberjaw set up a great cry. "Limmissa Duranad is dead! Queen Limmissa has gone to Dark Forest! Hail High Queen Ariana!"
"Hail!" repeated her siblings.
Ariana made a delicate moue. "What can I say, my loyal army? I accept!"
Sassan hailed her again, and then spoke. "And what is to become of your beloved brothers and sisters, O Queen? Surely you would not abandon us!"
"Oh, certainly not! We shall have treasure! We shall march upon Salamandastron and defeat them! Then we shall have all their gold and jewels forever more!"
Damden was astounded. "But what about these troublesome Southswarders? They are troublesome subjects!"
Ariana smiled like a cat with a mouse. "But of course, they need governing. I will stay here and rule them. I leave all the glory to you, my siblings!"
Searenis was denser than her brothers and sisters. "Of course, O Queen! Glory and honour are wonderful things, and we shall have the taste of victory all the way!"
Damden kicked her. "Idiot fox! Can't you see what she wants? Us dead, that's what!"
Ariana looked shocked. "Why, no! I would not do that to my own flesh and blood! And after all, you would take an army with you. There are so many easier ways to kill you, so I would naturally use them!"
A/N: I believe I did the disclaimer before.
Springrain climbed the stone wall, her natural agility coming into play.
"Should - have - been - a - flippin' - squirrel!"
As she gritted out the last word, she vaulted over the windowsill into the cell.
"Come on, out."
Queen Amethyst looked anxiously at the tall otter. "But Dido can't climb down that far."
Springrain shook her head. "Neither can you, mate. Mind you, I probably won't either. But I didn't struggle up here because I can't climb. I could beat you or Truffen in a climb any day of the week. I brought a lovely long rope with me, just blending in with my fur. See?"
She uncoiled the rope and motioned Dido forwards. "All your Dido's got to do is hold on to it, and we'll let her down, nice and easy, to a very good friend of mine."
"Who?" asked Queen Amethyst.
"Maisie Springback. Don't worry - she's a good little girl. Well - she's older than I am, so I suppose 'little girl' isn't quite right. But then, who likes to be described that way?"
A/N: Those of you who are familiar with the Katy books by Susan Coolidge may recognise the title - Chapter Seventeen, What Katy Did Next.
Springrain is my otter character, Sorrel is my squirrel character, and Carrie is my hare character - help! I'm being smothered in characters!
Mariel Gullwhacker.