Over the course of the gradually turning weeks Canna's spirits began to break. Maybe these vermin aren't so stupid. Canna had never forgotten her promise and vow, though. She had gotten to know the dormouse beside her. Magnolia was the mouse's name. Magnolia became gaunt and Canna lanky (Not a bad thing at all for you bally hares, wot!).
Many weeks later a dibbun was brought down to the galley, kicking and screaming. All of the oar slaves watched curiously, including Canna, at the feisty dibbun hedgehog.
"Wot are you all staring at?" An overseer gave the oar slaves a dirty look. The slaves jerked their heads down and started rowing quickly. They finally got the dibbun chained to an oar, of course not without lots of trouble. The ferret overseer that was on duty smiled, relieved. He licked his lips, thinking of the wonderful wine he and all the overseers would get with the captain for such a good job. After an hour a gong, well, gonged. The ferret slave driver stopped numb, then rushed up the stairs to the deck. Wine was on the mind all the while. After the overseer left, the dibbun hedgehog sniffed, looked around a-matter-of-factly at all the beasts, plucked one of his quills out, as if performing a magic show, and undid the lock on his manacles. He lifted the chains off, rubbed his wrists, and walked up the isle nonchalantly. "Wait!" Magnolia strangled out. "Wait for us!" Magnolia struggled with her chains, but her attempts were in vain. The hedgehog looked inquiringly at Magnolia then just stood there. He seemed to be arguing with himself whether to help the others. He stuck his bottom lip out and then slurped it back in. Canna's eyes sparkled. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a semi-stale candied chestnut. She whistled. The hedgehog's eyes darted over to Canna's candied chestnut. It was decided.
Many weeks later a dibbun was brought down to the galley, kicking and screaming. All of the oar slaves watched curiously, including Canna, at the feisty dibbun hedgehog.
"Wot are you all staring at?" An overseer gave the oar slaves a dirty look. The slaves jerked their heads down and started rowing quickly. They finally got the dibbun chained to an oar, of course not without lots of trouble. The ferret overseer that was on duty smiled, relieved. He licked his lips, thinking of the wonderful wine he and all the overseers would get with the captain for such a good job. After an hour a gong, well, gonged. The ferret slave driver stopped numb, then rushed up the stairs to the deck. Wine was on the mind all the while. After the overseer left, the dibbun hedgehog sniffed, looked around a-matter-of-factly at all the beasts, plucked one of his quills out, as if performing a magic show, and undid the lock on his manacles. He lifted the chains off, rubbed his wrists, and walked up the isle nonchalantly. "Wait!" Magnolia strangled out. "Wait for us!" Magnolia struggled with her chains, but her attempts were in vain. The hedgehog looked inquiringly at Magnolia then just stood there. He seemed to be arguing with himself whether to help the others. He stuck his bottom lip out and then slurped it back in. Canna's eyes sparkled. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a semi-stale candied chestnut. She whistled. The hedgehog's eyes darted over to Canna's candied chestnut. It was decided.