Part Three: Allies
Whirl, Birchfire, and Firpine sat on the beach, facing the sea. The sun had not risen yet; it was a while before dawn. The hare was still rubbing sleep from his eyes, and covered up a yawn as he spoke.
"Why did we have t'git up so early, old chap?"
The squirrel tribe leader pointed a paw at the sea and a large, massive figure approaching, never once turning to Whirl as he responded, "Pridestream. Riversleek and his crew are coming." As if on cue, there was a shout from the ship.
"Ahoy, Birchfire! Haven't seen yer grubby ole face in a while. Me mate Seekers wants t'know if'n ye got vittles t'spare."
Firpine giggled and waved wildly at the ship, hoping to be seen by one of the ship's crew. "Depends, Riversleek. How hungry is he?"
Loud laughter greeted this comment about the hare's appetite, and Thicket's head could be seen peeking over the ship's rail, grinning at the three on the shore.
"Oh, his hunger's ripe, it is. Say, is that Miz Brighteyes? Firpine, good t'see ye agin!"
The vessel Pridestream finally docked at the shore. The ship's crew poured out and was greeted heartily by the two squirrels.
"Riversleek Waterprowl, you old pudden-headed riverdog, good to see you again!"
"Birchfire Treedance, ain't see you in a while, y'ole thick-headed treejumper!"
"Nice t'see yer pretty face agin, Miz Brighteyes."
"Call me by my real name, Thicket, or I'll start calling you Sir Twinkealot. Anyway, nice to see you again!"
"Seekers, how's the old appetite?"
"Oh, it's fine, Birchfire, 'cept right now, it's a bit hungry!"
"Karisma! How have you been?"
"I'm fine, thankee. But I've said it once an' I say it agin. Stow the Karisma an' call me Kari, Firpine, or I'll start calling you Miz Brighteyes too!"
Whirl strolled up to Birchfire and tapped him on the shoulder politely.
"Er, 'scuse me old chap, but would y'mind introducin' me?"
The squirrel blinked, then nodded, finally remembering that Whirl and the Pridestream's crew hadn't met.
"Everyone, this is Whirl. He's from the mountain Salamandastron, which I'm sure you all have heard of. I'll get into details later. Whirl, the ugly, grubby, pudden-headed excuse for a riverdog there is Riversleek Waterprowl, captain of the ship. The squirrel who's flirting and chatting away with Firpine over there is Thicket."
Thicket immediately turned scarlet red beneath his fur, but Birchfire didn't seem to notice and continued on.
"The hungry hare over there is Seekstone Sabreblade Galebreeze, mostly called Seekers. Karisma, or Kari, is the tough looking mousemaid you see. The otter there with the pike is Dropflint, or Flint for short, Riversleek's sister. And the mouse-"
Birchfire blinked. There were thirty-four creatures that sailed aboard the Pridestream. Introducing them all to Whirl could take a while. Riversleek immediately read his friend's somewhat disappointed face and took charge.
"Right mates, we'll have to finish this some other time. To th'grove, e'erybeast. Lead on, Birchfire." The squirrel threw Riversleek a grateful look and began strolling ahead, Firpine following close in his wake. Seekers grinned and rubbed his paws together in the same manner he had done aboard the ship.
"Finally, vittles!"
**
Dart the hare groaned as the paw shook him a bit roughly. He tried to brush it away and continue on with his sleep, but the paw was extremely determined and kept at it. Finally, the Long Patroller peeked open his eyes and tried to get them in focus. Hovering over him was Captain Imerilane, and it was her paw that was shaking him. Sitting up and rubbing sleep from his eyes groggily, he spoke to her, his voice heavy and tired.
"Wot is it, cap'n? Not e'en dawn yet. Need me sleep, I do, wot."
With that, the hare fell back down for another few precious moments of sleep, only to be pulled back up by the persistent Imerilane.
"Git up, Dart. We have a liddle sneakin' an' spyin' t'do afore the vermin wake up. 'Ere now, you're the scout. Aren't ye supposed t'be alert an' all that?"
Dart bounded up from the ground, now that his reputation was at stake. He folded up his sleeping sheet before stretching and grinning at the Captain.
"Righto now, marm. We're goin' t'spy on th'vermin, y'say? Spiffin'! I'm right alert, I am, wot! Let's get-"
The garrulous hare found the same paw that woke him now covering his mouth.
"Shush, y'great bit blabbermouth! Wid that voice o'yers, I wouldn't be surprised if'n th'vermin 'ear you from miles away."
"Sorry marm, now kin y'please remove yer paw from my mouth?" Dart asked, though since his mouth was covered, it came out more like, "Mhmph fmphm, phm pfmhp fphm mpfh pmhpfnh phmohph?"
Imerilane stared at Dart blankly, trying to translate what he had said, then finally realized her paw was still covering the spy's mouth and dropped it immediately.
"Sorry there. Right, we're all. Left a note fer th'Patrol. Come on, Dart, let's move out."
The captain disappeared into the shadows, followed closely by Dart. Bobbing and weaving, the two Long Patrollers made their way to the vermin camp.
**
It was around a half an hour after dawn when the first Long Patroller awoke. Frillin rubbed his eyes sleepily and was about to turn around for another doze. The lieutenant was about to do so when his footpaw kicked out and brushed pass something. The officer frowned and sat up, slightly irritated that he had to stay away. Grabbing the object so he could get the investigating over with and get some sleep, the hare found that it was a piece of parchment. In the dull light of dawn, he could read out what it said.
Gone to spy on vermin. Dart is with me. Be back no later than noon. Frillin, don't eat my breakfast. I'm warning you. Don't.
-Imerilane
Frillin rubbed his paws together. Imerilane and Dart were in no trouble, they were good fighters and could take care of themselves. The lieutenant gave no second thought about them getting hurt. A small, mischievous smile crept onto the hare's face as he re-read the note.
"Don't eat yer brekkers, eh? Well, y'ne'er said please!"
**
Her breakfast was the last thing on her mind at the moment, though. Captain Imerilane was too busy studying a sleeping vermin horde. She turned to Dart, who was staring intently at the vermin also.
"How many do y'reckon there are?"
Dart began to move his paw about, attempting to count all the sleeping hordebeasts. Giving up quite soon, he turned to the Captain and shook his head wearily.
"Too many o'the blighters, marm.cap'n.marm. But I'd guess there's 'bout one thousand or more o'em, wot!"
Imerilane was already on the move, nodded as she roamed around the camp, viewing it from every angle as she muttered to herself.
"Well fed, well stocked too. Good ammunition, nice uniforms."
Whirling around, the officer turned and headed off in the direction they had came, motioning to Dart to follow. The walked on in silence, until the captain turned to the Long Patrol spy expert, asking a most odd question.
"Wot do y'think o' that lot back thar?"
Dart blinked in surprise. Not used to being asked those type of questions, the hare shuffled his footpaws as he replied, not looking at Imerilane once.
"I think they'll be a tough lot t'fight off if'n they wants t'take Salamandastron, marm."
Imerilane sighed drearily and grabbed Dart's paw, running back towards the camp as she voiced her thoughts and worries to the attentive Long Patrollers.
" Exactly, Dart. An' thar's a lot o'em. So th'mountain will need some 'elp fightin' them off."
Dart nodded thoughtfully, then winked at the Captain, hoping to ease her mind.
"S'okay, Cap'n. Once Whirl reports t'Lud Winterele, I'm sure th'lud will send some blinkin' chaps out t'find allies, wot!"
**
Birchfire, Whirl, Firpine, Riversleek, Seekers, Kari, and Thicket sat around the large tree stump. The otter captain stroked his whiskers absently as he listened to Birchfire explain about Salamandastron's situation. After the squirrel tribe leader finished, he spoke up.
"So mate, lemme get this straight. Th'mountain's in trouble, an' you want us t'help them 'cos y'know that the hares are outnumbered?"
A slight blush crept up to Birchfire's cheeks as Riversleek smirked. He quickly added, "My tribe is helping too. Anyway, the hares and the badger lord are outnumbered seven to ten, so if we help them, we could boost their number up by.let's see, around one and a half hundred."
Riversleek shrugged casually and attempted to sit back, forgetting that there was nothing behind him to lean against. He fell to the ground and got up quickly, chuckling nervously.
"I meant t'do that. Anyway, mate, why should we help? Th'mountain's business is no business o' ours."
A wave of murmurs swept over as the members of Riversleek's crew as they began to whisper in agreement. Birchfire and Firpine were a bit taken aback, and were lost for words. Whirl, on the other hand, was not. He jumped up from the ground and slammed his paw onto the tree stump, then withdrew his stinging paw and winced. He cringed and shook his paw as every pair of eyes turned to him. Once his paw was feeling a bit better, he began.
"If, wot's 'is name, Malavice, yes that was it, if he manages t'blinkin' well take o'er Salamandastron, then he'll basically be takin' o'er th'whole coast. If'n they kin bally well take o'er my home, then they kin bally well take o'er yours, wot! Salamandastron's the one reason corsairs dun come floodin' these shores an' destroyin' e'erything in sight. If th'mountain's taken o'er, this whole shore is doomed, includin' Birchfire's tribe here. Then yer crew won't be able t'dock here anymore widout bein' killed in a blink o' an eye, an'-"
"Okay!" Riversleek chuckled heartily. "Thats enough, longears. I was jus' jestin' wid yer!" Kari frowned, paws akimbo. She stood up and stretched.
"Really? We thought ye weren't. Ah well, don't matter anyway. So now, if'n this long meetin's done, I'm goin' t'go raid th'kitchens, or wote'er you cook yer food in. Famished t'the bone, I am." Birchfire nodded and stood up, soon followed by everyone else.
"Right, we set off this afternoon. We'll get there at sunset."
Seekers laughed and bounded off after the mousemaid, calling out behind his shoulder, "See you all later. Oi, Kari, wait for me! By Jove, you can't raid the kitchens without me!"
**
The whole Long Patrol was awake when Dart and Imerilane crept into the camp. The captain nodded at them respectfully and turned to Blackstarr expectantly.
"I'm dreadfully hungry, young sah. Do you 'ave anything t'spare?"
The camouflage expert shook his head despairingly and pointed a paw at Frillin, saying, "Sorry Cap'n. But th'lieutenant stole yer share o'brekkers an' scoffed up 'is own, too. Awfully sorry, but y'll jus' have t'wait till lunch!"
Lieutenant Frillin smirked as he saw Imerilane glaring at him with mock venom. But a tiny part of his brain began nagging him that it was not all fake. Shrugging with feigned casualness, he protested, "I say, cap'n, it was only a honey scone, wot! Oh, an' a few berry tarts, along wid a small chunk o' woodland cheese. I also-"
Frillin came out of his babbling to see the captain place her paws on he hips, one placed a bit too close to her dirk for the hare's liking. Gulping nervously, the lieutenant shut up. Dart sighed and took Imerilane's paw, trying to lead her away from Frillin. In his other paw were his own provisions. "Here cap'n, y'kin have me share o'bally food. I'm not really hungry, doncha know. But I tell yer wot, marm, I'm sure Lud Winterele won't appreciate one less blinkin' offisah when we get back, wot!"
With one last glare, the captain stomped off. Major Embaril shot Frillin a warning glance before following Dart and Imerilane. The three began discussing Malavice's horde. After Dart and the captain had finished sharing the gained information with the major, the three approached the rest of the Patrol. Embaril nodded and pointed at the distant peak of Salamandastron.
"Come on, troops, pack it up. We're heading over to Salamandastron."
**
Dropflint stuffed her right paw into her mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. Kari and a well-built but cheeky mouse named Lumir were doing an imitation of Firpine and Thicket, exaggerating things immensely. The two squirrels, unaware of what was going on behind them, continued walking and chatting. The two mice, however, were doing it a bit differently. Kari fluttered her eyelashes outrageously as Lumir pasted a big, goofy smile onto his face. The two mice held paws as they walked with the rest of the large group, earning a few snickers and smirks from the others. Kari and Lumir mimicked Firpine and Thicket's every move, adding in a few steps of their own. Riversleek, who had been walking in front, turned his head as more giggled and titters were heard. When he caught sight of Firpine, Thicket, Kari, and Lumir, he roared out with laughter. The whole group stopped walking, and the ones in front of the two squirrels and mice turned their heads. Kari and Lumir both turned a light crimson color, then both pointed a paw at Firpine and Thicket, shouting out in unison.
"We were mimicking them!"
Birchfire blinked, and looked from the mice to the squirrels. Stifling a chuckle, the squirrel chieftain continued his stride, shaking with suppressed laughter. Riversleek followed his friend's example, but then turned around to reprimand the four, but the genuine smile on his face made it known that he was joking.
"No more o' that, y'hear? No more flirtin' wid each other, mimickin' each other, battin' eyelashes, or smilin' in stupid ways. Now move for'ard!"
The large mass of creatures did move forward, but for the rest of the way, Firpine and Thicket made sure that Kari and Lumir were always in front of them.
**
The sun was about to set when Salamandastron came into full view. Whirl whooped loudly and dashed forward, eager to reach his beloved home. Shaking his head, Birchfire continued on at his natural pace, but stopped and blinked as Seekers dashed past also, following the Long Patrol Galloper. Soon, Kari and Lumir ran off also, their imitating game forgotten. The squirrel tribe leader sighed and quickened his pace by a considerable amount until he was almost jogging. "Don't know why they're in such a hurry. It's just another step to war."
**
Whirl waved wildly as Lord Winterele loomed out of the mountain. The badger was smaller than most, but none the less bold. His sharp ginger eyes, on the other hand, were a considerable large size. Across his back was strapped a broadsword, just the right size for the short badger. Though only clothed in a simple green and brown tunic, Winterele had a sort of noble air about him. Catching sight of the jumping and flailing Galloper, the badger ambled towards him, a small slight creased into his features.
"Well, Galloper Whirl, nice of you to return. I take it you have information?"
Whirl nodded furiously and motioned to the Treedance tribe and Riversleek's crew.
"Yep, an' reinforcements too!"
Winterele nodded slowly, studying the creatures behind the hare. Birchfire's squirrels were standing straight to attention, and although Riversleek's crew was goofing around, the badger knew they were fighters. Nodding in satisfaction, the Badger Lord began sauntering back into the mountain, motioning to the large group to follow.
"Very good, Whirl. Come, we will go inside and talk."
Whirl, Birchfire, and Firpine sat on the beach, facing the sea. The sun had not risen yet; it was a while before dawn. The hare was still rubbing sleep from his eyes, and covered up a yawn as he spoke.
"Why did we have t'git up so early, old chap?"
The squirrel tribe leader pointed a paw at the sea and a large, massive figure approaching, never once turning to Whirl as he responded, "Pridestream. Riversleek and his crew are coming." As if on cue, there was a shout from the ship.
"Ahoy, Birchfire! Haven't seen yer grubby ole face in a while. Me mate Seekers wants t'know if'n ye got vittles t'spare."
Firpine giggled and waved wildly at the ship, hoping to be seen by one of the ship's crew. "Depends, Riversleek. How hungry is he?"
Loud laughter greeted this comment about the hare's appetite, and Thicket's head could be seen peeking over the ship's rail, grinning at the three on the shore.
"Oh, his hunger's ripe, it is. Say, is that Miz Brighteyes? Firpine, good t'see ye agin!"
The vessel Pridestream finally docked at the shore. The ship's crew poured out and was greeted heartily by the two squirrels.
"Riversleek Waterprowl, you old pudden-headed riverdog, good to see you again!"
"Birchfire Treedance, ain't see you in a while, y'ole thick-headed treejumper!"
"Nice t'see yer pretty face agin, Miz Brighteyes."
"Call me by my real name, Thicket, or I'll start calling you Sir Twinkealot. Anyway, nice to see you again!"
"Seekers, how's the old appetite?"
"Oh, it's fine, Birchfire, 'cept right now, it's a bit hungry!"
"Karisma! How have you been?"
"I'm fine, thankee. But I've said it once an' I say it agin. Stow the Karisma an' call me Kari, Firpine, or I'll start calling you Miz Brighteyes too!"
Whirl strolled up to Birchfire and tapped him on the shoulder politely.
"Er, 'scuse me old chap, but would y'mind introducin' me?"
The squirrel blinked, then nodded, finally remembering that Whirl and the Pridestream's crew hadn't met.
"Everyone, this is Whirl. He's from the mountain Salamandastron, which I'm sure you all have heard of. I'll get into details later. Whirl, the ugly, grubby, pudden-headed excuse for a riverdog there is Riversleek Waterprowl, captain of the ship. The squirrel who's flirting and chatting away with Firpine over there is Thicket."
Thicket immediately turned scarlet red beneath his fur, but Birchfire didn't seem to notice and continued on.
"The hungry hare over there is Seekstone Sabreblade Galebreeze, mostly called Seekers. Karisma, or Kari, is the tough looking mousemaid you see. The otter there with the pike is Dropflint, or Flint for short, Riversleek's sister. And the mouse-"
Birchfire blinked. There were thirty-four creatures that sailed aboard the Pridestream. Introducing them all to Whirl could take a while. Riversleek immediately read his friend's somewhat disappointed face and took charge.
"Right mates, we'll have to finish this some other time. To th'grove, e'erybeast. Lead on, Birchfire." The squirrel threw Riversleek a grateful look and began strolling ahead, Firpine following close in his wake. Seekers grinned and rubbed his paws together in the same manner he had done aboard the ship.
"Finally, vittles!"
**
Dart the hare groaned as the paw shook him a bit roughly. He tried to brush it away and continue on with his sleep, but the paw was extremely determined and kept at it. Finally, the Long Patroller peeked open his eyes and tried to get them in focus. Hovering over him was Captain Imerilane, and it was her paw that was shaking him. Sitting up and rubbing sleep from his eyes groggily, he spoke to her, his voice heavy and tired.
"Wot is it, cap'n? Not e'en dawn yet. Need me sleep, I do, wot."
With that, the hare fell back down for another few precious moments of sleep, only to be pulled back up by the persistent Imerilane.
"Git up, Dart. We have a liddle sneakin' an' spyin' t'do afore the vermin wake up. 'Ere now, you're the scout. Aren't ye supposed t'be alert an' all that?"
Dart bounded up from the ground, now that his reputation was at stake. He folded up his sleeping sheet before stretching and grinning at the Captain.
"Righto now, marm. We're goin' t'spy on th'vermin, y'say? Spiffin'! I'm right alert, I am, wot! Let's get-"
The garrulous hare found the same paw that woke him now covering his mouth.
"Shush, y'great bit blabbermouth! Wid that voice o'yers, I wouldn't be surprised if'n th'vermin 'ear you from miles away."
"Sorry marm, now kin y'please remove yer paw from my mouth?" Dart asked, though since his mouth was covered, it came out more like, "Mhmph fmphm, phm pfmhp fphm mpfh pmhpfnh phmohph?"
Imerilane stared at Dart blankly, trying to translate what he had said, then finally realized her paw was still covering the spy's mouth and dropped it immediately.
"Sorry there. Right, we're all. Left a note fer th'Patrol. Come on, Dart, let's move out."
The captain disappeared into the shadows, followed closely by Dart. Bobbing and weaving, the two Long Patrollers made their way to the vermin camp.
**
It was around a half an hour after dawn when the first Long Patroller awoke. Frillin rubbed his eyes sleepily and was about to turn around for another doze. The lieutenant was about to do so when his footpaw kicked out and brushed pass something. The officer frowned and sat up, slightly irritated that he had to stay away. Grabbing the object so he could get the investigating over with and get some sleep, the hare found that it was a piece of parchment. In the dull light of dawn, he could read out what it said.
Gone to spy on vermin. Dart is with me. Be back no later than noon. Frillin, don't eat my breakfast. I'm warning you. Don't.
-Imerilane
Frillin rubbed his paws together. Imerilane and Dart were in no trouble, they were good fighters and could take care of themselves. The lieutenant gave no second thought about them getting hurt. A small, mischievous smile crept onto the hare's face as he re-read the note.
"Don't eat yer brekkers, eh? Well, y'ne'er said please!"
**
Her breakfast was the last thing on her mind at the moment, though. Captain Imerilane was too busy studying a sleeping vermin horde. She turned to Dart, who was staring intently at the vermin also.
"How many do y'reckon there are?"
Dart began to move his paw about, attempting to count all the sleeping hordebeasts. Giving up quite soon, he turned to the Captain and shook his head wearily.
"Too many o'the blighters, marm.cap'n.marm. But I'd guess there's 'bout one thousand or more o'em, wot!"
Imerilane was already on the move, nodded as she roamed around the camp, viewing it from every angle as she muttered to herself.
"Well fed, well stocked too. Good ammunition, nice uniforms."
Whirling around, the officer turned and headed off in the direction they had came, motioning to Dart to follow. The walked on in silence, until the captain turned to the Long Patrol spy expert, asking a most odd question.
"Wot do y'think o' that lot back thar?"
Dart blinked in surprise. Not used to being asked those type of questions, the hare shuffled his footpaws as he replied, not looking at Imerilane once.
"I think they'll be a tough lot t'fight off if'n they wants t'take Salamandastron, marm."
Imerilane sighed drearily and grabbed Dart's paw, running back towards the camp as she voiced her thoughts and worries to the attentive Long Patrollers.
" Exactly, Dart. An' thar's a lot o'em. So th'mountain will need some 'elp fightin' them off."
Dart nodded thoughtfully, then winked at the Captain, hoping to ease her mind.
"S'okay, Cap'n. Once Whirl reports t'Lud Winterele, I'm sure th'lud will send some blinkin' chaps out t'find allies, wot!"
**
Birchfire, Whirl, Firpine, Riversleek, Seekers, Kari, and Thicket sat around the large tree stump. The otter captain stroked his whiskers absently as he listened to Birchfire explain about Salamandastron's situation. After the squirrel tribe leader finished, he spoke up.
"So mate, lemme get this straight. Th'mountain's in trouble, an' you want us t'help them 'cos y'know that the hares are outnumbered?"
A slight blush crept up to Birchfire's cheeks as Riversleek smirked. He quickly added, "My tribe is helping too. Anyway, the hares and the badger lord are outnumbered seven to ten, so if we help them, we could boost their number up by.let's see, around one and a half hundred."
Riversleek shrugged casually and attempted to sit back, forgetting that there was nothing behind him to lean against. He fell to the ground and got up quickly, chuckling nervously.
"I meant t'do that. Anyway, mate, why should we help? Th'mountain's business is no business o' ours."
A wave of murmurs swept over as the members of Riversleek's crew as they began to whisper in agreement. Birchfire and Firpine were a bit taken aback, and were lost for words. Whirl, on the other hand, was not. He jumped up from the ground and slammed his paw onto the tree stump, then withdrew his stinging paw and winced. He cringed and shook his paw as every pair of eyes turned to him. Once his paw was feeling a bit better, he began.
"If, wot's 'is name, Malavice, yes that was it, if he manages t'blinkin' well take o'er Salamandastron, then he'll basically be takin' o'er th'whole coast. If'n they kin bally well take o'er my home, then they kin bally well take o'er yours, wot! Salamandastron's the one reason corsairs dun come floodin' these shores an' destroyin' e'erything in sight. If th'mountain's taken o'er, this whole shore is doomed, includin' Birchfire's tribe here. Then yer crew won't be able t'dock here anymore widout bein' killed in a blink o' an eye, an'-"
"Okay!" Riversleek chuckled heartily. "Thats enough, longears. I was jus' jestin' wid yer!" Kari frowned, paws akimbo. She stood up and stretched.
"Really? We thought ye weren't. Ah well, don't matter anyway. So now, if'n this long meetin's done, I'm goin' t'go raid th'kitchens, or wote'er you cook yer food in. Famished t'the bone, I am." Birchfire nodded and stood up, soon followed by everyone else.
"Right, we set off this afternoon. We'll get there at sunset."
Seekers laughed and bounded off after the mousemaid, calling out behind his shoulder, "See you all later. Oi, Kari, wait for me! By Jove, you can't raid the kitchens without me!"
**
The whole Long Patrol was awake when Dart and Imerilane crept into the camp. The captain nodded at them respectfully and turned to Blackstarr expectantly.
"I'm dreadfully hungry, young sah. Do you 'ave anything t'spare?"
The camouflage expert shook his head despairingly and pointed a paw at Frillin, saying, "Sorry Cap'n. But th'lieutenant stole yer share o'brekkers an' scoffed up 'is own, too. Awfully sorry, but y'll jus' have t'wait till lunch!"
Lieutenant Frillin smirked as he saw Imerilane glaring at him with mock venom. But a tiny part of his brain began nagging him that it was not all fake. Shrugging with feigned casualness, he protested, "I say, cap'n, it was only a honey scone, wot! Oh, an' a few berry tarts, along wid a small chunk o' woodland cheese. I also-"
Frillin came out of his babbling to see the captain place her paws on he hips, one placed a bit too close to her dirk for the hare's liking. Gulping nervously, the lieutenant shut up. Dart sighed and took Imerilane's paw, trying to lead her away from Frillin. In his other paw were his own provisions. "Here cap'n, y'kin have me share o'bally food. I'm not really hungry, doncha know. But I tell yer wot, marm, I'm sure Lud Winterele won't appreciate one less blinkin' offisah when we get back, wot!"
With one last glare, the captain stomped off. Major Embaril shot Frillin a warning glance before following Dart and Imerilane. The three began discussing Malavice's horde. After Dart and the captain had finished sharing the gained information with the major, the three approached the rest of the Patrol. Embaril nodded and pointed at the distant peak of Salamandastron.
"Come on, troops, pack it up. We're heading over to Salamandastron."
**
Dropflint stuffed her right paw into her mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. Kari and a well-built but cheeky mouse named Lumir were doing an imitation of Firpine and Thicket, exaggerating things immensely. The two squirrels, unaware of what was going on behind them, continued walking and chatting. The two mice, however, were doing it a bit differently. Kari fluttered her eyelashes outrageously as Lumir pasted a big, goofy smile onto his face. The two mice held paws as they walked with the rest of the large group, earning a few snickers and smirks from the others. Kari and Lumir mimicked Firpine and Thicket's every move, adding in a few steps of their own. Riversleek, who had been walking in front, turned his head as more giggled and titters were heard. When he caught sight of Firpine, Thicket, Kari, and Lumir, he roared out with laughter. The whole group stopped walking, and the ones in front of the two squirrels and mice turned their heads. Kari and Lumir both turned a light crimson color, then both pointed a paw at Firpine and Thicket, shouting out in unison.
"We were mimicking them!"
Birchfire blinked, and looked from the mice to the squirrels. Stifling a chuckle, the squirrel chieftain continued his stride, shaking with suppressed laughter. Riversleek followed his friend's example, but then turned around to reprimand the four, but the genuine smile on his face made it known that he was joking.
"No more o' that, y'hear? No more flirtin' wid each other, mimickin' each other, battin' eyelashes, or smilin' in stupid ways. Now move for'ard!"
The large mass of creatures did move forward, but for the rest of the way, Firpine and Thicket made sure that Kari and Lumir were always in front of them.
**
The sun was about to set when Salamandastron came into full view. Whirl whooped loudly and dashed forward, eager to reach his beloved home. Shaking his head, Birchfire continued on at his natural pace, but stopped and blinked as Seekers dashed past also, following the Long Patrol Galloper. Soon, Kari and Lumir ran off also, their imitating game forgotten. The squirrel tribe leader sighed and quickened his pace by a considerable amount until he was almost jogging. "Don't know why they're in such a hurry. It's just another step to war."
**
Whirl waved wildly as Lord Winterele loomed out of the mountain. The badger was smaller than most, but none the less bold. His sharp ginger eyes, on the other hand, were a considerable large size. Across his back was strapped a broadsword, just the right size for the short badger. Though only clothed in a simple green and brown tunic, Winterele had a sort of noble air about him. Catching sight of the jumping and flailing Galloper, the badger ambled towards him, a small slight creased into his features.
"Well, Galloper Whirl, nice of you to return. I take it you have information?"
Whirl nodded furiously and motioned to the Treedance tribe and Riversleek's crew.
"Yep, an' reinforcements too!"
Winterele nodded slowly, studying the creatures behind the hare. Birchfire's squirrels were standing straight to attention, and although Riversleek's crew was goofing around, the badger knew they were fighters. Nodding in satisfaction, the Badger Lord began sauntering back into the mountain, motioning to the large group to follow.
"Very good, Whirl. Come, we will go inside and talk."