sorry this took so long. . but i do lots of other stuff besides write hehe and one of those other things unfortunately includes school. So here it is. Though i should warn you i think i will have to up the rating on my story after this ;)
Have fun. The plot thickens. . . and as always please read and review, you knw we all love reading reviews good or bad :)
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Chapter 4 - The messenger
The tavern door swung open to admit a young squirrel in his younger adult seasons. He pulled of his cloak and folded it under his arm, glancing around the tavern room briefly before walking up to the proprietor. The inn keeper was a jolly looking mole by the name of Isha schwalle de Lubiz, a rather large and ridiculous name for such a simple and homely mole but he enjoyed the way that even he himself had difficulty pronouncing it. Leaning against the bar were two official looking creatures, the first one a vole with large boots and a stomach to match, and the other was a thin, wiry sort of mouse with a high raspy voice. Pan and Apulus were strategic advisors on the Southsward Council, and tended to be more show than sound advice.
The stranger squirrel slid next to them quietly, the chattering hubbub of the taverns usual crowd dampening any paw steps that could have been heard. He cleared his throat shortly to gain the two pompous creatures attentions and spoke clearly and solidly, a forced sort of tone echoing around his sentence gave away the fact that this language was not his first.
"You are Pan and Apulus? Strategian's of Southsward?"
The obese vole turned heavily and looked the fit stranger up and down. He nudged the thin mouse in his boney ribs and grinned, happy that yet another stranger knew of the "famous Pan and Apulus." His fat laden mouth and jaw worked vigorously as he replied, his beard quivering comically as the words formulated in his throat.
"Ay. . that we are stranger. What can we do for you?"
The stranger's reply was quick and to the point.
"You must evacuate Southsward. I have come to warn you of an unstoppable threat that approaches you."
The vole scoffed guffawing loudly to his pencil thin companion
"Threat? Who? That ruddy cat and her gang of black vermin? Haw Haw Haw! We sent them packin' back across the seas where they came from a week ago. 'Aint nothin' can get past our strategies and trained forces."
"Hyarmana has received reinforcements. They will destroy you. I have seen it done. You, your people and your soldiers must travel with me to the fire mountain of Salamandastron where we can combine forces with the badger lord and learn to halt the shadow that approaches. The king has already given his consent, all we need are your words of approval."
The vole thought for a moment, chewing reflectively on a slice of lemon he had taken from his glass. The ruddy face cracked into a grin and he nudged his partner again in the ribs, not looking the least bit worried.
"What? Run away? We are true southlander's, eh Apulus? True southlander's never give up their home. Were stayin', and we're fighting."
With that he turned away from the squirrel, striking up a conversation with Apulus. The stranger squirrel looked on impassively, muttering to himself in some foreign language. He turned quietly and moved towards the door. Suddenly he felt a tug on his cloak and found the innkeeper mole Isha looking up at him with a worried expression.
"Er. . escuse i zur, but mahap oi c'n tag along mit ee'. I be dredf'ly turrifoid of varmints."
The ghost of a smile flickered about the strangers lips, he nodded approvingly, throwing his heavy cloak back around his shoulders.
"You believe me then. I can see you have a large amount of common sense. I would not try and trick you out of your home. Come along then, we have much work tonight. Maybe the common people will think more logically than the State."
He pushed the door open and stepped out into the failing light of the setting sun. He stopped in the street momentarily and looked up into the sky, a worried expression crossing his features. He muttered darkly under his breath again, his paw closing about the hilt of an odd sword known as a Katana.
"They will be here soon. Quickly mole, gather as much supplies as you can into packs from your inn and meet me here on the road. I will return with everyone who wishes to follow me out of this place."
Without another word the squirrel jogged quickly down the road, blending into the twilight air.
Two otter guards sat wearily on the wall top, keeping watch over the Southsward harbor and bay. It had been a long and tiresome afternoon, and the soldiers were looking forward to the end of their shift. The larger of the two leaned heavily on his spear haft, watching the twilight procession of lamp lighting as it made its way through the streets and the marketplace. The thinner of the two kept his eyes on the ocean, his paws resting lightly on a loaded crossbow that had been straining against its latch all day. Both had difficulty keeping their eyes open and the smaller blinked a few times trying to rid himself of the exhaustion that assaulted him in waves. Waves waves waves. He had been staring at nothing but waves all day. He squinted at the horizon, hoping to see at least see one boat approaching to break the constant view of waves and sky. And his wish was granted. One boat, one small, single sail. The guard's ears perked up slightly and he watched the approaching vessel carefully. Two boats. Three masts. Ten. Forty. One-hundred. One thousand boats lifted their masts over the horizon, dirtying the solid straight line that had separated sea and sky all day.The sentry jumped in surprise, recognizing them to be the boats that had attacked them earlier that month, but with the addition of fifty or so big, flat barges. Automatically he picked up his horn and sounded a long warning blast that echoed across the harbor side and bay.
All at once the entire metropolis of Southsward exploded in an eruption of activity. The boats moved swiftly closer, propelled by what seem to be an unnatural strength, and the entire Southsward Regiment lined the protection of the walls and bunkers, gripping their weapons with determination. They knew they could win. They had managed once before.
The villagers scuttled fervently around the streets, herding the younger children into houses, barricading doors and bolting down for a long and difficult siege. The people had been well trained and knew what to do. Their King was strong, and was wise in the field of command, he knew what fear could do to a community, and knew how to prevent it. Fire squads we organized and the town settled down to wait in tense suspension. The streets were left abandoned, and the doors were locked tight, not prepared to open until the sounding of the alarm horn once again that would signal the defeat of the approaching enemy.
The foreigner squirrel known only to a few as Gyokujun, trotted swiftly down a broad and deserted street. He was followed closely by three young mice and a female otter who he had managed to convince to flee before the alarm was sounded. Desperately he knocked on doors, begging creatures to follow him and escape, but no doors would open. They were shut tight, no one cared about the crazy new comers ideas. They had seen it before, the war would blow over.
Gyo slammed his fist angrily against a sputtering lamp post, frustration breaking through his well trained and practiced mind.
"No one! No one sees!"
The otter attempted to comfort him but he brushed her aside, pausing suddenly at an ominous sound that echoed through the quiet streets. He whispered quietly to himself, his tone of voice carrying the emotion shared by every beast.
"They're here."
Longboat after longboat hit the water, speeding their way swiftly into the harbor. An uncounted mass of black rats swarmed the very waters, so many that if each one was to drink three swallows from the bay it would be drained dry. Their bodies were covered in rough steel plates and their paws gripped savagely to sturdy spear hafts and sword handles. They were mindless automatons, bent to obey the Master's wishes. A faint pulsing chant emanated from an ornate black ship in the center of the barges. Flat and black it stood as a central motivator for the invading troops.
As soon as the rats came in range, the harsh command rang across wall tops and arrows flew in torrents down upon the approaching enemy, but they continued to press forward unfazed by the losses at their front lines. A small group in the center of the black masses hurried for the gates carrying a large and heavy cast iron box. Whenever a carrier was felled by an arrow, a new creature standing by would take its place, therefor moving the box along at an unstoppable rate. Upon reaching the impenetrable timbers of floret cities gates, they swung the box upright, imbedding a set of spikes that ran along the top of the box into the wood. As the iron teeth bit firmly into the wooden grain, a mighty roar exploded from the dark army, and a terrible, stone-shaking chant broke out. With each syllable, the wall tops shook and reverberated, making the defenders clap their paws to their ears in an attempt to drown out the horrific sound.
Out on a street leading to the main gate, a small cottage door opened and two squirrels stumbled quickly from its darkened confines. One squirrel was much older and was dressed heavily in armor, obviously a ranking solder in the militia. The other was smaller and much younger: His daughter.
"Hurry Wren, you must leave. You are no longer safe here."
"But. . but, where should I go. . ?"
"Salamadastron. Get moving young'un there is no time."
The squirrel maid looked up fearfully at her father, she was afraid to go, but the look on his features motivate her to move. Spotting the two squirrels, Gyokujun turned to the few creatures following him and herded them towards the back entrance, instructing them as they walked.
"Go quickly to the rear exit from the city and meet up with Isha there. He has gathered provisions. You must leave straight away, and journey into the forest in a northward direction. I will catch up with you later."
Not leaving any time for protest, Gyokujun turned swiftly and headed back towards the two creatures at the main gate, praying that the Master had not yet released his storm.
The chanting pounded thickly through the air, and suddenly five, unearthly creatures stepped from ship to shore. Huge and ugly, their dim red eyes glowed dully against their black fur. They were Nightmares. Some sort of creature bread from an assortment of only the strongest, biggest and smartest vermin ever to touch the earths surface. The nightmares moved swiftly, smiling amongst themselves as they bore a long iron construction toward the gate. With the ringing clash of battle pulsing through their ears, they basked in the blood light of battle, eager to spill the precious plasma that carries life through living creatures. The defenders fired desperately at the approaching monsters, but they were unstoppable. Arrow after arrow stuck into their thick hide and thick armor, and they didn't flinch, stopping only to hoist the spiked iron contraption above their shoulders and charge the door. With a resounding boom the spiked iron head smashed into the box, causing an explosion of rock and metal shards. Defenders were thrown from the wall top, and attackers were knocked back in waves.Shards of metal and stone ripped through the five monsters at the doorway, tearing three of them into unintelligible masses of black blood and iridescent fur, the fourth wounded mortally and the fifth left standing. With a deafening roar the army charged, and the nightmare drew forth a heavy weighed knife that looked more like a sword than anything and threw it with all his force at the first target he spotted.
Wren hugged her father tightly, whispering to him before preparing to leave. He held her closely with affection, blinking back a tear, but unable to stop himself from shaking a bit with emotion.
"Promise me you'll come and find me when this is over. . . "
"I will. . I will try. . ."
Suddenly the door was blasted through and Wren gasped in surprise as a huge wave of heat swept over them. Her father pushed her roughly away, shouting for her to run for it. Suddenly the nightmare's blade shot through the air, slamming into the squirrels back, shearing through armor flesh and bone, spattering his daughter with blood. Wren screamed in shock, her fathers blood dripping down her face as she watched him fall heavily to the ground.