Chapter Three

Among a horde of sleeping vermin, an odd ferret lay awake. He wondered about his fate. Why do I have to live a life of killing? I just what to live the life of a gentlebeast. Why do I travel in a horde of nasty vermin? I may be a vermin, but I'm not nasty. Mayhap I should sneak away from this horde, live the life I've always dreamed of. That's what I'll do, but Lord Silvernose will follow me, hunt me down. Not if he's dead he won't. That's what I'll do! I'll kill him, then leave. Nobeast in the horde likes him anyway. Before he could get up and get his sword, one of his comrades approached him. A lean fox.

"I know what you think, friend. I know how much you want to leave here, I think we all do. I have read many beasts' thought, Goldpaw. I know your plan. Take this; it's a good way to kill foebeasts. It's quick, and easy. Nobeast will know who did it." The fox handed Goldpaw a little pouch of what looked like sand.

"Tell me, Bluetail, how do I use it?"

"Just pour the whole bag on him, it will kill him in seconds." The lean fox left. The ferret didn't trust the fox. He would not be fooled by a fox. He grabbed his sword, and ran after the fox.

Unfortunately for the ferret, the fox had gone to tell Sillon Silvernose. Goldpaw stood outside the tent, listening to the conversation.

"Sire, Goldpaw is planning to betray you. He will come in here while you sleep, and try to kill you with a bag of sand." The fox sniggered at the last sentence.

"Very well, mate. You may leave now, I'll wait for the traitor in here." The fox left silently. But waiting outside the tent, was his fate. Who killed Bluetail with a blade, nobeast ever knew, except Goldpaw.

Goldpaw left the camp swiftly, never to return. He headed for the river. Once he got to the river, he planned to swim the river, making his trail hard to follow. As far as swimming goes, he's a great swimmer for a ferret.

After many days of traveling, the young ferret made it to the river. The horde was quickly gaining ground. They were less than a day behind him. When he made it to the river, he ate a small bite to eat, then got in the river. He swam far upriver. He knew that nobeast knew he could swim. They would think he either crossed they river, or floated downstream.

When the horde made it to the river, only a few hours after Goldpaw was there, the trackers said they lost his tracks, and that he either crossed, of floated downstream. They searched for a long time. They continued downstream, not knowing the ferret escapee could swim. Goldpaw was free of the horde forever. They would continue following the river till they all died.