(Revised Edition 1.1 Of Chapter Seven)
Seppak the Black laughed as he watched Daleria and her team leave Salamandastron. At his side were three hares, bound and gagged. They were Silecy, Tehora and Mealiney. They were sisters, and very close friends of Daleria. They had been out on patrol when they had been overcome by Seppak and his six score swordfoxes. On his other side was a furred fox, who looked aged and a veteran at his trade.
'Look, Analag, good things come to us!'
'Aye, lord, your sister will truly be avenged and you shall rule over Salamandastron!'
***
Daleria stooped low, then dropped on her knees, examining some carelessly left tracks in the sand that had not faded away.
'Hmm…'
The colonel came over to join her, peeking over her shoulder.
'What is it, m'gel?'
'Look at these tracks, sah, they seem to be looping towards Salamandastron and not in the direction that we are heading in, sah.'
Rapieratce got down beside her.
'Hmm… That's true, captain. D'you think we should backtrack?'
Getting up, Daleria replied.
'Mayhap we should send some scouts forward and see if this isn't a decoy, sah.'
The colonel got up as well.
'Right, then.'
He called out two gallopers, Cosenet and Willow. They were both Trustworthy, fast and reliable. He sent them forth with orders to scout the north and south, making a full circle of the surroundings. All they had to, and could do was wait.
***
Cosenet and Willow had found little to nothing in the north of the camp, so they did a sweeping loop towards Salamandastron, where the paw tracks led. They stopped for a short moment to catch their breath.
'You know, old chap, I feel we're being watched…'
'How could we? There have been no single flippin sign of those blinkin vermin.'
Suddenly, two pairs of rough, strong paws grabbed them from behind, pulling them backwards. A raspy, uncivilised voice spoke.
'Harr, are we by chance the "blinking vermin", me laddo?'
A blunt object struck both on the head, and as pain streaked out slowly, the world fogged up and slowly and painfully faded out.
***
Daleria was starting to worry. The scouts had been sent out just neigh noon, and now the moon shone brilliantly at its peak. It was only supposed to be a short, fast sweep of the north and south area, which would only have taken until dusk. Something was wrong. Quietly, she swiftly left the camp area alone, and headed towards Salamandastron. There were large, towering sand dunes on either side of her, providing ample cover for her.
Light.
Blazing, red fire. Daleria saw it from atop a large sand dune. Dropping flat onto the cool sand so as not to give away her presence should a sentry see her silhouette against the night sky, outlined by the moon. A relatively large vermin camp spread out before her. Her keen eyesight and good speculation sized up around a hundred vermin there. Suddenly, her eye caught onto a large cage in the centre of it all. She could see five hares, and no less. She knew this was bad.
Hostages.
Daleria had seen enough. Rolling down slightly, she creped back towards her camp. Moonlight showed only a blurry figure as she flew across the sand, like a fleeting shadow, without a sound. She knew that time was of the essence. Five lives were at stake. She reached the camp at record speed. She made her way over a sleeping colonel. Dropping softly onto the ground, she shook him awake and reported her find.
'I think we should head back to Salamandastron, sah. If we are caught out here, we stand no chance. But if we proceed back to the mountain, he will use the five to bargain. But at least we stand a chance to save them.'
'I agree, captain.'
'We have to move now, sah, swift and silent, or else…'
'I will rally the troops.'
Within a short period of time, the camp was packed, its fires cleared. It was like nobeast had ever set paw on the area. With a wave of a paw, the group moved off.
Just at the crack of dawn, they arrived at Salamandastron. The colonel and Daleria rushed off towards the forge to report the happenings to Lady Consellariel, leaving the rest of the patrol behind at the entrance. Knocking at the door, they entered. Consellariel was shocked to see them, and knew that why they were there for, it was definitely not good.
'What is it, colonel, captain?'
There was a hasty explanation as both watched the badger lady get more and more shocked, stunned and angry with every sentence.
'What? 5 hare hostages?! At least two are ours?'
'Yes, marm.'
The colonel knew it was a very bad time, but her told the badger lady still.
'Marm, Silecy, Tehora and Mealiney have been reported missing in action.'
Consellariel whirled around and gripped Rapieratce by the shoulders so hard that he was lifted off the floor and it hurt. Fury and anxiety were emblazed in her eyes, as she practically screamed out orders into his face.
'Order sentries at all openings, lookouts are not to leave the interior, all patrols cancelled, call in all ones already aboard, gather my officers!'
Nearly pushing Rapieratce out the door as she released him, she barked out a final command before stalking into the forge and hammering a poor piece of metal to leave-thinness.
'Dismissed!'
Backing out of the room, Daleria ran straight into her dormitory, slamming the door shut behind her, leaving a stunned Rapieratce to recover alone in the corridor. Pausing a moment, he looked around and saw Captain Joseph pass by. Grabbing the captain's attention, he rapped out the orders before moving to Daleria's dormitory.
Putting his ear to the door, he heard a faint sobbing noise coming from inside.
'Captain…?'
'Go away, colonel.'
'Let me in, Daleria.'
'GO AWAY, Rapieratce.'
'Open the door.'
'ATCE!'
'Open up the door, Daleria.'
The was a hateful silence from inside. Finally, a small voice said,
'It's unlocked.'
The dark wooden door opened and the colonel saw Daleria curled up on her bed, back towards him. He quietly moved over and sat next to her.
'It wasn't your fault.'
Daleria's head was looking straight ahead, out of the window, where a brilliant sunrise was.
'Yes it was. I was the one that wanted
to go out after him. I got them into this…'
TO BE CONTINUED BECAUSE I HAVE A HIGHLY ANNOYING OLDER COUSIN LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER.
TOO BAD.
