::Run away::

Disclaimer: Bored... bored...

A/N: We are approaching the wa-ar! Not here, but in a chappie or two, but good enough.

*

It was the brink of sundown, and the orange black rays reflected off the seashore. Ruft had led them out, and said that they were welcome back whenever the could come, or if they could find them. The entire team was there. The main ensemble was going off to the mountain, but Rapieratce, Glamoren and Daleria were going to be the 'hit and run like mad' team. And run they were going to have to do, and extremely fast at that. Rapieratce had given precise instructions along with his famous stare that the main team was to dispatch into Salamandastron at once and not look back for them. What mattered was that they get into the mountain, and the rest was out of their hands. If they did not, they would have either a very angry colonel storm after them, or a ghost haunting them for the rest of their lives. Either way, they were to get in, Remora and Longrunn report to the lady, and the rest look out for the three of them. That clear, they proceeded forward.

It did not take the three of them long to detect the foxes. They sent the main group on their way, and after they made the all clear rounds, Rapieratce rounded the two up for the final instructions before they took the plunge forward. These moments were essential.

'Right old chaps, its do and or die here, so you better make sure those bally running paws of yores are still in good shape. Dale, you take the front line, 'Moren and me will cover you. And no Vaxial business like the last time. You can go lurch at him from the mountain, just let him off this time. You can go kill him when the action starts, right now, all we do is grab their attention. Glamoren, take out any in the front. I'll be handling the back. And the two of you...?'

The major and the captain looked up at him expectantly.

'When I say run, I mean run.'

*

Remora and the patrol were by then far ahead. The path was clear, and as expected, there were no patrols on the shore. They were fast approaching the mountain, at the speed they were going at, and soon managed to overtake the fox horde altogether and move forward. The pace was incredible. Fear and determination, and utter loyalty was pushing them all forward. Desperation ignited them. All that was left to wait was for the action to begin. That was going to be interesting. And possibly bloody, if Rapieratce did not manage to keep Daleria's reins in check. Of course. The expectation was horrible. It was like those moments when your mentor keeps back your test results just to make your stomach crawl, or when the drill sergeant refused to put up the announcements until the last moment whereby the entire mountain would scramble to see who would be the unlucky ones for double guard for that part of the season. Only this was worse. Much worse. Their stomachs did not need to crawl. They were already running.

*

'Well 'Atce. Here goes nothing.'

Taking deep breaths, the three of them plunged into a fast run. Practically skimming across the sand, the approached the front of the horde. Daleria spied Seppak somewhere near the front, save for the fact that a score or so foxes provided a barrier for him. Daleria forced herself under control. This was going to take some fast running. Very fast. They approached the main horde for the small temporary breach of borders, and took a moment to compose herself. The black was bringing back very bad memories indeed. Taking one final look back, she saw Glamoren cut down a sentry that had been posted then yelled at the top of her voice.

'Seppak? You want me, don't you? Why don't you come over here and get me!'

Daleria swore the entire horde turned their heads over to them in synchrony. Seppak was heard to yell out a myriad of choked orders before ten foxes came after them. It was frightening to see the order that they were in. Rapieratce took down one fox which tried to get to them, Daleria tore down two of her own with a vengeance and Glamoren extinguished another before they pulled away from the horde and began an all out sprint for their lives.

*

'What the-?'

Cosenet squinted through the pain. She must have been hallucinating. It simply was not possible. Maybe the stuff the foxes gave her was going to her brain.

'Dale? The colonel? Glamoren?'

Tentatively, she asked the others, who also seemed to be watching the scene with an certain degree of agape mouths and incredulous looks on all their faces.

'Willow... Are you seeing what I'm seeing?'

'Mealiney... You too?'

'Tehora?'

Nods. They all paled at the same time.

'Dale? Here? It's suicide!'

'She has the colonel and the major with her though.'

'Still! It's three of them versus five hundred of these!'

'Guess we're going to have to wait it out to find out.'

*

The three of them pulled off at the same time, sprinting madly for the haven that was labelled Salamandastron right in front of them. Rapieratce was still the most alert of them, and was keeping an intensely close lookout for anything that might happen about them. They were fast approaching their target, footpaws thudding wildly in long gaits as they literally flew over the dunes and sped off towards the target. Daleria yelled out.

'We might just make it, 'Atce!'

'Keep quiet and keep moving, captain!'

The foxes were gaining. Seppak was there, a murderous and insane glint in his eye, while the three solitary hares scrambled madly away from a surge of black that threatened to overwhelm them in a single take. They were nearly there. Daleria could even see the pillars on the inside of the mountain, the training grounds, everything. Nearly... All of the suddenly, there was a shout behind her. Rapieratce shoved her forwards towards Glamoren, who looked back at his partner, knowing full well that something had to have happened in order to make Rapieratce do that. The answers was not long in coming.

'Crossbow! Take her! I said take her major!'

True enough, there was a slight sound of a crossbow being drawn. Daleria paled and slowed slightly at the sound, as did Glamoren, though less so. Rapieratce knew that if they stalled, it was all going to over. He could not let that happened. He had to get them back into the mountain. He pushed them faster still, growling at them in a voice that scared himself.

'I swear, Windbind, if you don't get into that mountain in one minute I am going to make sure you'll never rest in peace for the rest of your life.'

Daleria looked shocked that he actually resorted to her last name. Nobeast used her last name. Not even Consellariel. Rapieratce yelled full out at them. It was time to pull in full authority in those cases, as much as Rapieratce disliked taking over others with commands.

'I said take her major! That's an order!'

In a last desperate act, Rapieratce heard the hiss of the bow behind him and shoved Daleria forward just as the crossbow arrow came at them, dodging in behind Daleria and taking it in her stead. The impact itself shoved them forward. The colonel fell full onto the sand. The pain was overwhelming, blinding, all consuming and it took all Rapieratce had in him to remain in self control. Clutching his left shoulder in pain, feeling the bolt protruding out the other end. Daleria stood shocked, completely still, staring at the colonel as if he was mad.

'Windbind! Get in there. Now.'

He hissed, narrow eyed, at the two who had stopped from his position in the sand, struggling to stand. His green eyes were fierce. His temper flared and his eyes sparked. He removed his rapier and threw it to Glamoren. The major caught it only out of reflex. Rapieratce shouted at him again.

'I gave you an order, major! Take her! NOW!'

Glamoren suddenly snapped back into his senses and grabbed Daleria's arm, holding Rapieratce's sheath in the other paw. He knew that Rapieratce would take no concern over himself and expected all those under him to obey when it came to an order when he was putting himself on the line for the order. He knew he had to get Daleria away, or else he was going to be in serious trouble, in more ways than one. The captain tried to struggle against him, still not wanting to abandon Rapieratce on the sand alone in the direct path of the foxes. Glamoren pulled her away, using all his strength, and Daleria was left no time to object as she was hauled away into the mountain while watching a black swarm overtake the figure in the sand.