Jube, Warrior of Greenvale

Book One - Rathax

Chapter 1
Two young rascals

The two warriors stared coldly at each other, swords drawn, eyes burning. The silhouette of a hedgehog and an otter showed along the horizon. The hedgehog was a relatively normal sized hedgehog with brown fur and black fiery eyes. His spikes were standing upright. The otter was slightly bigger. He had silvery fur and his brown eyes sparkled dangerously. A swift strike at the left side, blocked by a counter blow that was as swift as the attack itself. The warriors' swords sang in the morning light. Their song was heard through the hilly terrain. There was a surprisingly loud screech from an alien source nearby. The hedgehog warrior jumped considerably high at the sound and stumbled upon a rotting log before colliding with the gaping otter. Together they descended down the sloping hill at a swift rate by means of rolling in a chaotic ball. At the foot of the hill the two young friends lay facing the dawning sky breathless from both the swift decent and their early game. They sat and watched the morning sun rise higher every minute. Their wooden swords lay beside them and with the waking sun's warm rays upon them the two friends wished and hoped that one day they would turn out to be warriors and fight like countless bygone heroes who fought for what is right.

It was a bit later in the day when the two friends left and started back to their neighbouring huts near the River Roar which branches off the Roarin' Sea. The young hedgehog began to wonder how long they could hide before Draken finds their little community hidden under the lake. Perhaps they could fight back Draken's army of assassins and live at Greenvale again like they did in ancient times. In reality the youngster knew that their small community had no chance of beating an army like Draken's. For one thing, his army had double their numbers and they were also professionals unlike them. Hardly any of their woodlanders had ever touched a weapon let alone use one. The young hedgehog knew it was useless thinking these thoughts but he couldn't help it, he and his friend were the oddities they had always imagined what it was like to be a warrior and weapons had always fascinated them. But one thing the hedgehog did know is that one day they would win back Greenvale.

"Where have you two been now?" asked an exasperated otter mum. "Around. Just walking" replied a grinning otter. His hedgehog friend was sure that if he grinned a bit further his head would crack like a vase might. "Yes Silver, I am sure that all that mud on you was made purely by walking." Mrs.Watercress said sarcastically. " Well you know Silver and me. " began Jube "Always there to help when there's trouble." " I thought that you were always there because you were causing these inconveniences. Or is that not worth thinking about?" Was the reply from Mrs.Watercress. " Oh, it most definitely is not worth thinking about is it, matey." Silver said glancing at Jube who immediately said "Mrs.Watercress have you ever met a more angelic pair than the both of us?" " Out with you two rascals!" replied Mrs.Watercress said in a friendly tone.

The two troublemakers wandered aimlessly towards the general direction of the river. Halfway to the river they were joined by Fwirl, a young squirrel with soft red fur. She was a great climber and great with a bow and arrow. She was usually around when the two rascals were planning their next joke and she was always there when they pulled of their joke. She had helped them pull off some of them and was very proud of it. As the trio neared the river the clear sound of rushing water could be heard. The next second the majestic river sparkled in front of their eyes. Cool water trickled upon slippery rocks and the river gurgled louder as if beckoning them. How on earth could three young woodlanders not resist the gentle rushing water of the river on a hot summer's day? In less than two seconds three splashes had subsided and three heads emerged from the rich blue water of the River Roar. It was nearly dusk when three soaked figures got out of the river and shook themselves dry. Together they watched the day come to an end and trudged back to their hidden homes under the calm, serene lake.