Disclaimer: I don't own Redwall

Claimer: All the characters in the story are mine ESPECIALLY KAMILA SPIRITFEATHER AND NIGHTSONG (no stealing)

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Kamila SpiritFeather (Part 2)

Kamila traveled two days without sleep before she finally collapsed in the middle of the road on a dark rainy night. She shut her book to keep the rain from washing the map away and curled up under the large roots of a tree. She listened to the thunder roar and watched the lightning as it illuminated the sky. She wasn't afraid though. She had seen and felt worse things then the storm. The little maiden began to repeat the last poem she had spoken to her mother before she fell into a restless sleep within her small haven.

When she awoke the following morning the sky was clear and the rain had finally stopped falling. Kamila stretched forth her tired and weather worn paws as she slowly crawled from beneath the tree. The skin beneath her eyes was as dark as night from lack of sleep as she tried to decide what direction she had to go. Wearily, she trudged off towards where the map was pointing. Another day passed, another storm and Kamila finally gave up. She couldn't keep going on if she had no idea what lay ahead. She knelt down to the ground and was about to give into the darkness that threatened to take over her mind when a screech rented through the air, causing her to jump.

The flying squirrel maiden looked up in the sky and gasped out as a large brown bat flew overhead. The beast looked down at Kamila then pressed on towards a large mountain in the distance. Kamila immediately collected her book and started running after the bat, praying that she would be able to find her way before the creature disappeared. She opened the book and began to follow the right directions again, her paws trembling with hope. She pulled the book away and was about to look up when her footpaws came out from beneath her and she felt herself tumbling downwards into darkness.

When she came too, she was lying in the center of a cave, her paws spread out in four directions and her mother's book sprawled at her side. The young flying squirrel rubbed her head and slowly got to her knees when another loud screech perpetrated her mind. Kamila squeaked in surprise as she found two golden eyes staring at her. She started to get up and run but a large figure placed a wing around her, stilling her every movement. The young squirrel buried her head in her own "wings" afraid of what was going to happen to her.

"Who are you…you?" Kamila looked up as she heard a whispered voice echo in her ears. A grayish colored bat tilted his head to the side and eyed the flying maid curiously. Kamila backed up slightly in fear but the wing around her prevented any further movement as she whispered just as softly.

"K…Kamila…Kamila Spiritfeather…s…sir. I…I'm daughter of Ralenda…" At this, she pulled out the necklace her mother had given her and held it before the great bat. He jerked back slightly in surprise then replied in a quieter, saddened voice.

"She is gone then…then?" Kamila's eyes watered slightly as she slowly bowed her head and nodded. There was silence in the cave for a long moment before another bat, younger then the one in front of Kamila walked towards her. This bat was a dark ebony with a short tuft of white headfur in between her ears. She gazed down at the young squirrel and spoke in a voice that was as melodious as a song.

"If you are her daughter….ter, then we will take care of you if you wish…wish. What help do you seek…seek?" The flying squirrel maiden looked a bit uncertain. How could she tell them that she had been beaten by those who were suppose to love and care for her? She looked down at the ground with her eyes, one swollen, one brimming with tears. The new bat slowly moved forward and lifted her chin with the claws of her wings. Kamila bit her lip as the bat gave a small, sympathetic smile.

"Do not worry Kamila Spiritfeather…ther..here you will find a home…home and here we will take care of you….you." Brushing away some of the young maid's tears like a mother, the bat took a step back and began to lead her towards one of the caves. So began Kamila's life at Mount Bat Pit.

In her second year of living with the bats, Kamila was surprised to learn that they were going to teach her how to "fly." Having never learned it from her parents and having only tried it once, she was rather skeptical about it and kind of afraid. Nightsong, the second bat that had spoken to Kamila, however wasn't about to let the young squirrel run away from something she'd have to do the rest of her life. So with the proper urges and gentle encouragement, they finally were able to convince Kamila to try to fly again. Well…sort of.

"I don't want to do this…it..it's to high." Kamila crept away from the ledge that Nightsong wanted her to leap from. True, it was high in the air but the other bats were around to catch her from her fall, and there was a pool of water at the bottom to help her if she needed it. Nightsong nudged her in the back with her nose, trying her best to get the squirrel maiden to leap.

"Do not worry Kamila…la. You will be just fine…fine, we shall catch you if you fall…fall." The young flying squirrel shook her head furiously and headed towards the ledge that would lead her back to the ground. Nightsong sighed deeply and fluttered in front of Kamila before the squirrel could get away. She skidded to a halt and backed up as the ebony bat came closer.

"Don't make me do it."

"You have to learn…learn." Kamila made a sound between a squeak of frustration and a grumble as she backed up further. Her footpaws came closer and closer to the edge until she slipped and went tumbling backwards. Quickly Nightsong took off into the air and dove after her, calling encouragements as they fell. "Spread thy wings…wings!! Let the wind lift you up..up."

Kamila bit her lip and flipped over in mid air so that she was falling towards the water on her stomach. Closing her eyes, she spread her paws out and suddenly felt a back lash as the rushing wind caught her "wings" jerking her up towards the roof of the cave. The flying maiden gasped out in surprise and found herself slowly gliding towards another ledge. However as she "flew" she came closer and closer towards the ground. Panicking, she folded her wings back and plummeted into the water that was only a few feet below her.

Nightsong landed at the water's edge and shook her head with a smile as the little squirrel came sputtering to the surface. Golden headfur covered her vision as she paddled her way over to the shore, her wings and body soaking wet. The ebony bat leaned over and plucked the maid from the water, using her own warm wings to hold the small squirrel.

"There you are Kamila…la. Now that was not to bad was it…it?"

Kamila spat out some water and shook her ears dry as she giggled to the bat.

"Hehe…no…that was kind of fun." A chorus of screechy laughs filled the air at the young squirrel's innocent reply. She leapt from Nightsong's wings and shook out her fur, spraying the younger bats around her. Once the water was dispersed, her fur fluffed up, making her look like a poofy little fur ball. The young bats screeched with giggles and shook their velvet wings of the water, following her example. Nightsong smiled softly and dried her wings out the same way. From then on, Kamila didn't have any problems wanting to learn how to fly.

When Kamila's 11th birthday came around, the bats called two beasts to the cave, deciding that it was time that she started her survival training. Bats knew how to survive by using their wings but four legged beasts had their own ways of living. Nightsong decided that if Kamila wanted to grow up to become an independent squirrel maid, that she'd have to learn the rules of the road so to speak.

A day after Kamila's birthday, two dark creatures came to the cave to seek her out. They were dressed in long flowing robes of ebony with feathers sticking out from beneath it. Nightsong had taken Kamila to the entrance so the young maid could meet her new mentors, but they frightened her from first sight, especially when they took off their hoods.

Beneath the dark cloaks stood two foxes, a female and male with fur just as dark as their cloaks. Gold, purple, green and blue markings flowed over the black fur while a feather headdress or collar along with feathered wrist bands adorned their bodies. Blades of all sorts were tucked away within their belts or on their backs. The eyes of both of them were what scared her the most though. While the female had green iris's with flecks of gold around the emerald, the male fox's eyes were blood red, as red as her father's and as dark as Satana's. Kamila backed away from them instantly and gave a soft whisper to Nightsong.

"Do I have to go with them?" The ebony bat gazed up at her for a moment before speaking.

"You must learn how to live….live you shall not survive in the real world…world. Ma`pela and Dukar are good friends of ours…ours. Do not be afraid."

Kamila sighed hesitantly as she peered up at the large foxes before her. Dukar strolled forward slowly and crouched down to Kamila's level with a genuine smile upon his vermin like features. He placed a paw with dyed green claws upon her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Don't ye worry Kamila, we're good friends of Nightsong and we'll take care of ya. You're just gonna come and live with us for five days out of the week, then ye can come back here for a couple of days to spend time with your friends." Kamila paled immediately and pulled away. She would have to leave the bats behind? She'd only get to see them a couple of days instead of everyday? The maiden looked at Nightsong who gave her a soft smile.

"Go on Kamila…la. If you wish, I shall go with you….you." Kamila instantly nodded her cream colored head as Dukar walked backed towards his wife. He spoke softly in her ear, causing Ma`pela to smiley kindly at the little maid. She looked to Nightsong and after bowing in respect, she and her husband began to walk out of the cave entrance.

"Come when ye are ready Nightsong. We shall be waiting out here for the two of ye." Silently, the two fox's disappeared out the cave door, leaving Kamila and Nightsong to say goodbye to the other bats whom they considered family.

The first week of living with Ma`pela and Dukar hadn't been to bad but the weeks to follow were grueling. Kamila had to not only learn how to use a weapon, but she had to use something that didn't feel right in her paws, a staff. Normally the foxes would have given her a weapon that they thought she would use in the years to come, but Kamila had never handled a blade before so it was hard to deem what she could and could not use. The safest way to find out her fighting skills was by testing her with a staff first.

While in their company, and to help her train a bit easier, the foxes had supplied her with a new wardrobe that would teach her how to fight in all kinds of situations. It was like a bathing suit piece, the top being the colors turquoise and aqua green. It stretched down far enough to cover everything important. Over that was tied a short skirt of gold which was held to her body with small strings that threaded through the hole's in her wings.

The outfit appealed quite well to Kamila. It allowed her free movement while at the same time made her feel more connected to her teachers. Feathers adorned her head like the foxes, making her feel very close to them, despite the fact that she hated all her training to fight. She still remembered everything her father had taught her but she wasn't sure if she put that to use. Only at certain times would she follow his example…but for some odd reason, she felt uncomfortable doing so. It was like part of her mind was trying to drag her back into a past she didn't want to revisit. Her skills in fighting were stronger by remembering her father's words…but it still did little to comfort her.

On the fourth week of her fighting trial, Dukar decided that she would have to fight both he and his wife at the same time. Kamila was scared out of her fur to say the least. Both of them by far were better fighters and one would have been enough to defeat her. Why they wanted to both attack was beyond her.

Kamila walked towards the arena where they fought, the staff swinging deftly from paw to paw. She knew they wouldn't hurt her but just going against two foxes at once still frightened her to no end. She'd have to watch her front and back while she fought. The flying squirrel shook her head as she waited for Ma`pela and Dukar to show up. Nightsong was already in a tree, watching over Kamila to make sure she didn't get out of line. She trusted the young maid, but she didn't want her to suddenly become angry and fight harder then she should.

Dukar and Ma`pela came out from within their tent, each holding a different, dulled weapon. Dukar was a master with the Kamas, two paw held weapons with curved blades at the top and wooden handles. He had a deadly swing and a powerful one at that but he kept the blades dull so he wouldn't injure his opponents. Ma`pela trained with a steel fan, sometimes referred to an ogi. It looked like a folding fan and did indeed fold but the rim of it was as sharp as a dagger. The weapon was an ebony black color with a vine of flowers around the rim and strange designs in the center. It was a very dangerous blade if used correctly, providing a shield, a short range and a long range weapon all in one. However Ma`pela never put much strength behind it in training fights.

Both carried themselves confidently though as they got closer, it was apparent they were carrying more then just their own weapons. Both foxes held a blade that almost looked like a large three pronged fork, though the middle was much longer then the side prongs. They glinted a soft silver in the morning light while streamers of purple were tied to the sides like decoration. Dukar winked softly at Kamila and held out one blade while Ma`pela held out the other.

"Kamila, I want you to try these today. Ya've done well with the staff but I want to see how you fair wit the sais."

The flying maid grasped the weapons in her paws as she was bade. They were so much lighter then the staff she had originally used that it didn't feel like she was holding any weapons at all. She moved them about in her paws then glanced up as Ma`pela and Dukar began to circle her. Immediately her nerves were shot and her paws trembled nervously. The fox's eyes burrowed into hers as she watched them, waiting for the first one to attack. Ma`pela was the first to swing and the fight began.

Kamila fought for all she was worth, trying her hardest to keep either one from getting to her back. However, when one came to her front, she slashed out with her sai then stabbed backwards at the same time with the other, protecting two flanks at once. It startled her how well she could maneuver the weapons, unlike the staff. Smiling, she fought with her mentors, waiting to see who would become the victor.

However, the winner would turn out to be Dukar. With one firm kick at her legs followed by the cold kiss of steel at the back of Kamila's neck, the squirrel maid was forced to release her weapons. Instead of berating young Kamila on what she had done wrong, both Ma`pela and Dukar clapped their paws lightly and smiled at the maid.

"Very good Kamila, tis not every day that a creature can grow so accustomed to a blade. I think the sais will be just fine for ye." Ma`pela cooed proudly. Giving a nod of agreement, Dukar hooked his Kamas within his belt as he added his own say.

"Aye, Pela is right. You'll be a fine warrior Kamila, just keep up on those blades and you'll surpass even me and me mate here. Now why don't you get some breakfast and we'll continue after that."

Kamila smiled and bowed in respect to her mentors, Ma`pela and Dukar following suit. As the young maiden walked away to feast herself on Ma`pela's home made oatcakes, she looked down at the sais and grinned. She would follow their advice and practice her blades. Maybe in time she would learn to surpass them.

Four years passed and surpass them she did. She grew to become a cunning and dangerous warrior with the sais. If Ma`pela moved left, she was already there, ready to strike out at Dukar from the right. If Dukar attacked her from the front, she whirled on her paw, lashing out at both foxes to get them to back away from her. She grew more daring, putting herself in situations where they both could attack her and it'd only be by pure instincts that she could keep from getting hit. She hadn't become a master of the sais, but she certain had grown to understand them.

She had also grown to understand her trainers as well. Ma`pela was the soft type, the kind that wanted to care for the young maiden but teach her how to survive at the same time. Dukar was a bit sterner, but just as kind as his mate. Kamila had grown to trust them with her life and she kind of saw them as family. Well with Nightsong too of course. The ebony bat had never left her side and often gave her advice when her fox mentors weren't around. While working with her trainers, Nightsong had also taught her something special. Bats spoke and flew by using echolocation to find out what's in front of them. Nightsong taught her how to make the sound of a bat with her palms so that the two could talk privately. When she tested it out on the bats at the caves, it always seemed to amuse them that she could speak their same language.

Everything was going wonderfully. She had made deep connections with her trainers, she felt that she had friends and "family" she could rely on and everything was just coming together. Little did she know that her world was about to be shattered once again.

A month after her 15th birthday, Dukar decided that it was time for Kamila to return to her home with the bats. She had learned all she could from them and though she pleaded and begged to stay with them longer, they said they had to move one. They were nomads, and it was strange that they had stayed with Kamila for so long. But they promised to write to her while they were traveling and send it to her through birds or bats. Though saddened and disheartened that they were going to leave, Kamila accepted her fate and allowed them to escort her back to the cave.

But all three would never reach the cave. While they traveled, everything was eerily quiet, stirring the nerves of all three creatures. The trees ruffled now and again but there was no wind. The birds were completely silent and the air just didn't smell right, at least to the foxes.

As Ma`pela passed beneath a tree, a noose flew down and trapped her arms to her sides. Dukar moved forward to slice the rope but another rope caught him around the neck and yanked him back against another tree. Kamila jumped back with a start and lifted her sais to them hurl at the ropes. As she lifted her paws, several more ropes came down and snapped around her wrists, yanking her off the ground and into the air. She dangled by her paws and watched as another grey fox stepped out of the woods, his face painted like Ma`pela's and Dukar's. What he said next completely surprised the young maid.

"Well brother, we meet again. It's nice to see you again." Dukar struggled in the noose, another rope wrapping his paws to his side. Ma`pela was still, her eyes shinning in fear. Kamila began to panic as she saw the new fox press a blade to Dukar's throat. This wasn't something her mentors had prepared her for. Dukar moved his head away slightly and growled as a shadowed beast above him and yanked on the noose.

"Liskan, I should have known ya weren't dead. Thought I finished ya off the last time."

"Now, now. That's not a very nice way to greet your brother." Liskan replied and dragged the blade a little bit down the fox's neck allowing a slit to form across his throat. Kamila growled and yanked on the ropes binding her, fearing that if she didn't do something, Dukar wouldn't last long. Liskan looked over at the maid, his attention drawn by her constant struggles. Slowly he moved to her side and pointed the sharp blade at her throat.

"Well well well, spirited one you got here Dukar. Tell me, what happened to the last student of yours that got in my way?'

"Leave her alone Liskan, ya got not reason to hurt her." The grey fox shook his head and began to drag the blade across Kamila's throat, warm blood flowing down her chest.

"I think it'll be more satisfying to make you watch her die. The last flying squirrel that tangled with me got what she deserved too." Kamila narrowed her eyes. Last flying squirrel? Could he mean her mother? No he looked to young to have tried to hurt her mother. Kamila closed her eyes as the blade pressed deeper and deeper until she could have sworn that her past was flashing before her. She heard Dukar growl furiously then suddenly the pressure on her neck was diminished. Opening her eyes, she saw the black fox grappling with his brother on the ground, sword against fist. Kamila glanced up at the shadow beast holding her paws. Taking a deep breath, she swung on the ropes back and forth until she could turn and wrap her legs around the tree branch. She bit hard into her bonds and some how managed to snap then in half.

The moment she hit the ground, she snatched her sais up and cut Ma`pela loose. The female fox grabbed the squirrel's arm and started to drag her away from the falling ropes.

"Kamila, I want ye to get out of here now! Run! Flee!"

Kamila looked at the vixen in surprise and shook her paw away furiously. Run?! Run while her mentors were in trouble? Was she insane? Kamila shook her head and gripped the sais tightly in her paws.

"I'm not going to leave, Ma`pela, I won't let you and Dukar-"

"Kamila, please just go! If ye stay you'll die. Call to Nightsong, she-"

The fox was cut off as they both saw Dukar thrown against the base of a tree. He groaned and stared up at Liskan as the grey fox advanced on Kamila and Ma`pela. The young flying squirrel stood waiting for the vermin to come to her. Her blades flashed, ready to skewer the fox and end his evilness. But before she could do anything, Ma`pela grabbed her wrist and shoved her towards the trees.

"Kamila go! You still have a chance to-uhnnn."

As the fox spoke, Liskan snapped his claws together and watched as two arrows shot down towards the female. One buried deeply into Ma`pela's back, right between the shoulder blades. She looked up to the sky as she slowly collapsed to her knees. Kamila's eyes widened in fear and she moved forward to help but another arrow struck Ma`pela and snuffed out the vixen's life. Kamila fell to her knees, tears streaming down her eyes as she watched the body hit the ground. Not again, she couldn't lose another beast that was so close to her. The sais trembled in her paws as she completely faded away from her surroundings. Death…she wasn't use to it, she didn't understand why it had to happen. To her, it was just a way to ruin a creature's life. It wasn't fair. It would never be fair.

The squirrel lowered her head, unaware that Liskan was raising his blade to cut her down. Suddenly, she was yanked backwards by her waist, her arms trapped to her sides as Dukar dragged her away from the scene. Tears were streaming down his eyes as he whispered to Kamila.

"Run, damn you just run. I don't want you to get hurt, please..just run…I have to finish this."

"Dukar…I.. I don't want to lose you. Please, just let me go."

The male fox looked down at her and suddenly pulled something from a pouch. Kamila furrowed her brow as she saw him rub a green herb in his paw. She didn't know to much about healing but from what her mom taught her, she did recognize the particular leaf. She tried to clamp her mouth shut but he placed the herb over her nose and muzzle, forcing her to breath it in. Kamila cried out but it was no use. Before she knew it, she had fallen into darkness, Ma`pela's execution still fresh in her mind.

Kamila blinked furiously as the darkness began to lift from her vision. At first, she didn't know where she was and what in the world was going up. However, her mind slowly cleared and she saw Ma`pela fall before her again. A choked sob erupted from her throat but it was muffled. Blinking in surprise, Kamila opened her eyes completely and shifted her head downward. Rope was bound around her chest, tying her forepaws behind her back tightly. Her footpaws were clinched firmly and tied off to a stake in the ground so she couldn't get up. She tried to move her jaw around but felt something rough wrapped around it, preventing speech.

Surprised and nervous, she glanced around and found that she was in a small cave with a green sheet of plants in front of her, blocking everything from her view. The flying squirrel groaned inwardly and glanced along the floor of the cave, looking for anything that could help her free her paws. How had she ended up in this position?

Kamila grunted behind the gag then gasped as she saw her sais lying a few feet away…along with a closed fan and a note. The squirrel gulped and began to struggle furiously. If she could get close enough, she could snatch up her sai and snap away the bonds. She glanced down at the stake binding her footpaws and kicked several times until she knocked it free of the ground. Slowly she inched towards her weapons. Once she got a hold of them, she cut through the ropes and gag, almost afraid to look at the letter lying near the fan. She plucked the parchment from the ground and began to read it, the fear building up within her heart.

Dear Kamila,

sorry I had to leave you bound and unconscious in the cave but it was for your own safety. The grey fox Liskan is my brother and a…very cruel creature at that. He's been after me and my wife for seasons…always hunting…always killing to get to us. Ask Nightsong about the squirrel maiden he was talking about…If you wake up and find me gone…it means that I have joined my wife in the dark forest. I knew Ma`pela and I were going to die soon…I just wish it hadn't been in front of you. We knew that if you stayed, Liskan would have killed you or made you his slave. We couldn't risk that so I did the only thing that I could to save your life. Please forgive me for it.

Kamila, you're a spirited young maiden and it's been a pleasure having you as a student. You've surpassed me and Ma`pela in many ways, beside weaponry. You're cunning and brave…ready to face a challenge when it meets you head on. Stay just the way you are, stay that spirited little maid we know so well. Your mother would have been proud of you. Please take Ma`pela's fan, I know she would have wanted you to have it. If you find my Kamas you may have those as well…I do ask you of something though Kamila. If my wife and I have fallen, please lay us to rest like we taught you. It's important to us and I believe it'll help you feel a sense of closer.

We loved you like a daughter Kamila. Stay strong…keep your morals and you will go far.

With our love,

Dukar and Ma`pela

Kamila sat in a stunned silence as she gazed at the note over and over again. No… they couldn't both possibly be dead. They had been the strongest, most cunning creatures she had ever known. How could they have been killed? The squirrel maiden shoved the letter into her belt and snatched the fan from the ground. She opened it and watched the flowers on the edges glitter in the faint light that made it's way into the cave. She had to find them and make sure they were alright. Quickly, she closed the fan and dashed out of the cave.