IV
Blackspawn was terrified. Half of his army was gone, swallowed up by the water. They were know among the graves of ancient corsairs. His band was confused, because they knew that the six dead beasts had been their when they left the shoreline. They and Blackspawn were all terrified when they were met with the blood covered jaws of Terag the river beast. Those that could move ran as fast as their paws could go, leaving Blackspawn, who was older and slower, to the Jaws of the ancient gator. Before any beast could react, Stripepaw made himself the undisputed leader of the band. Many had now lost heart, there were only six of them going to attack a village. Then their new commander spoke, "Blackspawn is dead. But the mission is not. We still have three sunrises. I say we use one to raid these woods for any vermin that can use a sword or a spear, and draft um in. Now who's with me?" Within seconds, all the vermin were at his command. He knew of a meadow that held some Martens and weasels. They would do nice in this pack. There was still time to go, raid the village and make it back to Rawfur. He knew better then his vermin, that Rawfur would reward them with swift deaths. He also knew that the crows in the sky were the old badgers scouts. He would stay on his guard. And within four sunrises, the Rose of Banarang would be his.
Driff and Gribble were first to wake. They danced among the sleeping elders, and woke their companions, the squirrel Kifro and the mouse Byda. Driff was going to lead them to the mud pit he had found the day before. Byda stayed behind, saying that if their parents awoke, someone needed to be there to tell them. The little ones agreed and set off for the old meadow by the shore. Skivel looked up, half awakened by the sounds of the little animals. But, being mostly asleep, the squirrel dismissed it as a dream. But if the little ones were in it, it could be a nightmare! She slowly drifted in to dreaming again, but this dream was different then any she had every had. The statue of the village builder turned warrior, Varkio the shrew, appeared to her. His shield and scythe seemed to glow a strange scarlet colour. Suddenly, the statue seemed to speak, saying, "The rose will bloom for a warrior that is pure as the Roonca River, one that can fight the night." Then, a flash of red light awoke her. It was dawn. She heard the worried voices of Driff's Mother, as she spoke with the mothers of Gribble and Kifro. They looked terrified.
Then the young squirrel remembered seeing the little ones run off, and that she saw Byda in a tree. Running to the mothers, they told her that their little ones weren't't in their beds when they awoke. She told them of what she saw, and she ran up the trees looking for Byda. Skivel found the young mouse asleep in the branches of a pine tree. They woke her and asked her were the others were. "Driff was taking them to a mud pit he was at. They went over dere." she said pointing to the path Skivel and Driff were on the day before. The three mothers were ready to start searching when Skivel spoke up, "I know were the mud pit is. I should come with you.". Driff's mother chuckled, "You, you think you can take us. I know these woods better than any beast." She was interrupted by Gribble and Kifro's mothers, "Quiet you old hag. If Skivel knows the way then let Skivel show us the way. The more the better in case there is trouble, like trying to drag our young'ins back home!" So The four maids traveled into the twilight covered forest, not knowing whose path they would cross…..
