V

Nightbeak and Quickwing were on an early morning hunt. They were keeping tabs on Stripepaw's band, watching and listening. Nightbeak knew that if they brought Rawfur the Rose they may be rewarded. He could not let this happen. He and his companion had served the great badger for many seasons. They deserved something. Quickwing knew the way to the village, through an old field full of muck. They need not worry; they could fly. They flew across the open meadow. Then Nightbeak's keen vision caught something. Little beasts, easy catch. But his eye caught something else. The babes footsteps led through the forest into a clearing. They were from the village! If they could catch the little beasts, they could batter for the sought-after gem.

Swooping down into the meadow, they caught Driff, Gribble, and Kifro in their talons.

Hostages were a good omen for them. They would be Rawfur's second in commands within the day.

Skivel, Kes, Farad, and Tar were nearing the meadow. The mothers would give their babes a good talking to when they were found. Skivel showed them the path that led to the great "mud pool" as Driff had called it. They were chattering amongst themselves with talk of punishments for the little ones when all their eyes stopped. Beyond the path, into the meadow, rose two large Crows, holding with them the little ones. The largest one spoke. "Do you come from Varki? Do these belong to you little creatures?" It was Quickwing. He was being cocky. Kes the shrew spoke. "Those be' in our little uns. What do you dirty birds want with them?" Skivel was deep in thought. Her mind swelled with the voice of Varkio, who was still speaking of the warrior who is pure and such. Nightbeak stepped forward. "We want the Rose of Banarang. We know your village has it. If you want your children, give us the Rose!" The mothers were confused and frightened. They knew of no such thing as the, 'Rose of Banarang". In fact, no roses had bloomed in this part of the land for ages. Suddenly, Skivel was gone. She appeared in the tops of a nearby tree. The voice told her to "save the innocent ones" and to "destroy the darkness".

She believed that the crows were the darkness. Breaking the most stout branch, she held it like a staff and dropped. "Banarang!" she screamed as she descended, slamming the large birds on the noggins. Grasping in pain, the crow let go of the little ones. Skivel stood in a battle stance, and spoke once more. "Know listen you vermin. We got no roses in Banarang. This is nothing but a peaceful forest. A forest with no room for scrawny crows!" She slammed them on the wing tips. Defeated and without hostages, Nightbeak and Quickwing flew off. The squirrel had won this round. But they would return. They would return with reinforcements and they would claim the Rose of Banarang for the badger Rawfur!

Rawfur lay asleep in his bed. His mind was bursting with plans and power and death.

But his dreams were not all good that night. He was having one he had many times over the seasons. He was in the near completed village of Varki. His old kingdom. Before his stood the one that had ruined it all. Varkio the Shrew. Again his mind replayed that ancient battle, in which most of his treasured black fur had been torn of piece by piece at the hands of that shrew and his scythe. But this time the shrew was a squirrel and it wore the Rose of Banarang around it neck. He awoke just as the blade reached his head. What was wrong? Why had it been a squirrel this time, and why was the sought after gem with it? So many questions, too many for him now.

Soon the Rose would be his and no nightmares would stop him.