Chapter 4

"What would that be?"

"I have news that Fleetfoot, in the battle, killed seven of our own!"

"What! All I saw before I was dragged into the ship out cold was you're snarling face! I didn't do a thing like that, miserable liar!"

"SILENCE!" Lady Velvet roared. "Okay. Disodeum, you first."

"I watched as Fleetfoot killed them. Then I attacked her to keep her from killing any others. Some rats dragged her into the ship. I think that she had orders from m'--Monofluro."

"Now you Fleetfoot."

"I saw him emerge from the ship. Then I asked him what all that was about. Then he said -um- 'You'll know soon enough' and then I was hit in the head by something. And I think I heard his voice on the stairwell when I was in Monofluro's cage thinggummy. But I don't know because I was then knocked out cold again!"

Velvet straitened and looked out of the window. Suddenly her eyes glazed over a little*. She looked at Fleetfoot.

"I must go with the one I believe is true. Fleetfoot, I must declare you the first outcast of Salamandastron. Good bye."

There was an obnoxious pause. Then...

"OKAY, FINE! THROW ME OUT WHY DON'T YOU! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ME AWAY FROM MONOFLURO, AY! DYING THERE WOULD BE BETTER! I SWEAR THIS DISODEUM, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO, AND IF IT BRINGS ANY HARM TO VELVET OR ANYONE ELSE IN SALAMANDASTRON I SWEAR I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOU! I SWEAR IT DISODEUM! WATCH OUT FOR THE EX-SECOND IN COMMAND, CAUSE IF YOU DON'T IT WILL KILL YOU. I'M LEAVING! GOOD BYE! IF YOU EVER SEE ME AGAIN..."

Fleetfoot left the infirmary in haste, than ran back to the second in command room, and throwing some things in a sack, she sat down on the low shelf in the room and put her head in her paws.

Lady Velvet entered the mess hall. She was immediately bombarded by Balinger.

"Milady, is Fleetfoot okay? What was all that shouting?"

"If you want her she is in her room."

Balinger dashed up to Fleetfoot's room and found her close to tears in the second in command room.

"What's wrong?"

"Balinger, go away," was the response.

He left, but where he went was the dormitories. He threw some of his things in a sack then went to the kitchen. He requested enough food for two hare for a season (very heavy sack). He went to Fleetfoot's room and hoisted her into standing.

"Balinger, what are you doing?"

"If you're being outcasted, so am I."

"What?"

"I'm going with you."

Lady Velvet in the mess hall looked out the window pointing to the east and saw the two hares climbing over the dunes.

Monofluro looked at the same sight.

"Ah. My plansss Bsssss hassssssss worked! Dissodeumssss musst have done sssomething really diabolicalsssssss. The sssecond part of plan Bsssss goesssssss in effect tonightssss!"

Fleetfoot and Balinger were making camp for the night. After deciding to take first watch, Fleetfoot leaned on a walking stick and thought back to Salamandastron.

What had overcome Velvet? Fleetfoot wondered. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. The answer- Monofluro. It was so clear. And that voice had been Disodeum's, she was certain. But why? Unless...

Back at Salamandastron, where the hypnosis was worn off, Velvet was sleeping less silent then usual, waking and tossing until...

She awoke. There were two eyes staring at her, saying "Lookssssssssssssss, looksssssssssssssssssss." Velvet didn't know what happened**, until she woke up chained in a cell down on dungeon level***.

All of the hares found themselves in this situation, with Fleetfoot and Balinger as their only light of hope.

After switching watches with Balinger, Fleetfoot awoke to sunlight. She found Balinger and someone else talking. The someone else was a little spaniel in a sky-blue tunic****.

"Hi, I'm Albumen. You're Fleetfoot. I was in the cage with you."

"I didn't see you there."

"You were getting Monofluro mad."

"Yes, Al, now we need to be moving along," Balinger persisted. "We have a long way to go."

*************NOTE: IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT THE ASTERICKS ARE FOR, AT THE END OF THE LAST CHAPTER I HAVE FOOTNOTES*********************