Chapter 10

The eye contact between Fleetfoot and Monofluro was broken when Friska landed and bit down on Monofluro's tail.

"Friska!" Fleetfoot shouted. The snake was going to strike... Fleetfoot closed her eyes...

Wham!

Fleetfoot slammed her feet into Monofluro right before he struck, dislodging Friska and sending the squirrel running behind Fleetfoot again. It is apparent that Monofluro was not in a very good mood at this point. By now the whole level knew what was happening and it was deathly silent as everyone waited for the next word with bated breath.

"Fromssss the badgerssss deathsssssssss to their ownsssss, make sssssure ssssunlight doessssssss not reach thissss cell againssssss."

"You can't do this, snake!" Fleetfoot shouted.

"And whossssssssss will ssssstop me?" Monofluro left the cell quickly, perhaps afraid that Fleetfoot and Friska would attempt something else.

Only when everyone had left and they were all breathing again, Friska crept out silently. Fleetfoot suddenly thought of someone a lot younger then her, but who was her age now...

"Fweetie?" Friska said suddenly. "Did I doos somefink bwad?"

Fleetfoot was still thinking.

"No, you did something I would have done."

Contented, Friska resumed his playing that had been interrupted by the snake's coming. Velvet, on the other hand, had slid up close to the wall. Fleetfoot had her eyes on when she had been dragged into the cell, so she knew exactly who was in the cell next to her, though she was still a little angry at the badger for outcasting her, so had made no effort of contacting her. But then the badger said quietly enough so her guards didn't hear her, but loudly enough that Fleetfoot could hear her on the other side of the wall.

"Fleetfoot? Is that you?"

Fleetfoot had the nerve to try something that, before she was second in command, had gotten her ears boxed by an officer.

"No, it's a squirrel with a really short tail, long ears, and the name of Fleetfoot, who the snake gets mixed up with a hare, and who just happens to have been put in the cell next to the badger lady who let Salamandastron fall."

"Only Fleetfoot would be that honest."

"Actually, yes, this is Fleetfoot, Velvet."

"I knew that was who you were. Look, I'm sorry. It was that stupid snake. Trust me. You remember when I looked out the window?"

"Yes. Oh."

"How'd you get the snake ticked off?"

"This squirrelbabe named Friska I have in here that seems too have taken a liking to me jumped on him and bit his tail, then to prevent Friska from getting bit I kicked the snake. He wasn't too pleased."

Then suddenly, a guard marched in to Fleetfoot's cell, and pulled her out, saying that Monofluro wanted to see her. Fleetfoot wasn't too sure, but she could have sworn that Velvet had said "oh, no."

***********************************************************

Monofluro lounged on the chair in the formerly known mess hall. How could that little brat of a squirrel have caused so much agony in the five seconds he had been lodged on my tail? And that hare... Monofluro was very angry at the two, though he was greatly pleased when the guard dragged Fleetfoot in.

"And I am up here because?" Fleetfoot said.

"Becaussssse I didn'tssss want tosssss go all the waysssss back down theresssss to tellsssssss you thissssssss."

"What?"

"Lissssten, and you will knowsssssssssssss. I wassss reallysss lookingssss forwardsssss to thissss meetingssssss."

"I wish I could say the same."

"You willsssss lissssten nowssss, littlesss haressssssssss."

"Why? All you do is blow steam."

"Ssssshut up littlesssss haressssss, unlesssss you wantsssss your little ssssquirrel friend to be the firssssst to diesssssss... now that I havessss a good motivessss, and now that hissss familysssss hasssss diedssssssss..."



When Fleetfoot was returned to her cell, she was deep in thought, going over what Monofluro had told her to tell Velvet. Her worry must have shown on her face because the rat prodded her with his spear and said, "Get that look off yo face."

When she was back in the cell, Fleetfoot pounded her hindpaw against the cell wall.

"Velvet, we need a bally plan. By tomorrow."

"Why?"

"Guess."

"Oh."

"Starts with a k…"

"Uh-oh…"

"Need a plan?"

"Yes."

The next morning everyone in the dungeons and the mountain emptied to the sand, until it was only Fleetfoot, Friska and a few odd vermin who were trying to (unsuccessfully) extract them from their cell. By the time they had succeeded in getting Friska out (while most were painfully bitten and scratched up in the attempt) Fleetfoot came out, but the first thing she did was lay them out with a few kicks.

"Well, Friska, they'll feel that in the morning," Fleetfoot said, scooping up the squirrel as she dashed past, "But we can't wait for them. We have a mountain to reclaim and lives to save."

Friska just grinned.

Velvet leaned against the cold stone of Salamandastron, waiting. The vermin didn't appear to happy, frowning and looking towards the entrance. If anyone was annoyed, it was Monofluro and Disodeum, who stayed in silent conference on the outskirts of the sand.

"Come on," Velvet muttered, already feeling regret for the plan she'd agreed to. "Come on, Fleetfoot, they're getting impatient…"

It was when the flag changed on top of the mountain that everyone looked up- and flapping in the breeze was the old flag of Salamandastron.

"Yes," Velvet said quietly to Al. "Fleetfoot'll show up soon…"

"Curse that hare…" Monofluro said. "We know you're up there. Show yourself!"

In the dust of falling debris, everyone choked, and when the dust cleared, Fleetfoot appeared on a ledge not far above their heads.

"'Ello," She said, before jumping down to the sand.

"And the patrol is…" Monofluro said.

"Inside."

Fleetfoot stepped forward, Monofluro brandishing a sword in his tail.

"One more move, hare, and…"

Suddenly Fleetfoot disappeared, dropping down the sand. As Monofluro looked wildly about him, the sword suddenly disappeared from where it was, and Fleetfoot stood a little distance behind him, grinning and twirling it.

"You are so gullible," Fleetfoot said.

Disodeum grinned, coming up from behind her. If he could get her now, maybe Monofluro would rank him up…yes…go back to sea and give him Salamandastron…