Author Notes: And here is chapter three. I figured I should post it SOON
for the sake of my health. @__@ *runs from certain reviewers*
DISCLAIMER: Redwall and Cluny are copyright Brian Jacques. Plot, Vega, and Blade are mine.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Chapter III: Flawed Escape
*****
"Enough is enough," Blade growled angrily. "I will NEVER submit to Carouss. . .and he knows it too. That is why we must escape."
"But how?" asked Robin, the panther Blade had defended earlier that day.
"We have to fight the blighters off! Give 'em blood and vinegar, show 'em what we're made of!"
Meera - an otter-maid - turned to Laurelyn, the hare who had just spoken. "I ain't so sure that's gonna work, messmate. 'Fraid they got us out numbered."
"Hmm," Ginger, a female panther, added, "they've also got weapons, but if we could steal some. . ."
"Spoken like a true corsair," Avrance interrupted.
Noshtor the falcon - who also happened to be Ginger's first mate - turned his head and squawked at the stoic badger, "At least we weren't part of the slave trade. And if you've got any better ideas, I'd love to hear one! Or maybe you can just. . .!"
"Please, everyone, stop!" Blade cried, throwing up her hands in exasperation. "If we aren't quiet, someone will hear us! Now if you would all be kind enough to listen I've got a plan. There's no way we can all get off the ship at once. I propose that one of us sneaks off the ship and then goes to the coast. Then he or she will travel to Fort Porsaira and free the rest of us."
"That's brilliant," Fiona - the other falcon - praised.
Laurelyn patted Blade on the back, "Top-hole marm. Those blighters will never expect anyone to break into their bally fortress, wot. Completely take 'em by surprise, and while they're confused, we'll leave. But who will be doing the escapin'?"
"It should be Blade," Robin suggested.
"Yah, Blade's the one who thought of the plan," agreed Fiona, as she ruffled her feathers.
"One more question, chaps," Laurelyn piped up. "How are we gonna get those bally chains off of Blade?"
"Oops." Blade groaned. "I didn't think of that. Any ideas?"
"Of course," Avrance exclaimed softly, "the S.S. Firefang has nails!"
"So?" Meera muttered as the badger began feeling for the iron nails that held the ship together.
Finally, Avrance pried one of the looser nails free, "We can use it as a lock pick."
"Give it here," Ginger commanded, holding out her paw. "I'm good with locks."
Very soon there was a resounding click as the manacles unlocked. Robin grinned and put his paw on Blade's shoulder.
"Go now my friend," he said, "and please take care."
"I will," the mouse replied. "I'll be back to free all of you. This I promise as a warrior."
~~~
It was late. The sun had set at least two hours ago, but Cluny could not sleep. A single candle flickered on the small table in his room. The sea rat captain sighed in frustration and turned his gaze downward to the map he was pretending to read. In truth the Scourge's thoughts kept returning to the incident in the cargo bay. What was so strange about that mouse? Why did he help her? Why did he CARE?
//And most importantly//, Cluny wondered, //why can't I just ignore all of the above?//
He looked once again at the map trying to bring its contents into clearer focus. However, his attempts were all in vain seeing as the only thing that became more prominent was the mouse-maid's burning eyes. Cluny shook his head violently to rid himself of the image of Blade's face.
//I must get some sleep!// he thought.
The Scourge considered asking Vega - who was in the next room - for some herbs to help him sleep. After a moment's more debate on the matter, Cluny decided against it. He could get to sleep on his own. A minute later the sea rat yawned.
The Scourge was greatly relieved. //Perhaps I'll be able to get some rest after all. In fact, I'm think I'm already feeling tired.//
But before he managed to get in bed, Cluny saw something out of the corner of his eye. He walked over to the window - completely awake now - and regarded the gently rolling ocean water. The see rat was sure he'd seen something swimming. But after a few seconds of nothing, Cluny relaxed a bit.
//Probably just a fish//, he thought.
Then the gleaming quarter moon shifted from behind a patch of clouds. It shone down on the blue-green water below, illuminating a small figure paddling quickly in the direction of a dark strip of land that was the coastline.
The Scourge narrowed his one eye and snarled slightly. He could recognize Blade even from here.
"So," he hissed softly, "she's trying to escape."
~~~
Blade shivered.
//Damn!// she thought. //I should have realized it would be this cold!//
The mouse-maid shivered again, but this time it wasn't from water temperature. It was because of the icy tendrils of fear snaking through her body. Fear of the three silhouettes moving toward her. . .silhouettes of three longboats from the S.S. Firefang.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
More Notes: Oh, no! What will happen next? Will Blade be re-captured? What will Cluny do? I left you all with a cliffhanger. * EVIL laugh* And thank you soooo much to everyone who has reviewed.
DISCLAIMER: Redwall and Cluny are copyright Brian Jacques. Plot, Vega, and Blade are mine.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Chapter III: Flawed Escape
*****
"Enough is enough," Blade growled angrily. "I will NEVER submit to Carouss. . .and he knows it too. That is why we must escape."
"But how?" asked Robin, the panther Blade had defended earlier that day.
"We have to fight the blighters off! Give 'em blood and vinegar, show 'em what we're made of!"
Meera - an otter-maid - turned to Laurelyn, the hare who had just spoken. "I ain't so sure that's gonna work, messmate. 'Fraid they got us out numbered."
"Hmm," Ginger, a female panther, added, "they've also got weapons, but if we could steal some. . ."
"Spoken like a true corsair," Avrance interrupted.
Noshtor the falcon - who also happened to be Ginger's first mate - turned his head and squawked at the stoic badger, "At least we weren't part of the slave trade. And if you've got any better ideas, I'd love to hear one! Or maybe you can just. . .!"
"Please, everyone, stop!" Blade cried, throwing up her hands in exasperation. "If we aren't quiet, someone will hear us! Now if you would all be kind enough to listen I've got a plan. There's no way we can all get off the ship at once. I propose that one of us sneaks off the ship and then goes to the coast. Then he or she will travel to Fort Porsaira and free the rest of us."
"That's brilliant," Fiona - the other falcon - praised.
Laurelyn patted Blade on the back, "Top-hole marm. Those blighters will never expect anyone to break into their bally fortress, wot. Completely take 'em by surprise, and while they're confused, we'll leave. But who will be doing the escapin'?"
"It should be Blade," Robin suggested.
"Yah, Blade's the one who thought of the plan," agreed Fiona, as she ruffled her feathers.
"One more question, chaps," Laurelyn piped up. "How are we gonna get those bally chains off of Blade?"
"Oops." Blade groaned. "I didn't think of that. Any ideas?"
"Of course," Avrance exclaimed softly, "the S.S. Firefang has nails!"
"So?" Meera muttered as the badger began feeling for the iron nails that held the ship together.
Finally, Avrance pried one of the looser nails free, "We can use it as a lock pick."
"Give it here," Ginger commanded, holding out her paw. "I'm good with locks."
Very soon there was a resounding click as the manacles unlocked. Robin grinned and put his paw on Blade's shoulder.
"Go now my friend," he said, "and please take care."
"I will," the mouse replied. "I'll be back to free all of you. This I promise as a warrior."
~~~
It was late. The sun had set at least two hours ago, but Cluny could not sleep. A single candle flickered on the small table in his room. The sea rat captain sighed in frustration and turned his gaze downward to the map he was pretending to read. In truth the Scourge's thoughts kept returning to the incident in the cargo bay. What was so strange about that mouse? Why did he help her? Why did he CARE?
//And most importantly//, Cluny wondered, //why can't I just ignore all of the above?//
He looked once again at the map trying to bring its contents into clearer focus. However, his attempts were all in vain seeing as the only thing that became more prominent was the mouse-maid's burning eyes. Cluny shook his head violently to rid himself of the image of Blade's face.
//I must get some sleep!// he thought.
The Scourge considered asking Vega - who was in the next room - for some herbs to help him sleep. After a moment's more debate on the matter, Cluny decided against it. He could get to sleep on his own. A minute later the sea rat yawned.
The Scourge was greatly relieved. //Perhaps I'll be able to get some rest after all. In fact, I'm think I'm already feeling tired.//
But before he managed to get in bed, Cluny saw something out of the corner of his eye. He walked over to the window - completely awake now - and regarded the gently rolling ocean water. The see rat was sure he'd seen something swimming. But after a few seconds of nothing, Cluny relaxed a bit.
//Probably just a fish//, he thought.
Then the gleaming quarter moon shifted from behind a patch of clouds. It shone down on the blue-green water below, illuminating a small figure paddling quickly in the direction of a dark strip of land that was the coastline.
The Scourge narrowed his one eye and snarled slightly. He could recognize Blade even from here.
"So," he hissed softly, "she's trying to escape."
~~~
Blade shivered.
//Damn!// she thought. //I should have realized it would be this cold!//
The mouse-maid shivered again, but this time it wasn't from water temperature. It was because of the icy tendrils of fear snaking through her body. Fear of the three silhouettes moving toward her. . .silhouettes of three longboats from the S.S. Firefang.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
More Notes: Oh, no! What will happen next? Will Blade be re-captured? What will Cluny do? I left you all with a cliffhanger. * EVIL laugh* And thank you soooo much to everyone who has reviewed.