Author Notes: Okay, some people have been mentioning that Cluny is a bit
too OOC. First of all, I have noticed, but, to be honest, I can't exactly
help it due to where this plot is going. . .but I'll try to make him a
little less 'nice' in this chapter. Anyway, please r/r, and PLEASE read my
Martin/Rose fic, ``For the Sake of a Rose``.
DISCLAIMER: Basically, everything is copyright Brian Jacques. . .except, for Vega, Blade, and the plot. *eye roll* It's not fair.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Chapter VII: Run From Fort Porsaira
*****
Blade somehow managed not to wince as the ermine guard's footpaw connected with her side. "Get up!" he snarled as he swung his footpaw back to kick the prone mouse-maid again, but this time, she jerked upward and grabbed his footpaw, pulling him to the ground. Avrance, Cluny, and Robin instantly jumped on their jailor and proceeded to knock him senseless.
"Huh," Meera muttered in grudging admiration, "your plan actually worked."
Vega smiled and picked up the guard's spear. "Naturally - all we had to do was have someone pretend to be ill, someone else yells for the guard, he comes in and tries to use force to awaken the 'sick' captive, and once the guard has been surprised, we knock him out."
Laurelyn shook the healer's paw cheerfully. "Nice job, old chap. Brilliant scheme, if I do say so myself. Top hole it was, wot, wot. Real great -"
"Oh, WILL you put a sock in it?!" Cluny snapped. "We need to get out of here now! You can talk later."
The disgruntled hare glared at Cluny's back. "Hrmph."
The small, mismatched brigade of escapees climbed a small staircase, raided the secondary armory room at the top, and continued upward. The group hadn't gotten much farther when. . .they practically ran into a couple of stoat soldiers. Before anyone could stop them, the two creatures began shouting at the top of their lungs about a jailbreak. It didn't take long for the pounding of footpaws to signal more soldiers on their way.
"Split up!" Blade yelled. "They won't be able to catch all of us." No one needed to be told twice. . .they all scattered in different directions down various hallways. Blade ran beside Cluny and Vega down one passageway, up another, and through a small door.
Vega let out the breathe he'd been holding. "Looks like we lost them."
The mouse-maid took a look around the room they were in. "It's beautiful," she gasped. And, indeed, it was. The ceiling soared high above the trio's heads forming an elaborate domed roof. Rich tapestries hung over the windows like curtains, their multitude of colors depicting fictional battles and mythical creature. Torches glowed in wall sconces, providing light for most the room. It was all so breathtaking.
"Well, well, well," a very familiar voice called out from the other end of the room where it was still dark, "what 'ave we 'ere? Looks like a couple o' runaway slaves t' me."
"Carouss!" Vega and Cluny snarled together.
"Wrong," rebuked the new Lord of Porsaira. "Carouss is dead, slain by my paw. I am Lord Baneclaw, the ruler 'ere now." Half a dozen soldiers stepped out from behind the throne Baneclaw was sitting on.
The weasel stood and smirked triumphantly. "The three o' you have long since been a thorn in my side - 'specially you, Blade. Now I can finally get rid o' ya." He gestured at the soldiers behind him. "Have at 'em, boys."
Two ferrets attacked Cluny from the left and right. The Scourge jumped aside at the last second, allowing his assailants to slam into each other. Vega swung the spear he'd taken like a staff so his weasel and rat opponents couldn't get close enough to strike properly.
Meanwhile, Blade was wielding her sword with surprising agility and skill for someone her size. The stoat and ermine she fought didn't stand a chance. Soon two ferrets, a weasel, and a rat were joining them on the floor.
Cluny picked up one of the ferrets' swords and turned to Baneclaw. "Yer next, you bottom-feeding scum. But help me out here," the Scourge continued in a falsely cajoling voice, "should I behead you. . .or whip the shit outa you first?"
Baneclaw staggered backwards and gave a very undignified whimper which turned into a yelp of horror as he banged into one of the sconces, knocking its torch into a tapestry which immediately caught fire. The paw-crafted fabric burned easily, transferring the flames throughout the room. In the fiasco, Baneclaw managed to escape out a side door.
~~~
The fire raged out of control, quickly spreading further and further. Smoke filled the air, suffocating anyone foolish enough to breathe it in.
"We have to crawl out of here," Vega explained as he pushed Cluny and Blade onto the floor. "The smoke is just as deadly as the fire if you breathe it in!"
"We," Blade coughed hoarsely, "we don't know where the exit is."
"It should be outside this room," the Scourge answered. "Baneclaw said this was the Main Hall. . .most buildings this size usually have an entrance placed near the main hall."
Cluny was right, but the going was slow. The smoke pressed farther down as the fire grew in strength. Finally, the three allies got to the door and forced their way out. After pausing for a few seconds to gasp for fresh air, Vega and Cluny started jogging toward the forest and eventually the S.S. Firefang.
"Wait!" Blade cried. "The others might still be in there. We have to go back. . .we have to help -"
She was cut off as a huge explosion rocked the burning fortress. Parts of it collapsed inward while hot ash and cinders were flung everywhere.
"Nooooo!" the mouse-maid wailed as Cluny and Vega stopped her from running back.
"Don't!" the fox hissed sharply. "If they didn't already get out, there's nothing you can do now." He sighed a little and his voice softened. "Let's get out of here."
Blade nodded numbly, too stunned to speak. The roaring flames were reflected in her widened eyes as she thought, //They can't be dead. They just can't be.//
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
More Notes: *wipes tear* Poor Blade. What'll happen next? Will I ever learn to update sooner? Who knows.
DISCLAIMER: Basically, everything is copyright Brian Jacques. . .except, for Vega, Blade, and the plot. *eye roll* It's not fair.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Chapter VII: Run From Fort Porsaira
*****
Blade somehow managed not to wince as the ermine guard's footpaw connected with her side. "Get up!" he snarled as he swung his footpaw back to kick the prone mouse-maid again, but this time, she jerked upward and grabbed his footpaw, pulling him to the ground. Avrance, Cluny, and Robin instantly jumped on their jailor and proceeded to knock him senseless.
"Huh," Meera muttered in grudging admiration, "your plan actually worked."
Vega smiled and picked up the guard's spear. "Naturally - all we had to do was have someone pretend to be ill, someone else yells for the guard, he comes in and tries to use force to awaken the 'sick' captive, and once the guard has been surprised, we knock him out."
Laurelyn shook the healer's paw cheerfully. "Nice job, old chap. Brilliant scheme, if I do say so myself. Top hole it was, wot, wot. Real great -"
"Oh, WILL you put a sock in it?!" Cluny snapped. "We need to get out of here now! You can talk later."
The disgruntled hare glared at Cluny's back. "Hrmph."
The small, mismatched brigade of escapees climbed a small staircase, raided the secondary armory room at the top, and continued upward. The group hadn't gotten much farther when. . .they practically ran into a couple of stoat soldiers. Before anyone could stop them, the two creatures began shouting at the top of their lungs about a jailbreak. It didn't take long for the pounding of footpaws to signal more soldiers on their way.
"Split up!" Blade yelled. "They won't be able to catch all of us." No one needed to be told twice. . .they all scattered in different directions down various hallways. Blade ran beside Cluny and Vega down one passageway, up another, and through a small door.
Vega let out the breathe he'd been holding. "Looks like we lost them."
The mouse-maid took a look around the room they were in. "It's beautiful," she gasped. And, indeed, it was. The ceiling soared high above the trio's heads forming an elaborate domed roof. Rich tapestries hung over the windows like curtains, their multitude of colors depicting fictional battles and mythical creature. Torches glowed in wall sconces, providing light for most the room. It was all so breathtaking.
"Well, well, well," a very familiar voice called out from the other end of the room where it was still dark, "what 'ave we 'ere? Looks like a couple o' runaway slaves t' me."
"Carouss!" Vega and Cluny snarled together.
"Wrong," rebuked the new Lord of Porsaira. "Carouss is dead, slain by my paw. I am Lord Baneclaw, the ruler 'ere now." Half a dozen soldiers stepped out from behind the throne Baneclaw was sitting on.
The weasel stood and smirked triumphantly. "The three o' you have long since been a thorn in my side - 'specially you, Blade. Now I can finally get rid o' ya." He gestured at the soldiers behind him. "Have at 'em, boys."
Two ferrets attacked Cluny from the left and right. The Scourge jumped aside at the last second, allowing his assailants to slam into each other. Vega swung the spear he'd taken like a staff so his weasel and rat opponents couldn't get close enough to strike properly.
Meanwhile, Blade was wielding her sword with surprising agility and skill for someone her size. The stoat and ermine she fought didn't stand a chance. Soon two ferrets, a weasel, and a rat were joining them on the floor.
Cluny picked up one of the ferrets' swords and turned to Baneclaw. "Yer next, you bottom-feeding scum. But help me out here," the Scourge continued in a falsely cajoling voice, "should I behead you. . .or whip the shit outa you first?"
Baneclaw staggered backwards and gave a very undignified whimper which turned into a yelp of horror as he banged into one of the sconces, knocking its torch into a tapestry which immediately caught fire. The paw-crafted fabric burned easily, transferring the flames throughout the room. In the fiasco, Baneclaw managed to escape out a side door.
~~~
The fire raged out of control, quickly spreading further and further. Smoke filled the air, suffocating anyone foolish enough to breathe it in.
"We have to crawl out of here," Vega explained as he pushed Cluny and Blade onto the floor. "The smoke is just as deadly as the fire if you breathe it in!"
"We," Blade coughed hoarsely, "we don't know where the exit is."
"It should be outside this room," the Scourge answered. "Baneclaw said this was the Main Hall. . .most buildings this size usually have an entrance placed near the main hall."
Cluny was right, but the going was slow. The smoke pressed farther down as the fire grew in strength. Finally, the three allies got to the door and forced their way out. After pausing for a few seconds to gasp for fresh air, Vega and Cluny started jogging toward the forest and eventually the S.S. Firefang.
"Wait!" Blade cried. "The others might still be in there. We have to go back. . .we have to help -"
She was cut off as a huge explosion rocked the burning fortress. Parts of it collapsed inward while hot ash and cinders were flung everywhere.
"Nooooo!" the mouse-maid wailed as Cluny and Vega stopped her from running back.
"Don't!" the fox hissed sharply. "If they didn't already get out, there's nothing you can do now." He sighed a little and his voice softened. "Let's get out of here."
Blade nodded numbly, too stunned to speak. The roaring flames were reflected in her widened eyes as she thought, //They can't be dead. They just can't be.//
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
More Notes: *wipes tear* Poor Blade. What'll happen next? Will I ever learn to update sooner? Who knows.