(Well…this is the tenth chapter, which means there are only two more chapters to go before this story is over. Yes, yes, I know, I'm taking forever to update, but this isn't the only story I'm working on. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, though, and it'll probably be longer then this one is. That chapter will be easier to write then this one was, I hope. In case anyone wanted to know, I'm thinking about putting up another Redwall fic…and I won't be able to fit Redsplash's past in this story, although there are enough hints scattered around for you to get an idea, I think. There's just not room for the whole thing, and no one Redsplash would tell it to. Maybe I'll just write a sequel or something….beware…
And in response to Acoustical Ferret's question, I came up with this story a couple years ago, when I was really bored. I can't remember what inspired it then…though it probably wasn't anything very interesting anyway.)
Redsplash couldn't think, couldn't feel. It was like she, the real her, the her that could think was locked off in a prison somewhere, watching this other her from behind bars she couldn't get through. Bars she couldn't get through and bars she wasn't sure she wanted to get past. For the first time in her life, Redsplash was relatively content with being locked up, and that feeling was nowhere near comforting.
Emotions, rage, hate, fear, and sorrow, raced around and around her head, smearing together and making it hard to tell the difference between emotions and thoughts, the little thoughts that she could think anyway. She walked quickly, her walk bordering on a run, but she couldn't run. Because there was a voice in the back of her head screaming above the roar of her emotions for her to turn around and run away. And that voice was the voice she had always listened to in times like this. But right now, when it was Fate that was about to die, she couldn't do the thing she normally could, and normally wanted to do. She couldn't turn around and let him die, keeping herself safe, and that thought added to the confusion, sending her logic spiraling down and down until it was drowned beneath her hatred.
A repulsively fat, confused looking rat armed with a spear and a short sword got in her way, and she grabbed him by the throat, throwing him towards the wall of what she thought might have been the barracks. The rat had time to scream for about a second before he hit the wall and the impact drove all the air from his body. Redsplash lunged forward, grabbed both sides of his face and twisted, snapping his neck far more easily then she ever could before. Redsplash, angry and beginning to loose the little common sense she could still use, roared in fury, furious at everything because nothing was right, nothing made sense. A single torch flared, followed by several more as the sleeping vermin in the soldier's barracks woke, frightened out of their dreams by the screams. Another rat poked his head out and Redsplash, picking up a large rock from the ground, smashed the rat's head open as easily as she could smash an egg open. Brains and blood sprayed everywhere, and Redsplash twitched, not wanting to know what had just landed on her arm, just quickly shaking it off. A tall stoat, nearly hysterical due to the sight of a furious otter with red eyes drenched in gore, closed the heavy door quickly and locked it, starting to barricade it with anything he could find. Redsplash stared at the building, waiting numbly for more vermin to appear.
"They've locked themselves in." A quiet, cautious, voice said from her right. Redsplash whirled, and the male squirrel standing there only missed being killed because he ducked. He had excellent reflexes…for a squirrel, Redsplash noticed numbly.
"Calm down, Redsplash. We aren't the enemy here." Came another voice. Redsplash staggered backwards, staring at the squirrel and the white otter in suspicion. She could not kill them; her barely working mind rebelled against that idea. But they were in her way. Well, she would just have to remedy that.
Redsplash stalked forward quickly, shoving the two creatures out of her way. The squirrel went flying through the air, flipped, and landed expertly on his feet, looking only annoyed, not at all shocked. The otter flew around a foot and then slammed into the ground, growled, and jumped to his feet again. Redsplash shook her head, not sure who these beasts were, but wishing she could just kill them, and sprinted away.
"I think she has made it clear that she does not want our help!" Adan snapped as Havoc started moving after her.
"She was never entirely sane to begin with, now she's gone completely crazy. We have to stop her before she kills someone innocent!" Havoc hissed and ran after Redsplash.
"I somehow doubt she's the only crazy one!" Adan shouted after the completely white otter and then rushed quickly after him.
The Nameless One had been awakened by the first scream. Rather then being alarmed by the noise he had been annoyed, used to screaming as he was. After rolling out of his bed and tugging on a red tunic, so that the blood he would shed as punishment for waking him up would not ruin the tunic, he had wandered to his window just in time to see Redsplash crack a rat's skull wide open. He had not been afraid then, and he was not afraid now. Redsplash was strong, for an otter, but doubted very seriously that she could kill him, even in the bloodthirsty state she was in now. Perhaps, if it came to actual physical combat, the female otter could have a chance at killing him, but the Nameless One had not become the leader of his armies because of his cruelty and intelligence, or not totally because of that, anyway. The Unnamed One had conquered these idiotic vermin with not only his intelligence, but with his fighting skills, which had yet to diminish. At any given time he could kill any of the beasts in his army, and that was not bragging. Of course, any creature in his armies that had ever had both the skill and the intelligence to have a chance at killing him, had all died in unfortunate accidents, which everyone knew weren't really accidents.
The Nameless One walked silently through the halls. He did not even have to think about making his steps silent. Some skills he had mastered back when he was an assassin were too valuable for him to forget. His bow was clutched carefully in one paw, an arrow in the other. He heard a scream of a guard cut short with a disgusting sound that normally accompanied someone being gutted and pressed against the wall, taking a silent, deep breath. He glanced quickly around the corner and saw Redsplash, pursued by a squirrel and that damned albino otter, Havoc, steeping away from the gutted corpse of one of the guards. The Unnamed One glanced down at the bow, checking the arrow. A brief scowl of annoyance crossed his face as he noticed what type of arrow it was. The poison on this arrow was a strange one that the Nameless One rarely used, as it had the oddest habit of healing as it killed, giving the creature that had been wounded several hours of life instead of less then five seconds as his other poisoned arrows did. Still, he did not have the time to go get another arrow and, if Redsplash stuck to her normal pattern of behavior, after being wounded she would mope around and bleed to death rather then do anything useful.
The Nameless One changed his grip on the bow, took another breath, and lunged out from behind the wall, his eyes concentrating on the otter as he prepared to fire the arrow.
Redsplash tore the guts from the ferret guard who had gotten in her way; ending his scream with a gurgling sound that brought a happy, if rather blank, smile to her face. She had successfully gotten away from the squirrel and otter, losing them as she raced through the hallways and through doorways, and, effectively, loosing herself too. She had started out just running, looking for something to kill and, though she couldn't be completely sure, she was pretty sure she was beginning to remember who exactly she was after. A tall, evil ferret that had committed some crime Redsplash didn't remember, but knew had been bad and should be fixed as soon as possible. She could not, as hard as she tried, remember what the ferret's name was.
And then, so suddenly Redsplash only had time to blink in surprise, the ferret she had been hunting jumped out from behind the corner she had been about to turn and fired an arrow. Time slowed down to an amazingly sluggish crawl, though Redsplash couldn't move. Her mind, though, was jumping all over the place as her memory came flooding back. She was an idiot. The torture chamber Fatefiend was in was not even this way. The torture chamber and Fatefiend were back down the hallway she had just come through. The Nameless One's arrows were almost always poisoned. Fatefiend would die because of this. Hopefully Adan and Havoc would have the sense to get back into their cage and hide there. The last thing Redsplash needed right now was to have to deal with them while she was dying. The arrow would miss her heart. Hit right between her ribs. Lovely.
Just before the arrow would have gotten within her paws' reach, time speed back up again and a white blur appeared in front of her, and flew out of her field of vision. The arrow had disappeared. It was in the white blur, and the white blur was Havoc. The Nameless One muttered a curse, turned, and fled down the hallway. Redsplash hesitated, knowing Fatefiend was dying in one direction and her enemy was going in another.
"Go save your friend!" Adan said, interrupting her decisions. He sounded bitter as he kneeled beside Havoc, staring at the arrow that had gone into his albino friend's stomach. "And I'll try to save mine." He muttered, definitely bitter now.
Redsplash staggered backwards, looking at Havoc in shocked confusion. The albino otter met her gaze and Redsplash, not wanting to look at him any longer, turned, and sprinted quickly down the hallway. She heard her paws hitting the cold stone, but didn't feel it. She hardly felt anything. The only thing she could feel was the insistent beating of her heart. Her heart that was beating so fast she could barely tell where one beat ended and another began.
Kael was crouched at the eastern corner of the camp, perched on a large rock, sharpening one of his many daggers calmly and carefully. Darkclaw appeared out of the shadows, looking around with a deep frown on his features. It was a very cloudy night, the clouds blocking out the full moon completely. It was also getting cold, at least for the part of the world they were in. Darkclaw was used to far colder temperatures, so he barely noticed the plummeting temperature. Darkclaw's broadsword had been carefully cleaned the hour before dawn, and would, in all probability, be soaked in blood before dawn.
"We leave in five minutes." Darkclaw informed the weasel, the wildcat's glowing eyes scanning the darkness repeatedly, as if he expected an attack.
"We could leave now." Kael replied calmly.
"We aren't going to." Darkclaw said sharply, turning his gaze back on the weasel.
"Explain something to me." Kael said, his gaze sharp now as he examined the dagger carefully.
"I rarely share what I know, Kael."
"Hmm." The weasel said.
Darkclaw gazed down at him thoughtfully, wondering if the weasel had finally grown to dangerous to allow to live, "What did you want to know?"
Kael glanced up at him, "Nothing." He replied carefully.
Darkclaw rolled his eyes, "Let's go."
"I thought we were going to wait for your sister." Kael said, glancing around as he searched for her in the darkness.
"My sister, weasel, won't be waking up for at least a day."
"I was wondering if you'd do that." Kael answered quietly.
"Just because she is angry doesn't mean she can fight. She would only slow us down, or get us killed."
Kael nodded, standing up. He had seven daggers currently, at least three of which he had obviously stolen off of the members of the Tribe of Darkness, because they still bore the Tribe's insignia. He didn't have his sword, trading it in for a bow and quiver of arrows, also bearing the Tribe of Darkness' symbol.
Kael noticed that Darkclaw was looking at the insignia on one of the daggers and shrugged, "One of her squirrels killed one of my weasels. We've been stealing everything we can from them ever since…which was around half a day ago."
"If Zariel finds out, she'll start killing."
"If any of my creatures are weak enough to be killed by a pampered bratty squirrel, then they shouldn't be allowed to live anyway." Kael said with a shrug.
Darkclaw smirked, "We should leave now."
"Then by all means, great and terrible Warheart Prince, lead on." Kael said with an exaggerated bow.
Darkclaw paused, his eyes meeting Kael's. The weasel drew back slightly at the anger in Darkclaw's eyes and then glanced down at the ground, frowning. Darkclaw turned and left quickly, the weasel following him stealthily.
Fallen watched the wildcat and the weasel carefully, eyes narrowed. He had been told that the wildcat knew the location of Redsplash, from a hawk who seemed to find the whole situation highly amusing. They were going somewhere, and Fallen wasn't sure where. Well, that wasn't exactly true. He knew where they were going; he just didn't want to think about it. Fallen hated the Nameless One, and knew better then to risk his life by going near the ferret's residence. If the wildcat and weasel were stupid enough to actually go in the castle, Fallen would wait for them outside. They knew something about Redsplash that he didn't, and Fallen would find out what they knew. He had to.
Fallen jumped soundlessly out of the tree and hurried quietly after them. He despised climbing trees, as he got sick if he went up to high, but climbing trees had become a more and more helpful habit over the years, even if it still made him sick occasionally. Fallen knew the weasel had seen him. It was a disconcerting thought, but the weasel didn't seem too interested in telling the wildcat. Fallen didn't like to have to rely on the disloyalty among vermin, but he had relied on it before. It, unlike so many other things, had yet to let him down.
"I thought you could pick any lock." Darkclaw said dryly as he leaned against the stone doorway, watching Kael battle with the lock.
"I can." Kael said, "Just give me time."
"Time." Darkclaw said and suddenly something inside the castle screamed. The wildcat straightened, frowning. "Time is something we're obviously running out of."
"Hold on…" Kael said and frowned, "One more…" he murmured and then there was an audible click. Kael stood back, about to say something, when Darkclaw shoved the door open.
"Come on weasel," Darkclaw said, "I don't think Redsplash is in the slave cell anymore."
Redsplash didn't know how long she had been standing there, but, eventually, she knew she had to move. She wasn't sure what was wrong, exactly, but there was something weird going on here…Fatefiend normally whimpered and screamed when he bleed even a drop, but there he was, bleeding to death and probably barely even able to think because of the pain, and looking…looking…peaceful. He looked calm, as if he wasn't bothered at all. Maybe the reason Redsplash was unable to move was because she was afraid he was dead.
She moved forward slowly and then reached out and poked him in the forehead. One eye slid open and then closed.
"Damn idiot white otter…" he muttered weakly.
Redsplash didn't know why Fatefiend was damning Havoc, and really didn't care. She was trying to identify the feeling in her stomach. It was…maybe happiness? No, something different. Redsplash searched her mind and then nodded resolutely, it was annoyed happiness. "You idiot." Redsplash snapped, "You almost got yourself killed."
Fatefiend closed eyes again, "Goodnight, Red." He said.
"No, no, no." Redsplash, said quickly, "Stay awake."
"But I'm tired." Fatefiend objected tiredly.
"I don't care." Redsplash said, and grabbed the keys to the manacles around Fatefiend's wrists and ankles off the wall and began to unlock them. "Just keep talking. You love talking."
"Not…as much…as you." Fatefiend said, half-asleep already.
"You go to sleep and I'll kill you."
"I go to sleep and I die." Fatefiend countered, "So you can't kill me."
"If you know you're going to die," Redsplash said, on the last shackle, "Why do you want to go to sleep?"
"Because I'm tired, Red. Creatures are supposed to sleep when they're tried."
"No, you don't. You keep on talking and talking and I never get some sleep."
"You talk more then I do."
"Yes, but I have important things to say." Redsplash replied and carefully helped Fatefiend off the rock. "Can you walk?"
Fatefiend snorted faintly, "Can you fly?" he retorted.
"Just lean on me, we've got to get out of here."
"Wonder why…" Fatefiend said thoughtfully, as he threw his paw on Redsplash's shoulders and leaned nearly all his weight on her.
"Wonder what?" Redsplash asked, grimly starting to move back towards where she had left Havoc. Whatever had happened to her that had made her tear the door off the slave cell and snap a rat's neck had left her drained of nearly all her strength. Redsplash, who was an expert about not thinking about something that made her uncomfortable, stored that incident away to think about later.
"Darkclaw…" Fatefiend said, obviously barely able to talk, "Why…would…he…?"
"Why would he what?" Redsplash said as they started down the hallway that led to Adan and Havoc. Redsplash closed her eyes for a moment, putting one paw carefully in front of the other as she waited for Fatefiend's reply.
"Why…would he…put…in same…don't…" Fatefiend could hardly think, and it was obvious. Redsplash was amazed he could walk as well as he was, with his legs in the condition that they were.
Her eyes fluttered open and she found herself within two paces of Havoc, but Adan was missing. Havoc looked at her, his smile strained. "Didn't think you…would come back." He said.
"This is the way out." Redsplash replied sharply and carefully set Fatefiend down, leaning him against the wall. The ferret needed a rest. "Where's Adan?"
"He…left." Havoc said, one paw gripping the arrow protruding from his stomach, the other laying on the floor uselessly.
"What?" Redsplash hissed, "Why?"
"Said he…heard a…noise." Havoc said, "About two minutes after you left. Never came back."
Redsplash scowled, furious at the squirrel that had left Havoc to die, although she probably would have done the same thing. In fact, she was considering the same thing. She turned to Fatefiend to find the ferret unconscious, breathing steadily but weakly. "Fate!" Redsplash snapped and slapped the ferret lightly, "Come on, Fate, wake up."
Fatefiend refused to wake though, and his head lolled uselessly when Redsplash hit it. Blood leaked from his wounds, staining the stone he was laying on. Redsplash frowned, glancing down at herself. She was covered in blood, too. Fatefiend's blood and the vermin's blood. Funny, how she had stopped thinking of Fatefiend as vermin, even though, technically, he was.
"I think the arrow's poisoned." Havoc said after a moment, "I don't think it hit anything important…it just hurts."
"Why'd you do that anyway?" Redsplash asked, "Jump out in front of me like that? That was stupid. I wouldn't have done it for you."
"I know…" Havoc said, "But you need to learn something…Redsplash."
"And what would be so important that I learn that you'd die to teach me it?" Redsplash demanded, annoyed.
"That you're not as evil…as you think you are."
Redsplash rolled her eyes, "You're giving a speech when you're dying?!"
"And dying is such a horrible thing?"
"Obviously not to you!" Redsplash snapped.
"Why are you so afraid of it?"
"I'm not afraid of it!" Redsplash argued, "I just don't want it to happen."
"Understandable. Who…really wants to…die?"
"Apparently you, if you're so willing to jump in front of arrows."
"I…didn't want to die, Redsplash. I just wanted you to live."
"Which is completely confusing."
"And why…is that?"
"Because you're a hero, you're supposed to save the world."
"To save the world you have to save others."
"Yes, others that will do good. Not me."
"Redsplash…leave me here. Get away and…just never be a slave again, all right? Just go."
Redsplash fluttered her eyelashes and said, in a mockingly girly voice, "Oh, why thank you!" she dropped her act and glared at him, her voice switching back to its normal way. "I was just waiting for your permission to leave, let me assure you."
Havoc sighed and Redsplash glanced at him. He looked weak, which was something Redsplash should have expected, but still caught her off guard. Redsplash wondered idly how Havoc was captured in the first place, and decided she didn't really care enough to ask him. His eyes were closed, and he was still gripping the arrow with one paw, looking like he was trying to decide if he should pull it out or not.
Redsplash scowled when she thought of Adan. The squirrel was either a coward or dead, and either way he was of no use to her. It was too bad, really, because if Adan were still here she would have attempted to leave by now. She would have bullied the squirrel into helping Havoc, and would have kicked Fatefiend into wakefulness. They would have left by now. They might have even been free. But Redsplash wasn't sure what would happen after that. Adan and Havoc would probably have wanted to travel with them, to protect them or something, and Fatefiend wouldn't have stayed because he hated heroes as much as Redsplash did. Redsplash wondered who she would have traveled with…Adan and Havoc…or Fatefiend.
Redsplash shook her head, rolling her eyes. Fatefiend, of course. Adan and Havoc would not have let her stay very long, because of her lack of morals. Either that or she would have ended up killing Adan because the squirrel was so annoying.
Suddenly Redsplash heard a noise and she stood up quickly, tensed. "What is it?" Havoc asked, squinting up at her as if he couldn't figure out why she had stood up.
"Heard a noise." Redsplash snapped.
"That…bad." Havoc murmured, eyes dulled now. His eyes fluttered closed and then were forced open, as he tried desperately to hang onto consciousness. Fatefiend hissed and twitched, something from his dreams must have been painful.
Redsplash heard the noise again. At least two beasts were moving this way, slowly. Redsplash scowled, glancing down the hall. She could run, forget Fatefiend and Havoc and get out of here. Come back and get Fate later, maybe, if he lived.
"Go…" Havoc said softly.
That, more then anything, caused Redsplash to stay. She listened to herself and no one else. Havoc could try to play the role of hero as much as he wanted, but Redsplash wasn't about to leave now. She doubted she even had the energy. She could barely stand; she had very little chance of getting out of here alive. At least she could kill a few more of the Unnamed One's stupid beasts before she died.
Redsplash tensed when she heard the familiar sound of a sword being drawn out of its sheath. Whoever was about to walk into the hallway was armed better then Redsplash was. Redsplash didn't even have a dagger. This was going to be a very short battle. Redsplash glanced at Fatefiend, considered kicking him for getting her into this situation, and then turned quickly back towards where the threat was coming from. If it looked too bad she could run, but she wouldn't. She'd get about five paces before she collapsed, which was the main reason she had not abandoned Fatefiend and Havoc by now.
Redsplash bared her teeth and waited.