Hey thank you all for R&R my fic so far, you've been great. By the way
listen to Evanescence's "Bring Me To Life", I think it describes Rogue's
character perfectly. Evanescence ROCKS! Cya!
~
'SHE ESCAPED!' Hades Sharpfang screamed at his shame-faced crew who were quickly began mumbling excuses. 'SHE WAS BOUND AND TIED! UNARMED! Hades lashed out, grabbing the unfortunate Mange and shaking him like a rag doll. 'PRAY TELL, HOW IN HELL DID THIS HAPPEN!?' He spat,
'Well, er, uh, Cap'n, perhaps she weren't as, er, unarmed as we thought. She was always one ter pack a good punch, Cap'n, Rogue was.'
Scurge, sober now and tossing his dagger in the air and catching it, spat in the fire. 'Aye, truer words was never spoken o' me sister. Smart bloody thing she is. Spat in me eye an' blinded me an' knocks Mange out cold an' inter Scringe then runs off dodgin' one o' me daggers, nobeasts ever been able ter survive one of me beauties 'ere. We looked everywhere, Cap'n an' there twas nary o' trace o' 'er.'
Hades absently dropped Mange, sighing and sat down on a log, massaging his temples.
'The other one, he's still here, though?' He said finally. 'He hasn't sleepwalked off or something?' He added with sarcasm.
'Nay, Cap'n, he's still 'avin' a nice ole snooze.' Scringe snickered. 'Imagine Rogue's face when she finds out she ran off widout 'er liddle pal.'
'Mange, Ripper, revive him and bring him to me.' Hades commanded, reaching for the nearest bottle of seaweed grog.
Mange and Ripper, a burly searat covered in tattoos, went over to the large unconscious form of Blaggut and smiling, gave him a few hard kicks to the rump.
'Whoa! We bein' attacked Cap'n! Arm yerselves, mates, we're bein' invaded!' Blaggut yelled groggily then was pulled back to reality by loud sniggering. 'Waz goin' on..?'
He was grabbed and dragged to what Blaggut's unfocused eyesight made out to be warm bright light surrounded by darkness. As everything became clear around him, Blaggut goggled at sneering searats glaring back at him.
'Er, 'ello there, mateys.' He said in a friendly tone.
'Tell me, what is your name... mate?' Hades' grating voice had become almost as friendly. Blaggut looked around and saw into a fearsome scarred, black face of eerie glowing eyes and two long sharp fangs prodding from the rat's mouth.
'I know yew, yore Hades Sharpfang!' Blaggut exclaimed.
'Well, well, my name proceeds me. But tell me, matey, what is yours?'
'I ain't yer matey, Sharpfang!' growled Blaggut, a hint of his old searat nature coming back. Then something came to him. 'Where's me matey, Fis... Rogue!' Blaggut looked around panicking before turning back to Hades. 'Wot 'ave yew done ter 'er!'
'Nothing... for now. She ran off without you, mate. Ah, females are such fickle things, aren't they!'
'Ey!' Belladonna protested loudly even though she really didn't understand the word but it sounded insulting in the circumstance.
'Oh, hush now Bella.' Hades waved his claw at her dismissively.
'Me an' Rogue aren't like that.' Blaggut said quietly. 'We're mates. Jus' good mates. She wouldn't o' took off an' left me wid scum like yew!' Protests and weapons being drawn from the crew followed the 'scum' reference. Seething inwardly also for the remark, Hades placed his claw on Blaggut's shoulder and forced a rather sympathetic smile.
'Apparently she did, mate. Now tell your old mate, Hades what your called. On my word I'll let you go after that.'
'Yew won't really, will ye, Cap'n. We need 'im ter get...' Scringe was silenced by hard, painful nudges in the ribs from both sides of him. Blaggut looked hard at Hades,
'Me... Me name is Blaggut.' He told him.
'Very good, very good, Blaggut. That sounds like a searat name, am I right?'
'Yes, but I'm a good beast now.' Blaggut started tensely but ended strongly, 'I make boats.' He added with a touch of pride.
'A boat builder, eh? Really?' Hades tried to sound interested, stroking his goatee around a claw. 'Now Blaggut, mate, have you ever heard of a place called Redwall Abbey?'
'Er, er... I can't tell ye that.' Blaggut said quickly, fear gripping him. Hades could see it in his eyes and that he was indeed lying. 'Now can you let me go, like ye said?'
'Er...' Hades still smiling, gestured to Ripper, 'No...' Ripper brought his sword flat down Blaggut's head. 'Tonight we go to Redwall!' Hades announced and the crew cheered.
~
Rogue threw herself at Redwall's gate, pounding her fists on it.
'Let me in! Tis me Rogue! Rogue! It's me!' She screamed up at wall top. A paw suddenly gripped her shoulder and she froze.
'Rogue.' Relived, Rogue recognized the familiar kindly voice and whirled around. It was Father Abbot! Behind him was a party of mice carrying torches and weapons. Rogue threw herself on Saxtus, sobbing hysterically into his habit.
'Oh, Father h'Abbot I'm so pleased ter see yer!'
~
'We were out looking for you.' Abbot explained softly.
Rogue sat, drinking some hot tea. Her paws were shaking and the cup rattled until she placed it on the table before it spilled.
'Twas Hades Sharpfang an' 'is crew o' mutinous cutthroats.' She growled, her eyes blazing. She pounded her fist on the table and succeeded in spilling her drink. Saxtus, Simeon, the otter leader, Skipper, another burly other named Flagg and fat, tough-looking squirrel called Oak Tom sat with her.
'Where is Blaggut?' The Abbot asked her softly.
Horrible realization suddenly dawned on Rogue. She had left her matey behind.
'Oh no!' She howled, 'Me matey! I forgot 'bout 'im. I'm so bloody stupid! I left 'im with those scurvy villains!' She got up, her chair crashing to the floor, anger and hatred quickly replacing panic and fear. 'If they do anythin' ter 'im, I swear I'll make 'em pay!'
She began to stalk out of the Great Hall, paws curling into tight fists.
'Where are you going, Rogue?' Though the Abbot already knew the answer.
'I'm goin' ter hunt down and kill those son o' bitches like the murderous dogs they are!' Rogue snarled. Abbot nodded grimly at Oak Tom who bounded past Rogue and blocked the doorway. 'Out o' me way, yew blasted squirrel!'
'I don't want to hurt you, Rogue. But I will if it'll make you see sense.' Oak Tom said, brandishing his spear.
'Please Rogue, do not be so foolish. You need to think things through.' The Abbot reasoned. Rogue turned back, tears streaming down her face.
'The only things I kin think of, is Blaggut's guts hangin' out o' 'im when Hades runs 'im through.' Rogue said, her voice strained and scarcely above a whisper. 'Jus' like 'e did me father. I don' want ter lose Blaggy too.'
Just then, a well-built male squirrel named Rufe Brush came into view from the doorway and called to them,
'Father Abbot, there's vermin outside that insist on seeing you.' He looked at Rogue. '... And Rogue as well.'
Rogue pushed passed Tom and Rufe and raced up to the battlements.
~
Rogue stood on the battlements, the cool night air blowing in her face. Among her stood armed squirrels, otters and mice. She could see the crew of the BlackDeath lit up by the fire from torches. She could see Blaggut, gagged and bound, he was un-moving... Beside him was Hades Sharpfang! One well aimed spear would sent him to Hellgates... Rogue gripped the battlements, rage boiling inside of her.
'What the hell do yer want!' Rogue's voice rang out in the night's silence.
'Hello Rogue!' Hades called pleasantly back. 'Long time no see.'
'Stow the nice talk, Sharpfang!' She growled. 'What do yer want?'
'An exchange. Let me talk to the leader here.' The Abbot came forward,
'What can I do for you?' He asked kindly.
'Well I'm asking that we exchange, how say we say, goods.' He nodded and two rats brought Blaggut forwards. Rogue let out a low growl. 'This Redwall place for one of its creatures.'
'What!' Rogue yelled out, but it was drowned out by the angry shouts of the Redwallers raining down on the vermin below. A wave of the Abbot's paw silenced them.
'You realise I could not possibly do this.'
'Look!' Hades snarled, 'Either you surrender or Blaggut here gets it!' A flash of metal gleamed as Hades drew his cutlass.
'No!' Rogue screamed. 'No! Don't yew dare touch 'im!'
'That's right, Rogue.' Hades laughed cruelly. 'Your dear old mateys is going to be run through! What selfish creatures ye are, choosing your precious Abbey over a beast's life. I was told you Redwallers were righteous. Oh well, Rogue, watch closely now, you missed it when I cut your father down!' Hades raised the sword... Rogue's mind raced to the unthinkable...
'No! Take me instead! Hades! Blaggut fer me!'
The sword stopped in mid-swing and a silence followed as Hades considered this.
'Rogue, you can't...' The Abbot began,
'I 'ave ter.' She hissed. 'There's no other way.'
Hades looked up at Rogue, his feral face grinning.
'All right then, you have a deal, girl!'
~
'SHE ESCAPED!' Hades Sharpfang screamed at his shame-faced crew who were quickly began mumbling excuses. 'SHE WAS BOUND AND TIED! UNARMED! Hades lashed out, grabbing the unfortunate Mange and shaking him like a rag doll. 'PRAY TELL, HOW IN HELL DID THIS HAPPEN!?' He spat,
'Well, er, uh, Cap'n, perhaps she weren't as, er, unarmed as we thought. She was always one ter pack a good punch, Cap'n, Rogue was.'
Scurge, sober now and tossing his dagger in the air and catching it, spat in the fire. 'Aye, truer words was never spoken o' me sister. Smart bloody thing she is. Spat in me eye an' blinded me an' knocks Mange out cold an' inter Scringe then runs off dodgin' one o' me daggers, nobeasts ever been able ter survive one of me beauties 'ere. We looked everywhere, Cap'n an' there twas nary o' trace o' 'er.'
Hades absently dropped Mange, sighing and sat down on a log, massaging his temples.
'The other one, he's still here, though?' He said finally. 'He hasn't sleepwalked off or something?' He added with sarcasm.
'Nay, Cap'n, he's still 'avin' a nice ole snooze.' Scringe snickered. 'Imagine Rogue's face when she finds out she ran off widout 'er liddle pal.'
'Mange, Ripper, revive him and bring him to me.' Hades commanded, reaching for the nearest bottle of seaweed grog.
Mange and Ripper, a burly searat covered in tattoos, went over to the large unconscious form of Blaggut and smiling, gave him a few hard kicks to the rump.
'Whoa! We bein' attacked Cap'n! Arm yerselves, mates, we're bein' invaded!' Blaggut yelled groggily then was pulled back to reality by loud sniggering. 'Waz goin' on..?'
He was grabbed and dragged to what Blaggut's unfocused eyesight made out to be warm bright light surrounded by darkness. As everything became clear around him, Blaggut goggled at sneering searats glaring back at him.
'Er, 'ello there, mateys.' He said in a friendly tone.
'Tell me, what is your name... mate?' Hades' grating voice had become almost as friendly. Blaggut looked around and saw into a fearsome scarred, black face of eerie glowing eyes and two long sharp fangs prodding from the rat's mouth.
'I know yew, yore Hades Sharpfang!' Blaggut exclaimed.
'Well, well, my name proceeds me. But tell me, matey, what is yours?'
'I ain't yer matey, Sharpfang!' growled Blaggut, a hint of his old searat nature coming back. Then something came to him. 'Where's me matey, Fis... Rogue!' Blaggut looked around panicking before turning back to Hades. 'Wot 'ave yew done ter 'er!'
'Nothing... for now. She ran off without you, mate. Ah, females are such fickle things, aren't they!'
'Ey!' Belladonna protested loudly even though she really didn't understand the word but it sounded insulting in the circumstance.
'Oh, hush now Bella.' Hades waved his claw at her dismissively.
'Me an' Rogue aren't like that.' Blaggut said quietly. 'We're mates. Jus' good mates. She wouldn't o' took off an' left me wid scum like yew!' Protests and weapons being drawn from the crew followed the 'scum' reference. Seething inwardly also for the remark, Hades placed his claw on Blaggut's shoulder and forced a rather sympathetic smile.
'Apparently she did, mate. Now tell your old mate, Hades what your called. On my word I'll let you go after that.'
'Yew won't really, will ye, Cap'n. We need 'im ter get...' Scringe was silenced by hard, painful nudges in the ribs from both sides of him. Blaggut looked hard at Hades,
'Me... Me name is Blaggut.' He told him.
'Very good, very good, Blaggut. That sounds like a searat name, am I right?'
'Yes, but I'm a good beast now.' Blaggut started tensely but ended strongly, 'I make boats.' He added with a touch of pride.
'A boat builder, eh? Really?' Hades tried to sound interested, stroking his goatee around a claw. 'Now Blaggut, mate, have you ever heard of a place called Redwall Abbey?'
'Er, er... I can't tell ye that.' Blaggut said quickly, fear gripping him. Hades could see it in his eyes and that he was indeed lying. 'Now can you let me go, like ye said?'
'Er...' Hades still smiling, gestured to Ripper, 'No...' Ripper brought his sword flat down Blaggut's head. 'Tonight we go to Redwall!' Hades announced and the crew cheered.
~
Rogue threw herself at Redwall's gate, pounding her fists on it.
'Let me in! Tis me Rogue! Rogue! It's me!' She screamed up at wall top. A paw suddenly gripped her shoulder and she froze.
'Rogue.' Relived, Rogue recognized the familiar kindly voice and whirled around. It was Father Abbot! Behind him was a party of mice carrying torches and weapons. Rogue threw herself on Saxtus, sobbing hysterically into his habit.
'Oh, Father h'Abbot I'm so pleased ter see yer!'
~
'We were out looking for you.' Abbot explained softly.
Rogue sat, drinking some hot tea. Her paws were shaking and the cup rattled until she placed it on the table before it spilled.
'Twas Hades Sharpfang an' 'is crew o' mutinous cutthroats.' She growled, her eyes blazing. She pounded her fist on the table and succeeded in spilling her drink. Saxtus, Simeon, the otter leader, Skipper, another burly other named Flagg and fat, tough-looking squirrel called Oak Tom sat with her.
'Where is Blaggut?' The Abbot asked her softly.
Horrible realization suddenly dawned on Rogue. She had left her matey behind.
'Oh no!' She howled, 'Me matey! I forgot 'bout 'im. I'm so bloody stupid! I left 'im with those scurvy villains!' She got up, her chair crashing to the floor, anger and hatred quickly replacing panic and fear. 'If they do anythin' ter 'im, I swear I'll make 'em pay!'
She began to stalk out of the Great Hall, paws curling into tight fists.
'Where are you going, Rogue?' Though the Abbot already knew the answer.
'I'm goin' ter hunt down and kill those son o' bitches like the murderous dogs they are!' Rogue snarled. Abbot nodded grimly at Oak Tom who bounded past Rogue and blocked the doorway. 'Out o' me way, yew blasted squirrel!'
'I don't want to hurt you, Rogue. But I will if it'll make you see sense.' Oak Tom said, brandishing his spear.
'Please Rogue, do not be so foolish. You need to think things through.' The Abbot reasoned. Rogue turned back, tears streaming down her face.
'The only things I kin think of, is Blaggut's guts hangin' out o' 'im when Hades runs 'im through.' Rogue said, her voice strained and scarcely above a whisper. 'Jus' like 'e did me father. I don' want ter lose Blaggy too.'
Just then, a well-built male squirrel named Rufe Brush came into view from the doorway and called to them,
'Father Abbot, there's vermin outside that insist on seeing you.' He looked at Rogue. '... And Rogue as well.'
Rogue pushed passed Tom and Rufe and raced up to the battlements.
~
Rogue stood on the battlements, the cool night air blowing in her face. Among her stood armed squirrels, otters and mice. She could see the crew of the BlackDeath lit up by the fire from torches. She could see Blaggut, gagged and bound, he was un-moving... Beside him was Hades Sharpfang! One well aimed spear would sent him to Hellgates... Rogue gripped the battlements, rage boiling inside of her.
'What the hell do yer want!' Rogue's voice rang out in the night's silence.
'Hello Rogue!' Hades called pleasantly back. 'Long time no see.'
'Stow the nice talk, Sharpfang!' She growled. 'What do yer want?'
'An exchange. Let me talk to the leader here.' The Abbot came forward,
'What can I do for you?' He asked kindly.
'Well I'm asking that we exchange, how say we say, goods.' He nodded and two rats brought Blaggut forwards. Rogue let out a low growl. 'This Redwall place for one of its creatures.'
'What!' Rogue yelled out, but it was drowned out by the angry shouts of the Redwallers raining down on the vermin below. A wave of the Abbot's paw silenced them.
'You realise I could not possibly do this.'
'Look!' Hades snarled, 'Either you surrender or Blaggut here gets it!' A flash of metal gleamed as Hades drew his cutlass.
'No!' Rogue screamed. 'No! Don't yew dare touch 'im!'
'That's right, Rogue.' Hades laughed cruelly. 'Your dear old mateys is going to be run through! What selfish creatures ye are, choosing your precious Abbey over a beast's life. I was told you Redwallers were righteous. Oh well, Rogue, watch closely now, you missed it when I cut your father down!' Hades raised the sword... Rogue's mind raced to the unthinkable...
'No! Take me instead! Hades! Blaggut fer me!'
The sword stopped in mid-swing and a silence followed as Hades considered this.
'Rogue, you can't...' The Abbot began,
'I 'ave ter.' She hissed. 'There's no other way.'
Hades looked up at Rogue, his feral face grinning.
'All right then, you have a deal, girl!'
~