The Trouble With Shrews
Disclaimer I own nothing NOTHING OK you blood thirsty lawyers, Brian Jacques owns Redwall I'm not making money either I do own Vaco though so don't use him without permission
Reviews
Oakbark Swiftfist: Glad you like, you write good mole speech too ~~
Vaco was in high spirits, the wind was high, the sun shining and he was not trapped on Sampetra anymore. He let loose a whoop of joy, happy to be alive.
Skipper was blissfully unaware of everything around him when a loud shout woke him. Pulling the ruined canvas off of himself he sat up. However he did not stay awake long because the surprised rat quickly clubbed him over the head with a piece of the shattered oar. With a groan he slipped back into blackness.
Vaco acted quickly, binding Skippers hands he set him in the bottom of the boat and then lay back to enjoy the sun.
Skipper floated through a red, throbbing mist of pain as he came too. With a groan he tried to touch the goose egg between his ears but failed.
"OoooOohhhhh where am I" Vaco didn't answer Skipper, instead he quickly hauled him up onto the rower's bench "Who are yew seadog"
"Steady on matey, me poor ole head's poundin like a drum"
"Yarr you should answer me otter"
"An what if I don't? you wouldn't last five days out on the ocean without my help, this ship needs at least two to handle it"
"What are ya proposin seadog"
"Simple, you don't kill me I won't kill you, who knows we might get out of this alive"
"Grrrrhhh fine, but don't make any stupid moves or you'll regret it"
Vaco untied Skipper and they both set to work, unlashing the tiller Skipper took control. Vaco dug into the sacks and pulled out two limpets; tossing one to Skipper he began chewing his. "So ye got a name matey?"
"Vaco"
"Skipper of Sea Otters matey" Vaco ignored the proffered paw of Skipper
"Fine...be that way"
Several hours later the wind had died, Skipper and Vaco were paddling with their paws. The sun beat down unmercifully on their backs.
"I wonder where we are matey"
"Yarr be quiet bilge walloper I'm tryin ter think"
"Don't hurt yourself matey" Vaco ignored Skipper's comment and continued paddling.
By nightfall both creatures were exhausted, slumping in the bottom of the boat Vaco got a drink of water from the water skins before he fell asleep.
"Yarr he's not that bad of a rat, but still I'd better be on me guard" That said Skipper too drifted off into sleep, leaning on the tiller for support.
After seven days on the open ocean Skipper and Vaco were both sore and sunburned, but they could see land. Skipper particularly had suffered; the skin under his fur was completely red with sunburn.
"Yarr Skipper tis another hot day aye"
"Yah, we could probably fry a shark on the deck!"
"Too bad we don't have one to fry, I could eat a whole shark right about now"
"I don't doubt that seeing as how fast our food disappeared"
"Hey, least were close to land...do yer recognize it?"
"Nahh can't tell yet, we might live through this yet eh?"
As they rowed on doggedly the sun came to its highest point, burning down on them with great intensity. Skipper's back stung and burned under the hot sun. Just when he thought he could not bear it any longer he felt the wind pick up finally.
"Yarr I can feel the wind Vaco, let it take us in, stop paddlin"
They lay back, using the sail Skipper had slept under to cover themselves. As the sun set the little boat finally nudged onto the sand but both of its occupants were both sleeping peacefully.
Logalog watched the small boat nudge onto the sand, his rapier drawn he crept out carefully, peering over the edge of the boat he found Skipper and a rat asleep beneath a sail. Signaling to his comrades to bring a rope he climbed over the edge into the small boat.
"This varmint is in for a rude awakening"
"Hey boss, it's that old lump Skipper"
"Wonder what he's doing with a rat?" Waking Skipper, Logalog directed him to a campfire in a glade near a steam that flowed through Mossflower. Having not seen Skipper for several seasons he soon feel to talking of seasons past.
Vaco woke with pain flooding though his back and neck. Opening his eyes he realized he had his paws bound behind his back and a rope around his neck like a collar. He was in a very humiliating situation; bound and collared like an animal. When he tried to raise his head he realized that a rope was tied to the ropes binding his paws. When he raised his head his paws were raised with them and the rope was short so he could not swing his paws as a weapon. He sadly noticed Skipper and a shrew sitting around a campfire chatting amiably, or so he thought.
Logalog was not in a good mood; Skipper had been pestering him for the past hour about that damn rat. Logalog was loathe to release him into Skipper's charge because he knew that no matter how good they seemed, vermin were vermin.
"Skipper I know you really think he's different but no vermin has ever changed, it's just not in their nature to be honest and kind" Letting out a sigh Skipper prepared himself to ask Logalog one more time to release Vaco, but before he could Logalog continued.
"Give it up Skipper, I'm not letting him go, you may think he is innocent but I'm willing to bet he's just using you for his own ends"
"You just don't understand matey, I'm willing to say that I believe he can change"
"Skipper, he won't change, ever..He's a rat, a badun, can't you see that?"
"...Maybe you're right, maybe I should just give up"
"Now you're thinking straight Skip, get some sleep"
"No, if you're gonna kill him I won't be around to see it, I wouldn't be able to bear it seeing as how he helped me"
Vaco realized that he wouldn't be able to escape without a fight. He decided to wait for the shrews to go to fall asleep, but to his misfortune Logalog had been expecting just such a move. Logalog stationed a watch, including a shrew to guard Vaco. Also he Vaco imprisoned in a huge wooden yoke with slots for his hands and and head.
Skipper came over to speak to Vaco, from the look on his face Vaco realized that Skipper could not help him.
"Vaco, I'm afraid that I couldn't do anything for you, Logalog will probably have you executed at dawn, Was good meetin you matey"
"You know if I live through this, our next meeting probably won't be friendly"
"Why do you say that matey?"
"Because I find it hard to trust a seadog who would abandon someone who helped him ter the shrews" Skipper, unable to bear any anger from Vaco and with his guilt troubling him, turned and walked off into the verdant depths Mossflower, only stopping to grab the sack that contained food.
Vaco did not fall asleep that night, he had to escape or he would die at dawn on a shrew rapier. As he gazed at the sentry he realized he could solve both his problems with one move. Whistling to attract the attention of the shrew sentry he carefully positioned himself to leap. The young shrew reacted as was expected.
"Will you shut up rat, that whistling is annoying!"
"Surely you wouldn't deny a doomed vermin his last rights eh?"
"Grrrr I'll cut open your gizzard if you keep it up rat"
"Try it you wart bottomed toad...I dare yew!"
The shrew drew his sword and moved toward Vaco, a menacing gleam in his eyes. Vaco lunged at the shrew; at the last moment he dodged to the side and swung the collar at the shrew's head. It struck with a crack, and in a moment the shrew was laid out on the ground unconscious. The wooden collar cracked from the impact and, with a little force, it fell to the earth in several pieces beside the poleaxed sentry. Grabbing the shrew's sabre he dashed of into the darkness without a second thought.
Some time later, Vaco was not sure how long had passed since his escape, he collapsed at the base of an ancient oak. Noticing a small hollow under the roots he crawled into it and slept, too tired to do anything else.
~~
Disclaimer I own nothing NOTHING OK you blood thirsty lawyers, Brian Jacques owns Redwall I'm not making money either I do own Vaco though so don't use him without permission
Reviews
Oakbark Swiftfist: Glad you like, you write good mole speech too ~~
Vaco was in high spirits, the wind was high, the sun shining and he was not trapped on Sampetra anymore. He let loose a whoop of joy, happy to be alive.
Skipper was blissfully unaware of everything around him when a loud shout woke him. Pulling the ruined canvas off of himself he sat up. However he did not stay awake long because the surprised rat quickly clubbed him over the head with a piece of the shattered oar. With a groan he slipped back into blackness.
Vaco acted quickly, binding Skippers hands he set him in the bottom of the boat and then lay back to enjoy the sun.
Skipper floated through a red, throbbing mist of pain as he came too. With a groan he tried to touch the goose egg between his ears but failed.
"OoooOohhhhh where am I" Vaco didn't answer Skipper, instead he quickly hauled him up onto the rower's bench "Who are yew seadog"
"Steady on matey, me poor ole head's poundin like a drum"
"Yarr you should answer me otter"
"An what if I don't? you wouldn't last five days out on the ocean without my help, this ship needs at least two to handle it"
"What are ya proposin seadog"
"Simple, you don't kill me I won't kill you, who knows we might get out of this alive"
"Grrrrhhh fine, but don't make any stupid moves or you'll regret it"
Vaco untied Skipper and they both set to work, unlashing the tiller Skipper took control. Vaco dug into the sacks and pulled out two limpets; tossing one to Skipper he began chewing his. "So ye got a name matey?"
"Vaco"
"Skipper of Sea Otters matey" Vaco ignored the proffered paw of Skipper
"Fine...be that way"
Several hours later the wind had died, Skipper and Vaco were paddling with their paws. The sun beat down unmercifully on their backs.
"I wonder where we are matey"
"Yarr be quiet bilge walloper I'm tryin ter think"
"Don't hurt yourself matey" Vaco ignored Skipper's comment and continued paddling.
By nightfall both creatures were exhausted, slumping in the bottom of the boat Vaco got a drink of water from the water skins before he fell asleep.
"Yarr he's not that bad of a rat, but still I'd better be on me guard" That said Skipper too drifted off into sleep, leaning on the tiller for support.
After seven days on the open ocean Skipper and Vaco were both sore and sunburned, but they could see land. Skipper particularly had suffered; the skin under his fur was completely red with sunburn.
"Yarr Skipper tis another hot day aye"
"Yah, we could probably fry a shark on the deck!"
"Too bad we don't have one to fry, I could eat a whole shark right about now"
"I don't doubt that seeing as how fast our food disappeared"
"Hey, least were close to land...do yer recognize it?"
"Nahh can't tell yet, we might live through this yet eh?"
As they rowed on doggedly the sun came to its highest point, burning down on them with great intensity. Skipper's back stung and burned under the hot sun. Just when he thought he could not bear it any longer he felt the wind pick up finally.
"Yarr I can feel the wind Vaco, let it take us in, stop paddlin"
They lay back, using the sail Skipper had slept under to cover themselves. As the sun set the little boat finally nudged onto the sand but both of its occupants were both sleeping peacefully.
Logalog watched the small boat nudge onto the sand, his rapier drawn he crept out carefully, peering over the edge of the boat he found Skipper and a rat asleep beneath a sail. Signaling to his comrades to bring a rope he climbed over the edge into the small boat.
"This varmint is in for a rude awakening"
"Hey boss, it's that old lump Skipper"
"Wonder what he's doing with a rat?" Waking Skipper, Logalog directed him to a campfire in a glade near a steam that flowed through Mossflower. Having not seen Skipper for several seasons he soon feel to talking of seasons past.
Vaco woke with pain flooding though his back and neck. Opening his eyes he realized he had his paws bound behind his back and a rope around his neck like a collar. He was in a very humiliating situation; bound and collared like an animal. When he tried to raise his head he realized that a rope was tied to the ropes binding his paws. When he raised his head his paws were raised with them and the rope was short so he could not swing his paws as a weapon. He sadly noticed Skipper and a shrew sitting around a campfire chatting amiably, or so he thought.
Logalog was not in a good mood; Skipper had been pestering him for the past hour about that damn rat. Logalog was loathe to release him into Skipper's charge because he knew that no matter how good they seemed, vermin were vermin.
"Skipper I know you really think he's different but no vermin has ever changed, it's just not in their nature to be honest and kind" Letting out a sigh Skipper prepared himself to ask Logalog one more time to release Vaco, but before he could Logalog continued.
"Give it up Skipper, I'm not letting him go, you may think he is innocent but I'm willing to bet he's just using you for his own ends"
"You just don't understand matey, I'm willing to say that I believe he can change"
"Skipper, he won't change, ever..He's a rat, a badun, can't you see that?"
"...Maybe you're right, maybe I should just give up"
"Now you're thinking straight Skip, get some sleep"
"No, if you're gonna kill him I won't be around to see it, I wouldn't be able to bear it seeing as how he helped me"
Vaco realized that he wouldn't be able to escape without a fight. He decided to wait for the shrews to go to fall asleep, but to his misfortune Logalog had been expecting just such a move. Logalog stationed a watch, including a shrew to guard Vaco. Also he Vaco imprisoned in a huge wooden yoke with slots for his hands and and head.
Skipper came over to speak to Vaco, from the look on his face Vaco realized that Skipper could not help him.
"Vaco, I'm afraid that I couldn't do anything for you, Logalog will probably have you executed at dawn, Was good meetin you matey"
"You know if I live through this, our next meeting probably won't be friendly"
"Why do you say that matey?"
"Because I find it hard to trust a seadog who would abandon someone who helped him ter the shrews" Skipper, unable to bear any anger from Vaco and with his guilt troubling him, turned and walked off into the verdant depths Mossflower, only stopping to grab the sack that contained food.
Vaco did not fall asleep that night, he had to escape or he would die at dawn on a shrew rapier. As he gazed at the sentry he realized he could solve both his problems with one move. Whistling to attract the attention of the shrew sentry he carefully positioned himself to leap. The young shrew reacted as was expected.
"Will you shut up rat, that whistling is annoying!"
"Surely you wouldn't deny a doomed vermin his last rights eh?"
"Grrrr I'll cut open your gizzard if you keep it up rat"
"Try it you wart bottomed toad...I dare yew!"
The shrew drew his sword and moved toward Vaco, a menacing gleam in his eyes. Vaco lunged at the shrew; at the last moment he dodged to the side and swung the collar at the shrew's head. It struck with a crack, and in a moment the shrew was laid out on the ground unconscious. The wooden collar cracked from the impact and, with a little force, it fell to the earth in several pieces beside the poleaxed sentry. Grabbing the shrew's sabre he dashed of into the darkness without a second thought.
Some time later, Vaco was not sure how long had passed since his escape, he collapsed at the base of an ancient oak. Noticing a small hollow under the roots he crawled into it and slept, too tired to do anything else.
~~
