Blog was lost. The winding path in which he had chosen out of the forked road was obviously wrong. He tryed to point this out calmly and as sutley to the pair of worrior mice, but in retuern, was jabbed a few times in the behind by Meldora's sword. " Err, you ninkompoopie."accused the furious Meldora, as she jabbed her sword again. Martin, the ever practical mouse suggested dryly, " I guess we better turn back" and turned to face the oppersite direction, but was confronted by a a very jubilent Blogg. "I'm not lost! Its over there, by that clearing." He rushed a head of the pair and headed for the worn out hut. " hello? Hello? Is any one at home?!" Blog knocked againsed the oak door until his paws were knumb. "thats strange," he commented curiously, nursing his throbing paw, "when ever I went to see him, he was never out. Martin raised his brow, an uneasy feeling creaping up on his sences. "who is meant to live here Blog?" Blog looked up from his task, " oh, just this old badger. He doesn't have a name, well, none that I know of any way. The wisest blighter I ever know, mabey a bit soft in the head now days, but still, extremely wise." Meldora peired into the musty room from the window. There was only one room inside, an iron stove was erected , leaning against the wall , and a giant, overstuffed chair was seated in the middle of the room. Books inhabited the many shelves, and a fire place glowed with the embers of a late fire.other than those few furniture, there was nothing else in the room. "hmmm, do you think he would mind if we went in to look around?" wondered Martin out loud. "well of coarse he wouldn't" cried Meldora and before a warning word could be said, she barged into the room. A mouldy aroma difted through the air as the trio paced about the room. Martin wanderd back outside, Then he saw something he had not noticed before. "Meldora! Blog! Come and have a look at this."

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derectly east of the hut, a well discised cave lay against the shore of the coastline. Inside, chaos reigned as two otters restled on the floor, while a ring of otters cheered and jeered, egging the two fighters on. They tore at each outher with much ferosity until suddernly, a robed otter called out over the hulabaloo "TIME!" and smashed a rock against a brass gong. The fighting immediately ceased and the the two fighters clambered off one another. " Now count your scars and remember, scratches are not included." Reminded the robed otter, a high authority about him. "now," he continued, " bethoks, how many have you got?" Bethoks winced as he tried to smile. " ah, 34." Shouts of admaration issued from the group of onlookers, shaking there head in wonder. The robed otter chuckled inwardly. But kept a staight face. "And you, Taboosy? How many. You have to have less that Bethoks to win remember?" Taboosy smiled, the blue cord tied around her neck rising and falling as she gasped for breath, as she counted the last one. " 32" she cried as she was lifted above the heads of the onlookers and carried to the kitchen. The head cook of the Rudder Holt mumbled agrilly to him self as a pulled a enourmous lemon cake from his arse. "Ah," Taboosy sighed, "thats been giving me the craps for the last two months." No longer angry, he trundled off to prepare some icing. Taboosy walked cautiously towards the cake and took a sniff. "Delightfully odorous." She announced. All dug in. with a loud belch, Taboosy invited her adversary to join her in the lemon butt cake. Bethoks was just about to through himself in the the remaining slice of the butt cake when the heavy sound of foot paws reached his ears. All creatures at the table ceaces the feast immediately, reconising the sound of danger close by. Taboosy and Bethoks creapt silently along the path situated outside their holt, just in time to witness the marching band of vermin, led by there misterious leader. Behind him limped an elderly badger, a rope around his neck as he was herded roughly into line by a heavily armed weasle. The two onlookers were joined by the robed otter. "Renos," hissed Bethoks, " get the holt together. Its that wise badger. And hes being held captive by those vermin. We'll ambush them by surprise and rush him in before were seen." Renos shook his head as he argued hotly, trying to level his voise against his rousing temper. " No! you are risking the lives of the young 'uns inside! Hide him in the hut behind the dunes and and keep him there until we send Taboosy to get you both." Bethoks looked some what crest fallen. " I have to go alone?" Renos glared sterly at him. " yes. Now hurry, before its too late!" And with a bound, Renos had dissappeared into the cave, followed by Taboosy.