Hello everybody, I'm back! Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews! I
have some useful information to give you too! I don't know the conversions
from seasons to years (I'm assuming four seasons= 1 year, but that's just
my stupid common sense kicking in.) So this is a chart that is measured in
HUMAN years, k? Do you guys want me to make a more extensive chart and
give exact years (seasons if you give me the conversion), or do you want me
to leave that to your imagination?
There are three groups:
10-15 yrs. this includes: Kessy, Nanda, Friga, Lyn, and Wyn
16-21 yrs. this includes: Twyler, Ashlyn, Jyda, Brini, Chorls, and Ren
22 yrs. + up this includes: Freya and Auntie Enn
Arwen-Galadriel- Uh, good luck on signing in, and thanks for your support! Yes, Ebony was a cool name, although I am getting better at actually naming my creatures myself, so there might be a 'variation' on it, but let's just wait and see. I'm glad that you like my characters, always wonderful to hear.
A1- Ohh, so glad you like it! Thanks for everything, your comments really keep my spirit up! Tch, bit of romance? I am a die-hard romantic. Buckle your seatbelt cus I love this kind of stuff (although thank you for acknowledging that I go slow with it. I try, glad you noticed.)
Acoustical Ferret- Ooo, sorry you're not feeling up to snuff, get better soon! Thanks for reviewing my story, (comma) Author God, and you really pinned me. I'm never good at starting and staying consistent throughout a story, but thanks for rubbing it in my face j/k (just kidding)! If you mean a 'traditional fanfic' as in staying within BJ's set boundaries- yeeaaah, I guess though I might bend the romance factor a bit in my direction. Merci Beacoup!!!
***
Of Competition and Discretion
By: Catty Engles
The squirrel wrung his paws behind his back as Auntie Enn advanced slowly on him.
"Ren. . . You are without a doubt the worst dibbun in the history of Riverglen! Ya stole my pies off'n the cooling sills, raided the larder, soiled yer clothes, and bally well made a bloomin' ruckus yerself!" Ren sniffed then looked down. Jyda giggled.
Auntie Enn rounded on her captain. "And you were right along with him! Naughty, naughty dibbuns!" Twyler bit her lip to stop laughing, and there was much nudging and shaking of heads among the crews. Stifled titters of apprehension rippled among the throng. Auntie Enn straightened to her considerable height.
"I sentence ya both to a dinner of soup and warm scones!" The crew gave a hearty cheer. Some rushed to the kitchens to help set the table. Ren kissed both of Auntie Enn's cheeks before settling at the table between Jyda and Twyler. He found himself sitting across from a very flustered Chorls.
The hare had commandeered the seat beside Ashlyn with considerable pomp, but, to his dismay, Freya plopped down on his other side. She chattered avidly with Chorls as the hare tried to impress Ashlyn with his masculine form. Kessy and Ashlyn snickered into their leek and onion soup at Chorls' antics.
Ashlyn reached for the serving plate of scones. Chorls gallantly batted her paws away and held the overloaded plate in easy reach for her. Chorls clenched his teeth in exertion as he tried to hold the enormous plate with one paw. Ashlyn took her time selecting the perfect scone.
Freya, spewing crumbs everywhere, said, "What a brawny brae chestnu' this colt is!" Chorls gritted his teeth into a forced smile. His arms began to wobble with the strain. Kessy laughed appreciatively at Ashlyn's play- acting.
"Hmm, this scone is too bally hard. There are too many flamin' damsons in that one. Oh! I found the perfect one!" Chorls sighed in relief as Ashlyn selected the scone that wasn't too hard or too full of damsons but WAS soggy. "Oh no, that will never jolly well do!" Ashlyn giggled and put the scone back.
Freya had grasped the concept of Ashlyn's ploy. She tried to play along by thumping Chorls heartily on the back, unfortunately, catching him completely off guard. The tray went flying, only to be caught by an irate Auntie Enn. The old hare looked disapprovingly at the troublemakers before setting the tray down on the table again. She caught sight of Chorls.
"Who are you!?" Auntie Enn bellowed into his astonished face.
Chorls did not shrink from her, on the contrary, he bellowed right back into the old hare's face, "Chorlwhite Scutstraffer Eidlewhoop, marm!"
Auntie Enn sat back on her heels and squinted at the young hare. "Well eat up Chorlwhite. Yer naught but a bag 'o bones. If'n you turned sideways you'd be skinnier than a ladle!"
Chorls nodded happily, and reached for a soup bowl, "Eager to comply, marm. Please call me Chorls. I'd appreciate the favor. Top hole scoff you've got 'ere!"
"Oh, thank you, Chorls." She ambled off. Nanda attached herself to the old hare. Auntie Enn patted the mousemaid between her ears and asked in a murmur, "You don't think I'm going soft do you, Nanda?" The tiny mousemaid buried her face into the numerous ruffles of Auntie Enn's apron.
Her words were muffled but still very clear, "No, Auntie Enn, never. I love you." The old harewife encircled the tiny mousemaid in a hug and sniffed loudly, blinking back tears.
"I love you too, Nanda."
Ren, Twyler, and Jyda chuckled together as they watched a disgruntled Chorls. Freya had latched herself onto his arm and was hanging on gamely. Just then, Lyn and Wyn, the shrew twins, began to pound the deck with their footpaws. This was a traditional song, comparing which creature was better than all the rest. Each had a role, and song to sing, and each did it wonderfully.
"BOOM BA BOOM BOOM!" The twins struck up a chant like
song, echoing each other.
Shrews are the best yet
(Shrews are the best yet)
Better creatures I won't bet
(Better creatures I won't bet)
Can stamp their paws an' debate so long
(Can stamp their paws and debate so long)
Paddle a log boat to this song
(Paddle a log boat to this song)
Traditional boos and gestures met this song. Each group of creatures scrabbled to be the next to plead their superiority. Jyda stood, exerting her right as captain. She motioned to the other two squirrels in the room, Ren and Freya. They both leaped up as Jyda closed her eyes, finding an internal rhthym. She rapped her knuckles on the table.
"TAP A RAT A TAT!" Freya harmonized while Ren provided a
complementing alto.
Champine climbers, brushes so long
List me now while I tell in song
Superior beasts the squirrels are
Others we outshine by far!
There was no time for any to react. Twyler and Brini scattered the trio of squirrels as they jumped into a lively jig, Brini tooting on a wooden flute.
"DAH TE TAH A TODDLE ROO!"
A brawny beast the otters are
No soup can beat 'ot root so far
Sailing 'ore the ocean blue
Otters are great I'm tellin' you!
The two performed a customary otter salute with their rudders, before cartwheeling off the cleared area. Friga, Kessy, and Nanda stepped placidly onto the stage. Friga's hauntingly high voice pierced Nanda and Kessy's accompanying melody.
"HUM EE UM HIM HUM!" The slow, dirge-like music silenced
the rowdy otters.
Mice, Mouses, or Meeces
Called by all, but always true
So brave, so strong, so virtuous, oh
Finding good in those anew
The three bowed calmly, backing slowly away. Everyone was astonished by their so 'not loud' version. Only one beast could take hold of this opportunity. Auntie Enn came flouncing onto the stage, trailing Chorls and Ashlyn. The two younger hares clutched pots and pans from the kitchens. They skipped nimbly around Auntie Enn. The pans smashed out their chorus.
"CRASH BANG SMASH BRING!" Auntie Enn's stentorian voice
sang out above the bustle.
Hares are flippin', flamin', bally good
We eat a lot and know we should
Top hole, chaps and all that fluff
Hare's are made of the right stuff!
Lyn and Wyn joined back in, "BOOM BA BOOM BOOM!"
"HUM EE UM HIM HUM!" Cried the "meeces."
"TAP A RAT A TAT!" Yelled the squirrels.
"CRASH BANG SMASH BRING!" The hares chorused.
"DAH TE TA A TOODLE ROO!" Tootled Brini.
The whole crew paraded out the galley door and onto the deck. The rain was pouring down in sheets now, soaking each creature to the bone. They strutted around the deck, singing wildly. Eventually, the verses were shortened to smaller quotes until all there was left was the main theme.
"HUM!"
"TAP!"
"CRASH!"
"TOODLE ROO!"
"BOOM!"
Faster and faster they went, laughing crazily and singing joyously in the rain. Ren and Jyda started to dance competitively fast on the deck. One paw clasped tightly together, they jigged recklessly, footpaws slamming into the timbers. The deck seemed to groan in frustration, but the dance went on. Jyda and Ren locked eyes, pounding for all they were worth.
"HUM!"
Ren's eyes glittered. He caught Jyda around the waist. She was intoxicated with the excitement, caught up in a frenzy of companionship and joy. She was drunk with life.
"TAP!"
He scooped Jyda up and spun her in a tight circle. His face was pressed against her wet shoulder, his paws holding her snugly.
"CRASH!"
Laughing, Jyda hung onto his neck, her face lifted to the skies. Raindrops spattered her eyes, beating out a primal rhythm. Bodies, swayed and thrived, driven by the chanting and music that had possessed them in this dance of exultation.
"TOODLE ROO!"
Ren spun faster. Jyda abandoned all reason. She flung out her paws in euphoria, knocking Ren off balance. He fell on Twyler, sending her barreling into Brini, who in turn crashed into Freya until the entire crew was on the deck, their chests heaving for air.
"BOOM!"
Kessy was the first up. She pulled Friga and Nanda off of the plankings. Arm in arm, they marched back to the for'c'sle cabin and, assumedly, back to bed. "'Night, all."
Jyda rolled on to her stomach and then vaulted onto her feet. She took Ren and Chorls by the paws. "I'll fix you boys up with some bedding by the stove fer the night."
Chorls saluted, "Very considerate of you, Cap'n!" He scooted off to the galley and promptly began to stir the dying embers into life. Jyda vanished, murmuring something about blankets.
Ren lay down beside Chorls and closed his eyes lazily, but he was not to be so lucky.
Chorls stared thoughtfully into the growing fire before commenting, "Ren, how is it that you know all these beasts?"
Ren's eyes opened slowly and, after a moment of hesitation, he fixed Chorls with a piecing gaze, "They were my friends, my friends long ago. We grew up in a wonderful place called Riverglen, off the coast. I wandered there one day when I was very small, with no recollection of my parents. Colfen, Jyda's father, took me in. He was the leader of the small clan, and I came to love him as my father
"One day, three seasons back, corsair raiders invaded our community." Ren's eyes hardened and his voice became pinched and tight, "They left the old an' the females on a flat barge in the middle of the ocean. They were set adrift. Tha' was the last I saw of Jyda. She was shackled to the raft, screaming for 'er family, vengeance, and me, 'er best friend." A pained expression inched its way onto his face. "Oh gol, Chorls, it broke my heart when she screamed for me."
Chorls sat dumb struck at his friend's sudden openness. The whole season chained to the oar had not provoked this revelation. Maybe it was the magic of reunion that did.
Ren suddenly found himself encased in a slightly wet hug. "Oh Ren, I'm so sorry. I missed you so much." Jyda murmured, the blankets forgotten at the door. Ren patted her back awkwardly, from his half sitting, half laying position.
"Uh, Jy?" Jyda pulled away from Ren, blushing deeply. She helped the boys to ready their beds.
Jyda lingered in the doorway, a happy smile lighting up her face. "'Night, you two."
"'Night, Cap'n." They chorused.
Jyda sidled into the for'c'sle cabin and climbed on top of the bunk bed that she shared with Twyler. The rest of the crew was in some level of a dream. Kessy was kicking fitfully, jiggling her bunkmate, Friga, into muffled murmurs of sleepy protest.
Jyda settled in under the covers, prepared for a restful sleep. She closed her eyes, remembering the heady dizziness of tonight's events. She sighed contentedly, awaiting the inevitable unconsciousness to overtake her. She was just beginning to slip into sleep. The squirrel's eyes snapped open as a harsh, dry cough rent the peaceful silence.
Jyda swore, ruthlessly contemplating the theory of extra chores for the culprit. She rolled onto her side, hoping the sound would stop. It didn't. The coughs grew more persistent and loud. It was a wonder that nobeast awoke. Worry began to push into her thoughts. Noiselessly, she slipped out of her bed, tracking the sound.
Nanda's throat burned. Tears of pain welled in her eyes as another bout of coughs wracked her frail body. A comforting paw squeezed her shoulder. She jerked around to face her captain. Immediately, she had to cover her mouth as fresh stabs of pain blazed through her lungs.
Jyda's eyes brimmed with worry. "Are you all right, Nanda?" The tiny mousemaid nodded, a paw still to her mouth.
"I'm fine, Jyda. I just forgot to take my medicine with all the excitement." She croaked. Jyda nodded, her eyes betraying her inner thoughts. The squirrel gently fondled one of Nanda's silky ears.
"All right, as long as you're okay." She offered dubiously. Nanda nodded. Jyda slipped back into her bunk, content. Suddenly, Nanda's eyes filled with fear when her usually hoarse, dry coughs suddenly turned wet and suffocating. Jyda was asleep. If she had been awake, she would have seen Nanda's paw finally pull away from her mouth, glistening crimson in the moon's ghostly rays.
***
Now that's what I call a cliffhanger! Alright, I just wanted to comment that if you guys have any preferences (like more action or more romance or more funny or whatever) don't hesitate to tell me. I'm very flexible in my plot line (though I DO know where it's going). Oh, and please tell me your favorite characters and/or who you do or don't want to get killed off. I'm making no promises though! One more thing, do you guys want a badger lord, cus I do, but. . . this is kind of a reviewer's story?
There are three groups:
10-15 yrs. this includes: Kessy, Nanda, Friga, Lyn, and Wyn
16-21 yrs. this includes: Twyler, Ashlyn, Jyda, Brini, Chorls, and Ren
22 yrs. + up this includes: Freya and Auntie Enn
Arwen-Galadriel- Uh, good luck on signing in, and thanks for your support! Yes, Ebony was a cool name, although I am getting better at actually naming my creatures myself, so there might be a 'variation' on it, but let's just wait and see. I'm glad that you like my characters, always wonderful to hear.
A1- Ohh, so glad you like it! Thanks for everything, your comments really keep my spirit up! Tch, bit of romance? I am a die-hard romantic. Buckle your seatbelt cus I love this kind of stuff (although thank you for acknowledging that I go slow with it. I try, glad you noticed.)
Acoustical Ferret- Ooo, sorry you're not feeling up to snuff, get better soon! Thanks for reviewing my story, (comma) Author God, and you really pinned me. I'm never good at starting and staying consistent throughout a story, but thanks for rubbing it in my face j/k (just kidding)! If you mean a 'traditional fanfic' as in staying within BJ's set boundaries- yeeaaah, I guess though I might bend the romance factor a bit in my direction. Merci Beacoup!!!
***
Of Competition and Discretion
By: Catty Engles
The squirrel wrung his paws behind his back as Auntie Enn advanced slowly on him.
"Ren. . . You are without a doubt the worst dibbun in the history of Riverglen! Ya stole my pies off'n the cooling sills, raided the larder, soiled yer clothes, and bally well made a bloomin' ruckus yerself!" Ren sniffed then looked down. Jyda giggled.
Auntie Enn rounded on her captain. "And you were right along with him! Naughty, naughty dibbuns!" Twyler bit her lip to stop laughing, and there was much nudging and shaking of heads among the crews. Stifled titters of apprehension rippled among the throng. Auntie Enn straightened to her considerable height.
"I sentence ya both to a dinner of soup and warm scones!" The crew gave a hearty cheer. Some rushed to the kitchens to help set the table. Ren kissed both of Auntie Enn's cheeks before settling at the table between Jyda and Twyler. He found himself sitting across from a very flustered Chorls.
The hare had commandeered the seat beside Ashlyn with considerable pomp, but, to his dismay, Freya plopped down on his other side. She chattered avidly with Chorls as the hare tried to impress Ashlyn with his masculine form. Kessy and Ashlyn snickered into their leek and onion soup at Chorls' antics.
Ashlyn reached for the serving plate of scones. Chorls gallantly batted her paws away and held the overloaded plate in easy reach for her. Chorls clenched his teeth in exertion as he tried to hold the enormous plate with one paw. Ashlyn took her time selecting the perfect scone.
Freya, spewing crumbs everywhere, said, "What a brawny brae chestnu' this colt is!" Chorls gritted his teeth into a forced smile. His arms began to wobble with the strain. Kessy laughed appreciatively at Ashlyn's play- acting.
"Hmm, this scone is too bally hard. There are too many flamin' damsons in that one. Oh! I found the perfect one!" Chorls sighed in relief as Ashlyn selected the scone that wasn't too hard or too full of damsons but WAS soggy. "Oh no, that will never jolly well do!" Ashlyn giggled and put the scone back.
Freya had grasped the concept of Ashlyn's ploy. She tried to play along by thumping Chorls heartily on the back, unfortunately, catching him completely off guard. The tray went flying, only to be caught by an irate Auntie Enn. The old hare looked disapprovingly at the troublemakers before setting the tray down on the table again. She caught sight of Chorls.
"Who are you!?" Auntie Enn bellowed into his astonished face.
Chorls did not shrink from her, on the contrary, he bellowed right back into the old hare's face, "Chorlwhite Scutstraffer Eidlewhoop, marm!"
Auntie Enn sat back on her heels and squinted at the young hare. "Well eat up Chorlwhite. Yer naught but a bag 'o bones. If'n you turned sideways you'd be skinnier than a ladle!"
Chorls nodded happily, and reached for a soup bowl, "Eager to comply, marm. Please call me Chorls. I'd appreciate the favor. Top hole scoff you've got 'ere!"
"Oh, thank you, Chorls." She ambled off. Nanda attached herself to the old hare. Auntie Enn patted the mousemaid between her ears and asked in a murmur, "You don't think I'm going soft do you, Nanda?" The tiny mousemaid buried her face into the numerous ruffles of Auntie Enn's apron.
Her words were muffled but still very clear, "No, Auntie Enn, never. I love you." The old harewife encircled the tiny mousemaid in a hug and sniffed loudly, blinking back tears.
"I love you too, Nanda."
Ren, Twyler, and Jyda chuckled together as they watched a disgruntled Chorls. Freya had latched herself onto his arm and was hanging on gamely. Just then, Lyn and Wyn, the shrew twins, began to pound the deck with their footpaws. This was a traditional song, comparing which creature was better than all the rest. Each had a role, and song to sing, and each did it wonderfully.
"BOOM BA BOOM BOOM!" The twins struck up a chant like
song, echoing each other.
Shrews are the best yet
(Shrews are the best yet)
Better creatures I won't bet
(Better creatures I won't bet)
Can stamp their paws an' debate so long
(Can stamp their paws and debate so long)
Paddle a log boat to this song
(Paddle a log boat to this song)
Traditional boos and gestures met this song. Each group of creatures scrabbled to be the next to plead their superiority. Jyda stood, exerting her right as captain. She motioned to the other two squirrels in the room, Ren and Freya. They both leaped up as Jyda closed her eyes, finding an internal rhthym. She rapped her knuckles on the table.
"TAP A RAT A TAT!" Freya harmonized while Ren provided a
complementing alto.
Champine climbers, brushes so long
List me now while I tell in song
Superior beasts the squirrels are
Others we outshine by far!
There was no time for any to react. Twyler and Brini scattered the trio of squirrels as they jumped into a lively jig, Brini tooting on a wooden flute.
"DAH TE TAH A TODDLE ROO!"
A brawny beast the otters are
No soup can beat 'ot root so far
Sailing 'ore the ocean blue
Otters are great I'm tellin' you!
The two performed a customary otter salute with their rudders, before cartwheeling off the cleared area. Friga, Kessy, and Nanda stepped placidly onto the stage. Friga's hauntingly high voice pierced Nanda and Kessy's accompanying melody.
"HUM EE UM HIM HUM!" The slow, dirge-like music silenced
the rowdy otters.
Mice, Mouses, or Meeces
Called by all, but always true
So brave, so strong, so virtuous, oh
Finding good in those anew
The three bowed calmly, backing slowly away. Everyone was astonished by their so 'not loud' version. Only one beast could take hold of this opportunity. Auntie Enn came flouncing onto the stage, trailing Chorls and Ashlyn. The two younger hares clutched pots and pans from the kitchens. They skipped nimbly around Auntie Enn. The pans smashed out their chorus.
"CRASH BANG SMASH BRING!" Auntie Enn's stentorian voice
sang out above the bustle.
Hares are flippin', flamin', bally good
We eat a lot and know we should
Top hole, chaps and all that fluff
Hare's are made of the right stuff!
Lyn and Wyn joined back in, "BOOM BA BOOM BOOM!"
"HUM EE UM HIM HUM!" Cried the "meeces."
"TAP A RAT A TAT!" Yelled the squirrels.
"CRASH BANG SMASH BRING!" The hares chorused.
"DAH TE TA A TOODLE ROO!" Tootled Brini.
The whole crew paraded out the galley door and onto the deck. The rain was pouring down in sheets now, soaking each creature to the bone. They strutted around the deck, singing wildly. Eventually, the verses were shortened to smaller quotes until all there was left was the main theme.
"HUM!"
"TAP!"
"CRASH!"
"TOODLE ROO!"
"BOOM!"
Faster and faster they went, laughing crazily and singing joyously in the rain. Ren and Jyda started to dance competitively fast on the deck. One paw clasped tightly together, they jigged recklessly, footpaws slamming into the timbers. The deck seemed to groan in frustration, but the dance went on. Jyda and Ren locked eyes, pounding for all they were worth.
"HUM!"
Ren's eyes glittered. He caught Jyda around the waist. She was intoxicated with the excitement, caught up in a frenzy of companionship and joy. She was drunk with life.
"TAP!"
He scooped Jyda up and spun her in a tight circle. His face was pressed against her wet shoulder, his paws holding her snugly.
"CRASH!"
Laughing, Jyda hung onto his neck, her face lifted to the skies. Raindrops spattered her eyes, beating out a primal rhythm. Bodies, swayed and thrived, driven by the chanting and music that had possessed them in this dance of exultation.
"TOODLE ROO!"
Ren spun faster. Jyda abandoned all reason. She flung out her paws in euphoria, knocking Ren off balance. He fell on Twyler, sending her barreling into Brini, who in turn crashed into Freya until the entire crew was on the deck, their chests heaving for air.
"BOOM!"
Kessy was the first up. She pulled Friga and Nanda off of the plankings. Arm in arm, they marched back to the for'c'sle cabin and, assumedly, back to bed. "'Night, all."
Jyda rolled on to her stomach and then vaulted onto her feet. She took Ren and Chorls by the paws. "I'll fix you boys up with some bedding by the stove fer the night."
Chorls saluted, "Very considerate of you, Cap'n!" He scooted off to the galley and promptly began to stir the dying embers into life. Jyda vanished, murmuring something about blankets.
Ren lay down beside Chorls and closed his eyes lazily, but he was not to be so lucky.
Chorls stared thoughtfully into the growing fire before commenting, "Ren, how is it that you know all these beasts?"
Ren's eyes opened slowly and, after a moment of hesitation, he fixed Chorls with a piecing gaze, "They were my friends, my friends long ago. We grew up in a wonderful place called Riverglen, off the coast. I wandered there one day when I was very small, with no recollection of my parents. Colfen, Jyda's father, took me in. He was the leader of the small clan, and I came to love him as my father
"One day, three seasons back, corsair raiders invaded our community." Ren's eyes hardened and his voice became pinched and tight, "They left the old an' the females on a flat barge in the middle of the ocean. They were set adrift. Tha' was the last I saw of Jyda. She was shackled to the raft, screaming for 'er family, vengeance, and me, 'er best friend." A pained expression inched its way onto his face. "Oh gol, Chorls, it broke my heart when she screamed for me."
Chorls sat dumb struck at his friend's sudden openness. The whole season chained to the oar had not provoked this revelation. Maybe it was the magic of reunion that did.
Ren suddenly found himself encased in a slightly wet hug. "Oh Ren, I'm so sorry. I missed you so much." Jyda murmured, the blankets forgotten at the door. Ren patted her back awkwardly, from his half sitting, half laying position.
"Uh, Jy?" Jyda pulled away from Ren, blushing deeply. She helped the boys to ready their beds.
Jyda lingered in the doorway, a happy smile lighting up her face. "'Night, you two."
"'Night, Cap'n." They chorused.
Jyda sidled into the for'c'sle cabin and climbed on top of the bunk bed that she shared with Twyler. The rest of the crew was in some level of a dream. Kessy was kicking fitfully, jiggling her bunkmate, Friga, into muffled murmurs of sleepy protest.
Jyda settled in under the covers, prepared for a restful sleep. She closed her eyes, remembering the heady dizziness of tonight's events. She sighed contentedly, awaiting the inevitable unconsciousness to overtake her. She was just beginning to slip into sleep. The squirrel's eyes snapped open as a harsh, dry cough rent the peaceful silence.
Jyda swore, ruthlessly contemplating the theory of extra chores for the culprit. She rolled onto her side, hoping the sound would stop. It didn't. The coughs grew more persistent and loud. It was a wonder that nobeast awoke. Worry began to push into her thoughts. Noiselessly, she slipped out of her bed, tracking the sound.
Nanda's throat burned. Tears of pain welled in her eyes as another bout of coughs wracked her frail body. A comforting paw squeezed her shoulder. She jerked around to face her captain. Immediately, she had to cover her mouth as fresh stabs of pain blazed through her lungs.
Jyda's eyes brimmed with worry. "Are you all right, Nanda?" The tiny mousemaid nodded, a paw still to her mouth.
"I'm fine, Jyda. I just forgot to take my medicine with all the excitement." She croaked. Jyda nodded, her eyes betraying her inner thoughts. The squirrel gently fondled one of Nanda's silky ears.
"All right, as long as you're okay." She offered dubiously. Nanda nodded. Jyda slipped back into her bunk, content. Suddenly, Nanda's eyes filled with fear when her usually hoarse, dry coughs suddenly turned wet and suffocating. Jyda was asleep. If she had been awake, she would have seen Nanda's paw finally pull away from her mouth, glistening crimson in the moon's ghostly rays.
***
Now that's what I call a cliffhanger! Alright, I just wanted to comment that if you guys have any preferences (like more action or more romance or more funny or whatever) don't hesitate to tell me. I'm very flexible in my plot line (though I DO know where it's going). Oh, and please tell me your favorite characters and/or who you do or don't want to get killed off. I'm making no promises though! One more thing, do you guys want a badger lord, cus I do, but. . . this is kind of a reviewer's story?