Chapter 4
Smargren paced restlessly in front of his tent, where was that infernal squirrel! His crew and slaves' fear of him would be lost if he didn't get that squirrel back and make an example of him! The pine martin not only needed to get a new ship but more slaves, losing one was yet another set back. Angrily he remembered the terrible hurricane that had destroyed the fastest ship he'd ever owned, the Wavebane, and killed half his crew. His furious thoughts stilled as he saw his last tracker come loping into view, at the fringe of Mossflower woods. After a few moments of running, the lean rat tracker came to a stop in front of his captain, gasping for breath. Hilth walked toward his uncle as the rat made his report.
"M'lord. There's na sign of tha' old squirrel. I found 'is paw tracks as I came along a large, fas' runnin' stream but lost them afte' he took to the trees. For mor'en three hours I searched aroun' were I lost 'em. I wen' in about 'alf mile in all directions just ta be sure. As I was gonna turn to come back 'ere I saw smoke above some trees, to the west. Only 'bout a mile and a half from 'ere is a hotter camp, a large un. Ther's lots of able bodied beasts. There 're lots of young uns also."
Smargren smiled slightly, an evil gleam lighting up his eyes. With a wicked laugh he turned to his nephew, "Gather everyone and tell 'em to get ready for battle," as he flipped out his silver dagger he whispered as if to himself, "We have some slaves to capture."
Lignutt woke up slowly, the sharp, thudding pain in his head making him groan loudly. As he opened his blurry eyes he saw a dark shape lean over him. Fearfully, Lignutt put his paws in front of his face to protect himself.
"Clik, clik. He's wakin' up! No need ta fear silly beast. Pligg, Jenn help me sit 'im up." Lignutt felt small but strong paws help lift his head and shoulders so he could sit up. He tried to speak but his mouth was paper dry. A wooden cup filled with cold water, was held up to the old squirrel's mouth. Lignutt drained the cup, his eyes now able to focus on the strange looking creatures before him. They were a third smaller than him and covered with leaves and dark colored cloth. Though it was hard to see them clearly in their camouflage he could tell that they slightly resembled squirrels. He also noticed that they lacked the long, furry tails that was so common to his kind.
"Who are you? What are you?" He asked groggily. Several small voices laughed at this last question. One of the creatures came forward and took off the camouflage leaves and cloth covering its head and shoulders, showing light tan fur with two dark brown stripes running down his back, pointed ears, and a short tail. They were chipmunks.
"We 're tribe Bunum of Mossflower. I'm Flicken, Chief of da tribe. We not hurt n'u. Rest, you mus' be tired. Wakey up in the mornin'g." As soon as the chief had said this Lignutt felt his eyes begin to droop. He was exhausted; he had run for hours, eaten very little, and had no sleep the previous night. The old squirrel smiled tiredly, he was safe and could leave his sorrows and fear behind in sleep.
Turning away from the sleeping squirrel, Flicken, chief of the Chipmunks, walked over to young male chipmunk and sat down cross-legged. "Clik, clik that squirrel be very scared of something. Did ye notice how that beast looked when he woke up and we were standin' ove' him Pligg?" Pligg, the young male chipmunk, nodded, "Yes. He was afraid to be sure. I think 'e thought that we were someone else; as soon as 'e could see us clearly 'is face lost that hunted look." With a thoughtful expression on his face, Chief Flicken replied, "I believe what ye are sayin' is right. Clik, clik! Somebeast is chasing this squirrel." Gesturing towards the sleeping guest the Chipmunk Chief added, "While we tend to the squirrel send out searchin' parties. We musta know what is about in our forest that is so fearful."
Russano walked down a long flight of stairs, leading to his bedchamber. His large paws thudded dully on the cool, sandstone floor. Torches, resting on little niches in the rock wall, flared and gutted low as he walked past, giving the impression that they were bowing to the great Badger Lord. He knew sleep would not come to him this night; it had evaded him for days, ever since the cursed pine martin and his band had disappeared. Though the Bloodrath did not overwhelm the badger at the thought of this enemy, he was very worried. He despised the ruthless pirate and his corsairs. He wanted to destroy them so that decent creatures could live in safety and peace. Russano's scouts were already abroad in Mossflower territory, he was positive that's where the corsairs were. He wouldn't abandon Salamandastron to kill the vermin, but he could send some of his hares to protect the beasts in that area. As Russano the Wise lay down on his bed he spoke aloud, though only he was in the room, "I will find you Smargren. Either I or another perilous beast will find you and put an end to your reign of fear and murder. Some beast, unafraid of you, will come along, this I promise."
Smargren paced restlessly in front of his tent, where was that infernal squirrel! His crew and slaves' fear of him would be lost if he didn't get that squirrel back and make an example of him! The pine martin not only needed to get a new ship but more slaves, losing one was yet another set back. Angrily he remembered the terrible hurricane that had destroyed the fastest ship he'd ever owned, the Wavebane, and killed half his crew. His furious thoughts stilled as he saw his last tracker come loping into view, at the fringe of Mossflower woods. After a few moments of running, the lean rat tracker came to a stop in front of his captain, gasping for breath. Hilth walked toward his uncle as the rat made his report.
"M'lord. There's na sign of tha' old squirrel. I found 'is paw tracks as I came along a large, fas' runnin' stream but lost them afte' he took to the trees. For mor'en three hours I searched aroun' were I lost 'em. I wen' in about 'alf mile in all directions just ta be sure. As I was gonna turn to come back 'ere I saw smoke above some trees, to the west. Only 'bout a mile and a half from 'ere is a hotter camp, a large un. Ther's lots of able bodied beasts. There 're lots of young uns also."
Smargren smiled slightly, an evil gleam lighting up his eyes. With a wicked laugh he turned to his nephew, "Gather everyone and tell 'em to get ready for battle," as he flipped out his silver dagger he whispered as if to himself, "We have some slaves to capture."
Lignutt woke up slowly, the sharp, thudding pain in his head making him groan loudly. As he opened his blurry eyes he saw a dark shape lean over him. Fearfully, Lignutt put his paws in front of his face to protect himself.
"Clik, clik. He's wakin' up! No need ta fear silly beast. Pligg, Jenn help me sit 'im up." Lignutt felt small but strong paws help lift his head and shoulders so he could sit up. He tried to speak but his mouth was paper dry. A wooden cup filled with cold water, was held up to the old squirrel's mouth. Lignutt drained the cup, his eyes now able to focus on the strange looking creatures before him. They were a third smaller than him and covered with leaves and dark colored cloth. Though it was hard to see them clearly in their camouflage he could tell that they slightly resembled squirrels. He also noticed that they lacked the long, furry tails that was so common to his kind.
"Who are you? What are you?" He asked groggily. Several small voices laughed at this last question. One of the creatures came forward and took off the camouflage leaves and cloth covering its head and shoulders, showing light tan fur with two dark brown stripes running down his back, pointed ears, and a short tail. They were chipmunks.
"We 're tribe Bunum of Mossflower. I'm Flicken, Chief of da tribe. We not hurt n'u. Rest, you mus' be tired. Wakey up in the mornin'g." As soon as the chief had said this Lignutt felt his eyes begin to droop. He was exhausted; he had run for hours, eaten very little, and had no sleep the previous night. The old squirrel smiled tiredly, he was safe and could leave his sorrows and fear behind in sleep.
Turning away from the sleeping squirrel, Flicken, chief of the Chipmunks, walked over to young male chipmunk and sat down cross-legged. "Clik, clik that squirrel be very scared of something. Did ye notice how that beast looked when he woke up and we were standin' ove' him Pligg?" Pligg, the young male chipmunk, nodded, "Yes. He was afraid to be sure. I think 'e thought that we were someone else; as soon as 'e could see us clearly 'is face lost that hunted look." With a thoughtful expression on his face, Chief Flicken replied, "I believe what ye are sayin' is right. Clik, clik! Somebeast is chasing this squirrel." Gesturing towards the sleeping guest the Chipmunk Chief added, "While we tend to the squirrel send out searchin' parties. We musta know what is about in our forest that is so fearful."
Russano walked down a long flight of stairs, leading to his bedchamber. His large paws thudded dully on the cool, sandstone floor. Torches, resting on little niches in the rock wall, flared and gutted low as he walked past, giving the impression that they were bowing to the great Badger Lord. He knew sleep would not come to him this night; it had evaded him for days, ever since the cursed pine martin and his band had disappeared. Though the Bloodrath did not overwhelm the badger at the thought of this enemy, he was very worried. He despised the ruthless pirate and his corsairs. He wanted to destroy them so that decent creatures could live in safety and peace. Russano's scouts were already abroad in Mossflower territory, he was positive that's where the corsairs were. He wouldn't abandon Salamandastron to kill the vermin, but he could send some of his hares to protect the beasts in that area. As Russano the Wise lay down on his bed he spoke aloud, though only he was in the room, "I will find you Smargren. Either I or another perilous beast will find you and put an end to your reign of fear and murder. Some beast, unafraid of you, will come along, this I promise."