Hey. This is grubswiper. Its kinda bally weird I've been writing for only about two months. Howa bout that? Anyway, here is the lowdown....

This the final, I repeat, FINAL chapter of the war story "veteran". Even though I'm sick and my little sister is annoying me, my writing urge is overlooking this and demands me to write.

I am very sorry about getting several complaints about rushing this story because I wanted to make this story only four chapters.

I thank the readers who have taken time to read this. A couple off the top of my head are: kiticachy, Brownblade, warriormaid3000, and Narfgirl, and all the other readers.

Thanks and happy reading...

Grubswiper

Disclaimer: For the last time, I DONT OWN REDWALL!.....thank you.

(Begin final chapter)

A couple hours after the small battle, the long patrol warriors found themselves soon surrounded by thick shrubbery.

It was almost evening in late summer. The temperature was cool with a light southerly breeze. It would have been a perfect day to have a relaxing picnic for dinner.

The colonel, who had nothing like a picnic on his mind, suddenly felt the hairs on his back stand on end, but it was not the breeze that made this possible. He didn't like where they one bit.

He was in the front of his army with another captain called Hawkeye. The colonel murmured to the captain through a slightly open mouth.

"I don't like this captain. I have the feeling were being watched. You have the best eyes you see anything?"

The faithful captain peered through though foliage. There was nothing on both side or behind them. He was turning around to tell his report when he saw something glint. He looked harder and saw the piece of metal was a curved sword.

The captain also found the owner of that weapon. It was a snoozing stoat that had dropped his sword by accident.

Hawkeye slowly turned back to his colonel. He matched cornspurry's whisper.

"Sah, I see 'em about 200 yards in front of us. I think there going to attack us with there full force. What do you think we should do?"

The colonel thought for a moment.

"Well, first of all, we should then be going a lot slower. Quietly tell five other hares to spread the word to be on their guard and get ready to fight. Do it quickly and quietly."

In one minute the entire army was notified and kept wary eyes about them. All the hares had their swords out ready for action when it came.

When they were within two hundred feet of the vermin colonel Cornspurry called out.

"Bloodfang, show yourself, we know you there. Come out and show us your ugly hide!"

In a flash the vermin showed themselves as Bloodfang came out. He had armed himself with a immense battle ax. He only said one thing.

"Charge!!"

Both sides hares and vermin raced toward each other yelling warcries.

"Bloodfang!!"

"Eulaliaaaa!!"

Steel clashed upon steel as the battle was conjoined. Both side fought blade to blade, tooth to claw.

Some hares formed a tight circle with their blades at head level, forming a circle of death.

A fox had struck down a hares and almost killed another when drill sergeant Snowfur came bounding up with a pike and gutted the evil fox in the stomach.

Longpaw and another taller hare named Derbee were fighting two against one with their swords. Suddenly a skilled ferret came sneaking up and jabbed his dagger into Longpaws back.

Longpaw fell onto his knees just as captain Hawkeye came to help Derbee. When he killed the ferret he rushed to Longpaws side. The stabbed hare's eyes were misting over. His voice was barely a whisper.

"captain, ear doesnt hurt anymore. Funny ain't it. But im cold so cold. Captain help me..."

the hare gave one final shudder and went limp. Hot tears of sadness and hatred sprang into the captains eyes. He slowly put the hare's head down and stood up. With one roar he ran to the nearest pack of vermin. His eyes had gone a red. The captain was possessed by the sickness Bloodwrath. He started slaying his enemies at a alarming rate.

In the back of Bloodfang's army, the chief himself was urging his army on. He knew that his creatures did not have the heat that the long patrol did. He decided that he better escape.

The rat slowly slipped away, just in time for colonel Cornspurry to see. He began rushing toward the rat.

"hey, rat get back here. Lets see if you can face a ready foe."

The rat came hurtling toward the hares and swung his huge battle ax at head level. The hare neatly side stepped and kicked out at the rats back, sending him flying.

"c'mon, you can do better than that."

The enraged rat came at him again, and the colonel did the same side step. But Bloodfang stepped with him and slashed with the ax at this paw. The colonel grunted in pain. He decided this was far enough, so he blocked the ax with his blade and pulled out a dagger and stabbed Bloodfang's heart. The rat eyes remained white orbs forever.

Seeing the leader dead, the remained of the rats fled. The colonel ordered them not to follow. The had already lost many hares in the battle. The hares won the battle at a price. But they did the right thing knowing they rid the land of evil.

A/N

Whew! I am finally done with this Fic. I dont have much else to say except this "Grubswiper reporting out!"

(Ps)

I now have seven stories up, read'em!!

Grubswiper