"Move your feet more..." Jald Nightson's voice bit into Eroket's mind,
infuriating the young ermine more and more.
"Your attacks carry little imagination, Eroket. They are not difficult to counter," Jald's voice mocked, his emerald eyes focusing on the young ermine swordsbeast who was glaring at him with murder in his amber eyes.
"Shut up!" Eroket yelled, seemingly unable to accept the fact Jald was so beyond his skill. In truth, Jald was having to try more then a little in this fight but he didn't let that on to Eroket. A fighter's worst enemy is overconfidence and Jald wouldn't allow Eroket to fall victim to that foe.
Eroket lunged, striking at Jald's chest with his schianova, only to find the blade parried by Jald's own sword. Jald stepped back and smirked, "Try again."
Eroket came on again, sword weaving at the ferret's face, legs and chest, searching for an opening, seeking to harm or kill Jald Nightson, seeking to deny the ferret's taunts and skill.
It was possibly the gentlest training session these two would have, Jald thought grimly.
"What's wrong, Eroket? I thought you were ready to take on the world, take on Davrag! Can't you even beat this old burnout?"
Eroket snarled, Jald was impressed that he didn't scream in rage and frustration as the ermine executed another maneuver, aiming at his heart.
Jald sidestepped with a laugh, "Yes! Kill me to cover for your own failure, Eroket! Cut me down to deny your own lack of skill!"
Jald blocked another strike at his face, locking Eroket's schianova around his own and suddenly twisted, hurling the blade from Eroket's paws, "Now, Eroket. Against Davrag Joris, you'd be dea-"
Jald was cut off as Eroket dove to the side, going for his sword. With a growl, cursing Eroket's resilience and determination, Jald lunged forward, too late as Eroket's paw locked around the sword's hilt and the ermine rolled around to face the ferret, bringing himself up swiftly.
Jald barely ducked a swing at his head, dropping into a crouch, taking care to grab a pawful of soil from the forest floor as Eroket came on. With a calm smirk the ferret's paw twitched, and Eroket cried out in shocked pain as the soil hit him in the eyes. He staggered back, slashing wildly, pawing at his eyes.
Jald lunged, swinging suddenly at the outstretched schianova, flinging it from Eroket's paw. Before the young ermine could react, Jald slammed him against a tree, sword point inches away from his neck, "This game's to me, Eroket."
"You cheated..." The ermine growled, blinking furiously.
"Cheated? Maybe I just fought as any beast would? No such thing as a fair fight, Eroket. You can win a thousand fights, you can win a million! But you can only ever lose one! That is the lesson for tonight!"
Jald released Eroket, sliding a footpaw under the dropped schianova and kicked it into the air, catching it with his free paw and offering it hilt first to Eroket, waiting politely for the young ermine to finish with his stinging eyes.
Sweat dripped from Eroket's forehead and he was breathing heavily as he regained his vision, taking the schianova slowly. Jald patted the ermine on the back, "Look, Eroket. If I'm hard on you, it's because I need to show you what you need to succeed. You've been an assassin for years now and you often strike from the shadows, right? You can't go through life with honor first and foremost or you'll be kicked in the groin and have your throat slit when you raise your sword for a salute."
Eroket nodded, looking glum as Jald threw him a rare smile that the ermine had come to appreciate as with Jald's compliments as he feared the harsh taunts and stinging blows whenever he made a mistake. Jald offered his customary phrase to end the fight: "You were better tonight, Eroket. Tomorrow you will beat me."
"Hn, you say that every night...for three nights now."
"You get closer each time."
Eroket shrugged and sheathed his sword turning to walk further into the forest. After a few moments Jald followed him. The ferret found himself missing Meridian already, mostly for his mother. He had been unable to even get close enough to see her, mostly because of the increased military activity the Academy rebellion had brought.
Boneflower was leaning against a tree, writing in a small journal she often carried around. Morik sat close by to her to Eroket's distaste. Deran wasn't around. It wasn't surprising; the other stoat was hardly in the same vicinity. He made an exemplary scout, Eroket was surprised to note.
"What are you writing, Boneflower?" Morik queried, watching Boney write in her journal.
The female stoat shrugged, not even glancing at any of the three males, "Just my log...has all o' my hunts, major events and things when I can't remember 'em. It's kinda important t'me."
Morik nodded and saluted Eroket and Jald, "Well met, how'd your spar go?"
"Fine," Jald answered for both of them, sitting and fishing a bit of dried fruit out of their packs, eating slowly and methodically. Eroket retrieved a bit of water from his canteen and took a few sips, leaning against his own tree, staring glumly at the ground.
"Eroket, Jald, Morik, Boneflower." Deran's icey voice that he seemed fond of cut into the gloom as the stoat walked into the camp, his sapphire eyes locked on his four companions. Eroket found he disliked the changes in his old friend. After revealing his face briefly, Deran had replaced his mask and removed it only when he ate and drank.
"Der?" Eroket nodded, looking up to the archer stoat.
"I found something a few hours up. A village of mice, burnt practically to the ground with many dead. I could see some beasts there too, wearing garments for Vandashira's agents."
All others were alert now, Morik rising to his feet. After the Academy, Eroket and Jald had allowed Morik to go with them but hadn't shown any signs of liking him in the least. Morik attributed this to them thinking he was no better then the stereotypical Academy beast. Without the Academy tying him down, though, Morik Ferin was ready to offer his aid to any who may need it.
"We should investigate it, at least," The former Academy guard replied, "We can't leave the corpses for the sun and flies either. We should see if anybeast is alive and see if we can bury the dead."
"Wait, did I just hear you correctly?" Eroket rose to his feet, folding his arms across his chest, "Last time I checked, we were hunting Davrag Joris-if he still lives-and Vandashira. We can't waste our time with- "
"Waste our time?" Boney growled slightly, rising to her feet, "Ero, I can't believe ye'd say that!"
"It's true!" Eroket growled, "Deran didn't see any survivors and the mice are beyond caring if they're laid to rest!"
Deran shrugged lightly, he and Jald clearly not wanting to vote. Boneflower's eyes narrowed, "Ero...please?"
Eroket growled and muttered, "Fine, got nothing better to do anyways!" He put the last one in as a sarcastic jibe.
Morik wasn't backing down himself. As the group broke camp and followed Deran's lead the mouse village.
Deran stopped by the gates, burnt practically to cinders, kneeling by the corpse of a large ferret struck by a slingstone, "Like I said, some of Vanda's beasts. Tracks head east, where we're going anyways."
Deran rose and walked to the inside of the village, followed by Eroket and the others. Jald barely blinked as he took in the carnage.
Houses were burned, corpses lay over the street, not as many as there would have been but many mice had obviously been burnt with their homes.
"Do we bury or burn them, I don't know much about burial customs here." Jald replied calmly.
Morik swallowed, a bit taken aback by the carnage. Eroket and deran bore it unflinchingly, "I saw things like this with the Death Watch," The amber eyed ermine replied flatly, "I've learned not to be shocked by slaughter."
"If I turn away, what good was it to leave the Academy?" Morik responded. Eroket shrugged again.
"Make camp," Deran replied, "We'll need some shelter."
Morik nodded as he walked over to one corpse, noting the slash marks over it, Eroket's eyes narrowed, "Davrag...these wounds were made by his swords. Bastard!"
Jald shrugged and went to help Morik along with Deran and Boney. Eroket stayed back for a moment before walking over, "I suppose this'll go faster with an extra set of paws..."
Morik eyed the mercenary coldly, "I suppose they won't care who lays them to rest."
They worked for an hour and a half, uncovering two dozen bodies, many hacked and burned horribly. Eroket's mood turned from angry to downcast. Although some victims were males, many were females and children. When they had run into their homes for refuge, the attackers had burnt the foundations down, leaving them to burn inside their own sanctuaries.
There were no survivors found. And no indication of why it was destroyed, other then what the five agreed on instantly: Sport.
"We'll bury them tomorrow..." Morik replied, "We should be done and out of here by noon." He saw no reason to antagonize Eroket further.
"I saw no burial ground," Eroket replied, "We might be better cremating them all..."
"I'll think it over while we rest," Morik replied with a nod.
Boney sighed, wiping her paws, "I'm starvin'...where're the supplies?"
"In the large bag," Morik replied. Boneflower nodded and walked over to the supplied in the small camp area and opened the bag, reaching inside. Confusion flickering over her features and she overturned the bag. Some crumbs fell out but nothing else.
Morik frowned, "You sure those are mine? There should be a dagger, a cloak, gloves and food."
"Nothin' there now!" Bney responded, frowning.
Jald and Deran exchanged glances as Ero yelled, "We've been robbed!" His own food, dagger and cloak were missing.
Alarmed Boneflower leaped to her supplies, digging through, "My journal! It's gone!" She cried out, digging through the other supplies, looking frantically.
Deran's eyes narrowed and Jald pursed his lips, all dumbfounded to how anybeast could have robbed them so subtly and cleverly.
"Least we still have most of our weapons," Eroket muttered, patting his schianova thankfully.
Jald was not so optimistic, "We can't just make due with out supplies. We'll have a hungry night..."
Eroket growled, "Search this place! I'm not giving up so damned easily!"
The quintet began picking their way through the dark forest. Several times, a footpaw snapped a twig and the group winced, hoping to not alert another to their presence.
Soon, the telltale glimmer of campfires danced off the tree trunks ahead. The companions slowed their pace and crept up to the edge of the clearing.
Two dozen mice, mostly females and children sat in a circle. They worse simple, cotton clothing. A matronly looking female was using Eroket's dagger to slice up food. Large fish, enough to feed the entire camp and then some, roasted over a fire. Children huddled under Eroket's tent, beasts used cloaks and gloves to keep warm. The camp did not appear cheerful, nor was it melancholy. The mice were attempting to survive under the conditions they lived in now and not one of the companions could fault their resolve
Morik stepped forward, clearing his throat slightly. All eyes of the mice turned to him and immediately the mood changed. The adults stepped in front, the children began to cry and duck behind them. The matronly mouse took a step forward.
Morik kneeled, hoping to appear less intimidating, "Don't be afraid...we won't hurt you."
Boneflower stepped forward as well, sword nowhere near her paws, "Aye, we ain't gonna harm ye." Her voice was both comforting and melodious. The mice looked startled but did not flee.
The matronly mouse's eyes narrowed, waving the stolen dagger in front of her. "What you want? Come back to kill more, eh?"
Ero stepped forward, "No, we aren't the ones who-"
"Hah! Not one of the ones who destroyed our village? You're some kinda white stoat and stoats're all the same! Loot all our cities but you won't take this without a fight!"
"That is my dagger you're using to threaten me," Eroket snapped.
"So? Spoils of war! Like the tent, or the food.
"We aren't at war..." Deran and Jald replied together, both running out of patience quickly.
"Look, to prove it we'll make a gift of what you took; the daggers, cloaks, tent and gloves. Gifts to help your village recover." Morik added quickly.
Ero threw him a look. Some of the items named belonged to him. But he couldn't deny the need of the mice was great so he said nothing in contradiction.
The mouse's eyes narrowed and she looked up at the taller beasts, "Gifts? What you want in return?"
"The book...and our flint and steel and some food. We need them to survive." Morik responded.
The female mouse nodded, licking her lips lightly, "Done, but we-"
Boneflower, quiet in the negotiating suddenly let out a cry of anguish and rushed to the fire.
Morik darted after her, "What's wrong?"
Boneflower drew her sword, poking at strips of shriveled parchment in the flames, "Me journal! They burned it!"
"It isn't so serious," Morik replied, trying to console Boney.
"SERIOUS?!?!?" Boney shrieked, whirling on him, "I spent years writin' in that! It contained me entire life!" After a moment, she balled her fists, sheathing her sword, hissing angrily, "Was buryin' mice worth this?" With that, she stalked off angrily.
The female mouse looked to Ero timidly, "We still have deal? We still friends?"
Eroket sighed and nodded, "You didn't realize...she'll come around I hope."
"They probably didn't know what the book was," A clear, masculine voice replied, "But that'd be all they didn't understand." A tall, thin mouse walked to the group. He was dressed better then the others, his fur a dark gray and his eyes bloodshot. He also wore a bandanna around his head.
The others gave the newcomer a wide berth, whispering amongst themselves. The tall mouse knelt by the fire and retrieved some fish, giving them to Eroket and Jald, "Have these. There's plenty more where they came form and after what we cost you, it is a fair trade."
"Who are you," Eroket demanded.
"My name's Cadion. I'm kind of the warrior around here. Now, eat up. Berenia hasn't been a good hostess this evening."
Eroket could see the mouse wore a short sword and a sling, thinking back to the dead ferret he had seen.
"Yes, please do." Berenia said, "We can always fish more." The matronly mouse put the dagger away and smiled.
It escaped none of the companions Berenia's English had suddenly improved. I was clear to Morik she had just played them for fools.
"You knew we didn't attack your village, didn't you?" He snapped in an accusing voice.
"Aye...' Berenia nodded guiltily, "But it doesn't negate our deal. Besides, our need is great..."
Morik grunted and took a bit of his fish. He knew what she said was true but he disliked losing his possessions via guile and trickery.
The others eyed Cadion. He seemed the only able bodied adult male in the camp and clever to boot.
"You're all stoats except for the ferret over there," The mouse in question responded, "and you wear a tunic like another stoat in the group of those that destroyed our village...I heard some weasel call him Davrag."
Eroket's teeth gritted, "It's him alright. I knew it, damn him! Where is he?!"
Cadion sighed, "He and his little army went east...some others went to follow him from our village, most of the males. But they'd be outmaneuvered, outclassed and outsized."
Jald blinked, "Army?"
Cadion nodded, "There must have been a hundred of them at the very last."
The four exchanged looks, Jald sighing, "Not surprising...possibly Vanda's beasts with the bodies of her agents we found. We need to move on. He'll be halfway to Kolma by now."
Cadion nodded, "You're going after them? I'd love to go with you...I'd love a shot at those bastards who destroyed my village..."
Morik swallowed a bite of fish, "Well, as luck would have it-"
"Morik!" Eroket hissed, "We have our own troubles without looking after another beast!"
"If you're going after them, you'll need all the help you can get. I can look after myself, ermine." Cadion replied with a nod.
"I'll look after him." Morik replied. Deran and Jald exchanged shrugs again, showing they didn't care one way or the other.
"Then we leave at dawn," Eroket replied flatly, not happy with the way things turned out whatsoever.
Morik frowned, "But the mice dead-"
"Will be buried by mice!" Eroket snarled suddenly, whirling on Morik.
"He's right." Jald replied calmly, "This test cost us too much, Morik..."
Morik sighed and nodded, "Alright..."
Eroket sighed, "I'll make sure Boneflower's alright then." Without another word, he walked off after the female ermine.
Deran had faded into the background and Jald nodded to Cadion, "This way, then, mouse."
Cadion paused to nod to Berenia, the matronly mouse sighed, "You sure you're doing the right thing?"
"I can't let this go, Berenia...if there's a single chance I can kill that stoat who killed my father, along with all those others then yes, I'm sure."
"Good luck then, Cadion."
The tall mouse nodded and was gone, following after Jald.
"Your attacks carry little imagination, Eroket. They are not difficult to counter," Jald's voice mocked, his emerald eyes focusing on the young ermine swordsbeast who was glaring at him with murder in his amber eyes.
"Shut up!" Eroket yelled, seemingly unable to accept the fact Jald was so beyond his skill. In truth, Jald was having to try more then a little in this fight but he didn't let that on to Eroket. A fighter's worst enemy is overconfidence and Jald wouldn't allow Eroket to fall victim to that foe.
Eroket lunged, striking at Jald's chest with his schianova, only to find the blade parried by Jald's own sword. Jald stepped back and smirked, "Try again."
Eroket came on again, sword weaving at the ferret's face, legs and chest, searching for an opening, seeking to harm or kill Jald Nightson, seeking to deny the ferret's taunts and skill.
It was possibly the gentlest training session these two would have, Jald thought grimly.
"What's wrong, Eroket? I thought you were ready to take on the world, take on Davrag! Can't you even beat this old burnout?"
Eroket snarled, Jald was impressed that he didn't scream in rage and frustration as the ermine executed another maneuver, aiming at his heart.
Jald sidestepped with a laugh, "Yes! Kill me to cover for your own failure, Eroket! Cut me down to deny your own lack of skill!"
Jald blocked another strike at his face, locking Eroket's schianova around his own and suddenly twisted, hurling the blade from Eroket's paws, "Now, Eroket. Against Davrag Joris, you'd be dea-"
Jald was cut off as Eroket dove to the side, going for his sword. With a growl, cursing Eroket's resilience and determination, Jald lunged forward, too late as Eroket's paw locked around the sword's hilt and the ermine rolled around to face the ferret, bringing himself up swiftly.
Jald barely ducked a swing at his head, dropping into a crouch, taking care to grab a pawful of soil from the forest floor as Eroket came on. With a calm smirk the ferret's paw twitched, and Eroket cried out in shocked pain as the soil hit him in the eyes. He staggered back, slashing wildly, pawing at his eyes.
Jald lunged, swinging suddenly at the outstretched schianova, flinging it from Eroket's paw. Before the young ermine could react, Jald slammed him against a tree, sword point inches away from his neck, "This game's to me, Eroket."
"You cheated..." The ermine growled, blinking furiously.
"Cheated? Maybe I just fought as any beast would? No such thing as a fair fight, Eroket. You can win a thousand fights, you can win a million! But you can only ever lose one! That is the lesson for tonight!"
Jald released Eroket, sliding a footpaw under the dropped schianova and kicked it into the air, catching it with his free paw and offering it hilt first to Eroket, waiting politely for the young ermine to finish with his stinging eyes.
Sweat dripped from Eroket's forehead and he was breathing heavily as he regained his vision, taking the schianova slowly. Jald patted the ermine on the back, "Look, Eroket. If I'm hard on you, it's because I need to show you what you need to succeed. You've been an assassin for years now and you often strike from the shadows, right? You can't go through life with honor first and foremost or you'll be kicked in the groin and have your throat slit when you raise your sword for a salute."
Eroket nodded, looking glum as Jald threw him a rare smile that the ermine had come to appreciate as with Jald's compliments as he feared the harsh taunts and stinging blows whenever he made a mistake. Jald offered his customary phrase to end the fight: "You were better tonight, Eroket. Tomorrow you will beat me."
"Hn, you say that every night...for three nights now."
"You get closer each time."
Eroket shrugged and sheathed his sword turning to walk further into the forest. After a few moments Jald followed him. The ferret found himself missing Meridian already, mostly for his mother. He had been unable to even get close enough to see her, mostly because of the increased military activity the Academy rebellion had brought.
Boneflower was leaning against a tree, writing in a small journal she often carried around. Morik sat close by to her to Eroket's distaste. Deran wasn't around. It wasn't surprising; the other stoat was hardly in the same vicinity. He made an exemplary scout, Eroket was surprised to note.
"What are you writing, Boneflower?" Morik queried, watching Boney write in her journal.
The female stoat shrugged, not even glancing at any of the three males, "Just my log...has all o' my hunts, major events and things when I can't remember 'em. It's kinda important t'me."
Morik nodded and saluted Eroket and Jald, "Well met, how'd your spar go?"
"Fine," Jald answered for both of them, sitting and fishing a bit of dried fruit out of their packs, eating slowly and methodically. Eroket retrieved a bit of water from his canteen and took a few sips, leaning against his own tree, staring glumly at the ground.
"Eroket, Jald, Morik, Boneflower." Deran's icey voice that he seemed fond of cut into the gloom as the stoat walked into the camp, his sapphire eyes locked on his four companions. Eroket found he disliked the changes in his old friend. After revealing his face briefly, Deran had replaced his mask and removed it only when he ate and drank.
"Der?" Eroket nodded, looking up to the archer stoat.
"I found something a few hours up. A village of mice, burnt practically to the ground with many dead. I could see some beasts there too, wearing garments for Vandashira's agents."
All others were alert now, Morik rising to his feet. After the Academy, Eroket and Jald had allowed Morik to go with them but hadn't shown any signs of liking him in the least. Morik attributed this to them thinking he was no better then the stereotypical Academy beast. Without the Academy tying him down, though, Morik Ferin was ready to offer his aid to any who may need it.
"We should investigate it, at least," The former Academy guard replied, "We can't leave the corpses for the sun and flies either. We should see if anybeast is alive and see if we can bury the dead."
"Wait, did I just hear you correctly?" Eroket rose to his feet, folding his arms across his chest, "Last time I checked, we were hunting Davrag Joris-if he still lives-and Vandashira. We can't waste our time with- "
"Waste our time?" Boney growled slightly, rising to her feet, "Ero, I can't believe ye'd say that!"
"It's true!" Eroket growled, "Deran didn't see any survivors and the mice are beyond caring if they're laid to rest!"
Deran shrugged lightly, he and Jald clearly not wanting to vote. Boneflower's eyes narrowed, "Ero...please?"
Eroket growled and muttered, "Fine, got nothing better to do anyways!" He put the last one in as a sarcastic jibe.
Morik wasn't backing down himself. As the group broke camp and followed Deran's lead the mouse village.
Deran stopped by the gates, burnt practically to cinders, kneeling by the corpse of a large ferret struck by a slingstone, "Like I said, some of Vanda's beasts. Tracks head east, where we're going anyways."
Deran rose and walked to the inside of the village, followed by Eroket and the others. Jald barely blinked as he took in the carnage.
Houses were burned, corpses lay over the street, not as many as there would have been but many mice had obviously been burnt with their homes.
"Do we bury or burn them, I don't know much about burial customs here." Jald replied calmly.
Morik swallowed, a bit taken aback by the carnage. Eroket and deran bore it unflinchingly, "I saw things like this with the Death Watch," The amber eyed ermine replied flatly, "I've learned not to be shocked by slaughter."
"If I turn away, what good was it to leave the Academy?" Morik responded. Eroket shrugged again.
"Make camp," Deran replied, "We'll need some shelter."
Morik nodded as he walked over to one corpse, noting the slash marks over it, Eroket's eyes narrowed, "Davrag...these wounds were made by his swords. Bastard!"
Jald shrugged and went to help Morik along with Deran and Boney. Eroket stayed back for a moment before walking over, "I suppose this'll go faster with an extra set of paws..."
Morik eyed the mercenary coldly, "I suppose they won't care who lays them to rest."
They worked for an hour and a half, uncovering two dozen bodies, many hacked and burned horribly. Eroket's mood turned from angry to downcast. Although some victims were males, many were females and children. When they had run into their homes for refuge, the attackers had burnt the foundations down, leaving them to burn inside their own sanctuaries.
There were no survivors found. And no indication of why it was destroyed, other then what the five agreed on instantly: Sport.
"We'll bury them tomorrow..." Morik replied, "We should be done and out of here by noon." He saw no reason to antagonize Eroket further.
"I saw no burial ground," Eroket replied, "We might be better cremating them all..."
"I'll think it over while we rest," Morik replied with a nod.
Boney sighed, wiping her paws, "I'm starvin'...where're the supplies?"
"In the large bag," Morik replied. Boneflower nodded and walked over to the supplied in the small camp area and opened the bag, reaching inside. Confusion flickering over her features and she overturned the bag. Some crumbs fell out but nothing else.
Morik frowned, "You sure those are mine? There should be a dagger, a cloak, gloves and food."
"Nothin' there now!" Bney responded, frowning.
Jald and Deran exchanged glances as Ero yelled, "We've been robbed!" His own food, dagger and cloak were missing.
Alarmed Boneflower leaped to her supplies, digging through, "My journal! It's gone!" She cried out, digging through the other supplies, looking frantically.
Deran's eyes narrowed and Jald pursed his lips, all dumbfounded to how anybeast could have robbed them so subtly and cleverly.
"Least we still have most of our weapons," Eroket muttered, patting his schianova thankfully.
Jald was not so optimistic, "We can't just make due with out supplies. We'll have a hungry night..."
Eroket growled, "Search this place! I'm not giving up so damned easily!"
The quintet began picking their way through the dark forest. Several times, a footpaw snapped a twig and the group winced, hoping to not alert another to their presence.
Soon, the telltale glimmer of campfires danced off the tree trunks ahead. The companions slowed their pace and crept up to the edge of the clearing.
Two dozen mice, mostly females and children sat in a circle. They worse simple, cotton clothing. A matronly looking female was using Eroket's dagger to slice up food. Large fish, enough to feed the entire camp and then some, roasted over a fire. Children huddled under Eroket's tent, beasts used cloaks and gloves to keep warm. The camp did not appear cheerful, nor was it melancholy. The mice were attempting to survive under the conditions they lived in now and not one of the companions could fault their resolve
Morik stepped forward, clearing his throat slightly. All eyes of the mice turned to him and immediately the mood changed. The adults stepped in front, the children began to cry and duck behind them. The matronly mouse took a step forward.
Morik kneeled, hoping to appear less intimidating, "Don't be afraid...we won't hurt you."
Boneflower stepped forward as well, sword nowhere near her paws, "Aye, we ain't gonna harm ye." Her voice was both comforting and melodious. The mice looked startled but did not flee.
The matronly mouse's eyes narrowed, waving the stolen dagger in front of her. "What you want? Come back to kill more, eh?"
Ero stepped forward, "No, we aren't the ones who-"
"Hah! Not one of the ones who destroyed our village? You're some kinda white stoat and stoats're all the same! Loot all our cities but you won't take this without a fight!"
"That is my dagger you're using to threaten me," Eroket snapped.
"So? Spoils of war! Like the tent, or the food.
"We aren't at war..." Deran and Jald replied together, both running out of patience quickly.
"Look, to prove it we'll make a gift of what you took; the daggers, cloaks, tent and gloves. Gifts to help your village recover." Morik added quickly.
Ero threw him a look. Some of the items named belonged to him. But he couldn't deny the need of the mice was great so he said nothing in contradiction.
The mouse's eyes narrowed and she looked up at the taller beasts, "Gifts? What you want in return?"
"The book...and our flint and steel and some food. We need them to survive." Morik responded.
The female mouse nodded, licking her lips lightly, "Done, but we-"
Boneflower, quiet in the negotiating suddenly let out a cry of anguish and rushed to the fire.
Morik darted after her, "What's wrong?"
Boneflower drew her sword, poking at strips of shriveled parchment in the flames, "Me journal! They burned it!"
"It isn't so serious," Morik replied, trying to console Boney.
"SERIOUS?!?!?" Boney shrieked, whirling on him, "I spent years writin' in that! It contained me entire life!" After a moment, she balled her fists, sheathing her sword, hissing angrily, "Was buryin' mice worth this?" With that, she stalked off angrily.
The female mouse looked to Ero timidly, "We still have deal? We still friends?"
Eroket sighed and nodded, "You didn't realize...she'll come around I hope."
"They probably didn't know what the book was," A clear, masculine voice replied, "But that'd be all they didn't understand." A tall, thin mouse walked to the group. He was dressed better then the others, his fur a dark gray and his eyes bloodshot. He also wore a bandanna around his head.
The others gave the newcomer a wide berth, whispering amongst themselves. The tall mouse knelt by the fire and retrieved some fish, giving them to Eroket and Jald, "Have these. There's plenty more where they came form and after what we cost you, it is a fair trade."
"Who are you," Eroket demanded.
"My name's Cadion. I'm kind of the warrior around here. Now, eat up. Berenia hasn't been a good hostess this evening."
Eroket could see the mouse wore a short sword and a sling, thinking back to the dead ferret he had seen.
"Yes, please do." Berenia said, "We can always fish more." The matronly mouse put the dagger away and smiled.
It escaped none of the companions Berenia's English had suddenly improved. I was clear to Morik she had just played them for fools.
"You knew we didn't attack your village, didn't you?" He snapped in an accusing voice.
"Aye...' Berenia nodded guiltily, "But it doesn't negate our deal. Besides, our need is great..."
Morik grunted and took a bit of his fish. He knew what she said was true but he disliked losing his possessions via guile and trickery.
The others eyed Cadion. He seemed the only able bodied adult male in the camp and clever to boot.
"You're all stoats except for the ferret over there," The mouse in question responded, "and you wear a tunic like another stoat in the group of those that destroyed our village...I heard some weasel call him Davrag."
Eroket's teeth gritted, "It's him alright. I knew it, damn him! Where is he?!"
Cadion sighed, "He and his little army went east...some others went to follow him from our village, most of the males. But they'd be outmaneuvered, outclassed and outsized."
Jald blinked, "Army?"
Cadion nodded, "There must have been a hundred of them at the very last."
The four exchanged looks, Jald sighing, "Not surprising...possibly Vanda's beasts with the bodies of her agents we found. We need to move on. He'll be halfway to Kolma by now."
Cadion nodded, "You're going after them? I'd love to go with you...I'd love a shot at those bastards who destroyed my village..."
Morik swallowed a bite of fish, "Well, as luck would have it-"
"Morik!" Eroket hissed, "We have our own troubles without looking after another beast!"
"If you're going after them, you'll need all the help you can get. I can look after myself, ermine." Cadion replied with a nod.
"I'll look after him." Morik replied. Deran and Jald exchanged shrugs again, showing they didn't care one way or the other.
"Then we leave at dawn," Eroket replied flatly, not happy with the way things turned out whatsoever.
Morik frowned, "But the mice dead-"
"Will be buried by mice!" Eroket snarled suddenly, whirling on Morik.
"He's right." Jald replied calmly, "This test cost us too much, Morik..."
Morik sighed and nodded, "Alright..."
Eroket sighed, "I'll make sure Boneflower's alright then." Without another word, he walked off after the female ermine.
Deran had faded into the background and Jald nodded to Cadion, "This way, then, mouse."
Cadion paused to nod to Berenia, the matronly mouse sighed, "You sure you're doing the right thing?"
"I can't let this go, Berenia...if there's a single chance I can kill that stoat who killed my father, along with all those others then yes, I'm sure."
"Good luck then, Cadion."
The tall mouse nodded and was gone, following after Jald.