Way down in the far southlands, winter had ended and spring had begun. But so far this spring in the south was more like the middle of summer. It was quite hot which caused Tanner's patience to lower further, and his anger to rise every second like the temperature.

Tanner was heading south to meet his brother Camas, who had an army of at least two hundred vermin of every species from wolves and foxes to stoats and ferrets. Tanner wanted half the vermin Camas had, and if he objected, Tanner would kill him.

Tanner never liked his brother any way, he was always the one who received more attention, was luckier than him, and was once able to conquer a kingdom for a short time before he gave the throne to his second in command, because he had gotten bored of ruling in a castle. Not like Tanner who had spent his entire autumn in the north trying to conquer Noonvale and failed miserably. He not only lost all except for ten of his men but he lost an ear as well, something that Camas would make fun of when he arrived at his camp.

Tanner soon arrived at a large hill that overlooked a valley and searched around for Camas' camp. Burr who had lost half his tail in the battle with Noonvale joined him, even though Tanner was in no mood to stand around with him.

"See anything sire?" asked Burr.

"If I did I would have told you by now," said Tanner angrily.

Burr trembled and lowered himself in front of Tanner, a way of telling him that he was sorry for making the wolf angry.

Tanner smiled. "A wise move you just made there Burr, I would kill you like the many times I had wanted to because of your stupidity, but I like watching you tremble when I want you to obey me," he said.

"I only do what a second in command must do," said Burr smiling.

Before Tanner could say something, a vermin in his group named Slinger called to them. "I think I found the camp, it's over there near that ridge," he said.

Tanner followed Slingers finger to where it pointed and sure enough, he could see a few fires burning and creatures running about.

"Good job Slinger, your eyes are always handy for me. Well let's get going, I'm hungry, hot, and in need of some vermin," said Tanner who then began to walk down the hill. The rest of the vermin then followed, hoping that all would go well.

When Tanner and his vermin arrived at the camp, they were quickly stopped by a ferret named Darkclaw and a fox named Stump, both showed signs that they did not like strangers coming into the camp.

"What do you want?" asked Darkclaw.

Tanner glared at him angrily, he hated it when vermin lower than him thought they were the most powerful, he decided to teach this ferret a lesson and took out his dagger. Before he could even get the entire thing out though, Stump stopped him by grabbing his paw.

"Don't even think about it, now tell us what you want or leave," said Stump.

Tanner knew he could not win this time and decided to speak. "I am here to talk to my brother Camas about a deal," he said.

"Fine then, follow us but the rest of your crew must stay away from Camas, unless you want them to come with you," said Darkclaw.

"No, I'm the only one who wants to speak with him," said Tanner.

The two vermin nodded and led Tanner into the camp and toward Camas. Tanner quickly noticed that Camas' tent was situated in the middle of the camp along with another tent beside his. This belonged to his newest second in command, a rat named Flint. Flint was actually just coming out to speak with Camas when he saw Tanner coming over. He glared at Tanner and then snuck into Camas' tent. A second later, Camas jumped out and looked at Tanner.

"Well, well, it looks like my brother has come for a visit; I see he has lost an ear, how unfortunate," said Camas.

"I am here to negotiate something with you," said Tanner ignoring Camas' remark about his lost ear.

"Oh well then step into my tent and we will talk, bring your second in command with you," said Camas.

"Why?" asked Tanner.

"Because just in case you think about strangling me or vise versa, then they will be able to stop it," said Camas.

"Reasonable enough," said Tanner who then whistled at Burr who came running over.

"Yes sir?" asked Burr.

Tanner pointed inside, Burr quickly understood and walked in with him.

Once they were fully inside, they both noticed how nice it looked. In the middle was a small table where Camas ate or talked to some of his members. A large bed was on one corner, and on the other was a place where he hung his swords, armor, and a few of his clothes.

"You must not live the life of luxury like I do," said Camas.

"I travel, I don't bother making my tent look pretty," said Tanner.

Camas just smiled and pointed at a chair for Tanner to sit down on. Tanner quickly sat down and looked at Camas with hate and vengeance.

"So what kind of negotiations do you want to talk about?" asked Camas who was poring some wine into a beaker.

"I want half your men," said Tanner.

Camas was so startled by this that he dropped his beaker and all the wine fell onto the floor.

"You want half my men, but why, don't you have enough?" asked Camas.

"I lost all but ten in my last battle, how is a wolf like me supposed to survive with only ten vermin following you," said Tanner.

"I've seen leaders have only five, you'll survive," said Camas.

Tanner growled, he knew Camas would be difficult for him. "That is not the point, I plan on taking over a kingdom like you have one day, and I want to have as many men as should be needed," he said.

Camas stared at Tanner for a moment and then smiled. "Well I have two hundred vermin, I will give you fifty," he said.

"I want half meaning I want one hundred, not fifty," said Tanner.

"Fine then seventy," said Camas.

Tanner was loosing his patience and grabbed his dagger. He then slammed it between Camas' fingers and growled. "I said one hundred, not a puny seventy," he said again.

Camas stared at the dagger and then pulled it out off the table. "Humph, thank goodness you did not ruin it," he said.

"I could have ruined you," said Tanner who showed him his scarred fists.

Camas stared at them for a minute and then spoke up. "I'll give you eighty, that is my final offer," he said.

Tanner grabbed his dagger from Camas' hands and flung it at him, Camas was expecting it and moved his head while the dagger went through the tent and the cry of a vermin outside told Tanner he had hit the wrong creature. Tanner growled, jumped on the table, and grabbed Camas by the collar of his tunic.

"Do you have a death wish or something?" asked Tanner angrily.

Camas stared at him in fear until Flint ran over and pulled Tanner off of Camas. Tanner kicked and writhed as he tried to get loose of Flint's grasp, but Flint was strong and soon Tanner gave up.

"What do you want me to do with him sir?" asked Flint.

"Just set him back in his chair and pore water on him, that ought to cool him off," said Camas.

Flint nodded and once he set Tanner down on the chair, Tanner punched him hard in the face. Flint cried in pain and quickly walked over to one corner of the tent to nurse his hurt face. Camas watched him and then turned angrily to Tanner.

"I can see you don't want to give up do you," said Camas.

"I would fight you to the death for half of those men if I wanted to," said Tanner.

"Really!?" asked Camas in a surprised way.

Tanner nodded with an evil grin on his face.

"Well that settles it then, tomorrow when the sun comes up we will fight to the death, winner takes all," said Camas.

Tanner smiled and then shook his brother's hand. "It's a deal," he said.

Camas then rose from his chair and walked out of his tent. He was greeted by a ferret who gave Camas the dagger that Tanner threw at him earlier. Camas then gave it to Tanner who put it back on his buckle. Camas then looked at his vermin and then called to them.

"Everyone, I am here to tell you that my brother here is going to fight me to the death tomorrow morning, if he wins he will be your new leader, if not I will stay as your new leader," said Camas.

Everyone murmured in agreement and then went back to the task they were doing. Camas then turned to his brother and smiled at him.

"See you in the morning brother, I will provide you with a sword, you can use no other weapons, understand," said Camas.

Tanner nodded and walked out of the camp toward the rest of his group who were waiting for him. They all looked at him in astonishment, they had had never seen Tanner fight anyone to the death.

"Do you think you can actually defeat your brother, I mean after you lost most of your men to some puny mice, and you came out with a missing ear, imagine what could go missing this time," said Burr who then shuddered at the thought.

Tanner rolled his eyes and stared at the perverted fox. "That was against many creatures, this is just against my brother, who I fought often as a pup and mostly won, I don't think it could be too hard," said Tanner.

"Well then I wish you luck then," said Burr who then started pitching up a tent.

Tanner watched him for a moment and then set up his own tent; once his was set up he went inside and stayed in there thinking of strategies on how to fight his brother, and ways to trick him. He hoped the ideas would work.

Morning soon arrived and Tanner was late getting up. Burr, even though he hated doing it, decided to wake him.

"Sir, you're late and Camas is waiting for you," he said as he shook the wolf awake.

Tanner growled and hit Burr's paws hard. "What have I told you about touching me, I don't like to be touched, especially in the morning," said Tanner.

"But your late for your death fight," said Burr.

"Well tell Camas I will be out in a minute, I need to get dressed and everything," said Tanner.

Burr nodded and quickly left. Tanner then prepared himself for the battle.

Once Tanner had finished getting ready, he walked out of his tent and headed over to Camas' camp. He soon noticed that everyone was standing behind Camas who was standing in a circle waiting for Tanner.

"Took you long enough," said Camas.

"Let's just get started," said Tanner. Burr then handed him the sword he was going to use and quickly walked out of the circle.

Tanner and Camas then began to circle each other, they growled fiercely at each other, and both waiting for the right moment to strike a weak spot.

Suddenly Camas full force toward Tanner with his sword pointed at him. Tanner smiled and just moved out of the way. Camas missed him completely and Tanner struck him in the shoulder. Camas howled from the pain and backed up.

"You got lucky that time," said Camas.

"And I will get lucky the rest of the time," said Tanner.

Camas just growled and continued to circle Tanner. Suddenly Tanner slipped a little on a rock and Camas made his move. Tanner tried to move out of the way but was not quick enough and was stabbed deep in the side. Tanner grunted from the pain and backed away from Camas who smiled at his attack. Tanner just stood there for a moment trying to catch his breath from the shock of being stabbed, Camas made his move again.

Tanner was prepared for this and when Camas was just at the right spot, Tanner moved out of the way and stabbed Camas in the back. Camas fell to the ground from the shock and when Tanner was just about to run over and decapitate him; Camas moved and stabbed Tanner in the stomach before he moved far enough away. Tanner moved quickly enough to not cause too much harm and looked over at Camas who looked like he was ready for anything.

They circled again, and Camas had a plan. Once he got close enough he kicked up some sand that flew into Tanner's eyes. Tanner growled angrily and started to wipe his eyes. That cost him, and Camas stabbed him in the shoulder.

Tanner was outraged by this, and forgetting about the sand in his eyes, he stabbed Camas between the ribs as deep as he could. Camas cried in pain and when Tanner pulled the sword out, he fell to his knees, breathing heavily.

Camas then looked up at Tanner who was smiling. "It looks like I won," said Tanner who then stabbed Camas for the last time in the heart. Camas then fell in a heap, he was dead.

Tanner then looked over at the vermin who were all staring at him in disbelief. Tanner smiled.

"I am your new leader now, anyone who objects to this will either be killed like Camas here or be kicked out," he said.

There was silence for a moment before Flint spoke up. "Well I don't want to be a part of you, not with those rages you have, I won't fight you but I am leaving, anyone who wants to follow me may do so," said Flint who then walked out of the camp.

Stump and Darkclaw decided to follow him. So did two other rats, a stoat, and three ferrets. They all glared at Tanner who just growled at them and held his sword tight just in case one decided to turn on him. But none did and soon they were out of sight in the forest.

Tanner then turned to the rest who then suddenly began to cheer. "Tan-ner, Tan-ner," they all shouted. Tanner smiled and was then greeted by a female wolf.

"My name is Midnight, I am the nurse of this camp, it looks like those wounds need to be healed," she said.

"That would be nice," said Tanner who seemed to be smitten with her.

Midnight then walked into Camas' tent which was now Tanner's and sat down on some pillows. Tanner did the same and watched as Midnight took a cloth and put water and a few herbs that would ease the pain on it. She then pressed it against his side. Tanner flinched and growled.

Midnight ignored him and began to speak. "I'm glad you defeated your brother, he had been getting quite selfish lately," she said.

"Yeah I noticed that when he only wanted to give me fifty men," said Tanner.

"Have you killed anyone else like Camas before?" asked Midnight.

"No just weak creatures, did you know I killed a female badger once," said Tanner.

"No I did not know that, tell me how that happened," said Midnight.

"Very well then," said Tanner who then began telling Midnight about how he killed Rosemary.

A/N: Yeah that was a sappy ending to the chapter, but I was not really sure how to finish it. I hope you still liked the chapter though; the battle scene was a little intense but as you know that is how vermin fight. Any way please review, I like reviews, they make me happy and I want to know how I am doing, but please do not flame me too hard if you do. Well that is all I have to say, have fun writing and I will put up the next chapter sometime next week.