Blacktooth the fox was running, he did not care where he ended up, he just had to get away from Tanner the Deadly who was a few yards away with Burr the fox trying to catch him. Blacktooth had been part of Tanner's group ever since Tanner took over after he killed his brother. There was always some sort of friction between Tanner and Blacktooth, and what Blacktooth did the night before did not please Tanner.
Blacktooth had been punished earlier that day for not following orders, and for that he was not to be given any food. Blacktooth was starving by the time everyone was asleep so he snuck into Tanners tent and stole a block of cheese. Once he had eaten his fill, he fell asleep instantly forgetting that there was still a small piece lying next to him.
When he awoke that morning, he found himself staring face to face with the angry eyes of Tanner the Deadly. Tanner was holding his favorite dagger menacingly as if he was about to strike at any moment.
"So I see you stole some food last night," said Tanner angrily.
"No sir, someone framed me," lied Blacktooth.
"And who would do such a thing like that?" asked Tanner.
"I don't know, I wasn't awake when somebeast put it there or I would tell you," said Blacktooth.
Tanner still did not believe Blacktooth's story and decided to test him. He decided to smell Blacktooth's mouth.
"Open your mouth and exhale," said Tanner.
Blacktooth did not like where this was going but did as he was told. Tanner took a big whiff. The fox's breath smelled of the cheese Tanner kept in his tent, it was quite strong too quite hard to miss if someone talked face to face with the fox. Tanner growled angrily and then grabbed Blacktooth by the neck and threw him hard against a rock.
"You are the biggest liar I have ever met and just for stealing food and lying I sentence you to death by my dagger," said Tanner.
Blacktooth lay there next to the rock more frightened than he ever was. He saw Tanner raise his dagger ready to strike. That was when Blacktooth ran. Tanner was not expecting this and instead his dagger hit the rock. Tanner growled at the runaway.
"You can run from me Blacktooth, but death is still on your doorstep," said Tanner who then ran after the fox. Tanner also asked Burr to assist him just so he could be outnumbered.
Blacktooth kept running as he thought about what he had done, how could he have been so stupid and not hidden the rest of his evidence. Blacktooth was so intoned to what he was thinking about that he ran into a tree and fell flat on his back from the shock. When he opened his eyes, Tanner and Burr were standing over him.
"I knew I would catch up to you sooner or later," said Tanner.
"Please, don't hurt me, I will leave your group and start a different life somewhere else," said Blacktooth pleadingly.
Tanner picked him up by the neck and stared at him angrily. "Do you actually think I will let you off that easily, you know my name is Tanner the Deadly a name that is feared by many. Those who do not obey me rarely live to see the next day," he said.
"S-S-So what are y-y-you going t-t-to do to m-m-me?" asked Blacktooth worriedly.
"What am I going to do? Well I will tell you what I am going to do. I'm going to tie you to this tree and I have three daggers here including my favorite one. I will throw all three of them at you, if you are not dead by the time the third one strikes you, then I will leave you here to die a slow and painful death," said Tanner.
Blacktooth gulped, he remembered seeing Tanner do this to a mouse once. He missed the mouse the first two times on purpose, then he hit the mouse in a spot where it could be heard crying for many miles. It took them two days to finally stop hearing the mouse's frantic cries. Blacktooth did not like this.
Tanner watched as Burr tied Blacktooth to the tree, once Burr was finished Tanner grinned menacingly.
"Comfortable?" asked Tanner.
Blacktooth growled and then spat in Tanners face. Tanner wiped the spit off his face and looked at Blacktooth.
"I guess you are ready then," said Tanner who then stepped back Burr stood next to him, ready to watch a ghastly scene unfold.
Tanner then picked up his first dagger which was an old one and quite rusted. Tanner aimed at the fox and then let it fly. Blacktooth closed his eyes and squinted hoping that his death would come right then and there. But this dagger would not give him death. Blacktooth felt a sharp pain hit him in the shoulder. He looked at it and found that it had only grazed him, certainly not deadly.
"You got lucky that time," said Tanner who gave him an evil smile.
Blacktooth gave him an evil piercing glare as the wolf threw the next dagger at him. This time the dagger hit him in the leg. Blacktooth let out a cry of pain that echoed through the forest. Tanner smiled, he was glad to hear the traitor cry.
"Well I have one more dagger, my favorite out of all of them, what do you think I should aim for Burr?" asked Tanner.
Burr looked at Blacktooth for a minute and then answered. "I think you should hit him in the chest sir," he said.
"No, he will be dead by the time I get over there to get my daggers back, I want to give him a slow death and I know exactly where," said Tanner.
Burr watched as Tanner aimed for the spot he wanted to hit while Blacktooth closed his eyes tight, knowing that this next hit will be as painful as his last.
Tanner threw the dagger and Blacktooth let out a piercing cry as the dagger hit him in the stomach. Tanner smiled and walked over to retrieve his daggers. Blacktooth looked at him in pain while Tanner just stared at him evilly.
"Well I will see you in hellgates many seasons from now," said Tanner.
"I hope it will be earlier than that," said Blacktooth.
Tanner gave a soft growl before he motioned Burr to follow him back to camp. Blacktooth watched in pain as his killer disappeared into the forest.
"So did you dispose of Blacktooth?" asked Midnight.
"Yes, it will take him a while to die though," said Tanner.
"Ah you always seem to know what to do with traitors," said Midnight.
"That is because I am a leader of at least two hundred, I have to know what I am doing or someone will put a knife at my back," said Tanner.
Midnight just smiled as Tanner turned to his band. "Everyone we will stay here today, we will start traveling south again tomorrow so do what you want. If you try anything like Blacktooth did you will suffer the same fate as him," said Tanner.
Everyone was silent, very rarely would someone try to kill Tanner, they all knew better and they all thought he was a very good leader any way. There was no point in trying to kill him.
Tanner then turned back to Midnight. "What would you like to do today my love?" he asked in a sweet tone.
"Well we can just watch the camp while they all wander around and then when darkness falls, I'm all yours," said Midnight with a sly smile on her face.
"That sounds like a nice plan," said Tanner rather sheepishly, he knew what she was thinking.
Midnight then walked over to a comfortable spot and lay down to look up at the clouds. Tanner watched her, he had never seen such a beautiful wolf in his life and she had been his for many seasons now. The only problem was, they had failed to have a child yet, Tanner hoped that soon he would have an heir to lead the band of vermin. It would be the greatest thrill of his life.
The day went by slowly. Tanner and Midnight watched the band as they gambled, sang, and even a few went to a nearby beach to cool off from the summer sun. Midnight was able to find some grapes in her food pack and fed them to Tanner like he was a Greek god. Tanner loved it when she did this; it relaxed him and kept his mind off of the band for many hours.
Once the sun went down, the vermin then started a nice campfire and told stories about adventures they had before they joined the band. Tanner and Midnight listened until they decided to go into Tanner's tent and spend some time to themselves.
They were soon enjoying the magical night as they embraced in passionate romance. Before they could even enjoy it more though, Burr burst into the tent.
"Sire, can I borrow one of your daggers? We're playing a very interesting game," he said.
Tanner growled at him. "Is it as interesting as what I am doing right now?" he asked.
Burr could not see what was going on because it was so dark, but when Tanner told him he could see why.
"Oh hellsteeth and seaweed grog! I am so sorry. But can I still have a dagger?" asked Burr.
Tanner growled and threw the rusted one at him. Burr ducked as the dagger hit the sand behind him. He then sheepishly closed the tent and ran back to the fire.
Tanner turned back to Midnight, he now did not look happy.
"You want to do it tomorrow night?" asked Midnight.
"No, how about we go to the beach, it's a clear night and it will be away from all those scumbags," said Tanner.
Midnight just chuckled as she got up and followed Tanner out of the tent. The group did not even hear them leave, Tanner did not care though, and someone would follow them any way and watch what they were doing. Something that Tanner would not take lightly.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Down at the beach, ten pirate vermin were coming ashore for some fresh water in a lake one of them knew about that was nearby. The leader of the vermin was a ferret named Agra, and he had once been part of Tanner's band until he decided to leave it. He wanted to be a leader too and the tension between the two vermin lasted for a very long time until Agra finally disappeared into the night one night. A few weeks later he was captured by a pirate slaver who was going to make him a slave on an island called Morag. Agra assassinated him one night on the boat and because of what he had done; he became leader of the island.
Whenever Agra was out slave hunting, he would bring nine of his men, it was much easier to take care of to him, plus he usually only found about five goodbeasts in the areas he would search.
Agra and his band soon went into the forest and looked around into the night.
"So where be this water, Blint?" asked Agra to a fat but tough stoat.
"It's a few ways in that direction," said Blint pointing towards where the camp lead to.
"You better be right and if yer not, yer carcass will be floating in the water tomorrow," said Agra.
Blint gulped in fear, he used to live in this part so he knew were everything was. But what if there had been a drought while he was away and the water was long gone? That would not be good.
Agra lead his band through the forest but was suddenly stopped by an odd sound.
"Ye boys hear that?" asked Agra a little alarmed.
His crew listened carefully until they heard some moaning coming from not far off.
"Sounds like somebeast dying chief," said a rat named Knuckles.
Agra and is band followed the sound until he found Blacktooth tied to a tree with blood trickling down his stomach and leg.
Agra recognized Blacktooth instantly, he had been friends with him for many years before he left and could not believe what he was seeing.
"Blacktooth? Is that really you?" asked Agra.
Blacktooth who had his head hung low and his eyes closed looked up weakly. When he saw Agra he gave a weak smile.
"Agra, please get me out of this misery," said Blacktooth weakly.
"What happened?" asked Agra.
"I upset Tanner, he left me here to die slowly," said Blacktooth.
"The blaggard! Where is he now?" asked Agra angrily.
"I just heard him pass this way not a while ago with Midnight, I think they went to the beach," said Blacktooth..
Agra smiled; he liked the sound of this and turned to his nine men. "I have a plan, first we go find ourselves some water, then we head back to the beach, kill Tanner and take Midnight with us back to Morag where she will be our slave for the rest of her days," he said happily.
"Good plan boss," said a ferret named Scratch.
Agra was then ready to lead them to the water when Blacktooth called to him. "Agra be a friend and end my misery," he said.
Agra turned to him and growled. "I want to but you would not come with me when we left the group many seasons ago, I think you deserved it," he said.
"Just because of that? Listen I'm sorry, I just thought I was in a safe group," said Blacktooth.
Agra then walked over towards Blacktooth and stared at him in the face. "So you want to end your misery huh?" he said.
Blacktooth just nodded.
Agra then went around the tree and untied him; Blacktooth fell in a heap and could not get up because of his leg.
"I'm not going to let you die on the tree, it wouldn't make the tree look good, so you will die on the ground," said Agra.
Blacktooth gave a weak smile before he saw Agra motion for a fox named Cred to shoot him with an arrow. Cred shot him twice, once in the chest and once in the throat. Blacktooth was dead by the time the second shot hit him.
"I hope to see you many seasons from now friend," said Agra.
Then without a sigh or a sob, Agra led his group into the forest for water and then to Tanner and Midnight.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Back on the beach, Tanner and Midnight had been enjoying their time together immensely. They were now sitting next to each other watching the waves while they talked quietly.
"What a wonderful night," said Midnight with a sigh.
"Yeah, its times like this that make me wish I was not the leader of a vermin clan," said Tanner.
"But I like you as a leader because then if we do have a child, it will lead for you," said Midnight.
"That is a good thought," said Tanner who then gave a big stretch.
Midnight then looked out at the water and suddenly noticed Agra's ship. "I wonder who owns that ship?" she said thoughtfully.
"Probably a bunch of pirates, they seem quiet, they must be asleep, so I would not worry too much about them," said Tanner.
"Yeah your right," said Midnight.
Tanner lay on the sand and thought for a moment. He wondered if he should go back to the group or just stay there until morning.
"Think we should go back?" he asked.
"No I say we stay here until morning. Plus I think it is time for you to chase me," said Midnight who then started running away from him down the beach.
Tanner gave a smirk and ran after her, he loved doing this.
They chased each other for quite a long time and were oblivious to anything until Tanner ran into Agra and his band.
"Well, well my old leader," said Agra.
"Agra, what are you doing here?" asked Tanner.
"Oh we were just looking for water when we received a tip from a late member of yours that you were here," said Agra.
"Get your grubby hands off me," cried Midnight as she was brought over by Blint.
"Don't you dare harm her," said Tanner angrily.
"Oh we won't hurt her, but we will hurt you," said Agra as he tried to slash at Tanner with his dagger. Tanner was smart though, he moved just in time before Agra had the dagger at his heart.
For a long while the two scuffled in the sand. Once Agra stabbed Tanner in the arm and once Tanner stabbed Agra in the leg. Agra soon decided to throw the dagger at Tanner and of course Tanner had the same idea. They both did not know what was happening until they both threw the daggers at the same time and missed.
"Hmm I see great minds think alike," said Tanner.
"Yeah but not for long," said Agra who then snapped his fingers.
Before Tanner knew what was happening, Blint grabbed him and picked him up. Tanner tried to get loose of his grasp, but the stoat was too strong and a few seconds later Tanner saw himself flying in the air. When he landed, his head hit a rock and he quickly lost consciousness.
Agra smiled a very evil smile and looked up at Blint. "Great job Blint, looks like that wolf won't be killing anyone else soon," he said.
Midnight looked over at Tanner hoping he would get up and save her, but he never rose. Midnight then began to sob; she no longer cared what happened to her now she had lost the only love of her life.
Soon the ship was sailing west, to the island of Morag, away from the southern plains.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's that chapter for you. I hope you all liked it, sorry for the gruesome death of Blacktooth but as you have read Tanner is not a friendly wolf. The next chapter will probably be up by Friday or Monday depending on how much time I have. Thank you to those who have reviewed and that is all I really have to say so have fun writing.