Morning arrived and Tanner stood at the edge of the camp, waiting and watching. The sun was just below the horizon but in about five minutes the first sign of it would appear. Tanner could hear his men, getting ready, some were talking about how they would cut up a hare, and some were sharpening their weapons. Burr had just finished sharpening his blade when he walked up to Tanner.
"Do you think they are ready sir?" asked Burr.
"Don't know, I have not heard from them, they could all still be asleep, then we might have to storm the place," said Tanner.
"Do you think you will be able to defeat the big badger?" asked Burr.
"Not immediately, I'm actually thinking about helping you kill some hares before I kill the badger," said Tanner.
"Sounds like a good plan," said Burr.
Tanner then looked behind him at his troop, they were mostly talking and only a few were fixing their blades, it was time to line up.
"Alright you vermin are you ready to show the hares and that badger what we're made of?" asked Tanner.
Everyone cheered in agreement as they raised their weapons.
"Good now let's march to that hill right there and wait," said Tanner who then started walking toward the mountain. Everyone followed and began chanting a vermin war tune.
Here come the vermin strong and true.
We're here to do battle, 'tis death to you.
Foxes, ferrets, weasels, stoats, we're all here
We are so dangerous that we will cause you to run away in fear
So pick up your sword in fight with me
Who will win, we will see.
Their voices were quite loud causing it to echo through the entire beach, none of them showed a hint of fear, they were used to fights but they were forgetting that the goodcreatures they were fighting could fight back.
Tanner then stopped at the small hill causing everyone else to do the same. Tanner looked up at the mountain wondering what was happening in there.
"Alright you big stripe head, come out with those hares or we will invade once I see the first piece of the sun," yelled Tanner whose fighting blood started to rise.
There was no answer, all was quiet. Even the vermin were silent as they waited for their biggest battle yet. Tanner looked out at the horizon and then saw a sliver of sun peek out.
"ATTACK!!!!" he yelled and ran toward the entrance to Salamandastron.
Suddenly the vermin heard the most frightening roar, they had ever heard in their life as Strider ran out with all four hundred and twenty of his hares. The vermin stopped for a quick second forgetting that they were supposed to fight them. But they quickly gathered their courage and ran full force toward the Long Patrol.
A minute later, the two sides clashed and the battle had begun. The air was soon full of sounds, from the clash of two swords to the screams of a vermin or hare dying under the sword.
Strider had his paws full of vermin. Right now he had to deal with five of them who were trying their hardest to stab or just knock him down. Strider was too tough for them though and was able to run three of them with his sword and the two others he just threw to the ground with heavy force.
Strider then saw a hare being knocked to the ground by a ferret named Slater who was using a big mace and chain as a weapon. Strider had to help the hare before Slater could stab him with the knife he had brought out to finish him off. Before he could even try though, a fox stabbed him in the side; Strider roared in pain and turned to the fox who quickly noticed the badger's bloodshot eyes of the bloodwrath. The fox was now terrified and was about to run when Strider quickly ran him through the back with the sword, the fox was dead before he even hit the ground.
Strider was satisfied with the work he had done and before he could even turn around, he saw an arrow fly towards him. Strider tried to move but it was too late and he was hit under the collarbone. Strider grunted in pain and snapped off the arrow as he went looking for the culprit who did it. That's when he saw a stoat aiming an arrow at him. Strider growled and climbed on a rock that was nearby. Once he got to the top, he jumped and slashed his sword in the air. It instantly cut the bow in half while the stoat stood there dumbstruck. That was when Strider slashed his sword once and ended the stoat's life for good.
Strider's friends were having a hard time too; Nathanial was shooting vermin left and right like Legolas the elf. Some fell without a fight, others, like a big fox that had been hit in the arm by the arrow was not happy and decided to attack Nathanial.
Nathanial saw this and tried to notch his bow but was stopped by the fox who stabbed Nathanial in the shoulder. Nathanial winced in pain and took out his dagger ready to fight the fox. The fox smiled and circled the brave hedgehog.
"I've killed many hedgepigs like you before, so don't expect to live after fighting me," said the fox.
"Those were innocent creatures who had never fought a day in their life. Innocent creatures that never had a right to be killed, but you, you have to kill for pleasure and I think that is wrong and I think you must die for it," said Nathanial.
"Strong words for a weak one like you," said the fox.
"You think I'm weak," said Nathanial who then without warning ran up to the fox as fast as he could and stabbed him in the chest.
The fox never saw it coming and looked down at the spot Nathanial had penetrated. "That was fast," said the fox who then fell to the ground dead.
Nathanial smiled and ran off finish more vermin.
The battle continued to rage on, it was hard too, mostly hares were falling and there seemed to be more vermin coming in every second. Strider could not kill them all at once since many would still be alive after the first stab and a few hares were giving up.
Swift and Alma watched from the infirmary room where already thirty hares were being healed. Alma watched with concern, she had seen Strider get shot with an arrow and stabbed many times, she wanted to help him badly but knew she had to stay put.
"I'm so scared Swift, what if he dies and I have to fend for myself when they come up here," said Alma in a worried voice.
Swift patted her on the back. "Don't worry, he is doing well, some look like they want to stay away from him and fight the hares," said Swift.
"But we seemed to have lost more than them and I don't like that," said Alma.
"It is best not to watch then, why don't you go over and help the injured, I'm going out there to help," said Swift.
"No you shouldn't, you'll be killed," said Alma.
"Not before I peck a few eyes out first," said Swift as she flew down toward the battle.
Swift soon came across a group of vermin who were having fun killing a hare slowly. She quickly flew down and pecked a ferret in the head.
"Youch, who did that? Said the ferret angrily.
"It was that bird, shoot it," said another ferret.
A rat then aimed his arrow at Swift and let go. Swift saw it coming and moved out of the way laughing.
"I see you don't have good aim, let me fix those eyes for you," said Swift who then flew down to try and peck at the rat. The rat ducked in time while the rest of the vermin tried to catch her. A stoat was able to grab her tail feathers but Swift flew into the air where she noticed a few were missing.
"How could you do that to my lovely feathers, it's payback time," said Swift who then swooped down in hopes of finishing them off.
Maggie was enjoying herself; she had been able to kill four vermin and was now on her fifth one who had been stabbed in the chest. Maggie stood over the fallen rat and smiled triumphantly. "Now you will never kill an innocent soul again," she said as she began to laugh.
Slater the ferret saw her standing over the dying rat and was not happy that she was laughing about it. He decided to end her life for it. He took out his bow and arrow which he only used in emergencies and slowly took aim.
Lucky, who was nearby at the time, saw the ferret aiming his arrow at something. He followed the point until he saw Maggie just standing there smiling. He had to save her and prove how much he loved her.
"Maggie, look out!" cried Lucky as he ran over and pushed her out of the way just as the arrow flew. It hit Lucky in the side instead and he let out a yelp of pain.
Maggie saw the arrow hit him and could not believe it. "You saved my life wot," she said.
"Yeah, I did it because I bally love you," said Lucky.
Maggie smiled; Lucky really did love her and was willing to risk his life for her, something that Greyfur had done many times. Maggie then decided to give him a kiss for it. They were about to embrace when Slater arrived and grabbed Lucky by the ear.
"How dare you get in my way of shooting another creature," said Slater angrily.
"Hey I love this creature and I was not about to let you bally harm her," said Lucky.
"I see, since you did that I would like to have a fight to the death with you," said Slater.
"Fine then," said Lucky who showed no fear in his eyes.
"Lucky no, you're hurt, you'll never stand a flippin chance," said Maggie.
"I'm going to try any way, for you," said Lucky who took out his dagger.
Slater smiled and held his mace and chain that had killed many hares that day, he had not failed once and new that a puny little dagger could not save this hare.
Lucky saw the mace and chain and wondered how he could get out of this situation. He would have to figure something out. It would be worth it no matter what though since it was for love.
Lucky stood there waiting for a good move; suddenly Slater swung his mace and chain at the hare, Lucky ducked just in time. Lucky then ran toward the ferret with his dagger in hand ready to stab the ferret in the closest place he could get to. Slater of course saw this coming and swung his mace and chain again. Lucky did not see that coming and hit quite hard in the face with the heavy object. Lucky then fell to the ground in an unconscious heap.
Maggie stood there in shock, not knowing what to do. The hare that saved her life was now lying on the ground unable to help her any more. Slater just smiled and took out the dagger that he owned. Then, with lighting flash speed, he stabbed Lucky in the stomach.
Maggie had tears rolling down her eyes, she could not believe it, Lucky was dying now and she never had a chance to express her new found love to him.
Slater just smiled at her, he could see her crying, and he wanted her to watch every second of Lucky's death. The ferret then took the knife again and aimed it for the heart. What seemed like ages to Maggie for him to drop it was only seconds. Just when he was a few inches from the spot though, Strider came to the rescue and stabbed Slater in the chest.
Before Slater even fell to the ground, Strider picked up the unconscious hare and ran to the entrance of the mountain. When he arrived at the entrance, he passed Lucky to two hare nurses.
"Take him to the infirmary before he dies," said Strider who then ran back out to do more battle.
Maggie had followed him and now she had no desire to fight any more, she wanted to be by Lucky's side until he felt better, if he ever did. She then went into the mountain and up the infirmary.
The battle continued to rage on for hours, Tanner had fought some but after a while he decided to watch his men and the badger he was going to slay when he was ready. He did not care how long it would take; he was still going to kill him.
Meanwhile, Milly had just finished fighting a fox and now had a horrible wound in her stomach. She knew she was not going to last long. Billy was beside her worried.
"Are you going to make it?" he asked.
"I-I don't know, it's so painful, I don't think my next fight will be successful," said Milly sadly.
"Then we will fight it together and if one of us goes, we both go together, I cannot be a twin if one is missing" said Billy.
Milly smiled at her brother, he had been faithful to her ever since they could walk and now he was willing to sacrifice his life with her.
"Well I guess we better get started," said Milly.
"Let's do it," said Billy.
A second later, they both jumped into a fray of vermin, their last fight together.
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A/N: Okay I am going to stop here for now. I hope you all liked this. There are going to be only about five more chapters after this including an epilogue so there is really only about four. The next two chapters are still part of the battle. The next one is really a negotiation though and the one after that will be a one to one battle with Strider and Tanner. Any way, please review, why is anyone not reviewing, I love reviews and I really want some. Any way I will shut up now so have a great day.