The afternoon sun glowed red like the battlefield below Salamandastron. Strider stood with Alma at the infirmary window watching Tanner's group make camp for another night. The battle had already lasted for four days and the Long Patrol had lost many members. There were now only one hundred and three left. Strider was not sure how many Tanner had left, but he knew the wolf had lost many as well.
Even though Strider had succumbed many wounds, including two arrows in the back in one day and a few others on separate days, he was not giving up. Yet Alma did not want him to continue.
"You can't go on like this, I mean look at you, you look as though you fought all those vermin yourself," said Alma through a few tears.
Strider sighed, he could tell Alma was scared, but she had to understand, he was lord of the mountain, he had to protect it till he died.
"I'm sorry Alma, but we have to keep going, you don't want them coming in here do you?" he asked.
Alma shook her head and hugged her mate who gladly did the same.
"I say if we loose too many, Swift should go find Log-a-log and his crew," said Nathanial.
"You know I was thinking that and I have a plan, if the battle is not over in two days, I want Swift to go find him," said Strider.
"And I would be happy to do so, I had enough of pecking out eyes," said Swift who was enjoying some grapes that were set nearby.
"I want to continue fighting so bally badly wot," said Lucky in a very weak voice. He had survived the fight with Slater, but it would be a while before he could move about the way he did. His face was now all purple and blue from the mace that hit him, and one eye was completely shut from it. He would have never lasted long if Strider did not see him fall.
"I know you do, you would not last another five minutes out there," said Strider.
"And you need to live so you can be my jolly mate wot," said Maggie who had never left his side, not even for one minute.
Lucky just smiled and then gave a quick sigh before he fell back asleep from exhaustion. Maggie made sure his sheets were on tight and then sat down in a chair nearby.
Nathanial watched the two and sighed, he was glad Lucky survived, but was quite sad by the fact that Billy and Milly died on the first day. Well Milly anyway. Billy returned to the mountain that night with many wounds and died during the next battle the following day.
Strider had also been saddened by this but knew that that's what happens in battles. At least they fought bravely and not cowardly.
Strider continued to watch the camp wondering what the vermin were doing. He hoped they were not concocting an evil scheme to kill them all but if they were Strider would be ready for anything.
But Tanner was not thinking of any schemes, he was too busy wincing as Midnight wrapped his arm up in bandages from a sword wound he received from Pawflash.
"Eighty-five members left, this was harder than I thought, ouch Midnight not so hard," said Tanner as he hit his mates paw.
"I'm sorry Tanner, this wound needs to heal properly, not lazily," said Midnight.
"Yeah I guess I deserve the pain though, ow," said Tanner.
"Well that battle has been fierce and I've noticed that the badger has refused to go down, I once saw five of your men on top of him and all were killed in the blink of an eye," said Midnight.
"He almost killed me too luckily for me I ducked in time and went off to fight this hare that was already wounded so I finished the job," said Burr.
"Good for you Burr, but you could have at least tried to bring down the badger," said Tanner.
"Yeah I know but I just don't want to die yet," said Burr.
"I see," said Tanner who was now glaring at him.
"Daddy, daddy, me made a sword, can me fight in battle now?" asked Savage who had run over to show his father that he made a sword out of wood.
"Hahaha, not today son, you are still too young, you don't want to get hurt like I did do you" asked Tanner.
Savage looked at his father's bandaged hand and made a gross face. "Me wait then," he said.
"That's a good lad," said Tanner who then patted his son on the head.
"What about my bow and arrow?" asked Nightwing who came over to get praise from her father. She had found a nice thick branch and put a piece of string on it to make it look like a bow and just had a stick for an arrow, it was a nice toy though.
"Nightwing, how many times have I told you, to stop stealing your brothers things," said Tanner who then grabbed the toy out of her paws and gave it to Savage.
Tanner then spanked Nightwing very hard, once he was done, Nightwing ran back to the tent crying and wondering what she had done wrong. Midnight watched her, she wanted to stand up for her daughter but the last time she did that, Tanner threatened to keep Savage away from her for the rest of her life. Midnight decided to head back to the tent and comfort Nightwing.
Tanner did not even notice and watched how his son played with the bow and arrow and then "stabbed" Burr in the back. Burr let out a yelp and ran for cover before realizing it was only Savage.
"Burr, you're a riot," said Tanner who was laughing quite hard.
"Sorry sir, I was just thinking while he did that," said Burr.
"Oh about what?" asked Tanner.
"Oh just about this battle, we have lost a great deal of men and I think more will be lost if we fight the rest of those hares," said Burr.
"Hmm are you saying we should quit while we are ahead?" asked Tanner in a no nonsense tone.
"No sir, I was just thinking that you should start fighting that badger yourself like you said you would do once you could," said Burr.
"Hmmm, you're right, it is time, there are less hares there and I don't think I want to loose more of my men," said Tanner.
"Yeah and whoever wins gets Salamandastron and those hares would have to leave," said Burr.
"Perfect idea, let me go talk to this badger, hopefully he will answer and we can start the one on one battle in the morning," said Tanner who then got up and walked toward the mountain.
Strider was still watching when he saw the lone figure walking toward the mountain and quickly noticed it was Tanner.
"Hello stripe dog, you up there, it's time for a little chat," said Tanner.
Strider showed his face and growled at Tanner. "What do you want wolf?" he asked.
"Well I've realized that I have lost many men, and you have too, so I was thinking to spare everyone else's lives we fight a one to one battle. Whoever wins gets the mountain and whoever looses must leave this place or be killed," said Tanner.
Strider was silent for a moment, he looked over at his friends who did not like the sound of Tanner's idea but knew it was the best way to go.
"I accept the challenge and it must be a fair fight, only one weapon for both of us," said Strider.
"Agreed, we begin this battle at dawn so be prepared like these last four days," said Tanner who then turned around like he had done when he had first confronted Strider and walked back to camp.
Strider watched him go and then turned to his friends. They all had worried looks to their faces knowing that Strider would have a fifty, fifty chance of dying.
"Alright, if I die I want all of you to fight back when they try to move in here, don't stop until the vermin are dead or if only one of you is left, you got that?" asked Strider.
They all nodded. "Good, Pawflash, go tell the rest of the hares what is happening," said Strider.
"Yes sah," said Pawflash who then disappeared down the hallway.
Strider then looked out the window nervously. "The real battle has finally begun," he said.
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A/N: Sorry it took me so long to get these two chapters up; I was banned for a week by the moderators for writing a story in script format. Hurray for me. As you can see the real battle is going to happen in the next chapter so be ready for it, I hope to have it up soon. Oh and please review, I like reviews, at least say something about the story, but not anything stupid like the story is too long or going into fits of laughter. Any way have a nice week.