Morning arrived under cloudy skies and a light drizzle, a nice cool day for fighting. Tanner sat in his tent polishing his sword and making sure that is was battle ready. Once he was satisfied with its sharpness, he took out his dagger and began to sharpen that too. Even though Strider had said to use only one weapon, Tanner was going to cheat and use his dagger to throw when he felt it was time, the badger could not do anything if that happened since he would probably be dead by the time Tanner got his dagger back, that's what he hoped for any way.
While he shined it, Burr walked over.
"The entire camp wishes you luck sir, Midnight would come and say good luck but she is just too nervous," said Burr.
"Tell her I love her and that I will be back soon," said Tanner who showed no sympathy in his voice but a calm and non worrying voice
"Yes sir and if you die, I would gladly take your place," said Burr.
"Don't worry, that won't happen, I am defiantly going to win this. Now if you will excuse me, I'm off to finish this battle," said Tanner as he walked out toward the battlefield that still had many bodies lying about. The wolf stopped in the middle of the battlefield and called to Strider.
"STRIPE-DOOOOOOOOOGGGGGGGGG!!!!!" he yelled.
Inside the mountain, Strider was sharpening the sword of Martin in the infirmary and talking to Lucky when he heard Tanner yell for him.
"I guess he wants to fight now," said Strider who then got up and looked out the window and the wolf who was patiently waiting.
"Is he there?" asked Nathanial.
"Yes, well wish me luck, and if I do die, protect this mountain with your life," said Strider.
"Yes sah," said Pawflash who then saluted to him.
Strider smiled and then walked down the steps where he was met by the Long Patrol who all wished him luck. Strider just nodded to them and said nothing. Two hares then opened the huge boulder and Strider stepped out.
Strider saw the one eared wolf standing on a hillock looking quite relaxed as if he knew for a fact that he would win. Strider was glad he was not like that and right now, he could feel the butterflies at the pit of his stomach.
A few seconds later, Strider reached Tanner who had an evil grin on his face, he had been ready for this since last night.
"So are you ready?" he asked Strider.
"A badger lord must always be ready for battles like these," said Strider.
"A wise thing to say, but now it is time to end this once and for all," said Tanner.
Strider nodded and took out his sword, even though it was cloudy, the sword shined like it was a clear day without a cloud in the sky. Tanner took out his; it did not shine as much but still looked quite magnificent.
The two then began their battle, first they circled, hoping to catch the other off guard. Thinking he had the right moment in front of him, Tanner lashed out with his sword, but Strider saw it coming and moved out of the way just in time. Tanner roared with rage that shook the entire beach, he then turned back at the badger hoping to find another chance.
Back up at the infirmary, Alma, Swift, Pawflash, and Nathanial watched with nervousness.
"That was a very good dodge wot," said Pawflash.
"But will he be able to dodge all of them," said Nathanial.
Lucky could hear their talking and wanted to know what was happening, but they would never answer him, finally he decided to get up.
"That bally does it, I'm getting up and watching this bally battle," said Lucky as he slowly got out of bed. Maggie tried to stop him but he ignored her. It was painful to walk over there but Lucky persisted and arrived just in time to see Tanner try to stab Strider again. Strider moved again and stabbed the wolf in the shoulder. A mighty howl could be heard through the beach.
"That was a lucky shot there stripe dog, but can you dodge the next one," said Tanner who was smiling.
"I will dodge them till you fall and the world will be a better place without you, I have heard about you from one of my Long Patrol hares, the killing you do for fun and all that," said Strider.
"But if they obeyed me, they would live," said Tanner who was now getting angrier by the minute because of this socializing.
"You are a cruel creature then," said Strider.
"Cruelty runs in the family," said Tanner who then suddenly lashed out at Strider again.
Strider did not expect this attack and was stabbed in the side. Strider roared in pain and slashed at Tanner, hitting him in the arm.
The two then started sparring as they moved left and right, avoiding the dangerous steel blades that could rip flesh in seconds. Strider was able to stab Tanner five times and Tanner was able to stab Strider four times. But the two would not give up, even though Strider did hit the wolf in the back.
Finally the two stood their face to face with the two swords criss crossed together while both creatures gave each other evil looks. Strider looked quite angry, mostly because of a small head wound he had received the day before that had now reopened and the blood was dripping down his face. Tanner on the other hand had of pure determination and he knew that to win this he had to take out his dagger now.
"Quite a battle isn't it," said Tanner.
Strider just growled, the spirit of Martin and the bloodwrath was now coursing through his veins, a determination to never give up until one had fallen and he was making sure it would be Tanner.
"Hmm I see you agree with me," said Tanner as he slowly took out his dagger that was hiding under his tunic. "But I know you will not agree once you found I had another weapon." Right when Tanner said weapon he let go of his sword and slid closer to Strider, stabbing him in the leg.
Strider roared in pain and tried to stab the wolf. But Tanner moved away too quickly and jumped on the badgers back. As soon as the wolf had both footpaws on the badgers back, he took his dagger and stabbed Strider as hard and as deep as he could in the left shoulder blade.
Strider roared and tried to grab the wolf, but the wolf was too quick and slid across and stabbed him again in the right shoulder blade. He not only did that once but twice and Strider was now roaring louder than ever before. Tanner smiled an evil smile and raised his dagger up for another blow which he planned to slice the badger down the back.
He had not expected Strider to grab him and send him flying to the ground in front of Strider. Tanner fell to the ground with such a force that the wind was knocked out of him. Tanner sat up and took a deep breath before looking up at Strider who then brought his sword down upon the evil wolf.
Strider looked down at the headless form of Tanner, and in exhaustion, fell to his knees as the rain suddenly began to fall down heavily. The battle was finally over.
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A/N: Bye bye Tanner, have fun at hellgates. Any way, the battle is finally over, but the story isn't. Two more chapters and an epilogue to go. I hope you will stay for those three because there is a small surprise at the end. Any way please review and have a great day.