CHAPTER FOUR: MESSAGES
Nitestream took the scroll from the young squirrel and unrolled it. He stared at the parchment blankly, then sheepishly handed it to Riverpike. "Here, mate...'fraid I don't have much of a flair for readin'..."
Riverpike read from the scroll to the twenty or so grown otters in the holt. "A message from Squirrelqueen Ivy to Nitestream of the southeast otter holt. I hope Amber got this to you without much trouble. You may know that a band of several hundred vermin led by three wildcats has settled in the old ruins. My squirrels were in the trees above them as they marched in. From what their leader said, the place is to be called Kotir; from it he plans to bend all of Mossflower to his will. I'm worried about the more part of woodlanders, for they are peaceful. There are two badgers still here, Bella and Barkstripe of Brockhall, not including their newborn son. However, since Boar the Fighter relinquished his rule of Mossflower, there have been no great warriors in the area. I'd like to meet with you and discuss what can be done to keep us all free. Signed, Ivy, Squirrelqueen of the Mossflower Squirreltribe. "
Nitestream patted the young messenger on the back. "Well then, young Amber, let's get you somethin' to eat before you go back, eh?"
As the squirrel gratefully dug into a salad, the otter Mudd returned, dripping. "I've been to the other four holts, and all the otter Chieftains want us to meet at the Rock. At midnight we'll all discuss what is to happen."
Riverpike grabbed a piece of charcoal and hastily scrawled a message underneath the Squirrelqueen's signature on the scroll. "The ottertribes are meeting at the Rock tonight at midnight. Have your squirrels be there, too. We'll be discussing what to do about the vermin army. If you can, have squirrels spy on the today so at the meeting we'll know exactly what's going on. Signed, Riverpike and Nitestream of the southeast otter holt."
The young squirrel Amber had finished her salad, and Riverpike gave her the scroll. "Make sure your mother gets that; it's very important!" he told her with a wink. Amber tried to wink back at the otter but only succeeded in blinking hard a few times. She stuffed the scroll back in her knapsack, and in a flash of red fur she was gone.
Nitestream held his paws up for silence and waited until his otters were paying attention. "All right, I suggest you all spend today getting your things together. If we all combine ottercrews, we're going to have to hide somewhere less conspicuous than this. Just make sure you bring only what you can carry; we travel light from now on."
Riverpike gave his wife a sidelong glance. "Looks like Riverwyte will get his chance to be a warrior after all."
Nitestream took the scroll from the young squirrel and unrolled it. He stared at the parchment blankly, then sheepishly handed it to Riverpike. "Here, mate...'fraid I don't have much of a flair for readin'..."
Riverpike read from the scroll to the twenty or so grown otters in the holt. "A message from Squirrelqueen Ivy to Nitestream of the southeast otter holt. I hope Amber got this to you without much trouble. You may know that a band of several hundred vermin led by three wildcats has settled in the old ruins. My squirrels were in the trees above them as they marched in. From what their leader said, the place is to be called Kotir; from it he plans to bend all of Mossflower to his will. I'm worried about the more part of woodlanders, for they are peaceful. There are two badgers still here, Bella and Barkstripe of Brockhall, not including their newborn son. However, since Boar the Fighter relinquished his rule of Mossflower, there have been no great warriors in the area. I'd like to meet with you and discuss what can be done to keep us all free. Signed, Ivy, Squirrelqueen of the Mossflower Squirreltribe. "
Nitestream patted the young messenger on the back. "Well then, young Amber, let's get you somethin' to eat before you go back, eh?"
As the squirrel gratefully dug into a salad, the otter Mudd returned, dripping. "I've been to the other four holts, and all the otter Chieftains want us to meet at the Rock. At midnight we'll all discuss what is to happen."
Riverpike grabbed a piece of charcoal and hastily scrawled a message underneath the Squirrelqueen's signature on the scroll. "The ottertribes are meeting at the Rock tonight at midnight. Have your squirrels be there, too. We'll be discussing what to do about the vermin army. If you can, have squirrels spy on the today so at the meeting we'll know exactly what's going on. Signed, Riverpike and Nitestream of the southeast otter holt."
The young squirrel Amber had finished her salad, and Riverpike gave her the scroll. "Make sure your mother gets that; it's very important!" he told her with a wink. Amber tried to wink back at the otter but only succeeded in blinking hard a few times. She stuffed the scroll back in her knapsack, and in a flash of red fur she was gone.
Nitestream held his paws up for silence and waited until his otters were paying attention. "All right, I suggest you all spend today getting your things together. If we all combine ottercrews, we're going to have to hide somewhere less conspicuous than this. Just make sure you bring only what you can carry; we travel light from now on."
Riverpike gave his wife a sidelong glance. "Looks like Riverwyte will get his chance to be a warrior after all."