Book 2 - Salamandastron.
March those hares
March those hares
March those hares and march 'em good.
Bring 'em forward,
towards the fight
They'll always win it for the right
March those hares
March those hares
March those hares and march em' good.
-Salamandastron song
Chapter 1
"Sah, it's been four seasons now. Those scouts are dead by now." Posig, the top hare in Salamandastron said.
Agen the Great, the Badger Lord shook his head. "I've never lost a hare. They may be late in getting back."
Posig was about to speak when another hare ran in, and saluted. "Sahs, there's a mouse that's collapsed by the mountain. She's wearin' an abbey habit, and has lots of blood on 'er."
Agen and Posig turned towards the new hare. "Where?" They asked.
The hare pointed towards a window. "By the woods, wot!"
Posig immediately ran out of the room, with the other hare, leaving the badger lord alone.
"Oh Agen..." A voice said mockingly.
"Who's there?" Agen reached for his sword.
There was a flash, and the blade melted.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The voice was dangerous.
"What do you want? I'm busy waiting for what happened at the abbey." Agen attempted to sound like this happened every day.
"You've been to the abbey before, haven't you? You remember that black, quiet squirrel?"
"Yes, I-" He stopped
Correy floated into the light.
"Correy? What are you doing?" Now Agen looked scared. He reached for a dagger.
"The Correy you know is in eternal slavery. He can sense everything. He just can't do anything." He smiled. "Lets see if you can die..."
He sped forwards. Clamping his paws firmly onto Agen's kneck, he squeezed.
Allayne was on the ground. Hardly breathing. The two hares reached her. Posig bent down. "Are you okay? Can you hear me?"
"Help me..." she said weakly.
Posig turned to the other hare. "Go to the infirmary. Get Sally."
The other hare ran as fast as he could, entering the building.
He ran past the room they had been in before and heard gasping. He looked in there to see what was happening.
"Now, you know what I will do to you. And, I know there's a hare listening in on this. Show yourself." It was talking to the badger lord.
The hare entered the room. "Who are you?"
"Not your concern. Now, you've been sent here to get the infirmary keeper. To help the biggest pest I've ever known. And I've known many pests, who stood in my way."
Agen was getting up. "My family forged the blade of Martin the Warrior. You will not win."
"Martin was the weakest pest I knew. He was easy to kill off."
He hare and the badger Lord said the same thing. "You didn't kill Martin."
"Yes, that unexpectd suicide. His jump from the attics was very convincing; with the note of how he wished for a son but never got one. He fought me; actually kept me from achieving my goal for untold seasons. But his spirit was too easy to defeat in his end. His sword was like paper to break."
The badger was quiet, in disbelief.
The hare looked at the possesed squirrel. "What are you?"
The squirrel grabbed the hare. "I am whoever I wish to be. Even you." He dropped to the ground.
The hare felt a tingling where the squirrel touched his paw. "No! Help!"
He went still. The squirrel fell to the ground. Correy was struggling to rise and run. Agen grabbed him. "Where are you going?"
"Please... Don't let it back into me... Please..." Correy was frightened, his only thought getting away.
The hare spoke. "Oh, I'd just track you down. You make a perfect body for me. Hares, however, are pathetically weak." He stood still again. He caught himself, falling.
"Nooooo!" Correy yelled in anguish. Please, let me be!" He ran towards the window, but stopped. He began shaking. "N-noo..."
The shaking stopped. "Fiesty young squirrel. He's easy to channel my skills through."
Agen pulled held his dagger. "Leave my mountain."
The squirrel laughed. "Why would do that when I could do this..."
The hare felt himself raising. Levitating, actually. "No! Stop! Stop!" He floated out the window, seeing the ground far below. "Help!"
The squirrel laughed. "Bye bye!"
The hare began to fall. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhnhhhhhhhh!" He screamed.
Posig heard the scream, and saw the hare hit the ground, splattering.
WA: R&R