Chapter 32
Morning saw camp being packed, Mysteye suggested that they go through and hide within the very depths of the woods on the other side. By the end of the day they were ready, Mysteye and Sharpclaw went through first, closely followed by Sharpclaw's top lieutenants. Sharpclaw looked about to make sure they were alone. He sent scouts out to check the area around them. He didn't like where they were, and the scouts told him the same. He nodded and had the horde follow him. vA short while later he stopped the horde in a secluded wooded clearing. He liked this spot, the main part of a stream was here, the trees tall and with plenty of shade. He was lucky to say, as was everyone else involved. Even with the vast differences in time between worlds, sometimes they meet up. Summer was a mild affair in Maine, and it was nice and warm.
Now unlike in Mossflower, where it's perfectly acceptable to start a fire whenever you like, you need a permit in Maine. Fire in this state would become a serious problem if it spread, becoming a danger to everyone. It wouldn't take very long for the word to get out about the many cooking fires out in the woods. Sargeant Barkpaw however, didn't mind being where he was, but he needed to know more about the woods outside. He called up his best scouts and told them to scout out the woods, they did so without question. Meanwhile, a blueberry picker at the nearby grounds saw the smoke and reported it to his supervisor, who let the local fire department know about it. official wheels began to turn as a helicopter was prepped to launch to scout out the site of a possible conflagration. Barkpaw told Spearpaw about the scouts he sent out, and Spearpaw nodded, the sargeant's instincts had never been wrong before and he could use the knowledge in case he needed it. One of the scouts had gone in the direction of Sharpclaw's horde and noticed the smell of burning wood up ahead. She slowed down and hid herself behind a large tree to see what was going on without begin spotted. Meanwhile the helicopter was warming up, the crew were talking amonst themselves, 'What do you expect to find out there?' said one. 'Don't know. Hopefully it isn't anything serious.' Said the co-pilot. The first one nods. 'And if we can't see...' 'Then the ground team will report what it is. Don't worry, nothing will go wrong.' Said the pilot. The scout turned but noticed that more vermin were behind her, she hid herself so she could watch the enemy encampment.
Further up Clarry Hill Road, the fire ground team were gearing up. Water tanks with sprayers, fire gear, and a radio for each team member so they could keep in touch with each other as well as with the helicopter that would soon be joining them. Final equipment checks were done and they set off, locking their vehicles up before beginning. Over at the station, the helicopter launched and began their search. The site of interest was a mile in from the road and it would take some time to get there. The scout couldn't move, the vermin were all around her, and were starting to clear a new place for their fire when they exposed her. She tried to fight them off but they were too many for her alone. She was beaten, and thrown in front of Sharpclaw. 'Well, well, well, what do we have here? A scout?' he grabbed her by the throat. 'Tell me where the others are, and you'll live.' She struggled as she tried to breathe, his grip was like a vice to her throat. She tried feebly to get his paws off of her throat. Snarling, he threw her bodily to the ground 'You lot!' He snarled. 'Make a cage and keep her in there!' They hopped to it, felling young saplings and strong tree limbs and soon, the outline of a very strong cage could be seen. The hare, Clovesfoot, was kept under heavy guard, with a rope tied around her neck to ensure she didn't try and escape. When the cage was finished she was thrown in and the door locked shut.
Back where the ground team started a state trooper parked his vehicle. he had been requested by town rules and regulations to join the search. he was a few minutes late but they had just started. He called out and then leaving a note with dispatch, proceeded after them. he was there just in case a large wild animal tried to harm the crew of firefighters ahead of him, as well as be present if foul-play was found. Little did he know that for once he'll have to do his job. Sharpclaw's scouts started coming back in. Most of them reporting no movement until one from their rear reported strange creatures approaching. Sharpclaw got the fires put out to kill the smoke and told everyone to hide. Her hoped these were the one's he was after and left orders to have them captured upon enteriong the camp. Meanwhile the helicopter reported that the smoke was black meaning a fire, but couldn't see a thing. the ground team told the helicopter they'll report in when the reach the site. Fifteen minutes later they could see the doused campfires and reported that quite a number of people were apparantly camping and that they'll make sure the fires are out cold. The pilot in the helicopter acknowledged and radioed in the campsite as a false alarm and that they were returning to base. the ground team shut their radio's off and set about their work, but couldn't fail to notice that there was no sign of tents ever being there. mary, the team leader, after she doused a couple pits, started looking around. She noticed the cage and went over to look in, but one of her teammates called her away. they were all in the middle of the camp now, working on what was obviously the largest of the fire pits. Sharpclaw understood that the creatures didn't want the woods to go up but smiled malevolently. They were where he wanted them, he whispered quietly to his captains to spread out and go on his signal. They were going to pay dearly if they werethe same creatuires from the abbey walls. He saw that his horde was in position and gave the order to take them alive.