--grumbling-- Right. So, howabout take two? I found an idea for Mara and Courage I already had written out that I didn't like so much, but since you guys were complaining... Don't get on my case if ya think it's lame. --evil eye--
Oh, ya, Disclaimer: Don't own anything from Redwall. Lenzon, however, and his death scene, are all mine!
Lenzon made his way back to the cave through the trees, until the branches were thinned too much --from the fire-- to continue on. He dropped to the ground and listened for any noise of vermin.
Hearing nothing, he walked on warily, cautious of any sound in the surrounding forest. He heard a rustle behind him and whirled around to confront the creature, when he felt a lasso slide down over his neck and arms.
The vermin holding the rope came out of the brush, smiling. Lenzon threw himself at the surprised ferret, kicking and scratching with his back paws. Before the ferret could react, two more vermin leaped out of the bushes and tackled Lenzon, punching him and kicking him until he fell limp. He lay on the ground, breathing painfully in spite of a cracked rib.
The ferret leaned in close to his face and growled through the bloodied nose Lenzon had inflicted.
"Ye'll pay fer that, treejumper!"
Lenzon didn't doubt it.
Courage walked along, whistling tunelessly, when he thought her heard something. Listening carefully, he took Mara out of the carrier, careful not to wake her, and set her by the generous base of a large oak.
As an afterthought, he covered her with a layer of loose leaves before dropping the rest of his equipment and doubling back to check the path. He listened, but there was no other sound. Chiding himself for being paranoid, he walked back to where his sister lay.
A lean ferret, obviously starving, was bent over the packs, looking for food. Courage roared and thundered towards him, but the ferret coolly picked up the sleeping babe and pointed his hitherto concealed dagger at her throat.
"One more step, stripedog," the ferret said dangerously, moving the dagger closer to Mara.
Courage skidded to a hasty stop, thinking fast. Luckily, no plan was needed, for at that moment, Mara woke up. She blinked and yawned as she usually did, but then noticed something different.
Courage wasn't holding her.
He had been replaced by a scary looking creature! Instantly she shrieked at the top of her lungs, catching the ferret off guard. Courage took his change and jumped forward, knocking the dagger out of his hand with one swipe of the paw, and knocking him senseless with another.
He picked up Mara and kissed her forehead.
She giggled.
Lenzon was dragged into camp, battered and bruised considerably, as a combination of the bumpy ride to the camp, and the ambush. He wasn't there long before he was taken into a large tent of someone named Sinew.
Lenzon's captors exited the tent hurriedly, muttering laud toward a large silver wolf seated in an ornate chair. Lenzon was still tied, but he managed to sit up and glower at the smirking face of the vermin.
"Do you know who I am?" the wolf asked slowly, in a melodious tenor.
"Does it much matter?" Lenzon replied spitefully.
The wolf chuckled dryly and leaned forward.
"I suppose not. Well, I am Sinew, and-- ah, it is time for the execution."
The wolf called the guards, who untied Lenzon and led him to an arena of sorts. A large circle had been drawn into the dirt with two posts in the middle. Already, a crowd had gathered, though the guards muscled their way through until they were standing, facing the two posts, at the edge of the circle.
Moments later, a tall, thin ferret ferret with a hooded face, and carrying a large bow and quiver, slid through the crowd and waited next to Lenzon.
Soon, a squirrel, already beaten badly, was led into the circle and tied to the posts: his left paws to one post, and his right paws to the other. The creatures cleared the circle and waited at the edge.
The ferret drew back his bow and fitted an arrow to it, aiming carefully. Horrified, Lenzon turned away, but he could not block the sickening thunk from his ears. Wait, it shouldn't have thunked, he thought, lifting his head.
The squirrel had an arrow in his left paw.
Torture! Lenzon thought, eyes widening. The cruelty of vermin was astounding. He knew now, that he would be next.
The ferret followed the first arrow with three others: one to each paw. The squirrel, however, made no noise, though the crowd cheered after each successful arrow.
Sinew stepped out into the arena and questioned the squirrel, as the vermin grew quiet.
"Will you swear allegiance to me before you die, squirrel?"
The squirrel's answer, though weak, was defiant.
"Never!"
Without another word, Sinew stepped back out of the circle and the hooded ferret aimed the final arrow. Lenzon watched out of respect for the squirrel as the arrow plunged into his throat.
More vermin came and untied the squirrel's body as Lenzon's guards hauled him into the circle. Lenzon fought wildly --with strength born of desperation-- but he was beaten into submission once more.
The rats tied him to the bloody posts and Lenzon steeled himself for the pain.
It seemed to take ages for the ferret to loose the first four shafts and by the time Sinew stepped into the ring, Lenzon was having trouble keeping himself from crying out in pain.
Without warning, the wolf broke out into song.
"You're here to be the one we conquer,
You're here to be the last of good,
You're here to be the one we vanquish,
You're here to be the one that dies!
But still, I'll give you a chance to save yourself,
If, you'll tell me where to go!
Mossflower is big, but surely you know,
Where there are more goodbeasts for me!
You're here to be the one to tell me,
You're here to be the one to know,
You're here to be the whining, dying,
You're here to be, unless you help!"
"So what will it be, squirrel?" Sinew asked, smiling cruelly and showing his lethal fangs. Lenzon fixed the wolf with a bold stare and spat, ignoring his pain.
"Only a spineless coward would agree to your terms, vermin!"
"So be it then. Ferret; kill him."
Lenzon swiveled to face the archer, who drew back his shaft mercilessly and fired the fatal arrow.
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