Jald Nightson leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. Day after day of running straight with hardly any rest, food, or water had left him breathless and exhausted, barely able to continue. What had happened to him? Just a few years ago, he'd have been able to go twice this distance without feeling anything. Now, though...now he just felt old.

"Jald, are you alright?" Garic Riverblade's gaze turned on him. The younger otter's fur was plastered to his skin by sweat, though if he felt half of the exhaustion Jald did, he hid it very well.

"Yeah, fine," Jald grunted lightly, pulling himself back up. "Just feeling a bit tired. Nothing I can't handle. I can still keep up with you kids." He flashed a grin, but to Eroket, he must have looked like a bad actor. Ero knew him too well.

"You need to rest," The ermine replies softly, folding his arms. "You're no good if you just drop from exhaustion."

Garic gave Eroket a look. "If we stop now, we might not get there in time, Eroket."

"An hour won't make a difference, otter," Eroket shot back, "And without Jald, we might as well slit our wrists here!"

Garic pursed his lips and replied, "There's no time to waste! If my people got the message by now, there's no telling if they'll even deem this important enough to arrive! Meaning, it'll be three of us against an entire ship fleet, plus Crimson Tears, plus the Ice Wolves!"

Eroket's amber eyes narrowed sharply, "Not important enough? A border skirmish was important enough to kill my people over!"
"That wasn't our fault!"

"I have a hundred dead Calpathians who might disagree!"

"They told us you were killing innocents…" Garic replied softly, "They showed us the bodies…what we thought you'd done-"

"Save it," Eroket muttered lightly, shaking his head. "Sorry. I didn't mean to go off at you like that. It's behind us."

Jald growled lightly, "Both of you, enough. We've been through this so I don't want to hear another word of it as long as we're together. Garic, how much further away is Calishan from out position?"

The otter examined the trees for a moment. "A day or two at most. I'm guessing Jirik and the others have caught up to Calishan."

Eroket nodded. "Meaning we don't have much time now. Garic, if your people got the message and mobilize a force, how much longer could it take?"

The Iridian thought for a moment, "The same time. We have fast ships, and given the distance from Calishan."

"Meaning if they're coming, we have just enough time," Jald smiled, pulling himself up. His sword felt like it weighed a ton on his back, but he choked down any complaints. "Come on, Garic's right. Make every second count."

They started again, none willing to admit weakness or exhaustion as they sped their pace back to Calishan.

Dukat Nidas sat calmly in the main cabin of his ship, studying the charts in front of him. Calishan was a mere few days journey away and the wildcat warlord wished to conclude the business of an attack and finish the problems with the rebellions in his island kingdoms. Other corsair lords had fallen, toppled from their thrones by this Mordath creature, the son of the Droka line. The Wave Lord bared his fangs and hissed in rage. He was bound by his word before his crews ever since that blind fox had killed one of his best warriors. He'd honor his word to the master of Crimson Tears, but when their bargain was done, there'd be a reckoning with Geras. Perhaps the Ice Wolves might find a new employer more malleable in their service upon the Southern Isles?

Geras had been a help in some areas, at least, with the weapons he had supplied. Damascus Flame, for instance. Only a few even heard of it, but those who did knew what an infallible and deadly weapon it truly was. Geras had, no doubt, kept the vast remainder for himself, but Dukat didn't mind. He planned to own all that Geras did eventually.

He was taking a number of powerful ships, including his new flagship the Riven Keeper, but he had left enough to safeguard against any possible attacks from those damned rebels.

Dukat uncorked a bottle of wine and took a long pull, wiping his mouth with the back of a paw. He felt better now than he had in years. One did not become ruler of the largest corsair force in the south if one couldn't plan properly, and Dukat planned for things beyond the south. Soon indeed, he'd see his domain expand.

Though some names would have to be changed; Crimson Tears indeed.

Mordath walked the deck of his ship, watching the Islands recede in the distance, smiling lightly. "Tell me true, Mahk. Do you really think I'd do well as a ruler around here?"

The cadaverous stoat looked over and gave a light smile, leaning against the railing, watching the shining blue sea. "I've never been comfortable with rulers myself, Taren. You know that."

Mordath laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Well, it's the fighting part I'm good at. The coin counting and law making I could do without."

Mahk nodded and looked at his friend. "So, we're going to leave when Nidas is dead?"

"Yeah," Mordath nodded. "I've made up my mind. Don't try to change it."

"That's a course in futility," The stoat grinned, adjusting his gloves. "Thanks for still having time to make me my tea, by the way."

"It keeps you alive," Mordath replied lightly. "It's the least I can do for a friend, Mahk."

The stoat was silent for a moment. "You think you'd go back, even if you could?"

The fox shook his head, closing his eyes. "No. Not now, not ever. What's happened is done. Sariss'd kill me, besides."

The two shared a light laugh and Mahk smiled at his friend. "To Sariss, hm?"

"To Sariss," Mordath smiled and nodded. "When this ends, it's time to live again. I'm thinking maybe we'll go north."

"Dress warm," Mahk smiled as he watched a school of fish swim by."

"Don't need to tell me twice," Mordath laughed.

The waters were calm, even peaceful. Mordath knew, within several days this would change.

He was chasing Dukat Nidas. He was going to kill Dukat Nidas. Then he was going to leave the Southern Isles and leave their inhabitants to rule him. He was sick of war for now. Perhaps in the north, he and his men would be able to find their place.

Maybe he'd have them set up a mill. The looks on their faces when he announced that would be priceless.