Tsarmina stood on the roof of Kotir with all of her surviving weasels, stoats, ferrets, and Instant Martians. The land depression that Kotir sat in was completely flooded. Tsarmina could see the top of Marvin's spaceship disappearing beneath the water.

"We need to get out of here," said a weasel named Slinkback. "The flood is weakening the structural foundations of the building." As if to prove him right, the castle shook below them.

"But I can't swim!" Tsarmina was having a major freak out. "There's too many people up here! There's not enough room for all of us! Those alien birds have got to go!"

One of the alien birds was standing right next to her. She reached out her paw and pushed him over the edge. He sank below the water.

But a second later he popped back up! He lay there, bobbing on the surface of the water.

"Those things float, huh?" said Slinkback.

"Apparently they do," said Tsarmina.

They looked at each other. They both had the same idea.

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A few minutes later, the vermin were all in the water, using the aliens as life rafts. They held on with their paws and kicked with their feet. The Instant Martians didn't seem to mind.

But when they reached land, they were hauled to shore by the otters and Long Patrol hares.

Trubbs fished a stoat out of the water with a fierce looking pike. "Sit down there, ye great wet weasel."

"Steady on, Trubbs old chap, that's a stoat," said Harebell.

"Oh, I say, sorry. Sit there, you soaking stoat."

"Saturated stoat, don't you mean, old bean?"

"Hmm, what about the weasels?"

"Oh, actually, they get wringing wet, both begin with W, you see."

"Righto. Sit over there, you wringing wet weasel."

Lola was looking at an Instant Martian. "Gosh, I don't know what to call these guys."

Striding back and forth with his paws on his hips, Bugs Bunny addressed the defeated troops. "Okay, guys. Keep your paws on your heads where I can see 'em. Foist one to make a funny move goes straight back into that water, understood?"

Martin and Gonff were watching the proceedings. Gonff looked around. "That's funny, I don't see the cat anywhere, do you?"

Martin pointed. "There she is!"

She had paddled in the opposite direction from her soldiers and was now reaching the other side of the lake. Without another word, Martin dashed off after her.

Gonff ran after him. "Wait for me, matey!"

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Tsarmina paddled in to land and sprang ashore. With the last Instant Martian by her side, she watched the roof of Kotir vanish from view as it was swallowed up. She threw back her head in an anguished yowl.

"I have kept my promise to you, cat. Kotir has fallen!" a stern voice called out from behind her. "I am Martin the Warrior, son of Luke, friend of Boar the Fighter."

Tsarmina turned to face her foe. "So, it is you. Well, my little warrior, where are your woodland allies? Not here to help you?"

Gonff was by Martin's side. "He's not alone. He's got me."

"Oh, yes, that makes me feel so much more afraid," Tsarmina said sarcastically. "Facing two mice instead of just one."

Martin leaned upon his sword. Now that the moment had arrived, he felt only contempt. "Tsarmina, you are the queen of an underwater fortress, ruler of the fishes."

Stung by the scathing insult, Tsarmina gave a scream of rage, and dived straight upon Martin. Digging her claws into his back, she gave a mad yell of triumph, which was swiftly followed by a howl of pain as the keen blade slashed her ribs to the bone.

Gonff was about to help his friend when the Instant Martian let out a screech and flew at him. The alien picked Gonff up in its beak and flew into the air.

Locked in combat, Martin and Tsarmina strained and flailed at one another, the warrior mouse hacking at the wildcat queen, who gave back slash for thrust, bite for cut.

Her hide open in a dozen places, Tsarmina kicked out with her four paws, sending Martin flying.

Martin got back up. Crouching low with his sword held out in front, he advanced toward his foe, the red glitter of total war shining hot in his eyes, his teeth bared in a wild laugh.

Tsarmina's craven heart failed her. She started backing away from Martin, not realizing she was stepping right into the lake.

Water filled her world, dark, swirling, eddying, tugging, longing to fold her in its wet embrace, pulling her down, filling her mouth, nostrils, and finally her eyes.

Martin held his sword up. "Sleep in peace, Boar. Mossflower is free!"

The shining sword slipped from his grasp and he fell to the earth, a limp bundle.

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Meanwhile, Gonff was hanging from the Instant Martian's beak by the front of his shirt. He lashed out with his leg and managed to kick the creature in the chest, making drop him. He landed in a tree.

The strange bird was swooping down on him again. Gonff broke off a branch and waved it in front of him to protect itself. "Hey, listen, maybe we can talk things over."

But the Instant Martian didn't answer. It didn't seem to be able to speak.

Just as it was about to attack him again, the limb Gonff was standing on snapped. He fell into the one below it, but that broke too. One by one, he crashed through the rest of the branches, all the way to the ground.

He was covered with cuts and bruises. The Instant Martian flew down to the ground and stood over him.

Suddenly it fell down! To Gonff's surprise, the Instant Martian was writhing in pain on the forest floor, and its body was dissolving!

He looked up. Columbine, the pretty mouse from Loamhedge, was standing there, holding a Dip gun.

"Where did you get that?" he asked in astonishment.

"It was floating on the edge of the water. I think it came from inside the castle," Columbine said. "I saw you and Martin running after Tsarmina. I wanted to help, but that bird thing had taken you into the air before I could reach you. I just grabbed the first weapon that came to paw."

"Well, I'm glad you did, matey. You saved my life." Gonff tried to stand up, but couldn't. His legs collapsed under him.

Columbine bent over him and kissed his lips. It was the last thing he was aware of before he passed out.