As the Gutprow came clear of the rocks to the open shore, the broadstream ran slightly more shallow. Rows of young griffons on the deck, chained to the oars. They were being made to stand and punt with their oar paddles, digging them into the sandy shallows to push the vessel along. Vermin with whips stood over them, ready to flay the griffons if they didn't row fast enough. Rage coursed through Sunflash at the sight.

A rat, obviously the captain, was on the forward prow of the ship, tattooed from face to claws, decked out in tattered silks and brass earrings, with a broad scimitar thrust in his waistband. As he turned to face his crew, he pulled out his scimitar and roared, "Ahoy, buckos, who's the best Cap'n on land or sea?"

They cheered and shouted his name. "Captain Warpclaw!"

Sunlight glittered and trickled on his brass ornaments and shining scimitar as Warpclaw threw wide his paws triumphantly.

Whump!

The searat was thrown flat on his back as the ship stopped dead. Two crewrats sitting on the after gallery were shot backward into the water. A stricken-faced lookout came sliding down a rope and shot past Warpclaw, who was staggering upright and rubbing at the back of his skull with both paws.

The lookout hung over the bows, yelling, "She's trapped 'ead on atwixt two dirty great rocks! They wasn't 'ere when we sailed up this way! Eeeeyyaaarrgg!"

With a hefty kick from Warpclaw, the lookout went straight over into the water. Still massaging his aching head, the Corsair captain looked over at the spluttering rat in the water. "Guts 'n' tripes! Who stuck them there?" he snarled.

"Give the griffons back, seascum!"

Warpclaw whirled around. Sunflash was striding across the beach, flanked by the two griffons and Rainbow Dash. The badger's voice was like thunder as he hefted his mace. "I won't tell you twice, rat! Deliver those little ones back. Now!"

Warpclaw was a quick thinker. Forgetting his throbbing head, he leapt down amidships and pressed his scimitar to the throat of a griffon.

"Stop right there or I'll slay this'n!" he bellowed.

Sunflash and the rescuers ground to an immediate halt. The badger pointed with his mace at the trapped griffon. "I warn you, rat, touch one feather of him and you'll die!"

Warpclaw knew it was a standoff, but he had the upper paw. "Shift those boulders or I'll kill 'em all, every last one!"

The crew of Gutprow sprang to arms; suddenly the rails bristled with armed vermin. Warpclaw chuckled. "Well, stripedog, you look big enough. Are yer goin' to move the rocks?"

Sunflash could not stop his voice trembling as he answered, "Give the babes back and I'll free your ship."

The searat knew he had won. Drawing the scimitar further back, as if ready to chop, he called down to the badger, "Tell yer wot I'll do. We'll call this liddle maggot number one, then I'll keep slicin' 'em until you move those rocks!"

The wide blade glittered in the sun as he swung at the griffon.

Rainbow Dash hit the searat like a sonic rainboom! He fell backward onto the deck. Then Sunflash the Mace was aboard the ship in a flash, bloodwrath of the Badger Warrior Lords filling his eyes.

Rainbow Dash knew what was about to happen; she was powerless to stop it. Seeing the shackle that connected the slave chain, she wrenched at it madly until it clattered free, then she shrieked at the griffons, "Get clear of the ship!"

Scrabbling for his scimitar, Warpclaw rasped hoarsely at the crew of the Gutprow, "Kill the badger, rip 'im, tear 'im to shreds!"

As the crew advanced on Sunflash, the freed griffons flew away from the ship. A blood chilling roar rang out from the deck. "Eulalia!"

Gilda tried to fly to the ship, but Rainbow Dash blocked her, saying, "Stay away! Sunflash has the Bloodwrath, he's berserk! He'll kill anybeast that gets in his path!"

"But we've gotta help him fight the searats!"

Rainbow shook her head. "Sunflash can handle them on his own. If you try to help him, he might accidently kill you too."

But Gilda wouldn't listen, and Rainbow had to forcibly restrain her.

Roars, screams and chaos echoed from the Gutprow. With his back against the mast, Sunflash faced the searats six at a time. Daggers stabbed, blades swished, but none could stand before him. The mace swung and fell, whirling in arcs, sweeping like a scythe, smashing like a sledgehammer. The searats fought back with desperation, but their swords snapped like twigs as the Badger Warrior wielded his mace so fast that it was hard for the eye to follow. His strength and speed were unmatched.

Not one searat or wave vermin left the ship alive. When his terrible task was at an end, Sunflash let slip the mace from his paws and lay down in a stupor by the mast.