Chapter III
Sitting up in the high, thick bows of a massive oak on the other side of the island since that morning, Imaldu mulled over his predicament. He couldn't bring his best friend along, the shrews probably hated him, andhe knew he'd never make it off the island.
'If only, there was someone who could come with me', Imaldu sighed, knowing this could not be so. If he was to take the journey, it would have to be alone.
Twigs crackling on the forest floor brought the badger to immediate attention. Searching through the tree foliage, he saw a shrew, male by the facial features. Staying silent, Imaldu watched the shrew as it began to approach his hiding spot.
"Hey you! Why don't you stop sneaking around!" Imaldu called down.
"Who says I'm sneakin'?" the shrew replied toughly, glancing about to and fro, looking for his pursuer.
"I'm up here. Anyway, as I was saying, you sure look like your sneaking. Why?"
"Yer elderly council folk tol' me to come get ye. You can come down outta there, stripey."
"I'm a badger, thankee," Imaldu corrected, slowly climbing down the tree.
"Ooh, pardon me sirrah. I feel so bad I insulted ye," the shrew sneered as he mocked Imaldu.
"Don't make me hurt you like I almost did those maids," Imaldu growled warningly.
"Aye, defenseless as they were," the shrew mumbled.
Knowing that his temper would easily rise if this shrew continued "debating" as their kind called it, the badger turned the conversation in a happier direction.
"I am Imaldu. What name do you go by, friend?"
"Ah'm Krewdy. Steersbeast of the head Goufs vessel," the shrew replied, offering his paw.
Shaking the proffered paw warmly, Imaldu took a liking to the small, yet fierce beast.
An idea suddenly forming in his mind, Imaldu casually asked," Krewdy, would you like to go on a sea venture with me?"
"Sure, Imaldu. Why?" the shrew tilted his head slightly as he asked the question.
Knowing that he could trust this beast, Imaldu told him the flat-out truth. From start to finish, until he brought the shrew up-to-date. Smiling hopefully at Krewdy, Imaldu waited for a reply from the shrew.
"Hmm... well, that's a bit of an issue. Log a Log allus used to want a steersbeast to 'ave no strings attached to the job, meanin' no wife or shrewlets, so's we'd be available at any time o' need. But I don' think 'e'd mind."
"There's just one teeny, tiny issue, Krewdy. We'll need to use one of your crews' vessels, as we only had one boat on the island, and that was when Boar left."
Sucking air sharply through his teeth, the shrew screwed his face up in concentration. A short while passed when he snapped his pawclaws and smiled brightly. "Well, Imaldu. We've gotta steal the head Goufs vessel, and food, but I'm good with boats and I'm sure you could sneak food somehow. Other than that, it's all good."
"That's great to hear. Why don't we leave in about three days time, so I can stock up on food?"
Shaking paws to seal the deal, the duo walked slowly back, talking of the soon to come trip.
The elders of the island were sitting on rush mats spread out on the floor. Strolling leisurely over to an unoccupied mat, Imaldu sat quietly, waiting for them to dish out his punishment.
"What you have done, Imaldu, is a disgrace to our kind. You not only put the lives of our badger maids in danger, but our friends the shrews too? What's gotten into you?" the head elder, Makonn glared.
"I am sorry for what I did, but can you blame me? Being followed around all day by maids with not even a tiny bit of evidence of a brain can make one very tense, you know," Imaldu commented.
"We did not ask for your cheek young 'un. For this display of behaviour to the shrews, your axe..." Makonn beckoned Imaldu over with a wrinkled paw.
"You would die before you could lay a paw on my axe!" Imaldu growled, his temper rapidily rising.
Signaling to two tough, sinewy badgers standing guard at the hut entrance with a flick of his paw, Makonn expected the badgers to grab Imaldu and knock him unconsious. What he didn't expect to happen, Imaldu saw the hand gesture and quickly turned to face the guards. Slamming his huge paws into their faces, the quick badger sent them to the ground, rubbing aching skulls as he dashed off.
"Something must be done about that badger," Makonn grumbled to the badger seated next to him.
The next few days involved Imaldu taking humungous portions of food at mealtimes. Eating a small amount and saving the rest for Krewdy and the journey provisions, they were soon ready to head out to sea. He was just finishing off a chunk of bread when Hilira (still mad at him) stood behind him.
"What's all the food for?" she asked suspiously.
"For my shrew friend. You know how hungry shrews can get," Imaldu replied, whisking away the matter.
"One shrew, eating all that? Why would he be so hungry what's he been doing?"
"Helpin' me chop firewood. If you'll kindly leave me to bring a meal to my friend, I'd be most appreciative," he answered as he tried to slip past Hilira.
Side-stepping, Hilira blocked his path. "You're not leaving here until I get the truth, Imaldu," she commanded sharply.
Peering to his left he shouted, "Hey look! Isn't that Gruhn!"
Turning her head for just a second, gave Imaldu enough time to shove her out of his way. Not stoping to see what became of his old friend, the badger held the tray as steadily as he could, considering he was running fast.
As Imaldu watched his shrew friend gobble down a turnover and swig down some damson wine, he listened.
"We've now got enough fer your venture, Imaldu. We should probly leave afore daybreak tomorrer," Krewdy explained as he finished swallowing the hasty snack.ugh fer your venture, Imaldu. We should probly leave afore daybreak tomorrer," Krewdy explained as he finished swallowing the hasty snack.
Carrying the extra food in a sack, they snuck through the shrubbery until they reached the small hidden bay where the vessels were moored. Climbing aboard, both creatures stowed the food in the cabin of the head vessel. Sniffing the salty air, Imaldu felt every bone in his body tingle with excitement at his upcoming adventure.
As his mind began to wander, Imaldu heard the sharp crackling of twigs. Turning his head in the direction of the noise, the badger soon saw a fleeting shape through the trees. Krewdy hopped up on deck soon after. Silencing the shrew with a look he pointed to the trees close to where the ship was anchored. Blinking his eyes as a sign of acknowledgement, Krewdy slipped into the shallows, helping Imaldu pull up the anchor as silently as possible.
The vessel began to drift slightly, and wielding paddles, the duo pushed the boat into the sea current, and soon the island grew small. Forcing the thought of the pursuer from his mind, the badger felt true happiness for once in a long time. Imaldu watched the only place he had ever known, as itbecame a small speck, then disappeared altogether.
To be continued...
Hope this is a good chapter. Again, I thank you for your help Ermine. Other reviewers would be a nice change from one reviewer though.
Happy reading!