Two As One: Chapter 19
The vermin slowly circled around Eon's motionless form, intent on making certain the bat was truly down. The weasel that had fired the deadly arrow slinked forward and smiled wickedly as he saw the arrow lodged near the bat's chest. It had been an easy shot for an archer, but for a beast that was just learning how to use a bow, that was a lucky hit. Snickering to his cronies, he prodded the fallen creature with his bow and winked to a fox beside him.
"Ha, nailed 'em dead on. Bat didn't even stand a chance, heh." The fox rolled his eyes in annoyance as he bent down to see if the bat had anything on him.
"I coulda made that shot blindfolded," he gloated. Without so much as a second glance at his fellow horde member, he rolled the bat onto his back. He gazed into the fallen creature's face and slowly moved his paw to take the arrow out of the bat's chest. Might as well save the arrow for another bat. The creature's wing was in the way of the blade so he didn't think much of it as he yanked on the feathered shaft. The moment it moved, Eon's eyes suddenly flew open and he swung a clawed wing at the fox's face.
With a yelp of fear, the vermin stumbled backwards as Eon got to his clawed wings and threw the arrow to the ground. There was nary a trace of blood upon the silver tinted tip. The vermin, their faces registered in shock, quickly took a step away from the dangerous looking bat. How could the arrow not have killed him?! The weasel archer that had fired the shot backed up until a voice rang clear in his ears.
"What in the name of hell gates is going on out here?" Turning his head, he watched as a tall, milky brown pine marten walked out of a nearby tent. She was taller than most of the vermin, which was a bit of a surprise, and held an air of royalty around her figure. A golden cloak swayed over her blue tunic as she stomped towards the unfortunate weasel. The moment she came to his side, the vermin recoiled in fear.
"Well? Answer my question one of you!"
"Mi…milady, Falamia, dis bat wos flyin' to dat dare mountain and we shot 'em down but he ain't dead and…." The pine marten rubbed her eyes in annoyance. How was it that no vermin leader was able to find good help these days? Snarling, she grabbed a spear from one of her retreating troops and pointed it at the bat.
"Well kill him then! He's just a bat!"
"What do you mean I'm a cat….a cat? I'm a bloody bat are you blind…you blind?"
Falamia looked down at the creature on the ground, his eyes glittering furiously as he stared up at the pine marten. She blinked in surprise and was about to speak when one of her vermin snorted.
"She did call ya a bat! Wot are ya deaf?"
"Death? I'm not dead you wrinkled faced rodent…rodent."
The fox that had spoken earlier rubbed a paw on the back of his neck and glanced over at Falamia with a sneer.
"Think the 'ol geezer really is deaf. Ha! Come on bat, let's see ya fly, or do ya hit things in da air?"
Eon rolled his eyes in annoyance then suddenly spread his wings with a screech. Startled once again, the vermin backed up, unsure of what to make of this strange creature. Eon couldn't believe the stupidity of those around him. No wonder he had been such a great warrior when he was young. All of the vermin he faced were idiots! Shrugging his wings he turned to look at the fox.
"Why don't we find out slobber nose…nose." Without waiting for a reply, Eon suddenly leapt forward and caught one of the thermals coming from the seawater. The wind filled his wings and he rose in the air, flapping for all he was worth towards the mountain. Falamia stared at him for a brief second then shoved the weasel that had taken aim earlier.
"Well don't just stand there gawking! Kill the beast!" Immediately, five of the vermin took up their bows and fired after Eon, each one falling short as he flew higher and higher in the sky. The bat screeched down at them and soared towards one of the high open windows. As he got higher though, a huge gust of wind knocked him off course and he went spiraling towards one of the lower windows, his wings wrapped around his body and his screech dying on the wind.
"I say, wonder wot all the dashed commotion is about down there, wot." A middle-aged hare muttered as he looked out of one of the upper windows. He leaned quietly on his spear; his heavily sleep laden eyes watching as several vermin shot arrows at some unseen sight. Vermin…such odd creatures. It was sometimes hard to believe that they were even close to overrunning Salamandastron's Long Patrol force. A younger male hare shook his head as he leaned against the windowsill.
"Don't dashed know sah. You know those vermin types. They'll sometimes shoot at their own flippen shadows wot!" The elder shook his head and turned to walk away from the window.
"Well as long as they aren't attacking us I'm fine and flippen dandy with wot they do..wot wot." The younger one laughed quietly and was about to reply when a dark shape suddenly came into view. The hare stood up a bit more and narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the figure.
"Hey Sarg, wot do you suppose that is?" The elder looked over his shoulder and glanced up at the sky a split second before he dove to the ground. The younger one wasn't so lucky and before he knew it, he was tumbling head over heels with a bat in his arms. Both rolled a few times before ending up in a heap several feet away from the window. Sergeant Galamore looked over at his son as he slowly disentangled himself from the bat's wings. He rubbed a small lump on his side and looked down Eon in surprise.
"Wot in the flippen world? If there aren't vermin there are bats! Where did he come from?!"
"Mount Bat Pit no doubt, lad. Come on, up you go." Galamore gently lifted Eon from the ground, the bat shaking his head to rid himself of dizziness. Quietly he glanced up at the hare and blinked a couple of times.
"Have you seen three others like myself though a bit younger…younger?"
"There are more of you here?!" Galamore held up his paw to stem his son's startled question as he shook his head.
"I don't know, wot. We've been up here most of the night and no bats have jolly well come through any of these windows." Eon was about to reply and ask while the hare had asked him how to sew when he heard a screech down the hall. Shaking his head, he stretched his wings and began to fly away while calling back to the two hares.
"Thanks anyway…anyway." And then he was gone. Galamore shook his head with a soft chuckle as he and his son turned to look out the window again..
"Dashed odd creature wot. Ah well, ain't as bad as vermin so I won't complain."
Mirage led her small party through the upper rooms of Salamandastron. She had planned to land somewhere near all the other hares but unfortunately; it was kind of hard to determine which window was which. The bat moved through one of the open doors then gazed down a flight of stairs that would in no doubt take them to where the other hares were residing.
CloudDancer followed right behind her leader but Kestra lingered behind. She stood beside the window, her wings pressed against the cool stone and her eyes brimming with tears. She wanted to be with her grandfather so badly but the thought of him lying amongst all those vermin while bleeding to death was enough to make her heart snap. The young bat rubbed a wing across her eyes and slowly made her way after CloudDancer who was standing at the door waiting for her. She didn't even look up at the white bat. Instead she walked through and followed Mirage down the steps to the second level from the top.
The grey bat looked up and down the halls and was relieved to find that the hares were traveling towards them. The badger lord must be close she thought to herself with renewed hope. Mirage looked over at her two companions, her expression trying to remain plaintive but it was getting harder and harder as she watched Kestra. She was fond of the little bat and she didn't want her to be so upset, but for now, they had a war to worry about. Mirage stretched out her wings and as a tall male hare went running past, the bat moved into the hall, calling to him.
"Might I have a word?"
Startled, the hare whirled on his footpaw and pointed a spear at the bat who merely raised an eyebrow. Seeing that it wasn't a vermin, he slowly pulled back the weapon and narrowed his eyes.
"What are you dashed doing hanging in the flippen halls?"
"I need a word with your badger lord… it's of the greatest importance."
The hare sighed and let the tip of his spear strike the ground as he replied in a frustrated, almost saddened voice.
"I don't know how jolly attentive lord OakRealm is going to be…he hasn't been himself for quite some time, wot."
"We will take our chances. This regards Redwall Abbey." This got the hare's attention and he quickly nodded his head. Without a word, he turned on his heel and began walking spryly down the hall with all three bats in tow. CloudDancer flapped her wings and actually flew up to the higher ceiling of the stone hallway. She had been to Salamandastron once or twice n her life and yet it never ceased to amaze her how massive and impressive the mountain was. She looked down to the ground where Kestra was following closely behind Mirage. The young bat kept her head lowered until they all stopped at the foot of a large door. The hare tapped his spear on oakwood and called out in an official tone.
"Sah, there are a few creatures out here who request an audience with you, wot. It regards Redwall abbey and they say it-"
Before the hare even got to finish, the door flew open and the impressive form of the badger lord loamed above them. He looked more worn and exhausted than when Valena had met him, but he still caused the three bats to slink backwards in shock at his great might. OakRealm narrowed his eyes and stared down at the three before speaking in a gruff tone.
"How do I know you are from the Abbey?" CloudDancer hesitated for a moment but knew that as long as she had SkyBreeze's emblem, the badger probably wouldn't harm her. The bat moved forward and held up the necklace as she spoke in her typical, whispered voice.
"A young hare named SkyBreezegave this to me so that you would that we are form the Abbey…Abbey." OakRealm leaned forward so he could get a better glimpse to make certain that the bat spoke the truth. Sure enough, there was his family emblem along with a badger inscription on the back of the necklace. Nodding his head, he stood up again and motioned to his chamber.
"Come in then. You can leave the door open Corporal. Tell me when General Burk gets back."
"Aye sah!" The Corporal saluted smartly then disappeared down the hall in a matter of seconds. Mirage watched the hare leave and waited until the badger motioned to a chair she could rest upon. In turn Mirage nodded to CloudDancer who moved forward to speak. The badger lord raised an eyebrow at her and started the questioning.
"So you are visiting from Redwall Abbey? How is everything over there? I hope the troops I've sent have been a bit of help." CloudDancer sighed deeply and shook her head.
"Redwall has fallen my lord… ,y lord." OakRealm sat completely silent at the shocking news. His features remained impassive and he didn't appear to have changed at all at the news, save for the gleaming red that began to grow in his eyes. Still, the news was like a punch to the stomach. The badger took a deep breath and placed a paw to his face, rubbing it ruefully as he responded.
"Have many have died and do you know if my five troops are still alive?'
"They are alive and well my lord and I know not how many have died…have died. A resistance is forming in Mossflower but they barely have any troops…troops-"
"How many do they have?" OakRealm cut in sharply. CloudDancer lowered her head and counted silently before responding.
"Fourteen if you count me…count me."
"Twenty five bats are also being sent to the Abbey under my command, OakRealm," Mirage interjected in a humble voice. The badger raised an eyebrow feeling quite bemused.
"Nightscree is actually sending some of his troops to help? I would have thought that he would just keep them hidden away from the battle." Mirage coughed softly in her wing to hide the frustrated look that she wanted to give the badger. Nightscree and OakRealm had been at odds for quite some time, ever since the bat had offered his services in battle and then retreated without warning, costing the lives of ten Long Patrol hares. Ever since then, the two hadn't asked for each other's services in battle and they were often at odds with each other.
"Yes, he is sending help because he doesn't wish for this battle to expand to the mountain as well as to Salamandastron. As my young friend here has told us, if the vermin at Redwall side with those here, Salamandastron may fall and therefore the battle will unfold at Mount Bat Pit. We want to stop the source of the problem before it spreads, and before it's to late. I know that your troops are falling be-"
"We are having problems yes but the mountain will never fall to the vermin," OakRealm growled and got to his paws. The badger was a stubborn creature at times and didn't like to admit defeat. He knew full well that his troops were losing ground and their nerve. Salamandastron was a strong hold but even they couldn't stand up to all the vermin just outside their door. So many of the hares had already fallen, that was why he hadn't been able to send more to Redwall in the first place.
The badger rubbed his eyes and stood with his back to the bats. All three stayed silent for a brief period of time until CloudDancer spoke up again.
"I understand the situation you are in but the Redwallers are asking for help and they are seeking it from you…from you." OakRealm didn't even respond. The badger turned around and looked into a hall where four hares were bearing a stretcher with a fallen hare upon it. The Corporal who had spoken to him earlier slowly moved beside the door and nodded to the stretcher as he whispered in a voice filled with grief.
"General Burk has returned…wot." OakRealm closed his eyes in pain and he slowly sat down on one of the chairs. That was the third general that week that he had lost to the vermin. It seemed that they were losing more and more by the minute. It was a wonder to him that Salamandastron still hadn't fallen. Even inwardly he couldn't keep up the hope that the mountain would stand.
The three bats watched the badger closely, Kestra close to tears as she thought about Eon again. The atmosphere around Salamandastron was one of sadness and despair as hare and badger alike mourned the loss of friends and family. Mirage lowered her eyes to the ground until OakRealm finally spoke.
"I cannot give any aid to Redwall. We're barely able to hold Salamandastron up as it is and I can't risk any more hares who might be shot down while they leave…You must understand that I have duties to my mountain and to my troops. I cannot allow them to go and fight another battle while their friends and family are dying here at home. If…If we can defeat this menace we'll join you but for now, I can't help you."
"But-" OakRealm lifted a paw, silencing CloudDancer's protest.
"I'm sorry but that's how it must be. I understand that Nightscree has sent aid but he's not fighting a war right now; we are. Give Redwall my condolences and tell General Fleetfoot that he and the other four will remain at Redwall and under no circumstances will he travel back to the mountain."
CloudDancer sighed deeply as did Mirage. They both understood the badger lord's words but they couldn't believe that evil was beginning to win over the good beasts. They had lived through battles before, always believing that good would prevail. What was happening now? Mossflower was falling apart, Salamandastron was fading and they just knew Mount Bat Pit would collapse soon after.
Mirage glanced over at CloudDancer and opened her mouth to speak when a whistling noise caught her attention. Without warning, a fire arrow arced into the room and struck the table where the badger lord was sitting. Kestra gave off a screech of fright while OakRealm smothered the flames quickly. Mirage flew over to the window and looked outside as glowing lights began to appear. As soon as her eyes focused down below, she screeched out to the badger.
"They're lighting fire arrows and getting ready to charge!"
OakRealm fairly knocked over the table as he rushed to the bat's side. Gazing down at the attacking army, the badger turned and began to roar out orders as he ran towards the hall. Mirage stayed near the window a moment longer then glanced down at the two female bats who were looking at her anxiously. She thought about the words the badger lord had spoken before she made her decision.
"Let us fly back to our warriors. Like OakRealm said, it's our duty to protect our troops. While the hares fight, we'll fly away and try to give as much aid to Redwall as we can." She glanced over at Kestra and spoke in a softer voice. "We will also mourn for Eon once we are safe. Now come, we don't have much time left."
The two bats needed no second bidding. Both spread their wings and followed Mirage out into the hall in the same direction they had come. Kestra moved closer to CloudDancer and sighed deeply. This was the first battle she had ever been in and now with Eon lost, she didn't even know if she wanted to try and help the Abbey. She didn't want to see creatures die or fall to arrows like her grandfather had. Life was important to her. Fighting just didn't seem to solve anything-
WHOOMPH!
Kestra fell back to the ground with a thud as something collided with her. Screeching in fear, she tried to scramble away from the creature until a soft voice filled her ears.
"Kestra why are you so afraid…afraid?" The young bat immediately stopped struggling and looked up into the kind eyes of Eon. Before the aged beast could even move, Kestra wrapped her wings around him and screeched in joy.
"You are alive….alive!" Eon folded his ears back and struggled away from his granddaughter with a faint laugh. CouldDancer and Mirage came to the elder bat's aid by gently pulling Kestra away from him. The grey female smiled softly and nudged Eon's wing as she headed towards the window.
"Pulling one of your old escape techniques, aye, my friend?"
Eon rubbed a wing over his ears and nodded slightly as he moved to her side. In his earlier days, he used to be one of the best con artists when it came to battle. He knew how to get out of every scrape without getting a scratch on him and even in his old age, he still knew how to pull some of the old tricks. Winking, Eon stretched his wings and prepared to fly.
"Aye, the vermin didn't even know what hit them…..hit them."
With a screech, Eon leapt from the window followed by his female bat companions who were trying to keep down a laugh.
Crim stood quietly with his arms folded across his chest as he looked out into the depths of Mossflower. The door of Brockhall was shut behind him, drowning out the sounds of the arguing beasts that resided within. The young squirrel pulled out Martin's sword from his back and looked into the keen blade with a sigh. Ebonia had returned hours ago and told them what had happened at the Abbey. The prospect that the Abbey beasts might be sold into slavery had lowered moral and turned a calm personality into an enraged one. The squirrel had finally grown so sick of it that he walked outside to think.
Quietly, Crim turned the fabulous blade over and over in his paws, just watching as the snow danced across the wintry cold metal.
"Martin, I don't know why you chose us for this and I don't know why I'm the one holding your sword. By the claw, I can't even be in the same room as the others, how can they expect me to be a leader when….I'm not there to decide on what to do? Sometimes I wonder if you've made a mistake about me…I know I was the one that received the poem and everything but…now they want me to lead. I am no leader…I'm just a squirrel that wants Mossflower to be rid of all tyranny and to have my family back together. How does that make me a leader?"
"Crim, it gives you a purpose to fight for what's right." The sun squirrel glanced over his shoulder as Ebonia slowly closed the door behind her. The ebony maiden looked into the snowy sky, ignoring the cold wind that was biting at her fur. Crim watched her for a long moment, his ears folded back against the cold. Slowly, he sheathed the blade and shook his head.
"Don't you have a purpose to fight to Ebonia? I mean, Stelumos killed our family and your friend….so why aren't you the leader?"
The squirrel laughed softly and shook her head as a snowflake fell upon her nose. She reached into Crim's sheath and pulled out Martin's sword in one fluent motion. Looking once at the keen blade, she pressed it in Crim's paw once more and nodded to it.
"Because I am not the wielder of the sword, Crim. Malya told me a bit about this Martin the Warrior. He's spoken to both of us but I think you're the one destined to hold his blade. You have a head on your shoulders Crim and you're not blinded to reality as I was…as much as I am. Take the sword and lead us like Martin would have. I know you're scared but you want to do what's right." She gently touched his shoulder and smiled. "That in it self should make you realize why you are the perfect choice for a leader."
Crim stared at his sister as he mulled over her words. Could it be true? Could he really be destined to be a warrior like Martin? Could he actually lead these creatures into battle to save the abbey? Crim shivered. Although he wanted to do what was right, he didn't like the thought of war merely because so many creatures could lose their lives. But then again, if they hadn't fought in the past, Redwall never would have came to be, nor would Martin the Warrior have ever come into existence.
The young squirrel slowly smiled at his sister as he patted her shoulder.
"I guess you're right, Ebonia, but even leaders need advice from the creatures around him. So….I'm going to ask you first of all. You know these vermin more than the rest of us. What do you suggest we do?"
The squirrel maiden leaned against the hardwood door as she gazed into the night. Her ebony fur seemed to make her vanish from sight, save for the white furred paws that she no longer hid. Sighing softly, she pulled one of the daggers she had taken from the Abbey and began to sharpen her claws.
"Well, the Abbey is being guarded by quite a few vermin but I can already tell that they aren't formed up well quite yet. Stelumos has never conquered a fort, Abbey nor a castle before so he's still trying to adjust to it, as are his vermin. He's switching rolls of the other vermin so they're going to be confused and not quite sure how to guard this place." She leaned back and thought for a moment before continuing.
"Personally, I think it would be wise if we did a stealth attack on the Abbey, not a big one mind you… just a few beasts going in and getting some of the warriors out. I don't want to leave the dibbuns or any of them unprotected but if we want to rescue this Abbey we're going to need the guide of Skipper, Kenyo, Renla…all of them.
"Log a Log's shrews are trapped so we can't expect them to help at the moment so we'll have to make do with the creatures we can get free. Fleetfoot can hide in the shadows as well as I can so he and I should be in charge of getting some of the captives out."
Crim rubbed a paw beneath his chin and began to shake his head slowly. It was going to be extremely risky and they were going to have to take careful steps in making this plan possible. The chilling breeze filtered through his fur as he spoke softly to his sibling.
"I could work, Ebonia but we have to be careful. I mean, we'll be in a fort full of vermin, how do you expect us to get in and out without attracting attention to ourselves?"
The ebony squirrel glanced at the door for a long moment then grinned slyly.
"Well, we can pull the vermin's attention away from us. CloudDancer is probably going to come back with a small troop of bats right? Well, let the night flyers cause a distraction. Stelumos doesn't need to know we're attacking. If the bats can just fly and keep the vermin's attention away from us we can get in and get out without much of a problem. They're not going to understand how to protect the Abbey properly if they're not use to it. There may be a lot of vermin there but if we are careful, we can pull it off."
Crim stared at his sister with a small smile etched upon his face. He couldn't help but to admire how Ebonia's mind worked and how she could think of a plan so easily. The sun squirrel placed a paw on the door to Brockhall and bit his lip. They'd have to talk it over with the others first but if all went well, they could definitely pull this off and maybe help save some of the warriors. The more they had, the better the chance that they could actually free the Abbey from the mink's evil clutches.
Ebonia glanced over her shoulder at her brother and sent him a small wink. For once in her life, she felt as if there was still hope left in the world; hope that she could do the right thing. The maiden patted the long bow on her back that Valena had given her and smiled.
"Don't worry 'ol chap. We'll dashed show them a thing or two wot wot." As she spoke, she took a stance much like a Long Patrol hare. Crim laughed softly and was about to speak when-
"Are you jolly well making fun of how we speak me gel?" Ebonia jumped with a start and looked over to the right as Fleefoot came into view. Both she and Crim exchanged embarrassed glances until the ebony hare began to laugh.
"Easy in the ranks there chap and lass. I'm dashed use to it, wot. Now, hope you don't mind but I was listening in on the plan you have cooked up. Hope you don't mind me saying that it sounds like a bloomin' good one, wot. And believe me, iffn it's for a bally good cause, I'm in on getting them out of those dashed chains."
A large smile formed on Ebonia's face as the hare claimed his loyalty to them. Shaking her head with admiration, the squirrel maiden placed her paws on her hips and nodded to Brockhall.
"Well that's one down. Now we just have to convince the rest of them of this plan. I'm sure CloudDance will give us help once we explain what we want to do. It's not all that difficult nor dangerous for them anyway."
Fleetfoot nodded his head while he rubbed a thoughtful paw beneath his chin. He glanced up at the velvety black sky as if contemplating what the squirrel maiden had said. She was right though. If the bats were merely a diversion, they wouldn't have many problems so long as they stayed in the skies. The hare nodded his head as if in confirmation then spoke in a clear, crisp voice.
"Don't worry about the rest of them, me gel. Just give me a few moments to talk to them and I'll have them convinced likity split."
"I thank you for that, Fleetfoot sir, but I'd like to talk to them as well if that's alright," Crim piped up quietly. The dark hare gazed down at him and gave a very polite nod of his head.
"Of course Crim. Yer the dashed leader, I wouldn't dream of taking command away from you." Crim groaned. They could say he was the leader all they wanted but he wasn't going to believe it. Pressing a paw against the door, he muttered beneath his breath.
"I'm no leader Fleetfoot but I will speak to them." With that, the sun squirrel disappeared within the room. Ebonia looked after him for a moment then rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"That brother of mine. I can't believe he doesn't think he's a leader. You can see it in him!" Fleetfoot smiled kindly at the flustered squirrel maiden. Planting a paw on her shoulder, he spun her around and gave her a small shove towards the door.
"I know Ebonia, but sometimes a creatah needs to find out he's the leader by himself. Just give him time, me gel, he'll come around. Now, let's get down there and put this plan into action. The quicker we get more dashed help, the quicker we'll be able to rescue the Abbey."
Ebonia gave the hare's paw a gentle pat with her own before stepping into the array of light. Fleetfoot watched her leave but he didn't follow. Instead, he turned his eyes up to the stars and sighed.
"I hope Crim finds out who he is soon…because an army without a leader, taint an army at all." With a shake of his head, Fleetfoot turned around and vanished from sight.
In the distance, the army of Night Flyers were making their way steadily back towards Mossflower, unaware of the plan that awaited them.