Author's note: I know I haven't updated Two as One for years. While my writing style is much different now, I want to keep the story mostly in it's original text. I hope you enjoy what remains of it.
Two as One Chapter 23:
CrimsonRay stood beside Sprypaw, watching as the hare finished up on his fifteenth sling that morning. He rubbed his paw along the stones that his friend had chosen and lifted an eyebrow when he noticed one of the "shell badges" amongst them.
"Spry? Why's this here?"
The hare glanced up at his friend and gave a small grin. He ran his paw along the shell fondly and nudged the squirrel.
"I was jolly well short one stone so I picked my hardest shell. It should serve it's purpose, wot."
Crim smiled softly and patted his friend's back before moving on towards the others. Kenyo had managed to dig up about four blades that had been covered in dust and dirt over the years. After careful examination and some much needed attention, three of the swords gleamed brightly while the other was shoved off to the side to be used for spearheads. Crim trailed his paw along one of the blades and grinned.
"This'll be excellent to use, Kenyo. I didn't know you knew how to take care of blades like this."
The warrior sent the squirrel a small wink and dusted a little dirt off of one of the swords. "After carrying Martin's sword for a few seasons, it was important I knew how to take care of it. You'll have to learn eventually too, Crim. At least once this is over."
The squirrel grinned slightly though on the inside, he was in turmoil. Once this was over? How did he know if he'd even be alive once this had come to an end? For all he knew, none of them would still be breathing. Still, he didn't let that discourage his answer.
"Yeah…you'll just have to teach me."
Kenyo gave a nod and went back to the blades, checking over the rejected one to make certain he could break it into a few pieces. Crim stepped away from the mouse and was about to check up on Webwinger to see if he had spotted any vermin when Malya called to him.
"Hey Crim. We finished with the spears but, we need a few more sticks for the extra beasts."
The squirrel waved a paw and headed for the door. "I'll go grab some then." Without a second thought, Sprypaw set his last sling down on the table and climbed the steps after the squirrel.
"Er, Crim, I'll go with ya, wot."
Crim glanced at him with a small smile and nodded as he disappeared outside. In the last day, Skipper had managed to collect another 10 otters to help them. They were still at the holt at the moment, thankfully, but they would still need extra weapons. They were still waiting for Fleetfoot, Ballard, and Mirage to return, but he figured they would have told them if they had had any problems.
The squirrel closed the door behind them and started through the snow, waving a paw up at Webwinger as they passed the bat. Sprypaw walked at his friend's side, paws clasped behind his back, though ready to grab the sling on his belt. The day was quite cold and both had to wrap their tunics tighter around their bodies just to stay warm. The hare looked around, tapping a paw along the trees to find loose branches. However, he didn't seem too inclined to find sticks. No, he had other reasons why he wanted to be with Crim.
Once they had traveled a fair distance away, the hare turned and put a paw on his friend's shoulder.
"Crim…wot's bally well going on with you?"
A bit startled, Crim looked up and furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean?"
Sprypaw fidgeted on his paws and glanced off towards the Abbey. From their distance, he couldn't quite make out the spirals but that didn't bother him. At least that meant they weren't close enough to be spotted.
"Well…it's just that you've been acting strange since Ebonia…well, since she died."
Crim folded back his ears and sighed. "Oh…well don't worry about it, I'm f-"
"Don't you dashed tell me yer fine, because I know you're not. Crim, wot's bally well up with you?"
The squirrel glanced up at his friend after a long moment then placed his paw on Martin's sword. He couldn't help but admire his friend. It was true, Crim was hurting a lot because of what had happened but he just couldn't show it, not now. He had been too horror stricken when Katal was killed, and then just as shocked with Weave's death. Now that Ebonia was gone, the defenders needed a beast that could keep his form, even during his time of mourning.
"You want to know the truth, Spry?" he whispered softly. "The…truth is, I miss her so much and I hate myself for letting her go off after those vermin. I should have kept her here. I should have known that she wouldn't be safe at the Abbey."
Sprypaw sighed deeply and put a paw on his friend's shoulder. It was kind of funny to think that he, Sprypaw, was talking to Crim about his feelings when normally it was Malya who had to struggle to get them to talk about it. The hare glanced off in the distance and spoke softly.
"You're still holding on to the hope that she's alive, aren't you, wot?"
Crim chuckled faintly and grabbed a stick from the ground. "Is it that obvious?" Sprypaw grabbed another and gave a valiant stance.
"You can't hide anything from me Crim. I was a Long Patrol hare once, after all." Crim rolled his eyes with a smile and stepped off to the side, heading in another direction. "Too bad you don't act like one, heh." Sprypaw shoved him and caused him to grin a little more as he glanced up at his friend. "But yeah, I guess I'm still hoping that she's alive."
Sprypaw nodded his head knowingly and tapped the stick against his chin.
"Crim…I wouldn't be surprised if she dashed ran into ya while we were out in the bally woods, wot. She's a surprising beast, ya never know." He sent a wink at Crim who gave a shake of his head. The squirrel sighed and stepped forward, a faint smile tugging on his lips.
"Come on…we have to find the sticks and head back. Malya will probably be wondering where we went otherwise." Sprypaw nodded and was about to head off when Crim called to him again. "Hey Spry…thanks." The hare gave a playful salute then disappeared behind the trees.
"Get movin' slave!"
Ebonia grunted as she was sent toppling over into the snow, a whip following and cutting through the flesh on her back. She watched as her own blood tainted the pure flakes an ugly reddish color. It had been a day since she had been taken as a slave and she already had more wounds than she could count. The vermin normally used her as their beating toy, merely because Stelumos just really didn't care what happened to her as long as she wasn't killed.
The squirrel forced her paws in the snow and rose to her knees, her black headfur stuck to a large gash on her cheek. The vermin kicked her viciously again then walked off with a laugh, his stomach jiggling. Ebonia merely rolled her eyes and picked up the block of stone that she had been carrying before the rat had sent her to the ground. It was amusing to her how these vermin, who had once been her friends, could turn on her so easily and inflict wounds just for their own sick pleasure.
She grunted and set the stone on top of another pile, glancing to her right as Sister Shlamele did the same. The healer looked thin and ragged, her once vibrant eyes blank of emotion. Ebonia couldn't blame her. Throughout the years, she had gazed into the eyes of slaves and saw the same look every time; lack of care. She knew how daily torture could break a creature's spirit. Even the torture Stelumos had inflicted upon her when she was once on his side had come close to breaking her. Now that she was a slave though, she could see just how fickle his attacks had been.
A cry from behind her caught her attention and she glanced over her shoulder as a young squirrel fell to the ground, his paws over his head. Blood streamed from his body in thick rivulets while his tail quivered in pain as Hensfloral whipped him viciously. Ebonia stared for a long moment then bit her lip. She really didn't want to be beaten any longer but this was going too far. Grabbing a thicker rock, she ran forward and hurled it at the rat. Hensfloral gave a yelp and fell backwards, paw clamped to his face. Ebonia grabbed the squirrel and shoved him forward, pushing him away from the rat as the whip flew. Once again, a new wound was opened on the maiden's body, causing her to cry out in pain. She hadn't realized that he had the barbed whip.
Yanking the metal pieces out of her flesh, she quickly skirted back towards the wall, her teeth clenched in pain. Bloody hell, was all slavery this bad? Dumb question, Ebonia, she thought ruefully. The squirrel maiden stepped over to the one she had helped and held out a paw to him.
"Come on…if they see you on the ground it's only going to give them more incentive to attack you."
With a swallow, the male gripped her paw and stood, ears flicked back. Ebonia glanced over his body and sighed as she caught sight of one of the barbs. Reaching forward, she plucked it out of his skin and frowned.
"What's your name?"
"Ashwood…Ebonia right?"
The squirrel maiden nodded and picked up another block of stone, grunting as the wounds on her back stretched. Ashwood didn't look any better from what she could see. The male did like wise and moved his block in place before leaning his head forward on the stone.
"Fine mess we've gotten ourselves into eh? Too bad we couldn't have met under better circumstances."
Though the guilt was building up inside of Ebonia again, she still gave a small nod and a smile, placing her block on top of his.
"Yes…being in slavery isn't exactly the ideal meeting, now is it?"
Brushing the blood from his eyes, Ashwood gave a faint smile and looked up down at her. He was becoming just as thin as Shlamele and Ebonia wondered if Stelumos was trying to starve them to death. Beasts didn't get this thin this fast unless they weren't allowed to eat anything.
"True…listen, I know a lot of the Abbey beasts are still upset at you over what's happened but…I want you to know, I thank you for helping us. I remember how you said that you had only done this so that we would actually survive. I guess being alive and in pain is better than being dead, huh?"
Ebonia sighed deeply and rubbed her burning paws through the snow. It was cold out, much colder than usual. However, the snow seemed to be the only thing that could keep her mind off the pain. The squirrel glanced over her shoulder to make certain that the vermin weren't watching her then nodded.
"Thanks. Welkum's trying to convince all of them that I don't mean any harm. You'd think that seeing me like this and in chains would give them a hint." Running a paw through her headfur, the squirrel lowered her voice and whispered to him. "Have you heard anything from the other slavers?"
Ashwood likewise started looking around. He reached down after a moment and grabbed her arm, leading her off towards another section of the Abbey so that it looked like they were collecting more blocks.
"A little bit. I heard that the beast attacking Salamandastron is sending a few of her beasts here in three days and then Stelumos is going to part us and force us to go with her other troops so that we can be slaves to them."
Ebonia clenched her fists and growled under her breath. Three days? That was all they had? There was no way they were going to be able to defeat Stelumos before the three days were up. If anything, she probably wouldn't even get out before that! The squirrel slammed her paw angrily into one of the stone blocks and folded back her ears.
"We can't let that happen. I'm going to have to get out of here to warn Crim soon…otherwise we're all going to be in trouble."
Ashwood nodded his head and placed a paw on her shoulder. The tender touch surprised her and Ebonia looked up with a confused expression on her face.
"I know. Like Skipper and Kenyo said, all we can do is stick together for now. Come on, we better get these blocks on the wall before they start beating us around again. We're only making them physically stronger by giving them beasts to whip."
Ebonia found a faint smile twitching on her lips as she picked up another block.
"Well, muscles are probably the only thing they have as an advantage. It's certainly not brains." She motioned to Hensfloral who was still trying to figure out how to get his whip off of his arm without tearing the flesh from it. Ashwood smirked slightly then stepped away from her side.
"You have a point there…Let's hope it stays that way."
Stelumos watched Ebonia with narrowed eyes as she traversed along with one of the Abbey slaves. That was unlike her…surely she hadn't made friends with these beasts right? Shaking his head, the mink called over his shoulder at Wraith. The ferret had returned the night before and was waiting orders on what to do about the defenders.
"Take a squad of vermin out and kill them. I want the otters and mouse brought back as slaves as well as that bloody red squirrel. The rest, ya kin destroy and do wot ya want wit them."
Wraith jerked a bit in surprise and scuttled up closer to his leader. "Are you sure that be wise me lawd? If we split our troops away, we could lose quite a few ta the warriors." The ferret immediately regretted his words and gasped as Stelumos whirled on him, smacking him across the face and sending him tumbling backwards.
"Wot did I tell ya about questionin' me orders! Take A SQUAD not half the bloody troop and find them! Don't make the mistake of angerin' me again Wraith or you'll join the squirrel in slavery!"
With a whimper, Wraith headed for the door, keeping his head down and his paws wrapped in his robes. The whole time he moved, he muttered rapid apologies.
"Sorry sah, right away sah."
Stelumos sneered in disgust then glanced off towards the slave line again. He was about to walk off and check on the wall productivity, when a thought came to him. Rubbing his chin, he called to Wraith again.
"After ya send the vermin off, I wancha ta grab Ebonia fer me. I think a little mental torture would be a nice touch."
Wraith grimaced and gave a nod before heading out the door. He didn't want to go near the black squirrel. The last time she had almost killed him and he wouldn't put it past her for her to try it again. Stelumos watched the ferret got then stroked his chin. Everything was working out.
Ebonia glanced up from her work as she saw several vermin walk out the Abbey doors, weapons in their paws and their eyes filled with blood lust. The squirrel maiden lifted an eyebrow and tried hard not to smirk. They could look all they wanted but they wouldn't find Crim. All the caves were away from Brockhall anyway. It would be days before they returned with their news of failure. Then they'll feel what it's like to have a whip on their backs, she thought scornfully. The squirrel rubbed blood from her face and grabbed another block.
"Wonder where they're off to."
Ebonia glanced back at Ashwood and gave a smirk. "Probably off to find Crim and the others. They won't have much luck I can you that much."
The male smiled at her then jerked as he saw a ferret heading their way. Startled, he backed up and motioned to him as he rasped softly. "Vermin's coming. Look active."
Ebonia sighed and carried the stone over a few feet, lifting so that she could put it on top of another pile. Before she had the chance, the vermin's paw grabbed her shoulder and whirled her around. Ebonia lost her grip on the stone and it fell to the ground, an inch from hitting their footpaws. The squirrel looked up and growled as she found Wraith glaring right back at her.
"Stelumos wants ta see ya, wench."
Ebonia pulled her arm away and bared her teeth, paws bunching into fists. "You can tell him to go to hell gates for all I ca-"
Wraith struck her across the face and grabbed the front of her tunic, dragging her close so that her nose was barley an inch from his own. "You'd best learn some respect wench or yer gonna end up in a lot of trouble."
Ebonia sneered and spat blood into his eyes. That was the last thing she should have done. With his nerves on edge, the ferret wasn't in the mood to deal with the stubborn beast. His paw reached into his tunic and he pulled out a dagger. Before Ebonia could do anything, he stabbed the blade into her arm and then wrenched the injured limb behind her back. The squirrel cried out in pain and almost dropped to her knees. Only Wraith's firm grip kept her standing. "I told ya not to test me, Ebonia. Now yer goin' ta Stelumos whether ya like it or not."
Yanking her arm, he pushed her towards the Abbey. He removed the dagger with his other paw and slammed it into his scabbard, blood and all. Ebonia gritted her teeth in pain and found that it was hard to breathe with her arm incapacitated as it was. Bloody vermin, bloody horde, bloody Stelumos! She'd kill him one of these days, she swore.
Once the pair had walked into the Abbey, Wraith flung Ebonia to the ground then headed off after the vermin. He'd done his part; Stelumos could have his own fun. Ebonia struggled to her knees and clapped a paw around her bleeding arm, her ears folded as she stared at Stelumos. The mink was standing calmly by the great tapestry, his eyes wandering along the picture of Martin and the different pictures of vermin.
The squirrel maiden bit back a growl as she watched him. She couldn't believe that she at one time had served him loyally. He was nothing from a monster and she was sorry that it had taken Bemal's death to make her realize that.
Slowly, the mink turned around and let a murderous glare rest upon Ebonia. Long dangerous claws tapped Doomsfate's hilt as he stalked closer to her, a malicious smile coming to his face. The squirrel hated when he gave her that look. It usually meant he was about to hurt her, or he was going to tell her something that would more than likely come close to driving her over the top.
Unfortunately both were about to happen.
Stelumos's paw snaked out and grabbed the squirrel around the neck, dragging her to her paws. Ebonia gurgled and fought to take in a breath of air, but he wouldn't allow her to have it, not yet.
"I know…where yer friends are, Ebonia," he hissed, his putrid breath filling her nostrils and causing her to gag. The squirrel maiden shook her head and kicked at his stomach. Stelumos merely dropped her hard to the ground and gave her kick to the back of her shoulder. "Stop strugglin', it ain't gonna do ya a lick of good."
Ebonia rubbed her throat ruefully and glanced over her shoulder, eyes blazing.
"Why are you telling me this? I already told you where they bloody well are!"
Much to her surprise, Stelumos began laughing, his head thrown back and a sneer on his face. Once more, he grabbed her, though only by the tunic this time. Saliva dripped off of his teeth as he bared them, his eyes gleaming.
"No you didn't Ebonia…I know where they really be. Wraith told me."
Ebonia felt her blood turn cold. Wraith? Oh fates no. Of all beasts he would be able to find where Crim and the others were hidden. The squirrel maiden tried to keep the look of surprise off her face and merely growled.
"Then he's a fool. I told you the exact lo-"
Once more, Ebonia was sent careening for the ground, her head smacking against the stones painfully. The squirrel managed to turn over before Doomsfate was pressed up against her throat.
"No you didn't. Ya said that they were hiddin' in a cave. I know they be in a tree hideout. Wraith saw it fer himself."
This time, Ebonia could find nothing to say. Surely he had to be lying but…how could he have come up with the fact that they were in a tree? The squirrel maiden tried to push the sword out of the way but he pressed it further into her neck. "Wraith be off right now ta destroy yer little friends, Ebonia. It won't be long afer I have that bloody red squirrel as a slave as well….and then I'm gonna kill him in front of ya!"
With a cry like a wounded wolf, Ebonia shot her paws out at Stelumos's legs. The mink pulled back with a start, toppling to the ground like Ebonia had done so many times already. He grasped the sword firmly as he fell and swiped out at the squirrel, catching her in the ankle. She fell to her knee and kicked out at him again before going down to all fours. Granted, she couldn't use her forepaws well but at least her hind paws had been unchained because of the work she was forced to do.
She had said that she'd die to help the Abbey and if that meant dying trying to warn Crim, then so be it. Before Stelumos could grab her, she sprinted out of the room, slamming right into IceEye as he tried to walk inside the Abbey. The fox fell back with a grunt, eyes wide in surprise as he watched the squirrel maiden sprint for the stairs. What in the world?
Ebonia panted heavily as she struggled to get her arm to work. It hurt so badly because of the stab wound, but she didn't care. She was going to get out, and she was going to get out now! The figures of a few vermin appeared out of the corner of her eye as they started running towards her but she ignored them. Her goal was to get to Crim and by hell gates, she was going to do it.
Leaping, she started climbing up the stairs on all fours, Stelumos's voice raging behind her. Vermin ran across the ramparts, trying to cut her off before she got to the wall. Ebonia bared her teeth, knowing full well that she'd probably have to fight her way out, or at least die trying. The moment she reached the top step, a vixen flung herself at Ebonia, trying to bring her down. The squirrel swung up her chains and cracked the vermin right across the face, but not before receiving a face full of claws.
Blinking past the blood, Ebonia knocked the stunned fox into another one and leapt for the wall. With a soft sssth, an arrow thudded into her paw, causing her to miss her target and crash right into the wall. The squirrel groaned and put a paw to her head, cursing as pain raced up her arm. The thump thump thump of footpaws hitting stone alerted her and she looked up as the vermin closed in on her. She only had one chance…and it was going to be painful.
Fighting back the pain, she kicked off of the ground and leapt right over the ledge, jumping for the trees. She managed to grab a branch before slipping and falling down a few more, thanks to her injured paw. Just before she hit the ground, another branch caught her chains and she hung suspended with her arms stretched above her head. Curse her luck! Ebonia kicked off of the trunk and managed to get herself free, though not without the cost of hitting the snowy ground hard. Shaking her head, the squirrel looked up at the vermin and quickly darted towards the woods of Mossflower.
She could hear the gate opening up behind her, signaling the arrival of five more vermin. If she made it to the trees, she knew that she would be fine; or so she hoped. Ebonia stumbled and cursed from the pain, blood splattering in the snow around her, leaving a clear trail. The squirrel snapped the arrow in her wrist and hurled it away before trying to work on getting her chains unlocked. So far, she just couldn't figure out how to undo the clasps.
Closer and closer the vermin grew and Ebonia suddenly began dreading that she was going to be captured. She couldn't be this close and then lose herself to these beasts! Growling in determination, she put on an extra burst of speed and leapt at the trees. It hurt like hell but she managed to scramble up into the branches, leaving the vermin behind her. Ebonia hastily wound part of her tunic around the wound so that she wouldn't leave a trail for the vermin to follow.
Once it was covered, she darted off into the trees, praying that she'd find Brockhall before the other vermin.
Crim crouched down and dusted away the snow from a rather large stick in the ground. He twirled it in his paw and nodded. This would make a good javelin and if not that, a staff at least. The squirrel hooked it on his back and was about to ask Sprypaw something when he heard cracking in the trees.
The hare looked up at him but Crim lifted a paw, silencing him. Drawing Martin's sword, he crept close to the trees and started looking through the woods, trying to figure out who or what was there. He took a step forward and was about to move away from Sprypaw when a figure shot out of the trees and jumped into the clearing. Crim gasped and stumbled back, staring in shock as Ebonia ended up in a roll against one of the trees.
"Ebonia!"
Before he could rejoice that his sister was alive, Ebonia scrambled to her paws and clamped a paw over his mouth, chains rustling.
"Shh! Shh, vermin are heading this way. They know where the others are."
Even before Crim could speak, he heard the vermin charging through the trees, their calls echoing in the dense woodlands. The squirrel looked at his sister, grimacing as he saw the blood running from her body, and the chains on her wrists. He took a step back and ordered softly.
"Keep still and hold out your paws."
Ebonia did as she was bade and bit her lip. Crim swung the blade over his head and brought it down, shattering the weak links with a soft clank. Ebonia rubbed her wrists and wavered. She had worked too hard to get to Crim and the blood loss wasn't helping. The male grabbed her gently and nodded to Sprypaw. "Hide…we'll ambush them."
Ebonia tried to protest but he put a soft paw over her lips and dragged her into the woods. He pressed a sling into her paws and whispered in her ear. "Stay in the trees and cover us. You're not strong enough to fight. We'll stop the vermin here then get to the others. We can't lead more there."
As he spoke, the first vermin stepped into the clearing, their eyes lifted to the trees as they tried to find Ebonia. Crim gripped Martin's blade and nodded at Sprypaw. The hare released two stones, knocking one of the vermin unconscious while wounding another. They started and backed up, but they didn't get the chance to flee. With a cry, both squirrel and hare tore out into the open.
"Redwalll!"
"Give them blood and vinegar!"
Crim met the first rat head on, driving his sword right through the beast's chest. Another pulled up behind the squirrel, his dagger singing as it stabbed down towards Crim's back. The blade barely touched before a sling stone from Ebonia silenced him forever.
Sprypaw smirked as both injured and healthy vermin tried to gang up on him. The wounded beast leapt at him, his sword-arching to stab through the hare. The second swung a sling stone at him, his face drawn back in a sneer. Sprypaw jumped back and kicked out one long leg, catching the first in the stomach and driving him back into his companion. The stone clacked across the hare's shoulder but he didn't notice. Instead, he launched another two stones at the beast, killing the injured one and stunning the other.
The remaining beast looked up at the two and scrambled back, his eyes wide. Unbeknownst to them, the rat reached inside of his cloak, searching for a dagger. He flipped it into his paw at the last moment and sent it sailing towards Sprypaw. With a cry, Crim knocked his friend to the ground, taking a gash across the back as the blade barely missed cutting into his bone.
Enraged, Ebonia released a stone and the vermin fell to the ground dead. She stored the sling away and leapt out of the tree, staggering as she collapsed to her knees. The squirrel looked at her brother, sighing in relief as he got to his paws, pulling Sprypaw with him. The male had a bloody gash on his back but he seemed no worse for wear, much to her relief.
Crim picked his way back towards her side and crouched down, looking over her body anxiously.
"Ebonia, will you be alright?"
"Yes, yes…now get back to the others! I don't know if the vermin have made it there or not!"
Crim looked at her again and gave a grimace. He didn't want to leave her here but he couldn't just let the others fall. Gripping his sword, he grabbed Sprypaw and motioned to his sister.
"I'm going ahead. Help her if she needs it. Don't put yourself in danger though." Before the hare could respond, Crim took off in the trees, his eyes wide and his heart thumping. If the vermin had found Brockhall already, they were in a lot of trouble. They barely had any beasts as it was and if they lost any more, he just didn't know what they would do. Though he was overjoyed to have Ebonia back, he couldn't help but worry about the others. He couldn't let them die.
He raced through the trees with all the speed he could muster, Martins' blade clanging against his waist. The adrenaline was the only thing keeping him going at the moment and blocking out the fact that he had just killed a couple beasts out there. He had been saving his sister's life, he couldn't feel bad about it. A true leader would know the right time to kill and the right to let live. He new this time was the time to kill.
Even before he reached Brockhall, Crim felt his heart plummet. He could hear cries of pain and roars of anger, telling him exactly what he feared had happened; they had been found. Growling in rage and anguish, the squirrel shot through the trees and landed not far from where Brockhall stood.
The moment he saw the battle scene, Crim felt his stomach plummet. Vermin and good beast alike had fallen to the snowy ground, some wounded, some dead. He could make out Renla reaching out and cracking vermin skulls together with her brute force. Kenyo was amongst the battle, bloody, but alive as he hacked at the retched beasts. Even Webwinger was struggling to keep the vermin away from the entrance. If they got in, all was lost.
Still, that wasn't what scared him the most. Lying in the snow not far from him was Malya, a paw clutched to her chest as blood ran between her fingers. She tilted her head and looked over at him, her eyes dim. Crim froze then and there, his fears coming true. He was leading his friends and family into death. They couldn't keep fighting the vermin like this…they wouldn't survive!
A cry pulled his mind away from his thoughts and he watched a bat plummet to the ground, his wing pierced by a dagger. The battle suddenly came back to him and Crim roared out in anger. Remember the hate he had felt towards the vermin attacking Ebonia, he sprang forward and jumped right into the battle, attacking at the vermin's backs.
At the same moment, he saw brown figures moving towards him, their rudders swinging and smacking into the heads of some of the vermin. Otters wielded javelins and hurled them at the vermin's backs, driving them deep so that they would never rise again. Crim cheered them on silently as he worked his way to Malya's side, his sword always swinging and never stopping. He couldn't afford it, not yet.
Left right, left right, the keen blade swung, severing through tunic and flesh or stabbing deep into the chest of others. Blood flowed down the vein of the sword and swarmed around Crim's paws. In that moment, he began to realize that he wasn't a child any longer. He was actually in a war and he couldn't let his childish innocence get in the way of what needed to be done. He was still young but Martin had been the same. He wouldn't succumb to his feelings. No…he had to fight for what was good, what was right.
Another vermin fell at his footpaws, clutching his throat as he gurgled through a slit wind pipe. The squirrel stood over Malya, his sword raised and threatening the vermin if they came any closer.
With the arrival of Skipper's crew, the remaining vermin turned tail and ran back towards the Abbey, leaving their dead and wounded behind. Crim glared furiously after them and motioned with a bloody paw towards them.
"Skipper! Finish them! Don't let any of them make it back alive!"
The otter stared at the squirrel in mild surprise and motioned with a paw, sending his otters after the fleeing beasts. He turned his eyes on Crim and frowned as he saw the look of lust and hate in the young squirrel's eyes. Tenderly, he reached forward and touched his shoulder.
"Crim, mate…it's over. Ya can calm down."
But Crim was far from calming down. He pulled away from Skipper and looked down at one of the vermin that was still struggling to breathe. A slow, dark smile touched his lips and he moved forward, his paws gripping the blade. These beasts had almost taken his sister from him, they had taken the lives of innocent beasts from him, and they had taken the Abbey from him. He would not let a single one of them live after this. He'd have his revenge!
The squirrel lifted up the sword and was about to bring it down when he felt a soft paw on his leg. Crim panted and looked down at Malya as she struggled to speak.
"Crim…mate…don't. If ya…kill him like this…y..you'll just be like one o them. Don't do it…don't Crim…please."
Crim stared at his friend for a long time, the sword shaking as if it was goading him on to release his fury on the dying vermin. Still, somewhere in the back of his mind, the voice of reason whispered to him and he began to realize what he had been about to do. His paws shook and his face twitched into one of shock and horror. Slowly, he looked down at the blood coating his paws and then at the vermin. The beast breathed in once, released it, then breathed no more.
Slowly, Crim dropped the blade to the ground and fell to his knees, eyes wide. They landed upon the slain bodies of both enemies and allies. They took in the blood that had been spilt over a once purely white ground. As he knelt there, Crim began to realize just how ironic it was. Not only had the snow been tainted by this cruel deed, but so had his heart. He had given into his anger and hate just because of what had happened. That wasn't the act of a true warrior, or a true healer. That was the act of a child.
Crim fell back on his haunches and just stared forward, blood dripping from wounds that he hadn't realized that he had even acquired. Softly, so that he was the only one that could hear it, the squirrel whispered.
"What have I done?"