Lucar and Birchleaf had stayed at Ashtwig's estate for three more glorious days. The constant sound of the waterfall helped lull Lucar to sleep every night, the food was excellent, and the glades that Ashtwig ruled were beautiful, and made ideal picnic spots. Then, the peace was shattered. An otter scout ran through the gate, approaching Ashtwig in his study and telling him what he had seen. Ashtwig's eyes narrowed as he heard the news. He stood up and gestured to an otter guard. "Send for Birchleaf and Lucar at once."

When the two young creatures were brought forward, they were puzzled. Birchleaf voiced what they both were thinking. "What is it, Uncle? Is something wrong?"

Ashtwig looked gravely at them. "Your village has been attacked by vermin from the sea."

Birchleaf looked as though she was about to faint. Lucar turned to Ashtwig. "We'll need a boat to get there fast enough. There's a river here that goes to the sea, correct?"

Ashtwig nodded, and gestured for another otter to take the two young ones down to the dock that was near the western border of his lands. They were given five day's worth of food, and Lucar was briefed on the basics of sailing by Rockpaw as Birchleaf and two other otters readied the boat. "We don't use this boat often, but it'll help. It's fast, and it's light if you have to carry it over land. Don't stop for anything. If the river's high enough you'll make it to the coast by nightfall."

Lucar nodded. The boat was readied. The two youngsters got in, and the moment before Ashtwig slit the mooring rope, he said, "Be safe." The boat shot off down the river, the small sail billowing in the forceful breeze, the boat itself being carried along by the current.

Lucar turned to Birchleaf, shouting above the noise of the water. "How do we know that this river is safe?"

Birchleaf turned to him, her face grim. "My uncle and his otters agreed that it was the safest way to get to my home." Lucar nodded, and for hours nothing else was said between them. True to Rockpaw's words, the moon was beginning to rise when the boat finally exited the river with a great rush of spray, and both youngsters searched frantically for any sign of where the village would be. Lucar quickly spotted flames, and the two leapt out of the boat and onto the beach, running as soon as they hit the sand. They were only a short distance from the settlement, and thus it only took them a few minutes before they came to the burning village. Bodies lay everywhere, many with their eyes open in shock. They ran from dwelling to dwelling, calling for any survivors. There was no answer. They were about to give up hope when one of the bodies moaned. They ran to it immediately. Birchleaf gasped. It was her father.

The squirrel looked at her through eyes that suggested that he was dying. "Birchleaf. You came back."

"Yes father, I came back. What happened?"

Her father attempted to sit up, but Birchleaf supported his back as she held the dying squirrel. "There were hundreds of them! Ripping, slaying, laughing… We didn't stand a chance."

His eyes began to mist over. Birchleaf saw this and shook him frantically. "No, father! Don't give in!"

Her father turned his head towards her, stretching his arm up and caressing her cheek with it. "No, daughter. My time is over." His eyelids began to flutter. "Be well…Birchleaf." His head lolled to one side, his eyes closing as his life left his body.

Birchleaf held his body; her eyes wide open in shock. "Father…" she whispered, giving the body a small shake. She spoke again, louder this time. "Father!" Her voice rose to a heart-rending cry. "Father!"

Lucar looked out to sea. "There's a ship coming in. We have to hide."

Birchleaf shook her head. "We have to bury him."

"Birchleaf, there's no time! We have to go!"

The squirrelmaid's eyes filled with tears as she let her father's body fall, and ran with Lucar into one of the buildings. Several boats landed, and creatures jumped out. Two of them ran past where the two were hiding. Lucar perked up as an idea struck him. "We could take one of those longboats and get onto the ship."

Birchleaf nodded. "Whatever you say."

The two stole down the beach, avoiding the ship's crew. When they reached the longboats, they were able to steal one easily. They rowed to the ship, completely unnoticed by anybeast on shore. When the boat bumped gently into the ship's side, Lucar saw that there was a rope ladder hanging down from the ship's deck. The two climbed it, landing noiselessly on the ship. There were no sentries. As Birchleaf and Lucar approached the bow of the ship, a door opened. Both threw themselves behind a stack of barrels.

"Are you sure there didn't seem to be any survivors?"

"None, sir. Although the crew found a number of fresh pawprints."

"Hm. We were too late, then. Even under every sail we had."

"The battle with the searat ship cost us time, Captain."

"We can at least make sure they are remembered. Have them buried."

"Aye, Captain. Why do you think that the ship pursued us?"

"It was most likely going to some sort of gathering and thought that it would bring some extra pickings. A bloodless victory, thanks to our secret weapons."

The two were listening to the conversation when they both felt cold steel against their throats. A squirrel sidled around to Lucar's side, smiling coldly. "Well, well. Two stowaways, wouldn't you say, Silver?"

The mouse holding Birchleaf nodded. "Aye, Captain. Two young ones at that."

The squirrel turned to him. "Ring the bell and pull the crew back. There's nothing here."

The mouse nodded, then released Birchleaf and walked away. A moment later, the brazen tolling of a bell rolled out through the air.

Minutes later, the crew was assembled on the ship, and was preparing to leave. A score of crewbeasts, weapons drawn, surrounded Birchleaf and Lucar. The older squirrel circled them. "You two must know that I do not approve of stowaways. You are lucky that you did not decide to steal aboard a vermin ship, otherwise you would be dead by now."

Lucar spoke up. "We were looking around to see if there were any survivors."

"There were none, as you undoubtedly heard me saying." The squirrel turned and leveled his saber at the young mouse's throat. "Now, who are you and what are you doing here?"

Birchleaf looked up at him. "I am Birchleaf. The mouse is called Lucar. We came to see if there were any survivors of the attack that destroyed the village."

"I repeat, madam, there were no survivors. We would not be having this discussion in this manner if you had revealed yourselves to my crew instead of stealing a longboat and sneaking onto my ship."

Birchleaf struggled against her bonds, her eyes blazing with anger at the squirrel captain. "Those vermin murdered my father! You could never understand what it feels like to lose a parent! You have no responsibilities out here; you just have your ship! Why should you care, anyway?"

The captain had stopped pacing. Lucar noticed that the grip on his saber had clenched, the leather on the hilt squeaking in protest to the pressure. The squirrel turned to Birchleaf. "I know everything that could happen to you, miss. I have an island to run in addition to this ship and command of three others."

Birchleaf scowled at him. "You still haven't lost a parent."

Lucar could tell that the captain was moments away from running her through.

In a low, calm voice, the captain spoke. "I have lost my parents. My mother died birthing me and my father was killed by vermin, the same as yours was. You are insolent and have no respect for your elders. Even now I am suppressing the urge to have the crew throw you overboard." He took a deep breath. "My name is Ryon Oakleaf, captain of the Javelin and commander of the Vale Island Navy. You will follow my orders as long as you are on this ship, and you will not protest anything." The instant before Ryon sheathed his saber, Lucar got a look at it. It was a half-guarded blade, with a hilt bound in black leather. The blade shone in the moonlight, and was straight as a tree trunk.

The sword went into its scabbard with a thwack. Ryon walked off, calling back over his shoulder. "Once again, you should be thankful that you did not steal aboard a vermin ship."

The silver mouse fell in alongside Ryon, walking into the stern cabin with him as Ryon slammed the door shut.

Yeah, it starts off a bit rocky at first. They get better, though, don't worry. R and R!