Meeting Island was a large spot of land on the sea, the mainland around a mountain, an island large enough to hold much of the alliance that drove the sea vermin from the oceans long ago. Even at that moment, ships from the Five Islands, the Northern Sea League, Green Isle, and Salamandastron were somehow finding their way to it. Ships from the Eastern Sea came as well, goodbeast captains with loyal crews that were willing to give their lives so that the seas could remain free. From miles away the creaking, the bellowing of orders, and the well-lined bodies of ships putting in at anchor could be heard. The island was covered in plains, and not a tree punctured the amber grass that swayed in the sea breeze. A large building was built on a cliff about halfway up the mountain. It was here that the captains and leaders of every faction were meeting, along with their first mates, lesser captains, and officers. The hall that formed the only room in the large building was filled to capacity, the captains sitting in chairs stationed at regular intervals around the rectangular table. The first mates stood on their captain's left side, and though there were no enemies amongst the captains of any sea, there were still rivalries and instances of mistrust. Before the Vale Island navy had put in, Ryon had gone over the captains that would attend the Council of War. Captain Mossfoot the hare, of Plain Island. A hare with an arrogant personality and a clever mind, Mossfoot was not as able a captain as Ryon, but he was still an excellent sailor and a brilliant tactician. Captain Riptide the otter of Ford Island. An easygoing sort of creature, Riptide's attitude belied his true personality of a fierce fighter and a skilled navigator. Captain Swordpaw the mouse of Steel Island. A mouse from the far eastern sea, Swordpaw was an expert with a short sword, making him deadly in battle. Captain Jroca the shrew, of Rain Island. The shrew was an expert diplomat, but was just as deadly a fighter as his fellow captains. And lastly, Captain Ryon Oakleaf, of Vale Island. An expert sailor, swordsbeast, navigator, speaker, and motivator. All the personalities of warriors, gathered in one place. Ryon had pointed out which ships were whose while the Javelin and the rest of the navy was putting in. At least a hundred captains and officers filled the building, many craning their necks to see over the creatures in front of them. Ryon leaned back in his chair, remembering.

"What kind of ships are those?" The questions had all come from Lucar, who had still not gotten used to the life of a sailing beast yet.

Ryon had smiled. "That's a schooner. It's in the fleet of Plain Island, under Captain Mossfoot. The groups of ships beside them are sloops of Rain Island, under Captain Jroca. The ones you see over on the portside are galleons from Ford Island, under Captain Riptide."

Lucar then had pointed to a group of curious-looking ships with angled sails. "What kind of ships are those?"

"Those are junks. The ships of Captain Swordpaw. The way the sails are angled can allow the ship to sail into the wind instead of having to go with it."

"Captain Oakleaf, would you like to join us?" Ryon jerked back to the present. Mossfoot was staring at him, as were all the other captains. The hall had grown silent. Ryon sat up straight, cleared his throat, and began to speak.

"Captains, officers, and fellow sailsbeasts. As you all know the nature of the Call, there is no need to explain why we are here. We have to unite against the Sea Hordes, who, as we have learned from our allies of the Northern Sea League, have amassed an armada greater than any seen on the Western or Eastern Seas. It is estimated to be over two thousand ships."

Whispers of shock ran through the building. Ryon waited for silence, and continued. "We all remember many seasons ago when our ancestors chased the sea vermin from most of the oceans, making them safe to sail without fear of being attacked. I am proposing that we unite again." He slammed his paw on the table. "To destroy the Sea Hordes once and for all!"

There was silence for a moment. Then, somebeast began to laugh. The captain's eyes turned to Swordpaw. The mouse had propped his footpaws on the table and was laughing for the whole hall to hear. "You amuse me, Captain," he said through his laughter. "That you think that we can conquer the Sea Hordes. We cannot even hope to match their strength!"

"He's right." Riptide said. "What hope would we have against the might of the Sea Hordes?"

Ryon rose from his seat. He walked over to the window, looking out on the gently swaying grass on the plains of the island, out onto the sea and over the horizon. It was a while before he spoke. "They know we face extinction." He turned to the other captains, his face grave. "All that remains is where we make our final stand." He then sighed. "How many ships do we have at the moment?"

Silver looked at him. "I would estimate about five hundred. Even with the reinforcements from Salamandastron and Green Isle, we don't even come close to the numbers that the Sea Hordes possess."

Ryon, however, was not listening. He had focused his attention on a crewbeast that had his back turned to him. The crewbeast tilted his head, and his cap flopped to one side, revealing a ragged, dirty ear. Taking out his saber, he stabbed the spy in the back. The rat sank to his knees and pitched forward, his cap falling off in the process. Ryon looked up, his green eyes narrowed. "A spy."

All of the captains bellowed one word in unison. "Weapons!"

Weapons were allowed in the gathering. There was a rapid-fire clash of swords, daggers, and other weapons leaving their sheaths. From that moment, Hellgates broke loose. The doors at either end of the hallway flew off their hinges and Sea Horde crewbeasts poured into the building, yelling and screaming battle cries as the goodbeasts turning to fight them. Amid the roars, cries and screams, Ryon spotted a pine marten walking through the main door, a phalanx of warriors in front of him. Ryon raised his saber. The marten drew his, and lunged.

Yay! Cliffhanger! I'll leave this for a while so that you can bite your nails until tomorrow. R and R!