Days had passed. Riptide looked over the Western Sea, sighting on the Green Maelstrom, whose mighty roar filled the air constantly. Mosspaw, who had come aboard a short while ago, walked up next to him. The hare sighed. "No sign of Oakleaf yet?"
Riptide shook his head. "No. But on the bright side, the Pikeshaft hasn't shown up either. That accursed stoat won't start the attack unless either he's killed Oakleaf or he gets here first."
The night lookout's voice cut across their conversation. "Ship to port, Cap'n!"
Riptide shouted back up at the lookout without taking his eyes from the Maelstrom. "Colors?"
"Vale Island, sir."
A roar began on five ships in the goodbeast armada. The roar built as the Javelin sailed in, carried by the current most of the way.
Ryon smiled briefly, then issued out rapid orders. "Reef in sail. We don't want to collide with anything. Ship oars and fix tiller."
The Javelin slowed, coming to a stop beside Riptide's vessel, and Ryon tipped his hat to the two captains. "Evenin'. Sorry I'm late."
Blacktail arrived at the Sea Horde lines sometime before then. Both sides were out of sight of each other, so neither had any inkling of the other side's size. The only thing that could be heard on either side was the isolated shout, the creaking of wood, and the constant roar of the Maelstrom. The stoat clenched a paw. This would be finished when dawn broke.
A meeting of every captain in the goodbeast fleet was called. The deck of the Javelin, which had been elected the fleet's flagship, was packed to the bowsprit as everybeast listened to Ryon speak. "You are free to engage whatever ship that you wish, but the Pikeshaft is for me alone." The squirrel captain sighed. "Prepare every vessel that can float. Tomorrow, we're at war."
Dawn broke over the Western Sea and the fleets around the Green Maelstrom. Ryon stood at the bow of the Javelin, clad in a cloak as he watched the mist, his breath coming in steaming clouds before his face. Looking out of the corners of his eyes, the squirrel could see the other captains doing the same.
Ryon spotted the shape an instant before the lookout. The mouse in the crow's nest shouted to the fleet. "The enemy is here! Let's take 'em!"
Roars spread through the fleet as every crew shook its weapons at the Pikeshaft. The roars then quieted as a ship appeared beside it. And another. And another still. Ship after ship appeared out of the white curtain as the Sea Hordes marshaled. Ryon gave orders. "Run up a white flag. Request a parley."
The crew nodded, and took a white flag out of the hold.
The final battle scene is coming up pretty soon. R and R!