The Fallen Star

A Tale of Redwall

{4}

The Great Sea was known by many to be the largest and most deadly ocean in any place where water could be found. With its many islands, some with darker shores than others, one had to be careful if they considered themselves a decent captain of any boat worthy of the high seas. Captain Floret was one such captain.

Floret was a wise mouse who knew more about the western shores and the great coasts of the Rolling Ocean than any mouse alive. He was a master of the high seas, known by many on the shores as a fighter during great wars. He was also a cautious fellow; even the simplest of cargo vessels could hide the identity of a vermin pirate ship.

Floret's ship, the Turquoise, was a simple trading vessel. Once before he had used the vessel in the Great War as a raiding vessel, used to steal the supplies and rescue the slaves of the villainous Dark Horde, a monstrous roving horde of more than a thousand vermin that had pillaged and conquered wherever they pleased. The Turquoise did its job, but the action that captain Floret had seen had made him many seasons older than his crew, and already his fur had turned a silvery gray in his mid-seasons. This was why, when the Dark Horde had disbanded long ago, he had decided to become a merchant instead of remaining in the military. His loyal crew followed him on his adventures, remaining faithful to the captain that they followed to battle all those years ago.

Floret kept his hands on the tiller as his crewmen took to their duties. Their current voyage, on the outside, looked like a simple merchant voyage, including extra cargo that was a bit more valuable than usual. However, the merchant-style of the ship was a doppelganger for the real cargo; a high court official and his daughter. The court official was a squirrel noble who was to be an ambassador from the west to the northern islands, where many a folk, such as the great Hedgehogs of Peace Island, wished to ally with the Western Kingdoms. His daughter was to accompany him, and eventually learn her father's ways as an apprentice. The girl was certainly like candy to the eye. Even the captain, in his old and scarred state, had difficulty getting his eyes off of her. It was for that reason, not to mention their status, that the captain had ordered them both below decks at all times, and gave them access to his cabin at night. Though the men were not vermin, even peaceful beasts can become crazed when spending too long of a time out at sea.

A vole lookout watched the rolling waves of the ocean. Much of the area surrounding the ship was dangerous; the oceans always rocked and rolled by pounding winds, while pirates, mercenaries, and even sharks and other dangerous fish lurked in the waters, seeking to find easy prey in the form of the relatively peaceful vessel. There was also the fact that the boat, though large, was likely to be capsized by a giant fish or whale surfacing the waves. One was never too careful when sailing the Rolling Ocean.

Floret felt his stomach double-take slightly as a particularly big wave picked up their ship. It wasn't exactly seasickness; more along the lines of a queasiness with its uses. Floret found that his stomach would naturally react badly if really big waves happened to pick up in the area. Since that was all the likely, it had its great uses, such as providing a means to remind him to check on their guests.

"Bruno," Floret said aloud, "Take the tiller for me, lad. I'm going to check up on the ambassador."

"Aye, aye captain," a big, burly sea otter said. The captain allowed the sea beast to take the helm, steadying himself as he walked down the stairs towards the main deck. His men clambered about on all sides of the ship, towing down exposed cargo and keeping the ship on its steady course as the waves rocked and almost tossed the Turquoise as if it were a piece of driftwood.

Captain Floret quickly assessed the progress of his men before heading into his cabin. As he closed the door, he took note of the scenery around him. The cabin was big, though not too large. It was big enough to provide decent comfort for two or more people if the case need be. Shelves permanently boarded into the walls, aligned with cupboard doors to keep the objects inside from being tossed around by the waves, kept his private charts, captain's logs, and other necessary equipment he would need on the high seas. A bed and a simple couch were the only furniture in the room, save for a private desk and chair. Both the bed and the couch were occupied by a pair of squirrels that were green enough to blend into the leafy habitats of the forests they originated from.

"Rise and shine, Sir Gustof and Madame Selene," Captain Floret said, "It is a beautiful day outside and the ocean is lovely. It is time to see your beautiful faces out in the sunshine."

Sir Gustof sighed, turning his attention to the mouse captain. Captain Floret noticed that the squirrel's eyes were very red from seasickness and lack of sleep.

"I appreciate your attempts to make us feel better, good captain," Sir Gustof said in a tired voice, "but I am afraid that it will not work. My daughter just dozed off due to lack of sleep, and I haven't slept a wink of sleep last night. How much longer before we are off of these cursed waves?"

"The Rolling Ocean stretches far, my lord," Captain Floret said, "Even I get queasy here sometimes. Don't worry. These waters do not stretch everywhere. We will arrive upon safe waters soon; the next area on our course is an area called Ballast Cove, the last free port before heading north. The Rolling Ocean stops well before we arrive there."

"That's a relief," Sir Gustof said before grossly belching in his sickness, "I don't think my daughter can take much more of this. She was always a frail creature, but very bright. I felt that taking her to the north will help her get away from the reconstruction efforts from the wars."

Captain Floret nodded in agreement. "Wars haven't touched the northlands in many seasons," he said, "I'm sure that she'll do fine. However, I can't help but notice that you seem a bit overly concerned about your daughter. Forgive my manners, but is everything alright?"

Sir Gustof sighed, reaching over to the bed and stroking his daughter's back. "My wife was a freedom fighter long ago during the Great War. Though she was a veteran and a survivor, she suffered several wounds that easily took a great toll on her life. Childbirth with young Selene had caused much more damage to her and left her in a state of permanent weakness. We kept her in bed for the last three years of her life. It was a tragedy when she died on my Selene's birthday. I do my best to care for my daughter as much as I can. The war's reconstruction efforts have troubled her greatly, which is why I am becoming an ambassador for the Northern Isles, where the land is untouched by war."

Captain Floret nodded his head. "I understand completely," he said, "I lost my own son in the war, so I know how it feels. It's good to get away from it all every once in a while."

Captain Floret stepped up to Sir Gustof and knelt down so that he could be eye level with the seasick squirrel. "Here's a little tip for you if you believe you'll be out of trouble when we get you to the Northern Isles," he said, "Sometimes the best kind of peace is one that you don't have to worry about losing. The Northern Isles are notorious for pirate attacks. I don't think that the Northern Isles are what you want for your daughter."

Sir Gustof sighed and shook his head chidingly. "Captain Floret," he said, "Peace Island is a secret place that no vermin has ever disgraced by walking upon. How could we possibly have to worry about pirates?"

Captain Floret decided not to answer that question. Both he and Sir Gustof were suddenly distracted from their conversation as several thumping sounds hit the cabin walls. Screams from outside drew Captain Floret's attention to the door. The vole lookout came rushing into the cabin, clutching an arrow protruding from his left arm. With a quick snap, he took off the shaft, leaving the head in his arm until he could receive medical attention for it.

"Captain Floret!" the vole said, "We're under attack! Pirates have come up off of our starboard flank!"

"Pirates?!" Captain Floret growled, his hand flickering menacingly towards the hilt of his rapier blade at his side, "There weren't any pirates in these whereabouts for years. We're too far north for their kind. Who is it? Did you identify the ship?"

"Yes captain," the vole said, followed by a hard swallow, "I recognized it all too well. 'Tis the boat of the long dead Horde Warlord, Gaterrag Strugg! 'Tis the Hellgates, sir, and she's gaining on us!"

Greenfang watched from the bow in contempt as a small vessel tried its best to scurry away from the mighty Hellgates. The ferret officer gazed long and hard at the occupants of the vessel, smiling as he recognized the design of the simple ship. Although the war was long over, even he could identify the design and paint of a Freedom Fighter vessel.

"Ahoy, mates!" Greenfang shouted to the rat crew behind him, "Look'ee what we got 'ere! Looks like we got ourselves some ol' friends invitin' us over for tea n' biscuits!"

The crew laughed at Greenfang's joke, mostly out of loyalty to the officer than out of humor. Greenfang may not have had the deadly gaze of their captain, but his barbed whip and nasty temper were enough to make any rat, weasel, or stoat under his command obey almost every word he spoke

"Gorril," Greenfang beckoned to a small rat with a tattoo of a red scar across his left eye, "Go fetch 'da other officers, and let his highness, 'da King of Bounty Hunters, know 'dat we have a fresh quarry to hunt."

"Aye, aye, sir!" Gorril shouted, quickly getting to work.

Greenfang kept an eye on that one. Gorril was known to be the most loyal of the lower ranks. Officer material, that one. Had it not have been for Greenfang's own ambition, he would recommend the young rat. Too bad though; such was life aboard the ship called Hellgates.

Gorril was swift to obey Greenfang's command, though not without quickly spitting over the side. The rat hated having to run errands for the stumpy ferret officer. By all rights, Gorril should be in charge of that stupid ferret; it was his right by blood. According to the Code of the Hunters, a Bounty Hunter who dies gives his blood to his son, and all his possessions along with it. Gorril's father was such a Bounty Hunter, who became an officer under Guldar's high command. He had it all; wealth, slaves, a decent reputation amongst their Horde; anything and everything his own son could desire. Neither could expect, however, that his father would be framed by an ambitious ferret who murdered him in his sleep, taking all that the malicious bounty hunter owned as his own.

All, that is, except for Gorril's father's blood.

This was why the tattoo of a scar was across Gorril's left eye. It was a tattoo stained in his own father's blood; a reminder of his heritage, his rights as a Bounty Hunter amongst the Horde of Guldar Deadeyes, and of his promise to his slain father that blood shall be repaid in full after that day.

Gorril was so busy seething that he didn't notice the tail that stuck out in the shadows and tripped him flat on his face. He was about to growl and spit filthy oaths at the owner of the tail when he noticed the black and furry owner of the camouflaged appendage.

"Lord Shadran," Gorril said, quickly striking his chest with his fist and bowing his head to the dark weasel before him, "Forgive me, my lord, I did not see you there."

Shadran was by all means Guldar's most trusted officer, as well as probably the most feared bounty hunter on the entire ship. Some say that he was a mixed breed, a cross between rat and weasel that made him difficult to identify as both. Other say that he was a mutant, born on a starless and moonless night that made his fur appear as if to absorb the light and leave not but blackness in its wake. Some even further suggest that Shadran was given to a witch doctor, who turned his fur so that it would be as black as the bottom of the ocean depths, where no sunlight could penetrate and where no hidden predator could be seen.

Nevertheless, the weasel was legendary for being a deadly assassin well before he joined Guldar's ranks. Rumor had it that he had murdered more people than the Dryditch Fever, all slain in different ways, each more gruesome than the last. Guldar was the only individual he feared, and was also the only individual he respected. Shadran took the Code of Hunters seriously; he invented almost half of the rules involved in its creation.

"A clumsy and unaware hunter becomes the hunted by its prey," Shadran said in his dark and malevolent voice, "You should know this more than anyone, rat. Where are you off to?"

Gorril chose his words carefully. To speak as if a Bounty Hunter, especially one of high rank, was an equal to one such as him would prove lethal. He didn't want to die before conducting his revenge on Greenfang.

"Lord Shadran," Gorril said, "Greenfang has instructed me to gather the officers, and to see his highness. A freebeast ship was spotted off the port bow."

Gorril was quick for a rat. It was an attribute he had gained from his father. However, Shadran was quicker. Even though Gorril managed to jump back enough to not get the brunt of the blow, Shadran's kick sent him back a few feet away from the cabins where Gorril was heading. The rat rubbed his side as he got up, barely keeping a grip on his anger as Shadran sneered at the young rat.

"The right is not yours," he hissed, "You are no bounty hunter. Nor do you have any true rank. You are an outcast, and an outcast has no right to speak to his highness. Until you perform your blood ritual, you are not permitted to do more than obey his highness' commands. Go and get the officers. I will tell the king."

Without another word, Shadran slipped away towards the Captain's cabin, leaving an angry Gorril to nurse his pride and fetch the other officers at Shadran's command. Though Gorril was mad, there was wisdom and truth in the bounty hunter's word. Gorril had to kill Greenfang, one way or another, in order to be recognized as honorable enough to accomplish certain important tasks on board the Hellgates. Gorril wouldn't stay mad with Shadran for long; in truth, Shadran was Gorril's greatest ally, like a mentor who gives lessons never noticed by wandering eyes. Gorril had relied much on Shadran's words in the past; they never failed him yet.

The Turquoise turned about face as the Hellgates suddenly came up from out of nowhere from the south. Bruno the otter heaved on the tiller with all of his might, almost breaking the rudder off as he tried to turn the Turquoise against the wind so it could escape. Though the small ship could never outrun a mighty ship such as the Hellgates, against the wind it had a bigger chance, seeing as it was smaller, lighter, and had less surface area for the wind to push against. Bruno turned the ship to the east, feeling the wind pound against his brown fur as he ducked a few arrows from the monstrous vermin ship.

Captain Floret came up to the tiller of the Turquoise, grabbing the tiller from Bruno and quickly attempting to maneuver the ship away from the monstrous behemoth behind them. He immediately took charge and began shouting orders.

"All hands, gear up!" Captain Floret shouted, "Bruno! Distribute the weapons to the crew! Gregory! You and five others start rowing your lives out below deck! Jeff! Get back up the mast and tell me what that ship is doing! Get going!"

"Sir, yes sir!" Jeff the vole lookout shouted. The vole quickly climbed up the mast with his injured arm behind his back. Crewmembers right and left were getting weapons from Bruno the otter, with archers returning whatever fire they could to the massive ship behind them. The vole got up on top of the mast and began tracking the ship's position and judging how close it would be before coming upon them.

Sir Gustof came up on deck next to the captain. Captain Floret looked angrily in his direction before returning his gaze straight across the bow of the Turquoise.

"It's too dangerous for you to be out here, Sir Gustof," Captain Floret said as he brought the ship to a sharp turn to avoid an onslaught of arrows.

Sir Gustof held onto the ship hard, using his natural squirrel grip to keep him steady. "What is going on?" he asked, "Shouldn't we be heading for safer waters? There should be an armada near Ballast Cove!"

"Aye, an armada," Captain Floret said, "but it's an armada of fishing boats equipped with militia. Sure, it might keep any smaller vessel at bay, but none can stand against the might of the Hellgates!"

Captain Floret beckoned behind him. Sir Gustof's eyes became as wide as dish plates at the sight of the mighty vessel in pursuit.

"Quite right," Sir Gustof agreed, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Absolutely," Captain Floret said, "Go back to my cabin and push aside the bed that your daughter sleeps on. Pull back the rug and you'll find a trapdoor. The door leads to a smuggler's hold that was there during the old days when the old Horde had control of the coast. I'll send someone to cover your tracks. You should be safe in there."

Sir Gustof was about to protest, but as an arrow suddenly grazed past his ear he suddenly lost any sense of protest that was in him. He gave a quick nod of agreement to the captain and then ducked back inside the cabin. Captain Floret continued his attention on the open sea, hoping and praying that he could find a tower or something in time to save them from obliteration or capture at the hands of the vermin-controlled Hellgates!

The two ships sailed along the waves of the Rolling Ocean: One chasing, the other fleeing. The Turquoise was quite a sight; a small, tiny ship sailing as if the sea were about to swallow it, while a massive terror of a ship, the Hellgates, was following within its wake. Arrows were shot across both sides as the ships continued their mad flee and chase routine. Though the Turquoise was smaller, it was also easier to maneuver, and Captain Floret took every advantage of that attribute.

Guldar Madeyes looked upon the small merchant vessel with relative distaste from his view on the bow of his mighty ship. He was usually uninterested with dealing with small ships, even if they were from the old freebeast navy during the Great War. However, he knew for a fact that Captain Floret had a very popular standing amongst political members. If Guldar could remember correctly, the Turquoise was once a blockade runner due to its small size. Many a renegade politician or high standard noble had travelled upon its decks in the years past. Even if the Turquoise was without anyone of value, Captain Floret alone was enough for a very valuable ransom.

"Let them go for a little ways," Guldar said, much to the surprise and agony of the crew.

"But why chief?" an unfortunate rat asked before being socked in the face by his captain.

"Shut your trap!" Guldar said, "I said let them go for a little ways. We can't properly catch a ship and have good hardworking slaves when they are all dead from your arrows, can we? Besides, I want that ship intact if we have the chance."

Greenfang the officer walked forward with a look of confusion on his face.

"'Ow are we gonna catch 'dat ship intact, chief?" Greenfang asked.

Guldar's face beamed in delight, as if he was waiting for Greenfang to ask that question. The vermin aboard Guldar's ship knew wisely that when Guldar beamed like that, it either meant that something fantastic was in store for them, or that the person who was stupid enough to ask the question was going to get the deadly gaze of their master.

Lucky for them, it was the former.

"Load the Whale Spear!" Guldar growled.

Captain Floret kept the ship in its zigzag formation even after the arrows stopped raining down. Something told him that things weren't over yet. Whether the pirates decided not to waste any more arrows, or that their prey wasn't worth the pickings, he didn't want to find out.

"Cap'n Floret!" Bruno the Otter shouted, "Cap'n, look! They stopped followin' us!"

Captain Floret turned around and saw, to his astonishment, that the massive ship had indeed stopped following them. It was already about several hundreds of yards behind them, its sails folded down as if it was completely ignoring the ship it was originally chasing.

"We did it, mates!" Captain Floret shouted, "We beat the Hellgates! Let's get this tub where she belongs, and grog all around!"

The beasts shouted and praised their victorious captain. Captain Floret was proud of all of them. They had achieved the impossible; they beat the world's biggest vermin ship!

Captain Floret's smugness was instantly replaced with fear as a very powerful sound like a thunder crack shot out across the ocean. Floret turned around to see what looked like a large arrow being shot from the bow of the monstrous ship, its tail dragging a long cord behind it. The arrow shot through the air before coming straight down like a hawk, creating a whistling sound as the wind shot through its heavy feathered shaft.

"Everyone get down!" Captain Floret shouted as the monstrous weapon came down from the sky.

The beasts jumped aside, but one of them wasn't fast enough. Against all odds, the arrow shot down and pierced through the top deck, also driving itself through the unlucky body of a shrew who had been petrified by the mighty weapon. The barbed shaft of the mighty spear-like projectile quivered once before being tugged tightly by the long and thick cord attached to its feathered shaft. The ship was suddenly tugged back towards the mighty vessel that had been chasing them.

The Hellgates had won…

Kerian: It has been forever since I updated this, but any fan of The Fallen Star deserves it. I might actually work on it some more if I read a bit more of one of my favorite author's works (I speak of Brian Jacques of course) as inspiration for the rest of the plot. Once I do succeed, this story is going to be better taken care of. I assure you.

Alright, so we see the Turquoise and the Hellgates locked in combat. I was proud of this chapter in particular. Brian's ship battles are excellent, so I wanted to do justice to his work. Of course, the Whale Spear was a must have for a big ship like the Hellgates. If you've ever seen a whaler, you'll know that they are huge (they have to be in order to drag off the carcass of a whale, or it would probably capsize or even get stuck while trying to drag the whale back to port). Also, it's obvious that if I'm going to add something as high-tech as a telescope to this story I might as well add something like a gigantic crossbow, right?

Well, on to the next chapter...which may take a while. You guys had better be hoping that I get some inspiration soon, or I won't be able to write anything good for a long, long while. So, until next time, me out!

-Kerian