Kan stared around the hidden room, lost for words. The occupants returned his stare, most curiously, though a large fox seated by the window was eyeing him with open hostility. After a moment or two, he spoke, his deep voice rich and slightly accented.
"Why have you brought us dis creature, Rinqan? Surely ye don' mean to train him for der 'Tide? 'E seems weak an' frightened to me."
The coyote chieftain returned the fox's glare, though his voice was as calm and cool as ever.
"An' why shouldn't I, Arif? He is merely a young stoat, an' could prove useful. See, he looks like any other of his species, save fer that mark on 'is eye. Perfect for blending in with the enemy."
Not for the first time, Kan wondered what he was really getting into. Blending in with the enemy? Was he supposed to be a spy, or assassin? He had no skill with stealth or murder, as these creatures would undoubtedly find out. His thoughts were cut short as the big fox snarled softly.
"Very well, I'll give 'im a chance. Mark my words, though, Rinqan, if he be a betrayer or coward I'll tear him apart myself. Sakhyo, come 'ere."
Kan blinked in confusion as he saw the creature Arif had called rise and amble in their direction. "Quit orderin' me about, Arif, I ain't yer lackey," she snapped, though her dark eyes were twinkling good-naturedly.
She turned around and saw the young stoat for the first time. " 'Ey, who's this?" she demanded, and without waiting for an introduction she bounded over and cheerfully seized his paw in a bone-crushing grip.
At Kan's pitiful look, Rinqan chuckled briefly and remarked, "Darikan, this is Sakhyo. Her kind are known as minks, they live by the great rivers to the northwest. Sakhyo, this is Darikan, a stoat we found captured by the wave raiders."
Managing to free his paw, the stoat stepped back and surveyed the mink. She seemed about a season older than him, though of similar height and stockier build; dark bushy fur framed a clever, friendly face, with almond-shaped eyes and a slightly pointed muzzle. Upon hearing his name, she cocked her head to one side. "Darey…what? C'n I just call ya Dar? It's the only bit of your name I c'n remember."
He laughed. "Call me Kan, then. It's what every other beast does, Sack…um…" He trailed off, feeling foolish and slightly embarrassed, but the mink merely laughed.
"Here, ya say it like this. Sahk…hoy….oh." She waited as he repeated it a few times, then nodded. "See, wasn't so hard, eh? Here, lemme show you around."
He winced as she seized him once more by his already flattened paw and dragged him into the center of the room.
She looked around thoughtfully, surveying the other beasts. "Hmmm, ya know me, Arif, an' Rin already, so… That's Tokala over by the door…" The vixen who had scared him with the door mechanism gave him a wink and a mischievous grin; he rolled his eyes in reply.
"Oh," she continued, "and over by the fire is Raeyari." Following her pointing paw, Kan saw a thin marten there, quietly staring into the flames. She did not even look up at the sound of her name; instead she remained where she was, staring into the flames with dull eyes.
The young stoat could not conceal his surprise. "Only five creatures? And you go up against hordes?"
Sakhyo blinked. "Well, y'see, we don't fight head-on, obviously. We just work as spies and assassins, reporting the plans of the enemy back to the hares and sneakin' in a kill or two when we can. After they've accepted us, of course, though it usually don't take much- what warlord would pass up good fightin' beasts? There used to be more of us anyway, all totaled I'd say we numbered about a score or so."
"Then what happened?" Kan asked tentatively, unsure of his new friend's response.
"I don't know what really happened," she replied. "But yore welcome to hear my version. Come 'n' sit by the hearth, mate, an' I'll tell ya." She led him over to the fire, sitting next to the silent marten and indicating a third cushion. Kan was delighted to see a half-loaf of wheat bread and a plate of roasted fish on the nearby table, and fell on the food without a second thought. Sakhyo laughed as crumbs and fish scraps flew everywhere. "All right, finish yer vittles, mate, then I'll start talkin'."
On the far reaches of the western flatlands, the air was humid and still, promising a storm that would not be long in arriving. Already, dark gray thunderheads were beginning to gather along the horizon.
The tall grass abruptly began to rustle and wave, and a lone creature stepped out into the open. It was a male weasel, of medium height for his species and tawny- rather than chestnut-furred. His dark eyes glinted as he surveyed the terrain ahead. At the very edge of his field of vision, dark cliffs rose up toward the sky. He would have to move faster, then- if he was not at the camp by nightfall, there would be more to reckon with than the weather.
A/N: short,I know, but I wanted to give the following story its own chapter, even though it's not an insanely long one. More coming soon, it gets better people! Once again, thanks so much Kelaiah!