Having finished his meal, Darikan relaxed back onto his cushion and focused his full attention on his new friend. The mink's eyes glittered in the firelight as she began to relate what had befallen the Shadowtide.
"It was nearly two seasons ago that Rin sent nearly all our forces to scout the land around Salamandawotsit- 'bout ten days' march in all directions. He was acting on the hares' orders, see, 'cause we'd been hearing dark rumors- about a mighty horde advancing from the northwest, led by a strange creature and causing general chaos. Shoulda heard some of the tales, mate, they'd chill yer to the bone.
Anyway, most of our army was sent out to do their job: joining the horde, though it ain't too hard- what sensible warlord would refuse good fightin' beasts? Once we're there, we blend in- make friends but avoid attracting attention, like being promoted. Even the dullest hordebeasts notice when their new Captain suddenly disappears, and then a little while later they're caught completely off guard and massacred, or their foes are prepared for everything they plan.
All we do is spy; relay battle tactics, numbers an' skill of the soldiers, things like that, and sneaking in a kill or two when we can. That last bit's easier than you think- most creatures in hordes will get in deadly fights over almost nothing at all.
Nearly a full season passed, and we still heard nothing. That was stranger than any rumor- we're trained to march hard and fast, just like the hares. Even the distant armies are reached after a month or so, and by the second or third month, the first few reports begin to trickle in.
But by all accounts this horde wasn't too far off, and not even a word had reached our mountain. That was, until-" Darikan interrupted curiously.
"Sorry t' stop you, but if these hares are such great warriors, why do they need you to spy for them? Why don't they just travel there themselves and wipe out the threat?"
Sakhyo blinked. "Huh… that's a good question, Kan. I think it's 'cause they need a strong leader for that, like the big stripedogs that usually live here. There hasn't been one in a while, though, certainly not when I came."
As Kan prepared to ask another question, she held up a warning paw, laughing. "Easy there, stoat! I thought ya wanted to hear the story, not gimme the third degree!
Now, as I was saying, we hadn't heard a thing for almost a season. Then one day, right about at the end of spring, just one of our creatures returned. We never could figure that out. We waited long and hard, but after nearly a month, the only creature to return out of fifteen was Raeyari." She indicated the marten, who was still looking into the fire with the same far-off gaze.
Peering around Sakhyo to get a better look at the silent creature, Kan saw in confusion that her eyes were dull, almost unseeing, and her pelt thin and faded, with patchy areas and a network of thin scars criss-crossing beneath. As a whole, she seemed somehow ethereal, like the ghost of a long-dead creature rather than flesh, blood, and bone. The young stoat shuddered and turned back to his friend; in the entire time he had been there, he was sure Raeyari had not moved even an inch.
"Anyway," Sakhyo continued, "I fergot t' mention something. Rae didn't return alone. That's how Arif got into our liddle group, an' when he arrived he was in a terrible state- bone-thin and near dead with exhaustion. Mind ya, Rae was little better, but at least Arif recovered. Once he'd slept and we'd got some food down 'im, he told us what happened.
Apparently his family had been killed by Corsairs earlier in the season, and he'd gone half-mad with grief before he decided to hunt down the murderers. He searched all over the place for nearly two seasons before he found 'em, off to the east near the sea and causin' more trouble.
They were attacking a small group of creatures, 'vermin' like us mainly, though there were a few hares along. It was fifteen of ours and three Long Patrol against one of the biggest pirate crews ever t' set sail- nearly threescore of the scum. Even with some of our most dangerous fighters along, they were outnumbered and massacred.
Raeyari was leader of the group- everybeast, even the hares, trusted her completely and she'd never led them wrong. At the time, she was Rin's second in command as well, an' he don't choose lightly for positions like that. It didn't pay to cross her, mate.
But she was no match alone for half the crew at once. Thirty Corsairs, all armed to the teeth and no strangers to killin'. She was the last one they kept alive; they knew she was the leader an' they wanted some fun.
By the time Arif had arrived, he said, there were deadbeasts from both sides lyin' everywhere and Rae was on the ground, unconscious and covered in blood. It seemed as though her body couldn't take any more of the torture, and she'd simply passed out. The crew was all drunk by now, an' they were flicking lit embers onto her from the fire, laughin' as her fur began to burn.
That's when Arif came in. Accordin' to him, he slew two of 'em on the spot before the rest figured out what was happenin', and attacked. But they were drugged and confused, and made easy prey for a vengeful warrior, especially one as good with a blade as Arif. Only about ten escaped, racing in all directions. Afterwards he took a battle-axe from one of the dead Corsairs and smashed the ship up good, so they couldn't come back and sail away. He was going to keep traveling, when he saw Rae was still alive. She was ripped and bleeding in a hundred places, and where she wasn't slashed, patches of fur and even flesh had been burned off by the embers.
He tried tending to her wounds, but he was no healer and nothing seemed to happen. They stayed at that spot for a long time: Arif buried the dead, built a camp and searched for food, while Rae slowly began to recover.
When she was able to walk, they decided to head for Salamandastron. She was completely mute, probl'y from shock, but she drew a map in the sand with her paw and guided him in the right direction as they traveled.
Finally they reached the mountain, and Arif was accepted into the 'Tide. Rae obviously couldn't keep her position, so they promoted Tokala instead. It was a good decision- a craftier and more determined vixen than her you've yet to meet.
Anyhow, Rae's body recovered, but her mind hasn't. She still never talks, never shows any emotions but grief or fear. She eats rarely and sleeps even less- once I stayed up with her all night and she just looked out the window, staring up at the stars until dawn.
We were all expecting her to give up and head for Dark Forest, but she survived, if you can call what her life is surviving.
Well, that's the story, mate," Sakhyo concluded. "Hope I answered at least one of yer questions."
However, one thing still puzzled the stoat. "So everybeast just believed the fox's side of the story? If one of my mates was injured like that, I'd be lookin' for more pieces of the puzzle. "
Sakhyo thought for a moment. "Huh, now that I think about it, it is a little odd, but Rae can't-or won't-give her version, an' Arif is nice enough, Kan. I hope he ain't made a bad impression on ya, he's mean t'everybeasr 'cept Tokala and Rin." She grinned and clapped him on the shoulder as she rose from her seat. "Anyhow, cheer up, frogface. It's time fer dinner."
Tokala leapt to open the door, and the Shadowtide was left staring dumbly in the wake of the starving Kan; the wind stirred by his passing rippling around their headfur as the sound of his pounding paws receded up the passage.