Kan raised his head, the pain of his ruined eye and his other injuries forgotten as he came face-to-face with the demonic horde leader.

The orange gaze seared him to the bone, the burning eyes so full of rage, madness, and a strange hunger. Ferocity was not confined merely to the face; everything about this creature, from the short, hooked claws on his huge paws to the stained fangs showing in an irritated snarl, proclaimed that here was a master predator. The long, many-colored pelt covering his muscular form was ill-cared for, matted and spiky with sweat and what appeared to be old blood.

Beside him, the young stoat felt Sakhyo go rigid with terror. He did not blame her.

"So, stoat," he rasped, the growling voice sending shivers down Kan's spine. "Why do you come here? My scouts tell me ye were headed for our camp."

For the first second or two, his brain was paralyzed in fear. The words issuing from his mouth were disjointed and confused, before he somehow regained control, even managing to slightly alter his voice. "Ah...I...we...Lord, me an' my friend here, we wanted t' join yer horde. We 'eard you was gonna attack that stripedog mountain..."

The huge beast's eyes narrowed. "An' who told you of my plan?" The words were filled with a deathly calm, though there was a noticeable roar lingering just beneath the surface.

Kan cringed. Mistake. Better think fast. "Heard it off another stoat, Lord... My kind's trustworthy, yer honor, they don't tell lies!"

An immediate change came over the warlord, and it did not seem to be a welcome one. He lunged forward, seizing Kan partially by both tattered jerkin and chest fur, so that the young stoat had to suppress a whimper of pain. There was no disguising the snarl in his voice now, and his eyes blazed more than ever with the feverish light of the truly deranged. The questions came hard and fast, forcing his captive to think twice as quickly. "Where was this stoat? When did ye see him? What did he say?"

Where this false information was coming from, Kan had no idea. But the story was there, ready in his mind and flowing off his tongue. Laughing harshly, he replied, "Hah! That one ain't gonna say nothin' no more, yer honor. Right outta 'is mind 'e was, tearin' across our camp like a madbeast. Tried ter steal some o' our food an' attack my pal Neza 'ere, the rotten blackguard, so I put paid to 'im. 'Fore 'e died, I asked 'im some things, if 'e knew where a poor rovin' beast could get some proper vittles an' a warm place ter sleep now an' again. So 'e told me of yer plan, ter capture that wunnerful mountain and control all o' th' southwest coast. "

There was no mistaking the shock in the warlord's voice. "Dead? You are sure? What did 'e look like, this thieving stoat?"

In a flash, Kan realized what his enemy was thinking. He had believed the tale of the imaginary stoat, assuming it to be his deserter and instead mistaking Kan for some other creature- probably due to his injuries and the fact that he had grown a bit in the season or two since he had left. If somebeast had told him that losing his eye in a fight with a Corsair would eventually save his life, he would have assumed them to be quite insane.

With a thoughtful look on his face, the stoat scratched his head for a moment before replying. "Er, he was about my 'eight, I'd say, looked a bit like me too, 'cept 'e had two good eyes an' not near as many injuries. 'Course, that was 'fore he ran into me." He attempted a wicked laugh for added effect.

The warlord laughed as well, an exulting, shrieking snarl. "You shall have your wish, traveler," he said finally. "You have disposed of a deserter from my army, a cowardly, traitorous creature. You almost deserve the rank of a Captain, but that must wait. I must see how you fight, an' there will be a battle to do so within the next few suns."

Kan's relief was short-lived. The deadly claws dug once more into his chest. "But tell me, stoat, have ever you seen a beast like me before?"

He was dragged closer, till their muzzles nearly touched and the carrion scent of the warlord's breath was overwhelming.

Fighting the terror that the orange eyes and pointed fangs commanded, Kan stared back at the huge coyote and stammered, "No, yer honor...never!"

A/N: Revelations galore! MWAHAHAHAA! Fear me, ye foolish mortals! There's more on the way, 'cuz I'm on a roll! (howls at the ceiling in delight)

P.S: Yeah, the last two chappies have been on the short side, but is this not the best place to stop? How about expressing your emotions and reviewing? Go on, you know you want to.