Redclaw

Chapter Five

Veil pushed his comrades hard, they ran almost three full days straight south to avoid the snow they knew was coming. As the dawn came on the fourth the pace slowed each of them watching their breath puff in the cold air as their leader called a rest. Looking back at his small group Veil took note of the fact none of them were truly breathing heavily, nor did they appear tired. Veil, on the other hand was indeed panting heavily, his two weeks of bed rest having apparently robbed him of some of his stamina. Smirking the six clawed ferret flopped down onto the ground and said, "Might as well set up camp here."

Erin plopped down next to him and smiled, "What's the matter? Only two weeks off your paws and you're already useless?"

As the fox laughed Veil scoffed, "Useless? Better be careful 'cause I can still whip your hide!"

A small wave of laughter broke out as the ferrets and foxes set up their few tents before moving on to firewood and food as their leader and his closest friend sat together. Veil lay back against a large rock and groaned, rolling his shoulder, "Seasons that's sore."

Erin arched his brow and said, "Are you sure you're alright? That bolt did a number on your back…"

Veil just shrugged, "I feel fine, just a little sore in the shoulder and after that run."

Erin leaned a little closer and whispered, "Should we have stayed longer?"

Now Veil narrowed his eyes and growled, "I agreed to two weeks, so we stayed two weeks. I couldn't stay any longer, somebody would have done something to get me to leave."

Erin was confused, "But, your mother…"

Veil's eyes brightened, "My mother", he let a rare full smile slide onto his face, "I am so relieved that she survived. I mean Lefty had said that Swartt and I were the only ones on that peak, but I still worried. The fact that she's alive really warms my heart", then his shoulders slumped slightly, "But even with her being the current Abbess, somebody would have still complained, maybe even resorted to violence. And given my past I don't think I could brought myself to stop them, unless of course they hurt one of you."

Erin shook his head, "I suppose. I had noticed some of the Redwallers giving you nasty looks when the Abbess wasn't around, but I doubt they'd resort to violence", at the look he received from Veil he said, "What?"

"I noticed those looks too, and let me tell you they would have, with the slightest provocation. So long as there is a threat to their abbey, or their young, they will fight tooth and claw. And for what I'd done ten seasons ago I shall always be a threat to them."

Erin sighed, "Fine. I guess I'll just have to accept your decision", turning to their dropped pack Erin pulled out a pair of scones and handed one to Veil, "So…munch munch…why Salamandastron? That's not our usual route."

Veil nodded towards his pack and said, "A request from Redwall's resident Badger Lord."

Erin quirked his head, "Sunflash? What does he want of us?"

Veil pulled his pack over and pulled out the scroll, "Just a personal letter for Colonel Sandgall. He didn't request a certain arrival date, but I'd assume he wants it there as soon as possible, so we're just doing our route backwards", setting the scroll aside he pulled out a large piece of parchment and unfolding it, revealing a map of the area, "We've made good time so we should be about here", he tapped a rough drawing of trees marked, WEST MOSSFLOWER.

Erin nodded, "Another two weeks and we should make Salamandastron. Maybe only one if we keep this pace."

Veil nodded and took a bite from his scone, "Good."

Dewclaw and the others came back, several with armfuls of chopped branches and logs while others had wild mushrooms and various sprouts and herbs. Setting their only cooking pot aside Veil began to work on the logs with flint and steel and tinder. As a small plume of smoke rose from the dry grass he said, "Alright. Now whose turn is it to go get the water?"

Blackeye sighed and raised his paw, "It's mine."

Veil chuckled and tipped the large pot on it's side and rolled it towards the dark furred ferret, "Have fun."

Blackeye grumbled and dropped his crossbow, quiver, and gladius, not intending to carry the extra weight while he carried the large pot to the nearby creek. The black ferret hefted the heavy piece of metal and started walking. When he got to the creek he dropped the pot and shook out his paws, letting the blood flow return. Then he started pulling rocks out of the creek-bed, trying to make a space deep enough to dunk the pot. He'd just finished when he heard the shouting. Immediately he abandoned the pot and took off in that direction, running as quickly as he could.

Veil and the others were just starting to grow impatient when Blackeye came bursting back into camp, "We've gotta problem!"

Instantly Veil's face changed, his eyes steeling and hardening. He was Redclaw once again, "What problem?"

Blackeye snatched up his kit as his comrades did the same, "Group O' foxes. Got some voles 'r shrews 'r sommat trapped in their den. Saw one troi an' run for it, wasn't pre'y when they caught 'er."

Veil nodded, "Right. Let's go!"

Remembering that he'd lost his own weapon he settled for one of Erin's daggers, which the fox handed him as they neared the creek. Quickly splashing thru they followed Blackeye deeper into the forest. As they neared the place Blackeye waved them down, pointing at a line of thick bushes, "Theyah roit ovah theyah. How d'you wanna do this?"

Veil took a moment to think. Then a steely look overcame his eyes. Laying out his plan he said, "Spread out. Surround them. Erin… Come with me."

Peter Bankvole lived a simple but happy life, with his loving wife Marian, and eight children, ranging from his eldest son Derrik of sixteen seasons, down to the twins Sunny and Warren, barely over a season, not even walking yet. They all lived in their den, dug into the side of a hill near a small creek. Their small farm outside had just finished harvest. Or would have if that band of foxes hadn't shown up. The first sign of trouble was a large arrow slamming into the dirt right beside him as he stooped over a tomato vine. He had whirled around in time for another arrow to graze his arm, slicing deeply.

Turning and shouting for everyone to get inside he grasped the hand of his second son Eric, three seasons old, and scrambled thru their small vegetable patch as more arrows and now a few spears thudded to ground around him. As he neared the door he turned and saw them. Nearly thirty or so, all foxes. Some looked to be only in their teens, but most held their axes and spears as seasoned warriors did. Then Peter saw his poor wife still standing out near the edge of the patch, paralyzed with fear.

"Run! Marian! RUN!"

He smiled when he saw her respond, picking up the hem of her simple brown frock and running as quickly as she could for the trees. As Derrick ran past him into the den Peter's smile turned to horror as he watched a few of the foxes veer off and chase after his wife. They easily outpaced her and when they caught her, just shy of the trees she'd grown up playing in, there came these awful, blood chilling screams, the likes of which none of the voles had ever heard. For nearly a minute these screams continued, slowly turning into loud and racking sobs. Then the foxes drug her broken and violated body over to the leader-and he was the leader, of that Peter had no doubt.

The large male glared down at the barely breathing female, before raising up a heavy boot and bringing it crashing down on the back of her head. As he killed her he simply stared and the horror-struck Peter. Stared…and smiled.

An easy kill.

Then the leader threw a paw forwards and the others rushed towards the den.

End Chapter Five