Chapter 7

Tavadar and Winkler stepped forward, mace and chain wrapped itself around Winkler's blade paw. The searat tugged at the hare. Winkler's sabre flew from his paws along with him. The hare was thrown to Tavadar, who kicked him in the face. Winkler spiraled, but got back up. He spat out a few teeth and wiped his snout.

"Psshaw! I don't need a blinkin' sword to fight you, when I have me own two paws to boot. Now, laddie buck, let's see what ya got?"

Winkler taunted, he raised his fists in the air, and started doing a hopskip like dance. Tavadar smiled and shook his head.

"Oh you stupid creature, don't you know who I am, I am Tavadar the Macepaw, Scourge of the Western Seas and First Mate of Captain Sibo Silverclaw, leader of the Guillotiners!"

Tavadar shouted, dramatically pointing his left paw at the hare.

"I don't bloomin' care if you're the Scourge of Hellgates, you're goin' down, wot."

"Go down, ohohoho, you'll be the one who goes down, friend."

"Nuff jawbangin' more brawlin'!"

Tavadar did the honors of delivering the first punch, but it didn't connect to what he wanted to hit. Winkler kept jumping back half a pace and dodging each and every blow the rat to offer. Tavadar became more frustrated, the temper in him was rising.

"Stand! Still! You!"

He said with every punch. Winkler smiled and laughed out loud.

"What's the matter, can't keep up, I thought you were the Scourge of the Seas?"

Winkler taunted. Tavadar's face turned beet red, and he went after Winkler like a madbeast. His punches were at random and more aggressive each and everytime. Eventually, his attacks were beginning to slow down, because, he was getting too tired. Winkler seized the opportunity.

"My turn."

The Sergeant jumped forward, and delivered the first punch, this caused the searat to see stars, and stumble around for a bit. Winkler then performed a right hook on Tavadar's cheek, saliva mixed with blood spewed out from the rat's mouth, even a few teeth. Tavadar stumbled around some more, Winkler punched him left, right, center, and finished with an uppercut. Tavadar fell onto his bottom and spat out a few more teeth. Winkler ran up to the rat amd kneeled down.

"I think it'd be best to take you in to custody, Lord Orlando will know what to do with you."

Just as Winkler was about bind Tavadar, he had hid a push dagger in his belt. The searat plunged the blade right into the hare's ribcage. It all came to Winkler as a surprise! Tavadar slowly got up and pulled the dagger from his dumbfounded foe.

"Tol yew, yew were da one goin down."

Tavadar said with a mouthful of blood and a swollen tongue. Tavadar then proceeded to stab the hare repeatedly in the stomach, he stared deep in the hare's eyes, not emoting whatsoever. He even kept stabbing the poor creature even after he was killed.

"Ok, boys, we need ta ge owwa here."

Said Tavadar. The group of vermin high tailed it and fan back to their campsite. Lieutenant Harlee watched from high above, the young hare, shook his fists at the vermin at the bottom.

"I'll show them, I'll show them all that my plan is way better than what General Alvadian put into motion. Tomorrow night, I'll track their camp and kill their leader."

Harlee whispered to himself.

Sam and Elmtail blew the bugle at the crack of dawn.

"Rise and shine, we march onward!"

Sam called out, everybeast was still getting used to walking up so early. Harlan yawned and stretched.

"Aaah, mornin' yah two, so what's on the schedule fer today?"

"Well, we've decided to march a bit, break for breakfast, then resuming marching. Hopefully catch up to the vermin who were planningvon ambushing us."

Sam said to his Northland companion. Harlan rubbed his eyes and slowly got up.

"Right, let's go."

"Alright then, let's stand to attention, and march!"

Elmtail sang out. The Mossflower Patrol marched out from their camp and to the vermins'.

Meanwhile, at Xaviel's camp, Feraug was sharpening and cleaning his long daggers, he saw his reflection in the blade.

"Look at how handsome you are. Hehe."

Feraug's vanity percieved him. He admired himself in the reflection in the blade. Xaviel was spying on the vain weasel.

"Hey, Feraug. Were you admiring yourself?"

The sable asked his comrade. Feraug face turned beet red and he dropped the dagger. It clanged on the rock.

"N-n-no."

Feraug tried to deny the claim. Xaviel saw past it, he jumped down and sat next to the weasel.

"Come on, now, I saw you, checking yourself out, don't be nervous."

"Oh, oh, I-I-I'm not nervous, I-I-I'm..."

"Shh, it's alright, you are a pretty handsome weasel if I do say so myself."

Feraug was mesmerized by the sheer stunning handsomeness of his sable Captain. He then shook himself out of his daze and walked away from Xaviel. Feraug pondered what he felt. Was this a deep admiration for his Captain, or something else?

Sam stopped his patrol, and signalled them to come closer.

"Alright, everybeast, find a spot to sit, and eat breakfast. As soon as I, Elmtail, or Harlan is finished, we press onward, got it?"

"Yes sir!"

The beasts called back. Sam sat down and dug into his haversack, he pulled out a raspberry flat cake, and a jar of boysenberry spread. Elmtail fished inside his pack and pulled out an oatmeal cake, and Harlan pulled out a wheat pancake, with a few candied chestnuts on the item.

"This looks delicious, eh, lads?"

Harlan took a bite of his breakfast.

"Oooh, by the fur, Redwall cooking is the, I could eat this all Season!"

He moaned. Elmtail hid his lips with his tail to keep him from spurting out into laughter. Sam turned his gaze away from the entranced squirrel. Sam looked to see the members of his patrol.

"Look at them, all innocent and pure. Not one has killed anybeast."

"Unfortunately, that will all change when we find those vermin who almost got us, out here it's kill or be killed."

Elmtail said. Harlan stopped moaned and responded.

"Aye, it will be a tough pill, but swallow, we all must."