Hey everyone who is still reading this! Sorry it's been so long! I have had a bunch of chapters written, but not on the computer, and I never got the chance to type them out. I really really really wanted to update so many times, but when you have a semester with Pre-Cal AND Physics AND Chemsitry, it's really hard to find time for something that isn't homework. Anyways, Sorry again!
Oh, and I also made a few teensy changes to chapters 1 and 2, Just to help make a few things make sense. They're probably not even noticable.
At the otter camp on the riverbank, it was like a miniature hullabaloo. There was music and dancing, and games. Nobeast from the Stormriver or Rainwake clans really knew why that night's supper had turned into a party, but nobeast questioned it. They were all up for a good time.
Activity ceased as the cooks brought out the giant fish that Pippin and Theo had caught. It had been roasted in a makeshift stone oven with onions, potatoes, and hotroot. Accompanying the dish was an enormous cauldron of shrimp and hotroot soup.
Otters scrambled to get in line for their supper. There was more than enough to go around, but nobeast wanted to wait to get a taste of the delicious looking spread.
Pippin and Theo sat with Vanthur and Garad.
"Are we heading out early tomorrow?" Theo asked his father.
"Aye, as early as we can make it," Vanthur replied, "If we keep a good pace, we should make it to the sea in a couple of days." Garad looked at the sky.
"It's beginning to cloud over, I think we may get some rain tonight."
Vanthur looked up too. "Perhaps, but that won't hinder us too much"
The two young otters grinned at each other in anticipation. Only a few days until the biggest celebration of the season!
.::.
Among Rikar's crew, the mood was also high. The Northern Army was glad to be on land again, if only for a short while.
Water barrels were hauled to the river to be filled. Nets and baskets were quickly filled with fresh fruits and berries. Kiiryan, working near Dareau, was almost able to forget about his incident on the ship. But only almost. He could feel the eyes of Rikar's close followers watching him. It was as if they were waiting for him to mess up again. Dareau could see this too. As soon as he caught Kiiryan's eye, Dareau gave a wide grin.
"Don't worry, this will all be forgotten when we get into Mossflower." Kiiryan forced a smile.
"I hope you're right, Dareau," he said.
Once the supplies were back on the ship, the soldiers gathered below decks to await the delicious meal that would surely come from their new stock. Barrels of grogs and ales were tapped, and the soldiers broke into their groups of companions.
Kiiryan sat at a table with Dareau, and a group of younger soldiers. Dareau was telling a story of a war from seasons passed. Kiiryan was only half listening. He kept catching snippets of conversation from other tables.
"...Too young to be 'ere..."
"...Should still be in training..."
"...Don't know why one dat young is chosen for un voyage..."
"... Stupid mistakes. 'E will be killed..."
"... Can not believe 'e said dat..."
Everything will be forgotten by Mossflower. Yeah, sure Dareau. Whatever you say.
Kiiryan turned his attention back to his own table, suddenly aware that somebeast had been talking to him.
"What was that, Jesper?" he asked. The young rat next to him grinned.
"Not even listening to de story, eh? What I said was, what are you going to do if we 'ave to fight agin de woodlanders 'ere?" Kiiryan sighed.
"If I have to, I will fight. But I hope that we do not.
Reviews Please! Saying this again, only going to keep going if people like it.