Misadventures

Bad Day

War of the Four Banners

Redwall Short Story

Raman and Valtman stood before the prisoner tent, knowing full well what was inside of it. They had observed the medics explain to them what had happened and were coldly dismissive of the hare's fate. Next to them, a proud looking squirrel guard held his chin high, knowing punishment would come to him for his 'failure', although everyone knew what had happened. Valtman growled "This is beyond a travesty, Raman. Right in our own bloody camp. You see those tracks around the tent? Probably more than one attempt on this poor wretch's life. Moment he walked through those gates; he was a dead beast."

Raman didn't seem all that mournful and shook his head "The guard reports he didn't hear a thing. You believe him?" Raman had asked sarcastically, but Valtman was having none of it. "Don't do that talk with me, otter. This is worthy of hanging."

The guard who had his chin held high widened his eyes and pathetically retracted himself into his fellow soldiers who held him firm. He wasn't going anywhere as the two captains gave him a dirty look. They were confused why they would carry out this assassination, but their conversation was quickly interrupted by the sound of chiming boots approaching. Esmert came up to the group with an angry huff and snorted. "I've already sent out some of the guards to round up the perpetrators, there is going to be a lashing tomorrow. Stupid creatures. How hard is it to even wait for justice, hmm?"

Raman and Valtman wanted to groan, but Esmert was not the beast they wanted to get in trouble with. Even though he was equal in rank, the noble born taskmaster was a favorite of the Black Twitch. Valtman squinted his eyes and asked, "How do you know who did this?"

Esmert rolled his eyes "Cause, this hare ambushed and killed one of our patrols. You know that otter Raman? The one with the stubby nose. His younger brother was dragged into the forest and gutted while they were making their way back from the northwest."

"Northwest?" Raman asked confused "What were they doing that far away from the camp?"

"Doing as Nosbub ordered them to, doing what you two were doing out in the field not too long ago. None of your concern." Esmert said, almost nervously. Had he told the truth, of how Nosbub had ordered him to cull the Long Patrol presence in the region through brutal means, his fellow captains would be raising a ruckus. He was partly thankful Raman and Valtman didn't seem to question it further. "Fine." Valtman nodded "Though it gives them no excuse to do this in this camp. Be sure they feel it Esmert."

"Oh they will, but that is not what I am fully here for. In fact, I've been looking for you two."

The two captains looked more confused than nervous, but that creeping concern still existed. Esmert was an arrogant beast, and happy to use the whip, his authoritative approach to his troops made him no friends amongst soldier and captain alike. "Nosbub is displeased about the numbers we are bringing into the camp; it causes strain on the soldiers and bigger strain on the camp's traffic. We are a war camp, not a bleeding town."

Valtman smiled "Oh? Then we can finally get out of this hellish hole, eh? Me division is already ready as it is."

"We plan to march out north, but you two will be marching elsewhere. Frankfort wants to create a presence in central Mossflower. The south seems secure enough, and we need outposts and supply camps. You and a bunch of other minor captains will be establishing Southsward's presence. . .and bringing along some aids."

Valtman frowned and seemed disappointed "Minor captain yourself, Esmert. My troops are some the best in Southsward! Now, what do you mean by aids?"

"That population problem isn't because of new recruits, we get more and more vermin and rebels being made into serfs in the camp, and its creating issues." Esmert continued, holding his paws to his side "You two, and others, will be taking the serfs along with you as camp laborers. Get some of this filth out of this camp."

Valtman began to grow angry "I don't need a bunch of these vermin laborers in my division. I got soldiers as it is. I am not going to bloat my army or bother my officers babysitting a bunch of these troublesome beasts. Its bad enough that I had to even drag them back here."

Raman interjected as well, coldly arguing with his friend's point "Captain Esmert, Valtman is right. We don't need more beasts in our division. We got plenty as it is. My soldiers can perfectly keep their own camp clean and busy without the need for laborers, since we already have laborers and—"

"Frankfort's orders, you two." Esmert snapped "Those laborers you have? Consider them gone and conscripted into the army. Promotions are happening as we speak, and we are filling up the regular ranks with these new folk. Although Shackleford had said we are to 'teach' these stupid, ignorant savages our ways in the vain hope they learn, he also said we must teach them through diligence and labor. Emphasis on the 'labor' part. We'll be dividing out the current batch we got in the camp, but not even one is staying. I got other overseers who need experience training these stupid barbarians."

Valtman grinded his teeth, but relented "Fine. Do we at least have the automony to pick out our own?"

Esmert nodded and scornfully reminded the two "You have until tomorrow afternoon. There are three whole tents, and I suspect we will have those barracks filled up again by tomorrow evening. Now shoo. I got some clean up to do."

Raman and Valtman left Esmert to his chiding and his huffing, Valtman complained to his friend in anger "Gah! Bellmaker damn us. Raman, if you don't mind, those woodlander rebels we got. Mind if I just have them, eh? I hate to think a single vermin paw is going to be touching and handling my supplies and setting up our tents."

Raman nodded "I'll have Gasger with me, so I am not fully in your stated mood old friend. Though, you will owe me one." Valtman nodded as the two wandered off.

Dapan and Zardan found themselves moving boxes as the rat listened to the weasel's story of what had happened last night. The rat grew increasingly dismayed, as the weasel seemed far less himself. Dapan angered voice was gone, replaced with an overbearing concern and realization of his situation.

"Ye sure, matey?" Zardan said in disbelief "Salamandastron be under siege, an' den a group marchen on Redwall Abbey? I can't believe it, not fer a second. Maybe der hare just be mad his kin are gone. Ya got around der guards okay it seems, eh? Maybe I could talk some sense into em. If we get em' out, maybe he'll—" Zardan and Dapan stopped as the camp's beasts made way for Esmert and some other beasts. The two watched their last hope being motionlessly held to a stretcher and carried out to be buried. He was thankfully covered in a sheet, otherwise Dapan may have been sick. Zardan sighed deeply and shook his head "We might be here a lot longer den even I thought."

"Aye, but dat is if we are still. Just keep a look out fer somethen interesten. Somethen dat can help us."

Zardan nodded, as the two continued their hard work. Dapan was growing more and more tired, and the ever-watchful Gasger held his critical eye over them. Dapan's tiredness didn't really bother him as much as his humiliation. As he worked on transporting boxes between places, he was treated more like an ignorant child then the real strong father and verminous hordebeast he was. He was now allowed to wash on his own terms at least, but even then, that wasn't without Gasger berating him or forcing him to repeat his tasks. He was yelled at and berated by the quartermasters who felt insulted Dapan didn't know even a morsel of what they did. The exhaustion from the work only added to his misery, the icing on his tortured cake was of course the threats of his food being halved or being lashed.

It kind of reminded him of the horde he found his missus in.

As the two worked, so did both begin to speak in friendly although hushed tones. "Ya got any family in her Zardan?"

"Nay. Never got me a mam or kids, matey. Haven kids an' a missus be too much trouble, ya know? They say a vermin wit kids is about as overworked as a young hordebeast. I knew a couple of beasts like dat, ya know."

Dapan partly regretted asking and tried to change the conversation "I see, I see. Ya prefer 'Zardan' or whatever Raskar was callen ya?"

"You can call me Zardan, don't get in trouble on my account over a name matey. Been called a lot of names. Big Brown, Belcher, Blackwink, Ol' Snootsniffer, an den der was a hare who used to call me 'der most talkative rat on this side of Mossflower', but I don't believe him one bit. I knew a couple of talkative rats, an on dis side of Mossflower. Der is dis one older folk, even older den me, hasn't stopped talken In sea—"

"Be quiet." Came an order from behind. Both vermin looked nervously behind them to see Gasger staring down. Dapan gave him a nasty look as the hare grunted "You serfs will work in silence, preferably. What energy you spend on talking can be spent on transporting these goods to the depots."

Zardan kept quiet, but Dapan didn't "Is talken not allowed eder? Next ya gonna say breathing be banned."

"If I had it my way, weasel, that would exactly be my next order to you." Gasger gritted his teeth. The hare shook his head and came beside them, his paws firmly behind his back "Continue acting like a child, and you will be punished as one. Now, get back to your work, serf."

Dapan mocked the hare "Oh, of course 'sir'. Maybe ya would like me to do a liddle dance fer ya as well?" Gasger didn't give Dapan an angry look as he would have suspected, in fact, the hare gave a confident smirk.

Moran was tired, sleeping partly on a cot. He had spent much of the day working once again with the otter Gulan, he and his mother having escaped work under Gasger to work once again creating pouches for the recruits on their cleaning supplies. Moran was not feeling too well, even though he tried to hide it the best he could, but he licked his lips and seemed almost a little dazed. He was anxious even, but he wasn't going to let a little starvation keep him down. Moran was about to close his eyes, eager to wait for tomorrow, before he heard the voice of the others returning. To this, he simply turned his back and groaned, but soon he heard a wild laughter from his brother and sister who had been playing a game of 'slap the paw' on their own cot. Moran turned, and widened his eyes, unsure what he was seeing let alone believing it as the funniest thing he had ever seen walked into the tent door.

His father was forcibly dressed in this clownish overcoat, a rope tied around his waist with a dunce's hat on his head. He had never seen his father so miserable as he and the other filed on through. A yank on the rope held him back as Gasger held the rope lead himself. He untied the rope and swiftly looped it around his shoulder, angrily taking the dunce's hat and ordering the weasel about. "You can put that uniform next to your bed a little present from me to you, vermin." The overcoat was quite literally clownish, dotted purple and pink with a white overlay. Dapan angrily tore it from him but dared not damage it. It was something Gasger had picked up from the villages, as he happily looked Dapan put it near his bed "If you ever lose your clothes, weasel. You will at least have a proper replacement. I hope you shed your childish antics, because your next taskmaster no doubt will be less lenient." Dapan gave him a weird look as the hare happily and disturbingly exclaimed.

"Tomorrow morning, you and the other miserable creatures we brought here will be lined up at exactly fourth quarters to afternoon and be presented in clean and readily servile fashion." Gasger lifted his chin and put his paws behind his back, scolding them as he nearly held back a certain amount of excitement "And I will be done with you all, and thank the seasons for that. If you are lucky, you will be sent to the villages to labor for your betters to make sure our domain has enough resources for the winter, to aid in construction, and other projects. You will be divided amongst the several captains, including Captain Raman's. My superior."

Gasger gave a wide eyed and poisoned look to the Grassweaves "And I will be done with you lot especially. Oh, and don't think you will eat fully just yet, I will damn well make sure your next overseer knows of your antics and my previous orders."

Moran grabbed his rumbling stomach and looked with a rebellious eye to the hare who simply kept his wicked smile "Since you will no longer be with me, I can say this with utter confidence. One of you will be lashed or hanged, or lose a limb even, and I could not give a single pity to any of you. When you leave for your respective divisions, I only hope they take you miserable, incompetent lot far away. Farther perhaps still to the Black Forest and do this whole barbarian country a favor. I would rather have overseen a group of rebellious children then give one of you spoiled, miserable creatures a chance to even serve as a trench layer in this army, you accursed disgraces for beasts! Ha!"

Gasger sounded happy, and why wouldn't he be. "Finally, I'll be free of you wretched serfs and be doing far more important tasks." He monologued "No more of you improper, evil, rude creatures who couldn't respect deserved authority even if it hit them in the snout!" The hare became uncharacteristically gitty. Dapan and the others were more confused then angry, as Neuls spoke up to him in a sarcastic tone "Glad to know you and your boss dragged us to a place you don't want us to be in anyway. Has all this work just been because you lot can't carry a single bleeding box of your own."

"If I was still your overseer next morning, vole, you would be lashed for that." Gasger returned to his cold mood "Not that you fools understand the benefits of civilization. Prince Frankfort and his advisors believe hard work will knock sense into you, but seeing what I've seen these past few days, I highly doubt it."

Dapan lowly growled and spoke up to him in a hateful tone "So all dat yanking on me, making me dress as a clown, getten laughed at by yer soldiers was fer nutten?"

Gasger only smiled widely, not giving the weasel a dignified response. Dapan huffed and folded his paws "Since yer gonna no longer be our boss, I'll be glad to be rid of ya. I'd radder be benden me back to a blasted disgruntled badger den even look ya in der eyes, ya bleeding hare. I really hope yer own boss falls straight off a blasted cliff, an' takes ya wit him!" Dapan shocked Martha who quickly got in front of him, begging the hare to not take his word too seriously "Nevermind him, hare, twas just a joke. Heh."

Gasger kept up his dark smile and came closer. Dapan didn't regret his words since these two beasts would likely never see each other again after tomorrow. "I may still have to look after our own laborers back in the camp, but it will be already decent fellow Southwarders. We may take one or two, but it won't be you miserable fools. I will be sure to let your next overseer know those words well."

Gasger left, nearly laughing to himself into the night. Martha turned to her husband and scolded him "Yer me love an' matey, Dakker, but yer also der dumbest beast I know."

Dapan frowned, partly realizing what he had just done a bit too late again. He cursed himself and turned to her, trying to give a weak and confident smile "Look me lov'ly. Once we be gone from dat hateful creature, we don't got to worry about him anymore. I promise, when we get shifted out to some new taskmaster, we can' be peachy wit dem. Now, der are a couple dings I gotta tell ya about. All of ya about." He turned his attention to the others in the tent, as Dapan told them about the terrible news from the night before. None in there went to bed well that night, as the light of Mossflower's freedom felt faded more than ever.

The Grassweaves and several other beasts were lined up in a long row. Like every other morning before, the group had been awoken the by sound of Gasger's trumpet. One by one, the beasts were lined up in a clearing of the camp as Gasger and some others made the group more presentable. Dapan was relieved that the hare had been so quick to skip over having the group forcefully washed, he spent much of the afternoon pushing the group to quickly pack up their blankets and things and line up. Moran was a little sad, looking out with uncertain eyes to what happens next.

Raman and Valtman marched out and were a bit surprised to see all the beasts having already been lined up, and Gulan came to their side. He looked bored and less himself, as he looked about and scoffed.

"Can't believe we are even doing this. This is beyond stupid, Raman."

"Gulan." Raman said in a cold tone.

"Yes?"

"Be quiet." He ordered. Gulan frowned as the three marched out and could see they were the first ones there. Raman had volunteered his divison to help 'train' and 'civilize' the serfs, much to Gasger's personal dismay. Gasger came up to the otter and gave a bow to him, taking up a military salute and loudly announcing him "Captain Raman Coastlord, the serfs are lined and ready as ordered!"

"I thought this was all supposed to be in the afternoon." Gulan said with a yawn. He peaked behind Gasger to see another looking at him. He saw a weasel who looked a lot like Moran, and then peered down to see him. Gasger gave no huff and informed the otter of his duties "From evening or afternoon as was ordered, Gulan. I like to be as early as possible. I would have done this while the moon was out! The quicker we get this done with, the better I say."

Valtman nodded "I couldn't agree more, but we are awaiting captains Haylan and..." Valtman paused and held in a spiteful groan "Henden."

Gasger rolled his eyes "I am certain a royal beast like Henden will be up and edam before we know it. Now, shall we begin or must we wait for them?"

Raman shook his head "We must sadly wait for them. Henden will have a fit if we do. You know how he tends to be. Though, passing the time wouldn't be too bad. Show us our potential new serfs Gasger."

Gasger partly frowned a little "Erm, sir. 'Our'? We do have serfs back in our own camp. I thought Frankfort was just going to send this lot out to respective villages early to begin harvesting crops and what not." Gasger was nervous. He felt even a little betrayed as Raman explained it to him. "I apologize for the misunderstanding Gasger. I only learned this recently, but our serfs and laborers for our divisions are being conscripted into the main army itself. Your duties as taskmaster of the laborers and their duties will continue unfortunately, but we will discuss that later."

Gasger frowned harder but nodded. The hare started from one line and worked his way down as Raman gave a bored look to all of them. They were a mix of exhausted and miserable beasts, with only a few woodlanders which were from when Valtman dragged them into Palewind. Valtman gave a dark look over them and complained openly in front of the serfs "Barely any woodlanders. Half tempted to jumpstart a rebellion just to have more." He joked. Raman didn't fully get it and shook his head "None of that talk now, Valtman. Last thing we need is Frankfort threatening us with the lash over it. You there. Your name." Raman surprised the ferret Sadan who was near his little sister. He stammered and poked at his own paws in an awkward manner.

"Erm, yes, me name. Ehhh, ummm, Ya mean like der name I was born wit right? Bloodpatch dey calls me." Sadan could see he wasn't giving a good impression, but he and his younger sibling were giving a terrified eye to Valtman, their parent's murderer. The Dormouse looked annoyed as Sadan quickly corrected himself "Wells, erm, dat hare calls me Sakan gov'ner. I, erm, ya, dat be it."

"Sadan." Gasger angrily corrected as the ferret tried to correct his mistake loudly again "Yes, yes yes, Sapan, dat what I meant."

Valtman looked on in disbelief and interjected "Say 'Sadan' now, vermin, or I am going to just punch you."

The ferret still jittered in total fear, sinking a bit into the ground in anxiousness. He stammered out just barely a response "S-s-s-sa-d-d-d-an."

Raman sighed and looked down at the pitiful creature as Gulan gave the dormouse a weird look. "Captain Valtman, this beast looks like he is seeing a ghost. Is there any reason to be harsh on him?"

Valtman looked to Gulan and grunted, informing him of their little history. "This creature's father and mother was some two-timing bandit we found on the road, decorating their 'home' with all manner of stolen things. Hanged them in the forest, though deserved a lot worse when they stabbed at one of me soldiers and tried to flee into the woods without these two in tow. Twas pathetic. Shackleford is right, these beasts are too dumb and self-serving to let be in civilized society. What he gets wrong is thinking they can be changed."

Gulan frowned as Sadan slowly got back up, trying to stammer out an apology "S-sorry, good sirs. Ya know, just a bit under der weather is all. Oh ya, I'll learn what ya said, round ears." Sadan said with a smile to his face as the dormouse turned his gaze to him again and anger stricken across his face. He grabbed the ferret by the shirt and pulled him close, the ferret yelping in terror "You call me 'round ears' again, vermin, and I'll make sure you get put into the ground. Personally."

Sadan gulped and was let go. Gulan felt uneasy with how these creatures were treated, as Gasger continued to bash upon the unfortunate ferret. "Lazy beast as well, don't see him lasting much longer. Can't lift crates, can't build a trench, has no upper body strength at all. Not good laboring material."

Raman turned his attention to Lena, Gavan, and Neuls who stood side by side. He motioned Valtman over to look over them. They were the only woodlanders in the group, as Valtman grumbled looking down at Neuls in particular. "This is all we got in terms of woodlanders, Gasger?"

"Yes, is something wrong?"

"That one." Valtman pointed to Neuls. The old vole was looking up with angry eyes at him, ready to spit at the dormouse. "Any friend of the vermin is an enemy of woodlanders, and this beast in particular has it out for me, eh vole?"

Neuls grunted and responded in kind "If you think two beasts camping out in the woods minden their own business is your enemy, dormouse, then maybe you should get your eyes checked. Or well. Eye." Neuls smirked as the dormouse grunted in turn. Raman came forward and coldly reminded the vole "Any further outbursts like that, and I'll make sure you work is tripled. Valtman here is a hero of Southsward, and I will not have you dishonoring his deeds and name with the defense of your captor you supposedly liked."

Neuls grew angry but said nothing. He had a lot of insults to hurl at both, but he also really didn't want to end up like Dapan. Speaking of which the group passed over the Grassweaves as Moran looked up in fear at Gulan and his brother. Gulan gave an awkward smile to Moran. Dapan was only partly aware of Gulan through what Martha had told him, a fun and jovial beast who had been nothing but kind to her and his children. Dapan had no intention thanking him however, not that he would get the chance to. Soft beast tryen to turn me kin into workbeasts. What a wretched trickster. Always knew dem water dogs as nutten but a bunch of trumped up, flea brained, gangsters. Gulan tried to give a comforting smile to Dapan, but it wasn't returned back. Dapan wanted this all to be done with so he and his family were forever free of Raman and his ilk.

"Dapan Grassweave." Raman said, his paws retracting behind his back as he started up a casual conversation "My officer tells me less then savory things of you and your behavior thus far. I'll ask you to hold your tongue through this little event if you would so kindly."

Dapan blinked and just nodded, but Valtman growled at him for his silence "At least bleeding say 'yes, sir', you blasted cretan."

Dapan gave the dormouse a critical eye, but he began to soften. He didn't want this all to go horribly wrong, not while so close to disappear beyond Gasger and Raman's grasp. In a defeated sigh he replied "Yes, sir." And retracted his gaze from Raman's. Gasger grunted and wished to move all this along "About as much as you will get out of this one, sirs."

Dapan kept his head down till they left, as his family sat there. He looked across from him towards another group of serfs standing nearby. Zardan and Raskar stood side by side, looking at him. Raskar looked bored, and Zardan was concerned. So, the weasel waited, for the day to at least end.

"Pa." Moran whispered weakly.

"Ya?" Dapan said in a hushed tone.

"I'm hungry." It was later in the afternoon as the group continued to stand there, looking a bit tired and less anxious. Valtman and Gasger were looking over the serfs, making sure everyone was peachy still, but none of them had ate and they were growing tireless. The dibbums of the group were allowed to sit down for a bit as Moran seemed a bit hazed. His vision looked a bit blurrier than usual, and his stomach rumblings felt worse. Dapan growled lowly to him "Just keep it in, boy. An don't do anyding stupid."

"Yer der one who usually does stupid stuff."

Dapan was about to slap his rebellious son upside his head but stopped himself mid-way when he noticed Raman looking at him. Gulan was whispering next to him, and the two looked like they were arguing at times. Some other beasts had come around, including some mouse captain in a yellow beret who was looking over some the serfs and was about as cold hearted and unimpressed as Valtman and Raman were. He had passed along the Grassweaves, and looked at them with uncertainty.

"You look rather. Spiffy." Haylan commented Dapan, which caught the weasel by surprise. He fumbled his words in response "Um, erm, danks."

Haylan frowned and shook his head "I was being sarcastic, though good effort."

Dapan began to reply in anger "What der hecks is dat su—" Dapan stopped himself and then forced himself to smile, trying to think of way to pull back on his already troubled beginning sentence "—upppose der mean, erm, sir? I am always looken to improve, dat what dey say of ol' Dakk—Dapun."

The mouse looked amused and smiled and then continued down the line. Dapan huffed and breathed a sigh of relief, but not before the mouse headed over to Gasger and Valtman. Dapan had no clue what they were talking about, but they soon began to give him a dirty eye which made the weasel sweat. Gasger eventually came over and slapped him across the forehead. "Speak like that to a captain again, serf, and the gallows will await you."

Dapan nursed his head and frowned. The group had been waiting for one beast in particular and they all looked horrically bored, up until a loud shout was heard from a beast who made a sudden entrance. "Make way!" From the right of him, Dapan saw a ridiculous golden squirrel appear, but it was not Frankfort. It was another creature, dressed head to toe in a captain's uniform, but crawling with expensive etches and a long golden chain with some blue and red emblem minted onto it. The squirrel approached, a cane in paw bedazzled in jewels and a gilded sword which hanged from his belt.

"Captain Henden." Raman said with sarcastic relief, Raman approached as the overbearing squirrel corrected him "Prince Henden to you, Captain Raman. As Frankfort's cousin, you will all give me the proper title I am deserving of."

Valtman and Haylan grumbled to each other as the squirrel was followed by a shrew and a mouse, who kept to his side closely, whom Dapan guessed were his officers. Henden looked about at the vermin, holding a paw to his nose "Euch! You there, hare, you did have the peasants washed, right?"

Gasger wanted to say yes, but he kept silent. The squirrel looked about with increasing dismay at the group of newly minted serfs "So these are the vermin, hmm? They are tame for the most part, right? If I am to take them on, I will take only the best. If such a thing exists in this group."

"I'll lash them till they are of course." The shrew cheerfully said, which caused Lena and her companions to become sickened. Henden looked about the vermin as he kept his nose up and leaned on his cane. Gasger spoke up to the serfs "At attention! Prepare for new assignments!"

First was Haylan who took some of the serfs away whom were more lean. Dapan listened closely to Henden complain and mock the mouse who seemed dismissive, although a bit sympathetic, to the serfs. Haylan would not to one rat "Dorgan, is it? If you weren't a rat, I'd say you look like a strong farming beast, eh? Get into line, thank you very much."

Henden kept a hushed tone and mocked them mouse to his fellow subordinate officer, a fellow mouse who listened only lightly "It's hard to believe I must call that serf my equal, Danol. Why must he go first, and not I? Looks like he took the stronger ones too, that lower caste cretan."

The words were curious to Dapan, he had assumed he was just a slavebeast in all but name. Haylan as he would learn from the squirrel's gossip was also a fellow serf, although clearly having arisen in rank. It gave him a little hope that perhaps his situation wasn't so grim, but he knew better. Henden eventually approached two rat dibbums who stared up a bit fearfully at him. The squirrel bent down curiously at them and then gave a chuckle. "Vaon! Come look at these adorable creatures. Hare, what do you know of them?"

Gasger was partly aware of them, they were twins named Masg and Melo, the two rat dibbums looked a little less fearful and bit more curious at the group now hovering over them. The hare grumbled out "These two are—"

"Names Masg." "Name's Melo."

Both had answered in a different way, but it was Masg who had said Melo, and Melo who had said Masg. Gasger growled at them and they silenced themselves "Troublemakers. My subordinates say they are pawful. This one over here may be better suited for your division."

Gasger pointed to a young fox next to them, a fearful beast who was partly twitching. Henden came over and looked into his face, and then patted his head "Interesting specimens to say the least, Gasger. He is named?"

"Der name's Dast, me good flulf tail." The fox cautiously said, as the squirrel retracted himself in shock. "My word! Vaon!" He called out to his shrew companion as Gasger gave the fox a disappointed look and reminded him of two things he had seemingly not learned "Your bleeding name is—"

"Masg an' Melo." The two rat twins said in unison, but another glare from the cold hare got them to be silent. "Daych. For the last time, you don't use those stupid vermin words." Daych gulped as Vaon came over as Henden motioned for him to hand him something. Vaon handed the squirrel a glove. Daych was confused at first before he got a harsh slap to his cheek. Vaon took the glove off as Henden said in a disappointed tone "These serfs are barely tame, let alone obedient. I thought you prided yourself on this kind of thing, hare?"

Gasger looked angry, angrier than he had been before. The vein on his head made it look like he was going to boil over. It wasn't the vermin who would push him over the edge, it was the squirrel. Gasger calmed himself, trying to get through the day without further incident. Henden announced to the conjoined group of unfortunate folk "It seems you vermin have had it quite soft! I and my officer Vaon desire only the best, but I believe the best kind of servant is built from the ground up! Hare, bring me the worst of your worst, including these three and add them to my division. I'll make do with them and make them more proper laborers of the kingdom."

Henden relished the challenge as he turned back to Gasger, who as soon as he heard this began to look at the nervous looking Grassweaves. Gasger was content his job was done, but until Raman stepped forward and sternly chastised the squirrel. "Henden, as much as I would love for you to waste all of our time, I have places to be. Now, lets move this along Gasger."

Gasger grunted as Raman approached the far line from Dapan and his family, and began picking out the serfs for his division. Gasger stood by Dapan and his family, gleefully pointing out their impending fate. "Just a warning, Dapan. Henden can be a real piece of work you see. I know Vaon personally, always happy with the whip."

Dapan couldn't help but roll his eyes at all these threats and torments. He would take a shrew's word of cruelty over Gasger's at this point. At least he would be free from the rotten hare's grasp.

"Zardan. Rasan. Step forward." Zardan and Raskar did so as Raman looked them up and down. He was only impressed by the size and high-minded obedience of Rasker who had been up until this point very quick to obey his command. Zardan was disgusted by a show that was obvious to him, but it got a friendly grin from Raman. He picked out three more vermin from the crowd before heading over to where Gasger was.

Gasger smirked, satisfied the minimum number of laborers for a division had been chosen out, he was content with such results. They were mostly all adults, beasts he could easily command around and were for the most part as he had observed them being fearful and quick to follow his orders. Gasger confidently spoke to Raman "I will have the barracks for them ready for them immediately, sir. Should be an easy enough order for the quartermaster, eh?" Gasger gave a rare joke, which Raman only casually replied back. "Make it ten, Gasger."

No.

The blood began leave the hare's face till it became pale, and Dapan's jaw slowly began to unhinge in shock. Dapan in desperation blurted out in a valiant effort to rid himself of the otter by acting his old self. "Nay, no. Ya really don't want me otter. Not me an' me kids, we'd just get in der way."

"Yes!" Gasger blurted out with a rare show of comradery to his hated underling "Yes, absolutely. Couldn't agree more. I mean, just see how he talk back."

"Aye. I do."

"Look at his face!"

"No hold on just a dang darn minute. . ."

Raman shouted, ending this trivial routine "Enough! Gasger! I won't have one of my officers undermining my decisions. Dapan, you will be silent. Frankly, if it were up to me weasel, you wouldn't be here at all. Yet, I am bound by honor's sake of that mouse friend who vouched for you. Thus, you and your family are my responsibility, and not to mention your complete lack of respect towards authority and unwillingness to be silent when a beast speaks to you will be changed. Forcibly if necessary. Gasger, now we are finished here, move them out to a barracks in my side of the camp and be swift about it."

Gasger and Dapan could not believe it and refused to. They both stammered out a response but didn't have the strength to do so. Their mutual attempt to separate from one another now died down to a new low. Valtman claimed the remaining beasts as Raman left. His first order of business was coming up to Lena, Gavan, and Neuls and was quick to claim them "You three are with me, and I want to hear not a single blasted word from any of you. . .and you two as well."

Valtman turned his attention to Sadan and Murna who looked at him fearfully. They only gave a weak nod as the one-eyed dormouse picked out the rest of whom he wanted. The remaining beasts, to be sent to do various projects in the occupied lands of Mossflower, felt a sudden rush of relief just as new serfs were dragged into the camp to go through the same misery as they did.

Dapan put his blanket and pillow on his cot and lazily looked about his new barracks surroundings. Somehow, as if to add onto his misery, the whole thing was smaller. It was partly night by now as he heard Zardan behind him who was in a talkative mood. "Cute dibbums, matey. Not even a single blasted day I don't enjoy looking a little tikes like that, sad they end up in this ol' rotten place. Though I suppose it ain't abnormal. Knew a couple of pirates who brought their entire families on board der ships. Cute den too, up until one fell over into the ocean, an ya know how dat be. . ."

Raskar growled out as he angrily put his thinks on his own cot "Ya don't know a damn ding about der ocean, flea brain. Ya wouldn't have lasted a day." Raskar sounded insulted as he looked over his cadre of fools. He growled and began trying to impose himself on the others in an authoritative mood "Now listen ya nit wits, cause I don't like to repeat dis twice. Ya eder wit me, or a dead beast. You der, Dapan dey call ya? Yer gonna make sure der is a nice cup o' water in me paws. Yer missus can sneak in some of dem good smelling viddles fer me as well, eh? Zarden. Yer gonna help me wit a few dings, some of dem slavebeasts in dis camp look like dey got some good dings on dem. . ."

Dapan angrily yelled at him, unamused by the rat's demands "We ain't doin anyding fer ya, blasted ol' gangster. Bad enough yer here wit us now. . ."

Raskar came close to the weasel, revealing his shiv "An ya best be doin as I say, weasel, or maybe yer little ones would need a few reminders, eh?"

Dapan wanted to punch him, but Martha came over and barred her fangs at Raskar which made him back up a bit in fear. She gave a dark toned threat to the rat "Ya even look at dem funny, long tailed water walloper, an' I'll bury ya so deep into der earth dat not even hell itself will find ya. Ya back off from me stupid husband, an ya stay away from us if ya know what be good fer ya."

Raskar grunted and shoved the weasel mother back and flicked his shiv back into his pockets "Ya fools don't even know what is good fer ya. I am simply tryen to get ya all good an' ready fer a breakout, an as yer little leader, ya be best to look up to an' obey yer chief."

Zardan could see the other vermin in tent nodding along, desperate for some leader to help them be free from this nightmarish scenario. Yet, Dapan was having none of which snapped them out of it. "I'd radder have a blind rabbit leaden us, rat. Yer nutten but a wannabe gangster an' washed up fool. Ya don't me respect, an I won't respect a fool beast who follows ya. I know what ya tryen to do. Yer tryen to trick us into bein yer hordebeasts to boss us around an' make yerself comfortable. Ya got no real intention escapen, do ya?"

Raskar suddenly and with a devil's speed took Dapan by the shirt collar and forced him down to his level in a strength Dapan was not familiar with. The firey eyes of the rat burned with a hellish rage as he gasped out something uncharacteristic of an old, washed up, irrelevant freebooter "An if ya talk back to me like dat, scum, I'll make ya into fish bait." Raskar pushed the weasel back and returned to what he was doing previously, laying out his things on the cot.

Dapan was already dreading what the next few weeks, let alone a month, might be like. He didn't have to wait for very long before Gasger appeared through the tent flap. Everyone dumbly looked at him as the hare looked more depressed then upset. He put his paws behind him as he spoke with an informative command to them.

"You are now laborers underneath Captain Raman Coastlord forth width, and as his officer, I am bound by my duties to oversee you. Every morning you will wake up to clean and make your beds in a nice and civilized manner, followed by a bath and cleaning. You will then eat your morning rations, all of this which should not take you an hour at best. Your work schedule will be done by me, but suspect the same work doled out to each of you. When you are done with your tasks, suspect more tasks given to you. A rest time for eating will be allowed, and a curfew set when the moon is fully overhead."

Dapan was about to speak up, but Gasger's cold mood turned into a boiling fury as he gave the weasel an angry look and continued, a seething hatred to his tone "From now on, I will not be lenient. One bad word of you, one mess up, and you will be lashed. I will have some beast lashed, I don't know who, but it's going to be either you or your brood you insufferable creature! Now go to sleep, and be ready for work tomorrow. Good. Night." Gasger left, his rambling and raving to himself was heard as loudly as ever.

Dapan frowned hard, groaning in terrible dismay. What manner of beast did I wrong to deserve dis. Hells to dat hare. Wells. At least Lena is likely doin about as well as I am, missed an arrow to der chest if dat one eyed round ears made me benden me back to him.

Lena and Gavan looked down at their new cots and seemed a bit depressed. They were effectively the same cots but were now a lot closer together. She gave a critical eye to her otter friend as she put her things on the cot "Gavan. If I hear you snore. I am stuffing your maw full of rocks."

The otter frowned "It ain't that bad, mouse. Didn't even know I did snore."

"You are about as loud as a rockslide." Neuls commented, sitting on top of his cot. The vole looked out towards the tent flap and sighed. "So. What manner of beast do you think is going to lord over us then? If every overseeing beast is like that monstrous Gasger, I think I'll just accidently fall on a sword or somethen."

"Oh, don't even joke like that." Gavan chided him "Besides, you don't got much to worry about." Gavan looked towards the vermin of the tent. In a farther off corner across from them was Sadan who was trying to set up his things on his cot, including a suspicious amount of. . .things? The ferret had created this weird pile of trash, tossing what looked to be a rotting apple piece of apple to his young sister who ate gladly of it. In one way, it was amazing that even in the situation they were in, the vermin found some way to disgust him.

Lena wasn't very happy herself "If what Dapan said was true, then we all need to start thinking of way to get out of here. If the Long Patrol can't help us. . ." Lena felt at a loss and sighed. It was bad enough to know several hordes were marching across Mossflower, but now fellow woodlanders were invading her home. Reduced to such a state, the warrior mouse maiden was not content to just stand by. No amount of exhausting work was going to keep her down, but anxiety filled her. Seasons, what if this dormouse's own officers are worse then Gasger?

Speaking of that dormouse, Valtman came through the tent flap with two of his soldiers. Valtman was about to begin speaking before he noticed Sadan's little pile of trash. At first in curiosity, and then in contempt he came over to him and the ferret slowly packed away.

"The hells is this?"

"Me dings." Sadan said with a big, fake smile. Valtman picked up the trashy pile in his paw, mesmerized at the pile of trash in his paw. It was leftover and partly rotting food, discarded cloth and rags, chips of wood, and some colored stones. Valtman gave the ferret and look, begging for him to have some explanation which the ferret barely obliged as he stammered out a response.

"Oh? Wells, sometimes I get a bit hungry ya see, gov'ner. Some of dis stuff tents to just get thrown out, an I be dinken it be better wit me, ya see? I dun' steal nutten, an as me pa used der say, 'better to keep everyding even to keep nutten'. Oh, dat? Dats cloth from one of der soldiers used near dat ding ya call a 'la trine', so I washes it a bit an' it makes fer a good cleanen cloth. Me little sis an' I can have some bigs imagination ya see, so de's chips o' wood? Dey kinda look like little toy soldiers, ones which kinda look like liddle hordebeasts. Den de's rocks I was dinken of usen dem as some kind'o currency ya see. Trade dem fer der good viddles an—"

"Enough!" Valtman shouted into the ferret's face which shut him up. The thought of what he was touching made the dormouse regret a lot of things, as he let it all drop from his paw. "Seasons. You beasts are impossible." Valtman dusted his paws off, but he knew he was going to have to wash it thoroughly.

"Firstly. You are going to get rid of this filth, bury it somewhere where I can't see it. You are a serf of Southsward now, and a laborer for this camp. Your rations are enough, this isn't some blasted camp for refugees or some haphazard barbarian village. You will learn to be a civilized beast, or dear seasons, I hope so."

Valtman returned to the front of the tent and introduced himself to the serfs "I am Captain Valtman of his royal majesty's eighth division of the first army. I believe beasts earn their respect, but I will expect your cooperation and complete obedience in this campaign. I will not tolerate foolery of any type. Whether you are a rebel who betrayed the cause of good beasts or scummy vermin, you will be treated in a harsh fairness under me. Is that understood."

Sadan gave a dumb nod and added a comment "Peachy keen, gov'ner."

Valtman gave the ferret a deadly stare which made him frown. The dormouse had a hard time believing that such a beast could even exist, but yet he had all manner of surprises when he set into Mossflower. Valtman took a stance and spoke again to his gathered serfs. "Serfs, as I would suspect any peasant to be obedient to their lord, I will suspect you to be obedient to my officers and soldiers. I may be tough, but you haven't known it truly, and I do not have soft beasts in my division. My officer, and friend, Bluebell will be with you shortly as he will be your taskmaster. You will obey him as you would obey me."

Lena became anxious as a loud voice came from outside, the group now getting to see who would replace the hated hare. Sadan suspected some monstrous badger, red eyes blazing and a fury which matched the red headed beast who had been bullying him and that weasel for the past few days. Gavan wondered if his own father would walk through that tent flap. Lena could only imagine some vile, black hearted creature which lived as a living mockery of what good beasts stood for. Some avatar of terror, some evil creature whom she would have to overcome to save herself and her friends. And maybe those two ferret, she had to think on that one a bit more.

"Stand at attention!"

The group lined up at their beds as drilled into them by Gasger, and all looked towards the tent flap. Lena grew anxious. She remembered her father's tales of the warriors of that red wall abbey, how they faced the tides of darkness with shining fury and zeal. Yet, would zeal be enough to overcome this tyrant?

Then this short, thin rabbit with a big and go lucky grin came through the tent flap and saluted Valtman.

"Night, sir. So, these are our new laborers I take it?"

Valtman nodded "Aye, they be yours. Just be sure you keep to Nosbub's orders, and get their work schedules figured out. I am going to go drink my troubles away with Sulch."

"Oh, of course sir. . .ohh?" Bluebell approached Sadan and Murna, and bent down to the younger ferret. Bluebell patted her head "Whats your name, youngster?"

She was silent as Bluebell waited patiently. Sadan suspected some horrible event and slowly got in front of his sister "Erm, sorry long ears, tis just she shy an' all, eh? Please, dat hare said her name be Murna now."

Valtman growled but Bluebell seemed calm and nodded "I see. I understand shyness all too well, though I've never had a beast call me 'long ears' before."

Sadan frowned and realized his mistake "Erm, sorry sir! Just what me pa used to call all. . erm. . ." Sadan motioned his paws to resemble a rabbit or hare's long ears. Bluebell slimed and chuckled a bit "Well, I prefer 'rabbit' myself, but no worries there. Here, why don't you both take one of these, a little gift for the day to calm the nerves." Bluebell reached into his pockets and brought out two small candies which he gave to the two. Murna smiled and ate hers gladly and Sadan chewed viciously on his. Bluebell then addressed the group "The name is Bluebell, you will all be suspected to do laboring work within reason of this division. Normally, this will include trench laying, laundry for soldiers, weapon cleaning, and supply carrying. Though, I think you all deserve a little break from Gasger's little angry drilling, so we can skip those formalities till a little later tomorrow. Take some rest today and in the morn, get your bearings and get comfortable. Whatever starvation rations Gasger had you on before ends now, you will be enjoying a nice true civilized meal in this division, don't you worry about that. Good night to you all, and I will see you all in the morning."

Bluebell and Valtman left as Lena simply stood there in utter disbelief. She slowly sat on her cot and was utterly silent, wondering if all of this was some absurd dream.