Misadventures

Breaking Point

War of the Four Banners

Redwall Short Story

It was late at night in Palewind as the Southsward patrols relaxed as the nightly patrols meandered and kept order in the camp. Night life in a military camp was as boring as one could imagine, but the soldiers had means to pass the time. Some were playing dice games, others were humming songs, and a couple of watchtower sentries were telling stories of the wars against the southern marsh lizards.

Yet it was the silence that Dapan could not stand.

Dapan found a lot of things intolerable, whether it be the fact he was forced to go into his bed like a miserable child at a certain hour, or the fact his son shivered next to him on a separate cot. The other vermin snored, and all of them were asleep. Dapan stared up at the ceiling of the large tent, his mind wandered from the future to the past. He really did miss his hole in the ground. Heck, he missed just having his smaller tent when he and his missus were just common gangsters wandering with a small gang. Martha was asleep, facing his little ones. Mia and Zadan snored peacefully, curled up in blankets as they would back home. Dapan's mind wandered from fantasy to fantasy.

It wandered into dark places.

He won't even get der bloody chance. Dapan told himself, his short conversation with his captor made him angry, more so than he had ever been before. He knew he wouldn't be escaping from this place soon, but he could at least resist them. He would have to of course if he wanted to prevent another lashing. He thought of how he would do away with that otter. Maybe Loamspear can put some nasty ol' poison in dat beast's soup? Nah. Would put me missus in danger. Can't just stab der blighter out in der open. Dapan then had a realization. He wasn't half bad with sneaking about in the night, he had gotten past these arrogant beasts and their patrols one night, he could certainly do so again. He slowly got up and sat on his cot. He was still tired, awaiting the strength to slowly get up.

He gave a pitied look to his love, he frowned as he wished to say something to her, but he was afraid she would talk him out of it. It was his pitied look to his youngest that made his veins boil with rage. Only a matter o' time before dat degenerate, dat wretch, touches dem. He won't get der chance.

Dapan got up and moved to the edge of the tent, looking outside and around. He had a plan which he had been brewing in his head since his recent talk with Raman. He would strangle the life out of that accursed woodlander, and watch the light leave his eyes. Strong beast, but I'll do it while he be sleepen. Dapan's anger clouded his rationality if he had any to start with. He slowly made his way over, but stopped and realized that the last time he had fought the otter, Raman had a nasty fist. No, gonna need a nice ol' sticker fer dat cretan.

His eyes wandered to the camp's kitchens. He went over and rummaged about, stopping only when a patrol went on by. He kept silent, but his mind was made up as he held a small cutting knife in paw. He looked to Raman's tent, still lit as he snuck to darker places of the tents and began to approach.

He was close before he felt himself being yanked by claws from behind him, and a paw coming over his mouth. Dapan was forcefully yanked back into the shadows as Dapan turned to try to face this new threat, likely some wannabe hero of a sentry. He would show them what a real 'troublesome vermin' looked like, but he stopped only when he saw Zardan's angry face staring back at him in the dark.

The old rat whispered out. "Yer a real piece o' work an' a prover to dat beast who dinks us to be stupid to even load der own carts rightly, ya know?"

Dapan grunted and turned, but not before Zardan harshly yanked him back again. Dapan was tired of this and growled in a low and dark tone "Get off me ya old fool, I'm doin us all a favor here."

Zardan pointed from the shadows as both saw another otter leave Raman's tent, and it wasn't Raman himself. Both only partly recognized him as Raman's brother, but they didn't seem much of him. Dapan didn't care much either way as Zardan turned the weasel around, chiding him harshly.

"Ya fool idiot, ya really don't dink befer ya act? Or are yer brains full of worms? Let me bring ya back to reality, ya were gonna head on in der an' get yerself killed, an' get yer family in worse trouble."

Dapan angrily spoke back "He lashed me boy, ya old bone bag! I ain't letten dat one go, not one bleeding bit. He'll do it to me, or me missus, or hells. Even me young'uns. If I end em', dey won't know."

"Yer not killen him fer yer family's sake." Zardan returned with a fury "Yer wanten to kill em' cause he slighted ya, an' don't ya go pretenden otherwise. If dis was really about yer boy, ya would have done dis yesterday." Zardan stopped when Dapan held up his knife to him, Dapan's anger turning on him.

"Ya don't got der right to tell me dat dis ain't about me kin, rat."

"If ya love yer family, den ya have a fool way of doin it." Zardan said in a sad and regretful voice "Matey, I can't tell ya how bad ya got it fer you an yer kids, but dis ain't it. Think for a moment, just a moment, dat even if ya go an succeed. Ya really dink dey are gonna not know who done it? Ya really dink dey aren't gonna look yer way? Ya will get blood on yer shirt an' fur and can't even wash it all off. Do ya really want to see yer boy weep as he sees ya swing from der gallows?"

Dapan huffed and grunted but stopped as Zardan's words did stick true. The more he thought on it, the less confident he was. Blood. Right. Dat stuff sticks real bad, but—

Dapan lowered his knife as Zardan continued to reason with him "Don't throw yer life away fer nutten. Dey will do somethen far worse den lashing ya or yer kin over all dis, an ya know it."

Dapan sniffed and stuck the knife on top of a box as he looked to Zardan. He nodded in defeat and returned slowly and silently to the tent. Dapan growled "Dey want to break us down, into little more den slavebeasts. I mean, we gotta resist dem. Right?" Dapan was unsure now, for the more he thought, he more his mind was blocked much like the wooden palisades of the camp. Zardan spoke up "Dey intend it, but der more you dumbly try to resist, der worse it gets. Ya gotta play along, make em' dink yer already tame. Dey want us to be like dem? Well, act like what dey suspect of ya, an keep yer sanity to yerself till we are out in Mossflower. Starten up trouble don't do much, consideren how bad Mossflower is right now."

Dapan sighed and nodded. Dapan stopped at the edge of the tent to return to his cot, as he spoke up to Zardan.

"Mate. Ya really dink pretenden to be tame be better?"

Zardan turned to Dapan and frowned "Weasel, if de's folk win dis war, pretenden will be der only dink we will be doin from here on out." Dapan frowned as both returned to their cots to sleep.

"Pa."

"Ya?"

"Are ya feelen okay?"

The Grassweaves were in the mess hall tent, with much of his family looking at him weirdly. Even his Missus was giving him a weird look, as if she were staring at another beast. Dapan sighed, because he knows why this was.

It was early in the morning when Gasger came in and blew his trumpet, or well, attempted to. Instead, Dapan and his family were already up and about as Dapan ordered them around to take that servile position that Gasger expected of them. They were all tired and has spent too much time trying to even organize their cots. Dapan nor his family were good organizing things, and he knew it. Yet, when Gasger looked over the cots, somewhat amazed and in disbelief, Dapan was partly proud of making the hare speechless. Gasger had been with them as they ate, making there they ate their proper meals which was without complaint. In fact, until Gasger left, Dapan had this wide toothy faked grin on his face which was partly disturbing to look at if one stared long enough.

"Aye, I be feelen okay, now listen. All of ya." He bent his face forward and whispered, his eyes darted to Gasger who was standing outside the tent with Raman Coastlord, looking out at their future work stations near a group of carts.

"We ain't gotten very far doin what we be doin recently, so I gots a plan to get dem off our backs an' get snug. We gotta keep a big ol' smile on our faces, an work like it were der biggest fair comen right to our home! Not because I like de's folk, but so can get all snug wit dem. Maybe if we impress on dem enough, we'll earn der trust an' we won't gotta worry about dem tryen to hurt us."

Moran lightly groaned, but a quick growl from his father got him to be quiet "Boy, no more of dat. Now come now, give a big toothy smile. Dat overseer dey got ya worken wit? Do what dey say an' do it well. Maybe dey might even take pity on us. De's folk are woodlanders still, wit bleeden hearts an' all. Once we got der trust, we can use it to just hopefully walk ourselves away from dem when we are out into der country."

Martha's eyes shot up and she looked relieved "Oh, fer a second der, I thought dey made ya tame."

Dapan smirked "Gonna take a lot more den dis foolery to make me bend to dem, me lov'ly."

There was a collective groan from Zadan and Mia, joining their brother in cringing at their parent's nicknames. A swift scowling look from Martha also got them to be silent. Dapan continued and sighed "Its goin to look clownish, I know dat, but we gotta impress on dem der best way we can. Dat otter is on der brink of just downright murderen us, an' if he dinks we slip up enough, dey will do a whole lot worse to us. Boy, especially ya, stop stealen from dem."

"Twas only one time." Moran grunted. Dapan shook his head "Ya can't lie to me, cause I know a fed beast when I sees one, an' dat hare likely is suspicious. I don't know what ya ate, but pretend ya be learnen some stupid woodlander lesson. If dey catch ya, dem' stripes dey put on yer back will start to look merciful."

Moran gulped, knowing his father was right. Dapan softly patted his head before turning his attention to Martha "Yer work, in der kitchens an' all dat. Can ya impress on dem? Gettem to like us?"

Martha nodded "I can try, but what about ya?"

"Dey want me to organize der wagons, an' even if I gotta learn it der 'right way', I am goin to make der hearts drop looken at de's wagons. Dey dink we are children, wells I'll bleeden well show dem! I'll get dem carts done in less den a day, it'll all be done by today. Dey want to leave soonish? Hells, I'll show dem what speed really be! An done right!"

Martha smiled, as Dapan sat back on his stool. He was confident and ready, pumped up to destroy any notion of his supposed laziness these group of skeptical overseers.

Dapan and Zardan were looking at the large cart which was now emptied. Yesterday, they had spent hours loading things into it, only to have to take it all out again at Raman's orders. Raman and his brother had gone elsewhere, with Zardan giving Dapan a weird look. Dapan didn't even need to turn to know the old soul was looking at him.

"Look. I'm tryen." Dapan whispered.

"Aye, an when I said ya should be pretenden, I didn't mean ya should be acten like a clown to get'em to like ya."

Dapan frowned and looked behind him. Gasger was approaching, being followed by a few other soldiers whom the vermin serfs weren't familiar with. They seemed somewhat silent as Gasger talked down to them.

"I wouldn't have even asked if it wasn't important to Raman. I wouldn't have wished to bring you away from your drilling, not that it was particularly good. Honestly would rather just have you folk with us still."

Gasger was speaking down to a squirrel in a soldier's uniform who marched up to the vermin, frowning as he looked into the empty wagon. Other soldiers following Gasger separated themselves amongst the other wagons, and without much say so they were lifting crates and supplies into the carts. The squirrel looked to Dapan and Zardan, only briefly introducing himself.

"You must be the vermin. I'm Ferdan. Lets just get this over with."

Dapan and Zardan looked between one another as the squirrel hopped into the wagon as the two went to lift one of the boxes. The squirrel quickly spoke up "No, not that one. Get the bigger crate, to create a base for the other supplies."

Dapan began speaking "I ain't n—" Yet he stopped himself and tried to put on a big smile, returning his mind to his plan. "It ain't no problem, good beast. Dapan is always willen to serve an' what not!"

The squirrel lifted an eyebrow to this as Dapan looked around for a heavier box and found one. He and Zardan lifted one box into the cart as the squirrel struggled to push it neatly into the back. Before Zardan could even offer to help, Dapan was already calling for him "Hurry up, rat. Lets get dis done today, eh?"

Zardan grunted as the two began to pile one box after another into the cart. The squirrel eventually shouted lightly at them as room on the cart began to loosen "Hold on, I'm not done yet with this. Need to tie the ro—"

Dapan nudged Zardan "Get in der an' help him. I'm good down here."

Zardan cringed, but another nudge from the weasel had him scurrying up. Zardan bent down and could see the squirrel had his own struggles, trying to make a tight knot of rope around the boxes to secure them properly, but it was clearly taking time. Zardan tapped his shoulder and used his own ropes. The squirrel looked a bit impressed as Zardan made his ropes all too well, striking up a conversation with the rat in a silent manner.

"That's the quickest I've seen a beast tighten a rope. Not sure why Gasger asked us to get back here so quick."

"He had us take out all der stuff we put into dis ding. Ya know dat hare?"

The squirrel nodded, he and the rat were being mentally whipped into hurrying as they could hear Dapan huffing and heaving behind them as they loaded the cart. "Yep. I was one of the laborers in Raman's division. In fact. Raman's pa is my lord and liege."

Zardan looked down at Gasger briefly who was overlooking the others. "Bet ya regret dat decision."

The squirrel lightly chuckled "You vermin have a better sense of humor at least. Nay, though. It was either lifting boxes for these pompous noble folk, marching in the army, or farming from sunup to sundown back home."

"Less talk, more w-work." An exhausted voice raised his voice from behind them. The squirrel was looking on somewhat impressed as the weasel was lifting boxes on his own, hauling them with a haste into the cart. The day continued onward as the cart became more and more full. Crates upon crates were stacked neatly, roped and tarped together into a way which better resembled something far more acceptable than what Zardan and Dapan had loaded previously. All the while, Zardan listened to the squirrel and his lessons on organization, things which were honestly very obscure to him. Color coded symbols, knot types, and certain padding between specific boxes were all major functions of Southsward logistics. It was a careful game of loading things in a specific order, fitting as many things onto a cart without everything being knocked off. Dapan was learning none of it however, his focus was on trying to get everything quickly into the cart and having everyone else deal with it.

"Oh! Seasons. Ne-never have I felt me back like dis." Dapan complained as they loaded the last of the supplies into the cart. Dapan felt relieved somewhat, as he looked up into the sky to see the sun not even going down yet. He looked around at the other carts, and then began to frown.

The other two carts were being loaded by only one beast. The other three vermin who were supposed to be working alongside the other laborers were missing. The other laborers were only a quarter done before Gasger returned and looked about with annoyance. The hare was a bit suspicious of Dapan today as it was, he was acting very strange this morning and when the hare approached the weasel quickly came up to him and made a dramatic and humble bow, followed by a toothy grin.

"Good hare, eh, we just got done ya see wit our cart. If ya wanna look it all over, I would be most happy to oblige!"

Gasger pushed the weasel aside, and it took a lot of effort for Dapan to not respond. Gasger looked it over, not at all impressed as he looked to the tired squirrel. "Your worst work yet, I am afraid Ferdan. You seen those other vermin around, by chance?"

The squirrel looked insulted but kept himself silent and shook his head. Gasger looked about, inspecting every aspect he could as Zardan and Dapan listened "This tarp hasn't even moved yet and it is already dirtied. It'll likely tear if it doesn't get washed soon. Ferdan, why in the Bellmaker's name is there food rations on this supply cart? And not in our food rations cart, hmm? Unprofessional, as to be suspected, but a considerable improvement from yesterday. Somewhat."

Dapan looked on with dismay and quickly tried to apologize "Oh, sorry o' course good hare, we'll fix it right away an—"

"I have come to tell you two are relieved temporarily to take a break. Rasan and the others clearly have taken theirs early." Gasger went off, observing Dapan's long faked grin. Once gone, Dapan groaned and immediately went to work on taking out the food crates from the boxes from the cart and asked the squirrel "Ya got somethen to whack that tarp with?"

When the squirrel paused, Dapan growled "Nevermind, I'll find somethin."

"Dapan, maybe ya should take some rest."

Dapan growled at the rat "I'll rest when I am dead, ya ol' bag o' bones! I'll get dis done by meself if I gotta. Just be sure ya be back!" Dapan set himself to work, again lifting boxes about. Zardan followed the squirrel out towards the mess hall. The squirrel was frowning and looked back at Dapan continuing to work, pretending to not be tired for his own sake.

"Should I tell him that what Gasger said was made up?"

Zardan sighed and shook his head "He'll listen but won't care. He probably even knows. He's gonna act like dat till something for him an his ken improves."

Raman and Gulan Coastlord were walking together towards another side of the camp, with both brothers be abnormally silent to one another. As they walked, Raman was partly fine with the newfound quiet from his brother at first but could feel the awkward tension that radiated from his brother. Gulan, for his part, felt just as awkward. In truth, he wanted to make up for his brother, but it was hard to keep to himself while also trying to mend a bridge burned so many times that it could create a giant pile of ash to act as a new bridge between the two otters.

Gulan finally broke the silence as the two walked along "You think Valtman will be ready by the time we are?"

Raman turned to his brother, frowning as he did "He should be, though if we had our own serfs with us, we'd be ready today. I'll ask you not to speak much on the subject, Gulan."

"Why not?"

Raman sighed "I am partly afraid my punctuality is punctured. We got ten serfs, but none of them can pack right and two are literal broodlings."

"Must you refer to them like that?" Gulan's voice lowered to annoyance at his brother's spite. Raman only huffed in response "They are vermin, they'll grow hopefully into better beasts then their blasted father under proper care. Though, I doubt so. I am informing Valtman we may be partly late. If those new serfs continue to be slow, I'm afraid that dormouse is going to kick Gasger out of his job and take over as my division's overseer. He really does not like being kept waiting."

The two walked onward into the 1st army's side of the camp. Several captains were readying for the march into Mossflower proper. The two stopped once they neared Valtman's tents, his arms folded and his boots tapping on the ground. He was looking over at his wagons, and a small circle of others. The strange scene was set for the Coastlord brothers, with several carts with Lena, Gavan, and Neuls taking things out of the cart, and the skittish ferret siblings Sadan and Murna looking a bit scared. Gulan recogonized Bluebell almost immediately amongst this crowd, the soft rabbit was trying to calm the two ferrets down who seemed beside themselves.

Raman silently asked his dear friend "Should I ask?"

Valtman grunted and then looked to Raman "I apologize, Captain Raman. This will take me much longer than I thought."

Gulan smiled "Funny, we were just coming over to say the same."

Gulan's smile faded when both captains gave him a nasty look, and Gulan silenced himself. He went over to where Bluebell was, seeing how he soured the mood. Valtman and Raman returned to their conversation with the one-eyed dormouse complaining.

"I regret not arresting more woodlanders, as troublesome as it is to say. Those two are trouble through and through, but you know how Bluebell is."

Raman nodded "I am afraid to even ask now, but what happened?"

Valtman pursed his lips and paused, unsure he even wanted to say it. He stared at the two before he motioned Raman to follow. Raman did, though he felt anxious to know what Valtman would do to them. Once there, Sadan's height began to lower as his head retreated downward and he gave an awkward smile to Valtman. The dormouse was not amused and grumbled in a annoyed way "Alright, Sadan. Tell em' what you and your sis did."

Sadan gulped, but Bluebell shot up first "Sir, I believe they apologized thrice, it was likely just an honest mistake."

Sadan was already retreating behind the rabbit, but took his sister in paw with him to put beasts between him and Valtman, as he stammered out a pathetic response "I-I was the one who did it, not me sis. In fact, she says to me 'No you blasted ol' fool dun ya do it' an-an I did cause I don't know. I just be dinken bad ya know, bad air in der camp! Aye, bad ai—"

Valtman growled out "Shut up. Bluebell, mistake or not, I think Raman here deserves an explanation as to why we are delayed, and a personal apology from you fool creatures."

Sadan came partly forward and sighed "A-apologies sir, wat—otter. We were told to start packen dings into der cart, but it were real heavy like. Too heavy for me an' me sis. So, we thoughts maybe we could. . .erm. . ."

Valtman quickly spoke up for him "You took out pretty everything from the bleeding crates, hid them beneath the carts, and had the gall to load those boxes on in."

Sadan sniffed "I swears on me life, I woulda put em back. Twas just heavy an' all."

Raman looked at one of these supposed heavy boxes, with imprints of items strewn about and hastily put back into them. Gulan spoke up to Valtman "I mean, tis reasonable. Perhaps not the most efficient, but still."

Bluebell agreed with the sentiment, much to Sadan's personal relief "Sir, although this delays us, this beast had nothing malicious in mind. If anything, it is my fault for not watching him or his sister fully. I'm more then certain he will make up the loss of work with a little bit of care."

Valtman grumbled and looked down at the two serfs. He huffed and spoke to them both in a threatening chide "No more of these stupid ideas, or well, if you do get some idea, you two will follow it up with Bluebell or myself, and trust me, I will be rejected no matter what it is. This mistake is forgivable for now, but next time? Don't make me tell you about 'Next Time'."

Sadan again gulped as Bluebell brought the two with him away from the group. Gulan followed Bluebell, with the dormouse and folding his paws once more and turning back to Raman.

"Any trouble in your camp?"

"Yes." Raman quickly stated and then gave a loud sigh "I had to personally whip one for stealing, and now my brother hates me for it. The serfs also botched the loading of our wagons, so now we got to drag our previous serfs to help them."

Valtman nodded "Let me guess. That elder orange ferret-thing. The weasel. Dapan is it?"

"No. His son."

Valtman gave the otter a judgmental look, and Raman followed up "The elder son. Do not think of me like that, Captain Valtman."

Valtman looked partly relieved and turned to look at Bluebell and Gulan with Sadan and Murna. Gulan was observing the limits of Sadan's strength, with the rabbit silently cheering him on as he lifted a bigger crate into the wagon. The woodlanders in the back partly watched, but once they saw Valtman staring, they returned to their work.

"I didn't even think your brother could get mad, and over one of these pathetic creatures?"

"He personally asked me to bring them on with us. I obliged, but not solely for him." Raman admitted "I must hold true to the honor of my word. I promised a mouse to spare them all. I did smash up their cart on a whim, though they likely didn't fully deserve it. I reacted poorly, and they could only respond in what they knew best."

Valtman nodded, and then commented in his own harsh way "They shouldn't put you through all that, honestly Raman. We all had our orders, and you gave them mercy even after giving you that black circle for an eye. You gave them plenty of chances, and that fool beast spits and whines over every small stub of his toe. Not like we even want them here! Bah. Frankfort truly is mad thinking we should babysit this lot."

"Perhaps." Raman agreed with a depressed tone "I just wish Gulan understood. He'll come around once I force him to read into Shackleford's tomes."

The dormouse nodded in agreement.

When Raman and Gulan returned, the two otters noticed something was a bit off when a concerned and somewhat confused looking Gasger began to approach them, with Malvan alongside him. The two were talking, and when the Coastlords got closer, it was even harder to tell what mood they were in. Raman approached first, his bored expression already expecting the worst as he spoke up to his overseer.

"Has something happened?"

"Yes. No." Gasger said, realizing his contradiction before sighing "Kind of."

Raman blinked as Gasger spoke to them "Best if I just show you, cause what I would tell you would sound like I am mad."

"Oh come now, you act as if such a thing were impossible!" Malvan said with a huff. Raman remained silent as he followed Gasger. They approached the wagons and a couple things became noticeable at once. Firstly, two of the wagons were ready to go, with Malvan having moved his supply tent already out onto the wagon's clearing. Raman didn't expect this at all, and in fact, he couldn't help but look over the wagons themselves and looking for mistakes.

Yet much to his own shock, he really couldn't find anything wrong.

The boxes were packed well into the wagons, the lighter stuff well secured, the colorful tarps over the wagons looking personally cleaned. Raman looked more towards the ground, where he could see Dapan and Moran loading another crate into the wagon, the weasel sweating and looked utterly exhausted. The other soldiers and vermin serfs were helping along, although they were on another cart. Raman gave a rare warm smile to this.

"Gasger I must say, I suspected the worst. How did you do it?"

Gasger was silent, giving a long pause before speaking up "Sir, I am. Erm. Not fully responsible. I think your words yesterday had some strange effect."

Raman's smile faded as he gave the hare a weird look before returning his critical eye to Dapan, as the otter could only silently piece things together. Malvan explained as Gasger remained understandably silent.

"Moran's pa, Dapan is it? Well, we noticed him packing things all on his lonesome, and I thought Gasger here didn't give him much of a break. Instead though, he tells us he stayed behind to pack things up, and was getting a pretty decent ways done."

Gulan approached and remained quiet, coming to the side of his brother and listened on in. Raman tried to explain it away "Certainly the more obedient serf, Rasan, had a helping paw in all this. This wasn't all one beast's doing."

"Oh no, of course not." Gasger said quickly, but Malvan continued "Funny you should mention that. Gasger here said the same thing, but that rat tried to claim he had personally packed this all in himself. While I was on watch, coordinating it all."

Gasger frowned and growled "For that, he is at three fourths rations for the next two days. Disappointing as that was, I am forced to admit this is a significant improvement."

Raman blinked and looked at Dapan and his son pack things into the wagon. They were not full yet, but it was close. A few more hours of hard work, and the tents and supplies packed up properly and they could have been heading out today. Raman was a bit confused, the beast who had given him nothing, but trouble was working the hardest he had in his entire life, and it was clearly killing him. Dapan's legs were shaking, his eyes darted in tiredness, and looked like a few more hours and he would truly collapse. Raman recalled something he had read, about the nature of the vermin, and it made a bit more sense. He approached and was followed by the others.

Dapan noticed at long last, and collected himself. He had been preparing for this encounter, as he looked to his son and whispered "Just follow me lead, boy. I dink I got it all down. Paws behind der back. Head down." Dapan sounded more and more exhausted, as Moran now had concern for him. Without much thought, Dapan turned around and gave a big disturbed smile before giving a dramatic bow to Raman who gave him a cold look.

"Good wa—otter. Aye. Otter." Dapan coughed a bit "A-as ya see, been busy as ya know. Nearly done, took what ya said yesterday wit a bit of heart I did. Look. Hare, erm, sir. Even der food crates be all in der right place. . ."

Raman gave a dangerous look to the hare when Dapan said this and Gasger partly shifted himself away and kept silent. Yet, the change in Dapan's attitude did get the hare's more cordial response "See, sir. I think we do get a decent influence on these beasts."

Raman returned his attention to Dapan and looked him over. The weasel was trying, so hard and desperately to keep up a toothy grin, as if happy to be in his presence. That dark mix of exhaustion made him greasy with sweat. Raman then turned to Gasger after an awkward pause "Gasger, we will be delayed. Have our serfs report to Valtman's camp, he needs help packing as it would seem. Dapan Grassweave. Follow me."

Dapan was a bit annoyed he didn't even get a 'Good job' or a 'Thank you', but he didn't try to question it. Zardan watched as Dapan followed, trying his best to seem as bended to the otter's command as possible, in a way that Moran felt embarrassed to even associate with. Zardan could hear some of the other vermin snickering nearby. Moran found himself alone and was confronted by Raskar as he and the others were marched towards Valtman's camp.

"Tame as a leashed beetle, dat is what yer pa is gonna turn ya into if ya continue being a soft beast. Tired an' pathetic all." Raskar whispered, snickering to himself as they marched. Zardan, who was behind him, kicked the rat from behind for his comment. Raskar turned and growled at him, but before he could do much of anything, Raskar found himself staring up at Gasger who was looking down at him disappointed. Raskar gave a similar faked smile to him and returned to marching more cautiously. Raskar took the hint and grumbled to himself as they went off to their next exhaustive project.

It was the first time Dapan got to see the inside of Raman's tent, the colorful hue of the sun peeking through fabric, the carpeted floor, the size of it reminded him of a carnival's pavilion. Raman's desk sat in the middle, with a bed, nightstand, rack of armor and weapons, and all the amenities of a noble beast neatly organized. Two books sat on the otter's desk, next to a candle and a quill. One was a larger and bulky text, and the other thinner and leaner. Raman then commanded Dapan about.

"Close the flaps of the tents, Dapan." He commanded. Dapan took any opportunity he could, already thinking his hard work would now bare some fruit. He quickly responded in jovial "Yes, sir. Dats what I can do, best tent fixer and flap downer der is in this side of the forest." Dapan closed the flaps as Raman stood at the front of his desk, leaning into it as he folded his paws. Once alone, the otter spoke again "Go into the middle, over there. Stand there."

Dapan did so, although now a bit more slowly as he stood before the otter. Raman continued to give commands, and Dapan continued to obey.

"Take a step left."

"Take a step right."

"Bow your head as low as you can to the ground."

"Stand up straight and jump."

Dapan's face began to sour, although he couldn't tell what Raman was doing. The otter didn't look amused, but Dapan did as commanded in silence. Once he had jumped, Raman took out a knife from his belt, tossing it to Dapan who fumbled to catch it as he fumbled. Dapan gave him a concerned and confused look, as Raman told him the one thing he really didn't wish to hear.

"Take that knife and kill me."

Dapan's pretend smile faded very quickly, and he began to go limp. He knew a bit too late, that Raman was not at all convinced by his act, and Dapan could only give an annoyed sigh.

Raman waited in turn, wondering if Dapan would do it, whether to kill him for his own reasons or to continue to act. Raman came forward and could see Dapan was defeated as he took the knife back and put it back into its sheathe. Raman returned to his posture as Dapan spoke first, a returning hint of sarcastic spite to his voice.

"Ya caught me. Ya really did, me doin all der heavy lifting an' smilen while I do so."

Raman was silent as the frustrated Weasel continued, giving him a judgmental eye "I starved meself, I feel like me back is gonna give, barely time to even breath as I do whatever dat lot wants! Oh come now, even ya know that ya folk aren't dat organized. 'Food into a food cart' an all dat! I bent meself over for dat hare, an' for ya. I mean, I can still be doin it, is dat some kinda problem?!"

Raman finally spoke, and Dapan silenced himself to listen, as he had no breath to argue. "Dapan, this behavior of yours. It's an improvement from yesterday, but barely. I am grateful you worked very hard, but if you think I am going to reward you for it, you are sorely mistaken."

Dapan's frown shifted ever harder downward. He questioned Raman "I worked more den half der beasts in dis bloody camp, I an' me ken deserve somethen! Get us at least fed! I'll do whatever ya bleeden want, just give me an' me family somethen better den dis! By some lesser means, let me get dem comfortable. Something!" Dapan was desperate to find anything from the otter to excuse his humiliation and breathlessness, the weasel would have been louder if he didn't expunge his energy into loading those wagons.

What Dapan got instead was Raman's cold speech.

"Dapan, this exactly why I am not going to reward this, you're demanding a reward for pretending to be a hard worker. Not for being a hard worker. Your family will remain as they are, and you will return to work after our discussion here. I didn't want you here to start with, and frankly, being a hard worker requires more than just effort. It needs to be done in genuineness and with cause. You only act this way for your own benefit, not because you want to aid this camp. I don't expect you to like it, but what we are hoping you beasts will come to understand that difficult work brings greater rewards for us all, not just for yourselves. Clearly what I and Gasger are doing is working in some small way, but you have a lot to prove otherwise."

Dapan's face began to turn red, and Raman expected the weasel to return to his old self. Yet instead, the otter's eyes softened when instead Dapan's eyes began to tear up followed as Dapan had a terrible revelation about his situation.

"Ya tellen me, dat even if I do all dis again an' again, dat I can't even get a good 'dank ya' or a bleeding break?! Ya starve me family. Ya whip my son! Yer blasted hellish hare tortures us an' ya tellen me ya don't even want us here!? Why did ya bring us to dis place, den! Ya just tellen me I can't even pretend to be some tame beast. Ya tellen me I can't improve me station even for me own kin."

Raman grunted, squinting his eyes as the weasel father sniffed. He realized that Raman would not be swayed by anything he did. Raman didn't really much pity him, as Dapan calmed down. He turned back towards his desk to sit down and continue his reading.

"You can get out of my tent now." Raman commanded. Dapan did so, but without much thinking he responded in a low and defeated tone "Yes, sir."

Raman looked as Dapan left, leaving Raman to wonder if he had gone too far. Raman returned to his desk and opened Shackleford's book, and returned to wondering no more.