Tammo's eyes snapped open. He was lying in a bed in the infirmary. Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, and Joshy were standing over him.

"Well, you're back with us at last," Amethyst chuckled. "You were out for almost 24 hours."

Tammo blinked and looked about. "Hello. I say, is that Pasque over in the next bed?"

Pasque was sitting up in the bed next to him. "Hey, Tammo. Glad you're finally awake. I just came to myself a couple of hours ago."

"What happened?" Tammo asked. "How did we get unfused?"

Pearl explained, "The spaceship went down when you were fighting with Damug Warfang. I guess the crash was so jarring that it split you back into Tammo and Pasque."

Tammo rubbed his head. "Oh. Well, what happened to Damug?"

"He wasn't as lucky as you two were," said Garnet. "He didn't survive. And now his forces are scattered to the winds."

Joshy laughed. "Mind you, that badger wasn't pleased at all!"

Tammo looked mystified. "Badger? What badger?"

Joshy gave him a jaundiced glance. "Do ye recall how Galloper Riffle was goin' to Salamandastron to fetch help? Well, yesterday, the Crystal Gems had no sooner carried the two of you inside when who comes chargin' out o' the trees but Lady Cregga Rose Eyes herself an' the entire Long Patrol, armed to the teeth an' roarin' blood 'n' slaughter! Imagine their disappointment when they discovered there was nobeast to fight. The foes were all either bloomin' well dead or blinkin' well fled, wot!"

"Or bubbled," Garnet interjected.

"Right. Anyhow, Lady Cregga was still impressed by the tales of your heroism, Tamm, an' she's been waitin' for you to finally wake up so she can speak to you."

The door opened. "Oh, I say, here she is now!" Joshy exclaimed as Lady Cregga walked in.

Tammo had never seen a badger before. He was struck by the size of her; she towered over even Garnet. Just as Major Perigord had said, her eyes were blood red with battle light. "You must be Tammo Quartz Tussock," she said. Her voice was gruff but warm.

Tammo was too nervous to answer for a minute, but at last he found his voice. "Rather! And you must be Lady Cregga. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, wot wot!"

"I've heard impressive things about you, young Tammo," Cregga rumbled. "Is it true you defeated an entire horde single pawed yesterday?"

"Well, I was fused with my girlfriend Pasque at the time, so technically that was double pawed," Tammo japed. "And it was really the magic spaceship that took care of the vermin; we just gave it commands."

Cregga sat down on the bed next to him. "And that's not even taking into account all your other brave deeds," she went on. "Like facing down so many mutated Gems."

"Indeed. If y'don't mind me sayin', marm, you look as if you'd be well up to the task of taking on a few mutants yourself, wot!"

"Yes, I hope I get the chance someday," Cregga said.

"Sorry you missed all the action yesterday," said Tammo. "Hope you don't hold it against me."

A dark look came over Cregga's face. "I had sworn that I would destroy the evil Damug Warfang with my own paws." But the next instant, the dark look passed. "But I'm sure there'll be plenty of other enemies in Mossflower in the future. I'll have plenty of chances to fight."

"That's the spirit," said Tammo.

Cregga stood back up. "Anyway, I just wanted to say, well done. You'd be a fine addition to my Long Patrol, should you wish to join."

Tammo's eartips quivered with pleasure. "Oh, thank you, marm!"

The war with the Rapscallions may be over, but this story isn't. There's more to come. Much more…