Chapter Four

Noonvale

That same evening

Far to the North, the secret community of Noonvale was covered in a heavy blanket of deep snow. Dark clouds had moved in, covering the stars and draping the world in darkness, the air slightly warmer, a sign that more snow was on its way.

Brome stood in front of the sickroom window, watching tiny snowflakes start to fall, glittering in the yellow light of the lit candles. He was deep in troubled thoughts as his hazel eyes followed the snowflakes' descent to the snowy ground, his mind going back to a night just like this one several seasons ago, the first winter after the Battle of Marshank.

"What do you mean he left?" Brome had asked Rowanoak soon after she, Grumm, and Pallum had returned to Noonvale after spending most of the summer and autumn tending to an injured Martin in Polleekin's home near the southern cliffs. "Why didn't you make him stay?"

Rowanoak had shrugged, shaking her striped head apologetically. "Brome... there's nothing in this world that would've stopped him or made him change his mind. You know that."

Brome had clenched his fists as fresh grief flooded over him. He'd already lost Rose and Felldoh. And now with Martin gone too, it was more then he could stand.

Rowanoak had reached for him but the young mouse backed away from her as tears filled his eyes. "He wouldn't just leave without saying goodbye. He wouldn't!" He pulled the door open and turned back, tears streaming down his face. "You should have stopped him!"

The female badger was at a loss for words as Brome ran out into the snowstorm.

Brome remembered he had ran through the deep snow until he couldn't anymore, finally collapsing to his knees as the freezing wind and snow swirled around him. His father had caught up to him, wrapping him up in his arms as Brome sobbed miserably, overcome with grief and resentment for the young warrior he had once looked up to.

A ragged cough broke into his thoughts and he turned away from the window, pushing the heart-wrenching memory away.

Picking up a cup of water on the bedside table, he carried it over to where his father lay in one of the sickbeds, with his mother Aryah sitting on the bed beside him.

Nearly a season ago, Noonvale had been hit with a nasty virus that most had been able to fight off fairly quickly but Urran Voh was not a young mouse. The sickness had taken its toll on his health until he was just a fragile shell of the strong leader he once was.

Brome sat down on the edge of the bed, opposite Aryah, ready to help her sit the older mouse up but Urran waved them off. "I'm alright." He said hoarsely, wheezing as he fought to catch his breath.

Brome shared a glance with Aryah before looking down at him. "Stop saying that, Father." Brome shook his head. "You're not alright." He took a breath, trying not to sound harsh. "Here," he slipped a paw behind his father's back and forced him to sit up. "I want you to drink this. There's herbs in it to soothe the irritation in your throat."

Once Urran had his fill, Brome turned and set the cup back down on the table.

Urran leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes, exhausted after his bout of coughing. "You should be with Maya and Laurel, not me."

"He's right, son." Aryah reached over and placed a thin paw on his shoulder. "You need to go get some rest."

Brome chuckled dryly. "You both know that Maya would send me right back here. So stop trying to get rid of me."

Urran Voh smiled weakly. "You have a good wife, son. She will be a great strength to you in the seasons to come."

Brome turned his head away, knowing what the old mouse meant by that. He didn't want to think about the fact that his father was dying. He knew that Urran had been preparing him in the last few seasons to take over as Healer and Chieftain of Noonvale, knowing he wouldn't live forever but Brome didn't think it would be this soon. He didn't want to admit that he was afraid of the responsibilities that would soon be upon his own shoulders.

Sensing his son's reason for silence, the old mouse reached over and grabbed Brome's paw and squeezed it. "You've known for a while that this day would come."

Brome was about to reply when the door creaked open. He looked up and saw Rowanoak and Ballaw enter the room. The female badger went to over to Aryah and rested her large paw on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. "How are you feeling, Chieftain?" She asked, her brows knit together in concern.

Gritting his teeth, Brome got to his feet. "Don't waste your breath asking him, Rowanoak." He walked around the bed and stood at the foot of it, frowning. "He'll tell you that he's just fine."

Rowanoak stared at him, surprised by his short-tempered response.

Ballaw coughed, giving Rowanoak a wink before turning to Brome. "How 'bout you and me get out of this stuffy room and get some fresh air, eh?" He went behind Brome and pushed him towards the open door. "Ol' Rowan will sit with him fer a while so both of you can get some rest." He glanced over at Aryah.

Aryah stood up from the bed, nodding. "He's right, Brome. Go get some rest now."

Unconvinced, Brome stopped in the doorway and looked over his shoulder.

Rowanoak waved a paw. "Go on, Brome. If there's any change, I'll send someone after you."

After a few moments, Brome nodded and led the way out of the room, with Ballaw closing the door behind them.

As they walked down the hall, Brome shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, Ballaw. I shouldn't have snapped like that." He sighed. "I guess I am a little tired after all."

The old hare chuckled and patted Brome on the back. "You got a lot on yer mind right now, young'un. This little epidemic we've had hasn't exactly helped matters."

"I don't know what else to do." The young mouse paused in front of the door leading outside into the wintery night. "I've tried everything I can think of but... he just isn't getting better. I hate feeling so... helpless."

Ballaw was quiet for a moment. "Well," he said tentatively. "Sometimes we've got to accept things as they happen. There's a lot we can't change."

They were both startled by a sudden heavy knock at the door. Brome grabbed the handle and pulled it open as a big otter slipped inside, his sleek fur covered in frost.

"Well if it ain't Keyla, you old riverdog!" Ballaw grabbed Keyla's large paw and shook it heartily. "What brings ye clear out here in this weather? That's some walk you made!"

Keyla chuckled and pulled his paw free from the hare's grasp. "Oh y'know. Just enjoyin' the scenery." His blue eyes met Brome's, his smile quickly disappearing. "Brome, I ran down here to tell you something that you're not gonna like."

Brome raised an eyebrow, his stomach twisting at the strange look on his friend's face. "What are you talking about, Keyla?"

Ballaw flicked his ears agitatedly. "Is there some kind of trouble?"

Keyla gave the old hare a knowing glance. "Oh there's trouble, alright. Is there somewhere private we can talk? I don't want others to overhear us and cause a panic."

"Rowanoak is with Father and Mother. You might as well come tell them, too." Brome flicked a paw down the hall towards the sick room.

Keyla shook his head, a nervous glint in his eyes. "No, Brome. I think you should hear this first."

Ballaw slipped into an empty room. "Well let's get on with it. You're makin' me nervous just standin' there with that look on yer face."

Once the old hare shut the door did Brome start questioning Keyla. "Alright Keyla, what's this news that you say I'm not gonna like?"

Keyla took a breath. "Old Starwort was sailin' down the Broadstream, oh about a day or two ago. Made it nearly to the sea when his crew spotted smoke comin' from the North, just around the headland."

"Okay?" Brome raised an eyebrow, still skeptical.

Keyla frowned, not liking that his friend wasn't taking this seriously. "To make a long story short, they went to investigate and found the smoke coming from inside Marshank."

Ballaw's eyes widened and he looked down at Brome, his large ears dancing agitatedly. "Well that's not news I was expectin' or wantin'."

Brome shook his head. "Keyla, if it was vermin, they aren't the last bunch to set up camp there and then move on."

Keyla frowned, eyes narrowing. "Brome, this isn't just any vermin. Its a band of foxes. Starwort counted at least twenty of 'em. And they weren't just staying for the night either. He and his crew headed back to their raft and spread the word to those living in the area to steer clear of 'em. They've been searching the forests and marshes around the fort."

"So they're looking for something." Brome shrugged, still unconcerned. "So what?"

"So what?" Keyla repeated, annoyed. "Brome, don't you think we should look more into this?"

"They'll be gone in a few days, Keyla. I wouldn't worry about it." Brome opened the door to the hall. "But you did right to warn everyone within the area to stay hidden."

Keyla slammed the door shut with a paw, startling Brome. "Brome, I'm telling you now. I don't like the looks of those foxes."

"You've seen 'em?" Ballaw asked, surprised.

Keyla glanced up at him. "Aye. I followed them around for a quite a while yesterday. They're searching everywhere pretty thoroughly. Once I moved Tullgrew and the kits to a safer den, I hurried down here to tell you."

"Brome, I think you should tell the Chieftain about this." Ballaw advised. He and Keyla looked expectantly at him, waiting for a response.

After a while, Brome heaved a sigh and shook his head, still not convinced. "Alright, Keyla."

The occupants of the sickroom were quiet, letting Keyla's information sink in. Urran Voh was sitting up straight in his bed against a pile of pillows for support. Although he still looked gravely ill and weary, his eyes showed a spark of the strong mouse he used to be.

Brome was pacing back and forth nervously. He hadn't been too concerned at first, but now that he thought more about it, the sick feeling in his gut had worsened. "Maybe they're just wintering there. No vermin will dare to settle in that useless hunk of rock. Not after what we did to the last bunch. Word travels fast and I'm sure every vermin within this stretch of land has heard about it."

Rowanoak was still sitting at Urran's bedside, her striped face thoughtful. "But what could they be searching for?"

Keyla shrugged. "There's no telling, Rowanoak. I followed them for several hours and I couldn't figure it out."

Ballaw rubbed his chin, moving his ears up and down. "Couldn't be they're lookin' fer us?"

Aryah tightened her grip around her husband's paw, her eyes widening.

The old mouse patted it gently to reassure her. "We should have no trouble." Urran Voh replied. "This valley is well hidden."

"What would foxes want with us, Ballaw?" Brome stopped pacing and stared irately at the old hare. "They have nothing to do with Marshank, Badrang or his horde. They have no way of knowing that we exist."

Rowanoak wanted to agree but some feeling deep down had her questioning their safety. "We'll just have to keep an eye on them until we know for sure." She shared a look with Ballaw. "They aren't the first vermin that stopped to give Marshank and the surrounding area a glance over."

Keyla shook his head, stepping away from the door where he'd been leaning against it, putting a paw on the knob. "I'm heading home now. I don't want to leave Tullgrew and the little ones alone any longer then I already have." He opened it and stepped into the hall. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at Brome. "I'll be back within a week to give you a report." He left without another word, shutting the door gently behind him.

Brome stared after him, his mind racing with this new information.

Urran Voh sighed and lay back against the pillows. "I wouldn't be too concerned, son. Seems as though our otter friends have it covered."

Brome looked over at him, his hazel eyes filled with doubt.

The old mouse shrugged. "Just carry on, like normal. As Rowanoak said, they aren't the first vermin to come snooping around. They'll leave."

"Father, shouldn't we let everyone know once we find out more about them?" Brome asked, leaning his weight on the bed post. "At least to prepare everybeast in case those foxes did come up this way."

"No. I don't want to start a panic." The old mouse suddenly broke out into another coughing fit that wracked his frail, worn out body. Brome hurried around to the side of the bed and grabbed the cup of water as Rowanoak and Aryah helped the Chieftain to sit up.

Brome took a breath, wanting to believe his father that this was nothing to worry about but, like Rowanoak, he had a gut feeling that those foxes at Marshank were there for a reason. And it wasn't to take over the destroyed fortress. They were after something.

Or someone.

Later that evening

"He thinks I should just brush it off and continue on like nothing is wrong. He's always thought that way, Maya. He's adamant that Noonvale won't be discovered."

Maya turned away from washing the dinner dishes and shushed him, glancing over at the closed door across the room. "You're gonna wake your daughter. Keep your voice down."

Brome leaned back against the chair, shaking his head and giving her a serious stare. "Am I wrong?" After seeing that his parents were settled for the night, he'd returned home for supper and after sending Laurel to bed, he had been explaining to Maya all that Keyla had told them about the foxes setting up camp in Marshank and the possible threat they posed.

Maya set down the plate she'd been drying and walked over to him, leaning her hip against the kitchen table. She crossed her arms. "No, you're not wrong, but I wouldn't get so worked up over it either."

Brome rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh. "As if we've had enough problems. And then something like this happens."

"You can't control what life throws at you, Brome. You know that."

Brome was quiet for a while, staring blankly past her, deep in thought. Finally, he glanced up at her, his irritation replaced by worry and grief. "He's dying, Maya." He said softly. "He's dying and there's nothing more I can do."

The pretty mousewife sat down on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You've done what you could." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "And your father knows that."

Brome shrugged. "I'm not ready to take his place. I'm not him."

Maya laid a paw on the side of his face. "You're ready. Don't you realize you've acted as Chieftain since he became ill? You don't have to be Urran Voh to be a good leader."

Brome looked up at her, a small smile slowly crossing his face. "What would I do without you?"

Maya snorted in reply but there was a teasing glint in her pale green eyes. "You'd be lost without me." She smirked.

"I sure would." He reached up and kissed her, pulling her into a tight embrace.

She pulled away from him, wrestling out of his grasp. "I got to finish those dishes. You're distracting me!"

Brome laughed as she hurried back over to the sink, shooting a glare over her shoulder.