Chapter 43: Lost
Mossflower woods could be lively and silent at the same time depending on who you asked. To the common villager, the woods had too many beasts, but Jase and Gaisen this was their first true time out and about in the country. Gaisen led Jase like some manner of tour guide, looking at the trees and shouldering his pack as morning had hit and the two were in better spirits. Jase still occasionally looked back in shame to where he thought he could see the abbey, but he returned his gaze to Gaisen who was humming a song as the two walked along the tall trees and blowing breeze.
One step forward, nine steps back
No matter where it leads
Abbot would you please
Go and live among the trees
Two steps forward, eight steps behind
In the woods we will find
All manner of things to pilfer and steal
But return with pockets full of geal
Three steps forward, se-
Gaisen stopped briefly, trying to remember the song, and likely with his last few verses he could barely remember Stenna's rhymes. The young mouse smiled as he looked to be in the highest spirits of his life as Jase too quickly notice.
"If you were in a higher mood, you'd be floating above the trees." Jase gave a grin to his friend who couldn't help but grin back "Oh look at us now, Jase! We got a sack full of goodies, escaping vermin, and our abbey remains safe as ever! When we find Sout'gen, and find your pa, we will be on our way to becoming like them real heroes. Biggest thing I couldn't help but wonder what those two numbskulls back in Redwall will do when you, me, and your lost pa walk through those gates having turned all dem vermin into dust, eh!"
Jase felt he needed to be a bit more realistic, reminding him "Warriors of Redwall aren't magic, Gaisen. I just wherever pa is, he is just easy to find. I can't wait to find him. I hope we find him."
"We're following your dream, Jase." Gaisen nodded "I mean, who else but Martin himself visits little beasts like us, anyhow?"
Jase frowned a little at this, as if the entire idea felt silly to him. Going into woods at the whim of a dream, even if from Martin, sounded like he was mad. Yet, it wasn't hard to remember how many beasts in the stories also followed strange mice in dreams, throwing the sword of their beloved warrior mouse at them. What was harder to believe than that was Martin asking Jase for this one task, and not saying Bollo or Kalma. What worried him more was the words of the abbot himself.
"I-I just hope the abbot wasn't right, Gaisen."
"Oh what does that ol' Dormouse know anyway." Gaisen scoffed "He dismantled our nice addict fort he did! Punished you and I with being Garfan's marchers. I'm just glad you and I had the sense to leave those bulky things behind."
"Aye, right. Oh." Jase tapped Gaisen "You got food right?"
"More than you could ask for!" Gaisen whirled around and took out the pack on his back and sat it on the ground, the two stopping in the midst of a great number of trees and roots. Gaisen brought up some somewhat soggy looking pastries he had pilfered for this very trip, eating them greedily and Jase did the same. The two ate a good deal before Gaisen took one pastry out and folded it into his pocket, giving a satisfied burp. "We got more than enough, Jase. Eat up I say! We'll find Sout'gen in no time, once we-" Gaisen looked around and somewhat realized something. They had been going in one direction this entire time and it was away from Redwall itself.
"We were going south, right?"
"Y-ye-wait, no. We were heading away from the field, remember? We must have been going west. I mean, I think." The two looked around and cautiously moved as Jase made a sudden decision, pointing in one direction "That has to be south, cause its, well down I think. Yes, thats it."
The two followed the trail on and on they went, at a pace which they had to stop often to rest. Gaisen kept eating and snacking on his treats, and Jase did the same somewhat. He wasn't as hungry as Gaisen but he didn't question it. Garfan had his strict diet set on Gaisen, and now the young mouse was enjoying the life he long felt denied. Jase asked as they traveled further in one direction "You got water, Gaisen?"
Gaisen stopped and shrugged "I was thinking we'd find water in ponds and rivers ya know, all on the way there. I mean, your pa didn't go to the canteen, right? Shoulda worked for us."
Jase nodded in agreement to this, because it made sense to him. Water was all over the place, heck, it came down from the skies. Though, he sort of wished Gaisen had water on him instead of waiting for it. The young squirrel and his friend continued onward and onward till night began to fall. Gaisen and Jase set up a small cloth over a branch, falling asleep once again as the day passed.
By the next morning, Jase's stomach was rumbling.
Jase awoke with Gaisen taking down their little makeshift tent, and looked through his pack. Jase yawned and spoke up "Gaisen, you got anything else in there, I am starting to get hungry."
"Ummm." Gaisen's voice was filled with concern as he pulled out a few more small scones and crumbs. "I, uhh, I think we ate too much yesterday." Gaisen revealed what was left of their supplies in terms of food, as Jase looked down with increasing worry. He took one of the sugary scones and ate it partly, but quickly gave it back to Gaisen "We-we should save it, though we should probably forage for something to eat."
"R-right." Gaisen looked around, and now his stomach began to rumble. Jase spoke up, his voice edging on a sudden panic "Uhm, Gaisen, we should find some water, right? I'm a bit parched, and-"
"Y-yes, erm, that way?" Gaisen pointed in one direction, but Jase was beginning to look more and more unwell. The two continued to look around, unable to tell where they had come from and where to go. They looked at each other, having become unable to tell which way would lead them to what they needed, and what way would lead nowhere. Jase shouldered his pack, and the two marched on in whatever direction seemed best, but their highest spirits had seemingly left them for dead.
_
They had traveled for hours as Gaisen took another bite of his scone, and began to regret not taking much more along. How was he supposed to know such things didn't grow nearby? It felt easier when flour was so abundant in the abbey, one could play in it! Gaisen looked and looked, but their path to the south was being a bit more than just trouble. The two youngsters took out their map to study it, looking for landmarks and what not, but all they saw were mountains, shapes, and trees. There should be plain coming up soon, but yet as the two looked on they could only see trees.
The two young woodlanders retreated further and further into their second night when they officially ran out of food. Jase was wide eyed with horror when he took his last crumb as he began to complain "Th-theres no water, Gaisen?! Wh-where do we find it?" Gaisen didn't know and tried to remain calm, and both agreed they would put their little quest aside to find food in the morning, but both were sleepless and thinking. Jase was having his regrets flood over him, and Gaisen was worried for more than just himself. Jase curled up with his large tail, hugging it and looking less and less well. Gaisen was now parched, but he knew Jase had it worse.
Morning came, and the two awoke to a much more familiar scene. The only difference is, their food was now fully gone.
"Gaisen, we need to find food. Berries perhaps? Bollo used to talk all about berries, and how good they are. I really wish I asked him more, I feel, erm, I-" Jase was fumbling his words as Gaisen tried to keep a cheery smile "I mean, we've been walking a lot, we have to come by something! Jase, why don't we split up, and call each other if we-"
"Split up, we can't split up!" Jase suddenly yelped. Jase was spinning around, and began groan in wide eyed horror "I-I can't die out here! I don't want to die! Oh seasons, why did I do this, why did I bring you! Oh seasons!" Gaisen tried to grab his spinning friend who was barely with him now. Jase looked horrible and he kept mumbling "We-we need to find pa! Pa! Jue! Pa!" He yelled, but no answer came. Gaisen tried to shake him to shush him "Jase. Jase! Stop yelling, we don't know what beasts are out here? Like vermin and-"
"Maybe they can help then!?" Jase said horrified "Oh, what was I thinking! I'm not prepared at all for this! I'm not!" Jase sat down, rocking back and forth as Gaisen growled "Jase, snap out of it!"
Yet, Jase kept rocking back and forth, repeating to himself and to Gaisen "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry-" Over and over again, his paws on his head. Gaisen frowned and knew Jase wasn't coming back, not till their troubles with food would go away. Gaisen got up and commanded Jase "Jase, stay here, I'll go find something."
Jase kept sitting there, and nodded, partly crying as he couldn't come to grips with the troubles he now faced. Gaisen got up, looking around desperately for something, anything that could help. Gaisen ran through the woods, and looked through every bush, his paws began to sting with ivy and thorns. Gaisen grunted, until he found what he needed most to his great relief. As he pushed past a group of trees, a shallow stream was seen connecting some larger bodies of water and flowing into some small wet marshy water nearby.
Gaisen dove towards the stream, dunking his head into the river and gulping down the water like a made beast. He didn't really care what was in it, just so long as he could drink it. Gaisen called out "Jase. Jase! Over here!" No answer came, but Gaisen could hear his friend as he tracked back from his footprints back to their camp. Gaisen continued to call out "Jase! I found water! Over here!" No answer came as Gaisen rushed back to the camp to see Jase still sitting, rocking back and forth on the ground. Gaisen grunted and looked around, trying to find a stick he could whack the squirrel with, but he decided against it.
"Jase, please, for the love of Redwall itself!" Gaisen was growing more and more frustrated as he began to drag the frozen Jase with him, taking his pack along "Jase, I need you to not be you for once! Stop freezing up! Please! Nuck and Darper aren't even here!" Gaisen was starting to understand his two hated bullies a bit more. This was the son of Jue the Warrior, this frozen beast he had to drag along by the back of his tunic. Jase kept mumbling to himself, and partly returned when he saw the water Gaisen was dragging him to.
Jase snapped back and immediately dove into the water, dunking his head to slurp it up. Gaisen sat nearby, looking around for food they could eat, but could find nothing but a few flowers. Gulping down his tastes, Gaisen took a flower in paw and ate it. He nearly spat it out in disgust, but he chewed and swallowed it none-the-less. He hoped it would perhaps tricks his stomach at least to thinking it was food, but he coughed and gagged. Jase drank of the water, coughing as he came up, weeping to himself.
Gaisen came over, angry with him, shoving his friend towards the ground. He never felt he would be like Garfan, but he waved his paw in front of Jase's terrified face.
"Jase! Listen to me, I can't do this all by myself! I can't go out looking for food, I need you now as much as I need you. Seasons Jase, we aren't that starved yet, we just ran out of food, we'll find more! Please for the love of the seasons, stop acting like this is the end already!" Gaisen stopped only when he could see his friend's whimpering face, trying to wipe tears from his eyes.
Jase sniffed "I-i'm sorry, Gaisen. I'm just, this is all so much for me! I don't know where we are, I don't know what to do. Please, I-I-" Gaisen softened himself and helped his friend up, who seemed to be getting a bit better. Perhaps it is the water.
"I'm sorry Jase, I am. I didn't mean those words." Gaisen frowned, seeing his friend in such misery. Yet, Jase understood and sniffed "Gaisen, I'm the one who is suppose to be sorry. I dragged you into all this, and now we are stuck out here with no food, no water, nothing really! In a way, Nuck and Darper are right. I cower at even the thought of all this, hardly much of a warrior."
"Jase we escaped a siege and dodged an entire horde of vermin." Gaisen reminded him "I know you freeze up a lot, and we cannot afford it. We need a plan moving forward, food and water and-"
Jase was looking ahead, smiling. Gaisen looked confused and looked around, and much to his personal spite he saw a big ripe berry bush snuggled nearby. Gaisen then couldn't help but smile as their turn of luck as the two quickly went over and began picking berries for their long journey.
_
Back on their feet, the two young Redwallers were acting far more serious since their past few days, but their feet were starting to hurt more. Even with sandals on, the two youngsters struggled to continue as they followed the stream religiously towards its source, but not because of a much needed stability.
"If the map is right Jase, we'll likely be near the southern river. This might be a stream heading towards the inland lake."
Jase nodded in agreement, but he was not so sure. The two kept their eyes out for anything they could eat, and they were slow to eat. Maybe once every so often they would munch on a berry to keep up their troubled morale, but the two continued onward. Jase shivered as the two youngsters continued onward, with Gaisen being as optimistic as possible.
"We got a map, still. We got a big ol' tent cloth to keep us warm, we got a big group o' berries and other such things! Best yet, we got our food back! I mean, its heavy carrying all this you know."
Jase agreed as he shouldered his pack to get more comfortable "Sout'gen is near the river, but how do we know where we will find the ruin?"
"I mean it's a ruin, Jase. It'll be like a village, but empty."
Jase nodded "I suppose, but it does feel like we'd see something by now. Like a village. Or somethen." Gaisen nodded slightly in agreement. It was weird to him they didn't see any sign of a living beast around other than themselves. They thought Mossflower would be brimming with a lot more life, but it was hard to honestly tell. Jase felt he could pass by a farm any minute from now, or some stranger. The two continued up the stream as Gaisen wondered "I mean, the plains outside Redwall should be nearby at least, at least according to the map. We'll be in the village sometime soon, right?"
Jase gave his friend a worrying look. He felt horrible freezing up as he did, but he knew he was not prepared at all if Gaisen was in a similar position. He tried not to think about it, optimistically trying to keep true to his mission "I mean, yes. Yet we can't stay long, we gotta find pa remember?"
"I mean, of course. Its just, it would be nice to know where we are." Gaisen looked around with concern as the trees seemed much more thickers and the leaves more dull. The whole forest's mystical features felt lessened now that he saw it so much. They marched on as the stream widened a bit more. Gaisen smiled and quickly spoke up "Jase! The south river!" Gaisen went up ahead and Jase trodden at a faster pace after him. The ground beneath them became a bit rockier, with sand slowly replacing dirt. Jase saw for his first time the size of this mighty river, and he couldn't help but smile.
The river was massive, and both youngsters were grateful they wouldn't have to swim in it. Gaisen sat along the beach and happily ate at one of his berries and spoke with a glee "See, our fortunes turn Jase!" He said confidently "Now, all-alll-" Gaisen looked across the river and began to notice three features which didn't fit very right.
Firstly, the river was a bit too big, wide even. He began to get up and look down the river in both directions. Jase could tell something was wrong, and he asked "What bothers you?"
"Its the river, it doesn't look like it shortens." Gaisen gulped. Jase raised an eyebrow to this, as he asked "Shorten?"
"It needs to be smaller." Gaisen's voice began to fill with some dark tone "The river, there is suppose to be a bridge. What bridge could reach across this!?" Gaisen hurried into his pack and brought out his map, pointing to the southern stream near the abbey itself, specifically near the ruined base of St. Ninians. Jase was starting to see, and began to bargain "Maybe we are just near the Inland lake? Maybe-"
"M-maybe, but there is only one way to be sure where we are." Gaisen looked upward at the sky, and his heart felt it was dropping. The sun was rising to the left of them, as it was still late morning. Gaisen looked down at his map and let out a horrible howl of frustration "Damnit! Cursed, fool beast I am! Gah!" Gaisen kicked the sand in frustration, as Jase backed away in partial fear of his rabid friend. "Damn me! Damn me! This isn't the south river! Its the Moss!"
Jase's heart dropped as well, as he sat down to think about it. Did we really go through all that just to end up north? Jase looked to his friend who laid in the sand, cursing himself the most. He was despondent and pouting, as he tried to let out all of his frustrations "Why! Curse me then, you blasted seasonal cretans! Of course we've been going the wrong way! Of course! Give me over to that blasted ol' taskmaster to raise me, and now you have us all going the wrong way!" Gaisen was cursing the spirits around him, or really whatever, for these faults.
Jase came over, looking down at him as Gaisen looked furious "Can't your bleeding friend in your dreams have told us where to go, Jase! What a waste of time! Gah!"
"Gaisen." Jase said sadly. Gaisen angrily got up and yelled "What!?
"We need to go."
"Go where!?" Gaisen pulled at his fur, pacing in anger "We are lost! Lost! Even if we traveled for a thousand years, we'd not find this stupid Sout'gen or whatever its called! What an idiot I've been, I've-I've-" Gaisen was breaking down into the next phase of despair. Jase held his horrified friend as he began to produce tears himself. Gaisen sniffed, trying to stand without Jase, but the squirrel realized he was as lost as he was. It took a bit, but Gaisen pulled himself together as Jase tried to help him.
"Gaisen. We need to go. You remember the story of Pa getting got by those pirates when he was looking for Martin's sword? Twas an obstacle, just like this is. We can recover, we now know where we are. Mostly." Gaisen looked towards the forests, south somewhat he could only guess. Gaisen nodded slowly, and tried to smile. He couldn't as he looked back into the forests with a deep and foreboding sigh. He really didn't want to go through this all again, and certainly not with them without a creek to follow.
"You ready?" Jase asked.
"Not really, but we don't have much choice." The two sighed and returned to following the creek south.
_
Through a great deal of effort, backtracking, and experience the two youngsters were making at least some progress. Gaisen and Jase continued to follow the stream till it started to veer towards a small lake, and the two could veer off from it with some confidence to look for any sign they were getting closer south. This was a slow and daily effort, and despite their pace they felt they were making progress. Time became quite irrelevant to both, as their main concern was just keeping their water source close and their favored food nearby.
Yet both felt deeply miserable.
Walking out into the woods was difficult enough with their fumbling, but now living this life was making his seasons spent in the comfortable but confiding bed of his room seem like a lost paradise. The two had to rest at the edge of a river, knowing they would have to take one last sip of the cool stream before having to venture beyond it. Without much a cup let alone a canteen. The two marched out, their first task was to find a stream to rely on to get them to the south river, keeping a pure stance of heading in that direction. Both agreed once they saw the smoke of a village hut, they'd stop by and beg or trade for some food or water.
But even this was not without trouble.
Both stumbled upon a village, a small series of huts as Gaisen noted that a group of voles were tending to crops or bickering with each other. They knew these voles well, but both dared not approach the hamlet due to one particular problem. Above the heads of the village was a brown flag, casually resting in the middle of the village, with a small group of vermin marching about and keeping an eye out for trouble. Jase and Gaisen gulped at the thought of even approaching, and quickly left by sneaking away. Put down by the idea of even not being able to get help, the two continued on and looked for another stream of any kind, but were unlucky once again.
"How did your pa and Bollo even drink at this rate." Gaisen complained.
"I'd love to ask myself. Maybe it will rain soon."
"Rain? Step out into a storm to get drenched, opening maws up to the sky?" Gaisen grumbled "Stupid me for not thinking of taking a pan or something, cause i thought we'd not need it! Hopefully we will find this river soon and-"
The two paused when they saw something move ahead of them. Jase squinted as he looked further down the lane of trees and brush.
"Saw something?" Gaisen whispered. "I think so, Gaisen. Its, ummm, maybe just a shadow."
The two continued and walked comfortably along, comfortably moving at a more cautious pace. Gaisen sighed as he spoke in sorrowful voice "Maybe your pa is as lost as we are, or we are just dumb. Is it weird to say that?"
"Honestly? Nah." Jase and his friend looked around, as their pace quickened. Jase looked to his left where he heard a stig snap, but then he looked ahead and saw something move again. It was huge, a shadow which moved quickly but firmly through the bushes and both could hear the very dirt move. The two paused, unsure what to make of it, but then something spoke out with a slow, but loud, voice from the distance.
"Jasssse." It called. Jase and Gaisen froze as they could see something move in front of them again. It was a powerful voice, and reptillian. Gaisen and Jase knew full well it was, a horror from the old stories which called to the squirrel once again in a firm voice.
"Jasssse."
Gaisen looked in fear at a horrified and frozen Jase, backing away in fear. Then they saw it, its massive head peeking just below the tree line as a massive green serpent slithered its tongue, moving down from the trees with a huge crunch. Jase and Gaisen followed the size of the serpent, being as tall as a great tree it had climbed up on and its massive form slithered just to the right of them. Jase had never seen such a terror in his life, something out of the old tales who moved onto the ground and seemed to slither towards them, its tongue flicking "Son of Jue the Warrior." It beckoned as it zig zagged towards them.
Gaisen shook his friend and both began to run.
"Jasssse." It spoke firmly and loudly, but Jase and Gaisen did not listen and just ran. Jase did not know why it knew him, nor what it wanted. He was going to not even humor it as he ran and ran across the forest, keeping up with Gaisen. The two kept running, in whatever direction felt best, but eventually they felt they gained enough distance where they could slow. Gaisen spoke first, spitting on the ground exhausted.
"W-what in the seasons was that." He said terrified. Jase's eyes were wide as he spoke his own question "W-why was he calling me?"
Gaisen patted his friend "Well, south isn't going to be a place we go into anytime soon, Jase. Maybe we can head eastward and find help, cause we can't possibly fight let alone sneak by that thing! I am not going to have some blasted serpent send us all the way back to square one!"
Gaisen would come to immediately regret those words when he heard brush being moved aside. Jase froze again at the sight before him, for it wasn't the vast head of a serpent which came to greet them.
It was a beefy looking rat in a big straw hat, ragged in fur and grayed with advanced age. Yet the most peculiar thing about him was an eyepatch over his left eye. Jase and Gaisen backed away from the vermin as the beast held a bow in one paw and a rope in another, approaching with a big toothy grin, blackened and foul smelling "Well, well, well, ain'tcha lovelies happenen upon I did. Boss is goin to love dis!" He said to himself. Gaisen angrily spoke up "We mean nothing to you, rat. We are just travelers, and-"
"Travelers or orphans, matter not really. Scabbem wants ya fer vittles an' trade, an' dat what not!" The rat lifted his head and Jase gasped. Coupled around his neck like some sort of collar was a loose black bandana, a symbol of Kasg's evil army. This wasn't just a vermin bandit who happened upon them, but one of the Blackclads.
"Alright, ya two be commen wit me you will." The rat said calmly, and tried to grab at Gaisen. The mouse angrily bolted away from him, but the rat quickly grabbed onto his tail and pulled. Gaisen yelped in pain as he looked to Jase. Again, much to Gaisen's own terror, he was frozen in fear and unsure what to do. Gaisen kicked with his paws at Dape's face, but the rat growled and clawed at his shoulder "Struggle will be a beaten, ya slavebeast wretch! Hold still you will, or Dape will be club-"
Jase was soon on his back, trying desperately to get at the rat's sheathed knife. Dape seemed calm, almost amused by the attempt as he shook off Jase harshly to the ground. The rat grumbled and took out a small whacking stick from his bandolier. Jase watched as Gaisen tried to fight back, only to get whacked harshly across his face. Jase yelled out as Gaisen fell limp onto the ground, knocked out by a single swipe. Dape came over to Jase next as the last thing Jase saw as darkness overtook him was that kudgel coming down on his face.
Vision was returning to Jase, feeling another beast next to him squirm and struggle and voices all around him. The distant voice of Gaisen became clearer as he was arguing with some nearby beast. Jase shook himself, revealing he was awake, as his blurry vision came into his senses, but so did pain from Dape's attack. Jase tried to move, but he looked down to see he was bound in a lot of rope, tied up to a log nearby. Jase turned to see what manner of beast Gaisen was speaking poorly to, only to see a hedgehog around his own age holding a bowl of soup, blankly looking at him.
"Well, tell those scoundrels to let us go then, spiked back!"
"I mean, I would sir, but I'm not really allowed to." The hedgehog spoke rather plainly. Jase nudged Gaisen. Gaisen turned to Jase and frowned "Awake, Jase? You feeling good or bad right now?"
"Well, it depends on a point of view." Jase shrugged and then began to struggle in his bonds. It was hard for him to do much other than sit and languish in the ropes as Gaisen returned his attention to the hedgehog with his little bowl of soup. "Jase, this is Figgum. Figgum. Jase. Now please, you blasted beast, help us!"
"I can't sir. Not allowed to."
"Why not!?"
Jase nudged his friend again a but more harshly "No need for that Gaisen, he seems like a friend."
"Well a real friend isn't going to let us languish here, now will they." Gaisan was actively grumbling as Figgum stood there. Jase looked him over and couldn't help but pity him. Figgum was dressed in a brownish rag which used to have color to them, but they looked to be falling apart almost. He was dirty and greasy looking, and he could spot a few bruises the young beast casually did not seem to mind much. Yet they were there, as Jase couldn't help but ask. "Figgum. Do you know where we, erm, a-"
Figgum was brushed aside as both Jase and Gaisan quickly backed away in terror to see the most cursed thing they had ever seen staring them right in the face and looming over them. Figgum dropped the bowl, and he sighed deeply, as Jase and Gaisan were face to face with a creature of trash and decay itself.
It looked like a ferret, but his fur was caked in filth and his clothes, if one could call it that, were a mix of stolen and just plain old. He wore a big tuque which didn't fit his head at hall, his grin revealed he lacked a lot of teeth and what ones he still had were rotting or yellow. For a moment, Jase thought he was toothless. Yet the worse part was the smell, for he smelled of death like no other. He waved his greasy paws in front of their faces and growled at them before slapping them both "Bah! Dape ya useless wretch, look at'deez layabout workbeasts ya bring! Kids, ya idiot! Pups an' Kits!"
A familiar voice rang up with fear "S-sorry Boss."
"Chief to you ya blackclad buffoon!" The ferret wheel quickly over to Dape who had been enjoying some manner of better smelling brunch, pancakes it looked like. Knocking the food from his paws, Dape began to beat softly on the rat in a almost playful manner, but the rat didn't seem to enjoy it.
"Useless idiot, more mouths to feed, an' we can't sell em eder!"
"Sorry Scabbem." Dape stood back up and sat, taking up his food from the ground and began to feast on it again much to Jase and Gaisen's disgust. Scabbem returned to the two sitting with him as he took out a knife and played at the tip of Jase's nose "Ya two will be nice an' silent like, eh? You wouldn't want to make Scabbem angry, woulcha ya?"
Gaisen growled "We ain't even done nothing, vermin!"
Scabbem turned his full attention to Gaisen and growled "Bah, you'll be trouble. I can smells it."
Scabbem went over to a small bonfire with a group of, maybe like six vermin at best surrounding it. Jase now knew the trouble he was in now, having notice he was surrounded by vermin gangsters. Despite his troubles to get free, he noticed Figgum go over to a small station near the bonfire and put another log in. Gaisen grumbled "Great, now even hedgehogs are joining vermin gangsters and-"
"I think he is a slave, Gaisen." Jase noted. Gaisen gave a new look at the hedgehog and sighed, because this made a lot more sense. In his rags, Figgum would flip another pancake into the air and land on a pan which he proudly cooked before putting it on a plate. Thanklessly, one of the weasels scooped it up and sat down near Scabbem, and began to idolize his chief.
"Ya know Scabbem, Oh good an' mighty one, ya really are a smarter den normal creature ya know. Make em' real tame like dem two woodlanders, sell dem I dinks we can, eh?"
"Shut up, Mince." Scabbem threatened casually as he pointed his dagger at himself "I already be knowen I am better den all ya combined, an' ya owe me good an' well you do! Ya wouldn't be here witout me leaden ya! Dats why ya need smart beasts leaden, or ya end up like dat ol' Kasg fella. Fight hares an' what not. How many hares we fight? None. Cause I am der smarter beast unlike you fools!" Scabbem ranted quite happily, buffing his chest out with pride. Mince nodded in fake agreement "Ya know chief, maybe dat Markem fellow will buy dem, ya know? I hears dey be moven down from-"
"We headen to Jusbrag! Ya hear me ya lopeared cretan!" Scabbem slapped the weasel so hard he comically rolled off the log he was sitting on and was on the ground. Scabbem's beasts laughed, but the chief shut them all up "None of ya be laughen ya hear! We be a real serious horde we is, an' soon we'll own big plots of dat nice vermin land near Jusbrag der ourselves!"
"You right boss, very good to hear." Dape smiled, but got another angry glare from the easily upset chief "Whacha mean by that Dape, ya tryen to get one over on me, hmm?"
"No, boss." Dape raised his paws, but Scabbem already jumped on him and began to beat down on him. Jase and Gaisen stared and blinked with some manner of amazement at this display. Jase felt horrible that this was the group of beasts who would likely do them in, these incompetent wannabe clowns. Figgum seemed to ignore the fight behind him as if this was a common occurrence, which likely it was.
Figgum again came over with a small bowl of soup and with reluctance both young Redwallers took a taste of it. They could see from their bonds that Scabbem's little group of nobodies was a mix of trashy, barely functional vermin. One rat sat near them, having said nothing as he cleaned his hatchet. He was big and rather odd looking, odd being a word to perhaps describe being bred wrong. His jaw was large, and face shriveled as he kept cleaning one spot on his already clean hatchet. They would quickly discover his name when Scabbem threw a half broken jar at him.
"Dake ya fool beast, go an' do something like patrol! Do something you useless layabout."
"Mince?" He pointed to the weasel who was lazily napping nearby. Scabbem kicked the weasel next "Mince, go an' take dat stupid beast out patrolling, ya useless horde trash!"
Mince awoke and quickly came over to Dake and took him with him on some manner of sentry patrol. Dape seemed to sharpen his arrows as he scratched at his clothed covered neck. Jase had heard that the powerful hosts of Kasg were filled with dark warriors of the north, but the older rat seemed to sniff stupidly at his own fur and shrugged.
After a bit of time, Scabbem turned his attention over to Jase and Gaisen, angrily coming over and motioning Dape over. The rat archer quickly stood and beckoned at his chief's side as Scabbem loomed over both. "Little beasts, arencha. Yer parents won't be followen I hopes, or were gonna have a nice ol' vermin wake fer dem, eh!" Scabbem smiled again, and both could not help but cough at his presence.
"None of your business, vermin." Gaisen growled back. He hoped he could intimidate this incompetent, and had the confidence to do so. Yet Scabbem growled back "Tis my business, ya slavebeasts. I'll letcha out of dem binds if you do as I say. Camp needs tidying up, beasts need tenden too, and i hate layabouts! Or ya can starve in dem binds till ya not but skin an' bone, eh?"
Jase tried to speak up fearfully "We mean no harm, truly. We are simply heading south, if you let us go and-"
Scabbem slapped his paw on Jase's face as he felt a nail dig between his lip. Jase froze in fright at the pain as Gaisen noticed this and spat. "We don't take orders from the likes of worthless, gutter spawn like you! If me adopted pa was here, he'd show you a thing or two he would!"
"Adopted pa?" Scabbem thought, and looked them both over. It was strange to him a bunch of orphan folk to just be wandering Mossflower woods so clean like. So he raised an eyebrow "Oh, ya be Redwallers?"
Gaisen was silent. Scabbem wasn't smart enough to take this for an answer and growled "Wells, where ya come from ya brats? Tell me, or I swears der gonna be dings ya will regret, little slavebeasts."
Jase tried to bargain with an angry Gaisen, furious at this terrible beast before him "Gaisen, calm yourself. He isn't worth i-"
Gaisen made his decision and spat in Scabbem's face. Dape came forward first, his claws grasped around Gaisen as he spoke to his boss "I'll beat em good I will, boss. Nasty ol' pups not respectem der bette-" Dape was pushed aside next to Figgum by an angry Scabbem as he wiped the spit off his face. Jase and Gaisen's eyes widened as Gaisen would soon regret his brave words, as a knife slid out of Scabbem's decaying sheathe.
"Oh ya spit on me you will!? I'll show ya real vermin hospitality!" Scabbem screamed. He took Gaisen and slammed him into a tree, as the young Redwaller's eyes widened as he saw Scabbem take his knife and come up towards his face. Jase could do nothing as he looked away in horror as Gaisen screamed horribly as Scabbem took one of Gaisen's ears.
"See, looken better already."
_
That first night was beyond horror for both Redwallers as Gaisen cried loudly and wailed at the pain he suffered through. Dape did what he could as a mocking Scabbem tormented and began coming up with new nicknames on the spot for the young mouse. Jase wanted to help, but couldn't with his bound paws, but Dape seemed to know what he was doing. Kind of. The slaver quickly closed the wound and burned it, wrapping the wound quickly as Gaisen faded in and out of consciousness. "Shoulda just left it been ya stupid round ears." Dape said in the most comforting voice he could, making sure that Gaisen would at least be alive. When Jase finally fell asleep, he immediately turned to make sure Gaisen was alright. He first felt true terror when he saw his friend still slumped over, his bandaged head partly hiding a part of his face.
Jase nudged him harshly "Gaisen. Gaisen, you awake?"
Gaisen stirred and groaned, looking at Jase with pained eyes, but then gave a weak smile to him "I think I'm ready to go home now."
"Oh enough of that." Jase was less amused as he looked about the vermin camp, wide awake as he was. Scabbem was eyed scornfully by Jase who was bent over a log with a big jug in his paw, snoring loudly. He didn't see Dape at first, until he turned his head to see the rat's big straw hat looking back at him, moving up and dead with the old rat's movements. Gaisen coughed, which caught Jase's attention.
"You-" Jase caught himself before he could say 'okay'. The answer to that question was obviously 'no' all things considered, as Gaisen groaned. The coughing saw Scabbem lift his head towards them, as both woodlander's eyes lit up in horrible fear. The ferret cricked his neck and came over to them, a cruel grin to his face as he crept closer. Where Gaisen was resistant, now he was whimpering as the ferret mockingly spat at him "See, ya don't like it happenen to you, doncha round ears? You two goin to be good to me today, cause we don't feed layabouts." Scabbem brought his knife to Jase's cheek which made the squirrel quiver in fear of him as the ferret enjoyed the show. He laughed heartily as he arose and loomed over them and slapped his belly. "Figgum, ya stupid work beast! Get to work!"
Figgum arose next, looking tired but quickly fixing himself up. Obediently he returned to his station and began to keep his head low as Scabbem unreasonably spat out orders "I want me cakes to be better den dem woodlanders in all of Redwall, ya hears? Wit big ol' fluff an' colors! Berries, I'd like some plump sugar berries in dem. An syrup! Cream too!"
Figgum looked at Scabbem, unsure how to fulfill such an order, yet he just returned to his task. As the vermin began to wake up from the camp, the last beast needed to make the gang fulfilled with Dape who slept next to the two prisoners. Scabbem complained a lot about his breakfast, degrading the young hedgehog cook with whatever works he could remember, or ones he just came up with in the heat of his ranting and raving.
"Stupid spikkle back, ya got yer taint all over me blasted cakes ya did! Half rations, no buts about it! When dape wakes up, oh we'll be talken about you all right, an how we'll put ya into der dirt nap real quick if ya fail again!"
"Where me syrup? Whatcha mean ya can't find any!? Useless, worthless cook ya turned out to be. Hecks, if ya weren't so rot brained an' nurgle lurgled about it all, i'd just turn ya into fish bait an' get a real meal!"
"Well? Cook faster den! I got dings to do ya see, vermin beasts to make into real vermin, like dis useless pathetic lot! Yer lucky ya be a youngen, or I'd be usen me nice ol' knife to beat ya wit!"
Gaisen and Jase were growing angrier, not just from their own torture, but from how these creatures they could barely call beasts treated this struggling hedgehog. Yet, the young hedgehog seemed to not mind it all very much. He just kept up doing the chores of the camp, and the only beast kind to him was Dape who would awake briefly before tiredly eating his breakfast. What amazed and confused both Redwallers was that despite all this, Figgum kept a weirdly cheery attitude as he responded to Scabbem's many abuses.
"Oh, of course sir, I'll do better."
"Sorry, sorry. I know, sir."
"I'll improve, I swears on me life sir."
It was disgusting, especially to Gaisen whose blood boiled in anger when he looked at the ferret when he wasn't looming over at him. Jase whispered to him "We need to be getting out, maybe if we-"
"Alright lads, lets lay out der business of the blasted day! Mince. Yer wit me, cause i wanted to explore towards der river an' see if we can find dem voles again. Dey owe me a lot'o viddles dey do fer looken at me funny. Long Patrol been lax I dinks, cause dey fear beasts like me ya see! Dape, yer gonna take yer lazy fool bum all der way to der eastern outpost, ya know der one, near dat Plateau. See if Resker an' his little gaggle be willen to trade for dem two workbeasts. Chop chop, dis gang ain't gonna run itself ya layabouts!"
Jase and Gaisen remained silent as the camp slowly scattered, with only the dumber Dake standing guard. Figgum cleaned up his work station, dosing the fire and going to work on various things around him. Jase looked to Dake and then back to Figgum and whispered "Hey. Hey you, Figgum."
Figgum turned and pointed to himself in confusion, and Jase nodded. Gaisen whispered to Jase, knowing his intention, "I tried this already, Jase. Pointless. He is a mad beast alright."
Figgum came up to them and put his paws behind his back, blankly looking at them. He just blinked, as if awaiting them. Jase spoke up, trying to be formal to him "Figgum, can you help us. We need to get out of here." Jase whispered "Please, you gotta help us, and we can help you."
Figgum just blankly stared. Jase frowned a bit as Gaisen spoke next "Figgum, that ferret has a knife and if he is going to use it on me like that, he'll use it on you too. Help us help you."
"You spat in his face, though. I don't really do that kinda thing, unless by accident." Figgum frowned and approached. Gaisen coughed again, harsher than before as Figgum gasped a little "Oh, your getting sick. Oh no no no, can't have that!" Figgum retreated as the two Redwallers feared the worst, trying to whisper to get him back to them. Jase wondered if the frightened slave would tell on them both, but Figgum quickly returned with something from some busted up box. He smelled it and nodded, before returning to them. He took a few stones and grinded this strange plant down and took it in his paw and spoke "Erm, sorry mouse. This is going to hurt."
"Hurt, what do-do-DO-UHH." Gaisen felt the hedgehog rub something on his bandage as Gaisen tried to kick the mad beast away, but his foot connected into something as hard as a rock. Figgum bent Gaisen's neck down very hardily, it felt like Garfan's own paw was pulling all his weight down on him "Tis a cleaner me former mistress said, I got some other medicine matey. Just give me a moment. Try not to cough, or you'll end up like Vorp."
"Vorp?" Jase asked.
"Scabbem's gang used to be bigger." Figgum said, which made Jase gulp at the implication. He went back to that box and brought out other herbs and returned "Usually such wounds don't get you so quickly. Dape is usually good with it."
Gaisen chewed on the herbal medicine and sniffed, feeling only slightly better. He coughed again and spoke "We aren't forest dwelling beasts, Figgum. For the past few days, we've been out and about for the first time. Its lucky we came across a stream when we did."
"Did you filter the water?" Figgum asked.
"Filter?" Jase answered Figgum's question. The hedgehog looked amazed "Oh, you two have been drinking unfiltered water? Well, that's probably why you're sick, mister. I mean, despite what Scabbem says and does, I don't think you two would make out there ya know, without larger beasts lording over you."
"How the heck do you stand it?" Gaisen asked, "That beast is one bad day away from killing you or harming you like he did to me!"
"Oh, it's because I can't afford to have bad days, otherwise I'd end up a lot like you." Figgum shrugged "I mean, they beat me, but its not like bad or anything like that. It could always be worse, and it beats dying an' all that."
Jase thought of something "Figgum, things don't have to be like this. We come from an abbey full of free beasts much like you, who'd cherish your cooking. I know a big ol' Hedgehog maiden who'd love to see you cook with her without the threats and violence. Don't you want that."
"I mean." Figgum sighed and nodded "It sounds great, but that means doing something against my betters. I-" Figgum looked unsure, and brought his paws forward and rubbed his shoulder sadly, as if embarrassed. "I mean, I don't know."
Jase looked to him and smiled "Figgum, name is Jase. My friend next to me is Gaisen. We are beasts in need of help, and I promise if you can help us, we wi-" Jase and Gaisen stopped as Dape came bounding out of the bushes. He came over, and all three feared the worst.
"Need ya cleanen an' cooken. Need to be clean de's beasts up meself fer sale! Get to it, spike back." Dape commanded. Figgum bowed his head and returned to his work. He looked down as Jase and Gaisen, patting their heads "Oh yer gonna make us a lot'o viddles ya two will. Lot'o viddles if I can sell ya rights!"
_
Night came as Jase and Gaisen felt the worst humiliation of their lives in those last few hours with Dape. The rat rubbed his paws through their teeth, and made comments on their spirit and obedience. Jase knew of the stories of vermin cruelty and tyranny, but what he was surprised with was its more mundane terrors. They heard their lives be given a specific value to them, with Jase being just slightly higher in price than a coughing Gaisen. Dape nearly shoved herbal drugs down the mouse's throat to prevent Scabbem from noticing, again implying some foul deed the ferret had done. Dape treated them like objects, turning them around, and telling them their unfree fates which lay in store. When night fell and Scabbem returned to his little quarters, Figgum, Jase, and Gaisen decided to eat together.
"So you're in?" Gaisen whispered.
It took a bit of further prodding now that they had some general privacy, but the hedgehog slowly nodded, although albeit fearfully.
Gaisen scanned the group and looked at Scabbem's knife. "The vermin will likely drink themselves silly again. Just get us the knife once they are all knocked out."
"What about their sentries?"
"We'll just have to avoid them, which sounds easy if its that big silent oaf and that lazy weasel again."
Jase and Gaisen looked at Mince who was again sleeping on a bench, passed out. From what grog the vermin gang had, Scabbem seemed to be enjoying it for himself. The gang talked amongst themselves, exchanging a couple dark jokes, prodding at the fire, before Scabbem patted the fire out into a low simmer. Jase and Gaisen partly wondered how this group of blithering fools could not be caught by the otters, or shrews, or even the hares. He wondered where he even was right now, as no doubt if such a cruel creature like Scabbem where to even set a mile near Redwall, the entire abbey would go out and beat him into the ground.
The young woodlanders awaited Figgum to do his part as the hedgehog paused as he slowly got up once the vermin were asleep. Figgum looked unsure, as Gaisen and Jase egged him on silently. Both made face of excitement, horror, and pleading at Figgum found himself moving around vermin towards Scabbem who was sleeping once again in a very awkward position.
Figgum paused and looked to Jase and Gaisen, in which Jase happily nodded. Figgum slowly brought his paw to the belt of Scabbem, very slowly nudging it away from the beast's belt.
Scabbem licked his lips and began speaking in his sleep, surprising Figgum. "Oh, tis ya. Come to kill me, hmm? Try it ya lop eared devil. Can't kill ol' Scabbem the Scourge now can ya? Heh! Heh!"
Then Figgum let go of the knife as he fell over the log, the knife and Jase's hope for freedom dropped on the ground. Scabbem's eyes opened as he sat up and yawned. He looked down at a terrified Figgum who was wide eyed with fear. "Oy, what der hell ya doin up? Do I gotta tie ya up again ya stupid slave?" Figgum was silent, whimpering as if he suspected Scabbem to do something truly evil to him. The ferret gangster reached for his knife at his belt, but felt nothing.
He looked around, growling to himself as he spoke up angrily "Where is it, where me knife. Where me knife!?"
Figgum knew, it was behind him on the ground, but Scabbem turned in all directions and stood up. He angrily looked at Figgum, but then towards a sleeping Mince. Much to Figgum's amazement and awe, the unlucky weasel soon was being shaken awake along with the other gangsters "Where der hell is me knife ya cretan!" Mince looked mortified as the ferret shook him down. "Useless weasels, all of ya are bunch o'thieves!"
Jase could see the vermin stirring to awake, but saw Figgum quickly leap over the sitting log and grab onto the dagger. Unnoticed and undisturbed, the vermin wooed on the fight as Mince began to fight back against Scabbem, looking for his dagger. Mince was nearly shaken as he sat on the ground defeated, but Scabbem had not found his dagger.
"Dat was me pa's dagger! I killed him fer it! You!?" Dape was next as Scabbem was soon upon him as well, taking the rat by surprise as the two wrestled. Unknown to either, Figgum had come over to Jase with the dagger, not knowing what to do with it. Gaisen asked for the dagger and began to cut through their bonds. Gaisen cut his bonds, and then Jase's as the two realized they would likely need to run without their packs. Yet, as the two eyed their old packs, debating silently to grab them, they dedicated they need to get themselves and Figgum out.
Figgum however wasn't with them.
Much to Jase's and Gaisen's bafflement, the hedgehog went into the middle of the camp and grabbed his pans and Gaisen's pack, and casually began to pack it. The vermin didn't really notice at first, but once he was done, Figgum returned to him with a full set, the heavy pack not even bothering him a little. Jase and Gaisen's jaws were partly dropped as Gaisen only mentioned "If we get out of this, Figgum. I am going to slap you."
Figgum looked betrayed, not understanding the joke, but Jase slapped himself out of this stupor and quickly got the two running with him. "Wait. Wait! Dem slavebeasts be runnen!" One of the gangsters said, having finally put two and two together. Jase, Gaisen, and Figgum ran hard through the woods, with Figgum somehow being faster than both. They heard vermin footsteps behind them, and Gaisen squeaked in terror when Dape's arrow hit a tree nearby.
"Get back here ya runners!"
Figgum nearly turned by instinct, but Gaisen turned him right around and forced him to continue running "They'll kill you! Keep going!"
The three had no clue where they should get off to, but they had chosen a perfect route which went past the chosen sentry for the night. Dape was behind them, firing warning arrows. Dape tired of this game, aiming his bow towards Gaisen, but a blackish arrow pierced the tree next to him. Dape ran for cover and looked around as Scabbem and his gang caught up. Jase and his friends continued into the distance, as Scabbem tried to push Dape forward "get after dem ya-" Scabbem heard a thud in the ground, and looked down to see an arrow sticking out.
Scabbem panicked and ran back to his camp "Everybeast fer himself! Cover me ya fools!"
Jase looked behind him, confused as to what was happening, but then looked in front to see Gaisen and Figgum stopping. From out of the treeline came a fox, barring his teeth and shoving a saber down towards Figgum who backed away in fear. Then a more hidden beast came out of the bushes next to them, a big cloaked black rat, with a quiver to his side and a large bow in paw. He looked down at the three, and looked to his companion whom seemed a bit more gleeful than he was.
"Told ya I heard dings. Well. Tie em' up, an' we'll head back to Gholand."
"Wait, please." Jase begged "We mean nothing to you. Just let us go, and we'll be on our way."
The bow wielding rat brought out rope and threw it down on the ground in front of them, coldly looking them over. "Youy'll mayke for gooyde viddyles back in Ghoyland. Noyw hold styill while dis byeast binds youy."
"You do this 'Bart', I'm der one who captured dem." The fox retorted. 'Bart' grunted and growled at him "Youy captured deym? Youy put on dey'r bonds den. Kaeyl."
Kael grumbled and came over. Gaisen attempted to fight back first, but a harsh slap from the fox got him to hold still. Figgum only sighed as the ropes were tied about his own paws, and Jase was frozen in terror as he looked at the big black rat with his bow. He looked like he was about to run, something the rat was quick to notice. "Ruyn, an you wiyll perish." He warned. Exhausted and unable to do much, Jase simply accepted Kael putting his paws in ropes, leading the three off towards their original camp.
"My feet are tired." Gaisen complained openly, his squinting angry eyes at the fox who was dragging them along. A harsh tug nearly sent him flying, and Figgum tipped over as he carried their things. Gaisen was not without a pack himself now, now carrying the vermin things with him since. Gaisen was feeling the effects of his sickness. He didn't have much mind or strength to fight anymore as Kael growled at him "Yer gonna be missen a leg as well ya keep at it, ya talkative slavebeast."
Gaisen coughed and helped Figgum back on his feet as the two continued to walk. They had been walking for days as the rat casually strode beside them, smoking on his pipe. Jase looked at him, as he had never seen such a rat like this before. His blackish garb reminded him of something, but not sure what. He noticed one important thing as Kael sneered behind him at the rat.
"Ya gonna do anything useful, like make sure we ain't walken off a cliff ahead of us?"
"Youry fine." The rat responded coldly. Kael grew annoyed "Worse idea Gutan had he did, chaining me to ya!"
"I thouyght you Ghoyland vermymen were kiynder in word." 'Bart' rolled his eyes in sarcastic mockery. Kael growled "I ain't no Gholand goon. Coastal born, loud an' proud I am!"
'Bart' remained silent, breathing deep of his pipe and blowing out smoke. He took the box of his smoke weed and checked it, sighing how little he had left. He put it away as Jase began to ask questions "Where are you taking us?"
"Ghoyland."
"A vermin fort?"
"Yes." 'Bart' shrugged. Jase frowned at this, as he didn't fully understand it. Why? Why are they all like this!? Even Snot was somewhat like this, are none of them reasonable? How do they just torture, enslave, and murder so casually without much thought. Jase tried to shake these thoughts, trying to figure a way out, but even he could see Gaisen was slowly giving up. He was sick, tired, and depressed as he coughed and grunted underneath his sickness. He would improve in time, but it was clear to him he was having difficulties himself. Having little to do in his long march, Jase turned to 'Bart' and asked some more questions of him.
"Why are you beasts like this." Jase asked
"Liyke what." 'Bart' boringly responded.
"Why do you enslave us, torture us, or worse. I want to know, I truly do." 'Bart' shrugged only to this, as Jase squinted. He had felt anger before, but now he was getting annoyed "Will you not answer me?"
"I doyn't have to, so I woyn't." 'Bart' responded in kind. The black rat looked down at him and gave him a blank look. Jase spoke up, demanding answers "Do you folk even know? I just want to know since you folk intend to sell us."
"Youy'll be property of Markyem Browynose, a warloyrd of dis land fyer now. So why bothyer with such questionyes? Youy'll be moving saycks or cooyking for soldyiers who can't or woyn't do it themselves."
Markem? Jase felt sick to his stomach as he exchanged glances with Gaisen who overheard. What little hope he had was failing as he realized they were now in the paws of Redwall's enemy. Jase looked to 'Bart' to try to ask more questions, but the rat seemingly disappeared as he was moving up ahead. Kael and 'Bart' talked to one another, although their conversation bordered on hostile.
The group continued through the forests for what felt like forever, as Jase and Gaisen were forced down in their bonds onto the ground. As captives, 'Bart' would feed them lightly before going off to patrol for trouble, as Kael relaxed himself by the fire. Figgum was allowed out of his bonds to cook for the two, who sighed as he returned to work meekly cooking for vermin. Gaisen found the sight depressing. Figgum had been braver than most when he helped them, now he was being berated by Kael who was no better than Scabbem when it came to his cruel words.
"You betta not burn me food, spike back. Or there will be trouble for you an' yer pals ya see? I can do a lot to ya once behind Gholand's walls, or we can all take a nice trip to The Pit where I can throw ya into a quarry to toil. Ya been lashed yet, boy? Well, ya best not think on it too much, just cook rightly now."
Gaisen struggled in his bonds, but Kael quickly noticed and pointed a knife at him "Struggle again, twerp and you'll be missing dat other ear."
Gaisen took the threat seriously and simply rested up against the tree.
By the next mornings and following days it was much the same, a silent walk through the woods. They came up to the one sight which Gaisen really didn't want to see again, the River Moss. On its shore was a small paddle boat as the vermin forced them onto it. Jase at first resisted, but 'Bart' angrily picked him up and brought him down onto the vessel. "Royw." He ordered. Gaisen and Jase did as bidded as Figgum sat at the bottom of the rowboat as the group paddled their way across, with Kael relaxing about. When they made it across, they were again back into a marching order.
Days grew shorter for Jase as he looked up in boredom at the sky, and the group camped for the night. Yet, tonight was different. Kael relaxed again, berating Figgum cruelly "Get to work ya layabout, or I'll-"
"Yery tuyrn." 'Bart' lightly kicked him. The fox growled at him in a harsh manner "Ya idiot, yer the better patroller I gotta admit. You patrol, I watch der slaves."
The rat stared down at him and simply smoked his pipe. Kael tried to ignore him and relax again as Jase and Gaisen watched. Kael noticed Figgum had stopped to look at the confusion and the fox quickly came over "Ya daft, I said get to work." Kael's intentions were obvious as he approached, his paws curling into a fist. 'Bart' however pulled on the fox's tunic harshly, sending him flying back towards him. Kael landed on his bum and arose, and immediately went to challenge his companion "You patrol you idiot, I'm der more experienced one here!"
"Bey a degyenerate somewherye else." 'Bart' warned.
"Ya don't got der right to call me dat, weird talker! Yer new to der horde, an' I got seniority!"
"Hiyt me den." 'Bart' ordered. Kael gave him an odd look, but this was vermin tradition. No beast who was senior had been free from vermin challenging them, and captains would beat down those foolish enough to even try. Kael grinned and tried to bring his fist down on 'Bart's' face, only for the rat to expertly catch it. 'Bart', in a cold and calculating way, twisted the fox's arm which made him yelp. "I yield! Fine! I yield, ya blasted cretan!"
'Bart' let go and grunted. Kael took his sword with him as he stormed off to fulfill his duties, and to rant to himself. 'Bart' sat down slowly, as the old black rat lifted his hood and took out his pipe. The three young beasts stared at him curiously, as 'Bart' softly spoke to Figgum.
"I requiyre food, slyavebeast." He ordered. "Tayke yer tyime."
Figgum slowly nodded and went to work. Jase and Gaisen looked at each other, unsure what to make of it as they simply sat staring at him. Gaisen coughed which caught 'Bart's attention somewhat and grunted. He got up and came over and looked down at him and pressed a paw to his head. He nodded and went over silently to his pack, rummaging through it and taking out some kind of herb. He crushed it into some kind of paste and gave it Gaisen with a cup of warm water. "Dryink, you'll feeyl better." He said rather boringly. Gaisen did as ordered as he gulped down the mixture. Jase looked at these odd acts from a beast such as 'Bart' who simply awaited his meal peacefully.
"Why are you doing this." Jase asked again. 'Bart' grumbled and tried to ignore him, but Jase coughed at him to get his attention. 'Bart' answered honestly just make the young squirrel be silent.
"Vyiddles."
"You'll sell us for food, but help us when needed." Jase asked. He was starting to wonder something that he noticed out of the rat who gave a weak glance in his direction, twisted by annoyance. Or perhaps it was discomfort as Jase was starting to guess.
"If you thyink I will free you, beayst, don't. I will droyp you off an-"
"You didn't send that fox away because you wanted to rest." Jase commented. 'Bart' was silent, pausing a bit. Gaisen sniffed, adding onto his friend's comments "I mean, if that is true, thanks. I guess. Half sort of makes up for this." Gaisen nearly smiled but coughed, lifting his bound paws. 'Bart' shook his head and simply spoke an order to them "Reyst. Youy have a loyng walk toymarrow to Ghoyland. Onyce we get thyere, we youy'll have to curyse me froym afar."
"Odd way of putting it." Figgum gave a rare comment. As predicted, 'Bart' did not kick nor talk down him for talking, which the young hedgehog appreciated. Jase caught on "You'll drop us off to toil for my abbey's enemies, and you'll leave?"
"I was proymised a diffyrent life, easy an' chaynged. Bad blooyd in war, noyt a lot of thiyngs to do uder den die. Might go east, thouygh it woyn't matter to you much."
"Different life?"
'Bart' frowned a bit, realizing what he said. He grumbled a bit "Reyst an' eayt yer rations." 'Bart' did not say much for the rest of the night, eating his food slowly and sighing. He looked out into the woods for Kael, and again couldn't help but feel betrayed to see the fox's shadow wasting his time by laying nearby, resting himself. 'Bart' got up and knew he had a long day ahead tomorrow, and he didn't know if he had the patience for one last day with that accursed creature. He looked to Jase and Gaisen going to sleep with Figgum near them. He took out his pipe and smoked, trying to not think about it all that much.
_
The group were close to Gholand, as they came upon a large cliff. It was mid afternoon as the group was tired from their climb up, as 'Bart' looked down the cliff and through the trees. He was definitely in the northern highlands alright, and in the distance were the smokestacks of villages with one in particular being their main target. Gholand laid off only a deep evening away, and the day still felt quite young. 'Bart' sighed at the sight of the distance and trees, but was glad he was nearly there.
Kael angrily dragged the group of bound youngsters behind him and looks about angry. He was tired and he ordered his supposed minion about "'Bart', get a campfire goin! Chop chop, I'm blasted hungry." 'Bart' scoffed and ignored him as he continued to look out across the forests. He would need a nice place down from the cliffs and-
"Are you listenen ya long tailed hornet!?" Kael growled. 'Bart' didn't even turn to answer, simply yelling back "Doy you hayve paws, Kaeyl? You doy it."
Kael folded his paws and tapped his foot as 'Bart' continued to look about. He was a bit confused how to get down from the hills themselves in a timely manner, he didn't want an extra day of climbing, walking, and getting in trouble. He sighed and looked about for any manner of sign to help him, and he shook his head.
Kael grumbled to himself "Blasted beast, layabout he is." Kael saw Jase and Gaisen sitting down, partly accepting their fate already but now Kael was looking at them. He yelled at Gaisen "Well, looks like ya gotta learn to be tame eventually, might even sell much more nicely." Gaisen blinked as Kael came over. Figgum paused as Kael growled at him "Ya stay aside, cause dis beast looks like a strong one. Aren't ya lad? Well, time to get yer paws to work, cause Kael ain't gonna starve cause some workbeasts refuses to work!"
'Bart' looked lightly behind him as Kael ordered the mouse about, he rolled his eyes and returned to his task. Yet, he began to hear things.
"Yes, get yer paws dirty in der. Dats how ya get a fire started, now blow on it. Blow on it! Not like dat! Now look what ya done, putting it out like dat!"
"Stop pestering me then!" Gaisen angrily yelled. A harsh slap was heard as Kael chided him in a threatening tone "Slavebeasts don't speak unless we vermin demand it, ya stupid woodlander. Now get back to bleeden work, or I'll make yer head truly round!"
'Bart' cringed at this, but he sighed. They would all likely have to learn this eventually if they were heading to toil in a vermin fort. Kael was right in a sense, they'd get more food from this. 'Bart' continued to look, but he grew distracted as the voices behind him grew louder and more desperate.
"Ya see this pan, ya cook in it, like dis. Ya slather it up, ya put der dough in it, it ain't dat hard ya stupid mouse."
"Patronizing me won't make me do this faster, ya know!"
There was a harsh gasp as 'Bart' heard a loud thud from the clang of a pan. Gaisen was heard whimpering "Please, I can't do what you ask! Owe!"
"Ya don't wanna get hurt, ya work den ya idiot."
'Bart' partly turned and his eyes began to grow in anger at Kael. The fox stood over Gaisen who was holding his nose, curled up in a position. Jase rushed forward to his friend, standing between him and the pan wielding fox. Kael cringed, but then grew concerned when Figgum joined him. "Ya two wanna get beat, den beatings all around, eh! Alright, so who goes fir-"
'Bart' appeared behind Kael and took the pan from his paw suddenly. Kael barely knew what was going on before 'Bart' pushed him down harshly. Kael looked up in anger at him as he spat "Yer a real softie ya know tha-"
'Bart' took out a hatchet from some hidden part of his black cloak and brought it up to the fox's neck, who silenced himself. 'Bart' angrily spat and raged, his eyes full of anger.
"I shouyld have leyft this hoyrde if I knew yer boyss let deygenerates like you into his waylls. Fooyl me thryice ya did. Ya convincyned me to take up on yer little slayving tour instead of scouyting, ya proymised we be equyal in partners as ya lazily throyw yer taysks onto me, an' noyw you annoy me wit dyis foolery. Enouygh!" 'Bart' brought the hatchet closer to the whimpering fox. "I woyn't let beasts lyike you trouble me myore. Whyen we retuyrn, I geyt seven outta ten of yer viddles or so heylp me. Yur goynna be as siylent as dem slaves if not quieter or dey won't fyind der body."
'Bart' released him and looked to the three. Gaisen got up, sniffing as he nursed his aching nose. He returned his look down at Kael who growled at him as he crawled backwards away from him "Betcha woulda been a good mouse in anuder life, softie fool. If ya didn't wanna be doin dis, why don't ya just go somewhere else den?"
"Yer boyss, yer chieyf I hoped would be diyfferent." 'Bart' admitted.
"He is, and he is a stupid fool for it." Kael also admitted. 'Bart; grumbled and took out his pipe and went towards the cliff, confident Kael would be less trouble. Yet as 'Bart' sat at the near the edge, Jase noticed Kael getting up. 'Bart' no doubt was listening for something when he lifted his ears for the sound of steel being wrung from its sheath, but Kael didn't have his sword.
He had his knife.
Jase and Gaisen watched Kael approach, and realized they could likely escape. Yet, Jase made a fateful move as he yelled out before Kael could strike "'Bart'! Look out!"
'Bart' turned in time as he puffed his smoke and his eyes widened as Kael pounced upon him. The two nearly tumbled off the cliff together and had not both tried in different way to keep themselves on the cliff. 'Bart' held his paws on the knife being brought down on him, as Kael gleefully was inserting it into his shoulder little by little. 'Bart' cried out and punched him and the two brawled.
Kael and 'Bart' wrestled for this knife, with Kael stomping on 'Bart's' paws. The three woodlanders watched, unsure what to do. Jase came forward when he noticed Kael nearly got the upper hand on the elderly black rat, and picked up a stone. Jase threw as hard as he could, as Kael was about to bring down his knife on 'Bart'. The stone bounced off his cheek and he gave pause, giving a scornful look at him. Kael then felt something on his tunic as he looked down to see paws. In a horrible cry, 'Bart' threw the slaver from the cliffs, and Kael screamed as he tumbled below, and with a sickening crunch he was no more.
'Bart' needed time to recover, but apparently so did Jase. He gulped and sat down, as Gaisen came over to him, trying to get him to get back up.
"Jase, now's a time to go!" Gaisen could see his friend thinking about what he had just done, as 'Bart' gave a weird look to the both of them. 'Bart' stood up and came over quickly, fixing up his cloak. Jase stood still, looking up at him as 'Bart' growled at Gaisen "Geyt up an' be reaydy to moyve out."
Gaisen frowned and grew angry himself "You stupid vermin, we saved you!"
'Bart' ignored his angry cry as he quickly took his bow in paw and collected Kael's blade he had abandoned. He put the blade into his belt, liking the saber's weight. Jase and Gaisen soon found their bound paws being tied together against as Gaisen tried to struggle, but a quick and angry shake from 'Bart' got him to stand still. Gaisen was distressed, having been so close to freedom only for it to be snuffed out. Jase was silent, looking up in confusion as 'Bart' grumbled.
"Please, at least thank us and free us." Jase asked. "What we are doing is too important and-"
"Enougyth!" 'Bart' yelled. "Noy more woyrds. We go to Ghoyland, and I'll be doyne with this laynd for good." With a hug of the rope lead, 'Bart' led the silent group on, barely having rested. Gaisen moped as Jase apologized to him.
"I'm-I'm sorry Gaisen, I-"
"You did a good thing, Jase. Just too bad vermin can't see through it." Gaisen said quite cynically. 'Bart' could hear them, but he just led them on, wanting to be done with all this foolery.
_
The group stood on a hill as Jase, Gaisen, and Figgum sat as the evening sun began to fade. Below them was Gholand, the vermin fort was being patrolled by a light garrison of hordebeasts as some vermin commoners and slaves moved in and out of its doors. 'Bart' stood on that hill with them, looking down with sadness upon it. It all seemed so tiresome, and yet he was ready to be done. So it was confusing when he didn't move, enjoying one last look at this place he would have called home, but he knew he couldn't return anytime soon. Or at all.
Gaisen and Figgum looked on at a specific place, frowning as they did. They looked down at their bound paws and then back up towards some slaves being shuffled out towards a forestry. Figgum was weirded out by the ropes around their necks as they toiled under the watchful eye of vermin overseers to gather firewood. Gaisen was already feeling his neck, having seen this cruelty before, wondering if the vermin would choke him with a rope which would make him Markem's newest slavebeast.
Jase watched the two, and couldn't help but get teary eyed. He had brought Gaisen into this, and now all three stood at the edge of their fate. 'Bart' looked on still, his paw on his bow as he smoked his pipe. Jase was curious as to why 'Bart' stood there, this vermin hordebeast who looked on with old and tired eyes at it all. He got up and came over to him, speaking to him once again with that pestering question.
"Is this it?"
"Yes." 'Bart' said. He puffed out smoke and coughed. "Youy three resyted? Be used to thyis sight." 'Bart' sighed and scratched underneath his chin, about to tug on the despondent lead of the three youngsters. Yet instead, Jase pulled his lead to get his attention. Jase looked up at him and asked once again.
"Why do you do this?"
'Bart' looked down and blinked. He thought, since this was likely the last question the squirrel would likely have, and he probably deserved it.
"I havye beeyn doiyng this foyr a long tyime, slavebeayst. Ity's all I kynow. It isny'nt personal, buyt its the only chyance I get to ryest." 'Bart' shrugged, but Jase continued on that line of questioning.
"You pause a lot, 'Bart'. You aren't really all for this, are you?"
"I hayve come to thyis country looyking for someyone, only to fyind them already gyone. I travyle between hyorde to hyorde already, this is nothying new-"
Jase interrupted him "You're tired of it, aren't you."
'Bart' paused and slowly began to nod. "All der betrayal, all der lyies. Oyne after aynuder, I've syeen it all. I wish to ryest, fyind some horde to pyut me head dyown and escape it all. I had hyoped Markem's hyorde was differyent, an' in many ways tis is. Yet I've nyever seen me chief, an fer services ryendered one of his beasts tried to stick me. Tis just ayll more of der syame."
"Help us." Jase asked. 'Bart' looked down and shook his head. "Why wouyld I."
Gaisen and Figgum looked to Jase for that answer, as Jase could not but pity 'Bart' in much the same way he pitied Snot. A broken beast, living in shadows. Bart was no less broken than any of the slaves below in that camp, a beast who just followed orders for his own good, and now any chance he had to earn respect was gone. They would ask where Kael was, they would plot and scheme as they always did. Jase then gave a smile to him, a brightness to his voice.
"Because, what else do you got? We need help, more than others. My pa is out there, 'Bart', and he is a mighty warrior. I want to save my abbey and I need him. More so than most. You don't have to disappear like that, take your food and run. There is just a better way. We have nothing we can trade but a promise that we won't betray you, because it's just not something we will do. You know that much. Help us."
'Bart' paused and his paw trembled, he squinted at him and spoke "Afyter all I hayve done to you?"
Jase only nodded "Free us, and we can go together. We need to find a ruin called Sout'gen, and we know where it is. It is a journey we weren't really prepared for, but we can't do much without help. All we need is a beast to guide us down there."
'Bart' looked back and longingly at Gholand. He paused, uncertain what to do as his paw trembled in weakness. He was right in a sense. He could go down there now, trade their lives away, and disappear back into the mundane nothingness that awaited him. He could maybe even rejoin the horde and bring them along with him, a reward for saving his life. Yet that choice was terrible in his mind still. It would still be him, going back to a horde, and dealing with it all over again. 'Bart' gripped his bow, remembering them. Dusty rooms where beasts plotted against one another for petty vengeance or promotion, the unwanted death of comrades by their own, the cruelty inflicted on others and called soft for standing up to them.
The degenerates, those atrocity mongers who casually talked about torture and murder of others. He hated it, he hated all of it. Yet he could not but whisper, and he softed as he turned to Jase.
'Bart' bent down and took out his hatchet.
And cut Jase's bonds.
Jase smiled with his free paws as Gaisen and Figgum were next. Gaisen quickly came over to Jase, followed by Figgum as Gaisen tried to push Jase to run to freedom, but Jase stood still. 'Bart' continued to longingly look at Gholand still, the one place one could know so well. It was his people down there, but yet a people and horde he was too used to. He looked to Jase, half expecting him to already be gone but yet he still stood there.
"Wey've move ouyt towards der riyver. Youy know der way?"
"Y-yes?" Gaisen said hesitantly, again trying to drag his friend along, but failed. Jase shook his head truthfully. 'Bart' sighed.
"I shyall guide you to it, wooydlander." Jase smiled as the four left through the woods. Not a beast had even noticed nor heard them leave, not knowing how close they came to such an end.