Chapter 44: One Warrior, Two Rebels

"Hurry up! They are coming!"

The small but deep voice of a vole rang out at a small hut in the forests of Mossflower as the vole patriarch was rushing over with a small box of much beloved things which he threw haphazardly into a small wagon his size. He wiped sweat from his exhausted brow as his oldest daughter came bursting onto the scene, quickly getting her father up from his stupor "You okay, pop?"

"Oh, nothing is okay! Now where be your dear mum?" The vole looked around for his missus and got his answer, as luggage was thrown onto the cart over his head "Dat is all of it, deary! Now just need to get out pottery!"

"We got no time for that!" The vole father rushed back into the house, as his beloved missus bickered harshly to him. "We saved your beloved beer you old coot. We are saving me mum's good plate an' glasses as well!" The vole father cared less about that as he gathered up the rest of his family; three tiny triplets who were bouncing on a bed in their parents room, excited by the whole affair. Carrying them in his arms he was rushing out, and shortly behind him was his missus fumbling with her plates. He heard one fall on the ground, but had luckily not shattered.

He was getting his kids onto the wagon, as his older daughter stood oddly still. The vole father came over and sniffed and smelled his much beloved Noonvale Sweet Wine on the air. He grumbled "No, we got no time for that! What did I say about drinking, me lov-" He looked at his daughter and saw fear in her eyes and had no wine bottle in her paws. He came over quickly, and saw something he really did not wish to see.

Standing over the wagon was a huge weasel, one which the vole nearly mistook for a wolverine. His orangish fur was light and partly graying. He had muscle and was abnormally strong looking, something the vole could tell since the weasel didn't wear a shirt at all. Instead, the only thing he seemed to wear was a red and green kilt with weird patterns, and well worn boots. His entire livelihood was on his belt; two battle axes on both sides of his person, with one having stained blood on it. The weasel had seemingly snuck up on them, or at least as far as the vole was concerned, having opened the crate with his beloved alcohol and was now drinking the bottle.

He was drinking all of it, and it struck the voles with awe.

"H-hey!" The vole father yelled. He marched over, taking up a small branch, seeing if he could maybe scare this bandit off. Lone vermin weren't much of a threat, it was the groups he heard that were the troubling part. Yet, he wasn't just going to let all of his things get pilfered by some blasted weasel.

The weasel held up his paw as the vole got close, taking the vole's head in paw and pushed him down. The weasel continued to drink and drink till he was done with it, giving a much satisfied 'awe'. The weasel turned to the vole father who was scurrying away.

"Your things, mine now." He casually said. The vole missus came over horrified and spoke up "Ohhh, this isn't good at all! Enough! Go away!" She hissed at them. The weasel blinked and repeated with more clarity "Good grog is mine now, I have it. Don't need voles."

"Ya, well, ya can't have it!" The vole father yelled back.

"Oh good."

The vole father raised an eyebrow to this and meekly asked "G-good?"

"Then I challenge you for it." The weasel smiled quite gladly. The vole father backed away and quickly yelled out as the weasel reached for his weapons "No no, you can have it! Stuff was too expensive anyway to drink!" The voles were relieved as Tactum just shrugged and took the crate out of their wagon with considerable ease and put it down near him. He smiled widely as he took another bottle. The voles were unsure what to do, were they prisoners? The weasel stared back and looked around at their cart, noticing three small heads poking out at him.

"This Mossflower, right? Mossflower country?" He asked. The vole father shaped himself up and spoke up, trying to distract his attention from him "Well, yes. Yes it is, though not for much longer, vermin. We aren't staying, now if you let us-"

"Is this Mossflower or not?" The weasel repeated, although he genuinely sounded confused. The vole father frowned and tried to reason with him. "Yes, this is Mossflower, but that Markem fellow, he is-"

"What's a Markem? Is it a country?" Tactum looked even more baffled as he blinked. The vole father had to pause, uncertain what to even say.

"No, he is a warlord, an' we are bleeding fleeing from him before he and his vermin put ropes on our necks! Now, if you would please, we are trying to-"

Tactum blankly looked at him and scratched his head. He had think on that one and asked as the vole father pleaded for the weasel to leave them alone. "You flee a warlord who wants to hang you? That is most fair indeed. Most degenerate like!" The weasel sounded a bit angry, putting a fist into his paw. He then grumbled out "How big is the warlord! I must know, is his horde big?"

"Big enough to take over the entire country he is!" The vole missus yelled up. The weasel grunted and then spoke aloud with some excitement "Yes, big horde with evil warlord, that is how Tactum will make his entrance! Make the warlord shrivel I will, kill him. Take his horde. Then I will rule the country! Tactum, you are genius!" The weasel had a wide grin on his face, but could see the voles looking around concerned. The vole daughter spoke up cautiously.

"W-who is Tactum?" She asked.

"Well, your master of course, workbeast." The weasel gleefully smiled. The vole mother growled "Ya don't get to call her dat you underperforming wannabe otter! She ain't no workbeast to any of dis 'Tactum' business."

The weasel pointed to himself "I Tactum. Warrior. Slayer. Killmonger. Wisest Beast in all the northern Highlands, and smartest vermin in all seven gangs I had led! I am unbeatable you see, workbeasts. You work for me now, for I will take this Markem's horde for myself and prevent him from roping your necks! Degenerate!" Tactum raised his fist to the sky. The vole father tried to speak up, but Tactum was already shushing him "No talk, we go to find this Markem. I will slay him and take horde. You are first of my horde."

"No-no we are not!?" The vole father protested.

Tactum patted his head "Silly woodlander, got no choice. Pack things up, follow. Will prove Tactum is strongest beast in both north and south."

The weasel marched off into the woods at first as the baffled voles looked at one another. Their first instinct was to just pack up their things and get out before more odd vermin showed up, but before even making their way to the southern forest, Tactum rushed over and informed them they were going the wrong way. Terrified, the voles reluctantly and slowly follow the weasel towards where the voles had last heard of Markem coming from. An excited grin was on the weasel's face as he marched off with a youthful step, to take on the Great Vermin Band.
_

The Great Vermin band were marching along the trees till they got to the grassy lanes which laid between them, having just spent the night on a forest hill. Markem was marching ahead of his army, his body double not far behind. Markem looked behind him and cringed as he could see the 'copies' of him, 'Dirt', and Scarl. It was Scarl's idea to try to trick rogue Long Patrol snipers with such tricks, as a very nervous and oversized rat chafed in tight fitting armor, a bored looking Mossflower otter gave a scornful stare at 'Dirt', and a nervous looking ferret kept looking around. Markem partly wondered if they also spoke to each other as he returned his attention to the front, leading his army to their first destination.

"How bad ya dink we got it Scarl?" Markem looked to one side to see his friend with his paw scratching his chin. Scarl shook his head. "Scouts come back tellen we got two entire forces out an' about. Some really good viddles are missenen. An' if ya wanted lumber fer the siege of dat der abbey, ya can probably think dat is gone. Lefen is predictable at least, even if damned slippery. Zangan doh."

"Ya know much about him?"

"Not much at all. His tribe are raiders, an dey still hate us fer even asken dem to join us. Dat fox really does downright hate ya."

Markem rolled his eyes with disgust "Degenerate. He'll rue der day he did this, an' I'll make bleeding sure of it. We should send our forces ahead and try an' lock down der villages."

"I advise against it."

"What? Why?" Markem asked. Scarl smiled, partly at the fact he could always get Markem to get his advice, and the rat always tolerated and listened to such advice. "We need to bait em out, dey know dey can't win in pitched battle, dey got to skirmish us to death. Expect ambushes or worse. We need to bait der forces out into a ripe situation, an crush dem enough for them to stop boddering wit our caravans. Zangan is much der same, but we've killed his tribe wit archers before. Just need to avoid getting into a melee wit him."

'Dirt' chimed in, concern in his voice "Sir, leaving those villages unguarded from Zangan just means he'll massacre them again."

Scarl growled "Ya, well, I don't need a slavebeast's pity on dat one, do I 'Dirt'? Of course I know dey'll massacre dem, because dey'll dink we aren't looken. Leave der dinken to us an-"

"He got a point, Scarl." Markem chided him "If we leave der villages alone, we may be just giving em something a bit too ripe. Lefen will just grow his forces amongst dem woodlander folk, an' Zangan will cause me no end o' trouble if I can't even defend me own villages. Woodlander pity or no, we gotta get em into the open in some other way. One which preferably don't leave us holding der ruined bag."

Scarl at first tried to speak up, but he found himself wanting for words. He cringed, and then sighed. "Yer right, an I hate dat. Maybe we can still bait dem, we gotta let dem do der first strike. Dis is a game of location after all."

Markem nodded "Dis time, were killing dat blasted squirrel. I still find in baffelen dis is all over dem nuts. I mean, hecks, it was just an accident!?"

'Dirt' was about to speak up himself, but decided against it. It was just better he kept Markem thinking this was all because of a burned nut farm. Yet, he was thankful when Scarl shook his head and corrected his warlord "Dey do this cause of slaves, like dat one next to ya. No matter how good ya treat dem, dey will always rebel against ya. Lefen uses dat to his advantage, an don't expect him to be all dat forgiving if he wins."

"Ya, well." Markem shaped himself up "If dey don't like to work, den into the Stone Pit dey go den. I made it quite clear an' so did Gutan. Ya dink some of dem would be at least a little grateful ya know? Not like I lash dem or kill der loved ones to work faster. Dats not how dis horde works."

The three continued but grew silent when they saw a figure in the distance, slowly running at them. Markem began to slow, and his horde soon followed. The figure was running till Markem came to a stop. He squinted and could see that the figure was running down the grassy lane. It was orange, and hit was gaining ground.

"Is dat a weasel?" Markem asked Scarl, hoping his better eyes could see. He nodded, but he commented "He's yellen something, but I can't make out what it is. Not one of me scouts fer sure. Maybe one of Parb's?"

"Is he wearing anyding silver?"

"N-nope?" Scarl could see a gleam, as the figure drew closer. Then his eyes widened as he saw the figure approach at alarming speeds as he went into a full sprint. "He's got his weapons out it look like!? Axes!" Scarl yelled. Markem and 'Dirt' took up their blades, but Markem fumbled to get his shield. He grabbed onto it as the vermin division behind him came up close to their warlord, as they could now hear what the weasel was screaming.

"I am Tactum, Warrior of the north! Warrior now of the south! I challenge you Markem and this entire band! I claim it by ancient rite! Challenge me coward! Challenge me degenerate!" He kept repeating this phrase, even as the weasel leaped up into the air much to the vermin's awe and crashed down on the division of vermin as Markem cried out "To arms!"

'Dirt and Markem kept backed into the vermin division as they tried to stop the unstoppable weasel. Markem grew furious as his vermin were nearly felled as the weasel whirled around almost like a dancer, bashing shields and disarming foes left and right. Markem nudged 'Dirt' and the two charged forward to save his own guard who floundered before this challenger. Markem's shield connected with the weasel's axes who flew down on him with a craze and the beast used his feet to kick Markem back, robbing him of his shield.

'Dirt' connected blades with the mad beast who stopped repeating his phrase, but was utterly shocked when the weasel parried him so easily. It was so easy in fact, the weasel grabbed the otter and just threw him right over the heads of a few vermin too terrified to fight him. Markem and Scarl were mortified by this as the weasel approached menacingly. He nearly brought down his axes upon Markem had it not been for a braver soldier tackling him to the side.

Markem recovered, as commotion stirred in the army. Niala, Jarolom, and Wulvog were already pushing past vermin to get to the front, as the vermin looked around wondering if they were being ambushed. Markem recovered, defensively trying to avoid the mad weasel who seemed to know a great deal how to dismantle vermin left and right. Yet, once 'Dirt' recovered, the otter rushed to bring his sword down on the weasel's head only for him to flow to the side and nearly hit Scarl. The weasel storde forward again much to Markem's dismay as he took his place beside 'Dirt' who got the rat partly behind him. The otter was mortified, up until more and more vermin took the hint and began to challenge the weasel.

The weasel slowly was trying to get out of the middle of this horde, but more and more vermin piled on him. The weasel grunted in defeat as more and more vermin pulled him down. Niala and Jarolom and their vermin soon found themselves trying to stop the weasel, and the only last vermin who could truly stop him was Wulvog who push his weight down on this pile till only the weasel's struggling head remained. The weasel looked up and spat.

"Bah! Not good fight! Too many vermin!" He complained. Markem growled and angrily ordered his soldiers about. "Niala! Jarolom! Tie this idiot up, we'l' deal wit him later!"
_

Niala and Jarolom looked behind them as a struggling Tactum, bound in what rope they had, was struggling against Wulvog. The wolverine couldn't tell if he should be impressed or mortified by his prisoner, as the weasel was stupidly strong. The weasel nudged the wolverine's paw from his shoulder in one sudden movement, and Wulvog had to get a grip on him. Niala motioned Murg to help, but she was just shaken off, and then Wulvog called for help from Dakar who was so shaken he was being dragged on the ground just trying to keep the weasel's feet to the ground like some kind of living ball and chain. Dakar and Murg gave up, as the ratess came up to Niala and grumbled.

"Yer prisoner is a pawful, he is!"

"Markem's prisoner." Jarolom reminded her "An I got no clue what to do wit it, but hell on earth is he a fighter." Jarolom could see even a wolverine was little match for this beast, much to Wulvog's own horror who kept trying to keep him still. "If it weren't some beast tryen to challenge Markem, he'd make a decent beast to use."

"If ya could even try to control him." Niala said concerned. Jarolom nodded in agreement and turned back to the front as they marched. Wuvlog grew annoyed with his prisoner, attempting to lift him up to keep him from squirming so much.

Wulvog would immediately come to regret this mistake as the weasel flipped his head backwards, headbutting the wolverine who in surprise dropped him. The weasel broke his bonds with surprising ease, and was already rushing to get a weapon. Jarolom and Niala looked and saw Tactum push a soldier down, grabbing his sword and was already rushing off through the vermin crowd, with Wulvog close behind him. "Get back here you blasted weasel!" Wulvog yelled, but Tactum seemed to be faster.

Markem stood at the front of his army, tired and exhausted from the fight as 'Dirt' touched a light scar on his face. He grumbled and complained to Markem and Scarl in an open manner "I hope Trejan can fix this, hate when it happens to the face you know."

"Aye." Markem nodded in agreement. He stopped and heard vermin yelps as he looked behind him and his eyes widened as Tactum pushed vermin out of the way with a sword in paw. Markem and Tactum faced each other down, but the weasel paused as vermin began to surround him again. The pause continued as Tactum tried to motion to Markem, the rat looking him more angry than baffled.

Tactum frowned "I challenge you. You draw sword. We fight. You die. I take horde." Tactum tried to explain. Markem's jaw dropped partly at such a statement as Wulvog pushed through his own vermin. Markem shook his head "I ain't got time fer dis, Wulvog. Behead dis beast an' lets be done wit it."

Wulvog nodded, coming forward threateningly as Tactum yelled out in his own anger "I challenge you, by ancient rite!"

The vermin stared at Markem next, and then back to Tactum. Markem cringed and shook his head. Jarolom yelled out before Wulvog could come and cut the beast down. "Wulvog! Stop matey!"

Jarolom came up awkwardly with Niala, who was giving her brother a weird look. Jarolom came over to Markem and spoke, looking almost impressed. He whispered to his chief, with Scarl listening on in. "Look boss, I know dis beast be a new one, an' a idiot, but lets just hear em' out."

"Hear em' out on what!?" Markem asked, feeling utterly annoyed. Jarolom smiled "I mean, boss. Just look at yer bodyguard, he beat em' up easy like. He beat ya up. He beat his way through an entire band of yer vermin. I mean, ya don't dink dat is useful? Weren't yer der one sayen we needed to be more diplo-mantic?"

Jarolom's butchering of that word gave a sick taste in Markem's mouth as he scolded him "Yer lucky we know each other so well, Jarolom. Or uderwise i'd be angry." Markem turned to Tactum who looked somewhat angry and ready for battle. Scarl then asked quite loudly "Why ya wanna challenge our chief anyhow, erm, Tactum?"

"Degenerate!" The Weasel seethed, pointing then to himself "Hang beasts by roping their necks. I am stronger beast, and prouder beast! Warrior! I lead horde now."

Markem just blinked, and then spoke up "Roping ne-Ya mean dis?" Markem pointed to 'Dirt's rope collar in which Tactum took somewhat notice of. He looked between him and Markem, having a couple realizations, as he softened and stood his ground. There was an awkward silence as the weasel admitted "Oh. I guess that make sense. I think. Why rope though?"

'Dirt' gave a look to Markem who shook his head "Ya well, dis misunderstanding wastes me time. Ya eder get out of me horde, or we'll kick ya to der dark forest. An furde-"

"Tactum, how would you like to join der Great Vermin Band." Jarolom smiled. Markem gave him a scolding look, but the fox came forward and offered it to him "I mean yer a strong beast, were a strong horde. We got plenty o'viddles an' slavebeasts. We just won against a formidable enemy, der long patrol. Hares ya know-"

"Tactum kills hares too." He the weasel shrugged. He folded his paws, partly now understanding the full gravity of his situation. "I am chief of own horde. I cannot join."

"I mean, how many ya got?" Jarolom asked.

"Oh. Just me, and some voles." Tactum casually pointed to the vole family who was watching all this unfold on the hill, and once discovered, they were attempting their escape. Scarl motioned his vermin to go after them, and within a few minutes they were captured. Markem looked less and less impressed by these antics and spoke up "Tis me decision if I allow ya into dis horde or not, an ya just tried to kill me or a misunderstanden. Jarolom, I won't entertain dis."

"I mean, boss. Just look at him." Jarolom pointed dramatically to the weasel "I mean, tis true, but when isn't yer own or others tryen to killa ya. Luzgot gets off yer kill list every so often, an he got a big ol' book of attempted schemes he tried on ya."

Scarl looked unsure "I mean, he also doesn't seem very bright."

Tactum took offense "I am smartest scholar in all north. I challenge all beasts with title and won! I am also smartest and strongest in all south too! You challenging me?" Tactum gritted his teeth at Scarl who quickly backed away.

"Tactum, how about this." Jarolom approached. "Why don't ya take up a challenge, matety, fair an square. If ya win, ya can take der entire horde, and if ya lose ya-"

"No!" Markem put his foot down "Jarolom, ya blasted idiot, I am not giving up my horde for some tradition ain't none of ya even heard of! I ain't fighting dis beast and dat is-"

Jarolom came up to Markem, softening his voice into a whisper "Relax Markem I got dis. We'll get Wulvog to do it, I mean, call him as a champion an' such. Get him under our leash if ya know what I mean, eh?"

Tactum grunted, "I accept challenge, but only from rat." Jarolom frowned and looked at him. Markem looked about done with all this when Niala suddenly spoke up. "Tactum is it? Ya wanna challenge der chief, well den I challenge ya fer yer loyalties an, erm, yer horde!" A lot of eyes came upon Niala who tapped her halberd to the ground. Jarolom quickly came over, a bit fearful "Niala, dat not be necessary, we were gonna have Wulvog do it an-"

"I can handle it." Niala smiled. Tactum scoffed, but he nodded "Bring me weapons, you first. Show true strength. Then I am after you rat."

Markem looked to Niala who looked at him back. Niala smiled and Markem slowly nodded. Jarolom tried to argue, but the vermin began to make a circle as Niala pushed her brother to the side. "Yer an idiot, dat beast nearly had Markem dead to rights, look, we can still get Wulvog to-"

"Brother, I can do this." Niala took up her halberd and dropped her cloak into Wesk's paws. "Besides, if we can deal wit Wulvog, I can deal wit dis weasel. He's a northerner. So am I." Jarolom continued to frown as Niala got into the circle. One of the beasts came up to Tactum with his dual axes. Niala tapped her halberd to the ground threateningly as a large group gathered around to watch. Jarolom sweated with worry, and Wuvlog looked on amused. Jarolom whispered to Murg, ordering her to get an archer ready just in case things went wrong, something Niala looked around partly at her brother at.

Niala didn't like it, but Tactum was doomed from the start. Markem watched the whole ordeal unfold as Tactum readied himself in a tireless motion. Jarolom was worried, as he wondered why his sister would do such a thing at all. Was it to impress him? Or impress on her own vermin who watched with some awe. Murg looked worried, but was cheering her silently on. Tactum began to circle and Niala did the same as both lowered weapons in a threatening manner. Only the woodlanders were not in awe of this barbarous ritual as the vermin were cheering on Niala, while others cheered on for a good fight.

Tactum and Niala charged at one another, when Niala stopped and raised her paws in surrender.

Tactum paused, giving her a weird look before he would bring his axes down on her, but then he felt Niala sweep his feet. Niala regained her warrior stance and tried to slam her halberd down at Tactum. The weasel felt tricked, as he quickly rolled to the side and spun. Their weapons collided as Niala kept up a defensive pace as Tactum continued to hound her. His hounding was brutal and sudden, one which no beast alive could match. Niala fumbled to block as Tactum tore through a part of her armor, only to leap at her over and over. Niala could barely regain her stance as vermin simply pushed her back into the ring.

Markem was far from amused, worrying now for her as Tactum continued to whirl like a demon with such an expert power. If it wasn't his axes doing work, it was his punches and kicks. The weasel, for being so dumb, was beyond skilled in what he did as a warrior. Niala felt a part of her tail was clipped in the attack, as she looked around to see it partly bleeding. She dove to regain her stance and again was clashing with Tactum. The weasel seemed tireless and eventually connected his axes to her halberd and pulled on it and threw it to the side.

Niala wasn't prepared for that, ducking in time before Tactum claimed her head.

Niala reached for her belt, pulling out a knife as she continued to crawl and duck away from Tactum. The Weasel softened his attack, calling out "Are you done? I am but getting started!" Tactum tried to bring his axes down on her as she dove for her halberd as Niala looked for her halberd. Tactum had nearly cornered her, before she threw her knife at him. Tactum scoffed as he parried the knife to his side, it lightly falling to the ground as Niala dove for her halberd. On the ground, Tactum attempted to ram into her, but she finally got a hit on the weasel's back. The scratch worked well, as the weasel turned to her and looked impressed. Niala looked to the ground as she gained distance and smiled, turning to take up a defensive stance against the weasel.

Tactum returned to his aggressive stance and again attempted to charge at her, to knock her halberd to the side and kill her for good. Yet, Niala did not resist as he parried the halberd to the side, and she had in fact dropped it, and as he raised his axes to bring down on her, Niala revealed the hidden knife she had picked up. The knife was at the weasel's throat and Tactum stopped and looked about. He paused, and frowned. "You cheat."

"I won." Niala huffed.

Tactum continued to frown and laid down his axes. Jarolom looked to almost double over in worry, but now was cheering along with the other vermin at such a violent show. Murg was relieved as she came over and picked up Tactum's axes. Tactum nodded in defeat "Fox stronger in south, stronger beast has Tactum's respect."

"I follow dat rat, an' ya will join us rightly, ya hear?" Niala made sure to confirm his loyalties, something which the weasel finally nodded to.
_

Markem and his horde decided to rest as the rat warlord looked at his pavilion being erected by some of his slaves. Never content to let them work themselves without his help, he joined them in setting up the tent alongside 'Dirt'. One of the mice of this group got to meet the warlord face to face as he and Markem brought a table into the pavilion, with a chair being next. Setting it upon carpeted ground, Markem thanked the slave for his troubles "Thankee. Go tell Gutan dat we won't be here long, so you'll be setting down dis tent soon enough as well."

The slave frowned and nodded before leaving, or he would have left he didn't bump into Zuag.

Zuag is a newer captain who impressed on Markem, a Mossflower rat much like himself and a native from some gang in the deeper south. He was large, lightly brown in fur, and had a greasy look to him. Zuag growled angrily at the mouse, who quickly left the tent as he softened his look to Markem who noticed. "Captain Zod. I'd prefer ya don't intimidate me tent makers."

"Erm, Zuag cap." Zuag noted. Markem looked embarrassed and nodded "Apologies, still don't do names well ya know? Somedin der matter?"

"Yes, its dat weasel dat just tried to kill ya." Zuag curled his paw into a fist and slammed into his other paw in anger "Chief! Dat weasel be a menace an he ain't even a single day into dis here camp before he be botheren me an' all der other beasts! He dares come up to me and be saying 'Dem voles are mine. Give em back.' before he does dis to me!" Markem looked to see where Zuag was pointing to, a nasty darkening bruise. Markem raised an eyebrow to this as Zuag growled "Chief, ya gotta listen, dat weasel needs to get a dirt nap I swears! He tried to kill ya chief. Let me at em' chief, me an me boys. We'll put him down fer good, I swears."

Markem shook his head and exited his tent. He was really starting to not like this new stranger, but then stopped when he saw him approaching. Wulvog was behind him, the two laughing loudly which terrified other vermin, with Niala and Jarolom leading both of them behind. Behind them was those voles that Tactum had 'recruited', not wearing Markem's rope collars.

"Oh. Zuag, der ya are." Jarolom noted. Zuag slightly began to hide behind his chief as Tactum approached, with Wulvog look down utterly impressed at him.

"You killed that many!? In one bout! You lie, weasel!"

"Tactum no lie, Tactum only tell truth. Lie is for stupid beasts anyhow. I picked up tree and threw it at rats, and accidentally knocked beasts right off sea cliff. I mean, not like picked up as much kicked it, and rolled into them. All of them tumble off cliff, but so did squirrel, hare, ferret, and that fox! Awkward it was going there, kinda big ordeal in itself. Had to find new chief after that."

Niala and Jarolom just looked at Tactum who so casually just mentioned he nearly single handedly destroyed an entire horde. On accident. Now, Niala could at least blame gravity to some extent, as the story Tactum told was a mix of half truths. Yet, the weasel fondly remembered his near ascension to warlord himself, only to be foiled when a challenge went so horribly wrong and he knocked down a huge log to kill his foe, only for it to tumble a bunch of beasts off a cliff. The vole patriarch behind him looked sick.

"Getten along I see?" Markem noted. Wulvog turned to Markem and gave a wide smile "Naturally, warlord. This beast is just tellen us all about all his misadventures! Glad you spared him, me and Yulfang love this kind of humor!"

Tactum smiled "Glad big weasel like it. Many stories to tell."

Markem waved this aside "Alright, give back Zuag's slaves an' lets be done wit this."

"Dat is why we came actually." Jarolom nodded "Apologies Zuag. Dis beast is getten used to this manner of order quite slowly."

Zuag growled "Dat beast behind ya needs to be put down! Are none of ya concerned he isn't just goin challenge der chief again or get one of ya killed!?" Zuag was angry, but Markem tried to calm him "Aye, an' some of me own warlords try to kill me as well. I mean, so long as ya keep yer loyalties to me, Tactum. I won't bother ya much. What I want to know is why ya charged me as ya did?"

Tactum shrugged "Kill chief, become chief."

"Dat-Dat isn't how it usually works. Ya need support for dat usually."

"Also heard rope on neck. Thought you degenerate. Degenerate easy to kill, all the time. Honest mistake." Markem just blankly stared at him as Zuag angrily shouted "Give me back me slavebeasts ya lunatic!"

"No." Tactum said quite calmly.

"Why?" Markem had to just ask. Tactum just kinda shrugged, and Markem just did not understand. "Tactum from north, avoiding angry beasts. I come here, look for fight. Find fight, but lost to this fox. Now I am hordebeast to horde once again. Promise not to accidentally roll you over with log off a cliff, chief Markem."

"Umm." Markem shook his head "Thanks? I dink."

Zuag was beside himself "Ya see, Markem! He's crazy! Insane!? He can't just be taken rightful property ya bleeden well know! Whats next, he gonna come around and just steal yer otter right out from under ya!?" Zuag mentioned 'Dirt' who turned a corner after helping set up the pavilion. He came over, wondering why he was called. Markem was about to try to calm his captain till Tactum just casually mentioned "Can, but won't. Tactum does not need otter. Need voles."

"Well ya can't have dem voles eder." Markem insisted. Tactum shrugged and just came over to 'Dirt' and then much to the dismay and awe of the vermin, lifted him right off the ground with ease. 'Dirt' wasn't sure if he should struggle or not, squirming to try to get down as Markem yelled at Tactum "Whacha der heck ya dink yer doin!?"

"See!" Zuag pointed to Tactum. 'Dirt' spoke up next, angry now that he was getting uncomfortable. "I would prefer it if you would let me down!"

"If no voles, I take otter now. Need cook." Tactum smiled.

Markem was beside himself, had this beast been smarter he would have made an impressive foe. Yet, he wondered if Tactum was all there, or if he was just stupid himself. Markem quickly spoke up "Ya can have yer voles, just put me bodyguard down!"

"Okay."

Tactum let go and 'Dirt' tumbled to the ground. He got up and dusted himself off, and quickly began to back away from the weasel. Markem turned to the terrified vole family who couldn't help but look on with a mix of awe and terror at the weasel's unworldy strength. Zuag again reiterated "See, he's barely functional, he'll get ya killed Markem!"

"I mean, he is strong." Markem admitted, partly smiling with new found respect. Niala quickly came over and collected the weasel "I'll find room fer dem vole folk, chief. Don't ya worry, dis won't be happening again!"

"Oh no, do it again!" Wulvog egged on, who had been on the verge of doubling over in laughter. 'Dirt' looked stunned as Zuag growled and ranted "Markem! Please! He's a crazed northern fool, who ya barely know! Don't be a softie on him jus cause he be a strong one. Use yer head, an' punish him! Lest ya forget, he nearly had ya killed!"

"Aye, an' now Zuag he is goin to kill me foes." Markem dismissed the dismayed captain, having now some serious regrets joining this band of clowns. He gripped his head hard in dismay, watching the weasel comfortably slide back into his new role as a hordebeast. Zuag growled and returned to his horde, not at all content with the growing problem.


A weasel rushes into the small hamlet home of a squirrel, panicking as he nearly falls over trying to get inside. He had abandoned his weapon outside, and jumped at the first opportunity to close the door. The weasel looked around the squirrel's home, thankfully empty. He was wide eyed with fear, hearing his companions outside as they yelled and screamed, some taking their last bloodcurdling chokes before he heard thumps onto the ground. The weasel began to tear up the squirrel's home, knocking furniture towards the door and pushing up against it. When he found nothing more, he then used his body to keep the door sealed. He heard a thud on the door, and then another. There was pushing at the door as the weasel let out of a horrible yelp.

"Stay away I tells ya! No beast here!"

Lefen's voice came from the other side, clearly annoyed. "I told you there was still one left."

There was an angry bashing against the door as the vermin was sent nearly flying across the room. The weasel backed away, begging for his life from the outside foe "Ya really don't want me, maties! Ya win! Ya win! Markem be damned! Just don't bleeden kill me!" The bashing on the door stopped, giving the weasel brief hope before one of the hut's windows were hacked upon by a large axe. The squirrel leader of the band of freed slaves hopped right on in, looking down with amusement at the horrified weasel who now tried to sprint, only to end up running into a wall.

Lefen would have laughed heartily if this wasn't the captain of the Great Vermin Band, or at least, a captain of the local garrison.

After a bit of time, Loudaxe had cleared the rubble as Lefen dragged the defeated weasel out by his tail, who upon seeing the large badger looking down with spite at him began to trying to claw his way back inside the safety of the hut. Lefen firmly held the weasel's tail as he dragged him through the village, with a wide grin on his face.

Picking the weasel up by the scruff of his neck, Lefen mockingly pointed him to the weasel's surprise was an ongoing battle coming to its conclusion.

There were three of twenty vermin left who were stumbling over one another, desperately trying to fight off their numerous foes. To the woodlanders with them, it was almost a game as the vermin who had been sent as a garrison were unable to even scratch at any of Lefen's beasts. Overseeing this massacre was Barkat and the Noonvale captain, commanding the woodlanders expertly. They kept their distance, having been rid of the vermin bowbeasts and were now advancing on the remaining enemies. One tried his luck, swiping at a hedgehog only to get a javelin through him for his efforts. Seeing this, and the fact their captain was now held by Lefen, they quickly surrendered as they threw down their weapons. The woodlanders jumped them and quickly began binding them with ropes as the woodlanders celebrated their victory.

"You see that vermin, thats what I am going to do to the rest of that blasted horde of slavers and murderers." Lefen proudly yelled. "To Victory! To Mossflower!" He shouted. The villagers came out, having stayed in their homes to avoid the bloodshed as the weasel captain egged him on, desperate to be on the squirrel's good side. "Aye, ya, yer der winner ya are matey. Ya wouldn't hurt ol' Footprick now would ya?"

Lefen cringed and looked at the vermin, half not believing any decent or indecent beast would name such a creature 'Footprick', but he patted the captured weasel as his surviving hordebeasts were marched through the town. "That entirely depends, weasel."

"O-on what?"

"On what the local beasts you kept in bondage have to say." Lefen smiled, although a bit too wide for the weasel's liking. From out of one of the houses, two older mice came out. The weasel knew them well, they were his group's slaves they had brought to the village under Markem, and now the rebels were removing their rope collars. They looked happy, as both had quite quickly accepted swords from Barkat who convinced them to join their cause.

Lefen motioned them over, watching as his growing host of soldiers and volunteers began to pour on in. The chief of the village came out, shaking Lefen's paw "You do well for all of Mossflower, good squirrel! Thank you, thank you so much!"

Lefen smiled and nodded "Of course, friend. We'll free these woods of Markem's evil in due time!"

The mice came up as Lefen asked them simply "Glad you can join us. Do as you wish to this pathetic coward, not that we need many prisoners as it is. Loudaxe, go tell Barkat I want those prisoners we are taking be firmly disarmed and banished."

The mice looked at the weasel captain, giving a big fake smile. The two mice shook their heads. "You can give that one over to him as well."

One of the mice came forward and punched the weasel in the gut "That's for stealing me from my home in the first place, Footprick." The weasel, despite doubling over in pain, pleaded thankfully to them as Loudaxe took him away "Danks! Danks! Ya won't be seeien me again! I promise on me foot an' me paw and me-" Lefen shook his head and chuckled as he introduced his newest warriors into his rank and file.

Their victory was one of many thus far, five villages that Markem had conquered were now reclaimed, and Markem's own wagons kept his soldiers fed and happy. Lefen walked about the village with Loudaxe, enjoying the sights and sounds of freedom. "Markem must be malding to know his vermin are starving, soon enough Loudaxe, his blasted allies will start turning on him."

"Hopefully, he doesn't come up here." Loudaxe grunted. Lefen scoffed "Hope? I hope you are wrong then! At the rate we've been gathering, we'll have an army bigger than Markems! Soon enough, we won't even need Luzgot's support."

Loudaxe nodded in agreement "Indeed. I suppose it is more likely he'll send Jusbrag vermin up here to deal with us. Markem will be difficult to dismantle with his vermin surrounding him. His full force though I am more concerned about."

Lefen nodded "I suppose, but it's unlikely he'll abandon the siege of Redwall just to find and kill us."

Lefen and Loudaxe stopped when they spotted Gale heading out of the forest towards them. The wild looking hare and his band of warriors were quickly coming towards Lefen and Loudaxe, their faces looking quite grim. Gale had been scouting for Lefen, and the hare had been nothing but help to him. Gale's Wild Hunt personally drove out an entire garrison by themselves, an act which left Barkat staggered. Gale however was frowning as he came up to them and began immediately informing them "Lads, got some bad news. We gotta get out quick like, or we're gonna have a bunch of ninnies on our tails. Saw a really big army heading our way. An I mean big."

Lefen paused and quickly shook himself, this was afterall to be expected "Heading towards us?"

"Along that supply route we'd been raiding." Gale shrugged "Not sure why though. These eastern villages aren't touched by us, are they?"

Lefen raised an eyebrow to this, and tried to think. He had been mostly keeping to the central parts of Mossflower thus far, cause the last thing he wanted was to be held up against the cliffs of the eastern Plateau and be pushed into Markem's territory. Or worse, find himself backed into the river Moss. Gale continued, sounding almost surprised.

"Saw somethen a bit odd as bleeding well. That blasted wolverine we'd fought up north. Saw him casually walking along with them vermin folk. Never thought I'd see that beast again."

Loudaxe's eyes lit up and gripped his axe. The thought of putting down that cannibal certainly made him happy, but also filled him with dread. "You saw any other beasts, like the sea otter he had with him?"

"I think so." Gale shrugged "And a bunch of other unfortunate beasts. Though kinda weird now that you mention it. Saw an otter at the front of that army, one with a rope collar we'd been seeing? Had a green cloak, looked well armed fer a slavebeast. Sword an' al-"

"'Dirt'" Lefen scoffed "Oh, I know of him and his master all too well, that traitorous creature."

Gale lifted an eyebrow as Lefen tried to explain "Markem's bodyguard as far as I understand, a woodlander on the outside but not less an enemy. You can ask Markem's ghost about all that once we bury him. If 'Dirt' is here, no doubt Markem is next to him. Whi-" Lefen nearly forgot and began to nod his head "Which mean Markem is leading this force. How big was this army?"

"Sizable, why?" Gale again asked.

"Where was 'Dirt'? Front of the army?"

"Two of em' actually." Loudaxe and Lefen gave Gale a weird look, as now he was trying to explain "I saw two of em beasts in the front of the army, divided between a row of vermin."

Loudaxe looked to Lefen "He's likely in the middle. If we strike there, we'll be able to kill him downright. I can at least, just need time.
"You can, but not if the rest of the horde comes forward. We need to ambush them, and scatter them utterly. I can lead the main force, get the main army to be distracted, and you and Gale can lead the main strike against Markem. Leave him alive long enough so he knows I was the one to kill him, hmm?"

"Ya two fools talking about ambushing an entire vermin army?" Gale looked to scold them as the two turned their full attention to him, and began to smile and nod. Gale then joined them, smiling and nodding "I love it, let me show ya where they be heading next."
_

Markem walked with his army, leading them with a bit more caution to his step. 'Dirt' had not had his paw lift from his sheathe since they began to march again, with Scarl and Markem having spent the last few hours laying out their plans. Markem's intention seemed simple enough, to patrol the main road and set up a fortified station to protect his logistics route. The plan was long, but douable, he just needed enough slaves to cut down trees to replace his missing lumber. A small fortified position with a sizable garrison would keep both Lefen and Zangan from his main bread and butter, he could always reclaim villages from Lefen but he would likely have to help evacuate villages from the eastern villages. Parb made a rather smart suggestion to him, as Markem pondered baiting the foxes into staying long enough to get them poisoned or even weakened by sabotaging potential loot.

Markem turned to see 'Dirt' scanning the western trees as he was following something. Markem whispered to him "Ya see anything?"

"Not sure actually, sir." 'Dirt' shrugged. "Thought I saw-"

There was angry and blood curtling scream. The vermin all began to look around as Markem and 'Dirt' turned and saw a javelin on the ground, planted into the footpaw of Markem's double. The rat gave a horrified yelp of pain, and the otter body double next to him backed away in terror as he saw a huge creature coming down from the tree line.

Markem's eyes widened as he quickly yelled out.

"Ambush! Ambush! To the Victor the Spoi-" Markem couldn't get his war cry out in time as the woodlanders bashed into the unprepared army. Markem was beside himself as his slew the first of the attackers, parrying them and ramming his sword into some mouse. Markem's division behind him quickly rushed forward, but Markem looked on his horror as his body double would be far less fortunate. Loudaxe came out of the tree line and slammed his axe happily into the rat. Yet, Loudaxe quickly realized something, the rat seemed a bit bigger than he remembered Markem being, and turned to see the vermin quickly surrounding Markem and battling the attackers.

Markem felt a shiver of fear as the badger charged "Brace fer impact! Shields up!"

The battle was all down the line as Niala and Jarolom's forces were hit as a volley of arrows and javilens killed two of Jarolom's marchers next to him, and Niala jumped down in time only to see one of her own vermin get injured. Both quickly retreated to their vermin as the rest of the Band quickly formed ranks as the woodlanders charged forward, and much to Jarolom and Niala's surprise, Lefen was leading from the front.

And he was not alone.

Armed with vermin weapons, and armored in the blue garb of Noonvale blue. The woodlanders charged and rushed the vermin, but the main attack came from behind them as javilens pierced into soft vermin armor. Captain Kyth disengaged, getting into the flank and unleashing his bowbeasts into the forest, their range driving them into cover as Niala and Jarolom kept up the line.

There was then another shout, and a war horn behind them. Niala had hoped this meant reinforcements, but her eyes widened in horror as from out of the forests came a large number of colorfully dressed foxes. Kyth dove into the main vermin force barely in time as his archers were cut down swiftly by the saber wielders, who charged in the vermin flank. Niala yelled at her brother "I'm fighting them! Get Wu-" She could barely yell over, as Jarolom and Wulvog struggled to slay Lefen and his beasts. Niala turned, hoping to find Tactum, but he was gone. She cursed herself mentally and collected Murg from the fighting. She pointed to the foxes flanking them as panic set into the main band.

Markem was not in a good place either.

The badger cut through his guards quite easily, as brave vermin tried to charge at him with spears, only for Loudaxe to just cut them away. Yet, the worse came from a group of mad hares who charged with war paint and kilts and wielding large weapons, cutting their way to the core of the guard where Markem was. Gale leaped, trying to pierce Markem down only for his blade to connect with 'Dirt's'. Gale growled at him "Stupid beast, were tryen to free ya."

'Dirt' grunted and dueled the hare with Markem soon joining to help him. Gale parried their blades, but was overwhelmed as both rat and otter worked quite well. Yet, both were trying to keep their distance as Loudaxe was charging on in. Markem and 'Dirt' kept backing away, hoping that the main vermin force would join them soon, but they bumped into a wall of Markem's own guards, yelling and screaming behind him.

"Killz zem all! Forz Gloryz and Golzd!" Markem's face darkened as he turned to see the fox chief and his tribe charging down the hill at them. Loudaxe paused, as the foxes did more than just slam into Markem's vermin, they were slamming into their encirclement. The foxes cut down woodlanders left and right, only kept at bay by skirmishers who kept up a line of fire on Zangan and his captains.

This was noticed by Lefen, commanding his force, giving a terrified and angry look. There was no way in hell itself that Zangan was here, as he quickly issued new orders "The band is dead, focus on the foxes!"

He was partly right, the forces Markem had come with were squeezed between two foe, and the foxes were killing more than their fair share. The woodlanders began to back away, their distraction was good enough, as Lefen expected Loudaxe to have finally killed Markem. The squirrel watched gleefully as javelin went over the heads of Niala and Jarolom, and landed on the charging foxes about to reinforce their comrades.

Niala thought quickly and rushed to Kyth "We need to push forward! Get space for our archers in the middle!" Kyth nodded and rejoined his vermin, pushing back against the foxes harshly and just enough for archers to fill the middle gap. Jarolom and Wulvog had chased Lefen's soldiers far enough as Markem's vermin unleashed a volley on Zangan and Lefen. Niala looked around as the vermin regained their foot, but then was horrified to look to the front where the real battle was.

And Tactum was leading, rushing to aid.

Markem and 'Dirt' were surrounded, as the rat hid behind his shield with his remaining guard, their line broken into by Lefen's rebels and Zangan's tribebeasts. 'Dirt' pulled Markem down in time from a fox's saber, only for Markem to pull on 'Dirt's tail to get him away from a spear. Markem commanded his force to regain control of the gap and form a shield wall, watching as his main force converged to aid his own. Gale and Loudaxe did not retreat as much get distracted by an army of foxes trying to murder them, a fact which annoyed the badger mostly. Markem heard a beast behind him, and both he and 'Dirt' turned to see a smiling Zangan with his scimitar raised. Yet, before the fox could strike at them, an angry Lefen and reinforcements appeared, shouting over his forces "This is for Rufo! For Mossflower!" Markem had no clue what a 'Rufo' was, but he was baffled to see Zangan get bashed into by a horde of woodlanders he was soon having to cut down. Lefen had not even noticed him as he went past Markem, his angry eyes set on Zangan.

Markem yelled out "We need to get back to der main army! Fight to em!" What remained of Markem's guard tried to regroup, but there weren't many left. The main army was behind them, fighting their way desperately to their chief. Loudaxe was soon upon Markem, and was about to cause him trouble before his axe clang against metal. Loudaxe looked down to see an axe in his way, saving Markem from having to duck out of the way. Loudaxe looked down to see a weasel staring up at him, who then attempted to use his other axe to swipe at his legs.

Tactum missed as Loudaxe attempted to regain ground, only for him to get a nasty claw to the back from Wuvlog who tried to bring his falchion into the badger's neck. The two huge beasts brawled as Tactum killed enemies left and right, as Markem smiled to see a path cut for him and his vermin. Markem attempted to charge forward, but a fox quickly got in his way.

Markem looked on in terror as he saw a fox, covered to the brim with skulls of his victims which clattered on his person. The fox gave a wide grin and took up his axe, and tried to slash at the rat's head. Markem nearly slain right then and there had not Tactum kicked the fox just enough. The beast arose, his paws on the grip of a hatchet as he swung at his new foe, connecting to Tactum's axes and the two dueled. Tactum commanded Markem thusly "Go. My kill."

The fox growled "Yerz head willz look goodz on me kneezcap!" Markem took his chance, running before the gap closed. As Markem's forces closed the distance, it was then the fox fighting Tactum yelled out "Run! We have'z enough kill'z!" Lefen was seemingly in a similar mood, his own woodlanders retreating from losses taken. The fox disengaged, half expecting the weasel to pursue, but he didn't. Gale was the last to leave that battle, his eyes squinting in true fury at Tactum who was now behind enemy lines. He joined Lefen and disappeared after covering their escape.

There was a pause after the battle as Niala and Jarolom came forward to Markem who was coughing and spitting out some blood.

"Camp here an' fortify our position, de'll be back."

Markem turned to Tactum who seemingly was oblivious as he rejoined Niala. Markem gave a thankful nod to him, which was not returned. "Chief safe. Be safer."

Markem couldn't argue with that kind of logic and simply nodded in agreement.
_

The horde sat on a field between two small hills with forests on each side, living on the supply line itself. Markem's captains had to direct a lot of the traffic of the supply lines to form up nearby, which wasn't all that great either. Markem was walking amongst his camp, as his slaves dug trenches around it. 'Dirt' looked into the forest with a paranoia, nursing his paw which sustained a nasty gash. Markem was joined by Scarl who walked with him, who was ranting and raving.

"Dey nearly had ya! Dis is twice ya cheat death ya know. Ya can't keep doin it forever, Markem!"

"Aye, but now we know fer next time dat-"

"Der won't be a next time, I'll be blasted sure of it." Markem frowned as his friend grew more and more frustrated, nearly tearing at his fur. 'Dirt' looked quite exhausted as he walked with Markem, his paw partly shaking as he gripped the handle of his sword. He looked to the woods and froze, and Markem froze with him. There was some rustling in the bushes, but only a small bird came out and flew off. The two looked relieved as Scarl grumbled.

"Lefen retreated, but hadn't killed a good amount of his beasts. Nearly had us all had not Zangan showed up. I'd thank him if he weren't attacken us as well."

Markem shook his head "Barlov was wit him, saw him an' his little collection o' skulls.

Barlov was known to Scarl somewhat, a captain of Zangan and the chief's second in command. He was no wrangler of spies, the foxes of Zangan's tribe hated such things. Yet, Barlov was known. He had a habit of attacking villages in one place while Zangan fought Markem in goose chases all around north east Mossflower.

"He likely had scout trailing us, saw us far before we saw him. Dey know where we go, so we can't really track em' down."

"Its Lefen I am growing more worried about." Markem and Scarl found their way towards the supply wagons, which needed a camp for itself. "Six carts are missing, six too many. Lefen left only to go out an' destroy out food carts, an der piling us with out own beasts. He's getten smarter, dat skirmish was just a lucky attempt at tryen to get us. We can't fight dis, not wit dis lot." Markem growled to himself "Gotta get'em out in the open."

"Baiting him is pointless, Markem." A voice came from behind as the two looked to see Parb had followed them. Parb was untouched, having stayed far back from the fighting as she sipped from her favorite gobblet. She looked terribly bored, and Markem could tell much to his growing anger "I'd like to see ya come up wit somethen."

"Tie slaves to stakes and force him to act, killing them worked before, why not now?" Parb looked directly at Scarl as he said this, and Markem grunted. He shook his head "We don't do dat here, Parb."

"You did at Moss Field, is Lefen so special. Chief." Parb couldn't help but give a confident grin, but then sighed. "Lets be done with this droll incursion. This will end as my own pa did it. We kept drowning slaves till we got to more sentimental ones, and the woodlanders will appear. They can't stand it, and won't stand for it."

Markem shook his head in disgust "Dem rope collars around me slaves necks are much a promise dey are protected so long as dey work fer me. I won't betray dat simply because I need to deal wit Leffen. I just need to draw him out anuder way."

Markem continued to walk as Parb joined this motley crew. She offered her advice, rolling her eyes at Markem's naive softness. "They are slaves, Markem. Matters little if they live or perish, and if that purpose is to draw those rebels out, so be it."

"Parb got a point." Scarl mentioned, but Markem scowled at him "No means no ya two."

"Oh, not to say Parb's plan be much better." Scarl quickly corrected himself, noting 'Dirt's' dark look towards him. Scarl scoffed "Parb, dis horde's slaves are kept tame so long as dey dink we are winning an' we won't do worse to dem as other vermin warlords do. Tis a hard system, but Gutan had built dis up for der seasons. Ya want to kill slaves? Ask Gutan first, an' der answer to that question is just 'no'. However yer right, we can't get em out in der open like the Long Patrol at Moss Field. They know we are already at Redwall, an' we need a way to draw dem folk out into the open."

"Well, I'm a bit stuped, but we-" Markem stopped at the entrance of his camp looking out and seeing beasts return. Niala and Jarolom were in a hurried pace, alongside their vermin. Markem had sent them to protect what supply caravans that were already on the road, but from the blood they were drenched in, that task did not seemingly go well.

"I told ya! I told ya that hedgehog was goin to backstab us!"

"Ya can complain later! Dey behind us!?" Jarolom and Niala looked behind, and only saw Wulvog and Tactum, covered in bruises and cuts. Tactum was picking at one cut almost curiously.

The two came up to their superiors as Jarolom caught his breath, informing them what had happened "Sorry Markem, but dem beasts are getten more clever. Found a raided supply wagon an' its carrier, but it was really just one of Lefen's goons! Dem hares were on us alright, nearly had us fer sure!"

Markem blinked and looked at Tactum who simply cricked his back "Hare angry. Very angry."

Markem lifted an eyebrow as Niala explained "We know dem hares following Lefen, chief. Fought em' in der north. Tactum, ummm-"

"Kept screaming at him in particular. Yulfang can yell you more." Wuvlog interrupted. There was a silence before markem cut this awkwardness short. "How bad is it, Jarolom?"

"Burned out our ammo for our skirmishers and stole our viddles, killing any guards wit dem as well. Lefen is just camping on der path now, just waiting fer us. Saw dem hares watching us, go der jump on dem only once before we were soon running from dem. Our, uh, friend here also has a history wit dat one."

All eyes came on Tactum who could only shrug. "Did not think he came down here."

Scarl became less interested in this and growled "What i want to know is how Lefen got dem Noonvale uniforms, an' dem weapons! Those were vermin weapons I saw, an' vermin javelins. No doubt Lefen got a patron, which makes him more damned dangerous. If we engage him, it gotta be brutal an' sud-" Scarl stopped and thought.

"Ya dinken?" Jarolom partly joked, but Scarl held up his paw, begging for silence. "Markem, dem woodlanders. Dey were quite quick to fight Zangan, right?"

"Saw Lefen himself fighten him, why?"

Scarl held up his paw to 'Dirt' and motioned him. Scarl looked annoyed when he didn't get what he wanted, which 'Dirt' had no clue what he wanted. Scarl then reached for 'Dirt's' sword and pulled it out, drawing a crude map into the ground. He passed the sword back to a now furious 'Dirt' who angrily put his sword back into its sheath. "Look here, were here in der middle right? Lefen over on our left, an' Zangan on der right. Zangan is licken his wounds, an he knows he won't do well raiden if his beasts be damaged as dey are, so he'll bide his time. Unless we ripen it for him."

"Abandon the garrison to draw a fox out? Won't he see through that?"

"Yes, but not if we do it wit all of dem." Markem shook his head "I made dem tributaries, Scarl. I really don't want to be getten em' killed. An what does this have to do wit dealing with Lefen?"

Parb was growing more curious, looking down as Scarl drew a line between east and west. "Lefen will come to der rescue, an' dey'll start to fight one another. Dey dink we'll just sit still to lick out wounds, an' while dey fight we will burst onto der scene an put em' down. Ya wanted yer pitched battle, Markem, here it is. We'll need to do dis against uder villages too. Draw out Zangan's captain to not get suspicious."

"An leave me villagers to rot?" Markem sounded frustrated, as if the point was getting across to him. Scarl smiled, and began to lay out the rest of his plan to the gathered forces.


"His name is Tactum, an' he be the beast I've been hunting." Gale explained.

Loudaxe and Lefen listened as the badger leaned forward for a Noonvale soldier to help bandage his back. Lefen was in his war camp, their hidden tents and piles of supplies all around him as Gale recounted his tale, wiping blood from his blade with an increasing spite. The hare gritted his teeth, as if the very name itself was disgusting for him to utter.

"He be a weasel, a warrior from some blasted tribe me clan used to fight. He an' his clan used to raid us all the bleeden time, yelping and wailing as they killed our own or kidnapped them to sell to those blasted warlords. Me own pa moved us to an island to try to escape it, but Tactum somehow found us an' challenge me pa and brothers, killing them an' such. Me and the clan now have hunted him, tryen our damned best to put that worthless murderer out of all beasts misery!"

"He's very strong." Loudaxe grunted. Gale looked up at him and nodded "And as dumb as a brick. He can easily lift an' of me beasts and throw them off cliffs, which he has. He likes to kill and combat beasts all the time, an' murdered a fair share of poor fools who try to lord over him. Me clan came across a gruesome sight, killed an entire horde by hurling an entire bleeding tree at them! Right off a cliff and into the sea. Vermin an' their slaves alike."

Lefen shivered at this, shaking his head.

"When we encounter him again, hopefully we can put him into the ground together." Loudaxe grunted, as Gale noted himself "Only if ya can stop getting stopped by dat blasted wolverine."

Barkat rushed to the group, nearly tripping over as he spoke up, with a horrible look to him. Lefen and the others stood as Barkat yelled up "Lefen! Our scouts are back from the east, there is horrible news!"

Lefen came over, trying to calm his friend as Barkat shook "It's Markem, he's abandoning the villages to the east! We saw him, bringing his vermin to his camp. They are abandoning the villages! Those blasted, cruel beasts!" Lefen was a little taken aback. This wasn't normal for Markem, and something at the back of his mind gnawed at him. That rat had always been proud of taming the people of Mossflower by protecting them against other vermin. Loudaxe growled loudly "Knew it. Of course that blasted warlord is leaving those villages to Zangan and his raiders."

Lefen walked, talking a bit depressed "We can't leave to protect them either, can we? We've been hitting markem hard as it is. If we abandon our posts here, he'll likely reclaim the villages we had just liberated, and seasons only know what he will do to them."

Gale growled and yelled up "Ya got worms in ya ears? That fox is already likely slaughtering goodbeasts as we speak! Damn Markem den, he can lounge in his little camp while we defend what he cannot I say!"

Barkat spoke up, trying to be more reasonable "Lefen is right, Gale. If we abandon our posts here, tis just risky. Markem could be using this as an opportunity to sweep the villages we took if he notices. He is fighting on two fronts after all." Lefen continued to think, but all he could see was that poor otter's face. Lefen curled his paws into fists. Damn and curse that rat.

Lefen turned to his friends and companions and began to bark orders. "Barkat, gather the skirmishers, tell our allies to pack the camp. Gale, can you lead us through Markem's logistical line?"

Gale nodded. Lefen then stamped his foot "Damn that rat! I won't let our people die to that vile beast! Vermin! Zangan will pay dearly for his many murders and humiliations. With blood if need be." Lefen came to stand on a log, raising his weapon to a growing crowd of his beasts "Beasts of Mossflower, too long have those vile vermin enslaved and butchered us! Too long since we had peace in our lands, and too long have we ignored and tolerated the vermin yoke! These defilers of our woods abandon those who surrender to their protection to beasts like Zangan! I saw what evil that fox commits, and I know all too well what he has planned for all of us! Now Markem, that hated tyrant, flees before him and leaves those he subjected to fend for themselves! Come with me, and we'll turn back the tide of those barbarian butchers! For Mossflower! For Freedom!"

There was a thunderous roar "For Freedom!" amongst the group. The woodlanders gathered their weapons and strapped on armor, kicking down their tents and structures as quickly as they could. Barkat was frowning as Lefen got off of the log. Barkat seemed worried "Lefen, what if Markem takes this side of the forest?"

"Then we will liberate it again." Lefen sighed "Markem, as vile of a beast he is, isn't a butcher like Zangan. I saw that fox run through his own vermin just to butcher some poor otter. When I am done with that fox, he'll be begging to know who Rufo was. Then, I will free his kin from Gholand. Yet Zangan must come first."

Barkat had a bad feeling as the rebels began to move out, looking to Lefen to follow. The group began to head towards eastern Mossflower, with Barkat growing more and more worried. "Markem isn't some fool beast, we know this Lefen. Zangan hasn't been found by him in all these seasons, how do we suspect to find him?"

"Vermin make mistakes, they always do." Lefen said quite confidently "They'll stay too long to pillage."

"What benefit is there?" Barkat asked. Lefen gave an odd look to his friend who sighed, and rephrased what he meant "Lefen, what I mean is, if we're going off to eastern Mossflower, we are going to be in a bad spot!"

"It's not fully just to do the right thing, Barkat." Lefen tried to comfort his captain "I got a plan. If we can get those villages under our control, we can convince the others that Markem isn't going to fend for them. We can recruit from their number, no doubt more than enough will join our forces if-if-"

Lefen stopped as he neared a field, looking up into the sky. He squinted and saw rising smoke from the eastern forests, blooming as one by one tiny spurts of gray smoke arose. These were not camp fires, and all the woodlanders knew it. They were a distance away, far too close for comfort.

The group was in a morbid awe, they could count three villages were now likely razed. Zangan had certainly moved faster than they anticipated as Loudaxe growled "There is a village not far from here. Redbark it's called. No doubt it will be hit next."

Lefen nodded as his army pulled towards at a brisk pace, heading out as quickly as they could before yet another Mossflower hamlet was wiped away from their maps.
_

Lefen's small army waited for a caravan moving along the pathway to Markem's camp to get out of distance. Lefen looked at it angrily, as tied to the back of that wagon were two woodlanders bound in ropes, their necks adorned with a rope collar. They had dejected faces, and it made Lefen furious that he could do little, as Barakt held a paw to his friend's chest. Lefen grunted and arose from the bushes once they had passed and his army quickly crossed the lanes and lighter forests, heading into the thicker foliage of eastern Mossflower. The rebel leader and his host was sizable, the Noonvale volunteers beside him were quick to form rank and lead on a forced march through the woods towards their best guess.

Lefen followed a small dirt trail which Gale was quick to show him, which led to Redbark. Lefen had hoped to get there in time and rescue its inhabitants, as the group rushed and found the village. It was a fairly small farming community, full of vegetable gardens with a large barren hill cresting its northeast side. Lefen spied the village, seeing it only had a few small huts, and a large hut in the farther distance.

"Look, lad." Gale shook Lefen, pointing up the hill. Lefen was somewhat taken aback as if on time, Zangan himself was cresting down the hill towards the village at a brisk pace. Lefen acted swiftly, yelling out to his beasts "They mean to burn the village. Skirmishers, go forward! Gale. Loudaxe, take a force and flank them if you can!"

Zangan himself seemed somewhat confused, slowing in pace as he saw a bunch of woodlanders rush out of the forest and towards the village. He backed away, and quickly rejoined a growing forces of tribal foxes drawing their weapons and marching down the hill. Zangan came up to another fox, a bit worried as his shook to take up his sword.

"You'lz be fine'z brudder." Zangan clapped Stukan on the back. The younger fox warrior wasn't really relieved as he kept close to Zangan. Zangan turned to another, winking at her as Zangan's favorite wife came forward with a number of other foxesses. The woodlander skirmishers began to go forward with bow and javelin, only to find that Zagala and her bowbeasts raised their bows and fired a volley into them first.

Lefen was taken aback. This was abnormal, or perhaps Zangan was finally learning. Arrows pierced his beasts who attempted to send a volley back uphill, but were hit swiftly with yet another volley. Zangan went into a full sprint, his scimitar in paw a he charged down the hill with his tribe. War cries were shouted between the two, as a clash quickly set in.

As this happened, Loudaxe and Gale bursted from a treeline near the hill, charging forward towards Zangan's rear. His charge was set against Zagala who in a wide eyed terror began to sprint away with her bowbeasts, taing a position nearby to fire on the badger and the hares. A few were downed, but Gale and Loudaxe crashed into the terrified vermin quickly, and whatever advantage Zagala had hoped to have was quickly demolished by Loudaxe's axe. As Loudaxe was smiling at his partial victory, he began to frown as Zangan and his horde were cutting their way through their forces like butter, pushing Lefen and the woodlanders all the way back to the village itself.

Loudaxe charged in, but Gale stood back for a moment, looking around and noticing something strange. He tried to call out "Wait! Stripe dog! Wait!"

Loudaxe didn't hear, as he and his forces crashed into the flank of Zangan's rear. The foxes, who had up to this point had killed a number of Lefen's beasts, now found themselves being trapped in by them. Zangan regrouped near some homes, as fighting went in all around them.

Lefen threw javelin after javelin at the fox, as Zangan and his brother expertly chopped at Lefen's attempts to skewer him. The squirrel climbed on the houses to get a better vantage point, but it did little. Zangan grew more defensive as Loudaxe cleared street by street, only to look up and see Gale only now joining the fight.

"Where the hell have you been!?" Loudaxe demanded to know.

Gale only asked "Where de hell are the villagers!?"

Loudaxe looked around, and now began to just notice. It sure was awfully quiet as the group battled. Lefen's forces were reinforced as they began to be led by the Noonvale captain around the main host to entrap the foxes within from all sides, thinning their forces. Lefen's skirmishers were decimated, but his rebel friends were now piling in the streets as the tribal foxes cut them down with ease. Yet despite this, Zangan and his brother fought for their lives, only to be saved by Zagala who sniped at the woodlanders from the tree line, having returned to the fight swiftly.

Lefen yelled at Zangan, another javelin nearly hitting the fox "You'll pay for the villages you burned, vermin!"

Zangan gave him an odd look. Stukan yelled back "We'z have burnez'd nutting!"

Lefen stopped, he didn't believe them one bit, but the two foxes softened in tone as Loudaxe and Gale came forward. They were ready to slay the two quickly, only to hear a war horn. The noonvale volunteers turned to see more foxes running out of the woods, confused as they ran into Woodlanders attacking them. Barlov was running, quickly regrouping and leading a charge into the village to save the trapped tribe.

Loudaxe didn't wish to give them the opportunity as he raised his axe to bring down on the prepared and jubilant Zangan, ready of face the battle of his life.

Then a door near them opened, the door to a small hut.

And out came Wuvlog whom Loudaxe gave a wide eyed stare to. Lefen's jaw dropped as the wolverine took up his own weapon with equal surprise, and was joined by his own small horde. The wolverine gave a dark grin, slashing at the badger who quickly backed away.

Vermin from all over the village burst forth from the huts, killing both woodlander and fox alike. Lefen and his forces were horrified as Markem's horde joined their fray. Zangan happily yelped "Not'z this z'time, squirrel!" Zangan and Stukan planned to regroup with Barlov, happy at first to see him. Yet, Zangan had a realization as more of his warrior poured on out from the trees, and quickly turned into a larger group of other vermin. One of the nomads attempted to run at full sprint, abandoning his weapon as an arrow pierced him and he fell. Niala stepped out, taking up her arrow and was followed by other vermin.

Markem appeared with 'Dirt' on the Horizon, taking up his sword and sounding forth his battle cry.

"To the victor, the spoils!" Followed by a loud number of beasts coming out from the tree line, following their chief into battle.

Gale was about to call out to Lefen for retreat, as a vermin door burst open near him. He readied himself, but no beast alive was ready for Tactum coming out of that house, giving a wide yawn before casually grinning with a dumb, confident smile at Gale who could only glower in anger at his hated foe.
_

Scarl couldn't help himself as he watched from a distance as the battle unfolded, a big smile across his smug face. His plan had worked perfectly. Markem's vermin had certainly marched out from the villages, only to be replaced with newer soldiers who hid in wait inside the hamlets. Only a few were evacuated, as he and Markem awaited in the home of a fearful mouse family they had held up in. Like clockwork, the foxes came to attack one of the three places they expected to bait them into. It all came all so well together once the foxes had predictably began to burn away some of the empty villages Markem would evacuate, drawing the ire and attention of the rebels. Now fully in the open, having exhausted themselves killing one another, Scarl could not help but give a joyous "Yes!" As he watched the battle begin to unfold.

Lefen was shocked as he stopped his attack on Zangan only to find Markem and his vermin chasing Barlov. He would had been partly relieved by Markem's divided and smaller force, but a vermin blaring a war horn meant reinforcements were on the way. Lefen hated it, but he needed Zangan to help him fend off Markem. That hope was dashed when Zangan blurted out, in a gleeful war cry.

"Z'er Softie show'z himself! Kill'z dem all! Woodlander'z! Vermin'z! All!" Zangan lifted his weapon and began to jump at the first vermin he saw and the battle continued. Lefen called down to Loudaxe in haste "Loudaxe! We need to-"

Loudaxe wasn't listening, He was trying to attack the wolverine who stepped to the side and slashed at him. Loudaxe growled, angrily trying to chop at his foe, but it did little except entice the mad creature more.

"Yulfang! This one is still on the menu! Oh joy!" The wolverine screeched and went into a full attack. Lefen looked for Gale next, hoping he was in a better situation to listen, only to find the hare fighting for his life with his fellow hares as Tactum dueled them one by one with perfect ease. One hare flew partly into the air and landed dead on the ground with a single swing, as Gale angrily swiped at the northern weasel.

Barlov was followed closely by Markem as the rat charged with his shield up at him, but what Markem did not suspect was the fox to suddenly wheel around and charge at his vermin. The movement was swift, as the fox cut down Markem's vermin left and right as he and Markem dueled. 'Dirt' was able to break up the fight in Markem's favor once he was able to catch up, as Barlov simply returned to retreating. Markem halted his vermin once he realized what Barlov intended to do, baiting him and slowing him.

"Fire anuder volley!" He ordered. Niala came up with other bowbeasts, firing at Barlov and his foxes. Lightly armored and with little in term of shields, the arrows pierced and dismantled Barlov's warriors as the fox retreated and fought his way into the village. Markem looked around and yelled out "Niala! Kyth! Purge dat village of dem cretans! Jarolom! Turbas! Wit me! Surround dem, an drive dem off!"

Niala charged into the village with Kyth not too far behind, the ferret waving his sword in the air as Niala took up her halberd. Niala had been in the heat of the moment, but she turned to find much to her dismay that her vermin were scattered, with nearly half mistaking the order and following Markem. Niala frowned, slowing her advance, not really realizing as she was getting into the village and running into Gale and his hares attempting to retreat from Tactum.

Niala and her vermin fought Gale, the hare going on the defensive as he disengaged and dodged out of the way as he rushed around the village with Tactum giving chase. Niala met with Tactum in the middle as Gale rebounded towards other woodlanders who quickly took cover and began fortifying one section of the village from attack. Niala noticed Barlov running to Zangan who was motioning his foxes to leave before they were surrounded, having already noticed Markem and Jarolom putting down the rebels who had thinly separated their forces to surround the village themselves. These forces trickled in far too slowly for Markem to take seriously, and many knew it as most quickly either fled or surrendered as soon as they got into battle.

Niala had an idea, a dumb one perhaps, but she grunted and took up her halberd. She turned to Murg and shouted "With me! Were following dem tribals! Kill em!"

Tactum turned to Niala as she charged at Zangan's group, fending off the vermin advance. They felt relieved at first only seeing Niala's group charging at them, with Wulvog and Loudaxe still wrestling in the village itself. Niala had a plan as she then ordered "Hold!"

Then none of her vermin holded as she yelled again. "Wait! Hold!"

Murg listened and looked at her confused as Niala was getting out her bow. She wanted to form a wall of vermin soldiers while bowbeasts unleashed a volley into the lumped up tribals. The vermin pursued headlong into the foxes, and a melee began. Niala growled and quickly joined in, but fearing she would be losing far too much. Zangan and Stukan relished such a challenge, fighting Murg who was cornered as some of her vermin were cut down. Murg would have been killed had not Tactum rushed at them, dueling the confused and dismaying foxes who struggled against the weasel's aggressive dance of axes. Niala felt wonderfully relieved as Tactum turned the battle, and Kyth came up from behind with an angry voice.

"Der hell ya doin, Niala! Hells! Charge!" Kyth's warbeasts charged into the foxes as well, as Zangan roared up from the back with his own orders "Retreat!"

The battle was fierce, as Barlov turned once again in a swift motion. His target was now Kyth whom he quickly pounced upon. Niala turned in time and knocked the fox over before he could strike down, but before Barlov could retreat with his tribe, Tactum tripped him up. Barlov arose angrily, and looked to Tactum whom he snarled at. Tactum only blankly looked at him and blinked. Niala thrusted her halberd into the fox whom he dodged, as Tactum kept pace with him. Barlov kept trying to retreat, but Tactum grabbed him by his tunic and threw him further into the village. Barlov attempted to get away, terrified of the two, eventually getting distance as he made a desperate escape to go to the woodlanders.

Niala would not give him that chance, dropping her Halberd to get out her bow, firing a shot into him. Barlov fell over, but not dead as he gripped his back. His head went face into the ground. He couldn't move much, but he could see. What he saw were two fighting huge beasts, a badger and wolverine, trying to get distance.

Loudaxe slammed against a building, stepping to the side where he then heard a nasty crunch. He looked down a bit shocked, but his greater concern was the wolverine in front of them and continued to duel.
_

Lefen hopped over buildings as the battle continued. Niala and Kyth were chasing down Zangan as Markem was dismantling all of Lefen's hard work piece by piece. The woodlander was dismayed, but he quickly blurted out orders as Barkat and Gale licked their wounds "We need to get out of here. We can still get back east, but we need to run."

The group agreed quickly, as Lefen shouted to his other captains "Grab the rest before Markem kills them all! We can't be surrounded, fight eastward!"

They did just that, as Lefen led the charge out of the village, fighting his way through Markem's vermin as they rounded up survivors and continued to flee. Hope was still on Lefen's mind, he had lost considerably before, but he will recover when all the slaves of Gholand rise up! His forces regrouped, outpacing the vermin as they fled Redbark and left their dead. Loudaxe was able to get out of his duel with the wolverine when Gale aided him, chasing the wolverine and his vermin to a certain distance before rejoining the main host. Lefen and his army ran and ran, but soon they were running into a beast he really did not want to see. Running in front of him, forcing Lefen and his horde to stop was Zangan, with Niala chasing not to far behind him.

Stukan and Zangan was surprised to see the woodlanders, and both scornfully looked at one another. Stukan tried to be diplomatic and spoke up "Brudder, der'z Markem'z enemy as well'z. We can'z perhap-"

Lefen didn't even give him a chance to speak up, before making a hasty order "Skirmishers!"

Zangan and his foxes took cover as javelins and arrows rained down on them. Stukan felt stupid, of course the woodlanders would be so foolish as Lefen and his army confusingly and bafflingly charged at them. Only Barkat, horrified and realizing Markem was close behind them, slowed only by the trees, was about to get at them. Zangan motioned to his brother, getting his warriors to sneak around as Lefen comfortably looked to see how many foxes he could kill with Markem's favored tactic against them. Zangan ambushed them, jumping against them and began to tear into them once again. The two forces continued to fight one another, even as Markem and his host came to flank both.

The two forces were beginning to panic and fighting spilled across the forest. Markem kept his shield up and 'Dirt' found himself hiding behind his master. An arrow thudded into the ground in front of them as Markem continued to bark orders "Focus on dem' slavebeasts!" He yelled. Markem could handle Zangan easily enough, even if he survived this ordeal, he would certainly not return to bother him with the losses he had just taken today. Lefen was a different story, and he really wanted to see that squirrel dead.

The vermin did as ordered, and hearing this order was Zangan who smiled gleefully and yelped "Retreat! Ret-" Zangan was jumped by Tactum and Niala as he spoke, the two catching up with him. Zangan attempted to fend them off, with Stukan barely able to hold his ground against the weasel warrior. Zangan could see his remaining captains rallying to Zagala who rushed to help them. The vermin ignored them as Zangan disengaged to rejoin them. Yet he looked to his brother, who was now cornered between a tree. Niala and Zangan dueled, but she could tell the fox would quickly get away from her grasp with so many openings. Yet he stayed and fought her brutally with rapid swings of his sword.

Stukan cried out "H-help'z! Brudder!"

Zangan looked at him and growled. He realized he couldn't save his brother as his weapon was knocked from his paw from Tactum and the weasel now gripped the collar of his shirt, lifting him up with ease much to his own amazement. Zangan pushed Niala to the side, and took up a dead vermin's spear, chucking it at him. Stukan's eyes went wide, as the spear missed and went into his tail. Stukan let out a yelp, as Zangan cursed himself and rushed away. Niala stopped as Tactum let the fox down, pulling the spear from the fox's tail.

As the foxes left, Lefen and his forces were now stuck between Markem's vermin, surrounded and dying. Pockets of rebels surrendered, with only Lefen's larger pocket still holding out. Lefen and his forces saw an opening, a weaker spot to push on through and Lefen ordered a push through, as woodlanders perished trying to desperately fight their way through Markem's horde of vermin. Lefen could only be thankful this wasn't Markem's full army, and the vermin he was fighting were only newer looking recruits. He looked behind him as vermin grappled his soldiers as Lefen sprinted into the forest, with Loudaxe and Gale beside him. They kept running as Markem continued to pursue.

Lefen and his host arrived at the one place which caused his heart to drop. The river Moss. The beauty of the river would now likely be his grave, as he ordered a crossing.

"Loudaxe! Collect logs, we'll need to ferry ourselves across!" Lefen ordered. There was little time for Loudaxe to even argue, as Lefen went into the woods and gathered some warriors, as tired as they were. Markem didn't slow his advance, his vermin jumping on fleeing rebels who were getting lost in the forest. Those who fought back were killed, and others beg to be killed as they were led away.

The squirrel ambushed the vermin, or more specifically, he ambushed Jarolom who was menacingly approaching one of his younger recruits who fell over. Jarolom was able to retreat in time, as Markem yelled out as he caught up "Slowly now! Group up, an' advance!"

Markem marched through the forest, his group of prisoners growing as he couldn't help but smile to himself. He had relatively lost little vermin in the engagement, wiping sweat from his brow as he could see Lefen retreating to his doom. There should have been nowhere to go, but as Markem reached the river, he began to frown and redden. Lefen abandoned his gear, and was on a log, paddling his way to safety. Loudaxe held onto dear life as the woodlanders hastily moved to the shores across the river. Some had to swim back to Markem's side of the river either by cowardice or accident, with Loudaxe nearly dropping into the bottom as he struggled to remain afloat. Once the badger could touch the slope of the water, he was out of it. Lefen shook himself, staring at Markem with hateful eyes from across the river.

Markem stared back, giving a grunt to him as he sheathed his sword. What remained of Lefen's forces were utterly demolished, and once he got word to Luzgot, the squirrel would likely not bother him anytime soon, let alone again.
_

The retreat across the river had been weary, as Barkat would come to tell. Loudaxe had dragged logs from the forest, throwing them into the river as some floated and other sank. The otters amongst the group aided whom they could, as one of the few shrews who was with Lefen helped guide others. Yet none of this was enough. By the time Lefen had distracted Markem to his limit and had jumped into that river, abandoning everything he had, the forces that were left were scattered. Barkat came across woodlanders washed up on the beaches of the river, and found one having drowned in a marsh. The sight filled him with dread as he marched with his group, finding Gale next.

Gale was better than they all were at least, having escaped with a majority of his hares and gear intact. Gale waved to Barkat who marched up to him, a frown across his face.

"You seen Lefen?"

"Nah." Gale shook his head "Me an the lads are looking about, and-" Gale grunted and looked at Barkat, changing the subject as his voice gave a rare shiver of regret. "Barkat, I'm sorry. All dis, dis is my bleeding fault. This was all a trap an-"

"No, it's more my fault than yours." Barkat sighed "Markem tricked us fair and square, and we fell right into his paw. Lefen hopefully made it across, but I am hoping Loudaxe isn't. Well." Barkat looked at the river and gulped. Gale nodded to him as he kept silent as Barkat went on. One by one they gathered up woodlanders who had floated down the river, only ever getting Gale to grin when they came across a large group of survivors.

The group continued onward till Barkat and Gale spotted Lefen in the distance, sitting lonesome on the beach with a large group of his followers. Loudaxe was resting near him, sitting and breathing hard, as the surviving woodlanders seemed to look lost. Lefen continued to stare across the river and Gale and Barkat marched up to him. Barkat was about to greet his friend, until Lefen arose and gave a rather cold order.

"Barkat. We march back to our home."

Gale spoke up "Lad, we were beat not killed. Ya still got-"

Lefen turned to him with sad and despondent eyes, as Lefen looked about his now much more pathetic force. "Of our forces, not even a fourth if not less are left. We started with weapons, tools, and a lot of food to raid Markem's caravans with. Now, I fear even attacking a single armed caravan will be our demise. We got no food, our weapons and armor were abandoned to Markem. I saw that wretch Jarolom claim my gift as his trophy. Markem doesn't look like he is pursuing, even though he knows were beat. Best we can do is maybe bother one of his villages." Lefen's paw curled into a fist.

"I saw him take our beasts I promised freedom to and drag them away, Barkat. I know what he'll do, he will do what all vermin do. He'll kill them, or worse, enslave them again! Nay, he'll send them to the Stone Pit to perish! Damn him, Barkat. Damn him!"

Lefen growled as he looked to his friend, softening a bit "We need to regroup before Markem has one of his goons collect us. We need to hide and lick our wounds, and I fear by the time we are ready to strike out, we won't have much. Our enemies have gotten away. Markem. Zangan. I am trying to not break down here, but i am going to tell you it is the hardest thing I am doing right now."

Barkat clasped his friend's shoulder. "I'll get us moving. Lefen, we aren't defeated just yet. Markem isn't immortal."

"He may as well be." Loudaxe growled. The badger slowly arose and took his axe, menacingly going off towards the forests. Lefen found such talk defeatist, but the rebels were quickly packing their remaining things and realized they had little food. Even if they foraged, they would need to restrict their diets. The group marched northeast, saddened and talking of their dead. Loudaxe was icy and silent as he walked, leading along with the group. Barkat came up to them as they marched, cautiously asking the badger.

"You have been more of yourself of late."

Loudaxe was silent, not even looking at him.

"You okay, Loudaxe?"

"I am not." He responded, his voice full of rage

Barkat backed off as the group marched. They closed the gap, avoiding a patrol of vermin who were patrolling nearby. Gale came up to them in their march, quickly informing them of some anomaly on their way to Lefen's hideaway.

"Lads, ya gotta see this."

Lefen and his close compatriots followed Gale as he pointed to a sight known to him. It looked like a small, unnatural hill, but he knew what it really was. A burrow. Lefen and Gale searched around and smelled the air and cringed at the stink.

"Ferrets it looks like, ya dink Markem's?"

Barkat shook his head "Not likely, vermin are usually communal in the sense th-"

Loudaxe came over to the hill, pounding around and looking for an entrance, and found it swiftly. The door to the home was cracked and held together by little more than a few nails, but he wasn't interested in that. With an angry slash he slammed down his axe onto the door, and the group heard a few horrified screeches. Loudaxe entered the home before the woodlanders even knew what he was doing, and soon he was pulling out an ugly looking ferret by his tail.

"Ya mad beast! Stop! Ya don't got der right!"

Loudaxe growled and pulled the ferret into the field before the home. Lefen abd Barkat looked inside to see the ferret's missus and pups staring back in horror. Loudaxe looked down, and was then beginning to raise his axe. Barkat spoke up in anger, getting between Loudaxe and the horrified ferret. "Loudaxe! Stop!"

"Get out of the way Barkat!" Loudaxe nearly screamed in rage and fury, his eyes full of bloodlust. Lefen yelled back "Loudaxe!"

The badger softened, but only partly lowered his weapon, growling at Barkat and Lefen "Pretend to be freedom fighters in the old tales as much as you two want, I will have none of it! We are at war with that murderous rat and his band of slavers and evil beasts! Barkat, they nearly enslaved you and forced you to work for their cause. Lefen, they burned down your blasted nut farm! They murdered my wife, you two! My wife! My beloved, and mother to my daughter! They are going to kill our beasts, Lefen. Any beast he captured will suffer, and we are all at fault cause none of us have the gall to do something smart! We should have been killing them all from the start. All of them."

"Oh seasons!" The ferret was slowly backing away, as Gale spoke up much to Barkat's horror in a weird support "Aye, ya got me there badger. Though I think you go about it the wrong way. Why kill them when we can use them instead? This one an' its kin ain't murderers, but we could use them as bait." The hare began to think. Barkat turned to Lefen, who began to think on what they said.

"Spare me, take der kits, but spare me!" The ferret yelled. The missus inside huffed and growled, as Loudaxe looked to Lefen "Look at them, Lefen. Cowards all. These are the beasts whom we'll fight in the future, forever. They will keep murdering, they will keep enslaving till we either bow to them or we wipe them out. There can be no peace with them."

"And killing them to sate your bloodlust is any better!?" Barkat yelled back. The badger turned his ire on Barkat as he spoke down to the group, considering this terrible act. "You all talk big about what needs to be done, but I heard none of that when we went after Markem. Markem tricked us, and used us. You want to go to his level, then what kind of fighters are we? You'll be a bandit, Loudaxe. No better than the vermin who killed our missus, or the vermin who took me family into slavery."

"Or burned my nut farm." Lefen grumbled. There was a collective groan. Of all the things in all the world to fight for, Lefen still remained dead set on avenging his first encounter with Markem. The squirrel spoke up "Loudaxe, we won't go to his level, but we won't stand idly by either."

Lefen looked down at the ferret and growled at him "You either support us or support Markem, choose swiftly or i will drag you all the way north and kick you out of our accursed country, ferret."

The ferret held up his paws "Yes, yes! I swears to help, an' I'll give ya whatever ya want an-"

"You can start by giving us your food." Lefen looked to Barkat who sighed. The ferret frowned as he looked to Loudaxe for approval. The badger grunted and began to leave. Gale shrugged and began to enter the home, pilfering the ferret's goods as Barkat watched on, ashamed. Lefen slowly spoke to the ferret, anger creasing his voice.

"You tell Markem's vermin about this, I know where you live." The ferret was relieved as the woodlanders left with all of his food, but soon would feel the full wrath of his missus who came out with a pan, screaming at him and swatting at him "Ya tried to turn over me kits to woodlanders ya cretan! Out! Out!"


Night was coming, but the vermin were never a people who wasted the effort of resting to just their night time relaxation. Markem returned, victorious and bloodied to his camp, with vermin cheering his arrival, and trailing a long line of prisoners of both Lefen and Zangan's bands. The woodlanders who had languished temporarily in Markem's camp were soon shuffling out as the vermin replaced them and began to open casks of ale and grog. The soldiers raised weapons, and the mood was rather bright.

"Drink ya war cretans! Ya all deserve dis an' more! To der victor, the spoils!" Markem shouted and his vermin cheered even louder. Vermin song was bursting all across the camp, as they solidified their victory with a cheerful and memorable song.

Oh way to der east, between der river moss, tells us der tale of how Lefen lost!

Oh how dat fox, Zangan dat fool! How dey fought tooth an' tooth!

Tell em, dat Markem shushed dem up, bursting for with iron an' der good stuff!

Oh tell em, how dey lost der war! Oh how were gonna make em poor!

Dey came in from der forests, tryen to take our stuff!

Dey had strength, but we had brawn! Markem beatem from dusk till dawn!

At ol' Redbark, we fell on dem!

Made em' scream and butchered dem clean, an pushed dem to der River Moss!

Let dem fear of dat fateful day!

When we finally put dem both in der graves!

Markem was a little more generous with his time, coming out only briefly to tell the woodlanders' homes he had burned he would have them escorted to new villages and compensated for their troubles. Although saddened by Markem's victory, the woodlanders still took the rat's generous coin as he rejoined his horde, celebrating with them as the vermin played their games and sung their drunken songs. Niala was the last to return, looking not as happy about her victory, and handing over the captured Stukan over to Markem's overseers. She was almost embarrassed as she rejoined her troops, only partly cheered up from her bad performance when Wesk told her that Kag had made something special from their rations.

Markem was happy, and 'Dirt' could see that as the night turned down, but he began to frown as he looked on at his new prisoners. Most of them he didn't know really, but Gutan was quick to tell them each one's story.

One mouse was a baker who tried to join Lefen's band beforehand, and was captured. He had been a cook for a vermin division. Another was a recently captured otter from Moss Field, captured once again and keeping his head down, knowing he was likely already dead. Two younger voles who had been assigned to work in Markem's horde as laborers in one village, escaping to join Lefen once they heard of his growing army. A mole maid who had been a miner in a smaller productive settlement, who wasn't a slave herself but Gutan informed Markem that her brothers were. Markem drank his beer slowly, eyeing his prisoners, unsure of what to really do with them.

"Alright, call der captains." Markem sadly ordered "Lets get dis over wit."

Markem entered a large pavilion, with 'Dirt' joining him. Parb came in next, along with Jarolom and a few others. Kyth, Zuag, and Turbas were on one side of the room, with other captains take up other sides. Influential sub-captains joined in the tent as Markem took a chair and sat it infront of his desk. Markem sat upon it like a throne, taking off his hated horned helm and slapping his knees as if to call the meeting in an informal and friendly manner. "Alright, get Scarl in here. An' Gutan. Gotta talk about what to do wit our prisoners."

"Well, der answer be simple." One of the captains raised his voice in a cheerful mood. Markem looked at him, as he spoke up "Kill em' chief. Kill em' an' throw em into der river Moss!"

"Nay, ya fool. Ya make em' live long enough to tie ropes to der tails an' ankles, an den ya throw dem into the River Moss! Especially dem blasted otter folk!"

Markem slowly began to frown. Jarolom happily spoke up as well, thinking of another method of execution. Scarl walked in as the vermin debated what to do with their prisoners. Parb made her normal suggestion, starving them slowly over a few days. Kyth disagreed, thinking they should just stab them and be done with it, and let them bleed out in the field.

Markem's face began to sour and held up his paw. The vermin silenced themselves as Markem spoke up "Alright, ya made yer points. Is der any uder one which don't mean killen dem, eh?"

"We can send to the Stone Pit, chief." Turbas greedily said with a bit more cruel enthusiasm "Work em to death I says. Dem foxes we got will make dat butcher seethe it will!"

Markem prused his lips at the mention of his personal 'prison', if one could call it that. 'Dirt' folded his paws as Markem stood up and looked around "So it be decided den, we kill em?"

"I mean, why not Markem?" Scarl asked.

"I mean, sure, but like. All of dem?" Markem almost sounded confused. This was honestly not something he did, but his vermin were soon being a bit pushy. "Aye boss! Can't be seen as soft amongst dem, no sir! I say we splay der guts from here to Redwall!"

Markem was having a nasty reminder of the deathly mob at Gholand when he captured Lefen before. Had he listened to them then, Markem thought, he'd not be up here fighting him again and thus losing him again as well. Markem looked undecided, but one voice spoke up which silenced the group of bickering vermin.

"Give them a trial, sir."

Markem turned to see 'Dirt' having said this. Turbas growled at him angrily, shouting "Yer a slavebeast, 'Dirt'! Lest ya forget yer blasted name! Ya don't get a say in dis!"

Yet the otter stood firm, and spoke again much to Turbas's annoyance, and the annoyance of Jarolom and Scarl. "Bring them in here, sir. Show them we are fair, and give them a fair punishment."

Scarl shook his head and other vermin scoffed. Markem came over to his bodyguard, looking up at him as 'Dirt' stared back. Markem couldn't help but ask, with Scarl very obviously listening in next to him. "Dey are right, ya don't get a say in de-"

"Sir, trust me. You'll probably want to hear at least two of them. I know them."

"Ya do?" Markem and Scarl asked. 'Dirt' turned to Scarl and began to whisper in his ear and he listened. Scarl nodded and gave the otter a weird look. 'Dirt' answered his master, being as confident as he could be. "The folk of Mossflower will want a fair trial, and I think your captains will take a mile if you give them an inch, sir. I wouldn't speak otherwise, so apologies sir."

Markem nodded and whispered back "Well, ya should probably keep yer mouth shut still." Markem looked to Scarl, as if begging for approval. Scarl was looking with dangerous eyes at Kyth and Turbas, giving their own scornful stares at 'Dirt'. Markem turned and spoke up "We'll decide how dey die once we hear em' out, an get der reasons for joinen wit Lefen an' his crew. Zangan's foxes we'll just throw into der Stone Pit to languish fer now. Dat be me order."

There was a collective groan from the vermin in the tent, but Markem growled and yelled at them "Oh stop yer whining! Ya are about as creative as bleeden blind moles! Ya can debate der deaths in their presence!"

Parb yawned and raised her voice "I think I'll be heading to bed, Markem. Enjoy this little legal charade, and do tell me if yo-"

"Get out, Parb." Markem ordered. The warlordess turned up her nose and walked out. Markem sat in his chair as Scarl exited the tent, and gathered Gutan with him. The group waited as both Scarl and Gutan pushed in two woodlanders, an old graying otter and a younger mouse. Bound in rope, the old graying otter had a bandage over one of his eyes, a recent injury from the battle. The mouse was less lucky but had all his limbs at least, looking to be cut and bruised all over. Both looked up at Markem, as he gave them an odd look. He thought they looked weirdly familiar, but he couldn't place his paw on it.

Turbas and Kyth looked down, and began to seem nervous. Both tried to exit the tent themselves, but Scarl grabbed them and pulled them back to their positions. They were confused by this act, as Markem began.

"Ya two, first names cause i won't remember dead beasts. Ya were slaves of me horde at one point if ya were wit Lefen's band I take it."

"We were." The mouse spat. The spit landed just at Markem's feet as one vermin came over and knocked at his head for the disrespect. The mouse looked up with fury in his eyes, but that fury was brief as he looked at Turbas.

"Ya know me laws. Ya take off dem rope collars, ya got to der Stone Pit. Ya can't hide der fact ya were wit Lefen, so I wanna know why ya decided to join wit dat idiot nut farmer. I ain't cruel to ya, so why act out against us like dat an' not just run? Ya folk got family I take it."

The sea otter slowly nodded. Markem shook his head "Shame then ya won't see em'. Ya be stupid beasts an' we got much to go through. What brings ya to fight against me, uder den day I made ya laboring beasts an' dat I am conquering dis here country? I'll consider if ya get a swift or slow death, though I will let me captains decide if it be because I burned down one of yer properties. On accident."

There was a rare grunt of agreement from the two prisoners, who knew what Markem talked about.

"Now, tell me." Markem ordered.

The otter went first, speaking up with a clearness so that Markem could hear. "Your vermin captured me, my missus, and my sons. We worked for you since you took us from Veekun's Burrow, I was Veekun's blacksmith. Me and my family labored under you and kept our heads down, and for it your captains beat us and kicked us. My son one day did not come back to your pen, and was instead curled up on the ground begging for mercy as your vermin savaged him, and then me for trying to get him away. For even daring to try to keep ourselves away from that, rat, your vermin sent us to the Stone Pit. I escaped, but my missus and son did not. I am aware they still languish there."

Markem paused and thought on it, speaking up "Yer a slavebeast, how do I know ya speak der truth on dis? Ya must have fought back, but ev-" Markem paused again. It didn't really seem right. Even if he had fought back, it was brutal to send an entire family to perish in his prison quarry simply before trying to escape such a thing.

"Well, who were der vermin who did it?"

"You won't need to look far. The beast who beat my son and me is right there, the same beast ordered us to the Stone Pit shortly there after." The older otter turned to Kyth who folded his paws and looked down partly in shame. He was silent as Markem gave him a blank look.

"Explain, Kyth." Markem ordered. The captain pursed his lips, as he remembered that day well. "W-well, Markem. Dis otter's son insulted me ya see, told us off after we played wit his viddles. He got pushy, an' I pushed back. He started it an' we beat em' to a pulp. I mean, he were just a slavebeast. Den dis beast gets in me way, gives me a nice ol' punch to der face. I mean, ain't it proof he ain't really all dat broken?"

"Ya didn't tell me!?" Gutan yelled in anger. Kyth looked at the former corsair as he came up to him, shaking him "Dey ain't yours to send der, ya stupid beast! Only I can! How many more ya got locked up without me knowhow!?"

"I-I-" Kyth tried to push away as Markem yelled out "Gutan! Ya can send a runner back, tell em' to reorganize dat quarry under special orders. Kyth. Dat pit is fer the most disobedient of slaves, not a just a common punishment." Markem tried to be informative, but then he looked around at his other captains who were suspiciously silent. Markem didn't wish to ask. Markem turned to the rage filled mouse, a younger beast as he asked "You. Tell me wh-"

The mouse interrupted "Oh? Ask that blasted otter next to you! You should know me, you evil creature!"

Markem turned to 'Dirt' whom spoke up softly "Just tell him, Nurkver."

Markem wondered how much he didn't know, and how much 'Dirt' knew. The otter sighed as the mouse got himself comfortable and told Markem off "Your beasts stole me from my blasted home, Markem! Your captain sees me working in my father's field, says I am too strong for my age, and next thing I know I and my sister are in Gholand! I haven't seen my family in seasons, only to realize when I went back with Lefen to find my farm ruined and my mother half mad and destitute because of you! And my sister, Oh, my sis-" The mouse gave a whimpering noise, tears partly welling in his eyes from a painful memory.

Markem just looked at him confused, but then Turbas yelled at him to reveal his history with him. "Ya weren't taken at random ya blasted round ears! Oh I know ya gave me dat funny look!"

"So what, ya were taken in a raid." Jarolom said a bit bored. The mouse turned to Jarolom next, speaking again in a similar rant "You know perfectly well we we accepted your blasted vassalage, fox! You were there!"

Jarolom frowned, because he honestly couldn't remember every backwater hamlet he forced to be Markem's tributaries. Markem looked angry at Turbas who seemed to confirm his worst fears "Ya weren't doin much anyway! We needed laborers in Gholand, an' yer paw had all kinda help! How were I suppose to know he'd die of plague! Bah!"

"Turbas." Markem silenced him as the looked at him "I made dem tributaries to not have em be raided by us! What!? Did anything about me laws and realm mean nothing!?" Markem stood up angry, but then one of his other captains blurted out "I mean, twas understandable. We did need dem laborers, even after we took Veekun's Burrow."

"So that gives ya all a right to go back on my word!?" Markem turned to the mouse, now going further down this rabbit hole. "You. Ya mentioned a sister. Why."

The mouse only stared up at him, telling him the last thing he ever wanted to hear. "Yer captain over there sold her when dey took us to Gholand. Sold her to some slaver. No doubt in Jusbrag or some farder place, like der plateaus. She was little."

Markem eyes softened, but not in a good way as the mouse put up the height of his kin for him to visualize. That small ghost filled Markem's imagination as Gutan growled and ranted at all of them. "Anyone else in dis tent be goin behind me back!?"

There was a shuffling of feet all across the tent as Markem had to sit down to realize something. All of his captains had something to hide. Even Jarolom looked surprised, giving Kyth and Turbas a 'You really did this?' look. Markem stared down and gripped his head as he seemed to calm himself and spoke up. "Gutan, I leave dis to ya. Have de's two in rope collars an' send dem to Gholand. Dey can work der rebellion off by helpen to maintain me fort under Vake. Any of dem other folk. Give em' a similar treatment."

"Y-yes sir." Gutan looked at his boss, worried. The two woodlanders were pulled away as Markem turned to 'Dirt' next. "'Dirt'. Ya are dismissed fer now. Get some food an' rest fer yer guard duty tonight." 'Dirt' did as commanded as some of the captains tried to shuffle out of the tent. Markem yelled at them. "Yer all not dismissed! Jarolom, I already had me talk with ya. Yer excused. Der rest of ya. Stay here. We have a very long talk tonight."

The captains stayed as Jarolom and 'Dirt' could hear Markem yelling and screaming once they left at Kyth and Turbas. The captains, now all crowded into one tent, were all listening to Markem give them the most awkward and hateful talk of a lifetime. Jarolom could make out Markem demanding to know what else he was not been told, and Scarl of course listening next to him. Scarl's voice even sounded angry, not that woodlanders were abused and harmed, but that they did not tell him things. It seemed implied that Kyth lied to Scarl about something, which made the ferret more furious.

"Well, 'Dirt'. Ya did it." Jarolom growled.

"Did what?"

"I dink ya just killed der Great Vermin Band ya moron." Jarolom partly joked. 'Dirt' expected him to be more angry, at him in particular, but Jarolom walked off towards Niala and her friends, wanting to at least enjoy the night before the awkward morning here after.
_

'Dirt' felt awkward, holding his soup in his paws and looking down at it, and then to the beasts in front of him. Do I really want to do this? He asked himself, but he sighed and looked at his alternatives. It was either be bored to death around some campfire alone, or enjoy another very awkward and cold reception in the slave barracks. He weighed his options, though it did entertain him slightly he could just go sit near Markem's pavilion and listen to the rat rightfully tear into his captains. Though the last thing he needed is being caught by one said captain and accused of corrupting their chief.

'Dirt' sighed and resigned himself to a perhaps an interesting night, as he stepped forward and sat down.

Niala look to her side, and smiled after seeing 'Dirt' so willing to join them. Jarolom spoke up when he noticed, also looking to his side and seeing the otter. Jarolom nudged him "Nay, ya don't get to sit der slavebeast. Ya ain't invited after dat little stunt in der."

"Nay! Delay dat slavebeast!" Niala almost looked to burst with laughter "I order ya to stay."

The otter looked to Jarolom who grumbled, and poked the fire with a stick. All around it were vermin who intermingled and were partly drunk, all of them silent as they listened to Tactum who paced between the fire. Even Kag, who was sitting near the fire as the vermin's cook looked up with absolute awe and wonder as the weasel juggled his axes so spectacularly, continuing his legendary tale.

"-Then Tactum used axe to cut down entire palisade! Took day or two, but Tactum did so with such speed that no sentry noticed. One sentry try to raise alarm, but Tactum kill him with throw of axe. Tactum lose favorite axe, so work slow. Palisade was still up, so Tactum worked faster and faster till boss says 'Tactum, stop! You cut down wrong palisade!?' Tactum was confused at first, but then realize boss was not really boss. Boss was weakling, so Tactum challenge him to duel! Kill him and take horde, though not last long when hares catch up and say 'No tactum, no horde for you'. Tactum was sad, but west east to find new horde."

'Dirt' gave a blink as he drank his soup. Wulvog looked amused, and his vermin kept asking questions of the mighty warrior. Dakar raised his voice "S-so ya got by them hares, right? Why didn't ya ever kill them?"

"They never asked Tactum for duel, so Tactum kept ignoring them." The weasel shrugged. 'Dirt' couldn't help but be enthralled as he listened to the strange weasel tell his morbid tales. The weasel continued onto another horrifying story of his escapades, of his time spent trying to get a warlord's favor, only for it be implied that he had simply misinterpreted the warlord's favor for paranoid fear. 'Dirt' chuckled as he listened as Niala nudged him a bit.

"Ya actually came over here without me needing to drag ya?"

"I figured you would do so again eventually." 'Dirt' shrugged. Jarolom nudged hin harsher, trying to spill his soup but it failed to do so. "Ya an' me gotta have a nice an' long talk about speaken out of place, 'Dirt'. Lest ya forget." Jarolom patted the otter's neck, reminding of the rope around it. 'Dirt' cringed and gave Jarolom an annoyed look.

"I mean, ya may as well speak it here." Niala smiled. Tactum continued to entertain the enchanted vermin with his tales as the Foxtrot siblings and 'Dirt' spoke in low tones to not damage the mood. Jarolom grumbled quite loudly enough to show his discontent "Why ya even suggest dat to der boss anyhow? Ya knew dem?"

"I was watching from the window with my brother when Kyth bullied that beast, and the mouse and I talked a bit. The captains aren't as hidden as they think when Markem doesn't seem to be looking. Slaves talk, believe it or not."

"Ya, well, dey should talk less." Jarolom rolled his eyes. Niala shook her head "i mean, tis to be suspected, every cap'n got der dirty secrets. Shame its always der ones ya least suspect. Ya knew dat about Kyth?"

"No." Jarolom admitted "I didn't but i don't blame him. Ya gonna tell a vermin he can't put down his foot when some slavebeast talks back to em? I mean, I wouldn't have sent em' into der Stone Pit without Gutan's say so, no doubt dat rat is strangling him as we speak. Even if it does happen, it doesn't happen enough fer it to matter much. It happens to what, one slave outta ten or twenty? Der rest of dem prefer to live under us den other warlords. Used dat to our advantage to take Luzland."

Jarolom looked 'Dirt' up and down, grunting as he folded his paws "Why in der blazing hells did ya have to tell Markem dat. He's gonna be paranoid fer weaks now, river dog."

"He would have figured it out eventually." 'Dirt' shrugged "So den why now? I mean, in some way, I kinda knew der was dirt all around. Scarl likely wasn't really even looken fer it. I kinda suspected Turbas to be a lot worse, cause ya know, his anger problems."

"There are far worse than those two." 'Dirt' shook his head "Remember that half blind rat, the one with the really soft voice?"

"I mean, ya. Really soft beast he was. Never did much but talk about his kids ya know. Wondered what happened to him."

"That one was a degenerate that Scarl caught. Da-'Mud' started noticing a bunch of the slaves going missing from the camp, about five in all. Last beast to see them was that rat, so I told Scarl and he said he'd look into it. You know how Scarl is, can't stand not knowing what is up. So he has one of his spies trail him, and find him taking a slave into the forest from time to time, and tried to flay him. Scarl caught him red pawed. He was a captain, Jarolom, and not the first nor last to try to get into Markem's graces as they did."

"Scarl killed him?" Niala asked, partly disgusted. 'Dirt' shook his head "Markem had the Blackclads of the camp take him out towards the east sea and beaten to death in their own way. Odd bunch. Cruel and cold as any vermin i've come to know usually, but they really just do not like degenerates. Markem was told and that is why Niala, that Markem is very cautious whom he promotes to captain."

"Ah." Niala nodded. Jarolom looked confused "Why der hell didn't any of ya tell me?"

"Same reason you don't tell Markem knowing half if not all those captains in there are corrupt and violent taskmasters, Jarolom. Scarl swore me to secrecy, and I do truly beg you not to tell him I told you, but he thought you had a budding friendship with him."

Jarolom shook his head with disbelief "Twasn't dat close! If I knew, i'd have joined in beating dem to death. Got enough on our plate wit Luzgot an' his goons. I mean, why ya gotta break Markem's softie heart anyway? I mean, ya really just didn't like Kyth an' Turbas dat much?"

'Dirt' stared at him as Jarolom couldn't help but notice 'Dirt' was trying to keep his mouth shut. Jarolom growled "Well, spit it out. Not like I am gonna harm Markem's favorite slavebeast. Don't need dat on me plate eder."

'Dirt' nodded in agreement as Jarolom felt a bit weird. To him, 'Dirt' was just a slave, like every other woodlander in Markem's horde. He wasn't above him, and he had known him since he was carrying Markem's tent and supplies around meekly, far before he by some twist of fate became Markem's bodyguard. Yet, here he was. 'Dirt' again shook and nodded his head from side to side, unsure how to put it.

"Far from it, Jarolom. Kinda. What Kyth and Turbas did was intolerable, but no different to others. Kyth may be somewhat petty and arrogant, but he actually does go out and make sure captains don't do any worse than he does. Markem and I saw him chastise and beat on captains for trying to go beyond Markem's back, and he doesn't really seem all that pushy to his vermin or woodlander folk alike. He just demands respect. Turbas may be angry, and he usually just is angry all the time, yet he treats his own slavebeasts better than how Markem treats me and my brother. The squirrels he has doing his horde's laundry and cooking I think are all siblings, an' Turbas bought them off a Jusbrag captain."

Wesk couldn't keep his mouth shut anymore, asking 'Dirt' in a weak voice "So, you knew? Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

Jarolom growled at the otter slave eating near them to silence him, but 'Dirt' answered regardless with a sigh "I don't speak much as it is, and they are captains after all. Like Jarolom over here." There was angry nudge from Niala, and 'Dirt' blinked. "Oh, and Niala over here as well."

"Better, slavebeast." Niala chuckled.

"So why tonight of all nights?" Jarolom asked.

"Well. It felt like the right thing. In a way, I know a number of Lefen's beasts, not to even say I really like Lefen myself. That squirrel dislikes Markem, and in turn dislikes me. Although that squirrel's hatred of Markem is, erm-" 'Dirt' paused, as if embarrassed to say it. Tactum was quick to notice and perked up a question.

"Slavebeast want freedom, so understandable river dog."

"I mean, he weren't a slavebeast. Markem, uhhh-"

Tactum and Wulvog stared at 'Dirt', but Jarolom groaned and explained to them. "Lefen been hounding us fer seasons now, all because one of me vermin knocked over a blasted torch onto his home. Hells, we weren't even suppose to be der. Markem mistook der farm for anuder, cause we were looken fer food anyhow. Lefen's farm burned, an now he has not stopped tryen to kill us since. Became a rebel against us more formally when he noticed he got a lot mer beasts from convincing stupid workbeasts to join up wit him."

Niala interjected "Or when dem captains did dem dings."

Jarolom rolled his eyes "Ya say it be der right ding, 'Dirt'? For whom? For dem? Now Markem is gonna be looken over his shoulder every blasted second looken to see if me or his own cap'ns fer corruption or if dey are ordering der vermin right. Dings were quite content when he didn't know every blasted detail, nor Scarl. I mean, tis not everything just a surface act ya know. Ya say it yerself. Though i dink we'd be even more better off if Markem just dropped der whole ding."

"I will admit, Jarolom. It wasn't for the horde's sakes." 'Dirt' frowned and took a bite of his meal. "Cause at the end of the day, I am not apart of this horde, now am I?"

"Don't be stupid, river dog." Jarolom grunted "Yer as old as I am in dis horde weder ya like it or not."

"I mean, am I though? It is true, I am little more than Markem's property in one sense, a long time and helpful prisoner, but a member of his horde? Woodlanders don't join hordes willingly you know, you have to force us into working for you. Markem and Gutan are only different in the fact they view us somewhat as beasts, while others view us as things."

"Bah, ya be dinken crazy ya stupid water dog, all dat woodlander talk." Jarolom continued to scoff and turn up his nose "Dinken every beast eder be evil or good, like how dem woodlanders in dat abbey dink. Wells, me pa may been a thief, but me paw were kind and courtly like. He was damned good at what he did, an he was proud of it. Just as I am proud of bein in dis horde."

"Do you think you are evil, Jarolom?"

"No! Of course not. If anyding, yer der beasts who are evil. Not respecten us, looken down on us fer der way we talk an' act. I like to dink of us as just right in der matters of all dis, an' what we do is not just, tis pragmatic. When we need a home, we takes it an' kick the beast who can't fend for it out. We need weapons, we steal it. We need labor to be done, why have our inexperienced paws do it when we can get a big river dog like ya to do it? Yer apart of dis horde, 'Dirt'. Just like every slave here. It may not be willing, but it be simply as it is."

Tactum spoke up, a bit confused "Evil beast. Good beast. Matters little in end. Only strength matters."

"See! Exactly what I mean!" Jarolom pounded his chest "Tis just der natural way of der world, an' just cause every stupid beast failed before don't mean we'll fail now. I mean, just look how far we got!"

Niala would had smiled at this had not Wulvog asked "Fail?"

Jarolom frowned, as if embarrassed for the abomination that was proud vermin history. 'Dirt' shrugged "To most Mossflower folk, even the vermin we recruit, they see the things your captains do and are queasy about it. I mean, is Markem going to win? Likely at this rate, but it isn't because Turbas sold a youngster outside the horde or Kyth threw that otter's family into that pit. If anything, we are up here because of that. Lefen will always get freedbeasts to join his cause, but how far would Markem have gotten? In the end Jarolom, you have your mates, but I also have mine. I just didn't really want to see them killed."

Jarolom began to frown hard, because he was starting to think 'Dirt' may be right. Wulvog growled in annoyance, nodding his head "The river dog is right, you know. If those captains can't follow their chief. A beast should earn their place. I mean, we don't exactly have armies of mice and sea otters lining up to join our tribes and hordes in my homeland, but we don't deny them. I look around and can't help but find it all absurd. Why deny potential warriors because they are mice or squirrels? Those woodlanders fought with zeal, and we could have used them if they didn't think your chief or others chiefs here would just kill or abuse them."

Tactum spoke next, a bit confused "You say woodlander make good hordebeast? If so, then why always be peaceful. Peace is cowardice, only strength should matter."

"Yes, perhaps, but why fight at all?" Wulvog shrugged "I fight and kill cause I want to eat, not because I really like it." Wulvog held up his paw missing a fingerpaw from his duel with Jarolom and Niala. "Yet, I can't help it. I just fight cause me and my horde need to live after all. We sold our services all across the north, fighting for scraps. More food, sure, but woodlanders seem to have nothing but food. Are made of food themselves. Like Yulfang said."

Tactum blinked. "Yulfang. What is Yulfang?"

'Dirt' sat up, quickly putting an end to this conversation as he took the last of his soup and drank it "Apologies. Need to go get to Markem's tent." 'Dirt' left as Jarolom watched him go. An odd feeling went to the pit of his stomach, something he really didn't think he could see in that over glorified servant. He turned back around to watch Tactum and Wulvog debate over the existence of the invisible wolverine much to Niala and his amusement. Yet he couldn't help but feel something for that otter.

Respect.
_

Parb was not really sleepy, as she returned to her tent. Nurka awaited her, as Parb commanded her with an anxious order. "Close the flap of the tent."

Nurka did as ordered, sighing as she did. She had not done this so close before in awhile, not since her family tried to cut her out of the inheritance of Great Marsh. She bent down and brought up a kit of her own making with all manner of plants and alchemical tools in it. Parb went to work, crafting poison of her own making. She thought about what was likely happening in that tent, some droll and boring execution. So uncreative. I mean, at least extend their suffering. No need for all this talk about how to do it. Markem will probably just let them go, the dumb brute. Yet she was partly sad as she brought up a small vial of her concoction. Even her own mental suggestion seemed dull, she's seen it all before. Nurka could see what she was making, but kept her mouth shut as much as possible. This all inevitable to happen eventually.

"Go grab one of my underlings, Nurka. The younger one I think will do well enough."

Nurka knew what she meant and exited the tent. Parb didn't need to await long before the vermin soldier in his silver lined armor entered the tent and bowed humbly to her "Chiefess, ya call?"

"Yes." Parb motioned for him to extend his paw and placed the vial in it. "Oh." The lackey looked at it and knew what needed to be done. "One of yer subordinates I takes it?"

"No." Parb sighed "There is a mouse who has been serving Markem and his council. Poison their night time meal and drink. Markem specifically, all others are just expendable."

The lackey frowned "M-markem?"

"Yes, and if you do it. Ohhh, what captainship would you even want? Overseer of the slaves is pernamently taken, how about when Luzgot marches on Gholand you can have a hundred slaves and a hundred vermin. Now go quickly before I call in another."

The lackey looked excited as Parb expected him to be, and quickly ran off. Her vermin she knew were at least somewhat competent, but she couldn't help but feel terribly droll as she sat down on her cot and began to read her books.

In the night, the lackey rushed around bends and corners, looking for the cooking tent. He found it, keeping to himself as he kept an eye out for those who may find him a bit odd or suspicious. The rat snuck his way towards the cooking tent and saw a lot of different food before him. A couple of the slave cooks were still busily getting food for their masters, as the rat had no clue of which of the mice were Markem's server or just a common slavebeast. The lackey had an idea and came over, shoveling food and drink into his mouth until one angry mouse spoke up "Hey! Stop that, its your blasted chief's!"

The mouse gave the vermin a sour look, pulling the plate away as he quickly was replacing it. The lackey grumbled and kept an eye on him, awaiting him to be alone and turn his back. The lackey came over when the mouse was grabbing a replacement drink, pouring out the grog and washing it. He sighed, looking down and by hearing something behind him. He looked around towards Markem's plate, seeing that same vermin doing something to it. He paused only when he realized he was struggling to take the cap off a vial. He knew what this meant, as the lacket soon noticed him staring and panicked.

The lackey came over, as the slave kept himself in public view of other vermin just in case. Markem's vermin wouldn't really defend him, he knew that, but the implication of Markem's server being harmed meant protecting him could mean their promotion to something far better.

"S-slavebeast, no need to say anyding, eh?"

The mouse blinked, knowing the gray and silver colors of Parb's hordebeast. He'd been around vermin enough to know what was up, as the lackey tried to pull him somewhere else and whispered.

"H-hey, ya don't gotta tell no one. How about dis, slavebeast. Ya don't really gotta-"

The mouse grunted and shook him off, knowing he was much more invulnerable than he was. The lackey whispered to him, as he thought of something "Hey, slavebeast. Parb is gonna make Markem perish ya see. He owns all der slavebeasts in der horde cause of dem ropes around yer necks. Ya help us, we help ya. In der chaos, ya can escape, an' we can help ya do it."

The mouse frowned, unsure at first as the lackey sweetened the deal "Ya help in dis, mouse, all dem prisoners he got go free as well. Ya don't get to have sit around as dey turn dem into fishbait."

He was right, the mouse expected the worst for them. He sighed and grabbed the replacement drink. The lackey smiled as he got the cap loose and poured the content into the full mug. "Ya got more den words, mouse. Won't act all dat fast at first, colors and orderless. Dey'll dink it were in der food dat did him in. Plenty o' time to help ya an yer friends get back into der forests, eh?"

The mouse nodded and took up the plate. The lackey looked relieved as the mouse went about his business with some anxiety. He looked nervous, stopping at the foot of Markem's tent where the rat's yelling had calmed a bit. 'Dirt' stood in front of it, and nodded to the mouse. The mouse didn't nod back as the otter frowned and allowed the mouse inside. He was partly blocked by some captains, sitting down on the ground or standing looking rather awkwardly.

"Da blasted hells, der lot of ya!? Do I speak words an ya dink I be sounden like some other beast? I poured me soul out in Gholand an' over der seasons and you lot can't keep to a single one of me codes!"

Kyth responded, trying to argue with a calmer Markem "Chief, I know dis is all news to ya, but sometimes ya have to admit dat sometimes ya are too soft on dem woodlanders an' vermin alike. Look, we all made mistakes, but we ain't all exactly just lining up to think der full way ya do. Besides, dey disrespected us. Us! Der rightful masters, an' if dey don't respect us, den how can vermin follow us."

Gutan growled loudly at him "Den ya beat dem, ya don't send dem to der bleeding Stone Pit!" Kyth looked intimidated and backed away, but Markem sighed and spoke with a sadness to his voice "I know a lot of ya say I be soft behind me backs, an' I understand dat. I do. If I were younger seeing me now, i'd turn meself around an' find a stronger beast to lead me. Yet now? Look how far we be getten by bein 'soft'? Kyth, don't ya dink makin dem hamlets pay tribute instead of butchering dem for supplies be better? Ya may call it soft to spare em an' not enslave der village outright, but now we an army which don't need to be starving just to find fresh food fer der whole time. Tis why were up here. Defending dat system."

One of the other captains squirmed and spoke up as well "I mean, sure, but dem beasts are still woodlanders. Were still vermin. Were conquering dem-"

"Yes. Yes we are, but ya know I don't like bein cruel of it."

Turbas grumbled and shook his head "If dat were true, chief, why ally wit Luzgot an' Parb? Tisn't a big secret what dat she-mink does to her slaves or vermin alike. Hazul used to butcher any non-rat who even stopped in der lands. Jusbrag? Jusbrag was run like any vermin horde up until recently, an' even den Kylan is just like dat ya know?"

Markem frowned as his captains could see their chief somewhat sad. Scarl interjected as well "Markem, ya gotta admit, ya didn't want to know how dings get done. Ya got an army cause we don't conscript, but we do scare an intimidate our beasts into our horde. Slaves still need to be beaten down if dey get out of line. We still gotta hand out cruel executions to show we mean business. Ya can't pity every bleeding beast der is."

"I mean, ya know I ain't like dat, right?" Markem genuinely asked Scarl. Markem looked around at his captains, and he could see a lot of things about them. He had seen beasts who had once been lazy now working their hardest. Cruel and degenerate creatures become kind and humble in his presence. Yet without him, he feared they'd all just return to their old ways. Scarl tried to comfort his chief "Aye, we do, an' were more den blessed for it boss."

"Ya lot, I love ya like brudders, each an every one of ya, but love ain't just kind words." Markem spoke aloud "Of yer transgressions, I won't punish dem, but were here to conquer Mossflower. Cluny der Scourge was once a great warlord, turned der north into an ashen hellscape he did, his deeds are well known. Yet, as ya know, he turned on his own beasts an' his beasts turned on him. Every warlord ya know an hear about be the same. We can't return to dat, an' I don't want ya return to dat eder." Markem patted his sad captains as he continued to speak up. Yet, the mouse slowly approached, awaiting Markem to even give him notice as he awaited Markem to finish his speech and drink to his own demise.

"Markem, yer ways only can get us so far." Scarl pointed out "While ya got good ideas, we all do, yer tolerances of us means ya gotta tolerate der likes of Hazul and Kylan. We wouldn't have taken Jusbrag without Kylan betraying his own, an' I'd hate to know wer'd we be without der likes of Hazul. Even Parb. We generously spend her gift of all dem coin with yer preddy face on it to tie dem woodlanders back to Gholand fer whatever dat convoluted scheme Karlgo is up to."

Markem sighed and paused, as he couldn't help agree with Scarl. Kyth then spoke up "Chief, we're truly sorry. We are. If ya want us to imp-"

"Ya will improve, ya all will." Markem said softly "Cause I know were on der right track, cause we won't be here forever, an I want ya all to know that. We gotta prepare fer der next line of our youngsters. I ain't just conquering dis land fer meself, its for all of you. A land to call our home an' finally be done wit dis system dat steals more from us. I want me pups to grow up bein happy, not marchen in hordes like we did. Turbas. Ya remember Pelg, don't ya?"

Turbas slowly nodded as Markem continued "Pelg was one of Kasg's captain, an insane tyrant a lot like Resker or Parb or Luzgot. Der vermin follow because dey fear em. I don't want ya folk to be afraid of me, I want ya to help me. I let dem beasts go back to Gholand cause I want dem to tell how I had spared dem even after all ya had done. Dem woodlanders need to know der is no hope when I come, but know we will spare dem if dey but just surrender. Ya owe yer food, yer weapons, hell even yer clothes, to dem beasts we call slaves. I ask ya not to dink of dem less as little more den broken weapons can replace at any time, but as beasts who we force to do our bidding cause we got no udder choice."

The mouse server gave Markem a weird look. Zuag growled out "Der woodlanders, Markem. Dey exist to serve us."

"Perhaps." Markem admitted "But dey got more uses den we do. I want dat to change. Many of ya say yer superior, but I don't see it dat way. I used to live a hole in der ground, and most of ya got memories of dat. Dem Redwallers live behind stone brick. We have to conquer lands dey build up, an' we can do little but live in der shadow. Call me soft, but do any of ya want to worse den der beasts we call workbeasts? I spared dem beasts an' I will ask ya to do as well. Me own life was saved by 'Dirt', an' I ain't been dead so obviously he be doin somethen right. Ya owe Gholand to a group of hedgehogs we took from Kylan."

Turbas slowly began to nod in agreement as some of the vermin semed to come to an agreement. "I ask ya as vermin to be better, cause we all have to. Fer yer kids sakes. Fer me sakes. Please, don't disappoint yer chief, cause I won't try to get angry at ya, I just want to do dings different from how all dem others did it. Somethen were doin is right, an even if we gotta ally wit der likes of Hazul and Kylan, dey need us just as much as we need dem."

Scarl sighed and patted his friend on the back as the vermin around became a bit more sentimental. Markem finally noticed his server, going over to grab his drink but the mouse pulled it away.

Markem gave him a weird look as the mouse spoke "Sorry sir. You spared the prisoners I hear?"

"What, yes?" Scarl quickly asked, noticing something odd. The mouse sighed and handed the mug to Scarl "I saw a rat from Parb's camp, he poured something into this. I think its poison."

There was a silence in the room as Scarl sniffed it. It had a certainly familiar scent, even if subtle. Markem's eyes widened as he looked around, some of his captains even impressed by such a show. Markem angrily ordered out as he took up his blade. "Someone bring me Parb! Ya all wanted to see death, I am about to give it to ya!"
_

Parb continued to read into her books as she waited for time to pass. It was such a boring affair for her, something which was like clockwork. Markem would die, his captains would blame themselves, and she would just slip past it all and be on her way to Great Marsh again. Nurka again found herself standing over Parb, just waiting for her orders, holding her goblet in her paw. Nurka gave a sigh, which Parb quickly noted and spoke up "I'd prefer you didn't both my reading with such attitude, workbeast. Lest you wish to return to the quarry when we return."

"Apologies, mistress." Nurka looked down at her rope collar, knowing she would take it off once they reached Great Marsh. Parb looked, seeing a shadow at the edge of her tent, and a vermin looking creature speaking up "Parb, ya in der?"

Parb was a little nervous, she motioned Nurka to open the flap of her tent as she stood up and made herself presentable. She didn't recognize the voice as the tent opened and a large rat came in. She was relieved, seeing the silver choker around the rat's neck as he gave a humble bow to her. The rat was familiar looking, and she wondered if this was one of her captains even. "Markem will be dead soon, is everything prepared?"

The rat gave her a weird look, and she corrected yourself "Oh. What do you want then."

"I come from Great Marsh, mistress. Wit a message from yer brother."

Parb raised an eyebrow to this as she looked around "Goba? Well, spill it out quickly then. You aren't given vittles for just standing around."

The rat reached into his back and Parb awaited the pleasure of reading her brother's poor handwriting, and mocking it to herself. Yet, she looked at Nurka's whose eyes widened as the rat instead began pulling out a large knife.

"Yer brudder sends his warmest regards."

The rat jumped at her, as Parb tried to go for a knife near her bed, but the rat was faster. She let out of a horrible yelp, trying to kick him away as he reached down to put the knife into her back, but before he could do so, the rat was knocked to the side. Nurka wrestled with the rat, much to his surprise, punching at the otteress with his claws. Nurka was not really prepared as the soldier slashed at her white clothes and his attention went back to finding Parb. Parb brought out a small knife, an ornate and silver thing in an overly large sheathe. The rat approached as Parb dashed at him and slashed at him. The rat felt a painful scratch on his neck, but he pushed Parb down.

Gleeful and victorious, Parb slowly recovered as the rat approached "Ya really dink ya were gonna stick me wit dat little ding, eh? Yer slave did more dam-"

The rat stopped and felt something. Parb saw his wound swell as the rat began to cough. His eyes went wide when he smelled the blood from his wound, and it was sweet. He looked down in horror at Parb as she began to rise. Dusting herself off. The rat's movements slowed till he couldn't move, choking as he tore at his silver choker and tried to regain his footing. He soon turned to silent begging as Parb stood down with anger at him, passing away with one final cough.

Nurka slowly stood up, with Parb giving her an odd look. Nurka blinked as Parb demanded something of her "Why."

"I would be next." She slowly said. Parb nodded, it was a fair assessment to make, she did teach her brother to not leave witnesses. The would be assassin was dead, but she realized she couldn't stay long.

"Nurka, the pack. Put what we need in it."

Nurka blinked but Parb grabbed her paw and nearly threw her into it "We've been betrayed, you stupid river dog. We don't got long, no doubt my home is already being purged as it is! Now get to it!" Parb rushed over to her things, picking out only what she needed. It was an odd experience for her to be doing this and not her army of subordinates as she packed things into a small pack like her poisoned dagger. She was extra careful to put that knife back into sheathe, knowing the poison used would make her sick if she even smelled it. It was a special concoction of her own design, difficult to make but useful in situations such as these.

Nurka was all packed, as she rushed food into the pack as Nurka looked outside and towards her side of the camp. She debated who bring along, but she knew things would likely not go well. Who knew how many were likely in on this conspiracy, as he growled and cursed to herself.

"Luzgot. I know damn well what you are doing. Curse you for making me do this." Parb could already imagine all the things she would do that rat once she had her ruined castle back. Yet, as she slowly left with Nurka trailing behind her, she wondered if Markem would perhaps help. Maybe her lackey failed or-

"Parb!" She looked around as she was heading already into the forest, the rat's angry voice peaking as he marched upward towards her pavilion. She heard some confused shouting, and then a some scuffles. Markem was alive, but from the way he cut into her tent and looked around looking for her, only pausing to see a dead rat in her tent, she knew things had gone awry.

Oh Luzgot, if only you knew what was coming. Parb grabbed Nurka's paw and forced her along, marching with anger into the forest on her long and difficult journey back to Great Marsh.