Chapter 22: Toads and Marshes
The morning sun shone down on southern Mossflower, the rolling hills to the south which desperate desert from woodland was long off in the distance. Grass may not have been greener in southern Mossflower, but the small plains and tall trees certainly breathed fresh air for its people. Eskert, the mouse and leader of a band of misfits, was leading his new found party southward through all too familiar forests, the wet platter of their feet as the group walked about was deafening to the sound of the blowing wind against the trees. Eskert shouldered his sword to his back, no longer believing that his group was in mortal danger as the group headed down southward towards camp Palewind.
Loy followed close by, happy and go-lucky the entire trip, enjoying the free air he had not known in some time. The otter slipped and waddled like a free spirit much to the partial annoyance of the ever grim looking Eskert. However, the mouse didn't really mind, as he didn't wish to sour the mood of the otter. Loy often slipped away for moments at the time, coming back and bumbling with some berries for the group to eat. Offering several to Eskert "Ya should eat, Eskert. Ya don't know when wer gonna even get to Palewind."
"You must stop trying to push food, Loy Watertrot." Eskert chuckled, refusing the berries. "Give some to Pelo, and try not go far, the poor thing may be struggling along, but Lufan isn't doing too well himself."
Loy looked behind Eskert and felt some shame, as Lufan was helping along Pelo by holding his shoulder, as if teaching him to walk. Pelo's tortured injuries at the paws of Nurf and his beasts had still an effect on his poor body. Lufan was mortified at how the squirrel of his size and stature even survived, his entire chest was smashed together which made it difficult for him to walk the further they went on. The adrenaline the squirrel had when he was escaping the vermin seemed to leave his body more and more.
Loy offered what he had to Pelo instead who ate it clumsily. The squirrel smiled "Thank you, friend. I just wish we were in Palewind right now."
Lufan nodded "Sadly, I think we are bit. . .far off. If I remember rightly, Palewind is days away, maybe even a week at best."
"Then we best be moving." Eskert ordered "The quicker we can get the help of the Long Patrol, the better."
Loy returned to Eskert as the two continued on, a little bit ahead of both Pelo and Lufan. Loy looked worried as his spoke lowly "I am afraid for Pelo, the wound he had gets worse. I'm just hoping the hares have a healer amongst them."
"They do." Eskert comforted Loy "When my dear Elain was pregnant for the first time, I was quite frightened and took her to Palewind, who delivered my first son. If they could help an awkward creature like myself, then they can help Pelo."
"I suppose you are right, I just hope we can get there sooner than later." Loy looked behind him again, and frowned. Lufan and Pelo were not there, as they vanished from his sight. Loy stopped, unsure of what had happened, wondering if they were relieving themselves. Eskert felt something was wrong and also looked around, and heard nothing. Both stood there looking at each other, dumbfounded, before Loy began to call out.
"Pelo? Lufan? Helllooooo?" Loy shouted. What answered back was muffled grunts and a single croak. Loy didn't seem to understand much, but Eskert widened his eyes and drew his sword. A single toad bounded out of the brush with trident in his webbed hands, the savage creature with warts and all growled at them both.
"Frogs. . ." Eskert seethed. The frog did not speak before lunging at the both of them, clattering its trident into the ground. Loy and Eskert dodged out of the way, but Loy found this tactic odd. It was too far away to not be dodged, but Loy soon found the reason why the frog had done this. As soon as Eskert regained his composure, several other frogs dropped a net from some bushes onto him and pulled him away. Loy took up a sharpened stake and threw it at the enemy who nimbly dodged to the side. Three more frogs came out, with tridents in their slimy paws and grappled at Loy much to his dismay.
Eskert still had his sword and cut through the nets with ease and spilled out onto the ground. The frog kidnappers were shocked at first, and soon took up clubs to try to beat the mouse. Eskert responded in kind by expertly plunging his sword into their chests and slew them with ease. The mouse wheeled about, spotting a terrified Pelo and Lufan who were struggling with a larger group of frogs tying them up, having stuffed some kind of sticky slime into their mouths. The frogs wheeled around and unfurled slings, unleashing a torrent of stones at Eskert. Ducking into the shadow of a tree, the mouse cursed his situation and hoped Loy was having better luck then him.
Loy wasn't having much luck as one frog croaked out "Slurbember waber bog! Yur Blurish!" Loy could barely understand the creature, but he kept his distance as they closed in. Not willing to get captured once again, Loy ducked behind the brush as the frogs gave chase. As the Frogs ran into the bushes, tridents extended, Loy had encircled them as the frogs chased after nothing. Loy figured this wouldn't trick them for long and went off to help Eskert, finding him quickly as he was pinned behind a tree.
Loy hid behind a tree as well, near Eskert as he explained the situation "Three of those slimy buggards ran off to chase me shadow!"
"Those 'slimy buggards' have Pelo and Lufan. We need to get them free, this is likely a slaving party or worse. Frogs don't normally come this far into Mossflower! Do you have Javelin on you by chance?"
Loy answered that by taking up his last sharpened stake and threw it at a frog slinger, catching him in the face. As the fallen frog flopped over dead, the others soon realized how outmatched they were. The frogs looked to slink back up until a massive looking bull of a frog came forward, covered head to toe in slimy tattoos and having grey eyes. The creature leaped forward and crashed between Loy and Eskert and knocked the otter aside with disturbing ease. Loy was knocked over, but Eskert recovered and tried to swing at the frog.
This was a terrible mistake, as the frog took the mouse's paws before he could strike and slammed him into the tree which had covered him. The frog licked its lips and slammed the mouse into the ground again. Eskert could feel the life flow right out of him as the massive frog handled him like a new toy. Eskert lost his sword in the next throw, but was saved when Loy jumped onto the frog's back and began to pound on him with his claws. The frog gave out an earthly shriek as Eskert crawled to his sword. He could hear the fighting behind him as he crawled forward towards his sword. Eskert was nearly upon it, ready to turn the tide of battle, but as Eskert stood to face his foe, his face was met with a sleek and foreign looking frog. The frog swung a board of plank wood on him, and all went black.
_
Eskert awoke slowly, facing up at the night sky as he blinked lightly. Pain was the first thing he felt, primarily over his face. He tried to reach his head with his paws, but something dug into them as he soon realized he was bound in some kind of rope made from reeds and marshland grass. It was a weaker form of rope, but he had no strength to pull at it. He was help up by Lufan, also bound in ropes by his paw as Eskert shook himself. They were around a small campfire, although their captors were nowhere to be seen. Eskert looked around, seeing if everyone was okay.
"Pelo? Loy?" Eskert called out, his vision returning. Loy came over and smiled, although also bound, he sat next to Eskert "Were here, although Pelo is sleeping." Loy whispered. The otter looked fairly bruised, his fight with the huge frog did not go well. The otter happily spoke up, despite their predicament "Those bullies seem to be camping farther off, although I don't see them. Once Pelo is less frightened, we can make our escape!"
Eskert shook his head "You don't know frogs very well then."
"Whatever do you mean?" Eskert demonstrated as he stood up and a frog suddenly came out of the brush, club in his slimy paws. He flicked his tongue aggressively at him, and Eskert scoffed as he sat back down. The frog revealed himself a bit more, putting down a large shell bowl of collected mushrooms and vittles he had scavenged for. It made its ways off into the brush once again, disappearing.
"You know these creatures?" Loy said, a little fright to his voice.
"Aye. Were lucky that this is likely a raiding warband, probably rogues or worse. If it was a formal band, they would have likely killed half of us. Either these frogs are young, or greedy, and it gives us time before they drag us into the inner marshes."
"How do you know all this?" Loy asked, inquisitively. Eskert got comfortable and ate the meal, explaining "Fought them many years ago, when the frog king of the western marshes tried to expand his domain into southern Mossflower. Me and some soldiers led the defense against their kind, smashed them in the Battle of Feesfield. The frogs outnumbered us, but they are poor skirmishers. We baited them easily into the forests where we finished them off with arrows, drove them from a bunch of new farmland."
Lufan looked worried, examining his bonds "What do you think they want to do with us? Fatten us up to eat? Kill us?"
"I don't know for certain, but creatures do tend to disappear permanently when they go deep enough into frog lands. It'll give us some time. We're lucky they don't speak our language very well, but try to rest up if you can." Eskert got comfortable, looking at the frog encampment in the far off distance, the large shadow of the massive beast stared deeply into the fire, the sounds of its loud croaking bothering the group as they tried to rest.
When Nurf and his gang of murderers and degenerates returned back to their keep, most had small injuries. Their fight with the veteran black-clads did not go as well as they suspected it to, but their boss was in high spirits. Of their number, they lost several invaluable vermin hordebeasts, including their only archer. Nurf however did not very much care, for as the group was heading back, they began searching for burrows and conscripting to replace their dead. The newer creatures were terrified of Nurf, and were right to, as their new boss yelped to himself and often wheeled around and made random inspections. Any imperfection he would often cut with his knife, laughing and mocking them as they did.
Nurf lounged and got comfortable in his little corner of the keep, pulling aside his captain Goran to his side. "Be sure ya make de new fools all nice an' comfy, eh? I wanna see em' all smiles, an filled wit vigor. Dem less den pretty Black clads were quite a show. Too bad dey all escaped."
Goran was too fearful to say the truth of the matter. They did not escape as much as rout Nurf who fled as soon as he realized his own life was in danger. Goran gave a fake smile "Aye boss, but we should rest. We got enough vittles fer winter fer now, but we should be consideren maken peace wit Gandal if we can."
"Nay, why make peace wit dat ugly piece of filth? Me children tell me many dings, dey tell me Gandal plots out very demise! Ya wouldn't be a softie towards dat cretan, would ya? Would ya Goran? A softie to those who swear on Kasg's rotting corpse?"
"No, no! Chief, ya know me! I be simply suggesting we make peace wit Gandal before he decides to send out a bigger horde. Chief, we just need to bide our time wit him, he may not know where we be right now, but soon enough he will be looken fer us!"
Nurf thought of it, with Goran unsure if the fox agreed with his thinking or not. Then again, it was difficult to tell what Nurf was thinking. Nurf had a very difficult time thinking, let alone formulating plans. Goran found it kind of amusing at first, a useful and skilled bandit like Nurf did help roll in his impressive wealth. The fox looked about, grumbling and mumbling to the 'shadow children'. It was the one thing that a degenerate like Goran was never truly sure about, as the fox suddenly would jump to a pile of bones which had once been a younger mouse they had tortured and slew seasons ago "Whacha think me mate? You think we should make peace with Gandal? Bow an' speak kind words to dat slaver from der north? No? Why not? Goran makes a good points I thinks."
Nurf suddenly gave a wide eye to Goran, smiling as he crept forward "Goran, think of it like this, me good mates, why make peace with Gandal, when we can do the next best thing?"
"What would dat be, boss?"
"I say we go on a raid, a big one, eh? Bigger den most." Nurf lept onto a window and stared out across the forests of Mossflower, a dark and evil smile creeping over his face "I say we go on a big, bad raid. Biggest one yet, wit the biggest prize. Da long patrol, Goran, dey fight Gandal? I say we disguise ourselves as Black Clads, make one big push against the villages, smear them red."
"Smear dem red in blood, sir?"
"Yes. Yes! Smear dem red! Take der things! Leave trails leaden back to Gandal's camps, make bait! Let the Long Patrol and Gandal's black horde fight one another, while we have our fun an' riches fer ourselves! Yes. Yes."
There was a spark of pleasure in the fox's eye, one for which he already could imagine what he was going to do in the coming days. Goran agreed to Nurf's plan, and began restlessly goading his new vermin recruits and veteran bandits to ready themselves. Nurf overlooked his small treasures, including the decaying black garbs and small bits of clothes he was already sewing into his own clothes. "Yes. Kasg may be dead, his shadow yet lengthens. My pretty and dear friends, my wonderful children, your desires are heard! Blood will streak across the hills! Den when we are done, dem pretties who stole your new playmates will be found. Yes. Found. Found and brought to you. Yes."
_
Nurf was jealous of his companions for many reasons, watching them sleep made him angry. As he slept in a pile of clothes and ragged, dirty cloth in the ruins of his keep, Nurf would suddenly feel a jolt as his eyes would come wide awake, looking on into the dark room. It was every night that Nurf would lay still in his 'bed', looking out over the sleeping and snoring vermin in the dark of the night, dreaming. Nurf hated that he could see some of the younger vermin dreams, he hated listening to them talk about it, something which he never had. Instead of dreams, Nurf had a show, a show of horror which crept out from the shadows of room in the twilight of the current hour.
They arose from the bones of his many, many victims scattered about the room. Meager sizes of children who were all unfortunate enough to have known Nurf temporarily in life now haunted him in death. They arose, a wall of shadowy figures all in black and coming from many species all watched Nurf. Their black eyes looked down at their victim, without smile or comfort they goaded him into action.
"You will not disappoint us, will you Nurf?" One spoke, the largest of them and eldest of his victims.
"Please Nurf, it's lonely in the day time, we need more playmates!" Another demanded, the youngest of his victims.
"Please Nurf, release them for us. We are bored."
"Nurf, Release them."
"Nurf."
"Nurf, its so cold without new playmates."
Nurf was never used to their terrified voices they made, creeping ever closer and their forms drowning out the unaware vermin the room. They slept soundly, but their snoring was drowned out by the vile voices of the wraiths. They crept closer, as Nurf could feel their paws clawing at him, prodding him and continuing to make him whimper in utter fear. As the shadowy paws made for his eyes, Nurf could not do anything. He was frozen utterly where he was, his sleep forever disturbed by the figures which loomed so heavily in the room. Their voices grew ever more desperate, and ever more sinister.
"Kill them. Nurf. Kill them, slow and steady. For us."
Loy found himself in a situation he was all the more familiar with, as the morning came and he and his friends were forcefully lined up. He and his mother had gone through the same journey when he was first captured by Gandal, as the frogs looped their ropes between their bonds and were getting them ready to move out. There were some meager differences however; the largest frog, with his grey eyes, looked down at the group with a bored and disappointed look, with Eskert's blade hanging from his greasy looking belt. The creature did not speak, and looked with increasing anger at his subordinates as they readied the group to move out. It was then the creature spoke, its groggly and booming voice as predictable as the beast's appearance.
"Weeb movb out, yub rebmain sbilent."
Eskert spoke out "You are taking prisoner the people of Mossflower, I would like to demand what you intend to do with us, and why you have attacked us."
The large frog harshly slapped the mouse instinctively, it was a fast and harsh slap which downed him near instantly. Loy came forward, growling at the creature in a brave but otherwise stupid tone. He reiterated what his friend had demanded "We demand to know, you stupid muck sucker!"
The frog looked at Loy and grumbled in its own language. It then repeated what it had said "Weeb movb out. Yub rebmain sbilent. Mabke clamb rich. Yurb purbpuse."
Loy partly understood what this meant as the group was harshly dragged out. The group traveled through Mossflower woods, although the frogs for obvious purposes kept to their own paths, and usually through the wetlands. It would not take them long as they headed more and more westward, meeting up with other frog raiding bands, although they all came from different tribes it looked like. Of the bands, the frogs did not seem to have much success as their own captor had, the large bullish creature looked cynically spiteful, the best loot they had gotten was a bag of half eaten vittles, and one dead bird which the frogs would cook for their dinner one night.
As they traveled, the frogs seemed to relax on their prisoners. Pelo struggled to keep up, his wounds still bothered him. When one of the taskmasters had noticed, the band had stopped and a smaller looking newt was called up. Loy and Eskert watched, much to their partial amazement as the newt examined Pelo and began to apply a salve to him which comforted his aching body. When they were moving once again, Lufan looked a bit confused and concerned.
"I suppose its good they helped you Pelo, although not sure why."
Pelo looked thankful "Whatever they put on me is working fairly well at least. . .still aches horribly though."
Loy grunted at the statement "That just confirms my suspicion. . .they intend to take us on as slaves then."
"That is good news for us." Eskert reminded him. Loy looked insulted and spoke up "How, if I may ask?"
"It means we got more than enough time to get out of here. Although, not with this large group. We should bide our time."
"I am not going to be forced into servitude again!" Loy grappled at his ropes futilely, trying to pull harshly on them in an attempt at escape. His attempts were cruelly mocked with a harsh tug by the frog leading them which sprawled him forward. Eskert helped pick him up. "I know, but we cannot do much now. If we try to escape, young Loy, we will get killed by the raiders. Just keep walking for now, and k-"
"I won't keep my head down, but you are. . .right." Loy sighed. The group continued onward, as they soon reared through the brush, and looking out into the great western marshes.
_
The marshes of western Mossflower was a wild place, a vast and treacherous flood plain with few if any trees, and a wild assortment of marshes which stretched out beyond. Tall sea grass grew as the group marched into the unknown, with even a water loving creature like Loy disturbed as they stepped through the wetlands. Small ridges, cut through sand, mud, and stone, had to be avoided as they continued onward. The vast marshes were a sight to both behold and avoid, for as they continued through the vast wet plains, the forests of Mossflower slowly disappeared behind them. Dragonflies and mayflies arose from the ground, with a string of annoying blood sucking pests which bothered the group as they moved forward.
It did not take long before a shadow which the group was moving towards in the distance became more visible, as they seemed to enter the inner marshes. It was an odd settlement among the wetlands, a large and muddy pile of mounds acted as walls, with a thinner pile of mud bricked up as a meager defense. As the group entered the settlement, they saw a vast amount of mudbrick houses stacked on top of one another. Eskert looked on in utter amazement, not sure what he was seeing. He never imagined that frogs could even build such things, and what amazed him more however were several more richer frogs were busily crafting away new tools and mudbrick. Furnaces, fueled by driftwood from the far off coasts, were used to create all manner of things which Eskert did not think possible.
The group was led through the settlement and towards a barbaric looking household, although it was guarded with all manner of reptiles. It was an encircled hut, which wasn't well fortified, but walled off with pieces of wood from ships and the frames of others. There were small towers and mudbrick additions, which Eskert could guess was another household. The frogs led the group inside and into a circular and barbarous court with a muddy and wet floor. The captives were forced to kneel at the ground as they stared up at what looked to be a massive and old looking toad with greying eyes and warts across his entire frame. The creature moved its head forward, in which Eskert could see a driftwood crown placed clumsily on its head, looking over the captives with some clear distaste.
The bullish looking frog came forward and knelt down, leaning on its trident as it presented the captives to the larger toad, the two croaking in their own language. Eskert and his party watched as their captor was struck harshly in the face by the noble looking creature after the two seemed to argue, getting up and led itself away. The larger toad slouched back into its 'throne', a warren of cloth, silk, and clattered wood. It spoke out.
"Ib am Kinbg Husgolag, of theb Marshbes. My sonb saybs he bring me gifbts to my domainb. Foolb he is." The frog king said, looking down at the group. "A mouseb, a hedgehbig, a cribble, an'b a slavb. Patheticb."
Loy took a great deal of insult to this, coming up and yelling at the frog king. "I am no slave!"
The frog king looked back and gave a weak grin "Yerb lashbed back saybs othber wise, rivber dog." The frog guards forced Loy back down, grunting in anger. The frog king took his massive webbed paw and began to stroke his slimy chin, giving out weak and loud croaks. He heaved himself and looked them over, almost unsure what to do. Eskert was quick to notice this and spoke out.
"If I may speak, were we intended to be here, king Husgolag?"
"No." Husgolag spoke "Sonb was sent on othber affairb. Not tob raid, not unlesb there werb reason. Tellb me truthfullbly, mousb. Hasb something habbened in Mossflowber since the days of Kasgb? Tellb me honestbly, an I shallb let you all go."
Eskert froze for a moment, and looked to his friends. Loy was a bit hopeful, but Eskert spoke out "Nothing. Nothing happened, your son simply found us wandering."
The frog's eyes squinted and shook his massive head "Thenb so be it. I willb not beat it outb of you, butb you shallb stay here tillb you do." The frog king waved his massive slimy paw and the group was led away.
_
The four were led and then thrown into a pit which was covered with a twine cage. Taking some time to recover, the group huddled in the pit, feeling around at what would likely be their new home, a dirty and muddy thing with very little in it. The occasional scrap of leather and bone was not a comforting sight. Loy crept close to Eskert, more confused then angry as he accusingly spoke to him "What was that about? I suppose I should know better, but I cannot wrap my head around it. What did he want you to say for us to be let ago?"
Eskert sighed "These are a barbarian people, Loy. Vermin in all but name, the lizard and frog folk are as vicious and unrelenting as any rat or weasel. If I said that there was an entire horde of vermin wandering in southern Mossflower, or that there was a raider burning villages thought safe, that 'king' would have likely been looking to attack as well."
"How long do you think it will take him to find out, though?" Lufan noted.
"Hopefully long enough, which means we should try to escape before he decides to deal with us harshly. Or worse. Now, you all need to look for opportunities to escape. Otherwise, we may not end up as slaves of these beasts for long."
"How do you imagine?"
"Frogs are cannibals, they'll eat us as much as eat each other. You didn't notice any woodlanders or vermin in this settlement, did you?"
Lufan gulped in fear at the implication, feeling around the walls, looking for any signs of possible escape. Pelo sat on the ground in utter dismay. Loy and Eskert hoped to see where they were in the settlement, with Eskert getting onto Loy's shoulders and was lifted up to look around. Eskert grunted in disbelief, as he occasionally got a wet taste of mist and particles of dirt from the dirty land they were trapped in. Eskert could only see a flat square separated by a couple mudbrick houses and apartments, a small furnace, and a couple tribal frogs going about their business.
"Well. Good news is. We aren't guarded." Eskert shrugged. "Problem is we are in the middle of the settlement, so they know we cannot escape easily. Even if we get outside, we might be killed by archers, and get run down in the marshland. We'll have to be smart if we wanna escape unscathed."
Loy grunted "They seem quite over confident that we won't run or try to escape. Especially with this flimsy prison. You got any clue what they plan on doing to us?"
"I do not know, but we need to head out before the-wait, something is coming."
The familiar large captor came out, partly hopping with several others. They came towards the hole and looked down, looking rather menacingly at their prisoners. The large toad spoke unkindly to its other minions, and several hopped down. They took Lufan in a swift movement, despite Eskert trying to push them aside. The toads laughed croaked in annoyance and pushed Eskert down as Lufan gave out a horrified shriek as he was pulled above. The large toad then came down himself, binding ropes in his webbed paws as he looked about.
Loy was to an extreme resistant, which was rewarded with several frogs punching him until he reluctantly submitted. The three were hauled out and led along, watching as Lufan was pulled aside and was being shepherded fearfully back towards the frog king's mud encrusted court. Eskert angrily demanded to know what the frogs would do with Lufan, but was given no answer as they were once again led out of the settlement.
Gandal was slowly recovering, although he did not get out of his tent much. He would have thrown a fit if he wasn't in such much pain, but he was dulled to it. Years of campaigning ravished his aging body, and the blackish rat could not help growl and snarl at every vermin who tried to help him. The only beast he allowed into his tent was his favorite captain Olan, who had been caring for the warlord. Olan was followed by one of the slaves of the camp, the squirrel Tera Reeksplit, who had tried to escape the night when Loy and his friends escaped. Tera carried with her some small crutches as she stood to the side, watching the dark rat rise and cough, grumpily sitting down at his desk.
"The hells is this, Olan? I don't need a helper."
"Not to be against ya, chief, but yer not in good shape. Ya can barely walk let alone fight, an if der vermin see ya like this, dey will start thinking about murderen ya. Other captains are a bit worried, making things out to be finer den dey are will go a long way."
Gandal spat "I hate when you are right, ya cretan. Tell me we got something from all this, foolery!"
"Well, our raid got some crutches. Our murders in the western villages also cut off some resources fer our hares, an' we got about. . .ehhh, maybe ten or twenty more slaves den we started out wit. All of our dead comrades also solves a crises of food I thought we'd have trouble wit."
Gandal tapped his foot, displeased. "Were back in this damn stalemate, waiten fer some badger an his army to come down an' kill us all. We need to start conscripten again, an' conscripten hard. Send out some of the captains, especially Jano, to start bashing open the vermin homes an' hamlets. I want to see some rats and weasels among our ranks ready to march. Don't care how young dey be either, I just need bodies. Have the hares done anything?"
"Me scouts. . .ummm, report. . ." Olan was a bit fearful to blurt out loud, but didn't wish to finish. Gandal felt he needed to make an example, getting up and calmly going over the squirrel 'helper' in the tent. He then angrily began to beat on her, continuing with a pent up rage as he wailed constantly on her for a few minutes. Tera was bloodied and fearfully crying by the end of it as Gandal shook off blood from his paw and sat back down. Olan looked shocked as Gandal calmly restated his previous sentence. "Phew. Feels good to let out my anger from time to time, Olan. Now, do tell me. What have the scouts reported back, or what I did to that slave over there I am going to do to you. Twice fold."
Olan sighed, feeling that if he told Gandal the truth, it wouldn't really matter much. "Chief, the hares began to evacuate the villages from those nearest to us, putting us in a dead zone. We sent scavenger parties to look fer vittles and supplies dey left behind, but most were either ambushed or found burned out homes. The hares are builden a wall, sir. A wall of fire fer which keeps us to our side, and them to der's."
Gandal wasn't angry, but was rather surprised. Normally such an act would have been controversial for the Long Patrol, but it was smart. Moving all those bodies certainly caused issues, and the southern communities were suffering more and more. Gandal however was annoyed by Tera' crying which he had ignored for the most part, he snapped at the squirrel "Stop yer sniveling, an' stand. Yer lucky I didn't kill ya."
Tera slowly stood back up, bruised and beaten as she soon found herself using the crutches she was carrying. She was kind of surprised how much Gandal was both in pain and still had the strength to beat on her. Gandal worked through pain and discomfort as the rat warlord snarled out his orders.
"We need to get back on top, an' quick like. Gather back some raiders, I think I gots a new plan."
"Sir, ya don't got-"
"Don't got what? I got ya, remember? Gather up some of our veteran groups, half of em. We'll do some more subtle maneuvers. Have me captains still be recruiting as well, I wanna see some new warriors when I am finally out of this bloody tent!"
Gandal turned to Tera, wiping away a tear from her bruised eye. He angrily scolded her "What I tell ya about sniveling! Put those damn crutches away an' bring me a hot meal! Is there any idiot in this camp who can follow orders! Get to it!"
Both were soon away, with Tera rushing about towards the vermin settlement's kitchens. Olan however made a slight detour, making his way towards the officer side of the camp. He would gather up the old black clad units when he had time, but there was one stop he wanted to make before his set off to do his chief's will. The rat stopped by his tent, and awaiting him was Olan's wife who peaked out. "Ya look less beaten! Chief take it well, den?"
"Better den most, but where be me young'un?" Olan snapped. The rat wife leaped out and shook her head "Be too much like his idiot fadder, dat be where he is. He was pretenden to march wit some of the other black clad chums, but he be back soon, I tell ya."
Olan awaited as his wife fetched him a warm meal, sitting at the edge of his tent, a life he had always known. He was partly happy being a captain in a horde to the murderous and vile Gandal Blackfur, but he missed the days when Kasg was alive. He was living in a barracks then, and his dear wife suspected she was again going to have another child with him. Olan and his wife ate up until his son returned. He snuck up on Olan, pretending to ambush him as Olan grasped him and held him. "Oof! Der ya are ya little devil! Ya be runnen off again I sees!"
"Ya pops! Der other kids wanted to go into der forest, looken fer the lady of der woods."
"Well, hold off on dat fer now." Olan said clumsily and cheerfully. Olan produced something from his pockets and handed it to his son. It was nothing of any particular note, a half burnt chestnut "Vittles be tough, but I grabbed ya something. Now, don't be eaten it all in one place. Yer pa gotta be off again soon, an I don't wanna see ya missen er worse."
The younger rat sighed, but ate it in one gulp. Olan ruffled his hair as the youngster looked up in some form dismay "Ya leaven again, pops?"
"Aye, but not fer long. I promise ya, it won't be long at all." Olan gave an uncomfortable smile, hugging his son deeply.
_
Olan had gathered his would be raiders, most of them veteran raiders from his previous missions and skirmishes, and most of them veterans of Kasg the Craven's horde. Outside the camp, the group was hoisting up their gear. Olan was examining his sword, disappointed how dull it has become. He regretted losing the smith they had captured in the raid, since none of the vermin the camp knew of any smithing. Olan sheathed his sword, and spoke to his raiders "Chief wants us to do a large terror sweep, kinda of like the ones we did under Kasg. Yer to scare dem woodlanders an' pillage anything good along der way. Distract the long Patrol into thinking were a pillager band as well, so I wanna not see any slave taken or big hauls. We cannot afferd it." Olan spoke loudly and clearly. The veteran creatures nodded in approval, but as they began to get into formation and make final farewells to a small group of families which had gathered to see them off, another captain of Gandal came out.
Jano Whiplash was bored, but he didn't come to see Olan off to watch him and his raiders go out into southern Mossflower. He was carrying another unfortunate creature by the scruff of her neck, throwing down a squirrel in front of Olan and his vermin. Tera looked up, having spilled a hot meal all over her decaying clothes which had not been kept together very well since getting captured and forced into servitude by the vermin horde. Olan looked down, and back at Jano as the ferret cruelly put his foot on top of the squirrel with a sadistic look to his eyes.
"Is she a runner?" Olan calmly stated. Olan shook his head "Nay, but she claimed something that she clearly ain't. Chief be all well an' such, eh? Never needed a personal servant before, nor does he need one now. Claims ya grabbed her to do some task fer Gandal."
Olan looked to his curious vermin and motioned for them to wait a bit further ahead. Jano was loud and obnoxious, but did not see the two black clad soldiers who were looking to Olan for command. Olan approached slowly at first, as Jano continued.
"Shame dey don't know what der chief be looken like, eh Olan? Now, what should I do to a liar like dis, crop her tail? Take a leg? 100 lash-" Olan charged Jano, and went for his throat, crashing him into the wooden palisade. Olan grasped Jano's throat as he began to choke as Olan sneered angrily at him.
"Three times, Jano. Three times I should have just killed ya. When Gandal wanted both of der otters alive, Lorgar's boy an' his missus, ya killed the missus an' I covered fer ya. Ya failed again when ya hampered down in der camp, spenden yer time torturen some poor conscript instead of looken fer Borbon's brood, an I covered fer ya then as well. Ya then told me ya wanted to gut the chief, an I held me tongue. Now listen here an' listen well Jano, cause I ain't gonna repeat meself." Olan punched Jano into the ribs and threw him harshly into the ground. The ferret rolled over in horrible pain as Olan went over to Tera who looked mortified.
"Ye got yer orders, slave beast. Now go an' get Gandal befer he starts asken questions." Tera got up and was off, as Olan took out his knife. He came back over to Jano who was trying to crawl away, but was kicked harshly by one of the black clad soldiers. Olan knelt down and turned the ferret taskmaster over, hovering his knife over Jano's eyes.
"Listen very well, Jano. Listen like yer life depends on it, mate. Yer degenerency reminds me a bit far too much of Nurf, who I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeten. If I come back to dis camp, an I see dat squirrel dead er missen, I will kill you. There be no buts, ifs, or excuses. I will put this knife into yer skull, you'll be dead, an' I'll be a very happy rat. No more defenses, nor more troubles. Do ya understand, mate?"
Jano slowly nodded his head in horrified fear, Olan pushed him to the ground and got up and ordered the sentries to pull him back inside. Olan was off into Mossflower once again, a heaving weight on his chest feeling like it was gone, and breathed in the fresh air.
Eskert and his friends were led out into the marshes and were lorded over by the large frog who had captured them. Bound in reed-made ropes, the three were set to work with wooden planks to toil, although for what reason Eskert did not know. The group came to know the large bullish frog went by the name of 'Red', and it did not seem to give away its name much. 'Red' would often hop about, looking over his prisoners and occasionally nudge them if they slowed, but he did not look happy doing it. 'Red' seemed angry about something, but his anger was not directed towards the meek prisoners who were trudging up dirt and mud at a slow pace, throwing it over their shoulders. Loy grumbled angrily as he worked, being put back into a place he rather not be in. Loy looked up at 'Red' who was looking down at him, giving a loud croak at him.
"Workb." It blurted out. Loy threw down his plank into the water and yelled out "What even is the point to any of this, huh! Why don't you come down and make me, you slaving, vermin, tyrant!"
'Red' obliged, jumping into the muck and towering over the otter. Pelo came to the otter's defense, and stood between him and 'Red', as the frog blinked with a grim and unfeeling boredom. "Luckby, fathber wants youb alivbe."
"Why do you do this to us." Loy snarled "Why can't you vermin just leave us alone."
The frog came closer, with Pelo half regretting his decision. 'Red' reiterated his position. "Workb. Or I drownb you."
Loy pouted, picking up the board as he and Pelo went back to work. Loy whispered to Eskert who seemed more confused than angry "Is there even a point to this? We've been at this for hours. Every time we reach down into the muck, the water just flushes back on in!"
"I don't know, but for whatever reason I think he wants us to be exhausted. Save your energy if you can." The three continued to work much into the day, as 'Red' looked out dazed and into the country of what was his home. The creature hopped around a bit, as his frog soldiers mostly croaked and played with their tridents. Eskert looked up from the muck he was in, peering into the tall marshland grass. He noticed something odd, shapes and figures moving about. Grass slowly parted in places, as they enclosed on one of the sentries, whose trident disappeared with a thud. Eskert nudged both Pelo and Loy, who could barely see what Eskert was seeing.
'Red' noticed his prisoners were looking at something, and looked in their direction. Their was pained and terrified croak, which caused 'Red' to screech out in a loud and alarming sound. Eskert hoped to see some friendly faces come out to help them, but those hopes were dashed when from out of the brush came a small swarm of stouts and rats, who crashed heartily into the frogs. Caught off guard and in an ambush, 'Red' was nearly killed by a stout with a spear who rammed it into his chest. The frog squirmed out a horrifying gurgle, yelling some barbarous war cry into the stout's face.
"Dieb inb Mucbk! Ambush! Ambubsh!" 'Red' broke the stout's spear and rammed the broken piece harshly into the creature's face, killing him instantly. Frogs formed partial skirmish lines, firing blindly into the brush, killing both each other and there would be enemies. Eskert and his friends did not understand what was going on, hiding in their work station as the two forces fought. Eskert wanted to pull away, but did not wish to leave his friend Lufan in the frog settlement. The two watched as 'Red' bounded around, with the screams of vermin echoing above them.
One of the vermin crashed into the muck, terrified and feeling around for a fallen weapon. It was a stout, an older creature who looked at Eskert and his friends who stared back. The stout looked a bit surprised, although what surprised the three even more was how the stout looked. He had a fairly bulky white cloth for armor, a turban, and a brand mark of a cat's eye on his cheek. He had a fairly greenish looking handkerchief which flowed down from his neck. The stout tried to look for his weapon, but was stopped short by a frog jumping down and nearly impaling him with his trident.
The stout dodged out of the way, but soon found his fallen spear in the muck. In fear and some vermin pride, he struck down the charging toad. Shocked, he came over to the hiding group of woodlanders, quickly abandoning his spear and silently sat down next to them, huffing like a mad beast. The three looked at him inquisitively.
"Well." Pelo asked "You got a weapon, why don't you free us."
"Free ya? You slave beasts just keep silent, ya hear? I have no clue who be winning up der, an if it be me cap'n, den I can present ya to him."
There was a mortified and loud scream, which drove fear into the stout. Loy looked on shocked and a little dismayed, the cowardice and sheer arrogance of waiting to be re-enslaved by who won. Eskert was also insulted, but didn't say anything at first. The stout looked a bit frightened as he remained silent and whispered out rather casually "By the seasons, it sounds like a hell feast up der! I knew, I just knew, dat feral cat be mad to attack so close to here!"
"Feral cat?" Eskert asked. The stout looked at him, wide eyed and fearful "Aye, big fellow. Didn't even know dey existed till about a couple seasons ago. Go figure."
"You sound like some beast from Mossflower." Pelo noted "Ya mentioned the seasons an' all."
"That be because I am. Well. Originally. Long story, mate. Now shut yer trap, before either dem frogs or dat taskmaster cat notice us!"
"Then free us." Loy demanded. The stout sniffed "Look, ya three are toilers, no matter who wins up der. If der frogs win, I'll be joinen ya soon enough. If me boss wins, we all get to go to Sandbeach in chains, but i'll get me extra vittles. Maybe even a promotion!"
Eskert gritted his teeth and went forward, picking up the cowardly soldiers spear. He cut into his bonds, which freed him. Eskert looked around, noticing that the frogs were winning the attempted ambush. Several bodies laid strewn on the marsh, including those which fell into the ditch they had been working in. However, 'Red' came bounding out from the tall marsh grass, slamming an equally dressed feral cat into the ground. If 'Red' had been brutal to the three when they had been captured, he was monstrous to the feral cat. The feline was attempting to pull out its scimitar, but its paws were held by 'Red' who would swiftly punch and kick into the creature. It was a horrifying sight.
As the feral cat figured that he was already dead, he lifted up his paws in a feeble attempt to surrender. 'Red' accepted by continuing to punch him repeatedly, blood staining his own webbed hands in the process. However, as 'Red' was getting up, a rat came out of the brush, yelling as he tried to stab the toad through the chest. Thinking quickly, Eskert threw the spear he had into the rat, felling him in an instant. 'Red' looked surprised, croaking as he turned to his now free captives and the stout who weakly raised his paws in surrender. 'Red' grunted and got up, a gash in his legs and chest revealed a story of his escapades during the ambush, croaking out ot summon his frogs.
Eskert hoped that by saving their captor's life, perhaps they would be treated more fairly. However, this was not the case, as 'Red' came back over and began to rebind their paws. "Worb done forb tobay." It grunted. Loy spoke out "But we saved your life, can you not just let us go?"
"Youb will mabke clabn rich." It said coldly. Once their paws were tied, tied together with the frog's other prisoners, they were led back to the settlement.
_
Lufan was sat on the floor infront of the great toad king, who was eating something which Lufan could only describe as 'inedible'. He was a hedgehog, a cook by nature, and to see how this dark king ate disgusted him. The toad king was tended to by its wives and minor sons, it held court like any normal king as Lufan bore witness, although he was bound to the floor by the sticky rope. Husgolag did not even speak to him, or look at him, until later in the day as Lufan suspected he would be treated as a common thrall. Instead, the king had his newts bring out a small feast of salads, although most of it was vittles the frogs had captured in their raiding. Hungrily, the hedgehog ate in front of the massive toad.
"Tellb me theb truthb. Whatb is habbening in Mossbflower." The frog king calmly demanded. Lufan was in a bit of a bind, gulping as he sat before Husgolag.
"We told you the truth, my lord. Nothing ha-"
"Firb. Fireb in theb eyes of thatb mouse, an' thatb otter. Muchb like my own sonb." Husgolag said remorsefully. "My eldestbest has been missingb for many seasons. Stolenb by creaturesb from acrossb great sea, tear outb the heart of my sonb. Something evil has habbened to all of youb, a festering thing. Ifb you will not speak to me, thenb at leastb tell me why you willb not tell me."
Lufan was not well versed as his friend Eskert was in such matters, but he could see a sadness and anger which reminded him of Eskert when he had lost his family and friends, but the fire in the toad king's eyes had quelled to a low simmer. "We. . .we do not trust you." Lufan said truthfully. "We are afraid that if you know, you will attack us."
The frog king sat a bit more upright on his 'throne' and grunted. Lufan could not tell by the frog's face what he was thinking, but it was clearly not a pleased look.
"A fair ibea, but not myb intention. Expansionb and conquesbt was a phaseb of youthb and dreambs shattered on a coldb summer eve many seasons ago. I onlyb wish to know whatb happens in Mossbflower. I promisb you, youb an' your friendbs will go free."
"Why were we captured in the first place?"
The frog king shook his massive head "Sonb raidbs alongb border, wentb beyond what I limitb him to. Brings back riches for kingdom, and forb me. It wasb not intended. Sonb wants riches and glory, brings prestige to my brood."
"Why raid at all?" Lufan said with a little more assertive attitude.
"Why don'tb you?"
"Its wrong, taking another creature or his things. To murder and steal is not a way to live, its vermin-like."
The frog came a little closer "Whatb makes it wrongb? Woulb you tell me? Myb people resbect our gods and our warriorbs of old, taking what wasn'tb theres. My blood builtb an empire on bone and magicb, the illumination of night and sun mabe manifest. Sonb does all he can to be worthby of my clanb, to rule whenb I pass on. A noble featb. Youb woodlandbers confuse us, much as the verminb. You liveb in a world expecting nothingbing but peace, but haveb no meanbs to defendb it, relying on the violenceb of others. Verminb fight for a worldb to not work, but workb hard and fight worse forb the honor to dominateb others. Viciousb cycle, endless and , pleaseb, tell me whatb ails Mossbflowe-"
There was a panicked croak outside, as a scout entered the court and bowed. The two croaked in their own language at one another, as Lufan was left to wonder on the frog king's words. He never really considered such a thing before. A strange people, a culture of violence certainly, but yet I cannot help but feel sad for that poor thing. I cannot help pity creatures like them, so steeped in their beliefs that they see our peace as weakness. The frog's sudden and brash change of tone nearly terrified the hedgehog, as it yellout out loudly. Several of the guard frog left the court in a rush, leaving Lufan and the king alone.
Lufan took up some of his courage to ask "W-what is happening?"
"Verminb." The king spat "Verminb from across the west seab. Enemy. Slavers. Murberers."
_
Lufan was returned to the pen in short order, only to be surprised to see the pen separated between Eskert and his friends in one corner, and the new coming prisoners in another. The feral cat scoffed as the frogs gently helped Lufan down into the pit and closed the hatch. Lufan wanted to introduce himself, but the feral cat hissed at him. The cat turned to the frightened looking stout "Slave, start feeling around for the soft dirt. If we are lucky, then this pathetic hole they call a prison likely is near a nice, big ditch. Start digging outward, and silently."
The stout meagerly obeyed. Loy found this odd, but was insulted nonetheless. When did vermin enslave other vermin? The feral cat looked to the woodlanders and tried to bully them around "You four, you best get to work as well before the guard comes. Once we get out, we'll go our separate ways. Get to work, work beasts."
"You do your own work." Loy snarled at him. The vermin hissed back, but before a fight could break out, Eskert silenced them both. "Don't order us around, vermin, but you are correct. If we are near a wall, we can dig ourselves out in the night, but what about the guard?"
"Guard? What guard. These dumb toads are like rats, always sleeping at their posts. Even if they saw you, they wouldn't care very much. Beasts aren't fast runners, even in their own marshes."
"Who are you, and what were you thinking about attacking so close to this settlement?" Lufan asked.
"None of your business, but I had. . .a miscalculation. I thought we could grab the bigger one and haul him back. Make a nice profit selling him to my overseer. Naturally however, that didn't work out very well. Now I am trapped here, along with you idiotic lot. However, you should silence yourselves and start working quickly, likely before they 'make their clan rich'"
"The one called 'Red' mentions that a lot." Eskert retorted "You know what it means?"
"Frogs don't need or want slaves, but they do like food. Smaller frog warbands pay huge tribute, by their standards, to sell fools like you for food stock. It won't be today, but they are going to start trying to work you into exhaustion first, get you all puckered up and then start roasting you. We'll all be breakfast for a minor noble, or a wedding feast for another."
Eskert looked sickened by the thought, and so did Loy. Both he and Loy went to help the stout to begin working on a tunnel, now knowing their lives were in danger. The cat, in arrogance refused to work, and was trying to lick himself clean. Loy grumbled at this and looked to the stout who looked mortified of him. Loy recogonized the look, it was the look of a slavish beast who was fearing for his life.
"That beast called you slave, but you were fighting for him. Are you a hordebeast?" Loy asked the stout. The stout shrugged. "I don't know really. One day I be wit me mates robbing along the northern routes, next thing I know some wild cat and his gang of rats steal me away to some blasted isle, give me dis brand fer show, and tells me I am now apart of some dumb horde. Dey feed me as much as whip me, an I just go along wit it."
Eskert nudged Loy "Keep away from beasts like that, remember, he did want to capture us and present us to that there cat. Slave or not, he is still vermin."
Loy took Eskert's words to heart, but Lufan overheard and looked a bit worried. The stout sadly sighed and continued his work. The work continued up until they heard some croaking as the cat silenced them. The latch opened as 'Red' popped down. Eskert and Loy put their backs towards their work as he grabbed the feral cat. The would be slaver clawed and hissed as he was dragged up top. Once gone, they could hear some talking as Loy and Eskert assumed their position, with Eskert looking out into the civic square.
It was harder to see, as the square filled with frogs and newts. The cat was forced to his knees as a vast and bulbous frame of King Husgolag bounded out towards them. It gave a loud croak, silencing his audience. The feral cat looked up, spitting in defiance at the large king who did not react.
"Be done with it then, you damnable savage!" The cat demanded. 'Red' came forward but was stopped by the webbed paw of the great frog king. Their glossy eyes looked down at their captive victim as both croaked in unison.
"Tellb me, slaverb. Didb my sonb suffer?" He demanded. Eskert inquisitively held his breath, unsure of what the great frog meant. The cat grinned sadistically, a last and defiant form of cruelty, knowing his life was forfeit regardless of what he said. "He died begging, you cretan. I know who you speak of, and he died begging for mercy. Make peace to know your son was a co-" The feral cat would not finish his sentence as the large frog king grabbed him and began smacking him into the ground in fury and rage Eskert had not seen before. Blood mixed with mud of the frog settlement as none dared challenge or calm their chief. When done, the body was hauled away and Eskert climbed down. All of those in the pit knew what had happened.
Eskert quickly went back to the wall, trudging through the dirt and mud as best he could. Loy and the stout followed, and then followed by Lufan and Pelo.
Olan had been out for about a week in the hills of southern Mossflower, as he camped out without fire nor much food. The vermin scavenged as they did, the veteran raiders and black clad soldiers keeping a lookout for Long Patrol scouts. Most were overly paranoid of Long Patrol snipers and watchers, the hares could easily kill them if they were not careful. Olan and his raiders found it odd at first, there was very little to take. Not even a couple of woodlanders to bully. The group continued onward, up until Olan smelled something rather foul.
"Hells? Ya smell that?" He complained to his beasts. The other vermin were quick to recognize the scent. It was rotting flesh. Informed of this, the group cautiously went ahead and scouted around. One of the vermin called him over to a tree, in which the smell grew worse. Olan came upon a horrifying sight, a dead and dessicated hare, a lone patroller and scout. Looking over the wounds, Olan was quick to summarize his findings.
"Blade across the chest, burnt over wounds. . .tortured first, then killed. This looks an aweful like Nurf's doing."
One of the vermin kicked the corpse "How can that mad degenerate kill a Long Patrol scout so easily? There could be five of us and get killed just like that."
"Nurf is a good ambusher, one of the best. Doesn't think very much before going into it, judging by the flesh carved into this dumb beast's nails. I thought Nurf was done for the season? Cretan must be out 'hunting' or worse, be on yer guard."
"He be a fellow vermin, right?"
"Fellow?" Olan turned to his ignorant soldier "Degenerates ain't fellows, dey be mad through an through. Just as likely to kill ya cause ya looked at them funny as much as hug ya. Not beasts we want to deal wit. Not to mention, I disturbed his hunt when I was goin after Loy. If I am lucky, dat dumb otter was caught an' made into one of Nurf's 'pretties'. Let move on ahead."
Olan continued on his path, wanting to begin tormenting a smaller hamlet called Havesburd. It was a small squirrel village, primarily in the deeper forests where it would have been hard for even the Long Patrol to track Olan and his band down. Gandal's plan was simple, distracting the Long Patrol while the horde regrouped and recollected its number. Olan would provide the distraction, as he planned to draw out the Long Patrol on a wild chase. He would go in, slay a few squirrels, pretend to take one prisoner, and then lead the Long Patrol on some far flung chase across the hills.
When the group got to the village, there was silence. The silence was deafening and loud, as Olan and his vermin looked on shocked at what they saw. They were all murderers, bandits, slavers of the worst kind. They saw battle, blood, and gore of the worst kind. Yet, what they saw froze them stiff, a hellish art strewn across the whole of the village which did not spare any creature of gender or age. Olan walked through Havesburd with his vermin, unsure if to retreat or look for survivors. Members of the hamlet's small militia were strung together in a neat pile. Some of the vermin vomited when they inspected the houses.
Olan came across one sight more odd then the rest, a younger weasel with a slit throat who had unfitting baggy black pants. He wasn't a black clad, Olan knew this much, but to the untrained eye he certainly looked it. Olan examined the corpse, realizing what Nurf was doing.
"Dammit." Olan muttered to himself. "I'm gonna kill dat fox."
_
An older squirrel pulls on a small sled through the dense woods, thinking about all the things he is going to do when he gets home. His small wooden sled is filled with kindling, as he makes for his humble hut in the woods. He sets down the tugging rope of his sled and examines his home. He spent a season working on it, with his own two paws. He reflected on his life, a simple wanderer once from the farther east, settling down with his wife and raising three young troublemakers. It was a simple household, a poor peasant hut which was held deep in the forests. He lived off the fat of the land, living a peaceful and simple life. He picked up the kindling and went inside, his missus chastising him the moment he came through the door.
"Gasgon, where you been? Ya were out gatheren wood, not fighten in a war."
"Mam, please! I was a little lost, believe it or not!"
"You lost! Ha! As if I could believe that."
Gasgon gave a faked sign of surrender "Ya caught me, mam. I was tryin to find dat mushroom patch we found a few months ago. Sadly to say, it hasn't regrown."
"Most shameful." The squirrel maid kissed Gasgon on his cheek as the two set to work cleaning up their surroundings and getting their dinner ready. Night was soon upon them, as three youngsters hopped out from their playroom and were eagerly scoffing down their dinner. However, as they ate, there was a sudden burst of laughter. Gasgon froze, trying to figure out who would be so far from Havesburd. He then recogonized the coughing voice of a rat, and realized that vermin were nearby. Not taking any chances he locked the door and opened a small hidden hatch. "Come on you three, get in there."
"But pa, I be sleepy, can't I just go to bed?" asked Gasgon's youngest.
"No time, just get in here and stay quiet." The three obeyed, following their eldest brother into the hidden floor beneath the house. The three looked up through the cracks, the light from a single cooking fire and a candle illuminated very little in the room. Without much effort, a vermin horror burst through the door, nearly knocking himself to through. A fox, with a belt full of knives, entered as Gasgon put himself between him and his wife.
"Intruder! Bandit! What do y-" Nurf Bloodkeep did not give the squirrel a chance to speak, without much thinking, he lunged his blade into the squirrel's chest. The squirrel maid took up a frying pan, trying to fend off the vermin attacker, but was slain in a more brutal way. The youngsters, hidden as they were, looked on with utter despair to see one of their parents felled by the brute as Nurf was joined by other vermin. Nurf examined his surroundings, looking about as he sniffed. Gasgon grasped his chest and crawled over to his wife, as Nurf didn't even seem to bother much with them.
"Yer pretties, yer beautiful pretties? Where dey be, little squirrel. I can smell em. I can taste em in de air. Me friends need playmates, dey need em. The others in the village told me where to find more. I need more." Nurf crept closer like a wraith to Gasgon, putting a knife to his ear and cutting it a little in a casual manner. Gasgon looked on in defiance "They are elsewhere, you. . .you won't find them, monster!"
Nurf crept close "Den I will make ya talk. Come on me lads, we got a new plaything, eh!" Nurf dragged the squirrel out into the open fields, his screams and pained cries mortified his children who covered their ears with the aid of their younger brother, their soft weeping heard as it was covered by the dying groans of their brave parent.
_
"I told ya I heard somethin."
"Yea, but look at dis mess. . .and dis blood. The hells could have done this?"
The three youngsters were half awake, exhausted from their ordeal as they crept up upward from their hiding spot. Hunger was a primary motivator as they heard voices, hoping it was friends. The youngest went over to the body of their mother, trying to awaken her, but failed to even lift a paw. The eldest took the bravest approach, coming outside and much to his horror saw three foxes standing over a body which he could only guess to be his father. The foxes were a strange looking bunch, having a clearly orangish fur, but with gray tufts intermixed into it. It was two males and a female, and all three looked in the youngster's direction. All three wore gray and darkgreen cloaks, with dirty tunics. The eldest had a bow, while his companions had wood axes improvised as weapons.
The eldest figure approached, as the elder squirrel child ducked back inside. He came in swiftly, seeing him trying to push his younger siblings towards the floorboards. The other two foxes came in, looking around at the household. "Ya, dis place got hit alright. Like der others. Pa is gonna wanna hear about dat."
"Yea, well, come an' help me." The elder fox snapped.
"Nosrig, this ain't worth it. Just leave em an' lets get all this stuff fer ourselves! Look, spices! Southlander by the looks of it too."
"Yea, well, get em' too. Marig, come an' help me." The female fox obliged as they pulled apart floorboards and brought up the three youngsters. Setting them down, The elder fox of the group looked them over. Marig snidely remarked "Ya aren't thinken of sellen them? Ya know how the Long Patrol frown on such things."
"Well, not in a traditional way, we can give em to the Long Patrol, tell em what happened, get a rewards I takes it."
"Ya, well, I ain't good wit bunglers like dis, Nosrig."
"Noted, now get what ya want, cause we head out soon, hopefully before whatever did this comes back." Nosrig turned to the young squirrels who looked terrified of him. He looked them over, pitying them as he stood up "Now, know dis be hard, I ain't good wit kids. Tell me, an' tell me well, what did this?"
The eldest squirrel pointed at him. Nosrig sighed and got up and looked to his siblings "Change of plans, we leave now."
"What, why?" Asked Nosrig's brother, who was shuffling some of the spices into a small bag.
"Nurf Bloodkeep is what. We move now, an' grab one of de's young orphans." The three were led outside and grabbed by the foxes as Nosrig looked down the path towards Havesburd. He looked down at the tracks leading away from it and grunted. He didn't need to guess what had happened and the group was soon off, heading towards their home with their three young prisoners in tow.
It was far into the night on the marshland plain as a single hole emerged from the muck. Without rest and with a great deal of personal effort, the group had trudged its way out of the wall and made a nice hole in the muddy wall. The group was exhausted, as they found themselves on the muddy ground outside the frog settlement as Eskert and his friends were coughing up mud, marsh water, and dirt. The group silenced themselves, hoping to not get the attention of the newt sentries which patrolled nearby. The stout who had been aiding the group so far proved invaluable as he led the group through familiar thickets and farther from the settlement, the group coming to believe their luck was finally turning around. The night made it difficult for the group to see, especially as they got further from the settlement.
The stout huffed as he showed the group to their former camp, passing over the marshes to a hidden clearing of tents, intermixed among the marsh grass. Pelo and Lufan were especially happy to find the camp mostly intact. While Loy found some misplaced javilens which he took for his own, Eskert sadly picked up a rat's curved sword which he looked disgusted at.
Lufan came over "Missing your sword, friend?"
"Aye, a gift from my commander to me. To think of it in some other beasts paws depresses me greatly. Another oath to add to my ever growing list. It'll do for now though." Loy sheathed the blade and put it into his belt. He picked up some knives, handing them to Pelo and Lufan. When the stout went over to grab a spear, Eskert was quick to come over and grab it from him. "Not for you."
"Hey! I'm not exactly wanten to be here either, how you expect me to defend meself?"
Eskert motioned over to the clumsily placed shackles and chain which identified the slaver's camp. The two looked at it as Eskert spoke coldly to him "You would have sold us out if things were different, how am I supposed to trust anything you say? We are heading to Palewind, but you can go on your merry way."
"Not happenen, I ain't goin back to where I came from. Perhaps I could come along?"
Eskert was immediately reluctant "Absolutely not, if you could sell us out once, you can sell us out again. You aided us thus far, but it doesn't mean you'll stab us in the back later."
Lufan came up to Eskert "Don't be like that, Eskert. This poor creature was a slave itself, if anything he has proven valuable. I say he should come along."
Loy and Pelo also nodded in agreement. Eskert gave a murderous glare at the stout who slinked a bit, but obediently did not try to pick up any weapons. The group headed out once again, hoping to get out of the marshes before the frogs noticed they escaped.
_
It was later in the night when the group found a small muddy clearing in the marshes, the stink of the bog made the group nauseous, but it was better to lay down then to fall over in exhaustion. The group collectively decided to not set up a campfire, as Pelo and Loy went to try to make themselves comfortable. Eskert, Lufan, and their new stout companion were trudging behind. However, as the group began to settle in for the night, Eskert stood in front of the stout. Lufan looked back as the stout gave a weak grin to Eskert, trying to desperately get his approval. Eskert looked him up and down, disgusted at the creature for many reasons. Even when in slavery, this cretan would have put us in chains. How long till we come across a vermin band and he decides to sell us out? Or purposefully slow us down to save his own hide? Will we be running and this hellish bandit would stab us just to get away? Eskert's mind was filled with one general, overwhelming idea. He looked to Lufan, and gave a loud and depressed sigh.
Eskert went over to the stout and asked him a simple, but honest question. "Can I trust you?"
The stout gave a friendly chuckle "Well, of course. Ya can trust me, mate. If ya didn't, I'd have just left ya all wandering in this rotten marsh, an' made me way back to that camp."
It was a wise answer. Lufan came forward, seeing what Eskert would do. Eskert looked the stout straight in his eyes, trying to pierce into his mind and soul. "Tell me, if the feral cat had won, would you have put us in chains?"
It was a rather unfair question as the wicked smile of the stout slowly turned to a frown. Even for Eskert, there was no answer that would spare him. There was a long pause as the Stout tried to explain "I was. . .i was just following orders, I swears. Der be context, mate."
Eskert didn't give the stout a chance, and lunged at him, grappling his throat. Lufan came over, shocked and unsure of what to do. The stout choked and begged through its weak breath as Eskert unleashed his pent up fury on him, strangling him. The stout desperately tried to claw at Eskert as Lufan looked on with shock and horror. Time went by and the stout went limp, his life leaving the world as Eskert huffed and stood up. He looked over what he had done with a cold indifference, turning back to Lufan.
"Y-you murdered him." Lufan said, mortified at what his friend has done.
"He would have done the same to us in due time, now help me bury it. It's the least he deserves."