Redwall: War of the Four Banners

by PepperDeadSworn

"Young as autumn, old as summer, from sea to forest the cries of war shall come Four armies, one outcome, in ruin you shall find the truth Look to the place of my rest, for friend shall be foe, and foe shall be friend." A epic tale of Redwall in which four great factions battle for the fate of Mossflower itself.

46. The Noose Tightens

Chapter 45: The Noose Tightens

The wind across southern Mossflower was calm, as Mela couldn't help but be enthralled at the idea of seeing her father again. The mouse had not been a slave as long as others in Gandal's camp, remembering that day well enough when Jano and his slavers crossed her path on her way to help one of her neighbors. She felt sick and yet lucky, Jano had very little patience with slaves as much as his own vermin, and her farm was spared only because the ferret was too lazy to walk a small distance. It would have annoyed her as much as it gave her relief. Mela took from a small sack a little bit of cheese the Southswarders had given her, happily eating it.

Her journey would be a bit long, but doable. She was already imagining her coming home, her father embracing her and relieved to see her safe. Her mother rushing to cook up something swift to eat, and her two younger brothers closer to her age joking. She planned to mention her saviors to her father, a warrior himself in many senses of the word. Although no militia member, he was an adventurous type, having once said to come from Noonvale. She didn't believe this, as her mother liked to claim he was just a naive fool she found on the side of the road, struggling with a rat over a sword.

"Hey. No no no. Not like that." Mela told herself as she practiced what she was going to say. "Ma! Pa! I'm home. Yes, that's it." It was long but not too long. She wanted to joke and say 'Hey ma, hey pa, I'm back from slavery', although this would have put any beast on edge. She chuckled to herself as she crested hill after hill, until she could see one last familiar looking one. She rushed up and over it and her eyes gleamed with happiness upon seeing her farm.

Then she slowly began to frown.

It was mid day, and the hamlet looked about the same as when she had left it. The house looked nice, even having a little renovation to it. The barn was closed, and the wheat in the field looked cut. The fence even looked well done, painted a fair white color.

Yet it was silent. Deeply so.

All she could hear was the wind, as she slowly came down. She held her excitement for now, wondering if her parents were simply not home yet. She reached her home, and creaked upon the hut and found it fairly well looked after. She looked to her bed, all nice and neat, a bit more tucked for her liking but no doubt she wondered if her loved ones weeped over her disappearing as she did. Yet she sniffed the air, as she looked around and could smell molding cheese. She went over to the family table in the hut, a small thing which she saw a plate of food on. She picked up, observing it. It was old, as if rotting in her paw. The house had not been touched for maybe a few days at least.

Yet, she knew her mom well. Not a beast who would just leave food left unfinished, being quite a food pusher.

She looked around the farm, searching for something, anything to give her a clue. The fields were silent, as the wave of harvested wheat picked up some dust. Mela looked around, maybe wondering if her parents had gone somewhere in an emergency.

Then she turned, looking towards the barn.

"Ma! Pa!" Mela yelled, just in case they were around. Maybe the cheese was moldy and old because it was discovered that way. Mela approached the barn, which remained closed. She stopped at the foot of it.

"Ma? Barne? Varde?"

Mela felt anxious, as if a sickness took hold of her, and gripped the barn door. It was heavy as she thought it was, slowly opening it and stepping inside. A flood of light rushed into the barn, revealing the hay inside. Mela was almost relieved as she looked inside and could see nothing but hay. She sighed with some relief, but then stopped. She saw her shadow, and then a few other mice's shadows. Four to be exact.

Her eyes went behind her, but saw nothing, but then she noticed the shadows were large. She began to slowly look up, and then screamed.

Mela turned and ran out of the barn, crying and weeping as she puked on the ground in a terrible sickness. One last cruelty inflicted on her by the vermin as she curled up into a horrible position. In time, she got her strength back, marching into the barn to sadly look up at the four bodies hanged on rafters. She turned away, not wishing to look at the sight. She took a hatchet with her from her home, hacking at the ropes as one by one they fell with a sickening thud. Mela cried and reddened in the face, as she returned to ground level to drag out the bodies one by one and into the sun. The smell was beyond terrible and she swatted at ambitious flies who slowly began to swarm.

Once out, Mela observed the bodies. Her father gripped something hard in his paw. She bent down, opening it gently as she could. It was a very nice piece of fabric, expecting it to of course be black. There was no doubt in her rage filled mind Gandal's thugs were here. She cursed herself, as the bodies were not rotting, and this had happened rather recently.

Yet it was not black.

It was yellow.

Mela knew the kind of yellow it was. No. No, it can't possibly be. The very thought was absurd. She kept the piece as she paced. No, no no. Must be another horde, I need to go find Loy, find his friends. I am not going to let them get away with this, those vermin! I'll avenge ya, pa! I'll hunt down ever-ev-

She then thought it was kinda strange for vermin to hang beasts.

Vermin were cruel and gorey creatures, the execution of traitors or slaves was a spectacle for them to enjoy. Stories went around of vermin butchering others, but the Blackclads were unique in that they did not execute as much as they stabbed and were done. Jano was more creative, he would have likely buried them alive just for the thrill of it, but no the warped face of her family revealed something else. It was a shock, horrified as if this was by some terrible surprise.

Mela slowly shook her head, and began to speak to herself "N-no. No! No." She paced further and further, her paws on her head. "No, it has to be vermin. It-"

She heard a metal clanging in the distance. She turned around and swiftly bolted into her home. Two beasts in familiar clothes were pulling a cart, being grimmly silent with one another as they looked around with surprise at the open door. Two otters in yellow uniforms of Southsward. "Go around, search to see who it is."

Mela watched as the otters searched the farmstead, but were very cautious about it. Yet, they seemed to be looking only for trouble, finding the bodies of Mela's dead family. There was no pity from them, nor even a cry for vengeance. No, it was a grunt of annoyance.

"Damned. Ew, Nurgdan! Come over here!" The other otter came over and the two began to take the bodies back into the barn. Mela watched from the window as the two hurried and talked to one another.

"Long Patrol you think?"

"I could care if it was the Bellmaker himself, Nosbub's orders. Murchan will kill us if we don't start hiding bodies now." The two otter felt uncomfortable as they causally threw the bodies of Mela's kin into the barn, and much to her horror, they began throw in some dead hares and other woodlanders. Both of them looked miserable doing this, as one jokingly complained "You don't tell pa about this, an' i won't either."

"Don't even joke! We'll get lashings for sure even talking about it. Now bring the cart in there and lets get this done."

Mela watched with growing anger in her eyes at the two, as they closed the barn and lit a torch. They began to surround it, burning their way around and made sure the fire would spread. The two otters watched the barn burn as they turned and talked about more casual things. Mela then noticed, as one of the otters looked down at his shirt and sighed "Seasons, going to need to get this patched." There was large rip in the tunic of the otter, a yellow one. Mela could not believe her eyes. She had to pinch herself to see if this was some horrible nightmare, but it wasn't. He mind filled with questions, but all were replaced by a growing anger.

When they left, Mela looked at the burning farm as tears ran down her cheeks. She looked behind her where she had come from. She could do little on her own, not even able to challenge those two mad creatures walking away from their dark deeds. She weighed her options, and rushed away with what she could grab back beyond that hill.
_

Gandal's pace across southern Mossflower was silent, as his horde moved with caution. They went towards villages they had known the hares would protect, only to find them empty. This was rather odd at first, as Olan could only guess the Long Patrol were evacuating the woodlanders from the regions they once held under control. Yet, as they continued on, Gandal and Olan came across a large community and found it waving the yellow banner of Southsward. It was a village full of hedgehogs, being led by armored ones with large shields and crossbows. The woodlanders gave them fearful looks as Olan and Gandal looked about with an increasing bafflement.

Even as these refugees were returned to their homes, they did not look happy. Some looked absolutely miserable as one of the officers of Southsward seemed to talk down to them. Another group was weeping, as the Southsward garrison began to bark out orders. From one of the wagons, a group of terrified rats were shuffled out, and Olan grunted at their appearance. They looked like groomed beasts, their fur clean shaven and spotless. They looked almost like a small clan, but looked defeated and despondent. They suffled into the town's middle, as the officer was witnessed talking down to them. They wore yellow vests and baggy clothes better than anything Olan knew vermin to have, but he then notice one of the rats lacked a tail. They were soon set to work, unloading supplies and setting up camp while the soldiers built barricades and temporary walls around the village.

"It can't be." Gandal whispered to himself.

Olan looked him quizzingly. Gandal shook his head "Dem vermin down der. Der tame ones. I know dem, der locals."

Olan's eyes widened as he squinted. They were local alright, and he remembered it well. They were marshland rats, mostly a small tribe of them which lived near the border between the marshlands and Mossflower. Gandal tried to recruit them when he was hunting down Lorgar and his family. The black rat shook his head with disbelief.

"I didn't dink woodlanders kept slaves."

"Dey don't." Olan reminded him. Gandal grew annoyed, gripping his subordinates head and forcing him to look at them "Den explain dat!?"

Olan shook him off "I don't know what dat is, but it ain't slavery. Likely just prisoners doin work, big difference. Not like dey bein kept in chain or havin a lash over der he-"

They heard a loud crack of a whip which sent the two back down for cover. Olan and Gandal looked mystified as that hedgehog officer angrily began pushing a rat down and yelling at him. That rat was doubled over in pain, with the officer having a whip in paw. The woodlanders of the village looked at this sight with utter disgust. Gandal's jaw dropped a bit at this, shaking head with disbelief.

"Ya dink dem woodlander folk be tougher breed den der Long Patrol were? I just dind't dink dats possible."

"Dey killed our kin, sir. Ya know a woodlander, even Borbon, to do dat?"

Gandal was silent, and then grunted "Der too many in dat village to be worth it, lets continue on.

Gandal and Olan's forces continued as they looked into their new enemy, finding them locking down villages. Officers shuffled out angry woodlanders and loaded them onto carts, or chained them to them, dragging them off. Olan pointed out militia uniforms amongst those captured, as he and Gandal spied on them from afar. Yet, strangest yet were what they saw as they explored the woods. Vermin homes were smashed up, some beasts hanged on trees, but their families simply missing. More than once did they come across a dark sight of missing limbs simply thrown into the woods. Olan picked up, much to his amusement, an entire tail of a fox before dropping it with increasing disgust.

"Tail cropping, not seen dat in a long time." Olan said with a bit of nostalgia. Kasg loved that punishment, which Gandal proudly related to his captain. "Aye! Kasg would have loved to meet de's cretans fer sure, had dey not did what dey did. We need more information, cause I am having a thought."

"Whats dat?"

Gandal frowned and became more serious "Ya not find it weird dat dey be draggen vermin families away, but ours were a special in dat sense. Why us? Long Patrol don't do that, we know dat much. Dey are taken vermin out from der forests, an shoving dem to be softies. I swear, none of dis makes a lick of sense. De's are still woodlanders, right, or are we really dat blind?"

Olan nodded in partial agreement, because it was strange. This is something he could expect of Kasg maybe, or one of his many foes. Yet, woodlanders just didn't do this kind of thing. They were disgusted by it, and they usually just banished their foes rather than kill them. Olan always found that idea foolish, it just allowed vermin to find new hordes, maybe even stronger than before. He grunted and looked to his chief "We should probably find supplies, get us our viddles an' make sure we don't starve out here. We have no wagons after all."

"Send some to forage, but bring der rest with me. Its time we showed these wretches how dings get really done." Gandal grinned and marched off. Olan nodded as he commanded his newer recruits to forage. He followed Gandal, with their elite black clad soldiers looking as fierce as ever. Northern vermin, all of them, and all now held a special anger. Gandal and Olan marched, with Olan soon recognizing the path they were taking. It was towards a smaller hamlet farther up. "I dink dey called it Barnwood, or Bardwood. Or whatever. Won't even be on der map when were done wit it."

They approached, but soon began to hear screams.

Gandal and his horde stopped, and motioned them to start going around the village as he approached. Olan commanded his guard as he began to flank the village as Gandal snuck up to it. Even in his blackened armor, as heavy as it was, he was able to bring himself close enough to see what was happening. The rat motioned to his soldiers, spotting a small group of Southsward beasts roaming the village of Barnford, taking woodlanders from their home, and dragging out one unfortunate rat trying to claw back inside.

"Seperate them out!" A mouse shouted. A captain of the 2nd army began to move about, with a force of twenty beasts. The villagers sheepishly obeyed as they were gathered up and pushed into two groups. The mouse yelled out as the soldiers began to burn the town. "For the crimes against Mossflower and Prince Frankfort, for harboring an enemy your village is disbanded! Those who have resisted will not return to Palewind, and will be dealt with forthwith!"

There was a shout as one Southsward hare reluctantly took out his sword and slashed down at one of the mice. Gandal raised an eyebrow to this, as he was watching some execution unfold. They were purging the village, as the rat they had just captured yelled out in horror at them, and was swiftly put down as well. The mouse captain wasn't even paying attention before Olan and his minions got into position, signaling his chief from afar.

Gandal drew his sword and slapped his helm towards his head, yelling out with a thunderous spite "Kill em! Cull an' Kill!"

The mouse captain turned only to find Gandal bearing down on him, slashing his sword into an unprepared Southswarder. The mouse captain backed away, signaling his beasts to regroup and retreat, only to feel a sharp pain in his back. Olan stood over him, covering his mouth as he continued to stab him from behind, as the remaining Black Clads secured the burning village. Smoke arose as the remaining Southswarders fought back expertly, but ultimately without further effort. Some of the villagers took the opportunity to run into the woods, as others naively stayed to thank their rescuers.

Gandal looked and sighed, he lost two of his beasts in the fighting, two beasts too many. He grumbled and yelled out at Olan "Gather der prisoners an' loot of ya can find it! Food be more important den mouths."

Gandal went over to one scared villager, picking up his chin with his sword "Lucky beast, ya Mossflower folk are. Blessed even. Get out before I change me mind." The villager nodded and ran fast and hard as Gandal's vermin took their new prisoners.

Olan and his vermin angrily led what prisoners they had away, terrified of seeing the rat with them. Olan forced them down, what few had survived as Gandal's horde looked over what viddles they had just claimed. It was a disappointing raid, but one which the Southswarders had started. Olan took immediate note and spoke to his captain "Dey won't even investigate der fire. I doubt dem village folk will be joinen der cause or speaken to dem anytime soon."

Gandal nodded and looked at his terrified prisoners. One was an otter, and another a hare. Otters and hares sure did love their honor, but the hare he had witnessed so casually slay some common peasant without much a second thought. Gandal spoke up, as if impressed in a weird way.

"I must ask ya, fer a bunch of simpletons ya sure do make an entrance. I mean, hells, goin up to some bumpkin an' just slayen him on der spot? Even me own black clads gave pause when I was first drilling dem." Gandal got closer, bending his knees to their level "Now, when we drilled under me chief Kasg, we used prisoners to help ease der burden of de softie mind. So talk, workbeasts, or I yer gonna be fish bait."

The Southswarders gave him a confused look which annoyed Gandal as he arose. "Why ya killen dem?"

"T-they rebelled, against Prince Frankfort, sir." The otter tried to give a fake smile, but Gandal did not return it. He waited for him to continue, as the soldier gulped and spoke with caution "M-me good, erm, rat. We were given orders, to kill every vermin there was in the area. By orders of our general, and to kill all the revolters."

"Interesting orders fer yer kind to follow." Gandal said, intrigued by this whole ordeal. The hare looked down shamefully, not saying a word as the otter continued "T-they are Long Patrol allies, an' Prince Frankfort says we are now at war with them. He says they are a-against civilization itself. Th-they attacked us, just trying to help them."

Gandal looked at him weird, but otter continued, trying to tell the rat anything to save his own life. "Our captain, he said it was our orders. We had to obey, we swear."

"Yea, I get it." Gandal shrugged "Orders be orders, am I right?" Gandal gave a little chuckle that the prisoners tried to play along with, but he stopped suddenly and so did they. He was amused more than anything. Olan spoke up "You say yer killing vermin, so den why did we see dem draggen der families away? Unless ya be burying em in a place we can't see."

"W-what?" The otter began to frown. Olan raised an eyebrow to this as Gandal continued "Aye, saw a bunch of carts bein pulled away wit militia too. Kinda odd really. Ya all got der same orders, right?"

"Yes." The hare said baffled, he then puffed his chest "This is a vermin lie, isn't it?"

Gandal kicked him in the stomach for such an accusation and he doubled over. The otter yelped and tried to calm the situation "It was our orders, we swear! W-we believe you!"

Olan looked at his chief and sighed, shaking his head as he came to a realization. "False orders, or at least confusing ones. Ya heard what dat captain yelled? Dey didn't say anyding about execution, only to be dealt with. I'd call it softie talk, sir. I'm starting to dink de's beasts tell der truth."

"I know they are." Gandal smiled, raising his head up with his own realization "Palewind is gone, or taken. Dey were killing Long Patrol. Ya dink dey would tolerate dis?"

"No." Olan looked around at his soldiers, who seemed almost as baffled as their chief was. Gandal seemed deep in thought as he rubbed his chin with his claws "I gotta say, Olan. I want to see it wit me own two eyes. De's confusing orders, what ya make of it?"

Olan shrugged "I don't know, Gandal. Truly. Odd as it is, dem villagers mentioned something interesting. Ya know woodlanders to revolt. Against udder woodlanders?"

Gandal shook his head as Olan continued "No doubt de's bumpkins are bein used to cause trouble. What we saw back der was intentional. Its inspired, really."

"Inspired indeed." Gandal nodded. Gandal was about turn and head off, but he realized he still had prisoners. Gandal looked down at them. "Olan. Ya dink dis lot will make for good workbeasts."

Olan thought about it, but then he brought out his sword and gave a primal and angry yell before jumping on the hare much to the otter's horror, and began to slash and stab at him. Gandal watched his captain put down the prisoner with increasing hatred with each swing, until he was partly exhausted. Olan arose, wiping off blood from his shit before turning to the otter next, coming over to menacingly. Gandal grunted, having gotten his answer before turning around and making his order.

"Once yer done Olan, lets be off."
_

Gandal and his horde were marching with Olan still wiping blood from his shirt, half regretting killing the prisoners only because his clothes were now partly soaked. Gandal kept looking forward as his horde marched behind him, keeping as far from the villages as possible, and with Olan's scout scouring the forest for trouble. Gandal knew he was playing a dangerous game, his horde was slower moving due to their armor and he had to manage five whole groups of them. Gandal regretted also not taking slaves from that village when he had the chance, his sack he wore with him was bothering him.

Gandal only stopped when a rat further up ahead was seen, pulling on something in the bushes. Gandal and Olan stopped, and so did the horde. Gandal looked ahead, squinting, not sure if it was friend or foe, but Olan informed him otherwise.

"Me scout."

"If he stupid?" Gandal asked. He thought the scout was trying to tug his tail free from the bush, the rat angrily scratching at something as Olan and Gandal came ahead. Much to their further confusion, the rat pulled a mouse maid from the bushes and held onto her, yelping as she bit into his paw. The scout let go, as Olan and Gandal watched the show with annoyance. Gandal nearly reached for his sword as Mela waltzed up to him, looking firm and angry at him.

"Sorry chief!" The scout said as he rushed over, finally pulling his weapon out. Mela glowered at him, and the scout slowed his face and then backed off "She be a feisty one, saw her trailing us I did! Dragged dis one near kicking an' screaming, saying she had someding to say to ya."

Gandal squinted, and then had a realization. Mela stared back at him with a regretful gaze, as she softened and seemed to realize her situation. Gandal was now in front of her, his army behind him slowly moving up to figure out what the heck was going on. Olan just gave the mouse the strangest look. Olan turned to his chief, speaking "Sir, I dink dis is one of dem sla-"

"Ya got a moment before I slay ya." Gandal growled at her. "I am not a slavebeast, not to you anymore."

"Brave words fer an idiot." Gandal looked around, half expecting an entire woodlander army to descend upon him. None did of course, as Gandal was in no mood for these little games. "Ya trailed us, how."

"Took a day or two, but I was able to find your tracks. Hard to hide an entire army on the march, rat."

Olan and Gandal felt breath on their shoulders as they turned to see the horde curiously looking down was bafflement at this lone mouse. Gandal took the nearest soldier and shook him "Get outta here ya blasted idiot, take a break! Dis won't take long." The horde took the hint and moved away, including the scout as Olan glowered at him. This left only Mela who felt a chill of fear as Gandal approached her, clearly annoyed. He turned to Olan "Take yer scout an' make a false trail, make it obvious. If dis beast followed us, den those woodlander folk will too."

Olan nodded, but didn't obey the order right away. Instead he turned to Mela and asked a rather simple question.

"Why did ya come mouse."

"I-I'm-"

Mela gulped and clearly her bravery seemed to have disappeared and became a sickness. Gandal and Olan awaited with increasing impatience. Mela's mouth opened, but no words came out. Gandal blinked, his face souring as the mouse continued to find it difficult to speak. He was ready to slap her till she finally spoke up. "I-I wish to join you."

Gandal and Olan blinked, before Gandal looked at Olan. He wanted to ask his captain if he was dead, and that this was some hell where woodlanders had all turned into vermin. Olan could only blink at her as she made her argument "I know you were going to be alive, an' I know you would have returned to see your fort destroyed. I'm going after Southsward, and I got information to help you. I wa-I want to help, chi-"

"Ya finish dat sentence an' yer a dead beast." Gandal said baffled. "Ya dink I am going to take on some bleeding mouse into me horde, but go ahead, tell me what kinda information ya got to tell ol' Gandal."

"You wer-You weren't my first choice. I tried to find what remained of the Long Patrol, but just so you know they a-"

Mela was this time surprised as Gandal joked and mocked her "Oh, ya hear dat Olan. Der Long Patrol an' des yella clads aren't big friends, eh? Quite a big surprise." Gandal became more serious, sneering at her "Of course we know the hares are defeated ya wretch! We encountered dem escaping a massacre an' engaged us. Ya dink we aren't putting two an two together? I got no time fer dis. Olan! Go do something!"

Olan spoke to his chief "I mean, sir. Dis beast is technically one of ours. Kinda."

"No. No! No she isn't!?" Gandal ranted "Its a bleeding slavebeast! One who no doubt took part in dat massacre back dat fort, I got a mind to kill her right now! Besides, its a woodlander, no doubt working fer dem yella clads."

"I'm not." Mela said firmly. Gandal turned to her and seethed, snapping at with an anger in his eyes "I don't care why ya wanted to join us, but dis ain't a normal raider party. Were goin to bury dem yella clads here in der dirt for what dey did to my horde! Tis ain't about what happened to dat stockade, its what happened to me horde's kin!"

Mela tried to bargain "Y-yes, I kn-kno-"

"I am not goin to even entertain dis. If ya want to fight de's stupid creature, do it by yer own lonesome. I got more serious dings to think on den helping some woodlander who ain't sufferen as we do! No doubt me incompetent cap'n Jano certainly earned more trouble for ya den these folks. Dey enslaving me kind, an' dat means free beasts to join me cause, with greater skill den anyding ya can come up wit." Gandal only paused when a couple of tears ran down Mela's face, but yet she stood defiant. Olan was curious, this was abnormal for him.

"What possible cause could ya have to join us." Gandal growled at her. She only spoke in a heart torn voice. "Your kin aren't the only things lost, rat."

Olan had a realization as he could see in her eyes the same anger he had felt, but more drenched. In one way, he found it pathetic, this mouse had come all this way to find them only to be told off. She was worthless, an escaped slave at best which could have witnessed it. Olan spoke up to his chief, who was figuring it out. Gandal looked almost shocked. Vermin I can understand. But why woodlanders of all beasts? Can woodlanders even be degenerates? Gandal shivered at that thought as he listened to his captain.

"Sir, let dis slavebeast join up, carry some of our dings."

"What? Why." Gandal scolded. Olan explained "If she be wanting revenge, den good, dis beast be a willen laborer fer us. Means she won't run, which is more reliable den capturing some villagers to do it fer us."

Gandal squinted his eyes and shook his head in disgust, reluctantly giving his mixed blessings. "She runs Olan, she be yours to put down den." Olan nodded in agreement as Gandal yelled at his troops "Break is over! Form up an move out!"

Mela stood, as if frozen as she put her paws into her head. The black clads began to move out, some looking at her curiously as they passed. Olan looked at her, the rat's face softening as he tossed her a pack to carry. She trudged behind, but Olan joined her as Gandal and his forces marched on, her face broken with rage and grief. Olan noticed a burning in her eyes, as she cursed herself under her breath "Mela, you idiot. Why you'd go along with this."

"A good question." Olan noted. She looked up at him, asking a more important question. "Out of all of yer options, why in der hells did ya decide to rejoin us. Last I checked, ya an Loy didn't exactly enjoy Jano's company."

The name made her shiver, looking around as if expecting the ferret leap out and hit her. Olan informed her thusly "He ain't here, an if he were, me an Gandal would be racing to strangle him an' begin pullen out guts."

"Why?" Olan looked annoyed and asked again as they closed in on the marching army. "Ya answer me first, slavebeast."

"Fine, if you don't call me sla-"

"I can call ya what I want, ya joined us willingly, an if ya want to hang wit us an help us, ya accept yer role in dis here army." Olan scolded her. She frowned but eventually answered "Fine. I tried to find the hares, going to village to village in search of a way to Palewind. I only kept coming across those 'yella clads' and their forces. I saw what they were doing to us, and to vermin. I couldn't find the rebels, I think they went towards the inland lake, but I figured if they couldn't even burn Gandal out, what hope did they have burning these ver-" Mela stopped herself, as Olan gave a friendly grunt. "Verminous be certainly a way to put it. I'd even be impressed if ya dey didn't go after us as dey did."

"I saw." Mela felt sick. "Y-you had a family I take it?"

"We all did in one way or der other." Olan looked at her quizzingly, then angrily "Ya saw it happen?"

"No. I saw the graves when I came back, looking for Gandal." Mela admitted. "When Loy rescued us, we weren't aware it was even happening. I don't Loy even knows either. I guess in a way, speaking of Loy, why did you want to kill Jano?"

Olan softened again, shaking his head "He was put in charge of der camp, an' no doubt he bungled it. I didn't see his corpse. If Loy were wit ya, I expected to see him tied to dat pole he used to put him up on. Jano was in charge fer barely a few moments, an he has a lot to answer fer. I regret covering him all dem times, as I did. All cause of nostalgia when Kasg were still kicking."

"Well, wherever he is, no doubt he is probably running into Nurf or something. I won't shed a tear over him."

"Believe it or not, woodlander. I wouldn't eder." Olan gave a grim smile, imagining all the terrible things he would do to Jano if he ever met that accursed ferret again, looking to see Mela giving her first grin at similar thought. Olan frowned now, he couldn't be seen being friendly like this, especially with a slavebeast of all things. "Keep yer pace, slavebeast. We got a long march ahead of us, an Gandal don't like to be held up."

---

The doors to the inner gates of the Palewind camp opened, with the shining golden armor of Frankfort coming through. The gleam of his magnificent plate could nearly blind a beast with the sun's glare, but the squirrel limped a little and his tail was twitched upwards. The beasts who saw their prince return looked on in concern as Frankfort's golden armor was drenched in blood, and those to his side had battle wounds and marks of battle all across his face. Frankfort unfurled his helm, the squirrel looking angry and disappointed. He snapped at one of the soldiers who knew what he wanted, coming up to him and giving him a canteen of water. The squirrel drank of it greedily, letting it fall onto his face and drenching apart of his blood stained armor.

Nosbub looked at a tear in his uniform he knew he would need to stitch, nearly heading off before Lars grabbed his shoulder and gripped it. Nosbub stood still, knowing Lars would likely give him the nastiest talk down of his life, and one no doubt he would be bored to death by.

Despite his troubled look, and his soldiers marching back into Palewind, the squirrel let up his sword and yelled out "My Southswarder friends, we have claimed a rare victory this day! Even on the field of battle, and in the campaign on their own turf, the Long Patrol lays broken and defeated by our pike and bolt! Victory for Southsward!" There was a strong cheer from the exhausted and bloodied Southswarders.

The campaign in truth had been miserable.

Daen and his hares had rallied support, murdering garrisons left and right in swift attacks and gathering allies. Frankfort did not know how, but the hare seemed to make a major mistake. Instead of pulling back and regrouping with new found allies, a host of angry woodlanders formed mobs and stormed fortified positions. What became an easy gain for Daen and his commandos turned into a disaster as the angry woodlanders soon formed into three separate armies and marched out to meet Frankfort in battle. Two pitched battles later, the rebels were utterly crushed, and Frankfort spent the next few days tracking down the hares. He had them cornered only once, but even then they somehow escaped. He was frustrated and tired, with Daen and his hares trying to snipe him when they could. Then came along some fellow squirrels amongst Daen's allies, leading them to safety. They likely headed west, but Frankfort dared not follow as he spent his time dolling out punishments and liquidating villages. His forces spent more time he was willing to admit moving one set of beasts from dismantled villages to new ones closer to Palewind.

Then of course there was the other problem being wheeled in by vermin serfs. Large numbers of woodlanders, all rebels who dared rise up in anger at Frankfort, now sat defeated in caged wagons, being drawn over to the stockade. Frankfort would have been fine with two of these at best, but no, it just had to be over a dozen. His prison carts were so full, that a large line of captured beasts struggled behind the last one, pulling at rope bonds since chain became depleted.

"Guil! Vergber!" Frankfort yelled. No one came, as the squirrel sighed. He turned to Lars and Nosbub who were eyeing each other angrily. "General Nosbub, grab my advisors. I want to deal with potential issues now rather than later."

"O-of course my liege." Nosbub quickly put distance between him and Lars who watched him go. Nosbub grunted as he turned to Gosland and Kelsum, whom both were wiping at their armor from the most recent scuffle they had. "Generals Gosland and Kelsum, I want you to find me that blasted hare, and I wan-"

"Prince Frankfort." The squirrel turned out, looking almost relieved since he left as he saw a smiling Eskert, and behind him was Borbon and Loy. Borbon looked less happy as Eskert came up to him, clasping the prince's paw.

"Tell me destroyed Gandal then." The prince commanded. Eskert sighed "Nay, but we did the next best thing. He is damaged beyond repair, my lord. I see your campaign went well? We actually came back, looking for help."

Frankfort frowned, which from the way he looked tired and bloodied, the squirrel was not in the best mood for campaign. Borbon pushed Eskert aside, reminding the squirrel of his promise.

"You prumused, squirrel. Gandul be stull out dur! Each mumunet we deluy, dur furder he gets." Borbon tapped his impatient paws on the ground. Eskert calmed him, speaking to reason. "You'll get your revenge, Borbon Rocklore. Its doubtful Gandal will recover. Frankfort, do you need time to rest before we set out again?"

Frankfort instinctively nodded his head, as Guil and Vergber came with Nosbub. The two quickly came to Frankfort, looking at him with disturbed looks. He wasn't covered in vermin blood, they both knew it, and so were cold soldiers who marched back into the camp. Vergber looked at the increasing number of woodlander prisoners coming into the camp, gulping with the prospect of having to find food and lodging for all of them. Frankfort spoke up to the mole hero, confident he could still retain his loyalties "Of course, Borbon. I did not forget, and I won't take your impatience as an insult. I must discuss with council on our next move, but Gandal comes first and foremost especially if we move forward with the campaign."

"My lord." Lars grunted "Perhaps we should discuss this with our dear General Nosbub." Nosbub had twitched his eye in anger of Lars. The hare wasn't even hiding his spite at this point, holding his own orders over his head. No doubt he could mention it any time, as Lars gave a grim look in his direction. The larger hare loomed like a dark shadow over the Black Twitch, his presence was well felt even as Nosbub spoke with deeper caution.

"Yes, my lord. We should discuss this, but if I may interject." Nosbub took front and center "This Gandal, you destroyed his fort, hmm?"

"Yus?" Borbon didn't get any point the hare tried to say. "Gandal seems to be a rogue agent, an enemy of the Long Patrol as well as their puppet no doubt. If he wasn't lounging around in his base of operations, perhaps he went north to meet up with those other hordes."

Borbon cringed and was going to speak up, but Eskert quickly added to his thoughts "That would be smart of a vermin foe no doubt. A bit too smart. Gandal will likely not stay in southern Mossflower if he can't help it, and go regroup with another horde. To think he is down here still would be illogical. I am just sad we couldn't deal with him immediately."

Frankfort bowed his head "Agreed. I am sorry Borbon."

Borbon gave a deep and annoyed sight, taking up his warhammer in paw and rested it on his shoulder. He silently waddled back frustrated as Eskert cheered up the depressed Frankfort. "We can all gain his forgiveness my lord once Gandal's head is on a pike. Yet, me and Loy have much more joyous news."

This perked Frankfort's interested as Eskert and Loy led a growing contingent towards the middle of the camp, where all manner of freed slaves were being helped by the soldiers. Of those who were once trapped in bondage in Gandal's cruel paws, now many arose and came over to Frankfort, thanking him profusely. Young and old, they came to greet their prince and began to put in Southsward colors. The prince gave a heartfelt smile as he shook paws and his cadre looked about with a far less grim look. Loy spoke up, sadly but sternly "We rescued them, Frankfort. We did what the Long Patrol could not."

A bruised squirrel maid came forward to Frankfort which gave the prince pause. He had not seen such a beaten upon creature being wrapped in badnage and tended by a medic. She gave a weak smile, bending knee to him and asking "Name's Tera me lord, I was held in Gandal camp who personally beat me. If you are his enemy, I swear to your cause good prince."

Frankfort helped the weak squirreless up, speaking loudly with passion in his voice "My cause is for the light of our civilization to reach across all of Mossflower. The darkness of barbarism and savagery are at an end, and all before those who swear to my banner will be obsolete forthwith! Know I will not fail you as your prince, as I will purge the vermin foe from this land, and the dark beasts who lord truly over them!"

Tera continued to smile, but slightly began to frown. She turned to Loy, confused who gave her an awkward look. Loy knew he would have to explain what Frankfort meant, but considering her options, he knew none would abandon this high point in their lives to join with Frankfort.
_

Nosbub and Lars arrived early in the command tent, with Nosbub grumbling as Lars gave him an earful in whispers. Lars knew his prince was not ready to hear his own general had caused this whole mess, and Lars was making sure Nosbub knew of it. The Black Twitch grew more cold with each second that passed, his glaring eye at Lars who continued to berate him as they awaited for the war council to commence.

"I should have you lashed for this, you infernal incompetent. Of course I knew this would happen, and now look where we are all now. Gandal has escaped because of your stupid bumbling you wretched, useless creature. Oh when we return to Southsward, I'll make your father and brothers get an earful as well! Your orders cost the lives of all those woodlanders, and now it taints us. They'll never trust us again, not with the way your soldiers have acted with such blatant stupidity!"

Nosbub rolled his eyes and spoke up, with a wicked grin on his face "Captain Lars, you simply don't see the good side in all this, don't you?"

"Good side." Lars looked insulted, but Nosbub explained "We drew the Long Patrol out, reduced their numbers, and Gandal is now heading north where we were originally going to go. You say we butchered woodlanders, I say we butchered those who dare side with the vermin over your fellow goodbeasts. Anyone who goes against our cause will be punished, and now all the rule breakers are dead. They won't revolt any time soon again, and those who could join our enemy are now under our sweet control." Nosbub snobbishly turned up his nose, and his head twitched as he did so.

"You see Lars, truly do always look on the brighter side of things, you might be less of a muscle brained creature otherwise. Perhaps my orders were too vague. It will be a mistake I will not repeat, not like dead beasts."

Nosbub gritted his teeth, ready to lay into the confident creature before him, a creature he couldn't even bring himself to call a 'beast'. He only stopped when the flap of the tent opened and Frankfort stepped inside and took his place in the middle of the table with his maps. One by one, the others filed in as Frankfort called the meeting to order.

"I am not as rested as I should be, but we can no longer wait here. We must set out against Gandal and these enemy armies around Mossflower, and find them. Yet, we cannot ignore the false government of Mossflower itself. So i ask you, Generals of Southsward, advice me on where to go next."

Gosland spoke up first, pointing into the map of Mossflower itself, as crude as it was. "Our larger concern is the horde going towards the heart of Mossflower itself, Redwall Abbey. No doubt the abbeybeasts of that beloved place will aid us with the aid of our resident warrior. It would also make an excellent base of operations for campaigning in eastern Mossflower, whose Long Patrol we'll no doubt fight long and hard against us. Once we subdue the region, the rest of Mossflower will be easy."

Kelsum smiled, patting the otter on his back. "Clever work, and I couldn't agree more."

Nosbub grumbled and shook his head, speaking up in his usually snobbish tone "Yes, yes. Quite clever Gosland, so what do we do about the badger lords then?"

"I was thinking of that actually, General Nosbub." Gosland quickly responded "The vermin horde already sieges down Salamandastron, and no doubt takes casualties. The longer they stay there, the better, and we can force the badger lord to surrender while we take the whole of Mossflower from vermin paws."

"Oh yes, we should ignore the-" Lars angrily nudged him, in which Nosbub shaped up and became more polite. "I am trying to say that if we don't control the siege of that mountain, vermin will move in, or worse. The badger lords will be fortified in their mountain forever, and find some means out. The Long Patrol rely on small numbers and skirmisher tactics, they will never fight us while in pitched battle which they excel at." The Black Twitched paused to twitch his head, speaking up again with a continued smarmy voice "We also won't ever be legitimate if the badger lords still live. We can control all of Mossflower, my lord, but what chance do we have holding it when every blasted beast thinks ill of us? Redwall is also too far from any real battlefield, it would be simply cheaper to set up towards the middle country."

Guil added to Nosbub's comments "He is right, my lord. We won't be respected unless we establish a presence, but Gosland is right as well. Redwall is likely the only walled settlement in this forest, along with Palewind and Tussock, along with any other hare fort we come across. Redwall, well, has walls."

"Get on with it Guil." Nosbub yawned. Guil grunted "Perhaps we need to get to Redwall first and liberate it, but send an army to drive off the vermin siege and lay siege ourselves. We won't need to attack the mountain, we only need a formal presence to convince the beasts of Mossflower we are here to stay."

Frankfort nodded and then asked "What of Gandal?"

Nosbub rolled his eyes, but Kelsum spoke with confidence "My lord, Gandal may be an issue, but its unlikely this vermin will stay in our borders for very long. We have control over the villages, and more importantly, our forces are consolidating the region. It would be stupid of them to attack us here, not while our army is so well prepared. If he is smart, he will likely turn north."

Guil added to that statement, but not in the way Kelsum had wanted "Well, yes. We also must not forget that Shackleford has been quite a valuable asset, my lord. The scholar's predictions had been accurate thus far, and we cannot ignore more important advice. With the Long Patrol gone, the vermin will likely retreat to a large horde, and meld into it. Gandal no doubt is now captaining for one of these armies."

Gosland nodded in agreement. The otter smiled and joked amongst his comrades "We should invite the scholar into our meeting more my lord."

Nosbub also smiled and nodded in a grim fashion "Yes, my lord."

Gosland felt he was only joking, but Frankfort responded with authority over them all "I will decide on it alone, as much as Shackleford is such an agreeable creature and great author, he isn't a part of our military. Commoner concerns are not military concerns, let alone royal ones. Yet, we must take his advice to heart, as he has shown us the truth of what is happening here."

Many nodded in agreement, all except Vergber and Kelsum. Frankfort then ordered his generals about. "We march to Redwall, but only after we claimed the rest of southern Mossflower. For now, we must rest and prepare, and hope to our seasons and the Bellmaker that no goodbeasts much slay another in these dark times."

"For Southsward." Nosbub said, closing the meeting.
_

Eskert was heading back towards his camp with a happiness to his step, as he heard the great news already. The army was marching to Redwall once it was ready, and he was quite excited. He had not been to Redwall in a while, and he was happy to show Loy the whole place. Martin, we return to your home and I will fulfill your duties as a warrior, claim the sword you once wielded, and ally with Jue the Warrior himself! The idea was wonderful to him, but more importantly, woodlanders were now safe. Nurf may have been still out there, but Loy could likely drag the army along to ambush the fox's home and put down that vile murderer.

He headed towards the tent that he, Loy, and Borbon had been using. In one way, he loved it, as Pelo lived with them and could get the medical treatment he needed. It was roomy and big, and the Southsward army certainly did not spare any expense. He smiled at the fact he got to be close to Loy and Borbon, whose company he was enjoying. It kept him sane, he thought, as he couldn't help but frown over what Nurf had truly stolen from him.

Then he frowned more.

There were some things he did find intolerable. Like Dangan in particular, who seemed awfully close to Loy. He didn't like him one bit, a vermin bandit in his eyes. No doubt Martin tested his patience with such beasts, perhaps to reveal in time if vermin could truly be as tame as Shackleford said they are, but he knew better. No doubt as Dangan grew older, he would be no better than Nurf. Then there was Lufan. Lufan grew cold with him, the two beginning to split at the seams. He was divided on the issue. On one paw, he owed Lufan his life, he had saved him, helped through all this trouble. Yet now the hedgehog had cold feet, and it annoyed him how much he moralized over vermin of all beasts. Vermin. The beasts who stole my Glain and children from me. He understood him in some sense, but why damage themselves over vermin? The idea made Eskert sad, as he trudged on to perhaps another silent and awkward conversation.

He stopped only when he saw the hedgehog was outside the tent, putting his clothes into a sack. Eskert approached, being curious, wondering if Lufan was simply transporting his clothes to the camp's wash.

"Evening, Lufan." Eskert tried to be friendly, but the hedgehog didn't even stop. In fact, he kept pushing his clothes into the sack. Bah, probably just didn't hear me.

"Lufan." Eskert said more firmly. He was confident Lufan could now hear him, but the hedgehog was still packing his things. Eskert was growing annoyed, the mouse spoke more firmly in the hopes of catching his attention. Lufan turned to Eskert, before shouldering his pack and began to walk off.

"Lufan?" The hedgehog looked saddened by something, but he kept walking, until Eskert realized it wasn't because his friend was bad of hearing, it was because he was trying to ignore him.

"Lufan!" This time Eskert yelled, as Lufan stopped and turned to see a furious Eskert. He marched over, accusingly raising a paw finger at him "Is it not enough you must coldly think of me without even telling me why. You are not a passive aggressive beast, Lufan. Tell me what i-"

"What is wrong?" Lufan's voice quivered himself in anger. Eskert squinted at him as Lufan put down his pack and sighed.

"I am leaving, Eskert. For good, I am going north and far away from this." He looked around the camp disgusted, as Eskert growled.

Eskert was taken aback, he had Lufan of all beasts would see things his way. The hedgehog stared down at him, as if he were some different beast, and it made him uncomfortable. Eskert shook his head "There is no need, Lufan. As Warrior of Redwall, we'll be heading that way eventually. Its safer in this camp."

"Is it?" Lufan asked. Eskert rolled his eyes "Of course it is, don't be simple, fri-"

"You don't get to call me that, Eskert. Not after what you had done." Lufan's voice darkened, bordering on rage. Eskert looked at him and blinked, unsure what he had did wrong. Lufan looked at some of the newly made vermin serfs, giving them a sympathetic look as they went about their slavish duties in fear, before returning to Eskert's attention.

"I know vermin well enough, and I know hordes well enough. You attacked and destroyed a vermin fort, yes, but yet brought back no prisoners. You ran from a vermin host led by a warlord, so his army was out with him. You were quite proud to tell how many vermin you killed, quite an impressive number considering the garrison you fought against with such ease. Vermin don't just pop out of the ground. How many Eskert, how many did you really kill."

Eskert paused and sighed, not sure what to say. Lufan turned in disgust, shouldering his pack, having his answer. Eskert yelled out, more authoritative than before "Lufan, get back here."

"Why!?" Lufan turned around and snapped at him. Eskert gave him a cold and unfamiliar look, no longer looking at a friend, but rather just another angry beast. "Think of Loy, at least. You aided us, and you have just as much responsibility to help him."

"Help him? Help him and your master Frankfort enslave my blasted country!?"

Lufan nearly yelled, but silenced himself. He kept his eyes open all around him as Eskert realized something. Lufan was afraid, as the hedgehog kept an eye on a patrolling soldier returning to his tent, thankful he had not listened in. "We are not enslaving them, Lufan. How many times do I have to-"

"I did not think you blind, Eskert. Yet clearly you are. It isn't enough what you did, nor the lies you tell that boy."

"I did tell him the truth." Eskert chided him "About what I did."

"Oh he told me, Eskert. He told me and I tried to snap him back to reality, but he wouldn't listen." Lufan remembered that recent conversation well. It was awkward and full of trouble as Loy tried to explain such things. Yet, no matter how hard Lufan tried, Loy's impatience and zeal against those who harmed him won out. Lufan grunted at Eskert. "It wasn't enough you have become little more than a bandit and murderer, Eskert. If anything, what makes you any better th-"

Lufan's eyes widened as Eskert's angry eyes pierced at him, his paw having reached for his sword and began to pull it out half way, as if he could not longer hold it. Lufan felt he made a point, but yet regretted it. Eskert calmed and slowly put his sword back into its sheathe. He gave the hedgehog an icy stare, informing him "Unpack your things, Lufan. You will not speak further of this."

"You cannot stop me."
"I can actually." Eskert came menacingly forward and Lufan slowly backed away.

"You of all beasts should know I am nothing like that vile barbarian who killed my beloved Glain. Yes, what I did may seem similar to you, but you must realize the vermin are not beasts, but creatures. Creatures who I am starting to realize are far below us. The Southswarders think they can save them because we as good beasts have good hearts, but those who side with the vermin over their fellow good beasts are no better than the vermin themselves. Collaborators and traitors."

"Did you truly think less of me when I aided you." Lufan responded in kind. Eskert shook his head "I never stopped. I owe you a lot Lufan, and so does Loy and Pelo. I won't have you breaking that otter's heart by fleeing to join the vermin."

Lufan scoffed "What is next, you think I am vermin?"

"If you leave this camp, you will be." Eskert warned, patting his sword. Eskert folded his paws and commanded his terrified friend who realized that Eskert could no longer tolerate him, but he wasn't willing to let him go. "You'll see things my way in time, now unpack your things and return to the tent. You will not speak of what I did to Loy. Anyone who stands between me and the enemy who infests Mossflower will perish." Lufan relented and slowly returned to the tent, the mouse guiding him and returning to a more pretend friendliness to him, as if their relationship had been 'repaired'.

"See Lufan, isn't that hard now. As soon as we are off to find Nurf's hideaway, my Glain will be avenged."

Lufan was silent, giving his former friend a terrified look as the mouse watched him unpack in a slow manner.
_

Loy showed Tera to her new tent, who felt like she had walked into a fairy tale of some kind. Her feet touched the carpeted ground, tables and chair sat next to small bunks with hangers for armor and cloaks. There was a iron and very clean bucket in the corner, with food already laid out for her. She would have gobbled it up had she had not been so full from the recent feast in the camp. She patted dust from her new garb, which she nearly forgot she was wearing with how comfortable it was.

It was a delicate yellow and white tunic, with a kilt of silk. A bell was stitched onto the fabric, with a brighter yellow cloak being held together by a golden bell shaped pin. She felt almost royal, but she also knew she wore lighter armor beneath her gear, and a gleaming sword laid to her side belt. She looked amazed as she looked around, having never seen such majesty in all of her life. Yet one thing she had not known in a long time was the feel of jewelry, a golden chain adorned her neck, and golden earrings were pierced in her ears. Gandal and his vermin stole what she once had before, long ago lost to their trading and rummaging, but these replacements made her feel quite homely.

"This is where you and Pelo will be sleeping, next to our tent of course." Loy smiled, showing her the strength of the cot she would be sleeping on. She felt it, utterly shocked how comfortable and clean it looked.

"Oh seasons Loy, Mela would have loved this. She hated the grounds of our ol' pen."

"When Frankfort wins, no beast in Mossflower will even hear the word 'pen' again." Loy nodded. Tera had been at first unsure when Loy spoke to her of the Southsward's new mission, but she joined just as willingly even with such information. The Long Patrol had failed to rescue her and Loy for seasons, and now the Southsward army was doing what even the feared Long Patrol could not. She felt pain in her eye and touched it, the tender blackness was setting as she looked to Loy who could not but frown.

"We'll get Gandal, Tera. For our friends and loved ones alike."

"I know, Loy. Though-" Tera was about to speak before Dangan waltzed in, with a happy grin on his face and a big platter in his paws. Dangan laid the platter down, as Tera couldn't help but feel uneasy. Loy noticed as Dangan rubbed his paws and touched the hot and delicious smelling food. "Dey got der good stuff cooken, like dem creams and 'cin o mans' or whatever dey be callen it, Loy."

"Tera, this is Dangan. He is a friend, believe it or not, and our servant. You do not need to fear him." Dangan turned and looked a bit worried, wondering if Tera would cause him trouble, but Tera sighed.

"I don't fear vermin, its just, ummm-"

"I can leave, sir? If dat be fer der best."

Loy waited for Tera to respond, and she eventually spoke. "Loy, I can get wanting to help Mossflower, and avenge all those years we spent dealing with Gandal. I can tolerate that much. Loy, all this kinda reminds me a bit too much like Gandal's horrible place, where beasts like us because of whom'st we are we're forced to serve. I mean, Dangan is it, you didn't exactly look like you came here willingly."

Dangan frowned and looked worried, but Loy could understand her concerns. It mirrored his own. "I imagine Eskert talked about it with you?"

Tera shrugged "Not really, in fact, he kinda avoided it. He is kind, brave, and I am blessed he took me on as his squire. Pelo is sweet enough too, of course." Tera smiled, but then frowned as she returned to Dangan's attention. "It's just, some of those vermin look miserable. If the point is to teach them, Loy, why remove paws or lash them?" As if one que, the two nearly bolted when they heard a harsh lash in the air.

"I know it looks suspicious, Tera, but trust me I got it all explained. Shackleford is Southsward's greatest scholar on vermin, and he thinks the vermin can be saved. I mean, they need violence to help them see straight as it is. Beasts like Eskert think they can't be saved, and I didn't think that much either. I wanted to leave because of it actually. Frankfort explains it probably better than I do, but we are slowly but surely helping them, but they help the army as well." Loy awkwardly rubbed his neck as Dangan could see him trying to excuse the inexcusable.

"I guess, but it reminds a bit too much how Gandal an' his black clads used to talk." Tera reminded him. "It also isn't very, well, it's still a bit too close to home for me." Tera touched her blackened eye. Her body was still riddled with bruises from Gandal's abuse.

Dangan cut in "Wells, if it makes ya feel much better, missums, I certainly am a lot, erm, happier an' content den when I was out der in the wild ya know."

Tera raised and eyebrow to this as Loy smiled "This vermin saved my life, took an arrow for me even."

"Aye, an' me shoulder still stings." Dangan dumbly patted his shoulder and winced. Tera couldn't help but asked, a little amused by the weasel's antics. She had never seen vermin so clean, trimmed, and puffed up before. Usually she was so used to seeing them as unwashed, that it may as well have been she was looking at a fellow woodlander with orange fur. Yet, she couldn't help but ask.

"I mean, Dangan. Is that your real name, even?"

"Oh nooo, it used to be Toeclaw." Dangan said quite proudly. "Pa an' ma used to call me dat cause I scratched his face when I was born born an' he never really forgave me fer it. Oh, ya know how it be."

"I don't actually." Tera frowned. Loy spoke up "I think all this is working out Tera, for us and vermin alike. Had Dangan not been brought here, he'd have been likely still a bandit or a hordebeast. It's difficult work, but its righteous work."

"The woodlanders though, that one is a bit harder to swallow Loy." Tera said. Loy sighed "That is unfortunate, but they are criminals and traitors to this good cause, Tera. I don't like it either, but it's just punishment. It's better than being executed, I suppose, if the stories of badger law is true. They aren't slaves, they'll be free eventually of course, they just need to learn that Frankfort is here to save them is all. Tera, were going to free every single beast in Mossflower from tyranny, just like what my pa would have wanted me to."

Loy paused as he grinned, with Tera having nodded in agreement.

"I just-" Loy began to frown again, this time his voice sounded sad and depressed. "I just wish my ma was here. She would have loved to seen this, but no beast i know I would have loved to have seen more was Glain."

Tera comforted him, patting him on the back as Dangan watched. "I wish I could have done something. Gandal didn't even kill him, he had some blasted black clad do it, over a revenge I committed. That heartless monster. I wished we could have done more against him. I wish I was braver then, and maybe-"

"You did all you could and more." Tera hugged her sad friend. "Glain would have been proud you helped us, and no doubt wherever he is in the dark forest, he is smiling at us. You freed us, Loy."

Loy may have smiled, but Dangan did not. He had no will or bravery to tell them how much he missed his own parents, or how pained he actually was. He simply mumbled "I'll go grab some sheets, sir." Before leaving. Loy didn't speak up in time before he left. He simply shrugged as Loy and Tera sat on the cot, talking about all their troubled times they had spent in bondage to Gandal, and now excited they would bring that freedom to all of Mossflower. Forever.

---

Outside of Palewind, a group of figures were covered up by brush and hill, watching the Southsward wagons and army return to the camp. Daen watched with spiteful eyes at them, and cursed himself at his failures.

"Nearly bleeding had them, and all that mouse and otter had to do was not run off." He referred to two woodlanders, shaken from the loss of family or loved ones who created their vengeful bands and rallied villagers to their cause. Frankfort massacred their forces, and hanged those two creatures in the forests. Daen had escaped, but not without considerable losses. His net gain was not worth what he had sacrificed for this little adventure. The hare was joined by his growing 2nd, a squirrel who pointed at wagons as he crept closer with mud and war paint on his face, dressed in a dark green rag which acted as his hidden cloak.

"May not exactly be good that Frankfort won either, but I fear for those beasts in particular. They won't have enough food if their stores run out, sir."

Daen smiled, regretting his previous attempt to get Gaster to retreat with other common folk. The squirrel was becoming invaluable, as he grew more and more skilled with each passing day as he copied the hares beyond his own ability. Daen however had also little choice, as for the few hares he had left, the Long Patrol were nearly all wiped out.

"I saw Terrance amongst their number." Daen scoffed "Of course that idiot would join this evil lot. Though I am at a loss. We can't just fight them it seems in either open battle nor through our normal means. We have far too little as it is. We can't inflict enough damage on them for any of this to be worth it."

"You wouldn't be mentioning all this if you didn't have an idea." Gaster snarkily grinned. Daen did indeed grin as he looked out over the fort "Numbat can fend for himself for now, but Frankfort no doubt is going to be worse as time goes on. We need beasts to form rank and retake villages, and ultimately get rid of the 'problem' beasts the most. Most of our would be allies had run ins with the 2nd Army under that wretch they all refer to a 'The Black Twitch'. Blighter was massacring them, or worse."

One of the hares spoke up grimly "You think it was purposeful?"

"If it is, I'd be ashamed to call myself a hare." Daen grunted. "Regardless, we need beasts and Nosbub just robbed us of the best we could get our paws on. We were able to damage them, but it's a cut rather than a thrust."

Gaster nodded and thought "You think we could raid them, in their own camp? Rescue all those prisoners?"

Daen nodded "It is my home after all, I know those hills like the back of my paw." Daen's hares gave him an odd look, as they gazed towards the palisade. Daen chided him in a joking manner "Oh don't give me that look lads, tis not like we are going out there now and sallying forth right into a wall. That wall isn't fully complete either, it's still being built."

"You must be magic then, sir." Another hare joked. Daen nudged him to silence him "We aren't vermin are we? We won't need magic to sneak past this lot, thinking we already fled back. We wouldn't even be here if I didn't have a plan to deal with them.

Gaster smiled "Most of those beasts are militia members like my father was, no doubt it'll be worth the risk if we do it right. These beasts are getting comfortable, and if we strike right, they wouldn't even know we were here and be off with their army. Might even scare them a bit if they find out we can just walk in and out of their camp. We would need disguises, though."

"Yes, me boy. More than that, we will do this at night when they are less likely to be suspicious. So that means I want you idiots snickering back there napping." The hares giving loopy face to one another stopped and snuck back. Daen smiled as he looked about "These cretans may be skilled, but so are vermin in some sense. Not a single one has the discipline of my own."

"You seem confident, sir." One hare chided him.

"The only beast we need to worry about is Terrance, that traitor. Along with any of his comrades he brought with him. If we can, we will need to get Numbat out and see what he wants. He'll call all this reckless of course, but not when we are all heading back to the inland lake to plan out these devil's demise." Daen turned up his nose to the fort.

"What about patrols and guards." Gaster asked.

"We'll do them in. They may be woodlanders, but this lot are no better than vermin. In some cases, far worse."

Gaster nodded as they continued to look out over the camp, the group returning to the bushes to find their entrance into the base and moving around to make final preparations. Under the watch of Southsward sentries upon the hill, the guards did not even notice two resting Southsward hares who were farther off pulled into the bushes and the rustling bushes which went still before they could even be suspicious of it.
_

Not farther off from Daen, another dark force crept closer to the fort. Gandal and Olan looked upon the greatly improved hare fort of Palewind which sat upon the hill, but Olan didn't remember the last time he scouted it out of a palisade being built around it. The Black clads attempted to move closer, but Gandal turned to them and growled.

"Ya get closer, der yella clads will be der last ding dat be tryen to kill ya." The soldiers took the hint and stood still as Gandal returned his attention to the fort. He was almost nostalgic, looking on at the huge array of tents being constructed and soldiers marching about. To him, it was just the weirdest sight, it was almost like Kasg's old camp in a way. The smell of campfires and food, the sound of marching boots, and it even had a gaggle of slaves in a trench, building up a defense around the perimeter of the camp. Tents even extended outward from the fort.

Olan looked at these slaves closer, fellow vermin who looked fearfully at an overseer who loomed over them with whip in paw. Olan found it curious that the vermin were as baffled, confused, and frightened as any woodlander would be, and the woodlander stared down coldly. What was perhaps the big difference was the overseer didn't look like he wanted to be there either.

"Dey took Palewind." Olan grunted "An der fortifying it well enough. We don't got der forces to siege it, let alone even walk up to it. Our best bet is if we surprised dem."

Gandal grunted "Our beasts be too armored fer such a ding, we'll only need one division to aid us, while der rest stay here."

Curiously, Mela crawled up to look at the fort, not even having realized she was laying between Gandal and a black clad vermin. Gandal gave a dark look to her, but shook his head to ignore the vengeful mouse. He continued "If we do dis rightly, we can humiliate dem good an' proper and steal away beasts we need. No doubt dey got good an' strong vermin in der. If Nurf can do this kinda ding, why can't we do it?"

Mela turned to him a bit concerned "Your going to sneak into there?!"

Gandal and Olan turned to her, with Gandal growling "Get back an away from me, slavebeast. I don't need ya bothering me, ya round eared creature." Mela took the hint and quickly backed off. Olan shooed her as she went further back. Gandal growled and whispered to Olan "Our next taskmaster yer gonna need a real slavebreaker if dat woodlander decides to come up to us all friendly like."

"She probably wants to get her paws on der leaders, an' can ya blame her? Ya know how Loy was vengeful towards ya." Olan reminded him. Gandal growled "Oh, nearly forgot dat otter and Borbon lay in dis squirrel's company. I shoulda have just listened to Jano an' killed him when he acted up. Stupid of me dinken I could make Kasg happy."

"You think we can sneak in der?"

"Not without some distraction o' course. Dey weren't expecting us back der, likely dink we traveled eder north or east to get away from dem. We'll likely got an element of surprise. We proved we can't face em down when our forces be equal in size, but dat lot relies too much on numbers. Der armor is heavy, Olan. Heavy enough to slow'em if they dare take chase, unlike me speedy black clads!" Gandal was prideful as he slapped one of his grinning vermin on the back.

"Ya dink dey'll join us, vermin prisoners an' slavebeasts?"

"Dey will. Cause if dey don't, we'll kill em." Gandal grunted. "We wait fer der night, Olan. Find an opportunity to get inside."

Olan nodded, turning his gaze to the hated fortress. Hidden as the group was from afar, Olan couldn't help but wonder "Sir, when we gets in der. I be dinken. Should we kill der officers an' leaders?"

Olan got a nasty slap over his head. Gandal growled at him "No, ya idiot! Were sneaken into a camp, an' stealen away der beasts. Goin to be a difficult fight as it is, surrounded by a blasted enemy. Besides, ya kill der leaders, dey'll just find new beasts to take der place. Tis not like a good ol' horde, Olan. Der leaders be weak an' pathetic, but dey got a chain of command not all dat different from Kasg's. If we kill der Prince, it'll only make dem more zealous to go after us. If dey start doin hard tactics against us, dey may just catch us an' kill us. We need an army to scare em', an' we need to damage dem while dey dink dey be safe."

Olan sighed and nodded. Gandal could tell he was still thinking it. He patted Olan's back "You'll get yer chance, Olan. We all will, just don't get yer stupid snout chopped off doin it, as Gandal says. Gotta wait fer dem to make der mistake."

"Aye." Olan sighed and stood up. Gandal turned back to his beasts who wondered what to do next. "We got a lot of planning an' scouting to pull dis off. I need a scout watchen dem with eyes on dem from light to night. We'll attack dem in the night. Prepare fer an assault, an' none of ya light any fires. Were goin to make fools of dem, an' make dem beg fer der Long Patrol to return an show'em how real war is waged."

The vermin lightly pounded their chests in salute, as they sat down and sharpened weapons. Olan came over to Mela, passing out vermin rations and sniffed it and turned her head in disgust. Olan took it and ate it, as he noticed Mela gave a rare grin. He could tell that despite her clear disgust of the beasts around them, she could only casually mention "How can I help. I want Gandal to succeed in this."

"Just do as he says, round ears." Olan nodded. She nodded back as the group prepared for their most boldest raid yet.
_

Farther away from Palewind, beyond the trees and highlands was the inland lake. Jano kept running for over a day through the wilderness east, till he stopped and rested. He returned briefly to the destroyed camp to see if there was anything to salvage. He saw the black clads standing over dead beasts, family and so forth. In their tradition of Kasg's horde, they took the bodies and burned them to crisps, before burying them in a mass grave. Jano would have walked out to greet them had he not noticed Olan's kin being brought to the pyre. In that moment, he knew he was likely a dead beast by either Olan's paws or Gandal's.

Grumbling to himself, Jano wandered towards the inland lake, unable to find food for himself and feeling terribly bored, he wandered as he ranted to himself, his favorite whip being the only thing he could save from his hasty retreat.

"Stupid Olan, shoulda have just killed der chief meself an none of dis would have happened." The ferret went through bushes and around trees, returning to the inland lake. His stomach rumbled as he looked around for something to eat. He cursed himself "Not even a horde to get in with. Damn dat rat an otter both." Jano thought of Loy, and the fury of his eyes. The ferret came close to dying, he looked down at his bandaged right paw which stiffened. He had cauterized the wound, but now there was a small painful hole in it which Jano thought would heal or at least stop hurting.

Olan wasn't completely incompetent being out on his own, but he was used to the order of Kasg, even if his horde was decaying after his demise.

Olan looked around, wondering if he could go east and find a warlord who would take him in. Though he hated the fact he'd likely start at the bottom again. He needed to prove he was a skilled captain, and a more skilled slavemaster. He wandered till he came into the open where he saw a beast washing his face and drinking from the inland lake.

"Ya der!"

That beast turned around, it was a fellow ferret who looked around him, giving Jano a curious look as he approached. Jano could see he wasn't even armed, as Jano looked around to see if he was with any other beast. He wasn't as the ferret asked as Jano was face to face with him.

"C-can I help ya?"

"Ya, yer commen wit me." Jano grasped the ferret's shoulder, but he quickly shrugged it off. The ferret didn't seem to take Jano very seriously. "I ain't interested. Me hole not far, an' I'd prefer ya didn't touch me, matey."

The ferret's eyes widened as Jano gripped the ferret's neck and strangled him lightly, as the ferret yelped "I yield!"

"Likes I said, ya blasted cretan. Yer comin wit me, an' ya ain't gonna complain to ol' Jano are ya?"

The ferret slowly nodded as Jano picked up his newest conscript and headed off. Jano was quite excited, as he prodded the beast he kept as a prisoner in front of him "Yer gonna like worken wit me, boy. Ya looken a bit younger den I, so no doubt ya be der son of some softie tamed beast. Like all der rest of ya Mossflower scum."

The ferret turned to him as he marched, trying to reason with him "I ain't looken fer trouble."

"Yer gonna be in trouble if ya speak back to yer cap'n like dat, little ferret." Jano grinned. Jano was feeling less bored as he prodded him, and purposefully tripped his prisoner up. The escalation of Jano's bullying got the ferret annoyed, but he knew he likely couldn't run far from his would be captor. "I'm goin east, scum. Were getten into a horde an' gatheren any uder conscripts on der way. Ya want to eat? Ya work fer me now, an' don't let any uder beast say uderwise. Ya got a name?"

"Iscal dey call me." Iscal grunted, getting up and patting himself off "Ya mad if ya goin east."

"Why?" Jano snickered as he pushed the ferret forward. Iscal grew concerned as he spoke with caution to his captor "Cause, out eat dey say is where Nurf be. Dat degenerate an' his horde be all around here, seen one of his sneaken about a day ago."

"Ya don't gotta worry about dat ol' degenerate, only worry about me." Jano poked him with his furled up whip. Iscal figured he could likely escape in the night once this fool fell asleep. Yet, as the marched, they both stopped when out of the bushes in front of them, a big grinning rat with a knife came out. Jano recognized him immediately as one of Nurf's captains and began to back away, only for Nurf's vermin to slowly reveal themselves and take defensive stance. Iscal looked on in fear as Goran approached, his knife lightly slapping the ferret's nose.

"Oh, what we got here boys? Two ferret, an one a black clad?" Goran seemed quite excited as he rubbed the knife at Iscal's frightened face. Goran looked at Jano, not at all surprised to even see him. "Jano Whiplash, eh? Got a nice whip der."

"Whacha want, Goran."

"Janooo. Its been so blasted long, me friend." Goran grabbed the annoyed ferret and put his arm around him in a menacing manner, his knife at the ferret's chest. "Ya really shoulda stopped by der inland lake more often. One of me scouts saw ya just skipping on up here like as if ya were a vole on fire. Somethen happen? Gandal an' Olan finally get tired of ya an kick ya out?"

Jano looked at Goran, having a sudden idea. He became more friendly much to Goran's shock. "Aye, doh not in der normal way. I got some news fer yer boss. I'm a beast needen a chief to follow, a real an' strong chief. Yer crew needs a taskmaster don't it?"

Goran thought "Well, I suppose. Nurf don't ever keep em' long doh."

"Hells, Goran. I even got a freebee fer ya." Iscal looked scared as Jano pointed to him. Goran laughed and patted the ferret on the back. Iscal was taken away, as the group journeyed through secret paths towards Nurf's ruined tower. Jano was impressed to finally look upon it, the skeletons of his victims strung about and hidden by local foilage. In the least populated parts of this place, Jano could only imagine this was where the fox could hide out in, as he climbed the stairs and had the door opened for him. Nurf stood squatting on his pile off newly made loot, staring back with his disturbed wide grin.

"Oh? Goran, ya bring me more pretties I see? Though quite ugly dat one is, too black cladded for our tastes." Nurf mentioned. Iscal was shoved into the room, trying to already escape as he knew the danger he was in. Nurf picked at his teeth with a knife, as Jano looked around not being impressed, but he felt almost at home amongst Nurf's gang of murderers. The fox came up to him, pinching his cheek. "Oh? Gandal sends gift, I see. Goran, where did you find dis one."

"Out an about near der inland lake."

"Oh? Looken fer slavebeasts, again?" Nurf asked, giving a dramatic drooping face. "Sorry me good pretty, kinda got rid a lot ya know. Me children, ya see, dey need plenty o' playmates." The crazed and evil creature pointed to his growing collection of skeletal remains, with some new additions added to the pile since his last raid. "Oh you should have seen me greatest masterpiece, me lovely black clad. I bets your stupid chief be beggen fer Nurf's genius when he sees what I did." Nurf looked almost gitty as he came over to Iscal next, eyeing him.

"A gift fer ya. Chief."

Iscal looked at the fox with a mix of horror and disdain, the degenerate pursed his lips and came around and seemed to toy with him "Oh dis pretty one will make a nice carpet I dinks. I haven't done carpet maken before, whatcha say me lads."

"Ha! Aye, boss!" One the nearby weasels stood up, eager to come over. "Got a new knife chief, ready fer some skinning." Nurf patted his hordebeast on the head at first, but was now eyeing his knife. Iscal watched in horror as Nurf grabbed his hordebeast's head and snapped it, taking the knife as he fell to the ground dead. The vermin began to laugh as Nurf threw his knife away and looked longingly at his new prize. He looked down at the corpse he had just made and then back to Iscal. "Needed new hordebeast anyway, me pretty. Though will need to make ya a bit more comfortable."

"An me?" Jano asked.

Nurf turned to him and menacingly came forward, but Jano held up his paws to the insane creature. "Me chief, Gandal be as dead as ever, but der Long Patrol be gone to. Der be new beasts, me matey I dink ya would like to know are here."

The vermin listened as Jano told his story, as Goran forced Iscal into a corner and took out an ancient shackle and put it on his leg, connected to a ring on the wall. Jano gleefully told them of what had happened, but Nurf's mood soured as Jano listened off the deeds they were known to do. Jano stopped, a bit frightened he was doing his little song and dance wrong when Nurf angrily spoke up.

"Dey dare! Dem pretties are mine! Mine! Der shadow's property, an' no one else's!" Nurf stomped his foot, and then got a wide grin. Jano watched as he began to look back at the skeletons as he approached. The vermin knew this was one of his behaviors, especially when he was forming ideas. Nurf began to speak to invisible creatures only he seemed to see.

"Y-yes, of course me little ones. I won't let dem take you. I won't let dem defile yer little black bodies, me lov'leys. Oh me dears, I can't just let dem take you." He bent down, hugging at some beast as he whirled around "Yes. Yes! Dats what I'll do. Goran, I dink we should head out again."

Goran frowned, and in a rare instant tried to argue with his mad chief "Nurf, we got plenty o'viddles as it is. Besides, der boys be tired an' wanna rest fer der winter anyhow. Not mention we got out entertainment sitting right over der." Goran pointed to Iscal, but Nurf came up to Goran and put a knife just below his throat "Who'd be yer boss, now?"

"Y-yea chief." Nurf patted Goran's head, ruffling it as he retracted the knife "Black clad, very good for you to come to me. Me friends have so many dings they want to tell you, so many ideas dey want to see happen. Yes, I need more prisoners, I need dem to fear me. Long Patrol an' Black Clad feared me, now de's beasts will too. They must see me arts. Dey must see what mural me children will make!" Nurf was getting terrible ideas, his mind wandered as his vermin were chuckling grimly as he flew about the room with adventurous youth.

"Yes! Dats it! Der otter over der be right!" He pointed to the otter skull in a corner "Gotta made dem bleed, give em' somethen to do! We'll bash their little skulls in, an' take der young'uns from right out under der noses! Goran, I can sees it now. We'll need a nice picture over der, maybe make out of der cloth? No. Out of der innards. We'll got plenty o' living clay fer dem little ones to play with, Oh i swears i will." Nurf bit at his knife, knawing at it madly till his lips bled from cuts. Iscal's jaw dropped in terror as he saw the maddened creature go further and further into his dark fantasies.

"Jano." Nurf spoke to him "Will find an' scout out de's new beasts. Steal away some of der beasts, but you must stay me pretty. You bring more pretties to me, more vermin. Need new hordebeasts, many more. I like der idea of it, Chief Nurf! Warlord Nurf!? Ha!" Nurf gave a wild cackle as he nearly jumped out the ruined tower and rushed out, calling for his vermin "Come, me beasts! Many pretties to find!"

Jano smiled as Nurf left, as he laid down in the piles of loot. Iscal gave his fellow ferret a dark look, but Jano no longer cared. He liked this, as he gotta eat as much vittles as one could find in such a foul place.

---

Balon sat in the middle of a large pavilion, surrounded on all sides by judgemental beasts. Balon was held down with large ropes, with three guards on high alert and surrounding him. Balon blinked meekly as he stared ahead as Frankfort looked back with curiosity. The day of Numbat's trial was going to begin, an event the Southsward forces would prepare for and execute before their march northward. Balon was silent, as Frankfort awaited his fellow judges to come in. One by one, the generals of the army came in, with Nosbub taking his position far from Frankfort, as Lars held firm near him. Samkon was the last to join as he took his place by Frankfort's side, looking down with only a slight pity at Balon.

"Let us be quick about this, much needs to be done before we move out from Palewind." Nosbub grumbled.

"Wait! I am also here!" The beasts turned to see the waddling steps of the small Shackleford slowly making his way inside. Kelsum rolled his eyes and spoke with an annoyed tone to the mouse scholar "This is a military matter, Shackleford. You will not be needed on this affair."
"Oh contraire!" Shackleford protested "This is the most important affair of all for me. This badger is after all related to the ruling family, as I am told. What he says is more important than anything else we could possibly get from the local minions. I wish to but partake in the silent role of watcher, so I may make my notes, good beasts."

Frankfort looked unsure, looking at Lars at first. Nosbub quickly spoke up "Yes, I believe our good scholar can observe this endeavor. Let's be done with this, I have much to do."

Nosbub grumbled, and hoped for the sake of his own sanity, this whole affair would just be done with. If he was fully in charge, there would simply be no trial. This badger, his friends, and a lot of other beasts would be dead and out of his fur. Nosbub's head slowly was bringing itself towards the table, as if he was ready to take a nap. He hoped Shackleford would at least brighten the mood of the whole ordeal. Nosbub even found it a bit funny that this truly wasn't a part of any of his plans or schemes, he was just unironically bored. He would even smile had the proceeding not started as they always did.

"Balon, as an officer of the Long Patrol of Palewind, you stand accused of crimes similar to those of your superior. Deep incompetence, conspiracy against the people of Mossflower, and aiding vermin foes behind the back of a war ally." Frankfort began. The squirrel prince looked down at the badger who himself looked horrible. Balon kept looking at his guards, and despite his size, the badger was starting to feel very small. "Do you contest these claims?"

Balon turned to him, giving the squirrel a terrified look. Balon's lips trembled as Nosbub angrily voiced his opinion when Balon was about to answer "Please, badger, do not waste our time. Just say you are guilty and we can all be done with this."

Kelsum raised his voice at Nosbub "General Nosbub, guilt will mean execution by hanging for these crimes. Do not encourage such haste. Balon, do you contest these proceedings?"

Balon looked wide eyed around him. Seasons, they really are just going to kill me. Balon spoke quickly "Y-yes, I contest them. I was not aware of such incompetence, but i have information-" Balon tried to think "Information on the vermin, even those in this camp. Stuff we even withheld from our own hares. If it means to defend me against such accusations, I will tell this court what it wants to hear."

Balon intended to tell the court what they wanted to hear.

Anything in fact.

The badger could see the reaction in the room was softening, with Frankfort giving him a weird look. The squirrel prince looked to Lars who was the first to speak up for his prince to move these proceedings along. "You say you have information on the vermin, Balon. Along with information withheld from the hares of the Long Patrol, your fellow prisoners. Is this information relevant to you?"

"Yes, absolutely." Balon spoke quickly. The badger was sweating, as he looked again at his guards, or more specifically their halberds they had with them. The image of one swinging down at him did not sit well. Kelsum asked him, trying to prod for information "And what kind of information do you have that is relevant, speak up, it is important for you and your commanding officer."

Balon frowned and just told them whatever would stick. "The vermin in the camp, all of them in some way, were former hordebeasts of Kasg. Nurf and Gandal worked closely together, cause you know, they attacked us at the same time. We don't know how or why. The one called Toila, I was going to ambush her in the camp, she is likely a spy of the enemy. Nosrig knows Nurf personally, and so does his entire family. Nosrig's father used to run with a vermin band who had run with Nurf, no doubt knowing where they are. Erm, Jurnal, the foreign vermin. He is likely aligned with Kasg formally, we were going to use him to try to get Gandal out into the open."

Everything from the lies and half truths Balon had hoped would stave off their judgment for even a day longer, and much to his relief, there were gasps in the room. Nosbub even perked up as Gosland and Lars exchanged concerned looks as Gosland began to interrogate him.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Gosland asked.

Lars informed Frankfort of their deals with all three of these named mercenaries, which Frankfort took with a sudden pinch of salt. He had signed off on their 'deals', but now he was looking deeply worried he had made some kind of mistake. Lars joined him, quickly retorting at Balon "We must be sure, are the mercenaries you brought with you agents of the vermin, and thus the Long Patrol?"

"I, ummm-" Balon frowned, and quickly thought of a turn around "Not at first, we were going to turn them to being used as a means of getting Gandal to stand down. Yes, that was the plan. Gandal is a rogue agent, he was never supposed to be such a foe. That is why we called you here."

"I knew it!" Shackleford said happily. His outburst got stares, as the mouse scholar came up to Frankfort, taking a very comfortable seat near him. None dared challenge him as the mouse scholar was quick to ask his questions "Good Balon, you are quite brave to bring such information, but we must know of such complex webs of dark intrigue of your species to know exactly of your true intents."

"I think what Shackleford means, Balon, how do we know you tell the truth?"

Balon responded weakly "I am not know for lying? I, uhhm, the vermin are too dumb to know much anyway. It was all apart of some plan, me and Numbat planned it all out. The vermin you have as prisoners are likely all spies."

"You just said they were your agents." Kelsum interrupted. Balon continued to fumble, but he looked to Shackleford who was enamored by his accusation. Balon then confidently got comfortable and spoke more directly to the mouse scholar. "Those vermin, they are both enemies and friends, tools you see. We use them to keep the villages in line, to make sure they, umm, don't get too big. We had orders, but we never intended to follow them. That is why we sent the letter, my lord, but we had hoped for greater subtly. Then Gandal and Nurf attacked together, me and my commander are as much Salamandastron's enemy. My kinsbeast Galgor was never a real family beast."

There were gasps amongst the room, as Nosbub interjected "I think we have just confirmed the legitimacy of our cause, gentlebeasts. Now can we just pass this over to our executioners and be done with it?"

"This information is too important, good Nosbub." Shackleford smiled. Lars gave Balon a suspicious look "Your information, if it is true, what you are saying will means we must kill those mercenaries you had brought here. We would have to overturn such things. My lord-" Lars turned to Frankfort "It would be wise, provided all this is true, that these false mercenaries are put down quickly. Before they could possibly escape and cause trouble for us."

"Yes, most agreed, but I believe the badger speaks truth." Shackleford spoke. All eyes turned to him as the mouse scholar fixed his glasses and gave a long and dreaded speech, with Nosbub giving a low grumble as he listened with a bored expression.

"My good beasts, this badger fixes what we had long believed broken, our purpose in this place. It is simple wisdom and logic we must follow, that my writing and this badger's testimony goes paw and paw. How can it not be truth otherwise? It all makes perfect sense, my lord, even if such a proceeding pains me. I had hoped those poor mercenaries, now revealed to be agents of the Long Patrol. We must deal out harsh and swift punishment, my lord, for it is the most merciful thing for such creatures tricked into such a life." Balon felt sick to his stomach, hearing Shackleford's words. Gosland added to those comments.

"These beasts are my responsibility my lord, if you so wish, I will carry them out personally."

Kelsum spoke, seemingly suspicious of the whole affair. "Hold on that Gosland, perhaps we should interrogate the vermin first and foremost. The badger's story is full of holes that need to be filled, even if-"

"Oh that won't be necessary, good Kelsum." Shackleford happily informed "For if we have all read on our books of vermin culture, that are incapable of telling the truth even if they intend to. While we as woodlanders can lie to one another, we are far more capable and prone towards the truth. It is why we cannot trust a single thing they say, without a grain of salt or a mountain of it. No doubt if they tricked good Gosland and our dear Lars of their true nature, who knows what they will say next to trick us all into an early grave?"

Nosbub quickly spoke up, only half paying attention "My lord, I think we are all in agreement? Kill the vermin, save the army."

Frankfort looked to Lars who was sad by this whole affair, but even he nodded in agreement. Frankfort arose and spoke his laws into being "Balon, your information will be processed, and you will be held to court on a different time, but are far from forgiven. Yet, you will be returned int due to time to the pens once we deal with this new information. Gosland, I want you and your army to start rounding up those in the stockades. The vermin we have there. They are to be executed and buried quickly by hanging, this is my decree."

Balon sighed with relief as his guards led him away as Shackleford looked almost excited. "My lord, you made the right choice. We are well on our way to becoming Mossflower's saviors!"
_

Nosrig was brought through the camp of Palewind, bound in rope as he just played along with the guards who seemed in a bit of a rush. He looked around, distasteful of the vermin serfs who gave him concerned looks. Nosrig couldn't help but shake his head, the fox found such weakness abhorrent, and he knew his father and siblings would laugh heartily at what he saw. He found all these woodlanders weird, but the thought of hunting Nurf would mean he could just ditch this band of fools and desert.

Nosrig was then brought towards the upper gates, but he heard beasts behind him, voices of a familiar kind which made his eyes widen in fear. He looked behind him, with guards pushing a bunch of foxes up that same hill, their paws bound in ropes.

"Pa?" Nosrig said frightfully, the fox losing his usual grim look and softened into a horrid face as he saw his father pushing at guards who tried to grab onto him.

"Ya touch me, woodlander, an' I'll be gutten ya!" The Bowthief patriarch struggled with his guards, kicking and hissing at them, baring his fangs as they desperately tried to keep him calm. Nosrig tried to struggle against his guards, but he was soon being beaten upon. The patriarch gave his son a sour look, growling "ya told dem where we were!?"

"N-no." Nosrig yelped "No. I didn-" Nosrig was knocked on the head as he collapsed towards the ground. He had no idea what was happening as the clan was brought further into the fort. Nosrig and his father then gasped out in terror as they were led into a small courtyard, were a large series of gallows were laid. Gosland stood by, looking at them with a grim silence, as if a little ashamed as Nosrig growled and cursed "We had a blasted deal! A deal!" He screamed. Nosrig and his father were stopped as they were separated into two groups, as they couldn't all be hanged at once.

The patriarch saw as half of his family were struggling or accepting their fate, being dragged up the scaffolding as Nosrig yelled and screamed as Gosland "Ya blasted river dog! Ya tryen to intimidate me!? It be worken! What ya want!"

Gosland frowned and as he didn't say anything. The patriarch looked on in silence as the ropes began to go around his family's neck. Nosrig was flanked by his horrified sister, yelling at them as well. Marig was grabbed the patriarch and held close, forcefully covering her eyes as he looked on in grim silence. They all stared back, with some begging and other yelling and screaming. Nosrig continued, rushing to get to Gosland who simply nodded to his executioner.

The drop caused the rest of the Bowthieves to twitch and fall silent.

It took some time as the Southswarders collected the bodies as Nosrig's eyes began to flow with anger. Even as his guards beat on him, the fox continued to scream.

"You wretched, back stabben, degenerate! Why! Why!?" Nosrig demanded Gosland to answer, but the otter still kept silent. "I hope Nurf kills all of ya den! I hope dat blasted murderer turns yer sister into mince meat! I hope he turns dat gold plated maggot into a pile of limbs! Why have ya done dis!? Answer me! I curse you!"

The patriarch continued to be silent, only whispering to the weeping Marig who begged for life in a whispering way. "It be time. We'd been caught, an' walk like ya mean it."

Nosrig turned angrily to his father, yelling at him next "Fight ya blasted ol' fool! Fight! Der goin to kill ya anyway!"

The patriarch only gave him long and cold eyes as the woodlanders finally were able to subdue Nosrig, as he struggled more and more, exhausted as they continued to beat down on the rabid beast. He only calmed as they were leading them up the scaffolding and onto the ramp. Nosrig was not weeping, he growled at others and fought for every inch of his life he could. "Ya be Bowthieves! I say we fight em! Dey can't kill all of ya!"

The patriarch only gave his son a sad look, speaking as they the more relieved Southsward executioners put the rope around his neck and those of others. Marig was crying next to him, as he spoke up to her "Keep yer chin up. I order you. Don't give'em der satisfaction."

When Nosrig felt the rope around his throat, tightened as it was, his anger turned to grief. One of his brothers was praying to the seasons, and another was just as furious and angry as he was, fighting to a bitter end. Nosrig noticed how calm his father was despite all that was happening around him, staring at something.

Three small squirrels looked on in horror, begging the guards for their release but none would listen. The patriarch began to smile even as Nosrig demanded one last answer before he perished.

"Why are ya so calm, der goin to kill us ya blasted ol' fool. All of us, ya hear!?"

The patriarch kept staring at the young squirrels and gave a dark grin "Me lad, ya be dinken dis be der end? We lived, an' now were gone. Keep yer chin up, an' don't let'em give der satisfaction dey deserve."

Nosrig gave his father a dark look as he closed his eyes. The doors flew beneath his feet, and darkness overcame. Nosrig heard a loud snap, as he continued to tumble towards the ground. He fell face first, staring up at the now silent swaying of his kin. Nosrig began to weep as the guards came over and pulled him out. The rope had snapped as the fox's cry was soft, as they pulled the fox away to make room for the next series of victims.
_

Jurnal sat in a separate tent, sitting down and enjoying a good laugh with one of his guards. "Ya see, long ears, in my home country, you'd have love to see how der chamber of beasts in the Sejem acts! Books fly, an' me pa once said that there was at least one serious injury or death every bleeding time it met."

The woodlander guard who had been watching him chuckled "Your country, tis an odd one."

"You'd love it, as much as I would love to visit this 'Southsward.' Sounds like a familiar land." Jurnal commented this and relaxed a bit, but soon another guard came inside, and Perla next to him. Perla looked at him and nodded to the guard. Jurnal came out of the tent, and was face to face with Gosland and another otter next to him. They had looked like they had been arguing, but Gosland dismissed him "I am sorry Corper, but this has to be done."

"Gosland, don't do it together." Gosland considered something, but he sighed "I am sorry, but Frankfort's orders. He said quickly, and we can no longer delay. Corper, go prepare it."

Jurnal gave him a weird look as Gosland turned to him in a shaken mood. The otter looked more than just sad, he was partly ashamed of what he was doing and Jurnal could only guess what he was going to do. Jurnal sighed and crossed his paws "Ah, so you are going to kill me."

Gosland nodded "Today." The guards quickly put their paws on Jurnal and had him moving, but like before, he was calm. He was even in a joking mood with his saddened guard, as the two walked towards the hill of the fort. "Bah, who cares about death anyhow? Say, Gosland, when you do meet my pa, do tell him I meant nothing by all this, but I am escaping a bad arrangement with the ugliest mink i've ever had the displeasure to put me eyes on, eh?"

Perla was a little shocked "You seem awfully calm about this."

"Only blood matters to beasts like me and I have two brothers, who know to not return. We knew this was a risk, and my father knew it as well. Death is meaningless, water dog. Do we not all go to the dark forest when we perish? I've lived life, and now I am off to find my kin, and tell them all about the wonderful hospitality you two have given me."

Gosland was awfully silent, as Jurnal felt he could cheer him up "Besides, we do still have our deal little otter."

Gosland remained silent as they marched, but now we're marching a bit faster. Jurnal was becoming a bit more worried as they entered the fort. As they neared the courtyard, Jurnal's eyes went a bit wide as he saw his brothers Bynard and Vylar looking back at him. They looked mostly confused, and then even relieved as they were reunited with their brother. Yet, Jurnal's face began to sour as he turned his head slowly to the otter general. Gosland was again silent, barely unable to bring himself to do what was going to be done. He just nodded to his guards.

Jurnal and his brothers were soon led out towards the courtyard, where they then saw the large and imposing gallows. Jurnal was going to go slowly, perhaps thinking that this was to get a final goodbye or intimidate them, but no, the guards were dragging them towards the gallows.

Jurnal realized suddenly what was going on, as panic set in.

"N-no! No!" Jurnal screamed. Bynard's feet were firm on the ground, trying to pause this as he began to yell out horrified. "Wait! This isn't right!? You can't! Please, don't!" The group continued to be led forward as Jurnal turned with a vicious and rage filled look to Gosland who watched on. He tried to keep his chin up, but his sister had no stomach for this and left. Jurnal yelled at him "Our deal, Gosland! Let'em go! What the hells do you want of me!? Spare them!"

"Brother, they are going to kill us!" Bynard began to weep as they were soon leading him up the scaffolding first. Jurnal looked to his younger brother, weeping as he was "I-I don't want to die! Not like this! Please!"

Gosland slowly came forward, but Shackleford wasn't far behind. The small mouse came bounding out of a corner, next to the otter as Jurnal begged Gosland in anyway he could to spare his younger brother, as Bynard fought for his life. Only Vylar seemed to know they were doomed, slowly moving with his guards and making some manner of prayer.

"I'll tell you anything, otter! I swear, just spare them! You wanted serfs, they'll make good serfs! They'll tell you anything! Please, just spare them Gosland! I'll do anything, please! You blasted river dog, you back stabbing cur! Why! Answer me!"

The ropes began to go around his neck as his Bynard tried to flinch away and struggle as the guards readied their prisoners to be dropped. Gosland believed he owed Jurnal at least an answer as he spoke up in a low tone. "You were outed as a spy of Gandal Blackfur, Jurnal. I am sorry, but it is my lord's orders."

"Damn your lord's blasted, cruel orders!" Jurnal yelled. His voice trembled to silence as he listened to Shackleford speak. "Tsk, tsk. Do not feel so saddened, my good Gosland. These beasts most assuredly do not come from some 'civilization across the eastern sea. Its all an act, even if it is quite convincing. I am so sorry we must put an end to these agents of our enemy in such a way, because I do think this beast is genuine in one way."

"P-please, just spare em'." Jurnal begged, his eyes watering. Bynard was next to him, crying out as well, "I don't wanna die. Please, I don't wanna die! Not like this." Jurnal turned to his brother with no words of comfort to give. The mink had been angry at Gosland, but seeing his regret made his attention turn to that mouse next to him. He soon began to realize he was begging the wrong creature. "P-please, mouse. Me brothers. You say I be genuine, an I am! By my pa's honor, they'll behave! Just let'em live!"

Shackleford didn't sound cold, but his words spoke an ice into the mink's blood "Oh I am most sorry, vermin. Such a thing is impossible. Vermin do not love their own kin as much as woodlanders do, and likely this just means they will act out against good beasts. I am sorry you were born in such a way, if only we had come sooner to rescue you."

Jurnal's eyes were wide with rage, as Gosland silently motioned his executioner. Jurnal gave one last look to his brother, who fell with him into the darkness. Jurnal was in the darkness for a bit, and thought the ordeal was over. He had heard that horrible snap, but soon he was looking up at the still feet of his brothers. Jurnal could hold out no longer, and he began to weep and cry. The guards came over and pulled from out of the gallows, looking to Gosland for answers. He looked at his engineer and scolded him "Fix the blasted gallows, damn you! Toila and her lot are next."

Jurnal looked on at the gallows, giving a wild and unearthly scream, wailing as he kicked dirt as the guards were ordered to drag him back to the stockades. Gosland couldn't even look at him. Shackleford came up to the devastated otter and tried to speak calmly to him "Do not try to be fooled, my good Gosland, by such an act. But pity them. For it is all they can do to show even an ounce of sorrow."

Gosland only nodded to this, and left to fulfill his next duty.
_

Toila and her fellow captive mercenaries all huddled together in the stockade, they were full of worry and fear as they looked at the door to their prison. Toila herself was trying to keep a positive attitude, but her mercenaries were not in her same mood. "Der goin to kill us, Toila. I just be knowen it. Der goin back out of der deal, an worse won't even pay us!"

"Ya idiot, der not goin to pay a dead beast."

"Why not?"

Toila sushed them, and the group listened to her speak "L-look, we can't just be panicking now, we gotta just stay down an' keep yer heads low till we can figure out a way out of dis. Well, till I can figure a way out of dis. Dey don't call me 'Toilen Toila' without reason me buckoos. Are ya a bunch of softies, or real vermin warriors, eh?"

The vermin around her gave a few 'ehhhhs' and 'Ermmmms' and scratched their head. Toila frowned and scolded dem "Ya don't say yer vermin, I ain't payen ya next job."

The mercenaries then were immediately cured, beginning to nod with enthusiasm. Toila tried to keep up a fake smile, but knew she had little to go on. She looked at two beasts who sat near them, one fox holding onto wooden bars and looking out silently over the camp, and a mink sitting near a pole and looking down at his faded colorful tunic. Nosrig and Jurnal had been silent, as Toila had come to know what happened. She didn't really pity them much, she in fact wanted to call their fates well deserved for trusting Gosland at all.

Jurnal's paws curled into fists in anger, but it again softened as he felt dead. The two had no idea why they were alive, but yet by some folly they were. Nosrig stared out at the camp, hoping in vain this was all some kind of bad dream. Jurnal looked to where his brothers had slept in the stockade, no longer able to weep for them. Tomorrow they would be gone, and both wished to spend their time alone before the end.

Toila whispered to her companions "Ya won't be enden up like dat lot, no sir. Der won't be dead beasts, ya hear. Were all goin to live through this, an' when we do, we'll-we'lll-" Her mercenaries listened to their commander, whom grew more childish looking to her. She had all brought them this far, trying to comfort her worried warriors "Yer all goin to be fine, me lov'leys. Just dink how rich we'll be, eh?"

The door to the stockade opened as the group turned to meet who would greet them. Much to her own horror, one of Gosland's guards stood looming over her, surrounded by a few others. One of the mercenaries began to back off, as Toila quickly spoke up "We all won't go so willingly, ya won't-"

"That one first." The guard pointed to one of the more frightened beasts. He begged "Wait, ya don't wanna take me! Wait!"

His cries of anguish were mirrored by Toila, who begged "Don't take me beasts, ya lopsided cretans! Rot brainers!" Toila smacked at the armored guards who only shrugged her off, with her mercenary screaming helplessly as he clawed at the ground as he was dragged away. Toila begged "Take me first den! Get me in front of Gosland! Let me talk to him!"

The guard turned to her, and pointed to Gosland and Perla who was watching. Gosland yelled at the guard "Come now, we don't have all day."

"Gosland, me matey!" Toila ran up to the bars, shaking them "Please, we can talk dis out, rework out deal!"

Gosland still felt sick to his stomach, even when his hated tormenter Toila looked at him with begging eyes. He spoke with a dark firmness "I am sorry, but Frankfort as rescinded all deals with vermin. You have been outed as an agent of Salamandastron and Gandal Blackfur."

Toila yelled at him "I nearly killed him ya dumb brute! Let me boy go!" The mercenary continued to beg and yell as he was dragged away and the stockade closed behind him. Toila had tears in her eyes, begging Gosland as much as rebuking him "I ain't no agent, I just be a mercenary! Were all mercenaries! Pity me, hate me, I care not just let me boys live! Please, ya dumb beast! We ain't no agents!"

"I am sorry, but my lord and Balon says otherwise."

Toila paused, screaming at him as Gosland went away and his sister followed with bowed head "Gosland. Gosland!" She cried as she gripped the bars, hearing her mercenaries shift in fear behind her and holding themselves closely. They had lost hoped as their commander began to break down and weep. She pounded, kicked, and screamed as she mourned her lost comrade. She then saw Balon, who was being escorted to another end of the stockade, noticing him. Her weeping turned to a burning rage, yelling with rabid hate at the badger who noticed her call his name.

"You cretan, ya back stabben, degenerate! Ya look at me, badger! Balon! I'll spill yer guts out, ya hear!? I'll do it! I'll get ya in der night, an make ya scream fer each beastie of mine ya got killed! Ya happy wit yerself, ya murdering wretch! Look at me when I be talken to ya! Ya guards, bring em here so I can kill me meself! Balon! Ya hear me! I'll kill ya, I swears! I swears!" Toila shook her bars in rage "I curse ya, Balon! I curse ya till the ends of time itself! I'll drag ya into der firey pits o' hell, where I'll wait to gore ya fer all time! I'll gore ya in dis life too! Balon!"

The badger simply held up his chin and marched into the stockade where Numbat was, hearing the ferretess mercenary weep and shake at the stockade's bars. Balon simply sighed, not noticing another group of guards coming to take another one of Toila's mercenaries away to their demise.
_

It was night over Palewind as Balon was wide awake, tied to a pole as he sat across from a tied up Numbat. The badger blinked, having noticed his commander having been silent, giving him a cold and scornful look. Balon tried to ignore it, but it was hard to when Numbat spoke once he was confident the guards outside the stockade were far enough, as their talk was face to face.

"Balon. I will only ask. Why."

Balon frowned, and was still. He simply shifted himself to try to be more comfortable in his bonds and tried to not answer. Numbat grew annoyed, and shook his head, and laid into the badger.

"I could hear it happen from here, Balon Blackpatch. I could hear it, and I was well informed about what had happened. That Lars character came looking for information, and I could only scoff at him. It was bad enough to got those foreign minks killed, but the Bowthieves? Balon, do you hate me that much that you have to spoil my greatest achievement? I spend seasons convincing that troublesome bandit to give up his ways, only to find out he and his entire family is dead! They aided us, and saved the lives of three small squirrels, who now languish in this camp as serfs for even trying to speak up for them. The fact you told them where they were. Dishonorable."

Balon remained silent, looking less and less himself. Balon understood, as he was not angry, as much as he just tried to survive this assault of words.

"Toila too. I could hear her screaming, as they pulled her last mercenary from that pen. They'll execute the last three tomorrow, so I get to hear that in my blasted nightmares. What blighted reasoning did you have to give those wretches killing my hares the excuses they needed? Balon, lest you know, they are our enemy. I am not disappointed, I am furious. If we get out of here alive, Balon, Galgor will have your hide for sure. If not him, I will, I-"

Balon snapped and yelled out "And if Galgor has my hide, so be it, at least I lived!"

Numbat paused as the horrified badger looked red in the face, breaking down at long last as he spoke with a rare tinge of fright. "Sir, I am sorry, but if a bunch of vermin bandits have to die so I can live, that's far more preferable! Sir, I don't want to perish, not here. You know they don't have a rope strong enough to kill me with, it won't be a quick death! It'll be slow, and painful, and full of screaming! I'll be screaming! You think that stupid, barely functional ferret is bad? You want to hear your compatriot scream next!? Oh, because I will, sir. I will."

Numbat looked shocked. He not see Balon liked this before, the strong and willing for action badger had fear in his eyes "Balon, if you were so afraid of death, why join our forces at all?"

"You think I had much of a choice?!" Balon growled, sniffing "I'm a badger, my whole life i've been told by my blasted kin that the best thing for me is to help Mossflower. I can slam vermin into the ground, I can squash them, but this? Numbat, I joined you because alternatively I would be hunting down blasted wolverines or some other horror in the north with Barfoof! Gandal at least at the time was old and beaten, so I thought I was safe then. Nurf? He was only suppose to come out once a few seasons! Once I was done here, I would be in charge of a nice patrol of my own, and just relax in some blasted corner of Mossflower and do anything else!"

Balon admitted, trembling in his voice "Sir, I am so frightened, more so than you think. If I have to admit I am a coward to get out of here, so be it. At least I won't end up like Toila and her lot. Sir, if they don't execute those vermin, they'll turn their attention towards us!"

Numbat frowned and calmed himself as saw Balon shed a tear "I don't like it, but I don't want to see us dead, sir. The vermin are expandable at least, there are thousands more like Toila or the Bowthieves, and so on. We can help them, but they will never help us. Sir, we are doomed in this moment, please understand that at least."

"Balon, when i was captured by these wretches, should I have given up then?" Numbat asked.

"N-no, of course not sir."

"I should have just given in when they arrested us, and killed our hares. I should have given up when we lost control of this whole blasted army to that verminous 'Black Twitch'. I should have bleeding given up when they hanged my hares in front of me, but I am still here. When they call me into that room, I will hold my chin high and keep trying to fight them with what I have." Numbat sighed "You may have given up, but we are Long Patrol. We didn't give up when the vermin such as Kasg invaded, and for all beasts of this forest I will gladly give my life to help them. Cursed as my luck is."

Balon frowned "I-I am sorry, sir. I just wish I could see that way, I do."

"I know, Balon. Yet, even when we thought Kasg had us, coming closer and closer to our beloved mountain, a single small hope shined brighter than any light our wonderful sun shines on us." Numbat responded. "All tyrants, even these ones, will either by irony or time find themselves strewn out while they may seem so triumphant. We will beat them back, Balon. I swear. I hope."

Balon sighed and shrugged "Sir, please. I do not ask you forgive me, but just understand me."

"I do, Balon, but I hope you will improve. This though, you will have to ask their ghosts for forgiveness, for it will be all you can do."

Balon accepted this, for at least ghosts could not harm him.