The woodlands seemed to go forever on for Taran as he looked ahead, He could find no end, it seemed, and no sign of Hen Wen either.
Gurgi waddled over to Taran as he sat on the rock under the tree, chewing on another apple Eilonwy gave him.
"Master wants munchings?" Asked Gurgi.
"Thanks Gurgi, but no." Said Taran, Still looking ahead to the woods. "Are you sure she's gone this way?"
"Uh… Gurgi thinks so." Said Gurgi rubbing his chin and scratching his head. "Piggy tracks lead down forest there, so where else would piggy be?"
"The edge of Wales for all I know." Said Taran. "But I do hope we can find her."
Nearby, Eilonwy was busy getting wood for the fire, While Fflewdurr fiddled with his harp.
"Ah yes." Said Fflewdurr out loud. "There's nothing like the quiet outdoors, to bring a song to the heart of this intrepid adventurer-!"
The harp snapped a string mid sentence.
"W-Well." Fflewdurr said Indignantly to his harp. "I'll have you know that a good song comes from the serenity of nature, Didn't you ever listen to the Morning mood by Edvard Grieg? Completely in accordance with the theme!"
Eilonwy laughed softly, She had become used to the Bards bickering with his Instrument, As she began to stoke the fire, until it was burning nice and bright, Taran and Gurgi came back a while later.
"Oh Taran." Said Eilonwy as she looked up. "I was just getting the fire ready, did you find any trace of your pig?"
"Not exactly." Said Taran. "But we did find some tracks, we think she must have come through here."
"Ah, luck at last it seems." Said Fflewdurr, as he plopped down by the newly lit fire. "Goodness knows how long we've been trekking."
"It's only been Two Days at least Fflewddur." Said Taran. "Or was it three?"
"No, It was two." Said Eilonwy. "And if there are tracks, Shouldn't we be following them?"
"Believe me I would." Said Taran. "But it's getting late anyways, We'll camp here then move again tomorrow."
"The sooner the better." Said Fflewdurr. "Heavens knows what else could be lurking in these woods, one might think… Heffalump or Woozle might pop out."
"Oh don't be silly, Fflewdurr." Chastised Eilonwy. "There's no such thing as Heffalumps or Woozles."
As the afternoon sky began to turn Dark, The four travelers tucked in for the night, all was quiet, save for a few chirping crickets, However, a few shadowy figures appeared in the foliage of the trees and bushes and took note of the Travelers, One of the figures whispered orders to the others as one retreated into the shadows, the two stayed behind and followed his Commands.
The Next Morning, Taran awoke with a sleepy yawn and sat up straight, Rubbing the tiredness out of his eyes.
"Well… morning all…"
He looked around the camp and to his shock, Eilonwy, Gurgi and Fflewdurr were all gone and the camp was deserted save for him!
"Guys… W-Where is every- Ign!" Taran then slumped over into unconsciousness.
Later.
Taran stirred as he felt something kick him in the foot, Followed by a familiar Voice.
"Taran… Taran!"
Taran looked and saw Eilonwy tied up and resting against an unfamiliar tree.
"E-Eilonwy… What's going-?" Taran gasped as he came to his senses.
The Companions had been captured by three Menacing looking Rats, all looking as if they were pirates.
"Ah so yer awake now I see." The Leader said as he took notice. "Good, The Cap'n will be pleased to have a few hostages…"
"Hostages?!" Exclaimed Fflewdurr. "How Dare you sir! We've half a mind to- DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY HARP!"
Two of the Rats fiddled with the Ffledurrs harp and took no notice of the Bards protests.
"Who are you?!" Demanded Taran. "What do you want with us?"
The Leader, Whose name was Jibsnout, looked to the assistant pig-keeper and answered. "We've been scouring this land for days. Boy, bean looking for a guide."
"Guide?" Asked Eilonwy. "For what?"
"Well you see." Explained Jibsnout. "We're Searats, Our ship was attacked a few days ago and we were left adrift onto shore. Cap'n sent us to scout ahead and find some holdings, And strike me tail if we didn't find some good leverage!"
"But what could your Captain Possibly want with us?" Asked Eilonwy.
"Nothing." Shrugged Jibsnout. "But it wouldn't hurt to have a few guides who know the lay of the land."
"Are you kidding?" Asked Taran incredulously. "We barely know where the hell we are! Plus we've also got a pig to find, so… if you could let us go…"
"No." Replied Jibsnout. "We Searats have a need here, and you can either help us… or you can feel the tip of this knife in your throat!" He emphasized his threat with a knife against Taran's throat!
"Uh oh…" Squirmed Gurgi.
Meanwhile,
The Searat Bowlfly sat on a rotten log, cooling his foot paws by rubbing them in the rich, damp loam. Gazing up at the trunks of mighty woodland trees, with their canopy of sun-pierced green, he murmured to the Searat sitting alongside him.
"I like this 'ere Prydain plac." He said to a Searat sitting next to him. "Better weather 'ere than on that nor' east coast. Plenty o' shelter an' prime vittles, too!"
The other Rat, A sad faced one called Rojin, rubbed his blistering paws tenderly as he complained. "Huh, if only we weren't marchin so much. I ain't cut out fer all this trekkin'. I'm a Searat, norra landlubber."
Hangclaw, another rat, limped over to join them. Rooting with his daggerpoint at a splinter in his footpaw, he spat in disgust.
"Right y'are, shipmate, just look at me pore trampers." He said. "Where's Bol got us bound to anyway?"
"I doubt he even knows." Shrugged Rojin. "Ever since ole' Ironclaw sank our uprising, He's bean off his rocker."
"Yeah…" Nodded Bowlfly. "Suppose that's why he sent Jibsnout and Wirga's suns up ahead, Scout out the area' ya know?"
As the three Rats talked, Their Captain, Raga Bol, stood watching his crew as they rested around the camp, This was what was left of his small armada, Bol shook his head sadly, He should have known Scratch Ironcalw would come down hard on him, And also that he would cut off his left paw, which now had a hook in its place, but there was no helping that now. Now, he needed to rebuild his forces, and find some way to strike back. This war wasn't done yet, But he'd need to find allies first. One of his current ones, Wirga, Came up to him as he contemplated.
Wirga was a wrinkled, toothless old Searat, Well beyond her best years, She was useless as a Fighter or a Forager, But Bol kept her around due to her other skills, such as her abilities as a Healer and a Seer.
"What news of Jibsnout and your Son's?" Asked Raga.
"Hmm, they should have been back by now." She said, "You sent them to look for things on this land, No?"
"Aye, Perhaps a few dwellings to plunder, Supplies we can use, Perhaps even a few beings to recruit." Said Bol.
"Or enslave." Suggested Wirga.
"Meh, Same difference." Shugged Bol, Just then, Glimbo, The first mate of the came up to them, He was a large Rat with a sightless Mickey white eye. "Jibsnout and Wirga's sons return sire, And with results!"
Raga Bol's face lit up with delight as he took a quick look at Wirga, who smiled with him.
"Ah, Excellent me Matey!" He exclaimed. "Let's see what we've got."
Raga then went marching up to the front of the camp, followed by Glimbo and Wirga to meet with Jibsnout and the Sons of Wirga, who all dragged forth Taran, Eilonwy, Gurgi and Fflewddur, Who were all muffled by the sacks over their heads.
"Back as you please Capn." Said Jibsnout with a bow. "We've got some interesting blighters for ya."
"Do ye now." Said Bol with interest.
One of Wirga's Sons grabbed the Sacks covering Taran and Eilonwy's heads and pulled them off, Allowing the Two to gaze up at their Captors.
"Ah… Well these seem like fine, interesting bunch of landlubbers." Bol leered evilly, Glimbo and Wirga smiled knowing as Raga Bol cackled into the petrified faces of Taran and Eilonwy.
To Be Continued.
Hello Everyone, Sorry to keep you all waiting, writing this was a lot of hard work as with all my other stories, I've just been enjoying the last of my Summer before my new college classes start. I'll be doing my best to get my stories written down and also build support and help for them too.
Speaking of my Stories, I also restarted this Story because I had trouble writing the Beauty and the Beast aspect of the story, which will still come back in the future, But maybe better written than before or just the same, And I kind of need to plan this story out more.
As some of you may not realize, I based Crossover Legends off the Various Villain Tournaments made on Youtube, Such as Disney vs Non Disney Villains by Manwhooo and 73windman, Disney Heroes vs Villains by acemckillayoface and Heroes Vs Villains by CKprimeval07, And it was their works that gave me the inspiration to make Crossover Legends.
A whole Universe that I have built up for the last four to five years in conjunction with other Projects, And now, My ambitions are growing, You'll be seeing more Content from Crossover Legends in the Future soon, and it won't be just Fanfiction.
Until then, Stay tuned for now. :)