Author:
Mossyra of the Irresistable Imps
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Date Posted: 23:31:03 06/15/07 Fri
The ottermaid that Soretooth Bloodclaw had ordered slain awoke in surprise. She remembered nothing but the pain she had felt at the sword stroke and the fact that she was supposed to be dead. After a moment she realized that she was in a forest, probably Mossflower, and her wounds were bandaged. So, she had had help in living. A sound came from above, then a squirrel dropped virtually from nowhere, nearly frightening the otter out of her wits.
"Who are you," the squirrel asked gently, checking her slashes and bruises with a practiced eye. The ottermaid put a paw to her head and replied slowly, "I'm not sure." The squirrel raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it will help if I mention that you were sentenced to death by Soretooth Bloodclaw after you rebuked him for taking over the peaceful community of Tumbledale and telling its inhabitants that they were his slaves to do with as he liked." The ottermaid nodded grimly as her memory came back in a rush. "Yes. That does help. My name is Bankdew, Dew for short. Thanks for saving my life." The squirrelmaid nodded in reply. "You're welcome. But we have bigger problems at hand. A vermin patrol is headed this way and the nearest stream is in a clearing not far from here. I'll have to take you to it. The thing is, I'll get caught in the process and I don't want you to try and save me. If you go downstream a bit you'll see a small sidestream. Take it until it dries out, then travel north on foot until you reach a tree that's been split by lightning. There is a hidden door behind the blueberry bush. Inside you'll find a cozy little den. Stay there until high noon five days from now or whenever you see a goshawk with a blue cloth on its right leg. The goshawk will tell you what to do. If he isn't there by high noon in five days hence, seek him out in the sycamore that crosses a birch tree about thirty meters south of the oak that you've been staying at. The stream is this way."
Dew felt overwhelmed at the rapid set of instructions, but she remembered them and followed the strange squirrel. It wasn't until Dew was swimming with the current that she recalled her rescuer saying she was going to be caught by a vermin patrol. Bankdew grabbed a protruding root and turned back. She was just in time to see the squirrelmaid fall as an arrow struck her paw. Horrified, she let her grip falter on the root and was swept away by the fast-moving water.
Sunsword was asleep, unable to keep his eyes open after trying vainly to pull out at least some of the stones of his cell. In his dream he saw five other creatures: An otter with a bow and arrows strapped to her back, a squirrel with a sling wrapped around her paw and a stone pouch on her belt, a hare with a silver stripe across his right paw, and two mice; one that was dressed in shining armor and the other a simple mousemaid that held a sword. Somehow, he knew the sword belonged to the mouse wearing armor. The latter stepped forward and held out a paw. "Sunsword, join your brethern. The sword bearer waits in chains for liberation and the forgotten one sits with his life dwindling. Save them, Badger Lord!" Sunsword reached out to take the paw. Then he saw two of the figures step forward. One was the mousemaid with the sword. "Help me, friend," she begged. Her paws were suddenly trapped in chains and the sword looked as if somebeast were trying to take it. "Help me!" She stepped back, letting the other figure speak. It was the hare. "My lord, they are killing me," the hare cried. "They are killing me!" Then, the hare faded, as if somebeast was dragging him away. The mouse warrior's voice echoed through his mind once more before real sleep overtook him. "Listen to your destiny, Badger Lord. Your brethern are calling you."
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