Author:
Mareth of the AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA
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Date Posted: 23:22:37 11/03/05 Thu
Last chapter:
That next evening, after grueling work chopping down a huge pine tree, Tempest, Reuben, Gryphurn the mole, and Twurrie the hedgehog were whispering together in the dark.
"Sorry the old plan didn't work, Tempest." Reuben said, apologetically.
"There /wasn't/ any plan! I ran away 'cos I was sick of it all! So stop trying to act like you had some part of it!"
"How ungrateful can you get? And so rude!"
"You sound like some fussy old rabbitwife- 'How ungrateful can you get?'" Tempest mimicked in a high-pitched voice. "And so rude!"
"Stoppit, both of ye," interrupted old Twurrie. "Anyway, this time, we have a plan." Her voice lowered. "Everybeast lean in." And the four figures- two old and frail, one in his prime, and an extremely sore and pained one who was still growing- whispered excitedly together in a tight circle. Hopes, finally, were lifting.
* * *
The next morning, while trying to swallow her breakfast of breadcrusts, cheese rinds, apple cores, and stale water, Tempest voiced her doubts about the plan to Reuben.
"'Ben, I was mulling over the plan last night and I'm wondering- Why're you sending me off? Why me? If they catch me again, it doesn't matter how hard I work, I'm dead!"
"I told you, you're the only one that's the right size and species, and a searat is a whole lot more convincing than a seastoat!"
"But- but-" sputtered Tempest. "When are we doing this, anyway? Why now? Why not wait a while longer?"
"There are a few reasons, missy. One, the vermin are preparing to move soon, and that means that they're going to be going nearer to some good slave-buyer. And with your behavior, they'll be happy to get rid of you. Two, have you noticed the condition of Twurrie, Gryphurn, and the old mad shrew, Diffinder?"
"No, what's wrong with them?"
"They're getting old, Tempest. They're becoming frailer by the week. If they go on like this, they'll be dead in a month! All three of 'em are /elders/, Tempest, and they need lots of food, rest, and medicine. They can't keep it up much longer."
"Okay, okay, 'Ben. I'm with you. We'll stock up on food and supplies for a week, and then I’ll go."
"We can’t wait that long!" exclaimed the otter. "You gotta leave soon! They’re going to sell us, and our lives can only get worse from there! We don’t deserve this! None of the slaves deserve this! There are babes and elders here! They’re all going to drop dead in these conditions, and you’ll be to blame by not saving them in time!"
"Okay, fine. I’ll strike a deal with you. Tonight, we’ll listen in on the vermin’s conversations-"
"I’ve already done that!" interrupted Reuben.
"We’ll listen in on the vermin," continued Tempest, "and if we hear one bit of news about selling or moving, then I’ll leave tomorrow night. Deal?"
"Deal." said her surrogate father. And they shook paws on it…
----------------------------
"This is the best deal I've ever made!" whispered Reuben to Tempest. The otter and mousemaid were lying on their stomachs behind a bush. This may seem like a rather odd thing to be doing at midnight with a gang of drunken searats in front of you, ready to kill you if you make a single sound, but the two had their reasons.
"They've been talking of nothing BUT trading and moving! I just knew it!" continued Reuben. Tempest, still rather annoyed at the fact her best friend was right and she was wrong, merely grunted in return.
"So, tomorrow, we'll stock up on berries, nuts, and dry leaves." said Tempest after her grunt.
"Why dry leaves?"
"To muffle the chains!"
"Oooookay. Wouldn't they crackle? I think plain leaves'd be better."
Tempest groaned.
"Why are you /always/ right?" she muttered.
The vermin then very conveniently started talking about the gruesome torture of somebeast-or-other, and the argument that was about to blossom between Tempest and Reuben stopped as they both grimaced, headed towards the other slaves, and collapsed drowsily.
***
The next day, Tempest gave an important announcement to Twurrie, Gryphurn, Likkleun, and the other babies Clovey, Winkle, and Og (who was actually named Twinky, but being a boy, little Twinky preferred something a bit more masculine). Instead of a polite "ahem", Tempest promptly broke into a hacking cough before starting.
"Hechretchretchahem. Reuben and I have been planning something, as two of you will know. It's all decided. I will escape tonight. I can't say much more because the walls- er, bushes have ears here. We'll be collecting things in the forest. You know, leaves (she glared at Reuben), berries, that sort of thing. The end."
As soon as Tempest was finished, Likkleun, Og, and co. began bombarding Tempest with questions.
"Is sumfin' bad gonna 'appen?"
"Are you gonna kill lotsa lotsa verminks?"
"Can you bwing me a pwetty seashell?"
"Will there be-" The mousemaid quickly butted in and stopped the flood.
"If everything goes according to plan, nothing bad will happen, Likkleun. I hopefully will not have to kill lotsa lotsa vermin, Og, and as I'm going by the beach, I'll give you all seashells!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
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