Subject:  ...And Chapter 8 and the Epilogue.:) |
Author:
Demora
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 22:51:15 09/20/02 Fri
In reply to:
Demora
's message, "Hello!! My story got erased..." on 22:38:40 09/20/02 Fri
Chapter 8
Kiyum had finally reached the place, the stoat’s fort. It was located near a cliff edge out in open, rocky land. The squirrel maid hadn’t yet figured out how to get inside the fort, or where she should go to find the leader. She set up camp behind a large rock, which was surrounded by low, hardy shrubs. Then she sneaked around the fortress walls, looking for a way in, but it was all locked up tight. Kiyum was about to go back to her camp when a weasel and two foxes came out the main gate. Kiyum was caught in the open. One of the foxes drew his sword and pointed it at her. “Hey, what are you doin’ here?” Kiyum didn’t have time to talk. She quickly drew her dagger and ran the fox through, then turned on the other two. The weasel had his throat sliced, and the other fox only had time to run three steps when Kiyum’s dagger buried itself in his back. The squirrel maid tugged her dagger out and wiped it clean on a shrub. Nobeast needed to know she was out there.
Kiyum knew, to some extent, what she would do now. The vermin had no clue she was after their leader, so they would still be going about their normal life, which meant they’d be going out to get food. She would pick a few off, then slip in through the open door. Then she would find and kill Thurm.
That afternoon, she put her plan into action. Kiyum found a cluster of rocks and plants close to the main gate. She hid there and slew all who came out, rolling the bodies to the edge of the cliff and tipping them over. Kiyum grew bored after a while, and waited till the next group of vermin came out. The next group was a ferret, a fox, and two weasels. The weasels and the fox went well enough, though the ferret escaped; but not without a nasty wound that he would later die from. Kiyum scuffed the ground with her footpaw. They would be after her soon.
It was evening when Thurm stepped outside, ahead of a score of weasels and ferrets. He liked to bring different creatures for different occasions, and for no reason at all. The stoat breathed in the cool night air appreciatively. If there was just one beast after him, it shouldn’t take too many of his beasts to bring her down. Thurm knew this strange squirrelmaid had already brought down quite a few of his creatures, so he brought a small company with him.
Thurm silently split his army into fourths to search out the mysterious killer, taking five creatures with him. His property was quite large. Thurm and his followers walked around for a while before he heard screams in the distance. The oversized stoat trembled. He knew it was his beasts being killed, not the squirrel. Darkness had fallen, and Thurm heard bouts of screaming twice more before Kiyum found him.
A ferret yelled and fell beside Thurm, and he ran. The screams and shrieks of the others rang in his ears as he went. The stoat ran faster, but not fast enough. Kiyum’s feet thumped the ground as she ran, gaining on her hated enemy. Thurm put on an extra spurt of speed. He was beginning to think he was going to make it, when the cliff edge appeared out of the night. A full moon was up now, and he could see the edge clearly. Thurm stopped short and drew his sword. As he turned to face the squirrelmaid, she hit him like lightning, knocking the blade from his grasp.
The stoat stared at his empty paw, then at the cliff edge, then at Kiyum and her dagger. He shrunk as far from her as he could get, then crouched on the ground. He knew it was no good asking mercy from the avenging squirrelmaid.
Kiyum stared daggers through red mists at the stoat on the ground. She spoke through gritted teeth. “You’ve murdered my family. You’ve murdered my friends. You wanted to murder me. And for what reason? Twice, twice I’ve survived. Scummy vermin, you’re no good! This is the end of you,…” Still muttering, Kiyum raised her dagger. She looked now at the blade, and it made her think of her family. Everything swirled in front of her eyes in a confusing jumble, and she saw the warrior mouse again. “Come to Redwall after you meet with Thurm!” Then it was gone, and all Kiyum saw now was stoat crouched in front of her, waiting the end.
The squirrel maid felt the desire to kill leave her. She lowered the dagger and sheathed it. Thurm looked up. Why aren’t I dead? Kiyum stared down at the stoat, then offered her paw to him. Still puzzled, Thurm took it and was heaved up. They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, then Kiyum said. “I forgive you.” The squirrel maid did a sharp turn, then strode off, on her way to Redwall.
Epilogue
Redwall! Kiyum had made it. She had been welcomed warmly, and now she sat in Great Hall, meeting beasts over lunch. They were all so friendly and cheerful, and now she was one of them. Kiyum played with the hem of her newgreen habit and smiled. She looked up suddenly when another squirrel sat beside her. He smiled at her and put out his paw. “Hello. I’m Ferntool. What’s your name?” Kiyum stared at the handsome squirrel for a moment, then took his paw and shook it. “My name is Kiyum. Nice to meet you…Ferntool.”
Thurm was enjoying his new life. Having ditched his horde, he had gone traveling. He was a goodbeast now. This was the life he had been searching for, this was what he wanted. Now he sat at the table, bouncing his little daughter on his knee. His wife, a very pretty stoat named Farya, sat beside him, nursing their new son. Thurm sighed and leaned back in his chair. Life was good now. Maybe someday he would find the beast who had made it this way. Kiyum.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 
