"I guess Captain and Knight aren't the same," Falco commented wryly at camp a few minutes later (and far from the clearing) while Peppy tended to Fox's hand.
"Damn, it hurts," Fox replied through gritted teeth.
"Sadly, the wound can't be healed magically," the reverend told them. "How well can you move your fingers?" Fox slowly closed his hand, then opened it.
"Hurts like hell, but I can if I have to," he said, as Peppy smeared some salve on it and bandaged the wound.
"Hopefully we can get into the chapel without trouble. That way you won't have to use the sword in battle again."
"I'll cope. What gets me is this: Do we actually think those guys would've sued such a stupid plan as having the attack signal be a seasonal bird call, in the wrong season?"
"Andross would have slaughtered them for such a mistake," Peppy answered without hesitation.
"Then was it their foolishness," Krystal queried, "or a warning to us?"
"And if so, who gave it?" added Falco.
"I didn't see anyone," Slippy said. "Maybe they just screwed up."
"Maybe." Fox wasn't convinced either way, but the event he filed away for later before he began to work at limbering up his hand.
ooooooooooooooooooooo
The dark figure high in the trees nodded to himself, pleased with how things had turned out. He was a touch concerned when he realized Sir Fox's hand was wounded by the Archwing, for to his knowledge the knight had wielded it before. But, there was no time to muse things through, however. As silent as a shadow, he slipped down from the tree and left the area at a brisk pace. He had to get back to his place ahead of Sir Fox, to help in the only way he could.