Banagher took his fencing stance, the pole out before him as a make-shift foil. Seven held her knife and Sidhe held his fists in front of him in a classic boxing pose. There were four beasts running toward them, and they were quickly revealed to be two mongooses - the same ones they had met earlier - and two nasty looking sea rats. All four beasts carried knives, which flashed about menacingly.
The attackers slowed before reaching the otters and squirrel. One of the mongooses gave a sickening laugh.
"Take 'em, boys."
Before the two rats rushed at him, Banagher saw that the land-end of the pier was full of jeering dock beasts, and in the back of his mind he wondered if there was an endless supply of attackers to take the place of those they defeated. But he did not have long to dwell on this idea, as the rats were circling about his middle, swiping towards him with their knives.
One of the mongooses had leapt toward Seven, while the leader attacked Sidhe. Seven parried knives with the mongoose, who seemed to be surprised that this female otter was not an easy opponent.
"Is that the best you've got?" she sneered as she deflected his slash towards her middle, responding with a quick jab that grazed his knife arm. He yelped in pain and anger and drove towards her.
Banagher had little trouble holding off the two sea rats, but they did not yield to his constant maneuvering. When one was forced back, the other leapt forward, so the otter was constantly forced to reposition himself. Finally he caught one of the rats glancing at the other, and while his eyes were off Banagher, the otter raised his pole like a club and swung it into the rat's head. The result was a satisfying crack, and the rat tumbled into the water. His companion seemed surprised, but he was quick to pick up the other rat's knife, which had fallen to the dock. With these two weapons he renewed his attack on Banagher.
The weaponless Sidhe, meanwhile, was avoiding the knife slashes of the mongoose, but just barely. The mongoose was extremely crafty and did not allow an opening for Sidhe to rush him or disarm him. The two danced around each other as if performing a war ritual, when suddenly the mongoose leapt at Sidhe. His knife slashed at the squirrel's midsection, doing some damage, but the move allowed Sidhe to grab the mongoose by the chest and wrestle him to the ground. The mongoose's knife arm sliced the air wildly as Sidhe struggled to pin it down.
Seven fought with her mongoose attacker, both beasts trading blows without success, until she finally seemed to get sick of it. She dashed for the gangplank, and the mongoose followed her, thinking she was trying to escape to the safety of the ship. But once on the gangplank, Seven had the higher ground. She waited until the mongoose made a strike at her, then quickly jumped forward, catching him in the chest with her knife and dispatching him off into the water. She used her vantagepoint on the gangplank to look at Banagher and Sidhe. The otter was still fending off the two-knived rat, while Sidhe held the mongoose pinned but still thrashing, his knife occasionally catching the squirrel's shoulder.
Maddened with rage as the knife slashed his upper arm once again, Sidhe growled and bent down, biting the mongoose's wrist with tremendous ferocity. The mongoose screamed as the squirrel's teeth pierced his skin, and the knife clattered to the dock. Thus disarmed, he was unable to resist as Sidhe wrestled him over until he was pinned on his stomach, his arms behind him. The squirrel pulled him up off the dock slightly, then slammed him down so that his head cracked on the boards.
Sidhe turned around just in time to see Seven throw her knife neatly into the back of the rat attacking Banagher. From Banagher's viewpoint, the rat suddenly stopped advancing, a curious look on his face, before he fell face down on the dock. Banagher looked at the knife in his back, then up at Seven, whose arm was still extended from the throwing. He nodded his thanks, breathless and unable to speak. Sidhe and Seven were similarly winded, and all three beasts heaved in deep breaths of the damp night air, their lungs burning.
"This is intolerable," Sidhe managed to exhale as he strained to get to his feet a second time. The sound of paw beats running down the pier toward them assaulted their ears once again, and the three tired beasts braced themselves for yet another attack.
This time there were five rats, huge wharf rats at that, with various weapons. Banagher gulped as they neared, holding his pole out warily. Seven had retrieved her knife, and Sidhe had picked up the knife the mongoose had dropped. Their only exit was blocked, so they couldn't run, and Banagher was nearly ready to suggest swimming for it - he knew that he and Seven would be fine, but although Sidhe was a strong swimmer for a squirrel, Banagher knew he was tired and the water deep. Still, it might be their only option.
The rats, running maniacally, had nearly reached them, and the otters and squirrel braced for the worst.
Suddenly a pierce whistle split the night air. The rats skidded to a stop in their tracks and wheeled around to face the land-end of the dock.
"Break file!" an authoritative voice yelled in the distance, shortly before the sound of boot steps began pounding down the pier. Banagher strained to see the source of the new commotion and made out a dozen flashing sabers and bright bits of uniform. The militia had arrived.
Within moments all of the beasts were surrounded. With astounding efficiency, a group of soldiers neatly apprehended the five rats and led them off into the darkness, so that Sidhe, Banagher, and Seven were left facing the regiment. The soldiers had their sabers at their sides but remained motionless - and largely expressionless - as if awaiting some greater authority.
"It's about time," Sidhe grumbled. Banagher glanced over at him and was startled to see blood stains on his cream-colored sweater, around his midsection and his shoulder. He was about to comment on this when he noticed, with even greater astonishment, that the squirrel's cigarette was still clenched in his lips, slightly bent but intact. Banagher watched with wide eyes as Sidhe leaned forward into one of the torches so he could light his cigarette. With a few puffs it was lit, and the squirrel half-closed his eyes, looking oddly content considering his wounds. Seven watched him as well, as someone might watch a rabid dog with fascination.
"Good work, men!" All three beasts were suddenly distracted from their individual musings by the deep voice that echoed out over the water. They watched as a ferret officer emerged from the ranks, one they did not recognize. Banagher noted that he was of higher rank than any of the other officers they had met.
"Ah, just as I thought," he announced, seemingly for the purpose of reminding his soldiers of his omniscience. "And what do you have to say for yourselves?"
"I say it took you bloody long enough to get here," Sidhe growled through his cigarette. The ferret narrowed his eyes.
"Your sarcasm is not appreciated, squirrel, and it will get you nowhere. I was already warned of your presence and the fact that you would be causing trouble. I did not, however, imagine quite this level of disruption. You will be taken into custody for causing this riot, and you will be held according to my discretion."
"Sir!" Banagher protested. "We didn't cause anything. We were attacked."
"If so, I am sure you provoked it. The facts remain that you were involved in the riot, were trespassing in the emperor's territory, and have killed the emperor's workers."
"We are here with the approval of Major Blair," Banagher tried again.
"Yes, of course you are," the ferret replied with disdain. "And it's amazing that Blair's liberality did not cause more damage than this." He paused, crossing his arms over his chest. "I am Commander Alain Haghe, Major Blair's superior officer. And you are coming with me." He gestured toward Banagher and Sidhe and four soldiers surrounded them.
"Sir, what about this other otter?" one of the soldiers asked, pointing at Seven. The ferret regarded the female otter, who sneered at him in disgust.
"She is with the Naruto. I will inform her captain of her actions and let him discipline her."
Sidhe had finished smoking his cigarette, and he threw it off the dock into the water, where it sizzled and died. The squirrel was looking decidedly weak, a fact that was confirmed by the fact that he wasn't arguing or fighting with the soldiers.
"Fine. Take us where you want - but my friend here needs attention to his wounds," Banagher insisted. The Commander sniffed.
"He will be attended to when we reach the prison."
Haghe shouted orders to his soldiers, who began marching the squirrel and otter down the pier. Banagher looked over his shoulder at Seven and touched his paw to his forehead in thanks. He saw her nod, then turned back around, keeping a wary eye on Sidhe as they marched on.