It was about 3 1/2 seasons after Lilac left the mountains. Right after she left, Longleg told me to get my feathered tail in the air and find her. So, there I was, soaring on a thermal, scanning the forest below. I have to admit, I was ready to turn back to the mountains. I figured that by now, Lilac must be dead. I tried to imagine going back and telling Lilac's parents that she was dead when I saw movement in the trees. No way! I wondered if my eyes were playing tricks! It looked like Lilac, except there was a scar on her face. I prepared to dive...What's THAT! Behind Lilac there was a large creature that looked like it might of been a wolf. It was sneaking up on Lilac! I dived at the vermin scum, intent on saving my friend.
Bren
This was madness! Skulking around in enemy territory, except without the necessary stealth needed for skulking. We were two beasts, in deep undergrowth that snapped under our every pawfall. Any creature worth Dibbun poop would hear us if we were within a hundred foot radius. But, we needed to mark territory, to wander constantly. If it was through enemy territory, so be it.
As I thought this, a shadow enveloped me. I looked up in panic and was met with the sight of a great eagle glintiong gold in the sunlight. And diving towards me! Snarling, I tensed and leapt for it as it swooped upon me. I clutched it's talons and brought it to earth. It's powerful wings beat hard against me, But I would not release it.
Lilac
It happened really fast. One minute I'm walking along, enjoying the view, the next minute, Bren's being attacked by a large golden eagle. Golden eagle? It had some meaning in the back of my mind. But I brushed it aside and leaped at the bird and Bren. Then an image appeared in my head. The image of a golden eagle laughing at me as I climbed out of a river that she had pushed me in.
"Goldtail!" I nearly screamed. "Bren, get a grip! Goldtail, lay off! She's my friend!"
Goldtail flapped away from Bren and landed in front of me. She kept an eye on Bren but spoke ot me. "What do you mean, she's your friend?!?! Vermin can't be friends with us! They're nothing but back-stabbing, blood-thirsty murderers!" Bren snarled.
I couldn't resit rolling my eyes, "Yeah! Nice to see you too! I gave Goldtail a quick hug. "But you're wrong about 'vermin!' There's good ones out there, too. Bren's one of them." I motioned to Bren. "Bren, this is Goldtail, a friend of mine from the mountains."
Bren
I gave the bird a chilly smile with my canines in full view. "Pleased to make your acquaintance." Not! And Lilac and I would have to 'talk' about the nature of vermin as a race afterward. But now was not the time. Shades were beginning to lengthen and the sun became a vibrant red as it sunk. The sky streaked with crimson and orange. Soon night would be upon us. Time to make camp. I doubted the eagle could fly well at night. Although maybe it would crash. A happy though. I savored the image for a moment then cast it out.
"Alright, Lilac. We'd best turn in."
Preparations were nil. Just conk out where you stood. Sleep laid its gentle grasp on my mind and I slipped away into the strange world of surreal dream.
Rats swarmed about me and I became a great dragon to devour them. But I was bound by some invisible force and fell, helpless.
I woke up sweating, only to find my dream to be true, at least to the extent I was bound by well worn chains. A black striped head hovered in my conscousness grinning. I reared my neck back and shot forward and snapped for its muzzle. My jaw broke abruptly in to as the badger's massive paw ripped into it, his razor claws leaving bloody furrows in my cheek where it connected. I howled in agony then fell silent as an all to familar red haze began to creep into my view.
Lilac
I awoke to Bren's howling. I tried to move my paws, but they were chained. I was still a little muggy from sleep, but I looked around. Bren and I were both chained and Goldtail was trapped in a net. Bren had bloody slash marks on her face. Standing in front of her was a large badger. Behind the badger were foxes, rats, stoats, etc. and squirrels, mice, otters, etc. about a dozen, and I could tell they were all evil.
"Let us go! You skunk spawn!"
The badger turned to me and grinned wickedly. He pulled out a stained saber and pricked my throat with it. He spoke to the other beasts with an evil grin, "What do you say, mates? Shall we have a little fun with these tresspassers?"
He drew back his sword and a small dart whizzed out of a tree nearby. It struck the badger in the arm. The badger glared at it for a moment then dropped like a stone.
A white hare leaped out of the tree, brandishing a dagger. She reached into a small belt pouch and pulled out another dart. She drew her paw back to throw the dart, but was struck in the wrist by an arrow. She screamed and dropped the dart.
"Strongpaw! Help!" she yelled.
Bren
My vision, my mind, was sunken in crimson. A roar erupted from my throat and the chains strained and burst as my arms flew outward in the insane strength of Bloodwrath. A scimitar dove into my side, but at one swing of my paw, the bearer's spine ceased to function. Upon the creature's death, my eyes immediately cleared and the throbbing of my side echoed through my body. I collapsed.
Strongpaw
"Eulalia!" I flung my body into the horde, muscles rippling and flying under tough hide as my broadsword sliced through unprepared beasts. But then they got wiser and quicker. Several arrows thudded into my back and slowly I began to weaken. I stumbled upon a striped body and it groaned and stirred. Slowly it raised to its paws and snarled at me. The horde leader! I spat in his face and rammed one huge paw into his stomach. He gasped and backed up a step. Suddenly, he recovered and leaped at my throat. I threw my arm up and the sharp badger teeth tore through my flesh. I kicked him hard in the crotch and he shrieked, forced to release his jaw's grip. He drew his scimitar from a sash across his waist and charged, maddened by pain. I stepped rapidly to the side, shifting my sword back to a double handed grip, and jabbed the blade into him as he hurled himself past, too much momentum to halt. He collapsed and moved no more. And I would soon join him. I fell upon my knees and threw up. Then my mind blacked out.
Darkfur
When Mattia called for help, Strongpaw took off like an arrow from a bow. Me and my brothers, Arrowpaw, Brushtail, and Curltail, followed at a slower pace. As Strongpaw was fighting, I made my way to the brown hare that was chained. The locks were easy enough to release and the hare was running as soon as I had freed her. Using a broken dagger she had picked up, she cut the net that held the really big golden bird. Then she turned to me, "We've got to get out of here, fast!" She glanced at my brothers who were firing arrows at various beasts. "Can you get them to hold off these beasts?"
I nodded and ran to tell my brothers what to do.
Lilac
I knew I had to work fast. Bren and the badger were both unconsious and the white hare was wounded. I managed to get the 4 squirrels and the white hare to help. After a few arrows had flown, the beasts backed off a little, apparently confused because of the loss of their leader. Between me, Goldtail, the 4 squirrels, and the white hare, we managed to drag Bren and the badger to my home.
Fortunatly, the white hare, who's name was Mattia, was slightly knowledgable about healing and after I bandaged her paw, she helped me with Bren and Strongpaw.
Conclusion
The horde withdrew after the furious attack and the early Sentinels took this oppurtunity to claim the territory. Strongpaw and Bren remained in Lilac's home until they recovered, which took a full season with their serious wounds. The hares, squirrels, badger, fox-wolf, and eagle had been brought together by the conflict and decided to stay together. Base was set up in the deepest section of the relinguished forest and soon, the beasts traveled out through Mossflower, wandering, watching....