Winter Storm (comment here) Edit: There's more!

[Hickory]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=awdl5d&s=8
That's the link for Fardan, if you want a look.
Drawn by: Russano the Wise

Chapter 1

Articus! Cutting the land like a knife of ice! Articus, snow leopard of the High North! Articus, Lord of the vermin!

Leaving the cold confines of the North, he made his was far south with his army, traveling by Salamandastron, past the River Moss, and making ground at Southsward. He planned to conquer the place, and all of Mossflower!

Fardan was a average wildcat. But a very special one, to say the least. He carried a long rapier, and had light armor on him. Behind, twoscore more wildcats marched in unison, all trained in the art of deciet, battle, and ultimate loyalty to their master. They were the Elites, picked from te ranks of standard armies, and made to be a merciless killing machine. They served only one master, Articus.

At that moment, Aros the fox was laying siege to Castle Floret. Valient otter archers defendedd the walltops, but were cut down ever so slowly by the fox's beasts. Aros was a interesting fox, a former wanderer, and had a cunning mind. He knew that the Castle defenders would never defend it for so long. His beasts far outnumbered them, and as soon as he could get in range of the drawbridge gates, they would be at the mercy of fire. Fire! The hot, burning power that Aros was such a example of, his coat glistening in the sun. "Hadfar, prepare for a push. Order the archers to set fire to their arrows!" Hadfar, a wildcat Captain, saluted and turned to carry out the orders. "Git those lazy back up! We're doing another push! Archers, you heard the Commander! Git those fire arrows ready!"

King Gael the IV knew he was being overrun. His commander, the otter Rafe Hardrock, had said so. The King sighed and sat up. "Bythwood, where are you?" A worn, gray squirrel walked up. "Here, Sire." Gael leaned in close.

"Should the vermin out there get your research, Mossflower will have no chance. Take a half score of otters and leave through the secret exit. Make sure the vermin don't see you. Take the plans, and head for a grove of trees near the Badger Mountain. Have one of the caretakers there send aa message to the Badger Ruler there. You must get to Ruddaring, do you understand?"

Bythwood nodded and ran off. Rafe entered as the squirrel left. "Yore Majesty, the vermin have set fire to the gates. We must evacuate quickly, before innocent beasts are slaughtered!"

Gael nodded distractedly, and Rafe grabbed his arm. "We 'ave to go, now!" He pulled the King out of the way jsut in time, as three arrows clattered onto the stone floor. Gael was escorted into the secret chamber that Bythwood had taken. Southswardians crowded around him, seeing the King as a beacon of light in the darkness of war.

At that moment, the squirrel scientist was in the woodlands. He tried his best, but a vermin soldier had saw him, and now two vermin were on their trail. He gasped out a question to the otter leader next to him. "Why aren't we fighting them? We have five times their number." The otter, a female named Clearstream, said, "Those ain't regular soldiers, they're Elites. Articus's own guards, I wouldn't fancy an encounter with them anytime." Bythwood nodded and kept on running.

The next time he looked over his shoulders, the wildcat Elites, had gained a full ten paces. Clearwater saw too, and ordered her otters to take action.

"You, take another three and attack the left one. You three, we'll take the right. Perchback, Rocktail, get to those groves, NOW!" The otters speed off to do her bidding. Bythwood tried to block out the sounds of the fight, speeding after the remaining two otters.

The otters fought bravely, and the Elites, outnumbered, retreated. One headed east, the other back to Castle Floret, south. Clearwater was gravely wounded, and she ordered the rest of the otters to chase the first Elite. She died honourably, valiantly fighting for her country.

The Elite heading east was named Orgol. He was a standard wildcat, ferocious, defensive, and utterly a fighting machine. Unfortuantely for him, he had lost his weapons in the fight. He trudged doggedly east, determined to live.

*   *   *

Mother Abbess Cynthia was enjoying the fine day. Afternoon tea had just been taken, and she was relaxing with her otter friend Eolu. He was the Abbey Champion, and was strong and sinewy. Eolu was a river otter, and besides te grand sword of Martin, he carried an otter javelin. He was quite skilled,, and he had just joined Cynthia after his daily exercising and practice.

Cynthia observed the Badgermum, Arwor, attempt to gather the Dibbuns into Great Hall. "Come, you ruffians, into the hall before I tan your tails! What a disgrace to the Abbey you are!"

One of the babes piped up. "We norra disgrace, we a problem!"

The Badgermum smiled in a stern way. "That you are, my little friends. Hurry inside now, Sister Cenya will take care of you." The Dibbuns roared with anticipation. Sister Cenya, a squirrel, was the jolliest creature in the Abbey, acting as part-time nurse to the babes. She herself broke up when she saw the Dibbuns."Hah! Look at the lot of you! Fancy taking care of Tuggle and Drawre on a day like this, eh? You blighters better get back to your rooms now, or no afteernoon story!" The Dibbuns stampeded up to the dormitories.


Recorder Onju Featherpaw, known for her light touch, was out on the walltops enjoying the day. The mouse was observing the movement of severla swallows on the edge of Mossflower woods when she saw a movement. Onju squinted, trying to make out the figure. When she did see, the mouse ran down the wallsteps to Eolu. "Quick, quick, there's a cat on the path!"

That cat was none other than Orgol, the escaped Elite. He was tired, hungry, and on the brink of unconsciousness. He struggled toward the Abbey, hoping fervently someone there would help him. The last thing he saw efore he passed out was Eolu hurrying out of the Abbey gates, with ten otters at his back.


*   *   *
Articus stamped his paw down onto the stone floor. He was now in the main room of Castle Floret, recently taken by his forces. Off to the side, Rafe was unconscious and bound, guarded by four soldiers. Articus was in a foul mood, having taken many hours looking for the secret area that Gael had hidden in. Nonetheless, he was rewarded with the King, scores of slaves, and more otter prisoners.

The squirrel was held out in front of him, secured by two vermin and dripping blood from various small wounds. Articus narrowed his eyes. "Where did you send that scientist? Where?" The spear the cat was holding slipped underneath the squirrel's chin, lifting his eyes to meet that of the snow leopard. "Cat! I will never betray my kin, or friends. That information is not you- Argh!" He cried out in pain as the spear lashed across his left leg, leaving a clear welt, easy to see. Fardan stepped forward from the shadows, appearing at Articus's side. "Mi'lord, let me losen his tongue." Fardan drew a long, basket-hilted rapier, which many otter prisoners had found pain from. Gael spat at the two vermin leaders, and quickly felt the spearhaft whack across his back. Then one of his guards hit him over the head, and all went black.