Redwall Isn't Safe Anymore! (Is Redwall as Safe as they Say it is? Part Two)

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Whenever you like.

IC:

Flinching Bracklew pulled back wishing he hadn't said anything. Fury still coiled in him, but he could do nothing except glare and curse which seemed to be what Fardan wanted. Holding back any further spewing of foul language the squirrel contented himself with refusing to look the cat in the eye, though he was unable to keep his jaw or tail from twitching in anger.

"Aye, she wouldn't want to see her sword used by the likes of you." Bracklew growled staring pointedly towards a corner of the tent. "Still, I wont talk, whether you cut me with my own blade or not. Besides Redwall wont fall anyways, you're wasting your time."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I didn't think," Petu stammered, too surprised to defend himself from Fang's teasing. "Do you think it's Brack's, or Rapshades', or some other beasts'?" He asked glancing towards Duncan and then Asher hoping for a professional opinion.

[Hickory]

Fardan scowled. "Oh, shut up."

Grasping Bracklew's paw firmly with one hand, he reversed his grip on the blade and plunged it into Bracklew's wrist. Trying to hold back a scream of pain Bracklew's lip bled from biting it. The sound of bone cracking was heard as Fardan pushed the blade all the way through, breathing heavily as the sword dripped blood onto the ground. Bracklew gasped out short breaths, trying not to look at the horrible result of Fardan's merciless attack. Throwing the blade disdainfully at the squirrel's feet Fardan kneed Bracklew in the stomach, adding insult to injury. "Now, before I leave you to bleed out, is there anything you'd like to say?" said Fardan, barely suppressing the giddy happiness in his voice.

<O>

"Could be either," said Asher. "Both of them have injured limbs, it would be easy for the bone to slice through and open a cut. They'd have to exert themselves a lot for that to happen. But it certainly shows that they might've done that."

[LT Sandpaw]

His whole body shook in horrible spasms, every breath was painful. Tears sprang to his eyes as Bracklew shook his head, unable to speak, his bloodied lip trembling in agonized misery. Blood pumped like a fountain as vital arteries sprayed his life force across the bottom of the tent.

As he shuddered, Fardan's knee digging cruelly into him, Bracklew saw a visage, a mirage of sorts, and a encouraging smile, that displayed kindness as well as sorrow for his pain. New strength and resilience filled Bracklew, and he looked up, his body still shuddering like a leaf.
"G-go, go to hellgates, kitty."

[Hickory]

OOC:

BIC: Fardan seethed in anger. "I'll tell those Redwall beasts who came out to find you exactly how you died - and then I'll kill them. I'll kill them all, and when we get into Redwall I'll kill everyone there as well. So I hope you aren't taking too much consolation in your little "Redwall will never fall" dream. You want to die? You'll die..."

He turned and left. Getting his feral instinct under control, the wildcat found Fastooth on guard duty. "Fastooth, find Vadoma and tell her to patch up the squirrel."

OOC: Sand, you can go ahead and put in the detail about the rope.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Much tropes, much wow.

IC:

"Right away sir, erm." Fastooth stalled, he had heard the cry of anguish within and Fardan's words condemning Bracklew to death. "Are we gonna keep 'Im alive sir? He ain't much use now, if'n he wont talk. Right?"

[Hickory]

"If anything, he's bait for the Redwallers... What is it, Glaser?" he said, turning to intercept the messenger.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Alright coolio, I think we ought to wait for Grodds and Ashes before continuing.

[Hickory]

OOC: Sounds good.

[Ashleg]

"That looks like the blood from a minor scrape," Said Duncan, analyzing the puddle after getting Fang to stop yapping. "I think it's safe to say that nobeast was killed here recently."

--

Glaser saluted smartly. "News from th' crows, Sah! They spotted a group leavin' Redwall earlier t'day an' Chief Alfhild an' them are goin' to go ambush the suckers. Heh, and she said for me to tell you so you could come if ya wanted."

Rapshade's ears pricked in anticipation when he heard Bracklew's scream.
Alfhild glanced at the sky and tapped her footpaws impatiently against the ground. "I don't have all day..." She muttered, not noticing as the other ferret slipped away to follow the sound.

[Hickory]

Fardan ignored Rapshade as he slunk past the wildcat. "So, some Redwallers are getting anxious, eh?" he said to Alfhild. "Maybe they'll be more of a challenge..."

[Ashleg]

"I sure hope so." Alfhild said, clinking her claws together.
"I do love an intense fight."

--

Rapshade crept up to the tent they were holding Bracklew in.
He had mixed feelings about it, but he thought perhaps maybe now was his chance. He could kind of see the shadow of the squirrel through the screen.
"Bracklew, did you just scream?" The ferret paused and slunk inside before anybeast could see him. "I'm not gonna keep you guessing; it's me."

[LT Sandpaw]

A guttural moan emitted from the tent in answer, Bracklew moved slightly opening his eyes. He had gone through horrible pain before, such as when he had broken his paws to escape the chains of Rapshade's ship. That was nothing compared to this.

The young squirrel stared in horror at what was left of his paw, it was hanging on by a tiny strip of flesh. Bracklew began hyperventilating, he very cautiously moved his paw. That turned out to be a bad plan.

"Aaaaaagh," He reeled back smashing his head against the pole he was tied too, the small bit of fur and skin that held him together broke and his left paw fell from his wrist. He squirmed cussing and crying as blood clotted to his fur.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It didn't take Fastooth long to find the vixen Vadoma. Sneering the big rat walked up to her tapping on her shoulder. "'Ey foxy, th' chief made a mess o' our prisoner." He snapped crossing his paws. "He wants ye to fix 'Im up again."

~*~*~*~*~

"Is there any tracks?" Petu asked standing and walking back out into the snow. The confused mess of prints dismayed the rabbit, but he inspected them anyway. "Hoy, I'm no tracker," He told the others slumping his shoulders in defeat. "I can't make heads nor tails of this mess."

[Hickory]

Rolling his eyes mentally, Asher walked by Petu. "Hmm, more scuffling out here. See... here's a group of rat paw prints coming towards the cabin, then walking away... and they were half dragging someone's the second time. Now if I was a skilled military tracker, which I am, then I'd give a firm stamp of approval to the idea of "they were captured."

<O>

Rubbing his paws together like a little child, Fardan grinned in anticipation. "Excellent! Let's go, we wouldn't want to catch those woodlanders unprepared...."

[Groddil]

In the bushes near the cabin, several pairs of eyes watched Asher and Petu. One of them made to throw a spear at them, but was cuffed soundly over the head. One of the vermin pointed energetically at Asher, and the Vigil's symbol on his clothing. The leader nodded, leading them away through the snow.

*****

Grenlik the weasel, back from recent scouting duty, rushed up to Alfhild. He saluted smartly with his spear and made a report.
"Chief, urgent news. There's several woodlanders at th' cabin in the woods, one of 'em's from the band that we attacked some days ago."
From where he was tied up nearby, covered in scratches and bruises, Daxian Claw, the horde's former strategist, spat at Grenlik.
"They're called the Vigil, addlebrain. That squirrel's one o' the top trackers they 'ave. I'll be apples ta acorns 'ee's after th' prisoners ye took, marm."

OOC: They're back.

[Ashleg]

"Captured? How awful!" Fang cried.
Duncan slapped a paw over his mouth.
"Shh! I feel like we're bein' watched."

--

"I believe the deal was that only Alfhild had control over me, and I already fixed that squirrel up once. Whatever Fardan does to him is none of my concern besides the fact that healing those wounds is a great way to waste the supplies we need for eachother. I'm not helping him again!" Vadoma snapped, gathering a few things up and shoving them in a pack, which she slung around her shoulder.
"I'm off to try to find more resources in this snowy wasteland. Cry out if you need me for a valid reason."

--

Rapshade paled and took a shaky step back, raising trembling paws to cover his mouth.
He'd seen plenty like this before, but when he had he'd been in the spur of the moment and had never completely taken in how absolutely horrifying it was.

He took in a shuddering breath and reluctantly approached the squirrel, thinking, I can't do this. It's too much! Although...if I do do it, he'll owe me...
Rapshade grimaced and knelt down beside the squirrel, trying to shove down the urge to throw up. "Just...breathe. Stop wriggling!" He snapped, untying the red sash from around his waist because it was merely an accessory he didn't need.
"It's already red with the blood of my enemies, a little more shouldn't hurt. Hold your arm still!"