Noonvale

[Nick000]

 

Nice reference to Tryst Kipps, I liked it. '

Make a reference to soemthing funny next chapter, like the heybaby smiley.

lol, everyone's pickin up on the Tryst references But it wasnt meant to be a funny reference, as i said above, it was just too much of an awesome name and sounded so much like a name Jaques would give a character to just miss.

 

You are right, Tryst pwns Jacques.

More people comment, this is quality spam stuff.

EDIT-Where is the map you said you would make?

Edited September 24, 2006 by Nick000

[Kippers]

I've got to draw it first before i give it to a skilled graphicer to make look aweosme and old. Just havnt really had time.

 

Is there much point? how many people would see it?

[Nick000]

You could always put the map up and mark the location of the story where it's taking place so we have a better idea of the enviroment.

[Kippers]

Good idea I'll like sketch something up sometime

[TenaciousD.]

Kippers, you need to have audio in here, like Hump De Bump

 

Good ideas

[Kippers]

New chapter coming someitmw tonight hoefully. Been away over the weekend to a disclosed location Havn't had time to write a new chapter because of that reason and the ending is prooving difficult

[Nick000]

Since the ending is proving difficult, will it be one of the best parts of the story?

[Kippers]

Since the ending is proving difficult, will it be one of the best parts of the story?

Maybe, maybe not. But you better appreciate it

 

If no one posts before i do then i guess i'll double post

[Archaon, Lord of End Times]

Come on, kipps. Eighty eight 8!

[Kippers]

Thanks for posting. I would have hated to have double posted

 

Tried to do a little poem, it probably sucks, if it does then i'll stay way from those in future. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

Odorf was stood atop their camping spot looking out over the mountains and trees in the direction, he hoped, of the great Redwall Abbey. After peering out over the land for several minutes he quickly dove down onto the ground and started writing frantically, quill in hand on a scrape piece of scroll paper he’d bought with him for the journey. He shot up once again and stared out and at regular intervals went back to his scroll paper. Using the precious midnight moonlight to his full advantage, Odorf caught sight of a well trodden out dirt path leading North, he smiled and as quick as a flash started scribbling away, squinting as clouds briefly but regularly covered his only source of light, trying to focus on the task at hand.

 

///

Soon though, a thick layer of cloud had engulfed the skies and visibility was poor. Odorf threw the quill and parchment onto the laid out cape and sat next to the smouldering fire humming to himself as he looked out in the direction he had last seen Brock, before he disappeared into the darkness.

‘Is he off this way chappy?’

‘’Ow am I meant t’ remember? It’s pitch black, I’d f’get me own feet if they weren’t attached, can’t see a blimmin’ thing at night.’

‘Ya bally useless spike back. Ya leave your master f’ ten seconds and you can’t jolly well find where ya left ‘im!

Odorf could hear the shouting from near by below the grassy dune

‘Hey! ‘e ain’t me master! I’m my own master thank ye very much long ears!’

‘If ya didn’t have anyone to control you you’d lose all your spikes ya silly twit!’

Odorf leapt up from beside the fire and grabbed a glowing piece of firewood, waving it around in the air as a signal for the returning companion and surprise visitor he called out in all directions.

‘Up here Brock!’ Odorf yelled, not knowing how far away Brock was, ‘if you’re close follow the stick!’

‘Ah ha!’ He could hear someone cry in a tone of delight, ‘He’s up ‘ere.’ Smiled Brock running up the side of the dune, brushing away the tall grass and collapsing by the fire with his eyes closed.

A moment after, the tall, confident hare made an appearance, feeling his way through the dark till he suddenly bumped into a great massive object standing in his way.

‘Yeawh!’ the hare shot up and went into a fighting stance, hopping up and down on the spot, moving his fisted paws around to confuse his enemy ‘I’ll bally well have you right now! How dare ye get in the way of a hare like me ya old thing! Ya’ll never see the last o’ this. Now come out with ya paws out wot! I say, come out with ye paws up ‘n’ get on the floor where I can see ya f’ what ye are!’

Brock lifted his head quickly and stared at the smouldering fire beside him.

‘Hey! Where’s the fire got ta? ‘Ow we gonna have our vittles now if we aint got no fire t’ cook ‘em on?’

Ignoring the hare who was now throwing punches and kicks blindly into the thin air throwing insults of all sorts left right and center, Odorf made his way over to Brock and the fire.

‘You bring any firewood?’

‘Erm…There wasn’t any.’

‘Then there isn’t any new wood to relight the fire you silly old hog.’

Odorf got down on all fours and took the parchment which was scrolled up on the cape still. Pulling it up close to his face, he squinted, trying to make out the path he drew earlier.

Brock scrambled up, forgetting completely about his injured footpaw.

‘If I hadn’ta run inta that there hare I would be back ‘ere with plenty a firewood t’ last us a whole year!

‘Calm down, there’s some damson on the cape over here, go and have some, it will last you till the morning, then we can worry about food’

Worn out from fighting with himself, the hare made his way over to the dead fire.

‘Sorry about that old chap,’ the hare chuckled and sat down next to Odorf, ‘an old hare like me’s got to let off some steam some time hey? If you hadn’t jolly well walked away when you did I could have taken your head clean off with one of my punches! My old dad said I had the greatest punch in the whole of these parts, could take a stoats head off in one blind swing if I ever met one.’

During his own little speech, he’d picked up a stick from the fire and gave it one last swing before slamming it down on Odorfs’ scroll

‘What’ve you been up then badger boy? I see you’ve been leadin’ this Brock fella astray? You know as well as I do that there ain’t a single bally bit o’ wood round here for miles on end. He’d have been searching for day and night on his own lookin’ for nothing.’

Odorf just nodded his head as his gaze remained transfixed on his map

‘Don’t talk much do you old chap?’

‘And you don’t ever shut ye trap.’ Replied Odorf as kindly as possible

‘Wow, hold up there chappy, don’t want to get off on the wrong paw wot wot! Wouldn’t want any rivalry, by the sounds o things we’ve got a lot o’ distance to jolly cover!

Odorf finally looked up from his parchment scroll and stared the hare in the eyes confused.

‘We..?’

‘I’m comin’ along too old chap!’

‘What’s making you so sure exactly?’

‘Ya don’t expect to find your way with that tatty ol’ thing to you? It ain’t even the right way for starters. But don’t despair badger sare! I know exactly where we are!’

The hare leapt up onto his hind legs and hopped up and down pointing towards the North Mountains.

‘That’s the way we’ve got to go sare! Over the mountains an’ through the forest good and proper sare!

Odorf stood up and shook the enthusiastic hares paw, with a smile across his face, beaming with delight, knowing that now, they were no longer lost.

‘Welcome aboard…..’

‘Basil Stag Hare at your service sare! But do care to call me Basil for short, can’t stand beasts using the full name, takes to long, and this world has no time for long names, wot! Wot!

‘Well glad t’ have you helping us Basil’

Brock came stumbling back, dizzy and unbalanced, carrying a bottle in his paw.

‘Care for any drink?’

‘Brock, meet the newest member to our journey. Basil Stag Hare!’

Brock couldn’t stay balanced any longer and his paws gave way to a loud thump as his body hit the ground asleep.

 

///

Twas the next morning and the adventurers were already up and packed, wondering between more dunes, seemingly in a never ending circle, just dune after dune after dune. The half baked sun caused early dawn shadows to form behind the dunes and trees on the outskirts of small patches of forest they had passed through previous. Although the sun had not fully risen, the three travellers were already huffing and puffing, sweating and making slow progress though the grass.

‘It had bally well rain wot! Hares like me can’t stand hot whether, not good for the fighting ya see!’

Don’t think ya the only one Staggy,’ Brock mumbled kicking his feet along the dirty ground. ‘If this continues me spikes’ll melt ‘n’ drop off, then what good am I if we comes up against a horde a wild beast.’

‘Righto bucko, we’ll be too jolly well worn out to care if we get slain.’

‘An’ look at Odorf there, marchin’ along happily as if the sun dinnea even exist nomore.’

‘I wish old chap.’ Basil Stag Hare looked up from the dehydrated, brown grass, ‘even this here grass is feelin’ the pressure.’

Odorf drew closer to Brock and Basil. ‘Not far now I don’t think.’

Basil nodded his head in agreement. Brock looked at them.

‘Where bouts we goin’? How comes I don’t know where we’re going! I’m standin’ here with you two an’ ya keepin’ secrets from me already. We ain’t been going 5 days ‘n’ I’m bein’ ignored by a badger an’ a hare!’

‘If you spent more time awake than you did sleeping and drinking all the damson, you’d have known where we’re off to,’ Odorf heard Brock grumble under his breath , ‘You only bring these things upon yourself matey.’

Basil and Odorf laughed mockingly at Brocks scrawled up and angry expression.

‘What say we sit ourselves down in the shade for a while buckos? We’ve been walking for hours and haven’t had a single rest or bite to eat.’

‘Yeah, get the rest of the food out badger sir so we can feast!’

The three of them slowed down and made their way over to a shadowy cover of the dunes, where a nice, relaxing breeze had been blowing.

‘Where’s this breeze come from wot! We’ve been walking f’ hours an’ hours and the wind was right next to us the whole bally time!’

But Brock had other things on his mind, with one leap, he grabbed the piece of wood with the cape attached to the end from off Odorfs’ shoulder and set about untying the bow and spreading the remainder of the food out in front of him. With greedy eyes he stared longingly at what was in front of him, trying to pick out what to eat first. As he snatched his paw out for a slice of apple pie, Odorf quickly grabbed his arm and moved the cape away from the hungry hedgehog.

‘Hold on there Brocko, if you eat all the food now, how are me and Basil meant to survive out here if you’ve eaten everything.’

‘We could always eat him old chap!’

‘Ooooh great idea Basil, with wild berry and as much custard and cream trifle we could ever hope for. Sure would make a fine meal.’

Brock eyed Odorfs’ glistening eyes as he licked his lips at the thought of roasted hog. ‘Bah! Cut ye dreamin’ and divide the food so’s we can get goin;’ again. The quicker we gets to Redwall, the quicker I can get away frum you hog eatin’ maniacs.’

Odorf sat down in the dunes shade and used his stump paw to split the food between the three. Basil’s ears twitched as he noticed for the first time the badger’s empty arm.

‘I say poor old badger sare! What bally well happened to your paw there? Looks like ya got inta a bit of a scrape if I do say so myself, a clean swipe of a blade that one.’

Odorf passed Basil his share of the food with the good paw and told him their tale.

‘Bally ‘eck matey, no wonder ye wanting the help of good old Matthias. I’m sure he’ll be up for a challenge like that, never known him to turn one down I must say old chap!’

‘You know him?’ Brock and Odorf looked up at the hare in surprise.

‘Course a jolly well know him chappies! Who doesn’t? Greatest worrier around I say, an I won’t be the only one to agree with myself. Used to go with him all over the place back in the day I did, never had a better time at that Abbey. But alas, one has to leave his lovely home sometime.’

‘So ‘ow’d an ‘are like yourself end up all the way over ‘ere? This a long way from that great ol’ Abbey.’

‘funny ya should ask that hoggy, I’ll tell you both of my travels as we go, we ain’t too far now!’

‘You guys still ain’t told me where we’re off t’’

‘You’ll find out when we’re there Brocko. Now gerrup and get walking. By the looks of things your paw is back to its good self again, you haven’t been limping in several hours.’

‘Right chaps, here’s me tale. I made it into a little ditty f’ ya good ears to listen to whilst trekking these parts to keep us happy and entertained wot!

 

 

 

I’m Basil Stag Hare,

The best o’ the best,

Me an’ he were there.

With a smash, whollop, smack and crunch,

Then it was off for a stoat free lunch.

 

But alas times change,

Old turned to new,

Thrown out by the mange,

I was left for rat stew,

And no beast knew.

 

Evening turned to night,

Morning turned to dawn.

Not being a bally cower, and using all my power,

I made it to the place were dreams were born,

To meet a badger with a jolly bad scorn.

 

‘Too loud’ they say,

‘Scoff too many vittles’ they complain,

‘Too messy whilst at play’,

‘The dibbuns are tidier than you’ they blame.

Left to my own device, outside the home of mices,

I’m on my own again, not one, nor twice but thrice

 

Northwards I go,

Up the path is the only way I see,

I must follow the flow,

Until I meet the mountain in glee.

A horde so horrid,

Dare not fight, land too torrid.

 

Each night spent in this smock,

Searching for food, shelter and light,

Ran into young Brock,

Who lead me to your fight.

And here we now marching to the height

Making our way to…..

 

Whomp!

Basil skidded across the ground, a pile of dirt collected around his face where he had stopped. He quickly hopped up and started jumping up and down furiously!

‘Who dare interrupt my ditty!?’

Brock looked back and found what the hare had tripped up over.

‘There’s a great big ‘ole in the middle o’ the path here.’

‘What bally old creature digs a hole in the middle of a path?’ Basil hopped over to the hole and yelled down it at the top of his voice.

‘Ye a bally pain in the hide whoever you are! Show ye face an’ apologise before I come down there and make you!’

Brock steadily tip toed backwards to where Basil was kneeling down with his head almost completely down the hole and whispered.

‘Erm…Basil, ye probably wanna get ya head out that hole sharpish.’

The hare didn’t reply, but instead Brock heard him muffling under all the dirt, quickly the muffling turned into screaming which in turn developed into frantic kicked of the hind legs against the dirt floor and flailing of front paws and they pounded against the ground in a panicked fright. Basil started pushing with all his might against the sides of the hole twisting and struggling. More fainted muffles came from within the tunnel entrance. Brock and Odorf looked around; they were concentrating so much on basils’ poem that they had wondered into an area encircling them with strange holes, left, right and center. Hissing sounds could be heard from all around them, spinning round in terror trying to find where the noise was coming from had caused Brock to collapse in dizziness. Something came sliding out of a hole near to Odorf’s footpaw, instantly it bit him hard on the ankle, two venomous teeth digging into the side of his paw. Odorf kicked up violently, catching the long, scaly creature by its tail tip and smashing its head on the ground like a club. Ignoring the pain and blood in his foot he hurried over the Basil who was still screaming and smacking the ground wildly, with one big heave on the legs, the hare came flying out in a shocked gasp, tumbling to the ground and looking dazed. More and more snakes emerged from the endless number of holes. They seemed instinctively attracted to the unconscious hedgehog lying only several feet away from a cluster of snake nests. Now surrounding the stone cold hog, the snakes hissed, bringing out their two pronged tongues, tasting the fur. One of the bigger snakes stretched out its jaw, siliva dripping off the razor blade like teeth. Ready and waiting to pounce.

[Nick000]

Nice job on the poem Kippers, I made my own tune to go with it, makes it sound better.

[Seddo]

Nice work Kippers bring on the next chapter

[Archaon, Lord of End Times]

Excellent chapter, kipps. Good cliff-hanger ending.

[Kippers]

Thanks everyone who's commented, glad to see you liked the poem A few have commented in the CSM aswell so thanks to them aswell

 

 

Edited October 2, 2006 by kippers

[TenaciousD.]

Yet another awsome chapter, nice poem

 

EDIT:- OMG 1 month old

[Kippers]

Woo! 1 month old. Didn't ever think it'd get this far, i thought i'd give up after like 3 chapters. Thanks to everyone who's stuck arund and read it even if they havn't commented. I will try and get chapter 9 out tonight

Edited October 6, 2006 by kippers

[Nick000]

As i said in the Z chat, that is some really nice GFX, and you have better drawing skills than I would ever have.

Happy 1 month.

[TenaciousD.]

Pretty map

 

Happy 1month birthday !!

[Kippers]

Thanks

 

I've added the map to the Front page if you think it should be somewhere else on there then do say

 

Otter just attempted my map and did it from scratch by the looks of things. Sorry Ottae but i'm sure you'll understand that i have to switch maps.

 

Here it is:

 

 

Front page updated

Edited October 6, 2006 by kippers

[Nick000]

I'm liking the new map Kippers particularly the ripped aspect of it.

I like Ottae's aswell and thought it was funny on Ottae's map it said ditch but looked like bitch.

[TenaciousD.]

Yet another awsome chapter kippers, keep up the good work.

[Kippers]

 

9

 

The cells down at the bottom of castle Fladungy were far from luxurious. Down the spiral stairs, the walls were covered with damp, and moss grew from the cracks in between the sharp edged stones forming the cell walls. The floor too was soaked from the water dripping steadily from the deathly pointed stones above. Ilmig the badger was seated on a rickety wooden bench, nailed to the far wall of the cell, the wood all cracked under the badgers heavy weight, holding any prisoner in suspense, waiting for them to give way.

Ilmig was sulking with her head down, kicking her feet lightly against a floor stone which she had managed to chip a bit off of through her many hours and nights of boredom. She was trying to remember what had happened previous, on that day Noonvale was attacked. But all she could remember was the faint cry of hogs and shrews as she was brought down by the clear slash of a weasel’s blade. She reached out behind her neck and ran her paw through her fur and over the scar which was left. She could hear the blood curdling yells from Odorf in her mind, as he went into a fury of rage. She envisioned a sword moving from left to right, up and down. Blooded and battered she made out the faint clang as the sword hit the floor. She reopened her eyes to have the sound of the sword hitting the ground transformed into the eerie jiggle of keys knocking into each other as they rattled inside the keyhole on the door at the top of the slimy spiral stone stairs.

‘Gimmie the blagged keys you dimwits!’

‘Yes sire.’

She couldn’t make out the voices, but one definitely felt familiar to her ears. Ilmig couldn’t quite figure out where she may have heard the voice before, but she was soon going to find out.

The wooden door to the cells squeaked open as the patting of paws and clicking of claws on the stone could be heard coming down the spiral. From where the badger was sitting, she could make out a bright red cape flowing about in the breeze from the open door held on round the wildcats’ neck by a golden painted length of rope. Behind him, two guards wearing battered blue and red tunics ripped along the bottom rim with cutlasses sheathed to their belt strap around their waist. The two guards drew closer the Ilmigs cell and she saw the one in the black tunic unveil the keys once again. Fiddling through them he found the right one, inserted it and unlocked the cell door.

This is where any other badger would leap up, smash the guards’ heads in and make a mad dash for it, but all Ilmigs’ power had been drained through work she had been made to do and whips will around the castle.

The grey furred WolfJaw pushed his way between the two weasels and stared Ilmig in the eye. He grabbed one of the four knives sheathed along his chest and laid the flat of it across the badgers face. WolfJaw gave her a harsh whisper.

‘Ye mangy old blaggard. I could have you lynched right now an’ no one would care. But I won’t let you go so easily, I’ll spare you for now.’

She didn’t flinch, her eyes wondered over to the two guards who were now standing on either side of her. WolfJaw spoke again in a harsh whisper.

‘I need some information off you badger, an’ you’ll give that information to me,’ he signalled to the weasels and they drew their cutlasses from the sheaths just enough for the blade to be visible.

She was at WolfJaws’ will, from this position there was nothing she could do which wouldn’t result in her being beaten and killed. She scoffed at the wildcat and carried on staring into his eyes. She noticed that they were almost turning red with anger, as if a fire had irrupted inside his head.

He drew his head away from hers and put his hands behind his back, the guards sheathed their blades.

‘Now miss badger, where’s Matthias the mouse!!’

The fire burning inside him grew ever stronger, there was nothing she could do but tell him what he wanted.

‘North Mountains.’ She managed to gurgle, her eyes filling with tears and flem building up in her throat.

‘Pardon me missy?’ WolfJaw tilted his head and leant his ear towards her.

‘The North Mountains!’ She shouted as loud as her horse, cracked up voice could go, ‘Last I saw of him, he was travelling south.’

‘Where to!?’ He snapped raising his paw and scratching Ilmig across the face with a powerful slap. She wiped the blood off her cheek and answered bitterly.

‘I don’t know.’ She looked down and started kicking the loose rock again.

WolfJaw relaxed and stood upright, tuning his back to the badger and walking out he signalled to the guards to follow. Closing the jail bars behind them and walking up the spiral, Ilmig could hear WolfJaw warning her.

‘I warn ya badger! If he ain’t there, it’ll be you’re ‘ead hanging proudly from the front gate. Mark me words.’

She gulped heavily as the dungeon door slammed behind the wildcat and his slaves.

 

///

Not staying to find out what would happen next; Odorf leapt up and flew towards the swarm of open mouthed snakes. Lifting his leg he kicked at the venom filled vermin, sending a good proportion of them rolling on the sandy floor. Dazed and confused, fangs wedged into the ground, they ignoring the hog for now, the snakes turned their attention towards the badger, stomping and waving his paws around like a mad beast trying to clear the area. Hissing wildly, more snakes emerged from their underground home, moving closer and closer to the spring like hare who was bounding up and down, huffing and puffing, throwing insults and ready for a fight.

‘Cam on slimy ol’ chaps! A fight ye want a fight ye get wot!’

A snake sprang up; mouth wide, venom waiting to settle inside Basils’ fur. With lighting quick reactions, Basil grabbed the snake by the tail, twirled it round with ease and threw it at Odorf, with a great clang its head smashed up against the badgers great armoured breast plate and knocked it out cold. Twisting and turning the two beasts avoided the snakes’ attacks, but they couldn’t keep this up forever.

‘Tell me before you do that again Basil, could have had me on the floor.’

‘Oh well, one less slime eyes to deal with though.’

Odorf grabbed two snakes just below the jaw and started spinning them round his head until he heard a conclusive snap and their long bodies went limp. Hurling them into the oncoming ambush, he yelled back to Basil.

‘Grab Brock quick, before they lose interest in us!’

‘Righto sare!

Caring not where he landed, the hare jumped up and down, kicking up sand, blinding the attacking vermin

‘Sorry old chap!’ Called Basil down on a group of snakes he had just landed on. ‘Never mind though, must dash!’

Leaving a trail of battered and dead snakes behind, he grabbed the unconscious Brock on the ground, but too late. As Basil tugged at the hedgehog a gang on snakes had hold of his other arm, teeth gripped tightly within his skin, venom surging through his system. Basil pulled and pulled at Brocks arm trying to get him away from the danger zone and to a safe distance, but the snakes weren’t letting go anytime soon. More approached the hare from behind and opened their jaws, hissing and showing their fangs in a threatening way. Flailing his legs everywhere and anywhere in a desperate attempt he managed to clear a path for the wounded beast.

Odorf looked over his shoulder as the heads of two snakes collided together in midair.

‘Get him to the river!’

‘What about you badger sare!?’

‘Don’t worry about me just get Brocko there to safety’

‘’Scuse me. Oi! If that rattle comes anywhere near me I’ll shove it up your mouth. See ‘ow you like it wot!’

But that didn’t stop the snake from whipping its tail round and slashing the hare around the ankle.

‘Yeowch! Right, that does it!’ Stepping behind the snakes jaw, he grabbed the tail and twisted it round the snakes’ paralyzed body and shoved it up his mouth. He released his paw and the snake’s mouth dropped, fangs digging into his own tail and dying instantly. ‘Serves ye’ bally well right! Now if any more of ye think you’ll get away with hurting me or my friend ‘ere it’ll be 10 times worse!’

Appearing to back off slightly, the surrounding attackers dipped their heads at the stern warning of a clear threat.

Nearing the riverbank, Basil quickly flung Brock into the rapid, quick flowing river, washing away the few last remaining snakes, taking them out to sea.

Placing him back on dry land again, the hare examined the hog’s wounds with a quizzical look on his face. The bite marks had turned into deep gaps in the skin where the strugglers had been holding tight and ripped away by the strong northern current. Basil tutted and stroked his whiskers in worry.

‘Where the bally heck has that badger got to?’ He asked himself rhetorically looking around the deserted landscape. He had left the dune lands now and the only visible things were the cliffs of the Pygmy shrews to the east across the river and they cave of Bouldred to the north. He sat down next to Brock who was breathing quietly, almost asleep and unaware that he had only hours left to live if Odorf didn’t hurry up with his return. To occupy himself in the meantime, Basil picked at the few and far between pieces of dune grass and carefully tied the ends together to create a makeshift bandage until they could reach Bouldreds’ cave and get help for their injured friend.

 

///

The dungeon guard plodded up and down the corridors below Castle Fladungy, back and forth he went. Keys rattling together as he walked against the fabric of his battered tunic, tapping of claws on the stone and the dripping of water from above were what dominated Ilmigs sense of ear her whole time trapped down there, and it was slowly driving her insane. When the guard walked past, they exchanged glances of fear, toughness and supremacy between them, the guard teasingly causing the keys to jangle together louder, his own personal punishment for the badger prisoner. A growl and a sneer later the guard would be gone, but soon to return do repeat the torment all nigh long.

This time though, the rat disappeared up the spiral stairs and out the old dungeon door to come back holding a plate with grey, watery muck. He ran the plate against the bars of Ilmigs cage purposely tilting the plate spilling the watery content over the floor. He smiled wickedly at the badger, showing off his golden top teeth, sharpened to perfection and spoke, spitting all over Ilmigs food.

‘’Ere ya go badger!’ Spits, ‘Ye wan’ it badger?’

Silence filled the dungeon once again; Ilmig kept her stare down on the ground and nodded slightly.

‘Bah!’ shouted the rat in disgust. He spat again into the mouldy porridge and hurled it across the cell, slipping off the plate and covered the badger, small blotches of muck all over her fur and water dripping from her ears. The guard chuckled and went to the cell door. ‘heh, the coast is clear for me tonight badger.’

He took this moment for his full advantage and quietly unsheathed a small hand dagger from his leather belt and ran his paw over the thin, shiny blade, again showing off his bright teeth victoriously. Trotting proudly up to the prisoner , back up, teeth out, he bent down and stroked the flat of the dagger along her neck, the badger flinched violently to the guards surprise when he ran the blade over the war wound.

‘I could ‘ave ye killed right now if I wan’ed! An Wolfy wouldn’t give nothin’ of it. Let me let you inta a liddle secret us up there,’ He pointed the blade to the ceiling, indicating the castle above, ‘’e doesn’t care about you. ‘E jus’ want ta ‘ave you tortured, he’s got all the information he needs ta ‘unt down that mouse. You’re usless to ‘im. Between you an’ me, ‘he leaned in closer the badgers dripping ear, ‘if I had ya killed now. I’d probably git promoted! Fancy that stipedog! ‘Ow’d ya like me t’ be promoted hey?’ he got up from the floor next to Ilmig and started prancing around the cell, cheering and laughing, re-enacting the scenes at his promotion ceremony.

‘An ‘ere comes the great WolfJaw! Marchin’ down from the castles front dorrs wiv me new cape, all new ‘n’ shiny coz of the silk. ‘E tells me t’ turn round an he…’

‘Stabs you in the back!’ Ilmig blurted out in rage. This was the first time she’s managed to properly speak since she was first bought here.

The rat stopped in his tracks, went back to his slumped posture and returned to his position beside Ilmig and growled.

‘Whatcha say!’ he whispered pointing the blade at Ilmig. She smiled.

With the element of surprise on her side, she used her little energy and stamped down on his footpaw causing him to jump in pain. Dropping the knife Ilmig sprung up, picked up the blade from the floor and plunged it into the rats’ neck. Without another word or hesitation, Ilmig picked up the set of keys, cutlass and took the bloody knife from his neck and walked the corridors of Fladungies dungeons, armed and dangerous.

 

[Seddo]

Great chapter Kippers, Excellent, Nice work

 

Bring on the next chapter.

[TenaciousD.]

Well done again Mark, another tip-top chapter

[Kippers]

Thank you Graham

[Nick000]

Once again Kippers, a very nice chapter.

I liked the death, all the death, mmmm.

I wonder how Iilmig will fight, can't wait to find out.

[Archaon, Lord of End Times]

Excellent work, kipps. Story's getting more and more enticing each chapter.

[Kippers]

Thanks guys.

 

i noticed when i finally read through chapter 9 that it's actually more detailed than the other 8 chapters i've written. I've been sucked into the realms of taking ages to describe a single thing.

 

Damn war books and their descriptivness

[TenaciousD.]

Figured you probably needed a bump.

 

Where the big chapter 10? I want my Noonvale fix.

[Kippers]

Thanks for that TD. I've had serious writters block this weekend so that's why this chapter took so long to write. Usually i start writing it on Thursday and have it finished by Saturday but oh well.

 

Time for the big one oh

 

 

10

 

 

Ilmig wonders down the dank, dark stony dungeon passages, her claws digging into the side of the rock as a reminder of where she had been.

'If I’ve learnt anything about getting lost as a young’un,' she thought to herself in her head, 'then it's always to stick to the right.'

She kept wondering, blindfolded by the cover of darkness, not a wall torch or match in site.

Eventually her claw fumbled from its grip in the stone and she lost her footing as she tumbled over something on the ground. Ilmig got up, regained her prisonly composure, and nervously stretched a footpaw out to inspect the thing from a distance. They were steps. She quickly made a frantic lunge up the wooden steps and searched for some sort of handle. She opened in slightly, enough so she could get a view of the castle floor. She’d ended up at the entrance of one of the slave trap doors imbedded into the grounds of castle Fladungy, where she had been forced to haul heavy pieces of stone and carry bucket by bucket of mortar, day in day out to repair damages to the far end of the castle settlement.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

As soon as Ilmig had flung open the door in delight and freedom, three arrows simultaneously made themselves comfortable inside Ilmigs arm, flinging her back down the wooden steps, splitting in two at the sudden increase in pressure, as she toppled down onto the floor. She wincing, trying to remain as quiet as possible. Several more well placed arrows clipped her whiskers and snapped in half as they collided with the wall. Lying down on the ground she moved from her position to one beside the steps, so she could get a good view of the surroundings. Another arrow flew past, inches from her nose as she heard the shrill call of an archer on the ramparts.

‘Escape! We’ve gotten ourselves an escape!’

Almost immediately a whole section of nearly 40 rats and weasels surrounded the ground hatch, swords at the ready, waiting for command. Archers could be heard running up the battlement stairs and clipping arrows onto the bowstrings and stretching them to their limit, making escape from any other door impossible.

Gunner and Tryst stepped up too see what was going on. They both pushed aside the crowded mass of beasts and struggled up to the front, paws on cutlass hilts, ready for battle.

‘What’ve we got ‘ere then?’ asked Gunner, staring down the tunnel entrance. Ilmig stepped back against the wall so as not to be seen by the generals wondering eyes.

‘A saw somin’ try ‘n’ come out uv this hole, so I shot it down with an arra’

‘I saw it all general, three arra’s ‘e shot down, sounded like they ‘it somethin’ aswell, not the usual clang they make when hittin’ the floor sir.’

Without replying, Tryst took a few steps down into the passage and stopped where the stairs had been broken off; he leaned forward and searched the area. From Ilmigs position, his head was completely covered in darkness, yet she could easily take his head off with one vicious swipe of the knife. She remained where she was for now, holding her breath tight.

Tryst lifted his head and stepped back out, walked over the Gunner and whispered in his ear.

‘There definitely been something goin’ on ‘ere. Them steps ‘ave been shattered inta peices. If it’s that damn badger then they’re be ‘ell to pay from ‘er. Here,’ Tryst gazed up at the high window, ‘go an’ tell Wolfy what’s ‘appenin’ I’m sure he’ll like to know that ‘is guards can’t even keep a single badger locked up!’

Without a word, Gunner backtracked towards the castle doors.

‘Well?’ Tryst stared at the armed beast staring back at him still waiting for command. ‘Get down there an’ look for her! He unsheathed the sword and smacked the nearest weasel across the jaw.

‘Right away sir!’ Came an almost robotic response as they leapt into the dungeon passages below.

 

///

Hup two! Nearly there, could almost reach it with my paw if I wasn’t carrying this old chap on my shoulders wot!’

The day was getting on and Odorf had safely returned from his extended battle with the snakes with little but a few bruises and a gashed paw heel, causing him to limp slightly as he balanced the unconscious hedgehogs’ feet in his paws.

Fed up with waiting for Odorf’s return, Basil had taken it upon himself to tackle the harsh, wasteland conditions and carry Brock towards the safety of Bouldreds cave. Unable to carry him in his arms, Basil had flipped him round and dragged him by the legs, face first in the dirt. After a good scolding from the battle torn badger and a smart ‘Brock’s got more cuts and bruises than me, and all he’s done is sit on his spikes all day. You try explaining this to the poor hog when he wakes.’ Remark, and an awkward trip acting as temporary stretcher bearers, Basil broke the long silence.

‘Bah! them bally spikes o’ his are doing my behind right in badger sare! Care to swap for the rest of the journey? Your body can take much more of a jolly beating than me.’

‘Just keep going Basil, as you said yourself, we’re nearly there.’

‘How about we chop his spikes off then?’

‘No.’

‘A right old nuisance they are, don’t see why on earth they’re there. Did his old mum say to him. “Make sure you give that there hare a right old spike in the back for me when you leave! Make a mother proud wot!”’

‘You’ve sire met some strange hedgehogs. Never in my life have I heard one say wot!’ Odorf shook his head and smiled.

‘You may find this funny ol’ boy, but mark my words, I’ll give this old’un a right old talking to when he’s as right as rain.’

‘He’ll have your tail off before you get a chance if you call him an old hog again.’

‘Oh never mind that old chap,’ Basil stopped suddenly and placed Brocks arms on the ground and turned to Odorf, ‘I’d best go on ahead and check the cave out and warn ‘em of your arrival wot! Don’t want to get there and find a surprise spear with our names on it. Don’t want nothing damaging that fine old battle armour of yours do we sare!’

Picking up Brock and laying him across his arms, spikes to the sky Odorf gazed at the hare as he waved a dry blooded knife in the air.

‘Make sure you keep a good eye on those grass bandages for me badger sare!’

Turning his back on Odorf and Brock, he bounded off into the distance towards Bouldreds’ cave.

 

///

The evening sun was about to set as the cave finally came into distance. Biggest cave in all the land they say. At the very, very back, in the small corners, there are supposedly tunnels, leading all the way from beneath the cave to the ocean in the south, a quick way to travel if you’ve got something to hide. The closer Basil got to the cave mouth, the higher and higher the half circled mouth got, and the more it was towering over him at least 60 times over. Basil was standing at the most outer tip of the cave, not quite in, not quite out.

‘Don’t want to trespass now do we?’ he murmured to himself as he brushed off his red cavalry uniform, ‘nice and smart now old chap, first impressions and all that!’

Puffing up his chest as far as he could he yelled into the cave, his voice bouncing off the walls and fading into the distance. No answer. He tried again.

‘Helloooooo!’

‘Helloooooo!’ Came his echo in reply

‘How bally rude of them, not inviting their honourable guest in, just leaving a beast like me to spend the night outside here, like I’m some kind of rock! Well I wont be having any of that I tell you sare!’

Failing to have the patience to wait, Basil walked inside the cave, still light from the last of the days sun, the hare made his away along the rocky wall until he spotted a piece of wood, big and heavy enough to make a good club hanging off the wall with a wet, oily rag wrapped around the top. Basil took it off the wall and swung it around his head as if trying to get a feel for a new weapon before fight.

‘Well at least this lads were kind enough to leave one a torch to find his way around here! Now how do I light this bally thing without any fire?’

Wondering deeper into the cave, Basil soon found himself in, as Brock liked to call it; “A bit of a pickle” The cave had split in two directions, one leading left the other to the right. Basil threw the club torch on the ground in a huff.

‘Bally nuisance these cave folk are!’

As the hare sat down next to the battered club torch his long ears started twitching wildly.

‘Bah! Bally ears, don’t give me a moments rest!’

Not waiting to find out what was making his ears twitch; he sprung up and held himself against the slimy cave wall, a shiver going down his spine at the surprise wetness of it all. He held his ears straight with one paw and spun the bloodied knife around in the air in preparation with the other. He peered over in the direction of the cave entrance, still visible from the fading sun; he could make out two possibly three or four shapes at the cave mouth, shadows stretching out across the cave floor. From what he could see they seemed to have extremely broad shoulders, slim in size and muscular.

‘This one will require the old swipe stab move if I do say so myself!’

As they drew closer Basil could hear the eruption of a ‘ssssss’ hissing sound as the approaching foe came closer, tails could now be seen on the silhouettes on the walls waving from side to side, vicious looking spikes protruding from the tips and along the body of the tails.

‘Anymore?’

‘A think thissss isss the lassst one. Ssssss.’

‘Gud, thissss’ll teach ‘em’

‘Here! Watch it! SSSSS, that one almosssst fell off your ssshoulder. Don’t want to wake it up. We’ll have hell on our tailssss if they do.’

‘You sssayin’ we can’t take on a few ssssssshrews?’

‘Thissss ain’t a few, we’re talking five dozen. Ssssss

‘Hah, old bladetail hasssn’t got the sssstrength to fight no more hasss he!’

Bladetails’ accomplice started into a fit of hissing giggles but quickly cut off by the flat of the spear headed point on Bladetails tail.

‘Ssssshut it! We ain’t meant to be here. Remember that. Ssssss…’

‘Right ssssare, sssssorry ssssare.’

The two creatures were silent for the rest of their trip down the cave entrance. So busy arguing over who was stronger, they broke out into a small fight, smashing tails together like battle swords, metallic noises ringing out through the cave as the self attached blades collided.

‘Letssss not ssstart thisss again.’ Hissed Bladetail quietly.

Taking the chance of distraction, in one lighting quick move the second creature wrapped his tail around that of Blades’ locking it in position, and placed a pike blade across his throat and smiled wickedly as he made a small incision.

‘Ssssssss. The element of ssssurprissse issss one you sssstill have to learn Bladey.’

As quick as the first attack, Bladetail knocked the second creatures hand backwards causing him to release the blade, catching it in the air, he round housed his accomplice in the stomach and picked him up by the flap of skin under his neck.

‘Never let your guard down when you’re winnin,’’ he hissed menacingly, imitating his attacker and drawing the blade to the neck and cutting it slightly before releasing his grip and letting the creature drop the floor and wipe away the blood, ‘now letsss get moving afore anybeast returnsssss to the cave.’

Picking up from where they left off, the two lizards slumped the motionless bodies of the shrews back onto their shoulders and carried on walking. Basil held his breath as they walked right past, a sensation of evil and easiness passed him with the rush of wind, their swaying metal tails catching the last of the days sun with the first of the nights moon as they continued down the tunnel.

Frozen to the spot in a mixture of fear and coldness, Basils’ ears stopped twitching. The hare didn’t move an inch, listening closely, waiting for the hissing and the shouting of the two creatures to disappear.

‘Bally Lizards!’ he finally managed to say, ‘thievin’, scalefaced scum of earth! They ain’t got nothing to live for ‘cept the goods of an innocent beast. I’m not usually a violent chappy but I’d give them a good heave hoe with the ol’ tree and rope if I ever got the chance! Basil moved from off the wall and brushed his back of any cobwebs or spiders making home in his uniform, ‘too bally violent for my liking, best let the old badger sare deal with them!’

 

///

Up in the highest point of Fladungy castle, WolfJaw, leader off all within his four walls was standing, watching all the commotion from above at the sill of the high window. His thought of mind was interrupted as there came a knocking at the door.

‘Enter.’ cried WolfJaw, not in the happiest of moods.

As the door slowly creaked open, Gunner stuck his head through the door, continuing with caution; he walked into the room and stood to attention, keeping a weary eye on his leader. WolfJaw was unpredictable in these moods. His head turned to face Gunner, body still in the direction of the window. ‘Yes..?’

‘Erm…’ Gunner hesitated and spluttered, unsure of how to break the news, ‘errr, ummmm.’

Quit ye mumblin’ and tell me. What’s going on down there!’

‘Urb erm…Something’s escaped sire.’

‘Yes, I gathered that much pea brain,’ WolfJaws whole body now turned to face the shaking rat, ‘All under control I can assume,’ he walked closer and closer to Gunner, whose eyes were starting to wonder away, staring at the floor avoiding immediate eye contact., ‘right?’

‘Urm erm…Yes sire, all under control.’

He forced a fake smile which lasted seconds and he could feel the wildcats’ breath on his head, smelling the sweat come off his body.

‘Why dear boy,’ WolfJaw said to Gunners in a sudden change of mood, leaning away from him and shrugging his shoulders and pouting his lips. Gunner gazed up in confusion ‘why so nervous matey?’

Silence as Gunner shuffled his feet and stared at the cat, unable to open his mouth in plain fear of what he might be up to.

‘If you’re telling me the truth, then you’ve got nothing to worry about,’ the wildcat again drew his face closer to Gunners, ‘you are telling me the truth, aren’t you matey? I can trust you never to lie in front of me. Because Gunner old boy, you know what happens to liars right?’

Gunner eyed WolfJaws’ hand reach for the daggers across his chest. ‘Y..Y…Yes sire.’ He spluttered out, after holding his breath to prevent himself choking on WolfJaws breath and face digging into his. Uncontrollably, Gunner found his hand twitching at the thought of it being cut off.

‘Gooooood,’ WolfJaw whispered quietly, ‘now run along and catch that badger before I get down, or you’ll have the special honour of being the first general I’ve ever had to kill….’

Almost in tears from fear and shaking in fright, Gunner edged his way over to the door and scampered out before the leader of Fladungy could inflict anymore mental torture upon him.