Nowhere Left To Run

[Robert Rosequill]

The fog enveloped the ship as the beasts began their climb aboard. Robert, with much struggle, managed to claw his way up the rope with the help of a few others. It only took a couple of minutes for the rest of their covert group to make it on the deck of the Zephyr. A quick scan of the ship revealed a surprisingly scarce deck of pirates, with only a couple standing about, staring off into the fog.

Robert, making double sure of how many pirates there were, motioned for a few Waverunners to break out of the group and take the vermin out. Being careful to keep to the shadows, the beasts skulked out onto the deck, swiftly and silently snapping the necks of the pirates. Robert and the rest of the soldiers quickly joined up with the other beasts, helping to throw the bodies overboard. Robert made one more glance across the deck for any more enemies, but was still puzzled to see none around. While stumped, Frederick made his way over to interrupt.

?Robert, now that we?re here, I have to find Atlas,? the hare whispered.

?Aye, I understand Fred, jus? we need you right now,? Robert answered. ?We got time to find him later, but firs? we need to figure out where in the blazes this ship?s crew?s hidin?.?

?I know, Rob, but I have to find him now. I?m sorry, wot,? Frederick replied hastily, shuffling off before Robert could hiss after the hare to stop. One of the Waverunners ran off as well, charging down a stoat that had appeared from below decks. Robert began to help him, but a new group of pirates rushed his group from the other stairwell, breaking their ranks. A fox found his way in front of the hedgehog, baring his teeth as he raised his cutlass. Robert answered with a quick lunge to the fox?s throat, then a swift slash to his chest, forcing the beast to collapse in agony. As the hedgehog started for a new target, a sudden swipe from a weasel knocked the sailor off balance. Luckily, a hare saved Robert from any follow up by promptly killing off the weasel before Robert hit the ground.

Robert took a moment to catch his breath, watching his friends deal with the new group of pirates. They began to haul the bodies overboard like the others, but Robert waved his arm dismissively.

?No, ain?t no time, more?ll be comin? up soon I?d bet,? he huffed. ?We got to find a way below deck an? fast.? Moments after he said this, a new pawful of pirates made their way on deck. Scrambling to his feet, Robert grunted. ?Jus? a few o? you take care o? them, the rest with me!?

Robert rushed to the opposite stairwell, his Waverunners following suit close behind. Putting a claw to his lips, Robert led the way, creeping down the rickety wooden steps as quietly as possible. Once reaching the bottom flight, the hedgehog peeked around the corner. Nobeast was in sight. Robert motioned to his party that the coast was clear, when suddenly a tiny figure appeared around the corner. A mole tentatively stepped forward with his saber raised, but Robert quickly lowered the beast's weapon. He recognized the beast.

?Oi, stand down, mates!? Robert said, moving closer to the familiar ratmaid. Plink looked up to him, her eyes much darker than they were the last Robert saw her. ?Glad to see that you're still alright, lass. You know, we?ve got to stop meetin? like this, heh heh heh,? Robert whispered to the young rat and chuckled.

Plink flashed a smile, but it quickly faded as she glanced behind her. "Mister Robert, it ain't safe fer you here! Yer gonna get yerself killed!"

?That?s a risk me an? all o? me mates are willin? to take. We?ve got to end this now, Plink, while Blade doesn't know we're comin',? Robert replied.

?There?s too many of 'em! They?ll just kill all of ya before you even get to Blade, 'specially walkin' around out in the open like this...? Plink tugged her coat closer to better conceal the bulging sack she was carrying under her coat. Robert thought he caught a whiff of brimstone, though decided to pay it no mind. Abruptly, the rat's expression brightened. ?I got an idea! Come on!?

With that, the former stowaway bounded down the hall, beckoning Robert to follow. He started to, but another hedgehog grabbed his arm.

"She's with them, Robert. You sure we can trust her?? He asked, his voice slightly shrill with fear. Robert nodded.

?Aye, she may be with them, but she's jus' young and confused, mate. She might act tough and say she's a pirate, but underneath all that, she's got a heart o' gold, for sure,? he replied. Motioning to the others, Robert rushed after Plink. She turned a corner, leading the beasts towards the familiar kitchens of the Zephyr. She stopped at the door, and whispered back to the group.

?The cook?s away right now, you can all hide in here!?

She pried open the door, allowing the other beasts to sneak inside. Robert was last in line, and he held open the door, expecting Plink to join them. The ratmaid shook her head.

"I've got somethin' to do," she said. Her paws clenched around the sack she carried. But despite her words, Plink chewed her lip rather than turn away. "Yer a good beast, Mister Robert. Don't get killed... please."

"Aye then, lass. An' don' you worry 'bout me. You be the one who's careful." Plink nodded, then ran off into the halls. Robert frowned, shutting the door once she was out of sight.

The other beasts huddled in the middle of the room. Robert paused in the doorway before turning towards the others. One hare broke the silence.

?What about the others out there, wot?? he asked, concern weighing down his words.

?They?ll be able to keep the few pirates above decks from warnin? the rest o? our presence,? Robert answered. ?An? we?ll stay down here until our chance comes and we can join that Waverunner fleet. Then we can be sure to stop Blade.?

The Waverunners stayed quiet inside of their hiding spot for what felt like an eternity until suddenly, a crack of what sounded like thunder split the air. Pots and pans rattled against one another inside of the kitchen as the entirety of the Zephyr shook. As the noise settled, somebeast spoke up quietly.

"What was that?"

Realization quickly came to Robert, and he smiled. "Vera. Heh heh heh, looks like those cannons o' ours work after all." He paused as exclamations and shouts from all over the ship began to erupt at the sudden commotion. "Alright, everybeast, no time t' be throwin' a feast. Stay quiet now."

The sailors waited with bated breath, listening to the pounding footpaws of hundreds of pirates swarming out from below decks to face the threat on their ship. After the stamping died down, it took only a few seconds for Robert to hear a tiny, muffled voice from behind the door.

"The coast is clear," he heard Plink say. "If you're going to get at Blade, now's your only chance!"

Robert?s breath quickened, and he turned to his mates. ?It?s time, me buckos! The pirates'll be occupied with the holes we be puttin' in their ship. Now's our chance to get what we came for! Now we can get Blade!"

A cheer came arose from the huddled beasts, and Robert swung open the door, allowing the eager beasts to burst into the hallways. He followed behind, drawing his sword.

I?m ready for you this time, Blade.

~~~**~~~

Robert huffed and puffed as he ran around the Zephyr?s cabins and hallways, searching for Atlas?s old study. If Blade were to hole up anywhere, Robert was certain he?d have the arrogance to claim the badgerlord?s office as his own. Luckily Robert only ran into a scarce few pirates, making quick work of them as most were already above decks seeing what the commotion had been. It was just Blade now, and the hedgehog knew it.

Robert was nearing the badgerlord's office. He caught himself from stumbling numerous times as the ship was rocked from cannon fire. As he turned the final corner, he saw somebeast race right before his eyes into the hall next to the hedgehog. Robert barely had to look to know it was the pirate king, and gave chase.

The ferret was reenacting their race in the tunnels back on the island, Robert felt. Always just ahead of the hedgehog and out of reach.

?Stop runnin?, you bleedin? coward, we?re on a ship!? Robert shouted. ?Ain?t no way you can get away from me!?

Robert saw the ferret glance behind his shoulder, a wicked grin across his face. An evil glint flashed in his eyes before he turned down yet another hallway. Blade was leading him down into the hulls of the ship. Robert was prepared to sprint after he turned the corner, when suddenly he found the ferret simply standing at the end of the hall, paws behind his back. Robert stopped, then raised his sword as a challenge.

?Alright, Blade!? Robert bellowed. ?You?re cornered! Now fight me like a real beast would!?

?Must we dance the same routine, Mister Rosequill?? Blade jeered. ?I?m not going t' fight you.?

?Aye, that may be,? Robert said. ?But that don? matter this time.?

"Oh yes. I'd love t' see that glint in your eye again as you raise your sword, so prepared to strike, and then realize that you're too weak t' swing it. If there's one thing that you should know, Mister Rosequill, it's that when you hold a sword, you should be prepared t' kill."

?No, Blade. You're right. I cain't kill you.?

The pirate king?s smile faltered just a bit. ?You can't, eh? Then what in the blazes are you wasting my time for??

?I?m here to make sure you don? get away,? Robert began. ?You see, I?ve been thinkin? long an? hard on what you said to me. About not bein? able to stomach bein? executioner. An? you?re right, Blade. I cain?t.?

Blade?s grin widened. ?And you felt the need to tell me? Well, that?s nice. I know I?m right, Mister Rosequill, I didn?t need to hear it from you. Now, if you?ll excuse me. . .?

?I ain?t finished yet, you blighter!? Robert shouted, raising his sword. ?I only said I ain?t an executioner. But that don? mean I don? know any. An? they?ll be here soon. A whole fleet o? them. An? you ain?t got nowhere to run. You?re not gettin? out o? here alive, Blade, an? you know it. An? I?m jus? here to make sure o? that. You?re my prisoner now, Blade. Right where you stand.?

The pirate king?s brow furrowed, and his grin slipped into a snarl. ?Are you certain about that? I?ll bet I can get past those bloody Waverunners without even a thought. I?ve got weapons they don? have. I?ve got smarts they don? have. Gates, I?ve got the badgerlord they don? have, locked away from them. I?ll get out of this, just you wait, Goodbeast.?

?No, you won?t,? Robert simply said. ?I?ve learned somethin? in my time on that blasted island. This world ain?t black an? white. That much is true, an? I?ve accepted it. It can get gray an? twisted an? disgustin?. But by bein' a goodbeast for others to look up to, these young'uns can make the world all the brighter. Everybeast can change, nobeast is jus' one thing. Nobeast but you. The only thing you are is pure evil, Blade, and goodbeasts will triumph over villains like you. Jus' as they always will.?

Robert stepped closer to the pirate, sword still pointed threateningly directly at the beast. Blade backed away, slowly, towards the doorway at the end of the hall.

?Don?, Blade, that?s jus? a big closet. Ain?t nothin? in it but foodstuffs. I?d know, I sailed on this pretty ship for longer?n you.?

?You certainly did, Mister Rosequill,? Blade began as he scrabbled for the doorknob. Once he grabbed hold, his smile returned. ?But I?ve done a bit of renovating.? He wrenched open the door and disappeared inside. Robert, cursing, followed him, sword still at the ready.

It was dark inside. Shadows lined the walls, but Robert could tell the space was definitely being used for something other than supplies. Fumbling about in the dark, the hedgehog began shouting at the ferret.

?Come on, you coward! I already told you, ain?t no way out o? this! You might as well give yourself up to me now, an? maybe the Waverunners?ll spare you!?

Blade cackled in the dark. ?Why would I need to give myself up to somebeast, when I have this??

Robert heard the hiss of a match lighting in the dark, and whirled around to the sound. Blade was behind the hedgehog, holding the little flame.

"You think you know this world, Goodbeast. But you're wrong. You'll never triumph over us. Not until you learn one simple fact about us vermin," the pirate king sneered. "We are never unarmed."

Dropping the match, it flashed a light. Time seemed to slow down as a deafening sound shattered Robert?s eardrums, just enough for the hedgehog to see the cannon, before all he could see was black.