Ride Across the River

[Bellona Littlebrush]

?The cause it is noble, and the cause it is just.
We are ready to pay with our lives, if we must!?


The Broad Stream wove east and gradually south for three days until scraggly bushes lined the banks, themselves giving way to sand and a few robust grasses. With each change in vegetation, Bell tried to assess the various modes of attack Nashald?s creatures might use and, conversely, what defenses Martin?s Shadow had to employ. The trees had been a blessing and a curse. The terrain was difficult to cross at any speed, but the dense wood of Mossflower offered excellent cover. And while the shade of the canopy was a welcome respite, each shake of the leaves could hide the deadly hiss of an arrow.

She kept two creatures devoted to watching the shore until they left all but the thinnest stands behind.

Moving toward this desert, then, meant that traveling was easier, but unseen dangers lurked here for beasts on land and water, alike. The barren countryside offered little protection on either side, and the unrelenting sun addled the mind, blinded the eyes, and set the land afire underpaw.

She ordered everybeast to keep his head covered and stay in the longboat.

Another day passed in the desert with everybeast becoming less harried, but more crossed with the heat. Bell maintained her self-control. Sailpaw wanted to push Deadtail out of the boat after the rat gave him a ?dirty look?. The dormouse reprimanded her old friend. The vermin couldn?t help that all his looks were dirty with a face like that. Damask did not find the sentiment quite as humorous as the rest of Martin?s Shadow.

Five days after leaving their home behind, the supplies were running low and Bell had spotted neither hide nor hair of another living creature. She thought she might have seen a scaled tail vanishing into a small hole in the riverbank early in the morning, but she held little hope that reptiles would come to their aid.

?So, how long are we going to continue?? Damask demanded as the sun began its tortuously slow descent toward the horizon. He perched, as usual, on the rim of the longboat. Bell had warned him against such foolishness two days ago, but the little robin had yet to take the advice to heart. Perhaps a spear in his back would convince him. ?It?s all well and fine to say we?re going to sail on to the land of ?Here Be Monsters?, but it?s not the most practical end point.?

?We can?t go back,? the dormouse pointed out. ?The only option then, is to move forward. That is the nature of our flight and war, sir Robin.?

?You could always move sideways.? Deadtail shrugged.

?Oh, a clever beastie, are ye?? Giddy snorted in a fine imitation of Sailpaw.

?Cleverer?n most t?stay alive some odd seasons, aye,? the rat agreed sweetly through bared teeth.

?Yes, but in any case,? the minstrel continued, ?we can?t paddle on indefinitely. Surely there must be something that-?

?So, go?n scout ahead, laddie,? Sailpaw seemed to relish the moment a little too much as he cut the bird off. ?The Fates saw fit t?bless oor spy with wings fer a reason.?

?It?s a bit warm for our only spy to be exerting himself, wouldn?t you say, Captain?? Bell pointed out. She had been pointing out a lot of things to the squirrel lately. He really should think for himself sometimes.

?Och! If the wee birdie cannae take a bit o?exercise in the day, then wha? gud is he?? Sailpaw rejoined, his temper flaring predictably. ?Ye keep praisin? yer spy when he?s about as useful as a sword made o?jelly!?

?Sir.? Bell?s eyes narrowed. How many more times were they going to go through this? ?I can value a beast even when his talents are not immediately useful, sir.?

?Oh, aye! Like tha? worthless Freyr!? the Captain snarled. ?I mean?? he amended when Bell?s fur began to bristle noticeably. ?Ach! Bell, I dinnae mean fer it t?coom out like-?

?Yes, sir.? She managed civilly, looking resolutely away. The recruits didn?t need to be party to a seasons old argument. ?Your disapproval of my choice of husbands is noted, sir. As always, sir.?

An awkward silence buoyed them along to nightfall when Bell ordered Arendell and Giddy to keep watch and wake her and Silvertail in four hours? time. The young recruits, eager to please after such a tense few hours, sat dutifully on either side of the boat, watching the banks for movement. Bell couldn?t help but shake her head at the enthusiastic creatures. They?d strain their backs sitting that stiffly all night. Nevermind. They?d learn that soon enough. She let herself drift into a light slumber.

= ~ = ~ =

A deep rumbling pulled Bell back to conscious awareness. She opened one eye and glanced up at the night sky. The Dipper?s cup told her she was long past due for a guard switch. Her gaze came down again and her tail twitched irritably when she saw Giddy and Arendell slumped, snoring peacefully in the center of the longboat. She should have known better than to set two new recruits together for a watch. No harm done, though, it seemed.

The dormouse yawned as she scanned the shore. The river had widened considerably during the night, the banks a longbow?s shot away on either side. She could feel the boat skimming along the surface of the water faster than before and the wind had picked up. Bell welcomed the cool breeze, but the strange noise worried her. She shuffled to the bow, trying to get a better look. The moon offered only a quarter of her light, but it was enough in such a desolate setting.

Nothing. There was nothing up ahead.

Nothing? That didn?t seem right. More desert and river perhaps, but not? Her eyes went wide as realization dawned on her.

?Wake up! Everybeast, wake up!? Bell commanded, roughly shaking the creatures nearest to paw and almost knocking Damask into the river. What a ridiculous place to sleep! Had she told him that? Never mind now. Focus.

?Wha?? Leftenant?? Silvertail asked confusedly as the dormouse shoved a paddle into the squirrelmaid?s chest.

?Row backward and toward the north bank,? Bell ordered, all pleasantries abandoned. ?All of you! Row!?

?Miss Bellona?? The minstrel?s voice cut through the panicked shuffling as everybeast moved to obey. ?What?s going on??

?Damask!? A bird. Right! One less thing to worry about. ?Get off the boat, now. Fly somewhere nearby. Just get off!?

She brandished an oar at him unnecessarily in her haste and he took to wing with a frightened trill. The dormouse did not spare the robin another thought. He was safe.

?Rat!? She whirled on Deadtail who was already frantically paddling. Good. He knew how to save his own hide, at least, this ?scout?.

Everybeast worked quickly and efficiently to strike up an organized rhythm until Tracy, an otherwise quiet rabbit, shouted, ?Oh, it?s hopeless to fight a waterfall! I can see the edge!?

?Waterfall!?? Some of the more na?ve creatures cried and looked around in terror.

?Keep rowin? if ye value yer lives!? Sailpaw snarled, but Bell could see, as Tracy did, that they would reach the falls before the bank. There was nothing for it.

?Out! Everybeast out! Get away from the boat!? the dormouse hollered, shoving at the bewildered recruits who were trying to follow both sets of orders. ?We?re going over, sir!?

?Boggin?, tail-thumpin?, frog-legged sons o? harp-!? The roar of the waterfall swallowed the rest of the squirrel?s curse as the longboat tipped up and up and began to turn over.

?Out!? Bell screamed, grabbing the closest beast and dragging him along as she jumped away from the doomed craft. Her terrified gaze caught sight of a pool at the bottom where white rocks shimmered in the moonlight below the roiling surface.

Oh, Fates! Of all the ways to go, why did it have to be the result of her own stupidity?

= ~ = ~ =

?Bells?? he whispered with such tenderness as she nuzzled against his sturdy frame. ?Bells, I think your friend hates me. I?ll show him, though. I?ll show him how much I deserve you.?

?Don?t bother, Freyr,? she murmured back. ?The Captain?d throw himself on his sword before admitting he was wrong about you? Like I was.?

?Mm?I hope he doesn?t turn out feeling like you do for me.? He poked her muzzle and grinned, absolutely ruining the atmosphere. ?That might get awkward.?

?Fates, but you could turn an army with that cheek!? She laughed lightly. Lying with Freyr was never predictable. She had to give him credit there. It was a strategic chaos, an organized impromptu, a contradiction in all terms and for that she loved him. Freyr?s whirlwind was one that did not slice or bite or sting, it carried her on a merry romp and set her back down safely to carry on -- to fight and protect.

?I?d die for you,? she said suddenly, urgently, paws twisting into his coarse fur too tightly. She needed him to know.

?Oh, Bells,? Freyr?s voice became gentle once more as he traced a scar along her arm. ?I would never ask you to die for me. That seems too easy. Live for me. That?s the more difficult path.?

?Aye?maybe,? she muttered, loosening her hold. ?But I have enough to live for already.?


= ~ = ~ =

?Freyr!? Bell gasped, then choked as she inhaled water. After hacking up her lungs and vomiting for good measure, she looked up and around. Crude huts dotted the landscape nearby and in the faint glow of fire and moonlight she could see silhouettes moving about.

Neither young nor green enough to wait for the help to come to her anymore, the dormouse rose with one last painful cough, and turned her back on the little village. Arms. Legs. Neck. Head. Nose. Tail. Dirk. I?m fine. Everything intact and in its proper place still. She needed to check on the others, then.

?Miss Bellona!? Damask fluttered down next to her, his normally jaunty tune replaced by worry. ?Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere? I came as fast as I could! I saw you go over the falls and I tried to find you after, but with all the mist? Is there someth-?

?Just look for the others.? Bell waved away his concerned twittering.

A quick search turned up Tracy and Silvertail?s corpses. Bell did not pause to mourn them, though the robin looked horrified at the thrashing the bodies had taken. She took a moment to pat his wing. Comfort for the living, not the dead.

They found Sailpaw swearing up a storm and tying his bandanna around a gash on Arendell?s arm while the ottermaid did her best to keep a straight face at the blasphemous swill pouring from her Captain?s mouth. Giddy came limping over shortly, looking more dejected than a beast who had just survived a waterfall had any right to. Deadtail was nowhere in sight -- thank the Fates for small favors.

?Leftenant, m?am,? Giddy moaned as he drew close, his over-sized ears drooping with more than just damp and fatigue. ?Riversong an? Tupelo are de?d, m?am.?

?Aye. Tracy and Silver, as well.? She clenched her jaws together tightly, but maintained an outward poise, as she had with Damask. If I?d just stayed up for the first watch?

Best not to dwell on ?could have been?s. These creatures here and now mattered, not the ones in Dark Forest. The dormouse surveyed the area again. A few of the silhouettes from the huts had torches and were moving toward the quintet.

Well, that was a welcome relief. She could tell by the shape of the huts -- simple, but sound -- and what looked like vegetable gardens and an orchard that they were among friends. Bell let herself relax ever so slightly, then regretted it a moment later as their ?friends? came into clear view not twenty paces away.

Seven vermin stood, dumbfounded, staring at the remnants of Martin?s Shadow. The woodlanders, in turn, stared bemusedly at the cousins of the very creatures they?d been running away from.

?Told you I heard something, Captain,? an unimpressive stoat finally squeaked.

?That you did, cully,? a large dogfox replied, scratching his chin.

Silence held for three full seconds. Then Sailpaw ordered, ?Run!? The tattered band scattered before their foes could respond properly.

Bell pitched forward, directly into the vermin throng, drawing her dirk and slashing every which way as she barreled through. Best to draw their attention so that the others could escape?into the desert?without food or water. Less than ideal, but it had to be better than becoming prisoners or slaves.

The only way out to the desert was through the vermin encampment, though, so the dormouse charged forward, head jerking around for signs of friend or foe. She caught sight of Sailpaw helping Giddy along, and marching directly toward them, the biggest ferret Bell had ever laid eyes on.

No more. She stamped her left footpaw into the shifting sand and bounded off to the right to intercept the brute of a mustelid. No more deaths today!

At least not on my side?