Now I Feel Like I'm The Flower...

[Revel]

Revel twisted her paw around inside her cheek. Apart from the two she had dug out and spat into the washbasin, the rest of her teeth seemed lodged in fairly well. She dried her paw on her skirt and studied her face in the pinkish water.

"Bruises aren't pretty," she said, pouting. "Why can't I get scars? He likes scars."

Zhipzi chittered. Once more, the weasel was working on Revel's dress top, repairing the rend that Nivard had made.

"Scars ihn pretty-prets," she said. "Rivvil dress pretty! Rivvil fur pretty! Chafvik? Frbblt!" The noise Zhipzi made by blowing into her paw pad set both females giggling anew.

Revel smoothed her paws down her bare sides and front, wincing a little as she pressed on her chest, where the white fur only barely covered up the purple skin. She rubbed at the back of her neck, which still stung somewhat, although scabs were beginning to form.

Not all was wrong with her new look. It was simply glorious, being skinny again! Well, somewhat skinny. Her figure had never been great to begin with, and she would never be as thin as Eliza or Zhipzi, but to have no weight on her back, to have nothing blocking her view of her own footpaws! Wouldn't Venril be pleased, if he saw her properly, with her dress?

The stoat sighed then. The trade-off for not being bloated was not altogether a pleasant one. Her kits had seen fit to slobber all over her front, and now there were these... things poking out of her fur. They'd always been there before, of course. Just not quite like this...

The kits were sleeping yet again. They did not seem to do much else, except eat. And squeal, and writhe, and be very, very pink. They were like fat little mini-Revel worms.

She liked them like this.

"Finish!" Zhipzi cried.

Weasel and stoat danced triumphantly around the hut, swirling their dresses around - Zhipzi had taken her late Vakka-shin's meager clothes and added them onto her own ensemble. Revel jokingly threw on Keane's coat, and darted around, letting the tails flap about behind her. They collapsed in a heap on top of each-other, giggling and snickering madly at all their fashion antics, and Zhipzi belched magnificently.

"Sun," the weasel sighed happily, rolling over into the sunbeam coming through the door. "Big fire is nice warm."

"'m gonna take you 'ome with me," Revel said. "An' show you th'forests an' cornfields an' rivers. Real grass!"

"Where is Rivvil home?"

Revel sat up, frowning.

"Chivvers, I don' know. Far away from 'ere. Across a big lake, I think. An' there was this place called a town that was very nice with big cottages, an' grog. But 's not a forest. I wanna live in th'forest, in a cave under a tree, where woodlanders can't find it. Th'sun would shine into it in th'mornin', an' at evenin' there'd be a nice big shadow so you almost can't find it again. An' I'd find somebeast nice, like Venril. He protects me an' he'd kill woodlanders for me an' th'kits."

"Ihn Nivard?"

Revel's face darkened. "I don't like Nivard."

"Join th'club," a searat scowled, stepping into the sunlight that Zhipzi dozed in. A second, ferret-shaped shadow loomed. The rat kicked out at the weasel, though she rolled away in time. "But first, get up an' get out o' here. We're takin' this hut down now."

"No!" Revel said, standing up. The shovel appeared in her paws, swinging at the searat's face. His companion stepped in just in time, catching the haft just below the blade, and yanked it from Revel's paws. He threw it aside with a grunt.

"None of that now," he said, his voice wheezing somewhat. The ferret unloosed a length of chain from his belt. "Don't think we've forgotten about ye, stoat. Ye belong on the slave line! Pah! What's left of it... Which I guess would be just ye two, hah! Haah, gak!"

He spat blood onto the wall and coughed once or twice more before straightening up and nodding to his companion.

The searat grabbed Zhipzi, spinning her around to face him, and the ferret came up from behind, hooking the chain over the weasel's throat and tightening it. Zhipzi's protests were cut off along with her ability to breathe.

There was nothing Revel could do. The rat had drawn his rapier, and the rest of the tools had been moved outside the hut to make more room. All she had was her knife, which was not going to help against the range of a rapier. Zhipzi was on her own. Revel had to protect her own interests.

Scooping up one of the kits, she held it firmly in her jaws. One in one paw, one in the other - that left two. She would have to leave them - no! She would bring them all away to safety. Little Rath, and Sullen (it was a nice name, even if a woodlander's before), and Pinky, and Yikker-Vivkichip, and Zubble; the last two of which Zhipzi had named. She would save them all. But... how?

Revel found herself doing what came naturally. Sneaking into mole tunnels and swiping sweet buns had trained her well in the art of emptying her paws in order to grab more. Keane's coat was rife with pockets; nice big ones, and soft inside, if a little odd-smelling. Revel found she could fit two kits each in the uppermost pockets on either side. Remembering how violently the coat swished, she decided not to put the fifth in any of the lower pockets, instead letting it fall gently out of her mouth into her paws.

The rat just stood there, letting her gather them. In this, at least, he seemed understanding.

"Nuh-uh," he said, as she moved to pick up her knife from the washbasin. "No trouble, stoat. Just get yer whelp an' come out. We'll play nice if'n ye do."

Revel eyed Zhipzi. The weasel was standing on tip-paws, clutching at the chain around her neck. The ferret was holding her tight, but now allowing her to breath; her eyes were no longer trying to pop out of her head.

"Rivvilrun?" she wheezed.

Revel shook her head. Being a slave hadn't been so bad. She hadn't had to fight any, and it had been peaceful for the most part. Really, the worst of it had been being locked up alone with Eliza when Rath was off-duty. And the horrid food. And being sent to sit in a ditch. And the horrid food.

"Where are you takin' us?"

"Dunno. Dun care. Throw ye in a ditch, or send ye to th'coast to work on the ship. Cap'n Matty'll decide, or - no, 'e's gone. Nivard'll decide, if we can find 'im. Or Kirby. He's as good a leader as any..."

The ferret began marching Zhipzi off. The rat prodded Revel ahead of him. Clutching what she presumed was little Zubble to her chest, she turned about and snarled.

"I'll walk - keep your sword away or I'll bite your face off!"

It was strange, the feeling of her kits in the coat pockets. They squirmed about, grunting as they searched for their meal; so close, and yet impossible to get to. Every once in a while, she could have sworn she heard one sneeze.

"Oi, see that?" the ferret said, pointing to a lump of sand just barely hidden by the amaranth. "Kinda looks like somebeast's... hhk! Head."

They stopped as the searat began to poke about the tall grass with his rapier. There was indeed something firm, for the most part. Judging by the way the sandy thing squelched, parts of it were not so firm at all.

Revel caught sight of something wooden in the sand a little ways off. It looked not unlike the handle of something...

"Great Gabool's beard, it's Nivard!" the rat cried. Revel would have laughed at the news, if she hadn't stuffed her kit back in her mouth in order to pull Birch's hammer out of the sand.

Unwilling to let go of his captive and unable to push them both aside in time, the ferret could only try to swing his head out of the way as the hammer flew towards his face. Revel's aim wasn't good at all, but the ferret hadn't had time to realize this. In trying to dodge, he had instead put himself in the path of the weapon. His nose caved in with a sickening crunch.

Zhipzi yanked the chain out of his paws and fetched the hammer, striking out with both of them at the still-horrified searat. He went down with a scream, tripping over Nivard's intestines in his attempt to back away.

The weaselmaid stopped, staring wide-eyed at what she'd just done. She dropped the chain and hammer, and turned to Revel.

"Rivvil run now?" she pleaded.

"Mmff," Revel agreed, pausing only to grab Birch's hammer again. It was small enough to be a good weapon without being too ungainly and dangerous to carry while moving quickly with her load. She tucked it into her belt, though it made it feel like her skirt was going to slip off.

The rat and ferret were laid out for the time being, and the two females kept their pace steady. Zhipzi's plan was to head back to the caves, and Revel found herself agreeing. The food was serviceable, and if it was safe enough for Zhipzi to raise her litter, it was safe enough for Revel's. The problem was sneaking around the vermin and woodlander camps, making their way around the edge of the oasis waters, and actually getting into the caves. From there, it was just a matter of finding the right route up to the Picture Mountain, and Zhipzi could lead from there.

It was an hour or two past sunset that they found their chance to slip through behind the roaring falls. Revel kept Zubble safely in her jaws, so as to use both paws for feeling the jagged walls in the darkness.

At one point, Revel could have sworn she heard Baez's voice. Zhipzi tugged her on further, whispering the events of the past two days. That cave was not where they wanted to go, being filled with more outsider vermin, many of whom were sick. They went further, although Zhipzi stole a torch to help guide the way.

They had not yet reached Picture Mountain, however, before they came across another group of beasts. Unlike most of the Fritterik, who did their best to maintain some semblance of decency, these were all stark naked but for their fur. A few bigger ones had crummy spears and strange patterns painted into their fur.

Revel popped her kit out of her mouth and said, "Hallo?"

A tiny fox, no doubt little more than a kit himself, scampered towards her, so quick that if Revel blinked, she would have missed him. He grabbed onto her arm and hauled himself up, jaws snapping at Zubble, missing by mere whisker-breadths. The sheer ferocity and speed of the attack baffled Revel into inaction. She could only stand there for the moment, and glance with mild surprise down at her pint-sized molester.

Zhipzi was a little more on the ball. Screaming "Pratcha chafa!", the weasel took a running leap and jammed the fiery end of the torch into the fox's face. This sent the rest of the group into a frenzy.

Revel went down, two ferrets circling around and tackling her from behind, forcing her to all fours. Zhipzi darted beneath her, snatching Zubble away.

"Rivvil! Screchrrl Mivik! Run!"

Strong fangs indeed - Revel felt them all over, biting into her tail and legs and arms, even her neck again. She could barely breathe through the pain, and there was no way to see where Zhipzi had gone. Everything was a mess of fur and muscles and teeth. All she could do was sweep the coat pockets beneath her, protecting the contents with her body, and do her best not to lose strength and collapse on them herself.

Zhipzi paused briefly to look back. The weasel's eyes twinkled in the dying torchlight as she lifted the stoat kit to her mouth and kissed its head softly, before vanishing into the blackness.

* * * * * *

Revel awoke aching. She tried to move her paws - rusty chains clacked. She was bound, forepaws behind her back, footpaws and tail tied all three together.

But she was laying on Keane's coat, which was spread out beneath her like a picnic blanket, and her dress top rippled to the sound of contented snorts. She could feel four of them. One was missing.

"Aw, there, there. No need to cry. You're safe, aren't you? Mm?"

It was hard to get a good picture of the chamber she was in, though it seemed well lit. Craning her neck around, she could see a pine marten - definitely a pine marten - lounging on a throne carved from rock. Pelts cushioned every inch of it, and more of them made up the marten's tunic.

"L...Eliza?" Revel asked hopefully.

"Oh? Is that your name? How charming. Mine is Adriak. And I'll tell you now - I'm a right li'l son of a mother." The pine marten grinned.

Revel could see it. She could see what Venril had talked about. He was handsome, from his perfectly pointy snout, to his cream-yellow bib, his bright brown eyes, his perked ears, his long, fluffy tail wrapped about his shoulders - everything about him was the perfect shade, the perfect shape. He was adorable, and wonderful, and that grin... She could feel her soul melt.

Pine martens were beautiful.

But wicky-chivvers, did he stink!

Adriak had stood up, and came over to her, bending down in front of her to stroke the back of her head. She wrinkled her nose.

And his tunic - it wasn't like Nivard's kilt. It wasn't made of woodlander pelts. She could quite clearly see a ferret's face mask, complete with the eyes and mouth stitched shut, across his right shoulder.

"You poor thing... it must be hard, being a mother in this place. So terribly hard. Especially when I can just reach out..." He touched one of the wriggling lumps beneath her dress. "And squeeze... and you can't do a thing to stop me."

Revel bit him. Her teeth sunk into his arm, drawing blood. Adriak simply reached over with his other paw and pried her jaws apart. He looked about as annoyed as if she had tread mud all over a carpet.

"Bad stoat. Bad Eliza. Bad." He smiled at her again and stepped back, patting at his bleeding arm. "I'll have you know, I would never harm a kit. I love kits! I've raised a few of my own. In fact, I'd like to help raise yours. Anything they need, I will provide. Food, warmth, education. How does that sound?"

Revel spat at his face.

"Funny, isn't it, that the little Fritterik are more civilized than you've been so far? Ask them for their offspring and it's, 'Yikyikyik, lotsa food, here, take them all!' So tamable! Not you, though, my pretty little piebald menace. Tell me - is winter coming or going? Nevermind, I'll just - "

"Ow!"

"That got a word out of you, eh, Eliza?" Adriak chuckled and sifted through the clump of fur in his paw. "Looks like you're shedding brown. That's nice. I could use a new coat. Oh, don't give me that look! No, I'm not going to kill you, Eliza. That would just be brutish, wouldn't it? And then I'd have to deal with finding somebeast to feed these ugly spawn of yours... You're quite safe with me, my dear! Quite safe. A few more weeks, I think? Always wanted an ermine vest..."

A vixen strode into view, herself wearing a fine display of hides.

"Adriak. There's more - " She paused upon seeing Revel, then looked back at the marten. "More outsiders."

"Deal with them, then, love," Adriak said, skulking back to his throne. "I'm busy with my new friend. She's quite the conversationalist. Aren't you, Eliza?"

"You smell 'orrid," Revel moaned, burying her nose into her chest.

"You're one to talk... Oh, fine." Adriak whirled about and tugged the vixen into his arms, with all the grace and style of a prince catching a falling princess. "Well? More outsiders? What shall we do with them, love?"

"Kill them?" she suggested. The pine marten grinned. They kissed, briefly.

"I love the way you think! Oh." He spun about to face Revel, drawing something out of his belt to show her. "By the way. I like your hammer. I think I'll use it to break the skulls of whoever's coming to save you!"

"You're such a charmer," the vixen murmured, as they left the chamber.

Revel curled up and began to clean her kits as best as she could get her muzzle down her dress top.