Now or Never (Tassle Riverswift)

[Substitute Author]

The tunnels were filled with running and screaming, the mingling of a roar of rage and frightened voices lifted in terror. The slaves ran straight into the slavers, whirled by them in a flurry of confusion, and kept right on running. Within moment, the slavers were running after them.

The image of the monster loomed in Tassle's mind as she staggered down the dark passageway, trying to see through the blood streaming down her face. The sight had scared her more than anything she'd seen before. She just wanted to run and keep running until there was no chance of it ever catching her.
But she couldn't. She was weak from exhaustion, blood loss, and hunger. The fear flooding her veins only gave her so much energy, and soon her paws began to slow. Gasping for breath, she finally stopped and leaned against the side of the tunnel. No farther.

When the blood stopped pounding in her ears, Tassle could hear the other sounds of labored breathing. Panicking again, the shrew forced her eyes opened and stared around her.

They were all there, just as out of breath as her, leaning against the walls and gasping for air. Brooga, Kelsey, Roger. Even- Tassle had to look again, probably a first for somebeast as big as a badger- Ulrick.

She began trembling, but this time it was with relief and happiness. To her shame, she found herself blinking back tears. "You came back for me," she whispered. "You found me and set me free."

Brooga's dirt-smeared face wrinkled into a wide smile. "Of course we did. 'Ee our friend, burr aye."

Tassle smiled and looked at Ulrick through teary eyes. He was covered with blood. She remembered seeing him fighting briefly with the monster before they had fled. He had helped save her! She knew it!

Impulsively the shrew dashed forward, grabbing up Brooga, the other slaves, and as much of Ulrick as she could grab into a hug. "Thank you!"
For a moment they just stood there together, and then Ulrick gave a low cough.
"We lost the... thing," the badger said. "The monster." He looked almost embarassed, and Tassle hid a smile as she backed up. "I would assume that's the Big Evil. But we're not going to be safe here for very long."
"Th' ratters wurr helpin' it!" Brooga said, eyes flashing. "Hurr, rotten creeturrs."
"Yes." Tassle shivered a little as she remembered the cords cutting into her arms and the post digging splinters into her back. The glowing eyes coming out of the dark and the maniacal chanting... She shook her head. "I think they might have their own problems," she said grimly. "If their pet monster doesn't get his fill of us. But that's not our problem now." She took a deep breath, then paused, looking around her.
"Where's Cricket?"
There was a low growl from Ulrick, which Tassle ignored.

"Oi think Oi saw hurr roonin' off with the poirates when we passed 'em," Brooga said, sounding compassionate. Tassle didn't say anything.
She and Cricket had been in that situation together. Tassle had realized in that last instant that she didn't want the rat to die. And now she still felt that way, like she wanted to protect her. The poor kit...

The disturbing sensation was pushed from her mind as a more important memory took its place. Slavers.
"Slavers!"
Now she remembered. A face full of pointed teeth as they rushed past. Ashira. Strangely, the shrew didn't feel the same rush of hatred and fear as she usually did when thinking of the ferret. Perhaps she was too exhausted. Or maybe she was just so happy to be alive!

"Yes." Tassle's brow furrowed. "Well, we probably have them to thank for getting away, anyway. The monster- whatever it was- could have gotten to them easier than us."

"Maybe it ate one of them," Roger offered hopefully. Tassle almost grinned.
"Well, if they're alive..." The shrew blew out a breath, irritated at the admission she was making. "They're in a lot better position than us. We don't have any food or weapons, and there's a big toothy monster out there who might try to eat us." She clapped her paws together and this time did smile. "But we're alive!"

Yes, she was definitely tired, and feeling a little dizzy now that the immediate danger was gone. She felt exhausted, but good!

Everybeast was looking at her a bit strange, so with some effort she stopped smiling.
"Burr, aye, but what shudd we do?"

"Well..." This was going to sound crazy. Tassle took a deep breath. "I think we should join them. They need as much help against that thing as they can get. We'll have to be careful- really careful- but I think this is our best chance." She winced a little as she looked at them, really hoping she wasn't doing something stupid. "But it's up to you," she said softly. "What do you think?"

Slowly, all of them except Ulrick nodded. They turned as one to look at the big badger. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded as well. Tassle hesitated at the gleam in his eye. Cricket was with the slavers, and the badger still held a grudge. But they would just have to hope for the best.
"Good," the shrew said with relief. "Because my plan wouldn't work very well without you!"

The plan wasn't much, really, and she laid it out before them pretty quickly. It seemed easier to talk to them than it had before, somehow. They had nothing to lose anymore- and they were friends.

Tassle took a deep breath. "Well," she said, with more boldness than she felt. "We aren't going to accomplish anything down here. We've more chance to find them above ground. And it's safer."

"Oi'll be 'arpy jus to bee rid of 'ee tunnels."

A few wrong turns and dead end passages later, Tassle felt a fresh clean breeze blowing on her face. Breathing deeply, she stumbled out into the old cellar. Above, a square of sunlight shone through the trapdoor. It felt wonderful.
"Well, we're out," she said softly. No more darkness. No more foul smelling passages. And- oh please- no more monsters.

Roger, following after her, suddenly stiffened. "Voices!" he hissed, twitching. "I hear voices."

There was an uncertain murmur from the slaves and they all turned to look at the open trapdoor. Then Tassle shrugged.

"Now or never," she said simply, and started up the steps.

The voices became apparent to them all as they crept quietly upward. A slight chill swept over her as she heard the smooth tones of Ashira's voice. Then she lifted her chin, took a deep breath, and stepped upward out of the trapdoor.
If her eyes, accustomed to the darkness of the tunnels, had thought the light through the trapdoor was bright, it was nothing compared to this. Wincing and shielding her eyes from the flood of brilliant sunlight, she stumbled up into the open air.

The voices stopped a little abruptly as the shrew rubbed at her eyes, then blinked furiously. In her spotted vision, she saw the group gathered around, staring at them. Vermin. Their former captors.

Tassle took a deep, bracing, breath and felt the reassuring presence of her friends crowding in behind her.

"Hello." Her voice was surprisingly calm for the situation. Tassle even felt brave enough to offer a little smile. "We meet again."
A few of the crew moved towards them, as the shrew added hastily. "Don't try to recapture us. We're really not in the mood, so try not to be stupid. It would be much more trouble than it's worth. And you need us."

"We need you?" Ashira said with a cold smile. Tassle met her eyes evenly.
"We've got some sort of giant monster, and his dirty little minions, trying to kill us. I don't think they particularly care which ones of us they get. So here's my proposition; we join our strength to yours, and you agree to work with us and not try to recapture us."
"You?" one of the vermin burst out, glaring. "Dirty little slaves?"
"We're not slaves anymore."
Ulrick's low growl cut through the murmur, and Tassle could almost see attitudes adjusting as they looked up at the big badger.

The weasel she remembered as Silus smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Deal, then."
There was a moment of hesitation as several of the remaining slavers turned and looked at Ashira. The ferret shrugged.

"Join if you wish."