I Trusted You

[Chokk]

Chokk?s eyes flickered open. Bright tongues of flame waved and danced around him. The metallic tang of blood swirled in his mouth. He could hear screams and shouts, panic was everywhere. His legs would not move and his head spun. He used all his strength to lift a paw to his forehead. It felt sticky and wet, throbbing unmercifully.

Slavers from Kotir! They had found his secret family dwelling and attacked while they slept. He must help! They would take his family away if he did not fight them! But he could not move. The beaver struggled to gain control of his injured body as darkness threatened to envelop him. As he fought for consciousness the hissing of flames lapped by river water met his ears. All sounds of chaos had receded. They had his family. A sob of anguish escaped his lips as he looked across the river. His fading sight could make out a hedgehog nodding to the slavers as they carried Chokk?s family away.

?I trusted you.? The words fumbled from his mouth. ?You were supposed to lead them away. How could you reveal our home to them??

He had been betrayed!

Chokk?s footpaws crunched through the river sand he loved so well. He would have liked nothing better than to slip into the cool, flowing water of the river. To let the pull of the currents wash over him and take away his hurt and frustration. But that was not to be. The beaver glanced behind him as he walked. A little over twenty woodlanders followed in his wake. Their many footpaws churned up the smooth surface of the sand. His brow furrowed in frustration as he spoke to a young otter walking nearby.

?If you lot make any more noise we?ll be waking the wolf lord from his slumber before we get thirty more paces.?

?S-sorry mister, Wulgar sir?? The otter turned to speak to those behind him.

?Mister Wulgar says that you lot should-?

Chokk cut into the otter?s words. ?Now don?t go jaw waggin? my comments to the whole group. Just try to pick yer footpaws up and the others will catch on.?

Although he was angry, the beaver tried his hardest not to take it out on the good honest creatures around him. His situation was not their fault. It was the fault of only one, a beast that would never betray another again!

The beaver had followed the hedgehog?s trail. It was easy enough to follow with broken plant stems leading to the river?s edge.

?The river hides nothing from me Twinepin; don?t worry I?ll find you,? Chokk muttered as he followed his enemy.

The hedgehog Twinepin sold him out. Everybeast knew the slavers of Kotir were after the beavers. What better creatures for work? Chokk?s kind were strong, resilient, and skilled in building all traits that made a very useful slave. Chokk had set up lines of defense to protect his family and the other families in his territory. All river dwellers took their shifts on guard duty. The beaver had made sure of these defenses after the first beasts had been taken as slaves. Twinepin had struck a deal with the slavers to spare his family if he revealed the location of the beaver?s den.

Twinepin would never be able to strike a deal again. Chokk and his river made sure of that.

There was always the hope that he would fine his family in Kotir. At times it felt as though this hope was the last shred he had to cling onto. If only he could find his family and return with them to the river. Life had been simple before the time of Kotir. Working, swimming, eating, laughing, all the good times he remembered with those he cared for. He longed for those times. For the chance to shed who he had become. He was hard, angry, and vengeful now. These feelings were new to him and fit like a tight pair of boots.

It was planned that once they reached Kotir, the side gate would be quietly opened for them. This had been arranged through a chance encounter with a flightless owl a few days back. Normally Chokk would not have believed the bird, but they needed a quiet way in. The beaver was slightly surprised and very relieved when the side gate was found un-barred with no sentries.

?Never thought I?d see the day when I?d side myself with a flesh eater.? The beaver whistled between his teeth as the woodlanders slipped inside the fortress.

The grounds were lit by guttering torches and the slave compound was easy enough to spot. Woodlander slaves could be seen peering out of their confines at the new arrivals. Other woodlanders could be seen scuttling about to carry out various tasks.  

?Who would have thought we?d have to sneak into the slave compound?? The young otter giggled quietly.

Chokk shushed him quickly but the noise carried over the grounds. A stoat carrying an officer?s spear began to walk towards the group. The beaver quickly pulled the large hood of his cloak tightly around his face.

?Hey! You there! Whot in the name o? fur n? fire are you lot doin? out er? eh?? The guard demanded.

The beaver?s mind raced as he stepped forward.

?Whot am I doin? out er? Carrin? out orders a?course!?

The stoat?s temper was roused and he stepped closer to Chokk. ?And who?s orders might that be??

?Whot difference does it make who?s orders? Orders is orders. We just carry them out right??

The stoat nodded, a small smile cracking his features. ?Right you are mate. Let?s get those slaves away eh??

?Aye, away they go. But I won?t need yer ?elp with this lot. Real docile they are. Just let me borrow yer key ring for a tick and I?ll lock em? up for you.?

The woodlanders entered the compound and settled down amongst the slaves. Chokk returned the keys and slipped back inside the compound before shutting the gate tight. Now they would wait.
_______

?Alright me bold beauties! Up off yer hunkers and move yerselves to the dining chambers! Who ever heard of inviting slaves to a feast??

The stoat guard waited for those in the compound to assemble themselves. Chokk?s heart began to pound as he tucked his sling and stones further under his garment.  He would fight to rid Mossflower of Kotir. They would steal no more woodlanders. Though he had not been able to locate his family, the beaver still hoped their attack would clear a way for all the slaves to escape.

As they left the compound and entered the stronghold, Chokk spoke out of the side of his mouth to a rabbit that had fallen into step beside him. Rallentando was young and impish. Though she was not a fighter Ralle had proved herself a useful aid to Chokk's forces. Chokk had first spotted her while making his service rounds inside Kotir a few days earlier. After telling her of the plan the rabbit had done all she could to convey news of the attack to woodland slaves and others who would aid them inside Kotir.
?Are you ready Rallentando? Have the others been notified??

?Yes sir, Mr. Wulgar. Ready as they?ll ever be. Some are willing to fight with you, but others are too afraid. We're taking Poppa to hide, if that will not interfere with your plans. I'm not sure about some of the woodlanders though. Quite a few seem to prefer life here to life in the woodlands.?

?Why on earth?? Chokk balked at the thought. To be stuck behind walls, serving a pack of wolves sounded like a death sentence to the beaver. He could not understand why anybeast would choose the ugliness of Kotir?s walls to the vastness of Mossflower.

Rallentando shrugged. "Couldn't say, Mr. Wulgar, sir. Harsh winter's to be expected, my Momma says. The beds here aren't bad and it's fair likely to be safer here in a storm."
Chokk raised his eyebrows still unable to comprehend the way of thinking Rallentando was describing.

Soon they were seated at long trestle tables in the dining chambers. Chokk pulled his hood tighter to keep his features from showing. His eyes roamed the chamber. Many from Kotir were present with the drinking and feasting already underway. Foxes, rats, stoats, weasels, minks, and of course wolves lounged at the long tables. Some roared out drunkenly while others leaned in close for close conversation.  As they were seated, Chokk noticed a contingent of guards surrounding the slave tables. It was a precaution. Who could trust that many slaves together at one time?

Food was served with the beaver and the others nibbling and sampling drinks. The right time was almost upon them. Chokk was waiting for the wine and other heavy drinks to set in before the attack. They were well outnumbered and he hoped alcohol would thin out the vermin a bit.

It was then that the owl sauntered by. He strode up to Chokk and spoke loudly enough for even the guards to hear.

?Now is the time,?

It was Clutus, the one with whom he had struck a deal.

Chokk had never liked owls or other raptor birds. They ate meat and the beaver knew they would not shy from preying on woodlanders. The beaver loaded his sling and twirled it as the barn owl stood still and blinked.

?What do you want with me bird?? Chokk?s words were grating.

?Only to offer you assistance I?m sure!? The owl bobbed his head as he spoke.

?Why would you want to help those you hunt??

The owl motioned over his shoulder towards Kotir. ?They took my wings from me.? He spread his wings, showing them to be pinioned and un-usable. ?I would help you if it leads to revenge!?

The beaver felt for his sling and stones. He could see the other woodlanders preparing themselves for battle. After loading his sling Chokk prepared to stand. He never got the chance. All around him guards were closing in. The woodlanders had no time to defend themselves. The surprise attack on the vermin of Kotir had turned into an attack on the woodlanders! Chokk could only watch in shocked horror as the young otter he had entered Kotir with fell to a spear thrust.

?I trusted you.? Chokk grated as he turned to fight whichever guard was unlucky enough to be behind him. A million stars burst in his head as a spear crashed down between his ears. Warmth seeped over his side as a long sword took him between the ribs. The attack had failed and he would not live to tell the tale.

He had been betrayed!