Demon Fiends

[Alan]

Scouting out an enemy?s territory is a delicate task.  You have to creep around unfamiliar landscapes that your opponent is very familiar with, looking for hiding places wherein you can watch said enemy enjoy breakfast, lunch, and possibly dinner, while you attempt to deduce, possibly from what he is eating, how his brain works.  You?re also not supposed to be discovered.

?Rabbit, if you get that notebook out one more time I?ll make you eat it!? Alan glared at the girl who timidly tucked her notebook away in her pouch. 

?I was only trying to note information that would help us?? she whispered.

Alan snorted. ?Any scout worth their salt doesn?t have to take notes, you namby pamby little pipsqueak.  They remember, and remember well.?  He turned back to peer through his shield of leaves and brush at the camp.

?Who?re you??

Alan kicked out to the side, catching Rallentando in the leg.  ?Shut up, they?ll hear you!?

She squeaked.  ?I didn?t say anything!?

?Then who?.?  Alan whirled around, sword out and ready for anything.  His body tensed for one of the huge rats to come barreling into him, ripping at him with claws and teeth and?

?Mummy said I mustednt talk to strange beasts.  Are you strange beasts??

Alan looked down.  A water rat child was looking at them with huge eyes, one of its paws stuck firmly in its mouth.  That is, when it wasn?t speaking.

?Ah?  um?  no, not strange at all, very, very, un-strange?  um?? Alan scrabbled for words.  What did you say to children anyway?

?You look strange to me.?  The rat child looked at them accusingly.  ?Are you the demon fiends who stole the sacred lake??

Alan blinked.  ?What??

?And you?re in my clubhouse.  Who said you could be here??

Despite the obvious danger of the situation, Alan could really only think about one thing at a time.  And currently, this was: ?How in ?gates does someone as little as you know about demon fiends??

The rat stamped its paw.  ?I?m not little!  Mummy said that I?m big for my age!  I bet you are demon fiends!  I bet-?

Alan pounced on the disgusting little brat and shoved a pawful of leaves into its mouth, stifling its torrent of words.  Rousseau breathed a sigh of relief.

?I wos gonna kill ?im if you hadn?t done that.?

Rallentando looked appalled.  "Captain Blacktip! For shame!"

Alan held up the wriggling rat.  ?I highly doubt that this is the creature Vulpuz wants.  But what am I supposed to do with it now??

Clutus clacked his beak.  ?I could take care of it for you.?

Alan glared at him.  ?No one is eating anyone,? he snarled, ?not at the moment at least.?  He turned his attention back to the rat, who was kicking its little legs a good few inches above the ground.  ?Besides, this little runt is too stringy to make a good meal.?

Alan had never pegged small beasts as dangerous.  They were little, weak, and in the moment that the rat spat the leaves out and, twisting its head, sank little, wickedly sharp teeth into Alan?s paw, cunning, malicious, and painful to boot.

?You little _______!? said Alan, dropping the rat.  It took to its heels, yelling at the top of its lungs.

?Oh good job Captain,? sneered Clutus.  ?Your obvious charm with children is beyond-?

?_____ ________ _____!? said Alan.

?There?s no need for that kind of language!?

?_____!?

Alan sucked at his bitten paw and gestured wildly at the rest of the beasts.

?Wwwwmmmmghhhffff!?

The rabbit clamped her ears to the side of her head and looked horrified.?

Alan pulled his paw out of his mouth.  ?Why are you all standing here?!  Get thee gone!  The little brat?s alerting everyone!?

Too late he saw the huge rats breaking through the brush, heavy, and let us not lie, very sharp spears held tightly in their paws.  In a moment, they were surrounded.

Alan brandished his sword.  ?I?ll give you this one chance to surrender now, I warn you, the power of Vulpuz is on my side and I?m not afraid to use it!?

The child who caused all the trouble pushed its way through the circle of spears.  ?See!  I told you they were demon fiends!?

?What?s all this??

A new voice cut through the rats.  They parted, and a tall rat dressed in robes and carrying a staff approached Alan.  Although he didn?t seem old, the black fur around his face was streaked with silver.  Alan motioned with his sword.

?Tell your beasts to stand down.?

The rat nodded his head.  ?I?m very well thank you.  What?s your name??

Alan blinked.  ?What??

The rat spread his paws.  ?Forgive me if I seem forward, but if you think about it, you may find its rather absurd for you to make demands.?

Alan stood taller.  ?I?m the head Captain at Kotir.  The rule of my masters gives me the authority to make whatever demands I wish.?

The rat chuckled.  ?And this is why you?re lurking in Mirdros?s playhouse then?  Its hardly brave to threaten children, Captain.?

The rat child, Mirdros, stuck his tongue out at Alan. 

Alan eyed the older rat, thinking.  According to Rousseau, these were definitely the rats who had attacked them the evening before.  But there seemed to be very little guile in this rat.  He paused and lowered his blade, head tilting ever so slightly.

?Forgive my rudeness.  My name is Captain Blacktip and my companions and I are on a routine scouting mission.  We did not wish to rush into hostile territory.  Might I inquire who you are, and who your chieftain is??

The rat eyed them.  ?You are slavers then??   His tone was decidedly cooler than before.

From the corner of his eye Alan could see Chokk?s ruff rising, and he shook his head.  ?No.  Kotir has enough servants for the time being.  We are simply here to take a view of the land for Lord Tirian.?

The ice was not entirely gone from the rat?s voice when he spoke again, but the menace had faded.

?My name is Caractacus, and I speak for all those who call themselves Children of the Water.  I cannot say that beasts from Kotir are welcome here, but as long as you are here for peaceful reasons, you have nothing to fear.?

The circle of spears lowered and retreated a few paces.  Alan breathed a little easier, and licked his lips.  ?You are most kind.?  He paused. ?I do have a question concerning some of your tribe, though, that I can?t imagine will be easy for you to hear.?

Caractaus raised an eyebrow.  ?I hardly think you could startle me Captain.?  He motioned towards the camp, ?but I find it uncomfortable to talk out here in the middle of the forest.  I would like to invite you and one of your companions to join me in a brief repast where we may discuss your question in comfort.  The rest of your party will be seen to by my soldiers.  Do not worry; they will come to no harm.?

Alan motioned at Tobias.  ?You, come with me.?

There was a sudden rush of noise as both Rousseau and Clutus began firing protests with hardly a space between their words.

?He?s nothin? but an architect!?

?You are a fool to overlook someone of my splendor and wisdom!?

?Wot?s the idea of you bein? in full command?!?

?With my knowledge I have the most right to-?

?Shut up!?  Alan snarled, and reaching out, he grabbed Rousseaus collar and dragged her closer to him.  ?You?re a Captain, and its time you began acting like one.  I?m leaving you in charge of these beasts to ensure their safety.  They are now your responsibility.?  His voice was a low growl in her ear.

She spat on the ground.  "Wot makes you think I take orders from you, or that I?ll risk me life fer some puny woodlanders, a drunken fox, an' that overstuffed excuse fer a bird??

Alan lowered his voice even further, so that she had to strain to listen to him.  ?Pretend they?re your children, darling.  Imagine that they?re priceless works of art that you?ve been entrusted with.  I lose no love on woodlanders, but in this case, and in this case only, I?m willing to make an exception.  If only to continue living after this week is over.  Vulpuz commands it.?

He turned away from her and inclined his head towards Tobias.  ?Shall we??

The other mink caught up with him as they followed Caractacus into the village.

"I'm honored you chose me," Tobias whispered, "considering that I thought you were going to kill me."

Alan shrugged.  ?Something more important came up.  And, frankly, if you weren?t an architect, you?d have made an excellent soldier."

They continued to the center of the village where a large fire burned.  Around it were set rough benches.  Caractacus motioned towards them.

?Please, be seated.?

Alan sat to the accompanying stares of every rat in the clearing.  The little rat, Mirdros, plunked himself down beside him and began sucking on his paw again.  Alan wrinkled his nose and leaned away.  Undeterred, the little rat scooted closer.  After all, these were his demon fiends. 

?Now then-?

?Caractacus!?

The three adults looked up to see an old female rat coming towards them.  Her dark fur had faded into a patchy silver, and when she spoke Alan could see the gaps in her mouth from missing teeth.

Caractacus sighed and stood.  ?Seren, how can I help you??

She pointed an accusing claw at Alan and Tobias.  ?Why are these heathens here??

The chieftain closed his eyes.  ?They?re simply visitors, why don?t you make yourself useful and bring us something to drink.?

She spat on the ground.  ?Pah!  They?re not worthy to be even sacrificed!?

?That?s enough Seren.?  His tone brooked no argument.  The rattess glowered at them for a moment more and then, turning on her heel, stalked away.

Caractacus turned back to his guests.  ?I apologize.  Now then, it may be best if we keep this short.  What was your question Captain Blacktip??

?Simply this: a good many seasons ago, was your tribe involved in a war with the Lady Kovari?s wolves??

The chief?s face went blank.  ?There were a great many tribes who fought against our esteemed masters.  Why should our tribe be singled out for questioning??

Alan narrowed his eyes.  ?That?s a yes then??

Caractacus lowered his head to meet Alan?s gaze.  ?That was a dark time in our history, and it is not something I wish to discuss.?

?Chief, I have been kind.  I have not brought a party of armed soldiers to threaten, as I said before, this is merely a scouting party.  We are not here to-?

His speech was interrupted by a gut wrenching scream.  Alan leapt to his feet, sword in paw. 

?What the-?

?That was the rabbit!? shouted Tobias.

The next instant he and Alan were running back to where they had left Rousseau with the rest.  Alan skidded to a stop when he came to the scene.  Rousseau stood with a bloody sword in her hand.  At her feet was a rat, obviously dead, its body mangled and bloody.  Behind her, Rallentando was sobbing into Chokk?s ample girth.

?What happened??  Alan demanded.

It wos an accident.?

?What happened?!?

?It?  I thought?  It had a weapon!?

?Murderers!?

The screech of rage brought with it the sound of running beasts. 

?Well you?ve done it now Captain!? Alan glared at Rousseau.  ?I do hope you?re happy now.?  He looked around.  There were big rats coming, and aside from Tobias?s sword, which wasn?t the best of defenses even on a good day, there was really only him and Rousseau to defend the group.  The rats were getting closer.

?Everyone retreat!? he commanded.  ?Right now!?

Rallentando looked up with bloodshot eyes.  ?B-but she killed...?

Alan slapped her and then, picking her up, shoved her towards the forest.  ?I said RUN.  Rexim, go with her!?

The beaver looked around.  ?My lodge isn?t too far from here, we can hide there.?

?Lead them there now then!? Alan turned and grabbed Rousseau?s shoulder, twisting her around to where she was facing away from him.  Then moving quickly, he braced his back against hers.  ?You?ll have to help me hold them off.? 

He blocked a spear thrust and slashed into the rat?s stomach.  It screamed and scratched at his face, lunging forward to bite deep into his arm, claws ripping into his skin.

Alan pushed at Rousseau who was holding her own against another spear wielding rat. 

?That doesn?t mean stop retreating!? he yelled.  ?When I say run, run!?

They moved slowly, further back into the trees, only just keeping the rats at bay.

?Get ready!?  Alan said.  He could no longer see Chokk or the others, but the beaver?s heavy tail left a visible trail on the ground.

Just before he turned he saw the rat that had so obviously been dead by Rousseau?s blade stand and look at them.  His face and body was covered in scars, and his limbs were as torn up as Rexims.  For an instant his eyes met Alan?s and he grinned.

?Run!? shouted Alan.

As he and Rousseau headed for the deeper forest, following Chokk?s trail, he heard another scream in the distance.

?That was the rabbit!? panted Rousseau.

?Then it?s her own blasted fault for getting caught,? Alan snapped.  ?Now move!?