Each Day Has Enough Trouble of its Own

[Chokk]

Wakefulness hit him like a lightning bolt. The beaver?s body jumped with shock as he instinctively reached a paw to his side. He strained against whatever was keeping his paw from reaching his wounded side. The spear had gone in deep. He could still feel it searing through skin and flesh, seeking to steal his life away. The spear thrust had helped to quicken the effects of a shattered skull. He was dead! Why was he breathing? Why could he feel cool air against his fur? Why could he not move his blasted paws?

?Wakey wakey Mr. Beaver.? A Kotir guard sniggered as he prodded Chokk with a spear point.

?Get that away from me you-? His words were cut off as a gag was bound tightly around his mouth. He tried to bite it through with over sized teeth but the material was too thick for him to close his jaws around. Chokk fought in vain against the rope binding on his paws. What was happening? It was all over, he had lost the battle. He had given all he could in revenge for his slain family, for the freedom of his woodlands. Was he to be kept bound up even in death? Again his heart longed for the river. The sweet water playing over the rocks, pools eddying and flowing, droplets trickling through the dam he had built.

The beaver?s expression tightened. He grimaced and tried to bite at the guards that held him. Looking to the side he noticed Rallentando, the rabbit who had spied on his behalf. What was she doing here? Chokk had made sure she would not be part of the battle. She should be hiding somewhere, safe and out of the way. He watched as a vermin solider kicked Ralle hard in the stomach. The young creature doubled over as the impact drove the air from her body. Chokk felt his blood rise at the sight of the young rabbit's tear stained face. The beaver lunged forward at a guard with a growl issuing from deep in his chest. The guard jumped back and drove his spear butt hard into Chokk's stomach. The beaver reeled back, gasping for breath around the gag.

?This one?s got a bite to im? Sergeant! Whot should we do with im???

Airya came close to Chokk, just out of range of any advance he might make. She narrowed her eyes and glared at Chokk. ?Don?t fight it beaver. You got yourself into this. Imagine sneaking into Kotir? Ha! You must be crazy!?

Crazy? Was he crazy? How had he come back here to the slave holding area? The spear thrust had been real, he could still feel his life blood trickling out. Yet here he was with a Kotir Sergeant lecturing him. Then he saw them. Charcoal creatures, two males. Zanzer and Vulpuz! Leering in the darkness at the back of his mind. He had never seen them before not in pictures, not in dreams, yet there they were. Ember eyes bore into his own as he began to remember...
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?Beaver!? Chokk grimaced and picked up his tray. For now he had decided to go along with orders. The fox cook stood in the doorway waiting for Chokk and Rallentando to take food and drink to Alan?s chambers.

?Get those trays and come with me. Captain Blacktip is waiting.? With that the fox turned and began to limp off down the corridor.

Luka the Limper was what Rallentando had called him. The fox walked in front of the rabbit and beaver as they made their way to Captain Blacktip?s chambers. Chokk?s fur bristled as he tried to calm himself. He had been asked, by the Lord of the Underworld no less, not only to associate with vermin but to help save their thrice blasted fortress. There was still a chance it was not so. Perhaps it had all been a dream. Chokk fervently wished it was a dream. He would wait until he saw the others who had been there with Vulpuz. All told he remembered Captain Blacktip, the owl Clutus, the fox cook, the rat Captain Rousseau, a mink, the fox builder, and of course the rabbit Rallentando.

?I would have rather been sent to Hellgates. He should have just killed me a second time.? Chokk muttered the words to the rabbit as she carried a tea plate beside him.

?Mr Wulgar! I don?t know what you?re talking about but I?d watch what you say, you never know who  might be listening.? Her words came softly as the rabbit?s eyes darted furtively.  The beaver wondered if Ralle knew what was going on. He remembered seeing her when Vulpuz had given them the time reversal. Still he had not spoken to her of the event. Perhaps none of it was true and he did not want to take the chance of telling the rabbit in case she did not understand. Perhaps they were just taking lunch trays to the vermin captain. Perhaps nothing had happened and he was a Kotir slave now. But deep inside he knew that was not the case.

?This is Captain Blacktip?s personal chambers. Now I feel I must advise you woodlanders to be on your best-?

Chokk snarled at the Limper and pressed roughly past him into the room. The beaver picked up on snatches of conversation as they entered.  He caught the words ?Vulpuz? and ?a mission? right away. Before long he knew without a doubt that they had experienced the same thing he had! It was true! Anger boiled up in the beaver once more. How could he be asked to save Kotir? The thought made him feel physically sick!

"Oh, Mister Wulgar it's a shame you won't live to see Redwall. It's just the sort of place you peace-loving, plant-munching types adore. And if Kotir is destroyed now, you lot will never get the chance to fawn over it. You can be selfish if you'd like, though. By all means, let all those untimely deaths happen, as long as your family is safe."

The coal furred deity?s words burned through him and he swallowed sharply. He had to do this even if it went against everything he stood for. He would associate with these vermin to save Kotir if only for the hope of a free and good place Vulpuz had called ?Redwall?. A place where woodlanders could live in peace and plenty, where his family could have lived in safety. Yes, that was worth all he would have to do.

Chokk swung his heavy tail to the floor. It hit with a resounded smack that echoed about the room. ?Quiet!? All eyes turned to the beaver. He whistled through his teeth and twitched his whiskers. ?I think we all know why we are here. We have been chosen to perform a task. Does anybeast have suggestions for how to go about this??

?Yes.?  Alan said shortly.  ?But if you think I?m going to be nice about it-?

In response Chokk whacked his tail down on the ground once more. By now the sound had caused many ears to ring.

?Captain, there is no time for animosity. We have a task to perform and it must be done quickly.?
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A short while and a few verbal uproars later Chokk found himself in company with Rallentando, Captain Blacktip, and Tobias.

?Mr. Wulgar sir, do you really think she will listen to us?? The rabbit asked nervously.

Chokk felt deep concern for their present state though he would not let it show. He put a comforting arm gently around the rabbit for a moment as they walked. They were two woodlanders with two vermin from Kotir, going to speak to a wolf about their meeting with the god of the underworld. Who would not be worried?