Confrontation

[Robert Rosequill]

The hedgehog was running as fast as his footpaws would let him, but Robert couldn?t get there in time. He mentally kicked himself for not staying close enough to the sea otter, as something like this was bound to happen. Chak had somehow managed to unchain his slavebeasts, leaving that poor beast dead and already forgotten in the tidewater. Despite this, Robert continued to charge at the murderer, as if he could somehow save the beast anyway. As the hedgehog neared Chak, the otter noticed the oncoming sailor, and backed away from the slaves, brandishing only clenched fists. Robert readied his oar.

?You rotten killer, you!? Robert shouted, swinging the oar in front of himself. ?You get back!? Chak backed away from the crazy swings of the oar.

?Yarrr," he growled, taking another step back, paws at the ready. "What 'ave ye ta do wi' this, 'edgepig? T'ain't none o' yer damn business!?

?What in the fates could that beast'a done?? Robert shouted, advancing slightly towards the mad otter. Before Cak could respond to Robert?s threats however, a little voice spoke up behind the hedgehog, clear and calm.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you.? Robert, glancing slightly back quickly so as not to drop his own guard, saw Minstrel, and a glint of steel in the mouse?s paw. The hedgehog grunted through his teeth.

?Come on now, boyo. I can easily take the two of you if?n I need to,? Robert lied, still ready to strike. Minstrel stood his ground.

?No need for that, friend. If we can all just calm down for a moment and step back, there should be no cause for further violence."

?No cause for violence?? Robert, his heart pounding even harder than before, chuckled, seemingly against his will. "After what he's just done? What's the cause for that? What's he done to earn the right to be judge, jury an' executioner?"

Chak?s glare grew more intense, a deep and frightening rage building behind his eyes. "An' 'ow many beasts did ye slay las' night as judge, jury an' executioner? Er did the crew o' the Silver Maiden miss their trial an' verdict aboard yer Waverunner ship?"

"You. . . that was war!" Unable to contain his frustration, the hedgehog's tone grew."This ain't the same, this's just murder, plain n' simple!"

"Oh I see. It be murder when I be slayin' a beast what murdered fifty-nine other beasts, but it be 'war' when yer badgerlord be cleavin' 'im in two jus' fer bein' a rat?" Chak said.  "Ye've a screwed up sense o' justice, hedgepig."

"Atlas ain't relatin' to this, you!" Robert shouted. "An' 'sides, ain't nobody be followin' that madbeast after what he did to the colonel! That badger's justice ain't mine, bucko, an' it ain't no excuse for yours!"

"Then what BE yer justice, eh?" Chak asked. "What authority be ye appealin' to out 'ere on the beach er in the jungle? B'ain't no justice out 'ere but our own."

"You're right, there ain't no justice out here. There be only us an' our choices. But that's jus' it, bucko. We can choose to be either goodbeasts, or madbeasts like Atlas. Which'd you be preferin'?"

"Har har har har! Ye be livin' in a dream world, matey. Ain' nothin' that black an' white. Good er mad. Yarrrrr. Well I know I b'ain't either. But I be choosin' ter rid this party o' one low-life bilge bag who be valuin' 'is own skin more 'n four dozen o' yer 'good' beasts. Unless ye also be thinkin' they be expendable? I cain tell ye most' o' me old shipmates 'ud agree with ye. Tooley there'd prob'ly trade a whole trireme o' slaves fer 'is scurvy friend. Wouldn't ya, mate?" Chak flashed an angry look at Tooley, who was whimpering in the sand next to the rat's corpse.

"I seen more beasts die o'er the seasons than you or anybeast else'd like to imagine, an' I won' stand to see any more," Robert said. "I say there ain't nobeast that's expendable, be they pirate, woodlander, or slave. You think you're so justified in killin' this other beast? Well pardon me fo' questionin the morals o' an' otter who enslaves his fellow beasts to do his biddin'!"

The sea otter hesitated, glancing at the mouse and squirrel. "I be treatin' me slaves jus' fine, thankee vury much."

The squirrel scoffed loudly and Chak's hackles rose again.

"I be feedin' 'em regular, they be 'avin' decent sleep, e'en extra viddles if they be followin' the rules!"

"A real bleedin' heart, you," Rob remarked, spitting out the sarcasm. Feeling a little more at ease, the hedgehog lowered his oar and glanced to the onlooking beasts. "Come on, everyone. Ain't no need to pay this villain any mind. He's made his bed o' blood, an' now he can lie in it, but the rest of us don' got to. Follow me. Let's give this poor bloke a proper burial."

?It's only proper we do,? said Scrufftail, sending a sideways sneer to Chak.

Robert nodded.?Thank you kindly, friend. An' you Minstrel?" Minstrel, having long sheathed his blade, shook his head, eyeing Chak through the corner of his eyes. Robert nodded again. "I understand."

Robert walked straight past Chak and towards the body, noticing a squirrel already kneeling down beside it. . The hedgehog somehow managed a grin once he recognized who it was.

?Crue! Ain?t I glad to see you out here an? well!? The squirrel, however, managed nothing more than a slight twitching frown at the corner of her mouth. Robert nodded once more, but still unable to contain his joy. ?Eh, not the best way to meet, aye, but it does me wonders to know you made it.?

Robert knelt beside the body, flipping it over to see the poor soul's face. The rat?s face was broken and bloody, twisted into a permanent look of fear and pain. Robert grimaced at the sight.  Reaching down, Robert tried picking up the body, but his arms refused to help him today as well. Grunting, the hedgehog  rose back to his footpaws, shaking the pain from his arms as he motioned for Tooley.

?Eh, Tooley, was it? Would you mind helpin? me bring this poor soul to the forest?s edge?? Tooley nodded, shuffling  over to aid the hedgehog. Robert eyed Crue.

?An' Crue, would you mind carryin? that oar for me an? follow us??

"Yes sir, Mister Rosequill." Crue said, and quickly snatched up the oar.

After picking up Daggle, the two managed to lug the body to the treeline, unfortunately being less than gentle putting it back down. With a huff, Robert gestured for Crue to hand him his oar. Robert then managed to break up the sandy dirt with it, and quietly began digging with his makeshift shovel. Scrufftrail helped, smiling to Chak in smug satisfaction as he dug up the ground with his paws. Tooley merely stood off to the side over Daggle's corpse, however,  Every so often, Robert glanced to Chak and other beasts who looked on from a slight distance. At one point, Plink stopped watching and ran off towards camp.

It took a long while to put Daggle into the ground, but once they finally pat down the earth, Robert stood up straight, and laid a paw on Tooley?s shoulder. ?Tooley mate, you seemed to know him best. Any words you?d like to say??

Kneeling, Tooley's gaze remained fixed on the ground. He ran his claws over the loose sand of the grave. Sniffing, he looked up at Robert, eyes reddened and on the verge of tears. "'E weren't bad." He looked back down, shaking his head. "'E weren't bad..."

"I'm sure he weren't, friend," said Robert, patting the mourning weasel's shoulder. Robert gave the group a few moments, but knew work had to be done. Clearing his throat, Robert got everybeast's attention.

?I know this?ll be difficult, but we need to start lookin? for freshwater an? a place to sleep now rather?n later. So we need to stick close, ?cause we?re headin? into the jungle here.?

"We've already started building us a campsite," Crue said. "It's a ways down the beach. There's a stream nearby, too."

"Aha, great work you two!" Robert said jovially. "Then we'll be on our way over there now. As soon as we can though, we'll be lookin' for some food in the jungle."

Crue and Tooley nodded, falling into a sort of formation behind Robert. Scrufftail and Minstrel wandering over to do the same. The hedgehog grunted in approval, and began leading his ragtag group away fom the trees. After a while had passed, he glanced back at the beasts behind him. Chak had also decided to follow, hanging a good distance behind the group.

I think we jus' might make this work.