Bend or Break

[Robert Rosequill]

Robert grunted as he lifted yet another chunk of sulfur and struggled to drop it into the basket weighing down on his back. His muscles ached and screamed, but he continued the labor for fear of giving Torin yet another reason to harass him.

Ever since Robert was thrown into the Sulfur Mines, the wildcat was always on his back. On the first day of labor, the hedgehog and his fellow Waverunners struggled with getting used to the nature of the mines. Torin had decided to force them into a smaller section of the caves to gather ?every scrap o? rock in this mountain.? The Waverunners would constantly bump into each other as they milled about the tiny space collecting their chunks. Robert remembered how he accidentally walked into Addai and knocked the other hedgehog?s chunks out of his basket. As Robert attempted to help his friend, Torin cracked his whip.

?Be careful where you hedgepigs stumble about!? Torin had shouted. ?That?s my haul you?re droppin?! I?ll make you gather two for every one you drop here on out, Grovelhog!?

Robert started to keep to himself after that incident. He tried to occupy his thoughts and look around the mines as he worked, though it was never too interesting. The walls were craggy and gray, only allowing just enough light to see what needed gathering. The air was rough and scorched his throat, giving the hedgehog more reasons to struggle catching his breath. The atmosphere had Robert wishing to be back in the jungle. The worst of the mines, however, was the effect it had on the other slaves.

They?d walk about lifelessly all day as they labored. Not a sound could be heard from them as they worked, save for the occasional groan of effort, which was swiftly silenced by the lashing of Torin?s whip. They worked until they could work no more, then did it all again the next day. What broke his heart most was Reedox.

Reedox moved methodically has he worked, his eyes glazed over and staring without seeing. He lifted one chunk after the other, slowly but surely. Robert, concerned, cautiously moved himself closer to the poor squirrel, careful to be out of Torin?s sight. Once the hedgehog creeped next to Reedox, he made a slight whistle. The squirrel slowly turned to face him. Robert gulped, trying his best to ignore the ugly X branded into the poor lad?s forehead.

?Don? worry, ?Dox,? Robert whispered, ?us Waverunners saved you from slavery once already, an? you can bet we can do it again!?

Reedox, barely registering the hedgehog, turned and continued laboring away.

?Hey now, ?Dox, don? you give up hope now,? Robert urged, prompting the squirrel to face the hedgehog once more. ?I won?, an? I?ll get you out o? here if?n I have to lose a limb doin? it.? Robert winked. Reedox, after a pause, turned and walked away this time. He could swear there was a slight bounce in the squirrel?s step. Smiling, the hedgehog returned to his station, careful to hide his content from Torin.

After several hours, Torin shouted for Chak. The otter came into the small cave. He briefly glanced towards Robert, who gave a simple nod to assure the otter he was fine. Chak then looked to Torin.

"We be needing to get the slaves working on that other mineshaft," Torin stated. "Help me wrangle them over there.? Chak nodded, commanding his own slaves. The wildcat cracked his whip at the Waverunners, causing a slight disorder in the crowd. ?You all get your loads back to the wagon! An? do it now, not later!?

As Robert joined the other beasts frantically attempting to follow Torin's orders, he noticed Colonel Swiftpaw topple over. The hare dropped his basket of sulfur chunks, scattering them across the cave floor. The hedgehog rushed to his side, bending over to help him up.

?You alright, colonel?? Robert asked, but before the hare could answer Torin had made his way to the struggling beasts.

?What?s this then?? The wildcat barked. ?Lyin? down on the job are we??

?Cain?t you see he cain?t stand?? Robert found himself shouting back.

?Why is that then?? Torin sneered. ?I hope there's a good reason, ?cause if rabbit here can?t work then he ain?t of use to me!?

?Well he ain?t no use to no one dead neither!? Robert shouted, no longer caring to hide his contempt. ?He jus? has a bad leg! He can do jus? fine if you give ?im the chance to rest!?

?If I be givin? every beast with a bad leg, arm er toe a ?chance ta rest,? thar?d be no work done a?tall ?round ?ere! Now get ?im up er I?ll finish ?im off!? Torin pulled out his weighty cudgel, set with sharp metal studs, ready to brain Colonel Swiftpaw.

Robert hastily got under Frederick?s arm and helped him struggle to his feet, though the basket still sat with its contents scattered on the ground.

?What be the problem o?er ?ere?? Chak sauntered over, meeting Robert?s eye for a split second before turning his attention back to Torin.

?Grovelhog?s tellin? me this rabbit here?s earned himself a break!" The wildcat smacked his club smartly against his open palm. ?An? I?m obliged to give it to ?im??

Chak looked at Colonel Swiftpaw. The hare was still struggling to stay upright, leaning heavily against Robert for support and wheezing for breath. The otter turned back to Torin.

?Might ?ave a point.? he said. ?The rabbit looks like ?e?s worked all ?e cain manage.?

Torin growled, ?We don?t keep useless slaves around, mate. Defeats the whole purpose o? keepin? ?em alive.?

Chak frowned back. "I wouldn' mind if the rabbit dropped dead right now, 'cept we've a?ready lost two ta the mines taday. That older lot be droppin? like flies if ye ?aven?t noticed.? Chak stepped forward and pulled back the colonel?s lips, showing pink gums and white incisors. ?This rabbit be ?ealthy ?nough ta last another year me thinks, once that leg be ?ealed up proper. ?Is nose ain?t e?en bloody yet y?see? Ain't no sense in getting? rid o? ?im if we don? ?ave ta."

"Who?s gonna make up the work, then?" Torin asked, still unconvinced.

?I will,? Robert butted in, locking Torin?s gaze with his own steely one. ?I?ll do what needs to be done.?

Torin smirked. ?Well then ye?d better be getting started if ye want ta finish today, Grovelhog. An' Chak, since ye like him so much, ye can take the rabbit here back ta the slave quarters.?

Chak nodded, and cracked his whip at the colonel. ?Come on Gimpy, it be yer lucky day.? Swiftpaw scrabbled to his footpaws, briefly glancing at Robert with a look of thanks. Robert nodded in understanding, then started for the colonel's basket. Torin grabbed his freshly lashed arm, causing the hedgehog to flinch in pain.

?Either I?ll break you, Grovelhog, or you?ll break yourself.? With that, the wildcat let go and made his way back to screaming at the other slaves. Robert snatched up the basket and started filling it with Swiftpaw?s haul.

You ain?t gonna break me, Torin. Ain?t nobody can do that.

After filling up the basket, Robert made his way to the deposit without pause. On his way, he noticed several other slaves staring at him. He saw a little life in their eyes, and heard a few whispers pass between them. Once he reached the deposit and started to empty his baskets, a pine marten broke from the crowd of slaves. He was covered in scars and bruises, and on his face were three of the hideous brands like Reedox's. He was even missing his tail. Looking around warily, the marten hurriedly made his way to Robert.

?Oy,? he began. "I'm surprised you stood up to Torin like that. You should probably show him some more respect, or else ye'd end up like me."

"I only be respectin' those that deserve it, mate," Robert stated.

"There's nothing wrong with pretending. It gets their guard down, you know?" Hylan winked. ?You're Robert, right? A friend asked me to pass on a message to you.?

?Oh? And who are you, friend?? Robert asked.

?The name's Hylan.?

~~~* *~~~

It was evening. The slaves were huddled into their quarters, or hole as Robert would call it. His muscles ached as though he were still lifting in the mines. They were in so much pain that resting seemed to do nothing for the hedgehog as he laid by the cave wall. It even pained him to think, though there was much to think about.

An uprising against Blade, Robert pondered. Hylan had told him of the plans to overthrow the mad pirate, and that Crue was the one with them. It was of course an improbable dream. Blade had come back from the dead, after all. What were the chances of killing him again? But the mere fact Robert wasn?t the only one who hadn?t given up hope was enough to make it seem possible.

First thing?s first, Robert thought. Colonel Swiftpaw must know.

With much protest from his joints, Robert heaved himself to his feet, making his way to the colonel. The hare, in as much pain as Robert, was hidden away from the rest of the slaves to rest. The hedgehog maneuvered through the crowd of exhausted beasts. Once he reached Swiftpaw, he sat beside him, relieved to rest once more.

?Colonel,? Robert said quietly. ?Colonel, we need to talk.?

Swiftpaw didn?t move.

?Colonel, I?ve heard word from Crue. She?s got a plan to save us all.?

Swiftpaw merely continued to lay there, quietly resting. Robert reluctantly reached over to lightly shake the hare?s shoulder. Swiftpaw groaned, then rolled over to look at the hedgehog. His face betrayed just how exhausted the hare was, with bloodshot and tired eyes staring into Robert?s.

?And what might it be then, wot?? Swiftpaw mumbled.

?I don? know jus? yet,? Robert replied. ?I told the pine martin who told me, er, Hylan was the bloke?s name, I told him we needed to be talkin? with you about it.?

The hare sighed. ?And why did you tell him a foolish thing like that??

?Well, I figgered we?d need you to rally the Waverunners, colonel. . .?

?Don?t call me that, Mister Rosequill,? Swifpaw groaned. ?I?m not the colonel anymore. I?m just a bally slave, just like the rest of these poor beasts.?

Robert was taken aback. ?Swiftpaw, you ain?t no slave, you?re a colonel, an? I?ll be treatin? you like one no matter what.?

?No, you won?t,? Swiftpaw said with a sigh. ?I don?t have the right to be called that anymore. I failed, Robert. All I?ve done is fail. I couldn?t stop Atlas, I couldn?t even reason with him. Scully deserted. I was helpless to save Twilbee, or Atlas for that matter. Only the Fates knows where he is now. And now I?m helpless again, unable to do anything but sit and wait while Blade is likely making preparations to take Salamandastron. Atlas said to me before we left if I could imagine Hearth burning. Now I know what he meant."

Hearth burning. . .Robert couldn't help but imagine it. Blade would run it to the ground and leave no one behind. He'd take everything and sell the beasts to slavery. All of them. Even Maribel and Violet. . .

"No!" Robert said. "We won' let him get that far. We can stop him now. Beast's are willin' to try, an' you can help lead the charge!"

Swiftpaw chuckled. ?Look around you, Mister Rosequill. Look at those poor beasts.? Robert did as he was told. All he could see were aching and exhausted beasts gasping for breath, huddled together in rags and fear and dirt. Even the Waverunners were a sad group, the fire of seafaring in their eyes replaced with surrender. ?Do you really think they need me? No, they need a real leader. Somebeast they can bally well look up to. Somebeast who gives them hope. They need somebeast like you, Robert.?

"Me?" Robert asked. "No, you've got it wrong, mate. I'm a failure, too. We wouldn' be in this mess if it wasn' for me wantin' to go bumblin' through the jungle. Everyone trusted me, an' now they're sufferin' for it. We watched Twilbee burn 'cause o' me. An' the whole time I could only think o' meself. . .an' me own family. . ." Robert broke off, trying not to let the tears overcome him again. "How can I lead if I be thinkin' that way?"

"Mister Rosequill, we were all thinking like that. Me, Addai, Killian, probably even Atlas. We all have beasts to go home to... and beasts we're fighting for..." Swiftpaw said. He then reached into his pocket and removed the pin Blade had humiliated him with. Robert recognized it as an official Waverunner pin that designated a beast as a ranking officer. He held it out for the hedgehog, who gingerly took it from him. "And you've always fought for everybeast. Robert, take over. Lead the Waverunners. Get these beasts home."

The hedgehog stared at the tiny pin in his paws. "An' what about colonel Wrightbones? Cain't he do it instead?"

"Look at him, Robert," Swiftpaw said. Robert quickly looked over to the other hare, who was sitting alone, head in his paws. "He hasn't said a word since we were forced into this blasted rock."

"You sure then, friend? Me?"

Frederick nodded. "Aye, Mister Rosequill. If any beast can lead them, it's you. You were always a navigator, Robert. Just do what you always do. Show them the way."