Prone To Wander (rough draft)

Chapter Seven

By the time the group had returned to the river bank, the ermine was out of sight, but the scent was fresh and strong, and easy for Quinn to follow. They were worried that this was most likely the same creature they had been trailing, and it now realized it was being followed. If it saw and recognized the young ones, the creature would certainly be trying to lure them away from the main party.

Quinn, who was ahead of the others, came to a sudden stop. Narrowed amber eyes searched his surroundings, until finally they found what they were seeking. The raccoon dropped to all fours and raced further ahead of his companions, yelling out, “Wait!” as he halted, nearly on top of another raccoon.

He was larger than Quinn, and had fresh wounds on his face and legs. His teeth flashed and he gave a raspy hiss, “Where are your manners?” he growled, “Can't you see I'm trying to eat?”

The ermine was writing in the grip of it's soon to be killer. Quinn hesitated, but forced out the words, “I'm terribly sorry, Liam... and it's good to see you... but can I have that?”

At that moment the kits and the squirrels came crashing through the reeds and cattail, and the larger raccoon stared hard at them. “Did you want to trade?” he asked Quinn, “Or are you starting some sort of collection?”

“It's a bit of a story,” Quinn said, “I won't give you the squirrels, but I'd be glad to catch a few fish and trade for the little weasel.”

Liam rose to his hind paws and turned to the others, “Something special about these?” he asked, reaching a paw towards them as he spoke.

Ruben placed himself in front of Malaki, and pulled his wolf's claw dagger from it's pouch, ready to fight for both their lives. Kelly however, moved in front of Ruben. Her fur bristled and she growled out, “That's uncle Quinn's new brother, and our new cousin, so you can leave them alone.”

“Oh, a new brother?” Liam mocked.

Quinn stepped up saying, “I keep trying to tell the kits...” but the other raccoon cut him off.

“Would you fight me over those squirrels?” he asked.

Quinn didn't hesitate, his fur bristled and his eyes narrowed, “Yes, sir.”

“Then don't argue with your niece,” Liam scolded, “You go get me those fish, and I'll sit here and chat with your family. We'll tie up the little ermine for you, while your fishing.”

Ruben looked pleadingly up at Quinn, “Is this safe?”

“I think so,” Quinn replied, “But I won't go far, so just yell if you need me... and the four of you stay together.” He then glared at the larger raccoon, “If you so much as look at them sideways, you won't know what hit you.”

“Yes, a very nice threat,” Liam said, smiling as if he'd been given a compliment. “I'll be waiting for my fish, go on, and don't be all day about it.” He then turned his attention back on the smaller creatures. “Who has something for tying? I don't have anything with me.”

“I have a few bits of cording,” Cavan confessed, digging them out of a bag and taking them to the other raccoon.

“Thank you, that'll be fine,” Liam said, and he soon had the ermine's hind paws, and fore paws, tightly tied. He then looked directly at Ruben, saying, “You've made quite a friend. Quinn knows he couldn't beat me in a fight... why on earth would he be willing to die for you?”

Ruben lowered his guard, nearly dropping his dagger, and stood for a moment in shock. Why would the predator who had spared his life just two nights before, be willing to die for him? That was a good question. The next moment he shook his thoughts clear, “You'd have to ask Quinn that. All I can tell you is... if you want a meal so badly that you'd kill him for it... I'd rather you got it over with, and leave my friend in peace.” And he drove the wolf's claw into the ground, and stood unarmed before the beast.

Liam smiled, “I think you answered my question perfectly. Spirited aren't you? Especially for such a little creature. Your, er “brother” would certainly be proud.”

Ruben felt himself relax a bit, “Then you don't want to eat me? Or the little one?”

“No, I'll wait for the fish, thank you. I am curious to know what you want with the weasel, however.”

“There was a team of them that captured my family, I'm trying to rescue anyone who might still be alive. Quinn and the kits have been kind enough to help,” Ruben explained. “We've been trying to follow this one back to the main group. I'm not sure what exactly we'll do now.”

“You could question him here,” Liam suggested, “Then if he won't cooperate for you, I can still eat him. Sound fair?”

“More than fair,” the squirrel replied.

The ermine however was fighting his bonds and screaming, “I don't think that's fair! I'm not interested in helping you, or in being eaten by that monster of a raccoon! Just let me go and I promise you'll never see me again.”

Cavan stood over the enemy and growled, “Liam's not a monster.”

“I'm sure he could be if he wanted to,” Ruben said, and Cavan backed down.

It was then that Quinn returned, with three smaller catfish, and set them in the grass. “I wanted to ask you,” he said to Liam as he approached, “What did you tussle with that cut you up like that?”

“A dog,” was the reply, “A big brute too. Anyway, you're just in time. The squirrel...”

“Ruben,” Quinn interjected.

“Yes well, Ruben was just going to start interrogating our captive here. If he's not helpful to you, I'll just eat him with the fish. Wouldn't want to be wasteful.”

Ruben turned to the ermine, who was on his back, with his paws tied in front of him. He drew in a deep breath, “You took my family,” he said in an icy tone, “If you won't help me, I'll happily watch you get chewed to bits. Now, where have the other squirrels been taken? And what do you want with them?”

The weasel trembled violently, staring over the squirrel's shoulder at the two large raccoons. He swallowed, and eventually managed a reply, “There's a place further north,” he said, “Where a lot of us have built our homes. That's where they're being taken, if they aren't there already.”

“That's only one question answered, I asked you two,” Ruben looked up at the raccoons, “Anyone hungry?”

“Wait! I'll tell you!” The ermine cried, “The leaders of the group wanted live prey from different places. Every team was tasked with finding something different. They said we'd never have to hunt again, once everything was finished.”

“Sounds like breeding stock,” Quinn said, and the others turned to him, “Like they'll keep a few mates and... well, eat the young. If they could manage it, they'd never run out of food. I knew a pine martin who tried something like that with mice... it worked for awhile, but the stress was too much and the female died.”

“Then the pups are in danger, even if my brother and his mate aren't food themselves,” Ruben said, and then looked to Quinn, “Should we take the captive with us?”

“I think it would be best,” he groaned, “I'll carry him.”

Ruben felt a tapping on his back and turned to see Liam's paw, outstretched, “It was very nice to meet you,” he said, “Here's hoping I don't eat you by accident some day.”

“I'll be sure to yell your name if I ever see you again,” Ruben replied, placing his own paw in the raccoon's. “And thank you for your help.”

Liam gave the tiny paw a harder shake than intended, nearly lifting the squirrel off the ground, but he let go without harming his new acquaintance. He said good-bye to Quinn and the kits, gathered his fish, and headed back towards the river to enjoy his meal.

“Well,” said Quinn, “This definitely changes things. I guess we just travel northward for now... and if we get the impression we've been lied to,” he growled, glaring at the ermine, “I'll gladly eat the little weasel.”