Prone To Wander (rough draft)

Chapter Eight

No one knew for certain how far they might have to go, to find this colony of ermines and their captives. No one that is, except the villain who was held fast between Quinn's teeth. The weasel had told them it would take at least another day to reach the colony, but whether or not he was telling the truth, remained to be seen.

When evening fell, the friends were eager to find a tree, but there were few trees as they followed the river. Quinn dropped his load and rubbed his weary jaws, “I think we'll have to go a little to the east, the trees are thicker further from the water.”

“Let's go a bit further north first,” Ruben argued, “Some trees grow by rivers, and they're usually big.”

“Alright, but I wish someone else could carry our captive,” Quinn grumbled, “I at least need a drink before we press on, my mouth's going dry.”

“That's because all your drool is stuck in my fur,” the ermine muttered.

While Quinn went to get his drink, the others waited. Bored and curious, Kelly and Cavan turned their attention to the captive. They sniffed, and checked that his bonds were still tight, and started looking at his belt and bags, to see what he was carrying. The weasel growled as the kits began rummaging.

“Let him alone,” Ruben said, standing over the enemy, “Don't help yourself while he's defenseless.”

“Why?” Cavan asked, “He'd take things from us, if we were captives.”

“That's exactly why,” Ruben replied, in a hushed voice. “ Just because he would treat us poorly, doesn't mean we have to behave the same way. Have a little compassion, or your no better than he is.” Both kits were silent at Ruben's rebuke, and walked away sulkily.

Malaki however, looked at his uncle in surprise, “But he's one of them! He helped to take our family away.”

“Yes, and what difference does that make? Besides, he's spent the last several hours in the drooling jaws of a creature that would like to eat him,” Ruben replied. “I think that's punishment, and indignity, enough for the moment.” Malaki nodded his head, and hopped away to sit with his friends.

“I don't suppose you have enough of that compassion to untie me?” the ermine ventured.

Ruben stepped aside, and crouched near the weasel's head. “You're mistaking compassion for idiocy,” he said.

“Well, I'm guessing there won't be any of whatever it is when we get to where we're going. You'll probably feed me to that raccoon the moment you find the other squirrels... am I right?”

“If we find them, and they're alive,” Ruben answered, “I'll let you go free. If we find them dead... I'll still cut your bonds, so you can face the raccoon on your own paws. In the meantime, I won't tolerate poor treatment of a creature that can't defend itself. There's no justice, or honor in it.”

The weasel's ears flattened, “If you're trying to win over another friend, it won't work. I'm not as soft in the head as those raccoons... I know prey when I see it.”

“Do you honestly think I'd want to be friends with the likes of you?” Ruben asked, his even tone unchanged.

“Besides,” came Quinn's voice as he returned, “being hard headed isn't really something to boast about,” and he tapped a claw between the creature's ears. “Let's get moving again. I saw a tree from the river bank, it's not far ahead of us and it looks decent.”

Soon they were on the move again, and before long they could all see the tree a short distance ahead. The night was nearly upon them, stars were just starting to shimmer in the darkest parts of the sky, and everyone was ready for a proper rest. The tree was a good size, but not as ideal the one they'd slept in the previous night. Still, everyone managed to find a place to curl up. Malaki and the kits found a hole in the trunk of the tree, and though it looked too small, they all managed to fit inside.

Quinn set the ermine on a branch that was almost too narrow for it to balance on while tied, and sat down on a branch beneath it. “I'll keep an eye on our new companion,” he said, staring up at the creature.

“You need rest too,” Ruben replied. “You're doing a lot of the work, let me do something. It's my family we're trying to rescue.”

“No,” the raccoon argued, “If this “Jacob” is your brother, and we're brothers now, then your first brother is my third brother. So there, it's my family too. Besides that, I'm a creature of the night. You on the other paw, are very likely to nod off while on guard duty.”

Ruben smiled, and went to sit with his back against the tree trunk. “Alright then brother, have it your way. If you need a break though, just let me know and we can trade off.”

A few short hours later, Quinn was rousing everyone awake. The sun was just beginning to stretch it's first rays of light over the eastern horizon, but there was no time to waste. It was quickly decided that they would all go down to the river first, and after getting drinks and possibly something to eat, they would resume their northward walk. If what their captive had told them was true, there was a chance they'd find the others before nightfall.

Malaki clambered out of the tree hollow and accidentally placed his paw in tree sap, as he came. He looked thoughtfully at golden trickle, then took one of his little bags, emptied it, and let some of the sap drip in. Quinn was watching him curiously, but didn't say anything, even when the young squirrel began rubbing the sticky mess all over the inside of the bag. He reattached it, despite the mess, and joined the others, wiping and licking his sap covered paw to no avail.

“What were you doing?” Ruben asked, “You're going to get half the tree stuck to your paw if you climb down like that.”

Quinn reached a paw out, “Come here, we'll get it off.”

Malaki grimaced, but walked over and didn't flinch when he was picked up. He turned his face away from the huge fangs however, as Quinn cleaned the sap from his paw.

“There, problem solved,” Quinn said as he set the squirrel back down.

“Thank you uncle Quinn,” Malaki said, still grimacing.

Finally, everyone made their way down the tree and off to the river. Malaki found a nice shallow place on the bank, and gave his paw a better washing. He then took his bag and tapped on the side. It made a “click, click” sound, the sap had already hardened. He filled it with water and raced back up the bank, to where Ruben was once again standing guard over the captive, who was sitting in the grass, shaking drool from his fur.

The young squirrel set the bag beside the ermine, then backed away, “I suppose it's hard to get a drink with your paws tied,” he said.

The creature looked stunned. He managed to pick up the bag and drank what little water was inside. He set it on the ground again.

“Do you need more?” Malaki asked.

“Yes, actually,” the captive replied, “That would be good.”

So, the little squirrel grabbed the bag and went to refill it. He returned, and placed it on the ground once more. “I don't think it'll work anymore,” he said as the ermine took the drink. “The tree sap is getting soft again.”

“That's alright,” the captive said, “Makes the water a little sweet... thank you.”

Malaki looked up at Ruben, who was smiling at his nephew. “Good job,” he said, “How you treat your enemies says even more about you, than how you treat your friends.”

The ermine watched as Malaki made his way back to the river and got a drink himself. “That was very kind,” he said, “But it still won't make me anyone's friend.”

“No one expects it to,” Ruben replied.

The raccoons did manage to catch a few crayfish, but there were no acorns for the squirrels there. Quinn offered part of a crayfish to the ermine, but he refused, saying he'd had enough of their charity, or compassion, or whatever it was. So, Ruben went and got his drink, and then they were all ready to get on the move again.

Quinn was just going to pick up their captive, when they all heard a rushing sound, as if a strong wind was coming... but there was the faint sound of feet mixed in. Everyone looked toward the noise, just in time to see a coyote, with open jaws, leaping after Ruben. The creature's paws were still in mid air when a great, gray furry mass collided with it's head, sending the beast tumbling to the earth.

The coyote rose to it's paws, shook itself and faced Quinn with a growl. The raccoon stood on his hind paws, pinned his ears and growled back, through bared fangs. The coyote snapped, Quinn lunged, and the fight began in earnest.

Ruben grabbed Malaki, and handed him to Cavan, yelling, “Back to the tree!” and they all raced away.

Once in the branches, Ruben snapped off a twig that was longer than he was tall. He checked his largest bag and found three arrows, and his bow string. He looked to the young ones, “Stay here, all of you!” he ordered, then raced back toward the river. He stopped where the grass was dry, and fastened the bow string as quickly as he could, before nearing the fight. He was just in time to see the coyote's jaws find a hold on Quinn's neck. The raccoon hissed and growled, and clawed at his enemy.

There was a sound like a wasp flying straight and fast, and the coyote let out an ear piecing yelp, dropping Quinn in the process. The raccoon backed away, looking to see what had happened. The beast was pawing wildly at it's face, a tiny arrow was stuck deep in it's right eye. Quinn then turned, and saw Ruben perched on a near by stone, holding a newly strung bow, and practically gasping for breath.

The next moment the coyote was heard growling, “Filthy little beasts!” Quinn didn't turn around again, he snatched the ermine from the ground, and Ruben from the stone, and ran for the tree.