Prone To Wander (rough draft)

Chapter Twenty Six

Malaki made his way to the top of a bush, on the edge of the clearing. He was disapointed when Arkadi wasn't in sight, but thought the dog might still be close enough to hear, if he called. So, he dropped down on the forest side of the wall, and called his friend's name. There was no response.

With a sigh, the young squirrel turned and started to climb up the bush again. He'd hardly gotten off the ground, when he felt paws grabbing his legs and tail, and was pulled back down. Malaki kicked, and bit, and struggled, and broke free... but there were four ermines surrounding him. One at a time they darted in to bite or scratch, and leapt away before he could retaliate. Then one of the enemy grabbed his belt from behind, the others were seeking to grab the swinging and kicking paws. While he still had one free fore paw, he reached for a cats tooth knife that was on the belt of one of his attackers. He nearly had it when he felt teeth sink deep into a hind leg, Malaki chattered and screamed, and yelled for all he was worth, “Arkadi, help!”

One of the weasels clamped a paw on his jaws to silence him, and pinned his head to the ground, “This one sure has some spirit! Quick, one of you come get its throat while I hold it.”

The one who'd bit the squirrel's leg had let go, and was coming to make the kill... but he only took three steps. The ground trembled, and there came a growl that made thunder sound tame. Enormous jaws clamped down on two of the ermines. The dog lifted it's great head, shook violently, and dropped its prey. The second he was released, Malaki tried to get to his paws, but stumbled. He looked towards the brush wall and saw one of the other villains, mangled and blood covered, underneath Quinn's paw. Quinn was talking with Arkadi, but the young squirrel couldn't make out what they were saying... the forest was spinning too fast.

Ruben had been right behind Quinn, and rushed over, when he saw his nephew faint.

“Is he alright?” Arkadi asked.

“More or less. He's wounded, but the bleeding isn't too bad, and he's still breathing... we need to get him back to camp though.”

Quinn came over and carefully scooped the young squirrel into his paws. The others feared the worst when they saw the limp body being carried into their midst. The raccoon saw the terror in the faces near the firepit, “He's passed out,” he said, and there were sighs of relief all around.

Malaki was placed in a nest and Kalah started tending her son's wounds.

Jacob turned to Quinn, “What happened to the beasts who did this?”

“You might not even want to see what's left of them.”

“Thank you, brother,” the squirrel replied, and went to sit with his son.

“Well, to be fair,” the raccoon said, “Arkadi must've gotten there just a second before I did, and he killed two of the vermin.”

Jacob looked up at the dog, “Thank you, Arkadi... You know, he thinks the world of you.”

“He's a good pup, I'd keep him with my own litter if you'd let me,” the dog replied with a smile. “Do you mind if I stay? I'd like to see him wake up.”

“Of course we don't mind.”

Everyone knew how fond the dog had become of Malaki, no one would have asked him to leave. Quinn didn't want to leave either, but begrudgingly agreed when he was asked to go tell Niki what had happened and where Arkadi was. Poor Niki, she cared for the little squirrel as much as her mate, and wished she was able to go to the camp and be with the others... but the puppies weren't ready for such a venture. She had to settle for Quinn's promises that someone would make sure Malaki came to visit her as soon as possible.

When Quinn returned, Gabriel and Yakira were taking a turn sitting with their brother. (Their parents were talking quietly, further away from the firepit.) Upon hearing that his mate had gotten the news, and wanted him to stay until they knew everything was alright... Arkadi layed down, crossing his paws, and trapping the entire nest between his fore legs. It was a bit unsettling for Gabriel and Yakira, who weren't nearly as comfortable with the dog as their brother, but they stayed with him for sometime.

When Kalah told the pups it was time for them to go to their own nests for the night, Gabriel looked up at the huge dog. “Thank you Arkadi, sir,” he said quietly, “For coming to rescue Malaki.” And Yakira said a simple, slightly more nervous, “Yes, thank you.” With that, they scurried off, not even waiting for a reply.

Everyone took turns checking on the wounded squirrel through the night, but it was during one of those rare breaks between visits that he finally started to stir. His ears pinned, teeth gritted, and he moaned. When his eyes opened, Malaki didn't seem to know where he was, and indeed he was confused. He was in a nest, and could see the dancing yellow glow of a fire, but also thought he could see dog paws, crossed in front of him. He shook his head, and immediately regretted it. He groaned in pain. Then he was sure there was a dog, he could feel the great, wet nose, sniffing him over with the uttmost care.

“Arkadi? Are we at camp?” Malaki asked.

“Yes,” the dog said with a sigh, “And everything's alright.” He looked around to see who else was awake, “Ruben, he's talking,” Arkadi called quietly.

Ruben came running, with complete disregard for the sleeping creatures around him, “Malaki, are you alright? We've all been worried sick!”

“I think so, uncle Ruben. But I wouldn't have been if Arkadi and Quinn hadn't come! There were four weasels, and they were just about to kill me when...”

The dog reached down and gave Malaki a lick, and since they were sitting side by side, he couldn't help getting Ruben too. “Calm down, you're safe now,” he reassured.

The others started to come awake at the sounds of talking. Once they were all together, and discussing what had happened, Quinn interupted the story. “Wait, we saw... and killed... three of the enemy. Are you sure there were four?”

“Yes, of course I'm sure,” Malaki retorted. “There was one on either side, one holding my head, and the fourth one, who bit me, and was going to kill me.”

“Then one got away,” Vincent groaned. “Whoever it is, he'll tell the captain you've got dogs that come when you call them. I don't know what he'll do with that information, but he will find a way to use everything against us.”

“We can deal with that beast when it comes for us, my friend,” Ruben said. “Right now let's just be grateful that we're all still here.”

Arkadi left before the sun was up. He wanted to check on Niki, and let her know that everything was going to be alright.

It was after the dog headed back to the den, that Malaki tried to get up and walk, and found he was unable. The bite in his hind leg was deep, and had possibly done more damage than first thought. It couldn't take any weight, and refused to stretch out properly. Everyone tried to be reassuing, and said it would just take time to heal, and they hoped that was true. Cavan offered to let him ride on his shoulders, if he wanted to go down to the stream, or to the tree house, or the den, or anywhere else he liked. The offer was warmly recieved.

As the morning came, and with it the sunrise, Malaki could see his own wounds more clearly. The bite on his leg was the deepest, but didn't look like it should've been the one to hurt the most. In the middle of the fight, he hadn't realized just how many times he'd been bit. He had dozens of smaller bites on all four legs, and one in particular that looked awful on his chest. The bite on his chest was shallow, but had left four cuts from the fangs, and rip out a patch of fur.

Jacob saw his son, looking in bewilderment as the wounds he didn't know he had, and walked over to him. “Someone must've been trying to get your neck,” he said, pointing to the chest wound. “But it looks like you kicked the villain off.”

“I don't remember that,” Malaki said. “It was... it was all confusion, claws and jaws everywhere. I know I fought back, but I guess not very well.”

“You were up against four larger creatures. Those are terrible odds, but you kept fighting until you saw there was no need to... I would certainly say, you fought well.”

Malaki smiled, but looked again at his wounds, when another voice chimed in, “Wounds, and scars are proof that you're not easily killed.” The young squirrel looked up to see Vincent, running a paw over his own scars. “Don't be ashamed of them,” he said, and went on his way.

Jacob hesitated, but then forced out the words, “Malaki, there is one thing I really must ask... why did you yell for the dog? Arkadi could've been a mile away, and we were all right here.”

“But what if there were more weasels, hiding somewhere? And you and uncle Ruben came, and we were all killed? I knew Arkadi would come if he heard me, and it wouldn't matter how many there were... they wouldn't try to fight him.”

Jacob's ears fell flat and he placed a paw on his son's shoulder, “Thank you. That was both wise and noble.”