Prone To Wander (rough draft)

Chapter Thirty

It was still dark when Malaki woke to Arkadi's nose, nudging him. “What's wrong?” he asked through a yawn. “It isn't morning.”

“No, but the rain has stopped, and I have to get back to the den. You can't stay out here alone.”

“Alright,” the squirrel sighed, “You'll walk with me back to the clearing, won't you?”

“Of course.”

They made their way from the hole under the fallen tree, and back through the line of evergreens. The clearing felt empty, with everyone else in their little homes, and the firepit seemed to be shining brighter than usual. Malaki thought it had to be because the night was so dark, that it seemed brighter, until he looked at it.

“Arkadi, the fire!” he cried, and the dog followed his gaze to see what was so alarming.

The firepit had been put out by the rain, but two of the little store houses were up in flames. Arkadi raced over and began kicking soil on them. The ground was still wet from the storm, and the fire was soon smothered. The noise brought the squirrels out of their homes, and they all came running to see what had happened. Thankfully the fire hadn't spread, but two full store houses, were reduced to rubble and ashes.

Ruben's ears fell flat, and his shoulders sunk, “Well, there goes our food for the winter too. I'll bet it was those weasels who set the fire.” Then he turned to the dog, “Thank you Arkadi, it's a good thing you were close by... we could've lost everything.”

There was a short-lived search to see if the enemy was still in or near the clearing, but there was no sign of ermines, other than Vincent. There really was nothing more that could be done at that moment, but who could go back to sleep? The wet earth and ashes were dug out of the firepit, and it was once again rekindled. The squirrels all thanked Arkadi repeatedly for his help, and he left reluctantly, saying he'd come back later to check on them.

Malaki had an uneasy feeling about the whole thing, and went to get his newly strung bow out of the empty house. He thought about getting his uncle's bow as well, but since he hadn't been asked to, decided to leave it. He was coming around one of the tree stumps, when his bad leg began to cramp. He stopped to rub it, and out of the corner of his eye, saw something unexpected. There was movement along the line.

He dropped into a crouch, and watched, as several ermines came boldly though the evergreens, some armed with spears, and marched up to the firepit. The other squirrels were on their paws in a flash. Ruben pulled his wolfs claw from it's pouch, and Jacob reached for his axe. The weasels formed a half-circle and stood at attention, as Captain Rembrant came stroling up and took his place in the center.

The captain glanced around casually, “Lovely evening for a fire isn't it?”

“You should've seen the one that was going earlier,” Ruben said, “I think it was more your style.”

“I can imagine,” he replied with a smile. “I hope you don't mind if I just cut to the chase... figuratively. I'm not sure how long we have before the dog comes back.”

“Speak your piece.”

“I don't like being stolen from. You've stolen our clearing, you've stolen our supplies, and nearly half the lives of our colony. I demand recompence. Until I have it, you'll find that stores are hard to keep, and your friends will find that prey is scarce.”

“And what exactly, do you concider recompence?”

“To start, I want the traitor who helped you. After you've watched him die, you can die yourself... the others can leave with their lives, for now.”

“That's a very generous offer, captain. But, do you mind if we take the day to think it over?”

A single paw shot out, grabbing Ruben by his throat and lifting him off the ground. “I'm trying to be reasonable,” Captain Rembrant growled. “Don't force me to be something else.”

Jacob moved forward, but when several spears pointed at him, he stopped. “Why don't you just kill us all, and take back your clearing then?”

“And face that dog when it comes back? No. I need someone alive, who can convince the monster, and the raccoon, to leave without a fight.”

Ruben was kicking, as he struggled to breathe, the edges of his vision were going dark and blurry. Then he heard a familiar hissing sound, which ended with the captain screaming... and dropping him. There was an arrow, stuck into his shoulder, but he was quick to pull it. Then he turned and snarled at his attacker, Malaki, who had stepped out from the cover of the tree stump.

Captain Rembrant took a single step in the young squirrels direction. Malaki loaded another arrow, turned to face the line, and shot it into the near by tree branches. It could be heard striking something, but it didn't sound like tree branches. The weasel puased. The next second, the tree house door swung open, and Quinn came racing down towards the clearing.

Seeing the need for a change in tactics, the captain turned 'round calling, “Fall back, everyone!” And his attendants started moving towards the evergreens. But the raccoon was coming fast, and his own dignified retreat was abandoned. Rembrant dashed forward instead, and before Malaki could get another arrow on the string, he had grabbed the squirrels belt. His knife, made from a sharpened bobcats tooth, was pulled from it's sheath and pressed to his captive's throat.

Quinn came to a halt, snarling like a beast gone mad. The captain started backing toward the line, dragging Malaki along with him. The raccoon followed, slowly. “You let him go, unharmed, or I'll make your nightmares look like sunshine and roses.”

“Yes, a very nice threat,” Captain Rembrant replied, as he neared the line.

He was backing through a hole in the evergreens, with Malaki kicking and struggling. Everyone watched, no one wanted to make the wrong move. Without warning, there was flash of white, and the captain growled again as Vincent lunged, and sunk his fangs into the other ermines already wounded shoulder. Malaki was dropped, but the knife was thrust into the traitor's throat. Vincent fell to the ground, without a word or a growl.

Before Quinn could reach him, the Captain took back his hostage, “Thank you for handing over the traitor. Now, I think I'll be taking this squirrel with me. You all must be very fond of him.”

“As a matter of fact... everyone is,” Quinn growled.

Rembrant heard other growlings, he glanced to his right and could see two nearly grown raccoon kits half in shadow, with teeth bared. Quinn remained infront of him. The other squirrels weren't far off either, though still hesitant to move. With that knife so close to Malaki's throat, everyone was hesitant.

Ruben's eyes turned to the lifeless ermine on the ground, then back to the enemy, and his nephew. “If I go with you, will you let your hostage go, unharmed?”

“Call the others off first.”

He looked to Quinn, “Brother...” he started.

“Don't,” Quinn growled, “Don't ask me to stand back and let you die.”

In the breif moment that the others were distracted, Rembrant dashed backward through the clearing. On the other side, he instantly seemed to regain his dignified air, “It's a pitty I have to kill you,” he said to his captive. “You've really been quite useful.”

Malaki could feel the knife press just below his jaw, but the execution was interupted by an odd whining growl from behind the Captain. In confusion he faltered and at that moment his foreleg was seized between young, sharp teeth. He hissed as his foreleg was crushed, Malaki was dropped, and the knife reached up and slashed the soft nose of little Angus.

There was a yipe, and Captain Rembrant fell to the ground, but picked himself up again in a hurry. He could hear that the creatures in the clearing were coming on now, and the puppy, though very young, was standing it's ground with a snarl. Then, at last, he saw two great dogs, some distance away... but they were coming fast. There was nothing else he could do, he turned and ran, seeming to disappear into the fallen leaves.

In seconds, everyone was gathered together, and for several minutes it was pure chaos. Quinn and Arkadi went searching for the Captain, but found no trace of him, and returned to the others.

Malaki was surounded by friends and family. His uncle Ruben helped him to his feet, and he was embraced by his parents and siblings. The young squirrel was released only to be wrapped in Quinn's paws, and afterward sniffed over by the dogs. Finally, he was “attacked” by all five puppies, with Angus leading the assault. Niki and Arkadi had brought the entire litter, and had all been planning on staying at the clearing for the day. The others only wished they'd come sooner.

As Malaki tried to push the puppy noses away, his mind went back. “Vincent!” he cried, and dashed at a surprising speed, through the evergreen. He saw the ermine, laying lifeless where he'd fallen and stepped over to him. The tears didn't ask permission, they came streaming down his face, and puddled on the ground.

There was paw on his shoulder, and he turned to see his uncle Ruben, crying just as hard as he was himself. “He really is a hero this time,” Malaki choked out.

“He was a hero the whole time,” Ruben said. “It was in him, even when he fought against it, and acted like a villain. He just needed someone to help him see, that his own kind heart wasn't the weakness he feared it to be.”

The puppies came into the clearing one at a time. They nuzzled the little limp body, and whimpered, and laid down beside their friend and teacher. Arkadi came up behind them, and gave the white fur a gentle licking. Quinn waited patiently, while the others took their turns, then came and scooped up his friend with the utmost care. Cavan and Kelly scratched the little ears, and all three of the raccooons shed bitter tears.

They found a place inside the clearing, but near the raccoons tree, and Arkadi dug the grave. The group laid their friend to rest in silence, and everyone made their way slowly, painfully, back to the firepit.