User blog:Verminfate/Hazel Eyes and Golden Scales

This story was co-written by my friend Silva, so give her credit too. :)

Prologue
This is a story of love and hate, of revenge and forgiveness, of war and peace.

This is a story full of dreams and nightmares, heroes and villains, loyalty and treachery.

But above all, this is a story that is formed and dominated by two creatures- one good, the other evil- who share a unique ability and a common interest.

This is the story of Hazel Eyes and Golden Scales.

Chapter 1- Varanus Riptail
They came across the great western sea, from an island beyond where the sun sets. They came to destroy. They were the Monitors!

Varanus Riptail was their leader. He was a monstrous reptile with cold, evil eyes and a tough, grayish-green, scaly hide that seemingly no weapon could penetrate.

Varanus stood on the deck of the ship that he had stolen from corsair vermin, watching the horizon for any sign of land. His mate, Fangara, stood next to him. She was a sly and cunning lizard, and although she was not as big and threatening as her mate, she was more clever and and a better strategist. They came for one reason: To destroy all furbearers!

When he was young, Varanus and his brothers and sisters were attacked on their island by wicked corsair vermin. The vermin captured and tortured the young lizards, slicing off their limbs and tails and burning the stumps so that they could not grow back. And Varanus was looking for revenge! Along with the scars that raked his scaly body, his tail had been sliced at the end, and was now a grotesque stump; but he had put that to his advantage. He attached a spiked metal mace to the end of it, which he could use for smashing and clubbing better than even a regular Monitor tail, which was a fearsome weapon already.

He turned and looked out at his army that swarmed the deck. They were all Monitor lizards; most smaller than himself, but vicious fighters and ruthless killers. After all, they did eat the flesh of their enemies. But there was one weapon that was more deadly than any other he had. The eyelash viper, Skavris!

The snake was long and golden-yellow in color, with ridged scales and an evil-looking spike above each eye from whence his species got its name. His deadly fangs were small, but contained poison powerful enough to kill even a mighty Monitor. But the most terrifying thing about Skavris were his eyes. Piercing, yellow, hypnotic eyes with thin, black pupils. When another creature locked their gaze with him, they could not look away, no matter how hard they tried. And that was when the snake could whisper softly to his victim, and they would do whatever he said. Even if he told them to kill their own family, and burn their house to the ground, they would do it. Skavris was in complete control. Of everybeast that is, except Varanus and Fangara. The snake knew that they were his masters, and they fed him a young bird or fish whenever he wanted. Besides, he had a mission as well.

So they came. Varanus Riptail and his horde, along with the hypnotic eyelash viper, were coming to destroy all fur-bearing creatures, be them vermin or woodlander. And they were coming to Mossflower!

Varanus stood watching the horizon and grinned evilly. He turned to a lone searat, whom he had kept alive to help him navigate to the faraway shores. “How long until we reach the zhorez?” he asked in his sinister, rasping voice.

The searat, who was completely terrified, replied shakily, “N-no more than an hour, s-sire!”

The Monitor leader nodded. “Good! Keep the zhip zet for a ztraight courze. We will find and deztroy all furbearerz in thiz land!”

The searat saluted and gulped as he scurried across the deck and right by the savage lizards that stood around, their hungry eyes watching him.

Varanus spoke to his mate, “When we get to the zhore, zhould we keep the rat?”

Fangara narrowed her wicked, glittering eyes. “No. There zhall be other creaturez there to give information. We zhall not need thiz one when we get to land.”

Varanus grinned. “Very well. The troopz are getting hungry for frezh meat!” Then he asked, “Haz the Golden One been fed az of yet?”

Fangara gave a slight smile. “Yez. I ripped off a piece of the rat'z flezh and gave it to the Golden One. Did you notice how it limped?”

Varanus watched the unfortunate searat limping around the deck, and up to the ship's wheel. The Monitor gave a hissing laugh, “Yez! I am zure that the Golden One waz pleazed with the offering!”

A few minutes later the searat called out, “Er, land ahoy!” Varanus had already seen it and he dashed across the deck and issued orders to his horde, “Zantuz! Get the troopz ready to go azhore!”

The ship was anchored just off the coast, near a large sandbar. The gangplank was lowered and the Monitors came pouring out. The searat came over to Varanus and whimpered, “So can I have me freedom now?”

The Monitor leader smiled. “Of courze my friend! You are now free from any bondage or pain!” With one swift and powerful blow of the lizards mace-tail, the searat fell dead with a crushed skull and broken spine. Lifting the carcass effortlessly in one claw, Varanus threw it out into his horde, where it was ripped to shreds. A pity he hadn't kept it alive while he threw it out there, then it would suffer just as he had!

Fangara came over, holding a large basket. It was painted with bright red and yellow dyes in the pattern of many golden eyes, which stared out perpetually. Varanus looked at it. “The Golden One iz zleeping?”

His mate nodded. “Aye, the ratflezh haz filled him, and he iz ready for hiz work!” Varanus smiled and walked down the gangplank after his horde.

Varanus Riptail and his Monitors had come to Mossflower. And all furbearers would die!

Chapter 2- Silva of the Hazel Eyes
Silva the squirrelmaiden's eyes narrowed in concentration as she peeked around the corner to catch a glimpse of her enemy. The captain of the archers, her sister Wildrose, did the same. Silva pushed her back. “No Wildrose, we can’t risk-”

An arrow whizzed by and buried itself into the ground a few feet away from them. Silva’s eyes narrowed and she stepped away from the sheltering wall toward the arrow. As she pulled it from the ground, she saw out of the corner of her eye, a young shrew from the enemy camp trying to slip away.

“Silva, what are you doing? Do you want to get killed?” The otter captain on the opposing side was incredulous.

Silva was indignant. “Hydat, maybe you should pay attention to your archers. Hey Swivo!” she called out to the retreating shrew. The shrew stopped in his tracks, looked around for way of escape, and then gave himself up to the squirrel. He turned and faced her flashing hazel eyes.

She looked down at him. “Is this the arrow from your bow?” she asked. The shrew nodded sullenly.

“Then can I ask you why its tip is sharpened? Don’t you know that’s against the rules?” He hung his head and stared at the ground. Silva broke the arrow in half and handed it to Swivo. He took it glumly and went back in line.

“Let that be said to all of you,” Silva said, addressing both teams, “No sharpened arrows. This is not real war, and if my father finds out…. well, I don’t think I need to tell you that our games would be over. Now back to your places!”

The young creatures went back to their proper places. Silva went back to her post just as her father came out of the Abbey to the grounds.

“Silva!”

Silva winced. She didn’t like the tone in her father’s voice. What had she done now?

She beckoned to her second in command, her brother Tivel. He nodded and understood without any words having passed between them. He gave her a ‘good luck’ look of sympathy, and then went out giving orders.

Silva’s paws slapped against the stone floor of the Great Hall as she followed her father to his study. Had he gotten wind of the arrows? They were supposed to be sticks with feathers on the end, completely blunt. He had warned them that the game would be put to an end if anybeast ever got hurt. Good thing for the ‘warriors’ they had Sayna, Silva’s youngest sister, who had all the skills of a practiced healer. She bandaged up the wounded, and nobeast ever told the real reason. “I fell out of an apple tree.” one might say, or, “My, aren’t those blackberry thorns sharp!”

They all looked up to Silva as their leader, and she was constantly trying her best to help them grow up to be defenders of their precious Abbey.

Now she was in her father's study, the walls lined with shelves full of books and old scrolls. Only one wall was free of reading material, and on it hung Danvar’s great battle-ax, his most treasured weapon. Never did Danvar use a sword; no, he left that to Silva, his eldest daughter, and Tivel, his eldest son. The rest of the children, the twins Wildrose and Warren, Tugg, Sapphire, and Sayna, were either to young to learn weaponry at all, or were practicing their archery. But he kept to his ax.

As he sat down in his large chair, he rubbed the scar on his neck from the long-ago battle with the great wolf, Urgan Lukros. It always pained him when he sensed danger; Silva knew this, and was relived and concerned at the same time. This was not about her, but there was something amiss in Mossflower country. Danvar sighed. “And how are you, my dear?”

“Father-”

“Now now Silva, can’t you answer a simple question?” he pretended to be offended. Silva couldn’t help smiling. She leaned down and kissed her father's forehead. “Oh, I’m alright. And how are you, dear Father?”

“Never better” he replied, and then winced. “Well, I have been better. But this old scar here has been at it again.”

Silva sat down on the floor next to him and placed her chin on the arm of the chair and looked up at him. “What is it?” she asked gently.

“I can’t tell. It's not vermin, I can tell you that. And it’s not a wolf; the pain would be maddening if it was. No, I don’t have the slightest idea as to what it is. That’s why I called you, Sil. I want you and Tivel to scout out the surrounding woods tonight, see if you can find anything. It might just be the cold weather coming in that’s affecting me, but I don’t think so…”

Danvar rose from the chair and walked towards the ax. Silva followed him with her eyes, and watched questioningly. He took the battle ax down from where it hung, and held it, like he was holding a young Dibbun, or an old friend. Then the quiet moment died, as he lifted the ax above his head and swung it in a large arch. Silva watched him, fascinated, as he moved so deftly with the huge weapon. She never tired of seeing him work his magic with it. It struck fear and awe in her heart, as nothing ever had before. As she looked on, she imagined herself in a slave compound, with this handsome young squirrel battling vermin, slaying them left and right, and she knew why her mother loved him so much.

The moment was broken by a cry from behind them, “Oh, really, Danvar!”

They both turned to see a beautiful female squirrel standing in the doorway. She looked very much like Silva would in about twenty seasons.

“Oh, hello mother!” Silva rushed into Fenna’s arms, and hugged her tightly.“Mmmm, you smell of honey, and pears, and cream, and-”

“And you smell of outside and dust and old books and dreams.” Fenna replied.

“What do you mean dreams?” Silva asked. But Fenna did not answer her. She turned to her husband. “If you want any of my honey-pear custard, I suggest you get downstairs before those ragamuffins we call our children eat it all!”

The burning light of battle and death left Danvar’s eyes and a new light of hunger replaced it. “I bet I’ll get there before either of you ladies!” he challenged.

And all dignity was lost by father, mother and daughter as they rushed down the stairs, pushing to be first.

Nobeast could even imagine what was coming to destroy all of their happiness.

Chapter 3- The Calm Before the Storm
Varanus led his horde across the sand dunes on the western shore. Far off in the distance, along the beach, he could see a great mountain rising up into the sky. The Monitor narrowed his eyes. It did not seem like the sort of place where creatures would dwell. So he moved on across the sands.

Suddenly dozens of toads leaped out from nowhere, all brandishing tridents. The Monitors halted and bared their fangs and claws, ready for battle. But Varanus signaled for them to stay as a larger toad, carrying a tall staff from which hung skulls and bones of all kinds, came forward. The big toad croaked, “Rrrrkk! What are biglizards doing in toadlands?”

Varanus waved his tail back and forth. “We are here to rid the land of all furbearerz. Will you join our conquezt?”

The big toad laughed, his huge, warty body shaking, “Bwhohoho! There be to many furbeasts to kill all! You be fool lizards!”

Like a bolt of lighting Varanus swung his tail-mace out and slew the big toad on the spot. The Monitor hissed savagely to the other amphibians that surrounded his horde, “Join me or die!” The toads were all shocked at seeing their leader slain, but they knew better than to argue with his killer, so they raised their weapons and croaked as one, “Rrrrrgggkkk! We all follow you mightylizard!”

Varanus smirked and turned to Fangara. “Now we have more on our zide!”

She nodded. “Aye, now we must find a place to ztay and zcout for more troopz,” Then she added with a slight smile, “And for victimzzzzz!”

A short while later they came to the edge of Mossflower Woods. Varanus sent out four toads to go and scout for any creatures that they could either interrogate, or add to their army.

The horde of Monitors and toads lay about, basking in the sun. Varanus and Fangara sat under a large oak tree, and next to them was the basket containing Skavris.

The Monitor leader hissed, “Zo, what zhould we do with the creaturez that the zcoutz bring back?”

Fangara closed her eyes. “Kill all but one. That one zhall tell uz of any nearby zettlementz of furbearerz. Then we may kill it.”

Varanus's long forked tongue flicked the air. “Yezzzz. You are truly a clever beazt.” His mate smiled and whispered to herself, “I know...”

Dragg Fellpaw and his band of weasels wandered about in Mossflower Woods, searching for some creatures to attack and rob. Dragg was a big, tough weasel and he carried a curved sword that he mostly used for whacking his gang members bottoms when they displeased him. All of his gang were weasels, numbering about fifteen; nasty, cruel vermin, who loved to kill and bully.

Dragg wiped sweat from his eyes as he marched stealthily through the trees. Lately there hadn't been many victims, and his band was getting restless for plunder. Of course he wouldn't dare attack the Abbey, not since that strange warrior squirrel had come there. Dragg was no fool. He knew not to mess with real warriors.

Suddenly one of his vermin whispered to him, “Hoi, Chief! There's a few fat frogs o'er here!” Dragg went over to where the weasel pointed and he grinned when he saw the four toads that Varanus had sent out. He licked his blade. “Finally somebeast to plunder! Though I can't think of what a frog might 'ave. But we can still have some fun wid 'em, eh boys?” The weasels all smiled evilly and crept up closer to the toads.

One of the toads had spotted the vermin, and he croaked, “Crrrrkkk! There be furbeasts coming thisaway!” The appointed leader toad motioned to the others. “We go back now. Furbeasts follow. It biglizard's orders! Grrkkk!” The other toads followed after him and back to the Monitor's camp.

The vermin watched the toads hop off through the trees. “Now where are they goin'?” one of them asked. Dragg cuffed him. “It doesn't matter where, thick'ead! Let's foller 'em!”

A little while later Dragg and his band emerged from the trees and onto the beach. He looked around. “Where in the name o' darkness did dey go?”

Suddenly a powerful tail came out of nowhere and wrapped around his neck. The weasel gurgled painfully and found himself staring into the cold, vengeful eyes of Varanus Riptail.

“What are you doing here, furbearer?”

Dragg tried to strike out with his sword, but Varanus grabbed it from his paw and snapped it in two. Flinging the broken weapon aside, the Monitor slammed the weasel to the ground and hissed, “I am going to azk you a zmall queztion, and you are going to anzwer or die! Now, are there any zettlementz of furbearerz around here?”

Dragg gulped and tried to think of something quickly. “Settlements? Well, er, um.... oh! There's this big, red Abbey see, and it's called, er, Redhall or somethin'. An' they have lots o' furbearers in there!”

Varanus smiled, his deadly fangs glistening. “Good! I thank you for your helpfulnezz.” The weasel whimpered, “What are ye gonna do with me?”

The Monitor swung his tail-mace down and it thudded into the ground next to Dragg's head. The vermin wailed, “Please don't kill me! I'll do anything! I'll be a soldier or a slave, just please don't kill me!”

Varanus bent down and hissed softly in the weasel's ear; his voice was a sibilant whisper, “I do not want zoldierz. I do not want zlavez. I want death! Death to all furbearerzzzz!”

Those were the last words that Dragg Fellpaw ever heard. The huge Monitor gave one hard slash of his powerful claws, and the weasel lay dead, with his chest ripped open.

Varanus stood and looked over at the other weasels, who were cowering on the ground, surrounded by his army. The Monitor snarled, “Finizh them!”

The lizards fell upon the vermin at once, ripping them to pieces. Varanus smiled evilly as he listened to their anguished screams.

Fangara came over to her mate, a sneer of disapproval on her scaly features. “Why did you not take a captive?” she hissed angrily.

Varanus seethed inwardly, knowing that in his fury he had forgot about making one of the weasels show him where the Abbey was. “I already had enough information!” he growled, “We can find our way to the big, red houze ourzelvez.”

His mate smirked, “You better hope that you can!”

A pair of shining black eyes had watched the whole scene, and the creature they belonged to smiled grimly. He was glad that those scummy vermin were dead; they had been a nuisance to Mossflower and its inhabitants. But now here was an even greater menace. What did they want? The creature narrowed his dark eyes and went down to investigate, his jet-black fur blending with the shadows of the forest.

Silva peeked around the trunk of the tree. This time though, she was not practicing. She had a quiver full of real arrows, a bow, and the marvelous sword of Martin the Warrior at her side. And this time she did not need to push her companion back.

Tivel was young, about seventeen seasons, but he was strong, quick, and wise. He stayed next to her, his bow ready with an arrow, flattened against the tree.

They watched for every tiny movement and listened for any sound. Tivel whispered, “So what are we looking for exactly?”

His sister answered, peering behind some brush, “I'm not really sure. Father just told us to scout around the area. So just anything suspicious I suppose.” Tivel nodded and they crept stealthily onward.

Later that evening, Varanus sent a Monitor captain named Zantus with several lizards and toads into the woods to find the exact location of Redwall Abbey.

It was awhile until they did actually find it. Zantus's cold, reptilian eyes gazed over the high sandstone walls, taking in every detail. He hissed to two lizards, “Go over to the wall and find any weaknezzez.”

The lizards were apprehensive at first, but they decided it was better to get caught by weak furbearers, than to face their leader's wrath.

The black creature had followed the reptiles on their way to the Abbey. Maybe he could capture one and question it about what it and its kind were doing here. He drew a dagger from his belt and crept silently through the trees towards the Monitor scouts.

Zantus waited back in the trees with the remaining lizards and toads. Suddenly one of the toads gave a harsh, muffled croak, and Zantus turned to see what was the matter.

A black form held dagger to a toad's throat, covering its mouth with his paw and dragging it off into the brush. Zantus leaped up and ran at the dark figure, baring his sharp claws. The creature let go of the toad and threw his dagger at the oncoming lizard, but the blade thudded harmlessly off of the Monitor's thick scales and fell to the ground.

Two toads and a Monitor came over and held the creature down before he could get away. Zantus snarled and held up the beast's head with his tail, hissing, “A black furbearer, eh? Varanuz will be pleazed with thiz catch!” The creature struggled wildly, but a blow from the toad's trident-butts knocked him into unconsciousness.

The scouts came back and reported, “The wallz are thick and made of red ztone. But there iz two gatez. One big, one zmall.” Zantus nodded and kicked the senseless creature on the ground. “Good. We have what we need here. I think that Lord Varanuz will take interezt in thiz one.”

Silva was up in a high alder tree, watching the surrounding area. Tivel called softly up to her, “See anything?” She shook her head. “No, not a thing. It's like there's not a living creature around.” Then she froze, listening intently, and shook her head again.

After a moment, she beckoned him to follow her as she jumped to the next tree. The silence that surrounded them was deafening. She whispered to Tivel, “Do you hear that?” His body tensed. “What? I don’t hear anything.”

“That’s what I mean; there's nothing to hear! Not one bird…. the nightingales are usually going at it like their lives depended on it right about now. And not one cricket chirping…. It’s not right.”

After a few minutes, Tivel asked, “What do we do now?”

“I don’t know….. There's nothing to see, or hear, so I suppose we should head back” Her brother nodded in agreement, and they both slipped off back to Redwall.