Thread:Selound/@comment-4482397-20111220195629/@comment-4482397-20120103234405

next chapter! it's called Beautiful Liar

Findo gave a gasp of agony as he was kicked awake by Nipwort.

“Get up you slimebag.” The rats voice was hoarse and his eyes were red-rimmed. “Badrang says your punishments over. Everyone gets to see him deal with Clogg and his crew. Even perverts and murderers, like you.” He vented his feelings by stabbing Findo in the shoulder with his sword.

Findo coughed up the burning bile that had been stuck in the back of his throat. “I never touched your daughter. And ain’t it just like you to stab a beast who’s tied up.” he vomited painfully. “And I haven’t murdered anyone you dirty-

His sentence was finished as he let out a snarl of pain. Nipwort had let his sword slide up against Findo’s raw and whipped back. The rat brought his mouth close to the weasels ear. “I know you and your friends had something to do with the death of my children. You’ll all pay.”

Fleabane pulled Nipwort away. “That’s enough Nip. Badrang wants him untied. You two can fight it out some other time.”

Rotnose sniggered as he untied the ropes around Findo’s wrists, his voice high pitched and nasally. “Das righ. We all getta see Clogg an his crew bumped off.”

“Wait.” Findo rubbed his wrists. “Everyone in his crew?”

“Yeah. Maybe not the daughter though.” Fleabane rubbed his chin. “But I dunno. Hey!” Findo had shot down the ladder faster than a bar of soap in wet paws despite his back and shoulder. Rotnose, Nipwort, and Fleabane followed him.

Findo arrived on the scene to see Badrang holding Elonwyn who had her paws tied behind her back. Badrang was staring at the crouching and sniveling crewbeasts, and Clogg stood beside him, his eyes fixed on Elonwyn, his braided beard quivering.



Elonwyn was trying not to let out a whimper as Badrang’s claws dug deep into her flesh. He had snatched her from Tailwart the second they’d left the tent and she could feel her heart pounding against her ribs.

“Pay attention!!!! Ya horrible lot!” Badrang roared at the crew. “you have three simple choices.” He raised a finger. “One, is slavery.”

The crew muttered and Elonwyn shivered.

“Two.” Badrang raised another finger. “You stay loyal to Clogg and get executed.”

Elonwyn’s father snarled, and then gasped.

“Three!” Badrang raised a last finger. “You swear allegiance to me. Paws up if you chose number three.”

The crew glanced at each other and then at Clogg, then to Badrang and his soldiers, before every one of them raised a paw. Elonwyn winced. That had to hurt her father’s pride. But why was she in such a position that she couldn’t raise her paw up for any one of Badrang’s choices?

“One more thing.” Badrang almost purred, and her wrenched Elonwyn in front of him and she could feel his breath in her ear. He’d shifted his paws so they were clasped underneath her arms, almost caressingly. Elonwyn wanted to vomit.

“This one here…” Badrang gazed around at the assembled beasts. “Will be the Slave of every male beast here, who wants a little extra pleasure.” He smiled darkly. “Unless, any one wants her as their own private slave?”

Clogg exploded then and tried to charge his brother. Several of Badrangs Horde grabbed him and pulled him back.

“Take him to the prison pit!” Badrang roared, and Elonwyn trembled as her father was torn away.

“Anybeast?” Badrang purred, staring around as though nothing had happened.

Every beast there knew that if they spoke up Badrang would have their food poisoned, otherwise someone would have spoken.

Elonwyn stared around in fear. Would anyone help her? Her eyes fell on Tailwart. He was having an anxiety attack and Alya and Aqua were holding him up.

She glanced at Ralken, her eyes filling with tears. Someone speak up please! Someone I know. She willed desperately.

Ralken turned away from her, and the tears spilled from Elonwyn’s eyes in an unstoppable flood. She could hear mutterings, some jeering, some sympathetic from the gathered horde.

“I’ll take her.” Elonwyn looked up, blind with tears, and she could feel Badrang’s grip tighten and he let out a snarl.

“Findo. I hardly believe you deserve an honor like this.” Badrang spat.

“NO!” Elonwyn shrieked before she could stop herself. Not Findo! Anyone but him!

Badrang slapped her and she winced.

“Lord Badrang, you said yourself there wasn’t complete proof for what Keena said happened. And if I had a mate perhaps other fathers would have no fear for their daughters and there wouldn’t be any more incidents like Keena.” Findo’s voice was hard and calm.

“Perhaps you have a point.” Badrang threw Elonwyn away from him. “Alright, take her. You’re all dismissed. Yes, even Clogg’s former crew can go about their duties, no need to keep spears on their necks Bluehide.”

As everyone milled away from Badrang’s hut, Badrang pressed his sword against Findo’s neck. “You’ll pay for that Weasel. No one humiliates me. you know as well any beast here that I was punishing Clogg by making his daughter the property of the malebeasts.”

Findo smiled. “What does it matter? She’s taken against her will either way, just by one beast rather than many.”

Findo gritted his teeth as blood dripped down his neck, then Badrang let the sword fall and he flounced away. Findo watched him go.

Elonwyn sat on the ground, trembling. She dully took the paw that covered hers and let herself be pulled to her feet. she found herself staring up into the cold hate-filled blue eyes of Findo. He was pulling her closer and she let out a cry and shoved him away.

“Elonwyn- he grabbed for her, looking confused but she dodged him and tripped. She fell on her tail.

“Stay away from me!” she shouted.

“Stop being an idiot!” Findo crouched down in front of her and clutched her wrists when she tried to push him away. “I’m not going to do anything to you! Stop it!” he pulled her forward and hugged her tightly.

Elonwyn was shivering uncontrollably and she started to cry. Findo stroked her head and murmured soothingly. “It’s alright, it’s over. I’ll protect you little one.”

Elonwyn was in too much pain to do anything but cry softly into Findo’s chest. None of her friends had done anything to help her. Only Findo, her least favorite person had done anything for her.

“Look at me.” Findo put her at arm’s length so she had to look into his blue eyes. “everything will be alright-

His eyes had suddenly become hard pools of burning fire and his face contorted with hatred. But he was looking over Lonny’s shoulder, not at her. Who was he- she turned, her vision blurred with hot tears.

Ralken was staring down at them, flanked by Tailwart, Aqua, and Alya. Before Elonwyn could get up to speak to them, Findo lunged.

“You!” he grabbed a startled rat and snatched a sword out of its paws. “Give me that!”

He whirled the sword in an arch and slashed Ralken across the cheek. Ralken pushed Alya and Aqua away and drew his own sword, but only used it to block Findo’s frenzied swipes, and metal clashed metal.

“YOU SON OF A SEAGULL!!!!” Findo managed to stab Ralken in the knee, so the stoat was forced to the ground, and relentlessly continued to bring his sword down on his best friend. “YOU DID NOTHING TO HELP HER!!!! YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SAVE HER AND YOU DID ABSOLUTLY NOTHING!!!!!!!!”

“WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?!” Ralken shouted back, shielding himself with his blade. Several people had come to watch, their eyes wide with shock. Ralken and Findo ignored them all, their eyes only for each other. “MY FATHER WOULDN’T HAVE LET ME TAKE HER, WE’RE COUSINS!”

“Stop it both of you!!!!” Alya shouted. “This isn’t helping anything!”

Findo ignored her. “YOU SELFISH IDIOT!!!!” he clipped off half of Findo’s ear with a wild slash. “DON’T LIE TO ME!!!!” he kicked Ralken in the stomach and the stoat doubled over in pain. Findo leaned close to Ralken’s remaining ear, and hissed. “You did it because if you had Elonwyn you wouldn’t be able to marry Alya. You left your own cousin, who loves you, to the mercy of Badrang’s army because of your own selfishness.”

He drew back and raised his sword high above his head and swung a killing blow.

His sword stopped suddenly. All eyes were on the glimmering blade, which had stopped, an inch from Elonwyn’s neck.

Elonwyn stared up at Findo, her eyes red with tears, shaking her head frantically, shielding Ralken from the blade.

Findo stared at her, then tossed the sword away with a growl, then turned away. his back still turned on his friends, he spoke.

“Alya. Do you need an assistant?”

What?” Alya blinked, her eyes, mushy and grey as gravy, wide.

“I said do you need an assistant?!” Findo snapped. “Are you deaf and stupid as well as blind?!”

“Yes.” Alya whispered, frowning at him.

“Then take Elonwyn. She should be safe with you.” Findo whispered, and walked away before anyone could speak.

Elonwyn collapsed beside Ralken, shaking like a leaf in November.  