User:Silverfalcon Pikehawk/Beta for SM

=The Unsung=

Even now, hours after the interrogation, the bleeding refused to stop. He eyed the straw in the corner, considering the idea of using it to staunch the flow, then discarded it. Who knew what kind of. . . well, vermin, infested the straw.

His stomach rumbled. Nothing to eat since last night. No water since this morning. Probably none until he said something about where the Resistance was concealed. And he wouldn't. He would die first. And it seemed that death was required of him.

Faint voices drifted from the stairwell. One slow and stupid sounding, one sneering and arrogant. There was the sound of a slap and a thud, accompanied with the following:

"Idiot! Look what you've done! Watch those prisoners and don't let any escape while I clean that up!"

Receding pawsteps. A moment of silence, then a voice whispered outside the cell door. "Hey," Desperate for any conversation, even from a smart-aleck vermin, Skipper peered up ready to give a scathing remark, then stopped.

A young otter his age peered back through the bars. Ragged cloths and mussed fur revealed his status as a slave, yet brilliant green eyes stared back, intelligent and inquiring.

All young ones have an instinct, of sorts, that tells them if one of close age to themselves can or cannot be trusted, so long as they are not taken in by prejudice or first impressions. That sixth sense was working in overdrive now, and after a moment of looking each other over, they decided they could trust each other.

Morgan opened his tunic and slipped two quarter loaves of bread through the grate, followed by a canteen of water. "Thought you might be hungry."

Skipper dug in without question, tearing into the food and glugging the water like a famished hare, not caring about their hardness. He devoured every crumb, even licking his paws on search of trapped morsels. "How did you know I was here?" he asked finally, looking up at the newcomer, "And what is your name?"

"I eavesdropped on them. My name is Morgan Streambattle, and I lead the Underground."

"Underground?"

"A network of slaves dedicated to overthrowing Silvestra." The green eyes flared with rage and sorrow. For a moment. "No matter the cost." Morgan took a breath, then looked at Skipper keenly. "You are not among the slaves. And I doubt Silvestra could keep a prisoner here without my knowledge, so you must be . . ." Morgan hesitated, as if he could scarcely believe twhat he was saying.

"Must be?" Skipper prompted.

"Must be from the Outside." Morgan's eyes shone bright in the dim gloom. "We thought all woodlanders had been destroyed save those she imprisoned as slaves. Never did we dream . . ." He trailed off, lost for words.

Skipper smiled. "What will they say?"

Morgan shook his head, cutting the other off. "I can't tell them. Getting you out by myself will be easier than if I told the others, because they're overprotective and easily excitable. I will tell them once you are gone."

"And you have a plan?"

Morgan looked smug. "The beginnings of one-"

The door opened and footsteps walked down the stairs. Morgan fell to the ground and made as if he was polishing the floor- just in time. The vermin guard walked in, eyes dark with rage, and kicked him hard in the ribs. Morgan stifled a cry as his back, raw from the whips, hit the splintery cell door. The guard ignored it and hauled him up roughly, slamming him against the wall. He fiercely cuffed the otter across the face. "You idiot! You spilt that acid all over the floor and Her Ladyship blamed me for it!"

"I apologize, milord," Morgan said in a dead, listless tone, "It will not happen again."

"Better not! Now get lost!" The guard shoved him out the door, glaring at him.

One false move, one second of slacking, and he would get rid of him!

Morgan examined the bruises and groaned. Already they were showing through his fur, too prominent to hide. "Shades," he muttered, "Menion's going to kill me."

=Bladedancer=


 * Book One: Satai (Also entitled, The Shade)


 * Book Two: Clarity (Also entitled, The Silent)


 * Book Three: Leia (Also entitled, The Duel)



=Martin the Peaceful=

=Vulpoon=

=The Siege=

Blacknose looked on in puzzlement as Zounzdican examined carefully the device she had made with her own paws. "How is that going to do any good, my lady? They don't have a door!"

She sat back, pleased with her handiwork, and smirked at the clueless weasel. "Precisely why they won't expect it!"

He scratched his snout. "But-"

She sighed condescendingly, wondering why in the world she had made a male her second in Ripred's absence. A slight hint of stupidity on her part. She couldn't afford stupidity.

"Just do as I say!"

=The Curse of Vulpuz=

=Alanna of Southsward=


 * Book One: Flank


 * Book Two: Slapp


 * Book Three: Vernon

=Red Dawn=

=Taggerung Quest=

=Battle for Southsward=


 * Book One: Streambattle


 * Book Two: The Spawn of Malkariss


 * Book Three: A Traitor Revealed

=Emanon=