User blog:SaynaSLuke/Stolen Tears



By Sayna

Far 'way in west sea,

Where corsairs bend the knee,

The eyes of enchantment do shine.

Wicked at best,

Sent a terrible quest,

The six tears of Lutra's are mine.

One pearl for integrity ..

One pearl for morality ..

One pearl for loyalty ..

One pearl for love ..

Author's Note
So guess what .. it's Tears of the Ocean! (Rewrite of the Pearls of Lutra) and the sequel to The Veil is Torn. Sadly, all our friends from the Unsung Heroes trilogy, and the Accused trilogy, have lived out their lives many seasons ago.

All but one. Yea, Sayna doesn't die easily .. for she is still looking for her successor as the Defender.

So I've basically wiped the slate entirely clean. Though some things in Accused pertain .. monocles, Icetor Flowers, and rose-colored pearls have a way of lasting through time. As do certain characters undying legacies ..

About a thousand two hundred seasons have passed since the Golden era of the marks, and much has been lost from written history.

The story should be .. eh .. about a PG level. Nothing really gory or bad, but it will get somewhat shocking at times. (magic, violence, some bloody scenes. We're talking pirates here) Upon brainstorming, I'd say some battle/suspenseful scenes of this book and the next two might have to be rated PG-13. Simply because they might be pretty intense and somewhat disturbing, coupled with the overall mood, which is far darker than anything I've previously written.

I've been planning this book since I first read the 'Pearls of Lutra' around 2012. So you can imagine I'm really excited now! I've been keeping it hidden so I could keep myself interested in Accused, which I loved too, but now ... *Whoooop!!* :D XD

This is firstly dedicated to Salem, who was the first to ever comment on one of my stories .. if she hadn't, I might not be here right now.

Secondly, as all my books are, it is dedicated to all my wiki friends, everybeast who reads, and my mother.

Thanks guys :)

Here's some fitting music links (I think this is gonna become tradition or something) XP    

Prologue
The creaks of the ship and its rigging mingled with the groans of wounded, and the smell of salt air blended with the smell of shed blood. Crewbeast and lizard lay dead or dying in what told of a great struggle .. munity.

Only a few were still standing, and those who were, were still fighting.

One of these was a tall, black haired ferret maiden with a strangely cream mask. She had just felled an opponent, and was bleeding from several wounds due to it. She yanked her axe free of the lizard she'd just killed, taking tighter hold of her cutlass as she looked around.

A massive lizard, bigger than the others, had an injured rat backed up against the mast, and the creature was weakly trying to defend himself.

The ferret snarled, running agilely toward the scenario. "Lask! Leave me beasts be! Face me if any!"

The rat tried to stab the lizard, but his spear was deflected by the scales. "Capt'n .."

The lizard broke his opponent's neck with one fell blow, turning his bloody muzzle to the ferret. "Thizzz izzz the fate of thozzz who defy the emperor, Captain Romzzca."

Romsca had skidded to a halt a few feet away once saving her crewbeast was out of the question, and now she panted, "Your beasts is as dead as mine .. looks like it's just you an' me."

Lask grinned. "It will be pleazzing to kill you .. traitor!"

Romsca jumped back as the massive lizard advanced on her. "We'll see who kills who!"

She leaped into action the next minute, running to the side and causing the lizard to spin around, mouth opening in a hiss that revealed his many, sharpened teeth. Romsca jumped over his swinging, club like tail, throwing her axe down with all her strength.

Lask roared in pain as his tail was severed from his body, and he lunged viscously, knocking Romsca over backwards and tearing his claws into her leg. The ferret choked back a scream, kicking the lizard hard in the muzzle with her good leg, and rolling desperately away, gripping her cutlass tightly.

Romsca could vaguely hear noise coming from her cabin, and she knew her 'prisoners' would be trying to get out and help her. But it was not their time to die .. even if it was her's.

The ferret staggered to her feet again .. she must not fall .. it would be the end of her if Lask got her on the ground. However the lizard was in a terrible fit of rage from the pain of his missing tail, and he was too fast to avoid.

His claws shot out, catching Romsca in the side and sending her flying against the mast like she weighed nothing. The ferret's world swam, and she tried to force herself up again, but Lask was a upon her, his claws tearing into her back.

Romsca heard herself scream in agony .. and she knew good and well, her neck would be next.

The was a sudden crash from nearby .. like a door breaking, and Lask's brutal claws lifted from her. Romsca coughed, lifting her head to see her savior, the very creature she had captured and kept prisoner, bring their shining sword against the lizard.

However for some reason, the strange golden mouse was not as fast as before .. Lask flung her against the railing of the ship, and she collapsed in a broken heap .. motionless.

Her sword was laying just a few feet away .. despite the terrible pain she was in, Romsca forced herself to creep forward and grip the hilt. Lask was coming at her now, regardless of caution or tactics .. he was mad with agony and desired nothing but blood.

Romsca forced herself to lift the sword .. though it seemed so heavy in her faltering grasp, that she wondered if she could. The lizard ran full force onto the blade, impaling himself and flinging his wounded adversary backwards.

The ferret cried out as she slammed into the mast, and the terrible pain brought a wave of darkness crashing upon her. She vaguely felt herself slumping to the ground as the world fell into darkness .. yet the pain was numbing now.

''Ignasa .. if you could hear a pirate's plea .. forgive me ..''

Her last thought was a depressing one.

''I will never be able to right the wrongs .. my life has been sorely wasted .. oh Ignasa ..''

Somebeast was speaking, though their voice was far away and muffled. "My daughter ..."

Romsca may not have smiled, but her heart did, faintly. When had she last heard such words?

"Me girl .. me little girl."

It brought back the past .. so long ago. Once .. when everything was alright. It might seem like forever, but that time had once been.

And maybe .. not so long ago.

Chapter 1 Jewel of the Ocean
Far away in the west sea, is an island. A tropical jewel of rare beauty that graced what some called the edge of the horizon, or the beginning of the end, for there was no land to be reached by ship west of it.

And on this island, a great city was built, so long ago that the paws that made it faded into far recesses of time.

Pirates and wave-robbers made their home here .. Sampetra.

One such beast was Conva, a feared sea captain. However he had moored at Sampetra to give his crew a well earned rest, and repair his galley. But these were not the only reasons he was glad to be home, the main reason met him the moment he entered the courtyard of his small manor.

"Dad!"

The older ferret was hit by a leaping creature, who bowled him over. "Dad, yer back!"

Conva lifted his one and only child, grinning. "Arr, me little girl!"

She laughed. "I ain't so little no more!"

"Aye Romsca me dear, yer growing up." Conva admitted.

The young ferret rubbed a paw across her nose. "Dad, when are you gonna take me on a voyage? I want ta come too .. yer gone so long."

Conva shook his head. "Yer not thirteen seasons me girl. Next time, maybe."

"Why? Why do I have ta stay? I'm good with me axe, I'll show you!" Romsca was determined.

"I said, not yet. I mean it me girl, that's the way it is."

"I kin beat Xzaris an' Rasconza .. or .. at least be as good. Please dad!"

Conva sighed. "That isn't the point. You've been keeping up with yer training?"

"Course I have!" Romsca exclaimed. "Every day .. I want to be just like you an' sail on the Waveworm!"

Conva took his daughter's paw. "I promised yer mom, not till yer thirteen. Now I mean it."

Romsca looked sulky. "'t's not fair."

"Now look. Yer uncle Barranca is with me, and we've got to make a report to the empress, see? You stay here while we do it, and we'll come back soon enough." Conva explained.

Romsca grumbled. "I want ta come too."

Conva shook his head. "Empress Meili is not fond of such things, and you know it. Go play, we'll be back soon enough."

Romsca looked defiant, before she looked down. "Yes dad."

The weathered ferret smiled again. "That's me girl."

><><

"Go play, he says. I've never been in the palace, but I want ta go. Sure. It's not fair! Just like I'm not old enough ta go sailing, either."

Romsca threw a stone in attempt to skip it across the river, but it just plopped in, making a half-hearted splash.

There was a whish of air beside her, and a stone zipped across the placid water, skipping several times. Romsca rolled her eyes, huffing. "So I can't skip stones. Big deal."

"Jealous."

A bluish gray ferret used a thick staff of bamboo to vault himself on a nearby, moss covered stone, grinning all the while. "So what's the deal?"

Romsca scowled. "Don't want ta tell you."

"Something wrong?" A fox about the same age, or a little older, sat near the two ferrets.

"I just ... I want ta be a great corsair, and dad won't let me prove myself. I'm only one season too young .. if I was just thirteen." Romsca grumbled. "By the time I'm old enough, he'll be off raiding, and I'll have to wait longer!"

The fox shrugged. "It's only a few seasons."

"Yer one ta talk." The gray ferret splashed his pole in the water. "Yer dad don't care, he'll take ya on raids if'n ya ask him."

"Yea, and I've been on two now. How about you, Xzaris?"

The ferret scowled. "Ya know how many the two of us get ta go on."

The fox paused a moment, before saying, with a straight face, "Aye, a lot of them."

Romsca tried to scowl, but she giggled instead. "Why is that funny? How can Rasconza always make everything funny?"

"It's called, sarcasm." Xzaris stated, levelly.

Rasconza smirked. "You're not bad at it yourself."

Xzaris used his staff to bolt to his paws almost completely from a sitting position. "Thank ya, I've been 'round ya long enough."

Romsca was laughing now, and she jumped to her paws. "You two never let me sulk."

"That's our job, y'know." Xzaris grinned, sticking his bamboo pole out as Rasconza got to his paws, tripping the fox.

Rasconza raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

He sat up. "I came to tell you something important, and you want to goof off?"

Romsca raised an eyebrow. "What's important? Sampetra never changes."

"Yea, I mean what really .. excitin' things happen 'round here?" Xzaris suddenly looked at Romsca. "Unless a course, the Monitors attack."

The ferret glared at her friend. "Don't mention those things! They give me the creeps."

"Scaredy-cat. Like the dark gives ya the creeps."

"Shut up. Like yer not afraid of nothing."

"Oh yea? Name it."

"I'm not going to tell you if you won't listen." Rasconza said sagely.

Romsca snorted. "Whatever, Xzaris. Yea, tell us."

She plopped down in front of the fox, and Xzaris leaned coolly on his staff. Rasconza looked around, stating, "Things may not stay so peaceful on Sampetra. My dad sighted a ship on the horizon the other day."

Xzaris shrugged. "An' so?"

"No, listen. It wasn't one of Empress Meili's ships, it didn't have her emblem on the sail or the flag. So I'll bet you it's not sailed by one of her captains."

Romsca frowned. "But Empress Meili is queen of all corsairs! Nobeast dares sail on their own, an' all those who do are punished."

"Aye, I know it." Rasconza looked thoughtful. "And that's what worries me."

"Ah, Meili'll put a stop to 'em. One galley an' it's crew can't stand 'afore the queen a corsairs." Xzaris was unconcerned.

Rasconza thought a moment, before nodding. "Guess you're right."

"Yea." Romsca sounded almost disappointed. "Nothing's going ta happen, out of the ordinary."

The three were silent awhile, before Rasconza asked, "So, are you two going to the Feast of Spring at the old temple?"

Romsca nodded. "Dad never misses the holidays."

Xzaris shrugged. "I donno."

"You can come with us." Rasconza offered. "Three days time."

The gray ferret paused, before nodding. "Yea. Won't all of Sampetra be there? Except of course .. the Monitors .."

Romsca glared at him. "Don't even go there."

><><

"Raids have been favorable, don't you think, Barranca?"

Romsca sat eating her dinner, consisting mostly of fish, and listening with interest to her father and uncle's conversation.

Her uncle, a powerfully built stoat who looked like he possessed both weasel and ferret blood, shrugged. "I'm not sure of anything, my brother. Indeed, raids have been favorable, and Meili still spares her cousins from the brunt of the taxes .. but I would not count on it forever."

"Sadly, not." Conva agreed. "Just seeing the way she looked at us and our pay, I can tell she wants more."

"She can't, by law." Barranca took a drink of wine. "But I wouldn't put it past her to change the laws."

Conva set his chalice down. "Indeed .. she's always disliked us for our mixed blood .. how very proper she is."

"In some aspects." Barranca motioned to one of his brother's hired servants. "More wine, my good beast."

As the creature left, the stoat turned to Romsca. "So, how's my favorite niece, eh?"

"I'm yer only niece, uncle." Romsca tried not to grin as she gave her customary reply.

"Aye, so you are, and it makes me like you more. What've you been up to while your dad and I have been off working?" Barranca's eyes twinkled.

Romsca paused, before stating, "I've been training .. I want to go on a raid now, but dad won't let me! He says I ain't old enough."

Barranca paused to refill his glass, as the servant returned, before he nodded. "And Conva's right. Best you stay where it's safe a few more seasons, then we'll make you a regular buccaneer, won't we?"

Romsca sighed. "I guess .. then you'll teach me with dad, won't you?"

"Course I will, anything for my little niece. Mark my words, woodlanders will fear your name someday." Barranca grinned, his snow-white fangs glittering as they always did.

Romsca grinned back, before stating, "Rasconza told me something today, uncle."

Conva raised an eyebrow. "And what'd he say, the little scamp?"

"Well .. he said his dad had seen something .. a ship. On the far horizon, and it wasn't marked with Empress Meili's standard .. the flag was strange, he said."

Barranca nodded. "To be honest, Conva, didn't old Rubby say he sighted something, the night before we returned?"

Conva laughed. "Aye, but Rubby is about as good at sighting things as he is at cooking. He might have seen the Freebooter, for all I know. I patronize the rat, cause I need somebeast to cook, and while he's terrible at it, I don't need to hire yet another crew member. Rubby'll work for low pay, that's the only good thing about him."

Barranca joined in laughing with his brother. "Yes, I suppose you're right. When do you reckon we'll need to set sail again?"

"I was going to let the crew rest at least a week, and besides, I like to take Romsca to the Feast of Spring .. I couldn't last year, but I promised that I would this time. Besides, we'll have to chart a new course, and we've pillaged the north coast pretty well these last seasons. Would you risk Southsward's navy?" Conva took a drink.

Barranca tapped his claws on the table. "Nah, not just the two of us and our crews. How about the eastern coast of Mossflower?"

Conva slammed his chalice down. "That cursed shore? I wouldn't sail within three miles of it!"

"Just because that's where father met his end?"

"It's bad luck, and I'm not doing it, Barranca. All Hellgates couldn't make me. Let's raid Terramort." Conva was determined.

Barranca shrugged. "I suppose it'll do. But one of these days, Conva .."

Romsca could contain herself no more. "What's so bad about Mossflower? Dad's never told me .. just that all pirates would do well ta avoid it at all cost."

Barranca and Conva exchanged a look as the servant returned, setting a dessert of sugared buns before them. The two pirates waited until the beast had gone, before Barranca stated simply, "Our father .. your grandfather .. was one of Sampetra's best sea captains .. half brother of the emperor at that time. He sailed to Mossflower on a raid .. and simply disappeared."

"His ship .. the entire crew .. ?" Romsca felt a little chill of wonder, for such things weren't heard of outside of legend.

"Aye, everything. Not so much left as a life boat or a burnt piece of wood." Conva's voice was dead serious.

Romsca looked from her father to her uncle, trying to discern if they were joking at all. "And nobeast ever found out why?"

"No." Barranca shook his head. "And I have the feeling nobeast ever will."

"But how .."

"It defies logic. He was sailing in a fleet with some other captains, and one night, he went on a solo raid without the other's consent." Conva looked a little unsettled.

Romsca frowned. "And he .. never came back?"

"Never." Conva stated. "Those waters are cursed, and you won't see me take me ship within a day of them."

><><

"Lutran, give it back!"

On the western edge of Mossflower, far from Sampetra, two young beasts were playing on the shore. One, a young, brown furred otter maid with sweeping blonde hair, chased the other, a slightly older male whose fur was the color of sodden charcoal.

"I found it, so give it back!"

The male otter, Lutran, ran faster. "Get me first!"

The little maid scowled, finally slowing to a panting stop. "Fine .. you .. can have it .."

Lutran trotted back at this point. "I was just joking."

"That's .. nice .. you know .. I'm not .. good at running .."

"Aw, sis, don't be mad. I forgot about that." Lutran pried her paw open, dropping in the pretty shell he was holding. "I'll make it up to you sis .. I'll make it into a necklace for you."

The otter coughed, before standing up straight again. "It's ok .."

"What are you two up to now?"

Lutran jumped. "Oh! Coral .. um .. I .."

The newcomer was older than the first two, and she shook her head. "What have you been doing to Grath, then? Getting her in trouble? Just wait til I tell mother!"

"No, he's fine .." Grath coughed a little, and Coral glared at Lutran.

"Back to the holt. It's about dark anyway, and you know what father says about being out after dark, because of the pirates."

Lutran scuffed a paw, but he did as he was told.

Coral took her sister's paw, leading her in the direction their brother had gone. "It's dinner time anyway. You really shouldn't do everything that scamp does, it'll get you hurt someday."

"But I like playing with him, it's fun being outside and by the sea .." Grath protested. "And I like it when he teaches me about archery and harpoons, and .."

Coral shook her head. "I love you Grath, and I want to make sure nothing happens to you. That's my job as your big sister .. and you know why you can't do everything Lutran does."

The little otter hung her head. "Yes ... but I want to do something .. important."

"And you can. There are plenty of things you can do, I'll teach you healing, like mother is teaching me." Coral smiled, trying to encourage her sibling.

Grath nodded. "I guess .. but I want to do things like Aqua or Marine .. or like father."

Coral sighed. "Maybe that just isn't your destiny."

><><

Clack!

Romsca muttered, rolling over in bed but never opening her eyes.

Clack, clack!

The young ferret groaned, pulling her pillow over her head as her father's cheery voice rang from downstairs. "Girl, wake up before those young buccaneers ruin me shutters, see?"

Romsca didn't move until the clacking rang out again, and then she kicked her sheet off, yelling, "Quit it, Xzaris!"

Rasconza's voice rang out, faintly from below. "Come on, wake up! It's the feast of spring, remember?"

Romsca did remember, now. "Oh yea! Wait a minute!"

"We've been waitin' five minutes!" Xzaris yelled from outside, and Romsca grinned.

"Then a few more won't hurt!"

It was indeed, several more minutes before Romsca joined the two outside.

"You take ferever. Like a girl." Xzaris snickered.

Romsca glared at him. "You wanna fight me fer that?"

"Alright, is that any way for young pirates to behave?" Barranca walked past. "You don't loose your temper at every little thing. Besides, I'm heading off to the temple. You three want to join me?"

It took a while to leave, and once they did, Conva and Barranca talked of raiding tactics and argued about where they should plunder next, while the three young beasts ran on ahead.

"Come on slow-pokes, race ya!" Xzaris used his bamboo staff to vault onto a wall, and ran along it, laughing.

"Oh that's how he wants to play it?"

Romsca launched herself after the ferret, regardless of the rocky cobblestones. She was catching up, when Rasconza passed her, pushing her out of the way and leaping for Xzaris. He grabbed his friend's legs as he tried to jump off the wall. Both fox and ferret landed in a laughing, ungainly heap, and Romsca jumped in next, plowing Rasconza over while panting, "That's for shoving me."

The two older beasts passed them with hardly a look, for such scuffles were usual between the three. Xzaris scrambled to his paws, grabbing his stick and shaking himself. "Come on, we'll be late."

Romsca let Rasconza up, following Xzaris. "You started it."

"Ahh, whatever." Xzaris didn't sound a bit sorry.

They'd reached the staircase leading to the temple, which was an amazing feat in and of itself. Nearly forty feet high and made of lichen-covered stone, with twin, fierce dragon statues on either side of its base, it was something worth looking at. There was quite a bit of traffic going up it, and Xzaris suddenly grinned. "You wanna run up that?"

"With all those creatures?" Rasconza asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You scared?" Xzaris asked.

Romsca rolled her eyes. "He just thinks it's a dumb idea."

Rasconza nodded, and Xzaris laughed. "I dare ya."

There was a moment of silence, before Romsca put her paws on her hips. "Well if you put it that way .."

"Great!" Xzaris crouched down a little, tensing to spring. "Ready set go!"

The ferret jumped forward, dodging several creatures as he dashed for the stairs. Rasconza shrugged. "You and me?"

Romsca nodded. "Yea, let's get him!"

><><

When she reached the top, Romsca was panting, and her tail was aching from where a weasel had trod on it as she dashed passed him.

"You took yer time." Xzaris was leaning against the lichen-covered statue of a dragon at the top of the stairs, bamboo pole held nonchalantly in one paw.

Romsca had caught her breath. "How you do that, I'll never know."

"Ain't tellin'." Xzaris was proud of himself, but he broke off with an 'Oooff' as Rasconza dropped upon him from the dragon statue's back, plowing him to the ground.

"Got'cha."

Romsca paused at that moment, as the voice all creatures knew to be their empress could be heard speaking from a distance. "It is my great honor to proclaim the arrival of spring once again, in my long reign .."

The ferret started forward. "Come on, let's go!"

She could hear her friends behind her as she ran up the steps of the great temple, and into the initial, open-aired hall. She slowed as her boots made echoing clicks on the marble, and the statues of the many deities of the elements seemed to glare sternly upon her.

Xzaris and Rasconza caught up, the fox asking, "Hey, should we wait for your dad and uncle?"

"Yea cause .. they're like halfway up the steps." Xzaris informed her.

Romsca shook her head. "Nah, they'll catch up. Come on, I want to see the Unknown Lord, the pearl, and Empress Meili!"

"I don't get why we worship him, if nobeast even knows his name." Rasconza sounded skeptical.

Romsca knew the answer. "Because our founders, Scound and Aisha, built the statue and dedicated the pearl ta him. I was reading about it the other day."

"You an' a book." Xzaris joked.

Romsca looked unimpressed, before tossing her head. "Come on, or we'll miss the whole thing!"

She started on down the hallway, which was devoid of life, seeing as the crowd had gathered in the inner courtyard. The three friends hurried along, coming into the inner room to find it packed .. they were too short to see anything.

Xzaris had the solution. "Come on, up here."

He scrambled onto the base of a pillar, probably four feet off the ground, and sat on it. "Ya just gotta get higher."

"Yea, show-off." Rasconza climbed up next to him, and Romsca followed, looking eagerly out across the audience.

Sure enough, there was Empress Meili, dressed in her flowing silks, though her elegant saber hung at her side, proof she was empress for a good reason. Behind her was the beautiful marble statue of a noble looking cat of some sort. It stood on all fours, curving gracefully around, its tail sweeping off the pedestal it sat upon.

The weathered statue's right forepaw was held up, and sheltered by it was the shimmering, iridescent pale rose pearl, held in place by a cleverly carved niche.

"He's amazing, isn't he?"

"Who?" Xzaris asked, bewildered.

"The Unknown Lord." Romsca answered. "I mean, just that he's .. unknown. He's so mysterious .. someday, I want ta find out more about him."

Rasconza flicked an ear. "Don't forget all the other lords and ladies of the elements."

"Of course not." Romsca stated. "But I still want to know."

They fell silent, listening to Empress Meili speak. "And so it is that our outreach is forever growing. The future is bright for us, my good subjects, for we have no real enemies. The lizards are kept at bay, the beasts of others lands keep their distance equally. It is time for Sampetra to expand her influence!"

There was a cheer as the weasel held up her gilded scepter, continuing, "As your leader, I am making plans to make this so! Let us celebrate spring with the knowledge that soon, we will have other lands and more wealth to our name!"

There was more cheering, as Rasconza stated, "Dad's been talking about that .. she plans to raid Southsward!"

"No ... Southsward? But they have .."

Xzaris interrupted Romsca. "The most powerful navy 'round! She really thinks she can take 'em down?"

Romsca looked back to where Empress Meili stood with admiration, but she frowned the next second, for it seemed something moved in the shadows beside the statue of the Unknown Lord.

She discovered she was not mistaken as the cheering died down. For a lithe, weasel like beast stepped forward from his hiding place, his voice echoing about the temple almost mockingly. "Aye, long live the queen."

Empress Meili wheeled around, paw falling to the hilt of her saber as several of her trident rats stepped forward.

Rasconza looked bewildered. "Who's that?"

"I donno .. but how does he dare ta stand on the dias with 'er?" Xzaris sounded amazed.

The tall creature walked forward, draping, silk cape sweeping silently behind him. His voice was of average volume, but the silence of the hall was so complete, he could be heard. "It's been a long time. Too long."

His voice did not sound angry in the least, and Romsca wondered if perhaps he was a friend of the Empress's. However she did not show that she recognized the stranger, as she drew her sword. Three trident rats came running, taking their places at her side as she sneered. "I do not know you. Who do you think you are to interrupt me?"

The pine marten .. for so he was .. showed no sign of anger. "You may not remember me, but I remember you."

He snapped his fingers, and to Romsca's horror, two large, green-scaled lizards took their place at his side. He rested a paw on one's head, smiling without the slightest bit of fear. "We have a score to settle."

There had been an instant drawing of weapons and crowding backwards of the crowd at the sight of their hated enemies, however, the two beasts stood calmly .. almost placidly. While she couldn't see properly, Romsca could envision their cold, reptilian eyes were resting hungrily upon her, never mind the audience between them.

Meili's voice was cold. "You and those things are under arrest and will be judged accordingly. Sagitar?"

The tall female rat twirled her trident, stepping forward without hesitation as more of her guards joined her. The pine marten held up a paw. "You would be wise to stop, Sagitar. I am a servant of the Unknown Lord, who is displeased with your lack of reverence to him."

Meili snorted. "And I am the daughter of the Lady of the Sea. Sagitar, I tire of this one .. kill him."

Ublaz smiled, flicking an empty paw at the approaching rat. The next event was seared in Romsca's mind forever .. Sagitar flew backwards, toppling off the dias, her trident clattering to the floor.

Meili's eyes widened as the pine marten smiled graciously to her. "You worship many a deity .. yet you do not believe they have power? Perhaps I should test your faith."

His paw shot out, and Meili's saber was ripped forcibly from her grasp .. though the paw it flew instantly into was still six feet away. The weasel empress drew a long knife from beneath the folds of her skirt, staring at her adversary in fearful wonder.

The pine marten smiled, voice sickeningly soothing. "That is right, look into my eyes .. endless depths of wonder indeed. Do not move .. for you are my beast now."

Before Romsca's horrified gaze, Meili remained frozen .. as if she truly could not move. The pine marten, who had been walking deliberately forward, raised the empress's own sword, and with one remorseless blow, beheaded her with it.

The creature dropped the bloodied weapon upon the body, his smile never changing. "That is the fate of those who defy Lord Ublaz .. do any others wish to die?"

Sagitar, who'd staggered to her feet and reclaimed her trident, waved it at the murderer. "Guards, take him down!"

Six ratguards ran at him, but he never batted an eyelash, just snapped his fingers. The two lizards, so placid before, ran forward in a visage of true terror, each mauling several of the guards without sustaining a wound from the unfortunate's attempts of self-defense.

Ublaz's paw shot out again; this time strange, glowing greenish fire came from it and threw the last two guards violently backwards, into the crowd.

Romsca and her two friends had remained frozen with shock, and still were, as Ublaz snapped his fingers once more. The two lizards backed off instantly, taking their place beside their obvious master as if nothing had happened; though the bodies on the ground and the blood staining the lizards' muzzles and throats told a different story.

"Now, good creatures, are there any more volunteers, or have I made enough examples?"

Not even Sagitar moved.

Ublaz smiled, for it seemed he never stopped. He snapped his fingers again, and twelve more lizards joined him, as well as a motely assortment of vermin. "Good. As a servant and messenger of the Unknown Lord, here is his message. You have not worshipped me as you should, rulers of Sampetra? You will all die by my servant's paw, and I shall spare your subjects and way of life. So now, if you value your very existence, good creatures, give up these traitors that you may be spared."

There was a pause, before the creatures begin turning upon Meili's relations, young and old, and dragging them forward despite their protests and struggles.

Romsca was frozen with the terrible realization .. she was one of those beasts. A paw grabbed her arm, and she wrenched away, dropping from her seat and spinning around, almost in mid-air. She relaxed as she saw it was only her father. "Dad .."

He seized hold of her, and Barranca was close behind. The stoat-like beast nodded. "We saw .. let's get out of here!"

But getting away was not an option, as a nearby creature called out, "Hoi, they're related to the Empress .. get 'em!"

Conva, Barranca, and Romsca could do little, their own kind turned against them. Romsca managed to catch one last glimpse of her friends, looking terrified, before they were hidden by the crowd.

They were shoved to the dias steps, in time to see Ublaz gently pick the pearl up from its resting place, and he turned as they were thrown forward.

The pine marten snapped his fingers, and one of the lizards came forward. Romsca's nerve left her, and she backed away. Conva drew his cutlass, but Barranca was faster. There was the sound of metal on metal as the stoat drew his saber, leaping forward and stabbing the lizard in the chest as it reared up slightly to attack.

Barranca was thrown backwards from the force of the beast, but it let out a strange, hissing cry, blood flowing from a fairly deep wound. The creature backed away, several others approaching, but Ublaz held up a paw, snapping his fingers again.

The lizards halted, and he strode forward, bothering to scrutinize the beasts before him for the first time. "These are not weasels, they're ferrets and stoats. And this one is a daring beast. What are your occupations?"

Conva kept a wary eye on the lizards. "If you please sir, we are raiders."

"You own your own ships?"

Barranca got to his feet. "Yes."

He neglected to give Ublaz a title, but the pine marten showed no anger. "Are they truly Meili's relations?"

"They are, sir." Sagitar replied. "Her cousins."

Ublaz cocked his head. "It is a shame I shall have to kill you. But what must be, must be."

He admired the pearl he was holding, as he raised his fingers, placing them together.

"Wait!" Conva stood in front of Romsca. "I know where the others are!"

Ublaz slowly lowered his paw, turning back around, smile so genuine it made Romsca sick. "Excuse me?"

"The pearls." Conva took a deep breath. "I know where the other six pearls are."

The pine marten looked interested. "You know the legend of the six pearls?"

"I do. My father's greatest wish was to find them. He gave me a map, with the secret of them .. let me and my family live, and I will get them for you."

Ublaz raised one eyebrow. "Do you know of their power?"

Conva looked confused, and Ublaz's smile grew nearly pitying. "I see you do not. Well never mind, you cannot access it, when I hold the key to it."

The pine marten held up his pearl, nodding at length. "Your offer tempts me greatly. I do believe I will make that deal with you .. your lives for the pearls."

His smile some how contorted into a demonic glare, without once changing. "But should you fail .. your lives are mine. My Monitors are always hungry."

Chapter 2 Forgotten Reflections
Romsca sat on the soft sand, tracing a simple picture in it with a piece of driftwood. The gentle waves rushed up the shore with a quiet, wet sound, though the crash of breakers on the reef half a mile out could faintly be heard.

There was a soft sound behind her, and Romsca turned her head, to see Xzaris standing there, the night wind playing with his long black headfur.

"What do ya want?" She realized her voice sounded somewhat hostile, but it was mostly do to the dark thoughts plaguing her mind.

Xzaris sat silently next to her, before asking, "Ya mad at me? I'm sorry I couldn't .. do anythin' today. I should'a .. protected ya."

"I can protect meself." Romsca laid her head on her knees. "I ain't mad at ya."

"Nice picture." Xzaris indicated the drawing in the sand, of a rearing horse like the statues outside her manor.

Romsca shrugged, stating, "I guess .. this is goodbye, ain't it? Dad has ta leave in less than two days."

"Well .." Xzaris paused. "That's kinda why I came out here. Cause .. I wanted ta see ya weren't mad 'fore I told ya .. or somebeast else did."

"Told me what?" Romsca looked up, a little worried and unsettled after the events of the day.

Xzaris rubbed a paw across his nose. "Well .. ya know mother doesn't like me around, ever since dad .. left. An ya know how I'm always wantin' ta learn sailin' .. so I'm .. comin' with ya."

"She's letting ya?" Romsca sounded surprised.

Xzaris snorted. "Are ya kiddin? She's practically throwin' me out'a the house. It's all taken care of .. Conva can't refuse an extra paw, even if it is from a kid .. an' mom's more'n happy to get rid of the expense a feedin' me .. she'd rather focus on runnin' the tavern."

Romsca was surprised by this. "Oh .. well .. I'm glad."

"Glad somebeast is, cause yer father ain't."

"He ain't happy about taking me either. But he's afraid ta leave me. What about Rasconza?" Romsca asked.

Xzaris shook his head. "I doubt he's comin'. His dad don't wanna part with him."

Romsca sighed. "Guess not."

"Hey .. what's up? You seem .. down."

"I am down. What do ya think Xzaris?"

He didn't say anything a moment, before stating, "Aww .. come'n Romsca! This is just the thing we always said we'd do .. sail the seas .. raid .. go ta war. It's .. what ya've always wanted, right?"

Romsca did nothing a moment, before she straightened her shoulders. "Yea. It is, I just .."

She slowly walked away, sighing to nobeast in particular, "I just always thought we'd do it with Rasconza."

><><

The sun dawned bright and early over Redwall abbey, casting shining rays of light over everything, the herald for a wonderful spring day.

Three young creatures were picking some of the season's first strawberries, a hedgehog, and two mice. They were enjoying the morning sun, when a shadow fell over them, and they started.

The female mouse .. who had previously been trying to get as close to the male of her species as was possible .. now grabbed the hedgehog's arm. "Tis the ghost .. come on Tansy, let's get out of here!"

The hedgehog paused, though she looked nervouse. "But Piknim .. what about Friar Higgle's strawberries .."

Piknim set about hurrying off. "We've got enough, I won't stick around!"

Tansy looked slightly ashamed, but ran after her, calling, "Martin, come with us!"

However, the oddly spotted golden mouse didn't move, and his friends didn't look back to see if he'd come.

The newcomer who'd caused all the commotion pulled off the hood of their cape, revealing strands of long, shimmering gray hair mixed with a little gold. "I do have a marvelous effect on children."

Her voice had a hint of dry sarcasm as she turned to the fearless one. "So my young friend, is your father about?"

Martin nodded. "Yea, but he's sleeping still. I think."

"Well, I have business with him. He can wake up for his father's old mentor, ghost she may be." The mouse strode across the lawns toward the gatehouse, her boot-clad paws virtually noiseless.

Martin hurried after her. "Why haven't you come as often as when I was younger, I miss you!"

The mouse didn't look around, as she murmured, "You would be one of the only ones. I know I am not wanted here, and I am growing too tired to resist the weight of Malimore's eternal influence."

"But you don't get tired." Martin looked confused.

The mouse stopped beside the gatehouse door, slowly looking around. "Everybeast grows tired sooner or later, my young friend. This you must understand."

She knocked on the door, waiting for an answer as Martin scratched his head. "But .. what do you mean?"

"I hardly know." The mouse smiled softly. "Only that all things have their time."

Martin opened his mouth to speak, but the door opened at that moment, revealing a light grayish mouse maid who's fur was mottled with white patches. The creature started, before asking, a little tensely, "Yes?"

The golden mouse crossed her arms. "Good morning, Tess. I've come to speak with your husband, there is something I must tell him."

Tess raised an eyebrow. "He is having breakfast .."

"Then he can see me." She slipped past Tess, her boots making soft clicks on the floor and Martin followed her.

They entered the kitchen, where an older golden mouse was enjoying some pancakes at the table. "Tess, dear, do shut the window. It's still a bit brisk out."

"Mattimeo, can't you tell my footsteps are not your wife's?"

The mouse started, smiling as he stammered, "Ah, Sayna! Where have you been lately? Care for some breakfast?"

"I don't think Tess enjoys ghosts in her kitchen."

Tess walked past, looking slightly nervous, but shaking her head. "No .. you were always good to us."

Sayna paused, before pulling up a chair and sitting down. "Very well, I shall speak with you here."

"This sounds serious." Mattimeo set his fork down. "Is there a threat to Redwall?"

Sayna helped herself to a pancake. "Not entirely, or at least not one that has shown itself. There is always a threat."

She paused, adding, "No, I came to tell you that I am leaving Mossflower for a time."

Martin looked up in surprise, as did his father. "But what if we should be attacked?"

"Ignasa would not give me rest about leaving, would he? I will only be gone several seasons."

"Only?"

Everybeast turned to look at Martin. "Sayna, what about training me? And going to Brockhall? And how we'd explore Mossflower .. you said you'd show me the waterfall and the quarry still!"

Sayna sighed. "I am sorry my young friend, but perhaps you should ask your father."

She gave Mattimeo a pointed look, before standing. "I still have a quest to fulfill. My successor is out there somewhere."

Her voice was soft. "And this time .. at long last, they have been born."

><><

"All hands to the Waveworm! We set out before the sun's zenith!"

That roar from her father set the crew scurrying about, though Romsca didn't really move from her place on the dock. There were ships of all kinds anchored in the bay, most a good way out. However Waveworm sat docked on the pier itself.

A paw was laid on Romsca's shoulder, and she jumped in surprise, relaxing again as Barranca's voice rang out. "Your dad's ships a good one, don't you forget that. Waveworm may not be the biggest, but she's one a the fastest, and she's a coastal raider. That's always to your advantage."

The stoat added, "I'll see you by and by, I'm off to the Freebooter. She's got her crew waiting for their captain, and there's no sense to that. We'll always be on your tail, though, Mossflower's shore ain't a place for lone ships."

Romsca watched him go a moment, before somebeast spoke her name from behind. She turned to see Rasconza standing on dock, the sea breeze whipping his crop of short, scruffy headfur about.

Romsca scuffed a paw, as Xzaris walked up. Rasconza spoke at last. "I'll miss you guys .. you're my best friends."

Romsca rubbed her nose, suddenly hugging the fox. "And you're my best friend."

Xzaris nodded. "Yea, mine too."

"And we'll always be best friends. Forever .. won't we?" Romsca asked.

"Course." Rasconza rubbed a paw across his muzzle. "I sure wish I could go, it's going to be one grand adventure!"

"What if we can't find these pearls?" Romsca's voice was soft.

There was a pause, before Rasconza shrugged. "Ah, there's a whole ocean out there. Logic is, that if they exist, you'll find them."

He smiled crookedly. "Good luck. You'll be back .. just like when I left for my first raid. Sure .. I didn't go as far, but that just makes the adventure better."

Romsca found herself smiling back, because she realized he was right. This was a great adventure. And things had a chance to turn out well.

Conva walked up behind them, laying a paw on Romsca's shoulder. "It's time you and Xzaris got on board."

The ferret nodded, glancing back at Rasconza before she headed for the ship, Xzaris behind her. They were on the gangplank of the Waveworm, when a commotion came from the pier behind them. Ublaz was striding towards them, a good number of his lizards in tow.

Romsca froze, before grabbing Xzaris's paw and bolting onto the ship, plowing into somebeast. It was Rubby, the old rat cook. He scowled at the two, but dipped his head to Romsca, and continued on his way.

Xzaris walked back to the railing, looking over it, and Romsca joined him. Neither said a word, just listened to Conva and Ublaz.

"You did not think, captain, that I would simply let you leave, unguarded? I am not so simple as that. I'll be sending fifteen Monitors with you."

"What?" Conva was shocked. "But how will we get anywhere, they'll eat me crew! The beasts will mutiny, they hate lizards!"

Ublaz smiled. "Oh, my Monitors only eat beasts disloyal to me. They do only my bidding. As for mutiny, that's your problem, captain."

"How can you be sure they will not attack us?" Conva was fingering the hilt of his cutlass, watching the calm lizards.

"Oh, I have my ways, captain." Ublaz held up a paw, putting two fingers together as if to snap them. "But if you do not wish to set sail ..."

"No!" Conva shouted, lowering his gaze after doing so. "No, I will go. With them."

Romsca and Xzaris exchanged horrified glances, as the first lizard made its way up the gangplank.

Ublaz's smiling voice was like a final knell. "Good. And I call them Monitors for a reason, captain. They monitor everything for me .. even if I am not there to see, they will see for me."

><><

"Ha, taste my harpoon!"

"Yea? Take that!"

There was a clash as steel met steel, and one beast stumbled back. The other advanced on them, but they swung their harpoon out, tripping their opponent and jumping onto their paws. "Taste your harpoon, eh?"

The beast on the ground shrugged. "It sounded cool, anyway."

The victor grabbed his paw, pulling him upright. "Back your words with steel, Marine."

Marine clapped his sister on the back, grinning as she toppled over. "There never was a truer piece a wisdom, Aqua."

The female otter, who looked almost identical to her brother, glared at him as she stood again.

"Aqua, Marine! Do it with me! Please?"

Marine scooped up his little brother, almost half his size. "Arr, Lutran! What, you want ta duel with us? You watch out for Aqua now, she's sneaky."

Aqua rolled her eyes. "If I'm sneaky, what are you?"

Lutran interrupted. "Don't fight, I want to duel! I brought my harpoon, please? I bet I can win!"

"Oh, you do?" His older brother set him down. "But you can't. Let's go look for a better harpoon shaft for you, yours is a bit small nowadays."

"Hey, I want to come too!"

All three turned to see Grath come running up. "I can help find sticks."

Aqua and Marine exchanged a glance, Aqua stating, "Coral said you were coughing last night .."

Grath shook her head. "That was just from the cold I've had, it's nothing! Let me come too, I'll keep up."

Marine was dubious. "We don't want you to get tired .. why don't you not this time."

Grath looked sulky. "You just don't want to get in trouble with mother. That's all."

"Look, you've been sick, you should stay home and rest." Aqua was patronizing.

"I always have to stay home." Grath stamped a paw. "Fine, but I know what you really are worried about, you don't want me to slow you down!"

She stormed off, glaring behind her momentarily. Marine looked sorry, before Aqua sighed. "Well, let's go. It's not that I wouldn't like her along, but she can't keep up with us."

Grath had paused at the edge of the clearing, and had heard her sister's words. The young otter maid hung her head, because she knew Aqua was right.

"Why do I have to be the littlest and get sick so often?"

Nobeast answered her, because she stood alone in the empty woodlands. Grath looked around, before suddenly grinning. "They can't leave me just cause they want to .. I'll follow them."

She did so instantly, taking the path her older siblings had taken into the woodlands surrounding their holt.

Some ten minutes later, Grath still hadn't caught up. In fact, she wondered if she was even on the right track .. her brothers and sister's trail had been lost from her inexperienced eye.

But the woodlands soon entranced her, taking away her displeasure at loosing them. She hadn't been in this part of the woods very much .. in fact she'd never been in this particular place. The trees and underbrush were thick, and everything was on a continual, rocky slope headed upward.

Bird's songs filled the air here, and the landscape looked untouched and magical .. like something in a painting Grath had once seen in the small town a day's ride inland from her holt. It had hung on the wall of the inn there, and Grath had wished she could find such a place.

This was it. There were no cut tree stumps, nothing unnatural .. just wild, overgrown woodland.

The young otter giggled happily. Her siblings might have left her, but look what she'd found!

And without their help. That thought was the happiest one .. she'd actually done something all by herself. Nobeast had helped her .. this place was hers, and nobody else's.

She'd gone quite a ways by now, but she was too excited to think about going home. Grath skipped through a carpet of thick leaves, flopping down in them and staring up at the sky .. that was blocked out by the canopy of leaves above her.

The otter didn't move awhile, before she noticed the sun was slowly beginning it's descent in the afternoon sky.

She sighed, pulling herself onto her paws, as her foot brushed against something that was mostly buried in the soft dirt. Grath knelt down, pulling out a dagger, half rusted to nothing, fragments of tattered leather binding crumbling from the hilt in her paw.

"Who'd you belong to?" Grath asked to herself, feeling a little bit of disappointment that somebeast had been here before her.

She started up the rocky hill, holding the old dagger as she examined it closer. It was once a fine weapon .. and there was something hauntingly familiar about it.

Grath suddenly cocked her head, stating, "Why, it looks like father's knife. And Aqua's .. and Marine's .. just a lot older."

She stuck it in her belt, climbing over a large rock .. keeping her eyes on the ground for any other treasures. And she saw them too .. an engraved belt buckle here, an rusted harpoon head there.

Grath was confused as to what this place might be, to hold so many forgotten things. Why ever had they been left?

She had almost reached the top of the hill, when she looked back. The forest spread out before her like a beautiful blanket, colors melding together perfectly.

Suddenly, her hind paw slipped off the rock it was on, and Grath fell, grabbing the stone she'd been standing on with a small cry. She'd expected her paws to hit something, but there was nothing whatsoever.

She looked over her shoulder, gasping in dismay as she realized she was hanging at the edge of fairly high drop, that held sparkling indigo water at the bottom.

Grath tried to scramble back up, but she was slipping, and there was nothing to be done. Her short claws dug white marks into the rock as she lost her hold, and fell with a dismayed squeak.

There was a splash, and the shocking feeling of cold water. Grath snapped her eyes open to find she was sinking in a clear pool or pond of some sort, but the bottom was a ways away, and so was the surface.

She kicked her hind paws, glad she knew how to swim. Even still, her lungs felt like they were bursting before she reached the air again .. she'd never done well at holding her breath long periods of time.

Grath reached the surface, gasping for air as she kicked her paws to keep floating. There was a steep, rocky shore nearby, but it was better than nothing, and the otter struck out for it.

When she dragged herself out, she was shivering a little. She sat on a rock, catching her breath as she looked around. She'd fallen into what might be considered a very small canyon .. more like an inland, freshwater lagoon.

Grath rubbed her arms, the eerie feeling coming to her that this was part of a world that had been lost .. long, long ago.

The water was very clear, and she stared in it, to realize that something sat on the silt, perhaps in five foot of water. The otter waded in, having to duck under to reach the object. She pulled it out, blinking at the biggest shell she'd ever laid eyes on.

It wasn't brightly colored, just plain whitish gray, but it was of an extraordinary size, and strangest of all, it had a golden clasp and hinges that still glittered, for time cannot tarnish pure gold.

Grath pushed the clasp up, lifting the lid with high hopes of what she might see .. but the inside of the shell case was disappointing. Aside from water and shreds of rotten fabric, it was empty.

><><

"Whoa girl .. easy now." Sayna fastened her chestnut horse's bridal, holding onto the reins and throwing them over a post outside Brockhall.

The mare snorted, pricking her ears foreward questioningly, and her owner sighed. "I know it seems crazy, Fire, but I know I'm supossed to go to the west shore. Somebeast needs me .. somebeast who will help Redwall. Maybe they are my sucessesor."

The chestnust shook her head, cropping up a bit of grass. Sayna nodded. "Yes .. you're always eating. Now .. I believe we have all we'll need."

She pulled the tarnished, ancient key from her satchel, sticking it in the lock and turning until it clicked. The mouse smiled absently at her home, sighing, "I'll be back .. at least you'll always wait for me."

She swung into her saddle, nudging her horse with her heels. The chestnut started off, and Sayna looked back one more time, saying to nobeast in particular, "I wonder if Martin will have grown up by the time I get back. Only some children can understand the magic of the ghost of Mossflower .. and a few very odd adults. But you've seen that much, Firemaiden."

The horse tossed her head, and Sayna laughed. "Even if you didn't understand a bit of it. It's been too long since we galloped .. come on girl."

She clapped her heels against the mare's sides, leaning over her neck as her gait quickened and the woods rushed by.

For once all thoughts of the weight of many an age lifted, and Sayna felt a little joy return. This trip would be a welcome change from her dull and seemingly endless life.

And whatever came at the end .. well, only Ignasa knew.

><><

Grath fingered the odd thing she had found, many questions forming in her mind. Why had somebeast not told her about this place? Did they not know? What had happened here .. what had the strange shell-case once held?

Would she ever know?

"No, I must know!" Grath hadn't relized her feelings had gone as deep as they did untill she spoke these words.

She didn't even understand why she felt as though her life would be incomplete unless she found out, but she did. She felt as though she would allow some glorious secret to be lost forever.

Grath suddenly felt it, carvings on the inside of the shell's lid. She tipped it back to read them, only to find they were carved in writing that made no sense to her eyes .. in some ancient language.

The otter sighed, suddenly looking up at the sky to relieze she should go home. Besides .. there might be somebeast who could read this for her .. and she had a good guess who, the old otterwife healer Waterlily. She was always interested in ancient things.

But how to get the shell home .. and how to get home. That was the question. Climbing out of this strange canyon-like place would be exceedingly difficult, especially with the large shell in tow.

However the cayon did have an outlet, a set of shallow rapids that allowed the Moss to flow out, just like the waterfall that let the river flow in. Grath made her way along the rocky beaches toward the rapids, slowly at times, but not afraid.

The Moss was the river the holt sat upon.

It might take awhile, but she'd get there, by and by.

Sure enough, in about an hour, the river had led her back home. Grath looked around to see she was still alone, and satified she was, made her way to Waterlily's comfortable cave on the river's bank.

Unlike her own home, which set a little ways back from the river, Waterlily's door was reached by wading. Grath splashed through the shallows, sweeping the curtain of river plants back as she stepped into the cave.

"Waterlily? Are you home?"

"Grath?" The otter groaned inwardly at who answered, her sister, Coral.

The older otter stepped into veiw, asking, "Where've you been? I was a little worried."

Grath kept the shell as hidden as possible, stating, "Oh, I was just picking flowers in the meadow .. you know, the one you showed me."

"That's a bit far for you to go alone .. but I suppose it's fine. Where are they?" Coral asked.

Grath looked blank. "Where's what?"

Coral cocked her head. "Um .. the flowers you were picking?"

"Oh! I .. didn't bring them back with me. I found an old dagger, and I must have set them down while I looked at it." Grath said the first thing that popped into her mind.

Coral looked dubious, but Waterlily appeared that second, stating, "Now Coral, please take those herbs to your mother, they will help with her cough. Hurry along."

The otter maid nodded, and Grath heard her splash through the shallow water outside. Waterlily adjusted her glasses, blinking owlishly at Grath. "Now young'un, show me what you don't want to show your sister."

Grath flushed with embarassment, but she held up the shell. "I found this today, and it has weird writing on it. I wondered .. if you could read it for me?"

Waterlily smiled, beckoning the young otter follow her. "Weird writing, eh? I like that sort of thing. Bring it in, and we'll see what I can find."

The old otter turned the shell-case over and over in her paws, opening the lid and looking inside. Grath looked excited, but Waterlily shook her head. "Hmm .. get me the old scroll on that shelf."

The otter maid did as she was told, bringing the item as her old companion sat at her writing desk. Grath sat down as Waterlily read some of the parchment, then what was on the shell-case, then the parchment.

This pattern continued a good while, until Grath politly asked, "So .. what's it say?"

Waterlily chuckled. "Oh, I'll be up most of the night deciphering this. How about you run along home to your dinner, and come back in the morning."

Grath was reluctant, but finally agreed. As she left the old otter's home, she knew the hours until morning would seem far slower than they truly were.

><><

Rasconza was feeling pretty down after his friends had left on their grand adventure .. and left him alone. He didn't have a lot of other friends, after all .. Romsca and Xzaris had done whatever he was doing, or vise versa.

They'd shared laughter, tears, hopes, dreams, and quite a few friendly scuffles and play adventures. And now, when they were faced with a real adventure .. he had to stay behind.

He didn't like to show it, but there was an empty place in his life .. and it hurt.

The fox was sitting on the dock by the river they'd fished on all the time, staring into the shimmering water. "They're sure lucky."

"Who's lucky?"

A bright, cheery vioce rang out beside him, making him jump and fall into the shallow water with a splash. He surfaced the next second, grabbing the edge of the dock and scrambling up on it.

"Hey, are ya ok? I'm sorry, I didn't mean ta scare ya."

Rasconza found himself staring into the deep blue eyes of a very strange looking creature .. who's nose was a couple inches from his.

"I .. don't get scared." Was all he had the presence of mind to stammer.

The creature grabbed his paws, dragging him rather ethusiastically upon the dock and sucsessfully pulled him across a patch of exceedingly splintery wood.

"Ok, well neither do I. I'm Val. Val Bloodpaws. What's your name? Why are you making such a weird face, huh?"

Rasconza bit his lip, grimacing as he pulled splinters from his knees. "I'm Rasconza. What are you doing here .. in fact .. where'd you even come from?"

"I'm a Juska .. or I was once." Her voice sobered a bit, before returning to its energetic tempo once more. "But anyway I'm just exploring. This dock looked cool so I thought I'd walk on it, and then you were here and you jumped in the water .."

"Ok, ok .." Rasconza forestalled more remarks about his sudden bath as he observed the creature before him. In personality and looks, she took a little getting used to.

She was a vixen, smallish for what he guessed her age was .. about thirteen seasons. She was snow white with shocking, almost unatural blood red hair, paws, muzzle, and tail tip. Blue and black tattoos ran over her face and paws, as well as down her left shoulder.

"So .. what're ya staring at, huh?"

Rasconza relized he was indeed staring at this odd creature, and she pouted. "So I'm weird looking .. but ya look like somebeast tried to drown ya."

"I didn't mean it like that." Rasconza looked at his own fur, which was, admittedly .. completely sodden.

Val suddenly grinned. "Oh, ok .. yea, I look weird but whatever. Say, can ya show me around? Cause yer like the first creature who's really talked ta me and all. Please? I won't scare ya anymore."

"I wasn't scared." Rasconza insisted.

"Yea, a course, I mean I won't make you fall off anymore docks. Or I won't mean too. And if I do, you can remember I didn't mean too, ok?"

Something about her made Rasconza laugh, even if he'd meant to scowl and send her on her way. Though he sort of wondered if that would have done a bit of good anyway.

"I .. guess. You're new here?"

"Yea. I came with Ublaz."

Rasconza stopped walking. "You what?"

Val cocked her head. "I came with Ublaz. On his ship. He .."

Her vioce suddenly turned darker. "He captured my clan and killed all the family I had. I hate him."

She wheeled to face Rasconza. "Ya better not like him!"

Rasconza held up his paws. "No! He just took over my country and sent my two best friends away .. I hate him too."

Val paused, before she grinned, grabbing Rasconza's upheld paw and shaking it so hard his teeth shook. "Hey, great. Besties! So. What do ya like ta do best? I like talking .. except I can't do much of it around Ublaz an' his crew."

Her voice had dipped down when she spoke of the pine marten, as it always seemed to. Rasconza shrugged. "Um. I like fishing .. and spending time with my dad .. and being around my freinds. Only .. they aren't here anymore."

"Aww .." Val patted his shoulder, genuinly sympathetic. "I'm really sorry. I .. can't remember my dad."

Somehow, Rasconza didn't like to see her sad. It seemed .. unatural. "Hey .. I'll show you a great veiw of the harbor if you come with me."

Val perked up. "Sure!"

Rasconza found it took a long time to get Val off his tail, she was very persistent. And somehow, he didn't want to drive her away. She was a little irritating .. and very obnoxious .. but he was lonely.

At least she didn't dislike him because his father was the best sea captain on Sampetra, and most of the beasts his age made fun of him, saying he was a weakling that didn't have to work for anything. They thought his life was perfect.

But it wasn't, it was lonely. When Xzaris and Romsca were here, he didn't have to worry .. but now everything was different. Val didn't hold any of that against him .. though, that was probably cause she didn't know.

It would only last so long.

"So what's havin' a dad like? I mean .. like, do ya do everything together, or does he not pay much attention ta ya? I've always sorta wondered."

Rasconza decided to not let on how rich his family was. "Umm .. well, he can't take me everywhere, but sometimes he trains me with weapons, and sometimes we fish together. Lately, he's been taking me on raids .. he's a sea captain. That's what I'm going to be, too."

Val was oblivious. "Hey, cool! You have a ship?"

"Yea .. well, my dad does. The Bloodkeel, she's anchored in the harbor out there."

"That's an awesome name, Bloodkeel. Makes it sound like the ship's like .. covered in blood. Or maybe like .. it's really deadly. Maybe it has a skull as the figurehead or somethin'." Val tried to imagine what the ship looked like.

Rasconza grinned. "How'd you know that? She's got a lizard skull on her prow."

Val pricked her ears up. "Whoa .. ya killed one a those nasty things? That's like .. way more than awesome."

"I didn't. My dad did though, it's something of a legend."

"I've really gotta meet yer dad sometime. He sounds pretty cool." Val paused. "Speakin' a lizards .. I should probably go back now. Ublaz don't hardly notice me, but ya can never be too careful, ya know? It was nice meetin' ya 'Conza, I'll see ya 'round."

Rasconza watched her bound away, waving once before disappearing into the shadows of darkening streets. He scratched his head, muttering, "She is something, that's for sure."

He turned for his father's manor, for the sun had set and the stars were coming out. The young dog fox took a familiar shortcut, an old ally, and soon reached the door leading into the kitchen.

He stopped to grab one of the sugared pastries sitting on the counter, pausing as somebeast walked in.

"Well, there you are son. Where've you been?"

Rasconza jumped, shoving the dessert into his mouth. "Mmph! Father! I .. just sort of .. walking around is all."

His father towered over him as he laid a paw on his shoulder. "And you saw nothing strange?"

"No, nothing." Rasconza was finally able to speak clearly.

The older dog fox nodded. "We need to talk, Rasconza. Servant?"

A rat ran up, bowing, "Yes master Kustaa?"

"Bring us food an drink." Kustaa sat at the table, and Rasconza did as well.

"I must bring this to your attention, for Sampetra is no longer what it was. Things are going to become very different, and much harder for us all."

Rasconza frowned. "Are you certain?"

"Without a doubt." Kustaa laid his paw on the table. "All tyrants are the same. He will raise all the taxes, he will take our children as his servants, he will make us as low as the beasts we raid. That is not our lot in life, my son. We may be pirates, but Meili and her family before her made sure we acted on a set of ideals. Honor was respected. But now .. I fear we will dissolve into the rabble woodlanders take us vermin for. Something that is a disgrace to my country and my fellow beasts, and I will not stand for it."

His son cocked his head. "Well .. what do you plan to do?"

Kastaa looked out the window, into the night. "Meili's family has not been completely destroyed."

"You mean .." Rasconza didn't finish his sentence.

"Aye, that's exactly what I mean. Ublaz will deal treacherously with them, you can guarantee it .. if he's alive. But if he's not .. we will have the seven pearls, and we will crown Barranca emperor in Meili's place. If he should fall, we will crown Conva, and should he be killed, Romsca will take the throne. We have three chances .. one of them will prevail."

"But what about the Unknown Lord .."

"Nonsense. He has no more power than any other deity, Ublaz is a liar and a fraud. I don't know how he does his little magic tricks, but there is a logical explanation for all of it. The line of Scound has always given what is due to every lord, and this Ublaz has taken the Unknown Lord's pearl. Meili would never have dared to disgrace him in that way." Kastaa was sure of his point of view. Rasconza was a little taken aback by this new way Kastaa was thinking. "We will rebel?"

Kastaa nodded. "I have .. acquaintances. Sampetra embodies the spirit of the dragon .. and we still have that within us. This Ublaz? He will fall."

Chapter 3 Friends and Foes
Romsca had never actually been out on the open sea, and she'd been a little nervous she would be seasick. However, while her stomach was a bit unsettled, it wasn't bad .. in fact, Xzaris looked far more queasy than she felt.

The two ferrets were washing the deck near the cook's galley, and Xzaris was leaning on his mop.

"Feeling ok?" Romsca couldn't resist a jab.

"Oh, shut up." Xzaris was not in the mood.

Romsca felt bad. "Sorry. Would some water help?"

"Maybe." The blue gray ferret mumbled, "Though I spect I'll keel over any minute now .. everything I own belongs to ya."

Romsca poured her bucket of water on the deck. "Dad says most beasts are seasick a few days their first time .. it'll wear off."

Xzaris gently rubbed his stomach. "Hope so."

"Tell ya what .. I'll do yer work tonight if ya fill in for me once ya feel better. Go get some sleep."

Romsca could tell her friend was truly sick, because he didn't protest. "Yea .. thanks .. I think I'll .. visit the railin' instead a messin' up yer clean floor here."

He staggered off, dropping the mop in his haste. Romsca picked it up, sticking it in the bucket and scrubbing the deck with a satisfactory squelching.

She worked at it awhile, paying no attention to anything but what she was doing. A sudden soft hissing rang out near her, and the next moment Romsca scrambled backwards with a cry. Two of the terrible Monitors were watching her with their yellow, reptilian eyes.

The ferret held the mop like a quarter-stave, drawing her hatchet. "Get away from me, filth!"

Neither lizard moved for a minute, before the larger and darker of the two spoke in its strange, hissing voice. "Ferret might tazzzte better than rationzzz .. thizzz one izz zzzmall, not needed for running zzzhip."

Romsca suddenly felt more sick than moments ago, as a little bile rose in her throat from fear. "You will die sooner! Leave me alone, or .. taste my blade!"

The smaller lizard hissed in a manner that could have been considered laughter as its companion spoke again. "Little ferret not zztrong warrior, zzzhe do nothing hurt uzzzz. No one zzztop our feazzzt."

There was a flash of rich brown fur, and Conva dashed between Romsca and the lizards. "I'll be stopping it .. filth. Get back, you've been fed all we can feed you, and you won't be eating one beast of my crew!"

The small lizard hissed in anger. "We will tell Mazzzter of you, ferret! He will not be pleazzzed!"

"He wants me to get his pearls, doesn't he? Well then, leave me crew alone. And you won't be telling him anything for a good long while, we'll be on this wild quest of his at least a season, or perhaps more. Back to the hold, scum."

Romsca wondered if the two would kill her father then and there, but instead, they obeyed .. albeit shooting a few baleful glances behind them.

Conva took his daughter's paw. "I don't want you working after dark. I found Xzaris at the rail already and sent him to his bunk .. you two are to not go out alone, especially at night."

><><

"Oh, it'll be a good long while, captain?"

Ublaz smiled, for smiling seemed a habit with him. The pine marten was sitting in a comfortable chair, idly stroking his paw over an orb made of sparkling, greenish glass.

He swiped his paw over it, watching with silent, almost amused interest as the scene on the Waveworm danced across the glass ball's surface once again.

"He seems quite protective of that little ferret .. she looks somewhat like him. Ah .. his daughter? Well that could be quite a bit of leverage used in the right place." Ublaz spoke to himself, before gently tapping his paw on the sphere.

The picture of Conva, Romsca, and the two Monitors dissolved to clear glass, and the watcher fiddled with his curled whiskers a moment. "Most interesting. Now .. show me the outer hall."

The glass surface clouded again, before it brought forth an image of one of the palace halls. A Monitor was making its way down it, and Ublaz smiled, tapping on the glass to dissolve the picture. "Come in, Lask Frildur."

The door was shoved open, and the green lizard walked in, bowing it's head. "Yezzzz Mazzzter?"

"I trust you have stationed Monitors at every entrance, and also overlooking the harbor?" Ublaz's voice was authoritative, yet completely calm.

Lask bowed his head. "Yezzz Mazzzter."

Ublaz nodded. "Good. Remember, always keep Monitors watching the bay. One or two .. but always at least one."

He stroked the crystal ball, smiling. "I must always be able to see my visitors. Do you understand?"

The answer was no more or less than Ublaz expected. "Yezzz my Mazzter."

"Good. Go about your duties."

The lizard bowed his head before slipping away, and silent as he'd come .. for his footfalls were surprisingly soft and cat-like for his size.

Ublaz shut the door silently behind him, chuckling to himself. "Ahh, the fools who think I cannot see them .. where my Monitors are, they monitor everything for me."

He walked past the table the glass sphere sat upon, and his paw swept over it. "The bay."

At his command, an image of the night-cloaked harbor appeared, the lights of Sampetra twinkling in the darkness and reflecting off the water. The pine martin stroked the glassy surface, whispering, "But that's our little secret."

><><

Grath was up before anybeast else the next morning, the only thing keeping her at home being the knowledge that her mother would be upset and worried if she didn't eat a good breakfast.

It seemed forever before her mother had breakfast on the table, and once she did, Grath had trouble eating slow enough to suit her. However, at long last, the young otter had the chance to leave the caves she called home, and she did as fast as she possibly could.

Moments later she was splashing through the plants at the Moss's edge and swimming as best she could for Waterlily's caves. She half crawled through the door, panting, "Waterlily?"

"Ahh, there you are, young'un. I was wondering if you'd remember to come."

The otterwife was writing something down at her desk. Grath could barely keep still. "Of course I did .. what did you find? What does it say?"

Waterlily chuckled. "I should not have doubted your interest, I see. Sit down now."

Grath pulled up a chair, as the old otterwife added, "I do believe you have found something very rare, wonderful, and .."

She paused.

"What? And what?" Grath asked excitedly.

Waterlily fingered a piece of parchment. "And quite possibly, very dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Grath was amazed.

"Indeed. Listen to this .. it's what the writing on the shell says, to the best of my understanding."

Waterlily held up a parchment, reading the oddest poem Grath had ever heard.

"One pearl for integrity,

One pearl for morality.

One pearl for loyalty,

One pearl for love.

One pearl for wisdom,

One pearl for mercy,

And One for the sovereignty of Ignasa above.

Seven perfect tears shed,

A curse to the dead,

Though Ignasa's goodwill,

These none can fulfill."

The two otters were silent awhile, before Grath asked softly, "What .. does it mean?"

Waterlily held up an old, metal-bound book, complete with clasp, lock, and keyhole. "The History of Holt Lutra. I inherited this from my father, he was the keeper of records once. Now I am. But it took me a while to find what I was after, for I have not opened this book in many a season."

She spread the thick tome out, speaking again. "First, you must understand how our holt came to be. Our founders were Vinwyte and his wife Catkin, from which you, Grath, descend. They aided a great queen of Southsward, called Lady Lilly, in a war with the fabled warlord, Swartt Sixclaw. In her thanks, Lilly gave a set of beautiful, rose colored pearls to them .. in a seashell case."

Grath's voice was awed. "Then .. I found that case?"

"The very same." Waterlily smiled, before her expression grew serious again. "But you see, there was a reason they were lost .. and a very dark reason."

"How so?" Grath stared at the shell case as Waterlily replied.

"It seems that Vinwyte and Catkin hid the pearls in the holt, in one of the caves used for storage. But they were found several hundred seasons after the two had gone to the Lands Beyond."

The old otter shook her head. "At first there was no trouble, but then, a proud otter became Skipper. He bragged of the richness of his pearls, and soon, they were the envy of the surrounding lands. Wars erupted over them, with vermin bands, and also with settlements of squirrels, hares, and even other Holts. When there was peace, it was an uneasy, covetous peace. A few hundred seasons dragged by like this, and Holt Lutra always managed to keep their treasure. But then, what was already terribly wrong became far, far worse."

Waterlily paused, finally speaking again. "Holt Lutra had grown into a power of heavy influence. Otters of other holts learned they could not best us .. so they joined us instead. A proud brother and sister .. twins, got into a furious argument over who should lead after their father died. Soon, it turned into a civil war .. otter fought otter .. Lutraian against Lutraian. It came down to the pearls, and in a battle, the princess of Lutra managed to steal them from her brother."

Grath leaned forward in her chair, entranced by this piece of history she'd known nothing of. "And what happened?"

Waterlily brushed a little dust off of the book. "She ran, through the midst of battle .. and when the fighting died down, none could find her, or the treasure. Searches were made, but neither of them was ever seen again. The prince of Lutra, too, had been slain in the battle, but he had an infant son. The child was raised well, and he became a just leader .. he ordered all attempts to find the pearls cease, for all the blood they had spilled. So they were never found, and slowly, they have faded into a dim legend over the last seven hundred seasons. Until now."

"Until now." Grath stroked the shell-case thoughtfully.

Waterlily nodded. "I suppose the future of their story lies in your paws .. princess of Lutra."

><><

The morning sun streamed through the woodlands, and Sayna awoke to the gentle, consistent nudging of Firemaiden's nose. She pushed the horse's head away, mumbling, "Alright .. I'm up .."

"About time!"

Sayna sat bolt upright in a hurry, staring at the beast .. or beasts .. siting about the embers of her small fire. Only they weren't embers anymore, but a lively, crackling fire.

"You and Fire sure are fast .. it took us most of the night to catch up!"

"Martin! This had better be a dream, that's all I'm going to say." Sayna stammered indignantly to the speaker.

The spotted mouse was sitting on a fallen log with his best friend, the hedgehog Tansy, and a shaggy black pony was tied nearby. Martin looked sheepish, but not repentant. "Well .. we want to come too."

Sayna groaned. "It's not a matter of whether you want to come or not, what will I tell your parents if you get hurt .. or killed? Tell me that?"

Tansy looked down, mumbling, "I told you it wasn't a good idea."

"Aww, Sayna'll let us come. Please? It's just for a few seasons." Martin looked mischievous.

Sayna did not mean to crack a smile, but she did. "Oh Martin, I understand. I really do. But you can't come with me, it's too dangerous. I can't watch out for myself and both of you."

Martin jumped up, running to the pony and pulling a sheathed sword from its saddle. "No, look, I brought this! Dad gave it to me on my last birthday anyway .. and Tansy brought her sling, she's really good with it. We'll take care of ourselves."

Sayna shook her head, smiling a little sadly. "I almost wish I could let you, but no. I'm already accused of being dangerous and a ghost, I won't be accused of kidnapping too."

Tansy spoke up. "Oh no, we left a note telling where we were going. They know it's our idea."

Sayna's smile vanished. "Oh great."

"So, can we come .. please Sayna!" Martin begged.

Sayna looked droll. "I don't think I'll be deciding .. I think Mattimeo will be."

><><

Grath hurried along the Moss, back the way she had returned home last night, a burning curiosity driving her on. She'd stayed around where her siblings were practicing with harpoons .. or in Coral's case, gathering herbs, but for once, Grath didn't ask to join in.

No, she had her own adventure to follow now.

She had to slow down as the climbing over rocks, up hills, and through underbrush caught up with her, winding her. She reached the beautiful inland lagoon around midday, and slumped down against a rock to catch her breath.

The otter unstrapped her satchel, taking out her meal of bread and hotroot cheese, eating it while she let her strength return.

After about half an hour, she rose to her feet, wiping the last crumbs of her lunch from her muzzle. The young otter waded into the crystal-like water, contemplating the madness of her search.

Those pearls could have been scattered anywhere. They could have even been washed away by the river!

Or could they have?

The water flowed in over a waterfall, gentle and pretty much harmless .. it was not the Moss itself, but a small tributary that broke from the main river, and several miles down, rejoined it. This quiet lagoon was in the middle of that expanse, hidden by dense, unfrequented woodland.

The question was the rapids leading out. Grath shrugged, muttering to nobeast in particular, "Guess this is it."

She didn't move a moment, and she spoke to herself again. "Come on Grath .. you can do this. Just .. swim. You know how to swim."

The otter waited a second more, before she took a deep breath, and jumped in with a splash. A few moments later, she opened her eyes to find herself in a clear, aquatic world, her paws resting in the shallow silt.

She laughed with delight, and had to surface again to replenish the air she'd lost. The otter brushed her wet hair back, stating, "Now for those rapids .. I hope the pearls are all still here."

Grath took a deep breath, ducking under the water and striking out for where the rapids were. The first thing she noticed, was that this lagoon was deeper than she'd thought. It raised her hopes .. perhaps it had acted like a natural bowl, keeping its treasure within it.

The otter surfaced near where the rapids flowed out, taking another breath and ducking under to examine them better. They were just as she'd hoped .. sharply inclined and tall .. it would be nearly impossible for anything that didn't float to escape this place.

Grath popped up for air again, faced with the next big problem .. in order to find the pearls, she'd have to be able to get the bottom of the crystal pool, still have enough air to explore the depths .. and reach the surface once more.

"Well .. here goes nothing." Grath took a deep breath, before diving down toward the floor.

><><

"Wake up girl, we got a full day of sailing ahead of us!"

Romsca rolled over in her blankets as her father shook her awake. "Go get Xzaris and help Rubby in the galley."

"Xzaris felt sick last night." Romsca mumbled, only half conscious.

Conva shrugged, pulling Romsca onto her paws. "Sick or not, if you don't work, you don't eat. Now up you get."

Romsca nodded, staggering out of the captain's cabin and into the bright morning sun and calm sea. She suddenly didn't feel so sleepy, and ran to the rail, letting the sea breeze whip her raven-black hair about.

The water was deep, royal blue, and the sky was a lighter reflection of it, filled with fluffy white clouds. Nobeast could have asked for a more perfect day.

"Ahem."

Romsca turned to see her father watching her, expression stern but eyes still twinkling. She broke from her trance. "Oh, yea .. sorry. I'm off!"

She didn't wait for his reply, just dashed away in the direction of the sleeping quarters. However, halfway there, she plowed into somebeast, and they both fell to the ground in a heap of fur.

"Ow ... gee, just when I started feelin' sorta better!"

Xzaris sat up with a groan. Romsca sighed. "I'm sorry .. but dad wanted me to get you and have you help Rubby .. I'll be working too."

Xzaris staggered upright. "Yea .. ok, let's go."

The two made their way down to the galley, where the old rat cook was busy stirring something in a caldron. He rolled his eyes as they came in, practically bellowing, "No, Brekkist ain't ready yet! I've been wardin' off lizards an crewbeasts since the sun came up, so git outa here! I'm only one beast, with no help!"

"We are the help." Xzaris explained, quickly.

Rubby's demeanor quickly changed. "Oh ya are .. wull that's good then. One a ya stir this, an' one a ya git me that salt over onna shelf. I'll keep our fire goin' 'ere .. willin' paws get brekkist sooner, that's what I alwus say."

Romsca found herself stirring a pot of something that looked like porridge, but smelled a little too salty. Still, she wasn't going to go about telling Rubby how to do his job .. though she did recall her father mentioning he was a terrible cook.

Every now and then, a lizard would appear at the door, and Romsca got the vague idea, that should one attack, she'd grab Xzaris's bamboo pole and tip the caldron she was stirring onto its head.

However, Rubby was surprisingly unafraid of the things. As soon as he saw one, he'd yell at it to leave, or even smack it with the wooden spoon he constantly carried.

Romsca kept having visions of one of the lizards tearing the old rat to shreds and then coming after his helpers, but shockingly .. they didn't. They'd growl, but they'd back away moments later, shooting Rubby hateful glances.

Xzaris noticed it too, in fact, he was the one who said something about it. "They sure back off quick .. fer bein' hit in the nose with a spoon."

Rubby seemed to mistake the doubt in his voice for awe or admiration. "It's alla 'bout a show a force. Ya gotta let'em know who's in charge, an' they'll respect ya. Now, that porridge done yet?"

Romsca shrugged as Rubby turned to pull something out of a cupboard, and as soon as his back was turned, his helpers exchanged a doubtful glance.

Xzaris shook his head. "'Tween ya an' me ... there's a lot more ta it."

><><

Sayna was not having a wonderful day in the least. She'd already lost an hour trying to make breakfast for her stowaways, and in the end, Tansy did a lot of the cooking. Sayna was used to eating whatever was handy, but the two young beasts wanted a proper meal.

However, after quite a few minor burns from lack of the proper utensils, the three sat enjoying what Tansy had created. And Sayna did have to admit, it was better than what she would have come up with.

"So, why'd you say my dad would come?" Martin asked.

Sayna shrugged. "You told him what you were doing. Your pony is going to leave an easy trail to follow. He should be here any minute now."

"Oh." Martin sighed.

"Well .." Tansy patted his arm. "It was fun while it lasted, anyway."

Martin thought for a minute, before grinning. "Yea .. it was at that."

Firemaiden suddenly looked up from where she was grazing beside the pony, pricking her ears in a questioning manner. Sayna nodded. "Just as I thought."

Sure enough, Mattimeo came through the foliage on an old black appaloosa, dismounting as the creature stopped. Sayna stood up. "Ah, Mattimeo. You've come for your son I expect?"

The middle aged mouse nodded, "In a way."

Sayna raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, in a way?"

"I've been thinking .. perhaps my son is right. You were a great help to my dear father, and also were to me in my youth. It's been forever since I had an adventure myself .. and it's not right for me to leave you to go on your own."

Sayna was staring at Mattimeo, who shrugged. "I'll come with you."

"What about Tess?" Sayna sputtered.

"She's alright with it." Mattimeo explained. "She's not excited about leaving, but we discussed it and decided that a trip might do Martin and I more good than harm."

Sayna looked tired. "I .. didn't plan on that."

"Oh please!" Martin exclaimed. "Now that dad's coming, it'll be ok."

Sayna sighed. "Eat breakfast, Mattimeo. I'll think on it .. maybe I would not mind a little company."

Martin could not contain his excitement. "Yes!"

><><

The day passed uneventfully at Holt Lutra, except for the discovery, at about five in the evening, that Grath seemed to be missing. An hour or so later she appeared, looking worn out and a little damp.

The young otter received a scolding from her mother, and she explained herself by saying she'd been swimming in the Moss. Lutra stepped in and saved her from more interrogating, saying that an otter and water were natural friends and shouldn't be separated.

Grath waited until after dinner, when she found Marine sharpening a harpoon head. She watched her brother work for awhile, before asking, "Marine, are you good at swimming?"

The otter winked at his little sibling. "I should hope so."

"How do you hold your breath long enough to get to the bottom, swim around, and then come back up?"

"Depends on how deep the water is." Marine shrugged.

Grath frowned. "Well .. what if it was ... maybe nineteen feet deep? Or a little more?"

Marine cocked his head. "Why do you ask?"

"I .." Grath paused. "I want to learn how to swim like that."

Marine paused, before smiling. "I could teach you. There's a good swimming hole not far from here. Not any twenty foot, but it's just right for a beginner. I can even teach you a bit of diving. How'd that be?"

Grath thought a moment, before nodding. "I would like that."

"Alright then." Marine patted her shoulder. "I'll expect to see you right after breakfast. I might even get Aqua to help."

><><

Rasconza didn't set foot outside his manor, for his father had forbidden it. The rebellious side of him might have wanted to go out just for the fun of it .. but he had nobeast to do it with.

The fox decided to visit his favorite horse .. maybe ride around the courtyard .. after all, he had nothing else to do. Soon he was trotting the beast in a circle, its hooves clopping noisily on the smooth granite.

If only he was out on the streets .. he could ride down to the bay and watch the ships. That was where Kastaa had gone, Rasconza was sure of it.

He sighed, pulling his horse to a walk and thinking it wasn't quite fair he couldn't join in all the excitement.

One of the servants, a stoat, appeared in the archway leading out of the manor. "Young master?"

Rasconza pulled back on the reins, bringing the horse to a stop. "Yes?"

"Forgive me if I did wrong, sir, but there is a young visitor to see you. She claims she knows you."

Val appeared from behind the beast. "Whoa .. ya didn't tell me ya was filthy rich!"

Rasconza felt his heart sink, but Val was grinning. "This is so awesome, look at your house! Is that like .. silver doorknobs? Ya seriously have walls like a castle? An' yer own horse?"

Rasconza met her gaze slowly. "You going to hate me for that now?"

Val stared at him. "Uh .. no? I mean .. what do ya think? Can I ride? Please?"

The stoat was watching with a bit of surprise, but Rasconza waved him off. "She's ok."

He dismounted. "Yea .. I guess."

Val hoisted herself into the saddle clumsily, grabbing the reins and clapping her heels on the horse's sides. The animal snorted with surprise, before trotting in an awkward circle, and its rider slipped off.

Rasconza ran to where she'd fallen, asking, "Hey, are you ok?"

Val sat up. "Yes. That was so amazing. Can I do it again? Wait, do ya have any food?"

"Yea .. why?" Rasconza asked.

"I'm hungry." Val explained. "I work in the palace kitchen since the takeover, but that don't mean I get a lot ta eat. An' I ate less before that."

Rasconza paused, before nodding to a nearby servant. "Take care of the horse."

He motioned Val follow him, and she did so eagerly. "Hey, after we eat, can we go up in that cool tower thing? Will you show me around? This is so amazing! You're amazing too!"

The vixen bolted past him into the foyer, staring around in awe. Rasconza slowly shut the door behind him, staring at her in surprise.

"Where's the food? Do you have cake? I like cake, but I've never tasted it. How about fish? Tea? Soup?"

Rasconza smirked. "Follow me."

Val could eat a lot of food, Rasconza was learning. Then .. come to think of it, she was almost unnaturally skinny. One thing was for sure .. the fox didn't have a bit of trouble keeping a conversation going.

He reached for the quickly disappearing pastries on the kitchen table, when a shadow fell across the doorway. Rasconza swallowed quickly as Kastaa raised on eyebrow, looking expectantly at his son.

"Dad .. I .. she's .." Rasconza stammered.

Val beat him to it. "Wow, this is your dad? The one that killed the lizard? Awesome!"

She ran to Kastaa, grabbing one of his paws and shaking it. "I'm Val. Val Bloodpaws. I hate lizards too. Besties!"

The large dog fox glanced at Rasconza. "Where did you find this one? Is she always this way?"

Rasconza shrugged. "Um .. sort of. I .. met her last night. I guess she works in the palace."

Kastaa planted Val in a nearby chair, and she hurriedly reached for another sugared cake. The dog fox raised his eyebrow higher, even if it hadn't seemed possible. "For Ublaz?"

At the mention of Ublaz, Val scowled, mumbling through the cake in her mouth, "I don't gotta choice .. I sure hate him though."

Kastaa suddenly looked interested, as he sat down next to the table, reaching for one of the desserts. "Really?"

"Yea. He killed me little brother when he attacked my clan. Said he was too weak." Val stared darkly at the floor, rubbing a paw across her nose.

"I see." Kastaa stated. "In that case, why do you serve him?"

Val shrugged. "Don't gotta choice. Though sometimes I wonder if he'd really notice if I went missin'."

"How could he be that careless, to lose a slave?" Kastaa stroked his mustache thoughtfully.

"That's the only thing about him." Val explained. "He don't seem ta pay a ton of attention ta the beast who he thinks ain't important. I mean .. like, guards .. it don't matter how unimportant they seem, he watches em. But kitchen help .. or the beast who used ta swab his decks .. he don't watch 'em much."

Kastaa raised an eyebrow, again. "He doesn't, eh?"

"Nope." Val sighed. "You two .. you're really some a the first beasts who've ever been nice ta me. I like ya for that."

Kastaa nodded. "You're far too trusting. But .. we won't be the ones hurting you. For you're own sake, stay out of Ublaz's way."

Val shrugged. "Don't worry. I hardly get outa the kitchen .. inta the rest a the palace, that is. An' Ublaz never comes there. He probably barely remembers me .. I'm too weak ta hurt him. And the thing I hate the most is .. he's right."

The vixen flicked a lock of red hair over her shoulder, stating. "Well .. it was awful nice meeting ya, sir. I'd better get back now .. ya can never be too careful. I'll come back tomorrow, Conza."

She grinned a little, before skipping off for the main doors. Rasconza started to his feet, but Kastaa held up a paw. "The servants will let her out."

Rasconza sat down again, stammering, "Dad .. she's ok. She's not a problem."

"Oh I know that." Kastaa stood, smiling at his son. "You have found a most interesting beast, my boy. Most interesting."

><><

Romsca entered the captain's cabin after a long day of working in the kitchens, to see her father bent over his maps.

She sat in the hammock Conva had set up for her, stating, "Freebooter's close enough I can see her lights."

Conva nodded. "I expect Barranca will want a full report of the route I've picked for us .. and give me his own ideas."

Romsca laid down, idly staring at the wall nearby. She hung one leg out of the hammock, kicking gently off the wall and swinging her bed.

Conva spoke again. "It should take us another three weeks."

"Mmmm .." Romsca mumbled, only partly paying attention as her imagination shifted to daydreams.

Her father's voice broke through them. "Come here girl, if you had to come, I might as well teach you something."

Romsca sat up slowly, wishing she could sleep. "Now?"

"Yes, now. We aren't at home girl, you can't live however you like. You may be tired, but you must push through that and keep going."

Romsca sat down beside her father, and he laid a paw on her shoulder. "Someday, this ship'll be yours. You'll be her captain, and she'll serve you well, as she serves me."

Conva smiled gruffly. "No matter what happens girl, you must always push on. Life'll bring you troubles, you'll have to work through them. No matter the pain, the hurt, the betrayal, or the sorrow life brings you, you'll always have to keep going."

Romsca looked up. "Am I .. I don't know .. if I can be strong enough."

"You will be." Conva nodded. "You've got your mother's wild heart and your father's strength, never forget it. Someday, I won't be here .. you'll have to be strong for me. Wind and weather, fire and blood, that's a pirate's life. You'll live it proud Romsca .. I know you will."

Romsca threw her arms around her father. "I'll do it for you dad."

Conva hugged her back. "Aye, that's me girl."

He turned to the map. "And now. How about I show you how to plot a ship's course?"

Chapter 4 Foretold Dangers
Romsca woke on her own the next morning, later than Conva would have awoken her. She looked around a moment, noticing the sun was streaming through the cabin's window and her father's maps were not on his table.

The ferret scrambled out of her hammock, buckling on her belt, hatchet, and the few long knives she owned. She pushed open the cabin door, stepping out into the morning, relaxing as she saw her father and uncle discussing the maps on deck.

Xzaris walked up. "There ya are, sleepyhead. Guess what .. yer uncle's already discussin' battle plans."

"Where are we headed anyway? I mean .. I know, the western coast of Mossflower. But what are we up against?" Romsca asked, in case Xzaris had picked up more information .. something he was often good at.

He did not disappoint. "That's the cool .. and kinda creepy .. thing. We don't really even know. There are stories 'bout ghosts .. monsters .. dragons. And still some say it's just a bunch a woodlanders .. otters or somethin'. But pirates try ta avoid that shore, cause a the disappearin' ship a yer grandfather's."

Xzaris gestured to Conva and Barranca. "I was listenin' ta them."

Romsca nodded, before taking a step forward in hopes of hearing some herself. However, her father's first mate, Rafglan, stopped her. "Hoi, where do ya think yer off ta? Why are ya two standin' round? Go swab the forecastle, get to it!"

Romsca scowled, before following Xzaris. "It's not fair we don't get ta hear anything."

"Yer a cabin boy, ain't ya?" Xzaris shrugged.

Romsca snickered. "Not really."

"Ya know what I mean." The ferret smirked. "Cleanin' the ship is our job."

Romsca grabbed the mop and a bucket from where they'd been left, near the mainmast. "Yea, fer now. But someday, I'll be the captain a this ship. Dad says so."

Xzaris looked down, momentarily. "Yer lucky ya know. I'll be lucky ta ever get a ship, and you've got a dad who'll just give ya his."

Romsca didn't say anything, because she really couldn't. Xzaris got to scrubbing the floor, and Romsca slowly followed suit, thinking about what her friend had said.

Maybe she did take the good things about her life for granted too often.

><><

"Nope, you've got to hold your breath longer. Try again."

"But Marine .." Grath panted heavily, sitting in the water. "I .. just can't!"

Her brother shook his head. "You've got the wrong mindset. You're giving up too fast .. tell me, what are you doing under there?"

"Counting." Grath shrugged. "What else?"

Marine chuckled. "Well of course you're having trouble, you're trying too hard. Here, come with me, I'll show you."

He jumped in the water, stating, "Now an otter's naturally made to swim for long periods of time. You just need to relax .. let that natural part of you come out. Even Coral can do it."

"Coral?" Grath was surprised.

"Oh yes." Marine nodded. "When she was eleven seasons like you, she was zipping around the Moss like nobody's business. Nowadays, she's decided that helping to heal the sick and learning about plants is more interesting. And that's just fine. But don't you think our sister can't swim."

Marine ducked under, swimming to the far side of the water hole. "Now, you get underwater and swim over to me without coming up. Don't focus so much on what you're doing, but try and see if you can spot any fish or pretty rocks on the bottom. Alright, go!"

Grath took a deep breath, obeying her older brother. She ducked underwater, swimming toward where she could dimly see the bottom half of Marine, but looking about for the things he'd told her to look for.

There were many things about this water hole she'd never noticed, even though she'd been swimming in it all morning. Sparkling marble-like pebbles decorated the grayish silt, and she could see a silvery fish dart here and there.

All of a sudden, she bumped into something solid and furry. Two paws lifted her out of the water a bit, and she grinned. "I did it! It wasn't that hard!"

"It isn't." Marine was grinning at his pupil's success, when there was a scuffing from the nearby, slightly overhanging bank.

The next second, there was a flash of rich brown fur, and a splash as a positive wave of water crashed over Grath and Marine.

Aqua popped up the next second, panting, "So, am I late?"

"Yea." Marine smirked. "We've been at this a couple hours."

"Aww .." Aqua huffed. "Sorry. Can I help?"

Marine nodded. "We're doing diving next. And as you just demonstrated, that's your specialty."

><><

On the Waveworm, days slipped by in a sort of routine. The Monitors had a way of plaguing Romsca's dreams as well as her days .. but they never did more than growl after the first time they had confronted her. In fact, they mostly stayed out of the crew's way.

The ferret awoke on the morning of the sixth day since leaving Sampetra, slipping out of the cabin to see Conva at the rail, staring out upon a pinkish dawn.

She was becoming more used to waking up when she was supposed to, Conva didn't have to remind her so much. As she walked over to him, and he muttered, "Red dawn .."

"What?" Romsca asked.

Conva seemed to notice her just then. "Ah, me girl."

Romsca persisted. "What about a red dawn?"

"It's not a good sign at sea." Conva stated. "We'll see, but we could be in for it."

"Storms." Romsca knew. She'd heard her father tell stories of voyages enough to know what he meant now.

"Aye." Her father shook his head. "I want you and Xzaris to make sure all the ropes about here are untangled. We may be needing them."

Romsca wasn't excited about messing with the ropes, but she knew enough not to complain. "Yea, I will."

The ferret hurried down the forecastle steps to the main deck, calling, "Xzaris!"

A weasel glared at her from where he was checking the mainsail's rigging. "Yer little friend's with that ol' rat who pertends ta be our cook .. dumb beast. He'll poison us wif his awful vittles."

For some reason, Romsca felt resentment at how he spoke of Rubby. "Hey, leave Rubby out of it! I'd like ta see ya do better, so shut up."

The weasel glared coolly at her. "Yer one smart little wench, ain't ya? Wouldn't be so smart if I stuck ya wif me blade, would ya?"

Romsca snarled. "Don't ya call me a wench, scum! I'll stick ya first if ya try."

"Is that a challenge, wench?" The weasel smirked, swishing his thin saber though the air as he slowly stood.

"Flairnose, get back to yer duties. You touch one hair a me girl's head, and I'll turn you into ribbons, see?" Conva had walked up, a paw laid on his cutlass should he need to use it.

However Flairnose smirked rebelliously, turning away, back to the sail-mending he was seeing to. Conva put a paw around Romsca's shoulders, leading her out of earshot. "What were you thinking?"

"He called me a .." Romsca exclaimed indignantly.

"I know what he called you, I heard it all. I know what you called him, too." Conva's voice was stern, before he smiled gruffly. "I'm glad you'd stand up for Rubby, his cooking may be the worst this side of Southsward, but he's a true blue beast. That Flairnose however, you watch out for him, he's a bad one."

Conva shook his head. "Half this crew is seedy .. most of my regular beasts wouldn't come on this crazy mission. Keep away from all but Rubby and Rafglan, see? Especially those cousins, Flairnose and Graylunk. I've got my eyes on them .. don't trust them one bit."

><><

Grath had spent the last four days practicing with Aqua, Marine, and occasionally Lutran. She still couldn't hold her breath as long as Marine would have liked, and Aqua said her dive was still sloppy, but Grath felt like she'd improved quite a bit.

Now, as the noon sun reached the highest point in the sky, she had hiked to her hidden lagoon. In her own mind, the place was quickly becoming her own world.

As she sat down on a rock, she thought about the way she was acting. Maybe it wasn't right to keep this a secret. The pearls weren't hers .. they were her holt's .. but if the others knew, she'd never get a chance to find them.

It was strange .. she thought at first she wanted to bring them back and surprise everybeast .. and in a way, she still did.

However, there was more to it now. A sense of purpose .. that she didn't want to lose. It wasn't about what every one else thought .. it wasn't even really about finding the pearls. It was about some deeper search .. Grath couldn't even say what it was.

She climbed up the spot she'd fallen in on her first visit to the hollow, looking down into the deep, clear water. It was a little dizzying, and Grath shook her head. It was now or never .. she'd back out if she let herself.

The otter backed up a little, before running and leaping, diving for the water. There was the terrible feeling of free falling for a moment, before the shock of hitting the water came. Grath shot down, down into the depths of the pool, snapping her eyes open and swimming for the now nearby bottom. Her forepaws touched the silt as she looked around .. shafts of light danced on the gray, pebble covered floor. There were many blue tinted colors, but no sight of a pearlescent sheen.

Grath swam quickly toward the rocky wall, knowing she'd have to come up for air soon, but determined to look a little more.

Suddenly, lodged between several rocks, she saw it .. a gleam of white. The otter spun around, clamping her paws around the object .. in the same moment she heard it, a strange, wet swishing.

She lost a little air as she saw the monstrous pike, and she didn't wait for it to attack. Grath kicked off the floor, swimming desperately for the surface. She could almost feel the fish on her tail, biting for it .. the surface seemed so far away!

She was weakening .. she was almost out of air, and she couldn't keep going. She felt the many, needle sharp teeth close around her tail, trying to drag her back, and she couldn't get away. The otter kicked the pike in desperation, but the world of blues was turning into grays.

''I was so stupid .. to think I could do this on my own ..''

There was a splash, and somebeast grabbed her, dragging her toward the surface. Her head was out of water the next moment and she was gasping in air.

It wasn't long before she ways laying on dry ground again, and she coughed a little, before looking to her rescuer. "Lu .. Lutran?"

Her brother was holding his harpoon, and he panted, "What .. on earth .. were you doing? That's the first thing dad taught me about swimming .. never swim alone, and especially in water you aren't familiar with!"

Grath didn't like how experienced he was acting. "Ok, so I messed up! A beast can do that once."

"This could have been your last time." Lutran sighed. "You don't have to prove you're something you're not."

"How do you know what I am? I can learn to swim just as well as you .. you're only three seasons older than me. You can't tell me what to do."

Lutran paused, before nodding slowly. "You're right."

There was a moment of silence, before Grath sighed. "I'm sorry. You just saved my life, and I'm acting horrible."

"Yea." Lutran shrugged. "I'll forgive you though. Maybe I was sounding sort of bossy .. I'd do the same thing. I'm .. just not used to you acting like that, I guess."

He cocked his head. "What's that in your paws?"

Grath looked down at the thing she had a tight hold of, a sudden smile of triumph spreading across her face .. for despite her shave with death, she'd done it. In her palm and nearly a third the size of it, was a beautiful, slightly rose-tinted pearl. "I did it .. I found one!"

"What is it?" Lutran was confused. "I know it's a pearl of course .. but how is it here?"

"The pearls of Lutra .." Grath murmured. "Long ago, they were our Holt's finest treasure, but they were lost. I'm looking for them now .. and I found one. I found one!"

Lutran was impressed, despite himself. "Let me hold it!"

Grath paused, before she dropped the pearl into her brother's paw. He felt it awhile, before stating, "Well, I'm glad I followed you, for more than one reason. Should we tell the others what happened?"

"No!" Grath exclaimed.

"Aww come on! It'll be exciting .. dad won't be upset about the pike, he'll probably help train you even better." Lutran pleaded.

Grath shook her head. "It's not about the pike .. I just want to find them myself. I've never gotten to do something for myself, and .. I want to do it now. Please don't tell anyone!"

"What about your tail?"

Grath looked at her tail to see it was scratched and bleeding a little. "I'll .. say I got it caught in brambles. Please Lutran!"

Her brother thought a moment, before nodding. "Alright .. on one condition."

"What?" Grath asked.

Lutran's eyes twinkled. "If you let me share the adventure."

Grath thought for a moment .. having Lutran help was better than having the whole holt know ... and maybe she did need help with that pike. She nodded at length. "Alright .. Come on. Let's take this to Waterlily!"

Lutran shook his head. "Hey .. if you're up to it, can we look some more? Pike are territorial .. if we stay away from that wall, it probably won't hurt us."

"What if there are more?" Grath was dubious after what had happened.

Lutran twirled his harpoon. "I do have this .. if you let me, I'll make one for you."

Grath paused, before the spirit of adventure seized her. "Well .. let's try it!"

><><

For Rasconza, days weren't as slow as he'd thought they'd be .. not now that Val was around. He'd never have imagined he would grow to anticipate her visit's with the hope she would come, but in just a few days, he had.

While she wasn't Romsca or Xzaris .. she helped fill the loneliness they'd been forced to leave him with. It seemed like forever since they'd gone, even if it was only about a week. He wished they'd return .. he could take Val to meet them, and they could all have fun together .. just like it had always been.

But Rasconza knew deep down, that things would never be the same again. He didn't want to think about it, but he was old enough to know the world had changed .. and would keep changing.

Every day now, he saw Monitors or ratguards march past his home. Kastaa didn't want him to play alone in the streets anymore, for fear of the creatures hurting him.

Rasconza still found it amazing Ublaz had turned Sagitar and her ratguards to him with hardly a fight .. but he had.

Sampetra didn't feel so much like home anymore .. it was beginning to feel more and more like a prison. Rasconza worried a little about Val coming because of the Monitors, and deep down, he wondered how long she'd be able to.

Just last night, Kastaa had come storming in, growling about how Ublaz had decided to increase the quota of what the sea captains brought back by a fourth, and seize a fourth of their property each time they couldn't pay.

Many times in the night, Rasconza heard the soft swishing sound of a Monitor walking along the street below his window.

Many times in the day, he heard the sound of ratguards heading down to the bay or back from it .. with the marching of boots and the clopping of horse hooves.

The world was frightening and unstable.

Today, Rasconza would finally get to see more than just bits and pieces out of the window .. today Kastaa has decided to take him along while he met one of his closest affiliates, a tavern owner.

"After all," Kastaa had said, "You're almost an adult, you need to know what's really going on .. and sometimes I don't like to leave you at home with nobeast but the servants."

Rasconza buckled on his favorite long knife and its sheath, in addition to several throwing daggers as he thought on these things.

His door opened, and Kastaa looked in. "It's time to go. I'll get you something to eat there."

"What about Val?" Rasconza asked.

"The servants will tell her why we aren't here." Kastaa shrugged. "Come on, the horses are saddled."

Rasconza followed his father out to where his bay and Kastaa's dappled gray were waiting, stomping a hoof now and then. The young dog fox swung up into his saddle, as did Kastaa, and the older fox turned his mount to the outer courtyard doors.

The stoat bowed, after he had opened the gate. "Safety be with you, master."

Kastaa nodded. "Thank you. If the young lady comes, tell her Rasconza cannot see her today, he has work to do. Tell her she may return tomorrow if she wishes."

Rasconza felt a little guilty he would not be able to tell Val why he couldn't be there, but the curiosity about what might happen today pushed the thought to the back of his head. Kastaa trotted his powerful gray ahead of his son's mount, as they made their way down to the harbor.

Rasconza expected to see everything he'd always seen, ships in the harbor, the bartering in market places, ragged children playing in the streets.

But the streets were shockingly quiet. There were still ships in the harbor, there were still buyers and sellers in the markets. But they did not stop to greet one another hardly at all .. beasts went about their business quickly and almost .. fearfully.

As for the children who would steal from shops and scuffle in the streets .. they were absent.

Monitors and Ratguards seemed to be everywhere, and the gray of the cloudy sky seemed to mirror what it saw on land. Rasconza's horse had come up beside Kastaa's without him realizing, for he had been focused on what was happening.

"You see this? This is only the beginning of Ublaz's handiwork. It will become far worse." Kastaa's voice was low, near his ear, before the dog fox rode on.

Rasconza paused a moment, before riding after his father. They stopped at one of the better taverns, sitting very near the docks, and Kastaa dismounted, tying his horse to a hitching post.

Rasconza did the same, following his father into the tavern. Here, things seemed more normal .. though there was still an air of foreboding.

Kastaa walked to the counter as his son looked around. Two old ship rats sat at a table, drinking some sort of grogg, a young barmaid cleaned several tables in a corner, and a greenish parrot sat on the rafters, watching the newcomers with its piercing stare.

"Ah, Kia, as I'd hoped."

"Kastaa, ya better have better news 'an last time."

Rasconza looked up in surprise .. this was his father's accomplice? The beast was a slight, female ferret, dressed in scarlet and black. She had a tray in one paw, grayish brown fur, and penetrating blue eyes .. eyes just like Xzaris's.

This was Xzaris's mother?

"Well, what good news can I give you? You know the effect Ublaz has on us." Kastaa replied.

Kia scowled. "Aye, next he'll be taxin' all places a business a fourth more'n what it was .. I can't pay it I tell ya!"

Kastaa nodded. "All the more reason for you to join me. Have you been spreading discontent among your patrons?"

"Plenty a it. Without that little brat in me fur, I can worry about what really matters." Kia always seemed to be scowling.

"How a mother could send her son to his death, I'll never know." Kastaa looked a little disgusted.

Kia crossed her arms. "My son, my problem. Yer just here fer business. Now let's get to the point. How long will we wait? We wait too long, an' Sampetra'll succumb ta what's happenin' .. she'll lose 'er strength ta fight this."

"Sampetra will never lose it's strength, Kia. We are too proud a people for that." Kastaa stated, sternly.

Rasconza was not listening so much anymore .. his mind was focused more on what his father had said about Kia sending Xzaris to his death.

His death? How dangerous could getting six magic pearls be?

"We may be proud an' a risin' power, but I see the fear in the eyes a me fellow beasts. Those lizards are what'll do us in .. fer alla our history we've fought ta keep those vile things outside our walls. That's why we built the walls! An' now this scum kills our empress, who was about to lead an attack on Southsward ta expand our influence, an more'n that, he brings our age-long enemies with him!" Kia's scowl deepened. "The time is now Kastaa. He has the throne, he'll break us if 'e can .. we must fight!"

Kastaa shook his head. "Without plans, armies, weapons, and horses, we will be nothing more then a feast for the very creatures we hate and fear so much."

"How long will we wait?" Kia snarled. "Just the other night, one a me best barmaids left ta buy some new bangles with her pay .. she hasn't come back. I've the feeling she ain't ever comin' back .. some lizard had a nice midnight snack. If we don't do somethin' fast, we'll vanish one by one."

"I am working on these problems, Kia. You just keep the people stirred up. That's all I ask."

Kastaa laid his paw on the counter. "But we will attack. And it will be soon."

><><

"Furl the sails! Batten the hatches and keep her course steady!"

Conva's orders sent the crew scurrying about with a steady undercurrent of urgency. The day had grown darker, as hour by hour more clouds filled the western horizon. Romsca and Xzaris had untangled every rope they could find that was in need of it. Now they stood at the main deck's railing, watching the storm move in.

"Who knows how long this one'll last." Xzaris sounded gloomy.

Romsca shrugged .. Xzaris was one to pay close attention to weather. Back on Sampetra, he'd always been able to guess how long a storm would last. This naturally led her to question him. "How long'll we be in it?"

Xzaris thought a moment, before stating, "A couple days. At least it'll drive us east .. an' that's where we want ta go."

"That's good then." Romsca was feeling a little better.

Xzaris shattered her hopes. "Not really .. it'll send us off course, a'most certain it will."

"Oh .. great." A ghastly thought came to Romsca. "The ship won't sink, will it?"

"I donno." Xzaris was not exactly helpful. "Maybe."

Romsca glared at him, but he was looking at the sky. "Feel how still it is?"

The ferret realized he was right .. there wasn't a breath of air, though the front of clouds was fast approaching.

"Here it comes." Xzaris spoke to himself.

Sure enough, what seemed just moments later, the first gust of wind and splatter of raindrops hit the Waveworm. It keened through the rigging, and the ship almost shuddered .. a few minutes later, the rain was sheeting down.

Rafglan ran past the two, yelling, "Get away from the rail .. yer too small ta be out 'ere. Get below wif Rubby, hop ta it!"

><><

Grath and Lutran found one more pearl that day, far from where the first had been .. in fact, almost halfway across the pool.

After hearing the story of how the pearls where lost, Lutran surmised an explanation .. far better than his sister at logical thought, as always.

"They must have been flung into the pool by accident .. whoever was carrying them was probably shot, fell into the lagoon, and time and currents have strewn the pearls all across it. The rapids where simply too sheer a slope for them to be washed into the river."

Grath made face as a sudden thought occurred to her. "You don't think we'll find a skeleton down there ... do you?"

"You know .. we might." Lutran wasn't comforting.

"Ukk .." Grath made a face. "I hope we don't."

The two had made their way back to the stretch of river the caves of Holt Lutra sat upon, and Grath hurried toward Waterlily's home. "Come on, we've got to show her!"

The young otter bolted in, calling, "Waterlily?"

The otterwife looked up from what she was writing, blinking owlishly through her glasses at the siblings. "Well now, what can I do for you two?"

Grath dug the pearls out of her satchel, holding them up in triumph. "I found them! Well .. two of them, anyway. And Lutran did help."

Waterlily slowly slid her paws under the shimmering orbs Grath was holding up. She felt them for a moment, before setting them in the young otter's paw again, and nodding. "I've got something for you, as well."

She picked the shell case off a nearby shelf, stating, "All the records say the case was lined in blue velvet. I didn't have any blue, I'm afraid. Still, it does look handsome, even if it came off one of my old cushions."

Waterlily lifted the lid, showing that the case was now lined in smooth, satiny red velvet. Seven little dips in a semi-circle were to hold the pearls, and Grath smiled. "Oh, they will look so pretty in it .. may I?"

"Of course. I figured you wouldn't let the treasure lie .. that's why I repaired the case." Waterlily was smiling.

Grath set the two pearls in the case, and Lutran blinked. "Wow .. they fit perfectly! How'd you do that, if you'd never seen them?"

Waterlily chuckled. "There are drawings in my old books. The strange thing is, every picture I can find has only six of the pearls in it, and every account speaks of six, not seven pearls. However, I will go by the verse on the shell itself, which says there are indeed seven."

Lutran scratched his head. "Huh .. that's weird."

"But where's the seventh pearl?" Grath was concerned.

"I'm afraid nobeast can answer you that. However, I will keep searching the records for a clue." Waterlily promised.

Grath looked at the two shimmering pearls sitting in their shell-case, and she promised herself then and there .. somehow, she would find the mysterious seventh one.

Lutran was speaking now. "So .. can we keep these here? Cause Grath doesn't want to tell anybeast until we find them all."

Waterlily smiled, closing the case and setting it on the shelf again. "I see no reason why not. They have been lost for so many seasons, a few weeks are nothing."

She turned back to her desk, muttering, "In fact .. maybe they are better off to stay lost."

Grath was surprised. "How can you say that?"

"I have my own reasons, young one." Waterlily explained. "We shall see."

><><

Waveworm was lurching up and down, up as it crested a wave, and down as it plunged into the immediate trough.

Romsca may not have been sick a few days before, but she was now. Xzaris seemed .. despite the way he'd been at first .. surprisingly fine. The two were sitting in the galley .. or at least, Xzaris was sitting.

Romsca was curled in a pitiful heap, trying to push away the feeling somebeast had punched her in the gut.

"I'm not going to ask if yer feelin' ok." Xzaris sounded genuinely sympathetic. "Cause ya ain't."

"No I ain't." Romsca realized her voice was a little sharp, but she was seriously pondering if she could keep her dinner down all night. She felt so wretched she wondered if doing so was even worth it.

Xzaris raised an eyebrow. "Need a bucket?"

Romsca closed her eyes a minute. "Maybe."

They were completely alone, even Rubby had gone on deck to help .. but he'd ordered they stay here. Xzaris had been a little disappointed .. Romsca was too sick to care.

There were sudden pawsteps on the stairs leading into the galley, and she opened her eyes a crack to see a dripping wet beast storm in. "What's this fool capt'n a ours thinkin' .. he should lay anchor an' wait it out!"

"Aye, but what's he do? He tries an' rides it out! Makes more work'n more danger fer everybeast!" The beast who answered was relatively the same size, and just as soaked.

Romsca and Xzaris exchanged a wary look, and didn't move from their place in the concealing shadows.

"Graylunk, why'd ya sign up fer this crazy mission? If this capt'n is willin' ta endanger 'is ship an' crew like this, what'll he do next?" The first weasel, Flairnose, snarled at his companion.

The other weasel defended himself. "Ya needed the money as much as me! It ain't like we alwus find a ship that'll take us on, after the mutiny ya led on the .."

Flairnose broke in. "Ya, ya, whatever. When I get through, we'll be rich, an' free'a Sampetra forever. We'll just steal whatever this fool gets through raidin', and take off. Look, what was we supposed ta git?"

"Rope, that was whut the rat said." Graylunk snapped.

Romsca looked down at what they were sitting upon .. the ropes. Xzaris flopped down, hissing in her ear, "Pertend ta be asleep."

With no other options, Romsca did as he said. There was scuffling nearby, and Graylunk's somewhat dull voice rang out. "Hoi, mate, lookee 'ere. We got company!"

"What? Don't let 'em tell the capt'n!"

"No, they're out cold .. see? Sleepin'." Graylunk proceeded to kick Xzaris to prove his point.

He did so a little roughly. Xzaris winced instantly, and Flairnose saw it. "He ain't sleepin' ya fool, he's been spyin' on us the whole time!"

The weasel grabbed the young ferret, shoving him heavily against the wall, and tightening his grip on Xzaris's throat. Romsca may have felt sick, but fear for her friend forced her to act. She pushed herself up on one paw, drawing her hatchet and swinging it with all the strength she could muster.

Flairnose screamed as the axe buried itself in his leg, near the joint. The weasel dropped his victim, clutching at the injury, and blood pooled to the floor through his paws. He suddenly lurched forward, grabbing Romsca instead. "You little devil, I'll send ya back ta Hellgates!"

Xzaris ran forward at that moment, shoving the end of his bamboo pole into the weasel's torso with all his might. Romsca felt herself be thrown to the floor, and almost choked as her already upset stomach refused to hold what she'd eaten down.

Graylunk grabbed her, sneering, "Not so smart now is ya?"

Romsca drew her knife, slicing into his arm to relieve the pressure on her throat. She collapsed to the ground as the weasel howled in pain and wetness splattered on her.

"Ya little son a Hellgates, you'll pay!"

Xzaris cried out in pain as there was the crack of wood, and Flairnose brought the ferret's own pole across his shoulders. Romsca tried to crawl forward, but Graylunk slammed his booted footpaw between her shoulder blades, pinning her to the ground so she could barely inhale.

Flairnose kicked Xzaris remorselessly against the wall, swinging the bamboo pole as he limped heavily toward Romsca, blood flowing from the wound in his leg. "I'll teach ya a lesson you'll never ferget, ya little devil!"

There was a sudden slamming of a door, and Graylunk's weight was ripped off. Romsca gasped in a breath as an arm wrapped gently around her shoulders. "The only devil that'll get taught a lesson Flairnose, is you. Put 'em in irons!"

Rafglan and several others ran forward, grabbing Flairnose and shoving him to the ground despite his struggles.

Conva pulled Romsca onto her paws, asking, "Are you alright?"

The young ferret nodded breathlessly, looking over to where Xzaris was staggering stiffly to his paws. Conva hugged his daughter, shaking her the next minute. "I thought I told you to stay away from those two!"

Romsca held her still pained stomach, shaking her head, though unable to speak.

Xzaris had stumbled to them, and he held his ribs, mumbling, "They came in lookin' fer rope .. they was talkin' 'bout stealin' whatever ya got by raidin', and takin' off inta Mossflower. Course we was sittin' on the rope .. we tried ta pertend ta be asleep, but he .."

The ferret slumped to the ground with a wince.

Conva let Romsca go, and she sat beside Xzaris, asking breathlessly, "Does it hurt?"

"What da ya think?" The ferret clamped his eyes shut, mumbling, "My side .."

Conva was glaring at the two troublemakers. "Mutiny, even plans for it, gets only one punishment on my ship .. ten lashes. Since you tried to kill two of me crew .. and one of them my daughter, let's say fifteen for Graylunk and twenty for Flairnose. The rest of this trip you'll be locked in the brig, and back on Sampetra, you'll be tried and executed. If you try anything, I might hold a couple executions myself, is that clear? Good. Take them away."

Chapter 5 War on the Wind
"Looks like we're in for it." Mattimeo was the one who had spoken.

Sayna had to agree with him .. the western sky was being overrun by a bank of dark clouds. She shook her head. "Should we make camp or continue a while?"

"We don't have a tent .. " Martin observed, a little questioningly.

"I know." Sayna nodded. "Which means we'll have to find a dense spot of woodland, and get somewhat damp. Things like this happen on adventures."

She found her voice was almost joking. Martin straightened his shoulders, not about to show he was sorry for coming. "I like getting somewhat damp."

Tansy gave him an odd look. "Even if you get cold?"

"Well ..." Martin sighed. "At least I don't mind it too much."

"Oh." Tansy didn't look wonderfully excited about the idea.

Sayna smirked, before clapping her heels on Firemaiden's sides and riding out ahead. They were in a darker part of the forest, made gloomier by the storm darkened sky. The old golden mouse felt a tiny bit of unease, but there was no sign of anybeast, or even that anybeast had been here recently.

The little group of travelers had gotten a ways into the thicket, when Sayna thought she heard a slight scuffling. She pulled Firemaiden to a slow stop, as Mattimeo's horse, Blacksnow, pricked his ears forward. "I smell something."

"What is it?" Sayna did not doubt him.

The old appaloosa shook his mane. "I'm not sure. It's something living, anyway."

Sayna drew her sword. "Great."

Mattimeo drew his weapon as well, and Martin and Tansy reached for theirs .. though they never got a chance to pull them out.

A clump of nearby underbrush rustled, and a little brownish-gray creature with messy headfur jumped out. "What're ya doin' on our land?"

Another joined the first, almost identical in every way. "Ya, it's our land!"

Sayna slowly lowered her sword. The two could be no more than ten seasons apiece, though obviously quite bold for their diminutive age and size. Mattimeo looked a little stupefied. "Two little shrews?"

The first speaker stamped a footpaw. "We ain't so little .."

"This is our dad's land!" The other interrupted.

The first scowled at the second, stating, "I was talkin' first!"

The other gave him a dull, uncaring look, and shrugged. "Ok .. whatever."

Sayna interrupted. "Aren't you two a bit young to be out by yourselves? A storm's coming in."

The two looked at each other, before the second grinned. "Uh-huh, that's the point. We're playing scouts .. an' we actually found somebeast!"

The first nodded firmly. "Yea .. and now you're our prisoners."

Martin and Tansy looked at each other a moment, before giggling at the thought.

"Your father would be Log-a-Log of the Guosim, I suppose?" Mattimeo asked.

The first shrew nodded. "That's right. I'm Plogg."

"And I'm Welko!" The other broke in.

Plogg glared at his sibling. "Anyway. Ya was on our land, so you have ta come ta see our dad."

Sayna cast a glance at the ever darkening sky. "That doesn't sound like such a bad idea, Plogg and Welko. How about you lead the way."

><><

"Catch me if you can!" Lutran laughed, diving into the crystal clear water.

Grath pouted half jokingly, calling after him, despite the fact he could not hear her. "You know I can't!"

Her brother's dark head popped out of the water, as he yelled, "Come over here and see what I found!"

Grath swiped long strands of wet hair out of her vision, diving in after him. He was all the way to the bottom, digging in the silt. She swam down to him, looking over his shoulder at the object he was extracting.

It wasn't shiny, it wasn't a pearl .. it was really just a rusted piece of metal. However Lutran seemed excited by it, as he swam for the surface, Grath behind him.

Lutran held up his treasure. "A harpoon head!"

Grath raised an eyebrow. "Aha .. that's what you were after?"

"No .. not at first." Lutran held up another pearl. "I was after this. But I felt the edge of the harpoon blade when I picked it up."

He dropped the pearl into Grath's paws, examining what he'd found. "This must date back hundreds of seasons!"

Grath nodded absently, as her brother added, "I bet it was once the princess's who fell in here."

"Oh .." Grath was reminded again of skeletons.

She watched Lutran a moment, before stating, "Look, we've found three now, but there's still three .. or four more, I'm not sure which. And I just think .."

"You think what?"

Lutran climbed out, dropping the harpoon head in his satchel. Grath scratched her head as she looked at the pearl. "Don't you think it's a been bit too easy?"

"I don't know. We're just swimming around a pool looking for pearls." Lutran wasn't terribly concerned.

Grath frowned. "What about the pike? I know we've kept away from that wall .. but that was where I first fell in. It's probably where she fell in too."

Lutran pulled some dried fish out of his satchel. "Why didn't it attack you the first time, then?"

"I'm not sure." Grath admitted. "I'm a little confused about that too. But I didn't go very deep that time, I was focused on getting out. The thing I'm worried about is .. what if the other pearls are over there? That pike is big .. can you really hold it off by yourself?"

Lutran's mouth was full. "Want some?"

Grath gave him an unimpressed look, and he shrugged, popping the last of his fish into his mouth. "I'm not sure. I taught you to block and parry with a harpoon, didn't I?"

"Yes." Grath nodded. "But I'm not sure I'm strong enough."

She dropped the pearl into her satchel, as a rumble of thunder filled the air. Lutran looked up, as did his sister. "Uh-oh ... mom will be upset if we're out in that."

The western sky was filling with angry clouds, sheet lighting flashing here and there.

"Well, come on." Lutran stated, making his way to the rapids. "It'll take us most of an hour to get home as it is."

Grath cast a disappointed glance at the pool, before hurrying after her brother.

The storm moved in quickly, and Grath regretted not paying more attention to the sky. She and Lutran were soon soaked before they were even halfway home. The ground was soon wet and muddy from the driving rain, and the way was hard .. Grath wondered if they would get home, or if they'd have to take shelter somewhere.

The two had reached the brink of a small, but rocky hill, when Lutran slipped. He yelped, before skidding down the slope. Grath jumped forward to try and grab him, but she found herself following him instead. "Lutraaaaan!"

Grath felt pain in her knee as she skidded across a rock, tumbling to a stop at the bottom. She picked herself up, staring through the driving rain. Lutran was laying still near a pile of sizeable rocks.

"Lutran?"

The young otter ignored the lancing pain in her knee as she crawled to her brother, gasping, "Get up Lutran, we've got to get home!"

However he didn't move. She shook him, and he murmured a little, but did not open his eyes. There was a little blood on his forehead, as well as some quickly being washed off the large rock he was laying against.

"Lutran? Are you ok? Please be ok!" Grath was terribly frightened. "Don't die! You can't!"

The little otter rubbed some wetness from her eyes, wetness not caused by rain. She looked down at her knee to find the skin and fur had been torn back, and winced as the pain seemed to get ten times worse.

She didn't move for a moment, before she staggered to her paws. "We've got to get home .. Coral and mother will fix you up!"

Grath grabbed Lutran's shoulders, trying to drag him off. However she only got a few paces before her injured leg collapsed beneath her, slamming into a puddle of gritty mud and causing her to cry out.

She slumped to the ground, determinedly dragging herself to her paws, but her leg buckled even sooner this time, slamming into the muddy ground again. Grath sniffed, growling as she tried a third time, but couldn't even stand up straight.

This time, she didn't bother to even try. Tears flowed into her eyes, but not only from the pain running up her leg. "I'm too weak .. I'm always too weak .."

Her ears almost caught the sound of rustling through the rain and thunder, but she wasn't sure anymore. The continual throbbing in her leg was too much, and the strange mercy of senselessness dulled the misery of the situation.

This is my fault ..

><><

"You feeling better?" Romsca sat beside Xzaris's bunk with a yawn.

The ferret opened one eye, mumbling, "Yea ... sore .."

Romsca sighed, pulling out Xzaris's bamboo pole. "I got this back this morning. Thought maybe you'd want it."

Xzaris grinned rather lopsidedly. "Yea. Thanks."

He took it, though the movement made him wince. Romsca shrugged. "Dad says you're off for today."

"Good of him .." The ferret rubbed his side.

"Look, I have to help Rubby. When we get breakfast done, I'll bring you some." Romsca stood up, walking for the door.

Xzaris yawned, though he winced the next second. "Thanks for savin' my neck back there."

Romsca paused, before grinning and tossing her head. "Hey, what else was I gonna do? Let him do me friend in? Not likely."

She slipped out of the galley, and her face fell as she muttered, "Wish I coulda really saved you."

The storm had died down in the wee hours of the morning, and consequently, Romsca's seasickness had settled down. Her elbows were bruised from Graylunk hastily dropping her, but other than that, she was feeling alright.

The ferret hurried onto the deck, pausing as she saw Rafglan tying Flairnose to the mast, Graylunk in chains nearby. Conva stood watching, holding something Romsca didn't often see him with .. his long whip.

For some reason, her stomach turned a little sour again. She hated Flairnose and Graylunk for what they'd done, but she'd also heard stories about sailors being whipped to death. She tried to shove the feeling of uneasiness away. Those two cousins deserved it.

Rafglan backed away as Conva swung the whip, bringing it down upon Flairnose's shoulders with a loud crack. The weasel did not scream, as Romsca suspected he would, just clenched his teeth together.

The lash fell again, and again, four times, five times, six times. Romsca found herself wincing, though her sympathy was not for Flairnose .. she was imagining what that whip would feel like on her own back.

Conva barely looked like the loving father she knew him to be .. his eyes flashed and his teeth were bared in a snarl of anger.

After twelve lashes, Flairnose screamed. The weasel's back was a bloody mess, and Romsca found herself wishing none of this had ever happened.

Somehow, she wasn't seeing her father whipping the daylights out of Flairnose .. she was seeing Ublaz's sneering face.

"Wait! I know where the others are!" Conva's voice rang out desperately in her memory.

Ublaz's cool tone echoed back, so courteously. "Excuse me?"

"The pearls. I know where the other six pearls are."

Conva had never wanted to go on this mission .. Ublaz had made him. That was why he'd had to hire worthless beasts .. his normal crew was too smart to risk everything for six pearls. That was why Xzaris was hurt. That was why this had to happen now.

Ublaz was why.

Conva brought the lash down the twentieth time with an air splitting crack, snarling, "Take him away, tie the other one up."

Flairnose was limp, probably unconscious, and he looked like a bloody pile of fur. Several of the crew hurried to obey, as Rafglan dragged a struggling, pleading Graylunk forward, tying him to the bloodied mast.

Romsca looked away, hurrying for the kitchens. She didn't want to watch anymore.

The sound of the first lash followed her, accompanied by the first scream.

Her father's words echoed in her mind. "Wind and weather, fire and blood .. that's a pirate's life."

She was beginning to fully understand them.

><><

"So this really weird thing happened ta me." Val skipped up the steps of the manor's tower, behind Rasconza.

The young dog fox smiled a little. Something odd always seemed to be happening to Val. "What was it?"

Val shrugged. "It was weird. Cook told me to scrub the hall floor."

"How is that weird?" Rasconza was confused.

"Uh, no." Val corrected herself. "That wasn't the weird part. That was the normal part. Then it got weird."

"And I saw Sagitar's son." She added as an afterthought.

Rasconza paused. "Sagitar has a son?"

"Uh .. yea? You didn't know that?" Val was skeptical.

"No."

"Oh. Well she does. He's about seven seasons old." Val explained. "Donno who his dad is, but anyway, that wasn't the weird part.

Rasconza grinned. "Ok, what was the weird part?"

"Well, I was just doing my job. So I'm sitting there, scrubbin' the floor like I was supposed ta, when Ublaz, Sagitar, an' a couple a monitors walk by. I don't like those things one little bit, so I sit there kinda still, an' I heard him."

She paused, and Rasconza prodded her. "And he said ..?"

Val nodded. "Oh yea. So Sagitar stands here like this, and says, "When do you think they'll return, Milord?"

Val pulled off Sagitar's voice rather well. She stood like Ublaz next, mimicking him. "And Ulbaz says, "They haven't even reached the coast of Mossflower. They are having difficulties .. that involve them, ultimately not my pearls."

Rasconza blinked. "How could he know that?"

"That's what I thought!" Val exclaimed. "It's .... weird."

"I think it's more than weird." Rasconza was dubious.

"Exactly my thoughts. Like .. Conva or whatshisname is probably halfway across the ocean! Does Ublaz have eyeballs that like .. come out of his head? That would be kinda cool .." She thought a minute. "Actually, I take that back. It'd be downright creepy and I hope he don't."

She paced the tower, looking a little nervous. "Like, if he did .. he could see us right now! I'd be so dead! No, literally ... he has a very bad temper .. though he never .. cracks a frown. He's always got this ghastly smirk about him. Like this."

Val proceeded to do a very believable Ublaz impersonation.

Rasconza laughed, mostly because Val did such a good job. The vixen shook her head. "It ain't no laughin' matter .. gee I wish I could live here with you guys."

"I wish you could too." Rasconza found he was entirely sincere. "I don't like the thought of you being around those Monitors."

Val paused, before shrugging. "Oh, I ain't scared a them, they're a bunch a rabble .. ain't got a real brain between ten of 'em. It's Ublaz that's really creepy."

Rasconza frowned. "You say .. the Monitors aren't that smart?"

"Aren't that smart? Where've ya been?" Val stared at him at a little dully.

"Um .. here."

"Oh, yea. Well lemme tell ya .. those Monitors may be all tough and scaly and ... full a teeth, but they are about the dumbest beasts you'll ever see. They do the same things every day, an' you'd think they'd wanna eat us." Val crossed her arms.

"You would." Rasconza agreed.

He recalled what Kia had said at the tavern. "And I think they might be."

Val thought a moment, shrugging. "Maybe. But they don't do it when Ublaz is around. And you'd think they'd get tired of doing whatever he says, but no, they follow him around like pet lizards .. really, really big ones."

Rasconza scratched an ear. "Yea .. weird."

There was the clopping of hooves in the courtyard, and Val ran to the open aired tower's railing. "Oh, Kastaa's back! He sure looks like he's in a hurry."

Rasconza had to admit she was right, his father brought his galloping horse to a stop, swung down from the saddle, and strode purposefully into the manor. The young dog fox shook his head. "I bet this has to do with the rebellion."

Val followed him back down the stairs, stating, "I hope Ublaz don't really have eyes that come out of his head .. for yer sake."

Rasconza cast a glance behind them, muttering, "Yea ... me too."

><><

The morning sun was what awoke Grath, that and a slow throbbing in her leg. The otter blinked her eyes open, to see she was in her room .. and in bed.

The nightmare of the accident in the forest came back to her .. just about the same moment she heard footsteps in the hallway. Grath flattened her hers as the door opened, and Marine came in.

Grath pricked her ears up again, asking, "Marine .. is .. is Lutran ok?"

The otter sat down on a nearby stool, nodding. "He will be."

Grath breathed a sigh of relief, as Marine added, "What were you doing?"

Grath thought a moment, before shrugging. "We .. were exploring."

Marine frowned, shaking his head. "What's got into you lately?"

"I ..." Grath looked down, before exclaiming, "I want to be just as strong and noble as all of you. You're warriors .. I want to be too."

"That's not what I meant." Marine crossed his arms. "What's with all this lying? You were doing more than exploring."

Grath gulped, flattening her ears but finding no words to say.

Marine shook his head. "You're not acting like yourself."

"I ... I just wanted to do something important .. by myself." Grath looked down. "But I messed up again. I just made things worse."

Marine's eyes softened. "It's hard, being your age. I remember what that's like. Of course, I always had Aqua .. though we argued a lot. But you're my little sister, and I love you .. you can tell me."

Grath thought a moment, before nodding. "Ok .. as long as you don't tell anybeast."

"Well .." Marine raised an eyebrow. "As long as it's not something that could hurt you."

"Oh, it's not!" Grath insisted. "You've heard of the six pearls of Lutra?"

Marine smiled. "Of course .. that was my favorite story as a child."

"It's not just a story." Grath looked down. "You see .. I found them. But I'd never done anything special .. I just wanted to do it myself. But than Lutran came along, and now everything got messed up."

Marine blinked. "You're saying .. you found the pearls of Lutra?"

"Yea! The real thing Marine." Grath looked around, seeing her satchel was hung in it's normal place. She tried to swing her legs out of bed, but winced as a jolt of pain ran down the one.

Marine held up his paws. "Alright, tell me what you're after. Mom says you aren't to be out of bed today."

Grath sighed. "My satchel."

Her brother got it down, handing it to her. Grath dug in it, smiling as she felt the smooth roundness of the pearl, and she pulled it out. "See?"

Marine fingered the pearl, staring at it. "It's perfect .. very large .. not a blemish. They really are rose-colored! I never imagined .. where did you find this?"

"That's the thing. I sort of fell into this inland lagoon .. I found the shell case, and it all sort of went from there." Grath explained, adding, "We've found three now, and Waterlily repaired the case .. but we still need to find the other three .. or four, whichever it is. When will mom let me out of bed?"

Marine returned the pearl to the satchel, and the satchel to Grath. "Well, she should let you be up tomorrow .. but I'm afraid you're not to be wandering off unsupervised."

Grath groaned, and Marine winked. "Of course ... I am almost twenty seasons old. I think father will find me and maybe Aqua adult enough to watch after our little sister."

"Really?" Grath's eyes shone. "Really and truly, you will?"

Marine shrugged. "After your leg has healed. I wouldn't mind doing some pearl diving myself. But for now .. get some sleep. I see why you wanted those lessons, finally."

"Oh, wait!" Grath held forth her satchel. "Take the pearl to Waterlily .. please? She has the others."

Marine smiled, taking the item. "Consider it done. I'll tell Lutran you're feeling better."

><><

"Dad! You're back?" Rasconza hurried into the kitchen, and Kastaa faced him.

The large dog fox nodded. "Aye."

Rasconza scratched his head. "You've got something on your mind, don't you."

"Yes." Kastaa paced a little. "Captain Sculrag of the Sprayraider has agreed to join forces with us. That will strengthen our army, but we will need every male, female, and cub to fight against that monster."

"Dad .." Rasconza hesitated. "Wouldn't the element of surprise be better? The Monitors are what will cause beasts to run, and from what Val says, they obey Ublaz's every command."

Kastaa looked to the vixen. "They do?"

"Yep." Val nodded. "It's almost like they're hypnotized or somthin' .. but that's crazy."

Kastaa blinked, staring into thin air. "Hypnotized ... of course. I saw how he killed Empress Meili .. he made her look into his eyes. That explains his tricks .. he's a hypnotist."

Rasconza frowned. "Actually .. I think there's more to it. Val said he was talking about what Conva was doing out at sea."

Kastaa blinked. "That's impossible .. surely he was simply boasting, as he always does."

"I don't think so .. I think we should try to find out how Ublaz really controls those Monitors .. and how he sees all the way to the Waveworm and the Freebooter." Rasconza was cautious.

Kastaa shook his head. "Nobeast can do that, only a deity .. he is just as mortal as the rest of us."

Rasconza frowned, looking at Val, who shrugged. Kastaa straightened his cape, stating, "And mortal beasts can fall. Mark my words .. war's on the wind."

><><

Xzaris was forced to rest longer than anybeast would have liked, but Conva didn't push him, considering the circumstances. Three days after the incident with Flairnose and Graylunk, the ferret was feeling well enough to work again .. though slower than he usually did.

The two had finished up in the kitchens, but Rubby stopped them before they could leave. "Look, I gotta feed those Monitor things .. somebeast's gotta feed the prisoners. I can't do everythin', ya know."

Xzaris and Romsca exchanged a look, and Xzaris spoke. "They're still livin'? From how they was screamin', I'd figured they was dead."

Rubby shook his head. "Nah, they're ina world a hurt maybe, but they're livin'. Capt'n's orders they gotta be fed .. I wouldn't make ya, but I donno if'n ya can handle those lizards."

Romsca shook her head quickly. "Uh .. no. We'll do it."

Rubby nodded. "Good. Here's what they git."

He handed Xzaris a bowl of his leftover porridge. The ferret sniffed it, wrinkling his nose as soon as Rubby walked away. "Ugg .. better them than me."

Romsca didn't bother sniffing the mixture, just hurried along the galley corridor. "Yea .. definitely."

The two stopped at the brig .. only one cell, but large enough to fit several criminals. Flairnose and Graylunk were chained to opposite walls, both looking bedraggled and beaten, dried blood still caking their fur.

Flairnose looked up as Romsca and Xzaris approached, a hateful glitter in his eyes .. though Graylunk just looked depressed and hopeless.

Romsca paused at the door, and Xzaris sighed. "Forgot the key?"

"Yea." She nodded. "I'll get it."

Xzaris watched her go, casting a glance at the two prisoners. Flairnose sneered at him. "Afraid, boy?"

Xzaris glared at him, snarling, "I ain't afraid a ya."

Flairnose smirked, eyes smoldering. "Course ya ain't, boy. Why would ya fear a beast who's chained? Yer a coward like all these other fools."

Xzaris's anger morphed into confusion. "What're ya talkin' 'bout, ya ain't makin' no sense, course I ain't scared of a beast that's chained."

Flairnose grinned, snickering. "Naturally .. standin' out there nice an' safe. What could ya do against a real warrior, little kit?"

"He's no kit, shut yer big mouth." Romsca had returned with the keys.

"Oh, if it ain't the little wench. What a helpless pair a cowards."

Romsca glared at him, growling, "If we're so helpless, how come ya got whipped, huh? Yer in no place ta talk a bravery."

Flairnose smirked. "Cause yer daddy's little girl .. just think .. where would ya be if daddy hadn't come ta save ya?"

Xzaris spoke before Romsca could explode into anger. "I donno what yer plannin', but it ain't gonna work on us."

He snatched the key from Romsca, unlocked the bars, shoved the bowl of porridge into the cell and slammed the door shut.

Flairnose laughed. "Ya are afraid, aren't ya ... afraid ta keep the door open?"

"I ain't afraid a nothin'!" Romsca yelled back, but Xzaris grabbed her, dragging her off.

"Come on matey, they're nothin' but a couple losers. They're up ta somethin', so just ignore 'em."

Romsca cast a hateful glance behind her, but gave in. "Alright, alright. But one a these days, that Flairnose is gonna get it .. I'll show him who's a coward!"

"You should leave 'em alone." Xzaris advised. "Bein' a coward an' bein' careful is two different things. I don't like how he's actin' one bit."

Romsca sighed, before shrugging. "Ok. But he makes me awful mad."

Xzaris scowled. "Aye, he's infuriatin' .. but still. Yer dad'll see they git what's comin' at Sampetra."

Romsca nodded. "Guess so."

She still looked like a walking thundercloud, so Xzaris grinned, "Hey .. I'll bet I can wash twice as much deck as ya."

Romsca looked up in confusion, before cocking her head. "Is that a challenge?"

"Aye." Xzaris smirked.

Romsca smirked back. "Ok then ... yer on!"

><><

Four days passed before Grath's mother gave her leave to go outside .. under strict orders she was not to leave the Holt. Lutran wasn't allowed to leave their family's caves, Coral said he had a slight concussion.

Grath felt awful about what had happened to him, and had thought he'd be upset when she told him Marine and Aqua were going to help her find the pearls. However, her brother had just grinned slightly.

"Ok ... I was afraid you'd try it on your own and get eaten by the pike. Show me once you've found them all?"

''"Course!" Grath had promised. "And thanks for keeping my secret."''

"Hey, what's a secret once it's told?"

"Hey Grath!"

The otter looked up at Aqua, who looked excited. "You've really found the pearls in the legend, like Marine says?"

Grath nodded. "Yea, I did .. they're really pretty. I think you'll like them."

"You bet I will .. this is so cool!" Aqua was grinning.

The three were making their way to the hidden lagoon, Grath leading the way. They'd brought lunch, harpoons, and Aqua's bow and arrows .. maybe having help wasn't a bad thing after all.

Marine jumped over some rocks, helping Grath up them. "Say, that leg of yours still hurt?

Grath nodded. "Yea .. but I'm ok .. oop!"

Marine tossed her onto his back, laughing. "I'll get you there faster."

They reached the inland lagoon around noon, and Marine and Aqua were amazed by it. "Whoa .. to think we never found this! That's what comes of spending so much time in the ocean and on the beach .. just, wow!"

Aqua stared around as Marine set Grath down, unslinging the satchel with lunch in it. "How about it .. up for a swim before eating?"

Grath nodded, looking at her still bandaged leg. "I think this should hold, Coral said it would."

She limped only slightly as she waded in, letting the healing injury become accustomed to the temperature of the water. It surprised her, for instead of hurting, it actually felt good.

Aqua jumped in, ducking underwater and getting her short, black hair wet. "This is amazing! Come on, let's find these things."

"Wait." Marine tossed a harpoon to Aqua. "Let's be careful. Where's the pike?"

Grath pointed to the area in question. "It lives by that wall. Lutran and I couldn't go near that spot, so I'm pretty sure that's where the other three pearls are. It's where I found the first one."

Marine nodded, stating, "Alright .. I imagine you want to come?"

"I do, in a way .." Grath sighed. "But if you don't want me to .. I guess that's ok."

"Aww, it's fine. Just stick behind us." Aqua instructed.

Her siblings dove in, and Grath jumped after them. The underwater world was just as she'd left it .. and it was only now she realized she'd missed it. When they neared the wall, Grath was forced to come up for a breath.

She ducked under the next second, swimming down to where Marine and Aqua were searching for the pike, or the pearls, which ever they found first.

Grath reached them, and Marine cast a glance at her, shrugging. The young otter looked around, for no pike seemed to be in sight. She'd not had a chance to look around this part of the pool well at all, and she caught sight of a familiar pearlescent shimmer.

The otter dashed for it with excitement, scooping it from the grayish silt it rested upon, watching as the smooth surface shimmered in her paw.

Another whitish gleam caught her eye, just a few feet away! Grath swam toward it, reaching for it with a feeling of satisfaction. She scooped it up as she saw what it was .. the smooth, white, upper part of a skull!

Grath jumped backward with a water-muffled scream, just as something slammed into her, sending her reeling against the rock wall, so hard she lost all the air she had left.

There was a flash of silver scales in her vision, and another shocking force throwing her back .. though she lost no air, there was none to lose.

Something grabbed her that second, dragging her to the surface. Grath coughed, gasping, "Aqua?"

Her sister shook her head. "You stay here, I've got to help Marine!"

Grath gasped in a few breaths, before diving beneath the surface. The pike was close behind Aqua, snapping at her tail, but she wasn't looking afraid .. just determined. Marine dashed after it, slashing at the creature with his harpoon.

The giant fish wheeled around, a little blood clouding the water behind it. It dashed after its tormentor, but Aqua swam in front of it, jabbing at it with her weapon.

The pike was confused, and Marine dashed forward, slamming it hard against the wall. It didn't move to attack him, just flipped its fins almost spasmodically, floating a little on its side.

Marine and Aqua popped up, and Marine sighed. "There, it's stunned. I don't really want to have to kill the feller if I don't have to .. after all, we are the ones trespassing. Hurry, let's find those pearls!"

Aqua nodded. "Come on Grath!"

The little otter took a deep breath, diving down to the bottom of the pool with her siblings. She cast about the grayish silt, turned to silver by the rays of light filtering through it. However, that was all .. just light, silver, and a bluish tint .. no pearl.

Over in the shadow of the wall, something dark was half buried in the fine gravel. Grath kicked her webbed feet through the water, swimming to the object .. it was a rusted chunk of metal.

She stroked it, suddenly feeling the engravings on it .. upon looking closer, she could just see what they were. The fish-tailed horse surrounded by six circles .. the symbol of Holt Lutra.

It was the long lost breastplate of a warrior of Lutra, and nearby lay a shield. A few skeletal remains were scattered in the area .. and suddenly, the familiar shimmer of a pearl caught Grath's gaze, clenched in the fleshless fingers of the skeleton's disembodied arm and paw.

Grath paused only a moment before reaching out and seizing the pearl, breaking the bones away from it. She looked up to see the pike was slowly starting to swim instead of float, and lunged for the surface.

The otter reached it, looking around for Marine and Aqua. Her brother swam by her, calling, "Come on, that fish is going to be furious when it properly comes around."

"But the other pearl!" Grath exclaimed, as she climbed out behind him.

"I got it!" Aqua sounded excited. "Wow .. it's just like the stories! No, it's better than the stories!"

Grath looked down at her paws, to realize she was holding the last two. Marine took one, looking it over. "These are of unmatched quality! Where could such pearls even be found?"

Grath realized she'd not thought about that. "I'm not sure .. Waterlily might know, I'll ask her."

Marine dropped the pearl in his satchel, sweeping Grath off her feet and tossing her up, laughing, "You little rogue, you did it!"

Aqua collected the other pearls, dropping them in the satchel. "Yea .. you're a hero!"

"I am?" Grath stared at them. "Really?"

"You sure are!" Aqua grinned.

Marine nodded. "You found the treasure of Lutra. You ready to show this to the others now?"

Grath smiled crookedly at first, then widely. "Well .. at least to Waterlilly .. then to father."

><><

"We don't have a plan of attack Barranca, we don't even know what we're up against. Face it, the beasts on this coast managed to make our father's ship simply vanish. They must have some sort of magical powers .. ships don't just disappear." Conva paced his cabin.

Barranca shrugged. "Magic or not, the element of surprise always does the trick."

Conva nodded, though he looked unsure. "We'll have to spy first. And we'll want to attack after nightfall, in the cover of darkness."

"Undoubtedly." Barranca agreed. "We should sight land soon, there's gulls in the sky again .. we must be careful where we anchor. This is supposed to be a lightning attack .. kill all in the way, grab everything worth it, and take off. It's not supposed to be a war."

He paused, asking, "And I heard about Flairnose and Graylunk. Is the mutiny under control?"

"Basically." Conva nodded. "This crew's one of the roughest I've captained, but not all are bad beasts, some are worthy in a storm or a fight, and true to their captain, crazy as his quest may be."

"I'm glad to hear it. My crew is the beasts who've sailed the seas with me for the past several seasons, they're fairly trustworthy." Barranca stated. "As soon as we sight land, let us send a party ashore to spy. I think the two of us should go. Can your first mate keep an eye on things?"

"Rafglan?" Conva asked, adding, "He's perfectly capable, even if he is a rat."

Barranca nodded. "Good. After we have seen what we need to, we will return to the ships, formulate our attack, and take them while they sleep."

"Aye, no sense in bringing even greater risks to our crews. I'd prefer a clean fight ... though a fight against ghosts ain't the time for a show of nobility." Conva scowled.

"Should we take prisoners?" Barranca asked. "I could use a few servants at my manor, but with the way Ublaz was talking of taxing us, I doubt I can hire any. I'll have to downsize my estate as it is."

Conva curled his lip. "We all will. I was never one to keep slaves, but he's going to drive me to it."

The corsair nodded. "In other words, if they are as mortal as all of us, yes. Ublaz wants pearls, not prisoners, he'll probably let us keep whatever creatures we capture."

"Right." Barranca grumbled. "I dislike slaves cause they'll turn on a beast, but .."

"Land Ho!"

That cry set the brothers heading for the door, as the lookout added,

"Land ta the east, the coast a Mossflow'r!"

Conva hurried out into the open. "Furl the sails, turn her course and get just out of sight of it. Then lay anchor while I figure out where we are."

One of the monitors walked by him, hissing, "My mazzzterzzz pearlzzz .. find them zzzoon?"

Conva glared at him, sneering, "If your master's pearls exist, we'll find them. Mark my words scum."

The monitor didn't seem terribly effected by the insult, just stated flatly, "You will. If we muzzzt zzzearch whole coazzzt, you will."

><><

"The six pearls." Lutra held the case in his paws, staring at the perfect rose-colored orbs sitting on the red velvet lining.

The seasoned otter shook his head, smiling at his young daughter. "Grath, if they weren't sitting in front of me, I'd have said they were nothing more than an old fairy-tail."

He scooped her up, laughing, "I can't believe it!"

Marine grinned. "Told you he'd be excited."

Grath couldn't wipe the wide smile off her face, as Coral spun her around. "This is amazing! I'm sorry I underestimated you, maybe I'm the only healer around here after all."

"Aye, you're a worthy princess of our holt .. you brought back the lost treasure of Holt Lutra!" Lutra looked proud of his daughter.

Aqua grinned. "We should have a party to celebrate! We haven't had one in way too long!"

Lutra looked around at the smiling faces of his family, and nodded firmly. "Alright, we will. Aqua's right about that."

Lutran shoved Grath playfully, looking almost as well as before his accident. "You found 'em all I see."

"Yea." Grath nodded, looking at the case. "I still wonder about the seventh one, though."

"Ehh .. maybe something will turn up. You want to go fishing with me?" Lutran asked.

Grath smiled again. "Sure!"

"Can I come along, you two? I like fishing, myself." Coral brushed her brown hair out of her face. "Besides, it might do me some good, being away from studying for awhile."

Lutran grinned. "Yea, all those smelly herbs. Yeeeuck!"

Coral waved a paw at him in sternness. "Let's not forget who fixed up your head. Now hurry up, let's catch some fish for supper."

Chapter 6 Black Death
"Really? We can really go with you?" Romsca was elated.

Conva smiled, adjusting his plain brown tunic, a change from his normal silks. "Yes, go tell Xzaris. You two have nothing to do here, you're small, quick, and handy in a fight."

"And uncle Barranca's coming? I can't wait, this is my first raid .. I'm going to be just like you, dad." Romsca felt an undercurrent of excitement and determination to prove herself flowing through her veins.

Conva ruffled her hair, though he seemed a little distracted. "I'm sure you will. They should be lowering the boat about now, go on."

Romsca paused a moment, before hurrying out of her father's cabin. She cast a glance back at Conva, who was staring idly at his maps as he buckled on his cutlass.

The picture of him whipping Flairnose came back to her, as well as the blood and the feeling of being sick. She flattened her ears. "No. I'm a pirate, I'm going to be the most feared pirate alive .. I'm not scared of a little blood and pain! This is my destiny, I just know it! It's .. what I've always wanted."

"Huh?" Xzaris was watching her, one eyebrow raised.

Romsca realized she'd been talking out loud. "Uh .. nothing. But dad says you can come with us to spy."

Xzaris perked his ears up. "We finally get to do something around here?"

"Yea!" Romsca grinned. "Come on, to the boat!"

It took a while to get off the Waveworm and to the empty shore they had anchored nearby. As they entered the shallows, Xzaris jumped out, grabbing the mooring rope and splashing for the shore, Romsca close behind.

Xzaris slung the anchor into the sand, stamping on it to make sure it was secure. Conva stepped out, the other three beasts he'd brought close behind.

"Tonight should be a fine one for raiding .. it's almost the new moon. The darker it is, the better for us." Barranca jumped from his boat, laying his paw on his saber.

"Aye." Conva agreed, looking around suspiciously. "Let's get our spying done fast. According to the reports we received, this is about where our father's ship disappeared. He was after those pearls, and he knew what he was doing."

Romsca found it a little strange to be on dry land again, but the old feeling quickly came back. Conva nodded to his crew. "To the woods. Whatever they are, that's where they're going to be. Barranca?"

His brother nodded. "Don't let yourself be seen. If you are seen, don't let the other beast live. We're dealing with woodlanders here, you know good and well how ruthless they are. You've got family back home, you want to see them again .. for Sampetra, land of dragons."

"Woodlanders, or worse .." Conva muttered, before nodding, "Split up. Groups of three. Romsca, Xzaris, you're with Barranca."

Romsca followed her uncle, as Xzaris caught up to her, muttering, "Ya think those woodlanders are as bad as they say?"

"I donno." Romsca drew her knife, tossing it in the air and catching it deftly. "But if one sees me, they're goin' down."

Xzaris nodded. "Same. At least we ain't against that redstone abbey place. Ya know what they say .."

"Aye, that the stones weren't always red. That the blood of our kind has stained the halls, giving the place it's feared name .. Redwall." Romsca used her best ghost-story voice.

"And what about the Mountain of Dragons, the stronghold that defies even the great dragon-kings of Sampetra?" Xzaris asked, adding, "Don't ask me how some funny rabbits can stand against us."

"Ahem." Barranca was gazing sternly at them. "The stories about woodlanders aren't to be laughed at. Those creatures are cruel and unfeeling, they will kill one of us without so much as a thought. They murder any corsair they can .. they may call us evil, but they are the ones who are evil .. why do you think I never married?"

Romsca hadn't seen her uncle act like this, ever. He didn't wait for an answer. "I would have. But they killed her .. she wasn't even a warrior, but a healer. The very night after she said she would marry me."

Barranca looked down. "I've heard of a few woodlanders who were different, a few who were good. If I found a good one, I wouldn't hate them for that."

His eyes glittered darkly, his teeth clenching together in a snarl. "But on a whole, they don't deserve to live."

Romsca stood frozen for a moment, before looking down. "I'm sorry, uncle."

"Yea." Xzaris nodded. "We won't joke about it, then."

Barranca sighed. "I understand, you've seen woodlanders as beasts of legends and threats to frighten little ones to bed. But you'll find they're very real. And you're just about to find out how real."

They'd reached the outskirts of the woods. "With me, silently."

><><

These woods were very different from the patches of green, swaying bamboo and moss-covered shade trees within the walls of Sampetra. The sky could barely be seen for the leaves, and there were dry leaves scattered on the ground in a carpet. The sun shot glimmering beams of light through the treetops, in which motes of dust sifted toward the ground.

The caw of some strange sounding birds could faintly be heard, and Barranca was alert to any sound. So much so it started to make Romsca nervous.

Her quiet voice was soft in the stillness, almost forlorn. "I wonder .. if there really are ghosts."

Xzaris looked around, stating, "Well, they ain't gonna scare me."

Romsca rolled her eyes. "I never said I was scared of 'em."

"Be quiet you two. Stay here, I'm going to look a little farther. I hope Conva's having better luck." Barranca ordered firmly.

He disappeared into the woods, and Romsca and Xzaris looked at each other, blinking.

Romsca must have looked as scared as she felt, for Xzaris grinned with a dare-devil look. "I'll protect ya."

"I don't need ya to. I can deal with any ghosts we meet." Romsca scowled, feeling Xzaris was pushing the joke too far.

"Yer lyin'." Xzaris stated matter-of-factly. "Yer scared."

He added quickly, as she glowered at him. "Not that there's a real problem with that."

"Yes, there is!" Romsca grumbled. "I won't be scared. I can't be scared! Dad isn't scared a anything, an' I ain't either."

"Actually, I think capt'n's scared a quite a few things."

"That's what you think. But he's not, an' I know." Romsca countered. "I bet yer more 'fraid than he is! He's the bravest beast alive."

For a moment, Xzaris looked hurt. "I ain't scared a nothin'."

"Right, an' I ain't either." Romsca crossed her arms.

Xzaris paused, before grinning. "We're even then."

He was wearing his smirk though, and Romsca knew he wasn't fooled. She grumbled, a sudden thought coming to her .. what if she could find the creatures they'd be fighting? That would prove she wasn't afraid.

She grinned suddenly, stating, "You don't believe me, but I'll prove it ta you."

Romsca started off into the woods, and Xzaris jumped up. "Hey, what're ya doin'? Barranca told us ta stay here!"

Romsca tossed her head. "But if I find out what we're up against, that's more important."

"I don't think that's a good idea .."

"Hey, lighten up!" Romsca couldn't understand why he was so intent on doing what they'd been told. "You like adventures, this is a real one!"

Xzaris looked around. "Yea, but this is different. This ain't Sampetra, we donno what could be out there."

"Scared?" Romsca teased.

Xzaris scowled. "Look I ain't gonna say yer scared anymore, ok? Just don't do somethin' crazy."

"I'm gonna do what I want. This could help dad. You don't have ta come if you don't want ta." Romsca was determined.

"Alright, maybe I won't!" Xzaris growled. "Yer gonna get us in trouble."

Romsca was surprised for a moment, she'd almost always gone along with what Xzaris wanted, and he'd almost always done what she wanted. It was what made them friends, after all.

The ferret suddenly tossed her head. "Fine .. but yer gonna be sorry."

She scampered off into the woodlands, silent, and excited about what she might find. But more than anything, determined to prove to herself, not Xzaris, that she was not afraid.

Romsca ducked from tree to tree, knife drawn and ready for trouble. Now that she was alone .. she felt her worry return. Maybe Xzaris was right. Maybe this was stupid.

But she couldn't go back. Xzaris would smirk, and say Told ya so. No, she'd made her choice and she had to stick to it.

Suddenly, she heard voices nearby, and froze. They weren't familiar at all. The ferret crept forward, coming to the edge of a small incline and looking over it.

Sure enough, there were three strange creatures by the nearby stream .. Romsca didn't even recognize their species. These were woodlanders? They weren't monsters .. they were children, just like her.

In fact the smallest one, with rich brown fur and beautiful, sweeping blonde hair looked a little younger then her.

They weren't training for battle, they were fishing, laughing, and joking. They weren't even that well armed.

They're acting just like me and my friends back home.

Romsca found herself watching their play happily, almost wishing she could join in. It would be fun to just fish, and not worry about being afraid or not, no missions, no danger, no nasty storms at sea and feeling sick .. just playing.

''They wouldn't like me, anyway. I'm a pirate, and woodlanders hate pirates.'' Romsca told herself.

The blonde creature jumped at her black companion, plowing him into the stream with a carefree giggle. "Got'cha!"

The older beast, likely fifteen season spoke up. "Hey, you'll scare every fish from here to the eastern sea, jumping around like that!"

Romsca clamped a paw on her mouth to stifle a giggle, imagining Rasconza saying the same words in the same tone. How could these creatures be so horrible?

''Sort of like we are, I suppose. They don't know I am watching them, in war, they are probably very different.''

A sudden paw gripped her shoulder, and she stiffened. "Back away. Slowly. Don't let them hear us."

Romsca did as Barranca said, relieved it was only him. Her uncle hurried back the way she'd come, asking, "What were you thinking?"

"I was just trying to find our enemies .." Romsca stated.

"Well we already found them. What am I to do when Xzaris comes to me, telling me that you're determined to spy and have wandered off alone?" Barranca was stern.

Romsca stared at him. "He snitched on me?"

"He was worried about you." Her uncle snapped. "He knew you wouldn't listen to him, so he went and got somebeast you would listen to."

Barranca glared at her. "What if you'd been killed? Conva would never forgive me, and I'd never forgive myself. Mark my words, you're in trouble. If you were my daughter, I'd tan your hide, I would."

He sighed. "I don't know what Conva'll do with you, but that's his problem. Let's get back to the ships."

They passed Xzaris, who joined them. Romsca had the presence of mind to glare at him. "Snitch."

He glared back. "Idiot."

Romsca was surprised, before her ears flattened, and she felt the strange sensation of tears wanting to well up in her eyes. She banished them from her mind, giving Xzaris another glare for good measure.

How had this day gone so wrong anyway?

><><

"Waterlily?"

Grath pushed aside the curtain of water plants, stepping out of the fading light of day and into her friend's caves. The old otter looked up, asking, "What is it, my young friend?"

Grath smiled. "Aren't you coming to the party?"

"I don't know, young'un." Waterlily looked away, opening a book. "I'm not feeling too well."

Grath frowned. "Oh. Should I get Coral to visit you?"

The old otter smiled. "You forget I am teaching Coral. No, this feeling isn't about sickness."

"What's it about?" Grath was confused. "You helped me find the pearls, I wanted you to come to the celebration."

Waterlily's eyes narrowed. "I dislike those pearls. From all I've read about them, they're nothing but trouble."

"But .." Grath didn't know what to say. "But they're .. so pretty."

Waterlily nodded. "Yes, and that's the trouble with them. They are so pretty, so perfect, that beasts covet them. They inspire greed .. and not just greed for beauty, but for power."

"What do you mean?" Grath was confused and a little worried.

"I found the writings of Vinwyte himself, who apparently gathered all the information about the pearls he could, mostly from Southswardian legends and lore. He says here, that a beast called Sir Cedric of Southsward aided him in discovering what he did."

Waterlily paused, continuing at length. "The pearls are said to possess a great power, power equal to Lord Ignasa himself. But it only works when all seven are present, and yes, from these new sources, there are indeed seven. Apparently, long ago, one was stolen by a bat named Loki, and has not been seen since."

Grath shook her head. "Where did they come from? No pearls that came from mere oysters could truly have such power."

"No, they could not." Waterlily sighed. "Every tribe and country tells a differing story about how the world was made. But I will tell this one, Southsward's."

She looked down at the open book, stating, "Long, long ago, our great Lord Ignasa made this world. And he made it pure and good, as everything he makes is. Vermin and woodlander lived together, there was no strife or war, no evil. Beasts did not die, or become sick or hurt. Because that world was in every way, perfect. Ignasa walked among us, because there was no evil, and we were as we were made to be, one with our Lord."

She turned the page, continuing. "Ignasa's general was called Anemos, or 'The Winds', and he was a beautiful white wolf, his fur like freshly fallen snow. He was greater than all the other wolves, and he grew proud ... because Ignasa does not create mindless followers. What justice or love would it be, if we had no free will? Anemos grew overconfident of his power, and led a great rebellion against his lord. The first war was fought, and Anemos was defeated."

Waterlily looked up. "He was permitted to come to our world, for no evil could stay in the Lands Beyond. But he was given only a short time .. if he could turn us against Ignasa, he could stay .. if not, he would be forever imprisoned in Hellgates' fire. And so we were tested. We should have known, but we were proven disloyal, all of us. Anemos had won his battle, though he could not win the war. This world was broken, and we became mortal, able to be sick, hurt, and able to die. Ignasa could no longer walk among us, for he cannot abide wickedness. Anemos was branded forever, his white fur turned the blackest of blacks, and he become known as Malimore, the usurper."

She turned the page, stating, "Ignasa still loved us, disloyal as we were, and for his broken world, he shed seven tears. Each one for an element of good that was shattered, and they each became a perfect, rose-colored pearl."

Grath blinked. "They're Ignasa's tears?"

"According to this legend." Waterlily nodded.

"Then how can they be bad?" Grath was confused.

Waterlily shook her head. "They aren't, but we are. Don't you see? They are perfect, but we are not, and that is why the riddle says; These seven tears shed, a curse to the dead. They aren't the dangerous ones .. it's us. Not just vermin, but all mortal beasts. Look at how many wars Holt Lutra has fought for just six. Can you imagine how horrific it could become if the seventh was ever found? Those things are better off in the pool where you found them, or at the bottom of the sea. They are a curse, a perfect curse, because we are evil."

She looked down. "I don't claim to be a Prophetess, or have any insight into the future. But those pearls will bring war and death to us, don't ask me how I know. They did it before .."

Grath looked up, finishing the sentence. "And they'll do it again."

><><

"We have to stay behind?" Romsca stared at her father. "But why? I thought you said we were handy in a fight."

Conva glared at her. "You are. But you must also be able to follow orders. You and Xzaris will stay here with Rubby."

Romsca looked down, saying nothing for a moment, before sighing, "Maybe it was sort of a dumb thing to do, but Xzaris did nothing wrong."

"He left where Barranca said he was supposed to stay, didn't he?"

"Yes, but that was because of me!" Romsca protested.

Conva sighed. "Sometimes, our actions affect others. Maybe you'll learn something from this. Now I'll hear no arguments, you will not leave this ship, do you understand?"

Romsca said nothing a moment, before she nodded. "Yes dad."

Conva's eyes softened. "There'll be plenty of other raids for you to go on. I have to punish you for disobeying, and that's the end of it. Look after the Waveworm."

He hurried away for the boats, leaving his daughter to watch him a little forlornly. As soon as he was gone, Romsca flopped in her hammock, kicking the wall to swing herself back and forth.

"It's not fair .. I am a warrior. They may need me! And Xzaris too! Just cause I wanted to help .. hmph." She kicked the wall extra hard for good measure.

''You didn't want to help, you wanted to do what you wanted to do .. as usual.''

Her thoughts scolded her, and Romsca grumbled. "Aww, shut up. What do you know anyway? I'm my own beast, I can make my own choices."

The voice in her head sounded disapproving. ''And that does you a lot of good. Don't you love your father?"

"Of .. course I do!" Romsca was startled. "I love him more than anybeast alive, he's my dad. I wanted .. to make him proud of me."

''He already is, and you know it ... you wanted to make yourself proud of you.''

"I did not, I .. I .." Romsca slumped down. "I don't know what I want."

She stared out of the glass windows that looked out across the dark water and sky, in which a few stars twinkled. The ferret got up, walking to the window seat and sitting on it, staring at the sky.

"Astraria, Lady of the night .. show me how I can prove I'm not just foolish and rash. I want to be a great successor to my father. I'm not the son all fathers want, I can never be ... but I will be just as great, just as feared, just as worthy as any male. I just .. don't know how."

Romsca looked down. "The house of the Dragons will end with me. Let me not shame it, please! There must be .. some way."

She laid her chin on the window sill, watching the gentle wavelets far below. "Some way .."

><><

Grath was immersed in thought as she walked into the clearing where they were having the party, and was met by Lutran, who grabbed her paw. "Come on, where've you been? Marine and Aqua are going to win the dancing if we don't do something."

Grath blinked at him, before shrugging. "I guess."

"Is something wrong?" Lutran looked worried.

"I don't know." Grath shook her head. "Maybe .. maybe not .. everything's confusing."

She sighed. "Maybe I don't feel up to it .. why don't you ask Coral?"

Lutran shrugged. "Ehh .. Coral's taller than me. I'd rather just watch with you, then."

Grath sat down as Lutran dished up some flan for himself, asking, "What's bothering you, huh?"

"I don't know." Grath paused, before blurting. "It's those pearls. I feel like something terrible is about to happen."

Lutran's mouth was full, but he spoke anyway. "But you found 'em, didn't you?"

"I ... almost wish I hadn't, now." Grath looked down.

Lutran opened his mouth to say something .. and shove some more flan in .. but he got a chance to do neither. There was a splintering crash of a lantern, near the edge of the clearing. Grath turned around quickly, to see the shadow of some monstrous-looking creature vanish back into the dark woods.

"Lutran! Did you see that?"

The otter took the bite of flan he'd intended to, shrugging. "Maybe .. it's Aqua playing a joke."

Grath shook her head. "I thought you said Aqua was dancing with Marine."

"Well .. yea. But they're not over there anymore." Lutran pointed out.

Grath looked dubious. Lutran sighed. "Look, I'll show you."

He walked over to the spot where the lantern had fallen, calling, "Marine, Aqua, you can come out now. Come on, a joke's a joke!"

Grath had followed him, but she jumped backwards with a shriek as a giant, scaly lizard slid out of the woods, drawing its lips back to show its many, gleaming teeth. Lutran scrambled back as the creature advanced, hissing as a frill of skin stood up on the sides of its neck, making it look even worse than it did already.

There was a swish as Aqua leapt between the creature and her young siblings, harpoon at the ready. "Back off .. whatever you are!"

The creature paused, before advancing without fear. Aqua struck at the back of its neck, but her harpoon deflected off the scales, not even leaving a mark.

The lizard jumped forward with a hiss of anger, ripping its claws down Aqua's leg. The otter screamed, staggering back as she growled in pain, "Get out of here you two, get father!"

Grath swallowed hard, before Lutran grabbed her paw, dragging her towards where the others were. Marine ran past them to help his twin, as the otters in the clearing began milling around in confusion.

There was a sudden yell from the woodlands. "Mates, attack!"

Seconds later, the clearing seemed filled with strange, threatening beasts who cut down any in their way.

Lutra's voice rang through the sudden melee. "Holt Lutra, to me! Form ranks, to battle!"

Grath looked back in time to see Aqua fall to the ground, and the lizard's claws flash as it remorselessly tore them into her back. It was forced to turn away at an attack from Marine .. only now there were more of the things.

Lutran dragged Grath under a nearby table, and the two looked out in horror as the clearing turned into a battlefield.

Lutra impaled one of the attackers, yanking his harpoon from the carcass as he yelled, "Drive them back crew, they're nothing but sea scum! We've killed their kind before, for Holt Lutraaaa!"

There was a clash as the opposing sides collided, weapons flashed crimson, and both otter and vermin fell dead or injured. Lutran gulped, whispering, "I .. think we're winning?"

"Y .. yea." Grath's whisper was almost drowned out by the cries and clashes.

All of a sudden the table was kicked over, and a large stoat advanced on the two. "What have we here?"

Lutran was frozen a moment, before he jumped at the creature, shoving him back and yelling, "Run Grath .. run!"

Grath found she did as he said, bolting away from the nightmare of battle. Her paws pounded through the leaves, down to the river, and through the water. She was running for the only one who might be able to help her .. Waterlily.

She ran through the shallows, past the openings to empty caves, and toward her old friend's home.

"Waterlily!" Her voice was a choking gasp, a desperate one.

It was hard to breath properly, and yet she still ran, as fast as she possibly could. She stumbled, falling into the shallow water and slamming her healing knee on the rocks at the bottom.

Grath cried out as the old pain was brought vividly back to life, but she shoved herself back onto her paws and kept going.

She was near the old historian's caves now, but she was coughing and gasping for breath from running far more than she was used to.

Her legs buckled beneath her suddenly, as she found she simply couldn't breathe. She fell into the water with a splash, gasping in a little air, but it was not enough, and she could barely hold her head out of the water she was lying in.

There was a splashing nearby, and somebeast grabbed her, lifting her onto her paws and dragging her through the water .. but Grath's senses were fading to nothing.

All she knew was she'd been pulled to someplace dry, and she was still panting for air, before her reality slipped into blackness.

><><

Conva kicked the otter who was facing him in the legs, stabbing the beast with a quick thrust of his cutlass. His crew was hard pressed against these creatures .. a thousand curses upon that fool of a lizard to give away their presence.

A tall, well muscled male otter with flashing green eyes came against him, swinging his harpoon before Conva could duck. The corsair cried out sharply as the blade tore down his jaw, sending him reeling against a tree.

The otter pressed his blade against Conva's throat, snarling, "You scum .. you're their captain, eh?"

He grabbed Conva, forcing him to the ground with admittedly superior strength, and yelling, "Drop your weapons or your captain here dies!"

Conva grabbed the otter's harpoon shaft, wrenching it from the creature's grasp and rolling away in sheer desperation. He jumped back onto his paws, using the stolen weapon to impale one of the otters trying to stab him from behind.

The beast who he'd been facing grabbed a fallen harpoon, running at him again.

Conva dodged, and the otter spun with him .. this creature was no fool. The ferret threw the harpoon down, raising his shield as he went down on one knee, grabbing his fallen cutlass.

The otter did as he expected .. bringing his harpoon down upon the shield before he realized the trick. Conva lunged forward, sending his blade straight through his opponent's torso.

The other beast stood frozen in shock and pain a moment, before Conva jumped to his feet, withdrawing his weapon as the wounded beast fell to his knees, coughing blood as he vainly strove to rise.

Conva panted momentarily, before he swung his cutlass, slashing the other creature's head from its shoulders in a last, rugged act of mercy.

The ferret turned away, running back toward the sounds of battle, that had now moved out into the surrounding woodlands. Barranca met him halfway, gripping his paw. "Thank the fates, you're alright! I feared the worst when we could not find you."

"I am fine." Conva stated. "Where are the pearls? Are they here?"

"I haven't seen them." Barranca shook his head, adding, "Of course .. we've not been through their caves yet."

Conva shook his head. "I was forced to kill their leader .. I'd have liked to questioned him, but it was him or me."

"Woodlanders are always the same, there's nothing you can do but kill them, or die yourself." Barranca looked disgusted. "I've yet to find one that'll act sensibly."

"Capt'n ... come quick!"

Conva ran forward at Rafglan's cry, to find the rat kneeling in the wreckage of a table, holding a grayish object. He pushed it into his captain's paws, and Conva realized it was a shell .. a massive one.

The ferret opened the golden clasp, lifting the lid with a sharp intake of breath.

This was it .. the things he'd been fighting and killing for, six shimmering, rose-colored pearls. They were beautiful, so much so he reached out to touch one .. they were smooth .. they were alluring. In that moment, Conva understood why Ublaz wanted them.

Because he wanted them.

Give these to the wicked beast that threatened all he loved? Why not turn them against him? Take them for his own!

He could be the sole ruler of Sampetra .. he didn't have to let Ublaz take these.

"Conva?"

The ferret looked up as Barranca spoke, breaking the spell of his thoughts. "The crews want to plunder these otter's caves .. see what they can get."

Conva had a hard time turning his gaze from the pearls, but he nodded. "Let them have an hour and a half. Did we take any prisoners?"

Barranca shrugged. "Several so far. Most won't surrender, but we did take two young ones .. a golden-furred female and a little black male .. insane beast that one. He tried to attack me to let his friend escape .. though I would have spared her, and if she's caught by another, she might not be so lucky. Other than that, there's another, older male, but he's wounded .. got in a tussle with one of those Monitors."

Conva nodded, pausing as one of the lizards stopped in front of them, blood staining its muzzle and neck .. though it was unlikely that any belonged to it. "My Mazzzterzz pearlzzz .. you find?"

Conva paused, before he sneered. "Oh yes .. we found your master's pearls."

He let the lizard see them for one fleeting second, and several other lizards in the vicinity looked up eagerly .. as if Ublaz's mad desire for the pearls was their own.

Conva snapped the case shut, ordering, "Rafglan, take these back to the ship. We've killed most of the resistance, so we shouldn't be needing you .. I'll give you a third of whatever I loot for myself, and you can come back as soon as you deliver them safely to my cabin."

Rafglan nodded, bolting off as one of the lizards hissed, "We muzzzt go now, we have Mazzzterzzz pearlzzz, muzzt take them to him." Barranca looked at the creature pityingly. "Please. If you think we can order our crews to leave before the hour's over, you're a fool. It wouldn't be right."

"I care not for crewzzz, we muzzzt take pearlzzz to Mazzter." The lizards were of a one-track mind.

Conva snarled. "Idiot, you'll care if there's a mutiny because the crews feel like they were treated unjustly, how would we get the pearls to your precious master then? Somebeast has to sail the ships, and I can't do it alone."

The lizard backed off a little at that point. "Fine. But zzzoon we go, very zzzoon. Mazzzter muzzzt have hizzz pearlzzz."

Chapter 7 Betrayal and Treachery
Romsca fell into a light sleep on her father's cabin's window seat, rocked into slumber by the endless waves. Xzaris was understandably cross with her, and while Romsca did feel guilty, something wouldn't let her go apologize.

''He'll get over it. It's best to just leave him alone until then.''

Romsca knew the voice in her head wasn't entirely correct, but she didn't feel like arguing with it. Or maybe she was just too proud to do what she knew she needed to.

She curled up on the old cushions of the seat, letting herself drift even farther into the world of dreams. She'd promised her father she wouldn't leave this ship, and she wasn't going to.

The door slammed open the next second, the loud bang bringing Romsca awake in an instant. Rafglan ran in, placing a gray object on the table.

"Rafglan, what's going on?" Romsca knew her father's first mate would know exactly what was happening back at the battle.

"We've won .. we killed most of 'em, but we have a few prisoners." The rat panted, regaining his breath.

Romsca pointed to the shell on the table. "But what's that? Is it ..."

Rafglan opened the lid, and the pearls inside glimmered in the light of the one lantern. Romsca started forward with a gasp, running her paw across the smooth orbs. "They're .. even more beautiful than I thought they'd be .. we have to give them to Ublaz?"

"I'm afraid so." Rafglan nodded. "Sure wish we could keep 'em .. but ya know, it's them or yer dad's life."

Romsca felt a trickle of cold run down her spine. "Yea .. of course."

Xzaris and Rubby had both come in too, to look at the great treasure of legend. Rafglan interrupted their staring, by nodding. "Well, I'm off. There's a whole lota lootin' ta do, an' I don't want ta be left outa it."

The rat departed, stating, "Keep those safe .. guard them with yer lives."

Rubby nodded. "Don't ya worry .. these is the most amazin' things I ever did see."

Xzaris watched him go, sighing. "I sure wish I coulda gone."

"Yer awful young ta be raidin'." Rubby observed. "Dont'cha worry bout it, there's a whole life a piracy afore ya. Now the crew's bound ta be mighty 'ungry after all this, I best go whip somethin' up ta make em tempt fate."

The old cook walked out, leaving Romsca and Xzaris alone for the first time since the incident earlier that day. Neither said anything .. Romsca didn't move to apologize, and Xzaris didn't seem to see any need to say anything either.

Romsca felt like she wasn't wanted .. and she couldn't blame him. Their first raid, and she'd messed up everything.

It was all my fault!

She tried to argue with her feelings of guilt .. but it wouldn't leave her alone.

"Alright, I'm sorry! I .. messed up." Romsca blurted, suddenly, not even meaning to.

Xzaris looked surprised for a moment, before nodding. "Yea."

Romsca was a little offended .. couldn't he say a little more than that? She sighed, muttering, "I'm gonna go help Rubby."

Xzaris shrugged. "Ok."

Romsca grumbled, tromping off toward the kitchens. When Xzaris was sulking and didn't want to talk ... nothing could make him. Not even an apology.

She made her way into the kitchens, stating, "I wanna help."

Rubby looked shocked, teasing, "You wanna help? What's up with that me little lazy helper?"

Romsca scowled. "None a yer business. Now what can I do?"

"Oh now, somethin's up. Since when did ya wanna help nobody? Come on, ya can tell ol' Rubby, he's good at keepin' secrets." The rat winked at her.

Romsca made a face, but gave in. "Xzaris is mad at me. I even said sorry, but he's still mad."

Rubby paused to taste his concoction, making a wry face. "Ugg, can't even stand me own cookin'. Now yer friend cares about ya a lot, don't ya ferget it. Xzaris'd give his own life ta save yers, an' from what I can see, ya'd do the same."

"But .. we never used to argue. Not hardly at all, and I wanted to tell him I didn't mean it .. but .. he won't listen." Romsca laid her head on her knees.

Rubby smiled. "Oh, little fights is just parta growin' up. An' I'm sure he did listen .. it'll blow over in a few days. Chin up honey, we've found that Ublaz's pearls, an' it won't be long fore yer back at Sampetra, a n' everythin'll go back ta normal."

The cook crossed his arms. "Now turn that frown the other way 'round, see?"

Romsca sighed, smiling a little. Rubby nodded. "That's better. Now ya wanted ta help? How 'bout ya feed those prisoners fer me?"

Romsca looked less than excited, but she nodded. "Alright."

Rubby stuffed a bowl of something sloppy and less than appetizing in her paws .. she wasn't even sure what it was. Eager to dispose of the mess and not eager to smell it, Romsca hurried down the corridor, through the galley with its empty benches and oars.

Some pirates kept oarslaves, but Conva had never been keen on them. If the crew of the Waveworm wanted extra speed, they had to row their own ship.

Romsca stopped at the door leading into the space that housed the brig, balancing the bowl on one paw as she grabbed the keys, hanging on a hook on the wall. She clamped the ring between her teeth, pushing the door open and walking in.

Flairnose and Graylunk were looking a little better than the last time Romsca had seen them, several days ago. Rubby hadn't asked her to come down here until now.

They still had dried blood matting their fur and wore rags .. what the lash had rendered their clothes to, but they looked up sooner, and their eyes were brighter.

And just like last time, Flairnose opened his big mouth. "Oh, if it isn't the liddle wench. Ya cook that mess yerself?"

Before Romsca had a chance to retaliate, and laughed. "Oh yea, I fergot. That ol' idiot does it. Well, where's yer liddle friend eh? He too much of a coward ta come this time?"

"Xzaris isn't a coward!" Romsca snarled at him, adding, "Just wait til we get back ta Sampetra! You'll get it then!"

Graylunk flattened his ears a little, slumping down some. Flairnose scowled. "Huh, that fool Conva. He needs us on the ship ... why'd he throw 'way four strong paws fer a little scrap a fur like ya? What's he see in ya anyway, eh? Tell me that."

Romsca growled, pinning her ears and showing her fangs. "My father loves me, that's why."

She remembered the last time she'd had to do this, and fitted the key in the lock, intent upon throwing the bowl in and getting away from these two fools.

"Is that so?" Flairnose sneered. "Ya really think that? Well I bet it's gonna be awful satisfyin' ta ya when that weaklin' of a father a yers kills us. Shouldn't ya git ta do that? I bet that ol' capt'n's the biggest coward in all of Sampetra .. he doesn't even deserve ta be a parta the House a Dragons .. fishbait, t's what he is."

Romsca could stand no more. She threw open the door, dropping the bowl on the floor as she whipped out her small axe. "Don't you dare say things like that about my father, Hellgates spawn! I'll make ya pay for it!"

In a explosion of fury, she lashed out with her axe, and the next second she felt herself fly against the wall, slamming hard against it as Flairnose screamed in pain.

Romsca struggled against the weasel's iron grip on her throat, vaguely wondering how he could possibly reach her while being chained to the wall.

Fresh blood poured down the weasel's face as he wrested the axe from Romsca's grip, panting, "I'll teach ya fer that one, ya little devil."

"Flair, come on! Don't bother wif her, let's just get out!" Graylunk was standing in the doorway, broken chains still hanging from his paws.

Flairnose sneered, raising the bloody axe. "A scar for a scar, liddle wench."

Romsca suddenly realized this was real, not a nightmare, and she reacted in the same second, lashing out with her booted footpaws and kicking Flairnose directly between the legs. The weasel howled, doubling over, and Romsca grabbed her axe, recoiling to strike the back of his neck.

Something flashed on the edge of her vision, catching her hard in the jaw and sending her slamming against the wall. She crumpled to the floor, gasping in a breath as she felt the sensation of falling into something, falling, falling .. endless falling.

"Flair, c'mon ya fool, they'll catch us an we won't git yer treasure Flair! C'mon, she's done in anyhow .. please c'mon ...."

The voice seemed far away, and at last it faded to nothing at all.

><><

Grath awoke to the sound of something metal being sharpened. She didn't move for a moment, just listened to the familiar swish of metal on metal as she let her vision adjust to the dark she was lying in.

The previous events came back to her, and she pleaded with her memory they were simply a terrible dream ... but they were too cruelly vivid to give her even a moment of hope.

"You're coming around, eh?"

The voice sounded like Waterlily's, though it was darker and more tense than the old otterwife's normal, pleasant tone.

"W .. Waterlily?" Grath's voice was a half sob as tears sprang into her eyes due to multiple accounts.

The swish of metal being sharpened ceased, and gentle arms wrapped around Grath in a hug. "Hush. Speak softly, they have yet to find us."

"My father .. mother .. Aqua .. Lutran .." Grath broke off, whispering, "And the pirates .. they .."

"I know." Waterlily's voice was grim. "They do what sea scum always do. Just like all the books say, they do what they're born to do .. kill."

She sighed. "I don't know what happened out there, all I know is you fainted outside my door and could've drowned. They haven't searched my cave yet, but they're swarming around .. there's no escape."

The old otter scowled, picking up a tarnished harpoon; the thing she'd been working on. "This was my father's once, something I've kept all these seasons. To think I'll have to use it again ... but no pirate will take me hostage, I'll die sooner."

Grath swallowed hard, whispering softly, "I ... I don't want to die. I want .. to live."

Waterlily said nothing a moment, before sighing. "Well .. while there's life there's hope, they say. But when the time comes, I will die a true warrior of Holt Lutra .. you would honor your family to do the same."

><><

The world was dark .. dark and rocking and aching and miserable. Romsca lifted her head with a groan, the first sensation she recognized being the salty blood that was dripping from the corner of her mouth and soaking her cheek.

She spit, hacking as she rubbed her head to clear it.

What had happened?

Oh yes. She'd come down here to feed the prisoners, Flairnose had taunted her .. and they'd escaped.

Escaped to steal her father's treasure!

Romsca sat bolt upright with a gasp of true horror, groping around the dim area until she came across the handle of her axe. She staggered to her feet, leaning against the wall weakly as blood rushed to her already aching head.

The ferret stumbled to the brig's bars, to find them leaning half open. She staggered out toward the door to the galley, spitting out some more blood that was coming from what felt like a cut on the inside of her mouth.

She shoved the door open, hurrying as best she could to the kitchen as a terrifying thought came to her .. what had they done to Rubby and Xzaris?

Romsca reached the kitchen's door, to find it closed. She pounded on it, crying, "Rubby? Rubby are ya ok?"

The cook's voice sounded almost relieved, almost cross. "Romsca? Yer alive? Those two prisner's locked me door 'fore I could stop em, an' they were talkin' bout going after some treasure ... lemme out!"

Romsca reached for her keys, to find she did not have them ... of course, to lock Rubby in, Flairnose and Graylunk must have taken them.

She shook her head. "I don't have them! They took them, and now they're probably ... gone ..."

The ferret paused a moment, before yelling, "I've got to help Xzaris, I'll come back!"

She stumbled up the hold's stairs, toward the forecastle and the captain's cabin. "Xzaris? Xzaris, are ya in there? Please be in there!"

There was no reply and Romsca shoved the door open to find no sign of her friend. She looked around, calling, "Answer me, please!"

There was a muffled sound from the shadows under her father's hammock, and she hurried over to them, pulling Xzaris out a couple seconds later.

The ferret was bound, gagged, and a little scratched up on top of it. Romsca drew her knife, cutting his bonds, and he ripped his own gag off. "What happened?"

There was a pause, and Romsca spit a little more blood out of her mouth, relieved the flow was slowing now. She shook her head. "I .. I'm not sure. Flairnose and Graylunk .. well I was feeding them .. Flairnose said something awful about you .. and me .. and my dad .. and I .."

She looked down. Xzaris stared at her. "And you went off on 'em?"

"Yea."

The ferret shook his head. "They took the pearls!"

Romsca looked to where the pearls had sat, and swallowed hard. "Oh no ... no, no, no ... dad's going to kill me!"

Xzaris seemed in a sort of daze himself. "No. But Ublaz will kill him."

"No." Romsca stumbled, falling to the ground. "No .. he .. he can't!"

"Those pearls were capt'n's only hope!" Xzaris looked almost angry. "This is why we crossed the sea, why we have ta fight ... why did you do it Romsca, why? How could ya? Yer dad's gonna die cause a this .. an' ya are too! I .. I don't want ya ta die."

The ferret looked away.

Romsca shoved herself to her feet. "I won't let it happen! This can't happen! I'll stop it! Come on, hurry! We have ta tell dad, he'll help us .. he'll catch them!"

Xzaris didn't move for a moment, before he stood. "Yer right, we can't give up .. hurry!"

><><

"Rasconza!"

The fox barely had time to look up, before Val jumped on him, plowing him over. "Hi!"

Rasconza blinked up at her. "Uhh .. yea. Hi."

"You don't know how glad I am ta see ya!"

Rasconza nodded slowly. "I think I can guess."

Val jumped up, pulling Rasconza back onto his paws. "But you won't guess what happened ta me. Seriously ... like try it. Guess."

"I'm not good at guessing, how about you tell me?" Rasconza stretched a little.

"I saw Ublaz's crystal ball!" Val looked pleased with herself.

Rasconza was confused. "I .. his what?"

Val nodded. "He has one. I get alla awful jobs in that dumb palace .. I get ta scrub stuff. I really hate that."

She made a face for a moment, as if imagining it, before continuing. "So cook gets mad at me hangin' about and tells me ta go get lost an scrub somethin'. An' I try ta. I get ta this cool ol' passage thing, and I mean .. who's gonna scrub anythin' when they can explore this cool passage. Especially when there ain't any Monitors watchin ya."

She looked expectantly at Rasconza, who raised an eyebrow. "Sounds risky to me, actually."

"Oh really. Where's yer sense of adventure, huh? So I sneak down it, and I get to this screen thingy. I shoved it open a little, an' here's this really nice room, silk curtains, colored screens on the windows .. like .. gold stuff. And then there's this ball thing on the table."

Val looked secretive. "An' then Ublaz walks up from somewhere .. I couldn't see behind that screen, an' he strokes the ball and says, "The Waveworm."

She did a good Ublaz impersonation. Rasconza blinked. "Conva's ship?"

"Uh-huh. And ya know what happens? This picture of some forest thingy shows up in the glass, an' I saw Conva! Or I think I did .. I only saw him .. like once before he left, so I mighta been wrong." Val shrugged.

"Wait .. You're saying Ublaz can see what Conva's doing .. when he's all the way across the ocean?" Rasconza scratched an ear.

Val shivered. "I think so. It was all pretty weird .. Conva looked pretty scratched up, like he'd been fightin' or somethin' ..."

Rasconza looked up at that point. "Are Romsca and Xzaris ok?"

"The two friends ya talk about .. that ya were with at the Feast of Spring? I've no idea, I couldn't see much. Just that sea capt'n Conva an some other grownups .. they were holdin' somethin' but I couldn't see it. Sure made Ublaz happy though .. he was grinnin' like a demon I'll tell ya .. acting like he could even hear what they was sayin'. I couldn't hear nothin' .. an I got outa there fast, fore he turned 'round an saw me."

She made a face. "He sure is creepy .. I came right ta ya after that."

Rasconza looked a little confused. "How'd you get out so fast?"

"Oh, that passage I found leads right ta the kitchen, an' Cook was sleepin. I sneaked out the scullery." Val explained herself.

Rasconza scratched his chin. "Could you get in the scullery, not just out?"

"Uhh .. sure? I do it alla time." She raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Rasconza walked to the window of his manor, looking up at the palace, perched like a nest on the slight incline that the city was built upon. "I've got to make sure my friends are ok."

><><

"Dad!" Romsca bolted through the now dark and confusing woods of Mossflower, gripping her axe and a knife tightly. She turned around, looking at Xzaris, who was examining the ground. "Which way did they go?"

Xzaris traced his paw in the dirt for a moment, before jumping up. "This way, follow me!"

Romsca ran after him, glad he seemed to know what he was doing, for she'd never figured out the mystery of tracking.

The woods were night darkened, and both Romsca and Xzaris were finding it hard not to trip and fall .. Xzaris staying on his paws somewhat better, though not by much.

"Eeek .. oof!" Romsca let forth an undignified squeak as she tripped over a rock, rolling down a short incline. She staggered to her paws, jumping backwards into Xzaris as she saw what this new clearing contained.

Despite himself, Xzaris shared her sentiment. "Um .. let's keep goin'. Those lizards .. awful things."

He grabbed Romsca's arm, and she let him pull her away, stunned by the scene .. blood, torn fur and shredded clothing .. the remains of what had once been a creature bold enough to stand against a Monitor.

"Ya ok?" Xzaris was asking her, shaking her a little.

Romsca nodded, shivering. "Yea."

Xzaris looked dubious, and she lifted her head, stating decisively, "I'm fine. Now .. we must be close."

"Romsca? Xzaris? Why're you off the Waveworm, I told you to stay there." Conva sounded less than pleased, and Xzaris smirked dryly.

"Yer right, we're here. Ya wanna tell him?"

Conva looked from one to the other. "Tell me what?"

Romsca swallowed hard, before she suddenly blurted, "Dad .. I'm so sorry, it's .. I .. I did it. It's .. my fault."

Conva's expression went from cross to serious. "What happened? Are you two hurt?"

Xzaris shook his head, as Romsca looked down. "It was Flairnose and Graylunk .. they .. got out."

"What? How?" Conva was stunned.

"They taunted me .. I .. couldn't stand it, and I opened the door to give them something to shut them up .. but .." Now that she was talking, Romsca couldn't have held the story in if she'd have wanted to. "They weren't chained, somehow .. and they .. knocked me out for awhile."

Conva knelt beside her, wiping a little blood from her cheek. "That explains this .. well .. alright, you did well to tell me. Is Rubby still on board with the pearls?"

Romsca shrank back a little, whispering, "That's the thing ... they took the pearls .. I'm .. so sorry!"

Conva took a step back, voice an intake of air. "What? No ... they .. my pearls? They took them?"

"Capt'n, we can get 'em back!" Xzaris explained. "We can catch them, they can't be far!"

Conva looked up quickly. "You're right .. you two, gather the crew. We'll get my pearls back, and kill those traitors!"

><><

For Grath, the minutes seemed like hours .. terrible, dragging hours. It came to the place she wished they would be found just so this nightmare would end.

"I want to wake up." Grath whispered to nobeast in particular, and she knew her wish was futile. Still, she said it, because it came to mind.

She rubbed her arms, murmuring, "I really do."

There was a sudden scuffling outside the cave, and Waterlily froze in her endless pacing. She stared almost wildly at Grath a moment, before gasping, "What am I thinking?"

The otterwife ran to her young companion, shoving her in the shadows of a bookcase. "To ask the last daughter of Holt Lutra to fight and die? That is my destiny, I am old .. but you are young, you have a future, you can keep our legacy alive. They must not find you!"

"But I .." Grath began, but Waterlily clamped a paw over her mouth.

"Be silent. I'll hold them off .. whatever happens, don't give yourself away, do you understand?"

Grath swallowed hard, finally nodding.

"Good." Waterlily said no more, twirling her harpoon slowly as she walked back out into the main part of the cave.

Just as she did, a large rat burst in, holding a spear. The two beast stared at each other a moment, before the rat walked forward, fearlessly. "Drop yer weapon ol' one, I ain't gonna harm ya. Come quiet an' nobeast'll do nothin' ta ya."

Waterlily curled her lip defiantly. "After what you have done to my people, I would rather die then surrender. I've lived my whole life here, and by Ignasa, I'll die here, scum. And maybe I'll kill you while I'm at it!"

The rat lifted his chin. "Ya woodlanders are all mad, so I swear. If that's what yer wantin', I'll have ta kill ya."

"Enough talk filth, you don't know the meaning of bravery!" Waterlily swung her harpoon, clipping the rat's whiskers neatly from one side of his muzzle, and just missing tearing into his face.

He jumped back, a little surprised to find she was truly serious, but countered just as fast. The rat blocked her next downward cut, kicking her hard in the legs to unbalance her.

Waterlily cried out, but thrust her harpoon again, despite the rat's tricky move. However he moved like lightning, dodging the otter's trust and countering with his own.

The old otter stood frozen for a second as her harpoon fell from nerveless fingers, and moments later, she followed it to a floor stained with freshly spilled blood.

The rat yanked his spear from her, shaking his head and muttering, "Poor fools ... mad as any I've seen."

Grath hadn't moved, she honestly couldn't. She could feel the tears rushing into her eyes, even spilling from them, but after all she had seen, she felt numb .. frozen.

The rat was moving toward her hiding place now, but she couldn't make herself run. She wasn't sure she even wanted to.

Moment's before he would have found her, there was a youthful cry from the cave's mouth. "Hey, anybeast in here?"

><><

Romsca was desperate to find all the crew .. she had to help Conva find Flairnose and Graylunk, or Ublaz would kill him!

No. No, she must not think of that. This would all turn out alright .. it had to!

Romsca and Xzaris had gone different ways to move faster, and now Romsca splashed through the shallows of the river to the mouth of a cave, walking in and calling, "Hey, anybeast in here?"

Rafglan turned around in the dim light, spear glistening with blood. "Hoi, I though ya was on the Waveworm!"

Romsca forced herself not to look at the corpse of an otter lying in a pool of dark blood on the floor, gasping out her story. "Flairnose and Graylunk got out .. they stole the pearls, and we have to get them back! Capt'n needs you, now!"

Rafglan stared at her a moment, before nodding. "I'm on it, come with me."

He hurried from the cave, but Romsca paused as there was a slight clatter from a dark corner, and a movement. She wheeled about, weapons ready, as an otter about her own age seemed to fall into the dim shaft of light coming from somewhere overhead, almost like there was a sort of rift or skylight in the cave's roof.

The creature stared at her in frozen terror, tears spilling in dusty streaks from her eyes, as she shivered fitfully.

Romsca was truly amazed .. it was the same young girl she'd seen fishing just hours earlier. The otter wasn't glaring at her, she didn't look angry or anything like a monster .. she looked just as terrified as Romsca felt.

The ferret dropped her raised arm, lowering her axe as somehow, she felt remorse.

''We .. did this to her. Maybe .. they aren't the monsters .. maybe we are instead!''

Green eyes met green eyes for several frozen seconds, telling of fear, sorrow, pain ... so many things in common. In that moment, Romsca realized she could never kill this poor creature .. she could not bear to think of her dead.

"Romsca? Where are ya?" Rafglan's voice came confused from outside. "Are ya alright? Find somethin'?"

Romsca bolted into action, tearing her gaze from the otter's and walking quickly toward the cave's mouth before Rafglan could come in. "No, I'm fine. There's nothing in there worth taking .. come on. Let's get to my father, hurry!"

She ran out, praying that Rafglan would follow her .. and he did.

Back in the silent, empty cave, Grath stared at where the young pirate girl had disappeared, dumbfounded.

Why? Why hadn't she killed her?

Why had she stared at her with such sorrow, shock .. even pity? Could a vermin feel those things?

The otter shuddered, trying to push herself onto her paws, but her arms were too weak, and she collapsed to the floor.

She was done fighting.

''Ignasa .. just let me join my family.''

><><

"Crew, those two mutineers have run of with my pearls! Split into groups of three, and search these woods until there's not one place those filthy traitors could have hidden."

Conva glared around at his crew, adding, "And for the three that find them first, I'll pay each beast double wages!"

That made the crewbeasts who might have been dubious have vested interests in the mission, and there was a chorus of, "Aye aye, Capt'n!"

Romsca was watching, unsure of what she should be doing, and Xzaris came running up. "That everybeast?"

Romsca could hear Barranca giving orders to his own crew, and she nodded. "I think so."

Conva drew his cutlass, stating, "Alright, move out!"

"Wait."

Everybeast paused as the largest Monitor stopped directly in front of Conva. "Where you think you go? We return to Mazzter."

Conva sneered. "Not without his pearls. Come on crew!"

The pirates once again tried to move away, but all fifteen lizards had congregated around them, and they growl menacingly. Nobeast moved.

The large lizard showed its teeth. "We zzzaw, you zzent them to zzzhip ... now we go to Mazzzter."

Conva glared at the creature. "I'm telling you, my pearls were stolen, and we're going to get them back!"

"Your pearlzzz?" The Monitor flicked its forked tongue as it spoke. "They are Mazzter'zz pearlzz, not yourzzz. And we will take them to Zzzempatra."

Conva lost his patience. "You're mad. Out of my way, now."

He flicked his paw at the lizard, but it didn't back down as usual .. instead it jumped forward, tearing it's teeth across Conva's paw. The corsair yelled in pain, yanking his bleeding arm and paw away. "Fool, get back!"

The lizard licked Conva's blood from its teeth. "Go back to zzhipzzz, we won't kill you then."

The ferret captain held his bleeding paw, growling, "Look, the pearls aren't on the Waveworm, they were stolen. We're going to get them back. Now let's go."

The lizard cast a flitting glance at one of its companions, who lunged at the nearest crewbeast, a rat, throwing him to the ground. The first lizard gazed almost pityingly at Conva. "Thizzz izz the fate of thozze who defy the emperor."

The Monitor that had thrown the rat to the ground lunged forward again, grabbing the unfortunate beast's neck in its teeth and shaking its prey violently. The rat had time for one last shriek, before the lizard tore into its victim.

The largest lizard seemed to be the one sneering as it almost smiled at Conva. "Who'zzz next, Captain?"

Conva, despite himself, was far more cautious. "Look, we need .."

The lizard stalked forward. "Zzzhall it be you?"

Conva was forced to back away, pushing Romsca and Xzaris behind him as he did so, trying to keep his voice steady. "Fine. Fine, we'll go back. I'll show you there aren't any pearls on that ship."

><><

"You see my point?" Conva stood on the deck of the Waveworm, glaring darkly at the lizards. "There isn't a pearl on this ship. I've let you look all over it, now let me find my pearls! Before it's too late!"

The lizards watched him balefully, as the one that seemed to be the spokesbeast stalked forward. "You zzay too much, my pearlzzz. They are Mazzter'zz pearlzzz .. no gamezzz. You have hidden them, zzzhow them to uzzz."

Conva protested. "I tell you, I don't have them!"

He looked up at the sky as if for inspiration, adding, "I swear by Astraria!"

Barranca was standing nearby, watching with a grim expression, arms crossed. However, he failed to notice the two lizards that had walked up behind him .. until it was too late.

The stoat yelled as they plowed him over, tearing his saber from his side and pinning him to the ground. The first lizard sneered at Conva. "Zzzhall he be azzz your rat, Captain? Zzzhow us the pearlzz."

"No .. stop!" Conva's voice was truly desperate. "I'm telling the truth!"

The lizard lifted its head. "Liezzzz. All liezzz."

It jerked its head at Barranca, and one off the lizards tore its claws into the stoat's arm. The sea captain clenched his teeth together, biting back a scream, and Romsca tried to run forward, but Xzaris grabbed her, holding her back.

Conva held up a paw. "No! He's a sea captain ... to get more wealth, your Master needs captains! Killing him won't help your master!"

Nobeast moved.

The first lizard slunk forward. "Then even if you not zzzhow pearlzzz to uzz, we go back to Mazzter."

Conva looked wildly from the shore of Mossflower to his beloved brother, finally snapping. "Fine! We'll go back. We'll go back .. set the course for Sampetra!"

Crew beasts ran about to fulfill his orders, too terrified to dream of doing anything else. Conva jerked his head at the lizards. "Now let him go."

The lizard smirked. "No orderzzz from you. He will not die, but he will zzztay with uzzz zzo you do not dizzzobey Mazzter."

Barranca struggled at this point. "My crew needs me!"

One of the lizards holding him slammed his head to the floorboards. "They can zzzail zzhip alone .. thizzz will make zzzure they do not run away."

Conva's nostrils flared. "You're lying cheaters, all of you! You scum, do not harm my brother!"

The lizards were dragging Barranca down to their quarters now, and the large one turned, meeting Conva's gaze. "Liezzzz for liezzzz, Captain."

They disappeared down the hatch as Conva stared wildly after them, before pacing a little. Romsca watched in shocked sorrow, not even properly comprehending the nightmare she had brought to life.

She shook her head, rubbing her arms fitfully. Conva suddenly seemed to notice her again, and his eyes shown with broken trust and pain. "You .. did this? You let them out?"

Romsca looked slowly up, realizing the hated, weak tears sprang into her eyes. "I ... I'm sorry."

"It's not enough!" Conva's voice was sharp .. angry. "We will all die for this .. you have doomed us all!"

The corsair turned on his heel, stalking to his cabin and slamming the door behind him. Romsca swallowed hard, looking slowly around .. but not even Rafglan would meet her gaze.

She looked desperately to Xzaris, looking for one set of friendly eyes, just one. But her dearest friend dropped his gaze, turning and slowly walking away ... speaking neither a word to forgive or condemn.

Romsca stood for a few minutes on the empty deck, looking through a tear-blurred gaze at the slowly fading shore of Mossflower.

The ferret collapsed to the deck, hardly hearing her own, thin wail as she curled up, sobbing.

What had she done?

Chapter 8 Tears Shed for Seven
The early morning sun glittered through the leafy canopy of Mossflower, upon the River Moss and a small procession of Guosim boats.

"I dare ya ta stand in the prow!" Plogg grinned daringly at Martin.

Tansy broke in. "No, don't listen to him Martin! You'll fall out."

"No he won't." Welko promised. "Me an' Plogg do it all the time."

Martin opened his mouth to say something, but Tansy broke in. "Yes, but you're used to it .. Martin's not."

"So? Ya gonna prove ya can or not?" Plogg raised an eyebrow.

Martin looked over at where Log-a-Log was having a well earned doze in the stern, along with Sayna and Mattimeo. "Umm ... does your dad really want us doing that?"

Plogg pretended to think a moment, before he grinned. "Nope. But that's the fun of it!"

Martin frowned. "I don't think we should."

"Oh really ... what are ya, a fraidy-cat?" Plogg looked exasperated. "Look, I'll show ya!"

He jumped up in the prow, standing easily in the precarious spot. "Ok, now it's your turn! 'Less you're scared!"

"I am not scared .." Martin protested, a little crossly.

"Ok prove iiiiiiiit!" The boat ran aground with a jolt, and Plogg fell into the water with a splash.

Tansy leaned over the side, crying in dismay, "Plogg! Oh no ... he won't drown will he?"

Welko shook his head sagely. "Nah, Plogg's a true shrew .. he can swim."

"But what if the boat ran over him!" Tansy was worried.

"Ho hum .. what if the boat ran over who, little missy?" Log-a-Log had been awakened by the jolt, and now he sighed. "Looks like we hit a sandbar, that's all."

Plogg's paws suddenly gripped the side of the boat, and his dripping head appeared next as he sputtered, "Hey! Welko, Martin .. give a poor beast a little 'elp here!"

Log-a-Log fished him out, holding his son by the back of his tunic. "Oh ho .. and what have you been up to now eh? Standing in the prow again? Looks like you got what you asked for!"

Plogg's ears drooped. Log-a-Log plopped him on one of the benches, calling to the other boat, carrying supplies. "Hey, are you stuck too?"

One of the shrews in it nodded, calling back, "River's just shallow here chief, we should be able to find better depth beyond it. Course we're to the side here .. it's got to be deeper toward the middle."

"Yea." Log-a-Log agreed, reaching for a long oar. "Let's see if we can shove off."

Sayna was looking around, and she held up a paw. "Wait a minute .. isn't that group of otters .. Holt Lutra .. nearby?"

"Oh, Lutra? Yea, they're near here. We don't have much connection with them, they're pretty solitary for the most part." Log-a-Log shrugged.

Sayna narrowed her eyes. "Why wouldn't they have seen us and asked why we were sailing their stretch of river? Something's not right, I feel it."

She vaulted over the side of the boat, splashing through the shallow water as her fingers danced over her sword hilt. Martin leaned over the side, asking, "Where are you going?"

"I'll be back." Was the indecisive answer.

Mattimeo frowned, jumping out after her. "Hey, don't go alone. It might not be safe."

Sayna didn't truthfully answer, just twitched one of her ears to show she'd heard him. Log-a-Log shrugged. "Well, it seems we're disembarking here."

Martin swung himself over the side, splashing through knee-deep water to where Sayna was slipping into the woods. Log-a-Log, Welko, Tansy, and Plogg followed him silently .. for there was something strange about this place .. it was too quiet.

The small party of beasts did not speak to one another .. the silence of the woodlands was too frighteningly complete.

Sayna was ahead of them all, and she stopped first. She made no sound, just stood still .. not shocked, not repulsed .. simply knowing. Tansy was the first to truly react, and she backed up with a sniff.

Sayna didn't turn around, just spoke grimly. "One of you .. take the children back to the boats, and tell everybeast to be alert. Though I doubt we're in time to face one offender."

Mattimeo didn't make a sound, just did as Sayna had said.

The mouse drew her sword, walking down a slope into a clearing of the dead, her boots slipping silently through bloodied grass. Log-a-Log followed her, rapier at the ready, though the plateau was still.

"We're too late. This looks like the work of Sampetrian scum, if I'm not mistaken. It's sea raiders anyway, and as far as I know, they all sail under the mark of the dragons."

Log-a-Log pointed his rapier at a corpse so mangled it was hard to guess what it had once been. "But pirates wouldn't do that, that looks like some feral beast tore it apart!"

Sayna nodded grimly. "It confuses me. But there is one of their dead, and it's a corsair .. the clothes say it all."

She indicated a weasel, slain by an otter's harpoon. Log-a-Log was forced to agree.

He sighed. "Well .. what can we do .. besides bury them?"

"Nothing." Sayna said shortly. "We should get started. I'll look for any survivors .. though they were probably taken captive."

Log-a-Log nodded. "Alright .. I'll get my crew. It's the least we can do."

Sayna walked past him, deeper into the ravished holt's territory, naturally silent from many seasons of practicing. Away from the clearing were the thickest part of battle seemed to have been, deadbeasts were scattered here and there, telling of their relentless fighting.

The mouse paused here, boots half covered in the shallow water of a small sidestream .. listening. For she could hear something now ..

Suddenly there was a slight splash, and Sayna caught sight of the culprit, a dirty, lone ottermaid. She was staring at her with a haunted look, tense, but obviously exhausted.

"Kill me .. why don't you? You killed every one else .. so just .." She burst into bitter tears.

Sayna slowly sheathed her sword. "I'm not going to kill you."

The young otter was sitting in water up to her waist, and she sobbed almost hysterically. "Why? Why will you kill my whole family and not me? I .. just want .. to be with them again .."

Something from the past stirred in Sayna, something that made her kneel beside the otter and wrap her arms around her. "I am not a pirate, I'm a mouse. I understand, little one, but they would want you to live, to have a chance at life even when they did not."

She didn't move, just sat in the water and let the distraught creature cry, for there was nothing else to be done. No words she could have said would be enough, and silence was more comforting than talking.

In fact Sayna didn't bother saying anything until Mattimeo found them, some minutes later. He came running through the shallows, exclaiming, "There you are .. I feared .."

He broke off when he saw what Sayna had found, and the otter looked blearily up at him.

"Oh .."

Sayna nodded, standing up and pulling the otter to her paws. "Yes. Go help Log-a-Log .. search the area for survivors. I'll take this one back to the boats and get her warm .. then I'll join you."

She led the ottermaid away, and the creature followed her, too stunned and cold to do anything else.

><><

Romsca awoke slowly to a dawn full of sunshine .. but one that felt strangely gray. The ferret lifted her head slowly, to realize she'd slept on the open deck all night .. and the memory of yesterday came back like a kick in the gut.

Romsca got slowly and stiffly to her paws, rubbing her arms to warm them as she looked miserably around. They had to go back .. this .. couldn't actually happen! It couldn't!

She didn't really know where to go .. or what to do .. did Conva hate her now?

He certainly had reason to.

Romsca slowly made her way to the captain's cabin, knocking hesitantly on the door .. but nobeast answered. The ferret slipped in, to realize the cabin was empty .. and it was probably better that way.

She walked to her hammock, slowly pulling the sack with her belongings out and digging through it. Romsca wasn't even sure what she was wanting, but her paw brushed against something square and hard.

She pulled out the small book Barranca had given her one time he'd come back from a raid, telling her she could write things that were important to her in it.

"Guess .. there just .. wasn't that much to write about until now." Romsca muttered, tapping the cover of the book with her claws.

On a sudden inspiration, she stood, grabbing the quill and ink sitting on her father's table, and sitting upon the window seat. She had to do something ... something. Anything.

The ferret wrote for a moment, looking down at the scrawls she called handwriting, and reading them aloud, though softly.

"Today must be the worst day of my life .. so far. I don't know what went wrong .. I wish I could fix it, but I think it's too late .."

She shrugged miserably. It wasn't much .. but somehow, it seemed to make her relax, now that her thoughts were in front of her. So she wrote on.

''I love my father .. but I'm not sure he knows it. And I'm afraid he doesn't love me .. because I failed him. Sometimes I wish I was somebeast else. Somebeast who didn't make the stupid mistakes I do .. somebeast who was a hero. Somebeast who was special. Anybody but Romsca .. cause let's face it .. Romsca's pretty lousy.''

Romsca nodded in agreement to her own handiwork, and the scratches of the pen on paper were comforting. She was starting to feel a little better, and she let her senses relax and drift as she wrote.

''It's all for this emperor's pearls. I hate him. Why did he have to come to Sampetra? He's ruined my life .... no. I guess I've ruined my life. But I just won't give up .. I've got to find a way to help my dad .. to save him. There's got to be some way .. if I could just be a little smarter .. braver .. anything. But I won't give up! I .. just can't.''

The ferret paused as she heard the faint but clear sounds of voices .. below her? Well .. of course, the brig was right down there.

It was Conva's voice, and another, more feminine one that sounded almost pleading. Romsca laid the book aside, corking the ink and wiping the quill on her tunic hem, setting them back on Conva's desk.

She knelt, laying her ear to the floor and listening carefully as she realized who was down there.

The prisoners from the raid.

><><

TBC~ Romsca    The T e r r o r  of the seas  00:27, December 31, 2015 (UTC)