A Fox Proves His Valor

[Fenrir]

The Fox walked along the path, the cloak about his body protecting him from the slight drizzle of rain that had started that morning. As he walked he caught a scent on the wind. Two rats and a weasel. there seemed to be another but their unwashed scent poisoned the air. He moved differently now, leaning heavily on a walking stick, his swords hidden beneath the heavy black cloak. He now looked old and crippled. He almost smiled at how that was half true. as he drew near he immediately realized the scent that had been covered by the vermin stench was that of a young hedgehog. The fox watched the vermin for a moment, almost laughing aloud as they struggled to catch the seemingly helpless be-spiked creature. When one drew a sword however the Fox's attitude changed and he called out in an old and helpless voice.

"Young ones, Do I see young ones ahead of me. These old eyes. Mighten you give this old fox a paw this muddy path makes for mighty hard walking. The foot-paws are sore enough." One of the Rats moved with a grin planning to take the old beasts things for himself. As his spear lunged forward the Fox sprang to life knocking the spear aside and bringing his smaller blade out and across, the rats head rolling across the ground.

"Why don't you release the Hedgehog. If'n you do I'll let you leave this place alive." They charged swords drawn. Both fell before the North born Warrior. "May you rot in a thousand underworlds."

[Tarpin]

High in the forest branches, directly over the slain beasts, two pairs of eyes were wide with awe. Their jaws would have been hanging open if they were right side up. They were not. Over Fenrir’s head a mouse and a fox were each dangling by an ankle from a rope noose. They swung lazily back and forth with the breeze, their cloaks over their heads and packs hanging inverted on their shoulders. The fox whispered in amazement. “… That was amazing! It’s like he wasn’t even trying.”
The mouse glared at his companion, probably irritable from too much blood in the head. “Shuddup.”
The fox gave the mouse a playful shove that made him spin on the rope. “Oh, come on, Matt! We’re saved! Turn that frown upside down!”
“I AM GONNA KILL YOU!”
The two fell to scratching and scrabbling at each other until they were rocking back and forth and the entire branch shuddered.

[Fenrir]

Fenrir didn't even look up he sent a small knife flying, slicing the ropes a whisker from their feet. "If you watch where you walk such traps are always quite obvious." turning to the Hedgehog the fox crouched. "Are you hurt little one? If not you'd best hurry and get home." the little beast scurried off in terror. He had caught a glimpse of the foxes chest for the warrior did not wear a tunic at the time. it had been soaked by the rain before he could pull his cloak tight.

[Tarpin]

Whoh! Aaaaaagh-!” THUD! The duo hit the forest floor hard. Both were slightly dazed and very tangled in their cloaks and pack straps. The red fox was the first to recover. Getting to his knees, he Lifted his cloak from over his face and put on a winsome smile. “Actually, it was part of a genius escape plan.”
On all fours, the mouse groggily raised his head off the ground. “No, it was part of a stupid escape plan that was… unfortunately, executed perfectly!”
The red fox turned on the mouse, becoming irritable himself. “Y’know when you’re trying to fight off three beasts with nothing but a whittling knife, sometimes you have to improv-“
“Shush…! Ahem.” The Mouse had got to his paws and was brushing himself off. Then he turned to Fenrir. “Begging your pardon, sir. I’m Matthew Lightpaw, expert wilderness guide, and this is my partner Patrick McPeek. We’re very grateful for you saving our, er… necks back there.” Matthew tried to look casual as he stepped away from a growing blood puddle coming from a less fortunate neck.

[Fenrir]

"Honestly I didn't even notice you. I went to the aid of the little one." He pulled his cloak tight about him, the little ones reaction had stung. "There are other you know. Coming from the south. If you want to live I suggest trying something like running. In my Homeland they have things called Stuffed Nuts, you stuff a cloth with sweets hang it from a tree and beat it with a stick till it bursts. You are the Stuffed Nuts, the spear was the stick." The Fox did not sheath his sword. It was dangerous here. "And what Kind of Wilderness guide gets himself in that kind of trouble anyway. Your lucky this isn't the North-lands. Or you'd have frozen to death. As a Fox you should be smarter then that. and you little mouse shouldn't hanging around foxes. They're a bad influence."

[Tarpin]

Matthew pulled a wry face and muttered under his breath, “Don’t I know it.”
Patrick pretended not to hear the comment, but asked, “Out of the south? We’re coming back from a half-season stay on the eastern shore. Had a steady jobs bartending. The Guide business has been slow. Everybeast staying home these days. We were hoping to go south to make a stop at Redwall. We’ll have to circle ‘round, it looks like. Huh, poor little, Freddy. Wandering away from home, again. This’ll teach him.”

[Fenrir]

"Going around? I've heard Redwall Abbey was a place of peace and acceptance. Why would you go around?" The fox tensed as a branch snapped beneath a paw. "I've noticed a large number of rats. Would that have anything to do with it?"

[Malum]

Kateppew the Pine Martin stepped from the trees surrounding the clearing. She was holding a staff and her eyes were clouded in blindness.

"Darn right they have something to do with it. A war is brewing and I fear for those in the abbey. Oh, my names Kateppew, Blind Pine Marten. Hello youngsters." She said, her sightless eyes looking at the fox and mouse.

She shook her head and her nostrils retracted as she smelled the unmistakable smell of blood- Iron. She looked at the dead beasts on the ground and snorted.

"Stupid vermin making mine species look bad. At least there's no Pine Martens though..." She said, coming closer to the fox, Fenrir.

"Ahhh, and the saviour of the young 'uns. I see you are fine too!" She said, happily.

[Fenrir]

"Beats such as these give us all a bad name. Unfortunately we are the minority." Fenrir kept his paw to the grips of his smaller sword. his nose picked out vermin everywhere.

[Tarpin]

But the black fox was speaking to thin air. He was alone in the clearing. Sprinting through the forest, Patrick and Matthew ducked and dodged branches and foliage. They entered an open spot where they could run without hindrance. Patrick pumping his legs as faster and faster, his ears laid back by the wind they were creating.
“Right! We can definitely make it to the river before they catch us and spill all our guts!”
“You sure about that?!”
“I’d bet my life on it!”
“…That’s good!”
“Yeah, and if we DO make it you owe me twenty silvers.”
“What!? How is that fair?! You’re betting my life, too!”
“Oh yeah… But you still owe me twenty silvers from last month, remember?”
“I thought we agreed on a common purse system.”
“Only if the transaction was advantageous for both parties.”
“Oh come on! The only reason you didn’t have any bean biscuits is because you changed your mind AFTER we ordered!”
“Doesn’t matter. You ate. You pay.”
“If we survive this, I’m going to kill you.”

They reentered the tree line. Ducking, bouncing, jumping. Expertly, they darted through the tangled undergrowth.

“Where’d the black guy go?” Matthew shouted.
“I thought he was with you!”
“It doesn’t matter. He’s cussing invincible, remember?”
“Right… There it is!”
Through the trees, the glimmer of the Broad Stream was visible. Patrick and Matthew sped through the thinning birch trees. The skidded to a halt on the bank.
“Where is it?!”
“There!”

A few furlongs down the bank was an old dead log.
The dashed over to it and began rolling it towards the water. Up to their knees in water, they pushed it into the current. As the water got deeper, they had to paddle with their footpaws to move towards the center of the river. The current had already swept them a ways downstream.

[Malum]

Kateppew looked at where the creatures were supposed to be. She frowned and spoke to the fox.

"They ran away moments ago. Towards the river I beleieve.

[Fenrir]

"Not my problem. They are alive, but judging by their actions a few moments ago they will most likely need the assistance of some beast before too long." Fenrir sighed. "My name is Fenrir, by the way. Lord of Sanctuary Valley, in the North lands." He didn't bow or the like. and he didn't boast his status with any kind of uppishness, he stated as the fact it was.

[Malum]

Kateppew gave a smile and spoke.

"I am Kateppew from Noonvale, well, a cave by Noonvale..." She said.

[Fenrir]

"Better a cave then a grave." The Fox was wary. too many vermin were in the woods.