The Story Of How the Badgers Meet Silverfangs-(Zee Tales)

• A story told by Zee as they sat by the Firepit of the Abbey. The story is marked off by //// as they talk before and after the story*

Zee sits by the firepit and has a small fire going as it’s still a little chilly at night even if Spring is here very soon. There are still patches of snow here and there as the old badger looks at those gathered, “I see nothing wrong with living in Ferravale and these bandits seem to have moved elsewhere.”

Zork leans back in his wheelchair, “Seems that way and that’s a good thing as it’s less to worry about.”

Zinnia nods and smiles “Uncle Zee before you go could you tell a story, I know Uncle Oz and Papa probably knows it but I want to learn more of my family. Like how did you meet the wolf Silverfangs? What was Papa like as a dibbun? And well other stuff.”

Oz raises an eyebrow as he comes to sit down with some tea and berry scones.

Zork chuckles, “Me as a dibbun be boring lass”

Zee bonks Zork on the head, “Manners boy. I can tell you of how me and me brother Powell meet Silverfangs and his tribe. It were right before Powell and Kate first born, Zork was born. Kate and Powell were Ozzy and Zork’s mother and father..but let’s get to this tale as I can only tell one at a time and this one be important.”

Zork rubs his head and starts to say something but stays quiet to listen, even though he knows most of what happen from his father, when his father was alive anyways.

Oz smiles as he listens to the tale He sips his tea.

Zinnia smiles as she gets ready to hear, she even gets some tea and a scone.

Zee speaks, “Let’s see…oh yes….”

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The tribe was having a meeting as it always had once a season and standing before them all was a middle aged wolf and near him his youngest son. He addressed the group.” The past couple seasons has been hard on us all, the past winter and the failed crops, not to add the fighting with DarkDawn…we are the tribe of the Rushing River.”

Suddenly a black and grey furred wolf comes, with his clan and grins, “Attack!” He states “But Blazingbrook is mine!”

The two tribes fight and some to the death as the young Silverfangs hid behind a pine tree and watched in horror as he was afraid. He has already lost his two older brothers and a sister as it seems the other tribe was mainly after his family. He could see DarkDawn fighting his father the chieftain Blazingbrook.

Blazingbrook looked to have the upper paw as he blocks the blade from the one known as DarkDawn, leader of the tribe fighting his father. He was wounded in the shoulder but still managed to standing up.

DarkDawn growls low as he backs off and then suddenly rushes forwards to elbow Blazingbrook in the neck. The blow connected and he spins his blade and stabs downwards!

Blazingbrook eyes widen as the blade enters his heart and his life leaves him, the leader of the Rushing River in now dead!

DarkDawn smirks and takes the symbol of leadership and places it on his own head, he then spots movement and gives chase “I cannot stay leader if the son of the former tribe leader lives!”

Silverfangs gets a look of fear as he runs for his life and scoots to a drop off and gasps, he slips and falls into the river and is washed away, unseen he barely climbs out and passes out on the shore as an evil victory laugh is heard from DarkDawn.

DarkDawn smirks, “I have won, I am leader!”

Walking in the woods by the river is two badgers, brothers, Powell and Zee. Powell has a very large and great sword on his back know as The Blade of The Northwind Storms and Zee has a thin bladed rapier blade.

Zee shakes his head as they have been talking “Ya worry too much Powell; I am sure Kate will be fine and take it easy”

Powell states his concern, “But she is with child and I worry. This is our first child and I do not even know how well of a father I will even be to him or her.”

Zee chuckles “Ya do good with your nephews and niece Hyde, Mason, and Paige.

Powell starts to speak when he sees the barely conscious Silverfangs and rushes over to him checking for signs of life and finding them as he picks him up and wordlessly heads back to his den as his brother Zee follows quickly curious as to whats going on.

Silverfangs wakes up with Powell, Kate, and Zee nearby him. A couple other small badgers are around as well. Silverfangs tells them all that happen to him and how he needs to get his tribe back but is unsure how as he is barely of age to be a chieftain.

Powell nods “We need to help him get his clan back Zee.”

Zee nods “I do agree on that Powell but how? I mean yes we are both good fighters but never fault a wolf before and not sure on how to get a clan back..wot one of us kill this Jomo or something, that wouldn’t get a tribe back would it?”

Silverfangs speaks “It does not matter who challenges a leader, species is not mentioned as having to be wolf. Could be anything, a badger even. You would challenge him and he by law can’t say no and if you win the clan is free again.”

Powell hmms ”But if me or Zee won then wouldn’t we be the tribe leader?”

Silverfangs nods “Yes, but maybe you can choose one to take over as the leader you would be allowed to do so I believe, please say you will help me.”

Zee nods “We will”

Powell nods as well “Yes we will help you Silverfangs as we are friends now and friends help one another in times of need.”

Silverfangs smiles at this “I am glad for such friends Powell and Zee.”

Silverfangs told them a few more clan rules “Besides the fact a leader can’t refuse a challenge and that’s where ever he is, there is other things too. One must be of age to be a leader and I am but just barely and I am unsure if I am ready or not see the oldest in a family usually becomes clan leader upon a death or step down, but” He looks away “My brothers and sister were killed by DarkDawn and he went after me but failed at killing me.”

Zee hmms, “So to him you’re a threat, don’t worry lad we won’t let anything happen to you and you will get your tribe back.”

Powell Grins, “For sure this DarkDawn won’t know what happen”

The meeting is suddenly interrupted by a badger the wolf had yet to see as he looks at Zee, “Father, I..I think Hyde ran away.” Beside him is a small badger, Paige.

Zee frowns “Ran away?” He looks very worried “We need to find him, with a killer wolf out there it’s hard to say what could happen.”

Powell makes sure he has The Blade of the Northwind Storms on his back, “Ok let’s go. Mason stay with Paige and watch over Kate as well.”

Silverfangs speaks “I will help as well as you have helped me.”

Zee goes to follow Powell and Silverfangs.

While they are out walking they stay very alert for signs of danger and soon come upon the river. Silverfangs looks around and soon spots a dibbun badger in the water and points him out to the others. “There!”

Hyde is holding onto a tree limb of a fallen tree and wailing in fear as he can’t swim. It seems the branch broke from further upstream where it may of acted as a homemade bridge to the other side of the river but a strong flooded current freed it.

Silverfangs acts quickly and he can swim, so he jumps in and manages to get the dibbun back to the safety of the shoreline.

Powell rushes over and looks on concern.

Zee checks on his son and hugs him “NEVER do that again, do you understand?”

Hyde nods, and even at his young age his voice is so…monotone and slightly creepy “I am sorry father. I will not do it again. I want to go home now”

Silverfangs blinks and looks confused at the voice tone and then decides to not worry about it for now as he frowns, “We need to get the dibbun to safety, DarkDawn is close it is not safe here.”

Zee frowns, “I can get Hyde home if needed brother, but you and Silverfangs should come as well.”

Powell frowns “I am staying with him, we said we help him and this DarkDawn will just keep coming and coming. This needs to end.”

“Yes it does stripedog!” A cold voice says as a large black and grey wolf steps out of the shadows, it was DarkDawn!

Hyde clings onto Zee and hides his face in his tunic as Zee holds him tightly but in doing so he can’t help Powell and Silverfangs.

Silverfangs frowns and narrows his eyes, “DarkDawn you have taken my family from me, you will pay.”

DarkDawn smirks “Oh but you have no weapon.”

“But I do!” Powell growls and pulls forth The Blade Of The Northwind Storms!” I challenge your leadership and by tribe law you can’t refuse and tribe law doesn’t state one has to be a wolf. Any beast can challenge you!”

DarkDawn smirks “Your smart..fine let’s battle”

Powell nods “Let us!”

Silverfangs stays close by as the two beasts start to fight and looks at Zee “Neither of us can interrupt, this has to be between them alone.”

Zee grumbles but nods, he keeps Hyde close as now is not a time to argue with any beast.

Darkdawn looks to start to get the upper paw in the fight when Powell manages to overpower him. Both have injuries.

Powell has a gash on his right arm and yet still fights.

DarkDawn has a gash to the side and cuts on his arms and legs as he goes to try and fake a left but falls.

Powell takes this as a change and kicks him down as he lays a sword at the wolf’s throat and snarls “Leave and never return.” He then starts to walk away.

Darkdawn nods as he gets up, but a smirk forms as he then dives at the beast from behind, his blade out and ready to kill!

Zee screams “Powell!!”

Silverfangs gasps and wants to look away but can’t seem to.

Powell grips the Blade Of The Northwind Storms and just as the blade comes at him he blocks it with his own and then quickly spins the blade aiming a good hard thrust at DarkDawn’s throat. The blade is sharp and well taken care of and can easily slice through like butter.

DarkDawn stands there and falls over, his head rolls a couple feet from his body and so ends the evil life of the wolf DarkDawn.

Zee rushes over and hugs Powell, “You’re ok, I was so worried he was gonna kill you brother.”

Powell hugs him back as he looks at Silverfangs, “We need to get you home and let them know what has happen. Come Zee and Hyde let’s go to his clan grounds and then we can get home to our own family.”

Silverfangs smiles “But you are welcome to visit at any time my friends”

They arrive at the tribe grounds and the story is told, but being leader is one thing Powell doesn’t want. ”Ok My first and last thing as leader is to make Silverfangs leader”

The elders talk and nods “Yes that can be done. Silverfangs the great leader.” The leadership wreath is placed on Silverfangs head and all cheer. Silverfangs motions for silence “My first act is the badger clan is part of our clan as well, they are friends now and forever and will never come to harm and will be protected when needed.” Another cheer as the now leader Silverfangs smiles.

Zee and Powell head home with Hyde and are greeted by Mason by the entry and right away worry is shown on Powell’s face...”Kate?”

Mason answers “Is fine and so is your newborn son?”

Powell blinks “Son?” He hurries inside as Hyde and Zee follows and stays off to the side.

Kate smiles, “Love..welcome home.” The newborn wiggles in her arms “His name is Zork.”

Powell goes to gently hold Zork and smiles down at him as he chuckles “I am a father.”

Zee grins “Congrats brother, you know one day he will wield your blade.”

Powell nods “Yes but not till he is ready.” He smiles “This calls for celebration, perhaps with our new friends the wolfs”

Zee grins “ Sounds like a plan to me brother.”

And that’s what happen a few days later, a celebration of new life, new friends and family as well.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Zinnia smiles” SO papa was born right after you guys meet Silverfangs and his tribe.”

Zee nods “Yes. And ta answer your question I am about …hmmms well over 12 Seasons older than your father..maybe 15 seasons older I have forgotten”

Zork shrugs “I knew it were a bit more than 10 seasons, wot ever”

Oz chuckles a little “Uncle Zee is fairly old, not that it’s a bad thing.”

Zee resist the urge to bonk Oz on the head, “Ya Uncle Oz were born 5 seasons later, I do remember that.” He looks around “Let’s get inside the abbey. He puts out the fire with water and dirt and makes sure it’s all the way out before heading back inside slowly.

Zork follows in his wheelchair and heads on to bed “Goodnight all”

Oz nods, ”Good night Zork..Zinnia and Uncle Zee” He heads to bed himself after checking on the dibbuns.

Zinnia hugs her uncle before she heads to the stairs.

Zee smiles and returns the hug, “Goodnight lass. Do sleep well.” He watches them all head to bed and right before the sun rises, an hour before, he heads to Ferravale and gets there in time for dinner. He found a one room hut to live in and seemed to make himself a citizen of Ferravale, probably much to the dismay of Scioto.