Zee is found, But elsewhere...(Redemption Of Marek)

• • Along The River Moss **

Marek has decided to look for signs of the bandits and he keeps a sharp eye out, along with him is the mole Zaram as he stays close to Marek as they walk.

Leon is traveling with them as well, “I still think we should of waited on Lee, may have been best and not just gone on out.”

“You did not have to come Mr. Leon” Marek starts as he speaks, “You could of easily of stayed in Ferravale with Mr. Oz.”

Zaram nods in agreement “Burrr he is umm bieing right Mr. Leon zurr”

Leon answers, “No I didn’t but I am a healer and Zee may need one if he is injured.”

Unseen along the river’s shore is a ferret; he hides and stays close to a tied up Zee whom is likely unconcious or least semi-conscious.

Zee is semi-awake and still has the gag on as he looks around and manages to scoot a little ways from the river and grunts slightly.

Marek slows and puts up a paw as he hears something, he singles Zaram to back off and the mole goes to a tree, climbing a little ways and looks down and around for any trouble.

Leon frowns and looks around, he is not much of a fighter really, he can maybe fight off something if he had to but nothing too skilled.

Sims, the ferret, makes his way towards where the three traveling beasts are and pulls out his cutlass to end some lives if he can get close enough.

Marek draws forth his blade and angles it ready to fight as he slips along the path, he looks around spotting the ferret and goes to try and sneak behind him.

Leon meanwhile manages to find Zee and hurries over to him, checking a pulse and undoes the gag on his mouth and uses the dagger to start untieing the ropes some.

Zee groans and opens his eyes better, “Lad..” He says weakly, “The..the ferret is nearby-coughs-“

Sims has keep an eye on the mouse as he has lost track of Marek, but not Leon as he quickly goes behind him and aims to knock him out with the cutlass handle.

Marek has seen the ferret and quickly gives out a warning shout “Mr. Leon behind you!” He at the same time goes to slice at the ferret with his blade.

Leon hears the shout and the next second nothing as the ferret’s blade handle hits him rather hard and he is out cold and falls to the ground beside Zee.

Sims sidesteps, just barely and grabs the mouse as he grins at Marek, “ The mouse needs a good swim, too bad he is knock out!” On the word out he uses all his strength to throw the mouse into the icy river.

Bramblefur happens to be out as well and sees the ferret Sims, he notices Marek but he aims his arrow at the ferret and then once he has a clear shot he fires the deadly arrow right at the ferret with deadly aim towards his head.

Leon hits the icy water and sinks, after a few seconds it does wake him up as he coughs and tries to stay afloat by grabbing a chuck of ice but he feels a little numb now and is dizzy from the bump on his head so it’s messing up him swimming, and the fact that water is COLD!

Sims goes to then swing a blade at Marek’s neck as he gets closer and then drops his own blade when the arrow from Bramblefur enters his chest and the ferret stumbles backwards and then falls backwards into the ice, breaking it and sinks into the watery depths. IF the arrow didn’t kill him well the icy river carrying him away will finishes him off for sure as there is a waterfall close by, what fun! Yep..he’s dead.

Marek gets ready to kill Sims when he sees the arrow and backs off, he dives into the river but not after Sims, he is after Leon.”Mr. Leon grab my paw…Zaram!”

Zaram gets down from where he is and gets a rope out of the backpack he has and ties it to a tree, the other end he readies to help Marek and Leon.

Zee is half tied up still and shivers some as he watches, unable to help right now.

Bramblefur walks out of the hiding place he has and looks at Zaram and then goes to get the rope and take it to Marek and Leon.

Leon reaches over and grabs Marek’s paw and holds on, he has decided to trust Marek and hopes he has made the right choice.

Marek grabs the rope, and holds onto to Leon with the other paw and nods to be pulled to shore.

Bramblefur gets back to shore ok and starts to make a camp fire a short distance down a path and then goes back to help Zee get the rest of the way free and up and to walk if he can.

Zee manages to get up once he is free of ropes and walks almost to the camp before he groans and decides he isn’t walking much further and passes out, luckily close to the camp fire but not so close he would get burnt, but close to be warm.

Leon shivers and nods to Marek once they are back on shore. ”T..T..Thank you.”

Marek nods, “You’re welcome Mr. Leon.” He carries the mouse and sits him by the fire pit and sits down himself, “Zaram…”

Zaram follows them to the fire and campsite Bramblefur has made once they are there, he nods to Marek and starts getting out herbal mixtures and mixes them up in some water handing them to Leon and Marek, he offers one to Bramblefur as well before looking over Zee.

Bramblefur shakes his head “I am fine, I am being threw worse ya?” He makes sure the fire is a good size.

Leon takes the mixture and drinks some before he goes to helps Zaram look over Zee, “I am the Master Healer..healer of Redwall abbey, let me help” He coughs and sneezes.

Zaram lets him help “I bei aknowin’ stuff Mr. Leon.

Zee has some cuts on his arms, legs and face and is very cold and has a cough from the weather and icy water, he slowly gets warmer but has slipped into a faint for now.

Marek stays by the fire “Zaram is skilled in healing as well Mr. Leon, do not worry he can tend to Mr. Zee” He drinks his herbal mixture as he stays by the fire, “We should only stay till daybreak and then head to Ferravale, it’s not wise to stay too long in this place. It is also best to take turns as a watch beast for the camp.”

Leon does make sure his herbs are safe and frowns, oh yeah he left them at the inn room in Ferravale, well that’s a first, but maybe a lucky first as the water may of messed them up, he sighs as he lays down “Surcoat with herbs and herb pouch at inn room..” He allows himself to fall asleep by the fire after finishing the herbal mixture he was given.

Zaram watches Leon and then applies herbs to Zee cuts and bruises and makes sure he is warm, as well as Leon and nods to Marek.

Bramblefur speaks suddenly, “I will take first watch yes?”

Marek nods back “Good job Zaram and..” He looks at Bramblefur “As you wish Mr. Bramblefur you do first watch and then I will do the last half of the night.”

And indeed the first watch is Bramblefur and the 2nd half is Marek as the group rests before heading back to Ferravale, the location is safe and good for now, but only cause elsewhere a bandit group has left the area and is further leaving the area.

• • Meanwhile elsewhere**

A small cloaked beast sits on a tree stump, over his head is the hood and the only thing seen is his nose, mouth and neck somewhat. Beside him is a black bird as he caws lightly. The trees are bare and snow is on the ground, it snow lightly now in fact, and also there is thorn bushes and a lone pine tree bright green with some pine cones by it. It is night and it is also foggy out, a thick thick fog.

Coldclaw steps forwards and kneels before the figure; the beasts with him do the same. Two rats, another weasel, a ferret and a vole with a hook for a left paw. Coldclaw then waits for a reply as he bows his head.

The small cloaked figure stands and the black bird beside him caws loudly as he master looks over the group, and his mater speaks “Well have you done your deeds? I will be very upset if you have not” His voice a silky coldness, a coldness that makes one shiver.” One..proove the squirrel Oak is dead, I need the amulet he keeps on him and never is without it, two..Marek’s head. The third..Zork, the blacksmith of Redwall as your captive, I do not see the Blacksmith so you best have the other items I require.”

Coldclaw gulps and pulls out a one of a kind amulet and lays it at his footpaws, “I..I am sorry to inform you the..the badger was not found, you had said am old badger and we found that but it was some uncle and not the one known as Zork. But the old badger we did find, I ASSURE you is dead, he was so old surely he didn’t survive the night by an icy river in winter. Marek got away and lives, I do not have his head I am sorry.” He then quickly motions a fox forwards who a captive, not the blacksmith Zork or even a badger.

Javier, a tall hedgehog, struggles as the fox brings him forwards and has his paws tied behind his back, he gives the cloaked beast a death glare if that’s even possible.

The small cloaked beast narrows his eyes under his cloak and studies the hedgehog and takes the amulet and nods “Well..this proves Oak is dead, and you did get a blacksmith but you failed at getting Marek’s head, it would have looked so nice on a pike..oh well” He snaps his fingers as an arrow will hit the fox, but a couple hidden well-armed stoats grab the hedgehog before he can run off, “ There..be lucky it wasn’t you Coldclaw, now I see it best we all..ALL head north and let them assume we surrendered and left, which yes we left but not for very long, I have plans see. Plans involving a trade beast coming this way in a couple weeks’ time. It is wise not to ask why I see this trade beast, such a question will end your life quickly as it’s for me to know and me alone” His voice is so silky evil and could put fear in most beasts as he speaks. “Let us head north now, we need no more attention to ourselves trust me, oh and bury the dead fox someone.” A weasel nods and proceeds to do so in a ditch nearby as the small cloaked figure heads on northwards, “We have much to do and the hedgehog will help us greatly with weapons and armor repairs and making them of course.” He then walks on north and any smart beast would obey as his wrath is far from something any beast wants to face, his black bird follows him as he disappears into the fog and night.

Coldclaw tenses as the fox falls dead and yet stays in place and listens carefully as he speaks “You heard him move north!” He follows the unknown figure.

Javier struggles as he is grabbed and forced to follow.

The cloaked figure simply heads on to where ever he is going without a word, into the cold thick fog and an evil smirk forms on his face and an eerie evil laugh is heard as he heads back to his base of operations and back to whatever evil plans he has.