Post by Crystal and company on Dec 16, 2005 21:05:27 GMT -5
Book one of the Rosepaw conicails! Wow that's long!
Chapter 1: The start
Clang Click, ping!! Spillers covered the ground as wood meet wood in combat. Everyone held their breath, even the fighters. One of the fighters was a skilled warrior, the other a young fox-maid. The young fox, Crystal Rosepaw, gasped as she was push toward the wall by her wildcat trainer. She struggled madly, but tripped on her light green cloak. She stumbled backward, and the cat was upon her within a breath drawing. Crystal reached for her fallen staff, but the cat pinned her outstretched orange paw.
The sliver fox grabbed the end of the enemy’s staff and pulled as hard os she could. The wildcat fell, and Crystal grabbed her staff and leapt to her feet. “Get up,” She said bravely to her fallen foe. “ I will not fight one that can’t fight back.”
Crystal was not prepared for what happened next. The foe leap to his feet and cannoned over her. His staff smashed down upon her head, and Crystal fell, out cold by the stinging force of the blow. The wildcat sneered. “You will never become a warrior, your soft hearted, witch makes you weak.” The crowd booed him for such a cruel move, and mostly his remark.
Crystal awoke staring into the soft chestnut eyes of her friend, Pear. The squirrel grinned at her quick recovery. “Well Crystal, your doing well. How do you feel?”
Crystal groaned softly. “Like I’ve been hit in the head with a bowling ball, what happened to me? Last I know, I was fighting Rico and I told him to get up.”
Crystal’s orange tipped ears pricked up at a sigh from her left.
“ That scum hit you in the head with his staff then said ‘You’ll never become a warrior, your soft hearted, witch makes you weak.’ Ha, you should have heard the crowd booing him”
Crystal laughed so hard tears rolled out her eyes as the speaker got yelled at by his sister. “Avali! Just because he said something very rude don’t mean he’s scum!!”
Avali snorted. “You sure, Skiltarna?”
At his remark, everyone laughed, even Skiltarna. Crystal sat up and looked around. They were in her room, and all her friends where there. Pear, Skiltarna, and Avali were standing beside her bed. Over in the corner sat Spring Bud, Zyris, and Mactalons.
Pear, a young female squirrel, looked down at Crystal. Her light brown fur gleamed. The chestnut eyes shined as she put a paw by Crystal orange paws. Pear’s friend ,Zyris, was stirring a pot of soup with his bronzes ladle he carried every where with him. The black mole’s eyes studied everything he could see.
Next to Zy sat Spring Bud, a full grown redkite. The huge red bird’s bold black eyes watched her friend, Mactalons. The hawk’s colors weren’t normal. He was blue with green tint. They chattered to each other, watching Zy stir his soup.
Skiltarna and Avali where fighting, as normal. Skiltarna’s gray fur and golden red place in it. She wore an extra long blue green cloak. Her blue eyes where kind, and her paws and tail tip where black, also not normal colors for a fox. Avali was a brown fox, and unusually tall. He was brown, and wore a black long sleeve shirt. Avali’s ears had gold hoops in them.
Crystal lifted herself out of the bed, and groaned. “I guess I’m OK. You guys want to go for a walk? I’ll get my staff, then we’ll leave.” Crystal ran down the stairs, grabbing her staff as she went.
Pear followed her, shaking her head. “Seems she was never hurt. Let’s go.”
They found Crystal down along the edge of the lake, watching the trees intently. The fur on her neck stuck up on end. Pear walked over to her and placed a paw on her shoulder. “Crystal, what’s up? You look really freaked out”
Crystal quickly clamped a paw over Pear’s mouth. “I feel it. Something is going on at the Sliver Shrine. A fight. A one sided fight at that.” Crystal’s voice had an eerie sound to it. It sent a shiver down her friend’s spines. Crystal started to run again. “Come on!! We have to help!!”
They all started to crash into the trees, running to aid if need be. The air rang with a piercing scream. Crystal runs faster, leaving her friends behind her.
“Crystal, hold up!! Wait!!!”
Chapter 2: Fight and Flight
Crystal ran, banishing her staff, her emerald eyes shining with spirt of the moment. Now, it’s my time to shine Crystal thought. I can be a hero!! Crystal ran faster, as Pear hopped out of the trees beside her.
“Crystal, slow down!! What ever it is, you can’t face it alone And we can’t keep up with your long strides. Slow down,” Pear cried as she leaped into a willow.
For an answer, the air rang with a pained cry, and a shout of rage. Crystal went faster at the sound, scared about what was shouting.
Crystal broke out of the trees, and Pear went back to the rest. Crystal dived out of the way as a weasel flew passed her head. She saw Rico fighting a score of vermin, and the wildcat was sadly losing. Crystal fought her way over to him, whacking the foes left and right, laying them low with her staff.
The wildcat stared at her until he was struck on his shoulder. “What are you doing here, fox?” Rico shouted above the melee. “As I said, you are weak. You shall be of no help Leave, you will only get hurt Argh Ack!”
The wildcat was struck in the back of the head with the flat of a sword. Crystal helped him up, growling fiercely, “I may not be good, but do you see other help? I bet not My friends are coming, and they can help. Just get us into the Shrine”
Rico nodded, and the pair fought their way over to the large Shrine. Rico struck out with his scimitar as Crystal lifted a bundle of throwing knifes from the weapons on the wall.
Crystal tossed one of the knives at a ferret creeping toward her. Her friends pounced out of the trees, attacking with teeth and claw, talon and beak, and Zyris with his ladle.
Crystal threw the blades with deadly accuracy. Soon the little army was in the Shrine with the pair. Pear whipped a claymore from the shelf, and swung it about.
The birds cried and started attacking savagely with beak and talon. Zyris, whom hated to fight, put a paw over his eyes and bonked at rat between it’s ears.
Skiltarna and Avali where wreaking havoc by far. They had their back together, slicing and hacking with their swords they had found hanging on the wall.
But no matter how good their where, the foes kept coming. Rico sensed the danger, and started to shout bitterly to his aid. “Go! They out number us 20 to one! Go quickly! I’ll hold them back!”
The party knew he was right. Pear swiftly opened a trap door in the ceiling and the ladder fell. They all ran swiftly up, and Rico guarded the ladder, slaying any that tried to get up. Crystal heard a pained and angered cry, and evil laughter. Crystal looked down to see a ferret, the leader, leaning over the wildcat, whom was gasping for air.
Crystal’s emerald eyes meet the cold brown eyes of the ferret, and a magic force seemed to lock them tighter. Crystal gasped as she looked at the ferret. I’ve seen him before! Thought Crystal I don’t know why, but I think he knows me, too!
The ferret watched her, then suddenly began to shout, “Kill the fox!!! Ryku, get her!!”
“Yes sir, Halfwit! Come here, you little nuisance!” A large weasel, Ryku, bounded after Crystal, slashing his rapier in an arch. Crystal quickly jumped out of the hole, hearing Halfwit shouting orders loudly.
Crystal got up and ran, running for help. She wanted it to stop, the bloodshed, the pain, and mostly, the fighting. Tears ran freely down her cheeks, falling onto her orange tunic as she ran. Avali ran after her, followed by the rest of the gang.
Crystal ran, she ran like running would alone solve everything. The sliver fox tripped over a tree root, and fell. For a long time, Crystal lay on the ground and sobbed. Her friends sat near her, lost in there own unhappy thoughts.
Meanwhile, Halfwit searched the caverns in the Shrine. He searched the whole place, then he turned to his wildcat prisoner. “Well, where is it? Don’t play fool with me!! You know what I want! Where is the Sliver Paw?”
The wildcat fought the ropes binding him, shouting at his captor, “ I’ll never tell scum like you!”
Halfwit bright his face close to Rico’s, his voice draped with evil, “You don’t tell, and I’ll track down those that where fighting with you.They’ll beg for me to kill them if I find them!”
The cat sighed. He couldn’t let the ferret hurt the ones that came to his aid. Epically Crystal. Crystal helped him, even after he was so mean to her. So Rico told. He told everything.
He told how to get into the Sliver room of the Shrine. He told what the Sliver Paw was. He told what it did. He told how it worked. Rico then was knocked out cold by a savage blow from the flat of Halfwit’s battle sword. As Rico lost convexness, he let out a cry to tell his friends he was OK, “ROSEPAWWWWWW!!!!!!!”
Crystal, too, before she knew it the cry was ringing out of her throat. “Rosepaw!!!! ROSEPAWWW!!! The full moon shall let us meet again!!”
With that, the fox found a source of renown power and was up on her feet again, running toward the Shrine. She ran back to help Rico get away, if he was still alive. The only one that could manage to get up was Mactalons, whom followed Crystal.
The pair got there, but they where to late. Rico, Halfwit, and his horde where gone. Crystal let out a yell of rage and ran into the armory room. Throwing a bow over her shoulder, Crystal trotted into the forest to make arrows. Mactalons flew into the woods to get the rest of his friends.
Chapter 3:The Dream
Mactalons flew to rest in the forest, as Pear lifted herself of the woodland floor. The eagle began to report what he had seen, weaveing his tale quickly. Pear quickly snatched her claymore from the earth, calling her friends to her.
“Split up and find Crystal. Knowing her, she’ll probaly do somthing stupid, like go chaseing them. OK, Zyris, come with me. Skiltarna, Avali you two look togther. Mactalons, you and Spring Bud cover the sky. Ok, got it? Let’s go!” Pear whisked off into an oak, Zy running behind her.
Crystal sat in the woods, a pile of arrows resting beside her. Crystal picked up the arrows and started to walk toward the Shrine, to get a quivver. She looked at the orange fletching on the end of the arrows, died orange with berry juice she had found. She looked down the shaft, and it was straight.
Good, these arrows will fly true. Thought the white and orange fox as she pawed to the Shrine. She grew grim thinking about what happened to Rico. She would help him, or avenge him if it was to late. Crystal walked faster, detemend to find the evil doers when Pear and Zyris came crashing out a bush to her left.
The pair skid to a halt and Pear let out a shrill wistel. Spring Bud and Mactalons were the first there. Avali and Skiltarna where second. Crystal looked at them grimly and kept her stride.
The fox reportes the sence to them quickly, shifting the arm load of arrows. “They’ve got Rico and the Sliver Paw. You know, the key to the Diamond Blade. The B. Blade, the magic sword with awsome powers, that very depending on the stregh of the welder. The sword that has been called “Sword of a Thousand Years” because it was made so long ago by the wolf warriors. They have it, and they took the map in the Shrine. We need to find a new map and get the Diamond Blade before them. It’s up to us now!”
Pear grined. Her pal sure was headstrong. Crystal beleved all of the things she thought of. In her mind, she had no limits. Now was the moment to see. Was Crystal the hero she was thought to be? Or was she going to whimp out? Only time would tell.
Skiltranapated her shoulder carefully. Her brother did a comical dance to cheer Crystal up, but he made to dent to her shadowy mood. The pair started in on her, “Crystal, what are we going to do now?”
“We are not doing anything. I’m going alone. No need of putting all of you in danger.” Crystal told them, her vocie as shallow as she looked.
Spring Bud biffed her soundly over the head lightly, and made her thoughts clear, using the normal odd talking of the bird folk of the town. “Crystal, you shall have help from us, thinks I. Help you not want, help you shall get, my friend.”
Crystal rubed her head and grined at her friends. “Thank you, my friends. Gather your things, like food packs, wepeons, and other things. We move out in an hour!” Crystal threw them her normal sign of happniess, a peace sign and her thumb out. Her friends grined.
Crystal sorted groupes, Pear and Zyruis would handle food, Spring Bud and Mactalons would get rafts, for Crystal had a feeling that they would need them. She told them when they were done with that, to get what they may want to need on the trip. They noded and went about their tasks. The three left, Crystal, Skiltrana, and Avila, took to the libray.
They had to sneak in, for they may get interigated for why they were caked with blood. Crystal looked in a section, and they twins in another. Crystal started to look but quickly got bored. Reading was not one of the things she liked to do.
Crystal started with a book on swords, but the warm air made her doze off. She was soon sound asleep, she head in the book, snoreing gently in the dark conner. She was soon in a relm other than her own, but somthing was wrong.
The fox saw a figure glide to her, and she gasp as she saw who it was. It was Kilona, the wolf warrior, and the blacksmith that made the Diamond Blade 1,000 years ago. The wolf had on a chain mail, and a black smith smock.
The wolf started into a song. It didn’t rymye, but Kilona’s sweet music made it sound as if the words were bound together.
“I am you, and you are me,
Toghter for erinity!
My young warrior!
You have many lives you’ve never seen,
but with every one, you have learned..
Like all the blade warriors before you,
You seek out the blade and an enemey,
And yours you knew not of!
Start at the king of the forest,
At the sun’s last hour!
Follow one that you would never like to touch,
But means you no harm!
The tiny turns large, the large turns giant!
Seek out the star on green!
~~~
Crystal was waken roughly, as Avila shook her. She stared into her brown furry face then got up. She poked her and her sister, “Write down what I say. It’s imporant! My dreams know the way!”
Skiltarna picked up a quill and a piece of parchment and Crystal told her of the dream slowly. They gazed at her before the treating steps of the labrian told them to leave. They grabed the paper and scurred out, rushing to meet their friends.
They meet their pals near the willow were, as kids, they would hang out. Crystal looked at their packs. Two rafts and a tiny boat. Seven harvest packs of food. They had weopens, they had them since the battle with Halfwit.
Crystal told them that anything they may want should be gotten quickly. She swept of to her dormitory to get her mother’s amulet and the cloak she had made. She squezzed the sahafire on the amulet tightly, like she would never let go. As she tied it around her neck, she cliped on her cloak.
She put her staff in the spiciel holder on her qivver, put her arrows in, then threw her bow over her shoulder. She looked at herself in the mirror and a single tear ran down her face. Earler, she had been acting like a child, dashing around and chating. Now she was like an adult. And this made her think of her parents.
She never remembered them, but she always tried to. She wanted to see them, to see the past, to see them and her old home. Crystal wanted to hold them in her arms, to be able to give them a hug. But when she saw the face of Halfwit, she remembered his face. She had seen it be for. It hit Crystal like a bucket of ice water.
Crystal had vowed so long ago to find out why she was here with no family, and she had a feeling her quest would revile it. She nods into the mirror and goes to meet her pals by the gate.
As the white fox when to open the oak doors, she saw 3 voles and a hedgehog. She knew them. The hedgehog was Bracken, and the voles were Izzy, Dana, and Lilona Bankvole.
The Bankvole sisters held short swords and Bracken held a ladle. Izzy looked Crystal right in the eyes and said, “We’re coming with you!”
Crystal sighed but agreed to let them come. As they came to the willow, Crystal desided to soleve the riddle. “King of the forest. Uh, well, could it be a villager?”
Pear shoot the idea fast. “We have an Abbot. Not a king. And no one can rule.”
Avali raised a paw, saying, “A tree then. But witch one...”
Crystal’s brain cracked fast. She looked up. “A king stands higher than all others and stands alone most of the time. Aye, Mactalons, Spring, find the highest tree. Oh, and it may be an oak. They’re know to be tall.”
The birds went and were back quickly. Crystal looked at the oak they had circled. She then looked at the base and sqwited. The seting sun was in her eyes. She gaped as she sloved the next bit. “The sun’s last hour is now, so we follow the shadow!”
They came to a river, and since Crystal can’t swim, she wouldn’t want to touch it. They placed the rafts into the water. Crystal got on the really small one, and the birds flew above. Crystal looked back at the town she once called her own.
She looked at the river and thought deeply. She didn’t know yet, but this quest would bring her friends that she would risk her life for, the story of the past, and a love that would burn...
Chapter 4: A fight, a trade, and a life
Crystal paddeled quickly, wanting to get as far as she could in one day. But the river was shallow, and she was forced to quit as the stars rose. She made a small fire from some twigs and Bracken and Zyruis made something to eat.
Crystal ate little, and it was odd, for Crystal normally ate like mad. Pear noticed her leaveing and quicked her pace of eating. Lilona and Dana went to get more wood, and Pear told them to be careful.
The squrill found Crystal in a tall ash, looking at the moon. Crystal’s face was full of anger and sarrow. Pear opened her mouth to speck but Crystal spoke before her.
“Rico shall be looking at the moon, the same one. The same full moon. And I promised to meet him in the full moon’s light,” the white fox muttered.
Pear nodded and her replay was low and dipped with simpathy. “Crystal, we will help. I’m suprised that scum hasn’t tried to attack us. Crystal, I ask you, why do you carry a staff? Why not a blade?”
“Because,” Said Crystal, “I am not one to slay without need. And a bet he will. Bulli-”
Crystal word were cut short by a scream. It was a scream of shcok and pain. Crystal quickly leapt from the tree, landed on all fours, got back up, then ran towards the sound.
She saw Lilona on the ground, her foot paw a an odd angle, traped by a tree root. Dana was standing, but a burly weasel, the one called Ryku, held a sword posioned with wolfbane at her neck.
Crystal attacked with speed and rage. There was a sharp crack and Dana scooped up her blade. Ryku lay in front of Crystal, nurseing a broken paw. Crystal looked at the eyes staring at her. She had made a long enogh stall. Skiltarna, Avali, Pear, Izzy, Zyruis, Bracken, Mactalons, and Spring Bud came bursting into the field.
Crystal let out a whoop of pure rage and rushed in. Bracken and Zy put their backs toghter and the rest stromed in. Crystal yelled advice, “If your outnumbered, put your back to somthing! ROSEPAW!”
Crystal attacked, but she didn’t take her own advice. She was nearly to the leader, Halfwit, when somthing happened. A lanky rat threw his spear at Crystal, but Crystal felt something rush by her.
Rico was back with the light of battle in his eyes! The spear ment for the fox hit the cat, but he still lived. Crystal rushes forward, revenge etched into her thoughts. “Rosepaw! You shall die with my cry in your ears! Rosepaw!"
And it was true! Crystal took a dagger from the paws of a rat about to attack Pear. She struk for friendship! She struck for justace! And she struck for Rico! As Crystal cried out and the rat let out a bloody gurgel, he shut his eyes for the last time. Crystal had gone totally beserk, and it dawned on Halfwit.
The fox was cursed! She had the Slayercurse! If the beast had the Slayercurse, their mind was taken over by another, stronger one. They felt no pain, unless their friends were threatened. And their streaght was unmatched...
Halfwit's brother, Rowan, was a master at arcery. And he used poision. He rubed a purple mix on an arrow tip and lifted his bow. He fired and Crystal fell. It parilized her and she roared in pain and anger. She then lay, alive, but stuned and the floor. Pear let out a wild scram and whiped her bow into her paws and nothced an arrow.
Halfwit knew if he didn't act fast, he was a goner. Crystal had all ready ripped the arrow from her shoulder, and was geting to her feet, gashes ignored. Halfwit held his blade to her thoart and Crystal started to thrash. Halfwit whispered to her, "My archers could pick them off easily, fox. Your band stands no chance! Tell them to drop their wepoens!"
Crystal knew he was right. She saw the archers. But they already had. If they attacked, even if Halfwit was killed, Crystal was too. But Crystal roared, "Forget me, kill him!"
But they wouldn't. Rowan saw Halfwit nod to him and he thew up a parsel. As it hit the ground, a silver smoke swirled around. Halfwit and his army made their escape, takeing Crystal. Halfwit was sure she would get in his way, so he had to get rid of her.
Chapter 1: The start
Clang Click, ping!! Spillers covered the ground as wood meet wood in combat. Everyone held their breath, even the fighters. One of the fighters was a skilled warrior, the other a young fox-maid. The young fox, Crystal Rosepaw, gasped as she was push toward the wall by her wildcat trainer. She struggled madly, but tripped on her light green cloak. She stumbled backward, and the cat was upon her within a breath drawing. Crystal reached for her fallen staff, but the cat pinned her outstretched orange paw.
The sliver fox grabbed the end of the enemy’s staff and pulled as hard os she could. The wildcat fell, and Crystal grabbed her staff and leapt to her feet. “Get up,” She said bravely to her fallen foe. “ I will not fight one that can’t fight back.”
Crystal was not prepared for what happened next. The foe leap to his feet and cannoned over her. His staff smashed down upon her head, and Crystal fell, out cold by the stinging force of the blow. The wildcat sneered. “You will never become a warrior, your soft hearted, witch makes you weak.” The crowd booed him for such a cruel move, and mostly his remark.
Crystal awoke staring into the soft chestnut eyes of her friend, Pear. The squirrel grinned at her quick recovery. “Well Crystal, your doing well. How do you feel?”
Crystal groaned softly. “Like I’ve been hit in the head with a bowling ball, what happened to me? Last I know, I was fighting Rico and I told him to get up.”
Crystal’s orange tipped ears pricked up at a sigh from her left.
“ That scum hit you in the head with his staff then said ‘You’ll never become a warrior, your soft hearted, witch makes you weak.’ Ha, you should have heard the crowd booing him”
Crystal laughed so hard tears rolled out her eyes as the speaker got yelled at by his sister. “Avali! Just because he said something very rude don’t mean he’s scum!!”
Avali snorted. “You sure, Skiltarna?”
At his remark, everyone laughed, even Skiltarna. Crystal sat up and looked around. They were in her room, and all her friends where there. Pear, Skiltarna, and Avali were standing beside her bed. Over in the corner sat Spring Bud, Zyris, and Mactalons.
Pear, a young female squirrel, looked down at Crystal. Her light brown fur gleamed. The chestnut eyes shined as she put a paw by Crystal orange paws. Pear’s friend ,Zyris, was stirring a pot of soup with his bronzes ladle he carried every where with him. The black mole’s eyes studied everything he could see.
Next to Zy sat Spring Bud, a full grown redkite. The huge red bird’s bold black eyes watched her friend, Mactalons. The hawk’s colors weren’t normal. He was blue with green tint. They chattered to each other, watching Zy stir his soup.
Skiltarna and Avali where fighting, as normal. Skiltarna’s gray fur and golden red place in it. She wore an extra long blue green cloak. Her blue eyes where kind, and her paws and tail tip where black, also not normal colors for a fox. Avali was a brown fox, and unusually tall. He was brown, and wore a black long sleeve shirt. Avali’s ears had gold hoops in them.
Crystal lifted herself out of the bed, and groaned. “I guess I’m OK. You guys want to go for a walk? I’ll get my staff, then we’ll leave.” Crystal ran down the stairs, grabbing her staff as she went.
Pear followed her, shaking her head. “Seems she was never hurt. Let’s go.”
They found Crystal down along the edge of the lake, watching the trees intently. The fur on her neck stuck up on end. Pear walked over to her and placed a paw on her shoulder. “Crystal, what’s up? You look really freaked out”
Crystal quickly clamped a paw over Pear’s mouth. “I feel it. Something is going on at the Sliver Shrine. A fight. A one sided fight at that.” Crystal’s voice had an eerie sound to it. It sent a shiver down her friend’s spines. Crystal started to run again. “Come on!! We have to help!!”
They all started to crash into the trees, running to aid if need be. The air rang with a piercing scream. Crystal runs faster, leaving her friends behind her.
“Crystal, hold up!! Wait!!!”
Chapter 2: Fight and Flight
Crystal ran, banishing her staff, her emerald eyes shining with spirt of the moment. Now, it’s my time to shine Crystal thought. I can be a hero!! Crystal ran faster, as Pear hopped out of the trees beside her.
“Crystal, slow down!! What ever it is, you can’t face it alone And we can’t keep up with your long strides. Slow down,” Pear cried as she leaped into a willow.
For an answer, the air rang with a pained cry, and a shout of rage. Crystal went faster at the sound, scared about what was shouting.
Crystal broke out of the trees, and Pear went back to the rest. Crystal dived out of the way as a weasel flew passed her head. She saw Rico fighting a score of vermin, and the wildcat was sadly losing. Crystal fought her way over to him, whacking the foes left and right, laying them low with her staff.
The wildcat stared at her until he was struck on his shoulder. “What are you doing here, fox?” Rico shouted above the melee. “As I said, you are weak. You shall be of no help Leave, you will only get hurt Argh Ack!”
The wildcat was struck in the back of the head with the flat of a sword. Crystal helped him up, growling fiercely, “I may not be good, but do you see other help? I bet not My friends are coming, and they can help. Just get us into the Shrine”
Rico nodded, and the pair fought their way over to the large Shrine. Rico struck out with his scimitar as Crystal lifted a bundle of throwing knifes from the weapons on the wall.
Crystal tossed one of the knives at a ferret creeping toward her. Her friends pounced out of the trees, attacking with teeth and claw, talon and beak, and Zyris with his ladle.
Crystal threw the blades with deadly accuracy. Soon the little army was in the Shrine with the pair. Pear whipped a claymore from the shelf, and swung it about.
The birds cried and started attacking savagely with beak and talon. Zyris, whom hated to fight, put a paw over his eyes and bonked at rat between it’s ears.
Skiltarna and Avali where wreaking havoc by far. They had their back together, slicing and hacking with their swords they had found hanging on the wall.
But no matter how good their where, the foes kept coming. Rico sensed the danger, and started to shout bitterly to his aid. “Go! They out number us 20 to one! Go quickly! I’ll hold them back!”
The party knew he was right. Pear swiftly opened a trap door in the ceiling and the ladder fell. They all ran swiftly up, and Rico guarded the ladder, slaying any that tried to get up. Crystal heard a pained and angered cry, and evil laughter. Crystal looked down to see a ferret, the leader, leaning over the wildcat, whom was gasping for air.
Crystal’s emerald eyes meet the cold brown eyes of the ferret, and a magic force seemed to lock them tighter. Crystal gasped as she looked at the ferret. I’ve seen him before! Thought Crystal I don’t know why, but I think he knows me, too!
The ferret watched her, then suddenly began to shout, “Kill the fox!!! Ryku, get her!!”
“Yes sir, Halfwit! Come here, you little nuisance!” A large weasel, Ryku, bounded after Crystal, slashing his rapier in an arch. Crystal quickly jumped out of the hole, hearing Halfwit shouting orders loudly.
Crystal got up and ran, running for help. She wanted it to stop, the bloodshed, the pain, and mostly, the fighting. Tears ran freely down her cheeks, falling onto her orange tunic as she ran. Avali ran after her, followed by the rest of the gang.
Crystal ran, she ran like running would alone solve everything. The sliver fox tripped over a tree root, and fell. For a long time, Crystal lay on the ground and sobbed. Her friends sat near her, lost in there own unhappy thoughts.
Meanwhile, Halfwit searched the caverns in the Shrine. He searched the whole place, then he turned to his wildcat prisoner. “Well, where is it? Don’t play fool with me!! You know what I want! Where is the Sliver Paw?”
The wildcat fought the ropes binding him, shouting at his captor, “ I’ll never tell scum like you!”
Halfwit bright his face close to Rico’s, his voice draped with evil, “You don’t tell, and I’ll track down those that where fighting with you.They’ll beg for me to kill them if I find them!”
The cat sighed. He couldn’t let the ferret hurt the ones that came to his aid. Epically Crystal. Crystal helped him, even after he was so mean to her. So Rico told. He told everything.
He told how to get into the Sliver room of the Shrine. He told what the Sliver Paw was. He told what it did. He told how it worked. Rico then was knocked out cold by a savage blow from the flat of Halfwit’s battle sword. As Rico lost convexness, he let out a cry to tell his friends he was OK, “ROSEPAWWWWWW!!!!!!!”
Crystal, too, before she knew it the cry was ringing out of her throat. “Rosepaw!!!! ROSEPAWWW!!! The full moon shall let us meet again!!”
With that, the fox found a source of renown power and was up on her feet again, running toward the Shrine. She ran back to help Rico get away, if he was still alive. The only one that could manage to get up was Mactalons, whom followed Crystal.
The pair got there, but they where to late. Rico, Halfwit, and his horde where gone. Crystal let out a yell of rage and ran into the armory room. Throwing a bow over her shoulder, Crystal trotted into the forest to make arrows. Mactalons flew into the woods to get the rest of his friends.
Chapter 3:The Dream
Mactalons flew to rest in the forest, as Pear lifted herself of the woodland floor. The eagle began to report what he had seen, weaveing his tale quickly. Pear quickly snatched her claymore from the earth, calling her friends to her.
“Split up and find Crystal. Knowing her, she’ll probaly do somthing stupid, like go chaseing them. OK, Zyris, come with me. Skiltarna, Avali you two look togther. Mactalons, you and Spring Bud cover the sky. Ok, got it? Let’s go!” Pear whisked off into an oak, Zy running behind her.
Crystal sat in the woods, a pile of arrows resting beside her. Crystal picked up the arrows and started to walk toward the Shrine, to get a quivver. She looked at the orange fletching on the end of the arrows, died orange with berry juice she had found. She looked down the shaft, and it was straight.
Good, these arrows will fly true. Thought the white and orange fox as she pawed to the Shrine. She grew grim thinking about what happened to Rico. She would help him, or avenge him if it was to late. Crystal walked faster, detemend to find the evil doers when Pear and Zyris came crashing out a bush to her left.
The pair skid to a halt and Pear let out a shrill wistel. Spring Bud and Mactalons were the first there. Avali and Skiltarna where second. Crystal looked at them grimly and kept her stride.
The fox reportes the sence to them quickly, shifting the arm load of arrows. “They’ve got Rico and the Sliver Paw. You know, the key to the Diamond Blade. The B. Blade, the magic sword with awsome powers, that very depending on the stregh of the welder. The sword that has been called “Sword of a Thousand Years” because it was made so long ago by the wolf warriors. They have it, and they took the map in the Shrine. We need to find a new map and get the Diamond Blade before them. It’s up to us now!”
Pear grined. Her pal sure was headstrong. Crystal beleved all of the things she thought of. In her mind, she had no limits. Now was the moment to see. Was Crystal the hero she was thought to be? Or was she going to whimp out? Only time would tell.
Skiltranapated her shoulder carefully. Her brother did a comical dance to cheer Crystal up, but he made to dent to her shadowy mood. The pair started in on her, “Crystal, what are we going to do now?”
“We are not doing anything. I’m going alone. No need of putting all of you in danger.” Crystal told them, her vocie as shallow as she looked.
Spring Bud biffed her soundly over the head lightly, and made her thoughts clear, using the normal odd talking of the bird folk of the town. “Crystal, you shall have help from us, thinks I. Help you not want, help you shall get, my friend.”
Crystal rubed her head and grined at her friends. “Thank you, my friends. Gather your things, like food packs, wepeons, and other things. We move out in an hour!” Crystal threw them her normal sign of happniess, a peace sign and her thumb out. Her friends grined.
Crystal sorted groupes, Pear and Zyruis would handle food, Spring Bud and Mactalons would get rafts, for Crystal had a feeling that they would need them. She told them when they were done with that, to get what they may want to need on the trip. They noded and went about their tasks. The three left, Crystal, Skiltrana, and Avila, took to the libray.
They had to sneak in, for they may get interigated for why they were caked with blood. Crystal looked in a section, and they twins in another. Crystal started to look but quickly got bored. Reading was not one of the things she liked to do.
Crystal started with a book on swords, but the warm air made her doze off. She was soon sound asleep, she head in the book, snoreing gently in the dark conner. She was soon in a relm other than her own, but somthing was wrong.
The fox saw a figure glide to her, and she gasp as she saw who it was. It was Kilona, the wolf warrior, and the blacksmith that made the Diamond Blade 1,000 years ago. The wolf had on a chain mail, and a black smith smock.
The wolf started into a song. It didn’t rymye, but Kilona’s sweet music made it sound as if the words were bound together.
“I am you, and you are me,
Toghter for erinity!
My young warrior!
You have many lives you’ve never seen,
but with every one, you have learned..
Like all the blade warriors before you,
You seek out the blade and an enemey,
And yours you knew not of!
Start at the king of the forest,
At the sun’s last hour!
Follow one that you would never like to touch,
But means you no harm!
The tiny turns large, the large turns giant!
Seek out the star on green!
~~~
Crystal was waken roughly, as Avila shook her. She stared into her brown furry face then got up. She poked her and her sister, “Write down what I say. It’s imporant! My dreams know the way!”
Skiltarna picked up a quill and a piece of parchment and Crystal told her of the dream slowly. They gazed at her before the treating steps of the labrian told them to leave. They grabed the paper and scurred out, rushing to meet their friends.
They meet their pals near the willow were, as kids, they would hang out. Crystal looked at their packs. Two rafts and a tiny boat. Seven harvest packs of food. They had weopens, they had them since the battle with Halfwit.
Crystal told them that anything they may want should be gotten quickly. She swept of to her dormitory to get her mother’s amulet and the cloak she had made. She squezzed the sahafire on the amulet tightly, like she would never let go. As she tied it around her neck, she cliped on her cloak.
She put her staff in the spiciel holder on her qivver, put her arrows in, then threw her bow over her shoulder. She looked at herself in the mirror and a single tear ran down her face. Earler, she had been acting like a child, dashing around and chating. Now she was like an adult. And this made her think of her parents.
She never remembered them, but she always tried to. She wanted to see them, to see the past, to see them and her old home. Crystal wanted to hold them in her arms, to be able to give them a hug. But when she saw the face of Halfwit, she remembered his face. She had seen it be for. It hit Crystal like a bucket of ice water.
Crystal had vowed so long ago to find out why she was here with no family, and she had a feeling her quest would revile it. She nods into the mirror and goes to meet her pals by the gate.
As the white fox when to open the oak doors, she saw 3 voles and a hedgehog. She knew them. The hedgehog was Bracken, and the voles were Izzy, Dana, and Lilona Bankvole.
The Bankvole sisters held short swords and Bracken held a ladle. Izzy looked Crystal right in the eyes and said, “We’re coming with you!”
Crystal sighed but agreed to let them come. As they came to the willow, Crystal desided to soleve the riddle. “King of the forest. Uh, well, could it be a villager?”
Pear shoot the idea fast. “We have an Abbot. Not a king. And no one can rule.”
Avali raised a paw, saying, “A tree then. But witch one...”
Crystal’s brain cracked fast. She looked up. “A king stands higher than all others and stands alone most of the time. Aye, Mactalons, Spring, find the highest tree. Oh, and it may be an oak. They’re know to be tall.”
The birds went and were back quickly. Crystal looked at the oak they had circled. She then looked at the base and sqwited. The seting sun was in her eyes. She gaped as she sloved the next bit. “The sun’s last hour is now, so we follow the shadow!”
They came to a river, and since Crystal can’t swim, she wouldn’t want to touch it. They placed the rafts into the water. Crystal got on the really small one, and the birds flew above. Crystal looked back at the town she once called her own.
She looked at the river and thought deeply. She didn’t know yet, but this quest would bring her friends that she would risk her life for, the story of the past, and a love that would burn...
Chapter 4: A fight, a trade, and a life
Crystal paddeled quickly, wanting to get as far as she could in one day. But the river was shallow, and she was forced to quit as the stars rose. She made a small fire from some twigs and Bracken and Zyruis made something to eat.
Crystal ate little, and it was odd, for Crystal normally ate like mad. Pear noticed her leaveing and quicked her pace of eating. Lilona and Dana went to get more wood, and Pear told them to be careful.
The squrill found Crystal in a tall ash, looking at the moon. Crystal’s face was full of anger and sarrow. Pear opened her mouth to speck but Crystal spoke before her.
“Rico shall be looking at the moon, the same one. The same full moon. And I promised to meet him in the full moon’s light,” the white fox muttered.
Pear nodded and her replay was low and dipped with simpathy. “Crystal, we will help. I’m suprised that scum hasn’t tried to attack us. Crystal, I ask you, why do you carry a staff? Why not a blade?”
“Because,” Said Crystal, “I am not one to slay without need. And a bet he will. Bulli-”
Crystal word were cut short by a scream. It was a scream of shcok and pain. Crystal quickly leapt from the tree, landed on all fours, got back up, then ran towards the sound.
She saw Lilona on the ground, her foot paw a an odd angle, traped by a tree root. Dana was standing, but a burly weasel, the one called Ryku, held a sword posioned with wolfbane at her neck.
Crystal attacked with speed and rage. There was a sharp crack and Dana scooped up her blade. Ryku lay in front of Crystal, nurseing a broken paw. Crystal looked at the eyes staring at her. She had made a long enogh stall. Skiltarna, Avali, Pear, Izzy, Zyruis, Bracken, Mactalons, and Spring Bud came bursting into the field.
Crystal let out a whoop of pure rage and rushed in. Bracken and Zy put their backs toghter and the rest stromed in. Crystal yelled advice, “If your outnumbered, put your back to somthing! ROSEPAW!”
Crystal attacked, but she didn’t take her own advice. She was nearly to the leader, Halfwit, when somthing happened. A lanky rat threw his spear at Crystal, but Crystal felt something rush by her.
Rico was back with the light of battle in his eyes! The spear ment for the fox hit the cat, but he still lived. Crystal rushes forward, revenge etched into her thoughts. “Rosepaw! You shall die with my cry in your ears! Rosepaw!"
And it was true! Crystal took a dagger from the paws of a rat about to attack Pear. She struk for friendship! She struck for justace! And she struck for Rico! As Crystal cried out and the rat let out a bloody gurgel, he shut his eyes for the last time. Crystal had gone totally beserk, and it dawned on Halfwit.
The fox was cursed! She had the Slayercurse! If the beast had the Slayercurse, their mind was taken over by another, stronger one. They felt no pain, unless their friends were threatened. And their streaght was unmatched...
Halfwit's brother, Rowan, was a master at arcery. And he used poision. He rubed a purple mix on an arrow tip and lifted his bow. He fired and Crystal fell. It parilized her and she roared in pain and anger. She then lay, alive, but stuned and the floor. Pear let out a wild scram and whiped her bow into her paws and nothced an arrow.
Halfwit knew if he didn't act fast, he was a goner. Crystal had all ready ripped the arrow from her shoulder, and was geting to her feet, gashes ignored. Halfwit held his blade to her thoart and Crystal started to thrash. Halfwit whispered to her, "My archers could pick them off easily, fox. Your band stands no chance! Tell them to drop their wepoens!"
Crystal knew he was right. She saw the archers. But they already had. If they attacked, even if Halfwit was killed, Crystal was too. But Crystal roared, "Forget me, kill him!"
But they wouldn't. Rowan saw Halfwit nod to him and he thew up a parsel. As it hit the ground, a silver smoke swirled around. Halfwit and his army made their escape, takeing Crystal. Halfwit was sure she would get in his way, so he had to get rid of her.
Am I me? No, It's me as an elf!
. I'll post in Blue. 