"You'll live." Lexi stated as she helped Barwick to his feet.
Apart from a small scratch, the mouse seemed to be unharmed.
With wide eyes, he starred at the three unconscious weasels as Aldah and the silver-furred fox bound their hands and feet. Only a few curious onlookers hung around as most of them had already withdrew.
Lexi watched as a odd creature appeared from behind a tent and headed their way. As he neared, she could see the grey grizzled fur and long bare tail of an opossum.
It was very rare to see one.They were known to be solitary, usually living deep in the mountains, far away from any other living creatures.
He stopped to speak quietly with the silver fox.
"Come on." Lexi said as she lead Barwick closer to the unconscious weasels. "Your enemies have fallen."
The mouse hesitantly stepped forward. "D-d-did you kill them?" he asked, his voice shaky.
"Not quite." Aldah said with a grin as she rose to her feet and dusted off her hands. "By the time they wake up and untie themselves, we should be long gone."
Hastily, Barwick backed up as if expecting them to arise any moment. "Can we go now?" he asked.
Feeling a light breeze, Lexi glanced up at the sky.
Although the sun shone brightly, dark clouds gathered in the distance.
"Might as well." she answered. "We still got a long way to go."
Quickly, she collected her bow and quiver and gave Barwick the garments.
The strange fox and opossum were still talking together as the three travelers moved away.
Aldah took the lead as they left the Market Square behind and entered a dark alleyway. On ether side, tall buildings loomed above them.
Lexi fell into step beside Barwick, who had been usually quite since the fight.
He now looked as if he was about to dart as he jumped at every sound and weary watch the shadows.
"Something wrong?" Lexi asked.
"What? No, no, I'm fine." he said distractedly.
Lexi was not convened.
"Not used to the sight of blood?" Aldah teased, glancing back at them.
With a shake of his head, the young mouse shuddered. "They almost got me back there." he stated.
Something rattled up ahead and Barwick shrank back.
"Don't worry, you're with us now." Lexi declared as they reached the street that lead out of the city.
The two story stone buildings gradually transformed into small weather-worn shacks as they ventured on in silents.
Soon, even they disappeared.
The trees on ether side of the path swayed in the breeze, causing yellow leaves to flutter to the ground as dark clouds gathered in the sky.
"How far to the nearest town?" Barwick inquired, pulling his cloak tighter. "That storm's getting closer."
"No idea." Lexi answered as she looked back at the forbidding sky.
The mouse gave her an appalling glance. "Do you even know where were going?" he asked. Lexi shook her head. "Aldah does. She grew up not far from the castle."
"Why are we going to Zamari anyway? It will most likely be conquered by the time we get there." the young mouse said.
Thunder rumbled overhead and rain started to splatter onto the ground.
"We need to find shelter." Lexi said, ignoring Bawick's question. "Aldah, how far until the next town?"
The rat was a few paces ahead and had pulled her hood down to shield her face from the rain. " 'bout a hour, I'd guess." she answered.
Lexi glanced over her shoulder. She was surprised to see two figures behind them and quickly gaining ground.
"We're being fallowed." she said, just loud enough for Aldah to hear.
The rat halted and watched as the two came closer. "Let them explain themselves." She growled.
Lexi felt the rain soaking through her cloak as they waited.
Lightning flashed in the distance, fallowed by a clap of thunder.
"We mean you no harm." One of the strangers called in a slightly accented voice as they reached the three travelers.
It was the silver fox and opossum.
"What do you want?" Aldah asked.
"It appears we're going the same way." The silver fox said with a glance at Lexi. "Mind if we join you for a while?"
"Not at all." Lexi answered. "We--"
"Not unless you know of someplace to get out of this miserable rain." Aldah said, cutting Lexi off.
"Of course. Not far a head there's an old farm house. It should be dry enough there."
Aldah scowled as she gestured ahead, saying, "Lead on, then."
The opossum took the lead, with Aldah and Barwick behind.
The silver fox fell in line beside Lexi. She regarded him curiously. He was wearing a dark grey cloak, now saturated with rain. The hood was pulled up over his head and hid most of his face.
"I saw you take down the weasel. Do you work for King Raja?" he questioned.
She shook her head slightly. "I work for no one." she answered.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Never had a reason too. Me and Aldah rarely stay in the same place for long." She said as the opossum led them off the path onto an overgrown trail through the forest.
The thunder grew louder and the rain increased as they walked on.
It was not long before the woods opened up into a small clearing.
A stone house stood on the far side, barely visible through the pouring rain.
Lightning flashed nearby, causing a tree erupted into shower of sparks, which were quickly doused by the rain.
The sky lit up several times before the five creatures reached the house.
Aldah was the first one there and rapped repeatedly on the door.
The thin stream of smoke rising from the chimney was the only indication that the house was not abandoned, as no sounds came from within.
The windows were boarded up and leafy vines had run up the walls.
After what seamed like forever, the door creaked open.
An ancient face peered out, but only for a moment. The door slammed shut, fallowed by the sound of a bolt being slid into place.
"Now what?" Aldah asked the silver fox icily.
He shrugged.
With a hiss of annoyance, she continued to bang on the door. After a few minutes, Barwick joined in. The door shook and rattled, it's rusty hinges threatening to break.
Barwick stopped to rub his hands. "Isn't there another way in?" he asked.
Aldah fixed him with a glare. "You're welcome to look for--"
The door opened a crack. "Go away." rasped a voice from within. "This is no place for bandits." Warily, Barwick backed away, protesting. "We're not--"
Go away and don't come back." The voice answered.
The silver-furred fox stepped forward, "Open up, in the king's name." he ordered.
"You can't fool me, sonny. The king ain't here." The silver fox threw back his cowl and removed a silver medallion from around his neck. "See this? It was given to me by a king. A king who will not deal kindly with anyone who refuses to give refuge to us."
"The king, you say?" The creature said as it opened the door wider and looked out. It narrowed it's small, black eyes as it glanced doubtfully at the medallion.
"Never seen one, but if you say so."
The creature stepped aside and opened the door with a creak.
Lexi was the first in, the others quickly fallowed. Inside, a fire burned in the hearth, casting it's flickering light through out the room.
The room itself was quite small, with a table at one end and a bookshelf at the other. Behind the table was another door.
The creature, which appeared to be an ancient stoat, sank down into one of the chairs beside the hearth and watched them with squinted eyes. "I'll be keeping my eyes on you all, so don't try anything funny." he rasped.
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