The uneasy battle lines between the two warring armies had drawn to a standstill. The cats struck out and then retreated as often as they could. They did not want to commit their forces to an all out war against the entrenched regiment.

Until that night when the final preparations had been put into place. The few peoples who had been a party to the sight of the flames reaching well into the sky were put on heavy alert and the scouts who had been on guard duty quickly assembled a general muster. That was when Muk arrived, with his adjutant on his tail.

“Your lordship sire, there are more than enough Soldiers here…” Sergeant Yates said.

“There’s something different out tonight,” Muk said, “and I really didn’t want you following me here. You couldn’t take the hint about going home, well enough huh?”

The unease sat heavy in his stomach. He remembered the academy maxim about not eating before a fight, but he wasn’t expecting this. He normally didn’t lash out at his Soldiers, especially such an exemplary one.

They were by the Furrows outer walls, looking away when another mouse approached them. His brown matted fur looked unkempt and Muk was immediately suspicious. The wall had many mice but this one…

“Are you unwell, Soldier?” Muk said looking intently.

Sergeant Yates pushed a hand against the wall and then immediately threw up what seemed like everything he had ever eaten. Muk was taken aback and then he looked up again at the mouse's red glowing eyes.

Without warning the mouse sprang at him and Muk struggled to get his sword out of its sheath. Instead of making it fully out, the sword stuck at the beginning and he parried the mouse's teeth with his sword, still fully covered. The mouse's teeth dug into the metal, and the strength of it gave him pause. He released the clasp and his sword flew out.

The wild mouse chewed into the sheath and stared at him.

Muk didn’t even think. He just leant on his training and put the sword between himself and the enemy. It circled him moving along the walk way and he struck.

It was looking at Yates, the one who wasn't doing so well before it refocused on him.

"Raise the alarm!" Muk yelled.

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Muk stepped forward and shot his sword arm forward, expecting to get resistance. Instead it was like hitting a rack of clothing. His slash disconnected the mouse's arm and he looked in horror as it just fell off.

Muk pulled back as the mouse kneeled.

Then he watched in horror as the creature, for he knew it to have some intelligence now, grabbed what had been its arm and pushed it back where it was. As he watched, it was re knit together.

"I think we need to change our tactics," said Sergeant Yates.

The light from a nearby torch became even more clear as Yates held it aloft.

"Again?" Muk said, though every whisker told him not to fight this thing.

"Distract it. Sir."

Muk did as he was told. A Sergeant with an idea outranked a Lieutenant who didn't have a plan. At least that was something his years at the academy had taught him.

The limited space on the top of the wall was really only meant for two animals to walk abreast. Yates lunged at the creatures who finally looked fearful.

Muk struck. A swift overhead blow connected with half of an arm.

Yates brought the torch to bear on it. The arm almost immediately caught on fire. Yates kept the creature in front of him as he extended the torch.

For the first time the creature who had initiated the attack began to move back

The relentless assault of the two made it blink.

Muk fought to save his life, but the beast fought like its life was forfeit.

Around them more shouts of alarm went up as others realized that there was fighting on the walls.

Muk rushed the creature in its confusion, impaling. Again it felt like stabbing a rack of clothes but this time it feel like a pile of clothes.

Instead of a mouse collapsing it looked like mouse parts had fallen in on itself.

"Burn it."

"You don't have to say that twice."

Yates lit the pile of mouse parts and it caught flam immediately.

"These things have a weakness. We need to tell the commander. This is probably part of a bigger attack…"

Screams were heard from down the line. Muk looked over the wall and sure enough he saw a line of attackers on the move towards them. The cats had picked this moment as if knowing…

"Whatever that thing was," he said gesturing to the flames, "it was a part of their attack. We need to get everyone on full alert.

Bells rang out over the furrows, clearly transmitting their sounds across the river Denoue. Five chickens sat up, anxiety in their steps as they moved around the elder mice.

“A battle is it? WelI I’m certain that we can help out in some way,” Woda said.

“You know we’re supposed to be the ones telling the kids to stay out of trouble. At my age I’m almost too old for adventuring,” Stone said.

“And I should be dust, but here we are. Bows?”

“Sounds like a plan. Shall we get on with it? Sela would have loved this.”

“The poor boy is following a ranger around. He’ll be okay.”

The two mice picked up large quivers of arrows and mounted two of their chickens.

“Aren’t there supposed to be five of these?” Stone asked as they left the barn they had been staying next to.

Woda narrowed his eyes.

“There were.”

Two of their chickens were still sitting, waiting.

Only the one that was bonded to Freya was gone.

“We’ll find it. Or Freya will, after the battle.”