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Slaughter At Stringybark Creek

Chapter Five

(c) Cederwyn Whitefurr

23rd August, 2017

All Rights Reserved.

Clanton lay wrapped in the old horse blanket, the fevers and coughing wracking his body, as his tubular ears twitched weakly and he struggled to lift his head off the ground. He coughed and it felt like his lungs were on fire – tears trickling down his muzzle as his blurred vision caught movement through the trees. As a wracking coughing fit seized him and made him curl up, he heard the unmistakable clop of hooves, then Lachlan rushed to Clanton's side, the satchel falling from his nerveless fingers, as he knelt and pulled Clanton's shivering body close.

“Lach..." Clanton began, then squeezed his eyes closed as another wracking cough seized him in its merciless grip.

Feeling the skin of Clanton burning beneath his fur, Lachlan's ears flattened and he tore open the satchel, then in fear and frustration, he upended it and began fruitlessly searching amongst the vials and small glass bottles.

“Where - “ Come Clanton's weak voice, then his eyes widened slightly as it began to sink in. “Lachlan...you shouldn't have - “

“I had no choice!" Lachlan snapped, then turned away and Clanton could hear the sobs that began to consume the young Colt. “You're sick – dying – and..."

Lachlan began crying, great heartbreaking sob's as the emotions overwhelmed him. Clanton coughed and wheezed, then reached out and placed a quivering paw on Lachlan's thigh, trying to give the young Colt strength and compassion.

“I...did it – for you..." Lachlan sobbed, then gestured backwards at the scattered vials.

Clanton coughed again, then weakly began pawing through the contents, holding each one close so he could read its label, then discarding them one at a time.

“I know why – you did what you done, but you do know..." Clanton began, then he squeezed his eyes closed as a wracking cough tore at him.

“Was I supposed to just let you die?" Lachlan snapped, standing up and turning about, to stare down at the kangaroo.

“Stealing..." Clanton sighed, then clutched the water bag and took a deep drink, before continuing. “Stealing is wrong, you know that, as do I – what if the Sargent had caught you? You and I both know – he'd kill you without remorse or guilt...now you've only given him..."

Lachlan stood, resolute and shaking with the anger that burned through him like a bushfire.

“I'm going to kill him..." Lachlan snarled, his ears flattening and nostrils flaring.

“No..." Clanton sighed, then struggled to open a bottle containing a white powder, his shaking paws barely able to grip it. “I know why you want him dead..."

“You don't know anything!" Lachlan roared, then with tears running down his cheeks, he stormed off into the bush, leaving Clanton to gaze forlornly, before he finally uncapped the bottle and took a sniff, his muzzle wrinkling.

*

Sgt MacGoven glared at the assembled people in the bar – those who were near him moved away.

“Anyone – ANYONE..." Roared the Sargent. “Knowingly aiding and abetting a gold furred colt – who last night, broke into the Doctor's and stole medicines...will suffer as that bastard Colt will, am I clear? I get even a hint one of you - “

Gesturing at a young Fox, who visibly cringed, almost as if he was trying to melt into the wooden floor.

“I don't like your kind...I never have, you're filthy, disease spreading beasts, who have taken the jobs and homes of good, honest working humans - “ Sgt. MacGoven kept ranting. “If I had my way, I'd have the lot of you rotting in a unmarked grave. God's know why I got posted to this place – but whilst I'm here – you will obey...or I'll take great pleasure in ensuring your last moments on this earth are...well..."

Whispers began spreading amongst the crowd, in low, timid tones. Sgt MacGoven waited for someone to speak up, but nobody seemed to know anything about last night, which only infuriated him more. Having thrown his weight around and cowed the anthropomorphic animals, he felt slightly better and strode out of the tavern, intending to visit the other businesses and organza the printer's to start making some reward posters – a reward of course – MacGoven had no intention in paying...

*

Lachlan's ears twitched, as he crouched behind some bushes, his eyes reflecting the moonlight as he swallowed, fear emanating from his pores in an almost perceptible cloud – as he stared at the farmstead that lay in a sheltered clearing. He had been watching for hours – and at a guess, he thought it was roughly about 11pm, due to the position of the moon that shone down so far above. As quietly as he could, he crept closer, moving towards the enclosure that kept the chickens. A soft whinny reached his ears, as a horse snorted and glanced his way – ears pricking forwards and Lachlan froze before the horse merely snorted and began chewing on some hay in its trough. Each step brought Lachlan closer – and his fear rose exponentially. He knew what he was about to do was wrong – but he and Clanton had no food – and without it, they'd both suffer a terrible lingering death. With quivering hands, his hooflets clattering like hail against the timber, his heard hammering in his chest. Lachlan unlatched the crude latch and eased the gate open – his hyper-sensitive hearing dreading the squeal of the hinges, yet it didn't happen.

Swallowing fearfully, he stretched his hands out and probed carefully, feeling straw, timber and other things – before he found the edge of the nesting box and timidly touched the warm feathers of a hen who slept in the box. With care, Lachlan walked his hooflets over the hen, feeling her stir, before he bit his lip and in one swift movement, he felt the hen's neck snap and he snatched the body from the nesting box, as it began flapping its wings wildly. He gripped it close to his chest, adrenaline flooding his body as he squeezed his eyes closed, silently praying for forgiveness for what he had done.

A short, sharp gasp made Lachlan drop the hen, before fear shot through him, chilling his blood. He froze, then heard a whimper – before the high pitched squeal of a frightened young girl pealed forth, before she turned and fled. Lachlan sobbed, burying his hands in his paws as he knew he'd been caught – there was no way out of this – and he glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the pale white tail tip of the little girl, as she fled to the house, her screams quickly waking the farm holders.

Caught between his fear and indecision, Lachlan was paralysed by indecision – then he heard the farmhouse door slam open and he feared the worst, as a lumbering giant's shadow fell over the ground, and the thick, heavy footfalls made Lachlan fear for his very life...

A huge Clyde stallion towered over Lachlan, glaring down at him as Lachlan looked up, the dead hen at his hooves – and the double barrelled shotgun pointed at Lachlan's chest made him freeze.

“You better have a damn good reason..." Growled the Clyde, as it glared at Lachlan. “I don't like strangers – let alone people who kill my daughter's favourite hen..."

“I..." Lachlan stammered, his ears flat against the back of his head. “I - “

“Speak up thief – you got about one second to explain, before I pull both triggers..."

“I – I didn't...my friend and I.." Lachlan stammered, then fell to his knees. “We...he's sick – dying – and we're..."

“Put that away Owen Blacktail!" Snapped a feminine voice, then a cream coloured paw rested on the shotgun and pushed it away. “Look at him? He's hungry, cold, probably hasn't slept in days..."

A young Whitetail stepped in front of the Clydesdale, then crossed her arms in front of her chest, rumpling the homespun nightgown as she stared up at him defiantly.

“He's a thief and a - “ Growled the Clyde, then with a sigh he acquiesced and lowered the shotgun. “It still doesn't mean he can - “

Her eyes narrowing, the Whitetail doe defiantly stared up into the Clydesdale. He lowered his gaze first, then signed and handed over the shotgun.

“I...my friend and I - “ Lachlan wept, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.

“Owen – take this colt, find his friend and bring them back here – NOW!" Come the sharp voice of the Doe, as she stamped a cloven hoof on the ground.

Owen sighed, then looked at Lachlan, who sniffled and wiped a paw across his nostrils and nervously stood, before Owen glanced sideways at him.

“Well Colt, Feredwyn's spoken...and I don't know about you – but I want to go back to sleep tonight – so where's your friend..."

*

Clanton moaned and convulsed, the thin blanket over him outlining his sweat soaked form, as Feredwyn placed a damp cloth over Clanton's forehead.

“Gods have mercy - “ Feredwyn sighed. “He's sicker than I thought - “

“Will he - “ Lachlan asked, sitting as close as Feredwyn would allow – whilst not being in her way.

“I won't ask where you got these medicines...most of them are useless for – for whatever he has, I'm not a doctor – but I've seen similar before. I suspect he's got fluid on the lungs – you can hear it when he breathes...that rattle..." Feredwyn sighed. “I don't know – will he live? With what little medicines you have...and what I know – I...I don't know, he's very sick and you obviously both don't have the money to pay for the doctor..."

Wringing out the cloth again, Feredwyn wiped down Clanton's sweat streaked head, then wrung it out yet again. Turning to the crude bedside table, Feredwyn began adding some white powder to a bowl of water, then crumbled some strange scented dried herbs and stirred it until she was satisfied.

“Hold him up, he needs to drink this - “ Feredwyn commanded, and Lachlan moved forwards, lifting Clanton's upper body up off the mattress, then between them, they forced Clanton to swallow the bitter mixture and Lachlan laid him back on the bed.

“That's all we can do for him at the moment – he needs rest – I'll keep a watch on him, but first...you got some explaining to do..." Feredwyn told Lachlan, giving him an intense glance that made Lachlan swallow and nod slowly.

Lachlan rose, then placed a golden furred paw on Clanton, whilst Feredwyn watched with interest, noting the gentleness that Lachlan showed – the genuine love and friendship these two shared before Lachlan meekly followed Feredwyn out of the bedroom, the door closing behind them.

To Be Continued...