A Redquest Tale

Chapter 5 - Dawn arrives over the vast sea, bringing calm seas.

Waves continued to move up and down as the sky above slowly began to turn from black to a deeper blue, each passing moment the sky continued to brighten up. Benjam nodded his head down slightly before he felt the log hit his nose and he awoke again with a jerk. Turning his head to where Snow was the otter saw the hare sleeping and just hanging onto the log.

Benjam growled as he turned his head to the side and bit the hare on the ear hard. Seeing the hare let go of the log as he reached up to grab hold of his ear yelping loudly. "Hey! I am not bait!"

Shaking his head, the otter waited until the hare had reached back to the log and looked at the otter. "You bit me again." Benjam just growled. "Well, if you didn't fall asleep then maybe we would be a bit more nearer to actually finding land."

Snow hmphed. "Land, you think we are going to find land out here. I tell you, we won't find any land at all. And if we do, I do whatever you want for the rest of my life." The hare stopped and helped to kick out alongside the otter as he sighed. "What time is it anyways?"

Benjam looked about and shrugged. "I think it's nearly dawn, a new day of us being free from slavery, my friend. Although right now, I can't say that I am actually that impressed on the matter."

Snow nodded his head and shook his head to get rid of sea water from his ears. "Yeah, tell me about it. Wonder how the new slaves are getting on? First meal they will be getting soon, if you can call it that. Ugh. Last night's slops that the crew had all mixed up together with water."

Benjam growled. "Stop talking about food, even that horrible stuff. Right now I could eat anything. Actually, let me go down and catch a fish if any hasn't been scared off by your snoring." He looked at Snow and laughed. "Well, you do well to keep ships from ramming into us."

Snow hmphed and looked away from the otter. "I do not snore. I am just a loudly breather that's all." He fumed at the otter who was laughing so hard, that tears had started to come out of his eyes, rolling down his cheeks.

"Loud? I say that you're loud. Next time you snore I just push you under and leave you to annoy the fishes under there with your snoring." The otter paused and blinked, staring out ahead of him. "Oh hello, here's the sun again, starting to show up for the day."

Snow looked up and stared at the horizon up ahead and blinked again. "Oh hello sun, just popping up above that black spot." The hare gave a wave as he grinned. "Thought you boil us today in the sea, did you? Mind chucking a few carrots as well, peckish right now..."

Benjam prodded the hare hard on the side as he looked at him. "You can see black under the sun as in a shadow?" The otter looked at the hare for a few moments as both eyes didn't move but continued to stare at each other before slowly turning their gaze forwards again.

Both shouted at the top of their lungs could master, their dry throats crying out in pain as both rang out over the sea. "Land ho!" Benjam placed his paw on Snow's shoulder and squeezed it hard. "I forgive you for whatever you have done this past night. Now could you be as kind as to not fall asleep so we can make it to land?"

Snow nodded his head as he kicked out harder. "Less talking and more swimming. Thought you otters were known for your swimming skills, not for running your muzzle off all the time."

Benjam kicked out in new earnest. "I can swim very well thank you." The otter panted as he looked always forward to the land in the distance, watching it slowly begin to get nearer as both had something to work for.

***

Meanwhile back on the Bloodcrave, the rat named Garil on the wheel yawned as he saw another rat make his way up and padded towards him. "Morning, anything to report at all since last night?" Moving to shove Hirn out of the way as he took control of the ship.

Hirn frowned and shook his head. "Weren't you awake last night? The captain had one of his visits down to the lower decks. We had Blackthorn up here with one of the captain's new slaves."

Garil shuddered as he looked at Hirn, shaking his head. "No, I was asleep, had a few drinks of ale and was out like a light. I doubt even a storm could've waken me last night."

Hirn chuckled and patted the other rat on the back. "Well, we can't all take our ale now can we?" He ducked as he saw Garil take a swing at him with a fist. "Oh fuck off. Haven't you got anything else to do right now, like take a sleep on the sea bed or something?"

Hirn backed away and nodded. "You're right, I earned my sleep. Just make sure that the ship is still on course. We're heading due south at the moment. Wind is still strong." The rat looked up at the billowing sails. "We made quite a few leagues during the night. Apart from that it looks like it's going to be a really hot day."

Garil muttered under his breath and turned the wheel slightly to correct the ship. "Okay, got it. Anything else I should know before Blackthorn or the captain gets up on deck?" He held his pink paws on the wheel, fingers gripping the wood tightly. Hirn started down the steps and called back. "Nope, nothing else to report at all, I'll see you later tonight." The rat disappeared out of view.

Hirn jumped down from the last step on the steps and landed heavily on the main deck. Sniffing the sea air, he slowly yawned and rubbed his eyes gently in his paws. Making his way over to the side, the rat looked over the side of the ship and took another deep fresh air.

Bloodstripe came out from his quarters and looked about to the rising sun coming up from the horizon over the land that was to the left of him. Seeing a rat leaning against the side, the tiger smiled as he recognised Hirn and closely closing the door behind him, the tiger placed both paws to the back of him and made his way across the deck quietly.

Hirn jumped as he felt the large tiger's paw rest on his shoulder and turned around slightly. "Oh, good morning, captain sir. Don't you think so?" Looking side to side for anyone to help, but finding no crew actually around or free to do help him.

Bloodstripe just smiled and looked out over the sea. "Yes, yes it is a fine day. Tell me, did we keep the ship on course during the night?" The paw on the rat's shoulder squeezed a bit tighter as he felt the rat squirm about a bit.

Hirn nodded his head. "Aye sir, I kept the ship on course all throughout the night. I never left my station at all." He felt the tiger's claws dig into his shoulder as he bit his lip to stop himself from crying out in pain.

Bloodstripe leant his head down and whispered into Hirn's ear. "Now, I know you are lying as if I did see you up on that wheel when I came back from where I was coming from last night, I would've killed you. So I will ask you again and keep your voice down. Did you keep the ship on course last night?"

Hirn swallowed and answered back quietly. "Sir, I left the post for a few minutes until you got back into the ship. After you had gone into your quarters I made sure that the ship was still on course and it was. It never left its south course."

Bloodstripe let his grip go from the rat's shoulder and smiled. "And if anyone asked you about last night?" He looked at the rat who replied. "I will say that I saw nothing but remained at my post always." Bloodstripe smiled and nodded his head. "You may go, make sure you are available for duty tonight on time."

Hirn nodded his head and started to leave. "Thank you captain, I will be on time." The rat made his way off, leaving the tiger to be alone on the main deck as he ran to the crew quarters and vanished inside as the door closed behind him.

Placing both paws on to the side of the ship, Bloodstripe looked over the side as he smiled down at the sea. "And how are my ex slaves doing this fine morning. Made any friends with any crabs, sharks or fish yet?" Grinning toothily, the tiger leant a bit more onto the side and purred gently talking to himself. "You should've seen my last night having fun with one of your friends. Some mouse, can't remember the name really." The tiger paused and then snapped his fingers. "Oh yes, I remember now. Finil I think you look called him but I would've said he was the most lazy, fattest mouse ever. He didn't even give me much of a challenge as well." Taking a deep breath in, the tiger continued on talking to the flowing water move alongside the boat with its wake and let it out slowly. "Have to admit though, that you lot don't taste as good as good old zebras or a nice big strong horse. But then again your species is just weak. Like those last three I sent down with you. You know the stupid hare, ferret and otter." Leaning back up to a standing position again, the tiger smiled. "I hope you three are enjoying the view down there as well." Turning around, Bloodstripe made his way to see the new rat on the helm.

Grimil let go of the wheel as he saw Bloodstripe making his way towards him and saluted the tiger. "Good morning, Captain. Ship is still on course, any orders?" The rat returned his paw back onto the helm as he looked out ahead over the entire ship.

Bloodstripe just moved to the side of Grimil as he looked out ahead. "No, just stay on course." He turned his head to the left and nodded. "I see that we've found the coast off that away?" He moved over to that side of the ship and looked over, speaking loudly. "Think any on land would see us from out here?" The tiger paused. "Hang on a moment." He came back to where Grimil was and looked up, shouting. "Is anyone at all alive up there?!" The tiger shouted to the platform on the main mast.

Blackthorn's voice came from below as he was walking up with the otter behind him with a rope around his neck. "Captain, no one was put on duty up there yet. I can put someone up there if you want?" The panther stopped and looked up as he saw Bloodstripe look down as he walked forwards and placed his both paws on the railing.

"Ah, Blackthorn, I see that you have brought my slave with you. Good." The tiger looked up again and shook his head. "No need to put anyone up there right now but when you have finished with me, then you can. Come bring that one up to me. We have things to discuss." The tiger pushed himself off from the railings and made his way slowly to the back of the ship, away from where Grimil was.

Blackthorn turned to look at Skiprudder as he whispered. "Remember, tell him everything. Do not on any account withhold any information that he wants." Looking about, the panther pulled on the rope as he pulled the otter along with him as he made his way up the steps.

Bloodstripe leant against the back of the ship wall as he saw the black panther's head come into view, followed by the otters a second before. Watching them with his unblinking eyes the otter looked away slightly as he came near to the tiger.

Bloodstripe looked at them both as he looked at Blackthorn. "Let go of the leash there." He watched as Blackthorn nodded and let go of the rope as Bloodstripe gave the otter a look before he continued to speak. "Now, its daylight and we have travelled south. Do you know how far we have to go?" Skiprudder blinked and walked to the left of the ship as he placed his paw over his eyes and scanned the area. "We're too far out, need to be closer for me to see anything."

Bloodstripe nodded his head and called over at Grimil. "Bring the ship a bit closer to land but still heading south." He turned to Blackthorn. "So everything went okay last night then?"

Blackthorn nodded his head. "Yes, captain. Everything went okay. The body was thrown overboard way before dawn. I take it that your blood lust is over for now?" Bloodstripe nodded his head. "Aye, it's over for now but that doesn't mean I won't pick you one day." The tiger padded over to where Skiprudder was and stood beside him.

***

Down in the slave section of the ship, most of the slaves were leaning against their oars. Sam Amber was up, his eyes looking out to the small hole where the oar was pointing out and he could see the new day begin. With water swelling on the bottom eyelid, the squirrel sighed quietly as he thought of the day before and shook his head.

Slake stirred slightly and made a slight dook'ing noise as he gripped his arms about the oar tighter before jerking his head up and looked about with a yawn forming. Turning his head to look at Sam, the ferret stretched slightly. Some of his chains made a slight jingle sound.

Sam turned his head to face him as he rested his red paws onto the wooden oar and yawned slightly himself. "Good morning friend. I would say good morning but there isn't exactly anything good about it."

Slake churred softly. "Cheer up, it soon be breakfast. At least it is edible, even if it is last night's meal the crew left behind from their evening meal." He looked at the squirrel and blinked. "What?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders. "I am not allowed food or drink, captain's orders. I did try to kill him yesterday." The squirrel turned to look at the sleeping rat on the chair in front and in the middle but not within reach of the slaves. Turning his head back again he shook his head. "I still want to kill him today, feeling hasn't gone."

Slake put his paw onto the squirrel, the ferret nodding his head. "As do every other slave on here but don't worry about it." The ferret winked and turned around as much as he could and spoke to another behind him. Sam's ears twitched as he heard something but couldn't make out the words as Slake came back around and winked one more time and churred. "Like I said, don't worry about it, we look after our own down here."

Sam looked about a he saw the whole deck begin to wake up silently, small murmurs were going about in a wave about the whole deck as he smiled and patted Slake's paw. "I thank you and everyone." Slake just smiled and nodded before placing his paw to his nose. "Now, shush. I have no doubt that our wonderful fat leader will waddle down here to bully us again. Mind you, he may ignore us if that one doesn't wake up, I don't mind the entertainment if it's them fighting amongst themselves."

Sam nodded his head and remained silent as they heard the door at the very far back of the deck open before closing behind him. Blacksnout has just closed the door and was holding onto his whip. Moving his ears slightly about, he caught the sound of faint snoring and made his way down the steps quietly.

Reaching the bottom, the rat looked about as he saw the slaves sitting up and alert. Moving his whip to the front, still folded up, his other arm went to his back, held in a fist shape as he padded down the middle slowly, turning his head side to side as he looked at all of the awake slaves in the eyes.

Blacksnout felt his anger rise up steadily with each step that he made, his eyes moving to the front where one rat was still sleeping soundly. Gradually Blacksnout came to a stop just to the side of Slake and Sam on one side and two others to the other side. Taking out his whip, he growled slightly and let the leather fall to the wooden floor of the deck and then with a flick of his wrist as his arm went back, Blacksnout sent the tip of the whip right between the sleeping rat's eyes.

Sam watched as he heard the crack of the whip, the end slamming into rat, right between the eyes and he flinched in pain, remembering on how his back stung from the whip the day before as the sleeping rat woke up immediately with a yell. Blacksnout began to curl the whip into small circles about his paw as he growled. "Greypatch! Sleeping on the job, eh? And what would you do if this horrible lot managed to get free and kill everyone on this ship."

Greypatch rubbed his head where it had opened up to a cut in between his eyes and shouted back at Blacksnout. "You flipping idiot, you could've made me lose an eye!" He felt Blacksnout kick him off the stool as he landed heavily on his tail with a yelp. Looking around him, the rat checked to see that no one was smiling before turning his head back to Greypatch. "Now, listen here. I expect you to be awake when I am around and I want you to make sure that this lot." Moving his arm about to point at several rows of slaves. "Just don't get free and murder everyone. Now, go make yourself useful and go get their food and water from the galley. The cook wants to get rid of the leftovers from last night."

Getting up, Greypatch slowly rubbed his rear as he made his way past Blacksnout who picked up the stool, re-seated the stool and promptly sat down onto it. His eyes scanning over the rows of slaves until he reached the eyes of Sam who was staring right back at him with hatred.

Blacksnout looked away from Sam as he cleared his throat. "Well, did we all get a good sleep then as you'll need it soon as I have no doubt the captain will want to get his rowers back working again." Leaning back slightly, the rat scratched at his side as he grinned. "

Sam kept on staring at Blacksnout, digging in his claws onto the wooden oar. He watched the rat get up and move up along the row of slaves as he moved from the squirrel's view. Slake looked at Sam and turned his head back to see that Blacksnout had made it to the other end of the deck very quickly.

Turning his head back to Sam, the ferret smiled as he whispered. "You sure have him worried, I never saw him like that before." Sam didn't move as he replied back quietly. "He's just a bully; they never fight back if you fight back to them. One day I will have him."

Slake nodded his head. "Yes, but don't push it." The ferret looked back again at the rat before turning his head to face the squirrel. "You won't be able to do it if they throw you off the ship like they did with your father."

Blacksnout leant against the pillar of wood that was at the end of the bottom step and looked up the stairs to see where Greypatch was. Tapping a finger on the whip that he was carrying, the rat's tail flicked about impatiently.

Greypatch opened the door and looked down, calling down to Blacksnout. "Can you come up here and help me with this lot?" The rat pushed the door fully open. "The galley couldn't spare anyone at all and I have a huge pot here and jugs."

Blacksnout shook his head and moving to the side, he placed the whip onto the hook on the pillar of wood and then started to climb the stairs. "Why couldn't they send someone down to help?" He muttered as he reached the top and went to take hold of one side of the pot handle.

Greypatch shrugged as he lifted up on the other side as both rats started to make their way down the stairs slowly. "I haven't a clue. I think most of them drank too much last night and they ended up starting late with breakfast and lunch. You know how it is with them; most of them are too fat anyways."

Blacksnout sneered. "Tell me about it." He looked side to side as he moved down the row, in between the slaves and snared. "And don't anyone dare try to take any of this or you won't be fed for a whole season." Eventually both rats made it to the front of the deck and placing the pot well away from arm reach, they both slowly began to make their way up to the back slowly. Greypatch nodded his head as he went back up the stairs. "Well, I heard that some will be fishing if and when we stop moving and drop anchor. I wouldn't mind a bit of carp myself really. Get fed up of eating fruit and bread all the time, nothing like fresh meat."

Blacksnout picked up the jug of water in one paw and some wooden bowls with the other and licked his lips, his long tongue running about his sharp incisors. "Hmmm, I wouldn't mind that myself really. Nice freshly smoked carp on an open fire on a beach, with ale and getting drunk." He watched as Greypatch picked up the rest of the bowls and started down the stairs after Blacksnout.

"Aye, it's been a long while since we've had any proper shore leave. Wonder how long it will take us to get to where we are heading to?" He reached the front and placed the bowls down onto the floor as he looked at Blacksnout who nodded to the other rat and then whispered into his ear. "We talk about this later, Greypatch."

Blacksnout looked about the slaves again, while missing a look at Sam as he did so. "Now, listen up. All slaves, apart from this one." The rat pointed in the general direction of Sam as he saw Greypatch move up the deck, vanishing up the stairs before coming back down with some bread. He called to Blacksnout. "Looks like they have some old stale bread they had under some towel."

Blacksnout sneered as he nodded his head as Greypatch came back and dumped the loaves onto the dirty floor. "Looks like you are having something extra for breakfast then but make it last. It be the only meal you be having until tonight, that's if there is anything to give you at all." He looked at Greypatch who nodded and began to hand out wooden bowls to the slaves. "Now, you will use these bowls to eat your food and then you will drink your water from them. I don't care if your water ends up like soup at the end of your meal or tastes vile. You get what you are given." He looked to a youngster and shouted. "Understood." Seeing the youngster cower, he grinned more and nodded his head.

Greypatch gave out the last of the bowls, all except one as he carried it back before throwing it onto the floor with a clatter. Blacksnout gave a sly grin at Sam as he lifted up the pot with greypatch and slowly they started to use two metal ladles to fill up the slaves bowls with a horrible green grey stew that just slopped into the bowls if the rats got it on target or splashed over the edge, some of it falling to the floor.

Slake turned around as he waited until the two rats were busy a few rows behind them and turned around to Sam as he offered his bowl. Whispering to him quietly, the ferret smiled. "Come on, take some before they see."

Sam smiled and dipped his paw into the luke warm mixture and pulled it out, licking it gratefully quickly. All the while, two slaves behind them were looking to see what the two rats were doing as they continued to fill up the bowls. Sam cleaned his paw quickly as he licked his fingers and then took another pawful before turning away to leave Slake to eat his fill. The squirrel managed to clean his paw from the mess just as the rats finished serving the meal and turned around. Greypatch went up the stairs, carrying the pot while Blacksnout padded back to the front.

Picking up the bread, Blacksnout started to rip the bread open with a knife and then using it to cut into pieces, he started to hand them out to the slaves in small portions. He muttered quietly to himself, the slaves began to either roll the bread in the bowls cleaning them or just holding onto them as their bowls were licked clean anyways. Greypatch on the other hand started to pour out the water into the bowls anyways, not waiting to see if anyone had finished their meal as he walked along, slopping the water all over the place. Each slave had to hold out their bowls to catch the water as quickly as they could as Greypatch moved along the line as quickly as he could and eventually caught up with Blacksnout.

Slake moved his piece of bread to go underneath him as he began to sip on his water, looking back before letting Sam take his fill as well before returning to drinking the rest of the water. The ferret went and held out his paw with the empty bowl as Greypatch came back down, picked up the empty bowl that was thrown to the floor a while ago and started to collect the bowls from the slaves. Eventually they collected everything back and paws could be heard moving up and down the stairs as Blacksnout looked at the slaves for a moment and coughed. "They are okay for the moment, they can't go anywhere and besides they're fed. I want to see if any breakfast is available for us now. Let's leave them for a short while."

Greypatch nodded his head as he looked at them one more time and then moved to follow Blacksnout up the stairs again as the door closed behind them before the sound of the door being locked. Slake gave a sigh of relief. "Well, they don't do that often so you're lucky." He looked at Sam as he pulled out the piece of bread. "It's not much but if they want you to die down here from starvation, we're not going to let them, are we?" He looked about as all nodded their heads as a few passed down a few more pieces of bread. The ferret grinned at Sam. "You need your strength if you are going to get even with them, but I don't know when you have the chance."

Sam shook his head and only took three pieces of bread. "Please, pass those onto the small ones if you must. They need it more than me, that and the old as well. If you want to help, then please do that." Slake nodded his head as he smiled at the squirrel, nodding his head to the others as the younger and older slaves began to get the extra hoarded bread. The ferret winked at the squirrel. "You know, I think you could be our new leader down here. Takes one to really understand others need help as well." The ferret held out his paw. "Willing to take that responsibility?"

Sam took the paw and shook it heartily. "Slake my friend. I accept the offer and everyone can hear me now say that when we do escape we won't let any of these bastards stay alive when we do. I promise it." Slake looked into Sam's eyes and nodded his head as the squirrel looked around as best as he could and saw the nods of approval coming from the rest of the slaves, most were smiling for the first time in months. They had a new hero and leader to look up to and for the first time since they had been caught a new feeling of hope, courage and determination ran through each of them.

Sam smiled and spoke. "Do you trust me fully and do whatever I say?" He saw the nods which came quick and fast. He smiled. "Okay, just follow my lead then, we turn the tables on those two fat rats for a start."