FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Slaughter At Stringybark Creek

Chapter Fourteen

1. Cederwyn Whitefurr

5th September, 2017

All Rights Reserved.

Kelsie carried the tray in her paws, as she set it aside, then unlocked the door to the stockade cell, the Doctor looking at her, then at the thin, coughing Kangaroo who was chained with restraints around his ankles and wrists, then a thick iron collar around his neck. With a disgusted snort, the Doctor pushed past Kelsie, then walked over to where Clanton sprawled, then knelt down and gentlky lifted Clanton's head and looked into his eyes.

“Dear God,” Grunted the Doctor, as he felt along Clanton's throat, then held his fingers there, counting the heartbeats, before he snapped open his leather case and pulled out a stephescope and placed it against Clanton's naked chest. “Please, breathe as best as you can, slow, steady...”

Clanton dissolved into a gasping, coughing fit and the Doctor sighed and shook his head. “This is deplorable, this poor creature has pnemonia, I'm sure of it – how can he be kept in such cold, dismal environs?”

“Doctor...” Constable Kelsie sighed. “Its not up to me, sir, Sargent MacGoven has the authority and the say...Clanton here - a Constable – has been charged with desertion, dereliction of duty and other charges – I assure you, they're all false...”

Again Clanton coughed, and he imploringly looked at Kelsie, who brushed past the Doctor and set the tray down, but Clanton, in his weakened state, couldn't feed himself, so Kelsie assisted as the Doctor grew increasingly angry.

“Look at this!” He snarled, as he gently pulled Clanton forwards, then pinched up the scruff of Clanton's neck, watching the fur and skin refusing to return to its normal position. “Clanton here, is severely dehydrated, not to mention what other illnesses he has...this is inhumane!”

“May I speak off the record, Doctor?” Kelsie asked, as she gave Clanton a sip of lukewarm tea.

“Of course!” Answered the Doctor, as he looked down at Clanton, who coughed and shivered. “Are these restraints really necessary? This poor Kangaroo, couldn't fight off a cold...”

Kelsie nodded, and quickly unlocked the restraints, ,at least temporarily. “Doctor, off the record – something must be done about the Sargent...he is responsible for all of this – it's no secret, he hates our people - “

Kelsie gestured at Clanton and herself. “How many of my kind, have come to you with excuses for broken bones, cuts and abrasions, injuries which are not consistant with – accidents - “

Pausing, the Doctor thought for a moment, then a slow flush crept up his cheeks.

“You knew...didn't you...” Constable Kelsie growled, her fingers slowly curling into fists.

“Of course I knew – I've patched up your people for over fifty years, in this Godless, lawless township! I know precisely what the Sargent has done to your people...yet what can we do about it? If we rose up against him...he could call the soldiers in, we'd all be hung as traitors and dissidents, for going against the King's rightfully elected Police! It'd be suicide at best – or outright massacre? Do you realise how many men that bastard has in his pocket? How many secret spies and snitches, who, for any reason, will run to him and implicate one of your kind – who may be solely innocent – just for a few pieces of silver? Hell, half of them would probably turn one of you in, just because he would enjoy watching your people suffer! No, this has to stop...but what can I do? What can any of us do?” Railed the Doctor, as he turned on Kelsie, his face flushed with his anger and resentment, as he advanced, she backed away, eyes widening in fright at his usual meek, gentle demeanor turning dark and aggressive, this whole new side of him, making Kelsie backpedal until sh was pressed against the wall. “So don't lecture me on things I already know, Constable!”

“I...had no idea - “ Kelsie stammered, feeling thoruhgly chastised. “Doctor, I'm so sorry, I misunderstood...”

“I'm sorry, Constable Kelsie,” He smiled, assuming that kind, gentle demeanor again, turning professional. “I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, it was – unprofessional – of me, please accept my apologies.”

Kelsie leaned against the wall, overcome by this totally unforseen and unexpected side of the Doctor, as he turned to Clanton, then did various examinations, before he mixed a powder into a cup, then poured it into a bowl.

“Kelsie, come hold his head, he's not going to want to drink this...but it'll help – ease some of his pain anyway”

Kelsie clopped over, then knelt down, placing her paw on Clanton's shoulder. “I'm sorry Clanton, I know this isn't going to feel good – but I promise you, we're doing all we can to help...”

Clanton winced, as he felt Kelsie's strong paws grip him, one under the chin, the other on the bridge of his muzzle and she oepened his mouth, as the Doctor began pouring the bitter liquid into Clanton's muzzle, making Clanton choke and gasp.

“Hold his muzzle, quickly!” Spoke the Doctor, as he began rubbing Clanton's throat, Clanton gagging on the bitter medicine, trying to throw up.

Kelsie clamped Clanton's muzzle shut, as the doctor tilted Clanton's head back and continued rubbing, until he felt Clanton convulse and swallow, before he ordered Kelsie to let him go.

“I'm sorry Clanton, I know that doesn't taste at all nice – but it will help you, now, finish your meal, I'll be back in a few hours to give you more medicine.”

Clanton's throat trembled, as he swallowed again and again, but the baleful glare he shot at the Doctor showed his emotional landscape, at the thought of having to endure repeated medications.

“I know you won't like it, I don't like having to do it, but if you don't, you'll only get far worse...and die a slow, horrible death. Trust me, better a little discomfort and pain now – than the alternative...”

“I'm going to die anyway - “ Clanton gasped, as he rubbed at his throat with his leathery paw pads.

Kelsie sniffled and hung her head. “Sargent MacGoven has ordered Clanton to die in five days time...”

Kelsie flicked her ears, as a loud shouting, cheering and clapping come faintly through the thick walls of the stockade.

“Doctor, excuse me - “ Constanble Kelsie muttered, as she doffed her hat and strode outside, the bright sunlight momentarily blinding her.

“What's going on?” Kelsie snapped at a running human, who cheered and the look of excitement on his face only added to her confusion.

“We got the murdering bastard! - “ Come the breathless response. “They caught him, he's going to hang!”

Kelsie frowned, then she trotted after the man, as the sounds of cheering, shouts of anger and bloodlust rang out. She found the group, primarily human, standing in a large mob, some were shouting vile comments, others were throwing stones, sticks, vegetables, anything they had at hand. Kelsie swore, then began pushing her way through then rioting crowds, being jostled and shoved, as the crescendo of violent anger began to peak.

Finally, she made her way to the front of the crowd, then looked down pitifully at the young Palomino Colt, who had been driven to his knees and hands, and as he crouched in the dust, Kelsie could see the tears that streaked down his muzzle, then he screamed as a whip sliced cruelly across his golden shoulders, flaying open the fur and flesh, blood spraying and the crowd cheering cruelly.

“Hang that fucking bastard!” Come one angry shout.

“Make him suffer – let him suffocate to death!” Come another – this was met with cheers and applause.

“I'm innocent!” Wailed the Colt, as he tried to rise, then he shrieked as the whip lashed him again, tearing at his golden coat.

Kelsie snarled, then unholstered her pistol, as she strode menacingly towards the man who held the whip, then as he raised it, shegripped his wrist and flicked her own – there was a sickening snap and he screamed, the whip dropping from his hand as he screamed, as kelsie tightned her grip, forcing him to his knees.

“You broke my fucking arm!” Shrieked the man, as tears flooded from his eyes, as he stared incredulously up at Kelsie, who glared at him.

“I'd do worse...” Kelsie screamed, as she bent the broken wrist backwards, making the human scream until his voice broke. “How dare you! What gave you the right to so cruelly treat another person like this? What evidence did you have? What right do any of you have, to take the law into your own hands like this? We are not - “

One man, braver than the rest, charged at Kelsie, and he was brought up short, as she leveled her pistol at his forehead and cocked it.

“Stand away!” Kelsie snarled, her ears slicking back against her neck. “I won't tolerate cruelty and violence against a prisoner! Nothing, nothing, gives you the right to act as a mob and take the King's justice into your own hands! We have courts and laws to protect lives – yours, mine, everyones! This isn't right and you know it...now, step away!”

“Stand down Constable, before I put you down!” Come a vicious snarl.

As one, the crowd parted, as Sgt. MacGoven stamped through them, his face flushed with anger and hatred, as he stared at her.

“With all due respect, Sargent,” Kelsie spoke, loudly and iron in her voice. “You should know better than I, the laws we swore to uphold! What evidence is there against this equine? Who dares stand as accuser, that this is the horse who shot that man dead?”

“I won't tell you again, Constable...” Growled the Sargent, as he stepped up to her, the barrel of her pistol pointed against his chest, less than a inch away.

Kelsie's resolve faltered, and she dropped the pistol back into the holster, and stepped down, hanging her head.

“You can't do this!” Kelsie wailed, turning to the crowd, looking for someone to back her against the Sargent, but all she saw was looks of hatred and bloodlust.

“Kill that colt, make him dance!” Come a voice, then another, then it become a chant, as the bloodlust of the crowd grew.

“This is wrong!” Kelsie shrieked at the top of her lungs. “He is one of us, until proven guilty, he has the same rights as any of you!”

Jeers and offensive shouts rang out, as Kelsie stamped her hoof and shrieked at them, before she staggered as a fist sized rock bounched off the back of her head, and staggered her, then she rose on shaking knees, grasping for her pistol, but another rock, then another, and she shrieked and fled, her resolve shattered, as the crowd cheered and turned on the colt, who screamed in fright and pain as they seized him, irons were clasped around his wrists and ankles.

“I'm innocent, I swear it!” Wailed the Colt, as he struggled, but the crush of the hate filled humans prevented him from escaping.

“You're going to hang!” One shouted.

“He's a murderer, make him suffer!” Others called.

Force marched, the crying, hysterical Colt dug his hooves in, as they approached the gallows, but forceful hands dragged him as he fought and wept, then the noose was thrown over his head and tightened around his neck.

“This is better than you deserve...” Snarled Sgt. MacGoven, as he grinned maliciously, then drive his fist into the Colt's stomach, making him gasp and drop to his knees, the noose tightening around his throat.

Stepping back, the Sargent watched, the look of cruelty and sexual arousal evident in his eyes, as he watched the Colt start to stand, before the Sargent dropped his hand, and the trap door snapped open and the Colt fell...then some in the crowd started cheering, then as the Colt bucked and strangled, the cheers soon turned to gasps, then cries and tears, as they watched the Colt strangling – the Sargent intentionally adjusting the noose – for this very purpose...

To Be Continued...