Sorry we're blowing up the site, just had some time to do things this week...but we will be really busy this weekend so...yeah...

Here is the next chapter #Tearjerker

Five more years passed and though the Shanks brothers had seen and lived through many hardships they were not prepared for what would come. No one was. Under the rein of King Jupiter, the Great, we had all gotten used to peace and happiness, so that when tragedy struck, none of us knew how to take it. But not only was it the tragedy that hurt it was how close it hit…

Joseph:

Joseph looked up from the dirt road at his feet one of the many gates of First Warren was just ahead. He smiled; they were home once more. In the past five years he had passed through the gates of First Warren many times, both coming and going. With Ambassador Longtreader he had traveled all across Natalia bringing peace. But even though they had spent the past five years traveling and spreading the peace of King Jupiter’s reign there was still much to be done. There was a new King of the birds of prey, and thus a new threat to the peace of rabbitkind.

They walked through the gates and Joseph sighed, home. Once they reached the square Second Lieutenant Longtreader came out to greet them with his wife and their small daughter. Joseph had meet Second Lieutenant Longtreader’s wife a few times and he watched as Ambassador Longtreader greeted his brother and sister-in-law stiffly. He had both seen and felt this tense between them since Second Lieutenant Longtreader had gotten married. Ambassador Longtreader barely looked at the baby and walked off towards the castle in a hurry. Lieutenant Longtreader, better known now as Lieutenant Wilfred, greeted his brother and sister-in-law and played with the small baby for a minute before heading off to his own home and family that were awaiting him.

Joseph smiled and turned toward Jonathan’s home, he would go and spend some time with his brother, Lea, and little Jo.

Josiah:

They had turned around, he and Lord Captain Helmer both had a bad feeling. Josiah didn’t know why, but he had one. But now that they had turned around, he had a worse feeling and that feeling deepened when he saw a stranger in the mist ahead. It was a hooded rabbit and it spoke as they approached, its voice harsh and menacing, yet smooth and familiar. “What are you doing back?”

“We had a bad feeling,” Lord Captain Helmer said holding his hand up for all of them to stop.

Josiah watched the rabbit, it spoke again, “That was a bad decision Lord Captain Helmer.”

“Are you threatening me?” Helmer asked, he then added, “If you threaten The Right Arm then you threaten the King, so I hope you know what you’re doing.” Helmer’s words had a bite and Josiah had a horrible sinking feeling who was this stranger.

“Trust me, I know what I’m doing,” the hooded rabbit said, as he raised a hand from under the cloak. Too many rabbit to count came out of the forest around them. From the ground, from the trees, it seemed even form the sky itself, they were everywhere!

“Battle positions!” Lord Captain Helmer called out and they all quickly obeyed. Almost immediately Josiah was caught in combat, with one of the rabbits. All the attacking rabbits wore black and grey and they fought well. Josiah took down one opponent and moved to another one, but then he noticed something. Though he and the other members of The Right Arm were being attacked, most of the action was center around Lord Captain Helmer. They were trying to take him down, as he watched they succeed. Lord Captain Helmer was an amazing swords buck, who could beat of twenty bucks at once?

“Stop, or your Captain dies!” The hooded rabbit called out. They all stopped. Josiah looked to Lord Captain Helmer; he was looking down.

“Who are you?” Josiah asked, harshly.

The hooded rabbit chuckled and threw back his hood to reveal a familiar grey face. “Ambassador Longtreader!” Josiah and many of the others said in shock. Was this some sort of test, had they failed?

“What’s going on here Garten?” Lord Captain Helmer asked, bitterly.

“I’m just taking care of some unfinished business, Helm. If you would have stayed gone this wouldn’t have been necessary.”

Josiah’s mind reeled, Ambassador Longtreader was against them. King Jupiter’s most trusted? He had to do something. He looked at Lord Captain Helmer, a plan formulating in his mind. He received a slight nod from his captain and said, “Full advance at all speed!” The Right Arm bucks immediately responded, charging forward swords flashing in the moonlight. Josiah fought with all his might striking out hard at these traitors. He couldn’t believe that Ambassador Longtreader would betray the King, but for some reason he had. Josiah lost count of how many foes he disabled, for that was what he was doing, they were rabbits after all, he didn’t want to kill them. He continued fighting, blocking, dodging, and giving blows.

“That’s enough Lieutenant, you had your chance to be the hero and it didn’t work, stop now or your friends die!” Ambassador Longtreader said. Josiah turned, all his comrades were on their knees, wounded and defeated, a buck with a sword at their throat behind each of them. He threw his swords down in defeat and joined them on the ground.

“Good,” Ambassador Longtreader said then he added, “Now, kill them!”

Josiah’s head spun. Why? He felt a sword placed at his throat, but he was at the end of the line. He was forced to watch helplessly as one by one his comrades were slaughtered. Lord Captain Helmer yelled the whole time, asking and even begging them to stop, but Ambassador Longtreader only taunted. Josiah had never seen Lord Captain Helmer so torn, so defeated. Tears coursed down the older buck’s face and that’s when he realized as gruff as Lord Captain Helmer was, he loved them.

Finally, Josiah was the only one left. Ambassador Longtreader looked at him and said, “For your brother, I give you one chance, join me and see a new era! See peace, true peace! See us truly rise!”

Josiah thought about it. He could live if he agreed to help Garten. Then he could marry Tawny, see his nephew grow up, have his own children. But something in the back of his mind reminded of what else he would see. He would have to watch everything he had fought for fall apart and standby while treason was done. No, he wouldn’t, and he couldn’t do that. He looked at Ambassador Longtreader coldly and said, as bravely as he could, “My arm for the Crown and Cause, my all for the Crown and Cause! That is a vow I have taken, and I will not break it!”

Ambassador Longtreader looked disappointed, but simply turned away as he said, “As you wish.” Josiah felt the sword come closer to his neck and heard an echoing shout from Lord Captain Helmer, “No!”

Jonathan:

He groaned and rolled over as he heard loud knocking on the door. What time was it? Who was it? Why? Little Jo started crying and Lea went to get him. Jonathan slide out of bed, got semi-dressed and went to get the door. Joseph was already there, standing with the door wide open. Jonathan looked past him and saw Ambassador Longtreader. “To what do we owe the pleasure Ambassador,” Jonathan said trying to stifle a yawn, and trying not to be grumpy it was a little late for calling.

“It’s not a pleasure,” Ambassador Longtreader said looking down. He then added, “The Right Arm was ambushed not far from Jupiter’s crossing. They were all killed. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but I need Joseph. The King leaves in the morning in that direction and we are to accompany him, he has some peace business to discuss.”

Jonathan barely heard the rest, Josiah dead. How could that be? No! He sat down and put his head in his hands, trying to sort through his wrecked emotions. Why? He felt a hand laid on his knee and looked down to see the toddling Jo. He couldn’t even bring himself to smile at his son.

“Dah-dah okay?” Jo asked innocently, his eyes big and round.

Jonathan picked him up and shook his head as he said, “No, daddy has a hole in his heart, because his brother, your Uncle Josiah, is dead.”

Jo looked at him for minute than said, “Jo pix hole.” Jo then hugged him, and Jonathan held his small son close, if only it were that easy.

Sorry it was long and that it was sad...hope you liked it...

#tearbank