As I was typing this up, I was listening to Melodies for the Mended Wood, and all I can say is music truly does impact you! As I listened, it really rekindled the Flame I have for these stories... sorry, hope that doesn't sound pathetic or anything... anyways, here is chapter 8! Tomorrow I have a few appointments, but I will try to upload chapter 9. Sorry in advance for typos! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 8 After a quick dinner, Heather and Smalls headed towards Picket's room and found Mrs. Longtreader almost asleep. She jumped when she saw the prince. “Oh, your Highness, Heather, hello.” She greeted, slightly embarrassed. Smalls smiled. “Hello, Mrs. Longtreader. Would it be alright if Heather and I sat by Picket for a while? You would be able to have some dinner and rest for a bit.” He suggested with a smile. Sween smiled. “Of course, sire.” After a hug from her daughter and a curtsy to the prince, Sween Longtreader exited the room. Smalls frowned when he saw Picket, still as death. “It’s difficult to see him lie so still and quiet,” he mused, motioning to the two chairs against the wall. They sat down and looked at the unconscious legend. Heather sighed. “It is.” Turning to face him, Heather grasped his hand. “But I am grateful that we have done what we can. The only thing left to do, frustrating as it is, is to wait.” Smalls smiled. “Wise words, Ms. Longtreader.” She chuckled. “Well then, I suppose I better give you an update on what lord Blackstar and my brothers told me. Thankfully, your account from my injury to your arrival at the Dragons Tomb lays out a very good basis. After you took Emma’s place,” he paused, looking at her tenderly. “You were very brave for doing so. After you took her place, they held an emergency council and decided to evacuate Cloud Mountain before Garten and Morbin could attack, or the Terrelains for that matter. It was also decided that Emma tour the Secret Citadels and gather her army while captain Helmer and Picket head to First Warren and get her and the army inside. So that is what they did. For a week, Emma met various lords and captains and had her army assemble while Picket and captain Helmer met and planned with the resistance inside the city, my brother Whitbie in their number.” Heather’s eyes widened. The scarred buck, Whitbie, had turned back to the Cause? “They made a plan to get the army inside as well as to save the younglings from the Victory day festivities. That was the first battle, almost a week ago. It proved successful, as First Warren was liberated a few hours later.” They smiled at this, imagining what it would have looked like. An enslaved city, finally free! Peace, joy, freedom, and victory; a preview of the Mended Wood, perhaps. But now, it is here! “Then they began to prepare as Morbin would be coming.” Smalls continued. Heather cocked her head, a question in her eyes. “What about the Terrelains?” She asked. He smiled. “They stayed out of the way until First Warren was liberated. Emma had sent a messenger, asking for a truce as well as a plea to join the Cause and rally against the Birds of Prey. Meanwhile, they sent a few spies to the Terrelain camp to find some information; I believe my cousins, the Blackstars, and Jo Shanks were assigned to that mission. They gathered what intelligence they needed: Naylen, Bleston's second son, had come with reinforcements and were planning to attack one side of First Warren, partnering with the Birds of Prey.” Heather’s jaw dropped. “As Shanks and the Blackstars escaped, some Terrelains heard them and nearly caught them. But they got away with a few injuries. Cole and Heyna managed to fly most of the way back, while Jo was shot and fell halfway to the city.” Smalls paused, furrowing his eyebrows together. “Apparently our kind can fly.” He commented, looking up at her in disbelief. She smiled. “Well, Picket did come to your aid with his glider cape.” She reminded him, turning to look at her brother. Smalls nodded, a mist covering his eyes. “Yes, he did.” He was quiet for a few minutes. “After Shanks fell, he was met up with Wilfred…” Smalls continued, looking at Heather curiously. She jumped. “Uncle Wilfred is still alive?” She asked. Smalls smiled and nodded. “He is; an old apothecary at Halfwind still had some of that tonic we used. Soon that very flower will be grown in abundance.” She smiled and nodded, trying to keep her excitement at bay. Heather grasped his hand. “Then what happened?” She asked. Smalls chuckled at her eagerness. “They made it back to First Warren with news that the Terrelains would attack the very next day. So Emma, Picket, Cole, Jo, and Captain Helmer flew to the camp to speak with Kylen and Naylen, to see if they would reconsider. While they negotiated with the Terrelains, the vulnerable were sent to Harbone for safety. Somehow, Morbin found out and had it attacked as soon as the unsuccessful council closed. Emma returned to the city while the Fowlers went to Harbone. There were wolves and even rabbits from Akolan. It was a horrible fight.” “Many rabbits were killed and by the end of it, they took one prisoner: a rabbit from Akolan's administration. He was a bit of a challenge, I’m told. He even told Picket and the others that you were dead.” Smalls clenched his jaw, his eyes gleaming with anger. “I’m more than glad to know that it wasn’t true, even when I wasn’t there.” She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. “You have no idea how relieved I was to find you, how many days later and still alive.” She managed to say, choking on tears. Smalls smiled at her and took her hand, kissing it gently. “The Terrelains gave them 3 days, apparently. So the Fowlers returned to First Warren and Wilfred and his few bucks brought the prisoner on foot. Maggie Weaver, the gem she is, questioned the buck in subtle ways. He thought he was wiser than she with his words, but Emma and the council were hidden behind a screen and could hear everything. Winslow and Whitbie were able to decipher many of his ravings and they understood that Morbin would attack in waves. Birds, wolves, and rabbits.” He frowned. “Somehow, True Blue came up and Emma wondered about it. So while First Warren prepared for the coming battle, Emma and her council went to an old apothecary to inquire about the plant. Unfortunately, the apothecary breathed her last during the visit.” Smalls grimaced as he said it. “And that’s about it,” He hesitated. “Actually, no; there’s more. While they prepared, a small party was seen and Emma sent lord Blackstar and Heyna to investigate. It turned out that it was my mother and the Pilgrim. The day of battle, Jo Shanks received a letter from lord Blackstar and went to find them. When he did, another rabbit joined them.” Heather raised an eyebrow. “Who?” “Naylen. Apparently Kylen's advisor was slowly killing him and would eventually succeed.” Heather shuddered. “I’m glad you didn’t ever meet Tameth Seer. He gave me the creeps.” She said quietly, wincing at the thought. Smalls grasped her hand, his gaze meeting hers. “I could have dealt with him, anyways.” He whispered, winking at her. Heather gasped, then started to laugh. “You have some mischeviousness about you too! Now I know where Emma gets it!” She teased. Smalls shook his head, chuckling himself. “With Kylen out of the way, Tameth Seer would make a deal with Morbin, through Garten himself. But Naylen found out and was told some important information as well. He came for help and they managed to get Kylen away before his advisors assassins found him; then the advisor, Naylen, and the Terrelains headed to First Warren.” Smalls turned and looked at Picket. “From what I hear, he is quite the hero. He killed a few of the wolf alphas, king Farlock included.” Heather was amazed. Would this wonder ever end? “I’m slightly curious to know how many he has killed then.” She mused. Smalls nodded. “I also heard that lord captain Helmer…” he trailed off, looking down at the floor. “I heard too.” She whispered, squeezing his hand. “But he died… a hero.” Silence followed for a few minutes, and through those minutes she pieced information together. “I also met Helmer's niece. She is good friends with Picket.” Smalls raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” She nodded. “I had no idea he had family… well, besides Picket.” Her chin quivered and she looked down to hide her tears. Helmer, as gruff as he was, was a father to Picket and a protective presence to her. But now he was gone, and Picket… Heather turned back to Smalls and could see that he too was struggling to manage his emotions. His mouth was pressed tightly shut and his eyes glistened. He stood up suddenly and looked out the window, wiping his eyes. “I could have stopped him,” He whispered, his voice sounding hollow and raspy. Heather stood up and looked into his eyes. “If you did, we… we wouldn’t be here.” She answered, tears rolling down her face. Smalls coughed and Heather rushed into his arms; they held each other close as bitter emotions overwhelmed them both. “It will be alright,” she promised; To herself, or them both, she wasn’t sure. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bear the Flame! A. R. B.