Sorry this took so long. this week was busy... anyways, here it is! we finally get to meet Mist Vittonson!

next chapter in A Mended Mountain

There are times when hope seems fake and impossible. Where you look up and all you see is darkness. When you think you can’t do it, when it seems impossible.

“I failed.” I whispered. It felt like a burden. A weight. I wanted to cry, but I was too embarrassed to cry in front of others. Too shy to talk. Too afraid to even look up.

“It was my job to protect, and I failed.” I whispered. I looked at the ground. “My Job.”

“Fleck… the battle isn’t over yet.” Midnight whispered. I turned around, darted to see three enemies. I had no time for swords, glowing blade or not. I leapt back, sailing over my attacker’s swords with skill and ease.

On the other side of a ring of foes, I drew my sword, looking at my friends, all gaping in wonder. Standing there, I felt like I had suddenly found a place where I belonged. Fighting for the mending with every ounce of strength.

The nearest foe shoved forward. Now, now now! I thought to myself, unfurling my extra-large cloak.

“We Will Be Free!” I yelled, charging forward. All my energy now aimed for the foes. “You guys run! Leave me here to fight!” I noticed Midnight, Trinity, and Bastille had already returned to their positions.

“It’s an order.” I yelled. “Go. Save yourselves.” The rabbits fled then, leaving me against these foes. Outnumbered.

“It’s been ages since you took on odds like this, little one. Since you hurt your eye, small lad.” The buck said. He was cold and hard, but the voice was familiar. Mist Vittonson.

“Actually, I have faced these odds since then. You just weren’t there.” I said and spun my sword on my finger.

“You enrage me, Cove. I know you can’t see very well, not without your glasses. And with that scratch on your eye...”

“Don’t mess with my vision, Vittonson. Or I might decide to destroy you with an oculator’s lens.”

“you… you… you are… no way… no… you… not… you’re not an oculator, are you?”

“Change the topic.” I growled, leaping, soaring over Vittonson’s head.

“We shall see about that.” Mist growled.

“I’ve changed since last time, Mist. I won’t fall to the ground as a failure this time.”

“Maybe you will.” Mist growled. We stood facing each other.

Mist was quick as ever. He fought with such speed and strength it was all I could do to dodge them. He was just a blurry shape, standing at the edge of my sight range. In the blurry part of my vision. I could see him, but not well.

We lunged together, meeting in midair. Mist swung his blade up, but I kicked him backwards, so the sword only barely missed me.

Well, it didn’t exactly miss me. My Left ear was completely chopped off, except for a stump of it. But it didn’t affect my hearing.

I smacked Mist over the head with the flats of my sword, and sprinted into the forest, sheathing my blade, running quickly.

I never stopped running for the entire horrible 10 hours back to camp. My legs ached, my lungs hurt, and my ear throbbed. But I could deal with that later. I ran as hard, as fast as I could.

Once more, I was running from my past. Telling myself it was the right thing to do. If there was one foe I couldn’t face, it was bad memories. I knew this couldn’t keep up. I wrestled with myself. Should I turn back? But no, camp was in sight. I saw the familiar tents just over the hill, green blankets stretched over wooden frames.

I bolted into the clearing. Too exhausted to run any farther, I fell to the ground. It was a few hours later when I found myself waking up with a start. I stood, quickly, resting awhile under a canopy of stars. Another night had begun. Smoke clouded the stars.

Before going anywhere, I polished my glasses. I limped, dazed, towards the nearest tent.

I pushed open the canvas, slightly, before my legs became too weak and I fell to the ground.

“Fleck! Your alive!” Lord Blackstar exclaimed, running over to help me up.

“I.. I’m good.” I stuttered. Lord Blackstar was injured. He shouldn’t be helping me.

“That looks bad.” A familiar voice could be heard, but I didn’t place it instantly.

“It’s just my ear…. I’ll live without it.” I spoke.

“It looks worse than that.” Wilfred said. Je was stumbling over.

“I’m fine guys.” I knew I wasn’t.

“Don’t try to act strong when you are not, Fleck.” Wilfred said, helping me up. Words blended.

“Did you say: Don Strong ate a carrot?” I asked. The two bucks laughed a little.

“No.”

“What?” I asked.

“Get some rest, Fleck.” Someone said.

But to me it sounded like: pass your test and double check.

But I did anyway. Get some rest, that is.

…………………………………………………………

The next morning

“We are doomed.” Lord Blackstar was pacing. “Half of our rabbits killed, the rest of us injured…”

“It’s not over yet.” I said, rubbing my good ear. “It can’t be.”

“Optimistic Idiot.” Someone spat. Bastille. She had snuck into the tent somehow.

“Pessimistic Carrot.” I spat.

“Un-insulting Coward. That is not an insult.”

“Double-crossing-flying-ant-hornet.”

“Strong. Not an insult.” She smirked.

“Dying Fly.” I spat. She looked confused.

“Again, NOT an insult.”

“Rutabaga topped with fried carrot crumbs.” Now everyone was looking at me.

“Idiot.”

“oh let them say what they want, oh I dare them to try.” I sang. A rabbit in the crowd kept singing.

Bastille gave me the glare. It’s a very impressive glare.

“What is your purpose here?” Lord Blackstar asked.

“I came to tell mister rutabaga here that Cloud Mountain is being marched on.” With that, Bastille, 75% annoying, 25% not annoying, left.

“I gotta go!” I yelled. I grabbed my satchel, and turned toward the door, then stopped.

“But what about you guys?” I asked.

“We’ll leave later! Now go!” Wilfred yelled.

I sprinted away, away with a message sent.

-Fleck Cove!