so @Aspen Whinfell asked me to write this, so here's chapter one! hope yall enjoy! there's a lord of the rings quote and a wingfeather saga reference in there lol!

It was still dark.

The commandant had said dawn would come, even here in Akolan, but it was still dark and cold. Kane shivered, partly from fear, drawing his white cloak tighter around his shoulders and closing his bright golden-blue eyes. The dungeon was wet and drippy, full of other prisoners awaiting their trials, and hopeless.

Kane thought about the long scratches that raced down his arm and remembered his family, his home full of books, and the wolves, so that hearing the song almost passed as nothing. But it came again, strong and sure, pouring through the darkness like water.

“It will not be so in the Mended Wood; we’ll be free and glad again.” Kane didn’t believe the song to be true, but he opened his eyes and joined in anyways.

“Psst! Hadley!” The voice came out of the darkness once the song was finished a bright, hopeful voice, why was someone talking here?

“What? Go to sleep Stretch.”

“Do you have a knife?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m tied to a wall, that’s why.”

“You can’t pick a lock if your tied too it.”

“Fleck did.”

“Where is he?”

“Right here.”

“GAK!”

“Sshh. This is a secret breakout.”

“Does Bastille know?”

“I don’t care if Bastille knows.”

“You’d better care.”

“Why?”

“Cause your part of a team.”

“True.”

“You should do this together.”

“The other’s aren’t here.” Kane thought Fleck sounded exhausted, lonely, and sorrowful.

Kane smiled at the playful banter and wished for his siblings, even if all they did was argue with eachother.

“Who’s he?” Kane refocused, assuming they were talking about him.

“Huh?” He wondered aloud, nervous thoughts racing through his mind.

“What’s your name, soldier?” Kane’s cell door creaked open and shadowy figure slipped inside.

Kane was too exhausted to think right, and he must have been thinking books, so he mumbled “Kalmar Iggyfeather” and as mush as he wanted to find out who the shadowy buck was, he started to drift off.

“Iggyfeather?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Stop it you guys, you’re arguing too loud.”

“Oh come on were not arguing we are simply debating.”

“Debating what?”

“Whether or not we are arguing.”

“That’s a fascinating thought.”

“Hehe and a little morbid.”

“Morbid? How?”

“Can you be quiet?” Kane grumbled, unable to get the sleep he desperately needed. “If I yawn one more time I’ll split at the ears.”

“So he takes my side.”

“Be quiet Hadley.” There was a relative silence, but once more it was rudely interrupted by Hadley’s voice.

“That’s not quiet.”

“Yes it is.”

“Fleck, you’re breathing too loud.”

“No, that’s you.”

“GUYS! Stop!” Kane, now fully awake, declared. “We ain’t going anywhere if you keep jabbering.”

“So… Kalmar? Any ideas?” The buck named Fleck- or was it Stretch- asked.

“Actually my name is Kane.”

“Too late. Any ideas?”

“Well… we could climb the wall at the far end of the dungeons.” Kane’s quick mind raced through possible escapes.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Stretch asked.

“Okay, let’s go.” Fleck lit a torch and for the first time in a long time Kane saw light, bright, wonderful light. Hadley cut Kane’s ropes; Hadley had silvery fur and shiny blue eyes. “Can you walk?”

“I think so.” Kane said, struggling to his feet and testing first one, then the other leg, then stumbled after Hadley and out of the cell.

Fleck and Stretch looked exactly alike, both had Hazel fur and tan tips to their ears and face, brown eyes, and a single tan diamond on their foreheads. Fleck (who was holding the torch) was wearing a green preymark instead of the usual red- an open rebel, part of the secret resistance.

“Are you sure about this?” Kane asked.

“To be honest, I’m not.” Fleck replied. He was covered in scratches, scrapes, and scars, the mark of a warrior in training. “But I am certain that one day good will conquer evil, like it always does, with the Maker’s help.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

-Fleck Cove!