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Here is the pass-along story continued starting on Chapter 4. If you want to add the next chapter, email me.

Back to Chapters 1-3

Chapter 4 Written by Tajon

Ulaber and Sharpsnout were ready. Even though Doomsclaw had been stripped of his title and they had been promoted to 2nd and 3rd in command, the thought of being in command of the entire horde was still in their minds. "Ready, Ulaber?" said Sharpsnout, rubbing poision on his trident. "Yes sah." mumbled Ulaber, rubbing poision on his throwing daggers. "Now I'm telling you Ulber, this stuff is the best. A nick, a tiny cut, and the poision enters ya. It won't kill you instantly, no no. In about 4 to 5 hours you are finally finished off. That's what ol' Bloodclaw's gonna get. Now, get those black cloaks, and lets go!" Covering their bodies in the dark coats, they crept towards Bloodclaw's tent. Doomsclaw was in dispair. He had been lowered to the rank of captain in one night, all because he was watching the hordes! He wandered around the camp aimlessly, and he returned again to the test of Bloodclaw. How could he get back up? How could he rise again to 2nd in command? Suddenly, he spotted two figures, clad in black, approaching. One was holding a trident, the other a pair or throwing daggers. They had both drawn, and were slowly approaching the tent of Bloodclaw. Doomsclaw suddenly had an idea on how to return to his high position. Everything was going smoothly for Ulaber and Sharpsnout. They were making good time, and in a few moments they would have the leader in their grasp. They nodded, and seperated, each going different directions around the tent. Doomsclaw saw his chance. He lept out, and easily cut the black figure with the trident across the front. The figure screamed, and then fell. Doomsclaw removed the hood and found that it was Sharpsnout. He didn't have enough time to look up before he felt a cut in his side. A throwing dagger had nicked his right shoulder, and blood was now pooring freely. In his pain he dropped his sword, feebly yelling, "Assassins! Murders help..." another dagger came out of the dark, but he jumped aside, grabbed the dead rat's trident and lept into the night in the direction the daggers had come from. He landed on a furry shape, and easily pinned it to the ground. Just then, the tent of Bloodclaw opened, and there was the ferret, furious and holding his sword. He lept out, and grabbed the firgure in black, ripping off the hood. There was Ulaber. Doomsclaw gasped, and Ulaber began to weep feebly. Bloodclaw threw him on the ground, walked into his tent, and returned with a long chain. He chained Ulaber to a tree, and then, gesturing to Doomsclaw, said, "Good work. You are promoted to 2nd in command. Don't kill this one, I want to make an example of him tomorrow." Doomsclaw nodded, and the tyrant went back to bed. Doomsclaw then picked up one of Ulaber's knives, saying, "Don't kill him, eh? I won't. But I'll give him what he gave me!" He cut Ulaber in the shoulder, and then retired to his bed. The next day, Doomsclaw sat next to Bloodclaw, with Ulaber chained to the ground before them. The hordes were watching, all wondering what would happen. Bloodclaw began, "This rat is a traiter. He attemped to kill me. For that, I will show him what I do to traiters! A fate worse then death!" Bloodclaw turned his evil glare towards Ulaber, but Ulaber couldn't turn his head to reply. "He..he's dead!" gasped Doomsclaw. "WHAT?!" roared Bloodclaw. "Doomsclaw, explai.." Doomsclaw dropped to the ground, dead also. Bloodclaw couldn't believe it. Three of his best troops, lost in one night. This incident fueled his anger, and he quickly assigned a new 2nd in command, yelling to the hordes, "We march to the mountain now!"

Chapter 5 Written by Rockjaw

Lord Ceteruler couldn't believe his eyes.  "Son, you've returned from Brockhall?"  "Yes...my instincts told me something was wrong," replied Stonepaw.  "Mine too." said Ceteruler.  Usually, two male badgers can't live together, but this was too important.  Both badgers had had visions in their dreams of a possible destruction of Salamandastron.  Ceteruler and Stonepaw stayed up late discussing their fears in candlelight.  ****** The next morning Bloodclaw's foul mood was no better.  His new 2nd-in-command, a fox named Deathgrip, was rousing the horde.  Soon they were marching North accross the beach towards Salamandastron.  At noon they halted for a rest.  Bloodclaw raged, tramping back and forth in front of his horde.  He was not happy with their progress.  "You, weasel, kill those 6 stragglers.  I don't want them slowing up the horde like they did today!"    Deathgrip wisely stayed out of Bloodclaw's way!  The horde resumed marching, but all lights are put out as they near Salamandastron. ****** Lord Ceteruler was having a nightmare.  He saw the large, sinuous form of Bloodclaw, backed by his horde, then Bloodclaw helds up a tiny Salamandastron and crushed it in his powerful claws.  The dream repeats, though this time Ceteruler sees Bloodclaw drop the miniature mountain and flee as his horde is slain.  Then Ceteruler awoke and sat up with a start, in a cold sweat.  Later that morning, Ceteruler told Stonepaw about his dream.  Stonepaw had had the same one!  Realizing the danger to Salamandastron, Lord Ceteruler ordered all able-bodied hares to prepare for war.

Chapter 6 Written by Hon Rosie

While the hares were busy getting armed, Bloodclaw saw an open window and signaled for Deathgip.  Turning to Deathgrip, he snarled, "Get our best archer, tie this to the arrow, and send it into that window!"  Bloodclaw pulled out a parchment he had written the night before.  Deathgrip saluted, and turned around, pointing to a few vermin he knew to be good archers. ****** Lord Ceteruler was having a very bad feeling about something when a hare rushed in, yelling, "M'Lord, a hare was hit with a bally arrow in his arm!"  Rushing out of his room, following the hare, Lord Ceteruler saw that one of the hares in the dining room had just gotten an arrow removed from his arm.  He said sharply, "Let me see the arrow."  Recieving the arrow as the hare handed it to him, he saw the parchment that was tied to it.  He untied it and read:  "This is Bloodclaw, leader of the horde of rats, ferrets, weasels, and stoats.  If you do not surrender, you shall be slaughtered!  You will give up Salamandastron to me, or you will die a slow and painful death, as will all of your hares!  You have until tomorrow afternoon to answer!"  Lord Ceteruler stared hard at the name, trying to pull out a thought he knew was nagging him.  "Ahh, well."  He thought to himself, "I'll know the answer when the time comes."  Then he turned to the injured hare and said, "Go to the infirmary right away and clean that wound!  We need all the hares we can get for this battle." ****** After Bloodclaw heard that the message had been sent, he finally smiled and started feeling better.  He flexed his metal hand and shouted insanely, "REVENGE, STRIPEDOG CETERULER!  REVENGE!"