Mission:
Loran Swiftwater strode up to the wharf where the fleet of Ublaz sat at anchor. He called a meeting of all the ships Captains. They arrived one by one, some half asleep some drunk. When all were settled down Loran spoke. "Thank yea fer comin' so quickly dear captain's. As yea all probably know there's been reports 'bout ships from Camp Willow comin and attacken' us." The Captains broke out cursing and yelling. It took all of Loran's voice to be heard over the din. "So, Lord Ublaz has commanded me ta pick out eight score seabeasts an train 'em so's they can take care of those invaders. I'll be comin round yer ships and picken' yer best archer and thrower beasts fer the job." The captains mumbled agreement and dispersed back to their ships or taverns.

For the rest of the day Loran made his way around the many ships docked in the harbor picking the best beasts for the job.

The next day the chosen were gathered at the largest table in the Black Seas Tavern to learn of their new job. Loran looked out at the assembly. Rats, ferrets, weasels, stoats, and other vermin were arrayed around the table. "Well mates." Loran began. "Yer here under my command. Were ta form a crew of beasts to repulse the ships from camp willow. Here's what I thinks we should do. I'm guessing that their comin in at the harbor. The rest of the island's shore is to steep ta land on so this is probably where their comin in at. We'll divides yea up in ta different groups. Sixty of yea will be archers. You'll be firen' fire arrows at the ships when they git close enough. Twenty of yea will be throw'en fire swingers out at the ships. They got long range so we'll hit them before they can hit us. The rest of yea will be armed with boarden' hooks, pikes, an spears. Yer ta stop any beast from getting on shore. Don't worry, I'll train yea. Fink here is in charge of the archers. And Deathpaw is in charge of the fire swingers. Meet on the shore tomorrow fer trainin."

Within weeks Loran whipped the crew into shape with Fink and Deathpaw's help. Loran put together a large raft to tow behind one of their ships for target practice. In the beginning the archers and swingers couldn't hit anything but water but they soon were hitting the raft dead on target. Loran had to keep rebuilding the raft b ecause the target practice would tear the raft to splinters. That\rquote s the way they want it when the enemy comes.

As the target day drew nearer Loran posted lookouts in the highest castle towers to keep a watch out for approaching ships.

One early morning Loran was awakened by one of the lookouts, a fox named Orenose. "Loran, ships on the horizon, two by the looks of it." Loran sprung out of his hammock and roused Fink and Deathpaw. "Get yer crews together mates. Their here." Ten minutes later the whole crew was assembled and in position. The ships were still very far off so they would have to wait. Loran ordered the archers split up into two bands and placed ten degrees from the dock each way. Loran also got a large fire going and ordered the fire swingers and arrows readied.

It took the ships three more hours to get close enough for Loran to see creatures on their decks. Loran took a final look around the harbor. The archers and pike beasts were lying low on the beach and the swingers were behind the fire. Loran spotted otters, mice, squirrels, moles, and hedgehogs on the decks of the ships watching as they neared the shore. They were just in range. Loran jumped up from the little pit in the sand where he had been hiding and signaled Deathpaw. The weasel whistled and out came four rats swinging fire swingers. They let them lose nearly instantaneously. One missed the lead ship and splashed into the ocean but the others hit their marks. One ripped through the sail and splashed into the water, leaving the sai l burning. The second hit the bowsprit and shattered. The third crashed right through the hold doors and a blaze lit up almost instantly. Already four more fire swingers were off, flying through the air like small meteors.

The first ship's mid-decks were ablaze. The second ship had seen the danger it was in and had begun to turn. Not so fast Loran though. He waved his hand and the sixty archers sprang up and let fly a volley of fire arrows at the fleeing ship. Most missed but a few made it and settled in th e sails and deck. The first ship was now a massive blaze. It was slowing and Loran could see beasts jumping overboard to get away from the flames. That was his job. Stop them from getting ashore. He spread his pike beasts out to intercept them.

The second ship was still trying to get back out to sea but it was being harried by fire arrows from the archers. The fire swingers had stopped and the beasts crewing them took up weapons and joined Loran's force at the tide line.

The first of the ship's crew were coming ashore now. They were easily dispatched or captured. The first ship began to settle on the harbor bottom, the fires onboard fizzling out. The second ship, where had the second ship gone? Loran raced around to the farthest point and there he found it. Thirty archers were sending shaft after shaft into the blazing hulk that was now beached on the point. Any beast that got off was killed by arrows. They had done it. They had stopped the invasion. They lost four archers and six pike beasts. But they had taken two score prisoners and killed three times that many. All in all it was a good days work.