Mission:
Akki walks along the halls of the fort, listening to the agonizing screams of the unfortunate that have disobeyed the beasts in charge. The phonies, a fox named Jarrul, a weasel named Schemer and a searat named Badear. They have found yet another victim. She shakes her head at the cruelties being dealt out by the impostors. Rushing to the sounds of the screams, she finds a fellow ferret, Slipknot in agony. Helping him to his feet, she helps him to a chair.

“Thanks matey” Slipknot gasps. “’Tis no problem at all.” Akki replies. She grabs a piece of cloth and pours some freshwater onto it from a flask. “Here, let me see those.” She says. Slipknot rolls over to his back and she lifts the now in pieces tunic from his back. He winces as she dabs the fresh wounds. Once all the blood is off, she helps him to his feet and they stumble down to the beds where Akki finds some bandages and bandages his back.

Slipknot thanks her profusely and goes to sleep. Akki once again wonders off, thinking about the impostors. Turning a corner, she finds herself face to face with Jarrul. The one eyed fox eyes her hungrily. “Out and about young, err, what’s your name again?” “Akki. Akki Flameeyes.” She replies, red eyes flashing. “Oh, well, you better be headed to work soon young Akki. New rules ya know. Everybeast has to help in sorting out Sampetra’s bounty or they get punished.”

Akki shudders and says, “I think I will be headed there soon.” She turns and walks the way she has come and mutters as soon as she is out of range, “When the Dark Forest freezes over.” Going out to the harbor, she sits down on the jetty and tries to collect her thoughts. As the darkness takes over, she realizes the simplicity of her task.

Going back inside, she is once more faced with one of the cruelest of seabeasts, Badear. The female searat fingers her cutlass as Akki scurries her way around and into the fort. She sighs and realizes that, though there may just be three of them, their presence is greatly felt and known. Making her way upwards, she ducks out of the way of many a beast. Akki does not want to be seen.

Finally she is outside of Ublaz’s chamber. Inside she can hear voices. Cocking her head, she listens. Not to loud, she gives a small gasp as she realizes it is Jarrul, Schemer and Badear reporting to Ublaz. This is loosely what she heard.

Ublaz: Well, have any of the beasts been giving you trouble? They know you have some pretty big shoes to fill.
Jarrul: I had a run in today with a ferret who was more than rude. She said her name was Akki Flameeyes. I told her to get to work but I don’t think she did.
Badear: No she didn’t. I saw her outside right after sundown. You are talking about the one with red eyes right?
Schemer: I think she’s the one, I’ve heard a lot about her though I’ve never met her.
Ublaz: That’s enough about one beast. Let me deal with Akki. Are the others giving you much trouble?
Badear: No not really. They all seem pretty content to do their work and leave the ruling to you O Ublaz.
Ublaz: Hmmm. Well, I guess that is good news. That is all…no wait, one more thing. You three only have about a week left to do this. My captains are starting to feel better. OK, dismissed.

Akki ducks into a shadowy place as they come out of the chamber. Looking at the door and then looking at Jarrul, Schemer and Badear, she decides that talking to Ublaz will have to wait, she will follow them. And follow them she does. They find their way down to the supply room and start sampling grog and wine and commence to become very drunk.

As Akki finds out, the drunker they get, the more their tongues loosen and soon their scheme comes forth from Schemer. She runs back to Ublaz’s chamber and bursts in almost without knocking. Gasping out her story and what she has learned from spying, she collapses while Ublaz stands there stunned. Then, muttering his thanks, he storms out leaving Akki to fall into unconsciousness.

When she awakes, she finds Ublaz sitting near her. “What happened?” she asks. “Well,” he says, “thanks to what you told me, I gave them what I figured was their just punishment. I gave them their own punishment and demoted them. Now you and two handpicked others will serve as captains until mine are up and running again.” Akki jumps up and thanks him profusely. She then set out to pick her others and make sure everything was run fairly.