Mission:
It was the dead of night when news slowly trickled out that the Emperor had been poisoned! All of the senior and more experienced officers were frantic to find out who had betrayed his majesty so. This is how orders came to Ensin Gohon Shadowpaw of the Bloodkeel to find and stop the poisoner. Gohon muttered to herself about being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night, thought she silenced herself as she approached the quarters of Ublaz's second in command, Bloodspray. Her knock was answered by a gruff order to enter.

Bloodspray sat behind his desk, frustration and worry wracked hid face. "Sit down!" He barked as he gestured to an empty chair. "I have orders here for you to obey to the tee." He dais as he handed Gohon a parchment. She waited for the fox to continue for she knew that he would tell her what the parchment said whether she read it or not. "As you might already know by now, his majesty had been poisoned. Whatever illness he has contracted endangers both himself and the whole of Sampetra. The healers tell me that the particular poison used has a time limit. It loses potency the day of the 6th full moon of the ear, which is the day after tomorrow. The emperor will still be sick, but our poisoner can't poison again. Tomorrow night is the last night of potency. You may take two shipmates to help you. No mater what their rank, they will take orders from you." As he handed her two additional sets of orders for her shipmates, he noticed an amused grin on Gohon's face. "Oh, and one more thing… try to keep the ordering in check. Dismissed." And he waved her out of the room.

As Gohon wound her way out of the palace, she asked herself, "Why me? There are higher ranked and more experienced vermin 'ere." She decided to stop asking questions for which she already knew the answers. "Because you're not likely ta be missed of the poisoner kills yer." She muttered under her breath as she headed towards the taverns on the Jetty. Turning around she shouted, "I'll show ya. I'll not only stop 'im, but I'll get an antidote too." She walked among the taverns until she came upon her favorite. 'The Jetty's Dagger.' She waking in and when she had called to the bartender for grog, she straddled a chair across for her mates Bladepaw and Crossclaw.

"So where were you bustled off to so quickly by the monitors?" Bladepaw asked as she sipped her grog.

"Yeah," Crossclaw added jokingly "does it 'ave anything ta do with rumor 'bout a poisoner around?"

Gohon grabbed her frog from the waiter and waited till he was out of hearing distance before answering. "Actually…yes." She took a swig of her grog before continuing, "I'm supposed to catch 'im and turn 'im over ta Bloodspray. And, you're gonna help me." Her shipmates sat in stunned silence for a moment before stammering protest over each other. Gohon just grinned at her friends until their complaints subsided.

Bladepaw scratched her ear in confusion. "We're not gonna get our of this, are we?" She said resignedly as Gohon handed her and Crossclaw their orders from Bloodspray.

You are to act without question to any order given to you by Ensin Gohon, and you are not to withhold any information from her until this situation is resolved. Obey and keep silent. -Second in command of his Majesty Ublaz's Navy -BloodsprayCrossclaw frowned at his orders.

Bladepaw sniffed and grumbled under her breath. "Ordered 'round by an Ensin! Imagine the chaos that would ensue if all Rear Admirals 'ad ta obey Ensins!" She haphazardly folded her orders and shoved them angrily into her pocket. Gohon peered into her drink. "I 'ate ta tell ya mate, but, there's more." She handed them each a folded letter closed with the seal of the Emperor. "Don't tell me…" Crossclaw started as he broke the seal of his letter. As they read both Crossclaw and Bladepaw's mouth's hung open.

The bearer of this does what they do under my orders. Give any assistance they ask for. Obey and keep silent. -Commander of the Navy -Lord of Sampetra
-Seeker of the Pearls -Emperor Ublaz

"Hey!" Bladepaw exclaimed in a mischievous tone. "We could make monitors dance with these." She glanced over at Gohon. "Do you know what these said?" Gohon grinned good naturally and held up a letter identical to theirs. "Bloodspray says we're ta show these ta anyone who gets in out way." Crossclaw chuckled, "Why don't we just show this to the poisoner, an' tell 'im ta stop?" he half said, half laughed.

The other two looked at each other questioningly. Each grabbed and arm and pulled Crossclaw out of the tavern. "I think ya 'ad a wee too much ta drink mate." Gohon said.

***

The morning found the three gathered in Bladepaw's quarters on the Bloodkeel. The morning light streamed into the small room on the three of them crowded around a small table littered with pages a parchment and quill pens in their hands. They were debating how to catch the poisoner. Crossclaw frowned as he took a gulp of grog. "I still say that my idea of a cage dropping from above is the best one." He said defensively. Gohon shook her had in disbelief at her friend. "And O still say that's the worst pan ta ever grace me presence."

Bladepaw grabber both of them by the ear and drew them both close to her face. "Ok children, don't ya think we 'ave more important things ta do with our time then bicker amongst ourselves, hmmm?" She let go of their ears and took a self-satisfied I of her grog, while Gohon and Crossclaw rubbed their ears, trying to pretend nothing had happened.

"Well," Crossclaw asked Bladepaw while he glared at Gohon. "What do you suggest we do?"

Bladepaw considered the question for a moment before answering, "I think we should wait for 'im with a noose ta catch 's foot when 'e steps inta it." "Good, but not good enough." Gohon commented as she refilled her mug of grog from a pitcher sitting on the floor. " I think that we should spread a rumor that the poisoner is not real, that 'e's a fake. This will anger 'im and convince 'im that 'e needs ta poison the 'hole food supplies tanight. And when 'e comes, we'll be waitin' for 'im."

Crossclaw and Bladepaw blinked in surprise at Gohon's plan. "Ya know," Crossclaw started, took a gulp of grog, then continued. "I take back all the times I called yer stupid."

***

The poisoner glided through the afternoon light his face calm for the most part, but a thundercloud of fury boiled beneath the surface. "The nerve o' them! Tryin' ta pretend that I don't exist!" He stopped suddenly and spoke more softly. "They should all be taken care of tanight. They think ta catch me red 'anded do they? Well I'll teach them!" H e continued walking in the dwindling light muttering to himself, as he silently slipped in the food stores.

***

Bladepaw sat huddled in conversation with a young stoat at the Jetty's Dagger. The stoat, being young drunk in every word. "I'm tellin' ya lad, the poisoner's not real! 'e's just a figment made up ta explain 'is Majesty fallin' ill. 'Tis just some beast's imagination." She glanced over at another table nearby where Gohon was telling a very similar story to another young seabeast. Gohon finished her story and glances toward Bladepaw. The met eyes and Gohon nodded. Turning back to the stoat Bladepaw finished off her grog and said. "Well, I 'ave ta go lad. I 'ave ta meet a friend." With that she made her way out of the tavern and caught up with Gohon, Who was already outside.

Gohon waited for Bladepaw to catch up, and they walked together in the twilight. "Where's Crossclaw?" Gohon asked, " I 'aven't seen 'im since we left yer quarters."

"Oh 'im?" Bladepaw answered groggily. "I saw 'im mutterin' ta 'imself awhile back. 'e said 'e'd meet us in the food stores." They walked away from the dock, and together Gohon and Bladepaw slipped into the food stores.

"Hold it right there!" A husky voice demanded as the door clicked shut. Gohon exchanged a look with Bladepaw and muttered "Don't tell me…" as they turned to face the speaker.

A monitor with a jagged scar running down his cheek, tugging at his features was scowling defiantly at them.

Bladepaw tisked at the monitor, "Now see 'ere." She said as she pulled out her letter from Ublaz. "This 'ere letter, from 'is Majesty, Says that ye 'ave ta do what I say."

The monitor peered at her skeptically and snatched the letter from her hand. It read, then read again, finally handing back the letter. "What about her?" It asked gesturing toward Gohon.

Gohon grinned at the monitor and pulled out her letter, "Sorry ta disappoint ya." She said sarcastically.

The monitor grunted in acquiescence, obviously not comprehending Gohon's humor. "Is anyone else 'ere?" Bladepaw asked.

The monitor nodded, "He said his name was Crossclaw." It shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to do.

Gohon sensed the monitor's mood and took it by the arm. "Now I'm sure ye 'ave more important things ta do then chat wid us." She push it out the door, and poked her head around and added, "We'll take it form 'ere." Closing the door behind her, Gohon chuckled to herself. "Was that close enough ta dancein' fer ya Bladepaw?" She looked around the food stores. It was a large chamber with two smaller rooms off to either side, connected by short hallways. She started off down the hallway to the right and called behind her. "Bladepaw, check the other room. I don't see Crossclaw 'nywhere!" Bladepaw went off down the other hallway mumbling something about obeying an Ensin. Gohon opened the door to the room and stepped inside. She could sense the presence of someone else. On her guard she walked into the center of the pitch-black room as the hackles on her neck started to rise. Behind her the door started to close. Gohon turned just in time to see a dark figure lock the closing door as the light from the hall was cut off by the door. In a flash dagger were in her hands, ready, and alert.

"Who are you?" She asked in a demanding tone. Gohon could hear tisking from the darkness, and footsteps started to circle her. She turned around in place, always facing the footsteps.

"Why, my dear Ensin Gohon. Didn't ye know? Why, I'm the poisoner." A gruff voice boomed. A malicious laugh echoed off the walls of the small chamber, and the poisoner rushed Gohon.

Gohon was tackled to the ground, the wind knocked out of her, before she knew what was happening. She wrestled with her assailant as she fought for breath. They rolled all over the room in their battle, breaking pots and spilling grain. Gohon regained her breath and kicked the poisoner off her. She stagged to her feet and yelled. "Bladepaw! I found the poisoner! Come help quick!"

Bladepaw dropped the sack of rice she was checking for poison and ran toward her friend's shouts. She shot down the hallways and stopped at the door. The latch lifted and stopped. The door was locked! "Gohon!" She yelled inside, "The bloody door is locked from the outside! I need the key!"

Gohon, now bleeding from several cuts, groaned. She had given the poisoner his fair share of cuts, but she did not like admitting that he was stronger then her. Well stronger or not, she had to get that key. From her crouched position she could barely make out the outline of the poisoner. Gohon let her daggers fly.

The poisoner hunched over his middle as suddenly a dagger appeared there. He staggered back and fell as Gohon dove for his legs. The little spitfire. He thought, Doesn't know when to give up.

The poisoner's hand suddenly held a dagger. He started toward Gohon's chest with it, but her hand came up to stop his. For a few long tense moments they fought for control of the dagger. It first turned toward the poisoner, then towards Gohon, and back. Gohon knew she was going to die if she didn't do something soon. She gathered up all her strength, and forced the dagger into the poisoner's heart.

Everything had gone quiet on the other side of the door. Bladepaw started to banging on the door. "Gohon. Are ye alright? Gohon!" As if in answer a key was slipped under the door. Bladepaw unlocked the door to find Gohon, bleeding but alright standing near the door, and Crossclaw on the floor with a dagger though his heart. Bladepaw walked over Crossclaw and pressed her paw to his throat. "'e's dead" she said with a sigh. She found a pouch in his pocket. Dipping a paw in she tasted it and spat it out. "Poison." She announced.

Gohon's face held a mixture of shock, anger and pity. To think that the Poisoner had bee one of her best friends and she never even suspected. Let it go. She forced herself to say. Let it go.

"Ya ok?" Bladepaw asked. "Ya look startled.""I am." She replied.

***

As afternoon set in on the following day, Gohon entered the Jetty's Dagger. She scanned the crowd, till she spotted Bladepaw. Ordering a mug of grog, Gohon sat down next to Bladepaw. "So." Bladepaw asked expectantly. "What'd they say?" Gohon took a sip of her grog as if she had no other care in the world. "Ah, don't keep me in the dark. What did Bloodspray bloody say?" Gohon's voice took on an imitation of Bloodsprays. "In recognition o' yer valorous effort an' accomplishments in the apprihension an' eventual exicution o' the poisoner Crossclaw, I hear by appoint ya to the rank o' Lt. Commander." Gohon grinned, as Bladepaw wistled at her new title. "Not ta let it go ta my 'ead, they told me I wus already up fer Lieutenant. Any'ow, 'ow did it go fer you?"

Bladepaw grimaced, "They patted me on the back an' said Good job Bladepaw, We should 'ave more 'ear Admirals like you, and sent me on ma way." Gohon chuckled and took a gulp of her grog.