Operation: Sandstorm! Report—Team Two

By Cairn

When an earthquake struck out in the desert, it affected many creatures. In the cataclysmic event, many died as the desert sands churned like a pot put on heavy boil. Thus the online experience known as Operation Sandstorm started. Two teams of seven creatures are now stranded in the desert.

The shifting sands buried many creatures, but some survived. The first to recover was a black female squirrel named Greypaw. Good fortune seemed to be her lot at this point as she held on to a backpack filled with food and water. Her good fortune continued when the black squirrel rescued the next member of Team Two.

A young pine marten youth, a lady on the cusp of adulthood, lost all sense of direction when the quake struck. Though near the surface, she remained disoriented and could not find her way to safety. Pulled out of the sand, Leifdey became the second adventurer.

At the direction of Greypaw, Leifdey played her lute, hoping to attract attention. For a female fox, the sound of music meant hope. The vixen Ysira, buried up to her head, continued sinking into the shifting sands. Her cry for help drew the black squirrel and, after much effort, she was extricated. Ysira and Greypaw felt exhausted from their labors and rested before they returned to Leifdey.

Nearby, a female stoat named Rassin had survived the quake. Like the other survivors, she found herself listening to the music. However, the name of an enemy was all she heard. When Leifdey stumbled across her, the stoat threatened her with dire consequences if her presence was revealed to anyone else.

An odd couple indeed, a mouse and badger, had felt the wrath of the quake. Too bad the Fates allowed only one to live. From the sands, an old female badger freed herself and found the body of her companion. Once she had buried her companion, the badger sow, Ultima, made for the distant hills.

Another fox, a male by the name of Rygaero, came to the desert seeking treasure. In one respect, this is no different than any of the other beasts out here. Unlike those other creatures that traveled together, Rygaero sought the treasure for himself. Now that the quake had struck, he wondered if he will reach his ultimate destination, Loamhedge.

If there is any creature that shouldn’t have been in a desert environment, it would have to have been Vaxx. He was a pure ferret and as an albino, felt both the desert heat and the sun’s intensity more than anyone else. Wrapped in a dark colored cloak, he had traveled the desert looking for the lost treasure. Instead, his first discovery after the quake was the fox Rygaero. Together they traveled towards the same cliffs as the badger Ultima.

The team of Rygaero and Vaxx were drawn towards an unusual sight. Just off their intended course, they saw sand flying into the air and heard the notes of a lute. As they drew closer, they ran into Ultima.

This first meeting proved less than cordial. Both Rygaero and Vaxx challenged the sow badger. Since the fox and ferret were somewhat incompetent, Ultima easily overpowered them despite her advanced age. That is when these three bickering beasts spotted Ysira, Leifdey, and Greypaw. Now the tension rose as all six beasts began squabbling.

Without any defined leader, the gaggle of creatures seemed doomed to remain at this one spot. That is when Ultima announced they will travel north. Though many groused about the selected direction, nobody challenged the badger’s decision. As they travelled through the desert, the seventh beast of Team Two, Rassin, followed.

The mob traveled for a full day. During the trip, Greypaw learned about Rassin and resolved that she will entice the stoatess into the group. Rassin did join the others, but her first impression wasn’t favorable as she tried pulling a weapon and taking Leifdey hostage. The stoat was so weak from dehydration that she passed out and the others brought her into the camp.

That second night proved to be an eventful one. While the pine marten youth was held hostage, everyone heard the story of a villainous squirrel named Greypaw. Rassin was consumed with her desire for vengeance because of her slaughtered family. The black squirrel denied responsibility. Though her story sounded reasonable, all wonder which one spoke the truth, squirrel or stoat.

While this is going on, the vixen Ysira has wandered away from the camp. This proves to be her undoing as her path crossed that of a giant scorpion. Struck in the forehead by the stinger, Ysira is killed. Satisfied that the intruder was gone, the scorpion retreated back in its hole.

That was when Greypaw stumbled by. Fearing the wrath of the sow badger for not mentioning the stalking stoat, the black squirrel slipped out of camp. Her misfortune was awakening the scorpion. After a titanic battle, Greypaw managed to kill the huge monster and retrieved the severed stinger as proof of her story. Thanks to the timely intervention of Leifdey, Greypaw found her way back to the others.

Another day of travel and there were two items to report. The first was something that brought joy to everyone. It was the discovery of an oasis, a huge forest, which meant food and water were nearby. The second item was nothing less than a stick stirring a beehive. There was another new member of Team Two.

Rousas, a male wildcat, stumbled on the travelers as they approached the forest glade. Unlike the others who were whole of body, this wildcat was missing part of one leg below the knee. The bloody stub had been bandaged and a peg leg attached. Such was his physical condition that he passed out before meeting everyone.

With the help of Ultima and Rygaero, they carried the unconscious wildcat towards the forest glade spotted by Vaxx. At the glade, Rousas awoke. It turned out that the wildcat needed additional medical treatment and Ultima was forced to cauterize his stump leg. Rousas showed the others that he is indeed a fierce warrior as he accepted what must be done. In his pain, he let out a single howl and passed out.

On that night by the forest glade, somebody committed murder most foul. While the seven adventurers slept, somebody stabbed Ultima with the stinger weapon Greypaw carried. The black squirrel spotted the killer, but could not identify the responsible person.

When she attacked the unknown killer, she awakened the stoat and the pine marten. In the ensuing confusion, Rassin charged the black squirrel with the crime. It seemed reasonable since Greypaw was found by the dead badger, holding the murder weapon. At the stoat’s insistence, Leifdey applied a pair of binding cuffs to the protesting squirrel.

Rassin wanted justice but was denied by the intervention of the pure ferret. Had it not been for Vaxx, Greypaw would have suffered a most painful and lingering death. Not that Vaxx offered a better alternative. Now the squirrel faced a trial with Leifdey and Vaxx acting as both judges, jury and, if necessary, executioners.

Just as it appeared things would go against Greypaw, the murderer was revealed thanks to the intervention of Rousas. The killer was the fox Rygaero. But there was an unexpected twist to this death. It seemed Rygaero committed the murder while sleepwalking, his only punishment being the loss of his thumb.

Before the group could recover, Rousas revealed the truth about Greypaw. Now Rassin has twice been cheated of her vengeance. The wildcat shattered the illusion that the black squirrel was responsible for the murder of the stoat’s family. He proved to everyone that Greypaw is a missing slave by showing them a branding iron mark on the squirrel’s heel.

Now that the excitement of a murder mystery was solved, everyone fell into a deep sleep. Come the morning, another mystery awaited the six adventurers. Sometime during the night, the body of the dead badger disappeared.

Tensions were running high, but everyone needed food and water. Moving at a wary pace, the group entered the forest glade. Each of them was initially thrilled about traveling through a cool forest instead of the blazing desert. The change of scenery almost lulled everyone into a stupor that nearly proved fatal.

These trees were the domain of the Painted Ones, a cannibalistic tribe of tree rats. A band of these creatures attacked the group from above and would have been successful if not for the swift actions of Rousas. The wildcat tried keeping them together, but in the ensuing confusion, each person fought their own battle.

Rygaero punched his way through the tree rats with his metal gauntlets, but was trapped at the river bank. Before him were five of the cannibals closing in on the fox. Rygaero, hoping he could die bravely, prepared for their attack. That was when Rassin made a timely appearance.

When the fight began, Rassin had no weapon. When the stoat punched one of the tree rats, she found her knife. Once she had her knife, she went on a killing rampage. As the body count increased, she came across the fox and together, they forced the Painted Ones into the trees.

Rousas found such close quarter combat to his liking and dispensed death wherever he went. Despite his best efforts, he saw the others scattered. Throughout the battle, Rousas tried keeping an eye on Greypaw, but lost her when she took to the trees. Such was her blood lust that she didn’t make it to the river.

Vaxx fashioned a bow from a nearby tree limb just as the attack began. In his effort to avoid close quarters combat, he raced through the glen towards the river. With the additional room, the ferret proved his marksmanship.

Leifdey had no weapons skills and rushed away from the combat. The Painted Ones were close behind her as she exited the glade and found herself trapped at the river’s edge. As the cannibalistic tree rats closed in, Leifdey was rescued by Vaxx. After a short but intense combat, their adversaries retreated.

As for Greypaw, she found herself first facing an enemy on the ground that chased her into the trees. Once in the trees, she continued her fight as she sought some escape. At one point, the black squirrel ended her treetop rush in the Painted One’s village where she found the butchered body of the badger Ultima. Seized by a sense of revulsion, Greypaw set fire to part of the village.

Rassin gave Rygaero a spear and together the two moved downriver. As they walked along, they kept a wary eye on the trees in case the tree rats returned. They noticed some fish in the river and were successful spearing some. Feeling good about surviving the battle and finding food, they hastened their pace. Eventually, the five companions came together.

One question remained: where was the wildcat? That night, Greypaw went into the forest and managed to find him. Not that it was difficult; all the black squirrel had to do was follow the dead bodies he left behind. If Greypaw expected thanks from Rousas, she received the reverse. Using a firm paw, Rousas established his dominance.

On the following morning, the six beasts followed the river. In what would be considered a natural wonder, they saw the river enter a cave where it returned underground. Once they crossed over this cave, the group searched for a campsite.

Greypaw announced her intention of raiding the Painted One’s village in the hopes of acquiring additional equipment. Though it was a necessary task, not all were happy about her plan. When the squirrel pointed out that she either faces the cannibals or the desert, Rousas reluctantly granted her his permission.

At this point, Rygaero decided he would scout ahead for a more defensible campsite. While following the river, he had an accident that washed him into the river. Unable to fight the current, he was swept inside the cave. He learned what lies beyond the waterfall, but would tell no other, for he died.

So there you have it. Greypaw is on a quest for needed supplies and equipment. Rygaero has been swept away and nobody knows it. Rassin now commands. Rousas continues his search for another beast. Leifdey bounces between the responsibilities of adulthood and the playfulness of childhood. Vaxx has the confidence of a skilled warrior now that he has a weapon he can use.

How will the upcoming merge with Team One go? What dangers will they face as they travel to Loamhedge? Which of them will live and which will die? Read the story and find out.