“So what’re we after again?” Cluny walked behind his father through the forests of Terramort. He had been overjoyed that morning when Horntail had asked him to come out hunting with him. Finally he was being acknowledged by his father. Finally they could be together and actually –be- father and son. Cluny hoped that in time he might even see this as the point where his father started loving him. Though she kept it hidden, his mother was equally delighted at this show of affection, fussing over Cluny and making sure he was ready. He was already becoming an adult of course, and shrugged her off playfully, but both of them knew he was happy for the first time in a while. When they had left, Horntail had seemed less enthusiastic, almost distracted, but Cera had waved them off an assumed he was just trying not to show his emotions. Currently Cluny was strolling happily along, carrying his own long spear. Horntail walked in front of him, looking around and trying to pinpoint where they were. “Pike.” “And where’re they?” “Pike River of course.” Horntail snapped back. Cluny remained silent. He knew what his father was like and was grateful for this much. He didn’t want to push too much now. As they made their way along, Horntail continued to address his son. “This is where you learn to be an adult, son. Where you grow up. I’m gonna teach you how to be like me. How to kill and hunt and survive for yourself.” “Sounds good to me.” Cluny was happy enough to be out with his father. “You’re growing up fast, my boy. It’s time I taught you these things. Time you learnt a few of life’s lessons.” “Don’t worry I’ll pay attention, father. I’ll listen. I’ll try to be just like you. A new rat.” Horntail grinned slyly to himself “oh I promise you Cluny, you won’t come out of this the same person at all…” Eventually they came through the trees and up to a powerful flowing river running through the forest. Its banks were steep, the strong currents carving through the ground like a bull. Tree roots poked through the muddy sides of the banks. Horntail grinned “Here we are, Cluny. Pike River. Source of the best fish on the island.” Cluny smiled and held his spear ready “So now we spike ‘em and catch ‘em, right?” “Yes, Cluny. And for that you’ll need to get closer to the water. That spear’s not too long, so move a little closer.” “You really want me to have first try?” “Of course! This is your day, Cluny. This is a big occasion, and it’s time you took the lead.” Cluny felt his pride grow, but was careful not to show any emotion. He knew his father wouldn’t do that, so he kept his feelings in check. Instead, he nodded and moved forwards, edging towards the brink of the riverbanks small cliffs. He peered over the edge, seeing the speed of the waters and how sheer the bank was. “Wow…it’s steeper than I expected…” “What did you expect then? A nice gentle trickling stream where you could put your feet up and dangle a rod over the side? This is Terramort, my boy, and we are its rulers! This is not a land of easy living and relaxation! To survive here you have to fight, to battle, to struggle, and to defeat everything in your path! That’s why we’re here, and that’s why we’re after pike! So you can show me you can take on real prey!” Horntail’s eyes blazed and he roared out the last words “You must be RUTHLESS!” Cluny nodded and turned back to the river. He crept very carefully down the bank. It was both steep and muddy, the ground slippery. He could feel his paws slide occasionally, and got that light-headed sensation of nearly losing balance, then the sudden brief rush of adrenaline when it stops. He got nearer and nearer to the rushing waters, holding his spear up. He could see the silvery shapes of the Pike under the water. Cluny felt a sudden pressure on his back and everything spun around him. His thoughts were chaotic and confused, everything rushing round his head at once in no order, not even taking the form of real words, just impulses. But instinctively he swung his arms round. One managed to wrap around a root poking through the bank. The impact hurt, but he gritted his teeth and held on. As he struggled around for purchase, his feet slipping on the mud, he looked down and saw the river much closer to him. As he tried to move up he looked back and saw Horntail pressed down on the ground above him, stretching out with a paw. “Cluny! My paw!” Still Cluny acted on instinct, not trying at first to work it out. He reached up, but had to whip his arm back as he wobbled and nearly slipped off the root. After a moment he tried reaching out more cautiously. Below him he could hear the river, the roar so loud now. His paw waved futilely in the air, seeming both inches and miles from his fathers. But then, their talons brushed, and with one lunge Cluny managed to grab hold of Horntail’s paw. Horntail smiled. Horntail had to shout to be heard over the river “Cluny…I can’t pull you up at this angle! Let go of the root!” Cluny hesitated, not wanting to release his grip. “It’s alright, son, I’ve got you!” Cluny moved his arm and released his hold, ending up swinging outwards by his father’s arm. He dangled precariously over the waters. Horntail shouted down to him. “You’re heavy, Cluny! Hah! You were right Cluny! You are growing fast!” Cluny smiled at his father. Horntail’s voice sounded strained at the effort “Too fast. You’re becoming a danger, Cluny…” Cluny felt a momentary doubt run through him. “What? You mean you can’t pull me up?” “Oh no. I mean you’re becoming a threat to me. A risk. And I don’t take risks…” Cluny’s eyes widened. He gazed up at his father and suddenly that grin meant something all together different. It changed from the proud smile of a father, to the sort a snake gives just before it lunges. Cluny felt his own blood chill, felt his heart pause and a shiver passed through him. The moment lasted only a split-second, but he could feel it’s meaning: It was the sort of moment where life changes, where things go wrong. And he felt the same dread that everyone feels at those times: the dread at being unable to do a thing about it. That it was too late… Cluny couldn’t speak. Horntail pulled him a little closer. “There’s an old rat proverb, Cluny. Don’t know who said it originally, but everyone knows it, and smart rats live by it. It goes: “Take what you can. When you can.” That’s your last lesson, son…” Horntail pushed his arm hard and flung Cluny outwards. “Take it with you to the sea!” Cluny tried desperately to hold on, but could not. His arms flailed as he tumbled through the air, feeling his life slipping past…and then he hit. With a great splash he fell into Pike River. In a few seconds he was washed down the river by its incredible speed. Horntail watched from the banks, chuckling to himself. “A job well done.” And with that Horntail turned and made his way back through the forest, back towards Terramort Castle. ***** Thrashing around. Waves. Water. Biting. Pain. Can’t get out. Can’t escape. Can’t swim. Cluny’s thoughts were a mad jumble, with him unable to do anything. The pike were swimming with him, taking bites out of him. Cluny wildly swung around, but the water was too powerful. He couldn’t do anything. His body crashed into a rock, breaking a rib. Cluny tried to cry out, but water flooded his mouth. He was so helpless, being swept along, unable to fight it. He was weak and had failed. For a while he just allowed himself to be carried along, giving in to the currents. But then a pike made a bid for him, lunging after his face. Cluny snapped. He was beaten, battered and betrayed, and the pike suddenly became the focus for his rage. He reached out and grabbed it on its way to his face. It continued to thrash around, slippery in his paws. Cluny became wild and bit down into it, desperately trying to kill it. To kill. To rend. To tear and hack and slash. DIE! It had to DIE! During the struggle the pike whipped round and bit at his face. His eyes had gone red with anger a moment ago, but when the pike attacked, they went red for another reason entirely. Cluny didn’t notice at first as the pike tore at him…tore something out… ***** Upon arriving back home, Horntail rushed into the place, panting. Guards watched in silence, knowing how touchy their leader could be, until he made his way to his chambers. Inside, Cera was sitting quietly reading, smiling to herself. As Horntail burst in she put the book down and rushed to his side. “Oh my-Horntail, what is it?” Horntail managed to burst out between gulps for breath “Attacked…in the forest…” Cera gasped “Cluny! Where’s Cluny?” By now Horntail started to get a little of his breath back. He made his way over to the bed and sat on the end. “Dear, it –was- Cluny. He attacked me!” Cera paused for a moment, then moved and sat down next to Horntail on the bed. She placed an arm around him “What? But…no…how?” “I was as shocked as you are. The little runt tried to stab me from behind. Said he wanted to replace me. Said he was the new ruler of Terramort and I had to die…said he had to be ruthless…” “No…not Cluny…he wouldn’t. Can you be sure it wasn’t a mistake?” “No mistake. I heard the words, clear enough, and saw the hungry look in his eyes. I was stunned for a moment, but I didn’t let him get away with it…” “So what happened?” Horntail smirked “He’s currently sleeping with the pikes. He was strong, but careless, and got too near the river bank. From there it was easy enough to get him off-balance and knock him in.” “You pushed him into Pike River?!” Horntail didn’t like the accusatory tone “Of course! The little bastard tried to kill me! You know full-well the punishment for that. What was I supposed to do? Talk him out of it? That’s no way to behave! The boy had to suffer for daring to attack me! No one attacks Horntail and lives!” “But…he’s our son.” Horntail leapt up off the bed and pointed down at Cera angrily “NO ONE! And no one may question me either, not even you! How dare you? I come back, nearly murdered, and all you can do is pity my would-be killer!” Horntail leaned in close to her “Maybe you were in on it…” “What!? No, I-” “Maybe the two of you plotted together, plotted to kill me. Now that I think of it, you were pretty damn pleased to see us go, and you’ve been a moody little moaner for a while now…” Cera sprung up and placed her hands on her mate’s head, trying to sooth him “No, no, no, I could never try and hurt you. It’s just…I find it so hard to believe Cluny would do this…” “Well he did.” Horntail moved to the door “And now it’s time to tell the people of Terramort what has happened. There will be a grand celebration tonight!” “A celebration?” “Of course. A traitor has been rooted out and stopped, and the warlord of Terramort has survived an attempt on his life. This is a time to rejoice!” ***** Horntail staggered into his room much later on, clearly pretty drunk. Cera was still sitting there in silence. She had heard the sounds of the revelry from downstairs: the drinking, the singing, the cheering. All of it twisted her stomach, to think of it being in the name of her son’s death. Could Cluny have really been a traitor? “Did you enjoy yourself?” She asked, as coldly as she dared. “Oh, very much so. We must do this more often…” Cera looked up at him in shock and anger “How dare you! That’s the death of our son you’re talking about!” Horntail blinked a few times to clear his eyes and glare at her “No, it’s the death of a traitor of the worst kind. Our son ceased to be today when he attacked me. You could at least be supportive.” Cera sighed and sat back down on the bed, turned away from Horntail “I don’t know that I can…” Horntail grumbled a little, but moved over behind her and placed his paws on her shoulders. “Well if you won’t do that, you could at least make yourself useful in some other way…” Horntail began to toy with the straps of her dress. Cera moved away slightly. “Horntail…not now…” Horntail continued “Why not? I’m feeling good, so let’s have fun!” Cera got off the bed and moved towards the door “No, I-” Suddenly she was wrenched backwards, pulled over by the elbows. She uttered a startled yelp and was thrown onto the bed. Horntail, eyes now blazing, pounced and pinned her wrists down, the bed shaking. “Oh no! I’m the warlord around here! You think you can just swan off whenever you please? NO!” Horntail snarled in her face, making her wince and shut her eyes “You do what I tell you!” Cera began to cry as he kept her pinned there “Horntail…please, stop…I can’t…” But Horntail did not stop. Her protests only encouraged him. “-You- don’t have to do anything. Just keep quiet and do as I say…” ***** Cluny dragged himself out of the river much further down. He coughed and retched, throwing up blood and water. His fur was matted and wet, he was wounded and battered all over. Several bones felt broken. All around him trees loomed, but something was wrong with his sight. Cautiously he raised and paw to his eyes, then pulled away in shock and disgust! One was missing! Just an empty, bleeding socket! Cluny could feel the cold wind blowing through it, feeling sick at the exposure. And it wouldn’t heal. He would be like that forever. All around he could hardly make out anything, things blurred and out of focus. He could feel tears welling…the tear duct was still there, and the tears flooded inwards, back into the empty socket. It only revolted Cluny further, his body so mutilated, that something so basic should go wrong…And the thought of it only made him cry more. He tried to move backwards, to get away, just to run, but he cried out in pain and was unable to move without his sides burning. All he could do was lie there, wounded; dying; afraid, and weeping into the sand. Cluny could feel his own life slipping, unable and even unwilling to stop it… ***** Horntail got up off the bed and pulled his clothes back on, feeling proud of himself. Behind him Cera shivered and silently sobbed on the bed, curled up and trying to make herself as small as possible. Horntail spoke in a conversational tone over his shoulder. “I’ve had enough trouble with brats so far, so don’t even –think- of getting pregnant again. If you do, I’ll cut you open and tear it out of you myself.” Cera cringed, but could tell from his tone that he meant it. “Now get out. I’m feeling good, and I don’t want your blubbering annoying me all night. Go sleep somewhere else.” She looked round at her mate, but his back was turned and he was in no mood to listen. She began to cry again, but slowly got up and shuffled her way to the door, her head downcast, her shoulders slumped, dragging her nightdress with her. Horntail flopped down onto the bed and called happily after her. “Stop snivelling. Oh, and send one of the maids up too. You’re not nearly enough to satisfy Horntail the Warlord. I’ll need something more.” Cera paused at the door and let out a sharp, strangled gasp. Her mouth opened and she turned back to him. “Horntail…I’m your -wife-! How can you-?” Horntail just sat back happily and waved her towards the door. “Go on. Get going. You’re not in trouble, but don’t push me.” ***** Out in the depths of the forests, Cluny writhed around on the ground, wet and badly wounded. Chunks of him had been ripped out by the pike, and his eye socket was still trickling blood and hurt so much. His sight was so blurry he couldn’t fully tell at times. He crawled up onto the shore and lay there, panting and aching. He drifted in and out of consciousness so many times he lost count, troubled with horrific visions and images both when awake and asleep. What was real? What wasn’t? Did it matter? He…he didn’t care. Nothing mattered. Only the pain. The constant pain. All the while he wavered in near-madness, muttering delirious rantings and insane gibberish. Cluny could feel the water lapping at him and tried to move up. He screamed out in agony and stopped immediately, the movement too painful. All he could do was lie there, crying and wanting it to end. Death was so close. So welcoming. It would be safe there. There would be no pain. Anything to make the pain go away, the pain of his wounds and of the betrayal. But he was too weak even to make any effort. He could just lie on the ground, weeping and wishing for release. He saw his father, laughing at him. He saw the pike, laughing, their faces becoming friends…enemies…family. His mother lunged and tore out his eye. Everywhere there were enemies…everywhere. He couldn’t get away. They were after him and he couldn’t get away. He was dying. They were hurting him. Tearing at him. Killing him. Why wouldn’t they stop? He couldn’t make them. They just laughed. He screamed and shouted, but they just laughed and laughed and laughed. Though his voice was barely a choke, and hardly audible, some close enough might have heard his cries echoing through the night, punctuated by the silence between… “Help…” … … … … “Please…” … … … … “Make it go away…” … … … … “Make it stop…” ***** Cera wept just as much, lying on a couch in Terramort. She had suffered the indignity of sending a maid up to her mate’s quarters, thinking even then of what was going on…of how little he cared. She had lost her son, her beloved Cluny, and he didn’t care. She was nothing to him, and he didn’t care. And just as before, she was helpless. She whispered to the night… “Make it stop…” But no one came. She was alone. ***** In the forests Cluny lay, so close to death…his energy pouring out just like his tears… “Father…mother” He choked again. “…help me…” But no one came. He was alone.
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