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9

The wait was becoming unbearable for the two armies. Sandokhan had sent Jagee up to higher ground to keep an eye on the battleground below him. Fujokai was growing impatient, however many of his archers were neither frightened nor anxious. Less could be said for the forces defending the gate. The air was heavy with unsettling feelings. Then the orders from Gash came through. The Stormvermin army musicians banged drums and blew horns. The spear rats banged heavily on their shields with the shafts of their spears and halberds. Lon drew his ginormous dai-katana and fastened his armour's faceplate to his muzzle. Sandokhan needed no second bidding to draw the Starfire katana which he held in the ready position. Spears protruded through the front ranks of the defending army. As suddenly as it started the clamour and noise stopped. The army of the claw charged forward, trumpets and horns sounding fanfares to the advance. "Remember this day, remember this fight," Lon barked loudly. The attacking army drew closer and closer to the gate. Sandokhan was trying to guess the distance between the Stormvermin and the archers up in the valley. The fox now saw his chance, "Now Ryu!" Ryu held up the red paddle then swiped it downwards. The archers' aim was accurate as the first two ranks were cut down by a tremendous volley of hissing shafts. Encouraged by the sight of their enemy being mown down, Wataru grew bolder. He drew his katana and stepped forward, "C'mon rats. Show us what you're made of!" * Behind the line, Gash overlooked the scene through his spyglass. Stunned by the quickness and timing of the ambush attack, he started to form a new strategy in his mind. "This will prove to be difficult," he voiced out loud to his standard bearer. "The 'Onoured One himself did say it wasn't going to be easy." It was then he decided on deploying his elite troops. "I did hope that we would have no need for them, but it appears we have no choice. Deploy the rifle-beasts immediately." * "Your ambush is successful, my sword. The enemy's confused, now is our chance," Lon said as he lowered his dai-katana in front of him. "I look to the east and see a red sun rising..." The massive badger squatted into a ready stance before leaning his head back screaming. "For the red daaaaawwwwwnn!!!" The mass of brave defenders now charged forwards towards the army of the claw. When the two armies collided, Samurai cut down Stormvermin paw soldiers, spearbeasts gouged at the enemy ranks as they pushed the invaders back with a great surge of strength. The battle was joined. Sandokhan fought with Wataru by his side, the two warriors slashed, parried and stabbed. The ground under their foot-paws was saturated with pools of crimson gore however the Claw army was still surging forward. The archers on the valley slopes released volley after volley with deadly accuracy and still they kept coming in wave after wave. Up on the high ground Jagee looked on with anxious eyes. For a second he doubted the strength of the invading army. Just then he saw movement in the foliage. It was Gash's rifle-beasts coming to flank the archers. * Fujokais' archers were growing bolder with every blow they dealt to the Stormvermin. The white wolf was notching another shaft to his bowstring when all of a sudden there was a deafening boom to their left. Fujokai threw himself to the ground and looked around him. Nearly everybeast in his group was dead, several others turned and ran for the safety of the Niji gate, but they did not get far. Fujokai thought of a plan. He took an arrow from his quiver and snapped the arrowhead off. He then slashed his paw with the sharp point and rubbed the wound over his armour, staining it with blood. He then lay still in the foliage waiting for the rats to pass by. * Meanwhile, safely behind the line, General Gash witnessed the demise of the enemy archers through his spyglass. He chuckled evilly with satisfaction when one of his captains reported the progress of the battle. "Hehehe, excellent. The enemy has lost the advantage of the high ground." "We's got word from the front," the Stormvermin captain said. "The wearet cava'ry are in position and awaiting your orders." "Tell them to hold," Gash replied. His standard bearer looked at him puzzled. "Yer not orderin' the wearets to attack?" "My orders come straight from the Honoured Claw himself. The cavalry is only to keep them from retreating, make that as clear as you can to Roygel. He's a ferocious fighter but his ferocity is not needed at this moment." Gash returned his gaze back to his spyglass watching the carnage below unfold. * When the wearet chieftain, Roygel, heard his orders from Gash, he became infuriated that his tribe was being left out of the fight. The huge wearet clenched and grinded his teeth. "Rrrr! I'm not gonna let sum rat tells my tribe wotta do," Roygel barked as he snapped the visor of his helmet shut. He raised his mace at arms length in front him and shouted, "For'ard!" With a mass noise of clicking and hissing the massive creatures scurried their charges into the fray of battle. * With the absence of their archers the defenders were at a disadvantage. The massive surge of invading troops was beginning to push them back towards the gate. Like many badger lords of the western lands, Lon was on the verge of blood-wrath. With every kill the badger grew more and more berserk. He decapitated the nearest rat and held up the severed head in front of him. "Where is this wise leader of yours? Tell your master to come out and face me!" Lon bellowed. Just then, the sound of horns broke over the sound of battle. In the distance a mass of black creatures charged over the horizon towards the defenders. Stormvermin troops were bowled out of the way like ninepins as the arachnid cavalry charged forward, hacking and slashing as they penetrated the defenders' ranks. The shock of the charge was terrible, feeling their will to fight ebbing away some defenders turned and ran. They banged on the huge timbered doors begging to get inside the gate. Sandokhan witnessed the demise of a samurai clan as the two survivors were trampled by a scorpion. Then he heard a loud roar to his right, he saw Lon take a spear in the chest from a mounted wearet. The great badger cut through the spear shaft with his sword, and leaped onto the scorpion and stabbed vertically into the rider. The wearet shuddered and sat limp in the saddle as his mount bucked and reared in it's death throes. Lon withdrew his sword and leapt off the carcass. Sandokhan saw his lord doubled over in pain and hurried over to him. "My Master are you all right?" "That spear was poisoned. It's the venom from these creatures," Lon looked around and saw mayhem everywhere, he grabbed Sandokhan. "My Sword," he barked, "promise me one thing," "Anything Sire," "Avenge my death." With that Lon heaved himself upright shed his helmet and charged headlong into a group of wearet cavalry. Sandokhan watched as Lon dispatched one after another, but the poison came into effect and the badger dropped to his knees. The wearet chieftain Roygel took his club and brought it down hard on Lon's skull with a sickening crack. Behind him, Sandokhan heard Wataru shouting, "The Shogun is dead! Retreat! Retreat!" Sandokhan grabbed Wataru, "No! We fight on!" "Sandy, Lon is dead and our numbers are dwindling. We must retreat back to the gate or all is lost." The fox realized the otter was right and started shouting with his friend, "Retreat! Back to the gate!" Sandokhan allowed himself one last glimpse behind him and saw the remnants of the Stormvermin starting to regroup. The fox then started to run with the others. Ahead of him, Wataru noticed the absence of his friend. The otter turned his head and saw four scorpions rear up behind him. "Behind you Sandy! Behind....!" Up on the high ground Jagee let out a dry laugh as he saw the fox vanish from view under his attackers. "Sandokhan, Nooooo!" Ryu bellowed as he threw himself into the four mounted wearets. One made a lunge at Ryu with his spear and made a hit. Ryu staggered backwards and fell to the ground nursing his chest as his killer advanced. The massive hissing beast reared on it's hind legs over the wounded mouse, the wearet rider grinning insanely as his mount drew closer over Ryu. "Harharhar! Feast on 'iz flesh moi preshuz!" Suddenly, Tigerlilly came out of hiding and took up both of Ryu's katanas, brandishing them nervously at the monstrous sight. "Get away! Get away from him," she called. Ryu's eyes went wide with shock and pain. "Tigerlilly, get out of here... while you still can!" Suddenly the scorpion made a lunge, then it writhed in pain. Bucking and flailing its pincers wildly in its death throes, it collapsed in a heap on the ground. The wearet rider hit and kicked at his arachnid mount yelling obscenities before he jumped down and turned on the mousemaid. Tigerlilly was forced back by the great hulking beast looming over her. Then, the wearet's eyes clouded over as his head fell from his shoulders. As the lifeless torso hewed to the ground the young mousemaid saw a Samurai warrior fox in blue armour, the faceplate of the helmet obscured the fighters' identity. He sheathed his katana and knelt in front of a bewildered Tigerlilly. "Why are you here little one? You could've been killed," the fox said in a firm yet mildly feminine voice. The mousemaid didn't reply, she just stood silently with both of Ryu's katanas in her paws. "Ryu..." she uttered at last. The samurai's eyes turned sad as he replied, "Ryu is dead. The poisoned lance did its work. However, your work is about to begin. Run! Go south of here, seek out an old monk called Tin-Jin, he can help you. Go little one, run!" With no second bidding Tigerlilly was off in a trice back towards the gate. From there she would head south in search of the old mouse and the refuge of his temple. She turned back and saw the black silhouette of the samurai in blue armour against the sun. She burned the image into her mind, so for seasons to come she could remember the bravery of the mysterious one who helped her that day.