Picayune

by John DeJordy

  Phineas walked over to the decanter and poured himself a tall drink. “So, that went well.” He walked around the room until he found a flowery-scented napkin. “What do we have here?”

  Alacrity reacted first. He sniffed the air. “One of the female badgers must have dropped it.” He had retreated to his bed when he noticed the evil expression on Phineas' face.

  “I have an idea.” The squirrel reached into his tail, pulled out a pencil, knelt on the floor, and started scribbling.

  Picayune looked over Phineas' shoulder. “Where did you get a pencil?”

  Phineas continued to scribble. “Prepare for everything, accomplish anything.”

  Picayune nodded at the comment. After reading the note, he shook his head in disbelief. “You can't be serious? You don't honestly believe that will work?”

  Phineas shook his head. “It doesn't matter. I frankly don't care if it does or doesn't work, at least it will keep him busy.” He stood up and cleared his voice. Holding the cloth in front of him, he read the note aloud.

  My Dearest Cortege,

  When you help the others escape, let's go with them. Take me away from here, and we can build a life together without fear of the queen’s reprisals for all you've done. I await you with open arms.

  Your Dearest Love,

  Snookums

  Phineas took the paper and slid it under the door. After spinning around and taking a few steps forward, he folded his arms across his chest. “So, who is ready to escape?”

  Chapter 15

  The door burst open, cracking on the hinges, as Cortege, his face full of rage, rushed into the room with a sword in his hand. Phineas bent over backwards, placing his hands on the ground, and planted his feet on Cortege's chest. With Cortege's forward momentum, Phineas launched him into the air and onto the table of drinks. Cortege's weapon skittered across the floor and stopped at Picayune's feet.

  Picayune scooped up the weapon and dashed to the dazed Cortege. Using the pommel of the sword, he struck the badger across the head, knocking him out cold. He caught his breath and glanced around to witness the look of shock on everyone's faces. “What? We didn't want him to alarm anyone, right?”

  Phineas walked up and slapped Picayune on the back. “Well done, my friend,” he told the dormouse and took the weapon from him.

  Phineas tried a few ripostes in the air with the sword. “Now, let's get our belongings.”

  Alacrity stuttered a little in fear. “Y-y-you remember the way?”

  Phineas smiled at the rabbit. “That is all I did on the way in here, memorize the paths we took.”

  * * * * *

  Soaring higher above the treetops, the female hawk in lead position began her turn with her group closely behind. She spotted the captain. “Sir, there hasn't been activity spotted in a while. What are our orders?”

  The captain ruffled the graying feathers on his head. “I don't like it. Continue to patrol north of the river. I will take the others south. We will patrol until the sun is about to reach the horizon.”

  “Sir, some in my flock are young and I don't know if they have the stamina to last.”

  “Caw! Weak, inexperienced eyas! Did they leave the nest too soon? If they need to rest, use the trees, but I want to know which ones do!”

  “Yes, sir!” she replied and left in the direction he had indicated.

  * * * * *

  Picayune followed Phineas, smirking at the crumbled note in the hall. Through twisting passages, he kept up with the squirrel, the excitement of the situation giving him an added boost of speed. When they got to the armory, he spotted just one sleeping guard. Creeping into the room, they spread out.

  Picayune couldn't believe the size of the room, nor the number of weapons the badgers had accumulated from creatures they had abducted. After travelling down several paths, he spotted a pile that looked familiar. “Over here,” he whispered as loudly as he dared to Phineas. The two ran over and Picayune's eyes opened wide. Almost squealing in delight, Picayune picked up his locket and other items, just as Phineas found his items.

  Alacrity sighed in frustration. “I don't think I'll ever find my things in here.” He bounced to the end of the row when he spotted something familiar in the next row. He vaulted over the tall piles, landing in front of mound of clothing. Yanking a blue cloak that was nearly buried from the hoard, he hugged it to himself like a treasured blanket. He tore through the clothing, locating his other items. He beamed for the first time in a long while.

  Lacer walked down the badgers’ walkway. As he inspected the items, he pulled leather bracers from one section, strapping them on his forearms and looked for the complete suit of leather.

  Swift-Hopper jumped up and down and pointed to the back wall. “Look over here!”

  Everyone ran over to the spot Swift-Hopper was pointing at. Rows and rows of bins, as deep as the light would allow them to see, were over-flowing with spirit rocks.

  Phineas smirked and ran his paw over of the rocks, picking one up at random. “If we only knew a way to release the power, we could eliminate all the badgers and their lair with this much force”

  Alacrity hopped in place. “I know, I know!”

  Phineas eyed Alacrity. “You do? How?”

  Before Alacrity could answer, Picayune stepped between them. “No.”

  Phineas titled his head to one side. “No?”

  “We will not be responsible for killing all the badgers. Regardless of what they have done, they don't deserve that fate. Let's just find Trailblazer and get out of here.”

  Lacer nodded, but craned his neck looking around. “I wonder where the big rock is?”

  Phineas spit on the ground. “Probably in the queen's chamber.”

  Picayune touched Phineas' sleeve. “Please?”

  The scowl on Phineas' face eased. “You are right, you know. Let's find him.”

  Picayune followed behind Phineas who led them down into Nom-Nom's room. As they entered the cavern, two badgers unchained Trailblazer and started dragging him into the beetle’s range.

  Phineas and Alacrity leapt into action, jumping the distance and landing squarely on the backs of the badgers guarding Trailblazer. The force sent the two badgers forward and they landed face first on the ground.

  Phineas drew his rapier. “Get him out of here!” he yelled to Alacrity.

  Alacrity nodded and helped the weakened Trailblazer to his feet. Together, they wobbled to the door.

  The two badgers stood and staggered. They spun around to face the squirrel and growled at him, extending their claws.

  Phineas lunged in a balestra, then danced side-to-side. He examined his foes closely, determining that the one on his left was the greater threat. A roar from behind drew his attention and erased all expression from his face.

  Nom-Nom slammed the ground, causing a minor tremor and knocking all three combatants off their feet. The beetle started to advance.

  Picayune ran for the redtail, clearing the distance before anyone could recover. He picked up Phineas, slung him over his shoulder, and started to run.

  Screams of terror increased his speed as he ran past everyone and up the stairs. The sounds of footsteps behind him assured him no one was being left behind. When he reached the top of the stairs, he collapsed and took in heavy, quick breaths.

  Phineas stood and peered at his friend. He didn't look dazed or injured. “Well done!”

  Picayune shook his head and thought, just for a moment, Was he playing possum? He pushed the thought aside and studied Trailblazer. “Can you show us the way to the queen's chamber?”

  Trailblazer coughed and nodded. “I know the way.”

  “Lead on then.”

  They made their way through the complex until they reached a large, ornate door. As they pulled the door open just a little, they were amazed by the glamor of the room.

  Pictures of the queen in various garb lined the walls. The ceiling was highly arched to a point in the center of the room, supported by wooden
beams. Small, low tables were lined with fresh food. Pipes lined the walls all the way to a massive, four-posted, canopy bed. On both sides of that were lit braziers. In the center of the bed was the large spirit rock.

  Picayune questioned Alacrity. “How do you release the energy?”

  Alacrity beamed and bounced. “Heat. I once saw one of the badgers put his lantern next to one of the rocks and leave it there for a while. When he came back, he picked up his lantern, but he swung his arm and the metal hit the rock. It exploded, nearly killing him.”

  Picayune looked at Trailblazer. “What are those pipes?”

  Trailblazer put down the remains of some of the food he had eaten off the table. “We are directly over Nom-Nom's room. The heat from his chamber keeps her room warm the way she likes it.”

  Picayune rubbed his paws together contentedly. “Perfect. All we need now is rope.”

  Everyone stared at Phineas and his tail.

  Phineas stared back with a surprised look on his face. “What? I don’t have that much in my tail.”

  Using the bed linens, Lacer made a rope and harness. Alacrity vaulted to the ceiling and clung to the beam. After embedding the dagger in the hard wood, he secured the rope to the weapon and tossed down both ends before releasing his grip.

  Lacer hoisted Phineas to his shoulders, and with the help of Trailblazer and Swift-Hopper, they lifted the large stone into the rope harness while Picayune brought the other end to the door.

  Once the stone was in the harness, Phineas, Lacer, Swift-Hopper, and Trailblazer moved both braziers under the rigging. Picayune ushered everyone out of the room, and using a slipknot, he tied the end to the door handle and closed the door. The stone already glowed from the heat.

  They followed Trailblazer to the exit of the queen's place, ready to run for the way out of the badger's domain, but were stopped by a guard.

  “Halt! Where do you think you are going? Trail? When did they release you?”

  Trailblazer stepped forward. “The queen wants more spirit rocks and I am being punished by having to help them dig.”

  The guard shook his head and snorted, looking at the group. “Why wasn't I informed?”

  “Probably because the queen just decided it herself. Do you want me to go back and tell her you stopped her orders?”

  The guard jumped back and shook his head. “No, no. Carry on.”

  The group forced themselves not to run as they descended the hill. Once at the bottom and out of sight of the guard, they all ran for the exit.

  * * * * *

  A badger ran into the feasting chamber. “My queen, you should see this.” He handed her a crumbled note.

  The queen shook with anger. “Where is Cortege?”

  “My queen, he was unconscious in the room.”

  She looked at the badger with a scowl on her face so strong it forced him to look away. “Put him in irons! Find them, NOW!”

  Every badger scrambled out of the room.

  The queen stomped to her chamber. The corridors were empty and an alarm sounded. Grabbing the handle, she yanked the door open, dislodging the dagger.

  She froze in place as she saw the spirit rock fall into the braziers.

  * * * * *

  Picayune was right behind Trailblazer when a massive explosion rocked the entire underground lair. Trailblazer grabbed a coil of rope from one of the huts they passed. When they got to the end of the path, Trailblazer handed the rope to Picayune.

  “Hold on tight.”

  Picayune took hold of a piece the rope and Trailblazer put the end in his mouth. He looked behind him to see that everyone had taken a length of the rope. Nodding at Trailblazer, he braced himself. The badger used his claws to break one of the spirit rocks he had hidden in his tunic and rubbed the pieces swiftly together. Then he disappeared into one of the holes, lugging the entire group behind him. Picayune couldn't see a thing. Tiny pebbles in the dirt stung him as he was jerked through the soil. Just as his lungs were about to give in to exhaustion, he blinked. Direct sunlight flooded his eyes and he coughed up some of the earth he had swallowed.

  Trailblazer boasted. “We are on the other side of the river. No one digs like me.”

  Picayune coughed, wheezed, and stayed on his knees for a moment. “Let's get out of here!”

  Picayune started to run across the field, with his friends by his side. A dark shadow covered their bodies. Picayune stopped, tilting his head to one side as he tried to figure out the source of the shadow. Suddenly, he felt a yank on his stomach that almost made him sick as his feet left the ground.

  Chapter 16

  Picayune looked up and discovered that he was under a very large hawk, locked in the creature's talons. He peered side to side and noticed his entire group had been captured. The cold air, along with fright, caused him to shiver. “Where are you taking us?”

  The hawk shrilled. “Quiet, you! And stop shaking, unless you want me to lose my grip on you.”

  Trailblazer screamed and was about to claw his abductor when all six hawks climbed into the clouds, joining a dozen more hawks in formation. With the ground becoming further and further away, he latched onto the talons instead of attacking. “We are all going to die!”

  Picayune cupped his paws in front of his muzzle in an “o” shape. “Just be calm. If they wanted to drop us, they would have already.” Staring up, he called out, “Um, excuse me, mister?”

  The hawk wobbled its wings, shaking Picayune. “I am a ma'am!”

  Picayune yelped and clutched the hawk’s feet. “I meant no disrespect. I can't tell the difference. I am Picayune. May I at least know your name?”

  The hawk looked down at him. “You are an unusual one. No one outside my own kind has ever asked me. I am Azure-Bound.” Seeing the expression on Picayune's face, she added, “Don't worry, I have never dropped anyone by accident.”

  Azure-Bound assumed the lead position in the formation. “Orders, captain?”

  The captain ruffled his feathers. “As much as I'd like to drop them, we should take this ragtag group back and interrogate them. Get the others who are carrying prisoners and head back. The rest of us will do a few more circles to investigate that hole in the ground.”

  Azure-Bound saluted, then screeched loud enough to get everyone to look at her. “Prisoner carriers, follow me!”

  The five other hawks stated, “Yes, Master Sargent!” in unison as they fell in a “v” formation behind her.

  Picayune noticed a large crater on the other side of the river. He could see billowing smoke and a faint trace of the lava flow at the bottom. Before he could see more, he was whisked away. He watched the beautiful landscape zipping by under him and felt dizzy. “I don't feel too good.”

  Azure-Bound gave a tender squeeze of her talons. “Focus on the mountain ahead. That should cut down on the motion sickness.”

  Doing as the hawk suggested eased the queasiness in Picayune's stomach slightly. “What's it called?”

  She opened her beak and stopped flapping her wings to glide for a while to lessen the effects for her passenger. “We call it Rangy Mountain.”

  As Picayune got close enough to see details, he couldn’t believe what came into view. Tall, raised spires off elevated platforms jutted from the sides and reached the clouds, circling the mountain. Built in each spiral were multiple arched doorways at different levels. Each one had a rainbow of colors, arranged in a different pattern, but taken as a whole, the mountain's colors blended perfectly together. “It's beautiful.”

  Azure-Bound swooped into one of the openings and placed Picayune in the center of a large, circular mosaic pattern on the floor, then glided around the room. Each of the other hawks mimicked her actions, but flew out of the room after dropping off their prisoners.

  Once the hawks were safely out of the way, metal bars dropped from the ceiling, landing on the outer rim of the circle.

  Azure-Bound pirouetted to look at a large figure flying into the room. “What is the meaning of this, A
zure?” The hawk had a bright gold, cerulean, and emerald feathered breast piece on over his normal plumage of dark browns and spotted tawny feathers. On the side of his cheek was a long, old scar.

  Before she could answer, Picayune ran to the bars near Azure-Bound. “Why are you holding us prisoner? We've done nothing wrong!”

  The large hawk leaned in and snorted through his nostrils, sending Picayune to land on his back. “Quiet, mouse! I don't answer my meal's questions.”

  Azure-Bound placed her wing around the hawk's back. “I like this one, Dad. May I keep him?”

  Jumping back, the large male hawk looked at his daughter with disgust. “You always did like playing with your food.”

  From the doorway came a feminine voice. “Maharajah, we don't even know if these are meant as our food. Stop scaring them.” She jerked her head at everyone in the cage, hissing when she saw Trailblazer. “I am Maharani of Clan Hoo-Caw. Why do you associate with a badger?”

  Picayune stood up, brushed himself off, and bowed. “I am Picayune. This is Phineas, Alacrity, Lacer, Swift-Hopper, and…” He paused, pulling Trailblazer away from the group. “This is Trailblazer. He helped us escape Clan Badger where we were held as prisoners. Without him, we would have been a meal for their fire beetle after they were done using us for labor in gathering the spirit rocks.”

  “And why does this concern me?” Maharajah chirped, flicking his head back.

  After jumping to his feet, Phineas stomped over. “You should be concerned. They were ready to make you their slaves.”

  All three hawks cawed and looked at Phineas. Maharajah tried to regain his composure, but asked his question through laughter. “And how, prey, tell us, were they planning to do that?”