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AR Chapter 397
🕑 Added 2025-05-27 04:06:06 +0000 UTC***
[Cupun POV]
He followed a scent, the faintest memory of a crushed acorn on a paw. He hopped through the undergrowth, his nose leading him to the planned place for the meeting. Cultulut had commanded that the entirety of the Corps gather in one place and they would listen to the command. As soon as he drew clower, Cupun slowed his pace, ready for any potential traps. There was no way that the corp had been compromised, but Cultulut had his reputation for a reason. Keeping his eyes open proved to be the right choice.
A series of nearly invisible pitfalls and snares filled the entire perimeter of the forest around the fallen tree that had been designated as the meeting place. With even one eye open, Cupun could avoid every one of them, but he didn’t let his guard down. They were too easy. There had to be another level to this. Even so, his job was to arrive in the hollowed tree and be ready for the rest of the Corps’ arrival. If one of his superiors decided it was also a good time to test his awareness, then he’d jump. There was nothing else to do but to obey their bidding.
Sniffing to see if the scent of the acorn would give him any guidance, Cupun quickly realized that no, he didn’t have even that scent to follow. Some of his fellows talked about the thrill of a challenge, but he always found that he just preferred the quiet satisfaction of a job completely quietly. As such, the corpsman hopped over one pitfall before evading a snare, and, with his momentum started, he bent low and leapt over the last couple of feet to the meeting place. Once he was above the seemingly clear ground, he saw the cleverly hidden ambush holes. There was no reason to wait, and he continued rushing forward before his potential attackers could react to his presence. Once he was against the tree and ready to find the meeting place, he received a greeting.
“That was clever enough, I suppose.” Cultulut’s dry tone came from inside the tree. “Now come in.”
Cupun bowed his head and hopped around the corner of the tree to where a small knot had been carved out or rotted to give space to enter. Then, inside, he took in the view. Most of the Corps had already arrived, but that was to be expected. He’d been one of the furthest away, so his rounds had been in the furthest possible location at the time of the messages’ posting.
Nearly half of the Rodentia in the space bore small wounds, reminders to keep their eyes open and their awareness keen. Since he entered without any wounds, Cupun could see a couple of the younger ones curl their lips back from their teeth in frustration or anger. He didn’t care, it was merely the benefit of experience and wisdom. Once he’d taken his place in one of the corners, he set to cleaning his whiskers. After all, a scout should never let any of their tools go rusty or unused. Truly cleaning the long hairs was the work of several minutes, but he had plenty of time.
Over the course of several hours, the rest of the Rodentia scouts trickled in. The hasty and unprepared were marked by the sound of sudden squeaks of rage, pain, and fear. Once they’d been sufficiently remonstrated by the Mustelids, the scouts would come in. The last to appear bore a new scar, and definitely not from the Mustelids. It was a jagged, angry thing, and ran down her back leg all the way up to her spine. That she didn’t have a limp or was paralyzed or dead was a miracle.
Cupun wasn’t the only one, as the rest of the scouts saw just as much as he did when their fellow joined in. Despite themselves, some of the newest scouts nearly broke the silence to ask what had happened, but they were stopped by the disapproving looks from the rest of their fellows. Then, the Mustelids all filed in, making the open space feel cramped as a dozen of the weasels crammed in alongside the rats and mice. The meeting was about to begin, but some people were missing. Who?
Looking at the numbers, Cupun quickly realized that they were missing two. Miita and Qufaal. When Cultulut spoke, he acknowledged that right away.
“The Corps is under attack. The Misti Hawar are marching en masse, and they are killing every small creature they find. There have been three casualties among the Corps at the hands of the Misti Hawar. Miita and Qufaal of the Rodentia and Nukalli of the Mustelid have been confirmed to have perished, as the Misti Hawar have left the bodies of all the smaller creatures they slaughter where they lay. They are attempting to send the Union a message, and we will deliver the message. Until then, we will cease all scouting south of Nievtra.”
Disquiet spread among the Rodentia, being told that because of risk they’d be pulled back by their superiors. They were the Corps! Their lives were spent scouting out every corner of the continent, and mere death wasnt enough to turn them aside! Even with the absolute eradication of all wildlife within the bounds of Viertaal, there were several of the Union’s agents in the deepest of the Veratocracy’s lands.
Even so, none of the Rodentia replied except to nod in acknowledgement. If the Mustelids commanded, the Rodentia followed. The final words that Cultulut spoke to the group were simple.
“Stay alive, continue reporting, and bring news at your scheduled times. We’ll have someone prepared to get in contact beyond the immediate perimeter of the Keel’s patrols. Dismissed. Cupun, to me.”
The rest of the Rodentia flowed out of the log, to scatter and make their way north as naturally as could be. Each one knew how easily a purposeful motion could betray their passage, and they would ensure that everything was done perfectly. Cupun did mourn the slight loss of the opportunity to speak with his fellows and friends outside of the meeting place, but that was the nature of this life, and he’d known that long before he signed on.
He stood wordlessly in front of his superior, standing as tall as his small body would allow. Cultulut spoke.
“I apologize for pulling you away from some of your much-needed socialization. I recognize you’re the most devoted Rodentia scout that we have, and I appreciate and thank you for that. Unfortunately, that thanks comes with a mission you’ll find distasteful.”
Cupun nodded once, listening.
“I need you to go back to the Keel, and give more information about the Misti Hawar. Hold nothing back that isn’t strictly classified. We won’t raise our swords against the damn hunters, but we can sharpen the Keels’.”
Without showing any emotion in his body language, Cupun nodded before speaking in his dignified, stately accent, “Yes, sir.”
Comments
Veldorn
"the corp had been compromised" the corps
