The Epic of a Diamond Dog

by Ravencrofte


Ch.6 Night raid part 1

The goat from yesterday, leftovers, and old preserves were combined into a magnificent feast. The food was salty, sweet, spicy, and contained even more strange and delicious flavors. I ate until I could only clutch my stomach and moan.
Silver Tongue sat beside my father. Between them they shared several platters of food and many wineskins. My father said something that caused Silver Tongue to choke on his food, and then spew it everywhere. They roared with laughter.
I didn’t see any of Silver Tongue’s soldiers anywhere. They had been clinging to him like flees all day, but now they were absent. The wagons had disappeared as well. Did he tell them to head off without him?
Many of the clansmen wore their festive robes. Some of them circulated from group to group, showing off their newly acquired treasurers. Others took to dancing around the large bonfire; swirling, and weaving, and lurching to the thumping of the drums.
Spoke stumbled over, and placed a paw on my shoulder to steady himself. He took another drink from the wineskin in his hand. Leaning in close he said, “You see Lilley over there,” and he pointed to a beautiful black Pitbullton. “I’m going over there and win her heart with this!” He held up one of Silver Tongues copper necklaces.
I sighed. “I have it on good authority that she’s been given four of those already.”
The smile on his face sunk away.
I added quickly, “But I hear that her sister Pedal doesn’t have any suitors.”
The smile returned. “You’re the best friend a dog can have,” said Spoke, and he marched off.
Someone small ran into my back. I turned around and saw Kitty Hawk. She wobbled, but then held herself steady. There was a pained look on her face.
“I was serving food to some Diamond Dogs,” she said, her voice quivering, “and I was given these wineskins. They ordered me to drink them. It tasted really sweet so I drank some more,” tears welling up in her eyes. “Everything is tilted sideways and I feel like I’m going to be sick.”
I embraced her in a hug.
“Do you want to go back to the hut?”
She fought back her tears with a sniffle and nodded.
I picked her up, cradling the poor pony in my arms.
I started back to my hut, but then detoured, and stopped to see Elder Rose. She was looking very pleased with her. Several empty wine skins were lying nearby.
“Heading to bed already,” asked Elder Rose, her speech slurred.
“Kitty Hawk was given wine and forced to drink it,” I explained.
“Oh,” and with that Elder Rose climbed uncertainly to her feet. “I have a suspicion of who that might be.” She went in search of the culprit.
I took Kitty Hawk back to my hut. I placed her on the floor, and retrieved a small medicine chest I kept under my bed. I pulled out a small packet of powder. Judging Kitty Hawk’s weight, I poured as glass of water from a pitcher, and added only a dash of the powder.
“Here you go,” and I gave her the cup. She drank it, and handed the cup back.
“That tasted funny,” commented Kitty Hawk. She started to ask “what’s it suppose to—” but stopped. She looked confused for a moment, then cover her mouth as her stomach heaved. She bolted out the door. I listened to her retch several times. I really didn’t want to think about the mess that would greet me tomorrow morning.
I put the medicine chest away.
Kitty Hawk came back inside, and I handed her another glass of water.
“It’s just water,” I reassured her. She drank it, and then two more. “Feel better?” She nodded. “Time for bed”.
She leapt on to my bed and snuggled into the mattress.
I sighed reluctantly. One of these days I was going to force her to sleep on the floor; but not tonight, or tomorrow, or even the next day.
I curled in beside her, feeling the warm little bundle again my chest.
I closed my eyes, but for some reason sleep eluded me. I lay awake: unmoving, listening to the sound of village. The celebration petered off, and then stopped. Now only the night bugs moved about, singing their songs.
I heard the soft padding of paws on packed earth. There was a sloppy wet squish outside. I couldn’t help but grin; that dog must have the worst of luck.
“Gross,” said a Diamond Dog.
Try as I might I couldn’t place the voice. Strange; I knew everyone in the village. Was he one of Silver Tongue’s dogs?
Someone else snickered. There was a scraping sound, probably the first dog trying to wipe his paws off on the ground.
“Shut it,” hissed a third voice. I instantly connected this one with Silver Tongue.
What was he doing up and about at this hour? I strained my ears.
Silver Tongue continued, “you two search these huts. If you find that pony, bring her straight to me”.
I ground my teeth. So if you want something you just take it? Just you wait until I get my teeth around your neck!
“Got it,” replied one voice.
"Ok," said the other.
That made two voices I didn’t recognize.
“And do it quietly,” hissed Silver Tongue. I heard him slip away.
There was some bickering outside that I couldn’t make out. A brief silence followed, but then I heard someone walk away.
My door flap was pushed open. A strange Pittbullton slipped inside, and let the flap close behind him.
I held my breath; one eye half open, watching the intruder.
He scanned the darkness and spotted us. He moved silently across the room, and stopped before the bed. He was grinning wolfishly.
“There you are, pony.” He reached for Kitty Hawk.
I lashed out with one leg, and made contact with his head.
He stumbled back, reeling.
I bolted from the bed; knocking Kitty Hawk to the floor in the process. The Diamond Dog raised his head, fearful white eyes staring at me as my right paw smashed into his muzzle. He fell backwards. His head struck the wall with a sickening crack. He collapsed into a heap.
I paused, listening if anyone had heard the common. All was silent. I turned my attention back to Diamond Dog at my feet.
I’d never seen this dog before. I slipped his collar off and examined it in the faint light: he was a member of the Bone clan.
“Ember, what’s wrong,” asked Kitty Hawk, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
“We’re under attack,” I whispered.