Freiyon Fables A Tail To Remember
Chapter Eight: The Hyena Helper

“If you say so, but that silly koala is gonna have to come down for his own food one day. I don’t like animals endangering themselves to feed him.”

“I’m a squirrel, mate; we’re good at climbing with things in our hands.”

As he carefully climbed up the rope to the crow’s nest, he called to Kale to make sure he wasn’t asleep.

“Kale, you’re gonna love this. Cook’s special, he told me it had gum-leaves mixed into it as well. Not exactly sure what he called it, but I’m sure you’ll like it,” Micklang boasted.

Dash it all, he’s fallen asleep. Micklang thought, when he got no reply.

However, when Micklang reached the crow’s nest, the koala wasn’t there.

“Kale?”

Looking around carefully, he spied a body slowly floating in the sea.

“How on earth? ANIMAL OVER-BOARD!” Micklang shouted desperately.

Abrigail heard Micklang and peered over the Port side of the ship.

“It’s Kale! How did that happen?” Abrigail exclaimed, getting some crew members to help haul Kale aboard.

Micklang looked around for any clues when he saw an arrow coming straight towards him.

He ducked quickly and avoided the arrow as it thudded into the wood.

He looked again and saw a ship not far away, gaining on them.

Micklang gasped and called to Abrigail again.

“We’re being attacked!”

Dashing back down to the deck, Micklang grabbed a bow and some arrows and went back up to the crow’s nest.

Oliver joined him in the crows nest as he smiled at the squirrel.

“Nothing like a good fight to put speed to our sails, eh Micklang?” Oliver said.

Micklang nodded as he sent three arrows out at the ship, the sounds of strange shrieks of pain rewarding his efforts. While he got another three ready, Oliver shot his load as well.

A few archers on deck were shooting as well from the stern of the ship.

Abrigail ordered a few animals to prepare the cannons just in case.

Micklang stopped shooting when he saw that another fight had started, funnily enough on the actual ship that was attacking them.

“Somebeast is on that ship and is attacking those other creatures, but it looks like it’s just one creature doing it. Abrigail, more speed, we must help someone on that ship.” Micklang called down to the mouse captain.

“I’ll speed the ship up alright, but not to help any beast on that ship. How dare they try to attack any of my crew or my ship? They’ll pay dearly for that.” Abrigail replied, his blood boiling with rage.

As the ship got closer to the enemy, Micklang could see now that the creatures attacking were snake and lizards, but mostly snakes. One creature, which was fighting against the reptiles on their own ship, was still unidentified.

Jumping onto the rigging and grabbing onto a rope with his sword, Micklang prepared to swing onto the ship.

Oliver shot another volley of arrows at the ship when he noticed what Micklang was doing.

“Are you crazy? What do you think you’re doing?” He asked.

“There’s a good beast on that ship, and I intend on helping it before it dies thanks to those reptiles.”

Oliver went to stop him, but it was too late, Micklang swung out and landed on the railing of the reptiles’ ship.

Drawing his sword, he jumped down and slashed at the snakes or lizards that tried to climb up to him.

As he worked his way down the rigging, he could see the fierce captain of the ship snapping and growling at several different reptiles at once.

Micklang could also see the animal that was trying to fight the reptiles.

It was a hyena, one that looked like he had chains on his paws. The hyena was kicking, biting and scratching at any reptiles that came near him.

Micklang swung down from the rigging and landed on the deck, just in time to see Abrigail’s ship appear next to them.

Micklang heard Oliver announce not to fire the cannons until Micklang was back safely, but Abrigail protested by sending a few smashing into the ship.

Then, without much warning, Micklang found himself facing the reptile captain, a beastly creature which registered as a crocodile.

The croc snapped at Micklang viciously without warning, but Micklang avoided just in time as he tried to get away from sharp pieces of wood flying all over the place.

The croc ended up smashing his teeth on one of the cannons on the deck, which made him angrier.

Abrigail and a few mice boarded the ship and fought off some snakes and lizard as the croc went in for another attack.

The Hyena managed to snap at the croc’s tail just as a lizard bit his own.

The lizard was chopped right in half by Oscar who saw the fight between the croc and Micklang and shot an arrow at the croc to help Micklang.

It didn’t help. The arrows just bounced off the croc’s hard skin as he closed in on Micklang.

Micklang stumbled backwards and landed on his bottom on the deck. Just as Micklang was about to be eaten by the croc, a cannon ball zoomed out of the Sea-shark and got the croc square in the chest, making it fly out into the ocean and killing it.

Oscar, Abrigail and Micklang fought off the last few snakes and lizards as Oliver helped the Hyena aboard the Sea-shark.

The snakes and lizards that weren’t killed from the attack were spared, but only for a few minutes.

As Abrigail, Micklang and Oscar retreated back to the Sea-shark; Abrigail ordered one more volley of cannon-balls to finish off the ship and its’ survivors.

The crew were happy to oblige and sent the evil ship down to the depths of the ocean.

As Abrigail took stock of the wounds and loses, the rest of the crew continued with sailing while Micklang chatted to the hyena he had saved.

“You took a big risk attacking those reptiles like that, my friend, but why did you do it?” Micklang asked.

“When you started attacking them, I knew they were too distracted by you and so I took my chance. I’ve been there prisoner for a long time, and I was always looking forward to the day when I would get my revenge.”

Micklang was surprised at the fact that a creature like this hyena could be a prisoner to some-thing it usually ate, but he realized that the hyena had been out-numbered and therefore didn’t have a chance to defeat them on its first encounter.

“Help a prisoner, save a friend.” Warrior Micklang reminded Micky. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Micklang asked the Hyena what his name was and where’d he come from.

“Dillon the Hyena is my name, and I know who you are, you’re Micklang Lightning-tail, aren’t you?”

“Yes I am, but how did you know that?”

“Funny, I was visited by a squirrel warrior in my dreams that told me you would come and save me, that’s how I knew.”

“You were visited by a squirrel warrior? Did he look like me?”

“Almost, but he had several badges on his chest accounting for everything he had achieved and he held a map by his side.”

“Ah! You had a vision of my warrior self, Dillon, telling you of my arrival. It’s a good thing you told me about it, because I know now that you really are a friend.”

“Hey, matey, you saved my life, for that I will ALWAYS be your friend.”

Abrigail noticed the hyena and looked at Micklang in surprise.

“A hyena? You do realise they can eat us smaller animals, right Micklang?” Abrigail asked.

Dillon sniggered at Abrigail and his pompous attitude.

“’Aye, Micklang, I reckon that be cap’t Abrigail shortmouse, shortest mouse to ever roam the ten seas. Be I correct?’” Dillon asked, imitating the mouse’s speech perfectly.

Micklang struggled hard not to chuckle as he replied, but without success.

“’Aye, that be ’im. He be the most fearsome mouse I’ve ever seen! Hahaha!’” Micklang added in Abrigail’s voice, chuckling madly.

Abrigail wasn’t sure whether to be angry at their remarks or happy at their fantastic imitation of him, so he just chuckled along and tried to imitate Micklang.

“‘Follow me; I’ll take you to the worlds end just so I can map it out. It isn’t dangerous, only to those that don’t have a clue what to do.’”

Micklang’s eyes had tears of laughter as Dillon tried to do one as well.

“‘Prepare to risk your lives for a good friend, mates. It ain’t gonna be the end yet; no-one will lose their life as long as I’m around.’”

The three of them chuckled madly as they rolled around on the deck, Abrigail’s crew chuckling every now and then at their antics.

Sighing after the good laugh, Micklang set about introducing Dillon to the crew and his wife and otter-friends (and the two Platypi of course), then, when he got the chance, he severed the chains that bound Dillon’s hands using a hammer loaned to him by Abrigail.

Dillon was glad to have the chains off him, but had to put up with the pain as the hammer smashed thrice on the chains.

Dillon thanked Micklang from his heart and hugged the squirrel when he returned from the galley with some food.

“How can I ever thank you enough, Micklang? You risked your life for me, and then brought me to this wonderful life onboard a fantastic ship. You’ve truly made me a happy hyena.” Dillon said.

Micklang realised the hyena managed to lift him off the ground during the hug and struggled to get loose.

“Just doing what any caring warrior would do, Dillon. You get comfy and have a good rest, you know you need it.” Micklang replied once Dillon had popped him back on the ground.

Dillon saluted and hopped onto his well made bed and winked at Micklang.

“I think I’m going to like you, Micklang my friend.”

“Me too, Dillon, me too.” Micklang closed the door behind him as he left.

Micklang noticed that the deck of the ship was rather quiet for lunch, but assumed that everyone was inside because of the gathering clouds in the sky.

Knocking on Abrigail’s door, Micklang heard the mouse captain’s reply and let himself in.

“How is Dillon going?” Abrigail asked.

“He’s just gone off to sleep in the medical bay. He loves it on this ship, captain, and I think he’ll want to join your crew sooner or later.”

“Oh, no doubt he will, but I’ll have to consider that for now. How did he know who I was?”

“Probably heard of you once before or seen you when he was younger. I can’t be sure. Any news on Kale?” Micklang asked, not sure whether the koala was really dead.

“I’m afraid we can’t do anything for him, Micklang. He’s as dead as that evil ship we saved Dillon from. I’m just glad we killed the monsters behind his death. Those dolphins weren’t lying, t’is reality, sad but true, when death occurs to someone we know,”

Micklang sighed and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Watch guard duties, now that Kale is dead someone has to take his place.”

“We’re all gonna miss him, Micklang, he was a good animal.”

Micklang sighed.

“Yes, but sometimes I wonder if I could have been there to stop it from happening.”

“You can’t change the past, Micklang. T’is the future and present you should worry about. You go to watch guard in the crow’s nest, and I’ll send someone up in two hours to relieve you, even if it is going to rain.”

Micklang nodded and left Abrigail’s cabin, thinking about the short life of a friend he thought was going to become a partner for life.

As he climbed up the rigging, the clouds got darker and rain started to fall on his head, but he didn’t care, just as long as he was doing what Kale had wanted him to do, continue the job of watch guard.

He looked around the horizon, taking in every wave or movement and wondered what he should do about it. But he knew nothing was going to happen, not for a while anyway.

“Micklang, Micklang. Wake up, there’s something you’ve got to see.” A familiar voice announced, shaking Micklang to wake him up.

Micklang stared at Oliver and mumbled stubbornly.

“What’s going on?”

Oliver splashed a bit of water on Micklang’s face and stood him up to get him to see what they were approaching.

“You tell me, mate, what do you make of that?” Oliver replied pointing out to sea.

Micklang stared hard, trying to focus on the object.

The object curved in bends, like a snake, but it was laid on the top of the sea like land.

“Be careful of the bends.” Micklang’s warrior self chimed to him.

“It’s land, LAND MMphhh!” Micklang put a paw over Oliver’s mouth.

Oliver looked at Micklang in confusion, but then Micklang showed Oliver what it really was by shooting at it with an arrow.

The arrow soared through the air and landed right on the strange creature, piercing it badly.

Oliver stared in surprised as the creature disappeared from its place among the shoals and slinked into the water.

Micklang removed his paw and said, with sincere knowledge in his mind.

“It’ll be back, raise the alarm. Tell every beast to be ready with cannons and swords when it attacks.”

Oliver looked where the creature had been.

“What WAS that, Micklang?” He asked, shivering slightly.

“I’m not sure, but I know it’s not good. Just raise the alarm and prepare everyone to attack.”

Oliver nodded and swung down to the deck as quick as he could and raised the alarm.

Micklang looked around carefully, noticing that a large wave was headed straight towards them.

“Oh, warrior spirit, please tell me what to do. I fear we won’t survive this.” Micklang called.

“Don’t lose courage, Micklang. The answer lies with the love of your life and her voice. She holds the key to your survival.”

Micklang stared down at the deck and saw Harriet trying to control the pesky kids as they ran around, pretending to be warriors or sailors.

“Harriet and her voice? Hmm, what could that mean? Wait, I’ve got it!”

Micklang scrambled down the rigging just in time to see the head of the strange creature start to rise up in the water.

Harriet saw the monster rise from the sea as Micklang landed beside her.

“Micklang? What is that?” She asked, not daring to move.

Micklang saw it was some type of snake that had flippers by its side and Micklang’s arrow stuck right in its neck.

“I have no idea, Harriet. But something tells me the only way we can get rid of it is to …”

“Ready! FIRE!” A commanding voice shouted as cannons blasted out of the ship.

Micklang stared at Oliver and Abrigail, issuing the attack on the monster. He ran over to try and stop them, but with no luck. A second volley of cannons shot out and blasted skin off the monster.

The huge creature didn’t like that one bit. It lunged back and was about to attack when …

“Sing, Harriet, you’re our only hope! Sing to it,” Micklang announced.

Harriet obeyed out of sheer fear and sung the first sung she could think of. A lullaby song she used to get her kids to sleep. The monster stopped suddenly and backed off, swaying with the music.

“Sail by, but let Harriet keep singing. That beast could attack us again if she stops,”

Completely baffled by the fact a singing squirrel was able to stop such a slimy, scary monster; everyone dashed about to try and make the ship go faster.

Harriet’s beautiful voice echoed on as the monster calmed down and slunk back into the sea. Micklang hugged Harriet and kissed her in thanks.

“Your singing saved us from that monster. You could be awarded highly for this, Harriet my love.”

“My mum said that would come in useful some day.” Harriet replied, smiling.

Hearts were lifted high when all the crew and everyone else on board realised the danger had gone. Harriet had saved the entire ship AND crew from destruction, and all she had to do was sing. Imagine that! Micklang sat in the crows’ nest and watched happily as Harriet was treated to hip-hoorays and questions galore. He chuckled when he saw the kids trying to imitate her singing, but with no luck. A few crew members blocked their ears and shouted to the kids. “Oy! With that racket you’re most likely to bring that beast back you twerps.” Micklang knew it was good to start looking more for land because land was not far from shoals like the ones that the creature had been on. And he wasn’t wrong.

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