With Swords, Claws, and Teeth Bared

CORIN THUNDERFIST II said:
Bronon watches Wideglide fly away, a puzzled expression on his face. "What does she mean by being 'somebody's mummy' ?" he says to himself, with a furrowed brow. "And why does she want to keep an eye on me? I've managed fine so far!"

Bronon, of course, is totally oblivious to any of his shortcomings, and has forgotten that, if it hadn't been for Flakefeather, Vermwood the rat would have handed him over to the wolves on a proverbial plate! He is also totally unaware that Aslan's intervention saved him from two other wolves, who had evil plans for him. Flakefeather himself has just begun his flight westward from the comfort and safety of Cair Paravel in order to check out what is happening at Beaversdam. At Cair Paravel, the council called by High King Peter is convening. In addition to the four Narnian monarchs, Mr Tumnus the faun and Mr and Mrs Beaver are participating in the meeting. Gruntabillery, the giantess has also been invited, as she herself was with the enemy for a while, and also present is a representative from the Archenland forces helping to restore Narnia to how it should be.
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After the Cair Paravel meeting has been called to order, Gruntabillary takes her first opportunity to say:

"Your Majesties and all worthies, a solemn thought has occurred to me. To the best of my knowledge, I was the only Jadisite Giant to escape the battlefield alive after Aslan turned the tide. Perhaps the Divine Lion spared me that day because He foreknew that I would be converted, and that His sacrificial death would count for my salvation as surely as for King Edmund's.

"But my reason for speaking of this is because it seems likely that no surviving Jadisites have so far traveled across Ettinsmoor to the remote realm of those who mockingly call themselves the Gentle Giants. Which means that those uncommonly enormous Giants would not be aware that Aslan could strike them all dead as easily as stepping on a worm. They might therefore attempt some aggression of their own."

 
Edmund responds to the words of the giantess by observing, "Maybe we should sort them out, before they can cause any problems?"

Bronon, meanwhile, is ready to move on. Before doing so, he climbs a tree in order to get some idea of the terrain and to see if any enemies are nearby.
 
Zamron himself, perfectly well aware that sooner or later, if it has not happened already, that word will reach Cair Paravel that he and his followers have entrenched themselves at Beaversdam. He also knows that there are far too few of his people to stand any hope of surviving a pitched battle against the humans and traitors, let alone defeating them. He therefore discusses the matter with Captain Ashraf, in order to have a suitable plan ready if or when the enemy should arrive in force.

Bronon, meanwhile, seeing nothing to give him any cause for concern, climbs down from the tree and decides to continue in a westerly direction. After all, he thinks to himself, those he wishes to avoid, both the wolves and his former military comrades, in particular Sargent Zimcar, are to the east of his current location. After travelling for about an hour he encounters a narrower path heading north. He decides to take this one, reasoning that anyone following would only be able to approach in single file. After another hour, he pauses for a rest but, before relaxing the youth climbs another tree to check out the terrain, and to check for any sign of life in the vicinity, in particular to see if he is being followed.
 
Suddenly, a series of ear-splitting screeches erupts above and behind the young deserter. A pair of talking vultures, only just now coming from the west to find and join the surviving Jadisites, had been diving silently to attack the exposed Bronon, when Wideglide the falcon streaked down upon THEM. She broke the male vulture's neck with her impact; but as she was recovering from the collision, the female vulture got hold of her by one wing with her beak. Wideglide in return sank her own beak into the second vulture's neck -- not deeply enough to kill at once, but doing damage. Now the two birds, battling in frantic rage, are falling together, falling to land at a spot some twenty feet beyond Bronon's tree.
 
Bronon is so surprised at this sudden turn of events that he nearly falls out of his tree! However, the youth quickly descends and cautiously creeps back to where Wideglide and the vulture had fallen. As he approaches, he notices that both birds had landed in such a manner that they had been stunned by their fall. However, as he draws nearer, he sees that the vulture is stirring and , despite her own wounds, is attempting to rip out Wideglide's throat. Bronon can see that the falcon herself is in no position to withstand this attack which would lead to her immediate death, so he quickly draws his sword and charges up to the two birds. Before the vulture can make a move, either to kill the falcon, or to reposition herself to face Bronon, the latter a task made even more difficult by the injuries she has sustained, both from Wideglide and the impact of the fall, Bronon with a loud cry swings his sword. The vulture is instantly decapitated. "Yes!" shouts Bronon triumphantly. However he quickly cuts short his celebrations as Wideglide appears to be seriously injured. Bending down, a look of grave concern on his youthful features, he rummages through his backpack for the *first aid kit* he is carrying, and assesses the damage before applying appropriate treatment. Although Bronon has many shortcomings, he is basically a kind boy and moreover has sufficient knowledge and skill to do what is necessary and, given the circumstances, does an excellent job.
 
Meanwhile, back at Beaversdam, Ashraf the wolf says to Zamron: "Perhaps we can somehow round up some NON-speaking creatures, such as ordinary wolves and bears, start them moving in a direction where our enemies will see them, and fool our enemies into pursuing those beasts, while we use the time to seek another, less obvious refuge."


O.O.C.-- Did we already have the Harpies take off on their mission to contact the Calormenes?
 
O.O.C: The harpies will not be leaving until sunset, so there is less likely of being spotted by enemies. For that reason, the plan is to fly west before heading south, then fly east again when they are south of Archenland. The other expeditions are also planning to travel by night.

"An excellent idea!" replies Zamron. "These inferior creatures are expendable, and it will be a great privilege for them to serve us in the name of our beloved Queen. Do you have any suggestions where they should be assigned to go?
 
Hackroot to Zamron: "Probably _toward_ Cair Paravel. If just _one_ creature from among us, one who can move rapidly, could run _ahead_ of wild beasts we set in motion, and if our talking creature pretended to be leading them and shouting orders to them, it could seem to be commanding a counter-attack."
 
CORIN THUNDERFIST II said:
Hackroot to Zamron: "Probably _toward_ Cair Paravel. If just _one_ creature from among us, one who can move rapidly, could run _ahead_ of wild beasts we set in motion, and if our talking creature pretended to be leading them and shouting orders to them, it could seem to be commanding a counter-attack."

Lt. Sareg volunteers to co-ordinate this strategy.
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The Weasel asks, "Can we spare any flying creatures to help round some animals up?"
 
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