Martin helped Skipper to weigh down upon the lever. The sluicegate lifted. Stormfin rushed through, creating a miniature tidal wave as he traveled. Skipper left the gate open.

“He’ll be back in a few days. We coax him in with tidbits. Pity there ain’t more’n one Gloomer. That pike has a terrible appetite.”

* * *

Panting and rasping, the Gloomer dragged on the leads. The trio looked toward Tsarmina as they dug their paws into the turf and were dragged helplessly toward the River Moss.

Fortunata began to panic. “Milady, quick, give the word, or it will have us in the water!”

Tsarmina extended her paws and raised them as if starting a race. “Right, you three, when I let my paws drop the—”

Too late. Gloomer snapped the lead Fortunata was holding and the two guards were pulled over on their faces. Immediately they let their leads go; Gloomer sploshed noisily into the water.

The monster water rat swam about in slow circles, scenting and feeling vibrations in the river current. Without warning it dived, heading in the direction of Camp Willow.

The soldiers of Kotir ran alongside the bank, following Gloomer’s progress and shouting excitedly.

“Look, he’s after something. Hey, Gloomer, eat an otter for me!”

“Don’t eat ’em, kill ’em all, Gloomer! Rip them to bits!”

A ferret who had run ahead of the rest called back to his comrades, “Something’s coming! I think it’s the otters. No, wait, it’s a big fish of some sort.”

Swift chevrons of water rippled out to both sides of the bank as Stormfin sped downstream like a great arrow.

Gloomer thrashed the water as he swam upstream, feeling his prey getting near.

Closer and closer the leviathans came toward each other. Gloomer lifted his snout clear of the water, sucking in a huge gasp of air. He submerged again and waited, facing the oncoming foe, mouth slightly agape, claws at the ready.

Stormfin looked as if he was smiling. The underslung jaw clamped shut, pointing at his adversary like a battering ram, he piled on extra speed, drew his fins in tight and came at Gloomer like an arrow from a bow. The onlookers on the bank saw a spout of water shoot high like a geyser as the combatants crashed together.

Gloomer had the breath driven from him as Stormfin struck his ribs. Disregarding the pain, the rat sought the pike with his teeth, feeling his heavy claws rake searingly through its scales.

With the madness of battle upon him, Stormfin rose clear of the river, swishing his tail in a mighty leap; then twisting in midair, he launched himself back into the water like a downward torpedo with gaping teeth. Gloomer was waiting. He pushed his head clear of the river, sucked in a quick breath and locked jaws with the descending pike. The surface boiled in a welter of cascading water, shimmering scales and ragged fur, the whole scene streaked with blood.

They snapped and bit at each other, locking jaws, rolling over and over, now letting go, now seeking another hold, contorting madly. Gloomer had the pike by the tail. He chewed voraciously. Pain seared through the big fish, but Stormfin had his enemy by the stomach, and ripped viciously.