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Description

  When Axl arrived back at the village, he was both irritated and relieved to find the police had finally decided to show up and were rounding up the injured and instigators into ambulances and the back of patrol cars.

            A large bulldog and slim golden retriever appeared to be in charge as they were taking statements from the neighborhood residents. The bulldog was stocky and top heavy, wearing a stern expression. As soon as he took notice of Axl, limping into town he marched over to him.

            “Mister Reigns?”

            Axl flicked his tongue, rolling his eyes. “Yeah?”

            The bulldog thumbed through the notepad he had been holding. “I’m officer Barker. Are you alright, sir?”

            Axl shrugged. “I’ve been better, but yeah, I’m alright.” He could already tell the bulldog officer held a strong disliking toward him as he eyed him suspiciously.

            “Well, Mister Reigns, I’m gonna need a good long statement from you, since, from what I’m hearing, you were in the middle of this conflict.”

            “It’s not like I had any choice. . .” huffed Axl. “By the way, where were you guys? We really could’ve used your help a few hours ago!”

            Officer Barker nervously chuckled, tilting his head. “Yeahh, sorry bout that. Crime is rampant in the city, you know, and we only have so many resources.”

            The golden retriever officer wearing a cheerful smile nodded in agreement. “It’s insane! We had Mister Dooper’s Donut shop all staked out with our men, to find out who’s been vandalizing his building with graffiti at night!”

            Selena rolled her eyes. “Well that sounds just horrible, officer. . .”

            Officer Barker released a loud cough as he prepared to diverge the conversation. “Ahem! Well, we had much more pressing issues than that, of course, but we’re getting off subject.”

            Just then, Axl felt mud being slung onto his bare back, some of it splattering onto Officer Bulldog’s shirt as well.

            Axl growled, as he turned around, attempting to wipe off some of the mud which now smudged his backside.

            Forcibly being escorted by an elephant and hyena officer was a mud-covered Sid.

            “I’m gonna burn it! Burn the whole swamp to the ground! Burn, burn, burn, burn, BURN!”

            Officer Bowers crinkled his nose as he wiped the sludge from his notepad. “On second thought, this can wait. . .”

            Axl flicked his tongue as he sent Barker an approving nod. “Thank you, officer.”

            Axl’s attention was diverted by the sound of cheering men from down the road. Led by Spike and Slade was a band of dirty, battle hardened lizard men, raising their weapons and fists in celebration.

            “Greenwood! Greenwood! Greenwood!”

            “There’s your army of swamp warriors, hun,” jested Selena as she lovingly cradled her arm around Axl’s back.

            Junior, Crusher, and Jaws joined in the celebration, bouncing up and down as they joined the group.

            Swamper and Diesel who were among the men, snatched up their sons, raising them above their shoulders.

            “We did it, sir!” beamed Slade. “We’ve driven those sewer rats out and saved the swamp!”

            Graham who was standing off to the side, with his arms irritably crossed, snorted. “If that’s what yeh wanna call it. . .”

            Spike released a loud burp after taking a swig from his can, wiping the end of his snout with his arm. “Ah, well we can rebuild whatever destruction the rats left. But everyone came out alive and intact, far as we know.”

            Despite his friend’s optimistic remark, Axl felt his tail droop as took notice of the burning homes and vehicles left behind by the rat’s rampage. The ghost of guilt again creeped into his conscience.

            “I dunno. I still can’t help but feel responsible for all this. Like I shoulda just turned myself in and. . .”

            Axl felt Selena tighten her grip on him as she demanded his attention, placing her head directly in front of his face.

    “Hon, don’t even go there. We did what we had to do.”

     Selena motioned toward Sid who was now being loaded into an ambulance, restrained in a strait jacket. “Someday, Junior’s going to have a family of his own. I want him to be a protector, like his father, not someone who cowers from a fight every time a bully comes into town.”

    Axl shrugged, flicking his tail as he pondered Selena’s words. “Whatever you say, babe.”

    Axl felt Selena release her embrace, as she stood in front of him, cradling his hands. “Sometimes you have no choice but to fight.”

            A reluctant smile curled on the side of Axl’s face as he felt Selena’s hair tickling the side of his snout. He could see Junior among the men, expressing his tree house adventure with Scar Scales and Red as they listened with fascination.

            Red wearing a prideful grin, nodded approvingly, resting his hands on his hips as Junior shared the usefulness of the raptor pirate’s ‘tree house defenses,’ during Sid’s attack.

            “Whaddya, I tell yah, kid? Clawfang Fortress is equipped with the best of Crossbone defenses!”

            “Yeer a real Crossbone, little mate!” cheered Scar Scales, ruffling Junior’s frill.

            “Thanks everyone,” spoke Axl smiling at the group now surrounding him. “I’ve got the best friends a swamp lizard could ever ask for.”

            “You better believe it!” croaked Iggy, as he and Brutus both approached with a limp. “It’s not easy being your friend, particularly when it comes to my health.”

            Axl gave Iggy a fist bump. “Thanks, brother!”

            “Don’t mention it,” Iggy replied sending Axl a wink.

            Brutus chuckled. “Wouldn’t have missed the it fer the world!”

            The cry of a wolf pierced through the sounds of the crowd.

            “Owoo!” We showed those rat boys what happens when you mess with the Nightriders!”

            Axl’s eyes lit up at seeing more of his friends emerging battle hardened, but alive.

            Axl grinned. “We sure did, old buddy!”

            “Yeah, yeah. . .” muttered Lonnie, his mane ruffled and dirty like his clothing from the battle. “Now if I can only find a place to take a shower. . .”
            “There’s always the good ol’ clean swamp water, Lon!” exclaimed Axl sending Lonnie a wink.

            Lonnie snorted. “Clean swamp water?” What planet do you live on?”

            Axl erupted into laughter. “Sorry, Lon! I forgot how particular cats are with their fur.”

            Axl could immediately tell he had managed to tap into his feline friend’s sense of humor as a smile grew on Lonnie’s face.

            “If only you had a mane, mister scales. . .”

            *****

            Epilogue

            Shortly after the celebration. Axl joined the men and women in rebuilding the swamp. Spike enjoyed being the center of the neighborhood restoration effort as he put his junkyard to use, using whatever scrap he could find to return the swamp village back to it’s former rustic glory. Even old man Graham appeared to find himself enjoying the action as it provided him with many opportunities to grouch and boss at the ‘young men.’

    “Yah stupid dumb bells! Those are shingles, not siding!”

    Sid, on the other hand, went back into rehabilitation at the Beach City Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Axl and his family even made a visit to Sid in his institution, bringing him gifts, out of hope that making peace would help in his recovery. Unfortunately, their meeting was cut short whenever Sid charged at Axl only to knock himself out cold against the glass.

            True to the Reign’s family legacy, Axl found positivity in light of the storm’s aftermath as he was reminded of just how rich a swamp lizard he was, his greatest treasure being his friends, and family and the lump of mud he lived on known as Greenwood Swamp.

Illustration by Randomthewolfskie

Thanks for reading!

THE END!!!

Special thanks to Randomthewolfskie for her dedication for her dedication toward helping me bring this story to life!

Nightriders: Revenge of the Sewer Rats Part 1

Description

  When Axl arrived back at the village, he was both irritated and relieved to find the police had finally decided to show up and were rounding up the injured and instigators into ambulances and the back of patrol cars.

            A large bulldog and slim golden retriever appeared to be in charge as they were taking statements from the neighborhood residents. The bulldog was stocky and top heavy, wearing a stern expression. As soon as he took notice of Axl, limping into town he marched over to him.

            “Mister Reigns?”

            Axl flicked his tongue, rolling his eyes. “Yeah?”

            The bulldog thumbed through the notepad he had been holding. “I’m officer Barker. Are you alright, sir?”

            Axl shrugged. “I’ve been better, but yeah, I’m alright.” He could already tell the bulldog officer held a strong disliking toward him as he eyed him suspiciously.

            “Well, Mister Reigns, I’m gonna need a good long statement from you, since, from what I’m hearing, you were in the middle of this conflict.”

            “It’s not like I had any choice. . .” huffed Axl. “By the way, where were you guys? We really could’ve used your help a few hours ago!”

            Officer Barker nervously chuckled, tilting his head. “Yeahh, sorry bout that. Crime is rampant in the city, you know, and we only have so many resources.”

            The golden retriever officer wearing a cheerful smile nodded in agreement. “It’s insane! We had Mister Dooper’s Donut shop all staked out with our men, to find out who’s been vandalizing his building with graffiti at night!”

            Selena rolled her eyes. “Well that sounds just horrible, officer. . .”

            Officer Barker released a loud cough as he prepared to diverge the conversation. “Ahem! Well, we had much more pressing issues than that, of course, but we’re getting off subject.”

            Just then, Axl felt mud being slung onto his bare back, some of it splattering onto Officer Bulldog’s shirt as well.

            Axl growled, as he turned around, attempting to wipe off some of the mud which now smudged his backside.

            Forcibly being escorted by an elephant and hyena officer was a mud-covered Sid.

            “I’m gonna burn it! Burn the whole swamp to the ground! Burn, burn, burn, burn, BURN!”

            Officer Bowers crinkled his nose as he wiped the sludge from his notepad. “On second thought, this can wait. . .”

            Axl flicked his tongue as he sent Barker an approving nod. “Thank you, officer.”

            Axl’s attention was diverted by the sound of cheering men from down the road. Led by Spike and Slade was a band of dirty, battle hardened lizard men, raising their weapons and fists in celebration.

            “Greenwood! Greenwood! Greenwood!”

            “There’s your army of swamp warriors, hun,” jested Selena as she lovingly cradled her arm around Axl’s back.

            Junior, Crusher, and Jaws joined in the celebration, bouncing up and down as they joined the group.

            Swamper and Diesel who were among the men, snatched up their sons, raising them above their shoulders.

            “We did it, sir!” beamed Slade. “We’ve driven those sewer rats out and saved the swamp!”

            Graham who was standing off to the side, with his arms irritably crossed, snorted. “If that’s what yeh wanna call it. . .”

            Spike released a loud burp after taking a swig from his can, wiping the end of his snout with his arm. “Ah, well we can rebuild whatever destruction the rats left. But everyone came out alive and intact, far as we know.”

            Despite his friend’s optimistic remark, Axl felt his tail droop as took notice of the burning homes and vehicles left behind by the rat’s rampage. The ghost of guilt again creeped into his conscience.

            “I dunno. I still can’t help but feel responsible for all this. Like I shoulda just turned myself in and. . .”

            Axl felt Selena tighten her grip on him as she demanded his attention, placing her head directly in front of his face.

    “Hon, don’t even go there. We did what we had to do.”

     Selena motioned toward Sid who was now being loaded into an ambulance, restrained in a strait jacket. “Someday, Junior’s going to have a family of his own. I want him to be a protector, like his father, not someone who cowers from a fight every time a bully comes into town.”

    Axl shrugged, flicking his tail as he pondered Selena’s words. “Whatever you say, babe.”

    Axl felt Selena release her embrace, as she stood in front of him, cradling his hands. “Sometimes you have no choice but to fight.”

            A reluctant smile curled on the side of Axl’s face as he felt Selena’s hair tickling the side of his snout. He could see Junior among the men, expressing his tree house adventure with Scar Scales and Red as they listened with fascination.

            Red wearing a prideful grin, nodded approvingly, resting his hands on his hips as Junior shared the usefulness of the raptor pirate’s ‘tree house defenses,’ during Sid’s attack.

            “Whaddya, I tell yah, kid? Clawfang Fortress is equipped with the best of Crossbone defenses!”

            “Yeer a real Crossbone, little mate!” cheered Scar Scales, ruffling Junior’s frill.

            “Thanks everyone,” spoke Axl smiling at the group now surrounding him. “I’ve got the best friends a swamp lizard could ever ask for.”

            “You better believe it!” croaked Iggy, as he and Brutus both approached with a limp. “It’s not easy being your friend, particularly when it comes to my health.”

            Axl gave Iggy a fist bump. “Thanks, brother!”

            “Don’t mention it,” Iggy replied sending Axl a wink.

            Brutus chuckled. “Wouldn’t have missed the it fer the world!”

            The cry of a wolf pierced through the sounds of the crowd.

            “Owoo!” We showed those rat boys what happens when you mess with the Nightriders!”

            Axl’s eyes lit up at seeing more of his friends emerging battle hardened, but alive.

            Axl grinned. “We sure did, old buddy!”

            “Yeah, yeah. . .” muttered Lonnie, his mane ruffled and dirty like his clothing from the battle. “Now if I can only find a place to take a shower. . .”
            “There’s always the good ol’ clean swamp water, Lon!” exclaimed Axl sending Lonnie a wink.

            Lonnie snorted. “Clean swamp water?” What planet do you live on?”

            Axl erupted into laughter. “Sorry, Lon! I forgot how particular cats are with their fur.”

            Axl could immediately tell he had managed to tap into his feline friend’s sense of humor as a smile grew on Lonnie’s face.

            “If only you had a mane, mister scales. . .”

            *****

            Epilogue

            Shortly after the celebration. Axl joined the men and women in rebuilding the swamp. Spike enjoyed being the center of the neighborhood restoration effort as he put his junkyard to use, using whatever scrap he could find to return the swamp village back to it’s former rustic glory. Even old man Graham appeared to find himself enjoying the action as it provided him with many opportunities to grouch and boss at the ‘young men.’

    “Yah stupid dumb bells! Those are shingles, not siding!”

    Sid, on the other hand, went back into rehabilitation at the Beach City Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Axl and his family even made a visit to Sid in his institution, bringing him gifts, out of hope that making peace would help in his recovery. Unfortunately, their meeting was cut short whenever Sid charged at Axl only to knock himself out cold against the glass.

            True to the Reign’s family legacy, Axl found positivity in light of the storm’s aftermath as he was reminded of just how rich a swamp lizard he was, his greatest treasure being his friends, and family and the lump of mud he lived on known as Greenwood Swamp.

Illustration by Randomthewolfskie

Thanks for reading!

THE END!!!

Special thanks to Randomthewolfskie for her dedication for her dedication toward helping me bring this story to life!

Nightriders: Revenge of the Sewer Rats Part 1