The fourth day after the shipwreck started normally. Chase woke up from his spot in the cave and Clawfire got up from protecting him at the mouth of it. It was a sunny day and the waves were breaking gently on the shore. That day, Chase wanted to go find his crewmates to see whether or not they were still alive.

He communicated this to Clawfire. Clawfire agreed, although tentatively because he doubted whether the others-- if they were alive -- were as friendly and amiable as Chase was. He did agree, however, and they walked side by side down to the other end of the beach to where the other Landwalkers had gotten ashore. This end had rougher rocks and brambly plants, so Chase was concerned for his crew because they would be further injured if they were alive.

They reached a pair of the originally seven crew; two men slumped over a piece of driftwood that they had presumably grabbed onto during the shipwreck. One had seaweed draped over most of his body and the other’s eyes were closed. They were both obviously dead, and Chase barely held in tears as he examined them. The majority of his crew had been good men, and there were none better than these two, the sail trimmers.

The rest of his crew were in similar circumstances, all visibly dead. There was one stocky man who was entirely belly- and face-down in the rough sand and Chase didn’t want to disturb him. Chase now realized that he had been the only survivor and he could not stop his tears from flowing. Five of his best friends were gone and another crewmate was dead with them.

Noticing Chase grieving, Clawfire paused in his stride and said, “Fly straight and find your rest, shipmates of Chase and loyal Landwalkers.”

Chase appreciated the white captain’s words and they walked back in companionable silence.

That was when the other things things happened. Beaversun, a spy in training under Clawfire, flew over the trees and had a view of the beach near Crabwing’s Bay. Close behind him was Dewberry. They landed near Clawfire and stared at him.

Dewberry snorted derisively. “Some hiding spot, huh?”

Clawfire shifted uncomfortably because he knew she was right, yet so wrong in the scheme of things. That was when Beaversun noticed Chase behind Clawfire’s body.

“Wait wait wait WHAT?!!” he whinnied. “WHO IS THAT?!” “If I didn’t know better, I’d say that the Landwalkers have come to Anok!”

Clawfire faced his trainees grimly. “You don’t know better,” he admitted. He stepped aside to reveal a petrified Chase to the two equally shocked pegasi.

~~~~~~~~

And to compile bad events on top of one another, that was when Tanner-- the one crewmate that wasn’t good friends with Chase-- regained consciousness and groggily sat up.