The Pyro Chronicles: Our Hero Comes to Redwall
Disclaimer I do not own anything related to Redwall, except Redwall books, so please don't sue me.
(A/N: These Chronicles are not on the Redwall time line, so do not try to relate. It must be lots of time after Taggerung, when the Abbey had better seasons)
The warm sun shined down on the pink faded stones of a huge stone Abbey. It was the start of a great day, as young Traggers could tell. He looked at the scene of quite Mossflower, which has had many seasons of peace. He could tell today was special, for today Friar Bestra was cooking a special meal for the beginning of summer. The young squirrel was very eager to go to Cavern Hole, so he raced down the stairs. He found his mouse friend Grop, was already in the kitchens with Bestra the Hare cooking up her famous 'Summer Celebration Bell Tower Cake'.
"Well young 'uns, what are you doing up so bally early, wot? Did you two want to help me with the food?". "We would really like to, if you can except that we're early birds." said Traggers, with a mischievous grin. "I guess you could help you bally ol' crows, just don't destroy the cake with yor pecking, wot wot! Can you frost the cake with this cherry cream frosting? Just don't over frost it, that's the first layer." explained Bestra, starting on the salad, starting to chop hazelnuts. "What do we do after?" inquired Grop, starting to frost the bottom of the huge, pointed topped tower cake. "You can take the summer cream frosting and make a thicker layer of frosting, then let it settle, wot!"
It was a cold nightmare, the place of the north. A lone survivor walked through the quite Mossflower woods. He had never experienced summer before, it felt great to him. He use to belong to the army of Donsai-Gukka, the weasel warlord of the north. He was a high captain, loyal to the warlord, until he saw what cruelty the warlord was capable of. He saw what a fright it was in slavery and saw poor littlebeasts being forced to worked and how they were tortured. He rebelled and stood firm protecting the weaker beasts. He was punished and was wounded close to death, still had his scars. He was lucky that the peaceful mouse tribe gave him hospitality and gave him a ride to the southern part, wanting him to live a new peaceful life. It was really too painful to remember. He stopped by a nearby river, to get a drink. It was crystal clear and cold. Then to his surprise he turned around and saw a group of angry, tough looking otters surrounding him. "Who are yer, and what are you doing drinkin' from ouwr river?!" asked the biggest otter, the leader. "Please, I mean thee no 'arm, I'm good, wot's yor name?". "Skipper of the Trusan Holt! 'Who are you?" asked the otter, looking friendly. "My name be Reing." said the stoat cheerfully.
The cake was nearly finished, the candied lilacs surrounded the top, diced beechnuts and almonds were placed on the cake roof, the cake really did look like the tower. "Now all that's to be done is to place in the bells, wot!". The bells were a huge, candied amount of dandelion petals fit in a bell shape. It was fairly light so they picked them up and tied a rope to the bells, then tied the rope the inside of the pointed top and everything was set. "Well, guess that takes everything, wot!". "The Redwallers will wake up soon!" shouted Traggers, eager to start the first meal, a scrumptious breakfast. Then unexpectedly came in Abbot Dreyus, still in his nightgown. "Why were you young ones doing up so early? Did you do so just to make the cake and other foods for dinner? Well, if so, then can I have some?". "Oh you young blighter, You've been that bally way since a small dibbun, wot, wot!" commented Bestra, very annoyed. Yes, he was young for a Abbot. He was born a leader and was very cunning. He was very sly when he was a very small mouse. "I came down here to discuss something with Bestra, so be off!" commanded Dreyus in a very stern voice. Traggers and Grop did what they were told. "There is something terrible happened with Sorwat, the old Abbey warrior!" said Dreyus, in a fierce voice. "Does that mean he's..." she thought the abbot knew what she was talking about. "I'm afraid so. He live very long seasons for a squirrel, and he died a hero, may all memories we will remember him by.". "So that's the end of him? Who will be the new warrior, wot?". "I'm don't know yet, there really isn't anyone in the Abbey with fighting skills like he had.". "Poor ol' mate, I goin' to miss the blighter!".
Little did the hare and mouse know that the young ones were dropping on their conversation. "Ya hear that Grop? Sorwat gone to the Dark Gates!". "Aye, they're goin' pick a new warrior too!". "I also wonder..." Traggers was about to finish when he came up to Dreyus and asked. "What will this summer be called Abbot, sir?". "Oh, right, It will be called 'The Summer Of the Dandelion Fields' Traggers me boy!" he said in a hearty voice.
Reing was happy in the otter Holt. Otters where such strange creatures. They did not live up in the Northlands. Anyhow, he enjoyed the hospitality. They sung of old river songs, foods and other weird tales. Also, for the first time in his life he tried Hotroot soup. It was very spicy and enjoyable. "Thank ye fore yer kindness, I mus' be on my way though, so I bid thee farewells.". Reing was sorry to leave, even on the pleasant summer day, but he needed to continue his search for a home, so he could live in peace. "Wait!!" shouted Skipper, stopping Reing. "Just afore ye leaves, I want to see that ancient sword?!" asked Skipper. It was of great craftsmanship, it was an old blade, it had a curved hilt, and the sword was in scripted with markings and scratches, which was in another language. "Well, bless yor 'eart, thank yer, it's very nice me mate!".
It was a fine breakfast indeed, rich oatmeal with honey, rosehip tea and dandelion and burdock cordial, fresh summer salad, hot barley bread and gooseberry tarts for dessert. Traggers enjoyed his breakfast next to a female squirrel named Russetbud. They were friends since they were very young. "Hey Russetbud? Did ya know that Sorwat is dead and they're picking a new warrior?". "Really? Oh, the poor soul, I guess his time was up.". Then the Abbot made his announcements. "Everybeast listen up! Sorwat our old warrior, also friend and hero has died. We will have a funeral for our fallen comrade this afternoon after lunch. Also they new name of the summer is 'The Summer of the Dandelion Fields'!". Everybeast cheered as the new season had began.
Reing had continued his long journey, he had been traveling for about an hour and stopped at a brook. There he made a fire to cook some pike and took out a jug of strawberry fizz and rested for a while. When he got up he discovered a huge redish-pink building in the distance. He decided that he would go and stay there for awhile. So he got up and started approaching the stone building, wondering what kind of place it was.
They rest of the morning was quite and still. The dibbuns weren't affected one bit. They continued their playing and fooling. The three creatures weren't affected either. "Okay Russetbud! You seek now!" shouted Traggers, tapping Russetbud from her hiding place on the branches of a russet apple tree. She climbed down, eating an apple from the tree. "Okay you scallywag, I'll count to ten! One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... ten! Ready or not I'm coming to get you!". She climbed atop every tree in the orchard in no time, with no success. Then she looked behind a pile of logs and found Traggers hiding. "I found you! Come help me find Grop.". They went and looked in all the gardens with no luck. "We give up Grop, where were you hiding?" asked Russetbud, giving up. "Behind the pond!" he shouted while he materialized.
Reing had exactly figured out how long it would take to the Abbey. He knocked loudly on the door. Dreyus answered it. "Who are you vermin? You are not aloud!". "Wait! I am a goodbeast! I have come to search for a home. Can I please come in?". "Well I guess so..."
What will happen with this new arrival at the Abbey? R&R please!