'Shade'
Summary:
Shade and Willow are otter twins and daughters of Havloke, the leader of the Sadone Holt. They are constantly at odds and one day, when they endanger the Holt and their own lives with their bickering, they are sent to two different homes to get some discipline. Willow is sent to Redwall Abbey, while Shade lives a life on the coast at Salamandrastron. Shade grows into a formidable fighter while Willow studies and becomes a peaceful and caring member of Redwall.
Meanwhile, a young squirrel is discovered on the brink of starvation in the woodlands. She is mute, but the secrets she holds are dangerously related to the future of Redwall Abbey. Can she learn quickly enough to explain the events and the dreams Martin has sent her?
When the Badger Lord, Lightningstripe, learns that Redwall is in danger, he sets out to help the peaceful woodlanders with Shade amongst his troops. Soon the entire war will depend on Shades ability to let go of the past, and save Willow and the other abbey dwellers. However, sometimes the one thing that stands in our way is the one thing that can drive us on…
Disclaimer: I don't own Redwall, however Shade, Willow, Havloke, Turffle, Tager, Lynnsia, Autumn, Clover, Maxsus, Gruthe, Robram, Yewtho, Brazen, Sunny, Slip, Treestar, Wetback, Gertole, Tresha, Vilera, Flower, Tuff, Tukk, Nissa, Ember, Ashwind, Coal, Heff, Cinder, Stride, Flow, and anyone else I come up with are mine. M-I-N-E. Also, the songs are all mine, Brain Jacques, I give you your credit, but I like giving myself credit in my stories too!
Part One:
Departure
Chapter one:
Trouble and Hares
Shade charged at her sister, Willow cried out in terror as Shade brought a heavy fist up to strike her smaller sibling. Although Willow was the firstborn of the twins, Shade was always larger, and more aggressive, and Willow had made the mistake of teasing her sister in front of Robram, a friendly and cute otter who was only a season older then the twins. Robram's father, Gruthe, was a strong otter, and Havlokes second in command. The three young otters played together a lot and Shade liked Robram a lot, however, he seemed quite amused with Willow, and Shade didn't like that at all.
It was Gruthe's hand that stopped Willow from gaining a black eye, or a bloody nose. Gruthe pulled Shade easily off of Willow who scampered into the waiting arms of her father, sobbing. She quickly explained what happened and Havloke looked to Robram, who nodded his conferment of her story. Hedger sighed. "You can let go now Gruthe." Havloke said. "Why don't you take Brooke and Robram fishing?" Gruthe knew it wasn't a suggestion. He quickly motioned the kids in front of him as they left the large dining room of the Holt.
The dining room branched off in three directions, one to the caves that served as dorms and for the otters. Since the otters had always been few, every otter had a dorm to sleep in when they were not on sentry duty, and all mates had permanent dorms that were not shared. Others, like siblings and close friends, shared the room between their sentry times. The other tunnel led to the leader's quarters which had three parts, a master bedroom for the leader and mate, a nursery, and a spare room for important meetings. The final tunnel lead to the kitchen, which had a nice space right by a small hole in the cliff face that the otters lived in. The hole was big enough for fit otters to go in and out, and one could also roll supplies down to the kitchens without going through the dining area. The room across the hall from the kitchen served as an infirmary, which was also where Yewtho, the healer of the holt, slept.
Havloke eyed his daughter angrily. Shade stared at him right back, her eyes blazing in anger. Havloke knew Shade was practically fearless. Since her mother had died, Shade had grown far too reckless for his, or the Holts, liking. While Willow had gradually come out of her mournful state, Shade had remained rebellious and reckless. Although he'd never mentioned it, Shade reminded the wise leader of his deceased mate, Vilera. She had often been outspoken and a little rebellious at times, even in public. However, Havloke knew Vilera was a rock of good sense, which was the one difference between his young daughter and his mate.
Shade hadn't dropped her glare, still awaiting Havloke's lecture and disciplinary punishment. He almost wanted to wave her off, being she'd only just an hour ago finished scrubbing pots for some other wrongdoing. However, other holt members would view this as favoritism, although Shade had been punished twice a day every day for the past week. This would mark the third time today.
"Go see if Yewtho needs anything." Hedger said. Shade wrinkled her brow in obvious distaste of the chore. Helping the cranky old healer was not something she liked doing. Havloke watched her obediently head the healer's way and turned to see a group of otters returning, their backs laden with fresh fruits and vegetables.
One of them was Gruthe's mate, Sunrudder, often called Sunny, who had apparently caught site of Havloke and was heading towards him. "Shade again?" She asked. Havloke merely nodded. "You should've made her unpack the food." Sunny said, jerking her head towards the baskets of food.
"I didn't know you were back until after I sent her to see Yewtho" Havloke replied. "See anything unusual?"
"What do you mean by unusual?" Sunny asked cautiously.
"Anything there that shouldn't be." Havloke replied.
"Including a dozen hungry hares we brought home with us?" Sunny asked, keeping a straight face.
Havloke gave a loud, and long, sigh as he saw the hares enter; among them were about seven leverets who were apparently training to scout. The five older hares seemed well into their older seasons.
One of them, a colonel by the looks of his outfit, stepped over to greet Havloke. Havloke gave him a good look-over until recognition dawned on him. "Battle-axes and bell ringers! Truffle is it really you mate? I see your ranks been changed." Havloke said, receiving a silly grin and a lazy salute in reply.
"Tis me you walloping lump of an otter. As for the rank, ol' Colonel Baskers' died last week. I was the lucky replacement." Truffle replied. "Those other brutes," Truffle jerked a thumb back at the other five hares, "Are Kersey, Ferdimond, Autumn, and Tager." Truffle pointed to each hare in turn. Autumn was a beautiful golden-red color with bold amber eyes. Tager was a light creamy hair. Tager looked like he was the youngest of the group, while Ferdimond looked like the oldest. "This is my son," Truffle motioned a young leveret forward with a paw "Treestar."
"He looks around my daughters' age." Havloke said. Looking the young hare over.
"Ah yes, how are the pair? Still amissen poor Vilera?" Truffle seemed to wince; worried the subject shouldn't have been brought up.
" Willow's doing better. Shade's grown… rebellious." Havloke said. "I still miss 'er, always will I suppose."
"I truly am sorry about that old fellow." Truffle said, his voice carrying a sympathetic tone.
"I know you are." Havloke replied. "But let's forget that sad subject and discuss other matters shall we?"
Shade appeared out of nowhere, coming to stand nearby, she eyed Truffle with a look that made him uncomfortable. He smiled over at her but she kept on staring. Havloke was about to reprimand her but Treestar was faster.
"Hi, my names Treestar, what's yours?" He asked, coming over and offering her his hand.
Shade took it. "Shade." She replied. "Want to have some fun?" She asked, a sly tone creeping into her voice.
"Shade…" Havloke started in a warning tone.
"I was just going to take him over to the falls." Shade said, giving her father a look.
"Very well, if Truffle doesn't mind." Havloke cast a look over at his friend; Treestar also eyed his father, giving him a pleading look.
"Go ahead." Truffle nodded. "Take some of the other leverets with you too." Truffle said.
Treestar looked angry at this but shrugged. Shade led the way, scampering over to the entrance with Treestar on her heels.
"That was odd." Havloke said.
"What?" Truffle asked.
"Shade's usually very… well she prefers not to have company." Havloke said.
"Treestar's like that too. They make a good pair from what I've seen and heard." Truffle said.
"Well, shall we take a seat and catch up?" Havloke said, motioning towards some chairs and stools in a circle a little ways off.
"Sure." Truffle nodded.
