Mossflower Country was trapped in a harsh midwinter storm. The ground was covered in a thick blanket of snow. A female badger was walking in it, waist-deep. She shielded her eyes against the blizzard, but it couldn't help her see any better. In this weather one could not tell if she were in the western mountains or in Mossflowerwood.
The badger, Delphene, was in fact in Redwall. She was looking for somebeast.
"Aaachoo!"
Even though the wind was whistling in her old ears, Delphene was able to pick up on the noise and followed the direction it came from. Sure enough, it led her to a upturned log boat, almost completely buried in the snow. From beneath it the sound of chattering teeth could be heard.
Delphene upturned the boat to find none other than Tallo, the missing otter pup. He looked up at her apologetically from the little snow ditch he was laying in. She promptly took off her own cloak and wrapped the little one in it. She then lifted him up and started back to Cavern Hole, wind tearing at her exposed grey fur.
"I'm sorry!" Tallo had to yell above the wind. He felt that the badger was very disappointed and he just had to say something.
"Young Tallo," Delphene said sternly, trying to be heard above the wind without seeming like she was yelling at the pup. "Thank the lucky stars you are not a frozen pupsickle by now-"
"But I am a pupsickle!" Tallo interrupted. "Look how cold I am!"
The badger looked down at the bundle otter, who only had his little black nose sticking out of the cloak. Her words sounded serious but she was actually smiling at the cute pup. "Do not interrupt your elders, that is very impolite. We will finish this conversation once we are inside."
Despite the horrible weather, the creatures of Redwall were making the best of it in Cavern Hole. The great surplus of food from the fall harvest came in handy today. Chef Henry was able to whip up something of a small feast.
He got many praises for the delicious selection of pastries laying out on the tables. There were plenty of flakey crusted cherry and cream cheese danishes, warm apple crumb cakes, and fragrant pumpkin spice cookies. Back in the kitchen, a giant cauldron of thick, hearty vegetable stew was kept warm on the stove fire. Anybeast could go back and get a bowlful whenever he or she pleased.
The atmosphere was rather quiet and subdued in Cavern Hole. Everybeast seemed to be just enjoying the food or engaging in low-toned conversations. Even the dibbuns were fairly silent. They would only whine every so often, "I'm bored," or "I want to play in the snow."
The answer was always something like, "no, you'll freeze to death" or, "go play with your little friends."
The only problem was the dibbuns had already played hide and seek, bored games, and other inside activities for the past two days. They have grown bored of indoor games and were ready to play outside in the snow.
Even the older folks of Redwall seemed to be lacking entertainment. After their stomach was full and a nap was taken, there wasn't much else to do besides lounge around or have a dull conversation. Truely, each of the elder best secretly wished they could go outside and do something, much like the dibbuns.
Heads turned as Delphene entered Cavern Hole carrying a bundled cloak. Faces seemed to light up as a little otter pup head popped out of the folds of cloth.
"So you've found the little villain," Brother Sage, the recorder, said. His voice was scornful but also sounded relieved.
"Quite right," Delphene replied as she put Tallo down. "It seems he's only suffering from a runny nose. We should be thankful he wasn't frozen solid, the little vermin."
Looking at the ashamed otterpup, Brother Sage said, "Young Tallo, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Tallo still had Delphene's cloak around his shoulders, which was so big on him it looked like he was wearing a bedsheet. The little one was looking down at the floor. He toed the ground awkwardly and said, "I'm sorry."
"You best be," said Brother Sage, looking at the pup from overtop his specks. "Delphene, what do you suppose we do with this one? He disobeyed Abbot Wilson's very word to not go outside."
"I suppose being trapped under that boat out in freezing weather was punishment enough," the badger said, giving Tallo a rather kindly look. "Little one, we only tell you not to do things for your own safety. Listen to your elders from now on."
Tallo only nodded.
"Delphene is right," Sage added. "You could have gotten very sick out in that storm. Now, run along with the other dibbuns."
The badger knelt down in front of Tallo. "Your friends are all gathered on the rug in front of the fireplace. I hear Abbot Wilson has a surprise for you all."
The little otter smiled excitedly and ran over to the old, red-colored rug with Delphene's cloak dragging behind him like a long cape. The fireplace was burning bright and warm, casting its amber glow on the Abby babies gathered around it. There was a plushy armchair set beside the rug, undoubtedly for the Abbot to sit in.
And there he came, the ancient mouse Abbot, with a rather large book in his thin arms. He was hobbling trying to carry the heavy volume, his frail form being relieved of the burden as Brother Sage grabbed the book from him.
"Father Abbot," Sage said. "Forgive me for saying this, but you are no spring chick anymore. Please do ask for help when you need it."
"Oh phooey!" was the reply as the Abbot got settled down in his armchair. "Though I am a dibbun at heart, I do not need to be treated like one! Now Sege, would you please scooch that table in front of me, it's rather hefty. And set the book on top, would you? That a mouse! Now, how about fetching me some October ale and a few of those wonderful smelling cookies?"
Brother Sage rolled his eyes and the Abbot chuckled.
On of the dibbuns, a molebabe, piped up, "Burr, zurr h'abbot, moi mutter told oi you'm had a sorprois for us'ns."
"That's quite right, young fella," Abbot Wilson said, then took a drought of October Ale.
"What is it, Father Abbot," Tallo shouted excitedly.
Abbot Wilson didn't answer. He just took a bite of a pumpkin spice cookie, chewing thoughtfully.
"What is it!" the dibbuns yelled in unison. "What is it! What is it!"
Delphene chuckled. "Dear Abbot, you'd best stop teasing those dibbuns before they start running amuck. They've been traped in Cavern Hole for two days now, this blasted storm!"
"Not just the dibbuns," Brother Sage chimed in. "All is old ones are sick of being cooped up too."
A few murmurs of agreement circled around the room.
"Well don't fret," the Abbot's creaky voice rang out, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I have just the thing to entertain both young and old alike." He opened the book to the first page. "You've all heard the story of Lord Brocktree, the defeat of Razzid Wearat, and everything in between. But few of you heard the most recent tale of Redwall history. I have just finished taking the diary entries of a past Redwall recorder named Dawmund and converted it into a more digestible form."
The dibbuns stared at the Abbot with interest glowing in their eyes. The older ones listed intently.
"This tale takes place many hundreds of seasons after the attack of Razzid Wearat. A peaceful span of time when us Woodlanders least expected tragedy to strike. This is the story of why Martin's sword no longer hangs above the tapestry, of what it truly means to be a warrior, and why we should never underestimate the power of evil. This is the story of Cedar Skyheart…"