Disclaimer

I do not, in any way, shape or form, claim to own Aliens, Predator, or Redwall. These titles are owned by 20th Century Fox and Brian Jacques, respectively. This is fanfiction, meant to express my love of all these franchises. If you feel I have made mistakes in my use of the Predator or Redwall licences, feel free to verbally flog me. If you feel I have made mistakes with the Alien licence, I couldn't care less. I'm right and you're wrong. Besides, I'm entitled to some creative liberties. Anything or anyone that doesn't come from Aliens, Predator, or Redwall belongs to ME. You can't use them. This story is rated "PG-13" for violence.

Sidebar: This is an enhanced version of my first ever story. Most of the changes are small grammar mistakes, but there are some bigger changes in the last two chapters.

Ch.1: The Stage is Set

The setting Mossflower sun cast long shadows across the woodlands; bathing the sandstone walls of Redwall abbey in it's golden-orange light. Oblivious to the dwindling daylight, the Redwallers continued with their feasting under torch and firelight. It was the nameday feast for the Spring of the Early Songbird, two seasons having passed since the defeat of Ferahgo the Assassin and his Corpsemakers. The woodlanders had been feasting since noon, with heaping plates of salads and stews, and enough pies and cobblers to keep armies on their feet. All the Redwallers were partaking in the festivities. All save one, a young badger maid, sitting by herself on the west wall, gazing at the sunset.

Mara of Redwall, formerly of Salamandastron, watched the setting sun through soft brown eyes, a peaceful smile on her lips. She thought back to the Autumn of the Homecomers, of how she had first seen Redwall, and had sat in the long-empty chair of the Badger Mother. She remembered how her friend Pikkle the hare had left for Salamandastron, feeling the call of the mountain, and knowing that she would be happy in her new home. She recalled the long winter, telling stories around the fire. She had told the story of her journey to the inland sea more times than she could recall, and still the young ones wanted to hear it again. She had begun her training as the Mother of Redwall, although the thought of one so young being mother to anyone made her laugh.

She realised that the sun had gone down, and that the stars were out above her. Still smiling, she got up to rejoin her friends. Turning she saw Abbess Vale at the top of the stairs, watching her.

"Are you all right, young one?" she asked, concerned. "Why did you leave the feast?"

Mara smiled at her friend. "I'm fine, Mother Abbess. I enjoy the sunsets, and I daresay I've gorged enough to keep me going for weeks!"

The Abbess laughed, "Indeed, Bellows certainly outdid himself this time. It's a shame Pikkle wasn't here, to help clear up the leftovers."

The two friends turned, laughing. They walked down to join the others at the feast, which was finally starting to die down. They laughed, talked, and ate, without a real care or worry between them.

If they had stayed on the walltop for a few more minutes, they would have been able to see the fireball, streaking across the night sky to come crashing down in the Northeast.

~~

Roth Longrudder couldn't help but notice the meteor. It had come crashing down into the river that ran next to his home, skidding along it for a hundred metres before ramping off the bank and demolishing his home. Luckily, the young otter and his wife had been outside, stargazing. Roth stared at the intruder. It appeared to be little more than a large steel box, with small cylinders fused to the sides. The outline of a door and handle could be clearly seen in the moonlight. Although it had crashed into the river, it was completely dry, still glowing dangerously from the heat of it's descent.

Roth stood up, reaching for his dagger, which he kept at his side. Seeing his wife rising, he put a hand on her shoulder.

"You stay 'ere, Marigold. No sense gettin' up over rubbish like this 'ere tin can."

She looked worried. "What is it, Roth?"

He smiled. "Sure an' I don't know, dearest. I don't think it's dangerous, just rude. Fancy that, wreckin' a poor fella's home like that, and without so much as a how-d'you-do?"

She laughed at him. "You are silly, Roth Longrudder. Be careful."

He nodded, walking slowly alongside the trench that the object had carved into his property. He tried to touch it, finding it to be untouchable. He turned and yelled to his wife. "I can't get close, It's too hot!" He walked back to where she stood, watching the thing curiously. "We'll have to wait 'till it cools off a bit, then we can see what it is."

They turned toward their home, seeing that it was now more of a crater. Roth chuckled, defeated. "All right, then. A bed of grass for the lady."

~~

Far away, over hills and plains, atop a distant cliff, two other sets of eyes saw the descending meteor. The owners of these eyes knew exactly what it was, however; and without so much as a word between them, they packed what few possessions they had, and left in it's direction, vanishing strangely fast into the nearby forest.