Disclaimer: I do not claim to own any of the characters of Redwall, only Dune the mouse and Josh…well, I will let you find out what he is!
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Chapter 1: A Friendship begins
The sound of birds chirping awoke Josh from his sleep. He slowly opened his eyes, but shut them again because of the bright light.
'Why is my bedroom so bright?' Josh asked himself
He opened his eyes again and looked around. He was lying on the ground in the middle of a forest, it was early morning and there was a slight chill in the air. Josh began to panic.
"Where am I? How did I get here?" he said aloud
Josh clapped a hand over his mouth as he heard his voice. It had a deeper sound to it and it seemed to be a little rough. He looked down at his hand and screamed. His hand was covered in short brown fur and his fingers had claws instead of nails.
"What happened to me?"
Josh looked at his chest, instead of wearing his pajamas, he was wearing a dark green jerkin and a leather vest. Underneath his clothes was more brown fur. Josh looked down at his feet and realized they were now paws.
Josh leapt to his feet and he felt something brush against his back. He reached a paw back and felt his tail, tail? Josh spied a small puddle of water nearby and he ran over to it. He kneeled down and leaned over the water, he let out a gasp. There staring back at him was the face of a weasel.
'Is that me?' he asked himself
Josh then looked up and scanned his new surroundings. His throat became dry with fear. It finally dawned on him where he was.
"No, it can't…there is no way…this can't be real!" he shouted
He looked around at the giant trees, he sniffed the clean air, and he felt the fertile earth beneath his paws.
"I am in Mossflower Wood" he said in a whisper to himself.
Josh turned to face the spot where he had woken up. Lying on the ground was a hooded cloak, a long-bladed sword, a water flask, a pack and a dagger. He went and collected all of the items and strapped them on. Josh opened the pack, inside was a small amount of food and a blanket. He placed it on his back and began to look through the openings in the trees. Josh spotted what looked like a road.
"Well, looks like I have 'lot of walkin ta do" said Josh
Josh leaned his head back and groaned.
"Great, now I 'ave an accent. Jus wha' I needed, oh well, mus' make de best of it" he said as he started for the road.
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Down that very same road was a tavern and it was filled with weasels, rats, stoats and ferrets. They were lying back in chairs, sitting along the counter and standing around swinging mugs full of ale and wine. In some spots a fight would break out and the vermin would cheer the combatants on. A rat had bumped into a ferrets back, causing him to spill his ale, the ferret growled and spun a fist at the rat.
WHAM
The rat shrieked as it went flying into a table, knocking more creatures to the ground. Over in the back corner, sitting at his table and drinking from his mug of ale, was a mouse. The mouse was wearing a dark blue jerkin and a brown cloak, with the hood up. Hanging from his belt was a short sword, two throwing knives and leaning against the wall behind him was an oak staff.
Dune the mouse, sipped from his tankard and tried to hide his smirk as he watched the rat get tossed over the bar. Dune heard footsteps approach his table and he turned to face a fat stoat. The stoat glared at him and he reached for his club.
"I tho' I tol ye ta nevar cum back 'ere mouse!" he hissed
Dune smiled and took another sip from his tankard.
"Why should I listen to you snotnose! I can drink here if I want" he said
A weasel yanked Dune's mug away.
"I don't think ye 'eard im right, mouse! We want ye ta get out, or else!" he snarled
Dune then looked at the weasel with a dangerous grin on his face.
"Did you just take my drink, mate?" he asked casually
The weasel sneered and nodded. He opened his mouth to speak.
THWACK
The weasel fell to the floor and Dune jumped up on top of the table wielding his staff. The tavern had grown quiet.
"Anyone else want to challenge, Dune the mouse! I am ready for you!" said Dune
A multitude of blades were drawn and with shouts, all the vermin charged the lone figure. Dune struck out at a stoat and hit it between the eyes, it fell to the ground. He jabbed a rat in the belly and then kicked it into the charging horde. Dune leapt from the table and flew over the crowd. Dune picked up a mug and threw it at a rat that was still sitting down. The rat turned to the ferret that was sitting behind him.
"Why ye liddle!" he said as he punched the ferret into the back of a weasel and then everything went berserk. Soon the other patrons were fighting each other and Dune just casually walked through the pandemonium. He bashed two rat's heads together and then he tripped a stoat. He made his way to the bartender and slapped down two silver coins.
"Sorry for the mess, but here is my money for the drink" Dune said to the weasel behind the bar. As Dune turned away a rat came sliding across the counter, taking the coins with him.
As he was heading for the door the fat stoat blocked his path, grinning evily. Dune didn't even waist any words with him.
CRACK, SMACK, THWACK!
The stoat collapsed to the ground without a sound. Dune picked up a mug of ale from a nearby table and took a sip as he stepped around two ferrets. He ducked a wine goblet and then placed the mug down on another table. He stopped at the door and turned back to the unconscious stoat.
"I always get my drink" and with that he stepped out the door.
Dune walked out to the road and looked in both directions.
"Hmm, now which way shall I go?" he said to himself
He drew one of his throwing daggers and spun it on the tip of his finger. It stopped spinning and pointed South.
"South it is then!" said Dune and off he went.
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Josh had been walking in what he thought was North for hours and he hadn't seen any sign of life. The weasel wiped his head and sat down on a boulder.
"Whew, I am bushed! Tha' was de farthest I 'ave ever traveled in a day!" he said
He pulled out his water flask and took a drink from it. He then began to think.
'Why was I brought here? I am no warrior, so why am I here?' he thought to himself
Suddenly his ears heard somebeast humming. Josh looked to the north and watched as a mouse with a walking stick came around the corner, humming a lively tune to himself. Josh just sat there and stared as the mouse headed in his direction.
Dune noticed the weasel sitting on the side of the road and decided to have himself a nice little chat. As he walked up the weasel just sat there and stared at him. Dune bowed and then looked the weasel in the eye.
"May I sit down, mate?" asked Dune
The weasel nodded dumbly. Dune leaned his staff against the boulder and took a seat beside the other beast. He felt the weasel look him from head to tow and then he faced him and smiled.
"I have never seen you around here before mate! I am Dune the mouse, traveler, warrior at you service. What is your name?" he asked
Josh swallowed.
"Me name is, Josh! Tis a pleasure ta make yer acquaintance, Dune de mouse" said Josh as he shook Dune's paw.
Dune frowned for a bit.
"Hmm, Josh, now that is an odd name. I take it you are not from around here, are you?" asked Dune
Josh shook his head.
"Nay, I am not from aroun' ere, nor from any lan ta de North, South, East or de West" said Josh
Now Dune was really interested in hearing this weasel's tale.
"Care to tell me your tale, mate? I won't be going anywhere soon" said Dune
Josh began his tale about how he was not originally a weasel, but another creature called a human. He was from another world or time and he had woke up here after he had went to bed. As Josh told his story, Dune raised an eyebrow and scratched his chin. And then Josh finished his tale. Dune sat there for a few minutes as he pondered what he had just heard.
"You know what, Josh me mate! I believe you, that I do. So strictly speaking, since you have no knowledge of Mossflower, perhaps you would like to join me in my travels. What do you say to that?" said Dune with a smile
Josh smiled and then bowed his head to the mouse.
"Aye, Dune me mate, I accept yer offer an' I am in yer debt" said Josh
Dune fell over and laughed, he sat back up and wiped a tear from his eye.
"I don't need any beast in my debt, Josh, let's just be friends and leave it at that, agreed?" he held out his paw.
Josh smiled again and shook it.
"Agreed"
"Good" said Dune, jumping to his feet, "Now, first things first, you are going to need a new name, for Josh sounds really strange. Hmm"
Dune began to pace back and forth while the weasel followed him with his eyes. Suddenly Dune broke into a large grin.
"I've got it! Josh, me matey, I now name you, Craig the weasel!" he said with another bow.
Josh thought for a minute and then nodded his head.
"I like de soun' of tha' name, Craig, aye I really do! I thank ye again, Dune" Craig said
Dune pulled his new friend to his feet.
"Well what are we waiting for, Craig me mate, let's get going, we have till winter to explore the vastness of Mossflower!" shouted Dune.
Dune headed over to a small sapling a cut it off, he stripped the bark off and small branches. He handed the new walking stick to Craig and they set of. Who would have thought that a mouse and a weasel from another place, could become such great friends. Little did they know that their friendship would take them through many dangers.
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Well that is the first chapter of this story! How did you guys like it? Please Review!!!!