A/N: Yay! Anudda story.
Disclaimer: Salamandastron, Redwall, Lady Cregga Rose Eyes and the Long Patrol are (c) Brian Jacques. All other characters are (c) ME!
Salvo Swiftfoot stood on the beach with his young son, Galewind. The dawn came on rosy paws, rising from the sea. The calm water lapped lazily at the shore as Galewind sat down on the cool sand.
"When can I be in th' Long Patrol, papa?" Galewind looked up, smiling.
"When yore ready, wot wot!" The answer had always been the same, every time the young hare asked his father. Salvo patted his son's head. "Sometimes, little warriors can grow up to be big an' brave."
Galewind stamped his footpaw stubbornly. "When? Ya always say when I'm ready, but I needs a real answer!"
Salvo sighed. He drew patterns in the sand with his sabre, thinking. "In three seasons, m'laddo. By then, ye will be ten season old."
Galewind was contented. "Three seasons." He echoed. "When do I train?"
"A real warrior, ye are. Hm, how about next week?"
"Yes! Can I pick out a weapon now?" Galewind grinned widely, as Salvo led him upstairs to the forges.
"Who is it?" A gruff voice rang out from behind the stone door.
"Salvo Swiftfoot, Cregga, marm!"
The door swung open, revealing the massive rose-eyed badger. She was wearing a metal studded apron, and the heavy forge hammer rested in her collosal paw. "What d'you want, Salvo?"
"I want a weapon, Lady Cregga, marm!" Galewind piped up.
Cregga flashed one of her rare smiles. "Why, 'tis Galewind, the little warrior. Come in, come in."
The young hare looked around, meandering around the forge room, touching weapons and running his paw over the blades. He smiled as his paw met a longsword. The blade was bright, it seemed to beckon him towards it. Its hilt was bound with blue cord, and the pommel stone was a piece of jet-black obsidian.
"I see ye like that one, young Galewind. Well, it may be a big big for you, but try it out anyway." Cregga took the longsword down from its hook and handed it to Galewind.
Galewind was exceptionally tall for his age, and he felt that the sword fit his paw perfectly, almost as if it was made just for him. The obsidian pommel stone flashed as he swung it.
"I see it suits you well, Galewind. Well, it's yours now. Your mum will see to it that you get trained in using it properly. Now, for your long-range weapon. I think this will be right for you." Cregga handed the young hare a quiver of blue-fletched arrows and a longbow.
"Thankee, Cregga, marm!" Excited, Galewind rushed out the door, wanting to show all his friends his new weapons.
~@~@~
Sylvah Ranshay was marching with his horde, closer and closer to Mossflower. The big fox smiled evilly. He was coming!
Disclaimer: Salamandastron, Redwall, Lady Cregga Rose Eyes and the Long Patrol are (c) Brian Jacques. All other characters are (c) ME!
Salvo Swiftfoot stood on the beach with his young son, Galewind. The dawn came on rosy paws, rising from the sea. The calm water lapped lazily at the shore as Galewind sat down on the cool sand.
"When can I be in th' Long Patrol, papa?" Galewind looked up, smiling.
"When yore ready, wot wot!" The answer had always been the same, every time the young hare asked his father. Salvo patted his son's head. "Sometimes, little warriors can grow up to be big an' brave."
Galewind stamped his footpaw stubbornly. "When? Ya always say when I'm ready, but I needs a real answer!"
Salvo sighed. He drew patterns in the sand with his sabre, thinking. "In three seasons, m'laddo. By then, ye will be ten season old."
Galewind was contented. "Three seasons." He echoed. "When do I train?"
"A real warrior, ye are. Hm, how about next week?"
"Yes! Can I pick out a weapon now?" Galewind grinned widely, as Salvo led him upstairs to the forges.
"Who is it?" A gruff voice rang out from behind the stone door.
"Salvo Swiftfoot, Cregga, marm!"
The door swung open, revealing the massive rose-eyed badger. She was wearing a metal studded apron, and the heavy forge hammer rested in her collosal paw. "What d'you want, Salvo?"
"I want a weapon, Lady Cregga, marm!" Galewind piped up.
Cregga flashed one of her rare smiles. "Why, 'tis Galewind, the little warrior. Come in, come in."
The young hare looked around, meandering around the forge room, touching weapons and running his paw over the blades. He smiled as his paw met a longsword. The blade was bright, it seemed to beckon him towards it. Its hilt was bound with blue cord, and the pommel stone was a piece of jet-black obsidian.
"I see ye like that one, young Galewind. Well, it may be a big big for you, but try it out anyway." Cregga took the longsword down from its hook and handed it to Galewind.
Galewind was exceptionally tall for his age, and he felt that the sword fit his paw perfectly, almost as if it was made just for him. The obsidian pommel stone flashed as he swung it.
"I see it suits you well, Galewind. Well, it's yours now. Your mum will see to it that you get trained in using it properly. Now, for your long-range weapon. I think this will be right for you." Cregga handed the young hare a quiver of blue-fletched arrows and a longbow.
"Thankee, Cregga, marm!" Excited, Galewind rushed out the door, wanting to show all his friends his new weapons.
~@~@~
Sylvah Ranshay was marching with his horde, closer and closer to Mossflower. The big fox smiled evilly. He was coming!