The dusky sun hung out on the flatlands, bathing Redwall in orange light. The red sandstone turned pink as it caught the light, warming to the touch.

A beautiful scene that belied the turmoil inside.

"Martin! Martin the Warrior, where are you?"

"Martin! Come on, matey! Where are you?"

"Burr, zurr Marthen, whurr be ye?"

Bella, Gonff, and Dinny met in front of the gatehouse in their search for Martin. Bella's striped, worried face looked at them. "Did you find him?"

Gonff shook his head, his normally cheerful face marred with a frown. "Where would he go? It's not like him to just disappear like that."

Dinny tapped his digging claws together in thought. "Hurr, maybe zurr Marthen went into ee gurt wuddlands."

Bella nodded thoughtfully. "That may be where he went. I'll organize a search party, you two go out before us. Try to find him, and bring him back here."

Gonff and Dinny nodded, and went out the south wallgate.

Martin strode through Mossflower, his sword on his back and a horrible look of sadness on his face. He sighed deeply. One year. It had been one year since the death of Laterose. Leaning against a tree, he wiped his paw over his face. It came away wet. Martin sat down. If he looked up, he could barely see the roof of Redwall. He wiped his paw over his face again, and buried his head in his paws. Tears soaked them. "Why?" he whispered. "Why did you have to go, Rose?"

"I never left, Martin."

Martin looked up, drawing his sword as he did so. He immediately put it up again.

Rose stood at the edge of the clearing, leaning against a tree. She ran to him and threw her arms around him. Martin murmured into her soft fur as she hugged him. "Rose. I've missed you so much."

"I missed you too. I still miss you."

Martin held her at arm's length. "What do you mean?"

"I'm still dead, Martin. But I came back one last time."

Martin's eyes filled with anguish. "For how long?"

She moved her arms over his shoulders. "A short time. I'm sorry, Martin. "

Martin's eyes bored into hers. She did have a sort of…hollow look about her.

Martin gently drew his arms around her waist. "I'm glad you're back, even for a short time."

She closed her eyes, and kissed him softly.

"Martiiiin! Martiiiiin!" Gonff and Dinny walked through the woods, unknowingly following the same path that Martin took. Gonff harrumphed in frustration and turned to Dinny. "We haven't seen him all day! We've been looking for him for hours, and it's almost dark."

Dinny nodded, and then shouted for Martin one last time. "Burr, zurr Marthen, whurr bees you?"

Gonff held up a paw. "Quiet. I hear something. Voices."

They moved forward, listening to Martin and Rose speaking to each other. They walked out of the bushes just in time to see the kiss begin. Gonff and Dinny drew back into the bushes, and Gonff leaned close to Dinny and whispered. "Who's the maid?"

Dinny shook his head. "Oi b'ain't haven ee clue, Gonffen."

"Don't go Rose. Please. Don't leave."

They looked up. The maid seemed to be fading. Martin was hugging her, tears streaming down his face.

"Stay with me, Rose. Please."

She hugged him back. "Goodbye, Martin. I'll always love you."

She kissed him one last time, and then she was gone. Martin sank to his knees, crying and yelling. "Rose! Rose! Don't leave!" His voice sank to a whisper. "Rose…" He buried his face in his paws.

Gonff motioned for Dinny to stay in the bushes, then went out into the clearing. He approached his friend cautiously. "Martin?"

His friend looked up, tears still streaming down his face. "What?"

Gonff swallowed. His mouth seemed dry. "Are you okay?"

Martin nodded, and rose. "I'm fine, Gonff. Let's go back to the Abbey."

Gonff placed a paw on his shoulder. "Not yet. Who was the maid? How do you know her?"

Martin pushed the paw off. "That's a story for another time."

Dinny came out of the bushes, and the three of them walked back to Redwall.