A/N: Mwhahaha!!! I editted it!!! Yay me! But in the process I accidently got rid of all the author's notes I had before. OH Well! Well anyways, if you read it before, you might what to check it out now, because it is MUCH better than the original. Oh yeah, I changed the title too. Well, I hope you like it.

A young mouse looked at the old book on the table.

"Go ahead and read it. It's about time you found out," said a comforting, yet stong voice behind him.

He reached for the book, but his paw fell short.

"I – I can't, Bella".

"It's not just you who wants to find out. We all do", said the strong voice of a warrior behind him.

"Whatever's in there, we're here for you", said another sweet voice off to his side.

The mouse looked at all his companions, smiled, and opened the book…

-----------------

Ragian looked out the window and glared at the fortress towering over his simple house. Kotir, the fortress of Lord Verdauga. Worry was on the mouse's mind. Worry and anger. He worried about what would become of the woodlanders if the wildcat won and it angered him that the fluffy cat had just barged right in and took over.

But there was another thing on Ragian's mind. His wife, Banrai, was having their first child. It scared Ragian. What if the child grew up lame? Or what if it didn't like him? Or worse, what if Banrai died from the labor?

The male mouse paced back and forth. Anyone could see he was scared. Suddenly there was a cry of a babe. Ragian quickly ran to the door and knocked quietly. A badger opened the door. One look at those pleading eyes of the mouse and the badger had to let him in. "Alright, Ragian. It's okay now. Banrai is fine."

A huge grin spread across Ragian's face. "Thanks, Bella," he said and ran inside.

Bella shook her head. "That mouse." Looking back inside the room, the badger saw Banrai, the pretty mousewife, holding a small bundle in her arms with Ragian eagerly looking at the small face smiling at its new parents. Bella smiled as she remembered when she had had her son Sunflash. He was getting so big. "I'm going home to Barkstripe and Sunflash," the badger called. Banrai just nodded and smiled. Ragian showed his lopsided grin.

Bella crouched down so she could get through the doorway and out into the woods. The woods were nice and quiet and if you didn't know any better, you wouldn't think that an evil warlord was ruling this Mossflower. Nearing her home, Brockhall, Bella was greeted by a small badger with an unusual yellow stripe running down his muzzle.

"Mama! Mama! Me an' Daddy cooked supper!" cried Sunflash with excitement. The young badger babe was only two or three seasons old. Bella looked softly at her son and then at the badger walking outside to meet her.

"He's right you know," said the male badger. "And this time it actually tastes good. Come on Bella, let's go in and try some."

Bella grinned and put on a mock-horrified face. "Oh no! Not again! You didn't cook again did you? Please tell me no!"

Sunflash started wagging a paw at his mother as if he were the parent and she the babe. "Now, now, Mommy. You gotta eat it all bye bye and clean your plate or no dessert for you." Bella lifted up her Sunflash and tickled him. Barkstripe, the male badger, put an arm around his wife's shoulders. Together the happy family walked inside Brockhall to have supper.

Banrai smiled proudly at her new baby. Looking up at her husband, she could tell he was in shock. "What should we call him?" she asked softly. "It's a boy."

Ragian gave it deep thought. His wife was from he North, where mice were warriors and had strange ways of living. When she was a young mousemaid, she had traveled south. Her weapon, though she refused to use it, was a long dirk. Banrai was cunning and quick thinking, not to mention beautiful.

Ragian, though was from the south from an abbey called Loamhedge. He had grown up there as a child, but he didn't want the life of an abbey brother, like his parents had wanted. He wanted to travel and have adventures. His Aunt Germaine, his mother's sister, had recently become the Abbess and she understood his need to go, for when she was younger, she had traveled far and wide, but only returned home to the abbey. So she had allowed him to go.

Ragian had traveled north until he reached a forest where he had met Banrai. He had been walking with his hood up when a mousemaid had ambushed him. She had mistaken him for one of Verdauga's soldiers. As soon as Banrai (for it had indeed been her) and Ragian met, they knew it was true love. The young mousemaid had introduced Ragian to Bella and her family, and soon after got married.

"What about Gonff?" he said finally. Banrai nodded approvingly and Ragian looked at his son. "Our son Gonff."


Verdauga growled disapprovingly. Things were not going well. The woodlanders ignored him and his power. His plan to take over Mossflower was not working. As the wildcat warlord sat at his desk, an idea suddenly popped in his head. What if he taxed the woodlanders with food and-?

The crying of a babe and the laughing of a young child interrupted his thoughts. Verdauga growled again. Storming out of the room and into a nursery room, he found his young daughter, about five seasons old, teasing her young two-season-old brother. "Tsarmina!" he said at almost a roar. "How many times have I told you not to tease your brother!" It was more of a statement than a question.

Tsarmina bowed her head and pretended to be a sad little angel, a part she did not apply to. "But, Daddy, I was only trying to have some fun with Gingevere. He's just a sissy." The young wildcat suddenly thought of her mother and how she would have reacted fairly.

Verdauga sighed and picked his children up in his strong arms. "Tsarmina, Gingevere, I know I can't be your mother and I am trying to get over her also, but I also have to rule this place with an iron paw. So, please, try not to fight." Setting Gingevere and Tsarmina down, Verdauga walked down the hall. It had been a season since his wife had died and life had been hard on him. But that did not change the evil in his heart. He was obsessed to rule Mossflower and nothing would stop him. The tough wildcat thought of his wife again and had he been anyone else, he would have cried.