Blanket Disclaimer: I do not own any concepts/characters/places that are mentioned in the Redwall series of books. I do, however, own Bandit, Ash, Pipkin and the twin's father.

Author's Note: First off, I would like to thank the kind people who reviewed the story that this progressed from, Soldier. Your comments and encouragements gave me the courage to write this backstory to my original character, Bandit. Thank you so much!

All reviews are welcome and appreciated.

"Look at children. Of course they may quarrel, but generally speaking they do not harbor ill feelings as much or as long as adults do. Most adults have the advantage of education over children, but what is the use of an education if they show a big smile while hiding negative feelings deep inside? Children don't usually act in such a manner. If they feel angry with someone, they express it, and then it is finished. They can still play with that person the following day."

― Dalai Lama XIV

Prologue

The small clearing on the outskirts of the wood known as Moss Flower were silent. Or as silent as the woods ever were. The sun broke through the leaves in random patches of brilliance, painting the ground with glittering speckles. The almost inaudible wind made the foliage twitch at the touch of its unseen caress.

All at once the peace was shattered by the happy shout of a child. There soon followed another, along with the pounding footsteps of carefree children running through the woods. Onto the untouched grass of the clearing tumbled three small figures. The first to rise from the tangle of arms, legs and tails was the smallest of the three, his laughter as bright and innocently happy as the sunlight playing over his pale fur. "Come on Pipkin, Ash, bet you can't catch me!"

The other youngsters, clearly twin red squirrel brothers by their identical looks and bushy auburn tails, clambered to their feet and jumped after their friend. One of them tackled him to the floor, grappling his arms around the smaller creature's waist. "I've got him Pip! Get him!"

Gleefully, the other twin grasped hold of his pinned friend and began tickling mercilessly. "Ha! Now you have to say it!"

"No!" The smallest child gasped for breath, tears running from his jewel black eyes from trying not to laugh. "I'll never say it!"

Pipkin looked at his brother. "I think we need to do it, Ash."

"You're right." Ash grinned.

At which point the twins promptly sat upon their hapless captive. "Ooof… Hey, no fair!"

"Just say it and we'll let you up." Pipkin promised, tapping the smaller child on the head. "We swear."

Sighing, the creature underneath them wilted with resignation. "Okay, okay. I'll say it." His voice lowered to barely a whisper. "Squirrels rule."

"What was that?" Ash cocked his head, his paw around his left ear. "Didn't quite hear you."

"Squirrels rule!"

Triumphant, the twins bounded to their feet. "True enough." Pipkin put out a paw to help their friend to his feet. "Glad you think so, Bandit."

Bandit huffed, taking the proffered paw and standing. "Jeez, you guys are rough." He grumbled, brushing the soil from his creamy brown fur and picking leaf litter from his tunic. "There was no need to crush me."

Ash shrugged. "You were being stubborn. So, what do you guys want to do now?"

"I dunno." Bandit flopped down on a patch of moss nearby. "It must be nearly dinner time. You think you ought to go home, or can you play a bit longer?"

Ash shrugged. "I suppose we should go home. Mum and Dad will probably be looking for us. How about you?"

Bandit shook his head. "No, my parents won't be looking for me. They don't really bother about me much."

"Really?" Pipkin nibbled at a blade of grass absently. "Why not?"

Bandit rolled onto his stomach, wiggling his little hindpaws in the air. "I'm the youngest in my family. My brother and sister get all the attention. They're bigger than me and pick on me a lot. Dad says they're both going to be fine ferrets one day. He never says that about me, though. But I don't mind, not really." He scratched at his ear. "It means I can pretty much do what I want, since they never notice I'm gone. That's how I came to meet you guys this morning. Glad I did too." He grinned. "Today has been great!"

Ash peered at the young ferret curiously. "That's great, but don't you miss being tucked in at night, bedtime stories, having special treats from your parents, or hugs?"

Bandit looked at the ground beneath him, picking at it with his tiny claws. "I guess…" His face was so shadowed that the twins could hardly make out the brown of his irises from his black mask-like marking around his eyes.

The twins looked at each other, and Pipkin made to say something consoling to their new friend, when a shout came from the bushes. "There you two are!"

Out from the shrubbery strode an adult red squirrel. He was clearly annoyed, if his glare was anything to go by. Ash shot to his feet. "Dad!"

Pipkin followed suit, leaping to his paws. "Hey dad, this is our new friend Bandit. We met by the—"

He was cut off by his father, as he grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, as well as Ash. "I don't care where you met him. I don't care who he is. He's a ferret. That makes him bad news." Glaring at Bandit's shocked little face, the twin's father growled out. "Stay away from my children, you hear me? If I ever see you around them again, you'll wish you'd never set foot out of your home."

Bandit's mouth hung open, unable to say a word. He had never been spoken to like this before. Sure, his parents didn't pay much attention to him, but when they did it had never been with harsh words such as this. It was usually apathy or general acknowledgement, not threats in the form of angry eyes and loud tones. "I…"

Before he could utter another syllable, the father of his newest (and only real, he admitted subconsciously) friends turned, his children in hand, and marched off back into the trees, leaving Bandit dumbstruck. Ash, his face full of pity and confusion mouthed "Bye", as he was carried off.

Bandit stood there for a long time. Exactly how long he didn't know. What had he done to make that squirrel angry at him? He couldn't remember ever seeing him before, so how could he have done anything to deserve this? Was it just because he was a ferret? But how could that be fair? He couldn't help what he was. He hadn't chosen it, it had been chosen for him.

With a sense of deep dejection, Bandit slunk away from the clearing where he had lost his only real friends in the blink of an eye. As he trudged home, his head hung low and his heart hollow with loss, little did Bandit know that this would be the first of many incidents that would shape his young life.