AUTHOR NOTES: This story does not follow the canons of the series creator. Time is expressed in human terms, not in seasons. You will find grey characters instead of the absolute good and evil used by Brian Jaques.

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Tassel sat at the table in Cavern Hole, supervising the orphaned and abandoned dibbuns placed in her care. Mealtime conversations swirled around the table touching on many topics that interested the children. She ignored their discussions, pleased with their good behavior.

Another child ran into the vast dining hall, keeping ahead of her parents. "We have snow outside," she shouted.

Tassel snorted at the excited announcement. "Snow this early in the year? We just celebrated the fall equinox three nights earlier."

Every child, including those at her table, rushed to the nearest window. Redwall Abbey resounded with the sounds of delight from every child as snowflakes drifted across the window. They remained enthralled by the sight until elders herded them back to their tables. Tassel too found her young charges reluctant about leaving the scene.

The next morning, every child raced through their chores, eager to be outside. When Tassel dismissed her brood, they charged the front door like a hungry mob at a picnic. She almost laughed at their efforts to secure boots and heavy coats while running to the door. As the first child prepared to exit, Tassel opened the door and joined the Abbey's eager children for their first sight of the early snowfall.

She almost laughed at the crestfallen expressions on every child's face. Instead of a deep blanket of snow that could support snowball battles and snow carvings, the dibbuns found the ground dusted by a thin, disappointing layer of slush, good for nothing more than viewing. Most of the children went back inside to shed the heavy garments.

Badgermom Tassel decided to remain outside. She prowled the Abbey grounds checking on the dibbuns who came out earlier. She made sure those with chores outside were hard at work under some trusted elder's supervision. Tassel did a quick check on those playing, making sure all behaved, though she didn't disturb their fun.

Her meanderings took her to the Abbey's small orchard, which was as far from the Abbey proper as she could go without leaving the confines of Redwall. She knew her mate, Bruno, had planned to do some pruning. She decided to surprise him with a visit.

A heavy tree limb crashed to the ground by Tassel's foot. Her head tilted upward. At the top of a ladder, Bruno stood with a saw gripped in his paw. He gave his mate a sly grin as he apologized for allowing the severed limb to fall so close to her.

"Bruno, you promised me you wouldn't be climbing into trees like some frisky squirrel. A boar of your years should have helpers doing such labor."

Before he could respond, Bruno pointed at something behind her. In the distance, a young otter kit ran towards them. The otter's calls to Tassel resonated with a note of urgency.

The winded youngster stood bowed over. His paws rested on his knees as his chest heaved like bellows in the blacksmith's shop.

"What is so important, Riverstone?"

"Mother Tassel, a unit of the Long Patrol just arrived at the Abbey." The otter took several deep breathes before he could continue. "The officer in charge … he said … he said he wanted you right now."

Tassel left the winded youth where he stood as she jogged towards the main building, disregarding politeness for sheer urgency. Bruno muffled a few ill worded oaths as he descended the ladder. The heavy footfall of her mate so close behind her helped as they raced to the Abbey, but it didn't lessen her fear.

She knew if the Long Patrol was here for her after all this time, it meant Abbess Robertasin must have summoned them. It seemed the only logical conclusion. Perhaps the Mother Abbot grew tired of harboring a beast the law classified as vermin.

The Mother Abbot never hid her animosity towards Tassel. In the early years, a strained truce existed between her and the Mother Abbot. Such was the tension, that each avoided the other unless official business required otherwise. Hard feelings, however, eventually mellowed and developed into an air of mutual respect.

The sixty hares stood within the courtyard, each at attention. An officer strolled before them while the Abbess of Redwall reviewed the unit. Robertasin pointed in their direction. The hare officer turned. He marched up to them; his expression seemed so jovial Tassel decided her initial fears might be unfounded.

"Bruno, Tassel, it's been far too many years. It's so nice seeing both of you."

Neither badger said anything. The hare officer took a step back. "Come now, I know I'm older, but don't you recognize me?" He gave a deep bow. "I'm Markus, or should I say General Markus of the Long Patrol, at your service."

Tassel broke her stunned silence, her voice sounding a bit incredulous. "You have indeed changed, but then the last time we saw each other, you and your sister were quite an arrogant pair of teens."

Markus laughed as he rubbed the seat of his pants. "Aye, you two gave us many a lesson on proper manners." His voice turned more serious. "I know you're wondering what brings me here and why I sent that young tyke searching for you, so let me come right to the point. First off, I bring you word about your daughter, Serenity. She asked that I deliver this letter and extend her love and best wishes."

Tassel growled, which had the hare retreat a few paces. The letter remained in his extended paw. Bruno jumped into the lull created by his mate's reaction. His paw took the letter General Markus held.

"My wife wasn't too thrilled when our daughter joined the military because of her own status with your liege. Her objection over Serenity's choice of careers has been a bit of a sore spot between them."

"Then I hope Tassel will not object to my next piece of news. I am on extended leave from the Long Patrol and have decided that I will vacation here over the next three or four months. It's the first time I've been on leave since joining the army."

Bruno asked the obvious question. "And those soldiers?"

"As a general, I always have a unit assigned to me, wherever I go. Since I haven't officially left the military, they too will be enjoying time here at Redwall."

"Just what I need," groused Tassel, "all those hares shadowing my every move."

Markus either ignored or did not notice Tassel's tone when he grabbed her paw and pulled her along. "They know they're on unofficial holiday while stationed here, so this will be the last time they will be in uniform until we depart. After tonight, we will be under the command of Abbess Robertasin and she has asked that we disband for our duration here."

Bruno smiled. Tassel relaxed. Markus led the way back to his unit. Each hare stood at rigid attention as the General approached. He looked over his shoulder and whispered to Tassel.

"You might want to speak with the doe privates under my command. Each of them had your daughter as their drill instructor and they speak quite highly of her."

As they approached the formation, Tassel leaned closer to Bruno. She spoke in a voice intended for his ears alone.

"I have a feeling the next three months are going to be far more memorable than the last time we entertained Markus at our Abbey."