"Abbess Germaine says we can only eat the ones what have fallen on the ground" Gonff, son of Gonff and Columbine, told his friends, Ferdy and Coggs, two young hedgehogs.
"Is that you Gonff, you young scamp?" came a kindly voice from around the strawberry plants.
"Yes Mum" Gonff sighed as his mother, Sister Columbine of Redwall Abbey, stepped into sight.
"Abbess Germaine wants to see you little ruffians. Although I can't imagine why!" Columbine smiled. "You'd all better get cleaned up, we don't want her to think you had been eating her special strawberries would we?" she looked accusingly at the mouse and his two hedgehog friends. "Honestly, your going to turn out a theif like your father" she said fondly.
On the way Ferdy piped up, "Are Posy and Spike coming too?" Ferdy and Coggs had a a brother and a sister, Spike and Posy.
"Yes, the Abbess wants to see all you babes"
Gonff puffed out his little chest and said boldly, "We're not babes!"
Columbine scooped him up in her arms, "Well if you're so grown up then you can leave the abbey and go live live on your own, you obviously don't need us anymore!"
Gonff wringling out of her grasp and jumped onto the ground, walking with his friends as they followed Columbine into their home, a huge sandstone Abbey. This was Redwall Abbey, founded by Martin the Warrior, Gonff's hero.
When they reached the great hall Abbess Germaine sat in her chair at the head of the table, with Martin standing solemly at her side, and Gonff the mousetheif, his father, standing at the other side. All three mice looked increedibly grave. In front of her sat all the children (collectively known as Dibbuns) of Redwall. Gonff, Ferdy and Coggs sat down with them, and the Abbess began,
"Now, I don't want to alarm any of you, but our beloved Redwall is under attack. This is why you Dibbuns have been going to bed early and haven't been allowed outside the orchard. The evil stoat, Gashleg the Great, as he calls himself, is hiding in the the surounding Mossflower Wood. He is waiting with a large army of searats, weasels, foxs and other stoats. They are tyring to rebuild the wildcat Queen Tsarmina's Castle. If they succeed Redwall Abbey will be under huge threat. We have been sent a message from Gashleg. He says if we do not become his slaves by helping him build the castle, he will destroy Redwall and kill it's inhabitants"
A collective gasp went up from the Dibbuns.
"Therefore" continued Abbess Germaine, "We must take measures. You Dibbuns must stay inside the abbey walls. We have called for the squirrel Queen Lady Amber and Skipper of the otters to aid us. You babes must do as your elders tell you or Bella (the resident badger) will scrub your hides until they're pink! Now off you go, it will be dinner time soon!"
As they all got up Gonff, Ferdy and Coggs silenty slipped out of the Abbey gates through a small hole in one corner.
"We'll prove to Mum that we're not Dibbuns!" proclaimed Gonff. Brandishing three stout branches the three of them set off for Mossflower Woods.