I'm happy to finally get a chance to upload a story from this series. I have two in the works, but this one is easier to write for. I won't be able to update it often because it's nowhere near finished and I got a new job that takes most of my time these days.

My favorite Redwall book is Taggerung and I it was a big inspiration for this story. I hope you all enjoy.

Redwall belongs to the legendary Brian Jacques.

R.I.P master story-teller, you are missed.

Prologue

The thick wooded forests near the coast were still drying out from previous evening's rain. Water dripped from the trees and bushes as a thick, cold fog drifted in from the coast. Through the gathering mist an infant cry echoed in the cool morning air. It was on this same morning that a wandering Badger made his way through the forests. He had been wandering for some time, following his instincts that would lead him to his destiny. What surprised him was when fate decided to intervene.

He had heard the cries and set out in search of the source. He had known that these woods were well known for hiding vermin who were either trying to escape justice from the famous Long Patrol or their Badger lord, or those who were planning to attack it and were hiding an army. His mother had told him the stories since he was a cub and he knew them well. He had vowed to his parents that he'd slay any vermin that dare cross his path. What he didn't expect was to encounter one so young.

The crying babe he had been searching for was sitting to the side of the path. It's sobbing had been reduced to sniffles and hiccups, obviously it had cried until its throat was too sore to continue. Willow the Badger found himself in a difficult situation. He remembered his vow to his parents, yet did that include killing something so young and innocent? Though, he knew this little mite would not stay innocent for very long. The young creature was a fox, no more than a few seasons old – still a young cub. He raised his spiked staff, hoping to end it quickly so it'd feel no pain. But then the little one turned and their eyes met.

The young fox's eyes were soaked with shed tears and he sniffled again in a failed effort to stop his nose from running. "Why won' mama wakey up?" he asked in a strained voice. Willow lowered his staff slightly, before putting it away. How could he even think of attacking one so young? Vermin or not, this creature was innocent and did not deserve such an end. Instead he decided to help him.

"What do you mean little one?" he asked.

The fox babe pointed off the path and past some bushes. "Ma was runnin' wif me an' she stuffa me inna bushes and told me ta shush. Den she ran off a bit but odder foxes catcher up and I heard ma shout an' scream an' den noffink. I go lookin' for 'er and find her sleepin'. I try 'an wake 'er, but she not getup. You try? Please?"

Willow knew what he would find. The story itself was enough to determine that, however it was the young fox that had him at a loss for words. He had never encountered a cub and assumed they were evil creatures from the moment they were born, however this one was not only asking for help, but polite as well? It told him that he had a lot of rethinking to do. Perhaps this was why he had gotten the urge to leave his home and go roving. Scooping up the cub in one gentle paw he made his way in the direction the young one had pointed.

It was farther away than he thought it'd be. The young one must have either been hidden a fair distance away or he crawled to the road, hoping someone would come by. Lucky for the cub it had been him and not a band of vermin. Finally Willow came upon the sight the cub had described. The vixen was lying face down. Willow could see the markings of the cruelty from here. Before he could hide the sight from the cub's eyes the little fox squirmed out of his grasp and half crawled half stumbled to her side.

"Mama! Mama I gots 'elp! Wakey up now mama! I sorry for comin' outta da bushes! Please mama, I'm 'ungry and cold! You gettin' all wet mama, get up!"

Willow was raised to be a strong beast, but seeing the scene before him took great effort to hold back his tears. This vixen may be vermin, but she was still a mother and she died trying to lure her pursuers away from her child. Now her son was all alone and would surely die out here. Taking a slow, deep breath to set his emotions in check he approached the scene.

Kneeling beside the cub he let the little tyke have his final moments with her. "You're mother is very tired," he finally said before adding, "So are you."

The little fox tried to hide it, but failed as he rubbed his eye and yawned. "Ya, Imma bit sleepy."

Willow smirked a bit as the young fox curled up next to him and let his eye lids drop. He waited a few minutes before he gently picked him up and carried him over and set him at the base of a tree so he could carry out his task of burying the mother. Casting off his traveling pack and setting his spiked staff down, yet keeping it within grasping range, he started to dig.

When he deemed the hole deep enough he gently set the vixen's body down in it and laid her in a way where she appeared to be in a peaceful slumber, rather than a victim of a cruel end. Before covering the grave with dirt, Willow found it only right to say a few words. "I do not know you, nor do I know what sort of life you lived. I believed that all vermin were heartless and evil, yet you gave your life to protect your child. I promise I will not let your sacrifice be for nothing. Your young one will always be safe with me. You have my word as a Badger." With that said, he finally began to cover the grave and within a few short moments the grave was covered. Willow then found a good sized stone that would do for a grave marker and set it at the head.

The noise of the stone hitting the ground woke the fox babe as he walked over from the tree. "Why so noisy? You wake'a me up." He then looked around. "Where's mama?"

Willow was gathering his pack and weapon before turning to give the young one a sad smile. "Your mother needs her rest. I promised her I'd look after you until she woke up."

The little fox nodded his head sleepily and smiled. "Okay, I like'a you stripe giant. You nice ta me. Only mama ever been that nice."

The badger scooped him up as he made his way back to the path and continue on his way. "Oh really? What do you remember before last night?"

"Not much, jus' lots'a yellin' and words that mama said was bad and made me promise not to repeat 'em."

Willow smirked, taking a guess what such words were based on his knowledge of other vermin. "Then let's keep that promise, alright?"

The fox cub nodded and yawned again as he started drifting back off to sleep.

"Do you have a name?" asked Willow.

The little one shook his head. "Odder foxes call me many mean names, but mama said I was only called babe, but it not my name."

Willow blinked as the little one started snoring gently. So the young one had no real name. Willow could fix that, but he'd wait until the fox was fully awake. This also gave him time to think of a good one. Because he wasn't going to grow up as a vermin. Willow would raise him to be a good creature. As loyal as any Long Patrol hare, as sensible as any mole, as honest as any mouse, as noble as any otter, as swift as any squirrel, and as protective as any badger lord. For that was what Willow was destined to be. For as he emerged from the forest he discovered the tall and formidable mountain of the greatest Badger Lords. Salamandastron.