BOOK 1
Methuselah the fox
Prolog
It was a cold stormy day in Mossflower country, the wind was making the trees dance this way and that. The sky was a very dark gray, and the rain was pouring in sheets. It was almost spring so this kind of weather was to be expected. The ground was completely soaked with rain and their was no one foolish enough to be out in this storm.
A tall squirrel entered his house taking of his coat, and drying himself off with a towel "Whew, that storm is a badun. I haven't seen one like this since I was a little one." A smaller female squirrel took his coat and put it on a rack
"Yes your right about that. Now did you find any vittles for us, I already have a fire going." The tall squirrel looked at his wife and sighed
"Well get a pot with water ready. It's soup again for us." A small young squirrel came up to her father pulling on his shirt moaning and complaining
"Awww soup again but it has been soup for three whole days already. Do we have to eat soup."
"Yes you do have to eat soup and you will enjoy it." The tall squirrel looked at his daughter sternly The little squirrel was about to complain more but she was silenced by an old gray squirrel "Hush little one show some respect to your elders, and keep a civil tongue, alright?" The tiny squirrel nodded her head and walked over to get the pot and fill it up with water outside.
The three squirrels heard her shriek and call for help. They ran outside to find her with a dark figure in front of her. The tall squirrel stepped forward calling to the dark figure "Show your self now!" The dark figure took of the hood of its coat. It was a fox, a vixen to be exact.
She was slightly tall for a fox, and on her face were a few battle scars; it looked as though she had been though a war. Her body was slender but she looked like she could hold her own in a battle where she was outnumbered and still come out fine. But none of these features compared to her eyes. A foxes dark hazel eyes are mostly cold, and deep, but hers were much different. They were warm, entrancing, kind, and even with the storm her eyes seemed to catch the light of the stars the shone through tiny holes in the blanket of gray in the sky. They back off a little and the vixen without saying a word walked over to the small squirrel, and picked her up and said to her "There there I'm not going to hurt you. Now let's get you out of this rain before you catch a cold."
Her mother was ready to charge the vixen, but the tall squirrel stopped her; he didn't know why but he felt as though he was in no danger despite the foxes large battle ready figure. The vixen walked over to the three holding the little squirrel in front of her. Then she walked over to the mother handing the frightened thing to her saying in a soft, sweet tone "I think this is yours." The tall squirrel was perplexed; this fox wasn't like any other fox he had seen in his younger seasons. She was different in every way. Her voice was not an act like most foxes do to try to throw woodlanders off their guard, her body was relaxed, and her eyes almost spoke for themselves, almost like they were saying "Fear not, you will be safe." and yet there was a certain sorrow to her voice.
He walked up to the vixen "Ummm, ello, I am Elmbark, this is my wife Redvell, that is my daughter Oakwall, and this is my mother Pinewood. You are?"
The vixen looked over at Elmbark and half smiled trying to not show here teeth "Oh yes how rude of me I am Rosabell." Redvell looked at her husband "Are you mad! You are trusting a fox, you are more foolish than I thought Elmbark. Go on be off with ye vixen you aren't stealing anything."
Rosabell lowered her head and sighed "Marm stealing is not my intention. I am a fox of peace." Redvell snorted with anger "Yes you are a fox of peace aren't you?" she said in a sarcastic tone. But she wasn't listening to her, and Elmbark beckoned every one to come into the small hut. He studied the vixen carefully "You are different form other foxes, why?" he asked her.
Well it's a very long story, if you have the time to hear it." Elmbark looked left and right at his family "Well I can't protest to a good yarn, it's ranin hard outside and we've got nothing better to do." Rosabell looked for a good place to sit. When she did she took a deep breath "Well this story goes back a bit at Redwall Abby, and are story starts in a cold winter, with a small fox, still a kit." She said pulling out a book of recorder entriesâ..
It's the season of the graying fur (a name well picked to) Abbess Mhera is in her late seasons but that still doesn't stop her from being energetic (old age can catch up to you quickly if you don't enjoy life, and make the best of it) she says. We are truly blessed to
have such a wise Abbess. Deyna our Abby warrior is also in his late seasons, but that still doesn't stop him from being the good old river dog we've come to love at our Abby. I have some bad news as well two weeks ago our dear friend Brother Nimmbalo, head of music, and
one of the best and funniest friends a fox could have passed away from old age, we will miss him dearly, Deyna most of all. Rabsire son of Boorab and Windsire (a former long patrol hare) has decided to take the job of head of music (I'll keep ear plugs ready tonight wot wot?) Also Abbess Mhera has decided to rebuild Saint Ninans, even though so many bad things have happened there it's still part of our Abby history, she tells us, construction will start five days after spring. Well that's enough of the sad stuff. Friar Dill has been working hard in the kitchens, and Brother Rollell has been working hard in the cellars (I just can't wait for the feast to start, look at me I'm acting like a hare) It's snowing outside and the dibbuns are having snowball fights, I'll join then when I'm done with my recording duties. Oh I almost forgot. The great sword of Martin the warrior has been hidden again, because according to the Abbess "Such weapons of war are not needed, this is a time of peace." Strange though I've seen the Abbess walking around after dark, and when I called her she seemed to be in a trance, I wonder why? O well not my business to dwell on. Now if you will excuse me I have to take care o few dibbuns that keep on throwing snowballs at my window.
Methuselah
Assistant recorder of Redwall Abby of Mossflower Country
Well it seems like Methuselah is getting along well with being a recorder, who knows maybe some day he will have my job. I wont write much because I don't want to outdo our new assistant recorder. O he must be finished with his duties because he's playing snowball fights with the dibbuns. I still find it hard to believe that a fox can be soâsoâ peaceful, Deyna, and Mhera have raised him well. The preparations for the feast are almost complete, we are also getting a surprise visit from the Badger Lord of Salamandastorn himself Snow fur the faithful , son of Russano the wise. The best thing is that Snowfur and Methuselah are both writers, I'm sure they will get along great. O but lackaday Snowfur is also bringing along quite a few of his gluttonous hares, Friar Dill has got a long way to go till he can say he's done. Well I'll stop writing here, like I said I don't want to out do our new assistant recorder.
Sister Rosabell
Recorder of Redwall Abby of Mossflorwer country
It was a cold snowy day in Mossflower, the ground was as white as the stripe on a badgers head, and the trees were also covered in white, most of the birds have migrated elsewhere to a warmer climate. The seasons have come and gone, but with every new season comes something new. Many seasons have passed since the ottermaid Mhera became Abbess, likewise for her brother Deyna the Abby warrior, and Deyna's marriage to Melinea, and their son Loven came into the world. A new resident has been living in the Abby for a while now, but one of the most unusual residents you would expect to see. A fox living a peaceful life, in a peaceful Abbey.
The fox was an orphan, or at least they think he is. The fox was found at the north gate, just there wrapped in a cloth, no note, no name, just there. So the fox was taken into the Abby and was named Methuselah under Sister Rosabell's wishes. Because to her the fox had the look of a wise recorder and none was wiser than Methuselah who was alive in the time of Abbot Mortimer, and Matthias the warrior. But Methuselah had the burden to live a hard life in the Abby. Though he is a Redwaller he is still considered a vermin fox, and has been called nicknames like Chickenhound, or even worse Slagar the cruel. But the more he is called names like that the more he tries to be a Redwaller. But still even when he was a kit he has asked the same question "Why am I different?" or "Where did I come from?"
Friar Dill was working hard in the kitchens, though only a few of the Redwallers knew why. Friar Dill wiped sweat from his forehead mumbling "Ah!! Lackaday I have to cook for three hares, a full Abby, and that fox, and that's hard enough but a full regiment of long patrol hares, and a badger, oh what have I gotten myself into?!"
The friar was practically up and down the kitchens looking for certain items he needed for the vittles, while behind his back a couple of troublemaking otters chuckled as silently as they could, whispering to each other "You know I just knew Friar Dill was holding back during the last wall race, he could probably made it around us three whole times before we even finished one lap."
Though the two otters didn't have much luck that day because the Friar over heard their conversation, and giving the two a stern look he said slowly "For your information you two oversized riverdogs I could have passed you five times before you even made it half way around. Now shouldn't you two be working on those scones instead of scoffing all those strawberries behind Kip's back?" Giving s look of shock to the two otters Kip the dormouse walked off with the bowl of strawberries. "Well that's one less distraction eh? Now get back to the scones." The two otters fell of their stools laughing at the whole scolding from the Friar.
A little bit later chaos took over in the kitchens again. Friar Dill needed some drinks from the cellar. But stopping to think a moment he said to himself "Knowing that lazy old hedgepig he's sleeping using a barrel as a pillow." As the Friar was walking to the cellars he was braking out orders as he went "Kip don't leave that pie in the oven too long!" Walking over to Sam and Pam Dill opened the oven door smelling the scones "Sam, Pam check the scones soon." He said shutting the door.
The friar noticed Rabsire sneaking into the kitchens "And will someone please get Rabsire out of my kitchen right now?!" Kip went over to escort the hare out of the kitchens. He gave a snort of disapproval to the Friar yelling to him "I say old chap can't a laddo get a decent bit of a scone and some mint tea, it is tea time you know?!" Shaking his head slowly Friar Dill sighed "That hare is becoming more, and more like his parents every day."
As the Friar walked into the cellars he saw a hedgehog sleeping, and using a barrel as a pillow. So the Friar sneaked over to the sleeping hedgehog, and pulled the barrel out from under the hedgehogs head yelling "Wakey wakey Rollell!!" But to the Friars surprise the hedgehog was not Rollell, but a dibbun.
Knowing that he had almost scared the infant half to death he ran up to the hiding dibbun saying in a soft sweet voice "Hey there Quell I'ma sorry Ia scarea ya." Though Friar Dill was (and still is) a very stern chubby harvest mouse he has always been nice to infants and dibbuns (with the exception of Methuselah) but he always tries his best to never show his soft side around too many at once, because to him if they found out about him being nice he would be unfit for the Abby kitchens. So he asked Quell readopting a dibbun accent "Hey Quell have youa zeen mista Rollimm ere?"
Quell was feeling better but he was still mad at the Friar for scaring him, so he just snorted at Friar Dill, so giving another long heavy sigh he reached into his pocket and pulled out a fresh scone he was planning on eating later and handed it to Quell. Grinning, he looked greedily at the scone and scoffed it in one mouth full. Rubbing his stomach he said "Thankee kindy mista Dall ita verwy guud."
Dill was smiling too the Friar patted Quell on the head trying to avoid the quills he told Quell "I'm glad you liked it there will be lots more at the feast, but if I can't find Rollell there can't be any feast, and no more scones." Having a look of shock and horror the dibbun said "No..no more guud zones?" Dill shook his head with a look of disappointment "No more good scones, but if I can find Rollell maybe there will be lots of scones."
Qwell immediately told Dill everything, how it was cold outside and how he was tired and Rollell let him sleep in the cellar while he talked to Methuselah. But the hedgehog looked around to see himself talking to the barrels only, so he got the barrel he was using as a pillow and was soon fast asleep again.
Friar Dill came storming out of the kitchens looking for the fox and the hedgehog. He looked all over the snow covered Abby twice before the cold hit him, so he ran for the gatehouse, and as he opened the door to the dusty library of books, parchments, and scrolls. When he walked in he found Methuselah at his desk finishing his daily recorder duties.
Even though Methuselah hated Dill he greeted him with a warm homey voice "Ah Friar Dill, very nice to see you, how's the feast coming along, good I pray?"
Looking severally at the fox he said in a cold tone "That's none of your business Chickenhound, now where's Rollell, tell me now I know he's hiding here no use lying to me!"
Methuselah knowing how much Rollell would get in trouble for sleeping quickly thought of a plan. He stretched and yawned so he could yell without looking suspicious "WellâRollell came here to look at any records that involved drinks for the feast you know, isn't that right Rollell?!"
Wakening up from his nap Methuselah's armchair he quickly realized what was going on yelling back "Yes I was looking for any books or scrolls that might be useful for the feast, but lackaday and a half I couldn't find much o well I know I have some October ale left, thank you Methuselah for letting me at least try." Rollell said while exchanging winks at each other behind Dill's back. Rollell came up patting Methuselah on the back saying "Well now next time you will have to come down to my cellars alrighty?"
Smiling and chuckling Methuselah said "Sure I'll remember that, but just remember this isn't mine yet, Rosabell is still the Abby recorder and I'm still an assistant. Speaking of which I have to go get her time for another writing lesson. I'm getting better."
Also smiling Rollell said "Good you just keep up the good work Methuselah see ya latter." The two said their farewells, but it was when Methuselah said goodbye to Dill that he got yet another insult "Goodbye Chickenhound." Friar Dill said coldly.