Have To Think of a Name

By

Urthvine

Chapter 1

It was a harsh winter night when old Abbot Ferdinand wobbled out of the gate house, where he spent most of his time in his old age, and over to the large oak gate, muttering good naturedly to himself about abbey visitors so late at night. 'Oh well,' thought the abbot, 'it is a very cold night, probably somebeast or other, wanting shelter from the cold, who could blame them rely, it wasn't called the winter of deep drifts for nothing.'

The abbot shuffled through the snow, still muttering to himself, this time about the blueberry flans, with meadow cream and honey they were to have for tea tomorrow. The beast banged on the gate again as Abbot Ferdinand approached it. Big beast no doubt, the knocks were quite loud.

The abbot mused about which otter it would be this time, skipper, or maybe old Grey Eyes from up at the ford. It had to be an otter, of course, or maybe a very large hedge hog.

A very, very, big surprise met the abbot as he opened the gate. He found himself looking at a bright red cloak of a very, very, big badger. He looked up at the large female badger's striped head, taking a step back in awe of the majestic beast.

"Bad form old chap, not inviting a big badger and a harmless hare in out of the bloomin' cold, bad form if I do say so myself, and I do, wot.

At first the abbot thought it was the badger who had spoken, but on closer inspection of the cloak did he find a hare huddled under the brilliant red garment.   

Of course, how rude of me. My name is Abbot Ferdinand, welcome to Redwall Abbey; I'll find you and your big badger friend some rooms inside.