Mossflower was recovering from one of its harshest winter seasons yet. Many trees stood, hunched, under heavy amounts of snow, resembling sentries shot in the night by a phantom foe. The birds, however scarce, heralded the morning for Tyson and Camron Macburl.
Tyson was a warrior; anybeats could tell at a glance. His claymore hung at his side, and it looked to be a part of him. His ragged clothing was a checkered green tunic, and on his head betwixt his ears was a round little cap. In his paws he always clutched the hilt of his claymore.
Camron was just as dangerous-looking as his ally. His fierce green eyes never ceased to examine his surroundings, and his used paws wore the scars of a fighter. His clothing matched his brother's, but for the fact his was red. He, too, wore a claymore, but he also tended to use the small bow he had slung across his back.
Camron and Tyson crept silently through the bare trees in the harsh winter air. They waited silently for the vermin horde to make camp for the night. They had been stalking Edeltrak and his band of misfits for the past fortnight, picking off the band one at a time. They had been dedicated to killing off this band since the evil scum had ransacked their home and almost killed them both. Now they had something else to strive for.
The ferret had killed a squirrel family and had captured the baby squirrel and locked him in a metal cage. Strangely both of the young squirrels had a longing to free the young squirrel and take him to Redwall to apprentice in the art of swordplay.
Finally right after sundown the vermin made camp. As usual the albino ferret took the only tent in the middle of the camp. And unfortunately for the Macburls he made them plant the squirrels cage right outside of his tentflap. Five sentries were stationed around the tent making it almost impossible for them to free the dibbun. But the fire that burned within the macburls for three generations still burnt in the hearts of the noble squirrels.
"What do we do noo, Tyson?" Camron asked, kneeling on a branch.
"We wait for those sentries to sleep, ye puddenhead."
As soon as they were sure the sentries were asleep they scampered down the rowan and into the middle of the camp. Silently they worked on the cage with a twisted metal spoon given to them by the old thief friend of their grandpas, Yoofus, until the lock sprang open with a satisfying click. Tyson knelt gently beside the baby and laid one hand on it to lift it up.
Just at that moment the young squirrel woke up and screamed with the force of a raging badger, waking up the sentries and Edeltrak the Albino. With lightning speed Tyson grabbed up the dibbun and raced for the nearest tree. Camron slew the nearest ferret with a thrust from his great claymore and followed suit. Unfortunately Edeltrak was hot on his heels. Just as Camron was about to jump into a towering oak Edeltrak threw a sentries spear at him. It pierced him through the footpaw as he slung himself upwards into the dark.
Camron gave a cry of pain but continued to climb the tree. Edeltrak sneered. "Come on, ikkle treejumper! Doesn't that footpaw hurt?"
A snort of derision filled the air. "Go an' eat mah dust, ye great ball of hot air."
Edeltrak's face contorted into a hideous snarl. "Get the…" His cry was curt short as a small assassin's knife flew from Tyson's paw. It hit him hard in his left paw, and he dropped his blade with a rather undignified yelp. Tyson's hard laugh added insult to injury. "Look at that, Camron! The stinkin' vermin is goin' through what our family did!"
Edeltrak's face froze with fear as Tyson jumped from an oak tree, landing directly before him. Camron landed next, but behind the albino vermin. The ferret gurgled in panic and seized the escape route to his left. "Ye lily-livered, yellow-bellied scum! Ye call yerself me men!" The ferret looked around for support and saw no one. He paled, if possible, even more when he realized his depleted forces had deserted or died. He tripped over a soldier's spear shaft and cried out as he landed directly on an upturned dagger.
Tyson and Camron leapt from tree to tree and landed on either side of the unconcious vermin. "Is 'e dead?" Asked Tyson hopefully.
"Bah the left, the scummy lad is alive," Camron replied, slight surprise on his worn features. He knelt down, turned the warlord over and pulled the dagger roughly from his stomach.
"Well," Tyson said, looking satisfied, "I say we head back tae yon Abbey. I'm famished as never afore!" He chuckled and slung the young squirrel over his shoulder like luggage. "We'll let Sister Jess tend to this laddie's wounds. Coom on, mate, what's keepin' ye?"
"Me stummick," groaned Camron in mock torment, and both mercenaries walked off into the growing dawn.
A/N: Ahoy, mates! Please pardon the first chapter. My partner and meself had some problems, and this was a sort of almost prologue. Thus the chapter name! Well, nxt chapter will be longer. May the winds blow gently at yer backs! Redwaaalll!