Chapter 1

Mattimeo threw on his tunic and raced down the steps, as he ran by he quickly greeted each and everyone.

"Morning, Brother Rufus, morning, Sister Agnus, morning, Jube, morning Cynthia."

He blurted out, he even ran passed Basil, who grabbed the buffer by the collar of his shirt.

"Steady on, old bean, what's the rush?"

Mattimeo acted like an excited dibbun, he couldn't contain his enthusiasm. He took in deep breaths and calm composed himself.

"Sorry, Basil. Sam, Elmtail, and Harlan are returning here to Redwall."

"Haw haw, splendid! Wait a tick, how'd you know?"

"I remember three seasons ago, when they went off Sam said, 'don't worry, I'll make it back as soon as the snow melts and spring blossoms in the air.' It's been three seasons!"

Basil nodded in agreement at what Mattimeo had said, and he released him. Mattimeo, walked over to the double doors, he saw his father, Tim, Rollo, Constance, Auma, Father Mordalfus, Tess, and Martin II. Matthias was tending to the orchard, Constance was giving more lessons to Auma about motherhood for the Abbey, Tim was giving more lessons to Rollo, Mordalfus sat underneath a shady sycamore tree, and Tess and Martin II sat basking in the sun. Spring was everyone's favorite season, they however, would not be able to foresee what had become of their warriors in the Mossflower Patrol.

At St. Ninian's Church, Sam and Elmtail awoke. They were shackled to the pews and their clothes were ripped and tattered. Sam was not a pretty sight. His face was badly mangled, his snout broken, his face caked in blood, whiskers knotted and torn, and chipped teeth. Elmtail was not a sight for sore eyes either. His snout was broken, his left eye was swollen shut. Lips were mangled and sore, and he tail was cut off from the top. Sitting in the shadows was Nikos, the evil mastermind behind this. Sam could barely speak, but he was managed to shout out a name.

"Sl-Slagar?"

"Not quite, Sam."

Nikos said as he jumped down from where he sat and walked towards the heavily injured squirrels.

"Mmmmm, haaaaa. That my friends is the smell of victory. We're so close to Redwall, my lust for revenge will be fulfilled and you all will be my eternally grateful slaves."

"Ne-ver, fox."

Elmtail whispered. Nikos cocked his eyebrows and leaned in closer to Elmtail's mouth.

"What was that?"

Elmtail spat at the fox. Blood and saliva shot out from the wounded animal's mouth and plastered onto the fox's right cheek. Niko jumped back a bit and looked at the two in disgust. He grabbed a cloth and wiped the bodily fluid from him, Nikos ran up to both of them and started kicking the pair hard in the chest.

"You... will... feel... so... much... worse... now!"

Nikos shouted with every kick. Blood and spit drooled from both Sam and Elmtail's mouths. Nikos then took a deep breath in and smiled.

"Sorry for that outburst gents, just needed to teach you a lesson."

Nikos walked out of the church and into the bright sunlight.

Mattimeo snacked on a honey scone and sipped on mint tea. He was becoming impatient and reverting back to his old bratty self, ten seasons ago. A giant shadow appeared from out of nowhere and completely covered Matti's body. Mattimeo looked up and saw a young owl land on the battlements. It was Sir Harry the Muse's son, Julian the Poet. Julian was spry and young, being born seven seasons before Mattimeo became the Warrior of Redwall.

"Hello, Julian, how are you?"

He asked his winged comrade. Just his father, he puffed out his chest, and spoke elegantly.

"Mattimeo, my humble mouse

I am quite swell in the redstone house.

The warm winds blow through by feather

A lovely chap needs to enjoy this warm weather."

Mattimeo smiled at Julian's greeting. He too responded poetically.

"Aye, this season of Spring is a splendor

The little dibbuns are so happy and tender

Watch them chase each other across the courtyard

And seeing how they play, they will be strong wall guards."

Julian hooted in response of Mattimeo's reply. Tess sat on a blanket sipping ice cold herbal tea, sweetened with honey. Mattimeo and Tess' son, Martin II, was a very active dibbun, though he was the youngest of the Abbey babes, he showed more spunk and enthusiasm than any other little one that dwelled inside the walls.

"Mama, mama, can I go play?"

Martin asked his mother. Tess smirked at him and replied.

"Martin II, what do we say?"

"Um, now?"

Tess clicked her tongue and shook her head.

"No, Martin, what do we say?"

Martin knew the right phrase, he just didn't want to say it, he thought it was embarrassing. However, it was the only way for him to go play chase with his friends.

"May I, please go play?"

He asked politely. Tess nodded her head in approval. Martin jumped up to his footpaws and joined the other dibbuns in a wholesome game of, "Catch the Rat." Abbot Mordalfus was reading the records of the late John Churchmouse, Mordalfus was puzzled that someone a lot more younger than him, would have passed on before him. Mordalfus didn't argue about it, that was the way the seasons worked. As he read the parchment. He coughed into his wide sleeve. The younger Abbey beasts heard their Father Abbot cough, and walked over to him, circling him. Mordalfus cleared his throat and spoke.

"Friends, friends, it's alright. Just a minor cough, nothing to be worried about."

Constance hobbled in and dispersed the worrisome Abbey folk.

"Alright, give your Abbot some space."

Everybeast crowding Mordalfus left and returned to their own duties, but Mattimeo stayed for a bit.

"Are you sure you don't need to see Cynthia?"

Mattimeo asked the very elderly mouse. Father Abbot shook his head.

"No, no, my son. Our Infirmary Keeper has more pressing matters to attend to. I might have this cough because I'm not drinking much liquids, Mattimeo, if you could be so kind and fetch me a tankard of fresh water, please."

Mattimeo nodded and jogged off to the kitchens to get a tankard. Inside the kitchens, Jube and his sisters were preparing lunch for the others. Jube, was a jolly hedgehog, he was clad in a flour dusted smock, and apron. His younger siblings were taking out scones, pasties, and all sorts of patries out of the hot stone ovens. In the corner of the Friar's eye, he saw Mattimeo rummaging though the cupboards. Friar Jube cocked his eyebrows and crossed his arms.

"What do you think you're doin'?"

Mattimeo turned suddenly to his friend.

"Sorry, Jube, I was looking for a tankard. Father Abbot needs it for some water."

Jube pointed to a cupboard on the far right, Mattimeo thanked his prickly Friar friend and grabbed a tankard. When Mattimeo returned to the courtyard, he immediately dropped the tankard and rushed to his Abbot's aid. Auma was cradling the old mouse close to her chest. Mattimeo almost tripped as he sprinted towards Mordalfus.

"Wha? What happened, he is alright? Is he going to be okay?"

Mattimeo was getting anxious on what Auma's reply would be. She just looked him dead in the face and spoke.

"Mattimeo, I'm sorry, our Father Abbot has passed on to the Summer Forest."

Mattimeo's lip quivered in sadness. He should have taken Mordalfus to Cynthia, but maybe Mordalfus knew his time was up and he just wanted to spend his last moments bathing in the warm sunlight? So many questions that would go unanswered filled the mouse's head. Mattimeo stood up and blinked back the tears in his eyes.

"I will grab a shovel and bury him in our cemetary."

Matthias placed a gentle paw on his son's shoulder.

"I will help you too, Father Mordalfus was good friend to us all."

Mattimeo nodded, he and his father walked to the gatehouse to get the steel shovels. That was until, one of ghe wall guards called them.

"Mattimeo, Matthias, come up here, please!"