(Summary (ext.): The Redwall Warrior comes back from the lands of Southsward a changed beast with a new purpose in life. So begins the purification of Mossflower and the downfall of Redwall Abbey.)
-Fires Of Mossflower-
-Prologue-
The world was a swirl of lights and sound before, faces blurring as he felt himself roughly pushed and pulled onto a platform. Mind still reeling he found himself stumbling on unsure paws as they prodded him into place. Somebeast was yelling to the crowd, but he couldn't make out the words, the crowd melting into an undulating wave of fur and flesh.
Staring at the crowd with a single, half-swollen eye he felt his stomach twisting into knots, the fur on the nape of his neck raising on end as he felt their stares. He could sense the hatred that radiated from their angry stares and immediately he averted his eyes as though he were a dibbun caught stealing candied chestnuts. Even in his dazed state, however, he knew it was for something far worse that he found himself there. Slowly he found his senses returning to him and he opened his eye to the crowd, but still their movements blurred their faces, the anonymity of the crowd having taken hold.
"What…" He choked out softly and the speaker grew silent for a moment, moving to the prisoner's side and bringing his muzzle next to his ear.
"Tis your execution…thought you would have figured that out by now," the speaker whispered softly in an almost kindly tone, as though they were sharing a bit of gossip over a bit of cordial, "Don't worry, you'll be in a far better place soon enough."
"Ex—execution? He—here?" he choked on the words as tasted the bile building up in the back of his throat, mixing with taste of blood now omnipresent on his tongue.
"Aye, never would have thought here of all places, but it tis so. They never suspected you before either, shocked a good lot of 'em, you did," the speaker's face was obscured by a veil of shadows as he moved before him, only his grin revealed by the sun.
"Bu—but—" he began before the speaker cut him off with a raise of his paw.
"For the benefit of others I should suggest that you stay silent now," the beast whispered, waving a paw across the crowd and there he found them.
They were a small group at best, frozen in place as the crowd shifted around them, all of their eyes focused upon him, but there was no hatred in their eyes. There was pity and fear, but no anger and slowly he found the world darkening, the sun's last rays reaching far across the field in which they stood.
He wanted to ask for their forgiveness for whatever transgression had brought him there, he wished to ask for their help, but he knew they could not as the shadow of the mob swirled about them ruthlessly. To help them would mean certain death, he could see it lurking in the crowd, shadowbeasts much like the speaker himself, all of them standing beside the innocents. They stood, isolated and chained by their inaction.
"Shall I assume that I have your cooperation then?" the speaker snickered softly before raising both paws to the crowd, the movement seeking as everything beyond the wooden platform seemed to fade into the shadows. "Justice shall be served this day!"
A cry of approval erupted from the darkness, hundreds of eyes watching them from the unseen depths of the shadow. Steadily rose a thumping of weapons on shields as they waited for what was to happen next. They urged it along as he was grabbed forcefully and slammed against a post, a bag forced over his head as he felt a rope bite into his neck, the cries of the crowd growing ever louder.
"But justice shall not end with these walls!" the crowd grew louder at this statement, a bloodlust growing amongst the mob, "We shall bring justice to all of Mossflower for the righteous! The scum of the earth shall do right to tremble this day!"
With that he felt the floor beneath his footpaws give way, his breath caught in his throat as the rope held him suspends and suddenly all fell silent. All that could be heard was his soft choking coughs as his lungs cried for air, limbs thrashing out in vain against the rope that bound them. Then, as his body spasmed and shook its last a great cry went up in Redwall Abbey.
It was the cry of victory…
---
"Whoa, whoa…settle down there!" the voice spoke in a soft, calming voice as he felt a pair of arms pinning him down as he thrashed his limbs wildly, trying to get free.
"Can't breathe! Can't breathe!" he repeated over and over, the air caught in his throat. Suddenly, he found himself free and he crashed to the stone covered floor, gasping for breathe as they stood about him, whispering softly.
"Jus' breathe, Kyin! Calm…" the voice spoke softly and slowly he regained his senses. Glancing up from the floor he found himself on the floor of the infirmary, a pair of otters as well as the infirmary keeper standing around him with worried expressions upon their face. Slowly air found its way back into Kyin's lungs as he stood up shakily, the otter's paws on his shoulders for support. "Better now?"
"Yeah…" Kyin answered in a strained whisper, still unsure of his surroundings.
"Can't say I've ever seen a beast do that afore…must 'ave been one hell of a nightmare, eh?" One of the otter's whom Kyin now recognized as his uncle, the Skipper of Otters. The other otter remained a mystery to him, the female having set about straightening out the bed.
"Truly," the old infirmary hog muttered, now cleaning up the mess of books that Kyin had knocked off the nearby shelf, "Haven't ever seen a beast have that sort of reaction to such a lil' bump on the noggin."
"Bump?" he asked, running a paw through his headfur to find a small patch of raised flesh towards the back of his skull.
"Don't remember, eh?" the hedgehog muttered, glancing up at Kyin with an eyebrow cocked, "Ye fell out of the ol' apple tree in the orchard, branch came down wit ye too. Near knocked yer brain out of yer head…didn't think it did that much damage."
"I s'pose ye best keep 'im overnight then, marm," Skipper decried, a thwack of his rudder on the floor sealing Kyin's fate.
"Aye, I suppose that would be best, if only as a precaution," the hedgehog agreed, nodding her head as she helped Kyin back onto the back from which he had fallen, the sheets having been straightened, "Don't worry yer little head now, dear, Maleah will be here to watch over for the night."
"Sounds…okay…" Kyin whispered as he closed his eyes again, the energy having been drained from his body, the ottermaid pulling the sheets about his neck.
"Aye, I'll be here all night, so jus' git yerself a bit o' shut eye," the ottermaid confirmed as the world slipped away once more into shadows.
---
There stood a mouse before him, beckoning the otter. A gentle light seemed to emanate from the mouse, drawing him closer as shadows swirled about his footpaws. A soft voice whispered unintelligible in the back of his mind, but he ignored it, moving towards the mouse until he drew to within only of few yards of the creature and it disappeared into darkness, taking the light with it and leaving but a single word.
"Run…"
(updated 3-13-07)
