CHAPTER 1
The sun shone its last rays of light upon Mossflower Wood before it disappeared beyond the horizon. The cloudless sky, dimly lit with purples and reds, exposed the first stars of the night as a faint breeze ruffled the tall, firm trees growing in the forest. In the distance stood a huge, sandstone building that was silhouetted against the sky. A bell tower rose over the structure, holding two bells that rang with pride and spirit. This was the edifice known to all as Redwall Abbey.
Redwall Abbey was a place of safety and comfort. It always stood firm and defeated any beast who threatened it. Even though the creatures who dwelled within its walls were gentle at heart, they could become great warriors if the time came. Most vermin would stay clear of this place, for they know what would become of them if they tried to attack.
A few leagues from the Abbey, a young haremaid happily trotted along the path. Her face was beaming as she hummed a tune quite loudly. Her only defense against any beast was a small dagger which hung from her belt. From a small haversack strung about her shoulders, a harebabe clapped its tiny paws merrily as its mother chattered away to herself.
"Oi! What a beautiful evening t'be out marlin' along, wot? Methinks that you're havin' a jolly good time back there, my little Mapelind," she chuckled. Her gentle features then broke into a smile as she heard the quiet snoring of her minute child.
Little did the hare know that she was being watched. A pair of evil eyes stared at her from the bushes in a ditch along the path. The eyes never blinked, although one was constantly twitching uncontrollably. Apparently, the creature didn't seem to mind, as if it had always twitched.
This creature was known to many as Nahlek the Lasher. He was a very small fox, but extremely quick and cunning, as all foxes are. His smile was just as evil as his unwavering eyes. The fox licked his lips and quietly stroked the blade of his hand axe that was strapped to his leg. Around his shoulder was coiled a thin, snake-skin whip with a braided end which he used to torture any beast who dared to stand in his way.
When the haremaid was close enough, Nahlek signaled to the score of beasts behind him to surround her. The beasts moved quickly and silently. Unbeknownst to them, the hare caught sight of a silhouetted tail and took off running toward Redwall Abbey. Mapelind awoke and started sobbing from fear.
But she was not fast enough. The Lasher appeared out of the bushes in front of her, wielding his whip in one hand and the axe in the other. The hare then dashed into the forest, but was forced out by the fox's army of rats, stoats, weasels and ferrets.
"Well, what do we 'ave here?" Nahlek taunted. "A little haremaid who lost her way?"
The hare took off the haversack and laid it in the brush behind her, not wanting anyone to harm her little child. She fearlessly drew her dagger and replied, "What do y'want, fox?"
Nahlek snickered as he circled the hare. "Only but to know the name of such a perdy young maid such as yerself. No harm in that, eh?"
Some of the foebeasts chortled with amusement. The fox's cloak swirled in the moonlight as the axe blade glinted with sharpness. Mapelind was sound asleep, even with all the army muttering amongst themselves.
"Ye best be listenin' to the Chief, missy," a stoat named Fangblood told the courageous hare. "He's not one t'be messed wid!"
The haremaid spat on the ground next to the Lasher. "I'll only bally tell ye so ye'll remember it till your flippin' old seasons, wot! M'name's Kashya Browfoot! I'm from the great mountain of Salamandastron. I'd say that ye blighters better be on your way. I'm a lot tougher than I jolly well look, wot wot!"
Nahlek smiled evilly. "Salamandastron, eh? Quite a long journey you've made t'be all the way out here."
Kashya tapped her foot impatiently. She was not impressed. "Well if you're done talkin', I'll be on m'way." She turned to leave, and the fox flicked his huge whip at her footpaws. It coiled around her legs and the hare fell to the ground with a sharp thud. Kashya quickly hopped up and delivered a swift kick to the jaws of Nahlek.
Suddenly, everybeast was upon the haremaid, battering her with their weapons, but Nahlek ordered them back. He rubbed his aching jaws as he shouted, "Out of my way! I'll deal wit her myself!"
His army cleared a path to the pummeled woodlander. Kashya was climing to her feet when the fox bludgeoned her with the back of his axe. "Any other beast'd be dead by now. But I'm gonna have a bit of fun with you, first," he snarled. The hare winced with each damaging blow, but she managed to get enough strength to swing out with her dagger which she still had in paw. The blade plunged into the Lasher's right leg. The fox screamed with pain and ripped the knife from his flesh. He hurled it behind him, where one unlucky rat fell with the handle protruding from his neck. The rest of the horde backed away from the dead beast as Nahlek continued in his mad rage.
"I'll make ye pay for that, rabbit!" he cried. "You'll never live to see the light o' day!"
Kashya glared at the fox, blood blurring her vision. She wiped her mouth and scowled at him. "Do your worst, y'li'l vermin! I'm not afraid of what y'got, wot! And I'm not a rabbit! I'm a bloomin' hare!" She stumbled to her feet, but fell again to her knees.
Nahlek cracked his whip, making the hordebeasts wince. The hare never even flinched. "You'll beg for your death before I'm done with you, hare!" He struck Kashya across the chest with his whip, a huge wound appearing where it hit. She whimpered with agony, but didn't not say anything. The fox limped behind her and gave her a lash on the back. The hare began to black out from blood loss, but not before she roared the call of Salamandastron.
"Eulaliaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
Then, Kashya fell limp to the ground. The fox spat on her corpse as he turned to face his terror-stricken army.
"Get movin', you bunch of twits!" he yelled. "You're actin' like you never seen a dead body before! Come on!" he cracked his whip again, and the vermin hurriedly marched on, in the opposite direction of the hare. He then coiled the whip about his shoulders again and made his way to the front.
One scrawny rat, who wore an eyepatch, spotted the haversack in the bushes. He fished it out and brought it to his leader.
"Wot d'we do wit dis one 'ere, Chief?" he asked as he held up the waking harebabe.
Nahlek stared at the child for a minute, then replied, "Leave him. Put 'im with the other one. He'll be no threat to me."
The rat quickly ran to the slain body of Kashya, and laid Mapelind next to her. The child looked at his mother and started crying, a tiny baby cry. The sobbing softened the heart of the thin rat, and he fought the urge to take the hare with him. He was promptly toughened up as he heard his leader's shouts.
"Hurry up, you blundering fool!" the Lasher scolded. "I said leave the child!"
The rat scrambled to catch up with the rest of the horde. He chanced one look back at the crying babe, at the cost of a good rap between the ears. He turned to see Nahlek staring at him.
"You can stay here with 'em, if you like," the fox smiled as he unwound his whip.
The rat cowered under the menacing gaze of the fox. He knew what 'stay here' meant, all too well. He had witnessed dozens of vermin being run through with Nahlek's axe and left to rot. He stammered as he answered.
"Oh n-no thanks, C-Chief. I'll b-be movin' along, n-now."
The horde of beasts, led by their torturous boss, wearily marched toward the fox's next destination.
"Come on, you lazy half-wits! We're movin' towards Salamandastron! Anybeast who trails behind will be left behind!"
The moon was shrouded by clouds and rain began to fall. Nahlek was soaked from head to footpaw, but did not complain. He could hear thunder in the distance, and quickened the pace of his horde. As the army journeyed to the mountain fortress, they couldn't hear the sobs of Mapelind, who was helpless and left alone by the body of his dead mother.
The sun shone its last rays of light upon Mossflower Wood before it disappeared beyond the horizon. The cloudless sky, dimly lit with purples and reds, exposed the first stars of the night as a faint breeze ruffled the tall, firm trees growing in the forest. In the distance stood a huge, sandstone building that was silhouetted against the sky. A bell tower rose over the structure, holding two bells that rang with pride and spirit. This was the edifice known to all as Redwall Abbey.
Redwall Abbey was a place of safety and comfort. It always stood firm and defeated any beast who threatened it. Even though the creatures who dwelled within its walls were gentle at heart, they could become great warriors if the time came. Most vermin would stay clear of this place, for they know what would become of them if they tried to attack.
A few leagues from the Abbey, a young haremaid happily trotted along the path. Her face was beaming as she hummed a tune quite loudly. Her only defense against any beast was a small dagger which hung from her belt. From a small haversack strung about her shoulders, a harebabe clapped its tiny paws merrily as its mother chattered away to herself.
"Oi! What a beautiful evening t'be out marlin' along, wot? Methinks that you're havin' a jolly good time back there, my little Mapelind," she chuckled. Her gentle features then broke into a smile as she heard the quiet snoring of her minute child.
Little did the hare know that she was being watched. A pair of evil eyes stared at her from the bushes in a ditch along the path. The eyes never blinked, although one was constantly twitching uncontrollably. Apparently, the creature didn't seem to mind, as if it had always twitched.
This creature was known to many as Nahlek the Lasher. He was a very small fox, but extremely quick and cunning, as all foxes are. His smile was just as evil as his unwavering eyes. The fox licked his lips and quietly stroked the blade of his hand axe that was strapped to his leg. Around his shoulder was coiled a thin, snake-skin whip with a braided end which he used to torture any beast who dared to stand in his way.
When the haremaid was close enough, Nahlek signaled to the score of beasts behind him to surround her. The beasts moved quickly and silently. Unbeknownst to them, the hare caught sight of a silhouetted tail and took off running toward Redwall Abbey. Mapelind awoke and started sobbing from fear.
But she was not fast enough. The Lasher appeared out of the bushes in front of her, wielding his whip in one hand and the axe in the other. The hare then dashed into the forest, but was forced out by the fox's army of rats, stoats, weasels and ferrets.
"Well, what do we 'ave here?" Nahlek taunted. "A little haremaid who lost her way?"
The hare took off the haversack and laid it in the brush behind her, not wanting anyone to harm her little child. She fearlessly drew her dagger and replied, "What do y'want, fox?"
Nahlek snickered as he circled the hare. "Only but to know the name of such a perdy young maid such as yerself. No harm in that, eh?"
Some of the foebeasts chortled with amusement. The fox's cloak swirled in the moonlight as the axe blade glinted with sharpness. Mapelind was sound asleep, even with all the army muttering amongst themselves.
"Ye best be listenin' to the Chief, missy," a stoat named Fangblood told the courageous hare. "He's not one t'be messed wid!"
The haremaid spat on the ground next to the Lasher. "I'll only bally tell ye so ye'll remember it till your flippin' old seasons, wot! M'name's Kashya Browfoot! I'm from the great mountain of Salamandastron. I'd say that ye blighters better be on your way. I'm a lot tougher than I jolly well look, wot wot!"
Nahlek smiled evilly. "Salamandastron, eh? Quite a long journey you've made t'be all the way out here."
Kashya tapped her foot impatiently. She was not impressed. "Well if you're done talkin', I'll be on m'way." She turned to leave, and the fox flicked his huge whip at her footpaws. It coiled around her legs and the hare fell to the ground with a sharp thud. Kashya quickly hopped up and delivered a swift kick to the jaws of Nahlek.
Suddenly, everybeast was upon the haremaid, battering her with their weapons, but Nahlek ordered them back. He rubbed his aching jaws as he shouted, "Out of my way! I'll deal wit her myself!"
His army cleared a path to the pummeled woodlander. Kashya was climing to her feet when the fox bludgeoned her with the back of his axe. "Any other beast'd be dead by now. But I'm gonna have a bit of fun with you, first," he snarled. The hare winced with each damaging blow, but she managed to get enough strength to swing out with her dagger which she still had in paw. The blade plunged into the Lasher's right leg. The fox screamed with pain and ripped the knife from his flesh. He hurled it behind him, where one unlucky rat fell with the handle protruding from his neck. The rest of the horde backed away from the dead beast as Nahlek continued in his mad rage.
"I'll make ye pay for that, rabbit!" he cried. "You'll never live to see the light o' day!"
Kashya glared at the fox, blood blurring her vision. She wiped her mouth and scowled at him. "Do your worst, y'li'l vermin! I'm not afraid of what y'got, wot! And I'm not a rabbit! I'm a bloomin' hare!" She stumbled to her feet, but fell again to her knees.
Nahlek cracked his whip, making the hordebeasts wince. The hare never even flinched. "You'll beg for your death before I'm done with you, hare!" He struck Kashya across the chest with his whip, a huge wound appearing where it hit. She whimpered with agony, but didn't not say anything. The fox limped behind her and gave her a lash on the back. The hare began to black out from blood loss, but not before she roared the call of Salamandastron.
"Eulaliaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
Then, Kashya fell limp to the ground. The fox spat on her corpse as he turned to face his terror-stricken army.
"Get movin', you bunch of twits!" he yelled. "You're actin' like you never seen a dead body before! Come on!" he cracked his whip again, and the vermin hurriedly marched on, in the opposite direction of the hare. He then coiled the whip about his shoulders again and made his way to the front.
One scrawny rat, who wore an eyepatch, spotted the haversack in the bushes. He fished it out and brought it to his leader.
"Wot d'we do wit dis one 'ere, Chief?" he asked as he held up the waking harebabe.
Nahlek stared at the child for a minute, then replied, "Leave him. Put 'im with the other one. He'll be no threat to me."
The rat quickly ran to the slain body of Kashya, and laid Mapelind next to her. The child looked at his mother and started crying, a tiny baby cry. The sobbing softened the heart of the thin rat, and he fought the urge to take the hare with him. He was promptly toughened up as he heard his leader's shouts.
"Hurry up, you blundering fool!" the Lasher scolded. "I said leave the child!"
The rat scrambled to catch up with the rest of the horde. He chanced one look back at the crying babe, at the cost of a good rap between the ears. He turned to see Nahlek staring at him.
"You can stay here with 'em, if you like," the fox smiled as he unwound his whip.
The rat cowered under the menacing gaze of the fox. He knew what 'stay here' meant, all too well. He had witnessed dozens of vermin being run through with Nahlek's axe and left to rot. He stammered as he answered.
"Oh n-no thanks, C-Chief. I'll b-be movin' along, n-now."
The horde of beasts, led by their torturous boss, wearily marched toward the fox's next destination.
"Come on, you lazy half-wits! We're movin' towards Salamandastron! Anybeast who trails behind will be left behind!"
The moon was shrouded by clouds and rain began to fall. Nahlek was soaked from head to footpaw, but did not complain. He could hear thunder in the distance, and quickened the pace of his horde. As the army journeyed to the mountain fortress, they couldn't hear the sobs of Mapelind, who was helpless and left alone by the body of his dead mother.