Juniper peered through the leaves of the great oak in which she was standing, gazing attentively down at the three vermin. She scarcely breathed as she pulled her arrow to her bow and pulled back the string, picking her target. Should she shoot the fat stoat or the bossy rat? Which deserved to die first?

"Don't worry about any of those woodland creatures trying to ambush us; those squirrels especially. What a bunch of acorn-obsessed treejumpers!" That sealed the stoat's fate as the arrow came whizzing down through the tree canopy, and the other two rogues' lives ended almost as quickly as they fell before they could think of any defense.

Juniper skimmed down the tree trunk and immediately went to the haversacks that the rodents had been carrying. She rummaged through the sacks, and quickly found what was probably the stolen provisions of woodlanders. She sat down and munched an apple and oat farl hungrily, as she hadn't eaten in nearly a day.

After she finished her meal, she examined the dead vermin, to see if there was any object worth taking; gold, or weapons, or anything of value. Juniper sighed in frustration, as the search was fruitless, then kicked the carcasses underneath some shrubbery. The squirrel then straightened her light green jerkin and climbed out of the woodlands and up to the main path. She strolled quickly along, watching the enormous red abbey loom larger and larger on the horizon. This was her destination.

Juniper pounded her fist three times on the abbey door, and waited until it was opened. A rather round, aging shrew poked his head out and looked up at the visitor. "Good evening to ye, miss. What brings you to Redwall Abbey?"

"I have business with your abbess," Juniper stated flatly, not bothering for unnecessary chi-chat. "I have a message of the death of someone close to her."

The gatekeeper shrew seemed a bit taken aback, then nodded and opened the door for the squirrel maid to enter. Juniper walked past her greeter and across the lawns of the abbey. She cautiously eyed everything, suspecting every beast, in the way that she had learned as a young one. Dibbuns played happily by the pond as their overseers laughed at their antics. Relaxed adult mice, otters, squirrels, hedgehogs, voles, and beasts of other kinds strolled here and there happily. One of them, a young hog maid, approached Juniper.

"Hello there, traveler," she said, "and just who might you be?"

Juniper cast a wary eye over the inquirer. "My name is not important at this time." She spoke with a low growl in her voice. "I have business with your abbess."

"Abbess Song? Well then, I shall take you to her. Please, follow me." The hog maid, now slightly disturbed by the odd squirrel, turned and walked into the abbey building. She led the guest through the Great Hall, past the dormitories, and into a small room. Juniper surveyed her surroundings: a slightly musty room filled with old furniture and bookcases filled with old volumes. The hog gave a slight curtsy to a small group of creatures: two elderly squirrels, a hare, and a mouse.

"Evenin', Abbess," the hog maid said. "This young squirrel here is a visitor, and she said that she had some business with you."

"Thank you, Pipsey," said the elderly female squirrel. She looked past the round hog at the squirrel in the mud-spattered fur and torn cloak. The squirrel seemed so out of place, so uncomfortable, so tight and withdrawn.

"Could everyone please leave me with this visitor for a few moments, please? Dann, please remain here." The other creatures did to their abbess's bidding, and closed the door behind them. Outside, they conversed in hushed tones.

"She was rather rude," Pipsey informed them.

"Sticks out like a sore thumb," the mouse said. "It looks like the poor thing's been traveling for years."

Inside the room, the young squirrel addressed the old pair. "My name is Juniper Reguba," she began, noticing the shock on the two's faces. "I come from northern Mossflower, though I believe I was born here, according to my parents. My father was your son, Glendor Reguba, and his wife was Tolia Silverbranch, one of the wandering whites. I have come here to inform you that last season, they and nearly half my clan were killed by vermin." The squirrel looked at the two, who were now shaking and tears were falling down their faces.

"Now that I've told you my news, I guess I shall leave now," Juniper said, but Songbreeze jumped up and held her grimy paws, wincing slightly at how cut and rough they felt.

"That is nonsense, dear Juniper," she gushed. "Why, we haven't seen you in many seasons; we thought you'd never return."

"I must leave soon," Juniper informed them. "I accomplish nothing staying in this building."

"Juniper," Dann said, placing a paw on his granddaughter's shoulder, "please, stay. We need to catch up on what we've missed out on."

Juniper pulled away from the pair. "I have vowed to spend my life killing off vermin, one by one if necessary," she declared. "Just today, I killed three not an hour's march from your building."

"Vermin!" they both exclaimed.

"There's no need for alarm; they were stupid, lighting a fire and attracting the sight of anything that passed. I've seen their kind before: either deserters of an army, a small band of thieves, or just lost. Their kind isn't a threat." Juniper's knowledge of vermin was endless, as it had been honed after numerous fights and scrapes with them.

"But, dear, granddaughter," Song protested, "please, at least stay a night. Let us provide you with food and a place to sleep."

"I have never slept under a roof," she disclosed, "and I don't intend on starting now. I just wanted to let you know of your son's death. Also, you may want to know that I wasn't Glendor's only offspring. I have a brother many seasons older than I, known as Birchbark. Perhaps he will come some day." Juniper's stomach growled, reminding her that it was empty, as it usually was.

"You are staying with us, young lady," Song ordered, noticing that a festering sore on her left leg. "We shall give you food, and fresh clothes, and treatment for whatever injuries you may have. Now, that is a command, and I shall see to it that it is taken out." The abbess opened the door, revealing the creatures she had ordered to leave a little while earlier. They had obviously been eavesdropping, as they now wandered about, muttering excuses and pretending to act casual.

"Deesum," Song instructed rather frostily, "take miss Juniper down to the infirmary and tell Nettlebud to treat her immediately. Pipsey, go along and help your mother. This squirrel is a guest of honor, and should be treated as such."