Extract from the writings of Marigold, Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Country:
It is almost time for the feast celebrating my old friend Daisy's ninth season as Abbess. Our cellarmole, Deepsnout, has tapped new barrels of dandelion and burdock cordial, strawberry fizz, October Ale, mint tea, and many more. Friar Herb has been running around the kitchens all day, frantically trying to restore order. He has informed me that there will be many trifles, flans, pasties, puddings, pies, loaves, and more foods, too many to name. The centerpiece is to be a massive creation of the Friar's called a Daisy Trifle. He hasn't told anyone the ingredients, though im sure we'll find out while we are enjoying it. There will be dancing, singing, sporting, games, poems, oh what fun! Oh, here I am going on about the feast when I should be helping prepare for it. I think I'll wash off my inky paws and help out in the cellars. I heard Deepsnout needs some help matching cheeses with drinks. That sounds like an enjoyable task. Goodbye for now.
Sister Marigold, the mouse recorder, walked out of the gatehouse and was heading for the Abbey when she saw a group of Dibbuns playing by the pond. Realizing there was no older creature with them, she hurried over. "What have you been told about playing alone by the pond? Come back here this instant!"
The Dibbuns had scattered, running all over. Sister Marigold shouted at them again. "Come back here!"
Seeing Marigold screaming at nothing, Abbess Daisy and her constant companion, an old hedgehog named Willow who never talked, walked over to her "What's the matter, Mari?" Daisy asked
"Those dreadful Dibbuns were about to sail on the pond, using a piece of wood as a boat. Burrow was there, I'm sure he led the others to it. He's the ringleader, you know. Ooh, when I get my hands on him im going to-"
"Sister, calm down. Why don't you join Willow and I? We were going to help Deepsnout in the cellars. Would you like to join us?"
All three were heading towards the abbey when they heard a scream. "Yeeeeeek!"
The three friends hurried over to where the noise came from. Burrow the molebabe was running from a giant gannet that was trying to get to him. It pecked with its deadly beak, but the molebabe was made quick by fear. He ran around, never still, screaming all the time.
"Marigold, go get help. Now!" The Abbess and Willow tried to distract the gannet, but it kept going for Burrow. This went on for a few moments. Suddenly there was a loud cry.
"Eulaliaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Fenstall P. Meadowthorn, the abbey's resident hare, came charging out of the abbey with a spear in one hand and a javelin in the other, roaring the old war cry of hares and badgers.
Fenstall bulled into the gannet, taking it by surprise. Fenstall fought like a madbeast, hacking and slashing, stabbing and scratching. However the gannet brought his fierce beak into play. He tried to bite Fenstall, but Fenstall put the javelin into his beak. The gannet threw the javelin away and ripped Fenstall's shoulder open with his beak. The hare staggered back, and the gannet pecked at him. He sidestepped the beak and brought the butt of his spear crashing down onto the gannet's head. The gannet fell to the ground. Fenstall drove the spear into the gannet's head, slaying it instantly. Then Fenstall fainted of blood loss.