Disclaimer: I do not own any other character's in Redwall other than Craig, Dune, and now Stream, oh and also all others I make up.

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The Rescue

The sun was just starting to rise over the trees of Mossflower, mist still clinging to the ground. The silence was shattered by harsh shouting.

"Oy, ye good fur nothing streamdog! Get out ere an cook de food!" shouted the rat Grabble.

He walked over to where a little otter was sleeping, leashed to a wooden pole. Grabbled grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and pointed to the fire.

"Get de breakfast ready, now!" he said as he threw the otter to the ground.

Stream struggled to her tiny feet, she was only eight seasons old and still a dibun. She tried to loosen the collar around her neck but was shoved by a weasel. Dregal snarled at her.

"Do not mess wit yer collar streamdog an get cooking de breakfast!" he growled

Stream scrambled to the fire and began to make the breakfast of roasted fish. She peeked fearfully back at the two vermin that kept her as their slave. Stream was taken from her family three seasons ago, after her home was destroyed by a passing vermin band. Grabble glanced her way.

"Who tol ye can stop wit de cooking, get back ta work" he said menacingly

Poor little Stream could only get back to preparing the four fish. Her little stomach gurgled, she hadn't eaten much food in a while, and she knew they wouldn't let her eat any of the fish. As she was placing the fish over the fire to cook, her paw touched a hot stone. Stream gave a small squeal of pain and put her paw in her mouth. Dregal stomped over and picked her up by her ear. Stream struggled to get out of his grasp.

"Ye can't do anything wit out urtin yerself, ye stupid liddle beast of burden!" the weasel shouted at her.

Dregal then threw her to the side and placed the rest of the fish over the fire, grumbling about why they even kept her with them. Stream didn't hear a word, she was to busy tending her paw. Tears streamed down her face as she wished she was some where else, with friends who would take care of her and show her kindness. Suddenly a shout was heard from the road.

"Hallo de camp! Is dat vittles I be smelling!" said a weasel as he rounded a tree leading a mouse, whose paws were bound behind his back. Grabble grinned at the newcomer and drew a dagger.

"Aye, it is vittles. Now who are you an why are you ere?" asked the rat

The weasel grinned back and bowed low.

"Me name is Craig, Craig de weasel at yer service an dis is me captive mouse Rollo" said Craig as he yanked Rollo onto his stomach. Dregal laughed and held a paw out to his fellow weasel.

"Har har, dis is me kind of weasel! Grabble put yer dagger away, Craig is a alrigh" he said

Grabble narrowed his eyes at Craig and then looked down at the mouse who was struggling to get to his feet. He then smiled and put his dagger back on his belt.

"Why do ye call him Rollo, mate?" the rat asked

Craig smiled and pulled Rollo back to the ground.

"I calls him Rollo, cause he kept rolling away fro me every time I tried ta catch him!" he said

Dregal and Grabble fell to the ground laughing. While the two were on the ground, Craig scanned the camp with his eyes and they came to rest on Stream. Stream stared back at the new weasel with fear and confusion. As she was looking into her eyes she could have sworn she saw a glimpse of sadness, but it was gone. He then winked at her, but he turned away from her confused look.

Grabble and Dregal slowly got back to their feet, still laughing.

"Rollo, cause he kept rolling, dat is a good one!" laughed Dregal

Neither of the two vermin noticed as Rollo's rope seemed to be getting longer as the mouse slowly crept to the right of them. But Stream noticed and as the mouse past her, he gave her a slight smile, she smiled back. When Rollo was in place, Craig grinned and his eyes became dangerous.

"Ye know, mates, ye should always keep yer eye on da beast ye 'ave captured" he said

Grabble caught the look and he stopped laughing, but Degal took no notice.

"Oh an why is dat, Craig me mate?" asked the weasel.

Craig lifted the staff he had been hiding under his cloak into view. He grinned at them again.

"Cause, mates, if ye do not watch dem, de always seem ta get under yer feet" he said as he gripped the rope tightly.

Both vermin stared at Craig in confusion, they did not see Rollo run at them. Both screamed as they were tripped by the mouse's rope and they struggled to get back up. Degal got up first and drew his sword, he snarled at the mouse and charged him. Grabble glared at Craig and then he lunged for the weasel.

CRACK, WACK, THWACK!

The rat fell to the ground before he could lay a hand on Craig. Degal swung his sword at Rollo, but the mouse quickly dodged it. Carried forward by his momentum, Degal staggered a few steps and then Rollo whacked him on the back of the head with both of his paws. Degal let out a groan and fell senseless to the ground. The fight took no more than two minutes, three at the most.

Rollo turned a grin to Craig as he slipped the rope off of his hands.

"Ha ha, Craig mate, you sure had those two fooled! Rollo, ha, that was a good one!" laughed Dune as he went toward the vermin's gear.

Stream had watched the whole scuffle with shock. As Craig began to walk her way she shook it off and scrambled toward her pole. She let out a small whimper of fear as the weasel drew a short dagger and kneeled beside her. Stream raised her small arm as if it would protect her when she heard the weasel chuckle. Stream looked up at him with confusion.

Craig smiled kindly at her.

"Do not worry yer liddle 'ead, ottermaid, me an Dune will not urt ye" he said softly

Craig then reached for her neck and Stream closed her eyes, she began to shake.

SNAP

Stream opened her eyes and looked down to see her leash lying at her feet and her collar cut. She looked back to the weasel and he smiled at her again. Stream gave a cry of happiness and hurled her arms around Craig's waist. He gave a grunt of surprise at her fast reaction and then looked down at the small ottermaid.

Dune came over with three roasted fish in his hands, laughing.

"Ha ha ha, Craig you should see your face. You look like you have never been hugged in your life" laughed Dune

Craig smiled sheepishly and pried the little otter from his waist.

"Alright, liddle one, ye can let go now, I need ta move" he said

Stream quickly let go and looked down at her feet embarrassed. Dune smiled at her as he held out a fish.

"Here you go little one, don't you be afeard of Craig, he won't be mad at you, he was just surprised" he said as Stream took the fish and began to gobble it up.

Craig stared at her in anger and he then turned to Dune.

"How, can dos two call dem selves beasts when dey treat others like dis!" he growled

Dune frowned as he nodded in agreement.

"I know how you feel mate, they are vermin, just like you, but you are different. Don't be too hard on yourself mate" said Dune when he saw the anger grow in his friends eyes.

Craig took a few deep breaths and then let it out, he smiled at his friend.

"Aye, ye are right Dune. I am not like dem an I am glad ta ave a matey like you!" Craig said

Dune smiled and turned his attention back to the ottermaid who had just finished her fish.

"What is your name little one?" asked the mouse

Stream looked up and swallowed her food. She then for the first time in seasons, smiled.

"My name be Stream! That was the name me parents gave me!" she said proudly

Craig smiled at her, but then he turned serious.

"An wha appened to yer family, Stream? Where are dey?" he asked, though he already knew

Stream felt tears in her eyes and she looked at the ground. Before she could say anything Craig picked her up and lifted her little chin with his paw.

"Its alright a cry, Stream, I also do not ave any parents ere" he said

Stream wiped her eyes with her arms.

"Really?" she asked and Craig nodded.

Dune then spoke up.

"It is true little one, I found Craig, lets see, bout three to five seasons ago, yah that's it, five seasons! He was lost and I helped him out and we have been friends from then on, aint that right Craig?" asked Dune

Craig smiled and nodded his head. Dune turned back to Stream.

"So you see, Stream, Craig here is just like you, though he is scary looking at that" he added as a joke.

Stream giggled at the look that the weasel gave his mouse friend. She then jumped from his lap and turned to face them both.

"I thank, you sirs for rescuing me" she said

Dune waved it off.

"Oh come now, we do this all the time. Nothing like terrorizing a few vermin when a good beast is in need" said the mouse

Craig began to chuckle, which soon turned into a laugh.

"Aye, Dune, jus like dat time ye tol me ye took on a 'ole tavern by yerself! Why did dey even start it?" he asked

Dune smiled.

"You really want me to tell that one again! Alright, now come sit by me Stream, there's a good little one. Hmm, now then for the past weeks I have been going to that there tavern and sat at the same table and drank the same drink everyday. Now one day as I was walking in, a big fat stoat got it in his mind that he didn't like to see me, a mouse, enjoy a drink in a place for vermin" began Dune.

Craig rolled his eyes.

'Always the one to start things!' he said to himself

Dune continued.

"Well that very day as I was walking to my table, as I called it, that stoat decided that he would bump me and try to start a fight. I ignored him and just kept walking and he didn't like that, so the next day he tried to threaten me as I came in. I ended up knocking one of his teeth out with my paw and he left me alone for a while. Well, two days latter he strides up to my table and threatens me again and still I ignore him. Then one of his friends joins in and pulls my drink away and that is how it started. I knocked the weasel out and started the whole tavern in fighting each other. Paid for my drink and then knocked the stoat out cold" said Dune as he did the motions with his hands.

Craig tried to keep a strait face as he watched Dune wave his arms around. Stream looked at the weasel and began to giggle as well. Dune glared at the two and walked over to the rat and weasel with the rope.

"Laugh at me will you, humph! No matter I will just bind these two up" he said

Craig and Stream fell to the ground, no longer able to hold their laughter in.

As soon as the vermin were bound to the wooden post, Dune and Craig retrieved their packs, filled with the vermin's food. Dune twirled his staff and looked down at ottermaid, he smiled.

"Well Stream, you are free to go now! Those two will never bother you again. You can stay here and go your own way or you can join us on our latest journey, its your choice" said Dune

stream began to get scared again, she had been with Grabble and Degal for most of her life and she didn't know what to do. Craig looked down at the small ottermaid in sympathy, he cleared his throat.

"Do not worry bout dem, dey can't make yer decisions for ye anymore, only ye can Stream" he said to her in a soft voice.

Stream looked at Craig and Dune, she opened her mouth to speak, but then closed for fear of being treated badly again. Dune raised an eyebrow and Craig began to hum to himself. Stream then raised her head again.

"I want go with you mister Dune and Craig, please I got no where else to go" she said

Craig smiled at her and picked her up. He placed her on his shoulders and looked up at her.

"Of course ye can Stream, we will look out for ye, until we reach where we are going" said the weasel.

The little ottermaid looked down into Craig's eyes.

"And where be you going, mister Craig?" she asked him

Dune smiled and began to walk, Craig followed him as he answered her question.

"We are going ta Redwall Abbey, dat is where we be off ta" Craig said

Stream looked cofused.

"Redwall, what be redwall?" she asked

Dune came up beside Craig and grinned up at Stream.

"It is the most wonderful place you can ever imagine little one! You will love it there trust me" said the mouse

Stream began to bounce up and down on Craig's shoulders. Craig chuckled.

"If ye keep that up Stream, ye will be aving ta walk de rest of de way dere!" he said

The little otter stopped and patted his head.

"I am sorry, Craig, I will be a good Stream, yes Stream will be good!" she said

Craig chuckled louder.

"I know ye will, Stream, I know"

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Well, what do you think of this chapter? For those who wanted to know why Dune was taunted by the stoat well, now you know! Please review and I will have the next chapter up soon!

D.R.O.T.N. (Dunedain Ranger of the North)