(Sorry about the 'crabbed' instead of 'grabbed' typo in the previous chapter. The funny thing is...I did the same thing in my previous story! haha... Anyways, here's another chapter, and I'm posting another one so soon because I don't think I'll be bale to post another one for a while since I'm busy. So, have fun, review as much as you want, and (just to get it over with so I can take it out of the summary thing) I don't own Redwall! there. Have fun.)
Chapter Three
When the tribe of foxes let up camp to leave for Redwall, Vaneeya had little to do but grab her cape and an extra knife (stolen from her friend Docim'e, since she didn't have her own). She sat around watching the other foxes pack; they argued relentlessly and over everything—food, clothes, weapons, blankets, even jewelry. By the time everyone had everything of theirs (and not theirs) they had to make 13 graves of those who lost their battles over possessions.
It is truly sad that she was proud of these things. You had to learn to not care about life when it came to living with these foxes. You have to be tough. You have to learn to be proud of the things you would never do in any other setting in the whole of the world…things she knew she wouldn't do, if she had had the chance not to do them, somewhere that wasn't the wrong side of the enemy line.
She sat on a rotting tree stump viewing the camp as they slowly left, simply watching them. The creatures that made up this tribe of foxes were very interesting to simply look at: most, if not all, were older than 18 seasons and younger than 35, with different origins and many different accents. Some were gypsies, others seers, come sea-foxes, some from the north, others from the south; all different, and all always fighting.
Vaneeya always walked behind the group; she always had for as long as she could remember. As they all filed out, Vaneeya slowly got in behind, alongside the seer Mali and the young vixen Docim'e.
"I always loose that bloody knife. It were a good 'un…but I couldn't find it this time. So I got me this better 'un offa old Leruh, he's as good as dead anyway, that 'un." Docim'e twirled her new blade expertly. She could throw them with amazing accuracy, she could win a fight again a creature with a sword ten times her knife's length only through her cunning ways.
Docim'e thrust her blade into her blue and gold sash, patting it as she did. "Wouldn't want to go to this Abbey without a good weapon, now would I?"
Vaneeya smiled to herself, knowing that Docim'e would forget her old blade by morning, considering she always wanted new ones, anyway. In a few days time, Vaneeya could carry her newly found blade (Docim'e's old one) with pride and her friend wouldn't even notice.
Mali had been quite for most of the time since the word came that they would attack Redwall. She was deep in thought, chanting various spells and rhymes, even dancing a various jig here and there, here long cape and tattered dress ends flying with the sound of tiny bells that were attached to her shawl jingling. In other words, being a complete seer even on the go.
Mali finally spoke. "This will be pointless in the end."
Vaneeya laughed, but Docim'e was the one who answered. "Yer son is the tribe leader and ye say 'tis pointless?"
Mali nodded. "Kefgahn is as big a fool as any. He'll be killed by the end of it all. His eyes are for the treasure, but his mind is for the rats. He really cannot do much in these situations. Seems I failed in making a good ruling son." She shook her head as though in great despair.
Vaneeya was slightly disturbed by her calm demeanor as she foretold her son's death. "You don't care?"
Mali shook her head, gazing at Vaneeya under her gray eyelashes. "Oh, I do, little Vaneeya. But who I am to argue with fate? If the stones say so then it is to be. There is nothing I can do for what I have seen."
Docim'e laughed. "And who will lead us after all that, then, eh?"
Mali looked away. "I have seen that, too. But I refuse to tell you."
"Somebeast ye don't like?"
Vaneeya laughed. "She don't like nobeast."
It was meant to be a joke, and both Vaneeya and Docim'e laughed in unison, but the look they received from Mali told them otherwise.
They traveled on without saying much more. Vaneeya and Docim'e walked side by side, supporting Mali when she needed help. The well-known truth was: you never get on the bad side of the seer.
Two days later they came to a river. Kefgahn stopped them on the banks of the river and spoke, "This is River Moss. We'll cross it tomorrow. From then we travel on it's other bank south for a while, and turn west. We'll get to that Abbey in no time at all, mates."
A cheer rose and they all made their own camps, some retiring for the night and others preparing their meals.
Mali looked to Docim'e and then toward Vaneeya. "Which one of you gets the food and which of you makes the tent?" Docim'e turned her gaze to Vaneeya.
"I made the food last night, Vaneeya, 'tis yer turn."
After squinting her violet eyes at the brown-eyed fox, Vaneeya sighed to herself and took her knife (Docim'e had indeed forgotten about it) and a bow with a few arrows that she had made and set out to find some birds. Making food was hard; Mali demanded fresh meat and along with finding the food came making the fire and the meal along with it, and it was never done fast enough for Mali. If she weren't careful, she would get on that bad side she didn't want to be on.
XxXxX
"Now, Martin, where are you going?"
Martin smiled as his mom stepped out of the gatehouse cottage.
"Into Mossflower, I just had a feeling that I would want to see all the beauty of the forest again…it's been a long while."
Tess smiled. She looked at his side and saw Martin's sword—their family legacy—at his side. "Protect that sword, Martin. It was your namesakes. And, most importantly, it's not yours yet and you're only borrowing it, thanks to the kindness of your father."
"I know, mum. I've wanted it all my life—I wouldn't loose it."
She went to him and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him. "I'm sure the Lieutenant would wish you to come back, as soon as he can remember a good story to tell. He's not as young as he used to be, and it'll take some time for him to remember any good ones." She laughed. "I love you, son. Please be safe, and if you happen upon any of those foxes…"
"Don't worry! And I you, too, mum." With that Martin smiled and went out of main gate, walking lazily down the path.
It was then that Mattimeo came walking to the gatehouse. Time had had little effect on Mattimeo and Tess, and although they looked older, they did not look old. Mattimeo could pass as his own son's twin, and Matthias could pass as Martin's father. Even though time had obviously come and gone, it was kind. Matthias, Mattimeo, and the new warrior Martin II would be a perilous trio to come across; and the Abbey knew that in the paws of such creatures they were safe.
Mattimeo and Tess closed the gate and strolled paw in paw to the main hall, where dinner would soon be served, talking about old times, but, mainly, talking about how Martin was truly turning into a warrior, even though he hadn't been tested…
Yet.
XxXxX
Vaneeya aimed at the bird again. She was getting rather frustrated; considering she had been chasing the same swallow for nearly an hour.
She may be a mouse but she was certainly able to climb like no other creature she had ever known. She climbed up the tree to where the swallow was resting, watching (but not in the right place) for its pursuer. Vaneeya went to step on the next branch and her paw slipped. She scrambled for hold on the branches but slipped again. The swallow took flight in the air, and Vaneeya knew that this was her last chance to catch it. Holding herself onto the tree limb with her elbow she aimed at the bird and shot—sending the arrow strait through it's chest. The bird plummeted to the ground…
…And so did Vaneeya.
XxXxX
Martin saw the swallow fall from the sky from his position on the path. Being a little distance away he couldn't see the arrow in the bird's body and he became concerned. He jumped off the main path and ran through the woods, going full-speed.
He came upon the birds' carcass and simply stood over it, awed. He didn't know a creature that would dare kill suck a beautiful swallow!
Martin heard a groan over to his side, and he turned to see the creature that was making the noise. He gasped.
"Get away from me, rat! You do not belong in Mossflower!"
Vaneeya stood, using the trunk of the tree to brace herself, since she was still a little faint from falling out of the tree. Her face was hard and full of contempt. "I ain't no rat, mouse. I'm the same as you!"
"Under what circumstances?"
She scoffed. "My parents. Trust me, I'm a mouse. Just got caught up in some stuff…now if you don't mind I'm makin' my dinner! Move aside!"
Drawing his sword, Martin placed the point at her chest. "And you believed that that required killing a bird?"
"Ya, sure enough, it did. Now leave all your warrior's honor stuff aside and let me eat!" She yelled at him, almost taking him unaware by her violent ways.
"There are plenty of other things around you that would suffice just as well!"
Sullenly, she replied, "I've been livin' off meat and I will always." She pulled her knife forward, saying almost as an afterthought and in a muffled voice. "And I've been taught by Kefgahn, bet he knows more than you, anyways."
Martin didn't move his sword, and his face didn't change, but his voice grew protective toward the pitiful sight displayed before him. "That would be most unnecessary."
Vaneeya smiled. "You pulled the weapon first, stranger."
Martin's face fell. As much as he didn't like this girl, she was right. He sheathed his sword, and she did likewise with her knife.
Vaneeya was looking him up and down, and Martin grew uncomfortable. "What are you doing, miss?"
Vaneeya looked taken aback, scared and a little bewildered, though from what he didn't know. "Where are you from, sir?"
Martin stood proud, clearly stating the name of his home. "The Abbey of Redwall."
Vaneeya's face fell, and through her hard surface, kindness and compassion showed. "You're a nice beast, to be sure. I could tell from you're robe…even though I ain't been there."
A confused look crossed Martin's face. "Why…"
Vaneeya stopped a moment, directing her gaze to the ground, almost as if she were shy. "I should go now, wouldn't want no abbey boy getting caught up inna creature like the likes 'o me."
She stepped to his other side and went to snatch the bird when Martin's paw flew out and caught her wrist. "Why?" he asked more sternly.
"I wouldn't want to mean you no harm, now, would I?" she said softly.
"How would you do me harm?" Martin drew her closer until their faces were nearly touching. He was surprised to see that, now that her face had softened by her emotion, she was beautiful. She was rugged and from the distance she appeared unkempt, even though she really wasn't, but she was very pretty. Her fur was soft and a dark brown he had never before seen in a mouse, her eyes were large and a delicate, almond shaped, and a deep violet color—like that of a soft light after the rain; rounded with long, midnight black lashes, she was unmistakably beautiful. Her eyes seemed to water, dancing with the diamonds of tears, and he was confused.
"Why…do you cry, miss?"
"My name is Vaneeya," she shot back, almost as though he should know, but, of course, didn't. "Though I don't think 'twill matter to you, anyways."
The name rolled around in his mind. It was a beautiful name, like a dew-covered rose in the early morning or the soft scent of perfume. Vaneeya.
Martin released her paw. "My name is Martin, son of Mattimeo the Warrior of Redwall Abbey."
Her earrings chimed as she shook her head. "My utmost grievances, then, to your abbey." With that she turned and fled with the swallow in her paws.
Martin didn't try to stop her. Nothing she had said made any sense. He turned slowly back to the path, wanting to get home and speak with his father as soon as possible.
