CHAPTER 3
"Steady, steady! No, don't move, Turin, you'll fall!" Vincent, a young male otter, stood on the shore of Redwall Abby's pond shouting out to a stranded Turin. The young male squirrel was hopelessly trapped on a wet log, which was in the middle of the pond.
"Hurry, Vince!" Turin pleaded, "The log's wobbling!" Turin tried violently to steady himself as Vincent shouted out commands.
"Walk the log over this direction and I'll grab you!"
"The log is too slick, Vince, you know I can't swim!"
"Just try it!" Vincent sent Turin a pleading look. Turin glanced at the water. Just looking at it made him feel sick. He hated water. Oh, why had he let Vincent talk him into doing such a stupid thing?
Finally, the young squirrel worked up enough courage to lift one of his paws slightly off the log. He placed it behind his other paw. When he realized he hadn't fallen he wanted to jump, but decided against the idea. Despite his daunting predicament he had outstanding agility and he was able to retain his balance.
"Nice and slow, Turin, that's it. keep coming!" Vincent reached out for the squirrel as he edged closer. Suddenly Turin's paw landed on a slick part of the log and he fell into the water with a flailing splash.
"Help, Vince!" To his friends horror Turin's head disappeared beneath the surface. Vincent dove into the water with hardly a splash, his sleek, brown body speeding through it. Turin was easy to spot. His fir was weighing him down considerably and was pulling him to the bottom. Turin's eyes were closed and Vincent saw bubbles escape from his mouth. The young otter knew he had to take action quick or his friend could drown. He grabbed Turin by the waist and struggled to the top of the water. As he broke through the surface he gasped for air and pulled Turin's head up as well. While fighting with the water to get to shore, Vincent monitored Turin's breaths. He was breathing, but barely.
Although Vincent wanted to keep Turin's head above the water he knew that the fastest way to get out of the water was to swim beneath it. Vincent took one final gulp of air and dove. The water was murkier closer to shore but he hadn't realized he was so far away from it. He was making pretty good time, and was almost there, when, all of a sudden, Turin slipped out of his paws! Vincent was almost out of breath as he spun around and reached for his friend. He couldn't find him! He dove deeper and felt around the bottom where the pond plants grew, hoping that his friend caught in one of them. Vincent's chest pounded, his body begging for air, as he searched. In an unexpected moment, Vincent felt is right hind paw snag on something. He spun around and heaved viciously at it. Then, the pounding in his chest stopped. His breath escaped him as his strength disappeared. The last thing Vincent remembered as his world went black was a strong arm wrapping around his middle.
Pain, darkness, death! There was no air in this blackened world that Turin ran through. Gasping for the breath that wasn't there he bumbled blindly onward. His head and chest throbbed. A sudden draft caught his attention. Air! Turin raced toward the blessed breeze as he drank it in. A light up ahead gave him hope and he turned in that direction. The next moment found him in Great Hall at Redwall, staring up at the image of Marten the Warrior. The picture depicted the great mouse as young and strong. Marten had a reckless smile on his face; and, in the background, vermin fled from him with terror inflicted expressions. As Turin stared he noticed that Martin seemed closer to him, as if he had actually come forth from the tapestry. When the Redwall hero started to walk towards him, he knew that he had. A sudden peace flowed over him as the warrior stood before him.
"Up from the east comes a rival,
Down from the north comes your friend.
A guest with a silent past,
Vows of revenge can defend."
Turin stared, agape, at Martin. What did these strange words mean?
Martin walked and stood besides him. Then, as if reading Turin's mind, Martin said, "Remember these words and all will be reveled." A strong clap on the back sent Turin sprawling out of Great Hall.
Turin awoke in a spluttering rage, coughing and gasping. He found himself laying on his stomach, in the grass next, to the pond. Turin coughed up water as his back was pounded hard. When he could finally breath again he was turned over.
"Well, young one, next time you're that thirsty I would recommend you not drink water from the pond. You almost swallowed it dry!" Senya, wife of the Skipper of Otters, sat next to Turin, looking down on him with gentle, soft, brown eyes.
Turin groaned as he sat up, his head spinning, "What happened?" he asked.
"I was hoping to get that answer from you, young squirrel." Mellus, badger mother of Redwall, strode impatiently forward. Her expression was frustration and her voice was gruff. "What, do you mind telling me, was the meaning of being out in the middle of the pond this early in the morning?"
Turin was at a loss for words. He tried to say something but it only came out stuttered.
"Humph. I thought as much," Mother Mellus said. "Well, we might as well get you cleaned up. Stand up young one."
As Turin tried to stand, his legs wobbled and his head spun. Turin swooned and was caught in Mellus' strong paws. "Since you insist upon doing that, I might as well take you to sick bay," Mellus said, carrying him inside. As she did Turin drifted in and out of consciousness, totally forgetting the words Martin spoke.
The next thing Vincent felt, after nearly drowning, was a strong paw pounding on his back.
"Vince, wake up!" The voice was deep and familiar. "Come on, mate, give 'er back. You can't hold that water in there forever!"
Vincent started a coughing and gagging fit, throwing up all the water he had inhaled.
"There you go, young 'un." The creature stopped it's pounding and let Vince get the water out of his lungs. "I was afraid you were gonna leave us! Don't ever scare us like that again!"
Vincent looked up into the kind face of the Skipper of Otters. "Where's Turin?" he gasped.
"Mother Mellus took him inside. He was feeling a bit queasy, I think, after swallowing nearly half the pond. And you, you have to go and swallow the other half!" Vincent looked over to the pond, fully expecting to see nothing but a dry ditch. Skipper chuckled at his gullibility and ruffled the fur on his head. "So," he said in a gentle voice, "what were you doing out in the middle of the pond before anyone in Redwall was awake?"
Vincent shook his head. "I just wanted to test out something I had thought of."
"How did you drag Turin, who hates water, inside the pond as well?" Vincent shook his head again and started shivering.
"Well," Skipper said, "I guess I should get you inside and washed up. Can you stand?"
The young otter stood and, with the help of Skipper, made it inside the abbey.
"Oh, and just a tip," Skipper whispered, "I would try to stay away from Mother Mellus for a while, she ain't to happy with you."
Vincent thanked Skipper for the advice and rushed off, shivering, to get a bath. He thought all the way of how he was going to apologize to Turin. He hoped that Turin was alright and hadn't hurt himself too bad.
Auther note: Thanks to the people who have reviewed! Sorry the last chapter was so short, I just needed something to introduce my bad guy. Idon't plan on havingsomething that short again! I also have one question for those who review, would it be good to name the chapters instead of just numbering them?
