At last, they were on the move! The three waved with broad smiles seen clearly on their furry features to Sulfur, Dawn and Mellie.

'Farewell! Have fun and look after each other!'

'Bwing back more stwarwberries!' chirped the two dibbuns in unison, oblivious to the event their brother and friends were about to overtake. Breeze tugged along a havver sack of rations full to the brim, which Sulfur had baked so generously early that morning no matter how much they declined. Dampra offered that he would carry it, because she seemed to struggle with the heavy sack, as soon as they were out of the clearing.

'So,' Thames began as he scratched the place his ear once grew. 'Where are we going?' Poor Thames, thought Dampra, not the sharpest knife in kitchen, is he?

'We're looking for Deathstalker,' impatience dripped from the mouse warriors' voice.

'No, I think he means, where are we going to start? Mossflower is pretty big, and we don't know if he had travelled out of Mossflower, or could have died, it has been a long time, and we have not a single clue of where to start.'
Breeze gave a puzzled look as she reflected on her own thoughts in a tone, bearly loud enough to take note of. Thames poked his tongue out at Dampra, like a naughty dibbun. Dampra did the same and put his paws to his ears and wiggled them. An idea suddenly popped into Breezes' brain.

'Dampra, do you remember where your house is?'

'Sorry Breeze, I left it and never looked back. Isn't an Abbey or something close to here though?'
Breeze snapped her fingers.

'Oh how could I forget?! When my mother, may her bones rest in peace, was sick, we took her to the infirmary keeper, at Redwall Abbey! Mayhap they could locate your old home, they have lots of maps, or may have seen or heard about what direction they where going in from travellers! Brilliant! I remember the direction too. Hmm, from your house, Thames, I believe we go.....West!'
The three quickly hurried in that direction.

The sun was high in the sky when the trio stoped for a rest and snack. Their foot paws were slowly starting to ache with the constant walking, but Dampra said after a day or so, their paws should get used to it.

'Wot have we got to eat?' asked Dampra, hunger quickly creeping inside him. Thames dug his paws in the sack, trying to find something suitable for lunch.

'We have, strawberry tarts, a loaf of nutbread, three apples, a jar of candied chestnuts, hazelnut cheese, flans of cider, strawberry fizz, damson juice and water. Phew mates, this lot could keep us goin' for seasons!'

'Hmm, give me a slice of that loaf and a tart please; I'll get some more after, what about you?'
Dampra thought about this for a moment.

'I'll have an apple.'

'Just an apple!' the other two exclaimed in mock horror.

'Is that all your havin for lunch?'
Dampra flicked the apple up and caught it on the end of his sword, a slight smile playing on his lips.

'Aye, that's all I'm havin for lunch, you two should too. It's not much, but you should start getting used to havin small meals, it could be all we get to eat for a long time.'
Thames took the remainder two apples out and tossed one to Breeze.

'How long till we get there?' inquired Thames through bites.

'Now that we found the path, not very long I guess,' Breeze replied as she tossed her apple core into the wet, leafy, loam.
The wind was starting to pick up now and leaves began to blow across the brown brick path. The grass started to tangle its self loosely around the other tall blades of grass. Dampra peered along the path.

'Hey, look! You can see the roofs of the Abbey! We're almost there!' he cried. So the three took of again, almost running at full speed along the path, now knowing that the Abbey was near.

Abbess Daleil walked through Redwall Abbey's orchard, stopping now and then to admire the fresh growing fruit and let out a happy sigh. She then strolled over to an over-turned wheelbarrow and sat o it. A sudden voice made her jump.

'Going for a stroll through the orchard are you, Mother?'
The old squirrel let out a relived sigh.

'Oh, you scared me there for a moment brother Mead. Yes, it is a lovely autumn day, wouldn't you agree?'
The young mouse sniffed the air and answered,

'Yes do agree. Do you want to come with me to get some afternoon tea with me?'
The old squirrel lifted herself from the wheelbarrow.

'I would love to. Im feeling a bit peckish.'

The two made their way through the orchard and walked past the Abbey gate. Boom, boom, boom! The pair quickly turned their attention towards the gate.

'Do you be friend or foe?' Mead called out, to the beasts on the other side of the gate.

'We be friends!' called out a strong reply.
With a look from Daleil, Mead lifted the bar from the gate. Two mice and a squirrel ran inside, and helped bar the gate.

'Hello, travellers. Im Abbess Daleil and this is Mead, welcome to my abbey.'
Dampra gave a swift nod.

'Nice to meet you, Abbess. I am Dampra the warrior, and these are my two friends, this is, I'm sure you remember, Breeze and, Thames.'

'Nice to meet you also. We are just about to have afternoon tea, would you like to join us and tell us a little about your history?'

The three nodded eagerly as their stomachs let out a hungry growl. Dampra missed the look that passed between Breeze and Mead.

The three had never tasted such fantastic food! There was woodland trifle, scones and meadow cream, apricot and plum biscuits, deeper 'n' ever pie, flans and so many more. Dibbuns crowed around the visitors curiously. A young mole climbed up onto Thames.

'Where di' 'e gert dat scar from zurr?'

'This old thing? Got it one day when I was eatin some lunch under a tree. A big ol' crow said that he wanted some, but I said that it was mine. So here he is hoppin around angrily then pecked my face. So I get a branch and start swinging it at him and showed him my warrior face. Ran off scared he did!'
A large amount of giggles followed after his words. A little hedgehog maid raced over and gently pulled on Dampra's tail. He smiled awkwardly as he pick the dibbun up and placed her carefully on his lap (for you see, he is not that good with young ones.)

'Mista, are you gonna use the sword?' she asked eagerly.

'Wot sword?'
'Martins sword course!'
Dampra pulled a confused face and turned to Daleil, who was sitting next to him.

'Who is Martin?'
The old Abbess stood up and gently took the little maid from his lap and took his paw.

'Follow me,' she said, still holding his paw, as if he might not follow her. She led him into a long room, with a tapestry that hung over one of the longer walls. Daleil showed him the middle of the amazing artwork. There stood a mouse, leaning on a fine sword, which at the same time looked brave, strong, yet kind. All around him vermin fled away from him in all directions, and the light from the windows seemed to make it pop out of the tapestry. Dampra diverted his eyes to the top of the weave work. A magnificent sword hung above it. It had a double edge, a three-quarter blood channel, with a black handle and on the end was placed with a ruby-red pommel stone. The Abbess was pleased when she saw the expression on her friends face.

'I see you admire the sword and tapestry.' A smile flashed on her face. She carefully took the sword down and turned to Dampra, the sword laying flat on her paws

'I see a warrior in you, young one, you are the spitting image of Martin, he was the founder of Redwall. Your quest may be long and you'll need a good sword to ally you.'
Dampra was almost speechless.

'Bu-but Mother, I already have a sword, and I would dream of taking your sword from you.'

'Take it. Trust me; there is wisdom in my words.'
He gingerly took the sword from Daleil's out-stretched paws. He sliced the air a few times till he seemed satisfied.

'Thank you, it is an honour to carry a fellow warriors sword, I shall make sure no harm comes to it.' He said, as if in some type of trance.
He then tried to imitate Martins picture. Toolia, the hare wife infirmary keeper bustled through the Great Hall at that time, and paused when she saw the warriors face.

'Weel naow, iffen that keeps oop, make shure to drap by the infirmary for ah wee little physic,' her highlander accent was thick with worry. The Abbess let out a little giggle as Dampra blushed scarlet.

'Oh, he'll be all right. Just swallowed a bug that's all. Go back to the meal, sister.'
The hare wife gave a nod, and then returned to the feast again. A sudden though came to Dampra's mind.

'Where can I put this sword? My fathers I mean,' asked as pulled the sword from it's case. The Abbess picked it out of his paws and placed it where Martin's sword had hung.

'It'll stay up here for now. Come, let us go back to the feast, put that sword away too, young'n, who knows what could happen if it gets knocked from your paws.'

As they sat down, Dampra was told another member had joined their journey. Mead. Dampra was starting to think that the group was starting to get way too big.