Chapter 7

It was mid autumn when the marten who called himself Miru came to Redwall Abbey. Naturally everybeast was curious about the new arrival, though none of them were allowed to visit him in the sickbay, as the Father Abbot knew that would be rude and disrespectful to crowd the poor creature with questioning beasts.

But every abbeydweller managed to get at least one glance at the mysterious pine marten all the same. They would come up to the infirmary, asking Sister Grace for some medicine or special herbs or a bandage, and would sneak a peek over at the sleeping creature. After that, the curious abbeybeasts would became satisified with that one look and go about their business.

But the three youngbeasts who had been with Skipper when Miru had been discovered were bursting with curiousity.

"C'mon, Skip, tell us what you know!"

"How'd he get like that?"

"Where'd he come from?"

"Wot do ee bee think'n e'll bee a-wantin' t' do when ee's better, zurr?"

"Now you three, quiet down, now," the otter chieftain ordered. "First of all, he's very weak and tired, an' he needs his rest, so don't go sneakin' into the infirmary and pestering him. He's very shy and it won't do having you all crowd around him. Second of all, when he's up and feelin' better, you can ask him then. And when you do ask him, he'll answer in his own good time, alright?"

"But surely he's told you some of what's happened to him, right?" Marok argued. "Couldn't you just tell us what you know, so we'll have less to ask him when he starts walking around?"

Skipper sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well... I suppose it won't hurt to tell you this much..."

The three younger animals listened eagerly.

"He said that he's a survivor of a famine. His entire family gave up their own food just so he could live. And it cost them all their lives. There, satisified?"

Marok, Rocc and Soilburr became solemn-faced at this new piece of information.

"I... I had no idea," said Marok.

"Course you didn't," Skipper replied. "But like I said, just leave the pine marten alone until he's ready to come out of his shell, alright?"

"Er, Skip," said Rocc. "When do you think he'll be able to come out of the infirmary?"

"Oh, I don't know. His leg is pretty banged up. Sister Grace says it'll probably be about spring when he's able to get back up. So you'll have to wait less'n two seasons if you want any more questions answered."


Although the two seasons passed slowly for the three curious young creatures, it certainly didn't for Miru.

Miru... my name is Miru...

The seasons passed quickly because he slept through most of it. And it was because of this, he ate little, which caused great concern to Sister Grace. She tried coaxing him to eat every time he woke up, but he would either eat nothing or hardly anything at all.

Fortunately, the kindly hogwife found out that Skipper had managed to get some food into the undersized pine marten, so she made arrangements for the otter to eat all of his meals in the infirmary, just in case Miru should wake up during those times. And if he woke up at any other time, Skipper was called upon to feed him.

It certainly was something for the Redwallers to talk about: Skipper Rorac, who fought more battles with the verminkind than any other creature in Mossflower, being so attentive to a pine marten.

"But that shows what a noble creature we have been blessed with," said the abbot, folding his paws into his long sleeves. "I have offered the sword of Martin several times to Rorac, but the otter has refused, saying he's never heard the call of Martin."

"Shame," said Brother Samuel. "We couldn't do better than Skipper for an Abbey Champion."

"Oh, I think he has somebeast else in mind," the old abbot smiled, glancing over at Marok.

Miru... my name is Miru... not Dernwyn... Dernwyn died... he's dead...

Even during the night, Skipper was still required to watch over Miru, for it seemed as though he was the only creature the young pine marten would trust.

The very night on which Miru had been given his first Redwall meal, he went back to sleep afterwards, only to wake up screaming, pleading and struggling with some unseen foe. Skipper, who had been dozing in the bedside chair, took a hold of Miru, getting him to slowly stop thrashing around.

"It's alright, little mate, it's alright! Nobeast is gonna hurt ye, wake up! Its just a dream, just a dream," the burly otter soothed, trying to keep the marten from hurting his bandaged leg any further.

Miru murmured painfully before taking a few shuddering deep breaths... and then, leaning back against Rorac, he whispered, "Ohh... thanks, Kirin..."

Skipper blinked. Kirin? ...Oh... the marten was talking in his sleep; probably to one of his family members. His brother maybe...

The otter, after assuring Sister Grace (who came in momentarily) that everything was alright, had then occupied himself with rocking Miru back and forth, singing the lullaby his own father had sung him when he was a dibbun.

Early autumn became late autumn, which soon turned into winter. And all through it, Miru the marten ate and slept, but mostly slept.

And each time before he feel asleep again, he hoped he wouldn't dream...


"But you must be wondering where that leaves you," Zurzak continued. "I decided to give you another chance on my offer.

"I told you before that you remind me of me, when I was young, and that I would protect you just as Kirin protected you. Right now you are nobody's prince, Dernwyn. You hold no authority over anybeast. And you have little to no affection from any of your subjects. There is only one creature that you can rely on right now.

"And that, is me. So what do you say, little prince? Do you accept my offer?"

There was a long, long silence.

Then finally, slowly, Dernwyn nodded his head.

He felt the burly arms encircling him tighten and tremble a little.

"You... you accept my offer?"

The wildcat's voice seemed to carry a note of... elation... which was somehow even more terrifying than how his voice normally was.

For a moment there was nothing but stillness and silence...

...until Zurzak released him, laying him out on the bed.

"Good," he said, his voice still carrying that strange elated note. "Good. Now... let's untie you, shall we?"

First the ropes binding the marten's ankles were removed. Zurzak then set about rubbing the feeling back into them, although he was careful not to be too rough. Next his wrists were released from their bonds, and the wildcat began rubbing them as well.

Throughout all of this Dernwyn was quiet and still. He didn't know exactly why he found himself accepting Zurzak's so-called 'offer', but somehow, at the time, it seemed the most natural thing to do...

The wildcat finished rubbing the marten's frail wrists, and Dernwyn then felt himself being eased up into a sitting position. Those horrible claws were then reaching behind his head to untie the gag. Goosebumps arose beneath his fur as the knot was untied. Soon the cloth was removed, and he licked the inside of his mouth as the claws undid the blindfold.

Even after the cloth was gone, Dernwyn still kept his eyes closed for a moment, not quite ready to look the wildcat in the face just yet.

Suddenly he felt one of Zurzak's paws under his chin.

"Are you alright?" The wildcat's tone was disturbingly tender.

Startled, the young marten's eyelids fluttered open, and he found himself looking into the green slitted eyes of Zurzak.

The wildcat was... there was something... soft... about his face... something... fatherly?

"I... I'm fine," Dernwyn replied, easing his chin away from the dreaded claws.

"Good. Come and sit by the fire so you can get warm. I'll build up the fire better."

Dernwyn found himself huddled up next to the fireplace, his paws and footpaws folded in front of him to catch the fire's warmth.

Zurzak, a monstrous mound of striped fur, black robes, sharp claws and weird, staring green eyes, was sitting nearby, thankfully for once making no effort to touch the pine marten.

Not a word passed between them. Dernwyn began to feel uneasy. Usually Zurzak was always speaking, making some kind of sinister speech about something, but now...

...now he seemed... different. And the pine marten wasn't so sure whether or not he liked it.

"Is there anything you would like?"

Dernwyn gave a start at the wildcat's sudden words. "What?"

A troubled look passed through Zurzak's green eyes, and he repeated, somewhat hesitatingly, "Is there anything you would like? An extra blanket? Something to eat, or drink?"

"...No. ...Thank you."

Silence.

"Well, actually-"

"Yes?" Zurzak eagerly leaned forward.

"I'd... I'd like to... see my father."

The wildcat didn't move for a moment, and then he slowly leaned back. He gazed at Dernwyn for awhile, before replying, "Of course."