Chapter 7

By the streams of Mossflower Woods, an otter wearing a vest and wielding a staff sat by the river bank, the otter was whistling a sea chanty. He then heard rustling in the bushes, the waterdog sprang up and tightly gripped his staff. The otter scanned their area.

"Oi, who's there?"

Voice came out from the bushes.

"This bank is ours, get your own!"

The Otter loosened his grip on the weapon and he smiled.

"Is that the Guosim?"

A shrew appeared from behind a bush. The short rodent wore a long sleeve tunic and rapier by his hip.

"How did you know?"

"How? Well, I know that shrews are very territorial when it comes to their river banks, and I knew that it was the Guosim because the Guosim is one of the biggest shrew organizations in Mossflower Woods."

The otter explained. The shrew scratched his nose and grinned at the tall beast.

"What is your name, otter?"

"My name is Kang Ruddertail, and yours?"

The shrew took a bow and smiled.

"I am Log-a-Log Graffa."

Kang nodded in astonishment and kneeled down to the Log-a-Log and shook paws with each other. Kang got back up and put his staff deep in the sand.

"So Log-a-Log, where are you headed?"

"Oh, the Guosim and I are destined to Salamandastron, and you?"

Kang gave a small chuckle out.

"No where, my shrew friend. I'm just wandering the lands of Mossflower. But I think I will join you beasts on your journey to the West."

The otter and shrew joined forces and headed off to Salamandastron.

At Salamandastron, Urthwyte and Hoskins along with Colonel Baker and Captain Cook sat at a round table discussing the siege they were in.

"Hoskins, a few hours ago our mountain was attacked by the vermin scum at the base, many casualities were commited by that scourge Raluska Goldeneye and his hordebeasts. We need a plan of action, and you beasts are my best advisors."

Urthwyte explained to the top commanders of the Long Patrol.

Hoskins twitched his nose and twirled his whiskers in a clockwise manor.

"I propose we pick 'em off one at a time, guerrilla tactics if it were, wot."

"I think we should stay here and double the guards on our ramparts and balconies, and when Raluska comes with his horde we fire a barrage of arrows and skewer those blighters once and for all."

"I think, we should lead them into a trap, when they begin to retreat, we follow behind them, wreck their camp and keep chasing them til we find a snake pit, once they run with their tails betwixt their legs, we lead them all in the pit and the serpent will do the rest."

Urthwyte thought long and hard on these proposals, the white furred badger scratched his chin and tapped the table top.

"I think we should do Hoskins' plan first, then when they retaliate we do Baker's, and the stragglers we should do Cook's plan. Pick them off, arrows, then trap."

Urthwyte explained to the strategists of Salamandastron.

At the base of Salamandastron, Raluska and Beirolo sat in the cart eating dinner and Raluska peered upwards to see the tall mountain. The ferret pointed a small knife at the extinct volcano and gritted his teeth.

"I will get you, Urthwyte. I will get you. Mark my words!"

He shouted at the mountain, Beirolo looked up at the mountain.

"Brother, I wonder how Jusato is doing?"

"I'm sure he's winning the hearts of the Redwallers."

Raluska explained.

Meanwhile at Redwall, Samkim and Pikkle went on nightly patrol duty to scan the walls for suspicious activity. Pikkle wielded a long bow and had a long curved dagger at his hip. Samkim held the Sword of Martin tightly in his paws. As the two heroes did their duty, Jusato sat hidden in the treetops peering down at the hare and squirrel.

"You fools won't be doing this forever, once you goody-goodies go to bed, we will strike."

Jusato whispered to himself. On the ground, the two returned inside Redwall. Jusato climbed down and returned back to the camp.

"Alright you scourges, do you have your shovels ready?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, here is the plan: Firesnout and I will wait as the rest of you dig a tunnel underneath the Abbey courtyard, one of you gets to the back gate and let's me and my partner go inside. Once we are all inside we bind and gag them. Make them our slaves."

"What about that squirrel, mole, hare, and badger?"

"Those 4, I have something for them. We will drive them away from Redwall Abbey. If they come back, we will turn their hides to dollrags. Put their heads on pikes and make the Dwellers eat their carcasses. We'll label Redwall the home of cannibalistic beasts. Later on in the seasons to come, desperate woodlanders seeking refuge will think twice about going to Redwall Abbey, for the stories of honest mice, moles, and other beasts being cannibals will be true."

Jusato said deviously to his horde. Firesnout the fox produced a smile of wickedness on his face as well.

"I love your idea, Chief."

"Thanks, Firesnout. Let's go."

The hordebeast marched to Redwall with shovels in paw. The vermin marched on to Redwall and started digging, hordebeasts began their journey further in the underground while Jusato and Firesnout waited on the outside, eventually the reached the Abbey courtyard and they let their leaders inside. Jusato drew his blade and smiled wickedly.

"Redwall is finally mine, let's advance!"

The vermin opened the main doors to Cavern Hole and the Great Hall. They marched up to the dormitories and rushed in, the Dwellers were in for a rude awakening. Jusato drew his sabre and jumped on the bed of Samkim. Samkim's eyes shot open, however, before he could grab his sword, Jusato made a small incision in the squirrel's left paw. The ferret shook his head and smiled at the squirrel. Samkim clenched his wounded paw and gritted his teeth. Jusato jumped off the bed and grabbed Samkim by the scruff of his neck, dragging the squirrel away. Two rats held Mara down as well as Pikkle and Arula.

"Let him go, you evil vermin!"

Mara shouted at the top of her lungs. Jusato simply ignored the Badgermum and continued to drag the squirrel out of the dormitory. Once they made it to the entrance of the Abbey courtyard, Jusato propped the squirrel up and looked at him dead in the eyes.

"Listen to me squirrel. You and your 3 friends must leave my Abbey."

"Your Abbey?! Hah don't make me laugh."

"Silence!"

In one swift motion, Jusato landed a hard slap to the squirrel, knocking him down.

"I will have you know I do not tolerate the kind of behavior. So, I have made it abundantly clear with my crew that you and your diggerdog and rabbit, and stripedog are exiled from Redwall Abbey, or should I say the Swartt Sanctuary. If I or my beasts see you, you will regret the day you were born."

Samkim clenched his fist and growled underneath his breath.

"Oh and by the by, your sword is mine know."

That sword wasn't meant for a scoundrel like Jusato, that sword was specifically for Samkim and no other beast.

"You will pay for exiling me and my friends, enslaving our Abbey, and taking my sword, Jusato."

Samkim threatened underneath his breath.