Mere minutes after leaving the Guosim, we reach Redwall's gate. I pound on the gate with my free paw. The gate opens to reveal a sturdy looking mouse with a sword strapped to his side. He appears surprised to see us.
I pay no heed to that, though. "Please help. My brother is wounded," I lift Juniper slightly for emphasis.
The mouse turns around. "Columbine, this young mouse was injured! Could you tend to him?"
"Of course, Martin!" A female mouse comes and takes Juniper from my paws.
"You're Martin? My mother told me to find you!" I gasp.
"Wait… who are you?" Martin asks.
"Oh! Forgive me. My name is Taisley. I come from Noonvale. I'll explain more later, but right now, the Guosim are fighting for their lives!" I yell. Martin and six others follow me, all of our weapons drawn.
We arrive a few minutes later. The Guosim are still fighting. I can see a few injured. Thankfully, no one is dead. My eyes narrow. I charge at the vermin. "Fur and Freedom!" I yell. My eyes are shrouded with a red mist. I slay the majority of the vermin without the need of much assistance.
When the vermin are slain, I look around. A crazed look is present in my eyes. Martin shakes me by my shoulders to try to snap me out of it. I blink my eyes rapidly, the red mist beginning to dissipate. "Er…sorry 'bout that. In a battle like this…I can't exactly control myself…" I trail off while running a paw through the fur on the back of my head.
Martin puts his paw on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I get it. Now, I have to ask… Why have you come here?" He asks.
"Martin, Rose isn't dead. I know that because she is my mother. She hadn't known right away, but when she went into that battle, she was pregnant with my brother and I. Martin, you are our father," I smile.
Martin is shocked. "Rose is alive? And you…you're my daughter?" He gasps.
I nod my head. "Yes, and Juniper is your son. Mom wrote this letter for me to give to you," I hand my father the letter.
He takes it and begins to read it aloud:
My beloved Martin, I have missed you so much. I have wanted to contact you for a long time, now. I just never had the chance before. Now, though, our kids are older. They are old enough to travel. I send to you now our twin children, Taisley and Juniper. Taisley is a warrior born, like you. Juniper is a healer trained under Brome. Please, come to our aid at the head of other warriors. We need you desperately, for the time is short.
I Love You
~Rose~
After Martin reads the letter, he looks at me. "I…I'm a father? And Rose…she's alive…" Martin gasps with surprise.
"Yes…father…" I answer. It's obvious that I'm nervous about calling him father.
Father's surprise turns into a look of happiness. He hugs me tightly. I can't keep myself from gasping. My side is still injured, after all. He releases me in shock. "What's wrong? Are you injured?" Father asks.
"Yeah, um…there was this battle against some crows a few days ago. One of them clawed my side. I'll be fine, though. Heh…you shoulda seen the crows when we finished with them. They were scared outta their feathers!" I laugh a little while waving off dad's concern. Father still looks worried about me. I can tell. "I'm actually more worried about Juniper," I continue.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine. We have excellent healers. He's in good paws," father assures me. We turn towards the path and start heading towards Redwall. As soon as we get there, father calls a conference in the Great Hall. There, we will come up with a plan.
