Terribly sorry for the extreme delay, I have a post-exam brainfart. I'm sure many people have waited a long time for a new chapter.
After a night of uncomfortable sleep, all three beasts woke up around the same time. After a great breakfast, the three were ready to depart. Gale asked "Where are you two going to go?" Cearul replied "Redwall abbey" Sev said "I'm going south" Gale was pleased, they all were going to travel to similar location for he decided he would travel south of Redwall for about twenty miles, then he would travel west. Gale announced "Glad to know, we can all take a trip as a group and then go our separate ways!" Sev and Cearul looked at each other. Obliviously, the 'bond' between them was far from strong. Gale, seeing this replied "How about we introduce ourselves?" Cearul was far from telling anybody where he had come from, for every time he did, his scars would ache. Sev, kept most personal information very closely, never sharing any secrets. Gale, however, was delighted to have company, he usually travelled for weeks alone. He said "Perhaps we could take a rest at Redwall? I heard the food there is great" Sev replied "Do you actually think that they would let me in?" Gale replied "Of course, once the see you good side, entering the abbey is as easy as walking in" Sev laughed and said "Sure, if they don't all shoot me on sight" Gale, aware that Sev and Cearul weren't in a mood to talk decided that starting their journey was the best idea.
As they walked, they heard frantic cries for help. The three warriors wheeled to the source of the sounds, all three drew their weapons. They could hear a muffled conversation and more cries for help. As the three ran straight through the treeline, they looked about for a sign of any creature when, across the water, he spotted a yelping and crying mousemaid. She wore a long green habit and, from what the squirrel could see, she was alone. When the maid looked up and saw him, she pleadingly pointed to the water. "Please!" Her voice was laced in panic. "My brother is in trouble! You have to help him! He can't swim!" Cearul looked to the water and caught site of a small mouse, clinging to a stone in the center of the stream for dear life. As he was thinking of a way to solve the problem, a flash of brown flew by him followed by a large splash. It was Sev. The squirrel watched as the weasel made his way swiftly through the water to the mouse's side. Well, I suppose weasels can be useful after all...The squirrel thought to himself. So much for me helping. He watched as the weasel reached and spoke calmly to the little beast, telling him to hang onto his back. The mouse shrieked in fear and refused. Sev roughly grabbed the crying mouse, throwing him onto his back and he began to swim back to shore.
Cearul watched as the weasel swim back, the squirrel thought he saw something
beneath the water surface. He stared, but after seeing no movement, he looked back to
the two beasts in the stream. It was then that the mousemaid screamed again, her voice
piercing the squirrel's eardrums so that he covered his ears and looked over at her with
an annoyed expression. She pointed into the water, cry at the top of her voice. "Pike! It's a pike! He'll eat my brother!" With that she broke down sobbing. Gale had already loaded two arrows and sent them into a pike, missing by a mere inch. As he loaded a huge volley, seven arrows, Cearul snapped his attention back to the water. There was indeed a pike, two in fact. Both large, swimming right towards the weasel and mouse. Sev was just about back to land, but the pike were fast. They'd reach them before they were safe. Cursing beneath his breath the squirrel looked instinctively about for a weapon. Unfortunately, the only thing he had was a small, but sharp knife. Plucking it from the sheath, he ran forward and plunged into the stream, forgetting completely that squirrel's weren't made for water. He swam between the pike and Sev, awaiting the offending fish with his knife. It was only a few seconds later when he caught sight of the
green, underwater bodies coming straight for him. Readying his himself for the creature,
he waited for the perfect time to strike.
Behind him the weasel and mouse cub were climbing back to dry ground when Sev
noticed what the squirrel had done. He spun about, catching sight of the squirrel with a
knife raised in his paw and calmly waiting for the two large pike. "Cearul!" Sev called from the shore beside the mousemaid. "Get out now!" The squirrel ignored the weasel, focusing on the green bodies coming steadily closer. He lifted the knife, counting under his breath. The first fish opened its mouth, revealing its sharp teeth. Just a little closer...perfect. He swung with all the force he could muster, lodging the knife in the pike's throat though its open mouth. Cearul latched onto the fish's flailing body and gave the knife a nasty twist. The pike splashed about, writhing in his arms so that the squirrel fell beneath the water. Still, he refused to let go until the fish's attempts to break free became futile and weary.
Knowing the fish would die eventually then, Cearul released the pike and made for the
surface. Just as he broke into the air, he felt something latch onto his shoulder, making him growl in pain as its teeth sunk into his flesh. It was the second pike. His body shivering in pain, the squirrel forgot himself. He gripped each of the strong jaws and pulled, roaring. The fish's grip loosened and Cearul ripped it from his shoulder, tossing it from him.
Blood leaked freely from his torn shoulder, but he knew the pike wasn't dead yet. He had
just enough time to see Gale fire off one volley heading straight for him. The volley's aim was true, each arrow pierced the pike. Cearul,who realized that he should get out of the water, swam back. He was met in the shallows by a worried Sev, blood ran down the squirrel's arm, dripping into the water. Sev was about to suggest that he wrap it up when the squirrel sent him a tired, cold look. Gale threw his bow over his shoulder and walked over to Cearul. "Lets get away before more come thinking I'm dinner." Cearul said gruffly, walking past the weasel.
Sev shrugged, shutting his mouth and then followed. Gale trailed behind them Cearul sat down by the packs he had dropped and opened them, ignoring the two mice sitting by. He found some medical dressing and rolled up his sleeve, revealing a few scars from his torture. The flesh was torn and ripped and Cearul quickly began wrapping his wounds with it. The white bandages were quickly stained with the squirrels blood. Sev watched quietly to see if the wounds were serious. Once he was sure that Cearul could care for himself, he sat down by the water and relaxed.
Gale walked over to the two mice and asked"Mind tellin' me just what ye were doing' out there sonny?" He asked the smaller of the two. "Catching pwetty stones, mister sir." The shivering mouse said, pulling the cloak Sev had given him closer. "Mama had a widdle brother the other day."
"We thank you for your help, mister" The mousemaid said. "I'm Mintflower and this is Dinkle. Our new little brother's name is Pebble, so Dinkle and I wanted to get him some
pretty pebbles from the stream. We wanted it to be a surprise. Dinkle found a really colorful stone, but he fell in getting it."
"Where are your parents?" Cearul suddenly asked. "You shouldn't be out here alone."
"Back at Redwall." Mintflower said."We wanted to surprise them too, so we left without
them." The squirrel mumbled something under his breath as Sev looked at the mice with
intrest. "Could ye take us to Redwall?" He asked in a friendly voice. "I mean, do ye know the way back?" "Yes mister weasel." Dinkle said, followed by a sneeze. The weasel chuckled. "My name's Sev, not 'mister weasel'." "Yes, we can take you." Mintflower said, standing up. "Then you can meet our little brother and Brother Rush can take care of your hurt friend."
"I don't need any help." Cearul protested quickly, standing and throwing his cloak over his wrapped wounds. Gale looked at him and said "Don't try and argue, you need help" He walked over to Cearul and began inspecting his wounds. There was a short silence before Sev picked Dinkle up in his paws and winked at the mousemaid. "I'm sure Cearul can care for himself, but thanks for the offer." He hefted his pack onto his shoulder, then looked to Mintflower. "Okay. I think we're ready, lead the way"
The walk wasn't a long one. Cearul walked beside them in silence. His wrapped wounds pounded, but he ignored them and focused on his steps. Every pawstep took him closer to his objective, closer to completing his task. He just wanted it over with. If he could get the sword that very night he would try. Nothing was more important than Serian and Quad's lives. Gale had thoughts on his mind too, seeing some of Cearul's scars had horrified him, yet he decided that it was none of his business. It was practically dark when they arrived at the most interesting structure the squirrel had seen. It may have been an abbey, but it looked like a small fortress. Built of red sandstone, it stood in a large...very large clearing with a bell tower reaching to the sky. Each stone looked as though it had been carefully and reverently carved out. Even though it looked well cared for, he could tell that the building was old. Probably around a few thousand seasons old.
Through the gloom in his mind, Cearul was impressed. At least, for a moment. Then he
got even more depressed as he realized that this was the home of the creatures he was
being forced to steal from. As they approached the gates a squirrel appeared over the wall. He shouted "Look you are all welcome at Redwall abbey, although the abbess would like to speak to your weasel friend" Gale took a quick glance towards Sev, who has clearly been discriminated many times before. An old mouse appeared over the red sandstone walls and said "Hello there, my name is abbess Ashenwyte, may you please tell me your names?" Gale bowed and said "Hello there, my name is Gale Redblade pleasure to meet you" No one said anything else, Gale stared at his companions, who were clearly not in the mood to talk. Gale said "This squirrel is Cearul, the weasel is Sev" The abbess put a look of surprise on her face and said "Your friends don't seem to be in a mood to talk. Please state your business here" Gale looked at his companions, Cearul stepped forward and said "I have come to seek peace" Sev then said "I came here to relax for a day or two" Gale said "I came, to map the region" The abbess smiled and said "Although Redwall is always open to travelers, we must request that you surrender all of your weapons before you are allowed to enter Redwall" Gale looked at the abbess and said "We agree to your terms, we will gladly surrender our arms" The gate of the abbey opened up and the three walked in. There was a squirrel in the end of the entrance, he said "Hello there, I'm Quinston, I'm here to retrieve all of your weapons before you are allowed to enter this abbey" Cearul walked up to him and put his dagger into his paws, he took another look at the knife, the craftsmanship was astonishing. Sev walked up and handed over his rapier, he greatly admired the weapon's deadliness. Gale looked at both his companions and said "I got a little more weapons than you two, go and wait for me" He turned to the squirrel and said "If you wish to carry all of my weapons, then I recommend you bring a barrel" The mole seemed confused at first, but then he left and brought back a barrel. Cearul and Sev walked into the abbey, they were both astonished by the stunning design, the walls were sleek and tall. The hallways were wide and long, the atmosphere of the place was happy.
As Cearul and Sev walked in, the abbess guided them into the dormitories and showed them their rooms. She then led them downstairs to meet up with Gale. They saw Gale walking into the abbey with a mole who had a barrel with him. The abbess said "Hello there, I was wondering why it took so long for you to meet up with us, Quinston, what on earth are you holding?" The squirrel, who was clearly struggling under the weight of the barrel, said "This barrel is full of this chap's weapons, he's got quite the collection" The abbess laughed and asked "Why on earth do you carry so much weaponry and how do you carry it all?" Gale shrugged and said "After a while, you get used to the burden of carrying so much gear. I always carry more than I need because it's better to have something you need, opposed to not having it at all" The abbess smiled and said "I understand, I must leave now, if there is anything you require, please speak to me" The three nodded and walked into the abbey again. Gale looked at his companions and suggested that they split up and meet up again later.
Concludes another chapter as always, read and review!