After being condemned to a self-imposed exile from Redwall Abbey, Dann Reguba wanders south. There he discovers woodlanders held in slavery by wicked pine martens. However, the pine marten Regolith's cruel green eyes are not only focused on the Castle, he also yearns to venture into Mossflower Country. Forcing Dann to venture back to a home he swore never to return and for all to reevaluate the true meaning of good and evil. Immerse yourself in Dann's fantastic adventures together with a group of Long Patrol Hares lead by Major Peony Laminar, an otter named Cinnabar Shellhound and a ferret named Thalweg.

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Book One

The Castle

"You shouldn't have come so far south. There's

nothing but suffering and slavery here now."

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Chapter Ten

Song yelped and took a step backward as the wraith-like figures materialized from the shadows. Sinon unsheathed Martin's sword and held it in front of him, edging closer to Song.

"Imagine the booty we'll get by capturing an Abbess."

"Though not after we have a little fun with her first," sneered another.

Song cocked her ears and shook her head. "If it isn't Mugwort and Milkwort!" said Song with a laugh.

The two figures stepped closer and Sinon could see from the shadows that they were two evil looking foxes, spitting images of each other. Song laughed joyously and threw herself at them. Sinon blanched. "You rogues, I ought to tell your mother the mischief you are getting into! Scaring travelers as the corpse makers? Wherever did you think of such a name?"

The foxes laughed and patted Song's head fondly. "We weren't going to hurt you, Mother Abbess. We just wanted to play a little trick," said Milkwort.

"And it seems to 've worked," replied Mugwort wryly. "Your squirrel friend is still waving his sword at us."

The twin foxes shared a laugh. Song rolled her eyes at them and smiled over at Sinon apologetically. "Don't worry, Sinon. These are friends. They're Cypress' twin sons."

Sinon put away his sword, but it did little to hold sway over his worries. If anything, he looked more alarmed.

"How did you know we were coming now?" asked Song.

The twins looked at each other and said together, waving their paws eerily. "Mother said that she saw you coming." They drew out the word and waved their paws around outrageously.

Song smiled, she wasn't sure how much she believed the old vixen's powers as a seer. Cregga, however, was a great believer in this predicting and seeing of the future, but badgers were a breed unto their own. Cregga had told Song that she had heard of Badger rulers with the gift of foresight.

Song took one fox by each paw and said, "Well let us hasten to the Trading Post. Perhaps we will arrive by morning. I have all these splendid guardians now after all."

CCC

They reached the settlement by dawn. Mugwort and Milkwort led Song and Sinon into their home, a small structure off the beaten path. The way was bordered by tall ash trees that gave a pleasant shade to the cobblestones. Song was humming again, this time the tune was more upbeat, not that slightly depressing melody she had been humming earlier.

When they walked into the house, an old vixen sat up from her chair by the fire and said, "It's so nice to see you, dears. I knew you would be coming soon, Song. I've put the kettle on."

Song ran over and picked up the vixen's paws and rubbed them warmly against her cheek. "It's so good to see you, Cypress. You are looking very well."

Sinon looked around at the house while Cypress and Song were talking. He didn't really care about what the vixen had to say. There was a rather odd collection of mementos cluttering the house, strange woven circlets hanging from the walls, dusty books piled on shelves and holding up uneven legs of tables, a horrifyingly diverse assortment of animal bones and even sticks of burning incense. Sinon wondered if most of this was a show, a front for the seer.

Cypress offered him a seat and he sat down next to Song, leaving extra space between him and the twin fox sons. Cypress said, "I had such a nice conversation with Martin last week. My inner eye has never been so clear since I lived near your Abbey, Song."

"What did he say?" asked Song in wonderment.

She sat back breathing in the incense. Closing her eyes she intoned in an eerie voice:

Danger comes to Mossflower

As Warriors arrive from the south,

Bringing death in their wake.

As the death bird flies with a bloody mouth,

Warning all to fear the green-eyed one.

The one sent before must betray.

To preserve a familial bond,

he poses as one like you to this day,

though still obedient to the Ruthless one.

The Abbess resolute will protect all,

Though she will never again rule her Abbey.

By a warrior's hand will the Ruthless one fall.

Danger comes to Mossflower.

Everyone sat in silence for a moment and them Cypress spoke again. "It was a rather strange prophecy. I will like to stand by and watch it unfold."

Mugwort scratched his tail. "I wonder what the part about the betrayer means. Posing like one of us, protecting a familial bond?"

Cypress smiled over at them. "I asked Martin the same thing when he was finished speaking. He said that it would be the last person we expected, but someone we trusted." She glanced over at Sinon. "Were you going to say something, my dear?"

"Me?" asked Sinon. "I was just wondering what the death bird was."

"Oh, that's a raven. I saw one in the woods a few weeks back while I was collecting herbs for a poultice. It was strange. At first I thought the great black bird was speaking to some creature, but when I was able to get close enough, he was flying away, completely alone."

Milkwort spoke up. "I'm not sure what Martin means about the Abbess though. What does it truly mean that you'll never rule your abbey again?"

Song said with an unsure giggle, "I'm sure I'll never know. Though it was nice of the warrior to warn us. I don't think we'll know what that last part means until it's fulfilled."

"Don't you see!" said Sinon standing up outraged. "It means you're going to die! Though I'll die first if I can protect you in anyway!" vowed Sinon.

Song patted Sinon's hand, "Thank you, my friend. Though hopefully it won't come to that."