Chapter 10

Mandus had finally caught back up with Nikos and the reavers, the greatrat used his axe as a walking stick, he saw Nikos sitting underneath a large shady tree and he went to sit down next to the fox. Nikos opened his eyes and looked at his commander staring directly at him. Nikos made his report to Mandus.

"We tried taking Mattimeo out, but he had help, a group of fighters, about fifty came and ambushed us. I and a few of the Reavers mananged to escape, Djano, and a few others weren't so lucky. We could go back for them, there were too many of the imps."

Nikos reported. Tapping his axe's handle, Mandus needed more information on how many fighters were at Nikos' side and who were the fighters that countered.

"Shrews, Mattimeo and his friends had an army of shrews at their disposal. Little annoyances, too many ofvus to hold off. One to at least twenty shrews is no problem, but double that and you've got majot trouble. We had to retreat, nowcwe can show those woodlanders what for, right?"

Mandus quickly got up and pointed his axe right at Nikos' throat. Nikos stiffened with fear as Mandus gave his subject a death glare.

"You, ran away from a group of shrews?"

He questioned, Nikos' eyes shifted up and down, from the axe inches from his jugular to the angry stare of Mandus.

"Are you kidding me, you retreated from shrews? Tiny impudent imps? Hah, you ran away from pint sized critters, creatures that could be killed in the masses of a single sword stroke? You and your fighters ran away from shrews? I should kill you where you sit, fox. However, I will give you another chance, in order to redeem yourself in my eyes, you must go back, find Mattimeo, slay him, and those impudent little wretches. Got it?"

"Yes sir."

Nikos said hesitantly, Mandus lowered the axe's blade from Nikos' throat, and he walked back to his Raiders. With his back turned Nikos gave Mandus a death stare, how dare he try and raise a paw against Nikos! Nikos was no longer out for helping Mandus take out Redwall, he was now more interested in gaining total control of both the Reavers and the Raiders. The fox's fist trembled and his fangs chattered, he would find a way to seize control of both armies, but at the moment he would be a loyal subject to Mandus. Nikos got up, popped a kink from his neck and walked back to the Reavers.

Matthias sat with Stryk catching up on the things she's done in the past eight seasons.

"Kaaw! Habbot Mattmise, Stryk Redkite has plenty of stories to share with you."

The tall rusty bird cawed out, Matthias chuckled, he wanted to know. So, Stryk told the story of how she met her husband and soon became a family.

"After Stryk Redkite flew back to mountaintops, she met bird like herself, another mountain kite. I asked, 'who are you,' and he say, 'I am Skine, guardian of mountain.' Me knew he was the one for Stryk, then after me got to know him, Stryk Redkite laid egg, then soon after, eggchick born. We name her May. Now we here."

"Indeed my friend, indeed."

Matthias chuckled out, the two saw Julian and his flock of sparrows return, they flew down the orchard and greeted Matthias and Stryk.

"Hello, Matthias, I have returned from my task,

Now I need to stand in the shade,

Is where I'll bask."

Stryk looked to Matthias then back to Julian.

"Why he talk like that?"

She asked in a annoyed tone. Julian did a hopskip and bowed to the large predator.

"Why pray do you suppose,

My father was the master of poetry and prose,

I take a lot after my predecessor,

Now that he has flown to the golden sky,

I am his successor."

Stryk did a small dance of frustration at the owl.

"Kaww, stop talking like that, it's giving Stryk a bad headache!"

Matthias turned to Julian the Poet.

"I think you may want to go my friend, Stryk isn't one for the arts."

"As you wish, Matthias."

Julian said before taking to the air. The two creatures watched as the owl and sparrows flew into Warbeak Loft. Matthias placed both paws in his habit sleeves and sighed deeply.

"Oh how I hope Mattimeo and the rest are safe."

Matthias said in a concerning voice.

Mattimeo and the rest finally came to, they instanly noticed the nooses tightly fastened around necks, staring directly at Mattimeo and his company were lizards, about roughly the same height as a squirrel. One of the lizards stood staring directly at Mattimeo with his beady little eyes and flicked his tongue in and out. The stink of swamp was infused with the ropes, making it breath with out getting a whiff of swamp. Mattimeo noticed his sword, Sam's long daggers, Elmtail's single bladed axe, Cheek's mace and chain, and Honeycomb's spear, as well as the shrews' short rapiers, slings, bows, and arrows were all in a pile. When the lizard spoke, he talked in a high pitched squeak.

"Eekeehehehe! You have been captured by the Fluggalugg Brigade, I am Snivvel, leader of the tribe of striped back lizards, we help capture sillybeasts such as you, and Snivvel takes them to Fluggalugg! Eekehehehe!"

The imp sang out as he preformed a mad hopskip. The in the distance, everybeast heard the sounds of loud thumping and croaking. Mattimeo sighed in frustration, toads, he thought to himself. A small clan of large toads came hopping their way to Snivvel and his captives, the largest toad, wearing a torn red cloak, and wielding a scepter waddled closer towards the prisoners. When thectowd spoke, it sounded like something was lodged deep in his throat.

"Groooak! I am Fluggalugg, and you are all dinner slaves, those who do not work or are weak, will br eaten."

The toad scanned around and saw the shrews, the evil amphibian licked his lips and produced a devious smile on his warty lips.

"I like me some shrews to snack on."

He said with an evil croak. Mattimeo looked at the foul creature with a venomous stare. The fighters of Mossflower would have to find away to escape the clutches from these foul beasts.