Chapter 10

Night fell upon the saviors of Redwall, they all nestled in their sleeping sacks, and laid next to the dying fires. As the warriors slumbered, evil was not to far. Zipping from treetop to treetop, Skallard and his assassins were finally at Mattimeo's camp. Skallard slide down the tree and swiftly made his way to Mattimeo. The tall ferret grinned menacingly and he slowly drew his blade.

"Time to die."

In Mattimeo's dream, the same event was taking place, but Martin stood over Mattimeo.

"Mattimeo, you must awaken."

"Martin?"

Mattimeo moaned his eyes slowly opened. Skallars took cover in the trees, frustrated he didn't quickly kill Mattimeo. Mattimeo quickly went back to sleep. The next morning, everybeast was awakened by the smell of a proper breakfast being cooked by the hares. After the food was fully cooked, Julius puffed out his chest, and cupped his paws around his mouth.

"Rise and shine, Breakfast is ready!"

Everybeast lined up to get his or her plate of vittles. The guosim were served first, then the Redwallers, then finally the hares. Mattimeo found a good spot to sit down, it was on a large boulder wedged in the ground. He climbed up top it and saw Lance Corporal Winston Weiver eating his up. The mouse decided to conversate with the hare.

"Beautiful morning, isn't it?"

Winston replied in an unintelligible gibberish. Mattimeo was taken back a bit, did this hare not understand Mattimeo? Was he slow in the head? Corporal Quincy Kallum climbed the boulder.

"I see you're makin' an acquaintance to Lance Corporal Winston Weiver. He may not sound like it, but he's this troops most intelligent, and loyal hare."

"Why does he make those sounds?"

Quincy placed a paw on his friends back.

"Because, ol' sport. The poor blighter's suffered from far too many head injuries, he's lost the will to speak. However, all is not lost, I am his translator. He said, 'it is a very beautiful morning, I am happy to be of service to you, Mattimeo the Warrior.'"

Mattimeo smiled back at Winston.

"Thank you, Lance Corporal."

The hare said nothing but smiled and nodded. Everybody was finishing up breakfast and it was time to move out. All the beasts lined up and began marching, to keep everybeast in the mood, the hares played a Long Patrol marching chant.

"Oh, me ol' grandmum use to say me,

'You've got strong legs so run free.

So I took her advise and what did I see,

A family voles who needed some help from me.

So, I ran up to them and by jove they were cryin'.

Cause a group of rat left some of them wounded and some were dyin'.

So made an oath to protect the land.

From any vermin that threatened war at hand.

So I set off for the Long Patrol,

What did I see?

A hulkin' badger staring down at me.

He wielded an axe,

which he cut the vermin in half,

And he welcomed me inside the mountain.

I am now a Long Patrol hare,

So watch out vermin, face us if you dare."

The song ended, and the group of beasts were almost to their destination. Julius inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly.

"Well, chaps, there ya have it, Brockhall, we're gettin' close I feel it in me ol' bones."

He said proudly, but suddenly a emerald green streak flew past the old Sergeant and a large gash appeared on his chest, Julius was speechless, then he died without a sound. Corporal Quincy called out.

"Ambush! Everybeast get to cover!"

The creatures with the Long Patrol did as they were told, they started sprinting towards Brockhall. More and more emerald streaks pasted through a few shrews, slaying them as they zipped right on through. Mattimeo stopped and drew his sabre.

"What in the name of fur, frogs, and feathers is happening?!"

He demanded question, Sam took him by the paw.

"I have no idea, we've got to get outta here!"

Still holding his blade, Mattimeo and Sam sprinted with the rest. In the treetops, Skallard said nothing but smiled and signalled his warriors to keep engaging. He watched as his enemies scurried and ran away, they had no other choice, they witnessed Julius and a few Guosim drop like flies. In the lead was Elmtail, he called out to everybeast.

"Hey, everyone! I see the entrance!"

The nimble squirrel started running on all fours to get to the door faster. When he got to it, the door was jammed shut! He pulled with all his might, but he was far too weak to open it.

"Somebeast, help me!"

He called out. Quincy came to his aide and helped the squirrel pull the door open, it took a while but their efforts were successful. They gathered all the beasts up, and they closed the door.

"Is everybeast alright?"

The survivors were trembling and shaking like leaves.

"Alright? Alright? Do we look alright? Listen here, hare. We just witnessed a large sum of my Guosim shrews and your Sergeant getting slain in the blink of an eye, and you say we're 'alright?'"

Quincy, teeth started chattering he became frustrated.

"Well, well, aren't we the bold chap?"

Things were starting to escalate, so Elmtail wedged his way between Quincy and Flugg.

"Whoa, whoa! What's with this? We mustn't fight each other. Okay? What we all witnessed was very unexpecting and scary, the last thing we need a civil war on our paws."

The hare and shrew nodded and everything cooled down.

"Now, what is the situation, and how can we get out?"

Elmtail asked. Mattimeo stepped in and spoke.

"I think it's a group of vermin Nikos sent after us. I mean do emerald green streaks kill? No, I think we've got something bad on our paws."

Outside of Brockhall, Skallard and Blakkstripe stood near the entrance.

"All is set, we can easily finish them off now."

Skallard turned to Blakkstripe.

"Hold on, you idiot. Remember Nikos wants the Redwallers alive, we're gonna wait it out."

The ferret told his eager tree rat comrade.