The next morning, fifty hares, a squirrel, and an ottermaid prepared to leave. Forming up in a column, they began to march up the path. Rain, who was near the back of the column with Katrina, fingered the weapon that Airon had made with the hares. He sighed. I will put this to good use, Airon. I will use it for the purpose you dreamt of.

Katrina looked around as they came to the cliffs and out onto the ashy grass. Rain looked at her. "What is it?"

"I can't hear anything. No demons. It's like they've all just…disappeared."

Rain's mouth worked for a moment, then shut. "What going on?" he wondered aloud.

The group walked for most of the day, not stopping except for short breaks every now and again. When they entered the remains of a charred forest, Rain suddenly loosened his sword in its sheath. Drawing it, he pointed to the seemingly silent woods. "I can hear you moving, so you can stop skulking around!"

The column stopped, the hares looking back at Rain with confused stares. Katrina put a paw on his shoulder. "What is it, Rain?"

Rain didn't answer her, walking into the woods. He kept his head moving, eyes darting everywhere, even up and down. Turning in another direction, he came face to face with an arrowhead. The squirrel holding it glared at him. He spoke. "You speak so loudly that I could have shot you in the dark, interloper."

The Long Patrol hares looked around to see that they were similarly threatened. Various woodlanders surrounded them, menacing them with weapons. Rain backed up. "We don't want any trouble. We're just passing through."

"This is our territory," the other squirrel replied. "You have a Wielder among you, and you are a Dark One. An odd combination, along with this number of rabbits."

"Hares!" the Long Patrol shouted in unison.

The squirrel shook his head. "What is your purpose here?"

Rain sheathed his sword. "If you want me to answer you, have your followers put away their weapons."

The squirrel stepped forward. "And what will you do if I don't?"

In answer, Rain slapped the bow away. As the squirrel spun he wrapped his arms around him and held the arrowhead to the squirrel's throat. The other woodlanders turned their weapons on him. Rain pricked the squirrel's throat with the arrow. "Drop your weapons or he dies."

They stood there, unmoving. The squirrel managed to grind out "Do as he says," from his current position.

The group lowered their weapons and Rain released their leader. Spinning the squirrel around, he beckoned. "Come. We can discuss in a civilized manner, even in these conditions."

The two groups mingled with one another, and the other squirrel and Rain stood a short distance away, talking to each other.

"So," Rain began. "Tell me your name."

"My name is Aren Squirrelking. I would be king of Southsward right now if it weren't for the demons coming."

"You're the prince?"

Aren nodded. "Yes. May I ask your name?"

"Rain."

Aren looked over the Long Patrol. "Now, you can answer the questions I asked you earlier. What are you doing here?"

"We've come here to see if we can close the portal."

Aren gave a slight chuckle. "Then you have come to commit suicide. The army that guards it is limitless. And it has grown bigger since last night. Thousands of demons retreated from everywhere they had conquered and reinforced the army at the gate."

Rain smiled. "Then they're doing exactly what we thought they might."

Aren looked skeptical. "What do you mean?"

"We gambled that they would pull back everything they had to help defend the gate. This will allow armies from Mossflower to come here as well."

Aren chuckled again. "No army can beat them. They are innumerable. You will all be slaughtered."

Rain cocked his head to one side. "Which would you rather be? A hero in the eyes of the survivors, or a coward in the eyes of your troops?"

Aren thought for a moment, then sighed. "We will help you fight them. Come with us. Our home is not far from here."

Aren led them all to a large cliff. Knocking on one part of it, Rain was surprised to hear it ring. Hollow, he thought.

The door opened and Aren went in, beckoning for the others to follow. Rain looked around. The place was riddled with tunnels, and woodlanders went to and fro, some staring at the newcomers. Coming to a large cavern, Aren spread his arms. "Welcome to our humble abode. All of you, take the Long Patrol and give them rooms for the night. Rain, come with me."

As the Southswarders led the Long Patrol to various tunnels, Rain followed Aren into another room. The squirrel turned to him as Rain shut the door. "So. Tell me more about yourself."

"My mother was a Wielder. She was able to sense this coming, and after it happened, she took me to Redwall. We were attacked outside its gates, and she died, though she managed to take our attacker with her."

Aren nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss. My parents died at their hands too. They leveled Floret. It was a complete surprise, and most of our guard immediately ran from sheer fright. I was one of the few to escape. They killed the rest, then spread out over Southsward. They had it conquered in a matter of days. Normal weapons had no effect on them. Wielders that we met told us the demon's weaknesses, and we enlisted their services in helping to fight back. Survivors of the initial attack, along with the castle guard, joined the little movement we had springing up. The demons ignored us. They probably didn't think we were that much of a threat. We ambushed a column of demons heading to the castle last night. None escaped. They're massing, and since you told me, I can honestly say that I don't think you will be able to close that portal."

Rain raised an eyebrow. "We can try."

Aren grinned. "Indeed."

"Certainty of death...small chance of success...what're we waiting for?" That's a good summary of what's happening here. Anyways, in the next chapter, there's going to be an unlikely conversation, the Mossflower armies are going to arrive, there's going to be a rousing speech, and a romance scene. R and R, please! (And please, no spamming or saying "Ew" in the next chapter.)