Snake Slayer

Author comment: Well, lemmie get a few things out of the way first. By that I mean that I'm going to respond to a few queries and reviews that I have been given

From Nameless…

"Hi, it's me again.

You said it was interesting about Veil and Bryony being a couple; do you find it interesting enough to write a fic about it?
I hope you do; you're very talented.
And I hope it stays in this story's rating; all the fics of Veil and Bryony being a couple are M rated; I'd like to see one that was K, or T.

Well, see ya!"

Before I say anything, I'd just like to say that I greatly appreciate your reviews and kind words. Anyway, to answer your question…well, I might actually consider it. The thought of doing a fic like that never crossed my mind, but it might make for an interesting and do-able challenge. I'd have to work past the whole (SPOILER!) Veil being dead thing, but then again it would be as simple as saying that he didn't really die. The only thing that I'd be concerned with is seeming like I was copying off of others who have done Veil/Bryony pairing and another very good author who did a "Veil's not really dead" type story titled "Eight words: the Story of Veil", which is quite a good fic by the way. So, for the moment, I am not sure. I have a bunch of other fanfics that I need to update (though I might delete one of them) and I already have another Redwall fanfic idea I'd like to write, but we shall see…

From rebecca jones

Your story is great so far, though I do have one tiny problem. I think you should change Nathan/ Nate's name to Samikin/Samik

Um…thank you for your comments and while I appreciate the suggestion, I can't help but wonder…is there any particular reason I should change Nate's name to Samik? (either I'm totally not getting the joke behind this, provided there is one, or I don't see where you're going). Don't get me wrong, I'm not frustrated, I just don't see why I should make that kind of a change…

In regards to comments by Clouded Horizon…

Thank you kindly for your reviews. They are all very much appreciated. You comment on grammar is duely (SP?) noted and I will be sure to check my work more often. The reason for such errors is probably because I lose track of my grammar when I get caught up in the excitement of writing.

In regards to comments by Ice Fox 111

…I really don't know what to say. I'm quite flattered, really. Thank you greatly for your kind words…as I said before, you've kind of rendered me speechless. Just…thank you very much, really. I am honored to hear that someone likes my fic that much. I will try to uphold the quality of the fic for those readers who are enjoying it so much.

Well, enough babbling. I suppose I'd better start the show…

Ron leafed through the last few pages. He grimaced as he heard Nate talking aloud on the other side of the door. The fox sighed. Nate simply had no sense of patience. It was hard enough deciphering the untidy chicken scratch on the page without his friend making a great deal of noise at the same time. Digressing, Ron went back to his reading, doing his best to block out all distractions.

What Ron didn't know was that Nate wasn't bickering about how long it was taking his fox friend to translate the notebook for him. In reality, Nate was talking to Beatrix over a different matter.

Beatrix gently rocked the babe in her arms, soothing it as it slept.

"You say it was just lying there?" She asked, half focused on Nate.

The ferret leaned against the wall in his usual detached manner.

"Yeah…dunno what the little blighter was doin' there."

Beatrix almost scolded him for calling such a precious child a "little blighter" but thought better of it. Once Nate decided to say something, he didn't take it back.

"Poor thing. He must have been all alone until you found him." she looked up, meeting gazes with Nate, despite the fact that his glasses were again shrouding his eyes. "I never took you for the sentimental type. But who would leave a babe behind? Thanks, Nate."

Nate rolled his eyes. "I'm not sentimental, luv, at least not about most things. It woulda bugged me to leave 'em there, that's all."

The mouse maid smiled. "I guess even ferrets like you have hearts."

Nate wagged his finger at her. "Now what did I say about you thinking we're all evil? Besides, I'm a mercenary; hired killin' is what I do, even if it just snakes. Don't know if that qualifies me for havin' a heart."

Beatrix's free paw sought out her hip. All she could say was, "Nate!" in a scolding tone. She didn't bother going any further. With the blank look on his face as usual he didn't look like he was paying any attention anyway.

They both were interrupted by somebeast clearing his throat. Turning, almost simultaneously, they found that it had been Ron, who, now, was tapping his foot impatiently on the floor.

"I have finished deciphering the notebook, no thanks to your endless babble on the other end of the door!" he said, quite irately. Getting down to business, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves, smoothed his headfur, wiped his glasses clean and was adjusting the neck of his tunic when it was Nate's turn to look frustrated.

The ferret pulled a wry look and leaned over to Beatrix, whispering in her ear, "Leave it to Ron to drag something simple out!"

Beatrix suppressed her giggles as the two were lead into the room by the fox. They all sat down around the small square table as the fox related to them what he had found.

"Well then, I can't say that my efforts found much. The majority of the volume seems to be farming records. The author babbled on and on about rain patterns, what each harvest yielded, what plants grew where, how to care for-"

"Babbled on and on like you're doing right now?" Nate cut in.

Ron stopped abruptly and chortled sarcastically, straining every syllable to show his irritation. "Eh, ha, ha, ha, Nate. Please do be quiet so I can finish telling you my tale of the fruits of my scholarly prowess which allowed me to divine the useful, albeit mostly useless knowledge from the battered article you so kindly retrieved for my viewing."

The ferret leaned back, putting his footpaws up on the table, and raised his paws apologetically. "Sorry, mate, didn't mean to interrupt your over-dramatization. Please continue…"

"Ahem, anyway, the text continues in this dull narrative ("a lot like the one right now," Nate said, too low for Ron to hear) until the last few pages. It appears that the scholar who used this book began to use it as a journal, right up until the date that Bartholomew mentioned the snakes began taking over villages. The journal begins to tell how the serpents, with the aid of vermin, attacked their settlement and held them hostage.

"All who tried to stop them were killed, but the rest, it seems, were kept alive. Nate, you remember that Bartholomew mentioned that the snakes began to get support from vermin? On this last trip you told me that you had seen those guards patrolling the parameter, and this journal speaks of similar occurrences where the vermin would do the bidding of the serpents. This proves that we are not dealing with an isolated incident, for if you, Bartholomew and the writer of this volume all said you saw what you saw, then there's no denying it; somehow, the serpents have gained dominion over certain beasts, most likely though hypnosis."

"But what do we know about what goes on in these camps?" Beatrix asked.

Ron went unexpectedly silent. "I…I don't know…that is, I don't know if I should say…"

Beatrix clasped the fox's paw reassuringly. "Ron, whatever it is, we can handle it."

Ron closed his eyes searching deep inside for strength. When he opened them, it looked as if his search hadn't helped any. "The journal tells how the villagers were kept alive and were forced to live in the longhouse that Nate discovered. They were fed, albeit little, and were aloud a short time outside for fresh air, but that was all. Then…the writer tells that one by one, they just disappeared. Night after night, a beast would go missing, and no matter how they pleaded with the guards to get information, all they got were blank looks. The writer stopped writing when there were four left. Nobeast picked up the narrative." He took a deep breath here. "The writer didn't seem to know what was going on, but I can take a good guess. It's obvious what was happening once I think about it. After all, an army of snakes needs to have a food source, correct?"

Beatrix looked shocked, but Nate's face didn't seem to register anything. He just looked blankly at the table, the glasses concealing what his eyes were truly expressing.

It was then that the babe awoke, whining quietly. Beatrix attempted to quell the little one's fit. The squirrel babe took a few deep breaths and, for the first time since its rescue, spoke.

"Mama…where's mama?"

"It's alright, I'm here for you." Beatrix answered in a soothing tone.

This didn't seem to help things. "Mama? You aren't…where's Mama and Papa?"

Beatrix didn't try answering this time. "Mama…why…where?" the squirrel closed its eyes and continued babbling. "Papa, you were gone, and mama said she'd find you, and then she came back and she was crying, and then she told me to hide, so I hid and the others looked over me and then they were gone too and then…oh, mama!"

Beatrix left the room with the child softly groaning. Nate and Ron were alone. Ron was worried. Nate had that look in his eyes. Even though he couldn't see his eyes, he knew they had that look. The way the ferret's eyebrows furrowed made it seem as though sparks were flying from his glasses.

"Ron, just one more question…when can we attack them?"

Ron shook his head. "Nate, we can't just go launching a random attack on them. They'll be expecting it."

"Then we'll do it by stealth. I have to do this, Ron," he looked at the door that Beatrix had just left through. "For her."

Ron leaned his forehead on his paws. "Alright, we shall figure something out. In the mean time, I suggest that you go help Beatrix; she may have her paws full with the squirrel babe. After that, try to get any information you can from the locals. We are going to need as much assistance as we can muster."

Nate nodded and left the room. Ron was now alone, but he cast a glance about the room to see if any one was stealing a glance at him. From his pocket he pulled a crumpled piece of parchment. He felt bad for not telling Nate about it, but what would it have accomplished? It would have only made Nate more enraged and caused him to do something rash. He would tell Nate when he was ready.

The fox stored the parchment back in his pocket, regretting his persistence at carrying this new burden…