'Shade'
Summary:
Shade and Willow are otter twins and daughters of Havloke, the leader of the Sadone Holt. They are constantly at odds and one day, when they endanger the Holt and their own lives with their bickering, they are sent to two different homes to get some discipline. Willow is sent to Redwall Abbey, while Shade lives a life on the coast at Salamandrastron. Shade grows into a formidable fighter while Willow studies and becomes a peaceful and caring member of Redwall.
Meanwhile, a young squirrel is discovered on the brink of starvation in the woodlands. She is mute, but the secrets she holds are dangerously related to the future of Redwall Abbey. Can she learn quickly enough to explain the events and the dreams Martin has sent her?
When the Badger Lord, Lightningstripe, learns that Redwall is in danger, he sets out to help the peaceful woodlanders with Shade amongst his troops. Soon the entire war will depend on Shades ability to let go of the past, and save Willow and the other abbey dwellers. However, sometimes the one thing that stands in our way is the one thing that can drive us on…
Disclaimer: I don't own Redwall, however Shade, Willow, Havloke, Turffle, Tager, Lynnsia, Autumn, Clover, Maxsus, Gruthe, Robram, Yewtho, Brazen, Sunny, Slip, Treestar, Wetback, Gertole, Tresha, Vilera, Flower, Tuff, Tukk, Nissa, Ember, Ashwind, Coal, Heff, Cinder, Stride, Flow, and anyone else I come up with are mine. M-I-N-E. Also, the songs are all mine, Brain Jacques, I give you your credit, but I like giving myself credit in my stories too!
Part One:
Departure
Chapter Twelve:
Challenging and Changing
Willow was having the time of her life. The shrews had rowed all day yesterday, and early morning today had found them as close to Redwall as they could get. Ferdimond told the shrews that they didn't have to accompany the trio any further. However, Log-a-log Rifto said that the Gousim couldn't possibly give up a chance at Redwall tucker, and the shrews continued to walk with the two hares and otter towards the abbey.
Evening found them only a half a day's march from Redwall, and in the excitement no one seemed ready to stop for a meal and sleep. The pace quickened, and soon they were at the abbey's doorstep.
Log-a-log winked at the group and put a finger to his lips, signaling quiet. He called out in a gruff voice that sounded remarkably like a vermin, "Hoy! You lazy lot of peaceful woodlanders! You'd better let us in and feed us a'fore we come in there and dish out terror!"
A gruff shout was heard and soon several voices were raised. Wetback the otter appeared over the rampart. In the gathering darkness, he couldn't tell what species the figures below were and called out, "Listen vermin, you threaten my home, you're going to get a taste of my spear, be gone!"
Log-a-logs tone changed drastically. "Aw, Skip, you mean you're not even going to toss out a crumb to a poor starving shrew? To think you were my friend!"
Wetback's grip on the spear slackened. Abbot Dutty came up. "I say old chap, who are the blinkin devils, wot?"
"Shrews," Wetback growled. "You know, those annoying little vermin we just fed only a dozen days ago?"
Willow heard the remark. "Hey! I'm no shrew! I'm an otter. Havloke, my father, sends a message to Wetback of Redwall!"
Wetback ran down the rampart steps and threw open the gate. "Havloke, eh? You are either an improved Shade or a happier Willow."
"I'm Willow, you must be Wetback," Willow said, shaking the otter's paw. Wetback looked behind Willow, where Kersey and Ferdimond stood.
"Belay! Close the doors! It's the famine-gobs Ferdy and Kersey!" Wetback called.
This brought out the other Redwallers. Doogy and Dauncy ran to Ferdimond, Dauncy hugging his father firmly while Doogy clapped his hare friend on the back soundly. Clover and Tam stood about as introductions were being made. Clover because she didn't know anyone, and Tam because he was watching his old friend, not wanting to interrupt Doogy.
Willow came over to Clover. "Hello, my name's Willow. What's yours?" Willow said, sticking out a paw.
Clover looked over at Tam, who sent a smile Willow's way. "This is Clover, a new addition to Redwall. She can't speak, but she's learning to write."
Clover took Willow's hand and shook it. Ferdimond came over to Willow. "Ah! I see you've met my old ally Tam. This is Doogy, Tam and me's faithful companion!"
Willow was formally introduced to Doogy and Tam, however she remained close to Clover. "Do you like it here? I've come to stay for a while."
Clover nodded, pointing at her mouth and smiling. "The food's good?" Willow asked. Clover nodded. Willow smiled. "Well then, I'm sure Redwall and I will do fine together."
Dutty came over and looked Willow over. "You look a lot like your father," Dutty commented.
"You know him?" Willow asked, surprised. Sandone Holt was far Southwest of Redwall and she had never seen Dutty before, or any Redwaller for that matter, nearby the holt.
"Long story, too long to be standing out in the sun all day to hear. Let's go in and get you decent quarters and tucker, wot? I hear you plan to stay awhile," Dutty said, putting an arm around Willow.
"Actually, it's not my choice. It's my father's," she corrected.
"Well, if he sent you to learn a bit, he won't be disappointed. I'm sure we have plenty of willing beasts to help educate you," Dutty said. "Do you know how to read and write?"
"A little, my mother started to teach us…before she died." Willow said.
"Terribly sorry. By the way you said 'us', have a sister or brother, do you?" Dutty started walking through the main gate with Willow next to him.
"Yes, Shade," Willow said, wondering how her sister was. "She was sent to Salamandastron."
"Ah, the old fire mountain, eh? I wouldn't be too surprised if you got word of her during my next Jubilee feast. Tona usually shows up for that," Dutty said, thinking.
"Who's Tona? And when's your Jubilee feast?" Willow asked.
"Tona's an old pal of mine, lives at Salamandastron with her husband, Lightningstripe. She'll come at the beginning of autumn, I'll wager, being my Jubilee is the fourth day of autumn," Dutty explained. Willow smiled, it was the beginning of summer, she could indeed wait that long to hear of her sister. After all, it wasn't as though Shade was defenseless.
At that very moment, Shade was indeed able to defend herself. The hares, under the command of Lightningstripe, had marched through day and had arrived at Salamandastron late last night. Shade had slept through most of the day and was catching a late dinner or early breakfast along with the other leverets who'd been with her, plus a few extra. She was meeting some of the younger hares as well, along with the older leverets nearing the end of their training.
Treestar, Tuff, Tukk, and Heff were all part of the senior leverets, along with two other hares called Fernpaw and Sandbob. She wondered which of the three groups she'd be in. Each leveret at Salamandastron trained a total of four seasons. Treestar's group had been training since last autumn. Stride, Nissa, Flow, Seapaw, and Gorsescutt had all trained since last winter. Two other groups had only started this spring and summer. Treestar and Tukk started to debate about where Shade would be placed. Tukk believed she belonged with the group that had only started that summer. Treestar, on the other hand, believed she was going to be placed in their group.
Shade, having heard enough, brought her beaker down forcefully onto the table. "Enough! I'll be wherever I'll be, no arguing on your parts will change that."
"Looks like Miss Otter's still grumpy," Tukk said, beginning to walk away. Shade followed him. Treestar, worried about what Shade was up to, followed her.
Tukk went to where some leverets had started up a mock fighting ring. Two hares, both armed with only their paws, faced one another. One of the opponents occasionally threw in a punch or two, but mostly they just watched for a chance to gain the upper hand.
"Why don't they just go at it?" Shade asked Treestar.
"Energy, the winner can be challenged until he can no longer fight. The game ends when no one's willing to challenge anymore," Treestar said.
The hares watching gasped as one of the hares, Gorsescutt, threw a hard left at Sandbob's jaw. Sandbob took the blow fully and was knocked off his paws. Gorsescutt walked contemptuously over. "Surrender?"
"Aye," Sandbob said reluctantly.
As Sandbob walked slowly away, Gorsescutt raised his paws and walked around the circle with an arrogant swagger. "Now, who dares to challenge me?"
"I do!" Tukk shouted, dashing into the ring. The fight started immediately, punches being thrown, dodged, and taken several times. Sandbob came alongside Shade, and she noticed his grim look of satisfaction every time Gorsescutt took a hit. She made a metal note to try as much as possible to be friends with Sandbob, for he was an impressive looking leveret.
Tukk took a hit that floored him, however, instead of asking for a surrender, Gorsescutt attempted to leap on Tukk, who kicked out, sending Gorsescutt to land several paces outside of the ring, much to the shock of the observers.
"Now, who dares challenge me?" Tukk asked.
"I do." The ice-cold voice hung on the air with ominous malice, and every leveret who heard it turned to look at the challenger standing ready, with a glint of determination in the narrowed eyes.