'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 Shade learns that Redwall is in danger, she sets out to help the peaceful woodlanders with several Long Patrol Hares amongst her comrades. She makes a terrible discovery, and 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 Two:

Chronicle

Chapter One:

Shade tripped and landed hard on the ground; she heard a thump nearby and knew instantly this was not going to be a good day. Lightningstripe was lucky he was a badger, otherwise Shade would use this torture as an excuse to think of a wonderful way to get back at him.

The torture? She and Treestar had to walk with Shade's left leg tied to Treestar's right. Their journey had lasted three days already, and they planned to reach Redwall tomorrow, with the feast being the day after that.

Shade wasn't looking forward to the half-day trek expected tomorrow, but she focused on getting through today. She stood up, waiting for Treestar to do the same. Autumn waited behind them, looking annoyed. The older hares took turns babysitting the pair, who often reached the camp an hour later then the rest of the group.

They neared a stream and Autumn allowed them a rest. Treestar fell onto the riverbank, drinking greedily. Shade just sat there.

"I won't drag you if you collapse," Treestar said.

"I hope not - that way you'll have to sleep where I fall," Shade answered grouchily.

Treestar didn't respond verbally - he pushed Shade, who rolled away into the water, dragging Treestar with her. They continued to punch and kick, Shade allowing the current to drag them along. Autumn was calling to them, but Shade ignored her. She continued fighting Treestar, until a strong rope went around them both. Shade looked up in confusion, seeing no one but an empty-pawed Autumn on the bank. Shade just shrugged, allowing the rope to pull them, not helping or resisting.

It turned out to be a female mouse in her middle seasons. She looked strong and very independent, having a rapier at her waist and a sack by her feet. She had on a dark purple shirt and a black cape with the hood pulled up, shadowing her face.

"Well, look what I caught! An otter and hare - tied together too!" The mouse's voice was strangely deep and sounded like she hadn't used it in a long time. "Need help?" The mousemaid asked. Shade ignored her and got her bearings. They were on the opposite bank of Autumn, and the older hare was nowhere in sight.

Shade looked over her wounds. Her eye hurt badly and she wondered if it would become blackened. Treestar nose looked like it was bleeding, and he was tilting his head back to try to stop the flow of blood.

"Yes, cut us lose!" Treestar told the mouse.

"I beg your pardon?" the mouse asked. Shade rolled her eyes.

"Forgive his rudeness - he was born in the snow last winter." Shade said. "Please cut us lose?"

"That's better, but he looks at least eight seasons old," the mousemaid said as she sawed at the rope with the rapier.

"I am," Treestar replied through clenched teeth. Shade started to rub the life back into the footpaw that had been tied to Treestar. The hare followed her example.

"Now, what are you two doing out here?"

"Enough questions from you, it's our turn." Shade said.

"Fair enough," the mousemaid said, crossing her arms.

"What's your name?" Shade asked.

"I didn't ask yours." The mousemaid pointed out.

"But we can hardly ask you if you need help." Shade said, pointing to the weapon in the mouse's belt.

"True, but you could ask something else." Shade wondered what the mousemaid was getting at.

"Very well. Have any food?" Shade asked.

The mousemaid laughed. "I see I've picked up a spirited one! Never mind, I was a lot like you once, here." The mousemaid reached into her sack and pulled out three scones and a flagon of water. Treestar and Shade ate and drank ravenously.

"Shade! Treestar!" Tona was running towards them, Autumn and Turffle behind her.

"Fun's over," Treestar and Shade said at the same time, then glared at one another. Tuffle looked Treestar and Shade over, making sure Treestar's nose wouldn't bleed anymore. When Shade asked him about her eye, he said he couldn't see any signs of an injury, but the otter could feel pain when she touched it.

"Shade, eventually, we are going to have to teach you the dangers of water," Turffle said, reminding Shade why she'd been sent to Salamandastron in the first place. Of course, that had been different: she'd flooded the holt and killed an otter during it, but the remark still stung, and Shade searched for a rude reply.

"And eventually, you're going to have to remember I'm an otter," she said icily.

"That's enough, Shade," Tona said sharply. "Kuri might even be outdone by you," she added quietly.

"I doubt it," the mousemaid said.

"Oh, sorry, thank you for saving them," Tona said quickly. "What do you doubt?"

"That that's enough. She's spirited, bet she's a warrior," the mousemaid explained.

"Aye," Shade answered before anyone else could.

"Wanna lose some of that energy from anger in a fight?" the mousemaid asked. Shade answered quickly again, before anyone could stop her.

"Sure, but don't blame me if you get hurt," Shade said, flexing her muscles in excitement. It had been days since she'd practiced, but the otter was eager to use her skills again.

"Can you fight with a sword?" the mousemaid asked, the hood that shadowed her face seemed to make her words eerie.

"Of course," Shade said. What warrior couldn't? It was the most popular weapon choice for close range, and it was fun to use, in Shade's opinion

"If you don't mind?" the mousemaid asked, holding out a paw. Tona got Turffle to hand over his sword and pass it to Shade.

The two stood and faced one another, before the mousemaid ran in, holding her blade low….


I was thinking of killing Shade off... maybe make it a dramatic death at the hands of Treestar...