Author's Note: I lost my chapter! I had 500 words written and I shut off the computer without saving. This is why it took extra long... I guess it's time to start over...

Also, I have a surprise for all my readers. For everyone that is bold enough to consider themselves a fan (hard to believe, since this a low-rate sight in the corner of the internet, and you wouldn't expect authors to be born here), I have started a new story (much to my regret, because it's but another thing I am forced to update.). It will remain a mystery of what the story is about until it does come out, but I can tell you the story is based on one of my made-up characters.

The story will be out some time in December, because I am not publishing the first chapter until I have written at least 20,000 words. I will say that the first chapter is drafted and edited and I am currently working on chapter 2. Since I have 20000 words prewritten, I won't feel to pushed to write, because I have a lead. I will update 5000 words each week after that, in order to make the chapters long.

Anyways, I hope you will all enjoy it, and feel free to put in your reviews! I'm shooting for 200. Also, see if you can guess the character I picked...

Chapter 37

With all my strength I rushed head on into the vermin. They were blown through the air easily, like when a bees nest is destroyed and the bees rush out at the nearest living beast.

I glanced Vulpuz's arm whirling in a circle, from the quiver on his back, to the arrows inside, to the notch on the bow, and to his cheek. He shot so fast, a dibbun couldn't shoot cherry seeds from his mouth with more speed. I was shocked with his aim. He slew six hairs with eight arrows. I roared in anger, ordering the ballista to be shot.

"Fire!"

The ammunition we used in the ballista was rocks covered in moss, and then ignited in flames. These roughs missiles sprayed dirt, ash, and most importantly, fire into the vermin. Some were crushed under the rocks, and other were ignited in flames. This caused the vermin to push back. I didn't think it work very quickly, but was surprised to see the vermin be so cowardly as to turn around within the first two volleys of fiery rocks.

Vulpuz shireked and let his eyes widen. They were red, fiery, burning with fury. They looked like burning coals shoved into eye sockets. Against his fur they looked quite dashing, but it did not hide the evil in him.

"Noo! Turn around or you shall never be free from slavery! Do you want to go back to the lake of fire? Burn forever! No! Fight! Fiiiiight!"

Only a few could understand why they shouldn't go back, but others protested.

"Better live in fire than disappear forever!"

Vulpuz snarled. "Right. I'll send you anyways!" He sent an arrow into the particular vermin's heart.

"Anyone else want to-"

A ballista shot aimed and timed so perfectly smashed itself against the fence and shook it violently. Vulpuz speech, anything but morale boosting, was cut short, keeping the vermin dashing through the gates.

I saw my chance! I raised my sword and dashed forth, cutting and slashing at anything in my path. I reached the gate. With all my might I kicked the large gate with my footpaw, and the last vermin entering the gate had it shut on him.

Vulpuz screamed. "Fool! Foooooool! You'll pay for this! I'll find a way to reopen the gates! Just you watch! I'll find the orbs!"

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Martin shook his head in disbelief. "That's an amazing story, Boar."

Boar shrugged. "I did what I could to shut the gate, and succeeded. One thing bothered me, though. He said he was going to find the orbs."

"What orbs?" Luke said, puzzled.

"Exactly," Said Boar, "What was he talking about? Maybe someone back at your camp knows what he was talking about."

Ranguvar Foeseeker scratched her head, and said something completely off subject to Sauvin.

"Did anyone ever tell you you have beautiful eyes?" She said, grabbing both his paws. Sauvin pulled his paws away, stumbling off the log he was sitting on.

"Er, no... But I've been told they change colors."

Ranguvar nodded. "They were greenish grey just a second ago, but now..." She said, noticing that they were changing.

"They're blue!"

Sauvin nodded. "That's because you're making me very nervous right now."

Ranguvar scratched her head. "Oh, I see."

Sauvin nodded. "Now, look, Ranguvar, I know you feel for me. I've seen it every day. I wish I could feel the same way about you, but... but... I can't talk about it."

Sorin the flying squirrel jumped on his head and perched, narrowing his eyes and craning his neck out like a vulture.

"Now lookee yurr mah little skwrl friend, ah'll never like ye' cos yer too oogly, now zee wot I mean?"

Ranguvar raised an eyebrow at him.

Sauvin shook his head. "It's not... it's not because you're ugly... I... I'll explain it later... I... I need some time alone."

Sorin laughed. "Debate the pretty little lady, eh? Sounds like he does need some alone time."

Sauvin's eyes burnt with rage. "No! STOP!" Sauvin ripped the dagger from his tail and nearly swung at Sorin. The flying squirrel's eyes widened and he back flipped out of the way.

Sauvin paused, realizing what he had just done, then fell to his knees, his eyes shifting very fast from red to black.

"What have I done! Look... I have to think alone. Just... Leave me."

Sorin nodded. "With great pleasure, I leave your inflamous self!"

Rose raised an eyebrow. "Inflamous?"

Sorin nodded. "Aye, a mix between infamous and inflaming! Infamous inflaming, y'see. His anger is famous. Inflamous... see? Inflamous... Oh never mind!" He said angrily when he saw their confused faces."

"His anger isn't famous. He doesn't express any emotions at all!"

"Well, it should be. Look what he did!" said Sorin, pointing to a woundless spot on his body.

"Yurr'm baint anythin' yurr..." said Grumm, raising an eyebrow.

Sorin raised an eyebrow, looking down at where he was ponting. He looked back up, his lip poking out to the left side of his face. "Still, that's not the point..."

"Look let's just leave Sauvin alone. We must go and train with the others. If Sauvin feels well, he can join us."

Sauvin shook his head. "No, I'll be along later. I want to train with my knives alone."

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"Haha! Can't get me! Wooh!" Pallum jumped over Roses stick as he she twirled it close to him. He jumped and parried, jabbing and poking as he went. The thought of Felldoh's death completely left him has he had fun with Rose, their laughter echoing amongst many others.

Meanwhile, Martin was meeting Timballisto, having traveled back with Boar. The two met and hugged firmly, breaking away, they began talking.

"Timbal! How am I supposed to use words to describe my joyfullness to see you?"

Timballisto laughed. "Ha! You just did!"

Martin smiled. "If you haven't noticed, we have quite a few beasts on our hand." He said, pointing to the thousands of creatures hustling around behind him

Timballisto nodded, his eyes glancing left and right. "I've met with my father, and many other people here. Have you met your grandfather yet, Martin? I've heard he's around."

Martin's eyes widened at the thought of this. He had never thought about his grandfather. He had known that he existed but didn't think about meeting him. His thoughts were interrupted by Rose.

"Martin! Who's this?" Rose came over, the sweat beading on her forehead from all the fencing.

Martin smiled and introduced her.

"Timballisto, this is Rose. She is one of the mousemaids from the village I went to after I was captured one morning. Undoubtedly you remember that day."

Timballisto nodded.

"Rose, this is Timballisto, a friend from my younger days. He died the winter after Redwall was built."

Timballisto shook paws with her. "Nice t'meet ye', Mrs. Warrior."

Martin raised an eyebrow. "Er... we're not married."

Timballisto looked from Martin, to Rose, then back again.

"Aye, wotever you say, sir."

The arrival of Boar brought new hope and happiness for the crowd of beasts roaming outside. Everything was well organized and planned. There were two groups, peaceful, and warriors.

Warriors first were seperated into types of combat; ranged or close. Ranged creatures would choose either sling, bow and arrow, or javelin type weapons and be set apart for further dispersemnt. Close combatted creatures would also pick weapons; Either swords, lances/spears, maces, axes, warhammers, or anything in a particular category. Some beasts would have their own weapons, and would refuse to train with any other weapon. They remained stubborn until Martin threatened them with daycare and bread-baking.

Anybeast who wished to attack from afar, sniping with arrows or slinging stones would be seperated down further. Archers were seperated down further according to gender and size. Javelin throwers immediately got to work training with professionals. Slingers were each issued slings, and were told to practice with assigned tutors.

Sorin started his own boomerang class. About two hundred were very interested in the aerodynamics of a boomerang. Sorin said it was magic that made boomerangs come back to the owner, but soon let out the secret that it's all in the throw and carving of the boomerang.

"No steel bomerang will ever come back! It weighs too much." He said, pointing a paw seriously. This was very awkward, seeing as his serious face was similar to that of a dibbun's.

Nevertheless, his immaturity brought great hilarity amongst his students. They learned quite a bit and impressed their relatives with boomerangs catching the wind and returning in mid-air.

Down in the non-combat sections, creatures would choose their profession. There were cooks, daycare creatures, sling weavers, weapon carving, and arrow sharpening. Boar the Fighter supplied barrels of arrowtips to these particular creatures and they scraped them on spinning rocks powered by their feet.

Although the amount of children in the dark forest was small, there was still quite a bit of need for daycare parents. Some helpful mothers would gladly offer themselves to the little ones.

Baking and ration packing was another big need. With the thousands (maybe millions) of creatures, there was a big need for bread, fruit, and other vegetables. The thought of a food shortage meant big complaining among the hares.

"No tucker fer the army? Bad form... Y'should think ahead when you're gonna fight a bally war, wot!" One said, downing a scone.

"Yeah, says you who had a lunch that probably would've fed this army." An angry hedgehog remarked.

Teachers were selected by Boar according to their skill. If some beast wanted to be a teacher, he would offer, and Boar would check his skills. Some would be accepted, and to others he would say, "I don't mean to be rude, but you're very bad.", or, "Though you may have talent, you don't have very good social skills."

Boar found that more than one-fifth of the creatures offering to tutor other creatures were offering to train swordmastery. He also found that one in twenty of the volunteers could carry one correctly. Boar wondered why they would offer themselves so willingly into a profession that they barely knew at all.

"It could be their pride. If they were recorded as one of the teachers of the army that would destroy all evil, they would be considered great." Luke said plainly. To any other creature this remark would have been an epiphany, but Boar showed no signs of surprise. He merely said "Aye...".

"Should I be ranged combat, or close? I'm okay with a sling... But on the other hand I would hate this dirk to go to waste." Rose said, looking over an assignment parchment.

"Er," Martin said nervously. "I'd prefer you stayed back. I mean, look what happened when you came to Marshank with us."

Rose glared at him. "You sound like my father." She said, amused.

This was the last creature Martin wanted to sound like. Though he wanted her to be safe, there was no changing Rose's mind. She was an adamant mouse. Her variety in personality was one thing every beast admired in her. She could adjust to every situation, laughing at parties, serious, though reckless, at battles, stubborn in decisions, and sometimes passionate. Rose's father was one of the largest obstacles in her life, seeing as he wanted her to be a sweet, gentle mouse all the time, and never different. She wasn't like that.

Martin scratched his head, looking around. "Well, I've been selected to teach, so I should probably get going. They'll be expecting me..."

"Alright! My name is Martin, as many of you know..." Martin said, eyeing his share of creatures to train.

"I am here to show you how to use a sword properly, and not like a babe."

There were chuckles from the crowd.

Martin continued. "Now, the first thing I want you all to do is to get your swords out. Test them for balance by putting your paw an inch or so from the hilt and putting it out above the ground. This was followed by the sound of swords being unsheathed. Soon after, he heard the sound of swords falling carelessy onto the ground. There was even one yelp.

"Ouch! Watch what yore doin' there, y'mangy little hedgehog."

Martin resumed. "Alright, now, hold your swords out and be more careful this time.

Progress was made during that day. Many creatures learned a considerable amount about certain weapons, and lots of food was stored and put away in preservatives. arrows were made, put into bins. Badger lords smelted and made weapons. It was the first time badger lords ever came together as one, without fighting between them. Barrels of weapons were rolled out to be issued on the next day.

It was time for everybeast to get to bed, everyone tired from the work they had been doing. Everybeast set up tents, shelters, and some even built small houses. They tried not to think about tomorrow, which was going to be even more strenuous. Indeed, more than they knew lied around the next corner.

Author's note: Chapter 37, up and out. Next chapter, not sure what I'm going to do. Maybe they'll meet the vermin army and meet 'peacefully'. Oh well. As for the new story, ha ha ha! That's for me to know and you to find out! It's at 9000 words right now. Still 11000 more to go!

Alright I hate this suspense, and I will tell you who they story is about on the next chapter released.

Another thing... I'm sorry about the misspelled words. I don't have a spell checker anymore, and when I write, I write quickly, leaving me prone to mistakes. Sorry about all of the mistakes.