Kamataya's dead! I hope that'll clear up some of the villains. When you continue, know that many who are no longer necessary will die soon. *Smiles innocently*

Redwall

With Darkblood dead, Griv Beastcrusher had proudly taken his place as Lord of Redwall. The score of slaves (including Tench and the Voles) were trapped in the Bell Tower, no escape. The seven-score and five of dead Redwallers' heads were placed on poles on top of the walls, warding off any enemies. The wolverine was laying in the orchard, eating a fish he had snatched from the pond.

Fourclaws the rat was sitting on a large rock in the grounds next to the pond, glaring at the wolverine. "Ah, lookit 'im! He's got no brains, just 'is strength! Why should we listen to 'im?"

His companion, a fox called Darkfang, shrugged. "Coz he's got strength, like ye said. Ye wanna be chief, go fight him."

Fourclaws growled. "E'll rip me to shreds! Nay, I'll kill 'im a different way, wi' poison or somethin'"

The rat suddenly realized Darkfang was still there, and growled. But the fox just shrugged. "I won't turn ye in, I don't like 'im either. But don't expect me to help ye. I keep me snout out o' business, that's 'ow I'm still alive."

Firak the stoat watched this from the pond, which he was swimming in. The tattooed stoat had long dirty dark brown fur and a scruffy beard. A former corsair, he had once been Captain-in-Chief to Griv Beastcrusher and remained loyal to his master. With a dark chuckle, he ducked under the water.

ooooooooooooo

Abbess Fern's head popped from the soil. The second escape tunnel had brought them to the surface of the Earth. Kissing the grass, the Abbess was glad to feel the sun on her face and the grass under her feet. She was followed by the others, kissing the ground and thanking the moles.

"Hurr, us'n's just doin' wot we were made for, nought more."

Fern smiled. Humble to the end, those moles. Shaking her head, she resumed her role as a leader. "Come, we must find a hiding place. If the vermin send search crews, we'll be in trouble."
The Redwallers nodded and followed her. Mallow, wife of Darrow, mother of the infant Chubbo came up to the Abbess. "I wish I had gone with my husband, but I have a young 'un to take care of. Hmm. Abbess, what do you think happened to my parents-in-law, and Young Kell? They wouldn't take them for slaves, old and crippled. What if they're..." a single tear went down the hogwife's cheek.

Abbess put a paw on her shoulder. Sadness filled her heart as well. Kell was young, and didn't deserve such a fate. Her eyes watered as she thought of how she never made up with Uggo and Posy, her two oldest friends.

Holly the squirrel climbed up a tree with grace. "I'll look to see if I can find a good place to hide. Maybe in that old church that was burned."

The squirrel stayed up in the top of the tree for a few moments, the screamed. She fell from the branches, her dignified manner lost.

Stammering, Abbess Fern and Marrow helped her sit up next to the tree.

"What is it, my daughter?" asked Fern.

"I-it's the a-abbey!" cried the squirrel. "They-they took all th-those that d-died, a-and put their h-heads on poles! It's terrible! Maro, Dana, Skipper, Gino, and some friends, too! Jasmine, Declan, Queenie, Marigold! Th-they were just-" the squirrel erupted in tears and placed her head on her knees, shaking.

Abbess Fern's eyes were brimming with tears as she patted her back. "Hush, hush, young one. Relax."

A hedgehog of the Wiltud clan that had retreated to Redwall, Borgy Wiltud, whacked the tree with a staff, causing them to jump. "Aah, quit yer whinin' squirrel, we gotta get movin'!"

Throwing the staff over his shoulder, he walked off into the woods, followed by the others.

Abbess Fern offered Holly a hand and helped her up. "Come, young one. We do have to go!"

Nodding, Holly wiped her eyes. It would be a long next few days.

The Tunnels Under Kotir under Redwall

Tired and anxious, the ones who had travelled to the tunnel were now regretting their choice. The tunnel was damp and stuffy, with little air.

Mervo was in the front, trying to appear brave, though he was thinking of the fate of Uggo and Posy, as were they all, who must have been killed. They had reached out to him and given him a chance when others had not. His insides cringed as he thought of them, his friends.

His sadness turned to anger. If only the Redwallers had allowed him to help! But no, he was young, and therefore dumb. And now look where they were. Zeela put a paw on his shoulder. He shrugged it off. He realized he'd have to learn to be strong, not whining to his mother as he used to.

Zeela sighed. "Mervo's growing," she whispered to Erzvin.

Her husband, who was carrying the torch, nodded. "Aye, don't you remember being rebellious like this at his age?"

Zeela nodded. "Still, though. So well-behaved as a child I thought he would, sort of just skip it, you know?"

Erzvin shrugged. "This war is changing him. Though he grows surly, this may be good for him."

Zeela looked at him. "In what way?"

The light-furred fox shrugged. "Well... we've coddled him a bit, y'know."

"What do you mean?"

Erzvin sighed. "Well, we were living good, in the perfect place to farm. We had everything we ever wanted, but with out problems you can't grow stronger. This is good for our son."

Zeela frowned. "I suppose... Still, I guess I don't want him to grow up."

Erzvin put a paw on her shoulder. "That may be what's wrong."

ooooooooooooo

Coming across a fork, Mervo didn't even stop to consider. Something was pulling him to go left, so that's the way he went, followed by the others.

Sister Chamomile was a young mouse that respected Zeela for her healing arts. Hoping that the fox would teach her things when they were through this mess, she had came through the passage. Sorely regretting it now, she walked hunched over through the damp tunnels, occasionally letting out squeaks of fear. Tinsel the hedgehog was at her side to comfort her, but Chamomile could sense impatience rising from the hedgehog.

"Eeeeh!" cried Chamomile.

"Sister, it's just an ant, nought t'be afraid of."

"Well, I could hardly see it, it's so dark in here!"

"Then stop walking so slowly so we can catch up to Erzvin! He has the torch!"

oooooooooooooo

Darrow was just behind Mervo, following the young fox, wallowing in the despair of the loss of his parents and sister. They had never hurt anybody! Well, his dad killed a weasel and his mum helped kill a Wearat, but they didn't want to! And Sylva was innocent as well. What cruel world was this?

The hedgehog made a sigh. Through the dim outline of the torch he could see another fork in the tunnels. As Mervo began to go right, Darrow began to follow him, then noticed some scratches on the wall.

"Mervo, wait!" called the Hedgehog. The young fox turned and gave him a look.

"What is it?"

"There's some ancient badger script here... it says sinister again. I think we should go left!"

"Darrow, I feel like I should go right. Something's pulling me. Like the spirit of Martin."

Darrow gave the fox a fond look. "Listen, a badger carved this. I feel this is the right way."

Mervo sighed. "Fine, we'll go this way."

This time Mervo took up the rear, waiting for the others to pass. Once Chamomile finally went down the passage, he turned to the right path. He felt like he needed to this. This was his chance! Mervo bit the inside of his cheek and ran down the path.

Then the rocks fell, caving down the entrance, and his hopes of escape vanished.