Authors note: I wrote this many years ago (well, seems like it at least) back when I was freshman in High School (I'm a senior now as I post this). I wrote it over the summer before my freshman year and for a small space of time in the beginning of my freshman year. So please do no judge it too harshly. And just keep that in mind as you read it, its little history.
Prologue
A young mole peered
curiously around the corner of the gatehouse door, hoping to see his favorite
storyteller. With a smile, he immediately ran into the gatehouse and jumped
straight into the lap of a snoring squirrel. The squirrel was quite shocked by
the rude awaking as his spectacles fell from his nose, and onto the nose of the
grinning mole. Giving a warm smile, the squirrel took the spectacles from the
grinning molebabe and put them back on, and asked in a kind voice, "Hello
Ardor, have come back for one of my stories again?"
The mole grinned even
more when he heard the question and said, "Hurr hurr, no zurr, oi came ere
for..." the young mole then put a digging claw on his head, showing that
he was deep in thought, and then continued, "yurr taole."
The squirrel's face went
aghast as he stated in shock, holding his tail in the air, "My goodness,
you came for my tail! Is Mrs. Lanney making her supposed, good-creature stew
again. Last time she made that I lost an ear." he said as he held his own
right ear at an angle, "Why, it took me four seasons to grow this new one
back!"
The mole smiled and
replied, "Hurr hurr, no zurr, oi came for yor toale."
The squirrel settled
back into the small couch and said almost tiredly, "Ohh, you came for my
TALE. I'd swear I told you it only five days ago?"
"Yurp, but um...oi
fergot." Ardor said as he started scratching his head with an innocent
smile.
The squirrel smiled back
and replied, "Oh I see...well let's not hope that my memory fails me here,
even though I'm not that old...ah well, should I take it from the top?"
The mole needn't even answer because he was so anxious he could only nod,
vigorously.
The squirrel sighed and
then began, "Ok, let's see...now I'm going to tell you a story-"
After being cut off by a
loud cough on Ardor's part, the squirrel continued.
"Of course...I'm
about to tell you a tale of Redwall history, but this history is not so old,
like me. It is a very thorough trail of events which ultimately leads to a
reckoning, a great triumph, and a great loss..."