Vaxial was in his long flowing black cape. He looked down from his high ledge. A thousand vermin stood before him. Flowing like a blanket of evil. Moving like a cloud of destruction.

'Forward!'

The horde moved forward. Towards Redwall Abbey in Mossflower country, to break the peaceful spell that surrounded it.

*****

'Throw!'

The javelin struck bullseye, quivering with the force it was thrown, dead centre.
Daleria was discovering she had amazing aim. Arrows, javelins, slings anything, everything. It was as if she couldn't miss. It was the second day of her training and she had come a long way. It amazed her trainers, her speed and aim was unlike any otherbeast they had seen.

'All right, all right!!! Stap me whiskers, yore a good young one.'

Lady Consellariel came up to the training room.

'Everything fine, colonel? I heard a loud thud coming from here.'

'Oh nothing much marm. Young Daleria here has just murdered the bally ole marker.'

'She is ready?'

'As ready as we could make her in two days. I've never set eyes on anybeast that could learn so bally quickly!'

'The faster the better, Colonel. Then take her in your patrol, Major. She looks ready enough. Come then, time for lunch.'

They moved off to the mess hall. All was quiet. None of the hares joking or talking. The air was thick with thoughts of what was to come the next day.
Silently, Daleria joined the table and began to eat; though her stomach was churning so much she was not sure if the food would be accepted. She had seen battle many times with her family, but never had she been to a feast. What was more was that she might even encounter her lifelong enemy, Vaxial.
Lady Consellariel would tell her about it later.
The food was finished, and Daleria followed Consellariel to the forge, along with Major Clandestine and her patrol, consisting of 8 other hares.

'You will get to Redwall as fast as you can, join the feast like any otherbeast, the vermin will not think much. But you will not be able to go in all your ragged tunics. You much go finely dressed. The feast is a big and important one, all the main figures of Mossflower will be there. I will send you as 'escorts' in my place. But make sure that the Redwallers take no notice of the vermin. Lets see.... Shall we get you two finer attire? At least a elegant smock or something like that'

Immediately the major and Daleria's jaws dropped. They started protesting profusely.

'Marm!! No!!! Vermin, I can handle, but a nice smock is more than I can take!! Spare us!'

'Yes, marm! Please! Can we go the way we are?'

'Please? The Redwallers wouldn't notice!'

But the badger lady's choice was final. They would be bringing nice and acceptable clothes meant for a feast.
Despite endless pleas.

*****
At the kitchens of Redwall Abbey, chaos reigned.


Abbess Jemerian and Friar Verla was at wits end, trying to stop any accidents from happening and a the same time get the unwanted creatures out so work could resume.

'No! Foremole! Please! Put that pan down!'

'Stop that dibbun! My raspberries!'

'Fulk, stop running around this instant! You could get hurt! No! Stop!!!!'

The Abbess could stand it no longer. Grabbing to large copper pans, she slammed them together.

'CLANG!'

'Stop! Silence!'

Everybeast stopped and stared at the fuming abbess.

'All beasts not under Friar Verla, leave now! NOW!'

There was no questioning the Abbess as the abbey prepared for the feast yet to come...

*****

Major Clandestine and Daleria stood to attention in the forge. Lady Consellariel paced up and down, reeling out orders.

'You are both going on a very dangerous mission, trekking alone through Mossflower Woods, with a thousand vermin and a ruthless murderer who is after Daleria's blood. You have to be quick. Beat them to Redwall and get in. Be sure to have a guard on the walls, but make sure the Redwallers don't notice. However Abbess Jemerian must be notified and kept updated.'

'Yes marm!'

'Don't do anything rash; it could cost you your life. If the vermin swarm, make sure the guests are all safe and let nobeast out of the abbey. Dibbuns must be looked after with utmost care. If one is captured...'

The badger lady whirled around and looked Daleria straight in the eye.

'And don't even think of going after Vaxial. Lifelong enemy or no lifelong enemy.'

Sighing, the badger lady sat at the window ledge.

'I just want you all back in one piece. Don't rush into impossible cases. But if you have to...'

Looking out of the window with a faraway look in her eye, she continued

'Dismissed, Daleria. Major, stay here. I need to talk to you.'

Saluting smartly with her sabre, Daleria walked out.

Turning to face Clandestine, Consellariel looked straight into her eyes, dead serious and spoke in a tone that made the Major perk up and listen.

'Major, don't let anything happen to Daleria. Nothing. D'you hear me? Don't. Very well, dismissed.'

*****

The Great Hall was under going a massive change over.

Drapes of gold and sliver adorned the hallways and stair rails. Candles in every colour, size and shape were placed on the table, which was adorned by cutlery of silver and china plates. Polished hardwood chairs had calligraphic parchment nametags made that had leaves embedded within them. Looking at the tags, many familiar and unfamiliar names could be seen.

Old Abbess Mhera.

Lord Fegen of The Mossflower Squirrel Patrol

Foremole Bethel

Skipper Of Otters Raden

Annabell, badger friend of Redwall

Log a Log Reed

A few among the many. All waiting for the Great Feast to come.

*****

Campfires were everywhere, made haphazardly from the materials found from the forest floor. Vermin of every kind roasted vegetation and an occasional fowl or pheasant. Right in the middle was a brown canvas tent.

'Airelad. I've waited a long time. And I will not have to wait for very long more.'

*****

Daleria, Major Clandestine and her patrol had just left for Redwall Abbey. Running along the shoreline, they moved with speed and military order.

 And so the race between the hares and the vermin was on. For Redwall.

*****

The Major's patrol had set up camp for the night. Dusk had already fallen and they sat around the campfire. Daleria sat next to the Major and asked,

'Have you ever been to Redwall before?'

Looking into the fire, she replied,

'Not recently... I've always wanted to though... What is it like now?'

The rest of the Major's patrol, Lieutenant Dallaw, Galloper Galedeep, Reaprunn, Vale, Sergeant Longrunn, Wellam and Corporal Fitirel, leaned over. Few had gone there, and those who had had not many times nor recently.

'Well... It's homely and the Redwallers are all very welcoming... The Abbess is currently Jemerian, the most kindly mouse I've ever known... They treated me like one of them, always there to help... And those Dibbuns... Always playing. It's nice there. And the food.... It is beyond words. There are always nice things to eat...'

Settling back, Daleria looked up into the endless sky, dark blue and dotted with stars, the picture of perfection. All around her... The seashore, with its endless waves lapping beyond the horizon... Yet something felt wrong, not right... She pawed her sabre instinctively and looked around.

'Major!'

She grabbed a throwing dagger from her haversack and let fly. It hit its target. The major recovered and sprang back.

'Ambush chaps! Ambush! Eulaliaaa!!'

A small party of vermin had been dispatched from the main group, and they had caught the hares off guard. They fought gallantly, but Daleria had been overcome by a fit of fury, nearly a Bloodwrath.

Daleria fought with the strength and speed few other hares had ever seen. Slashing, stabbing ruthlessly at the vermin, regardless of the returning slashes she received. The small pack was soon defeated, leaving behind only a sole survivor, of which Daleria flung herself at, sabre raised, posed to wipe the existence of the sole water rat off the face of the earth, only to be stopped in mid air by Sergeant Longrunn seizing her by her middle and pulling her down, and forcefully holding her back.

The Major immediately grabbed a piece of rope and bound the rats' paws behind his back. Hauling him upright, she forced the stuttering rat, who was looking at Daleria in wide eyed fear, to talk. Shaking him roughly, she interrogated the rat.

'Where is the main band? Where are they?!'

Still spluttering and murmuring, the rat answered,

'Ffull ddaays s mmarrcchh iiinnttoo Mossffflloowwer…'

Shoving the rat back into the sand, the normally calm and collected major withdrew her rapier and swished the air shouting with fury.

'One day into Mossflower!!! One blooming day! Lady Consellariel will have my head! We will have to run through the night to get to Redwall afore the blinking vermin do!'

Truly frustrated, she stabbed at the sand. Finally recomposing herself, the major barked out orders.

'Pack it up chaps, Lieutenant, douse the fire, Sergeant, keep the vermin under yore wing. Quick march! We have to trek through the whole bally night if we want to catch up with yon vermin. One, two, three…. Ten… shun!'

******
Vaxial and his horde moved further into Mossflower Woods…

******
Everything was ready. The feast was to be in three days. Everywhere looks of anticipation could be seen, every mole, mouse, squirrel, hedgehog, sparra, and every otherbeast waited anxiously to meet new friends and greet old ones. Abbess Jemerian prepared her speech, entertainment was arranged, food was prepared and practically every other thing that makes up a feast arranged.