A dark cloud loomed across the moon filtering its beam, sometimes
even obstructing the pale white light. The Mossflower seemed a somewhat
eccentric part of the land with the moon as it was.
A crack of a tree branch ruined the serenity of the night and almost awoke Geldat the Fox who lay beneath the very tree. He had left his chief a month ago and was doing well on his own trying to find his way to the peace at Redwall abbey. His fur was dark brown, holding a slight gray in it that at some points of his body looked bluish. He wore a gray cloak that under he carried a one-edged ax.
The crack of the branch sent Geldat to his feet. His eyes scanned the area and spotted the noisemaker. A small hare wearing a brownish smock was trying his best to keep still in the foliage where he hid. Geldat moved towards the now quaking hare and drew his ax out bringing it to the hare's throat. "Gid'up!"
The hare stood to his feet the ax following his throat. "What is your name hare?"
"My name would be Dalter. And to what do I owe this great pleasure."
"Cut it Hare. You were following me, why?"
"Well I thought you might be one of the new beasts in Mossflower."
"New beasts?"
The hare had succeeded in hooking the fox's attention now all he needed was to reel him. The ax quickly withdrew from the hare's throat and landed at its place by Geldat's side.
The night wore on as Dalter explained of the new beast. The two sat around a fire each across from each other on upturned stumps. "... And they howl. Yes howl. Some say they do it once they've made a kill others say there praying to their moon goddess. I thought you might be one of 'em because I thought all of the Marlfox had either left the land or were destroyed. Most said the Marlfox were evil vermin but me matey; you don't seem too bad."
"I left my clan because of that exact reputation. I still carry on as one of them though. Hard to change old habits if you know what I mean."
"I get where you're coming from. So anyway these beasts are said to kill for the fun of it. No care for who or what the circumstances are. They have no need for food or rest but feast for the smell of blood. Evil Creatures they are. Mighty evil"
"And this is only what you've heard from other's?"
"That's roit."
"Interesting. You do know however that you can't believe everything ya hear. "
"Are you calling me a bluff?"
"Not exactly. It just means the creatures you've talked to may be liars. "
"Well I believe what I hear," the hare spat back with an edge of disdain.
Geldat moved his hand over the flames to warm up. As he drew his hand back something caught his eye. Acting as calmly as possible the Marlfox stood to his feet stretching his arms into the air. "Wot is it matey?" Dalter asked beginning to stand. Fox spun his leg hitting his log seat sending it into the trees.
A scream rang out as out of nowhere as a band of four stoats came out of the foliage, one of the group limping on one leg. " Ouch. That fox got me in the leg. Hangnose what do you think we should do to teach these vermin a lesson."
A smaller stoat pushed his way between the two lead stoats saying, " Actually Wormtooth, the fox is the only vermin. "
"Shut yer face Scalewart. I think we should skin 'em."
The fourth of the group stepped forward holding a dagger in his hand. "Oi think we should just kill 'em. No need to skin the thing. Just a slit down their throat and its over."
"Ederk, your tired today aren't you," Wormtooth said drawing a hunting knife from his belt.
"No. I just don't want to waste time."
Dalter walked forward his arms across his chest, "Now I don't see why you stoats can't just leave us be. I mean we wouldn't want this to 'ave to get ugly."
Scalewart stepped up to the hare drawing a dagger of his own, "Close yer hole rabbit."
The hare walked up a bit further saying, "Now I never knew a stoat with good manners, so I won't judge you too harshly. But I've also never known a stoat with manners as bad as yours you yellow-bellied-pondsucker."
That had done it for the stoat's temper. Scalewart ran forward dagger over head strait at Dalter. The two beasts hit each other with a smash. The stoat's eyes rolled back into his head as he fell to the dirt a dirk buried in his chest.
Dalter retrieved his weapon saying, " I warned the old bloke."
Wormtooth rushed towards his younger brother's body lifting his limp head. He dropped his brother's head and made his way towards the hare.
"Stop where you are stoat ."
Wormtooth felt the cold smooth blade of Geldat's ax under his throat. "Leave stoat. Or I'll slit your throat right through and you can join your dead brother."
Wormtooth heeded the warning and backed away from Dalter.
"Now leave!"
The band of stoats scurried back into the forest. Dalter walked up and kicked Scalewart's limp body. "Tis' a shame this bugger had to die."
"Your good with that dirk of yours."
"Well me ole' marm taught me the ways of Salamandstron. Twas where I was born. Many warrior hares have fought and guarded the hollow mountain."
"How 'bout you journey with me. I might need some help with the vermin along the way."
"Not a very vain Marlfox are you?"
Geldat and Dalter left their fire and followed on thin path through the wood. The path they were on led straight for the great halls of Redwall.
Hours later the moon had receded around the earth and the rays of the sun were pounding the two travelers with its heat. Dalter walked three yards behind Geldat as they traversed towards the abbey. Throughout the night Geldat had noticed the band of stoats following in the wood behind them. Apparently Dalter hadn't noticed because he continued his incessant babbling about the stoats and how he could take the three others with one paw behind his back.
"Me matey, can we stop somewhere for some vitals. My stomach is roaring harder then a river."
Geldat dropped behind with Dalter and they rested at a small oak tree. "So Geldat me matey, when do you thing those stoat will catch up with us?"
"It's not a matter of thinking my friend. The stoats are about four yards away hiding behind the big line of holly bushes."
The holly bushes moved and out walked Erderk, Hangnose, and Wormtooth. Dalter approached the group asking, "What do you vermin want?"
"We have few laws among our bands of thieves. One is no killing. Unless that is to revenge or self-defense." Wormtooth stopped his voice wavering a little. "You," he pointed a menacing finger at Dalter, "Killed Scalewart."
"'Twas self-defense mate."
"Twas you diggin' your grave."
Geldat walked forward between the hare and stoat. Wormtooth fell with two well-laid out left hooks to his jaw. The hare bounced forward waving his fists at his cowering enemy. Geldat looked at his hare partner and replayed the last scene in his mind.
Dalter had dashed around him and put the stoat to the dirt. The hare kept coming with surprises.
Hangnose stepped towards the Marlfox kicking Wormtooth in the ribs. "I have yet to see the fox do anything more than just watch the fight. Well so wot do ya say?"
Geldat's cloak flew open in an instant, a blaze a sliver shot through the air, and just like that the cloak closed just as quick as it had opened. Hangnose's head rolled from his crumpled body, it having been hued off by the fox's ax.
Wormtooth had returned to his foot paws by the time Erderk said," Best we leave now before they shed anymore of our blood."
Wormtooth was reluctant; "The rabbit only got a lucky shot. I can take 'em."
"Don't worry my brother, we'll receive our revenge. With that both stoat's retreated into the wood.
Tasteless seemed the air as Wormtooth and Erderk entered the cave surroundings of Everdark. The two made their way through a pair of what seemed like endless tunnels. They finally reached an opening, which held a deep pit and a spiraling staircase down into the abyss. On the bottom of the cavern were two ferrets both armed with javelins. The ferrets waved the pair of brothers through into another room. The room was a cold gray color. In the center back of the chamber was placed a huge oak throne, which on sat the bat lord Dalit. The grand bat spoke in a tenor voice saying, "Erderk, Wormtooth, hmmmm, where are your brothers Scalewart and Hangnose?"
Erderk bowed to one knee infront of the bat. " M'lord, both Hangnose and Scalewart were killed in an attempted robbery."
"That is most unfortunate. I was hoping that I myself would have the honor of executing that thieving vermin. "
Wormtooth stepped forward. "You better hold your tongue, you little piece of—" Wormtooth's threat was cut short by the cold feel of rapier metal on his throat.
The bat held the rapier tightly. "Wormtooth. It would be wise for you to hold your tongue. The rapier withdrew from Wormtooths neck and was placed in a wonderful jeweled scabbard by the bat's side.
"Your brothers both stole from me a special tapastry. One that I once stole from an abbey off the edge of Mossflower. I want the tapestry back. Where are the packs."
Erderk began slowly," We didn't take their packs. I know who has them though."
A fire kindled inside of Dalit's eyes, "TELL ME WHO HAS THE TAPESTRY!"
Wormtooth shuddered and dropped the spear he was holding. Erderk voice showed no fear as he produced his sentence. "A hare and a fox have it. If I'm not mistaken both are heading towards Redwall abbey."
"The tapestry must not get back to Redwall. Once received at Redwall the tapestry will be even harder to get."
The great bat King thought for a moment then said, "Erderk. You can have control of all my armies. I must get my hands on that tapestry. However if you fail to retreive what I want then I will kill your brother."
With that two ferrets who had been behind the throne made there way out and grabbed Wormtooth dragging him out of the chamber. A smile crossed Erderk's thin lips. " M'lord. I will bring back your tapestry. And then I will bring you the head of all Redwallers."
"Good."
A crack of a tree branch ruined the serenity of the night and almost awoke Geldat the Fox who lay beneath the very tree. He had left his chief a month ago and was doing well on his own trying to find his way to the peace at Redwall abbey. His fur was dark brown, holding a slight gray in it that at some points of his body looked bluish. He wore a gray cloak that under he carried a one-edged ax.
The crack of the branch sent Geldat to his feet. His eyes scanned the area and spotted the noisemaker. A small hare wearing a brownish smock was trying his best to keep still in the foliage where he hid. Geldat moved towards the now quaking hare and drew his ax out bringing it to the hare's throat. "Gid'up!"
The hare stood to his feet the ax following his throat. "What is your name hare?"
"My name would be Dalter. And to what do I owe this great pleasure."
"Cut it Hare. You were following me, why?"
"Well I thought you might be one of the new beasts in Mossflower."
"New beasts?"
The hare had succeeded in hooking the fox's attention now all he needed was to reel him. The ax quickly withdrew from the hare's throat and landed at its place by Geldat's side.
The night wore on as Dalter explained of the new beast. The two sat around a fire each across from each other on upturned stumps. "... And they howl. Yes howl. Some say they do it once they've made a kill others say there praying to their moon goddess. I thought you might be one of 'em because I thought all of the Marlfox had either left the land or were destroyed. Most said the Marlfox were evil vermin but me matey; you don't seem too bad."
"I left my clan because of that exact reputation. I still carry on as one of them though. Hard to change old habits if you know what I mean."
"I get where you're coming from. So anyway these beasts are said to kill for the fun of it. No care for who or what the circumstances are. They have no need for food or rest but feast for the smell of blood. Evil Creatures they are. Mighty evil"
"And this is only what you've heard from other's?"
"That's roit."
"Interesting. You do know however that you can't believe everything ya hear. "
"Are you calling me a bluff?"
"Not exactly. It just means the creatures you've talked to may be liars. "
"Well I believe what I hear," the hare spat back with an edge of disdain.
Geldat moved his hand over the flames to warm up. As he drew his hand back something caught his eye. Acting as calmly as possible the Marlfox stood to his feet stretching his arms into the air. "Wot is it matey?" Dalter asked beginning to stand. Fox spun his leg hitting his log seat sending it into the trees.
A scream rang out as out of nowhere as a band of four stoats came out of the foliage, one of the group limping on one leg. " Ouch. That fox got me in the leg. Hangnose what do you think we should do to teach these vermin a lesson."
A smaller stoat pushed his way between the two lead stoats saying, " Actually Wormtooth, the fox is the only vermin. "
"Shut yer face Scalewart. I think we should skin 'em."
The fourth of the group stepped forward holding a dagger in his hand. "Oi think we should just kill 'em. No need to skin the thing. Just a slit down their throat and its over."
"Ederk, your tired today aren't you," Wormtooth said drawing a hunting knife from his belt.
"No. I just don't want to waste time."
Dalter walked forward his arms across his chest, "Now I don't see why you stoats can't just leave us be. I mean we wouldn't want this to 'ave to get ugly."
Scalewart stepped up to the hare drawing a dagger of his own, "Close yer hole rabbit."
The hare walked up a bit further saying, "Now I never knew a stoat with good manners, so I won't judge you too harshly. But I've also never known a stoat with manners as bad as yours you yellow-bellied-pondsucker."
That had done it for the stoat's temper. Scalewart ran forward dagger over head strait at Dalter. The two beasts hit each other with a smash. The stoat's eyes rolled back into his head as he fell to the dirt a dirk buried in his chest.
Dalter retrieved his weapon saying, " I warned the old bloke."
Wormtooth rushed towards his younger brother's body lifting his limp head. He dropped his brother's head and made his way towards the hare.
"Stop where you are stoat ."
Wormtooth felt the cold smooth blade of Geldat's ax under his throat. "Leave stoat. Or I'll slit your throat right through and you can join your dead brother."
Wormtooth heeded the warning and backed away from Dalter.
"Now leave!"
The band of stoats scurried back into the forest. Dalter walked up and kicked Scalewart's limp body. "Tis' a shame this bugger had to die."
"Your good with that dirk of yours."
"Well me ole' marm taught me the ways of Salamandstron. Twas where I was born. Many warrior hares have fought and guarded the hollow mountain."
"How 'bout you journey with me. I might need some help with the vermin along the way."
"Not a very vain Marlfox are you?"
Geldat and Dalter left their fire and followed on thin path through the wood. The path they were on led straight for the great halls of Redwall.
Hours later the moon had receded around the earth and the rays of the sun were pounding the two travelers with its heat. Dalter walked three yards behind Geldat as they traversed towards the abbey. Throughout the night Geldat had noticed the band of stoats following in the wood behind them. Apparently Dalter hadn't noticed because he continued his incessant babbling about the stoats and how he could take the three others with one paw behind his back.
"Me matey, can we stop somewhere for some vitals. My stomach is roaring harder then a river."
Geldat dropped behind with Dalter and they rested at a small oak tree. "So Geldat me matey, when do you thing those stoat will catch up with us?"
"It's not a matter of thinking my friend. The stoats are about four yards away hiding behind the big line of holly bushes."
The holly bushes moved and out walked Erderk, Hangnose, and Wormtooth. Dalter approached the group asking, "What do you vermin want?"
"We have few laws among our bands of thieves. One is no killing. Unless that is to revenge or self-defense." Wormtooth stopped his voice wavering a little. "You," he pointed a menacing finger at Dalter, "Killed Scalewart."
"'Twas self-defense mate."
"Twas you diggin' your grave."
Geldat walked forward between the hare and stoat. Wormtooth fell with two well-laid out left hooks to his jaw. The hare bounced forward waving his fists at his cowering enemy. Geldat looked at his hare partner and replayed the last scene in his mind.
Dalter had dashed around him and put the stoat to the dirt. The hare kept coming with surprises.
Hangnose stepped towards the Marlfox kicking Wormtooth in the ribs. "I have yet to see the fox do anything more than just watch the fight. Well so wot do ya say?"
Geldat's cloak flew open in an instant, a blaze a sliver shot through the air, and just like that the cloak closed just as quick as it had opened. Hangnose's head rolled from his crumpled body, it having been hued off by the fox's ax.
Wormtooth had returned to his foot paws by the time Erderk said," Best we leave now before they shed anymore of our blood."
Wormtooth was reluctant; "The rabbit only got a lucky shot. I can take 'em."
"Don't worry my brother, we'll receive our revenge. With that both stoat's retreated into the wood.
Tasteless seemed the air as Wormtooth and Erderk entered the cave surroundings of Everdark. The two made their way through a pair of what seemed like endless tunnels. They finally reached an opening, which held a deep pit and a spiraling staircase down into the abyss. On the bottom of the cavern were two ferrets both armed with javelins. The ferrets waved the pair of brothers through into another room. The room was a cold gray color. In the center back of the chamber was placed a huge oak throne, which on sat the bat lord Dalit. The grand bat spoke in a tenor voice saying, "Erderk, Wormtooth, hmmmm, where are your brothers Scalewart and Hangnose?"
Erderk bowed to one knee infront of the bat. " M'lord, both Hangnose and Scalewart were killed in an attempted robbery."
"That is most unfortunate. I was hoping that I myself would have the honor of executing that thieving vermin. "
Wormtooth stepped forward. "You better hold your tongue, you little piece of—" Wormtooth's threat was cut short by the cold feel of rapier metal on his throat.
The bat held the rapier tightly. "Wormtooth. It would be wise for you to hold your tongue. The rapier withdrew from Wormtooths neck and was placed in a wonderful jeweled scabbard by the bat's side.
"Your brothers both stole from me a special tapastry. One that I once stole from an abbey off the edge of Mossflower. I want the tapestry back. Where are the packs."
Erderk began slowly," We didn't take their packs. I know who has them though."
A fire kindled inside of Dalit's eyes, "TELL ME WHO HAS THE TAPESTRY!"
Wormtooth shuddered and dropped the spear he was holding. Erderk voice showed no fear as he produced his sentence. "A hare and a fox have it. If I'm not mistaken both are heading towards Redwall abbey."
"The tapestry must not get back to Redwall. Once received at Redwall the tapestry will be even harder to get."
The great bat King thought for a moment then said, "Erderk. You can have control of all my armies. I must get my hands on that tapestry. However if you fail to retreive what I want then I will kill your brother."
With that two ferrets who had been behind the throne made there way out and grabbed Wormtooth dragging him out of the chamber. A smile crossed Erderk's thin lips. " M'lord. I will bring back your tapestry. And then I will bring you the head of all Redwallers."
"Good."
