Mariel was glad to have her old friend back with her. It was a long time since she had last seen him and by now he was the seasoned warrior he had dreamed of being, when they had first met after he had escaped those slavers. Believe it or not; he still had both of those treasured, old, stale oatcakes. He kept them with him at all times and was tossing them back and forth now between his sweaty paws. They talked of seasons past and battles fought, of enemies and friends, old and new. Bowly told Mariel of how he had found his hut abandoned a few seasons of travelling since Mariel and Dandin had split away, embarking on their own adventures. Leaving him to make his own adventure. Throughout all this talk of battles and friendships Sandy felt lost and alone. She and Bowly had met only the day before, and although they were both hogs she found herself left out of Bowly's cheerful nattering. Mariel released this but felt there was nothing she could do. After all Mariel had known Bowly for many seasons and she had know Sandy for only a few weeks.

Sandy was only a wanderer who had been passing through Mossflower, the two of them were only travelling together because Sandy had offered. Then Mariel remembered how eager she herself had been to accept the merry hog's offer of companionship. The reason was that, now she had her old friend, Bowly Pintips, Sandy was being pushed back in her mind. She was letting the old memories of her and Dandin fighting the maniac Urgan Nagru, memories of her and Dandin fighting their last fight and all of those that she could have shared with him be brought back and resurfaced now that Bowly was here to help her recollect them .

The contented Bowly turned to Sandy as though he had sensed her despondent thoughts and said,

"So Sandy, Where are you from? Mariel tells me you are a traveller, but where have you travelled from and to? What adventures have you had? I am curious."

Sandy smiled, now she could speak and tell of her adventures. She wanted to prove to this brave Bowly Pintips that she too was a warrior; an experienced, courageous one at that. Late into the night under the peaceful stars, the merry trio compared tales and legends shared between their families and tribes. Sandy it turned out was born on the coast and had been a searat galley slave for two years. The cruel whip marks on her back to proved it. Then having escaped with the help of a brave hare name Tarquin. (At this point Mariel interrupted with her knowledge of this hungry beast before Sandy continued,) "He took me to the mountains and directed me to Salamandastron, but I turned from the path as I felt that in a land of Badgers and hares, I would not be welcomed. So I turned round and just kept going to see where fates 'n' fortunes would lead me. I came to Redwall after long seasons o' wandering. Here I found a home and welcoming faces who fed and cared for me. Beasts who thought about others instead of themselves.

Nevertheless, however much I loved my new dwelling I could not be satisfied. I am a traveller and it is in my nature to roam and adventure. When I overheard of the quest you were about to embark on I eagerly joined you Mariel. I could not refuse the hospitality of your friends nor could I stay there and make it my home. A quest was exactly what I needed. The perfect excuse to leave in a way."

Mariel and Bowly personally were glad of there new found friend who was used to living it rough. They waited in silence for something else from her. Both felt that there was more to her tale then she let out. It was too brief. So much must have happened to her on her journeying. More than she was going to disclose.

"Well," finished Sandy,

"I guess my adventures are nothing compared to your marvellous tales, but I do try to live up to my expectations."

"Did you fight many vermin on your travels?" asked Bowly.

"Many, many," replied Sandy,

"I fought weasels, stoats, rats and ferrets," at this point Mariel sat up straight at the mention of her curséd enemies,

"but never searats. I avoided the coast as much as possible to escape my bad memory's. I never bothered to look for my family. All I can remember of my childhood now is the cruel extended claw of an evil rat grinning wickedly into my swollen, scared, watering eyes. I can remember how, when weak from exhaustion I could barely move my paw let alone an oar and down and down and down on my sore back came the cat o' nine tails. Then the laughter"

Sandy was shuddering involuntary at these bad recollections. Trying to keep back the tears that were welling in her green, almond shaped eyes. Both Mariel and Bowly sympathised with any beast who had suffered as a slave on board a rat's ship.

As far as they were concerned Sandy had passed the test- She too was a Warrior.

The trio went on. (*boring I know*)

*Is this O.K.? I am so busy with school stuff *yawn* that I have not been able to update. If you like it review. Suggest what you think should happen next. Have I got the personalities right?*

*P.S. By the way I am the worst speller in the school. Pleases do not send boiling tubs of lava or sulphur on me as a well deserved punishment. Please?*