Disclaimer: Yeah, it's still not mine. But some of it is so: ¡No Tocas
Nada!
A/N: The song in this chapter is based off of a real sea shanty called "Haul Away Joe;" I simply made it Redwallish.
Chapter Twelve: The Road North
It was a glorious day and for a few hours Sheede was able to lose herself completely to the simple feeling of travel. She wrapped herself in the comforting rhythm of nature and moved steadily up the worn path that carried her easily through the magnificent woods of Mossflower.
Phillet followed the cat easily and savored the comfortable silence they shared. A few hours later he realized that she had forgotten that he was there when he asked her a question, "I say, when are we gonna reach these bally mountains, Marm?"
Sheede turned around suddenly in surprise, "Oh Phillet, mate, I completely forgot you were there!" Phillet gave her a mock scowl. "I'm sorry, it's just such a lovely day, what did you ask?"
"I asked when you thought we'd reach the mountains," the hare replied with a laugh.
Sheede thought for a moment and then shrugged, "Once we reach them I suppose, they would be hard to miss." Phillet was surprised at Sheede's simple answer and, after simply blinking for a moment, he decided the only thing he could do in response was to merely nod his head thoughtfully. The cat shrugged at his over-dramatic and continued down the path without a second thought.
Phillet's young nature suddenly demanded that he be entertained, "Marm?" Sheede looked back at him with a questioning expression, "Do ya know any good marching tunes? To keep the foot pads alive, wot wot," he asked innocently.
Sheede smiled happily, "I sure do Mate!" she called back with a laugh. She began to sing a song that kept Phillet's feet tapping for days to come:
When I was a little kit,
Or so my momma told me; to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
That if I did not kiss the lads,
My lips, they would get lonely; to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Way haul away,
We bound for better weather; to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Well, first I loved a Northern lad,
You know he was so cold to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
And then I loved a Southern lad,
You know he was so bold to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Way haul away,
We bound for better weather; to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Suddenly, another voice rang out to complete the next verse of the song, both Sheede and Phillet jumped around in shock:
Next I loved a farming lass,
You know she was a teaser to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
And now I love a sailing lass,
You know she is a pleaser to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Phillet's jaw dropped when he saw the male wildcat step out of the forest shadows. Another one, he thought in utter disbelief; Sheede simply narrowed her eyes.
The new cat raised his paws in defense and laughed easily, "No worries Mates, if I'd meant ya harm you'd be dead."
Sheede scoffed, "You can think what you want boyo; now who are you?" she demanded.
"I'm Darkness Shadowstrike, Milady, and you must be the Silvercat," Darkness replied smoothly. Phillet stood in mute shock as he watched a tiny trace of surprise creep into Sheede's mask of cautious hostility. Darkness, he thought suddenly, is a very appropriate name. And indeed it was, if the only word to describe Sheede's strange coloring silver then the only word to describe Darkness's coat was sable. And beyond that, his eyes were twin, pale moons that regally watched all that past before them. As if they sensed the young hare's regard the moons turned their piercing gaze onto Phillet.
"And who are you mate?" Darkness asked simply.
Phillet gulped hard, "I'm Phillet Longears Stridefellow the Third," another gulp, "Sir," he felt compelled to add that as he saw the hilt of a long, thin sword catch a ray of the sun send it into the hare's eyes.
Sheede stepped forward again before Darkness could respond, "How do you know me?" some of the hostility had been replaced with a simple curiosity.
Darkness gave Phillet a calming wink before turning back to Sheede, "I was told in a dream by a warrior mouse that a silver cat would be passing through and that without darkness she would fail. I'm Darkness and you must be the Silvercat," he explained simply. Despite what instinct and experience told her, Sheede found herself beginning to trust this strange, self-assured cat.
"Very well," she told him, "one more helping paw is foolish to turn away; but be warned, I never trust anyone completely until they prove themselves."
Darkness flashed a disarming grin, "Don't worry about me Milady, I'll prove myself."
A/N: oooooh, there's a new character! Tell me what you think about him! Tell me how good I am! Tell me anything!!!
A/N: The song in this chapter is based off of a real sea shanty called "Haul Away Joe;" I simply made it Redwallish.
Chapter Twelve: The Road North
It was a glorious day and for a few hours Sheede was able to lose herself completely to the simple feeling of travel. She wrapped herself in the comforting rhythm of nature and moved steadily up the worn path that carried her easily through the magnificent woods of Mossflower.
Phillet followed the cat easily and savored the comfortable silence they shared. A few hours later he realized that she had forgotten that he was there when he asked her a question, "I say, when are we gonna reach these bally mountains, Marm?"
Sheede turned around suddenly in surprise, "Oh Phillet, mate, I completely forgot you were there!" Phillet gave her a mock scowl. "I'm sorry, it's just such a lovely day, what did you ask?"
"I asked when you thought we'd reach the mountains," the hare replied with a laugh.
Sheede thought for a moment and then shrugged, "Once we reach them I suppose, they would be hard to miss." Phillet was surprised at Sheede's simple answer and, after simply blinking for a moment, he decided the only thing he could do in response was to merely nod his head thoughtfully. The cat shrugged at his over-dramatic and continued down the path without a second thought.
Phillet's young nature suddenly demanded that he be entertained, "Marm?" Sheede looked back at him with a questioning expression, "Do ya know any good marching tunes? To keep the foot pads alive, wot wot," he asked innocently.
Sheede smiled happily, "I sure do Mate!" she called back with a laugh. She began to sing a song that kept Phillet's feet tapping for days to come:
When I was a little kit,
Or so my momma told me; to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
That if I did not kiss the lads,
My lips, they would get lonely; to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Way haul away,
We bound for better weather; to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Well, first I loved a Northern lad,
You know he was so cold to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
And then I loved a Southern lad,
You know he was so bold to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Way haul away,
We bound for better weather; to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Suddenly, another voice rang out to complete the next verse of the song, both Sheede and Phillet jumped around in shock:
Next I loved a farming lass,
You know she was a teaser to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
And now I love a sailing lass,
You know she is a pleaser to me!
Way haul away, hey haul away Joe!
Phillet's jaw dropped when he saw the male wildcat step out of the forest shadows. Another one, he thought in utter disbelief; Sheede simply narrowed her eyes.
The new cat raised his paws in defense and laughed easily, "No worries Mates, if I'd meant ya harm you'd be dead."
Sheede scoffed, "You can think what you want boyo; now who are you?" she demanded.
"I'm Darkness Shadowstrike, Milady, and you must be the Silvercat," Darkness replied smoothly. Phillet stood in mute shock as he watched a tiny trace of surprise creep into Sheede's mask of cautious hostility. Darkness, he thought suddenly, is a very appropriate name. And indeed it was, if the only word to describe Sheede's strange coloring silver then the only word to describe Darkness's coat was sable. And beyond that, his eyes were twin, pale moons that regally watched all that past before them. As if they sensed the young hare's regard the moons turned their piercing gaze onto Phillet.
"And who are you mate?" Darkness asked simply.
Phillet gulped hard, "I'm Phillet Longears Stridefellow the Third," another gulp, "Sir," he felt compelled to add that as he saw the hilt of a long, thin sword catch a ray of the sun send it into the hare's eyes.
Sheede stepped forward again before Darkness could respond, "How do you know me?" some of the hostility had been replaced with a simple curiosity.
Darkness gave Phillet a calming wink before turning back to Sheede, "I was told in a dream by a warrior mouse that a silver cat would be passing through and that without darkness she would fail. I'm Darkness and you must be the Silvercat," he explained simply. Despite what instinct and experience told her, Sheede found herself beginning to trust this strange, self-assured cat.
"Very well," she told him, "one more helping paw is foolish to turn away; but be warned, I never trust anyone completely until they prove themselves."
Darkness flashed a disarming grin, "Don't worry about me Milady, I'll prove myself."
A/N: oooooh, there's a new character! Tell me what you think about him! Tell me how good I am! Tell me anything!!!