Chapter 5
The pike had not seen Bern yet. But Bern was startled. Fortunately he knew what to do.
Carefully, ever so carefully, Bern grabbed the heaviest rock he could find. He looked for a piece of wood. He found what looked like a small limb from a tree. Perfect! He thought. Just what I need! He tied the rock to the wood with some cord he had in a pocket. In a flash the rock club hit the pike. Bern was safe.
Just incase the pike was just knocked out Bern pulled the pike onto the bank next to the river. He dived back into the water and continued, as if nothing happened.
"Alko you're wanted at the ramparts." Sister Kenda said.
Alko stood up looking serious. "What's going on up there?"
"There's something in the river. The Abbess told me to get you." Kenda replied.
"Can I come up too?" Brinkel asked.
"And meah too?" Gidds asked.
Kenda looked at Gidds. "I'm sorry Gidds but it could be something dangerous. Your too young right now."
Gidds crossed his arms. "Oh wight, I won't go."
Kenda looked at Gidds, and sighed. "Alright, Brinkel, Frino, Hunggo, and Flendd are almost non-Dibbuns, come on."
The "Almost non-Dibbuns" skipped and hoped to the ramparts.
There was lots of commotion on the ramparts. Twelve beasts were looking over the walls.
There was something coming out of the water.
"The dog will come forth from the river," whispered Brinkel.
Snoutface's troop was taking a break from marching. He told ten soldiers to scout ahead and ten to forage for food. The rest were to do what hordebeasts taking a break normally do.
All was peaceful and quiet in the little camp until a voice could be heard,
"Snoutface!" A loud excited voice called out.
Snout came out of his tent, "Aw, that must be my ten foragers. I wonder what they've brought."
Weaselclaw the ferret was the leader of the foragers. He had a bright smile on his face.
"Snoutface, my, oh my, wait until ye see what me troops found!"
A weasel, a fox, and a rat were in front. They were carrying pears, apples, and cherries.
Snoutface frowned, "Is this what ye call a meal?"
"No, I call this a meal!" Weaselclaw waved his paw.
Out of nowhere six vermin were carrying a dead pike.
"We found this dead alongside a river, it can feed most of us, if we all eat a fair share, then there's the fruit too. We'll all be full with all the stuff we found."
Snoutface was very surprised. "Very good Weaselclaw, I think I'll a make you the forager leader."
Weaselclaw grinned. "Really? Oh wow! A promotion!!!"
The camp ate, lots of the vermin patted Weaselclaw on the back for such a good meal.
Filkee came up to Weaselclaw. "My, that was good mate, I don't remember the last time we had fish, you know the way Rerthan's always hogging it. Hahahahaha!!!"
Weaselclaw was very proud of himself.
A/N: Actually, otters eat pikes. But this is Redwall.