Sherwood Grove: A Redwall Legend
Chapter 2: Robin meets Little John
One morning, as the birds sang, Robin and his band awoke. Each beast washed their fur in a cold brook that seemed to laugh from stone to stone. When they had finished, Robin spoke up.
"Today my friends, I shall seek some adventure. Wait for me in the grove, and If need you, I will blow three blast from my shell horn"
So young Robin walked through Sherwood and ran into some gentle beasts:
A plump old hedgehog and a feisty little chipmunk, but no adventures. At last he came to a log bride over a long stream. On the other side stood a large badger . The two quickened their pace, each hoping to cross first.
"Stand back !" cried Robin, "and let the better beast pass first"
The badger laughed. "Then why don't you stand back, for I am the better beast"\
Then, the two beast started to boast. The badger was larger then Robin by a few hairs, and was also broader. Finally, Robin challenged the badger to a fight with quarterstaffs on the bridge. The first beast to fall into the stream would lose. The badger laughed.
"I will gladly wait for you to cut your own staff," he said whilst twirling his own.
No other beast would have witnessed a fiercer battle. The squirrel and badger fought for a good hour, as blow were exchanged between the two. Then the badger landed a crack on little Robin's noggin. The squirrel lost his temper, and swung with all his might, but the badger caught him off guard, and Robin fell into the stream.
The badger laughed and helped Robin out. Robin blew three blasts on his horn, and then congratulated the stranger.
"I must say you are a strong fighter," said Robin.
"And you," said the badger, " you take your beating bravely."
As he finished, twenty strong beasts, all dressed in forest green, walked from the bushes.
They asked what had happened, and when they heard of Robins little "bath" they stood ready to do the same to the badger. But the large group was no match for the great beast, who held them all back. Then Robin did something none of them expected: He asked the badger to join his band.
"If you have a beast that can shoot a better arrow then I, I may."
He borrowed the strongest bow, next to Robin's, and shot an arrow so straight it hit the center of an oak that stood eighty yards away.
Robin's band clapped, for the shot was one of the best that had seen.
In return, Robin took up his bow and shot an arrow that split the badger's arrow.
"That is one of the finest shot I have seen, I will join you band. My name in Jonlittle the Strong."
Then, Will Stutle, a small mole, walked from the group.
"I not liken yur nam, so I be changin it. You be so small that I be callin you Little Jon."
And with that, the mole poured a cup of ale over the badger's head.
At first, Jon was cross, but with the beast that stood before him laughing so meerily, he could help but laugh with them.
Pyle: And that is the end of the first par of my story, as Robin met his new friend, Jon.
Any objections to my story continuing?"
The abbey beast were silent.
Pyle: Good. Now let me remember…
Sorry about the time between chapters, I've been busy.