Chapter Eleven: Battle Practice and Hidden Pasts
Darknose walked slowly into the big tent. He whistled a small cheery tune to himself.
"Well." Sunfluke said as he drummed his paw on the tabletop in front of him.
"In the pond, Sire," the chipmunk replied cheerily.
"Good, now gather the troops, and start the training for t'day." Darknose nodded vigorously as he turned to leave the tent. "And," Sunfluke added. The pale chipmunk turned around slowly, "Make sure no one betrays Sunfluke, Master of the Chipmunks, again!" Sunfluke roared. Darknose scurried away.
"Arite, chipmunks, give it all you're worth!" Darknose and his fellow captains, Dirttail, Clipear, and Snipwart, stood in front of the great horde of chipmunks. The troops were training in javelin throwing. They were throwing them at small stuffed mice, squirrels, badgers, and moles.
"Kill that badger, Meatclaw, before I kill you for lazing about!" Clipear yelled.
Back at the abbey, Riddum lay awake thinking about his life. He was not tired, so he pulled a small leather bound book out from under his bed. He flipped though to the next empty page, which wasn't far from the front.
"I miss the Broadstream. I wish to return there one day. I was born there, you know? I wish life could be like it was before I came to the abbey. It was so peaceful with my parents and Quince. Something is wrong with Quince, it's not right. Back to the Broadstream. I always wonder what happened to my parents. All I remember is watching this marvelous show, then I fell asleep. The show had many mice in it. Then I awoke; I was bumping along a dusty road. Someone pushed me down. They gave me an odd tasting drink; I fell back asleep. I awoke again laying in the abbey's infirmatory. It was weird, like I had lived there all my life, but no. I had lived along the Broadstream that Martin sailed along, not far away from Noonvale. Ahh. Peaceful Noonvale. What ever happened to those peaceful days upon the Waterlily? Yes, the same little craft Martin sailed on. It felt great to be on that little craft. With friends all around me. Towing other travelers. That was the life. I never talk about it in front of Quince, for she would never like to hear of that life again. She says she knows what happened, but I'm afraid she'll never tell me. I'm afraid of many things. Many of the creatures in the abbey, though I have lived here many years. I like to be alone in my little pond-side cottage. Peacefulness always comes to me here. I feel like I have not a care in the world. It is getting late, journal. I will rest my weary eyes. Good night faithful diary, and if I ever die, you will hold my secrets for everybeast to know."
Sincerely Yours,
Riddum
Riddum signed his name at the end of his entry as he always did, and went into a peaceful sleep.
"Save me, Riddum! You're the only beast within Redwall with the warrior spirit. You are the only one to save me. Please help me, brother, please." There was a pleading voice far off in the distance.
Riddum sat bold upright, sweat dripping down his face. He now knew what was going to be.
Darknose walked slowly into the big tent. He whistled a small cheery tune to himself.
"Well." Sunfluke said as he drummed his paw on the tabletop in front of him.
"In the pond, Sire," the chipmunk replied cheerily.
"Good, now gather the troops, and start the training for t'day." Darknose nodded vigorously as he turned to leave the tent. "And," Sunfluke added. The pale chipmunk turned around slowly, "Make sure no one betrays Sunfluke, Master of the Chipmunks, again!" Sunfluke roared. Darknose scurried away.
"Arite, chipmunks, give it all you're worth!" Darknose and his fellow captains, Dirttail, Clipear, and Snipwart, stood in front of the great horde of chipmunks. The troops were training in javelin throwing. They were throwing them at small stuffed mice, squirrels, badgers, and moles.
"Kill that badger, Meatclaw, before I kill you for lazing about!" Clipear yelled.
Back at the abbey, Riddum lay awake thinking about his life. He was not tired, so he pulled a small leather bound book out from under his bed. He flipped though to the next empty page, which wasn't far from the front.
"I miss the Broadstream. I wish to return there one day. I was born there, you know? I wish life could be like it was before I came to the abbey. It was so peaceful with my parents and Quince. Something is wrong with Quince, it's not right. Back to the Broadstream. I always wonder what happened to my parents. All I remember is watching this marvelous show, then I fell asleep. The show had many mice in it. Then I awoke; I was bumping along a dusty road. Someone pushed me down. They gave me an odd tasting drink; I fell back asleep. I awoke again laying in the abbey's infirmatory. It was weird, like I had lived there all my life, but no. I had lived along the Broadstream that Martin sailed along, not far away from Noonvale. Ahh. Peaceful Noonvale. What ever happened to those peaceful days upon the Waterlily? Yes, the same little craft Martin sailed on. It felt great to be on that little craft. With friends all around me. Towing other travelers. That was the life. I never talk about it in front of Quince, for she would never like to hear of that life again. She says she knows what happened, but I'm afraid she'll never tell me. I'm afraid of many things. Many of the creatures in the abbey, though I have lived here many years. I like to be alone in my little pond-side cottage. Peacefulness always comes to me here. I feel like I have not a care in the world. It is getting late, journal. I will rest my weary eyes. Good night faithful diary, and if I ever die, you will hold my secrets for everybeast to know."
Sincerely Yours,
Riddum
Riddum signed his name at the end of his entry as he always did, and went into a peaceful sleep.
"Save me, Riddum! You're the only beast within Redwall with the warrior spirit. You are the only one to save me. Please help me, brother, please." There was a pleading voice far off in the distance.
Riddum sat bold upright, sweat dripping down his face. He now knew what was going to be.