Chapter 7
Young Brother Arenlor rushed around the Abbey orchard busily. The young mouse seemed to be everywhere at once, trying his best to keep everything calm and under control by himself. In the distance, Arenlor heard the sound of running footpaws and rustling leaves. The squirrels must be back, the Brother thought to himself. He rushed to the main gate to greet the tree jumpers. When he got there, he was met by Sandfir, Periwinkle, Pimpernel, and Primrose. By the look of the young squirrels' faces, he knew the search party had no success. Still, he asked.
"Manei?"
Primrose sighed and slumped down onto the grass dejectedly. "The naughty little otterbabe. When we do find her, I'm teaching her a lesson she'll never forget!"
Sandfir joined her on the lawn and shook his head. "Sorry, Brother. We scanned almost half of Mossflower, but we still can't find her. We'll take off again once we get something to eat."
Pimpernel nodded slowly and fidgeted with a blade of grass absently. "Aye, Sandy. It's like she just disappeared or something. Mayhap the other searchers have had some luck. What about Skipper's crew?"
Unknowingly to her sisters, Sandfir, and Arenlor, Periwinkle had disappeared once she had gotten back to the Abbey to check on the other search parties. She arrived just as Pimpernel had asked her last question. Shaking her head, she answered.
"I'm afraid not, Nelly. Skipper and his otters searched the River Moss and around that area, but they didn't see her. I also checked with Rambati and his crew of mice. They looked around the Abbey, just in case she was still in there. They also did not have any luck. Foremole Erbur led his brother Garbur, his sister Birur, and Durgurgle around Mossflower also, but they haven't see the 'rarscal' anywhere."
Primrose sighed and got up immediately. "Well then, Sandy, Nelly, and Peri, I guess we'll just have to search again after a meal, right?"
Sandfir grinned and bolted off, calling out over his shoulder, "Last one to the kitchen is a slippery seal!"
Manei smiled happily to herself as she skipped alongside the ash, rowan, beech, and oak trees in Mossflower Woods. In her little basket that she carried were two slices of Horvory's damson and plum cake, a flask of strawberry cordial, and a large bag of candied chestnuts that she had stored away some time ago. Munching on a chestnut, the little otterbabe murmured to herself, "Me gonna disco'er big candy chesknutter twee, den take et 'ome an' Friar Horviry be proud o' me. Yah, dat's wot I gonna do."
Picking up her pace, Manei started twirling around like she had seen Periwinkle done, and began composing a little ditty of her own.
"Heehee, me name is Manei,
An' I gonna fin' a candy chesknut twee.
Den I take et back to de Abbey,
An' Friar Horviry will be proud o' me.
E'll give me extwa cake,
Durgurgle will give me extwa ale.
Mommy will let me stay oop late,
An' daddy will let me 'op on 'is tail.
So I'll fin' a candy chesknut twee,
An' I'll get lots o' extwa food.
So when me friends see all me tweets,
I can say, 'Dey like me more den 'ou!'"
"Oh, I wouldn't bet on it, matey. Yore mama's not goin' to be too happy when you get back wid yore 'candy chesknut tree,' wotever it is."
Startled, Manei whirled around. Behind her was a tough looking squirrel. In his paws, he loosely held a longbow and a pawful of arrows. He smiled casually and nodded at the basket in the otterbabe's paw.
"Hello, Manei. How are ye doin'? Would ye mind sharin' a bit o' those vittles in that basket wid a poor, starvin' squirrel?"
Manei glared fiercely at the squirrel. "How do ye know me name, mister squiggle, an' why should I share it wid ye?"
The squirrel continued to smile as he made a great leap and landed a hairs length away from Manei. The otter blinked in surprise and scampered back. The squirrel just chuckled heartily.
"Enough of the 'mister squirrel,' matey. It makes me feel like a fat old squirrel, and that's not good. Call me Treetop, or Toppy, like those three sisters, er, Periwinkle, Pimpernel, and Primrose, call me. How do I know yore name? Simple, pal. Ye said so in yore song. I also met ye when ye were just a tiny babe, one season old. Aye, ye were so small, ye could fit in me paw. Well now, I'm a complete fibber. Anyway, ye should share wid me, matey, cause I know where a candy chestnut tree is. Ye want to know?"
Manei nodded eagerly and stretched out her paw with the basket. Suddenly, she took it back. "Ye have to promise ye will show me, an' that ye won't eat everything in it!"
Treetop nodded solemnly and put his right paw over his heart. "Aye, matey, squirrel's honor. Now can I 'ave the basket? I'm full famished!"
Manei giggled at the sight of Treetop on his knees, paws folded together, pleading. She handed him the basket, and in a few seconds, the hungry squirrel had wolfed down a slice of cake. He drained the flask of cordial in one gulp, and then handed the basket back to the astonished otterbabe, winking.
"There, ye can keep the other slice o' cake and the chestnuts. Now for my part of the bargain. Here, follow me." Grabbing Manei's paw, Treetop raced off, dragging a giggling otter behind him.
Sandfir grinned mischievously as he reached for another scone. However, his paw was stopped by another. He looked up sheepishly at Pimpernel as she pushed his paw back roughly.
"You've had enough for today, Sandy. You're starting to become just like Manei, you know, always stealing food."
Sandfir smiled guiltily. "I guess the little otter is getting to me. Come on, let's stop pigging out like the gluttons we are and go search for the little rascal."
Primrose snorted and got up from her seat by the cupboard. "Speak for yourself. You're the most gluttonous of all of us combined."
Deciding to join in, Periwinkle gave her sister a slight shove. "Oh really? I believe I saw you scoff even more than Sandy."
Pimpernel giggled. "Yes, but none of us could beat your number, Peri."
The four squirrels' laughter rang through the air as they raced across the Abbey lawn, leaving Friar Horvory to clean up the mess yet again.
"We're here!" Treetop finally announced. He and Manei were standing in front of a huge ash tree. Manei looked around, puzzled.
"Mister Toppy, where be the tree? This is an ash twee."
Treetop simply gave a wink. "Come wid me, matey. The tree is below the ask tree." Leaving Manei, Treetop circled the ash tree, as if looking for something. At last, he stopped. His footpaw began dusting off the dirt around the area. Manei could make out some sort of trap door on the floor. Curiously, she moved forward. Treetop looked up and beckoned the otter closer. As Manei inched forward, Treetop swung the 'door' open, revealing a hole in the ground that contained a tiny tree-like bush. The bush was surrounded with candied chestnuts, though a few were stuck to the bush. The squirrel stared at the bush with mock disappointment.
"Sorry, matey, but it seems that most of the chestnuts have fallen off. Still, it you want, you can take some back to Redwall wid ye."
Manei gave a small squeal of glee and began taking a few chestnuts from the small hole. After she was finished, she backed away from the bush and turned to Treetop.
"Mister Toppy, will ye come wid me back to Red'all?"
The squirrel shrugged and shut the trap door. He leaned against the bark of the tree nonchalantly. "I guess I'll have to, matey. Ye'll need to have someone to say that there is a candy chestnut tree and not something ye made up, right?"
Manei nodded enthusiastically. "Right. So let's go back to Red'all!"
"Just one thing." Turning around, Treetop rapped on the tree bark, calling out, "Birch! Birchleaf!"
A small face peaked out from the tree. He immediately came down at the sight of Treetop.
"Hello, Treetop. Who's that?" Birchleaf pointed a paw at Manei questionably.
"I be Manei! Who be you?" Manei jumped up and grabbed the outstretched paw, shaking it furiously.
Birchleaf gave a small laugh. "I be Birchleaf. Hello, Manei. So Treetop, where are we going?"
Manei and Treetop answered at the same time.
"To Redwall!"
Sandfir sighed as he raked away a large branch from an oak tree with his long staff. He turned around unexpectedly, causing Pimpernel to bump right into him, which made Periwinkle and Primrose also collide into each other. Sandfir gave them an apologetic smile before starting.
"Friends, we've been looking for Manei for hours, though it feels like days, and we still can't find her. I think we've scoured all of Mossflower. Where should we look next?"
Primrose shrugged. "I guess we could search Mossflower again."
"We could go back to the Abbey. They might have already found her."
"Or maybe we could-"
"Sandfir!"
Periwinkle's idea was interrupted by a shout from behind. Everyone turned around to see Treetop and Birchleaf, waving cheerfully, with Manei by his side, her basket overflowing with candied chestnuts. Treetop rushed forward, with Manei and Birchleaf in his wake. He immediately tackled Sandfir, and the two began wrestling.
"Good to see ye again, ye old bushtail!"
"Bushtail yerself, tree walloper!"
"Haha, how are ye, ye great tree jumper?"
"I'm great, ye good old frogface! Wot about ye?"
Sandfir chuckled as he got off of Treetop. "I'm extremely tired after all this searching for Manei. Good thing ye found her, or else Primrose here would've made us search Mossflower again!"
Treetop looked around as if noticing the squirrelmaids for the first time. The squirrel took a deep bow and winked.
"Well now, another squirrel couldn't be luckier than me, cause I'm in the presence of three beautiful flowers."
Sandfir rolled his eyes with mock exasperation. "Aye, misses, an' yore in the presence of an extremely fat, ugly charmer. Who's your friend, Toppy?"
Treetop grinned as he wrapped his arm around Birchleaf's shoulder. "This here, mates, is me good frind Birchleaf. I found 'im around me candy chestnut tree," here, Treetop stopped and winked, 'so I decided to take him wid me an' make him me adopted brother. Well now then, come on Manei, let's get you back to the Abbey."
Now joined with two more squirrels and an otter, the squirrel search party went on their way back to Redwall Abbey, their merry laughter mingled with the birds' shrill songs.
Young Brother Arenlor rushed around the Abbey orchard busily. The young mouse seemed to be everywhere at once, trying his best to keep everything calm and under control by himself. In the distance, Arenlor heard the sound of running footpaws and rustling leaves. The squirrels must be back, the Brother thought to himself. He rushed to the main gate to greet the tree jumpers. When he got there, he was met by Sandfir, Periwinkle, Pimpernel, and Primrose. By the look of the young squirrels' faces, he knew the search party had no success. Still, he asked.
"Manei?"
Primrose sighed and slumped down onto the grass dejectedly. "The naughty little otterbabe. When we do find her, I'm teaching her a lesson she'll never forget!"
Sandfir joined her on the lawn and shook his head. "Sorry, Brother. We scanned almost half of Mossflower, but we still can't find her. We'll take off again once we get something to eat."
Pimpernel nodded slowly and fidgeted with a blade of grass absently. "Aye, Sandy. It's like she just disappeared or something. Mayhap the other searchers have had some luck. What about Skipper's crew?"
Unknowingly to her sisters, Sandfir, and Arenlor, Periwinkle had disappeared once she had gotten back to the Abbey to check on the other search parties. She arrived just as Pimpernel had asked her last question. Shaking her head, she answered.
"I'm afraid not, Nelly. Skipper and his otters searched the River Moss and around that area, but they didn't see her. I also checked with Rambati and his crew of mice. They looked around the Abbey, just in case she was still in there. They also did not have any luck. Foremole Erbur led his brother Garbur, his sister Birur, and Durgurgle around Mossflower also, but they haven't see the 'rarscal' anywhere."
Primrose sighed and got up immediately. "Well then, Sandy, Nelly, and Peri, I guess we'll just have to search again after a meal, right?"
Sandfir grinned and bolted off, calling out over his shoulder, "Last one to the kitchen is a slippery seal!"
Manei smiled happily to herself as she skipped alongside the ash, rowan, beech, and oak trees in Mossflower Woods. In her little basket that she carried were two slices of Horvory's damson and plum cake, a flask of strawberry cordial, and a large bag of candied chestnuts that she had stored away some time ago. Munching on a chestnut, the little otterbabe murmured to herself, "Me gonna disco'er big candy chesknutter twee, den take et 'ome an' Friar Horviry be proud o' me. Yah, dat's wot I gonna do."
Picking up her pace, Manei started twirling around like she had seen Periwinkle done, and began composing a little ditty of her own.
"Heehee, me name is Manei,
An' I gonna fin' a candy chesknut twee.
Den I take et back to de Abbey,
An' Friar Horviry will be proud o' me.
E'll give me extwa cake,
Durgurgle will give me extwa ale.
Mommy will let me stay oop late,
An' daddy will let me 'op on 'is tail.
So I'll fin' a candy chesknut twee,
An' I'll get lots o' extwa food.
So when me friends see all me tweets,
I can say, 'Dey like me more den 'ou!'"
"Oh, I wouldn't bet on it, matey. Yore mama's not goin' to be too happy when you get back wid yore 'candy chesknut tree,' wotever it is."
Startled, Manei whirled around. Behind her was a tough looking squirrel. In his paws, he loosely held a longbow and a pawful of arrows. He smiled casually and nodded at the basket in the otterbabe's paw.
"Hello, Manei. How are ye doin'? Would ye mind sharin' a bit o' those vittles in that basket wid a poor, starvin' squirrel?"
Manei glared fiercely at the squirrel. "How do ye know me name, mister squiggle, an' why should I share it wid ye?"
The squirrel continued to smile as he made a great leap and landed a hairs length away from Manei. The otter blinked in surprise and scampered back. The squirrel just chuckled heartily.
"Enough of the 'mister squirrel,' matey. It makes me feel like a fat old squirrel, and that's not good. Call me Treetop, or Toppy, like those three sisters, er, Periwinkle, Pimpernel, and Primrose, call me. How do I know yore name? Simple, pal. Ye said so in yore song. I also met ye when ye were just a tiny babe, one season old. Aye, ye were so small, ye could fit in me paw. Well now, I'm a complete fibber. Anyway, ye should share wid me, matey, cause I know where a candy chestnut tree is. Ye want to know?"
Manei nodded eagerly and stretched out her paw with the basket. Suddenly, she took it back. "Ye have to promise ye will show me, an' that ye won't eat everything in it!"
Treetop nodded solemnly and put his right paw over his heart. "Aye, matey, squirrel's honor. Now can I 'ave the basket? I'm full famished!"
Manei giggled at the sight of Treetop on his knees, paws folded together, pleading. She handed him the basket, and in a few seconds, the hungry squirrel had wolfed down a slice of cake. He drained the flask of cordial in one gulp, and then handed the basket back to the astonished otterbabe, winking.
"There, ye can keep the other slice o' cake and the chestnuts. Now for my part of the bargain. Here, follow me." Grabbing Manei's paw, Treetop raced off, dragging a giggling otter behind him.
Sandfir grinned mischievously as he reached for another scone. However, his paw was stopped by another. He looked up sheepishly at Pimpernel as she pushed his paw back roughly.
"You've had enough for today, Sandy. You're starting to become just like Manei, you know, always stealing food."
Sandfir smiled guiltily. "I guess the little otter is getting to me. Come on, let's stop pigging out like the gluttons we are and go search for the little rascal."
Primrose snorted and got up from her seat by the cupboard. "Speak for yourself. You're the most gluttonous of all of us combined."
Deciding to join in, Periwinkle gave her sister a slight shove. "Oh really? I believe I saw you scoff even more than Sandy."
Pimpernel giggled. "Yes, but none of us could beat your number, Peri."
The four squirrels' laughter rang through the air as they raced across the Abbey lawn, leaving Friar Horvory to clean up the mess yet again.
"We're here!" Treetop finally announced. He and Manei were standing in front of a huge ash tree. Manei looked around, puzzled.
"Mister Toppy, where be the tree? This is an ash twee."
Treetop simply gave a wink. "Come wid me, matey. The tree is below the ask tree." Leaving Manei, Treetop circled the ash tree, as if looking for something. At last, he stopped. His footpaw began dusting off the dirt around the area. Manei could make out some sort of trap door on the floor. Curiously, she moved forward. Treetop looked up and beckoned the otter closer. As Manei inched forward, Treetop swung the 'door' open, revealing a hole in the ground that contained a tiny tree-like bush. The bush was surrounded with candied chestnuts, though a few were stuck to the bush. The squirrel stared at the bush with mock disappointment.
"Sorry, matey, but it seems that most of the chestnuts have fallen off. Still, it you want, you can take some back to Redwall wid ye."
Manei gave a small squeal of glee and began taking a few chestnuts from the small hole. After she was finished, she backed away from the bush and turned to Treetop.
"Mister Toppy, will ye come wid me back to Red'all?"
The squirrel shrugged and shut the trap door. He leaned against the bark of the tree nonchalantly. "I guess I'll have to, matey. Ye'll need to have someone to say that there is a candy chestnut tree and not something ye made up, right?"
Manei nodded enthusiastically. "Right. So let's go back to Red'all!"
"Just one thing." Turning around, Treetop rapped on the tree bark, calling out, "Birch! Birchleaf!"
A small face peaked out from the tree. He immediately came down at the sight of Treetop.
"Hello, Treetop. Who's that?" Birchleaf pointed a paw at Manei questionably.
"I be Manei! Who be you?" Manei jumped up and grabbed the outstretched paw, shaking it furiously.
Birchleaf gave a small laugh. "I be Birchleaf. Hello, Manei. So Treetop, where are we going?"
Manei and Treetop answered at the same time.
"To Redwall!"
Sandfir sighed as he raked away a large branch from an oak tree with his long staff. He turned around unexpectedly, causing Pimpernel to bump right into him, which made Periwinkle and Primrose also collide into each other. Sandfir gave them an apologetic smile before starting.
"Friends, we've been looking for Manei for hours, though it feels like days, and we still can't find her. I think we've scoured all of Mossflower. Where should we look next?"
Primrose shrugged. "I guess we could search Mossflower again."
"We could go back to the Abbey. They might have already found her."
"Or maybe we could-"
"Sandfir!"
Periwinkle's idea was interrupted by a shout from behind. Everyone turned around to see Treetop and Birchleaf, waving cheerfully, with Manei by his side, her basket overflowing with candied chestnuts. Treetop rushed forward, with Manei and Birchleaf in his wake. He immediately tackled Sandfir, and the two began wrestling.
"Good to see ye again, ye old bushtail!"
"Bushtail yerself, tree walloper!"
"Haha, how are ye, ye great tree jumper?"
"I'm great, ye good old frogface! Wot about ye?"
Sandfir chuckled as he got off of Treetop. "I'm extremely tired after all this searching for Manei. Good thing ye found her, or else Primrose here would've made us search Mossflower again!"
Treetop looked around as if noticing the squirrelmaids for the first time. The squirrel took a deep bow and winked.
"Well now, another squirrel couldn't be luckier than me, cause I'm in the presence of three beautiful flowers."
Sandfir rolled his eyes with mock exasperation. "Aye, misses, an' yore in the presence of an extremely fat, ugly charmer. Who's your friend, Toppy?"
Treetop grinned as he wrapped his arm around Birchleaf's shoulder. "This here, mates, is me good frind Birchleaf. I found 'im around me candy chestnut tree," here, Treetop stopped and winked, 'so I decided to take him wid me an' make him me adopted brother. Well now then, come on Manei, let's get you back to the Abbey."
Now joined with two more squirrels and an otter, the squirrel search party went on their way back to Redwall Abbey, their merry laughter mingled with the birds' shrill songs.