I would like to thank my reviewers Neema Tallgrove Colorfur, who got me hooked on Redwall in the first place, and Oni Streak, a new friend who is too lazy to login and persuaded me to write another chapter. I would also like to thank me for writing this story. Also, if I don't place buildings and tapestries and staircases in the right places, please forgive me.
Odd Dreams
Zekka had a restless sleep. He was haunted by a dream of the night before.
~*~
He was running through the forest, as fast as possible, running away from those who chased him. He looked back, and could not see his hunters. When he turned back around, there they were! Zekka was surrounded. How could they have caught up to me? he thought. There were 13 of them, all big, black monsters with three-pronged spears. They jeered at him, and jabbed him with their spears. Closer and closer, they walked to him, pushing him to a deep, dark pit. The biggest of them all stepped forward. She cracked her whip, a dead baby adder. She took her spear, and hit him hard with it. He tumbled into the pit, bouncing off the walls and knocking of stones and dirt. He was bruised and broken when he hit the bottom. He landed flat on his back. As he lay there, rocks fell upon him, some off the wall of the cliff, some thrown by the monsters at the top. As he struggled to get away, a strong warrior mouse with a bright, gleaming sword appeared out of nowhere.
"There is an Abbey ahead," the mouse spoke, "go there for help."
"I don't think I can make it," the fox said weakly.
"Trust me. You can. As soon as you're healed, leave. It will not be safe for you. You won't be hurt if you take heed of my warning." With that, the mouse vanished.
~*~
The next few days were quiet and uneventful in the Abbey. While Zekka healed, he thought about what the mouse had said. Maybe I should leave he thought while Sister Di checked his wounds.
"Well, I think you're well enough to go downstairs." As Zekka left the Infirmary, Di mentioned, "I think that the Abbot wants a word with you."
As Zekka walked down the stairs, he saw Abbot Fuzz standing, looking at something on the wall. As Zekka limped over, he saw what the Abbot was looking at. It was a beautiful tapestry, and as he looked closer, Zekka realized he was looking at the mouse from his dreams.
"This is Martin the Warrior," the old gray mouse said without looking away, "He saved Mossflower from an evil Queen long ago." Zekka looked and saw several vermin fleeing from where Martin stood. "His spirit watches over the Abbey and helps us in time of need. He often visits us in our dreams to deliver messages." The fox didn't say anything. Finally, Abbot Fuzz looked over. "Zekka, how did you come to be so injured?" Zekka started to replay his story, when a fat black mouse entered the room. The Abbot signaled Zekka to stop.
"Yes, Friar Onie?"
"Hello, Father, I was just coming to say that the feast will start earlier than planned."
"That's good news," replied the Abbot. The two mice walked off, talking about Friar Onie's favorite subject, pie. Zekka looked at the tapestry, and thought about what Martin had said. "As soon as you're healed, leave. It will not be safe for you. You won't be hurt if you take heed of my warning." Then, he left the room quietly, following the direction of the two mice.