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Mateo made his way swiftly through the forest. He was quiet, and very few creatures noticed his passing. He clutched the sword at his side. A plan was forming in his head. He would wait until he was sure most of the vermin on the ships of Death Shadow and Kaden were asleep, and then find Whitney... Bushtail was tracking Mateo swiftly. He was thinking about the poem. It suddenly came to him. "Gather the rosebud while ye may. While time is still aflying. The flower that smiles today. Tomorrow will be dying... oh no." He caught up to Mateo. "Mateo!" Mateo hears the voice and whips around. "Bushtail! I told you..." "That's not important now Mateo.. I figured out the rhyme.." He looked at Mateo. "Gather the rosebud while ye can..that means we have to find Whitney.. While time is still aflying..meaning we should do it soon.. The flower that smiles today..tomorrow will be dying......." He stops and looks to the ground. "I know," he says softly. "That's why I'm leaving. To get her back, and then I shall leave Redwall forever..." "You know she wouldn't let you leave her again...come on..lets go find her..we don't have much time. If I know Whitney she's probably already made someone mad." "No, Bushtail. I told you all already I was going alone," said Mateo. "Mateo I can't let you go alone. Why are you so set on going alone? Can't you tell this is all a trap for you? They'd kill you and where would that leave Whitney?" "I know it's a trap!" he says, losing his patience. There was no time for this, but Bushtail couldn't come... "I knew from the moment I saw her lying at Kaden's feet! But what am I to do, leave her in his blood-stained paws?" he asks. "If I am to die, then so be it. But I assure you, I will free Whitney." He sighs in frustration. "Bushtail, do you really want to help me?" "I know Mateo. I don't want to leave her there either. But why can't we go together? We have a better chance that way!" "Bushtail, if you want to help, you'll go back to Redwall and help the Abbess with plans. I fight better alone," he says. "If there is another for me to worry about, it will be distracting. Now please, I beg of you, go back..." "I don't approve of this..but good luck Mateo.." He patted his friend on the shoulder. "Watch out for yourself and Whitney..and call us if we are needed." Bushtail smiled at his friend then returned to the treetops. When he is gone, Mateo's nerves calm. He gives a sigh and a soft smile. "Take care, friend." Then he runs off to Mossflower Harbor.

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Death Shadow walked into the cabin, glancing at Whitney before looking at Kaden. "Well? All is well I presume" He grins up pleasantly at her. "Yes, M'lady. All is well." He runs his thumb over the blade. "That mouse is near. I can feel it." "Yes.. I feel it as well." She glanced at Whitney. "He must be rather affectionate of the maiden. Why not kill her in front of him? Before we kill him that is" He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Yes, that sounds good...." then he gives a cold laugh. "You know what that will do, though, do you not, Mistress?" "No..what?" "I have known Mateo for a while," he said. "And I know how he fights. He is most dangerous when he is angered. His skills seem endless..." he thinks over his own words for a moment. "I've seen it happen to him. However, I have always desired to fight him when he is in such a state..." "We'll get him." He grinned. "And I believe that will be soon...Death Shadow, I have a plan, but he is almost here, so we must act swiftly!" "Do tell me your plan Kaden." She said. "You and I will stay out of sight of that window-" he nods to the opened window in the hull. "-And he will come and see our little maiden asleep. When he enters the room, I will close the window and you will grab her and hold her. As a hostage once more, if you follow me..." "Wonderful. Now we must wait for Mateo..and I feel we won't have to wait long" Kaden smiled, and then suddenly looked towards the window. "He's here. Hide yourself..." He stands and walks to the side of the window and ducks back into the shadows. It didn't take Death Shadow long to hide, she pressed against the wall, and no one knew she was there..except Kaden. Moments later, a cautious head poked through the window. Mateo. His mouse eyes searched the room carefully, and immediately saw Whitney asleep, paws bound together with ropes. He hesitated, and then slowly crept in... Kaden watched with a cruel grin forming on his face. Mateo slowly walked towards Whitney, but stopped, catching the scent of danger on the air-the ferret and the wolfess. His paw went to the hilt of his sword. Kaden moved like a flash of light and the window was closed. He had already locked the door. Now for Death Shadow to get Whitney. The wolfess seemed to appear from no where, and she swooped up Whitney. "Well Mateo. Nice of you to join this little party!" The mouse tightened his jaw and withdrew his sword. It gleamed for a moment, and then faded in the dim light. Kaden stepped forth and gave a quiet laugh. "Death Shadow, release the girl, I beg of you," said Mateo determinedly. "I am the one you want, not her. Leave her be." "You and Redwall Abbey. I want them both." Kaden drew his own sword, and Mateo's eyes followed the movement, but he did not move. Then he looked back to Death Shadow. "Then take me to start off, and release the maiden," he said. "You may have me in your keeping once more, and I shall not fight you." "Why should I release her Mateo? Do you have feelings for her?" The wolf watched Mateo closely. Kaden watched the scene, waiting. Mateo's determined expression did not falter. "Because this is between me and you. It does not concern her," he said. Bushtail had followed Mateo. As he listened through the door he was glad he did. Holding his dagger, he burst through the door. "Mateo! Let's go!" Bushtail ran at Death Shadow and stabbed her paw with his dagger and grabbed Whitney. Kaden gave a cry, summoning his minions on deck to stop them as they left. Mateo made a dash for the door, knowing a battle was likely to proceed. But Kaden blocked his path and struck with his sword. It his Mateo's shoulder, and he cried out. Then he raised his sword to block Kaden's next attack. "Bushtail, run!" he yelled. He and Kaden became engaged in a duel as the blades of their swords clanged together again.
Bushtail looked at Mateo then ran and jumped off the boat. He stopped in the forest and laid Whitney down behind a bush. He spoke to the now awake maiden. "Stay here." He ran back with his dagger and jumped onto the ship. When Bushtail returned to the ship, Kaden's hoard was waiting for him. There were at least twenty vermin with their weapons ready, blocking the way to Kaden's quarters. Kaden and Mateo continued to fight. Kaden knocked the mouse into the wooden table and Mateo fell with it with a crash. Mateo knocked a wooden board off of him and held up his sword to defend Kaden's next attack, but it was hard because he was on the ground…
"Mateo!!! REDWALL!!!!" Bushtail ran into the vermin, slaying one instantly. He started slowly working his way to the cabin. The vermin closed in on Bushtail, the swords and daggers glittering. A fox rushed at him and swiped with his sword. Kaden's sword pressed down on Mateo's. The mouse was desperate, memories of the last time he was in Kaden's possession flooding his mind. He frantically reached around, and grabbed a plank. With a cry, he swung it up, and it hit Kaden in the muzzle. He yelped and jumped back. Mateo scrambled to his feet, and Death Shadow was at his back. Death Shadow was rubbing her sore paw. "Get him Kaden!" She cursed Bushtail for stabbing her weapon paw. Bushtail saw what was happening to Mateo. "Mateo! Here's your chance come on!" The fox's blade hit him in the shoulder, and Bushtail dealt him a swift blow between the eyes with the end of his dagger, stunning him. Mateo blocked a blow from Kaden, and tried to make a run for it. Suddenly, Kaden's sword caught him across his chest, and opened a deep wound. He cried out in pain and stumbled back. Then Kaden's sword came down across his face, and he hit Mateo in the muzzle with the side of his sword. Mateo was sent sprawling to the ground near the window. Kaden rushed after him, and the mouse quickly stood up and opened the window. "Bushtail, I'll meet you back! Run!" Kaden swiped, but Mateo blocked it and leapt from the window and into the dark ocean below. Kaden snarled in anger. How could that little runt get away? Then he turned his sights towards the doorway at Bushtail and his crew. He gritted his fangs, and tried to calm his mind. "No matter," he muttered. "If Mateo does not die in the ocean, he will die at my paws later..." Bushtail jumped over a stoat and ran off the ship and into Mossflower forest to meet Whitney and Mateo.