Chapter 1
Murder
It was a lovely Augest morning, the morning dew glistening in the morning light. The sun was bright, warm and comforting in the morning sky. Sam Squirrel walked out into the warmth of the sun, followed by his mother Jess Squirrel. "Lovely day, mother." He stated, as he flicked away at a passing grasshopper. "Yes, looks about good for a nice hike through Mossflower woods, what do you say, son?" she asked. "Sounds like a plan!"
Young Mattimeo and the other dibbuns were just waking up as the Matthias and Methusela bells rang out, it was time for breakfast. As the two Squirrels made their way into the great hall, other creatures were busy about setting up the food trays, and getting things ready for another wonderful breakfast. "Lets eet! I'm 'ungry! Need brekkist." Said young Hairtail, as his mother sat him in a chair. "Sit still and wait until it is time to eat! You little rascal!" said his mother. The entire great hall hushed and bowed as Abbot Mordalfus made his way into the great hall, followed by Mr. Churchmouse and Constance the Badger.
"Please Abbot, will you say the prayer?" asked Matthias as the Abbot sat down at his seat.
Thank you for this food, Thank you for this day, Thank you for this plate, in front of my face, I wish all everywhere welcome, To this legendry place, Where we once again live in peace.
There was a resounding "Amen" and then the clanking of glasses and sounds of feast began. "Hey there Matthias, pass the oat berry farl there would ya chap?" Said Basil Stag Hare, as he started to pile food and more food onto his already heaping full plate. "Aye, pass the strawberry cordial, I gotta piece of honey scone stuck in me throat!" said Ambrose Spike, as he put another scone in his mouth. There were so many different breakfast meals to choose from. This is what Redwall Abbey was famous for, it's wonderful spread of food at each meal. There were Oat Scones with honey and butter, Wheat cakes with strawberry and blueberry jam, fresh from the orchard. As well as a large assortment of fruit such as, apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, blueberries, watermelons, as well as many kinds of nuts. Candied chestnuts were especially a favorite with the dibbuns, as well as Basil Stag Hare and the Sparra. "Would you look at those two? Like a pair of living, walking, bottomless pits! They are gonna scoff us out clean at this rate!" exclaimed Mrs. Bankvole. "Ahh, give them a break! They have been snoring so loudly all night, I could hear them all the way at the other end of the dormitories. That must take a lot of energy if ya ask me!" said Mr. Churchmouse.
After breakfast, the abbey creatures went about their business. Some going to the orchard to play, and some to pick fruit and vegetables for the winter. Others went about cooking and cleaning up after breakfast, preparing the next meal. Jess Squirrel and Sam Squirrel packed some food away in a haversack, and grabbed two long poles to act as walking sticks as they set out on their hike. Off they hiked east through Mossflower. Sam stopped to turn over a rock with his stick, looking at his find. "Wow, mom look at this. This must be the largest ant nest ever found under a rock!" he said with an amazed look on his face. "Over here Sam, something odd looking. Lets check it out." Said Jess, as she pointed to a strange looking track in the ground. "What might it be? It looks half between a cart and a snake. What can you make of it mother?" asked Sam. "Im not sure, lets follow it and see if we can find out. Though be careful, it may not be friendly." She said. After following the track for what seemed like ages, the tracks just suddenly stopped. "Odd, there doesn't seem to be anymore tracks leading this wa-" He was cut off in mid sentence as a score of rats popped out of the brush and ambushed them. "It's a trap! Run Sam!!" exclaimed Jess, as she struck out with her walking stick. "Mother!" cried Sam as he whirled his walking stick about, knocking rats senseless here and there. The rats came at them from all sides, each one wielding a short sword and a wooden shield. As the rats closed in, Jess and Sam Squirrel got separated further and further. "Just run Sam! I'll be alright! Get back to Redwall! Go now!" screamed Jess above the sound of war. Countless wounds covered Sam's small body as he took off running as fast as his legs would carry him. With half a score of rats hard on his tail, he bounded through the brush raising dust as he went. Tears streaming down his face as he raced on a track back towards Redwall. "Reeeeeddddwaaaalllllllll!!!!!!!!" screamed Jess as she laid about the rats with he stout walking stick. Snap! The walking stick snapped, as she hit it hard over a rats skull. With a look of rage she dived onto the rats and hit mercilessly at them with her fists, biting and tearing at anything she could grab a hold of. "REDWALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!" She screamed her last as she was overwhelmed and went down under the force of the rats. With this Sam ran harder and faster, with his mothers last words echoing in his head. He was overcome with rage as he suddenly stopped and turned to face the 10 rats running after him. "REDWALL!!!" He yelled as he hit a rat as hard as he possibly could, the walking stick snapping in half over his head. The rat fell down dead, and Sam picked up his sword and turned to face the other rats. The rats slowly formed a circle around him, surrounding him on all sides. The bloodlust in his eyes, and his heavy breathing, and his cold stare took its toll on the rats. Some losing their concentration for a second. "Your all alone, little one!" sniggered one of the rats. "REDWALL!!!" Yelled Sam as he bounded after the rat, and slaid him right there, the rest of the rats stunned at the ferocity of the attack. The rats charged, screaming obscenities. Sam was outnumbered nine to one, but he didn't seem to care. "This is for you mother!" he screamed as the rats closed in on him, "REDWALL!!!!!"
Murder
It was a lovely Augest morning, the morning dew glistening in the morning light. The sun was bright, warm and comforting in the morning sky. Sam Squirrel walked out into the warmth of the sun, followed by his mother Jess Squirrel. "Lovely day, mother." He stated, as he flicked away at a passing grasshopper. "Yes, looks about good for a nice hike through Mossflower woods, what do you say, son?" she asked. "Sounds like a plan!"
Young Mattimeo and the other dibbuns were just waking up as the Matthias and Methusela bells rang out, it was time for breakfast. As the two Squirrels made their way into the great hall, other creatures were busy about setting up the food trays, and getting things ready for another wonderful breakfast. "Lets eet! I'm 'ungry! Need brekkist." Said young Hairtail, as his mother sat him in a chair. "Sit still and wait until it is time to eat! You little rascal!" said his mother. The entire great hall hushed and bowed as Abbot Mordalfus made his way into the great hall, followed by Mr. Churchmouse and Constance the Badger.
"Please Abbot, will you say the prayer?" asked Matthias as the Abbot sat down at his seat.
Thank you for this food, Thank you for this day, Thank you for this plate, in front of my face, I wish all everywhere welcome, To this legendry place, Where we once again live in peace.
There was a resounding "Amen" and then the clanking of glasses and sounds of feast began. "Hey there Matthias, pass the oat berry farl there would ya chap?" Said Basil Stag Hare, as he started to pile food and more food onto his already heaping full plate. "Aye, pass the strawberry cordial, I gotta piece of honey scone stuck in me throat!" said Ambrose Spike, as he put another scone in his mouth. There were so many different breakfast meals to choose from. This is what Redwall Abbey was famous for, it's wonderful spread of food at each meal. There were Oat Scones with honey and butter, Wheat cakes with strawberry and blueberry jam, fresh from the orchard. As well as a large assortment of fruit such as, apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, blueberries, watermelons, as well as many kinds of nuts. Candied chestnuts were especially a favorite with the dibbuns, as well as Basil Stag Hare and the Sparra. "Would you look at those two? Like a pair of living, walking, bottomless pits! They are gonna scoff us out clean at this rate!" exclaimed Mrs. Bankvole. "Ahh, give them a break! They have been snoring so loudly all night, I could hear them all the way at the other end of the dormitories. That must take a lot of energy if ya ask me!" said Mr. Churchmouse.
After breakfast, the abbey creatures went about their business. Some going to the orchard to play, and some to pick fruit and vegetables for the winter. Others went about cooking and cleaning up after breakfast, preparing the next meal. Jess Squirrel and Sam Squirrel packed some food away in a haversack, and grabbed two long poles to act as walking sticks as they set out on their hike. Off they hiked east through Mossflower. Sam stopped to turn over a rock with his stick, looking at his find. "Wow, mom look at this. This must be the largest ant nest ever found under a rock!" he said with an amazed look on his face. "Over here Sam, something odd looking. Lets check it out." Said Jess, as she pointed to a strange looking track in the ground. "What might it be? It looks half between a cart and a snake. What can you make of it mother?" asked Sam. "Im not sure, lets follow it and see if we can find out. Though be careful, it may not be friendly." She said. After following the track for what seemed like ages, the tracks just suddenly stopped. "Odd, there doesn't seem to be anymore tracks leading this wa-" He was cut off in mid sentence as a score of rats popped out of the brush and ambushed them. "It's a trap! Run Sam!!" exclaimed Jess, as she struck out with her walking stick. "Mother!" cried Sam as he whirled his walking stick about, knocking rats senseless here and there. The rats came at them from all sides, each one wielding a short sword and a wooden shield. As the rats closed in, Jess and Sam Squirrel got separated further and further. "Just run Sam! I'll be alright! Get back to Redwall! Go now!" screamed Jess above the sound of war. Countless wounds covered Sam's small body as he took off running as fast as his legs would carry him. With half a score of rats hard on his tail, he bounded through the brush raising dust as he went. Tears streaming down his face as he raced on a track back towards Redwall. "Reeeeeddddwaaaalllllllll!!!!!!!!" screamed Jess as she laid about the rats with he stout walking stick. Snap! The walking stick snapped, as she hit it hard over a rats skull. With a look of rage she dived onto the rats and hit mercilessly at them with her fists, biting and tearing at anything she could grab a hold of. "REDWALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!" She screamed her last as she was overwhelmed and went down under the force of the rats. With this Sam ran harder and faster, with his mothers last words echoing in his head. He was overcome with rage as he suddenly stopped and turned to face the 10 rats running after him. "REDWALL!!!" He yelled as he hit a rat as hard as he possibly could, the walking stick snapping in half over his head. The rat fell down dead, and Sam picked up his sword and turned to face the other rats. The rats slowly formed a circle around him, surrounding him on all sides. The bloodlust in his eyes, and his heavy breathing, and his cold stare took its toll on the rats. Some losing their concentration for a second. "Your all alone, little one!" sniggered one of the rats. "REDWALL!!!" Yelled Sam as he bounded after the rat, and slaid him right there, the rest of the rats stunned at the ferocity of the attack. The rats charged, screaming obscenities. Sam was outnumbered nine to one, but he didn't seem to care. "This is for you mother!" he screamed as the rats closed in on him, "REDWALL!!!!!"