Stones of Serg
Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I do not own the concept of Redwall, nor any characters created by Brain Jacques. I created all off the characters featured in this chapter, minus the people, titles, or places of Redwall.
AN: Thank you Acoustical Ferret for your review for chapter five. I think that was the only review I received for it. *Sniff * Oh well, 1 review's better than nothing, and I value Acoustical Ferret's opinion, so thanks!
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Rowan scanned the horizon, looking down the hill to the stream where her dreaded enemy and his horde rested. They were a good half-day's march ahead of the young squirrel maid, but now that it was dusk they were finally stopping to set up camp.
The chestnut colored maiden smiled craftily to herself as she took note of the vast forest in the valley below. 'Shouldn't take more than an hour's tree jumping, if I move quickly. Of course, I'll never be as good as my brother Fir. After all, that's why he's Fir Trefler; he always was best at tree climbing, just as Oak Arrowfli, my older brother, was at archery.' Rowan smiled sadly as she absent-mindedly stroked her sling, which was kept in her waistband. 'Of course, Beech never was good at any weapon, only at being a good housewife. I must have been a great disappointment, being skilled at the slingshot but not knowing the first thing about how to cook a peach flan. Well, Grandfather Serg might be proud of me perhaps. After all, the sling was his weapon as well.' Rowan's eyes narrowed as she glared coldly down on the vermin camp. 'Fergunn Zlaybeest, you will rue the day you destroyed the Serg Drey when I get my paws on you!'
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Fergunn Zlaybeest, the terror of the North and West, was already regretting attacking the young squirrel maid's village. "Nothin'!" the silver fox roared at his horde. "That attack got us absolutely nothin'! No gold, no vittles, no slaves! An' where was them magic stones that were apposed to be there, eh?" Fergunn eyed the stoats standing before him, when his beady red eyes fell upon the stoat seer, whom he quickly grabbed by the throat. "Any last words Delodu before I slit yer lyin' lil' neck?"
Delodu whimpered in fear. "Pl-please M-ma-ster Fer-gunn! I'll m-make it up t-to yew! I-I m-musta read th-the signs wrong is all! I won't fail again, I promise!" the soothsayer pleaded, weeping. Suddenly, his tear brimmed eyes glazed over as his body tightened into a stiff position, as if in a trance. Delodu then began to chant in a monotone. Fergunn knew what was happening, the stoat was seeing visions. "I see a stone flying in a straight line to a vermin skull...There's a sling...and a chestnut colored paw wielding the weapon...the sling shoots another stone...it hits its target once again...I see the sling again...On it is carved 'Serg Swift Stones'...I see a young squirrel maiden...she's holding the sling...the sling is burning up!...and the maiden is bleeding...all I see is flames...and blood...the fire and blood are forming together into another shape...a building...a red stoned building...I see a little road running in front of it...the sun rises behind it...the gate opens and mice and other woodland creatures come out...they carry no weapons...instead, their paws and pockets are filled to overflowing with gold...more gold than ever imaginable!...There is a large forest to the right of the building...the sun sets...all is dark." Delodu's eyes cleared and he glanced fearfully to the fox, who still had his paws around his neck. "M-master Fergunn sir-"
"Silence Delodu! It seems that the visions have saved you once again." The fox took his paws away from the stoat's neck, who sighed with relief. "However," Fergunn continued, pulling his ax out and bringing it to Delodu's neck, "if you and your sights fail me again, there will be nothing that can save you." Fergunn turned then to the rest of his horde. "If what Delodu's vision was true, then this red stone building ought to lie due south of here. We make for it at first sunrise."
A bold-looking stoat raised his paw to speak. When Fergunn nodded his head in acknowledgement, he said, "Master Fergunn sir, by the seer's description, I would say that the place we make for is Redwall Abbey."
"Redwall Abbey, eh? Well, when it's mine, and all the creatures there are my slaves, I think I'll change the name to the Fortress of Fergunn. How does that sound?"
The whole horde replied, "Excellent Master Fergunn sir!"
"To Redwall!" Fergunn roared.
"To Redwall!" the stoats echoed.
"Ferguuuunn!"
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"Beech, Oak, are you there?" Fir Trefler whispered to the dark recesses of the cave.
"Fir? Is that you? Where's Rowan?" A strong red squirrel crept towards the other voice.
A smaller, more limber version of the squirrel walked towards him. "Yes, it's me, Fir. I don't know where Rowan is though. I thought she'd be here."
"No," a feminine voice interjected from behind Oak. "Rowan isn't here. Maybe she's still at the drey."
"Good thinking Beech. We should go check."
"Let me just get my stuff first. I'll be back in a moment." Beech scurried to the back of the cave and emerged minutes later with a bundle that consisted of her wedding veil and some nuts and berries she and Oak had collected. "Alright, I'm ready."
Oak nodded his head. "Let's go then." They trudged out of the cave and through the woods to the home valley.
"Oh, the smell! What is that horrific odor?"
Fir grimaced as the waft of rotting flesh hit his nose. "That, sister dearest, is the smell of dead friends and family."
Oak made a face. "How many days has it been since the ambush anyway?"
"Two days so far."
"Only two days? How did they rot so fast?"
"It's springtime. The sun has been shining longer and brighter now."
Beech let out a sob. "Sorry, but you don't think Rowan..."
Fir shrugged his shoulders. "I prayed to Serg that she survived. We'll know soon enough."
The three red squirrels came to the top of the hill and looked down upon the carnage the stoats and their vicious leader had created. They walked cautiously through the bodies as they searched, trying not to disturb any.
They were in the middle of that sad sea of cadavers when Beech suddenly broke down sobbing. Fir and Oak immediately stooped to help her. "Beech, what's the matter?"
"Ma and *hic* Pa and *hic hic* Jasabik! They *hic* are dead!" Beech pointed to the three bodies before them.
"Ma! Pa!" Fir cried in despair.
Oak just stared down on the three corpses sadly. It was a great loss, his mother, his father, and his best friend. Oak looked at Beech, who was crying so hard he thought she would never stop. His heart went out to his sister, for, although Jasabik was his best friend, he had been her husband of not more than an hour. He turned back to the bodies of Ma and Pa, when he noticed something unusual. "Look guys! Ma and Pa's paws! They're locked together! But it happened after they died!" Fir and Beech both glanced at him as if he were insane. Oak sighed. "Don't you get it? Somebeast did that! Rowan did that. She's alive!" His two younger siblings still looked doubtful. "If you want further proof, Grandfather Serg's sling and stone bag is missing from Pa's belt! And nothing else was missing from any of the others! That means that Rowan is at this moment tracking the killers of our drey with the magic sling of none other than Serg Swift Stones!"
The realization of what their brother had said finally hit them and Fir and Beech both jumped up and down like happy little Dibbuns chanting "Rowan is alive! Rowan is alive!"
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Whew, long chapter there, I think. So, how was Chapter 6? Interesting, ne? Nice of me to have Rowan's siblings live, wasn't it? Well, anyway, please review and let me know what you thought!
Thanks!
Rowan and Sakura
