Excerpt from the writings of Sister Oxalis, Recorder of Redwall Abbey:
As the rain has beaten out the smoke and the sun has returned to the skies of Mossflower, the sight that becomes clear to the citizens of Redwall is incomprehensible, inconceivable. The wall is not there.
Two days ago, on the eleventh day of the Autumn of the Copper Beech, some unknown flying weapon struck the western wall of the Abbey. No flighted creature could inflict such damage, and there is therefore no question that this action was intentional. But why and from where? The summer was peaceful, with no vermin in sight...These things don't make sense. I don't know why I'm trying to make sense of it. That can't be done.
The outer West Wall of Redwall Abbey is entirely demolished. The inner wall has sustained considerable damage. Everything between the two has been destroyed, including the very tree for which the season was named. Thus these unknown attackers have ruined everything with this one blow, down to the name of the season. Season names don't change; they're untouchable. So we thought. But then again, we thought the same thing about Redwall itself...
The extent of the casualties is yet unknown. Our moles have offered to dig through the rubble for dead, but it is perfectly understandable to our weary hearts that they cannot take care of all of this at once. We do know, however, that our Badger Mother and our Abbot are among the dead, an irreplaceable loss that requires a different sort of recovery than the physical damage does.
Our Abbey Warrior Mattachin has taken charge of our group, heading and delegating rescue and healing effort. He has proclaimed that we should amend events, not dwell on them.
I feel no strength to write more on this, regardless.
—Sis. Oxalis, Rec'dr
