AN: Before we really begin, I'd like to add a minor note- I've only read about six or seven of the Redwall books, so don't yell at me if I miss an important detail or re-use a name or something. Also, please bear with me for the hare and mole dialects, I'm kinda bad at them. *ashamed* Other that, that's all. Enjoy chapter three.
"We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors."-Sun Tzu, the Art of War
The coyote was dreaming. A wide field of grass, brown with death stretched out before her bathed in the dim light of the setting sun stretched into the horizon for as far as the eye could see, and then some. In the middle of all this was an ivory monolith stretching high into the atmosphere, with countless forbidding jagged iron spikes jutting from it's sides, making it seem as if they threatened to rip the sky apart with their might. Woeful, screams and desperate voices of various birds and beasts lingered in midair, though not a creature was to be seen, as if phantasms lingering about. At that moment, as if from thin air, a vixen emerged on the awesome monolith, clouded in wispy gray fog and dust that swirled around her feet. She was the same dusty gray as the dust and fog that swirled around her figure, it was near impossible to tell where the fog began and the strange fox began. But her eyes- they glowed an odd shade of red and yellow, like fire shining in dazzling, impossible brilliance, like the beacon of a lighthouse, as if beckoning Quellara to come to her. She moved his head to stare at the night sky, which had suddenly replaced the sunset. In his paws, he held a sabre with a long shining crystalline blade, but unlike any other crystal, which one could easily see through, this was jet black, and allowed no light to come through it. The mysterious fox lifted the blade up to the night sky and the starlight bounced off it, like a frog into a pond, and reflected a long winding river of blue-black silk and silver, as if it were trapped in the blade.
Time stood still as a grand majestic tapestry unfurled before the astonished Quellara. It was proudly adorned with beautiful foreign and mysterious materials of which the dreaming coyote had never set eyes upon painted the portraits of a grand army creatures, mostly consisting of various foxes, weasels, ferrets, stoats, rats, ravens, crows, magpies, one hawk, and a few snakes and lizards. In the center of all of this were the shining of five creature silhouetted in front of a full blood red moon : a stoat, a rabbit, a fat pine martin, a small raven, and what appeared to be some sort of wolf….or possibly a fox (it was difficult for the coyote to tell) standing atop a great boulder overlooking the battle below, their eyes shining confident hues of red, white, and gold. The entire thing was constructed of shining threads of black, gray, dark blue, and deep violet, and it was now apparent that the great tapestry was hanging on its own in the heavens. Never in her wildest fantasies had Quellara seen such a wondrous and thing. And yet….it seemed familiar, as if she'd always known it was there waiting for her.
The fire eyed vixen suddenly tossed the crystalline sabre in the air and let it plunge to the dead grass. New voices could be heard in the air now, louder, closer. They were conversing about something- something of great importance, but the words were impossible to make out. The fox took no notice of this, holding out a gray paw, indicating Quellara join her atop the tall monolith. As she began to approach the structure, however, the scene began to break apart and slowly fade away back into the land of dreams…
The familiar sounds of hushed voices again drifted in the air, as they had in the dream whilst Quellara slowly drifted into consciousness. Eyes still closed with drowsy sleep, she was surprised to find herself lying in a strange bed under a pile of warm blankets. The two voices were coming from a far corner in the room, hushed in whispered in quiet conversation. The first was easily recognizable as the hare that let her in the great red building and got offended when called a rabbit. The other sounded female, and much older, speaking in gentler tones than her companion. Curious to see just where she was, golden eyes slowly began to open- only to be rewarded by blinding lights from above, forcing a small yelp of anguish to escape her throat and ducked her head under one of the blankets. She instantly regretted doing so as she heard the voices stop their conversation and footsteps begin to approach. Instinctively, Quellara's paw raced to grab one of her daggers- and was horrified to find them gone, along with her cloak and Oakwood staff. Panic was beginning to take hold. Lying ill in a strange bed in a strange place housed by who-knows-what and with no possible way to defend herself. 'Caught completely off guard, on my last legs. What kind of a Newstar am I?!'
She felt one of the two beasts standing beside the bed, and one began to pull away the blankets. It was time for a bluff.
"Raaaah!! Stay away! I am the fearsome creature of the western Hotlands, I make beasts' boles melt and innards burst open, if they so dare mess with me! Leave now and the fearsome force of the west winds will spare your pitiful lives!!" The two were still there. "Leave…" she said again in a much smaller voice "….please?" The beasts stayed where they were. She poked the black tips of her ears from under the covers and snarled "Well it's become obvious they you've caught me, you may as well get on with it. Go on, you horrible thing from…..the place where horrible things come from! Slay me in bed and be done with it, fiends! Quellara Amberesia Newstar doesn't fear you, nor anyone!" Having that said, she braced herself for the end as the blanket was yanked off and the bright light flooded in. 'Killed in bed' she bitterly thought 'What a stupid way to die'.
But to her surprise, no cold blade or fearsome club came smashing down upon her head, but a light, gentle touch. "'Tis quite a fine speech, but I'm afraid you've wasted it on us. We don't plan t'cause you any harm." The hare's voice piped in "Unless ye try an' 'urt us first!" His voice was bathed in distrust for the canine. Quellara ignored the second comment "You're not gonna kill me? This isn't some kinda trick, is it?" The old one chuckled "Of course not." A single golden eye cracked open to peer at them as she began to cough. "Really?" She sighted the hare standing close by, staring suspiciously with rather dirty looks and a tall kind looking elderly squirrel kneeling over her. The squirrel smiled at her "Really" She pulled the blankets around her protectively as her eyelids began to grow heavy with weariness "Promise?" The old squirrel started to take her leave. "Promise" she replied.
~~~~~~~
Cain's scarlet eyes shined with anticipation. A fat dove hopped sloppily in circles, calling out for it's lost flock (AN: Do doves even have flocks? O_o) that had somehow vanished without it's notice. The stoat began to salivate. Not only would this be an easy kill, it's be the best meal he'd have in seasons! A fanged smile appeared on his face, imagining the warm soft meat in his jaws. He swing his sling stone above his head and released it. The stone flew toward the oblivious bird with deadly accuracy. Not long after, a loud "THWACK!" followed by a the startled dove's death cry sounded in the satisfied stoat's ears. But as he approached the spot his stone struck, he was horrified to find the bird nowhere in sight: the sling stone embedded in a tree truck where his prize stood a moment before. Had he missed and hit the tree? If so, what made the bird sing out it's death song? Had me only grazed it? Mortally wounded it? Furious at his loss, he searched around to see where his game could have gone. He didn't search long.
He soon spotted the dove a few feet away slain by the knife that now pinned it to a tree trunk. A hearty voice behind him laughed "Ach, dat's a fine kill dere, ain't it laddie? A finer kill in Mossflower t'was never made!" Cain turned to discover a short stout pine martin casually stride to retrieve the slain dove. The ex-prince glared at him. "Dat's my kill, voodvorm!" The pine martin took the insult in stride "Woodworm, eh? Well, seein' as 'ow 'twas my knives that did de slayin', I'd say 'tis my rightful prize. 'Tisn't any fault 'o mine your sling stones be too slow, laddie." Cain made a move to strike the martin, but stopped feeling a sharp pain in his right arm, down to his remaining paw. "I wouldn't be tryin' that again, stoat, lest ye want t'lose yer other paw. At Cain's displeasure, he laughed "Don' be sore, lad! Nary a beast alive that faced Majax the Assassin's Assassin!"
A raspy croaking sounded from above and in what seemed like an instant a large glossy feathered raven stood proudly beside the pine martin, Majax. "Ach, sorry mate! Nary a beast alive that faced Shadewing the silent neither."
Cain licked his lips hungrily, in spite of himself as he stared at Shadewing and Majax devour the dove carcass. "Yer welcome c'mon us lad, lest ye try an' strike me again." Shadewing didn't seem to agree with his friend's suggestion, but made no objections as Cain approached. "I ken catch my own supper. The assassin grinned at the stoat "Don' take charity, eh? Can' say I blame ye! Ye be lookin' like a proud vermin indeed, mate!"
"So, the two of you are assassin?" "Aye. Assassins, thieves, mercenaries, it's all good fer us. But mainly assassins" Shadewing bobbed his head in agreement. "True dat, Shade. We'll do jus' about anything' for de right price. Or mebbie some vittles." The stoat lifted a brow "Dat so?" Majax looked at him expectedly "Aye…" "Vell den, I've got a job for the two of you." The assassins immediately ceased eating. They hadn't had a good job for a long while, and judging from the impressive silver ring on Cain's paw, the payoff would certainly be more than agreeable.
"We're listnin', stoat."
Cain edged closer, sinister grin running along his face.
"Good. Vat do ye know of a place called Redvall?"
~~~~~~~
The warm feeling of sunlight on her muzzle was what woke Quellara again. She yawned and stretched out in the luxurious bed, taking in the sun and the scent of flowers. The foreigner rose to gaze out the window to view half of the sun peaking over the horizon, then shivered as a gust of wind blew out a nearby candle. Thankfully, the hail and freezing rain was gone, only slick patches of ice remained. It was significantly warmer than when she'd first come, but still much too cold for her liking. Below three squirrel babes played near a frozen over pond, before a mousemaid urgently pulled them away from the thin ice. Quellara closed her eyes to let the sun soak into her, trying to ignore the chilly weather. "Even if it's exceedingly cold, it's nice to feel the dawn again."
"Well, yore right about one thing, tis rather chilly. But I'm afraid you've made a bit of a mistake marm, that's the sun setting, not rising." Turning, Quellara discovered a young white rabbit splattered with light gray spots that covered his long silky fur, only a few seasons younger than herself. "Setting? I've really been asleep all day?" The rabbit shook his silky head "Longer, in fact. You've slept for three days straight. Shortly after ye first set foot here, ye collapsed, nearly froze t'death. Abbess Fenna thought ye very ill, an' suggested ye be put in th' infirmary and kept warm. At least, that's how I heard it." "Ah. Makes sense, this weather is nothing like I'm used to.." The rabbit's ears stiffened with anxiety "Oh! I've went an' lost me manners! Let me introduce meself. Jaxin Nerworth Braebuck at yore service marm. My father, Hortwill was th' hare that let you in. And 'tis my duty t'welcome ye to Redwall Abbey!" Jaxin bowed slightly and held out his paw in greeting. Coyote paw politely shook rabbit's. "Good evening to you Jaxin. I am Quellara Amberesia Newstar of the far west Hotlands. You know, you don't look much like a hare.." "I look more like a rabbit? Makes sense, me mum was one." "It shows. Must have given you that nice spotted fur, eh?"
Jaxin waggled his ears nervously as Quellara worked on polishing her gold armlets and investigated the infirmary, noting everything there. "Err….Quellara?" "Yes?" "Err…umm…I..w-was wonderin'….we…Redwall, I mean's havin' a feast an'…well..this 'ere sickbay's always so gloomy..and the food's awful good..and there's always too much…an'…well-" The coyote turned to flash the rabbit a fanged smile and a laugh "Why, Mr. Braebuck, would you be inviting this 'lowly vermin' to your feast?" He nodded "I'd like it very much if ye came marm, Abbess Fenna would like it too, its be a chance for the other Redwallers tom see wot you're really like. T'show 'em that yore not at all like other vermin." Quellara blinked wondering if she'd just been complimented or insulted. "I'm not?" Jaxin smiled at her "Oh, no marm! Ye aren't cowardly, or tricky, or evil at all! I'm guessin' that everyone else here thinks yore like all the others, evil like our mum's always said. 'Ere's a chance to prove 'em wrong!" Quellara shook her head and sighed "Please, don't call me 'marm', I not that much older than you are." It was then Jaxin suddenly noticed she was standing right beside him. He hadn't even noticed her move from the far corner. "Furthermore" she added "I don't see the need to rove anything to these 'Redwallers'. I'm not trying to murder or rob any of you, I know that and so do you and shouldn't that be enough?" Noticing the crestfallen look in the spotted rabbit's brown eyes, she quickly said "I honestly couldn't care less what someone else thinks, that's their business. But an empty stomach and a huge feast, just waiting for it: now, that's MY business!" Jaxin's velvety none twitched in excitement "So ye'll come?!" Quellara smiled warmly at him "Indeed, I will." "Ha ha!! Jolly good marm!" "I told you not to call me 'marm'." Jaxin ignored the complaint, continuing his personal celebration. "A historic event this is! Wot a night! The first fox ever invited to feast at Redwall Abbey!"
Quellara blinked indignantly "Fox? My friend, I'm a lot of things, but absolutely not a fox." "Oh. Ye must a small wolf, then?" "I'm not small, nor am I a wolf." Jaxin scratched his long ears in confusion "Then….wot kind of beast are ye?" Quellara cast off the blanket, showing off her full black clothed figure. The fading sunlight reflected brightly off her golden earrings and armlets, making them shine against her silhouetted form. Taking a proud stance atop a random chair she announced proudly "I am…a coyote!" She spread out her arms and paws to emphasize her statement. One of Jaxin's flopped down over his face in bewilderment "A coy-what?!" Quellara's head drooped with a sigh. This was going nowhere. "It's…like a wolf…only smaller…and thinner…and sneakier. Sort of like a combination of a wolf and a fox. Only…..different. Understand?" Jaxin blinked his brown eyes at her smiling "Not really marm….but for th' moment, let's both preten' that I do."