~Theft Of The Sword~
~Chapter Fourteen~
Hours passed and not a beast stirred below upon the battlefield, the rains had stopped and the entire world seemed to be holding its breath. Slowly the clouds departed and the sun shone on the scene of battle below, revealing the carnage that had taken place. Upon the western wall of Redwall Skipper and his crew stood, surveying the destruction of the battle, bodies littering the path. Their place in the battle had never come, the storm making them useless upon the wall, unable to fight for fear of hitting their own, they had been forced to take cover, only able to listen to the battle raging just outside the gates.
Moving cautiously, Skipper and his crew slowly made their way out onto the battlefield accompanied by several Redwallers including Sister Alkanet as they looked for survivors. The dead lay in piles, but fortunately they found quite a few survivors, many of them having escaped with only minor injuries that would heal with time.
"Horrible isn't it?" An otter whispered to his companion, a young mouse wearing the green habit of Redwall as they sorted through the bodies, always hopeful.
"Yes . . .it is." The mouse replied in soft voice as he turned over the body of a long dead weasel, looking for a survivor when he came upon it. "Oh!" The mouse cried out in shock as he stared at the beast lying before him.
"What . . .is . . .it?" The otter asked nervously, walking towards what had once been a living, breathing creature. It was completely black, burnt nearly to the bone, is paws frozen up in the air above its head.
"It's that . . .damn vixen." A soft voice replied from behind them, spinning around the pair found a ferret lying there in the mud, a single eye staring up at them, helpless to do anything more then just lay there, barely alive. Quickly the mouse rushed to the ferret's side, checking him over to find that the ferret too had been burned much in the same way as the fox, but far less severe.
"Are you all right?" The mouse asked, rolling the dead body of a rat off of the ferret.
"Aye, I think that I'll be all right . . .at least . . .at least she won't be coming back . . ." The ferret managed a half smile as the mouse sat him up to find a long slice across his back, he had lost quite a bit of blood, it was evident by the crimson pool he had been lifted from.
"Don't worry we'll have you up and about in no time." The ferret smiled at these words, staring down at his dagger, still clutched within his paw, everything seemed so far away. Everything was so gray and muted, but it was peaceful.
"That's nice . . ." He replied in a whisper as he fell unconscious.
"C'mon, we best get 'im ta the infirmary." The otter said, picking up the ferret carefully before taking off for Redwall.
~~~~~~
Just as the sun began to dip into the horizon the cleanup was finished, the graves had been dug and filled, the survivors were being cared for and the world seemed to be at peace once more. Roughly half of all the beasts that had gone into the battle had died, but it was over, it had been a relatively short battle, but no less brutal then any other. However, after the last beasts were taken in to Redwall it was discovered that the sword of Martin was mysteriously absent, lost in the battle. The great symbol of Redwall's history, a both peaceful and violent one, the symbol of one of their founders.
"No beast 'as clapped their eyes on it yet?" Skipper asked Deyna after he had searched the ditches for the sword.
"It was it her paws, but the flash I suppose. Perhaps she tossed it away in fear or something . . ." Deyna shrugged, he too had been scouring the woods for signs of the ancient battle blade.
"Hey, Deyna. I believe that I've found what yer lookin' for." Nimbalo rushed to greet his friend, excitement on the mouse's face, as he eagerly led the way back to Redwall Abbey.
"Where? Ye found it?" Deyna asked, confused by the mouse's antics as he pointed to the abbey gates.
"There it is, right there. The Sword of Martin." Nimbalo pointed up high above the gates and there he saw it. There it was, standing out from the red sandstone of the abbey where it had been buried, gleaming blood red in the setting sun
~Epilogue~
~The past weeks have been odd to say the least, our peaceful abbey has once again been attacked as it has in the past and as it has in the past we have endured, but I find myself questioning everything that I formerly believed. For the first time in my life I have seen and heard of good vermin who helped to defend our abbey at a terrible cost to their own forces. Perhaps I can reason these things away as being to their benefit, but that would be sweeping it under the rug. That is something I cannot do for it is my duty as the Recorder of Redwall to document the truth and that is my goal.
~I am proud to say that our abbey has lived up to its reputation and we have cared for every beast that was in need. Our good Sister Alkanet has done her job well, despite some pressure from a few of the more senior beasts that the vermin should be left to their own devices. By now beasts seem to up and about, already Olin has left with his horde, heading north towards their homelands. Around here all us abbey beasts are working hard to get things back to the way things were. Only four creatures are still among us. Kyin, Shale and Silver have stayed behind waiting for Hallan, but despite Sister Alkanet's best efforts the weasel is still bed ridden, but at the very least he is alive and conscious again.
~There is some talk of the four staying at Redwall, which has some beasts worried, for many reasons besides the obvious, but I am hoping that there will not be any problems. I have faith in my fellow Redwallers and I hope that they will at least give them the chance. On a lighter not I suppose I may as well write down the good news. We're having a feast tomorrow, more of a memorial for our lost friends and family, but the sisters and brothers wish to make it a joyous event so that we may remember the good time that we've had, every beast is invited.
~Hm . . .as hard as I try I cannot shake the questions, the past weeks have been such a whirlwind of events, I find myself with so many questions now. I suppose that it will take a feast to straighten me out. Well I must get going, there are preparations to attend to.
~Rosabel, daughter of Broggle and Fwirl, ~Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower County
~~~~~~
~Thank You s~
In no particular order.
Thanks to Vix17, Kywen, Clara200, Ferretlover16, Silverrose Brighteyes, Catty Engles, Thomas Fitzgibbons, lucky4682, Redsplash, Flying Squirrel 15, Skipper-of-Otters and Purplefluffychainsaw for their reviews.
Special Thanks also to Catty Engles, Kayla Silvercat, RedFerret16, Silverrose Brighteyes, Redsplash, Purplefluffychainsaw and Skipper-of- Otters for their help as well.
~Chapter Fourteen~
Hours passed and not a beast stirred below upon the battlefield, the rains had stopped and the entire world seemed to be holding its breath. Slowly the clouds departed and the sun shone on the scene of battle below, revealing the carnage that had taken place. Upon the western wall of Redwall Skipper and his crew stood, surveying the destruction of the battle, bodies littering the path. Their place in the battle had never come, the storm making them useless upon the wall, unable to fight for fear of hitting their own, they had been forced to take cover, only able to listen to the battle raging just outside the gates.
Moving cautiously, Skipper and his crew slowly made their way out onto the battlefield accompanied by several Redwallers including Sister Alkanet as they looked for survivors. The dead lay in piles, but fortunately they found quite a few survivors, many of them having escaped with only minor injuries that would heal with time.
"Horrible isn't it?" An otter whispered to his companion, a young mouse wearing the green habit of Redwall as they sorted through the bodies, always hopeful.
"Yes . . .it is." The mouse replied in soft voice as he turned over the body of a long dead weasel, looking for a survivor when he came upon it. "Oh!" The mouse cried out in shock as he stared at the beast lying before him.
"What . . .is . . .it?" The otter asked nervously, walking towards what had once been a living, breathing creature. It was completely black, burnt nearly to the bone, is paws frozen up in the air above its head.
"It's that . . .damn vixen." A soft voice replied from behind them, spinning around the pair found a ferret lying there in the mud, a single eye staring up at them, helpless to do anything more then just lay there, barely alive. Quickly the mouse rushed to the ferret's side, checking him over to find that the ferret too had been burned much in the same way as the fox, but far less severe.
"Are you all right?" The mouse asked, rolling the dead body of a rat off of the ferret.
"Aye, I think that I'll be all right . . .at least . . .at least she won't be coming back . . ." The ferret managed a half smile as the mouse sat him up to find a long slice across his back, he had lost quite a bit of blood, it was evident by the crimson pool he had been lifted from.
"Don't worry we'll have you up and about in no time." The ferret smiled at these words, staring down at his dagger, still clutched within his paw, everything seemed so far away. Everything was so gray and muted, but it was peaceful.
"That's nice . . ." He replied in a whisper as he fell unconscious.
"C'mon, we best get 'im ta the infirmary." The otter said, picking up the ferret carefully before taking off for Redwall.
~~~~~~
Just as the sun began to dip into the horizon the cleanup was finished, the graves had been dug and filled, the survivors were being cared for and the world seemed to be at peace once more. Roughly half of all the beasts that had gone into the battle had died, but it was over, it had been a relatively short battle, but no less brutal then any other. However, after the last beasts were taken in to Redwall it was discovered that the sword of Martin was mysteriously absent, lost in the battle. The great symbol of Redwall's history, a both peaceful and violent one, the symbol of one of their founders.
"No beast 'as clapped their eyes on it yet?" Skipper asked Deyna after he had searched the ditches for the sword.
"It was it her paws, but the flash I suppose. Perhaps she tossed it away in fear or something . . ." Deyna shrugged, he too had been scouring the woods for signs of the ancient battle blade.
"Hey, Deyna. I believe that I've found what yer lookin' for." Nimbalo rushed to greet his friend, excitement on the mouse's face, as he eagerly led the way back to Redwall Abbey.
"Where? Ye found it?" Deyna asked, confused by the mouse's antics as he pointed to the abbey gates.
"There it is, right there. The Sword of Martin." Nimbalo pointed up high above the gates and there he saw it. There it was, standing out from the red sandstone of the abbey where it had been buried, gleaming blood red in the setting sun
~Epilogue~
~The past weeks have been odd to say the least, our peaceful abbey has once again been attacked as it has in the past and as it has in the past we have endured, but I find myself questioning everything that I formerly believed. For the first time in my life I have seen and heard of good vermin who helped to defend our abbey at a terrible cost to their own forces. Perhaps I can reason these things away as being to their benefit, but that would be sweeping it under the rug. That is something I cannot do for it is my duty as the Recorder of Redwall to document the truth and that is my goal.
~I am proud to say that our abbey has lived up to its reputation and we have cared for every beast that was in need. Our good Sister Alkanet has done her job well, despite some pressure from a few of the more senior beasts that the vermin should be left to their own devices. By now beasts seem to up and about, already Olin has left with his horde, heading north towards their homelands. Around here all us abbey beasts are working hard to get things back to the way things were. Only four creatures are still among us. Kyin, Shale and Silver have stayed behind waiting for Hallan, but despite Sister Alkanet's best efforts the weasel is still bed ridden, but at the very least he is alive and conscious again.
~There is some talk of the four staying at Redwall, which has some beasts worried, for many reasons besides the obvious, but I am hoping that there will not be any problems. I have faith in my fellow Redwallers and I hope that they will at least give them the chance. On a lighter not I suppose I may as well write down the good news. We're having a feast tomorrow, more of a memorial for our lost friends and family, but the sisters and brothers wish to make it a joyous event so that we may remember the good time that we've had, every beast is invited.
~Hm . . .as hard as I try I cannot shake the questions, the past weeks have been such a whirlwind of events, I find myself with so many questions now. I suppose that it will take a feast to straighten me out. Well I must get going, there are preparations to attend to.
~Rosabel, daughter of Broggle and Fwirl, ~Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower County
~~~~~~
~Thank You s~
In no particular order.
Thanks to Vix17, Kywen, Clara200, Ferretlover16, Silverrose Brighteyes, Catty Engles, Thomas Fitzgibbons, lucky4682, Redsplash, Flying Squirrel 15, Skipper-of-Otters and Purplefluffychainsaw for their reviews.
Special Thanks also to Catty Engles, Kayla Silvercat, RedFerret16, Silverrose Brighteyes, Redsplash, Purplefluffychainsaw and Skipper-of- Otters for their help as well.