In Redwall, the Abbeybeasts had come up with a desperate plan. The fit beasts would take any weapons they could find, like in the belltower or kitchen knives, and attack the crew outside Redwall.

Before the attack, however, the famous Redwall cooks provided a delicious dinner for the dwellers of Redwall. Hot, fresh apple pies, steaming soups, crispy bread, misty drinks, and tasty trifes, anything that the cooks desired to create. A full array of cheeses was set out, including ones with nuts, dried fruit and vegetables packed in them. Hot pasties, stuffed with gravy and leeks, dribbed across the paws and mouth. Jellies wriggled under the jostling table and the scent of rosewater in bowls for messy paws drifted over the tables. The weakest sat next to the strongest, tinest next to the biggest.

Everything was shared, even drink. There was no rule to eating- dessert first and soup last was fine, and vice versa.

"Hoy, ShadowSong, try this candied chestnut trife. Here!"

"Thank you, Nimbalo. Have you tried this hotroot soup?"

"Have I? My toungue is on fire. Er, Deyna me old matie, don't hog that leek and mint pasty!"

"I say, chaps, grumph schumch, this meadowcream tart is absoballylutly top hole, wot wot!"

The dinner ended after a majority of the food had been eaten. The beasts that were going to fight collected weapons and loosened up.

ShadowSong hefted her rapier and glaive with ease. The Dibbuns stared in awe at the grace and power of the female wolf. She gave them each a stone from her sling pouch. Gulbur ogled at his shiny black one. "Whurr did 'e gets these urr stoners, marm?"

ShadowSong ruffled the mole's headfur. "At a place that doesn't exist now, far away. But just look at your stone for now." Nimbalo tossed a long pike in the air then caught it with a single paw. "Let's just hope that Redwall'll will exist again tonight!"

Suru wished he had his crew back. Forty had deserted, and ten were slain with the sniping from the Redwallers. He was moping when he heard a rustle in the bushes nearby. Suru lashed at the shrubs with his whip, then a yelp emitted from the plants.

"Owow!"

Suru grabbed a passing weasel and shoved him into the bushes. "Pull whoever's in there out!"

The weasel, Riyup, did not have to; the beasts crawled out of the shrubbery willingly.

Suru stared at Ruggan Bor, Ermrath and the six Juskabor guards. "What are you doing 'ere, Bor?"

The golden fox brushed him self off and glared at the whipped guard who had yelped. "My clan was slain. Surugial Seablade, what are you doing here?"

Suru snapped at his former shipmate, who had sailed before commanding the Juskabor with the searat. "My boat was shipwrecked. Now we're taking over the Abbey, ain't youse gonna help?"

Ruggan Bor brushed a speck of dead leaf from his gold pelt. "Are you sure that the Abbey can be taken over?"

Suru glanced in between the trees at the red sandstone building. "Just a few harmless mice and a bumbling crew of otters," he lied. Suru wanted Ruggan to think that it was easy to conquer so he could ally with him.

Ruggan stared with emotionless eyes at the green-tuniced searat. "The last time I was here, there was a badger and hares. Are you lying?"

Suru bit his lip, but not so obvious that the fox could see. "Would I lie?" he asked innocently.

Ruggan Bor stepping in view of Redwall. "I shall send my guards to fight. You, my seer and I will watch."

Suru hated to not be in a fight, but six more fighters were not to be sneezed at with his numbers. He nodded, and ran to count his fighters for the last time before the battle. Ruggan Bor followed, but made the mistake of striding in full view of the Abbey defenders.

ShadowSong was on the battlements with the otters, Deyna, Skipper, Log-a- log, the Guisom, Boorab, Nimbalo and a few willing mice watching the progress of the vermin. ShadowSong was leaving to go to the gate when Deyna whispered to Nimbalo. "Is that Ruggan Bor? The golden fox?"

ShadowSong, having the keen ears of a wolf, heard the seven words. She hurled herself at the battlements, and saw her enemy.

Ruggan Bor looked up just in time to see that black wolf leaning over that walltop. He froze with fear. This was the wolf that took out a full score of his beasts. He knew he had slain the wolf's father; she had shouted out between battle cries to him, warnings. She would want revenge.

The fox turned tail and ran, towards the forest.

ShadowSong nearly flew when she dashed through the gate house door. The other defenders rushed after her. The gate flung open, and Nimbalo swore he saw Martin the Warrior holding it open, a smile upon his face.

Suru had set up his fighters the best way he thought possible-- strongest first, weakest last. His idea was the defenders would get tired of fighting the better creatures, then would be overwhelmed by the weak. He was counting his soldiers, and was about to go join Ruggan Bor and Ermrath when a howl sounded from the Abbey.

The wolf, followed by guardians of Redwall, was streaming out of the red structure. He ran, just as the ex-leader of the Juskabor had, towards the woods.

The Redwall fighters threw themselves at the snarling rats, foxes, weasels, ferrets and stoats. Many pirates of the CrabCarcass lost their lives in the first wave- only twenty-six survived to fight.

ShadowSong swung her glaive like a spear, in arcs, slashes and slices. She was battling towards the back when she spotted a flash of gold fur in the trees. She jumped a long leap over the fighting vermin, which was only about three feet of beasts, and landed on her footpaws. She tore off into the distance, streaking after the bright fur that seemed to be a magnet to her.

Ruggan Bor looked over his shoulder at the greenery behind him. Good! He had lost the wolf. He threw himself in a small clearing of grass and two large and flat rocks. Climbing on one of them, he panted.

A slight rustle in the bushes behind him betrayed another beast's presence. Ruggan swerved, only to find patches of ferns and moss. He shrugged it off. Probably the wind.

Ruggan waved his bushy tail in a carefree manner. After his little doze, he would find Ermrath and Suru. Hopefully, his guards and nearly three score were enough to conquer Redwall.

Ruggan Bor rubbed his saber, hearing the small squeak of metal. He was about to close his eyes when a sharp thud and whish of a sword made them fly open.

ShadowSong had pole-vaulted over him, and had landed on the other rock. Her face was placid, but her eyes were anything but serene. A slighty orange fire was glowing in them, and the glint of vegenence was manifest. Her rapier was at her side, shining. She smiled, but it was not a friendly one.

"Ruggan Bor of the Juskabor. I was waiting for this moment for a long time." Her fangs gleamed in the sunlight. "I, a mere wolf maid, against the mighty Lord of the Southern Coasts." She hefted her glaive. "It is said that you are kin to the ruler of the Dark Forest, Vulpez. Wolf blood against wolf blood. Fight, Ruggan Bor of the Juskabor, against ShadowSong StarGlaive of the Moon Skyyyyyyyy!"