CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE, DRAWING TO A CLOSE
"Badgerlady!" Varsha turned at the sound of a jolly voice. She saw Yuppas Scuttwitch and his wife, Dewstar, leading about sixty beasts, heading straight towards them.
"What are you doing, Scuttwitch?" laughed Varsha.
"We've come t'help you in battle, wot wot! Though it doesn't look like y'need much help. Did y'do Kabble in?" asked Dewstar.
"Yes, I did. No more vermin left. I just hope that Redwall is okay." Varsha shook her head. "This ottermaid, Waterfish, has been in some sort of coma. It's like a trance that Kabble used to do, but Kabble is dead, and so is Deyinvo. I just hope that Deyinvo didn't kill Waterfish."
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Waterfish saw blackness all around her. Then, a familiar voice began whispering in her ear, "When it is Spring, you may return to Redwall. Bring the sword with you. Give it to the Abbot. Only six of you will return, but one will be leading her perilous beasts. You will have to return back to Salamandastron to be with the one you love. Remember this: you must refuse the offer that Kella gives you. You must tell her that, if anybeast deserves it, that Kella does. Do this, and you will be able to be with the one you love. Do this for me, Songtamer Swordslash. Become Songtamer again. Become Song." The comforting voice paused. "Take up the offer that the Abbot gives you, but be sure to tell him that you must go to Salamandastron to bring back the one you love. Do this, Song. Do this..."
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Extract from the diary of Badgermum Nuria
The Winter of the Hectic Battle is almost halfway closed. I do think that little Cora the volemaid named it correctly! That was a crazy battle that ended the war. I hope that I never have to see another war, or battle for that matter, again. I do wonder where little Odell Kiggum is, following Waterfish. He seems to love her like a sister. I do hope they're alright.
The funeral for Abbess Leafswirl is in a few hours. I must get ready.
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Leafswirl was lowered into the ground. Foremole was weeping unashamed for the loss of his sister.
"Would anybeast like to say a few words?" asked Nuria Firemouth quietly. Foremole stepped forward.
"Leevswull wos younger'n me. Oi shudduv gone b'fore 'er, but fate is strange. She dearly luvved to dig when we wos young. She spent most o' 'er toime diggin' unnergraond. Naow, she gits to spend th' rest o' 'er toime unnergraond." Foremole stepped back, tears still falling down his face.
"Any others?" asked Nuria.
Fryungle stepped forward.
"Our Abbess had a hard job. She had to be fair, kind, loving to everybeast, and couldn't lose her temper. She had to rule an Abbey of peace and of love. Sometimes that job is harder than the job of a Warrior. I want to be the first to say that I loved Mother Abbess Leafswirl like a real mother. She was kind to everybeast and loved us all. I hope that our next Abbot or Abbess is as kind and as loving as her."
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Waterfish Ottermaid opened up a secret closet in her mind. She found her name and all of her nicknames, and took a hold of "Waterfish Ottermaid". She struggled with it for a while, and then threw "Waterfish Ottermaid" away. She was now Songtamer Swordslash!
The voice kept on whispering in her ear. Slowly, Song faded away from unconsciousness to rejoin the living. She only remembered that she was now Songtamer Swordslash.
"Badgerlady!" Varsha turned at the sound of a jolly voice. She saw Yuppas Scuttwitch and his wife, Dewstar, leading about sixty beasts, heading straight towards them.
"What are you doing, Scuttwitch?" laughed Varsha.
"We've come t'help you in battle, wot wot! Though it doesn't look like y'need much help. Did y'do Kabble in?" asked Dewstar.
"Yes, I did. No more vermin left. I just hope that Redwall is okay." Varsha shook her head. "This ottermaid, Waterfish, has been in some sort of coma. It's like a trance that Kabble used to do, but Kabble is dead, and so is Deyinvo. I just hope that Deyinvo didn't kill Waterfish."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Waterfish saw blackness all around her. Then, a familiar voice began whispering in her ear, "When it is Spring, you may return to Redwall. Bring the sword with you. Give it to the Abbot. Only six of you will return, but one will be leading her perilous beasts. You will have to return back to Salamandastron to be with the one you love. Remember this: you must refuse the offer that Kella gives you. You must tell her that, if anybeast deserves it, that Kella does. Do this, and you will be able to be with the one you love. Do this for me, Songtamer Swordslash. Become Songtamer again. Become Song." The comforting voice paused. "Take up the offer that the Abbot gives you, but be sure to tell him that you must go to Salamandastron to bring back the one you love. Do this, Song. Do this..."
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Extract from the diary of Badgermum Nuria
The Winter of the Hectic Battle is almost halfway closed. I do think that little Cora the volemaid named it correctly! That was a crazy battle that ended the war. I hope that I never have to see another war, or battle for that matter, again. I do wonder where little Odell Kiggum is, following Waterfish. He seems to love her like a sister. I do hope they're alright.
The funeral for Abbess Leafswirl is in a few hours. I must get ready.
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Leafswirl was lowered into the ground. Foremole was weeping unashamed for the loss of his sister.
"Would anybeast like to say a few words?" asked Nuria Firemouth quietly. Foremole stepped forward.
"Leevswull wos younger'n me. Oi shudduv gone b'fore 'er, but fate is strange. She dearly luvved to dig when we wos young. She spent most o' 'er toime diggin' unnergraond. Naow, she gits to spend th' rest o' 'er toime unnergraond." Foremole stepped back, tears still falling down his face.
"Any others?" asked Nuria.
Fryungle stepped forward.
"Our Abbess had a hard job. She had to be fair, kind, loving to everybeast, and couldn't lose her temper. She had to rule an Abbey of peace and of love. Sometimes that job is harder than the job of a Warrior. I want to be the first to say that I loved Mother Abbess Leafswirl like a real mother. She was kind to everybeast and loved us all. I hope that our next Abbot or Abbess is as kind and as loving as her."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Waterfish Ottermaid opened up a secret closet in her mind. She found her name and all of her nicknames, and took a hold of "Waterfish Ottermaid". She struggled with it for a while, and then threw "Waterfish Ottermaid" away. She was now Songtamer Swordslash!
The voice kept on whispering in her ear. Slowly, Song faded away from unconsciousness to rejoin the living. She only remembered that she was now Songtamer Swordslash.