CHAPTER THIRTY, RETURN TO REDWALL

Song told everybeast in Salamandastron about her past. They all listened intently to the story of loss and of gain, of sadness and of joy, of tears and of smiles. Throughout the whole tale, only one beast was not fully listening: Tyrossa. He was gazing raptly at Song, looking intently at the beautiful ottermaid...

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Extract from the diary of Badgermum Nuria Firemouth

It's the last day of the Winter of the Hectic Battle, and everyday of it young Fryungle has trudged through the snow to the ramparts to look for Odell Kiggum returning home. Alas, the young otter is not back. I am afraid that he may have been slain. Whenever I asked Fryungle if he wishes to come inside for mealtimes, he just replies:

"I must look for the Six."

The Six? And why does he say "six" with such authority and power, like this number is truly something powerful?

The first time he said this I thought that he was kidding, as if the number six would come waltzing down the dusty road. But then he told me that this was no joke.

When I had asked him where he had heard of the Six and who they were, he just replied:

"It will be unveiled soon enough."

Wait a moment, I can hear a voice yelling. It's shouting...

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"Redddwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall!" roared a voice. "Redwall! Redwall! Reddwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall!"

Fryungle jumped up and down, shouting, "The Six, the Six! They're here, they're here! Martin was right! The Six is here!"

He waved at the eleven beasts striding up the dusty path. Nuria raced from the Abbey, shouting, "What is it, more vermin?"

"No, no! It's the Six!" Fryungle exclaimed joyfully. Nuria raced to the front gate and flung it open. She saw Badgerlady Varsha Midelli, leading Lilyblossom, Majjit, Mateo, Egua, and Quidjill in the lead of war-toughened Odell, a hedgehog who looked as though he now knew the true meaning of fear, a creature that looked like a wolf but seemed to possess a kinder nature, a large, waddling owl, and a Warrior ottermaid, carrying –

"Martin's sword!" exclaimed Nuria. Nuria ran out to greet Varsha.

"Midelli, we were all afraid when you had left. We were afraid that you had gone and killed yourself!" panted Nuria.

"No need to worry, Firemouth. Kabble is gone to Hellgates. I will be haunted by him no more!"

Nuria swept Odell up into a huge hug. "Oh, my little Dibbun, you naughty, bad, bad bad bad bad BAD Dibbun, how could you have run away from us like that?"

"I'm not a Dibbun, Nuria. I'm no baby anymore. I'm a young otter. And I ran away to help my friend, 'cos you've allus tole me that friends are th' one thing that keeps us going."

Nuria gazed around at the eleven beasts. Fryungle appeared by his side.

"Fryungle, if there are eleven beasts, then why did you say that you were waiting for the Six?" asked Nuria.

"Martin spoke to me. He told me that in the Spring of the Six that I would see the Six, and that one would be leading her perilous beasts. That's Badgerlady Varsha."

Song strode forward, holding Martin the Warrior's sword firmly in her left paw. She knelt before Fryungle, her head bowed, the sword in both paws.

"Fryungle, two seasons ago you spoke words to me that nobeast could forgive. But I cannot hold a grudge against you. I was visited by somebeast in my dreams that I hold very special to my heart, someone who I did not believe would ever visit me."

"Martin?" guessed Fryungle.

"No. It was Bowfire Swordslash, my brother. My true name is Songtamer Swordslash. I know that I have been reluctant to accept help from any of you, but that was because I had been suffering a great loss. I do not expect you to forgive me for being skeptic of you, but it would wonderful if you accepted me into your community." Song looked up. "I need consent from the Father Abbot."

"We have no Abbot," interrupted Nuria, nonplussed.

Song glared at Nuria. "I thought the same, until Bowfire showed me a picture of this Abbot. You see, Bowfire has been helping me See into the future. He spoke to me about a poem that Martin delivered to a certain mouse. It goes, 'Five shall see/And the other/Shall See'. Now, as Bowfire spoke to me I saw the words running through my head. I saw it as if somebeast has written it down. I knew what it means. The five warriors will see what is about to happen, but I have already Seen it." Song took a deep breath. "Gather every Redwaller."

Nuria and Fryungle did so without question.

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Every Redwaller was gathered on the lawn. Foremole, Nuria, Kella, and Fryungle were in the front. Odell stood next to Song, whispering, "Hey, how come you never tole us about any of this?"

Song looked mystified. "I had forgotten all about it, but then...it came back. I dunno, mate. It's strange." Song shrugged. "But I'll get used to it. I've gotten use to many a things in my days."

Song held Martin's sword in front of her like she had before. She knelt down in front of Fryungle.

"I name you, Fryungle Mouse of Redwall Abbey, Father Abbot!"

There was a gasp. Not many had expected that. Then Kella spoke up.

"Good choice, Song!" Kella helped Song stand up. "Now, I have a proposition. How about you become Skipper of Otters?"

Song shook her head. "I truly cannot accept. If there was one otter who was brave enough, strong enough, and worthy enough. It's not me." Song paused. "Kella, it's you!"

"M-me?" gasped Kella.

"Yes! You!"

"Of COURSE you, Kella!"

"We was thinkin' about telling you t'take up the job!"

"So, what d'you say, Kella?"

Kella was quiet for a while. Then she grinned. "I'll do it!"

"Yay, Kella – I mean, Skipper!"

Fryungle shook his head slowly. "Me, F-father Abbot?"

"It was a good choice," Nuria murmured.

"Being an Abbot or Abbess is hard."

"That's why the spirits of our dead loved ones chose you. You can do it, Fryungle. I believe in you." Song patted Fryungle's shoulder.

Fryungle looked up at Song. "Songtamer Swordslash, you would not take up the position of Skipper of Otters. But will you take up the position of Warrior of Redwall?"

Song nodded. "I will do this, Father Abbot, but I must go back to Salamandastron and retrieve somebeast who I love."

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As Song, Varsha, Mateo, Quidjill, Lilyblossom, Egua, and Majjit all got ready to head back to Salamandastron for Song to bring the otter whom she loved back to Redwall, Odell came tearing across the lawn.

"Wait, Song, wait!" he shouted. Song turned and Odell gave her a hug.

"Be careful, Songtamer Swordslash, Warrior of Redwall."

Odell then strode away across the grounds, fading from sight as he met up with his Dibbun playmates.

() This is the last chapter! The next chapter is the Epilogue, and you get to see what otter Songtamer loves! Aww...how cuuuuuuuuuuute. $winks$ ()