many thx to my new editor
12 The sun had risen over the vast expanse of trees, and the orange and rose sky was slowly shifting to a light blue. The larks sung softly, greeting the new day. Rosabel and Kip walked across the dew covered courtyard to the Gatehouse; Kip's usual fast pace had been slowed down to match Rosabel's. Rosabel couldn't help looking at him every now and then, each time her eyes seemed to sparkle more and more with unshed tears. Rosabel gently placed her paw on the mouse maid's head, but Kip didn't react.

Kip stopped walking and stared at the ground, tears rolling from her eyes and down her muzzle every now and then. "Rosabel?"

Rosabel knelt down so that she was on Kip's level "Yes child?" Kip sniffled a few times "Dose...dose Methuselah hate me?"

Rosabel pulled Kip closer, shaking her head "No of course he doesn't. He is just under a lot of pressure. I haven't told anyone else this but not too long ago we received a letter from Salamandastron."

Kip looked up at Rosabel, wiping her nose with her sleeve "What did it say?

Rosabel sighed deeply, putting a paw on Kip's shoulder "It says that as long as Methuselah stays in Redwall, no one in Salamandastron is permitted to come here."

Kip stared at Rosabel with eyes widened by shock "Then you don't think Methuselah will...?"

Rosabel hugged Kip as she shook her head once more. "I don't know..."

Methuselah sat at his worktable, staring blankly out at the Abbey, and Rollell sat in his arm chair leaning all the way back as he tried to take in what Methuselah had told him. The Gatehouse was dead silent except for the sounds of a gentle tapping coming from the open windows as the wind played with them, making them hit the Gatehouse, and the slow breathing coming from the two beasts inside its attic.

After a long while, the silence was finally broken by Rollell, who leaned forward in his armchair, "You're j-joking right? That whole thing was a joke wasn't it Methuselah?"

Methuselah shut his eyes tightly as he slowly shook his head "I'm sorry Rollell. I have to go."

Rollell smiled and jumped out of his armchair "Alright then I'll go with you! Together we have a better chan-"

"No..." Methuselah said flatly.

Rollell fell back into his armchair "But...why? If you go alone you'll be in danger from fate knows what's out there!", he said in a desperate tone.

"I know..." Methuselah said dully.

Rollell hit the arm of the chair out of frustration and yelled "Then why risk it?! Why put yourself in such danger!?"

Methuselah pushed himself away from his worktable and walked over to Rollell, then sat down in an armchair. "You consider me to be your friend right?" Methuselah asked in a casual tone.

"Of course I do!" Rollell said, looking very puzzled at his friend's mood.

"What kind of friend would take another friend on a quest that he doesn't even know he may come back from? Look I don't know what's out there for me to face, or what dangers lie around the next corner. But I do know this; if anyone from the Abbey were to follow me and that person were hurt...or killed...I would never be able to show my face here again. I know that I am putting myself at risk...but I don't want to put any of my friends at that same amount of risk."

Methuselah said this while pushing himself out of his armchair, and tapped Rollell's shoulder. "Come on, let's get out of this stuffy attic and go over to the orchard. I haven't gotten any fresh air since last night." He said, walking down the stairs.

Rollell wanted to talk more about what Methuselah had said, but by the time he had come to his senses, he was already out the door and calling for him.

The two made their way across the wet, dew covered ground to the orchard silently. When they made it to the orchard they both laid back and watched the sky as clouds passed slowly overhead. Methuselah sat up, reached over to a bush of blueberries, and picked a few to hand to Rollell. Then he gathered some for himself. Methuselah laid back down, dropping a few berries into his mouth; they weren't quite ripe yet, and were slightly bitter, but the two didn't seem to notice, or care at the moment. "Rollell, can I ask you something?" Methuselah said, licking juice from his lips. Rollell was still upset from what Methuselah had told him, but tried to keep a straight face as he looked over at him,"Sure, what is it?" He said, pretending to wipe some juice on his sleeve. "Rollell...we have been friends for many seasons. I never really gave this much thought because I was happy to have a friend. But why did you chose to be my friend when every other beast was afraid of me?" Methuselah asked, looking at Rollell's sad face. Rollell looked up at the sky as he thought it over for a few moments "Well, at first I stayed with you out of innocent curiosity. I was a dibbun after all, and you know as well as I do that I never really paid attention in Abbey school." He said playfully, hitting Methuselah's arm and laughing. "After awhile though, I began to see the real side of you. Most of the older beasts told me to stay away from you, because you were a fox, but I didn't care. Like you said, I had a friend so I didn't really give much thought to what species you were. I just considered you to be a

Redwaller...and a friend."

Methuselah smiled softly as he reached over and patted Rollell on the shoulder "Thanks. I needed that."

The two lapsed back into silence, but this time a calm one as they looked at the clouds pass overhead.

"Methuselah, do you really have to go? You said Martin didn't say that you had to. Are you really sure that you want to go through with this?" Rollell asked, breaking the silence.

When Methuselah didn't reply Rollell thought that he had hurt his friends feelings "Methuselah look I'm sorry. It's not my place to tell you what to do. You are your own person and I will respect that."

Still Methuselah didn't answer. Rollell was starting to get frustrated, so he sat up and looked at Methuselah, ready to scold him for being rude. Rollell couldn't help chuckling at his foolishness. Methuselah didn't answer because he was sound asleep, and lightly snoring.

Not wanting to wake Methuselah, Rollell pushed himself up and made his way to the Great Hall.