Four seasons passed after Tanner had won the fight with his brother Camas, he spent the four seasons traveling farther south with his new band of members. He robbed many goodbeasts and killed any who would not cooperate with him. He would kill them the same way he killed Rosemary, quick and deadly. Soon everyone in the land gave him the name Tanner the Deadly.
Flint, Camas' second in command who left with a few others after Tanner took over, stayed in the south for a little while before deciding to head north. Ten more vermin joined his small band including a fox named Ash who told him about Redwall Abbey. Flint thought that taking over the abbey would not be too hard. Besides, only quiet and sophisticated creatures lived there, not sword wielding warriors. That idea would soon prove him wrong.
The sun was setting slowly in the west when Flint caught his first glimpse of Redwall Abbey. He noticed how the walls where the sun hit just right were bright and warm. He noticed the bell tower and the large gate in front which was going to be a problem for him.
"Why didn't you tell me that those walls were protected by a gate?" asked Flint to Ash.
"Because I forgot to tell you and I thought you would find a quick way to find your way in," said Ash.
Flint stared at the walls for a moment, thinking about what he should do until he had a plan.
"You all know that a goodbeast has to come out sometime right?" said Flint.
"Oh yes, but how will that help us get in once it's out here?" asked Stump.
"Why we'll hold the creature ransom of course. We will bargain with their leader that if they want their friend to live, they have to give the abbey to us," said Flint.
"Oh that sounds like a good plan, but what if they never come out?" asked a ferret named Deadbark.
Oh someone will come out, after all, why do you think they have berry bushes out here?" asked Flint.
Everyone stared at Flint in awe; he had good common sense for a rat, possibly because he was a descendant of Cluny the Scourge, a rat who had fought Matthias many years ago in the same abbey, and of course lost. Flint never knew that happened since stories of their families die after many seasons. Plus Cluny had abandoned his family before trying to take over Redwall, many never knew what became of him.
"Well let's camp out near these bushes, don't forget to wake up early just in case one of them decides to go on an early morning berry pickin'," said Flint who then gave an evil smile.
Morning soon arrived in Mossflower; the air was crisp and cool, perfect for Skipper's early morning jog. Even though Skipper was getting on in years, he was still tough and as strong as ever, he showed no signs of slowing down.
Skipper arrived at the main gate where Tobias was still sleeping with his son Nathanial who was learning how to become a gate keeper like his father, but he really wanted to be a sidekick to Strider.
Skipper walked over and shook Tobias awake. "Hey Tobias, it's another glorious morning, time to open up the gate," he said.
Tobias yawned and tapped Nathanial lightly on the shoulder. "Nathanial can you open the gate, you need to learn how to do it yourself any way," he said.
"Really!" said Nathanial who jumped off his chair happily.
Tobias nodded and Nathanial quickly ran over to the gate and began to lift the large beam that held it. He was not as strong and took a while to lift it. Skipper helped him a little and soon the gate opened.
"Thanks Nathanial, you will be a great gatekeeper one day," said Skipper.
"Yeah but I would rather fight with Strider, that sounds more fun," said Nathanial.
"Well you can probably do both," said Skipper.
"That would be different," said Tobias.
"Yes it would, now if you will excuse me, I'm off to do some jogging," said Skipper.
"Oh can I come?" asked Nathanial.
"Oh you would not catch up with me, maybe in a season or two you can," said Skipper.
Nathanial just smiled and watched as Skipper began to run down the pathway. None of them even knew that there was danger hiding in the forest.
Flint had already awoke once the sun had started peaking over the horizon. He was then able to get the rest of his men on their feet. Of course there was much persuasion involved.
"But the sun is barely up, and I barely got any sleep because Hemlock here snored all night," said a stoat named Serg who gave Hemlock, who was a ferret, an angry glare.
"Well excuse me Mr. Perfect, it just so happens that during the spring I have problems with me nose and I can't breathe sometimes," said Hemlock who then sneezed.
"Yeah so get used to it whiney and watch out for goodbeast's, they are known for berry pickn' early in the morning," said Flint who then began to lie low. Everyone else quickly did the same.
"If the creature gives a struggle can I shoot it with me arrers?" asked a tough ferret named Arrow.
Only if it hurts one of us and will not back down," said Flint.
Arrow just nodded and watched carefully for any signs of a goodbeast heading their way.
Only a few minutes passed before Skipper came jogging past them. To the vermin he looked quite large and tough, something hard to bring down.
"Do you think he's somebeast from the abbey?" asked Darkclaw.
"Most likely, or a friend to them but still being a friend to them would work," said Flint.
"How will we catch him though?" asked Ash.
"I think I can catch him, I did it once with an otter, it was tough but I managed," said Stump.
"Then I will leave the job to you, I hope he comes back this way and when he does you grab him," said Flint.
Stump just nodded and continued to watch for Skipper to come back down the road.
Skipper decided to make a quick trip over to his Holt where he found his brother and niece fishing in the river, enjoying themselves.
"Good morning brother," said Skipper who walked over.
"How are you this morning?" asked Hunter.
"Fine like always, catch any fish yet?" asked Skipper.
"Look at the fish I caught uncle skipper," said Hunter's daughter whose name was Lily. She held up the fish happily, it was half the size of her and clearly hard to hold.
"Wow that must have taken you ages to catch," said Skipper.
"Yeah, my daddy had to help me," said Lily who just smiled.
"Well I bet there will be a feast tonight with that creature and I hope to be there for it," said Skipper.
"That is what we plan," said Hunter.
"Hmm why don't we take it to the abbey and have a feast there, I bet everyone will love it," said Skipper.
"Yes I bet they will, I can also try to make my hotroot soup too," said Hunter.
Skipper and Lily licked their lips happily; they loved Hunter's hotroot soup. He always put a special ingredient in it that made it extra spicy.
"Well let's head back and tell Azure the cook about our plan before she starts to think about what to make tonight," said Skipper.
"Alright then, help me with the rest of these fish," said Hunter who had caught five fish, but all were small compared to Lily's. The three then began their walk back to Redwall abbey.
Back where Flint and his crew were hiding, most were getting quite impatient and grumpy.
"Why can't we just go over there and try to bargain with the goodbeasts, or something?" asked Hemlock angrily.
"Because we don't have anything to bargain with, a ransom is the best bet," said Flint.
"It'll be ten seasons 'afore we catch a goodbeast, and I'll be dead by then most likely," said Serg.
"Wait I don't think you will have to worry about that, I see three of them heading this way, and one of 'em is young," said Deathclaw.
"But two of them are big burly otters, how can we get them away from the young one?" asked Ash.
Flint growled and hit the fox on the head. "There are twenty of us and only two of them, it will be easy," he said.
"I'll try to take down one," said Stump.
"Me too," said Deadbark.
"Good and if they give you any trouble, kill them," said Flint.
The two nodded and waited at just the right moment to come out of the bushes and grab them. Once the otters were close enough Deadbark and Stump jumped out. This startled Lily who hid behind her father.
"What do you two want?" asked Skipper who was glaring at them.
Before Skipper or Hunter could move, both Deadbark and Stump had a hold of them. Ash quickly grabbed Lily and ran off into the bushes with a ferret following him to help just in case Lily tried to escape.
"Daddy! Help me!" she cried.
"Lily! What are you going to do to my daughter?" asked Hunter angrily.
"Oh nothing, we will just hold her for ransom so we can take over Redwall," said Flint.
This angered Skipper immensely and before Stump could try to hold him down; he flipped the fox over and held his dagger inches from the fox's heart. Hunter tried to do the same but instead got a dagger pointed at his neck.
"Give back Lily or this fox will be killed," said Skipper.
"Oh we'll give her back to you, when you give us the abbey," said Flint who then nodded at Arrow.
Arrow smiled, took aim, and shot Skipper. Skipper let out a cry of pain when the arrow hit him in the side. Skipper decided to teach the ferret a lesson but before he ran over to him, he stabbed Stump in the heart. Stump was killed instantly.
This startled everyone, even Deadbark who was then kicked hard in the face by Hunter who then stabbed him in the neck.
Arrow saw Skipper coming toward him and notched his arrow. Before he could shoot, Skipper grabbed the bow and broke it in half. Skipper then grabbed the ferret and slammed him hard against a rock; Arrow did not rise after that.
Skipper smiled and was about to attack a nearby rat when he felt a terrible pain hit him in the leg. He turned and saw a rat ready to stab him in the back, but now that Skipper had turned, he ran for the heart. Skipper tried to stop him but was stabbed deep in the shoulder.
Hunter was having the same problems as Skipper, only he had not been injured as much He had already killed two vermin, a rat and a ferret and was about to proceed to killing a stoat when Skipper called to him.
"Hunter, it's too much, when you get a chance run for the abbey and get Strider, he can stop them," said Skipper.
"But I don't want to leave you," said Hunter who was almost stabbed by a stoat. Hunter just knocked him hard on the ground.
"Do as I say, I am your leader and that was an order, I will be there as soon as I can," said Skipper.
Hunter nodded and his eyes began to fill with tears, he wanted to help Skipper but knew it was the only way he could warn the abbey residents, so he ran.
"Get that otter!" yelled Flint angrily.
A rat tried to aim for Hunter but missed and hit a stoat that was running after him. Two other vermin decided to chase him. Once they got close though, Hunter quickly brought them down with a dagger he was holding. Before anyone else could go after him, he ran into the bushes out of range of arrows and vermin. They all knew that there was no way they could catch him now.
Skipper gave a quick smile, he saw how some of the vermin were standing there dumbfounded after loosing Hunter, most were not sure what to do until Flint yelled at them to help the rest of the crew with Skipper.
Skipper's thoughts about Hunter soon changed when a rat stabbed him deep in the back. Skipper cried out in pain and tried to get the rat off but was stabbed again by the rat, this time in the arm.
Finally Skipper knew he could not hold them off and had to run to the abbey. He quickly threw a few vermin off him and pushed the few that were running toward him out of the way. Once he was clear of all the vermin; he ran, and quite fast for an injured otter, but not fast enough. Flint growled, he was not going to let another otter escape. He grabbed a bow and arrow from one of his injured men and aimed for Skipper. Once Flint felt the arrow was in perfect position, he let it fly.
A/N: Ha ha, I'm leaving you all with a cliffhanger for a while. It will be a while too, about a month before the next chapter comes up since I will be in Maryland until the 16th of June. In the meantime please review and tell me how I am doing, I know there has to be others reading this. Any way that is all I have to say for now, so have fun writing stories. Bye.