Strider stood up from his bed, breathing heavily from the dream he had just had. The room was quiet save for a few mumbles from Lucky having his own dream. Strider looked outside, it was not too dark out, the sun would be up soon. But it looked like the sun would not be out today because it was snowing lightly and it was accumulating on the trees.

Strider sat there for a moment, thinking about his dream. Did his father, who was actually still alive, really need him? Or was this just one of his fantasies? Strider was not sure so he jumped out of bed and put on a warm cloak before running out the door.

He ran down the abbey halls and almost ran into Abbot Walter who was up early for the day. He did not even stop and say good morning.

"What's the matter," the old abbot called as Strider continued to run.

Strider said nothing; he just ran until he came to the main door and opened it. A heavy breeze came into the room causing some snow to come in and Strider's cloak to sway with it. He then ran out and quickly closed the door behind him. Once he got to the main gate, he did not bother waking up Tobias or Nathanial; he just opened the gate by himself and ran out.

The badger ran through Mossflower, the cold chill caused his breath to form almost like smoke. He ran so hard that the chill did not bother him; he was actually sweating from how fast he was running.

Finally Strider stopped at the River Moss and walked over to a tombstone where his mentor Skipper had been buried. Strider fell to his knees and looked at the tombstone that had words written on it.

Here Lies Skipper.

One of the greatest otters

To ever lead the otters of Mossflower

May you rest in the Darkforest

In peace.

A tear ran down Strider's cheek after reading it and then he began to speak.

"Skipper, I wish you were alive right now so you can help me figure out if this dream I had was real or just part of my imagination," he said quietly.

The badger then remained silent, hoping to get an answer or a sign. But nothing came as the snow began to fall more heavily and soon coated the badger almost completely white.

Suddenly the breeze kicked in and Strider turned his head toward it. That was when he heard a voice call to him. It was Skipper.

"Strider, I'm sorry I can't be here for you, but you do need to start going to someone else for questions," he said.

"But you always give me the right answers, you gave me the right one when I left to fight those vermin," said Strider.

"I know, but I will say this, go to Abbot Walter during the feast, the answer he will give you, will be the right one," said Skipper.

Strider just nodded as the breeze began to die down. The final whisper he heard was "Follow the dream."

Strider sat there, what Skipper just said did sound like the right choice but he knew it was best to ask Abbot Walter.

When Strider returned, he found Nathanial standing there near the gates watching him arrive.

"You forgot to lock it before you left, what if a vermin came in here?" said Nathanial.

"I would not worry, besides it's too early and cold," said Strider.

"Yeah I was surprised you actually ran out there in the snow," said Nathanial.

"It's only because I had a dream last night and I wanted to talk to Skipper about it," said Strider.

"You still try to talk to him, don't you understand, he is dead, he has been dead for almost two seasons. You need to find someone else to talk to now," said Nathanial.

"Yeah I know, Skippers spirit said that too, and that is just what I am going to do," said Strider as he ran back into the abbey.

Nathanial stood there watching him and wondering, like always, if the dream the badger had would change anything.

Strider walked up the steps to his room when he ran into Catspaw. The female badger saw how wet he was and was not pleased.

"Been outside in the cold haven't you, well I suggest you take a nice warm bath before you catch your death of cold and miss the party," she said.

"Yes Marm, I was just thinking about doing that," said Strider.

"Good, and if you don't I will make sure Sister Cecilia or Spring will give you something that will cure what ales ya," said Catspaw.

Strider did not like the sound of that, he knew some of the remedies that Sister Cecilia cooked up for colds and sniffling and most tasted very bad. Strider then ran as fast as he could to the bath before anyone else saw him.

While Strider sat in the bath, he pondered more about his dream. Did he really need to go to Salamandastron? Was his father really still alive? Why did he never come and look for him? And most importantly, would it be alright to leave Redwall with the sword of Martin and the inhabitants defenseless?

He then realized though that Skipper and his otters would be there to protect them but would there be enough if that happened?

Strider then began to close his eyes and drifted into sleep. As he slept, he was visited by Martin the Warrior.

Martin looked at him for a moment and then spoke. "Ask Walter, he will give you the right answer. Don't worry about the inhabitants if you do leave, I will visit you in your dreams if anything happens," he said and then disappeared.

Strider watched him disappear but was then startled by a loud knock on the door.

"Strider, are you in there, you didn't drown did you?" It was Lucky.

Strider stretched and then answered. "No I'm fine Lucky, I've only been in here for ten minutes," he said.

"No you haven't, you've been in there for two hours, I bet that water is bally freezing," said Lucky.

Strider felt the water, it felt as warm as he had got in, which was quite strange. "No it's still warm," he told Lucky.

"Really let me in," said Lucky who then burst in and jumped right in just as Strider had gotten out.

Lucky came up and shivered. "Warm, wot do you mean warm, this water is flippin freezing," he said.

Strider touched it again but still found it warm to him. "Hmmm, maybe I have special insulation," he said.

"Wotever, I'm getting out and I'm going down to great hall and help with the bally feast," said Lucky.

"You do that," said Strider who then dried himself and put on some warm clothes.

A few hours later, Strider came down to the great hall to feast with everyone. He sat with the group he usually sat with and so far Lucky was already on his second glass of Double Decker Ale that had been brought out before the meal. He was a little lopsided but not too drunk, not yet any way.

Once everyone was seated, Abbot Walter stood up on a large platform greeting everyone.

"I'm glad everyone could make it to the nameday feast today. I'm especially glad, the otters of Mossflower have showed up," said Walter.

Skipper and Lily raised their glasses causing the rest of the otter crew to do the same. All looked quite happy to be there as well.

"I can tell everyone is hungry for the feast so I will keep this short by saying: Dig In," said the abbot and immediately the food was brought out. Everyone started eating the meal as soon as it hit the table.

Strider enjoyed his meal of salad, pea soup, and some bread with cheese. It was a wonderful meal to him. He forgot all about the dream until Walter walked up to greet everyone.

"How is the meal?" he asked in an abbot like voice.

"It's bally delicious," said Lucky who seemed to show no sign of drunkenness even though he had five glasses.

Walter winked at Strider. "There is barely any alcohol in there," he said.

Strider laughed and then turned to the abbot seriously. "Sir, I had a dream last night and it seemed so real that I have to ask you a question about it," said Strider.

"I know you did, and yes you should," said the Abbot.

Strider stared at the Abbot. "How did you know?" he asked.

"Martin talked to me last night and said you should, your father does need you badly" said Walter.

"But what about Redwall?" asked Strider.

"Don't worry everything will be fine, and like Martin said, he will come to you when we need you," said Walter.

Strider nodded and watched as Walter walked off to the next table. All of Striders friends looked at him.

"What was that all about?" asked Lucky.

"I'm leaving," said Strider.

Billy and Milly, who had both been drinking some cider spit it out and stared at him.

"What, but..." said Billy.

"....You have to stay here and protect us," said Milly.

"I know but I am needed at Salamandastron, my father is still alive," said Strider.

"No!" said Lucky astonished.

Strider just nodded.

"Well if you're leaving then I am going with you," said Nathanial.

"And since I am your sidekick, I must bally go with you too wot," said Lucky.

"Us too," said Billy and Milly at the same time.

"Yeah we have been with you since..." said Billy.

"...we were dibbuns," said Milly.

"Thanks guys, I'll need company along the way," said Strider.

Lucky took a big quaff of his drink before he spoke again. "So when are we leaving?" he asked.

"In two days," said Strider.

Lucky who was drinking some more spit out his ale and got it all over Nathanial. "In two days! But it's bally snowing blankets out there, we'll flippin freeze to death like I almost did in that bath," he said.

"Don't worry, Martin will protect us, I don't think any harm will come to us," said Strider.

"Yeah and also there will probably be less vermin out there to rob us," said Nathanial.

They all looked at Lucky who at first seemed a little unsure but then shrugged. "Okay I'll go," he said.

They all smiled and then went back to eat. Strider could not believe what he was doing, but he knew that it would be the right thing once he finally reached Salamandastron.

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There's that chapter for you. I hope you liked it. The next few chapters will hopefully be more action packed since they will have many adventures along the way. Also I am thinking that I should change the name of the story, if anyone can think of a better one please let me know and if I like it, I will change it to that. Any way that is all I have to say for now so have fun writing if you do. :)