Once Strider had settled in to his new home at Salamandastron, winter seemed to go by slowly. Some days he thought spring had arrived because it was nice and warm but in the next day or two and snow storm would brew from the ocean and leave a lot of snow on the ground for a few days. It was not that bad though, the hares would entertain him and there were many young hares to keep under control. And one day a group of a hundred and twenty hares arrived at Salamandastron from the south to help him rule it. He knew that battles would be a little easier.
Strider soon learned that winter had finally ended when the next storm that arrived only brought a hard rain. Once the rain ended, he sent Swift out to check on the Redwallers while he and the hares worked on a garden so they could grow lettuce, tomatoes, and other foods for feasts.
Once that was finished, Strider started spending his hours on a little hillock overlooking the ocean and thinking.
One day Pawflash came up to see him.
"Is everything okay with you sa?" asked Pawflash.
"Hmm, oh yeah I'm fine, I'm just thinking," said Strider.
"About what?" asked Pawflash.
"My father," said Strider.
"I see, well would you like to bally hear about him?" asked Pawflash.
"That would be nice," said Strider.
"Well your father was one of the toughest badgers Salamandastron very bally had. He fought with the strength of two bally badgers. He never gave up on anything and made sure every vermin was killed even the ones that were trying to jolly run away. He took care of us, he made sure we had enough food and that we were all treated as equals. When he was not worried about bally battles he treated the young hares like they were his children, told them stories, played with them, all that bally jazzy stuff," said Pawflash.
"I see but why did he not take my mother and I with him to Salamandastron, he just left her without telling her where he was going or anything," said Strider.
"Ah, he told me the reason one winter after putting the bally little ones to bed. He told me, that he did not want you to grow up around violence. He also did not want your mother to worry about him when he was in battle. He said she bally worried about him a lot, like he bally could not take care of himself," said Pawflash.
"Good reason, but I think we would have still been okay, I ended up being the champion of Redwall and ruling this mountain and my mother would probably have never been killed by vermin," said Strider.
"Did they ever find out who flippin killed her?" asked Pawflash.
"No, the vermin left without a trace, it happened on a cold rainy night too," said Strider sadly.
Pawflash sighed and patted Strider on the back. "I sorry you never got to know your parents at least you are taking your fathers role though," said Pawflash.
"Yeah, but it might be hard because what if Redwall is in trouble when Salamandastron is in trouble," said Strider.
"You can send out some of us, we might be able to bally handle it until you are done here wot," said Pawflash.
"Yeah that could work, I just hope it never happens," said Strider.
"Me too wot," said Pawflash.
Strider and Pawflash just sat there for a few minutes thinking and watching the ocean. They left their thoughts when Swift suddenly landed right in front of them.
"Hell Swift, have a nice flight?" asked Strider.
"Oh yes it was nice to spread the wings," said Swift.
"That's good, so any interesting news at Redwall?" asked Strider.
"Not much but I was there for their nameday feast which they called "The Spring of the Many Daisies" because they were all over the place there," said Swift.
"I'm glad you were able to join that, what else has happened?" asked Strider.
"Well Lily the little otter said that she plans on traveling to here after next winter to help you, she is such a sweetheart. Spring says hello and hopes you have a good nurse. Abbot Walter says he will retire in a few more seasons and is glad you found a mate. Catspaw says she miss's you very much because you were such a good dibbun. The dibbuns also miss you too because they have not heard any fun stories," said Swift.
"Thanks for all the information, does Walter know who will replace him?" asked Strider.
"He has two that he is going to watch carefully and that's Sister Willoughby or Friar Danny," said Swift.
"Hmm I hope its Sister Willoughby because she would be wonderful and she loves dibbuns," said Strider.
Swift just nodded. "Now do you have any food for my starving stomach, I'm plum starving," said Swift.
"Well we have to go see because I am getting hungry too," said Strider who then got up with Pawflash and walked toward the mountain.
When they got close to it, they saw Lucky standing near a window and holding a flower.
"Oh Maggie, oh Maggie. I love you, will you please be my mate and accept this lovely rose that was growing on the side of the bally mountain," said Lucky.
Maggie poked her head out of the window and sneered at him. "How many times do I have to bally tell you no," said Maggie.
"But you need a jolly mate, Greyfur will never come back and you blinkin need someone to take care of you wot," said Lucky.
"I can take care enough of myself thank you," said Maggie who threw a trinket at him and shut the window behind her.
Lucky ducked away from the trinket and looked sadly up at Maggie, wishing she would like him.
"Still no luck huh," said Strider.
"No, but I'll keep bally trying," said Lucky.
"And I hope it works out then, for now let's go inside and have a nice plum pudding," said Strider.
Lucky forgot all about his love life and quickly ran into the mountain with Strider who was nearly bowled over by the gluttonous hare. He just smiled and closed the door behind him.
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A/N: There's that chapter for you, sorry if it was boring or anything. The action is coming soon. So be ready. And please review I promise that if you review I will read and review yours. Have a great day.