Many seasons passed and Strider became well known throughout all of Mossflower. Ever since that battle with Tanner, no other vermin would try to conquer that mountain in fear of loosing their heads in the process. Many vermin had known Tanner well and were quite surprised when they found out he had been killed in a fight, something they thought would never happen.
Strider ruled Salamandastron for many seasons though but often he would have to go out and help Redwall or the Guosim shrews fight off vermin. Once Redwall was under attack against two hundred vermin lead by a ferret, for two days the Redwallers fought alone, killing only fifty of the vermin, all seemed hopeless until Strider came with his Long Patrol destroying them all in less than a day.
He once even journeyed with the Guosim in search of a new blackstone after they had lost the old one while traveling on some dangerous rapids. The journey was long and tough because of the many arguments the Shrews made and vermin everywhere. But in the end it was all worth it.
Four seasons after the battle with Tanner, Strider and Alma were blessed with a child. It was a male who they named Kavik. A few months afterward, they noticed an interesting characteristic about Kavik. One eye was brown like his fathers and one eye was blue like his mothers. Everyone found it quite fascinating since they had never seen a badger like that before. The Long Patrol hares even gave him the name Kavik the Colorful.
Five seasons after Kavik was born, Alma gave birth to another child, this one a girl who they named Plio. She was loved by many and when she was older, she became the babysitter to the dibbun hares in the mountain.
Lucky and Maggie also had the happiness of having children, eight of them to be exact. All of them gluttons, but all of them battle ready. One even could not wait any longer for a battle and went off in search of one himself. He returned six seasons later and told everyone of an adventure he had on the high seas with two otters, a mole, three squirrels, and five mice. Together they got into many fights with pirates and other vermin, and when Lucky's son came home, he was all battled out.
Nathanial remained a bachelor for the rest of his life. That did not matter to him though; he went on all the adventures with Strider, fighting with the strength of two hedgehogs. He also retired in fighting when Strider retired.
Lily the young otter kept her word and arrived at Salamandastron the winter after the battle with Tanner. She went with him everywhere and fought like any warrior otter. Some thought though that she was another Grath, the female otter that went with Martin the second to Sampetra to save an abbot. Lily was more kind to vermin though, and usually let them live if they were not really doing anything wrong.
As many of you know, two male badgers don't do well living together, and when Kavik was old enough. Strider decided it was time he let the young badger lead while he, Alma, Lucky, Nathanial, Lily, and Plio headed back to Redwall where Strider spent the rest of his life either helping Mossflower with vermin or just relaxing in the abbey and telling stories to the dibbuns. Catspaw was quite old by the time Strider returned and happily taught Plio the works on being a badger mother. Plio was only too happy to do so.
So as the seasons went on, Strider became older. He hung up the sword fifteen seasons after he returned to Redwall. Three seasons after that, age caught up with him, he could barely walk any more and getting up in the morning was a pain. After a while he was so tired that he just spent all day in bed.
It was one of these days when Strider was dying in bed when a young otter was watching from the walltops for intruders. He heard a rustle in the bushes and was about to shoot his arrow when he found it was only a young badger with a large spear in his hand.
"Is this the Redwall I am seeking?" asked the young badger.
"Why yes it is, are you looking for someone or do you want to rest here?" asked the otter.
"I am here to see my father, my name is Kavik and I was told by a hawk that he is dying and wants me to see him one last time," said Kavik.
"Oh yes, I am glad you came, I don't know how much longer he can make it," said the otter.
"That's what the hawk told me," said Kavik.
"Well wait here while I open the gate for you," said the otter.
Kavik stood there a minute as the otter slowly opened the gate a little and let Kavik in. Kavik walked in and gave a small nod before entering the abbey.
Abbess Willoughby was the first to see him and quietly led him to Striders bed. When Kavik arrived in the room, he found it quite dark but all his friends were gathered around Strider except for Lucky who had died two seasons earlier.
"Oh Kavik you're here," said Plio happily and gave her brother a big hug.
"Yes a hawk told me that dad was dying," said Kavik.
"Oh that must have been Cumo, son of Swift, I'm glad he told you," said Alma who was now quite old herself.
"So Kavik finally made it to see his old dad," said Strider weakly.
"Yeah, I knew you would want me to see you one last time," said Kavik.
"That's good because now I will die happy," said Strider who then clutched his sons paw with his scarred paws.
"So how is Salamandastron?" asked Strider.
"Quiet, not much is happening," said Kavik.
"That's good, no dying, too much of that has happened in my life," said Strider.
"I know, you told me everyone of them," said Kavik.
Strider nodded and was silent for a moment until he spoke again. "There is something I need to tell you that an old friend of mine told me many seasons ago on his deathbed," said Strider.
"Tell me," said Kavik.
He said, protect those that need your help, kill only when necessary. Love those who love you, even if you don't really like them. If you have a dream, go for it. If you have an ambition, go for it. And most importantly keep the friends you have, you may never know that they can save your life or keep you company, because that is what friends do and friends are always wonderful to have." Said Strider.
"I will remember those always," said Kavik.
Strider smiled and looked at Plio who smiled back. "I hope you raise those dibbuns like they are yours, never yell at them, never hurt them, just love them," he said.
"I will do that father," said Plio who was now in tears.
Strider then turned to Alma. "I love you very much, may the rest of your life be a joy, and just so you know, I will be waiting for you at the dark gates," said Strider.
Alma just nodded as tears rolled down her old face. She then kissed her husband and held his hand as he talked to Lily and Nathanial one last time.
When he had finished he remained silent for a few minutes, he breathed calmly and held onto Alma's paw as tightly as he could. Finally, he said his last words.
"I'm coming home mom and dad," he said.
Alma felt his hand become lighter and when she let go, it fell limply by his side. The life of Strider the Warrior had now ended.
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A/N: Alright everyone lets all cry. One, two, three, wwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I hope that's how you spelled that. Any way the story is over, well not really the epilogue is next and you better stay for that because I am thanking every one of my reviewers individually and I will tell each of you a few things. So I will see you on the other side.