I am terribly sorry about that little mishap. I lost my floppy disks (I like to go in the old-fashioned way) and the Re-writeable CD's wouldn't work the way I wanted them to...oh well. At least this is updated. This was actually created and finished the day after my last update, which I think was late September/early October. Oh well. I hope you enjoy this chapter, well actually, this chapter isn't so enjoyable. Never mind, please tell me what you think. Thanks to Kayla Silvercat and Dr. Agent for your reviews. The next chapter will come next week.

5

Chapter Four: Mayflower in the Breeze

An excerpt from Matti Squirrel, recorder of Redwall:

...This is definitely a moment in Redwall where time has just stopped completely. Mother Abbess has died so suddenly, and not a mouse had known this until supper was finished. At least she died on a peaceful day. Here's how Sister Lavender told it:

She had been sitting there all day weighing paw and foot on her. She was quite ill, anyway, and Lavender had reason to do so; the poor Abbess had grown so ill so fast. She'd never seen such a case in Redwall.

When her last ten minutes had came, she sleeping, until she awoke five minutes before her passing. Ironically, she had been talking as if she was perfectly normal, and Sister Lavender was playing along with it. It was an eerily joyful conversation that kept up between the two, until she suddenly stopped talking, then the old Abbess whispered quietly: 'The Golden Vallies...I can see them now...' and her eyes closed with a peaceful expression on her face.

That was all poor Sister Lavender could bear to tell me. The funeral is being held today, which turns out to be a warm and sunny day. Nice and peaceful, like her passing. I suppose that I should go on to get ready for the funeral now. I will write again soon.

-Matti Squirrel, Recorder of Redwall.

Matti got up from writing and rubbed his hands from the persistent writing. So many memories flowed through his mind, like a rushing river during a flood. Most, if not, all of Redwall had seen the Abbess since they were little Dibbuns. Which reminded Matti that the Dibbuns were probably crestfallen.

A few hours had passed until the ceremony began in the Great Hall, a paw-carved coffin with beautiful designs and leaves on it with the name "Germaine Mayflower, Abbess of Redwall" carved on the middle, was beheld at the end of the carpet runner that ran up to the steps where the Tapestry hung up. Windows were open, letting in a breeze that smelt of Mayflowers, which were lined all along the top of the brick wall that bordered Redwall. The bell tower rung four times, reverberating through Redwall, in remembrance of the four generations that the Abbess had been through. She was a badger, which meant that she'd live longer than any other Redwaller because there wasn't any other badger in Redwall.

The Dibbuns came in with tears on their faces and sat down on the front row with their mothers for comfort during the funeral. Everyone was upset about the sudden passing of Germaine Mayflower, whom hadn't been called that in many, many seasons. Father Abbott walked up in front of Germaine's coffin.

"We gather here today on this second day of the Autumn season to remember Germaine Mayflower, whom passed away to the Dark Forest just yesterday after she caught a bad cold. We are here to remember her as a dear Abbess of the Dibbuns, a mentor to Redwallers, and a beloved friend of Redwall that will be remembered for all seasons to come."

"Germaine was a dear friend of mine whom I grew up with, and as I have grown old with age, Germaine was much further ahead of me, and as I looked at her yesterday, I knew that her time would come soon..." Father Abbott stopped, tears filling his eyes, "I...I just never realized that it would come this soon in time. There's been so much that was left unsaid, and I guess that we all realize how fragile that our lives really are." Father Abbott finished, and the ceremony continued, next with Sister Lavender with a speech. The ceremony had then finished, leaving anyone to say or her last goodbyes.

"We will now stop the ceremony to take Germaine to Saint Ninian's Church, where she will be buried." Father Abbott said, and he along with two other men, picked up the corpse to start walking out of Redwall to St. Ninian's Church. The bell rang as Redwall had left, with only a few left behind to guard Redwall. The sweet, soothing smell of Mayflower went through all of Mossflower.

Once they got to the graveyard, the three lowered the coffin into the ground, and filled in the area with dirt. Many left after the burial began, incapable of watching the burial. Father Abbott and Sister Lavender, on the other hand, stayed at the graveyard, staring at the tombstone that stood in the ground. It read:

Germaine Theresa Mayflower: May Martin Guide Her Way.

Sister Lavender began crying again, and the Abbott hugged her, now both crying. "I know, Lavender, I know...but she's in a better place now. She's probably happy now, she was even happy when she closed her eyes one last time. Don't you worry...let's head back to Redwall now. Let all of your sorrows wash away."

It was now night at Redwall, and it was silent throughout. Everyone went back to their dormitories early for a good night's sleep and a return to the Harvest tomorrow. Sister Lavender looked out the window, and noticed that the grass was still growing. This made her think a minute, because the grass had shown no sign of slowing its' growth. The crops in the crop field, half harvested now, were still thriving. But the eerie thing was that the crop stems began to grow again. This now appalled the nurse, and she decided that she needed a good night's sleep for tomorrow. There'd be plentybeasts that still needed comfort from the loss. But at least Redwall was once again at peace. Well, for everyone except Father Abbott of course, who was worried over the evil band and the group he sent off...it was all too stressing for him.

The next morning brought a visit from a flock of swallows. The swallows had started to come to Redwall bringing news of Mossflower not too long ago, and they only did so to get some of the nice food that was cooked during the breakfasts.

Father Abbott was the first to greet them in, and he immediately began talking to them, urging the latest news about the pack of vermin going through Mossflower. "Have you seen the five I've sent out?"

"Have seen, have seen! Just getting to big waters now. Going to a place called Topaz Holt. Dunno if you know where is." The swallow said quickly. He couldn't make complete sentences due to a speech impediment that most birds had when speaking in English. It was also hard to hear them because they spoke in such a high pitch.

"Well, what about the large band of badbeasts? The ones that destroy things?" The Abbott asked.

"Have seen too, have seen too! Went past five, almost got. Five ran away, evilbeasts went north."

"Thank you for that information. That's all I need to know for now. Go ahead, eat all you want."

The eager swallows then dug into the delicious vittles. There were pastries constantly coming out of the kitchen, and oats were piled so high it seemed as if it never ended. It was definitely a great breakfast morning, as the sun came up for a new day.

At around noontime, the harvesting was nearly finished. But one thing was strange: the crops continued to grow, even though they were cut down all the way to the stem. All the Redwallers were asking around, but no one seemed to know...

An excerpt from Matti Squirrel, Recorder of Redwall:

Oh, my. These past three days have been exceedingly sad. It sure is a conclusion to what peril has started around Redwall. But one thing is still left unsettled: Father Abbott has been strangely quiet lately, and whenever I speak to him (usually around the mealtimes, otherwise I'm up here writing) he looks as if there's something swirling around his mind like an angry wasp, trying to shout out to me what he's thinking. I feel, oddly enough, that I should know what it is. I know, it really isn't like me to feel so nosy, but I want to help Father Abbott's troubles. He's been so incredibly quiet and solemn, and it honestly makes me feel of pity for him. I suppose I should try to talk to him, even though he's as easy to get open as a triple-locked safe.

The stars are coming out. I suppose I'll end here. Good night.

Matti Squirrel, Recorder of Redwall.

Ack! Way too many clichés thrown into this depressing story. Oh well. I've been reviewing around in hope of some more readers. Like I said earlier, the next chapter shall be along 'round Monday or Tuesday.