Barley the hedgehog gatekeeper stoically kept watch, as he always did on rainy nights. The sun had set over an hour ago, and the storm had blow up very fast. All the rest of the Abbeybeasts had retreated to the comfort of Cavern Hole. Barley rather liked the smell of rain, and considered himself most fortunate to be out during the storm.

He casually leaned on the walltop, scanning the path that passed Redwall Abbey. The downpour had turned the path into mud. Barley's vision was limited due to the rain, but he still could see a good ways up and down the road. The hedgehog barely stirred when one of his fellow Abbeybeasts joined him on the walltop.

"Fine night to take a walltop stroll, wouldn't you agree Barley?"

He smiled, but kept his eyes focused on the forest. "Aye, tis as ye say, Sister Ellie."

Sister Ellie was Redwall's healer, and also had a penchant for "helping" Barley with his gate keeping duties. Being a squirrel, she liked the heights of the walltop. She also liked to talk – a lot. Barley kept his gaze fixed while Sister Ellie talked about all the goings on around the Abbey.

He nodded his head occasionally, just to let her know he was listening. Of course, most everything she told him, he already knew; Barley just liked to humor the Sister.

"…and did you know Chef Jeremy wants to have supper in the orchard on the first day of summer? I just hope that Brother Al and I will be able to keep the dibbuns in line."

Barley smiled. He was extremely fond of the dibbuns, the Abbey's children. Just thinking about the trouble they'd get themselves into made him chuckle, The Sister was right about those young ones being a pawful. She had also mentioned Jeremy's cooking.

Traditionally, the head cook at Redwall was given the title of Friar. Jeremy had refused the title because ha had grown used to being called "chef" by all the otters in his holt. So the big ottercook had accepted the title of "Head Chef of Redwall Abbey", which most shortened to just "Chef".

Just the mention of Jeremy's name made Barley's mouth water. The hedgehog, as well as all the Abbeybeasts, never knew what would come out of the kitchens on any given day; but they did know that it would be delicious. And, Jeremy would always prepare a unique dish to celebrate the first day of each new season.

"Barley?" Sister Ellie's voice brought the gatekeeper's thoughts back to the present. "Are you alright?"

"Sorry Sister, me mind was just wandering there."

The two of them stood watching together in silence for several moments, as the rain continued to pour down. Ellie suddenly leaned forward, squinting her eyes.

"I think I see something," she said, pointing down the path. Barley strained to see what the Sister was pointing at. He could just barely make out the silhouette of somebeast struggling up the path. The hedgehog then recognized who it was; Skipper, the chief of the otters.

"Ahoy!" Skipper bellowed in his deep bass voice, "I've a hurt beast 'ere! Open th' gates Barley!"

Barley turned to Sister Ellie, "you'd best fetch yer healin' supplies, and also bring the Abbess."

The Sister was down the stairs and halfway across the lawn in a matter of seconds. Barley met Skipper at the gates. The otter reached the doors just as the hedgehog pulled them open. Skipper had an unconscious mouse slung over his right shoulder.

"Here," Barley indicated that he would help Skipper carry the mouse, "we can take him into the gatehouse."

"I've got 'im," Skipper smiled. "Shut the gate and lock it tight, though. Might be vermin lurkin' about."

The hedgehog nodded, locking the gate securely. He led the otter chief into the gatehouse just as Sister Ellie, Brother Cornelius and the Abbess arrived. Cornelius lit several candles he had brought as Barley swept aside the books and scrolls covering the large table in the middle of the room. Skipper laid the mouse on the table and Sister Ellie unpacked her healing supplies.

Skipper turned and bowed slightly to the Abbess. She returned the gesture, motioning that they should go outside Ellie could work. Cornelius took the lantern he had brought, and the four of them proceeded out of the gatehouse. The rain had since stopped, and the storm clouds were moving off. A small sliver of moon peeked through the breaks in the cloud cover.

The four beasts stood out on the Abbey lawn, Cornelius's lantern illuminating a small area like an island in the darkness of night. Few lights shine through the stained glass windows of the main Abbey building. Skipper figured most of the Abbeybeasts were already abed. He winced slightly as Barley slapped his shoulder.

"Well, tis good ta see you agin, matey!"

Thank ye, Barley. But watch the shoulder; it's still smartin' from carryin' my liddle buddy in there for half a day."

"Any idea who he is, or where he came from?" The query came from the Abbess, eager to know anything Skipper could reveal to her.

"Nary a clue, Abbess Elizabeth. I came upon him whilst I was on my way back home. Looked to me like a gang of vermin had jumped him, maybe a dozen or more of the scoundrels. Well, I grabs my fishin' spear, and helps to drive off the ones the mouse hadn't already beaten. All he said before he collapsed was, 'help please.' I dressed his wounds as best I knew how, and headed straight here."

"Let's hope that Sister Ellie can help him. In the mean time," Elizabeth gestured toward the Abbey, "we should go inside and wait."

As they started toward the building, Skipper glanced back over his shoulder at the gatehouse.

"Don't you worry, mate." Barley patted his friend's arm, "Sister Ellie'll fix him up, good as new!"

Skipper sighed and followed the three Abbeybeasts inside.