"Fffetch a wwwee bit more of zzat hhhherbal tea, Encoodna," a thin, wavering voice rasped.
A heavily cloaked figure, much like the one Twurl had spied before, was standing over her, staring beadily into her eyes. It looked like a mouse, but its face was much wider, and it looked to be a fair amount taller as well. Its gaze was deep and penetrating, the rest of its face bland and expressionless.
As Twurl lay there in an almost pitch darkness, a second figure, probably the one she had seen before she blacked out, strode silkily to the hard cot on which Twurl lied, hissing quietly under her breath. She held a small ornate saucer and a cup in her hand. An incredibly foul smell drifted from the cup, and Twurl wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Hhhere it is," the creature commanded in an even more raspy voice than its counterpart, "Zzze hhherbal tea wwith a touch of wwwintercress and rrrat urine. It beez gudd for zzzee body. Yyyon maiden ssshall dddrink zzee whole zzzing, make sssure of it"
As the cup passed hands to the first creature, Twurl trembled with fear. The creature slowly brought the cup up to Twurl's lips, where she could just barely taste the foul concoction. As the liquid was poured liberally into Twurl's mouth, the putrid tea burned down her throat, causing searing pain. She began to choke, and gagged loudly. The creature immediately drew the cup away from Twurl's mouth and made sure she had stopped choking before speaking.
"Sssso, ye hhave fffinally awakened. Who are ye, pppray tell? What be yourrr busssiness with ze Strenkans hereabouts?" the creature questioned.
"My friends and I were just out for a little expedition when we were attacked by the rat army. We didn't stand a chance and ran for it. It was not our fault at all.
"I did not think it wwwere, ma beauty. I do not asssk for explanation, only ffor yourrr ssstory. Mmme and my ssissster here, Encoodna, wwwe's what you might call rrrecorders. Wwwe wrrrite down zzzee ssstories of whoever comes our way, so's we can have sssomethin' to rrread to passss zzzee long, lonely hours," the creature explained.
"Well, I'd be obliged to spin you a yarn," Twurl replied, "but first, if you don't mind me asking, exactly what are you and what is your name?"
"Wwe are pigs, forrr lack of a better wwword. Wwwe are sssometimes called gwwwine pigs, as wwwe come frrrom the island of Gwwine, far to the north. My name isss Rictess. I hhave lived in zzese parts ever sssince my family wwwas raped of zzeir beautiful hhhome, Rrredwall abbey."
"Redwall abbey?" questioned Twurl in surprise. "That is where I come from. And I've never heard of any gwine pigs living there, let alone being cast out. You must be mistaken."
"I am most sssertainly nnot. But nevvver mind that. Carry on wwith yon tale." It was a command, not a request."
"I have lived in Redwall Abbey all my life," Twurl began, "and I can't think of a better or more beautiful place in the entire world." With that, she launched into her tale.
