I've got to tell you something. I was going to put the following passage as chapter 12, but it just didn't seem right, so I dropped it.

Chapter 12

Ever bountiful in food, Redwall gladly let in the hares and lord even if it cost them a lot. Little did they know how many beasts were going to be in there once the war began. If they did know they were about to house over one thousand animals, they might have booted the hares out fist. But that was not the case.

Time went by slowly for Redwallers. Still many had their hopes set on the two determined creatures that went out to look for the otter. It had been two days scene Nightwing and Zanzibar went out to look for Arathorn. After receiving the news of the Evil One brought by Urthord, Redwall and the surrounding countryside fell into a deep depression. No one talked, ate, or even laughed much. They all new their ending was near; death, or slavery. All except a few bold creatures in Redwall; Triebane, Sathodus, Cythel, Jacalem, Log a Log, Skipper, and Lord Urthord. They sat in council for a whole day trying to find a way to defend Redwall and Mossflower. Their studies all ended the same way: a need for more troops. Doubtless they would win if they had the same number of creatures. So begins the three parts.

Don't worry. It doesn't make scene to me either. To sad and depressing to happen in Redwall. The fact is that I don't really want tons of hares running around Redwall. To much things to do. So I'll just do something else…

Chapter 12

Just as Arathorn predicted, the catapult train was in sight of Redwall's walls by sunset. It had been a trouble to keep the now awake cat from getting away. The only way to keep Flayven from getting loose was by having Nightwing sit by him and say "I vill feazt on your bonez" whenever he tried to escape, or move, or do anything suspicious.

Flayven was in a panic. Apart from the fact that a large falcon would "feazt on hiz bonez" if he tried to move, Flayven knew the consequences of losing his entire command. Also, he was with the very creatures his boss had under whip and lash to bring back the catapults. On top of that, he had lost them all! Now he had no idea where he was, where he was going, or which direction he was heading.

Sighing, he settled back and hoped the large egg shaped lump on the back of his head would quit hurting.

"I vill feazt on your bonez!" Nightwing eyed him suspiciously and tested his beak on some nearby wood.

"Would y' quit sayin' that? It's gettin' on my nerves!"

"Zorry, but it iz orderz. Vat else vould I zay or do? I've been put on guard duty."

Flayven slumped moodily down as the cart hit a rock and rattled. He kept silent and thought.

Up in front, Arathorn had Nitram stop ridding Zanzibar. Now that Redwall was in sight, he knew they wouldn't have to walk far. She jumped off and stretched her legs.

"Yore right, Arathorn, ridin' ain't that 'ard."

"Yep. But wait till you gallop."

Flayven called out to Arathorn, "Hey, otter!"

All the other otters looked at him.

"Not you, the one in front next to the horse. Yea you."

Arathorn walked over to walk next to the cart. "What d'ya want?"

Nightwing sighed, "May I pleaze go for a quick munchy while you two yak?"

"Sure, go ahead." Arathorn respected the Nightwing's need to eat alone.

The happy falcon launched himself from the cart and disappeared into the forest.

"As you were saying, cat?" He turned back to the cat tied to the catapult on the cart.

Flayven chose his next words carefully, "If you untie me and let me walk, I promise I will not try to escape."

Arathorn laughed hard and long before stopped and answered, "Fat chance."

Nitram suddenly ran up and pointed to Redwall's south battlements. "Are those the beasts y'told me about: the Abbot, Triebane, Cythel, and Skipper?"

Two mice, a badger and an otter stood waving at the procession coming along the road. Triebane pointed at Arathorn and disappeared to soon reappear at the gates. The rest left the wall and scrambled down the steps. The Abbey gates were flung open wide as hares, two badgers, mice, moles, hedgehogs, otters, and squirrels poured out of the Redwall. The former slaves stopped pushing and pulling and ran to meet new friends.

Zanzibar and Arathorn stayed back to watch the slavers and cat captive. The otter unhitched the horse and began brushing him.

Triebane walked up to them and asked, "Where'd you go, Arathorn?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He answered still scrubbing and rubbing in circler motions.

Zanzibar relaxed and closed his eyes. "You sure know how to rub me good, Master."

Triebane refused to let the matter settle. "Oh, common, Arathorn. The whole Abbey's been worrying. How about telling us all in the Great Hall?"

"If you insist."

As if noticing Nightwing's absence for the first time, Triebane looked around, "Where's Nightwing?"

"He went out for dinner."

"Right."

"Well look who came back to us." Abbot Sathodus, Cythel, and Nitram strolled casually over to them.

"Nitram told us of how you rescued them." Cythel embraced Arathorn so tightly she squeezed the air out of him.

"Oooooooof! Er, aye."

"But I don't think that's all you were doing away from our Abbey." Sathodus eyed him suspiciously. "By the way, where's Nightwing?"

"He's having dinner."-the others looked around for the falcon-"By himself."-they looked at Arathorn questioningly- "In the woods."-they nodded and smiled knowing smiles-"Yea."

Arathorn felt awkward until Nitram suggested, "Lets go inside."

Cythel nodded towards the catapults, slavers, and cat. "What about that lot?"

"We could try to bring them inside the Abbey." Triebane suggested.

"They wouldn't fit through the gates. Only the captives can come in. Leave a few beast to guard them until we figure out a plan." Nitram was as surprised as everyone else that was near. "I'm sorry I spoke up! I don't know why I did!"

"That's quite alright, child. You actually said the right thing. Arathorn, have you met Lord Urthord?"

The giant badger strolled up with his captains to make introductions.

"I'm the Lord of Salamandastron, are you the bold Arathorn the Ranger?"

"I most certainly am, your Highness."

"Please, call me Urthord. I've heard wonderful things about you, Arathorn. Could you show me your skills?"

"Sure, Urthord, after we dump these prisoners inside Redwall."

For the first time Urthord glanced at the slavers. His eyes turned black as night, and his paws went stiff.

"It's the Evil Ones doing! If I don't string his neck! And that's one of his captains, Flayven!"

"Now sire, don't work y'self up. 'Tis only a fair thing to let the blighter have his say, wot?" One of the hares said in a calm and smoothing voice.

"Oh, Arathorn, I forgot to introduce my commanders; Captain Durkerut, Captain Inka, Captain Ethan, and Captain Sandlim. Please forgive me, captains."

"Quite so ol' bean."

"It's fine as a daisy, Sire."

"It happened t' me b'fore."

"You're forgiven, Lord."

All four saluted at the same time.

"Thank you. I've business to attend to, good-day gentlebeast." He turned on one heal and headed after the rest of the Redwallers into the Abbey. His Long Patrol captains had trouble keeping up with his long strides.

Later that night, Arathorn was worried; Nightwing hadn't arrived back yet. He stood on the south battlements overlooking the darkening forest. He was joined by Triebane who leaned against one of the many pink colored parapets.

"So when are you going to tell us where else you went?" Triebane asked still looking towards the south.

Arathorn rested his chin and paws on a different parapet as he answered, "Once Nightwing gets back."

"How soon will that be?"

As if arriving on queue, Nightwing landed right beside the mouse who jumped up startled.

"How'd you get here?" He asked while Arathorn straightened up.

"I flew, mouze. Arathorn! I caught a red fox zpying on Redvall. But dat fox von't zpy no more." Nightwing patted his stomach.

"Hem, a red fox y'say? I bet Flayven will know something about it. I'll ask him later. Right now, I have to tell where I went." All three turned and descended the steps to the Abbey lawn. There they were joined by Sathodus.

"Welcome back, Nightwing, I wondered where you went. Arathorn, everyone is waiting and boy is it a packed hall! Even the badger lord and hares want to here."

Together they walked into the Great Hall. Immediately a hush fell over the awaiting crowd. Since it was so late in the evening, the Dibbuns were sent to bed; but not without loud complaints. The Abbot took his chair and Cythel hers. Triebane leaned against a wall while Arathorn stood on an empty chair so all could see him. He did not fail to see Nitram sitting on the floor next to Marion. They were in the front row. So he began.

"Well, it's kinda hard t' explain. I was and am never good at speaking to large crowds, but I'll try my best. I woke up in the middle of the night and found I had injured myself. So I went downstairs from Triebane's room when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Slowly I turned around and drew my dagger. Guess who was there? None only than…"

"A goastie!"

All eyes turned where the voice came from. But all that could be seen was a squirrel tail sticking out from under the chair Sister Icey sat in.

"Oh my Elmortal, you sneak! I thought I put you to bed!" The good sister Icey clambered out of the cushion-filled chair and pulled the giggling young one out by the tail.

"Pwease doen sen me t' bed! I wanna 'ere da stowie!" Elmortal begged.

"Oh alright, but you mustn't say anything." She let the happy squirrel babe sit on her lap once he nodded in agreement instead of saying something.

"Ahem." Arathorn cleared his throat apprehensively.

Again all the beady eyes turned to look back at the speaker.

"As I was saying, none only then Martin the Warrior! Then another mouse appeared. Her name was Rose."

Many knowing nods were passed among the Abbey dwellers.

"She produced a single golden leaf from a satchel around her waist and pressed it on my wound. Instantly I was healed!"

He pauses to let the astounded murmuring subside. Abbot Sathodus rang a bell for order.

"Please, creatures, let Arathorn speak!"

Everyone grew silent once more as Arathorn began again, "He told me some things only for me, and then lead me to the rooftop. From there, he raised his hands and we were surrounded by a yellow column of light. Then we, by some unknown force, were lifted up higher and higher…"

"An' 'igher an' 'igher an' 'igher an' 'igher an' 'igher." Elmortal summarized under his breath loud enough for sister Icey and the surrounding beast to here.

Before Icey could scold the youngster, Arathorn continued, "Yes, as Elmortal said. When I thought we could go no higher, a blinding light flash and I was transported to the Dark Forest!"

Hundreds of gasps arose from the crowd, followed by excited talking. The Abbot's little bell was of no use.

So together Lord Urthord and Cythel stood and shouted at the tops of their voices, "QUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEETT!"

It was so quiet a lone cricket could be heard chirping outside the door. The two badgers disdainfully took their seats.

"I'm surprised at you lot. Interrupting a kind otter like Arathorn and behaving like some Guosim shrews in an argument. You should show some respect to him." Sathodus chided the Redwallers and hares. "You may begin again, Arathorn, and I apologize on the behalf of us all."

"Thank you Abbot. If you hadn't said that, I would have walked out. One more interruption and I am out of here! Now where was I? Oh yea, in the Dark Forest, I followed Rose to her house in the golden trees. There Martin showed me the Evil One and told me to capture his catapult train. He gave me my weapons, though I don't know how… yes Marion? Thanks for raising your hand."

The mousemaid told how Martin took the tools for war from her.

"Thank you for clearing that up. Anyway, he transported me to the forest and from there I freed the slaves and we took the catapults here." He ended the story as fast as he could.

Wild cheers, applause, laughter, tears of happiness, and talk erupted from the one time slaves. They were joined by Redwallers and hares. No one noticed an otter slip out the door. No one but one.

This may have taken long to post, but it has exactly 2200 words in it. So hope you enjoyed. Next chapter might take awhile also. Toodle do!