I hope the last chapter was not to long. By the way, if you see a lot of mistakes, well I'm typing with one finger in a bandage. I skinned it while pealing potatoes. Kinda sounds like something that might happen in Redwall, eh? Hey…ouch…off! Oops, sorry, my cat that was asleepon my lap woke up and desperately clawed his way up and off. Now where was I…? Oh yea, I was about to say I should have someone skin their finger while pealing potatoes. Without further a due, I give you…

—¤·Θ·¤—

Chapter 13: More Than Two Missing

—¤·Θ·¤—

Where was that vixen? The evil wolf paced back and forth in front of his tan tent. She was supposed be back an hour ago with news of the Abbey. Maybe she was caught? Who cared anyway, just some stupid… vixen… seer. The wolf slowed his pace after every thought. He knew it was bad luck to curse a Seer, a chosen seer. Ah well, I'll have to find another, he thought bitterly to himself.

Have you ever experienced that time when you do something nice for someone but, they are in a foul mood and take it wrong? That's exactly what happened to poor Elizon.

She walked up to him carrying a large caldron with a pleasant smile on her ragged face. Elizon placed the black pot in front of her chief and said, "Chief, I brought y' some yummy wabbit stew! Cooked wit hot taters an'…" The rat's smile slowly faded as did her voice, as Preythieve scowled down at her.

"Idiot! Don't you know I hate potatoes? As with any other vegetable in this blasted forest? Bring me fresh meat!" He swirled around and ducked into his private living quarters leaving a hapless rat behind.

Elizon hauled the cooking cauldron back to her humble sheet made into a tent and ate in silence. After a couple minutes, she was joined by a female stoat, Riggar.

"'Ave y' seen the chief 'round?" She asked in a whisper.

"Aye, what d' ya want 'im fer?" Elizon whispered back.

Instead of answering, Riggar smelled the stew and shivered with anticipation, knowing Elizon would not refuse a tasting request. "Ah, tat stew there smells mighty good, mind if I try some?"

"No no, take as much as y' want, but answer me question first." At the last part of her sentence, Elizon pulled out a dagger and pointed it at Riggar as she reached for the ladle.

"What be y' plannin' about the chief?" She snarled, menacing the dagger.

"Oh nothin'. I just wanted t' know if there was anymore punishments t' be seen." The stoat scooped some of the food into a wooden bowl.

Elizon sheathed her dagger and watched the stoat eat. "I made the stew fer the chief but, I forgot he hates veggies."

Between munches Riggar replied, "Aye… he's a tough 'un, the chief. Bet 'e never cooks fer 'imself. By the way, 'ave y' seen that red fox about? She usually makes 'is dinner around this time."

—§·§·§—

Arathorn climbed up to the Dibbuns tree house and watched out one of the windows as Nitram followed. As he was helping her up into the house, Arathorn noticed a tear in Nitram's eye. So together the sat down.

"What's wrong, Nitram?" He asked in a soothing voice.

When she looked up, the stars reflected off her dark hazel eyes, and her voice was shaken. "Do you remember anything about your childhood?"

Arathorn was surprised when she spoke not in otter language. "No, not much. All I remember is the night my father and mother died. Past that I do not. Why do you ask?"

A slight smile escaped Nitram as she answered, "In that case, I know more about you then you know about yourself."

Bewildered, Arathorn asked her to explain. She took his paws in his and began.

"Those two who called themselves your mother and father were fakes. They stole you -and our father's sword and shield- away from our family…"

"OUR family? What are you saying?" Arathorn's paws started to shake.

"Calm down and listen, silly!" She giggled and then whispered in his ear, "I am your sister!"

Arathorn was not very surprised, "I thought I recognized your eyes. But why were you crying?"

"I was so happy I found you! It makes me want to act like a Dibbun!"

"Same here! Hey, why don't we?"

They both grinned mischievously.

—§·§·§—

The next day,

"Has anyone seen Arathorn or Nitram?" Triebane and Marion burst into the Abbot's room where many of the elders where chatting and sipping tea.

"No, I bet they're around here somewhere. I'll help you look." Cythel abandoned her chair and excused herself.

As they searched the orchards, a distant laughing could be heard.

"Sounds like a bunch of Dibbuns, Cythel." Marion said.

"Coming from their tree house; but I don't see any… oh no! There's no one on guard."

Instantly, all three began to run toward the tree house with Triebane in the lead. As they neared their destination, a Dibbun flew out the window! The little squirrel tumbled toward the earth, and in the state of panic, Triebane made a desperate leap with arms outstretched!

SWOSH!

Triebane found himself rising steadily higher. He looked to his left and saw Elmortal. Laughing and pointing to smaller growing tree house, the squirrel babe said "I new biga birdie ketcha me!"

"Harr harr, you are a heavy mouze, Triebane." Nightwing looked down at them both.

The warrior mouse suddenly wiggled and squirmed in Nightwing's talons. "Put me down quick! I don't know how birds stand being so high in the air!"

"If you zay zo," came the reply.

Quicker then anyone could see, Nightwing plummeted earthward. Folding his wings in, Nightwing sped down so fast; the wind was knocked from Triebane's chest. He was grateful he couldn't scream and embarrass himself even though he felt like it. Elmortal, meanwhile, was having the best time. He laughed and smiled so much, Triebane thought his mouth would crack.

All at once the ride was over. Triebane stood shakily from where he had fallen from Nightwing's talons. Nitram and Arathorn looked out from the tree house window and giggled.

"Look at Triebane," Arathorn whispered to Nitram, "Marion's checking him over for brusies!"

"Ooo! And look at poor Elmortal," Nitram whispered back while trying to snuffle a laugh, "haahaa, er, Cythel's in a bad mood. We'd better hide quick!"

Both otters ducked down and sat with their backs resting against the wall.

"They'll never find us in here!" Arathorn giggled and snuck a peek out the window.

"Uh-oh, I think Elmortal's tattle-tailing on us Dibbuns."

Nitram snickered and smiled broadly. "Oh not him, I told him not to."

Arathorn poked a finger in his sister's side as a mock dagger, "Whacha tell 'im?"

"Oh nothin' much: just that a certain Dibbun wouldn't get dinner but would have a bath if he told. Same thing with Nightwing."

"Ha!" Arathorn blasted, and would have continued laughing if Nitram's body wasn't covering his mouth; or more like head.

"Quiet you snoop or you'll get us caught!"

Meanwhile, down below the tree house, Cythel, Elmortal, Nightwing, Triebane, and Marion were having their own conversation. The badgermum, Triebane and Marion were trying to worm information out of the two "captives".

"What were you thinking? Jumping out of a window like that?" Cythel questioned Elmortal.

"I knew birdie ketcha me." The squirrel hugged Nightwing fiercely.

"He'z telling the truth, marm." Nightwing pretended to be touched by Elmortal's words of faith.

"But still," this time Marion spoke up, "you could have been hurt. It was a naughty thing to do, both of you."

She pulled Elmortal away from Nightwing and looked into his eyes only to find herself staring into the most innocent, perfect eyes she had ever seen.

Cythel was about to scold more, but Marion stopped her. "Aw give them a break, Cythel, can't you see they knew what they were doing?"

Elmortal still adopted the innocent look but he smiled and jumped into Marion's arms.

Again Cythel started to talk, but Triebane interrupted, "Ssshh! I thought I heard something."

They all listened but nothing could be heard.

"You probably heard your imagination. Anyway, we have to continue our search for Arathorn and Nitram." Nightwing and Elmortal exchanged winks. "As for you culprits, you may go on your way. But see this doesn't happen again."

As the three walked away, the falcon and squirrel babe whispered, "Tankz Elmortal. Now ve both get dinner and no bath!"

The little squirrel nodded his head and smiled. Then without warning, he shot up into the treehouse. Nightwing followed close behind.

"Ah, good friends, thank you so much." Nitram began her thank-you speech. "I'd like to…"

"Aw, skip the chatter. If we aren't gonna be found, we're gonna need food and drink supplies." Arathorn got down to business.

"What? They're all gone?" Nitram glared at Arathorn.

"Er I guess I had a little snack."

Nitram picked up a satchel in the corner of the hut and acted discussed as she turned it upside-down and shook it. Nothing emerged but two empty flasks.

"Right, mazter; but who vill go get dem?" Nightwng spared his friend a lecture.

Elmortal raised a paw, but was rejected by all. "No, he would be the one all the Abbey leaders suspect. I'll go because I finished off the other stuff." Arathorn opened the trap door and climbed down the tree.

Nitram called after him, "Don't forget to bring other things that might be useful!"

"Righto sister!"

"Zizter?"

And careful not to be seen, Arathorn slipped into the main Abbey building.

—§·§·§—

"I can't find them anywhere!" Marion reported to Triebane an hour later.

"Me neither. It's like they just vanished. It's probably another one of Arathorn's trips to the Dark Forest or something."

The two mice walked around the pond and were met by Cythel and two other recruits to find the missing otters: Abbot Sathodus and Lord Urthord. They exchanged the same news.

"Any luck?"

"No, how 'bout you?"

"Not here either. Not even a clue?"

"Nope. More bad news I heard was from the Friar and Sister Icey. A dozen of his newly baked oatcakes, hazelnut cheese, four plum and apple crumbles, two mushroom and leek pasties and a box of fruit tarts are missing. Along with that goes some rope, some blankets, oh and some October ale, pear cordial, rosehip cup and strawberry cordial. Enough of the food and drink to keep four hares alive for a week!" Cythel counted the items off on her fingers.

"I just got word that two chairs are missing also." Urthord shook his head in despair. "I bet it's those Dibbuns again."

Everyone there looked to Triebane who appeared to be thinking deeply. "Food, drink, chairs, rope, and blankets missing, eh? And also what's missing? Two otters! Any ideas?"

Everyone nodded unanimously, "The otters took them!"

—§·§·§—

If you were sitting on a branch just below the window to the tree house, an audible munching and chewing would be heard. Nitram gratefully accepted a chair and so did Nightwing. Arathorn and Elmortal were contented with sitting on blankets on the floor. They all snacked their fill.

When finished, Elmortal asked, "Now wat?"

"Lets see," Arathorn paused in the middle of a plum and apple crumble, "now we play." He set his unfinished crumble to the side and grabbed two coils of rope.

"You go down the tree and wait on the ground." He said to Elmortal.

As the squirrel descended the tree, Arathorn carefully climbed on a branch that was perfectly horizontal for a few feet then curved in a small arc upwards. With one rope, he looped one end around one side of the branch a couple times; then tied it securely. He did the same with the other rope, but on the other part of the horizontal part of the branch. Then he climbed down the tree and found a short plank of oak wood. He whipped out his sharp dagger and cut two holes on each side of the wood. Taking one rope hanging down from the tree, he slipped it through one hole and then the other making a sort of triangle on one side of the plank. Now the other end of the piece of wood was dangling on the ground while Arathorn tied a knot. He finished by doing the same thing but to the other side of the wood.

"There ya go, a swing." He smiled approvingly at his handy-work.

Elmortal blinked once, twice, a third time. "How do it work?"

Smiling, Arathorn sat on the swing and began to swing. "I'll show you. First ya throw your legs out like this. Then ya tuck them under, then throw them out, then tuck them under."

He repeated as he showed the Dibbun how it worked. At the very peak of his ride, he suddenly launched himself off the swing, flipped beautifully in the air, and landed grinning on his feet right in front of…five angry beasts: Triebane, Marion, Sathodus, Cythel, and Urthord!

—¤·Θ·¤—

Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!