Barial was behind him.
"What happened?" he said.
"You passed out after your fight with that guard," said Shawn,"I had to carry you the entire way. It wasn't easy," he prodded Derek in the stomach,"You really need to lay off the sweets."
"Where am I?"
"Look around, little brother," said Barial, holding out his hands,"We're back in your house."
"How long have I been out?" asked Derek.
"Three days," said Shawn.
"Three days!" Derek said, alarmed.
"He's just kidding," Barial grinned,"It's only been a few hours."
Derek turned to Barial,"Any news of the wolves, Barial?" he asked.
Barial was suddenly grave. "Well we did had to fight our way through to the gates. A few shrews died, which has only made things worse with Log-a-log Daniel. We're also planning an attack tommorow. Every soldier is going to fight. That includes the two of you. That is, if you're ready, Derek."
"Don't worry, Barial, I'll be ready," said Derek,"How many worriors do we have anyway?
"Let me think," said Barial," Well, their's the two score worriors we already had here, three score shrews from the abbey, then a half a score of otters, and the score of moles."
Derek nodded,"So that's about one hundred and thirty. Hmm. How many wolves are their?"
"About one hundred and fifty," said Barial, "but don't worry. Those otters our worth about three beasts each. Great fighters they are. Alright, now we should all get some rest. Big day tommorow."
Shawn awoke just before sunrise. Derek and Barial were still asleep. "Come on Barial," said Shawn, shaking his old friend.
Barial's eyes fluttered open. "What," he said groggily.
"Come on," said Shawn, "Wake Derek. I'm going." He grabbed his sword and walked out the door.
Shawn arrived at the front gate just as the sun was rising. A large group of beasts stood beside, Foremale Zakk, Skipper Jaun and Log-a-log Daniel at thier head. Shawn quickly fell in line as the gates swung open, revealing the wolf horde, headed by King Robert. The woodlanders charge just as Derek and Barial arrived.
Derek nocked an arrow and fired as Barial unseathed his axe, charging blindly. Shawn unseathed the sword of Martin. A wolf charged at him, spear in paw. Shawn side- stepped and swiftly decapitated the beast. He turned and struck down another, slowly fighting his way to King Robert.
Shawn watched out of the corner of his eye as Log-a-log Daniel ran towards the wolf king. Robert unseathed his sabre, blocking Daniel's first blow. Daniel swung again. And again he was blocked. Shawn soon realized that Robert was toying with the shrew chieftain. The wolf faked a yawn. He knocked Daniel back with a swift blow to the jaw before swinging down with his sabre, cathing the shrew between the ears. Daniel fell back, his skull cracked in half.
Shawn ran at King Robert, swinging his blade blindly. Robert blocked the swing, just as he had done with Daniel. However, he soon realized that the young squirel was not to be toyed with. He swung his sabre, trying to slay the young squirrel before it wised up. Shawn blocked swiftly and swung his own blade. Robert was just in time to move his sabre into a block before the blade struck. The wolf king was forced backwards by the uncanny strength of the young squirel. He slowly began to realize that he might not survive this battle. He panicked and swung his blade blindly. He was rewarded by a yelp as the blade caught Shawn's paw, forcing him to drop his sword. Robert took advantage of the moment and raised his sabre. But as he stabbed with the blade, a young pushed Shawn out of the way. It stared down at the hilt that had just appeared in it's chest. The vole fell back as Robert pulled the sabre out.
Shawn watched in horror as Derek fell. Suddenly his vision became went red. He dove and grabbed his sword. As he rose Robert swung down again. Shawn blocked and side-stepped. He swung his own blade, striking Robert across his back and severing his spine. The wolf king stumbled and fell, dead.
Shawn walked walked over to where Derek lie. "Derek," he said, "Derek, wake up."
Derek looked up at him, "I told you I'd make sure you saw Sadie again, didn't I." Shawn could feel hot tears run down his face. "Don't cry, Shawn." said Derek, wiping the tears from his old friends face. He smiled and closed his eyes. And thus Derek, archer and last weilder of the halberd of Zemreal, died.
"Almost there," said Shawn as he climbed down from the tree. "It's just across that hill."
"Good," said Barial. They had been leading what was left of the redwall forces back home for nearly a week now.
As they aproached the abbey, Shawn heard a voice. "Shawn!" it shouted. He soon saw Sadie running towards him. She dove on him, knocking him down. As the beautiful squirelmaid's arms wrapped around, he smiled for the first time since Derek's death.
He slid his arms around her. They lay in eachother's arms for what felt like hours before Barial said, "Are you two lovebirds planning on coming in for supper or what." The squirel's rose and followed Barial up to the abbey.