Chapter 5
When Glen and he otters came back, they were met by the abbess. Seeing the dreadful wounds inflicted on Glen, she ordered that all the injured be taken to the infirmary. Later on, after dinner was served, Abbess Birch went up to see what news Glen had, as well as bring her some food. The abbess listened intently as the injured otter unfolded what happened on the battlefield. "Well, we fought back the vermin, and then we started to decrease their numbers, when I saw their leader. With him was the strange creature you told me to look out for. Well, the fox saw me and started to run away, dragging the captive along with him. You should've seen this creature, it was huge! Anyway, I gave chase and we ended up in a clearing somewhere deep in the woods. I talked to the fox, trying to have him give up the captive, but he refused to. I tried to speak to the creature, but it didn't seem to understand anyone but the fox. Then it gave me a piece of paper and it said this. The otter handed a scrap of parchment to the abbess, unfolding it and looking at it next to a lamp in the room, the abbess read the writing on the parchment. "Hello! My name is Wyatt. Where am I anyway? Darkslash told me that I'm in Mossflower country, but I'm not too sure. How could I be in a place that I've only read about in a book? If you are truly from Mossflower, then please help me. And Darkslash, he's told me that he won't harm me. Just merely using me as a means of an escape. Where we are going, I do not know. Well, I hope that whoever is reading this can help me!"
The abbess slid down to the floor, at a loss for words. Glen looked at the mother abbess, trying to figure out what she is thinking, when Birch spoke. "Well, we know that it is not of this area, and that it is new to our land. But this fox, it seems that he has a soft spot for this strange creature. And doesn't seem to want to hurt it in any way. Strange for a vermin leader to have such emotions. Isn't it Glen?"
The big otter thought it over for a bit, and then replied. "Aye abbess. I remember before I fought that fox. He moved Wyatt over to the sidelines, telling it that he would be back in a bit. I think, that this creature has already learned how to speak a bit of our language, even if it's only so he could communicate with the fox and other vermin. But at least it'll have a chance to speak and maybe escape. But it looks like that the fox is treating that creature nicely. I didn't see any wounds on it anywhere. In fact, it looked like it's been treated really well. An unusual quality in a vermin leader."
The abbes replied. "So you say Glen. But that fox is still able to pull a knife on it. So, maybe that fox is not as good as we may think he is."
"Aye abbess. But at least that creature's got a chance being with him. Which is more than any other vermin would give it being in the same situation. And that suggests something."
"What?" asked the abbess.
"It could suggest that this fox, has a soft-spot for the creature. That would be why he taught that creature some of our language."
"So as to communicate with it. Right?" asked the abbess.
"Right." Said Glen. Not moving around the bed much due to her injury. "So all we have to think about now is where they could have gone and hid. As soon as me legs are feeling better, I'll round up the crew and we'll scour the forest's and 'ills till we find 'em. Then." There was a strange glint in Glen's eye. "We'll get an explanation from the fox as to why he wanted to attack Redwall. And why he took that creature with him."
"So you say Glen, but let's not be too hasty in all this. You still need to rest and until such a time as you are deemed to leave by the infirmary keeper. You'll just have to wait here until then."
"Allright. You win." Said Glen. Crestfallen at the thought of being stuck in bed.
And with that, the abbess left the otter in the infirmary. Glen kept thinking over what happened down on the battlefield. She couldn't get over how calm that strange creature looked when it handed her the paper. She just couldn't get over it. How could any creature stand being chained and manacled? As she pondered the question, sleep overtook her.
Back in the forest, Darkslash and I were still running through the woods. Heading to who knows where? My answer came shortly after Darkslash tripped and we fell down a hill head first into a group of rocks. We were both in pain from the somewhat sharp rocks. After some groaning, I blacked out. Later on, I awoke to see that it was night and Darkslash hadn't moved at all. I maneuvered to poke him with my hand, but immediately stopped when pain lanced through my right arm. Upon further inspection, I realized it was broken and I couldn't move it at all. After wincing in pain for awhile, I used my left hand to stir Darkslash. After some groaning, and some spasmodic leg movements, he came around. After wincing for a few minutes, he asked me a question. "Why are you still here? Why didn't you take the opportunity to escape?"
I helped to get him up, but when he tried to put some pressure on his leg, he winced, and had to sit. After finding some water to help him cool off. I answered his questions. "Well, I don't really know anybody else in the area. And seeing as my arm is broken, I can't really do anything now. I can't write without my right hand, and writing left handed is impossible for me to do. So, it looks we're both stuck here. Me with my arm, and you with your leg."
Darkslash looked around for a few moments before replying. " Aye. It seems to be so. So, what do you want to do now? Wait here for the others or just hide and wait for those from the abbey?"
I thought it over for a bit, not sure what to expect. Then, after some deliberation with myself, I answered. " I think that the rest of your horde is either dead, or going to be really soon. Our best bet is to wait for those from the abbey to come along and find us. Besides, if we are where you say we are, then there shouldn't be any trouble when they find us. And if there is, then I'll take responsibility for your actions. And also, you are the only one whom I can speak to. You're too valuable to loose!"
Darkslash looked at Wyatt for a moment. "Why is he doing this?" thought Darkslash. "Nobeast has ever stood up for me before. And he's only known me for a few days and he's treating me as if we have known each other our whole lives! What is he thinking? When those otters from the abbey find me, they'll kill me because I fought them. Why I wonder. Why?" This thought was soon followed by Wyatt returning from the stream. A bowl of water in his good hand, and wincing a bit due to the manacles still on his wrists. Darkslash took the bowl, and then searching for something in his pockets, he spoke to Wyatt. "Here, I'll take these manacles off of your wrists. That chain isn't doing your arm one bit of good at all!"
And, after producing a key, he unlocked the manacles and took them off. "Thanks Darkslash." I said. "That feels much better."
"No problem Wyatt." Said Darkslash. "Now, lets see about getting something to eat and then we'll get some rest."
"All right Darkslash. You know what's best at the moment. I'll have to do that though, seeing as you can't walk with your leg."
And with that, I walked off into the woods to search for some wood for a fire.
When Glen and he otters came back, they were met by the abbess. Seeing the dreadful wounds inflicted on Glen, she ordered that all the injured be taken to the infirmary. Later on, after dinner was served, Abbess Birch went up to see what news Glen had, as well as bring her some food. The abbess listened intently as the injured otter unfolded what happened on the battlefield. "Well, we fought back the vermin, and then we started to decrease their numbers, when I saw their leader. With him was the strange creature you told me to look out for. Well, the fox saw me and started to run away, dragging the captive along with him. You should've seen this creature, it was huge! Anyway, I gave chase and we ended up in a clearing somewhere deep in the woods. I talked to the fox, trying to have him give up the captive, but he refused to. I tried to speak to the creature, but it didn't seem to understand anyone but the fox. Then it gave me a piece of paper and it said this. The otter handed a scrap of parchment to the abbess, unfolding it and looking at it next to a lamp in the room, the abbess read the writing on the parchment. "Hello! My name is Wyatt. Where am I anyway? Darkslash told me that I'm in Mossflower country, but I'm not too sure. How could I be in a place that I've only read about in a book? If you are truly from Mossflower, then please help me. And Darkslash, he's told me that he won't harm me. Just merely using me as a means of an escape. Where we are going, I do not know. Well, I hope that whoever is reading this can help me!"
The abbess slid down to the floor, at a loss for words. Glen looked at the mother abbess, trying to figure out what she is thinking, when Birch spoke. "Well, we know that it is not of this area, and that it is new to our land. But this fox, it seems that he has a soft spot for this strange creature. And doesn't seem to want to hurt it in any way. Strange for a vermin leader to have such emotions. Isn't it Glen?"
The big otter thought it over for a bit, and then replied. "Aye abbess. I remember before I fought that fox. He moved Wyatt over to the sidelines, telling it that he would be back in a bit. I think, that this creature has already learned how to speak a bit of our language, even if it's only so he could communicate with the fox and other vermin. But at least it'll have a chance to speak and maybe escape. But it looks like that the fox is treating that creature nicely. I didn't see any wounds on it anywhere. In fact, it looked like it's been treated really well. An unusual quality in a vermin leader."
The abbes replied. "So you say Glen. But that fox is still able to pull a knife on it. So, maybe that fox is not as good as we may think he is."
"Aye abbess. But at least that creature's got a chance being with him. Which is more than any other vermin would give it being in the same situation. And that suggests something."
"What?" asked the abbess.
"It could suggest that this fox, has a soft-spot for the creature. That would be why he taught that creature some of our language."
"So as to communicate with it. Right?" asked the abbess.
"Right." Said Glen. Not moving around the bed much due to her injury. "So all we have to think about now is where they could have gone and hid. As soon as me legs are feeling better, I'll round up the crew and we'll scour the forest's and 'ills till we find 'em. Then." There was a strange glint in Glen's eye. "We'll get an explanation from the fox as to why he wanted to attack Redwall. And why he took that creature with him."
"So you say Glen, but let's not be too hasty in all this. You still need to rest and until such a time as you are deemed to leave by the infirmary keeper. You'll just have to wait here until then."
"Allright. You win." Said Glen. Crestfallen at the thought of being stuck in bed.
And with that, the abbess left the otter in the infirmary. Glen kept thinking over what happened down on the battlefield. She couldn't get over how calm that strange creature looked when it handed her the paper. She just couldn't get over it. How could any creature stand being chained and manacled? As she pondered the question, sleep overtook her.
Back in the forest, Darkslash and I were still running through the woods. Heading to who knows where? My answer came shortly after Darkslash tripped and we fell down a hill head first into a group of rocks. We were both in pain from the somewhat sharp rocks. After some groaning, I blacked out. Later on, I awoke to see that it was night and Darkslash hadn't moved at all. I maneuvered to poke him with my hand, but immediately stopped when pain lanced through my right arm. Upon further inspection, I realized it was broken and I couldn't move it at all. After wincing in pain for awhile, I used my left hand to stir Darkslash. After some groaning, and some spasmodic leg movements, he came around. After wincing for a few minutes, he asked me a question. "Why are you still here? Why didn't you take the opportunity to escape?"
I helped to get him up, but when he tried to put some pressure on his leg, he winced, and had to sit. After finding some water to help him cool off. I answered his questions. "Well, I don't really know anybody else in the area. And seeing as my arm is broken, I can't really do anything now. I can't write without my right hand, and writing left handed is impossible for me to do. So, it looks we're both stuck here. Me with my arm, and you with your leg."
Darkslash looked around for a few moments before replying. " Aye. It seems to be so. So, what do you want to do now? Wait here for the others or just hide and wait for those from the abbey?"
I thought it over for a bit, not sure what to expect. Then, after some deliberation with myself, I answered. " I think that the rest of your horde is either dead, or going to be really soon. Our best bet is to wait for those from the abbey to come along and find us. Besides, if we are where you say we are, then there shouldn't be any trouble when they find us. And if there is, then I'll take responsibility for your actions. And also, you are the only one whom I can speak to. You're too valuable to loose!"
Darkslash looked at Wyatt for a moment. "Why is he doing this?" thought Darkslash. "Nobeast has ever stood up for me before. And he's only known me for a few days and he's treating me as if we have known each other our whole lives! What is he thinking? When those otters from the abbey find me, they'll kill me because I fought them. Why I wonder. Why?" This thought was soon followed by Wyatt returning from the stream. A bowl of water in his good hand, and wincing a bit due to the manacles still on his wrists. Darkslash took the bowl, and then searching for something in his pockets, he spoke to Wyatt. "Here, I'll take these manacles off of your wrists. That chain isn't doing your arm one bit of good at all!"
And, after producing a key, he unlocked the manacles and took them off. "Thanks Darkslash." I said. "That feels much better."
"No problem Wyatt." Said Darkslash. "Now, lets see about getting something to eat and then we'll get some rest."
"All right Darkslash. You know what's best at the moment. I'll have to do that though, seeing as you can't walk with your leg."
And with that, I walked off into the woods to search for some wood for a fire.