Chapter 18
I was awoken at dawn roughly by a cloth gagging me swiftly. Thrashing and clawing as best I could, I was still knocked out cold once again, my mind falling into a black mass. I awoke again with a pounding headache. I still had my duffle bag, which puzzled me, but all I could do was reach up to touch my head; but I soon figured out that I couldn't, I had chains on my wrists and my ankles, and I was chained to two other creatures next to me. The one to my right, whose name was Ferrah, a tawny colored squirrel, looked at me strangely as she woke. She was thin and poorly fed, but she was bright anyway. She soon figured out that I couldn't speak at all, and she figured out my communication skills by way of gesture. I watched silently as a black ferret walked up to me, named Kain, barring his fangs at me. He picked up my bag, throwing it deep into the woods with his powerful arms. I watched in dismay as it soared over the treetops, coming to a landing quite a ways away. The next weeks were hard. I didn't remember exactly what happened, because things seemed to blend together, but I figured out that I was being used as a slave for Kain's horde, which he was bringing out to the seas. Ferrah was a great help to me. She taught me her language bit by bit, the native language of the land that was most commonly used. It took quite a long time, but I found myself speaking fluid full sentences after a while. After another month of grueling traveling across land, I turned to Ferrah one night, whom I usually confided in, speaking in a low whisper. "Let's run away tonight."
Ferrah raised an eyebrow, but you could tell she was excited by the idea. "You mean, now?"
"Yes. I've been planning an escape for quite some time, and I know what to do."
As I explained my plan to her, her eyes got wider and her smile brighter. I reached into my jeans pocket, pulling out a bobby pin that I had saved from my hair. I worked at the manacles for a while, finally hearing a click and getting one open. I proceeded to do the same for my other wrist and my ankles, and Ferrah's chains also. Now the problem was getting away without being caught. There was a usual round of stoat soldiers that paced the area at night, but I timed my moves perfectly, sliding away with Ferrah in the knick of time. But she tripped on a root, falling on her face and crying out. I watched in shock as she was hauled to her footpaws, and slain on the spot; they turned to me, shouting. "The monster is getting away! Catch it!"
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I was quite a good sprinter back in school, so I got away pretty easily, but not without bruising myself constantly. I came upon my duffle bag, which I had thought would never happen, slipping it onto my shoulder and continuing on. I had no idea where to go, but the noise of bells in the distance told me I was heading somewhere. At night before the sunset, I would continue reading my book, fascinated every time. It suddenly dawned on my like a tidal wave. I was in Redwall! Excitement flowed through my veins as I fell asleep, aware that I'd be heading to Redwall Abbey the next morning.
The chimes of the bells woke me again. I stepped lightly, but prepared myself mentally for what the creatures there would think of me. I could teach them about things that I knew.wait. Wouldn't that mess up things? Questions and debates in my mind were constant that morning. I finally broke out of the woods, stepping along a path and gazing up at the giant red stone structure that lay before me. It was bigger than what I had imagined, and the beauty of it all was appalling. I came to the gatehouse, entering the lawns carefully. I didn't want to surprise anyone, but I didn't want to make a huge deal out of it either. Immediately everything stopped. Dibbuns stared wide-eyed, but what confused me is that the other creatures seemed to take it lighter than what I thought, coming over and greeting me. I sat puzzled again, as they had a different language, and knew that that would get some getting used to. A large ottermaid came up to me, shaking my hand once and looking me over as if I was familiar to her. She spoke my language, so I conversed with her. "So this is Redwall Abbey, eh?" I tried to remember how the creatures spoke in the books.
"Aye. How'd a human like you find your way here?"
"You mean.you know that I'm a human? But how?"
"Here, let me show you."
I followed her, still confused, as I was led through the abbey. I wanted to stop and look around, but I had no time to. A squirrel in a large habit came up to the ottermaid and I quickly noted the golden cord around her waist, and I spoke to the ottermaid, who I later knew as Glen, to interpret for me to the Abbess; Glen spoke as me. "Hello there Abbess."
I curtsied politely as she raised her eyebrows in surprise at me. Glen spoke a few more things in hushed tones to Abbess Birch before she responded, via Glen. "It's nice to see that you've made it here. I can show you around later if you like."
I nodded as Glen whisked me away, up some stairs and down some halls, it made me dizzy trying to remember it all. She led me into what reminded me of a normal room, except there were beds lined up against one wall, and a few keepers bustling about. I glanced at each patient, trying to figure out what they were and what their problem was. My eyes came to rest on the last bed, where something struck me so hard I almost fell backwards. It was hard to tell, but it was Wyatt! My mind swam as I tried to stand upright, clutching a nearby chair, but in all of the confusion running through my head, I slumped to the floor.
I woke up in one of the beds, feeling very comfortable in the sheets, as I was accustomed to sleeping on the cold hard earth. Everything was a bit blurry, but as things finally came into focus, I made out faces around me. To my right was Glen and Abbess Birch, who were speaking; unaware I had awaken. But to my left.he was hardly recognizable. His face had gotten broader, he had a few scars, but I was pretty sure it was him. I hadn't ever met him before, but who else could it be? I had seen pictures, and that was enough. I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and painful, and all I could do was croak. The Abbess and Glen came back to attention. Sister Elm, the keeper, bustled over. She checked my forehead. "Still warm. Something spooked the human all right, I'm not sure what though. Could just be the shock of coming here, I suppose." She paused. "I still can't believe that we have another human around here. It seems rather strange. But this one's different from Wyatt, in appearance, I mean."
Wyatt spoke up, fully in attention. "I do believe I know this her. She's Liz Vander Heide, a friend from the place that I come from. How she came here I don't know, but it still surprises me."
"A female, eh? Well, this is definitely the most interesting series of events to ever happen in Redwall history."
Wyatt nodded, continuing on the conversation as I sat dumbfound. They still spoke in that funny language, and it was remarkable that Wyatt knew it also. He had been here longer than I thought. I gestured for the glass of water, drinking it hastily. I cleared my throat. "Um.Wyatt? Is that you?"
The creatures all around were a bit confused at the strange language, but a light clicked on in Wyatt's mind as his brain transferred to English. "Yes, I assure you, I am. There's a lot of explaining I need to do, but we'll save that for later."
I nodded, a bit more relaxed, suddenly feeling very tired and leaning back, closing my eyes and falling asleep.
The next few days were confusing to me; but Wyatt helped me. He helped me communicate to the others when Glen wasn't around, and he got the abbess to come and give me speech lessons. It was all very tiring, but I managed. Then at lunch one day, I decided to ask him how he got here. Propping myself up in my bed, I started to ask Wyatt the questions that kept nagging me to no end. "Wyatt. How did you get here anyway? You've been gone for quite a long time."
Wyatt looked up from his food and said, "Well. I was exploring through the woods one day, when I came upon a group of odd trees. I decided to go walking through them, and suddenly, I wasn't in the woods, but somewhere else, and then I heard something. I turned around to see what, and then I was knocked out. I awoke later and there was a light drizzle. I got up, went back through those trees, and went back home. A few days later, I grabbed some thing, and went back to those trees, and was knocked out again. Then, I started to wander around a bit; and I came onto a battle. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, animals fighting like medieval knights? Then, I was attacked by a bunch of vermin creatures, and knocked out again." Wyatt paused to clear his throat a bit before continuing on. "When I woke up this time, I was in a tent, my stuff that I brought along was lost during the battle. Then, I met him." Wyatt points to a fox in a nearby bed. "His name is Darkslash. He was the leader of the vermin horde that was attacking the abbey. He kept me safe in his tent, and taught me his language so that I could communicate with the horde. He also taught me the woodlander writing style so I could write messages when I needed to. A few days later, Darkslash had the horde go and attack Redwall. I was chained by my arms and he held the lead. During the battle, a group of otters led by Glen found us at the back of the horde. I gave her a note when she came to us. Then, Darkslash took me to the sidelines, and fought her. After he injured her, we fled into the woods, but we didn't pay much attention to where we were going. We fell down a hill into some rocks. Darkslash broke a leg, me; my right arm. We were stranded for a few days, then a robber band ambushed us; luckily we were found and brought back here. We haven't left this infirmary for the last what, five months. I can tell you, I miss school and my home, must be nearly spring now I bet. So, how'd you get here Liz?"
I was awoken at dawn roughly by a cloth gagging me swiftly. Thrashing and clawing as best I could, I was still knocked out cold once again, my mind falling into a black mass. I awoke again with a pounding headache. I still had my duffle bag, which puzzled me, but all I could do was reach up to touch my head; but I soon figured out that I couldn't, I had chains on my wrists and my ankles, and I was chained to two other creatures next to me. The one to my right, whose name was Ferrah, a tawny colored squirrel, looked at me strangely as she woke. She was thin and poorly fed, but she was bright anyway. She soon figured out that I couldn't speak at all, and she figured out my communication skills by way of gesture. I watched silently as a black ferret walked up to me, named Kain, barring his fangs at me. He picked up my bag, throwing it deep into the woods with his powerful arms. I watched in dismay as it soared over the treetops, coming to a landing quite a ways away. The next weeks were hard. I didn't remember exactly what happened, because things seemed to blend together, but I figured out that I was being used as a slave for Kain's horde, which he was bringing out to the seas. Ferrah was a great help to me. She taught me her language bit by bit, the native language of the land that was most commonly used. It took quite a long time, but I found myself speaking fluid full sentences after a while. After another month of grueling traveling across land, I turned to Ferrah one night, whom I usually confided in, speaking in a low whisper. "Let's run away tonight."
Ferrah raised an eyebrow, but you could tell she was excited by the idea. "You mean, now?"
"Yes. I've been planning an escape for quite some time, and I know what to do."
As I explained my plan to her, her eyes got wider and her smile brighter. I reached into my jeans pocket, pulling out a bobby pin that I had saved from my hair. I worked at the manacles for a while, finally hearing a click and getting one open. I proceeded to do the same for my other wrist and my ankles, and Ferrah's chains also. Now the problem was getting away without being caught. There was a usual round of stoat soldiers that paced the area at night, but I timed my moves perfectly, sliding away with Ferrah in the knick of time. But she tripped on a root, falling on her face and crying out. I watched in shock as she was hauled to her footpaws, and slain on the spot; they turned to me, shouting. "The monster is getting away! Catch it!"
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I was quite a good sprinter back in school, so I got away pretty easily, but not without bruising myself constantly. I came upon my duffle bag, which I had thought would never happen, slipping it onto my shoulder and continuing on. I had no idea where to go, but the noise of bells in the distance told me I was heading somewhere. At night before the sunset, I would continue reading my book, fascinated every time. It suddenly dawned on my like a tidal wave. I was in Redwall! Excitement flowed through my veins as I fell asleep, aware that I'd be heading to Redwall Abbey the next morning.
The chimes of the bells woke me again. I stepped lightly, but prepared myself mentally for what the creatures there would think of me. I could teach them about things that I knew.wait. Wouldn't that mess up things? Questions and debates in my mind were constant that morning. I finally broke out of the woods, stepping along a path and gazing up at the giant red stone structure that lay before me. It was bigger than what I had imagined, and the beauty of it all was appalling. I came to the gatehouse, entering the lawns carefully. I didn't want to surprise anyone, but I didn't want to make a huge deal out of it either. Immediately everything stopped. Dibbuns stared wide-eyed, but what confused me is that the other creatures seemed to take it lighter than what I thought, coming over and greeting me. I sat puzzled again, as they had a different language, and knew that that would get some getting used to. A large ottermaid came up to me, shaking my hand once and looking me over as if I was familiar to her. She spoke my language, so I conversed with her. "So this is Redwall Abbey, eh?" I tried to remember how the creatures spoke in the books.
"Aye. How'd a human like you find your way here?"
"You mean.you know that I'm a human? But how?"
"Here, let me show you."
I followed her, still confused, as I was led through the abbey. I wanted to stop and look around, but I had no time to. A squirrel in a large habit came up to the ottermaid and I quickly noted the golden cord around her waist, and I spoke to the ottermaid, who I later knew as Glen, to interpret for me to the Abbess; Glen spoke as me. "Hello there Abbess."
I curtsied politely as she raised her eyebrows in surprise at me. Glen spoke a few more things in hushed tones to Abbess Birch before she responded, via Glen. "It's nice to see that you've made it here. I can show you around later if you like."
I nodded as Glen whisked me away, up some stairs and down some halls, it made me dizzy trying to remember it all. She led me into what reminded me of a normal room, except there were beds lined up against one wall, and a few keepers bustling about. I glanced at each patient, trying to figure out what they were and what their problem was. My eyes came to rest on the last bed, where something struck me so hard I almost fell backwards. It was hard to tell, but it was Wyatt! My mind swam as I tried to stand upright, clutching a nearby chair, but in all of the confusion running through my head, I slumped to the floor.
I woke up in one of the beds, feeling very comfortable in the sheets, as I was accustomed to sleeping on the cold hard earth. Everything was a bit blurry, but as things finally came into focus, I made out faces around me. To my right was Glen and Abbess Birch, who were speaking; unaware I had awaken. But to my left.he was hardly recognizable. His face had gotten broader, he had a few scars, but I was pretty sure it was him. I hadn't ever met him before, but who else could it be? I had seen pictures, and that was enough. I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and painful, and all I could do was croak. The Abbess and Glen came back to attention. Sister Elm, the keeper, bustled over. She checked my forehead. "Still warm. Something spooked the human all right, I'm not sure what though. Could just be the shock of coming here, I suppose." She paused. "I still can't believe that we have another human around here. It seems rather strange. But this one's different from Wyatt, in appearance, I mean."
Wyatt spoke up, fully in attention. "I do believe I know this her. She's Liz Vander Heide, a friend from the place that I come from. How she came here I don't know, but it still surprises me."
"A female, eh? Well, this is definitely the most interesting series of events to ever happen in Redwall history."
Wyatt nodded, continuing on the conversation as I sat dumbfound. They still spoke in that funny language, and it was remarkable that Wyatt knew it also. He had been here longer than I thought. I gestured for the glass of water, drinking it hastily. I cleared my throat. "Um.Wyatt? Is that you?"
The creatures all around were a bit confused at the strange language, but a light clicked on in Wyatt's mind as his brain transferred to English. "Yes, I assure you, I am. There's a lot of explaining I need to do, but we'll save that for later."
I nodded, a bit more relaxed, suddenly feeling very tired and leaning back, closing my eyes and falling asleep.
The next few days were confusing to me; but Wyatt helped me. He helped me communicate to the others when Glen wasn't around, and he got the abbess to come and give me speech lessons. It was all very tiring, but I managed. Then at lunch one day, I decided to ask him how he got here. Propping myself up in my bed, I started to ask Wyatt the questions that kept nagging me to no end. "Wyatt. How did you get here anyway? You've been gone for quite a long time."
Wyatt looked up from his food and said, "Well. I was exploring through the woods one day, when I came upon a group of odd trees. I decided to go walking through them, and suddenly, I wasn't in the woods, but somewhere else, and then I heard something. I turned around to see what, and then I was knocked out. I awoke later and there was a light drizzle. I got up, went back through those trees, and went back home. A few days later, I grabbed some thing, and went back to those trees, and was knocked out again. Then, I started to wander around a bit; and I came onto a battle. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, animals fighting like medieval knights? Then, I was attacked by a bunch of vermin creatures, and knocked out again." Wyatt paused to clear his throat a bit before continuing on. "When I woke up this time, I was in a tent, my stuff that I brought along was lost during the battle. Then, I met him." Wyatt points to a fox in a nearby bed. "His name is Darkslash. He was the leader of the vermin horde that was attacking the abbey. He kept me safe in his tent, and taught me his language so that I could communicate with the horde. He also taught me the woodlander writing style so I could write messages when I needed to. A few days later, Darkslash had the horde go and attack Redwall. I was chained by my arms and he held the lead. During the battle, a group of otters led by Glen found us at the back of the horde. I gave her a note when she came to us. Then, Darkslash took me to the sidelines, and fought her. After he injured her, we fled into the woods, but we didn't pay much attention to where we were going. We fell down a hill into some rocks. Darkslash broke a leg, me; my right arm. We were stranded for a few days, then a robber band ambushed us; luckily we were found and brought back here. We haven't left this infirmary for the last what, five months. I can tell you, I miss school and my home, must be nearly spring now I bet. So, how'd you get here Liz?"