Chapter 26
A few days went by since Sharpclaw sent anybeast to attack Redwall Abbey and everybeast was on edge. Everybeast on walltop duty kept starting at the slightest shadow, but soon they were wondering, where was Sharpclaw and the rest of his horde? Abbess Birch had called in her lieutenants, Glen, and Oak for a conference. "So what do you think is going on Glen?"
Glen shook her head and said, "I don't really know Abbess, it seems that our enemy has disappeared. It's possible that they gave up trying to conquer us, but I don't really know. "
"I wouldn't know Abbess." Started Oak. "I looked in the records to see if this has happened before but there is no record of such happening before. I don't know what they're up to."
Abbess Birch went over what she heard in her head before she spoke. "It could be a trap but I would prefer that they decided to leave. Therefore I make my decision. Glen, take who you will and go out to see what's going on. If they're still nearby, come back immediately."
Glen nodded, "Alright Mother Abbess, I will gather a few creatures and go out by this afternoon."
Abbess Birch nodded. "Alright, there will be provisions ready, just tell the friar when you have picked your companions."
Glen nodded and was off. Abbess Birch turned now to Oak. "Oak, you've been my friend for many seasons haven't you?"
Oak nodded. Abbess Birch continued. "Well I want you to take a deeper look into the records. This must've happened before, but it might have happened a long time ago. Let me know when you find anything."
Oak nodded. "Alright Abbess Birch. I'll go and look for as long as necessary."
With that Oak left the room and went to his Gatehouse study to delve deeper than he had ever done into the early history of Redwall Abbey.
Sharpclaw looked happily upon the progress that was happening with his horde. It was a clever maneuver; his lieutenant would go on a wide sweep around the abbey and wait for ten days. Meanwhile Sharpclaw would go and lay in wait for anybeast from the abbey and take them hostage. However he had to go farther back than his lieutenant due to the wooded area he tried to look into when he first started. He would have scouts stationed close to the abbey, ready to report back at a moments notice. Sharpclaw smiled as he thought of having live captives, a good way to get inside the abbey. Sharpclaw decided that a two-day march away would suffice, and leaving his scouts in place, had camp setup.
Glen was going along those who were not on walltop duty, and had gathered a small group of mainly otters and squirrels and then an idea struck Glen, why not take the two humans with her? They've been more than helpful when there was battle to be done. And they did need to go look for a way to get back home. She gathered her group and got the supplies and then with many shouts of good luck from those not going, Glen set out.
It was a pleasant day out in the plains and woodlands. In an area of the forest, where the remains of two vermin carcasses lay, shadows moved, nobeast save them knew what they were. Shadows moved, silent shadows that even the sunlight could not illuminate, shadows, that seemed to defy the sun and remained hidden, shadows moved.
A few days went by since Sharpclaw sent anybeast to attack Redwall Abbey and everybeast was on edge. Everybeast on walltop duty kept starting at the slightest shadow, but soon they were wondering, where was Sharpclaw and the rest of his horde? Abbess Birch had called in her lieutenants, Glen, and Oak for a conference. "So what do you think is going on Glen?"
Glen shook her head and said, "I don't really know Abbess, it seems that our enemy has disappeared. It's possible that they gave up trying to conquer us, but I don't really know. "
"I wouldn't know Abbess." Started Oak. "I looked in the records to see if this has happened before but there is no record of such happening before. I don't know what they're up to."
Abbess Birch went over what she heard in her head before she spoke. "It could be a trap but I would prefer that they decided to leave. Therefore I make my decision. Glen, take who you will and go out to see what's going on. If they're still nearby, come back immediately."
Glen nodded, "Alright Mother Abbess, I will gather a few creatures and go out by this afternoon."
Abbess Birch nodded. "Alright, there will be provisions ready, just tell the friar when you have picked your companions."
Glen nodded and was off. Abbess Birch turned now to Oak. "Oak, you've been my friend for many seasons haven't you?"
Oak nodded. Abbess Birch continued. "Well I want you to take a deeper look into the records. This must've happened before, but it might have happened a long time ago. Let me know when you find anything."
Oak nodded. "Alright Abbess Birch. I'll go and look for as long as necessary."
With that Oak left the room and went to his Gatehouse study to delve deeper than he had ever done into the early history of Redwall Abbey.
Sharpclaw looked happily upon the progress that was happening with his horde. It was a clever maneuver; his lieutenant would go on a wide sweep around the abbey and wait for ten days. Meanwhile Sharpclaw would go and lay in wait for anybeast from the abbey and take them hostage. However he had to go farther back than his lieutenant due to the wooded area he tried to look into when he first started. He would have scouts stationed close to the abbey, ready to report back at a moments notice. Sharpclaw smiled as he thought of having live captives, a good way to get inside the abbey. Sharpclaw decided that a two-day march away would suffice, and leaving his scouts in place, had camp setup.
Glen was going along those who were not on walltop duty, and had gathered a small group of mainly otters and squirrels and then an idea struck Glen, why not take the two humans with her? They've been more than helpful when there was battle to be done. And they did need to go look for a way to get back home. She gathered her group and got the supplies and then with many shouts of good luck from those not going, Glen set out.
It was a pleasant day out in the plains and woodlands. In an area of the forest, where the remains of two vermin carcasses lay, shadows moved, nobeast save them knew what they were. Shadows moved, silent shadows that even the sunlight could not illuminate, shadows, that seemed to defy the sun and remained hidden, shadows moved.