I have noticed that I go around a few different POV's lately. Not without good reason though. Anyway here's the latest chapter, enjoy!
Chapter 27
The small group led by Glen had been traveling for half a day and they were taking a light lunch. They swapped guards every hour so everybeast got to eat. In the front, glen sat with Wyatt, Liz, and a few others, they were theorizing on what the enemy might be doing. "I think they've left." Says one otter.
"I think they're trying something, but I don't know what that is." Says another.
"Well, whatever it is, we'll find out. Now, let's pack up and continue, we'll go through that forest nearby, if night comes we'll go back there and camp for the night."
With that everybeast gathered their gear and set out at a march.
Sharpclaw was lounging in a makeshift tent when one of his scouts came in. "What do you have to report?"
The scout trembled slightly but spoke clearly, "I've spotted a large group of creatures heading to the northwest. If they turn west they'll find us."
"How long till they're close to us?"
"A half a days forced march, but I overheard their leader say that they'll camp out in the forest if it gets dark."
"Well, luck is on our side eh? Put the horde on the alert, and send Mysteye to my tent as well."
The scout bowed slightly before leaving, Sharpclaw sighed and started to think. Later on Mysteye entered and sat nearby. "Mysteye, do you know of the forest a half a days march away from here?"
"Aye, we went there to search out a presence I felt, but some of those who came with ye were slain by unseen creatures."
"True, do you know what those Redwall creatures will do once night comes around?"
"No, I have had any visions of such."
"I'll tell you, they plan on camping out in that same forest, and you know what happened when we were in there. Hahahahaha!"
Mysteye could only guess at what could happen.
Glen had pushed her group through a long trek and having kept her earlier decision true, returned to the forest to camp for the night. After swapping stories around the campfire, eating dinner, and choosing places to sleep, the small camp settled down to rest. In the darkness, a pair of eyes were looking over the odd camp, not far away, another pair of eyes were looking, but this pair belonged to Sharpclaw's scout who was getting the camp placement for him to use. Unfortunately he didn't see the shadowy pair of paws that grabbed him around the mouth from behind, and he was dragged struggling to only where the paws knew where. The other pair of eyes, gleamed with what looked like anger and joy mixed together, but one can never tell. In the camp the guard on watch was falling asleep, and went to tell the next watch to begin, but fell asleep where he stood instead. Peace reigned throughout the camp. Over at Redwall, Sister Elm was cleaning up the infirmary of unnecessary litter, most of the injured patients weren't allowed out of bed, though some of the more minor injuries were released. Darkslash was finally walking around and was assisting Sister Elm. Sister Elm had just run across Wyatt's, and Liz's bags, which were still next to the beds the two were using during their stay in the infirmary. Placing them near the door she and Darkslash continued to clean up.
Sharpclaw was becoming impatient, he never waited long for anything unless he had to, but this was not one of them. Mustering a small strike force, he set out for the small camp, Mysteye accompanying him on the raid. "Now when we go in there, take who you can and slay any who get in your way, remember those odd creatures are amongst them, they must be taken alive, got it?"
The small band saluted and made their way to the camp.
"Mother Abbess, do you mind if I take a little trip?"
Abbess Birch turned around to see Darkslash and Sister Elm standing before her, the question had thrown her off-guard. "May I ask why?"
"Well me and Darkslash here was going tot send some more supplies to the group that went out yesterday, and I thought I could return Wyatt and Liz's bags to them, they forgot them. Oh please let us go!"
Abbess Birch pondered the odd request and made her decision. "Alright, you two may go, this is as good a time as any to see if Darkslash here can be a decent creature, Darkslash, as is customary, you are on a one season probation to see if you can pass to be a good creature changed of your ways. That time has passed four-fold by now, and I know you can be trusted. This is merely a formality so there is no argument against my word. Return when you please you two and for furs sake, be careful."
The two went off to the kitchens like two dibbuns who were allowed to stay up late, Sister Elm showing the way of course, this was the first time Darkslash has been out of the Infirmary. A couple hours later with haversacks full they set out along the trail that Glen's group used.
Sharpclaw was not the greatest with directions at night, then again nobeast is that good, especially at night, resignedly he and his strike force returned to camp. Snarling and muttering unintelligible things not for young ears, he went to his tent. Meanwhile the camp was still calm, and stayed that way for the rest of the night, morning was a sight all could see, when one of the party, a squirrel, jumped in fright. When Glen went to see what it was, she saw that it was Darkslash and Sister Elm; they had appeared an hour before dawn and almost immediately fell to sleep. Telling everybeast that it was all right, she started to plan out the days travel plans when the shadows attacked! It was chaos! Most of the party had scattered, Glen, and a couple otters, a squirrel, Wyatt, and Liz stayed, standing back to back, tried to defend themselves, but one by one were knocked out and dragged away, Darkslash and Sister Elm were also dragged away. Soon the scene was peaceful once again.