Hoffy's teeth chattered against the cold. Wanting to appear hardy and weather-tolerable, he had sunk to his vanity and not bothered to don winter ware as his female friends had. The hare watched Sareen and Pipsey holding the paws of four Dibbuns, Posie, Toolie, and two other mice, Lol and Bridget. Hoffy kicked a clod of frozen mud and furiously rubbed his arms, attempting to warm himself.

"Got kicked out, eh, mate?" Skipper Rudtail trotted up to the forlorn hare.

"Wasn't my fault," Hoffy muttered through chattering teeth. "Those crazy Dibbuns are nothing but trouble to a young one like me. 'Watch the Dibbuns', 'Play with the Dibbuns', 'You weren't watching them? Go out into the blinking cold and freeze your bally tail off!'"

Skipper laughed and placed a paw on his friend's shoulder. "You know, a little bit of punishment might be good for you…" Hoffy's face fell. "…but, perhaps something other than babysitting will teach you a lesson. Come on, I need help in the armory. I'm sure your friends over there are more suited for taking care of the babes than you."

Hoffy smiled and straightened up importantly. He ran over to Sareen and Pipsey and told them where he would be, and then bounded off to join Skipper.

It wasn't until Hoffy was inside the warm Abbey when he asked, "Skipper, what armory? There's never been an armory in Redwall."

Skipper lowered his voice. "Not yet, that's the key. Lately I've had a feeling, Hoffy, a bad one. I don't know what it is, but something keeps telling me to get prepared. It's as though Martin himself was in my 'ead, saying 'War is coming; rally the forces!' Of course, that could be nonsense, but nonetheless, something that big shouldn't be ignored, should it?"

Hoffy shook his head, with a chill running through his body. A war? He had only heard of it in Abbey school, never experienced it. But with all that had been going on at the Abbey lately, it seemed as though anything was possible.

Abbess Song gazed out the window, trying to spot Juniper, Clemm, and Erwin, but knowing they were long gone. She quickly brushed away a tear with her paw, a tear brought on by the thought of her only granddaughter away on such a dangerous quest. But, she consoled herself, knowing that the hardy creatures Erwin the otter and Clemm the mouse traveled with her.

"Don't worry, my dear," said Dann as he walked up next to her, "Juniper is a tough squirrel, of good blood. She's a Swifteye, Reguba, and Wandering White. Who could ask for a fiercer, shrewder creature?"

Song smiled at Dann's logic. "To be sure, Dann. I just, well, can't stop worrying. It's an instinct, I guess, a mother's protective side." Dann squeezed her paw reassuringly and walked off.

Song left her room and traveled down the corridors, stopping when she heard the voice of Skipper. She listened to him talking to the young hare Hoffy. Her ears perked up considerably when she heard the word "armory". She bounded out from her spot and intercepted the two.

"Oh, afternoon, marm," Skipper greeted Song.

"Yes, afternoon to you also," she answered. She turned to Hoffy. "I believe you should be serving a punishment at this moment, am I not right?"

"Well, marm," started Skipper, "I have some duties that I really need help with, and I could use Hoffy's skills."

"Skipper, I heard you mention forming an armory. Now, what's this?"

Skipper sighed and explained his instincts. Song nodded, contemplating.

"It's not the way of Redwall to have stores of weapons on hand, but you have never failed us, Skipper. I suppose it's all right, as long as you keep this to the only people who need to know. Do you understand this, Hoffy? No blabbing to your friends about this?"

"Yes, ma'am, " he answered, feeling quite mature all of a sudden.

"Good. You may proceed, Skipper. You may use that spare storage room in the cellars that no creature uses. Good luck with your project."

Song turned and walked off.