The huge paws that dragged Tara along were laced with scars and covered in the black and white fur of badgers. When at last they stopped Tara could hear some voices.
"You fool! That's an otter not a flippin' searat! What are ya, blind?" Tara looked up at the speaker, to her surprise it was a ferret. He was pure black from head to tail and he grinned at Tara apologetically.
"Sorry matey, you just can't get the staff these days! My name's Polen Darkpaw and this is my little group of warriors. Pleased ta meetcha! " Tara gazed around the camp and saw loads of different creatures. There were 3 squirrels, half a dozen moles and hedgehogs, a few mice, a group of foxes, rats and ferrets and the badger who had taken Tara. The group saw her looking and waved cheerily.
"Sorry miss, we was after them sea vermin. They came last season and wiped out a score of our group. I don't have the best of eyesight and I saw you going to where them vermin attacked and I just went a bit mad." The badger was very tall and had a sword strapped onto a belt on his waist. "My name is Drimble, atcha service." Tara took an immediate liking to the group but she knew she had to go.
"Thank you all so much but I have to leave. My family was on that beach and I don't know what's happened to them."
Polen stood. "Right yew are miss. We better go wid yew in case those sea beasties be about. Come on lads and lasses, off we go!"
Tara and her new friends reached the shore just before the Redwallers. There were otters lying in the sand, soaked in blood. Some were injured and trying to tend their injuries as best as possible. When the Redwall mice arrived some yelped and turned away, some were sick and one mouse fainted. A young squirrel ran to Tara.
"What happened here Tara? Who would do such a thing to innocent beasts?"
"Searats. That's who." She looked down at the small abbess. Before Abbess Tulip could reply Tara raced off. She was found at the bodies of three otters. Tulip gasped. There was Joldine Pikepaw and his wife Jeleth and Tara's baby brother Todd. She sobbed uncontrollably and Abbess Tulips soft words did not do anything to help.
"They are at the gates of Dark Forest now. Soon they will enter the Otherworld were there are no creatures like those vermin and they can be at peace. You will join them one day, but not soon. Be happy for them as they would not want you to be sad."
"Thank you Mother Abbess." Two mice came and lifted the 3 bodies onto a cart. Polen ambled over, his teeth bared in fury.
"Those vermin deserve death, doing this to creatures at a celebration. How could they?"
Tulip jumped back in shock.
"Who sir, are you and what are you doing at this scene of carnage?" She asked staring at the ferret and the daggers in his belt.
"He is my friend, Polen Darkpaw and he is coming to Redwall with his group whether either of you like it or not." Said Tara bluntly. Polen looked amazed and grinned happily. Tulip nodded her consent.
"Tara we will leave for the Abbey. We will hold a service tomorrow. You may stay here if you wish, but when you return be very careful. We will go and find the others who hid. I will see you soon." And with that Tulip, the Redwallers and Polen's group left. Soon only Tara was left. Clutching her father's special knife she cut her paw and let the blood drip onto the waves where it was carried off by the current.
"I swear by my blood that I will avenge the death of my family and make those vermin pay!" Her eyes blazed with vengeful fire as she stalked off to the Abbey.