Chapter 4:
"So, do you young'uns want to hear about how we took on the Mirdrop?" Pallum asked the youngsters of Noonvale.
"Yeah!" they chorused.
"Alright. It began shortly after the killer bee incident. We were lucky to come out of that alive. Then, we walked straight into Mirdrop territory. It was a terrible creature. It had the body of a fox, the talons of an owl, and a huge snakelike head with three eyes above a row of fearsome teeth. Martin had gone on ahead, but was captured by the terrifying beast. Rose, Grumm, and I went to help him. It was a great battle. Once we managed to get Martin loose, he took his dagger-like sword that Amballa gave him, and chopped the creature up."
"Wow." The children said in awe.
"That b'aint the way oi remember it." Grumm said walking in on them.
"Are you giving them a sneak preview Pallum?" Laterose of Noonvale asked her friend.
"Just a small one. And I'm not the only one who exaggerates." Pallum told her.
"Really?" Rose asked raising an eyebrow.
"Aye. I've heard a version where you and Martin are sharing a very, VERY romantic moment before the last battle." Pallum said looking at Grumm.
"I've heard that version." Brome said entering the conversation.
"It was false." Rose said. "I wish it was true though."
"I know, dear." Aryrah told her daughter. "If we knew where Martin was, I would let you go find him. But we don't know. We're not even sure if he is still among the living."
"Do you think Martin would have ended up like Felldoh?" Brome asked.
"No. It would take 10 times as many beasts to slay Martin as Felldoh." Pallum assured him.
"Oi remember when he left. He said that he moight hang up is sword one day." Grumm informed the young chieftain.
"Oh we're the Rambling Rosehip Players,
And we please both old and young.
O'er field serene and forest green
Our praises have been sung.
We're the Rambling Rosehip Players,
And we'll take on any part,
Bring a tear to your eye to make you cry
Or joy to the saddest heart.
Though the road be tough and the patch run rough
And weather be cold or grey,
With a smile and a song we'll travel along
On our Rambling Rosehip way. Hey!"
"It's the Rambling Rosehip Players!" Brome shouted and ran to greet his friends.
"You can always trust them to show up." Aryah said.
"Especially Ballaw. Hares are always hungry." Pallum added.
"I'm going to join Brome." Rose said.
After she left, Aryah turned to Pallum and Grumm.
"She seems to be taking this year better than last."
"Oi think that's because she's acsepted the fact Martin b'aint comin' back." Grumm told her. "Oi think oi'll join them."
"Me too." Pallum added.
Just as Aryah was going to go join them,
"Hello!" a voice came from Northward.
The mouse turned and saw Keyla with a group consisting of a squirrel, an otter, a hare, a mole, and a bunch of shrews and mice.
"Hello Keyla. Who are all these?" Aryah asked.
"These good creatures make up the crew of the good ship Honeysuckle. They are running low on rations, so I invited them to join the party. Is that alright?"
"Of course. The more the merrier. Welcome to Noonvale. I'm Aryah." Aryah greeted the travelers.
"Thank ee marm." The mole said.
"So, where are you all from?" she asked.
"Redwall Abbey in Mossflower." One of the mice answered. "I'm Gonff. Prince of Mousethieves."
"And Escapers, Leaf-Puzzle Solvers, Climbers, Predictors, Vaulters, need I go on?" another mouse, who seemed very familiar, continued.
"You can. But the list goes on and on, so we won't bore this kind mouse with the list." Gonff joked back.
"Sometimes he takes me too seriously." The other mouse sighed to the older mousewife.
"Is he a close friend of yours?" she asked.
"Yes. We met in the dungeons of Kotir. He managed to get me out. By the next season, Mossflower was free from evil."
"You look familiar. Have we met?" Aryah asked.
"Yes Marm. But I'm not sure if you want to remember. Considering it's my fault you daughter…"
"Martin?" Aryah interrupted as she recognized the younger mouse. "My, have you grown. Keyla, did you not tell him?"
"I was going to, but they got to talking about Redwall, and I couldn't stop hearing about it." Keyla told her.
"I'll hear about this Redwall later. First of all, what happened to Rose was not your fault. Second, she's alive."
Martin went still, silent, and white.
"Uh. Mate? Are you alright?" Gonff asked.
"Rose is alive?" Martin found his voice.
"I think he left out a story." Gonff whispered to Dinny.
"Yes. Even though she suffered amnesia for a few seasons."
"Amnesia?"
"Yes. But she has regained her memory and has been asking for and about you since." Aryah told him
She didn't get the reaction she was expecting. Instead of calming down, Martin turned whiter.
"Are you alright?" She asked the warrior.
"It's just, I have a home now. I would like to stay with Rose, but Redwall needs me." Martin told the older mousewife.
"I figured as much. That is why Brome and I talked about it, and we decided, if Rose wanted, she could go to where you were. The only reason why she hadn't left before is we did not know your location and we did not want her traveling randomly."
"If Rose wanted to go to Redwall, she, and any others, will be welcomed." Gonff said. "Who's Rose?"
"A friend of mine." Martin said putting it very mildly.
"Well, the feast will begin soon. And then the story." Aryah said.
"Keyla said that it had been exaggerated. What did that mean?" Gonff asked.
"You'll see when you hear it. I'm sure Martin will fill you in on what was true." Aryah said.
TBC
