Apologies for chapter three, I was kinda muse less. Well I managed to get some good thinking done at the best place for creative daydreaming: at school when I'm supposed to be working. So without further ado, I present Chapter…
4
An old fox waited for the gatekeeper to open up. Takin' far too long, even fer this ol' cad. He thought bitterly as squeezed past the small opening made in the massive oak door. He cast an angry gaze to the group charged with opening and closing. "Keepin' an ol' beast like meself waitin' in this weather." He hobbled off into the courtyard. The two beasts on the gate exchanged glances; this weather? It was beautiful today.
The Abbot strode out to meet him, "Good morning! I am Father Celix, Abbot of Redwall. Are you traveling alone?"
The elderly beast stopped, resting on his walking stave, "Wasn't always." He said simply, "Me mate up an' collapsed on'na way here."
"I apologize sir," Celix bowed his head, "I wasn't aware that…"
"Don't be sorry," He interrupted, "She w's a weak lil' lady. I expected 'er to croak seasons ago. All the better fer me tho'. N'neway I guess you'd deny an ol' beast like me someplace t' tucker?"
The Abbot was slightly unnerved to hear those things, but he didn't let it affect him, "What makes you think we'd deny a lone traveler sanctuary? Please take a look around; a Brother will escort you to a room when you're ready to sleep."
Those words did nothing for the grumpy fox, who simply grunted and hobbled off in the other direction. "Damned fluffies," he grumbled, "They're far too trustin', they are. If I was just a bit younger, I'd show them not to trust a vermin."
The Dibbuns waved their sticks above their head, "C'mon outta 'ere, yoo verm'n!" one of them cried out, and the rest cheered their agreement.
"Bwahahahaha!" Felix laughed from the shrubs, "Yew cannae escape meh! I'ma gonna
eat ya all! Bwahahahahaha!" The Dibbuns all began reacting at once; some began looking around for the evil voice, some gave battle cries that sounded more silly than heroic, some pretended to be scared, giving the others opportunities to be brave and protect them. Felix leapt from the bushes, which got them all panicking, and grabbed the nearest Abbeybabe. "Ha ha! I gots me a hostage now, little un's!" He held the Dibbun to him, who was now laughing and screaming in mock terror at the same time.
"Get 'im lads!" one of the children called out, and in response, every Dibbun gave their own variation on a battle cry and leapt on the "Vermin Manace", taking the gaunt beast down almost instantly.
"Oh, no!" he screamed, rolling around and pretending to try and get the wave of Abbeybabes off of him, "Crushed by dem Dibbuns! Oh the horra'! Tell me dear mate…"
"All right kids!" Sister Zonita called, "That's enough playing around for today, get off that poor creature before you crush him!"
The children all managed to scramble off of Felix, who leapt to his feet laughing, "Crazy little beasts aren't they?" he remarked to himself, "It'd be pretty embarrisin' if I got myself crushed by Abbeyba…" His musings were quickly interrupted by a sharp rap to the head.
"Dang soft, ya are, to even be worried bout somefin' like that." The aged foxed behind him scolded, "N' ta think ye were unfort'nate ta be born a verm'n!"
Rubbing the lump that was already beginning to form on his head, Felix spun to face his assailant, "Who asked you, you… you…" He began, but he trailed off. He hadn't seen another fox before; vermin in general seldom opted to come here before.
The old beast's next words, however, quickly changed his attitude, "'You…you…you…you…'" he mocked, "Is that all you can say t' one a'yer own? Pathetic, t's what you are. Ye give vermin a bad name just fer breathin'!"
"Old timer!" he warned, "The fact that we're in an Abbey is the only thing keepin' me from kicking you over that wall! You'd best keep yer damn mouth shut 'fore I consider changin' my mind."
"An' idle threats! Ya come with the full deal, boy!" he spat the next line venomously, "Yer mother shoulda killed ye when she had the frickin' chance!"
Felix didn't know why that one sentence got him that way, but before he was even aware of the action, his paw was raised and he lashed out at the vermin. Sense took over before the blow connected, and he took it back before it touched fur.
The old beast didn't flinch, "Figgers. I'd better have a lil' chat with the Babbot, tell 'im he's raisin' peace lovin' sissies here." With that, he hobbled off, into the sandstone walls of the Abbey. Boora snuck up on the now thoroughly enraged Felix.
"Ol' vermin got to ye, eh? No' exactly a boost on the ol' reputation, wot!"
Angry as he was, and unburdened by the dress, Felix had no trouble catching up to the portly hare this time.