6

Slinkbat hesitantly pulled back the flap to the Seer's tent. The crazy old fox had always put him on edge. Not just him, really, but everyone in the camp. She was always muttering mad predictions as she slunk around when she wasn't too busy screaming at people that they will "die a slow, early, but not untimely" death or some long, drawn-out phrase like that. No one complained, mainly because of the rumor that she could turn them into a frog and use them for her insane rituals.

He walked in and promptly seated himself, trying to sound nonchalant, "So? Whattd'ya want?"

He shuddered as the vixen turned his gaze to him, one milky eye darting everywhere but forward, "Thou art most impatient, and nigh in the dawn of conversation, young one." She wheezed loudly, "I have a matter most important to discuss with thee, so thou shalt be silent." Another long wheeze. "Someone comes to our camp, an' they bring chaos with them."

That caught Slinkbat's attention, "Those creeps from the Long Patrol?" he offered

"Aye, 'tis possible." Yet another wheeze… "However, thou should not take that interpretation with full certainty." Her head bowed, and for a quick moment Slinkbat thought she had finally croaked, until her head finally came back level with his, "One will find what one never sees when he cometh to call."

"What?" The male fox fumed, "What the heck does that mean? You woke me fer-"

"Peace!" the Seer screeched, and then gave a long, shrill wheeze, "Thou needeth not understand my words, thou just require to hear thine fate in this matter."

Slinkbat huffed, "Well then, get on with it! I ain't got all day to d'cypher yer babblin' so gerron wit it, willya?"

The shaman sighed, lost again in her wheeze, "When the prophecy is nigh unto completion, thou shall be dead."

Slinkbat couldn't help but laugh, "You finally get around to say that I'm going to die sometime?"

"Aye."

"Aren't you the person who said our chief tracker'd fall offa cliff n' die?"

"Aye."

"And HalfTail'd get killed by a stranger of his own kind?"

"Again, aye."

Slinkbat laughed, "Come on, ya ol' hag! The last time I believed ya was when ya told a real prediction. N' I can't 'member the last time ya did that fer us! I'm outta here!" He stormed out, silently happy he wasn't looking at that eye again.

The Seer sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. "Thou follow not my counsel at thine own risk, child, as do all of thee." She promptly turned to the fire, where age finally caught up with her and she shut her eyes, never to open again.

(Just outside the gates to Redwall)

After profuse good byes, the two foxes had finally left the Abbey and began their march down the trail. Despite his anger at the senile beast next to him, Felix couldn't help but be a little excited. After all, this was his first time out of the Abbey, and where he was going, there were bound to be more people like him. "Hey, ol' beast!" he called back, "Can't ya move any faster?"

Old Fox walked steadily on his staff, calling up to him, "I'm takin comfort inna fact you'll be the first one shot at if'n we get ambushed by dem Fluffies, ye're so further ahead."

Felix didn't answer but stopped and waited for him. Old fox closed the gap halfway, then turned to the side of the road and sat.

"Hey, hey, whoa whoa whoa! What are you doing? We have to get goin'!"

"No we ain't!" the older beast replied, smirking at Felix's growing ire, "I ain't nearly as young as I used to be, so we're restin' fer a spell."

"You're kiddin'! We haven't even traveled a quarter of a league an' you wanna stop? Come on, and you called me weak!"

His response came as a sharp rap to the head, in around the same spot his previous welt was just beginning to heal.

"Shut yer ungrateful mouth!" the old fox roared, his voice losing age as he rose to his full height, "Ye pathetic lil' ingrate, getting all riled up and cocky like that! Get this through your thick lil' head: you are weak, you are pathetic. The fact that I even had the sense to let you accompany me to a vermin camp shows just how crazy I am. You are a weak, little, bawlin' pup who knows nothing of being a vermin. In fact, when we get there, I do not doubt you will be torn to shreds the moment they lay eyes on you." He sat again.

"What are you getting all worked up for ol' timer?" Now it was Felix's turn to get angry, "You made me come along so I could keep you safe from…"

"Keep me safe?" Old fox stared at him as though he had said something funny, "You though I'd trust you with my life? I wouldn't trust you with my walking stick!"

"Why then?" Felix bit back, "Why even bother asking me specifically to come if not for that?"

"So you could see!" Old fox answered with finality. "You are not a Fluffy, though your parents seemed content to make you keep thinking that!"

Felix's rage was quickly halted, "My parents? What do you know about…"

"More than you do, you miserable pup." He pulled his stave closer to him, and with a twist removed the head. He held it upside down until something slid out, a thin sword with a hilt and guard. Felix stared at it. How did he fit that…?

"This is yours…" The old beast said, tossing it to Felix and sighing as he fumbled it in the air for a while, "…now that your father has left it to you."

Felix drew it with uncertainty. It was light, and thinner than the sword of Martin, which he had seen around the Abbey. The name was on the tip of his tongue, though he couldn't remember what they'd called it. Rapin? Travier? "Wait…" he looked back to Old Fox, "…this was my…"

"Aye, lad. He gave it to me a while back, b'fore ya were born." Old Fox's tone was calm and even for the first time since they had spoken, "We were kinsbeasts, but in the end, he just fell victim to a bleedin' heart."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Felix asked, intent on the old fox in front of him, "What do you mean 'Bleeding heart'? Did my father die, or was he injured? What about my mother?"

Old Fox stood and began walking, "You'll find out in due time." He went on for a short distance, then looked back at the stupefied young Felix, "Come on now, and don't be slackin'."

Felix's gaze went from the old beast, to the sword, and back to him. That fox led him on, he realized, gave him all these questions that he had to figure out. Damn him! Now he can't just leave without knowing what he knows.

Felix caught up, and they spoke no more words that day, the air of tension between them renewed with vigor.

Author's Note: How am I doing? Let me know if the clichés are killing you. I'd like to hear from you all. Appreciate it! Taleforge, signing off!