The Shadow of the Abbey

by shadowredwalldeservedbetter

In the face of death, Shadow has a change of heart. Brought and healed in the abbey, he learns the ways of kindness, trust, and even love. How can this one small repentance, twist the strings fate forever? - Hi! This is my first time both writing a fanfiction, and posting to FFN, so please be patient with me. I'm still figuring out how everything works

2. A Warrior Casts a Light

"Shadow is that you?"

"Cluny, I am here. Why do you want Shadow?"

"Did you see the walls of that Abbey today?"

"I was there. The Shadow sees all."

"Tell me true. Could you climb them?'

"No beast I know of could climb those walls.'

"Except you?"

"Except me."

Cluny gestures with his tail. "Come closer then. I will tell you what must be done."

Shadow sits on the top pulpit step. It's cold and uncomfortable but he gives no complaint. To do so would result in nothing but a good lashing. Cluny issues his orders.

"You will climb the Abbey wall. Many sentries patrol the top, so take the utmost care. The first room you will find yourself in is the main one. The mice call it Great Hall. Walk in, turn around, and on the left wall facing you is a long tapestry covered in pictures and designs. Now listen carefully. In the bottom right-hand corner of that tapestry is a picture of a mouse dressed in armour, leaning on a big sword. I want it! Cut it, rip it, or tear it out, but get it for me. I must have it! Don't come back without it, Shadow."

He's in the Abbey now. He glances around, unsure of how he got there. It doesn't matter, for he's in the room with the mouse knight. He approaches the tapestry, feeling like he's done this all before. He starts to knaw the image out, but when he glances up at the tapestry he finds that the mouse knight is no longer on it. He abandons his chewing to take a better look. Then he sees it. The mouse knight is in front of him. He approaches Shadow, who backs away in fear.

"Shadow." The beast calls out "You must return me."

"I-I cannot. Cluny... he would kill me."

The knight keeps approaching, pushing Shadow back and back and back and-. Shadow collides with something behind him. A boy donned in the same armor as the knight stands behind him, the helmet open to show the face of the puny mouse from before.

"Return me Shadow the rat." The knight demands "Shadow you must return me. You must bring me back."

Over and over and over again he repeats it. The mice close in on him on both sides until he has nowhere to go.

"Shadow. Return me or we shall both perish."

Shadow feels pain on his feet. A fire has started all around. He turns to the knight mouse, but he has become fabric once more, distorted and curling in the flames. The mouse boy glares down at him, but Shadow's eyes are only on the knight. He grabs tapestry, desperately trying to pat out the flames, but soon they engulf everything. He awakes, bleary eyed and unrested, to a light grey face with big floppy ears right in front of his own.