Breakfast was a very quiet affair. Everybeast found that their eyes kept returning to the spot on the wall where the tapestry used to be.
"Martin the Warrior is gone from our Abbey," the Abbot said sadly. "He has left Redwall. We are forsaken. There will be hard and sorrowful days to come without him among us."
"It's our fault," Twilight Sparkle said. "We let you down."
"No, you must not blame yourselves," the Abbot said. "You did all you could do."
Matthias had gotten a black eye when Shadow kicked him. "Oh, Matthias," said Fluttershy. "Your face is all swollen and puffy."
Matthias gave a lopsided grin. He shrugged cheerfully. "I'll be okay. What's a scratch or two to a mouse like me? I'm not afraid of Cluny. If I was gonna be scared, I'd be scared of the creature who tore his eye out, not him!"
Everybeast cheered.
"Matthias is right," said Applejack. "We cain't quit. We gotta keep on fightin'."
"They may have stolen our tapestry, but they can't crush our spirits, wot!" said Basil.
"Next time those rats come, we'll be ready for them," said Rainbow Dash.
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At St. Ninians, Cluny was attaching the stolen tapestry to a long pole. "This new war standard will strike fear into the hearts of those ponies and mice! I've taken their symbol of power to use against them!"
Redtooth marched in and saluted Cluny. "The horde is ready to march, Chief."
Cluny strode out into the churchyard. His fierce eye gazed out across the mighty army: black rats, brown rats, grey rats, piebald rats, skulking weasels, furtive stoats and sinuous ferrets. As Cluny exhorted them, they roared back their frenzied replies.
"Where does Cluny's army go?"
"Redwall. Redwall."
"What is the law of Cluny?"
"Kill, kill, kill."
"Who will lead you to victory?"
"Cluny, Cluny, Cluny the Scourge!"