Soma and Hoff where somewhere in Mossflowerwoods, surrounded by tall trees and thick underbrush. They followed what they hoped where Begon's tracks: tall grass that has been trampled on and the occasional huge mouse footprint that only a mountain mouse could leave behind.

Hoff's pace was slower than Soma's fast pace. The hedgehog was panting a bit and his legs were sore. He had to admit, he wished he was more in shape for this journey.

"Hay, Soma," he huffed. "You think w'could stop a bit? Maybe... Drink an' eat a little?"

Soma looked back an shook his head. "We have to follow the tracks while they're here, matey. It might rain and wash them away."

Truth be told, Soma never traveled by himself before, even though he was an otter. So the going has been hard on both of them.

Soma moved aside the leafy branches of a bush. "Oi! What have we got here?"

Hoff looked at the impression in the soft dirt under the bush. "Hm, seems t'be a rat print. I'd say a small'un."

They both looked at each other uneasily.

"A rat print," said Soma. "So close to Begon's."

"I sure hope t'my spikes a fight didn't happen."

As they looked ahead, there hopes where crushed. Near an askew rock formation laid a dead, bloody rat. Looking over, they found Begon near a small stream.

"Begon!" Soma shouted out. "There ye are!"

The mountain mouse turned and looked up gravely. They walked toward each other.

"Begon what happened here mate?" Soma asked.

"I was sleeping, and that rat woke me up and attacked me," Begon explained, a bit nervously. "He tried to rob me, he would have probably killed me. What I did was in self-defense."

"My Uncle Skip says the only good vermin is a dead'un," Soma said with a nod. "Ye did the right thing Begon, the vermin would've killed ya otherwise."

"I don't know," Hoff said. "Maybe you should've tried t'talk with him. Violence don't gotta be the answer to everything."

"There is no reasoning with vermin Hoff," Soma said "That kind of belief can get ya killed." He turned to the mouse. "Begon, you have to return to the abbey and own up to yore mistakes, matey."

Begon didn't want to return to the abbey. He felt strangely embarrassed to face Abbot Nill again. He looked at the rat and felt a strange stab of guilt mixed with that feeling of power.

I did this, Begon thought. I am strong, like a hero. But why do I feed bad about it?

Hoff walked a step closer to Begon and clasped his shoulder. "I for one understand y'reasons. I'm very sure th'good ol' abbot will to. Ay, you may be punished, but y'will be forgiven."

Begon suddenly came up with an excuse, a good one. "I can't go yet. I'm trying to find Martin's sword."

Soma laughed. "I'm sorry, my mate. Countless beast, vermin and woodlander alike, have spent countless years looking for that sword. What makes ya think yore going to find it?"

"Also," Hoff added. "You don' need to find some sword t' be forgiven and prove y'worth."

Begon thought for a moment. Even with Hoff's kind, convincing words, he still couldn't stand the thought of looking Abbot Nill in the eyes. Now Begon felt he needed to return with the sword more than ever. He decided he wouldn't lie, but he wouldn't tell the whole truth either. "Well, I found this." He showed both beast the strange, ancient book. "I believe this may hold clues as to wear Martin's sword is."

He left out the part where Martin visited him in a dream. He didn't want them to completely believe he could find the sword. That way maybe they would leave him alone, and Begon could find the sword for himself.

Soma took on a more serious tone. "Begon, we must go back to the abbey. For all we know this book could be a work of fiction. If we leave now and set a brisk pace, we could be home by dusk."

Begon knew the book was true, Martin himself said so. "Just think about it for a moment, Soma," Begon reasoned. "What's the harm? I follow the clues in the book, and spend maybe a week total searching. If I don't find the sword then I go back to the abbey, no harm done. But if I do find the sword, then an honorable treasure will be restored to Redwall once more. See? There's nothing to loose and everything to gain."

Hoff scratched his chin. "Gotta pint there."

"Fine," Soma sighed after a while. "I understand how important this is for the abbey, so I see that we should at least try."

"We?" Begon asked, confused.

Soma smiled. "Yes we. Do ya really think an otter would miss an adventure like this? We're here to help, right Hoff?"

Hoff scratched his headspikes a bit sheepishly. "Yeah... Just wish I was 'n better shape." He patted his round belly. "But I'll help in what way I can."

Shit, Begon thought. I was hoping they would go back to the abbey and let me find the sword. It would look better if I found it myself.

Despite his thoughts, Begon put on a fake smile. "Thank you guys, this would be easier to figure out this book if more minds where involved."

"Let's get to it, then," Soma said. "Where do we start?"

"Well," Begon explained what he had read of the book so far.

Soma shook his head. "I don't trust that book. There are no good living vermin. The only good vermin is a dead'un."

"Now, Soma," Hoff said, not even attempting to defend vermin at the moment. "Remember, we got nothing t' loose and Martin's sword to gain. What's the worst that could happen?"

"I'll tell ye what could happen," said Soma. "That book was most definitely written by vermin. We can't trust it. It could be a trap. It's to much of a risk."

"And it's a risk I'm willing to take," Begon said. "You can just go back to Redwall, I'll find the sword."

Soma spoke up, "Hold it! Ah, what am I? A spineless shrimp or a brave otter? I'm coming with ya! But I still don't trust the book."

Hoff nodded. "I'm staying. No problem t'me except some sore footpaws. S'where should we start?"

Begon hoped they would back off and go back home, but he thought perhaps they would hopefully give up soon. So for now he told them, "I don't think the book would mention where the sword is exactly, but we can try to find the places. I think looking in Pease Valley is a good start."

"Where d'you suppose that is?" Hoff asked.

"There's a map drawn in the book," said Begon as he opened up to that page. "See? It has Pease Valley marked. And a slanted rock formation right here. I believe that is the same one we're standing under. So if we travel east from hear, we should end up there."

"Sounds liked a good plan," Hoff said.

"Let's get a move on then," said Soma, already walking eastward.