The warm spring sun was high in the sky. Begon, Hoff, and Soma where traveling to Piece Valley, as they said. They decided it was best to travel along the stream, so they had access to water when they got thirsty.

"M'feet are Really hurtin' me," Hoff said, trying to catch his breath.

"I don't mean to be rude," said Soma, a bit jokingly. "But remind me again on how you managed to win the copper badge in the spar."

"Brute strength," Hoff answered, missing the playful tone in the otter's voice. "Y'see, you don't a'ways need good endurance t' win a fight, jus' blunder int' 'em."

Soma was a bit annoyed that Hoff took him seriously, the otter was just trying to have a little teasing fun is all.

"Shush!" Begon put his paw up to silence them, then whispered, "You hear that?"

The two other beast took a moment to listen carefully, then Soma shook his head and Hoff whispered, "Nothin'."

Just then, a shrub beside them rustled. Then another across from them, more of the underbrush started to wave and shake until it looked as if Begon, Soma, and Hoff where standing in a green sea.

"What'n Martin's name is goin' on," Hoff said a bit panicked.

Soma got his bow at the ready, and Begon grabbed his wooden sword.

"Who's there," Begon said, narrowing his eyes angrily to cover up any sign of fear on his face.

The rustling around them increased, causing a racket. Then loud, screaming voices erupted around them. Fear took ahold of all three beast, them having never seen anything like this.

"You think," Soma swallowed hard. "You think this is a ghost?"

"How'n Hellgates d'you fight a ghost," Hoff fretted.

Begon hushed them, then yelled at the top of his lungs, "Whoever this is! Stop! We mean no harm!"

A horn sounded, and everything, the movement in the brush and the voices, stopped abruptly. Then a shrew walked out of a bush. He had an imposing posture and stone cold eyes. He wore a green hat with a brown eagle feather set at it's side. Following, all around, about thirty shrews appeared from the underbrush.

"Who enters the territory of Rudon the Slayer," the shrew spoke.

Begon smiled in relief. Just a bunch of shrews, he thought.

"We're awful sorry," said Hoff. "We had n'clue this place belonged t' anybeast."

Soma, obviously angry, spoke his mind. "Your territory! Look here mate, this is the wilderness. It don't belong to nobeast! And what are you doing scaring a bunch of travelers like that, huh?"

Rudon brandished his rapier, then bowed. "I understand your frustrations, otter. We had to put on a show of strength to scare off any baddies, if you happened to be that. But I now see that you are good beast, woodlanders." He smirked. "You three must admit, that was a good scare."

Soma, a little disgruntled, crossed his arms. "What do you mean scare off baddies? Mossflowerwoods is a peaceful place. Or is there danger to worry about?"

"Everything will be explained later," Rudon said. "I've got questions for you, you know. But that's for a later time. Come, you all look hungry."

Begon trusted them, they seemed to highly dislike vermin after all, and they where woodlanders. They followed the shrew further away from the stream, until they came to a well hidden camp. Lean-to tents where painted a somber green and covered in plantation. Their supplies where covered in wire net, then in greenery. Anybeast could walk through this camp and not even realize is was here

They all gathered around and sat on a log. They made introductions first, then ate some food, which was some kind of strawberry crumble topped with cream. after they where done eating, Rudon asked his question.

"I see you are wearing a habit, Begon," he said. "A Redwall habit. Now, what is a Redwaller doing all the way out here?"

Begon cut into speak before Hoff or Soma could, he did not want to be branded as a thief and cause any mistrust. "We're out looking for a sword, a sword that's very important to the abbey."

Rudon looked at Begon with his stony eyes. Begon felt as if Rudon was staring through his skin to examine everything inside. It was a bone-chilling feeling.

He's smart, Begon thought. He probably knows I'm not telling the whole truth. I hope I haven't made him suspicious.

Begon couldn't read Rudon's face, the shrew was good at keeping his emotions hidden.

"I see," he said. "This wouldn't happen to be the long lost Sword of Martin, would it?"

"Ey, that be it," Hoff said.

Begon was a bit surprised on how the shrew figured that out already, Rudon wasn't a citizen of Redwall after all.

"That's right mate," added Soma. "It's a long story on how we decided to take this adventure, but I'll make a long story short."

Begon tensed up, he didn't want this shrew to mistrust him. Just by looking at him. Begon knew Rudon was the kind of beast you wanted on your good side.

"Well, an argument happened back at Redwall," Soma continued. "And Begon here ran away to find the sword, to prove himself perhaps. Me and Hoff came into the picture because we went out looking for him. We all decided that the sword is very important and sacred to Redwall, so here we are."

Begon was beyond relived. He was so happy that Soma left out a lot of details. But Soma didn't even realize he was covering up for Begon, he was just trying to relay the information quickly.

"I see," Rudon said after a moment of thinking. "Perhaps I could help."

"You could?" asked Begon, both surprised and suspicious at the same time. "How exactly would you do that?"

There was a shine in Rudon's eyes. "We're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we? Tell me first, mouse of Redwall, what your plans are."

Begon felt nervous telling this shrew such plans. Even though they both shared a hatred of vermin, Begon was still suspicious. The mouse glanced down at the gold badge, seeking help from Martin. However, he got no answers. Begon had to make up his own mind.

"I found an ancient text detailing the last events of Martin's sword, apparently." Begon finally said. "Peace Valley is one of the places mentioned, and we happen to be close to it, based on the map. So that's where we're headed first, it wouldn't hurt to look."

Rudon chuckled darkly. "Wouldn't hurt to look? I bet it would hurt very much to look."

The confused look on Begon's face seemed to cause Rudon more amusement. "You see, mouse," he began to explain. "What happened in Peace Valley took place many centuries ago. It is nothing like it use to be. The whole place is crawling with brushrats. They aren't very smart or skilled in combat at all. Absolutely nothing to fear when faced with just one. But Peace Valley doesn't house just one. There has to be at least a hundred of those pest swarming the place. They've built watchtowers and some walls too. Not impressive by any means, mind you, but enough to cause complications."

Begon groaned in frustration and held his head in his paws. "How an I ever going to search the place?" he asked more to himself.

"That's where I come in to help," Rudon said. "When I had you surrounded earlier, that was thirty of my warriors there. All together, there are seventy-six of us in all. With carful planning, we'll be able to take down those rats and take back Peace Valley."

"Hmm," Hoff thought aloud. "Sounds good t'me."

"My mates," said Soma. "I know, if we put out heads together, we can think of something!"

"Wait," Begon put his paw up to silence the others. "Rudon, why are you helping us? What are you getting out of this?"

"That's simple, Begon," Rudon answered earnestly. "Us shrews have lived along this stream for many, many years. We've been having problems with these brushrats as of late. They are creeping down from Peace Valley to where we live. We even had to disguise our camps."

Begon remembered when he was attacked by that brushrat so early that morning. The rat wasn't powerful or smart by no means, but he was still an annoyance.

"Of course, my warriors can easily take them out," Rudon continued. "However, not before they get a chance to burn some supplies. And if this raid on Peace Valley goes really well, I hope to make it a new home for my tribe of shrews."

Begon looked into Rudon's pleading eyes and saw a beast he could trust. A strong, honest shrew with excellent leadership qualities.

"We're with you," Begon said with a smile.

The group discussed their plans long into the night.