Ingria looked over the ship's rail. His ship, the Wreckless was desperately in need of new supplies. The food was all gone save for a loaf of stale bread and a few morsels here and there. A fish or two had been caught but it had not been able to feed all the crewbeasts on board. The fresh water was down to the last barrel and an occasional canteen, though there were a few more casks of seaweed grog. Besides, his mate was with child; Damylle needed the food. The ferret was apprehensive to approach his captain for permission; he did not want to fall victim to Glovern's murderous whims. But there was nothing else that could be done.
The three of Glovern's ships were now resting at anchor and enjoying the warm weather after roaming the seas further north for countless seasons. A few other little boats bobbed in the water as the crew attempted to fish. Of course, Glovern's seascum were crewbeasts, not fisherbeasts, and many a small craft was seen toppling over as the vermin struggled with their catch. Ingria had sent out a small group to fish as well, but many of them came back with empty paws and wet fur. He shook his head in disdain at them. Pathetic things, he thought to himself. The vermin on board would not last long, he'd have to make for land soon.
"Hereg, get 'em to lower tha' boat, I be goin' to the cap'n's ship."
The searat Hereg obediently followed his orders. He had been on this ship long enough to know who was captain. The small boat was attached hanging vertically alongside the Wreckless, with an enormous length of rope attached to the small vessel to facilitate the lowering and bringing up the boat. Hereg slowly untied the string which held the boat fast to the ship. It had many complicated knots and it took labourious amounts of picking to untie it. Ingria tapped one foot paw impatiently on the wooden floorboards of the deck as he hurled insults at Hereg.
"Wots wrong wid yer? Can't cha untie a tiny piece of thread, eh?"
"Work faster, yer bumble-pawed slowpoke!"
"The sun'll set afore yore done wid' that string, rat!"
Finally, Hereg undid the tight knots. Ingira spat at the searat as he lowered himself down the ladder on the side of the boat and into the waiting craft. The vessel was small and made only to fit one or two creatures at a time. As he sat down, he pulled out the paddles below the plank on which he sat. Slowly and labouriously, he rowed himself towards the Bloodslice, upon which Glovern stood, commandeering his crew.
Ingria was now directly below the great Bloodslice. Tying the boat to the ladder, he ascended to the deck.
"Cap'n, sah." Ingria inclined his head before Glovern. The tall searat was in a peaceable mood. Turning his head toward Ingria, he acknowledged the ferret's presence. "Wot do yer want, Ingria?"
"Err… cap'n. the Wreckless be needin' of more vittles. And err, water too, sah. Kin I make fer land an' replenish the ship, cap'n…"
Glovern considered this suggestion for a second. Then he motioned another rat over to him. The rat, Flearug was the captain of the other cosair galley, the Waveculler. He was small and stout, covered with thick grey fur. Flearug approached his well-built captain with a bow. "Wot kin I do fer yer, cap'n?"
"We should make fer land soon, yer think? All the ships be needin' more supplies. An' we need repairs. Go back to yer ships an' git those oars rowin'. We be goin' fer land."
"But cap'n, where be the land?" Flearug interrupted. Glovern immediately snapped out of his good mood. "Do yer doubt my navigatin' skills, rat? Yer kin direct the ships, then!" he spat with contempt. "I 'amember this yon sea. I git better mem'ry than yores. I was on the seas when yer two were babes! Now go back. We be making south an' a touch west. Just foller my ship, bumbleheads!"
Ingria and Flearug hastened to obey and scuttled off the deck. Ingria was deeply relieved that they would be able to enjoy good food and clean water soon. He could do with something other than seaweed grog and rum. He smiled satisfactorily to himself before rowing back to the Wreckless.
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Redwall was bustling with all manner of creatures in preparation for the spring's naming feast. Roffe Cellarhog was arranging flagons and beakers of wines, cordials and ales. A few young squirrels were arranging flowers and colourful cloth and ribbons around the Great Hall. Reeger, with the help of two otter sisters, Marinnine and Hyacinth, were rolling out cheeses. The kitchen was absolutely packed with various Redwallers clamouring to help. Even the dibbuns were making themselves useful by picking flowers to decorate the table.
Many other woodlanders had come for the festivities as well. The dormitories had been filled with visitors, a few infirmary beds even had to be freed up to cope with the ever-increasing flow of guests. Sister Cascadia bustled back and forth, somehow finding new blankets and sheets for the visitors.
Amidst the noise of it all, Dannvy stood in the Great Hall trying his very best to restore some manner of order to the cluttered table where food from the kitchen were placed randomly. Holding a blackberry flan in one paw, he directed the dibbun Rissa to position an obstructing vase of wildflowers in the middle of the table.
"I put tha flowers ere, Dannvy?"
"Yes, yes. Err, a little to the right. Or I shan't be able to fit this flan between the flowers and the apple and rhubarb crumble!"
"Whurr do oi put ee fruitycake? Moi paws be gurtly ahurtin', 'urry oop!" Foremole arrived with a fruitcake balanced on his paws.
"Err, put it there, between the fruit salad an' the beaker of strawberry cordial." Dannvy motioned to an empty spot on the table, which was nearly filled, save for one space which had been reserved for a special something…
"Make way, make way!" was heard through the crowd. The crowd parted for a huge cake coming through. The cake was so great in height that only the footpaws of the carrier could be seen under the cake. Meadowcream had been spread on the top and the sides, studded with hazelnuts and chestnuts. Pink and purple flower petals bordered the edges. There were three layers, with blueberry jam spread between the layers. The carrier slowly lowered the colossal cake onto the table and revealed a flour-covered Friar Corelli.
The Redwallers were stunned into slience. The two ottermaids Marinnine and Hyacinth gasped and Hyacinth pretended to swoon. The plump friar beamed at the spectators. "Presenting the WildflowerNutberryMeadowcream cake!" he waved his paws in what he thought was a flourish but tripped over his footpaws and fell over. The Great Hall erupted into laughter as Friar Corelli stood up trying to regain his dignity.
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The fox Kletch and his gang were wanderers. They roamed through the land, plundering, robbing, and attacking innocent woodlanders. The thieving gang consisted of six foxes, all of which were Kletch's siblings. Kletch was the eldest, and the most ruthless of all his siblings. He was also the slyest, smartest, and was a good leader, with all his younger siblings looking up to him. The foxes were all armed with daggers, except for the leader, who had an additional cutlass on the belt around his waist.
As the gang strolled through the woods, Kletch's brother Torrune walked up beside him. "Eh Kletch, we be walkin' an' starvin' fer days now. When we be goin' to eat an' rest?"
"Doncha worry, this woods be full of wuddlanders, soon we kin find someplace. Someplace to plunder an' steal from. An'…" A sinister smile came onto the foxes' face.
"An' then we make 'em giv' us vittles an' then we run them throo! Hahar! Brother, you be smart!" Torrune grinned. Kletch nodded. "Yes, you be right. An' then we'll get to eat and rest! Yer learn fast, lit'l brother."
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The Northern woods were abuzz with the trees rustling and the birds chirping. It was midmorning, and the perfect picture of peace. Misty and Cavan were by the stream, a little further upstream from their small hut. Misty stood knee deep in the water with a small net, catching watershrimp, which she put into a basket. Cavan sat by the bank with the fishing rod, hoping to be able to catch some manner of fish. It was rare that they would catch more than two fishes; somehow, the fishes did not bite. Beside him was a basket filled with dry twigs for firewood and the roots and berries that they had collected. Both creatures carried slings which they sometimes used to bring down apples.
Misty waded back to the bank with the small basket full. "You think mama would've awaken up by now? She doesn't normally sleep until this late. I hope she's alright."
"Mama should be fine. Prob'ly just tired. Shush, don't yer go disturbin' the fishes."
"Huh, you think the fishes will be scared away by my voice? More likely ter be yours!" Misty splashed water at him playfully.
Cavan looked at her with a look of mock hurt. Falling backwards dramatically, he acted as if he was deeply offended. "Oh, you evil treehopper, you dare insult me! Aaah…" He was interrupted by a hard thump on his back. "Stop play-acting!"
Misty had become strong from the years or wrestling with her rat companion, and her thump was no light punch. She had not meant to hit Cavan quite so hard, but she couldn't stand his playful antics sometimes.
"Oww! You needen hit me so hard!" Cavan exclaimed, rubbing his sore back.
"Sorry old thing, didn't mean to hit so hard. I can't help it, I'm far too strong to control myself!" Misty grinned lightheartedly, with no sign of being apologetic.
"Old thing yourself! I bet I can hit harder than you!"
"Oh yeah? I bet I can…err…run faster than you!"
"An' I can swim faster than you!"
"An' I can climb trees faster than you!"
To prove her point, Misty bounded up a nearby oak lithely, leaving Cavan on the ground staring up into the foliage.
"Of course you climb trees faster than me! Yore a squirrel!" Cavan snorted. Misty, laughing, suddenly stopped. "Shh!" she whispered with such urgency that Cavan immediately kept silent. He quietly ascended the thick oak and sat beside Misty among the braches. A little way off, he could see a glimpse of a group of creatures moving. They were not the regular woodlanders they were familiar with. No. They were strangers. And they kept on moving. Moving… in the direction of their hut!
Cavan gasped. "Mama!"
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Umm okay what do you think? This is my longest chapter yet! And a sort-of cliffhanger there. Not sure if it really qualifies as a cliffie, though. PLEASE review!! According to Story Traffic there're loads of people who bother to read my story but don't review!D: please be a nice person and review!!:))
Also please do my poll. Thanks loads!;)