Sorry about the extremely super late update! I was very busy.x( Simply couldn't find the time to sit down and type. plus I was away for the last couple of days. And I have
So here it is! Enjoy! And please remember to REVIEW!!!
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To a stranger, the Northern Coasts were a picture of calm and peace. But the inhabitants nearby knew different.
The Northern coasts were a popular place for ships to rest and restock. The water was deep and a good place for ships to rest at anchor. The thick foliage of the Northern woods nearby promised shade and abundant food. A small pine grove lay a little further south, supplying pine resin and wood for ship repairs when necessary. There even was a freshwater stream some ways into the forests. The favourable conditions were almost an invitation to all ships, including all manner of cosair and searat ships.
Glovern knew this. He had made a few journeys there before, and he remembered the place very well. It was, after all, the very coast where his beloved Stormbrew had been wrecked all those seasons ago. Fifteen seasons exactly, Glovern could still remember. And now that his ships were low on supplies, they were making for this very coast where they would find all they needed. The ship had suffered some damage, he would make repairs there. Maybe he could even enslave a few more creatures or find new crewbeasts. And then, on southwards.
Glovern scanned the deck for a moment before finding the one he was looking for. Motioning to a small, puny stoat, he commanded "Darger! C'mere! The stoat who had been moving a thick coil of rope immediately stopped in his tracks and dumped the thick, heavy brown rope onto the wooden deck with a thunderous plunk. The stoat Darger walked apprehensively towards Glovern. "Capt'n? Yew call'd me?"
Glovern nodded. "Aye. Sit down, on tha' bench 'ere." Glovern closed his eyes, almost dreamily. "Tell me agin, wot's tha' redstone house called? Wallstone or summat?" Darger nodded."Capt'n, yew mean tha Redwall h'abbeyplace, doncha?"
"Aye, aye! Tell me agin, wot yew tole me b'fore."
"Redwall H'abbey be a great place, made outta big redstoners. My 'ole muvver used to tell me stories of tha' big ole' place. There be lotsa lotsa creatures; mice an' riv'dogs an' 'edgepigs an' treemice an'moles. An' sometimes a ribbit, methinks. An' there be plenny of vikkles; cakers an' tarts an' flans an' scones an' salads an' cordials an' wines an' ales an'..."
Glovern tapped his footpaw impaitently. "Getcher on wiv' it, stoat. Or shall I 'elp yew to, eh?" The bigger captain held his cutlass menacingly at Darger's throat.
Darger gulped and took a step back. "Aye, aye capt'n sah. I be gettin' on wiv' it now capt'n sah. Only please doan't kill me sah..."Glovern released the stoat, glaring, and nodded for him to continue.
"The Redstone H'abbey place be down south. There be a likkle river further down, an' we sails into tha' river til' we come ter a pathplace. An' we walk south down til' we see tha' h'abbeyplace. Me ole pa went to tha' h'abbeyplace afore, he tole me tha' way."
Darger now lowered his voice to a conspirational whisper. "Capt'n, I 'eard tha' redstonewall place has great treasures. Gold an' silver an' purty coloured jewelers. They git nice softy beds an' gudd furniture too, methinks. My ole muvver usedta say 'If they kin build sucha big great house, they must hav' lotsa lotsa treasures.'"
Glovern nodded. "Good place, eh. Redwall H'abbery. Whaddya say we scum go there an' live there, eh? Plenny of vikkles, we kin sleep in their nice soft beds and make 'em all slaves. An' Redwall H'abbey ain't a pow'rful name. We 'uns all it… err…Glovern's Castle! Harrharr! A gurt big castle an' ev'rybeast will fear it! Harrharr!"
"Aye capt'n, yew be very smart. Nobeast be smarter than yew ter thinka such a good plan. We sit in the Redwall H'abbey … no, Glovern's Castle and drink ale ev'ry day. No more goin' on seas and storms, eh?"
"Drink ale ev'ryday, eh? Yew be such a gurt, lazy, idle lazychops. Git out of my sight!" Glovern kicked out with his foot paw, sending Darger sliding across the deck. Crewbeasts and slaves dashed in all directions get out of the way of the slipping stoat. Darger crashed into a barrel and fainted.
Glaring at all the other beasts on deck who were gaping at Darger's unconscious form, Glovern barked out, "Tha's wot happens to lazy beasts like 'im. Git back to work or yew'll git punished!"
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Cavan and Misty carefully descended from the tree from which they had first spotted the creatures. The two siblings followed carefully behind the strangers, making sure with every step not to step on a stray twig or dry leaf and give away their presence. Cavan had his paw on the hilt of his dagger, ready to whip it out if they posed a threat.
The group of strangers was obviously unused to the forest, for every few seconds one of them would complain of something. The lack of light, the heat, the humidity, the small bugs which annoyed them. The strangers were moving east towards their home. As the group moved to a parting in the leaves, only then were Misty and Cavan able to see the intruders: A group of foxes.
From their experience living near the Northern Coasts, the pair had learnt that all vermin were dangerous, foxes even more so, for they were sly and cunning. Looking at each other with an alarmed look in their eyes, Misty pulled out her javelin from her side. She had made it herself, using a study ash twig and Cavan dagger to sharpen the point. Cavan's dagger had been from their mother Floania, and both had slings which Floania had lovingly made. Cavan had always beat his squirrel counterpart at hand combat, while Misty proved swift and accurate with her javelin and sling.
As the foxes reached the small clearing where the small hut stood, Misty motioned Cavan to conceal themselves behind a thick bush, where they had a good view through the leaves of the hut and the approaching band.
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Kletch and his band had spotted the hut. "Lookit that, lit'l brother," The leader said to Torrune. "there we can git food." Now turning to the rest of them, Kletch spoke. "Lissen, we all go an' knock at the hut, sez we're weary travelers, an' ask fer vittles an' drink an' shelter. An' then after the beasts there has got us tha' vittles, we run 'em through an' mebbe we kin stay ther fer awhile. Remember, be nice an' polite, let em' think we're goodbeasts. Muss up yer fur a lit'l so they'll think we're really tired travelers. Geddit?"
"If they refuse, then whadda we do?" his sister, Jael questioned, almost challenging him.
The rest of the gang nodded assent and they progressed toward the hut.
Floania was sitting in the hut, fretting over her two children. Will they get home in time to escape? She wrung her paws frantically, pacing the floor of the hut. Where were they?
Why weren't they back yet? The mouse had been clear about the urgency of the matter; Floania knew they did not have much time left. If only… if only I hadn't overslept! She bit her lip anxiously, peering out of the windows every now and then. If only I hadn't missed them; now we would be packing up and gone! If only…
Knock, knock.
Floania gasped. Yes, perhaps they were back.. Dashing the door which she had barricaded in case of danger, she hastily removed the plank and opened the door. "Cavan! Misty! Where……" Her face turned from anxious to pure fear and dread.
The group of foxes stood in her doorway. Floania heart palpitated."No…no… Misty… Cavan…" It was now too late. What was she going to do now? She backed into the hut, shaking her head and looking at the gang with terror in her eyes. Trembling, she groped around and behind her for something, anything that could help her ward off these vermin. To her left was nothing. Feeling with her right paw this time, she felt something long and hard. A broom. It would have to do.
"Marm, we be a group of travelers an' be needin' some vikkles an' water. Please be kind an' help us… we been walkin' fer days now. Please, we won't do yer no 'arm" Kletch wheedled in a helpless tone. He seemed almost oblivious to Floania's horrified expression.
"Get out! I won't give you scum anything! NOTHING! Go away!" Floania yelled bravely, brandishing the broom in front of her. Her voice trembled as did so, giving away her fear despite her strong words.
The foxes exchanged a look. This old rat wouldn't be providing them with anything. With a nod from their leader, they whipped out their cutlasses in unison. Kletch gave a signal, and his siblings dragged the resisting Floania out of the small cramped hut.
From the cover of the bushes, Cavan and Misty could only watch as the foxes approached and hauled their mother out of the hut. They were only two young beasts, while they were against six burly, experienced thugs. Though they were adept in combat, the odds were against them.
The foxes were now kicking Floania about and prodding her with the cutlass. Apparently they were going to torture the poor rat before killing her. Their leader was saying something to their mother which was inaudible to the siblings. Cavan gritted his teeth. No, he could not sit back and watch the scum mistreat his mother so. Unsheathing his dagger, he made as if to dash forward but was restrained by Misty's paw on his shoulder.
"No! Stop!" Misty hissed angrily in his ear and holding the struggling Cavan down. "Listen! If you go there now, you're just gonna get yoreself killed! Listen now, I have a plan to scare them off…" Leaning closer, Misty whispered into her companion's ear.
Cavan nodded and crawled through the barrier of thick bushes which bordered the little clearing where their hut stood. He stopped when he reached the opposite of where Misty was hiding, concealed in the thick foliage of a tall elm. Cavan loaded his sling and then gave a passable imitation of a gull's call to signal to Misty.
The foxes were distracted for a brief moment by the call of a gull. "Hey, lissen to that. seabirds. Lets finish 'er off soon an' leave her to the gulls-- owwch!" Kletch was rudely interrupted by a stone which hit his forehead, leaving a bleeding wound. Not knowing what hit him, he turned back to the foxes. "Which of yer bumblebrains did that, eh? Own up now!" There was complete silence from the gang as the foxes looked at one another, bewildered. They too, were stumped as to the origins of the mysterious pebble which had wounded their leader. The silence was interrupted by more stones, which rained upon the foxes.
"Oww! Somebeasts slingin' at us!"
"Shoopid rock hit me inna gut!"
"'elp! I be bruised and battered--ouch!"
Misty stifled a giggle up in the trees. Hopping swiftly and noiselessly from tree to tree, she released slingstones such that it rained down from all directions, making it difficult for the foxes to determine the source of the pebbles.
"There! The rocks be comin' from there. Go and catch the beast that's slingin' it!"
"No, from tha' side! I saw it come from there jus' now!"
"Well, yer saw wrong, cause that stone just came from that directi-- help!"
Cavan snorted, crawling through the bushes as quickly as he could manage, and slinging from the ground, just as Misty attacked from above.
Some of the gang were now lying on the ground, wounded and in pain. Torrune had so many cuts and bruises that it seemed that there was no spot of fur which was free from pain. He was crouched on the forest floor, groaning as the stones hit him. Kletch himself even spotted wounds on his head and it was only because of his quick dodges that prevented him from getting more.
Seeing that the foxes were beginning to weaken, Cavan mustered up a deep booming voice. "Filthy vermin, you are surrounded! Surrender and leave and we will spare your worthless lives! Remain and your lives will be forfeit!"
The vixen Jael yelled out to Kletch as she held up her paws defending herself from the onslaught of flying rocks. "Kletch old thing. Lets git some of those old rat's vikkles and make a run fer it while we can!"
Kletch looked over his gang. Every single fox was wounded or bruised in some way or another. Despite being trained fighters, they would not be able to fight with their numerous injuries. Through the howls and ouches of the wounded foxes, Kletch gave quick and brief commands. "Git all the food yew kin git yer paws on an' retreat afore yew all git killed! Be quick now!"
The foxes were more than relieved to have been allowed to retreat. They knew how their reckless brother would treat deserters and feared him. Each fox clambered to their footpaws and ran to the hut to grab Floania's supplies, but were cut off by another volley of swift and accurate stones, forcing them in the opposite direction.
"Take nothing with you, scum! Leave now!" Cavan commanded.
"Nev'r mind the vikkles, jus' run!" Kletch yelled before limping as fast he could manage to the cover of the forest. The rest of his siblings needed no further invitation. Picking themselves up, they followed suit. Cavan and Misty slung a few extra stones in the direction of the retreating group the spur them on. Those few pebbles served their purpose. A howl came from the forest and a command to run faster was heard audibly.
Misty hopped a few trees away to make sure the foxes had left. Sure enough, the last plumed tail was seen to disappear round the path. Satisfied, she hopped through the trees back to the clearing. She always preferred travelling in trees to walking on the ground. It was often safer, and she could see what was going on below.
Upon reaching the hut, she saw that Cavan had already came out of hiding and was kneeling beside Floania. Lithely hopping down from the trees, Misty joined him at their mother's side.
"Mama! How're you feeling? Let go inside and we can get your herbs…" Misty spoke, flustered.
"No. Misty, Cavan, Listen—"
"Ma, don't worry, you'll be okay. Just lie still, all right?"
"No, Cavan, I won't. Hear this—"
"Cavan, would you go in and get mama's box of herbs and bandages?"
"Wait! Misty, Cavan, Listen to me—" Floania croaked in pain but was quickly brushed aside.
"Mama, just lie still! You can talk later. Cavan, are you done with that box?
Cavan came out of the hut a moment later, holding a small box in his paws. Opening it, he pulled some dock leaves and bandages to attend to Floania's wounds. Although he was no healer, Floania had taught her children the basics of treating injuries.
Floania laid a weary paw on her son's arm. "Cavan, Misty, listen! You must—"
"Its okay, ma. Just lie there. I know what to do. You taught us how to heal, remember?" Cavan reminded her as he wrapped up her cut wounds. Floania was bruised and cut all over by the vicious kicking and prodding of the foxes. She groaned in pain and sat up suddenly. Gripping Misty and Cavan's paws, she spoke to them, panting.
"Children, Listen to your old ma. I'm not gonna live long. Last night I had a dream. A great warrior mouse came an' warned me. He foretold that danger and evil would come to this place and that we mus' escape. Or we'd all die. He said to go to some Redwall place." Floania gasped for air before she continued.
"True enough, those foxes came. Listen now. Yew two mus' go to Redwall. I'm old and dying, I won't be able to travel there. Yew must go south, the warriormouse said. Leave now, go!"
"Mama! We're not leaving you here. Come on, we'll make a stretcher an' carry you…"
"No. I'll just slow yew down. The warriormouse said to be quick, or yew will be in peril too. Leave me here and go! I'm gonna die soon. Please, listen to me and flee!"
"Ma, we can't just go like that! We won't!…"
"Yes, yew can. I'm dying; I was already old an' ailing, I won't survive those wounds. Wot kind of children are yew if yer don't respect the dying wish of yer mother, eh?"
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I'll stop here for now,
So, what do you think? I took ages over the fox attack part. I just couldn't describe how they chased the foxes away.
Anyway, PLEASE PLEASE review! I really love to get reviews! THANK YOU to all you nice people who bothered to leave comments! Those who didn't, REVIEW!
And PLEASE do my poll!(: thank you muchly.:D