This is a chapter written in hoping that my fans out there still look forward to more of my chapters. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

OoO( 8 )OoO

In the depths of Mossflower, Shinrah walked along slowly with the squirrelmaid on his back. Long days had passed since their encounter with the vermin camp. After seeing them, it took much persuasion from the squirrel to prevent him from attacking the camp, despite the odds. He sulked as he walked along the grassy floor of the forest.

"Willow..." he said.

The squirrel shook out of her daydream. She had been riding along for almost three days with only the terror wolf as her company, and the warm sunlight had made her drowsy. But she quickly awoke and looked down at her leader. "Yes?" she asked.

"When am I supposed to give the signal?" he asked.

The squirrel scratched her chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm...give it one more day. We should be far enough away from the horde that they won't be able to track us. Then you can warn the others." she said.

The wolf snorted at having to wait, but saw the wisdom in his partners comment. "I see." he said, then began trotting faster towards the red sandstone abbey on the horizon.

OoOoO

Everybeast in the abbey was excited at the arrival of the new warriors, especially the dibbuns. After the foxes and ferret were permitted to roam the abbey grounds, anywhere they went, they were swamped by the abbeybabes. They had to literally run from an army of tiny tyrants no matter where they went.

Eventually, Cloud managed to get some peace and quiet in the gatehouse in the company of Skipper and the gatekeeper, an old mouse named Tantel. Heaving in heavy gulps of air, Cloud lay on his back across the floor.

Tantel laughed at the ferret. "I see you have met the Dibbuns." he said.

Cloud let out a small laugh through his heavy breathing. "Those are supposed to be babes? You should have them as your army, they could scare off anybeast wanting to cause trouble." he said.

Skipper laughed merrily at the ferrets comment. "Aye, that they could." he said. Then, Tantel interrupted their laughter.

"Umm...excuse me..." he said.

The warrior looked up and looked at the mouse. "Yes?"

Looking at the floor, the gatekeeper mumbled, "Well, you see..." he said.

"Cummon, spit it out." said Skipper impatiently.

"Well, I was wondering, Martin said you came from a land far away from here. Is that true?" he asked timidly.

Cloud got to his paws and stretched, then looked at the mouse. "Aye, it is. Why do you ask?" he said. Then a sudden question formed into his head. "Wait, who is this Martin? I've heard him mentioned several times since I've arrived, and I was told that he said we were coming. How could he do that? Is he a seer or something?" asked the ferret.

"Not exactly. See, Martin is the guardian of this here abbey." said Tantel.

"So he's a warrior?" asked Cloud.

"Yes...well, not anymore. Martin died a long time ago. More seasons then anybeast could count. But he often visits us in our dreams, giving us helpful advice and sometimes even telling us when good or bad things are to come." said Tantel knowingly as he pushed his specticles back onto his nose.

Cloud sat open mouthed as he heard what was being said. "Y-You mean, a dead warrior talks to the dwellers of this abbey?"

Skipper nodded. "And sometimes to beasts outside as well."

Suddenly, the door behind them flew open and they saw Zango trying to pull himself inside. Every dibbun in the abbey was either on his back, or pulling on his cloak or tail. He struggled, reaching for something to grab onto, but couldn't grasp anything before he was yanked back out the door making it slam behind him.

Cloud, Skipper, and Tantel stared at the door for a moment before they all burst into fits of laughter. "Ahahahahar! Did ya see the look on his face? He looked like he had his paws full with that lot!" shouted Skipper.

"Ohohohoh, I'll say he did. Did you see all those dibbuns behind him? He didn't stand a chance! Ohohohoh!" said Tantel as he held his sides.

Cloud had to hold onto the arm of the arm chair to keep from falling over in his merriment. "Ahahahaha! He looked terrified of them! They must be doing something awful to him to see fear coming from his eyes." he said.

OoOoO

Paws sore, out of breathe, and scared witless, the two foxes ran and ran and ran, never looking back. Bletch was an exellent runner, and had no trouble running long distances. But Riveye had always been the brains of the operation and didn't like to do any strenuous work.

Eventually, fatigue grabbed ahold of the fox, and he fell to the ground, tongue lolling out of his mouth as he took air into his flaming lungs. Bletch, unable to stop because of the speed they were travelling, tripped over his partners prone form and flew strait into a bed of leaves.

Riveye got to his paws angrily and walked over to the sputtering Bletch, then gave him a swift kick. "Watch where yur goin' lumphead!" he shouted. Then turned away and sat on the ground, still heaving.

Bletch got up and stared at the one-eyed fox. "It wasn't my fault, you fell down in front of me!" he said.

"Shut yur yap! My head's poundin'." said the leader as he rubbed his head soothingly.

"So, now what are we going to do? If we couldn't even handle two beasts from that abbey place, then there is no way we could go back and try again." he said.

"Are you mad? We are lucky they didn't slay us on the spot! There's no way I'm going back there. You heard the streamdog, if we go back that littl'n will humiliate us. And we couldn't do nothin' about it niether, else they will slay us." he said. Suddenly, he heard a gurgle from behind him. "Now what's wrong wid you?" he asked as he turned around. His one eye suddenly went wide as he saw Bletch lifted from the ground and fall to pieces.

A black spectre like cat stood over him with three blades protruding from his right paw dripping with Bletch's blood. The fox sat paralyzed with fear as the beast approached him. When he stood only a few feet away, the lynx stopped and looked at the fear induced vermin. "Now..." he said with a ghost like voice. "Tell me more about this...abbey place."

OoOoO

Later that evening, Redwall was alive with the sound of everybeast cheering and singing to the festival that was finally taking place. Feasting, dancing, feasting, playing of different instruments, feasting, games, and more feasting. That was the only thing on anybeasts mind that night.

At the edge of the pond, all the dibbuns sat eating and listening to the ferret warrior tell a story from his past. Sister Mary was among those sitting with the dibbuns, making sure none got out of hand. But she was so focused on the ferret that she didn't notice the baby mole stealing food from her plate.

Standing with his back to the pond, Cloud acted out his story playing many roles. "So, I was travelling across the country to find a peaceful place to live. One day, I ran into this smelly pack of vermin. 'Ar!' says the leader. 'Gimme all yur treasures and trinkets and I'll let ye live.' 'But, I don't have any.' says I. 'Yur lyin', I can see it in yur beady little eyes! Get 'im boys!' says he. And they attacked me all at once." said the ferret as he hollered in the vermin accent.

Dibbuns squealed in delight as the ferret played out a battle with himself. "Gerrum' mista ferret! Bonk 'is ears in!" shouted Azlu from the crowd.

"Look out behind you! Der's a smelly rat sneakin' up on ya!" yelled a baby mouse that was jumping up and down excitedly.

"Give 'em the ol' spoiky claw!" shouted Murgo, Foremole's second in command who got carried away with the play.

Eventually, Cloud, acting as a rat, fell over defeated. Jumping to his paws, he turned to the crowd and said, "Finally, after seasons of battling the three vermin, I defeated the last one. Ya know what I did then?" he asked.

The entire crowd, including the grown beasts shouted, "What?"

Turning around, he spotted Zango who was washing his paws in the pond before eating. "I grabbed them all and made 'em take a bath!" he shouted, then sent a swift kick to the black foxes rear end. Zango, completely unprepared for the attack, flew head over tail into the pond. Everybody watching burst into laughter that nearly shook the abbey walls.

Mary had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. She rolled around on the ground with the dibbuns as they all cried with helpless mirth. Suddenly, Zango stood in the shallow part of the pond, dripping wet and glaring at the ferret.

Cloud turned to the crowd of dibbuns and said, "Uh oh, looks like he's angry, better run for it!" The reaction was immediate as the audience of babes dashed away from the pond squealing and laughing at the thought of being chased by the fox. Zango got out of the water and shook the water from his fur then walked away disgruntled.

Cloud smiled as he watched the dibbuns scatter. "Um...pardon me, but..." said a voice behind him. He turned and saw Sister Mary standing nervously behind him.

"Yes? Is there something I can help you with?" he asked politely.

"Well, I was hoping you could clear something up for me." she said. He nodded and she continued. "Well, surely you've heard of Martin the Warrior by now?"

"Aye, the gatemouse and Skipper told me about him. He was the one who predicted my coming right?" he asked.

Smiling now, she nodded vigorously. "Yes, he gave us a kind of riddle. And it mentions everybeast that came except you." she said.

He looked at her oddly. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Well, the poem mentions that somebeast that is as black as night is coming. That would be your friend the fox. Then two beasts from the sea, which would be the two otters. Then one from the gallant band of the mountain of fire. That explains the hare. But the only other creature mentioned, it says comes from the sky, and I don't mean any offense by this, but that doesn't exactly fit your description." she said.

Cloud smiled. "Maybe we should be properly introduced." he said.

Taken aback, she nodded and said, "I am Sister Mary of Redwall." she said.

"Nice to meet you Mary, my name is Cloud Longspear." he said.

"Nice to meet you too, but what does that..." she started to ask, but suddenly it dawned on her. "Cloud...your name is Cloud! Cloud's come from the sky!" she said excitedly.

"Last I checked they did. So, Mary, would you like to accompany me to the feast?" he asked holding out his arm.

She smiled and took his arm. "I would love to." she said, then together they walked over to the feasting tables.

OoOoO

Mel had heard about the visitors being creatures from another country. He knew they were probably a lot different than the Redwaller's, but it didn't bother him. Right now, his mind was focused on one thing.

"Where is she?" he asked as he looked around the grounds. "Skipper said she was over by the pond, but the only ones there were washing their paws." Talking to himself, he continued to walk past creatures. Suddenly, he spotted her walking with somebeast towards the tables. "Aha! There she is! But...who is she walking with?" he asked. He ran towards her until he stood in her path, staring at the figure holding onto her. The latern light finally illuminated the creature, and as he saw Cloud, he cowered in horror. "No...no!" he shouted as the ferret got closer to him. Images of his past crept into his head as he crawled backwards, trying with all his might to get away from his greatest fear.

OoOoO

Hello to all my reviewers! Thank you for staying loyal to me throughout my move! I hope that soon I will be able to get my story up and running again, but until I do, I hope you all will stay with me until the end. Thank you, I only write for you!

J.C.