This chapter came to me easier than the last one, so that's good, but I sure hope I've got the little details (cannon, histroy, name spellings) right...

Chapter 2

Cornflower awoke slowly. Blinking her eyes in the bright sunlight, she realized it was morning. Sitting up, she looked around the room. Matthias was not in it. Wondering where her husband might be, Cornflower stepped over to the nearby window, looking out at the Redwall grounds below. It was very much active with gardeners weeding or picking fruit of the trees in the orchard, or Dibbuns running around playing their usual games.

Cornflower it was mid-morning now, after breakfast. She must have overslept. Deciding that Matthias must have gotten up and let her sleep, she readied herself for the day.

"Wonder what will happen today." Cornflower thought out loud while gently brushing her fur.

Humming a tune as she exited her bedroom, she stopped at her son's room and peered inside. Mattimeo was still asleep. Cornflower assumed he had been up late on the wall again. Making a metal note to discuss the matter with her son later, she exited the gatehouse cottage and crossed the grounds to enter the main building of Redwall, waving and greeting friends along the way.

The Great Hall was vacant, but Cornflower wasn't surprised, seeing it was such a nice day. She likewise decided to spend her day outside as well after she had some breakfast. Cavern Hole was also empty of life, but again Cornflower wasn't surprised. Everyone else had eaten, there was no need to be in Cavern Hole now unless one had chores to do, or simply needed to cool off.

It was upon entering the kitchen that Cornflower began to feel surprised. The kitchen was mostly empty as well, all but void of the usual cooking crew. A savory aroma hung in the air, telling Cornflower that there was something cooking in the ovens, a pie she would guess. She assumed that the others were out enjoying the day while the food was cooking.

Still, it wasn't like the friar or any of his helpers to just leave, especially when there was food cooking.

The only beasts in the room was a silent molemaid, and Swayner, a squirrel, about Mattimeo's age. Swayner was know to be quite mischievous, and would often get himself in trouble. It had become customary for Abbot Mordalfus to issue a minor chore for Swayner to do after getting caught in the act. Today's chore was apparently dusting the kitchen shelves, for he had a feather duster in each paw and one curled up in his bushy tail, dusting away.

"Good morning Swayner." Cornflower greeted as she walked past to get a tray. "What was for breakfast?"

Swayner was startled. "Miss Cornflower!" he exclaimed, surprised. "I didn't see you there."

"Where is everyone?" Cornflower asked, helping herself to a biscuit and placing it on her tray.

"Outside." Swayner stated. "Father Abbot declared today a day to relax, and everyone is taking it to heart. Except you, of course."

"Of course." Cornflower repeated, pouring some mint tea into a cup.

Swayner returned to his dusting for a moment. "Sorry about your husband." he added suddenly, like an afterthought.

Cornflower looked up. "What did you say, Swayner?" she asked.

"You know, Mister Matthias." Swayner attempted to clarify.

"What about Matthias?" Cornflower asked, curious.

It took a moment for Swayner to realize that Cornflower didn't understand what he was talking about. "You mean you hadn't..." Swayner stuttered, "I thought...you weren't...wait..."

Cornflower suddenly realized something was not right. "Start from the beginning, Swayner." she asked.

Weylan awoke when he heard his mother calling for him to come to breakfast, feeling like he had forgotten something important. He strained to remember what it was, but ultimately failed. Dreary, he walked to the table.

"Well, good mornin' to ya, sleepyhead." Kesmin greeted as she usually did when her son slept late. "Care for some mint tea?"

Weylan nodded sleepily, holding out his cup for his mother to fill. "Is there somethin' I needed to do today?" he asked, curious. "Feel like I forgot it, wotever it is."

Kesmin thought for a moment, thumping her rudder against the floor as she did so. "I would suppose it'd be me rose garden." she said, "I asked yer to weed it yesterday."

"No, that wasn't it." Weylan admitted, "'Twas somethin' more important than that."

Kesmin thought some more. "Fishin'?" she asked.

"No." Weylan answered, pulling one of his whiskers.

"Bathin'?"

"No, I'd remember that."

"Gatherin' that 'otroot you wanted?"

"Well, that is important, but not wot I was thinkin' of."

Kesmin shrugged, sitting down in her chair. "Mayhap you dreamt it." she said.

"That's it!" Weylan suddenly exclaimed, pounding the table. "'He who seeks the award, and claim it as his, an abbey he must face towards. There, seek I am that is. His son will guide the way,' of course!"

"Say wot?" Kesmin asked distractedly, nibbling on the summer salad she had prepared.

But Weylan was already in the next cavern. Curious, Kesmin followed after her son, and watching from the entrance as Weylan began gathering his things.

"Wot are yer doin', Weylan?" the ottermum asked, slightly frustrated.

"It was my dream last night!" Weylan explained quickly grabbing his sling. "In it, an otter told me that if I wanted the award, I had to seek out I am that is's son!"

"Wot award?" Kesmin asked, puzzled. "Who's I am that is?"

"I dunno." Weylan admitted. "But the otter in my dream said to find out, I 'ad to go towards an abbey, an' there's only one I know of."

"Redwall Abbey." Kesmin said. "But wot's at Redwall?"

Weylan slung the bag he had just packed over his shoulder. "I am that is." he said simply.

He then rushed out of the cave with Kesmin chasing after him. "But ye haven't been to Redwall in several seasons, Weylan!" she shouted. "Not since ye were a young 'un, and that was just long enough fer me to get some 'erbs! Ye probably don't even remember wot it looked like!"

"True." Weylan admitted. "But I'll know it when I sees it!"

"Do ye even know where to go?" Kesmin asked, stopping to catch her breath while her son ran ahead.

"Aye, 'course I do!" Weylan called back, racing through the woodland.

"But yore headin' south!" Kesmin objected. "Redwall's to the north!"

Weylan paused. "I knew that!" he exclaimed and started traveling in the other direction.

"Weylan wait, I'd feel better if I went with ya!" Kesmin shouted, starting after her son again.

Weylan waited long enough for his mother to catch up with him. "This is somethin' I gotta do Ma." he explained. "I had the dream, not you."

"Meybe so," Kesmin said, "But that doesn't mean there ain't nothin' for me to do there. While yer goin' about lookin' for this 'I am that is' matey, I can be catchin' up with ole friends."

Weylan hesitated, but couldn't see any good reason for Kesmin to not come. "All right, then, come along Ma." he said to his mother's apparent joy.

"Just after I get a few things of me own!" Kesmin announced, heading back to the cave.

A few moments later after the ottermum had returned with her things and food packs for both for them, they were off on a course Weylan made sure was north.

It was Mattimeo's hunger that awoke him. Was it not for that, he probably would've kept on sleeping. Stretching, he walked up to the gatehouse itself, and exited the gatehouse cottage out it's door up on the west wall. He looked up at the sun, shielding his eyes against the glare. It was almost noon.

Rubbing his fur on the back of his neck, Mattimeo walked down the wall stairs to the grounds below, heading for the main building.

"Hi Matti." someone said as they went by.

Mattimeo turned, "Hi Cheek." he murmured, continuing on.

Cheek the otter followed Mattimeo for a moment. "Goin' for a swim in the pond, wanna come?"

"Maybe later." Mattimeo said, stifling a yawn. "Just got up. I haven't even had breakfast."

"Ooh, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, that's what Basil says anyway, wot wot?"

Mattimeo had to grin at the 'wot-wot' that slipped out in Cheek's sentence. Of course, he told himself, he probably would be doing the same if he hung around Basil Stag Hare as much as Cheek did. "Suppose I better get breakfast then." Mattimeo said, "see you later Cheek."

They went their separate ways. Mattimeo stopped in the strangely empty kitchen to get a tray of food then took it up to the west wall again, and stood there studying Mossflower woods. He wasn't here long, munching on his food when yet another voice spoke from behind him.

"Can I speak with you Matti?" the voice said.

Mattimeo turned. It was Tess Chruchmouse. "Tess." he said, somewhat surprised. "You're the third person who's done that to me today." he held out the tray of food. "Care for something to eat?"

"No, thank you, Matti." Tess said politely and leaned against the wall next to Mattimeo. "How long have you been up here?"

"Not long." Mattimeo answered, biting into an apple. "Just woke up."

"That explains why you're mother can't find you then." Tess said, "She probably assumed you were up by now."

"She's looking for me?" Mattimeo asked.

"Yes, and sent me to find you." Tess explained.

Mattimeo picked up his tray. "Must be important then. I better go find her, see what she wants."

He started to walk off, but Tess stopped him.

"You haven't heard, have you Matti?" she asked.

"Haven't heard what?" Mattimeo asked.

Tess sighed, "You're father's fallen ill, Matti." she explained.

Mattimeo looked at her for a moment. "Oh." he said, and continued eating.

Tess looked at him for a moment. "Doesn't that worry you?"

"Of course." Mattimeo said. "But Father's gotten ill before, and it's never been serious. He'll probably be back on his paws in no time."

"But that's just it Matti." Tess said. "This time it is serious."

Mattimeo stopped eating for a moment. "How serious?" he asked.

Tess hesitated for a moment. It was clear that she wasn't the one who wanted to break the news to Mattimeo. Finally she spoke.

"Your father might die, Matti."