Another hard chapter to write, but I'm happy with the results. Toka's presence (and threat to Mossflower) is felt.

Chapter 3

Mattimeo was dumbfounded. For several moments he found that he could not speak. "When did this happen?" he asked, aloud, "He was fine yesterday."

"Apparently he grew ill overnight, and it came to a point that he went to Sister May in the infirmary." Tess explained calmly, trying to suppress her own grief. "He collapsed on the way there, and apparently has been unconscious since. Sister May says he caught a very nasty illness."

Suddenly not hungry, Mattimeo pushed the tray of food aside, remembering that Matthias had complained of a sore head the night before. "Does everyone know this?" he asked.

Tess nodded. "Abbot Mordalfus announced it to everybody." she explained.

"Then why didn't Cheek tell me?" Mattimeo asked, looking frustrated.

"Oh, well, it was announced at breakfast, and you know Cheek and Basil, they like to eat at the pond." Tess continued. "They must have missed it."

Mattimeo rubbed one paw through his fur, exasperated. It was clear to Tess that he didn't know what to make of this and how to react.

"I better go see Father." he finally said, and started to leave the wall.

Tess stopped him. "You can't." she said. "Sister May has barred off the infirmary, and wants no one to enter except her. The illness is apparently very contagious."

Mattimeo turned back to the wall, facing away from Tess.

"In fact, that's why your mother wanted you Matti." Tess went on to explain. "There's a chance you and her might fall ill too, although Sister May says it's unlikely. She's seen the disease once before, several seasons back, in an mole. He survived, but only just barely, and Sister May said he only lived because he was young enough and strong enough to battle it."

"And Father isn't." Mattimeo said, sounding defeated.

They were silent for a moment, then Mattimeo slapped one paw hard down on the stone ledge of the wall. "Isn't there anything we can do for him?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"Sister May said she'll treat him as best to her abilities." Tess said.

"In other words, no." Mattimeo answered.

Tess didn't say anything, knowing that her friend was right. Studying Mattimeo, she saw that he was trying very hard to keep his emotions in check, but wasn't succeeding. There was only one other time Tess could remember where she had seen Mattimeo look like this, and that was a time she tried not to remember.

She knew she couldn't have any idea what Mattimeo might be feeling, but she also knew that her own feelings had to be close. Matthias the Warrior was almost like a second abbot and leader to those at Redwall, and he had helped each on of them out in turn several times over, on top of defending them all against evil just as many times. If and when he died, it would be a tragic loss for Redwall to lose that protector and friend.

The strangled sob that escaped from Mattimeo didn't help Tess feel any better either. She wanted to say something that would comfort not only Mattimeo but herself as well, but couldn't find the right words to do it.

She tried anyway, using what she knew. "He's not dead yet, Matti." Tess pointed out. "There's still time. He's a warrior by nature, he'll find a way to fight this. You'll see, there's a chance he'll live."

Mattimeo straightened and wiped tears from his eyes. "You know as well as I do that's not true." he said.

Tess stared at the ground for a few moments, trying to resist her want to believe that. "Don't think like that, Matti," she begged, "It won't help you...nor anybody else."

Mattimeo looked at her, realizing for the first time how Tess must have felt about the situation as well. He quickly told himself that he was Matthias's son, next to be warrior of Redwall, and that he's supposed to be the one setting the good example. "You're right." he said. "But I don't think I can do it."

Tess fidgeted with the hem of her habit sleeve. "I don't think I could either, Matti." she admitted. "But we must try."

Mattimeo smiled slightly, then without warning, embraced Tess in a hug. Tess was surprised, but returned the gesture.

"Why, Tess?" Mattimeo whispered softly. "Why must this happen?"

"I don't know," Tess answered, likewise whispering, "But I do know that sometimes it must happen, and that we must be strong, or else we will never find out."

Mattimeo was silent for a moment, then said something that had been bothering him since the night before after his and Matthias's late night conversation. "I don't think I'm ready to go on without Father." he said. "Not yet. I didn't think this would happen at all."

Tess didn't know what to say, and instead continued to hold out the embrace.

"Tess, if things...really do turn for the worse, and I'm not ready to accept that responsibility," Mattimeo said, "what should I do?"

"The only thing you can do, Matti." Tess answered. "Accept it anyway. I have confidence in you that you can get through this, no matter what happens."

Mattimeo sighed, "I do hope you're right Tess, I really do."

They released one another, both feeling somewhat better, but still had the gloom of what could happen hanging over their heads...

Toka's horde moved north the following morning, making very good progress towards the treasure Toka so desperately wanted. Morale was equally high, for the horde found that Mossflower was much more lush and temperate than the desert-like south from which they came. Food and water was plentiful, and readily available for those who wanted it. Even Mokeet found he was getting more in his rations than what was usual.

The land was generally flat too, making for fairly easy travel. Only the forest hindered Toka's path, and for that he apparently had already remedied a solution, for travel was going quicker than what was normal for other travelers.

The horde ran into no one, however, until mid day where the horde stopped to rest and eat at a small stream. Toka sent a group of scouts along both banks of the stream to look for anything of interest to him and the horde. Toka knew he'd be getting a treasure soon enough, but being as greedy as he was, knew there was always room for more.

Four where sent upstream, while another four went downstream, two on either bank. On the southern bank heading downstream were two of Toka's most experienced and veteran members of the horde, two weasels named Knottail and Grim. Both were so experienced and knew one another so well that they need not communicate with words.

It was a necessary trait, though, because Grim wasn't known to have ever said a word to another in the entire time he was in the horde. It was rumored that Grim lost the ability to speak in some past battle. So, Grim spoke through Knottail, who spoke little words himself, only enough to say what he needed to say.

The same held here while they scouted the stream. They knew what their job was, and how to do it. There was nothing more to say about it.

Wandering along the bank, weapons drawn, Grim suddenly stopped, and motioned for Knottail to stop as well. He perked his ears upward, listening intently. He then communicated to Knottail that he could hear something, and wordlessly laid out a plan of action. Nodding his approval, the duo moved faster along the bank to investigate the sound.

Grim had far better hearing than Knottail, but it wasn't long before Knottail heard the sound as well. It was singing and sounds of partying. Grinning menacingly, Knottail knew what was in store for them both. The pleasure of a battle.

Not long after Knottail starting hearing the sound, they both saw the light of several campfires, one of each appeared to be a large bonfire, and Grim silently indicated he smelt the smoke. Then they found boats, shored on the wet and sandy bank.

Knottail summed it all up with one word. "Shrews." he said.

Venturing inland from the shore, Knottail was soon proven true. Hiding behind the cover of some boulders, the two companions watched the group of scraggily shrews celebrate some unknown event, with no guards anywhere, acting like there was nothing that could dampen their spirits, however, the two vermin could think of several.

There weren't many shrews, only about twenty or less, indicating that they were part of a larger group that was elsewhere. The group was probably part of a convoy or patrol and the main body of the shrew tribe wasn't far from here. It was quite likely that if something was to happen to the small squad of shrews, the others would come looking for them, possibly with a vengeance.

But for Knottail and Grim, that was all part of the game.

Still, they knew that they could not take the group alone. Toka's horde had gone against shrews in the past, and they learned that the species are venomous fighters by nature when they need be. So the duo retreated from their hiding spot back to the bank and signaled to the scouts on the opposite bank to return to camp and report before heading there themselves.

Toka was pleased when the group reported what they had found. "Shrews, eh?" he asked.

"Yes." Knottail answered. Grim confirmed the statement by scowling in a certain fashion.

"And you say they were, partying?"

"Yes."

"Well, I think it's time for the grand finale for their party." Toka suggested, rising from his seat, taking a small vial of red plant dye. Dipping two of his claws into the it, Toka began to paint red stripes on his face, symbolizing the preparation of war. "What do you think, Grim?"

Grim grinned darkly, saying all that he needed to say.

Toka sent fifty warriors back with Knottail and Grim along with himself. Forty of them did nothing but make sure that none of the shrews escaped. The remainder did the rest. Only two shrews remained after it was over and taken back to Toka. They were both maids, probably once wives to among the many slain shrews that were left in their ruined camp, and were very terrified witless.

They cowered under Toka's gaze, who was still dressed for war. "Tell me," Toka said, "What tribe of shrews are you two from?" he asked sweetly. "I've heard of quite a few. There's the Guroff, the Guous, the Guosows, what's yours?"

"Guosim." one of the shrewmaids croaked out.

"Guosim, eh?" Toka repeated, "and pray tell me what that charming little acronym stands for?"

"Guerrilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower." the same shrewmaid answered. The other seemed too terrified of Toka to speak.

"I'm assuming that Mossflower is the name of this area of country we're in, correct?" Toka guessed.

The shrewmaid nodded nervously, hoping that telling Toka what he wanted to know would save her life.

"So tell me, who rules over the country, anyone?" he asked, picking up a dagger and sharping it idly.

"No one." came the answer.

"I suppose that means that mere woodlanders, like yourself, share the land all together." Toka said. "No vermin about in the land?"

"There are a few tribes, but none greater than ten in numbers." the trembling shrew admitted. "None powerful enough to be of any threat."

Toka grinned. "I suppose it's time for a change in leadership, then." he said, a plan to follow after finding the otter treasure forming in his mind.

"You will be stopped."

This time it was the other shrewmaid that spoke, finally finding her voice, but it was very high-pitched from fright.

Toka took the statement as a challenge. Lifting the maid's chin with his dagger tip, he asked, "Who will stop me?"

"If not the Guosim," the shrew squeaked bravely, "Then Redwall will."

"Redwall?" Toka repeated, curious. "What's that?"

"An abbey." the first shrew said.

"So it's a fortress then?"

Neither shrew answered, and that told Toka all he needed to know.

"Curious thing to have in a peaceful country." he noted, pacing in front of the shrews, tapping the flat of the dagger against his paw. "I'm assuming there are warriors in it?"

"Ones that will defeat you." the second shrew squeaked, hiding her fear behind a look of hatred.

"Of course, what's a fortress without the unbeatable warriors?" Toka said tauntingly. He looked up at the guards that stood nearby. "We'll have to see just how unbeatable they are, right boys?"

The guards snickered.

"Redwall hasn't ever fallen to vermin and never will." the shrew debated with Toka, "And Mossflower hasn't fallen to vermin tyranny for hundreds of seasons."

Toka glared at the shrew, bringing the dagger to her throat. "Listen shrew," he said, "You may think that you're safe, but trust me, Mossflower has met it's match. No one can beat my horde."

The two stared at one another for several moments, then Toka stood and returned his dagger to it's sheath. "I'm through with these two." he told the guards.

"What should we do with 'em, lord?" one of the guards asked.

Toka shrugged half-heartedly and starting walking off for his tent before answering unconcernedly, "Kill 'em."