Minsa and Nikala walked into the beautiful Redwall Abbey, a place of prosperity and peace. Tea was starting, and the hardworking Abbeybeasts were all running inside for their share. The two Abbeymaids sat in seats next to Perko the otter, and they hedgehog friend Diggle. Feelings much better, Minsa grabbed some scones and a teacup.

"Slow down there, famine-face Minsa! Leave some food for the rest of us!" exclaimed Perko with a laugh. Minsa grinned and took another scone.

"Didn't you hear? Abbess Memphalina has called a rationing! We'll all get little food, to save up for winter. Starting tomorrow!" Minsa answered quickly, still grabbing all the food that came to paw.

"Blinkin' rationing? We'll all starve… The Abbess is a cad and a bounder!" Timran and Tamrin, twin hares, popped up behind Minsa. Nikala burst into laughter.

"Oh, you two! Minsa is just kidding!" Tamrin and Timran looked highly offended. "Forget about the Abbess! Minsa is the cad!" Tamrin said, without any real anger.

Diggle wondered at the two hares. They were cheerful and friendly, though gluttonous to a tailbob. The twins had been found wandering in Mossflower as babes. Since, they had lived at the Abbey. All they could remember was their names.

Minsa walked up to the Abbess. After a whispered conversation, Abbess Memphalina looked fearful. However, she stood up and cleared her throat. An immediate hush fell over the assembled Abbey creatures.

"Mousemaid Minsa has proposed…A team to follow the fox who kill her brother. Not only did he kill Durran, but he also stole the tapestry," Abbess Memphalina laid Martin's sword out on the table. It glistened with terrible beauty.

Minsa spoke out. "Martin appeared in a dream to me last night. He said these words,

Flyer of trees with parent, just one,

Otter who sees everything as fun,

Hedgehog who's siblings are many,

Mousemaid who's brother is gone.

My blade will she carry.

Twin's of the longears, similar in name,

And all will come back again.

Seek the fox, mouse brother's killer,

When they go over the sea,

Revenge the mousemaid will have,

Bring back the tapestry for me,"

The Abbeybeasts gaped in astonishment, as Perko burst into laughter. "Sounds fun, eh mate?" he asked, still chuckling. "A quest for the tapestry!"

Minsa instantly grinned. "Well there's the otter who sees everything as fun! Hmm, I'm the mousemaid who's brother is gone. Timran and Tamrin are the longear twins with similar names. But who are the hedgehog and flyer of trees?"

Diggle provided the answer. "Don't know about the flyer 'o trees, matey, but I'm the hedgehog who's siblings are many. A large portion of the Dibbuns are my siblings!"

Nikala put in her bit. "I'm the flyer of trees with one parent. My Dad died, remember? My Mom is my only parent, and treeflyers are squirrels!"

Abbess Memphalina clapped her paws. "So, my young beasts, tomorrow you will set forth on a quest!"

All six young Abbeydwellers answered as one.

"At first light!"