Two As One Chapter: 4
Three figures stood before Ebonia. One was a large midnight black squirrel, the others a female squirrel with fur the color of the first rays of light and the third she could barely make out. It appeared to be a shadow of a creature she once knew a long, long time ago but alas, she could not tell who it was, nor what it looked like. Suddenly, flames burst in front of her eyes and the two elder squirrels were engulfed within the fire, but the shadowed creature stood facing her, a sword in it's paws. She tried to see who the creature was and just as the figure began to clear-
"Ebonia! Get yer lazy rear end out o that tree!" Ebonia woke with a start as Stelumos shouted at her from the ground. The black squirrel sat up and rubbed her eyes, the dream still intent within her head. It wasn't the first time she had had that dream and she knew it wouldn't be the last. With a heavy sigh, Ebonia leapt down and landed nimbly with all the grace of a squirrel. Her cheek still throbbed a bit from Stelumos striking her but she didn't display her feelings as she walked over to the vermin leader.
Bemal was standing right beside the mink, a cup within her paws that undoubtedly held Ebonia's favorite drink, mint tea. As the squirrel walked beside the vixen, she took the cup and drank the tea slowly, coming fully awake. After she had finished, she gave the cup back to Bemal and stood with her paws folded across her chest, her eyes looking lazily over the mink.
"What do you need oh great on?" She asked, trying not to spit the words out with sarcasm. Stelumos raised an eye at the young squirrel and tapped his claws against his sword, 'Doomsfate'.
"We're gettin ready to set my plan into action." Ebonia tilted her head to her leader.
"And what plan would that be?" She asked, yawning slightly. Stelumos couldn't suppress an evil grin.
"The plan that says yer gonna infiltrate Redwall from the inside." This brought Ebonia's yawn to a dead halt and she glared at the vermin.
"Alright, what's going on?" She asked and the vermin grabbed her around the shoulders and steered her towards his horde to tell her of his plan.
Crim woke up early the next morning as Kenyo shook the young squirrel from his dreams. The warrior mouse stood with his paws on his hips and nodded to Crim as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"Good morning CrimsonRay. Are you ready to go on the patrol with me and Skipper?" He asked in a voice that showed he was worried about his young charge. Crim nodded slowly then stood up and, instead of donning his normal green habit, he fitted himself with a green tunic that stopped just below the waist. Along with the tunic he fitted a dark black belt around his waist to hold a small dagger that Kenyo had give him years before if he would ever have need of it. Kenyo nodded approvingly as Crim tied a green habit cloak over his shoulders to protect him from the cold.
"Alright, let's get going, Crim." Kenyo said and turned to leave the room, the younger squirrel not lagging far behind.
They made their way down the stairs, nodding at the beasts that had just awoken from their deep slumber. As Crim neared the door, he saw a familiar face smiling at him, clad in a deep blue tunic that went down to her ankles and long flowing sleeves that protected her arms. Crim looked questioningly up to Kenyo.
"Malya's coming too?" He asked. The warrior mouse eyed the young otter maid as she waited for them near the door. Kenyo marched up to her, paws across his chest and raised an eye.
"Malya, stay here, alright. It's not safe if there are vermin out there." Malya appeared to brush away the words as if they had no meaning to her.
"Vermin, I kin handle them sir, with me sling that is. Besides, if one of you mates gets hurt, I have healing skills that I can try out." Kenyo frowned and shook his head.
"Malya, I want you to stay here, I can't watch you every step of the way and I don't think your father would be to pleased to know that you're coming with us."
"I'll keep an eye on her sah, wot wot!" Sprypaw said as he rounded the corner, munching on an earlier morning scone. Kenyo sighed in relief and nodded to the hare in thanks.
"Thank you Sprypaw, see you all later." He turned to leave when the hare jumped in front of him, barring his way.
"Whoa, wait a dashed minute, I'm jolly well coming too, I said I'd watch the gel while I'm with you all, wot wot." Kenyo stared at the otter and hare and appeared as if he just wanted to yell out in frustration but Crim smiled lightly at his friends then looked at Kenyo.
"Oh let em come, they can't be to much trouble so long as Sprypaw doesn't start singing." Kenyo chuckled as he saw the indignant look on the hare's face.
"I say sah, that was jolly well uncalled for wot wot! I can sing so well the birds in the bloomin trees all get quiet, wot." Malya walked next to Crim and whispered in his ear.
"Yeah, cause they all died o fright," She muttered and Crim put his paw over his mouth to try and keep himself from laughing. Kenyo rolled his eyes then chuckled quietly and opened the door.
"Well Sprypaw, if we run into any vermin, just start singing and I think that'll solve our problem." He replied as he walked out. The hare stood dumbfounded for a moment, as if contemplating on what to say but he merely shrugged and followed the warrior and the others out the door.
Waiting near the frozen pond was Skipper, head of the otters, a couple of his close friends, as well as a young female squirrel who looked to be older then Crim. Skipper was a rather tall otter and muscular with a thin blue bandana tied around his head, a black vest filled with a pouch for stones and a brown belt that matched his fur to hold a dagger and a sling shot. His otters beside him were an older male and a younger female, both with the same light brown colored fur who looked to be brother and sister. The male was wearing a simple blue jerkin with a tight belt that held a rapier and sling shot. A javelin was attacked to a back strap and hung loosely across his broad shoulders. The female in question wore a light green tunic to match the color of her eyes. A belt with a healers bag wrapped firmly around her waist. She also wore a back strap that held a bow with a quiver of green feathered arrows.
The squirrel was, strangely enough, a gray squirrel and young in her years. She was clad in a rose colored tunic that traveled below her waist. A green sash was tied around her waist with a quiver of arrows and a long bow rested in her paws. She surveyed the search party with stunning gold eyes and leaned on her bow. Kenyo stopped Sprypaw and Crim while Malya ran up to her father who was the other male otter. He shook his head at his young daughter.
"Malya, what do ya think yer doin?" He asked but when he caught the look from Skipper to relax he nodded and patted his daughter gently on the head. Kenyo nodded and introduced everybody to one another.
"Crim, Sprypaw, you both know Skipper already. Next to him is his right paw otter, Jenkins, Malya's father of course, next to him is his sister, SilverStreak, and beside her is our tracker squirrel, Katal. Everybody, this is Crim and Sprypaw, they'll be scouting with us." Katal raised an eye and stared at Crim.
"Ya sure these young`ns kin handle it Kenyo?" She asked, her eyes looking heavily laden but ready for anything. Kenyo put a firm paw around Crim's shoulders.
"They'll be fine Katal, and young Crim here has to come anyways, no arguments." The squirrel stared at Kenyo for a moment then at Crim and Sprypaw.
"Well fine, just askin, but watch yer backs, can't protect ya every step o the way." She nodded then leapt into a tree, ready to begin the search. Crim bit his lip slightly and glanced at the warrior mouse who seemed to have a disapproving look in his eyes.
"She doesn't like me very much does she?" He asked. Kenyo looked down and chuckled.
"Don't worry, she's always like that, just has to warm up to you that's all." Crim felt a little reassured by the warrior as he smiled kindly at him, but his nerves were turning on the inside. His paw gripped the poem that he had rewritten on a piece of parchment, and although he felt he wasn't ready for this, he made no complaints. Kenyo blew out a sigh then began to walk towards the gates of Redwall.
"Alright, let's get going. Katal, stay in the trees and search ahead, warn us if you see anything."
"Yeah, yeah, I know the routine," came the reply. Kenyo chortled quietly then continued.
"Alright, the rest of you let's stay in one group, we don't want to get lost and have to send out another search party. All in favor, say Aye."
"Aye!!" Kenyo nodded then opened the gates.
"Alright troops, let's move out!" With that, the search party left the abbey, unaware that two pairs of eyes were watching them closely. One disappeared and went within the forest, the other went to make it's report.
Ebonia threw her paws in the air and stared at the mink.
"Alright, let me get this straight. You want me, to dye my fur brown, then have Bemal open up my wounds that you so charitably bestowed me, Stelumos, then let you whip me a couple times just to make me look like a run away slave. Then…then you want me to run through the forest with you in pursuit and have me get to the abbey where they will think I'm a good beast and let me in. Then you want me to learn all their secrets so I can give them to you and you can attack?!" Stelumos nodded smugly.
"That's the plan." Ebonia stood for a moment besides Bemal, complete disbelief showing on her face. After a moment she shook her head and started to walk away.
"You're insane." A blade was at her throat in a mere second as a rat from behind a tree stepped in front of her. She jumped back in surprise and looked at the mink who was grinning evily at her.
"It may be insane but ya are gonna have to go along wit it." Ebonia turned to face him, an angry scowl across her face and her paws folded.
"Really? And why should I if I feel it's a foolish idea?" Stelumos snickered and snapped his claws. Two vermin dragged the chained Tellio out and dropped him to the ground just below Stelumos. The mink stepped on the mouse's back, driving him into the cold snow beneath him, and unsheathed his sword.
"Ye have no choice. Either ya do it, or this pathetic mouse here dies," He growled and began to raise the sword over the trembling mouse's head. Ebonia narrowed her eyes at the mink then snorted.
"Fine, kill him, makes no difference to me. If you kill him, you'll have nothing to bargain me for anyways." She said casually, trying to bluff. Tellio stared up at her from the ground and Stelumos chuckled as he lowered the sword to his side.
"Hehe, yer a tough one Ebonia. How bout this." he suddenly moved beside Bemal and had the blade pressed against the vixen's throat before she knew what was happening. Ebonia took a step forward but the mink dug the blade deeper. The silver vixen glanced up at Stelumos, her face expressionless as if she knew this was going to happen. The mink stared down at the black squirrel and snickered.
"Wot about if I killed yer friend here? I kin always get meself another seer. Now, are ye gonna do what I ask or do I have to kill the vixen?" He dug the blade deeper until a trickle of blood began to run down the vixen's silver fur. She stood still and unmoving as Ebonia, shaking in rage, finally held her head in defeat and nodded.
"Fine, I'll do as you ask." A growl emitted beneath her breath and the mink grinned as he shoved the vixen away from him.
"Good, Bemal, prepare her." He glanced over at his right paw rat. "Hensfloral, the whip if you will." The rat smirked at the squirrel and nodded, his paw moving towards the slaver whip at his side.
"As you wish, me lawd." Stepping forward, he drew the whip, ready to do his part. Ebonia stared at the rat then at the mink, hate radiating in her eyes but she finally let Bemal take her away to dye her fur so she would fit in with the rest of the Redwallers.
Stelumos snickered then picked the mouse up by the scruff of the neck and grinned at him.
"Yer abbey ain't gonna be standin long once me spy gets in there." he sneered. Tellio struggled in the chains and stared fearfully into the mink's eyes.
"It won't happen mink." he whispered nervously. Stelumos raised an eye curiously.
"Oh really, and why not?" The mouse looked into the eyes of his captor and spoke with confidence that he didn't know he had.
"Because, unlike you, that squirrel has a heart and she'll do what she thinks is right." The mink stood speechless, just staring at the mouse. After what seemed like an hour, though was more like five seconds, he tossed the mouse to one of the slavers.
"Make sure he's bound tight wit the rest o em." He growled and stalked off, his mind wandering for awhile. Surely the mouse couldn't be right about his killer and spy having a heart, could he? Alas, he did not know and he walked away, waiting for word that the squirrel was ready.
Suddenly, a ferret appeared from the trees near him.
"Lawd Stelumos, I have news." The mink turned to stare at his spy and he nodded, with a startled look from the sudden appearance of the vermin showing on his face.
"Go on." The ferret, cloaked in a pure black tunic and cape looked at the ground as he made his report.
"The Redwallers are sending a search party o great one, they will be coming this way soon." Stelumos stood for a moment, assessing his plans. After a moment he looked back to the slaver that was holding Tellio and called him back.
"Change of plans. Gag the mouse and follow me. Have about a score of vermin follow me, we're going hunting." he grinned malevolently and the weasel slaver bowed in respect.
"As ye wish." he said and left to take care of Tellio. Stelumos turned back to his spy.
"Go, report to me when they get close." The ferret nodded and disappeared again. Stelumos chuckled and began to walk away to think over his plans. He was so lost in thought that he didn't see the pair of eyes watching him closely then disappearing into the woods.
Crim and the search party had been walking for nearly an hour before Sprypaw began to complain.
"Confounded snow, flippen rude o the winter to jolly well freeze a chaps footpaws, wot wot! Bally rude!"
"Aw, will yer stop yer complainin long ears. Kinda hard to track with yer yap goin like that." Katal called from the tree above them. Sprypaw grumbled and kicked at the snow.
"Humph, squirrels, think they bally well know everything. I hope ya slip up their ya ol tree walloper you and end up on yer bottom in the flippen snow, wot w mmpph!!" A snow paw suddenly flew from the tree and silenced the hare as it covered his face. A sigh of relief came from the trees.
"Awww, much better." The others chuckled as Sprypaw spit the snow ball out and stamped his paw on the ground.
"Flippen rude, wot wot!" He grumbled and ducked as another snow ball headed his way. Kenyo shook his head, laughing quietly then glanced back at Crim who had fallen behind and was reading the poem again. The warrior slowed his pace and strolled along side the squirrel.
"What's the matter Crim?" He asked as he looked over at the scroll. Crim sighed and pointed to the lines he was reading.
"It's these lines that bother me Kenyo. They say:
In the mist of winter
When the young mouse goes amiss
With the warrior you must go
To solve his disappearance
Trouble you shall find
When you scout the frosted land
The one cloaked in ebony
Will be close at hand"
Crim looked up at Kenyo and shook his head. "Obviously it is I who must go with 'the warrior', you, to find Tellio, 'the young mouse', but, I don't like how it says, 'trouble you shall find' What if something happens?" Crim folded the scroll up worriedly while Kenyo threw a paw around the young squirrel's shoulders.
"Eh, don't worry about it Crim, we've got your back and we'll protect one another." Katal suddenly hung upside down from a branch right above them and looked into Crim's eyes.
"Yeah, don't fret, there be nothing that kin escape these two eyes o mine. Don't worry Crim." She quickly pulled herself back up into the tree and Kenyo smiled as he patted Crim's back.
"Think she's warmed up to you Crim." CrimsonRay grinned and looked up after the pretty squirrel maiden when suddenly every beast stopped in their tracks. The young squirrel furrowed his brow and whispered to Kenyo.
"What's wrong. Why'd we stop?" He asked. The warrior silently withdrew the sword of Martin and looked around as he spoke.
"Katal stopped in the trees and her tail is moving around, it's a signal that vermin are close by. Just stay by me." Crim nodded and peeked over at Malya and Sprypaw. Malya was standing just behind her father, a sling in her paw and Sprypaw was in a fighting position, paws held up in a boxing matter. There was a rustling in the trees as Katal disappeared from sight for a few anxious minutes. After awhile she suddenly leapt down from the trees and nodded to Kenyo.
"Alright, I just saw a mink and some vermin walking through the woods. Looks like they have a squirrel maiden captive. She looks pretty beat up too. They also have Tellio chained and gagged."
"What color is the squirrel?" Crim asked suddenly. Katal furrowed her brow then looked at the younger squirrel.
"Like a brownish red color, why?" Crim stared at her for a moment then nodded. Katal raised an eye but shrugged and peered over at Kenyo.
"Well, what do we do oh great warrior?" Kenyo shook his head slightly then spoke to everybeast.
"Alright, Jenkins, Katal and I will go and see if we can get the maiden and Tellio back. The rest of you will be back up if we need you. Crim, Malya, you both stay back, Sprypaw, watch over them and please make sure you don't make a sound." The hare was about to reply but then silenced and nodded. Both Crim and Malya looked at Kenyo as if they wanted to protest but one stern look from the warrior silenced them immediately.
Jenkins gave his daughter a hug then pulled out his javelin and followed Kenyo while Katal moved through the trees. Skipper and SilverStreak nodded to Sprypaw to watch over Crim and Malya, then followed close behind the first three. Sprypaw grabbed onto the otter and squirrel's shoulders and pulled them towards a grove of trees. Crim shook the paw off and leapt into the trees just above them, and watched the warriors below as they moved, something telling him that this wasn't right. His eyes stayed on Katal a bit longer before she disappeared from sight.
"Crim, don't worry, me dad's a good fighter, they'll get the squirrel maiden and Tellio, mate." Malya said quietly from below. Crim glanced down at her and Sprypaw, a blank look upon his face. He nodded once then waited to see what would happen.
Ebonia followed close behind the vermin, her back stinging horribly and the dye from the herbs making her skin itch. Stelumos glanced around waiting quietly for his spy to return. He peered behind himself as he saw Tellio, chained and gagged in a weasel's paws as well as Ebonia, chained herself being led by Hensfloral. The mink chuckled then glanced at Ebonia as the rat shoved her forward when she stopped. She glared up at Stelumos but said nothing, making the mink smirk.
"Now, now missy don't look so upset, it's all part o the plan." Ebonia glared at him and thought to herself, easy for you to say, you weren't the one that got whipped, but said nothing still. She peeked over at Tellio as the mouse struggled in the chains. He looked completely depressed and Ebonia could almost feel sorry for him, almost.
A rustle near the trees announced the ferret's return. He nodded to Stelumos quickly.
"Aye, I see an otter and a mouse comin this way with a squirrel in the trees. Two more otters are following behind and a squirrel, otter and hare, young`ns are hidin in the trees. It's the search party sah, they're headin this way." Stelumos grinned and whistled. About a score of vermin stepped out from the trees, bows, spears, swords and all assortments of weapons in paw. Stelumos gave out his orders quickly.
"Alright, this is where they'll get Ebonia. Hide in the trees ya lot. When the Redwallers come o`re this way, ambush em. Capture as many as ya kin alive, kill one or two if ya please but, leave at least one to take Ebonia wit them. Aye!"
"Aye!" Stelumos nodded and as his vermin hid themselves in the trees, the mink grabbed Ebonia by the shoulder and held her firmly. "Now the fun begins. When I say run, ye start runnin, right missy?" Ebonia nodded, anger flicking in her eyes. Stelumos chuckled wickedly beneath his breath as he walked slowly forward, flanked by Hensfloral, his weasel slaver and Tellio.
Katal stopped at the last tree before the vermin just as the horde disappeared into the trees, hiding behind the thick, bare branches to remain out of sight. She nodded slightly, her long bow in her paws. Her paws were ready to jump and she stood quietly, her senses completely attuned.
As Stelumos, Ebonia, Tellio and his guards moved towards the tree, Kenyo and Jenkins suddenly stepped into view. The warrior mouse looked over Ebonia as she winced from Stelumos paw digging into her wounded shoulder. The mink smiled craftily and held out a paw.
"Well, well, well, what have we here? A wee otter and a tiny mouse." His tail swished as he caught the glint of steal from Katal's arrow but paid no heed to it and stared at the other abbey beast. "What do ya want?" Kenyo had his paw on his sword, his eyes looking over the vermin closely.
"Two things, we want you to release the maid and we want you to hand over the mouse, now." Stelumos tilted his head.
"Quite a lot o demands ain't it mouse?" He asked. Katal began to draw her bow string back, aiming it right at the vermin. She waited silently, every nerve poised. Had she been paying attention she would have noticed the ferret tracker that was sneaking up right behind her, dagger in his paw.
Stelumos grabbed Tellio and shoved both him and Ebonia to the ground, placing both of his footpaws on their backs. Kenyo growled and Jenkins began to tap his javelin against his paw angrily as the mink tilted his head.
"Let them go mink, we want no trouble." Kenyo said, the sword held tightly in his paws. Stelumos laughed evilly.
"Well ya know, there's a bit o a problem." Jenkins raised an eyebrow, growling heatedly under his breath.
"Really, and what problem would that be?" The mink couldn't help but smile then displayed a look of pity on his tattooed face.
"Well, there be two. You don't want trouble, we do, you have only a few in your group…" he snapped his paws as the vermin stepped out from the trees. "And I have a whole score, who do ya think has the better odds?" Kenyo and Jenkins looked completely baffled as the vermin stepped into view. Katal looked back and forth, surprised that she hadn't seen the vermin. A twig snapped behind her and she turned just as the ferret lunged the blade forward. The squirrel let off an ear piercing scream as the dagger was lodged into her chest, and she fell backwards on the branch, kicking up at the ferret. The vermin growled and was thrown from the tree. The squirrel maiden groaned and gripped the dagger but was too weak to pull it out as she yelled down.
"Kenyo! Jenkins! Fall back now!" Kenyo looked up at Katal just as the mink lunged at him and swung 'Doomsfate.' Kenyo ducked and went into a roll while the vermin horde ran at Jenkins. Arrows, spears and javelins flew at the otter and he ducked, rolled and came up behind Kenyo while launching a stone at the vermin from his sling shot. One fell dead and the otter whistled. Not a moment later, Skipper and SilverStreak jumped into the fray.
Crim, Sprypaw and Malya had been talking amiably within the trees when they heard Katal scream. All three creatures jumped and Crim suddenly began to run in the trees. Malya saw him and cried upward.
"Crim! Wait! Kenyo told us to stay back mate!" She yelled. Crim looked down at her as he drew his dagger.
"They're in trouble Malya. If some beast is hurt, they aren't going to be able to help them and fight at the same time. Stay here, you're a healer, I'll bring whoever is wounded back here alright? Now stay, no arguments!"
With that, the squirrel took off into the trees, remembering how the poem had said 'trouble you shall find.' Well if this isn't trouble I don't know what is, Crim thought, if any of them die, it'll be all my fault. The squirrel moved as fast as his footpaws could carry him, leaping from tree to tree with a grace that was unimaginable. He glanced behind his shoulder and saw Malya trying to refrain Sprypaw from running after him. Blowing out a sigh he made it to the scene just as Skipper was shot in the shoulder by an arrow. But his eyes quickly left Skipper and went to Katal as the ferret once again moved behind the wounded squirrel maiden, a dagger raised. He ran as fast as he could to stop the vermin.
Kenyo kicked Stelumos in the stomach and sent the mink into a tumble on the ground, right passed Tellio and Ebonia. The warrior mouse moved to help the two captives but the mink jumped again and drove him back. At the same time he growled as he passed Ebonia, signaling her to run. The squirrel got up quickly and began to run away from the battle, her wounds making her a bit slow. SilverStreak saw her and killed a vermin with her sling to give the squirrel a free passage.
"This way mate!" She called. Ebonia felt a little startled that the otter was putting her own life in danger to save her, but the squirrel ran past and headed towards Malya and Sprypaw. SilverStreak nodded and was suddenly slung to the ground as Skipper moved in front of her and took an arrow in the arm that was aimed for her chest. The female otter rolled to her footpaws.
"Thanks Skip." She said. Two vermin notched arrows to their bows and aimed them at Skipper. They were about to fire when an arrow from the trees killed one of them and Skipper killed the other with his stone. He looked up at Katal, who had weakly fired the shot and gave her a worried look as the bow slipped wearily from her paws.
He growled angrily but had to duck from a weasel. SilverStreak fought back another ferret and watched as Jenkins made his way over to the bound Tellio. Three vermin were surrounding the mouse and the otter took a hard thrust of a sword to his side but he was able to stab one through the neck and sling another vermin in the head before being knocked to the ground. Kenyo saw a rat aiming an arrow at the otter and he knocked Stelumos back slightly and threw the sword. It hit home in the rat's chest and he fell back to the ground, never to rise again. The warrior mouse dodged an in coming arrow and retrieved the sword while helping Jenkins up, who was breathing heavily from the side wound and a blow to the head. A weasel grabbed Tellio from the ground and ran back towards the horde with him, leaving Kenyo to help bring Jenkins out of battle.
"Everybeast! Fall back now!" He bellowed and handed Jenkins to SilverStreak as he watched their retreating backs with Skipper.
At the same time that Kenyo and the others retreated, and at the same time that ferret was bringing the dagger down on Katal, Crim suddenly launched himself and jumped on the ferret's back. The vermin hollered in anger and swung the dagger back, getting the squirrel on the side of the leg. Crim winced in pain then held his dagger and drove it down the ferret's back. The vermin stood for a moment, then went toppling from the trees just as Crim jumped and landed next to Katal. The vermin wasn't dead but sorely wounded and he growled up at the young squirrel as he cradled Katal in his paws.
"Katal, are you alright?" he asked. The squirrel maid opened her eyes weakly and chuckled.
"Yeah, I'll be fine Crim, thanks." She shifted slightly in his arms and started to stand. Crim stood in front of her and helped her up, worry etched on his face. The elder squirrel nodded in thanks and looked over his shoulder to see a vermin aiming an arrow at his back. Katal's eyes widened and she suddenly shoved the squirrel aside.
"Crim! Watch ou-" her words died on her lips as the arrow took her right through the heart. Katal collapsed backwards next to Crim, her golden eyes glazed over in death. The young squirrel yelled in fear and shock as her paw touched his footpaw when she fell and he accidentally slipped out of the tree, right onto Skipper's shoulder as the otter was running past. Skipper looked up at him in surprise as he ran.
"Whoa! Mate, where'd ya come from?" He asked. Crim struggled to get up and cried out loud.
"Katal! Katal! We can't leave her!" He screamed. Skipper stopped in his tracks and nodded as he set the squirrel down and went towards the trees. He had taken but a step when two arrows almost pierced through his heart. He jumped back and looked at Crim.
"How bad is she? Do ya think she kin follow?" he asked. Crim shook his head as tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Sh…she can't follow! Th…they killed her! She shov..shoved me out of the way an..and." He fell down to the ground as an arrow cut across his shoulder. Skipper growled and grabbed Crim then went running after the others, the young squirrel barely moving in his arms.
SilverStreak was already back at the abbey with Sprypaw and the wounded Jenkins and Ebonia. Sprypaw had taken Jenkins and ran when SilverStreak and Ebonia had come upon him. The otter helped Ebonia towards the abbey and all of them were treated in the infirmary. Outside, Kenyo and Malya paced in front of the abbey, worriedly waiting for Skipper, Crim and Katal to get back. The warrior growled under his breath. Skipper had stayed behind to find Katal and had told him to get the others back. The warrior wanted to stay with the otter but he knew that SilverStreak would need protection while carrying Jenkins so he agreed and left Skipper. Now it was tearing him apart as he worried about the otter, not to mention Crim and Katal.
He saw Malya rubbing her paws nervously as she paced with him. The warrior sighed and put a paw on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, your father will be fine." Malya shook her head and stared at the mouse, worry plainly written on her pretty features.
"I…I know mate, I'm just worried about the others." She whispered. Kenyo sighed and leaned against the wall. He was worried out of his mind too and he grumbled as he began to walk towards the abbey doors to leave.
"I know, so am I. Listen, stay here and I'll look for-"
"Hey, kin I get some help here!" Skipper suddenly yelled. Kenyo raced to the doors and opened them as the otter dropped the stunned Crim in his paws. "Sorry mate, shoulders killin me, couldn't hold him anymore." Kenyo looked down worriedly at the young squirrel and set him on the ground. The otter patted Kenyo's shoulder. "Don't worry, he'll be fine mate, just had an arrow skim his shoulder and, well, went through a bit o a shock." Kenyo nodded as Malya knelt down to administer to the squirrel, and stood up to stare at Skipper.
"Where's Katal? Is she alright?" The otter stood for a moment then sighed deeply and shook his head.
"Naw mate, Crim said she was slain in the trees. Guess, or of what I could make of, a vermin was aimin fer him and she took it instead. I tried to go back fer the body but the vermin were surroundin the area so I couldn't get to her." Kenyo stared at the otter as if he had been slapped in the face. Katal dead? No it can't be true, can it? The warrior thought quietly then looked down as Crim sat up and looked around, a broken look on his face.
"She..she died for me, she took the arrow for me. I shouldn't have come." The squirrel said quietly. Malya frowned and helped Crim to his footpaws and began to lead him towards the infirmary.
"Come on mate, let's get ya to the infirmary so ye kin rest." She said and soon they were both gone, leaving Kenyo and Skipper to talk. The mouse shook his head sadly as he put his paws on his hips while looking at Skipper.
"I'll wait for awhile then go back and get her body. She deserves a proper burial." He said quietly. Skipper nodded sadly then winced as his shoulder inflamed.
"Er, beggin yer pardon but I'd best get meself up to the infirmary also, mate." Kenyo nodded instantly and as the otter strolled towards the abbey, the warrior suddenly slammed Martin's sword into the ground in anger. I was suppose to protect them. Now Katal's dead, Jenkins and Skipper are wounded and Crim is practically falling apart. I have to set things right, Kenyo thought sadly then retrieved the sword and went towards the abbey to relate the news to the abbot and Renla.
Off in Mossflower, Stelumos chuckled as he saw his vermin carelessly push Katal out of the tree. He hadn't added any Redwallers to his ranks of slaves but at least he had gotten one of them. He kicked some dirt at Katal's body then strolled back towards his horde, muttering gleefully.
"Let the birds deal with her." An evil grin played across his features. His plan had been successful and now his spy was within the abbey. As he walked towards his horde, he still didn't see the eyes that had watched the whole battle.