Two As One Chapter 7
The creature that had watched the battle between the abbey and the vermin, the creature that had seen the reaction of Katal's death and the beast that had spied on both good and bad beasts, moved swiftly through the frosted land, it's footpaws barely making a sound. It was draped in a long flowing cloak of black and almost seemed to melt in with the darkness that began to descend upon the land. The creature had been moving at a fast pace since it left Mossflower woods and never once had it stopped, knowing that it needed to reach it's destination soon.
The sun began to slowly slip behind the horizon as the snow once again started to fall from the darkened clouds up above. The creature began to pant quietly as it's body wore down in the cold weather and darkening land. It wanted to get to it's destination so badly but it's body wasn't use to all this running any more and if it didn't stop soon, it knew it would collapse eventually.
With a heavy sigh, it finally came to a halt within a grove of trees that circled slightly around what appeared to be an old camp spot. The creature looked around for awhile, ears twitching back and forth to make sure no beast was watching it. A ruffle was heard as it opened part of it's cloak to pull out an old scroll that was bound by a single green thread. Slipping the ribbon off of the parchment, it began to look at the map that had been drawn upon it. The creature grumbled for a moment and looked into the distance though hardly anything could be seen.
"This is not good, I shan't be there till noon if I rest now. But if I keep traveling I'll fall from shear exhaustion." It spoke in a soft, yet strong voice. The creature finally let out a frustrated breath and began to clear away the snow that littered the ground to make a place for a fire. The cold winter air billowed through the trees and ruffled the creature's cloak so that a hint of brown fur was revealed. The beast moved over to the trees and took out a very long, old and well made dagger and began to hone the wood off of a branch that was in fair distance from the ground. It then took the wood, formed it into a circle, and lit it with timber and flint to keep it's body warm through the night. The fire swayed and crackled in the eerie darkness that began to swathe the land..
A few hours later, after much hesitation about sleeping in a new land, the creature's eyes began to droop and it laid down right next to the fire, it's paw at it's dagger for protection. It muttered softly while it began to drift off into a quiet sleep.
"I hope I'm not to late." With that, the creature fell asleep, feeling safe, warm and comfortable. But it was completely oblivious to the other figure that had watched it the whole time.
A young hare sat in the shadows, his keen eyes watching the creature with curiosity. He was of a strong build, muscles running up and down his body to show that he favored more in the boxing style then with weapon, though that didn't mean he was going to disregard carrying on. The fire flickered across his silver fur which was swathed in a sky blue tunic that matched the colors of the hare's eyes, which gleamed slightly in the moon light that shone above.
The hare glanced around quietly as the creature fell asleep then pulled out a saber and began to creep into the camp, his ears twitching back and forth to make sure that no beast was going to sneak up on him.
He moved stealthily through the trees, never betraying his position and peered over at the crackling fire as he stepped a little closer. Everything was silent except for the quiet breathing of the sleeping creature. The hare stepped in the snow without a sound, trying to keep everything quiet so as not to wake the beast. Suddenly, a loud crack resounded through the trees as a piece of wood splintered in the fire. The hare stood completely still, watching the figure and praying that it hadn't woken up.
When the creature didn't move, the hare blew out a quiet sigh of relief and move forward again.
The beast on the ground slept soundly, that was until the wood cracked loudly and stirred it's senses. It stayed still on the ground, now aware of the beast that was making it's steady way over to it. Cautiously, the creature's paw moved slowly down to the dagger concealed within it's cloak, making no visible movements what so ever. One eye peeked open and as the hare come closer, it flipped over on the ground and kicked with all it's might at the hare's stomach.
The hare grunted at the unexpected blow but that didn't make the beast fall and he quickly swooped around to get behind the creature as it began to draw it's dagger. The hare leapt and swung the saber around the creature's neck, drawing the blade back close. But the creature was fast too and swung it's dagger to protect it's neck from the saber. The two beasts where now in a dead lock, the hare behind the creature and trying to force it to release it's blade while the creature fought to get the saber away from it's neck. The hare grunted and growled to the beast in his grasp, his paws tightening on his weapon.
"Alright vermin, wot! What are you bally well doin all the way out here? Did your flippen 'friends' leave ya behind, wot wot?"
The creature beneath him oddly stopped it's struggle, looked up into the eyes of the hare and strangely began to laugh. The hare raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to the side, his saber still pointed at the creature's neck.
"What's so bally funny?" He asked with a confused look on his young face. The creature continued to laugh then dropped it's paws from it's blade.
"I am sorry, I had no idea you were a hare, I thought you were the vermin." It said while still laughing. The hare still didn't back down and he grumbled out.
"Who are you, wot?"
"Well if you take the saber away, I can lower my hood and show you." The hare thought for a moment then slowly began to pull the blade away, one eyebrow still raised. The creature laughed again then threw back it's hood, making the hare gasp at what he saw.
Before the hare sat a middle aged, light brown, almost red, female squirrel. She looked up at the hare with bright green eyes and a light smile but her face was ridden with scars that must have been given to her years before. She appeared to be a creature of a petite build but the strength she had on the danger suggested other wise. The squirrel twitched her tail slightly as she touched the hare's paw with her gloved paws.
"Can I stand up now?" She asked of the creature. The hare nodded dumbly and sheathed his blade while backing away from her so she could stand up.
"Who are you, wot?" The squirrel stood and dusted herself off as she spoke in a clear yet middle aged voice.
"My name's Valena, sister of SunBeam and aunt to CrimsonRay. I have come in search of Salamandastron to talk with the badger lord. The abbey where my nephew is staying at, might be in peril and I have come to ask for help. I was just resting so I would be able to travel the rest of the way in the morning." The hare stared at her for but a moment then began to chuckle.
"Valena, I thought you died a jolly well long time ago, wot. Our badger lord received word from his cousin at Redwall about the bally chap CrimsonRay, he knows of you as well, wot." Valena looked at the hare, slightly surprised but shrugged her shoulders and sat down next to the fire.
"Well I'll have to meet this badger lord in the morning, I don't know if I could make it tonight, I've been running a day straight." The hare shook his head and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to stand again.
"Sorry me gel but you have to jolly well come with me now, wot. We're in the middle of a flippen war. Yer lucky I bally well found you instead of the vermin, wot wot!" Valena stood up again and sighed as she leapt into an over hanging tree, a tired look still showing on her scarred face.
"Alright, I'll do my best then. How far away is the mountain from here?"
"Oh a few bally miles or so, wot. I'm one of the jolly patrol groups, I'll lead you there." The squirrel looked down at the younger hare and shook her head.
"Youngsters." She muttered and tilted her head curiously to the side. "What's your name anyway?"
"PeriNickel marm, wot." Valena raised an eye for a moment then nodded as she started through the trees.
"Well then PeriNickel, let's get moving." The hare gave a quick salute and stood at attention.
"As you wish marm, wot!" Valena glanced back at him as he stood to attention and rolled her eyes. What had she gotten herself into? The squirrel stopped for a moment, waiting for the hare to start moving.
"When I say let's get moving, that means the both of us, now come along young`n." PeriNickel hopped once in the air then took off running, calling up to the squirrel as he moved like a breeze through the trees.
"Young'n? I bally well resent that wot!." The elder squirrel merely shook her head and followed behind the young hare, her ears twitching and her eyes looking around to make sure they weren't being followed.
Valena and PeriNickel ran for a couple hours before the squirrel finally skidded to a stop in the trees, panting. Her leg trembled slightly as an old wound began to act up but she sucked in the pain and went to follow again when she noticed PeriNickel standing completely still beneath her. Curiously, Valena moved down the tree and stood beside him, her eyes darting back and forth.
"What do you see?" She asked in a voice that was barely above a whisper. PeriNickel growled slightly beneath his breath before answering her.
"Vermin a foot, wot. I can see the flippen mountain from here but there's vermin swarming about, wot wot. This will be jolly well tricky." The hare remained quiet for a moment, accessing the situation. The vermin horde was spaced out across the land between the two good beasts and Salamandastron. PeriNickel knew that one slip up could cost them both their lives. With a heavy sigh, the hare turned back to Valena.
"How fast do you think you could jolly well run, wot?" Valena bit her lip as she looked over all the vermin. Her leg began to tremble again but she answered the hare with a little more confidence in her voice then she actually felt.
"Right now, I can't run fast at all but if I have to, I could run as fast as you." PeriNickel nodded his head once then addressed her again as he took out a spear from a back strap.
"Do you have any more bally weapons beside a dagger, wot?" Nodding, Valena opened her cloak and withdrew a long and worn sling as well as a pouch of smooth stones and showed them to the hare. PeriNickel checked over the weapon then stood at a warrior stance, his long ears twitching back and forth.
"Good, now when I bally well say go, try to make it to those dunes wot, it's dark so we have that as an advantage. If any laggards come at you, fire that sling o yers aye?" Valena nodded and held onto the sling tightly, her only link to survival. PeriNickel glanced around once more then signaled for the squirrel to move. Valena took off at a fast pace, her footpaws kicking up light clouds of sand. She looked worriedly over at the vermin camp fires that were still burning brightly in the cold, night air.
As she moved towards the dunes, her leg began to tremble again and she remembered the rat that had been sent after her by Stelumos on the night that her sister had been slain and her niece and nephew separated. She remembered that the rat had scored a hit in her leg with a spear and had made her fall from the trees which made it possible for the vermin to get to her and strike her down. It was actually amazing that the squirrel was still alive.
Valena sighed quietly as the memories faded and leapt behind the dunes, landing with a quiet shhhhhh in the sand. She crawled into the shadows of the mound and waited for the hare to arrive as well. PeriNickel took off running and in no time flat, he skidded to a halt beside Valena and crouched down, glancing over the dune to where the mountain was. He looked at Valena then back up and whispered to her.
"Alright, we have to bally well make a straight run for it, can you make it, wot?" Valena moved up the sandbank and looked at the mountain before responding.
"Yes, I think I can." She whispered quietly then suddenly jumped back and began to whirl her sling. PeriNickel ducked as the sling almost hit him right across the face and grumbled.
"What in the flippen world are you doin, wot?" Valena didn't reply and launched a stone just as a ferret came over the dunes and tried to stab PeriNickel in the back. The stone flew true and the ferret gurgled and fell to the ground before the two creatures. PeriNickel gulped and looked over at the vermin horde as several stood up and looked over in their direction.
"Uh oh, this isn't bally good. Come on me gel, we have to run for it wot!" Valena didn't need any second bidding especially after an arrow suddenly landed right at her footpaw. The squirrel took off running, PeriNickel leading and ducking from arrows as the vermin became aware that there were other creatures watching them. Valena ducked from a spear that flew towards her back, but ended up skimming across the PeriNickel's footpaw and made him trip. The squirrel stopped to help the hare up when a stone from a sling struck her hard in the shoulder, knocking her back a few feet. PeriNickel leapt to his footpaws and threw his paw around Valena to steer her towards the mountain as he called out like a mad beast.
"Eulalia! `Tis death on the wind!" Valena had to cup her paws over her ears as the hare shouted the war cry of the Long Patrol. She growled slightly as she ran beside him and held her shoulder.
"What are you trying to do, tell the vermin where we're at?" PeriNickel ducked from another arrow and yelled out again, ignoring the squirrel's question until an answer sounded around the land.
"Eulalia!! Over this way chaps, wot!" PeriNickel laughed and pointed to a silver hare that stood at the entrance, waving a javelin in the air.
"That's why I was bally well yelling, to alert the mountain, wot!" Valena rolled her eyes as she threw her paws over her head to protect it from another stone.
"Well you could have told me at the beginning, you had me scared half to death!" She replied then went down as an arrow whizzed right into her bad leg. PeriNickel threw his spear at an advancing vermin then knelt down and threw the squirrel over his shoulder before running through the door.
The female hare grabbed the handle of the door as they entered, waited a couple of seconds and yanked it closed. A few clunks were heard as several of the vermin slid on the sand and ran right into the door instead of stopping. The silver hare giggled as she moved over to PeriNickel.
"Hehe, I bally well love it when that happens, wot wot!" PeriNickel gave her a disapproving look as he headed up the steps to bring Valena to a room where she could rest for awhile.
"Tell his lord ship that we have a bally guest that needs to speak to him. And tell him, I'll jolly well speak to him shortly on the matter." The silver hare tilted her head and shrugged.
"Sure sure, put me to work wot!." She grumbled before walking down the hall. Valena glanced at the silver hare over PeriNickel's shoulder and raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Who was that?" The hare beneath her rolled his eyes as he reached the top of the steps.
"That would be me bally twin sister SkyBreeze, wot. She's normally rather nice except when she's bally well around me, then she's a terror." Valena chuckled tiredly and muttered beneath her breath.
"Youngsters." Before she could say any more, the elder squirrel fell asleep from pure exhaustion. PeriNickel glanced up at her then gently set her down on a bed in the dormitories. A middle aged tan hare stood at a table in the room. He was rather large hare, bulk then in fat. He turned around as PeriNickel went to leave and glanced down at Valena before kneeling down beside her and dressing her wounds.
"What do we have here, wot?" The hare asked in a deep yet kind voice. PeriNickel stopped at the doorway and nodded to Valena as the squirrel slept soundly.
"That's Valena, wot." The elder hare stopped for a moment and looked up with a slightly surprised look upon his face.
"Do you mean the same bally one in the scroll." All PeriNickel did was nod before leaving the room again to talk with the badger lord of the mountain.
SkyBreeze stood near the badger lord's quarters, rocking back and forth on her footpaws as she waited for her brother to show up. PeriNickel appeared from behind a corner as his sister gulped and nodded towards the room.
"Er… lord OakRealm isn't in one of his good moods wot." She muttered quietly to him. PeriNickel sighed and rolled his eyes as he headed for the door.
"When is he ever in a good mood, wot. Go and check on Valena while I bally well talk to him." SkyBreeze folded her paws across her chest and snorted.
"Why do ya think you can jolly well keep ordering me around, wot?" PeriNickel chuckled and tapped his sister beneath the chin.
"Cause I have a higher rank, wot." SkyBreeze stuck her tongue out at him and started to walk up the stairs to check on the squirrel while mimicking his voice perfectly.
"Cause I have a higher rank, wot. Ha, higher rank my bally left footpaw wot!" PeriNickel chortled quietly then walked into OakRealm's room, his fur tingling slightly in fear of speaking to the badger.
OakRealm stood at a window located toward the sea and on the far side of the room. The badger was a large one, bigger then most males and had the darkest black fur with the normal white markings of any badger. Over his body he wore a light golden breast plate and chain mail armor but his helmet was set on the bed beside him. The badger was renowned for his battle skills and his intelligence, as well as brute strength and an intimidating stare, just like his cousin, that could make any hare from the long patrol cringe under him.
PeriNickel coughed a bit under his breath to alert the badger of his presence. OakRealm didn't make any move but his voice cut sharply through the air and startled the hare.
"What is it?" PeriNickel gulped and stood up to attention.
"Um..me..me lord, a squirrel is bally well here that needs to um..talk with you wot!" OakRealm continued to stare out of the dark window at the vermin below then turned around and looked at the hare.
"The squirrel's Valena, is she not?" He asked in a steady voice. PeriNickel looked a bit surprised but nodded, figuring that his sister had just told the badger. OakRealm nodded his head slowly and turned back towards the window. "Yes, I knew she would show up again. Tell her to come in when she's ready." The hare bowed to the badger and turned to leave but stopped suddenly as a question struck a cord in his mind.
"Um…may I bally well ask, how you knew it was Valena?" OakRealm looked at the hare with his intimidating stare and made PeriNickel back up a bit as he answered.
"I have seen it in the old badger scripts, that's how I know." He merely replied then leaned against the window sill. "Deliver my message PeriNickel." The hare left quickly, his ears flopping against his head. He closed the door speedily and leaned against the wall, wiping away a couple droplets of nervous sweat.
"Phew, I think I'm gonna have SkyBreeze jolly well talk to him from now on, I was sweating a bloomin lake in there ,wot." He muttered then scampered towards the stairs while almost knocking over a hare that was walking towards the badger's room. The new hare rolled his eyes and entered while muttering under his breath at how rude young hares were becoming.
Two hours later saw Valena up and about again, though this time with the aid of a staff. The combination of old battle wounds as well as the new ones had played the toll on her leg and although she had protested, she was eventually fit with a staff which she leaned upon as she made her way down the stairs towards the badger's lodgings. SkyBreeze and PeriNickel followed behind her, both twin hares arguing back and forth.
"I told you, I ain't bally well going back in there, he's scared me enough today, wot." SkyBreeze said but PeriNickel grumbled to her.
"You bally little coward, wot, he's just a bloomin badger!" SkyBreeze giggled innocently and nudged her brother in the stomach in a playful manner.
"Just a bloomin badger, then why were you jolly well leaking streams o sweat wot?" PeriNickel's ears stood straight and his face flushed slightly at his sister's comment. Ever so slowly, he turned is head and glared at her while speaking with a regal voice.
"I was not bally scared SkyBreeze, me gel, wot. It was just bally well warm in the room." SkyBreeze had to bite her lip to keep the laughter from bubbling out of her mouth as her brother spoke. The hare shrugged her shoulders faintly and batted her eyelashes at him as she landed at the bottom of the stairs first.
"Whatever you jolly well say dear brother, wot." She giggled playfully and disappeared around the corner. Valena raised an eyebrow at the two and muttered to herself under her breath while using the staff to move.
"How did I ever get stuck with these two?" PeriNickel began to walk backwards as he heard the squirrel's words and he grinned while watching her.
"What's so bally bad about being stuck with us wot?" Valena continued walking down the stairs and went to answer when a booming voice of the badger sounded from behind PeriNickel.
"You will come to attention when in the presence of your lord!" The silver hare jumped about ten feet in the air as the voice sounded behind him and he turned, threw a salute and stood to attention quickly.
"Yes sah, sorry sah!" He rapped in a startled voice. Even Valena jumped slightly on the stairs and leaned heavily on her staff as she made it down to the steps where PeriNickel stood. She expected to see the badger lord standing right in front of him but as she came to his side, all she saw was SkyBreeze, on the ground laughing uproariously and shouting out in the loud voice again, mimicking the badger lord's voice perfectly.
"You will come to attention, whahaha, ya should have bally well seen your face, wot!" Valena looked down at the hare and shook her head as PeriNickel's face turned a bright red in fury and embarrassment. Before Valena could even say anything, the hare began to berate his sister at an unbelievably fast pace.
"Why you bally pickled face, annoying flippin frog smelling, bally pain in the rear. I oughta bally well string you up by your bloomin neck and throw you off the jolly ol mountain. Wot wot! You…you….wot!" The hare turned on his heel and started to stroll away, his face the mask of fury. As he reached the stairs, his name was called in the same booming voice.
"PeriNickel, come back here." The hare grumbled and started up the staircase, trying to save what dignity he had left.
"I ain't bally well listening, you over grown food bag, wot." A large shadow covered PeriNickel's back and the hare turned around to look up into the face of OakRealm as the badger tapped his claws on his armor. He raised an eye brow to the hare and stood at a bit of a slant, eyeing PeriNickel coldly.
"Over grown food bag, huh?" He said in a voice filled with malice. If it was ever said that a hare couldn't turn pale as a ghost, PeriNickel would have proved them wrong. The young hare stared up into the face of the badger lord, his silver fur paling of all color until it was a bright white. His mouth hung open, unable to speak as the badger stared at him. SkyBreeze tried hard not to giggle at her brother though she was as pale as him and her ears were flopped to the side of her head.
OakRealm stared at PeriNickel until the hare began to tremble then strangely enough broke into a deep chuckle and patted the hare's back.
"Relax PeriNickel, I heard what happened. Now off with you, I'll call you when you're needed." He turned around as PeriNickel, still in complete shock, went dashing from the room. SkyBreeze was about to do the same when OakRealm put a heavy paw on her shoulder and shook his head. "Now as for you, no more mimicking my voice young SkyBreeze or else." The hare didn't even have to ask what 'or else' meant before she nodded instantly and went dashing from the room also. The great badger shook his head and looked at Valena. "You have to know how to handle the younger ones." He remarked kindly to the squirrel.
Valena laughed quietly and bowed slightly before the badger.
"I suppose you are right. Now, I'm sure you know that I seek an audience with you my lord." OakRealm waved his paw as if dismissing her words.
"Right, right. I apologize for that little interruption. Come along then into my quarters and we shall talk." Valena did as she was told and followed the badger as he slipped within his room once again, leaving the hall completely silent except for the still scampering paws of SkyBreeze and PeriNickel.
OakRealm walked to the window in the room and leaned against the wall next to it as he directed Valena to sit on the edge of his bed. The elder squirrel used her staff to move beside the bed and sat down quickly. Both beasts remained in silence for a moment, as if trying to read one another's thoughts. Finally OakRealm broke the spell and looked at the squirrel.
"So what have you to say to me Valena?" Valena cleared her throat quietly and went to speak her tale when she tilted her head curiously to the side.
"How is it that you know my name so well? PeriNickel said that you know me and my nephew." OakRealm shook his head slightly as he shifted on his footpaws near the window.
"I know for two reasons, one, there are old badger scripts that only we badgers are able to read. One section has told of your coming so I know you in that sense. Also my cousin sent me a scroll long ago, telling me of a young squirrel's arrival and gave me a copy of the scroll in case I wanted to write it down and put it in Salamandastron history. That is how I know. Now, if you don't mind, can you please tell me what it is that you need to speak to me about?" The squirrel sat dumbfounded for a brief moment but nodded quickly and began to relate the chain of events.
"Well my lord, a horde of vermin is coming towards Redwall Abbey and want to take it over. They have already killed a young squirrel maiden and taken a mouse novice captive. They also have sent in a squirrel to betray the abbey and let the vermin in. I am here to ask for your help if the vermin should attack." The badger began to pace the room at the news, his mighty brow creased in concentration.
"Have you told the abbey that the squirrel is going to betray them." Valena quickly shook her head.
"No my lord I have not." This surprised OakRealm greatly and he stopped in his tracks to look at her.
"Why not? Would it not have been best to warn them before you came to me?" Valena bit her lip slightly at his words but then spoke again.
"My lord, I do not feel in my heart that the squirrel will betray the abbey, I have seen no reason as to why she would. I've heard rumors it is because a vixen will be slain if she doesn't do this but I do not believe that she will betray them."
"How can you be so sure."
"Because-" The squirrel sighed for a moment before looking up to him again. "Because she is my niece. She was taken when she was little but she has no recollection, or at least I don't believe she does. CrimsonRay, my nephew, has befriended her but he doesn't recognize her either." OakRealm sighed heavily and tapped the side of his head with his claw.
"Ah yes, CrimsonRay, my cousin from the abbey told me about him. Do you truly think that the vermin will attack even if your niece doesn't betray the abbey?"
"Yes I do my lord, they still have the upper paw with the mouse novice and their slaves." The badger lord suddenly turned on the squirrel and growled in a hated voice, his eyes turning to a light shade of red which was commonly known as the bloodrath.
"Slaves?! The vermin have slaves?!" Out of pure instinct, the squirrel backed up on the bed a bit and nodded her head quickly.
"Ye..yes my lord, they have slaves, including the GUOSIM." The badger sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes to disperse the red light. Now not only did he have his mountain to worry about but now he had to worry about the abbey and the vermin. After a brief moment, OakRealm spoke without raising his head.
"How many hare's can we spare General Fleetfoot?" Valena looked curiously at the badger for only she and OakRealm were in the room. She looked about until she spotted a creature walk out of the shadows. This beast was a dark black hare, almost as dark as Ebonia's fur. He wore a green trimmed tunic that was decorated with many sorts of different medals. The moonlight from the window glinted off of the spear that was strapped to his back by a black strap. A light mustache of gray was already forming on his face as he strolled forth, his paws behind his back.
"Not many sah! We have the bally vermin here to worry about sah! Plus, if we send to many hares away from the jolly ol mountain, the vermin might bloomin think we're bally well attacking, wot!" OakRealm nodded thoughtfully then called again.
"How about you, Major Weave, what do you think?" This time a light tan hare with dark brown highlights stepped out of the shadows. She was a bit taller then the black hare but more petite then the general. Her large ears swiveled slightly and she put her paws on her hips which was covered by a white, long sleeved tunic, that had a vest and held a black belt that contained a dirk and a couple of strange bags. She turned her bright rose eyes on the badger.
"I agree with the General sah! We can only bally well spare five hares at a time, wot!" Valena jumped up at the news and held out her paws pleadingly to the badger and hares.
"But five hares against a horde of vermin is not nearly enough! The Redwaller's would be slaughtered if the vermin attacked." Both hares looked over at the squirrel then up at the reaction of the badger lord. Suddenly Valena realized what she had done. She had actually spoken back to the hares and in doing so, was speaking back to the badger as well by dismissing their word. The squirrel shrunk back slightly but looked up as OakRealm placed a gentle paw on her shoulder.
"It's alright Valena, relax. No, I agree, five is not enough but Weave said that only five hares, at a time, could travel with you. She didn't say those were all the hares we could send. We can send five at a time, you take the first five and then the others will follow in time." Valena looked up to the badger and a light smile broke out across her face as she bowed slightly to him.
"Thank you my lord. Thank you so much." Weave raised an eye at the squirrel but remained silent. Fleetfoot on the other paw coughed slightly beneath his breath and looked up at the badger.
"Beg pardon sah, wot. But do you think we bally well have enough hares to spare?" OakRealm turned slightly to look at Fleetfoot and spoke in a reasoning voice
"Well Fleetfoot, what would you suggest? Sending a couple hares and letting the Abbey fall while Salamandastron wins for certain or sending hares continually so that the Abbey beasts at least have chance?" Fleetfoot looked at the badger for a moment then at Valena, contemplating. OakRealm gave a slight wink to Weave but continued to look at Fleetfoot Before the hare could speak, Weave suddenly nudged him sharply in the stomach.
"Uh hem, excuse me General sah but I believe that we bally well have enough, wot." The General's face turned red slightly at Weave's sharp nudge and he spoke again, a bit winded.
"Send the jolly long patrol continually sah! We have enough, wot." OakRealm grinned slyly at the female hare before nodding and looking at Valena again.
"There is your answer my lady." As Valena thanked him again, the badger turned to the two hare's and spoke in a commanding tone. "I already know which hare's should go and I would like the two of you to round them up. Fleetfoot, go and get Ballard, he's probably still up in the infirmary, cleaning up after tending Valena." OakRealm then turned to Weave and smiled lightly. "And you Weave, I want you to get SkyBreeze and PeriNickel, they'll be going also." A groan arose from both hare's and Valena. Weave held up her paws pleadingly to the badger.
"My lord, don't mean to be jolly well disrespectful but those bally twins would be more trouble then help wot!" OakRealm shook his head and patted Weave gently on the shoulder.
"My friend, I am certain they'll be of some help." Fleetfoot sighed slightly then looked up at the badger lord questioningly.
"You said jolly well five were going, that only accounts for three. Who are the other two wot?" OakRealm looked at the two hares and pointed at them.
"You two are going as well, and Weave, make sure you keep the young ones in their place. Now, off with the two of you." Weave and Fleetfoot bowed quickly to the badger lord then took off out the door, grumbling slightly. Valena sighed and sat back down while OakRealm went to one of the walls and pulled off a bow and several arrows. The great badger turned around then knelt down in front of Valena so that they were close to being eye to eye.
"When you're sure that your niece is on your side, give her this, I think she would like it and it could help in battle unless daggers will suffice for her." Valena looked at him startled as she took the bow.
"But how did you know that she uses daggers?" OakRealm shook his finger at her slightly then stood up and went to leave the room.
"Like I told my hares, it's in the old badger script. Now, I must talk with my council. The five will be ready soon and you can start back towards Redwall." The elder squirrel quickly stood up and strapped the bows and arrows to her back then bowed to the badger while she walked towards the door also.
"Again, I thank you my lord, the Redwallers will be ever grateful. I will never forget you my lord." OakRealm smiled kindly and watched her as she left to meet with the other hares. As she left, he spoke quietly.
"Nor I you Valena, nor I you."
An hour later saw the hares and Valena standing near the entrance to the mountain. Weave and Fleetfoot were still in a bit of a bad mood as SkyBreeze and PeriNickel continually chattered about how excited they were about going on their first trip. Fleetfoot rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall as Ballard came towards them. The large hare grinned at Valena and watched the twins with interest.
"I can't jolly well believe we're finally going on a flippen mission, wot! How bloomin exciting!" SkyBreeze said and couldn't help but jump up and down a bit. PeriNickel was a little more subtle then his sister but he still couldn't keep the enthusiasm from bubbling up.
"We'll get to fight the bally vermin, wot! Real warrior like, wot wot!" Fleetfoot banged his head against the wall slightly his eyes closed and his ears draped over his eyes in frustration.
"This is going to be a jolly well long mission, wot." Weave grinned at the black hare and nudged him in the stomach again.
"Now come on Fleety, don't you jolly well remember what you were like when you were a bloomin leveret, wot?" Fleetfoot's face turned beat red and his ears stood on end as Weave called him by his most hated nick name. He turned to the hare and put his paws at his sides.
"I ask that you desist from bally well calling me that, wot!" The black hare said angrily and strolled towards Valena who was shaking her head at the twins. Weave chuckled beneath her breath as Ballard came next to her. She made the sound of a cat as she spoke to him and stuck her paw out, scratching at the air.
"Meow, touchy, wot" Ballard shook his head a bit, grinning from ear to ear as he tilted his head to Weave and fiddled with the healer's pouch at his side.
"Well, maybe he doesn't bally well like to be called Fleety, Weaverlin." Weave growled as Ballard called her by her full name and went into a boxing stance.
"You just jolly well call me that again, wot, and I'll knock your bloomin nose off, wot." By now SkyBreeze and PeriNickel had stopped talking and were trying hard not to laugh at the adult hares. SkyBreeze nudged her brother slightly and giggled.
"And they were bally worried about us being trouble, wot." Valena watched the hares and sighed, looking up to the sky and muttering.
"Why me?" She asked then turned to the hares and shouted out loudly. "Alright, alright, let's get goin, Redwall awaits." The five hares calmed down and Fleetfoot took lead again.
"Alright troops, let's move out, wot!" With that, the five hares and elder squirrel, silently slipped out of Salamandastron and disappeared into the night that would soon turn into day.
OakRealm watched them from his high window, a sad look on his face as he watched his friends leave. It was a hard decision to let them go. As they made it to the safe haven of the trees and disappeared, OakRealm muttered into the night.
"Farewell my friends, may good fortunes go with you, and may I see you all again." The badger turned away from the window and went into the council room, his duty as the lord of Salamandastron was calling.