Side note: I apologize for not writing a new chapter for so long, I've been having a bad case of Writer's block and I'm trying to work on the next chapters. Please bare with me

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Two As One: Chapter 8

As the night wore on over Redwall, Ebonia and Crim continued to stand quietly on the ramparts, peering over Mossflower which looked so peaceful yet held so much evil within its snow encrusted trees. Ebonia released a quiet sigh and shifted lightly on her footpaws. This was the first time for seasons that she could just stand and feel comfortable instead of worrying about getting a dagger stabbed in her back. A fleeting breeze of wind ruffled her bushy tail and she looked over the brownish red fur that covered her beautiful and sleek black fur. Something about it made her curl her lip but she instead rested her head on her paws and leaned on the ramparts.

Crim had his eyes closed as he stood so silently beneath the moon on that cold, dark night. He appeared to be in a deep thought though his mind was clear of everything as he just enjoyed the silence between him and the other squirrel. After a few moments, he suddenly spoke to her.

"Ivy, do you remember what your parents were like?" Ebonia was taken aback by the question for she had not expected the squirrel to ask her this. She furrowed her brow faintly and thought about her answer. How can you answer when you never knew your parents, she thought to herself despairingly.

"No, I really don't remember them that well." She muttered in a quiet voice that seemed to hold a bit of sorrow and anger in its tone. Crim opened his eyes and stared at her, his sun colored fur shining a bit in the moonlight.

"Hmm, I can't remember mine either though I'm starting to remember my past." Ebonia watched the squirrel before he looked out over Mossflower again and she couldn't keep down the curiosity that was burning within her.

"Crim, what happened in your past, to your family I mean?" Crim stood silently for a second, his face masking any emotion that flowed through his young body. His paw strayed to the scroll at his side, the one that unlocked the door to his past, the scroll that told him of his future and the scroll that had practically turned his life upside down. Slowly withdrawing it, he held the beaten and old parchment in front of Ebonia before speaking to her in a hushed and almost eerie voice that didn't exactly sound like his own.

"Well, I never knew what happened to my family, they always told me that, well, I was dropped off here long ago." Ebonia almost snorted at his answer, her eyes seeming to flare with an unmistakable anger.

"So you were abandoned then?" The sun squirrel shook his head quickly while holding up a paw to still any more words that Ebonia might speak.

"No, no, let me explain. They supposedly dropped me off so that I could live in peace and grow up safe." Ebonia narrowed her eyes for a moment as she thought about his words but shook her head and spoke regardless of him wanting her to be silent.

"What do you mean by supposedly?" Here, Crim sighed sadly while handing her the scroll and leaping upon the ramparts to walk across it, his tail brush flicking back and forth constantly to keep balance.

"What I mean is, look and read the scroll. This is what I couldn't tell you before, what was so hard to say. Read it Ivy, it will tell you of my past." Ebonia raised an eyebrow with a bit of surprise at his words, his words seeming to plead to her to read it. The young squirrel looked at Crim for awhile longer before unrolling the scroll gently and reading the contents within. As she read, her shoulders began to sink slowly and her eyes widened with sadness and confusion. Crim glanced over at her as he strolled across the battlements and frowned faintly, he hadn't want to make the squirrel upset, he just thought that if she read the scroll, perhaps she could understand him more, and she wouldn't be afraid to open up to him and share her thoughts.

Ebonia finished the scroll as she slowly slid down into a sitting position against the wall. Why was she so surprised about the words of the scroll? They seemed so familiar and yet she didn't know why. But what hurt her even more was that it had been Stelumos who killed the other squirrel's family, the same vermin that Ebonia had to work for, had to betray the abbey for. She closed her eyes and struck her head against the wall angrily just as Crim jumped down and crouched beside her.

"Are you alright?" Opening her eyes ever so slowly, the other squirrel sighed and shook her head to him.

"I'm sorry to hear what happened to your family Crim." She said in a truly sincere voice that she didn't try to hide. Crim shrugged his shoulders a bit while he took the scroll back from her and tucked it back in his habit cord.

"There's no need to be sorry, things like this happen. I…I just need to figure my quest now."

"What do you mean?" Crim turned around to face her and leaned against the battlements, his eyes straying to the ground below them.

"I also got a riddle when the Abbot gave me the scroll. I'm still trying to figure it out. Some of it has come true but I just don't understand it. That was what Malya and I were talking about when we were in Cavern Hole." Ebonia tilted her head to the side and recalled the event. She stood next to him and as she spoke, she looked out into Mossflower woods while a cold wind ruffled her fur.

"What don't you understand about it?" Once again, Crim shook his head and sighed with frustration, not at Ebonia but at himself for not being able to figure out a simple little riddle. He pulled the rewritten poem out and placed it before Ebonia while pointing to some of the lines.

"Well, the first part came true, we know the lost mouse is Tellio, I know the warrior is Kenyo and we found trouble in Mossflower, the frosted land, because we lost Katal to the vermin." He stopped for a moment at his words but then continued. "It's these next couple lines that have me baffled." Ebonia read the poem and pointed to several of the verses in curiosity.

"You mean the lines that say

The one shrouded in darkness

Is the key to Redwall's fall

Be watchful of the black one

And protect her from them all

You must find this lost one

And bring the lost one home

Redwall will be betrayed

And then you two must roam?"

Crim nodded and threw up his paws confusedly.

"Yes, I don't understand it. I mean it says the one shrouded in darkness is the key to Redwall's fall, but all the beasts here are good, they aren't shrouded in darkness and then it says Redwall's fall? What's that suppose to mean, that Redwall is going to be taken over? I don't know Ivy I just don't know." Crim's face began to turn to a twinge of red that was brighter then his fur which ruffled in aggravation as he shook his head. Ebonia swallowed hard and read through the lines. It's almost telling what will happen because of me, she thought to herself but merely shook her head. Crim looked at her then spoke again.

"I think the poem might also be leading me to my sister, I mean, I don't know who the ebony is but perhaps it's a clue to find my lost sister, I don't know." This caused Ebonia to jerk back even more. Her fur began to sweat with nervousness and she quickly handed the scroll back while shaking her head.

"I don't know Crim. Listen, I'm a bit tired, I think I'm going to head off to bed soon ok." Crim acted a bit surprised but smiled and put the scroll and everything back as he began to cool down again.

"Oh of course, I didn't mean to keep you so long. Would you like me to lead you back?"

"No, no, I can find my way. Why don't you go on ahead and I'll go in in a minute, I want to um, just have a moment to myself if you don't mind." Crim nodded respectfully while performing a slightly bow to her.

"As you wish milady." With that, Crim turned and walked down the ramparts towards the abbey, a thoughtful look covering his young features. Ebonia shook her head and looked up to the sky as if pleading for help.

"What am I suppose to do, this..this is too much like my dreams and my thoughts. Wh..what if I'm the black one connected to the poem then that would make me his…" But she wouldn't even allow herself to finish her thought for she was shaking her head defiantly. "No, no, I can't be, my parents abandoned me and Stelumos wouldn't have killed them, anyways, Bemal wouldn't have allowed it." The young squirrel closed her eyes and sat on the ramparts for a time, looking out over Mossflower as a light snow began to fall again.

Stelumos looked up to the sky as the snow began to fall and the mink growled heatedly beneath his breath while standing and drawing his sword.

"Stupid worthless snow," he growled and began to stalk around the camp, glaring at any vermin that go in his way and kicking aside any vermin that were slacking off on guard duty. Every beast knew the mink was in a bad mood from his conversation with Bemal so they tried to avoid him, either by ducking inside tents, hiding behind trees or avoiding the mink's angry stare. The horde knew that Stelumos would be leaving soon to talk with Ebonia and find out any information the squirrel could give him so it was best to stay away from him until then.

Bemal stood passively by with amusement as she watched her chief meandering around the horde. Though the vixen was loyal, she couldn't help but feel glad that she had confused him and made him angry - she wanted to. She knew what would happen later on and it just made her angry and saddened. The elder vixen turned on her heel and strolled past a weasel that was watching her. The weasel was the slave driver by the name of Deathfang, a weasel that no beast wanted to make angry. He wasn't as bad as Stelumos but he was bad enough. He watched the vixen with baited eyes but said nothing to her. He despised the vixen greatly, she was the one that was making the mink crueler to the horde and the one that knew if they would win or lose. Since he couldn't touch the fox, for fear of Stelumos gutting him, he decided to vent his anger on the slaves or Stelumos' little hench rat Hensfloral. But this time, the weasel went over the slaves, they didn't whine as much as the rat.

With a snort of disgust for Bemal, he turned and headed toward his victims.

Tellio watched fearfully as the weasel came towards him and Log a Log and he quickly tapped the shrew with his tail. Log a Log looked up and groaned quietly as he stuck the dagger within his cloak again and hid the chain that was almost open under his sleeve. Deathfang stared at the two, who diverted their eyes from him, but then moved onto to some of the other slaves. The weasel liked slaves that would be easy bait to pick on, not a scrawny mouse and shrew that tried to defend each other.

Tellio sighed with relief as he turned back to the shrew chieftain.

"Phew, that was close, I thought he was gonna come by us." Log a Log nodded in agreement as he slipped the dagger into the locks again.

"He should be leavin us soon mate, then we can really start working again. I got one chain free from me paw, I have to get the other one now." Tellio nodded excitedly at the thought of being free again and had to bite his lip to keep a smile from creasing his face. He was about to speak to the shrew when suddenly he heard Stelumos shout to Bemal. The young mouse and shrew chieftain looked up to see what would happen.

Bemal sighed and walked over to the mink, her movements as smooth as silk. Her eyes betrayed nothing of what she felt as she came to the mink's side. Stelumos growled at her and began to walk in the woodlands toward Redwall.

"Come wit me vixen, we're gonna see the squirrel and I need ya to get `er fer me." Bemal raised a white eyebrow which stood out across her silver fur and strolled next to him, a bewildered look on her face.

"How am I suppose to get her my lord?" She asked in a hushed voice while the eyes of the vermin horde watched her back. Stelumos rolled his eyes and shoved her forward more to keep her going.

"I don't know, ya figure it out. Them abbey beasts see me and they'll go on da alert, they `aven't seen ya yet. We `ave to find out what she knows and plan when to attack." Bemal sighed and sauntered through the trees, her eyes flashing slightly. She knew that this was not going to be good for Ebonia. The young squirrel would be just expecting her, not the mink. The vixen sighed sadly and continued to follow in the darkness of the trees, her head lowered against the falling snow and her tail swishing quietly on the ground. It was but a moment before both mink and vixen disappeared into the woodlands. The horde let out a relieved sigh and went about talking and eating, as if they didn't have a care in the world.

"And don't any o ya think o slackin off!!" The horde jumped to attention as Stelumos' voice rang out over the camp sight, each vermin quivering like a leaf. Hensfloral gulped quietly and when everything was silent, he stood in front of the horde and nodded at them to sit down but be quiet. The rat might have been Stelumos' right pawed rat but he knew that even a horde needed to rest. He strolled to a fire and sat there while Deathfang and the rest of the slavers watched the horde with interest.

Tellio swallowed worried as he turned back to the shrew while Log a Log began working on the chains again.

"We have to hurry Log a Log and warn the abbey. He could attack at any time now." He whispered urgently to the shrew. Log a Log growled under his breath, the fur on the back of his nape raising slightly in anger.

"I know Tellio, come here and hold out yer paws, now." Tellio quickly scooted over to the shrew and held out his shackled paws, glancing around to make sure none of the vermin were watching them. Log a Log did the same, then slipped the dagger out and stuck it into Tellio's lock. With a bit of luck, the shrew was able to get both locks open and they were both free. Tellio set his chains down quietly then began to rub the feeling back into his sore paws while Log a Log did the same and looked at the vermin. Most were beginning to fall asleep, some where eating, some laughing and a few were just meandering about. Log a Log shifted his eyes towards the woods but Tellio frowned for a moment.

"They'll notice we're gone." He whispered.

"No they won't," a voice said softly beside them. Tellio jumped and looked at another shrew and a mouse slave with him. The shrew nudged Tellio and whispered quietly in the young mouse's ear.

"We'll cover fer ya in yer place now get movin, we're relyin our freedom on da two o ya." Tellio nodded and grabbed Log a Log's wrist so they could run but the shrew hesitated for a moment. Tellio turned his head and stared at him, confused.

"What are you doing, we're free, let's go." He whispered urgently but Log a Log shook his head and nodded towards his son and wife who were watching them with worried eyes.

"I can't leave em here like this." Tellio looked over at the shrews and quickly whispered to the chieftain.

"We have to warn Redwall, then we can get help and free them. If we free them now and they're caught, what do you think will happen?" Log a Log groaned quietly and nodded for he knew that Tellio was speaking the truth and he did not want to see his family die. With a heavy sigh, he kissed his son and wife on the head and moved beside Tellio.

They both watched the slavers for a moment and as they turned away, the two freed creatures went dashing quickly, yet quietly, into the woodlands. Log a Log spoke as they ran, slowing down just a bit so that Tellio could keep up to his quick stride.

"When we get to the abbey, let's try to stay unnoticed by the mink and such and we'll go round back. If they see us, yell yer heart out mate." Tellio grabbed onto Log a Log's tunic and stopped him for a moment.

"But why don't we just wait in the woodlands until morning when Stelumos isn't going towards the abbey." Log a Log grabbed the mouse by the shoulders and spun him around quickly while pointing back towards the vermin horde that they were leaving behind.

"Because by morning they're gonna notice we're gone so they'll make sure they have vermin ready to stop us if we try to warn the abbey. We have to go now Tellio, now!" The shrew took off running again, Tellio close behind.

"I hope you're right Log a Log."

"Me too mate, me too." They disappeared hurriedly into the trees, unknowing of the eyes that watched them leave.

Stelumos and Bemal made their way through the trees, the vixen moving as silent as the winter breeze while Stelumos stomped along in the snow, regardless if any beast heard him. The silvery vixen rolled her eyes and thought about how she would get Ebonia out of the abbey. The only skills she had was as a seer, but then she also had trained Ebonia to listen to every sound around, so perhaps she had an idea.

As the vixen and mink moved closer, Stelumos forced Bemal to crouch down near him. They were right at the edge of the woods, far enough away from the abbey to remain hidden. Stelumos looked through the darkness and just made out the squirrel standing beneath the moonlight, looking thoughtfully at the sky. The mink growled and nudged Bemal to get to work and as the vixen sighed, she began to trill her voice out into the air. It sounded like a bird but not like one you would normally hear. It was sweet yet very soft so that the wall guards might not be able to hear it as well. She continued to trill her voice, the mink beside her waiting expectantly.

Ebonia was just about to turn and leave when her ears pricked and she heard the faint trill resound in her ears. A chilled feeling came over her and she looked around to make sure the wall guards weren't looking. Luckily, most of them were exhausted from standing on the wall in the cold most of the day and the small fires that they had built crackled quietly so that it drowned out the sound. The squirrel breathed nervously, her breath turning white as it left her body.

The trill sounded again and the squirrel made sure no beast was watching her before latching her claws into the side of the abbey wall, and dropping to a tree below. She looked up and without a second thought, went running towards the sound, knowing that it had to Bemal. Only the vixen could make a trill like that. Ebonia was glad that it was the vixen and not Stelumos, she needed a friend she could trust to talk to.

Stelumos snapped for Bemal to step back as he saw the squirrel dashing in the snow towards them. He slipped into the shadows of a tree so that Ebonia wouldn't be startled by seeing him and cry out, for even the vermin knew that he had to be careful this close to the abbey.

Ebonia skidded to a halt as she entered the woodlands and immediately began to ramble off to Bemal who stood before her.

"Bemal, I'm so glad you're here, I need to talk to you." The silver vixen opened her mouth to speak but Stelumos caught her eye as he pointed to Ebonia and motioned for Bemal to get information out of her. Bemal moaned on the inside but she turned to Ebonia and finally spoke.

"Tell me what you will Ebonia, I'm here to listen." The squirrel was so flustered that she didn't even notice the silent conversation the vixen and mink had with one another. Before she knew it, she was rattling off all her confusion and all her questions to the seer.

"Bemal, I don't know if I can do this, I don't know if I can betray this abbey. These creatures, they're so different than what the horde and you tell me about. They care about each other, they don't hate one another nor are they deceitful. I've met some of the them, a red squirrel and a hare and otter and they are kind to me, especially the red squirrel. And..and… are you sure you told me everything about my past? This squirrel, he had a scroll that told him of what happened to his family and you remember the dreams I've told you about, the dreams of the hidden squirrels and that? Well his story is so familiar, it's as if I remember it. Bemal I don't know what to do, I don't want to hurt them."

As Ebonia's words died on the breeze, total silence reigned over the woodlands. Bemal stood dumbstruck, even for a seer she hadn't seen anything about this happening and she couldn't keep the surprise from showing on her face. She shifted upon her footpaws with nervousness, not completely sure what to say to Ebonia's words. Had she been alone with the squirrel, she would have spoken truthfully but with Stelumos hiding in the background, she dared not say anything that could put the squirrel in more danger then she already was in.

Ebonia looked up at Bemal, completely baffled. She didn't want to attack, she didn't want to help the horde, she just wanted to live in peace like the other abbey beasts. Closing her eyes, the squirrel was about to speak again when a paw was clamped over her mouth and a blade was held to her throat. Ebonia's cry of surprise was muffled as she looked up into Stelumos' bloodshot eyes.

The mink breathed slowly and angrily as he stared down into the startled eyes of the squirrel that was his link with success. His shoulders moved up and down as he tried to control his anger from hearing her words of betrayal. With a growl, he pulled the sword away from her neck and shoved her to the ground then began to stalk around her like he would always do with the slaves. Ebonia spat out a bit snow and looked up as he moved, her eyes unsure and startled, a look that rarely had even been seen in them. Stelumos growled at her as he kicked her tail to the side, his eyes flashing with an dangerous light.

"So ya don't want to attack dem huh? Ya don't want to betray them? But you'll betray us to them?! You traitorous squirrel, I should kill you right now!" As he spoke he unsheathed 'Doomsfate' and raised it high into the air then brought it down to where it stopped about an inch from the squirrel's neck. Ebonia shuddered in the snow and looked pleadingly to Bemal but the vixen stood still, she couldn't do anything unless she wanted to put the squirrel in more danger. Stelumos slowly withdrew the blade then crouched down in front of her and took out a dagger which he tapped beneath her chin. "Don't ferget Ebonia, I still hold the cards. Do ya remember why you have to do this?"

"Ye..yes because you said if I didn't, you would kill Bemal" Stelumos smirked wickedly and tapped the dagger beneath her chin again.

"Very good, now, what if I was to say that iff'n ya don't do as I say, I'll kill the vixen as well as the slaves I have, starting with the mouse?" Ebonia glared at him, her hard nature returning again. She pulled herself up into a kneeling position and snapped.

"You wouldn't dare!" Stelumos turned on her and snarled angrily as he stepped right in front of her.

"Oh I would, now ya do what I say or they die, all o them!" The young squirrel growled beneath her breath as she turned her head away so she didn't have to stare into his eyes. She wouldn't let him see the hate nor the fear of the others lives that showed in her strange aqua striped eyes. Stelumos chuckled, knowing he had hit a soft spot on the squirrel and he pressed the sword to her cheek to turn her head. "Now that we got an understandin, tell me what ya know bout the abbey, bout the defenses and that." Ebonia stared at him again and gulped quietly, a nervous feeling like butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

"I…all I know is that they have wall guards and a warrior leader but that's it." Stelumos curled his lip with hate and dragged the dagger across Ebonia's cheek, causing a light cut to appear.

"That's it! That's all ya got! I can't go by that! Now ya listen here, ya get yer stinkin bushed tailed rear back in that abbey and find out about the defenses, about the weak points! Tomorrow night, ya come here again at the same time and ya tell me all the information and we'll go from there. Don't fail me squirrel, the lives of the vixen and the slaves are in yer paws. Now, I'm goin back to the horde, I'm sick o bein surrounded by fools. Bemal, clean that cut, I don't want anything to betray we met tonight." With that, the mink snarled, turned on his heel and headed back towards his camp, his tail swaying furiously and his fur standing on end.

Ebonia sank into the snow defeated, her paws holding her head in anger and confusion. Bemal looked at her young charge and her motherly self began to take over, the same motherly feeling she had since she ever set eyes on the young squirrel so many seasons ago. With a sigh, the vixen moved to kneel beside the squirrel and gently began to dress the slit on her cheek, her eyes betraying the worry for Ebonia that she could never seem to hide. The young squirrel groaned quietly as she looked pleadingly at the vixen.

"Bemal, what am I suppose to do? I don't want the slaves to die nor you but if I betray the abbey he might…he might kill all of them. What's wrong with me, why am I having these feelings, I never use to have them?" The elder seer closed her eyes for a moment, her paws stopping momentarily from tending to Ebonia's cheek. Thoughts raced through her head as she sat there next to the creature that she had felt was like a daughter to her, the creature that had helped her feel again and actually care about another.

Bemal slowly opened her eyes and stared into Ebonia's strange aqua striped ones. The vixen spoke softly to her and continued to work on the young squirrel's cheek.

"You will understand Ebonia." Was all she said. Ebonia looked at the vixen and sighed, it wasn't the answer that she had wanted. She wanted to know if there was something that the vermin weren't telling her, something that could explain why she was feeling things around these other creatures. With a sigh, she just sat there in silence, her footpaws freezing slightly in the snow, Bemal's soft paws tending her cheek and the cold breeze of winter sending a shiver up her spine.

Tellio stood in shock behind a tree where he and Log a Log had arrived to hear the words of the squirrel. The young mouse had known there was something good about that squirrel though he didn't want to fully admit it. Biting his lip, he turned to look at the shrew chieftain.

"I wonder if we could just convince her not to do this then perhaps we could stop Stelumos from taking over the abbey." Log a Log quickly shook his head at the idea.

"No, fer one thing, we don't even know if she's on our side for sure, and fer another, that mink will attack the abbey wit or wit out her, it's just easier fer her to give him all the information on defenses then open the gate then knowing nothing and trying to get in. He'll try until he gets in, Tellio, sorry to say. Now our job is to warn the Abbey so they know he's gonna attack soon, that way they can be ready." The young novice sighed but nodded his head to the words of the shrew chieftain. He watched as Stelumos disappeared into the trees then listened a little longer to Bemal and Ebonia before moving to another tree, signaling for Log a Log to follow.

"Well let's go then, no time like the present I guess." Log a Log nodded once, a grim look on his face, then followed the young abbey mouse, ready to run when needed towards Redwall Abbey.

Tellio stood quietly near the fringe of the trees and listened as Bemal bid Ebonia farewell. The squirrel stood up and headed back towards the abbey, remaining in the shadows so she wasn't seen while Bemal shook her head sadly and traveled back towards the camp sight. Tellio held up a paw and counted to three before they both went running towards the abbey, hiding in the shadows just like the squirrel. Log a Log ran in front while Tellio kept watch from behind, a nervous look flashing across his hazel eyes.

They were just about 30 feet from the abbey when a crunching caught their attention. Tellio turned around, looking for the source of the sound when suddenly he was shoved hard to the ground with a dagger at the back of his neck. He squeaked in surprise which made Log a Log turn around, his dagger held in his paw. He glared at the creature that held Tellio and growled angrily.

"Let em go or this dagger flies." Ebonia looked up from on top of Tellio, her eyes registering shock, anger and fear.

"What are the two of you doing here? You're going to get yourselves killed!" She hissed to them. Log a Log stepped forward and raised the dagger up higher, a growl escaping from his throat.

"I said let em go you traitor." Tellio struggled beneath the squirrel and spoke suddenly.

"Please, just let us go, we want to warn our friends in the Abbey. I know you don't want to betray the abbey and if we tell them you won't have to and the others won't be killed." Ebonia stared down at the mouse quietly, her mind running with different thoughts. Before she knew what she was doing, she moved off of Tellio and stood up, brushing away some snow that was attached to her tunic.

"Fine, we have to get to the abbey before Stelumos comes back and finds out what I'm doing." Log a Log stood completely dumbfounded, his eyes shifting from squirrel to mouse then from mouse to squirrel. His paw on the dagger faltered a bit as he held up his paws to Tellio, confused.

"Why in the bloomin heck are you trusting her?" The shrew was not daft, he just didn't want to make any wrong moves that would get them killed, and he clearly stated that when he pointed the dagger at Ebonia while keeping his other paw on his hip. Tellio merely sigh and began to race for the abbey.

"Log a Log we don't have time for this, come on, we're only a few feet from the-" His words were cut short as a bolas flew out of the shadows and wrapped itself firmly around the mouse's footpaws. Tellio went down with a thud and turned around to see Deathfang step out of the shadows, his paws whirling a sword and whip. The weasel's eyes glared into Tellio's and Log a Log's as he snarled darkly.

"Ya thought ya could escape, ya fools. Hadn't been fer the squirrel, ya two would o made it back. You kept them just long enough squirrel. Now shrew, put down the dagger or the mouse dies." Ebonia stood with her mouth wide open, she hadn't planned this, she hadn't tried to betray them, she was trying to help them and now this weasel was putting the blame on her. Log a Log growled at Ebonia as he dropped the dagger to the ground.

"You traitor, I knew ya was no good squirrel, you'll get what's comin to ya." Those were the last words that came out of Log a Log's mouth before the weasel struck him on the side of the head with the flat of his blade and dragged the two unconscious creatures back towards the camp sight. Ebonia breathed deeply, a saddened look seeming to shine in her young, confused eyes. Why did things have to keep turning out wrong, she thought to herself despairingly as she turned and ran back to the abbey.

Ebonia made it back without any problems, most of the guards were talking quietly or sleeping so they didn't notice the squirrel as she slinked back over the wall, leapt to the ground then headed back towards the Abbey to get a long sleep and think about what Stelumos had said, unaware of two eyes watching her.

"If I don't do this, the slaves and Bemal will lose their lives but if I do this then these creatures may lose their lives. I'm so confused what am I going to do." In silence, the squirrel made it through the doors and began to walk towards the dormitories when she stopped and looked up at the great tapestry of Redwall. Her eyes strayed over the warrior mouse then down to the spot where the piece of tapestry was missing. Before she knew it, she began repeating the words she had said not but a few hours ago.

"We are all pieces in a tapestry, we all play an important part. So what is my part? Am I suppose to betray them or am I suppose to let the slaves die? I'm so confused, I don't know what on earth to do." She looked up to the tapestry as if it held all the answers and yet she felt nothing from it. The squirrel shook her head and headed towards the stares when a breeze chilled her back and her ears perked up to a strange and eerie sound.

"Seek the answers in the lie

Don't let the captives ever die

Seek the answers in your heart

Then you'll play your given part."

The squirrel stopped dead in her tracks and turned back to the tapestry as the words flowed through her head. The voice that had spoken was strong yet soothing, like a voice she could feel comfort and protection from. Her fur stood on end slightly as she stared at the great piece of work but the voice did not speak again so she merely rubbed her eyes and sighed.

"I must be overly tired, I'm hearing things." She muttered then turned and headed up the stairs to the dormitories without a second thought.

As she left, the cold breeze ruffled the tapestry where Martin stood and a voice like a whisper spoke on the wind.

"The one shrouded in darkness

Is the key to Redwall's fall." The words resounded quietly around the hall then once again went silent.