Disclaimer: I don't own Redwall etc etc
Author note: Alright, here's the last chapter I'll be setting up for awhile. *winks* Don't worry, I'll come back to Two as One, you can't get rid of me that easily. I just need some time for the old brain to think. Enjoy
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Two As One: Chapter 15
Golden rays of sunlight descended upon the sleeping face of Crim. The sun squirrel twitched his whiskers delicately as a light snowflake fell upon his nose. A warble from one of the remaining birds interrupted the quiet morning and caused the squirrel to flick his eyes open. He allowed a yawn to escape his lips as he sat up against the cavern wall. The morning breeze was chilly as it filtered through the cave but Crim hardly felt the cold. He uncurled his tail from about his body and turned his eyes upon his two sleeping friends.
Malya slept in a curled up position near the entrance of the cave. Her rudder flicked up and down gently as dreams played in the recesses of her mind. Crim smiled softly at the otter maiden. She just looked so peaceful lying there. Malya rolled over as she giggled quietly in her sleep. As she moved, she accidentally bumped her paw against Sprypaw's leg. The hare rolled over and muttered incoherent words as he rubbed his gluttonous stomach.
"Hmm…yes…jolly good scoff wot….I'd like another scone…no not a bone I said scone…the nerve wot."
Crim chortled softly at his friend. At least they had had a peaceful sleep, despite sleeping on a hard cavern floor. With a sigh, the squirrel turned his attention to Ebonia to see how she was fairing. All his eyes met, though, were the severed habit cords, and his cloak lying upon the ground. The squirrel leapt up so quickly in shock that some beast might have thought that he had been stuck with a pin.
"Malya! Sprypaw! Wake up, Ebonia's gone!"
Malya jumped with a start and peered over at Crim with horror shining in her eyes.
"What?! Crim, what…what's going on, are we under attack mate? What's wrong?"
"Ebonia's gone, Malya. I just woke up and she..she wasn't here!"
The otter maiden rose to her footpaws and looked around the cave with a completely baffled expression upon her pretty face.
"But you had her bound didn't you mate? How could she have gotten awa-"
"Confound it! That blighter stole my sword. Why that little bush tailed thief. That's gratitude for you wot."
Sprypaw crossed his paws over his chest with frustration as he woke from his sleep. Crim and Malya turned their eyes on him in surprise.
"Sword? What sword?" Malya asked curiously. Sprypaw flicked his paw around daintily as dismissing his question.
"There was a flippen sword beside the squirrel when we found her wot. I just put it in my habit cord and…well she must have jolly well stolen it to get her paws free." Crim released an exasperated breath of air as he stood before his two friends. How could he have been so stupid, falling asleep like that? He should have known that the squirrel would find a way out of captivity. The sun furred squirrel gazed at the entrance to the cave and released a heavy sigh. There was only one thing that they could do now.
"Well, let's get going." Malya stood up and held out her paws imploringly to him.
"Where, mate? We don't have anywhere to go." Crim's eyes shone with a stubborn determination as he collected the shredded habit cords and stashed them in his tunic.
"We're going to find her. She's still wounded and if she's not careful, she'll get herself killed." Sprypaw and Malya exchanged questioning looks.
"Crim, are you sure you're jolly well feeling alright, wot? She probably went off to tell ol stink wart where we are."
"No she didn't, he would kill her if she went back to him, now either you come with me or you stay here; it's your choice." Crim looked into the eyes of his friends. No words had to be spoken among the three creatures. Malya and Sprypaw quietly nodded their heads and followed Crim outside of the cave. There was just something about the tone of his voice that made them follow. It was as if the squirrel had taken on the role of a leader.
"She's still alive and you didn't capture her?!" Stelumos threw his goblet across the room which clattered loudly against the stone wall. Wraith knelt before the mink and bowed his head. Every beast knew it was best not to anger their chieftain when he began throwing things; it just wasn't the brightest idea. Keeping his head low, the ferret tracker continued to speak in his most humble voice.
"Aye my lord she lives but is sorely wounded. I have seen her…as I have seen the sun squirrel and his friends."
The tyrant halted in his rants and turned his dark maroon eyes upon the ferret. The wheels in his mind began to turn as he paced thoughtfully. His horde remained in silence as their leader worked out his plans. It was usually death for any beast that interrupted him during the thought process. Wraith flicked his tail to the side and glanced over his shoulder at Hensfloral. The rat was still dirty from burying Bemal the night before and he looked as if he had caught a cold. The ferret snorted and turned back towards his chieftain just as Stelumos grasped his neck in his paw.
"Listen to me and listen good. This is what I want you to do. Take a score of my beasts and go after those brats, bring them here and get the squirrel. I want them brought back alive Wraith, but…you can use as much force as you want…just NO KILLING!"
Wraith coward from his chieftain's dilated eyes. He knew how serious Stelumos was and what would happen if he failed. The ferret performed a small salute and spoke in what he hoped was a meek voice.
"As you say chief."
Stelumos glared at his tracker and released him with a shove. Wraith stumbled backwards and slowly backed toward the horde of vermin. His eyes gazed over the vermin with contempt as he slowly picked out his troop members, Deathfang being one of them. Hensfloral hid behind a young female stoat fearfully. The stoat growled at him and gave a sharp jab at his stomach with the butt of her javelin. The movement caught Wraith's attention and like a shadow, he glided to the stoat's side and growled.
"State yer name and rank."
The stoat stared evenly back at him and replied with a growl.
"Major Tolifen sah!" Wraith walked back and forth slowly as he observed the female stoat. She looked like a fighter and a creature that had no mercy for others. With a light chuckle, the ferret placed a paw on her shoulder and pointed over towards Deathfang.
"Alright, get moving Major. Ten hut! About face! March!"
The vermin did as they were bade and quietly left the abbey to pursue their orders. Stelumos watched his militia leave with baited eyes. They had better find them creatures he thought with a growl. Other wise, there's goin to be hell to pay. The mink's fur stood on end in frustration as he slowly walked over towards where the Redwaller's sat chained.
Skipper flicked his rudder from side to side as he stared at the mink. The otter had remained rather quiet since his capture though his eyes could say differently. They blazed dangerously and even the abbey dwellers grew nervous around the burly otter. Kenyo was the only one that didn't seem very intimidated. The mouse warrior resided beside Skipper and shook his head.
"We need to find a way out of here soon." Kenyo muttered with exertion as he tried to use a claw to open the locks upon his wrist. His attempts were futile. The warrior placed his head against the cold stone wall and frowned deeply at Skipper. The ever optimistic otter shifted in his position and shook his head.
"We'll get out sometime mate, it'll just take time." He replied confidently. Kenyo was about to reply but he caught Stelumos walking towards them out of the corner of his eye. The mouse fell silent and stared evenly up at the sadistic creature. Stelumos met the gaze and slowly began to stalk around the Redwallers. Jenkins and SilverStreak growled beneath their breaths as they sat beside the Abbot. Welkum's eyes met the mink's harsh glare as well but the father of Redwall didn't seem the least bit intimidated. He had been a powerful warrior in his youth and some of his stubborn nature still resided within him, even at his old age.
"Well, I'm sure ya worthless creatures are wonderin when yer gonna start serving me."
Stelumos spoke to them with a sneer. Kenyo and Skipper exchanged a nervous glance but they continued to burrow their eyes into the mink's. A chill ran up Stelumos' spine but he paid little heed to it as he continued. "Well, first thing in the morning, yer all gonna be separated, the weaker in one pile, the stronger in another. Ya stronger ones will be working on enforcing me kingdom while you weaklings with serve me guards and horde. How ya like dat?"
The abbey beasts were so quiet that a soft breeze outside sounded like a giant storm. Kenyo and Skipper had to contain themselves from launching fiery insults at the vermin. They were being treated like items! They were creatures of their own and no beast had any right to take that away from them. Those exact thoughts filled Jenkin's head and he began to stand in fury.
"Go to hell gates mink. We won't be doing your biding."
Kenyo glanced quickly over at Jenkins and shook his head but the otter stood completely and practically sent a challenge out to Stelumos. Strangely enough, the mink merely smiled as he toyed with Doomsfate at his side.
"Ya have quite a mouth on ya otter. Hmm, too bad that could lead to the death of the ones ya love."
Stelumos snapped his claws and two of the vermin suddenly grabbed SilverStreak. The otter maiden struggled in vain but the vermin were able to drag her over to Stelumos and throw her at his footpaws. Jenkins gave off a cry and leapt forward, only to be brought down by a hard whack on the side of his leg. The otter panted heavily and watched as Stelumos unsheathed his sword and pressed it to the back of SilverStreak's neck.
"Don't you dare hurt her!"
Jenkins screamed in anguish. The tyrant had no mercy in his eyes. His paw closed over the hilt of his blade and he raised it higher and higher over the otter maiden's neck.
"If ya don't do wot I say, and if ya challenge me powers, others die water dog. Let this be the first lesson."
The sword came down but didn't even brush against SilverStreak's throat. A chain instead caught the sword half way down. Stelumos looked up in surprise and stared into the eyes of Abbot Welkum. The otter jerked the chains, forcing the deadly blade to clatter to the ground.
"That's enough."
Welkum hissed between clenched teeth. The otter was always known as the most sensible of beasts but now, he just could not let the mink harm the maiden. Stelumos stared into the otter's eyes and nodded. The vermin holding SilverStreak stood up and grabbed the old otter instead. The Abbot didn't even struggle. What ever the price was, he was willing to pay it if it meant saving one of his own. Stelumos slowly lifted the sword from the ground and tapped it at the abbot's throat.
"You'll be the first one to serve me otter. Bring him!"
The vermin unhooked the chains from the rest of the slave line and shoved the abbot cruelly. The abbey beasts had fallen into disbelieving silence. They had never seen their Abbot defend one of their own like that before. The mink watched as Welkum was pushed and dragged down the hall. His eyes glistened with maliciousness. Just before he left, he turned and gave SilverStreak two harsh kicks at her side. The otter maiden cringed up on the ground and panted heavily. The mink glared back at Jenkins and snarled.
"Let that be a lesson otter. You challenge my leadership and others get hurt. Now! All o ya get a nice rest afer ya have to work tomorrow. And if one o ya doesn't do wot I say, yer abbot will be the one that suffers!"
With a malevolent roar of laughter, Stelumos whirled on his footpaw and stalked away from the Redwallers. Skipper slowly got to his knees and plucked SilverStreak from the ground. The otter maiden winced slightly and looked over at her brother who placed his head in his paws in shame. Every beast grew silent as a dark cloud of fear covered their heads. None could provide encouragement and no beast could speak of comfort. They were all lost in their own world of the pain and terror that was to come.
Midday soon took it's toll over Crim, Sprypaw and Malya. The three friends had been searching all day for Ebonia and yet they could find nary a sign of her. The snow had done a good job of hiding her tracks and even Sprypaw couldn't pick up the trail. After about twenty minutes of sniffing at the snow, the hare stood back up and rubbed his nose ruefully.
"Confounded snow. Jolly rude it is, wot. Sorry you two but I can't find any sign of her."
Crim sighed regretfully. How could I have fallen asleep? I'm such a fool. He scolded himself continually. Malya frowned deeply as she saw the frustration on her friend's face. With a sigh, she rubbed her shoulders and glanced around.
"Do you think we'll find her mate? I mean, she left so quickly and now Sprypaw can't even find her." Crim looked at the pretty maid and gave her a reassuring smile. The squirrel placed a paw on her shoulder and nodded his head.
"Don't worry Malya, I'm sure we'll find her."
"And wot if yer found first?" The trio quickly froze as the strange voice reverberated eerily in the suddenly silent woods. Slowly they turned around and found a female stoat standing in front of them. She tapped a javelin in her paws threateningly and gave a malevolent smirk. Crim quickly put a paw on Malya's shoulder and pushed her behind him so that she was out of range of the vermin.
"What do you want?" The squirrel growled as his eyes began to glance around for others. Tolifen only had to say one word before all hell broke loose.
"You." With that, the stoat whistled sharply in the air and the sound of heavy paw steps alerted the four creatures. Deathfang quietly stepped out of the shadows behind Sprypaw and grabbed the hare by his neck. The weasel unsheathed a dagger and brought it to his unprotected throat.
"Alright ya two, just give yerselves up and I won't kill da bunny rabbit here." Crim turned sharply on his footpaw and stared up at Sprypaw's captor. The squirrel's eyes flashed with anger but his friends were more important then anything else to him. Slowly, he placed a paw upon Malya's shoulder and spoke to her.
"Don't worry Malya, I won't let them hurt you." Deathfang chuckled with glee and turned his full attention on the squirrel. Big mistake.
"Ya don have a choice squ-" As the weasel's attention went to Crim, Sprypaw bit down hard into the vermin's paw and lashed at his stomach with one of his powerful footpaws. The weasel doubled over in pain and fell to one knee before the three creatures. Just to make sure that he couldn't attack them again, Malya suddenly spun and struck him upside the head with her rudder. Sprypaw looked at the young maiden and gave her a brief smile.
"Nice shot me gel."
"It's the last time yer gonna get lucky hare. Take them!" Tolifen raised the javelin in the air and pointed it at the trio. The vermin horde unsheathed swords and cutlasses, slings and arrows. They knew they couldn't kill their soon to be captives but at least they could have a little fun with them. Right behind another tree, Wraith stepped out from the shadows and pulled out a dagger. His eyes roved over the young creatures and he decided that he would have his fun with the sun squirrel. With a malicious smile, the ferret tossed the blade in the air, caught it, then hurled it at Crim's unprotected back.
Sprypaw quickly found himself hard pressed. Three vermin were closing in on him and all he had to defend himself were his paws. Well he put those to good use. He lashed left and right with a combination of uppercuts and right pawed punches. One of the vermin went down from the ferocity of the hare's attacks but the others stepped closer and drove Sprypaw back. Malya was pressed against a tree, her rudder snapping dangerously from side to side. Any vermin who placed a paw near her got a bruise on the leg or thigh from the force of her tail. The vermin though weren't going to allow themselves to be beaten by a pretty little maid. The otter was soon surrounded and the vermin closed in to finish the job.
Crim glared at Tolifen and ripped a small piece of his tunic off to use as a sling shot. He was just bending down to reach for a stone when suddenly a voice screamed inside his head.
"Crim! Behind you!"
Without even thinking, the squirrel threw himself to the ground and watched as a dagger struck a rat that was advancing on him in the gut. Crim's mouth dropped open in surprise and he did the only thing that came to mind. The squirrel leapt forward and grabbed a spear out of the dying vermin's paw and swung it aloft. Wraith cursed as he watched his 'fellow comrade' fall from his blade. With a growl, he pulled out another dagger and moved to the squirrels right.
The flat of a cutlass sang through the air and struck Sprypaw harshly on the back of the leg. The hare stumbled forward just as two paws grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back. The hare growled angrily and kicked a stoat in the gut. Three more vermin pressed in on him and the hare was quickly shoved to the ground with a blade pressed to the back of his neck. Malya wasn't fairing any better. She swung her rudder at Tolifen as the stoat tried to grab her but only managed to get her tail caught by a noose. The stoat laughed and yanked the rope hard which caused the otter maiden to crash to her knees. Malya growled and scooped her paw in the snow. As a rat made to grab her, she swung a snow ball right at his face. He yelped out and stumbled backward.
"Incompetent fools!" Tolifen snarled and twisted the rope so that it went to Malya's neck. The otter gasped and was forced to kneel upon the ground.
Crim swung the spear towards any vermin that came near him. He managed to strike a couple but he also had taken a sword wound on his leg. The squirrel turned to block a cutlass when something gripped his long tail and yanked him off of his footpaws. Crim hit the ground face first and turned to find Wraith holding his tail and menacing a dagger in the air.
"Tut tut squirrel, you should have done as we said. Now your friends will suffer for your foolishness."
The ferret chuckled and nodded towards his other vermin. Malya and Sprypaw were forced to stand with a sword and javelin pressed painfully close to their throats. The otter maiden winced visibly and called to the startled squirrel.
"Crim! Just get out of here mate!" Tolifen pulled the blade closer until the otter could barely breath. Crim's eyes narrowed dangerously. With a growl, he pulled forward and swung the spear up towards the ferret's chest. Wraith fell forward and released the squirrel's tail at the last moment which saved his life. A snarl escaped his lips and he raised the blade to strike the squirrel down despite Stelumos' orders.
Just as the blade came down, a black streak leapt over a snow mound and tackled the vermin to the ground. Wraith yelled in surprised as he hit the ground hard. An ebony footpaw pressed against the ferret's chest as the creature's voice rang out.
"Eulalia!"
Crim rolled over and stared up in shock. Right in front of him was none other then Ebonia. The black squirrel held the great sword of Martin in her paw as she shouted to the sky.
"Eulalia! `Tis death on the wind!" A reply came to the squirrel's cry and five hares, an elder squirrel, and a shrew leapt into view. The vermin that were surrounding Crim and the others froze in surprise. Wraith stared up at Ebonia in hate and lashed out with his dagger but the squirrel danced back and struck against the blade with Martin's sword. The flimsy dagger didn't have a chance. On the moment of impact, the metal snapped in half and fell to the ground. Crim's mouth was wide in amazement as the hare's set to work on the vermin.
Young SkyBreeze and PeriNickel launched themselves at the vermin that held Sprypaw captive. In the matter of moments, the vermin ran from the hares as if they were demons. SkyBreeze giggled and lowered her paw to Sprypaw.
"Need some help ol thing wot?"
The hare grumbled as he dusted snow from his tunic. He gripped the hare maiden's paw roughly but the moment he felt her smaller paw he looked up and his ears stood up on end. The hare maiden giggled at his comical look and yanked his paw gently.
"Well are you going to jolly well sit there all day?"
"Er..no no mi` gel.." Sprypaw rambled and leapt to his footpaws in a rather sloppy motion. Tolifen continued to threaten Malya with her javelin. Weave and Fleetfoot had other ideas. The hare maiden leapt right while Fleetfoot when left in a pincer movement. The stoat snarled and increased the dagger's pull. Malya's eyes shut in fear until a rough paw grabbed the vermin from behind and ripped the javelin from her grasp. Ballard flung Tolifen to the ground as if she were naught but a rag doll. Malya's startled eyes stayed on the dagger that was laying at her footpaws. She gulped quietly then went to Crim's side as he stood up.
"Crim, you alright mate?"
But the sun squirrel didn't reply. His eyes were riveted upon Ebonia as the squirrel lashed out at Wraith with the sword. The ferret backed up and kicked snow at the maiden's face as he turned tail and ran toward Redwall. Ebonia wiped the snow out of her eyes and tapped the sword point on the ground with a growl.
"Go ahead and run Wraith, I'll catch up with you sooner or later."
As she spoke, Crim slowly moved Malya behind him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked. Ebonia turned her head to look at the two creatures. They appeared nervous with the armed squirrel right in front of them, but Ebonia didn't take notice. She merely sheathed the blade in her belt and folded her paws across her chest.
"Saving your life, what else would we be doing?" Soft paw steps came behind her as Valena walked to her side. She smiled at her niece then turned her attention on the sun squirrel before her and gasped. He looked so much like his mother. Tears of joy came to the elder squirrel's eyes as she glided towards the squirrel. Crim instinctively backed away from the strange creature. Before Valena could so much as get a word in, Fleetfoot turned the squirrel around and motioned to Crim and Malya.
"Come on, we need to get out of here wot. We don't want those blaggards following our tracks."
"Crim…what do we do?" Malya whispered in the squirrel's ear. Crim's eyes shimmered with a strange light as he suddenly stepped in front of Ebonia. The black squirrel halted and stared up at Crim as the sun squirrel pointed a claw at her.
"This is a trick isn't? Why are you helping us?"
Ebonia looked over at Valena for guidance but the elder squirrel was to caught up with looking at her nephew. The black squirrel flicked her tail with exasperation and looked to Crim.
"I'm on your side now, simple is that."
"Well that's not quite as simple as it seems Ebonia. How do we know we can trust you?"
Weave took a step forward to speak but Ebonia waved her away and replied to Crim's words.
"Because you really don't have a choice but to trust me. You go off by yourself and Stelumos will pick you off and you'll be in chains like those other creature-"
"What do you mean in chains?!" Crim's eyes bulged at the news. The black squirrel sighed and nodded for the others to leave. The hares hesitated but with a nod from Valena, they motioned for Malya and Sprypaw to follow them. The otter maiden held onto Crim's arm and looked up at him nervously. The squirrel's eyes burrowed into Ebonia's as he spoke to the otter soothingly.
"Go and follow." Malya slowly nodded her head and walked to Sprypaw's side who was still staring transfixed at SkyBreeze. Once they were gone Ebonia turned her attention to Crim and sighed.
"I told you that he made them slaves Crim…that was the price for life." Crim's face contorted so that it appeared that he had been slapped. With a growl, he took a couple steps forward, forcing Ebonia to back up into a tree.
"Why should I trust you huh? Why should any of us trust you? Do you just join the hordes that you think will win or are just a conniving squirrel that has no hea-"
"How dare you! If I had no heart do you think I would have tried to save you and your friends! I'm the only reason you're still alive Crim!"
"You're the reason that the whole abbey is in shambles! Grr…you're a vermin, nothing but a-" That had done it for Ebonia. The black squirrel growled and shoved forward so that Crim had to back up. She drew the sword quickly and threw it to the ground as she held out her paws to him.
"If I'm such a vermin squirrel then take the sword and go ahead and kill me! I risked my life to save you…I got my only friend killed because I stood up to that mink for your friends! Crim…I tried to save them the only way I knew how and…and…I can't say anything besides that, alright. I'm sorry for what happened Crim and I…" The squirrel maiden turned away swiftly and kicked the sword to him. "Go on…if you still find me a vermin then kill me…"
The sun squirrel stared down at sword for a moment then slowly lifted it from the ground. It glistened softly in the dim sunlight and caused rays to dance across his fur. Crim furrowed his brow and looked up to the black squirrel maiden. There was just something…different about her yet so familiar though he couldn't put a finger on what it was. The sun squirrel began to sheath the blade in his belt when Ebonia turned to face him.
"Do you still have the tapestry piece that Malya gave you?"
Crim raised an eyebrow curiously and nodded his head. He reached into the folds of his tunic and pulled out the picture. Ebonia moved a step closer and took the tapestry from his paw so that she could see the pictures on it. She took a deep breath and pointed to the top of the tapestry where words were sown into the rich fabric.
"Crim…listen the reason why I've done all of this is because I didn't know who I was. Before the vixen that helped me died…she told me who I was…that my parents were murdered and my brother was taken away from me…but I couldn't remember until now…my mother was Sunbeam and my father Ponico and my aunt…Valena."
Crim took a swift step back at her words. She was just reciting his past that's all. There was no way that she could be his sister. Could she? The black squirrel saw the startled look on his face and pointed at the words Two As One on the top of the tapestry piece.
"Crim…look at this, it says two as one, the same sentence that's in your poem…If what Valena and Bemal told me is true then…I'm your sister."
The sun squirrel stared at Ebonia with widened eyes. He gently took the tapestry piece from the ebony squirrel's paw and stared at the picture. Hadn't he felt a sort of kinship with her when they first met? Didn't she resemble some creature from his past and wasn't she the one that always appeared in his dreams? Crim took a deep breath of air and stared at Ebonia. The moment his eyes moved to hers, he saw the reflection of Martin in her aqua striped iris's. The warrior mouse nodded his head slowly and Crim heard his voice speak softly to him.
"Together you will fight the battle
The ebony beside the sun
Follow close the words of friends
And you will become Two as One"
Ebonia looked up at Crim with sorrowful eyes and took a deep breath.
"Crim…we're two of one family…if you don't believe me then that is your choice but I believe the wor-"
"Ebonia…I believe you. I've always dreamt that my sister was out there, Martin would come to me and show me a black squirrel."
"And I would see a red one that looked like you."
Crim looked down to the black maiden and smiled softly.
"And then I would see two other squirrels who would become engulfed by flames."
"Then the other squirrel and Martin would be left." Ebonia smiled widely at the squirrel before her. Crim eyes flashed softly as he took a step forward and placed a paw around her shoulders.
"Welcome home sister."
"You too, brother." The two stared into one another's eyes and they could almost see the resemblance of their heritage. Both had finally found their answers to the questions that they had been asking their whole lives, who were they? Who was their family? Now they knew.
Valena sat in a tree nearby and watched the two squirrels with tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe that she had her family back after so many years. With a quiet sniff, the squirrel leapt to the ground and walked over to the younger ones. Ebonia looked up at the light brown squirrel and gave one of her rare smiles. Valena grinned at her niece then turned to Crim. The sun squirrel looked into her eyes and laughed quietly as Valena took him and Ebonia into a large embrace.
"Finally, we're a family again."
The elder squirrel whispered to them. Ebonia felt hot tears in her eyes as she felt her brother and aunt's paws upon her shoulders. Crim looked at sister with kind eyes but then took in a deep breath.
"We are a family yes, but we won't be able to live in peace until the abbey is free of the tyrant. I swear, that I will fight till my last breath to free them and Mossflower."
"You won't be alone brother, we'll do it together."
"Then you're going to jolly well need help wot." The three squirrels looked over to the right and saw the Long patrol hares, Log a Log and his son, Tellio, Sprypaw, and Malya standing close by. Fleetfoot walked forward and placed a paw on Crim and Ebonia's shoulders.
"We're behind you every step of the way wot."
Crim nodded his head in thanks and looked to his friends and his soon to be friends. Ebonia reached to the sword in Crim's belt and placed it softly in his paw.
"We'll do it brother, we'll set the Abbey free and defeat the sword of 'Doomsfate'." Valena looked down to her niece and reached beneath the cloak on her back. The elder squirrel stepped back and handed the younger one the bow and arrows that the badger lord had given her. Ebonia looked at the weapon with startled eyes as she took it in her paws. An instant feeling of comfort filled her as she felt the twinge of the bow string and the smoothness of the bow itself. The black squirrel nodded her head in thanks to her aunt and lifted the weapon in the air.
"For Mossflower!"
CrimsonRay's eyes flashed with the strange determination that Malya and Sprypaw had seen earlier. He lifted the great sword of Martin into the air as the sun flashed majestically against the mighty weapon.
"For Redwall!"
A cool wind washed over both squirrels as they stood in the center of their friends. Their eyes slowly met and with perseverance etched upon their faces, they touched their two weapons together and spoke as one.
"Look for new protection
From across the sea
Defeat the sword of Doomsfate
And set Mossflower free
Some will fall in battle
And some blood will be shed
Some will kill the living
Some will mourn the dead
All will appear hidden
Until the battle's won
Until the ray and ebony
Become two as one!"
The Long Patrol waved their weapons in the air along with the other Redwallers. The light of battle glowed in their eyes as they raised their voices to the sky.
"Eulalia! We'll give them blood and vinegar!"
"Reedwalll!!"
So began the unity of the only hope for Redwall.