Darkness hung over Redwall. The moon shone down on the lawns, bathing them in a silver glow. Abbot Napole looked out on them from his room, and sighed. Lucar had been gone for over a week. Secretly, the Abbot hoped he was all right. The abbey harvest was upon them, and tomorrow the Redwallers would begin to strip the orchards and gardens of the abbey to store food for the winter. Napole sighed again. Lucar had always been a great help. But he had been reclusive, speaking rarely. Napole looked into the air, gazing at the moon. Ever since Lucar's father had arrived at the gates with his baby son in his arms, the Redwallers had looked after Lucar, long after his father died four seasons later. Napole turned away from the window, and got into bed. It may have been because he was so tired, but just before the old mouse dropped off to sleep; Napole could have sworn that there was a warrior at the foot of the bed, smiling at him.

That same moon shone down on the Western Sea, where the Javelin hung at anchor. While most of the crew was down belowdecks, eating, talking, and singing raucously, Lucar and Birchleaf, dressed in what Ryon said was "acceptable seafaring clothes", walked across the main deck, towards the stern. Birchleaf was dressed in a white, baggy shirt whose sleeves had been rolled up. She was also wearing a pair of short cloth pants. Lucar was clad likely. When Lucar opened the door, his eyebrows rose in surprise.

The cabin was candlelit, with the windows thrown open for additional light. The moon shone through them in silver shafts, lighting up sections of the floor. Ryon stood by a table that had been filled with food until it was groaning under the weight. The captain gestured to two chairs.

"Sit down."

The two sat, gazing at the vast array of salads, breads, cheeses, drinks, and pasties that were arrayed along the table. Lucar looked suspiciously up at Ryon. "It's not poisoned, is it?"

The captain began to laugh. "Poisoned? Poisoned? Why would it be poisoned? What reason would we have for killing you?"

Silver sat on Ryon's left, and the captain gestured again. "Dig in." The four began eating, Ryon and Silver loading up their plates with food and tucking in like hares. Birchleaf and Lucar took only foods that were familiar to them. Ryon and Silver took something of everything, even large pieces of a big fish that had gone unnoticed by the two younger creatures. Ryon, pausing in his meal to look up at the two, chuckled. "It's not poisoned, and as I said before, we're not standing on ceremony here. Eat what you want, how you want it."

Birchleaf and Lucar looked at each other warily, but took the squirrel's advice. A few hours later, Ryon leaned back contently, patting his stomach. "Ah, if only we could eat like this every night, eh, Silver?"

The silver mouse nodded and smiled. "Aye. It'd be nice."

Ryon looked across the table. Lucar and Birchleaf were looking sleepy. "You two should get off to bed. We'll be putting into Vale Island tomorrow, and you will want to be wide awake to see it."

The two nodded sleepily, then got up and exited the cabin.

Silver turned to Ryon. "Except for the one we destroyed, we haven't seen any searat ships lately."

"As long as they're not on the Western Sea, I'm happy. If we encounter any others, we approach it quietly. Run out the ballistae silently and lower the flag. I don't want to advertise that it's a goodbeast ship that's been responsible for three searat ships being sunk since last summer, even if it is boosting the ship's reputation."

Silver nodded. He then got up, and stretched. "I'll think I'll turn in. See you in the morning, Ryon."

Ryon nodded. "Likewise."

The silver mouse walked out of the cabin. Moments later, a door closed.

Ryon stared out onto the ocean, and began to sing softly to himself.

Some have died and some are alive,

And some sail on the seas,

But the keys to the cage, and the devil to pay

We lay to Dark Forest gates.

The bell has been raised from its watery grave,

Do you hear its sepulchral tone?

For a call to all, pay heed to the squall,

And turn your sails to home.

Yo, ho, haul together, hoist the colors high.

Heave ho, thieves and beggars,

Never shall we die.

The squirrel captain turned away from the window, walking out towards the tiller. He turned when he reached the stern, and sighed. Vale Island would be in sight by noon tomorrow. He would be back home. And then, the seas would unite. Ryon walked down the steps, turned, and went into his room.

The squirrel was asleep when a sound woke him. A door opening, then closing quietly. Ryon got up, and snuck out of his room. He heard sobbing. A maid's. He looked over the edge of the steering wheel. Birchleaf stood at the aft of the ship. Ryon walked up to her, and placed a paw on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"

She pulled away from him, then turned back to the sea. "I was never on the best terms with my father, you know."

Ryon cocked his head and leaned on the rail with his elbow. "How?"

"We fought a lot. I never acted the way he wanted me too."

Ryon looked up to the sky. "My father and I got on very well. I was so much like him." He sighed and turned away. "That all changed when Blacktail killed him. I became withdrawn, with Silver and the fortress commanders as my only confidantes."

She looked at him. "Do you ever miss him?"

Ryon nodded. "Aye. A lot. Every day."

She sobbed again. "I know we didn't like each other, but…I just wish he was alive again."

She sat down and buried her face in her paws. Her shoulders wracked with sobs. Ryon sat down beside her and hugged her close to him. "It's alright, Birchleaf. Cry for him." He kissed her forehead gently. "It's alright."

See? He's not as callous and flippant as he seems to be. R and R!