Both groups of cooks did themselves proud that night. From the Gousim side there was watercress soup, shrewbread, cheese and chestnut beer, and from the Javelin side the cooks made an enormous pile of bread, pasties, and turnovers. The dessert was a joint effort, a large pot full of honey soaked, fruit-studded sweetbread that was served with strawberry cordial. As the tribe and crew ate and complimented each other's efforts, Ryon and Log-a-log talked with one another. Ryon had never been to Redwall before, and wasn't sure which routes to take. Log-a-log offered to guide the crew up to the Abbey, and the offer was accepted. After the deal was struck, singing and dancing were called for. Ryon sat on a rock with a sleeping shrewbabe in his arms, watching his crew merrymaking among the Gousim. He smiled. If only Silver could be here. Blackreed and the other otters among the crew were dancing an otter reel to "Tails in the Stream" and fell down laughing and gasping for breath when the song finished. Passing the little one to its mother, Ryon leaned his back against the rock, feeling its cool surface soothing the scars. He knew that there would be scars. There always were. He banished the thought from his mind and fell asleep.

Dawn came misty and warm as the Gousim and the Javelin crew began to prepare their boats. By midmorning they were on the move, and thanks to the river knowledge of the Gousim covered twice as much ground as they had the previous day. By late afternoon, they were camped on a stream. Log-a-log pointed southeast, updating them on their progress. "Not far to Redwall now. Southeast for about a half day tomorrow'll see you up at the gates. We'd like to come along but we're off on another fishing trip tomorrow. D'you think ye can your way back to your boats alone, Ryon?"

The squirrel nodded. "What sort of captain would I be if I didn't remember where I put my own longboats?"

A shrew called out from around the campfire. "A bad 'un, that's what!"

Ryon swung around, looking for the culprit. He sighed, and went to join them.

Lucar stayed up late into the night, looking southeast. It would not be long before he finally saw the spire of Redwall once more. The adventure had been exhilarating, but he still missed home.

Abbot Napole was up and about, even after the other Redwallers had gone abed. He walked into the kitchens, where Friar Jian, an old hedgehog, greeted him.

"Good evenin' Father. Or is it good night? Ah well. Doesn't matter now."

Napole sat down beside the hedgehog. "I had a dream before I went to sleep. Martin told me to watch the main road tomorrow. He didn't say why."

Jian looked over his glasses at the Abbot. "We'd best not question Martin, Father. I'll get ye some mint 'n comfrey tea. That always helps ye get to sleep."

Napole nodded. "That would be nice, Jian. Very nice."

As the old mouse went back to his room already feeling drowsy, the words of Martin ran through his head.

"Watch the road tomorrow, Father. One that you've missed will be there."

Another dawn came. The Gousim bid the Vale Islanders farewell and paddled downstream, the last thing the islanders saw of them being their brightly colored headbands and pantaloons.

Ryon stomped on the ground irritably. "Can't stand 'ow you prefer the land to a ship, Lucar. It just doesn't feel right underpaw to me."

Every other crew member seemed to be having the same idea.

Lucar grinned and went to the front. "You'll forget all about it when you see Redwall, Ryon."

The crew moved up the road, trotting slightly to keep up with Lucar. Ryon looked down at the young mouse as they trotted alongside each other. "So, what's Redwall like?"

Lucar's face wreathed in a smile. "The best food you can imagine, a place to warm your paws on a chilly night, and an Abbey full of kind, honest creatures. That's Redwall."

Ryon smiled and turned his eyes front. "Sounds pretty nice."

Lucar nodded. "It is."

By midmorning they were halfway down a ditch that spanned one side of the path. When Ryon climbed a tree to its utmost branches, he could barely see Redwall's spire. He came to earth, where the crew was resting. "Come on, ye dozy-pawed maids! Not far now!"

They continued at a faster pace, and they were only minutes from Redwall when Ryon called a halt, his face grim. "Ready your weapons. I hear something. Sounds like a big group."

The crew hid in the bushes, Ryon poking his head through a gap to see. A group of Redwallers, clad in their trademark green habits, stopped near the head of the path. A brawny otter examined the tracks, and looked directly into Ryon's eyes. "Ye can come out, mates. We're not vermin!"

Ryon stood, motioning for the rest of the crew to do so. Lucar stepped out from behind him, waving jauntily. "Mornin' Skipper!"

The otter's smile was like the sun coming out. "Lucar!" He swept the mouse up in a rib-cracking hug, and set him down again. Dibbuns in the party threw themselves on him, squeaking with delight. Skipper scolded him and spoke to Ryon at the same time. "Ye liddle snip, runnin' off like that! Thank ye fer returnin' him, sir. We've missed him terrible. Yes, I mean you, ye young rip!"

Ryon placed a paw on the otter's shoulder. "No need for that, mate. 'E knows what 'e did upset you all greatly, but he's learned his lesson now."

Skipper grinned. "Well, if you're all hungry, you're just in time for lunch!"

The crew let out a great roar of assent. Skipper stared at them for a moment before Ryon whispered in his ear. "Sea air. Gives them an appetite worse than hares."

Skipper nodded sagely. "Good thing there's a feast waitin', Ryon. Yer crew sounds hungry!"

Not really much to say here...R and R!