Disclaimer: It should be obvious by now that I don't own Redwall…

A/N: Wow, two reviews on the last chapter, thanks! This chapter should tell you all a bit more about Kinliv's past. Hope you like it!

Chapter 4

Kinliv had never been a light sleeper and this was proven as she abruptly came into consciousness at the first streaks of dawn inching from behind the mountains in the east. She sat up as strait as a rod, her entire body tensed as she became one with her environment. After about thirty seconds she decided that all was safe and well and got up, going about her usual morning tasks. Keem was also up and about as he had had the dawn watch and together they prepared breakfast.

"How did ye rest?" Keem asked with a grin, remembering last night's talk.

Wary that there might be a hidden meaning to her friend's casual question, Kinliv simply nodded and said, "I slept well, and how did thou pass the night?" After Keem gave a generic answer, Kinliv began to truly examine the previous night. It all came back to her in a rush of color and images and she threw her mind onto another topic. They had been just dreams, nothing real, nothing important, just dreams brought on by what Keem had said. Just dreams…

A crude breakfast of porridge was made, quickly eaten, then cleaned up. Rowan had made a spectacular recovery during the night and helped as much as anybeast to break camp. The sun was fully risen when they set out, beginning their march for revenge across the barren land of ice and snow.

Nobody talked much that morning as all were lost in their own thoughts. Keem focused on Radin, a topic his mind was rapidly becoming obsessed with. How on earth could he defeat such an army? Even with Rowan and Kinliv they only numbered three, sure they were going to seek help from those at Redwall, but he had heard of the creatures there, pacifists all of them. They could not and would not fight. This presented quite the dilemma, but he decided not to bring it up, choosing to simply go along with their original plans.

Rowan's mind was wandering, quickly traveling from thoughts of Radin, to his previous life and occasionally landing on the squirrel maid walking beside him. She was a nice creature, and by the familiar way she handled her rapier, she seemed to be a good warrior as well.

Kinliv's mind was a whirlwind of chaos all revolving around the handsome squirrel at her side. She could not be in love with him. All love brought was weakness and pain. But then, what…? No! They had been passing dreams, nothing else. All turned to less than dust as soon as she regained consciousness. No, she did not love him; she would never love another creature, romantically or otherwise. Just befriending them was dangerous enough.

They ate lunch while walking: an apple and chunk or bread a piece washed down by melted snow. Keem was still mulling over his problems, but Kinliv and Rowan had begun a conversation.

"So where do you come from?" he asked.

"Far in the northlands, in the lands of never melting ice and snow. It is beautiful there, always shrouded in whiteness. Sometimes at night you can stare at the deep velvet sky and see waves of color dancing in the air. It is marvelous to behold!" Rowan noticed that this was the first time he had herd fluctuation in the other squirrel's voice and he was swept away by how beautiful and bold it sounded. She continued on, "My parents were killed when I was still a young creature," he voice had dropped back to its usual tone, "That is when I took up wandering."

"I'm sorry." He said and he actually sounded it.

"Ah well, only the strong can survive in the northlands."

What little tone she had was grim and he opted to change the subject, "I noticed the rapier you carry, where did you get such a fine weapon?"

She halted suddenly, body stiff and eyes staring someplace beyond the realms of reality. She quickly regained her composure, though, and continued walking with a jolt. When she spoke again her speech was soft and halted, "I, I got it from, from a close friend, the only friend I had, before he died." She would have stopped there, for she had never told another creature this tale, but something about him compelled her to keep talking. She felt deep in her being that she could trust him, "I was still fairly young, having only lived for roughly twelve seasons. My parents were long since dead and I had met up with him a season or two after their deaths. He was older than me and took care of me in a sense, teaching me how to fight and survive in the brutal Northland. He also taught me proper respect for the creatures I killed," here her eyes shot down to where her tunic covered her arm, "Though he was a fox, he was one of the best creatures I had ever met. One day we were ambushed by bandits, I did not last long, being knocked unconscious within the first few seconds of the battle. When I came to he was lying on the ground, mortally wounded, with the mangled corpses of the slain vermin littering the ground around him. He was on the verge of death, only having enough life left to give me this rapier, his only possession. It had been passed through his family for as long as could be remembered, I was the closed thing he had to kin. He died protecting me. Since then I have put all my heart and soul into growing stronger." Rowan thought he could detect a slight tremor in her voice, but he must have imagined it for the next second it was as if it had never been. She changed the subject, "Ah, but I speak too much, tell me of thyself."

He could sense that she was done talking of such tragedies so he quickly launched into an explanation of his own home. He described how the seeds were sown in the spring and how the little green shoots, the first signs of life, poked up from the soft, brown earth. He spoke of their progress through the summer, how they had to be carefully watered each day. Then, in the autumn how they were harvested, wonderful plants, full of life and a type of joy even. In the winter, the fields were prepared again and the cycle began anew. He spoke with a certain eloquence that made Kinliv's heart experience warmth that she had not felt in so long, too long. It made her feel alive and nearly brought a tear to her eye.

They talked like this for hours, until the rosy sun sunk below the western horizon. They had long since passed the remains of Rowan's farm, though they had taken a different route in order to avoid it and not bring back painful memories that were still so fresh. By estimation, they figured that they would reach Baeown by noon the following day. The pitched camp quickly. Now that they had help from Rowan, the chores around camp took much less time. That night passed much like the last, only all three creatures had sentry duty. When Kinliv awoke she wanted to pound her own head into one thousand small pieces. Bloody dreams. They traveled quickly, eager to reach the town.

The travelers stood looking at the ruins of their plans, both Keem and Rowan with looks of shock on their faces. Kinliv, as usual, showed little emotion, but there was something about her air that seemed dejected. Yone and Baeown could be mirror images. Only destroyed rubble stood before the trio, their last hope for supplies to last through the winter. As though in a trance, the creatures started forward through the land of chaos.

As they walked, Kinliv fancied that she heard a noise, a kind of shuffle, behind them, as though some creature was following them. As she listened it became clear that there was some noise. Slowly, she turned her head. It was a casual movement, nothing to fast, but it served the purpose. She caught a glimpse of a blurry red-brown shape duck behind a building. Turning back to her companions, she quietly told them what she had seen.

"Ye are quite sure that it be only one beastie, correct?" asked Keem.

"That is all I saw, yes." She answered.

"If that be the case, lets stand our ground; I think that we can take him!"

They turned abruptly and spread out, forming a small semi-circle. Kinliv and Keem both had their swords drawn and Rowan's belt knife was at the ready. Out of nowhere, an arrow zipped toward them. With reflexes of lightning Kinliv's rapier shot through the air, cracking the projectile in two. Three heads whipped around to find the source of the attack and three sets of eyes landed on a young squirrel maid. She was wielding a bow made out of yew, another oaken shaft at the ready.

"I'll kill you, vermin scum!" she yelled.

"Halt, we're friends!" shouted Rowan desperately and she paused lowering her bow, "Do we look like vermin?" he shouted.

She looked at him skeptically, "How am I supposed to know? You could be working for them."

Keem put his paw on his sword's pommel and spoke, "I swear by all that is dear to me that we are not vermin. Or working for them." He added as an afterthought.

She looked at him as though he were stupid, "I can't trust that! Vermin never keep their words."

Kinliv was becoming fed up with all of this, "Look, how can I convince you that we are not vermin?"

The other squirrel though for a moment then requested, "Drop all your weapons and come here."

Rowan nodded, muttering, "Do as she says."

Kinliv did not want to part with her rapier, but put it on the ground never the less. They walked slowly over to the newcomer. Only when they were completely out of reach of their weapons, did she appear satisfied, "Alright, I believe you. Go retrieve your weapons." They did so and she followed.

Kinliv looked at her, studying every morsel of her being. She appeared to be the same age as herself, though a bit smaller. She was clad in a sky-blue tunic and there was a certain air about her, rather like confidence only more so, superiority seemed the best way to describe it. This odd manner made her seem…intimidating. They introduced themselves in turn and she smiled at each one. She looked the longest at Rowan and even gave a little nod as he said his name. To Kinliv's horror Rowan looked rather pleased at this and even smiled back. It was like a fire had been lit within her. She did not want Rowan near this squirrel!

Finally, the archer introduced herself, "I am known as Faraheos, or just Farah. I live, well lived in Baeown before it was destroyed. My father held a high-ranking position on the village council and my mother was a shopkeeper. They're dead now, along with the rest of my village."

Pity radiated from Rowan's eyes as he spoke in a soft tone, "I'm so sorry. What happened here?"

"It was the work of a creature named Radin. He swept through here like a gale, killing and burning all in his path. I believe he is heading for Mossflower country now."

"Radin destroyed my home and the village of this fine mouse as well. We have all sworn to kill him!" He said with intense determination and it Kinliv could not help but admire this creature.

"I will join you then." Farah said, and Kinliv noticed that she too was looking at Rowan with admiration.

"We'll be glad to have you." Said Rowan quite happily and Keem nodded in agreement. No one seemed to notice that Kinliv seemed slightly less than happy with the arrangement, but she said nothing, only looking on stoically as was her way.

More A/N: Beginning to see where this story's going? Review and tell me what you thought!