A/N: Thank you to Auda and Shi Ern for their lovely reviews.

All mistakes are mine. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Outside, Mortaza ordered for more arrows to be launched. Her army snarled and hissed viciously, impatiently waiting for the bloodshed to begin. Despite their scraggly appearances they were seasoned fighters and well-trained in the arts of slaughter and thievery. Whilst she controlled the aerial assault, Kren prepared the rest of the vermin for a diversion.

Almost instantly archers swarmed the Abbey battlements, firing off arrows into the bushes. It proved to be a difficult task though, as the Redwallers were unable to see their well-camouflaged enemies. Vermin nimbly jumped and ducked as missiles landed mere feet from their previous position before setting flight to their own. One arrow struck a shrew in the throat, and he toppled over dead.

His cloak rendering him practically invisible in the bushes, Kren the Savage waited patiently for Clawing's report. Although the raven mainly served Mortaza, he was loyal to both fishers. Kren watched as he soared down from his perch on the windowsill in the Abbey's southwest tower and landed near his position.

"No sight of anybeast, Lord. They're all fightin' at the front."

Without bothering to acknowledge the raven's findings, Kren glanced at two weasels who were each holding a rope attached to a three-pronged grapnel hook in their grimy claws. "You know what to do."

Wordlessly the two vermin took their positions several feet from the tower. After testing the direction of the wind, they began to whirl the hooks in wide circles. At the precise moment both weasels released the deadly weapons. The missiles soared upwards and latched onto an embrasure each in the battlement, eliciting two dull thuds of metal striking stone. Not wanting to waste any time, Kren ordered for his army to start climbing. An overweight but powerful rat went first, hauling himself up the wall with both footpaws braced firmly against the ancient sandstone. He had just reached the top when a massive black-furred paw suddenly shot out and grabbed him by the neck. A strangled scream issued from his throat and he fell backwards, losing his grip on the rope. Kren was forced to move as the rat landed with a sickening thud, neck snapped clean and a horrified grimace frozen on his lips.

Upon realizing that his diversion had failed, Kren snarled and kicked an unsuspecting Clawing. "I thought you said there was nobeast up there!"

Clawing cawed in agony as the fisher's sharp claws raked his back. He threw his wings to his head in an effort to protect himself. "Mercy! Please Lord, have mercy!"

The enraged fisher spat at him, baring his wicked fangs. "Get out of my sight you pathetic scum, afore I rip out your heart and eat it."

From atop the battlements appeared the striped head and chest of a fierce-looking male badger. Despite only seeing a small portion of his body, the fisher knew he was a gigantic beast and not one he wished to fight. In addition to the vicious snarl on his lips, the badger had an arrow notched to his bow and was aiming straight for Kren. Without warning he released the string.

Kren acted swiftly. An unsuspecting fox who was standing beside him gave a yelp of surprise as the fisher grabbed and threw him in front of his body, effectively using him as a makeshift shield. The unfortunate fox had no time to react as the arrow found him. Kren felt both the impact and shudder run through the fox's body as he slumped down, slain. Tossing the carcass to one side, the intelligent fisher realized that none of his portion of the army had arrows. They were literally standing targets for the angry badger, who now had reinforcements. Kren found himself looking at an old but obviously battle-hardened hare, a tough-looking female hedgehog, and two big male otters wielding a javelin each. Within seconds he and his army would be pincushions.

Not about to wait around for this, Kren ducked back into the bushes and ordered his vermin to do the same. As they obeyed, a ferret walking directly behind him screamed and crashed to the ground, an arrow in his skull. Kren continued to move, heading for the front of the Abbey where he could assist Mortaza. She was probably having better luck, although she wouldn't be too pleased when she heard the attempted diversion had failed. Kren loved her, but sometimes he could also be afraid of her violent temper.

Mahdis stamped his clenched paw upon the battlements, clearly upset at the missed opportunity of slaying Kren. "Nearly got the scum."

Abbot Torlay wasted no time. "All of you, get back to the main gate and defend this Abbey. We may have thwarted the diversion, but the battle isn't over yet."

All four creatures quickly made their way over to the north wall, but Semser still had a burning question that he posed to Mahdis. "What was that creature? I could barely recognize him beneath his cloak."

The powerful badger shrugged. "It's terrible enough we're in the midst of a full-scale attack, but even more so when we don't even know who we're fighting against."

Though she would not admit it, Mortaza knew the battle was lost. Her army had managed to strike down a few Redwallers but even then it was evident the vermin were outnumbered. The Abbey's population far exceeded theirs, and despite their peaceful appearance they were knowledgeable in the art of war.

From her position in the bushes she spotted Kren, ducking and weaving through the forest with his portion of the army trailing behind him. She waited until he had reached her before asking a single inquiry. "What happened?"

Her husband did not mince words. "Your idiot bird, that's what happened. Fool told us there was nobeast around, then out of nowhere a badger appeared and started attacking us."

Mortaza made a mental note to speak with Clawing before whispering urgently to her horde. "Enough!"

The archers immediately ceased fire and looked quizzically at her, but she ignored their glances and instead stepped out from the bushes where the Redwallers would be able to see her. She gazed up at the towering wall that stood before her, the oversized hood concealing her face. Kren stood beside her.

An old grizzled hare, obviously the Abbey's leader, spoke first. "I am Torlay the Abbot of Redwall. What do you want with us?"

From beneath the hood Mortaza revealed her dripping fangs. "A meeting with you, old hare."

Culy was now standing beside her parents, curious as to who this mysterious beast was. She nudged her mother and whispered, "Great seasons, what species are those creatures?"

Mortaza's sharp hearing picked up the question, and her eyes fell upon the young ottermaid. Before she could reply an unexplainable chill suddenly ran through her entire body as realization struck her: she was staring at the very same ottermaid who had haunted her dreams mere hours before. Mortaza quickly chided herself as she noticed that the maid was in fact not fearsome-looking at all. The other creatures around her, however, looked like seasoned warriors.

Kren was beginning to grow tiresome, and he pawed at his sword. "You have not given her an answer, longears. It angers me when creatures do not respond to an inquiry. Open the gates and we shall talk."

Semser laughed at this notion and gestured to his friends. "You hear that mateys? This impudent beast wants us t'let 'im in. Listen vermin, we say when the gates open. Understood?

Kren unsheathed his weapon and pointed it at the otter. "Then why don't you come out from hiding and fight me like a real warrior, riverdog?"

Semser, who was holding Martin's sword, now revealed it. "Don't tempt me, scum."

"How dare you talk to my father like that!" Culy's furious voice suddenly rang out, startling everybeast. "He an' my mom are ten times the warriors you an' your friend will ever be!"

Stung by the insult, Kren grabbed an arrow that was buried in the ground near him and made to throw it at the ottermaid. Before he could do anything, Mortaza placed a paw on his wrist, piercing eyes staring into his. "The maid is mine."

Knowing the consequences of disobeying his wife, Kren dropped the arrow without a word. His glare bore into Culy, causing her to look away.

Ignoring her husband, Mortaza turned her attention back to the Redwallers. "Do we have a meeting, old hare?"

Abbot Torlay had thought deeply about his answer, and now he gave it to his unknown enemy. "Unfortunately I cannot give you a definite reply, as I must discuss it with my fellow Redwallers."

A dangerous smile crept across Mortaza's lips. "Very well. But be warned, if your answer does not please me I will show no mercy. Oh, and you might want to teach that ottermaid some proper respect when speaking to creatures of the higher order. Some courage too, because when I conquer your Abbey she will be the first to die."

Redwall Abbey had somewhat returned back to normal after the terrifying incident, although the inhabitants were still on high alert. Mahdis was busy in the Infirmary with several injuries having to be tended to. Askhew, his assistant, also aided in healing some battle wounds. Breakfast was being served in Cavern Hole, and Abbot Torlay had some lookouts posted on the walls for precautionary reasons. The old hare was not about to let his or the Abbey's guard down, especially with vermin in the vicinity. He tried to push this from his mind temporarily and focus on breakfast.

Culy, however, was having difficulty dealing with what had happened on the walltop. Despite being comforted by her mother and father, she was still shaking from head to tail and excused herself from the table.

Semser made to follow her, but Emroon put her paw over his. "Let her have some time alone."

Warm sunlight pooled onto Culy's beautiful features, illuminating the hot tears that streamed from her eyes as she slowly made her way to the Abbey Pond. She watched a dragonfly lazily fly over the water before skimming its surface, creating ripples so small that Culy could barely see them. Perched on a rock near the ponds edge, she merely stared straight ahead in reflection and ignored the continuous rivulets on her face.

"I'm such a foolish maid," she spoke aloud to herself. "Foolishness never helped anybeast. Why did I have to open my mouth?"

"Because you're a brave fool."

Culy's head whirled around at the voice, but she immediately relaxed upon seeing who it was. "Trey. I didn't know you were there."

The young otter sat down beside her on the rock and smiled. "Tell me, why do you regret speaking to that vermin?"

"You heard what she said: she's going to kill me when she gets the chance."

Trey picked up a pebble and threw it skilfully, both otters watching as the small object skipped across nearly the entire length of the pond before sinking. "Sometimes fools can be brave. You stood up for your parents an' home. That's somethin' to be proud of, not to chastise yourself about."

Culy smiled in the morning sun. "You sound just like them."

"When you're orphaned an' 'ave a younger siblin', sometimes you grow up much faster than originally planned."

She bowed her head respectfully. "I'm sorry about your village."

"Perhaps it's a good thing I have no recollection of what happened. But if there's any good to come from such a massacre, it's that I'm now a Redwaller. Besides meeting you of course."

Culy blushed at this but could not catch the last tear falling from her right eye. Reaching up, Trey gently flicked it away with his paw. The two young otters fell silent then, huddled close together as they gazed out at the unmoving surface of the Abbey Pond.

Wine spattered everywhere, and Mortaza instinctively covered her face as goblet shards flew dangerously close to her eyes. Kren was obviously furious at her interrupting his attempt in slaying Culy, and he had let it show by smashing his goblet upon the table - which edges were now dripping with the crimson liquid - in their tent.

The fisher's normally calm demeanour had been replaced with vicious anger, and he glared hatred at his wife. "You would let a worthless riverdog speak to you in such a manner? Ha! I thought you were stronger than that."

She matched his stare, claws gleaming in the sunlight that filtered in through the tent's flap. "That maid is worth something; I can feel it. She mentioned her parents. From the sounds of it I'd say they're pretty important to Redwall. If that's the case, then she's just as valuable."

Kren's eyes blazed with uncontrolled fury, struggling to control his raging temper. "Had I slain her, they would have immediately surrendered!"

Mortaza shook her head at his foolishness. "They would have started a fresh battle, and they're already suffering some losses. No, we need to torture those woodlanders first before any more killing can be done."

She noticed that his jaw was now quivering with raw anger. "You better have a plan."

"Not yet, but I will. Would you rather attack a gigantic Abbey head-on without any strategic regard, or plan out assault after assault until they grow weary? Our army needs rest too. If we had continued to fight, we would have dropped dead from exhaustion. Conquering a place such as Redwall takes time and precision."

Kren saw the wisdom in her words, but he was still fuming from his missed opportunity. Throwing the hood over his head, he stormed outside and vanished from sight.