Disclaimer: We own no Redwall characters, or Dr. Seuss rhymes.

but we do however love BJ booksignings!

Merriment was the theme that night for all the otters around multiple bonfires. Near the center though was where four Skippers and several others were gathered around a particularly large fire. The oldest among the group was the Mossflower skipper, who currently lived at Redwall with his crew; next to him was a young adult otter, a smart and sensible beast who was his nephew. Also in this group was Rapp and his mate, who was currently joking about what he was supposed to call the different Skippers.

"Well, if we called y' all Skip, we'd get three turned heads! Maybe we should call y' one skip, two skip, red skip, blue skip! Har har har, we'd have ter color y' different colors for that to work, Heeheehee."

He was about to continue until he got stopped by Jamin, the skipper of skippers who lived in the South.

"Now Rapp, there's an easy way o' settlin' this. We'll fergit the Skip title an' call us by our names. I'll be Jamin, Dasan will be Dasan, and Tearg will be Tearg. Sound good everyone?" At this everyone nodded, Tearg, the Skipper from up North, leaned over and whispered in Rapp's ear.

"I think he'd look best in red."

Rapp looked over at the younger otter and giggled.

"Teeheehee, y' think so mate? I know where some fur dye is around here…"

This led to the discussion on what shade of red and what color everyone else would look best in.

Meanwhile, Dasan, the Mossflower Skipper, who currently resided at Redwall, was talking in a more serious nature to his nephew.

"Baylor, just because you see us Skip's goofin' around doesn't mean that that's all we do. We're very hardworking beasts, us otters, and bein' a skip is a great honor. I just want to keep this in mind as you see everyone playing around. Now, go have fun!"

The older otter whooshed his nephew away into a crowd of others his age.

Ceryss went over quietly to where Atantice, Jamin's mate, was sitting with her babe Dillee, who now was around a season old. She was a petite babe, but bound for beauty. Ceryss sat down next to the mother and child and held the baby for awhile; talking with Atlantice about their mates and the stupid things they do, like most wives do. And the latest mischief the babes have done, like all mothers do. All over the camp there were groups like such, talking and laughing and enjoying the company of ones that they haven't seen for much too long. And in the ranks of the more youthful otters, well... let's just say there was lots of blushing.

Rotgut and Mooneye slumped idly on the deck of the Bloodquest with a healthy amount of fear at the scene before them. At first, they'd been rather put out that they'd been chosen for guard duty, but they'd recently decided that this was a blessing in disguise.

"Looks like we might be th'only ones left 'live, mate," Rotgut said apprehensively.

Mooneye glanced at the raging battle before turning his attention back to getting a speck of grunge off his sword.

"Looks like it," he said evenly.

Rotgut threw a sideways look at the stoat, shifting his position nervously.

"Wot if'n they c'mafter the ships?" Rotgut asked.

"We'll sail away," Mooneye replied, still rubbing away at the speck.

"Wot if'n we can't get 'way fast enough?"

"We will."

"Wot if--"

"By the fur, waggletongue! Keep a weather eye out for hares and shut yer gob!"

Thoroughly chastened, the anxious rat scanned the empty beach once more. This time, a solitary figure caught his eye.

"Oy, look, Moonie! It's a--"

"Don't call me that, maggotmouth!"

"Sorry, Mooneye. But look, it's a badger!"

"I've already seen him, Rotgut. That's what that striped thing was that led the charge. Maybe it occurs to you now that he didn't look like a hare..."

"No, Mooneye! 'Ts 'nother one, look!"

Mooneye heaved an irritated sigh before lifting his eyes from the sword to squint in the direction Rotgut was pointing. Sure enough, they saw Skyborne running across the sand, a formidable broadsword in hand.

"The crew'll never win now!" Rotgut wailed.

"Put a cork in it, lardface!" Mooneye snapped. "We can capture him."

"What? Ca'ture a badger? 'Mpossible!" Rotgut cried.

"Listen to me, beetlebrain. We slip behind a dune where he'll pass – he's obviously heading toward the battle – and we'll throw a rock. His lights will go out easily and we drag him back."

Rotgut was skeptical.

"Either you're with me, or you're dead, dripnose. I'm not losing this chance because of you."

This statement quickly made up Rotgut's mind.

They quickly slid off the boat and ran behind a dune, waiting for the badger to pass. An expertly thrown rock from Mooneye brought the badger down easily enough. With some difficulty, they dragged him back to the boat and tied him up, locking him in the hold until the Captain returned – if he returned.

As the battle raged on, Ripwave realized he wouldn't win. He yelled for a retreat – through the hares. The sea vermin fought with all desperation and the hares fell back at a shout from Krump, who already limping with a bloody leg.

"It's not worth slaughtering ye'selves for! Let 'em go, lads!" he yelled, "But shower them with arrows and lances as they go! The lazy cowards!"

The hares took to their new task fervently, and the wave vermin sailed away swiftly under the volley, leaving behind one ship due to lack of numbers. The unfortunate guards of the vessel tried to jump off and follow the Bloodquest and the Seafang's Revenge, but were left behind, wailing piteously.

The hares trooped back to the mountain wearily, but jovial. Once again they'd won!

At the mountain, Sunstripe was grimly recording reports from the commanders regarding casualties. They hadn't been too high this attack, but a life is a life, and one lost is devastating.

Krump hobbled in, leaning heavily on a crutch with his leg bandaged.

"Haven't seen Skyborne have you, milord? He never reported to me about the guard," Krump said, frowning.

"No, I haven't. I was wondering, too. Where's Moge?" Sunstripe asked.

"I'll get him, milord."

"Thank you, Krump."

Krump saluted and stumped out.

"Oh, and Krump? Send the runner to me when he gets back."

"Yes, milord."

--dodges rapid fire tomatoes-- Sorry! Sorrysorrysorrysorry! I've been SO busy! --sigh-- I know that's no excuse. Sorry. SORRY! Please review anyway, 'cause PH's thingajig is amazing. Please? --begs on hands and knees--

YAY! we finally updated! please review!