This is hardly worthy to be called a chapter... but whatever, I suppose. My part has been written since last summer -- I was terribly inspired by the Phantom of the Opera. --grin--

heh... and mine just got done tonight with a currently unnamed slave driver...cough cough Billios--cough cough--

Rapp sighed as the horde marched away from the horrible sight of the massacre that occurred. It had been a week or so and he no longer cried when thinking of who had been lost. Instead he only felt an ache in his chest where it seemed that his heart had cruelly been torn out when his wife was taken from him. He looked around at the vermin marching about him, along with his two fox guards. Randomly he remembered four young babes faintly from the battles fought, and decided to ask his guards about them.

"So who were the likkle tykes from th' battlefield? I didn't know tha' varmin bebesat."

The smaller guard was the one who answered him.

"They're the boss' secret weapon that 'e's goin' t' use against Redwall when the time comes. There's three squirrels, two are twins, and a shy mousie."

"Oh... well, where are we goin' now?"

"Mossflower, 'n 'en Redwall, Boss says it's time, so now we're to make it there post-haste."

"I see, would I be able t' speak wid the kids?" he asked hopefully.

"Mebe' later, they're talkin' to Lord Chillaxe now."

Rapp hung his head disappointedly

Later came sooner than expected for the captured otter, as he spied the four younglings that were discussed earlier making their way through the crowd towards his general direction. When they got close enough they fell in next to him and picked up a conversation. The young squirrel with a tri-cornered hat started.

"So you're the otter that got 'imself captured. Mista Chillaxe must like you for you to still be alive. Wassyour name riverdog?"

"Rapp, Rapp Galedeep me matey, and you four would be…?" This time the black one spoke up.

"I'm Ashbreeze, those two are Rowan and Roann, the mouse is Daisy. Pleasure to meet you Galedeep."

Rapp nodded at them.

"The pleasure's mine, so, how did you squirts get to be wid this swampy lot?"

Ashbreeze's eyes narrowed slightly at the insults, but he answered anyways.

"We don't remember really, but we were told that we were found on the side of a road abandoned and asleep, and the only thing we remembered was our names," he said in monotone, obviously not caring too much. "So he took us in and taught us how to fight and live the life of a warrior. So in return we do what he asks of us, a fair trade I'd say."

Rapp only nodded and lowered his head slightly.

Skyborne stepped off the boat, lugging the net of fish over his shoulder.

"Why must I always carry the fish, Glaybo?" he asked with a mock annoyed tone, somewhat ruined by the smile creeping over his features.

"Because, er, I need to... go tell the others we're here!" Glaybo said quickly, running into the tunnel.

Sky rolled his eyes and shifted his burden to a more comfortable position.

"Skip?" Glaybo called, his voice echoing. "Skip?"

The tunnel was strangely quiet and Glaybo slowed his pace almost unconsciously, frowning. An inexplicable dread pervaded his sense as he took the final turn and faced the sun.

"No!" he whispered in shock ,his stomach flipping over sickeningly. "It's not possible..."

"Thanks for coming back to help," Skyborne grunted, coming up behind him. "All these fish would have been pretty heavy on my – by the fur!"

The fish fell to the ground and spilled out of the net, their lifeless eyes matching those of the fallen otters beside them.

Look for another chapter within 24 hours to make up for the absurd shortness of this one, and also as a birthday present to Lobuck Ashbreeze -- these next few chapters are all presents for her and will be posted sometime before the 16th of April. Happy Birthday, Lobuck!

YAY REVIEWING if you review for this chappy, you get jolly ranchers, the driving of our lisps tonight