Chapter 6
Night blanketed over Mossflower woods, everybeast at the Abbey were turning in for the night. Tim and Tess were in charge of ringing the night tolls. The Matthias and Methuselah bells rang out. Clang, dong, clang dong! Matthias and Cornflower were in charge of tucking the little ones into their beds. Cornflower gave the tiny dibbuns kisses goodnight on their forehead, whild her husband nestled them in the soft and elegant beds they slumbered in.
"Oh, how I remember the days when Mattimeo was their age."
"Aye, Cornflower, now our child had grown up, and we are grandparents."
Said Matthias, Cornflower nodded to her husband.
"It seems that the older we get, the shorter the seasons feel."
"I second that, my love."
Matthias escorted Cornflower out of the dormitories and carefully closed the door with the dibbuns inside. Matthias yawned and stretched his paws.
"Aahhh, we better get to bed as well."
"I agree wholeheartedly."
Cornflower said stretching her paws in exhaustion. The two mice held each other's paw and escorted themselves to their sleeping chambers.
On the Eastern Wall of Redwall, Cheek and a mouseguard were on sentry duty. Cheek grew up to be a fine and handsome otter, he was still young, about the same age as Sam, maybe a tad bit older. Cheek was clad in an orange belted tunic with red scarf, and a staff as his weapon of choice. He and the mouseguard leaned over the battlements.
"You know, I don't get why we are here on guard duty, it's been seven Seasons of peace and prosperity."
Cheek complained, the mouse gave a piece of his mind to the adult otter.
"Come on now, Cheek. Be thankful that we haven't killed anyone and no one has killed any of us."
"True, but sometimes, celebrations after celebrations, it get's kind of boring."
The mouse puckered his lips and inhaled sharply.
"I guess I see where you're coming from."
Cheek stood staring at the horizon.
"What a peaceful night, eh?"
"Ha, I knew you actually loved the peace and quiet."
The mouse laughed out loud.
"I guess you're right, but I'll have more fun battling vermin."
"Just enjoy the peaceful night, you silly waterdog."
Sibo Silverclaw and his Corsairs geared up for the first attack. As they were doing that, a small group of hares patrolled the area. The hare leading the march was Sergeant Winkler. He carried a sabre and longbow.
"Right you lot, apparently vermin have been sighted by the West Coast of our mountain, we must take in on how many blighters there are, wot."
The hares of lower and equal rank saluted.
"Yes sir."
"Good, we must stay low and quiet, can't let the blinkin' rotters spot us."
The Long Patrol hares steadily pace themselves and scaled the mountain, searching for any miscreants, along the way down. A Corporal hare was the first to make it down, he drew his double long daggers and proceeded quietly. Unbeknownst to him, Tavadar and a few others were hiding in the bushes. Tavadar licked his crooked teeth and chuckled underneath his ragged breath.
"Gotcha, rabbit."
Said the verminous searat. Without any warning, Tavadar swung his mace and chain, knocking the alarmed hare out cold. He then ordered the others to drag his body away, in which they did without any hesitation or second guesses. Another hare made it too the base of the mountain, he whispered sharply.
"Psst, Glennie, Glennie, where are you?"
Tavadar appeared from behind the rabbit, holding the long earred beast hostage.
"Here I am."
He whispered. The burly searat used the hilt of the dagger to knock the hare out, he too was dragged along with Glennie. Sergeant Winkler raised a paw up, and stopped his beasts from proceeding onward.
"Wait, something doesn't feel right."
"What do you mean, sir?"
Asked a young hare of the rank of Private.
"I mean, I feel like as if some blighter is waiting for us down yonder."
"Oh you worry too much, sir. It's perfectly fine."
"I would wait until further orders."
"Pssh, it's perfectly fine, watch."
The young Private waltzed down the mountain and to the base where Tavadar awaited. The hare happily waved to the Sergeant up above, before getting dragged into the bushes by Tavadar. Winkler drew his sabre, and readied himself to charge.
"Eulalia!"
He cried out, the hare Sergeant charged down the mountain with his posse behind him. As soon as he made it to the bottom, Tavadar appeared from out of nowhere and attempted to whack Winkler across the snout, but no avail. Winkler dodged the attack with ease. He thrusted his sword, but luck was not on his side either, Tavadar dodged the blace tip with the greatest of ease as well.
"Is that all you got, rabbit?"
"Balderdash, I am not a rabbit, you smelly beast, I am a hare, wot!"
Winkler bellowed out. Tavadar gave a toothy grin at Winkler.
"Whatever you say, rabbit."
He lunged out at the hare.