The plane touched down, as Dan predicted close to an hour after passing Salamandastron. After such a long trip, Beth couldn't wait to get up out of her seat. Her father checked her rush for the aisle.
"Hold up, I want passport in paw. We have to go through customs, and then get our bags and then we meet up with Wally." He instructed as he made sure his mobile phone was turned on, and his carry on was in order.
Fluffing out her tail, which had flattened out during the long sit Beth held up her passport to show she had it. Her father nodded approvingly and once the plane cleared out a bit more, they disembarked.
The airport was huge, far bigger than the one they flew out of in Toronto. Everywhere the young squirrel turned there were creatures. Some pulling heavy suitcases while others relaxed reading newspapers or working away on their laptops. Most of the beasts in the terminal appeared to be native to Mossflower country. There were: hedgehogs, otters, moles, dormice, field mice, shrews, ferrets, stoats, weasels, rats, and even red squirrels like herself. There was even a pair of red foxes who stood talking animatedly with a gate attendant, as they seemed to be lost. Beth guessed based on their accents the foxes were probably from Australia. Like herself and the foxes, there were many others who were not from Mossflower. Some were easy to identify by species alone, like the family of American opossums sitting in the airport café. Others like the foxes she had spotted earlier were a little harder to pick out.
Beth enjoyed taking in every sight and sound as she followed her father through to customs. The young squirrel had gone through American customs before. She anticipated this experience to be similar, and mentally prepared herself for their questions and line ups. However when she and her father arrived at the wicket a cheerful mouse casually glanced over their passports and nodded them along.
"That it?" Beth questioned her father, wondering if perhaps that was there was more further in the airport.
"That's it." Dan smiled, fixing his bag over his shoulder. "Now we just get our bags and go find Wally."
There was a large crowd around the baggage carousels. Dan suggested his daughter sit and wait while he gets the luggage. She was after all a teenager, and knew better than to walk off with some stranger. Finding an empty seat, Beth was soon mesmerized by the large advertising screens on the walls. The sound of drums blared from speakers, as the screens lit up with images of the woodlands. Ariel shots panned over Mossflower woods, diving in to view a crystal clear river. A booming voice announced over the scenic imagery.
"Next summer, the world comes to our playground."
The images of forests faded to show images of athletes and sporting events. The sound of drums grew louder as four hare runners thundered across the screen. It quickly cut to a mink launching off a diving board, then a badger and wolverine locked in a wrestling match. Then the drums faded and the screen showed a young mouse climb the podium as the flags began to rise during a medal ceremony. The booming voice ended with.
"The warrior rises. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games"
Beth blinked as the mouse on the screen took on a Martin like image. Her father was suddenly beside her with both this suitcases on a trolley. "Mossflower sure loves their Martin." He chuckled.
Hopping up from her seat she yawned, following her father as they headed out towards the exit. The long trip was starting to get to her, glancing up at the clocks, she noted the time change and changed her watch. It was nearly lunch time, although back home she would just be getting up, if not still asleep. It was after all summer vacation, and when on holidays she hated to get up before nine in the morning. Following along she saw her father suddenly stop. Towards the door was river otter holding high a six pack of beer and waving towards them. This was Wallyum Brookback or Wally as he was known to most. During his university seasons he had been roommate to Dan Firdance, and the pair had been fast friends ever since. Although he was jovial and playful as were most otters, Wally was one of the best archaeologists and professors in all of Mossflower. But he was too modest for any formalities. To his students he was simply Wally, always saying Dr. Brookback never suited him.
The big otter clapped his squirrel friend heartily on the back. "Look at ye, y'old book diver. Haven't age a day. Y'll be happy t'know I followed the instructions in yer email to the letter. "He cleared his throat comically. "Ahem, be at the airport 11:30 bring October ale." He thrust the six pack into Dan's paws. "And will ye look at Beth." Before Beth could make any motion she was squished in a tight hug. The otter's whiskers bristled against her as he gave her a warm kiss on the cheek. "'Ow ye've grown since I last visited yer dad. " He elbowed Dan in the ribs." I tell ye mate best invest in a good stick now to beat off all the fellas."
Dan put the beer on top of the trolley. "Naw, Beth's a big girl she can fight them off herself." He winked to his daughter and followed the otter's lead. Wally hadn't parted too far away from the door. He opened the back door so Beth could get in, while he and Dan loaded up the trunk with the luggage.
Backing out of the spot the otter maneuvered out of the parking lot and onto the main motorway. "The missus has put on a special lunch t'welcome ye. I hope you like shrimp n' hotroot soup Beth."
Beth had tasted the otter dish back home. Her father spoke of it as the stuff of legend, always saying the hotroots used in Canada were not the same. "I'm sure I will."
"Oh you're in for a treat Beth." Dan's voice was beaming with excitement. "May makes the best Hotroot soup." He smacked his lips dreamily his eyes watching the woodlands rush past. Suddenly he caught a sight peaking over the trees. "Beth, look to your left." Over the trees he had sighted Redwall's belltower.
Beth turned to look, but as she did they had passed it. The belltower was again covered by forest. "See what?"
"Oh, too bad. You could just catch a sight of Redwall Abbey."
Wally looked back at the disappointed look on the teenage squirrel's face. He flicked his indicator making a left turn onto the next exit.
"If me little matey wants t'see the Abbey, she's going to see the Abbey." He smiled taking the detour. The exits lead to a small country road that ran north to south. The car ambled slowly through the woodland road. There were several cottages and farms dotting the plains to the west. They passed signs advertising bed and breakfasts with names like: The Warriors inn or Matthias and Methuselah. After several winds and bends, they came to it. Beth didn't mind that all you could see was the high walls and the roof tops. Her heart raced as they slowly drove past the massive gate house with the high wooden gates.
"There she be." Wally announced proudly.
Smiling broadly Beth leaned forward tweaking her father's tail. "Can we go inside, please dad can we visit Redwall."
Her father nodded. "Of course, we'll see the tapestry and the whole bit."
Beth's eyes grew wide. "The tapestry of Martin the Warrior?"
Wally shook his head laughing as he pulled back onto the motorway. "No the tapestry of Fred the Cleaner. Of course the tapestry of Martin t Warrior, where else do you think they keep it?"