Last chapter. Recorder's epilogue, as according to tradition. Ties up a few final issues, but still leaves a few things open still (on purpose). ;)

Epilogue

Extract from the writings of Linus Scrypt, Squirrel Recorder of Redwall Abbey:

The Spring of Windy Days has come to a close, and now the Summer of a New Dawn has begun, officially named as such by Abbot Isaiah just last week. The days that have followed have been long and busy, which is why I have been regrettably neglecting my duties as recorder, but today, as I found myself with little else to do, I thought back to the events of this past spring, and decided to put them down on paper while they were still fresh in my mind.

It is a bit much to process in one's mind. One thing I can say with certainty, however, is that the remainder of this past spring season has ended much more happily than it began, first beginning with wild and stormy weather, then the mixed conflicts with the Followers of Gemini and the coup d'état that took place in Angola, before finally settling down again to times of peace. Thankfully. However, times have still changed all throughout the land, part of the reason Father Abbot choice the name he did for this summer season, I'm told.

I can see why he did. And a major part of that is the fact that Redwall Abbey has been graced with the presence of several new creatures to it's order.

Including a certain fox that is now staying in our midst.

Kani Fennix has slowly been adjusting to life at Redwall, but it's really the other dwellers of this abbey that are in need of some adjusting still. Most of us have slowly come to adjust to the idea that a fox, a creature we've admittedly only looked upon before as an enemy, is now here to stay at Redwall. However, the idea still seems odd to some. You can't help but stare sometimes. They're smart enough to keep it to themselves now, however, because Kani has clearly earned the right to stay here long term if he so chose, and did choose.

Probably the creature who still outright objects Kani's presence is Friar Machaerus. The hare still resents Kani presence, and Kani clearly does not like having to put up with the hare's attitude. However, seeing that they are both pretty much stuck living in the same abbey together now, they've quickly learned to...more or less...put up with each other. At least they aren't trying to kill each other anymore (of course, Abbot Isaiah probably helped there by telling them not to).

As for myself, Kani is a mystery to me. While I've come to welcome him to the abbey like I would any other creature, particularly after his help with rescuing my son from the paws of Gemini, I really think the fox would have been happier if he stayed at his home. It seems to me that he had a perfectly fine life awaiting for him in Angola once the traitorous Methusael was beaten, complete with a position of power, and a chance to make the land I had first thought he loved so dearly what he wished it to be.

And yet, he gave it all up to live here at Redwall, and as a result has to readjust completely to the different lifestyle, learn to live in a new location, and on top of it all, deal with the occasional and clearly unwarranted persecution. Exactly why he did it will forever be a mystery to me. And of course, Kani has not been very forthcoming on the details. I have managed to learn a few things from creatures such as Skipper Rowe and Mathoni about what had happened in Angola that could possibly explain this, however. Poor Kani. I suppose after everything he's been through, he would be entitled to a little soul searching. I just never thought a fox like him would choose to do it here at Redwall.

Or, for that matter, for him to become our newest warrior of Redwall, officially, this time.

Either way, it seems clear that Kani is here to stay. And save for all of the aforementioned problems, which are growing to be less and less severe with each passing day, he is actually fitting in fairly well into life at Redwall. Many are already starting to respect him as the warrior of Redwall, and more still as friends. Such as myself, Charles, Skipper Rowe, Mathoni, and above all, Abbot Isaiah. In fact, I daresay Kani is the closest with the abbot, and the two are frequently seen interacting with each other.

Almost to the point that Kani has become like a second leader to Redwall. But of a different sort from an abbot. More like he is the leader of the Redwall cause. To seek peace and happiness, and to be kind to all. At least, that is how I see it. If you even hint to Kani being any kind of leader within his hearing range (which is remarkably good) you are likely to get an earful of how he is not a leader.

But, just between you and me, he is an unintentional leader. He just doesn't realize it.

Anyway, as to other things that have been happening around here, there is a bit to tell. As I have already stated, we just named the new summer season last week, which of course meant we had a naming celebration to go along with the occasion. It was Kani's first naming ceremony, by the way. He seemed to enjoy it, though I do seem to recall him remarking afterwards that we Redwallers seem to take every event, big or small, as an excuse to celebrate.

Curses, he's figuring out our secrets already.

It wasn't just Kani's first naming ceremony by the way, just so you are aware, as Kani wasn't the only one who has joined our ranks. We had a fair number of creatures staying at the abbey still as a result of the disbanding of the Followers of Gemini. Of course, not all of them are staying here. Not even Redwall Abbey is that big. No, a fair number of them left to either go and rejoin their families, or with another tribe. For example, the young otter Sarias came from a tribe of otters located to the north of here which, as luck would have it, Skipper Rowe had met once. A brief journey later, and the ottermaid was happily reunited with her family that still, thankfully, lived there.

Likewise, the mole known as Terra, despite having no tribe or family still living to return to (as the forces of Gemini had successfully wiped it out), went out to find a tribe of moles to live with, anxious to be with his own kind again. Understandable, as at the moment, there are not that many moles residing at Redwall currently. Eventually, Terra did find a new tribe to join, and he along with several other mole refugees were adopted into it. Even the shrew, Surt, was rejoined with his tribe, although the poor creature is still quite befuddled from his encounter with the followers.

Others who have no family or home to return to after their time with the late Followers of Gemini, however, have mostly chosen to stay at Redwall, where they are welcome. Young Denarius, better known as Deni, for instance has chosen to live at Redwall. He has become fast friends with my own Alexander (whom, I'm happy to report, is back to his usual antics of playing and other tomfoolery instead of doing his studies in writing and lettering like I would rather he do. Oh well, I suppose some things never change).

There were fair share of the remaining members of the Followers of Gemini, however, who were had no home and family to return to nor were satisfied staying at Redwall. These were the creatures who had a part of the followers for the longest, so much so, that they had lost much of their personal identity. And they were finding it very hard to change some of their ways.

Fortunately, the mouse teacher, who is still going without a real name to go by instead of "teacher" (secretly, I think he prefers that), has come up with a solution, more or less, and he, most of the Quorum of Warriors (including Melody, who felt she had a duty to fulfill), and the other former followers who felt lost without Gemini, false deity or not, have moved back into the sanctuary that had housed the followers for all of these seasons, and resumed their curious practices. But of course, their beliefs were given some major modifications under the direction of the mouse teacher. Now, they are a much friendlier lot, who main goal is to seek peace, serenity, and a perfect understanding of the world around them. They will welcome anyone who wishes to join them, but will also be quite understanding if said creature chooses not to, not unlike the practices of Redwall.

Out of curiosity, I attended one of their meetings to see what they were about. Apparently, it includes a lot of thought and pondering, including a great deal of meditation and personal study of your own heart and soul, and your inner spirit. It sounds very thought provoking, and something that would interest me greatly...however, I failed to stay awake throughout all of that soul-searching, and ended up missing the point, I suppose.

I did suggest to Kani that he try it, however, seeing that he's been doing some of his own soul-searching, or something to that extent (it's the nearest I can figure out to explain that fox's actions at times).

He didn't seem to take the suggestion well, though.

The newly renamed Quorum of Peace isn't the only society that has been getting reshaped however. While Kani as adopted a whole new life here at Redwall, he hasn't forgotten his friends and former followers in Angola. He plans to go and visit them someday, but in the meantime, has been staying in touch with the going-ons there via letters and an Angolian messenger who comes to our abbey periodically to either deliver messages, or pick up new ones.

Anyway, things are currently coming along a little roughly at Angola, which is understandable, seeing that they are in the middle of the political reform. Suddenly, those inhabitants, who have been relying on a lord or lady to lead them for all of these seasons, have to fend for themselves. They've made good progress, however. Unsurprisingly, after Kani left, Captain Moroni was declared the replacement by popular choice. Moroni's job since that appointment has been try and organize a new form of government for the Angolians. Upon a suggestion from Kani, he has taken a few pages from Redwall's book, and is working at constructing a council of officials to be the majority of the government, with a creature heading it as it's leader (Moroni).

Unlike Redwall, however, all of the creatures who are placed into this council are to be selected by the inhabitants of the land, and only those who prove to be the most popular will get in. Highly irregular in my mind, but it seems to be working for them, although they are still fine-tuning the system. Kani has told me jokingly that among the things Moroni is working to perfect is the matter how long a leader will serve as leader, as the mouse apparently doesn't want to be the leader for the rest of his life either.

Another issue they faced was the matter of the two vermin mercenaries that were captured and left in the custody of the Angolians, Sais and Grim (as their names apparently are). There was much debate as to what to do with them. Some wanted them executed, which is an arguably expected solution. However, the two were allowed to stay in Angola long enough for the injuries they had sustained to heal properly (one, I can't remember which, apparently had broken his leg during the conflict), then had undergone some stern talking to, informing them that if they were ever caught causing problems again, Angola wouldn't go so easily on them, and then let them go. The two vermin haven't reappeared in the land since.

Although I somehow doubt they learned any lessons from the whole incident.

On a happier tone, however, the babe Moroni's wife, Ruth, has been bearing during all of this time has finally been born, and both proud parents and the babe are doing well. It is a boy, and after some mild debate, was named Hax, after Kani's late brother. Kani, upon hearing this, was very touched, and remarked via letter that he was sure his brother would have been very honored.

All in all, life is going along well. Charles seems to overcome the worse of the trauma he suffered whilst fighting for the first time, and while still a very changed mouse, seems to have comes to terms with that fact, and is happy enough with life. Because he has become so fluent in the Sparra language, he's become a closer friend to Mathoni, who is trying to learn more of the language so he can speak as well. Both creatures interact with the sparrow Blackwing, whom everyone at the abbey now knows the existence of, but the bird is still very skittish around anybeast other than Charles and Mathoni.

Charles also has been helping out in the kitchens as well, at the request of Malachi, who was more than happy to help. I asked Malachi why he was so anxious to have Charles helping him in the kitchens, but Malachi wouldn't really give me a direct answer. The closest I got was a statement that said that things just ran smoother with Charles around, and things tended to fall apart when the mouse was not present. I suppose this means Charles has yet another hidden talent. You would have thought that a young mouse that was once so shy and seclusive would have so many talented gifts?

Either way, life progresses on here at Redwall. We are all mostly busy making the best of the summer weather. My family and I have participated in a fair number of outdoor activities as of late, which were all fun, until the Dibbuns got a hold of a bunch of buckets and started filling them up with water from the pond and dumping them on other people. Omni, our cellarhog, has taken to storytelling lately, and can be found telling stories under the shade of trees to the young ones when he is not working. Kani and Mathoni have frequently have been leaving the abbey and heading out on long walks out into the woods, talking, seemingly without end, all throughout, and not appearing to head out to do anything else (though there is a rumor going around that they will visit the sailor squirrel Tide as a kind of thanks for his help during the turmoil of the spring). Abbot Isaiah grows older and wiser still, but despite his age, he has not slowed down any with his duties as abbot, and is still loved by all.

Whatever the case, times are happy and peaceful here at Redwall. And in the end, that's all that really matters.

Linus Scrypt (recorder for Redwall Abbey and surrounding Mossflower Woods)


The end. Now, as for any future writing for the Redwall fandom, I of course plan to. I plan to write and post a couple of one-shot tags to "Warrior of Redwall" as time presents itself, for instance. Beyond that, however, I'm afraid I must announce that it would be unwise for me to start any new multi-chapter Redwall fanfics at this time. There are a couple reasons why. One of which is the fact that there are only so many hours in a day, and part of those hours are already dedicated to life, the universe, and everything, leaving only so many left to write fanfics. And I have other works I need to be working on. For instance, I have one fanfic that has been on a unplanned hiatus for long enough now, and I have made promises elsewhere on FanFiction to write more in those fandoms, and I plan to keep those promises. But above all, I know that before this year is out, I will most likely have to be away from my beloved laptop, and thereby any fanfic writing of any sort, for as long as two years. (yeah, I know, really bad news, that).

However, once all of that is out of the way, I of course plan to come back and do more novel-style Redwall fanfics. So in two or so years (exact details can be found on my profile as they become more readily available) expect me to come back into the writing scene. When that time comes, there are two novel-length Redwall fanfics I plan to write.

The first will be titled "Weylan's Return," which should be fairly self explanatory for those who have read some of my other Redwall stories.

The other will be (for the moment, it MIGHT change) titled "Bitter Herbs." It'll be a sequel to "Warrior of Redwall." ;)

So, until we meet again. :)