Sorry, again, short.
The otters retired just before the rain started. Had they not been eager to get to the Hullabaloo, the evening's activities would have continued long into the night.
Pippin lay awake in the tent she shared with her aunt. The rain pattered on the sides of the tent, and on the ground outside. It wasn't the rain keeping her awake, though. Nor was it the thoughts of the upcoming celebration. She wasn't sure what it was. Just some voice in the back of her mind saying "Don't go to sleep".
Theo had the same voice in his head. He tossed and turned while his parents, on the other side of the tent, slumbered in silence.
.::.
Rikar's ship had found the river. They had nearly sailed right past it, but a sharp-eyed crewbeast spotted it at the last moment. They were making their way against the current, but the wind was still with them. Good progress was being made.
Deep into the night they were still moving forward. The rain was falling harder, but Rikar was determined to get as far as possible with the good wind. It shifted again just after midnight.
"Alright, we've made it far enough tonight!" Rikar called out. "Put out the anchors. We'll stay here until morning."
The entire crew let out a sight of relief. Grondil hurried over and whispered something into the commander's ear. An evil looking grin spread across the fox's face. He looked back at his soldiers making their way back below decks.
"Stop where you are! There's one more thing for tonight. I've just been informed that there's a camp just ahead on the riverbank. This is our chance to get some loot and information. Or just to have a bit of fun."
.::.
Weariness finally got the best of Theo, and he slowly drifted off to sleep. But only for a few moments. He was jerked awake by the sound of screaming. Grabbing the short sword he always kept nearby, Theo bounded out of the tent, his father just ahead of him.
Outside was chaos. There were vermin everywhere, slaying otters and stealing. Half the camp was on fire. Otters of the warrior crews were taking a stand against the vermin. Everyone was screaming.
Theo tried to focus on his father roaring out orders.
"Hold them back, crew! Worry about the fires later! Theo!" Vanthur grabbed his son's arm. "Theo, I need you to find all the young ones and get them away from here."
"But..." Theo began.
"Don't argue with me! Get them as far away as you can. Go upstream, these look like pirates, they've likely got a ship and were coming this way from the sea. I'll send a group to find you before midday."
Theo nodded and swallowed nervously. "What if we're waiting past midday?"
Vanthur shook his head "I hoped you wouldn't see that possibility. If that happens, you need to continue to the Hullabaloo. Find Danagar Seablade, of the sea otters. Tell him what happened, he'll know what to do. Then, I want you all to be under the charge of Erren, Skipper of Redwall." Vanthur embraced his son in a quick hug. "I know you won't let me down. Now go!"
Father and son set out in opposite directions, Vanthur to join his warriors, and Theo to carry out his father's orders. He kept inside the bushes at the edge of the camp, trying to get to the area where he knew many of the families with young ones were. Across the camp, he could see his father, swinging his great battle sword, defending his clan against the vermin raiders.
A weasel was attacking a young otter just a short distance away from Theo. He crashed through the bushes, sword at the ready. Before he had covered half the distance, the weasel was on the ground, dead. The otter turned and faced Theo, wielding two long knives.
"Pippin!" he cried in relief. At least she was safe. Pippin lowered her knives.
"Theo, what's going on?"
"I don't know, but listen. We need to find everyone our age and younger, and bring them upstream where it's safe. My father told me to."
Pippin nodded. "I've already got a group of dibbuns together and hiding. I'll pass the message along to anyone else I see."