Chapter Three: Followed
Beechtail and Maplefur were following the course of a dry riverbed, Maplefur was explaining their path to Beechtail.
"This stream used to flow into the big lake, there is a part where the water flows out again, we follow the lake shore until we find it, we can make a raft, and then it's just a matter of getting to the river that is by Redwall. It's a long way, might take a week or more."
When the sun went down, Maplefur stopped at the base of a tall oak, "If we sleep up there we won't have to stand guard."
Beechtail glanced up. There were many thick branches that formed a tangled web. It was impossible to see the higher branches. Anybeast up there would be well hidden from the ground and the sky. There was only one problem, "Um, Maplefur, we might be squirrels, but I can't climb like one."
"Not a problem." Maplefur took a coil of rope from her pack and raced up the trunk into the net of branches. A few seconds later she slid down on the rope. "Even you should be able to climb this."
There were several close calls, but Beechtail climbed the rope without slipping. However, he was still not convinced about sleeping in a tree. "What if I fall off?"
In response, Maplefur pulled up the rope and tied Beechtail to a sturdy limb.
Blackskull headed off into the woods with his trackers, he had decided to forgo sleep to make better time. Most of the trackers had not been active in the fighting; sixteen hundred vermin against a village of around a hundred is a bit extreme. The squirrels had several hours head start on his band. He needed to catch up. A rat named Sludgenose called him over.
"I found tracks; it looks like they are following this riverbed."
Blackskull soon had the trackers lined up to march. Two were on either bank, looking for traces of them climbing out. They continued on until dawn. Blackskull decided to stop, as his patrol needed to rest. They camped at the foot of a large oak. A rat named Dungback took the first watch.
Beechtail was awakened by a paw clamped across his mouth. Maplefur was untying him, but there was a sense of urgency in her eyes that told him something was wrong. She pointed downward, and gestured to be silent. Beechtail turned over until he could see what was wrong. Around a dozen vermin were sleeping at the foot of the tree. However, one was standing guard. They were in a dangerous situation; the guard would see them if they tried to climb down, and Beechtail would probably fall if they tried to escape through the treetops. Beechtail pointed at the sentry and mimicked firing an arrow. Maplefur nodded and took out her bow.
Dungback was tired of standing guard, so he took a seat on a large rock. A hissing noise caused him to look up. The arrow buried itself in the back of his neck; he slumped forward, killed instantly. Beechtail tied the rope to the branch, and slid down it slowly. Maplefur untied it, and climbed down the tree. Careful not to make noise, they tiptoed until they were a safe distance away, and then took off running. After traveling a considerable distance, they stopped and sat panting on the riverbank. Beechtail recovered first.
"Great shot, I don't think we would've been able to sneak past him without being spotted."
"Probably not, but the rest of them will be after us now. They're probably from the group that attacked Angdelve. We have to get moving again."
After a few minutes the squirrels took off again down the riverbed.
Back at the vermin camp, Blackskull had discovered the body of Dungback. Further investigation revealed the squirrels' tracks leading to the tree and back. In a matter of minutes the trackers were on the move again, after being berated by Blackskull for not realizing the squirrels were only several yards above them. They were going to march all day, and all night if need be, until the squirrels were captured.
The race to Redwall was on.