Chapter 40: Siege of Redwall

Marople stood in the courtyard of Redwall, her paws firmly behind her back as the abbot stood to her side. The courtyard was busy, as the vermin who had taken shelter within were packing up their things in their typical haphazard way. Carts were loaded with what they had brought and doors had remained open. The vermin families who passed on by were solemnly silent for the most part, but others were less so and disutrbed Marople with their open intentions.

"Ya dink dis horde got der good vittles, or dey just be playen? Probably shoulda joined on up sooner, makes it less awkward when dey take dis place. Like to be in der kitchens before der killen starts."

Marople gave that vermin a deathly stare, who only noticed in time and kept his head down, hurrying on out to doors. The vermin had not brought much, most of the small gangs were the quickest to exit and openly swore to Markem's horde as soon as they were in his side of the camp. The others took their sweet time, getting what rations they could and earning rest before risking to head out to meet Markem. The rat's promise was a risk, like anything else in life, and one which the vermin families took with a mixture of eagerness and caution. Older vermin knew all too well how warlords could trick poor beasts with half hearted words, while younger vermin openly wondered about joining the horde. Marthomis couldn't blame them, but it broke his heart to know that his attempts at hospitality would be for nothing if they decided to become fodder for the Great Vermin Band.

Solemnly, a rat approached the two, a simple middle aged beast who took off his cloth cap and into his paws out of some respect and gave an awkward grin "Apologies, abbot. Long ears. Truly am sorry ya know, mates say all manner of dings last night ya see, but we really didn't want to get involved in all of dis, ya know? Don't want to burden ya, an'-"

"You are forgiven only if you don't join them, vermin." Marople said sharply. Marthomis bowed his head with respect "I understand fully, good rat. You must do as you must, I pray you simply make the right decision. I will take your apologies."

The rat nearly smiled as his fumbled apologies, up until Redwall's liberian came out with a huff and a grunt.

"Abbot, have these beasts not left yet! I struggle to record anything will all this racket!" Marthomis gave the squirrel a glare, but grew flustered when he began to rebuke the trembling rat "And you, get out of our abbey, vermin! Go and do something else other then bother good beasts!"

The rat frowned and left, and once he did, Marthomis turned to Curlor "Curlor Vonbrok. I would hope a beast of your station would show a fellow beast the respect they need, and not demean them unfairly in front of me."

Curlor rolled his eyes "Abbot, come now! These beasts have done nothing but start fights, lie to us, steal, and insult us every bleeding day since they got here! Why that otter brought them here at all is beyond me. We should have kicked them out the moment we heard of what happened at Moss Field!"

Marople sighed "I have to agree, those vermin likely now have more knowledge of this wall's inner workings. If anything, we should be forcing them to stay."

"Stay!? Now you are talking like a season's damned beast!"

Marople gave him a glare, but Marthomis silenced him with a fair speech "Curlor, as beasts of Redwall, it is our duty to aid any beast who needs aid. Dakan brought them here because he believed their lives were in danger, and by seasons they were. The Butkans were kidnapped and disappeared under all of our noses. He feared the same for these beasts. They are now out of our paws, and now rest in Markem's. It is their choice to either be our enemies now, or go their own way."

"You have too much sympathy for them, you know that?!" Curlor said with frustration "These beasts, if you can even call them that, are little more than savages who see us as future victims. Not a single vermin as far as we know has shown decency to be called good, and certainly not any beast here. Less vermin in the forest? All the bleeding better! Less bandits, murderers, gangsters, and slavers to bother us! Every single one of those beasts is going to join Markem's horde and charge up those walls to kill you, me, and every bleeding creature here." With that, Curlor stormed off, ranting about the real thing he was frustrated about "You! Yes you! The weasel, you better not have my blasted Tome of Plateau Histories! You aren't stealing that on my watch!"

Marople kept her eye on the squirrel and once he left spoke to the abbot "Speaks like an older hare. Have many words which are un-beastlike for decent folk, even for vermin sakes. Though I am afraid he is right. They aren't all going out there to avoid a siege."

"Perhaps, but we cannot judge them." Marthomis shook his head. Marthomis tried to change the subject "Forgive me, I am bad with rank. Lieutenant? How fares your Colonel?"

Marople's voice kept the cursed pace the abbot had come suspect from these dark days "He is still out cold, but not dead. The wound he suffered was considerable, not fatal thankfully."

"How do you fare?"

Marople looked at the abbot, trying to give a cheery smile "Well, our defenses are well in place. We have set up a couple tent structures nearest to the walls in case the vermin get clever and volley us, soldiers are in high morale, and our food stocks are now a little bit better. We'll get through this. We have to."

The abbot gave a grim and pitied look to the hare, who was in fact not doing very well at all. Marthomis demanded in a soft voice "How does it go truly, you can tell me up front mam. I have heard far more terrible things."

Marople looked slowly at the ground, trying to think, but sighed and spoke truthfully. "We are surrounded on all sides with no reinforcements coming as far as we know, my home is in vermin paws, and my other home is now also under siege. We are in a terrible spot, the worst scenario one can imagine abbot. All Markem has to do is wait and starve us out, but he won't just allow that. If he tries an assault, I have no clue if we could hold it off with whom we have now. Our commander is nearly dead, and the otters. Oh seasons."

Marople sniffed as she received a comforting pat on the back from the abbot. "These walls have faced worse than Markem, my dear. We'll overcome him as well."

The two watched as the vermin filed out. Only a few days had passed, but there was tenseness in the air. Fear and doubt was creeping all over Marople like a swarm of ants, but she kept her chin high and her eyes cold. She had to, for all of their sakes.
_

Jase and Gaisen sat outside in the courtyard, watching the vermin leave in droves. Jase felt anxious and miserable, constantly looking about him and giving a sudden yelp of fright. He had sort of wished he had not spent all of his bravery in climbing through a window into the library, because now he began to feel like he was spent. Coming out from the abbey, they were joined by their increasingly unwanted friend.

"How do ya folk live like dis?" Snot asked as he tried to fix up his habit. The rope belt he had was loose, and Jase and Gaisen groaned in unison seeing how poorly he had tucked in his new clothes. Gaisen helped him, but not before complaining loudly "I'd ask how you cannot, Snot, but I am afraid you'll just trouble me with the response. Now hold still." Gaisen aided the young weasel as best he could, but he was constantly moving and shifting. Jase kept sitting in the courtyard, only mildly looking at them. Even Snot could see something was wrong.

"Ya look like ya got punched by a ghost." Was his attempt at asking what was wrong in genuine concern.

"I kinda wish I was." Jase sighed in a depressed mood. Jase was afraid, he knew this and told himself, and he felt ashamed of it. Pa wasn't afraid of vermin, he faced down Kasg when he was Darper's age! I can barely move even thinking on it! Gaisen came over and patted his shoulder "Oh cheer up, Jase. The Long Patrol be here and nearly every vermin is leaving, so I think that is good news."

"Hey! I'm still here!" Snot protested.

"I know, about that." Gaisen noted, turning his attention to him "Why aren't you leaving with the rest of them? Don't you want to be with your own people?"

"Me own?" Snot darkly said, insulted at the very idea of it. "Dey ain't Butkans, an' der a bunch'a fools dinken dey are goin out der without dinken dey'll get conscripted or worse by dat horde. I mean, even if dat rat means what he says, I ain't leaven dis place. Free meal ya see. An." Snot paused and frowned, fumbling his words as if trying to say he was doing this for proud and selfish reasons, but he let it slip his real thoughts "De's folk taken me in, ya see. Cause I am just merely pretenden to be good so I can live here. Don't got a real place to go, an' usually out der dey would be quite unkind an' make me work fer even a morsel what ya folk gots. I mean, even if dey take dis place. I dink I'll be safe."

"Truer words have not been said." Gaisen said sarcastically, but Jase could see true meaning in his words. Snot looked frightened as well, just as frightened when he first met him.

Their conversation was interrupted when Darper and Nuck, followed by Nafpha and Norma, were patrolling around. The two weren't in their usual new gettups, since Garfan was busily doing more important things than directly looking after his wards. Darper was however wearing something that Gaisen couldn't help but chuckle at, a big and forebodingly large wrap of linen around his head as if were a war injury, and Norma keeping close to him and showering him with praise even to this very hour.

"Oh it's nothing, Norma! I wasn't going to let some blasted Cluny wannabe bother our abbey! If Mathias the Warrior could smack down that list of evil! Though I tried to get to his head, and only a fellow otter had to stop me!"

"Oh, Darper, what you did was so brave! Kinda wished I got that bravery when Stenna chewed you out for it."

Darper's fear came back as he remembered the badger mother throwing all manner of curses and threats at him as she bandaged him up. Most of it was nonsense in the heat of the moment, but a big badger yelling and barking at him certainly didn't do him good. Nuck was proud of his brave friend, but his mood was ruined seeing the Warrior of Redwall's son sitting in the shadow of the abbey.

"Norma. Nafpha." Gaisen said with a smile, though only Nafpha smiled back at this point. Jase looked up at the four of them as Darper tapped his head. "Enjoying your cowering corner, coward?" Nuck said in a casual tone, but a swift and angry nudge from Nafpha got him to be quiet.

"Ya Jase." Gaisen began in a sarcastic tone "Why didn't you charge haphazardly out and fall to the ground shivering and shaking like Darper here?"

"You stay out of this, snot nose." Darper said in a threatening tone, which only got a weird and aggressive look from the weasel behind him.

Jase was silent, but anger was building up within him. Nafpha warned Nuck to try to calm the situation "Can you all just grow up? The vermin are outside our home-"

Nuck was quick to remind her "And inside." Snot angrily sniffed at Nuck, taking a sudden step forward as the mouse partly backed up. Gaisen let out a mocking chuckle "Inside indeed, with brave beasts like you two, we are all certainly safe, eh?"

"Enough!" Nafpha shouted angrily "Can you all just set aside whatever petty troubles you have and help us? Garfan and Bollo asked us to bring up tools and wood to the upper walls, and we were hoping you would help. Once we are done, me and Norma wanted to go help Kalma organize the kitchens and divy up the food."

"Why ya beasts even wanna work, anyhow?" Snot folded his paws. Darper grunted at him for his comment "Cause this is our home, vermin. Just because Stenna agreed to keep you here doesn't mean you're one of us. Especially with words like that."

Gaisen spoke up in Snot's defense "And words like that certainly don't make him feel welcome, Darper. Takes a great deal of guts to talk down to a beast."

Norma frowned as she pulled at Darper's shoulder before he could answer. She hated when her two friends fought like this, and she felt a bit ashamed not being so involved. To her and Nafpha, it always sounded like a childish drama. Darper silenced himself, but the least loved of the group spoke up against Gaisen in particular. Nuck may have been older, but to Jase and Gaisen he sounded like a younger brat "It takes even more guts to do and say nothing! Come on you two, we got real work to do, why we bothered to come rally these two cowards and their vermin pet is an insult to this abbey! Why did you have to be the Jue's son, huh?! Why is the warrior of Redwall's son such a pathetic excuse for a good beast!"

Jase backed away in pitied fear of Nuck, at first, but then frowned and grew angry. It was what Nuck wanted to see, and he was disgusted by it. Nuck stormed off, and Darper and Norma followed, although they could hear Norma chiding and angrily criticizing the young mouse on his words.

Jase felt ashamed, because once the anger passed, he felt like Nuck was right.

So much of a warrior's son I turned out to be. Jase had grown to despise his own blood, and his fear of many things flooded his thoughts. Nafpha frowned and sighed "I'm sorry, Jase. Gaisen. You know how Nuck is, but he is only going to get worse."

"Couldn't really tell the difference." Gaisen scornfully said, watching the older beastchild leave.

"He is stressed. We all are, and for the sake of the abbey, could you tw-"

"We'll help. Right, Jase?" Gaisen said quickly. Jase looked up and nodded, slowly arising. He wanted to help, but before they headed out, they ran into another beast in the courtyard. Jase still frowned, not at the prospect of having to work, but at Nuck's words. He felt a bit depressed and the two went to do their duties. Snot followed along, lightly grumbling and regretting his decision to stay.
_

Bollo couldn't help but cringe and kept silent as Garfan and a hare were installing a new and simple defensive structure on Redwall's walls. Jase and Gaisen were already up the stairs and carrying wood and a bucket of nails to them as Bollo turned them and gave a warm and relieved smile "Oi! Jase! Guud tu see ya! Gurfun! I dunk we cun hundle it frum here."

Garfan spoke up, annoyed by Bollo's insistence. "I am good, mole! I've nearly got it!"

Gaisen whispered to the mole "Okay, so what the hells are they doing?"

"Nu mure ouf dut language, yung Giusun. Thuy ur. Urm." Bollo had to think, cause he and his crew of moles were a bit amused at Garfan's attempts at engineering.

Garfan and the hares were trying to install a large wooden shield with a small wooden roof, a turret of sorts made of makeshift wood to allow an archer to fire safely inside. The Long Patrol were not used to such siege works, but they were used to sitting and sleeping close to their enemies. A sniper was a Long Patrol's best friend, a beast who could in the midst of battle and within relative safety shoot through arrow slits and at captains and officers who could be spotted by their better gear or shiny baubles they carried with them. Bollo had suggested that the turrets be built along the weaker parts of the walls, and were to be made large and covered. In case of an assault, it would at least certainly save lives from volleys being hurled down at them, even if the vermin didn't have as many archers as they suspected.

Garfan however wasn't doing the best job. His work was lopsided, and he was facing down as he tried to nail pieces into place. The vermin utterly surrounded them and it wouldn't be possible to make repairs to the walls like in the old days. Whatever they had, they would have to go with. Jase and Gaisen could only look on with partial amazement at Garfan's bumbling as the mouse warrior gumbled as he hammered away at a board.

"Erm, Garfan." Gaisen began to say before he was cut off "Gaisen, you say anything I don't want to hear, I'll be sure to send you back home with a few nasty remarks to think on, youngster."

Bollo frowned and looked to Gaisen, who was sighing. "Nu need fur dut, Gurfun."

"You stay out of it, Bollo! I'm already busy as it is. Hare, pass me another nail. I think it's more stable now?" Garfan asked unsure. Jase crept a bit closer to the walls, looking out over the whole field. Vermin tents were everywhere, and they had been oddly diligent these past few days. From beyond the range of Long Patrol arrows, the vermin had their slaves dig out trenches and build ladders. Warriors sharpened weapons as the vast array of dark hosts of Markem's horde intermingled casually. Banners of orange, brown, and black fluttered about as the vermin stared up at the walls, and the sentries looked down on them.

"Bollo? You think we'll get through this? Right?" Jase said in a terrified voice as he backed away from the walls. Bollo held him and patted his shoulder "Aye. We wull. Yur pa fought wurse dun dis lut. We'll undure."

Garfan rolled his eyes and spoke up "Not with good words mind you, but with steel. This ain't a story, young Jase. This is battle, war even. Nothing but screaming, and watching good beasts you know perish for the stupid cause started by vermin paw."

"Motivational." Gaisen sarcastically grunted. Garfan stopped what he was doing and came out of his little work hole, dusting himself off. He looked tired, which was understandable since he hadn't been sleeping well. Gaisen and Jase may not have been in their 'recruit uniforms', but Garfan still held authority over them as if his duties held much sway in this strange situation. "You two shouldn't be on the walls. Especially when all this starts. Bollo, get your moles and start building an additional well within the abbey, if we dig now, we can avoid having a water problem later on. Gaisen. Jase. Go to Stenna and have her deal with you two."

Jase tried to speak up "Garfan, sir. We were asked to help and want to help."

"You can help by not being in the way." Garfan said darkly "Battle isn't a place for children. Your mother will throw me from the bleeding walls if i even suggest it, which I won't. Till this is all resolved, you two are dismissed."

Bollo looked a bit surprised "You lettun innucent beusts uff easy? Yuo be dut tured?"

Garfan growled, annoyed by Bollo who seemed overly smug. "Listen here, mole. This may be a new idea for you, but there is an entire vermin army out there an-"

"Dun't yuo pretund I havun't faced duwn varmunts, Gurfun. I've kulled mure dun I am willun to evur be proud of."

Garfan grinded his teeth a bit at the statement. It had not been long since the mole's outburst, and he certainly didn't forget about how Bollo had poisoned the skipper's mind, his friend, over some petty quarrel with the Companions. Bollo had gone from respected hero of Mossflower in his passing thoughts, to little more than a wretch trying to sabotage the hope of Redwall for some warped personal vendetta. I doubt he even did as much as they said in that tale. In no world can this be a 'hero' who accuses good beasts of such evil acts! In such a dramatic way as well!

Garfan was never one to hold in his spite, coming closer and making his accusations very clear "I've faced down vermin, mole. Perhaps you claim to have, but from the way you bleeding have acted this season, I'd say you aren't any better then that rat down there, poisoning Dakan's mind the moment he went off to war! You know what he told me?! He began to believe your bleeding lies! Your word means nothing, foremole. Now if you excuse me, I have real defenses to tend to."

Bollo's smugness faded as he learned this through Garfan. Jase and Gaisen grew silent, and the Long Patrol looked at one another in confusion. Bollo didn't say a word as he felt an array of anger boil in him, but faded into a regretful whimper. Jase bore witness as he could see the great hero of Mossflower's fiery posture begin to fade into a dim hollow, and Gaisen could see his adoptive guardian storm off. Gaisen growled "Don't you listen to him, foremole. He is a grumpy old fool."

Bollo still remained silent as he spoke in a solemn voice "Oh, dun't speuk unkind of a hunust beust, gud Gaisum. He is riught."

Gaisen looked a bit dumbfounded as he looked to the increasingly frowning mole, his childish fright returning to the stoic beast. "Me prublums wit Jue, me greatust friend caused nuten but trouble fur us all. Yer guardiun be a troublued beust, an I cunnut bluame him. Everydung hud gune su wrung, an' in a wuy it be me fault. I druve Jue awuy, maybue evun maude ol' Dakun lose hius mind. Hesum is just a mouse." The mole heaped all manner of blame on himself, which broke Jase's heart to hear. He wanted to say something in comfort, but not words came to mind, not ones which would make things better. The mole felt weak as the Long Patrol nearby stared and were losing heart as well. It was like a contagion as Gaisen and Jase felt it hit them like a runaway cart.

Bollo turned and tapped their shoulder and brought them back down into the courtyard. They went in silence to the dormitories, where Stenna would await, but Bollo would leave them. Gaisen frowned and felt terrible, for more reasons then one.

"Nuck and Darper ain't going to let it down that we are trapped in the nursery or at home while everyone else works. Even Snot. Can't help anyone, and now even Bollo looks like he is going to throw himself from the-" Gaisen didn't finish the sentence, fearing Jase would react poorly to it. He was aware of Jase's many limits, but when he turned to the squirrel, a fire was building up in him.

"Gaisen. We need towels, bedsheets, and packs. Food from the kitchens, and maybe a knife."

"What? You planning on building another fort to await all this out?" Gaisen gave a unsure smile, for at least during Redwall's siege they could return to the attic and re-enact their strangest adventure. Yet, Jase turned to his friend and shook his head.

"Pa is out in those woods, and my dreams." Jase paused, growing frustrated as his words spoke with a growing fire to them "Pa has been out in the forests for too long. There is only one beast who can help us now. Jue the Warrior. Just as Mathias returned the sword to abbey long ago, we'll return with my pa and drive that Markem out. You with me?" Jase's fire returned to an ember of caution as he looked to his friend. Gaisen's smile only grew bigger. "You grab the bedsheets. I'll get us the food. We know where we are headed?"

Jase smiled as he looked upon his confident friend "Sout'gen. We'll head to Sout'gen first."
_

Gaunt didn't like to say much as the hares escorted him from his makeshift cell beneath Redwall. Smelling of fine berry alcohol, the rat fixed up his ragged clothes and put on his tuque. The hare didn't bother him much as the otter had. The Redwallers no doubt still suspected him of the thievery, but he was another mouth to feed for them, and on a certain mouse's wise words he was let go and was quickly making his way towards the caravan. Yet, as he was heading there, he did not feel relief of disappearing into a horde as he spotted Hesam and Vogar casually looking at the mass going out and then looked to him. Gaunt was a subtle beast, at first pretending to ignore them as Hesam and Vogar stepped closer and spoke in a dramatic tone to him.

"Don't think the beasts of Redwall will forget a thief like you, rat. Off to join this dark horde are we?" Vogar smirked. Gaunt stopped as he looked cautiously about. Some of the Redwall folk did look at this confrontation but this was only brief. The Long Patrol were not well informed, and didn't even bother. In another casually loud proclamation, Hesam pretended to be the calmer of the two "You are lucky our good badger friend isn't here, or he would have given you a nice smack to loosen your shoulders. No need for such barbarism, eh vermin?"

Gaunt didn't really want to thank Hesam for busting him out, but he was still bound to him regardless "Ya got me attention, boss." He said in a loud whisper, making sure to be somewhat threatening to the two. Their threats to kill him and to deal harshness to him as they had dealt with Yushag remained on his mind.

"Quiet you bleeding fool." Vogar silently warned. Gaunt grunted "I be out an' about an kept me mouth shut, I did. Give a rat his due credit. Dis horde be yer boss's I presume?"

"Of course it is you moron, I saw a cat out there myself. Likely one of the emperor's spies." Hesam's mood and voice changed with an increasing spite "Which of course, means you got to help with the coordination no doubt." Hesam looked out towards the gatehouse and squinted "This place is crawling with Long Patrol, but Vogar knows how to deal with them. Gaunt, you need to go speak with that cat and get them to be ready for our mark."

"Ya gonna let me on dis plan, at least." Gaunt asked impatiently, his eyes peering at the groups of vermin leaving the abbey. Vogar forcefully returned his attention to them. "We'll assault the gatehouse and kill the sentries near it with silence, then lock it down. Hesam will burn it, break up repair supplies, and so forth. You need to tell them we'll do this two nights from now, before that bleeding idiot gave these beasts the false hope of a week of peace."

Hesam tapped his flute to Gaunt's nose "Naturally of course, I don't need to remind you that we rely heavily on you. We'll be watching for any deviations. Anything happens to us, consider that protection you get from your debtors to be dead along with us."

Gaunt hated that reminder and frowned. He sighed and nodded "Fine den, ya got it. Just find der cat den?"

"Of course find the bleeding cat." Vogar said annoyed. "Who else do you think is leading this band of fools? The rat is just a puppet behind the real power here."

"Two nights from now, ya will attack der gatehouse in der night. Gots it." Gaunt repeated. Hesam gave a dark smile and patted the rat and nearly kicked him toward the gate. "And don't come back, vermin!"

Vogar and Hesam kept an eye on Gaunt as he left, along with the last of the vermin. Hesam kept a silence, although felt a bit more safe as his low voice was hidden from the loud hustle and bustle of the abbey's newfound defenders and panicked woodlanders who went about their old and new duties.

"You ready for it, Vogar? Lots of Long Patrol, sentries no doubt will be keeping an eye out for trouble."

"Focused on the outside." Vogar said with less concern "Just need to clear out that fool gatekeeper, Garfan I think he is called. I'll deal with the sentries, younger lads all it seems. Shouldn't be too difficult." Vogar looked about, studying his prey on the upper walls. He was confident he could deal with them in silence. "Just make sure those gates remain open, Hesam."

The mouse bard blew into his flute a bit "Your worries are unfounded, my long eared friend. It is you who should worry about your own troubles."

Vogar rolled his eyes as two companions continued on, climbing the stairs to the upper walls and looking out over the vast vermin camp once again. The two stood there, admiring the view, mentally picking out the nice spot they would park themselves when they revealed their true colors.


Gaunt meandered about his new found task with a slow and steady pace. He had no real intention of going about his duties quickly, even as he marched alongside the destitute vermin families. He recognized a number of them, looking to his right he spotted a fox family of wannabe seers who could never convince anyone of their supposed divinity, their youngsters packed into a small cart while their parents argued and complained. To his left were three ferret brothers, all much younger than himself and clearly small-time gangsters who kept their heads down. He looked partly down to see one of them having cleverly hidden away a silver spoon, likely stolen from the abbey. He felt a bit awkward as he saw the fear and concern of the vermin around them, speaking of the rumors which had brought them to Redwall in the first place.

"Der Butkans are gone I hears. Dat skipper said so, ya dink de's folk are der ones who did it?"

"Nay, can't be. Cause dey said it were cats who took'em."

"Dey say der entire vermin holes in der west are empty. Haven't seen ol' Mang'gee in awhile. Ya dink he be good an' all?"

"Course he ain't on that old fool's luck. Worried about me ma doh, an' me sisters. Haven't heard wind o'dem in awhile. Oh seasons, I hope dey be okay."

Gaunt had to hold in a sigh. He didn't fully like the fact he knew the answers to their questions, and he had a lot of reasons to hold it all in. He was somewhat aware of what happened to the unfortunate souls dragged down into that terrible place. It gave him a tinge of fear whenever he thought too much on it, that if he ever came late on his debts, he too would be sent to some god forsaken island to be branded and broken into a servile hordebeast. Hordebeast? Nay. Slavebeast dey would turn good ol' Gaunt into. Blasted cats.

Gaunt barely even noticed when he and the group he followed were past the trenches which led into Markem's camp. The rows of tents and chaotic organization was certainly different to him, but it was something he could understand. Cats were vermin, they always had been in his mind, but they were like the hares of the vermin. Arrogant, organized, and dedicated to a maddening order that they suspected others to follow. No doubt, some cat whether feral or wild had some paw in the horde's leadership.

"Alright ya lot, keep it moving. Der chief wants to look ya over!" Called out some mean looking stout who became pushy with the group. "Der chief ain't not gonna be waiten on yer account, ya blasted fools!"

Gaunt looked at the stout who seemed in a bad mood, grumbling to himself "Blasted Markem. Week he says. Shoulda been over der walls yesterdays."

Gaunt noticed the stout was well armed and better armored then his fellow, his clothes weren't ragged and showed some age. Gaunt didn't need to guess for long that this was a captain of some sort and he approached with a caution. Gaunt knew of warlords and their captains well enough, and the quickness they adhered to when it came to abusing their positions. A bad move could see him viciously punished, so when he spoke to him, it was with a guarded tone "Good stout, yer a cap'n right?"

"Cap'n Turbas, ya lousy long tail." The stout growled "Get back into line an' move along."

"Erm, o'course. Names Gaunt, mate." The rat said in a friendly tone, although forced as it was. "I be looken fer a beast. A cat. Gotta meet wit dem, an-"

"Cat? What cat?" Turbas turned his full attention to the rat, his eyes squinting "Der ain't no cat except dat mercenary idiot followen captain Jarolom's kinling. Move, or I'll start cutten a beast i will." Turbas said in a threatening tone. Gaunt didn't fully understand the hostility till the stout took out a flask and downed its contents with several loud gulps. It definitely wasn't the fresh and clear waters of the River Moss he was drinking. Gaunt frowned and continued with the line of vermin families, as it seemed he would have to find the beasts directly.

The group of vermin were sent to a small clearing only a little ways outside the camp, which had been growing for the past few days. When Markem made his announcement when he entered the abbey, the vermin had all agreed to get out before trouble started. They had been dragged to the abbey by otters, and didn't feel all too keen defending the place with their lives. The most eager to leave first were the younger adults, eager to join the horde for a shot at loot and vittles. It was amusing to the hares when some of them came back, begging for their things they had left behind accidentally. The second group to leave were the more lone vermin, followed by the last groups of families.

Gaunt sat in the grass, without either a tent or a single thing to his name other then the clothes on his back, which wasn't abnormal for vermin like him. The luckier, and better off, vermin had their own carts and supplies. They naturally would never share a single thing, but what surprised Gaunt was when Markem's horde began to distribute supplies and vittles. An older soldier came over, looked down at Gaunt, and shoved a tent into his chest, and threw some vermin rations to him. "Fer a few days at least, matey. Courtesy of der boss."

Gaunt was a bit surprised, he was a bit worried he would be conscripted. It worried him more that they didn't give him a weapon either. It wouldn't very much surprise him to be forced into the horde alongside the others, it was what Cluny had done in the old stories.

He got up and shoulder his new things and looked about the camp, trying to find an open and friendly campfire to sit at. He found one, but one which he was a bit surprised to find. Gaunt went over and sat beside a group of woodlanders, all of which gave him a weird look. The rat saw two mice, a younger hare, and a mole family sitting around the campfire. Gaunt looked to the hare first, who shamefully pulled at his bright red jacket, who looked rather shaken.

"I bite, whatcha doin here, Long Patrol."

"Recruit." The hare quickly replied. Gaunt prodded further as he ate of his vittles "I thought ya folk were all about dat blood an' salt."

"Blood and vinegar." The hare said a bit annoyed, but returned to a sad state. "Okay, sure. Ya gonna answer me question den?"

"You dun neud tu answur." The mole father said, patting his dibbum who rolled on the ground in blissful ignorance. His missus picked him up, although she held her other one. The hare picked up his chin and gave a deep sigh, turning to the rat "Pa and Ma were both at Moss Field. Ma died, but Pa was captured. I saw him, struggling and going mad from the beatings, but him seeing him in this bleeding doomed place had him a worse place, wot."

Gaunt grunted "So ya dink beggen der warlord be a good idea, den?"

"I'd rather be with my pa at least, rat." The hare said in a depressed mood, he looked into the small and humble campfire, fiddling his paws slowly. Gaunt turned to the two mice. "Ya two?"

"Our farm is farther off and Markem's horde conquered it. We cannot fight, so we are going back to whatever may come."

Gaunt turned to the mole, his eyes met with the mole father's who looked angry at him. He didn't need to guess their reason. The youngsters who obviously played around in the dirt in front of them, rolling about with a glee, was more than enough reason to leave this siege. He found it amusingly hypocritical that the mole held such spite for him. Cowards defenden cowards. Typical soft beasts.

"Up ya lot!" Called Turbas to the group, his verminous horde marching through the tents. Gaunt arose and so did the woodlanders, as the hordebeasts motioned and pushed the groups together. Gaunt expected to see some large beastial rat, taller than an otter and with yellow fangs glaring down at them. Yet, the softer and rough voice of Markem broke his concentration on his own imagination. "No need to yell, Turbas. De's are common folk, not enemies."

"Apologies chief, common folk only listen if ya be yellen at dem in me experience." Turbas said in a casual and fearless tone. Gaunt looked to Markem and frowned as the rat approached. He wore a heavier uniform of chainmail, covered up by his brownish tunic and ragged cloak. His shield was wooden, his sword of hare make but was a little rusted. The only thing intimidating about him was that big horned helm he wore, which he quickly took off and handed it to a big otter beside him. Gaunt looked to him, even more confused, the bigger beast wore a cleaner garb, sure, but he was clearly a slave beast by the rope around his neck. He noticed that much when he looked at the slavebeasts coming into the camp. Why der hells does he got a blade? Why der cleaner garb? Der hells is dis.
Markem looked awkward and looked about the growing collective of vermin who came out of Redwall. These weren't northerners, tribals, or pirates. These were his own people, fellow vermin of Mossflower and born of the forest. He spoke to them plainly "I am Markem Brownnose, chief of dis here horde. Der Great Vermin Band. I had me captains force ya to camp here till ya were looked over, but it won't be fer very long."

The vermin gave him a confused look as Markem paced and continued "I know many'a warlord an' chief has told ya der same fool ding about der hordes, how different an' homely dey are. How dey got vittles fer days, easy pickings, an' der vaguest of goals. I got all dat mind ya, but I do mean what I mean. I ask ya if ya shall wish to join me band in making dis place a proper home, under our banner, as vermin an' beasts of Mossflower. By right of conquest, tis our right to claim what is ours by sword an' fang. When we win, ya will have fresh land, an be free to live under me rule radder den long ears an' badgers."

"Erm. Ya ain't conscripten us?" One of the older vermin asked. Markem smiled widely and shook his head "Not one bit, matey. All of me beasts be willen, I don't smash up homes nor drive ya out."

There was a murmur amongst the vermin, as a couple of the group stepped forward. Markem expected as much from younger vermin without the shackle of large family ties who quickly spoke small and vague oaths "Ya got our attention, chief, an' our paws."

"Glad to hear." More vermin stepped forward in a predictable manner. Yet, this was not the same groups as before. Rather, when these groups step forward they were frowning and spoke with a caution. "Ya sound like a proper warlord, matey, an' a big one at dat. We'd gladly join ya, but, erm. . ." One older fox said. Markem listened until he gained the strength to speak up "Matey, we'd come to know a number of dem beasts in Redwall, an' doh dey be woodlander folk, tis a cursed abbey. Spirits live der, an' we dun really wanna fight dem after dey fed us. Dat otter an' his holt dragged us to dat place, informen us of kidnappers. Targetten us."

Markem partly frowned as Turbas came forward and chided them "If ya don't want to fight fer der chief, den ya can bugger off. Der rest of ya l-" Turbas was cut off as Markem came forward to the older fox and nodded "Aye, I understand yer troubles, I know der old tales as well."

Markem looked them over, and could clearly see they were lying. The vermin shifted awkwardly, especially their youngsters. Redwall was a peaceful place, respected for many reasons, and its inhabitants had an effect on them. They were willing to kill for vittles and loot, they just didn't wish it to be awkward, an understandable notion for such isolated beasts. "For do's who wish to join me horde, ya may join an' become garrisons amongst me tributaries. Ya won't need to throw yourselves at dem walls for me sake."

The vermin began to smile and more stepped forward to give their oaths to their new chief. Gaunt looked to the woodlanders who stayed behind, wondering of their fate. Markem turned to them next and lifted an eyebrow to the younger hare amongst them. He motioned him forward.

"Do tell me dat yer a coward or a stupid beast, cause If dis be an attempt to spy on us, it certainly ain't worken." Markem suspected some manner of hare trick, aware of their dubiousness in conflict. The young hare gulped and explained himself to Markem who sighed deeply.

"Der rest of ya, you will go off to Grasswayne, dat hedgehog village farther off in der north. You doh. Ya know what yer pa be looken like?"

"I do, sar."

Markem snapped at 'Dirt' who reached into a pouch and pulled out a rope. The hare knew what this meant as Markem put the rope around his neck and tied it "You an yer pa can leave under guard fer Tussock, where ya can help me horde far from here. Gutan will make der arrangements." Markem's voice lowered to something Gaunt had not suspected, a pity for the younger hare. Markem's guards marched him off elsewhere, while Gaunt came forward and made his oath "Ya got ol' Gaunt's paws, chief. Erm, me lord. May I-"

"I apologize, I do not do names well Craut." Markem interjected and looked to the rat. Gaunt tried to speak up, but the rat pulled himself away "Turbas, ya know me orders, have it be done. I welcome ya all to der Great Vermin Band." Just as he appeared, the warlord was already off with his bodyguard. Gaunt was speechless and he sighed. I'll just have to find the bleeding cat meself.
_

Markem sat alone in his pavilion, his command center and home away from home. His real home was out there, amongst the muck and tents of a busy vermin camp, and he felt out of place constantly as he stared down at the map of Redwall. Or well, the crude map Scarl had drawn him. Markem couldn't help but be amused at the crude drawing, the lopsided bird's eye view of the abbey, which shifted between architectural designs and more artistic renditions of the turrets and walls. The size and distance was of course all wrong, but it didn't really matter much for Markem who was appreciative of his friend's helpful map. Markem was thinking, and he was thinking hard.

Markem drew his claw from the front of the abbey's main gate to the distant renditions of his camp. He wondered if Cluny was ever in such a situation like this, or all the other famed warlords and hordes from his tales. The abbey was utterly surrounded, it was certainly the largest force Redwall had seen for a while. The week was drawing closer to an end, but Markem had a plan.

"Sir." Markem looked up to see 'Dirt' sticking his head in with his usual tired and bored expression. He knew what it meant as Markem called out "Who is it?"

"Hazul."

Markem grumbled to himself, not in the mood for the rat's preaching. Hazul had gone through with his dark ritual with the flare and bombastic fair that followed. He was not at ease, and some of the more secular horde breasts seemed a bit frightened. Hazul had erected a great cairne and burned it with a blue flame, throwing stones etched with spells and curses onto it to drive off the spirit who inhabited the abbey. Markem would have guessed it worked in some capacity, as he had not had many dreams of mice lately, at least not the ones described in the old tales. "Let him in, 'Dirt'."

Hazul came in, his warrior and tribal garb always caught Markem's by surprise as he looked down at the small mouse skull he wore on his belt. Markem couldn't help but growl at such a morbid trophy, despite his 'friendship' to such a murderous mad beast. Markem gave the rat a dark stare "Me mood is troubled today, Hazul, so don't bring me to a worse mood, I beg ya."

"My warriors grow restless, Markem." Hazul eventually said as he came closer, looking down at the map of the walls "You are still thinking about this, Markem? Our forces are considerable, the spirit retreats. I'd think you'd be more happy."

"I'd have been happier if dem hare all dropped dead." The rat looked back down at the map, he frowned "If we wait dem out, we could be looken at a very long siege, an' we'd just be waiten fer a badger to come down wit a bigger army an' wipe us out. We know little why dey haven't come in der first place. The shrews an' otters are still out an' about, so if dey start poken at our supply lines an' caravans we could be crawling our way in beggen fer food. We assault dem in a few days, no place we end up goin into is gonna be easy to take. Our momentum relies heavily on us dealing der killen blow. I ain't afraid of a defeat, but radder the rockslide dat follows after it. Dat army in der is gonna make damn well sure we suffer tryen to even get into der darn place."

Hazul nodded and looked down at the map "This isn't like Tussock or Veekun's Burrow, the garrison is too big and can easily keep a watch over all the walls." Hazul looked over the map but then turned his attention fully to Markem "I thought we agreed on our plan yesterday."

"Aye, a full on assault in der morning." Markem remembered that meeting less fondly then others, partly because he had trouble keeping control over the others who argued and threatened one another in increasing tension "I''ll lead a false assault meself on der main gate, make dem dink we are all focusing in on der main front. Once we get close an' start skirmishing, Ya an' Kylan will lead an assault on der sides, wit a larger an elite crew from der back where the main bulk will try to seize der back gate. Once dey realize we got in, we'll all need to push our reserves forward an' climb dem walls, as Jarolom, Resker, an' dem Bloodracks push the main force forward an' spill der fighting in the main courtyard. If we can' get inside der abbey, all der better." Markem sighed "Which also means, no doubt, der will be a lot a blood by der time I get in der, an' not der blood I want spilt."

Hazul blinked as Markem arose and shook his head "It'll be a costly battle, but we'll have broken der myth of Redwall's invulnerability. It shouldn't take us too long, an' we'll have enough vermin to march an siege down Salamandastron ferever."

"Forever?"

Markem nodded "Aye. Only a very stupid an' desperate beast would try to assault dat mountain fortress." Markem continued to run his claws along the walls on the map, looking for some secret he had no idea how to find "If der badger lord be dat much of a layabout, den trappen dem in der mountain wit the horde parked outside its gates is much more preferable den assaulting dem. Our only enemy is der Long patrol, an' no one else fer now. If we can force der badger into being reasonable wit us, den all der better."

"What of their magic, Markem?" Hazul suddenly asked. Markem looked up again, his eyes showing a hint of disbelief "Hazul, if dey got magic an' charms, den dey certainly didn't use it at Moss Field. We've known an' fought badgers befer, dey are like foxes, dey ain't magic."

"That isn't how it works." Hazul darkly said, a little frustrated himself "The mountain has power, warlord. Great power. It gives them sight beyond sight, just as the spirit of the warrior mouse gives these beasts hope and zeal. My spells can drive that spirit away, they won't work at Salamandastron."

Markem had been tempted to chide the rat for his beliefs, but he again held himself back from doing so. Hazul was a great ally, not a great friend. Markem always felt that Hazul's greatness was held back by his religion, and that he was lucky the rat was so zealous he could be manipulated. Markem sighed "We'll deal wit it when we get der. If yer so confident in der vision, why didn't dey got Moss Field? Why stay in der mountain?"

Hazul frowned and rubbed his chin "Could mean only one of two things, Markem. Either they are fighting some other beast, or they have some manner of plan in motion, one which we are not prepared for."

The two heard the flap of the tent open again and 'Dirt' stepped inside. Markem also knew what this meant as he stood at attention and looked to his bodyguard. "Okay, who be outside dis time, 'Dirt'?"

"One of the scouts, sir." 'Dirt' said in an awkward tone and then gained the strength to speak up "He wishes to speak with you. Do you wish me to go get Scarl?"

Hazul raised an eyebrow and asked "Why do you suggest this, slavebeast?"

Markem frowned, for he knew he was about to hear something he really did not want to hear.
_

In a small logging village farther out from Redwall, a farmer mouse tended to their crops. Life was simple and long, as it has been for hundreds of seasons in Grainfield. Grainfield was a small mouse village, whose history was about as boring as one could suspect. It used to be a much bigger and grander village, which farmed grain up until it learned the forests could be chopped at for a better income. Traders from other villages were always seeking wood for new homes, but the spirit of Grainfield's farming past surrounded the village. The village's boredom was cut short when the farmer looked up to see strange flags fluttering on the horizon, coming out from the forests and in great numbers. The farmer paused, unsure if it was some Long Patrol detachment or some richer woodlander traveling through.

Then the beasts came closer and the mouse gasped. Vermin, a whole lot of them, were marching up to the village. The mouse threw down his tools and ran towards the village, shouting for kin and the militia, and two brothers rushed from the chieftain's hall at the sound of a vermin horde moving towards them. They suspected only a few lean vermin gangsters who looked to raid for food, but were met instead by a lumbering wolverine and a couple foxes flanking a ferret. The mice had drawn their weapons, but they paused when they realized the vermin had not drawn theirs.

"Yer chieftain, where is he?" Scarl demanded, as one of the militia rebuked him "Don't know who you lot are, but we demand you leave! Where is our patrol?" There was supposed to be a patrol, a local squirrel who kept watch for trouble like this. Scarl snapped his paw fingers and some of the vermin came forward with a defeated and beaten squirrel, slamming him into the ground. Before he could get up, Niala brought her halberd down softly on the squirrel's neck and spoke up "Ya lot drop yer weapons, if we wanted to raid ya, we wouldn't have came like dis."

The militia slowly lowered their weapons, knowing by simple numbers alone they were already beat. Scarl made his way into the village, followed by Jarolom. "Scarl, ya sure dis be der right place?"

"Der last place der Warrior of Redwall was ever seen was a small hamlet named Grainfield." Scarl repeated the phrase from one of the prisoners who had told him the story. Scarl felt more up to date about these current events, of Jue and the Companions, and of the search for him when he disappeared. The story was simple; The companions had lost sight of the squirrel when he traveled into the deeper woods, searching for rumors of an evil there. The companions followed, but could not find him, all except clues of his struggle. The whisper of the accursed name Lady of the Woods was mentioned several times, a tale Scarl was somewhat familiar with. A dark and unknown beast who lured beasts to their demise with false words and dark spells. All of course was just nonsense. "Hazul's favored scout is searchen der woods fer the old tracks, although too much time has passed fer der to be anything to be seen, so dis is our best bet."

Jarolom shook his head "He probably fell on a rock an' died, matey. Why we even be botheren wit dis?"

"Ya got no imagination, matey." Scarl chuckled "Alive or dead, its der sword we want. Imagine, Jarolom, the most sacred weapon of our enemy in our paws, being wielded and trophied. Tis something like out of der old tales, of Cluny taking der very image of Martin as his banner, or der Marlfox's stealing der entire ding! We'll do one better, an steal der sword. We'll break der spirit wit it. Make der siege all dat less deadly if dey know we got der little toy."

Jarolom didn't seem at all convinced "Pa nearly had dat sword, Scarl. Der be nutten special about it. Tis just a sword."

"Maybe, but der is power in somethen a beast believes in, even if we don't believe it ourselves. Or Markem fer dat matter."

The two made their way to the chieftain's hut and went inside, As Niala and Wulvog remained outside. Their respective vermin hordes locked down the village, calming some beasts down while dragging back others. Murg and her small cadre of fellow vermin were turning the village into another tributary, and establishing a garrison with some back up vermin who had joined in this hunt. Wulvog looked to his left and began to speak to his shadowless brother "You know Yulfang, what is with all this about swords and spirits anyhow?"

Niala was about to answer before they were quickly interrupted by her wildcat friend who came up to them to pick at his teeth with a dagger.

"Simple, you big, overgrown weasel. You never heard of Martin the Warrior?"

Wulvog looked down to Taban and grunted at him, the wildcat slowly backed away just in case he had accidentally made the much bigger beast furious. The wolverine seemed mostly just annoyed as Niala explained "Well Wulvog, tis an old tale. Dey say a nordern mouse named Martin of der Tribe of Luke freed himself from der captivity of a warlord, der warrior went south an' defeated der cats who used to live here, killed dem all to der last."

"Luke?" Wulvog raised an eyebrow. Niala sighed in a casual tone, even as the prisoner beneath her partly struggled to get comfortable. "Aye, Luke. Anuder round ears. Me pa and ma used to tell us der stories all der time. Twas always a long an' complicated tale. Sometimes me ma would say dat Martin's sword flashed wit lightning, or dat the corsair Luke had killed came to shore in der night, wailing about der lose of his face an' crew. Pa always had more reasonable tales. When me an' Jarolom were but little kits, we'd always listen to der tales, doh at times it always felt like warnings."

The three continued to converse about up until Jarolom and Scarl came back out, with Jarolom softly complaining "The hells, Scarl! What a giant waste of time!"

Scarl looked to be deep in thought, and following them out was a cane wielding older mouse who watched them from the door. He was old, and looked on with elder scorn towards the two vermin. Scarl motioned Niala to release her halberd from the squirrel, and the scout quickly dove off towards his home and away from further danger. Taban spoke first "Ya got your clues?"

"Nay! Nutten but a cold trail."

Scarl explained, not as frustrated as Jarolom was "Der warrior of Redwall was here wit his companions seasons ago, hunten rumors of der Lady of the Woods. Four beasts went north, an' only three came back. Dat squirrel likely is north somewhere, but der is a lot more questions den answers?"

"Like what?" Niala asked.

Scarl looked to her and sighed "Just a lot of dings don't make a lot of sense, doh it be hard to get information from a beast who can't remember well. I am hoping Hazul's scouts will find more. Dey assumed dey went north, but went by der back roads down south. Der companions came back alone from der south entrance of der village, desperately asken about Jue. Weird dey didn't just go north but radder went back to the roads."

Jarolom grumbled "Makes sense if they were traveling with speed. Going through a hill cursed forest ain't exactly easy."

Scarl didn't look sure "Sure, but why did dey come back to dis village first looken fer dem from der south road? Dat old mouse says dey searched der northern forests wit otters and hares alike, but why just der north? If dat squirrel was up der, dey would have found a body by now, no doubt."

"Maybe dey didn't look hard enough." Jarolom chided "This was pointless, ya dink dey went south?"

"South, or east." Scarl quickly spoke "Which only brings me more questions. If dey didn't go north to hunt fer dat accursed shadow, den why go elsewhere? Why did dat warrior's friends not go eder way?"

Wulvog spoke with confidence "Maybe his friends killed him?" There was a pause amongst the group, before Niala began to lose herself to chuckling followed by laughter amongst the others. Wulvog looked about and folded his paws, unsure what was so funny.

Scarl had to explain "Nay, de's be soft beasts we speak of. Not vermin. I'm confident in dinken dat dey were up to somethen, but woodlanders aren't treacherous, especially to one anuder. Woodlanders as far as I am concerned can't be bothered wit such dings. Tis just something dat dey don't do, even if be beneficial fer dem to do so. Dey don't got der mind or heart for it at all."

Wulvog huffed and folded his paws "Then what exactly is your thinking on it, ferret?"

"I dun' know. Woodlanders do got der secrets, an' dey aren't above certain dings, but dey aren't like us by milestones. Though, if we are to be looken fer dat sword, an der warrior who has it, we'd be marchen down south to find dem. Or east. Eder or."

Jarolom had a sudden smile on his face "Hells, then what are we waiting for Scarl? Ya dink we just head on down an' pick up a trail?"

Scarl cringed and shook his head "Dat be a problem, Jarolom. Dem Woodlanders are smarter den they let on, an dey had otters an hares looken through der forest. If der is a trail, it be long an' gone by now. Hazul may want us perpetual out here ferver looken for dat sword an' squirrel, but not Markem."

"Der heck with what Markem an' Hazul, I want it." Jarolom said proudly. Scarl gave a scowl to his friend, but the fox captain proudly strode about and seemed a bit more youthful. "Me pa nearly had dat sword, tis only fair I gets it at least."

Niala chuckled and was about to continue on before a vermin sprinted from the woods and past Niala's nearby sentries. The vermin was grabbed before he could get in, but as soon as the sentry recognized them as one of the couriers, the scout rushed up with a deep and looming exhaustion. "Scarl! Cap'n Scarl!" Scarl nearly didn't hear him, as despite being a captain, he didn't really think himself as one. He turned to the courier who spoke up to him, trying to collect his breath "Markem demands ya return. Everyone to return, maties!"

"What, why?" Jarolom asked, annoyed "Were hunting for the damned warrior of Redwall himself?"

Scarl listened as the scout spoke to him "Markem says our supply lines are in danger, cap'n! Says were losen der villages south of der river Moss! Markem demands ya all return at once!" Scarl didn't fully understand the concern at first, but then his eyes lit up in a sudden realization as he yelled out for a swift march back to Redwall.
_

Scarl marched his way into Redwall's siege camp, flanked by Niala and Jarolom with Wulvog lagging behind. Scarl yelled out orders to them both "Ya two, pack yer dings. Make sure yer vermin be ready to move out, cause we got liddle time. Damned me fer dinken dem otters were gonna just stay in der hole."

Niala was a bit confused "Ya acten like der be an army headen towards us."

Jarolom gave her a dark eye as he continued to march on "Foxess. How many vermin do ya dink be in dis camp?"

"Many, I dun' know." Niala said a little less confidently. She wasn't exactly sure what Scarl was being all frightened of, she had been in sieges before. To her, it was all just an over glorified waiting game, or a future miserable battle. She was less full of herself, not wishing to reveal she didn't know how to count very high. Scarl then spoke up a bit more venomous, with stress in his voice. "Many vermin means many dings dey need. Food. Supplies, Weapons. All de's dings were built in a slow manner an' over time. We got a lot of vermin, who need a lot of food to keep em' ready an' high spirits."

"Don't we got enough food der days?" Jarolom said, thinking himself of a higher intelligence, trying to calm the ferret down. It didn't work.

"Dem woodlanders got food fer months, what happens do ya dink when we can't feed dem a day or two down der line!? Gotta send out foraging parties, makes dem vulnerable to attacks from hares, shrews, an' otters! Dem tributaries an' our caravans are a major part of our strategy, Jarolom."

The fox grunted "Yer just bein paranoid, ya bag o' secrets."

"Dis is why ya aren't invited to do de's plans, Jarolom." Scarl growled in continued frustration. Jarolom wanted to speak up, but Niala shook her head at him. The fox grunted as they continued on to Markem's command tent. As soon as he saw Scarl approaching, the otter bodyguard moved out of the way for him and even lift the flap of the tent so he could enter. Scarl was never grateful as Jarolom and Niala were yelled at by the ferret "Stop followen an' start packen ya two! Go! Now!"

'Dirt' gave a loud sigh once the ferret was fully inside. Niala gave a humble nod of her head to him, and Jarolom grunted. The otter only blinked, and could listen in quite well on the ferret yelling and ranting.

Scarl didn't even notice all the warlords in the tent with him. Hazul was peering over his shoulder with his brother Kajam as they looked about at the larger maps of Mossflower. Kylan was looking bored, picking his nose which got stuck on his large nose ring. The others were looking down at the map that Hazul was looking over well, with Markem making makeshift lines on it.

"Alright, so who be attacken our caravan? Der otter, right?" Scarl asked in a confident tone of what he was thinking. Markem slowly got up and didn't speak at first, before he began to speak in a very annoyed tone. "No, thought I wish it were."

Scarl had to pause and blink for that statement as Markem continued to speak "Our scouts, an surviven beasts we sent to lock down our new tributaries report two troubles we had back north. Lefen an his escaped slavebeasts, an Zangan. Dat fox an his bleeden tribe butchered one of our villages to der last beast, an' Lefen was last spotted directly across from our borders in der deeper forests, haven crossed der river an' began to openly attacken our caravans."

Kylan grumbled "Ya really got dat many problems wit dat slavebeast, Markem?"

Markem sighed "Aye, doh I am goin to put dat problem down permanently. Lefen ain't me main trouble, its Zangan an' his roving band I want dead. Blasted degenerate deserve to be turned into fishbait fer all his trouble he gives me. Kinda wishen I put dat beast down when I gots der chance." Markem looked back down at the maps as Scarl came over "Erm, chief. Markem. Ya said 'yer gonna put dat beast down'? Like as in. Personally?"

Markem again nodded "Aye. Lefen and Zangan are me own troubles, not der lot of ya's." Markem admitted to his gathered warlords and subordinates. "Dis Band I brought together cause I am dinken me ways are der way forward, but can't claim dat when me older problems surface. I'll lead der campaign to put down both of dem threats, which means I need to leave a beast in charge here. Driven off der interlopers will take weeks, if not months. We also need to have der abbey in our grasp quickly as well."

Kylan spoke in confidence and pointed to himself "Aye chief, I'll have dat abbey's beast in chain befer ya even dink of returnen!"

Markem grew silent and stared at his dumb admirer. Markem wanted to angrily rebuked the fat weasel from his tent for embarrassing him, but he held his tongue. "Kylan, yer enthusiasm is admirable, but ya don't got der same experience assaulten walls as me an' Hazul do. Tis why of course Hazul will be in charge of der operation here."

Kylan barely even realized as his paw went to his saber at his side, pulling it out and slamming it on the table in a harsh fashion. The moment he did, 'Dirt' looked inside to see what was up, but Markem shooed him away. The other vermin gave Kylan a harsh glance as Resker commented "Ya scratchen der table fer a reason, weasel?"

"Oh you soft belly cretan." Kylan insulted the rat, but his ire wasn't on Markem as it was towards Hazul who gave a confident smirk. Kajam growled, his own paw going to his blade before Markem yelled out "Put dem damned weapons away ya fools! Kylan, is der some manner of problem?"

"Aye der is chief. Ya be putten too much trust in dis tribal! No doubt haven all manner of tricks and bad speech. If ya be really as smart as I dink ya are, Markem, ya should be putten me in charge."

Hazul snapped back "The day I allow you and your ilk to command my clanbeasts will a sore day in hell, you rot nosed wretch."

Markem again had to yelled out "Enough! Me decision is final. Kylan, yer loyalties are admirable, but yer brain be full of moths. Dink matey, Hazul here has assaulted fortresses before, but yer der one who brought der numbers needed here. Ya two work better together den at each other's throats. Hazul, I will suspect ya will afford der full authority dat Kylan deserves in me absence. Ya will all work together, or we all fall together, an' if ya all start fallen while I be gone kicken softbeasts from out supply lines, I'll come back personally just to get yer heads!" Markem angrily slammed his paws on the table and the warlords looked about and gulped. However, one of them did speak up.

"You really think you can handle them on your lonesome, Markem?" The feminine voice in the back of the group asked. Parb came to the front of the group, sipping from her goblet and looking about in a bored manner. Markem raised an eyebrow as she explained "My beasts have far more experience at tracking slavebeasts and these foxes then any of you combined. Zangan and his brood have tried before to haunt my caravans, if you truly want to deal with these fools, I should be the one aiding you."

Markem had to give pause to this and stared at Parb. She had not been very active in plans, and her vermin hordebeasts tended to keep to themselves. Markem spoke up "Yer right, but I'd prefer to have most of me army here an' ready. If we take too many north, den der hares may get uppity."

"Perhaps, but my beasts are far fewer in number and work more defensively. Besides, a little bit of fresh air won't harm us."

"Ya even hearen him right, witch?" Kylan growled, but Parb turned her nose at him "Oh, I am hearing him right, Chief of Jusbrag. This isn't much of a suggestion as it is a command. My vermin will be well packed, dear Markem." Parb left before Markem could answer and he awkwardly had to silence himself. He grumbled, as Parb took another sip of her drink. Dear Markem, you won't even know what will happen before its far too late.
_

Markem and 'Dirt' awaited in a clearing farther outside the abbey, even though 'Dirt' was frowning and scratching his head constantly. Markem understood this itch well, as his bodyguard was growing ever more impatient. For about an entire day it felt like a large number of captains and their groups had lined up and were ready to move out. Markem's and Scarl spent much of the afternoon plotting out their journey, and the ferret choosing which captains would join them. Markem looked around at the gathered vermin as Jarolom and Niala sat on the ground with their paws on their face, giving a bored look to Markem. The rat warlord looked to the sky and sighed openly.

"Do you want me to go and tell them to hurry up, sir?" 'Dirt' asked. Markem slowly turned to his bodyguard slave and gave him a weird look. 'Dirt' really didn't show any interest in helping to run the horde up until now, although considering the circumstances, Markem understood why he asked.

"Na. Scarl already be on it, at least I certainly hope so. Surprised ya even would ask dat 'Dirt'."

'Dirt' nodded and sighed "I'd like to this be all done and over with, sir." 'Dirt' gave his master a sad look "Lefen isn't going to wait around and wait for us to come to him. He also really doesn't like you, lest you remember the incident."

Markem groaned "Oh, don't ya remind me. Hells, I didn't even mean to burn down his nut farm! Cretan been a thorn in me paws and eyes since." Markem had a realization ans squinted his eyes at 'Dirt' "Ya got trouble wit killen him?"

'Dirt' frowned and tried to speak carefully "Not exactly, but I mean, kinda. Its less him and more like the beasts who follow him. His entire crew be escaped slaves and their families. Any one we kill or put down? I or Gutan would have known them better. Speaking of which, is Gutan coming with us I hear?" 'Dirt' tried to change the subject, another small itch which Markem picked up on. He understood that 'Dirt' did try not to bring up uncomfortable subjects, and usually would deflect them to some other event.

"Aye, he will be. Ya be doin well thus far, 'Dirt', when it comes to ya fighten more den just vermin fools an' attempted assassins. Dem beasts know exactly whats gonna happen if I ever catch the em' doin dings to my lands an' caravans, an' Lefen and his beasts know I will give em a harsh beating an' more so for all dis trouble dey have given me in the past. Bleeden bush tail. Half suspect he still just does this because of his nut farm. If he an' his layabouts were smart, dey would just spend a week in der stone pit an' go back to worken for me."

'Dirt' wanted to comment, but held his tongue as if his life depended on it. The worst Markem would ever do to him he suspect was to chide him harshly or give him a slap across the back of his head, but he feared of pushing the rat's limits on his beliefs.

Jarolom and Niala came forward, looking about at the gathered vermin host. Even the slaves of this expedition looked bored, more miserable in not moving then anything else. Niala growled openly "Dat Mink be wasting our time on purpose? If I knew it would take dis long, I'd have packed far later!" Niala could barely get a grip on herself. Markem couldn't help agree, but spoke in his diplomatic tone.

"Parb an' her Great Marsh vermin are a different breed, but i'd appreciate it if ya kept yer tongue about her less venomous. I had a lot of dings to say to that wretch, but she is still useful to me. We need her coin. Not to mention, I dink she is coming around to bein a bigger part of dis horde." Markem tried to sound optimistic, but Jarolom was quick to punch down.

"Aye, a bigger part wit a bigger knife to stick in our backs." Jarolom yawned as he looked about, looking specifically for Wulvog. The large wolverine was laying down, practically sleeping. His own vermin were fiddling with weapons, with the only active beast being their enslaved cook. The younger sea otter paced, and even his upbeat patience was slowly fading as well.

"Der hells is taken her so long, eh? Is it a womanly ding?" Jarolom asked his sister in a casual manner, in which he only got squinting eyes from his sister in turn. Eventually, with considerable relief, Scarl returned although not with the beasts he had promised to bring. The ferret came up to the group and sighed "She'll wit us shortly."

"She was gonna be wit us shortly what feels like hours ago." Markem groaned. Scarl gave a cheery smile "I know chief, but we'll be out in der country. Eventually." Scarl's attempts to be optimistic only resulted in an annoyed grunt from Jarolom. Eventually, the group could hear a marching behind them as they turned and could see the silver cloaked vermin of Great Marsh waving their banner. The vermin marched in a professional line, although to Markem they all kinda looked clownish.

Parb herself was being lifted on a paraquin which she lounged on, carried by her soldiers with her servant keeping to her side. Parb looked down at Markem, but was partly annoyed that he wasn't really staring at her, but rather her slave and the soldiers beneath her. It was clear to Markem that they were younger members of her horde, who got ensnared in Great Marsh in the hopes of easy food and riches, but now found themselves doing such a task. Markem pitied both them and the slave next to her, knowing full well what Parb and her horde did to their servile creatures in Great Marsh had sickened him. He was glad that he at long last had the means of doing something about it, and could now force the paws of his 'allies' into being less degenerate and despicable.

Markem then finally looked up at Parb as his own vermin began to stir and rise, loading their supplies to their backs and lifting weapons. "Ya ready, Parb?"

Parb only gave an insulting shrug "As you wish Great Warlord, my things and my supplies are now ready for this little detour."

Markem could only grunt at this. Taken up me time to play queen of dis bleeden forest, not a single bone of a warrior, an' useless if der is ever to be a real fight. Markem had to physically keep himself from yelling at her as he went to the front of his horde, donning his horned helm as he rose his voice to his companions and servants alike "We march north to deal wit der enemy beasts who prod at me supply caravans an' more so! We cannot delay, if ya fall behind, ya will have to eder catch up wit us or return to the siege here. I will tell ya dis, I do not know how long dis will take, but I can guarantee ya dis. Weder we return wit Redwall hoisting our banners or our siege is unmoved, we'll have our forest an' our victory! Vermin of der Great Vermin Band! To me!"
Markem took a step forward and his horde began to follow at his back. 'Dirt' came to his side and all seemed once again right in the world. Niala and Jarolom were only slightly in the back of Markem, with a smaller horde led by Kyth in the front as Markem's numerous guards. Jarolom looked about as they walked, his eyes coming on Parb whose horde marched alongside the band rather than with it.

"I somethen wrong?" Niala asked her brother. Jarolom shrugged "Dat cat friend of yers. Where'd the hell he get off to? I'd have liked to have a competent scout wit us."

"Taban said he'd stay behind with the siege. Claims he doesn't like marching, but I dink its mostly because he wants first paws on the loot of the abbey if we don't get back in time fer da assault on it."

Jarolom frowned "Hells, maybe I shoulda stayed. What if dat ol' fool grabs somethen real good?"

"Den we'll steal it from him." Niala nudged him a bit in a friendly tone. They continued to march on towards the tree lines and would keep going north, with Niala looking in high spirits as she hoped this little adventure would go a bit better than the last one.


Taban had been sitting on a small hill overlooking the horde, and would go about his usual rituals. He would lick his fur clean off the knots, clean his weapons and armor with water he'd collect himself, inspect his bow and arrows and remind himself to get a better one when he got the chance. Yet there was one ritual in particular he had to be private about, one which even friends had known little of. He made sure no beast was looking as he looked on into the night sky and then back down to the vermin camp. His little campfire was smoldered out and he looked about with an increasing paranoia. He sighed with relief, knowing that it was once again an unfounded belief he was being watched.

Taban knelt to his knees and clasped his paws together, closing his eyes as he muttered a prayer. "Red Lord of all stars, moon, and sun. Bringer of the everlasting light upon the whole of the world, keeper and redeemer. May your cloak cover me in life and lift me up in death, oh King of the everlasting stars." Taban would bow to the west, his head low to the ground. It was a small tradition his father had taught him long ago, and something he had come to do whenever these big events in his life came about. He knew the stars would not answer, but yet he had to always make sure. What he didn't know or understand, he hoped the clerics of the homeland were right.

Even if he had never met them.

"Ha! I be knowen dat!" Came a rough and ratty voice, which made Taban jump in horror and quickly rush to his weapons. He turned around in swift manner, lifting his spear to where the voice had come from, only to find his spear resting at the throat of a frightened rat in a tuque. The rat quickly put his paws and backed away "Sorry, matey! Gaunt didn't mean to do ya any trouble."

"Trouble you'll get!" Taban growled as he lifted his spear and pushed it into the ground. Gaunt relaxed himself, putting his paws to his chest and giving a loud sigh of relief. "I knew ya be one of dem western folk, ya wouldn't believe der troubles I had to hop on through just to get to ya!" Gaunt tried to explain as Taban gave him a weird look. Taban was about to correct him, before Gaunt went on a whole friendly rant.

"Bleeden ol' conscripts bodderen me about 'keepen yer camp clean fer the band's sake' an' 'listen to dem woodlander slavebeasts on dis an' dat', all a bunch of crazy nonsense! I gotta say, dat Markem is a weird one, cat. I'd ask what manner of place ya pulled dat rat from, but I ain't one to say anyding on dat!" Gaunt casually sat down and relit the fire, although clearly exhausted.

Taban tried to explain "There seems to be a mistake, rat. I-" Taban was cut off by Gaunt, who continued to try to explain "An den der was just tryen to move about! Camp sentries always asken Gaunt 'ya a deserter' an' I can't just be tellen dem 'No, I be looken fer a big ol' cat an der real brains' here, cause ya know, I just don't know. Gaunt don't know much, an' I don't wanna know much! Viddles at least be as good as one can suspect from some bleeden horde,"

"Rat, what in the hells are you talking about?" Taban tried to ask, only to find himself ignored.

"So den dey got me doin some manner o' work cause dey dinken I a be a runner, bullies all of dem! Doh, I do tend to ramble, good sir, so I gotta get straight to der point, cause dis night be der night, an' we don't got much time. Dem two gonna be openen der gates an' all, so ya all gotta send dat horde right in, like right now, before dem two put me in a shallow grave."

Taban yelled up "Shut it! The hells are you on about, rat!?" Taban demanded. Gaunt didn't understand and tried to explain "I mean, ya be der only cat here, right? Is der anuder? Maybe some beast i ain't seen yet."

Taban came closer, demanding his answers more viciously as he gripped the rat's shoulder and forced him up. Even on his own two feet, Gaunt had to bend his head up to the cat. "Explain this to me, rat. Slowly. Who are you, and what is this all about cats, and gates?"

"Ya. Ya ain't from der Greeneyes?" Gaunt said in a sudden realization. Taban's angry and confused expression was all Gaunt needed, but then he realized something else. His 'employers' didn't know either, and were about to open the gates to unprepared vermin. He was aware Markem went north to deal with some minor issue, but he couldn't help wondering who was then in charge?

"Oh." Gaunt said out loud as Taban nudged him "What is this all about 'greeneyes' an' whatnot, rat? My eyes, as you can see, are certainly not green!" Taban hunched over and put his paw to his eyes, which were in fact not green. Gaunt tried to speak up and explain "Erm, Gaunt as ya know don't know much, good cat."

"Well clearly!" Taban angrily said and took up his spear again "Now tell me again, what was that business all about? This 'gonna send the horde right in' and all that?"

Gaunt gulped, and felt a twinge of fear as he was forced to explain a lot of things to this wildcat. Taban listened, his anger flowed from him and a devious ambition replaced it. He listened intently to this plan and calmed a bit as he looked to the abbey. He gave a grim smile, as Gaunt finished up explaining.

"You came to the right beast, Gaunt. The right beast indeed." Taban explained as he gripped the rat's shoulder and pushed forward towards the camp. Gaunt didn't understand as he asked "What we gonna do den, cat? No need to be all pushy."

"Were going into Redwall of course, though, we'll need a bit of help with it."
_

Gaunt was shaking and kneeling in a large tent, surrounded by the vermin of Jusbrag. The Mossflower rat would turn his head slightly to look up to another rat looking down at him, giving a cringed expression. The tent, orange and full of loot, treasure, and barrels of wines and beers were scattered about in a haphazard way, much like the armor the Jusbrag vermin wore. Their chief, the bulbous weasel sat on a small 'throne', a barely held up chair which he was rubbing his greasy paws into his chin. His personal slave, a hedgehog, nudged his way past a few of the vermin to serve his master a drink who took it greedily and washed his throat down. Gaunt knew a warlord when he saw one, and Kylan burped as he spoke up in an unsure voice.

"So yer tellen me, dat ya got some traitors in dem walls, an' dey ain't vermin? I thought all dem vermin folk came out to join us, an' Markem sent dem off?" Kylan said a bit unsure. Gaunt gulped and tried to speak up, but Taban instead spoke for him.

"Aye, as it would seem, Lord of Jusbrag. I only got this information a few moments ago, and time is ticking. The traitors will make their move soon, this very night in fact."

Nosecheese interrupted and spoke up "Chief, ya know Markem's orders, an' Hazul be in charge of dis siege. We are days away from der cut off point for those abbey folk, an' we still got dat plan to put into motion. If we attack tonight, we'd be break Markem's word."

Kylan nodded "Aye. Ya be right." Nosecheese gave an angry look to Taban, for the rat had no respect of Markem's peaceful pact with Redwall. He found such things silly and pointless, but what he was already on to Taban's real aims. Wretched cat, mercenary at heart! Goin behind der back of Markem to try to get the chief to go along wit all dis! Nosecheese then again spoke up, laying out his advice "Chief, we should allow dem to mess up, de's traitors are not of our own designs nor der band's. Whoever sent dem, de's 'Greeneyes', they could be our enemies as well fer all we know. We should allow dem to falter, it'll shake up der defenses fer a later assault."

Kylan grumbled, but Taban again spoke up in a sly voice. "Perhaps your rat captain is right, mighty warchief. However, perhaps as you should know, there is a reason I come to you instead of the undeserved leader of this war camp." This got Kylan's attention as he said loudly "Aye, a good point. Speak up den, whiskers."

Taban ignored the insult and paced in an arrogant manner "Redwall's gates are about to fling open, and if I had brought this to that insane tribal, he'd had sent his forces in first no doubt. The fool he is, he'd have Redwall all too himself, and what would that leave for me? Kylan, chief as ya are, know I bring this to your feet as a selfish gift. If he decides not to, then this whole opportunity is wasted! Imagine the look on Markem's face when he returns to see his banners and Jusbrag's colors flying over Redwall's battlements and Hazul outside looking on in! Better a orange banner flies aloft then a black one, eh?"

Nosecheese growled "Der only reason ya didn't bring dis to Hazul first is because he'd be a stupid fool to go along wit dis! Der are hares on dem battlements, dis whole plan is stu-"

"This plan is genius!" Kylan pounded fist and laughed "Nosecheese, grab der boys, an' get em' ready! Ya make a real good charge at der gates! Tonight!"

"What-" Nosecheese looked to his chief, beside himself. Kylan was never a clever beast, but he gave an audible groan when he realized why Kylan was going along with it. Kylan brought up his saber and put it onto his lap "Oh, when I got Redwall in me grasp, I'll show dat pagan cretan a ding or two! Markem be a smarter beast den me I gotta admit, but dat devil got an evil tongue, no doubt some spell of some sort! Nosecheese. Grab der best shield beasts an' make sure to do it all so silently, if Hazul's little horde get der paws into motion, dey'll try to stop us or try to breach in der first!"

Nosecheese gave a wide frown, but he sighed and left the tent to obey his chief's orders. Kylan got up and came close to the wildcat who was proud of his charismatic trickery. "When we takes dis abbey, ya an' me gonna be rich beasts. I'll even consider maken ya a captain ya well tongued whiskered wretch!"

Gaunt was forced to stand on his feet and face Kylan as he the fat weasel dusted him off. "Ya can join me, cause were gonna need ya! Show us der way little rat."

Gaunt gulped as he was led out. Taban exited as well, seeing the Jusbrag soldiers slowly and silently picking up spears, bows, and swords. They marched slowly towards the front gate, stirring only the vermin they knew who weren't Hazul's black rats. Taban got into a position with Kylan himself, who stood over Gaunt as they took positions in the trench. Taban's eyes scanned the walls, as the group awaited. In a small way, Taban hoped this was all just to be an awkward ruse, that they put a lot of trust into a mad rat. The hare sentries watched as the small army was getting into a new position, but in the darkness they weren't sure if this was just common troop movements or a legitimate new strategy. Kylan and Taban watched the torch bearing sentry pass over towards the gatehouse to get a better look.

The sentry stopped, his torch was put out, and a shadowy figure looked out over the horizon. Kylan gave a grim smile, and Taban mentally prepared himself for battle. It was going to be a very long night.
_

The truth of the matter was, keeping awake was a lot harder than he had anticipated. Jase blinked and kept still in his comfy bed, knowing night had fallen. He and his mother didn't end up going into the abbey's dormitories as others had, rather he and his mother stayed in their own home. The house may have been connected to the main wall itself, which meant once the siege started they would be in incredible danger. Jase's mother was already packing to get them into the dormitories, where she'd have him under lock and key. Thus, tonight was the only night to do this, and he was truly frightened.

He heard a rock pebble at his window, signaling who was outside. Jase got up quickly and ran to the window and opened it up. He looked down and could see Gaisen awaiting for him. Jase shut the window and went under his bed and pulled out a big sack of laundry he and Gaisen had stolen. They had collected all they could, and if now was the time to get out into Mossflower country, it was when the vermin sentries were lessened. Gaisen and Jase had scouted out their path the night before, for the north side of the abbey the camp was smaller, and the sentries were clearly less experienced. They could hear them drunkenly singing or going about their business.

Jase had to slowly pull on the large sack of dirty sheets and tunics, as he didn't wish to awake his mother in the room over his presence. Jase held his breath as he slowly manipulated the large sack down the stairs, carefully and methodically doing so. Individually, the tunics and sheets were easy to collect and hide, as the chaos of the siege meant a lot of supplies were left unguarded and unattended, especially laundry which had not been washed yet. Jase got the door and slowly opened it, looking out into the abbey's courtyard. The courtyard was weirdly active and busy, with the hares sleeping soundly and the sentries on the walls keeping an eye out for vermin advances. If an alarm was sounded, the hare would be ready.

This was of course what Jase was worried about. Jase had to keep a good lookout for the sentries on top as well as patrolling hares who were huddled around campfires or heading to bed. The vermin had kept their word thus far, so the hares took the time to get some sleep and rest. Jase met up with Gaisen along with their third conspirator who seemed less anxious as the both of them.

"Ya two really are shaking over dis?" Snot said in a gleeful pride, but the two gave him a harsh look. Jase spoke to reassure his friends, and himself "We're doing this to get Pa back, we'll find him. Find the sword of Martin, get everyone's hopes back! Just gotta get out of here."

Gaisen put his paws on the big sack and smiled "Dis is enough length right, you think?"

Jase was silent and sucked in his lips, unsure of what to say. "I think so. I don't know, it should be?"

"Should be?!" Gaisen said concerned, but he collected himself as he showed what he had "Bunch o' food, good stuff too! If we get out of here, Kalma will skin me alive when we get back!" Gaisen held aloft some old pastries and decent smelling tarts, scones, and whatnot. Jase smiled as he took the pack of goods. The three waited to move and carried the big sack of laundry together, sneaking up the stairs and onto the main battlements. They awaited the hare sentries patrolling the walls to pass by, which meant they awkwardly had to wait for them to pass.

Jase whispered, his head peeking up over the sides in the dark and observing the vigilant hares who kept their eyes outside the compound. "We won't have a lotta time, Gaisen, we have to start tying now and be ready to-"

Jase didn't finished before he put his head back down. Gaisen spoke in a rare twinge of fear "They spotted us?!"

"No." Jase said, as the three heard the voice of Hesam approaching "Good hares! Good hares! To me, I have something to tell you!"

Jase and Gaisen listened in as some of the sentries crowded towards Hesam, wondering what he was going on about. The mouse bard had his flute out, playing a soft tune as he calmly explained "Gather the rest, your commander is awaiting you below. One of you will be of course staying up here with us till the new batch of sentries return. Now please, go on, and quickly. I have orders from that dear mam, and I doubt she wants to be kept waiting good Long Patrol."

The hares looked at each other and shrugged, one volunteered to stay as Gaisen realized something. He nudged Jase and Snot, and began to push their laundry towards the edge of the stairs and pushed it off, landing softly on the ground. The three rushed below as they heard the thumping footsteps of hares going down below, as the three rushed into some bushes in time. One of the hares came by to look at what he had heard, but couldn't spot anything as the three held their breath, before hopping off when a superior called for him. Gaisen whispered "Must be something important, but what luck! We'll have time now. What you think its all about?"

Jase sighed "Who knows, but lets not waste a blessing. Lets just get this sack up there and start tying these sheets together."

The three once again, with Snot silently complaining the entire way, were hoisting up their sack and bringing it to the top. Once there, Gaisen lept on the battlements and began to shake off some of the torches, his eyes scanning all over for where the sentries were. He was a little concerned actually, there were few if any on the walls, and they were mostly on the eastern wall. Yet, he had no time to wonder for long, and once in a comfortable darkness the group set to work on their cloth ropes to climb down the walls. Gaisen looked over, gulping as he looked into the darkness below them. The vermin camp in the distance, it looked rather peaceful although a bit foreboding. If vermin were as dumb as Garfan had said they were, Gaisen thought they'd have less trouble getting into Mossflower proper.

The three set to work on making their rope made from laundry and clothes, work which had them paranoid. Snot briefly mentioned to them both "Ya two really gonna go out der?"

"Ya, and erm, thank you Snot." Gaisen said with a friendly smile. Snot frowned and sighed "Well, ya two idiots best keep to the shadows of those tents, mateys. If dem hordebeasts catch you, say goodbye to yer lives. Pa used to say a lot of dings about hordebeasts, dey don't exactly care if ya be small as ya or as big as a badger. Dey'll eder kill ya or put ya in chain."

Jase gulped and tried to calm himself. He began to mutter as he looked towards the grounds below them. "We gotta try. For Redwall's sake."

The three continued their work, oblivious to what was truly happening not far off.
_

The sentry followed Hesam and was a little excited. He had known of the companions, of their tales and adventures with the legendary warrior Jue, the beast who brought the craven vermin warlord low! The sentry wasn't gitty, he kept up his pace. He would look over at the other walls, somewhat frowning to see them so empty. The hares were mostly below him, sleeping and what not. He could see his comrades all going into the abbey for this meeting with Marople, and he couldn't help but ask.

"Sir Hesam, you know anything about this meeting with the sentries?"

Hesam spoke in a friendly tone to him "Aye, yes! The current leader wanted to reassure the sentries about the stability of this and that, its all Hare foolery to me. Vogar explained it better."

The sentry shrugged and continued, he was under the assumption that replacements will be on the wall within minutes, and from the movements of the vermin this night it wouldn't bother him much if it took hours. They continued till they came towards the main gate, and towards the gatehouse of Redwall itself. The sentry had to squint his eyes, he saw several hares slumped over and another standing above them with his back facing them. The hare grunted "Sleepers, hmm? Alright you two, we need to-"

The hare paused when he came closer. The others were not moving, as Vogar twirled around and expertly slashed deep into the surprised hare's throat. The Long Patrol sentry tried to grab onto his weapon, but shock and darkness overtook him first as Vogar quickly grabbed onto him and forced him over to his dead comrades. Vogar huffed at his deed as the hare looked on with final surprise before perishing in a bloody mess. Vogar's clothes were bloodied from his murders as he kept a watch on the walls. The remaining sentries, far off or now waiting at the foot of a door to a sleeping officer who was unaware of this treason, were oblivious.

"Saw that cat, just beyond over there." Vogar whispered to his friend. Hesam smiled and spoke up to him "Good. You open the gates and deal with that lot below. Can you call them over? Quicker they get inside, the quicker the victory."

Vogar shrugged and tried to wave at the vermin host. The cat paused for a moment, and so did that big, fat weasel. They waved back, and began to slowly get out of their trenches and advance. Vogar spoke in a serious tone to Hesam "Smash up the repair supplies in the gatehouse and kill the gatekeeper, he and his brat both." Vogar went to go do his own duties, making his way down the stairs and avoiding the encamped hares in the courtyard, making his move towards the door.

Hesam knew the doors were unlocked to the gatehouse already, grabbing a torch from a dead sentry and relit it. He looked about, looking over Garfan's things and then towards the bed Gaisen was meant to be sleeping in. The mouse bard frowned hard to see him missing, and then he burst into his room to see Garfan missing as well. Hesam was paranoid, but he had little time to do much else as he went about his work to find the supplies that could repair the gates. He then heard something in the distance "Gaisen! Jase! No!"
_

Kana was having nightmares again.

These were no normal nightmares either, they were dark omens. She was running through forests full of dead beasts, beasts who waved banners of green, black, and yellow. She did not know what she was running from, but it was pounding at her like a badger, gaining speed and traction. She shivered, as the dark beast drew ever closer, and when it was right on top of her, she awoke to Garfan's voice yelling loudly for her.

"Kana! Open this door this instant! Where is he?!"

Kana awoke, her heart beating and gritting her teeth in annoyance. She got up and lit a candle, all the while that angry and easily upset guardbeast pounded at her door in some nonsensical manner. "I can see that light in there, Kana! Get out here this bleeding instant, warrior's widow or not!"

Kana gritted her teeth harder, as she was about to show that overgrown bully what a 'warrior's widow' could do to him! As she got up and went about her home, she paused and looked at her son's door. It was open, for some reason or another. She thought her son closed the door, and she approached. When she looked inside, her heart froze and sunk as she saw the sheet uncovered and Jase nowhere to be found.

"Kana! Give me back that bleeding brat! Gaisen! If you're in there, I am going to make you scrub pots till your paws's fur falls off!"

Kana didn't need long to put two and two together and she rushed downstairs, practically opening the door with such speed and ferocity and anger in her eyes that it took even the tired mouse guard by surprise. Garfan didn't even get out a word before she growled "Jase!" Kana pushed past the mouse as she continued to run. Garfan was confused as he went inside, looking for his own adopted son and saw Jase's door opened. He looked to Kana who was running into the abbey and getting the attention of the hares who saw her.

Garfan followed and could keep up with the angry squirrel mother, banging on the door of the next grumbling beast in the dormitories. Garfan tried to explain to her "Did Gaisen get into your home, Kana? Can you please answer me! I found his bed empty, an-"

"Bollo, is Jase with you! Jase!" Kana wasn't listening and was in a panicked mood. Once Jase's name was called, a barely dressed Bollo answered and looked at them both. He looked confused as Kana entered his room, looking through his things and calling for her son. No! Not again! Not this time! Kana did not find what she was looking for as Bollo put two and two together. "Ui'll grub Kulma. Dum youngsturs likely hidun up in dur attuc agun. Kuna! Culm yurself, I beg of yu."

Kana wasn't calm as the three made their way to Kalma's room and knocked on her door next. She looked tired, but a step came into her when she heard of the troubles. Kana and Garfan blamed one another as Kalma and Bollo led them.

"Your bleeding boy has been nothing but trouble for my Jase since the start, Garfan! If you weren't any less of a contemptible parent, my son wouldn't be in the trouble he is constantly!"

"Me? A bad parent? At least my boy isn't a whimpering creature so scared of his shadow and pent up in fury that he can't function! Your boy was doing well under me! Gaisen is just a fool boy, but he is my boy!"

Bollo and Kalma kept quiet, as they marched up towards the abbey's addic, unlocking doors and forcing their way up and up into the dusty upper floors. The mole crews had been busy with the work up above, and had not fully finished as they looked about for another pillow fort, but found or saw nothing. Kana and Garfan called for their respective kids as Bollo and Kalma looked about. Bollo looked sad, and then anxious as Kalma gave him a pat on his back. Bollo then called to the two "Wur gunna go chuck dur camps, see if dur hures seen anydung."

Garfan growled in a hostile manner "Fine! Go! Bleeding mole, useless as ever!"

Kalma wanted to say something, but Bollo forbade it. The two made their way down towards the ground level and began to make their way into the camps. Hares were observant afterall as Kalma mentioned "Maybe the companions could help? Their room isn't far."

Bollo was tempted to shut down the idea, but he sighed "Yur prubably ruight. Wur gunna need dum. Oh dut fool buoy. Makun me heart an' his mum's sunk like dut."

"He's probably scared." Kalma said in a dark tone as Bollo looked at her. Kalma was trying to hold in her doubts, she was anxious about a lot of things. In her kitchen, it was already a fool's mess. Defeating Kasg felt less of a hassle than being under siege, making sure everyone could eat. Especially a Long Patrol army. Kalma guided her wayward friend towards the companion's rooms, but on their way they saw something peculiar.

In front of them, a bunch of hares were standing around at the door to Marople's room. Over twenty hares were awkwardly keeping silent as they spoke in silent tones and only hushed themselves further when Bollo and Kalma approached. Kalma was a bit confused, recognizing one of them who had been once loudly speaking of his sentry duties a night before with his comrades in Cavern Hole.

"What are you all doing here?" Kalma asked.

One of the hares spoke up "Erm, sorry mam, but this is Long Patrol business. War business an' all. Lieutenant Marople demanded our presence for a meeting of the sentries."

Bollo chimed in with a worried glance "Den whu be watchun dur walls?"

The same hare gave a confident laugh "No fears, good mole, we aren't that foolish. We are reassured that the replacements will be there already! The Companions, the nice fellows they are, had to deliver the news. Once they are done in there with whatever other meeting is going on, with how silent its been, we'll be back on the walls. The vermin have been quite silent tonight, likely resting for some manner of assault later on. We'll beat them back."

Bollo's paranoia returned when he heard this, as Kalma blinked a bit. It was odd the hares would send the Companions to relay orders, as the mole came forward to the door. The hares looked shocked when he began to pound on the door and got scolded for it.

"How blimey! The bleeding hells you doing, you blighter! They are having a me-"

The door opened to a tired and yawning Marople coming out, looking surprised at first at all the hares in front of her, and Bollo looking up at her. Marople came out and asked "This better be an assault or an attempt on it, what are you all doing down here?!"

"Mam. You called for us?" The sentry stammered his words. Yet before this argument can ensue further, Bollo was already waddling in a rushed way towards the outside and followed by Kalma. She called after Bollo at first, but stopped in her tracks. She knew what he was about to do, and rushed instead towards her kitchens, nearly tripping on sleeping beasts in the halls along the way, awaking them. She grabbed her trusty pan, and made her way out, only to see Garfan and Kana rushing out as well, yelling at the top of their lungs "Jase! Gaisen!"
_

Kana was distraught as she looked around the attic, yelling out in anger "Seasons damn me! Where is he!" She was looking for any sign of her son, a clue perhaps. She was paranoid as ever as Garfan grunted in response. Kana didn't take this grunt well and began to speak up, giving Garfan a piece of her mind.

"Can you at least pretend to be concerned for our youngsters, you insufferable creature!"

Garfan rolled his eyes "If they escape me tonight, their punishment tomorrow is going to be much worse! Now be silent, wretch, and help me find them!"

Kana had enough of him, and charged at the surprised Garfan who had not suspected the ever complaining Kana to slam him into the wall of the attic. Her eyes were full of anger, fury, and pent up hate. Yet, to a warrior like Garfan, all he saw was desperation and fear.

"You're the cause of all this misery for me and my son, have I and my boy not suffered enough!? My husband may not be here, mouse, but I am! The abbot may got your ear, thinks you smart for being a warrior, but I've known real warriors! The fact my son has to even associate with that fool boy you raise only puts him in more danger! And-" Kana paused, realizing she was looking outward from one of the attic's dusty windows. Garfan slapped the paws from his shoulders and straightened himself up. "Kana, you may have known Jue better then I have, but don't think you got much the right to-"

Kana wasn't paying attention to him, and pushed him aside and began to rub desperately at the windows. She looked out, and in the corner of one's vision she could make out three small figures on an empty north wall. She was confused. What. Where the hell are our sentries! The hares, they wouldn't just not be there?! Kana then backed away and she began to run. Garfan looked out next, realizing what was happening. He and Kana were rushing down in desperation, practically tripping one another. Garfan knew an escape attempt when he saw it, but he didn't think his fool son would ever go this far!

"Jase!"

"Gaisen!"

The two pushed past other awaking beasts, disturbed by their desperate pursuit and yelling as they got outside and began to rush to the walls.

Jase and Gaisen heard the shouts, just as they were done testing the strength of their knot and let down their cloth rope. They could hear their respective guardians climbing up, rushing after them as Jase and Gaisen looked to one another. Carrying their packs, the two quickly lept to the rope and began to climb down, although not without a lot of pausing. Kana's angry voice could be heard, calling out to both of them "Stop! You two get up here this instant! Jase! Please!"

Jase's heart felt a bit broken to hear his mother this demented and desperate as they were a quarter of the way down. Jase looked up to see his mother, crying partly as she was yelling down at them "Jase! Get up here this instant, I order you!" Jase nearly did as ordered, but looking at the furious face of Garfan made him have third thoughts about that. Jase was silent and continued to climb down. Garfan couldn't reach them, but looking at the rope of cloth, he began to untie it. Snot, who had been passively looking at before, did not fully understand what the mouse was thinking or doing and quickly rushed over to bite him.

"Gah!" Garfan growled and smacked Snot away. Kana looked down, horrified to see what Garfan was doing, but the mouse ordered her about "Help me pull them up! Quickly!"

Kana realized only late to Garfan's thinking, but to Jase and Gaisen they were a bit dismayed. They were half way down before they realized they could feel a tug pulling them up. Jase panicked and tried to move down faster, his paws hitting Gaisen's head. The young mouse called up in a desperate tone "Jase! We gotta let go!"

"Don't you even think of it, you miserable brat!" Garfan called down. Jase looked fearfully at his friend and Gaisen could see Jase was again freezing in fear. Gaisen looked down and began to slide in a risky manuever further down by letting go and grabbing back onto the quickly disappearing rope. Jase followed the example, and one final push from Kana and Garfan to bring them up to their level only go Jase to let go entirely.

Jase plummeted towards the ground, but instinct had him grab onto the stones of Redwall and froze further into place. Gaisen was less likely as he was on the tail end of their cloth rope, and soon plummeted to the ground. Gaisen had fallen, and his body hurt, although he was closer to the ground than he suspected. Jase slowly began to climb back down and land more softly on the ground. Their cloth rope disappeared above them as Kana called down angrily at them "Jase! You stay right there! You stay right there, honey!"

Jase hadn't heard his mother call him honey in awhile, and the young squirrel called up trying to calm their desperate parents "I love you, ma! I'm going to get dad!"

Garfan growled down at them "Be silent both of you! You stay right there you two idiots! An-"

Garfan's eyes lit up as he looked out towards the vermin camp, only to see a large host of vermin moving in, and soon the slow moving force began to sprint with spears raised and shields over their heads. Jase went over to Gaisen, nursing him awake, realizing the terrible mistake that had happened, and saw the vermin approaching. He was absolutely shaken with fear as Kana and Garfan screamed. The vermin returned with war shouts as they placed ladders down into the ground and began to climb, stopping naively at the foot where Jase and Gaisen were. Gaisen was wide awake, seeing the vermin shouting and climbing the ladders as sounds of battle began to ring across the abbey!

Garfan looked around, wondering where the sentries who were supposed to be on the walls were as he drew his sword and immediately began to hack away at one of the ladders. A vermin of Jusbrag jumped onto the battlements from the ladder and tried to swipe at Garfan, only for the mouse to parry him and imbed his sword into the vermin. Another vermin only saw a squirrel on the walls, swiping at her with a broken blade only for Kana to slam into him and knock him off the walls itself. Kana was screaming below to the hares "The vermin are attacking! My boy is outside the walls! Help! Help!"

Hares were climbing up the battlements all over, as the attack came from all directions, but not in the way which the hares had suspected. Gaisen and Jase realized the vermin were not after them as suspected, but they couldn't stay for long. Gaisen pushed Jase forward as he whispered to him "Keep low! They can't see us well!" The two dodged around charging vermin who were unaware of the small kids passing them. One poor vermin hordebeast saw them, confused at first and got an arrow into his head shortly thereafter by a Long Patrol archer. Jase and Gaisen were at long last in the camp, which was arousing and looking out at the battle. The vermin had not put their full force into the fighting, as the two youngsters hid along the shadows of the tents.

Garfan slew another vermin who tumbled down one of the ladders and the group soon routed after archers piled on them. Yet, the battle was still raging as Garfan grabbed a horrified Kana "We can still catch them! We need to get to the gates!"
_

Bollo pushed his way past hares who encamped in the fields of Redwall, as he made towards Redwall's front gate. Kalma was trying to follow but she paused when she saw Kana and Garfan on top of the walls. She was confused as to who to help first, but figured Kana and Garfan could handle their own kids while she handled the mad Bollo. I'll knock him out if I have to! Oh Bollo, don't do this! Kalma knew what Bollo was intending to do, she knew this was all weird, but she figured there would at least be something to explain all this nonsense! She was pushing past hares themselves, but soon found herself next to Marople who was still in her nightgown and followed by her confused sentries.

They had caught up to Bollo, but only because the mole had stopped at the front gates, his eyes full of rage when he looked to see Vogar looking at the gathered beasts who gave shocked gasps. Vogar was already opening the gates, and beneath him were the bodies of two hares who had been bloodied. Marople called out "Stop! I order you to stop!" Yet Vogar only seemed to hurry as he turned to see the group now charging at him. He backed up a bit as Kalma and Bollo looked on, looking heartbroken and furious only to become terrified when from behind the hare numerous vermin were now charging in!

Leading this charge to the gates was Taban who caught a hare's charging lance in time before it could strike Vogar down, and slew the hare swiftly with a swipe of his spear. The gates were forced open and the vermin began to pour onto the gates, with only the barely defended hares holding on into a line as they battled the vermin force. Marople began to call out behind her for reinforcements and they arrived in a panicked order. All around them, the sounds of battle rang out as the vermin began their haphazard assault. Bollo looked on in horror at the north wall, not seeing Jase but rather seeing Garfan and Kana who had been yelling were now fighting vermin. Yet, Bollo tugged the even more frozen Kalma to follow him.

"Kulma! Dur gatehouse! Dur is buckets of rucks an' rubble in dur! We'll use dum to help dur hures!"

Bollo was referring to the gatehouse's supplies of defense tools, although from what Kalma could see, she also spoke up "We-we need to get the tools in there as well! Look!" Kalma pointed to how the hares were pushing the vermin slowly back and trying to close the gates, but the gates were too loose to open. The hinges of the door were hacked at, but the damage was not as severe as it could have been. Yet, the vermin were trying to destroy the gates whenever they got control of the door. Bollo grabbed Kalma' paw and led her on as the two went up to the gatehouse. Kalma was silent, in utter shock as she could not give an excuse. She in truth wanted to weep at just the thought of it! She tried to stammer out an apology "B-bollo! I'm so sorry, I-"

Bollo spoke up first "Dun blume yurself, Kulma! I bug of ya. Luts survive dur night, dun deal wit it latur."

Bollo didn't feel very vindicated, in fact, he felt perhaps worse. The fact his friends now had proof of his paranoia weighed on him, which was hard to shake off. Yet, that weight soon became a more burdened hate when he thought of Hesam, and as they bursted into the gatehouse's lower level they looked around with despair. The supplies they sought had been knocked over, and covered in a sweet smelling liquid, one which both recognized already. It was some manner of alcohol, and they could hear a beast rummaging upstairs.

Bollo and and Kalma rushed upward, only to hear the footsteps stop as Bollo went in first only to feel a knife pierce into his side and he was rolled around. Hesam looked surprised, but also smirked as he was about to monologue to the mole, unaware that he had company behind him. "Oh? What are you doing here, Bol-"

Hesam's eyes went wide as he heard a beast coming up behind him, and dodged out of the way in time as Kalma slammed her pan down on the ground. The mouse waved his smaller dagger at her, trying to be sweet talking "Oh, this is all just a misunderstanding, dear Kalma! I thought he was a vermin, and-"

Kalma scowled "Traitor! We already saw your fellow companion beneath dead hares, opening my home's gates! I bet you even stole my cutlery! Bollo, are you alright?" Kalma gave a horrified look to her friend. The wound kept him down, but Bollo kept a furious look at Hesam who began to chuckle. There were a couple lit torches in the upstairs room, as Hesam was busy with smashing up the supplies and had tipped over the buckets of prepared rocks and tar and needed light before he burned it. Bollo arose, gripping his wound, shrugging it off as he stood defiantly. Hesam approached, his worried expression turning into a confident smirk.

"The cook and the mason, together burned in the fires of a new age. Poetic, but yet wasteful." He mocked and drew his knife on Kalma. Hesam wasn't done in the gatehouse just yet, but he needed to get rid of these old fools before he could escape more officially. He gave a swift charge to Kalma, not expecting much of a fight only for his knife to be slapped away in a quick manner he wasn't suspecting by the hedgehog's pan. Kalma flew in a rage, slamming her pan onto the ground where the mouse was as Hesam found himself on the defensive and ran for his knife. He parried the pan away only in the knick of time as Kalma continued to let up a vicious assault on him.

"Humiliate my friend, to think Jue even called you his companion! Oh, when I am done with you, they'll be needing your bleeding teeth to know who ya even were!" Kalma's strength was nearly cracking the gatehouse's wood as Hesma dodged, his tail caught by Bollo who forced him to the floor. The mouse gritted his teeth as he forced his way upward and duelled Kalma with utter surprise.

He made a rather sudden realization.

Oh. Right. Real heroes of Mossflower, you'd think I'd know them a bit more than just bumbling abbeybeasts! Hesam cursed himself as he was taken on such a defensive, as he rushed upward further into the house and knocked over a torch to try to start a fire. Bollo noticed, and went over to use what strength he had to stamp it out, taking cloth or whatever he could find to destroy the flame before it could grow. Kalma had paused to help, leaving the mouse to get to the upper floor as he locked himself in the gatehouse tower.

"Go!" Bollo commanded "Gut dut darn round eared wrutch! I've gut dis!" Kalma nodded and went to the door and began to slam her body into the door, inching closer to burst her way in. Hesam found himself alone, looking down at the mass of vermin and being utterly disgusted with what he saw. The vermin had not pulled their entire force into the fighting, but were now struggling to make their way through. He could spot Vogar, who in turn spotted him. Hesam didn't have much time to act as he needed to get outside, and tried the other side of the gatehouse tower only to close it when he saw heavy fighting between the hares and vermin on the walls.

Hesam heard the door breach open, and standing there wasn't just the angry hedgehog, but a shocked Garfan who stepped on through first. Garfan was bloodied, his sword in paw as his mouth was gaped open in shock. He raised his sword to Hesam as Kalma came through next, as the two backed Hesam towards the gatehouse's window.

Garfan spoke first "Why." He asked, not sure why the great heroes of Mossflower, the beloved companions, would do this to them. Hesam was awkward looking, fixing up his feathered cap and looking down, and giving a devious smile. He stepped onto the ledge as Kalma wanted to approach but feared that the mouse would kill himself before she had the chance.

"Oh, you will find out, good Garfan and Kalma when the battle is over, and when we meet again either as ghosts or prisoners, you'll get a better answer then. Yet, now is a good time for I to leave Redwall for now, and till next time-"

Hesam confidently fell backwards away from the ledge of the gatehouse tower's side and fell. Garfan and Kalma rushed to see if Hesam was truly dead, both surprised by such a sudden and suicidal action. However, both would only grit their teeth in rage when they saw Hesam being caught and lifted down by Vogar and Gaunt who had been waiting below in the vermin mass. The three were soon quickly leaving the battle to the vermin. Garfan and Kalma paused, and had to shake themselves away from this terrible event. The battle was far from over, and if the vermin took the gates, Hesam's dark words would ring much truer.
_

Hazul was asleep in his bed, comfortably snoring in his tent as dreamt. The darkness of his dreams would always disappear in memory, but tonight was much more different. Hazul found himself slowly stirring to a more conscious awakening as he found himself in a dark place, a place he did not fully recognize. He looked about, unable to pierce the darkness with any light until a shadowy glow began to illuminate him. He was more free in his thoughts, his mind whirling around to imagine himself amongst his warriors. Yet, unlike the dreams before where he commanded the reality of his mind, they did not appear. He felt oddly cold, his breath taken from him as he peered to see he wasn't alone.

From the darkness came figures, skeletal and decaying of enemies, friends, and even family. He spotted his mother amongst his crowd, shambling towards him. He spotted dead vermin and woodlanders alike he had known in life, and all looked to await his death. Yet, the most gruesome of all spirits held aloft a sword, a mouse in a tattered noble cloak of Noonvale whom he had slain in Veekun's Burrow. Veekun himself was surrounded by his dead kin, waiting patiently for a turn to strike down Hazul. The dark rat was unapologetic, he knew what he had done, and he was proud of what he did for his tribe. This was just a nightmare, like any other, and he would awake soon enough.

Yet he did not, in fact, he felt like he was actually there, in some dark place. Hazul felt a water rush over his feet and he turned to see a great wave of black water of a greater wave, awaiting to crash upon him. One stood, who approached him in shining moonlight armor, wielding a meteorite sword who approached the dark rat. The mouse was not of the undead, but something far more, and any lesser vermin who beheld such a spirit would have run away from the ghost and his wraiths. A lesser vermin would shriek out in fear and cower before this creature, and a stupid creature would try to fight it.

Yet Hazul was neither afraid nor foolish, and in fact much to the spirit's surprise, Hazul knelt to him and looked at him with a childlike wonder.

"Oh spirit, I know who you are!" Hazul said in a cold and humbled voice, a happy and sheepish smile across his face. The spirit approached, his sword held to his side in a slow manner. Hazul looked pleased, content even.

"Long have I waited for this! To know! To truly know! How I want this more than all things, I knew that such power existed in this, that no spell I held could keep one such as you away forever. To now behold there is a place beyond this life, a place for which our seasons can grant us! Oh, spirit, please do not despise me for my earthly desires."

Hazul stood and was now approaching the spirit who continued silently towards him. Hazul felt vindicated more than had been before, to know now that all of his tribulations, his studies, everything he had done was now beyond faith. It was real, as real as one could see it and touch it. The mouse seemed to care not, and strode forward and stopped to lean in on his sword.

"Spirit, think ill of me if you wish, know that eternity awaits us all." Hazul began, practically kneeling before the spirit. The mouse looked down at him, somewhat curious to this rat warlord. Hazul stuck out his paw to him and tried to bargain with the spirit "Spirit, what do you wish of me? I cannot leave your abbey, Martin the Warrior. You are beyond the world, and I am of it. My chief won't let me leave, but let me serve you in what I can instead! Give me a place beyond this world, I want to be the season's scion! To do their will, not the will of mortal beasts!"

This is what Hazul wanted more than even he realized, mortal affairs were below him now. Hordes, tactics, assaults, all of it so pointless in a realm beyond this world, where death had no power, and could have no sting. He wanted to serve his gods, to serve the very will of the earth, and if he had to betray all he had to do then so be it. The spirit perhaps did not suspect this zealot to be so gleeful, but broke his stance and put his paw downward. Hazul felt the mouse's paw on his own as he was lifted upward and the spirit spoke to him in a threatening manner.

"An enemy will come to you, whom you must spare, and send them to your master. From there, they will complete their purpose. Know that all things will be set right. Do this for me, and CHIEF, WAKE UP!"

Hazul nearly flung himself awake from his cot, his eyes wide as one of his soldiers stepped into his tent with a lantern, a sour look on his face. Hazul's mind was spinning as he grasped his head. He heard some distant shouts as he got up and wondered what was happening, why his clanbeast looked so worried, and his faded memory of his dream seemed to haunt him. He looked down at his singed paw, and then back to his soldier whom he sneered at.

"I was having a bleeding dream, you fool! What is this about, is something happening?"

"Aye, boss!" The black rat said in a awkward tone "Yer brudder is demanding ya! The Jusbrag vermin, dey are assaulting the abbey! Their gates are open!"

"What." Hazul tone became more threatening as he pushed aside his soldier and went outside. All around, the vermin who had not joined in the doomed assault were watching Jusbrag vermin swarming at the gates and towards the walls as Hazul grasped his head in utter dismay. His ladders were being broken, valuable vermin were losing their lives! He growled out orders and took up his own sword. "To me! Get those fools back to the camp, drag them if you have to! Kajam!"

The larger black rat came running, his curved blade in paw as he was putting on his heavier armor and helm. The tribal rat growled at his soldiers as Hazul came over "What is that idiot doing! Who ordered this?!"

"Himself." Kajam spat "They found a way to open the gates, and are trying to rush inside. If we can rush with them, we might be-"

"No!" Hazul stomped his foot in anger and pointed "The assault is already lost! Those vermin on the walls are being routed! Kajam, I need you on those walls to cover those idiot fool's escape! I will lead the shield beasts to get to Kylan and his captains, and pull them out! That gate isn't going to be held open for long."

Hazul paused, only to call out "Witch! Where are you!?"

A tired Dala came over, surprised to see the assault already in full swing. Yet, she had come over as Hazul made his demands "Put spells onto my blade, I need them."

Dala cringed a bit, but obeyed. She poured some manner of salty liquid onto Hazul's blade and took a torch to it, as it erupted into a bluish flame. Hazul gathered his clanbeasts and shouted orders to them as his brother rushed to the eastern wall where the ladders were still held up and the fighting was thickest on the walls. "Clanbeasts, to me! Pull up your shields and force your way to Kylan's flank! I want every shield beast to not join into the fray, we need to pull them back to our camp! Blackbart, Briarna, grab Kylan's captains and drag them back from this fighting! Quickly now!"

Hazul led the charge himself, his flaming blue sword lighting the way for the vermin hordebeasts to charge. With shields raised, Hazul charged towards the back of the Jusbrag host with Kylan hiding behind one of his own shield-bearing beasts. Hazul's captain, Blackbart, had been with him with his own shield, but his fellow captain Briarna was not. Hazul witnessed an arrow meant for him lodged in his captain's head as he dove towards Kylan. Kylan gave him a weird look as Hazul growled and shook him "You idiot, what do you think you're doing!?"

"Taken der abbey of course, ya damn fool!" Kylan hissed back. Hazul had to keep himself calm as he looked over to see the Long Patrol snipers were picking their targets well. They weren't shooting into the mass, they were taking aim at captains and shouting beasts. "Retreat your forces, weasel." Hazul ordered.

"What, why?" Kylan spat "We got der bloody gates open!"

"Who do you think is on the other side of those bleeding gates!?" Kylan shook the weasel again "Our strength comes from our mass, what good does it do trying to defeat the Long Patrol at their bleeding gates?! Those bodies your vermin are making are building a nice barricade for the Long Patrol to hide behind, and your stupid assault on the walls is already being routed! My brother is pulling your forces from those walls." Hazul had questions, but he was more focused on the battle before him. The two were joined by Taban who dove towards them with a lot of cuts and bruises, and a arrow sticking out of his shoulder which he snapped off and threw out. He growled "Taking the gates is difficult, but we-" Taban realized he was in Hazul's presence, which the black rat gave him a sour look.

Kylan confidently huffed "We can take der gates an' get on inside, matey. Dem traitors did good work, I saw smoke comin out of der gatehouse. Dey won't be repairen dem gates if we keep up der pressure!"

"You'll have no vermin left, you moron." Hazul growled. Taban sighed and tried to reason with Kylan "Hate to say it, weasel, but this isn't going well at all! We can't break through, now that those hares are block the way. If we can't breach the walls, we can't take the gate."

Kylan whimpered at first in disbelief and looked about. He yelled loudly in defeat and got up and yelled out "retreat ya bloody idiots! Retreat!"

Hazul got up as well, looking like he was going to go on in, but Kylan noticed and scolded "Ya better not be lyen to me just so ya can take der abbey yerself, ya bleeden fool!"

Hazul rolled his eyes as he snapped back "We gotta prevent casualties in the rout, my vermin will cover the main retreat. Cat, come with me."

Taban gulped and followed as Kylan ordered his beasts to retreat and joined them. Nosecheese, his nose partly bloodied in the gruesome fighting at the gates joined his captain as they flew into the ditches with a shocked Hesam, Vogar, and Gaunt looking onwards. Hazul led his tribal vermin into the fray, unleashing a volley into the hares and holding up a defensive stance so the Jusbrag vermin could quickly retreat. Vogar growled "Bleeding hell! What are you idiots doing!? The gates are open!"

Hesam frowned, silent as he watched the vermin retreat back to their camp. Hazul unleashed his blue flaming sword onto the hares who tried to rush out to claim kills from the nasty encounter, and to further gain control of the gate, as Kajam went to the south walls and engaged the woodlanders who fought viciously with the more successful southern push. Hazul's forces retreated only when a horn blew in the south, with Kajam having successfully disengaged from the host and was able to climb down and retreat before bowbeasts could slaughter them. The bells of the abbey rang out in alarm, as more and more hares regrouped and covered the walls.

Hesam gave a weird look to Taban who was huffing from the battle and commented "We opened the gates for you and you didn't engage this entire wretched force. Does Milo really think that little of us, cat?"

Taban gave an equally weird look to Hesam, unsure of what to think of this mouse. He commented to him "Your friend made a similar mistake, mouse. Your lucky we 'rescued' you when we did."

Hesam and Vogar looked to Gaunt who whispered in their ears as Kylan and his vermin watched. Dead vermin littered the fields. Hesam and Vogar would soon realize as Hazul returned back to the camp, sliding down into the ditch as the blue flaming sword faded away and was put into the dirt, that they were in the wrong camp. At definitely the wrong time.

Hazul gave them a cold look and spoke up "You two. You're coming to the command tent, and you are going to very calmly explain to me who you are, and why you betrayed your abbey. Kylan-"

Kylan was already debating with the rat "Hey! De's traitors be mine, rat! Ya can't just get'em!"

"You can have them when I am done interrogating them." Hazul hissed. Hesam and Vogar looked at each other awkwardly as Hazul went off, and motioned them to follow. They followed closely.
_

Jase and Gaisen were now deeper into the forest, but had stayed behind out of curiosity and concern. Jase and Gaisen didn't know what happened, but the vermin had assaulted the abbey and were not surprised by this. The vermin returned to their camps to regroup and count their injured and dead. They had stayed for only so long in hopes their abbey held, and by a miracle they felt it did. Jase looked up at the walls, scanning them for signs of his mother, and Gaisen looked for Garfan. Jase wanted to know, he had to know that his decision wasn't so terrible that it cost his mother's life.

From the walls, illuminated by a dim light of a torch, Jase's mother and Garfan were scanning the walls in a desperate look for them. Jase and Gaisen gave a terrible sigh of relief and sat on the forest floor. In the darkness they began to creep off and kept moving north. Jase gave a terrible sigh and they were farther away, looking tired and stumbling in the dark.

"Oh seasons. Oh seasons." He kept muttering, and then began to turn back. Gaisen caught up with him and got in his way.

"Jase, now isn't the time for second thoughts."

"Gaisen." Jase said with fear in his voice "Mom doesn't even know where I am, I-I didn't think this all through! She needs to know where I am, she need to know I am sorry! Oh Gaisen, what have we done!?"

Gaisen sighed and came up to his friend, and proceeded to shake him "Snap out of it Jase! Your mum is alive, an' my adoptive pa is too! They'll understand when we come back with your father and put an end to this evil! We know where we are going, we just need to rest. We just need to rest."

Jase wasn't so sure, but Gaisen had to put sense into him "If we go back, you and I won't be able to do anything, not to mention all those evil vermin in the way! If they catch us, your ma and Garfan will watch us building ditches for the enemy who just tried to kill them, Jase. I don't want that, and neither do you."

"I'm frightened." Jase admitted as Gaisen replied only with "I am too. Let's go off, make sure we are good while away from that horde, and rest."

Jase came to slowly agree and regain his strength as he and Gaisen turned back around and continued into the forest. Jase gave one last look back at his beloved abbey, promising to himself he would not return till his father was with him. Jue the Warrior will return, and will make things right.