Next morning at breakfast, Cregga told all the Redwallers that an alicorn named Nightmare Moon had been sighted in Mossflower, in the company of a fox.

"Hmm, they sound like a right pair o' scallywags if y'ask me," said Boorab. "Scoutin' party, that's what us chaps need, spot of reccying in the jolly old woodlands, wot. See how many more of the tattooed blighters are out there an' so on. Right, I'll volunteer to command said party…"

Cregga interrupted him. "Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Boorab, but it would be better if you stayed put here. I'm only taking Twilight, Cadence, young Deyna, Joshy Stag Hare, and Madd, the squirrel who saw them."

Boorab's reply was, to say the least, a trifle frosty. "Oh, beg pardon an' chop off my tongue for mentionin' it. Tut! So that's how a gallant chap gets treated for offerin' help, wot!"

Cregga immediately set about appeasing him. "But you misunderstood me, sir. I already had plans for you. We need an officer, one who knows what he's doing, to command the wallguards and see to the outer walls' security. I was hoping that you'd accept the post."

Boorab sprang to attention, knocking his chair over, and saluted with a wooden ladle, almost raising a bump on his head. "Say no more, oh fair one, say no more. I'm the very chap you're lookin' for, wot wot wot! Leave it to me! I'll straighten out that idle sloppy lot on our walltops, or m'name ain't Bellscut Oglecrop Obrathon Ragglewaithe Audube Baggscut. Commencin' duties as of now. Permission t'leave the mess, Cregga marm!"

Cregga made a small salute. "Permission granted. Carry on, sah!"

Boorab performed a smart left turn, tripped over the leg of his fallen chair, went flat and leaped upright in the same movement. He marched off, muttering under his breath in fine military form.

"What about me?" Fahari asked. "Can I come?"

"Oh, sweetie, it's much too dangerous," Cadence said. "I've already lost your father and sister. What would happen if you died as well? I would cry for years."

"Your mother is right, Fahari," said Twilight. "You need to stay here at Redwall where it's safe. That way we won't be worried about you."

"And you don't think I'll be worried about you?" Fahari said. "What if you get hurt again, Twilight? I want to be there to help you. I'm pretty good with my slingshot…"

"I'm sorry, but you're just too young to be going out chasing vermin," said Cadence.

"I'm the same age that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were when they went with Twilight to get the Alicorn Amulet back from the Marlfoxes," Fahari fired back. (See my story OUTFOXED!)

Twilight and Cadence exchanged a look. "I never should have told her that story," Twilight mumbled.

"All right," Cadence finally said. "You can come with us, Fahari. But stay next to Twilight or me at all times."

Fahari leaped into the air and hovered there for a few seconds. "Yahoo!"

Twilight, Cadence, Fahari, Cregga, Joshy, Madd, and Deyna marched out of Redwall's gates that morning. Deyna carried the sword of Martin the Warrior at his side. Meera and the other Redwallers stood out on the path, calling goodbyes and fluttering kerchiefs until their friends merged into the sun shimmering distance of the flatlands.