Ripeye's stung as he slouched beside his parents in the cavern hall. His mother, ever doting, stuck a warm slice of bread slathered with butter in his face. Shaken from his glum trance, Ripeye accepted the morsel of food and nibbled it. His mother beamed at him yet he sat silently ignoring her heartfelt pride.
"What's wrong my little warrior? The food is good." She affectionately rubbed his head as she pulled him toward her. "Does your stomach hurt?"
Ripeye took a bigger bite out of the bread to quell his mother's worries, albeit his stomach was tied into knots.
"Don't baby 'em." Crooksnout barked with a mouthful of food. "If 'es hungry he'll eat."
Silvertongue scowled at her mate. "It's not like him not to touch his food."
"Then he's not hungry or he's sick," Crooksnout responded after swallowing. His mother slapped her paw onto his forehead.
"He's not hot." His mother pulled him to her side in a loving embrace. "What's the matter me lettle warlord?"
"Nuffin'" Ripeye responded without glancing at the two of them. He couldn't tell them what happened, Dokkur would kill them.
"Wus it those Redwallers you got into trouble wif?" Silvertongue's face shriveled in disgust at the thought of any beast hurting her child. "I told ye you should be smart with who you play with. Yet the first thing ye do is fight with the other young'uns."
"I told yew we were playing! Yew deaf wretch!" Ripeye snapped ripping free from her.
His mother shrunk back as if she had been struck. With a tight-lipped frown and slightly injured glare, she turned back to her food. Ripeye knew he had done something wrong but didn't care. Anger and embarrassment flooded his thoughts. He hated the fact that his mother had gotten hurt. If she hadn't been so clumsy and slipped on a rock, they would never have been forced to come to Redwall.
The young weasel wasn't worried about making a scene it was difficult to hear in the crowded cavern during supper. Beasts jostled about to their seats as they dove into the plates of food. The other vermin deserters sat down the length of the table fervently snatching and wolfing down the vittles laid out for them. The pirate and the hulking white rat looked exhausted, over the past few days Ripeye had spotted them following around a small haggard mole. The weasel couldn't understand why the two bloodthirsty beasts were being led around like slaves. He suspected Dokkur had threatened them in some sort of way. The seer appeared at the table without a word her red cloak pulled tightly over her ears. Ripeye cared far less about her than the pirate but was surprised her burly hare escort wasn't there for dinner. The hare could eat almost a whole table's worth of food, he also was kind enough to toss a few candied chestnuts the young weasel's way.
"Oi Seabane!" The one-legged fox bounded up to the table, a path clearing around him as a young smartly dressed hare followed. The fox's walk reminded Ripeye of a gull waddling on a windy dune.
"Ruddy? Where've yew been hiding yew one-legged terror? I ain't seen ye in almost a fortnight." The Corsair shot back.
Ruddy grunted a response as he tried to force himself between his mother and the rat.
"Watch where yer slingin' dat stump yew idjit!" His mother snapped slapping away the fox. Ruddy ignored her before crashing down onto the bench.
"Yarr since when did yew get that? I thought Grumm told yew tah quit botherin' him or he'd put a hammer between yer ears." The brown rat quipped before bringing a mug of ale to his lips.
"He brought it tah me later that day!" The fox practically shouted in glee. "Eli must've told him he wanted me as his apprentice 'cus I'm still gonna be a warrior!"
Seabane spat his drink across the table, soaking a bowl of salad and Sathe.
"Damn you Seabane!" Sathe snapped momentarily interrupting the conversation and tossing her cup of water at him. It hit the mark, but the rat barely even flinched, his wrath was focused on the crippled fox.
"Ap-apprentice?!" The Corsair's adam's apple bobbed like a cork. "Yer gonna get slain by that foul butcher!"
"He wanted me t' be a warrior like him!" Ruddy bounced up and down on his seat.
"He wants you dead yew maggot-brained runt!" Seabane hissed. "He took you on so that…that… that he could get closer to slaying yew!"
"Nuh-uh!" The fox spat back. "He wants me t' be a warrior! He said I kin walk well enough t' join him fer guard training every day!"
"No, you're not well!" Seabane rose to his feet. "Not well at all an' I'm not gonna let yew get tricked by a sly mouse of all beasts."
"I already helped 'im dis mornin'. He introduced me t' the other guards and none of them got mad. I told 'em I'm gonna be the best warrior Mossflowers ever gonna see and Eli agreed!"
"You're not a warrior! You're an addlebrained, crippled, fox with nobody but me t' take care of ye!" Seabane roared. Some of the Redwaller's attention was momentarily pulled from their food before realizing that the vermin were merely fighting amongst themselves.
Ruddy's cherry face turned into a dark snarl. "Shuddup Seabane yer just mad yew got us intah this mess in th' first place."
"Watch yer mouth yew lonely idjit." The rat spat as he leaned in whisker length from the fox. "I've saved yer hide more times than yew've counted sunrises! Yer a fool if yew think yer anything other than a laugh t' that mouse!"
"You're scared he'll teach me t' be a better warrior than yew ever was!"
"Yarr! Yew think I care about bein' a warrior? Look at where we are! They'll kill ye if ye even look threatening! They're lookin' for an easy way t' slay us or toss us out, but you're too stupid t' see that!"
"I'm gonna be a warrior and I'm gonna train with Eli! Yew never wanted me t' be a warrior because yer a coward, now I have a real monster as a teacher. Not a scared beast who runs from every fight!" Ruddy's spittle landed as white flakes on the rat's face.
Ripeye saw the corsair twitch in rage. The weasel leaned forward. His heart pounded as he waited on the edge of his seat for the fight that was to come. To his dismay, instead of a fight the rat shook his head and stepped away from the table.
"Where are yew going?" The fox asked
"I'm gonna find that mouse an' keep him away from you!" Seabane called over his shoulder as he sped past Ripeye.
"Don't yew dare! I-I-" Ruddy looked about the table before grabbing a chunk of bread and clumsily hurrying after the rat.
"Couple o' fools." Crooksnout shook his head as he watched them go.
"Why does tha foxer wanna be wif dat mousie?" Twinetail asked as he chewed on an apple. "I tinks that mouse 's dumb."
"Because he's stupid and still thinks he's got two good legs," Crooksnout responded. "But don't worry about them. Mummy an daddy won't let anything happen t' yew."
Twinetail nodded as he stuffed his face from a plate piled high with white cheese, sliced apple, and flat nut bread smothered in honey. Ripeye's younger brother appeared less concerned with Dokkur threatening his parents than he should be. Twinetail intently watched a crowd of rowdy hares who drunkenly sang about some famous badger or something else as stupid as they were. A violin appeared in a squirrel's paws as tables were pushed about to form a space for beasts to dance. A score of beasts joined the mix of singing and spinning bodies as the song garnered more voices including a strong female vole who seemed to be leading the charge. Suddenly all the beasts save the vermin were singing the chorus as it swelled up like a massive wave before peaking and crashing down to thunderous applause. Twinetail watched them with an amazed twinkle in his eye, Ripeye wished they would all shut up.
"Daddy kin I dance wif th' Redwallers?" Twinetail asked as he swallowed his mouthful of food with a loud gulp.
"Why wouldja want t' do that?" Silvertongue asked dryly.
"'cus I'm full and it looks fun."
The Redwallers began clapping as another fiddler joined the ensemble and beasts began pairing off and spinning and dancing about like fools. Ripeye spotted some of the dibbuns joining in.
"No, you don't wanna do that," Crooksnout responded with an uncaring glance at the Redwallers. "It's dumb an you'll probably get into trouble."
Silvertongue looked at the dancing beasts and slowly her expression softened. "It doesn't look that dangerous, Crook…"
"They'll just stomp all over Twinetail. An yer footpaw isn't well anyway." Crooksnout droned without looking up from his plate.
"Yeah! Yew'll look stupid Twinetail." Ripeye hissed as the singing and dancing continued behind him. Twinetail had stuffed his cheeks full of vittles and looked like he was trying his hardest to keep the food in his mouth.
"Yer sthill uggy!" Twinetail responded with a tightly held frown.
"Shuddup yew baby! Yew hav' flees dancing in yer fur!"
"Shut yer mouth Ripeye, fore I swat that attitude outta ya!" Crooksnout snapped as spit flew from his mouth.
Ripeye fumed in anger. "Shuddup idjit! If yew were any bit of a warrior that squirrel wouldn't 'ave broke yer arm."
In an instant, his father reached across the table and slapped him with a resounding crack. Hot and angry tears welled in his eyes as his mother grabbed his mouth and held it shut before he could lash out. The other deserters all looked toward the young weasel; furious snarls born on their faces.
"I told you to keep your mouth shut!" Crooksnout hissed as he wheeled about the table and grabbed Ripeye by the arm. "I'm gonna tan yer hid fer that aftah dinner!"
"I hope it's for what he did t' me daughter, wot." A nasal voice proudly sounded from behind the weasels. A tall muscular white furred hare with a curt frown looked down at the vermin family.
"An who are yew hare?" Crooksnout asked with a snort. Ripeye tried to wrench himself away from his father's grasp, but the weasel's grip held firm.
"My name doesn't concern you vermin." The hare hissed dismissing Crooksnout with a waive of his paw as he leaned toward Ripeye. "Listen here, wot! If yer blighters so much as touches Bramble, I'll whack ye till yer as bald as a boiled egg, wot wot!"
Ripeye tried to hide but he was pinned between the table and the furious DuHoyt. Thankfully Crooksnout stepped in front of the hare.
"Watch yer mouth rabbet!" Crooksnout hissed pushing the hare back. "Iv I had both me arms I'd 'ave bounced yer head off th' floors by now!"
"Keep yer miserable kin in line vermin!" Conrad snapped. "If I find out yer two terrors have said a word t' me daughter I'll cut yer whole family tah pieces!"
Crooksnout let go of Ripeye's arm allowing the young weasel to slide beneath the table. His mother had also gotten to her feet as his father unleashed a torrent of curses upon the hare. The two beasts continued shouting oaths and threats at each other as Ripeye spotted Twinetail in the distance trying to join the dancing beasts. He held his arms out as he looked for a partner in their spinning dance. The small weasel found a red squirrel who paused momentarily, seeing the vermin holding out his paws, before shrugging and bounding away with the weasel in tow. Ripeye could hear his brother's gleeful laughter above the cursing.
A grunt of pain tore his attention away from the dance as his father fell to his knees. Crooksnout clenched his teeth together as if he wanted them to shatter as thick veins bulged from his forehead. The white-furred hare stood over him, face red with anger, his paws were balled into tight fists at his side. In a flash, the hare spotted Ripeye cowering under the heavy table. The weasel did his best not to shake as Dokkur's threats echoed in his ears. The hare wanted to kill him and intended to do just that. When Ripeye thought Conrad might attack a cup hit him square in the nose.
The hare staggered back in shock, bumbling into a crowd of Redwallers and knocking them over. He looked up in shock at Silvertongue who rolled up the sleeves of her long green gown and readied a large apple and another cup filled with water.
"Don't yew dare threaten my family!" Silvertongue shrieked above the noise of the dinner and the music fell like a stone. Ripeye took the opportunity to scramble away from the table as the hare roared and threw himself toward his mother. He didn't look back as he ran towards the closest exit as screams of terror and howls of rage filled the cavern hall.
Ripeye slipped through the heavy doors to the cellar and closed them with a rush of air. The noise from the fighting beasts in the cavern hall had grown to a crescendo and he could hear a guttural roar from the white rat followed by the crash of what he suspected was a table. In his effort to get away, Ripeye had no clue where he had run off to. He had found a door and ran toward it not knowing or caring where it led. Now he was in a massively dark room. Blinking to adjust his eyes all he saw was more darkness. Fearing what the darkness may hold Ripeye called out to see if he was alone. He received an echo in response. He stepped forward expecting a flat floor and was shocked when it slanted downward. The weasel stumbled blindly, catching himself before he fell flat on his face. A thought of returning to his parents flashed through his mind, but hearing the cursing that continued in the cavern hall, he decided it would be better to explore. Using the light from the crack underneath the door as a guide Ripeye shuffled down the slope until it leveled out. Now his eyes had adjusted enough to see he was in Redwall's cellar.
The cellar was a sanctuary of abundance, its vast chambers lined with sturdy oak shelves and stout barrels. Rows upon rows of meticulously stored provisions greeted the weasel: golden rounds of cheese, sealed jars of honey, and sacks bulging with nuts and dried fruits. In the faint, flickering light from beneath the iron-bounded heavy door, the polished surfaces of barrels glimmered, each holding the Abbey's treasured ales, wines, and cordials, their contents aging to perfection. The earthy scent of aged wood and the faint, sweet aroma of fermenting fruits accosted Ripeye's senses. Hearing his stomach grumble for the first time Ripeye realized how hungry he was. He looked about in the darkness for some flint and steel but couldn't find anything in the vast gloominess. To his shock, the room was momentarily filled with light as the door above them was wrenched open before being just as quickly shut.
"Whaddaya think started the fight?" Twiggy called out.
"I dunno, somethin' stupid probably," Beskit responded breathlessly.
"Stinks that Karic's parents caught him before we escaped."
"It's his fault he was too slow, I saw him stick a paw full of honey in his mouth before we found 'em."
"Yeah. D'ye think Twinetail and Rip are gonna be alright? Looked like their parents started it."
Ripeye's blood boiled. His parents most definitely didn't start the fight! Bramble's stupid father did! But Ripeye was certain his parents were beating the hare senseless.
"Well, it looked like mister DuHoyt had his paws wrapped around that one weasel's neck."
"Before that giant white rat hit him with the bench 'e was sittin' on."
Ripeye could see the two dibbuns shiver at the thought of Marrow.
"He's scary, I thought only badgers were that strong?"
"He's as big as a badger and has a massive badger tattoo on his back. What if…"
"He's part badger!" The two dibbuns shouted in unison.
Marrow isn't a badger. Ripeye thought in disgust before mulling it over. He is big, and strong, and scary… so maybe he is part badger. Ripeye shook the thought from his head and a new mischievous one entered his conscience as a malicious smile crept to his face. Slowly he dropped onto his belly and began crawling towards the two unaware Redwallers.
"That's why he listened t' Sister Beryl when he first arrived!"
"An that's why tha abbots been talking t' him ev'ry day!"
"He's gotta be a badger who kin turn inta vermin."
"What? No badgers can't do that!"
"How do you know? Are you a badger?"
"No! But what if I was, what would you say then?"
"I'd say you're doing a poor job of being a badger!"
"Shuddup Beskit, I'd be a better badger than you!"
Ripeye crawled up the incline, careful not to make a sound. He had gotten within leaping distance of the Redwller's when his claw scraped across the floor. He stopped, as still as a stone. The mouse and hedgehog looked about.
"What was that?" Beskit asked swishing his head about in the darkness.
"I bet it was a ghost!" Twiggy squeaked in response.
"Ghosts don't exist!"
"Yeah, they do! Abbot Micah says that the spirit of Martin the Warrior and all the other good beasts are all around us!"
Ripeye inched closer, purposely scraping his claw across the ground. The two Redwallers looked in his direction but didn't move.
"What if it's a giant snake that eats beasts!"
"Light a fire already Beskit or we're gonna die!" Twiggy cried.
In the darkness Ripeye could see the mouse jut his paws into his trousers and pull something free. With all his strength Ripeye leapt into the air with a shout right as Beskit lit a spark. The tiny flicker of flame illuminated the weasel in a horrifying light. The two Redwallers screamed as Ripeye collided with them, before tumbling down the incline until they were at the bottom of the cellar floor. Ripeye laughed all the while like a mad beast.
"That wasn't funny Ripeye, we knew you were there!" Beskit snapped pushing the weasel off him.
"No yew didn't! Yew thought I was some great mousie warrior," Ripeye laughed. "I'm tha great protector of all the mousies and rabbets and riverdogs! Ha ha ha ha!"
"Shuddup Ripeye, Martin could beat up that pirate yew have!" Ripeye laughed even harder at the prospect of a dead mouse beating Seabane or Marrow.
"Don't listen t' the vermin, Beskit. Where's yer light?" Twiggy asked as he sat up and rubbed his head. The mouse groaned.
"I don't know where it went, I lost it when Ripeye scared us like a dumb mud-eater."
"See yew said I scared yew!" Ripeye snapped, pleased to have done his parents' tutelage proud.
"Yeah, well we don't have any way to see where anything is," Beskit complained.
"So? We just fell down the ramp. The door's right there."
"I want my flint back!" The mouse snapped. "My grandpa gave it to me and I told him I'd never lose it!"
Ripeye groaned it wasn't his fault the mouse couldn't hold on to his prized flint. It was a stupid gift anyway, not that he wanted one for himself. But he couldn't stand to lose a friend and be forced to only play with his baby brother. Besides, if he found it nobody said he had to give it back.
"Fine mousie. But once we're done then we kin try some of the vikkles yer friar gots locked away in here."
"We need a light tah see where the vittles are, so we better find it." Beskit moaned as he began to crawl about the floor. Ripeye didn't feel the need to crawl about, his eyes were much more adjusted to the dark than the Redwallers, but he stooped over as he shuffled forward, just in case.
Ripeye didn't get far as he stubbed his toe on an uneven tile. The weasel cursed in anger as he crashed to the floor. Through the gloom, Beskit and Twiggy looked at him with their mouths agape.
"Where did ye learn t' swear like that?" The mouse asked.
"The pirate showed me when we found our way to Redwall." The weasel responded, proud to flaunt his coolness to these other Redwallers.
"Do ya think he can teach us how t' swear?" Twiggy asked. "So that my parents wouldn't know."
"I'll teach ya! I'll swear as much as you want but I don't want that queen of the dark t' hear me," Ripeye sucked in a quick breath. "Or that dirty riverdog."
"Dokkur?" Twiggy asked. "He's not mean you were the one taunting Bramble."
"You two were doing it too! And so was Karic. He didn't get mad at yew he got mad at me and Twinetail." Ripeye pleaded at the unfairness of it all.
"Are yew two okay? I didn't see Twinetail at dinner an I thought you landed in the snow when Dokkur…"
"We're fine." Ripeye snarled. "He was dancing wid a squirrel before th' fighting started."
"Do you know what your parents said t' get Mr. DuHoyt so mad?" Beskit asked.
"They didn't say anything! That rotten, dung-eating, flea-brained hare wanned t' rip me fur off! Me parents told him t' go away, then he hit my dad, and I ran away…"
Ripeye was glad it was dark; he didn't want the others to see the tears running down his face.
"I hate it here! Everybeast hates me, I don't have any friends and my parents are too stupid or hurt to leave."
"We're your friends, aren't we?" Twiggy asked.
"No, my friends are all back in the horde… but now they're dead." Ripeye failed to stifle a cry. The otter's words had been sitting in his stomach like a hot coal. Now the realization that all his friends were dead had struck him like an iron bat. His friends who used to torment and tease Sathe and other hordebeasts while hanging in the tips of oak trees were dead. His friends who had snuck around the horde stealing trinkets and playing pirates while avoiding the officer's wrath were all gone. Ripeye was stuck in Redwall with his injured parents whom he was too much of a coward to try and protect. A terrible vermin wretch he is.
"What's wrong, did yew hit her foot again?" Twiggy asked, cocking his head to the side.
"No, I'm fine." Ripeye hissed through his teeth. "But Dokkur's a jerk."
There was a moment of silence between the trio.
"Yeah, I don't like him very much," Beskit responded with a nervous pause. "He likes to act nice to your face but then is mean when yer not looking, or your parents aren't around."
"I'd tell him to stuff his tail up his butt! He's a big stupid snake-tongued meanie." Ripeye snapped.
Twiggy and Beskit snickered at the thought. "He looks like a frog swallowing, arse faced, gull!"
"I bet he likes t' take baths in mud since he smells all the time!" Twiggy added.
"An' 'is mummy's got no teeth 'cus ov how rotten she is."
"Ewww! His breath does smell like rotten eggs though!" The three dibbuns shared a well-needed laugh.
"He's not even a good warrior too! Eli's replacin' 'im with that one-legged foxer beast!" Beskit informed them.
"He is?" Ripeye asked in stark disbelief. "I thought Ruddy wus lyin'!"
"Nope!" Beskit laughed. "We were watchin' the warriors train an' the fox was following Eli around like Dokkur used to do! Th' otter was just watchin' with the other guards!"
"HA! Dumb riverdog isn't even a warrior, he's just a scared little-" Muffled cursing filled the room and the banter fell silent.
"What was that? Was it a ghost?" Twiggy asked, fear accentuating his voice.
"I dunno?" Ripeye responded, before being interrupted by yet another voice. It sounded like a heated discussion was happening behind one of the walls. "Probably from the cavern, I bet Marrow's still fighting!"
"No." Beskit hissed. "It came from in here."
Terror washed across Ripeye's face. The otter couldn't have heard him. Could he?
"Hallooo! Is anyone there?" Beskit called as loud as he could before being tackled by Ripeye and Twiggy.
"Shuddup yew idjit iv there are ghosts d'ya wanna lead 'em t' us?" Ripeye hissed into the mouse's ear. "Or if it's that ugly riverdog."
"What if it's Martin the Warrior, or Sunflash the Mace! I wanna talk wid 'em an tell 'em to scare Dokkur for throwin' you and Twinetail from tha wall." Beskit responded. "An' if it's Dokkur I'll tell him what I think of him to his face!"
"An' what if they don't like me because I'm vermin?" Ripeye asked not wanting to come face to face with an angry badger.
"Then we'll tell 'em you're our friend and they'll listen to us." Twiggy responded with a giddy laugh.
"Well," Ripeye paused. He didn't want to anger any spirit, Redwaller or not. "What if it's a bunch of vermin ghosts?"
"There are no vermin ghosts here!"
"Nuh uh, why do ye think the Abbey's walls are red?" Ripeye asked, Beskit and Twiggy looked to him for an answer.
"It's because they've been painted with the blood of every vermin who attacked Redwall!"
There was a gasp of disbelief. "Thats not true!" Twiggy snapped. "There's a redstone quarry that my dad took me to! He said that's where the stone for the walls and the buildings come from."
"Is your dad a seer?" Ripeye asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, but-"
"So how does he know that vermin blood isn't used to' paint the walls?"
"Well…" Twiggy waffled.
"He doesn't! But our seer does!" Ripeye thought now would be the time to rise to his feet.
"Great vermin warlord! It is I, Ripeye the Vile, the great pirate of the eastern seas! I ask that yew go away as we're trying to find my mouse companion's flint that he so stupidly dropped." Ripeye's voice echoed in the ceiling high above him, receiving no response. Realizing he might not sound like the most pirate-y pirate he corrected.
"Yarr matey! Dere be plenty o' vikkles fer ye if yar stomach grumbles like tha dark sea. Jus' leave enough fer me an' me jelly-bellied crew!"
Once again there was muted discussion before silence. Ripeye thought it was coming from behind a narrow wall a short distance from him.
"They're in the wall!" Ripeye whispered as he crept toward the ghosts, Twiggy and Beskit fell in line behind him.
In the gloom, Ripeye could see a narrow wall separating two cavernous, doorless storage rooms on either side. The wall was the same slick black and gray stone the rest of the cellar was made of. Both ends were supported by beams of rotten dark oak, each beam as wide as his arm was long. They looked to Ripeye like two guards hauling a prisoner to the executioner's block. The cavernous rooms to either side were filled to the brim with foodstuffs. One smelled as if it were filled with aged and spiced alcohol. The other wafted the tempting scents of candied nuts, ground flour, and scores of other vittles that made Ripeyes stomach gnaw itself in a hungry rage. Reaching the wall, he noticed it was as slick as a sea-soaked stone. Bits of white ice were trapped within any crag and crevice water could squeeze into.
"Why's the floor so wet?" Twiggy complained.
"It's because the walls are sweating!" Beskit informed them.
Ripeye recoiled in disbelief. "What? Walls don't sweat."
"Yes, they do!" Beskit looked at him like he had two heads. "Walls around the abbey have been doing it all winter. It's the first time I've ever seen it before."
"Yarr well are the ghosts sweating?" Ripeye shot back.
"I dunno. But the walls get cold and wet sometimes and water can pour from them."
"That's stupid, just like yer ghosts!"
"Well, yew probably scared 'em off! Good job Ripeye now we'll never talk to Martin the Warrior!" Beskit snapped.
"Shuddup mousie I was brave enough to talk to the ghosts. Yew cowered on the floor like a scaredy squirrel."
"Ripeye the Vile, huh?" An ominous booming voice sounded from far above and behind them.
The three dibbuns ripped around, the hairs on their neck standing on end.
"What?! Who's there?" Fear trickled into Ripeyes voice. He couldn't see anything in front of him; the light from the cavern hall was blotted out by something sinister.
"Martin! Martin, is it you?" Twiggy asked searching the never-ending darkness for a sign of another beast.
"Ahh yes… " The voice hissed as it hovered ominously above them. "It is I, Martin the Warrior. What may I help you with lettle one…"
"Wow, your Martin!" Beskit shrieked racing into the darkness. "Where are you? I can't see you."
"I thought you were supposed to look like a dead ghost." Twiggy mused as he followed the mouse into the darkness. Ripeye lagged behind, something didn't feel right. He didn't want to meet this terrifying warrior in case he would be this mouse's next target. Out of fear of being left alone in the dark he followed his friends towards the voice.
"I am a ghost but all you can sense is my voice." Ghost Martin started. "I have visited many beasts many times and in many ways. Consider yourself lucky children… very rarely have beasts heard my real voice…"
"Really!" Beskit cried, Ripeye could see a faint outline of the mouse bouncing up and down on his toes. "I didn't know we were that special!"
"Yes… you dibbuns are very… special." The voice mused. Ripeye thought Ghost Martin was a liar. The weasel had met countless liars in the horde and they all loved to make themselves sound genuine before stabbing you in the back.
"Mr. Martin the Warrior we wanned t' ask you if you could tell this mean otter Dokkur t' stop bein' mean t' our friend," Twiggy asked as he plodded forward running his paw along a cabinet holding round cheeses and bags of candied acorns.
"Yeah!" Beskit interrupted. "Dokkurs been mean t' Ripeye and Twinetail. They're both vermin but they're both good vermin. They play games, sneak candies, and run from bathtime like the rest of us! Dokkurs is a big jerk! I don't know if you saw but today he tossed the two o' 'em off the wall and into a snow drift."
"Yes, yes, yes, I am well aware." Ghost Martin snapped cutting the rambling mouse off. "You might not realize it yet but that… otter… was doing all of Redwall a favor."
Beskit stopped at the bottom of the incline with a puzzled expression before Twiggy and Ripeye bumbled into him.
"I don't like Martin, he's scaring me!" Ripeye whispered to his two friends.
"Don't worry Martin's a good beast he doesn't mean t' be scary!" Twiggy reassured the weasel, Ripeye hoped his friend was right.
"Why?" Beskit asked the ghoulish voice. "Dokkur was being mean to us. Brother Samuel told us that being mean is wrong?"
"My sweet child." The voice sounded like a creaky door. "You are far too young to understand now, but trust me you will when you're older. It might be hard to hear but your friend is nothing more than an evil, lying trickster!"
Ripeye felt a lump grow in his throat.
"No, he's not!" Beskit yelled back. "He's fun! Sure he's mean sometimes but that doesn't-"
"He's vermin!" The voice roared. "The same vermin that slaughtered your ancestors seasons ago! The vermin that want you and your families dead! He wants the walls of Redwall to be toppled and crushed to dust! He told you that he hates it here didn't he?"
Beskit opened his mouth but shut it. Ripeye thought he could see the outline of a giant beast at the top of the incline.
"He hurt poor little Bramble, didn't he? Why, her father told me all about it!" Ghost Martin sounded like a withered old hag, not some strong warrior. "He would stick a knife in your back if given the opportunity! Hand him over to me and you will help me, Martin the Warrior, protect Redwall from these vile vermin!"
Ripeye looked between Beskit and Twiggy. He didn't want to go with Ghost Martin or whoever it was.
"I don't wanna go! I don't wanna stab yew either! Ghost Martin is a liar!" Ripeye wailed as he grabbed the two by their cloaks.
"Silence!" The ghostly voice demanded. "You're a vermin in my home, you have no choice but to leave or to die!"
Ripeye could better see the outline of a beast slowly moving down the incline. His blood ran cold as the ghost spoke to his two friends.
"Give him to me and I will deal with him myself. I will remember you two as heroes and there will be feasts and songs written after you mighty warriors! Just give the weasel to me!"
Twiggy and Beskit looked at each other as they contemplated listening to their hero. Ripeye began to try and pull them away from the approaching specter. He did his best not to scream but he could feel warm liquid trickling down the inside of his trousers.
"B-but what are you gonna do with Ripeye?" Beskit asked stepping toward the beast who was rapidly approaching.
Ghost Martin's voice was like an untuned string. "Nothing you need to be concerned with whelp!"
Before Beskit could react a masked paw slammed into the side of his head and sent him flying into the darkness crashing with a terrible clatter. Ripeye and Twiggy screamed.
"Run Rip-" Twiggy's voice was silenced as Ripeye turned and fled into the dark. He didn't make it far as the unconscious body of his friend slammed into his back with a devastating crunch. Ripeye fell forward slamming his chin into the edge of a table. He cried out in pain as his bottom teeth bit through his lip. Heavy footsteps crunched to stop behind him as heavy and muffled breathing filled his ears. Trembling as he turned, Ripeye screamed in terror as he stared into the hate-filled eyes of the darkened beast. The beast tossed Twiggy's limp body to the side as he reached for the weasel. Blinded by terror Ripeye desperately kicked away before a gloved paw grabbed his tail. In the haunting gloom, Ripeye saw the weak silver glint of a knife being raised far above him. With a scream and a kick, he lodged himself free, scampering away as the knife impacted stone with a wicked screech.
Ripeye sprinted past the darkened beast, crying for help as tears streamed down his face. With a roar, the beast whipped around and slashed at the weasel. Ripeye screamed and fell forward barely keeping his footing as the knife cut through his thin red cloak. The weasel managed to stay on his feet and bolt up the incline. Panting through his sobs and the searing pain in his back Ripeye slammed into the door. It was jammed shut with a plank of wood. The weasel whipped around to see the outline of a massive beast silently charging up the incline, the thin silver blade smeared with dark red blood. Ripeye leaped to the side onto an overhanging shelf along the cellar's wall at the last possible moment. The beast roared as he missed his prey. Ripeye continued to scream as he scrambled over a barrel of sweetly smelling liquid.
"C'mere vermin!" The beast snapped as Ripeye turned to see him reaching for his tail. He cried out and kicked away.
The beast swung at the weasel but missed cutting a rope that ran the length of the barrel's curved surface. Ripeye scrambled about trying to escape his attacker but was blinded by the darkness and confused by the awkward objects he was climbing over. He managed to get himself stuck between the first two barrels as the beast slashed and hacked at him. Thankfully his attacker only managed to pierce the barrel spilling a sticky red liquid onto the cowering dibbun. With a terrified roar, Ripeye pushed the barrel away from him sending the free barrel into his attacker's chest. The beast staggered back with a whump as the barrel bounced on the incline like a freshly caught fish before vanishing over the cliff-like edge and landing with a violent crash. Ripeye, spurred by inspiration, climbed over the next barrel and pushed it toward his dazed attacker. The beast could see what the weasel had planned and stepped out of the way as he let the next barrel bounce over the edge of the incline and crash into the rotten beam of the ghost wall far below.
"There's no escape you scum!" The beast hissed as he slashed at a line of rope holding the shelf suspended in the air. Ripeye suddenly dropped like a wingless bird before stopping as the shelf hit the incline. Off balance, he jumped from the shelf's edge onto the stone incline, landing on his chest and knocking the wind out of him. The beast laughed coldly as he sauntered toward the vermin.
"Time to die!" The beast hissed, but before he could make it any further he was hit by a barrel from the half-suspended shelf and knocked off balance. The beast swore horribly as the barrel rolled off the side of the incline and crushed a shelf holding jars of honey and jams before knocking over another shelf holding several smaller barrels of mead with a crash. Before the beast could regain his balance he was hit with another barrel and another, each of the barrels followed the same path of destruction before colliding with the rotten beam supporting the ghost wall. The beast was swept along in the tidal wave of barrels and knocked into the darkness below.
Ripeye wheezed and crawled over to the wall where he looked down into the darkness he could see the hunched outline of a beast who appeared to be holding his chest, to his horror the beast looked up at him with hateful eyes.
"You will suffer greatly for this vermin!" The beast hissed but was cut off by a loud pop. The wooden beam that supported the weakened wall was dented and broken, and Ripeye could see it slowly bowing over.
"No!" The beast swore and rushed into the darkness of one of the cellar's caverns. A moment later the beam snapped like a breaking bone. The cavernous storage room it had been supporting collapsed with a rumble and a roar. The wall crumbled as well and for a moment Ripeye thought he spotted the faces of an otter and a hedgehog. But before the thought passed through his mind the other cellar storage cavern collapsed, shattering glass and sending stone spilling into the main room with a crunch. Then there was a deep silence.
Ripeye clumsily scrambled painfully to his knees. Crying and bleeding he was about to call for his friends when the door behind him swung open, flooding the room with light. A gasp of horror escaped the Redwallers. Half of the cellar had collapsed on itself. Portions of the ground and storeroom above had fallen, destroying over a season's worth of food and drink. In the middle of it all was a terrible weasel kit.
Finally out with another one. Lets hope I can keep punching through chapters this summer!
As Always please let me know what you think and what can be improved upon. Any and all feedback is appreciated!