From Vermin to Goodbeast to Hero (Open)

[unknownsoldier]

Truslo was amazed to say the least, in the shortest amount of time possible made him astounded by the hermits actions and words. Just fernleafs actions alone gave him wonder and he was all to willing to follow him as his companion. Just before he began to follow after the ferret hermit, he heard the abbeybeats comments and laughter at Fernleaf's actions behind him, this caused something to stir within him, a emotion he never really felt before. This emotion was anger, long season of bottling it up caused some of it to finally leak out, making him turn back and jump up onto a table.

"I thought this was the famous Redwall Abbey? Full of beasts wanting to help others who welcome any with open paws? All I see are drunk beasts who don't care that their famous defender Martin wants mister Fernleaf to become his sword and fight to save others. I believe him fully! Especially if its Martin himself. Call me a fool if you want, I don't care, I'm going to follow mister Fernleaf to Hellsgates and back if I must to help him!" The young hedgehog said in a confident tone, finally done with his annoucement and jumped down from the table as he ran off to follow after Fernleaf, the anger finally subsiding and disappearing completely.
---
Lance could hear voices, but he still felt numbness in his leg. He cursed silently to himself for his luck as he still kept a grip on his lance tip, ready to use in case his spot was found. He had to keep silent and keep hidden for as long as he could without being spotted, he could still fight, but he would be overwhelmed if there was more. From how it sounded, there was a good estimation there was indeed more then one, so the warrior ferret kept silent, trying to hear the conversation as it went. He then heard the name Crookeye being mentioned and another silent curse came up, terrific, him of all beasts were here, a bit of surprise and bad luck since he knew the marten from before. What a tricky situation he was in thats for sure.

[Caterpillar]

As soon as Flourwing dropped on the ground, wings tangled, the vermin were onto her, using robe to tie sparrow's wings tightly to her sides so that the feathered nuisance wasn't going to fly anywhere. Cursed sparrow and its kin's high bitched voice... It was a stroke of luck the otter's camp was so far-away from the Abbey, otherwise the sparra's cry would have drawn out some unwanted attention. Still, better make sure that sparrow understood how unhealthy it would be if she choose to continue screaming.

"Make another voice and we're gonna dine on yar meat tonight", one of the redglades hissed and emphasize his threat by aiming a good kick at Flourwing's middle-section.



For a short moment it looked like Kacy had withstood his blow - and Knar hadn't holded back the strength behind that strike! - but then the otter slumped on the ground, after her fierce glare and pledge of vengeance. In general Knar did not care about threats, but this one might prove to be more bite than bark... Because if he had grasped Kacy's personality correct - it wasn't a easy feat as the otter was pretty much insane and thus unpredictable like a gust of wind - the riverdog was like an arrow...And her enemies were the target-boards. That otter didn't seem to have a habit neither forget or forgive and was prone to hunt down the poor slaggers who ever rubbed her in wrong way, no matter the consequences. And Knar already had an impressive collection of powerful enemies so he really didn't need a maniac after his tail too. If Kacy survived from this encounter alive, the chances were she would eventually come after him.

Well, he could just kill the otter now and problem would be solved...

Knar snorted as he bended over Kacy, knowing full well it wasn't going to happen - not now at least. It didn't fit in his fur kill captives when they were unconscious. Aye, he might be the despicable slagger who didn't hesitate to use the cheap shots -- but he ain't the slagger who resorted to cheap kills. He was a warrior, not an executioner.

"Ya need to git in the line...", Knar muttered in lowered tone while he tied otter's hands behind her back. Though Kacy propably wasn't going to catch his words anymore when flying face against the grass and leaves. And after a short consideration the marten also put some rope around otter's snout as well. Just to keep the otter from jumping onto someone and biting poor fellow's carotid artery open (Knar wouldn't be surprised if Kacy would actually TRY that) . And it would also ensure Kacy wouldn't spill the beans and reveal to these beasts that she knew him from before.

After securing Kacy wasn't going to be able cause problems, Knar rose to his feet at turned to stare at the vulpine. It seemed like the fox was mistaking something in here... They weren't here as the abbeydweller''s saviors, quite the opposite. But that mix-up was going to be cleared out soon enough.

With a couple long strides Knar made it next to the abbeydweller.
" 'Dat depends...", Knar gnarled as he grabbed the back of Baro's collar. Even though the vulpine was well-eaten like fatling, the marten could lift him up from the ground without a difficulty.
"...How well you an' yar friend answer som' questions, fox" Without further ceremonies Knar tossed Baro on the ground, not bothering to be careful when doing so. The fox landed next to the Flourwing and still unconscious Kacy as the captives were rounded up.

Knar looked down both Baro and Flourwing. The flames from near campfire painted moving shadows over the pine marten, making his tall and sturdy frame appear even more intimidating. And Knar's low and powerful voice really fitted in the picture, when the warrior demanded:
"Where you abbeybeasts keep the sword of Martin?"


------


The weasel-thief pondered a while, scratching her chin with her dagger's tip.
"You go", Racca finally said. "You can climb over the wall without a rope..." Suddenly the weasel's ears perked up and "Sssh -- did you hear 'dat?" Racca looked around, her sharp eyes trying to penetrate through the Orchard's trees and bushes. "I thought I heard som'thing..."


------


"Wait, what are you--.", Steck tried to rein in the ferret, but was too late as Fernleaf already got up and made his announcement. While Steck had to admit that the Hermit's speak had compelling impact, he couldn't be noticing how it lacked all necessary facts that would have made the whole thing believable. And the bard was pretty sure the redwallers noticed that too since theu didnät seem to believe the Hermit.

Steck could understand Truslo's frustration as the hedgehog climbed over the table and let the abbeydwellers hear piece of his mind -- but the bard could also understand why redwaller's suspected that Fernleaf had just taken one drink too much. After all the ferret had just announced that he was practically the Abbey's next Champion without actual proof that he really was chosen by Martin the Warrior. Probably no-one here deemed Fernleaf untrustworthy, but if you were drunk, you were bound to spout nonsense. And no-beast - expect him and Truslo - knew that Fernleaf was fully sober.

Oh dear, oh dear... Steck thought as he suppressed the growl . ...It seemed like Abbey's patron had chosen one of those "let's-rush-head-first-into-action-and-hopefully-we-won't-hit-the-trees-along-the-way" hero-types... Steck considered himself as a logical beast: he always thought his actions beforehand and hardly never acted out of temper or rush. Now, he understood very well that not all beasts were like that, and there were types who acted first and thought afterwards -- and there was nothing bad in that! The beasts who acted quickly were as important in the stories as the tactical beasts were.

But still -- Fernleaf could have shown the redwallers Martin's riddle. Or get the beast who wrote it to prove he wasn't drunk and was actually speaking the truth... Or Truslo could have said that they suspected their companion be in grave danger, not insult the redwallers just because they were misunderstanding things... If the two of them had just waited and explained things out, the redwallers wouldn't only have acknowledged Fernleaf as a Chosen Warrior, but they would probably have offered help for finding Baro.

But no... Both ferret and hedgehog just stormed out and left the redwallers here to wonder what heck was going on. How on the earth they were expected to get help now?

Not that Steck was judging anyone here... He would never take the job of the hero, so he didn't feel like he was in a position of criticize how they decided do their heroic deeds... But ut wouldn't hurt the hero stop now and then to think things over.

Steck realized that many eyes had turned towards him, as if expecting him to explain. After all, he had shared the table with Fernleaf.
"Uummmm..." for once in long time Steck didn't know what to say. Yeah, sure... Cause a room full of confusion and then leave the bard behind to clear the things out.... Oh, stick needles in his tail, he really wasn't going to take that responsibility!
"...I think this is the time when someone should go wake up the head of Abbey"

And then he sprinted after Fernleaf and Truslo quicker than hare towards the dinner table, muttering some pretty uncivilized words under his breath. Baron was better be at least captive of great and horrible vermin horde for all the ruckus he had caused -- or this 'adventure' was going to have very embarrassing end...

[delerix]

[sorry, dog-sitting, forgot to change over to the proper network and was wondering why I didn't have internet...]

Flourwing cursed and muttered darkly as she was bound. When the vermin told her to be silent she almost retorted without thinking, but the harsh kick to her midsection brought to mind just what else her captors could've used to hit her. The sparra was distraught, visibly so, she'd never had her wings bound so soundly, at least not since she was still pretty much a nestling. Looking from face to face, to face, Flourwing tried to garner some sense of what was going on here, of what may await her.

Glumly remaining silent for now, Flourwing decided it best she wait and survive, little help as she was like this, it was probably more help than she'd be as roast sparrow. Silently righting herself, she'd send a rather dirty look to the next vermin to try interrupting her motion, the sparra may be down, but she was not out, not quite, though for now she'd play by their rules. Casting a sympathetic look to Baro, she then looked to the pine martin, shivering lightly despite her resolve. Though reasonably sure they'd know she'd be more likely to know about the sword than a fox would, she had been threatened with some rather dire consequences should she speak, so she waited for the large martin to ask her to respond.

[fernleaf]

As Fernleaf left, the parchment giving the riddle was still on the table. Some came up, puzzled by the hermit's behavior, and read it. "Look at this! This is what has been upsetting our hermit friend. Could there be something to it? Could he be our new warrior as he thinks he is?" There was a hubbub of voices as they looked at it and tried to patch it together.

Fernleaf looked back at Truslo and Steck. "I haven't been a warrior for a full fifteen seasons, friends, except on the wrong side. I'll need both of you to make sure I don't do something stupid. But our friend Baro is in trouble, I feel it in my bones. Let's go and find him. Something smelled wrong about that otter that was hanging around him anyway."

He ran on to the gate.

[coolcoyote]

Indeed the fox was in trouble now and he knew it. Oh how did he keep getting into these situations?

Baro recieved the look the bird gave him and returned an equally sympethetic look of his own. The fox however blinked in surprise when the marten asked about the sword.

Why on Earth would he think the fox knew... Baro passed a glance at his new found coat. Oh blazes...they thought he was one of those goody two shoe abbey dwelling forrest foxes!

The fox thought long and hard on this, as if his life depended on the answer. After all, it did.

"The sword? As in...THE sword of martin?" the fox sat up even with his paws tied behind his back. "I could tell you a lot about the sword, provided you assure me I wont be harmed afterward."

Almost as an after thought the fox cast a glance at the bird. "Oh, and her as well. Yeah...I think that would be a good thing to ask for as well..."

-----

Rose turned her attention to area around them but she saw nothing but a ferret followed by some beasts exiting the abbey propper. Admittedly at a fast pace.

"Where did you suppose they are going in such a hurry?" She hissed a whisper to her companion, "Is that...is that a sword that ferret is carrying?" she squinted at the ferret as he rushed to the gate. How did a fellow vermin slip a sword like that past the guards?

"Wait..." something was oddly...familier about that blade...

[unknownsoldier]

Lance could feel some of the numbness subsiding now, a bit more and he could fight effectively. If indeed he had to fight, he needed to prepare a plan and fast, he had a feeling he wasn't going to stay hidden for too long. He slowly took the lance hilt in one paw, and inserted the tip slowly hearing it click into place and winced slightly from the sound. So much for being silent, but he could feel his blood starting to flow now as if wanting and expecting a fight to happen, blood to be shed if necessary.

He slowly got up, using his lance to support him, and was leaning back against the tree now as he unbound the sling across his waist. Picking up a good sized rock relatively close by, he loaded it and played the plan out within his head, once he started using the sling he'll be seen probably instantly. He had to take a chance and make the fight go towards his favor, since his leg was still somewhat numb.

Taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out, he started twirling the sling and stepped out from behind the tree, seeing two figures not far from him. He let loose the stone and hoped his aim was true as he let go and got into a stance with his lance to prepare himself.

---

Truslo looked to Fernleaf with kind eyes, "Its alright mister Fernleaf, me and Steck will make sure you stay true and straight. Thats a promise!" He said with full confidence now as they left the Abbey proper and...tripped on the way out unceremoniously onto his face. "Ow...." The hedgehog said to himself as he got up slowly and turned to look to see what he tripped on. His gaze soon rested on two distant figures near the wall...and a third one coming out behind a tree. "Who are...they?" He said to no one in particular as he got up slowly.

[Caterpillar]

Abbot Marklin lifted his head, as well his quill-pen, from the book's double page as his round ears detected a knocking from his door, the sound snapping the old mouse back into the present time from his work he had been so focused on.

At first Abbey's revered Abbot looked around, his eyes blinking and a baffled look all over his face like a beast who had immersed himself into something so completely that had lost his track of time and momentarily had forgotten, where he was.

Good heavens, how the room had gone this dark? The candles he had placed on the side of his desk hardly kept the surrounding darkness at bay... Was it midnight? Or already past it? The old mouse put down his quill, picked the pince-nez up from his nose and rubbed his eyes, suddenly realizing how tired they actually were. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea have all-nighters at this age… As after retreating in his chambers he hadn't sought the good, refreshing sleep but had sat in his comfortable, pillow-covered chair and immersed himself into writing, like he did almost every evening before bed. He felt such peace of mind when he heard the familiar sound of quill scraping the paper or smelled the scent of wet ink… And he had always liked to put his thoughts an notions on the paper and when you grew older, every day seemed like worth of writing down.

Or maybe he just missed his old duties as the Abbey's chronicler… But he wasn’t the Librarian anymore, he had to give up that mantle when he received his duties as the Abbot. His old position had passed to another capable beast and Walnut was an excellent recorder, dedicated and precise in his work. There was no better beast Marklin could have wished to continue to take care of the Library after him, but he would be lying if he said he never longed for the old times when he practically lived in the middle of Library's large bookshelves.

His passion for the writing hadn't diminished from that time, not even an inch, and there were evidence to prove that: the books Father Marklin had written (most of them contained names and pictures of different kind of herbs a beast could find in Mossflower Woods, as well their usefulness for the commonbeasts) lined up in his chamber's bookshelves. But his dearest project was his personal journal, which was now open in front of him.

As a recorder one had to always write from the objective perspective. So Father Marklin enjoyed much of this freedom write down his own personal thoughts, musings and hypothesis no matter the subject. For he thought that it was equally important the future generations to know the history of the past, but also know what beasts before them thought and felt about them.

Right now -- and Father Marklin's eyes wandered back to the unfolded pages and words written on them -- he had been in middle of very im--

His thoughts were interrupted yet again by another knock on the door, and this time Abbot turned his head towards the sound. Whoever it was, the caller tried his best to knock in calm and formal manner (like anybeast, who respected the room's owner's privacy and was sorry that he had to disturb it in such a late hour) but Father Marklin could also detect a hint of desperation mixed in that sound. Like knocker was practically pleading him to answer…

"Father Marklin? Abbot Marklin? A-are you awake? Please - please wake up…", a quiet, careful voice carried through the door.

Oh, it was young Thessandra, why was young squirrel-maiden still up? And what was her distress in such late hour? Marklin though as rose from his chair - and almost stumbled over, as his feet were still asleep after so much sitting. Gracious, his old bones weren't as young and nimble as they used to be… But he still made his best hurry to the door (of course with calm dignity suitable for Abbey's Abbot) before the poor squirrel outside would knock it in.


-----


Being as quick footed mouse as he was, Steck easily caught up with Truslo and Fernleaf, despite their head-start. And he was about to make a notion of how they might have already committed something unwise just a few moments a go, but decided to let that go unsaid. After all, it was no use to cry after spilled milk and not all the stories started with easy begin.

Good thing he was around.

"I do not intend to brag , but I'm a bard after all -- I practically know everything what's is to know about the heroes and how they handle situations", the mouse affirmed after Truslo's words. "So you can count of us… though I wish we could have asked redwallers for help looking for Baro…"

In middle of his sentence, Truslo stumbled over his own feet and fell down, noticing something - or maybe somebody when he got back to his feet. Steck looked towards that direction, but it was too dark and the distance too long to actually say anything specific about the figures standing over there…


-----


Racca's eyes too focused on the small group coming out from the Abbey's front door, but she was pretty sure those weren't the cause of her bad hunch. But there was no time for make notion of that.

There was a faint wooshing sound which Raccan recognized immediately. The weasel-thief's head snapped towards the sounds direction, seeing a ferret stepping out of his hiding, a sling loaded and ready. Open display of the weapon made it easy to realize that their conservation had been spied on. It was bit a shameful, after all she and Rose were both of beasts of stealth: it was their job to eardrop others, not other way around.

"Oh grunt -- duck!", she warned her companion as she himself took cover from the trees around them.

How did you knew someone was professional thief? They survived. And by that it meant that when thief got caught, he didn't stand on his ground for a fight, but turned around and ran as fast as he could. The saying ''Those who run away live to steal another day'' was wisdom any good thief lived according to.

So when Racca had avoided the flying stone by leaping behind the three, she made quick calculation in her head. They were busted and one well shouted alarm would call the guards in the action. And it never was a good thing to be a spy in enemy's territory when your presence had been discovered

"Let's scram!", Racca shouted and made her run for it.


-----


It was impossible read Knar's unmoving expression, as he looked down all three captives (though Kacy was still unconscious) but maybe the marten's silence meant he was considering fox's words…

..Or apparently not, since next thing Knar did was grab the fox by the front of his clothing and yank him forcibly up to his feet - an few inches above the ground, actually.
"The only thing I'm gonna 'assure' you", the marten said as e drew the fox closer to his face, his dark stare being like hot nails ramming into the flesh. "is 'dat if you don't start speakin' I will MAKE you"

By saying that Knar made absolutely clear that the two abbeybeasts weren't in the position of negotiate for their safety. Bargaining worked only if you were standing as strong as your counterpart, and that clearly didn't apply these two's current situation. Knar wasn't going to make promises like 'no harm was going to fall on the prisoners', mostly because if he did, then he was compelled to keep that promise. Maybe it was hard to believe, but he was a beast of his word -- so he didn't give his word about something he knew he couldn't keep.

Yes, they had information Knar needed, but there was other means make beasts speak than letting them do it voluntary. And right now Knar wanted results effectively.

So for a second time Knar let the fox drop on the ground and then grabbed him by his left leg.
" 'Dish is how things will play out" he said as he stepped next to the fire, tightening his grip around the fox's angle as he dragged the vulpine closer the flames heat. "I'm gonna shove 'dish leg of yours into the fire - and I'm gonna hold it in the 'dere until it starts slowly and painfully scorch and burn off... "

Knar wasn't bluffing. He WOULD torture the truth out if needed. At first he had planned to start from the sparrow since there was just so many things you could do bird's wings… But after seeing the defiant look in the sparrow' eyes, he decided switch to the fox instead. Defiant ones had the habit withstand a torture inflicted upon them -- but they were much weaker to see others suffer. So the sparrow might be more likely to talk when witnessing his fellow abbey-member's distress.

And the fox had a smell of the coward in him. So if the sparrow didn’t talk, the vulpine would. Cowards never were good at dealing the pain…

Marten was like he was talking to the fox, but the warrior made sure the bird would understand that they were directed to her as well.
"…An' I gonna do same thing to your every limb until you or yar friend here tells me where the sword is. 'Dose are the options."

Usually when somebeast threatened the other, you could detect the sinister and dark undertone, which promised horrible things to come if the given orders were not obeyed. Knar on the other hand - Well, his voice didn't promise but rather stated those horribly things would be here soon. And if someone out there wondered, what was the difference, there was a GREAT difference. It was, like instead of painting just an imaginary-picture about what it was like to be falling a few hundred feet and then be crushed against sharp rocks, you decided to skip the make-believe and just push the poor fellow over the edge and let him dangle above the deadly drop and even deadlier sudden-stop.

And Knar was about to make that push as his steel hard grip brought Baro's leg closer the flames, vulpine's toes already taking the taste of burning heat. It didn't make difference which one talked… And it really didn't make difference to the marten which one he tortured, as long as he would get the answers he wanted.

[delerix]

Flourwing was already at her wit's end, caught by vermin and threatened to be their meal should she step out of line was bad enough as is, but now talk of torture, what was an abbeybird to do? The young sparra baker heard a frightened chirrup escape her as Knar made his threats...no his promises, and she caved at that. "Wait, umm Flourwing know you um said she notee be supposed to um speak else you dine on her, but umm can't stand by and let you torture um Barofox." Knar had been right on target assuming she'd speak, having grown up on stories about Queen Warbeak, and how the sparra and abbeybeast's became fast friends and allies, she took it to heart to be a much an abbeydweller as she was Sparra, and that meant not letting someone suffer if she could help it.

"Umm sword of Martin, Verminfate, Ratdeath, whichever namee you um choose, it be in um Abbey, and it always be underee guard. It be Abbey treasure yes, but umm Flourwing suggest you not be stealing it. Bad things um happenee when it be taken by one not chosen for it, um Spirit of Martin watches overee Redwall." Her voice was solemn with reverence as she spoke, the legends of the sword were innumerable and in all of them the sword was only taken when needed, otherwise things just went wrong, and she was sure Martin's spirit would not approve of some foul vermin hordebeast taking his sacred blade.

[fernleaf]

Fernleaf ducked low and saw the enemies in the distance. He had a first impulse to rush in crying the battle cry of Redwall, but something checked him. He looked to Steck. This was somebody who was wiser than him. This was his first day as a warrior, well, as a warrior on the side of goodbeasts. "Steck, you see what we face. What is your counsel? How should we proceed? I wanted to rush in and rescue them, but that might just get all three of us killed. What should I do now? It makes my blood boil to see them treated like this."

[coolcoyote]

Rose let out a starled hiss as the stone grazes her snout. "Son of a badger!" She shouted. The weasel thief didn't have to tell Rose twice to flee!

Rose herself was a survivor. She has survived a life in city slums, a life of theivery, and a life as a hoard beast. She may not however survive a life of abundant food.

The lizard set foot on the next branch putting her full weight onto it. The problem was her once slender and agile figure had been broken by her abundant life style.

In short, the branch broke under the meaty lizards weight and sent her tumbling down to the ground.

To her credit Rose rolled when she hit the ground but still ended up on her back and out of breath.


------

Baro always knew he would meet his end this way. Killed by a horde member. It was standard fashion for the Ermile family to meet their end before age 40. Most of his family members had their hides decorating fire places by the time he left home. In the end it was at least better than being eaten.

Didn't stop him from shouting bloody murder though. "STOP! STOP! The bird speaks the trueth! The bird speaks true! I'll even take you to the twice forsaken piece of scrap just don't kill me!" The fox paused in shouting to gesture to the sparrow, "Oh, and um, don't kill her as well. Yeah...I should probibly ask for that too. But seriously. Don't hurt me! I...I will get the sword for you even!"

[unknownsoldier]

Another lance of pain shot through the ferrets leg again, which caused him to lean on his lance to make sure he didn't fall onto his knees. So much for waiting for an attack, but his display was enough to make them run. That could only mean their just scouts, which means the rest of the group is not far off...probably not far from the walls and open wallgate. Again, he tried to shake off the pain in his leg, but nearly fell from the effort itself.

"Again useless...why do I even bother?" He grumbled to himself and could feel the pain start to subside little by little. He turned to look at the abbey for a quick glance and noted the three beasts, hoping they would take notice. "Do something already you fools."

---

Truslo soon got a slightly better look at the third figure near the tree and realization hit him. "Isn't that mister Lance near the tree...is he hurt?!" The hedgehog said worried at how the distant ferret seemed to nearly collapse onto the ground though he noted the two other figures seemed to be running away.

[Caterpillar]

The captives reacted as Knar had expected… At least the fox was terrified from prospect of losing his limps and was screaming at the top of his lungs. Knar was suddenly very thankful that Kacy had picked a camping-place so far away from the Abbey walls: no reason to fear that vulpine's high-pitched screming would attract the abbeybeasts' attention.

Knar withdrew the fox's foot from the heat of the flames just enough that the short fur on the toes wouldn't caught the fire. But he wasn't letting go of the fox's ankle -- and he still held the limp dangerously close the flicking flames, just making a point he really wasn't impressed enough to drop his intentions of thrusting the foot into the fire.

"It's the information 'dat I want, fox", he stated matter-of-factly. Like he would need this fox to actually GET the sword. Firstly, this group already had thieves for that kind of task. So for now he wanted only know the where-abouts of the sword, so they could plan accordingly how to get the weapon.

Secondly Knar really didn't trust much in the fox… Any beast, who was quick to betray his alliances to safe his own hide earned instantly Knar's mistrust, no matter the situation. The cowards like that had the tendency of promise everything, but then turn their tail between their legs and run at the first opportunity.

The sparrow on the other hand… Knar turned his attention towards the bird. A bit different from the fox, the marten would say. Different in a way that she wasn't afraid over of his own life, but because of her comrade's. The goodbeasts had this tendency of doing anything over those who were in a dire situation. That trait made them somewhat predictable.

"I ain't askin' history-lessons here", Knar said and made sure his tone indicated he was starting to tire of waiting. "The exact location of the sword. Now. Where you keep it? How many beasts guard it?"

From what Knar had heard, the abbeybeast viewed the sword as invaluable treasure - then of course it must be carefully locked away and guarded. It didn't even cross the warrior's mind that the abbeydweller kept the sword plain open for anybeast to see.

Meanwhile Flourwing's gibberish cause some murmur among the Redglades. Many of the tribe-vermin didn't understand sparra-language completely, but they got the vague idea what the sparrow was talking about. And it made them a bit uneasy. The Redglades might be fearsome warriors, but they were also superstitious. Their way of life was a a very proof of that.


……..


To be honest, Steck was actually pretty surprised when Fernleaf turned to him for a counsel. Even after all these years the bard could still be taken aback how easily some beast put their trust on a beast they hardly knew. Because that was something he wasn't capable of, no matter how trustful he acted. Steck always carried some wariness back of his mind as there was always a small part of him that refused to trust anybody else other than himself. Oh how he hoped he could blame it on his past, as spies always had to be wary of everything. But at deep down Steck knew he didn't want to trust in others. Because trusting in somebody led to attachment and attachments meant obligations, responsibilities even. And obligations and responsibilities were always trouble.

Longs story short, he was far from the right beast to act as somebeast's moral backbone -- but of course he couldn't say that aloud now when he had just assured Fernleaf that his help could be counted.

"Do something already, you fools!"
Steck had no idea who the shouter was, but at least Truslo seemed to know him. Nevertheless something was afoot and six pieces of silver said that if somebeasts was fleeing from the scene into the dark of the night, it couldn't be anything good. And it made Steck's old spymaster-instincts kick in.

"You go after the fallen one -- I try to catch the other!", Steck shouted to Fernleaf and Truslo, as there was no time for anything else. One of the figures had stumbled onto the ground but the other was still continued his running and gaining even larger head-start. The beast was dangerously close of getting away.

But Steck darted after the fleeing figure like a green arrow.


…..


It seemed like Rose had fallen behind, but Racca wasn't stupid enough to look back and see why. For now it was every thief for herself and if the abbeydwellers focused their attention on the slower red-scaled lizard, Racca had a better chance of escaping.

After all, Rose had put on some weight -- and Racca wasn't going slow down and to take the fall because the lizard had failed stay fit.

…If she only managed to get up the wall before all the guards were alerted, she could make her escape with her rope and vanish into the forest before they nailed him down with the arrows (she wasn't stupid enough to try open the gate just by herself). She was already only few meters away of reaching the wall's stairs…

[fernleaf]

That was all Fernleaf needed to know. He hadn't been a warrior for years, and then it was on the wrong side. But the blood of Martin was hot within him, and the warrior spirit, the Guardian of Redwall, was guiding him. "Come on, Truslo, we have work to do." he ran out as he drew Martin's sword and ran out to meet his destiny.

[delerix]

Flourwing closed her eyes for but a brief moment, taking a deep breath as she prepares to continue, knowing full well how much her next words may cost them if they did not satisfy their captor. "Um Sword of Martin, be kept nearee tapestry of Redwall when champion not have it inee gatehouse. All of Redwall be able to keep um close eye on itee like that." A slight pause before her next words, chosen carefully to try and be clear, "But, ifee Abbeybeasts be thinking things be umm wrong, it could be someone has taken um sword to hide somewhere, could be anywhere as it might be um anybeast who has it."

The Sparra shivers as she speaks those last words, terrified that Knar would not accept her answer "I be um only a baker, I not knowee all about um sword, just where it usually be, and um stories of Martin, and of Matthias and Warbeak." The sparra still scared, did her best to maintain eye-contact while speaking with Knar, hoping that he would not kill her, or Baro.

[coolcoyote]

Baro could not help but whimper. He could feel the heat of the fire on his foot. Roasted alive...just like Uncle Topper. And cousin Varo. Well, he was fattened up by monitor lizards before being tied to a spit and slowly roasted to a tender golden brown. Oh joy, now Baro had THAT though rolling around in his head. Lovely.

The fox was truely frantic now. He was in that precarious position of knowing that if he didn't tell the marten what he wanted to know, that he was due for a lot of pain as the marten tortured it out of him. Baro however also knew that if he spilled his guts too quickly then the marten would most likely spill his guts in a most painfull and literall sense simply to dispose of any potential witnesses.

He needed to have a reason to keep the fox...and the bird as well...alive. But Baro knew nothing of the abbey! But if he lied then the chances of his story conflicting with Flourwings would increase.

So in this instance Baro replied, "She speaks the truth. About the sword and us." He then quickly started to spout out the first thing that came to mind, "If we go missing for too long they will double the guard and lock down the abbey until they find us. I can...lead you to the sword and past the guards...just..." Baro cast a wary glance at Flourwing. "Please don't hurt the both of us."

Especially me! The fox shouted internally.


How could this day get any worse?

----------

How could this day get any worse? Thought Rose. Her body was sore from the tip of her tail to her head. The plump and meaty lizard let out a loud grown before rolling onto her belly.

Where was her partner? So help her if she wasnt caught Rose would be using the weasel's hide as a throw rug!

Teicky little rat of a weasel! Leaving her here to fend for herself.

First things first Rose needed to get out of here. She had been seen...but by who? Why were the guards not here yet? Why was she just sitting there waiting to be caught???

Cursing herself for taking so long to recover Rose got to her feet and shakily stepped forward. She had to pause to lean against a tree and clutch at her head.

She was bleeding. That was her blood on her paws! Rose glanced at the walls and felt her vision rock back and forth. "Blast it all."

The reptile cast her gaze back and forth before breaking cover of the trees and trying to scurry across the open ground towards a side door on the abbey...

[unknownsoldier]

Truslo took a second to process what Fernleaf was doing and realization struck him. "Wa-wait up mister Fernleaf!" He yelled out as he struggled to catch up with the warrior who already had a slight headstart on him.

---

"Took them long enough." Lance grumbled as he used his lance for support again and could see one of the two intruders nearly get to the wall, when he saw a mouse catching up like an arrow. Then he saw the ferret and hedgehog go after the slower of the two intruders, "They have some sense...at least."

[Caterpillar]

Knar held the baker's eyes for few moments, but didn't detect any lie in her expression. So maybe the sparrow spoke truth. Good - this was more like it.

This time the marten let go of fox's ankle. After all, if these two kept providing the information, he didn't have to carry out his threat. He might be a despicable vermin, but at least he wasn't one of those vermin who enjoyed torturing others just for fun.

What's more his ears were getting tired of the fox's constant and annoying begging. Knar maybe didn't hurt others for his own enjoyment, but he wasn't beyond hurting the beast who irritated him.
"Well, it's middle of night right now - I doubt 'dey'll be missin' ya anytime soon", he said to the fox's words.
However the redtail got a good point: the Abbey would start miss their lost residents after the morning. More so when the abbeydwellers would realize that these two weren't nowhere to be found. If they had any luck, they would get the sword before that happened.

"An' the tapestry is where?", he continued his questioning, his attention back in the sparrow. The Abbey had many big buildings combined together and Knar didn't have any desire take sightseeing detours when inside. Their objective was get quickly inside, get the sword and get quickly out.

"An' 'dere's one thing too -- Ya said somethin' about sword and shield to choosin' a new champion. I heard ya from the woods"


----


Curses on these Orchard's trees and bushes! Steck thought as the brushwood whipped him every time he forced his way through them, trying to keep up with his pursuit. If it weren't for them, he would have a clear sight at the runaway. One well aimed throwing dagger in the leg and that would slow the runner down…

When Steck finally got out of the bushes and into open, the beast was already climbing the stair to the ramparts
Oh no…

"Hey! Who goes there?"

...Or maybe there was small ray of hope: an otter-guard on the ramparts, who was just walking past the stairs, had spotted the two suspicious sprinters.

"Stop her!", Steck yelled as loud as he could as he himself reached the end of the stairs. "Don't let her get away!"



Racca cursed loudly. Why - why now? Why in the Damnation there had to be a guard on the ramparts at this very moment?

But there was no time to curse the bad luck. As the otter raised his spear and swung it at her, Racca without slowing her running speed, dropped down and ducked under the spear's attack, rolling past the riverdog. Getting up she had already unwrapped her rope and hook that she had carried tied around her waist. She struck the hook into a small crack on the wall and swung himself over the ramparts, holding the rope tightly.

And not a second too soon as suddenly something sharp passed just near her head, cutting her cheek. One moment later and that might have passed through her head!
Sliding down the rope so fast burnt Racca's palms, so she had to let go. But there was only small drop remaining and the grass under her was softened her fall. So she was quickly back. continuing her run.



From the ramparts all Steck could do was look helplessly how the beast vanished under the Mossflower's trees. Stick nails in his tail! This chase was lost. No way he could catch that beast now… And he had just wasted one good throwing knife too…

"What's going on here?", the otter-guard demanded to know. "Explain now" The otter was about to grab the bard's shoulder, if for nothing else but shake the answer out of the mouse, but Steck slipped out of the otter's reach, evading his hand with dance-like side-step.

"No time explain, my good sir" the bard apologized as he already running for the stairs. "As I think there's still one uninvited intruder on a loose in the Abbey. So ring that alarm bell or whatever you use to alert other guards."

Dear to him, this night was just getting more and more hectic. He only could hope that Fernleaf and Truslo had better luck with catching that other beast… He should go and try to help them, that was what bard thought first when he remembered the third figure he had spotted under the Orchard trees - the one Truslo had called by name "Lance".

That beast had alerted them about the intruders, but hadn't taken any part in the chase. Had he been injured? He should check on him first before going after Truslo and Ferbleaf.

Returning back to the Orchard the bard found the one called Lance - a ferret who indeed didn't look like he was alright.
"Mister Lance, I presume?", the bard inquired. The name was quite fitting as the ferret was carrying pole that couldn't be just a walking stick. "Are you hurt, sir?"


# OOC: Racca got away but chase after Redtail is still on! x) #

[delerix]

Looking to the marten as he spoke, and finally let go of Baro. Flourwing was conflicted, here she could lie and throw the vermin off, and probably get herself and maybe others killed, or she could tell the truth and risk losing the tapestry. Lives were more important to her, "Um tapestry of Martinee warrior be near um main hall, sword might be there, or maybe not, if someone decided to do something they um might havee sword with um." Then with a pause she figured that while she was being honest she may as well continue "That story be um justee story, me follow um Otter and mister Baro out here because she not know um Otter and something just seem...scary about how she act to Baro. I know it not um right to tellee big lie like that, but when um heard her saying what she was um planningee, had to do something to help."

The sparrow seemed dejected as she said all that, almost like a dibbun caught in fib in fact, "Ifee sword do be choosing new champion, it not be something me know about." With that last addition Flourwing went quite, not sure if she should say any more or if she should wait.

[Caterpillar]

# I think we have waited long enough for ferleaf to post his reply, so I suggest we move on... That means its your turn, Coyote. (: #

[fernleaf]

Sorry, I just didn't know what to do.