From Vermin to Goodbeast to Hero (Open)

[unknownsoldier]

The shrew conversed quietly with each other out of sight. "How we gonna get potbelley?" One of the brothers said. "How shou'd I know?" The other said back. "Your the smart one." The former brother replied back. "No you are." The latter said back. Then the hushed conversation soon turned into a hushed back and forth argument. Finally, the argument turned into a fight as the twin shrew dibbuns started coming to blows with each other and the tumble took them within sight of the older beasts.

Truslo was the first to turn and notice the little squabble which soon brought him back to focus. He rushed over and pulled the two apart, "Enough! Why are you two here and why are you fighting with each other?" Truslo said with a authoritative tone in his voice. This tone soon caused both shrew dibbuns to be silent. "My bruther said I was smart, but he was smart." One said, "But hes the smart bruther though." The other said back. Truslo sighed as he immediately understood the situation, both brothers got into a argument over who was smarter, dibbuns will always be dibbuns. "No, your both smart brothers. The smartest I've ever seen." The young hedgehog said in a friendlier tone to both twins. "Really mister?" Both said at the same time. "Yes, now come on. Its almost bedtime for you two and your probably tired from your fight." He said with a kindhearted smile as he picked up both twins easily and started walking back to the dormitories with his charges.

[Caterpillar]

Steck leaned over the parchment Fernleaf had rolled open in front of him. The bard didn't waste a single second when he started to read the content, his tail twitching on the floor because of all the excitement.

It was a long one. A riddle full of rhymes - some of them were very clear in their meaning, but then there were those so cryptic you couldn't just outright understand what they were trying to say. But that was the nature of the riddles. There were always the parts you could understand at ease, and then there was the parts you really need put your mind work on. 

"It surely has some cryptic parts", the bard agreed, rubbing his chin as his eyes moved through the written lines. He was so enthusiastic that he felt like he could burst any moment now. Ah, the riddles, the riddles -- nothing was more fun than solving a tricky riddle or puzzle. Steck enjoyed to put his wit in to the test almost as much as he enjoyed making songs and tales.

He flipped the parchment towards Fernleaf, so that the ferret could see, tapping his index finger on the part which had captured his attention mostly.
"...But I'm more concerned about this part: 'Beware the troupe, so greedy, so wise. May take what is yours. To the one so despised.' It's sounds lot of like warning, don't you think?"

[delerix]

The sparrow, ducks the flailing paw of the fox as they lean away. "You no need um worry mister Baro, Truslo and me not letee you get eaten." Flourwing eyes this odd otter as they walk away. Truslo's swift handling of the situation with the dibbuns leads to her being alone as she watches the otter, she didn't like them...there was just too much that was adding up against an otter being interested in Baro.

Flourwing had never been able to mind her own business, and she promptly showed this by quickly hopping along in pursuit of the otter and fox. Steck made a comment about baro saying an otter wanted his hide, Baro calls this otter scary, and the otter drags Baro off alone, headed out of sight, something stank of vermin business, and it was NOT the fox.

[fernleaf]

"It does." said Fernleaf. "And the next line seems to be related to it:

But the deed is so fated
And shall do unseen good;
Cause doom to the recipient
The commander of blood.

"I don't know what that means, it is so mysterious. Who is this commander of blood? And who is this Miner on Vore? I can't figure that out." He had a hunch, but it terrified him so much that he tried to make himself believe it was somebody else Martin had spoken of, sounds like a mole or something. At least he hoped that was what that mysterious name was speaking of. It let him off the hook.

[coolcoyote]

The ferret may have been let off the proverbial hook but Baro was far from being let off of his.

The fox didn't remember how he got here, out in the woods, after being half pushed, half dragged here. No one at the gate even questioned why the otter and fox left together, no beast even noticed.

The little avian however, she seemed to have a knack for following her nose into danger.

Flowerwing would have found quite the interesting sight, assuming she could find the pair through the trees and the bushes. Kacy was a parinoid type at best and she had led the glutton fox as far as she could before she was forced to drag him after he finally passed out from the berries flowing through his system.

Baro himself was subjected to prehaps the worst head ache he had ever felt upon waking up. His whole body seemed sore and even bruised in a few places.

The head ache almost belittled the belly ache he had. His stomach was still stretched, his fur tight around his full belly, from the gorging he had subjected himself too.

All this however paled in comparison with waking up with his paws tied behind his back and his feet bound in ropes.

A beast of a stronger constitution would have remained silent, taking in their surroundinga and immidietly found a way to escape.

Baro was not such a beast.

"By all that is holy where am I?" The foc whined loudly. It was only then that he took in his surroundings. It appeared the fox was in a small clearing surrounded by a thicket of trees. A small camp fire had been erected here next to a bed roll and a small box of supplies.

It was then when he heard the sound, metal against metal, much in the way one sharpens a knife. Rolling to his other side the fox laid eyes on a brown furred otter with a fox hide wrapped around her waist. She was currently sharpening a curved blade.

The otter turned toward her captive, the fire highlighting the features of her face and the madness in her eyes as she gave Baro a wide toothed grin, "Good evening..."

It was hear that Baro screamed like a little dibbun, at least until Kacy grabbed his muzzle to silece him from making the terrible ear splitting racket. Kacy forgot foxes could do that...

"My goodness you do have a pair of lungs on you foxy." The otter let the fox go to rub one of her ears. "Not that it would do you much good. Them Redwallers are too far away to help you now." The otter spread her arms about in a wide gesture to the woods about them. "No one here but me, you and the trees."

The fox gulped, "Now listen...I'm sure we..."

"Uh uh." Kacy wagged the knife infront of Baro's nose. "You don't get to plead for merc-ay after that stunt you pulled back in de abbey!"

The fox's head was still pounding from the effect of the berries. Most of the events right after the feast were a blur to him. "Stunt? What are you talking..."

"YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID!" Baro tried to lean away as Kacy waved the knife closer to to his nose.

"Wait! Wait! I have no idea what you are talking about! What ever it is I did I'm sorry!" There was a whine to Baro's voice.

With a small growl the otter picked herself up. "Well, thankfully for you I'm de forgiven type. So I ain't gonna kill you fer what you did."

Baro sighed in relief, his heart skipped a beat there. Until the otter rolled him onto his back and leaned over him with her knife. "Killing you for your hide...well, that's a different matter..."

[unknownsoldier]

OOC: I'm sorry to say, but just skip me for now this time, still no internet for a while now.

[Caterpillar]

# OOC: Hello everyone! Sorry about my hiatus, I has been very busy lately, but now I'm somewhat back and we can kick this plot going for real x)

So no we're moving little by little to the Cavern Crew storyline. The villains will be set on their places and shall soon be freed to cause a heck of problems to Abbeybeasts. Remember, this storyline is always open for new alts and members to join. ^^

We'll see if the sword get stolen in this thread or will there be a new one for that episode. "From the Vermin to Goodbeast to...." -thread is already this long but I don't see reason waste the good kick-start that had been posted in here. So let's see where the story goes and act upon it.

This all to be said -- I bid you welcome Cavern Crew storyline! Let the mayhem begin (..or something like that) #


Steck rubbed his whiskers, deep thought.
"Well, the name 'commander of blood' surely doesn't sound like a beast one wouldn't care to know better...", he said. As that name really didn't stir up images of kind-hearted beast.  "I can think about thirty tales and double as much of songs where I have heard someone called by that and none of those characters were the nicest chaps..."
But personally Steck doubted that Martin the Warrior wanted to gove a warning about more or less fictional villain from some tale. The threat that was coming had to be real thing. 

"Then 'miner on vore' on the other hand -- if you say 'miner' you would naturally think of a mole. But if I know something about the riddles, it's the fact that they love double-meanings and word-plays"


--------


Kacy's and Baro's leaving through the gate didn't go as unnoticed as one would think. But rest assured it wasn't the eyes of Abbey dweller that witnessed such suspicious activity so late at night. These eyes belonged to a beast outside the walls, as he was hiding in the tree-line where one could see the Abbey's red sandstone walls, but couldn't be spotted from the wall's direction, thanks to the dark thick shadows looming under the trees.

Those dark brown eyes followed silently how the otter and the fox made their way from the shadows of the red-stoned wall into the shadows of the trees, unaware of their observer who was crouched in cover of large tree, staying perfect still.

And he wasn't the only witness either. There were other eyes gleaming in the shadows around him - many nasty glaring ones which you wouldn't wish to encounter in the dark of the night. And some even not in the bright of the day.

After the otter and the fox had disappeared behind the bushes, the beast finally moved, turning his head towards a slim stoat, armed with knive-belt an half chest leather-armor, who sat next to him. He made sure the stoat realized he was watching him before he gestured his head slightly towards suspicious pair's direction.
"Follow them"

It a bit sounded like a command - and it sounded like it was not. Usually, when high ranking beasts were giving orders to others, you could tell from their voices that they expected to be obeyed, no questions asked. This voice however didn't have the same impact - it didn't expect you to follow the order, but it expected you to make a wise decision. Like, if you were standing at the edge of a hot burning lava-pool and you heard the voice say "Best come here from there", you automatically agreed it was the damn best command to obey if you wanted to ensure your own safety.

That was the power of this particular voice. Apparently you had a choice to argue with it and even refuse it, but subconsciously you got this itching feeling like doing otherwise than that voice suggested wouldn't be the smartest way of action.

So the stoat hesitated - as this beast wasn't actually the nominated leader of the group or not even part if their tribe - but only for a shot moment, before nodding. And like a shadow without a sound the scout vanished between the trees, hurrying after the beast that had left the Abbey and entered to the woods. After all, their tribe's Seer did have a vision that this mission would be successful, if that beast was with them.

But at least one beast was displeased with it and it was the titular group leader, a rat Threenails, who was furious about the fact that somehow command had been snacked away from him because this beast. No matter what the Seer's vision had told - it shouldn't give this outsider the authority command the troops over him...!

"What are you doing?", he demanded angrily. "Who cares about two drunken beast? It's the sword we're after"
The beast eyes moved on the Threenails, but that was all the dark furred marten did before returning to observe the Abbey.

If possible, that made the rat even more angry. Was the marten just IGNORING him?
"And what gives you the idea you can order around this group", the rat snarled at the beast. "You're here to follow the orders - not give them-- "
The rodent's voice was cut short as now the marten turned fully towards the rat, slowly rising from his crouch. And Threenails took unconsciously a step aback, suddenly remembering now how big this beast actually was. The marten towering above him like one of the tall tree which surrounded them.

"My 'orders' ", the marten twisted that latest word on his tongue like he didn't like the taste of it. "Were to git the sword an' bring it to yar leader" The marten spoke slowly, each word loaded with the weight of unyielding volition which could - and would - run over any obstacle laid before it. Brutally if needed. Treenails took an another step aback, suddenly worried about the aspect if the marten was considering him as an obstacle right now.
"So 'dis is the only thing I'm here to do: I'm gonna make sure 'dat sword gits delivered" the marten continued, his eyes never leaving the rat. They had a dark flame in them, betrayng how little the marten wished to be here, so maybe that was one thing common between him ja Threenails. The difference was that the marten didn't rant about it - but he started to seem vexed enought to do something else...
"Hence, I gonna make sure ya nail 'dis mission - an' I wager ya wanna 'dat happen too. So ya shouldn't have complain about it"

Threenails DID have some complains, but there were pretty hard voice out now when the marten was looking down at him like restraining his desire bit someone's head off.
"Still", the rat tried to collect his dignity. "You expect the sword fall on yours stupid lap by sitting on your tail here in the woods?"

For rat's relief the marten turned his eyes from him and returned them to the direction of the walls. "It paid off. They came through the gate"

Threenails rolled his eyes. "Congrats, so you ain't bloody blind then", he scoffed "We ALL noticed THAT. And it won't be helpful to us the least bit"

"Ya think they can bar it from outside?"

Threenails opened his mouth, but then closed it, realizing he didn't have any witty comeback. As he suddenly figured out what the marten was about to say next.

"'Dat gate", the marten pointed out his finger towards the wall and the gate "is now open. Sometimes waitin' is good thing."

Even Threenails had to admit it was a golden opportunity. An open gate would indeed make easier sneak inside the Abbey as they didn't have near enough beastpower to force themselves in.
"Then we should go and---"

"Rushin' things won't help us here", the marten interrupted, continuing the rationalization. "We don't know where they keep the sword. We git only caught if we just march in 'dere and search without a clue where to look from."
Sneak-missions weren't actually his thing, but even he knew that an attempt to rushing head on to the unknown terrain was bound to fail. And failing wasn't an option here. So they needed preparations to make sure it didn't happen. And sometimes preparations needed some patient waiting.
"So we wait and see if 'dose two who just got out know somethin' about it."

Threenails stared the marten, unable to decide if he should be suspicious or flustered. On the whole journey from Fangfort to here this marten hadn't spoken but maybe pawful of short sentences like talking was something he wasn't accustomed to. Threenails had already assumed that there was something wrong in marten's head - like Zask had (since no beast in his right mind would consume others unskinned and alive!) and all the big ones seemed to be retarded in way or another.

And now the marten was making plans - which actually made sense and that was the hardest part rat's to swallow. The marten - was it Crookseye which the beast called himself? - stepped past Threenails, turning towards the group of other beasts behind them.

There was no camp-fire nor campground. The marten hadn't allowed such of things as the flames could be seen in the darkness and the smoke could be smelled in the air. And if they needed to move one quickly, covering the tracks of camp would only waste time.

"But you're bit of right - no reason let a good chance go waste", the marten said to Threenails. "So who in this group is your best beast in sneakin' an' hidin'? "

"That - that would be that lizard Redtail... Or weasel Racca"



# EDIT: somehow one part got left out when I copy-pasted this in forum... Nothing too important, but I added it now #

[delerix]

Flourwing had been doing her best to stay out of immediate sight, taking flight as needed to keep to the trees, she'd never known when to keep her beak to herself, but today it may just turn out for the better. She hadn't known there was something so far amiss as this with the otter, but she was glad she had listened to her gut.

Flourwing hesitated only for a moment before swooping towards the fire, breathing heavily as if she'd been flying for a good long while, "Miss umm, otter *pant* abbeybests needee help, ceremony *pant* lost umm sword of martin, inee abbey pond, sword and um shield, was choosing new champion, but fire in kitchen, treasures lost, needum every otter inee area." An abbeybeast might know it for a lie, but given her behaviour, Flourwing highly doubted this otter to be a redwaller, probably from an outlying holt. She stood fast by the campfire, not commenting on Baro or anything, acting as if she was too tired to notice everything about his current predicament.

[not to break pace, but I can't seem to use the the cbox anymore, so yeah, that makes this interesting to plan for.]

[fernleaf]

"That's what I'm afraid of." said Fernleaf. "It sounds all scrambled up, and the rest of whoever Martin is addressing don't fit a mole." He had made a false step in that. He knew subconsciously who this was speaking to, but was trying to deny it. He wasn't a warrior, hadn't touched a weapon since he had made that vow to the Badger Lord. But there, he met another check. He had made the vow not to bear weapon to harm any goodbeast, not the enemies of goodbeasts."Like, switch 'on' to 'no,' it makes a little more sense. so we've got to figure out how to unscramble 'miner' and 'vore.' He was trembling as he said that. He had already guessed the answer and was terrified.

He thought to himself over his vow, the first words:

Vermin I am,
and vermin i was,
And I shall be vermin no more....

He put a trembling paw over his face. He knew Martin was talking directly to him, but he was afraid to admit it. But he knew he had to. He had been so happy and free these past seasons when he had been a hermit, and it was all going to change. "S....steck, I-I have something to tell you."

[coolcoyote]

Kacy the otter paused in mid motion with her knife held high, ready to plunge into the fox's heart. In fact had the bird chosen a second later to interupt Baro's belly would have been slit open.

The otter looks from the bird, to the fox, to her knife to the bird again. With out hesitation the otter stuffed a nearby rag into the fox's mouth before he could call, or rather shriek for help.

Quickly placing the knife behind her back Kacy smiled warmly, showing off plenty of teeth in the process. "Why hello there birdy! I was um...well," the otter rubbed her chin as she glqnced over Baro who was bound in ropes. "Er...yeah. I'm not trying to explain this. Now why don't you tell me all about this problem of yers...over yonder."

With the knife still in her paw behind her back Kacy approached Flourwing. She tried to wrap her free paw over her shoulder and lead her away...or at least get close enough to grab the bird in case she decided to 'fly the coup'

-----

Not too far away in the woods in the party of vermin thieves and warriors one particular creature peered down over the group from the top of a tree branch.

The lizard lay sprawled out over the branch like a snak stretched out over a rock. Her given name was Rose but the red scales of her body gave her the nick name of 'Redtail'.

Vermin were such a creative lot.

The lizard craned her head at the mention of her name. Leaning back to stretch the kinks out of her back Redtail sighed in delight when she heard a satisfying pop in her lower spine.

She dressed in a simple cloth vest that covered the front and back of her upper body, leaving the sides exposed along with much of her middle...for better or for worse.

One wouldn't call the lizard fat, because it would earn them a new set of claw mark scars across thwir snout, but she was certainly 'pleasently plump' from her horde life which consisted of lounging about the hot springs until her employer needed her.

Around her ample waist Rose wore a long red cloth sash with a bead like belt. She appeared to be unarmed at first glance.

Finishing her stretch the reptile climbed down the tree head first. "Sssomeone call for me?" She said sweetly.

[unknownsoldier]

After finally tucking the shrew twins a second time, he went back downstairs to see if those beasts were still there helping poor baro recover from the tipsy berries he ate by accident. Once he arrived at the same spot, he saw neither sight nor fur or feather of the three beasts from when he left them not too long ago. Oh my, truslo couldn't tell if this was either good or bad that they weren't here, especially since he felt something...off, about the otter with the fox...hide........vest. He moaned in despair and hoped he was wrong indeed, he sincerely hoped he was just imagining things when that crossed his mind. That was when a certain passing beast heard his moan and walked on over, he was quite a sight to see, he was ferret obviously but older maybe and he wore a dark brown tunic with a dark green cloak around him as well along with carrying a long staff with intricate carvings on it. "Is something the matter?" He asked the hedgehog questioningly. Truslo turned quickly when he heard the voice and calmed down when he saw him, "Oh mister fernleaf I think somethings terrible is..." He hesitated when he got a better look, "Your not mister fernleaf." He said slightly worried now.

"No, my name is Lance." The older ferret said bluntly.

"Oh...but do you know where he is though mister Lance? I have to tell him something quickly."

"I do, he's down that way and to the left." He said while pointing to a hallway. Before the hedgehog could go past him and thank him, he barred his way with his staff. "Look, I know your in a hurry but stop and think for a second, even if you did find Fernleaf, don't you think it would be too late to stop this terrible thing that might happen?" Lance said calmly to the hedgehog, hoping reason prevails. His statement did indeed make truslo stop to think about what could happen.

"How about this then, you still go find fernleaf and I'll see what I can about this terrible thing that may happen, agreed?" He said with a calm but...almost gentle tone. It made up the hedgehogs mind quickly, "Really mister lance? Oh thank you! I feel much better that you'll do that for me! I just hope that otter with the foxhide vest doesn't hurt poor baro!" He said as the ferret let him go by and followed his directions.

Lance then scratched his chin as he sighed, just what was he getting himself into now? First he took on leon and zeph as apprentices, now he was helping just complete strangers now..maybe he was starting to get soft from his age now. Just what he needed now of things and then he facepalmed himself for not realizing the hedgehog didn't even tell him where this terrible thing might happen. Well...better get searching then, now....where to start though? Probably outside since any bad deed that happens is always somewhere secluded, so he headed outside rather quickly.

Truslo soon reached the room where fernleaf and steck was as he entered panting. "I apologize for interrupting mister fernleaf and mister steck, but I think mister baro could be in trouble." He said as he took slow breaths to calm himself down to a reasonable level. He just hoped mister lance could find baro quickly.

[Caterpillar]

# Sorry, this post took some time as it is long one and I needed to re-wrote it couple of times U_u' But hopefully this is last of the "giant posts" that are required, so now I can return to more conventional sized ones... which are more quicker to write x)

Some pointer I want highlight here, a detail that might have slipped out of everyone notice.

There's a small time-gab between when the Kacy and Baro leave the Abbey and when Baro wakes up. (talked aboyt this with coolcoyote and he agreed on it) It's logical as Kacy can't possibly drag unconscious Baro too fast and it would take some time the fox clear his head from the berry-juice.

So when Flourwing land on the camp, two hours has passed as Baro left the feast. Meaning the feast has been going on for some time now and it might have taken a bit time from Truslo get the two troublemaker dibbun shrews stay on the bed and so on... And Rose and Racca are already inside the Abbey grounds before Lance heads outside.

This way I had the required time to put the villains to their positions (as they can't just zap from place to another in the instant) and we can start the action.


And Delerix, you can always come to Cavern Crew's plotting threat if you want talk about planning hings before hand ^^ #



Knar looked at the lizard who slid down from the tree like liquid made of bright red scales. Most evidently this one was Redtail.

" 'Dere might be a job for yar skills -- but we first need t wait the scout back", Knar said. Before the best course of action could be decided, first he needed to know if either of those two beasts would be useful.


Eventually the scout returned with the news he had obtained in his shadowing mission.
"I followed them. A otter took a unconscious fox to her camp. She herself might be just a wanderer, but the fox wears definitely robe like the abbeybeasts", the stoat told, his expression changing into thoughtful. "Still, something fishy is going there - she tied the fox soon she reached her camp-site. It almost seems like she has some kind of grudge..."

Knar considered this for a minute. If the fox was a dweller of the Abbey, then he would know where the sword was. It was worth of try, considering how low they were in the options gain the needed information about the weapon. The wanderer on the other hand was unimportant.

Knar turned towards the group's two stealthiest beasts. Threenails had fetched Racca, the small and slim weasel who was picking his teeth with small knife.

"The gate is open", Knar said. going straight to the pooint. "But if som' abbeybeast notices 'dat, they will close it for sure. So you two git inside, close the gate and then hide 'til the appointed time. 'Den ya let small group inside"

"What's the idea in that?", Raccan asked, scratching the itching spot behind her ears with the knife's tip. Her belt was full of different shades of brown patches, both small and large, which overlapped each other like patchwork. An ideal fur-color if you wanted hide yourselves in wilderness. "Why close the gate if we have to open it again?"

"We don't know if they have patrols", Knar said, looking at the direction of the walls. The ramparts over there seemed quiet, but it might be too risky just to assume that there wouldn't be any guards at all.
"If they do, someone will notice the unbarred gate an' will start thinkin' why it's open in first place. When ya close it, it looks like no-one has ever left the Abbey grounds. The abbeydweller don't start tsuspectin' somethin' is wrong"

Beasts always snored the most soundly when they thought they were save and secure.

"Hide and wait till the midnight when the moon is on highest. 'Den open the gate. We'll have the sword's whereabouts by 'den..."

____


When the lizard and the weasel had been dispatched to their own sneaking-mission, the other vermin didn't waste any more moments. Leaving some in keeping watch of the walls, the rest guided by the stoat-scout traveled silently past the trees and soon arrived to that small opening between the woods, which served she-otter's camping place. Of course they stayed in the shadows, not wanting alert the otter about their presence as they moved loosely surround the small camp.

"..all I'm saying is she does it all wrong" one of the redglades criticized to his comrade in low voice. "First you defeat your opponent in combat, then you take the trophy -- there is no victory in killing tied beast"

"What you think the fox DID to her?", whispered his comrade back. Since they had been told to keep the distance, they could only hear words here and there. But when otter had burst into shouting, every last syllable had been heard loud and clear.

The first one shrugged his shoulders.
"Dunno - but even from this far I can see he's sweating quite bad... And the otter is really pissed"

"Well, she gotta a nice figure", the third beast commended, while stretching out his neck to see better. Then he sniggered, shamelessly addressing what was his theory. "Maybbe the Abbey Dwellers are juts beats lik' rest of us under those chastity robes..."

Knar ignored the obscene talk and rather focused on the events happening in the small camp. Because of the fire and much shorter distance, the marten was finally able to recognize that riverdog - to his own surprise. When the scout had been talking about she-otter, Knar couldn't have never anticipated he would meet Kacy here, in all places.

The marten's eyes sweep over the camp, like trying to find something or someone. As if the warrior had some kind of reason believe the otter wasn't all by herself. But no, Kacy was indeed alone. The camp was meant for only one beast, by judging the looks of it and that notion made Knar relax a bit. Kacy was alone - thanks of fortune for small favors...

He didn't have a wish to meddle with "old acquaintances" right now - though it seemed inevitable since there was no other way get paws on that particular fox. Knar suppressed a small growl - as if things weren't complicated already... But he had promised he would bring that damn sword to the leader of Redglade -- that was the deal. And if he needed the fox to complete the task, he would do whatever it was necessary get the vulpine.

So nothing hadn't changed, not really, even though he had just learned the otter was no-one else than beats from the bandit group he had been part of couple years aback. Between success of this mission and old dusty comradeship Knar didn't even need to hesitate when making the decision.

Kacy was still... unimportant. Dangerous even if he were left to live. In their world - in vermin's world, where Knar counted also Kacy to belong - it wasn't unheard of that old comrades you parted ways with, met you again as an enemies. It happened a lot, given how belligerent their kin were. And Knar found some sort of solace in the thought that Kacy wouldn't hesitate even a eye-blink to kill him, if HE was standing between she and her goal.

So wouldn't he. If needed, he would kill the otter...

_______


The feast inside the Cavern Hole went on. Of course Steck hadn't forgotten his duties as a bard, so for the high spirit of the party the storysinger performed some of his beast songs -- but afterwards he would always come back to Fernleaf's table and restart the conservation about the riddle, where it had been left.

The older ferret had much insight how translate the riddle - which lead Steck believe the Hermit knew something. Something he hadn't yet shared with him. And it seemed plague Fernleaf's mind greatly. Even if Steck was excited about the riddle, he wasn't that lost in his enthusiasm that he didn't notice the chances in his talking partner.

The bard put the paper down, looking at ferret with concerned eyes. At this point the older beast was tressed uo to the point where even his voice trembled.
"Yes, what is it?", he asked, but never got the chance hear the answer, as Truslo putted in, cutting the conservation in short.

Steck was chagrined , say to least. The interruption had surely arrived in bad time as Fernleaf had been about to tell him something important... But bard-mouse wasn't the beast show his negative feelings, no matter how much irked he was.

So instead he turned his attention towards the hedgehog.
"Whoa, slow down, Truslo" he said, as the hedgehog was spurting words out in such hurry.
"Take some deep breath -- What do you mean he's in trouble? Did he get stuck in the doorway?" Thinking back how much the fox had eaten, Steck wouldn't be surprised if that really was the case.


_____


Vermin in hiding were about to jump out and capture those two beast - although practically they only needed to capture the otter, as the fox was already lying tied on the ground - but then the sparrow had shown up and firm sign gesture from Threenails had halted the group, orderin them to stay down. But it seemed like only one bird showed up - no other abbeybeast were in the sight.

"What's that bird babbling about?" one redglader whispered.

"Beats me - I can't understand even a word of that stupid sparree-language"

"I think she said something about the sword has chosen a new champion..."

That made the redgladers fell deadly silent as worried glances were exchanged.

"Ooh, this is bad"

"The sword has chosen a new champion - does that mean it knows we're coming for it?"

"You know the stories about the Abbey's Guardian?... About the warrior-mouse who's spirit is in the sword..?"

"Shut up you idiots", Threenails hissed. "Or you'll give us away"

Knar rolled his eyes. These vermin - this Redglade as they called their tribe - were a superstitious a lot. They seemed to believe in spirits, fortunetelling and other cuckoo things in which Knar had never concerned himself about.

"Git your act together", the marten growled, eyeing how Kacy stepped closer the bird, knife hidden behind her back. It might be easier just to wait the otter stab the sparree, but Knar couldn't risk it. If Kacy would stumble in her only opportunity, the bird would fly away straight to the Abbey. And he couldn't have that.

"Anyone got a weight-sling?"

"Me gots one"

"Then git it ready", Knar said drawing out his sword. "'Dat sparrow ain't allowed to fly away to warn the Abbey..."

It was now or never. With a silent mark that announced the attack, the vermin dashed out of their hiding, ambushing the camp, weapons turned ready at Kacy and Flourwing.

[delerix]

Flourwing was about to urge the otter on to go help at the Abbey some more, she hadn't expected Kacy to be stubborn about leaving. Then the vermin showed themselves. A sharp chirp of surprise escaped the little baker as she found herself far too close to the business end of vermin armaments, and she ducked down as if ready to bob, weave, and take off, but then she saw a sling, loaded with...something, and in the hands of a more than intimidating example of why vermin scared most goodbeasts.

"What be um allee this, be you umm looking foree someone?" Even flourwing knew how flimsy that attempt to drag a bit of time for her planning out was, but maybe one of the less bright ones would speak out of turn.

[fernleaf]

"It's happening all too quickly." said Fernleaf, trembling. "What trouble has Baro gotten himself into now?" He turned to Steck. "This is what the riddle is all about, I know now. And I know who Martin was speaking to. He was speaking directly to me. And that was what I need to tell you. I was once vermin, the most wicked vermin you could ever meet, part of a horde that plagued the land. But something happened to turn me around. I was one of the last left in a war, and was chased out by the last of my horde, and I fled to Salamandraston, knowing I would probably be slain as I deserved. But they took me in and gave me shelter. I pondered my ways, and saw how goodbeasts lived, and how they loved peace, and I wanted it. That, together with the kindness my enemies showed me, worked on me.

Finally, I went to the Badger Lord, and made a vow that I would never take up weapon to harm any goodbeast again, but pursue the life of a hermit and learn the ways of peace. The first words of my vow I still remember.

Vermin I was,
And vermin I am,
But I shall be vermin no more.

And do you see, that is the meaning of 'miner on vore.' Unscramble it, and it says,

Vermin No More,
O Unlikely Warrior,
Vermin No More,
So Happy and Free;

Rooter and Chopper
And Friend of the Dipper,
Vermin No More,
Now listen to me!

Keeping your vow
you have for these seasons
But your words
Taken backwards you have;

Peacebeast in plenty
Has no shame in taking
Weapon thrust on him
To defend weak in hand.

Fear not to change,
The stripe understands,
You harmed not the goodbeast
And stood for the land.

"It makes perfect sense. I would have lived all my days happy and free, the life of a hermit, with those precious Dibbuns as my companions, but I am now to be a warrior, a hero that they need. I don't know if I am up to it."

He turned back to Truslo. "Let's go find out what trouble he has gone into. I may need to get Martin's sword."

[coolcoyote]

The otter craned her head around to the sound of foot paws shuffling along the leaves.

Shock spread across her face as she saw the on coming group of creatures.

"Ah shhhhhhhhhhhooot." The otter sighed. The bird and fox forgoten Kacy turned to face her advicaries.

Taking a deep breath to she let out a fiersome war cry. The viens on her neck tightened in anger and a look of pure unfiltered fury pratically shot out of her eyes, as if her glare alone would make her enemies drop dead.

Then like a bolt of lighting Kacy charged at her enemies, keeping her self low to the ground until she reached her target. At the last moment Kacy dropped into a roll under the swing of the stoats weapon.

When she reached her feet she leaped into the stoat, planting her knee below the gut with all the force of a charging bull.

A normal warrior might have left the attack there. It was evident, both by the way his body slumped forward while gasping for breath and by the way his weapon just seemed to fly from his grasp, that this creature no longer posed a threat. He was down and finished.

But Kacy was in a bit of a bad mood that day already. All she wanted to do was come to redwall and eat some pie. Was that so bad? Then the fox kissed her, then the bird interupted her very justified retribution against said fox and now these yahoos were interupting the bird interupting her and now Kacy couldn't wear all the pretty dresses to the ball and now people had to DIE.

The hilt of the dagger in her paw struck the stoat next, right in the snout. Followed by her head colliding with his in the form of a savage head but. Then kacy's foot colided with his jaw in a most impressive round house kick that also ended with her tail slapping the poor beast upside the head as she turned to face the second unfortunet victim, giving another terrifying roar of defiance as the stoat finally crumpled to the ground.

Sometimes Kacy wondered why she bothered being nice to people...

-----

Redtail looked at the impressive structure before her and whistled slowly. It was tall as it was imposing, this Redwall Abbey.

She saw several ways to enter the abbey, the most obvious would be to nust walk in. The gates were open after all and the guards didn't seem to be stopping anyone.

But it would bother her to be seen at all. Being a red scaled lizard she stood out in a crowd. The almost tribal look to her garments made her stand out even more.

Surely a guard would keep an eye on her just to make sure she stays out of trouble.

Besides, doing things the sneaky way was much more fun.

"Ok Racca." The lizard said to her weasely thief. "I see three ways that we can get in. See that part of the wall there? I figure I can scurry up that wall with my lizardy claws and toss a rope back down to you. That part of the wall is shaded from the sunset. It will keep us covered from the eyes of the guard."

Rose then pointed to the gate, "OR we can create a bit of a diversion and lure the guards at the gate away and slip in past them."

Finally Rose placed her claws on the either side of her portly waist. "Or we can just be lazy, walk in to enjoy the feast and then slip away to the guard shack."

[unknownsoldier]

Truslo soon got his breathing back and listened to their responses. He soon got a little nervous when he was asked where baro was, "Umm...I don't exactly know where he is...", then his fear came back, "But last I saw though was he was with a scary otter with a foxhide vest. I asked another beast, I think his name was lance, to try and find him while I came to you two. I'm so sorry that I'm not that much help to you right now..." The young hedgehog said with depression setting in his voice now.

Meahwhile...
Lance had skirted along near the the Main gate first and started heading along with the wall carefully, seeing if any of the sidegates were open or unlocked. He had managed to check off two of them when he noticed the next gate in the distance open. So...that hedgehog was right and not just delirious. Taking a cautious approach to gate, using the shadows to his advantage.

Just as he was halfway to the gate, a searing lance of pain went through his left leg, causing the older ferret to almost cry out in pain as he fell to his side on the ground. He dropped his staff on the way down and held his hurting leg with both paws, knowing as this somewhat helped him before. "Damn leg!" He whispered harshly to himself as he waited for the pain to slowly subside. This has happened before on occasion with him, though only when he was laying down. Old wounds always had a habit of coming back the older a beast got, this was no different in Lance's case as he felt slight relief as the pain finally subsided. He let go of his leg and grabbed his staff beside him, as he got up slowly with a grunt, using the staff to support him. He was perpetually useless in this state, a cripple he might as well be called now, as he limped over to a tree and some bushes not far from the gate in question. He slowly managed to set himself down with his back to the tree and laid his staff on his lap. He then pulled out his hidden lance tip as he waited silently, knowing he was useless in a fight now if it did happen. He sighed to himself quietly, "I'm getting a bit too old for this." He mumbled to himself as he started his silent vigil in his hidden spot.

[Caterpillar]

Racca looked up and down the wall, measuring the it with her eyes, while pondering Rose's suggestions. That big marten had told them they should sneak inside through the open gate but what fun was in using a easy way like that? Racca liked to put his skills into the test so walking through the door was just dull.

And apparently Rose had somewhat a same mindset, or else the two of them wouldn't be standing here next to the wall.
"Diversion makes beasts wary", she finally said. "Way more better if we won't give them reason suspect anything... Just climb up and throw me a robe. After all the plan was to stay unseen..."

Couple hours later -- (about same time when Truslo, Fernleaf and Stech were worrying about Baro and when that particular fox was getting deeper into a trouble when his kidnapper, with feathery baker-sparree, had become surrounded by an unknown vermin-group) -- Racca and Rose had successfully infiltrated the Abbey's Grounds and had gathered a bit of information about the layout of the "enemy territory."

One thing was find out about the guards on the parapet walk: there were group of them, those damn otters patrolling on the wall. But it didn't take long to find out that Abbey wasn't exactly as tightly secured as the first impression of the formidable walls had given.

Firstly the guards were spread very thin and they didn't keep up precise schedule when making the rounds on the parapet. And Racca could tell they were bit sloppy as if they were carrying out some sort of everyday chore, not an important guarding duty. No wonder if those two beast earlier had managed to slip outside without no-one noticing... Clearly this place had been living in piece so long that watchbeasts had become less vigilant.

But that was just good news for two vermin-thief who were now hiding in the Orchard, where trees and bushes offered the welcoming shadows in where to hide from watchful eyes. What was the best, it was near the East Gate.
"This could be the easiest way get a group inside", Racca whispered to her companion. "Fewer guards on this side, easy take out if needed... And these trees offer nice spot to hide"


------


Steck listened Truslo's report about the pervious happenings as the hedgehog's babbling become even more nervous and garbled every passing moment. It was a bit hard to follow, but Steck thought he got the most of it... probably.

An otter wearing a fox-hide? So it hadn't been a joke from Baro's part? Oh dear, oh dear... In what kind of trouble that fox had managed to get into this time? And why now, from all the times? Really, that vulpine was like walking disaster-magnet.

But there was no helping it -- Fernleaf seemed like he was ready to go look for the fox so there was no hope for this conservation to continue. Steck slipped down from his seat.
"It's all right Truslo, you're already helping plenty by letting us know... And now you can help us find Baro", Steck would have offered a reassuring tap on the Truslo's shoulder if it weren't for the hedgehog's spikes.

Bard's head spun around towards Fernleaf as the mouse was taken aback by the hermit's last statement.
"You're planning take the sword?", Steck repeated, maybe little bit too loud, which caused some abbeydwellers look up from their chit-chat and glance at their table's direction. Steck, already on it to correcting his small slip of tongue, gave them a smile and small wave of hand while he silently thanked the luck that only few abbeybeasts were still up in this late hour.

As the other beasts' attentions returned back to their own circles, Steck leaned towards Fernleaf, lowering his voice
"Don't get me wrong -- I can see you're held here in high esteem but do you really think you can just take the sword of this place's patron?"


------


So Kacy went frenzy - honestly Knar wasn't surprised at all how instantly otter-maid turned into fierce battle-beast. And maybe in some other place and lifetime he might have stayed behind just so he could marvel such a vicious transformation like craftbeast would admire other artisan's work. But if course this wasn't the place nor the lifetime for that

Kacy was dangerous opponent and you always wanted take the dangerous ones out quickly. Even though Knar liked to challenge himself -- preferring fight while confronting his opponents face-to-face, not coming at them from behind -- he wasn't beyond the cheap shots when situation called it. Again, what he liked and what he wanted was meaningless in comparison of his duty. And right now letting Kacy rampage more than this would greatly cause trouble for him to fulfill his duty.

Kacy was already maiming her second victim when Knar charged at her, attacking the otter from her blind side, his sword aiming at the otter's head. But the funny thing was that it was sword's pommel, not the cutting edge, which attempted to strike Kacy above her the nape of her neck.

...If he could stun Kacy even for a couple of moments, he could push her on the ground and the fight would be cut short without needing actually kill the otter...


Meanwhile no-one was going to bother to answer Flourwing's question. As Kacy charger out from the baker's side, sparrow was quickly surrounded by the tribe-vermin who tried immediately seize the feathery abbeydweller before it tried to take off.

And even if she tried, a few of the beasts were holding something to prevent that.

Weight-slings were made for catching fleeing enemies. It was simple but effective design where three log leather cords tied together and each of them was carrying a fist-sizes weight on their ends. The user whirled it above his head and then hurled it towards the target. The weights would wrap the leather-cords around limbs, tackling the running beast ground. Or they would just knock the poor beast unconscious.

And was as convenient to use against winged foes as it was for ground-bounds: the only difference was that you had to hit wings instead of legs and the bird would drop like ripe apple, wings tackled together.

[delerix]

This was not her day, the sparrow looked around her at the vermin as they closed in. She'd never been so close to them, she was a baker, a scout at best, not a brave. However she was stubborn, and not about to just roll over without at least trying to put up a fight. Ducking one of those coming towards her, the sparra hopped up, wings and talons swinging madly to try and belabor one unlucky vermin into backing off enough for her to push past! A shrill, fierce cry escapes her "REDWALL!!!" being the one recognizable word in the high-pitched call.

Pushing off of her unfortunate victim, she does manage to get airborne, if only for a moment, before the impact of the weight-slings hits her side. An undignified squawk escapes her as her flight is cut short, wings pinned to her side as she tumbles the short distance to the ground. Writhing and wriggling to try and right herself the sparra utters a string of curses that might even surprise some of the vermin present, trying to tear at the leather straps with her talons.

[fernleaf]

"It appears I have no choice." said Fernleaf. He stood up and addressed the beasts there. He drew back his hood revealing himself. "It appears I have been chosen by Martin himself to bear his sword into the adventure. I don't know why, there are others far more deserving. But I dare not disobey him. I would have spent my life as a hermit and a healer to the end of my days in my little hut, but Martin had other ideas." He patted the head of one of the Dibbuns at his side. "And it is to protect these precious Dibbuns who I love dearly that I do this." He said no more, but ran upstairs to where the tapestry was, and above it was the sword. "Martin, I hope you know what you are doing and who you're getting." he said to the tapestry. He reached up and took the sword and the scabbard, and slung it across his back. He bowed to the image of Martin, then came down the stairs.

He looked so different. He drew the Sword and raised it up. "Martin, I am as ready as I ever will be." Looking to Steck and Truslo, he said "Come, let us go. We are needed out there." He sheathed the sword.

He ran out, the look of one who Martin had chosen was on him. Baro needed him, he knew it.

[coolcoyote]

Conversation in the cavern hole comes to a sudden noticable stop. The beasts left here had long finished the feast and were enjoying each others company while occasionally snacking on the left overs of the great meal.

about half a dozen to eight beasts turned their attention to the ferret as he made his bold decloration as the Chosen Warrior of Redwall abbey. Exhanging glances the majority of them pick themselves up and follow Fernleaf into the great hall to witness him take the blade of marten in paw.

It made him look...different. Wiser, stronger, younger, as if the blade were made to fit into the paw of this beast. It made him look like the warrior he was of long ago.

It also spurned the laughter of every beast here. Enough so that it sounded like the feast had begun anew.

"Hey! Get a'look at the old hermit?"

"Bless his heart, poor beast has had a few too much ale tonight."

"Someone should probibly get the blade away from him before he cuts himself."

"Nah, let him hold the blade a little longer. After all, he is supposed to be de Abbey Champion. Imagin dat? Protectin us frem harm?"

Another spark of laughter arose from the beasts. One of the guards, a brown furred hare, chuckled as he slipped more ale down his gullet. "Like we need protecting from anything..."

----

Kacy wailed as she stumbled forward, clutching the back of her head with the knife in paw. "Son of a fluff tailed squirrel!" The otter spun half hazardly and almost off ballence. Her vision began to spin as she did. She locked eyes with the marten and narrowed them in hatefull vengence.

"You..." for an otter she made an impressive growl, "Of course you realize...this means war." The otter raised her blade and took a step forward, but only to collapse snout first onto the leaf covered grass.

Baro by then had been inching his way from the battle like a snake crawling on its belly. He...didnt get far. Looking back the fox stared at the marten and then the otter.

"My heroes! I am rescued!" He shouted. None of these beasts looked particularly heroic but he felt it was worth a try.

-----

Rose stared up at the wall behind her from the cool shade of the trees around them. She admitted that she didnt look forward to making such a clime more than once. Her luxerious life style in the horde was starting to catch up with her. The lizard's extra weight around her middriff did not help the climbing process at all...

"I suppose you are right." Rose said with a sigh. "If this all goes to pot we can block off the east gate to slow down the guards and then climb down ourselves..." turning to her companion she said, "One of us should report back to Crookeye. The other should stay here and watch the gate and signal to us if there is any danger."