On the Way to Redwall Abbey

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Log-a-Log Gorjo Tallshrew and his Guosim were making good progress.; they were nearly at Redwall.

Log-a-Log was sure he and his Guosim would have a splendid time at the abbey; the feast they had heard about would be amazing.

As the shrews rounded a bend in the path, they caught sight of a movement to their right.

"Halt!" Log-a-Log's whispered order was spread throughout the ranks of the Guosim as they watched and listened, extremely alert.

They heard some creature--or creatures--mumbling aloud. Suddenly to the left of the Guosim a rabbit stepped out of the forest, with his head down. The Guosim shrews on that side instinctively took out their weapons and shouted, "Over here on the left!" When they saw it was a rabbit they relaxed visibly.

The rabbit was very surprised and yelled in alarm, holding his axes ready to throw. "Stay back, I tell you, stay back!" The rabbit started backing up.

Log-a-Log came forward. 'Relax, friend. I am Log-a-Log Gorjo Tallshrew of the Guosim." Gorjo motioned to the other shrews. "And these are the rest of the Guosim, Guerilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower, see the first letter of every word makes Guosim. Who are you, friend?" Log-a-Log offered his paw.

The rabbit was hesitant, but he took Log-a-Log's paw. "Uh, er, Hugh, er, nice to meet you, Log-a-Log."

Log-a-Log smiled. "You can call me Log-a-Log or Gorjo if you want. We are headed to Redwall Abbey, Hugh. Would you like to join us or do you need to get permission from your parents?"

Hugh stammered at the last question. "Er, uh, no, my parents said, er, I could go anywhere I wanted."

Log-a-Log nodded. "If you say so." Log-a-Log Gorjo turned to his shrews. "All right, lets move out!" He turned back to Hugh. "Here, you can walk up front with me an' we could talk, tell each other our stories."

The large group resumed marching with their new friend, Hugh.

[Jack Of Blades]

Jack snoozed under a tree not far off, he heard the rumbling voice of the Log-A-Log. He jumped on his hind paws and got a hold of the tree. Jack spotted a rabbit, hoping to lure him away to see their purpose he dropped a ruby. Jack didn't want to kill em' just talk. It didn't seem weird for a rabbit to be with shrews but it seemed slightly off to him. He just watched in a crouch from the tree. Scanning the shrews as they passed.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Hugh was talking about Redwall Abbey and its food with Log-a-Log. Log-a-Log said, "...but the October Ale is also really good." He noticed Hugh looking at something. "Uh, what are lookin' at, mate?"

The rabbit spoke as he looked. "Looks like someone dropped a ruby." Hugh walked over and picked it up. He walked back to Log-a-Log Gorjo and held the glittering ruby up for him to see. "Look, I told you."

"I wonder who dropped it. Seems sort of--Guosim, halt!"

"What is it, Log-a-Log?" Hugh inquired, slightly worried.

Log-a-Log explained his encounter with Jack, Jinn, and Halea and her rats to Hugh and his shrews. After he finished explaining he said. "And I think the fox dropped the ruby he had stolen from the stoat."

Log-a-Log motioned for his Hugh and his Guosim to follow. They went over to investigate.

[Jack Of Blades]

Jack watched for a moment longer, then dropped from the tree. His arms were spread in a friendly sort of manor and he had his awkward smile "I call ye no harm, nor did I back a while ago. Ye also left yer flask." He said holding it out. It was never Jack's fault he was a vermin and tried his best to act in equality. He looked to the younger rabbit then back to the log-a-log. He stood still, swords locked in the belt. The day was as before bright and warm. Jack thought of no cowardice this time, he was wrong when he thought it before.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Log-a-Log was surprised he instinctively got into his fighting stance. After Jack spoke, he was relaxed but still was in a fighting stance.

"Thanks." Log-a-Log said unsurely as he took the flask of strawberry cordial. "So what do you want, Jack?"

[Jack Of Blades]

He relaxed some and his arms came down, still off to the side and not close to the swords. He was simply wandering about and then found a nice area to chill, then fell asleep. Which is what he explained "Takin' a look for a campground for the night. The rest of the band is far off so I decided to take a snooze. Then heard some racket and jumped into the tree and just dropped a ruby to get ye over here so ye not get yer whole army on me.". Jack looked about the large group, many shrews. He didn't feel uncomfortable, he had of course slept to the sounds of blades.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Log-a-Log was thinking of telling Jack he might be able to accompany him, the Guosim, and Hubert to Redwall Abbey but first he must ask him some questions. "'Ow many goodbeasts 'ave you killed, Jack? Are you evil?"

Moddle whispered in Log-a-Log Gorjo's ear. He ain't gonna tell you, you know."

Log-a-Log nodded but still awaited the fox's answer.

[Jack Of Blades]

Jack was to be honest on this. He would if he was killed for it. "As many as the blades I have, 2. Others were knocked out to let them live. I think on equality rather than discrimination. Which I believe you do also. By my hood and my head along with my blades I swear this to be true." He said this truly. He had killed not many good beasts. Though many of them steered clear, vermin were killed more than anything else on his part, normally they saw him as an easy target. Wrong. He waited for his judgment.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Log-a-Log believed Jack, why? The fox seemed different from most other vermin and some sixth sense told him to believe Jack. "The only reason goodbeasts call your species and others vermin is because they are usually evil and have terrorized, murdered, stole, destroyed, pillaged, and killed goodbeasts and their families and homes and things they have that are precious. Some--like you, I think--are exceptions. Not many of my species have done what most vermin do so we and other species are considered the goodbeasts. The reason I asked you those questions is because there is a wonderful place, a paradise you may come to, with us. Do you swear you will not harm the creatures there in any wat or tell some badbeasts its location? These creatures are my friends and if you do harm them or tell any badbeasts where they and their dwelling is I will kill you, I promise, fairly or not. So, do you swear?"

[Jack Of Blades]

Jack relaxed slightly more and began listening to Gorjo, after the shrew finished he answered in his usual quiet voice. "If I do go with you, I say no word of its location. Nor will I harm a goodbeast such as your friends will be considered mine. I swear upon my soul, and what honor I have left on my promise." he said. He lied not in this matter, for his brethren, the vermin were not like him. He never did want to harm any. But he did and somewhat regretted it. Jack was a goodbeast in the body of a vermin you could say, but his home was with the vermin. The ones who took him in. He would not divulge a word of his journey to any of them.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Again Log-a-Log believed him. "All right friend, the paradise we are going to is called Redwall Abbey. You may come if you want, there is supposed to be a great feast tonight. I hope you come with us."

Now that Log-a-Log said he trusted Jack, the Guosim and Hubert voiced their opinions.

"Come on mate; it will be a merry ol' time!"

"Aye, Redwall's known for a lot o' things and one is its food and drinks!"

"Heheheh, ya got that right Fujko."

"I have never been there but I am sure it will be amazing!"

Log-a-Log Gorjo held up his paws for silence as he chuckled. "All right, all right, let Jack decide!"

Everybeast turned to look at the fox as they awaited his decision.

[Jack Of Blades]

Jack contemplated on it, hearing the opinions of the many. His only thought was yes and he could barely react fast enough "I'll tag along." He said with a genuine smile, which rarely showed over his face. He twitched his ears and waited to follow. "A feast, Hm. Sounds nice." contented thoughts bounced through his mind for the next moments. His hollow pupils were often souless, but now Jack's eyes glistened. The sky was getting dimmer gradually, barely noticeable.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Log-a-Log grinned as his shrews and Hubert cheered. "Let's be off then, Guosim, double-time!"

Log-a-Log spoke quietly to the fox. "I am glad you decided to come with us, Jack."

[Jack Of Blades]

Jack made his smile at the cheers and paused. "Thank me lazyness..." He said tagging along with the shrew.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

As they walked, a shrew called Hodd reported seeing an ermine with javelins and a full suit of armor. Log-a-Log gave the order to keep walking and be ready for an attack, probably an ambush.

A few minutes later, a scream tore through the silence. The Guosim and Hugh were ready for battle and spotted a shrew lying face down, a javelin protruding from his back.

Suddenly, another shrew fell with a javelin sticking out of his neck. The missiles were coming from both sides!

"Split up into two groups, Moddle you are in charge of the left group, I will take the right. Go into the forest, and be careful!" Log-a-Log shouted this order as another shrew was brought down by a javelin.

Log-a-Log's group charge into the forest on the right side of the path. Log-a-Log saw an ermine getting ready to throw another javelin but Log-a-Log jumped and slashed his chest with his sword, now the shrew leader had both swords drawn.

Another ermine used his javelin to crack across a shrew's back. The shrew fell over, unconscious. Log-a-Log hurried to save her but was ambushed by an ermine who seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Log-a-Log was surprised but luckily blocked a blow from the vermin's longsword. Log-a-Log first cut up with his broadsword and then down with his sword. The ermine blocked the first blow but was impaled by the second.

Meanwhile, Hugh was trying to fight off four heavily armored ermine. They all had longswords and were chasing the rabbit. Hugh could not risk throwing one of his axes in case he missed bedcause there were two more enemies than axes. Eventually, the rabbit's quickness helped greatly. The armored foes were not as fast to begin with but with all of their armor on and their longswords they had to stop, losing sight of the rabbit. Hugh was far enough away from the villains so he could throw an axe. One of the ermine took off their helmet to get some fresh air. That was Hugh's chance to kill one of the villains. He took careful aim and threw the axe, catching the ermine in his head. Hugh turned away and made a cry of disgust. He readied himself to throw his other axe.

[Rena Farsight]

Barely audible footsteps carried tiny Rena Farsight closer, nearing the pair. Coming up behind Jack, she tapped him on the shoulder to let him know she was there, before standing beside him. Glancing at Gorjo, she turned her head to Jack inquisitively, indicating Gorjo, asking without words for an explanation.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Log-a-Log shouted to be heard above the sounds of battle. "Jack, who's this? Fox, we're in the middle of a battle, watch out!"

Log-a-Log was dueling against an ermine when he suddenly felt an agonizing pain in his left shoulder and by instinctively dropped the broadsword. An arrow had hit his shoulder! Luckily, he still had the sword in his right hand and beheaded the ermine.

Hubert threw his other axe and killed another ermine. Now, he had no weapons and the two ermine were still after him. But wait! He did have weapons, his natural defenses. The rabbit remembered when he had to fight the two foxes and how he punched them so hard.

As the ermine advanced with their longswords, Hugh readied himself to fight. The first ermine who had a shield advanced, about to strike. Hugh grabbed his swordpaw and kneed him in his stomach, from under the shield. Winded, the vermin gasped for breath. Hugh did a swift uppercut on the ermine's jaw and then hit him in the side of his head, laying him unconscious. Just as the rabbit was about to fight the last of the four ermine, a short little shrew swung club at the villain's his head and quickly moved to the next foebeast.

[Jack Of Blades]

Jack was standing, looking for advantage points. He turned to Rena with blades leading him, he abruptly stopped and his jaw went a little slack "Wha-- Why are ye here?" he asked weakly, looking at their mute seer. He hoped they weren't following him the whole time. He turned again to see an armored beast with an axe, wielding it clumsily too. Jack danced along with his blades, weakening and disposing of the enemy. The blade master looked around to see if there were more, none at this moment. He turned back to the seer, waiting for an interpretation.

[Rena Farsight]

Rena pulled out her knife and waved away a small ermine, sticking close to Jack. She shrugged at his inquiry, then pointed to herself and shook her head to let him know she was alone. Ducking to avoid being flattened by the beast Jack had taken down, she gave in and stabbed the little ermine, because the pesky little creature kept coming back.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

Log-a-Log stayed close to Jack and the other fox; he did not yet no her name. He wondered why she didn't speak.

Hugh and the shrew who had helped him, Gerdd, were fighting back to back. Hugh had his axes and a longsword he picked up from a dead foebeast. He could wield the heavy weapon it quite well and as the battle progressed he became more confident.