Redwall Isn't Safe Anymore! (Is Redwall as Safe as they Say it is? Part Two)

[Ashleg]

Grant stared long and hard at Bracklew's paw and then eventually turned his gaze to Bracklew himself. He smiled comfortingly. "You should do what you feel is best. If you want to keep your paw, then why listen to Rayne? You still have feeling in it, judging by the fact that you even needed to see Rayne in the first place. Who knows? In seasons come you may be able to use it again as long as you exercise it now." He began walking down the corridor, pausing every few steps to glance back at Bracklew.
"How about you come to the feast? You've disappeared a lot this past season, and I know that Duncan really misses having you around. In fact, we all do." The mouse winked knowingly. "I should hope to see you there, if you're not too busy."
The door shut behind him.

[Hickory]

It wasn't long before Harnam happened upon the remains of a fire. "Here, Brush. How old would you say this is?"

The tracker knelt down to look at the ashes. "Hardly two hours. I'll go find Asher and Applelad, they were checking the ridge. There's broken foliage over there, follow the path and wait until we get back."

Harnam watched Brush take off back the way they came. He turned to follow Muddle and Begskin's path, moving through the trees to remain undetected. Within minutes he found a small side stream shore inhabited by his targets. The squirrel retreated into a maple, watching and listening carefully to the captors and their prisoner.

~O~

Friar Rusk finished putting the candied strawberries atop a huge woodland trifle. Taking a sample of the meadowcream, he tasted the sugary concoction. "Perfect. Listen, I'll take some work of off your paws and bring these dishes back to the washroom. Don't let anything go wrong, chiefly letting Duncan into this kitchen!"

Picking up a large stack of dirty bowls, the tubby mouse carried them into the washroom. Unable to see around the dishes, he said, "Skip- Aver, mind taking these off my paws? Any longer and I'm liable to fall, and we don't want any broken dishes, aye?"

[Groddil]

One of Rayne's assistants rushed up to Mortembell. The vixen nodded and, frowning, she made her way to the Infirmary.
"Hey, Rayne. You needed t'see me?"

OOC: Sage, don't do anything drastic to Muddle, Begskin, and Damien. If you end up capturing Damien, the other two need to get away.

[Hickory]

OOC: You were supposed to post as them, do you want me to have the whole team gathered?

[Groddil]

OOC Yeah, go ahead. Send 'em in to grab Damien and I'll have Muddle and Begskin run for it.

[LT Sandpaw]

Meeting Mortembell at the infirmary door Rayne gestured the fox inside. Closing the door the mouse healer tapped her healers satchel self consciously.

"Mortembell, ah I don't know how to put this but Bracklew came in just now needing his paw worked on again." Seeing Mortembell's confusion Rayne continued hurriedly. "He sustained the injury while forcing some of the Vigil out of Redwall. Now I didn't press the matter but I know your son leads the Vigil. If the Abbey Warrior and the Vigil are at odds that might cause trouble. Do you have any idea why your son's followers might have attacked Bracklew?"

[Groddil]

Mortembell shook her head in shock.
"No, I have no idea. One-Ear was never an enemy of Bracklew's, but he did have to take whoever he could get to form the Vigil. Who was it, did Bracklew say?"

[Hickory]

OOC: K.

BIC: Heavy breathing announced the arrival of Asher and the rest. All four squirrels observed Muddle and Begskin tormenting Damien. Eyes narrowed, Asher signaled for Brush to join him and for Harnam to move down to the ground.

Damien was bound to two stakes, forcing him to stand up straight, arms outstretched. Terror had been the only feeling he had been experiencing thus far, captured by two madbeasts and begging to die. He didn't expect what happened next.

Two arrows zipped through the air, neatly severing his bonds as a squirrel emerged from the woodland, sword at the ready. Damien had dealt with Asher's team before, and he sorely hoped that they weren't here to kill him. Muddle jumped backwards in shock as a lance seemed to grow from the ground at his footpaws. He and Begskin fled the streambank in fear as two more arrows thudded into the ground. Damien stood stock still as the sword-wielding squirrel, Harnam, walked towards him. The shining sword started to rise up over Harnam's head, and Damien started to back away. "Please, don't kill me! I'll come peacefully!"

The sword swept down and hit Asher's dirk with a resounding clang. The black squirrel scowled at Harnam. "I said that we were taking him alive! Applelad, you have the rope. Get down here."

The young squirrel expertly bound the traitor for the second time, removed the ropes that Muddle had put on him. "Huh, searats think that they're the best knot tyers. Show them a thing or two, I will!"

Resigned to his fate, Damien followed his captors through the woodland.

[Ashleg]

"Aver's being rude an' ignoring everybeast, you'd be lucky t' get an answer from 'im." Rapshade said, smirking when he realized that Rusk had plates piled up so high in front of him that he could not see. The ferret snickered and snuck around the Friar and out the door, enjoying his freedom.

--

Roscoe sniffled and continued his sobbing despite Charm's threats.
He hoped One-Ear would hurry up and get back soon so he'd know what his fate was.

[Groddil]

One-Ear and Gukom emerged from the bushes near Redwall Abbey. The fox shook his head sadly.
"Here we go, Gukom. Stay behind me, this may not go down well."
Taking a deep breath, One-Ear drew his katana. He thumped heavily on the gates with the blade's heavy hilt. The fox shouldered the sword and tried to look as sorrowful as possible.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Groddil, capture him. ;p
IC-
Rapshade ran towards the exit as quickly as he could with an injured leg, which wasn't very quick at all, though he still made it to the gates by the time One-Ear arrived with Gukom.
The ferret clicked his teeth and cursed under his breath. Of course somebeast would arrive right as he tried to escape!
"Do come in!" He said, in his best imitation of Grant. Balancing awkwardly on one paw, he shoved at the beam and somehow managed to slide it off. It was a foolish plan, but he didn't care. He'd make a run for it as soon as the gates were open.

[Groddil]

OOC: With pleasure...

BIC: One-Ear kicked the gate roughly, sending it swinging open. The fox was initially shocked at the sight of Rapshade there to greet him. As the ferret tried to run past, he tripped on Gukom, who stood quivering behind One-Ear. In an instant, the fox's blade was at Rapshade's throat.
"Trying to run, eh Swifty? You know, with a broken leg, your namesake doesn't really work anymore. Gukom, go tell somebeast I caught him."
One-Ear levered Rapshade up, the katana braced against Rapshade's back.
"Alrighty, we're gonna take a nice walk back inside. You try to run, the Vigil WILL find you. And then I won't be so merciful..."

[Ashleg]

Rapshade quailed at the sight of One-Ear, the fox who had cut down the mast. It was technically him who had broken the ferret's leg. Fumbling for words, he pointed a shaky paw in the direction of the gates.
"I thought...I thought you were an idiot...Er, no, I mean, I thought y' were somebeast else..." His voice became mumbled and then was soon silenced altogether as he began limping inside, looking ashamed with himself.

[Groddil]

"Now, now. You've got everything you could need here. Food, water, a place to stay. If you decided to leave, all you would have is me on your tail. Maybe if you go back in an' beg fergiveness, they'll let ye live. I know I wouldn't, but it ain't up to me."

*****

Mortembell suddenly stopped her conversation with Rayne. Ignoring the mouse, she peered out the window. It was One-Ear! The vixen shot off down the stairs.
"Grant! One-Ear's here! He caught Rapshade!"

[Ashleg]

Grant looked up and began chasing after Mortembell.
"What do you mean, caught Rapshade? I thought he was with Rusk and Aver?"

--

Rapshade shuddered and glanced solemnly at One-Ear.
"I'm not doing any begging. They won't kill me," he hissed.