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

[Ashleg]

"Okay, then." Alfhild said, smirking as she leaned on her sword hilt.
Rapshade, who was feeling the medicine start to wear off, tried to focus his eyes on her.
"I just wanted t' tell y' that Grenlik over there did a bad job killing Fang, and when I attacked him, he ran out he cabin and yelled for help. I thought ya didn't like cowards on your team...?"

[Hickory]

Only partially able to see Bracklew, Fardan hesitated slightly before following the squirrel. "Alfhild tells me that one of yours is dead," ventured the wildcat. "He was stabbed in the throat."

OOC: Pretending Alfhild told Fardan about Fangfang, hope that's okay.

[LT Sandpaw]

Seeing the Vigil forces hesitate Fastooth took the opportunity to push the ferret that was with him into their front lines. The rat retreated back into Mossflower, throwing off his weapons to increase his speed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Stubbornly keeping his gaze locked forward Bracklew tried to keep ignore Fardan, trembling in anger and grief. His slow journey through the trees kept him within earshot of the wildcat, and he didn't possess the strength to outrun Fardan.
"He's lying," Bracklew muttered to himself, his ears pinned to his head. Yet even as he said it, horrible thoughts swirled in Bracklew's head. Ava had said Petu and Duncan were out there. What if one of them were now food for the crows, left behind by their friends.

[Hickory]

Fardan had found Bracklew. Careful not to give away where he was or his discovery, the cat continued on. "I can tell you that you won't make it out of this fore- OOF!"

Asher swung down from a tree branch and kicked Fardan hard in the back with his footpaws. Quick as a flash he climbed over to Bracklew. "Is the paw okay? He'll be getting up soon..."

[LT Sandpaw]

"It's cut off, there is no okay at this point." Bracklew said rudely, before shaking his head, angry at himself. "Sorry, I mess everything up, and now Ava's dead because of it." A wave of bitterness washed through the squirrel, wearily he climbed on, running as fast as his broken body could. "She didn't deserve to die, I deserve to die, but she's never done anything wrong. Why'd she have to get punished for my mistakes?"

[Hickory]

"That's the way of war," replied Asher. "We'll be able to fix the paw properly when we get back to the Abbey."

OOC: Timeskip to the Abbey?

[Ashleg]

OOC-
I'm for it.
I'm waiting for Groddil in order to do anything more with Rapshade, so if everyone was at the Abbey I could get in there with Grant and Duncan.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Alright so for the sake of not letting this RP die, I'm going to PP everyone back to the Abbey, or horde respectively.

BIC:

It was a sorry procession that made its way up to the gates of Redwall Abbey. The morning sunlight seemed to know what had happened, shining red as it rose above the trees. The makeshift stretcher bearing Duncan was hurried inside at the front, and it was the one that Rayne rushed too first. She had been warned that some of the beasts returning would be wounded. The mouse healer immediately set to work with powdered motherwort and bandages.

Still leaning on Asher as they walked inside, Bracklew kept his head down. It was because of him that this tragedy had happened.

~*~*~*~*~*~

It was a furious Fastooth that was marching back to the horde. Alone. On the outskirts of the encampment the enraged rat kicked at the snow stomping down towards the chieftain's tents. He had been abandoned by nearly a hundred hordebeasts, and here they were lazing about licking their wounds. He'd make sure the whips were cracking tonight, if only they had stayed with him he would have slaughtered the little Vigil army that had confronted him. Instead he made a unsavory retreat allowing for their enemy to prepare even further.

[Ashleg]

Grant ran to meet the returning scouts, his footpaws flying over the ground faster than he ever had in his old age.
"W-what happened to you...?"

Little Max the squirrel appeared behind him and ran up to meet Bracklew, causing Grant's eyes to flicker to the young one's missing paw.
At least he's alive.

--

"Poor Fastooth." Glaser said behind him, sneering a bit as he doubled around the other rat and cut off his path. "What makes ya think either of the chiefs'll want to talk with you?" He began to laugh, until it eventually droned off and he silently turned to look at Alfhild's tent.
"Can't they keep it down? Chief an' her likkle nephew have been fightin' fer hours. Verbally, that is...You're lucky you've missed it!"

[Hickory]

Sitting silently by the fringes of the camp, Fardan watched Fastooth enter. Figuring that he failed completely in his task. Put down by the escape of the capture squirrel, Fardan was trading out and wiping plans in the soft dirt. Giving up entirely, he smoothed over the latest one and stood up. "Report; Fastooth," he said, interrupting Glaser.

<O>

"We were attacked," said Asher. "It was, ah, a loss for both sides. Ava's... Dead, Abbot. One of the horde leaders killed her personally. Rapshade's still at the vermin camp."

Looking down at Bracklew, Asher felt a new respect for the squirrel grow within. He'd been through a lot; he certainly wasn't the beast who met him before this all started.

[Ashleg]

Grant was about to ask where Fang was when Asher said that Ava had been slain.
A spark of anger materialized inside him, but then it simmered down and reverted itself to shock and sadness.
Ava, the Abbey Badgermum, killed by one of the horde leaders!
Little Max tugged on his sleeve. "Abbot, Mista Abbot, wha' does deaded mean?"
Grant found himself grabbing onto the little squirrel's paw, though he kept his eyes on Asher.
"...Awful."

--

Glaser narrowed his eyes at Fardan.
"Excuse me, I think we were talking."

[Hickory]

"Excuse me, I'm in charge," growled Fardan. "Finish up your little self pity talk, fast."

<O>

Asher stepped closer to the Abbot. "One-Ear and Needle are gone, so that puts me in charge of the Vigil. I know you haven't approved of us in the past, but it's time to put those differences behind us. We, as a group, need to work together in order to beat the horde. I sincerely hope we can solve this a quickly as possible, but first things first... Are you with me on this decision? To officially go to war?"

[LT Sandpaw]

"I don' feel lucky Glaser." Fastooth snarled putting his paws on his hips and glaring at the other rodent. "Me n' one other were left to fight all them woodlanders by ourselves ye see. I near got gutted an' tis only pure luck that I got away." Shoving past Glaser Fastooth preformed a weary salute running over the numbers in his mind.

"I tried to count th' bodies on th' way back chief. We lost 'bout fifteen, four crows, n' eleven warriors. I only saw one o' theirs layin' dead, but I'm thinkin' they carried off th' rest." He growled angrily at the unsatisfactory numbers curling his claws into fists. "I caught th' runners, but they was joined by a larger group, an' I was forced to retreat seein' as I was on me own. I jus' don' unnerstand it chief, one moment th' horde was wit' me, th' next I was staring down thirty or so beasts wit' spears aimed at me all on me own. Wot happened?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bracklew slowly unwrapped his paw bandage staring in horrified revulsion of what had become of his damaged paw. "We don't have a choice at this point...?" Bracklew said slowly, unable to look away. "Redwall isn't safe, we need to fight for our survival, they wont stop. There isn't any shortcuts or easy solutions. I tried that, and I lost my paw and Ava..." His voice broke and he gathered his courage looking Grant in the eye.
"I can't do it Father Abbot, it isn't who I am. I'm not a killer... I'm to weak to be champion of Redwall. Someone braver, and stronger needs to take my place."


OOC: Grant's choice will heavily affect Bracklew, whether he gives the position to someone else or leaves it with Brack. The choice of course, is his.

[Groddil]

As Asher was finishing his spiel, Charm emerged from the dormitory. She had spent most of the night planning with Gukom, and a little bit of help from Grant. Buckling on her Vigil tunic, the tall ottermaid glared at the squirrel.
"You, in charge? I believe One-Ear left me in charge of the Vigil's operations, until Needle's appointment as Second-in-Command. Now that that hare is gone, we've been running around for too long with our tails between our legs. We haven't stood a chance against the vermin that killed our friends, my brother included. Until One-Ear is found, dead or alive, I'm appointing myself Commander-in-Chief of the Vigil. So, why don't you stand down, Asher. Gather your team, report to the small, wicker wallgate, and await orders."
The otter turned her back to the squirrel, facing Abbot Grant.
"Gukom and I have completed the planning. I believe the best way to accomplish our goal is with One-Ear's original plan, Moledeep. If I can have a squadron of moles to lend a paw, we should be able to take the fight to the horde without Redwall even having to open its gates once."

*****

Having walked for who knows how long, One-Ear had finally followed the otter long enough through the tunnels, where he met up with his mother and a large group of woodlanders. Introductions were made, and the two foxes warmly embraced each other. When all of the outlaws had been acquainted, Mortembell unrolled a map of the Wetlands.
"Okay, listen up. Seacloak isn't here at the moment, meaning his Governor has control of the Wetlands. The palace will be deserted for now, and the Governor's residence is here, near the north wall. One-Ear and I are vermin, so we can't be seen within the city walls. I will stay here with a few creatures to defend our sanctuary. Hido, find One-Ear a suitable disguise and brief him about the Governor's defenses. We'll throw him to Sheba, and when Seacloak gets back home, he can go and join his Governor. Maybe then, you won't have to live in fear."

*****

The mouse called Hido was a master of disguise, and he had managed to disguise One-Ear suitably. A fake rudder had been taped to the fox's back, and his ears and snout were hidden by a large otter mask. Thankfully, his grey fur managed to make him look even less like his true species. The fox shed his Vigil Tunic and donned the rags of the Wetlands Uprising. He made his way back towards Mortembell, buckling a stolen war axe to his belt.
"So, this is where the badger rules?"
"Aye, Seacloak. That's why we're doing this. Once we get rid of his governor, he has no power here any more. He won't be a threat to us anymore, and the Wetlands will be grateful to the Vigil for your help. We can get back to Redwall far quicker."
"Good. There's a horde approaching the Abbey as we speak. I just hope Needle can keep the Vigil in check for long enough."

[Hickory]

OOC: Lol Charm and Asher are on opposite ends of the spectrum...

BIC:

Slightly annoyed by Charm's quick takeover of the Vigil, however righteous, Asher left Bracklew with Grant and gathered his team. After marching to the east wall gate he leaned against the stone, waiting for Charm.

<O>

Nodding in understanding, Fardan dismissed Fastooth with a wave of his paw. "Very well."

Silently fuming at the losses, the cat pondered what had happened. Granted, there was a badger present, but fifteen soldiers and four crows was still astronomical compared to the Redwall party.

He'd have to rethink everything.