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

[Ashleg]

Bracklew's words hit hard for Grant.
The squirrel was right, they had no choice.
What he continued to say after that, however, was incorrect in the mouse's mind.
"Oh, Bracklew..." The Abbot said, chuckling bitterly. "If you were a killer, I'd have taken that title from you long ago. For you to have gone through so much in such little time and not become heartless proves just how strong you really are." He placed a paw around the younger creature's shoulders, lowering his voice.
"We always see the worst in ourselves, don't we?" He whispered, smirking slightly. "I hope you believe me. I'm being honest when I say that I wouldn't have picked anybeast else."
And...What's her problem?!
Grant narrowed his eyes when he heard Charm completely denounce Asher.
"Charm, Miss, not to be rude or anything, but I'd be sooner to trust Asher with plans regarding my home than you..."

--

"And something's telling me that Fang isn't dead!" Rapshade snapped as he backed out of Alfhild's tent, tripping over Glaser as he stepped out.
"Watch yourself, ya wobble-nosed birdbrain!" The ferret hissed, kicking a rock behind him at his Aunt, who'd chased him out.
"Maybe you should focus on battle plans like Fardan rather than trying to make my life miserable. Sounds like a good idea to me, it's the smart thing, anyway."

[Groddil]

OOC:

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

Huh? What does that mean? :p

BIC:

Charm raised an eyebrow.
"Father Abbot, not to be rude or anything, but Asher is a soldier. Tactics to him means whether or not to show himself before shooting a rat in the throat. The issue of trust is completely pointless; we're both with the Vigil, and we ALL have the same goal. To keep this horde away from Redwall. One-Ear left me in charge for a reason. I know tactics, and I know what I'm doing. We have to work TOGETHER if we want to survive."

[LT Sandpaw]

For a moment Bracklew stayed silent, digesting what Grant had told him. Accepting the Abbot's wisdom he stood, nodding his head to the Abbot.
"Alright," He said slowly his eyes brightening. "I'll keep the sword, though I don't think I deserve it. I'll keep it and fight for Redwall. But I really need Rayne to check my... Paw... And I need sleep, I feel dead on my paws." He staggered off towards the infirmary, when an shrew spotted him and assisted him up the steps.

Breaking away from the group still gathered around the main gate Aver trotted towards the Abbot and Charm, listening in on the conversation. He cut in, his eyes narrowed.
"Miss Charm, ain't it? Listen close now, we do need to work together, aye I agree." The otter stepped up next to Grant his paws crossed. "But workin' together don' mean ye have yerself all th' power. We need an' could use th' counsel o' all beasts, even Asher. I've fought alongside 'Im in th' tunnels. He knows wot he's doin'."

Aver turned back to Grant his eyes downcast. "I did a head count Father Abbot, Fang, n' Ava didn' make it back. Neither did Rappy th' ferret, but I think that was expected. Petu, Duncan, an' Brack are up in th' infirmary with serious wounds. Th' rest were treated easily enough."

[Groddil]

"Don' get me wrong, Skip. I'm not denouncing Asher's skill. He's still one of the best soldiers we have. But he isn't a tactician. I'll be putting him in charge of most of the army, but he shouldn't be the one making the plans. He knows fightin', an' fightin's what he'll do."
The otter made to walk off, but stopped, lowering her voice.
"Oh, an' Grant? What a lot of Redwallers don't realize is why the Vigil exists. One-Ear formed us in the first place because he didn't want to see any more of his Redwall friends die. Our whole purpose is to help you, so a lot of us would appreciate not being treated like we are. Look at Damien an' Bracklew. They were at each others throats since they first met, an' look at 'em now. Bracklew lost 'is paw, an' Damien went mad. I'll leave you to business, I need to speak with Asher, so can I please have that mole help? If so, I'll meet them at the pit after I've done this."

[Ashleg]

Grant was inwardly fuming with himself.
He'd known that Fangfang couldn't fight and that Ava was old. Why did he let them go?
I'm stupid, so stupid! His heart went out to Bracklew because he felt the same way about being Abbot.

"...Yes, Charm, I'll get the moles." He said forcedly.

[LT Sandpaw]

 "I'll join you," Aver decided walking with Charm towards the East wicker gate. "What do you have planed for our moles?" He asked, holding his paws loosely behind his back. The otter felt that he should moderate the operations that the Vigil undertook while in the Abbey. Not because he distrusted them, but because he knew some Redwallers did, if they saw him working alongside the Vigil they might become more open to cooperation.
Something they needed badly.

As they approached Asher the otter chieftain waved, acknowledging his presence. "Hey'a mate, ye feelin' okay after that battle in th' woodlands?"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Watching Fardan stalk off Fastooth crossed his arms, spitting in the snow. "We've been shown up twice now by them woodlanders." He commented to Glaser, turning to glare at the other rat. "An' wot we got to show for it? Bloody well nothin' thas' wot."
He motioned for Glaser to follow marching off making his way towards Vadoma's tent. "But I got meself a plan, we'll need to talk wit' th' vixen though."

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

Preening her feathers with delicate, Grah care watched as Rapshade exited his tent angrily. Cawing she hopped over to him, fixing a beady eye on the ferret.
"Creeaah, Grah find rat stink. Grah feast, earthwalker ferret ratfriend." She croaked flapping her wings. "Creeaah, Grah find rat, no feast. Just find. Krah can. Ferret give earthwalker gift to Krah? Creeeaaah!

[Hickory]

Breaking off from a blank stare at the ground, Asher raised his head. "Oh, I'm fine. Are you alright? You just lost two Abbey members."

[Groddil]

Charm lowered her voice as they passed a group of Redwallers.
"Nobeast here trusts us, an' I can't fer the life o' mean figure out why. Yet, Redwall is the safest place in all of Mossflower. My plan is to send the moles down the pit, to excavate the collapsed tunnel. If the works, we'll have a tunnel between here and Moledeep. If we block all other tunnels to Moledeep, bar one to the surface, we have a base that is virtually impenetrable. Plus, the quick line to Redwall means the Vigil is never far away from resupply or medical attention. Plus, we no longer have incidents like the Damien-Bracklew one..."
Noticing Asher and his team by the East Wallgate, she walked over.
"What're ye talkin' about, Asher? Who have they lost?"

[LT Sandpaw]

"Ava and Fang," Aver sighed, bowing his head. "To tell ye th' truth Asher I'm not sure I'll ever be fine again since me pa Skip died. But tis better to grieve in silence, I need to appear brave, or th' others will panic."
Turning back to Charm Aver shook his head.
"I'm not sure that's th' best plan mate. There be thousands o' mad beasts down there, you'll have to commit genocide jus' to get th' moles down there. Me n' Asher c'n say from experience they're fierce varmints. Besides if'n those blighters remain unnerground where they belong n' leave us be, they have a right to live same as us."

[Groddil]

OOC: The moledeep tunnel and the river are nowhere near each other. Plus, the river is blocked up now.

[Ashleg]

"Really, that's how ye see it, eh? I thought we showed them up twice." Glaser said, grinding his footpaws into the snow, though out of anger or nervousness he wasn't sure. "They ran first, didn't they?"

--

Rapshade's eyes flashed.
"A gift?"
Ideas raced through his mind and then he nodded, grinning crookedly.
"You've got yourself a deal, Grah. Better keep your promise."

Just then, Alfhild came running towards them.
"Shady, dear, Roscoe tells me you healed the runaway squirrel? Why?"

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Isn't the collapsed tunnel the one that caved in on One-ear? Even if it isn't they'll still be going down there, and Aver isn't aware of any other collapsed tunnel then the one that supposedly killed One-ear. Actually you should just have Charm explain it in-character.


IC:

"They ran both times idjit." Fastooth growled. "Yet somehow they've been killin' more o' us then we've been killin' o' them. So either they're lucky or better at runnin' then us. I'm willin' to bet both, which is where th' soothsayer comes in." He approached Vadoma's tent and knocked on the entrance pole.
"Oi, anybeast home?"

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Grah want neck, lace, Grah see it." The big bird withdrew from Rapshade her large talons digging into the dirt. "Earthwalker rat find. Krah bring. Ferret give purple neck, lace creeaah. Look good on Grah. No give? Creeeaaah, Grah feast rat stink." Flapping her wings Grah soared off in the morning sky followed by two other crows.

[Ashleg]

Rapshade opened his mouth to protest, but by the time he found any words she was already gone.
How does she even know about my necklace? I never wear it, it's been in my pocket this whole time!

He spun around and chucked a snowball at Alfhild.
"Because. Leave me alone."

--

"Oh poo, I didn't know anybeast they killed on our side." Glaser sneered, starting past Alfhild and Rapshade after Fastooth left.
"We need a younger leader, eh?"

--

Vadoma's ears flicked up.
"That depends, who's asking?" She called.

[Groddil]

Charm shook her head.
"I know that, Aver. I went down there earlier with a few others, and the river that leads to those...whatever they ares, is completely blocked off. The tunnel I speak of is nowhere near the river, and has just been filled with rocks. It shouldn't take the moles long to excavate it, and they'll be well guarded throughout. Anyway, we found Mortembell's satchel down in the pit, and her journal explained it quite well."

[Hickory]

Asher crossed his arms. "Her journal? Did she know much about Moledeep, or was it just speculation?"

He thought for a second. "'Cause I remember enough to know that when the wildcats were in charge of Mossflower, Moledeep was still inhabited. But that was countless seasons ago. How could she 'ave gotten ahold of anything reliable?