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

[Groddil]

Daxian growled, before setting his teeth to the ropes that bound his paws. The foolish squirrels had forgotten to search him for weapons, so if he could get his paws free, the rat's dagger, now in Daxian's tunic, would be an effective way of escaping."

[Hickory]

OOC: Is he trying to be noticed? It's an open air cage/pit, not to hard for Brush to find out...

[Groddil]

OOC: Brush isn't looking. Besides, it's not so hard to either hide in a corner, lying down to cover his paws, or just taking a quick chew, then stopping to avoid suspicion.

[Hickory]

OOC: K.

BIC:

Asher and the two others were let in to Redwall through the main gates. He quickly spotted Charm and hurried over. "Charm, we've captured Daxian and left him at the old Vigil camp, guarded by one of my team. What's the progress on Moledeep?"

[Groddil]

Charm nodded at the molecrew, who were steadily digging out the tunnel.
"Excellent. They should have the tunnel opened before nightfall. Then we can send them, and some others, into Moledeep to light torches, collapse a few other entrances, and move the prisoners. When we're ready to have Daxian transferred, I'll send some easy out to help...Brush with it. The rest of you, take a break and report to me when you're ready for another task."

[Hickory]

OOC: Daxian escapes, then a timeskip until, say, after lunch? Asher and his team can get their next mission then.

[Groddil]

OOC: If Ash and Sand are cool with that.

BIC:

It took some effort, but Daxian had finally torn through enough rope to slip his paws out of the remaining loops. He reached into his tunic, pulling out the dagger. The stoat stood up and inspected the bars at the top of the pit. All that kept them closed was a knot through the bars, tied to a loop far enough away that he could not untie it. That's what knives are for! The stoat severed the rope and, after making sure that Brush was looking away, eased the hatch open and wiggled out. He crept up behind the squirrel, who had sat on a nearby log. The stoat stepped on a twig, and Brush whirled around, paw reaching for his weapon. It was too late. Daxian threw the dagger, which embedded itself deep in the squirrel's skull. The stoat limped over, snatching Brush's dirk. It was much finer than the rusty blade the rat had once owned. The game was about to begin... Daxian began staggering towards the pine grove; he needed to retrieve something first...

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Don't care.
I'm just gonna go with the flow, here...
IC-
Max grinned and took off after her.
"Wait, wha'?"

[Hickory]

OOC: *timeskip*

BIC:

Asher trooped up to Charm, Harnam and Applelad close behind. "Ready, marm. What're your next orders?"

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Sandpaw still has to answer..!

[Groddil]

OOC: I'm going to PP Max here. A timeskip wouldn't make much sense for him and Stumbly if they're still outside during it. (They'd probably fall into the pit and die or something).

BIC:

As Stumbly was making her way towards the lift, a group of Vigil soldiers walked by. A hare and an otter hoisted the two dibbuns onto their shoulders and started walking back towards the Abbey.
"'Ow did these two get outta th' Abbey?"
"Flippin' 'eck, mate. 'Ow do I know, wot?"
The otter kicked the Abbey door ajar slightly and bundled Stumbly inside, followed shortly after by the hare setting Maxy down next to her. The otter closed the door, and the soldiers went back to their business. Stumbly tried running back into the kitchen, but several assistants were now starting to populate the room. Dejectedly, the mousebabe returned to her fort underneath the tables.

***** (after timeskip) *****

Before answering Asher, Charm beckoned the molecrew, who were just about to descend into the pit once more.
"Drubble, progress?"
The mole tugged his snout and peered into the pit.
"Er, oi thinks we'm about... nearly thurr. Us'n's 'ave excavated 'ee tunnel, but the floor o' th' tunnel 'as also given way. Once we fill in the 'ole, th' tunnel shudd be done."
Charm nodded, as the moles made their way back to the lift. The otter turned back to Asher.
"We have an important mission coming up soon, but it'll be some time until then. However, one way to make it easier for us would be..."
The otter rummaged around Gukom's basket of scrolls.
"Here, another map. We've marked several smaller vermin camps scattered throughout the woods. There's also some strategic positions, such as hidden caves or dugout trees, nearby. Basically, I want these camps destroyed, using any means necessary. There's three that we know of, each populated with a few scouts, not more than...probably five per camp. So, destroy these camps, and any attacks on the main horde will be a lot easier."

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Its fine by me.

IC:

Twisting his raggedy whiskers Fastooth considered what Vadoma had said, is yellow eyes almost shut. "Right, vixen. Listen close, I plan on openin' th' Abbey gates, tis simple really." He grinned, backing out of the tent. "Jus' get th' poisons soothsayer, I'm goin' to share me plan wit' th' Chiefs."

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

Descending from the skies just as Fastooth was leaving three crows landed outside Vadoma's tent. Fastooth glanced at them, questioningly before slipping off between the canvas city. Grah hurriedly bullied the other two crows away poking her head inside.

"Creeaah, earthwalker fox? Make rat breathe life?" She dragged Fang's limp form into view. "Creeaah, Krah think dead. Rat stink death. Feast, no! Creeaah. Make rat breathe life."

[Ashleg]

Vadoma's eyes went wide.
"Fangfang?! I had no idea he even survived the attack on the ship!"
She quickly hurried to grab bandages and something to disinfect the wound.
"He's probably already dead...but I'll see what I can do. Old Shady would lose his mind if this guy passed."
As she dragged Fang inside, her cold eyes flicked back to the crows, Grah in particular.
"...I wonder what's in it for you?"

--

"Really?" Alfhild asked skeptically, fixing her eyes on Glaser and then on Rapshade.

"Of course, Ma'am. Anything for you." Said Rapshade as he snagged Glaser by the wrist.

Alfhild curled her claws in. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

The younger ferret blinked rapidly.
"Now that Fang is dead I've been able to discern my true priorities. I'd love t' be just like you...You are strong, after all. And who would be a better partner fer me than my own flesh and blood..?"  He added, grinning sweetly.

[Groddil]

Arriving back at his campsite, Daxian chuckled. Throwing down his new weapon, a crossbow left behind by the Vigil, the stoat limped towards the lean-to he had been resting under. Rummaging through the rat's sack of junk and vittles, Daxian found a slim vial of dark, red liquid. The stoat wondered if Vadoma had ever noticed it was missing. He had stolen it before the horde had even encountered the Vigil, just in case, but the vixen never seemed to have batted an eyelid. The stoat clipped a pouch of crossbow bolts onto his belt, shoved the vial in amongst them, and set off towards the horde camp. He loaded one deadly missile into the weapon in case of guards, and tried to mentally recall where Alfhild's tent was. Probably somewhere in the centre, protected by everybeast else. It was settled then, he would locate the camp and wait until night. Being a vermin gave him an advantage to sneaking in, but he didn't want anybeast seeing his face.

*****

Meanwhile, in the Wetlands, the squirrel returned back to One-Ear and the other rebels, shaking his head.
"'Tis a no-go, mates. Th' Governor's decided ta inspect troops in th' castle. Gettin' in there'll be pretty difficult. I say we abort th' mission an' try later."
One-Ear shook his head.
"Why? Now's as good a time as any. If we lure the Governor into a secluded part of the castle, it'll take a long time for them ta find 'im. 'Specially as only a very small portion o' the guard, an' the public as well, ta be honest, is even allowed in. Come on, let's go find a way past th' guard."
The rebels made their way to the portcullis at the front of the castle, which was locked tight as always. The otter approached a nearby guard.
"Scoutin' patrol reportin' fer duty, sah. 'Ere ta see th' Governor on urgent business."
The soldier, a hare, shook his head.
"Sorry sah, but th' castle'll on bally lockdown, doncha know? Troop inspection an' all that. Report ta the Governor's residence an' wait for 'im there, wot wot?"
The otter was not about to give up so easily.
"I can't do that. We found numerous campsites, an' evidence o' slaughtered woodlanders. Couple a dead vermin, too. We even saw 'em from afar. There's a horde, mate. There's a horde, an' their current course is takin' em right 'ere. Now, I understan' that Lord Seacloak'd want ta speak ta us immediately, an' what would 'appen if somebeast stopped us from seein' 'is lordship? Wot if the Governor tells 'is lordship that ye stopped us from seein' 'im immediately?"
The hare gulped.
"Er, steady on there, ole chap. I'll see to it that the bally gate's open, wot? Oi, you there! Chap up on the wall. Open the gate on the double!"
The wallguard nodded, scurrying out of view. Shortly after, the portcullis nudged open just enough for the rebels to duck under it. They strode into the courtyard, where another hare was inspecting several soldiers. One-Ear whispered to the squirrel.
"Is he the governor?"
"Nah, mate. He's just the Actin' Captain o' the Guard, while Needle's not here."
"Needle? Did you just... Nevermind, we'll talk about this later."
One-Ear walked up to the Guard Captain and saluted.
"Er, scoutin' party 'as returned, sire! The Governor ordered us ta report directly ta him, do ye know where 'ee is, sah?"
The Guard Captain shook his head.
"No, I don't, wot. I 'eard somebeast say 'ee was in th' dungeons talkin' ta one o' the prisoners, 'cause we're still waitin' fer the troop inspection."
One-Ear saluted again, before backing away.
"Yes sah, thankee sah! We'll be on our way immediately!"
Once the Guard Captain had turned around, the rebels made a beeline for a little wicker door in the side of the courtyard, with the otter leading them.
"That's th' dungeons, mate. I'd know 'em anywhere. All o' the sorry beasts who get thrown ta Sheba spend their last night 'ere."
One-Ear shivered slightly at the though of Sheba, before shoving the door open and disappearing into the gloom.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Are we going to do this time skip?