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

[Groddil]

One-Ear nodded at Gruddil as he stepped aboard the raft. While he helped Shadomay up, Mortembell kicked Needle into the raft and tied his chain around a loop set into the deck. Filariasis tossed the sacks of food into the cabin and freed his pole from the bank.
"Ah, a good payment once again, me ole mate Gruddil. I'll be seein' Ye around th' waterways."
As the shrews vanished down a side stream, Filargo piled the raft into the current, striking up a jolly whistling tune. One-Ear came up to him, looking wary.
"I think he'd best be quiet, friend. In case there are foebeasts about."
The vole shrugged.
"Filargo 'as no foebeasts. Woodlander, vermin, anybeast may travel on Filargo's craft, provided they pay o' course. If'n they don't..."
"Okay, okay. Do you need any help paddlin'?"
"Wot's paddlin', mate. The current is what 'elps Filargo sail, this pole be's only der steerin'. Got some rest."
The fox nodded, withdrawing to the cabin.

[Hickory]

OOC: I have to say, that went really well.

Prezzers, post.

[LT Sandpaw]

Frowning Bracklew nodded, not really caring what Grant said. Of course he couldn't do it on his own, but as Champion he was tasked with defending Redwall and keeping its inhabitants safe. He had failed Petu, Duncan, Ava, and Fang in this regard, their wounds and deaths testified his failure.
"I understand Father Abbot," He lied backing away. He needed to go outside and clear his head.

The Abbey looked peaceful in the midday sun. The snow glinted and sparkled, crunching under his pawpads as he crossed the lawns. The sound of shouts and work songs attracted him to the hole where Vigil soldiers and Redwall helpers were passing down all sorts of items, while moles and otters lugged earth towards the walls. Aver was overseeing the operation and waved a friendly paw when he noticed Bracklew.

"What's going on Aver?" Bracklew asked coming up beside the big otter.

"Vigil made themselves a fancy likkle cave-base down below," Aver explained while directing some blanket bearing mice. "They're supplyin' it so they c'n stay down there n' not overstay their welcome. They've 'ad a few run in wit' Redwallers, yer a testament to that."

"Aye," Bracklew agreed dryly.

"Anywho I noticed they was collectin' large amount o' rocks n' earth down there from th' excavatin'." Aver continued patting the hedgehog on the back as he passed, and wincing. "So I'm 'aving me crew an' some moles lug it up to th' wall, a nice surprise for our vermin friends should they come a' knockin'. Waste not want not an' all that eh?"

"That's a good plan," Bracklew said shuffling his footpaws. "Is there any way I could help?"

"Ah erm." Aver glanced towards Bracklew's arm and thought for a moment. "Say matey, I was thinkin' we needed some good beasts wit' sharp eyes to go check th' wicker gates, make sure they're all secure. Wot say ye do that?"

"Sure," Bracklew said, knowing exactly why Aver had hesitated. It didn't pass by him that the otter was making things up to give him something to do.

"Great, I'll send somebeast wit' ye." Aver clapped his paws looking around. "Les' see, yo Gilly! Gillpaw I got a job for ye."

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

"Mayhap," Fastooth suggested to Fardan and Alfhild as Rapshade vanished into the crowd. "We ought ter discuss our plans out o' earshot o' these thugs." He jerked his head towards the crowd of vermin who were dispersing at a suspiciously slow rate.

[Groddil]

Moledeep was now the fortress Charm had planned it to be. The two entrances to the woodlands had collapsible rock gates, making it virtually impenetrable, sleeping gear was being brought from the Abbey, to make the hard stone beds a little more bearable, and vittles were already being stockpiled near the cooking area. One of Friar Rusk's kitchen assistants had even volunteered himself as a chef. But what the otter was interested in was the back cavern. Wooden bars had been put over sections in the rock, creating quite a large, effective prison. Keeping vermin here would be more efficient than execution, having them do labor in exchange for being more likely to go free, and wouldn't make the Redwallers so up in arms about the moral dilemma. Most of the Vigil was now in the spacious cavern, except for a few watchers left on the Abbey Walls, and two squirrels to man the lift. Some of the molecrew had also decided to stay in Moledeep, feeling a strange sense of comfort in their ancestral home, and overall, morale had lifted dramatically. The otter had organized the Vigil into teams, led by Captains, and many of them had been sent on training missions. Under her leadership, the Vigil was growing into a real army...

*****

Filargo's raft continued to drift along the sidestream, slowly making its way towards the River Moss. Others boarded the craft, each carrying their own payments for Filargo. Soon; however, the small vole ducked into the cabin, with a paw to his lips.
"Lissen up, all of ye. There's a small band o' vermin scouts up ahead, they wants ta board. Try not ta antagonize 'em, alright? Leave this ta me, an' keep quiet!"
The vole disappeared back onto the deck. One-Ear sat with his sword on his lap, listening intently.
"Ah, good day to ye, mates. Ye seek ta travel on me raft, correct?"
"Shuddup, watermouse. Take us upstream, or die!"
"I don't plan on dyin' t'day, mate. I'll take ye upstream, but fer a price. D'ye have any vittles, or mebbe some nice metal blades?"
"Only blade I 'as'll be in yer skull soon, watermouse. I'm tirin' o' ye attitude. Die!"
A rough, stone axe thudded into the floor of the cabin, followed by the shing of a dagger being unsheathed. One of the vermin let out a cry, followed by a splash. There was a roar, and suddenly, the vole rolled backwards into the cabin, snatched the axe, and thrust it upwards, slaying a ferret just as he charged inside. The vole tossed the axe aside, snatching a knife from the plate of food of a particularly fat rabbit. He strolled casually outside, twirling the little blade.
"Oh, ye must be the smart one, eh, weasel? D'ye see what 'appened ta yer mates? Now, if ya really is smart, yer'll 'and over payment."
There was a short pause, before the weasel trudged into the cabin and slumped against a wall. Filargo, having disposed of the corpses, strolled back inside.
"Alrighty, mate. Thankee fer th' presents, ye can treat yerself ta vikkles if ye like. I'll let yer know when we arrive at yer destination."
The vole wandered over to near One-Ear, taking a pastie from the cupboard of vittles. He whispered into the fox's ear.
"As y'can see, not many vermin travel wit' me..."
The vole shrugged, took a bite of the pastie, and walked back onto the deck, starting up his tune again.

[Hickory]

Gillpaw skipped over to Aver. As usual, the young otter was full of energy and a day of watching the Vigil had left her more restless than normal. "Aye Skip, wot's it? I've been bored t'death watching the moles and those Vigil beasts excavatin' the old caverns."

[Groddil]

OOC: Prezzers, Alfhild has a meeting to go to...

BIC:

Deep in Mossflower Wood, a small group of Vigil Soldiers on a training mission had captured a stoat, his fur smeared with plant dyes and beads. One of them, a mouse, turned to their captain.
"'Ey, Cap, what do we do wid 'im?"
The Captain, a hedgehog, shrugged his shoulders and pressed a crossbow to the stoat's forehead, winking at the mouse.
"Dunno. Should I kill 'im?"
"Do it, Cap. Kill th' vermin scum!"
"No, please Cap'n 'Edgepig. Don't kill me, I'll tell yer everythin' I know."
The hedgehog's claw flicked the trigger of the crossbow, just as he whipped it up. The bolt flew over the stoat's forehead.
"Well, lucky fer you, th' Commander-in-Chief 'as ordered that we ain't ta execute yer on th' spot anymore. Yer comin' back to our base, where she'll decide what 'appens to ye."
"Thankee, Cap'n 'Edgepig. I'll do whatever she asks, just as long as I lives!"
The hedgehog kicked the stoat roughly, tying a rope around his paws.
"Shuddup, stoat. Jus' cause Commander Charm wants ye livin', doesn't mean I can't say that ye tried ta fight back, an' we 'ad ta kill ya."
The stoat shut his mouth, and accepted his fate, shuffling behind the group of Vigil troops. The mouse whispered into his Captain's ear.
"Good plan, Cap. Never thought actin' all tough'd break 'im like that."
"Most vermin are cowards. I knew that'd happen all along."
The mouse nodded, continuing the facade by kicking the stoat.
"Walk faster, lazybones. Up in front, go on!"

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: @Ashleg Are you okay Ashes?

IC:

"Oh aye?" Aver said winking at her. "Well ain't that nice, wot say ye n' ol' Brack take a patrol 'round th' walls. Check n' make sure all th' little gates are n' good condition." Leaning in close to her so Bracklew couldn't hear the big otter muttered to her quickly. "An' make sure e' don' run off again to try n' save th' Abbey an' lose another paw."

Behind them Bracklew's tufted ears twitched, but he was unable to hear the exchange. Instead he self-consciously clicked his claws together, trying to keep from making eye contact with anybeast.

[Hickory]

"Will do!"

The otter turned to face Bracklew. "C'mon, you can't be like that forever, mate," she said cheerfully, before starting off towards the east wallgate.

[LT Sandpaw]

"I can't be like what forever?" Bracklew asked following Gillpaw towards the gate. He sped up so he was walking alongside the otter. "Do you mean injured? In case you didn't know paws don't grow back, so I'm going to be like this." He waved the bandaged stump into view before tucking it close to his body again. "For quite a while."

OOC:
Sorry about the short post, but I ain't feeling it today.

@Groddil Will One-ear be meeting up with Ashleg's Log-a-log character first, or will he go straight to Redwall?

[Hickory]

Gillpaw chuckled. "Not that, silly. Stop being so sad! It'll all work out in the end..."

She stopped at the wallgate. "Looks sturdy enough," said the otter, knocking on the wood. After wiggling the latch, she shrugged and declared a clean bill of repair. "T'be honest, all the gates in Redwall are strong enough to withstand a siege. Which Insuppose we may have on our paws soon, eh?"

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Uuuurhhhhhh.
Could someone give me a recap?

I've been dealing with some problems and this went to the back of my mind..

[LT Sandpaw]

 
OOC: Sure thing Ashes, I'll do it in the OOC thread.

BTW Sage I like that use of wording: "And declared a clean bill of repair." Points for neat writing.

IC:

"Aye, a siege alright." Bracklew agreed, it was rather hard to stay in a sour mood in the company of Gillpaw. But Bracklew was giving it his all. "Though in my short time with them I have a feeling they'll go for something a bit more ferocious and quick." He gave the gate a solid kick noting how the strong timbers didn't even shake.
"Well, lets go check the others and tell Aver they're all sound."

[Hickory]

OOC: Thanks! Always nice to receive a compliment.

BIC:

Nodding in agreement, Gillpaw continued. "So one of the Vigil members said that there's a cat leading the horde? Haven't seen one of those in Mossflower for many seasons."

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Thanks. >.<

If ya'll would be able to stop so I can post, that'd be nice...

[Hickory]

OOC: We're the ones who're waiting!