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

[Hickory]

OOC: Sure, but Bracklew is getting what he wanted right now.

[Ashleg]

OOC: Sure, but Bracklew is getting what he wanted right now.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: I'm down for a time skip.

IC:

Stretching his shoulders Bracklew sank his claws into the tree bark hunkering down to spring upward. All his momentum had to come from his legs, with only a small bit of hanging power coming from his front paw. The young squirrel grimaced as he prepared to make the climb. He was getting what he asked for, though it was a bit different then he had originally imagined. Bracklew had been under a more glamorous delusion that he'd be learning fancy tricks with weapons and useful battle tips. Still there was nothing wrong with a bit of a climb, as long as it wasn't all they did as they searched for the missing otter kit. He wasn't sure if he'd have enough stamina for that.
Bracklew smiled ruefully as he scrambled up the branches to where Asher was; at least he wasn't so cold anymore.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Are you ready to start it?

[Hickory]

OOC: Just a sec.

BIC:

Asher's gaze remained impassive as he looked at Bracklew. "Better. We can take the trees most of the way following the tracks. Let's go..."

OOC: Ready

[Ashleg]

Alfhild, with Rapshade straight behind her, had led the group through the cold winter forest all the way up to Redwall Abbey territory itself.
She smirked and pulled her hood down as she approached Fardan, waving him down from a distance.
"We are back successful, Wildcat!"

[LT Sandpaw]

"No trust Fardan," Vaskor warned Rapshade, whispering the message into the ferret's ear before melting into the background, mingling with the other horde members. Even the sharpest eyed falcon would have trouble spotting the ermine when he wanted to disappear, at least when it was snowy. Nevertheless Vaskor knew Fastooth would seek him out, and he would let the rat find him when the time was right.

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

Tree jumping was never Bracklew's strong suit. Very soon the young squirrel was beginning to feel the stress of leaping from branch to branch. They had been zigzagging through the trees searching fruitlessly for a hollow tree or some sign of vermin or a young otter. He hadn't ever attempted to do something like this at length, and the last time he had tried it had been slowly, while running from Fardan. Bracklew pushed those memories to the back of his mind, focusing entirely on keeping up with Asher and Harnam, and not plummeting to the forest floor.

Landing on a large elm branch sending flurries of snow downward, Bracklew held up his paw, his sides heaving as he sucked in mouthfuls of cold air. He was slowing them down, he knew it, but he couldn't help it, he needed a break. "Could we take a moment Asher, I need to catch my breath, I only need a second or..." Bracklew stalled, his eyes catching sight of a large hollowed out tree that seemed to have fallen some seasons before. "Is that what we're looking for?" He asked pointing towards the fallen woodland giant.

[Hickory]

"Good," grunted Fardan, turning to face the ferret.. "The siege machines should be almost done. Find Fastooth, he has the details. I was going to hold a council of war, you can come once Fastooth is done."

He looked straight over Rapshade's head into the forest. "He should be somewhere in that direction, should to want to talk to him."

<O>

The two squirrels were also starting to fall short of breath. "Let's all rest a second. Yore prob'bly right, Bracklew."

He opened his own traveling bag and pulled out a few biscuits. "Don't taste particularly good, but give ye enough energy." He tossed one to each.

[Ashleg]

"And by the way," Alfhild added with a quiet voice, "That nephew of mine is one of us now. And by us, I mean us us." She waggled a paw at Fardan and then at herself to indicate what she meant.
"I hope that doesn't bother you, sweetie!"
And with a cackle the old ferret marched off to find Fastooth, shoving unfortunate vermin out of her way and stepping on tails as well.
"Oh, Fastooth!"

Rapshade clutched his arm to himself after being pushed by Alfhild, glaring after her.
"No trust Fardan? Poor Vaskor. Anybeast I've ever trusted is dead."

[Groddil]

Suddenly, from within the hollowed-out tree, an elderly mouse waltzed out towards the squirrels.
"Top o' th' mornin' to ye, young buckeroes! Hmm, what vittles do ye have there?"
He took a biscuit and sniffed it. Breaking off a crumb, the elder tasted it.
"Yuck, don't eat that stuff. I've got a stew cookin' inside, why don't ye come have some?"
He burst into song.

"Pray Hearken to this humble beast,
no warrior am I.
I crave no spear or sword to wield,
no arrow to let fly.
No foebeast have I ever slain,
my friend, I'll tell you why,
because I'm but a simple cook,
come try my apple pie!

Let fighters from the battle rest,
victorius but sore,
they throng into my dining hall,
and what do they ask for?
More enemies to charge against,
no no, when war is through,
they'd trade their vict'ry medals,
for a bowl of my hot stew!
So look you on this humble beast,
and, pray, regard me well.
My paw has never swung a blade,
foul vermin for to fell.
My kitchen is no battlefield,
I'll shout no loud war cry.
Because I'm but a simple cook,
come try my apple pie!"

He kicked aside some moss from the fallen tree, revealing an entrance.
"Did ye like that? I 'eard it from some Redwallers; they say an ole vole named Soogum came up with it. Kind o' fits, to be quite honest with you. Well what're ye waitin' for? Come in, come in! Are ye lost? Anythin' ye need ta know, I'll tell ye if ye join me fer vittles. Name's Jergle."

*****

Grenlik and his scouts had since abandoned Filargo and his raft, and where well on track towards the grove of the Cannibal Stoats. The weasel polished his spear as they rested briefly, the tops of the pines visible through gaps in the thick forest canopy.
"'Urry up an' eat, Fleshripper. We're nearly there."
"Oi, nah, boss, 'tain't my fault. Ripeye 'ere just flung me fish inta that swamp; I 'ad ta go an' find anudda!"
Ripeye spat.
"Shuddup needlenose. I asked fer a bit o' fish 'cause Blobtail dere swiped mine, an' yew tugged it away from me so fast it done gone flyin' inta da marshes. All your fault!"
"Shut. Up. Stop arguin', we'll eat on the march!"

*****

Closer to the scouts then they would have liked, but nevertheless unaware, One-Ear, Celio, Applelad, and the rest of the Vigil troops had also sighted the pine grove. The fox made sure that all crossbows were loaded and ready, some of which with lengths of rope attached to the bolts.
"Okay, here's the plan. All the squirrels are going with Applelad around to the west, where you'll try and climb into the trees and distract the stoats. Intel says they've got platforms and suchlike strung all up in the treetops, so once we're up, we'll have solid footing to fight on. Everybeast who's been given a rope ascender, say aye."
Nine creatures replied.
"Good, that makes ten including myself. We'll be paired up with somebeast with a crossbow and rope. They'll shoot a line up there, and we use the ascenders to get up. We'll catch the stoats in a pincer movement with aid from the squirrels, and the rest of you will stay down here with Celio. Give us support with crossbows, and watch our backs. Understood? Let's move out."

OOC: @Ashleg - That part's coming up very soon...

[Hickory]

OOC: Applelad is with One-Ear, not harnam.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Harnam-Ception

IC:

"Oh Fastooth!

The rat, who had been inside one of the few tents set up around Redwall sprang out of it surprisingly fast fastening on his cloak. He checked around for a moment before spotting Alfhild scurrying over to her.

"Keep yer voice down chief," He warned indicating the high Abbey roof that was visible through the empty trees. "Noise carries far down 'ere, we might lose th' element o' surprise." Fastooth finished tightening his belt and cloak and straightened up as he made it too the ferret chieftain.
"Wot c'n I do for ye chief?"

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

Looking disappointed Bracklew nudged the wasted biscuit with his footpaw. It had been his that the odd mouse had taken, and consequently nibbled on and thrown aside.
"He's a bit daft, and rude." The young squirrel commented as he bent over to retrieve the biscuit, only to throw it away again. "Still this old duffer is supposed to know where the otter kit is. Maybe we could take a quick bite," Bracklew glanced forlornly once again towards his wasted snack. "And then get on. He owes us food after all."

[Hickory]

"He does," said Asher. Turning to Jergle, he addressed the mouse. "We won't be stopping for long. Just need to ask you a question or two."

<O>

"Sweetie..." muttered Fardan. At least he had Fastooth... the rat would definitely remain loyal. Or else.

[Groddil]

"Oh good, good. Just siddown, I'll be right with Ye."
He walked over to one corner of his home, where a stewpot was bubbling. He sliced a few onions and tossed them in, then sat the knife back down on the dining table.
"'Have a seat, friends, 'tis nearly ready.
After a minute or two, he scooped three bowls of the stew and set them down on the table.
"An' now, one last touch."
He pulled out two little bags from his tunic, one with hotfoot pepper and the other with some sort of watercress. He sprinkled the hot root onto his stew, and the watercress onto the squirrels'.
"I likes mine spicy, but I doesn't know what Ye like. Dig in, Ye can ask me any questions Ye need when Ye aren't hungry, an' not thinking straight.

OOC: By the way, the "watercress" was drugged. Have fun with that.

[Ashleg]

"Old Fardan said you have the details, Rat." Said Alfhild with a shrug, moving her way around him.
"So? What're you waiting for? Tell me what you've accomplished."