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

[Groddil]

OOC: Shadomay ran for Moledeep before they got in. She doesn't know whether they've got in or not.

BIC:

"Grenlik, eh? Aye, 'ee's a bad 'un, that 'un. You just run along back 'ome, an' we'll go... find 'im. Bring 'im back 'ere."
"Change of plans, specialists."
"Eh?"
"Horde's apparently breachin' the gates as we speak. Charm wants everybeast near the emergency exit, so we can come up be'ind 'em."

[LT Sandpaw]

Despite Rapshade's warning several vermin charged straight into the oncoming warriors. Using all the brawn and skill of an adult otter Aver lunged forward skewering an unprepared weasel on his javelin. Retreating from a spear thrust Aver spun the metal haft deflecting a sword swing before cracking down hard on the attacking vermin's paw breaking bone and flesh.

Leaving the moaning creature lying in the snow Aver advanced, threatening any creature that dared come to close with clenched teeth and a rabid snarl. "Get someone to cover the other gates, and find the Vigil warriors, we need them now!" Aver ordered, just as his eyes locked on Rapshade. Growling he advanced on the ferret, javelin at the ready. "Rappy eh, well I can't say I'm surprised. But I can't complain either, I've been wanting some payback from that time when you hit me with that pan in the kitchens."

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

Catching sight of Rapshade and Fastooth, Vaskor smiled drawing back the string.


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

Snatching up the nearest dibbun (Who happened to be the young squirrel Max) Rayne dashed after Grant her tail flying behind her as she ran. "Everyone who can fight go help Aver and the Vigil," she yelled herding Stumbly and a few other little ones before her. "All of you come with me down to Cavern Hole, hurry now."

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

"We should go help them now," Petu stated looking towards Duncan for guidance. "They'll need our help, it'll take to long to go around. Wouldn't it?"

[Hickory]

Fardan turned to order the ladder carriers. "The rest of the horde has paved a way for us, now we need to help them finish the job! Carriers, move forward and set the ladders against the wall so the rest can climb over. Go now, fast!"

Spurred on by the combination of Fardan and anticipation of the battle, the vermin rushed forward with the ladders. The great wooden structure bumped against the wall as the vermin started to rush up it. Fardan made sure to steer clear of the otter. He didn't have the time to deal with the woodlander, and he needed to lead the charge over the wall. Bounding towards the nearest ladder, Fardan started to climb it with the natural agility of a cat.

[Ashleg]

Rapshade brandished his sword.
"You deserved everything y' got," snarked the ferret, "Don't dare remind me of my time in the cellars!"
Though visibly peeved, he circled around Aver instead of attacking him.
He wanted the otter to make the first move.

--

While everybeast was fighting, Alfhild and a few chosen beasts disappeared into the background and maneuvered their way towards the slightly ajar door leading inside.
She beckoned to them with her paw.
"Come on. If you find the Abbot or any young ones, take 'em hostage but don't kill 'em. They will be a great bargaining chip if it comes down to it."

--

Maxy clutched tightly to Rayne's arm, looking almost like a ghost due to his wide eyes and pale fur.
"Wa's happ'ning?!" He cried.

Grant hurried off.
"It will be alright, Maxy, just don't let go of Rayne. Rayne, I will go look around for somebeast..."

--

"Good idea; let's get away from this argument-starter." Duncan snorted, drawing his blade.
"Somethin' about this doesn't seem good..."

[LT Sandpaw]

"Ye deserve to be chained up," Aver shouted trying to rowel Rapshade into making a mistake. "Ye aren't any different the other vermin, an' ye shouldn' 'ave come back here. I'll make sure yer body is thrown into th' ditch when we're done. I'll send ye away meself, courtesy o' me javelin." Aver sprang forward sweeping the snow with his weapon trying to knock Rapshade's paws out from under him.

Not realizing he was getting separated from Rapshade, Fastooth fought his way through the otter line. Battle excitement surged through his body as he cut down one of the younger otters. He could get used to this, it had been far too long since his last battle. Like a full three days or something...

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

Rayne gathered the elders and dibbuns in Cavern Hole directing some of the more able creatures to guard the stairwell and doors, while having the more hysterical ones hide in the kitchens. Max was still clinging to her arm as she made her way towards the exit.
"Maxy I need you to stay here with Stumbly and the elders." She instructed the young squirrel, trying to pry him off of her. "I need to go fetch my bag, there will be injured creatures. Come on now, I shall be right back. Stay under one of the tables and keep quiet."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'm right behind you sah," Petu said bravely, sucking in his stomach and puffing out his chest. "I'll fight as good as any Long Patrol hare."

[Ashleg]

"No never!" For a second Rapshade scrambled for a foothold.
In the past he'd have been able to jump back and land upright but now because of his bad leg he was impaired.
He did enjoy pretending to be venerable and leaping in for the kill at the last minute, but it was too early now...
Quickly the dark ferret brought down his sword, aiming for Aver's arm.

--

"Sista' Rayne!" Maxy whimpered, about to scamper after her when one of the elders grabbed him by the paw.
"Hush now, it's okay. Rayne will be back."

--

Alfhild and her three vermin split up and went down different corridors, each armed to the teeth and ready to fight.
She notched an arrow to her bow as she tippawed silently through the halls, slippery as a snake.
I hear a crying beast!
The ferret grinned, scittering after the noise.

--

"'Course you will, Petu! Just please be careful--even Badger Lords need to do it, wot!"
Duncan forgot to laugh at his own joke when they got back above ground.
No...
There were so many of the vermin.

--

The shrews that had escaped the horde once were now having to deal with them again.
They fought bravely until a stoat had the leader backing up.
As he passed Aver he hissed, "That ferret killed Log-a-Log."

[Hickory]

The walltop defenders scattered as a brown blur flashed over the ramparts. Fardan laughed as woodlanders fell around him. "Run!" he shouted with glee as he impaled a squirrel on his blade. "You only postpone the inevitable..."

He beaconed for the vermin to come over the wall.

OOC: Sand: Perhaps a duel with Aver?

[Ashleg]

Alfhild was still creeping around when she heard somebeast coming down the hallway.
She pressed herself to the wall and poked her head out, watching the mouse get closer. It was Rayne.
She didn't look like a fighter.
Putting on a sickly sweet smile, the ferret hopped out of the darkness right in front of her.
"...Hello, Dear," she mused, feigning concern as she glanced up at the ceiling.
"Why, have you seen the Abbot anywhere?"
The blue eyes then flashed back to Rayne, fiercely locking with the squirrel's.
"I really must speak with him."

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Aver is currently fighting Rapshade. Maybe Fardan could battle against Petu and Duncan together?

Also, Rayne is a mouse.

IC:

Channeling his aggression into speed and ferocity Aver deflected the sword slash with his javelin, gritting his teeth as the reverberation ran up his arms. Using his tail to keep his balance he backed up two paces hoping to use the javelin's longer reach to his advantage.
"Harr, I've seen a one pawed squirrel fight better n' ye Rappy. C'mon now me ol' ferret, have at ye!" Dancing on tip paws the warrior otter feinted towards Rapshade's head before jabbing at his injured leg.

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

Collecting an abandoned shrew rapier Petu stood ready beside Duncan looking across the battlefield. The fighting had spilled out across the lawns and walls and was inching towards the abbey doors. "What do we do?" He shouted over the clamor, his voice ringing in panic.

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

Rayne let out a short scream, backing away from the ferret that had sprung seemingly from nowhere. The mouse's eyes were suddenly riveted by Alfhild's icy blue ones, locking her in place. Panic welled up inside of the little healer as she heard the scared voices of elders and dibbuns alike from Cavern Hole, just around the corner. Had the Redwallers succumbed already? Rayne had to lead this ferret away from the little ones, to keep them safe just a little longer.
"I-I, yes I have." She gasped trying her best not to sound frightened. "I could show you where he is." Maybe she could take Alfhild and her cronies to the cellars. Drubble was usually down there, he could help her.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
I'd be up for that if you are, Sage!
IC-
"Aye, Bracklew's pretty good, isn't he? You should take lessons from 'im!"
Rapshade's leg shot up just in time so that he narrowly missed the hit.
Grinning triumphantly, he went for the otter's outstretched arm.
"If I had known I'd be fighting y' I'd have brought a pan instead. Bang an' you're out, aha!"

--

"Help somebeast who needs it!...Er, see anybeast?" Duncan pressed his back against Petu's so that neither of them could be ambushed.
"It's hard to hear myself think rather than see anything, who'm I kidding."

--

Alfhild advanced on her, not once letting her bow down.
"...No. Actually, since he's around I want you to call him in a very calm voice, like you would if I was somewhere else. Okay?" She purred, eyes glinting like dual swords as her vermin raced out of the other halls and cornered Rayne from the sides and back.
"We will not kill him, don't worry. All we want is his...word."

[Hickory]

OOC: Constant duels for Aver

Sounds good.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Aver can't catch a break.
I'm planning on him getting captured once Redwall falls, but we'll see how things go.

IC:

Rapshade the Swift wasn't named for nothing. Aver drew back but the ferret's sword tip left a thin scarlet line on his right arm making the otter flinch involuntarily. Trying his best to shrug off this minor loss Aver readied himself for a second clash keeping his weapon in the 'guard' position, circling cautiously around Rapshade.
"I taught 'Im everythin' he knows." Aver bragged sidestepping to the left and swinging towards Rapshade's flank with a powerful uppercut. "Course if I 'ad known ye was coming, I'd have brought along Mortembell, she'd 'ave whipped ye good."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"I see lots of beasts that need help! You're the Long Patrol Captain think of something." Petu called back glad that Duncan was covering his back. Just then a squirrel screamed and Petu noticed Fardan, who was tearing through the woodlanders' defenses on the walls. He shuddered in pity, then his eyes grew wide as the wildcat moved towards them. "Ah, that big cat is coming this way, what'a we do?"

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

"Y-you promise," Rayne shuddered as the vermin pressed in on all sides. She tried to hold back her revulsion as a rusty sword tickled her back. "I'll call him then, just don't hurt anybeast. We're peaceful creatures, in there. Just young ones, and elders you must swear not to hurt them." Rayne bargained doing her best to hold Alfhild's gaze.
"I'll call him, I d-don't know if he'll hear me though. Um, Abbot Grant, Abbot Grant someone needs you."

[Hickory]

OOC: Double posting is a sin

And I'm Satan
LIGHTNING EDIT
Ninja'd
BIC:

The vermin started to take over the rooftops. Fardan watched as the woodlanders were cut down ruthlessly. Now the horde was working like it should! He cast an eye over the hole in the ground and the wooden lift. As his contingent finished clearing off the east wall, Fardan gathered the closest soldiers and headed down onto the lawns.

OOC: @Ashleg: Fardan goes for the Vigil's hole, but Duncan and Petu try to stop him?

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Ohhh Ja!
IC-
Grant's voice sounded shakily down the halls, "Yes, Rayne? I'm coming, I'm coming...I just barred the doors."
As he stepped into the corridor he froze, dropping the cup of water he was holding.
Alfhild whirled, blinking prettily.
"Ah, Father Abbot! What a pleasure to finally meet you."

The Abbot was frozen in place, stammering in broken jibberish, his eyes wide with shock.
Finally the old mouse managed a word; "How..?"

With a wild screech, Alfhild was on him, taking him down to the floor.
"Stop struggling or I'll kill you here and now! Boys, take that maid back to the room she came from and guard the exit. I have a barter to make."

Grant kicked feebly.
"How dare you! T-the Long Patrol will hear about this, mark my words!"
Tsk tsking, Alfhild gave him a swift blow to the head which knocked him out.

--

Outside, creatures were yowling and screaming as the battle raged on.
Rapshade let out a yelp as he hurried to block Aver's javelin.
Though successful in that aspect, the force of the Skipper's blow pushed his blade against his stomach and he felt a new splotch of blood soak through his jacket.
Aver's taunt had made him slip up.

Reeling, the ferret made as if to fall on his back--but at the last minute he was up again, having aimed to score his sword up Aver's back as he leaped.

--

"We have to take him if he notices us," warned Duncan, ear pricking.
He noticed Aver dueling with Rapshade through the crowd, they stuck out like stars.
Growling, the large hare rolled up his sleeve.
"Why I'll be, it's that child murderer back for more!"

Something in his mind warned him not to go over there.
Fardan might do something bad if all the focus was on Rapshade and the hordebeasts, since that way he could do whatever evil thing he wanted while nobeast was watching.
Perhaps that was their plan.
"Petu, let's get closer to that cat without drawing attention."

[Hickory]

The grass on the lawns was soaked in blood from the battle. Fardan's rapier was slick with red as he continued towards the entrance to Moledeep. Staring across the lawn, he watched the battle between Rapshade and Aver. Even though he hated the ferret, he hoped he came out on top. The otter would be a challenge if he won the duel.