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

[Hickory]

OOC: Tying up loose ends, eh?

[Groddil]

OOC: Tying up loose ends, foreshadowing, getting characters in position to tie up MORE loose ends.

[Hickory]

Harnam leaned back to avoid the axe, wincing as the heavy metal blade whizzed by his head. Reaching for something to use, he overbalanced and fell down, knocked back into unconsciousness. Asher snatched one of the other knives from the wall and held it in front of him, ready to fend off attacks from Jergle. "I can't believe you'd eat creatures like that! The world needs to be rid of crazy beasts like you..."

[Ashleg]

Gritting his teeth, Roscoe scrambled up the rocks. His cloak hung sideways off one shoulder.
"I can't see anything! It's..." The weasel let out a yelp and, kicking, tried to propel himself up a bit more.
He'd grabbed a weak section and it crumbled, sending hundreds of tiny pebbles rolling down.
"Gimme a push!" He hissed, glaring down at the fox.
"I can't reach...I think that's th' top, but it's too..."

--

"No," Alfhild said, bracelets jingling as she dismissively flicked a claw.
"I want you to lock the gates and dispose of the bodies." Raising her voice, she added, "Anybeast of high ranking shall join the Three Leaders inside for a victory feast!"
She'd heard tales of Redwall's great food.
It wasn't that wide of a guess that they'd left stores of stuff waiting.

[LT Sandpaw]

For a moment Bracklew weighed his options. Obviously the badger had devious intentions, intentions that would not be welcome at Redwall, and even if One-ear was in the Moledeep tunnels and not currently out on some mission, Seacloak would be slain by any ten of the Vigil warriors. While there was no love lost between the squirrel and the fox, he didn't wish to see woodlanders needlessly spilling each other's blood. Besides, the Vigil might blame him for any casualties caused by the feud between the two, and as much as it sounded, from the badger's point of view at least, that One-ear deserved what was coming, it certainly wouldn't help Redwall's situation.

But he still needed to find a way home...

Bracklew growled in indecision clawing at his forehead, his headache was making it hard to think. He decided to risk it, better to deal with a potential fight at Redwall, then to freeze to death out here.
"One-ear is a-, er, he's near Redwall. I'll show you where, if you take me home." Bracklew promised, just now remembering the secret entrance into the Vigil's warrens. "But if you should cross his path," Bracklew continued not really caring if Seacloak agreed or not. "You'll have to keep your temper in check, and settle your differences later, after the horde has been- you wouldn't know about that would you. My home is under attack, and One-ear is helping us, not to mention he's got an army that'll kill you if you try anything. So maybe you could fight after that's done, I don't care, could you just point the way to Redwall?"

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

"There's a load o' old creatures n' babes in the kitchens and lower halls." Fastooth reminded Alfhild after shepherding the remaining Vigil out of the gates. He had set some of the woodworkers to build new ones, and shore them up with dirt and rocks. Nobeast would be getting in or out of them without hours of work. "Should we imprison 'em, or paw most o'er to th' Vigil? Also, wot should I tell th' rankers to do wit' th' wounded woodlanders?"


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

"Okay, okay don't rush me, wasn't so long ago you could barely walk." Petu groaned, struggling to his footpaws. The young rabbit winced, standing heavily on his good leg. He was still a little shocked from the horde's victory, it just didn't seem possible to him. They weren't supposed to loose. How could Redwall have fallen?
"Are you okay Duncan?" He asked, staring with concern at the older hare.

[Hickory]

OOC: I was gonna have Fardan give Fastooth orders, but you beat me to the punch.

[Groddil]

Shank nodded.
"As y'wish, Chief. What about Grenlik? 'Ee still 'asn't returned from that recruitment mission ye sent 'im on. It shouldn't 'ave taken this long, perhaps somethin' 'appened. D'ye wish fer me ta send a couple o' 'is scouts ta track 'im down, afore I lock th' gates?"

*****

One-Ear shoved Roscoe upwards.
"Hurry... up!"

*****

Seacloak nodded.
"Thank you. The sooner your home is safe, the sooner that criminal can be thrown in a prison cell where he won't hurt anybeast again. Your home is this way, slightly... south-west, I'd presume. If we head that way, we'll find a path. Should be easier then."

*****

Jergle giggled, swiping at Asher with his cleaver.
"A fella's gotta eat, squirrel. I'd starve out here if I didn't!"

[Ashleg]

"Old creatures and babes are just mouths to feed; keep the healer and the Abbot. Kick the rest out, they can't fight us." Alfhild said to Fastooth, hustiling a very shaken Grant down the stairs.
"Anybeast who puts up a fight will be beaten, and we can throw any of the wounded Woodlanders out in the snow to die as long as they're too hurt to do anything. Anybeast else will be our slaves."

--

"Not mentally," Duncan called, rising to his paws.
He would fight to his last breath to defend Redwall, but right now it seemed like a stupid idea.
"Are you okay?"

Rapshade grabbed onto Petu's arm.
"Lean on me. Yes, he's okay, Duncan, shut yours..."

--

Roscoe clambered over the ledge and then stuck out a paw for One-Ear.
"If ya can't reach this, I'm going!"

[Groddil]

OOC: Alfhild, Shank was talking to you.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
O
IC-
Turning, Alfhild nodded at Shank.
"Sure, go ahead. It isn't like he's needed, however."

[LT Sandpaw]

 
"The north-south path," Bracklew said rubbing his paws together. "I know that, if we can find it we'll be back at Redwall in no time."

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

Petu silently nodded his thanks leaning heavily on Rapshade. "What're you going to do with us?" He asked nervously.

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

"Aye chief, I'll round 'em up n' throw 'em out." Fastooth preformed a quick salute before marching off, signaling several hordebeasts to follow him. It took a while to gather every woodlander but in good time he had the majority of Redwall's elderly, and the very young dibbuns gathered by the main gate. Anyone old enough to work, or young enough to work hard, had been left tied and guarded in hastily rigged prisons with the less grievously wounded defenders.

Prodding them forward with their spear points the vermin unbarred the main gate opening one side. Archers stationed up top signaled the all clear, and a hasty operation to remove the hostages from the premises began.

"Everyone out," Fastooth rasped picking up a dibbun white furred squirrel and depositing him outside. "If it'd be up to me I'd slit all ye throats an' 'ave ye fed to th' crows, but th' chief is feelin' generous. G'on, th' Vigil are waitin' for ye. Hoy woolanders, Charm if that's ye name, come an' get wot ye lost for, hahaha!"

[Ashleg]

Rapshade flashed a smile as he led Petu inside.
"You lot are going to be our slaves. Though I don't know what Alfhild an' Fardan are gonna do with ya, I certainly will have my fun..."
The ferret paused to hack a little and then went on, blood glistening on his teeth.
"Under you generous Woodlanders, I got two small meals a day--if I was lucky. The first thing I'm gonna have them do is cook a feast, just like their Victory Feast, except it's for the horde and I. Seems fitting, doesn't it, since this is the victory of the vermin?"
He went to laughing, not waiting around for Petu to answer, and aimed a light kick at the rabbit's bad leg.
"...But not you; I like you, you're relatable now. You'll be my personal slave."

--

Maxy squealed as Fastooth picked him up, confused and unsure as he was flung into the snow.
The young squirrel sat up and spat some out, glancing around anxiously. "Stumbee, where ah' ya?!"

[Groddil]

Shank nodded, before making his way inside.
"You two, head up north and find Grenlik. Mole!"
Drubble whimpered.
"All of the gates, bar the broken one, have been chained up. Who did that?"
"T'was oi, zurr."
"Well you had better find a way to do the same for the broken gate, hadn't you."
The mole sighed.
"Aye, zurr."
"Excellent."

*****

On the north-bound raft, Grenlik sat with the rat and the stoat, away from the prying ears of Filargo and the other passengers.
"So, what's the deal up there? The badger still in power, or has Fury taken the entire north?"
"The badger's been dealt with. Apparently he scuttled off down here after Fury took the wetlands."
"Probably trying to raise an army to take the North back. I've got unfinished business with him anyway. Filargo, stop the raft."
"Hmm? Why d'ye wanna stop, friend?"
"I need to take care of something."
"An' I presume ye want me ta wait? Ye'll have ta make it worth me while."
"I will. I've got a badger to deal with. I'll bring you back a souvenir."
"Ooh, very nice!"
The raft pulled up alongside the bank. Grenlik ducked into the raft's cabin, shoving a nearby squirrel.
"You, give me that dagger or I'll plunge this axe into your skull."
The squirrel nodded wordlessly, handing the weapon over. Grenlik tossed the axe aside and, dagger in paw, strode off into the woods.

*****

Stumbly shrieked as she landed in a heap, her fall broken by the snow.
"Wha? Wuz gon on?"
A rat, already quite drunk, stood on the walltop looking at them.
"Ah, better 'urry up, likkle one. Fore I frow dis rock on yer edd."
Two squirrels emerged from the trees, armed with crossbows.
"Ye can try."
One of them pulled the trigger, and the rat quickly vanished from sight, tumbling back into the lawn with a bolt in his neck.
"Come on, we'll take ye someplace safe."

*****

One-Ear nodded. He stepped back a few paces, trying to get a run-up. Just as reached the wall, he jumped, grabbing hold of a rock. As it began to slip, he shifted his weight to one side and shimmed up onto a ledge. From there, it was just a slow crawl to Roscoe.
"Hmm, I see what you mean. That gap in the rocks there. No telling where it leads, or if it even goes anywhere. I'll go first, pull you up if need be. And if we can't get out here, well..."
He stepped upwards, using a small hole in the wall as a foothold, and grabbed the next ledge. Hauling himself upwards, he peered down the tunnel.
"It's a way out all right. Think you can get up?"

OOC:

So, do we want to have Roscoe and One-Ear emerge near Bracklew and Seacloak. After shenanigans ensue, they can guide Brack to Redwall.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
That will work, but let's not have them be able to get into the Abbey for a bit, let the horde have their fun.
IC-
Maxy, watching, choked back a cry of terror.
"Oh Stumbee!"
Where was Duncan and the Abbot and Rayne? Why, oh why was he out in the snow with mean rats and squirrels with bows?
The tiny white squirrel, not understanding what had happened, began to bawl.

--

"No," grunted Roscoe as he hopped to keep his balance.
"Grab my paw!"

[Groddil]

The squirrels looked at each other and shrugged. One of them tossed Maxy a candied chestnut.
"Hey, no need to cry. Chew on that instead."

*****

One-Ear reached down and seized the weasel's paw.
"Okay, jump!"
The fox threw himself backwards and heaved.