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

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Ay Fardan!

[Groddil]

Jergle winced as Asher's knife sliced across his arm.
"Why? Eating plants never got anybeast far, did it? Look at vermin. They eat birds. Some of 'em eat other beasts. They're a lot stronger than us. If I lived off of, uck, roots and berries for all me life, I'd be a geriatric wreck with my age. But flesh gives me energy. Flesh gives me strength!"
The mouse swung his cleaver at the squirrel.

OOC: Can I just PP/briefly sieze control of Asher and kill Jergle?

[Hickory]

OOC: Go ahead.

[LT Sandpaw]

"Yeah weasel, I know he's dead." Bracklew said impatiently, not understanding what Roscoe was trying to imply. "I'm not a dibbun, I think I might know the difference between a deadbeast and a living one. I just wanted to know how well you knew him."
Bracklew jumped a little when Roscoe suddenly spun, saying he knew where they were. His eyes lighting up, Bracklew pursued the weasel through the woodlands, looking for any familiar landmarks. "Are you sure you know where you are?" He asked, heart beating rapidly, if Roscoe was wrong he could be getting them horribly lost. Bracklew knew he would be little help if that became the case, was completely turned around amongst the massive trees.

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

"Ah nothing much Fang," Petu declared, rolling his eyes in aspiration. "Just the invasion of Redwall and the murder of dibbuns and the enslavement of all my friends." Petu's voice lost much of its sarcastic tone and his tall ears drooped. "Nothing will ever be the same Fang, Redwall is a different place now. I don't think anyone could help us now."

[Ashleg]

"What?" Fangfang shot a glance at Rapshade as if asking for confirmation.
So that was why he'd been greeted by vermin instead of Woodlanders...
"How about th' Guowhatsit, th' group o' shrews, they could 'elp ya."

Rapshade's eye twitched.
He wanted to yell at Fang, tell him he was too pure and naive and that he should escape while he could.
Instead the ferret just nodded, shoving Petu out the door.
"I killed Chrysanthemum, they're getting no help from them."

--

"I-I think this is th' way I came!" Roscoe exclaimed with a grin, pelting through the snow.
"If'n we follow the stream, Redwall's south! When we get back will ya let me have some of that strawberry fizz stuff?"
The weasel giggled knowingly, there had to be something in it for him--even if it were merely that.

[Hickory]

Fardan shrugged. "I don't see why not. If they don't do it willingly, there's always some leverage to use."

He glanced at Grant. It was fun to see creature's spirits crushed.

[Ashleg]

Alfhild dragged Grant inside, glancing behind her to see if Fardan was coming.
The two partners in crime would have been the duel rulers of the Abbey, if not for her upstart nephew Rapshade and her stupid idea to let him live.
Now she had to roll with having three rulers of Redwall...although, some of the horde still disrespected Rapshade.
Smirking as she bumped the Abbot into the kitchens, the ferret teased, "You all had better work hard and prepare us a feast that will rival--if not outdo--each and every other feast this building's inhabitants have ever prepared!"
She cackled and slammed the door shut.

The dazed and confused mouse stumbled backwards into the wall, spotting Friar Rusk and a few other creatures, all already having been put to work cooking up the vermin's victory feast.
Our defeat feast.

A ferret and a stoat constantly hovered over them to make sure nobeast tried anything fishy.
The stoat walked up and seized the Abbot by the arm, hauling him over by Rusk.
"I'm sure ye kin cook, eh? Get t' work, all o' ye!"

"Rusk, friend, help me," Grant hissed through clenched teeth.

"'E can't do anything, he's chained up, see? An' if 'e did try," said the ferret, unfurling a whip from his belt.
"Then that pore creature'd wind up on th' menu. The pain menu, hoho!"

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Could Brack and Roscoe run into the vermin sent to look for Grenlik and get a status report on Redwall, or are you planning on using them for something else? @Groddil

IC:

"You killed her," Petu gasped in horror after being shoved out the door. The rabbit did his best to keep pace with Rapshade, which was made easier by the fact that both of them had a hurt leg, his more so. "Why are you doing this? I thought you hated your aunt, that's what you said before, isn't it? Why would you help her?"

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

"I'll get you as much strawberry fizz as you want if you get me back to Redwall." Bracklew promised as he kept pace behind Roscoe. He was already lagging a bit from the run, but it lifted his spirits and warmed his body. Never mind his empty stomach and frozen toes, if Roscoe was right they'd be back at Redwall soon. "I'll make sure Drubble gives you the best, mulled, and fizzy strawberry cordial, heated over a fire. And some of that toasted acorn beard and tarts that Rusk can make. If you like those sorts of things. I can make them you know, being abbey champion and all."

He panted a bit, staring up through the darkening trees that seemed to grow thicker as they ran. "How much farther do you suppose it is? I don't know how much longer I can keep running like this."

[Groddil]

OOC: Go to Morty's room, find the poison she used against Rapshade in Part 1, then put it in the food! Three vermin with one vial!

@LT Sandpaw: Sure, they weren't being used for anything other than sequel things. They can be thinned out a bit.

BIC:

Asher nimbly sidestepped the mouse's swing. Flesh or no flesh, he was still old. The squirrel kicked at Jergle's paw, sending the cleaver flying across the room. Jergle bit down roughly onto Asher's foreleg, causing the squirrel to wince. Jergle used the opportunity to snatch Asher's knife, but found him being tackled before he could do anything with it. Asher knocked Jergle to floor, holding the knife back with one paw and forcing the mouse into the fire with the other. Jergle's screams filled the fallen log as the flames began to jump to his fur, every thrust he attempted to make missing. With one last burst of adrenaline, the mouse burst free of Asher's grasp and ran for the snow, still holding Asher's knife. He didn't notice the cleaver knocked on the ground. Jergle tripped roughly over the blade, falling in a heap to the floor of the dwelling, Asher's knife stuck between his ribs. The mouse chuckled. The chuckles turned to coughs. The coughs turned to silence.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
@LT Sandpaw I'm down with that.
@Groddil Yours, not so much. ;P

IC-
"I'm not helping her, I'm helping me." Rapshade snapped.
His hatred of Alfhild had not lessened at all in the time he spent with her; in fact, it had grown.
"Chrysanthe's death has nothing t' do with Alfhild."

"Chrysanthe, y'mean Log-a-Log, r-right, Cap'n?" Fang chimed, raising an eyebrow.

The ferret hopped down the stairs, using the wall as support.
"Mmhm."
He halted in wait for Petu. He could see the entrance to the Great Hall from here, and his eyes glowed.
Last he'd been there he had been a servant, a pathetic figure scrambling to clean up the other animals' messes.
But not now!
"I could be King..." the ferret whispered, cracking a twisted grin.

--

"Acorn bread an' tarts also?!"
Roscoe snickered in glee, doing unnecessary hopskips over certain areas of snow.
"Yer not so bad, Treerat, I think I like ya!"
He skidded to a halt, perking his ears. "And we don't 'aveta run anymore if ya don't want, I'm good with that."

[LT Sandpaw]

"You're easy to please? And did did you call me a treerat!" Bracklew snorted, slowing to an easy stride to keep pace with the weasel's frolicking. "I wouldn't go that far you fried frog, I just like the fact that you seem to know where you're going. Its an unwilling, mutually beneficial situation." Despite himself Bracklew gave a grudging smile, flicking his tail in time with his pawsteps. "Anyway, just point the way correctly pathfinder and we'll get to Redwall faster."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Not with your aunt running the place." Petu interjected in a distracted manner. He was doing his best to maintain a healthy distance from any vermin except Fang and Rapshade. The rabbit's naturally sharp ears had caught the whispered phrase, but he didn't think much of it. He was more concerned with his own safety, it was no secret that vermin had a certain predatory disposition towards his species. This belief was only reinforced when he heard a stoat mutter to his friend.

"I wunner if that'n be on th' menu tonight eh?"

"Where will you be sitting?" Petu asked in trepidation moving a little closer to Rapshade. "How about way in the back, where no one can see us?"

[Ashleg]

"Fry yer own frog, Treerat," Roscoe retorted, smirking as he gave Bracklew a playful nudge.
"I'm thinkin' we turn left now. How don't ya know how t' get back t' yer own home, eh? Must be awfully dim in that head of yers!"
The weasel broke into a laughing bout, nearly walking smack into a tree.

--

Rapshade blinked like he was pulled out of a trance.
"What?" He curled his lip, shooting the stoat a fiery glare.
"No, we're going to be up and center, I'm at Alfhild's right. Fang will be next to me, because..." He whirled round and grabbed the rat by the wrist, shaking him.
"Stop laggin' be'ind, Idiot! Like I was saying, Petu, you're going to stand behind me in case I need something." The ferret frowned.
"Savvy?"

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Groddil?

IC:

"Mossflower is a big place," Bracklew argued, grabbing Roscoe's shoulder pulling him away from the tree before he ran into it. "I can't be expected to know the whole woodlands. Put me south of the wall and I'd be able to find my way around. Maybe."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Savvy, yeah very savvy." Petu agreed, fidgeting nervously. The rabbit felt a heavy paw on his shoulder, with a startled jump he looked around to see Fastooth's gruff face nearly inches from his own.

"Why is this 'er slave not wit' th' others in the cellars chief?" The rat asked Rapshade, glaring angrily at his ferret nemesis. "Shall I take 'Im for ye?"

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Gonna wait for Grodds for Roscoe.
Speaking of our missing adventurers, where in the moonlight is Sagey?
IC-
"No no, get your grimy paws off him." Rapshade snapped, pulling Petu by the wrist to him.
The rabbit looked so confused.
"He's my personal slave, you oaf. Or are y' dimmer than Fang? Oh, here comes Alfhild." The ferret grinned widely, whispering in Fastooth's ear.
"Best shape up or she'll have your head as an appetizer if I don't first."

Alfhild sauntered down the room, fixed up and grinning in what Rapshade could only assume to be some sort of cerimonial cloak.
Snickering, she leaned across Rapshade's shoulders as she kicked the chair out from under Fang.
"What's happening here, mm?"

[Groddil]

Shank grumbled. He had expected to join the feast, not join the search party. This wasn't what Captains were supposed to do. The weasel kicked a rat who was lagging behind.
"Hurry up, filth. The sooner we find those good fer nothin' scouts, the sooner we get back t'the feast."
The rat stumbled, tripping through a bush and onto the track a few metres in front of Roscoe.
"Ey, boss?"
Shank brushed through the undergrowth.
"You there, weasel. What're you doin'? You one of ours? What's with th' prisoner?"

*****

Beneath Redwall, most of the Vigil were already resting by the time the Redwallers arrived at the Moledeep entrance. One of the squirrels yelled through a small gap in the rocks, causing the tunnel to open.
"In y'go folks. Get some rest. Anybeast who knows 'ow t'fight, report t'the mess 'all."