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

[Ashleg]

"Hm, I don't know, Fardan, why not ask him to find out?" Alfhild cooed, tweaking Roscoe's whiskers.
The weasel sneezed, shaking his head.

"Eh...looks like ya have...three...'eads."

"Snap out of it!" Alfhild growled, shaking him.
"He could've hit you harder."

[Hickory]

"Hmph," grunted the wildcat. He sheathe his rapier. "If you know better, try and see if he's telling the truth. Unless you think he already is.

[Ashleg]

"I was merely asking you why you were talking to me rather than him," Alfhild mused, tapping her claws together.
"Not that I believe him. It's so late, Fardan, perhaps we should deal with this in the morning."

[Hickory]

Roscoe's arm was caught in a vicelike grip. Calmly infuriated, Fardan's claws drew blood from the weasel. "Tell the truth. Lying will only get you to the grave faster."

He started for the doors. "I'm going to make sure Fastooth's preparations are going well. Can't be too sure."

[Ashleg]

Roscoe cringed, biting his lip.
He weakly pulled away from the wildcat's reach, nursing his arm.
"Where did the potential go?" He whined.

"You never had it, dear." Alfhild laughed.
"Okay, Fardan. See you around."

[LT Sandpaw]

  "I didn't realize you were having a moment to ruin." Petu said truthfully, hugging his knees on the abbot's rug. The life of a pet slave wasn't a comfortable one, and it was cold too. Petu shivered as he wondered what would happen in the morning, how much worse could the coming days get?

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

On his way back inside Fastooth crossed Fardan's path. The rat came lazily too attention, to weary from the battle and stuffed from the feast to bother being his usual snappy self. "'Ello chief, didn' reckon I'd be seeing ye outside."

[Ashleg]

Rapshade didn't reply, feeling his eyes droop.
Surely Petu wouldn't try to kill him with his own sword? The rabbit seemed to lack the qualities of that kind of beast, but he ferret held tight to his suspicions until at last he had fallen asleep.

--

"Can I go?" Roscoe sneered.
"I admit I didn't kill him, but your horde did an' I was there t' see it."
Alfhild's eyes twinkled.

"Who, exactly?" She mused, pulling him in close. "Give me this information and I'll surely reward you."

[Hickory]

"It would seem that way," said Fardan. "I trust you've set up the horde as I asked?"

He could see perfectly on the dark, but he wanted to make sure Fastooth wasn't lagging in any regard.

[LT Sandpaw]

"Aye," Fastooth shrugged his shoulders in a lackluster way. He didn't possess Fardan's night vision, but he could see the cat's face clearly from where he stood. This was a test, possibly to check his loyalty or commitment. Fastooth didn't lack either.
"Boilin' oil set up on th' gates, caltrops n' shattered glass scattered in the tunnel entrance an' behind th' gates, hordebeasts assembled on guard; all jus' as ye told me chief."

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

It took a lot longer for Petu to fall asleep, due to his uncomfortable 'bed' and the chilly temperature. The young rabbit's fur was fluffed up against the cold, and he shivered constantly as Rapshade's breathing became steady and rhythmic. Thoughts of escape swirled through Petu's head as he laid there, images of the battle flashing behind his tired eyes. He was wounded, exhausted, and scared. The vermin would be on high alert for any Vigil activity, there'd be no point in trying.

Slowly, second by miserable second Petu drifted off to sleep, his thoughts dissolving into dreams.

[Ashleg]

Roscoe tilted his head in thought.
"Shank, I think, an' a few I don't remember. Why?"

Alfhild stood up.
"I must know who to congratulate." She let go of the weasel's paw and shoved him into the hallway.
"You're a normal hordebeast again. But if you so much as think of running off or of betrayal, you're good as dead!"

OOC-
Who wants to TS to morning once Fardan's done with Fastooth?

[Hickory]

"Alright, that's all good," said the wildcat. "That's all I wanted you for. But if any Vigil make it in... it's on your head."

OOC: If sand can respond soon, it's all good. If he can't, TS.

[LT Sandpaw]

Fastooth grinned, flashing his large front teeth in a confident manner. "So be it chief. I c'n guarantee no woodlander'll be gettin' wit'out us knowin' about it. Then we'd give 'em a fight they wouldn' soon forget. Harrha." The rat nodded on last time and scurried off, wanting to claim one of the dormitory rooms before they were destroyed by ordinary hordebeasts.

OOC: I'm down for a time skip.

[Ashleg]

It was dark.
Rapshade could hear the laughing, raging ocean, the blood pounding in his head--and felt as something caught around his leg, something absolutely horrible...
The death cries of all he'd slain sounded up and rang obnoxiously in the ferret's ears.
Was that Alfhild?
His father, his mother? Perhaps she was dead.
Fang hit his head!

"NO!"
Rapshade the Swift shrieked and shot up, raspily sucking in air.
Sunlight drifted in lazily through the window. He didn't realize he was sobbing.
Blinking, the ferret inched towards the edge of the bed and gazed down.
His sword had fallen, as had the blankets. He must've been tossing and turning.
Where am I? The vermin wondered, and then he realized--he was in Redwall Abbey.
His, Alfhild's, and Fardan's Redwall Abbey.
He glanced up again, the frightened look not yet gone from his face.

[Hickory]

OOC: I'm getting off at 11, or 10 for Ashleg.

BIC: Fardan too was having dreams. The cold North wind whistled through the rocks the wildcat found himself in. Snow was blown back and forth, landing lightly on his fur. Turning, Fardan gazed upon the army at his back. They, and another wildcat in the distance, stared at him in askance before the wind whisped them all away. Fardan woke up in the chair he had drifted off on. He knew where the dream had come from: the memories stored in the back of his head, pushed back long ago. The wildcat sat for a while, thinking.

[Ashleg]

Alfhild waltzed into Fardan's room, placing one paw on the wall.
"Sleep well, Fardan?" She mused, blue eyes teasing. "I definitely did."