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

[Ashleg]

Rapshade stared after Fastooth, hatred burning in his eyes.
He felt a growl rise in his throat. What a slimy little eavesdropper!
"If anybeast isn't loyal, it's him for distrusting his chief. If he's really Fardan's little lackey like he says he is, surely he won't mind if I spread t' word of this...to Fardan."
The ferret huffed and stepped out of the doorway.
"Everybeast here is insane. Stay in th' room, will you, I'm going to get breakfast."

[Hickory]

Unhappy with Alfhild's answer, Fardan continued down the stairs at a slower pace. "You don't know what I mean. In order to fully defeat your enemy you must know them. There's always an item or ideal motivating them to do something, working carefully in the kitchens is just an example of that something. Take the tapestry in the hall; it's elaborate and large and representative. It probably means a lot to the woodlanders. But what is it? Do you see my point?"

[Ashleg]

"Overthinking." Alfhild's voice held an edge to it.
"They aren't the Vigil; these are dumb, scared animals we're dealing with. They get killed if they don't cook carefully--so what do they do? They cook carefully."
She stepped off the last of the stairs and headed towards the Great Hall, which was still in a mess from the previous day's feast.
"The tapestry may be meaningful, but it can be destroyed and replaced like any piece of cloth. Why not make our own tapestry out of our enemies' hides?"

[Hickory]

"Disgusting," replied Fardan. "I suppose now is not the time to be discussing strategy. Hopefully the woodlanders have not slackened in any way... although I'm sure you've seen to that one way or another."

[Ashleg]

The ferret flicked her tail.
"If you mean vermin with whips ready to get anybeast that falls behind, I certainly have! Smells good, don't you think?"

[LT Sandpaw]

"Aye, so it does. What did ye tell them to whip up chief? Heh, get it cullies?" Fastooth joined the duo on the stairs. He was in a good mood and he stamped down the stone steps a foolish grin plastered on his face. When he caught up with them he became a little more serious, glancing from ferret to wildcat. "Will we be pursuing th' Vigil into their hidey-hole an' crushin' them afore they c'n regroup an' attack? Or are we gonna bunker down in th' Abbey? I c'n 'ave the troops prepped by this afternoon for wotever ye orders are."

[Ashleg]

Alfhild wrinkled her nose and took a step back, sneering.
"Don't address your leaders as cullies, Fastooth," she warned. "I say we stay in our newly acquired empire."
The ferret broke away from the group and seated herself in the Abbot's chair in the Great Hall.

There was a bounty of food set out on the tables, ranging anywhere from muffins to fish.

Rapshade snuck into the room from the alternate entrance.
Oh my, he thought, eyes growing wide. There was so much it was overwhelming. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, especially from that rat.
Like a shadow, he appeared near the food and took a plate, on alert for Fastooth should anything go wrong...

"Heya, Cap'n!"

Oh no.

[Groddil]

The tunnels of Moledeep lay empty. Deserted. A single light shone faintly, deep within the caverns. Calling.

[LT Sandpaw]

 "Yes chief," Fastooth answered coolly, not letting Alfhild break in on his good mood. He started digging in when a familiar voice cut across his meal.

"Hey'a Cap'n!"

"Ah, Fangfang," he murmured watching the yellow furred rat hail Rapshade. He hadn't noticed the ferret entering, and it appeared the rabbit slave wasn't with him. A devilish light appeared in Fastooth's eyes as he suddenly stood up. He had business to handle.

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

Crouching at the entrance Bracklew contemplated entering. No reply, hostile, friendly, or otherwise was issued forth, nor did there seem to be any signs of danger. The young squirrel swallowed his fear stepping gingerly into the tunnel's frigid air, venturing inside, sword raised and ready.

OOC:

Edit: Fixed the italics.

[Ashleg]

"Faaang," Rapshade groaned, holding the loaded plate up to his chest.
"Not right now."

"Aw, why not?" The yellow rat whimpered, folding his arms as he stared at the ferret.

Rapshade gritted his teeth and pulled him close. "Because, if you want Petu t' live and I can't get back there soon than y' won't be as lucky. See, over there?"
Fangfang nodded, grinning foolishly.
"Yeah, Cap'n, that's Roscoe."

"Good! Now go an' talk t' Roscoe. Go now..."

[LT Sandpaw]

Exiting the Great Hall Fastooth wandered seemingly innocently down the stairs into Cavern Hole. Flicking his eyes from left to right the rat surveyed the near deserted hall. There was a door to his left that led to the dormitories and another on his right that exited into the kitchens. Choosing the first of the two Fastooth climbed the ancient sandstone steps, laying one paw on his sword hilt.

Sunlight poured in from the windows poorly illuminating the dim steps. Without the Redwallers care all the candles had gone out leaving only natural light to guide traversers' footpaws. This did not bother Fastooth however, his night vision, though not on par with Fardan's, was capable of easily piercing the shoddily lit halls of Redwall. He discovered the room he was looking for with ease sniggering with evil intentions, a nasty surprise would be waiting for Rapshade once he returned. Lifting the latch the rat peeked inside and a surprise of his own was waiting. His eyes crossed and he slumped awkwardly to the floor.

Petu gulped, holding a heavy fire iron in his paws, looking at the unconscious rat with some trepidation. That hadn't been his intentional target, but... It was perhaps better that he had struck down the rat.
"His fault really," Petu muttered, grabbing Fastooth by the armpits and dragging him inside. "This old ratty shouldn't have come in here, surely he knew that this is Rapshade's room, shouldn't be wandering into any room that takes his fancy. I wonder if anyone will miss you bucko? Oh well, ooh, thanks for the sword, you're a good pal, I'll take that."

[Ashleg]

As soon as Fang was busy with the irritated-looking Roscoe, Rapshade fled.
He didn't know how this would help him or if he was going weak--he could very well just sink back into his captain role and be a cold blooded killer. And he was, but he didn't want to work with Alfhild and Fardan.
He felt like he had no respect from most of the vermin.
On the other paw, Petu...had no choice but to listen to him. He seemed scared of him, and that was what Rapshade thrived off of.
He flicked his tail.
Of course there was that horrible portion of him that wanted to see the rabbit as a companion, but couldn't he just push it down?
No, it's okay to have double standards. You've gotten this far.

"Why's my door open?" He said as he got to the room, careful not to drop anything.

[LT Sandpaw]

Busy as he was tying up Fastooth, Petu didn't have the time to get into position. He heard Rapshade's voice and in a panic, shoved Fastooth, along with all the assorted weaponry he had collected under Grant's bed. The rabbit popped up just in time, a guilty look on his face.
"Ehh, heh I didn't expect you to be back so soon." He said clenching and unclenching his paws behind his back. "Is that breakfast, sure smells good."

[Groddil]

Still the tunnels were silent, save for the echo of Bracklew's voice. The light dimmed, calling, from the far end of the caverns. A shadow quickly crossed the light, but no other movement could be detected.

[Ashleg]

"Yes it is," said Rapshade skeptically.
He tried with little effort to get around Petu and find out what it was the rabbit was hiding, but something inside him decided it was better to wait to do that.
They couldn't let the food get cold.
"I don't know what rabbits eat and frankly I don't care...this is for you. I'm not fond of breakfast."
He slid the plate onto the bed and stepped back, letting his eyes roam.
"...Where's that sword that Fardan gave me, mm?"