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

[Groddil]

Mortembell's ears pricked up as the dark tunnels filled with screaming. The vixen moved away from the doorway and silently took a small blade from her medical supplies. Gripping the blade firmly, she pressed herself against the cavern wall, just beside the doorway, and waited.

*****

Deep beneath Redwall, Charm and her squadron crouched near the exit to the Abbey. The cave-in that blocked the tunnel had been lifted ever so slightly off the ground, just enough for Charm to look through. She grinned.
"Alright, know the plan?"
"Aye, marm. We wait fer Celio ta come, then while those fellas up there be's distracted, we 'its 'em from be'ind."
"Right, right. Hopefully we should hear them. Celio's not stupid, he'll know those guards are here. He'll make sure they're distracted."
"MARM!"
"What? What're you doing here?"
"Celio sent me. Asher's back. Mission success, apparently. He's with them now."
"Good. Has he been told the news?"
"I don't know."

*****

Just beyond the treeline, Celio and the rest of the Vigil concealed themselves behind whatever they could find. The mouse whispered to the captains, who passed the orders down the line.
"Crossbows at the ready, lads. Everybeast fire yer ranged weapon up an' over th' walls when ye start runnin'. That hail o' bolts should catch a few by surprise. Now, I don't think them vermin are very good architects, so chances are the gate they got in through is only barely patched up. Which is why you," he pointed to a large, bulky otter, "Are going first. Swap weapons with somebeast who has a war axe. When ye get ta the gate, one good hit to the hinges an' she'll come right off. Two, if we're unlucky. Once we get inside, I want the primary focus to be on securing the Redwallers. Th' boss doesn't want this organisation to end on a sour note, an' neither do I. No repeats of what happened last time, we clear? If somebeast takes a hostage, surround them. Shoot them in the back of the skull. Last order, make sure any vermin that are guarding that hole stop guarding it. Ready? CHARGE!"
The ranks of woodlanders, the otter at their head, burst forward from the woodlands, crossbows in hand. Each one raised their weapon to the sky, loosing a deadly rain of crossbow bolts that slaughtered two rats on the walltops, and flew into the Abbey Grounds. The otter was the first to reach the little wallgate the horde had used to make their entrance. While still sprinting forward, he swung the war axe hard at the gate hinges. Wood cracked and splintered, but the gate held. The main rank of the Vigil, about to reach the gate, stared at the otter. He raised the axe above his head and brought it down even harder than before. The gate split clean from the jury-rigged hinges, thudding into the Abbey grounds. The Vigil poured through the gate, some engaging the closest vermin with swords, some shooting at the walltops with their crossbows, while the main group ran for the Abbey building itself.

[Ashleg]

"He doesn't pity 'em, Chief, 'e was sayin' that he felt so bad that they were so stupid and got caught." Roscoe lied, but Alfhild wasn't listening.
Her ears were pricked and her nose was twitching nervously. The second attack she had thought would come had came.
Releasing her grip on Fang completely, the old ferret wasted no time in finding Fardan.
"Dear, you hear that?!" She barked, "Ralley the Warriors! I'm going to get Third Chief Rapshade!"
Alfhild broke into a brisk run up the stairs.

Rapshade sneered at Petu, aiming to draw a small cut above Fastooth's eye.
"Killing is too easy." He positioned the sword beside the rat's ear.
"I said I'm goin' t' have fun with him and that's what I'll--"
The door burst open and he shot up, shrieking, and shoved the blade against Petu's throat.
"Alfhild, you're finally here! Help me kill this little sneak who tied up Fastooth!"

The aunt blinked rapidly.
"You don't need help, but my am I proud of you! Finally, my weak nephew has some kind of violence inside him..." She quickly untied Fastooth, though standing in between him and Rapshade it made any attack between them impossible.
"Come on, Fastooth, if you'd take a look out that window you'd see the Vigil attacking. Rat, follow me, Rapshade, hurry when you're ready!"
And she was gone, beckoning hastily to Fastooth.

Rapshade felt his heart catch in his throat.
No, no, too soon...
He released Petu, glaring at Fastooth to get out.

[LT Sandpaw]

Vaskor was reclining against the stairs when the Vigil attacked. His red eyes flashed in surprise, but he didn't panic, simply running up the wall steps to gain a better angle on the Vigil incursion, bow in paw.

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

Climbing to his paws Fastooth wiped away the tiny tickle of blood that glistened above his eye. "This innit over Rappy." He hissed under his breath before vanishing down the stairs to join the defense.

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

Bracklew thundered into the caverns not noticing Mortembell. The young squirrel burst through the opening like a red furred arrow, breathing heavily and looking around for some sign of life to fight.

[Hickory]

Drawing his rapier, Fardan raised it to gain the attention of the horde. "Warriors, to me! We won't let our pride be taken from us so fast. Wreak havoc on these woodlanders!"

He opened the Abbey gates, letting his troops flow out. Quickly slaying a Vigil solider, the wildcat engaged in combat with the enemy troops.

[Ashleg]

"Remember yer promise." Rapshade spat at Petu, adjusting his sabre and racing down the stairs.

He nearly trampled Fang and Roscoe on his way over to the door.
"Cap'n, I'm scared!" Fang screeched, "Me friends are fightin' eachother!"
Rapshade hurried him back to the steps and pointed upward, hissing urgently, "Go 'ide in the Abbot's room. Whatever y' do, don't come out."
The yellow rat nodded and began ascending the stairs. He halted. "You're not gonna die, are ya, Cap'n?"

Rapshade bared his teeth. "Th' longer you stay there th' sooner I will. Get going!"
Noticing Roscoe still lingering by the door, he strode up and bopped him over the head with his sword. "Stop loitering an' fight somebeast!"

"R-right!" Stammered the weasel, saluting and racing into the snow.
Vigil...Vigil...Celio....he could try and take Celio...

[LT Sandpaw]

The charging Vigil soon discovered the horde's traps at the gates. Steaming pots of boiling oil flooded down upon the attackers, cooking creatures alive, while glass shards hidden in the snow cut any paw that was unshod. Fastooth, rushing out onto the grounds, armed with nothing but his paws could hear the screams that rose from those areas, but the traps wouldn't last forever.

Snatching a spear from a stoat, Fastooth signaled Grah to join him on the abbey lawns. "Listen up bird, take yer warriors n' attack them crossbows on th' other side o' th' wall. Once they're dead hit them woodlanders from behind."

"Craaah," Grah squawked angrily, nearly knocking Fastooth off his footpaws as she churned the air with her powerful wings. "Don't order Krah! I go with warriors where Grah wants, feast, kill filthy earthcrawlers, cross bow filth!"

"Aye ye do that, great plan." The rat growled summoning some of the vermin to him. "Les' go lads, fight 'em back, 'old them at the gate!"

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

In the cellars Rayne was confronted by two guards, who leveled their spears at her. "Wot ye doin' down 'ere mousie?" They asked in gruff voices.

"To warn you," Rayne said, sounding panicky. "Alfhild want's you up top, the Vigil are attacking. She said to hurry."

Both vermin looked at each other in uncertainty, before deciding to err on the side of caution. They rushed up the steps to aid Alfhild in repulsing the invasion. Shaking her head Rayne took the lock and a pair of needles in her paws, fiddling with the mechanism in an attempt to unlatch the door.

[Groddil]

Snatching a spear from a stoat, Fastooth signaled Grah to join him on the abbey lawns. "Listen up bird, take yer warriors n' attack them crossbows on th' other side o' th' wall. Once they're dead hit them woodlanders from behind."

...

"Aye ye do that, great plan." The rat growled summoning some of the vermin to him. "Les' go lads, fight 'em back, 'old them at the gate!"

OOC: They're already inside, m8.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: I know...

[Ashleg]

Duncan's eyes popped open as he heard the key turning in the door.
Even with one ear, he was a hare and had great hearing.
He tossed an old piece of wood at Aver's back.
"Wake up! The vermin are back, they might have food or if they're feelin' jolly good, maybe one of our friends."

Grant stirred, tired and wary.
"I admire your optimism so much, Duncan..." he murmured through a yawn. "If only I had it for myself..."

[LT Sandpaw]

Sitting up the otter chieftain rubbed his eyes, staring blindly through the gloom towards the door. "I'd be happy if'n they bring us some food, m'starving." Aver shuffled over to Duncan just as the door creaked opened and Rayne stuck her head inside.

"Redwall is under attack!" The mouse healer stated in a rush, opening the door wider, flooding the cellars in torchlight. "I mean, the Vigil are attacking, they're fighting bravely but they need help. I distracted the guards, but they might be back soon."

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

Petu had collected his stash of weapons from under the bed, strapping the sword to his hip, and clenching the fire iron in his paws. He'd help in any way he could, and right now, many willing fighters were waiting in the cellars. He was about to exit when the sound of pattering paws reached his ears. Peeking out the doorway, the rabbit watched and waited to see who was approaching.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Grant throwing shade.
IC-
Duncan's eyes lit up like a Dibbun's on a holiday.
"Good old Sister Rayne!" he exclaimed, racing to the door.
"How's everything, Missie? Have you seen Petu? Is he okay? Are you okay?"

"If Rayne's alright I could bet you ears to tail that Petu is," Grant remarked as he stood up and gave himself a shake.
The old mouse chuckled under his breath.
"What was that part about the Vigil attacking Redwall? It sounds like something I'd dream about."

--

One of the shrew brothers that had been there as Rapshade murdered Chrysanthe noticed Roscoe and charged him, sending the short weasel running shrieking across the lawn.
The shrew stopped, twirling his rapier with a look of pure puzzlement on his face.
"Well, I never thought I'd live t' see the day vermin soldiers started outright wearin' their cowardliness outright for everybeast t' see..."

[Groddil]

Mortembell went to stab the squirrel with the blade, but realised who it was just in time.
"Bracklew? Why in Hellgates are you charging around in here like you've gone mad?"

*****

Having already made it through the gate, the bulk of the Vigil charged through the vermin defensive line before it could be established, running for the Abbey building. A few split off, armed with ranged weapons, to deal with the vermin on the walltop. Another small group rushed the defenders at the pit. Charm grinned.
"Do it."
A squirrel heaved on the rope at the entrance, opening the tunnel. Charm's squadron quickly filed onto the lift and began to haul themselves out of the pit while the vermin were distracted.

[LT Sandpaw]

Mortembell found herself staring down the length of Bracklew's wondrous sword. For a moment the squirrel looked as if he'd run the vixen through, but he stayed his paw, lowering the blade.
"Mortembell, y-you're alive? Thank the fates, I thought this cave would be full of verm- er, horde beasts." Sheathing his sword Bracklew cast about, looking like he had lost something. "Where is everybeast, don't they know Redwall has fallen? We need, we need to take it back."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Gutting a squirrel through the stomach, Fastooth spun in a slow circle watching the battle rage on all sides. The situation was good. It seemed the woodlanders were so determined to push forward that they were breaking into smaller groups, allowing the defenders to surround and slaughter. The Vigil didn't have their full force and they couldn't match the horde one for one, which gave the horde the upper paw.

They didn't have their full force!

Fastooth's eyes widened and he rushed across the lawns smiting down anybeast that dared stand in his path. The militaristic rat roared out orders as he rushed towards the pit.
"Pour the oil now! Pour it now, light the fires, their army is coming out of the pit!"

The horde beasts around the pit were hard pressed, and couldn't attend the large vats of boiling oil. Vaskor came to their rescue putting an arrow through an otter before launching a flurry of attacks on the Vigil creatures. The red eyed ermine bared his teeth in a vicious snarl, skewering and stabbing like a beast possessed. His wild assault, brutal as it was left the vermin time to tip the oil into the pit, throwing down with it, a lighted torch.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"They're attacking, through the wicker gate, but the horde can still push them back." Rayne said, rushing over to the Abbot and dusting him off. "They'll need everybeast they could get to help them."

Aver needed no second bidding, standing and clasping Duncan's shoulder with his webbed flipper as he looked around at the other Redwallers. "Shall we take th' fight to 'em Duncan an' force these vermin out o' Redwall? Victory or death an' all that eh?"

[Ashleg]

Duncan's eyes glinted with desire to take back his home from the vermin whom had unjustly torn it from him.
"Correcto, Aver my chap!" He said, saluting in true regimental form. "This time I'll show those vermin no quarter. Blood an' vinegar...for my wife, for my daughter, for all our lost friends an' allies, an' for Redwall!"

Grant smiled at Duncan and Aver, though as they were getting riled up for the fight he glanced at Rayne.
"It's my Abbey. How can I help?" the old mouse whispered. "I can't fight, but I am not about to sit back and watch. Rusk, too."

[LT Sandpaw]

"I'll need everybeast that can't fight, to help me treat the wounded." Rayne offered the Abbot and Friar. "We should also bar the Abbey itself, so that the vermin can't retreat inside and hold the building, right Duncan?"