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

[Hickory]

Ava truly realized the extent of the mouse's wounds. Scooping him up in one huge paw, she rushed into the Abbey. Laying Marble out on a table not yet filled, she called out. "More bell, Rayne! There's an injured creature, and it's bad! Sword wound at the least, though there could be more."

[Groddil]

Mortembell had just stepped into Great Hall when she heard Ava call to her. The vixen quickly rushed over and assessed the situation.
"Looks like he's got a laceration stretching from near his neck down to the top of his left leg. Suffering from blood loss, may go into shock...we need to get him to the infirmary and bandage him up right now. Ava, grab him, I'll find Rayne."
With that, she dashed off in search of the Abbey Healer.

[LT Sandpaw]

 Walking slowly down the hallway with Aver the mouse healer kept nodding in a satisfied way. A sudden flash of fur caught her eye and she turned to see Mortembell racing out of the great hall. Concern etched on her face Rayne held up a paw to signal the vixen.

"Bell? Are you alright? Is something wrong?" She asked worried at the expression of agitation stamped on Mortembell's muzzle.

~*~*~*~*~

Having managed to break away from the main crowd Bracklew carried Max along the tables underneath Martin's tapestry. Craning his neck to look up at Max Bracklew chuckled.

"Heh, ready for this feast tonight? That's if we ever get to it."

[Groddil]

Mortembell breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Rayne.
"Oh, I'm so glad I found you. Ava found somebeast wounded at the gate, he's taken a sword down his torso. She has him on one of the empty tables, come on!"

[Ashleg]

"I'm gon' eat all th' st'awbe'ies!" Maxy exclaimed, nodding in agreement with Bracklew.
He raced along the tables and then halted to look up at the wonderful portrait of a mouse in shining armor.
The little squirrel's eyes widened. He glanced over his shoulder at Bracklew and giggled.
"Dat mouse has th' same sword as you."

--

"Why would ye want t' free Rapshade?" Fangfang asked, beckoning with one paw for Drubble to follow him into the cell.
Rapshade forgot about the food and blanched as soon as he noticed Fang. Feeling that his eyes would give him away, the ferret looked down.

[Groddil]

Drubble followed Fangfang into the prison cellar scratching his head.
"Hurr, but oi thought that be's wutt 'ee wanted, zurr. It ain't roight t'keep anybeast locked up loike this yurr, is it, burr aye?"

[Ashleg]

"No, but...I think 'e should be." Though it killed him to admit it, Fang really believed that if they let Rapshade go he'd only hurt himself and other creatures.
The yellow rat walked over to the ferret and sat down, nudging the food towards him. He gulped and glanced at Drubble when the prisoner still didn't acknowledge him.
"Er, Rapshade...'tis me, Fang. We 'ave yer food, an' it's more than normal since there's a feast upstairs!" Fangfang tried to sound enthusiastic though when he still got no reply his ears drooped sadly. "Rapshade..."

The ferret didn't look at him. "...I don't deserve t' see you." He mumbled, shifting uncomfortably.

Fang glanced back at Drubble for help. "Of course y' do!"

[Groddil]

Drubble nodded.
"Nobeast shudd be subjected t'this, Rapshade. Oi thinks we shudd get 'ee outta here, what do 'ee say, zurr?"

[Ashleg]

Rapshade suddenly burst out sobbing again, collapsing on the cold stone ground.
"This is what I get, sir! This cell an' every kick, slap, an' jeer from Mortembell an' her son. So I s-say I can't, sir!"
He whimpered and cried into his arms. Fangfang grabbed the chain that bound his paws and pulled him back into a sitting position.

The rat frowned sadly as he tried to comfort him. "Cap'n, it's okay. It's okay, isn't it, Drubble?"

[Groddil]

Drubble nodded.
"It doezn't 'ave t'be this yurr way, zurr. Us'n's can get 'ee outta 'ere, roight Fangfang?"

[Ashleg]

"I mean, we could, but th' Vigil... 'E won't last long with 'is leg like that." Fangfang whispered.
He again nudged the tray towards the ferret.
"Look, there's soup, it's warm. Stop cryin' an' drink it unless ye wanna freeze down 'ere." He tried to sound as commanding as he could, though he didn't do a very good job with it.

Rapshade coughed into his arm. "...I'm really not hungry, sir."

You're so skinny and sick looking, don't tell me you're not hungry! Fang thought. He inched over to Drubble.

[Groddil]

Drubble leaned in close to Fangfang.
"'Ee be roight zurr, that yurr leg needs t'be fixeded. The Vigil ain't an issue to us'n's if'n they don't foind out, hurr hurr."

[Ashleg]

"Y'have th' keys, yeah?" Fangfang asked.
"We could unchain 'im an' sneak 'im inter me room; I'll lock th' door."

[Groddil]

Drubble nodded. He took out the keys and swiftly removed Rapshade from his chains.
"Okay, zurr. How are you an' oi gonna do this?"

[Ashleg]

Rapshade rubbed his wrists where the tight chain had previously been and stood up, keeping his injured leg in the air and his eyes on the ground. Something similar to self-hatred flashed through the ferret's gaze for a second.
"I don't know why either of you like me. I don't deserve it."

"Exactly, though we fergive ye 'cause ye see yer errors now." Turning to Drubble, Fang added, "Here, we 'elp 'im up th' stairs t' me room an' lock 'im in there. It's better 'n' this."