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

[Hickory]

Asher had started towards One-Ear's position as he left Redwall, and as he neared the location he slowed and crouched low in the branches. Bow and arrow ready, he crept forward. Noting One-Ear and Needle below him, the squirrel whispered in a voice barely audible. "One-Ear, it's Asher. I'm up in the trees. Don't move, or you'l give away my position."

Eyes flickering back and forth, he assessed the situation for himself. "I can see a few vermin snipers up in the trees; weasels by the look of it. I can't take care of them all, so there's only one wing of your attack that I can protect from the arrows."

[Groddil]

One-Ear nodded.
"Okay, Asher. Take out the snipers on the other side of the clearing, protect Needle's men. I don't feel like losing two second-in-commands in the same day."

[Hickory]

A dark chuckle came from the trees. "Not an issue. On your side, there's four of them, one in that elm, another in the maple, and the other two in between them. Watch for the glint of their arrow tips."

He waited impatiently for the attack to begin.

[Ashleg]

Fangfang shrugged and stepped inside the Great Hall, nodding to Ava and Grant on his way. Duncan forced Rapshade to follow and then went after the ferret. "Er, aye, whate'er," Fang said, finding a seat at the table. Duncan plopped down beside him, and when Drubble came in Fang went on with the story. "So one dark an' gloomy day, a mouse was walkin' through th' sand when 'e--"
"Why's it a mouse now?!" Rapshade interrupted. "Y' change it every time, Fang, it's not funny anymore. Las' time t'was a riverdog an' now tis a mouse? This same thing can't keep happening to all these beasts..."
"Shh, Rap, it's my story." Fang said, unable to hold back a giggle at seeing Rapshade so frustrated over something so small.
Duncan slapped a paw to his forehead.

Grant watched as Ava mingled with the crowd. After spotting Rapshade, the mouse narrowed his eyes and started walking over. He sent Drubble an accusing stare.

[Groddil]

Drubble gave a look at Rapshade to be quiet and waved at Grant.
"'Ello, zurr Abbot. Mortybell told us t'bring the prisoner up to work in yurr kitchens, but oi decoided we best take 'im t'the infirmary fer 'is medicine and t'look at 'is leg, seein' as 'ow Rayne be's busy up thurr. Cumm on, zurr Rappyshade, we 'as t'go naow!"

[Ashleg]

"Because both Rayne and Mortembell are very busy right now, he'll have to wait. He can work first, and if there is time, only then may he go to the infirmary." Grant said, narrowing his eyes. "...But mainly because you're acting suspicious about it. I don't think Mortembell would completely unchain him and leave him with you three," he said after catching sight of Rapshade's unbound wrists. The ferret seemed to notice as well and hid his paws behind his back.
The Abbot shrugged. "Rapshade, come with me. Duncan, please go upstairs and ask Rayne how long she thinks she'll be and if we should start the feast without her."

As the three dispersed, Fang cast a glance in Drubble's direction.
"I bet yew don't wanna 'ear th' rest I' th' story, don't you...?"

[Groddil]

Drubble shook his head.
"Oi'd luvv to, zurr, but we need t'do somethin' about Rappyshade. If Mortybell foinds out that we've been loiin', well..."

[Ashleg]

"H'Abbot's puttin' 'im t' work, ain't 'e?" Fang asked.
"That'd cover it fer us'ns. Right?"

--

As Duncan ran upstairs, Grant entered the kitchens and handed Rapshade an old sponge and a bucket of water.
"Go and stand in the back of the Great Hall and during the feast whenever somebeast drops something, go and clean it up. Think you can do that? No wrong moves now, for we'll all have our eyes on you after what you did to Aver."
Rapshade nodded, trying to keep from lashing out at Grant. "Aye...Yessir, Father Abbot."
The Abbot mouse sighed and shook his head. "...If you can impress me, I'll talk to Mortembell about moving upstairs. Do we have a deal?"
"...Yes, Father Abbot."

[Groddil]

Drubble stared at Fangfang, wide-eyed with shock.
"Hurr hurr, be's you'm croizy, zurr? If'n Mortybell see's 'im, we's done fer! Especially since Grant won't be's troin' t'hide Rappyshade loike us'n's, it won't take long before we be's found out, zurr."

[Ashleg]

Fang raised an eyebrow.
"But won't she jus' think Grant got 'im out?"

[Groddil]

"Oi dunno, zurr. Wutt if the yurr Abbot tells Mortybell that it was us'n's...Wait! She be's the only one who 'as th' keys. Only she can open yurr door, so...Hurr hurr hurr, we be's deadn's."

[Ashleg]

"We'll be dead if'n Morty finds out 'bout Rap?" Fangfang echoed, tilting his head. "But Grant knows about 'im, so 'e won't let 'er get t' us, right?"

--

Duncan arrived at the infirmary door and knocked once, twice.
"Mortembell, Rayne, wot wot?"

[Groddil]

Drubble shruggd.
"Oi dunno 'ow zurr Abbot'll reacting. It be's best if'n we don't get caughted."

*****

Mortembell set aside the satchel of bandages and answered the door.
"Yes, Duncan? What is it, and I hope it's important, we've got somebeast injured up here."

[Ashleg]

"What' be's Morty's goal, t' get rid of 'is personality? I think it's workin'." Fang whispered, shifting in his seat.

Rapshade limped out of the kitchen and back over to Fang and Drubble, careful not to spill any water out of the bucket. "I think I have some time before th' feast starts." The ferret rasped, not making eye contact with either of them.
He already looked exhausted.

--

Duncan nodded.
"Just why I came to see you, marm. How long do you think you'll be up here?"

[Groddil]

Mortembell looked back at Rayne.
"Just have to stitch him up an' make sure nothin' else happens. Not long, I don't think."