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

[Ashleg]

Maxy grinned as if he's suddenly forgotten he didn't like the story.
"Okay." Said the squirrel with a happy shrug.

Roscoe watched as they left and sighed, glancing at Mortembell.
A smirk appeared on his face, and the weasel seemed snarky. "Tell us' a story about yer loonyhead son, Foxie." He remarked.

[Groddil]

Mortembell threw a scone at Roscoe.
"I'm the one talking, you. Take Stumbly with you and go down to the cellars with Drubble if you won't shut up. Now, what was I saying..."

*****

Posybud gasped in horror. Gazing over the battlements, the Abbess saw every manner of creature, from woodlanders to vermin to toads running screaming for their lives. The sky was full of birds, flapping madly, aiming to land on the Abbey roof. The unlucky creatures on the ground hammered on Redwall's gates, screaming for somebeast, anybeast, to help them. Posybud stared dumbly through the trees at a red glow that lit up the greenery, in stark contrast to the warm, blue sky. Snapping out of her shock, Posybud grabbed Crablin and shook him.
"Why are we just standing here? OPEN THE GATES, FOR THE LOVE OF THE DARK FOREST, DON'T LET THEM ALL BURN!!!"
Crablin nodded, vaulting off the walltop into the garden below. The sturdy squirrel threw his back to the gate and lifted the spar. A veritable tidal wave of creatures poured in by the score, as Posybud sought out a lanky otter on the corner of the wall.
"Skipper! Get your crew, get pots, we need to stop that fire! If it reaches the Abbey and gets through the gate, the whole place will go up in flames!"
The Skipper of Otters was not one for delay. Martialling every otter in the Abbey, then some others, they rushed down the steps, headed straight for the kitchens.

[Ashleg]

Roscoe quieted down and began listening to Mortembell's story.
He was half asleep by the time she got to the seventh line. When the vixen raised he voice he jerked awake with a yelp and sent a bowl flying off the table.
"Heh heh...uhh..."

[Groddil]

Mortembell was fuming.
"Shut...up...and listen...to...THE STORY!!!"
The vixen turned back to the crowd with a snort.

*****

Posybud and Crablin ushered the refugees into the Abbey as the group of toads splashed loudly into the Abbey Pond. Woodlanders and vermin alike thanked everybeast they saw from Redwall as they were guided into the damp cellars. Posybud slammed the door behind her and held a paw for silence. This had the expected result: absolutely nothing. The Abbess shrugged her shoulders at Crablin, and the sturdy squirrel cupped two paws to his mouth.
"SHUT UP! EVERYBEAST, BE QUIET AND LET THE ABBESS SPEAK!"
The murmers slowly started to die down. Posybud thanked Crablin and stepped towards the terrified crowd.
"We are safe here, for the time being. Skipper and his otters are working hard to put the fire out, but we need to stay calm until then. Thank you."

*****

Further conversation was interrupted by Stumbly slurping her drink loudly. Mortembell sighed with resignation.

[Ashleg]

Rapshade dove to clean what Roscoe had knocked off the table in a short-lived effort to impress Grant, and he couldn't help but give a small smirk at seeing how frustrated everybeast was making Mortembell.
Fangfang chuckled and glanced from Stumbly to Mortembell to Grant and Rapshade.
"I guess nobeast wants t' 'ear yer story!"

[Groddil]

Mortembell nodded and sat down next to Fangfang.
"You're right. Just can't get a good audience anymore..."
The story forgotten, Mortembell began to rejoin the feasting.

[Ashleg]

"Mortembell, pass the bally salt, will ya?" Duncan asked.
"I need it for Petu and my salad. Wot wot!"

[Groddil]

Mortembell glared at Duncan, throwing the salt shaker roughly at the hare.
"Whatever. Have your wretched salt."

[Ashleg]

"Oop!" Duncan grimaced and rubbed his head, looking over his shoulder at the salt shaker, which had bounced off his head and cracked on the floor.
"Hey hey hey, please be careful! Don't throw things." Rapshade said as he hurried past Mortembell and over to the mess.

[Groddil]

Mortembell's eyes went wide with indignation and raised her paws mockingly.
"Oh NO! According to the murdering pirate, we should BE CAREFUL? Golly gosh, I never knew you cared!"
The vixen shot a death glare at Rapshade and snarled.
"Maybe I should throw YOU off of the bell tower. Would you like that, ferret?"

[Ashleg]

Grant stood up, still holding the end of the rope in one paw.
"The bell tower? Come now, Mortembell, that's completely unessecary. What he said wasn't even bad. I don't want broken dishes and a huge mess either."

Rapshade tried keeping calm as he collected the pieces of broken glass from the salt shaker, though it was pretty clear what she'd said had gotten to him.

[Groddil]

Mortembell scoffed.
"Wasn't even bad? I think you're failing to not only see the hypocrisy in his statement, but also that you are DEFENDING SOMEBEAST who has MURDERED COUNTLESS Redwallers AND Guosim shrews. Tell that to your Abbey Code of Reasonable Speech."

[Ashleg]

The Great Hall grew silent except for Mortembell's rant.
Abbot Grant looked like he was fighting with himself on wether to keep his cool or not. The mouse clenched and unclenched his paws.
"I know what he's done." He said, sounding rather agitated. "But that has nothing to do with not throwing silverware. Why am I even arguing with you?"

[Groddil]

"Throwing silverware has nothing to do with this. And you're right, why ARE we arguing? HE'S the one to blame for what happened last season. Not me, not you, HIM! Stop parading him around up here, lock him back in the cellar for the rest of his pathetic existence. It's FAR MORE than he deserves."

[Ashleg]

Everybeast was watching the commotion now.
Even Duncan had stopped eating.
Grant frowned. He took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. He tried keeping his voice calm, though he had some trouble doing it.
"I believe that anybeast can change..if given the chance..."