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

[Groddil]

The weasel gulped, hauling himself upright.
"The name's...The name's Grenlik, marm. I...I'm on it!"
Grenlik saluted smartly and dashed off, leaving Alfhild with the unfortunate rat.

OOC: Short timeskip so the Grenlik has assembled the troops, the Redwallers are at the cellar, and One-Ear and Zaxian are nearly at the vermin camp?

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Indeedy!
You start.

[Groddil]

Grenlik had done his task well. In a short time, a hundred, hand-picked hordebeasts stood at the ready, weapons bristling menacingly in the sunlight. The weasel, proud of his decision, reported to Alfhild.
"One 'undred troops marm, chosen by meself. Will that be enough t'suit yer purposes, or shall I go an' find more?"

*****

Drubble lightly pushed on the door to the side-cellar, which was thankfully still unlocked. He pointed the others in the direction of Rapshade's prone form, lying on the ground.
"Ee door wuzz unlocked, but oi doesn't 'ave th' keys t'the chains, no zurr."

[Ashleg]

"Don't get all cocky just yet," Alfhild hissed, shoving the weasel aside.
She stood in front of the assembled vermin and looked them up and down. Yep, seemed good.
The ferret nodded.
"I don't need more; this will do. Now grab a weapon and get in there, and I'll tell you the plan."

--

Fangfang frowned and glanced at his paws.
"He'll 'aveta wear th' chains 'till we find out 'ow t' get 'em off, I guess." He murmured. "Unless he have another idea...?"

[Groddil]

"Course, marm. 'Pologies fer bein' too cocky."
Grenlik selected a rusted scimitar and a simple, wooden shield.
"This shudd do me fer now, marm..."
The weasel was cut short by the sight of movement in the bushes. Peering through the shrubbery, he noticed a fox and a stoat.
"It's Daxian! That fox from the enemy group is with 'im!"
At the weasel's shout, two bowbeasts raised their weapons. Before One-Ear could get away, two arrows whizzed through the air and into the bushes. A scream and a grunt echoed through the clearing. Daxian fell from the bush to land at Alfhild's footpaws, an arrow jutting roughly from his leg. Grenlik looked around for One-Ear, and sighted the fox staggering away through the trees with the remaining shaft in his side.
"He's trying ter get away! Get 'im!"

[LT Sandpaw]

"I was there for all that." Rayne said once Fang was done with the short tale. "I was in the great hall too, but no matter we're here." She entered the cellars nearly running into the backs of Aver and Duncan who had just made in to the cellars.

"Whoop, o' 'ello Miz, I suspect yer here for th' ferret." Aver said ruefully waving a paw at Rapshade. "I think 'es be needen help. Not that e' deserves it, but we can't 'ave 'Im dyin'." Rayne nodded before moving towards Rapshade opening her satchel. Aver stayed back feeling slightly sorry for Rapshade, but not too much. His head still hurt slightly. The otter bit his lip and glanced at Duncan, twirling the cellar key on its ring.

"We'll be needen' a new guard. Got anybeast willing in mind Duncan?"

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

Clacking her beak in time with Alfhild's threats Grah paced back and forth waiting for her chance to speak or kill. It never came. After the orders to assemble a hundred of the assembled hordebeasts Grah realized she wasn't going to get her meal and decided to speak over the babble of vermin voices.

"Creaaah, Alfel'!" She croaked messing up Alfhild's name in her haste. "Found Red House, scout gives word. Horde Earthwalkers make journey one day." She would have continued if One-ear hadn't arrived. The crow squawked in obvious excitement and launched herself into the air. Landing next to Naxian she gave a searching peck. The stoat moved, he was still alive. Trapping him under he talons Grah looked up scanning the woodlands until she spotted the shadowy shape of One-ear staggering away.

Twisting her head until one large black eye was focused on the vermin she angled her face giving her a curious look. "Kill?"

[Hickory]

A tall, lithe wildcat appeared at Alfhid's side. "Hullo, what's this?"

He peered through the bushes, his amber eyes searching for One-Ear. Paw resting on a rapier hilt, Fardan easily figured out what was going on. "Attack on one of our parties? And that fox is leading them?" He contemplated the situation. "Listen, it's always best to use their own strategy against them. Do you think that we could find a way to get one of theirs? Grab could do it."

[Ashleg]

"Honestly, besides Drubble I've naught a bally clue." Duncan said, shaking his head.
For some reason he felt really on edge after witnessing what Mortembell had done. It just seemed so wrong to him, even if it was only Rapshade.

Rapshade's eyes flickered open when Rayne crouched beside him with her supplies. He sobbed brokenly and gritted his teeth, dropping his gaze.
Everything looked blurry anyway, and with the blood running down the side of his face it made it even harder to see. He couldn't really tell who it was.
"...You're here t-t-to finish me off, aren't you...have at it."

--

"Have at him." Alfhild said, glancing away from Grah and turning to Fardan. She acknowledged his battle plans with a sharp nod.
"That'll have to do." She smirked and clasped her ringed paws together. "And that injured fox looks like the perfect somebeast."

[LT Sandpaw]

"No, I'm here to help." Rayne whispered taking a wet rag and dabbing at the welts. She hissed inwardly as the rag came back red. Quickly she felt his arms, legs and paws checking to see if anything was broken. His bad leg was the only damaged bones, but the numerous bruises were painful enough. Twisting around to look at Duncan and Aver she motioned them to come closer.

"We'll need to take him up to the infirmary, he can't stay down here anymore, its unsanitary. We'll put him in the bed next to Marble. And we wont have to worry about him getting away tonight. He's not going anywhere in this state."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Croaking Grah spread her wings and raised her beak preparing to kill the stoat. He suddenly wriggled away and sprinted on all fours into the crowd of vermin. At first she felt slightly irked at the loss knowing she had no chance of finding him amongst the vermin.

Hopping around she forgot the stoat and instead focused on the rapidly disappearing fox. After three powerful flaps and a small hopping run Grah took to air twisting though the trees after One-ear. She could see his back rapidly approaching. Diving forward her razor talons outstretched she descended upon him like a black feathered arrow.

[Groddil]

One-Ear looked over his shoulder to see if he was being followed and was shocked to see Grah descending on him. The fox threw himself to the ground, taking care not to land on the arrow. When Grah inevitably overshot him, he dived into the bushes.

[Hickory]

Fardan blinked in reaction. "He's smarter than he looks. Grenlik, get that sword out and follow me. We'll advance on him, and if it doesn't work out, we can always pump him full of arrows. Let's go."

The horde archers stood ready to fire as the wildcat drew his long blade and started towards One-Ear.

[LT Sandpaw]

Her talons dug deep into the soft forest loam as she touched down in an explosion of feathers. Having expected land squarely on her target's back Grah was thrown off balance nearly falling on her beak. Flapping in hasty uncoordinated sweeps she launched herself back into the air to avoid any counter attacks climbing in a ungainly retreat. Flying in slow circles she watched the horde earthwalkers close in on One-ear, ready to dive at the first opportunity.

[Ashleg]

"Who has the keys for his chains?" Duncan asked, glancing from Aver and Rayne to Drubble and Fangfang. The hare noticed that Aver was holding a keyring, though he was unsure if it was the right one.
As much as Duncan disliked Rapshade for what he'd done to his family, he was about ready to try and at least be civil towards the ferret.

"YahaaaaAaAagh!"

The hare's ear suddenly shot up rigidly. Rapshade had yelped in pain (and passed out) as soon as Rayne touched his bad leg.
"Wot--golly!" Duncan placed a paw on the wall. "Good grief, you'd think somebeast just murdered him, by the sound of that!"

--

Alfhild watched Fardan go, then turned to the horde that had gathered around her.
"Come close if you want to hear the plan. Here is what you must do..."

[LT Sandpaw]

Recoiling Rayne put a paw over her heart as it beat furiously against her chest. "He scared me half to death with that scream. I think he's passed out." She shook her head and carefully checked Rapshade's leg again. "All that running around he did when he was being tugged along inflamed his leg and made it worse. I'm sure being beaten didn't help either. He needs to be taken upstairs and out of this hole."

"Mortembell 'ade the only key." Aver said sourly still twirling the key ring. "I c'n open 'Is cell, but I cannot get them chains off. Anybeast know 'ow to pick a lock mayhap?" The otter frowned trying to think of somebeast who could open locks without a key. The otter frowning thoughtfully at Duncan. "Now if'n I'm not mistaken little Mixy knew 'ow. An' she might 'ave taught her friend no? Anybeast know th' whereabouts o' Brack?"

[Ashleg]

"I've no bloomin' clue. He snuck away from the feast and I haven't seen him since," Said Duncan, calming down. Once he looked less startled, the big match hare shivered and rubbed his paws together to keep warm.
"Agh; it sure is cold down here! Anywho, I'm the one that taught her." He smiled halfheartedly and shook off his sad feelings about Mixy. "...Ahem. Now, if anybeast just had a little pointy doohickey-thing, I'd be able to open those locks lickety-split. I'm thinkin' a needle or somethin', some kind of sharp small metal thing..."