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

[Groddil]

One-Ear looked around desperately as the horde began to close in on him. The fox slew the vermin that jumped ahead, seeking glory, but began to feel overwhelmed. In a last ditch effort to get away, he crashed through the last section of woodlands into the clearing with the rest of the Vigil.
"AMBUSH!"

[Ashleg]

Alfhild snarled, whirling around to face the direction One-Ear had fled to.
"Looks like there's no time for plans if we want him dead." She hissed. "Follow me and attack when you get there!"
The ferret broke into a sprint after Fardan, the horde following close behind.

Needle looked up.
"Wha? Ambush? Wh--aargh!"
Alfhild leaped out of the bushes and bowled him over, pinning the hare to the ground.
"Yes. It's an ambush, sweetie," She sneered, knocking Needle unconscious with a blow to the head.

[LT Sandpaw]

 
After digging around in his pockets for a few moments Aver sighed and shook his head. "Nay, I got nothin' that fits th' request mate."

"Will this work?" Rayne asked holding up a small but sharp scalpel she had taken from her bag.

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

Diving down like a hunting hawk Grah slammed into a unsuspecting shrew breaking the smaller creature's back. He screamed in terror as he became instantly paralyzed under the crow's talons. The cruel beak tore through his Vigil tunic and flesh easily as the big bird ripped into her living prey.

Grah's black feathers fluffed up to make her look double her size looked sinister in the dark as the orange markings flashed in the moonlight. Blood splattered her barbaric features as she began feasting ignoring the remaining Vigil members.

[Ashleg]

"That'll do," Duncan said, taking the scalpel from Rayne.
He knelt beside Rapshade and began picking the locks on his neck chain, then when it slid off he started at the ones which bound the ferret's paws.
He was done about seven minutes later.
"Whew, that was harder than I thought. She had those things on really tight, I'm actually surprised he stayed awake that long."
He turned around at a whimper from Fang.
"I know it must be hard for you to see him like this. You should go, mate. He's in good paws." The hare murmured.
Fangfang nodded reluctantly and ran off.

[Groddil]

With Alfhild and Grah preoccupied with the other Vigil members, One-Ear staggered towards the tree where Asher was hiding. As the Vigil behind him desperately tried to fend off the horde, bust were eventually forced to turn and flee. He held a blood-covered paw up towards the squirrel.
"ASHER! PULL ME...UP!"

[LT Sandpaw]

"Ye take 'Is shoulders, I'll take 'Is footpaws, we'll heave 'Im upstairs." Aver suggested positioning himself by Rapshade's footpaws. Rayne quickly held out a paw stopping him from lifting the ferret up.

"Wait Ave, his leg is broken. You'll damage it more if you pick him up like that." She looked thoughtfully at Rapshade's still form for a moment then clicked her claws together. "I'll go get one of my stretchers. I'll be back in a moment." She raced out of the cellars and was back again in a few minutes hauling a stretcher. It was a simple thing, two ash staves held together by a canvas sheet. Rayne set it down next to Rapshade. "Alright set him on it, and try not to jerk his hurt leg around too much."

"Aye then miz Rayne. Got yer end Duncan?" The two shifted Rapshade quickly onto the stretcher, though Aver was less gentle then he could have been. "Alrightly les' take 'Im up."

[Ashleg]

Alfhild stuck her sword in the unconscious Needle before getting off and lunging at One-Ear.
"Nobeast escapes Alfhild and her horde! Hehehee!"

--

"He's lighter than I thought," Duncan remarked as he helped lift the stretcher.
As he walked carefully up the stairs that led out of the cellar, the hare huffed. He knew they'd have yet another staircase after this one.
What 'genius' decided to put the infirmary on the second floor?

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Lol you would bring that back.

IC:

"That's what I was wondering." Rayne said shaking her head. "Either Martin or Abbess Germaine messed it up, and I'm willing to bet it was the warrior not the Abbess." Aver chuckled as he held the stretcher up over his head lowering it slowly as they finished the first staircase and started on the second.

"Well ain't no way to fix it now eh, not like we c'n move th' infirmary downstairs."

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Of course, I just had to! It's a running gag. 
IC-
Duncan grunted his agreement and helped to lower the stretcher once they had arrived on Redwal's second floor. "...Whew, that's quite the workout, wot wot!" Said the hare with a snarky half-grin. "Wouldn't want to do it again though. Come on."

[Hickory]

Two sets of paws hauled One-Ear up into the tree cover, but Asher was not there. Harnam filled One-Ear in. "When they ambushed us, we got most of our creatures out. The ones we didn't are too close to the enemy to do anything. Asher left to go get Needle."

The squirrel in question was kneeling by the unconscious hare. He had put on a rudimentary bandage and was now trying to drag the hare into the woodland cover. Asher finally gave up and rolled Needle into a pile of loam, covering him up. Freed of his burden, the black squirrel took aim with his bow and fired at Alfhid. "Here, ferret, let's see how you are at escaping, eh?"

[Ashleg]

"Cute little squirrel." Alfhild said, batting her eyes. She easily deflected the arrow with her sword, cutting it down while it was still in the air.
"Arrows are for cowards!" The ferret sneered. "Come here and fight me like a real warrior if you're so keen on it. I spent half my life as a pirate and half as the leader of this horde. Choose wisely."

[Hickory]

Asher snarled. "And I've spent all my life killing vermin like you!" He drew his dirk and lunged at the ferret.

[LT Sandpaw]

 Rayne ran ahead of the two and set up a bed for Rapshade. She pulled back the sheets and motioned for them to set him down. "Thank you, I'll handle things from here." She insisted while dabbing away at the welts and bruises. Aver scratched his chin thoughtfully tapping his tail on the ground.

"Aye miz, though I would be put well at ease if'n one o' us stay 'ere to keep an' eye on things. Rappy might not be feelin' up to hurting no beast now. But I reckon he might later, an there be a lot o' sharp things in 'ere."

"Oh I'll be fine. I could easily outrun Rapshade, and I'll yell if he tries anything."

"Aye but ye got to sleep too."

"I'll be fine." Rayne insisted stubbornly. Aver bit his lip looking worriedly at Duncan.

"Wot say ye mate?"

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

Some of Grah's crows had heard the cries from the battlers. They landed amongst the dead of both sides filling their stomachs greedily. The wounded was a favorite amongst the crows as wriggling prey and warm blood was more satisfying then even freshly slain meat.

Leaving the mutilated remains of her first kill Grah sprang back into the fight. A flash of an arrow caught her eye and she watched as one of her crow fell from a feathered shaft. Croaking in rage Grah flapped upward into the lower branches of a tree pecking at the archer.

"Creeaaah! Bleed filthy earthwalkers! Trees belong to the Krah!" The squirrel dropped his bow crying out in pain. He attempted to flee but Grah's talons closed over his tail pulling him back. The squirrel though hurt didn't go down easy. Slashing franticly with his knife he cut one of her talons. Grah squawked releasing the squirrel who fell down two branches before recovering on a lower tree limb. He didn't stick around to retrieve his bow leaping immediately off though the branches. Grah gave chase hopping after him occasionally fluttering her wings to keep up.

[Groddil]

One-Ear's face contorted with pain, but he managed to pull out his crossbow. Eyes glinting with rage, the fox fired a number of bolts at Grah. Not waiting around to see whether they hit, the fox leant heavily on two of the archers as they retreated through the trees, following the main group of retreating Vigil.

[Ashleg]

Duncan exchanged glances with Aver.
"I agree with you, mate. Rayne can handle herself, but Rap's bloomin' crazy when he wants to be. Do you want to stay here? I think it might be rough for me." He coughed, looking around awkwardly.
"...You know why."

--

Alfhild growled, holding her ground and matching Asher's sword with hers. There was a loud clang as metal met metal, and the ferret grinned as she aimed to push him back.
"Poor you."