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

[LT Sandpaw]

"That isn't how this is going to work." Bracklew growled grinding his teeth together in frustration. He paced back and forth in front of Rapshade, something he was doing rather often as of late.

"I have no intention of letting you do anything on your own." Bracklew said finally, "So we'll wait, until she shows up. As foolish as that sounds." Bracklew slumped down clearing a spot of snow. Brushing away the white fluff he opened his haversack and took out a dried apple slice chewing on the fruit in obvious boredom. It took only a few minutes before he was back up and walking around pacing back and forth, his footpaws digging through the snow and flattening the wet grass.

Whirling around he glared at Rapshade pointing an accusing paw at the ferret. "I hate this plan! At least tell me what you plan on doing once your aunt reaches Redwall?"

[Ashleg]

"Killing her." Said Rapshade casually, giving a shrug.
He stood up and tested his broken paw again after loosening the splint slightly.
"But I can't have y' around t' watch. You're very quick to trust me, Bracklew." The ferret broke into a grin. "Isn't it silly to you that you even want her dead? You haven't even met her."

[Hickory]

Despite the tense situation, Asher rolled his eyes.  I hope you aren't always like this..."

He leapt up and clung to the soft spot on the roof. Using his dirk, the squirrel madly dug at the soil. "Nearly there, I can smell some air and see some light!"

[Groddil]

Mortembell stopped running when she reached the cave-in, where the tunnel was almost completely lit by daylight. Through the rocks she saw a hulking black and white form hammering away at the cave-in with his axe.
"Turns out that size DOES matter, huh?"
The badger snarled at Mortembell, trying to reach through the collapse. She countered swiftly, jumping backwards and slicing at his paw. Screaming in a mixture of rage and pain, the badger withdrew.
"Just you wait, scum. I've dealt with creatures far stronger than an old vixen like you."
Mortembell chuckled.
"We'll see..."
"Yes, we will..."

[Hickory]

Asher punched through the dirt. "Mortembell! We have to go NOW!"

[Groddil]

"RRRRAAAARRRGHH!"
Rocks from the cave-in were thrown back into the tunnel with explosive force as the badger charged towards Mortembell. The vixen cursed, turned tail, and ran. The badger's eyes misted over with red as he barrelled down the tunnel on all fours, gripping the battleaxe with his teeth. Mortembell raced down Asher's tunnel.
"Get topside! Start collapsing the tunnel, pull me through when I get there!"

[Hickory]

Asher gripped Gukom's collar with one paw and hurled him up before running back down a short way. He felt about for a crack - and found it. Strategically prying with his blade, the whole cavern let out an ominous rumble.

[LT Sandpaw]

"I never said anything about killing her." Bracklew retorted crossing his paws. "I just want to stop her from attacking Redwall, and if killing her is what it takes then we'll do it." He kicked at the sludge thinking hard.

"I sure hope you don't plan on anything working because I trust you. I think the fact that I am armed and you're not is a good testament to the fact that I don't. Besides I don't need to trust you, and you can bet your tail I don't." He looked quizzically at Rapshade's leg then smiled. "How are you going to kill your aunt?"

[Ashleg]

"By learning to ignore the pain, for starters." Rapshade grumbled, applying extra weight on the broken leg till he couldn't bear to go any further.
"And getting rid of you somewhere along the way."

[Groddil]

"Uh oh. Well, see you round, stripedog. Don't get too enraged while I'm gone!"
Mortembell sheathed her blade and ran towards Asher as the earth itself began to groan menacingly. A sharp crack echoed through the tunnel as the cave roof began to shatter, dust falling on top of the vixen as she ran. The entire roof began collapsing, showering the badger several pawlengths behind her with debris. But the cave-in did not slow him down. The big badger continued barrelling down the tunnel. Mortembell pushed Asher back towards the hole and followed him, running faster than she would ever have expected was possible. The badger was nearly close enough to grab her, when his footpaw disappeared through the ground with an ominous sucking noise.
"This isn't it, Mortembell. I'll find a way out of here, or..."
Mid-sentence, the entire floor gave way beneath the badger's massive weight. Unfortunately, he reached out with the battle axe, hooking it around Mortembell. He pulled the vixen back towards him just before the tunnel fell apart completely, sending them plummeting into the large cavern with the river, where Gukom had explored previously.

[Hickory]

OOC: Do you want Asher to get them...?

[Groddil]

OOC: Do you want Asher to get them...?

OOC: Nope. I'll post with them when the time comes. Speaking of which, have Asher go inside and I'll write how the Vigil were moving and have showed up at the gates.

[LT Sandpaw]

Smirking Bracklew stuck his good paw on his hip and his bad one behind his head. "You'll find getting rid of me it a lot harder then it sounds." He would have continued if the earth hadn't started shaking. Bracklew's eyes popped wide and he dropped onto three paws his hackles rising. However the slight tremor was momentary, and he stood back up looking at the trees whose empty branches were rustling.

"What was that?" He looked accusingly at Rapshade, "It couldn't have been you."

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

She wasn't particularly picky, when times were hard she could eat almost anything from cairn to berries. Yet insects were below the mighty Grah the Krah. Flicking away the tiny frozen grasshopper Grah splashed freezing water over the three young crows making them quiver in terror and cold.

"Earthwalker vanish. Baaah. Smoke no? Earthwalker no vanish, tree-rat climb tree, mouse die?"

"No great Krah," The smallest groaned laying his head flat against the frozen earth, dried blood from his neck wound still caked on his feathers. "Earthwalker poof, gone."

"Baaah!" Grah screeched buffeting the smaller crow with her wings. "Baaaah! Lies! Idjit! Sparrow! Worm!" All three crows fled flapping and hop-skipping away from their leader. Grah strutted back and forth a few times chortling a few more insults their way. Growing bored with them she returned to the vermin encampment looking greedily at some of the hordebeasts who shuffled out of her way. A few of the smarter ones picked up flaming branches from their fires.

Grah pretended to ignore them and hopped up to Alfhild's tent. One of her crows had reported a large group of earthwalkers approaching the red house. She had meant to pass on this information, but had been distracted by the arrival of her three underlings. She saw Farden first and made her way towards him, shuffling her wings to get his attention.

[Hickory]

The wildcat roles his eyes. "Not you again," he muttered under his breath. "Do you want something, Grah?"

[Ashleg]

"I know I'm great and all, Bracklew, but even I can't control the earth." Said Rapshade, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Probably just the ground shifting or something. What is it with ye?"

--

Alfhild smirked and backed out of her tent, carrying a tray with some of her favorite food on it--wine and a roast bird. The ferret's icy eyes quickly spotted Grah conversing with Fardan, neither of which seemed too happy. She grinned and chuckled, sitting down on a snowy log near a skinny gray horderat and his two companions.
Imminently the vermin gasped and dropped to her footpaws.
"Chief Ma'am!"

Alfhild wasn't one who'd normally mix with her horde, not unless she wanted something or was planning to punish somebeast.
It turned out to be neither.
Grinning, she gazed around as if she hadn't noticed them, and when she finally looked down at the three her eyes narrowed.
The gray rat in the front whimpered nervously as Alfhild grabbed him by the ear and yanked him up.
"Glaser, is it?"

"Y-y-y-yes, Chief."

"I think I have a job for you."