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

[Ashleg]

"I don't want fleas either." Rapshade remarked as he pulled up a chair that had been lying on the ground. "How about neither of us go t' sleep, eh? We can talk about what t' do when we find Alfhild and her so-called horde...Sir."

[LT Sandpaw]

Grimacing at Rapshade after his use of 'sir' Bracklew picked up a three legged stool and sat down, his back leaned against the wall. It was still cold, however the moldy walls blocked out the wind and their breath soon warmed the small space.

"So..." He began tapping his claws on the hilt of his sword. "How do we go about killing this aunt of yours? Then dealing with a horde we don't know anything about?"

OOC: I like the fact that this horde has two leaders, and neither Rap nor Brack knows about it. Even in success they'd fail.

[Groddil]

One-Ear glared at Asher.
"What do you mean, "unorthodox?" Are you talking about my mother? Forget it, I'll speak to you later."
Turning his attention back to Grant, the fox cleared his throat.
"There's a horde. This isn't an assumption, we've seen it ourselves. We captured one of their strategists, but before he got away, I managed to get something out of him. He said it was headed by a ferret and a wildcat, and that they were particularly interested in Redwall Abbey. That's why the Vigil is here, to help keep this place safe."

*****

Drubble nodded, and started for the kitchens.
"Wut a gudd oidea, zurr. They'ms probably needin' a gudd meal."

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Exactly. 
IC-
"Well, once you kill the leader and all the creatures that can take charge, the horde is nothing, isn't it?" Rapshade mused, tapping his claws along the broken arm of the chair.
"I'd know because I'm experienced in doing just that--except in my situation, I took charge...earning myself the title of '"Upstart Ferret"'..." The former pirate trailed off, grinning dauntlessly at his squirrel partner while trying to make the splint on his leg more mobile.
"Just thought I'd say. This'll be easy once you're out of th' picture."

--

"Oh boy, a horde!" Said Fangfang. The rat yelped and shrunk back when Grant shot him a glare.

"Why the Vigil, why not Log-a-Log and her shrews, or Skipper and the otters? Or, I don't know, the Long Patrol?" The Abbot muttered under his breath, turning and looking at One-Ear once he got the anger out of his system.
"I'm not turning down your offer, but you have to understand that it's hard to work with a bunch of vigilante youngsters who kill unnecessarily."

[Hickory]

Asher, who had stopped near the front of the Vigil party, turned to face the confrontation. "Abbot, sir, we're not 'vigilante youngsters who kill unnecessarily.' I really don't see why you think vermin should be spared, what's your excuse?"

[Ashleg]

"My excuse is that, no matter their species, they're alive, Asher. And living creatures shouldn't just be killed all willy-nilly like that. Everybeast has some good in them--vermin or woodlander. Don't you see where I'm coming from...?" Grant asked, trailing off at the end.

[Hickory]

"You want to spare creatures who would kill you the moment they were given the chance?" The squirrel shook his head. "That's what'll kill you."

[Ashleg]

"Once they're defeated, there's no need to go any further." Said Grant firmly, holding his ground.
In the back, Fang nodded eagerly.

"An' I think yer forgettin' yer leader's a vermin." Fang said.'

[LT Sandpaw]

"What are you talking about?" Bracklew hissed glaring at Rapshade. "I'd like to see you try to take me out of anything with that broken leg." He rubbed his jaw irritably thinking hard.

"How many potential leaders are there usually in a horde? I don't think I can mass murder vermin. Even if I wanted too."

~*~*~*~*~

"Right you are Mister Drubbs," Petu agreed following along after Drubble. "I'm always a fan of a good meal myself."

[Ashleg]

"This is why I'm working on moving with my broken leg." Rapshade said, adjusting his paw to emphasize the point.
"One. Two at most. Unless they're really special, it'll probably be only her and maybe a second in command."

[Groddil]

"The Long Patrol. Great idea! I'd like to see you make the journey to Salamandastron and back before that horde burns this place to the ground. And the way I see it, you need all the help you can get, because this horde isn't something small like Rapshade's crew. They have two leaders. Any group with two leaders would have to be huge. So yes, by all means, go find Chrysanthe and Skipper, but if you turn us down, don't come crying to me when somebeast dies. And as for the reason we kill 'unnecessarily,' EVERYTHING we do has a reason. We don't let them escape, because they'll come back, stronger. They'll know our weaknesses, and exploit them. Even the damned Long Patrol does the same. Have you seen a badger with bloodwrath? They don't leave their enemies alive. They hunt them down when they scream for mercy. The only difference is that they have good publicity. We have a reason for being here, and that's because we don't let creatures die who don't deserve it. But the way you're going on, I'd say you want to invite Alfhild in for a bloody tea party and a friendly game of 'King of the Hill.' How many otters do you have? How many shrews? We can double their numbers easily, but we still have nothing on that horde. We need to work together to do this, whether or not it impacts what you believe, because quite frankly, I'd rather do something that others disagree with than die. What. About. You?"

[Ashleg]

"I would never be so-pardon my language-stupid, as to invite her in...But I certainly will not condone the taking of lives." Said Grant firmly, holding his ground.
"And you just have a thing against Badger Lords, seems like."

[Groddil]

"Of course I have a thing against badgers. I lost my ear to one of them, remember? And what, pray tell, do you suggest we do? If we don't give them some incentive to leave, they're just going to lay siege. So I STRONGLY suggest that either you think of another solution, or you agree to our plan."

[Ashleg]

"We can think of a peaceful way to go about this." Grant said, wiping flecks of snow off his whiskers. "If you'd like to stay and figure it out with us, we'd best hurry inside. It looks like a blizzard could be on its way."

[LT Sandpaw]

"Alright so that makes things easier." Bracklew said ignoring Rapshade's continued hints about getting rid of him. "So if these two 'potential leaders' are taken out of the picture, the horde will fall apart?"