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

[Ashleg]

"Maybe, but maybe not. I could care less about t' horde as long as I have Alfhild's head." Said Rapshade with a shrug.

[Groddil]

One-Ear scoffed.
"I haven't the faintest idea how you could possibly hope to deal with this situation peacefully. But fine. Vigil, move inside the Abbey. Charm, organize wallguards and patrols through the woods near the abbey. Asher, come with me. I need to talk to you."
The fox hobbled through the gates, followed by the majority of the Vigil. He turned to Grant.
"Lead the way, then."

[Ashleg]

"I will. Come on, Fang." Grant said, not waiting for anybeast before taking off across the courtyard. He did, however, stop to hold the door open.

[Hickory]

Asher hurried next to One-Ear. "Sir, when we were going through the tunnels to Redwall, we were attacked by somebeast. I... Your mother died."

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Well that's one way to break that kind of information . Hahaha, Asher is as sensitive and tactful as a rock lol. I love it. We gotta save that one.

BIC:

"A leaderless horde might be unpredictable," Bracklew considered as he sharpened his sword, running the whetstone down the steel methodically. "And while you might not care about a horde of vermin running around out of control, I do care. Suppose we convince them to fight amongst each other somehow, they could get rid of themselves. Say, these vermin, their superstitious right?"

[Hickory]

OOC: Changed it a little. You still have the original.

[Ashleg]

"How would I know? I'm superstitious, but a good majority of my crew wasn't. Not all vermin're superstitious..." Rapshade muttered, getting up and limping over to Bracklew to peer over the squirrel's shoulder at what he was doing.
"Doesn't seem like you'd need t' sharpen that old thing."

[LT Sandpaw]

Tapping the freshly honed blade Bracklew grinned and tested it on his claw pressing his fur against the battle edge. "This thing needs cleaned, and sharpened all the time, unlike Martin's sword. I've taken to treating it daily." He looked up and shuffled his stool a little farther from Rapshade.

"Well, we can try and make them think something 'more' is attacking them. But if you don't think it'll work." He shrugged dismissively. "We can try anyway, the last thing we want is a rampant horde rampaging through Mossflower, all it'll take to start it up again is a new leader. We'll have to do our best to scatter it."

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

At the head of a score of otters Aver rounded the Abbey building and stopped, blinking is surprise at the assembled mass of Vigil fighters. Some of the otters behind Aver barked greetings to a few of the Vigil members, typically the otters, some of which were related or old friends of Redwall's ottercrew. Coughing Aver glanced at Grant his face falling slightly.

"Bad time ter leave th' Abbey is it?"

[Ashleg]

"Apparently there's a horde." Said Grant through gritted teeth, wondering why he ever agreed to be Abbot. "Redwall is the safest place right now, as far as I'm concerned."

--

Rapshade curled his lip in distaste. "Th' last thing you need is a rampant horde. Remember, I'm just here for my aunt. Nothing more. Not separating hordes, protecting Redwall, or whatever else y' have in mind."

[LT Sandpaw]

"Oh that's right," Bracklew said dryly, rolling his eyes. "I almost forgot. Selfish, self-loving vermin can't be bothered to help anybeast but themselves. At least Fang has some sincerity to his crazy."


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


His eyes widening Aver looked questioningly at One-ear before motioning to the otters behind him. "Alrighty mates, two otters per wall, keep a sharp eye out an' give a call if'n ye see something." A few of the otter crew volunteered and ran off to take their posts. Aver checking to make sure enough went walked up to One-ear seemingly worried.

"Lookie matey, 'ow bad is this 'ere threat? I don' know th' Vigil well, but wot I 'ear tell ye lot ain't push overs, an if'n ye are comin' 'ere instead o' jus' dealin' with th' horde." He shrugged hopelessly. "I jus' hope Redwall is gonna be safe."

[Groddil]

One-Ear's eye twitched several times. His mouth hung open limply in a quiet growl. Suddenly, the fox grabbed Asher and shook him several times, roaring into his face.
"WHAT IN HELLGATES DO YOU MEAN? What. Happenned? Who. Did. THIS?"

*****

Somewhere in the collapsed tunnel, a claw twitched. Then a paw. Then a large, striped arm. The badger hauled himself upwards, grabbing his axe from the rocks. He stared at the vixen lying limp on the rocks.
"Hmph. I don't need to deal with you. But that son of yours..."
Turning his back on Mortembell, the badger exited the cave, collapsing the tunnel behind him.

[Hickory]

Asher wrenched away. "Stop it! You act like everyone is at fault when they aren't!" He sighed and rubbed his eyes before continuing. "To keep it simple, we were with Mortembell, on our way to the Abbey when we were attacked by something. The tunnel we were in collapsed, and Gukom and I were the only ones with a way out. The holes by the pond, but it's probably collapsed by now. Gukom can tell you the rest," he said, the last comment more then a little sour. The black squirrel walked back to the Vigil soldiers, pawing at a narrow, deep cut in his left arm, gouged there by a falling rock. It didn't matter.

[Ashleg]

"Don't talk about Fang like that." Rapshade hissed, getting all up in the squirrel's face.
"And if ye.....Self-loving? That's funny." The ferret paused so that he could scratch at his side. "Haven't I made it clear enough that I don't love myself? I don't love anything." His voice faded off as he turned so that his back was to Bracklew, swishing his tail.
"An' I'm not selfish. I know what's good fer me, that's all."

--

Fang whirled around when One-Ear screamed, hurrying to stay by Grant.
"Looks like there's a few screws loose with that 'un."
"Look who's talking." Grant huffed.

--

"So?" Glaser asked, eyeing Rosoce warily.
At last, the weasel cracked a smile and slung an arm around his shoulders.
"Yeah yeah, take me t' this Alfhild creature. I know the land better 'n' anybeast!"

[LT Sandpaw]

"Yeah," Bracklew countered angrily sheathing his sword snapping it into place. "Well you don't do a good job of showing it." He stood up glaring at Rapshade's back menacingly. For a few moments he clenched and unclenched his paw as if trying to decide whether to continuing their argument or not. Finally he huffed back his anger and sat back down.

"When do you think we should go?" He asked at last doing his best to keep his voice even.

[Ashleg]

"Since I'm not in charge, when do you think we should go?" Rapshade asked, smirking levelly at Bracklew. "I'm just the prisoner. Wouldn't want to overstep my boundaries, Sir."
He'd decided to toy with the squirrel as much as he could.

--

"Then c'mon." Glaser snapped.
Roscoe nodded and followed after him.

Why, Roscoe thought, It's better to make allies with the horde now than get caught by them later!