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

[Hickory]

Brow furrowed, Asher decided on a solution. "If we could fashion a larger surface - perhaps a plank o' wood - to our feet, it would make it far easier to walk across without sinkin'."

[LT Sandpaw]

His tail was starting to hurt from the cramped position he was in, plus his ankles and wrists were swelling from how tight the cords were. Bracklew set his jaw and tried to chew the ropes to no avail. Looking up Bracklew snarled in Rapshade's direction, he was unable to see the ferret well, his night vision not being as good.

"Why don't you stop insulting me, and get us out." Bracklew spat his fur bristling. "Or are you just as trapped as I am?"

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

"No wood mate," Aver grunted putting down Asher's plan. "Look jus' wade right betwixt me'n One-ear. If'n it gets to deep we'll jus' boost ye up."

[Ashleg]

Rapshade shifted uncomfortably as he tried to think of a way out.
I'm not as strong as I used to be... The ferret laughed nervously while trying to put on a calm expression. "Erm, at t' count of three, claw and wriggle like there's no tomorrow.."

[LT Sandpaw]

"One, two, three." Rapshade counted off. Seething inside Bracklew began wriggling about trying to get some part of himself loose of the ropes. A sudden slip made him hiss in pain, but the cast containing his left paw finally came loose allowing his to slip his useless left paw free.

Furious that he would get so close, yet so far Bracklew kicked his paws in fury, his footpaw thumping against a stone as he did so. Relizing a way out he began searching the mud and snow under him with his free paw, he was unable to see anything useful in the pitch darkness. Instead he squinted in Rapshade's general direction.

"Rapshade, you have good night vision right? Do you have any flint near you? I got my left paw free, I could saw through the ropes."

[Ashleg]

Rapshade kicked and struggled, too, but he couldn't do much with a broken leg and so when Bracklew asked him the question the squirrel had his full attention.
"Thanks for th' compliment, I guess...Flint, eh?...Flint..." The ferret squinted, catching sight of something just out of his reach.
"No flint. But there's an arrowhead layin' there in the snow, and it looks sharp, too. I could try to stretch and get it..."

[Hickory]

Asher nodded, starting to wad into the water, only to stop and wait for the others. "Hopefully this works."

[LT Sandpaw]

With Aver leading the three splashed their way through the muddy underground river. After an unknown time of slogging Aver could feel his arm getting sore, he was holding their only torch up above his head so as to keep it alight. It was a constant fight against the rushing waters and he wasn't sure how long they had remained underground. In the constant gloom without any recognizable passage of time. Begining to feel nervous Aver scanned the tunnel sides hoping to find a place where they could climb out and rest.

"There mates," He called to the others pointing with his free paw. "Les' cross an' make it to th' bank there. Looks like there might be another tunnel, an' land."


~*~*~*~*~*~

"Get it," Bracklew hissed pressing his weight against Rapshade in an attempt to push the ferret farther. "Once you get it, shove it in my left paw. I'll cut myself loose." He remained silent for a moment then said. "And once I'm out I'll get you free too."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"There ye are chief." Fastooth called having finally found the wildcat. Saluting smartly the rat officer came to attention before addressing the dangerous feline. "Chief Alfhild want's ye, an' I got me report too. We found th' Abbey, scouted round a bit an' captured a squirrel, says e' is from the Abbey itself." Fastooth spewed, hoping to get some words of praise from the cat.

[Hickory]

Fardan stared disdainfully at the rat officer. He made a small nod and said, "We should get moving then. Where did you encounter the squirrel?" he said, brushing by Fastooth and starting towards the camp.

[Ashleg]

Rapshade half gasped half squeaked as Bracklew suddenly pushed on him, causing the ferret to slide down a bit through the ropes. Grimacing his embarrassment away, he stretched as far as he could till he had the shard under a footpaw.
"Stupid ice, stupid snow. We didn't have this where I'm from..." Rapshade muttered as he tried to inch the glass towards him.
"I think I've got it. Y' will get me out, savvy? Ach!" His face screwed up in agony. "I--I think I've cut myself! Here, take it an' don't speak a word of this! Agh..."

[LT Sandpaw]

Groping about wildly in the dark Bracklew managed to find Rapshade's footpaw. Securing the now bloody arrowhead he clutched it between his pinkie and left ring claws sawing away at the ropes that bound them.
"It's all slippery," Bracklew snapped in irritation, the awkward grip he was forced to use wasn't helping matters either. "If I catch your horrible disease from putting my paw in your blood I swear to Martin I'll tear your heart out, wait, hold on I got my other paw out." The ropes snapped and Bracklew wrenched his good paw free, getting the sharp glass in a better hold. A few tense minutes later he had cut himself completely loose and began on Rapshade's bindings.

Careful not to cut the ferret Bracklew slashed away cutting through the last of the ropes just as the arrowhead disintegrated into dust.

[Ashleg]

"It's not contagious, I inherited it." Rapshade coughed, grinning and shooting up as soon as his ropes fell off. He smirked at Bracklew and nodded once.
"Thanks, I guess. Lead th' way, we'll go regroup."
The smirk only grew wider.

[LT Sandpaw]

"We're here now," Bracklew insisted gathering up the extra strands of rope and looping them over his shoulder. "And we have no more supplies, it's not like we can find food out here in the winter. We should do what we came here for and then get back to Redwall. Fast."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Ere a short ways away from th' Redwall place chief." Fastooth answered as he jogged behind the wildcat to keep up. "In a likkle run down cabin, a ways south n' west o' here. Th' squirrel tried ter fight, an' e' weren't no slouch neither. Tho' Skintail belted 'Im upcross th' skull, laid 'Im out flat 'e did."

[Ashleg]

Rapshade nodded humbly, allowing Bracklew to pass him with his head down.
"Cert'nly, Sir." The ferret murmured, breaking into a sleazy little grin behind the squirrel's back. Suddenly, he turned and ran in the opposite direction with surprising agility for a wounded ferret with a broken leg. "Hey, somebeast help! Everybeast wake up, your little squirrel's escaping!"

Alfhild grabbed her bow and practically shot out of her tent, crashing into Glaser on the way.
"Who in th' world is yellin'--"
"It's the ferret, Cheif! I guess he's on our side."
"I know that now!" Alfhild snapped, dealing a blow to the rat's head that sent him sprawling into the bushes.
"FARDAN!" She screeched, "We can't have our information-giver free, and I'd sooner turn the snow RED with his blood than have him get back to Redwall safely!"

[LT Sandpaw]

"Wha," Bracklew spun around confusion evident on his face. That confusion soon changed to anger and he rushed after Rapshade only to find a squad of surprised sentries sprinting past the ferret. Twisting around the young squirrel's eyes widened in panic as bleary faced vermin rushed from every direction trying to figure out what was going on.

Panicking Bracklew threw the rope he had collected into the face of an oncoming stoat he darted away in the only direction he could go. Up. Unfortunately for Bracklew the tree he had Rapshade had been tied too was standing alone in the middle of a small clearing. It wasn't a large plant, but it put him well out of the sentries' reach.

Clinging to the top branches he watched as they milled about pointing up into the dark boughs. Their weapons glinting in the dim moonlight as they surrounded him, blocking off any possible escape rout.

"There 'e went, up in th' tree."

"Somebeast bring a torch, an' get clear fer th' chief you curs!" Roared another voice. The vermin parted to make way for Farden and Alfhild.

[Hickory]

The angry screams of his partner brought Fardan into a full on run. He left Fastooth behind and burst out of the forest next to Alfhid. Quickly assesing the situtiation, he turn to Alfhid'. "Which direction?!"

Without waiting for an answer he saw Rapshade pointing to where Bracklew had gone. "Fastooth," he rapped as the captain stumbled into the camp, out of breath. "Get twenty others and follow me." He took off, but it was only a few sprints to the tree. Disappointed at the missed oppurtunity for a chase, he stared up at the squirrel, his yellow eyes boring into Bracklew's. "We'll get you don eventually," he muttered. "Coward."