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

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: So she is.

IC:


The cool water helped Bracklew recover some of his scattered senses. The squirrel greedily drained the cup wishing there was more. As Vadoma moved away he watched her curiously, even recognizing some of the herbs that she was sorting through.

"Why are you helping me?" He asked after a short pause. "I was sure Alfhild was going to kill me, I expected to die."

~*~*~*~*~*~

It was early morning. Very early, the sun hadn't even risen yet, but Rayne the mouse infirmary keeper was awake. Awake and agitated. Stepping as fast as she could through the halls she reached the Abbot's door. Rayne knew the Abbot had been up late, discuss the horde's looming threat with Charm, and he had only recently gone to bed, all for naught, it was poor luck on his part to be woken up this early.

Rapping hastily on the door, the mouse healer wrapped a brown blanket tighter around her shoulders to keep out the winter chill, bouncing from one cold paw to the other nervously. "Oh please get up Father Abbot, I don't know what to do. Them both missing, the sword left there on the bed. Oh what could have happened?"

[Ashleg]

"Information." Said Vadoma curtly, heaving out a puff of air that was visible because of the cold.
"And she isn't going to kill you. She's going to trick you into killing yourself. That ferret is the biggest doublecrosser I've ever seen..."

Meanwhile, in her tent, Alfhild sucked in a sharp breath of air and raised her claws to strike Rapshade. He merely held his gaze with a wavering smirk.
"Don't talk to me like I'm useless, Aunt. I can do it right back, I'm good at that."

--

Grant grumpily muttered something before unlocking the door, looking tired and unkempt as he stared down at Rayne.
"Wha...? Who's gone?"

[Groddil]

One-Ear nodded making sure the rope attached to his waist was tight. He tossed a rock into the stream and nodded. It was swept downriver, slowly at first, but then shooting off into the darkness shortly thereafter.
"Good thing too. I'd hate to have to keep going that way. I'll lead the way, come on."
The fox started to lead the way down the tunnels.

[LT Sandpaw]

"She knows I want to die," Bracklew said slowly, considering what Vadoma had said. "If anything she'll keep me alive just to hurt me."


~*~*~*~*~*~

"The ferret Rapshade!" Rayne cried wringing out her paws nervously, "And Bracklew, they weren't in the infirmary, or the cellars. And Martin's sword was lying on Bracklew's bed, I don't know where they could be, and they couldn't have snuck out could they? The Vigil is guarding the walls."

~*~*~*~*~

Following close behind the fox Aver scrutinized the tunnels thoughtfully. His torch cast flickering shadows across their slimy walls, and his footpaws sank into the muddy floor periodically.
"Say mates, 'ow old ye think these 'ere tunnels are?" He spoke up suddenly, "I've nigh heard o' them afore now."

[Ashleg]

Grant furrowed his brow in confusion. "The ferret and Bracklew? Why in the world would they want to sneak off together?!"

[Groddil]

One-Ear shrugged.
"No idea. I had some idea of tunnels beneath the Abbey, but the records said they had been sealed up long ago. M...Mother told me that."
Falling silent, One-Ear continued to trudge through the tunnels.

*****

Closer than the travelers would like to believe, two pairs of prying eyes stared at them from above. A long collapsed tunnel wound its way up to a drop-off in one of the many larger caverns the group walked through. Shrouded in the darkness, the things watched for a moment, then slid back down the tunnel.
"REEEE! GEEEEE! WABBA LABBA NNNNNAMAGA!"
"WABBA LABBA?"
"YON METTA BLOOG!"
"METTA BLOOG!"
The creatures left the tunnel and stumbled into a cave with the consistency of honeycomb. Many tunnels, large and small, branched off deeper into the earth. The things ran towards more of their kind; strange beasts that almost looked mole-ish, but were quite smaller, with paws far too large for a normal mole.
"YON METTA BLOOG!"
The rest of the things snarled and snickered, licking their huge claws. The two newcomers ran towards one creature that was larger than the others; obviously a leader.
"WABBA LABBA! NNNNNAMAGA! YON METTA BLOOG?"
"YON METTA BLOOG. YON METTA BLOOG!"
"YON METTA BLOOG!"
The creatures were working themselves into a frenzy. They danced around waving their claws, some accidentally hitting their own kin. The largest creature dashed back towards the tunnel, where there was a large lump of metal wedged into the rocks. It removed the metal, which had been molded into a paw shape, and slid it over one of its paws. Holding the gauntlet aloft, the thing continued to shout and screech.
"YON METTA BLOOG! WABBA LABBA YAGAMAGAZUGA!"
Echoing the strange shouts, the mob of beasts darted down the tunnel after their leader.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Huh?

IC:

Shaking her ears Rayne closed her eyes trying to imagine in what situation Bracklew would sneak off with Rapshade. Though she couldn't imagine any, it remained the only likely option. Rapshade wouldn't be able to escape on his own, her own medical assessment confirmed that. A horrible realization hit her, and she gasped, staring horrified at the Abbot. "He might be taking Rapshade off to kill him." It was a horrible thing to consider, but very possible. "We have to stop him Father Abbot, but where could they be?"

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

Pushing his way into Vadoma's tent Fastooth glanced around, from Vadoma to Bracklew a satisfied smirk on his face. Grunting he exited the tent without a word to either of them and marched over to where Farden was waiting.

"Chief, th' prisoner be awake, th' vixen 'as 'Im all patched up fer ye."

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

"I was never much one fer Abbey school meself mate." Aver admitted sweeping his torch back and forth to light their way. Brushing a few damp cobwebs aside as he did. "Tho' I do recall a lesson 'bout some cat castle, an' 'ow it sank unner th' Abby. But twas a castle, not long tunnels like these 'ere. Wot about ye Asher mate? Ever 'eard o' anythin' like this eh?"

[Hickory]

Asher shook his head. "Nope. Though it'd sure make a great hideout, if theplace wasn't a wreck."

{*}

"Very well," said the wildcat. He stood up from the fallen tree trunk he had been sitting at, walking over to Vadoma's tent and pushed the flap inside. Wrinkling his nose at the herbal smells, he nodded to the fox. "I assume Alfhid didn't put him too close to Dark Forest, aye?"

[Ashleg]

"She was too merciful in my opinion." Vadoma grumbled, dusting her paws off.
"What do you want, Fardan?"

Rapshade got off of Alfhild, glaring daggers at her while she did the same right back at him.
"How'd y' come across Mossflower, huh, Aunt?"
"The same way you did."
"By accident..?"
Alfhild shook her head and burst out laughing.

--

Grant's eyes widened, but then he coughed and shook his head.
"I trust Bracklew! You really think he'd drop to the level of 'Come outside so I can kill you'?"

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Forever alone

[Groddil]

"True, it would. Although I think what you already told me about this "Moledeep" place should give us a good enough hideout. They've already proven their strength in open combat. I guess it's time for Guerrilla tactics...What was that?"
"BLOOG!"
One-Ear drew his blade, turning back and forth to try an locate the noise.
"You here that?"
"YON METTA BLOOG! AFAJIKI MANGLA BLOOG!"
"What is going on?"
Suddenly, a wave of the strange creatures poured from a hole in the ceiling. Three of them landed on One-Ear slashing at him with their claws. More descended upon the fox's companions as the leader continued to shriek and point within the hole.
"MANGLA BLOOG! YON CRACKA SKILLI!"

*****

Near Redwall's front gate, the badger emerged from the trees. He shouldered his battleaxe and tried to make his dusty tunic look as respectable as possible. He mumbled to himself as he approached the abbey.
"Managed to deal with the vixen. Still need to get rid of the son. Hmm... If I can get in without him noticing... Just a gamble I'll need to take."
The badger smacked on the door with one of his massive paws.
"Is anyone there?"

[Ashleg]

Duncan slowly opened the door, sticking his head out.
"Who in th' bally blazes is knockin' this early in the morning?!" As his eyes trailed up, he realized that it was a badger.
A badger?!

Fangfang appeared behind Duncan, standing tip-pawed to see around him.
"Grief, Duncan, not a badger, they make me wanna choke!"

[Groddil]

The badger pulled a wide grin and took a short bow.
"Ah, you look like a fighting hare, sir. One that's seen a lot of years, am I right? Where're you from? Salamandastron? The Mountains of the North? Ah, but forgive me, I failed to introduce myself. Lord Seacloak of the Wetlands, at your service."

[Hickory]

The first creature to attack Asher landed on the tip of his dirk. Shoving off the body he pushed over to One-Ear, slaying two other of the beasts. "One-Ear, we need to stay together. Where's Aver?"

[Ashleg]

"Then go inside," Duncan told Fang before glancing up at the badger and chuckling awkwardly.
"Salamandastron indeed, kind sir. I'm Duncan Winterberry and I'm glad to be at your service."