They Thought Redwall was Safe! (Is Redwall as Safe as they Say it is? Part 3!)

[LT Sandpaw]

"I messed up back there," Rayne admitted quietly, making sure that Roscoe couldn't hear them. "We're lucky he's very vain, or I could have gotten us killed by being so brash."

~*~*~*~

"To attack me? Sure, I know, which is why you aren't dead." Bracklew gave the ferret a look of disgust. "But I still smell deceit, you stink of it. Tell what you are up to, and if you don't..."
Turning on his heel Bracklew marched off towards the gatehouse, flicking his claws for Rapshade to follow. "I've got sword training to do."

~*~*~*~*~

"I've never known anybeast to not mind when I rob 'em." The rat laughed, it was a guttural unpleasant sound. "Nice try to get rid o' me though. I'll give ye an 'A' fer tact. Ye've got guts sonny, an' a sharp mind too, I c'n tell. So what do they call ye then young'un? Acorn, Pinecone... Asher? Them's very tree-micey names."

[Ashleg]

"My name's Maxy." said the white squirrel with a stifled laugh.
Anybeast who has the name 'Acorn' has my pity, he thought. He gave the rat a casual grin. "So, since I'm stuck with you, what's your name?"

--

Rapshade chased after him and skidded to a yelping halt.
"Oooohhhh," he moaned, "M'leg, I shouldn't have done that! Gaaah!" He leaned against the gatehouse wall, nursing the twisted limb. "Stupid," the ferret muttered, along with old pirate curses unfit for Bracklew's ears.
That was the closest Rapshade had gotten to his old self in a long time. Once the pain faded, his paranoia reclaimed him.
"...What was that you'd do t' me?"

--

Grant was quickly losing breath but still he managed to shoot Rayne a smile and call out up ahead, "Roscoe, dear, will you slow down? I cannot keep up in my old age!"

Roscoe smacked a bush in anger.
"What, first ya make me 'elp you an' now I have to match yer speed, too? Fine!" The weasel dropped back.
"But only if ya invite me fer dinner."

"He's taking advantage of me!" whispered Grant angrily.

[LT Sandpaw]

"Fastooth matey, they calls me Fastooth, an' I don' do nicknames." The rat replied, leering back at the squirrel with a toothy grin of his own. "I've been all o'er these woodlands, Maxy cully, an' I ain't ne'er 'appened across a beast quite like ye. So what gives? Wot's yer story, aside fr'm livin' at Redwall that is?"

~*~*~*~

Digging in a crate Bracklew produced two sparring sword, blunt wooden sticks shaped as swords generously provided by Drubble a few seasons back. Holding them both in his one good paw, Bracklew offered the hilts towards Rapshade.
"Take one Rappy, until you feel capable of telling me what you're trying to do by acting like that, we are practicing sword fighting." A ghost of a smile emerged on Bracklew's lips having heard Rapshade's obscenities, they only confirmed to Bracklew that there was a secret to be known. "Unless you'd like to tell me now?"

~*~*~*~*~

"Maybe this is a good thing." Rayne muttered to Grant under her breath. "We could get Duncan to teach him a few manners while he's there. Make sure he understands it is improper to kitnap and waylay Redwallers who're traversing Mossflower."
She gave Roscoe a wide smile when he got closer, bobbing her head respectfully. She was probably overplaying the act, but it was good to be cautious.

[Hickory]

"Perhaps these weren't needed, then," said Gruddil, strolling over to where a pair of shrews had opened the crate. "I remembered how last time you had mentioned the armory inventory was getting old. I decided to have our weaponsmiths make some premium rapiers for you. Nothing like a shrew weapon to serve you well."

A rack of rapiers lay within the crate, glittering in the sunlight.

[Ashleg]

Maxy slowed himself to a confident stride.
Fastooth didn't seem so bad.
"I don't know--nothing, really," the squirrel said, happy as he left the pebble behind. "I'm actually trying to give myself a story. You know, by coming into the woods."

--

"I'm not trying t' do anything," murmured Rapshade as he unwillingly took the wooden sword into his right paw and held it aloft.
He was could not deny it; he was scared of how this was going to go.
He felt his knees begin to shake.
"Well, let's get it over with."

--

Grant was about to reply to Rayne, but his words were cut short when he realized Roscoe was still there, lurking over him.
Like the mouse healer, he put on a foolish smile.
"Oh, yes, Roscoe. Redwall is always open to visitors who mean no harm."

[LT Sandpaw]

"I don't believe you." Taking up a ready stance, Bracklew swished the unbalanced wooden blade. It weighed more then a normal sword to give the arm strength and endurance, something Bracklew had trained hard on. Having only one paw to control the blade meant he wore down faster then the average creature.

"We will alternate between attacking and defending." He instructed, I will attack, FIRST!" Bracklew struck out aiming for the hilt of Rapshade's sword in an attempt to disarm him, immediately reposting and slashing savagely towards the ferret's neck.

~*~*~*~

"A story, so yer lookin' fer adventure." Fastooth stroked his chin, his eyes thoughtful. "Ye won' find much adventure or storytellin' material out 'ere cully. I've been livin' in these woodlands fer... Hell's teeth I've gone an forgotten 'ow long I've been 'ere! It was a bloody long time I c'n tell ye that. Anyway, th' best adventure ye'll find this neck o' th' woods is an ol' robber like me'self. Life's tough out 'er ye know, an not much 'appens. But, maybe I c'n 'elp ye find wot yer lookin' for..."

~*~*~*~*~

"Yes, we'd dearly appreciate having the king of the forest attend dinner with us. It would be lovely." Rayne said through her teeth. "As long as you cause no trouble at Redwall."

~*~*~*~

"A damn waste to give 'em up if'n ye ask me." A tough little shrew marched over to Charm and Gruddil, her boots thumping on the wooden planks as she stepped closer. Twaisen had held her tongue until then, but the idea that Gruddil might give well-crafted shrew rapiers away to Riverblue had been to much to bear. She had to say something.
"They'd be better served amongst th' Guosim, thas' what I've been sayin'."

[Ashleg]

"You think I'd cause trouble?" grinned Roscoe. He tipped his hat.
"I'm not just a troublemaker, Rayne. I plan things out so they make an effect..."

Grant folded his paws inside his habit sleeves. There was something admirable about the weasel's energy; it was as if everything was a game to him. The Abbot wished he could be that careless.
"I for one believe you," remarked the old mouse with a smirk. "You are worse than the Dibbuns."

--

Rapshade wasn't ready for the impact and his weapon went flying. It was all he could do to toss his paws up in front of his face and neck to intercept Bracklew's second move, and the sound the hit made stunned him.
He was thrown down on his back, like a turtle.
"Wait, wait, y'never said go!" the ferret cried as he scrambled to get his sword.

--

Maxy grinned in excitement.
"You could? Golly, Fastooth, that'd be great!"

[LT Sandpaw]

"An effect the likes of which not even ten seasons of troublesome dibbuns could ever hope to achieve." Rayne agreed, hiking her satchel higher on her shoulder. While they were walking she had noticed a few patches of herbs from her list, but they would have to wait until another time. Rayne wasn't sure Roscoe would delay long enough for her to collect any.
"Are we almost there Roscoe?" She asked, glancing at the sun. "It almost noon, we've been going for awhile now." So much for our nice relaxing walkabout. She added silently to herself.

~*~*~*~*~

Leaning on his practice sword, Bracklew watched through hooded eyelids as Rapshade recollected his weapon.
"Since when did anybeast start a fight on go?" He scoffed, "but I'll oblige. Your turn to attack, I'll defend."

~*~*~*~

"I don' see why not, shouldn' be too 'ard. If we put our minds to it, ye n' me, together we'd be some smart pair, heh." Reaching down to his boot Fastooth produced a dagger, which he casually flipped in-air and offered to Maxy hilt first. "'Ow are ye in a fight young'un? C'n I trust ye to watch me back if needed?"

[Ashleg]

"Nobeast takes turns durin' a fight either," Rapshade pointed out.
He collected himself and held the wooden sword together in his stinging paws. He was certain the blow had broken flesh but he had no time to look.
"Right, go."
The ferret shuffled forward and aimed an unbalanced cut at Bracklew's side. It was weak, albeit purposeful. He felt like a joke.

--

Roscoe followed Rayne's glance and shielded his eyes with a paw.
"Yeah, yeah, shut yer trap. A few more turns and we're there."

"Do not worry, Rayne, we still have time." Grant murmured reassuringly.

--

Maxy accepted the dagger with a sharp nod.
"Yeah, my dad and sometimes the Abbey Warrior are teaching me. I think I'm pretty good," he said, and tried to imitate Fastooth's moves.
Duncan wouldn't like him, echoed the squirrel's inner thoughts. He wiped them away. Fastooth seemed trustworthy, and Duncan could be biased sometimes.
"I say, I could watch your back. Could you watch mine?"

[LT Sandpaw]

Parrying the swing with ease Bracklew took a single step backward planting his footpaws. Thirteen seasons of practice, combined with the lack thereof from Rapshade made this fight wholly unfair. Not only that but Bracklew was in his prime while the ferret limped about like a cripple.

Sighing the squirrel warrior lowered his sword, dropping the tip into the grass. "This is getting me nowhere, I thought you'd have cracked after the first blow. And I can't continue, no matter how much I loath you. If you are trying to suck up to me and get on my good side, why?"

~*~*~*~

"Are we sure he knows the way?" Rayne whispered, concerned by flippant attitude of their weasel guide. "All of this might not be worth it if he gets lost as well. Maybe we should have asked him to escort us back to the riverbank, then we could've followed your shortcut back."

~*~*~*~

"Cully," Fastooth said, lowering his voice and pretending to be real serious. "I'll not jus' watch ye back, I'll cover yer front too, cause thas' the important side." Winking the rat suddenly changed course pointing towards a few distant trees. "Yer adventure be this way Maxy, we jus' gotta stop by my place an' get a few things first ye see."

[Ashleg]

"I'm not," Rapshade let the sword go limp in his paw, but he didn't release it.
"I think you made me bleed."

--

Grant ground his teeth together nervously. He was a rodent, he was good at that.
"I'm sure he knows the wa--oh, look up ahead!"
The Abbot pointed happily.

The river was visible through the brush.
Roscoe grinned in a self-loving, accomplished way, and kicked a plant aside.
"Uh-huh. Behold, yer precious blue stream of liquid!"

--

"Supplies for the adventure?" Maxy asked as he bounded along after the grizzled rat.
He spun and pretended to stick his dagger into a pretend enemy, and then laughed to himself. If Stumbly could see him now, he would look at her and say "See? I can handle me."

[Groddil]

The mousemaid in question had already left earshot of the squirrel, following the group of otters as they crossed the river. Stumbly ran across a fallen log, careful not to lose her balance, and joined the chase once more. After a short trek, the otters stopped in another clearing. The mouse ducked behind a bush and peered through, waiting to see what would happen next.



Charm took a rapier from the box and tossed it in her hand.
"If you have no use for them, it won't hurt to have 'em. A few guards are still getting by on rusty blades, or staffs."

[LT Sandpaw]

"You'll heal." Stepping forward Bracklew tapped Rapshade's sword paw with his practice sword. "Drop that and head up to the infirmary and have Rayn- oh wait." For a moment he had almost forgotten that Rayne and Grant left to gather herbs that morning.
"Never mind, it's not that bad, just go wash it in the pond." Bracklew decided if Rapshade wouldn't talk after being hit once, no amount of one-sided sword bashing would change his mind. And no matter how much Bracklew hated the ferret he wouldn't lower himself to mercilessly beating a practically defenseless beast, even in search of answers.

~*~*~*~

"My fears were misplaced it would seem." Rayne admitted stepping out after Roscoe and Grant. Turning she looked expectantly from mouse to weasel. "So, on to Redwall?"

~*~*~*~*~

"Aye, I suppose ye could say that." Fastooth said, not committing to a direct yes or no. "Ordinary stuffs, like rope, flint n' kindlin', some oil, a few masks, ye know adventurey things. Me home in'nt far, I'll explain after."

Fastooth led the way along his personal footpaths, taking the shortest route possible. After a while they arrived at the base of a large fallen tree, which at first glance seemed like an ordinary fallen trunk, but a closer inspection revealed paw prints and other small signs of life showing somebeast or beasts lived there.

"Wait 'ere, no need botherin' th' mistress wit' visitors." Fastooth grunted to Maxy before vanishing inside. He was back in no time carrying a haversack that looked far too well-made to be acquired by honest means. Leaving his home behind, Fastooth led the way towards their new destination, explaining to his new companion what their "adventure" would be.

"O'er in that direction lies a tribe o' villains who've been plaguin' these lands fer who knows 'ow long. Nasty likkle tree vermin, far too many fer any one beast to deal wit' on 'is own, or even ten beasts for that matter. But thas' where yer skills an' me brains come in. Ye followin'?"

[Ashleg]

Rapshade imminently dropped the sword and scampered over to the crystal blue pond, lowering himself to plunge his paws in.
His clouded eyes boredly scanned the water.
I wonder if there's fish in here.

"Er, coming, Bracklew."

--

"It's only noon. Don't you want to look for herbs?" Grant asked.
Roscoe tipped his head towards the Abbot.

--

Maxy indignantly opened his mouth, about to ask if Fastooth thought him dumb, but he changed his mind.
"I'm following," he started, eyeing the bag. "What I'm not grasping is why you want to get them. Do they have treasure or something, or are they just annoying?"

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Timeskip for Bracklew, Rapshade, Grant, Rayne, and Roscoe?

IC:

"Yes, that's what we originally came out here for isn't it?" Rayne laughed, it was almost like Grant had read her mind. She thought Roscoe would force march them all the way back to Redwall, but she jumped at the opportunity to get her work done. Opening her satchel she dug around for her list and knife, murmuring the different wild herbs she needed to collect under her breath.

~*~*~*~

"To 'elp out me good friend Maxy o' course." The rat cried in offense, placing a paw on his hip. "I'm 'urt cully, ye think I might 'ave exterior motives don' ye?"
Fastooth shook his head in good humor, lowering his gaze in defeat. "Ah, who am I kiddin', maybe I do. Them tree rats 'ave been messing wit' what's rightfully mine. An' there in'nt no profit to be 'ad off'n wot they get their grimy likkle paws on. So we'll deal wit' 'em an' get wot we both want. A tree-rat free Mossflower, an' a heroic story to tell back at that Abbey o' yers. Yew could even leave me out o' it completely an' say t'was all ye, thas' wot I'd prefer. So, do we gotta deal matey?"
Fastooth held out his paw to shake, his yellow eyes like those of a snake, never once faltering in their charade.