Invasion of Bugs

right|300pxInvasion of Bugs is a fanfic for the wiki. It features arthropods as the main villains.
===Notes===
Before we begin, here's some heads ups.
*Don't expect me to include any songs or a riddle from Martin, poetry was never my thing (and I'm terrible at it).
*Some of the characters I'll feature will be named after other fictional-characters, though others will have names I just made up.
*I can do the speed-impediments of hares and various birds, but not moles.
*I'll still use the in-universe terminology (somebeast, everybeast etc.), but I'm also gonna switch around between it and real-world terminology too (by having characters be referred to as "man", "woman" and "person").
==Prologue==
A bright day shines over Redwall, and a Eurasian nuthatch chirps in a tree placed conveniently near Redwall's infirmary, but it gets interrupted by strange noises going on in the room itself. Inside were two moles, a male and a female, and the latter was clearly giving birth. A badger-maid wearing a green-veil and red-gown was the infirmary-keeper. Her name was Scarlette Broadstripe and she was a descendant of Bulbrock Broadstripe. "You're doing great Telma, just a little more" she urges to the mole, revealing her name as Telma Furrel, though she wasn't descended of the mole Durby Furrel, but her husband, Jala Furrel was: he wore a brown bonnet, red-breeches and beige-mantle. He held his wife's hand worriedly, but a second later, a baby's cry suddenly joined them. Telma was panting, but relieved, "got it, and it's a boy, but you're not gonna believe your eyes" Scarlette claims, but the last statement slightly alarmed the mole parents until the badger presented the child, and now they know what she meant: the baby's skin was an abnormal white in color, "that's weird, why's he white?" Jala asks, "not sure, but he could've contracted albinism, like Urthwyte the Mighty and the Pure Ferrets" Scarlette shrugs handing the baby to Jala, and together the adult moles look at him fondly, "well albino or not, I still love him" Telma asserts, "what shall we call him" Jala asks, "I think Kav, Kav Furrel" Telma suggests, though little did the moles know, the albinism wouldn't be the only thing out of the ordinary for their child.
==Chapter one==
Fifteen years, give or take, have passed since the albino mole has been added to the abbey. He definitely stood out as an anomaly. Some joked about his appearance: calling him "snow-mole", "ghost-mole" or even "mini-Urthwyte", Kav thought the last one was silly, but he didn't object to any of them. During the winter, the albinism proved useful: allowing him to blend in with the snow and ice. It made it almost impossible to find him, and he took advantage whenever he was mischievous or in trouble. The downside in being albino was that it was easier for him to get sunburns, and he had to stay in the shade more frequently than others on bright sunny days, unless there were clouds obscuring the sun. Today he was bringing in some fruit from the spring-harvest to cavern-hole and was now dressed in a purple-hose and sandals. Unfortunately he wasn't looking where he was going and tripped, spilling the fruit underneath Martin's tapestry. Massaging his sore chest, he gathered the fruit closest to him and putting it all back in the basket before catching a glint from Martin's sword hanging under the tapestry. Kav always wondered why it was never given to a mole: only mice, squirrels, otters, and even a hare were special enough to be worthy of being champions. Kav though thought he was special due to his color, and while he has grown interested in warrior-conduct, he doubted his color would be enough to cement him as Redwall's next champion, but there hadn't been a warlord around to prove it, yet. "Staring at the sword again Kav?" said a voice, startling Kav who turned to see it was only Abbot Giotto, a male shrew, and the first shrew to ever become an abbot, and like all abbots and abbesses he wore a brown-habit. "Sorry father abbot, just thinking why there's never been a mole champion at any time, I mean I wouldn't mind being the first" Kav admits much to Giotto's amusement, "oh don't worry: with how popular Redwall became to vermin, I'm sure you'll wind up being the bearer of that title, now come on: friar Bairdon Bardwing is waiting" said Giotto and he helped Kav pick up the rest of the fruit, then strolled to cavern-hole.
Inside, the usual activity was going. The friar, as it turns out, was an owl, and as his name would suggest, he was a descendant of Asio Bardwing. He was actually pretty good with the utensils and all around a nice guy, and has an obsession for food-related jokes, which could get annoying. Due to his size everyone was too afraid to sneak into the kitchen to steal from it...well almost everyone. "Git you gluttons, or you'll be added to my recipes, git" shouted a voice and a juvenile female hare wearing a black-gown bursts out of the kitchen, followed by an otter-boy dibbun who was naked (and had a sword-shaped birthmark between his pecs) and one angry owl dressed in the friar-uniform, but stops when they were out of his territory, then turns to see Giotto and Kav. "Oh there you are Kav, thanks for getting the fruit for me" he expressed and happily takes the basket, "Zonder and Alzbeta giving you trouble again, burr aye?" Kav asks, "yep" Bairdon claims and heads back into the kitchen while Kav went to look for the rogues, reasoning they had vacated cavern-hole until he spotted them under a table. "Is he gone?" said the otter who was known as Zonder Banksnout and he was a descendant of Ruddle Banksnout, "he's gone, you can come out now" Kav assures and both Zonder and the hare emerge: the hare was named Alzbeta Grang and was a descendant of Rockjaw Grang, "that owl is bally scary when mad wot" she notes, "that's partly because you guys are the only ones around brave or stupid enough to rob him" Kav corrects when a male hedgehog wearing only a yellow-hose and a female bat wearing nothing but a belt approach them: the hedgehog was named Erinaceus Quill, Erin for short, making him a descendant of Durry Quill. He came to Redwall as a baby when his home got ransacked by vermin, though his parents returned to their old home and still live there today, he chose to stay after meeting Kav. The bat was a Daubenton's bat named Myotis, and she was one of the abbey's orphans: Redwall never had to care for a bat before, but Zonder's holt found her one night all alone crying, claiming her parents were killed by some sort of bird (though she denies the bird being an owl), and was taken in by Bairdon. Unlike most bats she had abandoned her kind's concept of repeating the last words of her sentences twice, and no one's sure why, not even her. "Hey Erin, hey Myotis" Alzbeta greets eager to change the subject, "guys you've got to see what Myotis does with a Blowpipe" Erin said giddily and Kav, Zonder and Alzbeta follow the hedgehog and bat outside.
----
At Loamhedge, in what was left of the Kingdom of Malkariss, there was an army gathered. You would think they were vermin, but what sets these vermin apart were the fact that they were all arthropods: insects, arachnids, myriapods etc. Dwelling in the shadows was the top-banana: a big muscled female Megarian banded centipede wearing a green-cloak, a yellow-gown, a belt and two sashes sat looking at a map she found of the continent she was on. She had circled many landmarks she deems worthy of a takeover, but one pegged her interest: Redwall Abbey. According to the woodlanders she menaced and her own scouts, the abbey has gained a reputation for itself due to the long list of vermin who wanted it and paid with their lives. She couldn't even count all the warlords it faced, but what really interested her about the place was it's legendary sword and it's wielder. The centipede reasoned the sword must be a powerful weapon and the wielder a powerful warrior, and she liked tackling powerful foes with powerful weapons: she has actually defeated several such warriors herself and took their weapons. She didn't wanna rush into it though, there were plenty of other places ripe for conquering, like Salamandastron, which didn't get attacked as much as Redwall, but it was home to badgers, unfortunately it was a far walk from Loamhedge. Castle Floret was closer than either, but most warlords don't seem interested in it at all (and only one was ever encountered), and she wasn't even gonna bother looking for Noonvale: that place was impossible to find, and even if she did find it, she doubted beating it will be hard; most if not all the residents weren't combative one bit, and she wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even know how to fight or wield a weapon properly. Castle Marl was also ruled out due to being a home for peace-loving vermin, even though it too was closer. Her contemplation was interrupted by a male Common hawker dragonfly wearing a blue-smock and a belt and carrying two Rapiers. "Yes?" she asks, "mistress, I have obtained directions on how to get to Redwall Abbey, if you desire it" the dragonfly claims, and his name was Fastwing, "well, I was thinking of going there anyway, spread the word" she orders and Fastwing complies, then she returned to the map to see what would be used as her base against Redwall: she thought about where Saint Ninian's Church used to be, but that place got destroyed after three bands of vermin used it. She wasn't so sure about Brockhall either: sure it hasn't been destroyed, but it was already used as a nest for adders and a lair by a pair of sables, and the centipede feared it too will be destroyed if she used it. No, better if she set up at someplace lesser known, someplace that can't be destroyed even if you wanted to. In the end she decided on Moledeep, then packed up the map and gathered her gear. "Look alive Redwall Abbey, for Wuya the Toxic shall bring your doom" she says to no one.
==Chapter two==
Dusk arrives over Redwall, but there was activity going on. At the pond, Kav was fishing with his father, both intent on getting a big enough fish for tonight's feast. Kav's friends, plus Scarlette the badger, Zonder and another, though younger and male, hare wearing a teal-mantle watched. This was Alzbeta's little brother Ganner Grang. Also present were a few northern shoveler-ducks giving some room. Suddenly Kav felt his line get tugged. "Got something" he exclaims and reels it in, though the opponent was fighting back, "need some help here" he cries and both his father and friends join in, eventually brining in a whopping tench-fish (also called doctor-fish), but it refused to surrender and the mammals squabble to subdue it before Erin wraps a net around it, "got it" he presents, "Bairdon's gonna have a field-day with this big beast" Myotis remarks when Bairdon himself arrives, "have a field day with what?" he wonders, and Erin presents the tench, making the owl gasp, "whoa, this will work perfectly for my recipe, good catch Erin" he applauds, "actually Kav brought it in, I just helped" Erin corrects, "oh, well good catch to all then" Bairdon corrects and happily takes the fish, "well, I best be getting back to my foremole duties, hurr" Jala says and leaves himself, and that left only the adolescents and two dibbuns, "so now what?" Ganner wonders, "why don't you two go and play catch with those goofy squirrels?" Alzbeta suggests and Zonder thought it was a good idea, "yeah, let's play Rogue Crew" he proposes and both dibbuns run off, leaving the teens, just when a beautiful female mole wearing a black-bonnet and a pink-kirtle with a chemise approach them, "ooh look alive Kav: Nomi's here" Myotis teases making the albino mole blush: Nomi was Kav's unrequited crush and she seems to have a thing for him too, "burr aye you've got to see the sunset" she requests eagerly and, having nothing else to do, the four follow her up and spy a rather dashing sunset in the direction you'd find Salamandastron, a few lesser noctule-bats could be seen darting around, "it's actually nice" Erin notes, "wonder if you can see Salamandastron from here" Alzbeta expresses, "I already tried that a few times, and no, you can't" Nomi laments, "well, the twilight is still lovely" Kav interjected, but he was more interested in Nomi, "careful you don't get burned from it snow-mole" said a new (and rather provocative) voice and everyone see a male vole wearing a yellow-chaperone and orange-mantle named Darovit: if there was one woodlander Kav didn't like, it was Darovit the vole; Darovit thought Kav's albinism made him a freak of nature, and took every opportunity to insult him for it, mostly because Kav's albinism made him popular, "oh buzz off Darovit" Erin seethed: he hated the vole with a passion, "whatcha gonna do spikey-hair?" Darovit counters and this made Erin madder: he hated it when the vole called him that. Just when it looked like a fight would happen, the bells ring, signaling the feast was beginning, "saved by the bells, come on guys, don't worry about Darovit" Nomi begs though the vole left himself, "gr that rodent just ticks me off" Erin rants, "well so much for a romantic evening" Kav laments, "oh I still enjoyed it" Nomi claims.
----
Around south of Redwall, the darkness grew until there was no more light. A roe deer was feeding on some plants when it felt the ground shake. Alarmed it darted off, and not long after a Callovosaurus was stampeding northward, pulling a cart along. And in that cart were Wuya the Toxic and her horde. She kept her eyes peeled for any landmarks and spotted Saint Ninian's ground. "Ah, not much longer now" she calculates and keeps her eyes focused for Moledeep. She caught a glimpse of Redwall, and made note of the direction to get to it afterwards. Eventually, she deemed they had made it and steered the iguanodont into a bog, then separates the harness used to link the cart with a big animal with a Sabre, and after the dinosaur turns and fled, she took control personally and swerves the cart to stop it, making it do a wheelie too. Once it settled, she took in the location: the only sign of life was a Eurasian woodcock-bird foraging for worms. It didn't take her long to find the entrance to Moledeep though, and turns to her horde. "We have arrived my fellow arthropods: from here our web of shadows shall spread, starting with Redwall-Abbey" she declares and the horde cheers. Wuya waited until they were ready for her to talk more, which wasn't long, and she began doing a head-count. "Fastwing, you there?" she requests, "right here mistress" the dragonfly reveals, "Bigjaw?" she suddenly asks and out came a blood-red ant wearing a dark grey-mantle, a belt and carried a Lance: he was a type of slave-making ant, only his slaving nature didn't apply to other ants, but woodlanders, Wuya simply nods at his presence, "Tubemouth?" she asks and everyone parts way to reveal a long-legged assassin-bug wearing a black-mantle, orange-hose and carried a blowpipe and Dagger. As his species would suggest, he was an assassin who carried Wuya's deeds to end a life quickly and quietly. He was looking a little woozy from the ride, but Wuya wasn't concerned, "Hardskin?" she asks and up came a wood tiger beetle wearing a white-hose, a yellow-bonnet, a belt, a teal-cloak and wields a Cutlass: he was a heavy-hitter, yet quite agile too, and Wuya found him useful in making hit-and-runs, "right here" he reveals and Wuya nods, "Slashtail?" she asks and presenting itself next was a female ruby-tailed wasp wearing a brown-gown, a yellow-veil and wields a pair of War scythes: she was known to be a spy, due in part her race being brood-parasites (meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of bees), "good, Bigeye?" Wuya requests and a female dark giant horsefly wearing a pink-mantle, a belt and carries a bow and Arrows steps forth: like her kin, she was a bloodsucker, but like Tubemouth, an assassin too, "right here" she presents, "Scalewing"? Wuya requests and next came a female purple emperor-butterfly wearing a white-gown, a belt and for some reason a helmet, while wielding a Crossbow: she was Wuya's healer, but was in no way a nice-beast. Her kind are rather disturbing for a butterfly in that they drink bodily-fluids from other creatures. Wuya has caught her sipping blood from the very wounds she treats on others, and will drain those who died. She doesn't say anything, but Wuya acknowledges her and moves on to her next most valuable minion. "Dytiscus?" she requests and next came a female great diving beetle wearing a green-gown and carried a Javelin: she was the only member of an aquatic species, but Wuya found it necessary to have a natural-swimmer, "good, and where's my seer Tegenaria?" the centipede asks and a female cardinal-spider wearing a blue-cloak, orange-veil, and white-smock and armed with a Flail steps forth. "I can see you'll be giving tasks at any moment" she predicts, "right you are" Wuya confirms and looks at Bigjaw, "Bigjaw, take a few others and scour Moledeep in case it's still inhabited, Slashtail and Dytiscus, you two shall accompany me to Redwall, the rest of you stand guard until I return, if any woodlanders happen to find you, eliminate them" she directs and now heads to Redwall with the beetle and wasp.
----
In cavern-hole, a feast was underway: Bairdon had cooked the tench to perfection and Zonder and his fellow otters happily chow on it. The moles, including Kav, his parents and Nomi, were delving into deeper 'n ever pies. The current cellar-keeper, a male vole wearing a green-habit named Koga (and was Darovit's father) served drinks for everybody. Unsurprisingly, Alzbeta, Ganner and their mother, who wore a white-wimple and white-mantle and was named Erah Grang were eating the most. Beside them was Erin and a female-rook wearing a modified green-habit and was named Koor: she stands out among corvids in that she prefers peaceful coexistence with woodlanders, and while she has made friends with the abbey-residents, there are still some who remain wary of her. She was the bell-ringer for Redwall, but differed in that she prefers to rock the bells Quasimodo-style, even though it prevents her from hearing for a few minutes. Scarlette often warns her to use the ropes, but the corvid never listens. Everyone was having a good time until Giotto decided to make an announcement. "Attention everyone" she shouts and after a minute or two, the noise subsides and everyone look at him, "I just wanna say, it's my forty-first anniversary of being abbot, and not one vermin warlord has displayed a desire in having Redwall, no offense Sister Koor" he adds, "none taken" Koor responds and then everybody cheers: glad that, for once, Redwall was being left alone, some hoped it would stay that way forever, but others were certain a warlord will show up and threaten the abbey again sooner or later. The latter would wind up more right than they would've liked when knocking echoed from outside cavern-hole, silencing everyone. "That came from the bally front door" Erah identifies and got up to answer it: she was acting as Redwall's gatekeeper (the first hare to have the job). Giotto, Scarlette, the skipper otter who wore nothing but a belt and goes by the name Volkner Streamdog (and he was a descendant of Banya Streamdog), and a mouse wearing a brown habit named Brother Esuom also stood up and followed, "who'd be coming at this hour?" Telma asks (she wore a purple-veil, a chemise with a pink-bodice and a white-skirt) as she gets up herself, leaving Kav, who got a bad feeling for some reason and follows.
Erah, Giotto, Scarlette, Volkner and Esuom all look over to see anthropomorphized-bugs. "Huh, you don't see this everyday" Volkner comments, "don't be rude" Scarlette scolds, "who are you?" Giotto calls, "just some wanderers looking to explore the great Redwall abbey" Wuya lies, the woodlanders look at each other, reasoning it couldn't hurt to let these enthusiasts get to see what Redwall's like, "okay, but no weapons allowed, if you have any, leave them out" Giotto advises, "I didn't bring any weapons, and I'll come in alone, if it makes you feel better" Wuya claims and offers, "very well" Giotto shrugs much to Wuya's delight. As soon as Erah opened the door, the centipede happily strolls in, taking in the sight of Great Hall before stopping at where Giotto was, right in front of the tapestry, "welcome to Redwall abbey stranger, you a fan?" Giotto greets, "you could say that" Wuya admits while looking at the tapestry, mainly the Martin-centered core, "I take it that mouse is Martin?" she asks pointing, "yes indeed, you know the stories?" Esuom responds, Wuya nods while looking more: a mouse that could take down a wildcat surely had to be a powerful warrior, and therefore a target for her to tackle, "a pity he passed on before I was born, I would've loved to fight him" she laments, Kav shivered: something about this stranger just didn't feel right, at all, "you a warrior?" Giotto asks, "oh yes, the best anyone has ever seen, I've traveled far and wide to fight and beat the world's strongest fighters, and this place has become the next on the list" Wuya states, making Kav shiver again, which his mother noticed, "well we've had no need for a champion for years, so you pretty much came all this way for nothing" Esuom laments, but Wuya merely chuckles, "not yet you don't" she promises and Kav shivers again, "what's wrong Kav?" Telma asks, "I don't know: this beast's aura just feels...sinister" Kav admits secretly, and Telma silently agreed: she was getting a bad feeling about this too, "what make's you sure?" Giotto asks partly humoring her, "because..." Wuya begins and with one flick she reveals what she is, "...I am a conquer: Wuya the Toxic" she finishes and everybody gasp at seeing she was a bug, and a rather villainous one at that, "you're a warlord?" Giotto asks nervously, "that's right, now who's brave enough to face me with Martin's sword?" Wuya goads looking at everybody, wondering who will be the one to use the sword against her, "take my sword Kav" a ghostly voice echoed to Kav, and he was the only one who heard it, but no one around him was even looking at him, "come on, one of you will have to be the champion now" Wuya encourages, "take my sword Kav" the ghostly voice repeats to Kav, only more urgently, and the mole, seeing it was indeed necessary, lunges out to it, raises it up and steps toward Wuya with it, "I'll fight you bug" he growls surprising all, but Wuya was grinning, "and you are my albino friend?" she asks, "my name be Kav Furrel, and threatening Redwall will be the death of you and your minions" Kav vows, "we shall see Kav Furrel, we shall see" Wuya counters while backing out of Redwall.
Outside, Slashtail and Dytiscus were lounging patiently when Wuya walked to them. "So how'd it go?" the latter asks, "I've enough information: the champion is an albino mole named Kav Furrel" Wuya informs, "so he's the one we need to watch out for?" Slashtail asks, "indeed he is, but I'll be the one handling it, let's go" Wuya orders and her lackeys follow her into the dark.
----
Back in Redwall, everyone was complaining that Redwall was under attack for the hundredth time. Telma and Jala were alarmed that their son might become the champion, then again there's never been a champion that died, or even lost, but that didn't ease their concern. Darovit has gotten more jealous: if he didn't resent the mole before, he certainly is now. Becoming Redwall's champion will just make Kav more popular, and Darovit can't stand the thought of being in his shadow. Everyone else though began treating Kav as a hero, but Kav was never into fame, just the occupation. He was getting ready for bed when he heard crying coming from outside his bedroom. "Why Jala, why did Martin pick our boy?" Telma weeps, "I don't know Telma, but I hope Martin knows what he's doing" Jala prays. Kav was beginning to regret the idea of becoming a warrior: he forgot that warriors went to war, and die in them. He didn't want to risk breaking his parents' hearts, but he felt he had no choice but to take up the role, either way, once he goes in, he prays to Martin that he'll make sure he comes out with his life. Little did he know that Martin intends to do just that.
==Chapter three==
In Kav's dream, he was in Redwall, and everything looked normal, like Wuya didn't even exist...until a big specter resembling the centipede climbs over the walls and darkens the sky with its presence. Kav looks in alarm, then sees it somehow got Martin's sword, and was holding his friends in its many arms. Kav tried to rush over, but the beast began retreating with its prizes, faster than the mole can keep up with. He drops to his knees and was about to cry when a bright light suddenly ignited ahead of him. Looking up, he sees Martin, somehow with his sword too. "Martin" Kav sighs relieved, "I can understand your fears Kav, I myself couldn't prevent the deaths of those I served with when I was alive" Martin admits and Kav saw the sadness in his eyes, "how did the last champions survive against the villains? did you have influence over them or something?" Kav asks and Martin smirks as if it were obvious, "luck alone wasn't what kept them alive after all" he jokes and Kav laughs, "that's good, I just don't wanna send my parents or Nomi into the five stages of grief" he wishes, "you love your parents, and you love Nomi like a wife, don't you?" Martin asks, much to Kav's embarrassment, yet nods, and although Martin was smiling, Kav again saw that same sadness, but doesn't dare question it, not that he needed to, "y-yes, I love my parents, and Nomi is like...the Laterose of Noonvale to me" he admits and this time Martin laughs, "just as I suspected" he jokes before getting sympathetic, "and no one deserves to hear their child or...uh, love interest, has died, but just because me and Rose's parents had to see her die, doesn't mean your parents and Nomi should suffer that too" he adds, "so you'll keep me alive?" Kav says hopeful, but Martin frowns, "it's not foolproof, but I'll do everything I can: I'll be with you always" Martin assures and vanishes into thin air.
Kav jumps up awake in his bed, seeing his house was still standing. He gets to his feet and looks out the window, seeing everything was completely fine, at least for the moment. Smelling something cooking, he walks out the room to find his mom alive and well making more deeper 'n ever pie. "Morning Kav" she greets, "morning mom" he returns, though he noticed the look of fear in her eyes, which he guessed was about him tackling Wuya. As soon as she sets the pie down for him, she takes some bread and begins eating herself. After a while, Kav couldn't stand it anymore. "Martin came to me last night mom" he reveals, making her freeze, "what did he say?" she asks, "that he'll try to keep alive in the coming war" Kav answers, "hope you're right" Telma prays feeling a weight lift from her shoulders, but only halfway, "mom, I know you and dad are worried, but someone's gotta be the champion, and if Martin wants me to be the champion, so be it, you don't argue with Martin" Kav reasons, "I know Kav, but it's what's coming that I'm afraid of" Telma admits.
----
At Moledeep, Wuya's minions were in the midst of building a siege-engine. Today though, she was looking for a different opponent entirely: one well known to have backed up Redwall when vermin were about. She was now walking around when Bigeye flies in. "Have you found them?" Wuya asks, "yes, this way" Bigeye responds and flies with Wuya following. It wasn't long before she sees the horsefly stop and fly down to her, "the guosim are dead ahead mistress, shall I return with some horde-beasts?" Bigeye gestures, "no, even a billion shrews can't stop me" Wuya dismisses and walks off.
Ahead of her, the guosim were chilling near Moss River, tending their boats, sparing, or whatever. One even hauled in a net full of European perch. The leader was dressed in a white-kirtle, a green-cape and a black-chaperone, and carries a Mace. His name was log-a-log Raoul, and he was Giotto's cousin. He was strict, but fair and caring, and didn't like the idea of warfare either: whenever he finds vermin, he'll let them live, only killing as a last resort. He also had love for birdwatching and was in the middle of watching a song thrush tend its nest. "Hey boss?" said a female voice and one shrew wearing a purple-blouse comes to him, "yes?" Raoul responds, "remember..." the female shrew began but suddenly stops and smells something, "we're not alone" she suspects, "I smell it too" Raoul adds and just about every shrew could smell it. From the brush Wuya had only just noticed she was upwind from the guosim, and the wind was pushing her scent into them. Even so, she still has the element of surprise in that they don't know who they're up against, no reason to hide further than that. "Guosim" she calls out, startling all of them who drew their weapons, "you are better giving up now, for I am Wuya the Toxic, I have never lost a fight against any-beast, fight me if you dare, for I shall grant a merciful death, prepare for it" she adds and decides to stay hiding at the moment, watching to see which, if any, will lose their cool and charge in recklessly. "I think it came from that direction" the female shrew points, which is where Wuya was, "sounded like a female, but I doubt she's alone" Raoul suspects, "how are we gonna fight them if we don't know what we're up against?" said a rookie male shrew wearing white-breeches, who was struggling to stay calm, "relax, we're all about fighting vermin" Raoul assures and waits. A second ticks by, then two, then three, yet Wuya was staying put, and the shrews were waiting for her to make the first move. Eventually, the rookie shrew suddenly lets out a scream and rushes toward Wuya's position. "No!" Raoul shouts but it was hopeless: as soon as the shrew was close enough, Wuya pounces and lands on the shrew, and bites him with her forcipules (her jaw-mimicking limbs). Raoul, who had been trying to stop the shrew skids to a halt at the sight of Wuya, who rises with her capture, only to drop him and display twenty-arms (she has forty-limbs, forty-four if you count her tails and forcipules). "Get back" Raoul warns displaying his mace, Wuya simply leaps into the trees above and disappears in them. Now the shrews weren't so sure, even though the centipede appears to be alone. They press themselves together, moving as one. Wuya meanwhile was right above them, slowly drawing two sabers in her eighth pair of arms, and when the shrews step directly under, she lets herself fall. Raoul though heard her coming. "Scatter!" he orders and with millimeters to spare, Wuya lands right where they were a second ago. Now the shrews go on the offensive, and all of them attack at once, but Wuya intercepts and repels each of them with ease: her many limbs give her the advantage the vertebrates lack. From all directions the shrews attack, but Wuya meets all weapon to weapon, but then leaps away and lands on a tree, staying there to catch her breath, and letting the guosim get their breath, but two seconds later, she lunges back at them. Her impact on landing sends dirt in the air, blinding the shrews, but one attacks her anyway, which became his biggest mistake as Wuya, who wasn't blinded, strikes him down. The female shrew witnessed this and gasped, then tries firing arrows at Wuya, who simply deflects them with her swords. One male shrew tries to attack while she's distracted, but Wuya grabs him by the neck with her lower-most left-arm and pins him to the ground. A female also attacks, but Wuya snares her with her two tails, then summersaults and flings them both into the trees. Raoul and the female were now the only ones who could still fight, but even together Wuya proves to be too powerful. On one clash, Wuya kicks Raoul, disarming him and sending him flying into the bushes, leaving the female to fight alone, but Raoul wasn't exactly done yet. "Help!" the female shouts. Raoul rushes in, but Wuya sends the female flying into a tree, beating her, much to his horror. "No!" he gasps as Wuya turns back to him, he runs to his mace, but Wuya gets it first and holds it in her lower-most right-hand. Raoul looks around and finds a cutlass lying near a dead shrew, and decides to use it. They then stare at each other, wondering which will make the first move, and eventually Wuya does: she leaps into the air toward the log-a-log.
----
In Redwall, some were training for battle, among them Erin, who's carrying a Trident, Myotis (who wields a blowpipe), Alzbeta (who's using a Scimitar) and Nomi (who's got a Bullet-shooting crossbow). All were being mentored by Volkner who had a Bill hook. "That's right kids, Alzbeta make sure your stance is secure, Erin keep your guard up" Volkner lectures as Kav arrives with Martin's sword, and luckily for the albino, clouds were starting to roll in, blocking the sun so Kav could stay out longer. Upon seeing the mole, Volkner calls a timeout. "Okay that's enough for now" he persuades wiping sweat from his forehead, "I'm ready" Kav claims, "think you could practice on your own for a while? I'm exhausted" Volkner requests, "sure" Kav shrugs and sees Myotis score a bullseye on a target-drawing with her blowpipe, and Nomi waving at him while also firing, and by luck she too scores a bullseye despite not looking. 
For the next three minutes, Kav practiced weaving and swinging the sword around a tree he was pretending was an enemy. Volkner occasionally giving him tips and correcting the mole's postures. Telma and Jala look on slightly concerned but at the same time in admiration: their son already looked like a true warrior. Darovit, as usual, was green with envy as he was practicing archery with a bow. After so many swings, Kav finally finishes with a slice through a low hanging branch. Everyone (except Darovit) applaud him. "That was great" Myotis claims when Koor suddenly flies in looking panicked, "whoa whoa Koor, what's the matter?" Jala asks trying to calm her, "the guosim...in trouble...that centipede...was with them" Koor pants and that was enough incentive to hit them all like a ton of bricks. She immediately flies off again, except to the bell-tower as Volkner gathers his holt and they leave Redwall, just when Koor sounds the alarm. "What's going on?" asked Esuom, "Wuya's attacking the guosim" Erin answers and after assembling a big enough group, they too go looking for the guosim, letting Koor, who refuses to rest, guide them.
==Chapter four==
Volkner and his holt rush as fast as they could in the direction Koor was leading them. Ahead they could hear the sounds of battle, and eventually, they find Wuya running Raoul ragged, and beat him just when she takes notice of the otters. "Attack!" Volkner shouts and several otters hurl javelins and slings. Wuya, having had her fun, leaps into the trees above and flees. Some otters went after her, but Volkner stops them. "Let her go, we need to help the guosim" he orders and the otters get a bearing on the carnage, and it was horrendous: only a dozen or so shrews were still alive, Raoul included, and he was pretty beat up: his clothes had rips and tears all over, and several wounds were still bleeding. It was at this point that more redwallers arrive. "Raoul!" Giotto cries and rushes to his cousin while Scarlette helped those still alive. Kav and his friends were also present, and they were horrified at what they've found. "That blighter actually defeated them all by herself?" Alzbeta exclaims slightly skeptical, "unfortunately yes: she's stronger than she admits, I'm still fathoming it myself" Raoul answers, "come on kids, help me bring them to Redwall" Scarlette requests and the warrior-rookies oblige.
----
Wuya returns to Moledeep feeling great: not only did she get her fight, but she even eliminated one of Redwall's allies. The abbey should be easier to take down now, but she wasn't gonna leave it to chance. Upon reaching Moledeep, Fastwing approaches her. "Ah mistress, I've brought some possible recruits" he informs and leads her, "all of them bugs like us?" Wuya inquires, "unfortunately no: only a few of them are, the rest are of the vertebrate kind" Fastwing laments, saying the last part with a resentful tone, and Wuya could see it was true: in front of her were a good number of vermin; some looked fearful, but others looked eager, and as Fastwing said, most were weasels, rats or toads. One of them however was a male hornet robberfly wearing a grey-kilt and belt with two daggers. Wuya instantly sized him up. "What's your name?" she asks, "you can call me Goldback, I am an assassin" the fly proclaims, and Wuya could see he was built for battle: he must be very experienced, which saves her the trouble of testing him, "you're hired, Hardskin" she asks the beetle who steps forth, "give this one a tour and make sure he's acquainted" she orders, "right away mistress" Hardskin complies and gestures for Goldback to follow, who does, then Wuya turns back to the rest, looking at the vertebrates with disdain. While inspecting them, she finds one very handsome stoat, "what a fine looking stoat you are" she compliments, much to the stoat's embarrassment, "but looks aren't everything" she adds and suddenly pinches him on the shoulder while pressing him downward, showing she rejects him. Then she examines the rest, one rat she also rejects by slapping him hard enough on the back to knock him to the ground, "too small" she insults, then looks at a ferret, but rejects him too by punching him in the belly with her ninth-lower right-arm, "too weak" she claims, then turns to a lizard, a fox, and a crow, but seems more accepting toward them, "you three could work, stand over by the wasp over there" she requests and points to Slashtail. The three vertebrates look at each other but obey, and Wuya returns to examining, now laying her eyes on a female mantis wearing a red-bonnet, a beige-surcoat and belt that also carried a War hammer, "so will you miss..." she accepts, "oh, I'm Spikehand" the mantis introduces, "I can see why, go join those vertebrates" Wuya gestures and Spikehand obliges, and Wuya catches sight of a marten, "and you" Wuya accepts and the marten joins the assembled chosen, "these five are to your liking?" Fastwing wonders, "yes" Wuya answers and looks at the five wannabes, "each of you will be tested to prove your worth, if you succeed in impressing me, you're in the horde, is that understood?" she explains, "yes mam" all five rookies answer, "excellent, let the game begin" Wuya announces.
----
At Redwall, everyone has gathered the surviving guosim while the dead were buried in some well sheltered areas outside the abbey. Kav and his friends were allowed a reprieve and they were in cavern-hole, but none of them had an appetite, not even Alzbeta. A male squirrel wearing teal-breeches and bonnet and a grey-vest named Vakama Foeseeker (and he was a descendant of Ranguvar Foeseeker) was bringing a jar of honey he gathered from the beehives when he saw them. He felt bad for the newly-elected champion and his ragtag team: he himself had never been in war, but he new the stories about it, and they still gave him nightmares sometimes. Continuing to the kitchen, he places the jar on a table and turns to Bairdon who was doing some cleaning on the oven. He flinched slightly at seeing Vakama. "Oh thank you Vakama" he praises, but then noticed the look on Vakama's face, "what is it?" the owl asks, "I'm worried about the albino-mole and his friends" Vakama responds and Bairdon nods: he too had seen it, but what really shocked him was that Alzbeta wasn't even trying to raid his kitchen like she normally would, "yeah well, this is their first time seeing carnage from war" Bairdon reasons, "what about you, aren't you owls built for battle?" Vakama asks, "technically yes, but we don't exactly go looking for war" Bairdon claims, "well you must have had some fights in your life, didn't you?" Vakama persists, "I have" Bairdon admits, then realized what the squirrel was saying, he suddenly rummaged in a pantry and came with bowls of candied-chestnuts, "excuse me for a moment" he requests to Vakama before walking toward the group with a silly smile on his face, "hey kids, brought you treats" he presents and places a bowl full of chestnuts for each, Alzbeta picks one out of hers, only to put it back, much to Bairdon's shock, "okay the rest being too depressed to eat I'm not surprised by, but a hare!?" he complains before deciding to get down to business, "look, I know it's scary going off to fight vermin, I've done it several times" he reveals and this got teens' attention, "you have burr?" Nomi asks, "yeah, I've been in countless battles, and lost some good friends, I even have the scars to prove it" he claims and lifts his shirt up to show a few scars on his body, "yikes" Erin winces, "yeah they did hurt, but the point is, don't let it control you, if you let the reality fester, then you'll lose for sure, is that what you want?" Bairdon instructs and Kav suddenly stands up, "you're right Bairdon, death or no death, we can't let Wuya win burr" he asserts, "spoken like a true champion" Myotis comments, then suddenly stands up herself, "and I agree" she adds, "yeah me too" Nomi adds, "and me" Erin adds, "and me" Alzbeta finishes, "come on gang, let's train some more, sooner or later we're gonna fight them ourselves" Kav recommends and both he and his friends leave cavern-hole, though Alzbeta quickly returns for the chestnuts, "no sense letting these turn stale wot" she reasons and collects all the bowls just incase, "there's the Alzbeta I know" Bairdon applauds and wishes them luck, "nice work" Vakama compliments.
==Chapter five==
Wuya was leading a contingent of troops toward Redwall, with the intent to tunnel under the walls, and either bring a wall down from underneath or just break in, but what she really hopes is to get the albino mole to come and fight her, so she can kill him and take Martin's sword: that weapon would be her biggest trophy yet, and if she could get it, she'd be all but invincible. "This looks like a good spot, now start digging" she orders her lackeys and they get on it while she watches Redwall, partly incase some guards would be on lookout. 
----
In Redwall, while a Cetti's warbler nested in a tree, Kav and his friends were training some more with Volkner and his holt, and all five teens were showing promise, however Nomi looked distracted, which made her easy to beat. Kav was looking at the ground while fighting Volkner. "Pay attention Kav" the skipper lectures and Kav focuses, and later does it again, letting Volkner knock him off his feet, Volkner just shakes his head. "Why you keep looking at your feet, afraid I'll step on them?" he asks, "no, I think there's digging going on" Kav explains and presses his right-ear on the ground, making everyone else stop and look, and Kav wasn't the only one, "you too Nomi?" Erin wonders, "someone's digging alright, and I can sense it coming from outside" Nomi speculates, "we're sensing it too, and our senses never lie" Jala reasons having noticed his son and Nomi doing the exact same thing he and other moles were doing, "you sure?" Myotis wonders, "trust me: we're attuned to the earth, and it never lies" Jala ascertains, "I'm willing to "bet it's Wuya wot" Alzbeta suspects, "that's not good, I'll alert Koor" Jala reasons and rushes to find the rook. 
In no time at all, the alarm rang out, and foremole Jala and his troop was given permission to dig a tunnel themselves to intercept the incoming vermin. Kav and Nomi were helping, though they were a little nervous since this would be their first battle.
----
Outside the abbey, Wuya heard the bells, and while she didn't understand it, she had a good guess. "Get ready troops, they know we're here" she calls down the tunnel as Hardskin climbs out with a sack full of dirt, "we're almost there mistress" he informs, "don't stop, keep going until you reach far enough in or if they dug to meet us, and if you see the albino mole, notify me immediately" Wuya orders and Hardskin nods before descending back in.
In the tunnel, Bigjaw was leading the digging when he heard something coming from ahead. "Halt" he shouts loud enough to startle everybody, then presses an ear on the dead-end, "get back, they're digging to us" he alerts and draws his lance. It didn't take long for the woodlanders to find the bugs' tunnel, and when they did, they were just about to fight when Wuya screeches, "hold it" she calls and rushes to the front, "where's the mole?" she demands and Kav steps forth, "right here burr" he growls, though Wuya could see he was nervous, "scared to fight?" she teases, "champions beat warlords every time" Kav retorts, "little mole, there's a reason why I've never lost" she claims and after letting her cloak fall behind her, draws more weapons than any-beast could: her first pair of arms drew Pikes, her second a Bolas in the left and an ax in the right, her third a Spear, her fourth two cutlasses, her fifth a crossbow, her sixth a Halberd, her seventh a Flail in the right and a Glaive in the left, her eighth two Morning Star-clubs, her ninth a saber in the left and a javelin in the right, her tenth two maces, her eleventh a blowpipe, her twelfth a dagger in the left and a scythe in the right, her thirteenth a bill hook, her fourteenth a scimitar in the left and a war hammer in the right, her fifteenth Throwing Knives, her sixteenth a trident, her seventeenth a lance in the left and a dirk in the right, her eighteenth two Claymores, and her nineteenth a Sling. She left her last pair bare-handed. The woodlanders, and especially Kav, all gulped: none in Redwall had ever fought a foe with more than two arms, this was gonna be tough. "Attack Furrel" Wuya goads brandishing all her weapons, and Kav, though unnerved, got into battle stance, then Wuya started spinning her pikes, scraping them against the ground while walking toward Kav, who backs up a bit, but other than that stands his ground. Finally, they clash: all of Wuya's meet martin's sword on the first move, then Wuya tries to switch it up using a few at a time. Kav leaps over and starts intercepting as many as possible before finally going offensive and managed to cut off her thirteenth left-hand. Wuya reels away from it and finds a stump on her wrist, but she wasn't worried: the hand will grow back in a few days, but until then it was out of commission. "Ha, need a hand?" Kav jokes unable to resist, "I've still got nineteen more" Wuya taunts and reengages, this time attacking with her weaponry separately: one goes in and another waits. If the first set fails to do damage, another surely would. During the clashing, Kav cuts off her fourth right-hand, rendering that one unusable as well. Wuya was unfazed though and strikes again, managing to push Kav. At the same time one bug tries to get in a shot on the mole, but Myotis saw it. "I don't think so" she growls and fires a dart at the assassin, killing him, and this signaled everyone else on both sides to start fighting, though they left Wuya and Kav alone. "Champion or not, you must realize, you can't win" Wuya ascertains, "don't bet on it" Kav retorts and when Wuya tries to thrust her halberd through him, he leaps over and forward, then punches Wuya in the face with his bare paw, the impact enough to make her fall over, and she barely stops him from impaling her with almost all her weapons, then reaches over with her tails, grabs him by the neck, and flings him away, then gets to her feet, "retreat!" she screeches and all surviving vermin obey her, she herself follows, "let them go, we need to seal up the tunnel" Volkner reasons and the woodlanders remain, "you okay Kav?" Nomi asks the albino mole, "yeah I'm fine" he assures.
----
Outside the abbey, Scalewing was lying in wait, and sees the horde emerging. "Are we in?" she asks Wuya, "no, the tunnel is a failure, let's recuperate back at base" Wuya requests and Scalewing doesn't argue.
==Chapter six==
In Redwall, everyone was glad to drive the vermin away, but they know it won't be over until the warlord dies. Of course, everyone was upset by those they lost in the fight and took the bodies for burial, then Jala and his moles sealed up the tunnel from outside before doing it inside as well. Scarlette was tending those wounded, including Kav, though miraculously he barely had a scratch. "Amazing that you never got a serious hit, despite Wuya having so many hands" the badger comments, "yeah well, I'd like to have Martin's shield and armor for the next fight, Wuya clearly wants to kill me" Kav requests, "hmm, well if my memory is correct, Martin's armor and equipment should be in the attic" Esuom reasons, "then that's where we need to look" Kav ascertains and gets to his feet.
----
At Moledeep, Wuya was cleaning the new weapons she had acquired from the guosim, most of which were rapiers. At that moment, Tegenaria enters the tent. "Mistress?" she asks, "yes Tegenaria?" Wuya responds, "we're almost done building the siege-engine for your next attempt on Redwall" Tegenaria informs, "ah excellent, I'll be taking a nap, wake me when it's done" Wuya requests and lays down on her bed for a nap, "yes mistress" Tegenaria obliges and left as Wuya decides to save her energy, just imagining the fame she'll garner when everyone hears she defeated the abbey's champion, claimed Martin's sword, and had Redwall under her grasp. Little did she know that a certain ghost-mouse begs to differ.
----
Kav, Nomi, Alzbeta and Erin follow Esuom up to the attic, which had been converted into a living space of sorts decades ago. Sure enough, the armor was in plain sight, placed near the window. "Whoa there it is" Erinaceus gasps, "yep, it's been sitting here ever since Matthias stopped using it" Esuom claims, "but will it even jolly fit Kav?" Alzbeta wonders, "hmm, not sure: it was designed specifically for mice, but we can try" Esuom shrugs.
They did try, but after several attempts they gave up: Kav was just too fat to fit in fully, and the armor made it hard to move, so he opted for just the shield. Later he began practicing it with Volkner while his friends watch, though also watching was Darovit, and his resentment towards Kav grew. "What're you doing?" Koga suddenly says catching his son, "nothing" Darovit lies bitterly, which Koga noticed, "sounds like someone's a little jealous" he teases, "jealous, me? bah, I just don't see why Kav got picked as the champion, I mean what champion can't go out in the full sun?" Darovit rants, Koga couldn't deny that Kav's albinism may limit him to what time of day he can be out, but time was rarely on anyone's side, "Darovit, give it a rest: Kav's a neat guy, and he isn't the only albino Mossflower has ever seen" Koga reasons, "yeah but making fun of Urthwyte the Mighty or the pure ferrets would be suicide, nobody's afraid to tick off a mole" Darovit counters, "doesn't mean you should" Koga warns, "whatever, all I'm saying is, why does he get all the fun, attention, or fame while I'm just some average vole, son of a cellar-keeper, who nobody gives a dam?" Darovit swears, "Darovit, don't you ever swear in front of your father" Koga chastises, but secretly pitied his son: ever since Kav came along, Darovit's been treated as if he were invisible by his friends: virtually everyone would hang out with Kav more for his albinism than his attitude, and he didn't blame Darovit for being jealous, "but I never ignored you" he adds, "yeah well, since we're relatives, you don't count" Darovit reasons and walks off, possibly to drown his sorrows somewhere: he always did that when he saw Kav achieve at something and couldn't do it himself, "just don't do it out the abbey this time" he advises and left, though little did he know, Darovit didn't care and does.
----
For Wuya, she was in the grip of a nightmare: like Cluny the Scourge before her, Martin was attempting to demoralize or dissuade Wuya from her goal. In the nightmare, Wuya found herself fighting specters that won't stay down or even die when she bites them, and Martin himself was impossible to hurt: nothing she threw at him so much as stopped him. And if that weren't bad enough, she finds her horde either gone or dead, leaving her to face the demons alone, and all she can do is run away from them, but even that wasn't enough. Just when she thought she was done for, a voice cries out from nowhere. "Mistress, mistress?" it said.
In the real world, Wuya jumps awake, startling Tegenaria who had come to wake her personally only to find the centipede having a bad-dream. "Mistress, it's alright, it's just a nightmare" the spider soothes, "I don't want your pity" Wuya rejects stubbornly, "what do you want?" she demands, "our siege-engine is finished" Tegenaria answers shyly, "really? show me" Wuya requests and Tegenaria obliges. They walk out into a cloudy afternoon, and Wuya could smell the scent of rain on the horizon: they'll have to move fast. "Here it is" Tegenaria presents and standing before Wuya was a Mangonel: a type of catapult. "Brilliant, truly brilliant" Wuya applauds, "when do we use it mistress" Tubemouth asks, Wuya looks at the sky: the storm could be upon them at any moment, and she knew insects could barely fly in rain, "test it first" she requests and Tubemouth and a few others prep the mangonel and load it with rocks, then when everyone cleared away, Tubemouth releases the counterweight, sending the ammo flying into the air, and no one could even see where it went. Wuya was delighted. "Now, we launch now" she decides.
----
Darovit was walking alone outside Redwall in some brush, still fuming at Kav. He feels his stomach acting up and reasoned he needed to excrete. Picking a bush, he attempted to lower his pants until he realized he wasn't wearing any, and simply holds his penis up to pee. He looks up at the sky and sees the clouds gathered, plus heard thunder in the distance. "Gonna have to head back sooner than I would've liked" he groans until he heard a new sound. He didn't even start peeing when he caught sight of Wuya and her horde. Instinctively he hid in the bush, though Wuya stops right in front of it to talk to her minions. "When Fastwing and the others attack with the catapult, the abbey will be focused on them, giving us the chance to sneak in behind, any questions?" she instructs, "how come you only gave Fastwing the worst soldiers to use?" Hardskin wonders, "because my dear Hardskin, the only thing they're good for is getting themselves killed, ones like you however, I prefer not sacrificing" Wuya answers and continues with her horde, and none too soon, for Darovit was finally feeling his bladder begging to spill, and it took all his willpower not to blow his cover until he couldn't see Wuya anymore, and then did he pee. "Finally I thought she'd never leave" he sighs, but recalls he's now the only woodlander who knows Wuya's plan: he considered just peeing while running back to Redwall, but canceled that: mainly because he didn't wanna stink or soil himself, but also because if he does, everyone would look to Kav for security, and that's the last thing Darovit wants. No, better let Wuya keep the element of surprise. "And if I'm lucky, this could actually benefit me" he muses to himself.
==Chapter seven==
In Redwall, all was peaceful for the moment. At the pond, Zonder was practicing his swimming, and chasing common bleak-fish. With him was a female otter named Wetface who acted as a mother of sorts, and was currently watching him. On the shore, Ganner was watching, rather bored. "That is so fun" Zonder cheers after surfacing, and Wetface laughs, "and with a little more practice, you'll be the nightmare of all fish" she compliments, "are you done yet Zonder?" Ganner pipes up impatiently, "yeah I'm done" Zonder admits and joins the hare as they go off to do something together. 
All of it was watched by Slashtail, who drops down to alert Wuya. "So far no one has their guard up" she relays, "Tubemouth, tell Fastwing that he may begin when ready" Wuya advises the assassin bug and Tubemouth complies by flying off through the trees.
Nearby in the trees, Fastwing, Dytiscus, and Bigjaw were leading those with the mangonel toward Redwall, and so far the abbey hasn't noticed. "This is good" Fastwing estimates just when Tubemouth arrives, "you ready yet?" he asks, "we are" Fastwing answers, "than what are you waiting for?" Tubemouth demands and the vermin let the catapult loose.
In Redwall, Kav and Nomi were spending some quality-time while they can, though they noticed the weather changing. "Not the most romantic weather today" Kav laments, "awe I don't care, plus you don't have to worry about sunburns" Nomi shrugs, and Kav giggles, they then look at each other, and were just about to kiss when they heard an incoming sound. Suddenly a rock crashes a few feet away, sending them to the ground and dirt into the air. Koor, who had been in the orchard helping Scarlette, immediately believed they were under attack again and flew to the bell-tower. Everyone else was having similar assumptions. "We're under attack, all hands on deck wot" Erah shouts taking charge, while Raoul joined Volkner and his holt, despite his injuries, in herding all civilians, "incoming!" Telma shouts and another rock crashes into the abbey, killing an otter, "where's that coming from?" Nomi asks, "I saw it come from that direction" Koor shouts from the air as she surveys from the air, and sees another rock being hurled from the trees, "here comes another one" she screams and everyone takes cover, luckily none died from this one, but it did wreck a house, "it's gotta be Wuya again" Erin suspects, "in that case, otters we need to go and stop them" Volkner rallies, but stops Kav, "but not you though Kav" he denies, "what? I'm the only one who can beat her" Kav complains, "and that's what she wants, but if I don't make it back, you can go" Volkner begs, "and the rest of us?" Alzbeta asks, "Myotis you and Koor are with me: we'll reign death from above" Bairdon suddenly requests and the bat nods, "guess I'll snipe from the wall" Nomi offers, "good idea Nomi, and Alzbeta can stand guard with Kav" Raoul reasons though Alzbeta looked against it: clearly she wanted to go out too, "I guess I'll stay too" Erin shrugs just as another boulder crashes into the main building, but fails to destroy it, "come on y'all, it's all for one and one for all" Bairdon rallies and with Myotis and Koor, launches into the air, while Volkner and his holt exit through the gate facing the direction the boulders were coming from.
----
With the mangonel, Fastwing and Tubemouth were perched in a tree beside the catapult, and from their angle, can see the owl, rook and bat approaching. "Hold your fire, they're coming out" Tubemouth orders and they stop using the catapult. Fastwing however decides to meet one of the woodlanders head-on, "the owl's mine" he growls and launches forward. Koor and Myotis barely get out of the way when Fastwing tackles Bairdon in an aerial battle. "Bairdon?" Myotis asks, "destroy the siege-engine, I'll be alright" Bairdon orders while he and Fastwing continue to brawl, "come on Myotis" Koor urges and Myotis follows.
On the ground, Bigjaw was leading the squad. "Here they come" he alerts and in no time Volkner and his holt engage them, with Volkner himself fighting Bigjaw. Koor and Myotis swoop in to foil any more attempts to use the mangonel, but the former suddenly finds herself confronted by Dytiscus. "A corvid working with woodlanders? you're a disgrace to vermin everywhere" the beetle insults, "at least I don't go killing innocent beasts" Koor roars and attacks with her bare feet and beak. Myotis meanwhile, seeing that nobody's guarding the mangonel, decides to sabotage it, keeping an eye on the action around here while doing so.
----
On the other side of Redwall, Tubemouth returns to Wuya. "The plan's working mistress" he informs, "good, Slashtail, Goldback and Spikehand, take these ropes and secure them for us" Wuya instructs and the wasp, robber-fly and mantis fly up to the wall opposite of the fighting and began tying the ropes to the stone-blocks. 
Ahead of them, Kav, Nomi, Erin and Alzbeta watch the diversion. "Bah why couldn't I be allowed to join the fun?" the hare complains and turns away, although in doing so, she catches a glimpse of something ahead of her. Secretly, she leaves to get a better look. 
Above, Bairdon and Fastwing continue their air-battle. The owl lashes out with his talons against the dragonfly's rapiers. "Hold still bird" Fastwing demands, but Bairdon keeps evading him until he came to a stop at the bell-tower, "what are you waiting for? I'm right here" he taunts, and Fastwing lunges, only for Bairdon to drop at the last second, allowing Fastwing to pummel himself into the wall, dazing him enough that he fell the rest of the way down, his head covered in blood. He tries to get up, but Bairdon lands on him and impales the dragonfly with his talons. "Game over" Bairdon says.
----
Alzbeta creeps to the other side of the abbey to find what she saw. To her horror she finds more bugs creating grappling ropes. It took the hare a moment, but she instantly went back to her friends to warn them. "Guys I think we've been duped: there's more coming from over there" she warns, "what?" Erin gasps and rushes to see himself, followed by the moles, and sure enough they see she was right, "so the catapult was a distraction" Nomi deduces and fires her crossbow, scoring a hit on Slashtail, who almost fell back the way she came, and Goldback and Spikehand notice they've been caught, "curses" Goldback swears and leaps down to challenge them personality, drawing his daggers while Alzbeta draws her scimitar, "I take it back, I'm glad I stayed" she muses and engages the fly while Spikehand attacks Erin, leaving the moles to try stopping anymore bugs coming in, though Slashtail recovered and Wuya climbs over, "surprise" the latter grins, "hey leg-snake, present for you" said a voice and out of nowhere Bairdon throws Fastwing's corpse at Wuya, who was caught completely by surprise and loses her footing, she does manage to cling to the wall though, Tubemouth saw it and flies up to a tree, where he sees Slashtail cornered by the owl and moles, and before he could bring out his blowpipe, Kav cuts the ropes with Martin's sword and Bairdon stomps on Wuya's arms gripping the stone, causing her to fall.
----
At the other side, Myotis finishes sabotaging the mangonel, and happily makes it fall apart. Dytiscus though wasn't dismayed. "Ha, there goes your only hope" Koor taunts, "oh we haven't lost" Dytiscus claims and turns to her allies, "retreat, we've done our part of the plan" she orders and the vermin still alive attempt to leave, "oh no you don't" said Wetface who was dressed in a white smock and had a bolas, but she didn't see Bigjaw come up from behind and skewer her, "Wetface!" Volkner gasps but Bigjaw quickly leaves, "see you in Redwall" the ant promises, while Volkner was too devastated to have heard, Koor did, "what does...uh oh!" she realizes and turns to the otters, "back to the abbey now!" she shrieks, startling the otters, and the rook goes herself, with Myotis and a few otters following. 
Upon flying into Redwall the rook and bat immediately notice Slashtail Goldback and Spikehand flying out, then finds Kav, Nomi and Bairdon on the opposite wall. "Guys it was a-" Koor began, "diversion? yeah we know" Kav interrupts and gestures down, where we see Wuya lying, "oh, good catch" Koor says stupidly when the diversion arrive, "what the? what happened?" Dytiscus gasps as Bigeye fires some arrows at the top of the wall, forcing the onlookers to duck while Scalewing and Hardskin help their leader, "that owl up there knocked her down" Bigeye claims as Tegenaria carries Fastwing's corpse, "is mistress Wuya alright?" Tubemouth asks, though secretly hoped otherwise, until Wuya's tails suddenly come alive and grab the assassin-bug, which was witnessed by the heroes, "yep, she survived" Nomi concludes when she suddenly feels a waterdrop, then sees some on the stones and finally it starts to rain, "man that was close, if Alzbeta hadn't looked we would've been finished" Erin sighs, "yeah well, I doubt she's willing to give up yet" Kav suspects.
Beneath them, Darovit had seen it all: he had remained in the bushes and snuck back into the abbey after seeing Wuya pass by: he'd been hoping to have a shot at Wuya herself, or at least see Kav fail, but neither happened. He stomps off fuming.
==Chapter eight==
The rain presses into night. After Wuya's sneak attack things were all but uneventful, except for one hall house. Zonder, who loved playing in the rain, was having a blast now that the vermin were gone, but his fun was interrupted when he heard sounds coming from the house nearest to him. "You really shouldn't have gone out like that Darovit" Koga's voice spoke, curious Zonder snuck to a window and peers in, seeing Koga lecturing Darovit, "I had to relieve myself" Darovit counters, "that may be true, but you shouldn't have gone out alone, especially after I told you not to" Koga argues, "why are you mad at me? Kav's the one who messed up" Darovit claims, "what are you talking about" Koga demands, "the vermin almost got into the abbey, that catapult turned out to be a diversion for them to sneak in when our backs were turned, and had they succeeded, you would've been the one in danger, not me" Darovit explains, "and Kav messed up at that how?" Koga asks confused, "he's the Redwall champion, isn't the champion supposed to be on watch at all times?" Darovit reasons, "so he made a mistake, we all do" Koga reasons, "than why are you punishing me for mine?" Darovit growls, "because you disobeyed me, I told you not to go out the abbey, and if you had to, bring someone with you, yet you did neither, by choice" Koga states, "what was I suppose to do? run while peeing at the same time? it was really urgent, and for the record, I don't care about what you have to say anymore, I'm leaving" Darovit declares and stomps to the front door, wretches it open and steps into the rain without looking back, "where are you going?" Koga demanded but Darovit doesn't answer, "get back here, I'm not finished yet" the older vole demands, but Darovit still did the opposite. Koga gave up and closed the door, praying that Darovit wouldn't do anything he might regret. Zonder, who had seen it all, felt bad for the two voles: his own parents had been killed by an adder months ago, though the snake chose to let the dibbun live after looking at him: his father had tried to fight the giant snake, and his mother had tripped and hurt her knee so badly that she couldn't run. After they're deaths, Zonder thought he'd be next when he locked eyes with the serpent, but it simply turned away and left. He never had a fight with his parents, none that he could remember at least. Wondering where Darovit was heading, he follows the vole.
Darovit was walking alone, bitter, angry and jealous. "Everyone's against me" he thought, it was all Kav's fault: if that mole hadn't contracted albinism, if he hadn't been granted the title of champion, if he hadn't even been born, than Darovit's life wouldn't be so horrible, and now even his own father was choosing Kav's side over him. The vole didn't know which was worse. If only his mother was still around, but she had lost her life birthing him, but Darovit concludes she wouldn't be any better. "There's only one way I can get what I deserve, I have to remove Kav out of the picture he thought, noting that Wuya was after Kav specifically because he was the best warrior in Redwall, but he doesn't feel comfortable with the idea of joining the centipede. No, better if he did it himself, he didn't wanna take the chance of putting his father into slavery or anything. He reaches a postern, and opens it, then leaves out, intend on spending the night away from his father, and Kav: he just can't stand being ten feet near the mole. He was unaware of Slashtail sneaking around, and she found him all alone like the fool he was, and pounces on him. "Scream and you're dead vole" she warns while holding one of her scythes up to prove the threat, and Darovit doesn't struggle.
Back in Redwall, Zonder stood staring at the postern Darovit left through, wondering if he should tell somebody. He had been following the vole from the shadows, wondering where he was going until he arrived at the postern, now the otter didn't know what to do. His thoughts were interrupted by a sloshing sound coming from his nether-regions and sees he was peeing: he was still learning how to control his bowels. "Hehehe, oopsie" he giggles, which he always said when he peed or pooed unwillingly, at least he was outside this time, and the rain will wash the pee-pee away.
----
At Moledeep, Wuya was in the grip of another nightmare, this one the same as the last. Scalewing and Goldback come just when she wakes up, and suddenly feeling the pain from her fall. "Easy mistress" Scalewing begs, "I don't think your treatment is working" Wuya wheezes, "in all fairness, I've never really had to treat a victim of a fall, let alone one with nightmares" Scalewing admits, "Goldback" Wuya asks the fly, "yes?" he responds, "do you know of any healers who specialize in purging nightmares?" Wuya presses, "well there's one I met, though she's more of a crook than a doctor" Goldback answers, "what do you mean?" Wuya wonders curiously, "her name is Parus, and she goes around pretending she's a healer or entertainer, when in reality she's a con-artist, she gives you this sleeping-potion, saying it's part of the show or medicine, and when you wake up, she disappears along with whatever money or trinket you happen to have on you, I myself fell for one of her scams, and she made off with all the shillings in my pockets" Goldback describes, "her species?" Wuya wonders, "a great tit" Goldback answers, "Tubemouth is familiar with them, tell him to find her and bring her to me" Wuya requests, "were you even..." Goldback lectures until Wuya scowls him, "uh, right away miss" he corrects and dashes out, "this Parus, do you think we can trust her?" Scalewing asks, "I'll have to see for myself, in the meantime who did we lose?" Wuya wonders, "well other than those you pegged as disposable, there's Fastwing" Scalewing laments, "dang, that owl probably did it, Fastwing was my best scout, remind me to slay the owl next time he shows up" Wuya vows.
==Chapter nine==
The rain didn't seem to be letting up, but it didn't stop Erin from doing guard duty, and he managed to drag Kav with him. Neither of their species had the best eyesight, but loved darkness, and Kav's made up for it by being able to hear sounds too low for others, while Erin's had a better sense of smell (though he wasn't confident with it in the rain). "I don't know why I let you drag me into this hurr" Kav complains while soaked, "after that close call, I thought it would be wise to stand guard regardless of the weather, besides I kinda like feeling the water falling onto my body, thought it would make me look more attractive" Erin reasons and shows off his drenched bare-chested body, and Kav had to admit he did look rather handsome when wet, "okay I see your point, but did you have to insist I join you in it?" Kav jokes, "awe come on Kav, Nomi would find it sexy" Erin asserts making Kav blush, while Erin brings his arms out as if he were flexing them, then crosses them behind his head while jutting out his pecs as if he were showing off to a girl, "how do you do that?" Kav wonders, "you just put your arms behind you like this and puff out your chest like you would if you were proud of something" Erin instructs and Kav actually found it easy, "how do I look?" he wonders, "perfect, you'll definitely have girls fanning over you like that" Erin jokes and they both laugh.
----
In cavern-hole, the girls were in their own get-together. Alzbeta in particular looked restless. "I have half a bally mind to go out into Mossflower-woods, find Wuya, and rip her head off" the hare swears, "I don't know Alzbeta, she's awfully powerful, I mean she took down a bunch of guosim shrews all by herself, though I do think she would be tasty" Myotis reasons, "yeah me too" Nomi adds, "gross" Alzbeta gags since hares were strict vegetarians, they didn't say anything after that for awhile, until Myotis suddenly thought of something, "I wonder what the boys are doing out there" she wonders, "Erin said something about guard-duty after the close call earlier" Nomi recalls, "oh yeah" Myotis realizes, "yeah, but I bet they're just having a jolly boys-night-out, and I'm certain guard-duty isn't all they're doing" Alzbeta giggles, "what do you mean?" Nomi asks, "well can you imagine a shirtless hedgehog and mole all wet? I bet Kav's doing it to impress you" Alzbeta gushes and Myotis giggles too, while Nomi simply blushes, but she would like to see it, "now that I gotta see hurr" she exclaims and suddenly rushes out. Alzbeta and Myotis follow. Coming onto the porch, they find Zonder being dried by Scarlette. "Hey Scarlette, have you seen where Kav and Erin went?" Nomi asks and Scarlette was just about to answer when the boys show up themselves, "hey Nomi" Kav calls shyly and shows off in the rain, Erin right beside him. Nomi, for some reason squealed in glee, and Myotis and Alzbeta actually got a little jealous. "Right there apparently" Scarlette jokes as she ushers Zonder inside, letting the adolescents have their fun, "Boys" she thought.
----
At Moledeep, Wuya was being tended to by a female great tit wearing an orange-skirt, a green-blouse and a blue-veil, though the bird was dancing for some reason. Scalewing and Goldback were also present, the latter having insisted it due to his history with the bird, who goes by the name Parus the Manipulator. "Is there a point to the dancing?" Wuya growls, "I apologize, but it helps get my mojo flowing" Parus claims, "just get on with it, I have work to do" Wuya states, "of course, give me a moment" Parus requests and fishes into her satchel, digging things out, Scalewing noticed four objects in particular, "are these bat-wings?" she wonders, "why yes, I find the brains of bats and flycatchers quite delicious" Parus claims, making Goldback shiver, "ah here we are, these herbs are known to sooth injuries" the bird presents and after Wuya gave the okay, applies them, "I don't suppose you have anything for nightmares do you?" Wuya suddenly asks, "actually I do" Parus answers and after patching the herbs on goes back into her satchel and pulls out a potion of sorts, "here we go, this vile has special juices guaranteed to help you sleep" she presents, "uh mistress?" Goldback suddenly interrupts, "if I may speak, that's the stuff she uses to knock out her victims so she can rob them" he adds, "what makes you say that?" Parus humors coyly, "don't you remember? you used it on me once, a few years ago" Goldback growls, "sorry, but my memory can't go that far back" Parus shrugs uncaringly, "and we've been over this Goldback, besides, I don't trust her anymore than I can throw her, Scalewing examine the potion for possible poisons" Wuya requests and Scalewing obliges, "you drive a hard bargain Wuya" Parus notes, "well I'm not exactly native to Mossflower, better safe than sorry after all" Wuya reasons when Scalewing returns, "the potion's harmless mistress: those who took a sip simply passed out" the butterfly claims, "see?" Parus says to Goldback, "yeah well, you ain't gonna get away with stealing anything" the fly growls, "Scalewing, Goldback, check on Bigeye and her hunting-party will you?" Wuya suddenly requests, Scalewing obeys without objection, but Goldback was alarmed, "and leave you alone with her?" he gasps, "that's an order, or would rather be relegated to cleaning up Moledeep like some lowly carrion-crow" Wuya scorns and Goldback backs off, "yes mistress" he relents, but not before giving Parus an "I'm watching you" gesture, "you'll have to forgive Goldback: he's a newbie who joined only yesterday" Wuya reveals, "it's fine, I don't exactly recall it, but I believe him: I am certain we've met before" Parus shrugs and hands the potion over, Wuya cautiously drinks it, but when Parus turned away to put her things away, Wuya dumped the rest on the floor under the table where, rather conveniently, the plans for her next attack on Redwall lay, then turned over to nap. Parus checks on her, prods her to make sure she was out, then carefully snatches the plans herself: intent on getting a quick buck on it from Redwall. When she sees no one around she hastily makes her way out of Moledeep and into the rain. Still seeing no one, she takes flight and heads for Redwall.
==Chapter ten==
Goldback returns to check on Wuya, partially to make sure nothing insidious happened. Upon finding her chamber empty of a great tit, he gets to work to make sure everything valuable was still accounted for. Scalewing helped, and couldn't find anything amiss. "Nothing missing here" she states after looking through Wuya's weapon-collection, "yeah there's nothing I couldn't find" Goldback admits until he glanced at the table Parus stole those plans from, which confused him, "hold on" he suddenly says and investigates, "wasn't there a piece of paper on this table?" he recalls, "aye, it was plans for the next attack...." Scalewing answers until realizing something: Parus must've taken it, "oh no" the butterfly gasps, "I knew it: I knew Wuya should've listened to me!" Goldback curses and would've punched the wall too had Wuya's tails not suddenly lunge out and grab him, and after being hoisted off his feet sees Wuya was awake, "boss, thought you'd still be knocked out" he chokes, "I was, but I doubt even Parus' potions could help anyone sleep through your loud cursing" Wuya says and releases Goldback, "mistress, if Parus gets your plans to Redwall, we could be in trouble" Scalewing claims, "fear not, for that isn't what I intend to use on Redwall" Wuya assures, "what do you mean?" Goldback asks, "I knew all along Parus would steal something: the plans were actually bait" Wuya explains, "well I'm glad to hear that, but I would like Parus to pay for her sins regardless" Goldback requests, "worry not Goldback: we'll deal with her when we can" Wuya promises.
----
Parus had arrived around midnight at Redwall, and was allowed to spend the night. Come morning, she presents the plans to Giotto, Scarlette and Kav. Unsurprisingly, she was baffled at the albino mole and thought he was a freak, much to Kav's offense and he left. Luckily the rain had stopped before dawn, but the ground was still wet. A few dibbuns were playing around in the puddles and mud, Ganner and Zonder included. Giotto, Scarlette and Volkner however, couldn't afford to play, they had business. "Why would Wuya plan to attack with a full assault? doesn't seem like her style" Scarlette wonders, "don't know, but Parus went through a lot of trouble getting it" Giotto shrugs, "and the price she put on it? ninety shillings? you could buy your own house with that much" Volkner complains, "either way we're gonna need this, tell her..." Giotto began until he saw Parus disappeared, "hey where'd she go?" the shrew asks.
Parus meanwhile was looting: whichever side won, she hopes to get some worthy trinkets to sell. She combed the dorms to see anything worth a lot of money, and when she did find something priceless, she took it. She had just finished looting the fifth room she explored when Myotis finds her. "Hey what...?" the bat began but froze, looking at Parus as if she were familiar, "what?" the bird asks, and that's when Myotis recalls what happened to her parents, "you!" she roars and lunges at the tit, who leaps away, now a chase between bird and bat has began. Myotis' angry shrieks could be heard throughout the building as she chased Parus down to the first-floor, much to the confusion of Giotto Volkner and Scarlette. "Hey what's going on?" the badger asks, "you killed them, you were there!" Myotis roars, "what are you talking about?" Parus demands, "my parents: when I was a little maid you showed up out of nowhere and killed them like some predator" Myotis explains, making everyone down below gasp: Parus didn't recall it, but as usual believes it; she does have a taste for bats, "can you blame me for finding your kin delicious?" Parus dismisses as she attempts to swing her bag of loot around like a weapon, but doing so left her vulnerable and Myotis knocks it out of the bird's feet, where it falls into Scarlette's hands, "hey, this is my candlestick" Giotto gasps pulling out his emerald-laden candlestick, "we've been scammed" Volkner realizes as Myotis bashes Parus through a window near the doorway to Warbeak-Loft, and the two tumbled down outside, the sound of the window having attracted others nearby while Volkner rushes outside, "what's going on here?" Erah wonders, "the bird is a con-artist and thief" Volkner reveals, "and a murderer of bats" Myotis howls as she grabs hold of Parus when the bird tries to fly, "she killed my parents" the bat adds, making everyone gasp, "that's it, she's going down" Alzbeta swears and tries to get close enough to kill Parus, but the tit merely pecks Myotis and throws her into the hare, and this was enough incentive to spark the other spectators into ganging on Parus, "eating other beasts is not cool burr" Jala berates, "so what? amphibians and reptiles do it all the time" Parus counters and evades all beasts who try to catch her, but when she gets airborne, Nomi fires a sharp-rock and hits Parus on her left-cheek, and almost knocked her back down, but the tit recovered faster than Nomi expected and flew away. Nomi tried to get another shot, but Parus dodges this time and escapes out of the abbey. Myotis and Koor tried to keep up, but the great-tit all but eludes them. "She got away" Koor laments while Myotis punches the stone in anger, "whoa Myotis, calm down" Vakama begs, "calm down? that feathered freak killed my parents and tried to steal from us, we can't just let her go" Myotis growls, and for a moment, her eyes flashed red, showing she was getting bloodwrath, Kav quickly snaps her out of it, "Myotis listen to me: I know what she did was criminal, but we still have Wuya to contend with and your duty to the abbey" the mole lectures and Myotis concedes, "you're right: can't let my feelings come first" she admits, "and hey, if we're lucky, maybe Wuya will kill Parus" Erin theorized and Myotis actually felt better at that.
----
Outside Redwall, Wuya and a few others had witnessed it all. Naturally Goldback was pissed. "Awe she survives" he complains, "for now yes, but she won't get very far" Wuya assures and turns to Bigeye, "she's all yours Bigeye, I don't care how far you have to follow her, just make sure she pays for double-crossing me" the centipede requests, "it shall be done" Bigeye vows and flies off after the bird, "now that that's out of the way, let's get set for the real plan..." Wuya says and whispers into her horde while a stock dove watches from afar.
==Chapter eleven==
Parus flew as fast as she could, desperate to getaway from both Redwall and Wuya. Eventually, when she reached further than Saint Ninian's she collapses on the ground, panting and bleeding. She quickly covers her eye (barely there after that shot from Nomi), gets to her feet and staggers before leaning on a tree. She then digs in her satchel for medicine meant for injuries like this. "Those accursed woodlanders, they'll be sorry they made an enemy of me" she mutters bitterly: she plans to go back, in a couple of seasons when Wuya's no longer around. "Yeah, they'll all pay, especially that freak of a mole" she adds.
----
In Redwall, Koga was walking around hoping to find Darovit, but hadn't seen him since last night, and after that ordeal with Parus, everyone's back to focusing on what Wuya might do next. During his walk, Raoul and Esuom run into him. "Hey, have either of you seen Darovit?" he asks them, "I haven't seen him all day, why?" Esuom wonders, "we had a fight and he may have ran away..." Koga suspects, "he wouldn't be crazy enough to go outside with those bugs around would he?" Raoul wonders, "actually he is: he did it yesterday, but got lucky, I doubt he'll be lucky again" Koga reveals, "we better tell the abbot" Esuom reasons and all three agree.
----
In Moledeep, Darovit was kept in a chamber the bugs were using as a prison. He was asleep when the door opens and Wuya strides in. "What do you want?" he growls, but Wuya brushes it off, "just to talk: I've noticed you had a bitter look on your face when Slashtail brought you in" she recalls, "yeah, what of it?" Darovit hisses, "it means you're not happy with Redwall, tell me, why is that?" Wuya coos crouching to look at the vole in the eye, "well if it'll get you to leave, it's Kav: everyone always talks about him or treats him like a king, because of him it's like I don't even exist, and I hate it" Darovit admits, "I see, and you want Kav gone so you can be respected again correct?" Wuya guesses, "aye, that's exactly it" Darovit confirms, "I can help with that" Wuya proposes, "yeah I'm not that bitter, I don't want everyone in Redwall dead, just Kav, you on the other hand want to enslave" Darovit rejects, "I'll leave your friends and family alone if that is what you wish, warlord's honor" Wuya promises, "warlords aren't really known for keeping promises" Darovit maintains, "have it your way, of course, if you feel I should leave Redwall alone, you'll still be treated as a nobody" Wuya shrugs and turns to leave, letting Darovit think about it.
----
In Redwall, everyone has gathered in great-hall after searching high and low for Darovit, yet none succeeded. "Calm down everyone, I'm sure Darovit is fine" Giotto calls, "and I'm sure he isn't: if Wuya has him, she'll use him to bribe us into surrendering" Koga counters, "so we just send someone in to free him" Volkner proposes, "but we don't where their base is wot" Erah reminds, "not true: Parus claims they were at Moledeep, which was vacant after this abbey was built" Scarlette claims, "yeah but that bird is a liar and a thief, how do we know that isn't a lie?" Esuom asks, "we'll have to risk sending scouts to scope it out" Raoul believes, "I agree, it's the only way we can confirm it burr aye" Telma adds, all the while Kav was watching from the crowd: for some reason he felt like Darovit's absence was his fault. He sneaks off to cavern-hole, though not without Nomi noticing. 
In cavern-hole, a female dormouse wearing a green-habit and a braid named Mareike was cleaning the tables: she was one of Bairdon's helpers. "Good afternoon Kav" she greets but notices his depressed face, "good afternoon Mareike" he returns, "uh, you okay?" she wonders, "I'm fine" Kav lies, Mareike just shrugs and goes back to cleaning, yet keeps an eye on the mole until Nomi arrives, "Kav, what's bothering you?" she asks, Kav hesitates at first, but gives in to her demand, "I can't help but feel Darovit's disappearance is my fault burr aye" Kav admits much to Nomi's shock, Mareike heard and was also shocked, but stayed quiet, "what do you mean?" Nomi wonders, "he's always been jealous of me, maybe he couldn't take it anymore and switched sides" Kav suspects surprising Nomi and Mareike more, "I don't think he'd be jealous enough to help Wuya kill you...would he?" Nomi wonders, "I don't know, but's it's a possibility: there are some woodlanders just as bad as vermin; take the shrew Tugga Bruster for instance, or the hedgehog Blodd Apis; they were evil woodlanders" Kav lists, Nomi couldn't argue, for Tugga and Blodd had in fact been evil woodlanders, but she hoped Darovit doesn't become next. Their conversation gets interrupted by clattering in the kitchen, where the forms of Alzbeta and Ganner burst out with a furious Bairdon chasing them. "Yeah that's right, you better leave if you wanna live" the owl swears.
----
Bigeye was on the hunt for Parus, tracking for clues on where the great tit would've gone. The horsefly could smell the bird's blood, and being a female horsefly, Bigeye had a taste for blood: maybe she could eat Parus after killing her. Unknown to her, Parus instinctively expected Wuya to send an assassin, and had left some bait. Bigeye continues walking when she finds Parus' trinkets left in the open. "What the?" she murmurs, but didn't see Parus was behind a tree and had a knife: before Bigeye knew it, Parus thrusts the knife into Bigeye's back, rupturing her thorax. Bigeye flails with her bow and arrows, but it was hopeless, and the horsefly dies. Parus decides to take Bigeye's weapons for herself, no reason she can't arm herself more than she already was.
==Chapter twelve==
Sunset arrives over the abbey, yet Wuya has never bothered to show up again, and the woodlanders wonder what she's up to. Volkner, Giotto, Raoul and Scarlette were in a meeting on whether or not they should scout out Moledeep if it was Wuya's base. "I don't exactly trust Parus' claim, but Brockhall and Saint Ninian's turned up nothing" Volkner recalls, "well I'm not surprised by Saint Ninian's being innocent: that place got destroyed after corvids killed a mouse there" Raoul notes, "and Brockhall was already used twice, maybe Wuya feared her using it would bring it's own destruction" Scarlette suspects, "they're may come a time when we will have to destroy Brockhall after vermin use it" Giotto laments, "so that leaves us either Moledeep or some place they've built themselves" Volkner guesses, "but who will we send where the odds of survival are with you?" Raoul asks, "we could try scoping at night: it would be hard for them to see us in the trees" Scarlette proposes, "good idea Scarlette, and I think it also answered who we should send" Giotto concludes.
----
As night fell, most were taking a moment's rest while they have the chance, except for Kav and his friends. The mole himself was sparing with Alzbeta, while Myotis was once again practicing with her blowpipe, thinking of doing an assassination attempt. Nomi and Erin were resting with Ganner and Zonder cheering on, at least until Zonder felt something wet at his crotch, and realizes he was peeing again. "Heheheh, oopsie" he giggles, and everyone who heard it knew what it meant: Ganner jumps to his feet in disgust while Nomi and Erin stepped away, "had another accident Zonder?" Erah says having shown up when no one was looking, Scarlette and Bairdon come out as well, "awe looks like I'll have to clean you up again" the badger shrugs, "I hate baths" Zonder groans, "then be sure to stand up when you pee-pee from now on" Scarlette proposes hoisting Zonder off, "and it's bedtime for you young man" Erah orders to Ganner, "awe do I have to?" the younger hare complains, "yes, come on" Erah insists and Ganner reluctantly follows, leaving Bairdon and the teens to themselves, "hey Myotis?" the owl asks, "yes?" Myotis responds, "the abbot would like us to investigate Moledeep to see if it is Wuya's base" Bairdon explains, "sure, and if we're lucky, maybe we could kill Wuya without her horde knowing it" Myotis reasons, "I'm not so sure if you can do that: Moledeep is underground after all, you wouldn't be able to fly" Nomi reminds, "maybe, but the badger Constance tried it on Cluny the Scourge" Myotis claims, "except that took place above ground, and the rat Constance got wasn't Cluny" Erin recalls, "but what are the jolly chances Wuya will know about our plan and be prepared?" Alzbeta wonders, "yeah she would have to have sent a spy or two to eavesdrop right now, but what are the chances it is happening?" Kav adds. 
Unknown to all of them, Bigjaw and Slashtail were in fact spying, and heard every word. "The chances are high actually" Slashtail whispers and both she and Bigjaw sneak off back to Moledeep.
----
At Moledeep, Wuya was trying to sleep in her chamber, but once again was being harassed by a nightmare, and in the real word, Tubemouth was skulking around with his dagger out, listening to Wuya: he intends to usurp her; have all her power and wealth and get what she's soughting after, including Martin's sword, if he could get that sword first, both Redwall and the horde would bow to him, and it was too good to pass up, so naturally, he didn't wanna be in Wuya's shadow anymore. He opens the door, finding Wuya writhing due to her nightmare. He creeps toward her, and just when he was close enough to let loose, Wuya jumps awake, startling him and he hastily puts his dagger away to avoid suspicion. Wuya eventually detected his presence, and wasn't pleased by it. "What are you doing here?" she growls, "I thought you were in trouble" Tubemouth lies, "get out" she roars and chases Tubemouth out, then went to try and sleep again.
Tubemouth emerges from Moledeep disappointed that he couldn't get his chance and sits with Hardskin and Spikehand. "Did you kill her?" the beetle asks, "no, not yet" Tubemouth answers, "tough luck Tubemouth, plus, I still don't think it's a good idea, what if Tegenaria has a vision showing Wuya becoming aware and executing you for treason?" the mantis warns, but this got her slapped by the assassin-bug, "in case you've forgotten, Tegenaria's been having trouble with her visions: she keeps going on that some ghost-mouse is preventing her from seeing what's coming later, and Wuya's a hypocrite: she says vertebrates are inferior, yet doesn't object to recruiting any, she's gotta go" Tubemouth growls, not knowing Slashtail and Bigjaw had been eavesdropping on him like they did on Redwall, and secretly made plans to tell Wuya.
----
On the other side of Moledeep's location, Bairdon, Myotis and Jala had arrived: the mole able to determine from the sounds only he could hear in the dirt which chamber Wuya occupies. "Found it, stand back" he declares and gets digging while the owl and bat stand guard, eventually he breaches the chamber, careful to keep himself from falling in. The chamber was vacant now, but Jala had no intention of staying and quickly climbs back up. "We're in, as soon as Wuya walks in, she's all yours Myotis" he informs, "how long do you think she'll return?" Myotis wonders, "don't know" Jala shrugs, "I'll keep watch: we've come this far, no turning back now" Bairdon reasons and flies up to the tallest tree to keep watch at the entrance.
----
In Moledeep, Slashtail and Bigjaw find Wuya awake and about. "Ah Slashtail, Bigjaw, anything to report?" she questions, "yes, some redwallers are planning to assassinate you under all of our noses" Slashtail relays, "really, bold move of them to do something like that" Wuya comments impressed, "that's not all, we've discovered a mutiny" Bigjaw informs, which Wuya didn't see coming at all, "what? who's instigating it?" she growls getting in Bigjaw's face, "we believe Tubemouth mistress" the ant claims, "the assassin-bug? I should've known: they're always backstabbing" Wuya growls, "shall we bring him in for treason?" Slashtail requests, "no, let me deal with the wannabe, maybe I can use it and the assassination to my advantage: if I can get Tubemouth to fall in the woodlanders' trap, it'll kill two birds with one stone" Wuya speculates and left for outside.
Upon emerging, she finds Tubemouth chatting with Spikehand and Hardskin. Slashtail and Bigjaw never said if Tubemouth had persuaded anyone to back him up, but that could wait. "Tubemouth, I need you for something" she calls and the assassin-bug follows, all the way into her chamber, both noticed the hole in the ceiling, which they were sure wasn't there before, but shrug it off, yet Wuya decides to stay out of its view. She walks to a bowl of meat she has and Tubemouth watches her take a bite jealously. "I'd offer some, but you're kind can't eat solid-food" she laments, "yeah" Tubemouth sighs: sometimes he hated his physiology, "but the reason I wish to talk to you is that I have another plan that could conquer Redwall, and I wanna take part in it" Wuya begins, "uh huh" Tubemouth follows, "and I was wondering if you could fill in for me here to keep some order present, since Fastwing is dead, Tegenaria's having trouble with her psychic powers, and I'll need Dytiscus for said plan" Wuya requests taking out her cloak, armor and some weapons and laying them on the bed, "of course mistress" Tubemouth accepts, thinking his own plan to replace her with himself has just gotten easier, "that a boy Tubemouth, let me know if you have any trouble" Wuya praises and walks off, meeting Tegenaria down the hall, "hello mistress" the spider greets, "any luck with your visions?" Wuya asks, "no, but I'll keep trying" Tegenaria promises, "put it on hold for now, I need you to watch Tubemouth for me: he and the redwallers are planning to off me, possibly tonight" Wuya warns much to Tegenaria's surprise, "uh, yes mistress" she stutters: she would've felt better had she foreseen it, but thanks to a certain ghost-mouse, she was caught completely by surprise by this revelation, and she didn't like it.
==Chapter thirteen==
Wuya and a few others sneak off to Saint Ninian's, where the centipede reasons would be the safest place to have their plan begin. As various Natterer's bats fly around, the vermin began acquiring wood, including chopping down trees (scaring the bats off). Once again they were attempting to build a siege engine, only this time Wuya opted for a Battering ram, for Redwall's front-door. While Wuya supervises, Slashtail returns. "Anything to report?" Wuya questions, "yes: the redwallers are planning to assassinate you tonight, they could be waiting to do it right now" the wasp relays, "any idea how?" Wuya presses, "they've apparently dug a tunnel directly over your bedchamber, the Redwall bat Myotis is the one planning to assassinate you" Slashtail answers, "in that case, I'll have to make sure Tubemouth gets mistaken for me" Wuya deduces, and eventually came to one conclusion, "normally I wouldn't approve, but tell him he's permitted to wear my clothes, say it's for incase anyone doesn't listen to him" she adds, "are you sure?" Slashtail wonders, "I'm sure, now tell him" Wuya orders and Slashtail doesn't argue.
Upon returning to Moledeep, she checks on Tubemouth. "How are things Tubemouth?" Slashtail asks, "it's going good so far" Tubemouth claims proudly, "well, Wuya would like you to disguise yourself as her incase anyone gets rebellious" Slashtail requests, "really?" Tubemouth gasps, "I was just as surprised, but she insists" Slashtail maintains, "than I shall, I'll make her proud" Tubemouth vows and left for Wuya's chamber, not noticing Slashtail's smirk, "yeah you'll make her proud alright" the wasp mutters.
----
Above ground, Myotis positions herself in the hole Jala dug to Wuya's chamber, her blowpipe ready. "How long before Wuya returns?" Jala asks, "I don't know" Myotis shrugs until she picked up a sound from below, "wait, I think she's here" she adds and readies herself. 
Beneath her, Tubemouth enters the chamber and finds the clothes Wuya left on her bed. He couldn't believe Wuya was actually letting him wear them, but if he was to become the leader, he might as well dress like one. He starts with the cloak, reasoning the top-wear would probably not fit him due to having more sleeves. He did however, try on a helmet and took two weapons, and couldn't resist playing around in his disguise. "I am the leader, you now serve me" he says to no one, before stepping directly under Myotis. It was too dark to discern for the bat, but she hoped this was Wuya and fires a dart. It hits Tubemouth in his back, and he froze: he reached behind him for the dart and eventually felt it, which gave him a sense of dread. A second later, the poison began to take effect, and Tubemouth started wheezing before collapsing dead. Myotis, delighted, climbs back up to meet Jala, who sees her smile. "I got her" she announces, making Jala smile as they both sneak back to the abbey, eager to tell everyone the good news.
----
Wuya makes her way back to Moledeep. The battering ram was half-finished, but Wuya put Dytiscus in charge, and instructed everyone to return and rest after they were done. Upon arriving, she finds everything looked okay: Hardskin and Spikehand were still sitting by a fire, but they stood at attention when the centipede arrives. "Get some rest you two, we'll attack tomorrow" Wuya orders and simply walks away. Upon entering Moledeep, Goldback rushes to her looking panicked. "Mistress, Tubemouth is dead in your chamber" he exclaims, though Wuya didn't look surprised, she immediately went to her chamber, and sure enough Tubemouth was on the floor, wearing her clothes, dead. Wuya rolls him over and found the dart, then looks at the hole in the roof: so that's where the trap was. Wuya smiles. "Right on target" she says, then steps out the room, "someone get the body out, and my cloak off him" she requests and Bigjaw and Tegenaria comply, "my minions, Tubemouth has betrayed us: he was attempting to oust me and take my place, but I outsmarted him: I used him as bait for the woodlanders, who were looking to end me as well, but I outsmarted them too, if any still thinks I shouldn't be leader of this horde, go ahead and admit it" Wuya explains and warns, but nobody was willing to disagree, as she predicted, "didn't think so, now retire: tomorrow we shall strike at Redwall again" she adds and this got them ecstatic.
----
At Redwall, excitement was present here too, because Wuya was "dead". Despite being around midnight, no one was willing to sleep yet. Just about everyone was chowing and drinking Nutbrown Beer. Myotis was hailed a hero for her accomplishment. Yet, out of everyone, Kav was the only one not joining in the fun, and snuck out. Only Nomi noticed and followed him. Kav had gone up a wall-walk and gazed out to where Moledeep was supposed to be, which slightly concerned Nomi. "Why are you depressed?" she asks startling Kav, "did I scare you?" Nomi wonders, "no, it's just that...you remember how Cluny the Scourge avoided Constance's trap?" Kav asks, Nomi nods, "yeah: some other rat named Cheesethief dressed up as Cluny and got shot because of it burr aye" she recalls, "exactly, and I'm getting the feeling whoever Myotis killed isn't Wuya" Kav reveals shocking Nomi, "but Cluny didn't exactly plan it, setting Cheesethief up turned out to be accidental" Nomi reminds, "yeah but I doubt Wuya had avoided our trap by accident" Kav retorts, "are you saying Wuya had sent spies, that must've overheard us at some point?" Nomi wonders, "I don't know, but I won't believe it until I see it" Kav vows.
==Chapter fourteen==
Around midmorning the next day, everything seems to have returned to normal. A long-tailed bushtit was flying around eager for breakfast, but it didn't see the approaching Eurasian sparrowhawk with the same idea in mind, only this bird was after the tit, who never saw it coming as it was skewered by the talons. Below the sparrowhawk, Wuya and her horde had finished building their battering ram and were bringing it to Redwall. The ram was like any other, except it had a box-shaped shell meant to protect the users from harm. Dytiscus was one of the users, and placed in charge of it while Wuya and the rest accompanied as an escort. "This shall get into Redwall easily enough" Wuya muses and they finally arrive, and she gave the command to attack.
----
In Redwall, almost everybody was still asleep, since that party last night lasted a bit after midnight. As a result, the abbey was mostly quiet. Kav and Nomi were sleeping together on a wall-walk, having chosen guard-duty over celebration. "Wake up Kav, Redwall's in danger" Martin's voice cries out and Kav jumps awake. For a moment everything looked okay, but then he heard what sounded like battle-cries, and they were growing louder. "Kav, what's-? Nomi began sleepily until a loud crash cut her off, startling both moles, "that came from the front-wall" Kav deduces and wasn't the only one to be awakened. Koor, who slept in the bell-tower, was also jolted awake. "What on earth?" she wonders when another crash scares the crud outa her. Instinctively she rides the Matthias and Methuselah bells Quasimodo-style, waking up everyone else who hadn't already. Nomi and Kav arrive over the front-wall and were shocked to see Wuya was leading her forces in another attack. "I knew it!" Kav cries as Nomi fires her crossbow at the battering ram down below, but thanks to the box it was in, the rock barely penetrated it. "Oh that's going to be a problem" Nomi groans as several other woodlanders gather and fire arrows, but they proved weaker than Nomi's rocks. They also left themselves vulnerable to attack from the vermin themselves as Scalewing proves by firing at a mouse up on the wall.
----
Around them, Wuya and a few others were attempting to sneak in up the walls again. Tegenaria exudes some silk and throws it up to the wall. "Good hunting" Wuya bids as the spider and Hardskin climb up, at the same time Spikehand flies up, finds no guards and waits, but sees Erin having brought a torch over to the front wall. "Uh oh" she mutters.
At the front-wall, Erin arrives with an idea. "Guys, if the battering ram is made of wood, why don't we burn it?" the hedgehog proposes, "good idea" said Nomi and lit an arrow, then aims it, then when others cover her, she throws it down to the battering ram. In a second the fire engulfs it, horrifying those inside. "Everyone out" Dytiscus shouts and all burst out the hinged rear of the ram, where many woodlanders simply shot at them, either killing or just wounding, Dytiscus was struck, but thanks to her durable bones the arrows proved impervious, as long as she points her back at them.
As for Spikehand, she was eventually noticed. Koor swoops in to kill her, but Spikehand wasn't going down without a fight. The two brawl as much as possible when Hardskin and Tegenaria arrive, though not without noticing Koor and finding Raoul and Volkner waiting for them. "Surprise" both said and attack the bugs: Raoul tackling Tegenaria and Volkner tackling Hardskin. Other woodlanders arrive incase they're needed, but Wuya noticed from below that the sneak-in was compromised. "Curses, they already know" she fumes. At the top Spikehand was swinging madly at Koor, but the corvid kept dodging, and when Spikehand stopped to rest, Koor struck the mantis beak-first in the head, impaling Spikehand's brain. Koor then flung Spikehand off the wall, where she fell to Wuya dead, much to the centipede's shock. "No" she gasps, but it wasn't over yet: Volkner and Hardskin prove equally-matched, but one had a trick up his sleeve, "that all you got water-weasel?" the beetle taunts, "nope" Volkner claims and twists his waist to slam his tail into Hardskin, who's caught completely by surprise and Volkner finished him impaling him in the head, he then heaved the corpse over the wall and it too fell. Tegenaria saw it all and realizes she's beaten, so exudes another silk-line and summersaults off the wall, bungee-jumping down, but Scarlette cuts the line with her claws, sending the spider plummeting without any means to stop, and it kills her. Wuya stares at Tegenaria before looking back at the woodlanders with a scowl. "This isn't over Furrel, I will slay you and take your sword" she swears and calls a retreat, "I knew you weren't dead to begin with" Kav retorts.
==Chapter fifteen==
After Wuya's latest attacks, everyone went back to their usual ways, though some were upset that Wuya didn't die after all, especially Myotis: the bat had thought for sure she had gotten the centipede, and was now just sitting around depressed. One of the guosim, a female-shrew wearing a purple-kirtle with a chemise and white-bandanna while carrying a bolas and a dirk, and named Genevieve, comes over. "Hey, why the long face?" she asks the bat, "I got the wrong vermin" Myotis complains solemnly, "so, you'll get another chance, I'm sure" Genevieve assures, "I hope so, but even if I do, how will we keep Wuya from knowing about it again? Kav believes some spies had been eavesdropping when we discussed the assassination, I was a fool to think saying it out in the open was a good idea" Myotis says, "well that's what war is about: you have to know what you're up against so you won't walk into a trap and die" Genevieve explains, "I guess, but that doesn't answer my question: how do we outsmart her?" Myotis persists, "I don't know Myotis, I don't know" Genevieve shrugs.
----
In Moledeep, Wuya was checking on Darovit. The vole was mostly fine, but still refused to side with the vermin. "Tell me vole, what do you know of Kav Furrel?" she questions, "all I know is he's the popular one at Redwall, everywhere everyone turns to him over me" Darovit admits, "does he have a weakness?" Wuya wonders, "well since he's albino, he can't stay in the sun too long or he'll get burned" Darovit reveals, "anything else?" Wuya asks, "not that I know of" Darovit shrugs, "well it won't matter, besides, my offer for you is still open" Wuya proposes, "no: I just want Kav gone, you just wanna takeover Redwall" Darovit resists, "I give you my word: if you help me get in Redwall, I'll take care of Kav and only him" Wuya promises, "you're not gonna sway me that easily" Darovit objects, "well if you wanna continue being overshadowed by the mole, I won't stop you, I'd be doing you a favor after all" Wuya shrugs but waits, Darovit was conflicted: he wanted nothing more than Kav to be out of the picture, but he didn't wanna risk Wuya betraying her promise, which he was sure would happen, but he was fed up with Kav ruining his life, so against his better judgement, he looks at Wuya, "I'll give it a try" he relents and Wuya grins.
----
Outside Redwall, things were uneventful. Erin was acting as guard over the north-wall, not wanting to take any chances again. He caught movement in the trees and readied to sound the alarm, until he gotta good look at what approaches. "No way" he gasps, "hey, anybody there?" said a familiar voice, "that's Darovit" Scarlette gasps recognizing the voice, she immediately opens a postern and sees Darovit arriving, "everyone, Darovit has returned, alert all" the badger calls and everyone gather to see the vole emerge in Redwall none the worse for wear, "Darovit, oh thank goodness you're alive" Koga cries and hugs, "I had hid out at Brockhall for everything to blow over" Darovit lies, "well that's a relief, come on let's get you something to eat, you must be starving" Koga offers, though Darovit wasn't hungry, he did miss the Redwall-food, along the way Kav comes to him, "I'm so glad you're safe" the mole expresses, Darovit unfortunately still had some animosity toward Kav, but he was stunned to hear the mole actually care about his well-being, "yeah, it's good to be back" Darovit says, "well I hope you put this feud to rest, we need all the help we can get" Giotto prays, "yeah, Wuya's still alive, but I'll help in any way I can" Darovit offers, though that wasn't his intent.
----
Just outside, Goldback was watching from a tree, and after seeing the vole get in, jumps down to Wuya. "You sure we can trust him?" he asks, "I have high hopes: by playing with his feelings, my plan's sure to succeed" Wuya confides, "so what do we do until then?" Bigjaw wonders, "for now let's rest: we shall strike in the morning, when everyone else should be asleep" Wuya answers and turns away, and her lackeys follow.
----
In Redwall, a small celebration was being held over Darovit's return, even a wild Eurasian blackcap-bird was celebrating it. Darovit though thought it was unnecessary, but as usual his request fell on deaf ears, yet for once he won't complain, and decided to find somewhere he can be alone so he can hear himself think. Kav followed, wanting Darovit to warm up to him: it was time they let bygones be bygones. "Hey Darovit" Kav calls finding Darovit in a corner-tower, "yes?" Darovit wonders, remaining civil, "I just wanna say, I'm sorry" Kav apologizes which Darovit wasn't expecting at all, "for what?" he asks, "your misery, you leaving Redwall for two days, I feel like I caused it all" Kav claims, "well, aye, but don't you like all the attention?" Darovit asks, "well, aye, but not when it hurts you" Kav states, blowing Darovit's mind: he didn't expect this from the mole at all, and his animosity began diminishing, but not completely: some scars just run too deep to heal, "I didn't know you cared" he mutters actually touched, "so we friends?" Kav asks, Darovit hesitates: he wanted so badly to get rid of Kav, but seeing the mole treat him with kindness that everyone (except Koga) kept away from him was something he didn't know how to describe, but he still hated Kav deep down, although he couldn't bring himself to reject Kav's offer, "friends" he answers, though he still intends to go through with Wuya's deal, something he would later regret.
==Chapter sixteen==
The day eventually turned to night, but other than Darovit's miraculous return, it was uneventful: Wuya and her horde passed the time by training, then going to sleep early so they could carrying out Wuya's plan. None in Redwall could fathom why they didn't attack again, but were glad for the moment of rest. Still some remained on guard, believing the bugs will return at some point. None though were aware of what would really happen. As the moon left its zenith, signaling midnight as passed, several lesser noctule-bats were one of the few creatures about. An hour before sunrise, Wuya and her horde have arrived at Redwall, waiting for Darovit to let them in, but first they were going to take the hare-family and Esuom prisoner. Slashtail had a knack for picking locks, and the gatehouse's was no different. As she finishes, she Bigjaw and Goldback, with a few others sneak in to apprehend the hares. Slashtail herself comes to Erah's room, and stealthily sneaks over. By the time Erah notices it was too late.
----
In Redwall, Darovit woke bright and early to carry on Wuya's plan. The centipede said the backdoors would be the best way in, and Darovit knew where to go. Upon arriving at the winch, he freezes, having second thoughts. Everyone was finally being nice to him, and even Kav wanted to get him respected, but Darovit knew Wuya wouldn't take kindly to defection, that and he still felt some hatred directed toward Kav: if Wuya does in fact want only Kav and not Redwall itself, then this'll be worth it, but if she was kidding...Darovit shivered at that possibility, but decided getting only Kav out of the picture won't be too far over the line. He twists the winch that controls the portcullis, and after finishing that, opens the doors. Wuya and her horde were right there waiting, and charge in. "Ah, victory" Wuya muses, "you'll only go after Kav right?" Darovit asks, "yeah about that..." Wuya began and suddenly slaps Darovit hard enough to knock him out,"...I lied" she finishes: she does want Kav, but figures Redwall is too good to not takeover.
In Kav's house, the albino mole was sleeping soundly, unaware of the insectoid menace that has broken into his house and was creep into his room. When he sensed a presence, it was too late: in a flash several limbs apprehend him and hoist him up, where he finds himself face-to-face with Wuya. "Hello Kav, and no: this isn't a dream" she greets, and from downstairs Kav heard struggling sounds as Wuya carries him down herself, and Kav could see his parents were also caught, "mom, dad" he cries as all the moles got forced out of their house, and they weren't the only ones: all around the inhabitants of Redwall have been herded into the lawn after being rudely awakened. "Release us at once!" Scarlette roars as Wuya tosses Kav in with them, "how'd you even get in?" Erin asks, "well you could say one of mine was living among you" Wuya admits, though just about everybody weren't sure who she meant, "you mean like a spy?" Telma asks, "but who'd be able to walk among us without drawing suspense?" Jala wonders and no one could guess, except Kav, "Darovit!" he screeches and Darovit himself was hauled into view, still passed out, "no, he couldn't have" Koga gasps, "but if he did, why?" Giotto asks, and once again Kav had the answer, "it was because of me" Kav exclaims, "that's right mole: he was so resentful of you that he defected to my side" Wuya giggles as Darovit wakes up, and when he does he was horrified, "you snake with legs, I knew you didn't mean it" he swore at Wuya, "oh you're not all wrong: Kav and his sword I do want, but Redwall is merely a bonus" Wuya claims admiring Martin's sword, which she confiscated when capturing Kav, "give that back" Kav roars, and to everyone's surprise she does, along with Martin's shield, "what's the catch?" Raoul demands but was slapped on the head by Scalewing, "silence" she orders, "yeah, what's the catch burr aye?" Kav asks, "killing you where you stand is boring, I like warriors to go down fighting" Wuya explains while Kav looks at Darovit, and could see sadness and guilt on his face, Darovit looked at everyone: some were glaring for betrayal, but Koga was crying and Kav just looked...guilty, as if he had forced Darovit into this, now Darovit really does regret switching sides, "I knew I shouldn't have agreed to Wuya's deal" he thought, but Kav instantly got a determined look on his face, "fine, I'll fight you, to the death" he relents, much to Wuya's delight, "I was hoping you'd say that" she cackles and draws weapons in all her twenty arms (her two hands that Kav cut off days ago haven't finished regenerating yet). Kav draws out Martin's sword, then they clash again. 
----
Darovit stood to the sides, and noticed all were too occupied with Wuya and Kav to notice him, so he took advantage: he may have made a mistake, but he intents to fix it. He doubted most if not all of Redwall will forgive him for treachery, but he won't complain. Koga will probably forgive, and something told the vole Kav won't hold a grudge at all, but Kav's friends? Darovit wasn't gonna hold his breath. Stealthily he makes his way over to the weapon-pile (the weapons of the redwallers Wuya intends to keep), grabs a few and makes his way to the prisoners. "What are you doing?" Volkner questions silently after noticing, prompting the other prisoners nearest to look and scowl, "undoing my mistake" Darovit answers and with a knife cuts Volkner free from his ropes, and also hands the otter his bill-hook. Koor, noticing what Darovit was up to, secretly removes the ropes that bound Genevieve with her beak. "Okay, now do the one in front of you" Koor suggests and Genevieve agrees, Volkner got the same idea while Darovit did more beside them. It would take hours, but Darovit had a feeling Kav will last that long.
==Chapter seventeen==
Kav and Wuya continue their battle, and were currently engaging near the bell-tower. Kav had noticed he was able to block each of Wuya's attacks with ease, and even resorted to using his shield offensively by swinging and bashing at the centipede, but wasn't sure if he was doing it willingly or something was forcing him to. Maybe Martin does have the power to keep the champions alive. "The force of this place is strong with you Kav, but I have seasons of experience" Wuya taunts, "just because I'm less experienced than you doesn't mean you'll win" Kav retorts, "we'll see" Wuya vows and they engage more.
----
Wuya's horde watches in awe, which would be their undoing as the prisoners were free, and with the vermin's back turned, Genevieve manages to claim one life. "Ha" the shrew gloats as the other bugs notice the prisoners were loose, "what the?" Slashtail gasps as she was attacked by Volkner, now it was an all out war as everybody was fighting, "insolent vertebrate" Slashtail roars and manages to best the otter by slashing her stinger at him. Volkner falls to the ground in pain, and when Slashtail was about to deliver the killing-blow, a rock hits her in the left-eye and damages her face. The culprit was none other than Nomi. "In retrospect, I always preferred bees to wasps" the mole says and fires another bullet, hitting Slashtail directly between the eyes after she recovered, sending her down again, and this time she stays down.
Alzbeta got a rematch with Goldback. The robberfly and the hare were well-matched. "You're not so bad for a maid" Goldback taunts as he swings at her, but she intercepts. He tries to fly at her, but she jumps and stomps him, then slices off his right-wing, much to his agony. "Not so tough when you can't fly wot?" Alzbeta taunts but Goldback struck back, slashing her on her muzzle and almost got another hit that would've killed her, but she ducks while slashing at him, cutting through his chest. Goldback clutches his wound, but it wasn't enough to kill him and he retaliates by intercepting Alzbeta, then tries to punch her, but she saw it coming, grabs Goldback's arm and kicks him in the belly, then twists behind him and stabs him in the back with her scimitar thrust behind her. Goldback collapses as he felt his strength diminish, and Alzbeta finishes him by stabbing him again.
----
Raoul was fighting Bigjaw. Shrew and ant clash spectacularly, but as of yet, neither could gain an advantage that would help them win. "This is for my guosim your boss killed" Raoul swears swinging his mace at Bigjaw, who meets with his lance and pushes the shrew back, then tries to go on the offensive, only for Raoul to dodge. The shrew remained on the defensive, hoping to wear Bigjaw down, but Bigjaw seems to have a lot of stamina. "Why don't you just give it up shrew? no one can beat us" Bigjaw taunts, "why don't you prove it?" Raoul encourages and Bigjaw attacks more while Raoul stays defensive. Eventually Bigjaw began to tire and the shrew struck, twisting to the right, he grabs Bigjaw's lower-left arm and bites it. Unlike most shrews, the guosim lacked venom, but Raoul was able to cripple the limb from the bite alone. "mm, tasty" Raoul jokes, especially since shrews eat bugs. Bigjaw tries to attack again, but Raoul intercepts and takes another bite, this time on the thorax. Desperate, Bigjaw waves his lance wildly to keep the shrew away, but Raoul hits him directly on the hands, making Bigjaw drop his lance and when he wasn't looking, Raoul seals his fate with a whack to the head, rupturing it and ending the ant. Looking up, he sees Genevieve slaying a vermin, then get shot from above, much to the log-a-log's horror. Above he finds Scalewing with her crossbow in action, but suddenly an arrow from the ground hits her in the chest and she crashes. Raoul looked to where that arrow came from and found Darovit with a bow. Raoul smiles: glad to see the vole realized his mistake.
----
Erin was slaughtering vermin left to right before finding himself pitted against Dytiscus. "Ready to play hedge-pig?" the beetle growls, "don't call me hedge-pig" Erin snarls and engages: trident meets javelin epically. In one exchange, Erin forces Dytiscus into the pond. "Ha, looks like you lose" the hedgehog brags until he sees Dytiscus isn't drowning, "yeah, I'm a great-diving beetle: we love water as much as otters" Dytiscus reveals and leaps at Erin. During their engagement, Erin manages to headbutt her in the underside with his quills, and they stung. Erin tries to slash her, but she deflected by showing her shell. "Nice try, by my shell is impervious to all weapons" Dytiscus taunts, Erin growls but recalls how he hurt her in the underside, "yeah but your front clearly isn't" he retorts and engages more, and once again attacks with his quills, making her keel over before Erin stabs her behind the neck, which wasn't armored, deep enough to remove her head. Erin pants, then looks around, seeing the civilians had taken shelter in the main building or something, while all the fighters were still, well, fighting: Koor skewers a bug with her beak, Volkner impales one with his bill-hook, Myotis turns one into a snack, and Bairdon squashes one like, well, a bug. He turns to Kav and wasn't surprised to see Wuya hadn't died yet, and rushes over.
----
Kav and Wuya remain in battle, both covered in wounds, and some of Wuya's arms were amputated, but they don't seem to slow her down. "Come on, I could do this all way" Kav taunts, though in reality, he looked ready to pass out. Wuya was equally exhausted: having finally found an opponent that not only matches her, but maybe defeat her as well, not that she intends to lose. "I'll admit, you are what everyone says about the warriors of Redwall" she pants, "so you gonna give up?" Kav asks secretly hopeful, "when hedge-pigs fly" Wuya objects and attacks one more time, forcing Kav to put up his weapons to intercept, and now they were locked. Wuya however had one set of limbs free: her forcipules. Upon recognizing this feature, Kav ducks just when Wuya thrusts her head forward, missing by a centimeter, and in the process slices into her right-forcipule with his sword, cutting it off and sinking into her head slightly, making her back off. Kav saw he cut into the venom-gland, but whether or not Wuya could be affected by her own poison he didn't know, and wasn't gonna rely on it. He backs up a flight of stairs he noticed. "Running away?" Wuya taunts, "it's over Wuya" Kav states, "it isn't over until one of us falls, and that will be you" Wuya howls and leaps toward the mole, who put his shield up and gets pummeled by Wuya hitting it with most of her weapons, but she didn't see Kav thrust the sword upward into her face, making her tumble onto him and smother him with her body. Everyone else gather around, wondering who won and who died. Suddenly Wuya's body began to move, putting everyone on guard until Kav pushes it off and stands, bruised and bloody but alive, and the crowd cheers: Redwall triumphs again.
==Chapter eighteen==
The day progresses slowly: the bodies of Redwall's foes and friends lay strewn everywhere, but they were being gathered up. Scarlette quickly took charge of those injured, and after finishing with Raoul, was doing Kav, who probably had the most scars of anyone in the battle, but Scarlette was glad to hear Wuya was dead for real. Jala and Telma were with them, both quite proud of their son. "Good job Kav" Jala praises and Telma kisses him on the cheek, "you're so wonderful Kav, you saved us all" she compliments, "yeah he did wot" Alzbeta adds before suddenly scowling at Darovit, who was being judged by Giotto, "unlike some beasts I know" she adds hostilely, "Alzbeta don't blame Darovit: it's my fault he betrayed us in the first place" Kav defends much to everyone's shock, "how's it your fault?" Scarlette asks baffled, "everyone kept neglecting him, all for me: sure he was jealous, but if I had noticed how miserable he was, maybe he wouldn't have sided with Wuya" Kav explain ashamed, and looks at Scarlette, "you finished yet?" he requests, "aye, go ahead" Scarlette answers knowing what Kav wanted to do.
Darovit stood in front of Giotto, Volkner, Erah, Bairdon and Koga, the last one being the only one who wasn't angry at him at all, but for once Darovit felt he should be, the others undoubtedly were, a little. "Darovit, siding with the enemy, and even helping them take over Redwall Abbey, is a serious crime" Giotto announces, but Darovit said nothing, "however, giving that you did switch back and are sorry for it, I'll go easy on you, so you're banished until next spring" Giotto adds, "make it two seasons" Kav voiced startling them, "Kav, his crimes are unforgivable" Volkner objects, "so what? I'm the one who pushed him into betraying us: if any-beast deserves to be punished, it's me" Kav declares, "what are you saying?" Erah asks stunned, "you all neglected him by fawning over me: he only hated me because you all kept coming to me more than him" Kav claims and looks at Darovit, "Kav..." the vole gasps, "like I said yesterday Darovit: I'm sorry" Kav states, "alright, two seasons banishment it is" Giotto concedes now that he thought about it: he did feel a little guilty for what happened for Darovit, "and Darovit, maybe now, we can be friends" Kav guessed and holds out his right-hand to shake for Darovit, who was about to, but hesitates, then slowly grabs it with both his own and closes it with a look of sadness, "I appreciate that you stood up for me Kav, but I'm not coming back to Redwall in two seasons, or at all" Darovit rejects much to everyone's shock, Darovit also took the bag full of food Bairdon had made for his exile, then turned to leave. Kav and Koga, after a few minutes, rush after Darovit. "That was awful: I hope we never have to banish any-beast again" Erin prays, "agreed" Myotis admits looking at the three retreating forms.
Darovit opens the front gate himself and then steps out, intent on going somewhere, anywhere, so he wouldn't have to live with this. As soon as he reaches the intersection, Kav and Koga catch him. "Darovit wait" Koga calls out, "Darovit, why?" Kav asks, "it's not that I don't want to be in Redwall, it's that every time I look, I realize I almost lost everything I actually care about" Darovit claims, "but we're not mad at you" Koga corrects, "I know that dad, and I'm grateful for it, but this isn't about either of you, I can't stay here anymore, or at least not now" Darovit states, "but Redwall's your home, and we're your family, you can't just throw it away: Darovit you're making another mistake right now" Kav begs, "maybe, but I have to sort this on my own, without Redwall...and without either of you" Darovit reasons, Kav, seeing it was hopeless, officially gave up and looked away, "I understand, more than you think: I understand wanting to getaway from Redwall" the mole admits, "I know" Darovit pities, but then took a step and walks off. Neither Kav or Koga continue to stop him, but they remain where they stood, watching Darovit go over the incline and disappear behind it. When he'll be ready to return, or if, no one knows.
===Epilogue===
Extracted from the writings of Brother Esuom, recorder of Redwall.
It's been eight-seasons since the "Spring of the Invasion of Bugs" (as we named it) has happened, and the times are full of both joy and sorrow. I think I'll start with the latter so not leave every-beast down in the dumps. Darovit, the envious-vole who betrayed us to Wuya the Toxic, the first centipede-warlord the abbey has ever met, has banished himself from Redwall. No one has seen him sense, and some wonder if he'll ever return. Koga hasn't been the same: apart from feeling the empty-nest syndrome, he's never his old self anymore, but he doesn't blame Kav for it. Kav himself on the other hand, hasn't let it take away his own happiness, and with the sad stuff out of the way, I can get to the good part: Kav and Nomi are now married, and by luck Erin has found a girl himself. Raoul and his remaining guosim went back to their old ways, intending to fix what was lost. Alzbeta has taken to being the new gatekeeper, but is fine with waiting a few more seasons, preferably when Erah gets too old for it anymore. Ganner and Zonder are still the rascals we know and love, and if that weren't joyful enough, Kav and Nomi want to have children someday, though when they'll get it on to do it is any-beast's guess, but Jala and Telma are certainly looking forward to being grandparents. Well, that's it for now, may Martin the Warrior be with you.
Brother Esuom, Recorder of Redwall-Abbey.
The End
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