More Morbidity in Mossflower

right|300px|link=Special:FilePath/PlaceholderMore Morbidity in Mossflower is a fanfic for the wiki and a sequel to Frozen Terror.
===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==
Extracted from the writings of Oppo, Recorder of Redwall.
It's been thirty-six seasons (nine years) since the "Winter of Riftgard's liberation" as we call it. Pryce has become the first dormouse in history to be Redwall's champion, only he wasn't at Redwall to do so. Some twenty-seasons ago, he was smitten with a maid named Cilghal, and twelve seasons later they married, and recently, Cilghal announces to be pregnant. Pryce didn't take it well at first, fearing that his new wife will be killed by the pregnancy like his mother was (can't say I blame him), but Cilghal isn't worried in the slightest, and even accepts it if it will happen, but I won't hold my breath.
Meanwhile the newly kinged Vaniel Wildlough is also a dad: he and Saffo now have a daughter named Retto, who should be twenty-four seasons (six years) old by now, and if that wasn't shocking enough, they also got a son twelve-seasons after, and his name is Zorran, he should be twelve-seasons now. They also plan to visit Redwall soon, in part to keep Pryce sane. At the moment I think they're at Salamandastron catching up with Adelmo Bowstripe and Lotte Spikethumb Thropple. Speaking of Salamandastron, that rebellious dibbun of ours Adorjan has moved in it and is now Adelmo's protégé. Skarloey and Teedle, who are also full-grown, miss him big time, but they're doing alright. Teedle's become the new infirmary keeper after Sister Diffen partly retired, while Skarloey is practicing to be the next foremole after Noptar. Oh and there goes the bell for lunch. I better go.
Oppo, recorder of Redwall.
==Chapter one==
It was a bright, spring day, and a Eurasian jay was chirping, before suddenly darting away. At that moment, four massive shadows fly by. A group of Ornithocheirus, two carrying two otters, one carrying a hedgehog, and one carrying a mouse, were racing across the land. "Faster daddy faster" shouted a little otter maid mounted behind her father, who was Vaniel, still dressed in dark blue-pants, cloths wrapped around his hands, and now wearing his dad's old crown, his daughter Retto, who wears a teal-surcoat and purple-coif, sitting behind him, while the other pterosaur was carrying Saffo, who now wore Osclor Wildlough's crown but still had the same purple-shirt with a yellow-vest, red-pants and a grey-wimple, and was carrying little Zorran, who was naked. She chuckles at Retto's enthusiasm until she saw smoke up ahead. "Fun time's over Vaniel, there's smoke ahead" she warns and Vaniel could see it, urging his pterosaur to slow down, they all find a bone-chilling scene. "Oh my Mossflower" Vaniel gasps for below was some houses, which were smoking, and some dead bodies around them. "Daddy what's wrong? why are they all like that?" Retto asks, but Vaniel refused to answer, instead looking at Saffo, Wibble Pintips and Dile (the hedgehog and mouse were now the royals' entourage), who were thinking the same thing: another vermin force was about. "We better head to Redwall fast" Wibble suggested and no one argue.
----
Ahead of them, the perpetrators were well in the direction of Redwall. A trio of Polacanthus were hauling wagons loaded with equipment and prisoners, and leading them all was a magpie named Pica Eipgam, the first magpie warlord to assemble a horde on a conquering spree: he was dressed in a teal-samite and wields a flail and throwing-knives. He was looking for a place to settle his growing empire. "Halt" he shouts and the caravan stops, Pica then turns to his right-hand-man, a wearet named Acheron wearing a chainmail-suit and carrying an ax. "Yes my lord?" he asks, "rest here, I shall scout ahead" Pica answers, "can I kill the prisoners if they misbehave?" asks a female lizard named Bloodhand: like most lizards she was cannibalistic, but weirdly expressed childish glee in murder. She wears a chemise with a blue-kirtle and wields a Glaive. "Only if they misbehave Bloodhand, they're no good to me dead" Pica permits and flies up toward a tree, he scans around before laying his eyes on Redwall, which would make the perfect fortress since it had a reputation for being vermin-proof, but if his research was correct, at least two vermin-warlords managed to defeat and takeover the abbey. Pica doesn't mind being the third, but of course actually doing it was the hard part. "Prepare yourself Redwall, for Pica Eipgam has arrived" he whispers ominously.
----
At Salamandastron, Adelmo was monitoring Adorjan's progress in the forge. The young badger now wore pink-shorts, while Adelmo, who was getting old, was only wearing a grey-shirt and white-trousers. Adorjan was sculpting a lance on the anvil all badger-lords use to repair or forge a weapon. He pounds away with his mallet before deciding to stop and blow on it, then looks at Adelmo. "How'd I do master?" the younger badger asks (in a deeper voice), the older one comes to inspect his pupil's work, "well you certainly have perfected the flat-surfaces, but the handle's not straight enough and the tip is crooked" Adelmo studies, "dang" Adorjan groans as the door opens and in came Lotte, who was now retired and elderly, "how's it going?" he asks, "still got some-" Adorjan began until he saw his mentor looking tense, "Adelmo?" he asks, "sorry, I just had a vision" Adelmo answers, "that's something you don't bally have to feel sorry for wot wot" Lotte objects, "well it isn't good: the vision had a horde of vermin moving toward Redwall" Adelmo explains, "sheesh you'd think the vermin would've given up on conquering the abbey by now wot" Lotte jokes but Adorjan looked more worried, "did it show anyone I know?" the younger badger asks, "well I did see your childhood friends, Pryce and a few others, but it didn't show them dying" Adelmo answers, "well I'm going there" Adorjan asserts and puts the mallet away, then leaves.
----
At Redwall, a female dormouse wearing a black-bodice with a chemise and blue-skirt was tending the beehives. Her name was Cilghal and was late in her pregnancy. Pryce, still wearing a green-cote and beige-trousers, walks over. "Um, are you sure you should be working?" he asks, "Pryce relax, I've been dealing with bees since I was a kid" Cilghal retorts a little annoyed, "I'm just worried being pregnant will end you, remember what I said about my mother?" Pryce reminds and Cilghal sighed: she couldn't blame him, yet she was getting tired of hearing it over and over, "I'm the only beekeeper here, who's gonna do my job?" she wonders, "I'll do it" Pryce offers and takes over, "uh I don't think that's-" Cilghal objects but Pryce opens the hive and provokes the bees into attacking him, causing him to run away screaming until falling into the pond, and a crowd gathers around him, "burr aye, you trying to do Cilghal's work again?" Yaddle asks as she helps Pryce out, "yes" he coughs, and was covered in stings, "come on, let's go see Sister Diffen and Teedle" Myodes Lightpaw suggests and helps Pryce into the main building as Cilghal watches, "yet another disaster he bestowed on himself" she says as a vole named Amaryl wearing a yellow-cote and a black-skirt joined her, "ah cheer up Cilghal, if my mom had died giving birth to me, I'd wanna take precautions too" she laments.
==Chapter two==
Nowl Redkite sat on a wall-walk in Riftgard, thinking of Vaniel and his family. Ever since Wibble and Dile got promoted to be the new royal bodyguards, the kite's been reduced to being obsolete, but not completely. He still had Korlac Wildlough to look after, and he made a good partner for Gald Bowstripe. Speaking of Korlac and Gald, both arrive on the balcony looking for him. "There you are Nowl" Korlac says, "hey Korlac, hey Gald" Nowl returns, "thinking of Vaniel?" Korlac asks, "Nowl just worries Vaniel and family will get hurt" Nowl admits, "I know you miss him, but he's not a kid anymore, and they'll be safe, and you still have me" Korlac assures and Nowl smiles: the princess had grown so much since Nihilus the Fiend attacked Riftgard seasons-ago; Korlac now sports a green-petticoat with an orange bodice, but still wore her old crown. "Nowl guesses so" Nowl reasons, "come on let's go do something exciting like fishing for plesiosaurs, and who knows: when Vaniel gets to Redwall, he might get the chance to return the favor to Pryce for saving Riftgard" Gald notes and walks off with everybody, making Korlac and Nowl laugh.
----
Skarloey, now an adult and wearing a brown-hose (a type of pants) (or he would be, but is naked right now) was collecting herbs for Teedle. Diffen had been looking for some assistance after that whole ordeal with Blackfire Warfang, and surprisingly Teedle had decided to be a healer. The squirrel took every lesson to heart and was quite competent: dealing with little cuts to the common-cold. Skarloey couldn't be more proud of her, and so would Adorjan. Thinking about the badger immediately brought some sadness to the mole: he missed Adorjan, but he respected his other friend's wish to someday be a badger-lord, which Skarloey was sure would've been his career anyway, since Salamandastron was the destiny of all badgers, male badgers that is. His reminiscing gets interrupted by faint voices up ahead, and his first instinct was to grab his hose and put it back on when he heard a rather frightening voice. "This way my minions, Camp Willow will make the perfect base for us to attack Redwall" it said, making Skarloey freeze mid-dressed, what struck him the most were the words "attack Redwall", and Skarloey knew that meant only one thing: vermin. Quickly putting his hose on, he stays hidden in the bushes and waited, and it didn't take long for the vermin to show themselves. Skarloey wasn't all that surprised: yet another overlord-wannabe is loose in Mossflower. He slinks away in the undergrowth, staying ahead, and noted the horde had three dinosaurs pulling carts: the one in the middle had a magpie riding on it, and Skarloey guessed he was the leader. He quickly made himself scarce, silently heading to Camp Willow as fast as possible to find Skipper Depa and warn her holt.
It didn't take Skarloey long to reach Camp Willow, and in it, many otters were doing daily things, unaware of the threat heading their way. "Skipper" Skarloey shouts drawing all the otters to look at him, some of which recognizing him, like Depa, "Skarloey" Depa expresses until she saw the seriousness on his face, "vermin coming here, planning to attack Redwall" he warns causing many otters to gasp, though Depa was quick to prevent panic, "otters head to Redwall as fast as you can, we must warn them" she orders and many stop what they're doing and immediately head to Redwall, Depa and Skarloey included.
----
In Redwall, Pryce was being tended to by Teedle and Diffen. The old hedgehog had been kind of hoping for someone to get hurt so she could teach Teedle some more, and wasn't surprised to have Pryce as their patient/test subject, again. "We can always count on you getting hurt for me to pass on my knowledge" Diffen jokes dabbing at some beestings, "very funny" Pryce retorts before Diffen turns to Teedle, "watch closely Teedle, I'm about to remove the stinger with this tweezer" she instructs to the squirrel who now wore a brown-habit, and was paying close attention as Diffen maneuvers a stinger to loosen it and remove it, making Pryce wince, "beestings are left behind after they're used, getting stuck in the flesh so strongly the bee can't retract it, even though leaving it would kill the bee" she explains, "so I've heard" Teedle notes, "yeah well, if I wanted to kill bees, I would prefer not getting stung to do it" Pryce says grumpily when Myodes comes in, "guys, Skarloey said there's a vermin horde coming to Redwall" she blabs, "another one?" Teedle gasps, "well we're a bit busy right now, the meeting will have to happen without us" Diffen laments and Myodes nods.
----
Pica Eipgam arrived to find Camp Willow deserted, but it didn't matter: it only made it easier for him to claim it. "Seems like they knew we were coming and left in a hurry" Acheron notes, "aye, but at least we're spared from having to give up our lives" Pica notes, "awe I wanted to kill the otters" Bloodhand complains and was probably the only one who wasn't happy about it, "oh suck it up Bloodhand, you'll get to kill as many woodlanders as you want when we attack Redwall" said a male fox wearing a beige-bliaut with a sash: his name is Driptooth and he was an archer wielding a bow, "yeah, I don't like sacrificing ourselves" said a female polecat wearing a pink-wimple, a yellow-blouse and green-shorts: her name was Quickfeet and her weapon was a spear, "agreed, Driptooth you and a few others investigate the borrows, if you find any otters still here, bring them to me" Pica orders the fox, then turns to Quickfeet, "Quickfeet, do some recon to see what lies ahead of us" he orders her and the polecat complies, "and Acheron, you are welcome to invite other vermin living around here to join our cause" he adds to the wearet who lumbers off to do just that, while Pica turns to a stoat wearing a yellow-kirtle and a belt with a cutlass attached, "now then Smartmouth, what do you propose we do?" the magpie asks the stoat, "well we could try building a Springald to fire rocks on their door" Smartmouth proposes, "let's save that for later, I'd like to try a plan with greater odds of success" Pica suggests, "how about we kidnap a woodlander-family, then make one or both parents let us in Redwall? Cluny the Scourge actually succeeded with that" Smartmouth spawns and Pica gives it a thought for a moment, "that is a better plan" he compliments when Driptooth returns, "no otters to report my lord, but we have gathered some knick-knacks that might be useful" the fox reports, "good work, have the carts unloaded" Pica orders and flies up into a tree to get another visual on Redwall.
At the same time the prisoners were brought off the carts and guided to one area. Among them was a male-vole wearing a black-coif, a white-cote and a blue-hose named Jsky, who was captured only a few hours ago. Seeing the vermin make themselves at home in the holt was barbaric. Will there ever be civil-vermin in Mossflower? "Get moving slave" demanded a male rat wearing a yellow-surcoat, a red-chaperone and a belt named Mudhand who wields a rapier, Jsky growls but complies, knowing that these vermin were digging their own graves like so many before them, "do you think Redwall will stop them?" asks a female mouse named Macko who wore a purple-pelicon and grey-veil, "oh please, all the other vermin that attacked Redwall lost their lives doing it, no reason to think these won't" Jsky answers confidently, but this got him poked by his captor, "don't be so sure of that" Mudhand retorts having heard it all, but Jsky just shrugs.
==Chapter three==
Dile and Wibble walk around looking for signs of vermin, their pterosaurs walking with them. After Vaniel sent them to track down whoever was responsible for destroying those houses, the otters went straight to Redwall. It didn't take the mouse and hedgehog long to find the trail led to Camp Willow, and now they could hear voices. Creeping closer, they gape at the number of vermin that overrun the holt, along with the prisoners present. "This is bad" Dile deduces, "yeah, and I have a feeling they're after Redwall" Wibble guesses as they continue to observe.
----
Not far away, Vaniel and his family were near Redwall when cries of terror echoed from the ground. Looking, they see a family of hares being harassed by vermin. "Saffo, take the kids to Redwall" Vaniel orders transferring Retto to Saffo, "are you crazy?" Saffo shouts, "we can't just leave them" Vaniel argues and Saffo knew he was right, "be careful" she begs before continuing to the abbey while Vaniel and his pterosaur land among the trees, the otter disembarks and draws his old spears, then creeps toward where the vermin were. "Please don't hurt us" begged a female hare wearing a black-bliaut and a male hare wearing a green-hose and white surcoat was wielding a tree-branch to repel the vermin, until a ferret with a dirk and wearing a grey-kirtle slices the branch, "bah I don't give a dam" the ferret swore, in fact his name was Dirtmouth because he tends to swear a little too much, and doesn't care if children hear him or not, "rude" said a juvenile hare wearing a yellow-bodice with a chemise and pink-breeches, "I don't give a dam to that either" Dirtmouth shrugs, "I suggest you leave them alone" Vaniel warns making his appearance, spears drawn, "bah I don't give a dam to you either" Dirtmouth scoffs and attacks, only to be eaten by Vaniel's pterosaur, the other vermin look in horror until Vaniel presents his Taggerung-tattoo, "oh no, he's a Taggerung, run" said a weasel and the vermin flee while Vaniel checks on the hares, "you guys okay?" he asks, "that was some jolly rescue wot" the male hare replies, "take my pterosaur, he'll bring you to Redwall" Vaniel advises, "well we were heading there anyway, I'm Kabe Frunk by the way" the juvenile hare introduces, "Frunk, like Cuthbert Blanedale Frunk?" Vaniel wonders, "yeah, he's my ancestor" Kabe claims, "funny, my ancestor Tiria Wildlough was from the same time as Cuthbert, I'm Vaniel Wildlough" Vaniel reveals, "what a coincidence, you a king are something wot?" Kabe inquires, "yes actually, I'll see you at Redwall" Vaniel bids as the hares mount the pterosaur, "you sure you don't wanna come with us?" Kabe's mother asks, "there isn't enough room, but I'll be fine: I've fought vermin before" Vaniel assures and his pterosaur leaps into the air, Vaniel surveys around for a bit, then follows on foot.
----
A bit further away, Pica and several of his minions were stalking the guosim. Pica reasoned that if they could eliminate various enemies outside Redwall, then the abbey will be short-handed. "Get ready" Pica announces and a moment later, they strike, catching the guosim by surprise. "A magpie?...vermin!" one shrew shrieks, "die guosim" Pica screams and throws a knife at said shrew, killing him, many other shrews fled for Redwall, but some stayed behind to keep the vermin busy. Bloodhand in particular was having a blast: she finally gets to do some killing, slaying shrew after shrew. Acheron and Pica likewise also got some kills, and hardly broke a sweat after the last shrew was murdered. "This was almost too easy Acheron" Pica notes admiring the carnage, "much easier oh mighty Pica, than when we move on to the next target?" Acheron wonders, "possibly Acheron, at least before we're sure Redwall won't gain any help" Pica reasons as one barely alive shrew crawls toward him, "oh no" it wheezes, "oh yes" Pica retorts and stomps the shrew, putting it out of it's misery.
----
At Redwall, Onewa Lightpaw was herding in the woodlanders with Noptar, Brother Tahu Reguba and Yaddle helping. "Okay keep it moving keep it moving" Onewa directs, at the same time Saffo arrives and lands in the courtyard, "Saffo" an elderly Sunspot greets, "glad to see you again Sunspot, despite the circumstances" Saffo returns, "all too true" Sunspot adds and points to the great hall, "Pryce and the others are already gathered in a meeting" she says, Saffo nods, "come on Retto" Saffo directs to her daughter and inside great-hall Saffo reunites with Pryce and Myodes, "awe isn't he a cutie?" Myodes gushes at Zorran, making Saffo chuckle, "kids why don't you go say hi to the other dibbuns? mommy's got some grown-up business to do" Saffo suggests, "okay mom" Retto relents and she and Zorran walk off, "I take it you know about the vermin?" Pryce asks, "yes, Vaniel went to stop some harassing hares" Saffo laments, "I'm sure he'll turn up later" Skarloey assures, "anyway, Skarloey, how many vermin worms did Skarloey see again?" Abbot Wingbreath asks as he rocks in his chair, "more than I can count hurr hurr" Skarloey answers, "either way it will be a problem, who's the leader?" Oppo asks writing down some notes, "I think a magpie" Skarloey recalls, "a corvid eh? last corvids to attack Redwall were General Ironbeak and Korvus Skor" Cilghal notes, "except both of them were ravens" Teedle reminds, Saffo looks outside and sees Vaniel's pterosaur arrive, but sees only the hares from earlier and not Vaniel, "where's my husband?" she asks, "following on foot, I'm Kabe Frunk by the way" Kabe answers, "Saffo Wildlough" Saffo returns, "um is there a rabbit named Oppo around?" Kabe asks, "he's inside, why?" Saffo wonders, "I signed a letter to be his apprentice" Kabe reveals while nearby Diffen had put a letter into the bag of a male Dartford warbler named Curruca, who was a mail-beast of sorts. "There, get to Salamandastron as soon as you can and tell them we're in trouble" she urges, "you can count on me mam" Curruca promises and flies off to the west, "I hope Adorjan can help us" Diffen says to herself: she never thought she'd miss that rascal of a badger, let alone ask for his help.
==Chapter four==
At Salamandastron, several Manx shearwater-birds were nesting on the beach and flying around the fortress. Several European rock pipits were also around, having chosen to nest on some ledges jutting out of the fortress, unfortunately this also resulted in the birds decorating Salamandastron with poo, but that was the least of the fortress' residents' worries. Inside many hares were suiting up to travel to Redwall. Adelmo had presented some chainmail to Adorjan that he himself wore back then, and it was snug. "Looks good" Adorjan remarks studying in a mirror, "now you just need a weapon, and I have just the type" Adelmo reasons and presents a shield and a double-bladed ax, "this ax was used by Orlando the Ax to decimate the Kingdom of Malkariss" Adelmo explains shocking Adorjan, "this is really Orlando's ax?" he gasps taking the ax, "yes it is" Adelmo confirms, "wow" Adorjan swoons.
Later outside, Adorjan and several hares were packing up on their Ornithocheirus. "Everyone set Malani?" Lotte asks the now general Malani, who also bore a general-uniform and wields a mace and a sling, "yes they jolly are" Malani confirms and gets on her pterosaur and when everyone was ready, the cavalry shoots into the air and heads east, "think they'll be alright? Malani hasn't led before" Lotte wonders thinking about Malani: she hadn't been enthusiastic about replacing Lotte, but no one else was qualified enough, so she took it reluctantly, but until now hasn't gotten the chance to prove her worth, "I haven't gotten a vision to prove it, but I have faith in them, and you don't need visions for that" Adelmo confides and Lotte laughs.
----
Pica Eipgam has returned from his invigorating slaughter of the guosim, but his happiness was erased when Dirtmouth's squad returned empty-handed and Dirtmouth himself was absent. The weasel wearing a yellow-hose, a belt and a brown-mantle (a type of top-wear) while wielding a war-hammer was the only one willing to explain. "So let me get this straight: a taggerung foiled your attempt to get hostages, and fed Dirtmouth to a pterosaur?" Pica asks, "exactly my lord" the weasel, named Thicknail confirms, Pica growls and the weasel braces himself, only to see the magpie turn away, "just what we needed: a taggerung" Pica moans, but realized something, "although if I killed him, then I'd be the taggerung, and I'd be the unstoppable force Redwall couldn't possibly stand up to" he says, "so you're not gonna kill us?" Thicknail asks cautiously, "no: while I don't like being failed, sometimes failure tends to be inevitable no matter what you do, besides: eliminating the taggerung and stealing the title may make taking Redwall easier" Pica reasons, then turns to Driptooth, "Driptooth, see if you can do better then these guys" he orders and Driptooth obliges, then Pica checks on Smartmouth, "how's the springald coming Smartmouth?" he asks, "we're almost done with the bottom portions my lord" Smartmouth answers presenting the wheeled section of the contraption, "I'll leave you to it" Pica dismisses and heads into the river to catch some fish, a Eurasian treecreeper-bird also being present but kept its eyes on the vermin.
On the edge of Camp Willow, Dile and Wibble decided they've seen enough and sneak away to Redwall, but didn't expect to run into a patrol in the process. "What the? woodlanders!" Quickfeet gasps and orders an attack, Wibble fires and slays a few, then both she and Dile run back to their pterosaurs, but Quickfeet wasn't willing to let them getaway, "oh no you don't" she swears and chases, reaching the duo just in time to see them mount their pterosaurs and fly off. Even so she throws her spear and strikes Dile's pterosaur, causing them both to crash. "Dile!" Wibble screams, "go I'll be okay" Dile urges as he draws out his cutlasses and Wibble hesitates for a moment, but concedes when the rest of Quickfeet's party arrive and decides the odds were too great, even with a pterosaur, and Dile's was wounded, so with one last look she flies off right before some arrows could hit her, while Dile squares off against the vermin, "you're surrounded mouse, you can't win against all of us" Quickfeet warns, Dile wanted nothing more than to slaughter them, even if it meant dying himself, but he didn't want to give his friends grief, so he drops his cutlasses, "wise move" the polecat notes and gestures to a marten dressed in blue-breeches, a belt and a red-mantle named Smudgeface, who draws a bolas and fires it at Dile, "déjà vu" the mouse gasps, the memory of Tritannus snaring him in a bolas still fresh as he was hoisted onto his feet, "what about the pterosaur?" Smudgeface asks Quickfeet who examines the pterosaur struggling to get up and defend its master, "leave it, it can't fly anymore so it won't be much threat" the polecat dismisses and the vermin take their captive to Camp Willow, and the pterosaur could do nothing but watch.
----
Vaniel stealthily creeps through the brush, keeping an eye out for stragglers or vermin. Something told him that band he fought was part of a horde, a horde wanting Redwall like so many before. He had one spear drawn in case of attack, but being in Mossflower-Woods alone was pretty unsettling. At least Redwall was dead ahead, and Vaniel was eager to see Saffo again, and the kids. A snapping sound echoed from behind and instinctively Vaniel got into battle stance. A moment later a tired-shrew emerges, but jumps at seeing Vaniel until realizing he was a friendly-face, and more join right after, looking just as haggard. "You all okay?" Vaniel asks putting his spear away, "mostly, I'm log-a-log Jolee Rosebud, we just got attacked by vermin" the first shrew responds, "Vaniel Wildlough, and what did the vermin look like?" Vaniel questions, "well two in particular stood out: a magpie and a wearet" Jolee answers, making Vaniel feel some dread: so the band he tackled wasn't alone after all, and whoever the magpie and wearet are, something told the king otter that they were the leaders, his thoughts were interrupted when he heard flapping noises and saw a pterosaur land in Redwall, Vaniel guessed it was either Dile or Wibble, but that only one had shown up slightly worried him, "let's get to Redwall" he suggested and the guosim happily comply.
----
At Riftgard, things were peaceful. Dile's old dad Helia was in the training room sparing with Nowl. "Come on, Nowl could do this with one wing tied behind back" Nowl teases lashing out with his left-foot, only to be deflected by Helia's club, "don't get cocky" Helia retorts as he swings his club at the kite who intercepts and swings Helia onto his back. Nowl attempted to step on the mouse to beat him, but Helia rolled away and lashes back. Nowl dodges and flips over Helia, grabs the club as Helia swung it in, then spins with Helia who went flying into Gald, though the badger caught him. "Lose again Helia" Nowl brags throwing the club to Gald's feet as the badger puts Helia down, "yeah just you wait bird, I'll get you" Helia vows and retrieves his club, then left, "oh give it a rest Helia" Gald begs.
==Chapter five==
Vaniel and the guosim arrive at Redwall, with Onewa standing guard when he saw them. "Halt, who goes there?" Onewa demands, "don't shoot, we're on your side" Vaniel appeases and Onewa recognizes them, "your majesty, Tahu get the gate open" Onewa orders and the squirrel complies. In an instant Vaniel and the shrews were in. Vaniel caught sight of Wibble with Pryce, Saffo and Sunspot, though Saffo was quick to run up and hug her husband. "You're safe" she sighs, "told you, are Retto and Zorran alright?" Vaniel responds, "they're fine" Saffo assures as Pryce notes the guosim look awful, "what happened to all of you?" he wonders, "some magpie and wearet attacked us, took a lot of our fellow shrews" Jolee laments, "those must be what Skarloey saw" Yaddle deduces, "guys, give me a hand here" Diffen requests the party and most do, though Pryce forbids Cilghal from participating, "whoa Cilghal, best if you sit this one out" he advises, "but I've been sitting out a lot of tasks while pregnant" Cilghal pouts, "better safe than sorry while pregnant, or you'll be joining my mother before you get the chance to be a mother" Pryce said sternly and left with the guosim, "cheer up Cilghal, you're not exactly useless in your current state" Sunspot consoles, "yeah but he's not letting me do anything out of fear I'll die" Cilghal complains, "well if your mother died from giving birth to you you'd understand" Sunspot argues, "and I can relate: Noptar wouldn't let me do much while I was pregnant with Skarloey" Yaddle pities, "maybe, but I wish he'd lighten up a little" Cilghal groans.
----
Dile was standing in front of Pica, who took interest in the mouse. "Spying on us eh? well nice try" Pica chastises, "whatever you want from me, you won't get it" Dile swore, "oh I have no intentions of interrogating you" Pica says and looks at the captors, "toss him in with the others" he orders and the vermin do, taking him to the other captives, tethering him down with Jsky, and when the vermin left the vole decides to talk, "hey, I'm Jsky" he introduces, "I'm Dile" Dile returns, "you from Redwall?" Jsky asks, "no I'm from Riftgard, but I'm a friend of Redwall" Dile answers, "that's good, I'm sure these vermin will lose in the end" Jsky jokes, "mind if I join in?" Macko interrupts and Dile suddenly had trouble speaking, "uh-uh I-I-I h-hi" he stutters, "it's nice to see a hero at a dark time" Macko says dreamily, Jsky suddenly felt like a third-wheel and scoots away, "well I've actually fought vermin seasons ago" Dile recalls. Despite their predicament, romance was in the air.
----
Adorjan and his platoon were flying over the land as fast as possible. On foot it would take days to reach Redwall, but in the air, it would only take a couple of hours at most. Still Adorjan was anxious to get there. His anxiety was interrupted when his pterosaur started panting. Looking at the hares he sees they looked just as tired, most at least. As much as he wanted to keep going, he knew he couldn't ask everything from the pterosaurs and Long Patrol. "Let's take a quick brake, our mounts are getting taxed wot" Malani suggests, "yeah mine looks exhausted" Adorjan agrees and pats the pterosaur to descend, in no time they land and everybody stretch their legs, "oh I can't bally feel my legs" said a male hare wearing a commander-uniform and carrying a blowpipe and hatchet: his name was Corwin Quincewold as he was a descendant of Ballaw de Quincewold, he stretched his legs to get some feel in them while the other hares around him did the same. Adorjan suddenly heard something and looks in its direction, and gasps at what he found. "Whoa guys look at this" he calls and the others were also awed, for in front of them were a herd of Pelorosaurus foraging at a waterhole. "Well it's not everyday you find some dinosaurs wot" Malani humors.
----
Back in Redwall, things were quiet at the moment. Cilghal was heading for the infirmary when she suddenly felt her abdomen convulse. Myodes was walking beside her when it happened. "You okay?" she asks, "just felt this weird movement in me" Cilghal answers and suddenly Myodes realized what it meant, "Pryce!" she shouts and several faces show up, "what's all the jolly fuss?" Gamut Braebuck asks upon showing up, "Cilghal what's wrong?" Pryce asks, "I think the baby's ready" Cilghal answers and Pryce looked like he was about to faint, luckily Depa slaps him back to reality, "get it together, she needs you" the otter chastises and carries Cilghal to the infirmary, which was suddenly cleared of everyone except Diffen, Cilghal and Pryce, "what should I-" Pryce babbles until Diffen grabs him, "you can start by holding her hand and shut up" the hedgehog demands and Pryce obeys, though he instantly regrets it when Cilghal grabs a little too strongly, "ow, easy" Pryce wheezes, "sorry" Cilghal apologizes.
Outside, a crowd gather, wincing whenever they heard a cry of pain and a few other sounds. It lasts half an hour, but by then Diffen emerges with a smile on her face. "Cilghal's still alive" she says, "and their baby?" Wibble asks, "it's a girl" Diffen says and leaves to give the new parents some privacy, and inside, the two dormice gaze at their child. Pryce was crying: all his fears that Cilghal would lose her life to create this one have been for naught thankfully. If only there weren't about to be a war arriving that this was probably the happiest day of Pryce's life. "What should we call her?" he wonders, "I was thinking Muscardinus" Cilghal proposes, "that's a great name" Pryce compliments and they hug.
==Chapter Six==
Driptooth and some other vermin were walking around Mossflower looking for woodlanders to capture, and succeed at it too. Sounds up ahead told him they were approaching something. Driptooth told his accomplices to wait while he went ahead. He finds a family of hedgehogs: a dad, a mom and at least three others: one looked to be an adult himself, but he could still be their son, the next was a juvenile female, and last was a little girl, but they all will do. Driptooth returns to his vermin and beckons them to follow, and right when the hedgehogs were near, the vermin sprang. "Hold it right there" Driptooth orders, and the hedgehogs freeze, then get taken to the direction of Camp Willow. 
----
At Redwall, things were at the moment a lot more happy: Pryce and Cilghal were showing off their new daughter to everybody and it certainly took the minds off on the vermin, for the moment. "Feast your eyes on Muscardinus" Pryce presents, and many coo at her, Retto wanted to climb on the bed to see closer, "that's what Zorran looked like when he was born Retto, and well, pretty much everyone" Saffo explains, "why's she naked?" Retto asks as Cilghal lets Muscardinus crawl on the bed, while Vaniel laughs at his daughter's question, "you can't exactly be born with clothes on: no one was, not even you" he explains, "I was naked like that?" Retto asks surprised while the adults laugh, while Muscardinus reaches the end of the bed and sees Zorran fiddling with his bellybutton. Curious at seeing someone her size, she looks for a way to get to the floor, luckily Pryce helps her. "I think she wants to meet Zorran" Diffen suspects while Zorran was still trying to figure what purpose his bellybutton has until Saffo stops him, "Zorran don't do that" she chastises and luckily it distracted him enough to lay eyes on Muscardinus, and immediately became interested. Zorran reaches out to her only for her to grab his hand, examining the webbings between his fingers, then she came closer, looking him up and down. Zorran wasn't sure what to make of it, but he liked the dormouse. He tries to play patty-cake with her and puts up his hands, Muscardinus mimics and actually enjoys it. "Awe ain't that cute? a few minutes old and she's already made a friend" Cilghal comments. There was no doubt that the two babes would indeed be great friends.
----
Pica looks over the woodlanders Driptooth has acquired, somewhat impressed. "Not bad Driptooth" he praises and Driptooth beams with pride, "w-what are you gonna do to us?" asks the father hedgehog wearing a black-hose, grey-chaperone and blue-pelicon, "nothing, so long as you do as I say" Pica answers, "we'll do anything mister, just don't hurt my babies" begged the mother who wore a red-kirtle with a chemise, "anything eh?" Pica presses and smiles, "well in that case, I'll let you all go if...you open the doors of Redwall at dawn tomorrow" he adds making the hedgehogs gasp, "we can't agree to that" said the oldest child hedgehog who wore a yellow-cote, white kilt and a pink-bandanna named Pietro Stump, and yes: he was a descendant of Jubilation Stump, "it's either that or the Dark Forest, which will it be?" Pica threatens and the hedgehogs reluctantly concede.
----
As for Adorjan, he and the Long Patrol felt rested enough to continue to Redwall, and not a moment too soon. "Whoa guys take a look at this?" Corwin alerts and everybody see a Neovenator creeping toward the Pelorosaurus. "I think it's time to leave: that's a meat-eater" Malani suggests and most were in agreement, the pterosaurs in particular were getting restless. One Pelorosaurus saw the Neovenator and bellowed in alarm, making the rest of the herd panic and run straight to the woodlanders. "Oh man, everyone move!" Adorjan shrieks and many hares took off on their pterosaurs, but some got trampled. Adorjan and Corwin were unable to make it to theirs and were forced to run with the sauropods. The Neovenator managed to catch one young Pelorosaurus and eventually kill it, and Adorjan, Corwin and a few other hares who were stuck with them manage to survive as the stampede ends. The hares in the air quickly return to check on their friends. "Ugh, this chap got stomped" Corwin laments to one hare that couldn't getaway from a sauropod's foot, "we have to keep moving, let's hurry and bury as many as we can before something else shows up" Malani orders and the survivors do so. The Neovenator was being watched but made no move to attack since it already got a kill. Malani resolved to burn the bodies of the dead hares and pterosaurs since it would take less time, and those hares and pterosaurs who lost their mounts and riders quickly paired up with each other. The fire would take too long to burn itself out, so they decided to leave it burning. "You sure we should leave them with that theropod over there?" Adorjan asks Malani while gesturing to the Neovenator, "I doubt it'll be able to disturb them, and by the time the fire dies the bodies will be too charred to eat" she assures and takes to the air, "if you say so" Adorjan shrugs and follows, leaving the funeral pyre behind.
==Chapter Seven==
Dusk settles on Riftgard. Korlac was having some nutbrown beer on the balcony of her parents' old bedroom, now Vaniel and Saffo's, while Retto slept in Vaniel's old room, but Zorran currently was sleeping with the parents, not that Korlac will have to relinquish her room. Riftgard had at least two spare rooms fit for royals, and one was reserved for Zorran. Either way Korlac could keep hers. A grey partridge flew by to return to its home for the night. Helia arrives to check on her, and brought some hotroot soup. "Hungry?" he offers and she gladly accepts, "thanks" she says and takes a bite, the spice having no affect on her, unlike Helia who had his own, "ooh, that's smarts" he pants and fans his mouth but still likes it, "I'm surprised you actually like it" Korlac notes having never seen a non-otter like hotroot-soup before, "well apart from the burning, it does taste awesome" Helia says and takes another slurp, "whatever you say" Korlac shrugs and continues staring at the sunset. Nothing could possibly ruin this moment.
At the shore on the outside of the fjord, several European storm petrels were settling until a ship approached the beach. On it were several sea-rats. The leader wore a yellow-mantle, a belt with a sling and Morning Star and a codpiece. His name was Gilad Bol as he was a descendant of Raga Bol. "This should be good enough to rest and restock" he deduces.
----
At Redwall, night has fallen and most were getting ready for bed. Muscardinus and Zorran have become so fond of each other that the parents decided to let them sleep together. Vaniel and Pryce were walking across the wall-walk on the south-side of Redwall, both to fill in as guards and Vaniel to give Pryce some advice. "So what was it like when Retto was born?" Pryce asks, "well it was exciting, the only downside was that she didn't know how to use a garderobe, she'd just pee and poo randomly wherever she was" Vaniel answers, "gross, and Zorran?" Pryce wonders, "same thing, which is why Saffo and I leave them pants-less" Vaniel states, "good advice, I'll be sure to keep that in mind for Muscardinus" Pryce says.
Toward the west-end of Redwall, the mother hedgehog was sent to the abbey under Pica's orders. She didn't want to betray Redwall, but she didn't want her family killed either, and Pica warned her not to talk or her family would pay, and she knew what that means. Still that didn't mean she was gonna keep it a secret: she intended to tell Redwall, secretly. Tahu was stationed at the doorway when he spotted her, and didn't bother to demand her reason for visit, he let her in right away. "Come in come" he urges, "thank you, and if you don't mine, I'd like to talk to every warrior here, and in someplace private" she requests, "um, okay" Tahu shrugs and guides her to cavern-hole, noticing a look of sadness along the way. 
In cavern-hole, everyone was having dinner, and the hedgehog is quick to notice Wibble, Depa, Lentorb and Myodes looking to be in a meeting, but what the hedgehog noticed in particular was their weapons: warriors! "Anything you need?" Tahu asks her, "well, are those guys fighters?" she asks about the aforementioned quartet, "yes actually, w-?" Tahu began but the hedgehog walked quickly to them, Tahu noticing that she seemed anxious: something must've happened to her, "okay, so me and Dile were like here, and that's where the prisoners were" Wibble describes, "not gonna be easy to break them out" Myodes laments, "excuse me?" the female hedgehog asks them, "yes can we help you?" Depa asks, and the hedgehog suddenly couldn't contain herself, "my family is in there" she blabs, silencing much of cavern-hole, "you too eh?" Lentorb wonders, "yes, my husband and three children, though my Pietro is fully-grown, I fear that wretched magpie will kill them" the hedgehog dreads, "don't worry miss, we've already got a plan" Depa assures, "but don't let the vermin know, they threatened to kill my family if I told you" the hedgehog pleads, "understood...and I do have one plan" Wibble says and turns to her partners.
----
A few miles away, Adorjan and his hares were now traveling by night. Adorjan didn't wanna delay anymore than he had before, but he was starting to get tired, and so were the hares and pterosaurs. Looking down he spots a clearing near a wooded-area. "Let's spend the night down there" he hollers to the hares and pats his pterosaur to descend. 
Once they touched down, everyone began setting up spots to sleep and eat. "Why don't you go to sleep Adorjan, I can take first watch" Corwin offers and Adorjan was too tired to refuse.
----
At Salamandastron, it was quiet. Lotte was looking out a window gazing at the stars, thinking about Adorjan. "I sure hope the lad's ready for this" he muses, "hope that who is ready?" said a voice and Lotte jumped, but it was only Yarael, "geez Yarael, don't do that" Lotte snaps, "sorry, I overheard you talking about someone" Yarael apologizes, "I was just thinking about Adorjan" Lotte confides, Yarael nods, "has Adelmo had any visions showing his fate?" Yarael wonders, "I had asked him about that, but no" Lotte sighs, "I just hope we didn't send him to an early visit to the Dark Forest" he adds, "I'm sure he'll come back" Yarael assures confidently, "I'll feel better when Adelmo has a vision that shows that" Lotte maintains.
==Chapter Eight==
Near Camp Willow, Wibble, Depa, Lentorb, Myodes and many others were sneaking in to free the hedgehog-family, and maybe a few others if they can, like Dile. Wibble was glad to find Dile's pterosaur still alive, and after having brought it to Redwall went to the main objective. Upon reaching the holt, the party stops momentarily. "There it is, everyone clear on the plan?" Wibble reminds, "I remember" Lentorb assures, "yeah" Myodes responds and the four get to work. Stealthily they take out a guard and navigate through to find their primary target, though Wibble froze when she found Dile and would've called him had Myodes not caught her. "Wibble, hedgehogs first, everyone else including Dile second if we're lucky" the vole reminds and Wibble nods, it didn't take them long to find the hedgehogs and Pietro immediately woke up when he sensed their presence, "you here to rescue us?" he asks and took interest in Wibble, who felt weird around him, "y-yes, hang on" she answers and takes her dirk out, then saws off their restraints. After Pietro woke up his family, they were startled, but relieved to see armed woodlanders coming to save them. Depa beckoned them to remain silent as the party freed many more slaves, but suddenly Mudhand, who was sleeping nearby, awakes and caught sight of the hedgehogs' spot empty, and quietly turned his head to see the rescuers, then immediately rushed into the holt, alerting the rescuers. "That sounded like footsteps" Depa deduced and everyone suddenly got a sense of dread. 
In the holt, Mudhand ran into the bed-chambers and shouted "Intruders are in the camp, prisoners are escaping". Startled, many vermin awoke and jumped to their feet. Acheron quickly took charge. "Someone go wake up lord Pica, the rest with me" he orders and they stampede out. 
Back with the woodlanders, everyone was trying to free as many as they can until the vermin arrive. "Busted" Jsky whispers, "seize them!" Acheron orders and the vermin quickly move in, "let's go let's go" Depa orders and the freed woodlanders take the hint, with the rescuers following, not wanting to get the remaining prisoners caught in the crossfire. Pica emerged a moment later and, taking one of his throwing-knives, flung it at the nearest target: Lentorb. "No!" Depa howls but Myodes grabs her, "there's nothing you can do come on" the vole orders and reluctantly Depa agrees and they left.
Pica and the vermin continued to follow until they were lost to the darkness. He quickly turned to Mudhand. "So you were one of the guards?" he asks sinisterly, "y-yes" Mudhand stutters, "found the other one" Quickfeet announces presenting the second guard: a marten, "is he alive?" Pica asks, "no: neck is broken" Quickfeet answers, "I should kill you for this Mudhand" Pica threatens the rat, who pales, "but you did notify us, and it seems we still have some prisoners still accounted for, so you may live" he adds, but Mudhand wasn't getting his hopes up, "the hedgehogs we were using as bargaining-chips, they were among the escapees" the rat admits, to the surprise of all, "dang it! there goes my plan" Pica growls, "you gonna kill him now?" Bloodhand suddenly asks, "still no" Pica maintains much to Mudhand's relief and Bloodhand's disappointment until the magpie added "but you can", at this Bloodhand pounces on Mudhand and tears him limb-from-limb, all the while Mudhand screams for mercy. Pica couldn't care less and went back to bed. With his attempt at imitating Cluny foiled, he'll have to find another method, but that can wait until morning.
----
The rescue-party and their targets rush to Redwall, where several residents were waiting. "Here they come, open the gate" Pryce orders and the doors were open, and instantly everyone was in the abbey. Pietro's mother quickly reunites with her family. "Oh mom I knew you could do it" Pietro himself praises while Vaniel looked around and couldn't see Dile anywhere, "did you find Dile?" he asks Wibble, "we couldn't free him on time: the vermin were alerted while we were freeing more" she laments, "I should've stayed with him" lamented a female-mouse and Vaniel sees Macko sitting depressed, "you like him?" he asks, "in a word, yes" Macko admits and Vaniel couldn't resist chuckling, "I'm Vaniel, Dile and me knew each other since childhood" Vaniel greets, "I'm Macko, and it's nice to meet a fellow warrior" Macko returns as Pietro returns to Wibble, "hey uh, that was really, cool, what you did back there" the male hedgehog compliments, "oh well, thanks" Wibble returns, "I'm Pietro Stump, descendant of Jube Stump" Pietro introduces, "Wibble Pintips, descendant of Bowly Pintips" Wibble reveals as Vaniel watches, "looks like both my friends have had their hearts stolen" the otter jokes, "make that three, now: I saw this vole with Dile, I felt weird when I did, and I almost didn't wanna leave him" Myodes admits, "we'll go back for the rest Myodes, I promise" Teedle assures as she turns to treat a shrew.
----
At Salamandastron, Adelmo was tossing and turning in his bed. He couldn't tell if it was another vision or a nightmare, but he was seeing the vermin and the redwallers facing each other, then brawl. The scene suddenly morphed into what looked like the aftermath. Around him were dead bodies: some were of some hares he recognized, others of the other woodlander species. He was stunned to see a vole wearing a guard-uniform and had a spear in one arm, with the face of Onewa Lightpaw. 
Abruptly, Adelmo wakes up panting. Sometimes he hated being a seer: he had a gut feeling that he knows who's gonna die. The vermin yes, but also which woodlanders, and that's what he hated the most. Sweating, he got up and walked to a window, then opens it. He was shocked to see it was almost dawn, but the breeze from the ocean instantly made him feel better. Sighing, he supposed there was no point in sleeping any longer, though he supposed taking a dip in the tide will help.
==Chapter Nine==
A new day arrives over Riftgard. Nowl was doing some reconnaissance since it helped him relax. The kite still took his job seriously, and being the flier around here, he was quite useful. Most of the times he flew around to keep an eye out for pirates who might come ashore, or for woodlanders paying a visit, and also to snack on the local wildlife. Currently he was flying down to the south of the fjord when he spotted something on the outside. Descending, he finds a ship, but that could mean corsairs were loose on the land. Landing in a tree, he stares quietly for any sign of life. He did pick up voices, but they were coming from directly below him. Stealthily he climbs down the trees until he could get a clear view, but staying high enough to not be seen so easily. As he suspected, there were indeed corsairs: mostly sea-rats. Nowl doubted they would be too much trouble, but if being Nihilus' prisoner had taught him anything, it was that you can never be too careful: if the sea-rats were unaware of Riftgard and plan to leave soon, then Nowl wouldn't have a reason to engage, but if they did know or at least were planning to stay here for good, then it was a problem. He eyes one rat wielding a morning-star, and judging by some of the scars he bore, he must be a good fighter, maybe even the leader. "Anything to report?" he asks another rat who brought a dead storm-petrel, "well we certainly won't starve boss, lots of storm-petrels and grouses" the subordinate presents and the leader nods, "that's good" he expresses, "captain Bol" said another rat wearing green-breeches and armed with a flail, gaining both the leader's and Nowl's attention, "yes Wetfoot?" Bol asks, "I just saw a big fortress over the hill" the rat Wetfoot reveals and Nowl's breath got caught in his throat: he could only be talking about Riftgard, now the corsairs were a problem, "a fortress eh? on this land?" Bol asks sounding skeptical, "it looked like a fortress to me, it was bigger than Redwall but smaller than Salamandastron, I think I saw beasts in it too" Wetfoot ascertains, "but the only fortress out here would be..." Bol began until it hit him, much to Nowl's dismay, "well what do you know? we've found Riftgard, and they'll have the best food outside of Redwall" he adds and Nowl decides he's heard enough: carefully he climbs back up the tree to take off, all the while keeping his guard up in case the corsairs spotted him. Twice a dead-twig loosened from his weight and fell, each time Nowl froze and held his breath, but after no curiosity was sparked he continued until finally getting back at the top. He quickly turned to the direction of Riftgard (and could see it from here) and flew off.
----
At Redwall, it had a moment of peace, despite the looming vermin-threat, yet no one knew when that threat would strike. Oppo was tutoring Kabe near the pond while Saffo was watching Retto practice her swimming. Zorran on the other hand wasn't all that comfortable being in water yet, so he sat with Muscardinus, while both were under Cilghal's watch. "You're doing great Retto" Saffo cheers, then catches sight of Wibble hanging out with that Pietro-guy, "they make quite a couple don't they?" said a voice and Saffo turns to see Eliana Fieldmouse standing near her, "yeah they do" Saffo agrees watching Wibble show off her archery, "and that's how you do it" Wibble finishes to Pietro, "nice shot" Pietro praises, "yeah lucky them" Macko suddenly says having shown up when their backs were turned, "Macko, I assure you, we'll free Dile and the others" Saffo assures when she suddenly sees Zorran and Muscardinus going towards an Ornithocheirus, "uh-oh, Cilghal: head's up" she calls the dormouse, Zorran had wanted to show Muscardinus the pterosaurs he rode on, though Muscardinus thought they were a little scary, especially when it looked right her, fortunately their mothers arrive to save the day, "whoa Muscardinus, you're too young to be around them" Cilghal reprimands as Saffo takes Zorran away too.
----
Not far away, Adorjan and his pack of hares were getting ready to continue to Redwall. "Is that everything?" Adorjan asks Corwin, "not a blooming crumb shall be left behind wot wot" Corwin answers making Adorjan giggle: hares sure had high metabolisms to refuse to let any spec of food go to waste or get left behind, even Friar Gamut was like that. Thinking about Gamut brought some homesickness, but today they should reach Redwall, Adorjan just hopes none of the friends he knew were dead already. "Come on y'all, we've delayed enough, we should be near Redwall and should reach it sooner or later" he urges and mounts his Ornithocheirus, prompting the hares to follow, and they all shoot into the air.
----
Back at Riftgard, Nowl was informing Korlac about the sea-rats. "So some corsairs are on the land eh?" she asks, "yes, though did not appear many" Nowl recalls, "hmm, well we do have the advantage, unless they have a siege tower or something" Korlac deduces, "Nowl doubts it: sea-rats look as though sea-rats just came last night or earlier" Nowl believes, "well if that's the case, we could send them off without losing a single-life: surely they'll freak and run if they saw you and Gald together, even more so when they see how many live here" Korlac reasons and Nowl grins, "Nowl likes that idea" he expresses giddily.
----
Pica was monitoring Redwall, determining its strengths and weaknesses. While he would like nothing more than to knife the guards that walked by on the wall, he knew that would be too risky. So far he had no idea who or what the abbey's champion was, but he did know one existed. The one target he wanted most was that Deyna-doppelganger: if he could kill both the taggerung and the champion, he'd be unstoppable: Redwall would have to give up after the loss of its best fighters, and if not, well he already had a plan for that. He just needed to get a glimpse of the targets, but he reasoned to do that, they'd have to be lured to him, and he believed the springald would make the perfect bait: there's no way they can resist coming out when he had a fortress-killing siege-engine. His ears twitched when he heard heavy-flapping sounds, and looking up, his beak drops when massive pterosaurs fly into the abbey. Pica caught a glimpse of a badger on the first one, and the rest had hares. The Long Patrol: now claiming Redwall has just gotten a whole lot harder, unless he can take out the taggerung, champion and badger-lord, either simultaneously or one-by-one. As the abbey was obviously distracted by its reinforcements, Pica decides to head back to Camp Willow.
==Chapter Ten==
Adorjan was back in Redwall. All his old friends were smothering him in a hug, with Skarloey and Teedle being the happiest, though they were small now compared to Adorjan, who dwarfs them. "How you doing you old rebel?" Skarloey teases, "well other than I'm not old, great" Adorjan answers, then frowns, "I heard you guys have another vermin-problem" he adds, "yeah Diffen sent a bird to inform you" Teedle recalls, "you sent a mail-bird?" Adorjan asks puzzled, "yeah" Tahu adds, "funny, 'cause we came because Adelmo had a vision showing vermin here" Adorjan claims, "your master had a vision?" Noptar wonders confused, "he's Adelmo Bowstripe, descendant of Lonna Bowstripe" Malani explains, "oh that seer badger" Oppo recalls, "so I just sent Curruca to Salamandastron for nothing?" Diffen asks, "I won't say completely, reckon Salamandastron's safer at the moment" Corwin reasons when Adorjan caught sight of Pryce and Cilghal, "Pryce, Cilghal" he gasps and the dormice hug him, "it's great to see you too Adorjan, you look like a badger-lord now" Pryce notes, "technically I'm a lord in-training" Adorjan clarifies, "regardless, oh you've got to see our little Muscardinus" Cilghal gushes and pulls Adorjan toward where Muscardinus was, unsurprisingly, playing with Zorran, "that's your kid?" Adorjan gasps, "yep" Pryce beams, "the other's mine" Saffo joins gesturing to Zorran while Vaniel presented Retto, "and you remember Retto" Vaniel adds, "hi" Retto greets, "wow you've grown fast" Adorjan remarks since he hadn't seen Retto since she was a dibbun, "well, glad you could be here, some kind of magpie wants to takeover Redwall" Pryce explains, "so that's the vermin harassing this place this time" Adorjan notes.
Later in Cavern-Hole, there was some celebrating. Sunspot and Wingbreath were glad to see Adorjan, and Gamut was having a blast with the other hares, but even Gamut refused to let the hares have all the food. Wibble and Pietro were spending some quality-time so no one bothered them. Unfortunately the good-times were brief due to the reminder of the vermin, and now Adorjan, Pryce, Vaniel, Wingbreath, Malani, Sunspot, Noptar, Depa, Onewa, Diffen, Tahu, Jolee and Teedle were all gathered in a meeting. "-and that's what happened" Depa finishes to Adorjan and Malani, "wow, we left ahead of schedule and already we missed out on something" Adorjan laments, "there would've been sacrifices anyway kiddo, and I'm sure they'll be more for us" Noptar says, "yet who will die and who will live is a mystery" Sunspot adds, "you sure Dile's a prisoner?" Malani asks recalling that goofy mouse, "unfortunately yes, and it appears the vermin are building a siege-engine from what Depa said, but we don't know what kind" Onewa answers, "what about this magpie who leads them?" Adorjan wonders, "details are small: only Depa, Jolee and his guosim, Myodes, Wibble and her new boyfriend have seen him, but we haven't found out his name yet" Tahu informs, "there's also the rumor that he has a wearet in the horde" Vaniel reveals, "whoa a wearet? I've never seen one before" Malani gasps, "believe me, he's real, he and his magpie slaughtered a good number of my guosim, the rest of us barely got away" Jolee maintains, "I'll take him on, if Orlando could do it, so can I, I even have his ax" Adorjan claims and presents his ax, "wow, Orlando's ax" Diffen awes, "you know Oppo will get a kick out of this" Teedle notes seeing Oppo showing a scroll to Kabe.
----
At Salamandastron, Curruca arrives with the intent to carry out Redwall's message, only to find he was a little late. "So I flew all the way here for nothing?" the bird complains, "not entirely: if Adelmo's prediction was true Redwall no doubt would've sent a messenger" Lotte shrugs, "prediction? please, how could he have known?" Curruca doubts, "his last name is Bowstripe, after jolly Lonna Bowstripe, you know, the seer badger?" Lotte proposes, "whatever, seers are nut-jobs" Curruca dismisses still sounding skeptical, "but I am glad you did send a platoon anyway" he admits, "trust me, Adelmo's no liar" Lotte asserts.
----
At Camp Willow, Pica was monitoring Smartmouth's progress on the springald: the contraption was marvelous. Several conical rocks sewed on tree-branches lay strewn as the ammo. "Just this piece and we're good to go" Smartmouth announces and with help from other vermin installs the winch for the firing-mechanism, and after a few twists was securely in place. "And we are done" Smartmouth beams, "now we just need to test it" Pica reasons and looks around, deciding on one of their carts, "do it on that cart" he chooses and after the springald was moved to position a shot, Acheron plunged in one of their projectiles, "if my theory was right, these quarrels should damage the doors, and portcullis" Smartmouth reasons and readies to fire, then yanks the spring, launching the quarrel at the cart, which scores a direct hit. The impact was so strong the cart's flank bent inward and was leaning slightly, and the quarrel emerged on the inside. Pica smiles evilly. "My vermin, we shall attack at sunset" he announces earning cheers, except from the prisoners. "That's not good" Dile whispers nervously.
==Chapter Eleven==
Gilad Bol and his band were traversing toward Riftgard, intent to loot it. What they didn't expect was a mouse standing in the path: Helia. "Hello vermin, looking for something?" he greets, "what's your business mouse?" Gilad demands, "because I live here dummy" Helia retorts, "don't call me dummy!" Gilad howls and tries to attack Helia, only for Nowl to show up at that moment, stopping the rat cold, "yeah my friends don't take kindly to those who respond to insults with violence" Helia warns as Gald also joins, now the sea-rats were unsure: tackling a badger or a kite was dangerous, but both of them at once? "uh hehe, we'll be going" Gilad concedes not even wanting to take any chances and turns to his crew, "back to the ship, we set sail as soon as possible" he orders and his fellow rats were all too eager to get away, and as soon as Gilad left too, the woodlanders started laughing, "okay, that was hilarious" Gald laughs, "did you see the look on his face when Nowl showed up? he was standing half a meter or less away" Helia adds, "anyway, we better be sure sea-rats leave" Nowl advises seriously and both mammals agree, "agreed, let's follow them" Helia says and all three walk after the sea-rats.
----
Sunset has arrived on Redwall, and so far the vermin haven't attacked, which was unnerving to some. Adorjan was watching Skarloey taking some lessons from Noptar. "Now remember Skarloey: being a foremole is important; all the moles will look to you for guidance in a situation" Noptar instructs and he pretends to be a different mole to test Skarloey. Adorjan watched in awe at his childhood-friend who clearly knew what to do: Skarloey did indeed show promise, and was becoming a leader like Adorjan.
Up on a wall, Malani was being a guard with Onewa. "So you think Myodes has found the one vole to settle down with?" she wonders, "seems like it, I just hope we can save him" Onewa answers thinking about the vole Myodes talked about: they learned his name was Jsky from Macko who knew him, and Onewa certainly hoped to save him: he always wanted to be a grandpa. His daydream was interrupted when he caught sight of movement on the horizon. "Wait, I see something" he points and Malani follows, then both gasp as they see it was the vermin, with a springald to boot, "we better sound the alarm wot" Malani suggests, "yeah, get all the guards here, I gotta find Ingrid" Onewa orders and hops to it.
In a few seconds, everyone stopped what they were doing when Ingrid rung the bell, and most knew what that meant. "Uh oh, that's the alarm-sound" Cilghal identifies, "everyone who's not a warrior, get inside" Saffo shouts and scoops up Retto, "oh man the vermin are attacking, Pietro go with your family" Wibble urges, "no I'm going with you" Pietro objects, "are you insane?" Wibble chastises, "I know how to fight: my dad gave me a Pike on my birthday, and taught me how to use it" Pietro claims, "if you say so" Wibble relents and for the moment, they part ways.
----
In the gatehouse, Oppo was schooling Kabe, while Sunspot was relaxing, though none of them were aware of the danger approaching. "Okay, so a recorder is suppose to write down an event that had happened, correct?" Kabe asks, "that's exactly-" Oppo began when he heard the bell, "uh oh" Sunspot dreads, "what's wrong?" Kabe wonders, "that's the alarm-sound, that mean's danger is afoot" Sunspot answers and looks out a window, "yep, we've got vermin" she reveals, Oppo and Kabe rush to the window and indeed see the vermin with a springald, "that siege-engine's obviously gonna be a problem" Oppo comments and looks out the window. The gatehouse doesn't have a direct-route between itself and the abbey, so if they want to get behind the walls, they'd have to chance entering in view of the vermin. Oppo reasoned he and Kabe could make it, but he wasn't sure about Sunspot. "Better close all the curtains, if they can't see in, we'll be safe" he orders and Kabe does so.
----
Pica stands on the springald looking dominant: as soon as he lets loose, the champion, taggerung and badger-lord are sure to come out to attempt destroying their weapon. Sure enough, the bells ring, signaling they know he's here. "You may fire when ready" he orders his lackeys and they prep a quarrel.
----
In Redwall, every and all fighters were accounted for: Pryce, Vaniel and Pietro had to comfort they're families, while Wibble and several archers were poised to attack. Malani was briefing the other hares since Adorjan was still new to being a leader. "Alright troops: this is the first battle of the war we're in, yes some of you won't survive, but exactly who, I cannot say, so just be as careful as possible" she instructs, and at that moment an impact hits the front-door, "what was that?" Wingbreath gasps nearly getting a heart-attack, "that must be they're weapon firing" Depa speculates, "Cilghal Saffo get the children and abbot to cavern-hole" Pryce orders, "be careful" said both women before they obeyed, then he, Adorjan and his hares, Vaniel, Onewa, Depa, Noptar and several others took a postern to trick the vermin, just when another impact shook the abbey.
==Chapter Twelve==
Pica watched as another quarrel was fired at Redwall's doorway: the portcullis was down, but clearly showed damage. None of the archers on the walls could get a kill because the vermin were too far. Suddenly some woodlanders emerge from the brush around them and claim some lives. Pica had figured such, but he was still surprised. "Cease fire, we have guests" he orders and moves to single out one of his targets, and found Pryce claiming a weasel, "well hello there champion" he greets and draws his flail, "so you're the magpie" Pryce growls and they fight: Pica lashing out with his flail whip-style, which Pryce deflected with Martin's sword.
Vaniel found himself up against Acheron, and the wearet's size slightly intimidated the otter. "Whoa, you really are big" he comments, "I get that a lot" Acheron recalls and whips out his ax, then swings it at Vaniel, who intercepts with his twin-spears, though the impact made the otter's body rumble like an earthquake. Acheron raises the ax, catching Vaniel's spears on it and lifting the otter up with them, but Vaniel disentangles and flips over Acheron, then slams his tail into the wearet's back. Acheron though wasn't done yet: he swings his axe around, knocking Vaniel to the ground, then attempts to chop him right there, but Vaniel rolls away, then hops to his feet and goes on the offensive. Acheron blocks one spear, but Vaniel tries to hit with the other, but Acheron catches it, and when Vaniel didn't expect it, Acheron kicks him in the chest, sending him flying into a tree, where he lies groaning. "Better stay down, it'll hurt less" Acheron suggests but Vaniel, despite his pain, gets up for another round, "over my dead body" he growls, "excellent suggestion" Acheron mocks and putting his ax away, punches Vaniel in the face.
Jolee found himself up against Thicknail. War-hammer meets javelin, but Jolee was fighting with all his might. "You're gonna pay for what you did to my guosim" Jolee growls and whacks out again, only to be stopped by Thicknail. "I wasn't there, but that's what gets you woodlanders killed" Thicknail taunts and remains on the defensive, letting Jolee wear himself out from his rage, though so far Thicknail hasn't been able to score a hit himself.
Depa and Malani have teamed-up to go against Bloodhand, who bizarrely was more excited than afraid. "Ooh, finally, an otter and a hare" she gushes and lashes out her glaive at Depa, though the otter dodges and fights back. Malani loads her sling and tries to get a hit on Bloodhand, but couldn't get a clear shot, she did see a fox coming and launched at it, killing it. "Man I hate lizards" she complains and loads again, but mostly struck at vermin coming to her or about to kill someone else, while Depa was preoccupied with Bloodhand.
Quickfeet was up against Corwin, meeting his hatchet with her spear, and Corwin had to admit she was good. "Of all the bally vermin I've met, ferrets and polecats are the worst" he complains while intercepting another attack from Quickfeet, "well you lagomorphs are tasty" she taunts and strikes at his left-side with the rear-end of her spear, almost tripping him, but Corwin was able to get away before she could deliver a fatal strike. Quickfeet though wasn't gonna give him time to breath and attacks more, eventually jabbing him on the face, "and that's just the beginning" she promises before moving in again.
Noptar and Onewa were standing back-to-back, using both staff and spear to fend off their opponents. "Brings back memories of Blackfire Warfang doesn't it?" Onewa jokes while ending the life of a marten, "true that burr" Noptar agrees and whacks a stoat on the head, but the stoat wasn't dead yet and rolls away, with Noptar chasing him, unknowingly putting himself in range of Driptooth, who fires an arrow and scores right on the mole's back. Onewa saw it and turned to the killer, suddenly full of rage, he throws his spear at the fox, but Driptooth escapes and disappears into the brush. Onewa was disappointed, but hopeful he'll get another chance, for now he had to protect Noptar. "Hang on buddy, I'm taking you back to Redwall" he promises, but was stopped by Smartmouth, "going somewhere?" he asks.
Vaniel was being beaten to a pulp by Acheron. "This is so easy it ain't even fun anymore" the wearet jokes, hardly breaking a sweat, "why don't you pick on someone your own size?" said a voice and Acheron sees Adorjan charging in shield-first. Acheron barely got outa the way and drew his ax, while Adorjan in turn drew his, then they clash. "I've always wanted to fight a badger-lord, all the other woodlanders go down too easily" Acheron gloats, "then I hope I'll make your end more entertaining" Adorjan vows until out of nowhere, an earth-shaking roar echoes through Mossflower-Woods. Immediately all fighting came to a halt, everyone puzzled and a little unnerved by the uninvited-guest, which didn't sound like a woodlander or vermin. "What in Vulpuz's name was that?" Myodes asks from the wall-top.
==Chapter Thirteen==
In front of Redwall, the two sides were suddenly stopped by a beastly roar echoing from the horizon, and it sounded big. "Oh please don't be a dinosaur" Malani prays, "I have a feeling it is" Depa dreads, "looks like we'll have to finish our fight another day redwallers" Pica says and turns to his vermin, "all vermin move out, fall back to Camp Willow" he shouts, "awe but I haven't gotten to kill anyone yet" Bloodhand complains, "well if you stay here you'll be the victim" said a ferret wearing a red-mantle, yellow-hose and a white-chaperone while wielding a lance, his name was Longclaw, in part because his fingernails look like they need to be trimmed, "ugh, dinosaurs get all the fun" Bloodhand rants but joins in the retreat, and the woodlanders let them go, though Acheron refused to leave the springald behind, which miraculously wasn't damaged, "let's gather the dead on our side and quickly bring them into Redwall" Pryce advises and no one argues.
----
In Redwall, Tahu attempts to raise the portcullis, but it suddenly jammed after three twists. He tried to pulled some more but no luck. "Need some help here" he calls, "I think the impacts bent the steel in" Wibble theorizes and after she and Pietro open the doors, found to be right, though the gap was big for small characters to walk through, but anyone the size of a badger might have trouble. "Guys the portcullis is jammed, you're gonna have to squeeze through" Pietro informs and the woodlanders outside tried to gather as many dead-partners as possible, especially since they could feel giant footsteps vibrate through the ground. Oppo Kabe and Sunspot, who had locked themselves in the gatehouse, quickly come out, though the rabbit and badger weren't as fast as they used to be. Luckily some went to help. "Think we should take some of our weapons with us?" Corwin wonders, "only if we have time" Onewa answers dragging Noptar toward Redwall, "dad!" Skarloey cries and rushes out to help, the first bodies were quickly sent into Redwall where the civilians took over in moving them, Adorjan carried Vaniel over to be next, "oh no is he...?" Saffo gasps, "no he's alive, barely" Adorjan assures and hands the male otter to his wife, just when another roar sounded, much closer, "dinosaur-worm getting close" Wingbreath warns, "but is that everyone on our side?" Yaddle asks, "afraid not" Pryce and at least three dead woodlanders were still out, but it was too late: from the trees on the path's left-side, a Baryonyx emerges, the noise from the battle had piqued its curiosity, and it smelled blood. Normally it was a fish-eater, but wasn't limited to that. It sees the dead-bodies and sniffs a dead-rat, then grabs it in its hands and rips the flesh off the rat's right-arm. "And that's your cue to get your butts in now" Teedle demands and all still alive and able to walk get in, though Adorjan's shield prevented him from going, "ugh stupid shield" he groans and decides to remove it, keeping it in his hand while crawling under the portcullis, and as soon as the last body and beast got in, Tahu lowered the portcullis and the doors were closed.
----
Back at Camp Willow, a few vermin remained to watch the prisoners, Smudgeface being one of them, though he found it boring and had been playing with his bolas for hours. The other vermin were doing menial tasks, but they stopped when Pica and his forces return. "Hey boss, how'd it go?" Smudgeface asks, "had to cut our assault short when a dinosaur roared" Pica claims, "yeah we heard it too" Smudgeface recalls and shivers: the thought of meeting whatever dinosaur it was scared him, "but we could use it to our advantage" Pica reasoned and decided to go back, "where you going my lord?" Smudgeface asks, "to get a perspective on another plan" Pica answers and flies off.
----
In Redwall, Diffen, Teedle, and some hares were tending to the wounded, like Vaniel. "Ow" he grunts, "hold still, this'll fix you" Teedle reprimands, "and what were you thinking? taking on a wearet, you're lucky to be alive" Wibble scolds, "guess I didn't think it through when I challenged him" Vaniel admits, "well you nearly gave me a heart-attack, we thought we'd lose you" Saffo moans, "but you didn't" Vaniel retorts, "wish I could say the same about Noptar" Myodes notes looking at Skarloey and Yaddle crying over Noptar, "dad you can't die" Skarloey begs, "we all must go someday son...no one lives forever" Noptar consoles, "but you're the foremole, who's gonna lead us?" Skarloey asks, "you will, son" Noptar declares, though Skarloey wasn't exactly happy about it, "but, I don't feel ready yet" Skarloey objects, "I know it's a little too soon, but...you are worthy...I made sure of it" Noptar pants, and weakly brought Skarloey's snout in to kiss it, then shared a kiss with Yaddle before lying down, "take care, all of you, it was nice to see you again Adorjan, hope you become a great badger-lord someday" he says to Adorjan, who starts weeping, and with one more breath, Noptar stops breathing completely, Skarloey and Yaddle hug in grief, "poor Skarloey, hope he'll be okay" Pietro prays, before he and Wibble decided to leave the infirmary to give space.
----
Outside Redwall, the Baryonyx was still feasting on the dead-vermin, now having gotten hold of a weasel. It tears the mammal's skin off the torso, spitting out the clothing. Pica was watching from a tree, safely out of reach should the dinosaur take interest. He was actually impressed with the dinosaur: it was truly a marvelous beast, looking like it could destroy anything in its way. Even Redwall couldn't possibly stand up to it, and Pica certainly hoped so. From what he knew on Baryonyx was that they loved fish, and gave otters a run for their money. If Pica could acquire some fish, the dinosaur would be at his mercy, willing to do his bidding, kind of like Gabool the Wild and that giant bug of his Skrabblag. Smiling, he heads back to Camp Willow.
==Chapter Fourteen==
Night arrives over Redwall, and the atmosphere was gloomy due to the deaths of their friends and family a few hours ago. Yaddle in particular was sitting at a table alone in cavern-hole, still grieving over Noptar. Eliana approached with two Cup o' Cheers. "I uh, brought you a drink" she offers unsurely, though Yaddle does smile and accepts one, and Eliana joins with her own, "so how's Skarloey?" Eliana asks, "took it hard: after Noptar passed on, Skarloey wanted to be alone, not sure where he went though" Yaddle answers, "Noptar did come close once remember" Eliana recalls and Yaddle nods, remembering when Noptar was almost killed by a dinosaur protecting Skarloey Teedle and Adorjan, "yeah, and receiving the foremole title sooner than he would've liked has placed a big weight on his shoulders" Yaddle notes, thinking of the pressure Skarloey now has to deal with, she hoped he could do it.
At another table, Wibble and Pietro were sitting quietly together, neither having anything to say. Pietro kept replaying Noptar's face in his memory: his own family were fearful that he'd become a warrior, though Pietro never wanted to be one, having taken an interest more in music. He suddenly realized that he's never told Wibble about that. "You know Wibble, I forgot to tell you that I'm a musician" he reveals, "really?" Wibble asks, Pietro nods, "yeah, I had a lute, though unfortunately I couldn't bring it with me to Redwall" Pietro laments, "what a shame, I'd love to see you play" Wibble says, "well maybe someone here has a lute I can barrow?" Pietro wonders and Wibble gives it a thought, "well there is one" she answers and gets to her feet, gesturing Pietro to follow, which he does.
They leave cavern-hole and head upstairs, stopping at a door halfway down the hall. Wibble knocks to see if anyone is home. "Who is it?" said a voice, "It's me Wibble, I was wondering if you still had your lute Amaryl" Wibble responds and Amaryl opens the door, gesturing them to come in, "yeah it's right at the window, why?" Amaryl wonders, "because I have one of my own" Pietro admits, "really, you a guitarist?" Amaryl asks, "yes actually, and if it's alright with you..." Pietro offers, "oh I don't mind, go ahead" Amaryl permits and after Pietro got a feel of the instrument, starts playing. Needless to say it was brilliant, and a few others have begun gathering right outside the room. As soon as Pietro was done, a round of applause heats up. "Bravo, jolly bravo" Malani claps, making Pietro feeling flattered and embarrassed: he's never had an audience before.
----
Pica was busy fishing in the river, intent on getting as much as possible to bend the Baryonyx to his will. That same treecreeper was sitting in a tree, but was asleep now, regardless Pica was after fish, but most of the catch was common bream-fish, too small for a dinosaur, one of the few that would work was European sturgeon: a big armored fish. Occasionally the net ensnared a little crocodilian called Bernissartia, but Pica tossed them back in the water due to their size. Eventually, he felt there was enough. "So you gonna try to lure the dinosaur into breaking into Redwall?" Smartmouth guesses, "yes indeed" Pica claims and with Acheron, hauls the net down to Redwall.
----
Skarloey was lounging on the wall opposite of where the fighting took place, and where the Baryonyx was feeding. His father's death still strongly burned into his mind. Noptar was lucky to escape with his life against that dromaeosaur seasons ago, yet it was one lousy arrow that ended him. Skarloey had wanted to become the foremole, but not this soon. "You okay?" said a voice and Skarloey turns to see Pryce had somehow shown up without revealing himself, "I don't know" Skarloey admits, Pryce nods though, "listen Skarloey, I know losing Noptar was a major blow for you" the dormouse began, "I know" Skarloey replies knowing what Pryce was doing, "and not a day goes by when I thought of my mother, or my father" Pryce adds, "yeah Zimber was a real hero" Skarloey recalls, "and Vaniel took the deaths of his parents badly too" Pryce adds, "yeah?" Skarloey replies now a little confused, "it may have been major blows to us too, but we were able to move on together, and we became best friends because of it" Pryce says happily and Skarloey thought it was nice, "I doubt it was easy though, wasn't it?" the mole asks, "no it never is, but just so you know, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, just let me know, or Vaniel, or maybe Adorjan, remember, he was orphaned too" Pryce claims and left.
Onewa was standing watch, keeping an eye on the Baryonyx who was now sleeping. The spinosaur didn't spare any of the bodies left for it, and only the clothes and weapons were left. A few redwallers braved going out to retrieve the pieces for burials while the dinosaur was sleeping beside the path, dissuading any traveler from coming near for fear of awakening the sleeping giant. Still even while asleep, the dinosaur was intimidating: its long snout housed conical-teeth designed more for grabbing than tearing, but the real torture-machines were its hands; its thumbs bore enormous claws that dwarfed the other fingers. Onewa shivered at the thought of being skewered by them. Besides the dinosaur, the only signs of life were a few Brandt's bats out to hunt bugs. Suddenly movement caught his eye away from the dinosaur, but due to the darkness he couldn't quite make it out. What he could make out was that there seems to be a figure creeping toward the dinosaur. Onewa nearly yelled out to stop it when he suddenly realized that would wake up the beast, that and the figure could be a vermin, which Onewa thought would do Redwall a favor. He kept watch, trying to see the figure make strange gestures, probably throwing pebbles at the dinosaur to wake it, which it does. Onewa could've sworn he heard a voice coming from the figure, then what looked like the figure was holding something to entice the dinosaur, then suddenly started flying away, the Baryonyx got to its feet and curiously follows, but Onewa had a bad feeling that was Pica Eipgam beckoning the dinosaur, and he could think of only one reason why. "Ingrid!" he shouts and runs down the stairs, Ingrid, who had been on her way to the bell-tower to sound the nighttime-ring, looked up at the vole, "Onewa what is it?" she wonders, "I think the vermin are going to use the dinosaur to attack us" Onewa expresses.
==Chapter Fifteen==
Cilghal and Saffo were busy putting Zorran and Muscardinus to bed. They were singing lullabies to the two, then put them together in a crib, reasoning they'd be more comfortable with each other. "Just imagine what they'll be like in a few years" Saffo whispers excitably and Cilghal giggles, until a loud bang sounded from the direction of the gate. The two babes were frightened awake and started crying, and both mothers quickly took them in their arms while looking out of the room to see everyone looking confused, then another bang echoes and gets joined by the bells' ringing. "Oh this can't be good" Cilghal dreads and both mothers head down to cavern-hole.
----
Outside Redwall, Pica had flown in dangling a European-sturgeon in his left-foot with the Baryonyx chasing it, right into Redwall's portcullis. Pica then threw the sturgeon into Redwall and the dinosaur, unable to resist, starts bashing on the door to get it, scaring just about everybody on the other side. Pica meanwhile watches the woodlanders assemble: some brought objects to reinforce the doors, while others like Onewa and Wibble went up to the walls. "Well this is a problem" Wibble states when the dinosaur slams in again. Jolee got out his sling and launched a rock at the beast, which made it jump away a little. "Good idea Jolee, we need to pelt it until it either dies or runs off" Malani reasons and brings out her own sling, Wibble follows with her bow and Corwin joins in with his Blowpipe. All the while Pica observes. "Those fools: actually fighting the creature, such heroic nonsense" the magpie scoffs, though the Baryonyx, after becoming a pincushion decides it wasn't worth it and flees, much to Pica's fury, "stupid redwallers: but I'm not done yet" he vows and sneaks off.
On the wall, the good-guys cheer at driving the dinosaur off. "Whew that was close" Adorjan notes, "but look at the damage it did" Depa says and everyone sees the portcullis was bent into the door. Tahu tried to raise it, but like before it jammed at the third twist. "Ugh it'll take forever to fix it" he complains, "at least no one died this time" Myodes notes, "true, but as long as that magpie Pica Eipgam remains alive, we will die" Pryce laments, "unless he dies first" Skarloey adds, "agreed, tomorrow, I say we meet him on his turf, besides he still has those prisoners" Macko proposes, "oh yeah I forgot about them" Yaddle realizes, and after that exciting event, everyone decided to get some sleep.
----
At Camp Willow, it was quiet. Only Acheron was still awake, waiting for Pica to return, which didn't take long, but the look on Pica's face told the wearet things went south. "Your plan failed?" Acheron asks, "what was your first guess?" Pica snaps, but kept going, intending to go to sleep. Acheron jumped from how moody the magpie was being, but understood, and decided to sleep himself.
Unknown to them, Dile had snuck in a sharp rock he found and was cutting some binds on a family of shrews. Eventually, the ropes loosened and the shrews were free. "Go untie some more, I'll free myself" Dile advises and began cutting Jsky's binds next, while the shrews in turn freed a few others and as carefully as possible, they began to sneak out of the holt, though the darkness made it difficult to watch where you step. Just when Dile himself was freed by Jsky, a particularly loud tumbling sound made by a loose rock that couldn't support its climber, bounced into the vicinity. Everyone froze and looked at their guard: Smudgeface, though he hardly stirred. "That was close, too close" Jsky peeps and he went to untie a mole when Smudgeface did awake. "He's awake!" an otter shouts startling all the prisoners and before anyone could react Smudgeface threw his bolas at Dile and Jsky, who were the closest in range, but Dile pushed Jsky away so only Dile himself was caught, "run all of you" he demands, though some hesitated like Jsky, but when he saw Smudgeface race to the dens the vole chased him, "Jsky no" Dile gasps.
"Escape, we got escaping prisoners again, escape-" Smudgeface yells, Pica, who had almost fallen asleep, sprung to his feet. "Not again" he roars and runs out. Jsky, who had intended to stop Smudgeface, immediately turned back to join the escapees, but he stopped at the edge of Camp Willow, "I'll come back for you Dile, promise" he says when the vermin arrive, only around fifteen prisoners were left behind, Dile being one of them. Some vermin went after Jsky, but Pica stops them, "let them go, even I won't be able to catch them at this hour" he reasoned, though turned to see Smudgeface dragging Dile toward the bird, "I think this one planned it" Smudgeface claims, while Dile merely scowls, "you gonna kill him my lord?" Bloodhand asks already looking eager, but Pica seemed to have something else in mind, "you're the one who created this madness?" he asks Dile, though the mouse remains silent, "I saw him drop this rock when I caught him, it even has string on it" Smudgeface answers though he did think Pica was gonna have him murdered, "then you may live, Acheron, better take this mouse to a den so this doesn't happen again" Pica declares, much to Smudgeface's relief and Bloodhand's disappointment.
----
Morning arrives over Riftgard. After the sea-rats left, things have been quiet. Helia was tending to the boats on the dock with his friend: a female hedgehog wearing a blue-gown and a yellow-veil: her name was Rhonwen Pintips and she was Wibble's mother. "Feels good to be able to tend to the boats again" she notes to Helia: she loved being near the ocean, when Wibble was a little girl, they'd come here trying to find some exotic sea creatures, "true, but after Nihilus, can't be too careful" Helia reasons as storm petrels flew above the waves, "you think our kids will ever find love?" Rhonwen suddenly asks, "what's that suppose to mean?" Helia wonders, "well, ever since Vaniel met that Saffo girl, Wibble's been feeling envious" Rhonwen explains, "well Dile hasn't found the one yet" Helia reminds: Dile had dated three female mice, but none of them worked out; the first turned out to be too demanding, the second was moving away, and the third had been a little weird, "true, but Wibble hadn't found anyone at all, and I worry she never will" Rhonwen says thinking of Wibble, though little did she know, Wibble has in fact found someone.
==Chapter sixteen==
Jsky and his troop of escapees were settling in Redwall. After the ordeal with the Baryonyx, the redwallers had been hoping to rest, but it was delayed yet again when these guys showed up. Myodes however recognized Jsky and was quick to take them all in, though sadly, when Vaniel and Macko wondered about Dile, Jsky lamented he couldn't escape. The vole still felt guilty for leaving Dile, but does intend to return to free him, so Pryce decided he'll need a weapon, and Jsky settled for a blowpipe. In the morning he intends to practice with it, but first he was having some breakfast comprised of Abbey Trifle and Dandelion and Burdock Cordial. Onewa joins him with Skilly 'n' Duff. "Hey" he greets, "hi" Jsky returned unsurely, Onewa took a bite first and after swallowing turned to Jsky, "you're Jsky right?" he asks, "yes" Jsky confirms, "I'm Onewa, Myodes' father" Onewa introduces, "oh, pleasure to meet you" Jsky greets, "have you ever uh, noticed how my daughter looks at you?" Onewa asks and Jsky blushes, "yes actually, she's...a very pretty...vole" he stutters, though Onewa thought it was funny, "hey relax, I have nothing against you, you look like you could use some loving" Onewa pities, "yeah, I was just minding my own business when that magpie and his buddies showed up and leveled our homes" Jsky laments, "I can imagine" Onewa says and suddenly hesitates, "but we plan on going to war with them once and for all, if anything happens to me, could you take care of my daughter?" he requests, taking Jsky aback, but the younger vole didn't have the heart to refuse, "if it happens, then yes" he vows.
After breakfast, many woodlanders were practicing for battle. Jsky turned out to have good aim with his blowpipe, giving Corwin a run for his money. Pietro wasn't so bad either: he nailed the target-board with his pike as if it were a heat-seeking missile. Vaniel however was forbidden to participate due to his injuries, especially from Saffo, so instead he was babysitting some dibbuns which included Retto. "You sure you can handle this Vaniel?" Sunspot asks nervously, "I jumped off a wall seven-stories high and lived, tangoed with an ichthyosaur, rode a pterosaur to home, and fought a villainess mole, babysitting is a breeze" Vaniel assures, "okay" Sunspot shrugs still not believing it, but she would like to see it.
----
Pica was having a Nutbrown Beer while chewing on one of the sturgeons he caught from the river. Acheron was in the same room and had brought Dile in. The mouse aroused Pica's interests, as if he's dealt with vermin before. "What's your name?" Pica inquires, "if you must know, it's Dile" Dile answers, Pica nods, "and I take it you've battled vermin before?" he asks, "yes actually" Dile admits, "well you did have swords with you when you were brought to me, tell me: what would Redwall be when I take it?" Pica pesters, "oh please, you'll never conquer Redwall, a lot of vermin have already tried and lost" Dile scoffs, "mm but two vermin did conquer it temporarily: Cluny and Ironbeak, ever had a history lesson?" Pica corrects, "okay you're right about those two, but that doesn't mean you will be the third" Dile says, "oh I have hope that I will, Cluny and Ironbeak succeeded by using hostages, though granted, I tried the former's tactic, and it didn't work, but perhaps if I set some of my lackeys as bait, then do a trade-off, they'd be distracted enough for us to move in and claim at least some of it, but what I fear the most, are the champion, taggerung, and badger-lord, what's their names?" Pica counters and demands, "like I'd share secrets with you, but there's no taggerung or badger-lord" Dile claims, "nice try, but I saw a badger-lord ride into your abbey on the back of a pterodactyl, and earlier, some of my minions encountered a taggerung that claimed one of their lives to save woodlanders" Pica explains and Dile realizes he's talking about Vaniel and Adorjan, "the badger isn't really a badger-lord, just a protégé training to be a lord, and the taggerung, he's not a real taggerung either, just a fan of the title" Dile admits, "oh please, what non-taggerung would have the tattoo?" Pica asks, though he found a badger-lord protégé somewhat believable, "my friend is: he's not a taggerung, but he is the king of Riftgard" Dile answers though he immediately realized what he just gave, "oh, a royal taggerung eh?" Pica says interested, Dile hesitates but decides there was no point now, "well royal yes, but he's not a real taggerung" he maintains, "what's their names?" Pica asks, but Dile kept his mouth shut this time, prompting Acheron to whack him, "spill it mouse" he demands, "don't bother Acheron, he's too loyal" Pica dismisses and Acheron takes Dile back to his prison.
After he finished breakfast, Pica went outside to see what Smartmouth was doing, which turned out to be tinkering with the springald. It was smart of Acheron to not leave it behind, maybe they could still use it. "Yes boss?" Smartmouth asks upon noticing, "looking for damage?" Pica wonders, "haven't found any, but I'm keeping it in shipshape if you wanna use it again" Smartmouth answers, "we will: the dinosaur damaged their defenses, a few more hits with this, and we should be in" Pica devises and left to do more recon.
----
"This isn't a job for a king" Vaniel moans as he apprehends a mouse-dibbun with candied-chestnuts. Gamut was helping him and had nabbed some chestnuts from the other dibbuns. "How do you put up with this?" Vaniel asks the friar, "I don't always put up with it" Gamut claims and spotted movement under a table, "hey get out here you" he demanded and tries to reach in, only for the dibbun, a squirrel this time, to dash out the other side, and evades Vaniel too, then nearly knocks Skarloey off his feet, "whoa" he gasps, Gamut found another dibbun, a shrew who dashed out of cavern-hole, only to crash into Malani, stepping on the hare's foot, "ow, watch it" she yells, but the dibbun was long gone, and the others made a break for the exit, but Gamut managed to catch two, and Vaniel caught his daughter Retto, "daddy" she giggles playfully, "and I thought you Teedle and Adorjan were handfuls" Gamut remarks to Skarloey who decided to help, "haven't we all?" the new foremole jokes, "okay jolly good point" Gamut admits as he releases his captives after they've turned in the chestnuts, "though I doubt Diffen and Teedle will look forward to treating those who get bellyaches" he adds, then turns to Malani, "hungry?" he asks, "thirsty actually, I'd like some strawberry-cordial" Malani requests, "coming jolly right up" Gamut fulfills and heads back to the kitchen, while Vaniel went to find the escaped dibbuns, leaving Skarloey and Malani alone, "how's it going on with the training?" Skarloey asks, "fine, Adorjan in particular seems anxious to tackle that wearet" Malani claims, though Skarloey shivered, "hope he's careful, that freak of nature almost killed king Vaniel like it was nothing" he recalls, "true, but if Orlando the Ax could do it, Adorjan could too" Malani confides, "I hope your right: I don't know what I'd do if he dies" Skarloey says thinking about his father, "yeah, it's not easy losing your friend in a war: I lost a lot of friends in the battle for Riftgard, that's the price you have to pay to be in the Long Patrol" Malani laments, Skarloey figured such: personally he never wanted to be a warrior, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be killed in war. The thought sent shivers in his spine: the next time the vermin attack, it could be him that dies.
==Chapter Seventeen==
Adelmo was relaxing in the waves on the beach: he always did this to try and take his mind off of stressful things. He couldn't help but wonder how Adorjan was doing, though deep down he worried the young ward will perish. He hasn't received another vision in days, so it was starting to worry him. As if fate could understand him, Adorjan suddenly felt a headache. Now he was finally getting another vision, only this one showed what looked like the end of a climatic-battle: dead bodies littered the ground, but most were vermin, and up ahead, he saw Adorjan tackle a wearet, and win! He also saw Pryce dueling a magpie, and emerged victorious. Then all the woodlanders cheer in victory.
Adelmo gasps as he was brought back to reality and quickly made his way to shore, where he found Yarael watching. "What's up lord? you sure look excited" the hare responds, "I had another vision" Adelmo squeals happily, "what did you see?" Yarael wonders, "Redwall's gonna win again" Adelmo claims.
----
Back at Redwall, Pica was once again spying on the abbey, hoping for some kind of weakness or something. His attempt to copy Cluny's success at defeating the place was ruined, so that left only Ironbeak's to try, but to do that, Pica we'll need to catch some woodlanders from the abbey, and then allow some of his own lackeys to be caught, and then do a trade-off. It worked for Ironbeak, so why not for Pica? His brainstorm was interrupted by the sounds in the abbey: the residents look like they were gearing up for battle, but was it to protect the abbey, or were they suiting up to visit him on his turf? 
Down below, Onewa was sparring with Adorjan. "Wow Adorjan, Adelmo sure taught you well" the vole comments impressed, "that's cool" Teedle praises making Adorjan blush, "well badger-lords tend to be fighters, Adelmo said it himself" he claims, "I guess" Myodes shrugs practicing with her flail, "when do we move out?" Jolee asks, "hmm, let's wait a few more hours, then we should have enough to attack" Pryce determines, "if you say so wot" Corwin shrugs and goes back to target-practice with his blowpipe.
Up in the tree outside, Pica could barely hear any talking, but he did catch some words about attacking Camp Willow, and he suddenly realized they were coming out to face him. He better get back at the camp and prepare for it.
----
A few hours later, the moment arrived: all fighters selected for the battle (Pryce, Adorjan, Myodes, Onewa, Jsky, Corwin, Malani, Wibble, Pietro, Depa, Jolee and many others) were ready. Vaniel however was still recovering from his bout with Acheron, but Saffo wasn't complaining. Same couldn't be said for Pietro and his family, who were fearful that he'll never return, and Cilghal and Pryce. "Be careful out there, hate to be a single-parent" she begs, "I'll be fine, there's never been a champion that died before" Pryce assures, "yeah but it doesn't mean there never will be, you might become the first" Cilghal warns, "I swear I'll be fine, I've killed a toad-warlord once remember?" Pryce reminds, "yeah but not a bird-warlord, just...just don't let up or give mercy" Cilghal demands, "of course" Pryce relents and Eliana opens a corridor for them, since the main one was out-of-commission, "good luck Wibble" Vaniel bids to Wibble, "hey Macko, are you sure you should come with us?" Malani asks Macko who was given a Bill hook, "I ain't gonna leave Dile" she ascertains, "whoa, she must really like him" Saffo notes, "say goodbye to daddy Muscardinus" Cilghal encourages to Muscardinus, though Pryce made sure to give her a kiss before leaving, Retto however was waving goodbye.
----
Pica arrives at Camp Willow, seeing everyone was doing daily things. "Everyone stop what you're doing" he hollers and all stop, "Smartmouth, Smudgeface, ready the springald" he orders the two and they don't ask, "what's the matter my lord?" Acheron asks, "the redwallers are coming here" Pica answers and that made the horde babble, "silence: we will win, I guarantee it, Driptooth, you and the archers get in positions to take aim, and the rest of you prepare yourselves" Pica demands and went into the den to get himself ready. He enters the room he was living in and brings out his flail and throwing-knives, and flings one of the latter at the wall. "Soon, Redwall will be mine" he says ominously.
----
It wasn't long for the heroes to arrive at Camp Willow, and when they did, they find the vermin ready for them. "Well redwallers, you gonna come and fight, or are you gonna run back to your precious abbey?" Pica taunts, but Pryce draws Martin's sword, thrusts it to the sky and yells "charge", and the woodlanders do just that, "charge" Pica yells and the vermin follow.
==Chapter Eighteen==
At Camp Willow, the battle has officially begun. Pryce found himself confronted personally by Pica Eipgam. "At last, the champion shall fall" Pica smirks, "you first" Pryce requests and they fight, flail and sword whacking each other.
All around them, there were other scuffles: Jolee once again found himself fighting Thicknail. "This time I'll kill you" Jolee swears, "ha, you shrews are too easy" Thicknail taunts cockily. Javelin and war-hammer clash and bang against each other. On one collision Thicknail pushed Jolee onto his back, then readied to deliver the killing blow. Jolee however, whacks out with his javelin, sending Thicknail to the ground, and before the weasel knew it, Jolee was back on his feet and stabs Thicknail right in the chest, ending him. "Told you" Jolee brags.
----
Jsky, Wibble, Pietro, Onewa, Myodes, Macko and Corwin were sneaking around to free the prisoners. They find no guards, possibly due to the battle, but the seven woodlanders weren't complaining and got to free several prisoners, until Smudgeface again catches them. "What the-" he began but was silenced by Onewa hitting him with his spear, though this alerted Smartmouth and the vermin prepping the springald, "woodlanders behind us" he shouts, right before Pietro kills him, Onewa went to get his spear, but an arrow from nowhere hits him, "dad!" Myodes screams and Wibble looks in the direction the arrow came from, seeing Driptooth readying to fire another, "incoming" she shouts and finds cover just when another arrow almost hits Corwin, "Dile's not here" Macko gasps, Wibble runs into the brush and sees Driptooth standing up to get another shot. Not wasting a second she fires at him and kills him. "Got him!" she cheers and Pietro loved seeing her pose in victory. Myodes tries to help her father, but gets stopped by Quickfeet and Longclaw, "going somewhere missy?" the latter provokes, "outa my way" Myodes growls and swings her flail at the ferret, who shields himself with his lance, Quickfeet on the other hand caught sight of Corwin, "remember me?" the hare taunts and swings his hatchet, Quickfeet intercepts with her spear, and while they were fighting, Macko and Jsky drag Onewa out of the warzone while Wibble covers them. Pietro gets his pike back and Onewa's spear, and decides to eliminate the vermin guarding the springald.
----
Adorjan and Acheron once again had a rematch. Adorjan was glad to have a shield, but Acheron was able to wretch it away and fling it near the river. "Not so tough now are you?" Acheron taunts, "I still have an ax" Adorjan presents and lashes out with his ax.
Nearby, Malani was fighting Bloodhand. Mace and glaive rung when they made contact. Bloodhand tries to stab the hare, but Malani summersaults over and they bang their weapons on each other's again. "I've always wanted to fight a hare, hares are awesome" Bloodhand squeals, "is that a jolly compliment?" Malani asks truly confused, "nope" Bloodhand lies and whips Malani's left leg with her tail, making the hare stumble. Bloodhand tries to impale her but Malani rolls away. Bloodhand attacks again, though Malani remained on the defensive, hoping to wear Bloodhand out. Eventually Bloodhand began to slow down, and Malani, seeing her chance, swings her mace toward the lizard's head. Bloodhand tries to intercept, but the impact sends her onto her back. Malani didn't stop and struck again, this time swinging downward on Bloodhand's skull, shattering it. "And that is that" Malani quotes.
Corwin continues to fight Quickfeet, but the polecat was wearing him out. "Man you're flipping fast" Corwin pants, "well I'm called Quickfeet for a reason" Quickfeet claims and attacks more. Corwin swings out his legs, catching her off guard, but Quickfeet recovers before Corwin could land a hit. Quickfeet was able to wound Corwin on his right-side. Corwin didn't let it bother him though and attacks again. When they locked weapons, Quickfeet tries to kick him, but Corwin saw it coming and jumped slightly, kicking out himself, sending Quickfeet flying and summersaults, then draws out his blowpipe, and when Quickfeet gets up he fires a poison-dart, hitting her right in the belly. She stares at it, then looks at Corwin. "You lose" he says and sure enough Quickfeet felt the toxin's effects and dies.
Myodes was still whacking at Longclaw, mostly out of anger. "You ought to control your temper missy" Longclaw advises, "my father's death won't be in vain" Myodes hisses, "your father died defending the weak, that's why he died at all, had he been more selfish like me, he'd survive" Longclaw chastises, "your selfishness is the reason why nobody likes vermin" Myodes roars and fights harder, "then you're just as weak as the rest of them: you're father was nothing more than a weakling" Longclaw insults, and this caused Myodes to get a dose of bloodwrath: she starts fighting Longclaw more viciously and the ferret was struggling to block every attack until he trips on a rock. Myodes didn't stop though and continues: injuring Longclaw during his fall and battering him death, so much so that Jsky has to stop her. "Myodes, stop, he's dead he's dead!" he cries and Myodes snaps out of it, only to drop her flail, fall to her knees and cry. Jsky knelt beside her and hugs her.
----
Adorjan and Acheron continue their squabble. The badger manages to send the wearet into the springald. Adorjan leaps in ax raised, but Acheron dodges while the springald gets totaled. "Dang it" Acheron curses while Adorjan goes at him again. "For a badger, you sure don't fight like one" Acheron taunts, "I'll admit, I'm only a trainee" Adorjan confesses, Acheron was a little taken aback but figures he'll win the fight. He attempts to get another swing in, but Adorjan aimed lower and struck his right-leg, making him trip, then lands an uppercut to the head. Dazed, Acheron collapses, and Adorjan decided to end it by throwing his ax at the wearet. He turned away immediately due to not wanting to watch, and shivered when he heard the ax make contact with flesh. He peeked, but didn't expect Acheron to still be moving. "I'm...not...done...yet" he wheezes and tries to get up, but the embedded ax was draining him and his attempt to punch Adorjan was sluggish. The badger dodges and grabs his ax, then yanks it away, sending pain surging through Acheron who collapses again, and this time doesn't get up. "Looks like you're done now" Adorjan shrugs, not exactly thrilled that he actually killed someone, but he was glad it was over.
Pica and Pryce were still at it. The dormouse remained on the defensive since he knew flails were tricky to use defensively. "Why aren't you fighting back champion?" Pica demands, "because you aren't letting me" Pryce remarks and sends Pica reeling after one deflect from Martin's sword against the flail. Pryce then took a kneel and closed his eyes. "What are you doing?" Pica asks, "go on, attack me, I'm all open" Pryce provokes and Pica takes it. Pryce waited, then when Pica was upon him, he swings out the sword and cuts through Pica's wings, breaking his wrists and nearly cutting his grabbing-feathers off, he also drops his flail. Pryce then withdraws and steps back, wondering what the magpie will do next: will he submit, or will he attack again despite his injuries, and keep attacking until he dies? "If I were you, I'd run and save myself when I have the chance, you've lost" he warns but Pica had other ideas, "if I'm going to die, so will you!" Pica roars and lashes out, resorting to his beak and claws, only for Pryce to deflect them, injuring Pica more until he collapsed, "I warned you" Pryce laments and turns to walk away, letting the magpie suffer 'til he expires, "you'll never be rid of me Pryce, do you hear me? never!" Pica howls until he screamed himself to death, but Pryce wasn't scared, "maybe not, but at least this land is" Pryce retorts and joins the growing cheers of his friends. Redwall's list of victories over warlords has added another.
==Chapter Nineteen==
In Redwall itself, Yaddle was keeping watch for the heroes' return. Kabe joins her. "You thinking about the fighters?" she asks the mole who nods, "yeah, I'm scared to know who has died, and I don't know how I'll handle it" Yaddle dreads, Kabe kept quiet and stared into the horizon, but saw something coming, and when that something came closer, Kabe was delighted, "well you better figure it out fast, here they come" she informs and Yaddle smiles, "Ingrid" she calls to the shrew who was throwing bird-seed to European greenfinches, "yes?" Ingrid asks, "our warriors are back" Yaddle says and many others froze at what they're doing, Ingrid didn't ask but instead ran to the bell-tower. By the time the fighters got right to Redwall's front-door, the bells were ringing, a crowd gathered in front of a postern, and the first to enter was Pryce. "Pryce" Cilghal cheers and with Muscardinus hugs her husband, Adorjan came next, "Adorjan" Teedle and Skarloey cheer and they hug their childhood friend, though they were sure to make way for the next entrant, which turned out to be Malani, next came Depa, then Jolee, then Wibble and Pietro, much to the delight of the former's friends and the latter's family, "Wibble" Saffo greets and with Vaniel hug Wibble while Pietro reunites with his family, Corwin entered the postern next, then Macko and Dile, "hey guys, did you miss me?" Dile greets much to Vaniel and Saffo's happiness, "Dile, you're alive" Vaniel cheers and hugs him: after the battle the woodlanders had scoured Camp Willow for stragglers, and Dile had heard the fighting going on from his prison. It didn't take long for them to free him, and he couldn't wait to meet Pryce's kid. "By the way guys, we're in a relationship" Macko announces, "wow, congratulations" Diffen praises as Jsky and Myodes finally enter Redwall, though their faces suddenly silenced all the joy, and that's when they saw the body of Onewa, "oh no" Sunspot gasps, "he died a hero, like Noptar" Myodes claims, "of course, must not forget those died to protect us" Wingbreath notes.
----
After burying Onewa and their other dead friends at St. Ninian's Cemetery (formerly St. Ninian's Church), things were back to normal. Depa and her otters left to restore Camp Willow, while Adorjan and his hares were packing up to return to Salamandastron. "Well guys, I guess this is it" Eliana laments, having enjoyed seeing Adorjan again, and Gamut loved being around other hares, "afraid so wot" Malani confirms, "well if you ever wish to visit, you jolly can" Gamut promises and he hugs Malani, "and if you ever have another warlord to vanquish, give us a call" Corwin requests making everyone laugh, "will do" Oppo swears.
Nearby, Vaniel, Saffo, Wibble and Dile were getting ready to head back to Riftgard. Macko had decided to live there to be with Dile. Pietro comes with a smile on his face. "Good news: my family has decided to live at Riftgard" he reveals and takes Wibble's hands, "so we can be together" he adds to her, "that's wonderful" Wibble expresses and they share a kiss.
While some goodbyes were joyous, others weren't. Zorran and Muscardinus didn't want to part ways: they've become best friends, and their parents couldn't help feeling sorry for them. "Aw it's okay Zorran, it won't be forever" Saffo comforts and Zorran stops crying, "and we'll come visit too" Cilghal promises to Muscardinus, and the two babes look at each other, then hug, "bye" Zorran peeps, "he spoke" Vaniel gushed when flapping wings was heard and Curruca returns, "hey I'm back, what'd I miss?" he wonders, "just the end of the vermin and a babe's first word" Pryce jokes.
----
The next day, things were back to normal. Amaryl was filling in for Cilghal on the bee-farm, Oppo continues to educate Kabe, Jolee and the guosim went back to their ways, and other things. Diffen finally placed Teedle as head infirmary-keeper, but remains on the job herself. Tahu and a few others were working to fix the portcullis. Skarloey too was busy now: he was the new foremole, and Yaddle thought he was doing a good job, the only downside was Skarloey couldn't go outside to frolic in the nude as much as he did before: some things never change. Jsky and Myodes were sitting by the pond, watching little carp swim around in it. Myodes was still saddened by her father's death, but she was glad to have Jsky with her, and they were officially dating. "So now what?" Jsky asks, "what about now what?" Myodes wonders, "I mean there's no more vermin, no more fighting, and no more deaths, feels weird" Jsky notes, making Myodes giggle, "that's a good thing: this is what Redwall is supposed to have, peace" she states, "I know, but what are we gonna do now?" Jsky wonders, "well as long as we don't have to do any fighting or killing, I don't care" Myodes answers, but gets an idea, "but I do know one thing we can do" she adds and gets up, Jsky follows and together they sneak out the abbey.
----
Adorjan and co return to Salamandastron with a hero's welcome, which they didn't expect. "What's all this wot wot?" Malani asks, "you defeated the vermin, Adelmo foresaw it" Lotte answers, "of course he did" Adorjan jokes, wasn't there anything that could take that badger by surprise? "Well I hope you don't have any plans my young protégé, there's still the manner of perfecting your creations" Adelmo speculates, "after saving Redwall from another vermin, forging weapons and armor sounds nice" Adorjan says, "well not until we celebrate first" Yarael orders and celebrate they all did.
----
Vaniel, Saffo, their kids, Dile and Wibble were back in Riftgard. Macko, Pietro and his family thought it was nice. "This place is so beautiful" Macko comments, "Dile" Helia says and hugs his boy, "dad" Dile returns as more come to greet the returning royals and their entourage, and meet the new faces, "hey guys" Gald greets, "hey Gald" Saffo returns, "oh dad, meet my new girlfriend Macko" Dile introduces and Helia honestly couldn't believe it, "wow" he gasps, "hey" Macko says shyly, "Vaniel, all okay?" Nowl greets, "hey Nowl, hope you don't mind having some new residents in Riftgard" Vaniel presents, "Nowl doesn't mind, Nowl loves meeting new friends" Nowl assures, "did Dile find another girlfriend or something?" Korlac wonders hugging her niece, "you could say that: that's Macko, Wibble's also found someone" Vaniel claims and Wibble brought Pietro and his family over, "hey Korlac, say hello to my new boyfriend Pietro Stump" Wibble introduces, "you're a descendant of Jube Stump?" Korlac gasps, "yep" Pietro confirms, "finally" Rhonwen cheers and hugs Wibble, "mom!" Wibble complains, "oh you don't know how long I've wanted my daughter to find love, how can we ever repay you?" Rhonwen thanks, "well, you don't suppose you have any dorms or a house or something? we decided to move out of Mossflower after the vermin showed up" Pietro suggests, "vermin? what vermin?" Gald wonders, "it's a long story Gald" Saffo claims.
===Epilogue===
Extracted from the writings of Oppo, Recorder of Redwall.
It's been a month since Pica Eipgam, the first magpie-warlord in history, has attacked Redwall. There have been some changes: Noptar and Onewa have given their lives to protect the abbey, and may they rest in peace. Pica's Polacanthus have been taken in and they were settling nicely now that they are no longer being abused. Muscardinus still misses Zorran (and he misses her I'm sure), but she has made some more friends, which is good. Myodes and Jsky are now dating, and are being rather naughty at it too: every time they come in Redwall after doing who-knows-what, there's this weird smell emanating from both of them, and I can guess where that smell comes from. Seems a little early for them to take it that far, but they're still young, so what's to stop them? Kabe is progressing splendidly in her new job: she'll make a great recorder someday. Skarloey continues to prove to be a good foremole, though whenever he can he'll sneak out to do another one of his naked walks. Yaddle wonders if he'll ever grow out of it. Abbot Wingbreath was getting old unfortunately, and he knows he'll have to pass on his title to someone else someday. The only person who seems to be worthy is Cilghal, but he didn't wanna have it interfere with her parenting, so he'll wait a few more seasons if he has too. On the bright side, Depa reports that all damage to Camp Willow has been repaired and is now the otters' home again, also disposing of the springald. Well, that's all I have for today, might as well go out and have some fun. 
Oppo, recorder of Redwall.
The End
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