Night of the Raven

Night of the Raven is a fanfic dedicated to the wiki. It takes place after The Legend of Luke and The Sable Quean.
===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 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==
Granvy Shtuckle had found an interesting story in the gatehouse, one detailing the origins of the doomwyte-horde that had earned the reputation as the first vermin to attempt conquering Redwall. As soon as he spread the word, Big Bartij sounded the news through the bell and Great Hall was prepped for a story. Many of the children that the Ravagers had taken (and those that weren't), like Gurchen, the hedgehog siblings Jiddle, Jinty, Auroria, Rambuculus, Trajidia and Dubdub Witherspyk, Guffy, Tassy, Borti, Tura, Urfa and Calla Kordyne, Diggla, Rikkle and Twissle were now slightly older. Also present were Ambrevina Rockflash the badger-mum, Abbess Marjoram, Ruark Boldstream, Mumzillia O'Chubbacutch, Rainbow, Darbee, Drull Hogwife, Friar Soogum, Fumbril, Gurjee, Gurffa and of course, Axtel Sturnclaw the warrior mole and Clarinna Kordyne, Redwall's first hare to be the champion. These two were busy trying to calm the excited kids. "Burr calm down y'all, Granvy will show up in a minute" Axtel assures, "you know I've always wondered how Gonff and Rigvar met, my mom told me the story about their descendants clashing" Marjoram recalls to Fumbril, "well now we're about to find out" Fumbril jokes and they laugh when Granvy finally returns, "sorry I'm late, but I'm not as young as I used to be" the old hedgehog laments and rather painfully, walks slowly to where he's supposed to read the story, "here why don't I help?" Clarinna offers and helps Granvy at a slightly faster pace, eventually seating him at his podium, "thank you Clarinna" he thanks as Clarinna took a seat beside her children and Granvy opens the book, "now let's see here, ah here we go, in the beginning..." he began, and so does Gonff's and Rigvar Skor's history.
==Chapter one==
In a hidden cave rests a statue of a raven with a small snake on its head. The raven's eyes were made of rubies, and the snake's were emeralds. The statue sat on an island in the middle of a sulfurous pool, and laying at the shore was a male raven who looked to be meditating. A male smooth snake then approaches him. "Lord Rigvar?" it spoke hesitantly, making the raven turn and open his eyes, "what is it Sumiss?" the raven Rigvar asks a little peeved at being disturbed, "the doomwytes are getting restless, it's been nearly a year since Kotir has been replaced by the new abbey" Sumiss the snake informs, "ah yes, that new abbey, Redwall I believe" Rigvar notes: the raven was one of the many vermin that plagued Mossflower during Verdauga Greeneyes' reign, and that cat had been a bane to Rigvar, for a vermin: Verdauga may have been evil, but he was much more compassionate, something Rigvar finds totally alien and appalling to vermin. At least his daughter Tsarmina was a bad girl (extremely so). But now Verdauga and Tsarmina were gone, Kotir destroyed, and the last wildcat alive, Gingivere, had abandoned royalty for farming. Rigvar had been meaning to steal Kotir himself and like Tsarmina, rule with an iron fist, but Tsarmina beat him to it, and both got vanquished by some mouse named Martin. No matter, he'll turn his sights on the new abbey built in Kotir's place, which Rigvar was sure should be finished by now, or nearly. "I suppose we've given them long enough time to build that place, let's go" he shrugs and with Sumiss heads down the cave and arrives into the main chamber, where several other ravens, crows and magpies were armed to the teeth, though there was also the usual vermin mammals too, and some viviparous lizards and more smooth snakes. "My doomwytes, the time has come, the newly christened Redwall, shall be ours" Rigvar announces, gaining cheers.
----
At Redwall itself, one certain mouse was having a tough time sleeping. Martin lay in bed, tossing and turning as if he were having a nightmare, and indeed he was, but it wasn't a normal nightmare.
In the nightmare, Martin found himself standing among destruction, then a towering raven stands in front of him. Martin backs up, unsure who this was or how to fight it, but suddenly a piercing cry that sounded like a pterodactyl echoes and the bird looks at where it came from. Martin follows and, to his confusion, sees what looks like a mouse-maid, a deathly familiar mouse-maid that brought Martin back memories of his dead girlfriend, except this maid was wearing his armor and wielding his shield and sword, or at least the old version of his sword (before Tsarmina broke it). The mighty bird takes flight and swoops at the mouse, only for her to dodge with abnormal speed, then jump and shouted "fur and freedom" while bringing the sword down on the bird, who screeches before vaporizing into thin air. Martin stood there gawking, how did this mystery-mouse know about the fur and freedom-fighters that took down Badrang the Tyrant? He approaches her warily. "Uh...hello?" he asks when the maid puts her weapons away, turns to him and removes her helmet, and Martin couldn't believe his eyes. "R-Rose?!" he gasps, but it was indeed Laterose, Martin began leaking out tears, but he doesn't recall her being a warrior, when did that happen? "it's good to see you again Martin, unfortunately I came at a bad time" Rose says, "what?" Martin asks when Rose suddenly grabs his shoulders and looks at him dead serious, "you're home is in danger Martin, evil is coming" Rose explains before suddenly letting go and backing up, "beware the blackbird Martin, beware the blackbird" she adds before disappearing, "wait, Rose what are you saying, Rose?" Martins shouts crying, but Rose was gone.
In the real world, Martin continues tossing and turning while crying out Rose's name, attracting some unwanted attention. "Martin, Martin mate, wake up, it's just a dream" Gonff's voice echoes and Martin shoots up panting, he looks around but sees neither Rose or a blackbird, just Gonff, and sees it was morning, "you okay mate?" Gonff asks, "aye, just some crazy dream" Martin answers wiping his face, Gonff chuckles, "well I agree about the crazy part, especially since I had one about some big scary bird and a warrior mouse-maid who goes by the name Laterose last night" he admits much to Martin's shock, "what?!" he gasps: Rose gave Gonff the exact same dream? but they never even met, "I know crazy right?" Gonff shrugs, "w-what did she say?" Martin asks, "beware the blackbird...and that she was a friend of you" Gonff reveals and Martin was virtually petrified: he never wanted to think of Rose again, it was too painful, but her ghost just waltzed in and reveals her history with him to his best friend? Tell him Martin, he's your friend Rose's voice suddenly echoes from nowhere and Martin looks around, but saw no one but Gonff, "are you hiding something from me mate?" Gonff asks looking betrayed, Martin sighs and takes Rose's advice, "can you keep a secret Gonff?" he requests, "of course mate" Gonff answers, "well...I had the exact same dream you did, and this Laterose, or Rose for short...was a real friend of mine" Martin began and Gonff noticed a blush on Martin's face, but also sadness in his eyes, "and no: she isn't from the same tribe as me, she was from a secret place that dedicates itself to peace, before I came to Mossflower..." he continues and told Gonff everything, the memories starting to reappear in his head. He told of how sometime after Luke left to hunt down Vilu Daskar, that Martin and his grandmother Windred were captured by a vicious stoat named Badrang the Tyrant, who also took Luke's sword for himself, then along with a squirrel named Felldoh and another mouse named Brome, were broken out by Laterose, who was Brome's sister, and a mole named Grumm Trencher, while Badrang was busy repelling his rival Tramun Clogg. Martin and co had stolen a boat from Tramun, but did not know Badrang's lackeys had sabotaged them, and then Felldoh and Brome got separated from the rest during a storm. Rose had assumed they would meet them at her home-village, and along the way gained many allies: Pallum, the pygmy shrews, a heron called the warden, and more. They found out that Brome never did return home, but Martin met the parents Aryah and Urran Voh, and later found out that Brome and Felldoh had joined a travelling circus called the Rambling Rosehip Players, led by a hare named Ballaw de Quincewold and a badger named Rowanoak. They had saved the rest of Badrang's slaves, but Felldoh died trying to kill Badrang. Martin and his new found friends joined the performers and forged an army known as the Fur and Freedom Fighters. Martin was able to reclaim his sword, decimate Badrang's fort, and kill the stoat himself, but not before Badrang took Rose with him. "...I had passed out from the wounds I received, when I woke up, I was back in Polleekin's house, and hit with the reality that the love of my life was dead, so I swore never to return to her home, and went south to here, and you know the rest" Martin finished trying very hard not to cry again, but was startled by Gonff suddenly wailing, "that is the sickest thing a vermin could do: kill your girlfriend, that monster, if Tsarmina did that with my beloved Columbine, I'd probably wander as far away as possible too" the fat mouse cries and Martin comforts him, "at least your love survived" he soothes, "but what about you, don't you wanna maybe settle with another?" Gonff asks, "I don't know Gonff, I'm scared to repeat history even if I did find another, especially if both our dreams are any indication" Martin says looking out the window, "oh right, forgot about the dreams" Gonff realizes, "what do think they mean?" he wonders, "maybe some sort of evil will show up, but I don't know for sure" Martin shrugged and his stomach growls, so does Gonff's, "oh boy, could use some breakfast" the fat mouse states and heads back to his room to switch out of his pajamas to his usual-clothes, Martin joins him in the hall in a habit, "try to limit yourself, I think you're getting fatter" he teases, "excuse me?" Gonff guffaws in offense, and Martin takes off to avoid a fate worse than death while Gonff pursues.
==Chapter two==
Breakfast was peaceful, the first cellar-keepers Ferdy and Coggs Stickle, now young adults, proved to be quite the beverage-makers, and their mother Goodwife Stickle never ceases to provide good food. After breakfast, dibbuns, like one named Meriam, went outside to play. Martin decided to take a little walk around the new abbey. He couldn't believe it's been a whole year since it was built, and Abbess Germaine was planning a feast to celebrate. "Can you believe it Martin?" said a voice and Martin looks to see Ben Stickle approach, "not really Ben" he admits, "I know" Ben laughs and got Martin to join until Bella joins them, "hey have either of you seen Germaine?" she asks, "no why?" Ben asks, "did someone say my name?" said a new voice and all turn to see Germaine, "oh there you are abbess, there's this big bird at the front door wanting to talk" Bella informs, "big bird?" Martin wonders and felt strangely uncomfortable but follows anyway.
After climbing up to the wall-walk, Martin could see that Gonff and Columbine had already arrived and were looking. Doing it himself, he sees a big bird with a cloak, and with him was a fox wearing a black-surcoat and a grey-belt with a scimitar. This was Marcello Longtooth, the ancestor of Vizka Longtooth. Also present was a male rat wearing a red-chaperon, a codpiece and a green-cote while carrying a bullet-shooting crossbow, also known as a stone bow: an unusual kind of crossbow designed to fire rocks rather than arrows. This was Nuvo Sawfang, an ancestor of Sagitar Sawfang. "Hello, we are just humble travelers wishing to talk" the bird requests, "Germaine" Martin calls the abbess and she looks at him, "keep your guard up toward the bird, there's something about him I don't like" he adds, Germaine nods but relents to the bird, "alright, let's talk" she says and they head down, while an otter opens the doors to allow the trio inside. Martin and Gonff shudder at the bird, who was slightly taller than Bella. "So what is it that you need?" Germaine inquires, "I heard this was once Kotir, when Verdauga passed away, I had been meaning to take his place, but I see it was destroyed, so..." the bird pauses, then quick as lightning removes his hood, "I like to takeover this place" he finishes, making everybody tense, "and who do you think you are?" Dulam demanded, "I am Rigvar Skor, leader of the doomwytes, you stole my dream of ruling Mossflower by turning Kotir into this place, but I'll settle for this anyway" the raven announces, "over all our dead bodies, you're just another wannabe" Bella growls flexing her claws, Marcello was about to draw his scimitar about Rigvar forbids him, "have it your way, I hope you're still the corim, you'll need it, beware the blackbird Redwall abbey" Rigvar declares and left.
Martin and Gonff stood frozen: those were the exact same words Rose said in their dreams: Beware the blackbird. Martin and Gonff look at each other, both thinking the same thing: that was the bird in their dream. "Just our luck: we free ourselves from one tyrant, only to have another fill in" Ben complains, "well, we better prepare ourselves: if this Rigvar Skor is anything like Tsarmina, he'll no doubt be a threat" Germaine reasons, "we'll need Warthorn and his holt, and maybe Gingivere and his wife Sandingomm" Posy Stickle suggested, "and I guess my retirement will have to wait" Martin laments, "we should also warn Denno and the rest of Mossflower's citizens" Coggs suggests, "ooh you're right Coggs, I'll get Amber to spread the word" Columbine notes and rushes off.
----
Around Mossflower, Lady Amber beats on the log used as a makeshift bell to warn all woodlanders of danger. Many were still new to this, but those that were aware of the doomwytes got the message and head to Redwall. Rigvar watches as the citizens head for the abbey. "They'll wish they stayed in their own houses, cause Redwall will be a bloodbath" the raven chuckles, then turns to some vermin working on a contraption within view of Redwall: an onager (a mini-catapult), there was also a pile of rocks and canteens of oil for ammo. "How goes our siege engine?" he asks a particularly fat stoat that Martin would probably recognize, "it's almost done" he says, "ah I knew you'd do good Clogg" Rigvar praises the stoat, who was indeed Tramun Clogg: Badrang's rival and sole survivor of Marshank. Rigvar had found him near-death a month after the battle took place. The raven reasoned the corsair could be of great value and had the doomwytes nurse him back to health, and in return Tramun swore allegiance to Rigvar, though some of the doomwytes began to prefer Tramun over Rigvar, but the stoat decided to wait when the time was right. "My late crew had used these on raids, though it's been a while since I had, I just wished I had thought of it back at Marshank, Badrang wouldn't have stood a chance" Tramun reminisces, "better late than never" Sumiss shrugs while Rigvar looks at Redwall, where more civilians were gathering. 
==Chapter three==
While the abbey was preparing for a war, Gonff's son Gonff-2, also known as Gonflet, was hanging out with Chugger. The two were nearly passed dibbun-hood, but were still just as mischievous. "Look at all the woodlanders" Gonflet notes until Trimp caught them, "come on you two, it's dangerous to be up here when there's flying vermin" she orders, "hey there's uncle Gingivere" Chugger points before Trimp wretched him off the railing, though the hedgehog did see the cat and his wife Sandingomm, though they now had a dibbun of their own whom they call Halomar Greeneyes, though he was still bigger than a mouse, "well that's good, we'll need all the help we can get" Trimp reasoned and escorts the two kids away.
Inside Great Hall, many woodlanders from outside have gathered in confusion and alarm. Germaine was quick to take charge of the situation. "Calm down, these vermin are no more than mere gangsters, this was built specifically for refuge, they can't get in" she assures, until they heard a big bang from outside, "what was that?" Posy asks as everyone else was starting to panic, "it came from outside" Gonff deduces and he, Martin, Bella, Posy's brother Spike who became a guard for the abbey and carries a spear, Columbine, and later Gingivere, Warthorn, Urthclaw the mole and Amber, come and find cracks on the wall, then something came sailing from the air and crashes onto the wall-walk, "where did that come from hurr hurr?" Urthclaw gasps trying to keep his balance, Spike boldly goes up the stairway and looks out, finding a contraption hidden among the trees, "I think they got a catapult or something" he shouts while coming down, just in time to avoid another shot, Martin drew his sword out, then turned to everyone present, "guys we got to take out that catapult, or else they'll be in" he reasoned and several stepped forth, "I'm with you mate" Gonff declares, "that makes two" Amber adds, "me three" Warthorn adds, "me four" Spike adds, "me five" Urthclaw adds, "alright, Gingivere, you and Columbine gather anyone else willing to fight, the rest of you let's go" Martin directs and they disperse when yet another projectile does damage.
----
While the onager was barraging the abbey, Rigvar took two-score of doomwytes with him around the abbey, and open a different doorway. "Hehehe, Clogg wasn't kidding when he said the onager would create a diversion" Rigvar comments and they invade the abbey.
----
Martin now had many more backing him up by the time they went out the door toward the onager: the mole Billum, the squirrel Springpaw and otter Duckweed joined them, along with Folgrim. They charge at where the onager was placed, but the catapult wasn't unprotected. "Quickly, here comes a wave" Nuvo alerts and gets out his crossbow and loads a rock on it, then fires at the approaching woodlanders, yet didn't get any. Marcello and many other vermin charged at the woodlanders, resulting a fight. Marcello himself got to fight Billum, and easily slew the mole, his next opponent was Spike, though the young hedgehog proved more challenging. A clash between scimitar and spear rang out among the other sounds. "You're good hedge-pig, but you won't defeat me" Marcello taunts and slashes Spike on the knee, making him kneel, "that's right, bow to the doomwytes" Marcella adds, but this only resulted in Spike headbutting the fox in the belly, and some of Spike's head-quills pierced the skin, "still wanna continue?" Spike asks, but the fox clearly wasn't giving up, and they clash more.
Springpaw was busy firing arrows from a tree, hitting a rat not far from Nuvo, unfortunately, this also gave Springpaw away to Nuvo. "Oh no you don't" Nuvo growls and aims his crossbow at her, then fires, hitting her when she didn't expect it, and she plummets to the ground, "Springpaw!" Amber gasps after seeing her fall, then saw Nuvo near the catapult, she aims her bow and fires at Nuvo, but the rat dodged and the arrow got the catapult itself, "whoa way too close" Truman gasps having been totally startled by that arrow. 
"Hey Martin, I found the catapult" Amber shouts to the mouse, "got it, Gonff, Duckweed, you two come with me" Martin responds and orders, and he Gonff and Duckweed fight their way to the onager, though Martin froze when he saw Tramun, "hey, you're the mouse who killed Badrang" Clogg identifies, "Tramun Clogg?" Martin gasps, Gonff notices the interaction, "this is the corsair you knew?" he deduces, "and who might you be my fellow fatty?" Tramun asks Gonff, "call me Gonff, the prince of mouse-thieves" Gonff responds, "prince of mouse-thieves? hahaha, only we do the thieving matey" Tramun laughs, "well you look like you could lose weight ugly" Gonff mocks enraging Tramun, "who are you calling ugly?" the tubby stoat growls and draws his cutlass and attacks, Gonff brings out a dirk and matches Clogg in moves, Martin and Duckweed meanwhile, study the onager, then see the oil-canteens and rocks with a torch, "that's it" Martin reasons, but sees his side was losing, "go I'll set this thing alight" Duckweed promises and grabs one canteen and dumps it onto the onager, then takes the torch and after Martin put some distance, lights the catapult, which didn't go unnoticed by Nuvo, "no!" he shouts and swings his crossbow at Duckweed, while Gonff decides to fallback, they were losing reinforcements anyway, "by chubby, gotta run" he bids to Clogg who growls before smelling the fire, "is something burning?" he asks before looking at the onager and gasps in horror: he quickly kills Duckweed who was still fending off Nuvo, the other woodlanders, seeing the smoke, decide to fallback to Redwall, "you knew that mouse didn't you?" Nuvo asks the stoat, "somewhat" Clogg answers before a magpie swoops down them, "good news, we're in the abbey" it informs and this made both Tramun and Nuvo smile: their mission isn't a total loss.
==Chapter four==
Ben was getting old, but not enough for organizing a defense against vermin, unfortunately, he and Gingivere did not expect to find vermin in their home. "What the?" he gasps, "ooh goody, some playmates" Rigvar says giddily, "Ben go, I'll hold them off" Gingivere orders drawing out a pitchfork he brought, "but even you can't last against all of them" Ben argues, "just go" Gingivere yells and whacks away a lizard with his fork, before being swarmed by so many more, the wildcat managed to kill several, but was eventually overwhelmed, "I must say, I wasn't expecting a wildcat to be protecting woodlanders" Rigvar comments, which got Gingivere to spit him in the face, "he's a lot nicer than you scum" Ben roars and he had an otter named Spring, Young Dinny, Sandingomm, his daughter Posy, and sons Ferdy and Coggs, the mole Soilflyer, and a squirrel named Brush with him, and all attack the invaders, with Ben personally attacking Rigvar with a staff, "I never liked hedgehogs" the raven states and with one swoop disarms Ben, then delivers a brutal slash on the neck and chest, "retreat" he orders the doomwytes, since he didn't expect wildcats to be part of the opposition, so he'll have to improvise. All the vermin run back out the way they came in, and Gingivere seals the door shut.
----
Tramun, Nuvo and Marcello gather with their group to reunite with Rigvar's group, only to bump into Rigvar himself. "Hey what happened?" Marcello asks, "they've got a pair of wildcats on their side" Rigvar laments, "you know I think I saw some wildcats go into the abbey, but I thought I was seeing things" Clogg recalls, "apparently not, so now what?" Nuvo wonders, "we keep trying of course, only this time we shall be prepared for the cats, and whatever else they have as the greatest threat" Rigvar asserts and orders everyone back to their lair.
----
Back at Redwall, everyone was tending to the damage the onager had inflicted, and helping the wounded. Martin sat on a bench, he was glad to stop the onager, but it cost him three friends: Springpaw, Billum and Duckweed, and worse, it had been a diversion so the real threat could get in without anyone knowing. He felt so stupid to have fallen for such a thing, but what really shocked him the most was seeing Clogg among the doomwytes: Martin hadn't given the corsair much thought back then as he was more against Badrang than him, though Martin figured he would still be a threat anyway. He hadn't really seen the fat stoat during the battle there, but he didn't really care, having assumed Clogg would just die from some other means or something, but obviously Rigvar Skor had come across him sometime after the Battle of Marshank, and now Clogg was working with the raven, but why? Was Clogg merely trying to work off a debt he owes before he could go back to his old life, or did Clogg plan to takeover the doomwytes himself? Martin wasn't sure. "Dad no" shouted Spike's voice, breaking Martin out of his thoughts, he turns to see that Ben was among those who got the worst of the onslaught, and he was dying, "son, I'm proud of you, it's not your fault" Ben wheezed and that was it, though Spike still felt guilty, "but it is my fault: if I had stayed and saw Rigvar's actual plan you'd still be alive" he cries, with his siblings mother and Gonff weeping with him, Martin couldn't help but be reminded of his own guilt for Rose's death from this, he walks over to the hedgehogs, "guys, he'd want you to be strong, his death won't be in vain" he asserts, "you're right Martin" Goody sobs and covers Ben's face with a sheet, Gonff later asks to talk with Martin alone, "was this what you felt?" Gonff asks, "for what?" Martin asks confused, "for Laterose?" Gonff reminds, "oh aye, I was just as devastated as you are" Martin admits, and Gonff simply nods. 
----
Meanwhile, Gonflet, Chugger and Gingivere's son Halomar (who's a few seasons younger) were unsure of what to do with all the depression in the air. "Wanna play catch?" Chugger offers, but neither mouse or cat look eager, "what's wrong with you three?" said a new voice and they turn to see Barko the squirrel, "just don't know what to do" Gonflet answers, "well we have a moment of rest, so relax" Barko encourages, "but what if the mean bird comes back?" Halomar asks concerned, "I doubt he'll be back for a while, he may not come back at all, not with your parents and Bella around" Barko answers confidently, who would be crazy enough to attack a place with a badger and two adult wildcats defending it?
----
Back in the doomwytes' lair, the horde was recovering from their botched attempt at conquering Redwall, though Rigvar wasn't willing to throw in the towel yet. "You got a plan Sumiss?" he asks his trusty snake, "working on it" Sumiss claims, but after a minute or so, he has something, "got it: we set a trap somewhere and bait the abbey-beasts with a cry for help so they'll come meet us" he proposes, "any idea how we'll handle the badger and wildcats?" Rigvar asks, "we can have traps specifically for all three, perhaps assassins or something" Sumiss offers, "it could work" Rigvar considers, "you seriously wanna tango with a badger and two wildcats?" said a new voice and Rigvar turns to see he has an audience, "who said that?" he demanded and everyone point to a male weasel, who quivers at being ratted out, "don't tell me you're afraid?" Rigvar growls, "n-no sir, just concerned it would do more harm than good, badgers get the bloodwrath more than any other species, and wildcats are some of the most powerful, what chance do we have against both combined?" the weasel says, "you just have to know their weaknesses, and have the right opponent to give them" Rigvar assures, "I still don't think it's a good idea" the weasel argues, but that would be his undoing: Rigvar walks over and grabs the weasel by the throat, lifting him up to the beak, "are you questioning me?" the raven threatens, "n-no sir, I just don't think it's wise" the weasel explains, "silly weasel, perhaps you'll change your mind when I present our newest addition to the doomwytes" Rigvar chuckles and turns to the cavern near him, and inside came a snake's hissing, making all but Rigvar and Sumiss wince, and out of the darkness comes a big, muscular female adder who calls herself Charal Poisonteeth, and she was an ancestor to Asmodeus Poisonteeth, and was just as dangerous, "do I smell fear?" she hisses as she slithers out of the shadows, "here's one" Rigvar answers and throws the weasel to her feet (even though she doesn't have any), the weasel immediately tries to getaway, but Charal seizes him before he could and poisons him, then eats him, leaving everyone else unnerved, especially Clogg, "now tell me doomwytes, who do you fear less enough to tackle, the badger and wildcats, or me and my new friend?" Rigvar demands everybody, "the badger and wildcats" they predictably answer, as Rigvar figured, and he nods in satisfaction, "that was a little harsh don't you think?" Tramun suddenly peeps, "what was?" Rigvar wonders, "scaring that weasel, and then feeding him to her..." he gestures to Charal, "Badrang treated his lackeys like that, but I never treated mine like that" he finishes, "in my book Clogg, inflicting fear in your minions will guarantee better chances of success, and for the record, you're not the boss here" Rigvar claims and left, leaving Clogg angrily watching, "for now I'm not" he whispers.
==Chapter five==
At Redwall, night has fallen, but no attack has arrived yet, though Martin was using the small window to educate young beasts into fighters, giving a demonstration by sparring with Gonff who agreed to play the villain. "Watch my moves carefully rookies, it may save your life" Martin instructs as he and Gonff give each other hits, and after awhile they stop to rest, "any of you got that?" Martin asks and several try to mimic the moves, but only a few actually succeeded, though Martin wasn't mad, "seems like we got a lot of work to do mate" Gonff notes.
----
Further away from Redwall, Rigvar and twoscore of his doomwytes were setting up near Gingivere's farm, laying traps around the woods. "Ah that will do nicely" Sumiss deduces on a scaffolding and a net set below, "and when at least one of the behemoths show up, they'll be dead for sure" Nuvo adds toying with his crossbow: he couldn't wait to kill the badger or wildcats, "patience Nuvo, you'll get your chance" Sumiss assures, "it is all set lord" he adds to Rigvar, "test the net first, then we'll begin" the raven requests and Sumiss complies, ordering some vermin to place a big rock in the net, then release the tripwire from its anchor to yank the net up, and the net is hoisted up with the rock, "perfect, if it can hold a big rock, then a badger or wildcat won't be a problem" Rigvar concludes and turns to some vermin, "start the show" he orders and the lackeys do: by lighting fires and wrecking abandoned houses, while Rigvar watches from a tree, "no way those abbey-warriors will ignore all this commotion" he adds while looking at the abbey.
----
Back at the abbey, Martin and Gonff were observing the progress of some rookies. "Seems like Spike is doing good" Gonff notes on Spike's progress with Spring, "yeah but the rest still need work" Martin deduces as he saw a female vole playing the hero get beaten by Urthclaw, but the training was interrupted by Amber rushing in frantically, "guys there's smoke coming from the woods" she hollers and all activity cease, they gather up on the wall-walk to see Amber wasn't lying, "uh oh, that's near my farm" Sandingomm realizes and she and Gingivere grab their weapons and make for the door, "but what if it's a trap?" Spike asks worried, "then let's all go" Bella proposes, "good idea Bella, you Gonff Warthorn Amber and Spike are coming with me, lets follow those cats" Martin supports and he and his enlisted company dart after the wildcats, "be careful" Columbine shouts as they left, then returns to looking at the smoke.
----
Gingivere plows through the foliage like a freight train: desperate to make sure his home is alright. He bumped into many woodlanders along the way, claiming to have seen the doomwytes and pointed him in the right direction. As Gingivere heads to where the enemy was, Rigvar spots him. "Right on schedule" he muses and flies ahead, but also saw Sandingomm and Martin's party not far behind, he quickly alerts his troops, "get ready doomwytes, we've got company" he orders and draws out a lance he had brought just for the occasion, not long after Gingivere bursts into the vicinity and hits the tripwires, immediately he gets scooped up by the net just when the others arrive, "let him go you rat with wings" Amber demands, "not gonna happen, unless you drop your weapons and surrender" Rigvar bargains, "as if" Spike growls, still sore about his father's death, meanwhile Nuvo loads his crossbow and takes aim at Gingivere, but suddenly a rock from nowhere crashes into the platform he was on and it creaks, causing him to misfire at the tree-branches supporting the net, which break and drop Gingivere, and while everyone was about to fight, a cloaked-creature bursts out of nowhere and slaughters a few doomwytes before landing a kick on Rigvar, "whoa, did you see that?" Warthorn comments while freeing Gingivere, "you alright love?" Sandingomm asks, "yeah, but who is that?" the male cat asks looking at the new fighter, who was proving to be quite a match for the raven, "ugh, how many surprises are in these woods?" Rigvar growls while seeing Nuvo being transported away, meaning he had no reason to stick around anymore and repels the assailant, then flies away with his horde.
The woodlanders (and wildcats) look at the retreating vermin, then to their helper who turns to them, or more specifically Martin. "It's good to see you again Martin" it said, the voice indicating a male, "who are you?" Martin asks confused, though something about this beast felt familiar, "I don't wanna upset you but, my sister had a crush on you" the figure said much to Martin's shock, "wait...Brome?" Martin guesses, "who else?" said the figure who shows his face, and indeed it was good old Brome Voh.
==Chapter six==
The doomwytes return to their lair after another failure. Rigvar in particular was very ticked. "Twice, we lose due to unexpected faces siding with Redwall, well no more" he rants then turns to his lackeys, startling them, "Marcello" he demands and the fox steps forward, "y-yes?" Marcello responds timidly, "you and threescore comb the woods, if you see any woodlander that even looks like a fighter, kill them off, we can't let Redwall gain anymore friends" Rigvar orders, "right away sir" Marcello complies and along with threescore of doomwytes leaves the lair, "hahaha, if I didn't know any better, I'd say the fox wet himself" Tramun laughs until Rigvar growls in his face, "okay okay I'll stop" the stoat assures and the raven withdrew, "I don't see what's so funny" Rigvar says, "sheesh can't you take a joke?" Clogg shrugs, "joke? we've just been foiled by another unforeseen opposition, and if there's anything I hate the most, it's unforeseen oppositions, but I'm not taking anymore chances, and if you wanna make me happy than help me out" Rigvar roars, "alright alright sheesh" Clogg groans and left, "that raven has anger-issues" he adds after he left.
----
Martin couldn't believe his eyes: standing right in front of him was Rose's brother Brome, although he looked older, more mature and for some reason had just slain like eight vermin, didn't he resent violence? "You know this guy?" Warthorn asks Martin, "it's a long story" Martin admits, "I say, Brome, where are, oh there you..." said a hare's voice and a familiar (to Martin) hare emerges from the bushes, "Ballaw de Quincewold?" Martin gasps, "Martin?" the hare, who was indeed Ballaw, gasps back, "I know right?" Brome remarks when the other Rosehip-Players emerge, stunned to see Martin, "these are the Rambling Rosehip Players?" Gonff asks Martin, "yep" Martin confirms as he greets so many old friends: like Rowanoak, Grumm, Keyla, Celandine and more, "you know them too Gonff?" Spike asks Gonff, "Martin uh, told me a story about them once" Gonff explains unsurely, "I'll admit, I didn't think we'd ever see you after...you know" Keyla says cautiously, "I know, but I'm glad you all came, you helped save Gingivere's life" Martin notes pointing to Gingivere, "hi" he greets, "whoa he's huge" Celandine notes feeling small, "uh Martin, who were those vermin?" Brome asks Martin, "I'll explain on the way, it's not safe here, come on" Martin requests and the rosehip-players join the redwallers on the trek to the abbey, "hey, I'm Gonff, the prince of mouse-thieves" Gonff introduces to the players, "mouse-thief?" Rowanoak asks, "it's a hobby of his, though I recommend keeping a hold on your possessions when he's around" Martin advises, "noted" Keyla complies, "so who were those blighters you were tangoing with?" Ballaw asks, "the doomwytes: a horde of vermin lead by a raven named Rigvar Skor, who wants to take our home and turn it into a fortress of evil" Martin explains, "I'm glad we found you" Keyla says, "what were you doing out here anyway?" Martin asks, "we were just doing what we did before wot: traveling and doing shows" Ballaw explains, "we were camping nearby when we saw smoke and saw many beasts running, so we knew something was going on" Rowanoak adds, "well we definitely could use your help, I'm Amber by the way" Amber introduces and many more followed along the way.
----
Back in the doomwytes' lair, Rigvar was resting, deciding to save his strength for the next attack on Redwall, and see what it has in store. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" said a voice he doesn't know, waking him up, he sees a fire burning in the center of the chamber, but he doesn't remember making it, "who goes there?" he demands grabbing his lance, he looks around the cave for whoever talked but saw nothing, "Clogg, if this is another joke, I'm gonna feed you to Charal" the raven vows, "I'm not Clogg, I'm a maid" the voice answers again, and Rigvar semi-believes it: the voice certainly sounded like a girl, "then show yourself" Rigvar demands and out of the darkness steps a mouse-maid (Rigvar didn't know it, but this was Rose), Rigvar gawks at the sight, "bahahahahaha, I'm supposed to be afraid of you? you're just a little girl" he laughs, "you will be, if you continue your goal" the mouse warns, "Redwall shall be my version of Kotir, count on it" Rigvar assures, "will it? that place is meant for peace and sanctuary, not evil, you are making a mistake trying to take it for yourself" the maid warns, "mistake? bah, the only mistake is not making sure it had a lot of friends to back it up, and I am fixing that, so that abbey will be mine" Rigvar argues, "you're a confident one, stubborn too, just like it's warrior" the mouse comments, "how do you know that mouse?" Rigvar asks, "not important, point being is are you sure about your intentions to takeover Redwall?" the mouse asks, "who are you to question me missy?" Rigvar growls and the maid didn't say anything for a moment, but then she turns serious and looks at the bird straight in the eye, and Rigvar found it unsettling, "be warned, attacking that abbey will only bring your demise, quit now while you are still ahead and leave this place" she orders and with a flash from the fire, she vanishes.
Rigvar wakes up panting and looking around his bedchamber frantically, wondering where the maid went. After a few seconds he saw no movement at all. "Weird dream" he notes to himself, but became stubbornly determined, "no mystical maid is telling me what's a good idea and what to do, Redwall will be mine and no one can stop me" he swears.
==Chapter Seven==
The next day at Redwall, the Rambling-Rosehip-Players had settled in and were gladly accepting their offer to help, since they had experience with vermin. Brome in particular was impressed to hear about the battle of Kotir. "No way, that actually happened?" he gasps, "oh yeah, he fought that wicked feline to the death and won, Gonff found him near death himself, yet he somehow survived" Goodwife describes, "I saw him go through the same thing against a stoat once" Brome recalls and chuckles, "Martin must be prone to getting himself almost killed a lot" he adds: first it was Badrang, then this Tsarmina Greeneyes, who would be a dinosaur compared to a mouse, came dangerously close to killing Martin? That mouse must have one of the toughest bodies of his species, Brome hoped Rigvar doesn't become the third to prove it. He looked to see Martin doing a little show for his old friends, though Brome noticed the sword looked different than the last time he saw it. "Hey Martin" he asks, "yes Brome?" Martin wonders, "did your sword get an upgrade or something?" Brome wonders, "you could say that, I had to go see Bella's husband to fix it after Gingivere's sister broke it in half" Martin admits, "you mean you lost it again?" Grumm gasps, Martin must have a poor grip on his family weapon, "it's not like I intended to lose it again" Martin shrugs embarrassed, "I heard you were at dark forest's door all over again after you defeated that wildcat, you should really be careful bucko" Rowanoak teases, "I'll try" Martin vows, "how are you guys liking Redwall?" Germaine asks the Noonvalers, "it reminds me of home actually, just easier to find" Brome answers looking around the place, "why don't we take a tour and catch up?" Martin offers, "gladly" Brome accepts and they leave Cavern-Hole, "you guys a circus?" Chuggers asks the Noonvalers, "some of us yes" Ballaw confirms, and demonstrates by pulling a candied-chestnut out of Chugger's ear, "how did that get in there?" Chugger wonders while he accepts it.
----
Not far from Redwall, Rigvar was planning something with his doomwytes. "Alright, here's what we'll do, me and some of my birds will fly around creating a distraction, while the flightless gather on the escalade to get on the walls, Nuvo and some archers and slingers will provide cover for the climbers" Rigvar explains gesturing to an escalade (basically a staircase on wheels), "any questions?" he adds, and a crow named Dartbeak raises his left-wing, "yes Dartbeak?" Rigvar requests, "even if they make it over the wall, what will we do about the wildcats and badgers?" Dartbeak asks, "I shall deal with them" Charal assures, "that's what I'm counting on, and from what Clogg said, a mouse named Martin is their greatest warrior, so I'll handle him" Rigvar asserts, "should we wait for Marcello and his scores or attack right now?" Nuvo asks, Rigvar gives it a thought, "let's wait for Marcello, we'll need him for sure to pull this off" he considers.
----
Back in Redwall, Brome was hanging out with Martin. "So Gingivere's father ruled this place when you came here?" Brome asks, "yeah, he was evil, but quite understanding, he even protected the denizens from other vermin, though in my opinion, his daughter was a lot worse: she made Badrang look nice" Martin recalls, "from what Gonff said, she sounded like a psychopath" Brome remarks, "you don't know the half of it: she was so cruel that even Verdauga didn't really like her very much, and she outright poisoned him to takeover Kotir" Martin describes, "you're kidding me?" Brome gasps, who would want to kill their own parent? "afraid not: she probably hated him as much as he hated her, I think it's because she was behaving like Verdauga's brother, Ungatt Trunn or something like that, Verdauga actually planned to let me go free later since I was a foreigner, but Tsarmina had no intention of mercy, she had a fox named Fortunata create the perfect poison in the guise of medicine and blamed his death on her brother, since Verdauga wouldn't take it from anyone else but him" Martin describes and suddenly chuckles, "the funniest part was Tsarmina thought Gingivere was conspiring against her, she even mistook me for him" he adds, "that does sound like she was a lunatic" Brome giggles and they both laugh together, "Germaine also told me you suffered amnesia after the battle" Brome recalls, "did she?" Martin wonders looking out the abbey, seeing nothing but blue-tits flying around, "did you...get a breakdown or something...for when you...?" Brome asks hesitantly, knowing he was skirting towards the one memory Martin hated the most, "forget about Rose?" Martin finishes, and Brome nods, "unfortunately yes, though I was confused as well, since I didn't remember her name, until a few nights ago, when she suddenly appeared as a warrior and warned me about Rigvar Skor" he adds, "get outa here, she appeared to you as a warrior?" Brome gasps, "aye, she was wielding the old version of my sword, plus armor and a shield, which Bella's husband Boar the Fighter gave me to use against Tsarmina, and took down an imaginary Rigvar Skor in one hit, she even appeared like that to Gonff" Martin answers, "Gonff too? but they never met" Brome comments, "I know, it's weird" Martin agrees, "well believe it or not, I had a similar dream, just before we ran into you" Brome reveals, "really?" Martin says and they quieted for a while before Martin suddenly got nervous, "which reminds me...how did...?" he began and it took Brome a second to realize what he was trying to ask, "my parents take her death?" Brome finishes understandably, Martin nods and looked ashamed, "they hated me for it didn't they?" he guesses, "unfortunately yes, well my dad did, but not my mom, I remember her saying that dad told Rose a warrior brings death to them, I thought it was a little offensive" Brome admits, "well he's not exactly wrong, it actually did happen to the last person we both wanted it to happen to, I deserve the hatred" Martin sulks, "he didn't hold it against you forever though, he's even apologetic about it" Brome claims much to Martin's surprise, "he is?" he asks, "you remember Felldoh's dad Barkjon?" Brome asks, "yeah what about him?" Martin wonders, "well he strongly defended you, and that he knew how my parents felt, and even my mom thought you were a great mouse regardless" Brome asserts, "that's...nice" Martin stutters unsure how to feel about that: though Urran greatly resented violence completely, Martin was pretty sure Rose's father would try to murder him if he did show his face in Noonvale again: that was another reason he went south from Noonvale, so he wouldn't join Rose in the Dark Forest so soon (though Martin wasn't sure if reuniting with Rose sooner than he planned to was a good thing or not).
----
Back in Cavern-Hole the rosehip-players were doing a show based on their war with Badrang, like how they pretended to put Felldoh in a box to smuggle him to the rest of the slaves, though since Felldoh wasn't with them anymore, Celandine filled in. "Go ahead and spear the chest, the vermin certainly did" Ballaw encourages and Gonff shrugs while stepping forward, "why not?" he says and twirls a dagger, then flings it at the chest. Spike, Warthorn and a few others followed until the chest fell apart, "did the chest fell apart when they attacked it?" Posy asks, "oh yeah, and while that was going on Brome and Felldoh snuck the majority of slaves out, but it went south when one of our own, a vole named Druwp, ratted us out just to keep himself alive, I had chosen to stay behind on purpose to help those who couldn't escape, though Brome came back later to get the rest of us" Keyla answers, "wow" Posy awes.
==Chapter eight==
Marcello was on his way to meet Rigvar in the doomwytes' next attempt at taking over Redwall. The fox had come across a few warriors, either traveling through or just being civil, but Marcello eliminated them so Redwall wouldn't gain anymore allies. He had been out scouring the woods all night when a crow came saying Rigvar wanted them back, and Marcello knew better than to disobey the raven. Eventually, after they had combed Saint Ninian's for any possible opposition, they were on their way back, and after an hour or so, they find Rigvar with a pair of escalades, though only one was completed. "Hey boss" Marcello calls getting everyone's attention, "ah welcome back Marcello, how was your hunting?" Rigvar welcomes, "good, took out every warrior we could find" Marcello answers, "are those escalade ladders?" said a stoat dressed in a dark-red surcoat, brown-coif and carried a pair of hatchets named Snowstalker asks, "yes they are, as soon as the second one is done, we'll attack Redwall" Rigvar promises when a magpie wearing a grey-cote named Swoopleg arrives, "boss, the newcomers from last night are apparently old friends of the abbey-warrior" she claims which gets Clogg's attention, "old friends you say, I might know them if you could describe them" he asks, "well they seem to be a traveling circus, there's a hare who does magic-tricks" Swoopleg explains, "a magic-hare?! those must be the Rambling Rosehip-Players" Tramun gasps, "old enemies of yours?" Rigvar assumes, "yeah, and of Badrang too: they once did a show for us just so they could free Badrang's slaves, two of which where slaves themselves, a squirrel and mouse, they and Martin and so many other woodlanders destroyed Marshank" Tramun recalls, "I see, who's the leader of the troop?" Rigvar wonders, "either the hare or the badger woman, probably both, I never could quite figure that out" Tramun guess, "now that is something I don't like, which should I expect to be the one giving orders and keeping them together?" Rigvar fumes, "why not do both? I would" Tramun proposes and Rigvar was admittedly impressed, "Clogg, sometimes you surprise me" he compliments.
----
Back at Redwall, Brome was helping out in the infirmary while Gonflet, Chugger and Halomar were busy playing. "Ha ha, can't catch us Halomar" Gonflet teases as he Chugger and Halomar were engaged in a game of tag, and the cat was it, "oh yes I will" Halomar promises, but suddenly stops at seeing birds fly out of the trees, "what's the matter?" Chugger asks having seen the feline stop, "something's going on" Halomar answers and points to the flock of birds, and when they got closer, they turned out to be blackbirds, "uh oh, they're back" Gonflet dreads, and the trio weren't the only ones who see it, "quick, sound the alarm, they're back" Ferdy yells, "let's go kids" Warthorn urges the three youngsters, just when Rigvar and company descend on the abbey, Dartbeak cutting the skipper otter from the main building, "going somewhere?" he taunts, only for an arrow to hit him in the wing, the one who fired was Barklad, or Bark for short, then he charges at the crow and they both fight, allowing Warthorn and the dibbuns to escape, just when Martin and many fighters burst out, "great scot" Ballaw gasps, but quickly joins in with a sling, firing at one magpie, "come on y'all, we can't let them overwhelm us, Redwall!" Martin shouts and charges into the fray, "fur and freedom!" Rowanoak adds following Martin with a javelin, "Mossflower!" Gonff adds following with a dagger, and several more followed.
----
Right outside Redwall, the non bird vermin could see it all while prepping the escalades. "Wait for it, wait for it" Tramun urges, and when he sees some guards get beaten, gives the signal, "now" he shouts and the escalades are wheeled to the wall, and once they reached said wall, some vermin flip the ladders over, then begin climbing.
Down in the abbey, Keyla just finishes off a rook when he saw the vermin coming from over the wall. "Guys, this is a diversion, there's more climbing over the wall" he warns, "just when it couldn't get any worse" Urthclaw notes swiping a jackjaw away with his javelin. Brome quickly rushes out and slashes a magpie getting too close to Martin, "is that Rose's dagger?" Martin asks noticing Brome's dagger looked familiar, "it is, don't leave Noonvale without it" Brome answers and slashes a raven, "wise choice" Martin comments before meeting Rigvar personally, "hey Skor" he hollers, "ah I was hoping to fight you, now let's see who's better" Rigvar taunts and draws out his lance, then they engage.
Up on the wall, several vermin climb over, one of them being Tramun. "Awe the sweet smell of accomplishment" he muses, "what are you doing here?" gasped a familiar voice, Clogg turns to see Celandine, looking shocked to see the corsair still alive, "hey I remember you" the stoat recognizes and draws his sword out, Celandine was glad to have brought a javelin with her and tackles the corsair, "I thought you were dead" she reminds, "I almost was, but the doomwytes were kind enough to help" Tramun reveals as they fight. 
Meanwhile Spike Spring Bella Gingivere, an otter named Root, a squirrel named Birch, Barko and Dinny arrive with torches to burn the escalades, but have to fight some vermin to get there. "Well well well we meet again hedgehog" said Marcello to Spike, who growls, "I'll take care of this one, go" he orders and they comply, getting near the escalades when Nuvo down below saw them and fires, getting Root, "duck" Bella shouts as more arrows and other projectiles fly toward them, Birch takes out his bow and gets up briefly to fire, hitting one archer down below, but was hit himself too, "not you too?" Spring whimpers, Bella decides to just throw her torch and hope it hits, which it does, "dang nabbit" Nuvo curses at seeing the torch land on one escalade, burning it, "looks like we got one" Barko notes and chucks his torch as well, but it misses, "did I get it?" he wonders and risks looking out, only to see he didn't, "drat" he complains.
Amber and a few other archers and slingers were heading up the wall when they find Celandine busy with Tramun. The stoat swings his sword horizontally, but Celandine ducks and bashes him in the girth with her javelin, and Amber decides to lend a hand: she moves and swings her left-leg right into Tramun's face, sending him tumbling down the remaining escalade, which was witnessed by Nuvo. "As if it couldn't get any worse, fallback" he orders his archers and all withdraw into the trees, though not all make it. 
Gingivere, seeing that the enemy archers had stopped, chucks his torch and hits. "Yes" he cheers until seeing a new face that chilled his bones: an adder, "I smell wildcat" Charal taunts and tries to bite Gingivere, but Barko dove in the way and was bitten, Charal however lets him go, more interested in Gingivere and Bella, "back off snake" Bella warns, "make me" Charal mocks and lunges open mouthed again, this time at Bella, though she catches Charal and pushes back. 
Martin and Rigvar are still fighting, but at the same time the raven noticed no more vermin were climbing over the wall, meaning the ladders must've been destroyed. "I'll be back warrior" he vows and takes to the air, ordering his doomwytes to retreat, many of his birds swoop in to rescue all non-bird vermin, including Marcello, "consider yourself lucky again today hedge-pig" the fox says and accepts Rigvar's snatch to carry him away.
Martin joins Spike to see that the vermin were long gone. "This isn't over: as long as Rigvar lives it'll never be over" he laments, "guys, you're not gonna believe this" Celandine shouts, "what is it?" Gonff wonders, "I saw Tramun Clogg" Celandine much to her friend's shock, "Clogg's here too?!" Brome asks Martin, "oh, right, forgot about that" Martin admits embarrassed, "I wondered what happened to that tubby corsair" Ballaw remarks.
==Chapter nine==
At the Doomwyte's lair, Rigvar was in a bad mood and no one wanted to be near him, not even Charal. The only exception was a cousin of his named Jerec: a raven a few years younger than Rigvar. He approaches the doomwyte leader warily, but didn't see the stick in his way and it breaks upon being stomped. Rigvar shot up hostilely, but relaxes when he sees it's just Jerec, who flinched. "Oh it's you" Rigvar scoffs and goes back to moping, though Jerec sits beside him, "cheer up cousin, if you like, I have a plan of my own" the other raven proposes, "well, I'll try anything once, what do you propose?" Rigvar asks, "I think the only reason we failed is because the Redwallers have the advantage of knowing their way around their home" Jerec claims, "so?" Rigvar presses not sure where this was going, "so what if we had them in our home?" Jerec says grinning and Rigvar catches on, "oh I see what you're getting at: if we want Redwall, we have to lure them out to our territory, so we'll have the advantage" he finishes, "precisely, though first we need to bait them, maybe kidnap a kid of theirs to insure they won't hesitate to come meet us" Jerec affirms, "agreed" Rigvar supports and stands up with renewed hope.
----
Back in Redwall, everyone was recovering from the assault. Once again they've lost some good friends: in this case they're Root, Birch and Barko. Brome was tending to the injured and was currently bandaging Warthorn's foot. "There, it should be fine in a few hours or so, until then try not to strain it" Brome advises, "okay, Martin wasn't kidding when he said you were a good healer" Warthorn notes, making Brome blush. Meanwhile, Gonff was dragging the dead Dartbeak to the pile of vermin being burned, but in the process, something falls out of a pocket in the crow's clothing. Gonff picks it up and finds it's a jewel: a sapphire. "Hey guys I found something" he calls everybody, "you stealing from the vermin again Gonff?" Columbine accuses, "sort of, but this gem just fell out of the dead crow I was dragging to the fire" Gonff explains, "why would a vermin carry a jewel to a battle?" Urthclaw wonders, "could be for luck" Rowanoak guesses, "honestly, if any vermin did have jewels on them, the most likely carrier would be the leader, in this case Rigvar" Martin says, "what could it mean?" Spike wonders, "not sure" Martin admits.
----
Back in the Doomwyte's lair, Rigvar was toughing up the horde, by means of cruel methods. Those that couldn't take it were disposed of. Rigvar did say that scaring them would make them try harder, but some thought this was too much, especially Clogg: he never treated his corsairs like this. Tramun thought Rigvar was being a sore-loser, especially when some minions let him down and he deems them unhelpful. Tramun had planned to takeover the doomwytes himself, and now he had a bigger reason to make himself a better leader than that bird. At the moment he was healing Snowstalker. "Try to take it as easy as possible, though I wouldn't bet on it" he advises, "thank you, for a vermin, you're a neat guy" Snowstalker compliments, "my old crew thought the same" Tramun reminisces, but it was interrupted by Nuvo dragging an unconscious lizard over, "another one? that's ten now" Clogg complains, "afraid so" Nuvo confirms and places the lizard on a bed, then left when Tramun decided to check the lizard over, "I wish you were our leader" Snowstalker muses, "oh I plan to be when the time comes, besides, that raven is a jerk, and now because he's a sore-loser, it's gotten worse" Tramun seethes when cries of pain were heard outside, "I see what you mean" Snowstalker notes.
----
By sunset, everyone in Redwall was relaxing now that they had a moment of peace. The Rosehip-Players were once again doing a show, this time a reenactment of the big battle at Marshank, though Martin was told he didn't have to help or watch, with good reason, so he decided to patrol around outside. Germaine Bella and Sandingomm sat beside Keyla who was taking a break with some strawberry-cordial. "Why didn't Martin wanna reminisce in his victory over this Badrang-guy" Sandingomm asks Keyla, who hesitates, but decided they would find out regardless, "well, Martin himself was a slave to Badrang, who had his sword to boot, but the saddest part was Brome's sister Laterose: she and Martin had a thing for each other, but all that was destroyed when Badrang threw her into a wall and she never woke up" he admits, "oh that's awful" Bella gasps, feeling sorry for Martin, "yeah, he never could get over it the last time I saw him, and Brome's parents, well his dad Urran Voh mainly, didn't take it well, he outright hated Martin for a while: blaming him and going on and on about how warriors are a death-magnet" Keyla continues, "he must really hate violence" Germaine guesses, "you don't know the half of it" Keyla chuckles, "fools, I'm surrounded by fools" Coggs mimics on a table, then looks at Ballaw, "did I get it right?" he asks the hare, "oh you practically nailed it" Ballaw praises, "and I thought my sister had a temper" Gingivere notes, wondering how Badrang and Tsarmina would get along, if at all.
----
As night arrives, Jerec and a few other doomwytes creep toward the abbey. "Alright, the plan is I go in and snatch a child, get out, and get back to base as quickly as possible, if I'm not out by ten minutes, one of you can go next" the raven strategizes and looks up a wall to see Soilflyer standing guard, "better get rid of that guard" Jerec reasons and gets out a blowpipe, loads it with a dart full of snake-venom, and fires. The mole was struck and soon dies, then Jerec flies up to the wall and surveys around before diving toward the darkest corner he could find inside the abbey, "good thing we ravens are black" he comments to himself: stealth is key for this mission, which is why he chose to come at night, specifically midnight when most would be asleep. Like a ninja, he leaps onto window sills to see who's sleeping behind them, and if any in the rooms are children. After seeing the dorms hold only adults, he decides to try one of the hall houses in the abbey, where he was sure there were families with kids living in them. The first he inspected was a bust, but in the next, he found a little mouse-boy sleeping in bed. Jerec estimated the boy was around dibbun age, but he would do.
----
Gonflet lay asleep, though he did stir when he heard strange noises coming from his window, but it wasn't until he felt a chilly draft that he woke up and sees his window was opened. "That's weird" he mutters and gets out to close it, but he failed to notice the shadow creeping toward him from behind until he was within inches of the window. Suddenly a feathered-appendage wraps around his mouth to silence him, and another pinches his neck, knocking him out. The kidnapper then goes out the window, closing it to avoid suspicion, then flies away into the night.
==Chapter ten==
In the doomwyte's lair, Rigvar was having a bad dream: in it, he sees himself being chased by so many horrifying and twisted versions of his enemies, and he can't kill any of them either. At one point, he runs into the same maid he saw last night. "You!" he roars and thrusts his lance at her, and though it hits, she doesn't even react, "yeah I'm already dead, you won't get rid of me that easily" Rose smirks in a frightening way, Rigvar realizes she wasn't lying and backs up, "I warned you not to continue attacking the abbey, so now you'll pay the price" Rose adds aggressively and suddenly draws a sword: Martin's sword, then brings it down onto Rigvar.
In the real world, Rigvar wakes up screaming and sweating, then looks around the darkness in his bedchamber for the mystical-maid, but she was nowhere in sight. "What was that?" asks a voice and Rigvar recognized it as Tramun, plus saw light coming, and Tramun opens the door, a torch was in his right-hand. "Oh it must've been-" he began, "yes it was me, yes I'm okay, and no I don't need any help, so get out" Rigvar interrupts and grabbed a vase and throws it at Clogg, who shields himself with the door at the last moment, after he heard the vase explode on impact, Clogg left. That does it: Rigvar must die he thought as he began walking toward the exit, though he sees he's not the only one awake, "oh hey Jerec" he greets, then sees the unconscious kid on Jerec's shoulder, "and you caught a captive" Tramun adds, "indeed, now if you'll excuse me" Jerec requests and leaves to where he'll keep Gonflet locked up. Tramun said nothing, in fact, seeing the dibbun gave him an idea. Heading for the exit, he puts out the torch, and left into the night.
----
Morning arrives over Redwall. In one hall-house, Columbine wakes up and gets dressed, then heads up to Gonflet's room out of instinct, though she wasn't sure why. Upon reaching the room, she is shocked to see Gonflet was gone. "That's weird" she remarks, but also notices the window was unlocked and slightly open. She looks around the room, having a gut feeling something wasn't right. Upon coming to the rear of the bed, she finds a feather on the floor, a black feather. "Oh no" she gasps while picking up the feather: this could mean only one thing. 
Gonff was still sleeping when Columbine burst into their room. "Gonff!" she screeches waking her husband, "geez Columbine could you-" Gonff complains until Columbine grabs his shoulders, "I think Gonflet was kidnapped" she says and presents the feather she found, and Gonff had a feeling she was telling the truth, "let's wake the abbey" he suggests and they both get a move on.
----
Tramun Clogg is sleeping on a tree down the path to Redwall, but was now waking up. He stretches, gets to his feet, and looks around to see if there are anyone besides himself. When he saw he was alone (save a few Eurasian blue tit-birds), he continues to Redwall, intent on making a deal with them so Rigvar would perish. "Hope they don't kill me on sight" he says to himself nervously, and when he sees the abbey, he takes a deep breath to calm his nerves and walks toward it.
----
In the abbey, everyone was gathered in the Great Hall on Columbine and Gonff's request. "Abbeybeasts, we need to remain calm, Rigvar Skor is only trying to bribe us into surrendering" Germaine orders, "well I'm not surrendering" Columbine growls and suddenly stomps off, only to be stopped by Rowanoak, "hey let me go" Columbine demands, "you can't just go out there and expect to succeed" Rowanoak argues, "she's right, what if it's a trap?" Posy warns and Columbine doesn't fight it anymore, "so then what should we do?" she asks as a sudden scream was heard from outside, "that's mom" Ferdy identifies and several run outside, seeing Goody standing on a wall-walk with a terrified-face, Spike was the first to reach and gasps at seeing what made her scream, so does everyone else, "oh my god" Bella gasps as Ballaw cautiously approaches the dead Soilflyer, turning him over and finding a dart in his neck, "he's dead" the hare laments as Brome removes the dart and examines it, "poisoned dart" he concludes, "ahoy up there" said a pirate-voice and everyone see Tramun standing below, much to the rosehip-players' shock, "so you are alive" Keyla remarks, "told you" Celandine gloats, "nice to see you too circus folks" Clogg jokes recognizing the otter, "what do you want tubby?" Warthorn growls hostilely, "just to make a deal: I want Rigvar dead as much as you do, so why not work together?" Tramun proposes, "let him in" Brome orders the abbess, "what?" Germaine gasps, "let him in, Clogg may be evil, but he's more compassionate than most warlords" Brome reasons, "but what if he's leading us into a trap?" Gingivere asks, "I'm with the feline on this, can we trust him?" Amber adds, "no, but I don't see any reason not to meet his demands" Martin answers, "well I'm not taking any chances" Spike affirms brandishing his spear, "burr aye me neither" Dinny adds, "alright, you can come in, but only if you leave your weapons behind" Germaine concedes, "yeah I don't trust you as much as you trust me, so I ain't risking that" Tramun refutes, "fine" Germaine relents but turns to the warriors assembled, "be ready to restrain him as soon as he enters" she recommends and the warriors nod.
From the trees, a magpie named Thrustface was spying on Clogg and had heard every word: he had to warn Rigvar. The abbey's portcullis rises and its doors open, allowing Tramun in, only to be apprehended at the scene. As soon as the doors close, Thrustface heads back to H.Q.
==Chapter eleven==
In the doomwytes' lair, Gonflet wakes up to find he's in a cage in what looks like a cave. Confused and scared, he runs to the bars, grabs them and shakes them in the hopes to break them, but they held. At that moment a light was seen emanating from a corridor to his right, and it was getting closer. Eventually it turned out to be Snowstalker carrying a torch (and lighting another on the wall) and Marcello with a plate of food and drink. "Oh good you're awake" Marcello notes to the terrified mouse, who was backing away from the bars. "Who are you, where am I?" he questions as Snowstalker unlocks the door and the fox comes in with breakfast, "you're in our lair, your friends from Redwall are bound to come after you, and we will be waiting" Marcello answers and lays the breakfast down near Gonflet, then gets up and leaves, and Snowstalker follows after locking the door. Gonflet looks at the breakfast, which was just some bread and pieces of meat, and the drink was water. While he wanted nothing more than to be rescued right now, he was actually scared for his friends coming: from what the fox said, there was a trap waiting.
----
Tramun Clogg lay bound to a chair in Great Hall, he honestly didn't expect the redwallers to ambush him when he came through the doorway, but he had no intention of fighting them anyway: if he wanted his plan to work he needed their full cooperation. He stares around the hall, taking particular interest in the tapestry that showed a mouse who looked a lot like Martin, and Clogg had a feeling it was Martin on that tapestry. The rest of the hall had similar tapestries, but none seem to be as grand as the one with Martin on it, no doubt a reward for his victory over that wildcat whose name had temporarily slipped from the stoat's mind. Right now he was sitting tied to a chair while Germaine, Bella, Gonff, Martin, Brome, Grumm, Amber, Warthorn and Gingivere were debating on what to do with him. "I still think it's too risky" Bella claims, "risky or not, my son is in there, I'll go alone if I have to" Gonff asserts, "that's suicide: you'd be captured too, or worse" Grumm argues, "uh pardon me?" Tramun peeps gaining everyone's attention, "but your kid would be located in the catacombs with jail-bars, I've spent a lot of time exploring through each one, so you'll need a navigator" he proposes, "yeah I'd rather risk getting lost down there than rely on you" Gingivere rejects, "but he does have a point: we've never even seen what their base is like or where it is" Brome reminds, "true" Germaine admits, "what would you do Martin?" Warthorn asks Martin, "I would give Clogg a chance, I know it's risky to trust him, but it's even more risky to navigate their lair on our own, so I say we give him a chance" Martin estimates, "if you say so" Amber concedes and Spike was permitted to free Clogg, "beware fatty: try anything, and you'll be swimming with the fishes" the hedgehog warns the corsair, "heeded" Clogg relents while messaging himself, "so now that we're in an agreement, who's going with us?" he asks everyone, "well Brome, ready for another adventure where you could die?" Martin asks Brome, "just like old times" Brome answers, "of course I'm coming too" Gonff adds, "and me and my holt" Warthorn adds, "and me and my Mossflower Patrol" Amber adds, "don't forget about us chap" Ballaw suddenly cuts in, "I'm with you too" Spike declares much to his mother's nerves, who rushes over and hugs him, "be safe son" she orders, "we'll take care of him miss, I promise" Keyla assures, "ah why not? I'll go too" Bella shrugs, "same here" Gingivere adds and Sandingomm quickly gives him a kiss, and more followed until Martin deemed they had enough.
An hour or so later, after Martin put on his armor and shield as well as some farewells between loved-ones, the group was set to face the doomwytes on their own doorstep, then they emerge from the abbey and set off. A few lesser redpoll-birds witness the departure from the trees they're in, though Martin noticed a rose sitting near the path, right where he would've stepped on had he not seen it. Plucking it, Martin had a feeling it was a sign from Rose, that she would be with him, and Martin certainly hopes so. He tucks the rose in a pocket and continues with his friends. 
Right in the tree where Martin was standing near, Rose herself sat on a branch watching the cavalry pass by. She was glad that her boyfriend had found the rose she left for him, he'll need it if he's gonna win this fight. She just hoped she weakened Rigvar enough with that nightmare she gave him, but she knew from Felldoh that it wasn't over until the main villain was dead. "I'll be right behind Martin, like back at Marshank, even if you can't see me" she vows and disappears.
----
Back in the doomwytes' cave, everyone was setting up their trap for the redwallers coming. Rigvar was a little woozy: having not gotten enough sleep from that nightmare, but he won't let it stop him. He was resting when the magpie Thrustface arrives. "Lord Rigvar" he asks and the raven wakes up, "what is it Thrustface?" he demanded a little annoyed, "Clogg's betrayed us" Thrustface announced making everybody freeze while Rigvar jumps up in surprise, "what?!" the raven gasps, "I was doing a survey like you requested, but I saw him talking to the woodlanders: he wants to help them kill you so he can take your place" Thrustface explains, making Rigvar gawk from the revelation, but he then immediately got angry, "after saving his life, that is the thanks I get?" he roars and punches the wall behind him, "with that fat pirate in their custody, they'll know what we are planning" he adds, "you know, I had bumped into Clogg at the entrance when I brought the dibbun in, if I'd known I would've stopped him then and there" Jerec admits, "is that so? well if he left at that hour, then he wouldn't know about all this" Sumiss suspects gesturing to what they were doing, "you're right Sumiss, we still have a chance to pull this off" Rigvar calculates, no longer worried about the redwallers gaining the upper hand, but he prayed this would work, 'cause if Clogg did know about this, then they're screwed.
----
A few hours later, the woodlander-armada arrive at the site where Clogg claims the doomwytes were residing. "Here we are" Tramun presents, "huh, so it is a cave" Amber remarks, "alright, here's the plan..." Martin orders and everyone gather around to listen. The doomwytes' end was near.
==Chapter twelve==
In the doomwytes' cave, the trap was set. Nuvo was testing his crossbow when he and several others heard strange noises. Rigvar, Jerec, Charal, Sumiss, Marcello and many more look around curiously, eventually deducing that the strange noise was coming from the cave-entrance. They couldn't be more right, for from the entrance a wave of vermin are suddenly blown in, and coming next were the woodlanders armed to the teeth. "Quite an entrance heroes" Rigvar compliments, "give me back my kid and maybe we'll go easy on you" Gonff growls, "spoken like a true hero too, but you haven't caught me...I've caught you" Rigvar reveals and instantly several doomwytes emerge from their hiding-places, "yep, it's a trap" Keyla concludes, and naturally several woodlanders turn to Clogg, "I knew you were using us" Spike growls pointing his spear at the stoat, "no I'm just as surprised as you are, honest" Tramun claims, "for once, he's telling the truth, since Clogg was planning to replace me" Rigvar defends, "wait you know?" Clogg gasps, "oh yes, so I thought why not, I can't believe I'm saying this but, kill two birds with one stone?" Rigvar confirms, though Tramun merely growls, "at least I don't treat my minions like dirt" he hollers, "well it's no wonder you couldn't defeat Badrang, you and Gingivere are the most pathetic vermin I've ever met, treating your lackeys nicely, it makes me wanna puke" Rigvar argues, though some doomwytes that got to know Clogg personally thought otherwise: the first to prove it was Snowstalker, "well I for one like it: it's better than having to put up with your abuse" he announces shocking all while he walks over and stood by Clogg's side, who couldn't resist smirking, "if you will not fight for me, then you will die as well" Rigvar growls at the recent traitor, but this response prompts more doomwytes to follow Snowstalker's example, "what the...where are you going?...get back here" Rigvar demands but none listen, "you could learn a thing from them raven" Brome taunts, much to Rigvar's anger, "like you would know? attack" he orders those sticking with him and attacks personally, "Redwall" Martin shouts, "fur and freedom" Brome adds, "Mossflower" Spike adds and the good guys charge back, though Gonff and Clogg break off to find Gonflet.
----
In Gonflet's cell, he was asleep when he heard what sounded like fighting going on outside. He also heard someone coming and immediately backs up away from the bars. "He's down here" said a pirate-ish voice, "Gonflet" shouted a more familiar voice that Gonflet recognizes, "dad over here" he shouts and immediately Gonff himself, along with Tramun and a few others, arrive, "Gonflet" Gonff cries and picks the lock, "whoa you can pick locks?" Clogg gasps, "well I am a prince of mouse-thieves" Gonff retorts and opens the door, where Gonflet immediately hugs him, "you okay kiddo?" the older mouse asks, "yeah" the dibbun confirms, "not for long" said a new voice and all turn to see Jerec with a weapon called a Morning Star: a club with spikes adorning it, plus several more doomwytes right behind him, "run" Clogg orders and his band flee down the tunnel with Jerec after them.
----
Nuvo, as usual, was being the artillery: firing stones from his bullet-shooting-crossbow, scoring a few woodlanders and doomwytes that chose Clogg over Rigvar, though his actions attracted Amber's attention. "I've gotta bone to pick with you" she roars and fires arrows at him, but he dodges and fires back, resulting in a shootout between them.
Elsewhere, Spike was slaughtering vermin when a familiar fox slays an otter in front of him. When they lock eyes, they froze. "Well well, I didn't think I'd get another shot at you" Marcello comments, "right back at you" Spike retorts and they fight.
At the same time Ballaw was busy with Thrustface. "Gah hold still long ears" the magpie complains while lunging his beak repeatedly at the hare, "I can see where you got your name wot" Ballaw notes while dodging more, "I say, wanna see some magic?" he adds, "magic is a bunch of baloney" Thrustface scoffs, "oh yeah, now you see me-" Ballaw argues and unleashes one of his smoke-bombs, and when the smoke clears he was gone, "-now you don't" his voice finishes, much to Thrustface's shock, who began looking around frantically, "where'd you go, how'd you do that?" he babbles when Ballaw reappears in another eruption of smoke behind the corvid, with a javelin, "boo" he says, startling the bird, then impales him, "and for the record, a magician never reveals his secrets" he adds.
Elsewhere, Gingivere and Rowanoak have teamed up and were confronted by Charal. "I always wanted to fight a snake" Rowanoak taunts, "then today's you're lucky day stripe-dog" Charal taunts and lunges at her, but she jams her javelin in the serpent's mouth and while the snake was distracted, Rowanoak pounces on Charal, injuring with her bare hands, Gingivere was unsure if he was needed or not until the snake managed to throw off the badger and dislodge the javelin from her mouth, "look's like it's my turn" he shrugs and intercepts a lunge from Charal, allowing Rowanoak to reclaim her weapon, but in doing so Charal disarms Gingivere, then tries to bite him, only for the feline to grab her mouth and push back, "hang on Gingivere" Rowanoak swears and rams her javelin into Charal's neck, causing the snake to thrash about to remove the badger, but this left her vulnerable to Gingivere knocking her off balance, making her tumble like a stack of building-blocks, then the wildcat plunges his pitchfork right into Charal's skull, impaling her brain and killing her, "nice shot" Rowanoak remarks, "thanks, I was thinking of cutting her head off, but she wouldn't die immediately from that" Gingivere admits, "so I've heard" Rowanoak notes, "if you two are done, I could use a hand here" Warthorn asks while fighting a marten, "coming" Gingivere assures and both he and Rowanoak get back to business.
Meanwhile, Martin and Brome both were engaging Rigvar, not that he hates it. "Two against one eh? finally a challenge" the raven taunts: one mouse wasn't all that difficult for him, but two can be. "Oh I've fought vermin before bird" Brome taunts and makes the first move, drawing out Rose's dagger, he meets Rigvar's lance, forcing the raven on the defensive, though when Rigvar found an opening, Brome would rotate and let Martin go next, who's shield deflected any offensive shot Rigvar threw, but the raven wasn't gonna let them continue fighting this way: leaping up to dodge a swipe from Martin, Rigvar whacks a stalactite right above them, forcing the two mice to separate to dodge. Now fighting individually, Rigvar engages them both, until something strange happens: in both Martin and Brome's places, Rigvar was seeing two Lateroses. "No" he gasps and jumps back, "huh?" both mice say, confused at Rigvar's sudden fear of them, "accursed ghostly mouse-maid, now there's two of you?" the raven whines and backs away, making Martin and Brome look at each other, "getaway you ghost, I'm not afraid of mouse-maids, even in my nightmares" Rigvar babbles and suddenly flees down a cave, "okay that was weird" Brome notes, though Martin had a thought: ghost? mouse-maid? nightmare? suddenly it hit him, "Brome, I think he's talking about Rose" he guesses, much to Brome's shock, Rigvar was terrified of his sister's ghost, to the point of having nightmares about her? well he wasn't complaining, "I have a feeling you're right" he suspects as they pursue Rigvar.
==Chapter thirteen==
Nuvo and Amber continue firing at each other, eventually cornering each other behind columns. Amber notches an arrow into her bow, but upon trying to peak around to fire had to withdraw when a rock almost hits her, and another comes close to her tail, however she saw her chance to shoot back and leaps between the column and a stalactite and fires while Nuvo was reloading his stone bow. Immediately his arm gets slashed, then another arrow hits him in the flank, right where his kidney was, then Amber fires one more at his head, and that's when Nuvo Sawfang dies. "Looks like I'm the better archer" she jokes.
----
In the chamber where the Great Doomwyte Idol sits, Gonff and his party emerge, though the thief couldn't help noticing the idol. "Whoa check that out" he notes pointing to the idol, and sees some rocks leading to it, so he hops on them and arrives at the idol, "uh Gonff, I don't think you should touch that" Grumm warns, "he's always stealing from the bad guys, it's his thing" Folgrim laughs, "but what if it sets off a trap?" Grumm wonders and Folgrim actually stopped laughing at that, "oh relax Grumm, I know what I'm doing" Gonff assures and very carefully removes the gems in the statue's eye-sockets, and nothing happens, "huh, I guess it wasn't booby-trapped after all hurr" Grumm notes when running was heard behind them, and they see Clogg and his newly acquired corsairs running, complete with Jerec right behind them, "incoming" Tramun warns and the woodlanders head up a ledge.
----
Meanwhile, Spike and Marcello remain fighting. Both trade blows with scimitar and spear. "You're good hedge-pig" Marcello compliments, "you're not so bad yourself mutt" Spike retorts and they fight more, at the same time Celandine was busy fighting some vermin herself, then sees Marcello eventually get the better of Spike, "but not good enough" the fox taunts and raised his scimitar for the kill, but Celandine jumps in the way and takes the hit instead, much to both Spike and Marcello's shock, the fox even removed his blade from her and jumped back while Spike looks at her, "not you too" the hedgehog sobs, "it's alright, I'll be with my love again" Celandine assures, "Felldoh?" Spike asks, "yes, he and I had a thing, and like Martin was over Rose, I never could get over his death, until now" Celandine pants and eventually passes out for good, making Spike cry, though Marcello just stood there looking bored, "you done grieving yet? I wish to continue" he asks, tough that would get him more than he bargained for: instantly Spike looks at the fox with blood-red eyes, "oh no" Marcello gasps the look, and before he could strike, Spike charges in madly, enhanced by bloodwrath, eventually wearing Marcello down until the fox was too tired to fight back, which left him vulnerable, and before he could blink he was slashed in the torso, then pounded by Spike on the head, killing him.
----
Rigvar flees and finds himself back in the chamber with the idol. He finds Jerec battling Clogg and Gonff, and noticed something off about the idol, but couldn't doddle on it long as Martin and Brome arrive.
Right above, Jerec and Clogg fight each other. "For a fat guy you're pretty good" Jerec admits, surprised Clogg wasn't all that sluggish or even tired by now, "I'm not as wimpy as you think" Clogg counters and tries to land a hit, only for Jerec to block it, "but it makes it easier to hit you" Jerec taunts slashes his right-foot at Clogg, clawing his girth, and before the stoat could retaliate, Jerec slaps him across the face with his right wing, also sending Clogg falling off the ledge, "Clogg!" Gonff gasps, which also distracts Rigvar Brome and Martin, and the mice were horrified, "looks like that's one enemy down" Rigvar notes while focusing on the mice, "you're sick" Brome growls and attacks, only to be sent flying into the wall, "Brome!" Martin gasps, but this let his guard and Rigvar sends him flying too, and Rigvar giggles menacingly before turning to see Gonff tackling Jerec, "you'll pay for that" Gonff swears, but Jerec has a plan, "what if I did this?" he asks and lets loose a huge rock to fall in Bromes' direction, "you now have a choice: kill me like you promised, or save your friend" Jerec adds and predictably all of his opponents chase the rock, though some were prevented to by Jerec's lackeys, "coward" Gonff growls and runs after the rock, which was slowed by the uneven terrain, but Gonff knew it can still crush Brome, but Gonff makes it first and yanks Brome outa the way at the last minute, "wow, thanks" Brome expressed to Gonff, "I'm impressed that you could outrun a rock" Rigvar adds to Gonff, having seen it all, "and I'm guessing these are your most prized possessions?" Gonff taunts presenting the jewels from the idol, much to Rigvar's shock, "how did you?...give them to me!" the raven demands, "you'll have to fight me first" Gonff offers and puts the jewels away, then looks at a dazed Martin, "go help Martin, I can handle this" he adds to Brome, "okay" the healer obeys reluctantly, just before Rigvar and Gonff engage. Like an elf against a dragon, Gonff gives Rigvar quite a fight, so much so that Rigvar resorts to unleashing aerial attacks, and when that doesn't work, resorts to bombarding Gonff with a shower of stalactites, which were enough to force Gonff to take cover. Rigvar lands on the ground, then slashes through a stalagmite, lifts it with some amazing strength, then throws it like a spear at the one Gonff was behind, though the fat mouse jumps away at the last moment and hides behind a boulder. Rigvar was panting with exhilaration, but Gonff saw his chance to go on the offensive and after yanking the tip of a smaller stalagmite, emerges and throws it. Rigvar, upon seeing the approaching projectile, ducks, then intercepts Gonff who was aiming to swing his dagger, but the impact forces the raven back toward the pool. Taking a deep breath, Gonff charges in again, and Rigvar, after getting his bearings, immediately thrust his lance at the mouse, and they suddenly stop a centimeter from each other. Rigvar looks down, but finds to his horror, he didn't land a big enough hit on Gonff, who has plunged his dagger right into the raven's midriff. Rigvar drops his lance, then falls into the pool, leaving a plume of blood staining it. The vermin and woodlanders nearby all stopped when they saw Gonff kill Rigvar, and the doomwytes, knowing they lost, lay down their weapons. "Nice shot Gonff" said Martin's voice and Gonff looks, seeing Martin and Brome limp over, "we did it together" Gonff pants and almost fell over, but Brome catches him, "daddy" Gonflet squeaks and hugs his dad, "glad to see you kiddo" Gonff expresses. Now it was official: Rigvar Skor was dead, and the doomwytes have lost.
==Chapter fourteen==
All was quiet outside the cave: the woodlanders have won, and were now gathering up the dead on both sides. Gonff, Martin and Brome limp out the cave, where they find Keyla holding up a dead Sumiss. "I tied him into a knot to kill him" the otter presents and the snake does have a knot in the middle of his body, "who did we lose?" Martin asks, "well there's Celandine" Rowanoak admits, "what?" Brome gasps and after Rowanoak led the three mice to where Celandine lay, Brome started weeping, the other rosehip-players were too, but Spike was the most upset, "she died trying to save me" the hedgehog sobs, "Spike, it's not your fault: she knew this could happen" Bella reasons, "of course I knew, I just didn't think it would" Spike grieves, "what about Clogg?" Ballaw asks, "he's over here, but in bad shape" Warthorn reveals and Clogg was laid down not far away, "that raven Jerec knocked him off a ledge over that pond in there" Gonff explains, "I never liked him, yet I feel sorry for him" Grumm adds as the surviving doomwytes gather around Clogg, who coughs, "hey you" he wheezes pointing to Martin, "me?" Martin responds, "yeah, I never did find out your name" Tramun says, "it's Martin: Martin the warrior" Martin introduces, "I heard that Badrang killed your girl, she must've been one fine maid" Tramun recalls, "Rose?" Martin asks, "so that's her name: Rose, kinda nice" Tramun coughs and stops for a second, "I wanna thank you for your help, you may not have known it, but you did help me back at Marshank, even though you destroyed that place after you killed Badrang, I was looking forward to going back there after this, but I guess I'll be joining my old crew instead" he adds and goes limp, "wow, that was some conversation" Gingivere remarks, "guess he isn't a total jerk after all" Amber notes, "no, not really" Martin confirms and limps off, "where're you going?" Urthclaw asks Martin but Brome stops him, "I think he needs some alone time right now" he ascertains and turns to the wounded: he recalled Martin finding a rose in the middle of the path, and Brome doubted it had been there by accident. He chuckles, seems like his sister really was watching over them.
----
Among the trees, Jerec was watching. His cousin, friends, pretty much all the doomwytes were gone, except for him. At least he took care of Clogg, but now what? He had no one to back him up, and he wouldn't stand a chance against them alone. Looking at his morning-star, he casts it aside: unlike his cousin, Jerec wasn't power-hungry or imperialistic, he only served out of loyalty, but now that Rigvar was dead, Jerec saw no reason to takeover, and flies off to parts unknown.
----
Martin walked around Mossflower woods without a care in the world. His mind flashing back to Marshank where the love of his life joined his nemesis among the dead. He felt both happy and sad: Rose may be dead, but she was still with him, he can feel it. He suddenly finds himself at a small river, probably Moss River he reasoned. It looked a lot like Noonvale here, a common-snipe-bird was even foraging on the other side. Suddenly the wind picked up, and he reached in his pocket and took out the rose he found, but noticed it had bloomed, and he felt a strange peace emanate from it. Martin smiled emotionally, then releases the rose into the wind, where it landed in the water and drifts away. "Thank you, Rose" he says, 'Martin' said a ghostly voice, but Martin recognized it, "Rose?" he asks confused, 'promise me Martin, promise me that you'll continue to be happy' Rose's voice requested, making Martin cry, "yes, I won't let your death affect me anymore, I will be happy" he vows and everything went quiet for a while until he heard footsteps from behind him, but it turned out to be Gonff and Brome, though they were surprised to see Martin crying, "uh, you okay?" Gonff asks, "just, thinking about the girl who stole my heart" Martin admits, Brome smiles sympathetically and joins Martin's side, "she'd want you to be happy though, and who knows, maybe you'll find another" he consoles, "I know, she already told me, and I will be" Martin assures as all three mice stand together to admire the scenery.
----
An hour later, the heroes return to Redwall. "Mommy, mommy" Gonflet cries, "Gonflet, oh thank goodness you're safe" Columbine explains and happily hugs her son, "hey what about me?" Gonff complains, "yes it's good to see you too my prince of mouse-thieves" Columbine teases, and Gonff shows the jewels he snatched from that statue, "these are from this weird statue of a bird with a snake on its head, I think they called it the Great Doomwyte Idol or something, I just thought you'd like them" Gonff explains, "thanks but no, there's something about them that doesn't feel right" Columbine refuses not liking how sinister the jewels felt, Gonff shrugs and puts them away, deciding on what to do with them later as he looks around at everyone happily celebrating.
===Epilogue===
"After the heroes returned to Redwall, Gonff stashed the doomwyte-jewels to be hidden for seasons to come. Martin finally moved on from Rose's death, but Brome felt he should come see her grave to get complete closure. Martin was afraid to at first, thinking that Urran Voh and company would want him dead, but relented. He said goodbye to Redwall until then, and true to Brome's words, Urran and Aryah had forgiven Martin, and were actually delighted to see him again. Along the way, they apparently ran into a six-fingered ferret who interrogated them on the whereabouts of a yellow-faced badger, but none knew of any badger like that, so the ferret let them go to continue his hunt, and Martin had a gut feeling that ferret would become a new threat to Mossflower in seasons to come. Everyone in Noonvale was quite amazed about Martin's battle with Tsarmina Greeneyes and took pity on him when he suffered amnesia. Upon seeing Rose's grave, Martin finally found closure, in fact after Martin himself passed on he got the idea of being a guardian spirit from Rose, but still refused to live in Noonvale since he already had Redwall to look after, or settle down with another maid, but not before saying that they could always come visit Redwall, so whenever you're passing by, be sure to visit Redwall, our doors are always open" Granvy Shtuckle finished and took a bow, receiving applause for possibly the greatest historical account any of them have ever heard.
The End
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Category:Legend of Luke Sequels
Category:Mossflower Sequels