| Subject: Sarahoak |
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rowanoak
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Date Posted: 04:54:53 04/15/07 Sun
Sarahoak
"Where did Rowanoak and Sarahblack go of to now?" Questioned the badger lord, Lord Suntree's daughter, Sarahblack, and her best friend could never be found. "Search me, wot, wot! Have we found the bally thingummys when they don't want to be found yet, sah?" replied Bawsil, Rowanoak's father. The parents would most likely never find out where the two where hiding, undiscovered passageways and caves that are well hidden are not easy to find.
"They'll never find us here!" Whispered Sarahblack to her best friend, Rowanoak. "I say, wot, wot! The old thin-mah-bobs can't find two well-hidden young'ns like us, sah! " Agreed Rowanoak. Sarah black's turquoise eyes shimmered with excitement. Her black stripe seemed to shimmer, although it was dark in the underground passage from which they listened to their elders. Sarahblack's fancy cloth and glittery belt of fool's gold had few spots of dirt on them, she was clumsy any where but the caves. Being the daughter of the Lord Suntree, much was expected out of her so she and Rowanoak often went to their caves. Sarahblack was also very pretty, so the tunnels also provided protection from "bad badger boys" as she called them. Rowanoak, like her friend, was also exited. Her long head fur bounced with every jump, Rowanoak jumped a lot. Most hares did. She looked a normal hare, like Sarahblack looked like a normal badger. Rowanoak had a white stomach, and black tail. She had a pretty light brown fur, and bright blue eyes. She wore plain cloth, which where held with a seaweed belt. In her hand she always carried Thump, her trusty sling and a pouch on her belt held the finest pebbles she could find. Thump was rarely uses, Rowanoak was a kind and peaceful creature.
Congra, Sarahblack's mother, and Lupose, Rowanoak's mother, were also worried about where their young ones were. "I say, wot, wot! Those two young'uns 'ave got ta learn to listen, sah!" said Lupose. "Yes, they will have to learn obedience." Agreed Congra. No beast in Salamandastron could forget the way the two had denied Lord Suntree's offers. He had asked Sarahblack to start training to become the badger lady. This would mean she would learn to have manners, sit properly, be polite, and die of boredom governing hares for the rest of her life. She refused with out a second thought. At the age of 4, young Rowanoak had found an unwanted sling. She had seen hares practicing with a sling many times, and knew where they went to have tournaments. When she found this place, the hares were having a tournament, so she picked up a pebble and using her newly found treasure, hit the target right in the middle on her first try. Lord Suntree wanted her to become a long patrol hare at the age of 6, but Rowanoak refused not wanting to lose Sarahblack. Sarahblack listened to the adults talking.
"They’ll never find us! We’re going to hide. I don’t want to come out!" cried Sarahblack. "Me nether!" agreed Rowanoak.
Lord Suntree called Congra to his chamber.
"Find my daughter and her friend please! I need her now for training, understand, my wife.” “Yes, my husband." replied Congra. She walked down the stairs into the forge room then past tunnels "Mom's coming, RUN!" whispered Sarahblack to her best friend "I got you two now!" yelled Congra. but, Sarahblack’s voice had come from the opposite direction Congra was going, so the very confused badger turned around. She walked a ways, then, not seeing anything, she started once more the way she had been going. After long hours of searching, Congra went back to Lord Suntree and told him,” I apologize, my husband, I have found neither Sarahblack nor Rowanoak. Tomorrow, once more, I shall try.”
The next day Congra went to look for Rowanoak and Sarahblack once more. This time she searched a different part of Salamandastron. Again she heard a voice. “I say, wot, wot! Sarahblack that looks like your mum. I say! The blinkin’ badger is your mum! Get a move on, jolly bad form ol’ champ!” Congra again noted that it was coming from where she had just been. This time she noticed that it seemed to come from the wall. Again, she looked back, found nothing, and continued to search. Once more she found nothing and returned to Suntree saying: ”I am sorry I have once more displeased you, my husband. I have found nothing g. Yet once more a voice called out at my coming. I have searched and searched, but have not found the voice. I shall try again tomorrow.
“Sarahoak, I like it.” Sarahblack said looking out dreamily into the creamy light of the tunnel. “I say, you jolly ol’ pillow fighter, rather tough not to like it. The jolly old cavey thin’ is blinkin’ named after us!” Rowanoak agreed. They had just decided to name their cave ‘Sarahoak’. It was a mixture of Sarahblack and Rowanoak. Sarahoak had a big pool of fresh water fight in the center of the enormous cave. Scattered around everywhere small vegetation had popped up. There was a hole, yet not a very big one, near the top that let sun light filter into Sarahoak. A big hole they had found at the end of the cave they had covered up with a door the two had worded herd to make. After Rowanoak and Sarahblack had made the door, Rowanoak had covered the out side of it with moss that covered the rocks of the cave. Their door filled the gap, could not be seen, and provided them a way to get out of Sarahoak when they needed something their cave could not provide. On the right wall, Rowanoak had made some targets to practice with Thump. Sarahoak’s left wall was filled with books that sat on a bookshelf made by Sarahblack. Rowanoak taught Sarahblack to use and make a sling, and Sarahblack taught Rowanoak to read and write. The two stayed in Sarahoak for a seson, until they were forced to leave.
Congra had found them! She had searched for a season, but now she had found them! Congra strode into Sarahoak as if she where king of the world. There was no more hiding for Sarahblack and Rowanoak! Congra had finally found them. Yet, as soon as Congra entered, Sarahoak’s entrence caved in and Congra was locked out. Again she had to return to Lord Suntree and tell him that she did not have Sarahblack of Rowanoak, but this time she had found them.
The next day Congra decided to try again. Down the tunnel she went, but after the cave-in the door was blocked, so she tried and tried, but could not even budge the rocky doorway.
Sarahblack and Rowanoak knew it was no longer safe to stay at Sarahoak. They loved their cave, and could not bear to leave it. Yet they knew they could no longer stay. The unspoken thought hung over them for the next few days like an omen of bad fate. How could they just leave Sarahoak, the cave they had spent so long making, so long perfecting, and so much work on? How could they leave Sarahoak without feeling terrible for a long, long time? How could they just leave? Then again, how could they stay? They had been discovered. Yet they could not beer to face the facts.
“We must go. Tomorrow at dawn will be the best.” Sarahblack said gloomily. ”Great seasons! Can’t we stall the ol’ movin’ and whatnot for just a while longer, you know, a few seasons? Need time to store up on tucker. Army marches on it’s stomach, don’t cha know!” “Rowanoak, you know we have stalled to much all ready. Congra has almost moved the biggest bolder in the barrackad. After that rock is moved, the rest will fall. Bring as many pebbles as you can, I’ll pack the provisions. We won't be able to bring any books. Go out of Sarahoak and see if you can find some old burlap sacks.” Sarahblack said. “Jolly good show! You’ve taken command! I’ll hop right to it, Commander Sarahblack!” Rowanoak said Clapping and laughing at the same time. She jumped over to the door, put on her disguise, and hopped out, returning a few minuets later with the needed sacks, one of them brimming with pebbles. “Good job! I’m almost done with the provisions, give me a sack and I’ll start filling.” Sarahblack said upon Rowanoak’s return.
A young otter stared at the rocks below him. Was he imagining things again? He thought he had just seen an old looking hare jump lively out of the rock. There were no holes in the rock. He knew he was imagining things. His name was Bongoro, and he was only five seasons old. For two seasons now Bongoro had been traveling with a Sparra named Yingo. Yingo was also young, but her seasons numbered six. The two traveled together because they hade traveled that way for two seasons and now could trust each other with their lives, and because unlike the rest of the beasts they had met, they knew what it was like to lose your parents. Yingo had never known a father, and had lost her mother to sea rats at the age of four, then Bongoro on the other paw, had lost his mother to child birth when her was one, this had given him a sister, yet the next year he had lost both his new sister and his loving father. Bono, as he was normally called, didn’t care that he had lost his family, not any more at least, nether did Yingo. They had each other, and that was good enough for them. Yet they would have to make room for more. Bono and Yingo did not know it, but their pair was about to expand.
“Where will we go?” Asked Sarahblack. Rowanoak had been out scouting many times, she was master of camouflage, and knew the area like the back of her paw. “Redwall, ol’ champ! To the place of fine tucker Redwall vittles are absolutely stiffen’ ol’ champ! Top hole tucker, not to mention the bally kindness of em’ Redwallers. I say lady buck, soon we’ll be relaxing in peaceful harmony, eating wonderful tucker and annoying our elders! What more could you ask for?” Rowanoak replied without a seconds hesitation.
The two friends looked at each other and smiled, they were leaving their parents without caring. Rowanoak did not even care t
“Hullo! Anybeast there!” Rowanoak said thumping the ground with her foot. “What’s all the thumping about?” a small otter asked as her opened the flap of the tent. “Well, I say ol’ champ! What do you expect a jolly young’un like my self to do when there ain’t no door to knock on!” Rowanoak replied. “I apologize for my friend’s awful behavior,” Sarahblack said giving Rowanoak a meaning stare, “ may we come in?” She added. “Your welcome to come in, if Y
Yingo also agrees.” A young Sparra appeared behind the otter. “Warra worm want, Bono. If um they plan hurt I Killee! Yingo no care, if um worm be bad, Yingo Killeet!” he Sparra said. “Top hole! Now we either go away, or get eaten by a fierce bird that has decided to kill us if we join them. Don’t know ‘bout you, Sarahblack, but I’m going!” Rowanoak announced. “Sarahblack, isn’t she the heir to Salamandastron?” Bongoro asked. “You catch on quickly young feller. Now, how ‘bout you forget you ever met us, and not tell our parents.” Rowanoak said. “Why should I not tell your parents?” Bongoro asked, “Bono, if that’s your name, please understand that we are trying to run away. Our parents have been searching for us for a season now, we’ve hide under Salamandastron for a season. But now my mother has found our cave so we had to leave Sarahoak. If you tell our parents we’re here, they’ll find us! We do not want to be found!” Sarahblack explained. Bono smiled. He looked up at Yingo and she smiled too.
“Welcome to our grope. We have no parents, and want none. We travel were we like, or stay if it pleases us. We hide from some vermin, but fight others. We do as we like, but there is one rule. You must never, under any circumstances, betray a member of the grope. Hope you like it with us.” Bongoro announced. The pair had just expanded to welcome two new members they where most likely not going to forget.
“Baldspot, Pignose, Batbreath, Oneeye, come ‘ere maetys! Now, me hearties!” Mortimer shouted. “Y-yes chef.” The four unlucky searats replied. Mortimer was the evil head to a wicked bunch of dirty searats. Pignose was the first to enter Mortimer’s tent. “What took you so long, your murderin’ scum? Where are the others, me hearty?” Pignose had always thought of himself as very fast, which was also true. There was not one creature that could beat him in a fair race why did that matter to Mortimer? One speed was the same as the others. If Pignose was fast, that was good for chasing his enemies. To Mortimer, It made no difference. Baldspot was next to enter Mortimer’s tent. Not a second latter Oneeye entered. A minuet latter, Batbreath came into the tent panting. Batbreath had only one leg, and had never been very fast. Mortimer made a mental note to beat him latter. Now was not the time. “We attack em’ tomorrow.” Mortimer told the four with obvious pleasure. “Uh, where chef?” Oneeye asked. “The big house of course, fool!” Mortimer replied, nicking of the top of what was left of Oneeye’s right ear. All four looked very exited. Mortimer was a warlord. If he chooses to attack somebeast, they would die in seconds. The big house was every searat’s dream. If Mortimer lay siege on it, all those with him could also gain the benefits of life in the big house. Soon they would be living in the big house! Oneeye was so exited he did not even feel the pain in his ear. Mortimer was laying siege on the big house, what was therenot to like?
“Yingyang, he will return someday. You and I both know he is very smart for his age. He will not just forget about you.” Father Abbot said to his otter friend. “I know, Father. Its just Bono is only five seasons. Even with a Sparra, Yingo is but six seasons. Bono is too young to travel. I’ve adopted Bono, he is my responsibility.” Yingyang replied. Father Abbot did not reply, but instead looked out to Mossflower woods. “Look, Yingyang, it’s somebeast camping out near the road.” He said at last. “Do you think it’s Bono?” Yingyang said with obvious excitement. “It very well could be.” Father Abbot replied. He was so very wrong. The creatures he had seen were Mortimer and his searats.
“I say, Bono, that sack of provisions looks awfully heavy. I can’t let someone almost ‘alf me own age carry that big ‘evy sack. Give it here, I’ll carry the jolly ol’ sack for you, wot, wot!” Rowanoak asked Bongoro. Bono nodded. “It is pretty heavy, you sure you want to carry it?” Bono asked. “Am I sure, lady buck! I’m as sure as sure can be!” Bono was just about to hand the sack over to Rowanoak when Sarahblack came in and easily swiped the sack from Bono. “What was that about?” Bono asked. “If you let Rowanoak carry the sack of provisions, we won’t have any left.” Sarahblack replied. “I say, bally bad form! I was just gonna’ snack a tennie bit!” Rowanoak replied “Rowanoak…” Sarahblack started to scold Rowanoak, but stopped in mid sentence with her jaw hanging open. “What’s the bally matter, you ol’…’ Rowanoak started, but stopped the same way Sarahblack had. Bono was now curious to know what was going on. “What’s going...” Bono now also had his jaw hanging open. “Who are you?” a scratchy voice called from three sides. Sarahblack, and Bono had been standing so they made a triangle. Three huge and unfriendly looking squirrels had filled in the gaps.
Yingo had been scouting ahead, and disliked what she had found. She had flown fast and far. After almost a day of flying, Yingo reached Redwall. She was extremely displeased to find searats camping outside of Redwall. ‘Killee! Killee! Searats killee!” Yingo screeched as she flew over Redwall. Yingyang ran to greet Yingo. “Yingo! It’s Yingo! What is it Yingo? What are you talking about?” Yingyang screamed up to Yingo. Yingo landed, sending one or two leaves flying at her arrival. “Bono on his way. Bringa brownhare and littlebadga with Bono. Yingo come fly quickfast, telle you notta worry. Bono coman home. I go tell Bono come quickfast. Redwall need help.” Yingo replied. “Why does Redwall need help?’ Yingyang asked Yingo. Yingo looked at Yingyang with total surprise. “Searats campan onna road.” She said, and then flew off. Leaving the few who understood Sparra standing open mouthed with horror. Searats were about to attack Redwall.
Mortimer was in a bad mode. A very bad mode. His horde had just got new recruits, but one new ferret named Scumclaw had been so frightened of Mortimer he had climbed up a tree quick as his paws could carry him. At first this had pleased Mortimer greater, but latter he found that Scumclaw was not the only one in that tree. A Sparra was also sitting in the tree spying on Mortimer and his horde. The Sparra had flown away when it was found; it flew away screeching “Yingo see evilsoat! Yingo now know evilsoat’s planscheme! Yingo telle Redwall! Killee! Killee! Yingo bring Bono otta an’ brownhare an’ bigga badga, we Killee evilsoat! Killee! Killee!” course, searats were not very bright and had no clue what Yingo had said, but Mortimer was not your normal searat. Mortimer had understood every word of what Yingo had said. “So, Bono is comen ‘ere. I’ve allays waned ta kill dat one! ‘E still thinks 'et was chil’birth dat killed ‘is mom.” Mortimer murmured, hoping Bongoro would come soon, but what Mortimer did not know was that Bono was smarter that he thought, Bono had found out a season ago that Mortimer had killed his mother, and then given his father and sister the plague. Bono knew, and Yingo’s news was not going to be very welcome to him.
“So, let me get this right, you three disguise yourself as fearsome squirrels, when really your peaceful squirrels.” Bono asked the tree squirrels. “Yes, and please stop calling us ‘you three’ my name is Elmbark, this is Oakbranch,” Elmbark said gesturing to the squirrel on his right, “and last is fair Lilybud.” He finished gesturing to the squirrelmaid on his left. Just then Yingo landed. “Who be these beasts?” She demanded. “Elmbark, Oakbrach, and Lilybud.” Sarahblack replied, gesturing to each in turn. Yingo nodded her head at the squirrels. “Bad news. Redwall be en danger.” Yingo said. “I say you bally Sparra, mind informing us bally travelers on what is gonen’ on?” Rowanoak asked. So Yingo told them, and when she mentioned Mortimer, Bono’s face went pale, he started to tremble with fear; that was the last person he wanted to see. The others took it as his worry for Yingyang. “Don’t worry, Yingyang is safe in Redwall.” Lilybud said. The squirrels had been informed on Bono’s adopted mother. Oakbranch closed his eyes. “That is not what troubles your friend.” He said with an air of mystery. “How did you know that?” Bono asked, his awe was clear. “Oakbranch is a seer.” Elmbark replied. “What is it that really troubles Bongoro?” he said, turning his attention to Oakbranch. Oakbranch frowned. “That is not for me to tell.” He replied, then stared Bono in the eye, “When you go to Redwall, disguise yourself. If your true identity was found, you would die for sure.” Bono lowered his gaze from the squirrel seer. “Why dose he hate my family?” Bono asked. “He hates your family because long, long ago, your ancestor was slaves to his ancestor, Badrang the tyrant. His name was Keely. He was an otter who helped a mouse named Martin to defeat Badrang. He hates you and your family because he blames them for Badrang’s defeat. You see, his family lost track of all the other slave families, but not yours.” Oakbranch replied. “But Badrang was killed, how could he have ancestors?” Bono asked. “Badrang had two brothers. One was overjoyed that Badrang was dead, the other was so grieving that he ordered all his ancestors to kill any born to a family that used to be one of Badrang’s slaves must be killed. One of Badrang’s brother was the same as him, the other had a heart, but after Badrang’s death, it was just a broken one. That is why he hates you. He is his ancestor. All his other ancestors could not find your family. I send you best wishes, may you survive this hill in life.” Oakbranch replied. Bono looked up. “I see.” He said. “ Well, you might understand, but I very well don’t! Would you young feller mind telling me what’s going on? I say, bally bad form, giving a champ like me absolutely no clue what’s going on! Well, speck up laddie buck!” Rowanoak demanded.
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