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Mossyra of the Irresistable Imps
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Date Posted: 18:05:55 06/11/07 Mon
Whispers woke Mossyra and she groaned, "If I get knocked unconscious one more time, I swear I will scream." A giggle came from nearby and a familar voice replied, "You shouldn't swear, Mos, or you'll get sent to bed."
Shock gripped the squirrelmaid for a good ten seconds. Then she screamed joyfully, "Silk! You're alive!"
"Yes," Silkfur answered happily. Then a dreadful silence fell. "I feel so horrible," the wildcat princess wept. "If I hadn't disappeared, there wouldn't be so much suffering."
"It's all right," Mossyra (Mos for short) said soothingly. "It's not your fault your father is mean." When Mossyra tried to get up, she banged her head. "Ouch! Why is the ceiling so low?" A sigh came from Silkfur. "We're in an old otter cave. The ceiling is low because the ledge you're on is high, meant to hide on. No one really lives here, so the otters said I could live here until the trouble passes. They want to take me to Redwall Abbey, a place made out of red sandstone where anybeast can stay as long as they mean no harm, but a plague of vermin are around that place. They will take me there when the trouble is over." Mossyra felt she had to say something. "Your father will come after me. He probably thinks I ran away to join you."
At that moment a voice came echoing from somewhere up above. "Drip coming down. Look out below, friend!" A loud splash came from nearby, followed by an exclamation, "Hey! Where'd ya go, princess. Light filtered in from a newly-made hole in the ceiling, revealing Silkfur's regal features. Mossyra laughed aloud at the faces the former wildcat princess was making and an otter bounded up, surprise showing on his face. "Well, Silk, you seem to have brought a friend without letting us know."
After the initial introductions were made, the otter, Drip, pulled out a parcel of food and prepared a meal.
Cruelclaw Stripetail passed the mountain unconcernedly. Its occupants were well bottled up and he did not have time to waste conquering it.
A single hare captive was bound to a tree in the center of camp, silent and unyeilding. "Surely you have heard of the whereabouts of a single wildcat maid," Cruelclaw growled angrily. He admired courage, but not when the beast was a helpless captive. "Or that of a squirrel, one that is courageous and stubborn as well as cheerful." The hare remained silent, but Cruelclaw thought he saw a flicker of recognition in its eyes. "I haven't seen any blooming wildcats other than your disgraceful lot," the hare said finally, "and squirrels don't come around the mountain too often."
The warlord sighed. "I know you've seen Mossyra. Your eyes gave it away." The hare bit his lip. "As for the wildcats . . . We are looking for my daughter. She vanished a few seasons ago and I think the squirrel knows where she is. If you know, please tell me." The hare blinked a bit at that. It was one of the first times in history a warlord had said please.
"We lost her," the hare said at last. "She was with us for a bit because an otter had found her and took her to us. She ran away after killing a rotten searat and we haven't heard a blooming word about her since." Cruelclaw frowned. "She killed a searat," he asked disbelievingly. "Mossyra killed a searat?"
A hint of a smile touched the hare's young face. "Aye. Used a sling and stone from our armory and killed the blighter faster than you could say 'cad' at extreme distance and awkward positioning. Best shot I've ever seen, wot wot!"
Quickdash dosed lightly, his thoughts going back to the slaying of Prattlespat and the mysterious squirrel. He was still astonished at the fact that a wildcat warlord had said please, and a bit angry that he had given away Mossyra's appearance and disappearance. Most warlords would have used torture or threats to get the information, but Cruelclaw had simply talked, bringing out the facts bit by bit without using violent means. He was still vermin, true, and he had still made Quickdash another one of his slaves, but he seemed a bit kinder than most. Not by much, of course, just a bit, but still kinder.
Silkfur felt a thrill of excitement. The vermin were gone and herself and Mossyra, her best friend, were on the way to Redwall. Dreams really could come true.
As soon as they entered the forest, Silkfur sensed soemthing was wrong. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and some sixth sense warned her of danger. The otters escorting them seemed to feel it to, readying weapons and grouping closer together, eyes roving across the surrounding woods as if they sensed an enemy lurking behind every tree and bush.
Even their preparedness (sp?) was not enough to stop the foes when they appeared. A mixed band of vermin came out of the trees shouting and laughing. Silkfur bared her fangs as slingstones were hurled into the ranks of the oncoming enemies. But they were just a distraction. While the main attention was focused upon the threat from behind, the real attack came from the front, taking the otters by surprise.
Three of the vermin circled Silkfur, dodging her fangs and claws while effectively trapping her between them. Most of the otters ended up being held at bay by swords and daggers, but a few got away. The Skipper was loathe to leave his crew at the mercy of vermin, but they shouted at him to go. Two others escaped, as well as Mossyra, who shot up the trunk of a tree and sat watching helplessly as her friends were captured. Silkfur did not give in as easily, though, and they had to hit her over the head to tie her up. All this time Mossyra had been throwing hard green nuts from the branches of the large walnut she sat in, screaming her fury and rage at them. They beat a hasty retreat, dragging their struggling captives along and striking out at the fist-sized nuts that came their way.
Mossyra sat in her tree and wept, her full-throated sobs echoing through the woods as she mourned the loss of her friend once again.
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