The Price of Death - Part One -- Story Board

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Date Posted: 19:33:23 08/06/03 Wed
Author: Dunshee
Subject: The Price of Death - Part One

The icy wind of winter bit into the otter's face as he wrapped his cloak tighter around his body. He had been traveling through the blizzard for hours and he was cold and hungry. But he kept plowing his way through the tall snow drifts, intent on his destination.

****************************************************

Young Sewgin the Squirrel sat licking custard off of his spoon at supper as he listened to the Abbess of Redwall and the Badger Lord of Salamandastron talk together. Lord Glycerian was a big badger of great strength. He had a red-gold stripe down his muzzle that made him look scary to Sewgin. Abbess Analasia was a small squirrel with reddish fur, just like Sewgin's, and sparkling green eyes. She was very nice to all the dibbuns and rarely forced them to take baths. Sewgin had to lean closer to them to hear what they were saying over the noise of other beasts talking.
"I wonder when he will get here." Said the abbess.
"The snow is very deep and there is also a blizzard." Answered the badger lord.
"Have you ever known him to let snow stop him from his purpose?"
"No."
"Then I am sure he will come."
There was a pause for a second the the badger lord asked "What do you think he will do when he see's all of us?"
Another pause, then "I have no idea Glycerian, I have no idea."
Sewgin wondered who they were talking about when the door burst open. Everyone stopped eating and stared at the new stranger who entered. It was a tall male otter with greyish-blue fur with a big sword strapped to his side. His black eyes sent shivers down Sewgin's spine. Those eyes just stared unemotionally at everyone making it look as though he would kill them all without a second thought. But when he glanced over and saw the abbess and the badger lord seated together watching him, his eyes flared with rage. He turned around and made as though to leave.
"Stop!" The abbess commanded. The otter stopped but didn't turn around. "Do not leave, Thade." She said again.
The otter turned to face the abbess. "What do you want Ana, why is he here?" He growled, pointing to Lord Glycerian.
The abbess rose from her seat annd stared at the big otter. "Will you come up to my room Thade? I need to talk to you. You and Glycerian both."
The otter stood there growling for a moment, then swiftly strode over to where the badger and the abbess were. Abbess Analasia turned and walked up the stairs leading to the the dormitory and infirmary. The otter Thade growled at Lord Glycerian then followed the abbess. Lord Glycerian sighed and walked after him.
None of the younger abbey dwellers knew what to make of this, but all the older ones looked sadly at the three creatures heading upstairs.
Eventually all the dibbuns were put to bed and the elders sat down in cavern hole talking together. Sewgin lay in his bed as he tried to hear what the abbess was saying in her room across the hall. But the other dibbuns tiny snores prevented him from hearing more then murmers. Finally he got out of bed and snuck outside. He crept up to the door and put his ear to it.
"Why have you brought me here?" Thade yelled.
"Because we are trying to help you." Answered a voice Sewgin didn't recognized.
"Help me do what?" Thade shouted again.
"Help you stop this plague you have brought upon yourself, Thade." Said Abbess Analasia.
"I have no plague, Ana, I am quite healthy."
"You know what I mean, Thade."
There was a pause for a second. Then Thade growled. "It's not a plague, it's called revenge."
"We thought so too at first, but it has gone too far." said the unknown voice, "All you care about is ending the lives of any vermin you meet. Your whole life revolves around killing vermin. Even baby vermin who have done nothing. You can not live that way, Deroc."
"Do not ever call me that!" Thade shouted, "Deroc is dead! Deroc has been dead for a long time. I am Thade, and all Thade does is kill vermin."
Lord Glycerian spoke now for the first time. "Deroc, do you remember the days when you were a young carefree otter who spent all his days playing? Who always had a smile on his face and a joke ready at hand? Who helped young and old alike willingly? Who never had a thought of injuring anybeast? Everyone thought that you would become the best Skipper of otters there had ever been. Now look at you. Your only thought is of ridding the land of vermin. Do you even remember why you started this endless killing spree in the first place?"
There was a large crash and Thade's voice rang out "Of course I remember why! That is all that is on my mind when I kill vermin. Do you know how I kill all the vermin I meet Glycerian? By cutting their legs so they can't run away then slashing their face open. Just like those murderers did to him." There was a bit of a sob in Thade's voice when he said the last bit.
Sewgin was entranced in this conversation. But he still felt somemthing digging into his paw. He shifted into a more comfortable position and kept listening for more. But suddenly the door opened swiftly and a paw darted out grabbing Sewgin by his neck. He was hauled quickly inside and found himself staring into the black eyes of Thade. Sewgin wanted to scream in fear but Thade's hand closed over his mouth. Sewgin thought he was going to die, but suddenly, Thade started to weep.

To be continued...

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