Subject:  *Smiles.* Thank you. Okay, here's Part Two! |
Author:
Checkery
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Date Posted: 20:25:23 12/07/03 Sun
In reply to:
Checkery
's message, "**An ottermaid in a blue tunic comes in, a pile of papers in one paw, grinning triumphantly.** Finally, I actually finished one of my stories!" on 04:22:27 12/07/03 Sun
Part Two
Nalati and Pit argued for quite a while until Nalati notcied that Tion was no longer by her side. She broke off, looking around the woodlands. "Tion? Tion, where are you?" Pit blinked and shook his head, checking to see where Dika had gone. The fox checked around the cabin, but his son was nowhere to be found. Both vermin searched about near the camp and the stream, calling for their young ones. Pit whirled on Nalati in anger. "This is your fault, weasel! If you hadn't come here with that little brat of yours, Dika wouldn't have-" "Watch who you're calling a brat, fox! My daughter doesn't just take off willynilly. You're fighting has caused all this!" "You were the one who came here demanding my land! You started it!"
Nalati snorted bad temperedly. "Well, they're gone now, and we're not doing much good standing around scrapping about it. We're going to have to track them down." Pit bit his lip, looking out into the forest. "Huh, let's get a move on then." Nalati was the more skilled at tracking, so the weasel mother led the way, following pawprints, broken twigs, and bits torn off from clothes. Pit followed, muttering under his breath, but soon took it upon himself to call for the children. So the vermin went, drawing ever closer to Redwall.
It was evening by the time they had followed the trail out onto the path. Nalati cast about in the dust for prints. "Looks like a large number of beasts were here. I don't see any trails leading away from this one. Either they just went the same way as the kids, or they kidnapped 'em." Pit ground his teeth together angrily. "The nerve of them!" Nalati set out on a brisk walk down the path. "Well, come on then, we'd best catch them before anything happens to 'em." The fox caught up swiftly, peering ahead for any sign of the children. "Hey weasel, I think I see something!" The two vermin broke into a run, staring in awe at the great sandstone building which sat next to the path.
"By the fur of all foxes, I've never seen anything like it!" Pit remarked when they finally stood near the huge building. Nalati stared at it for a while. "I'll bet tooth and claw that Tion's in there." Pit nodded agreement. "Aye. We should check it out a bit though; no sense in running into danger." The weasel agreed, and the vermin split up and circled the Abbey. They stood in the woods, wondering what to do. Nalati sighed. "I'm not so sure now. There's only two of us, and by the size of that place there must be a whole army in there." Pit shook his head. "Yeah, well, I spotted a hedgehog up on one of the walls before. It's a fort full o' goodbeasts; we could be in and out with our kids and a pawful o' plunder for our efforts."
Nalati shrugged. "Whatever you say. I'm all for going to that front gate and seeing if they'll let us in." The fox agreed, and the vermin made their way around the north wall to the west wall. Pit stepped up to the big door and knocked a few times. He found that the gates weren't even locked. The fox glanced at Nalati and shrugged, then cautiously opened the gate. Nobeast was in the gatehouse. Pit turned to the weasel. "Nobeast here! Come on!" Nalati sprinted into the gatehouse, tripped over a pile of scrolls, and sat sneezing from the dust she had stirred up. Pit sniggered. "Have a good trip?" Nalati stood up and sneezed, glaring at him. "Very funny!"
Pit opened the door to the Abbey grounds a crack and peeked out. A pawful of beasts were about, doing chores or heading to another part of the Abbey building. The fox withdrew back into the gatehouse quickly. "They're out there!" Nalati dusted herself off. "So? Demand our kids back, then." Pit hesitated before turning to open the door again, but it opened on its own. Gretchen, Redwall's Recorder and Gatehouse Keeper, had come to write her records for the day. The mouse screamed when she saw Pit standing in front of her. "Eeeeeek! Vermin!" A few beasts within hearing range came to her aide. One mole ran to get Abbess Ziara. Quejack the otter stepped up the the vermin boldly. "What were you doin' snoopin' around our gatehouse?"
Nalati grunted bad temperedly. "We were looking for our young ones. We knocked, nobeast was there, the door was open, so we let ourselves in." Quejack blinked. "Hmm...You must be the parents of Tion an' Dika. We found 'em lost in the woods an' took 'em in. Well, sorry there weren't nobeast around t'welcome you in. This is the famed Redwall Abbey, a place of peace'n'plenty. Anybeast who comes in peace is welcome to share our food, shelter, an' good 'ospitality." Pit snorted. "Huh, that's all well an' fine; just give us back my kit." Nalati, however, started at the mention of food. She stepped on his footpaw. "Shut up, idiot! They're givin' free food!" Nalati pasted a grin on her face. "I'll thankee kindly for looking after my Tion. I've been searchin' about for a place to bring her up. Do you think I might stay here?"
Quejack nodded. "Aye, y'can live here as long as you like, providin' you never raise a paw in anger to another beast 'ere at Redwall." Nalati raised her eyebrows doubtfully, but shrugged and said. "Yeah, sure, fine. Now, where's my kid?" At that moment, Abbess Ziara showed up. "What's going on here?" Quejack nodded at her. "These are the parents o' those dibbuns we found." Ziara smiled at them. "Hello, I'm Abbess Ziara. If I'm not mistaken, the little ones are playing down by the pond. I'll gladly direct you there." Pit rolled his eyes and sighed. "Finally!"
Quetza, Dika, Tion, and a couple other dibbuns were playing around the pond, watched by Mother Twilla. The young ones skipped pebbles, sailed toy boats, and splashed in the shallows. (It wasn't yet warm enough to swim in the pond) When Dika and Tion saw their parents, they squealed and ran to them, clinging to their legs. Pit dragged Dika off him by his little orange shirt and scolded him. Nalati pretty much did the same. "You know you can't just take off like that!" "You 'ad me worried!" "You naughty kit!" "You nasty liddle snip!"
Mother Twilla, a young badgermum, was about to stop them when Abbess Ziara placed a paw on her arm gently. "Let them be. They're not ours; who are we to govern how others raise their young?" Twilla grunted. "I guess. It just makes me sort of mad." She turned back to the other dibbuns, who were watching the vermin. "Back to playtime, dibbuns! It's rude to stare." Quetza's ears drooped. "Me not starin', me is lookin'!" Twilla scooped the little shrewmaid up in one paw. "You were too staring, little button. Come on; I bet I can skip a pebble further than you can!"
The Redwallers had already had dinner, but Friar Petro did prepare a little for Pit and Nalati, who hadn't eaten that day since breakfast. The two had atrocious table manners, and ate as fast as a hare. (Of course, they couldn't eat as much; just as fast) Petro, who was Quetza's father, watched wide-eyed. "Great seasons o' strife, they're almost like Restwick!" Shaking his head, the shrew friar returned to his kitchens. Nalati had made up her mind to stay there at Redwall. After tasting the food at Redwall, Pit decided he would stay for a couple of days.
They sat in Great Hall, belching and patting their stomachs, admiring the tapestry of Martin the Warrior and the sword that hung above it. "Beautiful tapestry. That mouse warrior, wotsisname?" Nalati read the name below the picture. "Martin, 'e looks almost real. They must've got some real skilled beasts t'make it." Pit, however, was more interested in the sword. "Aye, but the sword's even better! By the fur of all foxes, there must only be one sword like that in all o'...Er, well, everything!" Nalati wasn't exactly one to be interesting in weaponry, but she could still tell that the sword was a fine thing. "I think it's the same one as in the tapestry."
Petro and Zither came in and started clearing the table. Zither nodded at the tapestry. "That's Martin the Warrior. Long ago, he rid the land of vermin and founded Redwall Abbey." Nalati stretched and yawned. "Hum, that so? Well, interestin' an' everything, but I'm dropdead tired. Been trekking all over Mossflower today after Tion. Where do I sleep?" Zither balanced two cups and three plates as he made his way to the kitchen. "I'll show you when the table's clean." The weasel hopped up and starting helping. "Better get it clean soon as possible then!" Pit stared at the sword a moment, then heaved himself up and gathered the last of the dishes up. "Might as well."
Once the vermin were situated in their rooms, Zither sat sipping mint tea in Cavern Hole with his sister, Petro, and Quejack. By this time, night had fallen on Redwall. Petro nibbled on a scone spread with meadowcream. "What d'you make of those vermin?" Zither shrugged. "Not much yet. I don't think they're the bloodthirsty type, but that don't mean nothin'. I don't trust the fox, Pit. He was givin' a few greedy glances at Martin's sword." Abbess Ziara shuddered. "At least he'll be gone in a few days. Nalati wants to stay here though. Even one vermin is a load of trouble." Quejack nodded agreement and gulped some mint tea. "Aye. They're manners are 'orrible, they smell, an' they ain't too friendly either. But I guess we'll just 'ave t'wait an' see what comes of it all."
At first, Nalati thought Redwall would be one big vacation, but it wasn't. She soon found that she had to make her bed, wash dishes, get washed, help watch dibbuns, clean up after herself, wake up early, and all manner of unseemly things for vermin. Still, the Abbey provided free food, shelter, and care for her and her small daughter. Besides, as Pit kept telling her, the place was stocked with plunder. After seeing the sword of Martin, Pit was on the lookout for more valuebles. The greedy fox was even so bold as to tell Nalati that he would take some with him when he left. The weasel wasn't as interested as he was. "I 'ave all the time I need. Oh, someday when Tion's grown enough I could make off with a bag or two of my own, but for now I'm content t'bide my time." Of course, after a while, Nalati's thoughts would stray elsewhere...
It happened on the ninth day since the vermin arrived. Actually, it was after the ninth day, since the vermin had had to stay up late washing dishes. The two sat wearily in Great Hall, drinking elderberry wine they had pilfurred from the kitchens. Pit gazed longingly at the sword and heaved a sigh. "I bet that sword's worth more'n anything." He took a sip of the wine and looked at it reflectively, musing. "I really must take some of this with me when I leave..." Nalati stared at him. "Then why not make your move now? There's only you an' me here, nobeast else. You could loot the place now and be off." The fox bit his lip, thinking. "Hmm, you might be right. Y'wouldn't squeal though?"
The weasel shrugged. "Why bother? We can both take our pick of the Abbey. You take the sword; I've never even bothered with heavey weapons like that; I prefer a dagger, or a javelin or a sling." Pit stood up and took the sword down, feeling its weight in his paw and watching the torchlight dance along the blade. He shoved it in his belt and grinned. "I think I'm gonna like this 'ere sword! Now it's time to get lookin' for booty." Nalati gulped down the rest of her elderberry wine and stood. "I'll help. I might see something I'd like for myself when my chance comes." With that, the vermin set about searching for any bits and baubles that could be found.
Zither and Quejack were fast asleep in the dibbun dormitory, tired out after having to get them in bed. Mother Twilla had covered them with a blanket before going to her own dorm for the night. A light breeze came through an open window, lifting the covers from Quejack. The otter stirred, blinking and rubbing his eyes. There was somebeast moving about the room...Quejack peered through the darkness and made out the form of the fox Pit. The otter watched intently through half closed eyes. Pit woke Dika quietly, whispering. "Hush now Dika, we have t'go now." With little trouble, both foxes exited the room. Quejack nudged Zither. The hedgehog kept snoring, so he had to give a couple hefty shoves. Zither yawned and stretched. "Hmm, fallen alseep, have I?"
Quejack stood up. "No time, Zith. Pit just took Dika out, said 'e 'ad to go. I'm not sure, but I think they're up to somethin'." Zither crept from the room. "Well, come on then!" The friends snuck silently downstairs, through Cavern Hole and Great Hall. Quejack grabbed a candleholder from the wall as he went, and Zither grasped a windowpole tightly. Hedgehog and otter poked their heads out of the door. Zither had better night vision. "I see 'em, the two foxes an' the weasel, over by the gatehouse." Quejack nodded and jogged over to them, the candleholder held behind his back. "Hey there, what're you three doin' out 'ere in the dark?" Zither had already caught sight of the sword of Martin. "That sword is only for the Abbey warrior to weild, y'know."
Pit gulped and faultered a bit, standing against the gatehousedoor. His paws were fiddling with the knob behind his back. "Oh, I was just, er, well you see, Dika here...Um..." Quejack whipped out the candleholder with a roar. "Yew theivin' rascal!" Then everything happened at once. Pit zipped into the gatehouse with a bag of plunder over one shoulder. Quejack bounded after him, but Nalati leapt forward with her dagger ready. Little Dika ran off crying to hide in some bushes along the inside of the wall. As Pit broke out onto the main path running, Zither threw himself at Nalati, who fell on the ground and rolled aside, then leapt up and without a second thought made for the path.
Zither couldn't follow. He bent over Quejack, trying to assess the situation in the darkness. "Quejack, are you alright?" The otter was doubled up on the ground, grunting. "Well mate, I shore don't feel too great when a dagger's been stuck in me somewheres!" The hedgehog looked about worriedly. "Okay, alright, um, I'll go get help, I'll wake up my sister an' Mother Twilla an', er, I dunno, somebeast! Just stay here!"
Soon, a group of Abbeybeasts with torches and lanturns were by the gatehouse. Mother Twilla scooped up the whimpering Dika, trying to calm him. "There there now; everything's all right little one." Abbess Ziara and some mice and voles from the infirmary were looking after Quejack. Meanwhile, Zither had gone with Restwick and some other beasts into Mossflower armed with simple weapons, hoping to catch sight of the theives. They returned dispirited and weary after blundering through the underbrush. There had been no sign of Pit and Nalati.
Mother Twilla had put Dika to bed again. She sat in Cavern Hole with the others, grinding her teeth in anger. "Those dirty vermin! Coming in here, saying they'd be good, then they turn on us! They steal our things and the sword of Martin; and that's beside abandoning their little ones!" Restwick twitched his whiskers. "Right there, old gel. Not t'worry though; at first light tomorrow we could be off again an' track 'em down!" Abbess Ziara thumped the table. "Alright, alright; all good fine words and ideas, but I've got the final say in this. Restwick, you will go with Zither, Petro, Gracher the otter, and Mother Twilla tomorrow after breakfast. Make sure you're all well-armed. Don't worry Twilla; the mothers and I will look after the dibbuns today."
Zither looked at his sister. "But Ziara, what would you have us do with them? Just kill them?" Ziara shook her head quickly. "Goodness me, no! Quejack, thank the seasons, has only been injured by their attack. Rather, you'll bring them back here to Redwall. Then I and Mother Twilla will judge them ourselves." Restwick nodded. "Well, our Abbess has jolly well spoken. I'm all for shovin' off t'bed now, chaps. We've work t'do tomorrow." Abbess Ziara agreed as she stood wearily. "Yes, a good suggestion. The hour's late; past midnight, I'm sure." Amid yawns and a few silent promises, the Redwallers shuffled off to bed.
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