| Subject: Chapter 1! |
Author:
Checkery
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Date Posted: 14:12:57 04/26/03 Sat
In reply to:
Checkery
's message, "I'm going to start a story from scratch!" on 02:57:27 04/26/03 Sat
Rweckwain began his story. "Y'see, we live in a neck o' the woods called Barkwood, east of here. Right in the bend of this very river, mate. Years afore I was born, my holt fought against a load o' vermin, led by an evil rat. Well, they were defeated, an' we lived in peace for a while. Few weeks back, vermin were creepin' about, snipin' at us. A bunch of otters was sent out to get 'em, but they was all slain. Pretty soon we had an all-out war on our paws. We ain't much more'n a single holt of otters and precious few otherbeasts, so a few beasts were sent about the land to bring help. I'm one of 'em." Jurrin came dripping on the bank. "Hurr, ee need moi 'elp?" Rweckwain nodded. "Aye, I'd be glad of it, mate."
Jurrin picked his spear up from where he had leaned it on a nearby oak. "Hurr, oi 'elp ee then, Rekerwayn. Ee say ee word, an' oi'll do et." The otter gave him a hefty slap on the back. "Haharr, me first recruit! An' they sed I wouldn't get a one." Jurrin nodded breathlessly. "Ee moight not get ee secund un. Roight, what do we'ns do?" Rweckwain pointed up the river. "Keep followin' the water, mate, look for more recruits. I'll need a proper army if I'm t'save my holt." Jurrin waded back into the stream. "Hurr aye, then we'ns foller ee water then." Rweck stayed on the shore. "Hi mate, we'll travel faster on land. Water's all right, but I do better on foot."
Jurrin shrugged and came out, then shook himself off, soaking his new friend. "Yurss then, land we'ns goo now." Rweckwain followed the mole, who had already trundled upstream. "You liddle button-bonce! Now I've seen everythin', a swimmin' mole who wets poor defensless otters." Jurrin called over his back. "Oi've seen everthin' too. Ee otter 'oo perfers ee land to ee water. Hurr!" Rweckwain stamped a paw and trotted to catch up. "Hey, I recruited you y'know. I'm in charge here, button-bonce." "Aye, if ee be in charge then ee better keep et up, ee poar 'fensless otter."
The two traveled the rest of the day, sometimes going inland in hopes of finding a dwelling, but none were to be found. That night, Rweckwain questioned Jurrin. "Jurrin matey, why ain't there no beasts roundabouts here?" The mole shrugged. "Hurr, oi doan't be knowin' that, zurr. Oi ben livin' boi moiself all ee time." "Oh, so I'm the one who gets to recruit where there ain't anyone about to recruit. Grand!" Jurrin shrugged again. "Ee crooted oi, Rekerwain. May'aps we'm'll foind some'un goin' further into Mossflower." Rweckwain looked around at the surrounding woodland. "Mossflower, eh? I've heard stories off travelers from here. Home o' the famous Redwall Abbey..."
The otter sat up, his dark eyes shining. "Aye, that's the place! I hear mighty warriors come from that Redwall place, they kin 'elp! I can recruit them an' have an army fer sure!" Jurrin raised and eyebrow at him quizically. "Redwalls Abbey, wot be that?" Rweckwain was about to reply when two arrows landed on either side of their fire. "Move a muscle an' yer both dead! You're sorrounded!" Jurrin looked around. "Hurr, some 'un be callin' us'ns. We'm surproise 'em, ee see." The calm and collected mole took his spear up. Rweckwain kicked some dirt on the fire. The voice called out again. "Hey, and I told you not to move! We'll have ter loot ye now!" Four vermin emerged from the trees, wicked-looking the dim fire-light. Two ferrets and two rats circled the friends. One of the rats, obviously the leader, poked at Jurrin with his spear. "You trying to threaten us? Give that spear here, moley."
Jurrin shrugged. "Hurr, ee mean ee stick wi' yon sharp theng atop o' et? Sure, ee 'ave it." The mole thrust quickly at the rat, who went down with a screech. The other rat jumped at Jurrin with a dagger, but he suddenly sighed and flopped down into the fire. Rweckwain whirled his sling in the now-bright fire light. "I'll take ye both at once!" Jurrin parried a thrust from one of the ferrets, but was grabbed from behind by a fox who had come from the woods. He shout came out a gurgle as two powerful paws squeezed his neck. All was confusion as he was dragged away into the woods and clubbed unconcious, screams ringing in his ears.
Jurrin awoke in the morning to the smell of cooking fish. He tried to get up, but was low to the ground by vines on his neck, arms, and legs. A fox hovered over him, grinning nastily. "Looks like we're goin' to have some fun with this mole here." Jurrin bared his teeth as he struggled against the ropes. "Hurr, you'm villyun! Wut did ee do wi' Rekerwain?" The fox shrugged carelessly. "Dead, for all I know. Though I have to say he killed two before we got him." Jurrin lay on the ground as the vermin ate. There were only two; the fox and a weasel. The mole figured the others had been slain. He listened to their talks of horrible tortures to inflict on him.
Finally, the fox cut him loose. "Now we'll deal with you. Gerny, bring me some more rope and that big ole rock." Jurrin struggled violently in the fox's strong grasp. "Hurr, oi'll slay ee if'n oi gets moi diggin' claws on ee scurvin' neck!" The fox kicked him brutally. "You're in no position to make threats, mole." Jurrin was thrust roughly at the weasel, who lashed a rock to his leg with the vine rope. The mole was dragged roughly to a deep part of the stream. The vermin had an arguement about this departure, and the fox resigned to let the weasel whip Jurrin with a willow withe. Then the fox stood over him, sneering. "Moles can't swim, even more so with rocks tied to 'em. Let's hope the fishes nibble out yore eyes." Jurrin's mind raced, his heart pounding wildly, as he was tipped into the water, sinking down deep into the murky depths...
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