Twyla was chained back on the line, she felt around for Lilla. "Lilla, I can't see you!" Lilla grabbed her friend's paw.
"Don't worry, we'll get out of this. I promise." Twyla smiled.
"Alright you lazy bums, we've rested long enough, get up on your feet," the large fox boomed. The slave chain picked up. Twyla stumbled over rocks and roots as the slaves were dragged through the forest. Twyla's eyes were now cut, she could only see a tiny bit. Only light was visible to her. she could see a black shadow in front of her and all around her. She recognized the warlord.
"I swear, when I'm free, I'll destroy you."
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Kellist had his hands full caring for the dibbuns. "Brenna! Stop messing with Myraya's hair, Melody, get away from Cara!! Audrey, stop bugging Baby Graitin!!"
A large wildcat started laughing. He carried a massive broadsword in his hands. "Hah! Kellist you've certainly done it this time. What do you expect from dibbuns?"
"They're breaking their motto, Graitin."
"Yeah, so do I sometimes. It's hard being the Redwall Warrior."
Kellist lowered his head, "Wish I could be the Redwall Warrior."
Graitin nudged Kellist, "Don't be sad, you can be whatever you want to be. If you found the sword of Martin then you could be the true Redwall Warrior."
Kellist smiled. How could I ever find that sword? he thought to himself. A banging on the door signaled the elders of Redwall to step to the gate. A squirrel bowed.
"Someone is knocking at the gate sire."
Father Abbot laughed at his old friend, "Whitetip, you're the gatekeeper, so open the gate!"
The squirrel bowed again and hopped off towards the gate, his white tail flowing behind him. Whitetip removed the bar and opened the gate. A huge fox in black armour was standing in the threshold.
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The two badgers crossed the wheat field. Far before them was a massive castle, several towers stood out from the ground, including one massive twin tower. "Dad, how much further? My legs are killing me," the younger badger whined. He was carrying a sword.
"Just a few more feet, Randy," the larger badger said. Strapped on the badger's back were axes of all sorts and sizes.
"Come on Dad!! That castle is MILES away!!!"
"We're here." The duo stood in front of a portcullis. The older badger pounded on the door. A vole hobbled towards the pair. The short vole was obviously old, but even so, a fiery look burned in his face. Looped around his neck were his signs of office: Librarian, Chief Construction Engineer, and Advisor.
"Ahh, Ax, Randy, welcome, Lord Caitin has been awaiting you."
"Thank you Nulaer."
The badgers followed the vole through the portcullises to the massive throne room. A large badger was sitting on the throne.
The badger was dressed in a brown tunic and had a scarlet cape. On his paws were ten large rings each decorated with a different stone. Peridot, jade, onyx, citrine, aquamarine, turquoise, garnet, lodestone, and sapphire. On his ring finger was a diamond. Sitting by the throne was the unbreakable sword that the lord carried everywhere, Serodien. "Ax, Randy!! Welcome to Paladin Castle! Nulaer!" Caitin clapped. Nulaer straightened, "Bring my brother some food."
"Thank you Caitin. Why did you call us here?"
"A few months ago, a fox destroyed a village to the east. He captured the families and made them his slaves. They were brought up north towards Mossflower. I want you to chase down this fox and destroy his empire."
"Alright, you can count on us."
"Oh yeah, one more thing, I'm coming along."
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The searat called his buddies around. "Now, are ye gonna give it up?"
Hulk grunted "We have no money!"
"No, well, you're dead then!! Harhar!!!" The searat and his gang outnumbered Shawnie and Hulk by five. They jumped at the two travelers when an earsplitting war cry filled the air.
"EULALIAAAAA!!!!!!"
Two hares and a badger jumped over the dunes. One hare was dressed in an odd tunic that had no sleeves, and he expertly carried a sabre in his able paws. "Well now, some jolly rat chappers to ave some vittles with, wot."
A tall badger agreed "Aye, Saberpaw, no wonder they're so mean."
The female hare smiled. Her sand coloured smock reflected her turquoise eyes. "Guess we're gonna 'ave to feed them; 'ere, eat this!!" The female hare threw a javelin straight through one of the rats. The badger was wielding a huge sword, and Saberpaw was almost dancing with the rats.
"Aye, wot, why don't you two give a bally hand here, we've sorta got our fill of flippin rats."
Hulk nodded and grabbed a rat in midjump. He threw the rat into the older badger. The older badger grabbed another rat and smashed their heads together. The leader of the searats sounded a retreat.
The older badger smiled and called back, "Thank you for joining us, it was fun, let's do the lunch thing again some day!!"
Hulk laughed.
Saberpaw bowed very low, "Don't worry about ol' Ganner, e's just a cowardly bully. Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am
Saberpaw, son of Roselee and Longjoe, grandson of the great Captain Wilostar, great-grandson of- ouch!!!"
The female hare hit Saberpaw over the head, "I am Amberly, his sister."
The badger touched his paw to his single black stripe. "I am Broadstripe the Wild."
"I'm Shawnie, this hulk here has no idea what his name is, so I call him Hulk."
Broadstripe smiled, "You're welcome to stay with us. Welcome to Salamandastron, my friends."