Fighters of the Glade
(Stories)
The Otter Home- by Keera
A Story by Onyx- by Onyx
Good luck and Bad luck- by Jassa
A Warriors Heart- by Juniper
An Interesting Lesson- by Juniper
The Otter Home- by Keera
My home town is a village that sets on water. Not many pirates sail
through. So we had no need for warriors. My father was a warrior though.
Our nights were filled with stories of battles from long ago. They were
passed down from generation to generation.
Now I will tell all here one of my favorite stories:
Once, a long time ago, there was an otter village. The mothers
were hanging wash on the tree branches on the shore, and the children
were swimming in the water. Everyone looked off to the coast. There was
a faint picture. It seemed to be a ship. As it drew closer, everyone saw
the flag it bore. They started cheering, but the new comers staying
there were puzzled why. When the ship came close enough they all swam
out to it. The captain at the head of the ship yelled "Hello everyone!"
cheers filled the air. when the badgers and beavers and some other
animals heard all the cheering they all came running. All around the
island, animals came running. The great ship 'The Captain Otter' has
arrived! Later that night there was a great cellebration. There was a feast too!
There was all kinds of cordial. Dandelion, strawberry, even blueberry cordial! Seaweed soup
was a great treat. All the animals dug in, especially the crew from the ship.
A Story by Onyx- by Onyx
Eight pairs of eyes looked toward the now setting sun and the
silouhettes of the band of vermin marching along. Over twenty bobbing
torches burned strong as the evil beasts made their way. Bannok had
just gotten back to tell the Castle Zoren that only ten were actually in
the group. Some vermin were holding more than one torch.
"A clever trick but not too clever for the Castle Zoren warriors,"
Iliana remarked
twiddling a dagger in her paw as she leaned against the tree's trunk.
"Quiet now, their getting closer. Everyone ready?" Sunglaze
asked, looking around at his companions.
Onyx nodded her head, gripping her ice dagger a little tighter as she
crouched in a low bush by the base of the tree, in pouncing position.
Heather and Holly both pulled their bows nodding to Sunglaze at their
high position in the tall elm. Mara and Iliana, behind the base of the
tree, weapons drawn, glanced upwards to the Junior Path Master.
Chevrotain and Thunderbolt stood crouching on a low tree limb, with
leaves to camouflage them, and daggers in paw.
They sat there for only a few moments, for soon the small gang
of vermin approached the very spot they were at.
"All right ya' lowly gang! We rest here until ye' all know the plan!"
yelled a rather large rat in front, "Line up now! Okay, listen
carefully. I'm only telling ye' once. When the sun completely sets and
all the Zoren inhabitants are snug in their feathery beds dreaming of
their little riches, we make our move. They won't even know what hit
them! He started a sinical laughter which the others soon followed.
"Shut yer mouths now! Who told you ye' could laugh eh? Anyhow, when we
reach the gates--."
He couldn't finish his sentence for from behind the tree came a roar of
incredible strength. Mara came rushing forward, wielding her sword like
an expert,
"Stop there you filth! You'll never touch our precious
Alelea!! Casstttle Zoooorreeeen!!!!!
With that, three things happened at once. First the rest of Castle
Zoren came plummeting from the branches, weapons drawn. Then the
slightly dumbstruck gang began yelling commands and heading for the
Fleetpaw Patrol. Finally, Onyx jumped from her bush and dug her dagger
deep into the leading rat. He fell to the earth with clouded eyes.
From there pandominium ensued. Weapons clashed with weapons.
Snarls and
growls threatened menancingly. Some of the stoats and weasels seemed
lost without their leader to give orders and ran into each other
falling flat.
Mara was fighting sword to sword with an ugly old weasel, finally
overthrowing him with an expert twist of her wrist. He saw only the
blade then darkness. Heather and Holly sprinkled the battle with arrows
that flew straight and true. Three more fell.
Iliana struck a ferret and received a cut in the shoulder in return.
With anger from the pain she struck repetidly until the ferret was
hardly recognized as a ferret.
In time three more fell to the deadly daggers of Chevrotain and
Thunderbolt. They breathed raggidly over the dead bodies of the
enemies.
It had not been easy.
Onyx stood face to face with a muttilated rat whose furry face was
bitten and scratched with heaven knows what creature. They were locked
in place each with their own dagger pushing with all their might
against the other. Onyx narrowed her emerald eyes and glared deep into
the 6rat's eye. The other was less than an eye. Summoning all the
strenght in her body she finally heaved the rat off his paws. She tood
over him and in one swift movement put an end to his evil ways.
One small stoat stood among the bodies of his fallen commrades. He
gulped and stood paralyzed with fright.
Sunglaze winked at his fellow companions and headed towards the stoat
with fire in his eyes.
"Do ye' know wot we do with the cowards of the enemy?" Sunglaze
deepened
his voice to a low menacing growl.
The stoat only shook his head. " You'll see soon enough" Sunglaze said
slow and threatening...
~*~
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh Ouch!! Ouch!!!" The stoat screamed with fright and pain
as
he ran straight to the enemy hideout. On the back of his shirt was
pinned a sign that read:
Leader of Vermin filth, this is Sunglaze of Castle Zoren. We had
enough courtesy to return something of yours. You may be missing some
of
your army so do send more why don't you? We'd love to meet them.
Signed Sunglaze Junior Path Master of Castle Zoren.
Back under the large elm, the Castle Zoren warriors went into a
laughing fit.
Even Iliana whose wound had been tended to by Onyx and her healing
knowledge.
"I suppose we should return to Streakfur to tell her of the news. Those
vermin won't be coming here for a long time. " Onyx said, "But first,"
she raised her fist into the air and shouted," Cccaaaaaaaaasstttlleee
Zoreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone joined her and soon the meadows echoed with the sound of the
triumphant creatures.
Good luck and Bad luck- by Jassa
A tall, willowy figure, swathed in a voluminous cloak strode along
through the silent snow covered world of Winter. Oblivious to the dark
figures in the forest on either side, she stroked the small ears within
her cloak. Jocci Swift the squirrel was taking her nephew to a place
called Rosewood. A place she'd never been, but only heard of from her
father. Her family was dead, killed by the corsair race. Just as she
raised her head, pushed the hood back she screamed with the terror of
one knowing of her impending doom. The swinging cutlass and the scarred,
sneering face of a corsair was the last thing she saw. The blade
cruised through the cloak like a needle through butter. Pireast, the
gentlebeast, bankvole in fact was a traveller. Not that he had any
intention of travelling just then. He was caught in the worst blizzard
so far.
Muttering and trying to keep his pack from falling off, he
stumbled through the snow, on his way to investigating the high, thin
cries of a babe that had disturbed him from his sleep. Stooping, he saw
a cloaked lump covered in snow, with screams emmitting from within. A
screaming cloak? He thought not. Tossing of the cloak, he was greeted by
the horrible sight of a dead female squirrel, body thrown over a small
screaming squirrelbabe. Hurriedly setting down his things, he snatched
the babe and fed it some warm stew he'd prepared before. Straightening,
he brushed his brow, deposited the babe on his spare blanket and dug a
hole near the dead squirrel. Rolling the body in, he filled in the hole
and placed a dandelion atop the mound. Picking up his pack and the
squirrelbabe, Pireast looked once at the mound, bowed his head and
strode away .
"I'll care for you, Pirwest." he whispered to the sleeping
bundle.
"Aaaaagh! Pirwest! Grab the line! Help!" Pireast screamed as the
accidentally caught pike swung it's huge scaled body side to side. The
young squirrel leaped high and siezed a fin only to be slammed
mercilously back onto the bank with cut paws. They had only been looking
for a grayling, even a young one. This was far too much. Pirwest
snatched up a small paring knife and leaped once more. Paw connected
with scale as he latched on gamely. Raising the knife he made a several
rapid thrusts.
Arching with agony, the pike twisted its huge trunklike
body and snapped wildly at the squirrel, releasing the mouse. Barely
dodging the huge jaws, the Pirwest flung himself through the air and
landed next to the still form of his only loved one.
"Wake up! We're
safe! That was a nasty fellow wasn't it? Shall we go now? I've had quite
enough of this place. Haven't you....?"
Pirwest only stopped when he
realised Pireast wasn't responding. Or breathing for the matter. The
pike speculated them from it's place in the shallow pool which it was
now trapped.
"Noooooo!" The squirrel snarled and bounded back toward the
pike, knife aloft.
Swinging it into the pike's eye and then digging and
dragging it all over its body, the pike was a complete mess of gore and
confusion. The glittering tail came up and ground into the ground an
inch away from Pirwest. Cold fury welled up in the young squirrel, how
dare that pike! Holding the small knife aloft, he drove downward with
all his might burying it deep in the pike's head. Suddenly, flinging
itself upright in the air for a moment it tipped Pirwest into the
shallow water and came crashing down atop him! But this was the pike's
last defiance. It's eyes filmed over for the last time. Screaming with
agony at the sharp fins and huge weight piled up on him, Pirwest
released precious air.
He was drowing in water up to his hips. Settling
into the sandy bottom, he awaited Pireast to take him to the Dark Forest
Gates. He was deaf of his screaming lungs. Cool peace swirled and
shimmered around his face. Then large, tough, reddish paws grabbed his
face. He was being dragged out from 'neath the pike! Before his head
broke the surface, Pirwest heard a muted voice bellowing,
"Grab the
young un! By the brush, this is a huge fishy! Mayhap the squirrel will
share some with his rescuers! Heeeeeeeave hooooo!"
Pirwest was flung out
onto the bank with club-like battering his back. Spluttering and
croaking like a frog with a cork stuck in it's throat, he gave a
breathless introduction of himself. Only when the water was out of his
eyes did Pirwest realise that his rescuers were foxes!
Much to his distaste, Pirwest ate some of his guardian's killer that
evening. He learned that the foxes had been driven by dwindling
supplies had come South and seek out land where the the grass was
greener. Pirwest found useful herbs and tasty roots for the Fox Clan Red
who knew little of the forest flora and fauna. But even being Official
Herbal And All That Stuff Expert as Redclaw Fox, leader of the clan put
it coudn't soften the pain of Pireast's tragic death. Finally, the kind
fox could stand a young one's heartache anymore. Burial ceremony was a
stranger to the Fox Clan Red, who'd rather be left at their dying spot
and have a sculpture erected in their honour. However, they would do
much to rid Pirwest of his sadness. So, at high noon, Pireast was put to
rest under the golden orb and swaying trees. Only then was Pirwest able
to shake all day and night with sobs of sadness and rage. But one
evening, in the midst of sleep, the Fox Clan Red noticed him tossing and
turning in his cot.
He seemed to be in the clutches of some nightmare
demon. Try as they might, the Clan could wake him as well as they could
get a boulder to float in a pond. Water in the bucketfuls to no avail.
The Clan was worried, they feared that their young friend was coming
down with some illness. Then, as suddenly as the nightmare had started,
it stopped. Pirwest lay silent and cold to touch. He hardly seemed to
breath.
"Yaaagh!"
Pirwest flung himself out of the sweat soaked covers
and looked wildly about. When his breathing slowed, the foxes demanded
what had happened.
"Was it some demons?" demanded a wide eyed female.
"Nah! 'Twas an illness!" put forth another.
"I agree. How did you escape it?"
"Bosh! A mere bad dream!"
"Was it really? One about adders? Ugh."
Pirwest filled his chest with air as Redclaw had taught him to, then
bellowed,
"It was a mouse called Martiiiin!" Silence greeted this
statement. Who was Martin? What had a mouse to do with a squirrel member
of a fox Clan? Old Flatpaw barked a laugh which sounded like claws being
drawn over a blade. Screeek! All the creatures present winced. "Martin
eh? Of Redwall, eh? But o' course. What'd he tell you, lad?" the old fox
asked.
"He comforted me mostly. Told my what a warrior is made of. Told me what
courage is." the squirrel uttered this with a faraway look in his eyes.
"Well, we're bound for Redwall then aren't we? Stir your stumps! Let's
hit the footpath!" Old Flatpaw cried, leaping about and throwing his
paws about,"Redwaaaaaaaal!"
So, the foxes and squirrel headed for an abbey called Redwall. The
legendary abby of redstone, feasts, goodwill kinship and peace. But of
course the travellers had no idea what it was like. They were busy
concentrating on the bumpy footpath.
A Warrior's Heart- by Juniper
It was a beautiful sunny day, and the waters of the River Moss rippled
and flowed musically. The young squirrel skipped along the bank, pausing
now and then to wait impatiently for his elder, an older squirrel to
catch up. Finally, the young squirrel stopped running, and falling in
step with the older one, the two walked slowly along the warm, sloping
banks of River Moss.
Presently, the young one spoke, "Doralk, why is there an Abbey Warrior
for Redwall? I thought we are peaceful creatures." The older squirrel
Doralk smiled at his young charge. "Son, you're right, we are peaceful
woodlanders. But it doesn't mean that other creatures are peaceful. On
occasions, there will be enemies attacking us and we'll have to defend
ourselves. That's the job of our Abbey Warrior: to lead us in battle and
to victory."
The young squirrel thought for a moment, then asked, "Then, if there
are so many bad'uns out there, why don't we just kill them all?"
Doralk patted his young friend's small ears. "Young one, you don't
understand. Yes, we have to protect our Abbey against all dangers, but
we're defending, not attacking. All we want to do in battle is to keep
Redwall from being captured by vermin. And even when vermin are hurt, we
still take them in and heal them and provide for them. We're not out to
kill."
"But what about Martin the Warrior? He killed many bad'uns." Doralk
smiled patiently at the excitable young squirrel. "Martin killed the
evil ones for a good cause. The woodlanders were living under slavery in
the evil one's claws. Martin killed them so that the good woodlanders
would live in peace and freedom. Eventually, Redwall also came to be.
Martin was a brave and courageous warrior, but he was also kindhearted,
honest and upright. That's how a warrior's heart should be like."
The young squirrel listened in awed silence. Then later he said, "Well,
I'm going to be like Martin the Warrior, good and honest and brave. I'm
going to become the Abbey Warrior!"
That young squirrel's name was Samkim, and later, he did become the
Warrior of Redwall Abbey.
An Interesting Lesson- by Juniper
The young female hare loped ahead of her older, steadier and higher
ranked companion. Pausing now and again, she tapped her footpaw
impatiently until he caught up, then dashed off ahead to wait for him
further on. Finally, the young hare lost her patience.
"Oh, get your footpaws movin', Dag, and step up t'it, chap! We'll never
make it t' Sala before sundown!"
Dagfer paused and looked at his young charge with an air of mock
exasperation. "Patience young rip, that's wot you need t'step up to.
Besides, you're not supposed t'be harin' off like that, Lieutenant."
Deodar snorted impatiently. "Arr, you sure are a card, Major. Never had
fun 'n' games in yore life eh, wot?"
"I had m'share of it alright. 'Twas me harin' off that took out m'leg,
during the Long Patrol. Paid dearly for fun 'n' games, y'know." Dagfer
shuffled his lame right leg. "So patience, young one."
"Huh, patience indeed." The younger one grumbled. "Wot's so great about
patience? You never see or find anythin' inneresting with patience."
Dagfer winked at Deodar. "That's when yore wrong, Deodar. Patience
brings new and innersting events to a beast. Wait, and adventure will
come to you."
Unconvinced, Deodar loped off. While they were talking, the sun had set
lower in the sea and before long, stars began to wink in the sky. Deodar
sped up her pace, determined to return to Salamandastron before it
became too late. Suddenly, there was a shout from Dagfer. Turning, she
saw him pointing at the dark night sky. "Did you see that?"
"What was it?"
"A falling star! Oh, you must've missed it, it was one bright star! My,
I wonder where it landed." The older hare's eyes were shining. "Too bad
you missed it."
"Oh shards, why did you see it instead of me? I haven't seen a falling
star before." Deodar lamented. Dagfer thumped her shoulder. "Don't worry
yer head 'bout it. Y'see, surprises come t' those who wait! You don't
need to find adventure and surprises, they'll come t'you. If you only
had waited with me, you 'udve seen the star."
Deodar was silent. What Dagfer said was very true, she admitted. Oh
well, it seemed like they were to spend another night on the sandy
beach.
The next morning, Dagfer was surprised. He thought that Deodar had
learnt her lesson. But, as usual, the female hare was rushing off way
ahead of him, and waiting while he caught up. At one point, he
confronted her. "M'gel, thought y' learnt your lesson, did you?"
"'Course I did, Major. See? I ain't complaining about waiting for you!
Patience does pays, you're right. See, I've seen a crab digging a hole
in the sands, talked to a swift and learnt about catching insects, found
these neat seashells on the beach... Better get goin'! Take yer time,
Dag, I'm off to wait for new adventures!"
Dagfer chuckled as he watched the irrepressible hare scurry off again.
What a young, feisty gel. Maybe, he wasn't too old to have fun 'n'
games, after all.
Do NOT take any of these stories to post on your own page without the permission of the author. Thank you!
