Fighters of the Glade
(Stories)
Talos' Tale- by Talos
Taunting Seas- by Jassa
Talos' Tale- by Talos
The mole walked into the gatehouse. He searched amid
the many scrolls, books, and other writings for a
table. An old squirrel raised his head from his desk.
"Huh, wazzat! Hoosthere!"
"Zurr Rownan, you'm said you'm tell oi a story, zurr"
"So I did, So I did." the squirrel said. "This a story
of long ago. It is about a dream and a nightmare...
"Back, back you evil thing." the otter friar yelled.
"Friar Albert, what's wrong?" said an old, grey mouse.
"Abbot Edward, this cake attacked me." Albert said
eyeing the huge exploding mass.
Edward poked the "cake" with his staff. It popped and
white flour coated everything in the kitchen, "That's
better."
"I know why this happened." Albert said, "It was that
brat of an orphan you "invited" to stay at the abbey."
The Abbot looked mad, "Kellist just doesn't understand.
According to his story he was a slave who spent most of
his time on an oarship."
"I don't care if he was on a piece of pie. He's not
stepping
foot in my kitchen again. How can I prepare a nameday
with that MOUSE running around."
"Hi, Friar, Abbot." Kellist said.
"OUT, OUT, OUT!!!!!!!!!" Albert yelled. Kellist
faithfully obliged, so did the Abbot.
"Kellist, I have a feeling that you can do something at
Redwall, you're pretty good at using weapons, but there
is no-"
Someone knocked at the door. They walked over to the
door opened it and saw a large rat with a cut-up face
and a bloody paw.
"Poor thing." The Abbot said, "Bring him to the
infirmary."
"Excuse me, father." a large female badger said. "I
can't find Audrey."
The Abbot got thinking, "Kellist, you're good with the
Dibbuns. Their motto is "Make all grown ups go nuts,
except for Kellist."
"Yeah, and?"
"You can be the assistant badger mother, well really
mouse father."
"Kewwift is badgew muvva's afiftant." a small voice
said, then a squirrel burst out from a tree, "Hewo,
Kewwift. Audwey be good now." then the squirrel
giggled.
They heard a voice yell, "9:00, bed time."
"Good night Kewwift, Favva Abbot, and Muvva Ambe."
Audrey said, she turned, giggled, and went inside the
abbey.
"Kellist go tell the gatehouse brother to come in."
As Kellist was walking to the gatehouse. There was a
knock at the door. Kellist opened the door and saw a
ferret standing in the doorway.
10 years ago...
"Gathe' all the parents and children." the tall ferret
ordered, the ferret's army pushed the animals down. "I
am Esselles, capain of the ship Seascorpion."
"Leave us alone vermin!" a tall badger father yelled.
Esselles smacked the badger's face. "Shut up! I will
take your children and make them oarslaves."
A female badger stood up. "What about us? We can't live
without our children."
"Exactly!" The ferret's army pulled the children away.
"Take one last look at your parents!" Esselles said to
a small badger child. He raised his hand and a stoat
with an axe chopped down.
Today...
"PUT YER BACKS INTO IT!!" The rat yelled at the
oarslaves. The oarslaves helplessly pulled at the oars.
Then Esselles dressed in a full flowing cape. Not very
corsair like.
"The King of Sampetra asked me te choose twelve o' ye's
te go te the isle and be slaves there." Esselles said.
"SSSire Esssellesss!" a tall newt walked over to
Esselles and said, "That badger whom you ordered me to
watch esscaped."
"WHAT!!!!!!"
"He essGRRK!!"
The newt fell down dead with a knife
sticking out of his back. A mad eyed badger watched
Esselles with a stare. The badger whirled a club made
out of the tiller and it hit the side of the boat
making a huge hole. He grabbed the chain which
connected all the slaves' chains and he broke it. He
ripped the chain out of the wall holders
ripping the whole top half of the boat down upon the
second deck. In that short while Esselles and his first
mate, a tall stoat named Bloodclaw, ran to the top deck
and jumped in a longboat. The badger grabbed the slaves
and pulled them out into the water.
A couple Hours after that...
The slaves and the badger reached the shore. Most of
the slaves left but a young squirrel stayed with him.
"I'm Shawnie."
"Well, Shawnie, you ought to be finding a home for
yourself."
"I have a home, but my sisters gave me to the ferret
guy. They are horribly cruel."
"Well, find another place."
"No! I want to stay with you, you big hulk. Besides who
would want a thief like me?"
"Maybe them." The badger pointed at a group of searats
who were advancing on them.
"Yer money er yer life." the rat said.
Chapter 2
"DAD!!" The young badger said "When are we going to get
there? My legs are killing me."
"Randy, we'll get there when we get there." A tall
badger with a double headed battle axe replied.
"Hmph! That's what you said about that ship journey, it
took three months."
"We're here."
"That was quick."
Ax (who the tall badger was named) and Randy came up to
a castle with tall walls and towers with parapets. A
small vole hobbled out of the doors. "Lord Caitin
awaits."
"Thank you Nulaer." Ax said.
They entered a large room with an oak table and a
throne at the end. A badger was sitting on the throne.
A longsword in his right paw and a map in his left.
"Ahh Ax! You have arrived. Nulaer." The vole
straightened, "order my servants to make us dinner."
"Yes, m'lord."
"Now to buisness. I need you two to go up north and
have an eye on this rat. His name is Whiplorn."
"His name is Whiplorn." the ferret said, "He is coming
and will try to kill you Redwallers. I had barely
escaped his army to tell you this."
"Thank you." Kellist said. The ferret left and Kellist
went back to the abbey to prepare for the next day.
The next morning...
The abbot went outside to write another entry.
Summer of the Flaming Rose
The rest of the Redwallers are asleep. I have named the season
this because the rose which we planted in Rose's memory appears
to be on fire. The rat which we have commited to the infirmary
is up and about. We will have to trust him for the time being.
Well the dibbuns are starting to stir so I'll have to wake
Amber.
"Father abbot" the large rat said, "I was wonderin'
what you are doin' out ere"
"Just writing an entry."
"Ahh, a note to future generations that you were alive
to write them."
"Well I'll go wake Amber and we can prepare for the
feast."
Several hours later...
"There's Audrey chasing Rowan." Amber said. Watching
Audrey chase a small male squirrel who was yelling. Two
cats came up to them, one was obviously older than the
other.
"Hello Graitin and Baby Graitin." Edward said.
"This little brat just beat me at an archery
tournament." Graitin said pointing at Baby Graitin.
"Baby Graitin would you like to chase Audrey?" Kellist
asked.
"Uh, huh." Baby Graitin left waddling off to chase the
two dibbuns.
"Graitin." Edward said. "That rat, doesn't really seem
to be good."
"What do you mean?"
"This morning he said something strange to me." Edward
said, "He said, 'a note to future generations that you
were alive to write them'."
"That is strange."
"But what is stranger is that he refuses to join the
fun."
"I'w get you ma boofiend."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I refuse to play houf!"
"Wait up fo mee!!"
The three dibbuns banged smack into the rat. "Hewo
miffte rat! H--h-how aw you?"Audrey stammered.
"Uhh yeah." Rowan shook out.
"Gulp" Graitin said.
"Well, well three little dibbuns. How are you today?"
"We're fine, yup fine." Rowan said, "Doon't kill me.
I'm Rownen, famous fish flinger. I smack a cracker with
a fish."
"What does that hafta do with fish flinging'?"
"I doon't know."
"Hey mifta rat. How about you joining in the fun."
"I don't know."
"Come on."
"Okay." The rat joined in the fun and won a prize. A cup
of false silver. He raised it in the air in triumph and
it caught the glint of the sun.
"He Brassas. Is thet the signal?" a stoat asked to a
weasel.
"Of course it is Doofus." Brassas said to the stoat,
who's name was actually Doofus. He blew a horn and a
horde of evil creatures foxes, stoats, ferrets,
weasels, and one or two pine martens.
"KILL!!!" The horde yelled as they stormed Redwall's
gates.
"What is the meaning of this?" Edward demanded to the
rat.
"Shut up old fool." the rat said as he smacked the
Abbot's face. "I am Whiplorn. I shall seal your doom!"
Taunting Seas- by Jassa
Kayla weasel watched the bloated rat going about his usual business. She
was as usual disgusted with his fat form wallowing in glittering riches.
But she couldn't afford to let him know that she hated him. She's be
thrown offship for that, she was sure. Being the only weasel corsair
among all the searats was bad enough without being female to add to the
disgrace. But old Ridgeback was the boss rat, boss of the ship, boss of
the booty, boss of her present life. Only her present life. Oh no, she
wasn't going to be stuck with this smelly lot for too much longer, she
was sure.
Touching the hilt of a silver dagger she'd stolen proudly, Kayla edged
for the door as soon as the bloated rat, Ridgeback turned his back and
fell into his usual possessive mood. But as soon as she layed a paw on
the round door knob of the treasure cabin, a long claw touched her
shoulder. Kayla stifled a shriek and spun around eyes wide. Amazingly,
it was another weasel, an ugly, old, male one. She decided it was one of
the newest ones that Ridgeback picked out of the seas after they'd been
thrown overboard.
In anycase, this weasel was leering at her. Kayla hated leers. She
didn't know why, she just did. She automatically yanked her dagger out
and smashed it into the underside of his chin. His eyes glazed over for
a second then he fell backward, tongue hanging and head lolling. The
younger weasel just stared at the still weasel before her. He wasn't
dead, she was sure. Someone else touched her shoulder. This time, she
forgot to stifle her shriek and wheeled around staring again. It was
Ridgeback. He smiled, showing all his blackened tooth stumps and letting
out a cloud of bad breath.
Kayla took an unconscious step back. Old Ridgeback heaved a huge,
stinking sigh. Then smiled again.
"You're promoted."
Kayla goggled. She couldn't help it, she'd never seen it happen, not
anywhere on the ship. The young weasel touched the handle of her dagger
then looked at Ridgeback. He nodded. She stifled a sigh of relief.
Parting with her dagger would be awful, she was sure. Kayla realised the
enormity of what had happened. She was a captain. A captain, imagine,
her. According to Rideback there were only three ranks, slave, corsair,
captain. And she was no slave to be sure. Glancing at Rideback to
confirm this happening, she nodded stiffly and stood by the door, and
watched Old Ridgeback waddle out the doorway. Kayla smiled slyly. Some
searats were going to pay.
"Keep moving!"
Kayla shouted, throwing her dagger at one particular
slave angrily. She wasn't aiming to kill the mouseslave, it was too
valuable. Her dagger neatly sheared the edge off his ear. It doubled its
efforts, groaning. She glanced at a searat in waiting and gave it a cool
nod. He scrambled over and retrieved her dagger. After regaining her
dagger, she backpawed the searat across the deck and leaned on the
railing casually, watching him rubbing his sore cheek. Kayla was in a
bad mood. It had been five months since her elevation, and after
training herself with the dagger, she'd fought her way to the top of the
captains string. But she wasn't happy. Scowling over the vast ocean,
Kayla wondered when she'd ever hit dry land. The weasel didn't remember
the last time she'd had her paws on solid, brown earth or bright green
grass.
Kayla didn't like being a corsair much. But she didn't feel any kinship
or pity for the slaves, oar and alike. She didn't feel kinship with the
other corsairs even. She was a stranger in a strange place, eating
strange food, drinking strange beverage. But Kayla swore by her dagger
that she'd escape one day, she'd get away, she'd leave this ship.
That was later. Right now, she was in a mood, and made sure everyone
knew it. Spitting an oath at a passing searat captain, she felt his
temper rise. Kayla eagerly waited for an explosion. He unsheathed his
large sword and glares for all he was worth. This searat captain, the
Kayla recalled, went by the name of 'Captain Scarclaw'. She went by
'Dirk'. Scarclaw rushed over swinging his sword with stunning speed.
Kayla blocked with her smaller dagger then twisted it, disarming the
searat. The older rat tried to punch the weasel with a heavy paw, but
Kayla ducked it, backed up, butted him over then thumped him on the
nose. Scarclaw snarled but sat still. The searat suddenly swung a
footpaw and tripped her. Kayla hit the ground painfully. He then flipped
up with difficulty and raised his sword gleefully. Kayla flipped up a
split second after he started and her heel caught him on the jaw,
knocking him back up. She stood over him smiling. Scarclaw gulped. A
movement behind her made her turn an ear.
"Leave the searat, Dirk."
It was Ridgeback. Kayla stood back, letting Ridgeback walk heavily over
to Scarclaw. The two rats whispered heatedly for a moment before
Ridgeback booted the other rat up, handed him his sword and booted him
over and away. As Scarclaw passed Kayla, he threw her a murderous
glance. She smiled cheekily and sidestepped a sudden sword swipe and
backpawed him across the deck. Ridgeback nodded approvingly and motioned
for Kayla to follow him. She caught an "I'll get you, Dirk." and smiled.
The two corsairs made their way into Ridgeback's office. Kayla stood
before his desk, ignoring the three large searats that stood bodyguard
to Ridgeback. The searat leader himself took his chair and looked at
Kayla.
"You want to get to land, don't you, Dirk?"
Rideback never called her a captain for some reason. She didn't know
why. But this wasn't the time to think about it. Kayla made no effort to
speak. But nodded casually. She could not, however, prevent her eyes
from sparkling. Ridgeback grinned, approvingly and smelling.
"Well, Dirk, we'll get there. Salamandastron, right here." Ridgeback
thrust a hooked claw into a map, atop a firemountain. Kayla could hardly
suppress a screech. This was it! She would escape there. Kayla had a few
ideas how.
"All the booty, imagine."
Rideback would've gone on and on about booty
if he'd been speaking to another captain, but he knew that his captain,
Dirk, wasn't interested in the stuff even if she had plenty. He looked
satisfied at the map then peered at Kayla. Kayla cleared her throat.
"Aye. What's our firemountain like?"
"Heavily guarded, badgerlord, hares, the lot."
"Our battle strategy?"
"I'll clear that up later. Do you want to lead the attack?"
"I do, thank you, sah." Kayla nearly smiled at the thought she was
having; I won't even be there, we will have no attack, you will be dead.
"Very well."
So it was written, it was supposed to be done. But it was not.
"Aiiii! Fire! Fire! Help!"
Ridgeback's ship was nearly at Salamandastron. Ridgeback looked around
wildly, seeing reds and oranges flickering hungrily over his ship. He
shouted hoarsely.
"Water, get the water, put the flames out!"
"Aye aye!" But the corsairs were not well prepared for such a happening.
Kayla held a torch, listening satisfied to the sounds of confusion above
on deck. She found her way to the gun powder room, beside the slave
chambers. The weasel looked into the slave room. All the slaves looked
frightened, afraid. On impulse, one cried out.
"Please, please, missus weasel, lets us go."
Kayla thought. A mutiny wouldn't look bad, she decided, and oarslaves
weren't worth wasting. She appreciated life, and disapproved of it being
wasted. No sentimental thoughts entered her mind though. Kayla flicked
the keys with her dagger at the slaves. As they dived for them, she
called over the ruckus.
"Get out of there as soon as you can, ondeck, I'm going to blow this
floating bunch of sticks sky high."
"Are you?" a voice asked.
Kayla spun and confronted her leader. Her former leader at least.
Ridgeback. He stood, blade at ready, no otherbeasts with him. They
circled each other warily. Rideback started to talk.
"Why, little Dirk? What for? We've always been friends."
Not so, Kayla thought. Not by half. Smelly, stinking, fat, bloated
seascum. The weasel concentrated on her opponent and not his natter. But
she pretended to weaken, lowering her blade and looking ashamed.
Rideback rubbed his victory well in, trying to smother all signs of
hatred in the weasel. Visually, it worked, but that was on the outside.
Finally, Ridgeback tossed his blade aside and walked over. Kayla made
not move. He was satisfied. Rideback looked about. Kayla made not move.
Ridgeback turned around and picked up his blade. Kayla still made no
move. Ridgeback turned around again. Kayla and the slaves were gone, the
gun powder room was afire. He swore and ran down the hall. Suddenly, a
beast rounded the bend and butted him over. The last thing he saw was an
angry weasel's face and a flashing silver dagger that used to be his.
The badgerlord watched a ship burning merrily off the coasts of
Salamandastron, oarslaves swimming for shore where hares awaited them.
His hares watched as well. Suddenly one lanky hare raised a paw and
pointed at a distant figure. Slim and brown, a lone weasel floated away,
red matting its fur, yet still and proud against the evening sun and the
fire burning the ship, standing
on a large corpse, watching the fire mountain looming above.
Many seasons afterward, a weasel stood, on the shores of Salamandastron,
looking this time out to sea. But when the hare scouts came out to lead
it in, it'd gone, simply disappeared with time, leaving naught but a
silver Dirk, sharp and proud on the golden sand, where anotherbeast
would wield it. So it was written in the sands of time, so it was done,
in the name of Kayla Weasel, Master Of The Dirk.
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