Biography5

Sashilia
I was not born in the area surrounding Redwall or Salamandastron, though I now think of them both as my home. In fact, I was born and raised for ten years in a small settlement high up on a mountain far from here. The area is home to squirrels and mountain birds alone, who usually kept seperated, one group on the cliff sides and ground, the other in the sky. The squirrels, who call themselves the Guta, follow a very traditional way of life, as they had been isolated for so long. In it, males are superior, and females were simply there to do their bidding. Most squirrels did not find this way of life disturbing when I was living there, having known of nothing else, but I found it unreasonable. My father ruled the house. My mother and I were taught only to clean, cook, and sew. My father brought our food and living, and only he was allowed to read our books. Once, during a time of famine, the high council allowed us women to help find food, much to his dismay. I was only six, then, and still can only faintly remember that glorious winter, though I celebrate the event each year with a small feast. When I was ten, with my hands rough and smelly from years of housework, I made up my mind to leave the Guta. Late at night I snuck some food into a sack, and climbed to the top of the mountain, were the mountian birds' nests lay. The eagle on gaurd was startled by the presence of a squirrel in their territory, but allowedme to talk to him about means of transportation down the mountain. "A trick" he said, but still I asked for a ride. Finally, when his watch was over and the next gaurd woke, he agreed to take me down on his back, wile the other bird guarded. The ride, while short, was a frightening and dizzying experience to a beast who had never felt her feet leave the ground, but I held tight and survived the ride. The eagle left me at the bottom of the mountian, and I hiked for many days through forests new to me, seeing my first glimpse of a real forest. One day, a month since the night I left the Guta, I was captured by a band called the Etenite while I slept in front of their hidden fort. They did not tie me or gag me, but asked me were I was from and gave me food. It was in thier camp that I saw a sight that confirmed all my dreams of freedom from the rule of men. Women walked about with swords and bows, sharing the cooking and cleaniung with the men. I informed them of my intrest, and they allowed me to take part in training for archery and fencing. I learned also how to put on armor and pitch camp, cook while on the run, and wrestle. I was good at wrestling, with my arms strengthened by work, as well as archery. Though I was free from constant housework, the Etenite were strict and harsh. I was beaten and starved into shape during my stay with them, which has helped my endurance to pain. I learned how to fight groups, as well as one person at a time. Swordsmanship was not one of my talents, but I was taught basic moves in case I needed a close-range weapon. I left the Etenite when I was fifteen, and resumed my journeys with a young man named Juali, who was in search of a place called Redwall. With my skills at living in the dangers of the open wilderness, we traveled for two months across feilds, lakes, ponds, and forests until, one day, I could see a small, walled place that Juali described as the "place of beauty and joy." We were greeted kindly by an assortment of clean, happy beasts, one of which immediatly put us into a bath. She made me pack away my armor and wear a dress, which I disliked but remembered how to walk with one from my experience at Guta. They fed us well, and I became accustomed to a thing which I had rareley seen in large quantities...kindness. I lived Redwalls, food, generosity,and most of all, the young children, called Dibbuns. I told stories of my adventures to them, and, until I was found by the badger who insisted on keeping me out of trouble, taught how to wrestle. Me and Juali alike were taught to read, though he enjoyed it greatly, and I found it only slighly interesting compared to my other skills. I did, however, find a strange thing called painting, which I mastered quickly and spent much of my time at. I painted scenes from my memory, as well as pictures of redwall and it's surroundings. Redwall life was beautiful, and I felt joy that I had never felt before, but soon I began to feel restless for the road and wished for a time when I could show my skill in combat. I told Juali of my rioling spirit, and he told me of another place, which he had been told about by his mother. It's name was Salamandastron. I traveled for two weeks to The Mountain that Juadi had told me about, and finally found my place inside it's cavern walls with hares and badgers. I engaged in my first battle, and felt the blood-red rage of battle boil inside me. We won the battle, and I was accepted as one of Salamandastron's soldiers. I have lived here since, with occasional visits to Redwall, and I believe I have found my calling here.