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Mission #19: Brother Rewnan's Last Journey
By Lacroon the Gallant.
"Ho chaps! What say we stop and rest a while here, wot, wot!" spoke Lacroon to the three hares marching behind him. "Aye, I'm all fer that, Lacroon, doncha know!" said the tall, gangly hare just behind him as he stopped and pulled off his knapsack. "Fah the last time, chaps, it's Commander Lacroon to ye, Longpaw! Lord Tammo put be in charge o' the lot o' ye, and ah think a little bit o' respect's in ordah, wot!" Murmurs of assent rose from his traveling party of fighting hares. To the left of Longpaw sat Strongeyes, a young hare with a light brown coat, the best scout in Lord Tammo's ranks. On the other side of Strongeyes was Okean, a tough, gray hare with muscles resembling a solid rock face. He had his back against a rock and was gazing at the nearby stream as it flowed gently by. Sitting down heavily and plucking an apple from his haversack, Lacroon gazed at his companions. Feeling guilty for losing his temper, he sheepishly apologized and began eating his apple. "Ah, think nothing of it, Commander, we're jus' a mite tired. It's been weeks of hard marchin' and we're barely half o' the way. Come t'think of it, I'm positively famished, 'ave ye another apple in--" began Okean until the sound of a twig cracking silenced him. In a flash, Lacroon's and Longpaw's swords were out and Okean had hefted his huge pike. Strongeyes glanced around with his hand on the longbow he always carried, then silently pointed in the direction of the sound. On the ground lay a large, scarred rat with a trident held limply in one paw and a snout which rose and fell with its heavy breathing. Holding a finger to his lips, Lacroon stole over to the rat, motioning for the rest to follow. When the beast was surrounded, Lacroon took his weapon away and the other hares hoisted the vermin to his feet. "Er..what? Tarll? Is that you, matey...no, isa bunch'a rabbits! Leggo o' me filthy h'animals! I weren't doin' nothing. Leggo!" protested the cringing rat. Ignoring his pleas, Lacroon demanded, "Wot would a scraggly, 'alf-baked excuse for a beast like you be doin' in these parts, might I ask, sah? I have never seen a vermin without a horde before, make yer report, sah!" "Ah, maisters, y'see now I comes upon hard times hereaboutes, an', an', did I mention Ah'm naught but a pore ol' 'ealer--" began the unfortunate vermin. "Lies, all of it. I doubt you'll tell us anything helpful; Okean, Longpaw, let the chap go. Now, rat, I don't know, nor care, why you're here, but I will advise get out o' my sight quickly, before I run you through, understood?" That was all the rat needed to hear. In a few seconds he was crashing through the woods out of sight. The hares packed up their supplies and continued a little way before a large, red squirrel hopped down from a rowan into the path in front of them. "Hello, goodbeasts, my name's Ruddylad, where are you headed?" requested the big squirrel. Lacroon noted that Ruddylad had a bow strung over one shoulder and a quiver of dangerous-looking arrows at his side. "We're the Seventh Rediment, Platoon 12, Fighting Hares of Salamandastron. I'm Commander Lacroon, and these hares are Corporal Longpaw, Sergeant Okean, and Private Strongeyes. Lord Tammo of the Mountain sent us chaps to Redwall Abbey to bring an oldbeast to the jolly old mount, wot wot." "Well, good day to ye. I happen to be headed to the Abbey as well. My father, Friar Ruddybark, is cookin' up a grand ould feast for the beginning of summer. We c'n travel together!" Soon the group was marching onward again, as the sun came down behind them.
Some days later, Strongeyes came dashing into camp one morning after scouting ahead. "It's only a two-day's march from hereabouts, Commander, you c'n even see the ol' battlements from the clearin' up ahead!" he panted. Commander Lacroon picked up his pack and stood, saying, "Righto, good work, sah. Here, Strongeyes, take this pack of food. Y c'n rest awhile here and catch up to us when y' feel like it, wot? The rest of you, we're settin' off. Right, quick march! Left, right left!" And off the crew went, followed soon after by Strongeyes.
A crown of Redwallers, mice, moles, squirrels, hedgehogs, and voles, clad in green habits and other woodland attire cheered as the Long Patrol hares and Ruddylad came into view. Abbess Gretchen, the abbey's leader for many seasons was with the procession, and from the turrets streamed banners of blue, purple, and, of course, red. Amidst many welcoming paws and hearty pawshaking, the fivesome were led through the great doors and into the Abbey's Great Hall. A fest of all manners was laid out upon the huge table, salads, countless breads and rolls, soups, stes, and pasties. On a trolley being wheeled in was a gargantuan white cake, iced with light red frosting and traced with almonds and cherries in intricate patterns. Never had the Salamandastron warriors seen such an array, and after the formalities were through, the hares heartily dug in with the rest of the abbeybeasts. "Er, mumph, pass me anutter one o' these mushroom an' onion pasties, willyer, Ruddylad?" groaned Okean to the squirrel beside him. "Not unless, munch, munch, you pass-pour me a tankard of that dandelion cordial. This hotroot soup is strong!" "Ah'm actually a bit partial to a few bilberry scones, pass me a few, Longpaw, and that's a jolly old order, wot!" "Aye, sir, wouldnae let th' commander go a-hungry, right chums?" And so went on the Feast of Summer's Start for another hour or so, then a call went up for singing and jigging to begin. Whatever beasts weren't too stuffed to move anywhere took part, and the rest clapped and sang in on choruses. It was a grand old evening!
The next morning, the crew was introduced to Brother Rewnan, the old Abbey dweller who would accompany the hares home. The frail, old mouse truly did look near to Dark Forest's gate, and the Abbey creatures had built a comfortable cart for him to sit in which the hares could take turns pulling along. With many goodbyes and expressed hopes of another visit, the platoon set out, Okean and Lacroon taking the first pulling shift. Full packs and happy hearts left with them from the wonderful place they had just barely had time to see. Ruddylad had seen them off, but was going to stay with his parents at the Abbey for awhile. Strongeyes was again set out to cout ahead for some time, with Longpaw guarding the procession. Although speed was important, they needed to be careful not to hurt the old mouse. Also, Lacroon kept thinkin about the rat that was found sleeping in the forest on their way to Redwall. He didn't want to be ambushed by a mob of searats, what with Rewnan to take care of. Hopefully Strongeyes would foresee any trouble before they ran into it. About midday, just when Lacroon was about to call a halt, there were some loud crashing noises coming from the hill ahead. Thinking quickly, he told Longpaw and Okean to wheel the cart behind a clump of trees a way back, hiding Rewnan from whatever lay ahead. The three hares gripped weapons and craned their necks for a better view, until they saw Strongeyes crashing to their clearing, a broken arrow lodged in his shoulder. Gasping and panting, he pointed behind him to a band of black and gray searats and weasels who were cresting the hill. They all wielded weapons and had dangerous looks in their eyes. "Forward chaps, attack! Strongeyes, stay back, shoot arrows if'n you c'n. Watch out for the mouse! Eulaliiiaaaaaaa!"
Lacroon, followed closely by Okean and Longpaw, sped forward brandishing his long sword and screaming the warcry of Salamandastron. The vermin slowed quickly, not having known that more hares would appear and charge them and looked uncertainly towards the hares. After some hefty whacks from Okean's pike, the group began to break up. The swords of Longpaw and Lacroon, followed by some swift arrows of Strongeyes were enough to convince the ones who were able to take off. In a moment the situation was assessed. Three rats and a weasel lay dead on the ground, including the rat that had been found on the way to Redwall. A little way off, two more vermin attempted to hobble away, wounded badly. Aside from Strongeyes' injury, no damage had been recieved on the hares' side. Longpaw, who knew something of healing, bandaged up the wound and carefully the group traveled on. Okean supported Strongeyes whilde Lacroon and Longpaw towed the cart.
Salamandastron was in sight, finally. Brother Rewnan, who had previously been looking very near to death, had livened up considerably at the thought of how close he was to the sea. The hares hadn't run into any other trouble since the band of vermin, and had taken turns telling Rewnan stories of Salamandastron and the ocean that they knew. Strongeyes' shoulder was in working order again, and he resumed his position as scout. The day finally came when they approached the mountain. Hares and other creatures all stood out to meet the home comers and the Redwall mouse. A fest of Salamandastron fare was laid out for everybeast, and Lord Tammo and Rewnan talked for some time that evening. Bright an' early the next morn, all went out to the shore with Rewnan and watched the sun rise and the gulls come out. Rewnan watched, happy and content, before finally closing his eyes for the last time.