Fall

[Skipper]

Lachie honestly did not expect to launch across the abbey halls like that, but found it strangely amusing, and made a mental note to try it again sometime. Unfortunately, though, he might not survive long enough to do so...

Barr was equally surprised. One moment, he was giving hasty directions to Bryric, the next, turning around to be nearly run over by his son's wheelchair. Still, there was no time to waste. "Lachie!" He quickly addressed the young otter.

"Lemme guess," he interrupted, "There's a lot o' vermin outside an' they're burning the gates. But--"

"Look," Barr returned the favor, "D'ye know anything? Right now, nobeast knows wot's going on, an' I could really use any information ye can give me."

Lachie nodded, becoming a little more serious. He positioned his paw to the side of his head, his signature pose when being a "seer," and closed his eyes tightly. "Er..." for a few seconds, Lachie searched every corner of his mind for any memory or otherwise that might be useful.

He shook his head. "I've got nothing." He thought for a second. "I'd 'ave to see 'im so that I could read 'is mind."

"Lachie, we don't have that much t..." Barr began to object, but decided there was no other alternative. If Lachie really could read the situation, there was no point in refusing him this opportunity on account of danger. Frustrated, Barr reluctantly consented.

((That's all I've time for for now. Basically, I'm suggesting Tirael wheel Lachie to the stairs that lead up to the walltop, where Barr will help him lift Lachie up all the way to the top.

[Lachie goes down stairs on his own, though.]))

[Nari Windrustle]

For some reason, Nari was the last to awaken...or so it seemed. When someone did care enough to wake her, and when she managed to dress herself and clumsily gather her weapons through clouds of drowsiness, she managed to get outside into the Abbey Grounds and see, what it seemed, that every beast in the Abbey was awake and taking part in the chaos. At that time, Nari had to slap herself to fully come to awareness of what was around her. Burning gates, frightened dibbuns and mothers rushing to hopefully a place where they would be safe, and other panicked creatures trying their best to douse the flames. 'Now who,' Nari thought, still remnants of sleepiness causing irritability. 'Who would ever be up at this early in the morning to do something like this?

That thought led her to the ramparts, on top of the walls to peer outside the red stones' protection. Dozens of small lights, more than she cared to count, dotted the blackness not to far away. 'Not too far away, but still to far away to burn the gates.' Nari bit her lip, racking her brain for inspiration as she watched the approaching threat march with worried eyes. What did this mean? If the obvious threat before us couldn't who could? An inside job? No, there was no beast in Redwall who'd do this. The only explanation could be that somehow, someone got inside the walls or managed to get close enough to the gates without alerting anybody and then escaping. Again, who could possibly do this?

Nari didn't want to just stand there. She had to do something, be useful, but what could she do that wasn't already being done?

[stormmouce]

As all of this was taking place stormmouce was looking from a tree not to far a way from the Abbey "What is gowning on over there." he said to himself he quickly picket uo his swords, scythe, and flute and ran to the Abbey to git a closer look. He end up near a tree next to the east wall to see what was gowning on in this place. Strommouce look at as other creators try to put out the fire Stormmouce was a but to ran a way from the fear of seeing the fire when his eyes look at a moucemaid he stop to look at her then Stormmouce hear a twig snap and he seen a rat with a bow at the firing stans with an arrow drown back and ready. Stormmouce had to act quickly or the moucemaid would be died so he jump out of the tree and pushed the mouse maid out of the way and took the arrow in his right shoulder and as quickly as he jump he took the vermin's right eye with his scythe. Then Stormmouce said "Next time it will be your life you scum." he then turn to see if the mouse maid was alright. As he seen her stand and pick up the bucket to put out the fire Stormmouce pick up a bucket and began to help the mouscemaid put out the fire.

When Stormmouce had time he poled out the arrow and dress his wound and git back to work putting out the fires over the wall to git to the gate. When he took a brake he lick the arrow head to see if it was poison and spat out his on blood and walk over to the side and throw the arrow over the wall. He then clean off his scythe on the inside of his cloak and put the weapon back in its sheath on his back.

He then turn to see three creators coming torus him they where a hare, the moucemaid, and a squirrel. Stormmouce bowed to them and said " Hello my name is Stormmouce the Avenger and ho is it that wants to talk to me."

[terg]

Bryric bounded out of the Abbey building again. He was feeling the effects of rushing around and exerting himself. Panting heavily he rejoined the bucket line. His arms where shaking but he carried on, ashamed to show signs of weekness. He tried to summon more strenght from his "inner reserves" like heros did in the old stories. He only succeded in realizing he was hungry. Growling to hide his exaustion he grabbed the bucket passed to him ferociously, almost dumping the contense onto the ground.

[Tirael]

Tirael regained his breath as Lachie and Barr held an urgent conference about reading...something. His mind had wandered over to what might happen in the next few hours. Certainly Redwall couldn't be taken over...could it? It had managed to go its whole history with only being conquered once, and that had only been for one night.

He tried to keep the adage 'there's a first time for everything' out of his mind.

Once father and son were done talking, Tirael faded back into reality. "So...walltops?" Without really waiting for a yes or no, he once again pushed the little chair up past its intended speed limit and out the doors. Staying with it as it flew over the two small steps to the grounds, he made a slight course change and wheeled it to an out-of-the-way wall stairway. Looking at it, he realized it was a long way up- much longer than Lachie's post-op legs could take.

Seeing a mouse on the walltop, he called, "Hey! You up there! I need your help, please!" Squinting, he tried to figure out who she was.

[[In case nobody noticed, she happens to be Nari.]]

[Nari Windrustle]

The closer the hordes of vermin, the faster panic and dismay rose inside Nari's heart. She has heard so many legends, read so many stories about the exploits of Redwall and its heroes, of how they defended their abbey from countless vermin attacks. Redwall never fell. But now what could they do against. Though she was new, she already felt an overwhelming desire to protect Redwall with her life, if neccessary, as she knew all the others here felt the same. It was now her abbey, her home, just as the many in the past. But when beasts tell the stories and say that there were millions in the vermin army, Nari didn't think it was an exaggeration this time. 'Dang it! What can I do now?'

"Hey! You up there! I need your help, please!"

Startled, Nari turned around wide-eyed, her blue gaze settling on two otters at the bottom of the stairway. The younger one was supporting the other, and he was looking up at her with distraught eyes. 'Help? Whatever for...?' Nevertheless, Nari quickly made her way down the many stairs, spotting a wheelchair behind the otters. 'Oh, that's it? And why is he bringing a handicapped otter to the walltop? Shouldn't he be escaping?' Nari sighed. It was annoying not knowing everyone yet. It was her fault she buried herself in books.

When she reached the otters, she hesitated for a bit, unsure of what to do. Or rather, sure, but unsure of whether this was what they wanted. Nari slapped herself mentally. Now was not the time. Tentatively, Nari grabbed the older otter's arm and wrapped it around her neck, supporting his weight on her shoulders. Looking across, she addressed the younger otter. "Just up the stairway, right?"

[Skipper]

Tirael raced off, and Barr had trouble keeping up. By the time he had caught up, Tirael had already called down a mousemaid to help him.

A mousemaid? Really? thought Lachie disapprovingly.

"Just up the stairway, right?"

"Right," Barr grunted. "Left," said Lachie. . . Forget this. He lifted Lachie cleanly off the ground, wheelchair and all, and made his way deliberately up the stairs. They were a bit pressed for time, and Lachie wasn't too heavy to lift for half a minute or so... How long does it take to ascend these steps? Lachie helped in the only way he could: by wheeling forward.

It wasn't very long before they had reached the walltop. Lachie took control of his chair once again, and began making his way to the western wall, where he knew he'd find the Glassmaker. Barr followed slowly, trying to catch his breath.

Orange light cascaded over Mossflower then, only complimented by that of the fires. Smoke billowed over Redwall, though the western gate had been extinguished, thanks to the Friar's quick thinking. It had taken several beasts to carry the massive pot full of water, usually implemented in the making of the deeper'n'ever turnip'n'tater'n'beetroot pie. Shadows could be seen flitting hither and thither within the smoke clouds. Some dropped from the air, swooping down on some unfortunate creature standing outside the walls. Still, one could feel no sympathy for them, for it was they who threatened the innocent beasts within the abbey.

One particular figure, appearing shorter than all the rest, seemed to be sitting motionless atop the eastern wall. Where are you? . . . Lachie searched the horde as quickly as he could. He knew this was a dangerous place to be right then, but then, so would be any other place in the abbey before too long. Then, Lachie spotted a mouse amidst the vermin -- it was difficult to spot due to its black fur. That was him. Lachie observed the distant mouse, and placed a paw to the side of his head.

Barr knew what that sign meant. Lachie was seeing something.

[stormmouce]

Mean while Stormmouce was walking around the wall to find a place to sit. He finally sat down on the east wall and pulled out his fult and started playing a song on it. But he did not now that three Dubbins were sitting right below him hiding from the danger and as they hared the music the stared to dance a mouse so them dancing and walk over to see why.

As he got closer he started to hear music and look up to see Stormmouce play an walk up the wall steps to say hi to the stranger. When the mouse got closer he sat down and look a Stormmouce "Hello my name is Will and what is your name and what is that interment you are playing" said Will. Stormmouce stop playing and look at Will and said "My name is Stormmouce and the instrument I was playing is called a fult from were i from they are called instruments of joy..." He was cut in by on of the Dubbins a mole baby how said "Pla' mor' pleaz." Stormmouce just smiled and play a norther song a lullaby and after song end all three little ones were fast asleep Will look surprised that one song put three Dubbins to sleep he ask "What was the name of that song you were playing friend." Stormmouce said "I don't now it just pop in to my head so I stared playing it."

Will was shock that his new friend plays music out of the blue he then ask "How did you learn to play that fult that you have." Stormmouce smiled and said "My grandpa gave me a wooden fult to practice with and then i was given the this reed fult. By the way do you want to learn to play the fult." Will just said "Yes I would love to play the fult." Stormmouce reach in to his pack and gave Will his old wooden fult. Then Stormmouce said "Practice with this in till you hear the music in your heart then listen for the music of the woods and other peoples hearts. Then come find me in i will make you a reed fult just like mine." Will nodded and bow to Stormmouce and said thank you. and walk down to wake up the Dubbins. Stormmouce jump down from the wall and pick up two of them and walk of to the Abbey with Will behind him looking at the wall and to the ground finally at Stormouce with passion. As they enter the Abbey Stormmouce ask were the bedrooms were to Will he just pointed to the stares and said follow me. after the got the Dubbins to bed Will gave Stormmouce a tour of the Abbey from the lower level to the top. Stormmouce stop at a tipster hanging from the wall and said "How is that he looks for miller but i don't no why?" Will walk right be side him and said "That is Martian the warrior one of the founders of this Abby and first Champion of Redwall." Stormmouce just look at the tapestry and smiled and said "Thank you Martian for bring me hear." Stormmouce bowed and walk to the door to go back out side he stop and turn and said "Will stay hear and look after the little ones for me will you i got to go for a little bit." Will said "I will guard them with my life if i have to." and with that Stormmouce left the Abby building and head out side to see what the problem was.

[dirgecallers]

It was the acrid smell of smoke that had finally awakened Weghul. Combine that with all of the clamour and mass panic that was rampant in Redwall, and it was impossible for the rat to sleep. He cared little for whatever was happening, and frankly he did not understand the situation very well. He was, as many beasts had said, not a very bright rat.

He opened the door to his room, and straightaway had to duck. All sorts of beasts were running up and down the hall, trying to seek shelter of some sort. Cleary the hallway was a bad exit. There was a good chance that he might get squeezed in the melee, or trampled underfoot. "Fergit the hall" He muttered to himself, as he closed his room door.

Moving to the window, he wedged open the window sill and looked out. It was still very dark outside, but even from his room he could see what was going on. The glint of torches shone in the distance, and beasts were crowding the walltops for space. Much shouting and jostling was going on here, as it had in the hallway. Then Weghul detected something else: The smell of burning. It was high time to get out of here and seek shelter.

Looking downward, the rat saw that his room overlooked a lower roof. This lower roof had a curtain at the end, which overhung the ground. Weghul figured he had nothing to lose after all. He jumped. It was not a smooth landing by any means nor the safest. Only later did Weghul learn that he could have been killed by his foolhardy endeavor.

Once on the ground, the rat did not feel like getting up. Luckily no major part of his body was injured, but he had some rather bad bruises. "Mus' git uppa run!" He told himself. Using a exertation that would have killed a lazier rat, Weghul pulled himself upright. What he saw was not particulairy enticing. He was facing the front gate of Redwall abbey. And it was burning.

Behind the large gaps now visible in the gateway, Weghul could see faces. Vermin, obviously, beasts like him had done this. A new thought went into his head. He was vermin like they were. Why should they have to kill him? He owed nothing to 'those dern reddywallers'. He could maybe stike a deal, compromise.

Of course the best way to do that was by proving he was an ally. And the best way to do that was to take a hostage. Yes. An old creature or Dibbun would do quite nicely. But where to find a weapon and a hostage at the same time?

Suddenly Weghul knew. With great alacrity, he made a dash for the East wall. With luck some beast would trust him enough to think he could lead them out. They would never suspect until it was too late.

Even amongst amnesiacs, gratitude is not born in rats.

(done)

[Tirael]

Tirael watched as Nari descended the steps, wishing all the while it had been a badger on the wall; it would make helping Lachie all that much easier. Once she had arrived, he said, "Okay, we've just got to-" He hadn't expected Barr to carry his son, plus the chair, by himself. Turning to Nari, he shrugged. "Well...thanks anyways." Following Barr, he stopped midway up the stairs as he noticed an unusual figure heading their way. Briefly considering whether to follow the others or intercept the approaching creature. Sighing, he hurried back down the steps.

Squinting, he arched in eyebrows in surprise as he realized who was coming. Not that he knew his name, he hadn't spoken to the rat; saving his life hadn't involved words, just medicine and some very nerve-wracking surgery. "What are you doing out here!? Get back to the main building, something's going on and you're not in any condition to defend yourself!" Tilting his head, he studied Weghul's face. Tirael wasn't the type to automatically brand 'vermin' as evil, but something about this particular rat was...disconcerting.

[terg]

Now that the fire was out Bryric was helping to stack the many buckets, cauldrons and other implements that had been used to carry water. He was so thankful for the friar's quick thinking. The gates looked badly charred and Bryric wondered how strong it still was. Could it be knocked down with a good kick? What about a battering ram? He dropped the last bucket onto the pile with the rest and exited the small gardening shed.

His thoughts flew around but his paws where dragging as he made his way up to the wall where Barr was standing. His gray fur was smudged with darker splotches of soot and ash. As he arrived at the top of the wall he surveyed the creatures there. Barr and Lachie where standing and Lachie looked as if he was sleeping. Bryric wondered what they where doing but he decided it best not to intrude.

"What are you doing out here!? Get back to the main building, something's going on and you're not in any condition to defend yourself!"

Bryric glanced down at Tirael and Weghul. He disliked tthe rat but the rules of hospitality at Redwall kept him from expressing his unease. What was he doing out here? Tirael was right of course, he should have been in Cavern Hole with the older beasts and Dibbuns.

[dirgecallers]

Weghul paid no heed to Tireal's cries. However, in order to fool him sufficiently enough, he acted as if he was in dire distress. Jumping up and down, he bounded right to his side in a matter of seconds. "Yeh ottah!" He cried, making sure he sounded sincere and scared. "Teh danger also outta here!"

Putting on a rather terrible act, at least for a rat, Weghul commenced. "Dey gonna burnna all, fire all," He whined. "Den dey slay allus to death! We git outta here! I no want burn to death!" As if seeking a sudden inspiration, the rat pointed towards the wall, apparently trying to find something.

"De wall, I was a here de other day." Weghul wheezed, in what he hoped was an urgent tone. "I founda hole, inna wall niceandtight. Nobeast din know cept me." He backed a bit away from Tirael, and motioned to him. "Din dis way secretpath, we git out of here. You wanna follow?"


(done)

[Skipper]

By the time Barr had walked all the way to where Lachie was sitting, the young otter was bouncing up and down in his chair, obviously not something he would be doing hadn't he seen anything. Mature as Lachie could be, he could be extremely dibbunish just as well.

Lachie stopped quite suddenly, and raised his paw. Barr didn't understand. Lachie began to bounce up and down in his chair again, when Barr humored him. "Yes?..." Nothing... "... Lachie?..."

"I know who 'e is," said Lachie quite simply upon lowering his paw.

"... Well..." Barr was becoming a little frustrated now with his son's antics. "Who is 'e?"

Finally, the seer elucidated. "'Is name is the Glassmaker. 'E's a mouse, but 'is fur's coloured black, which makes 'im a little 'ard t'point out, but once ye see 'im, he's 'ard to ferget. Some'ow, he took out the leaders o' three different armies simultaneously, prob'ly just afore they marched 'ere..."

Barr interrupted the rambling psychic. "Lachie, is there any way we kin win this?"

"No, none at all."

. . . . . . Well, that settles that.

Barr immediately shot straight to the point. "All right. Lachie." He looked at his son sternly. "I need you to close your eyes..."

Lachie's wide eyes then became very anxious, putting on the serious attitude his father expressed. These moments could mean life or death.

---

Blake Enslin was very much distressed. He had checked all through Cavern Hole, but he couldn't find his son. Where in the abbey was Kitt? Dressed in his outdoors apparel, the mouse darted across the grounds.

As he ran, he heard a suspicious noise in the Gardens. He stopped running, and tread carefully, scanning the area for the source of the sound. His breath returned to him when he saw little Kitt sitting alone in the middle of the strawberries. Inexpressibly thankful that his son was safe, the swordsmouse lifted the tiny babe, and began walking speedily back toward the main building. Everybeast was gathering in Cavern Hole, and it was probably best to follow.

But as he walked, something foul caught his eye. Weghul. The two had bumped into each other day, in no uncertain terms. It seemed that he was trying to tell, or show, Tirael something. Concerned for young Tirael's well-being, he approached quickly, the back of his mind buzzing about with warnings of the impending danger of the vermin horde outside, waiting to do Heaven knows what to the inhabitants of the abbey.

Before he could begin to shout to get Tirael's attention, he ran right into Bryric. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to keep an eye on where he was walking. And he should really stop meeting up with beasts like this...

---

Atop the western wall, Lachie's eyes were shut, and his expression twisted as though in pain. Barr watched on in awe as Lachie's paws, resting on the arms of his chair, began to shake violently. The young otter seemed to be muttering something, but it seemed only another symptom of the state he was in, and was therefore incomprehensible and muddled, the noises moving along as quickly as the images flashing in his mind. Behind closed eyelids, his pupils were rolled up out of sight, revealing only the whites of his eyes. If ever there was a time all of Lachie's psychic skill came into play, it was this time.

---

((Sorry, Terg, if this seems like godmodding. You can just ignore or change what I wrote if it does (by "change," of course, I mean that you can just assume that something else happened. I just thought that you might want Bryric to have something to do besides observe what everyone else is doing).

And yes, readers, I am leaving you with a cliffhanger concerning Lachie. I'll finish that part up in my next post.))

[The Glassmaker]

The Glassmaker glared coldly back at Lachie, who stared back. That otter knew something. The moment was short-lived. A much larger otter approached, and spoke with the younger. He couldn't tell what they were saying -- they were too far away. The younger pointed toward the Glassmaker, and the elder's gaze followed, but had trouble finding him. Then, they saw each other. As the young sea otter's eyes rolled back and shut tight, the elder one looked back at the Glassmaker one last time. The two locked eyes for what seemed an eternity (though 'twas only a second, in reality), and there seemed to be a mutual understanding between the two.

The dark mouse dismissed him, and Barr returned the favor.

* * *

Thirty beasts stood out from the rest of the horde -- quite literally -- surrounding the abbey. Each carried a hook, intended for climbing over the abbey walls, and those surrounding them stepped away to give them enough room. The plan was well rehearsed, and it would most certainly not fail. At the worst, five would fail.

Everybeast holding a hook swung it around a little to get a last feel for their instruments, followed by swinging them up, and over the wall. All but four succeeded in latching onto the wall tops. As rehearsed, vermin immediately began climbing up the thick ropes attached to the hooks. Redwall would soon be swarming with "vermin." Unfortunately for those on the ropes, they would most likely not survive. They were more of a diversion...

Now where was that battering ram?

[[Permission for any and all god-modding in this post granted by Administrator Skipper.]]

[Tirael]

Weghul's frantic and terrified gestures and babbling were a little fishy, but Tirael was convinced enough that he payed attention. It was a good thing for Weghul that he did, too, or else he wouldn't have had a clue what the rat was talking about. Even as he tried his hardest to interpret the fast, jabbered accent, he wasn't sure what was being said.

"I founda hole, inna wall niceandtight. Nobeast din know cept me." He backed a bit away from Tirael, and motioned to him. "Din dis way secretpath, we git out of here. You wanna follow?"

That did it. Though Tirael didn't trust the rat, and he was acting rather strange, the possibility of a safe, secret exit for the abbeydwellers who couldn't defend themselves was too important to pass up. Suppressing his doubts, he looked back uncertainly, nodded, and said, "Um...alright. But we have to hurry, maybe we can get some of the others out before it's too late." Looking back once more at the group on the walltop, he bit his lip and wondered if he was making the right choice. Once again, however, he suppressed his doubts and headed off in the direction Weghul had indicated.