Fall

[terg]

Bryric halted and looked helplessly at Tirael, an apologetic look in his gaze. Figuring violence wouldn't help the matter at all, Bryric tried a different approach.

"Now hold on Weghul. You don't really think you can get away. Right now all I have to do his signal and several of the abbeys best archers will send arrows into you," he bluffed. "What do you plan to do with Tirael anyway? You can't get out of the abbey, beacause you'll be slain instantly by a horde of blood thirsy vermin. If you back awy from tirael right now, I'm sure we can work somthing out for you." Preferably a dark room in the cellar, he added to himself.

Bryric slid his foot forward barely, trying to get closer to the pair. He glanced back at Lachie, hoping he would have the sense to run and get help, though maybe he should have done that before facing Weghul... to late now. his gaze shifted to the walltops where Barr and severall others stood, despretly wishing they would come down and help him. He couldn't yell at them though for fear that Weghul would carry out his gruesom threats.

[stormmouce]

Stormmouce was right above them looking down and was think of something to do. He got an idea he took out his chain wrap it around the wall top and stared lowering him self down right behind the rat that had a captive in his paws.

[Skipper]

((I do apologize for the long delay. Terribly sorry. I'll be quicker about it next time, Lord willing.))

---

Lachie didn't know what to do. He'd exhausted every possible thing a lame otter could do. By this point, he'd given up, inwardly. Bryric tried reasoning, the only remaining option.

"Now hold on Weghul. You don't really think you can get away. Right now, all I have to do his signal, and several of the abbeys best archers will send arrows into you. What do you plan to do with Tirael anyway? You can't get out of the abbey, because you'll be slain instantly by a horde of bloodthirsty vermin. If you back away from Tirael right now, I'm sure we can work something out for you."

Lachie was ready for any response Weghul might provide -- couldn't be any worse than the previous few, but just as Lachie began to concede defeat completely about the matter, he noticed something coming up from behind Weghul. A tree branch? A staff. Skipper!

The otter planned to bring the weapon down hard on the rat's skull. His intention was to at least stun him long enough to allow Tirael to escape.

But before he could move another inch, a loud crashing noise sounded from the east. The gates! They were being rammed! Lachie's head snapped around to see the gates bulge inward as the outside battering ram struck a second time. There was no time. Either they had to attempt a mad dash for the tunnels, or continue fighting Weghul until they were overtaken by other vermin anyway.

Suddenly, Barr appeared from around the corner. He saw Lachie, and sprinted in the seer's direction. "Lachie!" He looked over at Weghul and Tirael, and made as though to do something about it, but Lachie held up a paw and shook his head.

"There's no time fur that now. Jus' go find as many beasts as ye can, an' get to the tunnels." Again, Barr made as though to speak, but Lachie interjected before he could utter a word. "No, I've to stay 'ere. Go!"

Barr turned his head to look at Bryric, as though asking the mouse to come with him. There was nothing to be done about Weghul that couldn't be better spent allowing as many beasts to escape the abbey as possible. Lachie knew that he would hinder their escape, and would greatly lessen the possibility of its success. Beside this, Tirael should be watched by somebeast, and who better than one who felt the need to make up for worsening it in the first place?

[dirgecallers]

Weghul saw that only one otter was left(Or so he thought). He also saw the horde that was rushing up behind the otter. Fear gripped the rats heart. What if he was not able to assert his position in time? That would surely mean ruin for him. Again, they might not see him as a potential asset. In the end, he was just one more fool with a knife.

Weghul dropped the knife. He knew the otter would immediatly capitalize on this 'mistake' but he didnt care anymore. The horde...would not show discretion to any of them. They might all be dead beasts. Vermin or goodbeast, it was all the same. It might be better to go down surrendering, then finding at the last moment that his gesture was useless.

The rat stepped away from Tirael, sick to his stomach. What had he done to this otter? For the sake of saving his own skin, he had put an innocent beast in jeopardy. Not that Weghul was dwelling upon that fact. To Weghul, the sick feeling was just written off as indigestion.

He was trapped like a rat and there was no place to go. No place but out that is.

(done)

[Tirael]

"Now hold on Weghul. You don't really think you can get away. Right now all I have to do his signal and several of the abbeys best archers will send arrows into you. What do you plan to do with Tirael anyway? You can't get out of the abbey, because you'll be slain instantly by a horde of blood thirsty vermin. If you back awy from Tirael right now, I'm sure we can work something out for you."

That sounded nice. Of course, anything that would get the knife away from Tirael's neck sounded nice; he wasn't picky. Given that the only way to back off from the knife was to move closer to his captor, he almost didn't want to move at all. So, he simply stood, petrified, the steel of the blade pressed lightly against his fur, reminding him that no matter how much he tried to calm himself or pretend otherwise, he was in danger.

Hearing Barr's voice, the young otter opened looked over hopefully, finding that the sea otter was being forestalled by his son. True, it was more important that as many be allowed to escape instead of just saving him, but he couldn't help feel like maybe he merited at least a little help.

Apparently, though, he didn't need it, as Weghul dropped the knife.

It took Tirael a moment to realize it, and another moment to realize he needed to get away, fast. Wriggling out of the rat's loosened grip, he began to run toward Lachie, but only got about a yard before he accidentally used his hurt leg, stumbled, and somehow limp-ran the rest of the way to his friend. Glancing quickly at the approaching enemies, he said, "We're leaving NOW," pushing his footpaw into the grass and getting the chair moving. The fact that there wasn't anywhere to run didn't occur to him; he was operating on instinct now.

[terg]

Bryric sighed with relief as Weghul dropped his weapon and fled. His first instinct was to chase after him but then he rembered poor Tirael. He turned to see the young otter limping toward him. He was surprised he could stil walk.

"Ya ok Tir? Looked like 'e stomped on ye pretty good."

ThenTirael's intetntions became apparent.

"Aye, right. Both of you need to get out."

Bryric glanced at the main gate. Obviously it wouldn't hold much longer. The old strong oak would soon serve as a red carpet for the vermin. Bryric turned to Barr a questioning look in his eyes.

"I think we need to get the old uns and Dibbuns out. We can let Tirael and Lachie lead 'em to saftey."

The old squirrel flinched a thunderous crunch came from the gates. He despretly wished Barr to do somthing, to bring forth his warrior skills and slaughter the vermin. He knew it was hopeless though. Even Barr couldn't stop the massive army outside.

(Shortness, sorry)

[stormmouce]

Stormmouces was still on his chain when he seen that oak gates broke he quikley ran back up to git the sythe and git down the staris to hold off the vermin for the abby beast to eascap. He got to the main abbey building and stood in the why of the vermin ready to put his life on the line for his new friends still inside. He wrap his chain around his paw and took a fighting stans as the vermin came at him. Never one to ran from a fight he would rather die fighting for his friends life and freedom.

[Skipper]

Blake struck out with his footpaw, sending the last of the wall-scaling rats into empty space. With a look of disgust, he viewed the two bloody swords in his paws, but in recognition of the urgency of the current situation, he sped off toward the stairs that led to the grounds, having sighted Barr and Bryric below. They seemed to have a plan, and Blake had enough sense to join them.

---

"I think we need to get the old uns and Dibbuns out. We can let Tirael and Lachie lead 'em to saftey."

Barr shook his head, watching Tirael and Lachie push off. "We don't 'ave time!" he said quickly, glancing at the gate, bulging under the force of another blow. Already, he was taking several steps toward the Great Hall as he spoke. Lachie finished his thought. "Aye, there's a way out inna cellars, but we can't possibly get everybeast outta Cavern'ole afore it's too late..." The best they could do was make a mad dash for the cellars, take as many beasts as could be found along the way, and hope for the best.

---

((Sorry for the abrupt end. I'm still short on time.))

[terg]

Bryric nodded, and followed Barr at a dash for Cavern Hole. He tried despretly to forget his weariness but it gripped at him like an iron clamp. Neverthless he continued at a run until he reached the crowded room. With his remaining breath he called "Get everyun' don to the cellers! We've gotta get out!" His cries where only slightly audible above the hubbub in the room. Bryric looked to Barr hping he could best his own pitiful attempt.

[Tirael]

"Ya ok Tir? Looked like 'e stomped on ye pretty good."

"I'll be fine," Tirael said briefly. As he rolled the chair swiftly back toward the main building, he realized that something wasn't going to work that he'd have to fix. Now.

Skidding to a halt outside the main doors, he panted and said, "Lachie, I don't want to ask this, but we don't have any time. We can't get you out of here in a chair." Placing his paws on his friend's shoulders, he said hesitantly, "You have to walk. Like, now." A loud crash[/b] caused him to look back sharply. The gates were through; he could even see a few of the attackers through the cracks and the flames. Grabbing one of Lachie's paws, he heaved him up out of the chair, throwing the arm over his shoulder to support him. "Come on, together we should have at least two working legs!..." It was only sort-of a joke; by his calculations, he wasn't far off. "Come on! Everybody to the cellars, there's a way out!"

[[Blegh. Baaad.]]

[Skipper]

Lachlan, overcome with a sense of urgency, nearly asked Tirael what the heck he was stopping for. He placed his paws on the wheels before he could think, stopping only to let the healer explain himself.

"Lachie, I don't want to ask this, but we don't have any time. We can't get you out of here in a chair. You have to walk. Like, now. Come on, together we should have at least two working legs!..."

The sea otter hesitated for a second or two, but reluctantly accepted this fact. He rose to his working footpaw, keeping the other from taking any sort of pressure. His vision suddenly blurred, nearly forcing him to sit back down again; gravity pulled Lachie's blood down as he stood up, leaving his brain with very little oxygen to work with. It was something he rarely experienced, and so worried him. "Woah," he said to indicate a necessary pause. "Okay, okay, let's go..."

Lachie tried to explain as he hopped along unsteadily. "We need t'get to the cellars. There's a tunnel next to the-- the er, elderberry wine, I think. Everybeast else should catch up soon enough..." Lachie found it strangely difficult to walk, his leg now unaccustomed to standing, let alone walking.

---

"Get everyun' don to the cellers! We've gotta get out!" had yelled Bryric.

The attempts did little to gain the attention of anybeast, save a few who took of, darting out of Cavern Hole. Somebeast yelled back "Wot good wudd the cellars do t'protect us?!" The general noise, already intensified by the acoustics of the cavern, grew louder still.

Barr stood at the entrance, and roared so that the entire assembly of beasts flinched. "SILENCE!"* Surely enough, silence ensued. The burly otter continued. "I need everybeast to calmly make their way to the cellars, starting with you," he pointed to the nearest family, his voice lightening only slightly, "There is a tunnel leading under the abbey. It's the only escape from. . ." The rest of his words became inaudible as the noise in the cavern increased tenfold its previous level.

Deciding he could do no more, Barr turned to Bryric as he hurried along a particularly slow group of abbeybeasts. "Help me get these beasts to the cellars! Don't let anybeast be trampled!"

---

Blake reached the main doors when a horrifying noise sounded from behind. The mouse spun around, eyes widened. Somebeast shouted above all the noise. "They've broken the gates!"

---

((*sigh* Sorry, that's all I've got. Pming you, Dirge.))

[dirgecallers]

The goodbeasts had headed for the cellar, of that much Weghul was sure. In times of need, why go there? There ought to be nothing down there except....a way out? The rat had heard them speaking of something down there, and he was determined to find it first. So that was why he was not surprised to find that he was the first one there, at the bottom of the abbey.

He had just managed to find the seceret tunnel when there was a loud clamour. The lights suddenly came on, and there was a mass of beasts pouring into the bowels of Redwall. In a flash, Weghul knew that his time was probably up. If he had to go, then he might as well attempt to escape. At a run, the rat made a dive and managed to reach the tunnel entrance first.

Silence suddenly reigned, with the mob of beasts staring at the rat blocking the entrance. "Fer you and yew," Weghul started, randomly jabbing his finger at various abbey beasts. "I bit yew woulda likka go done dis tunnel here? Well tis too bad, it only fits one beastatime. N' I go firs." The rat saw some of the abbey dwellers move menancingly toward him.

Knowing he was unlikely to survive a fight, the rat stepped aside a bit. "If de oi go first, den yew no follow until I out of soight. Bit if yew try to follow,"...At this Weghul toyed with the stopper to a cask of elderberry wine. "Den I make dis hole place a sticky so no un of yews can escape!"

A particularly strong looking otter raced foward to try to stop the rat.

He was almost on Weghul when the rat unstoppered (real word or not?) the cask.

(done. Crappy I know)

[terg]

Bryric scooped of Dibbunsa and carried them down into the cellars only to race back up again and search for more. He held onto the paws of older beasts to keep them from stumbling on the sandstone stairs. He ushered stagglers forward, urging them to hurry. He was groaning inside and nearly jumping with frustration. How could they go so slow? He heard the horrible crash the announced the arrival of the vermin. If they didn't hurry they wouldn't be able to get everyone out.

Bryric ran up to Great Hall and stood on his tip paws to see out a window. The sight was horrifying. Those who had stayed out to fight where falling like leaves in autumn. The vermin; rats, stoats, ferrets and other evil looking beasts, where slaughtering them, cutting through like harvesters through a wheat field. Bryric shut his eyes and turned away unused to such acts fo violence, although he had seen some in his earliar life...

The squirrel rushed back into Cavern Hole and pushed two mice infront of him. They where barely out of Dibbun hood, but each held a broom stick and kitchen knife in preperation to go fight the vermin. He tried to talk some sense into them but eventually ended up dragging them away and escorting them to the cellars.

When he rached the cellars, chaos was raining. A sticky substance covered the floor and everyone was screaming. Babes dipped their paws into the muck and licked it, while their parents where looking away. Bryric stretched to see the hole and caught sight of a long hairless tail disappearing into the hole. It was to large to be a mouse's, so it had to be a rat's. Weghul's.

[stormmouce]

As all of this was happing Stormmouce was outside fighting like a mad beast any vermin that got in range of his swords was easily taken care. Stormmouce was trying to help the ones outside to git in but there was so many vermin so Stormmouce did a very daring thing he put his swords a way and took out his longsword and scythe and went after any beast he could git to he made it to a band of mice surrounded by vermin. Stormmouce acted quick and fast he undid his chain and throw the scythe in a large ark killing any vermin in its path. He was still thinking of how to git them to the main building he got an idea that just might work or he would die in the proses.

[Skipper]

It wasn't like him to run hastily into things like that, but the sense of urgency seemed to make irrelevant any hesitation -- besides, the rat wasn't even armed. When Weghul pulled the stopper from the keg, its contents spilled all over the floor before him. The big otter slipped, impacting the floor rather forcefully, nearly knocking the breath from his lungs. The burly otter was none other than Skipper, whose walking stick happened to be in paw at the time. Having half-expected a trick like this, he swung the staff around at the back of Weghul's knees to bring the rat to the wet floor.

No, Weghul wasn't much of a threat, and everybeast could easily push past him, but he was wasting what little valuable time currently remained.


Lachie shook his head. There was no way he could push his way through this mass of abbeybeasts. He and Tirael were too far behind them all; they were practically in the Great Hall still. Struggling to stand on his one working leg, he reached an arm out to the wall to steady himself.

The seer turned his head to Tirael. "'Ow are we going to get through? I can't--"

Blake burst through the doors of the Great Hall, apparently in midleap. Just as he landed, somebeast shoved through the entrance as well. It was a ferret, the owner of a wicked-looking blade. The mouse ducked to avoid a lethal strike, meanwhilst bringing up his arm, sword in paw, to behead the ferret. Unfortunately, successfully severing the head of somebeast is not as easy as storytellers like to make it out to be. The blade only made its way three fourths through the creature's neck, which, although horrifying, was something Blake couldn't afford to dwell upon. He quickly drew back the blade, and spun around quickly, hoping to avoid catching sight of any arterial spray. Nevertheless, something splashed his boot.

Almost immediately, a large hedgehog carrying a bookcase -- records, novels, narratives and all -- placed the furniture against the door, intending to form a barricade of sorts. Looking around, Blake saw that several others worked to accomplish the same -- they must not have expected to escape, but as long as there was a chance somebeast could, they did their best to give them as much time as possible.

Lachie beckoned to the mouse, who complied with the gesture. The otter gave him a questioning look, though also one of fear. To answer his unspoken question, Blake explained. "They've broken the gates."