User blog:Martin2/The Storm

Prologue
The ancient mouse slowly stood up and approached the gathered Dibbuns. “Well that’s the end of that story, young uns.” He intoned. The Dibbuns groaned collectively. “Wanta’ nother’ story Brother Savus’!!!” A mousebabe cried. Salvus the Elder grinned and reached for a tome on the Gatehouse shelf. “This story is an old favorite of mine.” He said. The dust flew as he opened the dusty old volume. He began to read.

Chapter 1
Coll fell down over the dormitory stairs onto the sandstone floor. “Oarrin, you….! I’ll pay you back for that!” Oarrin, who had pushed Coll down the steps, ran away laughing. Coll rose to his paws and glanced at the empty holders driven into the wall for the Sword of Martin the Warrior. For what must have been the millionth he wished the legendary weapon was still at the Abbey. It had been stolen years ago when the previous Abbey Warrior was overwhelmed by a vermin horde. Though the Long Patrol had arrived in time to defeat the band, the sword was never recovered. He stood there, lost in thought until Mary the Badgermum bumped into him. “Coll, idle paws never did anybeast good!” she scolded. Coll backed away, muttering apologies. “Go to the kitchens and help the Friar out, young man!” Mary ordered. “Yes, ma’am.” Said Coll. “You should be more like Oarrin, now there’s a respectable mouse!” she yelled after him. If only she knew, thought Coll. He knew from bitter experience that Oarrin could do no wrong in the eyes of the elders. Anything Coll told them was just trying to blot the mouse’s good record. He gazed longingly at the empty sword hanger, then hurried off to the kitchen’s before Mary got after him again. A pair of yellow eyes stared out from the darkness of the night in Mossflower. Elledis, the Warlord of the southern coasts, was alive! They had all thought her to be dead when she was carried off by the hawk, but no, nobeast alive could defeat her! She had lost her marvelous blade during the fall, but she would reclaim that later. The only thought in her mind now was revenge! Revenge on those Abbey bumpkins and those despicable hares! She would lay a blade to them all! Lord Thunderstripe of Salamandastron gazed out towards the distant eastern woods. Although he could not see it, he knew exactly where Redwall Abbey was in his line of vision. He turned back to his forge and loaded coal into his forge. He began to pound at the steel he had selected and it was soon an elegant rapier. He was troubled by the battle at Redwall Abbey some six seasons back. He could not believe that a Warlord like Elledis could have been killed by a mere fall. No, she would return, and with no warrior to protect them, Redwall Abbey would be at her mercy.