User blog:Wild Doogy Plumm/The Conquest

Chapter 1
It was a cold night on the shores of western Mossflower Woods. The ocean stretched on to the horizon line then faded into the night sky. Amid the sand dunes and the rocks stood Salamandastron,the mountain of the fire-lizard. The huge rock tower loomed high into the air, an impenetrable fortress. Sitting at a window high on the mountain's face, was an old hare in a pink regimental tunic with medals and badges pinned on it everywhere. By his side was strapped a rapier, thin and perilous looking though old. The hare was gray with a few white spots on him here and there. His eyes looked tired and worn out. His bristling moustachio was waxed and trimmed and in his hardened old paws he held a cup of tea. A knock on the door behind him broke the silence, and a deep voice called in, "General, may I come in please? I have have something for you." The old hare turned and called out, "Come in Colonel Ropaus." The door opened, and in stepped Colonel Gideon E. Ropaus with a tray of heaped high with food. "The cook sends his compliments and this tray of tucker, he knows how you like to eat up here in your room, the bally mess hall can get rather noisy at times wot." General Norbew Warpaw smelled appreciatively from the tray as Colonel Ropaus handed it to him. "Ahhh, leek and onion pastie, my favorite! Oh, and some fresh salad, top hole wot!" "There's also some cordial, though I know you prefer tea these days sah." said Ropaus. "Oh I'm tired of filppin tea, wot. I'll have some of that cordial." said the General. As Ropaus poured him some cordial Warpaw looked the hare Colonel up and down. Colonel Gideon E. Ropaus was a very large beast with a huge barrel chest and a deep booming voice which he used when giving out orders to the Long Patrol hares. Strapped to his belt was a formidable looking sabre. He also wore a regimental tunic but his was red unlike the General's. "Thank you very much for coming up here, Colonel. Though why did you bring two trays?" asked Warpaw. Ropaus began pouring himself some cordial as he explained. "Well like I said sah, it gets rather rowdy in the mess hall so I decided to join you up here, that is if you don't mind sah?" The old hare started in on his salad as he replied. "Mind? I should think not Colonel! Why, I'm very glad of your company, it gets rather lonely up here by myself. Of course you can join me." Ropaus sat down next to the General and began devouring his pastie. "Thank you very much sah." he said. The old hare watched the Colonel eat pastie after pastie then turned and stared about the room thinking. The Colonel stopped from eating his salad and inquired of his General. "Whats wrong sah? You look like your doing some hard brain work wot." General Warpaw turned and gazed out the window. "Yes I am," he said. "I've been having dreams lately." Ropaus sat looking at the General. "What sort of dreams General?" Warpaw kept gazing out the window as a breeze came through and ruffled his fur."Not normal ones, no, these are different, it is like they are trying to give a warning." Ropaus leaned forward. "What kind of warning sah?" He asked. "A warning of a great evil that is coming to Mossflower country, a horde of vast proportions, these vermin will try to destroy and conquer everything that gets in their way." The Colonel leaped up sabre in paw. "An evil horde you say sah? By golly if they try to set one paw in Mossflower I'll have the Long Patrol on them in the blink of an eye. We'll give them blood and vinegar, the caddish fiends!" he roared. "When are they coming sah? And where?" "I do not know Colonel, but I know that if I did you would have the Patrol there and waiting for them," said Warpaw. "It is a shame we do not have a Badger Lord right now and I have to rule the mountain in his absence. But nevertheless we must be ready for this evil that is coming." Colonel Ropaus stood up and began walking to the door. "Don't worry sah, we will be."

Chapter 2
Far over the mountains, rivers and trees from Salamandastron through Mossflower woods lay Redwall Abbey. The huge red sandstone walls towered above the trees that surrounded them. Tall battlements and ramparts loomed above the path leading to the Abbey The top spire and belltower  of the Abbey, reached skyward as if trying to touch the stars. The word that summed up the whole building- colossal! Inside the Abbey walls spread across the grounds was a pond and orchards filled with delicious fruit. There was a gatehouse cottage built next to the west wall. In the middle of the grounds stood the main Abbey building large and serene complete with dormitories, an attic, kitchens, a cellar, Cavern Hole and Great Hall. Standing in the hall surrounded by torches and stained glass windows was Ceoen the Redwall Champion. Unlike most Redwall Warriors who were mainly mice, squirrels or otters, Ceoen was a hedgehog, who normally take the role of Cellar Keeper. But since he was the Abbey Champion Ceoen could only take half the job who he shared with his trusty mole friend Dugber. Looking up at the tapestry that hung in Great Hall the hedgehog gazed into the eyes of Martin the Warrior the founder and Redwall Champion of long ago. Depicted on the tapestry the mouse was shown posing in a heroic stanse while vermin all around him fled in terror. Holding his magnificent sword and with a fearless smile on his face Martin looked every inch a warrior. Ceoen touched the sword that hung in it's black leather bound scabbard by his side. A magnificent blade it was! Fashioned by a Badger Lord from a falling star it looked dangerous. From the needle-like point to the red pommel stone on it's handle it truly was a warriors tool Ceoen drew the blade and watched the fire playing along it, shining off in a dazzling blaze keen as midwinter ice and deadly as a roaring fire. Ceoen turned as footsteps sounded in the hall. The Father Abbot of Redwall Abbey entered clad in a brown habit. Though he was an old mouse Abbot Misminn still looked young in a way. He never seemed to tire and had almost bounless energy. As the Abbot mouse came in muttering something under his breath, Ceoen went forward to meet him paw outstretched. "Ah Father Abbot good to see you! How are the feast preparations going?" The hedgehog asked. "Well things are going well," said Abbot Misminn "everyone is working hard to get things ready for the Nameday feast. Though with all the hustle and bustle I need a chance to wind down. What do you say we go down to your cellars and have some nice strawberry cordial eh?" The hedgehog warrior turned to go out towards the door with the Abbot close behind. "A splendid idea friend, though I have never seen you tired." The Abbot caught up with Ceoen and they started at a brisk trot. "Tired? Who said anything about being tired? Come the strawberry cordial can wait, I feel like a nice walk on the walltops. It's a beautiful night and a great one for a walk. Come on I'll race you there!" they sped off laughing like dibbuns who had escaped from bed. The Abbot was the first to the stairs but Ceoen was not far behind. They caught their breath as they sat on the bottom step. "Whew! That sure tired me out. Wow Father Abbot! I didn't know you could run that fast," panted Ceoen. "Why didn't you know? Asked Abbot Misminn. "Every season they held the walltop race I always came in first. In my younger days that is," he added. They started to climb the wallsteps, when Ceoen remembered something. "Father Abbot, what was that you were mumbling about when you joined me in Great Hall?" They had reached the west walltop by now and began walking towards the south wall. "Oh it's nothing really", said the Abbot. "Come on Father it had to be something," Ceoen coaxed. "Come on tell me." The mouse sighed and turned to his hedgehog friend. "Well there's something bothering me," he said. "I have been visited in a dream by Martin the Warrior. He tells me that a great wickedness and cruelty will be coming to Redwall and that we must stop it. What it is that troubles me," Abbot Misminn continued "is that beside you and Skipper Retto there are no real warriors to defend our Abbey. Though I am sure many of the brave creatures who live here would give their lives to protect Redwall I don't want any needless dying. Can you do anything Ceoen?" Asked the Abbot. They had reached the east wall by now and were turning onto the north wall. Ceoen clasped his friend's paw and spoke. "Don't worry Abbot Misminn, if any evil vermin try to take our Abbey I will do everything I can to stop them and I know Skip will too. Don't be concerned, I'll make those vermin flee from our gates, they will not hurt one of the creatures who live here as long as I have anything to do with it." The Abbot felt comforted knowing his friend meant every word he said. They reached the wall stairs and descending the steps they headed to the cellars for strawberry cordial.

That night while he was lying in his bed. Ceoen had a dream. In his dream he was walking along the wall again except this time he was walking with Martin the Warrior. As they walked they talked of the Abbey. Then as they rounded the corner leading to the north wall, Martin stopped and stared straight at Ceoen and said,

"Defend this Abbey until your time. Speak to your friends, remember this rhyme Trust the rodent who holds the keys  Rely on Battleblades, he will set you free."

With that Martin turned and stepped off the walltop into thin air then disappeared, his words echoing in Ceoen's ears.