User blog:Arvanna the Rogue/Rising From the Ashes

A/N: This multi-chapter fic is a crossover of my two loves: CSI:NY and Redwall. It is not necessary to watch the show in order to understand the story, but since I am a big fan I recommend it. As I took the NY characters' names and made them anagrams, they are my creations. Please do not take them without asking.

All mistakes are mine. Reviews are always appreciated. I will not accept flames.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to message me. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Blowing a piece of fruit that was sticking to his whiskers, Semser grudgingly made his way to Great Hall, stepping over random food strewn all over the floor of Cavern Hole. All around him other Redwallers shook their heads in annoyance as they cleaned themselves and their children. Remnants of dinner were everywhere: stuck to the pillars and tables, and not to mention on the fur and habits of the Abbey residents. Semser was about to have a stern lecture about proper manners during supper. In other words, the Abbot's Report.

He scoffed at the notion. The Abbot's Report was a form of punishment used by the elders where a troublemaker or rule-violator met with the Abbot or Abbess to discuss their crime. In this particular case, the sit-down was to be with Abbot Torlay about the food fight that had broken out.

It wasn't all Semser's fault. His best friend Alddon was partly responsible for starting the whole thing, which was why the squirrel was following right behind him.

Alddon gently prodded him in the back. "You have to admit, it was rather fun. Certainly brought a bit of life to dull ol' dinner eh?"

Semser ignored him, although he had a point: minus the glare and small speech from the Friar, it had been an enjoyable moment. Unfortunately, their recklessness had landed them in hot water. Semser knew all too well about being lectured by the Abbot; it was becoming a familiar recurrence to see the young otter and middle-seasoned hare side-by-side, the latter doing much of the talking.

They continued their walk to Great Hall. Alddon plucked a particle of cheese that was clinging to his bushy tail and fell silent, mentally preparing for his meeting with the Abbot.

Redwall Abbey was a tremendous sight to behold. The ancient structure rested comfortably in the middle of Mossflower Wood, a gigantic forest rich with various species of trees and, like Redwall, a wondrous history. The actual Abbey was surrounded on all sides by four walls that seemed to shoot straight into the sky above. Inside the walls was a vibrant community, home to all sorts of woodlanders. Mice, moles, squirrels, otters, voles, hares, and shrews called Redwall their home. They were a peaceful lot who focused their attention on the daily Abbey chores as they had much work to do throughout the day: tending to the orchards and gardens, creating and mixing the wines and drinks (this was the Cellarhog's duty, who was usually a hedgehog), preparing the food – the Friar's responsibility – and caring for families, as most of the inhabitants had husbands, wives, and children. There was also the Abbey pond, which provided the residents with fresh drinking and bathing water. The Abbey, built hundreds of seasons before the ancestors of any living creature were born, was a famous landmark in Mossflower, and creatures would often flock to it for whatever reason. It was known as a haven for those who seeked a peaceful and good life amidst friends.

In its very long history there had never been a hare Abbot or Abbess. However, nobeast could deny that Torlay was well-suited for the job. He was an older hare, well into his middle seasons but regarded as incredibly wise. Several wrinkles creased his homely face, and despite being older than most of the Redwallers he was quite active and in good physical condition. He was a retired General of the fabled Long Patrol, the hare army who had served the Badger Lord or Lady of Salamandastron for countless seasons. He had visited Redwall once in his youth and loved the atmosphere, so he decided to spend the remainder of his days at the Abbey.

"Those two have been trouble ever since they were Dibbuns. I'm not surprised they're still causing mischief."

Torlay turned his grey eyes to the speaker standing beside him. "Aye, but I'm sure they'll grow out of it. One day they'll wake up an' realize they have responsibilities."

Tsella flashed a smile. "You know me well."

"I should, considering you're my best friend an' strong right paw."

The female hare bent down and gave him a swift kiss on the cheek. Torlay's face immediately flushed with red. He and Tsella were very close, and the inhabitants considered her a strong candidate as his successor. She was younger by about five seasons and very pretty. Unlike the rest of their species, they did not talk in harespeech.

"It's not Alddon I'm worried about," she spoke her thoughts aloud. "He may cause mischief from time to time, but it's usually because he's with Semser. That otter is far too reckless, just like his brother Eloiu."

Torlay gave her one of his rare smiles. "Eloiu may be a bit foolish at times, but he looks out for Semser an' protects him. If only he had stayed at Redwall instead of moving to Noonvale."

Approaching pawsteps interrupted their conversation, the noise bouncing off the ancient stones of Great Hall and lifting up into the high ceiling. Sitting at the table that always rested underneath the tapestry, Torlay and Tsella watched as the two young Redwallers strode up and hung their heads in shame.

The Abbot cleared his throat. Semser was the first to raise his eyes. "Apologizes, Father Abbot. We didn't mean any harm."

Torlay nodded. "I'm sure you didn't. However, as much as I dislike handing out punishments, you two made quite the mess in Cavern Hole. I want both of you to clean up everything; I don't expect the Friar to make such a delicious meal an' then clean both the dishes an' your mess. There are buckets an' cloths down there that you can use. When you are finished, go straight to your dormitories. Is that clear?"

Squirrel and otter nodded fiercely, and Torlay waved them off with a paw. "Go on then."

Tsella watched them depart. "I must say, that was rather quick."

Her friend rose from his seat and walked around to the opposite side of the table, where Semser and Alddon had been standing. "Sometimes I think I'm too harsh on them, especially that young otter. He may be hotheaded from time to time, but I can see him accomplishing great things."

He fell silent then, focusing his gaze on the ancient tapestry that hung from the wall. Tsella stood beside him and followed his eyes. The masterpiece was one of two prized possessions in the Abbey. It depicted Redwall's greatest hero and co-founder, Martin the Warrior. The brave mouse leaned on his magnificent sword whilst vermin behind him fled in terror. The tapestry was as old as Redwall itself, but it showed no signs of age. Perhaps the most mysterious part was the Warrior's face. He had a gentle smile, the kind that made anybeast feel protected. His eyes, the irises a soft brown hue, never seemed to move yet always appeared to follow.

The other prized object rested on two hangers above Martin's picture. This was his sword, an ancient weapon of great power. The two-pawed hilt was nothing special and ordained with a red pommelstone. The blade, however, shone like fire on ice, and a blood channel ran from hilt to tip. Despite its age there were no nicks or scars on the metal - which was made from a fallen meteorite by a long-dead Badger Lord – nor was there any evidence of rust or wear. Legend said the sword was indestructible.

Continuing to gaze at the tapestry, the Abbot returned Martin's smile. "Perhaps one day young Semser will find somebeast who changes him."

Semser and Alddon's punishment did not end at just cleaning the mess; the Friar had asked them to also wash and dry the dishes as an extra penalty for their insolence. Pans and cutlery lined the entire kitchen – which was anything but small – as if patiently waiting to be cleaned. However, the two young Redwallers were not alone. As soon as the Friar left, three others materialized from a dimly-lit corridor. Filling buckets with warm soapy water, they started to help their friends with the big job of scrubbing and washing down all the tables, chairs, and whatever else had food stuck to it.

Adine, a feisty young mousemaid, was busy scrubbing a chair when she suddenly jumped back in alarm. "Askhew! Watch where you're puttin' that beak of yours; it nearly got my paw."

The red-tailed hawk reared his head back and swallowed a chunk of fish he had spotted lying on the seat. He had come to Redwall five seasons ago after being severely injured by a gang of rats. The gentle Infirmary Keeper, a badger named Mahdis Camberk, had nursed him back to health.

"Sorry," Askhew's tongue flicked out from his mouth to lick any remnants left on his beak. "But it's still helpin'."

Adine could not argue with that statement. She chuckled and patted the bird's wicked talons before getting back to work. "Least it won't take long to clean with all of us pitchin' in."

Beside her, another mouse called Dasmaros dunked his cloth into the bucket, rang it out, and wiped away at the oak table. "The faster we get this done, the faster we can go in the pond for a swim. 'Tis rather hot outside."

"Good idea Dasmaros!" Semser's cheery voice suddenly boomed out. "Let's sing a ditty to speed things up."

'Tell everybeast I'm on my way, I just can't wait to be there, No rain or wind will stop me, I'll be home soon my love. Keep an eye on the dusty path, For I'm comin' back to blue skies an' sunny days. Every step I take brings me closer To a roarin' fire an' cold drink, Yes I'm on my way back to you. No matter how far apart, Nor the distance that separates us Can keep me from reachin' you. Wait for my wondrous stories, Oh those heart-warmin' tales, So tell everybeast I'm on my way. I've seen new things, made new friends, But now 'tis time for me, To return back to you. <BR>I'll be home soon, I'm on my way.'

Dasmaros was correct in his statement; the evening was a rather warm one. Mossflower was currently in the midst of a scorching summer, one of the hottest it had ever seen. Every night for the past while most of the Abbey windows were open to allow a constant flowing breeze to cool the dormitories. It was welcoming and made the nights easier to bear.

Sunset was settling over Mossflower when the five inseparable friends finished their duties and headed for the Abbey pond, a sizeable body of water that rested comfortably on the lawn not far from the doors that led to Great Hall and Cavern Hole. Being an otter, Semser was a much better swimmer than his friends. He was also able to hold his breath for a longer period of time, and he often caught them by surprise by grabbing them underwater and pulling them down. Askhew would sit on the bank and dunk his talons in the cool water, often lying alongside Adine who was not fond of swimming. Alddon and Semser, however, were constantly splashing one another and fooling around. Dasmaros found comfort in simply stretching out near the water's edge, his footpaws submerged, and allowed a school of tiny fish to nibble at his paws. Whenever he moved they darted away like miniature arrows, but moments later they would return and tickle his fur.

Although he was unsure why, a curious question popped into Semser's mind. "You think we'll ever find mates?"

Everybeast halted their activities. What the young otter said was a valid point, and although all were still some seasons away from adulthood, it certainly got them thinking.

Wading over to Semser, Alddon threw an arm around his shoulders. "I'm sure there's a mate out there for all of us. Who knows, maybe you'll find one someday."

The young otter scoffed and splashed the water's surface with a webbed paw. Even though he had posed the question, he was skeptical about ever finding a mate. The idea even scared him a little bit, though he would never admit it to his friends.

A quick flick of his paw sent some water hurling in the squirrel's direction. "Don't say such nonsense."

Everybeast laughed and continued chatting with one another. Askhew preened himself whilst Semser and Alddon dove under the water and performed tricks, much to the delight of Adine and Dasmaros. Before long it was time to go inside, and the five young friends dried themselves off before retiring to their dormitories. The sun had long since vanished beneath the horizon, and remnants of its magnificent colours still lingered in the sky.

As Semser threw on his tunic – he had never been one for the traditional Redwall habit – and climbed into bed, he was completely unaware that Alddon was right.

Night had cast its velvetly blanket over Mossflower, the sky randomly spotted with stars of various sizes. Some were easy to see whilst others were so minute they were nearly invisible to anybeast with even the sharpest of eyesight. A soft breeze made the warm night more bearable, the air rustling the leaves on Mossflower's trees and making them perform a little dance as if swaying to a tune. A full moon added to the serenity of the forest's calmness, sections of its light broken by the thick canopy. The majority of creatures were slumbering peacefully, awaiting the arrival of a new day and excited to see what it would hold. Not all, however, had fallen under the spell of sleep's mysterious power.

Finishing up her evening exercises, Emroon waded out from the small tributary of the River Moss, shaking herself dry and blowing droplets from her whiskers. The young ottermaid was currently camped out on the bank, stopping for some rest before continuing her journey. Although she was not the tallest of otters, she was slim and quite powerful. Not an inch of spare flesh was to be seen on her body, which was covered in light brown fur. Her throat and chest were creamy in colour, and she had magnificent chocolate eyes that held a tragic past.

Her fur quickly drying, Emroon pulled her blue tunic over her head and fixed the pouch that always hung at her right hip. This held provisions and any other necessary items. Satisfied, she crawled into the abandoned cave she had discovered and started to wipe the blade of her dirk. As she cleaned it, haunting recollections suddenly came to the forefront of her brain like some evil shadows. Closing her eyes, the young ottermaid forced herself to focus on other matters. It seemed to work as the memories receded into the corridors of her mind, but she knew they would soon reappear. Memories such as the ones she held could never vanish.

As she continued to clean the blade, her thoughts strayed to her new future. She was on her way to Redwall Abbey to begin a new life. Everybeast had heard of the giant structure that towered over Mossflower's canopy. It was famous throughout the land as a haven of peace and happiness. Her parents had visited there once before, and when she was a youngster they had often told her of its enchantment, of how it held an ancient but comforting power. Their tales were what kept Emroon going through the tough memory-filled journey, and she was determined to reach the Abbey and start over.

Raising the dirk so it was at eye level, she swiftly checked it over and nodded with approval. The weapon was a prized possession of hers, a gift her parents had given her only a season before. Although it painfully reminded her of her past, it had served her well. It was a beautiful piece, longer than a dagger and shorter than a sword. The black hilt was ordained with markings much like that of flowing water, and the sheath was covered in small blue jewels. She dared not run a webbed paw along the edge of the blade, for she would surely receive a deep cut. All in all it was a formidable weapon.

Stashing the weapon nearby in case of emergency, Emroon lay on the cool ground and stared outside at the still night, wondering what Redwall would be like. She had no doubt it was everything like her parents had said it was and more. The Abbey was a legend in Mossflower, and tomorrow she would see it with her own eyes.

Sleep quickly stole up on the unsuspecting ottermaid, causing her eyelids to close. She fell into a deep slumber, unaware that on the horizon awaited an incredible journey.