User blog:Verminfate/The Snake Hunter of Mossflower

Coming Soon...

This story takes place after The Sable Quean. It's going to be a bit different in a few ways...
 * 1: It does not center around Salamandastron or Redwall Abbey, just Mossflower Woods. (But it does have those other two places in it a bit)
 * 2: The main villain is not a vermin or a bird.
 * 3: It will introduce some new species and a new land.

Here is a little sneak peek!

....two creatures stalked through the woodlands of Mossflower. One of them, a tall, gaunt ferret, peered up into a tree, his eyes narrowed to shield them from the setting sun. The other creature, a tubby rat, asked his companion, “Do yer see anythin' Red?” Redgo the ferret shook his head in frustration. “Naw, not a thing. I'm tellin' ye Flark, dat bird went inter a different tree. It twas an elm, not a sycamore.” Flark the rat frowned. “I coulda swore dat it was dis tree.” Redgo snorted and turned away. “Well ye swore wrong dere mate. Come on, we needs to get back to der Boss wid our load o' vittles.” Flack eyed the meager supply of roots, berries and a few half-rotten eggs that they had gathered. “I'donno,” he said, “I don't think dat der Boss will like dis liddle bit.” Redgo sneered, “Den dat's his problem! I'm tired an' hungry an' I'm going back whether you likes it or not.” He picked up the small sack and trudged back off through the woods, followed by the rat. They didn't get very far however, when Flark suddenly stopped and whispered, “Wait... what was dat?” Redgo turned to him. “Wot was wot?” The rat glanced back behind his shoulder and gulped, “I thought I heard a noise back dere...” The ferret smirked, “Twas probably dat bird you lots back dere, makin' fun o' us. Let's keep goin' mate.” But Flark was adamant. “No matey, it wasn't any bird. It was like a soft noise, like... like... hissing.” Before Redgo could reply, a sibilant, rasping voice was heard from the darkening forest around them, “Assssssmodeusssssssss!” Redgo's eyes went wide with fear and he glanced at Flark, who was now shaking uncontrollably. The rat stammered, in a terrified voice, “It... it s-sounds like a... a...” Then before either of the two vermin could move, a huge shape appeared in front of them. A pair of evil, luminous eyes gazed down at them as the long, dark form rose high into the air, swaying back and forth and hissing softly, “Assssssmodeusssssss hassssss found you!” Both vermin suddenly took off in the opposite direction, fear adding speed to their paws. They could hear the ominous swooshing sound as the snake followed them at an alarming speed, still hissing, “Come to me, my friendssssss, and I will sssssshow you eternity!” Suddenly Redgo tripped and fell flat on his face. He reached up for his companion, whimpering, “Flark matey! Don't leave me!” But the rat was too scared to even notice. He ran on with all the speed he could muster, further into the woodlands. The terrified screams of Redgo echoed in his ears as he sped off into the night.