User blog:Ox Rookbane/Light in The Dark

''Dedicated to my friend, LegendTeller. Thank you for inspiring me to continue writing and to get me started with writing Redwall Fanfiction and tales. Thanks mate!''

Prologue
A beautiful spring morning had arrived. The sun kissed the sand and added a sparkle to the sea out and beyond. The glorious stronghold of Badger Lords stood above the rest, and gazed out at the sea and it's surroundings. Salamandastron! The great mountain resided by Badger Lords of past time!

The current Badger Lord residing at this time was Ox Rookbane. At this time of day, he was outside with a young hare maid, enjoying a nice cup of tea (a favorite pastime). The two sat and took in the scenery laid out before them. A gust of wind threatened to have the young hare maid's woven hat blown away. Ox laid aside his tea and removed the hat from her head and placed a rock inside of it. "That should keep it from blowing away, Dandy."

Dandy, the hare maid, nodded. "Thank you, Sah!"

Ox smiled and nodded back. Springtime was always Ox's favorite season. He enjoyed the warm air being rewarded after a cold winter, he enjoyed the nice breeze, and enjoyed the flowers blossoming and the trees regaining their leaves. "Seasons ago it was just springtime then. I remember it quite well, or so I am led to believe... When I was more youthful, I remember my days then. It was hard times I'll tell you-- was it? I can't recall! I swear its the Bloodwrath that's getting me like this! I swear!"

Dandy became excited. "Are you going to tell me a story?!"

The Badger Lord nodded. "If I can recall it, that is... Dear me, I should've written it down oh so long ago!"

Dandy giggled as Ox tried his best to recall his past. Scratching his head a few times, details started to come back bit by bit. Eventually he smacked himself in the back of the head and he remembered coincidentally. "I believe I remember it now. It might be a bit fuzzy in me ol' head, but nothin' to worry about! If I forget somethin', we'll just have to use our imaginations!" The hare maid was already listening intently.

'' "These, are the Dark Ages of Mossflower... Where the freedoms and lives of Woodlanders were reduced to rubble... Where one would rise to be the light through the Darkness. I-- would be the one to shine the light. And it's the very reason I reside at this mountain. With a help of old and new friends, we brought Mossflower out of it's darkest periods..." ''

Chapter 1
A young and careless Ox Rookbane took a stroll in Mossflower Woods, and was not far from his home. Winter was almost over, and Spring would only be a few days away. The careless Ox had his nose in the air, sniffing around for the scent of Spring. Not paying any attention at all, the young badger stubbed his footpaw against a root. "Eek!"

The young badger went sprawling and landed on his face. The young badger did not bother to retrieve his face from the floor of the woods. Embarrassed at his carelessness, Ox scanned the area surrounding him, making sure nobeast saw him clumsily wipe out. He let off a sigh of relief, believing no one saw him. "Good job there, Ox! Mayhap keep your eyes to where y'go?"

Ox's eye twitched. His friend, Brandil, an otter, emerged from behind a bush. The otter laughed at the embarrassing wipeout of his badger friend. Ox shoved Brandil playfully and accidently sent him flying. The young badger cringed. "Whoops... Didn't mean to send YOU flying..."

Brandil stood up and dusted himself off. "It's ok, me mate! You'll learn-- hopefully..."

The two had planned to meet at a rock. This rock was a meeting place for the two. Brandil brandished a bag of vittles and laid it out on the rock's surface. Ox had put in two knives and a bag of vittles for himself. Brandil took a dagger and sheathed it in a holster Ox had made a long time ago. "I feel as if we're set for our trip, matey!"

Ox chuckled. "I had to smuggle these daggers; don't lose them. If me parents caught me smugglin' 'em out, they'd use them on me!"

The two fell about laughing. Being young adults, the two pals were kicked out of their homes. Ox's mother and father kicked him out because he was getting older. Brandil was kicked out of his home because he was a trouble-maker. Though Ox had spent many of his days with his otter friend, he had behaved quite well. Ox never had the thoughts or ideas to be rebellious, and took everything for granted. To be able to smuggle the daggers, Brandil had to beg him and plead to him constantly until Ox eventually cracked.

"So, where do ye have us goin'?" Ox asked.

Brandil smiled "I'm thinkin' Redwall Abbey mate. Unless there's some other place ye'd like to go..."

Ox pondered for a bit. It was his chance to deny or agree. Ox sighed. "If we had a ship, I'd say we could go seaward."

Brandil sighed. "Was thinkin' that too, me hearty! Unfortunately, we don't got a ship or anythin'! I know how to work one, but we ain't got one."

The two friends set off for Redwall Abbey.

Chapter 2
"Are you sure we are going the right way, Brandil? I thought we had to go EAST."

"I said southeast! We're going to right way, trust me!"

Ox and Brandil had been walking towards Redwall Abbey by going southeast. They believe it's the correct way. Brandil had accidently lead them northeast towards River Moss Ox was not too educated in telling directions, and was led to believe his parents wanted him to get loss.

Night was not far now. Setting up camp, Ox struck flint to steel and started up a fire. Brandil had already made himself cozy and helped himself to some of the vittles he had packed. The young badger sat next to his pal and unpacked some vittles from his bag. Taking a scone and a flask of fresh water, Ox munched on it delightfully. Brandil helped himself to some scones and an apple. "I wonder how far we are from Redwall..."

Brandil shrugged, and continued to eat. Ox was secretly afraid that they were going the wrong way, and Brandil won't listen. The otter thought he was going the correct way, and that the badger didn't believe him and was just paranoid. As the two finished their meal, Ox felt drowsy. Brandil always got on to him for falling asleep early, and Ox would say: "I sleep early, and wake early."

Brandil noticed his friend drifting off to sleeping. It was Brandil's night-watch first. As Ox dozed off, Brandil tended the fire and watched for anything suspicious lurking about. It was still Winter, but Spring was only days away. It was warmer than a regular Winter night, but still chilly. Ox slept peacefully; not snoring at all. Brandil wanted to play a little joke on the sleeping Ox, but decided it was best not to now that he was armed with a dagger.

Brandil started to feel drowsy after what felt like hours of being night-watch. He woke Ox up to switch him, when they heard some collective chatter. Ox was now fully awake, and Brandil was no longer drowsy. Ox had his dagger drawn and ready. They rushed to hide behind trees. Poor Ox was too broad to be concealed properly behind a tree, so he laid flat on the ground, making sure he didn't appear visible.

Sea Pirates! They were vermin pirates! A lot of them! Brandil and Ox had spotted them. Feeling uneasy, Brandil risked a quick dart past trees to get to Ox. The pirates saw it and went to where he had darted. The two sprang up, and Ox clubbed a pirate in the face with his paw. Turning around, the two friends ran.

"Where did they come from?!" Brandil managed through his panting. "Probably came from River Moss! I told you we were going the wrong way!" Ox was right all along. "Oh fine! You were right! But that's not going to save our- TAAAAAAIIIILLSSSSS!"

Brandil had tripped over a log he had not seen in the darkness and rolled erratically, then stopped flat on his face. Ox had passed him by accident. "H-hey! Ox! Help!"

Ox turned around and went back to Brandil. Brandil could stand but couldn't run; he had sprained his footpaw. Ox heaved him onto his massive back and made a mad dash through the woods. The vermin pirates were still hot on their tails and continued to assault aggressively. An arrow shot whistled past Ox's great head. "They're firing at us?!"

Ox continued his mad dash for survival. He had been slowed down with Brandil being carried on his back. Brandil was Ox's eyes on the back on his head. "They're closing distance!", "Ok, we've got a lead, mate!", "Their prepping a bow and arrow!"

Panting furiously, Ox wheezed his way onwards for safety. The vermin were quite far back, starting to give up to Ox's great speed, even with Brandil bared on his back. Morning light had barely sprung, and Ox could see it. Brandil gave Ox a "clear" and that was enough for him to collapse on the ground. Ox laid flat on the ground, and began to lick the grass. "Don't lick the grass... We have flasks of freshwater. There's no need for that!"

Brandil decided to make himself useful after Ox had saved his life somewhat. Handing his badger friend a flask of water, he chugged the flask away, and laid panting still. "Rest easy, mate! We're fine-- I hope... Well, now we're back on track at least! On the correct way to Redwall! Whoopee!"