User blog:NoxTheFerocious/Nox the Ferocious

A candle lay sideways, its wax dripping between a gap in the planks of a scorched table. A small, grizzled mouse stumped in the doorway, past the heeling door, relieved of it's hinges, and across the small cabin that somebeast before had called home. Shaking his head, the old one worked a gleaming knife free of the bedside table, now minus a leg. Speaking to a small, frail mouse lying on the bed, he said,"Abbess Marlee, who did this to yore family? And another question, why ain't you at Redwall?" Instead of answering his questions, the old Abbess lifted a blanket with effort, revealing a tiny mousebabe, barely a season old."Please take..." she gasped,"my grandson. Do not... Take him to... The Abbey. He would not be happy.... There." Her breath rasping in her throat, she continued. "Take him to live with you. If you do so, I will be... Forever indebted... To you, though my time is soon. The knife..." She raised her paw slowly to point at the knife." The knife must be kept from him... Until he is ready to face his past. His name, you shall choose." Her breathing growing fainter, she turned to face the old mouse."Will you do this for me, old friend?" He bowed."I served ye in the past, an' now I serve ye again. I will try my best, Mother Abbess." The Abbess leaned back."I thank ye with all my heart. There are bad times ahead for Mossflower," she whispered,"The time of Nox the Ferocious has come!" With that, her eyes clouded over and she let out her final breath. Tears pouring down his face, the old mouse brushed his lips against her cold, bony paw, in silent remembrance of the pretty, cheerful young mouse who had become the Mother Abbess of Redwall all those seasons ago.