Hortwill Longblade Braebuck, also known as Horty, was a young and headstrong male hare; he was the brother of Martha, a young hare confined to a wheelchair. When he was practically a Dibbun, he arrived at Redwall from the Northlands, along with his grandmother, who died of exhaustion, and his sister. Along with Springald and Fenna, Horty left Redwall Abbey secretly to accompany Bragoon and Sarobando in finding a cure for Martha's illness, which was allegedly at Loamhedge Abbey. While attempting to escape Redwall, he sent Dibbuns to the pool to swim, without realizing that they might drown if they weren't supervised. Though it bought time for the trio, Springald and Fenna were not impressed. He suffered many injuries along the way, though none of them life-threatening.
Horty, like most hares, loved food; throughout the long trek to Loamhedge, he constantly complained about the rationing. He once even sang a song about cider and tea to make his friends thirsty enough to stop and have a drink. Also like many hares, he was a good runner, and showed this by leading a group of vermin away from his friends. After he bought them enough time, he was saved by Lonna Bowstripe.
Upon arriving at the ruins of Loamhedge, Horty encountered a dormouse, Toobledum, who discovered the hare was also a fine cook.
After Bragoon and Saro's deaths, Horty, Springald, and Fenna returned to Redwall. Horty carried the Sword of Martin, which Bragoon had taken with him, back to the Abbey. He unwittingly nearly became Abbot because of this, due to a prophecy that whoever returned the sword would be Abbot Carrul's successor. However, he injured himself while showing off with the sword, and Fenna carried it in through the Abbey gates instead, much to everyone's relief.
Horty then left with Lonna Bowstripe for Salamandastron, and went on to become a respected captain in the Long Patrol, wielding a scimitar taken from the dead sea rat Raga Bol. Later, he returned to Redwall to visit Martha, who was surprised at how mature he had become.
Trivia[]
- Horty is not to be confused with Hortwingle.
- "Brae" is Scots dialect for the crest of a hill. Buck is the proper term for a male hare or rabbit. Therefore, Horty's surname means "Hare from the hilltop."