A story based on the series of Redwall without the permission of its writer Mr. Brian Jacques ….So sorry for that old chap…hope you don’t mind.

This story is free. You can redistribute, copy or even read it to others. However you cannot edit it without my permission or sell it. However I think you can sell it if you give the money to the author of the series if you want. But you have to show me and any other court that you did so…

Why I am writing?

There should be more good Foxes, Rats, Ferrets and such….

Here it goes…



The Saga of The Red Fox


Epilogue


Excerpts from the Continued History of Redwall

Written by Tom the Historian and Recorder of Redwall

This following story has been decided to be written by the general ruling of the honored Redwall consul and our beloved Abbot in the memory of Red the Warrior.

I must admit it has taken me quite a lot of work to gather all the essential ingredients. Books had to be pondered upon, old beasts had to be talked to. I had to travel to Salamandastron in my old age and talk to a very old badger lord. All in all it took me two years to gather every little bit of history about Red the Warrior fox. However now, thanks to the good beasts all over this country my research is finished. The story starts as such:

It had been a cold winter that year. The early frost had deprived us from our usual autumn harvests. Tough our Abbey was well stocked, not all beasts of Mossflower were so lucky. Hence any beast capable of leaving their homes within the woodlands sought out refuge within our Abbey.

Within this very cold year on a very fine cold morning I decided to take a brisk walk where the northern gates were. It was a time when I was younger and liked the cold air freezing my whiskers. When I came close to the gates I heard a soft moan thinking it was some good beast dying of the cold I quickly opened them without calling or consulting our Abbot or anyone within the Abbey. Later on I would always think that fate had put the keys of that gate within my pocket since I had no intention on opening the gates. What I saw before me was a very sad sight indeed. A lady fox that had just died clutching a baby fox. I was going to call for help to burry the poor creatures. However I stopped when I had noticed there was movement. The baby fox had moved. I hurriedly freed it from its dead mothers clutches and cuddled him to my chest so he may share my warmth. It wasn’t a normal fox I must say. It had a white front and blood red back. Its eyes were of golden orbs dangerously glowing with the determination to live which was a trait among foxes. It was a he. I named him that moment as Red. I looked out the gate called out asking if anyone else was there. When I received no reply I locked up the gate and slowly walked toward the great hall. It was another joyous morning. The beasts of the Abbey had woken up and had started eating their breakfast. The hall grew quite as I entered. Our dear Abbot asked me what I had within my arms. When I did not answer – I was still shocked at my own discovery – the hall grew even more quite. Abbot asked me what I held in my hands once again. This time I asked him if he would like to talk to me in private.

After some discussion with our Abbot and our council we decided to keep the fox. Teach him our ways. And hope he will be no villain. We buried his mother within our grave which had a headstone; carved on it wrote ‘Here lies Red’s mother’.

This is Red’s story. This is his life.


The Beginning of a War

Chapter 1

The dubbins were on the prowl, secretly walking with a silence that would have shocked and awed all abbey beasts. They had a mission. A mission that needed dedication, courage and most important of all stealth. Their mouths watered at the taught of their prize. The baked pie that was laid out on the window sill by Mara, the most talented baker within the Abbey valued for her tasty pies. She was a plump mouse that had a very dangerous temper as all the dubbins knew. If they were caught they would loose their tails for sure.

The old abbot a mouse sitting on the second floor next to a window overlooking the kitchen window smiled as he noticed what the dubbins were up to.

“This is going to be interesting” he said to himself as he also noticed Red same age as the dubbins waiting on guard with a whistle next to the pie his back turned to the shadowy figures of the dubbins.

Mark who was the head of the dubbins stopped and gave a signal to the others. There before them. Stood Red, Mara’s favorite, a fox with blood red fur that made him look like he was bleeding. One of Red’s ears twitched as Tess a mouse in Mark’s group stepped on a branch of some kind making it snap. Mark’s heart sank as thoughts of bathing and Mara holding a wooden spoon posing for a strike came to his mind. However Red did not turn his back nor did he blow his whistle. Mark turned to look at Tess. She had a sorry look on her face. Mark angrily waved his finger at her and continued, towards the treasured pie.

Mark was now within reach. He lifted a branch that was going to act as a hook to pull the pie down. “You shouldn’t steal the pie you know.” said Red right when Mark almost had the pie. Red slowly turned toward Mark slowly with a maturity of and adult. Mark frozen, caught act was afraid to move.

Abbot watching the incident cheered as he saw Mark freezing in place and Red turning toward Mark. He smiled inwardly. There was going to be boysenberry pie for dessert after all.

Red slowly talked again thinking on every sentence he was going to say twice to sound like a grown up. “Abbot likes this pie.” He said. He was in a very difficult position. He knew if he blew the whistle all the dubbins will hate him even more. However if he did not he knew he would be the one working in the kitchens for a crime he had not committed. Mark seeing Red hesitating quickly reached out to hook the pie. Red seeing the danger darted towards Mark to stop him. Red however was late, the pie was already pulled down towards Marks lap. Right when Mark was going to catch the pie Red crashed in to Mark. The pie fell down on both splashing the boysenberry jam within the pie every where. Mark thinking Red was attacking started throwing punches on Red. Red was not going to hit Mark at all. But after the second punch landed the warrior instincts within Red kicked in throwing him into a berserker. Kicking and biting. Voices ordered him to stop. But he paid no heed. The only thing he wanted to do was the get rid of the thing that gave him pain.

THAT’S ENOUGH!!!” bellowed Vale, a big badger, pulling apart the two dubbins and swinging them as they continued reach and hit each other.

“I SAID THAT’S ENOUGH!!!” said Vale as she shook the dubbins to their senses. Mark looked up with his good eye at the lady badger that rarely said a word and was known for her kindness, she looked more terrifying than Mara the baker. Mark swallowed in fear. However when Red looked up at the badger more anger fueled him.

“Be still ruffian, or I’ll tan your hide” said the badger realizing that Red had not calmed down. “Now what is the meaning of this!! Explain your selves.” Red looked away not talking when it was apparent that Red would not talk Vale turned to Mark. Mark who was expecting Red to snitch on him did not say a word. “Ahem…”said Abbot as he entered the circle which was now filled with curios creatures of the abbey. “Vale, I think I would deal with them. Saw the whole incident from where I was sitting.” He pointed one of the overlooking windows. “I think I would like to have a word with them privately and Mara do you think you can make another of those lovely boysenberry pies? I am truly sorry for the out come should have intervened earlier.” Mara ready to explode nodded and went for the kitchens. Abbot looked around expectantly as everybody started leaving the area. The group that had followed Mark had also vanished except Tess. “Tess I think you should go too…” Tess hesitantly leaved looking close to tears.

“Mark you are quite fortunate you have a good friend here he…” “He is not my friend he is a villain!” interrupted Mark. “Silence!” Said Abbot first time raising his voice to Mark. The effect was immediate. “Good…As I was saying Red could have blown the whistle why you were trying to steal the pie and this would have gotten you into trouble. However instead he decided to talk you out of it.” Mark was looking at his feet tears coming from his eyes. “It is not our way to fight with each other. The Abbey is a house for all good creatures. No matter what they are. It seems you have to be reminded why we look out for each other and help each other in hard times. For this you are to wash the pots and pans after dinner. You are to have no dessert. As for you Red; you have disappointed me although your friend did attack you shouldn’t have hit him back. You are clearly stronger and bigger than him, there was no honor in what you did.” Tears started rolling down from Red’s eyes. However he was still looking intently at Mark, still in anger. Abbot seeing this sighed “You are to shake hands and say sorry to each other I don’t want Abbey beasts fighting each other.” Mark after sniffling walked toward Red and extended his hand. “I’m…sniff…sorry…sniff”. Red just shook Mark’s hand and nodded. Abbot sighed again after which he said “Ok Mark why don’t you go and help Mara.” Mark happy to get out of the Abbot’s sight quickly walked away.

“Red…” When Red did not respond Abbot repeated himself “Red.” This time Red looked up to the Abbot. “You should never ever fight with an Abbey beast again. Do you understand this?” asked Abbot. “Yes sir” answered Red. “Off you go then. You are to help Alma in the cellars. Tell him I sent you.” Red just nodded and walked towards the cellars to help Alma a hedgehog in the cellars.

When Abbot was sure Red was out of ear shot he said out loud.

“You are a warrior Red. This much even I can see I have sent word to Salamandastron for a warrior. It was hard not to give the real reason why I wanted one of his hares. But I hope one do comes. I feel I need a warrior’s help.” The Abbot sighed again and sadly started towards the great hall.

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