FSE

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Chapter One

The midday sun shone down on a lone spirit. It was summer in Mossflower Wood. Derry sat on the banks of the River Moss his fluffy tail waving behind him. He was watching the water with great intent. He saw a dark shape approaching. He backed up quickly. A fish jumped out of the water. He sighed disappointed. He hadn't noticed the creature sneaking up behind him. Soon he had two soft dark-furred paws covering his eyes. He laughed as he put his paws over the first pair. He shivered as he felt this beast kissing the back of his neck. Her arms were wrapped around his chest now caressing his front and his sides. He turned suddenly; he smiled as his tongue brushed against this frisky female's muzzle. They finished their kiss long enough to look at each other. She was an otter, he, a squirrel and neither seemed to care.

She held his paw as she stood up and looked into his eyes with much affection. "Come on, Derry, I've a little surprise."

He got into a crouched position. "Hmm, a surprise you say? Would it happen to be anything like this?" He said fiddling with her teal dress.

She gently brushed his paws off. "Behave yourself, mate. Else ye won't be enjoyin' yourself."

He followed patiently to a small area that was reasonably far away from any prying eyes. He chuckled at what he saw. She had set up a small picnic. There was a basket with just enough provisions for one day out. She'd also laid a blanket which she directed him to sit on. He watched with a goofy smile as she withdrew two small bowls from the basket filled with a lightly simmering liquid. She offered one bowl to him.

"This isn't what I think it is?" He dabbed a claw in the liquid and licked it. Pretty soon, he was beginning to sweat. He shouted "Oh, yes it is! Hotroot soup and it's still hot. Oh, you are too good to me, Liz."

She smiled sweetly. "Well, I remembered how much ye liked it the last time I made it fer ya. Oh, and I just remembered." She reached into the basket. "I didn't have time to fetch us some utensils so I got this instead." She pulled out a fresh loaf of bread and offered half to him.

He cocked an eyebrow suspiciously as he accepted his half. "You did so have time. You just wanted to impress me."

She feigned guilt. "Oh, ye've got me, mate."

He joked "In more ways than one."

She pulled indignantly on his whiskers. "Seriously, is that all that's on young squirrels' minds?"

...

Elsewhere, matters of a less frivolous manner were being spoken of. Inside the legendary red sandstone brick walls of Redwall, the abbey warrior, Gabriel, was having an audience with the abbot. "Thus, I find it with vast importance that I must take this leave of absence." The two of them were standing in the Great Hall alone except for the few stragglers dining on what leftovers could be had.

Abbot Bruce massaged his sinuses. "Oh, I don't know. This seems so sudden." He looked the warrior in the eye. "You do realize what this means?" He was flustered. "Our champion comes to me right out of the blue asking to leave. Wh-what if- what if something were to happen while you were off gallivanting all because of some... what was it again?"

Gabriel answered without hesitation. "I've told you, I'd been having dreams of late; dreams of some far off storm brewing in Mossflower if not further out. I had not known what it was. Each night that passes they become more vivid, frightening. I see some beast, some strange beast unfamiliar to our shores, to our lands and with him hordes and hordes of vermin." He seated himself before the old squirrel who seemed as if he were taking in a story by a dibbun. "I'd spoken with Flora, she spoke of dreams her father would have before he made his ancestral trek for Salamandastron. I feel I must meet with him myself. Hopefully, he'd have a coherent answer for me."

Abbot Bruce sighed heavily. He juggled thoughts "I don't know. Had you spoken with anyone else on this matter? Besides Flora and myself?"

Gabriel nodded. "Yes, I had spoken with the Skipper; he said he'd be more than happy to hold the fort for me in my absence, so to speak. My friend, Flitter of the Sparra, she said she would speak to her father about offering us some sentry birds as added protection to the abbey."

Bruce ran an aged paw through his graying headfur. "In other words, if I were to turn you down, I'd need a better reason than just mere formalities. I always wondered why Abbess Diana favored you out of the rest of the dibbuns during her time with us, the Dark Forest rest her kind soul. You see an opportunity to do some altruistic act and you seize it. You never ask in return. I figure the one time you do feel you need to ask something of your own home, you should at least have a fair chance." He stared down the bridge of his nose to the humble mouse. He stood with a grandfatherly smile. "Very well, then. I shall grant you this one rare request, just you be careful now and don't be gone too long that we start to move on without you."

Gabriel returned the smile. "You needn't worry, it's not like I intend to leave on my own, I will need a travel companion. Speaking of which, where's that nephew of yours? Dermot."

As they spoke, back at the picnic site, two bodies could be seen moving together in unison. Derry stared up into the almond brown eyes of the ottermaid, Liz. She stared back with much love in her eyes. She was safe in his arms. They kissed with their tongues entering each other's mouths. He ended the kiss and began tenderly licking her soft breasts stopping briefly on the nipples. She shuddered with one paw on his head and the other on his "other" head. That made him shudder. He hadn't quite entered her, yet. He was instead rubbing himself against her creamy brown underbelly. They had been coming here to this same spot for weeks now; to have some time alone together. Both were deeply in love, even knowing that nothing could come of their union. They had made love for the first time the week before; now their visits were becoming more frequent and less careful.

He asked her with ragged breathing "Are you ready?"

She couldn't speak so she nodded.

He got up laying her gently on her back. He positioned himself over her and after one final look of reassurance from his lover he entered her.

...

Meanwhile, Gabriel and Fynn, Skipper of the otters were conversing over actions to be taken the following morning when Gabe would leave on his journey.

Fynn spoke his concerns "Oi'll be honest wit' ya, mate. I was a liddle teeny bit unsure when forst ya came to me with this. It ain't usual for the warrior to be wantin' to leave us. But, you're my friend an' I know ya wouldn't be doin' nothin' like this without good reason. Ya plannin' on takin' anybody with ya?"

Gabe shrugged "Well, of course, where would I be without my best friend?"

Fynn sighed "Ya mean Derry?" He shrugged "Well, as much as I question yer choice o' travelin' buddies, I'm behind ya ev'ry step o' th' way. Well, figur'tively o' course, I'll still be stayin' to watch the abbey for ya. Me brother could taike care o' th' holt while I'm gone." A thought crossed Fynn's mind. "I just realized somethin'."

Gabe looked up from where he was seated upon the ramparts. "What's that, Fynn?"

Fynn looked down to his friend. "We been talkin' 'bout Derry an' I just realized I ain't seen 'im since lunch."

A twinge of naughtiness washed over the abbey warrior. He grinned. "He must be with that lady friend of his."

Derry's got himself a girl? Fynn thought. "Oh really? Who is this lady friend that's so important?"

Gabe kept grinning with mischief in his face. "Well, you should know, you've seen her before."

Fynn was perplexed, which wasn't hard to do with an otter. "I have?"

Gabe placed one calming paw on the skipper's shirt. "Yeah, you could almost say she's like your sister."

Fynn took a pause with a look of shock. "Liz?"

...

At that moment, the lovers were locked together in the throes of young passion. Derry was beginning to move faster, a clear indication he was reaching climax.

Liz sensed it. She whispered "Go ahead."

He heard her. Losing whatever shred of inhibition he had left, Derry gripped the blanket, threw his head back and his tail curled around hers. She moaned as she felt his warm seed filling her. He gave her a few more choice thrusts of his pelvis before finally collapsing next to her from sheer exhaustion.

They laid together under that cool night sky staring at each other. They kissed and caressed trading looks of affection. They didn't say much. They let their tongues do the talking for them.

She rubbed his broad chest playfully before finally breaking the silence. "I do seem to be giving you quite the workout."

He returned the gesture sucking on her sensitive little brown tits. She gave out a small sigh. He held her close. They felt so relaxed, so at ease, so oblivious to the world around them. They could just fall asleep.

How did I ever get so lucky with her? Derry thought.

They barely heard the footsteps approaching. A stick snapped rocking them out of their world. They each looked up into the disapproving face of her brother. Liz grabbed a piece of her clothing big enough to cover her but nothing could hide the rosey-redness of fulfillment in her cheeks. Derry had nothing close at hand and so resorted to using his tail.

He smiled sheepishly at the Skipper. "Oh, hey Fynn, fancy seeing you here."

"Fancy, Derry? It looks like ya done fancied my lil' sister out of 'er panties!"

She stood up to her brother. "Now Fynn, just relax. Besides, I'm not little anymore."

He scoffed as his face turned red. "I can see that!"

"No, I mean, um..." she traded glances with Derry. He nodded embarrassed. "This is not the first time we've done this."

Fynn stood eyes wide open for a second as if he was just told the world was about to end. Then he returned his gaze to Derry. He returned to the scowl he'd been wearing so comfortably earlier and opened his mouth to speak...

Meanwhile, back at the abbey, Flora, the badger mother, looked up for a brief second from washing her paws. It felt as though some great force had been unleashed somewhere not too far away.

Derry was being escorted out of the woods by Gabriel. Derry had a look of perpetual shock on his face.

Gabe tried to lighten the mood. "Well, at least he didn't skin you."

Derry looked back his expression the same. "Yes, but, he might as well have done it anyway, I'm privy he's introduced me to some foul language that even he didn't know existed."

Gabriel shook his head trying to hold back his laughter. "Come on, Derry. We have to get you back to the abbey."

Derry replied dejectedly "Yeah, yeah..."

Gabe stopped suddenly. "Alright! That's it!" He forced Derry down on his posterior. "You sit down." Derry looked up surprised by his friend's actions. Gabe spoke arms akimbo "Comfy?" Derry nodded. "Now, we are going to sit here and talk until I get my friend back out of this miserable sack of shit who sits before me." Gabe sat down next to him. "Now, what's on your mind? You know if I ever had a problem I'd want you to listen."

Derry sighed, "Yeah, but, that's you; not me! You're always the one who's going out of your way to help people. I'm just doing what I can."

Gabe could instantly tell Derry's mind was somewhere else. "It's Liz, isn't it?"

The squirrel sighed. "Am I really that easy?"

"You must really have a thing for her."

"Yeah, I can't help it really. Every time I'm with her I don't feel like my usual joking self. I love her."

Gabe stood up. "Follow your heart, Derry, my friend, follow your heart." He grabbed his squirrel friend by the collar of his shirt. "Well, come on, we have to hurry if we're to make it home before midnight."

Derry hesitated. "Wait! What's all this urgency? This whole time you've seemed preoccupied about something." He wagged a finger at the warrior mouse. "Now, you tell me or I'm not moving; not one step further."

Gabe glared back at him. "You know those dreams I've been having? I spoke with Abbot Bruce this afternoon. He's granting me temporary leave so I can seek answers at Salamandastron. If anyone should know anything about bad dreams, it's the badger lord. He's allowing me to take with me a traveling companion or two." He placed one paw on his friend's shoulder. "I want you to go. If you're worried, it's okay. I'd understand."

Derry replied indignantly "Worried, me? Ha! Not fucking likely, you need me to keep up your morale, you vastly unfunny beast you. Well, what the hell are we waiting for? Let's get back home!"

The two friends rushed home, both unaware of what awaits them at the shores of Salamandastron.

...

Elsewhere, two other figures were becoming intimate. The young ferretmaid sat on the side of the bed watching her lover undress. She adored the sight of him bare before her. She raised her skirt seductively and whistled. Her beau turned his gaze to her. She was lightly fingering herself. The male got down on all fours and crawled up to her. She yelped when she felt his tongue against her most private of areas. His hot breath was making her wet, his tongue devouring generous proportions. He teased the lips with his claws. Soon, she came for him. She felt his paws moving up her dress. He found the knot and untied it. She gasped as he pulled her dress down to the floor. They each paused for a moment to gaze upon each other's bodies. She laid back beckoning him forth. He crawled on top of her until they were face to face. They kissed. He nuzzled her neck.

She stopped him then spoke in a faux little girl voice, "Mr. Dan Freers, sir, plaise go gental on me, 'tis my first toime."

Dan grinned. "Oh, my dear, you needn't worry your pretty little head about nothing, old Danny Boy's got you safe and sound."

...

The following morning, the towns on the island of Sampetra were all a bustle. Merchants were selling their goods; old ladies were conversing about past lives, children playing close to their parent's carts. Of particular note, however, was one lone figure stomping most flamboyantly through the crowd. He was a spotted hyena wearing everything from pointed boots to a large hat complemented by a single feather. His clothes were clean, a bit too clean for someone who lived there. His whiskers were groomed into a sort of moustache. Most striking, however, were the gorgeous gold hoop earrings of which he seemed to take special pride in. He waved to all the pretty girls, winked to all the handsome fellows, tipped his hat respectfully to old ones and even stopped to help one young stoat child retrieve her dolly from two bullying rats. He was adored by most everyone there. He entered a tavern which seemed to be having a very busy day. Marko was the first of his crew to spot him.

He cupped his paws around his mouth. "Ahoy! Captain Earring! Get your flighty fairy arse over here!"

Earring feigned shock at the insult.

Marko laughed heartily. "The captain, bloody fucking riot he is."

Earring appeared by him suddenly. "A riot am I? So that must mean I drive you insane."

Marko gulped then laughed off the hyena's words. "Ha-hah, yeah! And that ain't even the least of it!"

Will patted his friend. "Alright, now attention, crews! Finish whatever beverages or food you have leftover and finish them now, we'll be shoving off soon."

One of his crewmates spoke up "Are we off for some more action tonight, Cap?"

"Aye, and so much more. Where is my first mate, Dan Freers?"

Marko answered "Oh, he's probably still at the inn across from here. He took in a girl."

Earring turned his head in the direction Marko gestured to. "Really? And he didn't bother inviting me?"

"Well you were fallin' down drunk last night. Besides, I thought you two were 'sweeties' together."

Earring laughed smugly. "We are sweeties, Marko. But, even sweeties got to have some female companionship. That's beside the point, though. I'll go see what's keeping him." He walked towards the front door.

He turned briefly striking an effete pose. "If I'm not back in five minutes, wait longer."

...

Dan and the ferretmaid, Flower, laid together in bed. He had awoken before her and was taking the time to watch her petite breasts rise and fall. She had the loveliest smile as she slept. He wrapped his arm around her waist. She awoke to him licking her shoulder.

She shifted her head so she could see him. "Good morning, you enjoying my arm there?"

He just smiled. His paws moved up her body. He lifted her arm and began playing with her breasts. He licked them, kissed them, nipped them, and squeezed them. His paw then descended down her front and slid two fingers inside her. Suddenly, there came a knock at the door.

They glanced at each other and then Dan called out. "Who's there?"

From the other side came a voice in a retort. "Who's there? Who in the hell do you think it is?"

Both lovers called out in unison "Earring!"

With that, the door swung open to show the beloved hyena standing arms crossed with a bizarre look in his eyes. He stepped boldly across, grabbed Flower by her chin and planted a loving kiss on her. He stared into her eyes with affection, the same way he looked into Dan's eyes, the same way Flower looked into theirs.

He held the two together and whispered "We're shoving off. Get dressed, you two."

With that, he stood up and turned away.

The trio left the tavern together. Dan was wearing bright green pantaloons with a cream-colored shirt, brown vest and gold buttons. Flower was wearing a black tunic, white dress and had her brown headfur tied back with a red bow. On her right shoulder was her namesake, a golden, diamond-encrusted brooch in the shape of a rose in full bloom, of which she always offered a different story on how she got it. The crew stood before them awaiting the captain's words.

He surveyed the lot before speaking "Boys, we've had ourselves one hell of a time together haven't we?"

The crew cheered.

He raised up his paws to silence them. He paced confidently as he continued. "And we have stolen more than our fair share of the ocean's riches with little to no casualties on us but quite a few on our enemies." He stopped when he noticed a face he hadn't seen before. He broke pace abruptly and pulled the unfamiliar rat from the ranks. "Who are you? I do not recall you being with us on any of our voyages."

Another rat stepped forward. He placed both paws on the other's shoulders. "Beggin' yer pardin, sah... tis my cousin. 'E wanted so badly to join uz. Oi thought yer wouldn't notice." The rat bit his tongue at the last thing he said, but it was already too late.

Earring withdrew his dagger and held it to the fool's throat. His expression was that of one who had been insulted. "EXCUSE ME! YOU THOUGHT I WOULDN'T NOTICE? YOU DUMB FUCK!" His voice lowered to a whisper. "I don't suppose you know how important details are to me; I'd forgive you for that if you hadn't been on my damn ship for five fucking years. Somewhere down the line you must've figured I'm not so smart. Right? I'm only your captain, someone who holds the power to decide whether I'd let you walk from my ship or have you for a jolly swim with a rock tied to your neck! Oh yes, that certainly sounds like someone whose intelligence I'd want to be insulting."

He released the rat. Earring turned to walk away and he stopped. He looked back at the beast he'd just embarrassed. The rat scowled. Without warning, Will turned and slashed the rat's left ear clean off. He ignored the crewmate's cursing.

"Where is our ship's doctor?"

A pine marten with a wooden right paw stepped forward. He bowed with reverence. "Yez zir, vat vould you azk ov me?"

Earring picked up the rat's severed ear and placed it in the marten's working left paw. "Mr. Dewclaw, take this insolent scoundrel behind me and sew this piece back on for him. After all, I need all of my crew in full working condition for the days and nights to come. But, no beer! I want him to feel the pain; have Marko or some other burly fellow hold him down, if you must."

Dewclaw helped the rat up and escorted him to the ship.

Earring returned his attention to the congregation. "Well, I had myself a whole speech set but, thanks to Scrunge and his interruptions we're already pressed for time, so, I'm going to make this quick. One of my birds came to me this morning; she says that it's going to be perfect weather for the next following weeks and we are going to make do with that. Now, me mateys, we are shoving off!"

His entire crew shouted with the exception of the rat, Scrunge's cousin, the normally stoic Marko, his first mate, Dan Freers and his second mate, Flower. Earring thought to himself with pride.

"This is going to be great."

...

Back in Mossflower, Gabriel and Derry were standing in front of the main gates of Redwall. Half of Redwall had gathered to see them off. The only one not present was Liz. Her brother, Fynn, had forbidden her from even seeing the squirrel again. She had hardly been able to sleep after leaving him the previous night. Outside, Abbot Bruce, the badger mother, Flora, skipper of otters, Fynn and Gabe's friend with the Sparra, Flitter had all given their respective goodbyes and good lucks. Flora was having trouble hiding her tears. Two abbeybeasts she had helped raise from dibbuns were now leaving home. Fynn hugged both of his friends, though he did mutter something rather harsh in Derry's ear when they hugged. Derry was pale in the cheeks afterward. Flitter was unusually quiet for this occasion.

Bruce made the final farewell. "Now, you be careful. Both of you be careful. There is a lot of travel between here and Salamandastron, you've no idea what lies in between. When you do come back, make sure not to forget any part of your quest because we would love to hear everything. Farewell."

The two travelers nodded, turned and they left. Later that morning, Fynn came up to the dormitory his sister had been sleeping in. He wasn't surprised to find it bare. All her travel clothes were gone. All he found was a note on the table by the window.

Dear Fynn, if you are reading this, it means you've probably figured I've gone to be with Derry. I know you don't really like him that much, but, it's not you I'm talking about. I have to follow my heart. I have to be with Derry. I have to be able to protect him. I love him. He loves me. Don't come after me, your duty is here. My destiny is out there. Your dear sister, Elizabeth.

Fynn folded the note and he sighed. "Derry, you take good care of her or next time I will skin ya."