Dandy had to have a bath. It felt as if Mother Mellus was scrubbing her hide clean off. The soap and suds got in her eyes, and Dandy wanted no more of it. She started splashing the badger mother with the warm soapy water. It got in Mellus's eyes, making her unable to see for a moment. Dandy jumped out of the tub and ran out of the room. Mother Mellus didn't see the little mouse escape, so she grabbed at a pile of suds. Then realization struck the badger that the Dibbun had ran away. Dandy was panic-stricken. Nothing was worse than an angry badger mother! Dandy ran out to the orchard. She saw all her friends playing in the sun. She climbed up into an apple tree. Dandy saw Mother Mellus looking for her. The little Dibbun plucked off an apple and began gnawing on it.
CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH. Mellus heard the crunching sounds and looked up into the tree. Dandy screamed, threw down the apple, jumped out of the tree and ran out of sight. The badger mother chased Dandy around the orchard, but lost her. Dandy went inside, and feeling hungry, looked into the kitchens. The Friar was there with other grown-ups cooking lunch. Delicous aromas swirled around the Dibbun. She reached for an oat scone that was cooling on the counter, and grabbed a handful of candied chestnuts. The Friar just turned around when Dandy crept away from the kitchens. He saw the bowl of candied chestnuts empty and one out of three oat scones missing. He began yelling:
"There is a thief! One of my beautiful scones is missing! Catch the culprit!" He saw Dandy gaping at the Friar. He began pointing to the young mischief maker and screaming, "There she is! Get her!" Dandy saw it wasn't a good time to be staring at a mad Friar. She dashed out and saw more trouble happening! Mother Mellus was talking to the Friar! Immediately the poor Dibbun ran as fast as she could. Mellus and the Friar were chasing her. There was only one place where she wouldn't get caught: in the cellars. Dandy gollumphed down the stairs and saw a couple other Dibbuns including her buddies Creampuff, Arven, and Tammo. Gabriel Quill, the cellarkeeper, was working on some ale. He laughed at Dandy when she ate the candied chestnuts and the scone. Dandy told her friends what had happened. After she finished her her stolen lunch, she drank some dandelion and burlock cordial. Then there was a knock on the cellar door. Mother Mellus's hoarse voice called out, "Dandy! You come out there right this instant!" Dandy had climbed into an empty barrel. Creampuff began yelling. "No Dandy here right now!" However, Gabriel knew Dandy was hiding, but didn't know what barrel she was hiding in. He let Mother Mellus in his cellers. They began searching the barrels for Dandy. They couldn't find her. Finally, Mellus found a candied chestnut next to a barrel. She lifted up the top, and caught the Dibbun! Poor Dandy was pulled kicking and screaming out of the cellars. Poor Dandy had her ears and hide scrubbed once again and was sent to bed! A few hours later she had to apoligize to the Friar for taking the scone, but she was allowed to make strawberry cordial with Gabriel Quill. A happy ending at last!
'Me fouds it inna gwate all' me said ta Tangle. 'Dis be scraceful' said Tangle.'DFB.Dibbuns for bedtime!' 'Sa new gwoop dat was started by a new dibbun' me said 'All da dfb's is inna boat on di pond.' 'we go gerrim den' said Tangle an we all cheers. We gor in a boat an we goed out to de DFB. Den Tangle shouted DDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB' an den me an da udder otters srounid dere boat an we pusheded it an de udder dibbuns wammed der boat an we won an da was da end of DFB.
Me was wunnin twu de wuds after de spy. He was twyin ta start up DFB agen. Den I saw him wun behind a twee and twy to hide on me. So I sneaked up on im. Den I tooked out me blanket an twew it over is ead. Den I
gwabbed de ends ov de blanket an tied em tigeder. Den I dwagged im back to d'abbey an evydibbun cheered me an I was a hero an dey gev me candied chestnuts.
"What a feast!" exclaimed Fwirl. She and Laterose, her friend,were enjoying their first Nameday feast and were concentrating on eating as much food as they possibly could. They were almost full but not quite. After
the Nameday games( which Fwirl and Laterose had walked away from with the three-legged race prize!)they had sat down to feast and they had not stopped since. "Look!" said Fwirl. She pointed to the end of the long table. There was Friar Higgle's pride and joy, a summercream pudding coated with damsons and cherries. "Lets get it!" said Laterose. She grabbed Fwirl's arm and dragged her under the table. Laterose started to crawl over everyones legs towards the end of the table,dragging Fwirl with her. They neared the end of the table when Laterose triped, and fell on Martin, the Abbey Warrior's legs! The Warrior lifted up the tablecloth and looked down on the 2 naughty dibbuns. He opened his mouth as to scold them, but closed it and dropped the tablecloth down. Fwirl grinned at Laterose and continued crawling. When no-one was looking Fwirl grabbed it and took it back under the table. She and Laterose made short work of it and practised their skill of eating pudding without spoons or forks. The next thing they heard was friar Higgle saying" Come on Father Abbot, try my summercream pudding,it's made with...Hey,where is it? Martin, have you seen it?" " No I haven't Friar. Maybe Martin, the spirit of the abbey took it!" Martin then turned his head slightly and winked at the 2 dibbuns. Fwirl and Laterose grinned at each other. If only they knew!
It was late afternoon in Redwall Abbey and the Dibbuns were picking strawberies in the strawberry patch. They were almost done and were very tired. " Right that's all of it then" said Tangle " Let's go indoors" They all started to pick up there baskets when Grubb, a small baby mole said" What's that big bird in the sky?" All the Dibbuns looked in the sky and saw that Grubb was right, there was a big bird in the sky. It swooped low and then grabbed Matti's basket "Let go,let go!" he cried, but the bird was much stronger than him and wrenched it away. Laterose grabbed her trusty slingshot, fitted a large knobbly pebble and fired. The bird crawed in pain and fell over, but then 2 more starlings appeared. Laterose and Fwirl stunned them with Laterose's slingshot and Fwirl's bow and arrows. Tangle herded all the babes indoors to safety All the Dibbuns were late for tea and Mother Auma scolded them "Now where have you been?" she quizzed. "There were 3 big starling and Laterose and Fwirl stunned them." piped up Grubb " Oh your stories" said Mother Auma." Now eat your tea". But Martin rose to the window and said " Goodness gracious, there are 3 stunned starlings out there. well done Dibbuns!" The Dibbuns smiled proudly and as a treat, Mother Auma gave them an extra scone each!
"Oops" said Fwirl. She had sneaked into the kitchens to get some candied chesnuts for a midnight feast. She had been so intent on trying to hold as many chesnuts as she could that she hadn't noticed the large frame of Mother Mellus filling the doorway. "You naughty Dibbun! What have you been doing?" Fwirl didn't speak, but the evidence spoke for itself. "Right" said Mother Mellus "you must stay in the Infirmary. Brother Hollyberry will find you lots of chores to do. Go upstairs now!" Poor Fwirl was very upset. She hadn't meant to take those chesnuts and now she had to do chores in the Infirmary! She was marched upstairs by the badger mother and left in Brother Hollyberry's care "Come on, young rip, start dusting those floors." brother Hollyberry was firm and kept Fwirl's nose to the grindstone. She missed tea and was hungry and resentful. A plan formed in her mind and was ready to escape at the next opportunity. Later, Sister Sage poked her head in and said "Brother, Grubb had been stung by a bee. Can you come and help?" Brother Hollyberry went out quickly and left Fwirl alone. She put her plan into action. She took a wad of bandages from the cupboard and tied them to make a rope. She tied it to a bedstead and stood on the windowsill. She jumped. The wind whistled past her ears and she felt the rush of the breeze on her face. just as she neared the dormitary window the sheet-rope unknotted and she fell into a large beech tree. She grasped a branch and held on tightly. She looked around and remembered: this was the DAB's secret treehouse. She slid into the treehouse and found a secret supply of candied fruits. She had one or two(or five!) then jumpedinto the dormitory. She stretched out on her bed and fell asleep. "Wake up!" shrieked Laterose. Fwirl blinked sleepily "What's wrong?" "Mother Mellus is going spare! She dosen't know where you are and all the Dibbuns are on search duty!" Fwirl grinned "Well tell her that I had to stop working because I had stomach pains caused by shame!" Laterose grinned back "Consider it done" She walked out of the room. Soon Mother Mellus came back.She looked very apolegetic. "Um...Fwirl...I'm very sorry about causing such pains...listen you don't have to do any more work today. Just sit back and get well again." Fwirl nodded feebly as Mother Mellus walked out of the room. Her feeble look turned to a wicked one as she stretched out. What a life this was!
Me jumped up an' walked carefuwy past Tailblade. Me wan fast to a near wiver an' swimmed to 'e Guosim place an' gets 'e Guosim members of DAB to come inna boat an' me sez t 'em ow I tied em up wiv me rope an currit so I gots some left. Dey got me some food An' I cooked usen' me fwint an' tinder. Me sez to 'e likkle shew to go to 'e Abbey an' tell Skipper were 'e vermin woz. When we camped we used 'e boat assa tent an' swept unner it. Yurag ad beed slow an 'e finded 'e boat, picked it up an' finded me awake. I jumped up an' yelled, wiva pebble in one 'and an' a knife in 'e uvver I fwoed 'e pebble an ran yellin' REDWALLLLLLLLL!!!!! I stabbed 'im an' we all wan fer Redwall togevver.
Tree blossom sat in the orchard in the warm summer sun she started to dream. She dreamped that she had just dived into a super huge barrel of candied chestnuts.She ate as many as she could and stuffed some more in her pockets for later. She sighed, next she was under the table in the great hall with a huge cake to eat all to the dibbuns selvs they named it the DAB Dibbun Cake.Next she was martin the worrior fighting an evil fox she wodn and the fox ran off screaming "mercy help" Then she feld something bounce off her head Stop deydreaming Tree Blossom and come and have a cream pie fight, It was her friend Fwil the squirrel. OK said Tree Blossom lets have a CREAM PIE FIGHT
"What a nice day for berry-picking" said Mother Mellus. She had bravely( and foolishly) taken all the Dibbuns on a berry-picking trip. It would be dark soon, so she decided to call everyone back so they could
go home to Redwall abbey. "Come here everyone!" she shouted. All the Dibbuns lugged their baskets over to
her and lined up. "Right let's go!" shouted Mother Mellus and started moving in the direction of the Abbey. She glanced up ahead and saw black clouds moving across the sky. She whispered a silent prayer hoping it wouldn't rain. It did. Just as they neared the road which runs to Redwall it started to pour with rain. They were out in the open, quite a way from the Abbey and it would take them a good 15 minutes to get there. As the first clap of thunder sounded, the littlest dibbuns started whimpering. Fwirl stared at Laterose helplessly. What could they do? Suddenly, Laterose's brain clicked into action. "I've got it!" she cried "If we empty our berries on the ground then the smallest babes can fit in and if we carry them and we hold on to Mother Mellus we can all get there!" " And if we tie the baskets on our backs with our tunic belts then Mother Mellus can carry all of us!" exclaimed Fwirl, cottening onto her friends idea. Mother Mellus shrugged "It's worth a try." As soon as each babe was in a basket, and each dibbun was clinging on to Mother Mellus they started. It was slow work but Mother Mellus was strong and they were getting along very quickly. Suddenly, a big dead old tree was struck by a bolt of lightning and fell right in front of them. "Oh no, now what are we going to?" cried Laterose. Mother Mellus backed up a few paces, gnashed her teeth and ran. She cried: "Eulaliaaaaaaaa!" She jumped like a stag. She flew across the log and touched down on the other side. She collected herself and ran on towards the Abbey She bolted towards the side door on the East side. She unbolted the door and ran in towards the Great Hall. Safe!
The boat I constructed for the Dibbun's Pond Race was a barrel sealed with some tar, two logs used as pontoons, poles to connect them, and a glass front instead of a hole in the front. The top has a hatch, and several oars are stuck through the sides. When the boats were put on the pond, I jumped in the hatch and got ready. Skipper was judging, and when we started, my boat was quite a bit faster than the others. One of the Dibbuns' boats had a
spike on it, and it hit mine! My pontoon fell off, and it looked like I was stuck. Then, I took some more tar I had, and covered the holes above the oars. I made the boat sink, and chased the others. Mine passed the one with the spike, and I won! Skipper said he never saw anything like my ship, and I won the cake
How many times do I have to tell you!" Cregga Badgermum growled in exasperation as she stormed from the kitchen, dragging a protesting foxbabe along with her. "Don't steal scones! I'll skelp your tail next time I catch you!" Turning her great striped back with a "Hmmph!" of displeasure, she left the scone-less dibbun out on the grounds, her apron pockets full to bursting with the purloined treats . "Dat's th' last time Cregga's gonna steal scones frum me!" the young vixen muttered fiercely. "Dose were for Tangle's Midsummer Feastie! Dat's it, I'm leavin'." Crossing her paws across her food-stained tunic, she scowled murderously and added, "Forevers!!" The youngster stomped angrily into the DAB tent, then headed up to the dormitory, muttering deadly oaths under her breath all the while. "Whatcha up to's, Valnire?" a tiny mole questioned as the foxbabe wrenched a pale blue blanket off her bed. Too furious to reply, Valnire fastened her midnight-blue cloak about her, patted the pouchful of candied chestnuts tied to her leather belt and marched downstairs, out towards the grounds. Stopping only to snatch a handful of ripe strawberries, and a pair of peaches from the orchard, she took one last, long look at the red sandstone Abbey she had called home for so long and disappeared into the leafy recesses of Mossflower Wood. Munching strawberries, she trotted through the tangle of undergrowth and stared up at the towering monarchs of the forest, refilling the pouch of pebbles with which she loaded her sling along the way. Finding an oak sapling with long branches close to the ground, she flung her blanket over a particularly low-hanging one and weighed either side of the clean cotton cloth with stones. "A perfect tent," she thought to herself as she removed her cloak, spread it out on the grass under the makeshift shelter and crawled inside. Twirling her sling in a bored sort of way, she stretched out and took a brief nap, throughtly pleased to have escaped the stern Badgermum once and for all. When she woke, Valnire started to feel the first twinges of loneliness. She missed Redwall, and the dibbuns at DAB. Remembering past pilow fights, pantry raids and michevious missions, she felt a tear course down her cheek. Brushing it away, she reminded herself that she had run away, and would face serious trouble if she returned home. Sighing, she walked outside, drank greedily from a stream as she made up her mind. She was homesick, that much was certain. But her glum feelings were definitely not going to ruin her time away from the rules and regulations of Redwall!! Smiling to herself, she strode into the forest, ears pricked to take in all the soothing noises of nature. Suddenly, a harsh voice sliced through the quiet melody of birdsong and babbling brook. Valnire froze in her tiny tracks. Not ten feet away, a score and a half of stoats were conversing around a poorly lit fire. "Well, mates," the largest of the group grunted. "We'd best git movin' afore nightfall." The foxbabe ducked behing a patch of bracken just as the pack of vermin rose to its feet and headed off through the forest, straight towards Redwall Abbey! Valnire gasped, realizing that the villinous beasts would surely attack it, as many vermin before them had. Following steathliy, she stopped by the oak, retrieved her items and loaded her sling. Smiling grimly, she took aim and loosed a pebble, rewarded by a shrill cry of pain from one of the stoats. She loosed another stone. Then another. Each found their mark, hitting the vermin thick and fast. Their shouts rang through the woods, drowning out the vixen's mischevious chuckles. Finally,when the lead stoat had the wind knocked out of him by the largest pebble in Valnire's sling, the stoats retreated, nursing their aching ribs and bruised footpaws. Valnire hurried back to Redwall and rushed through one of DAB's many secret entrances, just in time for Tangle's Midsummer Feastie. She told her tale of valor and daring to the dibbuns as she ate, grinning from ear to ear around mouthfuls of food. "Seems like we've 'ad twice as much to celebrate today!' Tangle cried as both the story and the feast drew to a close. "You was very brave, Valnire." the half-grown hedgehog said proudly as she placed a bagfull of candied chestnuts into the foxbabe's paws. "Only, nex' time ya runs awa', invite me!" she whispered amid stifled chuckles. The End.
Valnire sighed drowsily. She had spent all day guarding the strawberry patch, and was utterly exhausted. Gulping thirstily from a flask of pennycloud cordial, she slumped against an apple tree, eyelids drooping slightly. Within minutes she was fast asleep.
Deep in slumber, the foxbabe had a most wonderous dream. She and the dibbuns at DAB had Redwall all to themselves!! The larder was full to bursting with candied chestnuts, crystalized fruit, scones, tarts, cakes, pies, puddings, and all manner of unhealthy sweets. Now matter how much the gleeful youngsters devoured, the pantry still stayed full!
Up in the dormitory, several young woodlanders had started a pilow fight to rival all pillow fights. Feathers rained down like snowflakes, raucous laughter filled the air, and most of the beds had been upturned in the construction of a massive fort.
Out on the grounds, dibbuns ran rampant through the orchard, having strawberry-eating contests, stuffng their faces with fruit and splashing in the pond. The pond was filled, not with water, but with fizzy dandelion cordial! Valnire leapt right in, careful to dodge a pair of racing mousebabes as their homemade boats skimmed the surface. She drank and drank, but never once got a tummy ache.
"Valnire! Valnire! Wakey up, miss! Yore gonna miss th' Nameday Feast, mate!!" The foxbabe opened her eyes groggily. Before her stood a half-grown otter, who had been shaking her awake just moments before. "Wot a luvverly dream," she yawned quietly to herself as she let him lead her to the table.
The End
Strawberry Trees
By Valnire of the Tricky Tribe
"Strawbee trees?" Valnire repeated in a disbelieving tone as she sat in the orchard alongside two otterbabes, Slipstream and Metter. "Aye mate," muttered Slipstream, grinning behind his paws.
"Strawb'rry trees. Dey grow in a corner on 'ee South Wall. Dey're 'bout as tall as two dormitory bedposts stuck's togeder and on'y weigh as much a two gooseyfefers."
"Dat's righ'." agreed Metter, interupting. "Dey got liddle twisty branches all covered in blue, red-spleckled leafs. Not to mention strawb'rrys. But dey weigh so liddle dat each night, they blow awa'. Them pore liddle strawb'rry trees are blown alla way to da tops o' da North Mountains." With that, the two young otters truddled away, giggling to themselves about the fictious tale they had just fed to the gullible foxbabe.
"Pore likkle strawbee trees," Valnire murmured sympathetically. "I wonders wot dey look like. I know! I'll sneak out tonigh' an' save sum!" Pleased with her plan, she headed up to the dormitory to think and wait.
It was nighttime, but few of the DAB dibbuns were asleep. A couple of the younger ones had drifted off, but most of the baby woodlanders were wide awake, starting cream fights, stuffing their faces, chatting to each other and generally making michief. Valnire, clad in her midnight blue cloak, snuck through the crowd and out the door.
Out on the grounds it ws quiet. Nothing disturbed the stillness save the chirrup of crickets and the song of nocturnal birds. The foxbabe padded out to the South Wall in the darkness, then leaned against a birch sapling and waited.
Valnire eyelids drooped. She blinked several times and strained to keep them open. It was no use. The lulling evensong and cool shade of the Mossflower Wood had done its work. The foxbabe drifted into dreamland under a velvet cloak of stars.
Valnire woke suddenly. It was early morning, and the sun was peeking sleepily from behind the clouds. Rising groggily, the young woodlander peered aroung the wall. No strawberry trees were to be seen. Disappointed with her failure to save the imaginary trees, she stomped over to the door, then froze and looked down.
Under her footpaw was a pale blue leaf with jagged edges and red speckles. It smelled of strawberries, and was fuzzy to the touch. Valnire gasped. The strawberry trees had been here! Stuffing the leaf into her pocket, she raced into Great Hall. She couldn't wait to tell Slipstream and Metter!
"So ya see's," Valnire concluded, lifting the leaf high, "da strawbee trees really were here!" The two otterbabes stared at the leaf, dumbfounded, as the foxbabe skipped away, about to show Tangle. "Well, mate," Slipstream muttered. "I guess th' strawb'rry trees are fer real."
The End.
Starlings and Strawberries
By Valnire of the Tricky Tribe
Whrrrrrrr! Clack! Whrrrrrrr! Clack! Valnire's sling hummed through the air as she marched in a circle around the strawberry patch, murmuring snatchs of a nonsense ditty as she went along. "Ho, a cheskynut is a funny liddle nut, wid a half-open shell dat he calls 'is hut." she sang, never noticing that she was being watched from the trees.
Bonetalon clacked his beak hungrily as he dov at the foxbabe. Strawberries at delicious snacks for a starling, especially stolen ones, he thought as he spread his wings. He launched himself into the sky, his raiding party following noiselessly.
"Krrrrii!!" skrieked Bonetalon as he led the attack on the strawberry patch. Valnire gasped in surprise, fleeing behind a boulder just as the starling's hooked his talons in the earth where she had just stood. The young vixen seized her chance, loosing a pebble at the bird leader before he could take off again.
Cawing in pain, Bonetalon flapped away. The other starlings dove at the strawberry patch. "Ya ain't gonna git none o' DAB's strawbees!" growled the foxbabe, whirling her sling at the thieving birds. They clacked their beaks and flexed their talons as the sped towards her. She leapt aside just in time, loosing two pebbles right smack into their feathery bottoms. The birds squawked and swerved away, back to the pines from which they flew. The strawberries were safe. At least for now.
The End
Stolen Strawberries
By Valnire of Tricky Tribe
" Reddy, set, go!" Sammo cried out, waving his paw dramatically. A trio of homemade boats zipped past the harebabe at high speed, crewed by dibbuns. The crude watercrafts skimmed the bank as the youngsters called to each other, "We're gonna win, Metter!" 'I don't fink so, Fwirl!" "Full speed ahed, Basil!" Several youngbeasts sat on the bank, cheering and chatting, their eyes on the boat.
Valnire the foxbabe stood in the prow of her craft, shouting encouragement to her crew. "Row, me 'earties! Chugger keep 'er stedy! Songrose, 'ow are we comin'?" "Fast and firstis!" called the mousemaid. Nobeast noticed four short shadows creeping over to the West Wall, over to one of DAB's secret entrances.
" 'Urry up, cullies!" one of them hissed. "Up th' rope now! In ya go!" he ordered, kicking one of the creatures into the hidden passage. "Righ' mates." the lead beast muttered. "Slitear said da strawbees would be right 'ere." He pointed to a loose floorboard, then lowered the hood of his patched and worn cloak. He was a weasel!
Prying the floorboard loose, he snatched a satchel full of strawberries, shoved it into the folds of his cloak and crept down the steps. Out on the grounds, the boat race had ended. Chugger's boat had won, while Metter and Fwirl had tied for second. Markk, a fox who had rowed for Metter, thought he saw movement in the wall corner. "Vermin!" shouted Finnbarr, pointing his sling at the dibbun weasels. The DAB dibbuns charged.
"Run fer it!" screeched the lead weasel, shoving the other three out in front of him. "Dey've got our strawbees!" shrieked Mollo, whirling his sling angrily. The weasels raced for the pond, leapt into a boat and paddled off. Streamsleek sprang into the prow of Metter's boat, Valnire alongside him. "After 'em!" they yelled. Six more dibbuns sped into the boat.
The others waded into the shallows and surrounded the baby vermin. Nutty snatched the strawberry satchel from the weasels, then loosed an arrow. It zipped past his ear. Pebbles, arrows, stale food, peas and thorns pierced the air. Swords and gullwhackers waved overhead. The weasels retreated, crying out in pain.
"Hooray!" cried Loosevine. "We gots da strawbees back!" The dibbuns cheered happily as they raced inside. Tangle declared a feast in their honor, which lasted well into the night.
The End
Wow what an adventure said Tree blossom to Tree Rose as they
walked through Mossflower. Yes its wonderful being outside the
abbey, I cant believe they let us out of the abbey I thought Mother
Mellus would not let us Tree Rose said as they walked to the
Gousim camp to give them supplies and blankets.As they walked
they could hear singing and arguing drift through the trees. Soon
they reached a river and saw the shrews there were fires lit and the
smell of food was delicious. The Logalog of the Gousim came
foreward an said to Skipper of the otters Ahoy there mate have you
go our blankets. "Yep" said "skipper could you let the younguns
have a bite to eat they look hungry"Surethey can, said Logalog.
Tree Blossom said to Tree Rose why dont we let the Gousim come
to Redwall to stay for a while. The night passed quikly. Tree
Blossm murmured sleepily to Tree Rose the food was lovely dont
you think and the singing and dancing really tired me out. Good
night Tree Rose". "Good night Tree Blossom" said Tree Rose
Shelter in a Storm
By Valnire
" Come along, young'uns!' called Mother Auma gruffly, stepping out onto the grounds. A bunch of dibbuns followed at her heels, swinging their berry baskets gleefully. They followed the old Badgermum to the berry patch, and began picking with a will.
"Hmmm, smells like rain," the elder murmured to herself as the young woodlanders picked fruit from the surrounding bushes. Jingle, an otterbabe, felt a drop of wetness on his whiskers. "Badgermarm," he said, shaking his head, " water's a-comin' from th' sky!" Several dibbuns looked up from their work in alarm.
"Water in 'ee sky?" squeaked a mousebabe fearfully. "Now, now, Laterose," Auma soothed. "It's just a spot of rain. It won't harm you." Just then, a crack of thunder pealed through the air, and a flash of lightning slit through the clouds like a swordblade. The Abbey babes gasped in fright, clutching their baskets nervously "Thair be serpints in 'ee clouds, h'Auma!" shrieked a molebabe, pointing at a snakelike flash of light. The youngsters took shelter under tthe badger's skirt as the rain poured down.
"Quick! In here!" called Streamrun, pointing a bedraggled paw westward. The dibbuns snatched up their baskets and raced forward, their footpaws muddied from the puddles. A crackle of lightning split the sky, illuminating a hollow tree in the distance.
The creatures scampered inside, shaking water from their fur. They sat down on the leaf-strewn floor, blowing rainwater from their whiskers and conversing in hushed tones. "It's dark in here," somebeast murmured. 'At least it's dry," another said.
Auma peered outside. The storm raged on. She quietly gathered the berry-pickers in a circle, then told them the story of Martin the Warrior, their very favorite. The dibbuns chewed berries as they listened. When the tale drew to a close, the storm did too.
The youngbeasts scampered out of the tree and made their way back to the Abbey, Badgermum Auma in the lead.
The End.
Steal the Summercream Pudding
By Valnire
"Mmmm," muttered Stonetalon, licking his curved beak as he gazed longingly at the summercream pudding that sat at the other end of the long table. Several dibbuns twitched their whiskers hungrily as the delightful aroma of pudding wafted over Great Hall. But the pudding was along way away, and watchful elders were everywhere, no doubt guarding the food from the youngsters.
A foxbabe brushed past the goshawk and the others, her eyes glinting with determination. "Whatcha doin, Valnire?" asked a mousemaid. "Gettin' th' puddin'." the young vixen replied, eyeing the table. "See ya later,' she said before disappearing under the crisp linen tablecloth that covered the table.
The stone floor chilled Valnire's footpaws as she crawled along under the long table. Laughter and voices floated down from above, as well as the scent of delicious dishes. Ice-cold flasks of cordial vied for place with steaming pies, flans and stews. At the far end of the table sat the enomrous summercream pudding, untouched and marvelous to behold. The foxbabe thust her paws out to grasp the dish and froze.
The patter of paws on the stone floor reached her sensitive ears. Zipping back under the table, she waited for the sound to fade away. She then snatched the magnificent pudding and crawled to the other end of the table. The dibbuns gasped in surprise and scurried up to the dormitory to devour their hard-earned prize.
The youngsters gathered aroung Tangle, the DAB leader, as she swallowed the first bite. They then dug in with a will, as if they had survived a seven-season famine. Meanwhile, the elders stared at the empty space on the table where the pudding had sat just moments ago, puzzeling over its sudden disappearance.
The End.
Mother Mellus had sent me up to the Infirmary to do chores because I was stealing candied chestnuts. I had to stay there for 2 whole days! I said to myself, "There's no way Mellus is going to get me to do chores for two days". She had just told me to arrange all the medicines in the cupboard neatly (they were sprawled everywhere at the moment), then to sweep the floor, while she went down to the orchard to pick some apples. At first I thought that this would be a piece of cake to escape then she told me that Friar Hugo would be guarding the door until she came back. I looked in my trusty haversack and sure enough I found my rope and grappling hook. So I started my escape.
I took out my rope and grappling hook as quietly as I could (unfortunately that wasn't very quiet) from my haversack and I hooked the hook around the bed nearest the window. I then opened the window and dropped the other end of the rope out the window. However I was careless in doing so, that I didn't notice that there was a window looking out of the Great Hall directly beneath the Infirmary window and the end of my rope banged against the window. I pulled my rope up and out of view just before Winifried the otter looked out to see what made the racket. Once she looked away, I dropped the rope down again (more carefully this time) so that it did not bang against the window. I pulled on the rope to see that it was hooked against the bedpost and I started my decsent. I held on to the rope and jumped out the window.
Everything was going fine until I was about half way down the rope, when I slipped and lost my footing and shouted "Whooooaaaa!", without thinking about how Friar Hugo might hear. I clued in when I heard him say, "Is everything going on fine in there? I think i'll come in and check on you." So as fast as I could, I scrambled up the rope to the Infirmary window, unhooked the rope and hid it under the bed, just as Hugo walked in the door. "What?" he said "You haven't even started!". I said "I was taking a nap and I rolled off the bed." Friar Hugo started to walk out the door, "Oh, ok then. But you better get started right now or Mother Mellus won't be to pleased!" He stepped outside and shut the door. "Phew!" I said to myself "That was close." So I took the rope and hook out from under the bed and hooked it around the bedpost again and jumped out the window holding on to the rope. This time I made it down to the ground without any troubles. I took the end of the rope and jiggled it around until the hook came free of the bedpost then I pulled the rope down and put it back in my haversack.
Then for the rest of the two days I hid in the woods with some other dibbuns (but they would go back at meal times to sneak us some food)Then when we came back again Mother Mellus wanted to put us all back in the Infirmary for 2 days for running away, but we threatened her that we would run away again. So in the end none of us did any chores.
The End
Shrewboat Stowaway
By Valnire
"Ready to go, Avern?" Log-a-Log asked around a mouthful of scone. "Aye, ready as ever." the squirrel warrior replied, sipping from a flask of rosehip tea. The Abbey Champion wiped his mouth then left the table, the Guosim leader following close behind him. Together they strode across the grounds, neither of them noticing that they were being followed.
Valnire had risen early. DAB was having an important meeting that morning, and the foxbabe wanted to be on time. Being a relatively new member, she wished to gain the respect of Tangle and the other high-ranking club members by showing punctuality. She hurried through the woods, a loosely tied blanket slung across her back and a loaded sling in one paw.
When the dibbun heard that Log-a-Log and the Redwall Warrior were going out to patrol the outer borders of Mossflower, she decided that she would go with them. Zipping after the the two, she took a shortcut through an elm copse, stratched a note in the dirt at the foot of the meeting stump telling where she had gone, then sped to River Moss, where the shrew logboats had been docked.
The youngster leapt into the hull of the largest craft, then unpacked her makeshift haversack. Jumbled inside was a napkin containing five jelly smeared scones, a flask of strawberry cordial and a fuzzy-skinned peach. Biting into the sweet fruit, she smiled, wondering what adventure was in store for her.
Valnire finished her breakfast just as Log-a-Log and Avern reached River Moss. Shoving the cordial flask into a corner, the foxbabe threw the food-stained blanket over herself and crouched down. The shrew chieftain called his tribe, which had camped on the far side of the water. They put out their fires, then boarded their crafts. Log-a-Log and Avern stepped into the one Valnire was hidden in.
The Guosim shouted a few gruff orders to each other, then paddled in the mainstream. The water was clear as crystal, and rippled around the logboats. Valnire peered out from under her blanket. She saw scuffy-furred shrews dipping their paddles into the calm waters. Log-a-Log stood at the prow, his bright red headband easily visible among the leafy green foliage surrounding the riverbank. Avern the Abbey Champion stood alongside the shrew, his sword glinting in the sunlight.
Birds twittered in the treetops, fish splashed in the shallows and dragonflies flitted lazily overhead. Valnire's eyelids drooped slightly, and before she knew it, she was fast asleep. The dibbun rolled out of her hiding place, much to the surprise of everybeast. Avern picked her up in one paw, smiled and said, " The patrol's over. Let's get this little adventurer home." The Guosim chuckled at the sight of their slumbering stowaway, then turned their crafts around.
When Valnire woke she was in the dormitory. Pushing her sheets aside, she scampered down the steps, eager to tell her friends of her stowaway adventure.
The End
