A cacophony of easterly birds awoke Saritanya to the smoldering gray of clouds lit by the first rays of the sun. She fumbled for her blow gun and slipped west to hunt for her breakfast. Approaching a pine grove Saritanya noted a great amount of black feathers on the ground. A rookery, that meant fresh eggs too! Swifter than the rising sun swept away mist, she fitted a dart in the shaft and aimed. But not before a ferret charged up the hill panting "Got yer now you thievin� deserter I�ll�" Instantly hundreds of bright, beady eyes were on them. "Imbecile" Saritanya hissed as she hoisted herself into a hiding position on the bottom of a spiky nest. The vermin barely had time to squeal as he raced, then rolled down the hill. He was snatched up in the air before he made it to the woods. Meanwhile Saritanya dropped down through the branches then arced northeast back to camp.

As she walked back into camp several ugly weasels approached her menacingly. "Whad cha do wid Snarly, ferret? We gonna tell da boss" the largest one growled.

"Tell me what?" Lord Channing the stoat said as he strolled out of his tent.

"She done away wid �ol Snarly she did."

"Really, how do you know?"

"Well, Snarly was gonna nab her dis night", "but when he got up she was gone", "so he went to look for her", "an told us to watch camp", "but then she came back now, an�" the gang was cut short by a wave of Lord Channing�s hand.

"You fools. Snarly was �gonna nab� Saritanya, my most trusted adviser! And you seer, where is Snarly if not in bed?"

"He followed me into a crow rookery and was instantly devoured, my lord" Saritanya replied.

"Don lissen to dat chief, whadda stupid lying scuse."

"If it is, at least she has one" said Channing.

"But�" they chortled.

"LEAVE! Now, what is this about a rookery you say Sari? Sounds like a good breakfast, we haven�t had one in days."

"I know and I was going to get some when that oaf attacked me�"

"I don�t care. Tell me more about what you saw."

"Well, if you still want me to lead you to glory, you may want to keep me alive."

"I don�t need anybody to �lead� me and you can take care of yourself. Now don�t make me repeat my question."

"I went east into a pine grove on a hill. To the east and south of that was forest."

"How many crows were there?"

"I couldn�t tell they were packed so close together"

"Perfect" ,the stoat said, "Firebird, arise!".

From the shadows of the camp a figure cloaked in black arose, spikes bristled out of its hood, its paw were bound in chains, which pulled a great wheeled beast. The rusty iron creaked as the phantom heeled to it master.

"Anyone who wants breakfast follow us east to a pine grove" the warlord shouted, as he strode confidently behind his adviser. The Firebird followed him wearily, and it led the procession of groggy vermin. As they approached the clearing Channing motioned a stop. "Firebird, aim for that nest" he said, pointing to the middle of the grove.

"Get ready for some fireworks" an old rat chortled. The phantom reluctantly made ready.

"Get on with it you stupid beast, it�s just a bunch of bloody crows" Lord Channing snarled as he pulled out a whip. The phantom crouched on the ground, Lord Channing raised his whip, then just kicked aside the figure in disgust. He lit a spark, and there was a deafening boom. Black feathers blew everywhere, but among them drifted a magnificent white plume. Hordes rushed forward to collect the tattered bodies. The figure didn�t move.

"Go on now, up the hill, if you want any breakfast" the old rat jeered the disconsolate figure lying in a heap on the ground "or is the shrapnel to hard on your delicate spiky stomach?"

*************

Back at Redwall friaress Mishell anxiously wrung a dishrag. "What�s wrong?" Lark asked.

"It�s Angel, she went out 3 days ago and hasn�t come back."

"Well, she could hold her own against any eagle or hawk."

"Yes, but she could�ve been attacked by crows, she was heading north by the pine grove. She�s so trusting, she might�ve tried to ask for information�"

"I�ll go out looking for her" Laruc volunteered.

"Nonsense, we can�t afford to lose another."

"Then I�ll take Cynthia too, we�re trained lifesavers now, you know. Yes, we�ll rescue her.", the sparrow continued, "That�ll show Sister Cristle how good we really are!"

With that the excited bird darted off. Friaress Mishell resumed wringing her dishcloth. Koryn stopped by her. "What�s wrong?" she asked�