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~The Fox Recorder~
by Fuzvermin
Note to Fuzvermin: Fixed some spelling errors. Thank you for submitting a fanfic!
Also, I'll put the next installment up the following week. I'm going on vacation, and I don't exactly have time to put it up.
Chapter One
The autumn light is shining through the window of the gatehouse. The leaves have just begun to turn color, changing from lush green to auburn. It seems to add some sort of mystical light to the forest. The trees seem to whisper secrets to one another, rustling and creaking in some unknown language. I must admit, 'tis a bit eerie. But 'tis beautiful all the same.
As I write, young Frenn, a baby squirrel, is sitting on my desk, chatting my ear off, and munching on my candied chestnuts. One time, the little creature got into my inkwells and painted herself black. T'was quite a mess to clean up, let me tell you. There are still black, inky pawmarks all over my wall.
But I'm digressing. Let me tell you about myself. My name is Chuvacki. I am a fox, and the recorder of Redwall Abbey. It is my job to write down all the events and happens of our beloved Abbey. It is a very important job. Without the recorder, seasons of information would be lost.
I am the only fox here at Redwall. We foxes are usually enemies of the Abbey. My kin have attacked Redwall in seasons past. But the Redwallers took me in when I had nothing, and I am greatful to them. Everybeast here knows that I am a good, kind-hearted creature.
"Where is Redwall?" you ask. "It is no place that I have ever heard of," I will tell you: "Redwall is an Abbey, made of red sand-stone, in the middle of Mossflower woods. Redwall is inhabited by woodland creatures: mice, squirrels, otters, hedgehogs and the like." It is a peaceful place of harmony. It is a place that no humans can enter. But the woods can be a dangerous place. Sometimes, a lurking crew of vermin (like rats, stoats, weasels and other such animals) is hiding in the trees and bushes, waiting until some poor creature wanders into their path. Then, they strike, leaving the body on the path. It happened to Abbess Wren last night.
Here's how it happened:
Everybeast was preparing for the autumn feast. The kitchens were a flood of light and movement. It was very stuffy in those kitchens, with no room to breathe. Rubio, the cook, was yelling and giving orders. Then, it was discovered that we were out of watercress. Everybeast was running around screaming like Dibbuns (that is what we at Redwall call our young ones) during a thunderstorm. Finally, Wren stood on the table and shouted:
"OK, you lot! I'll get th' watercress, since all o' you seem ta' be useless," she leaped from the table, pushed through the crowd, and out of the small kitchen door. I followed her, thinking I might help.
Wren strode quickly to the smaller wicker gate that we use for traveling in and out of the Abbey. She threw them open, and stepped onto the path. All of a sudden, a very large fox, holding a rusty dagger jumped out into the open. Before Wren could even move, she was cut through, and fell lifeless to the path. I screamed, and ran quickly ran back through the wicker gate. It was a sad day for Redwall. All work stopped, and a party of warriors was sent out. I was with them, but we didn't find anything. Someday I'll get revenge on that fox. I will kill him for what he has done to our Abbey. He has taken our brave leader away from us. So I must take his life! The feast has been called off, and a sad silence is hanging over our Abbey.
-Chuvacki, Recorder of Redwall Abbey
Chapter Two
"I was never a Dibbun. I never had any carefree days of fun. But once, I was a babe. When I was first born, a dagger was thrust into my paws. I gripped the dagger as if I had been born to hold it. While waving it around, I killed my own mother. I learned to walk in a week. All day, for a week, they forced me to try to walk, until I learned. The next week, I was brought to school. I learned to read, write and speak. But that school was only for half the day. The next half of the day was battles. We were forced to fight each other.
"We were not allowed to stop to rest or eat until they told us to stop. Then, we ate the dead carcasses. We slept wherever we fell. Soon we were given one on one battles. It was a tournament. The winner would face the next best, the winner of another battle. We were not given clothes, or names. We knew nothing about friendship or love. We all hoped thay someday we'd be taken into the army. Those beasts excepted into the army were the beasts that survived school.
"I was the best of the best. I killed my mother when I was born. They all feared me. I killed anyone who tried to fight me. My fur was stained with blood, and so was my small dagger. I was fiercer and wilder than any of them.
"But when my second season birthday came, everything changed. I was huddling near a fire, on a cold night. The chief's son, Bloodbath, said something that bothered me. It was some petty insult, but in my savagery, I killed him. I ran. If the chief knew I had killed his son, it would be the death of me. I ran from the camp, still clutching my dagger. I was naked, and it was cold.
"Then, it began to snow. White flakes seemed to glow on my red fur, and where I walked, the snow was red. I ran for hours. It was exhausting, but I knew I couldn't stop. If I did, I knew I would be frozen to death.
"I found myself tripping and falling down some sort of hole. The hole smelled of death. I tripped over something cold and lifeless. It was an adder, but it was in a deep sleep. I killed it quickly, and slipped into its skin for warmth. It smelled terrible, but I needed to stay warm. I slept then. When I woke, I found that the hole had a dusting of snow covering the floor. I crawled from the snake carcass, and cut some skin to use as a cloak. The skin was cold and dead, but it would shield me from the wind.
"I climbed out of the hole. The entire world was still and quiet. But all around, I saw pawmarks that the horde left. I ran again. I ran all day until I fell asleep. When I woke, I ran again. I don't know how long this went on, but one day, when I fell asleep, I woke up here," Petra and Martin stared at me.
"That's why they're after me," I explained. "You have been so kind to me, but now, I must go seek out these foxes."
"You're not going alone!" Petra insisted. "I have to go with you!" I was about to protest, when Martin said:
"Chuvacki must go alone."
"I will deliver myself to the foxes. My life in return for yours. They will leave you alone. They only want revenge," The old mouse peered into my eyes.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I nodded vigorously.
"Then it is decided. You will leave at sunset." So this shall be my last entry as recorder of Redwall. I wish the next recorder well, and hope that I shall be remembered here.
-Chuvacki, Recorder of Redwall Abbey
Chapter Three
Because I just know they will. These foxes are vermin. All vermin want to take over Redwall. So someone will have to save Redwall. Chuvacki is going to try. But it won't work, and the hero business is up to me.
Right now, Chuvacki is moping around with Martin. I was kicked out of the room. Humph. I was her best friend. Now, she's deserted me to go be heroic. And the job of recorder was unceremoniously passed on to me. This is my first entry. I don't see why they made me recorder. I wanted to be cellar-hog! No one will be able to read my hand-writing, anyhow.
Anyway, Chuvacki says I can't follow her. That shows how much she knows. I'm following her anyways. I'll give those vermin a what-for! Ha! They'll be sore for seasons. Those of them that are left, that is. Chuvacki says she isn't going to fight them. Says she's done fighting. So I guess I'll have to do the fighting. Not that I can knock out an entire vermin horde all by my lonesome, but I can try. Oh, here she comes. I'll write more later.
-Petra Yochek, Recorder of Redwall Abbey (Hey, at least I have a title now!!)
Chapter Four
Oh. My. Gravy. You will never believe where I am. Obviously, being a bit of parchment, you can't guess anything. Wow, that was unintelligent. All right, here's what happened:
Chuvacki left Redwall. Yes, she hugged me. Yes, I cried. I mean, Good Gravy, she's going to die! Anyway, it was a touching Goodbye, so I'm not going to write about it, so I don't start crying and ruin the parchment. But she left, and headed off down the path, rucksack on her back, walking stick in her paws. I quickly wiped my eyes and headed off to the attack. After digging around in the dustiness, I found what I was looking for: a small haversack. Well, I wasnt looking for a small one, but that's all I could find, so that's what I took.
Then, to the kitchens. I knocked Friar Rubio senseless with his own ladle. Yes, I'm sure it hurt. But he'll be fine. Poor mole. I rummaged through the kitchen cabinets, and packed cheese, candied chestnuts, cheese, bread, cheese, strawberry cordial and cheese. Yes, I like cheese.
So, after the kitchens, I rushed out to the grounds. After making sure no-one was watching, I found the hollow oak at the southern edge of the wall. I thrust my paw into the hole, my secret hiding place, and rummaged around for a while. Soon, I found the handle of my rapier, and pulled it from the tree. It is my secret weapon. I had practiced with the slender blade for seasons, and I could use it well. No one knew I had it. So, I slipped it into my belt, and snuck out the wicker gate.
I followed the path. I have no sense of direction so, soon, I got lost. Not just sort of lost, but incredibly lost. Until I ran into a giant fox. He was, like five times the size of me! He had a battle axe, rusty and stained with blood. The big brute raised it to chop me, but I skewered him before he could let it drop. He fell with a thump. Yes, I looted the body. Not that there was much to loot, but he did have a great belt, which supported the rapier better than my lame little rope belt that matches my habit.
I left the body and moved on. Luckily, I found the path again, and made good time for the rest of the day. I met with a few other foxes, but I killed 'em all without much struggle. I felt good, like I was on top of the world. 'Course, the feeling ended when I found myself surrounded by about twenty funny-looking mice. I could have easily killed a few of them, but they all carried short rapiers, which means that I'd get poked full of holes before I could help Chuvacki. Which would totally stink.
"My dear creatures,"I began. I planned to talk my way out of this one.
"We're not mice! We are GUOSIM!"
"GUO-what?" The ugly little fellow rolled his eyes and huffed impatiently.
"Guerilla Union Of Shrews In Mossflower, stupid!"
"Who're ya callin' stupid, ugly?" It was a lame comeback, but at the time, it was all I could think of.
"Was that a challenge, hedgepig?"The shrew was seething now.
"Yes," I wasn't going to let this little mouse push me around. The creature laughed.
"Oh, she be a brave one, aye?"
"Aye," the rest of the shrews answered back. The shrew drew his blade and stood in en garde position. I parried his thrust. He attempted to beat my blade, but I jumped back. He advanced with a lunge. I retreated again. The next time he attacked, I met his blade with such force he went spinning. I was on him in a flash. He attempted to beat my rapier. I moved my blade ever so slightly, which was enough to throw him off balance with the force of his own blow. I advanced, lunged, beat his blade, and ended up with my rapier pressed against his throat.
"Nobeast 'as ever bested me," He gasped.
"I just did," I knew I sounded cocky.
"'Ow 'bout a truce?" The shrew pleaded. I had no reason not to truce, so I stuck out my left paw and shook his. The queer fellow broke into hysterical laughter.
"Wheheahhahahahahe. I be Logalog Grumio."
"Oookaaay. I'm Petra," I said, trying not to laugh at the creature's ridiculous name. I let him up and he threw his arms around me, which totally weirded me out. This shrew was totally insane.
So the GUOSIM fed me and gave me a place for the night. I told them my story, and they seemed intrigued by the whole thing.
Tomorrow, I'll set out alone to find the vermin camp.
-Petra Yochek, Recorder of Redwall Abbey
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