Prologue

Abbey Brown stood in her room, stuffing clothes and various other necessities for herself and her baby sister, Joy, into a duffel bag.

 

When the bag was packed, Abbey shrugged into a jacket. Should I leave a note? She wondered. No, she decided. The b*****d will know where we've gone soon enough. She picked up a hairtie and bound her long, unruly brown hair back into a ponytail.

 

Abbey looked at herself in the mirror and gingerly toughed the edge of the darkening bruise that surrounded a deep cut under her left eye that Sir had just given her that evening. Never again, she swore to herself.

 

Now for her final preperations.

 

Abbey crossed the room to where Joy's mattress lay. Abbey knelt next to the bed amd gently shook her sister's sleeping form, whispering, "Joy? Come on, darling, wake up. Come on."

 

Joy stirred and murmmered, her words slurred by weariness, "Sithy?"

 

"Shh, baby. Sir's still sleeping." Joy was immidiately silent. "Come on, we're going on a trip."

 

Immidiately intrigued by the idea of going on a trip in the middle of the night while Sir was still sleeping, Joy rose and allowed Abbey to dress her without complaint.

 

In the kitchen, Abbey filled a waterbottle and Joy's sippycup with water, stuffed a tupperware container with crackers, cheese and ham into the duffel bag, and stole about thirty dollars from her father's wallet.

 

Thus prepared, the two sisters, one thirteen, the other barely three, niether knowing what was in store for them, walked away from the only home they had ever known and into the night.

 

 

The moring sun rose to find them still walking along the side of the road, about a mile or two away from the nearest town. Abbey stopped at a heavilly wooded area of the road and decided they would rest here.

 

Abbey picked up and carried the exausted Joy a few meeters into the woods untill she found a protected hidey-hole that was just big enough to house and hide the sisters and the duffel bag.

 

Abbey drew out a soft, warm blanket that she had packed from the duffel bag and spread it on the ground to make a comfy sheet.

 

Then, to make sure Joy didn't wander off while Abbey was asleep, Abbey tied a length of sturdy rope to each of thier right ankles.

 

Finally, they curled up on the blanket, using the duffel bag as a pillow, and fell into a deep sleep.

 

 

While Abbey slept, she had the strangest dream.

 

In it, she was approached by, of all things, a giant bi-pedal mouse! This mouse wore shiny armor and carried a simple but beautiful sword. Oddest of all, the mouse wore an expresion of gentle freindliness and seemed to radiate strength and courage.

 

The mouse spoke. "Hello, Abbey Warriormaid. I am Martin the Warrior."

 

Abbey repied, "You must got the wrong Abbey. My name is Abbey Brown, not Abbey Warriormaid."

 

The mouse, Martin, just smiled his knowing smile and answered, "You will know the meaning of the name soon enough. Abbey, do you wish to be free of your father forever?" Abbey nodded. "Good. Then listen carefully. When you wake, wait for the Flower Child. She will take you to the Mountain Fortress, where you must remain with your young charge under the care of the Badger Lady and the Son of the Sea. Wait for the Son of Ohio. Then, travel with the Son of Ohio, the Son of the Sea, and the Knife Child to my Abbey. There, you will and your sister will find happiness." He paused. "Do you understand?"  

 

Abbey nodded. "I understand."

 

 

Far away at Redwall Abbey, Abbot Downsey nodded off by the fire in Cavern Hole. In his sleep, he too was visited by Martin the Warrior.

 

Martin spoke a short message. "Father Abbot, many seasons from now there will come to Redwall three furless beasts and a badger with eyes of the sea. The one whom shares the title of Redwall shall be welcomed as my Warrior. Look twoard the Summer of the Red Ribbon for them."

 

When the Abbot awoke, he didn't recall his dream.

 

 

Abbey was awaked by Joy shaking her and calling, "Sissy! Sissy! Sissy, wake up!"

Abbey groaned and blinked. As her senses returned, Abbey became aware of a couple disturbing facts. One, The weren't in the forest anymore- the were lying on a beach. Two, There was a giant bi-pedal rabbit standing next to thier blanket, wearing a look what Abbey guessed was surprise.

 

 Abbey immidiately stood and shielded Joy from sight in a protective way.

 

The three stood there, just watching each other for who knows how long. Joy was the one to break the scilence.

 

"Sissy, who'd the big bunny?"

 

Before Abbey could answer, the rabbit said in British accent, "Hoi! I'm not a rabbit, you little rip! I'm a jolly hare! And furthermore, my name is Pansy!"

 

Abbey quickly remidied the situation. "Please excuse my baby sister. She didn't know any better." She turned to Joy and sternly said, "Apologize."

 

Joy hung her head and mumbled, "Sorry."

 

The hare- Pansy- sniffed and answered, "Well, seing as how you're still a youngin', I guess I can forgive you."

 

Joy grinned her adorable grin and wrapped her arms around Pansy's leg in a death grip. Smiling slightly, Abbey bent and peeled Joy off, saying, "Sorry about that. She can be a little over-affectionate. My name's Abbey Brown, and this is my little sister, Joy. You're Pansy, right?"

 

The hare gave an elegant bow and replied, "Pansilina Swiftpaw Starbuck of Salamandastron, At ya' service!"

 

"Such a... flowery name," Abbey offered.

 

Pansy groaned. "I know. I just absoballyloutly hate it. My mother always called me her 'flower child'." 

 

"Wait, Flower Child?" Abbey asked, her dream rushing back to her. "Do you know where the Mountain Fortress is? And who the Badger Lady is?"

 

 Pansy nodded. "Salamandastron is a mountain fortress, and the Badger Lady, I'm guessing that's the ruler of Salamandastron."

 

Excited at the prospect of figuring out her dream, Abbey pulled Pansy down onto the blanket and told her of Abbey's dream. She questioned her new freind about Salamandastron, which they both could see in the distance, and where they were.

 

Pansy answered as many questions as she could, then took the sisters to Salamanastron.

 

When they walked in the front door, Abbey whispered to Joy, "Welcome to our new home, little sister."       

Reviews

[Jessie Sianodel]

I love redwall! I've been trying to dig up all the books in my attic and library lol.

This is very different form Brian's writing, although it is very well written. If you want it to seem more Redwall-ish, maybe you could add some of the foods he did and comment on what animal she is.

But very good!
-Jessie