Chapter 2Whispe
Far west, from the cruel and painful enviroment of Lord Baskar's fortress, deep in the Woods of Mossflower, the Redwall Abbey was bustling with activity. Cooks buzzed and ran around the orchard, picking fruit from the trees and gathering it for breakfast.
Whispe, an unusually small but lean white and grey hare was a nuisance to the cooks.
"Well, those apples look jolly well good for some brekkist, I might say so m'self, wot, wot!" She declared in her thick hare accent. "Mebbe you might be able to give me a couple to eat before thy meal, wouldn't wan' me to starve, wot, wot!"
The pickers rolled there eyes. "Why don't you help and it would speed things up so breakfast would be served sooner, Whispe!" Mumbled Char, the head chef of the Abbey.
Whispe looked around, "Naw, I'll be more jolly useful somewhere else, wot, wot!" And she dashed off to the Great Hall to help set the table.
The gathering crew sighed in relief and continued their work.
At breakfast, Whispe was known to be the most gluttonous creature at the table, piling fruits and pasteries onto her plate. "Mhm, these apple turnovers are scrumptiously gud, I helped wit' 'em, wot, wot!" The Abbey beasts laughed and ate their breakfast.
As the day passed, Whispe hurried in and out of the kitchens, stealing vittles and snacks. And when the time to go to bed came, she had the weirdest dreams.
Images of Longboats fleeing arrows and spears rushed through her head. Then, the flash of black fur and gleaming eyes. She tossed and turned, then the pictures faded away. She was in the middle of Mossflower, and a mouse came towards her and said. "Watch for the fleeing slaves, and their black furred leader...."
Whispe woke up, blinking. The mouse looked very familiar. She dashed down into the Greathall and came to stand in front of a great woven tapestry of Martin the Warrior, the founder and great hero of the Abbey. It had been Martin in her dream! She studied it, mind racing. Her dream had meant something!
It was a prophecy!