Outside, the midafternoon resembled night as the storm roared around Redwall Abbey, lashing its ancient stones and causing the Mossflower treetops to sway wildly in its grip. Snug inside their comfortable Abbey, the creatures of Redwall, now warm and dry, took their ease in safety and calm.

4

4

Janglur Swifteye unfastened the tent canvas from his back and tossed it expertly across two rocks that stood a small distance apart on a knoll overlooking a storm-swollen stream. Rimrose and Song weighted the canvas down with flat slabs of sandstone placed on its edges where they lapped the ground, working quickly, their heads bowed against the pelting rain. Grandma Ellayo hurried into the covered space between the rocks and swept out the wet leaves, creating a dry floor inside the makeshift shelter. Janglur dropped the last large slab on the rear of the canvas, making sure it was stretched taut so that it would not fill up and belly inward upon them. Straightening up, he blew rainwater from the tip of his nose, blinking hard against the scything curtains of wind-driven wetness. Rimrose and Song were already inside under cover, and Ellayo called out urgently to her son. “Git you in ’ere fast, afore that thunder bangs agin!”

Dropping on all fours, the big squirrel scrambled into the confined shelter space, the others moving aside to make room for him. Ellayo jumped instinctively as a thunderclap sounded overhead. Janglur put a paw about her comfortingly. “There now, Mum, no need to be jumpin’ about like a toad on a cinder. Thunder won’t harm ye.”

But Grandma Ellayo was not to be placated. “Mebbe thunder won’t, but lightnin’ will. Take that knife o’ yourn an’ bury it, son. Lightnin’ has a way of findin’ knives!”

Janglur knew there was a lot of truth in old wives’ tales. Drawing the long blade he carried sheathed sideways across the back of his wide belt, he scratched a shallow trough, placed the knife inside and covered it. Lying flat on his stomach, he rested his chin on both paws, watching the stream being peppered with torrential rain as it pounded furiously on its course. Song joined him, while Rimrose and Ellayo snuggled down at the back of the shelter. Janglur nodded in their direction. “Take a tip from them, Song, an’ rest while y’can. Nought else t’do but sleep this storm out.”

The young squirrel watched the rain glumly. “When’s it going to stop so we can get to Redwall Abbey?”

Her father shrugged. “It’ll stop when ’tis ready to. Must be gettin’ towards eventide now. If it ceases later on we may be able to travel by night. You have a good nap; I’ll wake ye if it clears up.”