The Phoenix and the Lamb

Chapter 118

Disclaimer: I do not own Cult of the Lamb or Redwall by Brian Jaques. I am simply a fan of the game and the series. I was inspired by Jbrine061. Please check out her story. She is amazing. Now onto the story.
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Ebany drove the wagon as Max pulled it. They went through the usual forest path that Ebany would take when going home from Redwall Abbey. This time, she had a friend with her. Ratau looked at how different the forest was from that of Darkwood. Things were brighter and the trees seemed to glow all around them. Ebany mentioned that the woods got like this when it was a sunny day and the sun hit just right.

Ratau was eager to get home, back to the place he knew. He was shocked from being tossed into a different world. Noonveil seemed like quite a beautiful place, but it wasn't his home. Ebany had wanted Ratau to see her home, just as the others had did, but this wasn't what she had in mind. Still... What happened? What caused Ratau to be brought here? He was lucky that he ended up in Redwall Abbey and Ebany was happy they didn't judge him for being a rat.

Ebany waited for a reply from Edan as they rode down the path. It came right as she was thinking about it. Ebany caught the letter and gave it to Ratau to read since she was busy driving. Edan was happy to hear that Ratau was alright, and so were Flinky and Ratoo. In his letter, Edan explained that he gone to visit Ratau, but didn't find him home. After waiting a bit, Flinky arrived and he was unaware that Ratau would be stepping out. At least, that was what they thought. Ratoo didn't know either. They were searching for Ratau when Edan had gotten Ebany's letter that cleared things. Flinky and Ratoo thanked her for helping Ratau.

At least they knew he was safe and well. Not to mention eagerly waiting for him to come home. Ebay told him that it wouldn't be too much longer to her house. Afterwards, they could ride on Max to the teleportation stone. Why couldn't they use the wagon? Ebany didn't know if it would fit through the path she took to the stone and she didn't want people to see the wagon tracks. Couldn't be too careful. Constance was right. She was cautious. All seemed well now. They would be back in the Lands of the Old Faith in no time.

That is... until they both heard the same noise that Ratau had heard. It was close by too... Ebany stopped Max for a second and listened. They heard it again along with a yelp. Someone had been portaled there! It was best to see who it was and help if possible. Ebany got down from the wagon and Ratau joined her. Ebany told Max to stay put while they went to see who or what made that yelp. They went in the direction where they heard the being and eventually saw them. From where they were... it looked just like Edan. Did Edan come through a portal?

The lamb groaned as they got up and held their head. "Ugh..."

"Edan...?" Ebany said quietly to herself. It looked like her brother, but there was something different about them. Ebany squinted to get a closer look. She saw the scars on their face and knew that it couldn't be Edan. That's not Edan... are they the other lamb? Ebany wondered. She thought for a moment before calling out to them. "Hey!"

Ebany's call made the other lamb jump and look up. Their crown turned into a sword and was on guard immediately. Their vision was still fuzzy...

"Are you Ezra?" Ebany called to them.

"How do you know that name?!" They demanded to know.

"My name is Ebany, I'm Edan's sister." Ebany slowly approached.

Ebany? Edan? Those names rang a bell... Before they could answer, their head began to throb, making them drop the sward and bold their head. "Ugh!" They cried out in pain. Ebany hurried over to help. The lamb's head was bleeding a bit as they shook.