A/N: To all my readers who have stuck with this story since I first posted it, I thank you. afrozenheart, my adoptive mommy Auda, Redwallfreak, muchmadness, my good friends Brina, Laura, and Shi Ern, and everyone else who has read this both on here and at LJ. Your encouragement and support are greatly appreciated, and I cannot thank you enough for reading this story. I have had a wonderful time writing it, and I hope you have had a wonderful time reading it. There is a possibility I will write more stories like this in the future, so keep an eye out for any that may pop up. I regret to say that this is the final chapter, but it ends on a high note.

And I made a mistake a few chapters back regarding Ganlel, so she's still alive.

Again thank you so very much, and to my fellow Canadians I wish you a happy Thanksgiving weekend. God bless.

Chapter 17

Four seasons later...

Spring was approaching its end, and Mossflower was preparing for yet another promising summer. The air grew warmer as flowers blossomed and tall grass gently danced in the soft breeze that traveled over the vast plains and through the woodlands. Now was the perfect time to eat meals outdoors, as Redwallers no longer had to worry about any more snowfalls or cold nights. The entire Abbey was alive with creatures of all ages and species, each one attending to their individual tasks. Spring was indeed a plentiful time at Redwall.

From his position at the edge of the Abbey pond, Semser watched with immense pride as Culy began her first swimming lesson. Despite being incredibly agile in the water, otters had to learn how to become such athletes. Semser recalled when his parents taught him, and now it was Culy's turn.

The little ottermaid was clearly excited to get started, but it was also obvious that she was slightly nervous. Upon seeing the Abbey pond she whimpered and scurried up her father's leg, planting herself in his lap and staring up at him with her big oceanic eyes.

Semser chuckled and very softly patted his daughter's head. "You'll be fine. Go with your Momma; she'll be teachin' you today."

With her father's encouragement and gentle prodding, Culy climbed back down to solid ground and cautiously approached the water's edge. Emroon was already in the pond, hoping this would entice the babe and make her less afraid. Culy dipped a footpaw into the water and instantly jumped back upon it touching her fur.

Emroon, being only a few feet away, smiled at her daughter. "Do you want Momma to help you?"

Culy nodded without hesitation, and Emroon clamped her jaws over the stretchy skin on the babe's neck, lifting her up and into the pond. The minute she let go of the Dibbun she supported her by flipping onto her back and letting Culy rest on her belly, allowing her a few moments to get used to the sensation of being in water.

Alddon, who was standing beside Semser, nudged him gently and motioned to the two otters. "I'm tellin' ye, that Culy will be one fine maid when she grows up. Better keep an eye on her whilst ye still can; before ye know it all the male otters will be gawkin' at her."

Semser growled at him playfully. "Nobeast is gettin' near my little girl, not if I have anythin' to say about it."

Emroon began the lesson by teaching her daughter how to float. She remained in her current position and used her rudder to steer. Culy did the same and, after a few attempts, was able to successfully float alongside her mother. They practiced this for several more minutes, sometimes playfully smacking the water with their tails and catching Semser.

The proud father winked mischievously at them. "Jus' you two wait, when I'm out of this chair I'll get you both back. Huh, splashing a defenceless creature. The very nerve!"

Culy giggled, something she was rather prone to. "You're siwwy Daddy!"

Emroon smiled at her daughter, who was still learning to pronounce words. "C'mon you, we're not finished yet. After all, you're an otter, an' otters are the masters of the water."

Culy giggled again and immediately copied her mother's motions, which included paddling with all four paws and steering with her small rudder. Emroon was right beside the little one, lifting her own paws above water and angling her tail to show Culy how to properly propel herself. It took quite a while, but eventually she was able to swim across the entire width of the pond without any assistance. This boasted her confidence, and Emroon was able to move on to the final stage of the lessons: diving and moving underwater.

Culy watched with hesitant curiosity as the adult otter dove beneath the water's surface, vanishing from sight. She felt a small tug on her rudder, and the Dibbun quickly followed her mother. After taking a deep breath she disappeared, able to see thanks to the extra lid covering her eyes. Her nostrils were totally closed, but it did not hamper her one bit; she was able to hear and see incredibly well. She spotted her mother, and the final lesson began.

A large branch provided a perfect obstacle. Emroon expertly dove under it, using the thick object to kick off with and launching herself quite a ways. Culy tried the same, and although she didn't go as far as her mother she was able to push herself off. They tried this a few more times, diving and circling around the branch and Emroon getting the Dibbun to follow her. Eventually Culy had to return to the surface for oxygen as her lungs were not as big as her mothers.

The lesson over, Emroon helped Culy onto dry land and showed her how to rid of all the water by shaking her entire body. Culy followed suit, and within seconds both otters looked like somebeast had taken a blanket and ruffled their fur. It was an amusing sight, and Semser could not hide a chuckle.

Culy waddled over to where her father was, a proud smile plastered on her beautiful features. "Did you see me Daddy? I swimmed across the 'hole pond!"

Semser lifted her up, sat her in his lap, and placed a loving kiss on her cheek. "What a brave ottermaid! One day you'll be able to outswim your Momma an' I."

Emroon took her place alongside Semser. Bending down, she gave both her husband and daughter a kiss on the nose. "Maybe you'll even become the Abbey Warrior."

Culy clenched her tiny paw and swung it back and forth, mimicking a fictional swordfight. "Like you, Momma?"

"No sweetie, like us. You're already a brave maid; one day you'll grow up to protect this Abbey the same way your Daddy an' I do. Now, are you hungry for some supper? You deserve it after that big workout you just had."

The infant otter had inherited her eating habits from her father - Semser would playfully protest that she had a bit of hare in her as they were known for their voracious appetites - and nodded eagerly, clapping her webbed paws together. "Suppa!"

Still perched on her father's lap, Culy sang an old Abbey tune as best she could as Emroon pushed the chair inside the Abbey and to Cavern Hole. Semser, who had one paw supporting the babe and the other holding Emroon's paw that was clasping his shoulder, smiled the entire way.

Dinner was a quaint buffet, with Semser and Emroon sitting beside each other just like they had done in the first nights the latter had arrived at Redwall some seasons ago. This time, of course, they had an extra mouth to feed. Culy, like all babes, was rather messy and ended up getting more food on her dress than in her mouth. It was no real bother though, as both parents took turns wiping her face with a damp cloth.

Ever the teasing one, Alddon snatched up the opportunity as quickly as he scoffed his food. "Make sure ye clean the pretty babe up nice, Semser. Wouldn't want 'er t'be lookin' like a mole who just slipped into some Deeper'n'Ever pie, 'specially with Dibbun otters runnin' around."

His mate, Ganlel, nearly choked on her drink. She recovered enough to slap him on the arm and give a hard glare. "Alddon! Mind your manners in front of the little ones."

Alddon opened his mouth to retort, but glanced down when he felt another whack on his paw. "An' just what do ye want, rascal?"

His infant son mimicked his mother's death glare and words. "You'm mind yore manners!"

Ganlel tried hard to keep a smile forming on her lips, but it was no use. Lifting her son up so he was perched in her lap, she took his paw in hers and waggled it at Alddon. "Or no dessert for Daddy."

This amused everybeast at the table, including a passing Abbot Torlay and Tsella. He was a little older now but nonetheless still incredibly wise. "Better listen to your son there, Alddon. He's an intelligent creature."

Tsella, his mate, winked at the laughing babes. "Silly parents."

Her comment had both Culy and Alddon's son nearly rolling around with laughter. The adults could not help but smile at all this and quickly managed to calm the Dibbuns. Dinner resumed, with the infants chattering endlessly to one another and Alddon and Semser's arms around their respective mates.

Despite being sleepy, Culy insisted that they stop at the tapestry in Great Hall. She was not entirely sure why, but she was enthralled by the picture of the armoured mouse that hung on the giant cloth. He reminded her of her parents; a warm smile and kind eyes. His story had been told in her Abbey history lessons, and although she didn't always understand it she loved hearing about the mouse's heroics.

Perched in her father's lap, Culy listened with widened eyes as Semser and Emroon related the tale, her stare roaming from the mouse's picture to a shiny object rested above the tapestry. She had no idea what it was, but the way it glimmered in the sunlight was mysteriously captivating. Like all youngsters, Culy always had a question to ask. This time was no different, as she pointed at the object and asked her parents what it was.

Husband and wife nodded to each other in silence, each one knowing exactly what to say. Handing the infant off to his wife, Semser watched as the two strode closer to the wall, thus allowing Culy a better look at the object. Emroon's serene voice simultaneously echoed off the ancient stones of Great Hall and warmed Semser's heart.

"Listen now, Culy. You must never touch this without a bigger creature helping you. This is a very important piece of your home. When you're older you'll understand better, an' one day we'll teach you how to use it. It's called a sword."

Culy's eyes seemed to bulge out from their sockets at the unfamiliar word. "It's pretty, Momma. I like it."

Emroon smiled at her daughter's innocence. "See the mouse in the picture? It belonged to him. He'll always be here, just like Daddy an' I."

The infant otter reached out and gently touched the mouse's face. "Is he our friend?"

Semser wheeled closer to his family and lightly tugged Culy's footpaw. "He certainly is. If you're upset or mad, you can always talk to him. He might not answer, but he's a good listener."

Culy could not stifle the yawn that suddenly escaped her throat, and her eyelids slowly started to droop. Emroon patted her back and winked at Semser. "Looks like it's time for bed. We can come back here tomorrow."

Feigning sleep, the babe held out her arms to Semser. He took her from Emroon and gently wrapped his muscular arms around her small form, giving her a kiss on the cheek as he did. "G'night my little one. Go with your Momma now; I'll see you in a while."

"Night Daddy. Wuv you."

"Wuv you too."

Semser and Emroom exchanged kisses before the latter headed off with the tired infant. He watched them leave before turning his head back to the tapestry. The mouse had not moved, but his eyes still held a compassionate note. Inhaling deeply, he peered at the sword resting above the picture. One day, when the time was right, he would pass it down to Culy. Would make a great weapon to shoo away all those pesky male otters, he mused.

He shifted his gaze to the armoured mouse, thoughts trailing off to the past few seasons. He was still stuck in the wheelchair, unable to feel anything in his legs. For countless hours he would try and move his footpaws, but nothing happened. Although he didn't say anything to Emroon, he sometimes felt as if he would be confined to the chair for the rest of his seasons. But then optimism would take over, and he would tell himself he was determined to walk again. He had been blessed with a daughter, and no matter how long it took he would be able to run and swim with her. One of these seasons he would walk again; he just didn't know when.

With the rapidly fading sunlight on his back, Semser smiled at the mouse and bowed his head respectfully. "Thank you, Martin. Thank you for leading Emroon to this glorious Abbey an' bringing her to me, an' for my beautiful daughter."

Wheeling around, Semser made his way back to his family. He did not see the smile upon Martin the Warrior's face grow bigger as his eyes watched him travel down the ancient stone floor.

It was the middle of the night when cries awoke Emroon from a deep sleep. She immediately knew Semser was not beside her in the bed, and thoughts of Culy suddenly raced into her mind. Rubbing slumber from her weary eyes, the ottermaid clambered out from underneath the blanket and made her way to the separate room where Culy slept. About a season before the family had moved into the Gatehouse, a small but cozy cottage situated near Redwall's front gates that, while not part of the actual Abbey, was within its walls.

As she walked towards the room, she noticed the wheelchair near the entrance. What she saw next made her gasp in wonder. Culy was staring back at her, a smile creeping across her lips as she rested rather comfortably in her father's arms. Semser had one paw on the wall to steady himself whilst the other held Culy close to his chest. As he turned his head to look at Emroon, he wrapped an arm around the infant's back so she would not fall backwards. Both otters gazed silently at her.

The tears that had been welling up in Emroon's eyes were finally shed, and she wept openly as she stared in amazement at her husband and daughter and the realization struck her: Semser had walked from the doorway to her bed.

She padded over to where they were and kissed Culy's nose before snuggling into Semser's side. He placed a gentle kiss of his own on the top of her head, and Emroon sighed contently as she closed her eyes. She had finally found her place in the world, and it was right here: alongside a loving husband and mother to such a beautiful and innocent babe. Everything she and Semser had worked for was staring at her with sterling, albeit sleepy, blue eyes. In the end she had risen from the ashes of her tragic past and overcome incredible odds. Dakmus was now nothing more than a mere memory, and it brought her much happiness that her beloved family and friends could now rest in peace.

The squeals of her daughter brought Emroon back to reality, and she opened her eyes. "What is it little one?"

"Look Momma," Culy squeaked in sheer delight. "I got Daddy to walk."