Ahzeya

I've seen a lot of "X in Y words or less" videos floating around and for some reason, my brain was focused on this concept for Redwall a few nights ago (like to the point it kept me awake longer than I wanted to be). So I decided I would make my own list regarding one of my favorite books series. I hold these books in high regard to the point where I can't actually call any of them bad. So, at the end, I'll note down my top 5 favorite books and the top 5 "weakest" books. Please note, though, that a "weak" Redwall book is WAY above other books in terms of quality. So without further ado: Redwall: The writing is a bit awkward, but the characters are great! 9/10 Mossflower: I'm convinced both "Sonic SatAM" AND "The Lion King" borrowed from this book. 9/10 Mattimeo: High-stakes adventure to save kidnapped children. And Tim Curry will ALWAYS be Slager. 10/10 Mariel of Redwall: Yes, THIS is how you do a good female character. 8/10 Salamandastron: The Dryditch Fever plotline was the best

The smoke had stopped. Dusky twilight was upon the world and the moon was rising, but Rin didn't bother looking up at the sky above her. Instead, the half-demon's attention was focused on the front of her home. Or rather, what had been her home. Oh sure, the house was still there, even if the front of it was slightly scorched. But as far as Rin was concerned, what had made this house a home was gone forever. The wicker chairs that had covered the porch, the potted plants her mother had so lovingly tended, and the faded welcome mat were all gone. The windows of the house were dark and Rin knew that if she were to press her face against the glass, she would see nothing but empty rooms and barren walls. Really, it was as though no one had ever lived here at all. "My, what a change and not a happy one." The young half-demon didn't even blink as Ladahlord appeared on the empty porch. The sorcerer shook his head as he peered through the polished glass at what had once been a happy

The sun was setting. Although the sky still blazed in a fire of orange, pink, and gold, it would not be long before the bright colors gave way to a black night sky and the golden sun was replaced by the shimmering silver moon. But much as he loved night, Tomoko found his heart lurch in his chest as the sun sank lower below the horizon. After all, he'd never see the sun again. The bat demon sighed, feeling the ocean breeze drift through his hair. Ahh, was such a feeling ever so dear as it was now? Tomoko was certain he'd feel the wind again before the night was over, but he wanted to savor the gentle caress of a breeze rather than the rush of wind during the heat of battle. "Is there... really nothing to be done?" The Chief of Scotland Yard had asked when Tomoko gave him the news. "No, I'm afraid not." "What about your brother?" "Kiryu has his forces blocking any route I could take in order to get a message to Takashi in time. I've sent word to him through the Japanese Embassy

The moon- still a week from being full- blazed out of a pitch-dark sky. A massive winged shadow brushed by the gleaming orb before sharply swerving and swooping toward the ground. Hurtling down through an opening in an expense of tall reedy trees, Tomoko Kurosaki slammed onto the hard soil, massive wings spread and golden eyes gleaming as the ground trembled under his feet. The footsteps that echoed through the dense trees and leaf-strewn floor increased as the running creature sensed the bat demon's presence. An eerie rumbling snarl echoed through the night, but Tomoko refused to move from the small grove where he now stood. Raising his clawed hands and raising his wings, the bat demon waited for the beast to approach. Crashing through trees, sending branches flying, the beast in question hurled itself into the clearing. In the brief instant it took for the creature to spring at Tomoko, the bat demon was able to take in every inch of the creature. While it raced forward on four legs,

"My goodness, those two were doing what, Tomoko?" "Thinking they could be farmers." Tomoko sighed, shaking his head and rubbing his forehead. "Not only did they run away from home, not only where they engaging in behavior best reserved for married couples, but Frank and Judy also thought that somehow, they could run a farm. Never mind, of course, that none of them had ever set foot on a farm before." "What on Earth possessed those two to do such a thing?" "I haven't the slightest idea, Miranda-daarin. Thank goodness they hadn't the funds to actually purchase a farm. But I rather think their being hired as farmhands was a blessing in disguise. They certainly got a taste of what that kind of work is like and neither of them enjoyed it." Miranda laughed. "I remember taking agricultural studies in school. I did enjoy it, but it was hard work and everyone had a lot more respect for farming after each class. And several of my classmates actually went on to be farmers, both for crops and

In like a lion, out like a lamb; the words regarding March were well-known and carried the promise of spring. However, Mother Nature is not one to follow the sayings of humans and just as the third month of the year can begin with cold storms and end with warm breezes, the opposite can also be true. Occasionally, March will bide its time and then unleash a torrent of fierce weather as a last hurrah of winter. Such a storm broke that year on the twenty-first of March, the spring equinox. And it was on that day, with the rain and rain at their fiercest, that Miranda Kurosaki, went into labor. Tomoko had sensed the storm on the horizon that morning; the absence of birds in the sky and the change in the wind currents left little doubt as to what was to occur. As such, he had made an afternoon patrol of the area, assuring himself that his neighbors were well-prepared for the tempest that was to come. What the yokai was not prepared for, however, was to return home to find his wife hunched

The Dover Boardwalk in winter was never going to be as crowded as it was in the summer. Given that it capitalized on being a seaside location, that was a given. However, there was an exception to that rule and that exception was the holidays. With Christmas being right around the corner, the wooden rails of the Boardwalk had been thoroughly wrapped in strings of twinkling colored lights and garlands of silver tinsel hung from the overhead lamps. Most of the shops remained closed, but each of the sealed storefronts boasted a fresh green wreath topped with a red velvet ribbon. The few stalls that had opened for the Christmas season were awash with golden light as their owners called out cheery greetings to the people passing by. The summertime smells of fried dough, steamed oysters, fresh fish and just-churned ice cream were replaced by the warming scents of iced gingerbread cookies, crushed peppermint, hot spiced apple cider and cinnamon and clove candles. Delicate snowflakes painted

Despite Ladahlord's best efforts, Miranda's pregnancy troubles began almost at once. The fatigue she had experienced came back with a vengeance and she would often have to take breaks between her household chores to lie down. Although the weather remained as fine as could be, Miranda was constantly cold and even had to pull wool blankets out of the chests where she had stored them for the winter. At her second month appointment, Dr. Vesper not only increased her iron supplement, but started making plans for possible blood transfusions. "Let me know if you start having shortness of breath or if you faint at any point. I'm going to have you come in again next month, but I'll start checking in on you every two weeks from now on." "But the baby's alright, isn't it?" "As far as I can tell, yes. You're where you should be at two months." "And I can hear its heart, even from here," Tomoko assured her. "Our child is strong, my dearest." "Thank goodness." Still, healthy baby or not

Summer was well and truly upon the world. Now, the mornings were heavy with heat and filled with the laughter of children as they scampered about on the beach. Not a day went by when Tomoko didn't see sunbathers a few feet away from his cottage or Miranda didn't wave to a horde of children ducking about in the waves. Indeed, the presence of Tomoko's human wife seemed to have had a new effect on his previously standoffish neighbors. Each day, more of them were willing to come by and talk to the couple and when Tomoko stepped out onto the beach each morning, there were children bobbing about in the waves in front of his cottage. Even better, when he waved to them, they waved back with no fear. Indeed, if that wasn't a sign of good things to come, what happened on a day in the middle of July certainly was. That particular morning, Tomoko took the opportunity to walk down to the water and feel the waves against his feet. The air blowing off the ocean was cool, but the yokai had little