The prow of the Pearl Queen cut through the gray seas north of Salamandastron.  Dandin closed his eyes and felt the fresh sea breeze ruffle his whiskers.  He, Mariel and Bowly Pintips were finally going home to Redwall.  In the past three years they had sailed all around the globe, and although they had enjoyed their adventures immensely, there was something comforting in the knowledge that their next destination was Redwall.
    “River Moss ahoy!” Bowly shouted down from his perch on the rigging.  Dandin squinted across the sun-flecked waters and saw the mouth of the river emptying into the sea.  The seasoned crew of Guosim shrews readied the poles to navigate the ship up the river.
    A day and a night later, the bell tower of Redwall was visible through the trees of Mossflower.  The travelers docked the Pearl Queen on the banks of the River Moss and hastened through the forest to Redwall.
     All the Abbey residents rushed to the orchards to greet the homecomers.  Mariel, Dandin and Bowly were reunited with old friends and met new ones, including all the Dibbuns who had been born since they went questing.  The tiny beasts crowded around, tugging on their heroes’ robes and giggling.
    “Can we see your Gullwhacker, Miss Mariel?” asked a Dibbun squirrel.
    “Later,” she said.  “Ow!”  A mole Dibbun tugged on Mariel’s tail.
     “Zorry, Miz Mureul,” the mole said sheepishly.
     “Soilpaw, how many times have I told you not to pull otherbeasts’ tails!” scolded Sister Blackberry.
     “Hurr, oi’m said oi wuz zurry, marm,” Soilpaw said.
     “No harm done,” Mariel said, picking up the meek molebabe.
     Sister Sage quietly stepped up to Dandin’s side.  “Come with me,” she said gravely, motioning to the two warriormice.  “There is something I must tell you.”  Dandin and Mariel extracted themselves from the cluster of adoring Dibbuns and followed Sage into the Abbey building.
 Wordlessly, they climbed the stone stairs to the infirmary.  It felt good to be home again, but Sage’s serious expression made them apprehensive.  Sage slowly opened the infirmary door and went inside.  Mariel and Dandin entered the room and saw the prone form of Abbot Saxtus lying in one the beds.  Sage stood at the Abbot’s bedside.  Saxtus gave no indication that he noticed their presence.
     “He fell ill this spring,” Sage whispered solemnly.  “He lost consciousness about a week ago, and we can’t seem to revive him.  He’s alive, but only barely.  It’s a complete mystery.  Not even the most seasoned elders can remember somebeast with this ailment.”
     Dandin set his jaw sadly and gazed down at the still form of his childhood friend.
     “What can we do?” Mariel asked.
     Sage shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I was hoping you had picked up some knowledge on your journeys.”
     Dandin shook his head.  “I’m afraid not, Sage.”
    Sage sighed and started for the door, her tail dragging listlessly.  She looked as if her last hope had been taken away.  Mariel and Dandin lingered at the bedside of the comatose mouse for several long seconds before leaving.

     That evening, mixed emotions filled Cavern Hole as the Redwallers took their supper.  The empty Abbot’s chair stifled much of the joy over Mariel, Dandin and Bowly’s return.  Mariel nibbled half-heartedly at a pastie, and Dandin stared into a mug of October Ale with a disturbed expression.
     Suddenly, Mariel dropped her pastie and turned to her companion.  “Dandin,” she began.  “Remember that healer fox we helped all those seasons ago on our way south?”
     Dandin thought for a moment.
     “You remember, we saved her baby.”
     “Oh, yes...what was her name?”
     Mariel delved back through her memory.  “Something brush...Redbrush?  Darkbrush?  Foxbrush?  Longbrush!  That was it!”
     “And she said we could turn to her if we ever needed a healer.”
     Mariel shook her head.  “Oh, but she probably doesn’t know anything different. Forget it.  It was a silly idea.”
     “It may be a bit silly, but what other options do we have?  I can’t just stand by and watch Saxtus die!” Dandin said.
 Mariel shrugged.  “I suppose you’re right.  It’s worth a try.  But how will we find her back?  That was years ago, and healer foxes wander all over Mossflower.”
     “We can ask around.  We’re mice of Redwall.  Woodlanders will tell us if they’ve seen anything.”
     Dandin looked into Mariel’s eyes.  “Shall we start tonight?” he asked, raising a hopeful eyebrow.
     Mariel smiled.  “Oh, why not?  I was getting sick of all this peace and quiet, anyway,” she joked.
     Dandin clapped an encouraging paw on Mariel’s shoulder and headed into the Abbey kitchens to get supplies.