Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait, you have my full permission to be very miffed. Anywho, here is chapter five. It's really two chapters, but the first one is so short I felt it couldn't really go by itself. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed; I really appreciate it. :) (Also, ElvishKiwi'sFavouriteSister is my editor, in case anyone was confused about her reviews.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story, not even the kitten (she's Halt's). I write purely because I love writing and I get nothing but my own enjoyment (and hopefully that of others) from it.

Will looked back over his shoulder at the cabin. "Are you sure she'll be alright by herself?" he asked anxiously, turning his gaze on the Ranger riding ahead of him.

"Yes." Halt replied shortly. Will bit his tongue to keep himself from asking 'Are you sure?' and concentrated on scanning the soft ground for tracks. They had gone barely one hundred metres from the cabin when a soft brrr-ow? turned both their heads. Luna trotted over to them and leapt up onto Abelard's rump. She sat serenely, her tail curled over her front paws, and regarded Halt, her large amber eyes innocent and trusting. Halt sighed.

"Very well then, you can come. But stay where you are," he warned. The kitten twitched her ears and placed her front paws on the back of Halt's saddle. "I said stay," the Ranger growled, before dismissing her completely and pointing out the faint paw prints she had left in a particularly squishy piece of ground. He stiffened, however, when she carefully clambered around him and crouched hesitantly on his thigh.

"Don't even think about it, you little creature," Halt muttered. Luna ignored him as she climbed delicately under his cloak, settled herself against the small of his back, and began to purr in contentment. Halt looked sideways at Will, but the young apprentice was totally absorbed in his task. The Ranger smiled inwardly and Abelard's ears swivelled toward him.

Who are you, and what have you done with Halt?

"Hush, you," he replied quietly and Will glanced at him.

"What was that?" he asked tentatively.

"I didn't say anything. Keep your mind on your task," Halt said briskly. He could swear his horse was smirking.

(^That's the short bit that is separate.^)

Will was practically bubbling over with excitement. Baron Arald was hosting a party on the green outside Castle Redmont for all its inhabitants and those of Wensley village. He and Halt, dressed in fresh clothes, were riding over to the castle early to help set up hay bale seats. The Ranger raised an eyebrow as Will mounted, staring pointedly at the boy's bag. It was wriggling in a most suspicious manner.

"What have you got in there, a spare horse?" he asked. Will reddened.

"No," he said, "Luna wanted to come."

Halt said nothing.

"Alright, she couldn't care either way, but I want to introduce her to my friends. George, Jenny, Horace and Alyss."

His mentor sighed and clicked his tongue at Abelard, trotting him out of the clearing and into the warm evening. Will took this as assent and followed the Ranger away from the cosy cabin.

The party wasn't due to start for over an hour but already the green and the castle yard were full of people. Will looked down and smiled as Luna's head emerged from the satchel at his side. His expression changed instantly to one of horror as the kitten squirmed her way out of the bag and dropped to the cobbled castle yard. She paused for a moment beside Tug's hooves, overwhelmed by the mass of people, then darted away into the crowd before Will had even dismounted. He caught a fleeting glimpse of her dashing inside, her fur standing on end, and turned to Halt, his eyes stricken.

"Halt, she's gone! She leapt out of my bag and ran off over there! What should I do?"

"Go after her; see if you can find her. If you can't, I'm sure she'll find you. I'll join you once I've put the horses away and found some coffee."

Will needed no second bidding. He shot away, apologising desperately to everyone he bumped into or pushed past, until he reached the open door. The was no sign of the small tortoiseshell kitten. He took a deep breath and plunged into the castle.

"Jenny, could you please lace me up?" Alyss turned around and the kitchen apprentice pulled tight the strings criss-crossing their way up the back of the tall girl's dress. She began tying them in place and gave an exclamation of surprise as a small furry shape bounced into the air and snatched at the strings.

"A kitten! What on earth...?"

Alyss bent down and scooped the small creature into her arms, kissing its deliciously soft head. The kitten batted at the trailing sky-blue sleeves of Alyss' dress and twisted herself out of the apprentice Courier's hands. She landed gracefully and scampered away under a chest of drawers.

"Oh! Quick, Alyss, help me catch her!"

The two girls tried their best, but the kitten was too fast. She evaded them for several minutes, taking refuge under beds and on top of wardrobes and knocking things over until Alyss finally grabbed her and held her tight against her chest.

"Right, missy, let's find your owner."

Jenny opened the door and Alyss marched out, her captive lying limply in her arms, defeated. They almost collided with Will, coming in the opposite direction and appearing immensely worried. He cried out with relief when he saw Luna safe and sound.

"Oh Luna! Thank goodness, I though you were missing forever! I-" he suddenly noticed Alyss' thunderous expression and swallowed nervously.

"Will, is this your cat?" Alyss' voice was like the calm before a storm.

"Er...well, you see..." He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Halt and Pauline striding towards them, the former bearing a steaming mug.

"Oh, good. You found her," Pauline smiled at the kitten in her apprentice's hands.

"Is she yours, Lady Pauline?" Alyss inquired.

"Not at all; this is Halt's cat."

Halt choked on his coffee. "Mine?" he asked incredulously. "I think you'll find the boy is responsible for her being here."

"I hope she hasn't made herself a nuisance," Will interjected.

The girls glanced at each other. "Just a little," Jenny giggled.

I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to give me constructive criticism. :)

I don't know if I'll write any more of this story because I'm focusing mainly on a Redwall fanfic at the moment. Deepest apologies, and God bless!