Redwall Abbey awakes to find their young ones are gone. As they piece the previous night together, they realized that Mattimeo was right that Vitch was the slaver's spy. Desperate that he ignored his son's warnings, Matthias vows to pursue Slagar the Fox accompanied by Basil and the others. He is unaware that Orlando is already in far away pursuit. Slagar takes his slaves on circuitous routes, laying false trails to confuse the pursuers. The frightened slaves look to Mattimeo for leadership but he is not ready and responds badly. As his father sets off in entirely the wrong direction Mattimeo learns the true story of Chickenhound - and that he is now a hostage to Chickenhounds who only thirst for revenge on Matthias for his mother's death.

• Brian Jacques

• Tim Curry
• Alison Pill
• Ali Mukaddam