[hider=Marigold]
Name: Marigold Yew

Species: Squirrel

History: It was a beautiful summer's day in Mossflower on the day when she was born. Her mother and father both gloried in how healthy and beautiful she was. As they took in her form, they decided to name her Marigold to match the color of her fur. So she grew into a child under her parents' warm love, taking easily to climbing and to her early lessons with the bow. She was shy of others though, even those of her own tribe. She mostly preferred the solitude of a high enough branch to silently watch the world below. Otherwise, she would follow her mother while she gathered safe nuts, berries, and herbs, allowing her mother to teach her daughter how to use some for medicine and what poisons to avoid.

But all that came to a sudden and dark end. While out alone one day, she ran into some vermin scouts. Frightened, she tried to run back to warn everyone else, but the rats caught her and brought her back to their camp. She struggled all day and night, hoping that maybe she could get out or reunite with her parents. But when the next vermin party returned, they brought back most of her tribe enslaved, with the head of her father and mother on spikes for leading the attempt to resist. Marigold froze, then bowed her head and wept, now certain that all hope was lost.

The vermin wandered around, raiding and pillaging from one place to another. All the while, Marigold was carted along behind them, having to slave for them all, especially their captain, Captain Bloody Irontooth, a sour, bloodthristy, clever rat. The rest of her tribe she lost track of, but she became more and more sure by the day that the rest of them were dead. She wasn't quite sure why she wasn't dead as well. But she was, with the numbness that had been overhanging her since seeing her parents' death finally starting to dissipate. An opportunity came to her one night to escape, and she raced forward and took it. She didn't know how long she ran, or how far, but when she collapsed to rest, she found herself no where near the camp. Instead, she was in a glade with a small flowing stream and plenty of food to last her some time. She was free, but now she needed to make sure she was safe.

She managed to roughly fashion some bows and arrows for herself, then set up a place in an old tree hole where she had a good lookout to watch what happened in her glade. Then she made sure to store enough food and water in her home to not have to leave if anyone should trespass in, along with plenty of arrows if an attack should come and herbs and leaves to treat injuries. And with that, she's managed to survive, constantly on the look out for vermin trying to take her while reminding herself each and every day that she's free now, and she'll not be taken so easily again if they tried to take her back again.

Personality: Quiet and Cautious, Marigold takes some time to be coaxed out of her shell. If she suspects there's danger, she'll be completely on her toes. Inside though is a warm, caring nature.

Motives and Goals: Right now, Marigold's only motives are to not be taken again and to try to make a life for herself now that she's all alone. My basic idea for her is that she'll fill the role of the lone hermit that the Redwallians cajole into joining them on their journey. Maybe she'll find out that not all her tribe is dead then be motivated to help them. Maybe the captain she served under could now serve the Yurazen Prince and so she'll be able to strike back at the rat responsible for what happened to her. Maybe she'll step when vermin try to do what happened to her tribe to some other tribe and that's how she joins the story. My goal for her endgame is that she ends up in Redwall, finally able to be at peace and heal while not being alone anymore, helping with treating people in the infirmary. 
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