Falling still at his companion's sides with their own discretion, Ellis shut his eyes and let out a soft breath as the raptor cried out its exaltations from the Abbey Gate. The words travel'd the air and, to the elder hog's perception, seemed to fill him from the tips of his paws to the farthest reaches of his spines. Unbidden to his senses, his spikes rose slowly as the raptor spoke- the threat of its words working their predatory call into the very instincts of Ellis of the Tap and overriding his bodily control.

"...We must be taking an unproven beast at their word." He said quietly, in response to Marigold. "Don't be looking for lies when the rest is plain scary 'nuff. Stay still, stay quiet, young cousins, but keep your eyes and wits- we must try to give time for others to scurry away and seek refuge 'afore we can properly bargain with this beast."

He opened his eyes, his spines settling, before he rose from their hiding spot and set himself upon the road striding towards the Gate with a lumbering, oafish, gait. His voice cried out, rising high and strong;

"[i]Hark, listener, to these words!
They carry within them a warning of old
A warning, dear listener, of a dibbun so bold!
This youth, this youth, oh this blessed youth!
Nary a thought nor caution was felt
Nary a grown'un nor mother was behel't

This little one was reckless, tis true!
This little one was a fool, too!
He feared not a bruise nor scratch-
But the rumble of the stomach was too much for the lad!
If ye learn anythin' from this tune, let it be 
'do not be bad!'[/i]"

His song carried high into the air, his deep baritone rumbling through the air as the large hedgehog approached the Gate brazenly, heaving against it and casting it open before him. Solidifying his message to any goodbeast within earshot, for all of the abbey were familiar with his songs and tales, he skipped stanza and shifted to a separate part of the tune. To the raptor he was just a hedgehog who may have had too much to sip- to those who may be in the area, he was calling upon memory and learning of danger and warning;

"[i]They ran, they swam, they bounded, they leapt
The great Rat's nose sniffing as they went!
Soon the great Abbey walls rose in their eyes-
But the vile rat soon would have them as his prize
If not for the walls! Oh Redwall, Oh Redwall!
The Walls of Redwall and its great tower Bell!

The Rat leapt from hiding, scooped them young'uns up!
But right as he did, the bell was struck!
The spirit of Martin rushed to their aid!
The Warrior of Redwall always saves the day!
While battle was set, the Dibbuns made their haste!
For within the walls of Redwall, there was dinner to taste![/i]"

The message was clear; listen to the elder beasts, seek safety, danger was afoot.

Ellis swayed forward, remaining in the shelter of the gate itself, and cast a paw over his eyes as if the sun was a bother.

"--Eh? What...Whatzallthisthen? Fear? Summa...some-kind of greatbeast? Ho! Ye be in the right place then, friend!" He called up to the air, attempting to draw the raptor's attention to himself. "Redwall Abbey welcomes all beasts! Harken, new friend, harken to me- tell this humblybeast more of this..this...this prince fella!" He laughed so loud and boisterous that he almost seemed as if he was to fall over upon himself. "I think I'd like to shake 'is paw, sounds like a proper generous lad!"