The story begins in the Great Hall of Red Wall, where the citizens of Red Wall and the surrounding countryside. They are enjoying themselves, blissfully unaware that at the same moment, Cluny the Scourge and his horde of rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels, and any other undesirable rodent imaginable. Suddenly, the cart Cluny's horde is traveling in hits a rock, and flips over, crushing a good portion of the menacing crew. The survivors pull themselves free of the overturned and scan the surrounding countryside under the watchful eye of their Chief. They soon find a small damaged church and cemetery called St. Ninian's Church, where they establish their base. The motley crew then begins to explore Mossflower Woods and recruit whosoever will join. .
The woodlanders feast is abruptly halted as the ancient gatekeeper Methuselah announces that Cluny the Scourge has arrived at the gates and demands council with the Abbot. Being peace-loving creatures, the woodlanders soon see the horror that is Cluny the Scourge. Cluny demands the immediate and unconditional surrender, promising that they will not be harmed. This proposal is dejected and Cluny's crew is forced by Constance the badger to leave promptly. .
After this refusal, Cluny decides to take the abbey by force. He first attacks all the woodlanders not present at the feast, and manages to capture the Vole family. Shortly thereafter, a black rat named Shadow steals a piece of the tapestry in the Great Hall with a picture of Martin the Warrior. He is killed in his escape, but Cluny manages to obtain the scrap of tapestry. This severely demoralizes the woodlanders, and is a stroke of brilliance on Cluny's part.
The demoralized citizens of Red Wall decide a rescue is mandatory. Young Matthias volunteers to go save them, and as he arrives at St. Ninian's, he stumbles into a hole. This hole in the ground happens to be the home of a remarkable character named Basil Stag Hare.
