Tala
Tala was a female member of the Painted Ones. She was the wife of Chigid, the chieftain, and the doting mother of Jeg, whom she pampered and defended until he was completely spoiled. She was cruel to prisoners and slashed Bisky's back open for daring to speak back to her son; however, she cared dearly for her mate and treated him well - a trait highly uncommon in vermin.
Tala and the rest of the Painted Ones frequently attacked trespassers. However, they bit off more than they could chew when they went after a small band of Redwallers and Guosim. The group had an ally in the Gonfelins, who outnumbered the rats and completely subjugated them, taking several Painted Ones, Tala included, as prisoners. When Log-a-Log Tugga Bruster murdered Chigid after the wounded rat had surrendered, Tala swore revenge for the cowardly deed.
The Painted Ones were driven from their territory and set loose upon the Western Plains to wander, never to return. However, Tala disobeyed and sneaked back to hide outside Redwall, waiting for her chance to achieve vengeance. It came when a deposed Tugga was driven from the Abbey for theft. Fleeing his former tribe, he did not see Tala until it was too late. She ran him through with a stick she had sharpened, then disappeared forever.
Trivia
[edit]- Tala was the only member of her family who survived the events of Doomwyte.
- A Tala is a type of berry tree, native to South America but planted as a decorative tree in Europe and the U.S.