Abbess Tansy

Abbess Tansy was a female hedgehog leader of Redwall Abbey. As a youth, she was a good friend of Craklyn, Piknim, and Arven, who called her "Tansy Pansy" when he was a Dibbun. The elder Redwallers always liked her, and she was given permission to leave the Abbey by herself, something most younger Redwallers weren't allowed to do. As one who was clever and very perseverant, she was the head searcher in the quest for the Tears of all Oceans, which were secreted within the Abbey's walls. The hunt began after Tansy and Arven accidentally stumbled into a crack that contained the skeleton of Graylunk in the Mossflower quarry. Tansy received a visit from the spirit of Martin the Warrior in her dreams and was inspired by him.

After successfully locating all six pearls in order to ransom Abbot Durral from corsairs, a rescue party safely returned with Durral, so she flung them into the ocean to be forever lost and unable to cause strife and greed in anyone.

Durral also received dreams from Martin the Warrior, however he was provided critical knowledge involving the selection of his successor. For her good sense and responsibility, he appointed Tansy as the Abbess of Redwall while she was still relatively young.

As an older Abbess, she was a good leader and helped the Redwallers explore the underground remains of Kotir.

Trivia

• According to Craklyn, Tansy was the first hedgehog to hold the position of Abbess. She is also the only known hedgehog Abbess.
• A beverage called Tansywine was brewed in Tansy's honor.
• A Tansy is a type of flower.