Cregga Rose Eyes, Lady

Gender: female

Species: badger

Appears In: The Long Patrol, Marlfox, and The Taggerung




Cregga is the large Lady of Salamandastron whose surname comes from the fact that her eyes are often tinged red thanks to constantly being affected by the Bloodwrath; this gives her the titles "Wild-Eyed Warrior Queen" and "Belle of the Bloodwrath". She is the adoptive mother of Russano, expertly wields a pike with an axehead on one side and a sharp hook on the other (a weapon she forges herself), and vows to kill all Rapscallions. She is responsible for fatally wounding Gormad, and as a result Damug is secretly terrified of her and refuses to go anywhere near the mountain fortress. In the end stages of the Battle of the Ridge of a Thousand she suddenly appears with her Long Patrol hares, charging at the Firstblade and slaying him. Despite this victory she is blinded by slashes from his sword, and after recovering she moves to Redwall where she becomes Badger Mother. This disability does not seem to hinder her and she plays a big role in guarding her home against the Marlfoxes, even firing an arrow that kills Ascrod with verbal guidance from Rimrose. She is still alive, albeit ancient, by the events of The Taggerung and helps Mhera to find the lilac-smelling green cloths (which she had previously placed with help from Hoarg); during this time the Abbey has no ruler so she becomes leader until Mhera is named Abbess. Towards the end of her very long life she is shot in the heart by an arrow from Vallug, and during a feast not long after she peacefully passes away. Had she been younger, it is very possible that Cregga would have survived this injury. She is one of the oldest creatures in the Redwall world.