Mara

Gender: female

Species: badger

Appears In: Salamandastron




Mara is a young resident of Salamandastron and found as an abandoned infant on the mountain's shores, with Urthstripe adopting her as his own and often calling her "Browneye". Along with her best friend Pikkle she dislikes the strict rules and, while walking near the fortress with him, meets Goffa and Klitch. They fall for the latter's charm and invite them both back to Salamandastron where the two vermin are able to gather intel on the mountain's defences, though Urthstripe demands they leave at once. Upset at this, Mara flees with Pikkle and they are both led straight into Klitch's trap as he thinks they know where the supposed badger treasure is located. Oxeye and Sapwood are sent by Urthstripe to follow the youngsters, and the hares help them escape. A short time later she and Pikkle meet Swinkee but accidentally break off his tail, so he feigns friendliness and pretends to take them to Salamandastron before actually handing them over to Glagweb. They are thrown into the Screamhole where they meet Nordo, and along with the other captives they are rescued by the GUOSSSOM. They join the shrews on the trip to the island in the middle of the Great Inland Lake, successfully dodging the terrifying Deepcoiler and reaching land where she meets Ashnin, Loambudd, and Urthwyte (at one point before arriving on the island she sees Martin's reflection in his sword she is holding). She tells the trio about her father's fight against Ferahgo and they immediately decide to help, teaming up with Samkim's group and traveling to Salamandastron where they arrive seconds before Urthstripe grabs the weasel Assassin and throws them both off the mountaintop. This move kills them, and as she runs to his side she tearfully calls him "Father". After Urthwyte succeeds his brother as ruler she heads to Redwall with Arula and Samkim where she becomes Badger Mother.