Sunflash the Mace, Lord

Gender: male

Species: badger

Appears In: Mossflower and Outcast of Redwall

Mentioned In: Mariel of Redwall, Salamandastron, The Long Patrol, and Eulalia!




Sunflash - later known as Sunstripe - is a young resident of Mossflower whose name comes from the fact that he has a golden headstripe running down his snout. He is the descendant of Sable Brock, son of Barkstripe and Bella, grandson of Boar, great-grandson of Brocktree, great-great-grandson of Stonepaw, and great-grandfather of Rawnblade. He is born at Brockhall less than four seasons before Verdauga arrives in the region, and he runs away after his father is killed battling the wildcat. As he does not return for a long time, Bella believes him to be dead but he has actually been captured by Swartt's horde in the north. The ferret warlord uses him as a slave and calls him "Scumtripe", tying him up to the tree that Skarlath is trapped in. Sunflash uses his body heat to melt the ice and they escape from their prison, with the badger immediately attacking the vermin. He manages to permanently paralyze Swartt's famous six-clawed paw before fleeing, and his new pal Skarlath gives him the name Sunflash. They wander throughout Mossflower helping any who need it, and he adds various heads and tips to his hornbeam branch which turns it into a mace. After saving the Lingl-Dubbo clans from some vermin they stay with them for five seasons, however he suffers near-fatal wounds while rescuing the children from an adder. He dreams of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who tell him he must survive so that he can travel to Salamandastron. He awakens to realize the song a female badger had been singing to him in his visions is actually a riddle that reveals Salamandastron's name. The following day he heads out on his quest with Skarlath by his side, eventually reaching the mountain where he becomes Badger Lord. He defends his new home against Swartt's horde who have been tracking him for many seasons but suffers a terrible loss when Skarlath is murdered by Nightshade, crushing the vixen to death in a Bloodwrath-afflicted rage. Along with his Long Patrol hares he tracks Swartt to Bat Mountpit where he is captured by the ferret, who plans on slowly torturing him. Sunflash is saved by Bryony (she has followed Veil all the way to the mountain) and he wakes up, grabbing his mortal enemy and throwing him from the top of Bat Mountpit to his death. Not long after he travels to Redwall where he reunites with Bella, staying here until her passing. He returns to Salamandastron where he changes his name to Sunstripe and hangs up his mace, deciding to live in peace.