This story bridges the gap between Maddie's initial training and her later full-length adventures, such as The Red Fox Clan Publication Details

Maddie sets a trap at the Farrows' farm using a bell and a joint of venison. She discovers the "beast" is actually a

The "deep story" of John Flanagan's The Beast from Another Time

While her mentor, Will Treaty, is away on business, Maddie is left in charge of Redmont Fief. Her first true test as a lone protector arrives when local farmers, the Farrows, report a mysterious "beast" systematically slaughtering their livestock. The Investigation:

era, this short story explores themes of mercy, environmental legacy, and the weight of independent command. Plot Summary: The Trial of Redmont

The predator is injured, with a metal trap snapped shut around its forepaw, which is why it has turned to easier domestic prey. While the farmers want it dead, Maddie recognizes it as likely the last of its kind. The Resolution:

Risking her own safety, Maddie chooses a path of mercy over execution. She uses a sedative-tipped arrow to knock the cougar out, removes the trap, and treats its wound. The Aftermath:

, a species thought to have been extinct in the Spiny Mountains for hundreds of years—a literal creature from "another time". The Conflict: