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The Valour rides toward the shore, Ciocan has decided to skip docking at Halyard and is driving the Valour directly toward the beach outside the mountain. For the past hour, the towering edifice that is Salamandastron has been rising into view. As the mountain and the shore drew closer the Badger Lord ordered the standard of the Long Patrol run up the mast so it billows out ahead of them, letting everyone onshore know that the Badger Lord is returning home.   
       
    He snaps orders, the sails are furled, the ship begins to slow as it approaches the golden sandy beaches where figures can be seen gathering. General Quinten has clearly had sentries on watch keeping an eye for approaching ships and the home guard are drawing upon the sand to welcome their Lord and the others home.   
       
With the sails down the tide and leftover momentum from the sails is carrying the ship toward shore. Ciocan is a master, he rides the waves, turning the wheel deftly to control and guide them back toward the shore. Riding a wave the ship slides up onto the sand and a lieutenant up in the bow gives the order to hurl some ropes ashore. The General can be heard barking orders and soon enough the ropes have been staked into the sand to hold the Valour in place and Ciocan turns to everyone on deck.   
       
"Ok, run out the gangplank from the foredeck and help the little ones ashore... we are home everyone."   
   
Ciana peeks out from behind a couple of other dibbuns and seems unsure of this place but if the adults are nearby she will be fine.

Onshore is Sargeant Zolomon helping out where needed, he every so often looks towards the mountain, maybe to see whom else was gonna join them all, otherwise he is busy and seems glad they got back safe.   

Isa has been sticking close to the other dibbuns all this time, remaining protective of them and not entirely trusting the adults. Despite being asked to stay in the hold she was on a ladder peering out on to the deck as they skirted down the shore and finally come to a stop on the sands. Cautiously she sneaks out and peers down at the beach. She's not sure about all this but she does at least follow the group off the ship.   

Rufus is still somewhat moody, then you would be too if you were a bird and picked the worse time to molt feathers, most were back but still, he needed some more of his main flight feathers to fly any height anyways. He stays on a railing and watches all the going ons.   

Keldorn smiles wide "Back to de western shores...it is good to be back. I think any other trips on the sea can.....well wait for a long while"
   
Varus harrumps. "This trip ain't ovah, yet. We'll be marchin' t' Mossflowah afore too long."   

Leigh looks over the railing, she will likely help keep an eye on the dibbuns since she is one they trust most.   

Tenzin just stares and watches every beast quietly. He has yet to look like he will get off the boat and knowing him he will just dive into the water and get to shore that way, but it's not clear yet what he will do.   

Donica is on the deck waiting for orders.
       
The  Valour beached and secured a gangplank is run ashore from the port side fore-deck and the lieutenant in charge salutes Ciocan. "Everything is ready,  my lord."   
       
The badger nods and hands the wheel to Oswald, "You have the Valour, Oswald, stay aboard until everyone is off." The shrew bows and the badger walks forward to the gangplank and looks down then turns to look across the deck at everyone, he then raises his voice, "Major Varus, disembark the little ones first then the patrol..."   
       
The badger then starts down the gangplank and moves across the surf which washes over the base of the ship to meet General Quinten halfway. The elderly hare salutes and Ciocan places a hand on his shoulder. They put their heads together for a moment then Quinten barks some orders and home guard hares move down to the bottom of the gangplank, ready to help the dibbuns through the crashing surf and up onto dry sand.   
   
Varus salutes. "Sah," He replies. Turning to Leigh, he says, "Alright, you 'eard 'im. Please, Miss, if y' will, let's get th' children disembarked."
   
Ciana will head off with the other dibbuns when they are helped off the ship and to the shore, she whimpers a little as she is still unsure of everything, and its been a long trip for her. But she will go to the shore and looks around, waiting to see where she is heading.   

Zolomon stays where he is, helping of course where needed and following any orders from the general.   

Isa follows the group but hesitates at the start of the gangplank, looking over the side at the shallow waves washing on to the beach below. She doesn't move, she's a little unsure and doesn't seem to want to go down the plank.   

Rufus hmmphs and takes a sort of messed up flap towards the beach and lands on some driftwood out of the way and goes to smooth out his feathers and mutters to himself,"This annoying..Rufus still no fly well.....totally annoying is this yark."   

Keldorn stays on the ship as the dibbuns are helped off, he ducks as the seagull flaps off the boat and watches where it lands, it seems fine so he just stays where he is.   

Leigh smiles as she does help the dibbuns to shore "it's ok just stay close to me and Dorarose and we will see where to go after that."   

Squirrelbabe peers down at the shore then goes to grab the kitten's paw and march down the gangplank. "C'mon, it not so bad. Bettew den bein' tied t'the mast alla time!" DoraRose shepherds the Dibbuns down the gangplank, secretly relieved to have the Ringleader helping her. "Yep, it'll be okay, sweethearts. I'll keep you safe." She has the ferret Dibbun balanced on her hip -- he's too scared to walk down to the shoreline. Felicity is being led by a Private. The Sergeant still is unresponsive -- she hasn't said a word or expressed an emotion this entire trip.   

Donica stays alert from where she is, waiting for the ok to go on to the shore with other hares. She is glad to be back on land that's for sure.   

Tenzin snorts as he stays by the railing as if debating if he wants to join every beast or not. He has spoken to few and even though he promised he try to make friends, he has yet to.   

   
Gregorian has spent quite a bit of time on deck watching the mountain get closer but now they're actually there he has to work rather before he can go there. He'd currently directing a few privates to gather bits and pieces that need to be brought back to the mountain while they're getting the dibbuns off. He glances at Felicity between orders though, sighing quietly. He steps over to her going to take up the other side to the private "Hey, look, it's the mountain. Home safe and sound" he says quietly, trying to be soothing in his own way.   

Whatever the general mood was upon seeing the mainland again, Terrence was sullen. While the sergeant has been performing all the tasks expected of him (and more) he has done so relatively quietly for the past weeks since they left the island, preferring to avoid conversation and most company despite the packed nature of the ship as he processes all that happened. Now, he stays back, giving orders here and there to make the arrival home go as smoothly as he can and he isn't suffering any fools - when Konner accidentally dropped the line tossed to him for the second time the look Terrence sent the private the communicated tossing him overboard wasn't out of the realms of possibility. It is clear Terrence isn't as excited as his comrades to return home, nor is he excited to bring back the news of Reuenthal's and the others' deaths.

If any beast approaches him with a greeting or a question, he answers cordially enough - but there is a curtness to his voice that betrays the mental and physical exhaustion the sergeant feels. At least after today, there would be (hopefully) rest, if only for a moment.   

Matilda comes on deck, carrying two of the smallest dibbuns in her arms, the sword of martin in its sheath at her waist and the shield hanging over her back. She nods to Oswald, "The hold is clear," She glances toward the dibbuns making their way ashore and smiles, "I say we all go ashore now."   
       
Ciocan watches the little ones all coming down onto the shore and his hares helping them out of the waves and onto the shore. He nods to Quinten as the General reports and murmurs something and Quin turns and starts back up the shore, pointing at hares to fall in with him and starts talking to them rapidly, giving them orders and sending them ahead at a run.   
       
He turns back and watches the scene, his eyes finding Felicity and frowning, he motions to one of the hares nearby and puts his head down to a murmur, giving instructions that the Sergeant should be taken to the infirmary directly. He dispatches the healer to go join Greg and the Private as they come down the gangplank and rely the order that Felicity should be taken inside. Ciocan then strides forward to gather the little ones around him and the hares coming down on the ship.   
       
"I suggest we move everyone inside the mountain, Quinten has dormitories ready for everyone and baths," He looks down at everyone and grins, "Then the General is going to arrange dinner in the Dinning Hall for us all, but I am afraid everyone needs to have a bath first."   
       
He lifts his head and catches Dora's gaze and Matilda's and smiles at them both then points back toward the mountain, "So let's all go inside everyone, Welcome to Salamandastron, the Mountain Home"
       
    Varus comes down the gangplank, taking the rear behind the other hares. Once he sets foot on the shore, he finally spots his wife Olivia in the group that had come from the mountain. "Ah, mah deah." The two hares embrace.   
    Ciana stays with the dibbuns, she looks around and finally at the mountain as her eyes seem to widen some.

Meanwhile, Zolomon is happy all got back safe and sound, a wave, a smile at the dibbuns.....then he sees Felicity and frowns, right away noting something is seriously off here but he stays where he is till the order to head inside is given.   
   

Isa startles a little when Squirrelbabe takes her paw but that's really all the encouragement she needed to make it down and on to the shore "Depends where they're takin' us, this isn't 'ome" She says quietly to the squirrel though she's distracted by the ground. She hasn't really got to play with sand before. They were drugged and carried to the ship on the shore on their way to the island and the island itself wasn't exactly a day on the beach. The sand was soggy near the water and she was watching her footprints fill with water with interest until Quinten mentions baths. She says nothing, she just gives Squirrelbabe a look. A 'You said it wasn't that bad and jinxed it' kind of look with a hint of 'Should we run for it?'.   

Rufus will wait till its a bit more clear to go inside, so he is likely one of the last ones to head inside but he will head inside he is just staying out of the way right now seeing as flying is still slightly messed up.
   
Keldorn gets off the ship after the dibbuns are lead off and smiles as he looks around, "May have to visit Halyard, but later on will be best."
   
Donica gets off soon as well to head on inside with the others as they slowly head that way.
   
Tenzin finally goes to get off the ship slowly as he looks around, he eyes the mountain and stays off to the side,"A mountain......"    He then shakes his head and mutters a nope and slips off quietly.
   
Felicity doesn't react at all. Just stares at nothing. Even as she's lead down to the beach, she doesn't react, just walks along as if she were asleep.
   
Squirrelbabe stops in her tracks at the B word, her mouth falling open. The other Dibbuns crowd around her on the sand, whimpering and looking to her for a sign of what they should do next. The Ringleader catches the cat's look, and her face hardens. Stamping a foot and shaking her free paw as a fist in the air, she yells, "We get kidnappeded by badbeasts, an' YOU wantsa towtuwe us wif BAFFS?? NEVAH!! BAFFS NEVAH, PLAY FOWEVAH!! DAB! DAB! DAB! DAB!" Almost all of the other Dibbuns pick up the chant, waving tiny fists in the air in angry defiance!   

DoraRose isn't sure who to glare at, Ciocan or Quinten. So she just glares at them both, then tries to speak gently while still being heard over the sound of tiny (yet very upset) shouts. "Now, come on, sweeties, every beast is gonna be getting a bath, not just you! It's gonna be okay -- OI, NO THROWING SAND!" She tries to prevent the chucking of things (sand, rocks, driftwood, profanity from Squirrelbabe), but the little crowd of Dibbuns is getting quite insistent that they will NOT be getting baths today!   
   
Gregorian sighs quietly at Felicity but he doesn't know what will snap her out of it, he just has to hope the healers can. He falls silent and steps off the ship after the others just in time for a dibbun revolution. There a different sigh and he purposely looks back to double check on the progress of unloading the ship. He's not getting involved in the dibbun wrangling.       

Oswald is coming down the gangplank in time to see the dibbuns kick off, he pauses, makes a note to never let any children he has hang out with the dab and smiles at Greg. "Hey Gregorian, ah... help me.. unload..." he turns and goes back onboard, nope, he's not dealing with that.   
       
Ciocan meanwhile is staying put, watching as the others guide the little ones up the beach toward the mountain. Matilda is walking that way with the little ones she is carrying, helping out on the other side of the group from Dora to try and make sure no one wanders off.   
       
Quinten has already retreated back inside by this point so is missing the chaos. Ciocan however is not and he is frowning. His frown deepens as the children start throwing things and he roars, stamping one foot, his voice echoing over the beach.   
       
"SILENCE!"   
       
He stares down at Dochas and the others, "Everyone is having a bath, me, you, Dora, Matilda and then, then we are going to have a have dinner. But anyone who throws something else is getting two baths and no dessert."   
       
Varus is too busy hugging his wife to pay attention to the chaos, until after he hears Ciocan yell loudly, and the two hares turn to see what the commotion is about.   

Ciana eyes widen, she tries her best to hide behind....at first Leigh but shrews are small so there is Matilda to hide behind and no one will bother her behind the hedgehog, you know quills and all that. She steps out and peers at the other dibbuns, she looks at the very tall badger, likely super tall to her "I like baths...baths is nice." Zolomon has stayed put and tenses at the yell, he watches the dibbuns quietly...ya dibbuns. Close to the entry is a dibbun who seems to have escaped and is curious of the large crowd coming to the mountain, but they have yet to......come into the open.   

Rufus puffs out and just glares at everyone here, loud noises are not good for the bird.

   
Isa instantly joins in with the protest and chanting and DoraRose's order not to throw things just makes her think to throw stuff so she grabs some seaweed to throw at the nearest hare. She doesn't stop until Coican's voice booms out and she jumps, fur puffing out. She shivers in fear as she looks up at the badger. She's been through a lot and after a second or two of being absolutely terrified that turns to anger, then rage. She lets go of Squirrelbabe's paw and walks towards the badger, going to fold her arms and glare way, way, up there at him "No beast is goin' t'make me do wha' they want with fear evers again"     She says calmly but defiantly.   

Keldorn just...listens and lets the others handle this, he hmmms quietly "Well it's still good to be safe and sound here, is it not?"   
   
All the Dibbuns jump in terror and most of them start to cry, clinging to DoraRose and the other adults they know and trust (like Matilda). Squirrelbabe and a few others march up behind the kitten, glaring up at the badger. "Yeah, we no gonna do t'ings just 'cause a big beastie twyin' to SCAWE us!" The Ringleader informs him, and the other Dibbuns echo the sentiment. But at least no one is shouting or chucking things anymore.   

DoraRose takes the quiet as an opportunity. "Will you do it because I'm kindly asking you to? I would like to get all that dirt out of your fur, and soap might make untangling the mats in Isa's fur easier. Will you let me?" Squirrelbabe scowls and crosses her arms, ignoring the mats in her tail fur.   

   
Felicity has been led inside by now, taken to the infirmary.   

Donica's ears drop some as she frowns at the dibbuns, she hasn't been around dibbuns too much so, she is unsure what to do it would seem, yes let others handle this.   

   
Xander would pick now to slowly make his way out of the mountain with a staff in paw to help him walk, he seriously needs a better staff made or a cane most likely. He has been up on the crater a couple times the past like week, this is the first since he was brought inside that he is out by the entryway and blinks a couple of times, he also has a rather bad limp right now but least he is...sort of walking?   

"Definitely" Greg rumbles quietly to the shrew as he returns to the ship to handle things which don't argue back, like cargo. He of course wants to get back to the mountain to see his own daughter but experience says if you get involved with a fight over dibbuns and bath time you'll be stuck trying to get them to do things for hours.   
   
Ciocan looks down at Isa and smiles, the badger reaches down and picks her up, "Good," He says holding her out at arms length, "That's a good answer young lady," He looks down at Dochas and the others, "No one is trying to scare you, but if you start throwing things again in my mountain I will be very upset with you all and not read any bedtime stories."   
       
He shakes his head, "You can shout and chant all you like but the moment you throw something you have crossed the line."   
       
As Ciocan is talking Quinten walks back down from inside, his ears quirking up as he looks around, he gives Ciocan a long, steady look at the Badger Lord has the good graces to actually blush before the General turns to the others.   
       
The older hare crouched down and smiled at Dochas and the others, "Hello everyone I am Quinten, I'll be helping look after you all whilst you are here. I thought you might all want to get clean, I've set up soap and a slide and a large pool you can all play in together whilst we help get all that dirt and tangles out of your fur." He stood up and held out a paw, "Then I have some food being made for you all, I think you've all been through enough so I have trifle and cake and a whole host of nice food ready for you all."   
       
Varus has experience with dibbuns as well. Like Gregorian, the old Major keeps a wide berth from the young beasts. Instead, after giving Olivia's paw another squeeze, he turns to the patrollers. "Right, you lot. This day isn't gettin' any youngah, wot. Let's get our sorry butts inside now, wot!"
   
Ciana is curious of Ciocan now, she looks at Varus and frowns as she points at him "He said butt..." Seems she been told sometime, that's a not so good word to say.

Zolomon offers the dibbuns a smile and then there is another dibbun, they have escaped the mountain and as the other dibbuns get closer, this dibbun makes a beeline towards them, at first crawling, he is picked up by Zolomon "Hey ya ..wot ya doing...hey hey"He wiggles free and falls to the sand, he is ok though! And he decides to stand and try to take steps.....he has been able to stand and take a step or two and he does..step ..step..fall on his face...step ....step, it's none other than OZ! And he seems to be wanting near Squirrelbabe of all beasts as he tumbles near her footpaws and giggles.   

   
Isa looks at DoraRose and is swayed a little. She doesn't like matted fur and she's made of fluff so it happens. She considers it but is distracted and has a little flash of fear again when she's picked up but she hides it in the rage and keeps her arms defiantly folded as her tail dangles and sways with irritating little twitches below her "Uh uh. /You/ tried t'scare us. Y'just like the others and I'm not lettin' you scare everyone else again...Y'don't get to read bedtime stories" she says firmly as if that's his punishment. Quinten also gets a little wary look before she looks down at Squirrelbabe "Bubbles and...cookies in the water?" she's negotiating with the other dibbun to decide what might make a bath acceptable.
   
Rufus looks at the dibbuns and makes his way quickly inside, he is getting to his nest that's on the crater, he tilts his head at Xander and slides past him, "Rufus rather fly....all small beasties are loud..Rufus is napping he is!"
   
Keldorn chuckles a little at the dibbuns, he catches sight of the small badger Oz and smiles"We have company.."He looks towards the entry and seeing Xander up and about he smiles more now and waves a paw "Sir Xander....ello!"   
   
DoraRose goes to pat Ciana on the head and gives Varus a LOOK. However, she can't address it right now due to the whole NO BATH confrontation they're facing. "Oh, that sounds lovely, Mister Quinten. What do you lovelies say?"   

Squirrelbabe scowls, but she's thinking. The offer the General has given them sounds pretty great, actually. But she refuses to just give in like that. "We on'y do da baff in da slidey pool if dew's /toys/ an' /shells/ ta /play/ with, too!" She nods to the kitten, agreeing with her requirements for the bath.   

But then there's a baby. The Ringleader's demeanor completely changes at the sight of him. "Ozzy! Hi, sweet baby!" She kneels and goes to give him a great big (but very gentle) hug. "You walkin'! You got so big!"   
   
Donica blinks, ok so that was a sudden change from grumpy to happy, she chuckles a little and stays off to the side.   

Xander ventures out a little ways and about falls as he leans on the staff and snorts, he straightens up and stays where he is, but he does smile glad that beasts are home safe and sound as he was worried.   

Ciocan raises an eyebrow at Isa and shrugs and puts her down, "Very well, no bedtime stories for you all then," He says and then winches as Quinten steps on his paw, "Your Lordship, shoo, go inside...." He orders and the badger nods, looks down at the children and puts Isa down turns and heads back inside.   
       
"Sorry about his lordship, He means well," Quinten stands up and offers his hand to Isa and Dochas, "There are plenty of bubbles and yes there may be cookies, but not in the bath, you'll have to get out of the water to have a cookie and a drink. I have had a very special drink opened, it is Raspberry Fizz, a special drink I made myself, a drink with bubbles in it. So what say you all, want to come downstairs with me and Dora and Miss Matilda and Leigh here?"   
       
Quinten then looks over and smiles, "Oh Oz hello, how did you manage to get out here.... hello little one, everyone is home. But yes little squirrel, there are plenty of shells and bath toys, it is a special bath I've set up for all of you."   
       
Oswald meanwhile peers over the railing and looks at Greg, "May take them a while, so before we unload, how about we finish up the ale I brought along? That'll be one less thing to unload and I think we have earnt a drink for getting them all home."
       
Varus doesn't even notice DoraRose's glare, because he's too busy getting the hares inside and listening to Gregorian on the ship. His wife Olivia, meanwhile, smiles kindly to the dibbuns. She addresses Quinten, "I shall help, as well." The retired healer has always been better with dibbuns than her husband.
   
Gregorian is slightly surprised that the dibbuns appear to be backing down though it does seem to be with a great deal of bribery. He glances back at Oswald with a small chuckle "Ah, love tah mate but if they've stopped fightin' I should get inside before my daughtah start wonderin' where I am...From the sounds of it, I might be able tah toss her in tah this fancy bath...Though that might just lead tah her expectin' it every time" he shakes his head but heads off towards the mountain.
   
Ciana giggles at the idea of bubbles and toys and a bath and smiles. Zolomon is already heading on inside now and Oz smiles at Squirrelbabe, he looks at Quinten, and it becomes clear he has learned a new word from likely Zolomon as he giggles "Q..Q...Q...hehheheheh" He looks back at Squirrelbabe and reaches up to her.   

Isa points at DoraRose "She can read bedtime stories, cause she's bein' nice" she tells the badger as she's put down. She nods her agreement to Squirrelbabe's terms and Quinten's agreement to them. It appears they have reached a compromise but she then also gets distracted by the tiniest badger and follows Squirrelbabe in going to greet Oz.   

Keldorn smiles as he heads on inside, its been a long trip and a bath and a hot meal sounds nice to him, then a nap in a nice soft bed.   
   
As most of the Dibbuns cheer at the thought of playing in the water and it not being a horrible bath like what they're used to, DoraRose flops slightly, not enjoying the prospect before her. Bathing a horde of Dibbuns who might revolt at any moment? Not her favorite, but she has to put up with it. She walks up to the other adults, the Dibbun ferret still perched on her hip. "I'll take all the help I can get." The ferret hides his face against her shoulder, peering fearfully at the General.
   
Squirrelbabe goes to help the baby badger stand up as she goes to hug him again. "Hi, baby! Is you talkin' nows? What a sweetie baby Ozzy." She smiles at the kitten, the biggest, brightest, and most true and most joyful smile anyone has ever seen from her. "Lookit, he okay!"
   
Donica watches as beasts slowly get inside and smiles "Its good to be....home" She smiles more at the last word, to her the mountain is her home now.She waits to see if she is needed before she will head inside, likely the infirm first and then elsewhere.
   
Xander watches as beasts go inside and moves slowly out of the way, losing his balance once and sighs as he slowly manages to stand up, he uses the staff to help him and glances over at where Oz wandered off, he decides he will be ok as others are over there to watch all the dibbuns anyways. He will wait to head back inside, needs to be a bit more clear.   
   
Quinten smiles at Dora and offers her his hand, "Welcome back Lady DoraRose..." He looks at the little ones, "I'd say we should keep little Oz away from the DAB but... no amount of work has ever quite managed to keep the DAB out of a dibbun...."   

He chuckles and looks over the horde of dibbun, "These are the sort of Redwallers I am used to visiting, but ok everyone lets head on inside and I will show you all the pool."   
       
He turned and started up the slope, "Come along everyone, cookies, and fizzy drinks and a play pool for everyone." there he has stopped using the Bath word.   
   
Varus follows the other beasts into the mountain, as does his wife, though she's helping to herd dibbuns. Quinten and the others could use all the help they can get...   

Ciana giggles and is excited for a bath, little Oz just giggles and with some help with following the other dibbuns back inside.   
   
Almost all of the Dibbuns stampede into the Mountain, DoraRose in their wake. She smiles at Xander, but she's too tired and busy to stop and chat. She'll say hi when they all gather for dinner. "Yes, Isa, I can read to you for bedtime. But first, we need to untangle your pretty fur so it's not a mess anymore...Quinten, Squirrelbabe is actually happy. I think we should let her and baby Oz be together. Maybe she'll behave better with him there...."   

Squirrelbabe dutifully goes to help the baby badger toddle his way inside, looking truly happy for the first time since....well since she arrived at Redwall in the first place. She never has been happy and content until now. Everything is falling into place. The General has also stopped calling it a bath, so even that has improved.   
   
Isa feels a little more in control since telling the Badger Lord off and the agreement over baths and so she is also starting to relax and content. Seeing Oz is fine is the cherry on top and she sticks close to Squirrelbabe and the tiny badger as the group head inside for fun, games, and the promise of cake.   

Xander moves away from the entry and manages a few feet with his staff which he finds out is totally not wise in sand and he lets out a, whoa and he falls onto the sand, a slight tense up of pain and he sits up sighing some, he will get up in a moment.   
       
Quinten nods Dora and leaves Squirrelbabe for now with Baby Oz and smiles in thanks to Varus's  wife and leads the way inside and down a set of stairs into a large room. Several privates are running around setting things up. There is a table with drinks and cookies, a large pile of soft toys in one corner of the cavern with cushions scattered around.   
       
In the center is a large raised pool of rock full of foaming green-tinted bubbles and beneath them warm water and floating in it a whole host of wooden toys. There is also a makeshift wooden slide set up to drop straight into the water. Quinten hasn't had long to prepare but has thrown something together as quickly as he can. Keeping his voice low he murmurs to Dora and Matilda, "I figure what they need right now is some time to play, what they have been through will fade."   
       
He glances at the large pool, "Of course I hope you are all prepared to get wet... this... is going to tax even my ability to look after little ones, I've never had so many around before. How on earth does the Badger mother do this."   
   
Olivia picks up one of the smaller dibbuns and coos to them. "Look at all that! Isn't it lovely, Lass? I tell you wot... Quinten makes the best cookies, too..." Varus, meanwhile, retires to his room in the Officers Quarters to freshen up and don his dress uniform for the inevitable welcome home dinner later this evening.   

There are squeals of delight upon seeing all the bubbles and toys. Even the little ferret looks excited. DoraRose sets him down and starts helping Dibbuns into the water. "I was already counting on being wet." She strips out of her tunic, which reveals that she is wearing a white sleeveless shirt underneath it. Shucking off her belt, boots, sling, and socks, she wades into the water in her leggings and undershirt, smiling as she picks up a wooden boat. "Oh my goodness, this looks like SO much fun! Come on, darlings!"
   
The Dibbuns don't need any more encouragement. They charge into the water, splashing and laughing and giggling. Some of the more adventurous ones try the slide, and soon the Gatekeeper is having to make them all wait in line politely so they can play on it like civilized creatures. Squirrelbabe stands near the door and eyes the water with concern. "Can baby Ozzy play in dewe wif us??"   

A pair of Privates have offered to help Xander join his son in the room with the Dibbuns. They will go as slowly as he needs them to to make sure he doesn't fall and get hurt. "As for the Badger Mother," Dora replies to the General. "She is a very gifted, patient creature who may have been blessed by a fairy godmother at birth."   
   
Xander allows the help inside and even watches the dibbuns a short while as they have fun, he smiles and chuckles a little. He will then slip off on his own for a little while but join everyone at dinner time.   

"I'll believe that Lady DoraRose," Quinten says with a smile, shaking his head and a smile, he takes off his tunic and hangs it up, leaving him in just his white shirt and trousers and moves down to the edge of the pool to help. He's not about to just leave the Privates to run bathtime... well ok pool swim time with the dibbuns. He'll stay and help out, glad to see them all safe and happy.
   
Isa follows the group through the mountain, curiously looking around on the way and trying to peer into any room they pass but eventually they get to the bath and it's not like any bath she's ever seen. She hesitates but after sticking her toes in as a little test and finding it pleasingly warm thanks to the mountain's hot springs heating she slips in, clothes and all and paddles around a bit. She sticks near Squirrelbabe and Oz, going to play with them, eventually get her fur untangled and generally actually enjoy a bath for once in her life.
   
The Gatekeeper makes sure everyone gets clean and brushed and detangled (Squirrelbabe's tail included) while also making sure no one drowns. DoraRose is an adept swimmer (although never as good as her husband was), so she's doing pretty well with all the help she's getting. She'll try to wash everyone's clothes later, but for now, she slips them all into clean clothes. She hurriedly goes off to bathe in private before returning in the only dress she brought and helping get the horde of little ones to dinner. If there is no cake, the Dibbuns won't be the only ones upset....Squirrelbabe sticks with Oz as much as she can, and they all insist that the Gatekeeper has to tell or read them 5 stories before they can get to sleep. It's been an exciting day....and they're halfway home!