Redwall MUCK Forum

SCENE:  In the land of dreams...

CHARACTERS:  Squirrelbabe (who is named Dochas, but she is the only person alive who knows that).  Triss, Martin the First, Burfy the murdered molebabe.

LOG:
Squirrelbabe's sleep has been haunted by nightmares every night, as they usually are. But recently the foxes and fire have been joined by Kurgan the ferret, laughing and holding a crying Oz, or laughing as he kills Burfy the molebabe, over and over again. Tonight the dreams are filled with her trying to run away from foxes, fire, and Kurgan, but she can't because her chain keeps getting shorter. The Dibbun sobs in her sleep, tail curled around her head as she folds into a tight ball, fear coursing through her as a river washing away debris at flood stage.   

The fog rolls in around squirrelbabe, a sword flashes and the chains snap with a sharp crack setting her free. Someone then steps up, a shadow between Squirrelbabe and the oncoming foxes, the sword of martin flashes, it spins and the foxes chasing her and Kurgan fades away, his laughter broken.   
The squirrel holding the sword turns to face the little one and salutes her with the sword, making sure she can identify it for what it is. She then crouches down to offer her paw to the dibbun, "You are safe Dochas.... they will not trouble your dreams tonight," she smiles, "I am Triss and Martin has sent me to talk with you."   

Squirrelbabe stumbles to a stop and falls to her knees, still crying, even as the things that frighten her disappear. She looks up at the sword, definitely recognizing it. "Twiss? You's....I amembew yous." One of the few stories she paid complete attention to -- a female Warrior squirrel? You bet she'd be interested! "How you knows my name is Dochas?"   

Triss offers her hand to Dochas and helps the squirrelbabe up and smiles, "Your mother told me my dear," she waits for the squirrel to take her hand, "Let us journey together, Martin is not far, we wanted to talk to you again."   
She sheaths the sword at her waist and then on a whim just picks the little squirrel up, holding her in her arms gently, "You have been a very brave squirrel, but I am afraid the dangers following your path are still numerous and surrounding you."

Dochas lets the Warrior squirrel help her to her feet, then pick her up. Wiping her eyes, she sniffles. "Kuwgan killeded Burfy! Burfy jus' wanted t'be Foremole, an' now he /can't/! I twy to be bwave, but evewything is scawy. I wan' Muvvew Kwisha...I want Mammy an' Daddy..." she goes to rest her head on the Warrior's shoulder, still sniffling.   

"Oh I know my little one," she strokes Dochas' ears, "I know and we all wish you could be at home with Krisha and the Abbot and everyone else."   
Walking through the fog that streams past them on all sides they reach a gateway set in a large wall of thorns and hedges. Beyond it massive trees stand tall and yet there is a soft, welcoming delight to that forest and the massive gateway, a happy place lies just beyond it....   
But it is not through the gates Triss walks it is to the brown mouse standing by the doorframe and the little mole standing by his side. There is a cry from the mole and they trundle forward to throw themselves at squirrelbabe as Triss sets the little one back down.   
"Burrrr squirrelbab it be you! Martin said I could stay and say bye...."   

Dochas just watches things as they go past, not fully comprehending what the gates signify. "Mawtin?" She perks up a little, and she doesn't fight as she's set on the ground. She's definitely not prepared to get tackled by a happy molebabe! "Burfy? Burfy!" She goes to hug him tight. "Burfy! You okay! Wait....why you's happy t'see me? I a meanie." She's genuinely confused.

Triss smiles and gives the squirrel a moment, Burfy grins, "Yeah you is! But a good meanie! I not allowed to stay fer long.... but... wanted to say... tell everyone I ok now right? I with Martin and Triss n Granny...." He hugs her again then scampers off through the gates, he pauses just before the fog shrouds him from sight to wave back and then is gone.   
Martin meanwhile makes his way over and kneels down. Triss settles down cross legged and pats her lap invitingly, "We wanted to talk to you again Dochas," Martin says, "I know it has been horrible with the vermin and hard to hold everyone together but we wanted to let you know that you are not alone."

Dochas just hugs the mole again, then automatically waves back as he leaves. "Wait...wait, Burfy..." as the gates close and the Warriors get on her level, she looks between them. "How /you/ know my name?" She points at the mouse as she scrambles into the adult squirrel's lap. She then sags and starts sniffling again, her tail drooping pathetically. "Kuwgan tooked baby Ozzy, an' I'm scawed he gonna makes 'im into a /whipon/ like 'e said he would. An'....an'...." she can't figure out how to put into words how scared she really is, and how it keeps getting harder for her to put on a brave face. She also isn't sure how to say that Isa is helping lead the Dibbuns.

Martin smiles, "Your mother told us Dochas, I asked her," he holds out a hand as Triss pets the little squirrels ears, "But you do not need to worry about Kurgan anymore. Matilda has made sure he will never return to bother you and baby Oz is safe with his father and brother at Salamandastron."   
Triss smiles, "We brought you here to tell you that Matilda is coming, she has Lord Ciocan and his hares now and they will not stop until they catch up with you all." Triss wipes her eyes, "But you must keep this secret from the vermin ok? But you need to know so you do not lose hope."

Dochas holds onto the mouse's paw. "An' DwowaWose, too? When dey come gets us?" She looks up at the other squirrel. "Why's I gotsa keep it a secwet? Can I tells the ovver Dibbuns an' Leigh?" She thinks for a moments, then adds, "My name mean hope." She feels safe, loved, and cared for here. Maybe she can find somewhere in the waking world where she feels this way.

Martin smiles and nods, "DoraRose, Caleb, the Long Patrol, everyone is coming for you," the mouse smiles, "As for secret, you can tell Leigh, and the little ones you think can keep it secret. Yoiu must not let the vermin know the Champion and the Badger Lord are coming for you all."   
Triss smiles, "It is a beautiful name Dochas, you are the hope for all those little ones to be safe and sound until Matilda can reach you."

Dochas smiles. "Dey gonna choppa up da slavews inta soup!" She says enthusiastically, internally warmed by the adult squirrel's praise. But then she slumps again, although this time in confusion, her tail flopping about aimlessly. "But why's I gotta keeps it a secwet?" Ah, the ceaseless and ubiquitous question of all Dibbuns: WHY.

"Because," Martin says with the patience of a saint, "If you tell the vermin they will prepare, they will get ready to strike down Matilda and hurt all her friends and your friends and stop you from being rescued."   

"Ooooooh," Dochas nods. "Okay, dat make sense." She yawns, which is weird since she's asleep, but she doesn't realize that it's weird. "But when dey come to get us? An' will da foxie leave like Kuwgan did?" She is obviously most frightened by Mistclaw, more than any of the other slavers, which makes sense since her family was killed by foxes right before her eyes.   

Martin and Triss sit with Dochas, letting her sleep, "You will be safe, they will not harm you. The fox and all the others will be dealt with." They smile as she drifts off into happy dreams for once, "We will be watching you, Triss will be with you whilst I guide Matilda to you all."

Dochas falls into the happy dreams. In the waking world, she uncurls from her little ball, relaxing into a truly restful sleep. She cuddles her tail close (since she is bereft of any other type of security item). Her fear is gone....for now, at least

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!

Please remember:  Squirrelbabe is the only char alive who knows her real name