Redwall MUCK Forum

SCENE:  Redwall Abbey's Southern Walltop
RW Abbey: South Walltop
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Trees, trees, and more trees! Little more is visible when looking out from the southern walltop. Elm, beech, and oak pan out in a bushy canopy as far as the eye can see. A few particularly old trees poke out above the others, stretching their gnarled limbs towards the few clouds in the azure sky. In the distance, the dirt road winds its way southward, cutting a snakelike path through the trees.

Below, outside the Abbey walls, lie the grasslands, stretching for quite a ways. The south wall radiates heat, oppressing, stifling, and unavoidable. Straining one's eyes through the shimmering air, one might be able to glimpse St. Ninian's church.
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Exits: (E)ast, (W)est

LOG:
LilyMoore has been speaking with the ferret in charge of the Ferravalian force and Virginia the rook, and they have agreed that the Southern Wall needs the most attention. So they have rearranged the Ferravale, bird, and Redwall guards, putting the more experienced fighters on the Southern Walltop, while the fighters with the least amount of experience are on the Northern Wall. The southern half of the Eastern and Western walls also have the more experienced fighters stationed there.   
Currently the Bellringer and Temporary Gatekeeper is on the Southern Wall herself, checking on everyone and passing around drinks. Terfil the newt is following her around, like he and Zarok the monitor lizard have been doing inexplicably since the party went off to hunt down the slavers. The mousemaid has forced the newt to help her pass out the drinks. Butterclaw the sparrow is also helping. He looks very dashing with his helmet and battle claws.

Gaheris has spent a great deal of time up on the walls since he arrived. If anything it was peaceful so far and standing guard was the only time he ever felt comfortable staying still for long periods of time. He's not used to all the Ferravale folks and their birds but he's trying to ignore his discomfort there and staring out across the woods lost in his own thoughts. The beast next to him thanking LilyMoore for the drink snaps him out of it and he looks over, an eyebrow raising at the mouse's entourage of newt and sparrow. Redwall was a strange place. He's grateful for the drink anyway and tries to hide the funny look he was giving them "Thank y'Miss. The sun's a mite friendly t'day, a drink's the next best thing t'a cloud right now"

LilyMoore smiles. "Of course! We don't want our defenders getting sick from the heat." She gives him a look full of friendly curiosity. "You're the Skipper from Camp Willow, right?" Butterclaw moves on to the next few beasts, giving them their drinks and letting his best friend talk. Terfil, however, stays right where he is, watching the mousemaid, who is calmly ignoring him as if this is an everyday occurrence. Redwall is a mighty strange place, indeed.   

Gaheris drinks a little first before he offers out a big webbed paw to shake when he knows who he is "Aye, tha's me" he chuckles "I barely seem t'ave t'do introductions anymore" it's kinda weird just being known but he was getting used to it "Y're one of the locals, aye?"   

It seems Lily isn't the only one who is going about checking on those posted on the walltops. A small, sandy-furred hare, stoutly built, missing half an ear, his face a roadmap of various scars and appearing to have an air of importance and dignity about him (despite not quite having a rank that reflects this just yet) is meandering about the watchers on the walltop, paws held behind his back as he looks over those on guard, seemingly making sure they are all going about it the correct way. Or it least in the way he feels is correct. "Chin up, lad, remember t'keep yer eyes trained on that spot there, right where th'forest meets th'path." He extends a paw and points out towards the forest, giving the shrew he is speaking with a light nudge. "Aye, good. You there, remember t'keep yer eyes peeled an' keep an eye on th'ditch. Seems that's a good place for th'vermin t'try and hide out." He wanders over towards a nearby mouse, making sure she is looking where she is supposed to be. He spots Gaheris and Lily, a smile breaking over his scarred muzzle. "Afternoon! Not too shabby a lot y'got 'ere. Little more discipline here and there, but when yer in a situation like this one, y'can't be picky." He is wearing a cloak over what appears to be flashes of a Long Patrol uniform, and he wiggles his single ear at the two of them.

The tall mousemaid nods as she shakes the otter's paw. "Aye, I'm LilyMoore, although you can call me Lily. I'm the Bellringer. My mom is DoraRose, the Gatekeeper. Since she's off trying to rescue our Dibbuns, I'm also temporary Gatekeeper. I've lived here in Redwall my whole life." She smiles and waves at the hare. "Well, Redwall is not a military base, so we kind of don't go in for that type of discipline." Turning to the newt, she gestures at the Sparra, who is almost halfway across the East Wall. "Terfil, please go help Butterclaw." The newt shakes his head. Lily stomps her foot. "Terfil, he needs help, and I'm tired of you always following me around! Now go! Shoo!" She shoves the newt in his way. He trundles off, hands the drinks to a Novice, then scuttles down the wallsteps and hides in some bushes where he can watch without the mouse seeing him.

"Ah! Y're the gatekeeper. I was wantin' t'take a nosy around the weapons in yer gate'ouse sometime and see wha' we got t'work with if we need it" the Skipper says before his attention also goes to the hare "Y'must be one of the group tha' turned up the other day. Us otters ain't exactly military folk either, or we don't go marchin' places anyway, we'll fight like 'ell though" they do at least train for fights. He looks back again as Lily's shooing away the newt. He tilts his head "Y'got some interestin' friends around 'ere" he says after the newt has left, slightly amused.

Monty aims a simple nod of understanding towards Lily. "Aye, fair enough, ma'am. Please excuse th'more rigid manner, it's just parta home kinda slippin' through. When I see others on guard n'such, it's more an instinctive reaction more n' anythin." The hare does seem friendly enough despite his appearance, the smile on his muzzle making the rest of his features light up that much more. He gives a nod to Gaheris, "Aye, mate, that'd be correct. When I laid eyes on th'place on our way 'ere, I had t'stop meself from breakin' into a dead sprint. Heard many stories about this place, wanted t'see how many of em were true, wot." He eyes the otter for a moment. "Camp Willow, yeah?" he guesses. "Heard about you lot. Buncha th'bravest and most fearless creatures in alla th'lands, from th' stories I've heard..."

LilyMoore frowns. "Actually, our weapons are stored in the training yard, off the Champion's cottage. Any weapons in the Gatehouse belong to my family alone. I think I can get you in the training yard, though. I know we have a lot of quarterstaffs..." she trails off, visibly flustered at being called 'ma'am.' "Um, uh, yeah, sure, okay....well, I don't know all the stories you've heard, but I know Redwall is the best place in the world." She scowls down at the newt, who is actually failing at hiding (mostly because he's bright orange and the bush he chose to hide in is green). "Although sometimes the friends you make here are annoying....ever since my mom left, Terfil and Zarok have been following me around everywhere. It's driving me crazy!"   

Gaheris nods once to Monty and grins "Aye, Skipper of the camp. I guarantee those stories are entirely true. Bravest, fearless and modest t'boot" he offers the hare a paw to shake too. He doesn't exactly have as many scars as the hare but he's got a few to show he's been through a few scraps and the bald bit on his tail looked like it burnt but he's still in one piece so far. He looks back down to Lily again "Ah, I am mistaken. I'll 'ave t'check the trainin' yard. I was 'opin' for bows and slings meself. If there's rats comin' I'd rather keep 'em outside than invite 'em in t'hit 'em with sticks"   

Monty leans against the nearby parapet, arms folding across his chest as he regards Lily and Gaheris. "I most definitely wouldn't make a bet against that, m'lady..." He chuckles. "I'm sure there's a reason as t'why there are so many stories of this place. Y'can run into someone miles an' miles away, y'mention th'name Redwall an' their face lights up like th'sun," he muses. "It's a bloody flippin' shame our visit had t'be under such dire circumstances. Still, we're gonna make th'best of it an' make sure this place is protected so y'can keep on welcomin' beasts in for years n'years to come." He straightens himself up, expression shifting as if just realizing something. "Oh! Pardon me fer bein' rude, I never even introduced m'self afore I started talkin' yer ears off!" The grin returns as he gives his ear another waggle, paw extending to grip Gaheris's firmly in a strong grip. "Private Montgomery Alexander Reginald William Baxter Fleetpaw the III, at yer service. Woo, haven't said th'whole thing in awhile, feels nice. Rolls right off th'tongue, it does." He laughs. "M'daddo gets th'blame fer that."   

The slender mousemaid thinks for a moment. "We have lots of slings, and plenty of pebbles. I think we have a number of bows. I have a bow," she adds with modest pride. "But yeah, I'll make sure you can get in there to see what other weapons we have." She smiles at the hare, but her eyes widen as he introduces himself. "Um....what should we call you, then?" She offers her paw to shake. "I'm LilyMoore, Bellringer and temporary Gatekeeper. But you can call me Lily...not, um, m'lady." She is not usually addressed with such formal titles, and her discomfort shows.

"Well if we get past this alright, and the dibbuns make it back soon, we're bound t'ave a feast for the ages tha' y'can enjoy" Gaheris says before he shakes Monty's paw back just as firmly though he has very little in the way of ears to waggle so the hare has him beat there "Ha! That's a 'are name alright. Just call me Skip" he looks back to Lily again and grins as she says she has a bow "Any archer'll 'elp" he's got his bow on him while he's guarding. He chuckles a little at her discomfort too.   

Monty slips his paw from Gaheris and extends it to Lily as she offers hers. He gives her paw a squeeze as he shakes, not too hard, he has to remind himself that it's not a fellow hare whose paw he is shaking. "Oh, right, that...likely would be helpful. Y'couldn't go around recitin' the entire thing every time, otherwise y'd be standin' here all bloody day, y'would!" The shorter hare grins. "Er, Monty, fer short. Simple n'concise. Adj...er, Adrian...calls me Mont, sometimes. Which is even shorter." He gives Lily a nod, "Lily, righto! Pretty name, that is. Oh, and, er...slings n'stones are perfect fer walltop defendin'. Generally easy t'handle and learn, an' once ya pick it up, is fairly accurate. Bounce a coupla stones offa th'rats bonces an' send em home cryin' t'their mothers...." The hare grins to Gaheris. "M'sure ya know all about that sorta thing, doncha, mate?"   

LilyMoore smiles and squeezes the hare's paw enough to let him know that she's much stronger than she looks. She understands this whole Warrior thing. "Thank you, Monty. I was named after my mother's late sister." She rests her paw on the blue cat's-eye pommel stone of the sword she has hanging from her belt. "I also know how to use a sling, and I have a crossbow. My dear friend Marek had it made for me." She listens to them as they talk. She is not very experienced in battles, and she has even less experience with killing other creatures. So she is willing to listen and learn from others.

Gaheris nods once as the shorter name is provided "Monty. I think I 'ave a chance of rememberin' tha'" he didn't like his chances of remembering the whole thing at all. He feels like he's already forgotten half of it. There's a chuckle for Monty's question "I'll say this ain't my first time standin' on one of Redwall's walls shootin' at vermin" he wrinkles his nose at Lily's mention of her crossbow though, making his generous amount of whiskers bristle "Never did get on with crossbows. Every one I've seen ended up bein' in the paws of some vermin usin' poison with it"

Monty does indeed notice that bit of unexpected strength in Lily's paw, the hare inwardly impressed. "Well th'name lives on in good paws, then..." he replies to Lily with a warm smile. He also notices the sword on her belt, and he crouches down a moment to examine it. "Hmm. Nice blade, as well. I m'self tend t'use smaller blades, daggers more n'anythin' else, I suppose. Have m'reasons behind it. How are ya at wieldin' it?" He straightens himself back up, dusting off his cloak. "Good, knowin' how to use a sling, that'll save a bit of time. Gotta get th'rest of those on th'walltops t'learn an' we'll be all set, m'thinkin'." He shoots a grin to Gaheris, "Yeah, tend t'not use the entire thing very often fer that very reason, mate." He gives him a knowing nod, "And aye, y'have t'looks of a right proper warrior, y'do, I'm proud t'say I'll be standin' beside ye when we get around t'defendin' th'Abbey n such." He leans over to give the otter a light nudge. "They might outnumber us, but they're gonna get th'surprise of a bloody lifetime if they think we're just gonna roll over n'let em take the Abbey."

LilyMoore catches a glare aimed at the hare from a nearby Ferravalian stoat. "Um, Monty, most of these fighters are actually quite experienced, especially the Guosim and our friends from Ferravale. Almost all of the beasts here up on the walls already know how to use a sling." She looks down at the sword. "It's actually my mother's sword, she's just having me use it while she's hunting down the slavers who took our Dibbuns. Her father, the best Blacksmith in Tuscani, where Mom's from originally, made it for her." She turns to the otter. "You must not have ever met my friend Marek, then. He started evil, but he never used poison. Something happened in his life, and he repented of his wicked ways and became a strong ally of the Abbey. He died saving me." She swallows, the sorrow of losing her friend still there, but she stands a little taller, sure her friend would be proud of her.

Log-A-Log has decided to see how things are going on this part of the wall tops "Greetings all and how are you all being today?" He asks in a friendly voice.

Gaheris glances around at the collection of fighters they've got together on the walls "It ain't y'uniformed lot but they'll send a pack of rats runnin' all the same" he nods down at the grounds inside the abbey "It's everyone else wha' might not know 'ow t'fight. We don't want them t'ave t'of course but we didn't want rats comin' this way either so it doesn't seem like it'd 'urt t'be prepared" he raises a paw when the Log-a-log makes his appearance "'ey mate. It's warm and y'missed the drinks!" he chuckles. Talk of swords he doesn't comment on but he nods at Lily when she mentions the Marek fight "Aye, never met the beast but I were there for tha' end fight. Tha' were a bad one. Tha's wha' 'appens if we don't keep 'em outside the walls"

Monty laughs as he notices the glares he receives from a few on the wall there. "Aye, am quite aware, was s'pposed t'be a joke, y'see, though it seems I didn't get the audience reaction I was intendin' to." He chuckles. "Is always good t'try an' keep th'mood as light as possible, there'll be plenny o'time fer bein' all dark n'serious when th'fightin' starts." As Log-a-Log arrives, the smaller hare gives the shrew a grin and a nod. "Couldn't be peachier, thank y'fer askin', mate. Beautiful evenin', friendly beasts n'a bit o'battle talk, what could be better?" Monty chuckles. "And aye, bein' prepared is th'best thing we could be, an' I'm gonna do m'best t'help make sure all th'ones who aren't as used t'this sorta thing are as ready as they c'n be. S'my duty as a Patroller, y'know."   

LilyMoore shakes her head at the hare. "Most of the Redwallers who aren't up on the walls don't know that there's rats coming because if they knew, they'd panic. Please, before you go around trying to teach beasts things, you need to talk to Abbot Benar. He's trying to keep the approaching battle as quiet as possible." She rubs an eye. "And you do realize many of the Feravalians know of the Long Patrol's stance that 'the only good vermin is a dead vermin,'" she makes quotes in the air with her fingers as she says this "right? So while the ones here in Redwall are fully in support of our peace treaty with Redwall, they won't take any jokes that make them seem less than capable or good well." Some of the vermin on the walls do look mighty suspicious of the hare now, and they didn't before he started talking.   
LilyMoore waves at the shrew. "Oh, hi, Log-a-Log." The smile that almost always adorns her face is absent for the moment.

Log-A-Log smiles at the mousemaid, he looks to the woods and sits down"Quiet, but the quiet is not always being good I think, quiet could mean illl will as well as good"   

Gaheris raises his eyebrows at Lily's speech to Monty and then give Monty a quick look while she's talking. He doesn't interrupt her but he speaks up when she's done "No one's said anythin' about the beasts 'ere t'elp so don't lets go stirrin' things up. 'e says it's a joke, fightin' beasts rib each other a lot. Y'don't 'ave t'take 'is word for it but we don't need t'be makin' this in t'some big thing. Now aye, the beasts in the abbey don't know and I ain't been tellin' 'em until the Abbot agrees but they're goin' t'find out, all these extra guards on the walls some of 'em might start guessin' stuff but honestly the sooner they do find out the sooner we can make sure they're ready in case they need t'be" he glances back down to the shrew "Hm, well, I'll take all the quiet we can get right now"

Monty chuckles. "Well, if that is th'case, Lily, then I'm not gonna utter a word t'anyone, t'have my word as a Patroller. Certainly don't wanna cause a panic when there's no need for one. My apologies if I offended anyone." The hare begins to make his way towards the stairs. "In any case, since things seem t'be taken care of up here, m'gonna have a bit of a looksee 'round th'Abbey, mebbe check all th' doors t'make sure they're all sealed an' no one c'n get in from th'outside. Might as well make m'self useful, instead of makin' alla you lot up here angry..." he chuckles. "Have a good evenin', yeah?" He turns and makes his way down the stairs, and he is soon gone.

LilyMoore frowns, looking confused. "They do? But why? That seems so mean." Because apparently the mouse is a very literal person. She sits beside the shrew and sighs, staring out at the woodlands. "I wish the rats would just go away forever. I wish we had more peaceful times, to be honest..."

Log-A-Log just frowns"I be...miss something?" He asks and decides to not worry"Peace will come again I am sure nd we all will be at our homes and happy"   

Gaheris shakes his head as he speaks to Lily "Y'either 'ave t'ell 'em and prepare 'em so they're ready and past the first panic once the vermin get 'ere or y'wait until the rats turn 'em and let 'em really panic then. It ain't mean t'warn beasts about danger comin' when they can still do somethin' about it. We need some bird or somethin' t'do some scoutin' and check for numbers and where they're up t'. If they've turned away we don't need t'worry anyone but if they're still comin' 'ere it's only a matter of time" he looks back down to Log-a-log "The Abbot or no one tell y'about the rats? Group of 'em got spotted t'the south 'eadin' this way. We don't know if they'll come 'ere yet but it's lookin' likely"   

LilyMoore shakes her head at the otter. "No, I mean, why would fighters rib each other like that? That's never how I would treat my friends." She turns back to the woodlands. "Maybe Virginia can send out a couple of her birds," she adds, then answers the shrew. "I guess I don't understand beasts, is all, Log-a-Log. Everything is confusing." A rook starts winging her way towards them from the main Abbey building.   

Log-A-Log nods "I was updated yes...just seems all be tense up 'ere is all, we all should get along after all my friends." He shrugs "Maybe...I do know a runner hare was sent to get more help from Blisa if he was able to"   

Gaheris looks surprised as he hadn't considered that that's what she was asking about "Oh..." he shrugs "It's just...'ow y'do it. Like friendly competition? Do y'do tha'?" he waves a paw dismissively at the Log-a-Log's words "Ah, it's fine. Different beasts doin' things in different ways"   

LilyMoore blinks. "No, not really. I mean, we do here in Redwall, but I don't really. Why would I do that to my friends? I'm not better than them." The rook is making her rounds in the orchards, checking on the off-duty blackbirds in the trees.   

Log-A-Log hmmms "We shrews sometimes argue...a lot over things, ha ha..."He grins" Had a boat race once."
   
Gaheris gestures at Log-a-log "There, if y'want an example of friends arguin' but still bein' friends look at shrews. It's not bein' better than anyone, it's not even thinkin' yer better. It's just...y're 'avin' a boat race and y'say the other guy doesn't know which end of the oar is which, then 'e says y'don't even know land from water. Y'both know it's not true, y'just jokin' around. Y'give as good as y'get and it gives y'a chance t'use all those witty come backs y'never would normally"   

LilyMoore frowns. "....I guess I'll never understand that," she sighs. "I never come up with witty comebacks. I just cry." Redwall is pretty sheltered from that kind of stuff, seeing as how most of the creatures here are as far from being Warriors as apples are from acorns.

Gaheris shrugs a shoulder "Well it's easier if y'grow up with it and y'ain't exactly swimmin' in fightin' sorts around 'ere. Y'don't 'ave t'do it anyway and I promise I'll try t'remember never t'joke around like tha' with y'"

LilyMoore smiles and nods. "Okay. And I'll try to not take it so literally when I see others doing it with each other." She stands and peers down, noting that Terfil is still hiding in his bush. "I guess I should go check on my friends and make sure Butterclaw hasn't gotten stuck on anything with his new battleclaws. It was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy your stay in Redwall." And she walks off to find her bird friend, the newt not-so-stealthily following her from the ground.

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!

SCENE:
RW Abbey: Attic
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It is extremely dark and gloomy in here.  Below your feetpaws, you can feel a shape in the floor; it's roughly rectangular.  Upon closer inspection, you see that it is the trap door.  The dust is thick in here, and your movements disturb it.  The grey stuff rises in clouds.  It makes you sneeze and cough.
Standing still, the dust slowly settles again.  Your eyes become accustomed to the darkness, and you can make out a grey thin light towards your right.  Feeling along the wall, your searching paws feel a gap.  You can probably squeeze through it.
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Exits: (A)bandoned (R)oom, (T)rap (D)oor, (G)ap in (W)all

CHARACTERS:  Benar, a male squirrel.  Angela, a female mouse.

LOG:
Opening the folding stairs to the attich Benar climbs up.   
The abbot pauses to pull the ladder back up after him and set the hatch back in place.   
He then lifts his habit and starts to make his way toward the crack in the wall that leads out into the space above the great hall. After dealing with Krisha he needs some peace and quiet, prferably someplace where no one can find him and he has just the place.

Ah, yes. Peace and quiet. Solitude. Rare things for the Abbot to obtain under normal circumstances. But now, when there is a crisis, he undoubtedly is having an even greater need for it...and an even lesser ability to find it. He probably could use some alone time right now.   
Pity he's not going to get it.   
"I thought this was where ye were hidin', so I made Butterclaw spy around a little and tell me what he found." Angela is leaning on the wall right beside the crack he uses to escape to the rafters. "Did you really think you could hide from me forever?" She looks him directly in the eye, arms folded around her staff.

Benar pauses and then folds his hands into his sleeves and walks toward Angela, "I have been very busy Angela, I don't have time for you to hit me with your stick right now." he shakes his head, "Now please do excuse me, I am going up."   

Angela obstinately blocks his way, shaking her staff at him. "Oh, no, you aren't. Benar,ye can't go slinkin' off by yerself all th' time. You need t' talk t' somebeast." She makes sure to stay very much directly in his way so he can't escape through the wall crack. "Now, I know most Abbey beasts need ye t'be strong an' in control. But I don't, an' I c'n see that you are tired and upset. You don't get to go anywhere until y've talked to me." She has that look she gets when she isn't willing to put up with argument or nonsense.   

Benar sighs and stares at the mosue and squeaks under his breath then sighs and sits down on a chest, "I am tired Angela... but everyone needs me right now... I can't go falling apart for a few days..." he stares at the mouse, "I've mostly been sleeping up in the rafters where I can hide."   

Well, at least he's not trying to get past her. Angela walks over, pulling another chest beside his and sitting down on it so she's facing him. She reaches over and holds his paw. "I don't need you t'be strong, Benar. I don't need you to be anything except my friend, and friends listen to each other." She pushes back his sleeve to reveal the bracelet. "Did I ever tell you about the time I was a slave?" This is a very different Angela from the one everyone is used to and afraid of. She's not even making him start talking right away. This may be unsettling.
   
Benar smiles tiredly at Angela and slumps his shoulders, the tension of holding himself together slipping, "Sorry I have been avoiding you my friend.. .it's just everyone needs me. I just had to go force Lacota on Krisha to make her eat... I just haven't had time to fall apart." he sighs softly, "And no.. I didn't know you where a slave, did you know I was once too?"

Angela nods slowly. "Aye, I did know, an' I think that is part of why ye're takin' this whole thing so 'ard." Her face hardens as she remembers and retells her story, but she keeps hold of his paw and avoids eye contact.   
"I left 'ome when my daughter was pregnant with DoraRose. I wandered around f'r seasons. One night when I was sleepin', this band o' villains ambushed me an' took me captive. I was forced t' travel with 'em f'r a few seasons, tendin' to 'em as their 'Ealer and cook. They 'ad other slaves, too. We went to the Northlands on a raiding expedition, and I slipped poison into their food. As they were dyin', I helped loose the other slaves, and we made our escape.   
"When I came t' the Abbey, I found out that not only had my daughter had DoraRose, she had also had Emyuil and their sister, LilyMoore. And that LilyMoore 'ad been murdered." Her grip and face both tighten. "I told meself that if I 'ad been there, hand't left 'ome, 'adn't been taken captive, my youngest granddaughter would still be alive. 'Twasn't 'til I was talkin' to Emyuil 'bout it during the war with Ormaz that...well, Emyuil made me realize it was nobeast's fault except for her murderer's."   
She finally looks up at the squirrel's face. "Everybeast may think they need you, but they will be fine without you for a little bit. Y'need to talk to yer friends. And know...'tisn't your fault the Dibbuns were taken. 'Tis naught but the fault o' th' villains who took 'em." She thinks for a moment. "...did y'tell Krisha that? I'm not sure she'd take it well from me."

Benar looks at Angela, "I took Krisha to see Germaine's tomb," he says softly, "I used the lesson of the demise of Loamhedge to show that sometimes you just cannot stop or prevent what has happened. But you need to move forward, prepare for the next step in life." He reaches out a paw and takes her hand, "Like you I have had my moments in life, had to deal with things going wrong and blaming myself. I know I couldn't stop those vermin, they had been planning this for weeks clearly, but I am the Abbot, a little part of me can't help but believe I should have stopped it."   
He sighs and closes his eyes, breathing slowly, "Probably a lesson I should take to heart as well, but Angela... I can't leave them, not right now... Matilda is out there hunting the children, Martin's attention is on her not here... and... squirrelbabe of all creatures..."   
Sitting up he meets Angela's gaze, "Thank you though, for forcing me to stop and talk... to take a little time for myself. It feels better then just hiding in the rafters again... though I hope you where not too harsh on Butterclaw."

Angela keeps hold of his paw to keep him from standing up. "O' course, Benar. I know I'm a bit 'arsh at times," (more like ALL THE TIME, but whatever) "but I do care. But next time, please don't 'ide from me. It was exhausting tryin' t'catch you." She smiles a little. "I'm not sayin' leave 'em forever, Benar. I'm sayin' take some time t'chat with a friend instead o' hidin' away by yerself. The Infirmary's always open f'r you to stop an' have a cup 'o tea with me. An' I promise I won't give ye medicine, either," she adds with a slightly bigger smile. She avoids mentioning how harsh she was with poor Butterclaw. That sparrow is having the worst past few weeks...   

Benar smiles, "I do not believe you not to sneak me one of your herbal medicinal teas to help me relax." he shakes his head, "But I can hardly go sit in the infirmary for an afternoon, you know what the rumour mill is like. It'll go from the Abbot is having tea to the abbot is in the infirmary panic in a matter of minutes." He pauses and considers, "But the weather is nice, how about I order tea to the Rose Garden?"   
   
Angela snorts. "True. Never seen so many creatures so eager t' spread a false story..." she mutters. But at his suggestion, she nods. "Aye. An' if anybeast tries t' eavesdrop, I'll make sure they regret it." She stands slowly, grimacing and leaning heavily on her staff. "You young whipersnapper...'ow /did/ y'manage t'come up here every single day?"   

Benar smiles and stands up, "I am about ten seasons younger then you and I didn't come up here... come see.." he takes her hand and leads her out through the gap in the wall, keeping her behind him so he can point up, "I went up there... every day... it's my exercise routine, keeps me fit."   

Hobbling a bit, Angela snorts. "You don't know how old I am, sonny." Peering upwards, she stares for a minute at the ascent he had to have taken. "Butterclaw told me y'were up in th' rafters, but he didn't tell me how y'got up there. I thought y'd rigged up a ladder or somethin'." She looks him up and down and goes to poke his upper arm. "So tha's why your muscles are still so healthy." Because the Healer hadn't bothered to ask what his exercise routine is...   

Benar grins at Angela and offers her his arm to head back to the stairs, "I take staying healthy seriously, I am surprised you never checked what my exercise routine was. So shall we retire to the rose garden and have that tea? It would be nice to talk more and if I am lucky I'll escape without being hit with the stick."   

Angela smiles and accepts his arm. "'Tis enough of a chore gettin' ye in the Infirm in the first place!" She lets him lead her down the stairs. "Tea sounds lovely, my friend. And mayhap I'll leave the stick out of the conversation..."

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!

SCENE:  Redwall Abbey wine cellars

CHARACTERS:  Krisha, a female badger.  Gracie, a female gosling; LilyMoore, a female mouse.

LOG:
Krisha has been hiding out down here the past couple days coming out late at night for any food and drink.She had been outside by the vineyard but that wasn't the best plan and there is more areas down here than one thinks, some nooks and hideaways and dark short tunnels.

Gracie has gotten very tired of being the only Dibbun in the Abbey. She used to do pretty well blending in with the crowd, even though she is the only goose in the Abbey. But now everyone notices her all the time, and she hates it. They're always harping on her to pay attention in Abbey school, and if she does something a little wrong, she has like 3 grown ups chewing her out at the same time. Plus, everything is so different now, and she still is having to deal with everything she saw when the slavers took the other Dibbuns. Gracie was nervous and a little shy before, and now it's just getting worse.   
And so the gosling has taken a page out of the DAB books, so to speak. It's snack time, and the adults left her alone in the room. She's usually a very obedient Dibbun, so they figure she won't get into too much trouble. But she's fed up with being yelled at, and so she has tied her blankie around her neck like a cloak and escaped the room with her snack!   
Eating and drinking it as she wanders around the Abbey, she has left the dirty dishes in Great Hall under Martin's tapestry, figuring he won't mind. But then she had to run away from some adults that were coming, and now she opens the door to the wine cellars, trying to find some place to hide.

Krisha sits in a shaded corner of the celler,she frowns at a noise and backs further into the celler as she doesnt know its Graceie.She is not drinking anything just sitting here and drinking ale wouldnt help her feel better, it likely make her feel worse.   

Gracie hesitates. She doesn't like the dark. Not one little bit. Especially not since the other Dibbuns were kidnapped and Sister Ginny was killed in the night. But she hears grown-ups behind her, and she decides to risk the darkness of the cellar. She toddles down the steps, the door closing behind her. She does pretty well -- she's lived in the Abbey her whole life, so she's gotten quite adept at navigating stairs with her webbed feet and short legs. But calamity strikes when she is about 4 steps from the bottom. Her blanket slides to one side of her body, she steps on it, and takes a tumble. She honks in alarm as she falls down, then honks in pain as she hits the bottom. There's a moment's pause, and then she starts to wail from fear and pain, not caring if the adults find her now.   

Krisha hears the honk and frowns, maybe Sister Anna can tend to this as she rather not, but it would seem she is likely in class so she comes out slowly.Her robe has some dirt on it and looks like she been crying alot and hardly sleepiing as she kneels down to gentlely check on Graceie to see how she is,she know healing and learned it when she first came to the abbey,not as much as a main healer but enough for first aid.She hums a little soft tune and stops...its the tune she would rock her son to...her son, he was gone as she sits back and lets tears fall, a sob escpes her.   

Gracie's crying actually dies down a little when she sees that it's the Badger Mother checking on her. The gosling's fragile bird bones are all okay, but she has some bruises, and a scraped knee that's bleeding. When the badger pulls back, however, Gracie starts crying even harder. "Why you no wike me no more?" she wails, thinking that the reason Krisha is hiding down here and not helping with Dibbun duties is because she's mad at Gracie. She doesn't understand how sad the badger is about losing her son.   

Krisha frowns at this as she is deeply depressed not only loseing her son, but the other dibbuns and the fact her own mate is out there and may or may not return.She lets tears fall more at the words the dibbun says and reaches out to her.She been avoiding everyone and she knows it but she just wanted left alone, it was her fault she had decided,there was hardly any dibbun duties with one dibbun.At the crying she goes to hug Graceie but doesn't say anything right now.She will,if the dibbun doesnt pull back, try to tend to her knee since she keeps a couple simple herbal mixtures in her pockets.   

Gracie continues to cry, but she does let the badger hug her and tend to her knee. She rests her head on the Badger Mother's chest, crying and wiping her beak and eyes on her blanket (which honestly needs to be cleaned).   

Krisha frowns, she speaks one word...the first in...what a week? Well maybe she said 3 other quick words to the abbot "S...S...Sorry"Her voice sounds tried and sore and then she is quiet again   

Sniffling, Gracie looks up into the badger's face. "Wh....why you no come /see/ me anymore? Was I bad?" She hugs her blankie close as she waits for her answer, a worried look on her face.   

Krisha speaks, just a few words for now.She sounds sad as she speaks"No..."She says softly, tears go down her face now,She looks to where the steps lead upstairs and frowns, she will carefully take the small dibbun futher down a small darker area of the wine celler and sit back down.   

"Den why you no he'p me anymore??" Gracie gets carried back to where it's even darker, but for now she doesn't feel scared. She's too busy trying to find out if the Badger Mother still loves her.   

Krisha seems to not want to talk, she just starts crying and hugs her knees to her chest after she lets the goose sit by her, so many thoughts go threw her mind.."I...failed....I...."It was her fault, her fault she should of been more alert, should of seen the signs and they had to, just HAD to be there.She seems to slip deeper into her thoughts, going somewhere she hasn't been in a long while since she came to the abbey.   

Gracie sits beside the badger, and her hurt is replaced by concern as the badger starts to cry. "Muvver Krisha? Hey, it's okay." She stands up and tries to pat the badger on the arm. "I still like you. Do you still like me? I like /you/."   

Krisha manages a nod and a weak smile.She wipes away some tears but still looks sad.She has nothing to write with some just sighs, would she really stop talking again and if she did how long would it take to get her to talk again.   

Well, Gracie can't read, so that wouldn't help, anyway. She continues to pat the badger's arm, deciding that the smile is proof that the badger isn't mad at her. "Why you cry? Can I help?"   

Krisha frowns,she shakes her head as she knows Gracie can't help, the dibbuns are gone,her son, her mate and for all she knows friends in danger never to return and its all "My...faault..."Tears race down her cheeks as she closes her eyes and leans into the wall and lays down slowly just staying there quietly in the dark hopeing no one else comes down here.   

LilyMoore has been alerted to both the missing Badger Mother and the missing Dibbun. As temporary Gatekeeper, she needs to know these things, and so she is searching, trusting the guards, the Camp Willow otters, the Guosim shrews, and the 10 vermin and 30 birds from Ferravale to keep Redwall's walls secure. The Bellringer follows the clues to find the gosling first, figuring the badger can take care of herself. "Gracie?" The mouse opens the door and comes down the stairs to the wine cellar. "Gracie, are you down here?" The goose waddles over into the light of the lantern the mouse is carrying. "Muvver Krisha sad!" she honks. Lily peers over at her, then strokes the Dibbun's head. "Hey, y'know what? How 'bout you go upstairs and see my Nana, Angela? She has hot tea and scones to share." The gosling hesitates, then nods and toddles off upstairs, being more careful to not trip over her blanket this time.   

Krisha hears the talking but ignores it as she stays laid down, she moves enough to face the wall though and seems to try and hide more now.She is being very quiet and even the crying is quiet,though a couple sobs escape now and then that she cant keep totally quiet.   

After Gracie has left the room, Lily walks over to the badger. "Krisha?" The light from the lantern falls upon the room with a soft glow. "Krisha, it's me. What's going on? You've been missing for almost a week." The mouse kneels down beside her friend and goes to lay a gentle paw on her shoulder.   

Krisha tenses up and tries to pull away, she speaks only a small bit more "All...all my fault....."She coughs a litte as she has cried a lot, sleep so little and maybe even less than Benar has,she hasnt even checked on him and that thought makes her feel worse, fresh crying a little as tears may of been used up too much.She has had meals...small ones but she has also missed some meals too.   

LilyMoore isn't deterred that easily! And unlike her great-grandmother, she is naturally gentle. "What's your fault? The Dibbuns being taken? I don't think so. We were all there, Krisha, and I certainly didn't realize what was happening. And Momma and Benar trust me enough to leave me as Gatekeeper until she returns!" The mouse goes to scoot around the badger so she's sitting at her head. Setting the lantern on the floor, she tries to lift her friend's head onto her lap and stroke her headstripes.   

Krisha just sobs and coughs "They...they could of....killed you too"Least she is saying more words and then she isn't as she just cries and shivers a little from how much she is crying now.   

LilyMoore just continues to stroke the badger's forehead. "Sister Ginny's death wasn't your fault, either. They chose to be evil. You can't control what other beasts do, Krisha. It's not your fault."   

Krisha coughs and is silent, a couple sobs again and then silence as she slips into much needed sleep, but not peaceful sleep sadly, her sleep has bad dreams in it.

LilyMoore just stays with her for a while, trying to use the comfort of her presence to chase away the bad dreams.  She will tell Benar and Angela later...

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!

Immediately after this log: http://forum.rwmuck.org/viewtopic.php?id=1640
In the following log, I had Oz's permission to spoof baby Oz a little since RL had sucked the player away.

SCENE:  The slaver boat ship thing

LOG:
Kurgan was watching things on the ship and yawns as he looked at Wilson, " Sail repairs going well?" The other ferret nods " Well as can with a deadline"   

Oz is in this sort of old box as it seems they didnt want him crawling off, he whimpers and looks around for anyone familar, no one is on here so he just cries more.   

Kurgan goes to walk over to the badger cub and hmmphs, he smirks and picks him up to go check on the other dibbuns below deck " Lets check on the brats..shall we son?"   

Isa has slept a lot. There was little else to do trapped in the ship but even her sleep was never peaceful. Currently she's awake but she hasn't moved. Curled up she could be mistaken for being asleep again except for the fact her eyes are open and glow slightly in the gloom, reflecting what little light they have.   

Squirrelbabe has been asleep -- as has been said, there's not much else to do on here. But now she awakens, and her eyes snap open as she remembers every detail of her visit from Martin. Her gaze roams the floor, looking for loose nails, like she's done ever since they woke up on this vessel. As the ferret comes down the stairs, the squirrel stands and stretches, still looking for nails (or screws, screws would work, too), ready for a confrontation. At least the vixen isn't here right now.   

Kurgan looks at the dibbuns " Ya brats awake, we are almost ready to get further along" He drops the badger cub into a cage and locks the cage as he walks closer to the other dibbuns." You brats are gonna get us a lot of coin from Gorax"   

Isa's fur stands on end as she hears one of the vermin coming but she shrinks back, covering her head under her paws and trying to pretend she's asleep or maybe just not there in the hopes that she won't be noticed.   

Squirrelbabe scowls at the ferret. "You mom gets gold fwom Gowax." She also keeps looking for nails. And look, she finds a couple! She stands on them, careful to not stab herself in the foot, and stares at the ferret, waiting to see what he does next.   

Kurgan rolls his eyes, " You need to be quiet or I make you be quiet." He grins   

Isa is quiet. She knows threats when she hears them and she's staying as quiet as possible. Some of the other dibbuns don't however handle being scared quite so well and so the whimpering actually gets louder for some of the.   

Squirrelbabe curls all her toes, picking up the nails without it looking like that's what she's doing. "Oh, yeah? Well, you just a shtoopid meanie face! Matilda gonna come smack you bottim wif hew swowd and boil you inta soup!" The Ringleader also recognizes a threat when she hears it, but she also remembers Martin's message to be brave and stand up against the slavers, so she's going to do just that.   

Kurgan chuckles " She is? Well..I will have to kill her hmmmm and anyonr else " He smiles coldly and kicks the cage where Oz is , " The cub here is my new son, he will learn hate and be trained to slay woodlanders, he will be my living weapon of doom, might even keep his name...shrew said it was Oz...hee hee...wouldnt that be nice..future 2nd in command of my future horde"   

Isa cautiously peeks out of her paws as Squirrelbabe starts yelling at the ferret. She watches silently until Kurgan kicks the cage and calls Oz his son. There's something about a father mistreating their child which gets to her and he fur bristles. She shakes really badly as she slowly starts getting up, moving slowly and silently as she hopes Kurgan will be too focused on Squirrelbabe to pay attention to her.   

Squirrelbabe pretends to trip and snags the nails and stuffs them down her shirt in a remarkably sneaky way. As Baby Oz starts crying, she stands and starts walking towards the ferret, teeth bared menacingly. "He no you son! His mommy is Muvvew Kwisha! Now you's be's nice or I'sa gonna wip you EYEBALLS out!!" She notices the kitten doing her sneaky thing, as well, and part of her wonders if this is the leadership Martin had in mind.   

Kurgan laughs " Nice?.." He kicks a nearby vole dibbun and a hare dibbun " Thats nice to me...brat and he is my son now..mine"   

Isa is terrified. She's shaking and the internal war saying hide and fight is making everything worse. She freezes as the dibbuns are kicked and she waits before sneaking the last little bit until she's behind Kurgan and...she doesn't know what to do. She's never attacked anyone before. She doesn't know what she's doing or why she's doing it she just feels like she should! She hesitates but after a few seconds crouches, gets ready and then pounce! She springs! Claws out and and teeth bared, headed towards his back...when she runs out of chain and it jerks violently, catching her by the neck. She might still reach him with the claws if she's lucky and she still tries to latch on to him.

Squirrelbabe scoots forward at the same time as the kitten. The vole and the hare whimper with pain and fear, and the Ringleader is about to pounce.....then, oh yeah, chain. Seeing it bring the cat up short, the squirrel makes a quick change of plan and goes to attack the ferret's ankle, scratching and biting and trying to get to skin! She can feel the collar start to pull on her neck, but Martin said be brave, and that's what she's trying to do.   

Kurgan chuckles as the kitten misses and makes the mistake of getting closer to the squirrel, the squirrel manages to get hus ankle so he kicks out at her and glares " Ok...brat, your not get dinner tonight"   

Isa is disappointed to not even reach with her claws but her mind is more on the ground as she heavily falls to the floor and coughs since the collar choked her. She starts getting back up again and snarls when he kicks at Squirrelbabe too and takes away the promise of food "Like y'need the extra food t'get any fatter" the words and a sharp angry hiss come out before she can even think about it.   

Squirrelbabe can't really dodge the kick, and gets winded, but she does her best to hang on, scratching and trying to bite clear down to the bone. She may not succeed, but this will seriously hurt! The other Dibbuns are watching in terror, not sure what to do or what might come next.   

Kurgan is smart and backs off " You brats need to behave,or could drown ya, that be fun..for me"   

Isa stands nearly at the end of her chain and glares up at the ferret. For a second she squints as for the first time in her life thinks what would her father do. He was scary, he wouldn't be scared right now. Her father was a thief. They'd been stolen, same rules must apply. She smiles slightly, she found something familiar about all this, it helps "If y'drown us y'can't sell us...and y'have t'tell yer boss y'can't even control a bunch of dibbuns"   

Squirrelbabe's parents were also thieves, although they tended to steal only from vermin. So once the kitten says her piece, that triggers a thought in the squirrel's mind. "Yeah, an' I suwe dummy Gowax wouldn't be 'appy wif yous!" She tries to reach him, but he's very much beyond her grasp for right now. "An' you wantsta feeds us so's we no weak when we gets thewe, shtoopid face!"   

Kurgan growls and smirks " Both..no dinner. enjoy being hungry " With that he walks up above deck, kicks oz's cage cause he us grumpy and above deck he goes slamming and locking the trap door.   

Isa has a satisfied smirk when the ferret growls and honestly she went without food plenty of times before coming to the abbey, she doesn't consider it a problem. She looks satisfied when he's leaving but the glare returns when he kicks the cage and she moves to get as close to the cage as she can once he's gone. She can't get that far with the chains but she tries "Is 'e alright?" she asks of the badger as Squirrelbabe might be close enough to see.   

Baby Oz starts wailing again as his cage is kicked. Squirrelbabe manages to get pretty close to the cage. "Um, I fink so. But he scawed." She sits with her back to the cage and stuffs her tail into it, reasoning that since she finds her tail comforting when she's scared, maybe he will, too. And it turns out she's right. He quiets down some once he hugs her bushy tail. Some of the other Dibbuns whimper slightly. The Ringleader crosses her arms as she thinks. "...I founded nails," she informs the kitten. "I fink dey're might be enough to shawe. You know 'ow to pick locks?"   

Isa relaxes a little as the badger babe is alright and she takes a step back to give herself a little more room on the chain. She rubs her neck, after the failed pounce everything hurt she just hadn't been feeling it while everything was going on. She pauses and stares at Squirrelbabe for a moment. She was being normal. She even said the word share. Who knew Squirrelbabe even knew what that meant! She's slightly cautious but in the face of a common enemy she's willing to believe the impossible. She starts to shake her head at the question but that hurt so she speaks instead "No...y'said y'could pick locks couldn't you?"   

Squirrelbabe knows the meaning of a lot of things she doesn't do! She bites her lip. "Well, I /fink/ I know how. Buts even if I did, it be good if we /bof/ got fwee so we's cans helps evewybeast else escape fasterer." So logical! "Maybe you's cans figuwe it out." She looks at baby Oz and gets disgusted when she sees he's gumming her tail. But she wants him to not be sad, and Martin said to be nice to the other Dibbuns, so she's stuck with a slobbery tail. Yuck.   

Isa finds this new helpful Squirrelbabe very weird and doesn't quite believe what she's hearing. It's like it must be some sort of trick, she just can't see it yet! Playing along because she can't see why not to she offers a paw out for one of the nails "Ok...y'show me wha' to do and we'll both figure it out together"   

Squirrelbabe is unsure how she feels about being nice. She's only used to chaos and conflict that not being in a fight with someone feels kind of wrong to her. But Martin instructed her to be nice, and so she's going to try. Digging out her nails, she discovers she only has 3. "Um, I fink we bof need 2. Do you see anuvver 1 anywheres?" She frees her slimy tail from the badger and starts searching around, encouraging the other Dibbuns to also look. Most just hunker down in fear, but a couple look around where they're sitting. 

Isa still feels like it's suspicious but she backs up, looking around the ground before she gets back to where she was sleeping and to a nail she'd been trying to dig out "I was tryin' t'get one out..." she uses her claws to scratch off a bit more wood but it had started to hurt them "...Y're bein' nice...it's different"   

Squirrelbabe can't get quite close enough to the kitten to help her dig out the nail, but she definitely watches with interest. "....Mawtin da Warriow told me t'be nice an' helpful and on'y be mean to da baddies who took us from home. So's I's twyin' t'be nice an' do as he said." She says this all simply and without any of her old attitude, or anything that shows she's lying. She's telling nothing but the truth. Everyone can just take it or leave it.   

Isa stopped to look at the squirrel and appears confused "The mouse on the carpet told y'to be nice? When?"   

Squirrelbabe picks her nose because, well, Dibbuns. "Wight befow shtoopidhead fewwet came down hewe and put the baby in th' cage. I woked up and wemembewed." She pulls her tail around and inspects the damage done by the badger slobbering on her tail. "...babies aw gwoss," she decides, figuring stating a fact like that wasn't being mean.   

Isa still looks confused. She didn't see a mouse before the ferret came down but if he was talking to her...she suddenly brightens up and grins "He's here then? He can get us out!" problem solved, Martin to rescue, job done. She grimaces at the soggy tail though and instinctively pulls her own tail behind her for protection "Ew, yeah" babies are indeed gross.   

Squirrelbabe rolls her eyes. Being nice has suddenly gotten way harder. Taking a deep breath, she tries to explain things without insulting the kitten. "Mawtin is a ghost. 'E was in my dweam." She is trying to not call the cat stupid, she really is. Martin should be pleased! "I don't fink he'll get us out dat easy. But," and she straightens up and smiles, "'e said Muvvew Kwisha sent Matilda an' a bunch of ovver Warriows to save us! So we's gonna gets out soon."   

Isa's ears go back and she frowns "Oh..." she kind of knows about ghosts but she isn't really sure how they work. Still the news that Matilda and co are on the way brightens her up a little "We gots t'be ready t'go when they get here then" she says before she focuses on the nail again and start clawing at it once more.   

A door opens and down comes a shrew, her job tonight feed the csptives below.She sighs as she walks slowly, she is usually given so much time to be ba k, basicly or else, its Leigh.

Squirrelbabe nods in agreement with the kitten, glad she didn't argue. When Leigh enters, she looks longingly at the food as the other Dibbuns stand up, knowing what's going on. "Oh, yeah, we no getting food dis time," she whispers to the cat, looking a little dejected. "Maybe whens we gets out, we can go fishin'," which is a skill the Ringleader absolutely does not possess.   

"Shhhh" goes the kitten as Squirrelbabe mentions them not getting food "They might not have told her" and Isa is not going to inform Leigh they shouldn't be getting food, she just waits her turn in case "...I think I can catch a fish"   

Leigh overhears them and hands them each a bowl of stew and water " Kurgan can die a horrible painful death." More so when she sees Oz in the cage and she looks near tears. " Very painful death" She sits down. a glace to the trap door and the dibuns. " I am Leigh, a healer in the GUOSIM."   

Squirrelbabe accepts her food. "Fanks! You a nice lady." She stuffs her nails back into her shirt for safekeeping and starts to eat. "Is he da fewwet? I scwatched his foot." Baby Oz is asleep right now. "I Squiwwelbabe, Wingleadew of da DAB! I'sa gonna be bwave and be means to da evil vewmins who tooked us 'cause Mawtin said to."   

Isa perks up, happily surprised when she's given food regardless. She smiles at Leigh "Yeah, the ferret's mean, I don't like 'im" she starts eating right away and only remembers to introduce herself aft Squirrelbabe does "I'm Isa"   

Leigh manages a small smile, she looks at Oz ." Babes sleep a lot at this age" She will have to tell the vermin to get him out. to feed him. " Kurgan is the ferret yes and he is dangerous. Hopefully friends are not too far away. I know Oswald will for sure be among them looking for us." She frowns " He might think me dead though "
   
The Dibbuns are all eating their food quietly, not wanting any of the bad guys to come down and yell at them. A ferret, the only vermin Dibbun in the entire group, sniffles in his soup. A few others are sniffling, but they seem less afraid now that a kind grown-up is down here. Squirrelbabe smiles up at the shrew. "Mawtin da Warriow said Matilda an' a bunch of othews aw comin' t' save us!" She doesn't understand the possible problems with telling others this while the kidnappers may be listening.   

Isa's smile continues as she talks between mouthfuls "Yeah, they'll get here and rescue us...and y'can just prove him wrong about bein' dead and we'll all go back t'the abbey...and hopefully never get stolen again"   

Leigh frowns, she looks up and back to them." shhhhh...keep that quiet." She knows of Martin the Warrior, " Lets hope its soon, in the mean time." She smiles, the first time in days, " We wait...now was anyone hurt during that storm." Stupid vermin to sail in it but least no one died. " And yes...home will be nice"   

Squirrelbabe looks a little confused as she's told to not talk about what Martin told her. "But why we no talk?" She finishes her food as various Dibbuns show the shrew their bumps and bruises. The Ringleader stands and shows off her tummy, which has a bug bruise on it from where the evil ferret kicked her. "Kuwgan kicked me," she informs the adult simply. "It's an owie, but I was mad an' didn't cwy."

Isa doesn't question keeping secrets, she's fine with that. She points out the other dibbuns who got kicked as well "He kicked them too" she glances around the rest of the dibbuns "I don't know if anyone else got hurts...I'll check" and with that she wanders off to ask around for injuries.   

Leigh nods,she could get in trouble but checks the dibbuns, not too much to do for bruises.She frowns at a yell" Kurgan needs his dinner slave!!" She frowns and looks at the squirrel, she isnt sure why but she goes to hug her, if she is able, before rushing up the steps.

Squirrelbabe is too surprised to fight the hug.  She's so used to adults yelling at her for being bad that she honestly doesn't know what to think about hugs.  So she gets a hug, which makes her feel better, which she thinks is weird.  She pushes her confusion out of her mind, pulls out 2 of her nails, and starts trying to figure out how to pick locks.  Her father really did show her once, but that was quite a while ago.  She'll have to see if she can figure it out on her own...

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!