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The orchard has been over-taken by the Abbot, the Order and the kitchens and been transformed. The trees are laden with fruit, but they are also festooned with streamers, bunting, lanterns and paper chains created by the Abbey School.   

The big trestle tables from the Great Hall have been set up on the grass between the trees in long rows all the way down to the shores of the pond. The high table is set with its back to the pond itself with the Abbot and Mother Krisha's chairs in the centre with the other elders set up alongside them.
   
Each table is groaning under the weight of food that has been laid out and off to one side huge kegs of october ale, strawberry fizz and summer wine have been set up under the care and direction of Matilda as she works away in her secondary job as Cellarhog. It is going to be an epic Feast, Benar has pulled out every stop for some reason and it is a larger, grander feast then the abbey has seen in several seasons. The grey squirrel himself is not in his chair yet he is standing near the path greeting people as they arrive, shaking hands, smiling, giving a few words for everyone as they turn up to this feast of feasts ready for an evening of good food, wonderful drink and fine company.       

Jaison has been helping out in the infirmary the past couple weeks.Not due to any major thret no, it was to give the healer mouse Angela some time off with her family. Jaison now cmes along the path with a couple novices he has been teaching healer skills to and they soon go to find a place to sit.   

Gorvenalus relaxes in his chair writting down some things in the abbey log book, as well as his own jornal.He has been doing some updateing since he had been busy cleaning the libraray and better organizing it so past logs can be found more easyly. He also managed to find some old maps and repair a couple older books that are now in the library.He looks up every so often as he writes quietly.   

Nearby is also Oz,but he isn't sitting with the dibbuns as he has before but he is helping to make sure the dibbuns behave.He also helped make sure no one brothered the bees that are in the nearby skeps. He helped make sure the skeps are a safe distance from the feast.
   
Elbio smiles as he watches beasts arrive.He had been up greeting some beasts , but is now sitting down for the morment.   

Behind the hamster a young mouse follows, smiling broadly. It's that visitor Urtas who in the past season has become a very common sight in the Abbey. He waves to friends in passing, pausing before the abbot to give a deep bow at the wait in his fashion. "The food smells wonderful!" He says straightening, though the mouse's ears perk and his eyes dart back towards the main gate area where there's a commotion as the Mossflower locals - some who think they are late and some who think they're early - are suddenly joined by at least a pawful of hares all dressed rather smartly in a green uniform. The hare at the head of the group, an older doe, marches straight up to the abbot and for a moment looks as if she were in an internal battle between bowing or saluting the aged squirrel. In the end she settles on a smile and offering her paw to shake.
   
"Captain Lucia Barca of the 67th Fur and Foot Fighting Patrol in Mossflower, at your service - I presume you're the father abbot? I do hope the Lieutenant there," She nods towards Elbio, "Mentioned us being in the area, yes?"   

Krisha keeps an eye on the dibbuns with the help of Sister Anna, one of the dibbuns gets excited at seeing the hares and points to them.The badger mother blinks and mutters how she hopes the Frair was warned of the hares.
   
Elbio gets up and gives a sulate to the Captain when she arrives.   

Lacota was not warned, it turns out. And he tries not to look TOO perturbed. Where did he even come from? It's like appeared out of thin air. But there he is, all of a sudden, and eyeing their gusts with much suspicion.   
   
Benar smiles and takes the Captain's paws, "Welcome Captain, Elbio did indeed tell me you where here, I told him to issue you all an invitation to our feast. He tells me you were all going to politely not assume you were invited but I told him pish-posh to that, everyone in Mossflower and beyond is welcome at our feasts."
   
The abbot released her hands and gestured, "Please find a seat at one of the tables but no touching the food yet. No one can eat until after my speech but the bar is open, see Champion Matilda and her team if you would like a drink."   

He points, "Friar Lacota will be able to tell you what all the dishes are if you see something you like the look of but don't know what it is. But I advise you avoid the Hot Root soup if you are not used to spice. I've seen at least eight otters so far walk past the cauldron it is in and add hot-root all sneaky like so it is going to blow peoples ears off."
   
He glances around at everyone, "But it is looking like we have a very good turn out which is great, it is going to be an excellent evening and Oswald from the GUOSIM has promised to perform too he is a master bard so it will be a great evening."   
   
Gorvenalus glaces up when he sees hares, and a good deal of hares also He writes something in his jornal and then closes it as the feast will be starting soon.   

Jaison is curious "Whoa hares, thats neat...do we have enough? Oh I am sure we do have enough as it's a feast after all." He soon finds a place to sit.   

Xavier soon enters with a group of about 10 GUOSIM at his side.He grins as he looks around and the shrews soon find a good place to sit down.
   
"I shall take your word and avoid the soup, then," The captain smiles again. "And for the sake of your larder I only brought with me a portion of my hares, the ones with some connection to this place, while the rest are still fixing up our home base in the woods. Or still making their way here..." The last part is said with the briefest of edge to it, though it's clear any frustration or annoyance is not directed at anyone at the feast. But then the smile returns. "We'll find our seats, if there's a set place for everyone - or is it a free for all?"   

Urtas has been quietly standing to the side during all this, having been all but ignored by the captain. However one of the hares with her - incidentally the youngest of the group named one Esther Sheen- raises a brow at the small pin the mouse wears on his breast.   

The mouse for his part coughs politely, uncomfortable, and excuses himself - he's looking for a seat away from the hares now.   

Lacota harrumps, and slaps the paw of a hare trying to steal a raspberry tart before the feast has officially started. "Not yet, you young whelp. Not until Benar has given us leave."   

Benar says, "Every table except the elder's table," he points ot his table, "Is free for all to enjoy, please split up, mingle, enjoy yourselves and have a good drink." He looks around and smiles, "Now excuse me Log-a-Log is here," the squirrel raises a hand, "Log-a-Log, my dear friend and your GUOSIM goiod welcome I am glad you all made it."
   
The Log-a-log nods "Course we made it, we been here a few days and still gonna stick around and help with de roof as well me friend"
   
Krisha smiles, a lot are here in deed and some visators as well are here today and she is happy to see so many beasts here to enjoy the feast.   

As the hare captain nods and goes to find a seat, most of the hares follow her. Sheen though keeps an eye on Urtas, noting that he moved to one of the far tables to sit by a novice and a young squirrel.   

"Urtas! Glad you found us!" Spruce says rising, wiping crumbs from his whiskers from a stolen biscuit, "I just need to go say hi to the friar, then I'll be right back! Hey, friar Lacota, sir!" The younger squirrel skids to a halt in front of the elder. "Don't suppose you have any favourite dishes here, eh? I'd like to get some before the hares scoff it all."   

And then yet another squirrel appears, this one a rare sight for many - John waves lazily to Benar and Log-a-log in passing, having come in with some of the stragglers from out side.   

Jaison waits for the feast to start as any last mintue guests and others arrive to find a seat.   

Krisha waves to John when she sees him but her main focus is making sure the dibbuns stay behaved today.   

DoraRose and her family have known they are leaving Redwall for quite a number of weeks. They have secretly packed all of their belongings, planning to leave a week or 2 after the feast. Zarok and Terfil were given the choice, and they have decided to stay in Redwall. But so far, only Benar knows. Hopefully he'll announce it today, or give the Warrior space to do so. Angela has welcomed the help in the Infirmary, enjoying teaching some secret formulas to Jaison. They help make the various tonics taste better. The mouse family enters the Orchard, Butterclaw flitting through the air above them. The goose family that had arrived a month or 2 ago waddles in from the pond, Gracie chatting with their daughter who's just her age. Zarok and Terfil are helping as servers.
   
Elbio sits down near the main table, unless of course Benar had invited him to set at the main table..otherwise he just sits close by.   

Lacota actually smiles for once when he's addressed by Spruce. "Well, honestly, that's like asking a parent who their favorite child is, but this season I think the Deeper'n'Ever Turnip'n'Tater'n'Beetroot Pie may be my very best. It comes highly recommended, my boy. And might I say, it's a pleasure to see you here, Lad."   
   
"Well," Benar says softly as he looks around the crowd out in the orchard, everyone take a seat it looks like most of us are here."   
He moves down to the shore of the pond and moves to take his seat in the centre of the table and settles down. He will wait for now for everyone else to settle in and get ready to eat. It won't be long before he officially opens the feast now he has taken his chair.

Novices and order beasts are moving through the crowd, encouraging people to take their seats and that the Abbot is waiting on them.   
   
Gorvenalus makes last minte checks in his log book and jornal.He sometimes tends to write a lot and later add it to the abbey logs.He sits the book aside now,he will write the season mame down when it's mentioned.

Jaison smiles as he looks around.He has enjoyed lessons from Angela and has learned a lot in the last few weeks of even how to run the infirm, though a couple things did surprise him but he decided it was just important for the chief healer to have that time off and for him to know things he needed to know.
   
Elbio watches as the GUOSIM are jioned by thier Log-a-log . The shrews are all in a good mood today.   

"That's a... mole dish, right?" Spruce murmurs, not expecting the smile. He rubs the back of his neck. "Well, I'll keep an eye out for it, for sure! But I'm scared my friends will eat my portion if I don't get back to them - or maybe that Dochas'll find a way to stick a thistle on my seat, heh, so, see you, Lacota!" He waves and hurries back to his friends.
   
Some of the hares, namely Sheen, seem to stick around Elbio while the rest go with Captain Lucia. "Figure a semi-local would know their way around a feast here better, sah," Sheen whispers. She still kept an eye on Urtas' and Spruce's table though....   

John waves back and looks around the yard. Find the table closest to the main one, he picks a seat nearby.   

Leigh quitly slips in and jions the other shrews at the table they have choosen. Her son is either with the dibbuns or maybe with Oswald.   

Lacota nods. "And the foremole says not even his own mother made it better," he replies. "That's high praise indeed." He goes over to take his seat at the Elder's table.
   
Dochas actually has not put a thistle in Spruce's seat, although if she had heard him, she would wish she had. She instead put the thistle in the seat of one of the newcomer hares and quickly joined the Dibbuns before anyone noticed. The family of DoraRose sit at John's table, laughing with each other about something. Butterclaw waves at the squirrel in a friendly way as he sits beside his best friend, LilyMoore.
   
John narrows his eyes at Butterclaw, trying desperately to recall the face and/or name, but he can't place it. He waves back after a moment anyhow before turning away to glance at the gatekeeper.   

Now, the seat Dochas happened to choose for the thistle also happened to be Lucia's seat. The captain hasn't sat down yet, as she was waiting for the abbot's signal, and non of the hares had noticed the young squirrel slip by them to boobytrap the chair.   

"I'm Esther Sheen by the by," the hare maid says to her table at large. "Came in about a month ago with the captain there from the Sala."   
   
Oswald has his son, holding him in his arms as he joins Leigh at her table and leans in to kiss her gently on the cheek, "You made it, I was hoping you would the abbot has asked me to sing later." the shrew bard seems in a jovial and cotent mood with his wife and son as they wait for things to start.
   
Benar taps the bell on his desk and then slowly stands up, he smiles around at all thet ables and raises a hand, "Welcome everyone, to this years Summer feast, my thanks to you Friar Lacota and your staff for this wondrous feast of food laying before us," he smiles happily, "And to our Champion Matilda for all the wonderful drinks."   

He looks around at everyone, "We gather, every season to celebrate the bounty of the Abbey, the gifts of our hard work and the care of Mossflower and to welcome our friends and our residence to all come together to celebrate," he pauses and looks around at everyone, "But sometimes we also have to say a farewell, today however we need to say a Fond Farewell, the strands of destiny are calling some dear friends of ours back to their home-land and with a heavy but hopeful mind I name this the Summer of Fond Farewells and before we open the feast invite DoraRose and her family to say something to our gathered friends."   
   
John raises a brow. He'd guessed there was something like this coming, but he did not know any of the details, not since that chat on the walltops. Likewise, the hares and Spruce and his friends all turn to look at the gatekeeper's family wondering what this was about.
   
Gorvenalus is indeed durprised at this news "Leaving?" He had noticed Dora seeming sad at times and had been worried,He looks towards where the mousemaid is curious as to a reason the family is leaveing.   

Krisha calms a couple dibbuns down and sighs as one manages to slip off and go try and hug Dorarose, likely one of the dibbuns who like the mousemaid a lot. She pays close attention to what is to be said.   

Elbio listens quietly, he had noticed meetings with the abbot and Dora's family, in fact he even made sure a couple times no one was distrubved when the meetings was going on in the abbot's office. He keep watch by the door and made sure no one tried to barge into the room.   

The Guosim also look curious but remain quiet so they can also listen   

Jaison frowns,"Why..."He starts to ask aloud but he waits for the abbey to be told,it would seem the orchards got fairly quiet now.   

Leigh smiles at Oswald as he sits by her,"Hello dear"She says quietly and then looks up as the abbot starts to speak.   

DoraRose had been anticipating this, although LilyMoore is obviously surprised. As the Warrior stands, so does her family, Butterclaw putting a wing around his friend's shoulders. "My dearest friends," Dora begins, "For most of my life I have lived among you here in Redwall. This beautiful Abbey has become my home, and you all my family. To say we have not shed tears over our leaving would be a lie.   
"But I have long wished to show LilyMoore the land of her ancestors, far to the East of here. After much thought, discussion, and, yes, even dreams, we have decided to go to Tuscani and visit. It hurts to leave my closest friends and the grave of my husband. But hopefully Emyuil, Lily, Angela, Butterclaw, and myself shall return soon." She hugs the Dibbun who has slipped away, smiling. "But even if we don't return soon, know that you all will remain in my heart. Redwall shall forever be the home of my heart--"   

"And mine!!" Lily interrupts. The Warrior smiles. "Of all of us. Thank you for being you. Your loyalty, kindness, and hospitality are worth far more than gold or jewels. Thank you." The mice sit back down.   

Dochas has been shocked beyond words or movement -- she doesn't even look like she's breathing. But when the mice sit, a tear trickles down her cheek, and she wipes it away gruffly.   
   
Lacota had his suspicions, but of course, the squirrel is not the type to pry into other beast's business. He nods once, and turns his attention their way.   

Benar smiles at Dora and her family and bows to them all then turns back to the crowd and lifts his tankard of October Ale, "My friends, I open the Feast of Fond Farewells."   

Elbio makes a mental note to have a quick few words with Dora later,he rasies his mug and nods"Yes and to safe travels for Dorarose and her family,you shall all be missed"   

Xavier wipes away a tear of his own.He will miss the family as they have been very helpful in helping him and others in the past through hard times.   

Krisha calls the dibbun back over and frowns a little,she gives a nod to Dorarose"She and her family will indeed be missed by a lot, but when you do return one day weather thats soon or many seasons from now...you will always be welcome at Redwall Abbey"   

Gorvenalus writes down in his jornal the name of the season and a couple other quick bits of info he can add to the abbey logs later.A soft sigh but he understands.
   
Jaison frowns as he starts to ask who would be the main healer...or the gate keeper but he decides the abbot likely has all that planed out already so he will not worry. He frowns still but tries to not worry about his friends,he knows Martin will guild them and keep them safe on thier travels
   
Leigh is surprised,even f she is not at the abbey very much she sees the mousemaid and her famuily as friends still, friends that will be missed when they head off to thier homelands.   

Lacota mmms. "The abbey won't be the same, I wager. I must say, I never imagined this might happen."   
   
"Now with all such partings," Benar says, "We will feel a bunch of emotions, but I ask you all tonight to toast Dora and her family so we can remember tonight when we are missing them whilst they head for Tuscani."   

The squirrel tips his ale toward Dora, "And if you have any suggestions or wish to put yourself forward to take over her job as gate-keeper. I will be listening to applications over the coming weeks as well as recommendations Dora makes. Now my friends... sit and eat and drink and tonight let us be merry and together."   

John nodded slowly through the speech, staying quiet even now. He dips his head when Dora is finished speaking and sits contemplating the words.   

The hare new comers are polite enough to stay quiet as well, none of them really having any idea who exactly the mice leaving are beyond that they are important to the abbey. When all are told to sit, the hares do - and Lucia startles from her seat with a yelp and a clatter.   

The thistle is held up by the hare to her left and she snatches it, narrowing her eyes to slits as she studies it. "I didn't realise thistles were so common here I this season," she says after a moment, tossing it away, "Or I'd else I would been more cautious to sit down."
   
Elbio decides to get some food before the other hares do.Unlike other harwes though the Lt. only gets a little salad,some tea and some scones...oh and October ale of course and some sort of pudding before he sits back down.   

After that incident, Lucia doesn't speak much - nor does John, the squirrel lost in thought until eventually he rises and disappears.   
Lacota startles when the hare suddenly yelps, and he looks her way as she holds up a thistle. That's *highly* suspicious. But, no matter. He has food to eat and friends to chat with.   

Benar turns and looks at that thistle and then runs his eyes across the feast, if he finds out who did that he will feed them to Lacota to wash dishes all night rather then aprtying. "Now we will also need someone to replace our Chief Healer Angela, someone who can bully me into resting when needed," he glances at Angela, "I believe you had someone in mind?"   

Gorvenalus quietly getas himself some food and drink before sitting back down at the main table. Oz frowns at the mentioning that dora and family is leaveing but for now he will just try to enjoy the feast
   
The Dibbuns giggle en masse when Lucia sits on the thistle. They know it was probably Dochas' fault, but they aren't going to sell her out. The young squirrel laughs, too, but she quickly grows quiet and contemplative. Dora nods in acknowledgement, looking embarrassed as everyone starts toasting her family. As Redwallers come up to say good-bye, Lily starts to cry. She will miss them the worst out of all of them. Angela nods. "Aye, Jaison has shown much promise. I suggest givin' 'im a chance an', should 'e prove 'imself as I think 'e shall, give 'im the job." Emyuil slips off to get his family and Butterclaw some food.
   
Krisha gives the dibbuns a look, it's the look to behave and never ever to put anything on anyone's chair again sort of look.Hey she learned that behave now look from the best!   

Leigh quietly eats some food with the rest of the GUOSIM after the feast starts,she will likely say any goodbys to the mouse family when the GUOSIM go up to talk with the family.She may do so sooner as she will head back to camp likely before the other shrews do.   

Jaison can be very serious when it comes to doing what a healer tells you to do and can well get upset if someone doesn't listen to him or another healer, he takes one's health seriously.   

Lacota raises a glass to the family, and he makes his way toward Lily. "I daresay the abbey will be quieter. Send your brother my regards. You all will be sorely missed."   

Oswald stands up and holds up a tankard, "To Gatekeeper DoraRose and 'er family!" he cheers out a toast and Benar responds, "To DoraRose!"   

Looking up at the Friar, LilyMoore nods. "Aye, I'll tell Caleb hello from you in my next letter. I'm really going to miss all my friends." Her family eats while chatting to the various Redwallers who come to say farewell and share memories. Butterclaw is enjoying a seed cake and some fruit cordial.
   
Krisha decdes to get up, the dibbuns are being fairly good at the feast and she is happy about that.She goes over to Dorarose and them "Just be careful on your travels Dorarose and when your able you can return to the abbey. I will miss you, you..well helped me alot, well you helped a lot here agood deal.Your a great friend to all and a very careing friend also"   

A middle-aged otter has kept quiet till now, but he makes his way over to DoraRose. "Oy, 'm glad I came up from Camp Willow, then. I'm gonna miss ye all. Ye better stay safe on that journey o' yers, right?" Lacota goes over to stand beside the otter. "I'm sure they'll be safe, Lee. Don't worry. Dora's got a good head on her shoulders..."
   
DoraRose stands up and goes to shake Lee's paw. "Aye, glad to see you. We're not leaving until next week sometime. But I don't know if I would've been able to say good-bye before then had you not been here, friend." She just accepts Lacota's comment without a reaction. She releases the otter's paw and goes to hug Krisha. "Aye, and you helped me, too, friend. You all have. I am who I am today because of my friends here at Redwall and in Mossflower." The Gate had opened a little while ago, and now Felicity and her sister, Julia, both in civilian clothes, walk into the orchard. "I say, Julia, pehfect time t'get 'ere, wot! 'Tis a feast!" Julia bounces up and down and rushes to join the Dibbuns. "REDWAAALLLLL FEEEAAASSSTTTT!!" Felicity slips in beside Dora and says, "I retired from th' Patrol. I explain bettah latah." And the hares dig in to the food as only hares can. (Poor Lacota.)   

Jaison hmms quietly and decides he may talk to the abbot on the position of main healer , well maybe tomorrow he will as now he is still eatting and drinking and chatting with various beasts.   

Krisha is curious when she sees a couple more hares and not just any hares "Felcity..Julia, nice to see you here....retired?"Ok so now she is curious as well, a lot of things to talk about with friends it would seem.   

DoraRose is equally surprised. Felicity smiles and pauses in chowing down. "I'll explain latah, when there are fewah beasts 'round." She spies Lucia and ducks down a bit. The mice stay and visit with friends until night falls, then they help clean up and go to bed. Dochas and Julia stay with the Dibbuns until tomorrow dawns. Even though it is a day of farewells, they choose to make the most out of the time they have left.   

Lee nods. "Call it... Intuition," he replies. "Ye be safe out there. An' send us letters when ye can, alright?" He gives her paw a squeeze, before she goes to hug Krisha.

The Feast lasts most of the night but everyone has a good time and takes time to talk with Dorarose and her family.

*This wasn't on logger so here is feast log!*
*It's short but nice, but then most of the ending of feasts is usually enjoying food and drink, which of course happen  . *

The Great Hall looked ready for the season feast. A table with many different dishes to try, l drinks of all sorts. Guests entered and many others were already seated, as well as at the head table the Abbot and other Abbey leaders.

Krisha entered and  made  sure the dibbuns stayed well behaved, "Sit down my dears, than you."

Gorvenalus  sat beside Benar and smiled "I do think we have a good name for the spring now Benar."He shows a  possible name, leaving it up to the abbot if he chooses it or not.

Benar  glanced over and nodded "That's an excellent name Gorv."

Cota was a little late coming down but he did show up. He scanned the room and soon found where his family was sitting and went to sit beside them.

Micco peaked down the steps and hmmps slightly"Wegoa or not goa?"

With Micco were 9 other squirrels, no longer in cloaks but still in their wild, odd dress. They had grass skirts, bark leather vests, pained stripes on their cheeks and some had tail rings. The leader Micco had his feathers on his headband, and a couple of blue ribbons on his tail, along with the rainbow-colored seashell on his neck, showing him to be the leader of the Gawtribe.

Along with of beast stared as the group of squirrels entered and sat at a table by themselves, Micco went over to the abbot, a short whisper, and then sat back down at the table with the rest of the Gawtribe.

Benar listened and nodded, watching the tribe of squirrels before he stood up "Welcome one and all, I know the Winter Feast is very late this season, but here it is. I welcome back the Gawtribe with their Chieftain Micco to the abbey, we have had many squirrel guests this winter it seems...John has returned, we have a  pure white as snow  squirrel maid, a family of 4 squirrels has also  decided to make the abbey home after their tree home in the woods fell, we will check on the tree sometime in the next couple weeks."Another smile "For now I welcome you all to..."

"The winter of the Squirrel"

He puts up a paw to not start just yet "I have also decided to give our friar  a break and at the same time not have a late-season feast for Spring."He smiles "We will name the Spring season as well..."

"Spring of the  friendly bee." The abbot smiles and nods "Now let's  start the feast." He then goes to get some food and drink.

Krisha makes sure the dibbuns have their plates before she gets her own plate and sits down.

Gorvenalus writes down the name of the two seasons in his journal and will update the logbook later..He closes the journal and enjoys the feast.

Patch slips in halfway into the feast, but either way, he enjoys himself. Who says no to famous Redwall Food after all? No one.....ok some reason the stoat with Patch seems to dislike most of the food so Patch decides something is seriously wrong with the stoat "Orag......you, my friend. are  very odd, but wotever...more fer me!"

The feast goes late into the night and most  sleep in the next day