Redwall MUCK Forum

What if Mossflower, instead of being set in the Middle Ages, took place in the modern times? 

And apologies if we get any technological shtuff wrong D:

SCENE:  Ferravale tavern.

CHARACTERS:  Marek, a male stoat.  DoraRose, a female mouse.

LOG:
It's a beautiful day in 2018 Mossflower.  Spring has sprung, the woodland birds are singing, and flowers are blooming to their heart's content!
A light blue car drives slowly down the road to Ferravale, its windows down so its sole occupant can enjoy all the glories of Spring.  DoraRose smiles, both paws on the wheel of her hybrid car, reveling in the lovliness of the day.
When she arrives at the gates of Ferravale, she shows her identification so they'll know where she last was, just in case she goes missing, then she drives on and carefully pulls into a parking space in front of the tavern.  Turning her car off and unbuckling her seat belt, the mouse grabs her sword and buckles it on, then exits her car, making sure to grab her purse before she closes the door.  Pulling out her cell phone, she checks it, then stuffs it back into her purse and heads towards the tavern's front door.
Smoothing down her black shirt, she goes to open the door, silent even in her sandals and blue jeans.  The wedding rings on her left paw catch the light as she enters the building, looking around to see how many beasts are here and if she knows any of them.

Marek is at the bar, mainly ignoring the hustle and bustle of the various customers as Patch serves drinks. It's a slow day and not much is really going on, Marek has just finished watching an episode of Game of Thrones on his smartphone and is trying to figure out how to exit HBO Go and return to the main menu, technology is not his thing.

DoraRose spies the tavern owner and heads in his way, ignoring the people who are trying to read her shirt, which says, "PTSD: Not a Character Flaw."  "Hey, Marek," she says when she gets up to the bar.  "How are you?"  She sets her blue purse on the counter, keeping her arm looped through the straps.  "Has business been going?"

Marek looks up and notices DoraRose, deciding to turn off his phone rather than constantly attempting to navigate it, he much preferred flip phone's to their newer counterparts but was persuaded by Lilymoore to buy one. "Yes, of course. So nice to see you, Ms. DoraRose. Anything I can get you?" he turns to Patch. "Speaking of getting things, Patch. I want you to go downtown to the Rusty Bucket and bring me back a Reuben and a Diet Coke. Here is cab fare, when you return you can take your break". The rat scurries off to buy lunch.

DoraRose smiles.  "I'll take tea, please, and some ice cream.  I ate lunch back at the Abbey."  She nods to the phone.  "Lily finally convince you, I take it?  She wrote down her number for me to give you.  What do you think of these modern gadgets?"  She pulls out her phone, which is also a smartphone.  It has a pink see-through case that is full of some fluid that has confetti and glitter floating in it.  "I mostly use it to keep track of what Blisa and Lily post on social media and to read ebooks with."

Marek pockets his cellphone and writes down DoraRose's order, after handing it to one of the tavern workers he shakes his head. "I don't much care for them, I'm a bit old fashioned". From under the counter he pulls out a large bulky laptop that barely fits in the cloth case designed to hold it, the laptop is a shambling mess and looks as if it started falling apart years ago but it surprisingly still turns on. After a few minutes, Marek plugs in a mouse and fan into the usb ports and patiently waits for the computer to boot up. This, as those who know Marek well is his go-to choice for technology use. His paws rest on the keyboard, no longer worried about accidentally triggering the touchpad that stopped working many years ago. "I much prefer my own devices, they work just fine"

DoraRose watches, a smile teasing at her face as she tries to not giggle.  "Well, whatever works, yeah?  I have a laptop, but I'm letting Lily play on it today.  She has a game that lets her build public aquariums."  Her phone makes a tweeting sound, but she ignores it.  "I don't think I'd have the patience to use something so old."

Marek smiles as his desktop loads up, he proceeds to check Facebook. "You get used to it after a while, Ms. DoraRose. After all, I grew up in a time when computers weren't a thing" he frowns. "I also spent a good portion of my life either in captivity or fighting the very nation I now serve to defend. I thank Mossflower for their asylum. I am not welcome in many other countries"

DoraRose nods, then thanks the tavern server who brings her her tea and ice cream.  "Thank you!"  she says, then turns back to the stoat as the server moves on.  "Well, that is true.  I grew up with the earlier home computers, and they've been getting faster ever since....as has the pace of most creatures today," she adds a little bitterly as she takes a spoonful of her ice cream.  She takes a few more bites as she listens to him talk.  Her facial expression changes, hardens.  She seems to close into herself, be less open, throw up mental walls.  She absently takes another bite of ice cream, unaware that the stoat has stopped talking.

Marek notices DoraRose's face as he stops talking. "Are you alright, Ms. DoraRose. Something seem's a bit off with you today"

DoraRose glances up, then looks at her ice cream as she stirs it a little.  "Oh....I...I'll be okay, I'm just having a bad day with....well, y'know."  She sent the stoat a 'friend request' on social media when her daughter did, and the mouse is very open about her struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on her page -- she uses it as a blog of sorts.  So anybody who reads what she posts will know about her battle with PTSD.  Also newly posted on social media is a picture that Blisa drew and posted.  It's Marek himself, looking incredibly realistic, yet younger.  She also posted one of what Bandit would look like if he wasn't fat.  LilyMoore has posted a photo she just took of her mom's laptop screen.  It's of a group of baby eels with the caption, "The eel eggs in my aquarium just hatched!"  It already has 2 likes.

Marek raises an eyebrow. "I see. We all have our troubles, Ms. DoraRose. Only time can heal them. Time and those who we have left" Marek smiles. "Never forget that" he looks at the pictures that Blisa made. "I sometimes lie awake at night remembering that I wasted my youth, but if I let that thought consume me then I won't be the only one that suffers. Time heals all wounds, Ms. DoraRose. We just need to give it time"

DoraRose sighs and takes another bite of her ice cream.  "I hope you're right.  My counselor says to be patient with myself, but that's hard."  Her phone bings again, and this time she looks at it.  Lily has just posted an update on her page saying that one of the tuna in her aquarium died and she's sad about it.  She's asking if that's silly.  The adult mouse sighs.  "I should probably comment on my daughter's post.  Gimme a sec."  She unlocks her phone, goes to social media, and starts typing.

Marek nods as he begins playing Candy Crush. "Take your time, Ms. DoraRose. Family is all we have left, cherish it every moment you can"

DoraRose nods and continues to type.  She then smiles slightly and sets her phone down as it bings again.  "There.  I think that fixed it."  LilyMoore posts another thing and tags the stoat in it.  It 's a picture that she drew.  It's not as good as Blisa's drawings, but it's also not too bad.  It's the 2 of them looking at a bush that has purple flowers on it.

Marek smiles. "That's very nice" he spends a few minutes clicking around before he turns the computer towards Ms. DoraRose, revealing a black and white photo of an ashen stoat standing by a log cabin with nothing but snow and trees in the background, next to him is a much younger dark-black furred stoat, the two are both smiling. "Whenever anxiety or depression gets to me, Ms. DoraRose I look at this picture. I may not be able to get back those I've lost, but I can always remember them. It's been over 70 years since I lost my parents, but they can still live on in my memory. The same is true for those you have lost, Ms. DoraRose. Never forget that". An instant later the laptop runs out of power forcing Marek to charge it. "If you always remember that, you'll come a lot closer to peace of mind"

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!   And feel free to do your own RPs in this plot arc thing

Happens later in the day after this http://forum.rwmuck.org/viewtopic.php?id=675 RP

SCENE:  Ferravale Town Hall, Chieftain's office

CHARACTERS: Blisa, a female cat; various spoofed friends.  Sarnith, a male ferret.

LOG:
A storm rages outside, the high winds bowing the mighty trees of Mossflower Woods.  Rain falls in lashing sheets as lightning flashes and thunder rumbles.  The occasional hailstone is even spit out at the ground by the clouds.
Inside the Town Hall of Ferravale, Blisa sits at her desk, scowling deeply.  A fire crackles in its place on one wall, and a pair of lanterns hang from the ceiling above her desk, shining into the darkness that the storm's clouds have cast over the land.  A candle burns on the far side of her desk, providing more illumination for the Chieftain as she reads a report that a wall guard gave her a short while ago.
Ferdinand is behind her, weaving at his loom, like he always does when there's no emergency.  On Blisa's other side sits Valerie, who is working on a painting.  They glance at the young cat as she shifts in her seat, then return to their hobbies.  The feline moves the wooden block she's having to use to make her chair fit, then bumps her knee on the underside of her desk.  A growling hiss escapes her throat.  "I need a new chair," she grumbles moodily.

Outside the lightning continues to flash, thunder rolls like a wobbly sheet of tin and the rain is doing a good job of making a great deal of mud and dousing everything that has the misfortune of being out in it. With the booming of the thunder the front door shudders, then some time passes, waiting for a break in the thunder. When there is a momentary diminuation of the din outside the door gets knocked on again, harder this time, then the thunder really gives it a good cracking boom that shakes the chieftain's home.

At the Chieftain's home, the door finally opens, and Clarissa the rat sticks her head out and peers.  "'Llo?"  Lightning flashes again, illuminating the front porch.  In the Town Hall, Blisa slams the paper down onto her desk and rests her head in her paws.  "Grrr, slaver bands, maniacal stoats, ill-fitting chairs....why'd I have to be so short, anyhow?  Can't Mossflower have one stinkin' peaceful Summer, or is that too hard to ask?!"  Ferdinand, not taking his gaze off his loom, says gently, "We did have the one peaceful Thummer when Benar had hith trip throughout the area for a few weekth before the featht."  "Okay, yeah, ONE stinking Summer!  WHY CAN'T THEY ALL BE LIKE THAT?!"

The caller leaves the chieftain's hut when the door isn't answered. Moving off it next tries the halls since there appears to be light behind the closed storm shutters. This time the door to the hall gets a good pounding on while the thunder is rolling, then a pause. A hard gust of wind rattles things as the thunder continues, when it does die down again another pounding is tried on the door. The thunder doesn't boom right away this time, but the lightning is going off so frequently that it's sure to come soon. Standing on the other side of the door is a very wet, muddy, be leafed, be twigged and rather bedraggled looking ferret that has all manner of other storm debris plastered to him by rain and wind. The fern frond that was making due as an eye shield is mostly tatters now and seems to have gained a few similar looking friends from the storm.

A guard immediately opens the door and looks at the ferret.  "Huh?  Oh, you're de carpenter beast, yeah?  The Chief's in her office."  Back at the Chieftain's home, Clarissa has slammed the door closed, eyes wide and paws a-tremble.  "I...I....I think I saw a ghost, mates!"  She whispers to the relaxing bodyguards who are enjoying being off-duty.  They look at each other.  While they try to reassure the former sea rat, and the guard in the Town Hall goes to show the wet ferret in to talk to the Chieftain, Blisa rests her head on her desk.  "I mean, slavers?  Why slavers?!  Why do bad things happen to me?!  Why can't /good/ things happen more often?!"

Well, a few more possibly bad things are in store before the good ones get there. First, a wet ferret, in an enclosed space. Second As soon as he gets out of the wind and rain he starts shedding debris, mud, and water onto the space in front of the door. Thirdly the ferret goes to say something, then as the water tickles his nose instead he sneezes and sprays water all over the place. Rubbing at his nose the ferret tries again, then sneezes again. Third times a charm it seems as the ferret finally manages to say something that could pass as an intelligible language. "Lawks! Ed's were'd a nice'd day's ou's der's no'd long's ago's, er, 'ello's Blisa's, 'ow's yer's? Ferdinand'y." Having thought of at least the slightest bit of manners the ferret stays by the door, dripping away!

The guard who showed the carpenter to the door backs away slowly.  The bodyguards can deal with this.  And they look up slowly, their eyes wide.  Blisa's head jerks up, and she stares at his dripping form.  "Oh my goodness, Sarnith!  Why on Earth are you out in this crazy weather?"  Ferdinand smiles slightly.  "I'm well, thank you.  How were you before the rain attacked you?"  Valerie sets down her oil paints, grabs another canvas and some watercolours, and immediately starts painting away, glancing up at the dripping ferret now and then as she captures the moment for posterity!

Still industriously shedding leaves, mud, and rain water the ferret says " I's were'd jus' fine'd, fink's I's still'd be'd, a lil's bid's a rain's never'd 'urd's I's none'd. An's I's be'd 'ere because'd I's 'ear'ds yew's needed's ter's 'ave yer's desk's adjus'ded an may'aps a new'd chair's. " The pack of wooden rods the ferret has on has since been covered with an oiled cloth and is also rolling water off onto the floor. Looking about and still a bit dazzled by the light after having his eyes mostly closed in the rain Sarnith is trying to figure out what that beast is doing to that bed sheet.

Valerie would be horrified if he called it a bed sheet out loud!  It's a canvas attached to a wooden frame, and she is ignoring his curious looks and is continuing to industriously attack it with watercolour paints.  Ferdinand raises an eyebrow at the water that's pooling rapidly on the floor, stands, and walks to a closet.  "Aye, but being wet ith a touch uncomfortable.  Here," he opens the door and holds a towel out to his fellow ferret.  "Pat yourthelf down 'til you're comfortable, and I'll clean up the puddle tho you don't thlip on the way out."  Pulling out a mop and an empty bucket, the Head Bodyguard smiles warmly, not blaming the carpenter for the mess one bit (even though it is kind of his fault for not shaking dry in the entryway).  Blisa hops off her chair to the floor, landing, of course, on her feet.  "Aye, I do need a new chair.....and perhaps a new desk."  She pats the one she has now.  "This was my father's. and I don't necessarily want it altered."
If the carpenter will look, he'll see that she's been sitting on a rough wooden block, barely softened by a thin cushion, that she set on the seat of the huge chair.  The desk is a heavy oaken thing with drawers and a beautiful maple top.

Taking the towel Sarnith looks at it for a while like he is trying to figure out what exactly it is for then hangs it over his arm while he doffs the pack. What ever color the towel was it quickly turns a muddy brown as the ferret goes about drying up a bit. While he dries and looks over the desk Sarnith runs about ways to shorten up the desk in his head until he comes back to what he thought was a bed sheet. Looking at it again Sarnith says "Wha'd are yer's 'avin done's der's da'd bed shee'd? Hrm...." Seeming to lose that train of thought the carpenter first answers Ferdinand then moves on to Blisa "Well's ed's never's really's do's bugger's I's. An der's desk's look's ter's me like's ed's could's jus' use'd a bid's a lower'ins, I's ken's do's dad's from's der's upper's er's der's bod'em, if yer's wan's udder's wise I'sll 'ave's der's make up der's heigh' wid's der's chair. An speakin o der's chair'd, 'ow's would'jers like's ed's der's be'd?"

Valerie looks up, completely horrified.  "It's not a bedsheet, it's a painting canvas!"  Ferdinand is also horrified, but not at the comment.  Rather, as a fastidious ferret, he is shocked at how a creature of his species could possibly allow himself to get so filthy!  However, he has more good grace than that and is trying (which is the key word here) to not stare at the formerly clean yellow towel.  Blisa is also trying, with slightly more success because she's too busy trying to discipher what in the world her visitor just said.  "Um, well....I'd rather my father's desk not be touched.  He....."  she really misses him, it's plain, but she can't bring herself to say it.  "And Heavens, I have no clue about the chair!  I just want it to fit.  If it had a built in ladder or step stool of sorts, that would be helpful.  And a higher seat so I wouldn't have to sit on this stupid block anymore."  It's also clear that she detests the wooden block.  It does look rather uncomfortable.

Finally done with what was formerly a towel and now looks like a towel shaped mud puddle Sarnith holds it out for Ferdinand saying " Welcome'ds, an's  yer's gonna's 'ave's a 'igh chair'd den's, now's der yer's wan's ed's 'igh's backer'd er's, lean's backerd's, arm'd, padded's, reclinen's er's somethin's else'd? " After answering Blisa Sarnith seems to recall the bed sheet, after a moment of pondering he goes on with " Like's a canvas'd bed's shee'd? Dad's jus' odd's fing's der's do der's ed's is all's I's sayin's "

Ferdinand swallows his horrified look and takes the poor towel in between one finger and its matching thumb.  He does the sensible thing and drops it in the bucket then, when the carpenter is not looking, grabs a rag from the closet and wipes his paw with it, suppressing a shudder.  Valerie chokes on her words, claps her paws to her head, and squeaks slightly.  Blisa cackles, then says, "A ladder on the side, not the front.  I have to deal with enough short girl jokes as it is....wait....ummmm...."  Her jade green eyes widen as he goes on and on about the different cool things she could have for her chair.  "Uh.......I, uh....haven't....really....thought about it?"  Blink blink.

Now merely wet instead of sopping Sarnith scrapes his foot paws on the door jams to get rid of the clinging mud and says "Well's yer'sll need's der's figure's ed's ou's affore's I's ken's ged's er's all's der's way's done'd." Not noticing Ferdinand's reaction or the silent shriek of rage from the artist the hob takes the battered mess of a frond off of his head and absent mindedly stuffs it in a vest pocket with a wet squish. With a bit more mild dripping and unsetting of plastered on leaves and sticks the ferret doffs his pack with a clatter and starts unbinding it to check the wooden bits and tools he had brought along.

"Uh...."  Blisa watches him rifling through his backpack. "Erm, well, I would like some cushion on the seat and the back, in a deep red or forest green, or perhaps an dark orange..."  Ferdinand has cleaned up the worst of the puddle with his mop, and now he shoves it and the bucket back into the closet and shuts the door.  Sitting back down at his loom, he starts weaving again, leaving the vixen to figure it out what to do on her own.  Valerie is merely struggling for the words to say.  She's also failing.

Pulling out a few already rounded and curved bits of wood Sarnith says "I's 'as red'd an's green'ers, if yer's wan's an oranger's I'sll 'ave der's see's if der's a place'd 'ere in's der's Ferravale's dad's 'as's ed's." One of the bits seems to have gotten damp and the ferret shakes it off, spraying some more water about. Next come tools, mostly padded hammers and wooden pegs, when he gets that far though he stops, the batting that was going to make the cushion for the chair is sopping wet and audibly squishes when it gets poked. Shaking his head the hob adds "An's I'sll needs der's ged's dis 'ere by's der's fire's der's dry's fer's a bid's, so's, a high's backer'ds chair's wid's a sed's ah good's cross'd bid's fer's a climb'ins, was dad's all?"

Blisa blinks.  Ferdinand sighs as more water goes flying.  The Carpenter was obviously born in a barn and raised in a field!  Valerie has recovered enough to look back up, just in time to see the soaking wet cushion!  Barely suppressing a groan, she gestures towards the fire.  "Go right ahead."  The Chieftain coughs.  "Um, yeah, a chair that fits this desk that has a high seat and a ladder on the side.  Red cushions would be great."

A barn!? if only the hob had been so lucky! The field is closer to the mark though, he is a vermin after all. Tossing the batting next to the fire with a SPLOSH! Sarnith starts separating out the bits into different piles, curved bits here, a large chunk for the seat there, cross beams and legs in that pile. "I'sll ged's on ed's den's, don's mind's me." In what appears to be a spreading damp spot the ferret gets all of his parts and tools in order then stops and looks back to Blisa saying "Do yer's mind's if'ins I's 'as a look'd ad's yer's old's chair'd der's?"

The 3 Ferravalians watch in amazement as the Carpenter starts to empty his bag of tricks.  "You definitely came perpared," Ferdinand comments in a friendly tone.  Valerie, having finished her watercolour from earlier, pulls out another canvas and starts to paint THIS scene.  The other bodyguards might not believe her!  Blisa shakes herself slightly and gestures to the chaid she's currently using.  "Oh, no, I don't mind at all!  I needed a break from all that dumb paperwork anyway.  Small wonder Dad used to drink an ale with lunch every day...."  She sits in a corner, watching the Carpenter with growing curiosity.

~*To be continued...*~

SCENE: Redwall Abbey library.

CHARACTERS: LilyMoore, a female mouse.  Ping, a male mole.

LOG:
Ping got the ok to leave the infirm as for the most part he was fine after a warm meal and some dry clothing. He was now venturing around the abbey as the place was of interest to him.

LilyMoore is in the Library, curled up in a big squishy chair, reading a book. She is oblivious to her surroundings.

Ping notices the mousemaid but doesn't go over to her as he looks at a couple books on a table, one on plants and another looks like it's on rocks maybe.

LilyMoore must realize that there is another creature in the room, and she looks up, startled.  "Oh!  Hi, there.  Sorry, I was distracted by my book."  She smiles in a friendly manner and sits up straight, putting her footpaws on the floor.  "Are you new here?  I don't think I've ever seen you before."

Ping looks up and nods, he even offers a smile to the mouse but otherwise is silent

LilyMoore closes her book, stands, slips the tome into her pocket, and walks over to the mole, holding out a paw.  "My name's Lily.  It's nice to meet you."  She's still smiling, and if he doesn't speak this time, she'll just try to ask him questions that can be answered with a yes or a no.

Ping nods and glances around before digging in his bag. There is a couple aloe stems, a tied bit of Red Clover as he frowns and then finds the small notepad he keeps with him =I am Ping= he writes and shows her.

LilyMoore reads the note and Ohs.  "It's nice to meet you, Ping.  Sorry, I....um....yeah."  She had no idea that he /couldn't/ talk and now feels about 20 levels of awkward and jerk-like.  She coughs and says instead, "How long have you been here in Redwall?  I've lived here my whole life."

Ping pats his throat and frowns, he seems to be unsure on how long as it's not been too long, few hours maybe

LilyMoore nods.  "Yeah, I know.  You can write me notes, it's okay, I don't mind."  She smiles encouragingly.  "If you'd rather not, then that's okay, too.  You can look at any of the books in here you'd like."  She gestures wide so as to encompass the whole library.

Ping smiles as he points to the one on plants, even showing how he has aloe leaves and nods.

LilyMoore looks where he points, then Ohs again when he shows her his aloe leaves.  "Are you a Healer?  We could always use more Healers here in Redwall."

~*END*~

Then RL sucked Ping away  

Thanks for reading!

This happened ICly on Monday, May 7th, 2018, a few days after this http://forum.rwmuck.org/viewtopic.php?id=696 set of RPs.  DoraRose and LilyMoore had traveled to Ferravale with Blisa after the Spring Feast at Redwall.  They had left the Abbey the morning of the 4th, and in this log, they are heading home.  They arrive safely, but not before meeting someone out in the woods....

SCENE:  Somewhere in the depths of Mossflower Woods.....

CHARACTERS: DoraRose and LilyMoore, female mice.  Sarnith, a male ferret.

LOG:
It started out as sunny, but as time rolled on clouds rolled in, not quite making it look like rain just yet but a few experimental drops have fallen on the here and there. The woods here bear little winding trails that go who knows where on their own little errands like the beasts that use them. Traveling down one of them with a heavy load of carved wooden spindles in an odd frame style pack on his back. Shuffling along the ferret has a large fern frond tied over his head, covering his eyes from the few specks of errant moisture that make their way down.

And 2 cloaked beasts are making their way through the forest, headed in a South-Easterly direction.  One is dressed all in black (except for her cloak, which is a mottled green/grey/brown) and is carrying a black double-headed, double handed battleaxe.  The other is almost as tall as the other one, and is wearing a green tunic, brown leggings, a deep green cloak, and brown boots.  This creature is complaining.  "Momma, I /hate/ wearing shoes!  My feet feel like they're suffocating!"  "Lily, honey, I just don't want you to get a thorn or something in your foot.  And there's a storm coming, so your shoes will help provide more traction once the rain starts."  The voice should be familiar to the ferret, for this is the Warrior mouse he met in the woods a few weeks ago when he had been cutting down trees and she and a vixen had been looking for a runaway mousemaid....

Well, the ferret neither has neither cloak nor shoes, so he is keeping at least part of an eye on the path below him. So it wasn't until he got within speaking distance that the ferret noticed the two beasts. Without yet putting a finger on the voices the ferret swings around a tree to see just who it is that's coming here. Peering around the tree the ferret just starts to think that he remembers that voice, it was a mouse right?

The Warrior is too busy looking at her daughter, who just tripped over a tree root, to notice the ferret.  "Momma, this is another reason why I hate shoes!  I can't feel a single thing!"  The adult merely sighs and pushes her hood back, revealing that it really is DoraRose the mouse.  "Honey..."  "I HATE SHOES!"  The younger one sits on the ground and starts unlacing her boots.  Her hood slips off, and her face looks very similar to her mother's.  Except angry.  "Lily..."  "It's not cold and I just almost tripped again!  Shoes are stupid!  I can't walk like a normal creature in them!  BAH--WHOA!"  The young mouse yanks her boot off and knocks herself onto her back.  Dora sighs and covers her eyes with her free paw.

Ok, yeah, these mice do look familiar to the ferret. Still peering around the tree Sarnith is pondering waiting for them to pass since to him it seems most woodlanders tend to get jumpy in the woods when they run into a vermin unexpectedly, then off comes the shoe. The ferret can't contain a laugh when the mouse goes tail over ears. Knowing that he has made himself known the ferret follows the laugh with "Can's say's dad's I's ever like'd der's paw's coverin's eider's! "

LilyMoore screams and chucks her boot at the tree behind which the ferret is hiding. It misses spectacularly. DoraRose tenses, then relaxes as she recognizes the voice. "Don't worry, honey, I don't think we have to be afraid. Sarnith, was it?" She addresses the ferret. "I found my daughter the other day, as you can see. I appreciate the help you offered." She gestures for the mousemaid to stand, which she does, still looking a little worried. "Her name is LilyMoore, and she's usually not this shy."

Watching the boot go sailing by Sarnith wonders how the apple fell so far from the tree. Coming fully out around the tree now with his pack clattering a tad the ferret says "Well's nice'd der's mee'd yer's, an Sarnith I's be'd, Lily's Moore'd an's.... DoraRose'd were's ed's?" Not quite sure how the younger of the two will react Sarnith proffers a paw slowly, at least if the smaller one tries to bite it off it won't been the worst thing to of bitten his paw.

Everyone else wonders that about LilyMoore, too.  Dora smiles.  "Aye, 'tis.  Go on, shake his paw," she shoves her daughter slightly.  The younger mouse hesitates.  "Oh, good grief....you have so many friends who are vermin!  Why are you suddenly so shy about making a new one?"  Lily takes a deep breath, smiles, and goes to shake the ferret's paw.  "Hi...sorry.  Something scary happened a few days ago, and I rarely leave the Abbey.  I'm just nervous.  I'm sorry I threw my boot at you.  It's nice to meet you, Sarnith."

Careful not to crush the smaller paw Sarnith gives it a shake saying "Well's yer's be'ds bes' no's der's trus' mos'd vermin's yer's mee'ds, a good's number's o' em's no'd good's beas'ds, bu'ds ed's good's yer's were's found's eh? An's ah nice'd der's mee'd yer's as'd well's!" As the ferret shakes the paw his pack gives a rattle as the wooden rods there rattle about in the framework.

DoraRose smiles and looks around casually, ready for a fight, if needs be.  She's calmer than the last time the ferret saw her, but also looks more tense, if that's possible.  LilyMoore smiles and drops her paw back to her side.  "Yeah, I know.  I try to be careful, although I usually just hide from strangers behind my Mom or my friends, not chuck things at them.  And it is good I was found...I...yeah..."  She looks to the ground, then sort of behind him and over his shoulder.  She is curious about what he's carrying, but too polite to ask anything about the rods yet.  "I'm the Bellringer of Redwall," she offers instead, "and Momma's the Gatekeeper."  'What do you do for a living?'  is the unspoken question.

Taking hints in clear speech that isn't in a dangerous situation isn't one of Sarnith's strong points "Well's I'sd spec'd dad's yer's been'd remiss'd o yer's a doin's den's! Course's I's don's usually ged's close enough's der's da abbey's der's 'ear dem's bell's!" Hefting up the pack with a clattering sound the ferret goes on " I's migh's be'ds 'eaded dad's way's 'ere ad's some poin's, der's were'd some's drawin's der's I's didn's ged's der's las' round's when's I's were's der's. "

DoraRose raises an eyebrow, struggling to keep up with the ferret's speech.  Lily, however, seems to be having no trouble at all.  Must be the same talent that allows her to communicate with birds.  "Oh, I do it all the time, unless I'm on a trip, of course."  She flexes the muscles in her right upper arm.  She's pretty strong....and if he doesn't understand hints, then she can be more direct.  "Oh, drawings?  Are you an artist?"  The thought that he's illiterate and has to draw things because he can't take notes doesn't even cross her mind.  The Warrior, having caught the gist of the conversation, says, "Well, you'd be welcome to come, Sarnith.  You could stay for a meal, bring your family, whatever."  She smiles, then looks away, obviously on alert for something that isn't there but could be at any moment.

Well, in a way Sarnith supposes he is an artist of sorts but it still pulls a chuckle out of him as he replies "Sort's a's? I's be'ds a carpen'der's an' der's a load's ah book's ad's der's red place, I's 'ad up'd abou's 'alf der's builins in der's Ferravale, mos' o der's funiture's der's tew's if yer's ever been'd ders. An's ed's likey'ds be'ds jus's I's, ed's a bid's oh a walk's fer's der's res'd o der's kin. "

DoraRose blinks as she struggles to process that load of (mispronounced) verbage.  "Erm..."  LilyMoore quickly says, "Oh, you mean you built the buildings?  I've been there, the Chieftain is my friend.  Hey, she needs a new chair and a new desk.  Maybe you should stop by and see if she'd be interested in you making her a set that actually fits her."  Thunder booms overhead, and the Warrior scowls.  "UNGH.  Hey, Lily, we need to let Mister Sarnith go home, and we need to get home, too, all before this storm breaks."  The mousemaid looks slightly sad.  "But...aw, okay."  She looks in the direction that she threw her shoe.

Rattling the pack Sarnith says "Jus' wha's I's were'd goin's der's dew, chair's er's barrel's sdaves be's wha's I's packin's. An's a lil's some'dins special's fer's der's Bilsa's as well's. An a lil's rain'd won's bugger's me none's. Bud's yer's bes' be'ds a goin'ins den's, may'aps I'ssl see yer's at der's red's place'd. " repositioning the pack and straightening the fern frond tied over his head the ferret makes ready to get back on the trail for Ferravale.

DoraRose smiles warmly at the ferret as her daughter puts her boot back on. "It was nice talking to you again, Sarnith. I look forward to your visit to the Abbey someday. Stay careful out here -- there's much danger lurking in Mossflower these days," she adds in a quieter tone. Lily stands up and waves at the Carpetner. "It was great meeting you! I bet Blisa will love getting a desk and chair that fit her better. Have a good day, and I hope you visit us at Redwall soon!" She then takes her mother's hand, and as he heads on his way, they head on theirs, with the Warrior insisting that the mousemaid put her hood back up!

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!