Redwall MUCK Forum

This is a continuation of this plot arch: http://forum.rwmuck.org/viewtopic.php?id=251

SCENE:  Halyard market

CHARACTERS:  Felicity the female hare.  Rioko the vixen.

LOG:
Noon on a fine Spring day brings Felicity to the Halyard Marketplace.  Wearing her uniform (she got the note while still on her way back from a run), she ignores the glares and snide remarks from various vermin who have had bad run-ins with the Long Patrol.  However, one of them shuts up after she buys some sweet rolls from him; hey, the hare's got money and will buy things.  Don't be a jerk to the beast who will buy things from you.  The Marketplace is very crowded with shoppers and sellers and people who are just wandering around for no obvious reason (pickpockets).  The haremaid avoids the stall selling live crabs; the scream of that one customer who got pinched seems to be deterring everybody.

The vixen isn't too hard to find. Rioko tends to stand out from a crowd. Dressed in cloth wraps and a sash the pudgy grey fox leans herself against the wall of a building with her arms folded behind her back. Upon seeing Felicity she waves her over. "Oh good! I was beginning to think you were not coming. I hope you saved some for me!" She says about the sweets.

Felicity has literally just bitten into her last one when she spots the vixen (she had only bought 2...they were pretty big rolls).  Ambling over, she rips the roll in half and gives the unbitten piece to the vixen.  "I really ought to make y'get ya own, wot!"  Leaning against a wall, she bares her teeth (which are scary large rodent-like teeth THAT CAN DRAW BLOOD) at a rat who had been trying to pick her pocket.  As he scurries away, she waves the note under the vixen's face.  "Whot's this about, love?  I just got back from a 3-day patrol, and I am exhausted and I wanna see m'family.  Please make this worth m'while."  She's slightly cranky, but that's another issue.

The fox squeaks in delight as she takes the offered roll. While nibbling on her food Rio reaches behind her back, producing a parchment. "Tell me if this is worth your while. A beast gave this to me the other night at a dice game." The roll of parchment looks more like an invitation. The invitation mentions food, dancing, and partying down at a place called the Snake Pit. The fox taps the top of the invitation, "Take a look at the logo at the top. A real close look." There is a picture of a fox being devoured by snakes...

Felicity has finished her half of the roll and sniffs at the device at the top of the scroll.  "Or maybe they enjoy feedin' their 'guests' to adders, sot!"  She reads the invitation, stifling her so-tired-I-want-to-either-sleep-or-kill-people remarks about how she never realized vermin could read.  (Be thankful, Rio.)  "I wondah 'ow big of a group this is....if 'tis too big, and if they 'ave a nasty 'abit of, say, kidnappin' or enslavin' beasts, we could possibly get reinforcements...." She's feeling way to spent to consider taking them on with naught but a cowardly vixen to help her.....

Paws on her own pudgy hips Rioko shifts her weight to one side, "Yeah and then I won't ever see a haypenny worth of my fortune." She takes the invitation back, snatching it out of Fel's paw before rolling it up. "No Raids. Just us. From what I hear it's some kind of all vermin gambling den outside of town. Weapons checked at the door. So I was thinking that I might scout it out along with some beasty who knew how to fight...in case it came to that of course. And who better than YOU! You know how to fight right? The only problem though of course is the woodlander in your blood...but I have a plan to fix that." The fox folds her arms behind her back again, grinning quite deviously. "Tell me, if you could be a vermin...which one would you be?"

Felicity merely allows the scroll the be snatched from her paw and stares at where it had been.  "Oh, pish posh.  I'm sure we could get ya money...." the haremaid is immediately on guard, with her paws raised as she backs up slightly.  "Whoa, whoa, whoa......okay, I suddenly don't like the way this direction 'as taken.....you would take fiendish delight in choppin' off m' ears, wouldn't you?!"  Paws on hips, she glares at the vixen.  "Whot are y'thinkin'?!"

Rioko get's way too much pleasure from the thought of 'cropping' the hares ears. She claps her paws together, "Oh my dear Long Patrol Hare, I do think it's time for you to unleash your inner VERMIN." Rioko says sweetly. "They don't let hares in for just this very reason so we would have to gussy you up as one of /US/." She cackles dangerously.

Felicity goes to literally grab the vixen's muzzle and clamp it shut.  "NO choppin' things off or I'll chop you off, unnerstand?!"  She does not release the fox's face as she leans up against the wall.  "An' whot am I suppossed to do about me accent?  I've tried doin' other accents and I sound like I'm sick...."

The fox only nods as her muzzle is grabbed. After a moment she wriggles herself out of the hares grasp. "We all die horribly." Rioko shrugs, "I don't know, make up a language and pretend to be from out of town. You're smart. You'll find a way. I can help with the cosmetics, I've had to change my fur color and appearance before. One time I had to shave my tail and make myself look like some sort of oversized rat creature to escape a bounty in..." The fox trails off, "Never mind that. The point is that tonight, we dine in the Snake pit, but for now we hit the market for 'supplies.'" Rioko giggles madly as goes to grab the beast by the paw and drag her away to her doom. Halyard for all its flaws is still a port town. Making a costume for the fox shouldn't be too difficult...right?

Felicity groans and complains as the vixen drags her away.  They make an odd sight, a fox dragging a Long Patrol hare around without having to put her in chains or anything.  After a while, the haremaid manages to slip away and give her report to the mountain so they know that she didn't die, but then she's back.  They end up in a room at the inn, the haremaid sleeping on the bed (with a pillow in paw to hit the vixen with, just in case).  Her outfit would work for any verminish beast that lives in this area, all tattered and torn and stained; she gave a homeless beast some food and new clothes for it, and then she washed it 5 times in the sea.  There is a large kerchief nearby, ready to be used to cover up her ears.  Surprisingly, she does not snore; maybe that's because she's not in the deepest sleep that beasts go into at night.......

It takes Rioko a while longer to reach the safehouse as it were. She has been out and about, being busy about her business until she comes in, practically kicking in the door as she carries in a box full of 'supplies'. Rio herself is dressed up for the occasion, breaking out her V shaped Vest and a better sash. She is wearing a pair of leather bracers on her arms and ankles. "He-llooooo! And howdy. Sorry about the wait. I had to go hunt down a carnival beast and haggle over some props." The fox deposits the box by simply dropping it on the floor. "Did you want to be a fox lass...or...weasel. Mind you the tail isn't too hard to attach, unless you want to say you lost it in a fight or something. Vermin like that."

Felicity is up in a flash, in an at-ready position, prepared to decapitate the vixen!!!  Oh, wait.  This is her friend, and all the hare is holding is a pillow.  Growling, the Long Patrol member throws the pillow at the vixen.  "Don't startle me like that!"  Slumping to the floor, the haremaid wrinkles her nose.  "Um......weasel, I guess.  With no tail.  I don't trust fake tails...."  Digging through the box, she can be heard grumbling and muttering, but it's hard to tell what she's saying.

The fox takes the pillow to the face like a WARRIOR. Letting it bounce off of her and plop onto the floor. "Not my fault hares are not nocturnal." She glances over the hare maiden's choice of garb, "I tell you to dress like a normal vermin and 'that' is what you come up with?" She decides to not press the issue or call the Long Patrol out on their speciest ways, but she raises a jugemental eyebrow to let Felicity know that she could. She totally could. "It will have to do. Grab what you need. Here." She tosses the hare a small cap made from leather. It is hard to tell exactly what kind of leather the hide is made out of. "It's for your ears. If you get the urge to take it off just remember...don't."

"I gots a 'ankie!"  Lissie waves the said item at the vixen.  "It'll covah m'ears and still allow me to 'ave m'good 'earin'.  And whot's wrong w' me clothes?  I was tryin' to look like a pirate..." she sounds like a sad  little kid now.  Tying on the kerchief, she shows that it covers her ears, but there are still bumps.  "See?  It's perfect."  She wouldn't be saying that if she had a mirror. 

The fox rubs at her ears. "Oi." This is going to be a lot of work getting the hare up to speed on her vermin ways. The pay off should be good though, if they can find out who stole her fortune. The risks however...well, she didn't want to think about that right now. No, much better to focus on getting the hare maiden looking like the weasel Rio knew she could be. "Here are some dyes I got from a dye merchant. Think you can apply them to your face or did you need help with that?"

Felicity looks askance at the dyes and make-up.  "Oh my 'eavens!  Eeew, eew, eew...."  she 'eews' herself to the floor and covers her face, groaning.  "I 'ate make-up and dyes!  Ooooooh, why couldn't one o' those rottahs that like this stuff 'ave volunteered?"  But, in the end, she lets the vixen help her get dyed black and put on make-up (the haremaid is incompetent and makes herself look sick on her first attempt) and stuff......and bring her up to speed on how to be a vermin.  She digs out a book and tried to read it in the quiet moments.  It's in some strange language that the vixen has probably never seen, and has bits of Common interspersed here and there.  She's refreshing herself on her second language.....

~*To be continued in another log.....*~

SCENE: Redwall Abbey Open Ground

CHARACTERS: Leon, a male mouse.  Kurt, a male robin.  Henry, a male sparrow.  DoraRose, a female mouse.  Marek, a male stoat.

LOG:
Leon was able to walk around now, though he hasn't walked too far so far and was now sitting on the steps leading to the infirm jotting down a few things.   

Kurt hopes off and studies the mouse before he clears his throat "Hello to you."  He looks around before his attention is on the mouse again.   

DoraRose comes from the Gatehouse, clothed in a dress for the first time since before the whole mess with Quade started. She is reading in a thick book and is somehow managing to not run into anything. She has yet to notice anybody yet.   

Leon looks at the bird and nods a hello "I see you're out and about, that's good as your feeling better I guess?"   

Kurt says, "Better feeling yes and avoiding eggchicks of the red abbey, they seeming to want to make beasties blue...as in color blue all over like the badger yesterday.""   

"Greeting Doraworm!" Says a voice behind the mousewife, "How goes it this fine spring day!"       

DoraRose jumps and whirls around, closing her book with a slap, all at the same time. "OH! Oh, hello. You startled me!" She tries to slip the book into her apron pocket, but it's too big, so she has to just hold it. "Yes, today is a lovely day, isn't it?"   

Leon blinks "Blue?" He thinks the only other badger here is Oz as Xander is elsewhere "Why would Oz be blue?" He smiles when he sees Dorarose "Hello Dora, least its not raining today, that's good may rain later though"

Kurt clears his throat "Eggchicks did it...make bucket of blue stuff fall when he open door, and now he be blue badger....eggchicks are odd here they are" He has a bandage on one wing so he hops around as he cant fly right now.

"Yes, it is a nice day," Says the Henry, wondering if a conversation can die as it starts. "What news is there in the Abbey." The bird bard has a strong smell of mint about him. He glances over to the herbalist and waves a wing.

Leon listens to Kurt hmmms  "Well that's interesting." He stands and walks slowly over to Dorarose and the sparrow and smiles "Seems the dibbuns are creating mischief again as well then that happens sometimes"   

Kurt hops over slowly looking to the others "I am Kurt" He says introducing himself 

The sparrow speaks slowly, a sad light in his eyes. "I have been tending to the wounded sparra as best I could, and I discovered something..." The black-throated bard stares at the ground, "I discovered I am not a healer..." The poet turns his head to the robin. "Hello Kurt, I am Henry the poet, worst healer in Mossflower."

DoraRose shrugs and goes to rest a paw on the sparrow's head. "Not everyone is up to that. I'm sure you'll find something else you can do, and being a bard is nothing to be ashamed of." She goes to give her husband a one-armed hug. "Well, of course they are. What did they do this time?"   

Leon chuckles "Well from what I heard our dibbun caretaker has been dyed blue, sort of hoping to see that later it sounds funny."  He smiles at the sparrow "Maybe practice, there may be a sparra that knows healing I don't know as they tend to keep to themselfs usually"   

Kurt tilts his head, "How is funny?" Then he did remember the badger wasn't hurt, just ....well blue all over fur and clothing, he speaks  "What ever...I not knowing my skills use to be spy...messenger, maybe stay that for abbey or Mossflower defenders ya?" 

The sad sparra turns towards Leon and bows his head. "Please... teach me. One-fifth of the sparra died due to wounds, anther fifth to infection. If I was a healer I could have saved them. Before the battle with Quade you said you could teach me healing. So please, teach me."

DoraRose is failing to avoid giggling. But then henry lets them know about just how bad the Sparra's had it, and her laughter dies. "Oh, my.....they should've been brought to the Infirmary." she then steps back a little to let the Master Healer and sparrow talk.   
DoraRose turns to the robin and adds, "All beasts are welcome, and we are always ready to teach someone new skills." 

Leon frowns " Yes they should of, not taken back to the loft area. I could....oh yeah not an option, umm....may be a way up there to look and I can teach healing skills yes"   

Marek walks slowly from the infirm and stays by the doorway watching the small gathering as he looks to the entryway where the gates are. 

"Maybe they should have," Says Henry, looking towards the trees of Mossflower, "But a sparra would rather die in his own nest then in anywhere else under the sky." He turns back to the master healer. "Yes, I can take you to the loft, there should be some wounded still alive. If anybeast can save them it would be you."

DoraRose looks up at the stoat and waves, but she doesn't smile at him.  She still doesn't really trust him very much, although she does a little more now than she did before this whole Quade thing.  "Are you sure you wanna go up to the loft, Leon?"  She knows how much he hates heights.  "Maybe they would be willing to bring their wounded down here."

Leon remembers the last time he was there, well the roof and grows quiet "I....well..I did learn their language, I could...help them and a couple could help get some herbs and bandages up there, we also need to get some from the woods, river, streams....low on some stuff and some is at the market up the road"   

Marek takes this time to speak "Mr. Leon, I could get some for you at the market place, or Ferravale, perhaps both places and give it to the guard on duty. I did plan on heading back, or send supplies back by a random sparrow or other bird" He still has bandages on, but he is healing "I need to check on my tavern and then speak with someone, who I wish had waited to head off to somewhere I can't go" 

Henry says, "If you're looking for an herb in Mossflower, I can with in the day. If it's rare, I can find it with in the week. And if it's Milk Thistle, I can find it with in the hour."

DoraRose listens. "Maybe you should take Lily up with you; she seems to have made some friends of various birds, so maybe she would be a good help." She gestures at the other 2 beasts. "And I think you should take them up on their offers; if they're going out already, or can find what you need quickly, then perhaps it'd be best to let them do it." She kind of doesn't want her family leaving the Abbey right now......

Leon says, "Luckily what is needed isn't rare and yeah some can be found at the market and Ferravale " He goes to get a list, and there is pictures and descriptions also he gives a list to the sparrow and one to Marek "And Marek just let a bird bring them back, there is a couple birds that are trust worthy at Ferravale could be one of them, or both.""   

Marek takes a list and nods, he guesses this is his ok to head back to Ferravale "Will do Mr. Leon...and thank you for your help with....with healing me when I was injured."  He heads off before any certain beasts can say stop, sides he needs to get back and will send back the herbs ASAP. 

The sparrow takes a quick look at the list and then looks back to the mouse healer. "I will head into Mossflower and gather as much as I can. we might as well start with supplies." He flaps into the air.

DoraRose goes to give her husband a quick hug, watching the other 2 leave.  "Well, I need to head off, too.  I promised I would help give the Dibbuns a bath.....hopefully they won't dye my fur blue."  After offering him a kiss on the cheek, the Warrior heads off to do her dastardly duty of bathtime.

~*Thanks for reading!*~

SCENE: Redwall Abbey Infirmary

CHARACTERS: Kurt, a male robin.  Marek, a male stoat.  LilyMoore, Angela, and DoraRose, female mice.  Emyuil, a male mouse.

LOG:
Kurt has stayed in the room, his wing is healing nicely and he has stayed in his own little corner of the infirm, even though he is free to go wherever he stays in one place not knowing anyone here and not yet totally trusting any beast.   

Marek meanwhile looks to be ready to just leave, as he adjusts a cloak around him, muttering as he works to close a clasp and finally does before heading to the doorway.   

LilyMoore enters through said doorway! And nearly runs into the stoat. "Marek! Hi! Wait, are you leaving?" Her happy smile turns into a look of confusion and disappointment. "But.....but Nana isn't back yet.....are you sure you're well enough to go?" She also hasn't given him time to answer her question of if he's leaving or not; she's just jumped to an assumption. The robin is accidentally ignored for the moment.   

Kurt puffs out at the new voice and looks over at the mouse as if making sure she stays her distance for now   

Marek backs up "I have a tavern to check on and things to...to do. And I do know not all like the fact I am even here, even if its for healing"   

LilyMoore goes to grab his paw. "But that's the way of the Abbey, is to take care of injured beasts, even if not everybeast approves of it! And you could stay in the Gatehouse again; that might make it better, especially when Momma gets back." She is holding on to her hope that her mother will come back. "I'm sure your tavern's okay; Blisa would get beasts in trouble if it wasn't. And what else would you do? Can't you maybe do some of it here?"   

Kurt decides to speak "The abbey is most interesting place....helps beasts and birds"

Marek frowns, "I am unsure and as for your mother I am sure she is fine as some sort of news would of come by now if she was not am I Correct?" He looks over at the bird curiously, "Well it seems the robin is still here"

LilyMoore looks at the robin and nods at him.  "You're right, we do help all kinds of beasts, even ones that used to be our enemies."  she goes to cling to the stoat.  "What do you need to do?  Maybe I can help!  I'm good at helping, even when my paw is injured!"  Her right paw is wrapped up in bandages because it's injured; she's having trouble holding things with it.  "Maybe I can come to Ferravale with you!  Maybe....maybe....." she falters and just starts to cry.

Kurt tilts his head "Ferravale....been there when..."  He then goes quiet "'Tis not important, 'tis past and still need think what do now...where stay"

Marek doesn't react right away and then he does slowly hug her, "You need to stay home Lilymoore as your family would worry and we do not need more worry...what happen to your paw, did some beast try and harm you?"

LilyMoore lets him hug her.  "I was pushing a wheelbarrow and it fell on my paw," she manages through her tears.  "I wish you could stay here, like Mister Robin over there can.  It's no fair that my best friend can't stay."  She goes to bury her face in the front of his shirt and sobs.

Kurt isn't usually one to frown, but he does frown  "Why not letting stay?"

Marek answers "That's a long story and I am sorry I can not stay and am surprised I was able to stay this long"

LilyMoore keeps crying.  She can't really stop right now.  She also can't say anything, she's crying so hard, so all of her thoughts are bottled up inside of her right now.

Marek sighs as he is not sure what to do, "Lilymoore....I will be at Ferravale for a little while at least, then I need to go on a trip I am unsure how long it will be needed, but its needed" He stays calm as to try and not upset her more.

LilyMoore pushes away from her friend as a Healer goes to check on the robin. "What?! Where are you going? Who'll be going with you? Don't go alone! Why are you going? Why would you leave Mossflower??" She wipes tears on her shoulders and searches his face with her gaze, feeling like her world is falling apart around her.

Marek steps back and is silent " I can have someone, if they are willing, walk to Ferravale with me and then I am fine on my own. I may of lost a paw but I can still fight"

LilyMoore stomps a foot, suddenly angry.  This is not normal behaviour for her, as those close to her would be able to tell.  "How do you know you'll be okay?!  Why can't somebeast go with you on your trip??  You're my friend and I ca....can't l....lose you...."  She is crying again, her paws clasped to her temples as she collapses to her knees.  "Why am I so upset??" she sobs out, sounding afraid.

Marek looks around, great neither parent is here or even the abbey, heck the dibbun caretaker would work but none are in sight as he sighs defeated and clears his throat  "As for my trip it is important to...find myself. I could not always control an urge to...well let's say make a mess of Mr. Quade's horde, I do not know who ended up slaying him...someone supposedly did or maybe that's just a rumor going around. I also seem temporarily back in charge of a group which I have decided I don't want back in charge of, I do not wish beast to think badly of the group...I am an ally and nothing more."

LilyMoore stays kneeled on the floor, her head in her paws as she listens.  And as she listens, she calms down.  When he finishes, she stays like that for a few more moments, then looks up at him, letting her paws fall to her lap.  "But.....I don't understand.  Why do you have to go away to do that?  I can see why you wouldn't want to be in charge of the group anymore, but.....why do you have to go?  Why can't you stay in Mossflower and do that?"

Marek says, "I have lost some trust, I have regained a little but not all and I do know I will not head west that's a bit too dangerous for me and I do not think I can find many answers here in Mossflower and it seems.....I keep losing what's important"

LilyMoore looks sad.  "But.....like what?  The things I know you've lost you couldn't prevent them going.....are you sure you have to go?"

Marek says, "I will be around Ferravale as said for a little while, perhaps a visit if you're allowed. I need to speak to a trusted beast about something...before I go"

LilyMoore's shoulders droop.  "....will you promise me that you'll be as careful as possible and come to Mossflower??"  She asks anxiously.

Marek says, "I wont stay gone long I just wish Mr. Xander had not go on his little trip of his own, had I know sooner may have been able to speak to him further on important issues"

LilyMoore slowly stands and goes to give the stoat another hug.  ".....just /please/ be careful," she whispers.  Suddenly, the door opens, and who should walk in but Angela Quietfeet herself!  The old Healer scowls at the stoat.  "Who said ye're well enough to leave?  I'm gone a week and my patients start to riot!  Hmph, leastwise I can trust Leon to not let things fall to anarchy...."  DoraRose peeks her head in as her grandmother hobbles off to the herb cabinets.  There are guards, Novices, and some Order members behind her, cheering and chattering about how Emyuil killed Quade (according to Dora).  The Warrior will help her brother as much as he needs.

Emyuil is actually looking a bit bashful at all the attention as he enters quietly, wincing at a twinge from his arm wound. "Well, that's that," he whispers to himself, thinking of Quade.

Marek looks over and rolls his eyes at the old healer before speaking "Injured my paw" Umm it's gone "Not my legs" He says quietly "And I need to head back to my tavern sooner rather than later" He states as he watches her for a reaction. 

LilyMoore hides behind the stoat as Angela whirls on him, shaking her staff (that someone retrieved for her from the gatehouse) at him in a very thretening gesture (its poisoned crystal was removed, don't worry).  "Don't talk back at me!  I was 'ealin' while y'were still in diapers an' suckin' yer thumb!  I'm ye're 'Ealer an' /I/ say when y'can leave, unless Leon or some other beast of his calibre say y'can.  Now sit yer tail down on the examination table and lemme check ye."  Don't argue with her, you'll die.  Dora ruffles her daughter's ears.  "Quade is very much dead, by the way; my brother made sure of that."  The mousemaid peeks at her uncle.  "Really??"

Emyuil smiles lopsidedly, a bit of brightness coming back to his eyes. "Hey Lily.  Yeah, I took care of that. But credit goes to your mother and great-grandmother for making sure I didn't die after."  He adjusts the bandages on his upper arm, then offers Lily a hug, crouching down--not as far as he used to have to--so they're eye-to-eye.

Marek steps back and frowns at the old healer "Do calm down your have a heart attack or something" He sits down to let her check his healing wounds. All seems fairly well and healing good...but the paw stub is slightly infected, not like he will die infected or even have a fever it's the early early stages of it, hmms seems it bled some and he didn't tell anyone yet. Other wise he seems fine

LilyMoore lets her uncle hug her. "I'm glad you're okay.....I was worried." Dora goes to hug her daughter and brother. "I'm so happy that we're home safe and sound, and that we don't have war hanging over us any longer..." Angela scowls at the infection once she gets to it. "Did you notice it bleeding? Did you tell anybeast?" She goes to numb the area and then gets what she needs to lance it (but she hasn't started doing that yet).

Emyuil smiles, hugging Dora in one arm and Lily in the other.  "For now, at least," he says contently.  With his back to Angela, he rolls his eyes in amusement at her irritability.

Marek shakes his head and frowns at the fact she is most likely going to have to cut it, he sighs..."I guess this means I will stay here longer?"

LilyMoore has obviously been crying, but she smiles at her uncle's eyeroll.  Dora chuckles and whispers, "Don't ever let her see you do that; you'll die, and then she'll bring you back to life so she can lecture you."  She then grabs her daughter, lifting her off the floor in a huge bear hug.  "Oooh, I missed you!  I'll have to do this to Caleb and Leon later."  Angela sighs and sets down a bowl, a scalpel, and a tincture to rinse the wound with.  "I can check it again on Saturday, and if 'tis lookin' better, I'll let y'go.  They 'ave a couple good 'Ealers in Ferravale that y'can go to if it doesn't go away."  She goes to take the (numb) stump and lances the wound and rinses it with the tincture.  There are already bandages by the cot, so she wraps it up so it doesn't ooze all over the place.

Emyuil, noticing the tearstains on Lily's face, looks a bit concerned, but waits for DoraRose to set his niece down before saying anything.  He scratches at his bandaged arm again.  Bloody thing is itchy now...just his luck.

Setting her daughter down, Dora notices the tearstains, too, and lays a paw on the mousemaid's shoulder, concerned.  "Hey, Lily, what's wrong?"  The Bellringer sits down on a cot and rests her head in her left paw (her right one is in a bandage).  "I....I had a lot of nightmares while....while you were gone...." and words start pouring out of her, telling them a little of how Quade's guards would hit her, and threaten her, and all kinds of horrible things.  She doesn't tell them everything, but she tells them some.  And she tells them about her paw getting squashed under a wheelbarrow as she was trying to help with the planting, and how Marek is now going to be going on a trip, and how she's so scared and sad.  In the background, Angela cleans up her mess, then slips off to her room.  She is old, and she needs her sleep.

Emyuil, on the other side of Lily now, goes to put an arm around the lass if she allows it, saying nothing, merely listening for as long as she needs.  A spark of anger lights in his eyes at the mention of Quade and his guards, but he forces it back down.  Going to gently stroke Lily's headfur, he stays for quite some time.

And so they stay like this until the dinner bell rings.

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!

SCENE: Salamandastron: Common area

CHARACTERS:
Hares: Flint, male.  Kate, female.  Felicity, female.  Monty, male.

LOG:
Felicity slowly comes into the room, looking like she's just been through war and back. She is covered from head to foot in splotches of paint that look like she's tried to rub them off. Ignoring everything, she wanders over to the fireplace and lays face-down on the hearth, oblivious to the paintbrush stuck to her bum by a wad of drying glue, and the paper streamer she's trailing along because it's stuck to her foot.

Flint is in here on one of the other soft chairs, and it looks like he has fallen asleep. he finally got a day off and slowly opens his eyes as he yawns "Wot?" He asks quietly as the room had been rather empty of beasts and now someone enters.   

"Rough day with the dibbuns I take it?" Says Kate at one of the tables with out looking up from her book. Unlike the majority of the hares here Kate is obviously built for duties other than combat. Being rather heavy set she is dressed in a modest looking set of robes, one paw keeping a book open, the other twirling a fork into a salad next to her.   

Felicity groans pathetically. She is so covered with paint, it's impossible to tell what colour her clothes are. "Cads! Fiends!" she grumbles. "Why did my sistah 'ave to come up with the idea of startin' DAB 'ere?" She softly bonks her forehead on the floor. Food and sleep are both far from her mind; she's be too traumatized. "Why do I even bothah to volunteer ovah there?" 

Flint sits up and offers a smile "Maybe cause ya like the little ones and you get along with them. Can't always be doing fighting and stuff like that, take a day off I am sure you would be able to"

The rotund russet hare at the table snorts in laughter, "See! Thar is yer problem right thar, ye volunteer fer stuff. Make yourself useful and the like. Won't find me volunteering myself to watch dibbuns. I can tell you that much!" Kate reaches for a forkfull of salad, "What poor soul volunteered to watch the dibbuns next?"

Felicity rests her cheek on the floor, wailing, "This is one o' my days off!  I feel bad 'cause Julia is a pawful, so I volunteer, and this stuff 'appens!!"  She flops onto her back and notices the glue brush because it jabs her.  "Yowch!  Those snotty-nosed, slimy-mouthed, bratty little monstahs!!!!" she throws the glue brush at the wall, where it sticks and stays.  She lays back and covers her eyes with a paw.  "Wot?  Y'mean y'don't remembah?"  She then stares strangely at the chubby maid across the room.  "'Tis you, love!  Ya volunteered.  The leveret workahs seemd surprised, but grateful.....although one did mention that y'seemed a tad on the tipsy side, but assured me that they'd make sure y'stuck to y'word...."

Flint blinks and frowns "Now...lass please calm down, you can forgive them I am sure ....right?"

A terrible choking sound comes from the russet hare. Kate seems to be choking after inhaling her fork. She stands up, coughing loudly and beating her chest until she can breath again. "I...I did WOT?" She begins pawing at her own long ears, tying them in knots, "I...I would never! I mean...I'm horrible wid children! Horrible! What monster would let me volunteer to help with them?!"

Felicity looks at her uncle.  "Oh, yeah.....they'll stop bein crazy eventually..." she hops up and goes to help her friend, but the chubby hare is wailing before the Runner can really do much.  Keeping out of reach, she stifles a smile."Per'aps somebeast who 'as a grudge against you?  Oh, come off it, I'm sure you'll do fine.  They'll prob'ly just 'ave you read 'em a book or somethin'.  You'll be fine, wot!"

Flint nods "Maybe I could help" Is that wise or has he signed his doom?

Despite Felicity's attempts at comforting Kate, she can only summon a look of horror. What was she going to do? She just got to the good part in her cheesy romance novel! She couldn't possibly tear herself away to deal with a room filled with miniature hare savages! Maybe...she can get someone to cover for her. Kates eyes dart dangerously towards Flint when he speaks. "Oh RealyYyY~" She says dangerously.

It had been a long day, and the creature that slowly ambles into the common area doesn't resemble a hare somuch as a walking garden plot. Dirt covers his clothing (and the rest of him) from eartip to footpaws, and as he walks he leaves footpaw prints made of mud behind him. Heading over towards the fireplace, the young hare flops himself down on the floor on his back, staring up at the ceiling in resignation. "Ugggghhhhh, if I see another plant again it'll be too soooon..." he groans. Obviously someone hadn't taken a break in awhile; usually Monty isn't quite so complain-y.

Felicity interjects quickly. "Uncle Flint, they'd love to 'ave ya 'elp them, but ya 'ave to let them know what days ye're off so they can arrange things." Turning to the chubby bookworm, she shakes her finger under her nose. "Y'can't get out of it! I will /drag/ y'down there if I 'ave to, wot! I am literally covered in paint and 'ad a glue brush stuck to me bum.....oh, 'ow long 'as /that/ been there?!" she hollers, yanking the streamer off her foot, then hopping around making weird noises because the glue pulled fur out. "I'LL MAKE YA HELP WITH THE DIBBUNS OR SO 'ELP ME I'LL FEED Y'TO A SEA MONSTAH!!" She's never seen a sea monster, mind you; it just sounded good. Unless Kate can come up with a good REASON, she's doomed to her date with the Dibbuns. The dirty hare's entrance go unnoticed for now.

Flint does notice Monty and frowns " Helping with spring planting my guess?"

Monty doesn't turn his head as he hears Flint's question, and he raises a paw in the air. "How'd you guess?" he replies. "Not somuch helping as being right in the thick of it. It -is- my job here, after all." The hare smirks. "Some days I'd much rather be out on patrol and battling vermin instead of battling weeds. At least the vermin tend to stay gone for longer periods of time." He sighs, closing his eyes, and after a few moments it almost seems as if he had fallen asleep. But no, he is just contemplating things, apparently.   

Kate seems to shrink in place, eyes glancing away from Fel, "How BIG of a sea monster?" and the Monty steps inside, poor, poor Monty. "Monty! How would you like to cover for...er, help a hare out? It's indoors! And looks like you need a break anyway...how about an /easy/ assignment?" 

Felicity goes to grab her friend's shoulders and hiss in her face, "Biggah than this Mountain!" She is lying; the stress of dealing with the leverets has made her temporarily pathological and sadistic. She'll be better tomorrow. "Don't do it, Monty! She just wants to get out of the Dibbun duty she volunteered for! Make her eat the fruits of getting drunk!" She deserves it, the haremaid refrains from adding.

Flint looks between them as he listens, "Well..... I cant help I am busy tomorrow, need to get something from Halyard"   

Monty seems to sense what exactly this 'assignment' might be, and he lifts his head off the floor just enough to give Kate a glare. "I may be young, but I'm not stupid. If it was so easy, you wouldn't be so quick to pawn it off on someone else." After a moment, the hare chuckles as Felicity spoils the surprise. Just as he thought. "Love to help you, buuuut I'm much too busy in the garden. It IS spring, after all, and with spring comes lots and lots of planting. And weeding." He flops back down. "And planting." The hare mutters under his breath, "...and drinking." 

The hare whimpers, looking between Flint and Monty who have abandoned her to her fate, and the horrible hare who is wanting to toss her to a mountain fish! "Ffffffine." She says. There is only one hope she has left.
Do her job so horribly that no one in their right sane mind would let her do it again. She looks to the saucy romance novel she was reading and raises an eyebrow, "You mentioned something about...reading the dibbuns a story eh?"

Felicity smiles grimly.  She followed her friend's gaze and has an idea of what she's thinking.  "Aye.  And I'll make sure to 'elp the caretakers pick out a nice, pretty story book or 2 for y'to read.  And remembah," her voice sinks dangerously, "that my baby sistah will one of the leverets you'll be 'elpin' with, so if y'corrupt 'er, I will /personally/ 'old y'responsible.....and I'll 'ave a long line of parents right behind me, ready to take ovah when I'm done.  Y'ken?" 

Flint stands as he goes to leave the room, he decides he needs something to do...elsewhere in another room

Monty gives another smirk as he stares up at the ceiling. "Oh, and PLEASE keep them out of the garden. The last time they were in there, they made an awful mess and pulled up a bunch of plants that weren't quite ready to be harvested yet." He shakes his head, "I have no idea why the young ones have such a fascination with pulling things out of the ground. When I was their age, I was up super early in the morning, and out in the fields."   

"Poo, spoil my fun why don't you." Kate sticks out her tongue at her fellow hare maiden. "Fine...I can think of a couple of good ol' fashion stories. I recently read this one horror story about this big gnarly wolverine stalking a red furred vixen back to her grandmothers place. I'm sure the leverets would just LOVE that." Kate takes a moment to stand, tucking her book under her arm, "And that is because yer childhood was horrible Monty." She laughs, "Any life that requires you to be up at the crack of dawn to go do farm work is, in me humble opinion, a form of unusual torture. Ya don't even see vermin doing that do ya? O' course...most would force OTHER beasts to do it for them but..." Kate shakes her head. "Don't mind me, I'm off to my doom..." She begins walking for the exit. 

Felicity goes to grab the haremaid's arm.  "Oh, y'read whatevah the caretakahs tell you to!  Don't make them mad; one of them owns a war 'ammah."  Literally.  "She's from the Northlands and is bloody terrifyin'...."  she finally looks at the male hare and blinks.  Wow, he's as filthy as she is, just in a different way.  "Y'may wanna tell the caretakas that.....and I apologize in advance for my sistah, Julia.  She refuses to listen to me because she's a monstah in leveret skin, wot!"

Monty finally pushes himself back up to a sitting position, then back up to his footpaws again. Giving a stretch, he begins to make his way back towards the door. "Welp. Back at it, I suppose. I will see you lot around." To Felicity, the young hare chuckles. "No worries, I understand how it is. When you get a bunch of them together, there's really not much you can really do other than pray. Good day, you two." He gives the others a salute, before heading out the door.

And then Felicity heads off to take a bath and have nothing to do with Dibbuns for the rest of the day!

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!

CHARACTERS: Leon, a male mouse.  Xander, a male badger.  DoraRose and Angela, female mice.  Henry, a male sparrow.  Emyuil, a male mouse.

SCENE: Redwall Abbey Infirmary.

LOG:

Leon has been resting, slowly coming out of his faint, luckly it didn't get too deep as it could of. His eyes slowly open as he blinks a couple times

Xander is in the infirm but to check on Zolomon, having gotten no where with the hare he starts to walk back outside to the hallway.He is, for now, in his regular tunic and clothing.

Angela is in here, and has been in charge since Leon was attacked.  She is busy right now with a Dibbun who made a bee mad and got stung.  DoraRose comes in through the door, nearly bumping into the badger.  "Oh!  Hi.  I'm here to check on my husband," she says quietly.  Her face is still bruised from where Quade socked her, but it's fading, and the cut on her nose is healing nicely.

Leon blinks a few more times and manages a groan as he looks around "Have a terrerrible headache..."  He mutters as he focuses and finally looks around as he tries to sit up and finds himself still a bit weak.

Xander stops and nods "He is in here Dorarose..sorry just still a little tried from last couple days"   

DoraRose goes to rest a paw on the badger's arm. "It's okay. Do you need to talk abou...." Then the Master Healer wakes up and the Warriormouse is dashing past the badger. "Leon!" She goes to hug him. "Don't sit up; you've been unconscious for quite a while. Oh, I'm so happy you're awake...." 

Leon looks confused slightly "A..while? How was I..what happen?" He does lay back down and coughs a little.

Xander is unsure weather to answer, he also is not totally sure what all happen "I know or least that's thoughts that you were pushed down the steps"

DoraRose sits on the edge of his bed and goes to stroke the top of his head.  "As far as we can tell, Quade pushed you down the steps.  What's the last thing you remember, Darling?"  Angela sends the Dibbun back to where the other Dibbuns are (with a candied chestnut, too; the others will be so jealous) and then hobbles over to the Master Healer's bedside.  She goes to check him.  "We were very worried about ye, son," she mutters grumpily, but secretly she's thrilled that he's awake.

Leon frowns "Why would he do that...maybe I slipped, I mean he is helping us find Benar, isn't he?" He looks over at Xander and then Angela and Dorarose again.

Xander sits down "Benar is safe, though he most likely should of stayed in Ferravale but he was very...well insistent we come back and so me and Edson and we ran into Guosim, got him back here and he is most likely in his room resting and Quade is...well evil" He would say more but he won't, not in the abbey anyways.

DoraRose grits her teeth as her eyes flash with anger.  "That two-faced, no-good-dirty-rotten perfidious liar of a squirrel is totally evil.  He tried to kill you, Oz, basically all of the Defenders, and he kidnapped our daughter, as well as the Abbot.  He is a wicked force that needs to be stopped."  She refrains from mentioning that he's the one who bruised up her face.  That's not all that important right now, right?  Right...

Leon looks at Xander "He was found?" He frowns deeply"How long was I...how HAVE I been in the infirm? Was anyone hurt...killed...anyone still missing?"

Xander answers "A hamster named Minsc is missing, and some beasts look for him but no idea where he is"

DoraRose purses her lips.  "Like, 2 or 3 weeks.  We've been worried sick.  One of Zolomon's friends was killed....I don't think you met her.  And Juliana died."  Angela goes to get the Master Healer some herbal tea to help with his headache.

Xander frowns but he listens, he knows what all has happen and he is still upset about it

There is a faint smell of Milk Thistle that has been getting slowly stronger over time. The sent is at it's strongest as sparrow hops in to the room. "Sir! Bard Henry reporting successful scavenge, sir!" It's Henry the Poet! His voice is muffled, but a moments glance makes it appertain why. He has bunches of Milk Thistle in each claw, and in his beak.

Leon sighs "We...Quade needs stopped, anyone who works for him does as well"

Angela adds, "Oh, an' 'e tried to poison Oz."  Turning to the sparrow, she smiles and hobbles over to him. "My name is Angela.  That's a nice bunch of milk thistle y' 'ave there, sonny."  Dora smiles dangerously.  "Oh, don't worry, I will do everything I can to help stop him.  He wrote his death sentence when he hurt my family."

"Not if I get him first," comes a voice from the door. Emyuil walks in quietly, his expression inscrutable. "I _will_ rip him apart," he says firmly, with a hint of finality on the matter.   

Leon listens and frowns, he has some catching up to do "Where is Quade...does any beast know?"   

Xander nods "I...know where his hideout is" 

The sparrow places the bunches of Milk Thistle in one claw on the floor in front of Angle, he does the same with the flowers in his other claw, and finally the ones in his beak. "Meum searched for six days to gather that. It's mostly Milk Thistle, but there be a few other herby plants in there as well. "

DoraRose raises an eyebrow at her brother. "Oh, yeah? Well, you'll have to get to him, because /I've/ already called dibs to chop him up with my axe, so there. You can kill Rowtag, his second in command." Looks like they may have the 'stopping the bad guy' thing down. Angela glares at the badger. "Don't tell them where it is! I don't want my family runnin' off on some crazy chase; these 2 are a pair of 'ot'eads." As Dora starts to protest that accusation, the old Healer turns back to the sparrow and smiles. "Thank the seasons for 'elpful beasts such as yerself. What is your name, son?"

Emyuil looks like he's about to argue, but relents, simply saying, "We'll see. You can always chop him up after I gut him." Turning to Xander and cracking a lopsided smile, he jokingly says, "No, go ahead, tell us. I for one am proud to be a hothead."   

Xander looks between them and frowns, he sighs deeply "I...don't want to see others hurt...or killed and who is to say he didn't move again." 

The sparrow bows "Meum Henry the Poet! Bird bard, decent defender, and (in the future) hopefully healer."

Xander stands and walks to the doorway "I...got to figure out a meeting place, talk later " He walks on into the hallway   

Angela smiles at the charming bird. "Well, 'tis a pleasure to meet you, 'Enry. If ye're wantin' to learn 'ealin', Leon and I can teach ye. Y'did a good job findin' these herbs." She gathers them up and hobbles over to the counter, setting them down and beginning to tie the stems together so they can be hung up to dry. Dora pouts as looks at her sleeping husband. "But......fine. We'll wait." She watches the badger leave, and adds, "And I'll need to attend the meeting. Maybe then we'll be able to go chop him into little pieces." 

Emyuil nods. "I don't really feel like joining you there. I'd rather just wait 'til we actually start fighting. Can you just relay any important information you get there to me?" he asks hopefully.

"I would talk to him," says Henry, "but heum seems to be sleep." He then turns the awake male mouse,   
"If your not going to put in the effort, why should you reap the rewords?" asks the sparra with a child like laugh. 

DoraRose starts chuckling at the sparrow's logic and goes to lightly kick her brother in the rear.  "Oh, he's got you there, Emmy!"  Still laughing, she gets up and goes to hug the other Warrior mouse, then walks out of the room to go tell Caleb and LilyMoore that their father is out of his faint!  Angela smiles wryly and continues working on getting the herbs ready to dry.  Emyuil can handle himself, right?  Well, if he doesn't handle it politely, she'll just spank him.  That'll work, right?  Right.

Emyuil returns the hug with one arm after deftly dodging the kick. "I have trouble with being told what to do," he shrugs to the sparrow. "I work faster on my own." With that, he goes to follow his sister.

Henry looks the male mouse warrior, a playful glint in his eye. "Nobeast works faster on his own, he only decides how he will work." [He then leaves the Infirmary ]

~*END*~

Thanks for reading!