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oz

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Registered: 2016-11-20

Posts: 1,659

Rats Attck!-Redwall / Dibbun Slavers TP

Who:

A lot....

Redwall Abbey in the early summer, it is beautiful, a gorgeous, sun dappled home of deep emerald green glass, a shimmering pond. The trees in the orchards are full of leaves and young fruit and the majestic, ancient buildings of the Abbey stand tall besides the great north wall.   

The plains to the west are golden, the sun having turned the tall wild grass and Mossflower seems at peace. The Abbey so serene, so quiet, so peaceful, the perfect haven of peace and tranquility. A tempting target for the horde of twenty odd rats who come whooping and screaming out of the woods to the south of the abbey. There are more rats holding back in the trees including their leader who is watching from out of sight up an oak tree, he is expecting an unprepared and barely defended Redwall Abbey ripe for the plucking so has not committed many, he reckons twenty rats should be enough to get over the wall and open the gate.   

The rats have a distance to cover between the edge of the trees a the wall, a good two hundred yards and as the twenty rats charge, five to a scaling ladder others back in the trees let loose with their arrows at the few lone guards on the walltops. At this distance, there isn't much chance of the arrows striking true but it is more covering fire to make the guards retreat.   

Unlucky for the rats the abbey is not unaware, they may not have known when the attack would come but with a warning from the long patrol hare Adrian's patrol Benar laid plans with Log-a-Log, Skipper and Blisa. One of the guards drops beneath the cenellations and grabs an old horn rooted out of some cupboard and blows hard on it, two quick bleats, then a pause then two more.   

It's the signal, across the abbey, on the pond, in the orchard, manning gardens, fields, workshops order members, novices, elders and residents drop what they are doing and bolt for the doors as the twin bells clash into life.   

Bang... sings Matthias   

Boom... cries Methuselah   

Again and again those golden bells sing their song, not to call the abbey to a meal or to prayer or rest but to battle! As the order beasts flock for the doors and relative safety of the main abbey building they steer clear of the small encampment set up in the open ground. The otters of Camp Willow, the forces of the Log-A-Log and the town guards from Ferravale won't all fit in the abbey dormitories so the abbey has been housing them outside in tents. This had the added bonus of allowing them to have their weapons to hand and to train in the yard behind the champions cottage.   

It also puts them decently close to the southern wall.   

From his office Benar meets Angela's gaze and Gorvenalus', they had been in the middle of an early lunch when first the horn sounds then the warning bell. The abbot stands up and moves to one of the open windows and stares down at the tranquil peace of the abbey being blown apart. The abbot then turns and hurries into his bedroom leaving the door wide open. From his living room and study you can only see the western wall, his bedroom however faces safe and he quickly moves to the window.   

His hands tremble a moment before he grips the windowsill and stands there looking toward the south wall, he is far enough back to be out of danger but he can't do much but from the large open window he can be seen. He intends to watch the south wall and what is happening rather then hide someplace safe, he can't fight but he can be present and at least hope somehow that knowing he is there will help bolster the spirits of the brave beasts who are putting their lives on the line to protect the peace of Redwall.   
   
Adrian had been up on the wall, casually chatting to one of the otter guards. In the days before he'd already laid out a plan for his small hare group. He'd take the walltop, Monty and some of the fighters would guard the gate. Serena, whom he couldn't dissuade from fighting, joined him on the wall, notching an arrow to her bow and readying to fire in return. Yerna had no doubt tried to pack of Sola to the infirmary, to help Angela and the healers. Adrian looks down into the grounds. "Right, y' lot! They're bloody 'ere! Get ready t' fire!" Lee, the otter, casually smiles toward Gaheris. "Ain't this fun?"   

Log-A-Log has been near the walls for an hour now, but as the bells sound he quickly gets the couple shrews he has with him and hands over his son Xavier to an order beast before rushing off and on up the steps to the south wall tops. His rasiper at his side."Company it would be seeming"   

Gaheris is also already on the wall. He'd barely left the place since the news that the rats were on the way. He slept and then he waited on the wall, that had been his life for the last few days. He whistles sharply as the rats finally make their appearance, just before the warning is sounded and he ducks down fast behind the wall as the arrows start to fly "Safe t'say they ain't 'ere t'talk mate" he says back to Lee, getting an arrow ready on his bow and peering just around a bit of the wall as he waits for a chance to use it.   

Krisha frowns, she is unsure where to go right now and stays below on the grounds, she can keep things in...well as much order as she can on the grounds,get beasts inside that shouldn't be outside right now.   

Gorvenalus is close to Benar as he looks over his shoulder.He lays a paw on the Abbot's shoulder to just let him know he is there for support, he is not a fighter either so he is going to stay at the abbot's side.   
   
LilyMoore has been alone in the Gatehouse (having managed to give both Terfil and Zarok the slip), fixing a seam on one of her tunics, trying to calm herself down. Everything has been nervewracking for her since her mother left her behind as a temporary Gatekeeper. But when the bells start tolling, the mouse maid leaps to her feet, leaving her sewing behind as she dashes outside, grabbing her recurve bow, crossbow, and quiver full of arrows and bolts on her way out the door. Butterclaw joins her, struggling to strap on his battle claws, his helmet a little crooked. Together they head up to the walltop, Lily notching an arrow to her bowstring, her crossbow already loaded.   

Angela hobbles over to stand beside the Abbot, her face dark and stormy. After a few moments, she turns and starts hobbling towards the door. "I can't stand being stuck in 'ere. I'm gonna go tend to the wounded -- least then I'll feel useful." And if any rats get in, well....she has her poisoned crystal on her staff (no weapons in the Abbey rule be hanged, in her opinion). She'll be fine.   

The blackbirds from Ferravale are in the trees of the orchard, where they've been staying this whole time. They watch as their leader, Virginia the rook, joined Butterclaw in fluttering around Lily's head. The rook wants a better idea of how the rats are armed before she sends her birds out -- if they have a lot of archers (which it appears they do), it may not be safe for the birds to engage.   

LilyMoore makes it to beside the Skipper of Camp Willow and carefully peers down at the rats. "Oh....ladders. Not good," she mutters, before standing straight, taking aim, and firing at the closest rat. She drops behind the wall without knowing if she hit, but she has excellent aim, so that rat's probably a gonner. She also maybe should have waited for the go ahead to fire. This is the first battle in which she's actually fought, give her a break. The Ferravalians, being more experienced, are waiting for their comrades in arms on the wall top to fire before they do.   
   
The rats are screaming toward the wall, a couple of them fall as beasts like Lily fire early, youngsters and abbey guards not used to combat. With everyone else holding it is a simple matter of waiting for the rats with ladders to get closer. With more beasts appearing on the ramparts you'd think they would hesitate or stop but they keep coming. One of the rats at the head of the ladder stumbles as Lily's arrow takes them in the side but the other arrows all go wide.   

Then a second volley of arrows arches out of the woods toward the Abbey Walls and in that moment when beasts are ducking and moving or watching the sky the remaining three ladders that are moving act.
   
The rats at the front of three of the ladders dig the wood into the earth, dropping down to curl around the feet of each ladder, using their weight to anchor it and the rest all kick off! Three ladders sore up into the sky, carrying rats with them as they thumb into the wall the three rats clinging to what had looked like the "back" of the ladder but are now at the top of it vault the crenallations and move to engage the defenders with shouted squeaks and war cries!
   
Benar watches, he is sure his beasts can do this, the abbey is well defended then suddenly there are rats leaping onto the walltop! He grips the window frame and gasps, "No...."   

Rather then having to defend the wall from ladders being put up the rats have outflanked everyone and now there are 9 rats on the walltop! Only one of the ladders is down and the remaining four rats who had been running with that dash for the established ladders intending to follow the anchor rats up as they swarm toward the walltops.   

As soon as a rat nears, Adrian stabs him dead in the heart. The beast screams, and then falls back, dead. The hare barely has time to pull his sword out, before another replaces him. "FIRE!" he quickly yells. Serena lets loos her arrow, and another rat climbing the ladder gives a strangled cry and falls. Lee, meanwhile, screams in the face of another, and then literally pushes the beast off the walltop.   

Log-A-Log backs up but he has his rasiper and the two shrews with him, one has a short bow that they fire at a rat and the other a sling if needed Log-A-Log will slice at a rat if they get close enough to him.   

Gaheris pokes up when the rats get close enough for a guaranteed hit to fire an arrow off but he's being conservative with his ammo and only fires once or twice more before the next volley from the vermin has them ducking for cover again. The sight of the ladders appearing against the wall makes him growl "T'ell with tha'" he mutters and springs up to fire at the top rat on the closest ladder before he drops his bow at his feet and grabs the top of the ladder, grunting as he pushes it out and to the side to topple it over "Somebeast better 'ave the kitchen boilin' stuff! They ain't stayin' down there for long like this" he'd like something dangerously hot to throw down at them but he can see the vermin who have made it up to the walls already and his otters were joining the fight but he trusted the others could handle it as he moved on to try to push another ladder down instead.   

Krisha watches the walls from where she stands trying to think what to do, she has no weapon and even if she grabed one she shouldn't go fight.She snorts and heds quickly inside....maybe the otter's idea of something hot would work, hot water if there is any,or even very hot soup , even if it would mess up dinner,it would stop rats from getting inside! She can also make sure no one inside panics too much,they dont need panic right now as it would only make things worse.
   
Gorvenalus sighs "Martin will help us somehow I am sure Benar, we,,, have to try and not worry and have faith my friend" He is worried but tries to not show it right now.   
   
Angela has made it outside after yelling at a couple of Novices to bring her Healer's kit. After getting it, the old mouse heads towards the south wall, grimly eyeing the action. Nissaya the albino otter Brother catches up with her, his own Healer's bag over his shoulder. "I stayed behind in the Infirmary last time we were invaded, Ms. Angela. I'm staying beside you this time!" The mouse just grumbles, but she doesn't shoo him away, knowing she'll need all the help she can get. Zarok and Terfil slip outside, and the Healer detains them, forcing them to help her and ignoring their pleas to let them go up to the walltops.
   
Virginia turns to her birds and caws something, and 4 of them detach themselves from the trees. Staying low, they then swoop up to the walls and try to help the Skipper knock the ladders over, knowing that they've made themselves prime arrow targets by doing so. A couple of Ferravalians have ganged up on an invading rat, so he should be in a number of pieces here in a few seconds.   

Butterclaw chirps an alarm to his friend, and LilyMoore turns just as an enemy rat appears behind her. Drawing her mother's sword and dropping her bow, the mouse maid slices at him with obvious skill. She may not be as good as some of the others here on the wall, but she knows enough to be able to keep herself safe, which is what matters most. Her Sparra friend flies towards the rat, swiping at his face with his battleclaws.   

   
Chaos reigned on the walls, the abbey guards where not the best well trained warriors in the world, most of them have fallen back behind Log-a-Log and his shrews and are using their slings. Adrian's small group of hares where also well positioned to give cover to the arches amongst the abbey guards and keep the rats away from the Ferravale archers as well. The rat attacking Lily manages to get a slash in as well as she draws her mothers sword, it's not much of a cut before she is able to start fighting him in a duel.   

Gaheris is able to get one ladder down but his second attempt at pushing a ladder off is thwarted as a rat reaches the top if it just as he starts to heave and leaps at him, trying to knock the otter down. Two ladders are still up and a group of rats who emerged from the woods have reached the ladders and are on their way up! An arrow makes one of the birds disappear in a puff of feathers but the remaining three are able to push it back and off, three more rats get off the ladder before it is too far from the wall and it starts to topple and another arrow slams into a second bird.   

But with the help of the Ferravale and the otters the wall is nearly clear except for a few stragglers. Which is when a horn starts blowing from the east wall, it blows once, twice then cuts off with a bleeeeeeeert and a scream! Looking north the defends of the south wall will see a group of fifteen rats swarming onto the eastern wall!   

Krisha's presence inside is a good calming force, a lot of beasts from Elders to novices gather around the badger mother for comfort. This level of violence and the sound of warriors fighting is not part of life in Redwall. Benar reaches out sideways and grabs Gorvenalus' arm as the clashing clang of the bells continues to ring and chime out across the abbey mixing with the sound of battle.   

"May Martin be with us all...." he whispers, eyes fixed on the wall, watching defenders and rats drop. Lives are being taken, beasts are dying on the walls, inside the abbey.   
       
Adrian is in the midst of hacking another rat to death and trying dislodge the final ladder, when he hears the horn blowing, sending the dead rat toppling, he looks to the east. "TH' EAST WALL! IT WAS A BLOODY DISTRACTION! MAKE F'R TH' BLOODY EAST WALL!" Serena screams, as a rat lands in front of her, and she drops her bow. This is her first true battle. Adrian hacks away at that rat, too, still yelling, "GET T' TH' EAST WALL!" Lee the otter doesn't need second bidding, he takes off for the east wall top, yelling at the top of his lungs and looking so much like an avenger of death come to rain down upon the invaders. Lacota, meanwhile, is watching from a first floor window, his favored frying pan at the ready.   

Log-A-Log is busy on the south, there is still rats here after all! He slices at a rat and sidesteps another rat as he and the two shrews cause another rat to fall off the wall!   

Gorvenalus frowns, he still remains by his abbot's side.He keeps an eye on things and pats Benar on the shoulder.   

Gaheris feels like he's starting to make headway with the second ladder but with the rats closer to the top it's prooving heavier. He can see the rat coming. He growls and tries harder to get the ladder down but it's too late, the vermin is upon him. He drops the ladder and rolls with it as he's jumped upon, going to fall back with his footpaw coming up between him and the rat to launch the vermin onwards, over him, off the wall and down to the courtyard below "In comin'!" he yells. With a bit of luck the rat wouldn't survive the fall but if he did there were others down below who could deal with it as the Skipper rolls back to his feet and draws one of his swords to slash at the next rat coming up the ladder. He could hear the alarm from the other walls but he couldn't leave while there were still vermin getting to the south wall.   

Monty had been sticking to his assigned duty, guarding the south gate, when he'd seen and heard the fresh group of rats making their way onto the east wall. Not really knowing the number, but not really caring at the same time, the small but fierce buck grits his teeth, paw clutching his short sword as he steels himself and hurries over towards the east stairs to do his best to head them off. "EULALIAAAAAAA! Blood n'vinegar'n alla that!" he roars, before he bounds up the stairs and right into the group of rats. He slashes to the left and to the right, using his footpaws as well as he kicks out wildly and connects with solid blows, bowling into the group like a fuzzy bowling ball and sending a good number of them scattering with the sudden attack.   
   
LilyMoore's cry of pain reaches those below, and Angela has to smack Zarok and Terfil with her staff to get them to not go running off. "Lily 'as to take care o' herself!" The mouse points to the injured guards being brought down the stairs. "Get them over 'ere so they can get help!" As the monitor lizard and newt reluctantly obey her, the elderly Healer keeps a lookout on what the invaders are doing, secretly worrying about all kinds of things, including the safety of her great-granddaughter. When the guards are brought over, the Healers will get to work, patching them up enough to be taken to Great Hall without bleeding to death.   

Virginia spots the new wave of rats and caws at her birds. About 8 of them rise up and go to join the defenders in trying to drive the rats off. Another 4 fly over and land beside the Healers to protect them...just in case. The leader dives at a rat about to attack the Skipper, not liking the fact that over half of her birds have now had to engage the enemy.   

LilyMoore is fighting the rat that sliced her arm, and she's doing pretty well, all things considering! She parries, thrusts, then attacks with a barrage of cuts, she disarms him and slices his head off! But then she freezes, eyes wide and face frozen with shock and horror. This is the first beast she has ever fought to the death before. Butterclaw chirrups at her in a panic and shoves her to the walkway, covering her with his wings as he chatters to her in Sparra.   

   
Monty's arrival up the eastern wallsteps totally disorients the rats on the wall and then Virginia's birds dive in, buying Adrian and every beast who followed them enough time to rally and start to drive them back. Five of them are dead or pushed off the wall in the first few seconds and the remaining ten try to pull back and hunker in!
   
On the south wall things are quietening down, between Gaharei, Log-a-Log and Lily's kill the last rat on the south wall has been detached and it is just the remaining ones on the Eastern wall! The bells have jangled to a stop now and only the sound of fighting and wounded beasts can be heard.   

Down with the wounded there are several abbey guards, two of the rats pushed off the wall concussed by alive and a couple of the Ferravale guards and otters. But not as many as there could have been if the abbey had not been warned.
       
Adrian spares a moment to looks down over the wall, to see how many rats still remain outside. In all likelihood the remaining vermin will try something else. After that, he turns to Serena. "Y'alright?" he asks her. She nods, shakily. "Y-yes... I think." Adrian nods. "Good..." And with that, he takes off across the wall top after Lee and Monty, to despatch the rats climbing the east wall.
       
Log-A-Log pants a little as he as he looks around, is it over? Is there still fighting? There may be some on the east side still as the couple shrews with him go to the east wall, he takes a small breather for now.   

Gaheris huffs a little note of relief as a bird takes out one of the remaining rats he was dealing with and he finally pushes the ladder back down again in case there's more to come before his attention turns to the vermin on the eastern wall. A quick glance around his feet and he refinds his bow, turns away from the outside world and puts his aim across the abbey grounds as he fires in to the group of rats on the east wall. Even though he's well practiced with the bow he aims his shots as far away from Monty and everyone else as he can, plucking off rats from the back of the group.   

Gorvenalus still watches and frowns, ok cant see the other wall as good here as he makes sure Benar is ok and not going slightly paniced"Sit Benar...I can try snd check on how the other wall is doing"
   
Monty had been lucky enough to catch the rats on the wall with the element of surprise; with his size and the fact that he had seemingly come out nowhere, he'd been close enough to take out at least three or four of them before the rats even knew what was happening. The buck growls fiercely, eyes narrowing as he crouches there amidst the remaining rats, his gaze shifting from one to the other. "Aw, wot's th'matter, y'bunch o'lame, low-lifed lilly-livered lardos? A little bunnyrabbit too much for ya t'handle? Y'gonna slink back t'yer camp an' tell yer comrades y'got bested by a hare missin' an ear n'half of 'is brains?" The buck giggles, eyes flickering with glee as he flings himself upon the remaining rats. He sustains a few cuts and bruises here and there, but it doesn't slow him down...eventually, he drops his sword and focuses on his biggest skill...his paws. He begins to thud his fists into the rats, ducking, bobbing and weaving as he makes a good show of taking them out one by one. Swords swing at his feet, and he hops deftly over the attacks to thud his footpaws into the attackers. "...c'mon, that all ya got, y'bloody buffoons? I thought this was gonna be a bloomin' challenge, wot! Haaaaahahaha!" Adrian has seen this side of Monty before many times, and he likely knows the outcome as well as he begins to approach the east wall. As the others begin to chip in, it does help him out!   
   
Virginia lands beside the Skipper, calling out to her birds in their language. Some of them fall to their enemies, with one raven losing its entire left wing. But for the most part, they're doing a good job avoiding getting hurt. Angela, meanwhile, continues to help the wounded, making Terfil and Zarok carry bandaged wounded to Great Hall. A couple of Order members come out to help as the mouse and Nissaya efficiently and quickly work to tend to the injured.
   
LilyMoore is still laying on the walkway of the south wall, sobbing. She has never killed anyone before, and her gentle, loving heart is grieving. Butterclaw continues to chirp to her in Sparra, but she just shakes her head, not able to form words just yet.   

Some of the Ferravalians have gone down the wallsteps to head up the ones on the north wall to try and come up behind their enemies, aiming to trap them in a pincer movement. Hopefully nobody will hit them with friendly fire!   

It is over, the last rats on the east wall who haven't gone over the edge fall.   

Virginia's birds would be able to see some movement in the trees as the leader orders his rats to fall back. Monty has carried the east wall, the fighting hare holding the line until everyone else was able to back him up. Those rats outside the abbey flee back into the trees, glad to still be alive!   

Peace, peace does not fall, there is the groaning of the injured, the soft sobbing groan of a shrew who has fallen they will not last much longer. But the fighting, the fighting is over, Redwall Abbey Stands.   

Benar shakes his head and starts for the door, "No Gorve... I need see this for myself. I am the Abbot, this is .... my job now. To be seen, to be heard, to offer my support and prayers. I can fall apart later... come on my friend, let us go down and see them."   

Adrian comes up alongside his friend Monty, and claps a paw on his shoulder. "We did it, mate... F'r now..." He watches the fleeing rats, but frowns grimly. "They'll like as not be back, though, wi' a more devious plan... We should probably double or triple th' guahd..." Lee, meanwhile, joins Gaheris. "Skiper, they seem t' be runnin' away... Tha' can't 'ave been all o' them, though..." Serena sees the crying mousemaid, and approaches her, trying to offer some comfort. "You alright there, Miss?" she asks quietly. And Lacota nods, harrumping. "Well... Didn't have to beat anybeast up *this* time..."   

Log-A-Log hurries over to the other wall, he saw one of his shrews try and stand and they are now leaning against one of the guards helping them down the steps,The other shrew though is not getting up "Let me through...excuse me!"   

Gorvenalus nods "Yes Benar, I am by your side let us go out together and see what has happen my friend."He will stay by Benar's side as they go to the open grounds of the abbey.   

Gaheris lowers the last arrow he'd had ready and doesn't fire it as the group on the east wall seem to have things under control and he doesn't want to hit any defenders. He looks back to the woods and sees a little movement as the remaining rats retreat. He takes that last arrow and aims it high, shooting it blindly at the trees. He's sure it won't hit any of them but it might hurry their departure "Run yer legs off y'mangy worm tails" he mutters before looking around to help with the injured. He nods to Virginia then "Thank y'for yer help" he says before glancing at Lee "Aye, they're runnin'. It's where they go next that's the new worry" he says before he starts to search among the dead for anyone who needs help "Healin' the wounds is the next job though"   

Luckily Adrian is right there at his side with a paw on his shoulder to hold him back, otherwise Monty likely would have gone bounding after the remaining rats as they made their retreat. The buck stands there, leaning over the parapet as he shakes his paws at the fleeing attackers, his chest heaving and eyes ablaze with fury as he still seems to be riding the high of battle. "Come back 'ere an' fight, y'buncha cowards! It's real easy to attack a bunch o'unsuspectin' beasts, innit?" he shouts after them, picking up rocks that lie on the ground and chucking them down at them. "Y'fight us face t'face, an' look wot 'appens!" He is bleeding from cuts on his shoulders, his cloak is sliced as well as the uniform underneath, and his left leg had taken a nice stab but otherwise he was in decent condition all things considered. He did barrel right into a large group of rats, after all. "M'gonna go after em, Adj!" He turns to his friend. "Can't let em go somewhere else an' cause more havoc n'misery!" He clenches his paws, giving Adrian that look he's so familiar with. "Caused enough o'that here..."   

Virginia nods to the Skipper. "Of course, would not have done otherwise." When the Abbot exits the building, the rook flaps off to fly beside him, knowing he needs to be kept safe, even if it seems the battle is over. Her birds will debrief the leaders after the wounded have been tended to. A number of the birds are dead, killed mostly via arrow strikes. She'll find out later that her numbers have dropped down to 23 from 30.   

Angela has made it over to the dying shrew. She knows she can't do anything, but still she stays, murmuring gently to them, letting them know they're not alone. Nissaya, Zarok, Terfil, and the Order members continue to diligently work on helping the wounded, and remaining with the dying until they are gone.   

LilyMoore lets Butterclaw to help her sit up, but she shakes her head at the hare's question. "No, no I'm not!" she manages to say through her sobs. "I.....I've killed and tried to not b....be killed, an'....and friends have....have been killed around me, an'.....and..." Butterclaw looks at the hare and says in Common, "Lilyfriend never killslay before today."
       
Log-A-Log walks over to where the dying shrew is, he stays by the shrew's side till the shrew takes her last breath, he mutters something and checks on the other shrew who gives a weak grunt,they will live.Its only then Log-A-Log will allow the healer to tend to his arm wound, its not deep luckily
   
Benar stays back from the wounded and the healers, letting them work and do their job as he just makes sure people can see him. He is there to be seen but not interfere. He does bow to Virginia as she comes over, "Thank you for joining us Virginia and your aid, I am sorry for any you have lost." He looks toward Lily and frowns up at her, "Oh dear.... Virginia can you.. please ask Lily to come to me?"   

Gorvenalus looks around and sighs, but as promised he stays by Benar's side.He will write down the events in the abbey logs later as he shakes his head at all this,"I do hope Matilda and them are ok"
   
Adrian keeps his paw on Monty's shoulder, and he tightens his grip. "Mont," he says, levelling a piercing gaze into his friend's eyes. "Not yet... We 'ave t' let 'em go f'r now... Y' got some scrapes 'n' scratches there, mate... C'mon." He tries to draw his fellow buck away from the wall. At the same time, Serena has held out her paw toward LilyMoore. "I understand... C'mon, I think your Abbot wants to see you..." All the way at the East wall, Lee the otter nods his head, and sighs. "I just worry they'll regroup 'n' try again... We best be vigilant..."   
Gaheris finds mostly just dead rats on his bit of wall now as he directs his otters to separate out any dead defenders and respectfully lay them in the grounds once the injured are already with the healers. He sighs quietly and looks a little sorry for Lily as he hears the crying "Y'right t'take it hard lass, no life should be taken easily and we'll all mourn those who've been lost...but there's beasts 'ere who live because we fought" he seems reluctant to leave the walls himself and stays up there, looking back to the woods every so often as he speaks to Lee "Mm and I worry they'll try their luck somewhere else. They were smart enough t'attack from a couple f'sides though so I ain't keen t'know wha' they'll come up with next if they do come back"   

Monty begins to come down from the high of battle, Adrian definitely knowing how to handle the situation as he'd had to do it quite a few times before. The tightened grip on his shoulder followed by that piercing look is enough to snap the buck out of his haze, and soon enough regular ol' Monty is back, the hare looking a little on the exhausted side. He leans against the parapet, head resting against it as he closes his eyes. "...mmmf. Yeah, just...gimme a sec, Adj. I'll be fine, I've 'ad worse." An eye peeks open as he gives his friend a tired grin. "Patch me up, an' I'm gonna stay by th'gate for th'rest o'th' night. Can't let our guard down just cuz we repelled th'first attack." He does note Lily's reaction and he gives her a sympathetic glance, the buck understanding full well what she is going through. He may have to visit her later and chat. "Poor girl. 'er first battle, eh? Aye, remember wot it wuz like m'self. Is never bloody enjoyable, is it, mate?"
   
   
Angela and Nissaya continue to work their craft as they are joined by other Healers from the Infirmary. The Ferravalians help sort out the dead from the living, mostly doing the work of piling up the invaders while they let the woodlanders help the injured. All the injured are now on the grounds, receiving first aid before being carried inside.   

Virginia bows to the Abbot in return. "Thank you, sir. It is always a hard loss." She, too, looks over towards the southern wall. "Aye, I will, although I think the hare is helping her." The rook spreads her wings and flies over. The survivours of her birds are watching the woodlands from their position in the sky.   

LilyMoore allows Butterclaw to help her stand, accepting the haremaid's paw, as well. She's trying to stop crying, but it's a struggle. Terfil finally manages to escape Angela, and now he comes up beside the mouse, carefully taking her recurve bow and her mother's sword from her, taking the burden upon himself. Zarok is still stuck helping the Healers. The mousemaid nods at the Skipper's words, which are part of why she's trying to stop crying.   
   
Benar decides to leave Lily be for now, she has her family and friends around her right now and that is what she needs. She'll be there for her when she needs him. For now he will just be visible for everyone as needed to let them see their Abbot.   

Adrian smiles wanly to his friend. "Aye, I'll be right there wi' ya, mate. An' we c'n talk about th' good times, eh?" The buck laughs. Meanwhile, Serena offers a comforting smile to LilyMoore. "Lissen... I reacted th' same way... It's okay... Don't be afraid to let those feelin's out..."   

Gorvenalus helps Benar and makes sure any injuried are tended too, he sighs as he looks around , there is also clean up to tend to after the battle, he can find beasts to help with that as well, he knows Benar needs rest.   

Monty pushes himself up from where he's leaning, the buck taking a few moments to assess his various injuries. The stab to his leg seems to be the worst one, though he is able to walk at least. Blood trails down through his fur due to the two slices across his shoulders, and the slice to his uniform missed any fur or flesh, only damaging his already rough-looking cloak and uniform. "Hmm. More scars t'add to th'repertoire..." he chuckles. "At this point I'm not gonna have any fur left at all, heh." The buck grins. "Life of a Patroller, I s'pose." He shakes a paw, his knuckles likely bruised on the faces of a rat or two. "Ow." He peers down at it. "Hmm. Think I'm gonna rename this one th'RatKnockerOutter. Did a pretty good job o'that, didn't it?" He gives a couple testing swings in the air.   

Gaheris leaves the others to their mourning and comforting for now as he watches the woods once more, ever cautious of danger even after the battle is over "I don't even remember having time to fall apart after me first fight...can't blame the lass though, 'appens t'a lot of beasts" he mutters quietly to Lee. Sola makes her appearance, coming outside with some of the healers to help though mostly she's doing as she's told. Normally she'd be all over the place worrying about being attacked again but she'd burnt through all her fear in to denial lately so currently she just calmly walked around, tending to the injured as if it were no more interesting than dusting.   
   
Angela is fully willing to order yet another Healer about, and so she just sees the scarred hare as another beast to ensure she's doing her job. Most of the injured are in the building, being tended to more thoroughly. Nissaya and Zarok continue to help. The Ferravalians have almost completely gathered up the bodies of the enemy and now are needing to know what to do with them.   

LilyMoore continues to cry. "I...I....I didn't mean to...but I also did, an'....and I just don't know what I feel." Butterclaw and Terfil stay by her side, the newt carefully cleaning the sword on a rag he ripped off a dead invader.   

   
Gorvenalus walks around and then kneels by Lilymoore, he looks at her and then just opens his arms , she can choose whether she accepts a hug or not.   

Adrian looks down at the gash on Monty's leg, and nods. "Yes, let's go get this bandaged, wot." He'll drag his friend over to Angela's group if he has to. Serena sees Gorvenalus approach, and she takes a half step backward. "Y' were just protectin' yourself... It's understandable..." Lee is still helping to move the bodies, and he eyes the pile of dead rats. "Hmmm..."
   
Monty doesn't seem to need any dragging, the hare figuring it would be wise to get himself patched up. "Hmm. After I get m'self tended to, I'm thinkin' a trip to th'kitchens may well be in order, bucko." Monty gives Adrian a grin. "T'grab somethin' t'eat, yeah, but I was also thinkin' of tryin' t'whip up some o'my famous Mountain Hare Super Duper Boffo Bean Biscuits. Y'know it's been ages since I made em..." He nudges the other hare, "Would be th'perfect thing t'try an' bring a little cheer back inta th'Abbey. It's been a rough coupla days, mate..." He limps over towards where others are being patched up, the hare wincing a little but otherwise seeming to be none the worse for wear.   

Moment of peace to relax after the fight and the Skipper takes a deep breath and finally looks back inside to the dead vermin piling up "A burial outside seems appropriate. Provided it's safe" he says as he gestures for a couple of otters to stay up on the wall and keep watch while he finally comes down the steps. Sola spots Monty and Adrian plus the blood and the limping...she stares for a moment, her muddled up brain working it through. The reality of injured Monty seems to break through at least and she sighs quietly as he's clearly fine but hurt again so she gathers some bandages to bring over to the other hares.   

LilyMoore spots her dear beaver friend and collapses into his hug. Terfil manages to sheath the sword, then he and Butterclaw take a few steps back, letting the Recorder help their friend. The mouse clings to him, her tears finally dying down. But she still needs a hug. A big one.   

The Ferravalians have this thing about wearing white armbands, so their dead are easy to locate amongst the bodies. They get put with the other dead allies. Some ferrets and weasels wander off to try to find some wheelbarrows to transport the dead enemy in. All the injured have been moved inside, and now almost all the Healers have gone inside, as well, to tend to them. Nissaya and Zarok lead the way, while Angela follows Sola. Eyeing the injured buck, she says, "Y'got this, girlie?" If the hare Healer has it under control, then the mouse can head inside.   
   
Adrian somehow got off without a scratch, and he and Mont are soon joined by Serena, who seems to be pretty quiet now. "Well, bud... I'll be glad t' help y' in th' bloomin' kitchen, wot! Careful about their Friar, though... I've 'eard 'e's a pawful..." He laughs, and then slips his free arm around Serena on his other side. "'Ey... Y' doin' alright?" The white doe just nods her head. "Y-yes... I think so..."   

Deciding the hare has it covered, Angela heads into the Infirmary to do what she does best: help people not die. Gorvenalus helps LilyMoore get inside to get checked on by Healers. The mousemaid will get to bed in the Gatehouse early, probably skipping tea and dinner. She needs some sleep to recover. Terfil and Butterclaw follow them inside, the Sparra taking his friend's weapons to the Gatehouse so she doesn't have to worry about them later.   

Gorvenalus checks on Krisha, he checks on Benar and others before sitting down to write down events of the day,then....he goes to bed.

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I play:
Oz-  Badger-young adult-Wanderer