01.08.09 - A Possible Cure

Location: Redwall Infirmary

Characters Involved: Bottlebrush, Zoe_Lang, Sivaine, Tameus, Darklett, Taye, Darcy, Brenden, Anselm, Garran

Bottlebrush slips out of the recovery room..Well, staggers is more like it. He still looks drawn and pale, even with red fur, but he is up and about..albeit slowly.

Bottlebrush coughs into a paw for a few moments before he mmmphs, "I can't stand laying down in there for a moment longer! I want to help and every time I hear someone cough or groan, I want to get up and mix teas!"

Zoe_Lang's frown deepens a little bit. "If you /sit/ by the countah, you c'n help. But the second you start t'feel worse, I want you t'tell me. Undahstood?"

Brenden tiredly pushes his way through the door to the infirmary carrying a small stack of papers with notes scrawled over them. He looks like he hasn't slept in a few days and his uniform doesn't look at all crisp like usual. He stops just inside the door and blinks at those in the room before giving Bottlebrush an eye like he shouldn't be up and about.

Bottlebrush gives Zoe a small smile and moves to sit near the counter, nodding tiredly, "Understood!" He lurches a moment but catches himself and leas back against the back of the chair, "Ergh. I have never felt so sick before."

Zoe_Lang comes over to assist BB, smiling faintly. "Well, hopefully it'll be the last time. No beast should have t'suffah illness like this twice in one life."

Sivaine looks.. actually, she looks pretty darn good, but only compared to the large majority of the other patients. Put next to a sampling of healthy, unworried beasts, she'd look like death warmed over. So it's lucky she's here, then! The mousemaid is sorting bedlinens with a sort of mechanical efficiency in one corner. Grump.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Oh, so they pick /now/ to think it's a good time for a stroll through the Abbey. Darklett sighs, running his paw through his headfur before raising his voice. "Listen up, listen up! We got a hare from the 67th comin' through with supplies, clear a path!" He makes a spreading motion with his paws, which gets most of the gathered to step to the side. To a couple that don't quite move right away: "He could still be carrying the sickness, move out, make room!" That gets them to step away to the side, an eerie sort of silence falling over the area.

Bottlebrush chuckles softly and nods, "Aye though.." He pauses a moment and then finishes his thought, "Feels odd to have a hare who knows my past acting gentle towards me like this..." He then blinks, "I did ask you about going to Salamandastron and stuff, yeah? My head feels like it is stuffed with linen.." He then perks his ears and looks over towards Sivaine, "Hello, Siv.." The sound outside catches his ears now and he hmms?

Brenden shakes his head a little and moves over towards the colonel, politely clearing his throat to get her attention. "Um, Ma'am. I've done some resuch on this sickness," he starts, motioning towards the stack of parchment in his paw, "There's a few things wot I noticed in some historical records." He looks over at Sivaine for a moment then turns back to Zoe.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, And after Darklett, /well/ after him almost to the point of paranoia, comes Taye. He adds his own orders, "Back up! Furthah! 'Least twenty yards, ya hear me?" And, as if to emphasize this, he covers his muzzle to cough. A few of the Redwallers gasp, falling further back.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, From out of the crowd comes a jolly laugh, followed by "Oh, good show, supplies from the mountain, wot!" The source appears to be Anselm, but despite the outcry, he steps back with the rest.

"Bottle. You too?" Sivaine looks up tiredly at the fox, and then her ears prick forward to catch one - no, two things of interest. Supplies! And Brenden. Brenden is more interesting; she looks at him.

Zoe_Lang looks amused. She reaches over, giving Bottle a pat on the shoulder. "Don't push yer luck - I migh' just snap at ya yet." But she's grinning. Until she hears voices coming in through the window. Her ears perk and she turns, looking towards it. "What's all the shoutin' about?"

Bottlebrush nods to Siv, "Me too." He stifles another coughing fit and groans, rubbing at his throat, "Hellsgates!" He then blinks and flashes Zoe a weak grin, "I've been expecting it, Zoe. Too few beasts seem to even care out of those who know. It's making me..edgy.."

Brenden sees that he went unheard and follows the colonel's gaze towards the window. He looks back to Bottlebrush, then again to Sivaine, who seemed to be the only one noticing that he was there. He chuckles in his head, being a private means that you are often overlooked, and gives her a weak, tired wave before stepping back from Zoe and moving over to the window to get a better look.

Sivaine's ears angle back a fraction, and she narrows her eyes consideringly. "Edgy that there hasn't been more help, you mean?" she asks the fox, giving a little nod to Brenden in return. She sees yooou.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Haha. Taye slings a pack off his back, then bends down awkwardly, keeping one leg stiff as he does so. "I've got some supplies for the healahs," he shouts. He pulls out four individually wrapped packages, looking up towards the infirmary window, which he stands up to approach. "Oy! Someone up there!"

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, "Move it!" And then Darklett steps nearer to the crowd. Not so far away as to be paranoid like the others, but a safe distance nonetheless. "...Can we get a healer to come pick these supplies up?" He's not gonna risk Taye going into the quarantine area, no no no.

Darcy wanders in from another room, ears stuck up curiously. Lots of noise. "Whhhat's .. oh. Huh." A glimpse out the window makes her lift her brows. ".. Colonel?" Glance at Zoe. "I'll go get them." She's in between tasks anyway.

Bottlebrush perks his ears at the comments form the windows and starts back to his footpaws, "They want a healer to get the supplies? I can do that!" He sways slightly but starts making his way towards the door. It's slow and full of shuffling but there he goes!

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye looks back at Darklett, shaking his head. "I'll just chuck 'em... safest way. Don't want any of them comin' down here 'n' I don't want t'go up," he answers wryly.

Zoe_Lang's eyes narrow at the conversation, older ears straining a little to hear. She goes to approach the window - but then has to make a sidetrip to stop the staggering healerfox. She stops him with a paw to his shoulder. "Nono, lad. You stay 'ere..."

"You'll do no such thing," Darcy says tartly to Bottlebrush. "Colonel, I'll go out on the top step and he can chuck the stuff up to me." There's a faint question in her voice - aye or nay?

Brenden turns when he hears Bottlebrushes voice, "No. Yah gonna stay put. I think I may be onta somethin wit this." He looks back out the window and calls out, "Aye sah! Someone'll be there in a moment!"

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, "...Whatever floats your boat." Chucking supplies. Okay then. Darklett looks almost sadly at the sick, injured Lieutenant. It's like a snapshot of what must be going on in the 67th.

And now Tameus appears from out of the healer's dorm - scowling. "What's goin' 'n?"

Bottlebrush mmmphs and moves back to his chair before finally answering Siv. Seems his brain is slow, "No..On edge that more don't distrust or hate me. I expected a lot worse, you know?" He lifts his mask, revealing that dead flesh, to rub at his good eye, "I feel like I should look over my shoulder, though I am happy you are a friend, Siv."

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Oh, he'll get to /that/, don't you worry, Dark! He cranes his neck up, listening to the infirmary beasts. He nods. "Righ'! Okay!"

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Anselm speaks up again. "Not to be rude, sah, but wouldn't that break the, uh, what's it... the quarantine thingy. Cawn't be havin' infected beasts traipsin' about inside." He looks thoughtful. "Can we?"

Zoe_Lang considers Darcy a moment, but eventually nods. "Just s'long as you stay well clear!"

"You're a healer. You're useful. At the moment, I think that's all most are thinking about." Sivaine cracks a wry little smile at the fox. "Consider it a good chance - when you're not ill yourself." She then twitches her nose. This is quickly becoming chaos. "Patrol's here, Tam. They're tossing supplies up," Sivaine tells the leveret. She rises from her basket of laundry.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Earflick. Oh, there's a hare talking nearby. Darklett takes this question, turning to Anselm. "As long as they only go through the quarantine areas. Besides, Lieutenant Taye's not necessarily infected. He just had the sickness and got better, but doesn't want to take any chances."

"Will do, Colonel," Darcy murmurs, nodding at Zoe and heading toward the door to the outside steps. "Ahh.. just keep the door clear, I'll need room for the stuff," she directs at Zoe, and opens the door, standing on the top step - not going any further. The doe glances over the hares outside. "Alright, you chuck, I'll catch, that's how we're going to get this done," she tells Taye, voice a little raised. It's windy.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye's eyes shift to Anselm. He... sighs. So tired! "I wouldna come if I didn't have to - trust me." His ears perk at Darcy's call. He turns, stands, and comes as close as he may dare before he chucks the first package, carefully wrapped into a ball. His aim's true.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Reassurance steals across Anselm's face, accepting the Major's words as absolute truth. "Of course, sah."

Bottlebrush watches fomr his chair and adjusts his mask before he yawns.

And Darcy snatches it deftly out of the air. It's set on the floor behind her and her hands come up again, ready. "Next one!"

Tameus shuts the door behind him and wanders to Sivaine. He looks groggy. ".. s' Taye ou' there?" He hears Taye! His ears are stuck up.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye takes the next package, just as well wrapped but slightly larger. He lobs it, then thinks to shout. "How many dead s'far? How many ill?" He'll take anyone's answer, really!

Sivaine tilts an ear the window's way, and nods. "I think so." She offers her arms. "Here, up. We'll watch from another window, all right?"

Brenden calls down to Dark, "Sah! I need tah talk tah you'n Lieutenant Taye....without yellin out windows!" Brenden didn't hold much love for BB, or any of his ilk for that matter. But, a sick or hurt beast was in his realm of jurisdiction. Duty is duty.

Bottlebrush humms a soft ditty to himself as he watches, "Huh..WIsh I could be useful.."

"You can be useful by not getting in the way and getting well. Stay in the chair," Sivaine returns. Short on temper? A bit.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, And the major's attention goes to the window. "Then find me when I'm not busy!" is his quick response. "And if you're healthy, for fate's sake, get /out/ of the quarantine area!"

Darcy catches the next package with ease - sets it down. "Eighteen dead this afternoon," is her called response, "and about.. ahh. One in three beasts sick, I'd say!"

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye's ears perk at Brenden's familiar voice - and Darklett's response. He shakes his head patiently. "He can't - now he's there, 'e could carry it! He's got t'stay." He sighs, rubbing his paw down over his face again. He nods to Darcy's words. "... Okay, okay, okay. All righ'." He picks up the next package - lobs it up, and digs in his pack for the remaining three.

Brenden nods and grins to himself. They couldn't pull him away now. Now he would have all the time he would need to do a little research and come up with a cure.

Darcy catches, sets down. A novice behind her picks up the packages, staying out of the doe's way.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Anselm watches his fellow Patrol members with slight admiration, trying to think of a way to be helpful, but coming up empty.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, After all, that's what top-of-the-class healers should be doing. Figuring things out. Darklett glances to Taye, sighing at him. "Lieutenant," the major approaches the other officer. A few Redwallers murmur like the major's crazy, but he just wants to get close enough so he can lower his voice for (possibly) only the Lieutenant to hear. "...I won't have you causing any more panic than there already is for the Abbey by shouting death tolls and acting like a /madbeast./ Get a hold of yourself."

Tameus nods and goes into Sivaine's hold, to be lifted, then peers out the window at the hares in the open ground. Darklett, Taye. They're so far away! "... 'e doesn' look s' good," he says to Sivaine, of the Lieutenant.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, The next package comes up. "'Fore I do anything else... can you all send someone t'the kitchen t'gathah up enough food supplies that I c'n carry m'self?" He's kind of on auto-pilot, so when Darklett approaches he almost doesn't notice. He blinks when he speaks up, so much closer! He kind of starts away a couple feet. "Dark-!" But he cuts himself off. "... Yessah."

Bottlebrush winces at Sivs words and nods, his ears folding back, "True words, Siv.." He sighs and rests his head on the table, just watching the bustle.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Anselm hears the request for food and sees his chance, as that's mostly what he's been doing these days. "H'I can go, sah, if y'like."

Sivaine is getting pretty used to this. Up Tam goes, balanced against her hip. She peers out the window as well, rather more critically. "No.. that leg's still bothering him," she agrees, adjusting her hold slightly. "But he's walking, and talking, and he's a Lieutenant. They're strong, you know."

"Was 'e sick?" Tam asks anxiously, leaning out further. Little leveret hanging out the window! "/Is/ 'e sick?"

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Giving Taye a meaningful look, he nods, and... On a delay turns to Anselm. "Hop to it, then. Make it enough for two, 'cause I'll be escorting the Lieutenant back to the 67th."

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Anselm nods, already backing away. "Right sah, excellent. Back in a tick." Eager to please, the young hare bounds off as quickly as he deems dignified.

"Fwup-" Sivaine's eyes widen slightly and she circles the arm Tam's not sitting on around his chest. Restraint! "I'm not sure. Some of the hares at the 67th are sick." Tam's a smart kid. Best to be semi-truthful. "That's why there's the quarantine, so it doesn't spread more."

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye looks back down at the packages. Two left. He prepares the next. "This one's got a bottle in it - /don't/ drop it!" he orders Darcy, and lobs. And then to Darklett, "You can't come in, sah. Rank doesn't mattah anymore, not fer that, not at the 67th."

And it's caught. Only after does Darcy give a slight grumble, "Like I /would/." She passes the package off carefully to a novice.

Brenden turns away from the window towards the rest of the ones in the infirmary. "Who is tha healah in chaage heah? I need tah talk tah 'im."

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, "Didn't say I was comin' in, Lieutenant." Darklett almost sounds annoyed at Taye as he turns. But, he calms. "Just want to make sure you get there."

Zoe_Lang has been keeping back from the window, listening but leaving the gawking to the other gawkers. Her ears flick at Brenden's question. "Most o' the healahs have taken t'their beds. The head healah, Brothah Miles, among 'em. There's m'self... 'n' I s'pose Darcy would speek for the Abbey. We've both had plenty o' experience with the sickness."

".. I miss 'um," Tam mumbles, leaning into the sill, his expression tense and worried. "There's 'ares dyin' at the 67th too, then?"

Bottlebrush sits up and looks around the room, the fox frowning to himself but remaining rather quiet.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Anselm arrives back on the scene, two stuffed haversacks held aloft as he makes his way through the congregation, mumbling an apology here and there. He stops at the edge of the ring, unsure if he should go out to the pair or not. "Sah? H'I've got the supplies y' asked fah."

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye picks up the final and last package. "Do /NOT/, do /NOT/ drop this'un..." He holds it carefully himself - and lobs it up toward the doe. His eyes flicker toward Darklett. He nods, but doesn't object. "It'll be good t'have the company," he hehs. And to Anselm, "Leave 'em there - we'll get 'em on our way out, once beasts are cleared outta the way."

Brenden looks at Zoe when his question is answered. He nods, "Yes'm. I've been doin reseaach on this befoah I came in, an' now I can't leave. But, I think I might'a found something ma'am."

"I'll bet you do. Why not call out when they're leaving?" Sivaine murmurs, bent over slightly so Tam can plant his paws on the sill without toppling out of her grip. "And some, I would say. They're quarantined there too - see how everyone's staying back from Taye and Major Darklett."

"Right. Do not drop," Darcy mutters, and she ... catches it! A little triumphantly at that. Taye gets a smirky kind of salute from the doe. The salute of someone who really has no idea how to do it properly. The other hand cradles the last package to her chest. "Thank you much, Lieutenant!"

Tameus glances over his shoulder at Sivaine. "'s that where Jove 's?"

Bottlebrush starts coughing again and looks around, trying to spot tea or water. This time it is not a simple cough but a wracking one, the fox trembling in his chair and speaking between hacks, "Hells....t...teeth!"

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, "Yeah, leave them there," Darklett answers in accordance with the Lieutenant. The major watches the package go up, then turns to the crowd and all the frightened faces. "Keep clear! Make sure there's a path to the gates!"

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Anselm places his burden gently on the ground, pointing at the first and offering some advice. "Now this one h'is gonna need some special attention, got some glass flasks in theah, so watch it. Seems its the only way they package teas and cordials, wot."

Once the packages are all tossed up to Darcy, Tam grips the edge of the window and leans out. "Taye!" he calls down to the buck.

"Jove.. Jove." Sivaine's eyes flick skyward momentarily. "She might be. I haven't seen her for a while." You don't forget a figure like that very easily. "Ack, Tam-" There is some hasty hold readjustment.

Bottlebrush stands up and hurrs back into the infirmary recovery, knowing where the tea is in there, and coughing all the while.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye returns the salute, only managing the smallest of return smiles for Darcy's sake. He watches Darklett with relief. He doesn't have the energy for too much more shouting. He coughs into his paw, but it sounds pretty clear. Not phlegmy. Not plaguey, more importantly! He breathes deeply, then, for another round. "The 67th is runnin' low on foodstuffs... We've been keepin' a tight quarantine - no beasts in 'n' no beasts out. We've gout enough t'last... about anothah week, at the most. If we ration, tight. We need anythin' the Abbey c'n offah." His ears flicker at Tam's call and he looks up to the window. He spies Tam - ahh, relief. "Oy, kiddo! Good t'see ya, lad."

"Taye!" Tam says to the Lieutenant. "Y' gotta pr'mise y'r gonn' be arrigh'! If y' don' pr'mise I won' let y' go!" The worry shows on his face, even from a distance.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Anselm oh's. "H'I can get y' a few more 'sacks h'if y'd like, sah."

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, An Order beast speaks up in the crowds. "And you'll have it! As soon as we can get it all together, Lieutenant."

Brenden watches the colonel, then continues, "I know of a 'erb wot helped my mum when she was sick. Some of the same symptoms, but it's a little different." He shrugs, "Might help."

"Uh-" Sivaine tightens her grip on the kid. She hasn't forgotten his ambition to fly.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye shakes his head at Anselm. "We'll have t'do it some othah way... I c'n hardly carry m'self - the pack you gave me's more'n I c'n manage. The Majah 'n' I'll sort tha' out on the way..." And he looks to Darklett for confirmation on that.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, And to Tam, Taye shouts, "I'm all ri-" And his voice cracks from the strain. "-Ight! M'gonna be all righ'!"

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Darklett grabs the packs of food, making sure the path is there. Most of the Redwallers are still silent, the business they'd been doing minutes ago forgotten as they simply watch. Once things are in order, he turns. "What we have now'll be fine," he offers to the recruit. "Thank you." The major turns to Taye. "We'll bring what's here and when I get back I'll arrange for more to come."

Tameus falters for a moment. Siv will feel the hitch in his small form. "I can' 'ug y' Taye!" he calls, "s' jus' p'tend like I am, okay?"

Zoe_Lang turns, giving Brenden an appraising look. She considers a moment. "What's this herb 'n' where might we find out?"

Sivaine furrows her brow at that, too; her mouth twitches to the side.

Darcy turns away from the door and hands off the last package. Her attention goes to Zoe and Brenden and she steps toward them, ears up, expression questioning. "Hm?" Fill her in, the noise says.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye can't help it - he breaks out in the closest thing to a sunny smile he's felt in /days/... He then puts a paw to his lip and, with a smacking kiss sound, he swings his arm wide. Mwah! "You'll just have t'pretend I jus' kissed you, 'cause fer makin' me laugh ya deserve it!" He then starts backing away, wary of the watching Redwallers. Plague, plague! "Bye! Hopefully this'll be ovah soon 'n' we'll all get t'see each othah without shoutin'!"

Brenden frowns and takes in a deep breath, "Deep in the forest of the southsward, neah my old home." He turns and looks at Darcy and quickly fills her in, "I been doin reseaach on this sickness, think I may be ontah somethin. I also know of a 'erb wot might 'elp." Then he looks back to the colonel.

Tameus leans out further, arm outstretched. He wobbles in Sivaine's hold but manages to successfully 'catch' the blown kiss. A little smile shows on his face also. ".. love y' Taye." It's just loud enough for the Lieutenant to maybe hear. Maybe. "... stay safe."

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, And Darklett starts walking out, hefting up both the packages with a grunt. His face doesn't show fear, and it's hardly grim. He's... Smirking, unafraid, and trying to make sure everyone there notices that.

"... well that. That is ..." Good news? "Interesting," is the word Darcy summons up. Brenden has her full attention.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye's smile softens. He heard it, all right. He waves a paw, holding his arm palm out towards Tam as he backs away. "Love you too, kiddo, love you too." And with that final sentiment, the Lieutenant turns and starts off after Darklett, his limp pronounced and painful to look at. He kind of hobbles to catch up.

Zoe_Lang gives Darcy a look. "Oh, don't be a sourpuss!" Zoe, for one, sits on a stool and looks attentively at Brenden. "Tell me - this research."

"H'h." Sivaine half-smiles in a wry fashion at Taye's response, and pulls away from the window once the leveret-Lieutenant interactions are complete. Her gaze flickers briefly to the grown-up talking. The mousemaid listens in as she joggles Tam in an absentminded fashion. "He's strong," she reassures him again.

Darcy gives Zoe a glance and a shrug. "Someone has to be. But, yes. Tell. Please." The last to Brenden.

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, The gates open for the Major, and he heads right on out of the abbey, supplies in tow. Darklett turns once outside, waiting for his Lieutenant to follow.

Tameus is unwilling to leave the window until Taye and Darklett are gone from his line of view. He looks up at Sivaine and nods. "Yeah 'e is. 'e'll be arrigh'. .. bu' jus' 'n case, I wan'ed t' tell 'im. 'n case I don' get 'nother chance."

From RW Abbey: Open Ground, Taye does so, hobbling to reach Darklett. When to the gate he comes, he glances back once more, lifting a paw in a wave. And then he goes out through the gate and out of sight.

Brenden nods and holds out the small stack of parchment with his notes to the colonel. He gives Darcy a glance, still didn't know this one, but she was interested so he would tell anyways, "It was a right hard time digging, but I managed tah find some books heah an at HQ. Medical recuds. Theah was an isolated case of a sickness wot was like this a good while back. Seems a squirrel caught this sickness an brought it tah th' abby. Since no beast knew what it was then, they kept 'im isolated in case it would spread." He pauses only to take a breath, "Theah was a few things that they tried wot seemed tah help, but 'e died befoah they could try moah. I have everything written theah," he finishes, motioning to the notes.

Sivaine just nods. "I understand." Her voice is a bit raspy, and a moment later she's turned her head over her shoulder, holding Tam away from her coughing. "Hh. Understand. It's important to let people know things like that." Hack. Hngh. "So. What did you eat today?"

Tameus's muzzle crinkles up slightly. "Uhm."

Zoe_Lang takes the notes, bending her head and peering through her spectacles to skim them, a frown of concentration her expression of choice. "Mm. I see..." She glances back up from the notes - passes them to Darcy without reading. Not a notes-hog, is she.

"Mhmm. That's what I thought," Sivaine says flatly, glancing again to the little group of healers. The notes are noted. "Let's get you something; it's about dinner time. You need to eat."

Darcy's hand extends to take the notes, which she gives a closer scrutiny. No specs needed for the younger doe. She makes a thoughtful noise.

Tameus draws a breath, exhales it. "'m n' 'ungry though Siva.."

"If you don't eat, you'll get sick again," Sivaine warns. Her fingers flex, trying to gauge the padding - or lack thereof - around his ribs. "What did I say was one part of taking care of Harper?"

Brenden watches the notes change hands and turns to Darcy, waiting for her comments on his notes.

"Bu' 'm jus' .. /not/," Tameus mumbles, head hanging a little. ".. uhm. Y' .. said a few things, Siva," he points out.

Zoe_Lang watches Brenden watch Darcy, which to her is the more interesting reaction at the moment!

"Siv," Sivaine absently corrects, turning to watch Zoe watch Brenden watch Darcy. "And that'd be worry taking up space in your belly. Who else do you have to take care of to take care of Harper?" Prompt, prompt.

"Huh. Pneumonia," Darcy mutters. Shuffles to another page, glances at Brenden. "That is ... hm." Her gaze goes down again, and she skims, skims, then lifts her head. "Well we know this part.. the bit about the coughing, it's making the air bad. You'll notice some of the novices, the beasts helping who aren't sick - they're wearing cloths over their faces, like you say here." She taps a spot. Flips to another page, a list of different herbs and remedies. "/This/ is good, though. Things that .. right, right, fight the symptoms but don't work as a cure. Didn't, anyway. Not for this one beast." She passes that list to Zoe to look at.

"... m'self," Tam grudgingly responds.

Brenden shakes his head, "I jus' got back. I've been readin up on this fer tha past two days." Then he shrugs, "That squirrel might have been too fah gone."

Zoe_Lang takes the notes, reading through them herself. She reads quietly, her vision making it a slower prospect for her. She waves at them to keep talking while she does so.

"Right. Which is why I started training," Sivaine responds. "So you're going to eat - not a lot, but some - and that'll be less for your da to worry about." She shifts her hold on the leveret - he's slipping a bit - and with another glance at the healers, heads for the door to the hallway. Dinnertime! Whether Tam likes it or not.

Tameus gives a low mumble as he's carried off. The good thing about quarantine - food is right there in the hallway. He's never more than a few seconds' dash from his father's side.

"True. No way of knowing," Darcy muses, and shrugs. ".. but we need a cure. We can't keep battling the symptoms. Even with what the Lieutenant just brought we're due to run out of supplies /well/ before winter is over. And this could easily last past the spring thaw if something's not done." Her voice is low, steady. "It's like a fire. It'll just devour everyone until there's nothing left. So what leads do you have on a cure, specifically?"

"You can eat with him so long as you don't get crumbs on the bedsheets," Sivaine tells the leveret as she ducks out the door.

Zoe_Lang glances up briefly at Darcy's words, her eye turning to Brenden to hear his answer.

Brenden looks down for a second, getting himself lost in thought.

Darcy waits, silent. No hurry. Not like it's a crisis or anything.

Zoe_Lang is not so patient. "Private?" she inquires.

Brenden turns away from the two and starts pacing. He was so far in his own thoughts that he didn't even hear Zoe, "I think....hmm...." He makes his way over to the window and looks out, wracking his memory for anything that could be of use. He turns back to the two, "When my mum got sick, it was a bad wintah. We almost ran out of food, an we were fohced tah eat moldy bread...." He puts one of his small claws in his mouth and chews on it, on the brink of something.

Darcy folds her arms, the impatience and tiredness starting to show through in her expression. She's still silent, though.

Brenden nods slowly at first, "She stahted tah slowly get bettah then. Befoah we found the herb wot helped 'er alot."

Zoe_Lang's eyebrows raise. "Are you tryin' to suggest that eatin' moldy bread will cure the plague?"

Darcy presses her eyes shut, lifts a hand to her face. She rubs her closed eyes and then the bridge of her muzzle.

Brenden shrugs and starts to sound a lot less sure of himself, "Don't know ma'am. I jus' know that she stahted tah get bettah." He looks down, "Sorreh."

Garran comes in with a sigh quietly rubbing at his face before sitting down. "Evening" he greets quietly.

".. nnh." Darcy takes a moment, draws a breath. It's let out slowly and she opens her eyes, looking at Brenden. ".. so you have no leads. Nothing. No trail to follow."

Brenden looks back up at Darcy and sort of narrows his eyes, "There is the herb that my mum took, that I told Colonel Lang about. What have you done? Who are you exactly?" Yeah, he can get defensive quickly.

"Darcy," the doe says in a clipped tone. "I 'speak for the abbey' apparently. So tell me about this herb then."

Brenden takes in a breath and calms himself, "It's called goldenseal. It kind of looks like a daisy, with a red berry on top. That helped my mum the best. We used tah get it deep in tha forest in southswahd."

Brenden adds, "I didn't have time tah check about it in any books. I wanted tah get back heah tah make a report."

Garran stands up and pulls his uniform down a bit to fit it better before going to Darcy speaking. "Excuse me" he says...The buck doesn't greet any beast else yet. and he sounds a bit upset..or..something

Darcy is thinking. She holds up a finger to Brenden - give her a minute - and then the /other/ hand lifts to give Garran the same gesture. "Goldenseal. Okay. ... damn this quarantine, there's a book in the library, big heavy tome, medicinal plants." She's mumbling to herself, eyes shut.

Garran hms and pauses as the paw is lifted up. "it is rather important..." he says but the falls quiet, waiting.

Sivaine passes back through at this point with a plate of food and a tumbler, followed by a Tameus. They disappear into the healer dorms; she eyes the broken lock as she goes past.

Darcy's eyes blink open. She gives Garran a look. "Right. Because what I'm doing isn't." Brenden gets an apologetic look, then her attention is on Garran. Her expression suggests it won't remain there for long. "What."

Brenden turns his head to look at Garran and raises a brow. He doesn't say anything, he just found it a little rude to be interrupted while he was in the middle of talking about something that could possibly be a cure to this plague.

Garran Frowns at the doe...he wants to say something. "Another one's dead" he says. "Dibbun...no older than Three seasons" he sighs a bit. He wants cry...he hates losing beasts...what healer doesn't? Then he glances to Brendan and then back to darcy. "Sorry to interrupt..."

Brenden lets out a low breath and nods. Death happens. He explains somewhat to Garran, "And we were talkin about a possible cure. Right now, nothing can be done about the dead. Focus on the livin wot."

Darcy's muzzle twitches. "Nineteen, then," she mutters. "Well, get rid of the body, or tell a novice and they will. Make sure the linen is changed before anyone else lays in that bed." And, instructions given, she turns back to Brenden. "Goldenseal. Similar to a buttercup if I'm remembering correctly..."

Garran nods. "its already been taken care of..everything is in action as we talk" he sighs but an ear twitches at the thought of a cure. "Mind filling me in? Maybe able to help..." he's only half hare, so his Accent isn't really stuck.

Brenden shakes his head when he returns his attention to Darcy, "No. Daisy, with a red berry on top, kinda like a rasberreh." He turns his head to Gerran, "Evah heah of goldenseal?"

"I've only seen it in books," Darcy muses. Glances at Garran. "You can listen. I'd rather if you were working. We don't have time to summarize the conversation to this point." And, attention back on Brenden, where it now stays. "Southsward? How far a travel from here, would you say?"

Garran nods. "Of course.." he replies. his battle not to cry is lost as the healers bring out the dibbun wrapped in cloth all the way round and head out. A tear falls as he watches them, but he doesn't notice it. Being a father, the thought of losing any dibbun has a greater hit on him than some. he then hms at darcy. "Will do both" he says before starting to go around to the sick in here and do as needed, ear's tuned in on the conversation.

Brenden takes in a deep breath and thinks for a moment. He glances up when the body is carried out, but doesn't make any outward expression. "I'd say, maybe five days tops, movin light."

Brenden adds, "Thats tah find tha 'erb. It won't be easy."

"In this weather? Better make it a week, each way," Darcy says under her breath, rubbing her hands together. She works on cracking the knuckles of one hand. "So say .. we send a small group. And it's .. /winter/." Nnnnhhghhh. "Nothing grows in winter. Not unless there's some little miracle haven of warmth /deep/ in the woods that just so happens to have the miracle cure." Muttering.

Garran hms and looks over. "There's always a chance..What about sending some Sparrows to Search?" he asks. "Would be quicker..not by much but...." he has a doubt about the plants being around in the snow.

Brenden wonders out-loud, "Wondah if mum would have any saved..."

Brenden looks back up, "I don't pretend tah know 'ow it grows. It might grow in tha wintah. But, I don't think that we 'ave tha time tah wait."

Darcy dismisses this suggestion with a shake of her head. "No, we need a few beasts to go on foot. Probably Long Patrollers. Meanwhile we'll contact the other communities in Mossflower - Camp Willow, the squirrel clan - ask for it specifically." She's thinking aloud, acknowledging what Brenden says with a nod.

Garran Hms. "Would be quicker to send sparrows...We need to get what we can as soon as we can..we cant wait two weeks.." he says..."but its not my call..just my Suggestion"

Brenden turns back to Garran, "Yes. It would be quickah. But when it comes tah moving through tha trees and digging through snow, who do you think is moah capable?" He lays his ears back on his head, "Sparrahs would be best tah ask tha othah communities though."

Garran nods and hms as he goes about his work. "Question is....is it safe to send any out of the abbey?" he asks.

Darcy grimaces and gives Garran a look. "First. Ever tried communicating with a sparrow? Give them directions to Southsward and they'll come back with a bag of snow from the far north. /Second/, they can neither scrounge for the plant nor carry it back. And /third/. .. they're Sparra. They're arguably insane." She shakes her head. "Will you please.. go back to work," she says to Garran. In another room, preferably - this part isn't voiced aloud.

And Darcy continues to Brenden without pause. "We'll send either sparrows or Long Patrol runners to the other communities. Personally I'd prefer runners. And I'll talk to Zoe.." Because she's wandered off! ".. and with a little luck we'll have a small group together to leave tomorrow. Will you be going with them or staying here?"

Garran Frowns. "I have as much right to Voice options for this as any healer and I wont be told otherwise..besides, I am working" he replies before he continues.

Brenden leans in towards Darcy and lowers his voice so maybe only she will hear, "Ey, 'e does just wanna help." When he leans back he shrugs, "Don't rightly know. Depends on if Majah Darklett'll let me outa heah now."

Darcy's muzzle twitches. "I'm not in the habit of catering my work to amateurs who 'just want to help'," is her muttered reply. She goes on, at a normal tone, "If you can give directions well enough - draw out a map maybe - I'd prefer you here. You're a healer and we're running short on those. Plenty of beasts can go trekking out in the snow, not nearly as many know how to drop a fever."

Garran whoas and snaps out. "I am no Amateur fool" he snaps. Its not loud but Its Rude...And he meant it. "I've been a healer most of my life and I will not stand being insulted"

Brenden turns towards Garran and points down a row, "Looks like they need 'nothah blanket. See tah it." Then he turns back to Darcy and nods, "If anythin I could give directions tah my parents fahm. They'd help."

Garran grumbles. He does do it but on his way down. "Dont take orders from you" he says. The Buck only does it because he's supposed to anyways.

"Then heal why don't you," Darcy says in a low, slightly grating tone, pointing a finger at the scores of sick beasts crowding the infirmary. She turns, her back to Garran - ignoring him now - and looks up toward Brenden's face again. "That'll do. See if you can write up directions - a map if possible - and have it back to me by morning, please. I'll find the Colonel and we'll sort out who's to be sent."

Brenden nods to Darcy, "I can do that. I'll leave 'em on tha countah in heah. All tha infahmation, parents names and description of tha fahm." He looks down, chuckles lightly and looks back up, "Since I'm heah now, what are tha boundaries of tha quarantine?"

Garran gives the beast the blanket and snaps at Darcy again. "I am you stupid beast" he replies...he is healing...he's both. He can multitask, who said he cant?

Darcy ignores. Her ears give a slight twitch but otherwise there's no response. She nods to Brenden. "Perfect. Do that. Ahh. .. we have the top and middle floor. The stairs are the barrier, don't go beyond them or to the lower floor, or outside."

Brenden nods, "And yah gonna burn tha linens aftah all of this right? Also, how're yah gonna clean these levels aftahwords?"

Darcy shakes her head. "Linens burnt, yes. For now they're boiled between use. .. we haven't even thought of cleaning the abbey yet, after."

Garran continues his healing of the sick beasts and listening of Brendan and the Doe who thinks she knows everything.

Brenden lifts his ears back up, content that now Garran wasn't going to say anything else. At least for the time being. He nods and rubs his tired eyes, straightening his uniform up idly. It still looked wrinkled, but he had a good excuse. "What all did Lieutenant Taye send?"

"I haven't checked yet. Probably more of the same we've been using, maybe some alternative versions that do the same thing." Darcy shrugs. She looks worn out.

Garran continues to go about his business before hming. "We're running low on clean blankets...I'll go grab some" he says, heading off to find some clean blankets.

Brenden nods first to Darcy, then to Garran. He does notice how worn out she looks, and knows how worn out he is, so he moves over and starts getting out some ingredients to make some tea. As he prepares it he goes on, "I haven't had a chance tah take stock with what yah got heah. But I guess it's safe tah assume what yah got isn't workin very well aside from makin a beast moah comftable..." then he lets his sentence drop off. It was probably obvious what he was getting at anyways.

"We're keeping symptoms under control as best as we can," Darcy responds, finding a seat and sinking into it. "The fever and the cough. .. hell, the fever. Worse fever I've ever seen. We've had beasts hallucinating, delirious.. /convulsing/ from the fever."

Brenden continues making the tea, his back to the room, "Have yah been using lobelia for tha cough? It's a good relaxant, calms tha nerves."

Garran comes back and stocks up the blankets. "What is needed now?" he asks, as he continues going about.

Darcy pays no attention to Garran - kind of hoping he'll get discouraged and wander out. "We used it when we had it. There wasn't much stocked to begin with. We've been using just about anything we have that can help fever, cough, or anything to just... let them rest. It's exhausting. It just... is exhausting."

Garran looks at Darcy. "I asked you a question" he says

Brenden nods, "Thats anothah one that needs tah be stocked moah often. Not many healah's I've met know about it." He lets Darcy handle Garran, assuming that the two work together.

Darcy glances over. Her eyes are half shut, expression mild. "There are two whole floors of sick beasts. Will you please go somewhere else."

Garran growls and Slaps his fist on the Desk. "You.....you...." He grumbles. "I'm doing my best to work with you..." he says "I will not put up with your ignorance any longer"

Darcy's expression doesn't change much. Her eyebrows lift maybe a quarter-inch at best. "And I'm sure your commanding officer won't put up with your continued idiocy and childishness. Which I intend to make her aware of. How about you go somewhere else." Her voice doesn't drift very far from one steady octave.

Garran is insulted. "I have done nothing wrong to you...." He growls. He's mad now. "All I did was offer a suggestion and do my Job now I'm getting badgered AGAIN" He's shouting now.

Brenden drops what he's doing and turns quickly on Garran, keeping his voice low, "Listen heah private. This is an infirmary. We are guests of the abby and Dahcy is in chahge. You /will/ calm down or I /will/ move you away from the patients."

Garran looks up. "I'm doing my Job and Still getting in trouble, what the 'ell am I supposed to do? Let her do that? No I'm gonna stand up for mehself"

Brenden shakes his head and takes a step closer to him, "No. Now I don't cah wot is 'tween you two. You ah in uniform representing the Long Patrol. You /will/ behave as such. Do you undahstand me?"

Garran looks at the hare. "I dont Take orders from you...You dont even out rank me" he says, giving the buck a weird, mostly angry look.

Darcy says, in a very level, steely voice, "You had better leave." She doesn't rise from her chair.

Brenden clenches his fists, the only outward sign that he is now pissed. His voice gets softer, "Do not make me take this highah. You know I'm right. Now leave befoah you make tha rest 'o tha patrol look bad."

Garran Growls and looks over. "I go where i please. I'm trying to help. I asked what needed doing in this room, And i get yelled at.. You'll be hearing from the abbot you insolent little fool" He looks over. "And you'll be hearing from the Colonel" he growls as he heads back into the recovery room

Brenden scoffs, "In that case, my names Private Brenden Thatcha. Just be sure tah tell 'er right." Then he smirks, "Or would yah like me tah tell the colonel myself?"

One brow creeps up a liiittle higher, and Darcy says nothing. Watches Garran go.

Brenden shakes his head and moves back to finish up on the tea, pouring two cups. He turns around and moves to give one to Darcy, "Sorreh 'bout that."

"Heh." Darcy isn't really able to form a chuckle, but makes an attempt. "No. It's ... whatever. The Colonel will handle him, he's a nuisance. Thank you." The doe leans forward to take the drink, then back again, lifting the cup to her lips. "And for this also."

Brenden nods, more for the thanks about the tea than anything. He moves over and takes a seat on a stool, "I'm not worried about 'im. 'E was in the wrong." He takes a sip of the hot tea and closes his eyes, "Also, sorreh I snapped at yah earliah."

Darcy's brows lift, expression showing curiosity through the layers of fatigue. "Did you? .. heh, I guess you did. It's fine. I'm a bit, ah." She pauses, considering choice of words. "Difficult," she decides. "I can be difficult I guess. Efficient. Blunt. No gesture wasted. Brenden, right?"

Brenden nods, "Yes." He smiles, "And I suppose we'ah gonna be workin togetha now. It is nice tah meetcha Darcy, though I do wish it was undah bettah circumstances." He lets his ears droop tiredly.

"You also," the doe returns with a smirk, and then her muzzle widens in a low yawn. She sips the tea, saying nothing for a little while. Just resting while she has the chance. Absently she says, "I can always reintroduce myself after this is over.." Heh.

Brenden leans his head back against the wall and looks over with a grin, "Sounds good tah me." He looks back ahead, sipping on the tea. A soft chuckle comes from him a long moment after, "First thing I'm gonna do, is raid tha kitchens."

"Mmph," is Darcy's response to this. "First thing I'm going to do is... sleep. For a damn fortnight, I reckon."

Brenden chuckles, "Bah. Yah can sleep aftah the kitchens raid. Bettah tah sleep on a full stomach." He closes his eyes, still leaning back against the wall. A moment passes before he sits up and stands up, "No...can't sleep yet..."

Darcy finishes about half the tea in a few swallows, and stands, setting this down now. "Alright, you come get me and we'll raid the kitchens together. If there's anything /left/." Her smile is rueful, and a glance skates toward the healer's dorm. "I need to check on Harper and Miles, then catch a few hours of shuteye. I'll see you tomorrow."

Brenden nods and moves over to the counter, looking for parchment to draw the map out on. He smiles up at Darcy, "I will do that." Then he nods, "Alright. Take care. I'll see yah tomorrah." Then he turns and keeps looking for what he needs to make the maps.

Darcy gives a slight nod in response and heads out of the room. "Sleep well."

Brenden says, "You too."