01.30.09 - Leaving

Location: Redwall Great Hall

Characters Involved: Sivaine, Darcy, Bottlebrush, Nicodemus, Harper, Tameus, Zoe Lang, Anselm

Sivaine is in a chair with her cloak hung over the back, eating a pasty. She looks disheveled; probably been out training.

Darcy slips over to Sivaine's chair to perch herself on the arm of it. "I feel like I can't hardly move without risking being trampled by a Patroller," she mutters.

Bottlebrush has a bag with him and, when he spots Siv and Darcy, he tries to hide it behind something, anything. He can't remember if Siv knows of his plan to go with the Long Patrol to learn about his past because, hey, he has been sick.

"They're congregating." Sivaine polishes off the last of her meal and sips at her tea. "Take a good long last look at all your handsome bucks?" Her view of Bottlebrush is being blocked by Darcy.

Darcy chuckles. "I am taking several last looks. You know once they're gone it'll be me and Harper as the resident hares. ... or is there anyone else not going?"

Bottlebrush twitches his tail and looks towards the two before he straightens up and starts to wander over. Being polite, he stays silent and simply smiles as he goes.

"Mm.. hmm." Sivaine racks her brain. "Brother Sullivan? Wonky ears, works in the library, smells faintly of cheese?" Possibly as old as some of the Abbey stones?

Darcy makes a face. ".. he doesn't count."

Sivaine dips her muzzle into her tea mug. "..so you'll just have Harper to stare at, then."

Bottlebrush pauses a few feet away and tilts his head, the foxes ears perking forward while he grins, "Evening, you two.."

Nicodemus enters rubbing his paws together for a bit of warmth.

Sivaine glances up. "Oh, Bottle. I haven't seen you in.. well, glad you're well." Which is to say, 'not dead.'

Darcy's ears lift a little as she turns, and gives Bottlebrush a quick smile. "Oh good, you survived," she comments nonchalantly, then dips her head toward Nicodemus. "Evening Father."

Nicodemus nods. "Merry meet, lass, everybeast."

Sivaine says, "Father Abbot. Evening."

Bottlebrush blinkblinks and twitches an ear, looking a little..nonplussed, "...And hello to you two, too.." He then moves over to a chair near the fire and sits down, his tail twitching while he looks over at Nico, "Evening, Father."

Nicodemus sits down by the fire. "Merry meet, BB."

"It doesn't really make sense, starting a journey as night falls," Sivaine comments thoughtfully, out of nowhere.

Darcy shrugs, leaning sideways sort of .. into Sivaine. "They're the Long Patrol, they don't have to make sense. Just act perilous."

Bottlebrush chuckles at that.

"They're supposed to be perilous to others," Sivaine points out, making a little 'mff' sound as she's.. leaned into. "Not themselves."

Bottlebrush reaches into his robe and pulls out his ocarina, the fox idly starting to polish it with the edge of his garment, "Night hiking can be fun, you know."

The chair next to Nicodemus' is snoring. Perhaps that has something to do with the black-furred mousemaid curled up in it. Unless it's that haunted chair we don't discuss.

Sivaine quirks an eyebrow at the fox's bag. "You're going along?"

Bottlebrush jumps when Siv notices his bag and then nods, "Ahh..Yeah. Going to..umm..Halyard, I believe the town is called. Near Salamandastron." He puts his ocarina away and then snaps his fingers, "OH!" Quick as a wink, the fox is bounding up the stairs, "I have something for you and something for Ardice!" He calls as he goes.

Darcy leeeans around and peers at BB's bag. "... well you're .." She was going to say 'not a hare'. But. He scoots off. The doe straightens. "... well then."

Sivaine blinks. "..right, he's.." She glances to Darcy as the fox scampers off. "He talked to the Colonel about this. He's going to.. find himself."

"Well that. That's rather typically story-book," Darcy says with a little smirk. "Me, I think the best place to 'find myself' is the cellar."

Harper comes down the stairs with a Tameus-shaped growth attached to his side.

Meanwhile, Colonel Zoe brings the wind in with her as she enters from outside! The door is quickly shut. She's all decked out in traveling gear, a pack slung over her shoulder. She looks around the ole place, smiling slightly.

"Well. Wherever you go, there you are," Sivaine quips distractedly, finishing the last of her tea. She wipes her fingers off on the napkin she thought to grab, then retrieves her ring from her pocket.

Tameus is not letting go, not letting go. He clings to Harper. There's a bag over his shoulder and he's dressed for travel.

Bottlebrush comes scampering back down a few minutes later, carring two parchment-wrapped, small items, one in each arm, "Hey Tam! Hey Harper!" He says as he hurries back over towards Sivaine and past the two. He stops once he is close to Siv, panting a little from his sprint, and holds out the first item. It's about six inches long but hard to see what it is.."This one is yours, Siv. I ment to give it when all the gifts were being given but things kind of distracted me.."

"Ah?" Sivaine pushes the remains of her meal aside and rises, slipping the band on. Again. "Well, things distracted me too, but.. thank you." She accepts the one, paper crackling under her fingers.

They're like a four-legged shuffling entity. Harper leads them downstairs and over towards where Siv and BB and crew are. No doubt Tam'll want to say goodbyes.

Darcy slips sideways to steal Sivaine's seat once the mousemaid gets up. Haha.

Tameus has his face tucked against Harper's side. He lifts it but continues to cling on his father, ears back, blinking at Sivaine, Bottlebrush, and Darcy in a subdued manner.

Bottlebrush twitches his tail and smiles, placing the other wrapped item on the table. It's about the same size as Sivs, if a bit bigger/smaller depending on if Siv or Ardice is taller, "This other one is for Ardice. I am glad I was able to give them before I had to leave with the Long Patrol." He then blinks as he spots the ring, ears perking forwards, "Nice ring, Siv.." His eyes then dart to Tam and Harper, then Zoe and his bag, and then back to Siv.

Don't worry, Zoe's not in any rush. It's not like they're going to leave without her! She's just speaking a word or two to folks here and there, saying her goodbyes.

Tameus mutters, "Siva."

Harper looks up from Tam, to Siv. He keeps quiet. Just kind of urges Tam forward a /little/ bit. Not pushing him away, or anything.

"Hm? Oh." Sivaine glances down at her paw, and for a brief moment there is a positively stupid grin. "Heh." Right, right. Serious face. "I'll just- Tam." With a slightly apologetic look to BB - children first - she crouches down to the leveret's level, motioning with one hand. Over here.

Tameus is unwilling to let go of Harper's hand - but he does step forward, toward Sivaine, gazing at her levelly and smiling a little. ".. I haft' go now Siva," he says softly to her.

Bottlebrush gives a warm smile and nods at the look. He steps to the side and then turns towards Zoe to give her a smile and a wave.

The Colonel returns the wave, stepping over to the healer fox. "Ready t'go, I take it?"

Bottlebrush nods to Zoe, "As ready as I will ever be." He then flashes the Colonel a quick grin, "I don't mind telling you that I am nervous, both of what I may learn and of going off with the Long Patrol."

Zoe chuckles. "You've nothing t'fear from us s'long as we've nothing t'fear from you. Fair?"

Well, if the mountain will not come to Mahomet, as it's said. Sivaine rises, crossing over to the leveret and his parental outgrowth. "I know," she says, rather quietly.

Bottlebrush chuckles and nods, "Fair. Though Taye may not see it that way." He looks serious a moment and then his grin is back.

Darcy vacates Sivaine's seat, taking her friend's mug of tea along with her. She aims across the room toward Zoe, pausing a little way back, waiting until the Colonel is done speaking.

Harper hangs back as much as the attached growth will allow. Giving Siv her moment.

Tameus keeps up the smile, fingers grasping at Harper's for a moment. "'ll miss y', Siva," he says softly. Then the hold on Harper is broken - gasp! - and he leans in to grasp Sivaine around the shoulders in a rather abrupt, tight hug.

"Taye will do his job 'n' no more," Zoe assures. She reaches out, pats BB on the shoulder. Squeeze. "You'll be fine. Just s'long as you c'n keep up." Grin.

Bottlebrush smiles warmly and nods, "Just try to leave me behind, Colonel." He then pauses and steps aside as he sees Dary waiting so she can speak to Zoe.

Nicodemus pokes BB. "If they try, you'll never keep up, lad. Be wary of what you wish for."

Darcy drums her fingers on the side of the mug she holds, then steps forward toward Zoe when BB moves away. "Colonel."

The Colonel flashes Nicodemus a grin, but - Darcy. "Yes, deah?"

Darcy looks just the /tiniest/ bit nervous as she offers out a hand. ".. it was an honor." Her voice is low.

Gasp indeed. Sivaine wraps her arms around the little - not so little any more! - form. "Miss you too," she murmurs, with a warm, fierce squeeze. Then she ruffles his hair with a little half grin. "Hey. I'll probably show up with a letter for you at some point."

Bottlebrush meeps at the poke and flashes Nico a grin, "I will follow your advice, Father." He then holds out a paw to the squirrel, "Thank you for letting me stay, even after.." He pauses and then continues without exactly saying it, "..After learning some of my past, Father."

Zoe smiles warmly, taking the paw in both of hers. Squeeze. "Likewise, Darcy. It was a pleasure workin' with ya. Come by the mountain sometime - we c'n exchange remedies." Paw pat and release.

Nicodemus shakes the paw. "The past is always where it belongs. When you accept that, you'll have it a lot easier."

Tameus leans back after the hug is administered, smiling a little tearfully at the mouse. "... y' haft' take care'a 'im, okay?" he tells her, and rubs at his face with one hand. "Jus'. Jus' make sure 'e's okay."

Darcy's muzzle tugs into a quick little grin. "I will at that, Zoe," she says, dips her head briefly, and steps back. Short and sweet.

Bottlebrush nods, "I wish I could leave it in the past but that would be a dishonor to those who.." He trails off and shakes his head, "You know I feel that way."

Harper watches the embrace and listens to the conversation with a somber little smile. At Tam's instruction to Sivaine, he glances to the mousemaid.

Nicodemus laughs! "Yes, I know."

Short and sweet, indeed. Zoe nods one last time to Darcy, then looks around. At the family parting ways. She waits.

Nicodemus nods to Zoe. "Merry part Colonel. I hope we have a chance to cross again."

Bottlebrush grins to Nico again and then moves to pick up his backpack and place it on his shoulders. Where did he get the gear? He fidgits with the straps untill it is comfortable and looks around again with a soft sigh whil ehe murmurs to himself, "I will miss the Abbey..I hope I will come back some day." He is not speaking to anyone but he is not saying it quietly.

Nicodemus bows to the whole cluster prepping for the long journey to the mountain he's never reached.

"I'll make sure he's okay," Sivaine promises, quiet and completely serious, gaze fixed intently on Tam's face. "And you have to take care of yourself, yes?" She reaches up and gently tweaks his ear, the corner of her mouth twitching.

Nicodemus mutters something to Harper as he heads out of the hall.

Tameus nods solemnly. "I will. I pr'mise. I will." He leans to lightly kiss her cheek, then steps back, turning to Harper, reaching for his hand again.

Harper extends his paw, catching hold of Tam's again. "I think Zoe's waitin' on you. I asked her t'keep an eye on you for the trip." He also figured they'd be going a similar pace!

Tameus grasps at Harper's hand rather firmly, looking up at him. ".. okay. Okay." He glances sidelong toward Zoe, then back up at Harper's face. He gulps.

Sivaine watches Tam for a minute, then nods. "Good." She dusts off her knees and straightens up, fingering the cuff of one sleeve.

Bottlebrush tilts his head and watches Siv, Tam, and Harper. He feels a little better knowing Tam is going, since the levret is always fun to be around.

Harper leans down, lifting Tam up into his arms. He smiles sadly. "Okay," he agrees. He walks them slowly over towards the Colonel.

Tameus circles his arms around Harper's neck as he's lifted, holding on. Clinging. His shoulders hitch a tiny bit.

Zoe watches them near. Her eyes shift to Sivaine, briefly, and there's a nod.

Bottlebrush rubs the back of his head and looks around again before he wipes at his eyes. The foxy ain't crying! He has just sprung a slow leak of water in the vicinity of the eyes that is usually called 'crying' when done by others! Yeah..

"Wait! Oh, sweet irony, don't go yet!" From the kitchen, Anselm bounds. He looks a mess. His tunic is in disarray, the infinitely many pins askew. Less-than-graceful footpaws slap loudly on the stone floor, pushed down by the weight of not one, not two, but /three/ haversacks somehow slung over his shoulders. "Oh, thank the seasons, y' haven't left without me."

Harper's eyes close. His steps slow more, if that's possible. "Remember t'have /fun/." His words are murmured with fierce emotion into Tam's ears.

Tameus swallows tightly and nods. A moment later there's a little 'hrk' out of the leveret and tears spring from his eyes, felt against the slope of Harper's neck where his face is pressed.

And a brief nod back. Sivaine is focused on Tameus, though, watching the hand-off process from her short distance away. "Oh." A thought strikes her. "Bottlebrush. If you're an idiot and get yourself killed in a bar fight I'll never speak to you again."

Bottlebrush jumps when Siv says his name and then blinks, "Have you known me to fight, Siv?" He gives her a small grin, "I am a healer.." He sounds like he is almost trying to convince himself, "I heal, not hurt."

Sivaine quirks a brow. "Yes, so wait until they've stopped breaking chairs before you move in with the bandages, all right?"

Zoe's attention shifts to Anselm. She grins, looking amused. "You're just in undah the wire... They're all waitin' outside." For Zoe to get her old butt moving, that is!

Bottlebrush wipes his eyes again and then nods, "I promise.." He then smiles to Harper and Siv, "And I promise to keep one eye on Tam, ok? I like the little guy."

No matter how slowly Harper goes, he's got to reach her eventually. And this Harper does, pausing before Zoe. He goes to kneel down, waiting for Tam's feet to touch the ground of their own volition. "Make sure t'listen t'yer Gran'mum; she knows a thing or two."

"Jolly good, jolly gu..." Anselm lets his words die off as he doubles over and shifts to keep those sacks on him. A glance goes to assembled company. "Looks like they're all waitin' in here..." Murmured, of course.

Tameus's feet don't want to touch. He tugs his knees against Harper's hips, clinging, snuffling against his shoulder. "I will," he promises. Now his feet touch the floor, and his muzzle draws back, lifting to look at Harper's face - his own streaked with new tears. "... I will."

Harper can't hide it. His face is wet, though there's no visible presence of tears. His voice is thick. "You just. You just take care of yerself. And write. Soon s'you get there. All righ'? And... don't go wanderin' out on the beach by yerself. And don't play up on the crater. And make sure t'eat. And..." But he could go on like that for seasons, so he doesn't.

Sivaine crosses her arms, gripping them at the elbows, and leans back on one foot. "He'll be all right," she murmurs, barely audible. It's unclear who she's trying to reassure.

Bottlebrush rubs the back of his head again and looks around before giving another sigh and murmuring to himself, "I hope I am making the right choice.."

Tameus lifts his hands to press them to Harper's cheeks. "... I will," he says again, voice very tiny. He draws a breath, swallows, then lets out the air on a soft crying sound, eyes shutting, hugging onto Harper's shoulders tight as he possibly can.

Harper's return hug is just as fierce. There's none of the noise that Tameus is making, but his shoulders hitch. And then he draws his arms slowly free. "... Time t'go."

Zoe is waiting patiently enough, but she is drumming her fingers lightly on her opposite forearm. Ready to be away and on the trail, no doubt. Her eyes scan the Great Hall quietly. "'Til we meet again," she murmurs to herself.

Tameus clings onto Harper's sleeve for a moment longer. "I love y'," he whispers fiercely, and lets go, backing up a step. "More'n anythin'.."

"Erm..." What's in those haversacks, anyway? They look lumpy. Anselm shares Zoe's ready stance, though his is a little off-kilter from the back-sacks. "We goin', then...?"

Sivaine is debating some action, by her expression, but.. doesn't move. "..I will," she says after a moment, looking up. "Safe travel, Bottle. ..Tam."

"More'n anything," Harper echoes. Smiles as bracingly as he can manage, which isn't much. He reaches out, giving one last ruffle to the headfur. His paw rests there a few seconds, then lifts. His eyes shift to Zoe and Anselm, and then back to Tameus. He nods his head. "Go make me proud, son."

Bottlebrush hesitates a moment and then mentally shrugs and moves over to give Siv a hug. Last time he will get the chance to hug her without getting anything broken! ..He hopes! "Here's hoping we meet a few seasons from now, wiser for the time spent, ya?"

Tameus gives Harper a faint little smile, heart in his eyes. He backs up another step, and another. "Bye," he says shakily, and turns toward Zoe.

"... Bye," Harper murmurs. And just watches. He glances back at Siv.

Sivaine just gives Bottle a good hug back. "'Ya,'" she echoes, watching Tam over the fox's shoulder. "I'll be down that way at some point." She releases him, and steps back. "Tam?" she calls.

Tameus glances backward.

Meanwhile, Zoe extends a paw forth, the one not busy with her walking stick. No cane for this journey. "Ready?" But then she glances up. Ah, Siv. She waits.

Sivaine says, "I love you."

Tameus smiles and sniffs. He looks from Sivaine to Harper, and his eyes stay on his father for a moment - then drop away, and he reaches for Zoe's offered hand. "Ready."

Bottlebrush steps out of the way when Siv calls Tams name and nods. He then make shis way over to Zoe and squares his shoulders while murmuring, "I don't know all this rank and titles stuff so I hope you are whom I report too from now on, Zoe."

Ah, touching. "Ah, touching," Anselm murmurs, mostly to himself, but also to anyone who cares to listen. "Reminds me of when I left the bally nest. Well, actually, no it doesn't." Louder, now. "Ready, marm?"

The Colonel takes his paw and, with a nod to the few Patrollers present - plus one BB fox - and heads for the door. She opens it, gesturing Tam through. "I'll do well 'nough, BB. And aye, Private. Ready."

Tameus slips through the door and out into the snowy dusk.

Sivaine's brows arch and eyes narrow slightly at Anselm's commentary. He will be the first to die. But she shrugs it off with a little headshake, and watches Tam go.

Harper's Adam's apple bobs. He watches Tam slip out. Waits for the rest to file out. Doesn't say anything.

The Colonel gives one last nod to those assembled, raises her walking stick in a wave. And she too departs.

Bottlebrush marches out behind Tam and Zoe, the fox looking quite nervous and keeping hie eyes ahead. He knows he will give up if he looks back.

Darcy is once again perched on the arm of Sivaine's chair. The tea is done. She watches Tameus, Zoe, and the last of the Patrollers leave - then glances off at Harper. Her brows furrow.

Anselm brings up the rear, those sacks slipping and sliding. Mmmm. Abbey food.

And once they're out, Harper moves forward. Stands just inside the doorway, looking out. His paw rests on the door and he leans into it. Watches a moment. And then, without any preamble, pushes it to, with a final gust of wind.