01.30.09 - Packing

Location: Redwall Healer's Dorm

Characters Involved: Tameus, Harper

Tameus has acquired a travel pack and he sits on the edge of Harper's bed, legs dangling, holding it. It's empty, and his expression is far-off, somewhere between thoughtful and sad.

Harper comes into the dorm, leaning in the doorway. He watches Tam for a moment, sad himself, and then manages a small smile. "Cuttin' it kind of close, love."

Tameus's muzzle lifts and he gives Harper a small smile. "'s jus', 've ne'er packed b'fore."

Harper grins. "Just think... what things do you use every day 'n' what things would you miss if you didn't have 'em?" Pause. "And always pack a spare shirt. You c'n never go wrong with a spare shirt."

Tameus's nose crinkles up a little. ".. I guess. Taye doll? 'd miss 'im if I didn' bring 'im."

Harper nods. "Definitely Taye doll. An' that little figurine BB made ya? And the drawings."

Tameus tilts his head. ".. th' figurine. That's f' y' t' keep."

Harper nods, allowing that. "Okay. You'll want t'take the sling with you."

Tameus nods. "Th' sling. Th' doll. Th' drawin's. ... m' un'form. Spare shirt." He glances around, thinking, brows furrowed.

"One more thing," Harper holds up a finger. And points towards the high shelf over his bed. He brings down a thick roll of parchment. Holds this out to Tammy. On the outside of it reads, 'Day 1, Breakfast.' Harper taps this, then holds it out to Tam. "There's a parchment for each day. Have someone tell you what this says. It'll tell you when t'open it. Okay?"

Tameus sets down the bag and stands up, head tilted, grasping the parchment and nodding. ".. 'll 'ave gran'mum read 'um t' me," he says with a smile, and hugs the roll to his chest.

Harper grins. "Good idea, she'll like that." Harper rests a paw atop Tam's head, meaning to ruffle but just kind of resting there for a moment. He tilts Tam's head back, so that he'll look up at him. "You're gonna be great, Tam. Don't worry."

Tameus's head is tiled, gaze rising to Harper's face. "... maybe I won' be n' good," he says in a small voice. "Maybe they's won' wan' me in th' Patrol. .. an' 'll come back 'ere."

Harper gives Tam a long look. In the end, he shakes his head. "You won't be back here, Tam. Not without a /real/ uniform on yer back, anyway. Some things're just meant t'be."

Tameus swallows, and nods. "... y'll be arrigh'? I won' be 'ere t' .. t' take care'a y'."

Harper grins, one paw resting on his hip. "Seems t'me I recall managing t'clean 'n' feed m'self just fine before the Time of Tameus."

Tameus gets a bit of a playful smile on his muzzle now. "Yeah? I d'nno, what if y' get sick 'gain?"

"Then Darcy will throw me in a snowbank," Harper grins.

Tameus blinks thoughtfully at this answer. "Oh. .. okay. Guess if 't works." He shrugs, and starts to smile again. "... 'member .. th' Snow Kin'?"

Harper chuckles. /Does/ ruffle Tam's headfur, this time. "Aye, I do."

".. an'. ... an' th' time we wen' racin' all wrapped up in band'ges?" Tam says, ears tucking back under the ruffle.

Harper's paw hooks behind Tam's neck, pulling him into a hug. Looks down at him. "I'm gonna remember all of it, Tam. Swear."

The parchment Tam holds is crinkled by the hug, but he pushes himself against the buck's front with a little noise of affection. "... me too. 'll try. 'll try m' 'ardest t' 'member 't all..."

Given his own memories of three and four seasons, Harper knows he might remember snippets, and certainly the important things, but... "I know you will, Tammy." And he releases him. "Come on, now. Pack up. We've got to head on down in a few."

Tameus draws back from Harper reluctantly and gives a tiny nod. He bites at his lip while getting down off the bed, setting the parchments on the end of it next to the empty bag and digging into the small trunk that holds his belongings. He finds Taye doll, kisses him on the head, and puts the doll in the bag. "'ll say hi t' .. t' y' mum an' brother f' y'," he tells the buck, shoving the ever-important spare shirt into the bag nxt. "When I see 'um."

Harper nods. "You do that. And tell that no-good brother of mine t'write every now 'n' again." Harper's doing his best to keep up the smile and happy.

Into the bag goes the parchments, the picture of Harper, and more clothes. "I will," he promises, looking up with a feeble smile. "... an' /'ll/ write. Soon 's I know 'ow. An' 'til then 'll jus' 'ave some'n else write f' me. So y' watch f' letters, okay?"

Harper gives a firm nod. "I'll stop every messenger that comes by," Harper reassures. "I'll be waitin' on 'em. And I'll write, too."

Tameus doesn't have much, and it's all shoved into the bag. It'll be a light load to carry. He leaves out his winter clothes for the journey, tucking the sling away last and then closing the bag, tying it shut at the top with a little sigh. "... an'. An' y' can' fin' 'nother kid once 'm gone, okay? No .. fillin' th' 'ole." This is very, very quiet.

Harper shakes his head. "No," he agrees. Just as quietly. And then he's nodding towards the door. "Time t'get down there."

Tameus nods. He tugs on his cloak, drapes his scarf around his neck, shoves the gloves in his pocket. The bag is hefted over his shoulder and he reaches for Harper's hand.

Harper takes it, squeezes the paw. And leads them out of the room.