04-29-06 1
Characters involved: Zoe_Lang, Quinten, Jarril, Flaxpaw, Swiftgale, Soilclaw, Ben, Garn, Avoryn, Geralde, Furgo, Torwin, Dandelion, & Athari.
Mossflower Woods
"C'mon, Recruits...! Keep up the pace, eh-wot? We're not but a coupla hours off from the abbey, 'n' yer slowin' up /now/, when everythin's all but done!" The Colonel - Zoe - is keeping up a good pace for an 'old and broken'. She's walking with the Recruits, as she's done for much of the marching, and she pats one on the shoulder as she walks beside them.
Quinten turns his head and smiles widely at the Colonel's words, thank heavens they are almost there, its nice to be on the march again and not messaing about on the river, as nice as their travelling companions had been its nice to be dry and not have to worry about getting soaked again. He picks up the pace a bit smiling at the recruit next to him.
Once again, Jarril has been keeping himself to himself for pretty much the entire trip. The hare having not spoken much since they have left the western shore as he brings up the rear now, keeping a look in case anything may happen from behind. Crouching down as he looks to the hares moving along, he gives a look behind him, staring into the forest.
Flaxpaw marches along, watching the ground to see if she cann identify any more of the herbsAthari's been showing her, and casting occasional glances toward the end of the group, thinks she saw the majah back there at some point in the getting ready to move. /sigh/.
Swiftgale The features ON his face Light up He is Glad to be moving not stuck in the boats or on the shoreand runs up to Soilclaw who is keeping up with the pace well even though he is a mole.
soilclaw is searching for some edible herbs and spices he is currently chewing on a few herbs He stops and starts to pick up a few potatoes and is back in the group.
Ben is traveling as fast as his little paws can take him following Zoe_Lang, looking at the recurits he suddenly darts in front of them mewing softly as he does so, his tail waving like a flag being silly.
Zoe_Lang notices Quinten looking around at her, and to him she grins, looking over the heads of a couple other recruits to address him. "And how're you doin', Quinten? Feelin' fit? Ready fer some good ole abbey cookin'?"
Quinten salutes the Colonel happily and smiles "You bet ma'am am as fit as a fiddle an dry for about the first time in a week, those otters and shrews sure drove us hard, after we all "volunterred" he grins at that and tips an ear "Was glad to learn those skills those"
Ben pounces back so that he is right behind Zoe not knowing any better cutting in front of the recruits crossing right in front of them, almost as if to trip them.
Zoe_Lang chuckles, ducking her head as she nods. "Aye, well, that's the whole point o' this trip - expandin' your skills. You'll be surprised when they'll come in handy, y'know?" She smiles.
Quinten jumps sideways to avoid falling over Ben and nods to the Colonel as he moves back into line "Yes ma'am though all these trees..." he looks about and shudders, ears falling back "It's a tad spooky, i like wide open spaces"
Jarril pauses and looks about again, his ears erect and being rather attentive to all the noises that are happening around him, giving another look behind him he moves on to keep up the rear with a few other hares but remains silent, though some conversations do reach his ears, the major knowing what dense forest is having been here a few times.
Swiftgale Smiles and thinks of all the things they learned and watches Soilclaw getting thing not really sure what he is doing So he asks "Soilclaw wot are ya doing getting all those herbs?"
Zoe_Lang's eyebrows go up, turning to follow Ben's destructive path with her eyes. When he crosses far enough away that the Colonel can no longer really see him, she takes a moment to look around and up at the trees overhead. "Spooky, lad? I'd think ya'd welcome a change o' scenery from the shores." She chuckles, shaking her head. "Ah well. The abbey's fairly open. Nice big clearin's inside o' the walls. Surrounded by forest, 'course, but I think you'll feel comfortable there."
Quinten smiles and nods and then seems to remember something "Doesn't it...border the Grasslands?" he looks up at the trees and stumbles over a rut in the path and knocks the recruit ahead "Sorry old chap"
Flaxpaw slows, and stops as she notices one plant in particular that she was interested in, uncharacteristicly uninterested in the dibbun up ahead of her. She mutters a quick apology to the recruit behind her who has almost tripped on her, and steps aside to let the line pass. "Hmmm...think it really is..." she mutters, leaning over.
soilclaw speeds up abit to catch up to The Colonel and asks "excuse moi Miz but are us'ns goin' to stoip an' eat afore us'ns get to the Abbey?"
"Mm, yes. One side o' the Dirt Road's forest, 'n' the othah side's grasslands..." The Colonel looks about to say something else when Soilclaw catches up to her to speak. She glances to the side at the mole, offering him a small smile and a shake of her head. "No, lad. We'll be there shortly, though."
Quinten nods and smiles wistfully "I grew up on the far side of the grasslands, near the great western range, its like i've come full circle ma'am" he smiles and darts around the recruits in front of him to be closer to the colonel and pick up his pace to match hers "I cannot waitt to see the abbey" peering south
Ben darts across the lines again suddenly stopping in the middle. He meows loudly looking at the recruits purring as loud as he can having fun but being a tad trouble some.
"Have ya seen the drawin's in the library, son?" The Colonel continues forward, though her attention is drawn by the trouble-making Ben. Her eyebrows go up, and she calls out. "Now, now, don't make me take ya up by the scruff o' yer neck like yer mothah'd do if she was here..."
Quinten chuckles softly at the dibbun and shakes his head "Aye watch out young un, don't want to upset the Colonel." he looks sideways at her "yes ma'am i have, we should be able to see the gable first right?"
Ben blinks and is feeling a bit onary today and turns sicking his tongue out not realizing what he is doing before its to late. Being rather defiant today having been good most the trip he felt he should get to have fun.
Rather than being angry by Ben's action, the Colonel merely rolls her eyes. ".. Aye, well, yer welcome t' do that as much as ya want, s'long as it's out o' our walkin' path." She turns back around, then looks to Quinten thoughtfully. "... Y'know, I think I'll just take yer word fer it, lad. It's been a few seasons since I was last there. Mind's not s'sharp as it used t' be."
Quinten laughs softly and points south "Aye ma'am we should see ti rising up above the treetops first, bit hard to miss i'm guessing redstone agianst all this green, meant to have a weather vane ontop"
Flaxpaw finally gets moving again, further back in the line than the others, but marching again.
soilclaw is marching scanning the horizon for Redwall
Zoe_Lang, too, turns her eyes to the tree line, as if it should appear at the mere mention of it. When it doesn't, she smiles slightly to herself and shakes her head. "... We'll see it soon enough."
Quinten smirks and tips his ears "Bet i can see it before you ma'am" he looks at the trees for a bit and smiles "it will be an interesting time i think, being here at the abbey, just hope it doesn't delay my training too much"
Jarril has stopped, looking about as the others continue onwards and looks behind him, flicking an ear he stares with a slight frown but after a short while he turns around and heads onwards again.
Ben moves along walking behind Zoe again meowing softly as he walks with them his tail waving like a flag again.
Zoe_Lang shakes her head, quickly. "Nah - nah. Majah Jarril's to make sure o' that, m'lad. You'll find yer time /quite/ taken up by yer duties, 'm sure." Speaking of Major Jarril, the Colonel sends a glance over her shoulder and frowns.
In a room page-pose, Jarril snort
Quinten looks down at Ben and offers him his arms, offering to pick up the little cat, he glances at the Colonel adn sighs "I'm half dreading that part ma'am....normal recruit training...and all my abbey novice duties....they are both hefty timetables as it is....i'm scared i'll not be able to manage it,"
Ben meows and nods his head to Quinten, reaching his paws up to be carried he will take the offer, already starting to purr loudly. his tail waving in the air.
Zoe_Lang chuckles, shaking her head. "If it was more'n you could handle, you wouldn't be on this trip, lad. We wouldn't do that to a recruit who wasn't ready." She watches Quinten and Ben.
Quinten laughs softly and picks up Ben holding hiim firmly in his paws and resting him against his arms "Thanks ma'am i won't let your trust in me be wrong...how many of us are stayin here anyway?"
At the question, Zoe merely smiles and shrugs. "I'm sure you'll come t' know the numbah well enough in the next few days. They'll be yer closest friends fer the next coupla seasons."
Quinten smiles and nods "I'll be like a stranger when i come back home ma'am...though still the same height" he chuckles and shifts Ben in his arms "I seem to have stopped growing"
Jarril using a sling, the major sends a pebble to hit one of the apples hanging from a tree and catches the falling apple in his paw. Taking a bite, he begins to eat it.
Flaxpaw smiles a little as one of the other recruits stops, drawing her attention from her mopeing. "hey, Joss." she looks the direction he's pointing, and nods. "redwall's that close?" has been nmore intent on trying to catch sight of the majah than on what's going on around her.
Quinten laughs and points ahead "There ma'am see the weather vane" he grins at her, paw held out pointing to the dark metal object visible above the treetops
"Stopped growin', eh? Well, ya may surprise yerself yet, so we'll jus' see." The Colonel looks around to Flaxpaw, then, just in time for Quinten to make his announcement. Her eyebrows go up and she grins to the young doe. "Guess that answahs yer question, huh?" She looks back around, and indeed, there it is. She calls out over her shoulder, "The abbey's in sight! Pick up the pace, folks! We'll be eatin' dinnah before the sun's down!"
Quinten laughs happily now its in sight, eager to get there, picking up the pace indeed "Oh no ma'am, me pa was short, so was me mam i'm gonna be a right Delmanare i can tell you, proper shortuns, come along lets go get in those abbey kitchens"
Jarril idly pops in the apple cork, swallowing it as he looks around at his fellow hares and grins. Picking up the pce is what he does best and it isn't long before he's gone around the whole bunch of hares and is now right in the front, the major not having eaten much at all, sticking to runnah rations, the mention of food and lots of it is the right motivation to the hare.
Quinten spots the Major and grins he shifts Ben to his shoulders and picks up the pace, not going to let the Major beat him there if he can help it, marching faster as he goes to try and catch him up, he smile at him and salutes.
The Patrol's mood seems to have been jumpstarted. Nearly double-timing it, they continue through the woods, snapping branches and trampling the underbrush as they go.
RW Abbey: Entry
The flat, open area between Great Hall and the main gates of the Abbey has been kept neatly cleared of the snow which otherwise piles up in drifts about the walls of the ancient building, and the steps leading up both to Great Hall and the ramparts have been painstakingly freed of ice, to avoid sprained spaws that might otherwise slip. Pathways through the snow have also been made for the more well traveled routes of Redwall, most especially to the open grounds and the pond. The gatehouse roof is bristling with icicles. It's quite cold, and your breath is visible in front of your face.
Shadows are lengthening, and the sun has begun to sink behind the western wall.
Exits/Entrances:
[G]reat [H]all [C]limb to the [R]amparts [A]bbey [P]ond
[Ga]te [H]ouse [Leave] through the gates [Open] Ground
[C]hampion's [C]ottage
Garn smiles at Torwin as he leans into the wood of the gate starting to push it closed "It is a beautiful spring day sir, i was just sitting outside doing my head fur"
Avoryn begins to help push the gate shut
Garn smiles at Torwin as he leans into the wood of the gate starting to push it closed again form where Avoryn left it open "It is a beautiful spring day, i was just sitting outside doing my head fur it is too nice to be inside"
Avoryn begins to help push the gate shut
Geralde waves to Furgo, GArn, and everyone else.
Furgo waves back to Geralde.
Garn tips his tail at Geralde and grunts, putting his back into his gate, its swinging shut slower then Avoryn's, a badger being able to push a large wooden gate easier and faster then an otter, no matter how tall.
Torwin chuckles and says, "Fair enough." He then looks as the otter grunts, "Got that?"
The gate closes under Garn's pressure... until suddenly something wooden thunks upon it on the other side and starts pushing back. And then, two large, slightly ragged ears appear around its edge, and then a face. "... Hullo?" The Colonel grins, as several other hares appear in the opening which remains in the closing gate.
Garn says, "Aye'll be fine tis just the gate, it's easy enough tae close" he then barks in surprise as something hits the gate and stops it from closing. He stares at the hares in bewilderment "Oh...hello we we're not expecting guests....or hares.." he hooks his paws into the gate and starts to pull it open again, "Sorry....didn't see you coming down the road.""
Standing outside, Jarril is keeping the other hares as quiet as he can but he's just as anxious to get inside himself as he listens to the colonel speak.
Avoryn says, "Well, I best be getting home then..." He begins to head of towards the gate "It's been a pleasure"
Quinten smiles and has taken advantage of marching next to the Colonel to poke his head around the gate with hir, he watches the otter struggling to pull the large gate open again and gives him a helpin-paw, leaning into it and pushing.
Furgo sees the hares, and waves.
Geralde waves as well.
Torwin looks up as he hears the thunk and smiles as he sees Zoe. "Good evenin' Colonel. Bit far from the mountain aren't you?"
Zoe_Lang cranes her neck around the gate to observe Garn's tugging attempts. She smiles a little bit and continues through the gate. "Not expectin' us? Yer sure about that?" She looks around to Torwin. "Oh... aye, a bit far. We've got some trouble-makin' hares fer you lot to borrow fer a bit. Figured you could use s'more folks fer chores 'n' the like." She glances around at Quinten, then points. "See? Nice 'n' young, ready to do all yer heavy luggin'." Grin.
Furgo adjusts his glasses.
Geralde smiles.
Garn steps back as the hare is joined by a couple of others, watching the gate swing open and bump into the far wall "Oh... well maybe we were...Furgo.." he turns to the mouse "Maybe you'd best go get someone" the otter is dithering, not at all sure wot to do, then the penny drops "Wait..Colonel...Mountain your the long patrol" he stares at them all "Oh someone run down and lock the kitchen too..."
Jarril pads in and smiles. "Aww, and keep us from the bally food, where's the hospitality in that, wot." The major looking about now that he's inside. "Hmmm, just as I remember it."
Further back in the group, many of the recruits haven't even gotten near the gates yet. Most of them are warm and tired, and have sore feet, and are anxious to get inside, which leans to some general unrest, with hares shoving each other, and muttering angrily.
Torwin grins and looks at quinten, "Aye, maybe we'll send him down to the quarry to get some sandstone for us then" the squirrel jokes. He then walks to the group of hares, glancing at garn and chuckling, "Good luck on that on mate." As he nears the hares he offers a paw out to Zoe, "Well welcome to Redwall."
Furgo goes in to fetch somebody.
Geralde sits.
Quinten pants and leans against the gate wiping his brow "Oof tha thing is heavy," he then moves further inside, stepping past the Major to look up at the great Redstone building, awe in his eyes "Its so big...." he looks at Torwin "Aye'm here to train sah, you tell me wot to do an i'll do it.." he looks about eagerly "An i thought you had a belltower?"
Geralde says, "It collapsed in the Earthquake I'm told."
Furgo returns after a moment with one of the brothers. He takes out a black journal, and jots something down. The brother that Furgo had brought goes over towards the hares.
Garn looks at Torwin and breathes deeply, good someone seems to know what is going on, he moves towards the hare who spoke about hospitality, trying to work out his rank "Well...erm captain?" he guesses starring at Jarril's uniform "I was joking...you may have to wait for us to prepare something.." he looks over the recruits "Though...they can stay out of my scullery i ...won't have them breaking things in there"
Furgo continues writing in the journal, then quickly closes it.
Jarril looks at Garn and chuckles. "Er, majah actually." Coughing a bit before carrying on. "Don't worry, I am here ta make sure that these recruits of ours don't get into any trouble." The major gives Quinten a side glance before returning to face Garn.
Quinten turns to Geralde and smiles "That is a shame....i was looking forwards to seeing it.." he moves furter away from the gate looking up at the great building and smiling at the sparrows flying about over head watching us. "Can you believe the size of it"
Zoe_Lang smiles at the squirrel's welcome, glad to have someone her own age to address. She takes the offered paw, gripping his wrist and giving a firm shake. "Thanks, mate. Glad t' be here. As you c'n probably guess, we're..." She laughs, "Pretty bloody starvin'! Don't s'pose the good abbey could spare somethin'? We've got rations, but..." She grins.
Furgo puts his pen back in his habit pocket, and wipes his paws.
Geralde smiles.
Dandelion is getting annoyed where he's standing, far at the back. He still hasn't seen much of the abbey, and his feet are getting really sore, and some other recruit's pack is right in his face, too.
Garn looks at the Major and blushes somewhat, braided hair clicking "Oh sorry Major...well be welcome to Redwall Abbey..lets see about getting you and your recruits inside and fed shall we, oh my Sister Felicity going to have a heart attack...all those beds to put up....and Brother Augustus...well" he grins at the thought of how Augustus will react to all these hares and laughs "
Flaxpaw contents herself with muttering mutinously to her fellow recruit, Joss. The words "starvin....worse than shrews....cads..." may be audible to anyone nearby.
Torwin chuckles and says, "Well I'm sure the cook'll be able to take care of you and your hares." He then glances about "But lets get you off your paws and head inside." He looks to Garn and says, "I think they probably already got a head start on that mate. We've been expecting them." He looks back to the colonel. "Anyhow, lets move inside then."
Jarril nods and moves to the side nodding his head for the other hares to make their way in before responding back to Garn. "Ah, we can help in putting up those beds, no need ta increase ya workload, wot."
Furgo seems to remember something. He take sout his journal, and jots something else down, slower this time.
Quinten has spotted the mouse in the habit writing in his book and sidles on over to peer at his journal "Hey there..." he holds out a paw, shifting his pack on his back "I'm Recruit Quinten nice to meet you erm....abbeybeast" he goes for a nice easy title not sure if he's a brother or a novices or wot.
Furgo looks up, and shakes the paw. "Hi. I'm Novice Furgo."
Athari has entered the Abbey quietly behind everyone else; the otter is his usual, quiet self, and he gives the occasional nod and smile to whoever looks in his direction. He grasps his walking stick in one paw, making his way the rest of the way in.
Geralde just watches.
At Torwin's words, the Colonel offers an appreciative nod and a grin. She then turns to address the the mass of hares, some pushing forward to try and get in and off their rather tired footpaws. "A'right, folks! All that marchin' 'n' raftin' 'n' sleepin' on the ground's ovah! We're here! Fer the evenin', yer entertainment's yer own. Sleep or eat or get t' know folks, 'tis up to you. T'morrah the recruits'll be sorted out, 'n' the rest we'll get to." She makes a sweeping gesture, gesturing them all in. Turning back to Torwin, she moves to follow him in.
Garn smiles and shakes his head "Oh my....that is so kind of you Major really any help would be welcome we have plenty of room for you all.." he claps his paws together braids clacking "This will be lovely, having guests after the long winter"
Quinten hears the Colonel's dismissal and grins at Furgo "Pleasure to meet you Novice Furgo, hope you're ready for a wild bunch of long patrol recruits as the colonel just broke down the damn" he turns to watch his friends still near the gates and grins
Furgo smiles. "Yes, Brother Augustus will have his paws full and more. Anyhow, I'd best be off. I have to go study." He waves, and walks off.
Jarril nods his head, ears twitching to the sound of Zoe's voice before replying back to Garn. "Aye, no trouble at all, wot. Well unless ya fancy being swarmed by the hares coming in, shall we head away a bit and safety, hmm?"
Torwin glances around and chuckles at the recruit's reactions as he leads the way into the great hall, pushing open the doors for the rest of them.
Garn laughs and follows Torwin "Aye Major we'd best get inside before we are trampled, come on Great Hall is this way" he points after the older squirrel and moves after him, black coat swirling around his ankles
Thankfully, Dandelion shuffles inside the Abbey gates and finally gets to watch the abbey itself... He's more interested in finding a spot of soft grass to plop down on though. He dumps his pack, spear, and some other things on the ground and sits down with a loud, deep sigh of relief.
Quinten spots Dande and darts over to him, pack still boucning on his back, "Dande have you seen the size of it" he enthses at his fellow recruit, letting the others stream past, "this is no time for sitting about, come on lets go inside"
RW Abbey: Great Hall
The Great Hall of Redwall Abbey. Countless paw falls have echoed from these stones, and untold numbers of feasts and merry gatherings have been held here. A table, not nearly so grand or large as its predecessors, but quite functional for mealtimes, rests near the center of the hall. Chairs exist here aplenty, though most of them are obviously not from the same set. Many of the stained glass windows are broken, and have been patched with canvas and boards to fend against the elements. The floor is clean and swept. A fire is kept burning in the fireplace at almost all times of the day and night, and there are several more comfortable chairs and cushions set up here, of varying sizes. One looks large enough to easily accommodate a badger.
The Tapestry hangs proud and tall, and while the rest of Redwall may still bear the scars of natural disaster, this most famous of Redwall's relics remains unharmed by beast, time, or the elements. The figure of Martin the Warrior seems to be watching over his own with an unchanging, kindly gaze.
Shadows are long in the dying evening light.
Exits/Entrances:
[K]itchen [St]airs [C]avern [H]ole
[Li]brary [En]try [B]reezeway
Torwin steps out of the way of the door as he watches the Patrol hares funnel in, smiling and giving to nods to the hares that acknowledge him. "I've got to say its much better seeing you lot this time then when you came the last time, after the quake" he says to Zoe if she's still nearby
Garn pads up the steps ahead of the Major and slips into the Great Hall, moving over towards Torwin and Zoe, watching the hares moving about, shaking his head and smiling "My this is lovely isn't it"
Athari simply follows along behind everyone, taking in the sights; things haven't seemingly changed much since the last time he had been here.
Jarril moves out of the way and smiles as he nods his head. "Aye, much better since then." This being the third time that he's been at the abbey. Moving to leaning against one of the stone walls he watches the goings on, keeping his only eye on some of the recruits.
Garn looks around the hall and spots a diminutive mouse sister attempting to attract the recruits attention, but her voice really is too low. He hurries over to her and talks to her, bouncing from footpaw to footpaw, she smiles and nods and Garn thumps his rudder down hard "OK hares, if ye'd all like to bring your equipment over this way, Sister Felicity will show you which dorms are yours, up on the second floor" he points at the stairs.
Zoe_Lang is looking all around the Great Hall of the abbey, her eyes sparking. Finally, her ears perking at Torwin's words, she looks around with a pleasantly surprised smile. "... Bloody 'ell, mate, the Hall looks like it did when I wasn't much oldah than these recruits I've brought ya! Ya've all done an amazin' job." Really, she /does/ look amazed.
Torwin chuckles and nods at the Colonel's comments. "Aye. I was away for a stint there, was pretty amazed myself at all that had gotten done. Just need to get the bell tower up and fix up those stained glass windows an things'll be as good as new." The squirrel looks around himself, remembering back to what it used to be. "Definitely much more inviting."
Garn comes walking through the doors with Dande in tow, he looks around at the recruits and grins, he moves over to the Major and salutes "Uhm sah...any idea what i'm meant todo with all this" he shifts his pack.
Quinten comes walking through the doors with Dande in tow, he looks around at the recruits and grins, he moves over to the Major and salutes "Uhm sah...any idea what i'm meant todo with all this" he shifts his pack.
Athari seems to be impressed with what had been done here so far as well; it really hadn't been -that- long since he had lived here last, but it is definitely nice to see the place again. He slowly makes his way over towards the tapestry, and he peers up at it, smiling to himself. He glances back at Zoe and the recruits, before heading back over to join them again.
Garn spots the otter who arrived with the hares and moves towards him, the tall otter towering above everyone else in the hall "Howdy there matey, tis good to see another otter here"
Jarril nods his head at the recruits that have come to him. "I think ya supposed ta go with that mouse over there." The major pointing towards Sister Felicity. "She will show ya where ya be sleeping."
Quinten salutes the Major and grins happily "Thanks sir...and sir...thanks for letting me come...this place...its amazing" he turns and hops off across the hall, stopping to stare at the tapestry and the windows before scrambling after the last recruit up the stairs, joining the sister as she heads out of sight, starting to chatter at her.
Zoe_Lang looks around when Athari comes up on her right. She reaches out to clap the otter on the shoulder. "C'n you believe this place, I mean, c'n you believe it?" She shakes her head, then, and returns her attention to Torwin. She grins, eyeing him thoughtfully for a moment. "... A'right, now, I'm /sure/ ya hadn't noticed yet, bein' the polite beast ya are." She winks. "But! I'm not exactly the spryest or the youngest anymore. I'm /sure/ I know yer name... but I can't remembah it. What is it?"
Jarril chuckles with a slight shake of his head, speaking to himself loudly. "Ah ta be young again and seeing this place for the first time.." He goes quiet before taking another look about the room, his head looking towards one place that signals one thing, food that away.
Torwin glances to the Major and nods, "Aye, she'll be able to take care of 'em." He then looks back to Zoe and grins, "Eh, I know the feeling. Not sure as we worked together that much whilst you were here when the walls were down so its understandable not remembering my name. Anyhow, the name's Torwin Straightshot."
Athari chuckles softly as Zoe claps him on the shoulder, "Aye, it's definitely lookin' like things are gettin' better 'roun 'ere..." he replies to her. His attention is caught by Garn as he approaches him, and he gives him a grin. "Ahoy, mate..." he replies to him in the old otter lingo. "Aye, tis good t'see anudder otter indeed; they're pretty scarce over at th'mountain..." he jokes, his tail swishing along the ground, giving a couple taps as well.
Garn smiles broadly and lifts his tail up and curls it around, offering it to Athari to lock tails and shake "Arrr tis grand matey tae see another otter, thars only me an Kaim," he looks about at the rapidly emptying hall and shakes his head "Ahhh aye've not seen tha place so lively since tha time i dropped a lantern in cavern hole"
Zoe_Lang's smacks a paw to her forehead with a smile. "Ah! Torwin. That's it... I knew it was somethin' like that." She flaps a paw at him, shaking her head. "Psh! /Torwin/. Aye. Well. 'Case your memory's as bad as mine - Zoe. Zoe Francis. Pleased to make yer acquaintance - again." She glances to Athari and sees that he's occupied himself with a fellow otter. "... Well! I think I'm goin' to find myself somethin' to munch down on. Ya mind?" Addressed to Torwin, of course.
Torwin chuckles and says, "Likewise colonel." He then smirks and replies with, "Well I don't mind. Not sure what Brother Augustus'll do but I'm sure you could charm some morsel out o' him. Apples are in the middle cupboard to the left as you walk into the kitchen" giving a wink.
Athari accepts the offered tailshake, his own rudder locking with Garn's for a brief moment. "Tis definitely a good thing, mate..." he replies. "I knew th'Habbey would one day return t'ow it used t'be. An' it's all thanks t'alla the hardworkin' goodbeasts who live 'ere, an' alla those outside who've been willin' t'help." He leans on his walking stick, eyelids beginning to droop just a tad. He seems a bit exhausted; he isn't quite as young as he used to be, as much as his brain tells him otherwise...and he definitely isn't made for travelling long distances.
Garn smiles and takes the other otters arm "Coom along matey we'll get ye a bunk in tha resident dorm, away from all those rowdy recruits, got plenty oh rooms fer ye to bunk down in"
Zoe_Lang smiles and gives Torwin a rather jaunty salute, then ends with a wave of the paw. "Thanks, mate. Hope m'hares don't throw yer life into too much o' a disarray." She drops a final grin and turns, limping toward the old, familiar kitchen. And off she goes!
