05-14-06

Characters involved: Jarril & Zoe_lang.

RW Abbey: Entry

Another day, be it good or bad for Jarril as he is on another walk, the runner hare not for sitting around very much. With paws behind his back, the hare is making his way down the steps from the west wall of the abbey after spending most of the early morning looking out towards the great grass plains towards home. With a jump he lands on the ground and looks about before giving his eye patch an adjustment with a paw.

Preparations for leaving have begun, and so the Colonel is walking along with her paws folded behind her back while she dictates some orders to a young private who is furiously writing each word she says. Given that, the Colonel is being kind enough to speak in something resembling bullet points. "Inventory of supplies goin' with. List o' travelahs. Assemble any last lettahs from the recruits fer family." Pause. Backward glance. "C'n ya think of anythin' I'm forgettin'?" The private stares blankly back for a moment, then shakes his head.

Jarril notices the colonel talking to a private but keeps away from her for the moment, just standing there until any official business has been dealt with. From time to time one of his ears twitches from the breeze coming over the walls of the abbey.

Zoe_Lang stares at the private for a moment, then shakes her head with resembling disgust. "Aincha got a thought in yer head? No. I s'pose not. That's why they've set ya t' copyin' down the thoughts o' othahs." She rolls her eyes at the somewhat blank smile that the private flashes at her. "Bloody 'ell... save me from the lowah ranks." She turns away, continuing across the grass. "A'right. Leave ordahs fer the officahs stayin' at the..." And on she goes, her eyes scanning the entry area. They even settle upon Jarril before flitting away for a moment, and then returning. Ooh. She stops.

Jarril catches every word that Zoe had said with his long ears and somehow manages to creep a smile on his face for the situation playing out in front of him. Noting that Zoe is now looking at him he pads on over slowly. "Anything the matter cousin, deah?" He says with a grin before giving the young private a nod though he turns his attention fully back to the older hare. "There's been bally rumours that ya leaving and abandoning me? Have I been such a big foodbag that I've been banished from the mountain wot?" He gives his cousin a wink with his only eye before continuing. "And what ordah's am I getting anyways?"

When Jarril approaches, Zoe turns and gives a nod to the private, who turns and heads off to some other task. She returns her attention to the other buck and grins. "Not rumahs, last I checked. Ya know me, can't stay away from the mountain fer too long." She chuckles, then. "Well, the same ordahs've already given ya - just thought I'd put 'em down nicely in writin'. Have t' leave some fer the 67th hares, s'well. They do well 'nough without us mountain hares stickin' our noses in, but I'll pay a visit all the same."

Giving a nod back to Zoe, Jarril replies. "Aye, though I may end up sticking my nose in from time ta time regardless." Moving a paw to give the back of his neck a rub the hare gives a fake smile. "Are ya sure things will be okay back at the mountain? Wot with..." He pauses for a moment. "Well, ya know? Got any thoughts on who will be replacing him?"

Zoe_Lang looks confused, at least for a second. Then she blinks. Ohhh. "Well. He hadn't named a lieutenant yet, so most likely I'll just take a lieutenant from one o' the othah majahs 'n' promote 'em up." She inclines her head, then shrugs with a smile. "We're nevah fall short o' officahs, cousin."

Jarril nods his head slowly. "I know, just that I am worried that's all. What with being away from the mountain for so long..." He swallows and looks away, not saying anything else or the true worry that he has.

"Worried fer what, mate? The mountain evah takes care o' itself. You know that." She chuckles and shakes her head. "It'll still be there 'n' waitin' for ya when ya return."

Moving his head back towards Zoe, Jarril replies back. "Aye but I've nevah been so long away from the place and the area there isn't that safe. I just hope that when the time comes that we be able ta see each other again." Looking at the older hare, Jarril bites his lip. "All I am saying if ya need any help, send word ta me cousin. The recruits here will be fine. I am more worried about ya than anything." He pulls down an ear with a paw. "Even though I am er, wanting ya rank and all, I still don't want anything ta happen ta ya..."

Zoe_Lang chuckles softly and ducks her head, shaking it slowly. "... If yer worried about these ole bones, don't be. I ain't plannin' on goin' anywhere any time soon. Figure I'll stick 'round at least 'til that daughtah o' mine's full grown." She smiles, then, and looks up, reaching across to rest a paw on her cousin's shoulder. Squeeze. "We'll see each othah again, cousin. That I promise ya."

Jarril nods his head. "Aye I make sure I will, but if either of us is in trouble, let's send word for help. I'd be more happier if we both had our backs covered." He decides to change the subject. "So which unfortunate souls have ya managed ta volunteer for patrah training here?" The hare looks at the abbey itself for a moment and returns his gaze on Zoe.

Zoe_Lang gives his shoulder another squeeze and then releases it. "I'll send word." But she allows the change of subject with a smile and a shake of her head. "Don't ask me t' remembah a list o' names, cousin. I'll know 'em soon enough. M'sure I'll be doin' m'fair share o' yellin' at 'em, 'fore too long." She smirks.

Jarril quirks a brow and gives a sly grin. "Hmm, and I thought I heard ya telling a young private for not having a thought in their head. For shame cousin." The younger hare gives a grin. "Well, at least ya won't be shouting at me for overworking now. However, may I request that a replacement be sent for me in a season. I probably want ta get back at one point." He looks away. "Unless of course this assignment is an important one and an important one for my career."

Zoe_Lang shakes her head and smiles, offering a shrug. "I see no problem with sendin' a replacement in a season, cousin. Anothah c'n come to take yer place. I'll mayhaps make anothah trip out with yer replacement, even, 'n' make the journey back with ya."

Jarril nods. "Thank ya cousin. Ya not the only one that will miss the sea though I'll do ya proud being here though and the patrah of course." He reaches into his pocket and takes out a apple. "So not had much time with ya since we left the mountain, so did ya enjoy yaself here at least?"

Zoe_Lang inclines her head. "More'n I expected to... Each time I return here, it looks more 'n' more like the abbey I remembah from m'youth." She smiles slightly. "And it's always good t' see old friends."

Jarril nods his head. "Yes, it's starting ta look the way it used ta be." He takes a bite from the apple and continues on. "Though I haven't been able ta see anyone I saw last time I was here." He stops for a moment. "Speaking of which, being here did kinda made me think of Dotty, do ya rememah her? I was getting married at one point but well, ya know how that went afterwards and then she was killed.." He gives a smile. "Though I am glad that I don't have Bludstripe or Earblade here this time around, was out for a day or two with a hangover. Can't believe I was only a recruit back in those days." He smiles. "Aye, had some good memories here that I have."

Zoe_Lang smiles slightly. "This place... it does have a way of makin' ya remembah things." She chuckles. "Ya know, I met ole Earblade at the abbey when I was n'more than 8 seasons... He wasn't much oldah, back then. Spirits, we were so young..." She shakes her head and sighs almost wistfully. "We were all s'young." She falls silent for a moment before her whole body shudders, as if awakening from a daze. "Ah well. Listen t' me ramblin..." She smiles.

Jarril chuckles slightly. "Aye, young once." He places the half eaten apple back into his pocket. "I remember ya meeting me outside of the mountain for the first time. Now look at us, then again I don't get into that much trouble as I did back in those days." The hare gives a small chuckle. "Really glad things worked out though. Though not so sure about my memory after all those hits on the head with the kitchen staff back then." The major feeling relaxed without any young hares about to hear about his younger rebel years.

Zoe_Lang chuckles and taps her own noggin with a smile. "Yer not the only one who's not s'sure about her memory anymore. I /know/ I forget things, anymore... But that's age fer ya, righ'?" She steps forward and to the side, resting a paw on Jarril's shoulder when she comes level with him, facing the other way. "Ah well. I ought to be gettin' back to my preparations, cousin... We'll see each othah again before I leave, though. All righ'?"

Jarril nods his head but looks at Zoe for a moment. "Are ya alright cousin? What exactly have ya forgotten?" The younger hare looking a bit concerned for her at this moment in time.

Zoe_Lang smirks at him and holds up her paws in a fending off gesture. "Don't go lookin' at me like that /yet/, cousin. I ain't a blitherin' wreck. But I /am/ gettin' on in m'seasons. I don't remembah the name 'n' face o' every mountain hare like I used t'. That's just s'much from bein' a Colonel 'n' not spendin' s'much time with the lowah ranks s'it is m'memory, though." She chuckles and waves a paw at him. "Speakin' of recruits, g'on with ya. M'sure they're up t' some trouble ya ought t' be off 'n' stoppin'. I'll see ya latah, cuosin." She gives his shoulder another pat and limps off toward the hall.

Jarril grins and shakes his head watching Zoe head off. "Aye cousin, ya right of course." Taking the apple back out of his pocket the hare walks towards the hall himself in a slow manner, munching away on the apple.