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Characters: Naco, Layne, Lucas, Flicktail, Shan, Violet

Location: Great Hall

Naco bows his head quietly to the beasts present in the room before moving towards the fireplace.

Layne is one step from falling unconcious, sleep dragging down her eyelids. She's still trying to figure out if asking the fox about his 'bee problems' would be worth waking up for.

Lucas is sat about the fire, Layne on the arm of his chair. He offers a quick nod to the lizard before looking back to the fox again. "Good, I'm sure you'll pick it up with time. It's going to be hard when you're just starting out."

Naco takes a log from a nearby stack and lays it on the already burning fire.

Flicktail eeps and pulls a couple of soft doughy white balls back from the fire as more wood is added.

Shan slowly walks into great hall. Though she cannot see, she swivels her head this way and that . Hearing the creatures by the fire talking, she slowly walks over to them, following the sounds of the fire and their voices. She stops and says quietly, "Um, excuse me? Am I in Redwall Abbey?"

Flicktail says, "oi doesn't know but ay be best by a fire wi friends, a..a desert..when ay cooks nough..." the scent of roasting apple and cinnamon begin to waft thru the great hall.

Naco speaks with a raspy voice, "Yes, Child. You are in Redwall Abbey."

Shan looks towards where she thinks Naco is, but is actually looking stright past him. She lets out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank you. I've been trying to get here for so long."

Her voice is thin and sleepy, and her eyes stil closed, but Layne's reply is much the sam. "Yeas, Redwall 'bby. Check y'r hat at the door and tip the maitre' d. What. Is y'r bee. Problem." She can't help it. She had to ask. Though the question isn't addressed anywhere near Flicktail's direction.

Naco notes the young squirrel's scars and her mannerism, "Its would seem that you have had a hard time of it."

Flicktail looks at the sleepy bee keeper "um..oi tell ya when ye be wakes....don wanna bother ye."

Shan scrunches up her face in confusion at Layne's question, not sure if she is addressing her, then says to Naco, "Yes, definately." She shudders a bit and falls silent. "Do you think I could get something to eat?"

Layne's eyes crack open, thin little silvers. "I am awake. Look at me being awake. These are not the thoughts of a sleeping person. Tell me what you wanted to tell me, please."

Naco looks to the fox at that question and says to both of them, "This one is cooking some dumplings of a sort, maybe he will offer you one when they are finished cooking. I cannot offer you much though, as I am a guest her myself."

Flicktail says "well..Dibbuns oloikes ta pay tie e fox us, and put Honey or syurp on me, which means..in spring now..e bee folk...will be tracted to it."

Flicktail says, "oh of course e apple dumplins be fer every beast."

Lucas is vaguely amused by Layne but duty calls and at Shan's question of food he finally gets up again "Don't worry, I'll go grab something from the kitchen as well, feel free to take a seat, make yourself comfortable."

Shan nods gratefully. "Thank you very much." Feeling around, she gets hold of a chair and slowly sits down into it.

"Stay out of the orchard and bathe a lot." That's Layne's advice. And Lucas beat her to it, though she can at least introduce him. "That's Lucas. He's hospitality. I'm Layne. I'm management." No, she isn't, but those unfamiliar with her sense of humor may not realize that.

Naco turns the attention of one of his golden eyes to Shan, "What brings you to this place, child?"

Shan looks confused at Layne again, then says to Naco, "I don't really know of anywhere else I can stay. I don't know my parents, and I can't see. I heard of Redwall from a friendly sparrow, and decided to travel here."

Naco nods slowly at the squirrel's comments and contemplates them, "Indeed, the abbey is a fine place for lost beasts. Were abouts do you come from?"

Naco asks, "Does the place have a name?"

(One of the mousemaid's drooping eyelids parts again, and she appraises the squirrel. Blind, and she came all this way? That's impressive...)

Shan squinches up her face, trying to remember. "I think...I...oh, I don't know." She says frustradedly. "I just remember a few things. I think I lived in a house with my parents, but..." She shakes her head. "The rest is foggy."

Flicktail turns the apples...the dough getting golden brown as she drizzles the cinnamon honey over them.

Naco nods slightly and runs one of his clawed hands over the warm stones of the fireplace, making a rough noise for those beasts sensitive to sounds like Shan. "Those dumplings are looking more like fritters, child. Though I would say, appetizing, nonetheless."

Flicktail cocks his head "why you call me child?" the adult fox cocks his head.

Lucas is away for a few minutes before he returns with a tray of food. Few scones, some bread and cheese and a pot of tea. Very plain but they already have the dumplings to go with it.

Layne is the closest thing to a member of the order with Lucas out of the room, so, she muffles some sleepy advice in the general direction of the new arrivals. "Th'r's a bumk room upstairs. If you need help getting up there, ask. Enough beds to fill a monastery. Good thing they had one to put around them."

Naco chuckles, "when you are as old as I am, most beasts are children... Though in reality, it is a habit that has recently come back from my earlier days as a priest."

Shan winces slightly at the noise of Naco's claws, then sniffs the air. She hears Lucas coming, and glances towards the noise. She then sqivels her head toward Layne and says, "Thank you. I probably will need help, I've never used stairs before."

Flicktail says, "ye doesn't looks old..and me dumplins be turnin a noise golden brown..fritters be fried"

Naco is standing by the fireplace, warming his claws and his tail.

Naco says, "Ahh, you are very astute good fox, but dumplings are stewed... What are those magnificent creations, than?"

Naco looks up as Violet walks in the lizard nods to her, "Ahh, but I am old. Violet can assure you of that, as I was old when she was still young."

Violet arrives from the Cavern Hole, having paused along the stairs to thwack one of them in particular with her staff.

Shan turns her head toward the sound of Violet coming in, but stays silent. She has learned to listen.

Flicktail picks out nearly 20 hot honeyed apple dumplings and begins offering them around.

Naco looks back to Shan, sitting in the chair, "Miss squirrel, what should we call you?"

Violet exclaims, "Hellsteeth! It smells like it snowed sugar in here!"

Flicktail says, "aye..wont some?" holding out a warm apple dumplin to Violet.

Lucas put the tray down on a table "Tea for anyway?...Perhaps very strong tea for some" aiming a small poke at Layne's leg with his tail.

Shan takes a dumpling from Flicktail and says to Naco, "My name's Shan." SHe shoves the delicious-smilling dumpling in her mouth and rolls her eyes in ecstacy. She has never tasted anything so good.

Violet makes her way towards the fire, holding up a paw and closing one eye as Flicktail offers. "Ach.. no thanks luv, ain't much been partial to sweets. Though th' way the squirrelmaid's tearin' into it, makes it sure temptin'."

"Is it eating through the cup? No? Then it's not that strong?" Layne sniffs at the tea skeptically.

Violet nods with more formality to Naco, looking for a comfy chair.

Flicktail blinks with his muzzle open "d..Did she just callme...luv?"

Shan grins. "It's good!" She says, licking a sticky paw.

Naco chuckles at Flicktail's comment.

Naco says, "Good evening, Violet. How is the world treating you? Haven't headed back to the tavern yet?"

Violet grumbles, "I'm old. I can call you candy butt if I want."

Flicktail says, "but..ye didn't call me candy" he grins from ear to ear...a bit frightening for a fox "ye called me Luv!"

Flicktail moves closer to Shan "ello ere pertty one"

Violet clears her throat, answering Naco. She looks a little ill at ease, shifting her weight from footpaw to footpaw. "Spendin' time with me grandson, rememberin' why lookin' at the cottage makes me itch."

Naco looks over at Lucas, finally realizing that somebody has brought tea, "Good beast, what kind of tea do yo bring? Is it mint?"

Violet holds up a finger, pointing it then at Flicktail. "Aye, and I hurt the ones I love the most.

Violet drops ungracefully into a chair, legs sprawled.

Shan looks toward Flicktail. She reaches out to feel his face. Carefully patting it with a sticky paw, she asks puzzedly, "What are you?"

Lucas holds a cup of tea under Layne's nose "I'd rather the tea woke you up through drinking it, not escaping through the cup to scold your lap" he glances back round to the lizard "Hm? Oh, no, rasberry I'm afraid" old favorite for many reasons.

Naco eyes Violet, "do the memories burden you that much? Your champion days are long over."

Flicktail sasy, "oi be a Shield Otter" he says completely truthful for himself "welcomes"

Naco lets out a sigh, that sounds more like a slow exhale of breath from the lizard...no mint tea.

Naco is really surprised now and slowly turns his head to reappraise what he thought was a fox

Flicktail's face has a sharp muzzle very angular and rich deep silken fur with large ears.

Violet rubs the bridge of her muzzle, "I suppose I remember the lot o' babes that played outside it. Tis too quiet now."

Shan giggles and pulls back her paw. "You're not an otter, silly!"

Lucas tilts his head at Naco "I could go and fetch some mint tea as well if you'd prefer?..."

"The tea would scold my lap?" This gets a lifted eyebrow from the nearly-asleep Layne, though it takes more energy than she has. Her tail goes limp from the burden. "It would say harsh things and be mean? You make some dangerous tea, mister."

Violet watches Layne and Lucas, a wry smile tugging at her mouth. "Ahumh.."

Naco tilts his head so an eye looks at Lucas, "I would be ever so grateful to you, child. Though if it is out of your way..."

Flicktail says, "but oi am, ask Skippa o camp Willa, where e otterslive" he smiles stroking Shan's cheek gently with the back of his paw.

Shan is at first a bit startled at Flicktail's touch, but then relaxes. "Where's Camp Willa?"

Naco says, "I'm not sure that would change the fact that you look more like a kitkin than a riverdog."

Lucas rolls his eyes at Layne "Oh you know what I mean" he puts the cup of tea back on the table, going to give one of Layne's ears a flick as he heads back for the kitchen "No bother, won't take a minute"

Layne, flicked. Grr. Her ear surrenders and flattens down. She's too tired to even take a nip at the paw asit retreats. You win this round, Lucas. But there will be a rue-ing. Rue. Or not.

Flicktail says, "oh Camp Will be down e river a ways....."

Flicktail keeps handing out warm apples the cinnamon permeating the hall.

Shan shudders a bit at the mention of a river. "I thought I could cross the river once, but I couldn't. I almost drowned. It was scary." She shudders again, and takes a dumpling thing, then stuffs it into her mouth.

Naco eyes Flicktail, "Well, sir, be you otter or fox, you are certainlyl a fine cook. What do they call you again?"

Flicktail says, "well ye just needs a bit o elp be all, oi be Flicktail..Flicky to me friends, and oi be friend to all dibbuns."

Violet says, "That must take infinite patience."

Flickail says, "Oi call it..roasted honey apple dumplins"

Naco says, "Yes, but what do they call -you-"

Flicktail nods to Violet "specially when e dibbuns tie ye up and covers ye in maple syrup."

Violet asks, "What were they tryin' ta do, geed ye to the ants?"

Naco looks toward Shan again, "Shan, so you crossed a river in your travels?"

Flicktail says, "nay they... well oi not sure WOT a dibbun be thinkin"

Shan says without looking at Naco, not sure where anyone is anymore, and says quietly, "Yes, I tried to, but I couldn't. Then I found another way across."

Lucas returns again! Plus one mint tea which he takes to Naco "Your tea sir" How's that for service?

Flicktail offers Lucas an Apple Dumplin

Naco gives a wide grin full of really sharp teeth to Lucas, and takes the cup gingerly, "Thank you, child, may the Ancients repay your kindness ten fold."

Naco sips his tea in an exuberant manner.

Flicktail admires Naco's hide.

Lucas swaps a tea for a dumpling and gets possibly ten more in the future if the Ancients are nice? Good for him. He nods back to Naco "No problem at all" quick nod in thanks to Flicktail for the dumpling and he finally returns to his chair again.

Flicktail asks, "so wot be yername?" he asks Shan already liking her.

Ten for one return from the ancients. Layne thinks that sounds like a Ponzie scheme. Who are these ancients, and how do they afford this kind of return on an investment? Suspicious. Layne's started to slump into Lucas's chair in his absence, though that's no more than a bit of a tail and a leg.

Shan looks at the wall behind Flicktail and says, "Shan. What's yours, Mr. Shield Otter?"

Flicktail says "oi be Flicktail.. flicky to me friends" he repeats politely.

Naco sips his tea against the warm stones of the fireplace.

Shan blushes slightly, suddenly remembering he already said his name, then says, "Do you have any more dumplings?"

Flicktail says, "aye..oi loikesta makeslots, oi betryin to get a girl fox ta notice mes" he smiles offering another warm dumpling.

Lucas pauses in front of the chair, looking down at Layne with a light smile. Sigh "I think you could probably do with a bed rather than a chair dear, doze off much more and you'll fall out of that one."

Naco looks about as confused as an otter can get, "didn't you say you were an otter?"

Shan does not see the dumpling.

"Bed. That's one of the horizontal things with the fabric, right? I remember those." Layne sounds a little wistful.

Flicktail says, "aye Oi be a shield otter..." he chuckles as another beast falls for his story "oi trained at e camp and were told, oi ad ta be a otter, so oi be a shield otter wot be a fox."

Violet rummages in the extra room just above her belt in her tunic, pulling out a rough looking pan flute.

Flicktail takes Shan's paw and guides it to the dumplin

Shan quickly takes the dumpling and slides back from Flicktail a little. "You'rre a--a fox?" She says with a slight squeak in her voice.

Flicktail says, "well oi be a fox wots an otter...be at a problems? me dumplins were gooder weren't aye? Could a vermin makes a dumplin loikes at?"

Naco rubs a clawed hand over his head, "Well..thats interesting. And the otter didn't... see through your ruse?"

Violet also pulls out a small, detail carving knife. SHe holds out the flute at length, eyeying it.

Shan relaxes. "No. Sorry, I guess not. You're nice for a fox, Mr. Flicktail."

Flicktail says, "well calls me Flicky."

Violet gruffs, "Yer more sensitive t' vibrations, tell me iffin' this is off, Naco."

Flicktail says, "e otters wot's made me a otter.... Oi were a vermin whens Oi come ta them..."

Lucas chuckles quietly and goes to take one of Layne's arms, try and encourage her up "I think it's time to get reacquainted with them, unless you're planning on falling asleep on me moment I sit down again." One ear's kept turned to the others, keep up with that conversation.

Violet puts the flute to her lips, blowing from one end to the other.

Naco twitches his head a bit as Violet plays, "Its a bit sharp at the end....."