A Magpie With A Message and Talk Of Rescuing A Friend-Redwall Log
Long Log...sorry but its good -------
==Redwall Log==========
Those Involved:
Leon-Brother Leon Master Healer Of Redwall
Jem –Evil Magpie
John-Squirrel visitor of Redwall
Lee -Resident at Redwall
Aden –Wife to Champion and Resident of Redwall
Magramba-Redwall Champion
RW Abbey: Cavern Hole
This room is slightly smaller than Great Hall, but still of a size large enough to accommodate a great number of gathered beasts. A large fireplace is set into one of the walls, and there are a series of small tables and chairs near one end for beasts who are eating late, or simply prefer the smaller tables for their meals. Cushions and blankets have been set in one corner. A short flight of steps leads up to Great Hall, and along the walls of the stairs, going both ways, the word 'Redwall' has been carved into the stone.
Exits/Entrances:
[G]reat [H]all
[Ki]tchen
Evening is settling over Redwall, and the dinner rush has already cleared out of cavern-hall. However, the dinner rush and the rationing and this whole 'siege-mentality' do not account for Aden: she is hungry, she is hormonal, and she wants /food/. The silver squirrel slips into Cavern Hole, looking about as pathetic as she can muster, only to be accosted by Sister Agatha - who will hear /nothing/ of these 'special circumstances' the acrobat claims contribute to a /need/ for extra rations and thus, food less and pouting, Aden instead plops herself down at a table, resigned to die a slow death by starvation.
Leon looks up and nods "Evening, you OK tonight?" He himself seems quiet, but at least not many are in the infirm now. Just maybe 2-3 otters that were more seriously wounded, and a guard who broke their toe.
"Fine, fine..." Aden grumbles, looking up as Leon hails her. "Just being eaten from the inside out and dying of a hunger which knows no bounds." She has always been touched with dramatics. "And you, Brother?"
Leon answers "It’s just rations, not too bad really and I am better than I was a couple days ago, nothing like a monitor holding you in its claws while their leader talks to the abbey beasts. I am surprised to of been let go" He frowns "I think they just wanted to avoid being a pin cusion and caused a bit of shock with their news and burning the treaty and all"
Lee drifts into the Cavern Hole, looking somewhat better than he had of late... Though his head was still bandaged heavily. "Oy. We still talkin' 'bout that? It's not really that shockin', ye know..."
"Yeah, I heard about your ordeal." Aden's ears wilt back. "But never underestimate the horrors of rations!" If she is going to lose the form she spent years of acrobatics culminating, she might as well give in to every strange craving that has begun assailing her. In the middle of the night. While she cries over things like creaky floorboards and socks with holes in them.... She isn't handling this gracefully. "I was at Camp Willow when this whole... Treaty and pin-cushion business happened, but from what I heard you were very bra-" And then there's Lee! The squirrel turns and raises a paw. "I don't really disagree, it's a vermin village, after all."
Leon sighs "Still...they never tried or threatened the abbey, Scioto never did and now that this Zurrgg killed him and took over it seems he wants to maybe own the abbey, he mentioned taxes and its possible he has a captive, but not totally sure if he has anyone or not, but someone is missing"
Lee waves a paw. "True enough, but I was also referrin' to the fact that nobeast was on guard. Zurrgg or wotever the fool calls 'imself... 'E took advantage of us, all of us... I guarantee it's no coincidence that he attacked Ferravale when 'e did... The sackin' o' Camp Willow distracted us all..." The otter sighs.
With a shrug, Aden frowns. "I'm not worried about war - the Abbey can withstand any ragtag little 'offensive' they may scrounge together, but the captive situation..." She sighs, drilling her thumb and forefinger into her forehead in thought. "We can send out search-parties and sparra, but if this wildcat blighter has a hold of Oz, then he'll probably be /in/ the damned village itself. If we need some beast to go look around, we always have Flicktail." To Lee, her frown deepens. "There may be a treaty, but it doesn't mean that we have much... Y'know, much of a /relationship/ with Ferravale. Unless he actually attacks, it doesn't affect us much past those in the Abbey who have personal relationships with beasts there. I'm content to let vermin affairs be vermin affairs as long as they leave us out of it - next time they come demanding taxes, put 'em full of holes." Hey, she's new - she wasn't raised with this whole 'peaceful Abbey' jargon.
Leon frowns "And if they have any sort of hostage with them, then what?"
Lee bangs his fist on a table. "We liberate 'em, simple as that. Lissen, we ain't completely at loss 'ere... There's me, Magramba, yer wife... An', a troop o' Long Patrol 'ares, not far from our location... A couple hares were stayin' the night 'ere in Redwall a week or so back... With those 'ares backin' us, for sure, we can thoroughly crush the vermin. Even without the 'ares, really..."
"First, we find out if they actually /do/. And then we go from there." Aden shrugs, leaning back in her chair and rubbing a paw over her growling stomach. "But I still think we should send our resident vermin over to scope the situation out. Flick went behind enemy lines when I was captured at Marshank, so we know it can work." Although with the fox's new dibbun in the mix, it's a moral grey area to send him. At Lee's passionate outburst, she actually growls. "Unless they have a hostage it just /isn't our problem/! And, if they do, there are ways to go about it without /all out war/. Camp Willow is still in ruins, why waste an offensive on a vermin village? I'm not puttin' my life on the line, and I would /certainly/ prefer to keep my husband's off of it as well." Her eyes widen a fraction - they were still keeping that under wraps, weren't they? Oh well, the cat would be out of the bag within a few weeks either way.
Leon frowns "I think Flicky is sort of well-known though, may or may not be wise" He hmms "I would normally say Zee as idea but No one that is still recovering from helping in Camp Willow so he can’t fight"
Lee frowns. "Hostage, or no... It *is our problem*. Ferravale is right next door, practically. I know we ain't the sheriffs o' Mossflower, but we cannot let it stand. Zurrgg 'as made it quite clear that 'e 'as
Lee frowns. "Hostage, or no... It *is our problem*. Ferravale is right next door, practically. I know we ain't the sheriffs o' Mossflower, but we cannot let it stand. Zurrgg 'as made it quite clear that 'e 'as no intention o' livin' peacefully wi' us. It's unacceptable. *Unacceptable*. As long as they hold Ferravale, Mossflower is unsafe. The Road is unsafe... The north bridge is effectively under their control."
"Well known, but easily disguised. Plus, there is Rayen, Thorn, and that, uh, otter maid with the Juska tattoos. We don't need a fighter, just a spy who can slip into a vermin village and out again with the information we need." To Lee, she only shakes her head. "We don't get involved in every tribal or vermin squabble in Mossflower, and I don't want to be involved in this one. Camp Willow is still under attack from every opportunistic bunch of passing thieves who can swing a sword, yet you want to send an army - an army we really don't have - to /Ferravale/? If this Zurrgg clown is laying siege to our fellow, peaceful, woodlander villages then, yes, take him out. Otherwise? He's just another hot-shot cat with a big voice and a few murders under his belt. I'm not saying that we should do /nothing/, but going to war over this? I'm not wasting my steel, my life, or my family for that. We're an Abbey, not a castle - shoal up the defenses, send a few fighters out if we have to, but we're not here to do /war/."
Leon listens "I hope this wildcat doesn’t plan to try and harm Camp Willow as well and I have a feeling he already has disturbed the peace and will be back at our gates before too long, for sure if he has Oz which he may well have"
"*We* don't 'ave to go ta war. As I mentioned earlier, there is a regiment o' Long Patrol 'ares not a day's march from 'ere. Their stated job is ta keep the peace, is it not?" The otter then nods at Leon. "I'm sorry, Aden, but I will not concede this. That cat is unpredictable. For goodness sakes, we can't let our own abbey beasts out of the Abbey. His ilk are not content to just ignore us for long. We can't just bury our heads in the sand ev'rytime a villain moves in next door."
Leon says, "I also have reason to believe he has killed an abbey beast before"
"I'm not suggesting that we do nothing, but we shouldn't be wasting any unnecessary resources on a vermin squabble." Aden frowns, rubbing at the back of her neck. "I'm perfectly content to let the Long Patrol handle it, let Ferravale handle it. Our concern should be with Oz and getting him home safe, if he has indeed been taken. I am /not/ suggesting we put our heads in the sand - I am merely saying that an offensive, from us, should be our last course of action. It is risky, and not the Abbey way. We should prepare for an attack on our walls - which we are - and find out for sure if they have taken Oz." Turning to Leon, the squirrel raises an eyebrow. "Who? And Abbey beasts are killed by bandits, thieves, and every half-bit vermin 'warlord' that pops up every few seasons... It happens, the world outside our walls isn't safe - if it was, the Abbey wouldn't be necessary. We had a mad Northbeast setting heads on spikes and demanding 'tribute' just a few weeks ago, and we're still standing. They wiped out entire villages, destroyed Camp Willow - what has Zurrgg done? Stolen a few dibbuns, possibly kidnapped one of our own, and burned a piece of paper. I'm not exactly shaking in my boots here, going all out would only validate his ego."
Jem peeks into the room at the talking beasts and tilts her head. She stays quiet ems to wait for a good moment to speak
Leon says, "I know he was the one who had Caleb and Xander at one time and supposed he ...as he put it...got rid of the cub, not sure what he means by that. Caleb had managed to get away but Xander had not. He may of killed Xander..but I don’t know"
Whistling a simple tune, John makes his way down the stairs into the room. His attire would suggest he's ready for a trip somewhere; what with the boots, gambason, and cloak he has on. Hearing the last bit of conversation, he pauses. "Eh," He interrupt, making his presence known, "Th' wildcat said he sold the cub into slavery." The squirrel shrugs. "No' exactly sure how credible his words are, though."
"And he *murdered* one of our longtime allies." Lee sighs. "It's a troublesome situation, all around. An' it's a balancin' act... We can't let 'em think we're only gonna cower be'ind our walls an' gates. That will only make 'em bolder. Redwall is a bastion of peace, but don't forget, our founder was a warrior." He considers his words carefully, before replying to Leon, "I truly 'ope not... That's somethin' we can't overlook for any reason. Our response needs to be swift, but carefully considered." The otter frowns at John's words. "Slavery... So distasteful. I wouldn't believe a thing that cat says, though. I've dealt wi' 'is type before... They'll lie as soon as look at ye."
Jem chuckles, best a bird can at all this talk, "All talk of beasts is funny...Zurrgg is leader of Ferravale, he is chieftain...he owns the land in and around village and demands taxes of abbey beasts yes he does"
Leon frowns when he sees and hears the magpie "Who are you?" He asks curious and maybe a little concerned.
"I'm not saying he ain't a bad guy, but as far as threats to the Abbey go?" Aden opens her paws. "Xander's plight, Oz's disappearance... He attacks individuals so that he can try to force our paw because he's weak. We can handle a siege, we've handled literally hundreds of them. It's just not our place to go running about doling out justice. Like you said, it's a balancing act. Our founder was a warrior, we /have/ warriors - but they're not for war..." Aden sighs, and throws her hands up. "But I am just a lowly circus performer, I can talk politics till the cows come home, but the Abbot and Mag will have that say when it comes down to I -" She turns, quizzically, to the bird.
Lee looks at the bird. "Ye wanna know wot we did to that last beast that demanded taxes of us? We defeated the bloke, then arrested 'im, an' banished 'im from Redwall, for as long as 'e lives. Shockin'ly, that worked..." The otter rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Anyway, ye tell that Zurrgg fellow that he'll get taxes over me dead body. Also, tell 'im that 'is name is idiotic. Bet 'e picked it 'imself... Bet 'e's illiterate." He points a finger. "I want ye ta give that cat a personal message, from Me. The name's Lee, L-E-E... I doubt Zurrgg can spell, anyhow... Tell the fool that if 'e wants me money, 'e can come an' get it... I'll welcome 'im wi' open arms... Bird."
Nodding at Lee's words, he glances over the bird. "Chief Zurrgg y'say? He calls himself that 'cause he killed th' last one. An' last I checked," John says, sitting in a nearby chair, "The village is a place of laws. I said it before: I doubt they take kindly t' a beast who killed their leader." He leans over the table, grabbing a pitcher and filling an empty mug. "And if they do..." He shrugs, again. "If killing the last one is a valid way t' make y' a leader there, then I can just hand it over t' Blisa once I put a bolt between his eyes." The squirrel takes a long draft from the mug, setting it down after a moment, staring at the pitcher. "If it's any police t' any of ye, I'm not a part o' the abbey - just a bum who leeches food from here. So if I get involved, y'all don' have to worry about the ol' image of this place." He leans back in his chair, looking in turn at each of them. "I've heard about this bloody wildcat for months - and no ones done anything about him. I just want t' get it over with." He takes another sip of the mug.
Jem only laughs...dead body can be arranged and Master has abbey beasts and says pay taxes or abbey beast will Get dead"
Leon frowns, well that confirms it, the wildcat has Oz. Leon takes a deep breath to avoid cussing the bird out.
Now the bird has her full attention. "You're with Zurrgg?" Aden asks, rather calmly. "First off, how did you get in here? And, second...." Despite the understood implications of it, Aden lunges across the table for a simple kitchen knife, and flings it, bodily, at the bird. "Well, someone /get her/!" She has no qualms about putting holes in beasts - and inside the Abbey, the smaller Cavern Hole, in fact, what chance does the Magpie have of making an escape? She isn't happy with just talking, when the enemy is, now, /literally standing in their home/. "No fighting in the Abbey my arse!" The pregnant squirrel growls. Consequences be damned, she can blame the hormones! Another knife from the table is in her paw, and she stands with a snarl.
Lee sighs. "Honestly, Bird, yer friend Zurrgg has no imagination. Wotsoever. Yer empty threats 'ave us quakin' in our boots, truly. Look, Bird, state yer business 'ere, an' begone, or it's yerself that'll 'get dead'. Ye take me message back, an' I also wanna add that if 'e lays a paw on our Abbey beast... I will *personally* cut out 'is 'eart, an' set it on fire. 'Ave ye got me message now? I don't want ye ta forget a single word of it, now." He takes a step backward now, when Aden goes wild. "Whoa, 'old on! If we kill the bird, Zurrgg might retaliate by killin' Oz. STAND DOWN, I demand it. Our paws are tied."
Jem eyes go wide as she goes to flap backwards and attempts to peck at the squirrel maid, the knife misses anything vital but it goes clip a few feathers, and she does lose her balance off the table cawing loudly as she lands on her back and puffs out!
"What, am I gonna kill her with a bloody kitchen knife? Why let her /leave/?!" Aden scoffs, still pointing the weapon at the magpie and stalking forward. As the bird falls, she points at her and turns to Lee. "What's wrong with using her for information, finding out where Oz is, and having a bloomin' hostage of our own?" Or just roasting her over an open flame, that works too. She slams the knife, point down, into the table and lets it stand there, quivering. "Do what you will with her, but this is ridiculous
Leon mouth drops open as he watches the knife go into the table, he watches the magpie on the floor.."Ok..let’s relax and calm..down.." He looks at the bird, "What do you know bird?" He thinks on how to make it talk "Talk or ummm....we let her question ya" Yeah that works.
Lee strides over and grabs the magpie, hoisting it up. "Just... No more tossin' knives, please. We need to be careful 'bout this, though. If we take a prisoner, this represents an escalation to the present situation. It will be war, I'm sure." He shakes the bird roughly. "In the meantime, though, I think we'll see how much you know, and if I like what ye say, I'll consider treatin' ye well... If not... Well, I won't envy yer position." He looks at Leon. "I got this, mate... I got Seth ta talk, after all... Remember that fella?"
A persistent scuffing sound, rhythmic in its scruffiness, and then Magramba appears, toting that cast on his ankle. To- well, it's not clear what, exactly. Aden is here, rubbing her belly and looking heckled, and she gets a look, before the squirrel turns his attention towards Lee and the magpie he's just hoisted unceremoniously from the floor. "What. In Martin's name. Is going on in here?"
"She's got a point, y'know." John says, unfazed by the (relative) chattiness of what just happened. He takes another long draft of the mug, nearly finishing it. He sighs, standing and moving closer to Lee and the bird. "I can't imagine it's /that/ smart, is it?" He peers into the mug after a moment. "Say," he says, trying to break the tension, "Y'have any idea what this drink was, mate?" He glances over at the newly entered champion, shrugs, and downs his drink.
Jem backs up into the wall "I will peck you all!!!!!" She puffs up "Master will come and help me and your friend will get dead."
Did Leon just use her, Aden Skipaw - lowly performer turned soft Abbey housewife - as a threat? She has never been more honored in all her years. "So I can't stab her, but you can shake her like a feather duster? /That's/ not escalating?" The squirrel pouts, crossing her arms across her chest. And then: salvation. "Oh thank everything that is /holy/ you wonderful, scruffy, gimp." She points to Lee and the magpie. "Apparently, we're not escalating. Birdbrain here says Zurrgg has Oz." Pausing in the chaos, she turns to Jon. "Looks like... Cordial? Or that nice cider they uncorked this winter. /MM/."
Leon reaches into his pocket pulling out some herbs he knows will knock a beast out and looks to give them too "This herb could knock her out a few hours and we can...put her somewhere and question her later"
Lee looks at the squirrel who just entered. "We seem to be takin' a prisoner. I'm not entirely sure it's a good idea, though, but she essentially confirmed our recent vermin villain has Oz, so we're pumpin' 'er for information." He slaps the bird. "Hush yerself. Yer Master is a worm. It's that last part that concerns me, though. I 'ave no doubt that Zurrgg is unstable... I do worry that if this pathetic bird doesn't return in a timely manner, he'll kill Oz." To Jem, he asks, "'Ow the 'Ell did ye get inside the Abbey, anyway? Wot idiot let ye into Great 'All?"
Jem glares at all the beasts here "I fly...wait till beasts look other way, not know who I am or work for" Well gee..they do now.
Magramba blinks. This evening just went downhill. "Someone get some rope. I don't care where from. We're not drugging it. Her." Birds are weird. "We're also not taking any prisoners unless we /decide/ we ought to. If they do have Oz it's not a bad idea, but-" And it is a big but- "it's generally considered bad form to kidnap a messenger." Not that vermin really adhere to the rules consistently or anything. "Tie it up and we'll decide what to do with her. I'm inclined to send her back. She's probably expendable to this Zurrgg fellow anyway." The Champion frowns.
Hearing Aden identify the drink, John nods slowly. "We could just use a mug to knock it out, leave the bird outside the gates - lot more fun than herbs, anyway." he says in an almost joking manner, raising the now empty cup. "If th' bird honestly thinks that 'master' will actually do something help her, well, I need something stronger t' drink...." He sighs. "I could, if needed, hunt down Zurrgg an' kill him. Well, shoot him. I assume he's in th' town..." He shrugs, again. "But that's fo'sure not the safest route by any means."
Finally, a voice of reason. "That was me thinkin' as well... Yer wife, on the other paw..." The otter waves a paw, and says softly, so only Magramba can hear, "We're both married beasts, so I'll be frank... She was somewot unstable there for a minute... An' armed wi' kitchen knives." Ahem. "Anyway, I say we haul the bird up to the ol' office... It's proven useful for keepin' beasts from escapin', an' I heartily suggest we both tell Benar in the morning. I'd like ta interrogate the bird before we let it go."
Leon frowns "The bird said they have a captive, has to be Oz" He glares at the bird "Who does he have bird?"
Jem answers "I am Jem not bird!!!" She looks at the beasts "Zurrgg has blind badger beast...and master demand taxes or else"
"I'll get rope." Aden grumbles, glaring at the bird as Lee slaps her. "Or we can stick her on a stick, light up a fire, and see what magpie tastes like." She heads for the door, pausing to consider the knife she stabbed into the table top. The Abbey shouldn't have suffered for the bird's presence! Bad Aden. Bad. She pulls it from the wood and sets it, gently, on the table. See? All better. Though, had she heard Lee, they would have had to wrestle it free of her, again. Never call the pregnant lady 'unstable', it's like the first law of the Abbey, or something. "You're just lucky you're not a /dead/ bird, bird. And /you/ -" She whirls on Lee. "I don't know what you just said, but I imagine that you would deserve a firm kick to the keester, watch yourself." She growls, finally making her exit to go and grab rope.
Leon frowns more now as the bird answers the question.
"We are not torturing this bird," Magramba retorts, pointing a finger at the avian and the be-turbaned otter. "Tie her up, take her outside, and set her loose. If she comes back, the sentries have leave to shoot." Odds are good that what Jem has said already is all she knows. "We're not going to provoke this lunacy until Oz is home." The half-crippled warrior ignores the comment about his wife, other than shooting her a knowing glance. And a bit of a grin. She's cute when she's mad," he murmurs.
John sits down again, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well." He looks at the bird again. "Jem, is it? I think by now y' should know to shut up about th' bloody taxes - even if this place had anything', do y' honestly they'd give anything' t' your master? A beast known for killing and making threats?" He turns slightly to face the other squirrel left in the room. "Well, if we're throwing th' bird out, we should do it quick - then I guess we talk about' getting Oz home, eh?"
Lee feigns offense. "Did I say anything about *torture*? I have my methods, yes... But none of them include torture." He jabs the magpie with his foot. "Anyway, it's yer lucky day, Bird. If Aden 'ad 'er way, we'd lock ye up till yer feathers fell out from old age. An' I have an idea she really would eat ye." He hauls the bird up again, waiting for the rope to arrive. "Now, don't ye forget, either, Bird, that message I asked ye ta pass on ta yer illiterate 'Master'."
Jem makes a quick move to peck at Lee and speaks "Dum beasts I will tell Zurrgg of you and he will hurt you all plenty good....he soon come for taxes, yes he will" She has no clue on other demands, she would grin at the next "His body guard will also have words...."
Leon frowns, "Yeah he has a monitor...meet him close up."
"Excellent," Magramba tells the bird. moving the processional along towards the nearest exit. "Off with you. Into the night, that's it."
"Good, can't wait." Aden drawls, returning with the rope and tossing it towards Lee and Magramba. "Yeah, invite ol' Zurrgg over. We can make tea, sit down, have a nice chat. Can't wait!"
Lee shakes Jem again, gritting his teeth when she pecks his face. "Filthy magpie. Ye can tell the body guard that I'm simply *dyin'* ta meet 'im... I've killed plenty o' monitors..." With help, the otter starts to truss Jem up. "Like I said, Bird, you tell that Zurrgg o' yers that I look forward to meetin' 'im... we'll 'ave a nice chat, an' I'll make sure ta sharpen me sharpest dagger. Ta Ta."
Jem flaps and is soon tried up and she looks ticked off about it as well.
"I'll keep the fire burning, love." Aden hisses to the bird as the processional passes her by. Hey, she's going to ride her crazed cannibal routine into the grave. Ta ta, for sure.
Standing, John goes over to help with the bird and rope. "Well, Zurrgg already met me; an' I doubt he can hurt anyone here, right now." he says, simply, to the bird. "There's quite a few here he's ticked off - we'd all like to have some *quality* time with him."
Jem is taken to the road a little ways and released with a message for her boss and a warning.
Leon watches as the bird is soon taken outside to the road and sighs, "I just hope he hasn't........" He shakes his head.
Lee tosses the bird out, then comes back. "Hasn't wot? If 'e 'as, like I said, I'll personally kill 'im. Oz is one o' me oldest friends..."
"If he has, though..." John says, darkly, "Well, there's nothing keeping us from dealing with him. If ye,or any of us got our paws on him," He looks up at the night sky, sighing, "Well, I almost would feel sorry for him. Almost." He glances at Lee. "So, now what, mate? How d' we get Oz back now?"
Leon frowns deeply "This has to be done carefully, the wildcat is crazy and if we mess up he will kill OZ...if he hasn’t already."He hmms "Maybe Zee knows some things about Zurrgg, he fight him before. Also ....also Marek may be of some help, those two are enemies or so I heard"
Lee makes a face. "Well, John, we'd be grateful for yer help... An' Magramba will probably take the lead... But 'e's not me boss, I do wot I must. We'll need intel, an' Leon is right... We might 'ave ta seek out Marek...Not that I want to."
John takes sharp intake of breath at the mention of Marek. "That - that last one. No." He shakes his head, muttering a curse under his breath. He falls quiet for a long time, pondering.
Lee sighs, rubbing his chin. "I don't like it anymore 'n' ye do, John... But 'e's one of the few beasts in Ferravale we can moderately trust. I'm not sure Magramba will go for it, though..." He frowns. "Lissen, I want this stay here, between us. Magramba is Champion now, and because of that, I know 'e 'as all our backs... But 'e an' I don't get along often. We are rivals, for better or worse... But I know 'e's a fine swords beast."
Leon sighs as he stands "I need to get to bed, I will let Dorarose know what happen in here..earlier, but I don't think she can help much yet."
"Hmm...Magramba would be th' sensible one, for no' going for it." John taps his leg. "Besides," He adds, in a less dark tone, "I know of a few others up there - and I know they'd help us; more so than he would." The squirrel seems rather set in not getting Marek's help. He turns to the mouse, nodding. "Right then, good night."
Lee nods. "See ye tomorrow, Leon." The otter sighs, shaking his head. "We don't really know who's alive an' dead, though. Scioto was murdered, of course. 'E was a truly wise beast, an' a tragedy that 'e's dead. I'm open ta other beasts, though."
Leon heads off and lets the two talk, “Night John…Lee….” He then heads to the gatehouse.
