A Visitor at a Troubling Time
Characters: Aikuen, Fira, Windhunter, William
Location: Moledeep
Mole Hall
Aikuen comes into the room, from the sleeping hall, with Fira. The little ones are not with them. Aik turns to his wife, and he looks down. Fira sighs and puts her paws on his shoulders, "Aik... Look at me..." Aik doesn't. She sighs and moves his face up with her nose. Aik slowly looks up, and peers straight into her eyes. She then puts her paw on his cheek, and smiles softly, "Chin up... We cant have you moping around all day!" She then leans in to kiss. Aik kisses her back before hugging her, "Ill be fine... Thank you darling" Fira smiles, then nuzzle, "Ill be in the back, if you need me..." she sighs before one last kiss, and then she is gone back into the sleeping hall. Aik waits until she is completely lost to sound and view, before hefting his pack over to the table. He plops down and rubs his eyes.
William comes in from outside he'd been working on the tunnel Kentar had wanted made as an escape route should the entry become unusable. The rat hangs his cloak on a peg in the entry become heading into the hall. He doesn't put his sword away when he comes in anymore, never know when he might need it.
Aikuen looks over at the entrance, when he hears somebeast, "Oh. Hello Will..." he smiles a little bit, "Hows... Hows that tunnel coming along?" he moves so he can see the rat a little better.
William says, "It's coming along. Robin helped a little t get it started. It shouldn't took too long t make th tunnel it's just making it otter size that'll take a while."
Windhunter nears the entrance of Moledeep, whistling merrily. Looking around to make sure no one is watching, he goes to the entrance and attempts to open the door, but finds it locked. He gives the door a loud knock, then looks around again.
Aikuen chuckles and then eyes the rat, "Well good. I'm sorry me and Fira are so big. We cant help it... Maybe we ca-..." his ears tilt toward the door. And he puts his claw to his lips. He slowly gets up from the table and without, or at least trying to, making no sound. He goes over to the door and puts his ear to it. Trying to listen to who it might be.
William nods and follows the otter to the door keeping a paw on his sword hilt should there be trouble.
Windhunter tries knocking one more time. He doesn't want to call out, for fear of attracting attention to the hidden home.
Aikuen really wishes he didn't put his ear to the door now. He jumps back at the knock and holds his ear, "Holy..." he grunts
Will calls through the door, "Who goes there?!" He is going to open the door to just anyone but so far the beast outside hasn't given him reason to let them in
Windhunter smiles to hear that someone is home. "It's Windhunter." He looks around yet again.
Aikuen draws his blade when the rat calls out, "Wait!..." he then blinks heavily, "Huh?... Windy?" he goes over to the door, sheathing his blade, "Oh really? What be my name then?" he calls out.
William is silent again, waiting for an answer from outside.
Windhunter recognizes Aik needs to be sure of his identity, and responds "your name is Aikuen, and I shot you when we first met."
Aikuen tilts his head at the door, before going to unlock, the many locks, "Aye. Correct...Get in quickly Windy... Come on then..." Once the squirrel is in, he shoots out, "Were you followed? Did you cover your tracks?" as he goes to relock all the locks again, including a new bar.
Windhunter nods. "Aye, I always make sure people can't follow me here. What's going on, been having trouble?"
In comes a stoat! From the sleeping hall. And in his paws is a dagger. Old looking but still very sharp. He's got a new belt on that holds the case. Chris is busy examining the weapon, not sure really why he has one, but he's not arguing when his dad told him he has to train. In fact, he was rather happy about it. "Arrr! No one be stealin' my cheese!" he pretends to be a bit of a pirate before pausing to see Aik, Will and Windy. Games are set aside and the dagger is set away.
"Been to Redwall lately?" Will asks the squirrel, "The fox they wouldn't kill and had locked in th bell tower got out." He glance up when Chris comes in. "What are you doing?" he asks the dibbun curiously.
Windhunter signs. "Blast, I had hoped that was just a rumor." He shakes his head. "I love the Abbey beasts, but I can't believe they left him in there that long. There was just no way it could have ended well."
Chris was told that it wasn't a toy, and he understands, but sometimes, he forgets. Apparently he walked in having completely forgotten. "I wont! Why does everybeast tell me that?" he frowns.
William says, "We tell you that because we don't want you t get hurt. It's easy t get hurt if you aren't careful."
Aikuen sighs at Windhunter, "Exactly. And now we, The living woodlanders, have to deal with the abbey's mistake. The fox is somewhere out there... And we aren't going to sit around. That's why the question at the door. We have to make sure..." he sighs and looks over to Chris, "What Will said... So no more games with that thing..." he points at the dagger.
Windhunter nods. "Makes sense. Did anyone die in his escape?"
Chris ohs and nods. "Sorry. Dad said not to play with it..." he nods, shuffling one foot on the floor before heading towards a chair, sitting down and completely forgetting the dagger as he spies some of the marbles he left out this morning.
William says, "I don't know. I found out soon after it happened so I only know he got out somehow probably with help. I came back here a soon as I'd heard he'd escaped so I could tell Pa and Kentar."
Aikuen nods, "Ever since then, we have been doing everything we can to help protect ourselves. New locks. Building an escape route... And we have started training ourselves... We aren't taking any chances anymore..." he says again, for emphasis.
Windhunter removes his cloak and sits down. "He's probably bringing recruits together as we speak. The sooner the problem is dealt with, the better." He begins stroking his whiskers thoughtfully.
Chris looks to the others and tilts his head a little bit. "Recoots?" he asks. He blinks and then tries that again. "Re...cruits!" he grins. Takes him a few tries to get something right still but he's getting it.
William walks over and pulls a chair out from the table, dragging it over to sit down as he's been standing this whole time. "We don't have an army," he says, "And even if we did ... " he shrugs. "If he comes here I'd rather he not take Moledeep mainly because we don't have anywhere else to go. This is our home but we're not going to die for it. ... This isn't Redwall."
Aikuen nods, "Thats what we think. The Fox is bad enough by himself. But with more like him..." he shakes his head, "But we are not going after him. There is just... We can lose so much. If anything were to happen..." he sighs, "... I will not lose anyone..." he goes over to stand behind Will, putting a paw on his shoulder.
Windhunter nods. "I understand. If you think Anba might find this place, you might want to go to Redwall now." He continues stroking his whiskers. "I'd like to sneak into his camp and feather him myself, but he's got a cat friend that would probably stop me."
Christopher pipes up and hrms loudly. "Dad says Redwall is filled with bad beasts who don't protect us." he says with a nod. Not quite in agreement but as a -thats what he said!- type thing.
William sighs, "While that isn't completely true. ... Why Redwall? They're the ones that couldn't keep him locked up. Which wouldn't have been a problem if they'd just killed him when they had the chance instead. I know they're all for peace and 'do no harm' but they should know better. Martin and their other heroes didn't take prisoners of beasts like that fox they killed them."
Aikuen sighs, "Looks like Redwall is out of the question. Plus i heard that they let that fox in several times in disguises. I cant risk that... Sorry windy. But looks like we are all here. But at least together on this issue..." he chuckles, "Me too mate. But im getting a little old for assassination attempts... and of course... other things..." he glances over to the sleeping hall.
Windhunter replies "Yes, they do pretty poor with beasts in the Abbey, but that wall has done a good job of keeping foes out for generations. If you can't hide, Redwall's your safest bet."
Windhunter continues "and as for letting him in, there's a difference between one foe getting in and his whole army swarming a small place like this."
Chris hmphs a little and starts to think the conversation is getting boring. He hops off the chair and looks about, heading off to the study to see if he can find Robin.
William says, "You heard he got in? I saw him in there seasons ago. He offered to help Kentar hunt himself down. And the stoat wouldn't listen when I told him who the fox was. I hope he hasn't gotten better at disguising himself. His eyes gave him away that time. They're hard t miss. You do have a point about th abbey's walls though, Windhunter."
Aikuen nods, "Abbey is our next choice. Other than here. Even them in their ways. The walls are there for a reason. And we must go to them, if this place is found..." he sighs, "Its risky, wherever we go. Hopefully. They wont find this place at all... That would be so much better..." he sighs.
Windhunter nods. "Indeed, staying hidden is safest. I am just worried that if you are found you won't have enough time to make it to the Abbey. But as you say, it's risky either way, and I'll respect your judgement." He smiles suddenly. "Anyway, on to happier things. How are Fira and the little ones?"
Aikuen says, "Aye... Thank you. I was a soldier once, and this seems like a good plan for now..." he grins, "They are good. Ella and Venei are starting to get into trouble a lot more. But they are each others cohorts in crime. And always seem to get out of things... Hard to catch them in lies..." he chuckles, "And Fira is the same. Worrisome when she needs to be. Then firey when set off..." he smiles, "Just like when i married her... How about you?"
Aikuen nods, "Abbey is our next choice. Other than here. Even them in their ways. The walls are there for a reason. And we must go to them, if this place is found..." he sighs, "Its risky, wherever we go. Hopefully. They wont find this place at all... That would be so much better..." he sighs.
Windhunter nods. "Indeed, staying hidden is safest. I am just worried that if you are found you won't have enough time to make it to the Abbey. But as you say, it's risky either way, and I'll respect your judgement." He smiles suddenly. "Anyway, on to happier things. How are Fira and the little ones?"
Aikuen says, "Aye... Thank you. I was a soldier once, and this seems like a good plan for now..." he grins, "They are good. Ella and Venei are starting to get into trouble a lot more. But they are each others cohorts in crime. And always seem to get out of things... Hard to catch them in lies..." he chuckles, "And Fira is the same. Worrisome when she needs to be. Then firey when set off..." he smiles, "Just like when i married her... How about you?"
William nods in agreement with the otter. "We're all fine here," he says, "Nothing t report. Just the usual." He waits for the squirrel's reply when Aik asks how he's been as the squirrel doesn't visit that often and news is generally welcome as winter makes traveling anywhere hard.
Windhunter smiles. "Oh, I've been pretty bored really. Just wandering up and down the river, thought everything was fine til I heard the rumor about Anba."
Aikuen says, "Well lucky you. You know its cold out, right. We otters here, don't care much for the cold. Especially when the pond is frozen over. Im not much into claw skating..." he grumbles, "So we have been mostly staying here, getting things done, before spring comes..." he chuckles, "What about your sister, Skydancer? What she getting into these days?" he asks.
William is quiet letting the other two talk. This is the first he's heard of the squirrel having family. The first he can recall anyway.
Windhunter smiles again. "Well, she had been in a traveling dancing group, then came back to the village last time I was there to see our brother's new child. Then I left, not sure if she took off again or if she's still there."
Aikuen snorts, "Heh. Well good she is not getting into trouble then. You said she was a real nuisance. Course that was over a year ago since i last heard from her... Glad she is in a troupe though. Seems nice... Probably be gone by now. My reckoning." he hrms, and finally goes to sit in a chair, after standing for so long, "Hope she is alright... SO. How is your brothers young? Does he look like his uncle!" he grins stupidly.
Windhunter replies "Oh, she likes me fine. Name's Snowflower. She was just a newborn when we were there, didn't do much of anything except be cute." He yawns and stretches. "Well, I'm beat. I'll stay the night, then probably head out tomorrow to scout out Anba.
Aikuen smiles, "Snowflower? Heh. Maybe one day. I will meet her..." he nods and gets up from the table, "Of course. You are welcome to stay here as long as you want. But i know that is not you..." he goes over and pats him on the shoulder, "You were the first beast to call me friend here. Be careful mate..." he holds out his paw to receive a warriors shake.
Aikuen smiles, "Snowflower? Heh. Maybe one day. I will meet her..." he nods and gets up from the table, "Of course. You are welcome to stay here as long as you want. But i know that is not you..." he goes over and pats him on the shoulder, "You were the first beast to call me friend here. Be careful mate..." he holds out his paw to receive a warriors shake.
William nods, "You're always welcome here Windhunter."
Windhunter rises as well and gives Aikuen a shake of the paw and a hug. "I always am. You be careful too Aik."
Aikuen hugs the squirrel back, before he goes off to the sleeping hall. Aik waits till he is gone before heading back to the table, "Windy is right you know. Even though abbey beasts are stuck in their ways. They have something we don't. A wall. We may have to say good bye to this place if the fox should find it..." he sighs.
William sighs, "I know it. Hope it doesn't come t that. .... I don't know if we could all adjust to the abbey or not. Sure it's bigger than this place but there's also many more beast living there. What do you think?"
Aikuen rubs the bottom of his chin, "I know me an Fira would be used to it. Though Fira might have trouble with all the beasts. She has a hard time in crowed areas..." he hrms, "The twins would be okay. They wont know the difference until their older anyway. The stoats..." he shrugs, "Im not them. I cant tell you. But im sure it would be alright... It certainly would be a change of pace, no matter what... but i think we would do just fine..." he nods a few times
William hmms, "Maybe I'm just worrying too much then. Amy'd complain if we moved and it'd probably take her a while to get familer with the layout of the abbey. Where rooms are an things. It's a lot bigger then here. .... I really don't like th idea of her going up an down those stairs they have but isn't much I do about it. She doesn't like crowds much either but at other times she does. Guess it comes from singing at pubs an such. ... Still would rather stay here unless we /had/ to leave."
Aikuen chuckles, "Ah, she will be fine. And the stairs? Really? You complain about that?" he laughs, "Yes, there is a lot of them. But she dodges chairs, if she knows where they are. And i far as i remember. The stairs at the abbey don't move. So once she gets used to them. It will be fine..." he nods once or twice, "AS for crowds, she is just going to have to prioritize... There is alot of beasts. But all of them would be willing to help her. Anyway they can..."
William mutters, ".... she could fall or something. ... and at first she'd be using her staff and .... never mind." He raises a brow at Aik when he mentions the Redwallers' helpfulness. "Not /all/ of them would help. Many of them yes but not all. We know that a nice white fox can be trusted but can she til an overly nice white fox from a sneaky black fox or a 'dead' fox? ..." the rat sighs.
Aikuen chuckles, "Everybody falls Will. That's why she wont be taking the stairs running. She is a lot more agile than she puts on. Plus i don't think she would like you to be worrying about her falling on some stairs." he holds up a paw, "And i mean that, with no disrespect. She has said it herself, that she has been blind and on her own for some time. I think stairs are no match for her... And as for that. She has good hearing, like you, and can probably tell the difference right off... Plus i highly doubt you are going to be leaving her side... if we do go..." he chuckles.
William shrugs a little, "... You're right. ... I still can't help worrying about her sometimes though."
Aikuen chuckles, "That is why, you are going to be a great husband one day. Thats why it is okay... You worry about the little things. Cause you care for her so much... that even just thinking about her. Getting a bruise. Is enough to set you off. Some may laugh at that... Like Amy. But i see it as a good thing. Some husbands don't even care about their wives..." he shakes his head, "But were not like that..." he gets up from the table and ruff his sons headfur, "G'night son. I heard that Garnet is making pancakes for dinner. Might want to go see what that is about... Ill be up for first watch if you need me..." he smiles before heading off into the sleeping hall. And to his darling wife. For who he cares so much for.
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