A good chat and a happy reunion :) (sorry this is long...but Thorn and Benar see each-other! Yay!)
Redwall Abbey Entrance. Just inside the main gate.
Flicktail the fox. Caleb the mouse. Thorn the rat. Lacota the squirrel. DoraRose the mouse. Lorimis the mouse and Benar the squirrel. Chud the otter.
Caleb is out in the entry watching some of the younger dibbuns toss around snowballs, he hasn;t jioned in so he just watches.
Flicktail says, "well hullo there Caleb me lad...how are ya?"
Caleb offers a smile "I am doing ok sir, just enjoying a clear day is all..cold but sunny still"
Flicktail smiles "how goes yer stuides in the Kitchens?
Caleb looks around and back to the fox "I...guess ok, I havnt done anything yet. Cut up some veggies a few times and found some recipes"
Flicktail sits down "things don't happen as fast as you wouldlike do they?" he asks gently not accusing or like trying to give a lesson
Caleb sighs and sits on the stairs, "I mean I guess I could..just do somrthing else, probally not that good anyways."
Flicktail says, "Caleb..you have always struck me as a very intelligent mouse...why woudl you say something that sounds so foolis as...yer PROB not good at it anyways, I have come to knwo your better en that, I mean even Lorimis made an exception fer you"
Caleb frowns, "I..like to learn to cook, some recipres sound real neat but..." He sighs, "When someone laughs and..then tries to keep a book away from you it's..its hurtful sir. I even helped wash dishes more so yeesterday to make it-look- like I wasnt intrested in helping so someone would leave me alone"
Flicktail asks, "Someone laughed at you Caleb? who were that?"
Caleb looks down as he kicks some snow"Does it matter?"
Flicktail says, "aye it matters so i can advise you"
Caleb says, "It was Pip, he doesnt like me and has been mean to me again. He triped me when no one was looking and made me spill some flour all over the floor"
Flicktail says, "Caleb....do you know how much BETTER you are then Pip?"
Caleb says, "No one should try and be better than another sir"
Flicktail says, "I am not saying they should..I am saying when Pip laughs.....it would not upset me...."
Caleb says, "Well your not me..it hurts me, makes me sad"
Flicktail says, "I cannot control what Pip does, all i can say is Pip is not learning to cook... Pip doesn'thave adult beasts treatinghim like an adult.....now I do understandit hurts because you Like Pip....maybe Pip needs to know that too...."
Caleb blinks "What?.. I never said I like him..he isnbt a friend, he hates me"
Flicktail says, "if he's not a friend...why does wot he says hurt?" he asks in a very honest manner "It woudl be liek a vermin saying Redwall was a stinky place...it would not Hurt me....I am not trying to give you a lesson Caleb, I really wont ta know"
Caleb says, "Guess cause..I dont know makes me wonder if should of tried to..learn stuff this soon or will I just fail""
Flicktail says, "Caleb" he says tringto get the moust to look at him "A wise beast once told me...when you try you may fail...but if you quit...you always fail...."
Caleb does look at him now, "What am I supposed to do then...I..I can't always pay attention when he does that"
Flicktail says, "Well... I suppose you will have to act a bit...older then you are...and I will help if I can...Not sure hw ywt, but yer not alone ya know..i'm yer friend"
DoraRose comes out of the gatehouse, a basket of clean clothes under her arm. She has a cheery red scarf and matching mittens on, aswell as a heavy dark green cloak. She smiles as she sees her son and the Abbey Champion, and she comes up to them. "Good day, Sir Flick. Hi Caleb. How are your days going?" She goes ot give her son a hug.
Caleb nods slowly, "Maybe..Maybe I should ask to make or wel help make something..then again Friar is pretty busy." He smiles when he sees Dorarose, "Hello mother...umm its an..ok day"
Flicktail nods to Caleb "I think it is not good tow orry too much wot OTHERbeasts think o ya....unless you really respect them
DoraRose looks at her son with concern. "You could help me make a pizza...are you alright?" She glances at the fox, then nods in agreement. "That's true--you should only care about the opinions of those who love you. Did somebeast make fun of you?"
Caleb smiles some, he has helped with Pizza before though today wouldnt be the best day since its very busy in the kitchesn due to the feast the next day." I will be ok just...Pip was being mean again, he triped me and I splled some flour and had to clean it up"
Thorn walks towards the entry, she over sleep today but then again she was up fairly late and sleep in the bunk room, or where ever she was probally carried as she was tried and worn out and remembers first crying her eyes out on Lorimis and then she hugged Flicktail and doesnt remember much after that.Lets see Lorimis said good night and Flicktail..well said something before she fell asleep agaist the fox.
Flicktail says, "Good Morning Thorn...are you feeling better?"
Caleb looks over at the rat as he sort of remembers her a little, he didnt see her too much really .
DoraRose sighs and goes to hug the other mouse again. "Well, Pip is just jealous 'cause you're a better creature than he is. Just ignore him." She smiles at the ratmaid and says, "Good day."
Thorn frowns "I..didnt mean to fall asleep I was tried and..." She remembers some of last night" Dad was asleep so..didnt want to wake him and tried to go into the hall and almost bumped into Lorimis and.." She sighs and looks down, yeah she rather forget the rest..mental breakdown in front of the abbot.
Flicktail asks, "I am glad to see you Thorn, do you know Caleb and Dora Rose here?"
Caleb stays seated letting the others talk for now.
DoraRose raises an eyebrow at the young rat and glances at the fox, wonderign what that was all about. She absently goes to rub her son's back.
Thorn glaces at them and nods "Yes..I lived her like..half a season before.." She frowns again and sighs.
Lacota steps out of Great Hall, and pauses, catching sight of the assorted beasts. "Well, good day, everybeast... You do know lunch is being served, as we speak, correct?"
Flicktail asks, "wot is for unch, Lacota?"
DoraRose frowns at the Friar. "I thought lunch was 2 hours ago...."
Caleb stands up and nods a hello to Lacota, he hasnt done much today just choped some veggies and cleaned up spilled flour.
Thorn glances at Lacota, "Hello Frair..Lacota..I didnt mean to not talk much yesterday." She then walks over and if allowed hugs the friar "I'm..sorry" She tries not to cry on him, but a few tears escape anyways.
Lacota hugs Thorn warmly. "It's alright, Lass." He smiles. "You've grown."
Flicktail smiles "Aye thats wot I said.... I came outto enjoy the weather and saw Caleb ere, and now Thorn and the Great Dora Rose"
DoraRose shrugs, deciding to eat when she's hungry. She stands and shakes snow off her skirt as she shakes her head at the fox, suppressing a smile. "Flicktail, why do you always call me 'great'? It's embarrassing, and I usually don't feel 'great'. I usually feel like plain old me."
Caleb decides to go see if they need help in the kitchens and so walks off that direction quietly.
"None of us are ever as plain nor as old as we personally feel," Lorimis says softly as he walks up behind DoraRose, leaning on his walking stick and smiling as he leads Benar and Brother Elmef over, "What brings us all outside on this cold day?""
Thorn steps back from the Friair and nods, she spots Benar but stays where she is unsure of weather to go over to him or not.
Lacota raises his paw. "I was just taking a much needed break, myself."
Flicktail Looks up "Oh hello Father Abbot, Benar...Elmef...Have you heard, Thorn here is back?" He smiles proudly, though he still walks with a limp and his bandages were recently changed
DoraRose stares at the fox as he ignores her question, then sighs and shakes her head again and smiles. She waves to the newcomers and picks up her basket of clean clothes. "Good day. "I was just getting some clothes to replace the ones Lily keeps tearing."
Benar decides to not wait and hurries past the Abbot and ducks around Lacota to throw his arms around the young rat's shoulders, "Thorn... where have you been? I've had no one to help me in the kiln for weeks now! When I said take a break I didn't mean take several weeks off." Lorimis walks up besides DoraRose and smiles gently at her, "Lily does go through quite a lot of clothing it seems"
Thorn allows the hug and stands there surprised, maybe she was thinking she get yelled at, well she was not sure, she hugs him back tightly and...great Benar's turn to get cried on, "I'm sorry Dad..."
Lacota stands back, watching. He starts to turn toward the doors to Great Hall again. "Dora, I want to tell you that I have been extremely pleased with your son's progress in my kitchen. I think, one day, he could even be Friar..."
Flicktail looks up "I am Sorry Dora Rose, you asked a Question, I call you Great because I have seen wot you do as a Warrior, as a Mother, and as a mate and a friend...and it truely makes you great if ya ask me....."
DoraRose bows slightly to the Friar. "Thank you for your kind words. I'll be sure to tell him." She then blushes slightly at the fox's response. "Well, thank you, Sir Flick. You are a great friend, aswell." Finally she turns to the Abbot with thinly veiled frustration on her face. "She rips, tears and stains her clothes 3 to 4 times every day. She is intentionally disobediant too. I wish I knew what, exactly, to do with her."
Benar squeezes Thorn warmly and shakes his head, "It is ok.... you are back now Thorn... just don't run away like that again ok?" Lorimis smiles at DoraRose "Would you like me to talk with her? She may listen to me."
Thorn nods, "I don't plan to ever again. I missed you and every beast..I love you Father."
Lacota overhears. "Let me take a crack at her. A few hours spent peeling potatoes works wonders for disobedient young ones."
Flicktail smiles and looks to Father Abbot "Um...Father Abbot, I know If i can i needto get elp..but me paws be getting real wetthese days, is it ok if i get OFF Kitchen duty and stop washin dishes? Resume me duties as Champion?"
Benar squeezes the rat tightly and smiles, "I love you too Thorn, welcome home." he squeezes her, "We can discuss a suitable.... penance for your running away later. Maybe extra chores in the kitchen, but for now I am just glad you are home." Lorimis shakes his head and smiles at Flicktail, "Don't ask me Flicktail, only the Friar can excuse you from your fair share of the chores, even the Champion must help out with chores. If we get attacked by a horde of vermin I'll excuse you but until that happens it is up to Lacota."
DoraRose answers the Friar first, saying, "I've tried something similar! I've had her help wash dishes, I've had her help do laundry and clean the gatehouse! She still keeps disobeying!" She turns to the Abbot, her voice communicating her frustration. "She keeps saying she wants to be a warrior, and even though I tell her that warriors obey the rules, but she won't listen! Would you please talk to her?"
Thorn nods slowly, she looks at Lacota and then towards Lorimis and back to Benar," I am..glad to be home,"
Lacota overhears Lorimis, the smiles quite sweetly at Flicktail. "I'm afraid, Mr. Flicktail, that the agreement was, until spring, or you are fully healed, whichever comes first... Alas, I have to tell you neither have come to pass yet."
Flicktail grumbles "maybe *I* should start tearing my clothes" but he has a thinly veiled smirk
DoraRose sniffs as she tries to not cry with the frustration she brought to the fore with her exclamation as she awaits an answer.
Benar smiles softly and hugs Thorn again then steps back, "Lets get you inside and into a bath and some clean clothes then see about feeding you." Lorimis nods his head and smiles at DoraRose and places a hand on the mouse's shoulder, "Let me talk to her my friend. I will do what I can to make her see sense."
Thorn sighs at the bath idea but she does have yet to have one since getting back, like yesterday afternoon , she nods "That sounds good."
Lacota raises his paw. "You see to the bath and clothes, I'll see to the feeding. I won't take no for an answer, it's already settled. I'll have something good and filling whipped up in time for you to be all presentable again."
Flicktail says, "well all i have to get back to me dishes, Welcome 'ome Thorn, Dora Rose if you need a break ye can always call me"
Chud walks in, wearing his standard winter garb of gloves, a heavy cloak, a watchcap, and scarf over what he normally wears, although strangely he's still wearing his shorts...and no shoes.
Thorn sticks her tongue out at Lacota, but yes she will take a bath and get clean outfit on and be ready for a late lunch.
DoraRose sniffs and nods her thanks to the Abbot as she wipes her eyes on her sleeve.
Chud moves over to DoraRose. "You okay miz?" he asks softly. Sure he doesn't know her /that/ well, but do unto others and all that....
Lacota waves to Chud. "Good afternoon, sir, and welcome to Redwall Abbey."
Lorimis smiles at Dora Rose and hugs her gently, "It is ok, children can be... tricky at times." Benar smiles at Thorn, "Well where have you been staying anyway?" the Elder raises a paw to Chud and waves in greeting
Thorn frowns at the where have you been question and doesn;t answer for right now.Maybe now is a good time to slip away and take the bath and get a change of clothing.
DoraRose nods as she accepts the Abbots hug, then turns to the otter. "Yeah...I'm alright. I'm just frazzled is all. Thank you."
Chud calls back to Lacota. "Thankee, sai. Been a while since I've visited. Couple weeks maybe..." He waves to Benar as well before saying to DoraRose, "Y'welcome. Just makin' sure."
Lacota nods. "Ah, well, sir, you're just in time for the feast."
Lorimis says, "Indeed welcome back Chud," he calls out, "We are having a feast tomorrow you will be most welcome at as always." Benar meanwhile has headed off back inside with Thorn talking quietly whilst Brother Elmef stays near the abbot.
Chud nods. "Thankee all." He stretches briefly; his back's kinda stiff. He sits back down and gazes around the grounds. "So beautiful this time of year," he muses quietly to himself.
DoraRose smiles a little at the otter. "Thank you for asking." She chuckles at the otter sitting in the snow. "Yes, it is. I love the snow. It didn't snow very much in Tus--" "Miss Strongheart!" A Novice comes dashign out of the Abbey and begins to tug on the warrior's free paw. "We found LilyMoore! You might want to come look at this..." DoraRose dashes off into the building, ready to tan her daughter's hide.
Thanks for reading, and congrats if you made it to the end! :D
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