Amazing race: Map piece 6 10
Camp Willow: Jina's Cave
<----> Camp Willow - Bliss Reed Pond - Jina's Cave <---->
This is a fairly good sized cave. It is dimmy lit with torches all around.
There is a decent size hole big enough for the otter that lives her to
come and go. It is also used to brind down things that would be of any use
if it were wet. There is a pile of blankets and pillows in the corner that
is used for warmth and makes a bed. In the far corner is the pool of water
where beasts come in from the water.
-- Travel: --
-- [I]nto [W]ater --
Wildefray enters the cave slowly, shaking herself vigorously, sending water droplets flying. She has never been here before, and shes slightly cautious. When she sees the grave, she stops and contemplates it.
"Peaceful, innit?" comes a quiet voice from behind her.
Wildefray doesn't turn. "Aye." She reads the gravestone. "Did ye know her?"
"Not by name, no. But I bet I seen her around 'ccasionally. Dunno. Musta been alright, though." The speaker is a young, amber-eyed river otter in a sleeveless green tunic, crouched peacefully in the shadows.
Wildefray turns, and sees the otter for the first time. "Hm. She seems like she was the quiet peaceful type." Wildefray's sheath is empty- she left her weapons on the pond bank, and she's glad she did. She doesn't like to bring weapons into places like this. Not as if she'd need them, anyway. She leans against the wall. "How long've ye been here?"
"I dunno. Few hours, mebbe." Chud had left his sling out on the banks as well, but he kept his finely crafted dirk with him simply because he didn't like to be without it. "Not like I got anywhere else t'be."
Wildefray shrugs, and sits on the ground, leaning against the wall. "Aye, not much goin' on 'ere at Camp." She pauses. "Can't say much f'r outside o' Camp Willow, though. I suppose the map hunt is a big deal." She shrugs again.
Chud shrugs too. "I wanted t'go help out at ol' Redwall, but nobeast wanted t'come."
At this, Wildefray perks up a bit. "I was there fr a bit. Did some fightin.'" She smiles wryly. "I dont live ere at Camp Willow though, Im just ere visiting. I have a matey whose a guard, and I went with her. Any partic'ler reason ye wanted t go?"
" 'Cos I sent me sister there t'stay safe an' now it seems they're under attack, y'know." Chud shrugs, a bit shamed.
Wildefray nods sympathetically. "Aye, that tis a bit o bad luck. I recused a liddle mouse dibbun, and sent her there, thinking she would be safe, but shes not, really. Whose your sister?"
Chud says, "Miremel Streambattle. Otterscout like me, y'know."
"I may 'ave met 'er, though I c'n't recall..." Wildefray tries to bring her face up, but fails. "I'm sure she'll be safe." She offers a smile. "Anyway, I 'eard somethin' 'bout a map piece bein' in 'ere." She stands and stretches.
"Thanks," the other otter whispers softly. "Ah." Chud nods. "I wos gonna look fer th'map in 'ere, too, but it wos so quiet-like an' peaceful that I jus'..." He hangs his head and laughs embarrassedly as he says, "I fell asleep."
Wildefray laughs. "It tis a nice place t take a nap, isnt it?" She goes to the grave. The way it tilts annoys her. Its as if the otters dont care enough about Jina to keep her resting place neat. She runs a paw over the edge, wiping the dust from it.
Chud rises to his footpaws and pads over to the stone. "Wonder 'ow it got like that."
"Thats just what I was wonderin.." Wildefrays voice drifts as her paws run down the side of the leaning stone. "Mayhap somebeast put it this way on purpose"
"Mebbe..." Chud slowly paws the stone as well. "It just don't seem right, durn'it."
"Nay, it dont seem right, disturbin a grave o a peaceful creature like this. But nobeast seems t come in here, an the earth hasnt shifted on its own, so what else could it be?" Wildefray pauses, not wanting to say whats on her mind. "I suppose ifn we want the map piece, weve got t move the stone. Are ye willin? We cn leave her something in return, and level the stone out afterwards."
Chud nods. "I think that'll work, then. I mean, if we make it right after, I s'pose."
Wildefray starts to dig dirt from around the edges of the tombstone. "Well, theres no better time'n now t' start. I think she'll like havin' some company f'r a while, and then a nice neat area after."
As he scoops up dirt, Chud says, "Least we c'n do."
Wildefray pauses for a moment, ducking out of her sword sheath. She tips it over, reaching inside, and pulls out a waxed package of dried flowers. "These were a gift. We c'n decorate the grave wi' em when we're done." She goes back to digging. "How deep do ye think this goes? We shouldnt go as far as the grave, but th' stone may be deep. On the other hand, it can't be too deep. otherwise, how'd it get moved in the first place?"
Chud nods. "About...'ere." He clutches the lower edge of the tombstone, and yelps, drawing back his paw.
Wildefray looks concerned. "What is it?" She hesitates to place her paw where Chud's was, not wanting to stick her paw into something that is potentially dangerous without knowing how to fight it.
"Ar. Jus' a cob o'parchment," Chud says, relieved, pulling it out.
