Courage says, "I will try again tomorrow." (A Redwall Log) 4-21-2016
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." ~Mary Anne Radamach
RW Abbey: Second Orchard
Verdant green has swept across the orchard, taking over from the icy hand of winter, long since passed. Blooms and leaves have sprouted on the mature trees that dot the orchard and give it its name. Trees mostly of the apple variety dot this area of the immense orchard, though others of almonds, peaches, oranges, apricots, walnuts and others are spattered throughout. Why in the minority? /Their/ area of the orchard is a little ways closer to the pond. Grass sprouts as if on a mad quest to cover anything and everything with its pleasant, gentle emerald spreads across the ground. Soft to the footpaw and not so tall as so you have to wade through it, it's one of those plants that's taken for granted, even beneath the shade of the leafy orchard trees.
[It's springtime!!! :D]
Exits: [F]irst [O]rchard, [P]ath by [G]reat [H]all, [Ki]tchen [P]ath
Squirrels: John, male.
Badgers: Oz, male. Xander, male.
Mice: LilyMoore, female. Emyuil, male. Cynthia, female.
Oz is in the orchards enjoying the warm weather. He has also taken day off as he is allowed days off at times.
Xander is nearby in a tree, but he is not too far up the tree right now. He watches any beast that happens to go past from his little perch in the tree.
The orchards are rather lively today, what with springtide arriving. The trees are blossoming; the explosion of colors and sweet scents make it a rather popular area for beasts to spend their free time at. Speaking of which, a lone squirrel sits atop a branch rather long way up in an apple tree, who seemingly has dozed off while reading. At least, that's judging by the precariously placed book nearby.
(John ^ )
LilyMoore happens to walk past right now! She looks much less sad than she did at this time last week, but she still looks down in the dumps. She is carrying a basket of laundry on her hip and is blatantly oblivious to everyone around her.
Oz listens as footpaws go by and nods a hello "Greetings you seem busy and in a hurry on such a nice day as this, or it seems nice so far"
Xander watches and hangs upside down by his knees as she gets closer, he is on a low branch"Hello!!" He expalins happyly"You needs smile, smileing is good and fun"He grins, course he is upside down.
Shifting slightly, John sighs - he had been /so/ close to sleep when they started a conversation right below him. He opens one eye, leaning to look at those below. Only recognizing Oz, the squirrel decides, for now, to stay were he is. After all, he doesn't exactly like introductions; climbing down would be a waste.
LilyMoore is so startled, she jumps and drops her laundry basket, which goes spilling out all over the ground. "AHHH--oh, Papa Oz, sorry, I didn't see you sitting there..." she kneels and starts hastily stuffing the cloth stuff back where it goes; in the basket! "Ah! Oh....hi. I...don't really have much to smile about," she says to the Dibbun as she goes back to picking up her spilled chore. She has yet to notice the squirrel. "...is it a nice day? I hadn't noticed..." she says in a half-hearted attempt at conversation, even though she really doesn't want to...
Oz tilts his head, fist he speaks to Xander "Xander do get onto the ground please I do not think your mother would like to know what your doing" He then smiles towards Lilymoore "It is a good day. The weather is warmer now as well. What is there to be sad about?"
Xander frowns and reaches up and then makes it so he can get down footpaws first, "I being carefulls....not gonna fall down I good in trees." He pouts and sits down by the tree.
"A badger good in trees, eh?" John mutters to himself, holding back a laugh. "/That's/ a new one." He leans back against the trunk, thinking of a way to get out of this particular tree and escape to a more quiet one.
LilyMoore just shrugs...a noisy sound, to be sure (sarcasm). She avoids the older badger's question and instead looks up into the tree. Spotting the squirrel, she points to his and says, "Well, as long as you're careful and don't go as high as Mister Squirrel up there, you should be fine, as long as you have permission." Because subject evasion is something that she's becoming very good at.
Xander looks up at John and giggles "I like to climb it's fun" He watches Lilymoore now.
John freezes as he is pointed out, his shoulders falling after a moment. /Drat. So close./ He looks about him, grabbing the small book before it falls. "Mister squirrel, eh?" He mutters to himself as he starts climbing down; then, in a louder voice (which happened to sound a lot less vexed than before), he calls, "Hello down there! Fine day today, isn't it?"
Emyuil walks into the orchards, his hood up not because he feels like being menacing, but to keep the sun out of his eyes. He settles down under a good old apple tree, a venerable old thing, and closes his eyes.
Xander stands and rushes off as he remembers he was to meet his mom and do something and he is most likely late by the looks of it.
LilyMoore looks at Oz, then sighs. Seriously? She sets her basket upright and looks to the ground, her paws clasped tightly in her lap. "I.....I'm sorry for attacking Cynthia. And getting mad. And...for everything," she adds as her voice breaks slightly. Dashing away her tears, she stands and picks up the basket, planning on continuing on her trip to the pond so she can wash the dirty bandages and sheets.
Oz nods "If you are sorry then this is good. Have you spoken with Cynthia yet? And sometimes a beast does get mad at another, even I get moody like yesterday afternoon...one reason I took a day off and it's been a while since had a day off"
The squirrel stops, realizing that he may have just been dragged into a rather sensitive situation. He curses, internally. John sits on a lower branch, not finishing the climb down, and remains quiet, now. Maybe they'll forget his presence and he can just... slip off... or something.
One of Emyuil's round ears twitches as he listens in on the conversation. Hey, he's not being nosy, it's his niece involved. He doesn't move any closer--doesn't want to lose his temper by misinterpreting things...
LilyMoore shakes her head and sniffs. "I...haven't talked to....Cynthia yet......." she sits down and scrubs at her eyes. "I....just wanna sleep for a hundred seasons....."
"Trust me, ye're not the only one..." John says, leaning back again gains the trunk. He sighs, looking around.
Emyuil's voice comes from behind Lily. "I know how that feels." He's standing behind her--apparently when nobeast was paying attention, he moved over there through the trees.
LilyMoore sniffs and looks up at the other 2. ".....have you ever done something and the felt like you're gonna regret it forever?" She rubs her eyes on her sleeve.
/Oh. She's speaking to me. Crap./ John thinks, shifting to get a better look at her. After a moment contemplating her words, he finally says, "Aye. An' I have done things that I still regret."
Emyuil nods. "I regret much of my past, actually...Well, not quite regret doing some of the things I've done, but I wish I hadn't had to do them." He shrugs and sits down by Lily.
Cynthia is walking in the orchards and slows as she sees who is in the orchards and frowns. She looks around and then down as she goes to try and walk on past.
LilyMoore spots the other mousemaid and does the logical thing: she hides behind her uncle, accidentally knocking over her laundry basket in the process. Peeking around him, she gulps a couple times and goes to squeeze his shoulders in mild fear and panic.
John raises an eyebrow at this, assuming (correctly) that that had to with this thing the mousemaid mentioned. He says nothing though, content with remaining relatively ignored.
Emyuil whispers gently to LilyMoore. "It's okay. You don't have to hide. The fear is real, the danger is not." He watches Cynthia coolly.
Cynthia is close to the other mousemaid now and sneaks a quick look at her and stands there quietly for the time being.
LilyMoore nods after a few minutes and slowly stands, her forepaws behind her back. Stepping forward, she makes gestures at her uncle behind her back, asking him to hold her paw. "C...Cynthia?" She manages to stutter out. Keeping her gaze towards the ground, she has no idea if the other mousemaid will even listen...or acknowledge her.
Deciding that perhaps he shouldn't interrupt this, John starts climbing back up to the branch he originally sat at- it was actually rather comfortable, for a tree.
"Look her in the face," Emyuil murmurs. "If not the eyes. Come face to face with your fear. Otherwise you won't have closure."
LilyMoore shakes her head, pick sup her laundry basket and runs away, disappearing into the lengthening shadows.....
John settles onto the branch, leaning back, and sighs. The squirrel glances up at the blue sky, shifting to get in a less unbalanced position, ending up with his legs stretched out in front of him and his back against the trunk. He glances at the book he's been holding, then opens it and starts to read again.
Emyuil sighs. She'll come around in due time, he thinks..."Ah well." He decides to just enjoy the day. Lily will be back....
Thanks for reading!
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