Lahki has company! Quite a lot of it...
Redwall Abbey: Great Hall
With: Casper, Shandar, Lahki and her overly-large family: mice. Benar, Ahndia, Zoomy: squirrels. Oz: Badger.
From outside of Great Hall comes many shouts, lots of laughter, and general noise. Inside, Lahki is sitting with a blindfold over her eyes, and Shandar sits in her lap, covering the older mouse's ears. Lahki complains. "Aw, can't I jus' see what's goin' on? Where'd Cas go?" Shandar grins mischeviously, but doesn't respond.
Oz walks in from the kichens, a time to relax while the dibbuns or guess most are in classes and the very young napping, he walks over to his chair and sits down armms crossed lookig slightly annoyed, he looks up at the voices but doesnt say anything.
Benar walks up the stairs from cavern hole, habvit held up around his ankles, padding along slowly and humming to himself as he walks up the stairs.
Shandar takes a moment to wave to Benar and Oz as they both enter, then she claps her paw back over Lahki's ear, making Lahki wince. "Ah, go easy, Shan. Whose outside.." Shandar shushess her. "You aren't supposed to /know/!" THough everyone will know soon enough! The door slams open, and in pours...pretty much everyone Lahki is related to. Which is a lot of mice. There is Casper, leading the group in, and behing him is Lahki's parents, Marley and her husband. THen al Lakhi's relations- grandparents, aunts, cousins, and brothers. The whole lot o' em.
Oz arches an eyebrow and watches this and sighs, yeah seems he is not having the best day today and now a room full of beasts.
Benar pauses as he is crossing the great hall and tilts his head to watch the horde of mice, "Casper," he says sternly, "It would have been nice to know we were to be expecting such a large crowd of guests...." he nods a hello to the mice as they all come inside.
(Casper waves in a jolly manner at Benar and Shandar before looking guiltily at the ground. He rubs his face, thinking. "Well, I'm terribly sorry Elder. But I-" HIs friend Benj, one of Lahki's brothers, claps a paw on Casper's shoulder. "Hello! I'm Benj! We sort of just dropped by! Came to see lovely Lahki!" he winks, and Casper rolls his eyes. "What Benj said. I had no idea they were coming! Not today, anyway." Lahki, upon hearing her family, was going to jump up and greet them, but just puts Shadnar on the floor, listening as Benar repremands them)
Benar shakes his head and motions them onwards, "Well be welcome friends Redwall Abbey is always open to all though you'll have to forgive us if we do not throw one of our impromptu feasts that we are famous for. OUr suppplies are still a bit shaky"
They tromp in, and the chatter only increases as they see the tapestry- who doesn't know about it?! Marley, the leader of the family, steps forward and extends a paw. "Thank ya, Sir. I'm Marley, mother o' most o' this lot. Sorry t' just drop by on ya.If we c'n help wi' anythin', jus' say."
Benar smiles at Marley and shakes his head, "It is quite alright Mistress Marley, the abbey is always open to all who come in peace and i'd never deny anyone the chance to visit with their family."
Marley shrugs. "Alright then. Elder, is it?" She was paying attention when Casper was talking. "Thank ya. Cummere, Lahki." Lahki grins and rushes to hug her mother. Casper laughs, ashooing Shandar off to go play. Most of Lahki's family mills about, talking about the huge place. Sam and Benj, Lahki's two older brothers, hug her before wandering off with a novice, and with the rest of their family to find a room to stay in for a few days. A few of the dibbuns tag along with Shandar as she heads back outside. Marley, Casper, and Lahki aer the only ones who remain.
Benar shakes his head and smiles, watchng the reunion then nods to Marley, "Yes I may not look old but that's the title I have, Elder Benar, I help Father Abbot Lorimis run the abbey."
"Ya run the abbey! Well then. THat's a lofty position t' be in!" Marley chuckles, rubbing her daughter's head before releasing her. She smiles fondly as Casper throws an arm about Lahki's shoulder, listening to the adults talk. "Thanks f'r takin' care o' her, I s'ppose. 'Ow long've you been here?"
Benar shakes his head and smiles, thick tail flicking back and forth, "I do not run the abbey that's the Father Abbot but he's old so I help out as I can. And pof coruse we'd take them in everyone is welcome here. And me? I've been here for... ah... seasons beyond counting now "
Oz quietly walks back in after leaveing a short while and stays by the doorway.
Marley nods. "Aye, life works like that. Some things jsut aren't worth keeping track of!" She chukles. "Aye, well, that's nice that ya help 'im out. Casper says he's a good character." Casper looks up from talkng quietly with Lahki as he hears his name. Lahki waves at Oz, then points mutley at one of the dibuns, Lavi, on the stairs. Lavi squeaks as Marley turns to her. "Dada wants ya t' 'elp 'im an' Tanny up t' stairs." Marley sighs and waves as she follows the dibbun. "Ah, the downsides to having a big family. One o' 'em always knows where ya are. nice t' met ya, Elder Benar." With that, she disappears up the stairs.
Benar shakes his head, "This is a few too many mice for me to keep track of and of course Mistress Marley, speak to you later." he glances at Casper and tilts his head, "So who have you been saying is of good character Casper? I didn't quite follow that last bit."
Zoomy drights down the stairs like a sleepy old spirit. He almost stumbles in his clearing stupour on the last step. Through eyes clouded with sleep he stares at the people in the room and breaks into a large smile. "Why hello everyone! Or... I think it's everyone... Bit too old to be trying to do stuff this early in the morning...". He yawns and stretches for a moment.
Oz sighs, he walks over to Benar, "Benar, the kitchen is out of mint, when was the ones sent out for supplies to be back and was mint one thing on the list, I make mint tea out of it"
Casper waves to Oz and the otter. He doesn't know the otter, but the creature sure seems friendly! "Um. Don't know, Elder. I think she meant I was talking about the Father Abbot." He steps back, allowing Oz to present his complaint to Benar. Lahki grins. Miscommunications! Always fun. She waves at Zoomy, and then at Ahndia, who has appeared in the kitchen doorway. The squirrel novice look flustered and...quite floury.
Benar says, "Ah they are back Oz but I am afraid they did not get any mint we are still out, I can ask them to try and get some for you next time we send someone out on a supply run. But I am not sure if we'll find any that isn't dried at this time of the year.""
Zoomy's old eyes drift from the group to settle on Oz and Benar after a gentle wave at the others. "I recall from when I was a young one here that a small patch of mint grew just a little ways into Mossflower. It's not that long a walk from here. I'm sure I can handle it if you truly need mint that badly.". He smiles a little at the thought of putting his legs to work.
Oz nods "Well good that they are back, as for mint, guess can wait as do believe it grows in the spring so soon should have some"
(Ahndia dusts her paws, creating a flour cloud, and walks over to the group, listening. She wipes her forhead, smearing white dust. "Mint? It grows quickly, and the warmer weather is coming, so you should not have long to wait, Papa Oz." She knows this is probably about his tea. Casper goes to hug the squirrel, but settles fot patting her head instead.)
Benar glances at Zoomy and smiles, "Morning Friar, I think I know the patch you are talking about. But the snow outside has barely started to melt. I am afraid we'd not find any mint worth harvesting. The herb garden has barely started to show sprouts as it is." He smiles at Ahndia and nods his head, "As Ahndia says, give it a couple of weeks and we'll start to see some real growth in the herb garden."
Zoomy strokes at his tail as it drifts in front of him like a giant duster. "Ah... I reckon you're right... I'd been so warm here in the abbey I'd forgotten it was snowing when I finally returned from my little trip out into the world.". He looks down at his feet and chuckles a little at something only he seems to really know.
Oz nods "I guess, two weeks though is a long time with no tea" Well least te kind he likes. He goes to sit in is chair and leans back to try and relax.
Benar smiles at Oz, "We always have other types of tea Oz, I am sure one of those will do you." he motions to Casper and Ahndia, "Have you both met Friar Zoomy? I am sure you must have but I just like to be sure. He can get a little reclusive and hide out in the kitchens."
Zoomy looks up from his feet and gives a nice puffy cheeked smile to the two being introduced to him. "Ello there.",he says with a small wave to the both of them. His tail drifts in front of his face and hides him from view almost as quickly as he replies though.
(Ahndia scowls at Casper as he pats her head. He gives her an innocent look before taking Lahki by the arm and wandering off. "Have fun cleaning up in the kitchen, Ahndia! See you, Frair!" He calls. In response, Ahndia scoops up some damp flour fom her habit hem and throw it, hitting the mouse in the back of the head. He laughs, and Lahki does too as they leave the abbey building. Ahndia huffs and goes back to facing the main group. "Sory 'bout that.../Frair/?! " Forgetting that she is floury, she holds out a paw. "Friar Zoomy, so nice to meet you! Im novice Ahndia!" She grins.)
Benar watches Ahndia head back to the kitchens, "Novice Ahndia is nice enough but she is a bit flighty, hope you do not mind you have her helping you down there Zoomy."
Zoomy smiles broadly. "Oh I'd be most happy having a touch of help from somebeast. Especially from a young flighty squirrel maid. After all squirrels get a fair bit of work done."
Benar grins at Zoomy, "Aye that we do my old friend, we tend to get a lot of work done. Which reminds me did I tell you my mother has re-appeared? She's staying at our home just up the road."
Zoomy gasps. "Oh? How is she doing?". Although the old friar had never heard or met Benar's mother from the way her son behaved she had to be a wonderful lady.
Benar smiles, "She's old and feeling grumpy about it but she is still doing fine, I am sure she'll be back down froim the tree house soon and I'll make sure to introduce you to her."
Zoomy nods his head as his tail finally returns to the proper spot behind him. "I'd love to meet her. What sort of food does she like?"
Benar says, "She likes warm things, and mostly stuff with nuts in it. She really likes a good nut flan too, something with almonds and walnuts in it.""
Oz has been quiet as the frair and Benar speaks as he doesnt wish to distrub them.
Zoomy nods his head softly and looks towards the kitchen. "I think I'll go look at the kitchen."
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