Letter From Home

Characters: Kentar, Garnet, Chris, Amy, Will, Aikuen, Fira, Kluner, NPCs, Kip

Location: Moledeep, Cathudbodva

Moledeep: Infirmary

Kentar, Garnet and Chris are all sitting with each other. Garnet and Kentar are talking quietly, while their son giggles and yanks at their fur. "Heh. Alright. Only a few days though...I...OW!" Kentar's fur gets yanked.

"'Only a few days' what?" Amy asks from a near by cot having been awakened by Chris.

Kentar looks up. "Oh. Sorry if we woke you. Garnet's going away for a few days." he says a little. "There's things she needs to do." he replies. "Yeah. I'll be back soon, I promise." She smiles wide.

"Oh. ... Just Garnet's leaving?" Amethyst asks.

Kentar nods. "Yeah. Just her." he says. "Which means I've got to watch Christopher myself." he chuckles a little then yelps as he yanks out some of his father's fur.

Amethyst sits up, "I could help with Chris if you want and I'm sure Aik and Fira will help too." She pokes Will's sleeping form lightly as she says, "I can think of another volunteer for you, but you probably want willing volunteers."

Kentar smiles and chuckles a little, smiling a little more. "Right. Thank you Amy." he smiles. Garnet stands and gives Kentar a kiss, before giving their son a kiss on the forehead. "I'll see you soon loves." she smiles then heads out the door to finish packing then leave. Kentar sighs a little and watches her go.

"The fun stops now! Because the otters are here!" Aikuen laughs loudly as he and Fira walk into the infirm, totally missing Mrs. Kentar on the way in. They go to sit, as what they claim as there cot. They both have drunken look on their faces as they wave to all in the room. Almost in unison, "Hiya!" Aik lays against the headboard, and Fira goes in to lay in his lap, placing her back against him. She turns her head as she places her cheek against Aiks chest, and goes to rub his other side. Aik chuckles, and wraps his arms around her, "Soooooo..... How is eveyone!?!" he is just all smiles.

"So, why is Garnet leaving ... er ... left?" Amy asks ignoring the otters for now.

Kentar isn't all smiles, in fact he's almost in tears. "What? Oh. Hi otters." he gives a half hearted smile before looking towards at Amy. "Oh. She just has a few things she needs to take care of." he says. "Nothing bad."

Aikuen tilts his head at the two, "Eh? Garnet leaving?" then looks to Kentar, and it kills the otters mood, "Er, Whats wrong mate?" he blinks a few times, "Whats goin on?" Fira is unaware of anything as she closes her eyes, feeling the rumble of Aiks voice, against her cheek.

Amethyst says, "She left and will be gone ... a few days? Kentar will need help watching Chris til she gets back not that he doesn't get it anyway when she's here."

Kentar nods a little at Amy. "She's going away for a few days to sort something out." the tone of his voice gives away the fact that he does indeed know what it is, but he won't way. "Yeah. She'll be back in a few days."

Aikuen looks to Kentar, and can hint the voice, "So, She will be gone a few days... And she WILL be back..." he shrugs a little bit, "What's wrong with her going for a few days mate? Maybe she needs her space-....What did you do? Sort what out?" he eyes the stoat. Fira begins to hum, and Aik places a paw on her head. She opens her eyes, and goes quiet.

Kentar frowns. "Why do you assume I did something?" he asks. "She just wanted to go away for a few days. She's got family problems to attend to." he stands and turns to leave. Not in the mood for nosy otters.

Aikuen frowns, "That's all i wanted to know... That's all you had to say in the first place..." he sighs, "I'm sorry mate for prying, but you sounded really depressed... I cant help for asking... You are my best friend after all" he goes back to holding Fira, "We'll shut up now...

Will asks "Think Kluna'd want t go to Cathudbova today?" having been half awake through enough of the conversation to get a general idea of what was going on. He thinks this may one of those times when Kentar needs to keep his mind off whatever's going on and do something else.

Kentar returns to his seat, the stoat smiling a little. "Thanks Aikuen." he smiles a little then looks to Will. "Maybe he would. I don't know." he says, shrugging.

Aikuen is stroking Fira's stomach, remaining quiet till he is spoken too. Aik begins to softly hum, in low tones. Fira, feeling the rumble of his hum, also softly hums along with him. Surprisingly enough, they harmonize when they do.

Will moves to a sitting up position and nods, "I'll go ask him. If that's ok. Need t check on Racky anyway."

Kentar nods a little. "Tell me before you go, if you go, Will." he says a little, looking down to his son in his arms, who drifted to sleep.

Will nods and walks out to check on Racky and look for the little weasel.

Aikuen watches as the rat leaves, still not saying a word though. But then he looks to Kentar, and pretty much blurts out, "Are yah gonna go with them? We will watch Chris if yah like... we don't mind at all" Fira blinks as Aik stops humming and goes to rub at his side again.

Kentar looks to the otters then blinks then laughs. "Haven't you had enough alone time in that room of yours?" he asks, laughing a little, grinning. "I might go with them. If Kluna goes, I will too I guess."

Aikuen rolls his eyes, "Yah, yah..." he smirks, "Well, if yah do go... We wont mind at all... We both love the little guy, when he is not ripping out my whiskers..." he grumbles, and chuckles, "I think you need to go... Keep yah busy and such..." he goes to stroking her stomach again, "It'll be good for you!"

Amethyst says, "I'll be here too t watch Chris. He'll be fine."

Kentar looks over and grins at the otters, and then the rat, nodding. "Ah. Well. Thank you." he chuckles, smiling wide. "Thank you." he says to them.

Amethyst smiles, "Glad t do it. ... Mind if I hold him a while?"

Aikuen goes back to humming. Fira grins, and wraps an arm around Aik's neck, and goes to look in his eyes. Aik smiles and looks back, planting a kiss on her in the process. He mumbles 'Hiya!' and gives her a squeeze. He looks back at Kentar, "That's why I'm here... to help any way i can!" he then goes back to looking back at his wife's eyes. They both have a goofy grin about them.

Kentar laughs. "So you keep saying Aik." he chuckles then smiles and goes over to Amy, gently setting his son in her arms. "There." he smiles, sitting next to her.

Amethyst grins as the baby is placed in her arms, "He's so little. But won't be too long til he's running around with Kluna." She cradles the baby and strokes his head smiling down at him. "You're very lucky," she tells Kentar as she cuddles the little stoat.

Moledeep: Mole Hall

Kluner is siting in one of the chairs, with many books stacked so he can reach the table easily. He is drawing on several parchments, with vials of different paints, gifts from his father, surrounding his drawing area. Today he is working on a picture of Aikuen and Fira, when he saw them this morning. The drawing of Aikuen is laying against the headboard, Fira is in his lap, laying her back against him. Her face looking up at him, and she has an arm around his neck. Aik has his arms wrapped around her, placed on her stomach. Both pictures have wide grins on their faces, as they look into each others eyes. Kluner is humming as he works, nibbling on a piece of bread every once in a while.

Will comes from the storage chamber with his pack on after checking on Racky who is sleeping as usual. He walks over to the table and smiles at Kluner. "Hi, Kluna. Making more pictures? I was thinking about going t Cathudbodva again today and wanted t know if you'd come with me? It's a big underground town and it's got a market and it fun t look around there. Kentar'll be going too if you come. If you wanted to you could make some pictures t sell at th market or you can just go an look at th stuff that's for sale there or both. You want t go?"

Kluner is startled by the rats presence, not realizing he was here till the rat is next to him. The bread goes flying through the air, as he looks to Will, "Eeck!... OHs.... Hi's Will..." he jumps off the chair and starts to nibble on his tail, "Udersgrounds towns?" he blinks a few times. He would normally not go, but since his father would be going, "Funs?" he hmms and gives a small nod, "Ohs'k... As longs as Fajers is goings... But i's is nots sellings my pictures... theres nots for sales... just goes for Funs!" he giggles a little bit.

Will chuckles, "You don't have t sell anything if ya don't want to. An Kentar's coming with us I took him down there once before and I think he wants t go with us so you'll like it better or something. I /like/ exploring, don't know why so many other beasts don't. Well if you're going you'll need t get anything you want t bring with you ready t go and then met me an Kentar at th entrance tunnel. But don't leave without us. Ok?"

Kluner bites his tail off, almost, "Sures..." he blinks as he doesn't have anything to bring anyway, "I goes and waits outsides... After a puts away my pictures... Dont wants the watersdogs...er, i mean otters, to see... until I'm dones..." he goes and starts to collect the pictures, rolling them into scrolls, "I's waits outsides..." he runs off to the Storage chamber, drops of his scrolls, then runs off toward the entrance tunnel.

Will sighs and calls after the weasel, "Not outside, inside. Never mind. Stay near th entrance, Kluna! I'm gonna go get Kentar!"

Moledeep: Infirmary

Will comes back into the infirmary with his pack all ready for the trip. "Kentar, you ready t go? Kluna said he'll go if you will and he's around th entrance waiting for you now so we can go."

Aikuen cant help but chuckle, "Amy... You and that stoat look so cute... I just cant stand it!" he grins. Fira reaches up and nibbles the bottom of his chin. Aik laughs and pushes her away, but gives her a small kiss back in retaliation. Then his son walks into the room, and says, "Back so soon? Then, welcome back mate!" he is just being silly, "You guys have fun, I don't want anything to buy, so... don't worry about me. How about you Fi? Want anything?" Fira grins and nibbles on his chin again, and once again, Aik pushes her away. He shakes his head, "Nope, i don't think Fira wants anything either!

Will stands by the door waiting for the stoat to answer him so they can leave. He looks over at the otters when he's spoken to but looks away soon after. Yes they are definitely his parents, embarrassing him without even trying.

Amethyst smiles a little, "Thanks. He's sweet when he's sleeping and most of the time when he's awake too, just need t be careful then."

Kentar looks up at Will and smiles, standing. "Right. Lets go then." he smiles and goes towards Will. "Lets go." he mutters quietly to himself then looks around.

Will nods, "Ok," and walks off to met up with Kluna.

Aikuen waves at the others, "See yah later then! Chris is in good paws... Isn't that right, Amy?" he chuckles. Fira starts to hum and rub his side again. Aik does to the same to her in return.

Amethyst smiles, "I'd say so."

Aikuen chuckles, "Heh, You will make a fine mother one day..." he grins and starts to rub a paw on Fira's stomach, as he closes his eyes

Amethyst smiles happily, "I hope so," as she runs a paw lightly over Chris' face and down one arm to play with his paw and tiny little claws.

Moledeep: Tunnel Entrance

Will walks back out to the hall and from there to the entrance to find Kluner. "I told him t wait by th entrance. I meant inside by th door but he thought I meant outside by th door so he should be around here somewhere," the rat explains to Kentar.

Kluner is hanging around the outside, just sitting right next to the tunnel entrance, behind some rock. He had nothing to bring, so he looks like he normally does. He hums to himself as he picks up small rocks and runs them through he paws. He then hears the others, and peaks his head above the rock, "Helloes!" he smiles.

Kentar looks down to Kluner as they get there. "Hey Kluna." he smiles, the stoat leaning down to pick the young weasel up. "Excited?" he asks, smiling a little.

Will watches the other two a little and asks, "Ready?"

Kluner wraps his tail around Kentar's arm, "Hey Fajer!...Littles bit... Nevers been an undergrounds cities before" he hmms, as he looks around, then at Will, "Kluna's Readies!" he smiles.

Kentar smiles and sets Kluner on his shoulder, then nods to Will. "Ready." he smiles and starts to walk.

Moledeep: Infimary

Aikuen waves at the others, "See yah later then! Chris is in good paws... Isn't that right, Amy?" he chuckles. Fira starts to hum and rub his side again. Aik does to the same to her in return.

Amethyst smiles, "I'd say so."

Aikuen chuckles, "Heh, You will make a fine mother one day..." he grins and starts to rub a paw on Fira's stomach, as he closes his eyes

Amethyst smiles happily, "I hope so," as she runs a paw lightly over Chris' face and down one arm to play with his paw and tiny little claws.

Aikuen laughs as Fira goes back to nibbling his chin. Aik doesn't push her away, since the other two beasts in the room are Amy, who cant see. And Chris, who doesn't know what it means. He waits till she stops, before kissing her back. They both chuckle, and she goes to rest against him again. Aik goes back to rubbing her stomach, "Hey Amy... I know we don't get along much... I think that should change... I like you, almost like... a daughter, which is strange in itself. And since you guys are gonna get married in the spring..." he shrugs, " I just feel like we should get closer... But i understand if yah don't..." he hmms, and Fira starts to rub his side again.

Amethyst shrugs, "You hadn't left your room for the last few days so that may have something to do with it." She is still unaware the otters had been in the infirmary the other day.

Aikuen doesn't get it, "Well... um..." he scratches his head, "I'm taking about in general... I want you to like me... That's what I'm trying to say... What did us... in the room... have to do with it?" he asks.

Amethyst blinks confused a moment and shakes her head, "Never mind. Just you two haven't been around much lately. Doesn't matter."

Aikuen smiles and says, "Oh... I thought... well... Also never mind... We wont be around for a little bit, but we will always be around... here..." he chuckles, "Except for next week, me and my darling, are heading to her old holt... Well be gone for a while, but we will come back..." he smiles, and rubs her stomach, "So Amethyst... How do you feel about another little one in Moledeep..." Fira has snuggled against his chest, do she cant read him, which is probably a good thing.

Amethyst smiles, "I'm sure I answered this question already. Yes I did when Kentar asked that. I'd say it would be wonderful except I know what sort of little one you mean."

Aikuen tilts his head at Amy, "Well... I didn't know the answer... Kentar... Hmmm" he knows Garnet is not pregnant again, hopefully it was just a normal question, "What?... It wouldn't be wonderful if we had a little otter... He... or she, would probably really like you...

Amethyst thinks over Aikuen's words while she plays with the now awake stoatbabe. "I guess they might. Aren't there enough otters here? This isn't 'waterdog land' you know. That's down river a little ways from here. Close though ... too close."

Aikuen frowns as she ways 'Waterdog', which to him is an insult "I'm an otter... not a waterdog..." he grunts, "You could also say that about rats around here... Besides, its just Camp Willow. They don't bother us too much... Except for Kip, but he is just a idiot... not all otters are like him..." He is trying to be nice.

Amethyst is aware she's insulted the otters, she wouldn't have said it otherwise. "I know what you are Aik. I've /seen/ you. I've heard a great many otters, far more than I'd have liked to. Actually to me they're all like Kip but so are most beasts. I think you're the only otter I've seen. Unfortunately not the only one I've heard or heard of. If there are going to be more otters around here. I'll .... adapt."

Aikuen is going to takes this, as a good thing, "Well good... Because there may be some more otters around here sooner than you think!" he chuckles, then tilts his head, "I'm the only one? Have you not seen Fira yet?" Fira is still asleep on his chest.

Amethyst thinks it over a little, "Not much. Not her face that I can think of. Probably for the best."

Aikuen tilts his head and sighs, "Amy... Fira likes you... Here watch!" He rubs Fira awake. She smiles at Aik, but the older otter has other plans. Aikuen mouths some words to her. Fira blinks a few times, and nods, mouthing back to him. Aik smiles and lets her go. Fira goes over to where Amy is, and takes Chris from her arms, she says, "Amethyst, would you like to 'See' me?". She is kneeling close to where Amy is, so she can easily 'see' her.

Amethyst lets the baby be taken from her, it's not her baby so no reason why the otter can't hold him. She hesitates a little over weather to look at Fira or not. As it is she's just a slightly odd sounding voice in the darkness, Amy isn't sure if she wants to change that or not.

Aikuen sits on the side of the bed, watching the other two. He tilts his head as Amy doesn't 'see' her. Fira asks, "What's wrong Amy..." She glances back at her husband. Aik just shrugs, "Please Amy..." Fira sighs and turns back to Amy, "Would you please look at me... No matter what my 'idiot' husband ever said... I like you, I always have!" she waits. Chris is not liking being moved, but he just settles into Fira's arms

Amethyst nods a little and with a smile puts out a paw to touch Fira's face. She raises her other paw to join the first and runs both paws over the otter's face for a while wanting to be sure she'll know this otter's face well. "That's good," she says quietly hearing Fira's words, "but that doesn't mean I like /you/." The rat-maid removes her paws from the otter's face and seems to stare her down though since she's blind it doesn't look much different then the usual blank look a beast would get if they stood in front of her without her noticing them.

Aikuen smiles as Amy looks at her. But then he frowns when she says that last part, but remains quiet. Fira just tilts her head at the rat-maid, "Why not?" Fira asks. Aikuen just sighs, as he has an idea what it is.

Amethyst says, "I have my reasons."

Fira places a light paw on her shoulder. At what Aik has told her, she knows also "Amy... Is it what Aik said about you, Will and the wedding. I did tell you he was an idiot right? I'm not against it. No matter what he ever said." she glances back to Aikuen, and eyes him. Aik tilts his head at her

Amethyst forces a smiles on her face, it's obviously forced but since she can't see others' reactions she can't tell if her expressions are quite right or not instantly as other beasts could much like how Fira can't tell if her voice sounds right not being able to hear it. "Thank you. That's quite a load of my mind," she says happily though her face says otherwise.

Aikuen, not getting the facial expression, goes back to lean against the headboard. Fira on the otherpaw, did see it, but she doesn't get why Amy is doing this. She smiles a little bit, and looks to Aik. She mouths something. Aik nods and says, "You want to feed Chris Amy? Its his feeding time..." he yawns a little bit

Amethyst flicks an ear toward Aikuen before taking her sightless eyes off Fira's face to face the other otter. She looks same as always now. "Sure. Uh I guess. Hmm ..... how does would that work?" she asks trying to think up a way to feed a baby when she can't see him. "..... might need some help ..... don't want t poke his eye out with th spoon or anything while trying t find his mouth," she says frowning a little at the thought.

Aikuen looks to Fira, and she nods him over. Aik groans and stands up, going over to the table. He picks up the oatmeal, and a flask. Fira hands Chris back to her, "We will help" Aik walks back and sits in front of Amy, so the two otters and the Amy/Chris combo, create a triangle. Aik mixes a little bit of the contents of the flask into the oatmeal, giving it a stir. Fira sets the little one in her arms, in such a way, that she will be able to use her other paw. Aik takes Amy's free paw, and hand her the spoon with a little oatmeal, "Alright, I'm going to guide your paw the first time. Then after that, your on your own. As long as Chris doesn't move, you can do it... without help... And well tell you, if your aiming for his eyes" the otters both smile.

Amethyst nods a little nervously letting the otters help her and hoping the baby doesn't move too much. "I'm ... I'm ready. .... I think," she says uncertainly griping the spoon tightly.

Amethyst is still nervous. "No. Quiet is good," she says, "Just help out when I miss." She scoops up a little oatmeal on the spoon, touching it to see how much is on the spoon and moves it very slowly toward Chris. She uses the paw that's holding him to touch his a little and try to gauge were the baby is in relation to the spoon she's moving toward him. The spoon just hits his chin and she uncurls a claw from the spoon to touch his face and move the spoon up to his mouth around his chin slowly. She gently presses the tip of the spoon against his lips and if he will take it she'll try to gently push the spoon into his mouth.

Chris giggles as some of the oatmeal get on his chin. But then the spoon is pressed to his lips. At first he refuses, but then tasting what it was, he opens his mouth to be fed. Fira has gone to lean against Aik, who both have remained quiet, even at the chin smothering of oatmeal. They will only say something, if she asks or it will danger the little one.

Amethyst pushes the spoon gentaly into Chris' mouth when he stops resilting and slowly tilts the spoon up til she thinks it's straight or as stright as she can get it without hitting him in the muzzle with the spoon. Next she waits a moment to make sure he's eaten the oatmeal and slowly lowers the spoon til it's horizontal again and pulls it out of his mouth. She sets the spoon in the bowl and waits a little before asking, "How'd I do?" as she fills the spoon back up again for her next try at feeding the baby.

Aikuen and Fira both try to keep from laughing, as most of the oatmeal got on his chin, and it was pretty much an empty spoon she dumped in his mouth. But Aik nods, "For being your first time... and the fact that you cant see him... You did really well!" He smiles, "I mean really well! Just target for his lips first, if yah can! Other then that, your excellent at it!" The otters smirk at each other, and stands up very quietly, padding over to their cot. This is how much trust they are putting in Amy.

Amethyst nods a little, and does a little better this time hitting his lips instead of his chin and she repeats the motions from the last time best she can. "Better?" she asks filling the spoon up for the third time now.

Aikuen and Fira have gone to lay back down on the cot, In the same way they did before they were all moved about. Fira places an arm around Aik's neck, as she goes to feel his voice. Aik kisses the top of her head before looking back to Amy to answer, "You did it... perfectly! Just keep feeding him, until he either cries, or just refuses flat out!" he chuckles. Amy would notices that their voices are no longer in front of her, and is much farther away.

Amethyst nods. She'd noticed they'd moved as she'd asked since she wasn't quite as warm as she'd been when they were hovering over her. She tries to not think about giant otters hovering over her, the mental image is both a little scary and at the same time kind of funny. She manges to feed Chris two more spoonfuls before he starts to get wiggly and tries to take the spoon from her. "I think he's done. Mind taking this ... stuff back or taking him while I move it?" she asks not sure what to do with the bowl of oatmeal with her paws full of wiggling stoatbabe.

Aikuen was laughing silently as Fira had perked up a bit and was nibbling on his chin. When Amy says that Chris is done, he sadly pushes her away, "Ill take the stuff... You continue to hold Chris..." he groans a little bit as he gets up, and walks over to the rat-maid. He takes the bowl, spoon from Amy, and the flask off the floor, and goes to place them on the table. There for later, in case Chris gets hungry again. He then walks back over to Chris and wipes his mouth, "Your doing just fine... hopefully, he will tucker himself out..." he chuckles, and walks back to the cot, to settle back with Fira.

Amethyst says, "Sorry t bother you. Just hard t do with th baby and ...." she sighs a little, "Never mind."

Aikuen tilts his head at Amy, "You didn't bother me a bit! I was groaning, because my back..." he sighs, "... I'm getting old..." he sighs again and leans against the headboard. Fira goes to rest her head against his chest. Aik chuckles and says, "You can never bother us... if yah do, we well tell you... and its only if me and Fira wants some alone time..." he goes to rub her stomach, like he likes to lately.

A voice, which might be recognized as Kip's, can be heard out in the hall calling for Amethyst. The maid blinks a few times and slowly gets up laying Chris down on the cot, "Watch Chris. I'll see what th waterdog wants," she says leaving the infirmary to talk with Kip out in the hall for a few minutes. After a little while Kip leaves and Amy comes back in holding two letters and a leather sack full of coins looking very excited about something.

Aikuen frowns and mutters, "...Otter" he grunts and waits till she returns. He notices the things and he blinks a few times, "What are those things? What are they for?" he is quite interested. I mean you just don't receive a bag full of coins for nothing! Aik sits up, and goes to one side of the bed.

Amethyst is all smiles as she skips back into the infirmary happily. She puts the bag of coins in her own bag, taking her lute out to make room for it. "He wrote back! He actually wrote me back! Aik get over here or one of you I can't read these myself. Open the big one first!" She says excitedly sitting down next to Chris on his cot tucking the smaller letter into her bag where the bag on coins now is.

Aikuen blinks again at her excited-ness, "Er yah... hold on..." he gives a quick kiss to Fira, before getting up and taking the only letter out. He opens it and reads slowly.

The letter reads:

Dear daughter,

I have received your letter and read it and am replying only so you will not write again since it would not do to encourage you to write seeing as you are as good as dead to me.

I am glad to know you still have the lute I gave you after all this time and to hear that you are well and in good health despite the company you have been keeping.

I have read your plea for my presence in Mossflower this coming Spring and must inform you that such a thing can not be done. You are dead. I have no obligations to fulfill concerning you any farther than what I have already done and even that was more than I was required to do.

Since I have this one chance to write you without bringing more shame upon myself I will inform you that most of your bothers are dead as is your mother though I know you well and that you would smile at such words rather than morn her even for my sake.

Your eldest sisters still live and are well as are their husbands and little ones. And your fool brother is not yet dead though I am tempted to kill him but if I did I'd have no heirs left to pass my land to when my time comes.

I may kill him yet if he doesn't shape up soon. I have read your letter long as it was and have read over and over the description you have of the young 'gentleman' you intend to marry and have thought over my answer to your question very carefully my once fair daughter. I have decided that with you being dead as it were I have little say in what you do, however I do believe that even dead you could have done better but I also think none of your brothers-in-law worthy of your sisters so you may take that as you will.

The smaller letter is for your intended and you are /not/ to peek at it before he sees it, Bramble. It is not for you anyhow, daughter. It is just between me and the boy, since I am unlikely to met him face to face.

As to your question of whether I 'approve of him', I can say most definitely that I do not. However, seeing as I have no control over the dead I can do nothing to prevent your marriage and further more I will not prevent it.

It has been a long time little one. It seems like only a short time ago when I would see you running up to me after a long day smiling up at me with your lovely violet eyes ______

But there is little use dwelling on the past. We tried everything we could think of or afford and nothing helped as you well know. I am glad you are well and have found a husband of sorts. It does please me to think that I didn't completely fail you after all, in that we could not keep you.

You are my daughter and I do love you deeply even though I know I should not and that I should forget you, but you always were my favorite in a way. I never meant to favor you over any of the others but we shared so much in common it was hard to to, little one.

Please do not fault your poor old father with too much for being too old and too wicked to attend his 'favorite' child's wedding. I'm was old when you were born so to have lived this long is blessing I suppose. I have sent a small token along (which is not for you, silly girl) and I trust the money I've sent has reached you without incident (I paid enough for it to get there safely so if it did not get to you do write so I may deal with it. I sent old Scarnose with it and he knows what will become of him if it is unaccounted for).

I have made my peace with you dear daughter and I hope you do not vex your benefactors too much even if they are woodlanders.

Though it pains me, given the beast you wish to wed and that he should dare to think himself anywhere near worthy of you (dead though you are), I will allow this since it pleases you and seeing as you are already as dead to us (though not as much as you should be I admit) it will not shame my name any further except in my own mind to consent to such a union and I do wish you and this William of yours a good marriage and if fate would be kind perhaps a few little ones in time (though how you would care for them with only one eye between the two of you I do not know).

DO NOT WRITE AGAIN unless the money I sent did not come. (And don't lie to me to try and get more money or you be wishing I don't show up come Spring to forbid the whole thing!)

With all my love that I am allowed to give you (and all that I should as well),

Your Father

X

Aikuen reads the letter out loud... and as he does... he wishes he didn't, for her sake. When he is done, he carefully refolds the paper, and places it next to him. He takes a deep breath and looks to Fira, who feels the same way, as Aik does. Fira looks to Amy and says softly, "Amy... Were so sorry..." Aik continues her sentence, "... If you need anything we are here for you... Absolutely anything..." they wish they could do more, but not quite sure how the rat-maid will react.

Amethyst grins as she knows her father well enough to know what he's saying. "He got my letter and wrote back to me!" she says happily as the otter reads the letter to her. "Hoards need members so of course brothers are dead. Oh, Mama too? Didn't say how so must have been recent. Yay!" she claps her paws at this news still grinning. "Big Sissys are fine yeah kinda thought they would be with all their money. Bentfang is Bentfang and one wrong move from being dead like always, good to know. Though he'd be the one actually writing so I'd hope he was still alive since Daddy'd be out of luck otherwise. Got my letter and read it, good. So far no answer ... Of course you don't, how could you. You only let them marry cause of the money and honor and to shut my sisters up. So that's what the other one is .... Yes he .... wait .... that's not fair! .... Yay no power over me! Very long." She blinks away tears, ".... if there's no used dwelling on it why bring it up again?! ..... You /better be/ glad .... oh 'of sorts'.

We'll see about that won't we. Of course not silly, you should know that already I told you enough in /my/ letter. I know but thanks for saying it again and in writing so I have proof of it. You're only saying that cause my brother has t write for you if he didn't you wouldn't need t pretend like you didn't like me best. Oh, yes sooo poor and old. I know you aren't /that/ old and it doesn't cost much t walk somewhere. I know I've done it and so has Will! Ok, I'll give ya that last one. Yes I am. Phooey, he gives stuff to complete strangers he's going to threaten with 'the speech' in the other letter and not give stuff to /me/. Yes, have money. Again with the 'be nice to otters' rule. Yes, yes you are so unhappily at me for this I can tell. Yay, no shame for you. I can't help you there, sorry. Yay, blessings! Yay blessing for babies ... and sarcasm, saw that coming. I'll write you to say I got the money anyway and maybe a thank you before not writing anymore.

I won't write expecting a response again and it didn't occur to me to ask for more money but you seem to be covering all the bases anyway. Yes, yes. No write or bad stuff happen, I get it. Love you too Daddy. I got a letter back!" she grins widely. Then the otters open their mouths and she blinks at them, "Sorry for what? He isn't coming and yes that is bad, but he sent a dowry for me which is far better than I ever expected from him, given the circumstances and the other letter's for Will with the usual 'how dare you want to marry one of my daughters' speech written out since he can't threaten him face to face like he did with my sister's husbands before /they/ married. I see nothing to be sorry about here."

The otters blink at each other, as that was the complete opposite to what they were expecting to hear from anybeast after reading a letter like that. Especially Aik, who's father beat him everyday, and pretty much disowned him from birth, so he knows. They continue to stare at each other, with the oddest look anybeast can give one another, until finally Aik says, "O.....k....." he shakes his head and leans against the headboard, as Fira goes to cuddle with him. She is still with that odd face, and she looks to Aik and mouths something. Aik nods and mutters back, "yes, she is..." they both just shake their heads. Now they are trying to push another thought from their minds... a thought about Amy.

Mossflower Woods

Will leads the stoat and weasel out of the clearing and into the woods, heading east toward the river.

Kluner is set on top of Kentar's shoulder. He then holds on as he is carried off, to wherever they are going. He still has one of the rocks in his paw as he wonder where they are going, and how far is it.

Kentar smiles and follows the rat. "So Kluna. How are you this fine day?" he asks, jumping up in the air a little, grinning to himself as they go, not losing sight of Will.

Will leads on to a partly dammed up spot along the river where it's safe to cross. He wastes not time crossing partly across a fallen tree and partly through the water. It's deep in places but there's next to no chance any beast would be swept away the way this area is blocked off slowly the water so much.

Kluner chuckles at the jump, "Wells... Ive beens doings fine... Ive been drawins stuffs... like todays... I've been drawins the water- er... Otters... Also other things..." he shrugs, "Thanks for the paints... dere niceest!" he smiles.

Kentar chuckles and crosses behind Will. "You're welcome." he smiles. "I'm glad you like them." the stoat chuckles quietly. "I'll just have to buy you both something better this time." he grins. "Will something better then a necklace and you, better then just some paints.

Will rolls his eye hearing the stoat as he waits for them on the other bank. "There's nothing I want. Just keep your money or just not spend it on me anymore," the rat says to Kentar.

Kluner shakes his head, "No'es... I gots enough... Doesn't want anything elses..." he smiles, "Cept for maybe pretty rocks..." he holds a pink one in the air, "Likes this ones!" he chuckles.

Kentar looks to will and tilts his head. "Something wrong Willy?" he asks, grinning a little then bounces Kluna. "Hehe, I'll see what kind of rocks I can find." he smiles

The rat pauses as if frozen of a few seconds. "That's not my name. And I'm fine," he says shaking off the memories the stoat had unintentionally forced upon him and walking back up along the bank, until he comes to a outcropping of rocks. He waits for the other two to catch up while he looks around for the stairs.

Kentar smiles and continues along the way. He stops next to Will and grins. "I might call you Willy from now on brother." he grins

The rat frowns, "Don't." He motions for the others follow as he makes his way around the rocks.

Kentar bounces Kluner again then grins. "Why not brother Willy? Don't like it?" he laughs and continues to follow.

Will finds the stairs and points down showing they're going down there, for Kluna's sake. "No I don't. So stop it," he says sharply to the stoat. The stoat should know better than press the issue or so the rat thinks.

Kentar chuckles quietly and smiles. "Alright Will, I wont, I promise." he smiles and looks up to Kluna. "You still want to go in?" he asks, looking down to the darkness. Well. Shadow.

Kluner looks down into the darkness. The little weasel bites his claws, as his tail is busy, "Were goings downs there?" he blinks a few times, glancing from the rat to his father. He makes a decision, "Oh'ks... Yeses..." the tail tightens slightly around Kentar's neck.

Will smiles at the weasel, "Yep. It's not too bad really. Once ya get down there and in t where th beasts there live it's not nearly as dark. Come on!" He heads down the stairs, "Just be careful on th stairs!" he calls up as he descends, his voice echoing back up to the two still on up on the surface.

Cathudbodva

The trio go down the stairs into the darkness and out onto a platform where the caverns are lit by light reflected down by crystals in the ceilings. Will leads the stoat and weasel across a rope bridge down to the lower residential area and from there on to the markets.

Will leads the others into the well lit and sprawling maze of stalls and booth that is the markets. He waves at them a little, "Go look at whatever you want I'll be around. He walks off into the maze to find a less crowded spot where beasts that can't afford a stall or aren't conniving enough to earn one are hawking their wares and unpacks his. He lays out a clean green blanket, it looks quite new, and sets up the figurines he's made on them. Clay figures on one side and the smaller and less numerous wax figures on the other side. Soon he's yelling as loud as any other merchant trying to draw customers, though being the only rat around is sure to help a lot in that regard.

Kluner is still being carried by Kentar. He looks around at all the stalls, seeing everything imaginable, at least to him anyways. He taps Kentar on the head, "Its louds!" he almost yells. He sees some rocks, and taps the stoat again, "Overs theres!" he points it off in that direction. But before they head off, the weasel hears Will yelling. He tilts his head, before being carried off.

Kentar carries Kluner towards the rocks that he pointed to, nodding as Will goes off and does his thing.

A big stoat happens to be walking by Will and stops to check out the items Will has for sale.

The rock stand is actually a poor jewelry store, where they use fancy rocks, but not gems or diamonds, to makes necklaces and the like. Kluner points to a necklace with small turquoise stones around it, "There!" he grins.

Will looks up at the stoat and the wax figure in his paw. All the figures are well made but the wax ones are harder to make and the rat is considering not making those anymore soon if he can, partly since they'll run out of candles at home if he doesn't. He chews on his lip thinking it over then says, "That one's 13 bronze."

Kentar smiles at Kluner and looks around. "Anything else you want Kluna?" he asks, handing the necklace up.

The large stoat thinks for a moment and pulls out five gold, handing it over to the rat. "All I got is gold." he says with a nod. He then stands and goes off towards another stall.

Kluner grins and claps his claws, "Nopes! Kluna Veries happies!" he take the necklace, and runs the stones through his paws, before he places the whole thing over his neck. The necklace is heavy and he has to lean on the stoat to keep his head up, "Nopes... Nones for mes!" he taps the stoat, "What do you wants? I can see alots from heres! Kluna can spots its!" he eyes the market.

Will nods in an understanding way and tips his head at the stoat as he walks on, stashing the gold quickly should the stoat come to his senses and want it back.

Kentar looks around and goes over to one stall, the vendor selling pipes and smoking herbs and such. He goes over the items then nods a little. He picks out a pipe, some different herbs and then pays up, stashing them away. "Been meaning to give it a try sometime. Heard its relaxing." he looks around for Will now.

Kluner tilts his head at the pipe. He has seen beasts use it before... he never liked the smell at all. He shrugs it off and looks around at everything else, to see if he can find something else he likes. Not seeing anything in particular, he bites his claws, about his father and the pipe.

Will has sold a few more figurines by now and things are slowing down so he decides to pack up for the day and join Kentar and Kluna in looking around.

Kentar looks at Will as he joins them. "Hey Will." he smiles. "How was sales?" he asks before stopping to look at something. "Smells great! Good tasting too if you don't like the regular stuff." he nods a little. He takes a bundle of some more herbs for smoking but doesn't really understand the difference. Although, its worth a shot really. And then he goes off down the stalls again. "I was thinking of coming here sometime to set up a stall or something."

Will shrugs, "Wasn't bad. Stall are expensive though only th 'best' get good ones." He says nothing about the pipes having seen both good and bad come from them. "What would you sell anyway?" he asks the stoat.

Kluner waves at Will, as he sees him. The little weasel yawns and goes to rest his head against the stoats head. He slowly paws one of the stone on his necklace, as he keeps a lookout over the stoat.

Kentar shrugs a little. "Well. I was thinking of maybe selling clothes or something. I can make clothes. Good at it. Maybe tools or something too.

Will nods, "You could try. ... Didn't know you knew how t make clothes. Knew Amy did but not you. You look at th smithy yet?

Kentar nods a little. "Yeah. I learned while I was on my way to the abbey. It actually killed the beast helping me." he sighs a little, but then looks to Kluna for a moment. "You ready to go Kluna?"

Kluner yawns again, and slowly nods, "Yeses... Sleepies.... Hmmmm" He tries to keep awake, but you know the little guy wont for much longer

Will asks, "You know th way back? I was gonna buy something before we go. .... But I could get it another time if I have too."

Kentar chuckles and nods a little. "I do yeah. And Will, go ahead. We'll get it before we go." he smiles.

The rat nods and disappears into he crowd. He returns a while later empty pawed but his pack is much heavier than when he came down here.

Will leads the stoat with his weasel 'hat' back out of Cathudbodva, back across the river and home to Moledeep.

Moledeep: Infirmary

Amethyst doesn't care what the otters think of her for her behavior. She'd read between the lines and understood the letter as it was meant to be understood. She feels around and picks up Chris again and cuddles him, "Did you hear that Chris? Did you? Isn't that a nice letter I got, huh? Yes it was wasn't it? Yes it was."

Kentar comes back in with a sleeping weasel on his head. He gently sets Kluner in a cot and covers him up to sleep before looking around. "Good evening every beast." he smiles. "We're back." he looks to Amy and Chris, smiling. "All is well I hope?

Will follows the stoat and sleeping weasel into the infirmary and flops down on a cot tired from the trip.

Amethyst looks up from cradling Chris as Kentar and the others return. "I'd say so. I got a letter from home and it was mostly good news. Like my father and eldest living brother are still alive, my mother is dead, sisters are doing fine, 'no I won't come to your wedding stop asking me that', the usual stuff." She smiles at the stoat, "Oh and I feed Chris all by myself after Aik helped me th first time," she nuzzles the sleeping baby in her arms and asks the stoat, "Want him back now?"

Aikuen shakes his head again. That was one of the worst letters he has ever read. And Amy might have gotten something else that the otters didn't... but Aik figures that the only way that letter could have been worse... if it was laced with poison... Which it might have been. Aik looks to his paws as he stands up and mouths to Fira, and she stands with him. Aik looks to Kentar, and tries to give a smile, "Went great... Taught Amy how to feed Chris... The little one has been fine all day... Also had a good chat with each other..." he then then heads for the door, with Fira bouncing in his wake. They yell back, "Night! Good Night Amy, been nice talking to yah!" as the otters head for their room, and lock it.

Kentar looks to Amy and frowns a little. "What? Really? I'm. I'm really sorry Amy." he says, going over to give her a little hug. "You can keep holding him if you want to." the stoat says, not saying good night to the otters.

Amethyst blinks, "I must be missing something. Why is everyone sorry?"

Kentar blinks also. "I thought you wanted him to come the wedding?"

Will has fallen asleep on the cot he'd thrown himself down on when he'd returned, if he were awake he might have said something.

Amethyst blinks, "Oh, /that/. Yes I did but I knew there wasn't a very good chance he'd come all this way." She sighs a little, "Thanks. Thought maybe you meant something else."

Kentar nods then goes to give her another hug. "I am sorry. Your dad doesn't seem very nice." he says quietly. "Don't worry. I'm sure everything will still be just how you want." he smiles a little.

Amethyst shrugs, "I always thought he was nice. Even though he couldn't keep me after I went blind he still cared about me and tried t make things easier on me than he had to. I don't hold that against him. I do wish he'd have agreed to come but it was more wishful thinking then anything. Would have been nice if he'd come, but a letter is almost as good and he wrote something t Will so that says something right there."

Kentar tilts his head one way. "What did he say to Will?" he asks, a little nervous of what that might have said.

Amethyst shrugs again, "He sent two letters. One for me and th other's for Will. I'm pretty sure it's th usual 'hurt my little girl and I'll hunt you down and kill you' speech, wrote out in detail since he can't recite it for him like he did with my sisters' husbands before he let them get married. And he said he sent something for Will too but didn't say what it is. Oh and sent a dowry which is for Will more or less best I understand it anyway. I was little when I left so some of the details never got explained to me past my sisters saying it was 'money given to your new husband so he'll marry you'. I was little back then so they didn't have to tell me what it was all about. They thought I'd get it explained to me in due time same as they did, but turns out they were wrong." She shrugs, "It happens."

Kentar nods a little then sighs. "Right." the stoat looks towards Will. "Guess we'll have to wait to see what the letter says." he wonders if he should say what's on his mind. "But if its a threat against Will or his family aside from the standard one you mentioned, I will find him, and kill him myself." he says sort of as if he says that sort of thing on a day to day basis and got used to it. "Heh. Yeah. More then likely it isn't but I worry too much." he smiles. "So Amy. I'm going to go for a walk outside for a few minutes before bed. Would you like to join me?"

Amethyst nods, "Been sitting most of the day. I could use a walk. Did Will get back?" she asks not having heard his voice since he left. Her blind eyes scan the room uselessly. She leans on her staff and pulls herself to her feet waiting for Kentar's answer before she leaves the room.

Kentar nods and helps her up before gently taking Chris and setting the sleeping stoat away in a bed by himself. "Yeah. He's asleep." he chuckles and goes to lead her outside.

Amethyst nods again, "Oh. Should let him sleep then. I'll talk to him tomorrow." She follows the stoat out of the room.

Moledeep: Rose Garden

Kentar leads Amy out into the rose gardens then to a spot where they can both sit down. He sits next to Amy and then takes out that pipe he bought, filling it up. "So Amy." he says. "Aside from the letter, how was your day?"

Amethyst tilts her head at the sound of his taking the pipe out but thinks little of it. "Fine. The letter was mostly good news anyway. Now that I think of it I should have had some other beast read it to me. ..... I'd forgot Aik .... well I heard he wasn't very close to his own father. Unlike me with mine, well before I had t leave anyway. He was still nice t me after that too but with 12 kids and by then not too much money for clothes and food he had t make a choice on if it was worth keeping a daughter that couldn't see fed and clothed when he had, at the time, 11 other /healthy/ sons and daughters to fed and clothe. It was a hard choice I know that but what else could he do? If I had stayed I'd have just brought more shame on him from every beast that heard about me. They'd talk about him and his family and wouldn't want their daughters to marry my brothers or their sons to marry my sisters and that would be a big mess and he'd have t start killing us off to be rid of us instead of marrying us off and sign my brothers up for whatever horde was recruiting on any given day without telling them and stuff. It'd be awful."

Kentar nods a little and understands. "I understand." he says quietly, lighting the pipe after several times, taking an inhale then breathing it out. "Hm. Not bad." he mutters then looks to Amy. "My dad and I weren't the best either." he says. "He loved me, and was nice at times, but he was all vermin."

Amethyst nods, "I was a little more spoiled than most I admit. My father and I liked a lot of the same things so I was kinda his favorite. He played th lute too and taught me how back when I could see. But he wasn't lax when it came to punishments and both my parents threatened us all often with selling us off if we broke th rules. They said th only reason they didn't sell any of us was because we lived too far from th slave routes and they didn't think they'd get a good enough price for any of us to make the trip worth it."

Kentar nods a little then chuckles. "Ah. Cool." he smiles then nods a little. "Yeah. My dad and yours would have gotten along well in the punishment thing. My dad whipped my brother and I when we did something wrong. We'd always joke about how he didn't have the heart to enslave his son, or kill him." he hehs. "Sorry. I tend to yammer on and on." he nods.

Amethyst smiles, "Nah, It's fine. Shoulda known th otters wouldn't understand, but I wanted t know what he'd said /right then/ and they were th only ones there that could see and read and talk. .... That sounds worse than I meant it too, sorry. Hard part is Will might not understand it or th letter my father wrote him. Or understand it th right way that is. .... But he's been around, kind of, so it might be ok. And I was /very clear/ when I wrote my father in explaining how Will is or trying to explain a beast like him. It not easy to explain something like that .... worse in this case."

Kentar nods and chuckles. "Yeah. They're otters. In fact, these ones are worse. They're Aikuen and Fira Tazan." he smirks a little before looking around, blowing a few puffs of smoke into the air, now holding the pipe between his teeth. "Yeah. Well. I just hope Will ignores whatever your father tells him to do. More then likely will." he hehs before changing the subject. "I think you'd make a great mother some day." he chuckles a little.

Amethyst says, "I hope so. Though with th way things are it's probably a good thing Spring is still a long way off, cause if I had a baby right now I doubt I'd get much help. But by th time I do have kids we should both be ready for it. It will certainly be a while before that happens though. So no little rats going to be around here for quite some time. Can't say the same about otters sadly. As if two of them wasn't enough."

Kentar chuckles a little. "I'm sure you'll get loads of practice with Chris." he chuckles then tilts his head. "You really don't like otters do you?" he hehs a little.

Amethyst smirks a little, "Since when I am I supposed to like my future in-laws? Seriously though they're more or less woodlanders and I'm not or at least I wasn't raised as one and that in it's self causes all kinds of problems then add the fact that they are /who they are/ and it just gets worse. .... Though of the two of them I'm not sure which is worse, Aik with his /how he is/ sometimes. Or Fira being /what she is/ and probably /doesn't even know it/. .... Nice pipe, hope Garnet doesn't mind it. Some beasts don't care for them. I'm used to em for th most part so it doesn't bother me hardly at all." She coughs some, "Sorry. Been a while, lungs have t adjust again I guess."

Kentar huhs and ohs at the pipe stuff, the mention of the otters getting ignored. "Sorry. It's a habit I've decided to pick up. I heard it's relaxing. And as a matter of fact, it is." he chuckles a little, taking the pipe and putting it out. "Sorry about the smoke. I'll give it up for the evening." he smiles.

Amethyst shakes her head, "I'm fine just need t get used t it again. Nothing I haven't been around before."

Kentar nods. "Right." he chuckles a bit before yawning and standing. "I'm going to head to bed." he says. "Do you need help finding your way back in?"

Amethyst shakes her head, "I got my stick. I'll be fine. I'll be in in a few. Night."

Kentar smiles and leans down to give her a kiss on the forehead. "Night, Amy." he says before vanishing off to bed.