Making Mira Cry
Making Mira Cry
~//~ A Tale of Redwall ~//~
Players
- Mirabella
- Krystal
- Lacota
- Castus
RW Abbey: Infirmary
Several beds are lined against the red sandstone walls of the Abbey's Infirmary. An examination table, separated from the rest of the room by hanging blankets, rests against the far wall. Tucked into a small alcove is a sizeable workbench with various containers for mixing and preparing medicinal compounds. Against another wall is a desk for use by the Infirmary Keeper. A curtained off alcove behind the desk hides a locked door to the Infirmary's supplies and linens.
The door flies open to admit Mirabella, who enters the room much like the first rays of sunshine peek through an early morning window: irresistible and bright. The mousemaid gives the room at large a cheerful smile, eyes radiating joy as she sweeps in, still favoring her left leg a touch, and makes directly for the bed where Krystal is laid up. "Oh, Miss Krystal!" she gushes, pulling up at the bedside, her skirt flowing and breaking against the mattress like a wave on the beach. "It's dreadfully good to see you awake again. I was ever so worried when you fell." With that off her chest, she glances around at the others as well. "And how dear of you all to come visit my sweet friend," she adds, turning back to beam down at the injured squirrel.
Krystal smiles at Mirabella, "Hello Mirabella, yeah that tree was a little scary I think, but I got down at least. But I passed out then woke up here"
Lacota bows slightly. "Mirabella. It is rather good to see you still up and about. I do hope you've been avoiding small holes under big walls." He chuckles lightly, something the Friar is rarely known to do. "I would like to personally thank you for helping my friend Krystal after her fall."
The mousemaid smiles warmly down at Krystal, resisting the urge to latch onto the injured leg and cry out about the horror of its condition. Instead, she clasps her paws in front of herself demurely. "I'm ever so glad you're feeling better. For a moment I thought you were dead!" She turns towards the friar, nodding seriously, her pretty locks bouncing around her head. "Oh yes, Brother Friar, I've been very careful about holes." But not about high places, it seems; hopefully Krystal hasn't mentioned that Mira is the reason they were in the tree in the first place. "And really, it was Mr. Castus who helped her. Just frightfully nice of him."
Krystal nods "But, you helped some too. I remember he had the rope though and untangeled my footpaw and..I got down , then its a blur from there"
Lacota nods his head. "Yes, so I heard. I confess I was surprised to hear that Castus helped. I hadn't seen him around Redwall in nearly two seasons. His return is a good thing, though." His tail flicks. "I'm just happy that Krystal is safe. I'd be unhappy if any harm befell her. I'm sure you can understand, Mirabella."
"Well, that's... that's when you fell, dear," Mirabella explains, patting her gently through the coverlet. There there. She turns back to the friar again, pretty eyes blinking innocently. "I don't remember him at all. But it was quite nice of him to help us, yes." Whatever the older squirrel may be trying to insinuate, protective overtones and signals he's putting out... Mira isn't catching them. "Any harm besides the leg, of course," she adds. "It was pretty scratched up. But ever so much better than dead!"
Krystal nods in agreement "I would not of liked being in any other forest besides Mossflower, if I died I would of not seen Lacota again"
Lacota nods. "I'm not surprised. Castus and his...friend, I guess is the best way to put it... They tended to keep to themselves. Harley is the...friend's name. I haven't seen them two of them since back right after Marek was ousted from his short lived takeover of Mossflower. That was close to three or four seasons ago, now." He squeezes Krystal's shoulder. "Shh. You didn't die, and that's what is most important, my dear. You're safe now, thank goodness."
Mirabella gives Lacota a beautiful, if vacant, stare while he talks, finishing his little reverie off with a charming "How very nice." She pats the coverlet a final time. "It's good to see you looking so well, and back with Brother Friar. It must be wonderful to have someone who cares about you."
Krystal nods "Yes, and I am glad Lacota is here and able to stay in here a little while."
Castus pokes his head into the infirmary. "Ah ha!" he says triumphantly upon seeing Krystal safe on the bed. "I told you she wasn't dead," he remarks to Mira, giving her a playful nudge with his elbow.
Lacota hmms. "Nice? Well, I suppose it is. Last time I saw Harley she nearly died. But, that is for another time altogether." He pats Krystal's shoulder again, then notes, "Mind you, what were you doing in the tree, Krystal?" Before anybeast has a chance to reply, though, the Friar scoffs at his own query, adding, "Bah, look at me, asking a squirrel what she was doing in a tree. That's like asking an otter why he's in the river. Oh, there you are, Castus. Speak of the devil."
Krystal listens as they talk "Ummm....trying to reach something"
"I don't think it's dreadfully nice to talk about someone who isn't here," Mirabella confides to the friar in a hushed tone with a subtle, disapproving shake of her head, just as Castus comes through the door. "Oh! Mr. Castus!" She jumps in surprise as his elbow makes contact with her side, squeaking softly. "Don't do that!" she chides, blushing prettily and covering her mouth. "I knew she wasn't dead," she adds, her blush deepening.
"Do what, get the drop on you, or make you blush?" Castus asks, with a final poke and a grin. "Glad to see you well, Krystal. Lacota. They were after some special herb that apparently only grows at neck-breaking heights. Speaking of which, I hope you managed to show it off to everybeast." He turns back to the mousemaid. "Or do you need a quick ride back up to the top?"
Lacota's eyes narrow. "Herb? What herb might that be? Mirabella, you never mentioned any herb." He looks down at Krystal, concern written all over his face. "What aren't you two telling me? You know I won't be angry, Krystal." He sighs, shaking his head. "Whatever herb it was, that was a damn fool thing to do, Mirabella. I mean, it's hazardous enough for a squirrel, but a mouse? You could have fallen and broke your neck. Consider this an official reprimand, lass. It was a foolishly dangerous thing to do. What if Castus hadn't been nearby to save you, hmm?"
Krystal blinks "I..forgot the name, but she couldn't reach it so I climbed up to get it"
Mirabella squeaks again at the second poke, louder this time, and her face turns so red that it practically glows beneath her fur. "Don't /do/ that," she chides the squirrel again, dancing away on dainty feet, skirt swirling freely around her legs. "And of course I did, silly. I'm not about to let such a terribly rare herb go to waste." She points vaguely towards the herbs in their jars and containers a short distance away. "Stored safely away with care by Nurse Levitt herself." Then there's Lacota, scolding her. "...Brother Friar, I.. I never asked Miss Krystal to climb in the tree, honest I didn't." She shakes her head energetically, her mirth abruptly killed off. "It was Lady's Mantle, it's hard to come by..." The mousemaid trails off, hanging her head. "I... I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean for anyone to.. to-" And then she's off, blustering past them all and out the door, wiping hot tears away with the back of her paw.
Castus watches Mira go with a soured expression and glances back over at Lacota a little disparagingly. "Come on now, Friar, she and Krystal were thoroughly terrified out there, believe me. They were foolish, but they aren't stupid. No reason to twist the knife in the wound. What's done is done." He sighs and rubs a paw over his snout. "I'll go make sure she isn't flagellating herself too much."
Lacota raises a paw. "Wait! Mirabella..." He sighs. He hadn't intended to come across as harshly as he had. "I know..." He lets out a long sigh. "I allowed my feelings to cloud my judgement. Very unprofessional of me. If you find her, Castus, let her know I apologize profusely for my unnecessarily harsh words."
Krystal frowns as she fiddles with the covers some.
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