Memories can help or hurt, depending on the situation.
RW Abbey: Cavern Hole
This room is slightly smaller than Great Hall, but still of a size large enough to accomodate a great number of gathered beasts. A large fireplace is set into one of the walls, and there are a series of small tables and chairs near one end for beasts who are eating late, or simply prefer the smaller tables for their meals. Cushions and blankets have been set in one corner. A short flight of steps leads up to Great Hall, and along the walls of the stairs, going both ways, the word 'Redwall' has been carved into the stone.
Exits/Entrances:
[G]reat [H]all
[Ki]tchen
Mice: Emyuil, male. Angela, female. Leon, male.
Otters: Nissaya, male, albino.
Emyuil is hanging out in Cavern Hole, reading the book about the Taggerung that his niece recommended. He's already finished it, and is re-reading it from the beginning. He identifies with this 'Deyna', even if he doesn't approve of his vermin background.
Angela and Nissaya enter the room, discussing something in very serious tones. The old Healer mouse spots her grandson and walks over to him, listening to what the albino otter has to say. Nodding, she sighs and goes to rest a paw on the young mouse's shoulder. "Emyuil. I 'ope yer day's goin' better than mine, son." she goes to stroke his ears in a very maternal fashion.
Emyuil enjoys the ear-stroking, the action and sensation reminding him of his childhood. He closes his eyes and tilts his head a bit to lean into the ear-scratching, making for a very funny sight considering he's considerably taller than his grandmother. "What's happened?" he finally asks.
Angela sighs again and shakes her head. "I don't want to talk about it, to be honest. 'Ow are you today? What are ye readin'?" Nissaya, meanwhile, has been mobbed by a bunch of Dibbuns, who are giggling while tugging on his rudder. He is pretending to be grumpy with t hem, but secretly he is very happy to be playing with them.
Emyuil smiles slightly, a rarity for him for anyone but his family, of course. "Old Abbey history--about an otter warrior raised by Juska vermin. Later went on to become Abbey Champion when he was reunited with his family." He yawns. "I was thinking of taking a break soon...let some of it sink in..."
Chucklign slightly, Angela starts to try and lead him over to the cushy chairs by the fireplace. "Oh, really? What's there to let sink in? Tell me about 'im; I really 'aven't read upon the Abbey 'istory." Nissaya grabs 2 of the Dibbuns and they start screaming with laughter, which of course makes the others start clamouring for him to do the same to them.
Emyuil follows Angela. "Okay, there's nothing to let sink in, the book was just starting to make me tired," he says sheepishly. "Okay, so originally, he was born to an otter that lived at Redwall, but was kidnapped, and his father was slain, at his christening in the River Moss. He grew up among vermin of the Juska tribe and became known as a Taggerung, a legendary warrior. Eventually he ran away, because being a killer didn't sit well with him, had a bunch of adventures, and ended up Abbey champion."
Angela sits in a huge chair and sighs with relief. She doesn't have her staff right now, which might've been a mistake. "Vermin are an odd bunch sometimes. I don't think I'll ever understand them. So, this.....whatever 'is name is. Did 'e ever find out about his father?"
"Yeah...but not for many seasons," Emyuil sighs. "So by that time, I don't know what he would've thought. He was still a babe when his father died, so he never really knew him."
Angela nods, then looks at him shrewdly. "Tell me somethin'. 'Ow did you feel when your parents died? And don't try to soften the blow because yer mother was my daughter; I'm truly interested in 'ow you /honestly/ feel."
"Helpless," Emyuil whispers. "It was a nightmare. Couldn't do anything to save 'em from dryditch...and after they passed, it all got worse. My brothers left and I was alone. So sometimes I'd go out to their graves--Mum and Dad's, that is--and talk to 'em...wondered if they could hear me...I felt lost, powerless...I guess maybe that's why I'm where I am today. So I don't feel like that again." He closes his eyes, this time not from contentment but from suppressed pain.
Staring at the floor, Angela listens in silence, her face unreadable. After a long pause, she sighs and looks up at him. "I understand, love. I'm sorry that I wasn't there to 'elp. It's a miracle that ye didn't come down with the disease yerself." she sighs again and gets a bit less uncomfortable in the chair.
"I've felt that way many a time," she adds in a barely audible whisper.
Leon steps into the room from the stairs and sits down quietly in a chair, not really looking at anyone right now.
Emyuil nods. "It's...it's not your fault." On instinct, he wraps his muscular arms around his grandmother like one would a small child. He holds her for a while, simply existing and being there for her.
Angela smiles and nods, going to hold his paw. "Aye. I only escaped the vermin who had me a season before I came 'ere. After I went 'ome and found that it 'ad been burned down, I decided to come 'ere and see if you or Rose 'ad come 'ere. I'm glad that you 'ad."
Nissaya, meanwhile, shoos the laughing Dibbuns off to play and sits beside the Master Healer. "You don't seem very happy. Do you need to talk?" He asks gently.
Leon looks at Angela "Just a bit....You heard 'bout Anomen, right?"
Emyuil allows his paw to be held, going quiet for a while. OOC: and here he had to leave. RL is a jerk sometimes. BIC:
Angela sighs and looks at her grandson-in-law as Nissaya nods sadly while saying, "Aye, I did. It's a great loss."
Leon nods and looks up "He...most likely saved Dorarose's life and I didn't get to say thanks to him, she could of died down there if it wasn't for him, I could of lost her"
Nissaya nods slowly. "You must feel kind of bad about it, huh? I think I would if I was in your position." Angela is just listening for now, and she seems kind of sad that she wasn't able to say 'thank you', either.
Leon frowns "I...know I can't save everyone that I aid, sometimes I will and sometimes I won't I know this." He feels a couple tears fall but he seems ok other wise " healer can't save everyone injured or not injured that he tends to, and I know that. Some beasts think we can. Anomen had some unseen...issue maybe, or something I didn't see. and sometimes we get there too late, like with..." He sighs again "Like with Zork, I was by the pond, heard Zinnia call for help and run over to where she was, Zork was on the ground ...eyes closed, I couldn't find a pulse...neck, wrist or underarm...and he wasn't breathing, even got out that metal piece I keep around to see if any mist formed...none, he was gone and I couldn't even get the words out to tell anyone right away, couldn't tell zinnia or Dora or Brother Thom...I think I passed out and Brother Thom was the one that told Benar what happen."
Nissaya nods. "I understand. I have found that reminding myself of everything that I did right, and that I did do everything that I could, helps allot." Angela slowly stands and drifts towards the kitchen. The albino otter will follow after a few minutes.
Leon nods and after a while he stands and heads to the infirm, he is on duty after all.
Thanks for reading!
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