More Company (Thorns Of Steel TP)

Oz has been in this cell for about month and is at the point he has almost given up any hope of being found, He looks over at sleeping dibbun, his only company lately and one of the main reasons he hasn’t totally given up and just gave in to his urge to sleep and not bother waking up.

The door opens, but just enough to toss in a mouse who's paws are tied behind his back and then the cell door is slammed shut and cawing and an angry voice is heard and then it’s quiet outside the cell again, the mouse manages to sit up and look around with a frown.

Oz blinks and looks at the mouse as it sits up, takes him a few moments but he then recognizes him.."Leon?" His voice is weak and tried and sounds a little sore, his right ear, or what’s left of it, is a little swollen and the cut on his face has started to scab over some, his tunic torn and dirty and he is chained to the wall in a sitting position, the kitten Blisa beside him sleeping, but not chained up.

Leon slowly turns, "Oz?..Oz!..it's you...wait its..you, you look awful." He tries to stand and manages to after a short while and some hard work and walks over to Oz to sit by him and look him over, he frowns, “You’re not in good shape at all."

Oz shakes his head,"No..I am not, interrogations getting to me, this place getting to..me, what are you doing here" He frowns at a thought.."The abbey?"

Leon sighs, "No He hasn't done anything to the abbey...yet, he tried to grab Abbot Lorimis, but..I pushed the abbot out of the way and the raven grabbed me instead and flew so high...and then that fox tied my paws behind my back and threw me in here, not sure what he plans on doing with me."

Oz frowns, "He tried to..take the abbot?..I am glad he didn't but it doesn’t mean he won’t try again, but they will most likely keep the abbot somewhere further into Redwall..where in the abbey did it happen?"

Leon says, "Wall top, behind pond. I was up there and shouldn't of been, seeing if Dorarose was on her way back from Ferravale and the Abbot came up, we talked and he mentioned Dorarose was safe in the abbey,then Stormfeather came and said 7 days were up and to surrender the abbey, Lorimis said no and then the ravens went straight for him, I..I couldn't let them get to Lorimis so pushed him aside and at the same time I felt the talons and then was airborne, not a fun thing."

Oz nods slowly, "Stormfeather wants more..power over the abbey with Lorimis in here he would of had it, but still he has a Redwall beast...well guess two now, it’s still something but could also mean..."

Leon frowns "Mean what?"

Oz looks down, "I will not lie and like you said...I am in bad shape, I'm...dyeing, and don’t say I am not. I can feel it...it may not be soon but" He shrugs, "But if no one comes to help us, and somewhat soon or I am questioned too much more..I WILL die, can't take much more of answer this or answer that or the slaps, kicks, and injuries do have, he may even decide he is done with me since he has you here."

Leon frowns "Don't say things like that, we will be found and soon and..I won’t let that fox kill you, I will help you, he...maybe if I answer something for him he will let me tend to you some, I don't know...I do know this, that Flicky has gotten ahold of some nearby Long Patrol passing through and they are helping, he has a couple hawks and like 3-4 eagles, the sparrows and Ferravale also, and your brother is even helping now."

Oz gets a small spark of hope back,.."Zork?...he is...back, bad time to wander back after wandering off a short while he- coughs some- He was never one to stay long in..any one place after he left the snowy north, hate to be the one in his path to get to me....and the LP,sparrows and Ferravale be good help but...still this place is well hidden, still be hard to find."

Leon nods "Yeah..also there is Dorarose, I know she is looking now and will for sure be looking extra hard once she finds out Stormfeather has me so please Oz..please don't give up hope, don't stop fighting to stay alive, you need to stay alive..for the dibbun kitten, for me...for Redwall, what would they think if you were dead when they found us.?"

Oz nods slowly, but it’s clear he is weak and tired, and sore .."I will try, but a beast can only take so much. I will not say I promise because I could break that promise so I will..TRY..alright?"

Leon says, "That’s all I ask, for you to try"

Oz nods again, "I do have...some renewed hope knowing they have all the help and they won’t give up looking"

Leon says, "well even a little hope can go a long way Oz"

Oz nods slowly "I..guess your right "

Leon says, "Of course I am right, your see just don't stop believeing someone will find us soon"

Oz answers, "I will try to believe”

Leon nods to this, “Good”

Oz watches the door and looks once more to the sleeping Blisa and to Leon. “I just want to…go home soon, I miss everyone.” His voice not only tired now but sad.