NEWS FLASH: Dora can't read maps very well (Salamandastron Ambassadors Trip Prolog)

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RW Abbey: Library


The library has never looked better in seasons as shelves have been

repaired and so have tables and chairs. The once empty sleeves now

have more books in them and not only that the books are in an ABC

order and arranged by subject to better find what one is looking for.

The beautifully crafted windows are well cleaned.

  This gives the library plenty of light during the daylight hours. The

room has a high vaulted ceiling. The flagstones of the floor are cool

and smooth, and echoes are sometimes heard when beasts walk. Brass

lamps containing short, fat little white candles provide enough light

for reading. Some books are still being mended but being working on

getting on the shelves. The backroom is even very clean and organized

as well. Books were found in the attic and some from Ferravale were

added that the Ferravale beast had maybe two copies of something so

gave Redwall one of the copies for the Redwall library, all in all a

lot of hard work has done wonders for the library.

  On an Oakwood desk is the charter laying inside a clear glass case for

all to see. The glass case keeps it safe and clean. Some other chairs

large and small, wooden and soft, have been placed in varies places

in the library and a pile of covers and blankets sit in one corner

with a few pillows as well.


                       Exits/Entrances:

[G]reat [H]all [M]ap [B]ookshelf [B]ookshelf of [W]oodland [L]ore

[B]ookbinding [R]oom [H]istory [B]ookshelf [B]ookshelf of [B]iographies

                      [P]oetry [B]ookshelf    [B]ookshelf of [S]tories

Contents:

Abbey Charter

Zinnia the badgermaid. DoraRose and LilyMoore, female mice.

Zinnia is looking at maps of Mossflower and one of the closer look of where the seacoast is. She has maybe 2-3 spread out on a table and she studies them. A bowl of half eaten breakfast sits on a smaller table, with an empty mug.

The sound of distressed voices and crying can be heard in the hallway, getting closer to the door of the library, which opens and admits DoraRose, who looks stressed, and LilyMoore, who is quite literally hanging on to her mother's apron strings, sobbing. "Mom, you can't leave!! Why are you going???" The Warrior rests a paw on her shoulder. "I'll be back, I promise." Lily just shakes her head. "No, no, no, please don't go!!"

Zinnia looks over at the two and shakes her head at them, this is a library after all and they should be quiet, but for now she looks back at the maps and studies them and uses a quill pen to write down things on a lose paper she has.

DoraRose sighs heavily and guides her crying daughter over to the table. The Warrior sits down and pulls Lily into her lap and hugs her close. The young mouse peeks between her fingers at the badger and says as she rests wipes tears from her eyes, nearly elbowing her mother in the face, "Zinnia!!! I heard that *hic* you're going to the *hic* Badger Mountain......is this true????!!"

Zinnia nods to this, it's easy to respond to yes or no questions, but a nod is all Lilymoore will get as the Recorder goes back to writing and studying the maps quietly, she is also looking at the old logs of the trip before.

DoraRose rubs her daughter's back as Lily hiccups some more and goes to grab the badger's paw. "Why, Zinnia??? W*hic*why are you leaving??? You can't leave!! I *hic* I need my fr*hic*friends!! Please don't go!!!" She starts hiccupping worse. The Warrior holds her close and stares at the Recorder. "My brother told her yesterday and she's been a mess ever since."

Zinnia nods to Dora, she doesn't answer the mousemaid she just stays quiet and busies herself with the maps and writing down things she sees as important. She also is writing down possible supplies like rope, flint, first aid stuff, and shows the list to Dorarose in case she can think of more to add, besides course other basic needs like food and water and canteens for the water.

As Rose takes the paper, Lily jumps up and goes to wrap her arms around the badgermaid. "Z*hic*Zinnia, please!*Hic*W*hic*why do you ha*hic*have to go??????*Hic*I've*hic*lost so m....many of my fr*hic*friends, w*hic*why are you leaving me, *hic*too????" Her mother stays quiet, pretending to look over the list, but in reality listening very closely, hoping that the Recorder will respond.

Zinnia sighs softly, she doesn't want to speak, she is not going to mention she was asked to go, or mention the fact she may be using it as a way to just leave, she is unsure yet what she will do.

Lily starts sobbing and hiccupping so hard that she seems like she might be choking, and runs out of the room to hide in the belltower again. Dora sighs and covers her eyes with a paw. "That went well," she says sarcastically. "Couldn't you have said /something/ to her to try and calm her down???"

Zinnia shrugs, what is to say she is going after all and it's clear the badger maid has become very quiet, she normally would of let her know she be back and all would be ok and maybe smile but she has not smiled since the morning before her father died. The last time she let herself cry was a couple days after that, she does speak finally, "Say...what?"

DoraRose sighs and sits back. "I don't know.....let her know you're coming back? Let her know that you're not abandoning her forever? I don't know....she's afraid that we're all leaving her forever." She sighs again and picks up the list. "I don't see spare clothes on here."

Zinnia nods as she goes to write it down, she looks back at the map quietly and looks at the doorway as if thinking someone else will interrupt them.

DoraRose sighs again, deciding to stop trying to get the badger to talk to her. "Do you want a tent for the cooler days? I don't necessarily want a tent, but maybe a piece of canvas to make a lean-to out of might be a good thing for if it's raining or if it gets cold before we get there."

Zinnia blinks, she then nods to this as it is a good idea to have one or two after all, she writes down tents and also adds one other item a compass and she knows where one is.

DoraRose leans forward and looks over the list again, then stares at the wall. "Hmm......maybe....money? I don't know if there are any cities there or on the way or anything, but it might be good to have some money, just in case."

Zinnia looks confused at this, and shrugs as she is unsure she rarely carries any of it around, then she rarely has reason to leave the abbey to need it."...Maybe?"

Yes! Victory! Dora has managed to make the badger say another word!! She nods and states, "Yes, we need to take some money. It would probably be good, just in case." She reaches for a map of the coastline, searching to see if there are any villages on the way.

Zinnia shrugs, there is no real villages on the way, one is close to the Mt but it would only help if they came from that direction, which is possible if they take a path away from the swamps and more into flatlands rather than the swamp, yes maybe a corner of the swamp, but barely any and would pose no danger. She decides to let Dorarose decide if any is taken.

DoraRose traces the possible route with her finger, then another possible route. Nodding, she looks up and points to the list. "Money. Definitely. We might need it if we stop at this....village thing." She points to what is actually Halyard on the map.

Zinnia looks at the village and nods, she was not there before she had spent the time in the Mt. She may likely spend time in the library once they are there, or in her room a lot, then guess she will figure that out when they get there, she only knows she has to speak to the badger lord or maybe she could just hand him the letters and notes, would that work?

DoraRose continues looking at the map, her brow furrowing. She looks at the key at the side of the map telling what each thing is, then back to something in the map itself, scratching her head. "Um.......this is a swamp, right?" She lays the map down and points to a watermeadow.

Zinnia shakes her head and points to where the swamp is, its near the flatlands but can mostly be avoided by a small path between some hills and into dunes.

DoraRose 'ohs', then hmms and rests her chin in her paw. "Okay.....so...then....what's this?" she points to the watermeadow again. "I know it's not on our route, but I'm curious." And also trying to get the badger to talk. And is also confused, as is evident by her face. Obviously, map reading is not her strong suit.

Zinnia frowns, she then writes it down =watermeadow= and folds her arms over her chest. It's a good thing they still have some time before they leave.

DoraRose claps both paws to her face, covering her eyes. Seriously?? She peeks through her fingers at the badger. "It's amazing how silent one beast can be," she mutters.

Zinnia turns away and sits down in a chair, she shakes her head and stands, She goes over to where she is keeping a small box in the book binding room, a couple odds and ends and...a small bag of hotroot?

DoraRose sighs and rubs her eyes. This whole not talking thing from Zinnia is starting to fray on her nerves. She only hopes that the badger will start talking when they go on the trip. She picks up the list again, then stands and walks over to the book binding room door. Without looking up, she says, "Hey, whadaya think of taking some herbs? I hate cooking without herbs. Oh! And we might want to take some eating and cooking utensils, like bowls and a pot and stuff."

Zinnia blinks and sighs at all the long list of items, she shakes her head and picks up the box and walks past her and most likely on to her room.

DoraRose turns and says, "Wait! Zinnia! Hey....." she sighs. Great. That is not what she wanted to happen. Shaking her head, she grabs the quill pen, dips it into the ink, and adds to the list in her swirly, loopy script =Pot (small), Frying pan (small), bowls, spoons, cups(?)= Setting the feather down, she sighs again, then stands and walks out herself. She needs to find her daughter, she needs to talk to the rest of her family, she needs to eat something, and--oh, hang it! She was so busy with Lily this morning, she forgot to do her training with her weapons for the day. The Warrior gently massages her temples. This is going to be a LOOOOOOONG day.....

Thanks for reading! :)

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