Parenting Advice and The Start of a Journey

Locations: RW Abbey, Mossflower Woods, Moledeep, Moss River, Camp Willow

RW Abbey: Kitchen

Orph walks into the kitchen from the Great Hall frowning. He'd rather not be in there with the kidnappers right now.

Flicktail says, "welcome orph..wot a aving?" pouring orph a Cherry Corial"

Flicktail gets Zen soem cheeese by asking one of teh Kitchen hands

Zen smiles softly, then glances over at Orph. He thinks a moment and then sighs softly, looking for his strawberry cordial.

Flicktail gave Zen his Strawberry Cordial first

Orph Points to the cherry cordial and sits down, "... Abbey'll let any beast in no matter what. They /stole/ that dibbun from his brother and Benar and the rest say it's ok?!"

Flicktail pats Orph on the back "Father Abbot will makes it roight

Zen tilts his head at Orph, then bites his lower lip. "Uh.. I... I thinks so too... maybe..." He starts to sip on his cordial, thinking a bit with his ears still splayed out flat.

Flicktail says, "don you two worries...e adult beasts makes sures everthing are o.k."

Orph shakes his head, "Nic'll probably agree with them 'cause everybest knows thet all th' beast in Ruingate are bad beast and /all/ the beast at Redwall are good beast. If thet were true I'd agree with 'em, but it's not! I know it's not. I don't know much about Ruingate, but I doubt all th' beasts there are evil. I heard they were openin' an orphanage up there an' back when I was in trouble th first time I figured I'd got an live there iffen the Abbey'd thrown me out for what I did. And I know for sure that the Abbey lets good beast in and /bad/ beasts in. I hope Nic knows that. Don't seem like too many beasts around here do."

Flicktail says, "well nows orph, there are some beasts wot says All foxes and All rats be bad beasts"

Zen listens to Orph's story, then grunts softly under his breath. "Ughn.. don'.. don' worries abouts it... It's got nuthn' ta does with yous realy...." He shivers a little, trying to peace his thoughts together.

Flicktail gives Zen a Snug as he delivers teh cheese

Orph nods, "Benar said that if they'd let K'oh stay with his brother he'd been taught to be bad, but he's never met K'oh's brother and it's still wrong to steal him from his family even if they are bad. They always said I was better off cause my real Dad was a searat and they said he was a bad beast. I don't remember him so I don't know, but my brother remembered them and said they were nice to us. ... It's not right to take a beast from his family ever!"

Zen smiles softly and takes the cheese, leaning into the snug and nuzzling into Flicktail. "I.. I love yous brothers.." He glances over at Orph, then sighs softly. "Iffn... his brothers an' families... were slavers an.. an caught those two beasts... then..... K'oh would grows up like them..."

Flicktail says, "loves ye too Zens" he looks at Orph "o.k. Orph, oi understand wot ya means.. but please let us not talk of it roighs now.. oi will does wot I kins when Oi kens"

Orph sighs, "Maybe." He doesn't want to start another fight with Zen right now, "I'll keep quite unless they ask." the ratling walks back into the Great Hall to see what /they/ are up to now.

RW Abbey: Great Hall

Orph walks back in from the kitchen still unhappy with the goings ons but he remains silent glaring at Darcy and Harper.

"The name's Belliger, an' it's a pleasure ta meetcha." The shrew reaaaaches out to grab another pastry and munch at it happily, raising its remnants to the hare. "'ey, love ye too, miss Darcy-love!" Eyeroll. "Females, righ', Ahti?"

"Crow." Bradge looks at the kitten curiously. "I only seen like... Maybe two or three cats, an' all of 'em were big," he explains, as if anticipating the staring at Crow causing a question.

Ahti laughs and strums a few chords, "It's nice to meet you Belliger." He looks back to Darcy and Crow with a smile before looking down to the lute, strumming a simple slow song softly.

The kitten really doesn't care who is around him now. He's got food - nice smelly food to hug on obviously - and there are arms securely around him. Crow is purring now, content with the petting and finally calmed down. He is definitely not a big feline. The tabby is tiny, just a babe.

Darcy is too preoccupied to notice that she's being glared at. She gives Belliger a beaming smile, while moving her hand to scritch at one of Crow's ears. "Hey, watch it, Bell, or I won't give you any of the healing supplies you've been wanting... Hey, chh-chh, Crow, want to meet one of my friends? This is Bradge."

Crow looks up when he is spoken to, green eyes revealed and then flicking up towards Darcy while his ears flicker against the petting. His teeth remain in the fish. Whisker-twitch.

Benar leans back in his chair and smiles, "Well I hope you enjoy your stay with us Mister Belliger, if there is anything you need do please say so."

Aikuen sees Orph coming from the kitchens. So he walks toward him smiling and waving his good arm, "Oi, William!"

Darcy smirks. "I think introductions will come later. Bradge, take this tray..?" She's holding it one arm and Crow in the other. Makes things difficult.

Orph's face takes on a more neural tone, "Hi, Pa. Look Darcy and Harper came back. That's good. They stole a dibbun from Ruingate and brought him back here with them. Is that good or bad?"

"Ye mean the 'ealing supplies ye /owe/ me..." Belliger rolls his eyes again. "Anyway," he unslings his arm from around Ahti to let him play.

Bradge raises his paw to give Crow a little half wave, holding his paw still and just closing and opening his fingers. "'ey, Crow," he greets the kitten, softly. And then, well, duty. He nods and takes the tray, backing clear of present company and taking it towards the kitchen.

Darcy's ears twitch, and she gives Orph a cautious look. The temptation to intrude in that conversation, it is great. "Right," she says distractedly to Belliger. "Owe you. That. Heh." Crow is adjusted in her hold, now in both arms.

Benar shakes his head and stands up, "Well.. this has been a very very good day. Welcome home Miss Darcy."

Aikuen goes over and picks up Orph, Placing him on his shoulder. He looks toward the group, and the little cat. He shakes his head, "No matey, i don't think they 'stole' the little'un, more like rescued if he came from Ruinedgate." So he smiles and laughs, "But it would be a good thing if they did 'Steal' him... Right from under their noses!"

Ahti is only playing some background music now as he listens to the abbey beasts around him

Darcy shoots Benar a happy smile. "Thank you.. and nice to meet you, too!"

Benar smiles at Darcy and bows, to her, "It is good to have you all home safe and sound.. I just hope the Priory mission is ok... "

Darcy shuts one of her eyes with a slightly disconcerted expression. "We can only hope.."

Benar says, "I am sure.. brother Antioc will lead them well with Elder Sunrose to help him."

Darcy blinks a little. "Antioc is a /Brother/ now..?"

Benar smiles, "Oh did I forget to mention that." he grins, swishing his brush from side to side, "The Abbot promoted him for the priory mission."

"Huh." Darcy cracks a smile. "Good for him, I guess.."

Crow watches as the fingers are waggled at him and then he grunts as he is shifted into both arms, hanging easily from the doe's hold with his feet dangling free. The purr has started up again. He isn't relinquishing the perch.

Belliger might be getting full? He goes for some tea instead of solid food, swaying and foot-tapping to the music.

Bradge returns from the kitchen, having deposited the tray. He walks past the mop and bucket he'd abandoned before, stops, and... turns around. Must. Finish. Job. He takes the mop out of the bucket and works on scrubbing the floor again.

Darcy glances around - she didn't even notice Bradge leave. The doe goes toward a chair, plunks herself down, and arranges Crow in her lap. "Hey," she aims at the otter when he reemerges. "Hey, leave it. Or mop and talk, anyway. I haven't seen you in /forever/."

Apparently, the otter opts for mop and talk. "Well I can't jus' /leave/ the mess..." No really, Bradge probably couldn't pull it off if he tried. "So let me get this straight... Ya /found/ Crow, got caught by slavers, went to Ruingate where somebeast who said 'e was Crow's... Cousin? was, then /escaped/ from Ruingate, an'... Some'ow found yer way back 'ere?"

Benar curls up in the chair, arranging his feet beneath his habit and perks his ears up, listening to Darcy talk.

Ahti plays a little softer, the lute going on auto-pilot so he could listen to Darcy.

"Brother," Darcy corrects with a nod. "And.. yeah, pretty much. I mean it was much.. much. /Much/. More complicated. I mean the trip was already /ridiculous/ before we even got caught by slavers..." She exhales heavily. Exhausted, she's kind of running on fumes at this point.

Aikuen goes to sit down at the table next to the musician, with Orph still sitting on his shoulder. He loves a good yarn, And he loves music, what a combination!

Benar says, "You need to sleep Miss Darcy.. you look beat... your room is waiting for you I am sure.""

"Why don't you come 'ave a seat?" says the otter who's currently mopping. "You sound like ya need a break. Take a few days off, aye?" Bradge smiles, mopping up the last of the mess and rinsing out the mop, getting on his knees and wringing it dry.

Whistle, whistle. Belliger gives a little wave. Hey, Darcy, remember the part where I came in? Little credit, maybe?

Darcy shrugs a little, petting at Crow's head. "Me and Harp will go pass out when he's done with the letter, probably.. Uhm. 'scuse.. would you mind stopping the music?" she aims at Ahti. "Makes it hard to think.. Heh, more like a /week/ Bradge. I look better now than I did probably... the guy who got me? At the slave auction, he.. ... huh?" Why are you waving, Belliger? XD

Obviously Belliger doesn't matter. Crow only matters cause he is doll-sized and easy to carry around. He accepts the petting happily, though, letting her mother at him all she wants.

Ahti oh's and nods, stopping his playing, "Sorry Miss Darcy."

Bradge raises his brows as Darcy stops, turning towards Belliger. The waving Belliger. Hm?

"Don' forget the part where I swept ye away on my boat. Ye probably'd be back in Ruingate righ' now, captured if it wasn't fer me..." The shrew looks nonchalant as ever all of a sudden, brushing his knuckles off on his shirt.

Benar says, "Aye Mister Belliger hear certainly helped to bring you home swiftly.""

Belliger also looks a little peeved at the request to stop playing music, but he lets that one slide.

Oh. "Oh.. so we met Bell here at a pub.. in a brewer's village, where we won a dance contest... which was /before/ we found Crow. And Belliger punched Harper and someone knocked /my/ head into a bar..." Pause. Darcy grins. "And that. He's very very heroic, I'm telling you.."

Darcy adds on, "Though Harper got sea-sick on the logboat.."

Bradge turns his attention back to Darcy, nodding slowly. "Wait, 'e's 'eroic, but 'e punched 'arper?" He turns towards Belliger with ... a more polite smile than anything. "Well thank ya for 'elpin' bring 'em home safe, Bell."

Ahti grins and strums the lute, "With his head over the side," another strum, "Our hero feels like he's died," another strum, "Getting sick in a logboat," one last strum with a wide grin, "looking like a beat stoat...."

Darcy notes, "He gave us his healing kit afterward.." Ahti gets a smirk. Fine, strumming is okay.

"Don' mention it..." The shrew grins at the doe, giving her a quick wink before... Looking quite excited at Ahti. "Tha's great, matey, keep it goin'!"

Benar snerks at Ahti's words and then chuckles, "Oh.. my."

Ahti chuckles and waves a paw to Darcy, "Sorry, sorry....I had to." He turns to the rest, "I'm sure I'll have something worked up before too long."

"Huh." Bradge can't help but smirk at the lyrics, no matter how... Crude? Eh, they're funny. "Now you an' Bell, you two won the dance competition?"

Darcy snorts, and shakes her head. "No no, hah, /no/. I mean, he taught me a jig while I was drunk... but me and /Harper/ won a dance contest. Well. Third place, okay, but we even got ribbons for it!" She grins.

"The first lesson's free," Belliger comments, sipping with a brow waggle at Ahti.

Benar says, "Well third place is still a win in my book. Well done the three of you."

Darcy murmurs, "Harp was /very/ handsome. You ought to ask him about it when he comes back down.." Hah.

Orph frowns a bit climbing down into his pa's lap. He leans against Aikuen's chest and closes his eyes tight. "Every beast thinks it's just fine for 'em to go an steal away a dibbun from his brother 'cept me," he mutters under his breath, "Way things are with their 'Every beast in Redwall is innocent until proven guilty and the one what proves 'em guilty gets punished.' "

Bradge nods in agreement with Benar. "Aye, very good job... I mean, Brother 'arper doesn't look like 'e'd be much of a dancer!" Bradge chuckles as he says this.

Ahti raises a brow and gives Orph a look before going back to the more pleasing conversation.

Aikuen pats Orph on the head whispering to him, "Now, now... I’m sure they had their reasons... to take him away from his... brother?"

It's a good while later that Harper reappears, coming down the steps. He has an envelope, sealed, in paw. "So what'd I miss?"

Darcy is /rather/ proud of this event, and goes on grinning. "It was great. He got all decked out and everything. You should've /seen/ him. Anyway what was I.. oh /yeah/. So we were sold.. well /I/ was sold, and there was a /bidding/ /war/ I swear... and I was bought by this hob, Jarven..." She waves Harper over.

Benar waves at Harper as he returns, "We mmm got tired and all sat down and Darcy is telling us about how you and Mister Belliger danced yourself to victory in a pub."

Darcy snorts. ".. I'm clearly bad at story telling because Belliger wasn't /in/ the contest..."

Ahti is sitting and listening with his lute across his lap and a grin on his face.

"Brother 'arper!" Bradge still seems happy to see the hare. "Darcy's jus' been tellin' us about all of the things that 'appened to ya."

Harper quirks a brow as he is gestured over. He approaches, tentatively, quirking a brow. He grins for Bradge's sake. "Oh, aye?"

Ahti grins and strums the lute, "With his head over the side," another strum, "Our hero feels like he's died," another strum, "Getting sick in a logboat," one last strum with a wide grin, "looking like a beat stoat...."

Ahti laughs, replaying the simple tune he did for them earlier.

Darcy mutters, "And you're having a song composed about you..."

Benar says, "About how you look like a stoat... oh and mmm Darcy was telling us about the cad Jarven who purchased her and decided it'd be fun to play weld metal objects to the doe. For which I hope you killed him during his escape?"

Darcy grunts. "And cut my hair off and burned all my /bracelets/..."

Harper's eyebrows go up. He glances at Ahti and, heh. Shakes his head. "Aha. Well.... thanks?" And to Benar, he glances. Falls silent. He is not so anxious to share all as Darcy is.

Ahti shakes his head, "No. Not how he looked /like/ a stoat. But like a beat one. Have you ever seen a beaten stoat? Look even more rough than they usually do.

Benar winces, "Please... please tell me you got him?"" he shudders, "No.. no in fact don't tell me. I swore off the soldier's life when I put this on." he plucks his habit. "I am just glad you are home and it is an experience to put behind you both."

Darcy is no longer smiling. She quiets and pets Crow's ear, gaze on the kitten, the hair at her nape prickled a little.

"I'm sorry you 'ad ta go through that, Darcy." Bradge goes all somber. "Do you need me to do anythin'?" He's finished mopping, and sets all the paraphernalia aside.

Benar stands up and shivers, "I... am going to go out to the orchard for a bit... I need to center myself and the trees always help. If I can have your leave to be excused Brother Harper."

Crow seems to tense up ever so slightly at the anxiety he feels from the doe, despite her petting. He glances around uncertainly.

Darcy becomes aware of Crow's tension, and relaxes. The petting continues. "No.. you've done plenty, Bradge, thanks..."

Harper nods to Benar, smiling faintly. Odd to be in a position of authority again. He'll have to get used to that. "You're excused, Novice Benar."

Benar smiles and bows, "Thank you Brother Harper, and welcome home." The squirrel then heads off to the orchards.

"If you need anythin'..." Bradge looks between Harper and Darcy both, "Either of ya, let me know, okay? I missed ya's. Glad you're 'ome safe." When he wants to, he really has a knack for sincerity.

Harper smiles at Bradge, nodding faintly. "Thanks, Bradge. Thanks. I'll let ya know." He settles into a chair, then. Ahhhhh. Good to rest his footpaws! "So Bradge, tell me what's been goin' on /here/ while we've gone."

"Yeah.." is Darcy's response to Bradge, with a weary smile. She leans back in her seat, petting Crow's back. Exhale.

Ahti watches the two for a moment, then decides to play a low, soft, soothing melody. They obviously needed to relax some. He puts all of his focus into the song, trying to make it as beautiful as possible.

Aikuen Looks at Ahti, he smiles and says, "That's a beautiful song there matey..."

"Well, as ya've 'eard, we sent out a ... Priory? To Ruingate. Sort of a way for the Abbey ta care for the sick there an' stuff." Bradge rolls his shoulder in a shrug. "Other than that, we got some new novices, I got promoted, an'... Well, we jus' had a festival that ended yesterday."

Harper frowns thoughtfully. "Well... hopefully Martin will be with them." Big dogmatic for the ole buck, isn't that? Ah well. He's feelin' the Redwall love, right now. "Was the festival good?"

Darcy looks tired. She eyes Bradge, and cuts in. "You got taller."

"Aye, the festival was fun. There was a cookoff, an' an archery contest, an'..." Bradge smiles at Darcy. "Taller? Aw, c'mon, Darcy, you weren't gone /that/ long..."

Ahti doesn't seem to hear the compliment, he's too focused on the song.

A yawn escapes Crow's muzzle and then he settles in more against his surrogate mother's chest, huffing gently through his nostrils. His tail curls around his footpaws.

Harper sizes Bradge up, then. "Ya know, I think she might be right, actually."

Orph slips down off Aikuen's lap and walks off.

Abandoned Inn: Basement

Orph descends the creaking staircase to the dark basement of the abandoned inn.

The smell of mold lingers heavily in the languid air, recalling the generations

that have passed silently by in darkness here. A small cast-iron lantern,

swinging now and again from an unfelt wind, yields but a little light, casting

long shadows across the depths of this dark place. Within its small pool of

amber light is a door with the name 'Libbie' painted across its slightly beaten

face. Further down the corridor are doors into the other staff rooms, and far

north down the length of this unlit, unloved basement is the wine cellar.

A dark fluid has seeped from the collapsing pyramid of barrels that stands

against the north wall of this squalid room and congealed into a sticky mass

upon the unfinished floor. A nest of spiders seems to have taken up residence

in the corner of the room, where a nearly solid sheet of webbing is stretched.

One of the wine barrels sits open on the floor.

Orph takes a sip from the wine barrel. Potent stuff!

Orph takes a sip from the wine barrel. Bit sour!

Orph takes a sip from the wine barrel. Potent stuff!

Orph takes a sip from the wine barrel. Potent stuff!

Orph takes a sip from the wine barrel. Woah there, buddy. Lay off the drink!

Orph takes a sip from the wine barrel. Woah there, buddy. Lay off the drink!

Orph staggers back up to the kitchen and after a bit makes his way out of the inn and on toward Moledeep.

Moledeep: Dibbun Hole

Orph curls up in the little room. He feels ill from drinking the wine and then vomiting it up on the way here. Sleep. He'll sleep some then maybe go back and ask Pa if they could live somewhere else.

RW Abbey: Kitchen

Orph stumbles into the kitchen looking ill. "Mmn. Where'd they put it roun ere," he mutters to himself while rummaging through cupboards for something to sooth his aching head and not finding anything familiar he settles for a wet dish rag for his head and a glass of water.

Zen blinks and looks at Orph, glancing at him. "Uh... wh.. whats are ye doin?"

Orph flinches at the seemingly loud voice, "My 'ead hurts and I'm trying to make it not hurt no more. I ... drank some I shouldn't 'ave an' now I'm paying fer it."

Zen sighs and grumbles a little, "Then... whys you drinks it?!?"

Orph groans, "Cause I'm stupid alright. Can't you be quiet. All yurr talkin's hurtin' me 'ead."

Zen grumbles. Here we go again! They think I go back and forth?!? Zen thinks to himself, mumbling.

"Uh... we.... shouln'.... be frien's.. should wes?" He sighs softly.

Orph sighs, "I'm sorry, jus that stuff I drank makes everthin' sound loud an hurt'm ead. We're still friends."

Zen nods his head slowly. "I's... not likn' that one moments... yous all kinds and then the nexts yous gets all angries with mes... an.. I.." He blushes a little, sighing. "It scares me..."

Orph says, "I shouldn't a drank that stuff. I know better, but Oi thought it'd be better t' drink it then loose m' temper. I'm sorry I scare ya Zen. I ... I don’t wanta scare ya. I ... I'm tryin' real hard not to lose my temper. It's not easy, but I'm tryin' real hard. I don't like fightin' wi' ya but sometimes ... I'm sorry." he lays his head down on the table to rest some more as his head starts to clear a bit."

Zen shakes his head and sighs. "When.. you.. drinks that stuffs.. you seems to get madders even quickers... an... ands your even worses though..." He sighs a little and fidgets with his paws. "I don'.. don' thinks you should be drink'n that stuffs..."

Orph nods, "I don't think I should either. I seen grown beasts do it an thought maybe it'd be ok, but the beasts wot drink it don't know nothin' looks like."

Zen shakes his head. "Those... beasts aren' smarts... an' they gets hurt... Jus' cause I sees a growned beast hit another beast doesn' means I should wants to do it..." He listens at what he says and almost half chuckles to himself.

Orph nods some, "I know ... I wasn't thinking too well at the time. Sometime when I get mad I forget to think. My head feels better now, I'm gonna go find Pa and try to find out what's going on ... it- it just ... the Abbey's a strange place and I'm not sure I like it here anymore. I like you and Pa and my other friends, but they let just any beast in here good or bad. I don't like that." He leaves to find Aikuen.

RW Abbey: Main Gate

Orph awkwardly runs up to Aikuen, "There you are. I was lookin' fer ya."

Windhunter points at the dibbun. "Oh well I guess that clears that up then."

Aikuen’s eyes open wide, he was expecting to be searching for Orph all night or so... but this makes everything easier. He kneels down, "What’s going on William?" He is in his full scouting regalia.

Orph seems to a bit off balance still. His eyes are red-rimed but not from crying this time.

Aikuen looks at Orph, he has seen that look, and smell, many times..." William... Have you been... Drinking something that you shouldn't have been?" He ask politely, "And why were you looking for me? Me an ole' Windhunter were just about to go looking for you?"

Orph looks down at the ground which suddenly has become very interesting, "I was mad and didn't want to lose my temper. I wasn't thinking and thought I'd be better to ... you know ... I've had wine before just usually not that much and then I went back t' my tunnel er Moledeep and slept in the little room there and when I woke up my head hurt real bad and there wasn't anything there to fix it so I came back here and there wasn't anything good to fix it here either, but I sat in the kitchen with Zen and drank some water and put a wet rag on my head til the hurting stopped and the ground stopped moving so much. Zen said I shouldn't drink wine and I know I shouldn't 'ave drank so much of it. I'm sorry I wasn't thinkin' and I was stupid an' thought it'd be better'n loosin' my temper. I'm better now. The ground's still moving a little, but I /am/ better now."

Aikuen chuckles at Orph, "Hee, well that should stop in about an hour or so... And its alright, you had other things that were in mind. But drinking isn't the answer to your temper..." He is such a hypocrite, but he continues anyway, "Like the artist in you, that's a good way to release anger..."

Orph nods some, "I just ... The last time I lost my temper, at Zen, I really hurt him and I don't want that to happen again. I didn't know what to do and I tried to think what a grown beast'd do when they're mad about somethin' an' well I didn't think and ... I'm sorry. I don't like it here at the Abbey anymore Pa. Do we have to live here?"

Aikuen sighs, "No, son we don't have to live here anymore, I said that if you don't want to live here, we wouldn't." He hides the sadness in his voice, "So where would you like to live?"

Windhunter speaks up. "Well, since that's all settled, I am going to head off to bed." He offers his hand to the dibbun. "Pleased to meet you William."

Orph sighs. He'd expected either a 'Yes' or better yet a 'Why', but 'No, what'd ya like?' True most of his 'parents' in the past hadn't been kind to him, even so they still acted somewhat like parents - at lest to their own children. "I'm getting the feelin' this is yurr first time as a Dad. Yurr don't know how t' punish me and now yurr willin' to follow me to who knows where just like that without askin' why at the least? Maybe I don't got a good reason for wantin' t' leave? I don't know. I like you and I want you as my pa, but," he cocks his head at the otter, "maybe ‘ee should take lessons on it or somethin' cause it's awful strange the way you do it." William heads back to the Abbey.

RW Abbey: Western Rampart

Orph sits down with a lump of brown clay in his paws.

RW Abbey: Main Gate

Aikuen stands up, and crosses his good paw with the other one. He talks sort of to Windhunter, sort of to Himself, and mostly to the now gone William, "I had a daughter once yah know... She died... because I punished her too much...eventually ran away... then got killed... I don't want it to happen again..." He takes out his sword in anger, and shoves into the wall. It goes in about 3 inches or so, He releases the grip and the sword just hangs there. He slumps down against the wall, and places his head into his good paw.

Windhunter sits next to Aikuen and puts his hand gently on his shoulder.

RW Abbey: Western Rampart

A thunk is heard as something hits the wall from somewhere below.

Orph looks over the clay in his paws before dropping in and heading for the steps.

RW Abbey: Main Gate

Orph sits right inside the wall just out of sight of anybest outside.

Windhunter sighs. "Well, I've never been a parent, so I don't really know what to tell ya. But with you two just joining up and this being the first time he done anything wrong, I feel he's not giving you a fair chance."

Windhunter continues, "you're a good beast, Aikuen, and wise, remind me of my own pa."

Aikuen shakes his head, "no, This isn't the first time he has done something wrong... and every time I just ignore it or make excuses... I was hoping that the trip that me an him were planning would help him, like it did with me when I was his age..." He Smiles, "Thanks Windy, But right now I wish I was my pa, or your pa, or anybody else's right now..."

Orph says, "I heard you from up on the ramparts, "I'm glad ya don't beat me or any of the other things that they did, but ... getin' a reward for bein' rotten isn't right either. And this an't the first time I've been in trouble it's a lest the third since comin' here. And considerin' why I'm in trouble ..." sigh, "... just that I know I shouldn't be getting a nice treat for tryin' t' kill Zen. I don't know. Just don't seem right is all. ... Yurr not a /bad/ pa just not what I was expectin' I guess ... I'm not stupid I've seen other dibbuns that had real families before and ..." he leans his head against the wall, "I don't know what I'm supposed t' say cept 'sorry' and I don't know if that'd help any right now." Teary eyed he slowly walks around the corner and into view, "I'm sorry Pa."

Windhunter silently leaves the two to themselves and heads toward the gate.

Aikuen gives a short salute to Windhunter. Then turning to Orph he hides a smile, yep this one is a good un. He stands up and pulls the sword from the wall, taking off all his gear he places it front of the gatehouse, and gives a knock on the door. He walks over to the ratling, "Ok matey, you're going to be punished for drinking...Even if it kills me..." He goes to pick up Orph by the scruff of his neck.

Orph remains still, "So ... we'll get back the punishment for attempted murder later, huh? I shoulda just kept quiet," he smiles a bit knowing his pa wouldn't really hurt him on purpose.

Aikuen picks him up by the scruff, and holds him up and out way above the ground. He says sternly, "Oh, we will get to that, Don't think I’d forget." He heads over to the pond, with Orph in paw. "But first lets make sure you've sobered up all the way..." He smiles wickedly.

Aikuen moves off towards the Abbey Pond.

Aikuen none politely chucks Orph into the water.

Aikuen says "This'll get rid of anything what ails yah with drinking..." He smiles and thinks about the many times he was chucked into cold water to get rid of a hangover.

Orph holds his breath and stays under several minutes before letting it out and surfacing to paddle back to the shore.

Orph sits by the pond now soaking wet again, "Is that all or are you gonna do somethin' else to me?" he watches the otter just in case.

Aikuen would rub his paws together mischievously, but he can’t. He walks over toward Orph and kneels down, "No, were just getting started, I just want make sure you’re sober again..." He holds up three claws, "How many William?..."

Orph sighs, "Three. You missed the archery contest yesterday. I won it. Of course if ... well if I hadn't got lucky Zen would have won. I gave him the prize for wining and we're friends again. So the worst part of ... what happened is over. I don't like it when Zen and I fight."

Aikuen holds up 4 claws but they’re behind each other creating an illusion of two claws, "How many now... And I saw you win, from up in my room. I would have gone down but I had other things..." He smiles, "I’m glad you gave the prize to Zen, and hopefully you and him are all patched up."

Orph says, "I hope so," he squints at Aikuen's paw, "I /see/ two, but I /think/ your trying to trick me." he smiles good naturedly.

Aikuen nods his head, "Well, your sight is good, and you don't seem too wobbly, Time to get down to business..." He stands up, "Alright William, Now since it's spring time, I want you to go to the gardens. There should be somebeast there, help them clear weeds and plant seeds for the growing season. Tell whoever, that you are in trouble and to not let you go unless they deem it..." He nods forcefully then.

(The Next Day)

RW Abbey: Entry

Gwennythe has the benefit of wings for easy access to and from the abbey, should she want. Still, even if she's going over the top of the gate, she still lands in the entry area. Perhaps that's just easier to let people see she's coming and going. A noiseless, graceful landing, and she's back from whatever errand she's taken the morning for.

Benar is just rounding the side of the Main building, the squirrel has a bucket in one hand and is swinging it idly as he walks towards the main doors. he pauses and waves at Gwen as he spots her.

Gwennythe returns Benar's wave with one wing, peering at his bucket and hopping closer. She has something like a cloth satchel wrapped around her, which doesn't look like it hampers her flying terribly. "Chores, Senher Benar? Ben vespre, also. I hope you are well?"

Benar smiles, "Yes chores Gwenn," he holds up the bucket. "And some nice finds. I found a stash of acorns and hazelnuts in an old tree stump whilst clearing out last years accumulated dirt and dead leaves."

Orph comes down from the ramparts walking toward the pond.

Gwennythe says, "Ah, you have been... cleaning out trees? I was not aware they needed cleaning... I suppose the muck will be good, um, I do not know the word... Compost? And the kitchen will welcome more nuts..." She turns her head, smiling as her ears catch the sound of the approaching rat. "Ben vespre, William."

Orph nods at the squirrel and the bat, "Ben vespre Miz Gwenn and Benar." He has no idea what Ben Vespre means but figures it some sort of greeting.

Benar smiles, "Ben vespre to you too Orph dear. And ah no not the trees just an old hollow that is meant to be a seat. Got full of stuff before it snowed and forgotten about I guess."

Gwennythe twitches her muzzle at the idea. Thawed nuts and acorns from the rubbish of a seat hollow. If the others wish to eat that, fair enough; she'll stick with the odd bug and nice baked goods. She smiles as Orph uses the phrase and then Benar, too. "You are well, William?" To Benar "Well, it has not been so long since the thaw... The ground is still often muddy, I've seen..."

Orph leans against the wall for a bit half hoping word hasn’t gotten around yet that he's supposed to be working in the gardens right now. "What'll Sister Sunrose and the others that left do now that Harper an' Darcy are back?"

Benar glances at Orph and smiles, "I am afraid I do not know... they might not be back for some time. The mission to set up the Priory will take awhile." he swings the bucket from side to side. "And yes the ground is still quite muddy, you'd think young uns would be eager to get their paws stuck in." he eyes the rat with a small smile.

Gwennythe smirks. "You would think, oc." She doesn't much know of William's arrangements yet, but she can tell Benar's angling for something.

Orph nods. "I asked Dunplume to let them know Darcy an Harper were back since she was leaving today anyhow." he walks out back toward the gardens where he's supposed to be working.

RW Abbey: Kitchen Gardens

Finally finished with the work he'd been asigned William slumps down on the ground to rest.

Martha is aimlessly wandering. She seems to be off in a little daze; a far off look to her eyes, but still quite aware of things. And her wandering has brought her out of her usual garden into this one. "Good afternoon, W-William." She offers, smiling, as she spots the young rat.

It's not often Layne is 'assigned' work to do. She's pretty freelance in most respects, though is seldom idle-- when anybody's watching. But with the turn of the season, she's taken the chance to escape from the kitchens to volunteer for work in the gardens, at least once she's done with the minimal daily maintenance on the beehives. The mousemaid is in a fairly upbeat mood, coming along the path from the direction of the orchards, stuffing her beekeeping veil into the crown of her hat and rubbing idly at a couple of stings on her wrist. Even beekeepers still get stung.

Orph sits with eyes closed, "Hello, Miz Martha," If he'd kept his mouth shut he wouldn't have been made to work out here all day.

"Tired?" The hedgemaid asks, with a soft, mild concern. It's a Spring day, and Martha's voice is lazy. A wave to the approaching mouse. "Good A-Afternoon L-Layne." She would call, but there seems to be a volume limit for her, today.

Layne's wrist flops something in the ballpark of a wave. "Hey." When the last of the veil vanishes, Layne jams the hat between her ears and tugs the brim down an inch or two. Paws on her hips, she surveys the stubble of the garden. A lot of dirt, mostly. Some rocks for flavor, and a few weeds too dumb not to wait until they had some cover. There are seeds in the ground, but you wouldn't know it to look, yet. Give them another week or so.

“Mmm? I just got finished workin'. .. had t' open my mouth about not gettin' punished right" he shakes his head, "I shoulda jus let 'im do what 'e wants and not say nothin'."

"Hmm? Let who do what...? You are being punished?" The spiky resident is curious, and further concerned. Another look at Layne and she ponders whether to point out she looks like a General in front of battle plans, but decides that would probably be very odd to hear from her and lets it be.

General Layne lets the imaginary troops stand down. At ease, carrots. Like Martha, the subject of the conversation is a mystery to her, and she remains quietly to the side.

Orph opens his eyes, "Is nothin' ... just shoulda kept my mouth shut is all. I've been punished for now, til he think of somethin' else anyway. Hi, Miz Layne didn't see ya there," the dibbun waves.

"Until wh-who thinks of s-something else, W-William? Are y-you b-being punished f-for s-something someone else d-did?" This doesn't sit well with Martha, at all. But, she would rather find out as much as she can, from the rat's side, before anything else. She looks over at Layne, looking for help. Not entirely comfortable in this territory, perhaps.

A nod from mouse to rat. Take two, they're small. There's a tiny pause while Layne tries to fill in the orphan's new name, which she only heard a few nights ago. Luckily, it's a normal name. William, she can remember. Lucky his name didn't turn into Ishkabibble. "William. Hey. I didn't see me here, either." She's as curious as the hedgemaid, but Martha's the one asking the questions here. Layne's job is to... be menacing? Wait. She doesn't look at all menacing. Some good-Redwaller/bad-Redwaller team this turned out to be. :p

Orph cocks his head at Martha confused, "Huh? I'm in trouble again that is correct. Pa said I was to help in the gardens til they said I could stop and then he said after to find him and he might have me do somethin' else for my punishment too, but I don't know for sure yet."

Martha sees. This makes more sense, but... "Oh..." Hmmph. She's still slow today. Spring-dazed is a good expression? "Well, I am sh-sure he kn-knows b-best... B-but, surely, the g-gardening sh-should be enough I think? It l-looks like y-you worked v-very hard..."

Layne either missed the part where a crime was explained, or this is a Kafka novel. "And... what did you do...?" she prompts, rolling her paws one over the other to try and draw a confession out.

Orph avoid eye contact, "Figures of all the beasts here one of 'em got enough sense to ask when I'd rather they didn't for once." he murmurs to himself. In answer to the question he replies, "It's not as bad as it was, since Zen an' I aren't fighting anymore and are friends again now. ... I rather not say what it is considerin' my record round ere you could probably guess and be awful close as it is."

Oh, we do not let Layne -guess- about things like this. Because you're giving free reign to her creativity and that lets her say things like... "Ah. So you stole all the abbey scones to sell on the black market and secretly replaced them with intricately carved wooden scones that were so tasty nobody even noticed. Fiendish, and almost as diabolical as your plot to shortsheet every bed in the abbey by making everyone one-third taller than they already are!" Layne. Confusing abbey residents since last summer. Ask for her by name.

Martha reaches a paw gently for one of his shoulders, if he lets her. "Y-You d-don't have to t-tell us, W-William. D-don't worry." A look, concerned, at Layne. He doesn't have to say, right? But apparently not. She's inventing the crimes anyway. ^.^; "Y-You're very sw-sweet, and I'm sh-sure y-you can't have d-done anything t-terrible..."

Orph shakes his head, "If only it was stuff like Miz Layne said. T-thanks Miz Martha, but you have no idea what I've done. Least Zen's arm's healing and maybe his fur'll grown again to cover the burned part," sighs, "it was worse then the last time and ... well Corbyn could tell you 'bout that, he was there. ..." the ratling looks rather depressed now.

The otter takes just that moment to wander out from the great hall and the breezeway, looking at the wonderful weather. With a grin, Corbyn bends down to picks a small flower, tucking it in his tunic.

Layne rubs her nose with the back of her paw, and glances at the fading beestings on her wrist. Hurm. This is 'parenting' right? Layne missed that training. Well, in the absence of instincts, she defaults to logic. "Right. William? You see that really big lump of red sandstone back there? That's the abbey. And if it's still standing, whatever you did can't be all that bad, right?"

Zen. Healing. Burns. Ah. This... shoves a lot more questions into the simple question of 'How did Zen hurt his arm?' At least it suggests the nature of the injury? Burns. Martha winces a little. But she nod's in agreement with Layne's example of the abbey.

Orph scowls at Layne, "Almost killin' somebeast isn't bad so long as the stupid Abbey's standin'?! An' I thought maybe you had more sense then the rest of them," he shakes his head as he rises intending to leave.

Layne eyes narrow, and her arms cross. "To the extent that you didn't burn it to the ground, sure. Almost only counts in horseshoes. Was it an accident? If you're going to go all the way into self-loathing at least let us know if we're supposed to share the sentiment, huh?"

Jo stands there mouth open a little and pondering. "whad' ye' do orph?"

See, different way of seeing things! Martha's convinced this is just that. And isn't sure whether to reach for him or not. "N-no, William. P-Please. She d-did'nt know. N-neither of us d-did... Z-Zen's arm, r-right? It's h-healing, and you're f-friends again? It's l-lovely th-that you sh-should care so about the fact you h-hurt your f-friend, but, he's alright n-now, from wh-what I've seen?" Different approach to Layne's... And probably not as well thought out. She sort of stays quiet after her bit. Corbyn interjecting would be welcome too, as her expression might show him.

Corbyn rises back up as he hear the ratlings voice, a small, sad sigh before he waves over to the four. "Oi, Orph me lad! What seems to be the trouble today?"

Orph, now standing, turns to look at the mouse, "It was not an accident if ... if things hadn't turned out how they did ... I don't know ... I do know he said something that is not true and I was already mad at him and .... I wanted to kill him so he'd stop laughing at me and lying saying what he did. Something happened and I was trying to kill him ... Pa stopped us, but if ... if he hadn't been there ... I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"So you wanted to kill him because he was who was here him to be who he was. Right. Clear as mud. /He/ who, said /what/?" Layne's tail is flicking a bit, frustrated at the circular evasions, and her question is directed at anyone willing to answer. You. You in the back. Come up to the blackboard, please?

RW Abbey: Kitchen Yard

Orph drops a lump of red clay down on one of the wheels and starts to spin the wheel. He knows he's not supposed to use the kiln without Benar or some adult around, but this is better than hurting Layne or getting drunk.

Orph works the clay as he slowly begins to calm down, hot salty tears run down his face as he works. He works on the bowl almost without thinking. In a short time several bowls have been made and set in the kiln, not without incident however as the ratling soaks a burned paw in a bucket of water as the bowls bake.

At the edge of the kitchen yard, Layne stand with arms crossed, coolly regarding the rat with crossed arms and narrowed eyes. She's rather good at lurking silently, and scarcely even moves, save for the tail she can't ever quite discipline.

Orph sits on the grass with his right paw in a bucket of cold water wiping away tears with the other paw as he watches the bowls bake in the kiln. He's calmed down quite a bit now.

Calm, not calm, Layne doesn't seem to care one way or another. If he's this bad now, ye gods, what a terror he'll be when he hits puberty. Almost as angry with life as Layne herself was, not so many seasons ago. Still saying nothing. Still a sleek ebony shadow in green. Her ear itches. Lurking shadows aren't supposed to have itchy ears, so, she scratches it, sliding the hat back from her forehead. After a minute she knocks it the rest of the way back and the strap around her neck takes it.

Feeling better William takes his injured paw out of the bucket. He stands up and with a sigh heads back toward the garden, "I can hear you, and I'm sorry ... not that it helps any," he continues out to the gardens unhappily.

Layne's standing in that path. She hasn't moved, just yet. "Glad to know I'm still audible. Some days I wonder about that. Sorry about stalking off?

Layne departs for the kitchen garden.

Orph follow behind, saying, "Sorry about what I said. I ... I don't like it here and I just seem to always get into trouble round here with the Abbey letin' everythin' in no matter what," he shakes his head, "Course I'm not supposed to use the kiln without an adult around either ... nothin' I do lately is right.

"I'm an adult. At least that's what I tell people," Layne rightly points out.

Orph smiles, "True. Still I should get Benar to watch next time so I don't get myself burned again. Corbyn tell you about me yet?"

Layne lifts an eyebrow into the limbo behind her bangs. "I was following you. Corbyn, did you tell me about him, yet?" This, of course, addressed in the appropriate direction.

Corbyn looks up, blinking. "Eh? How'd ya burn ya arm lad?"

Orph says, "That's not what - never mind. I burned my paw putin' some bowls into the kiln, but it's fine. I just though you might've told 'em about when I got in trouble before and how Julian had to watch me and stuff."

"He has... t-told me about wh-what happened between you and Z-Zen..." Martha ventures. She hasn't been told everything, of course. And so she's not going to say much more.

Orph asks, "Between me an' Zen? Which time? The last time when Zen got burned or the one before that?"

"I figured Brother Juilian woulda already told them himself. Then again, he has been rather spotty in the abbey of late." Corbyn shrugs. "Ah well. Far as I know, ya anit been threatin' no beasts with kitchen knives, have ya lad?"

Layne deadpans. "He better not be. I don't want to have to resharpen those knives. Blunt. Nobody ever thinks, 'blunt'."

"Zen's arm... H-How that happened. It is a big abbey. G-gossip m-may get around, b-but n-not everything r-reaches everyone all the time..." She smiles a little, then.

Orph says, "No, not with kitchen knifes ...," he glances at Layne, "It wasn't one of the Abbey's knifes anyway I'd brought it from Moledeep. I sharpened it myself. ... and it's now sitting up on some shelf where Sister Sunrose put it." He nods some at the comments about gossip.

That's the problem with Layne's flat sense of humor. People think she's being serious. Very slight glance to the heavens-- no, still no guidance from there, big shock-- and she goes back into the verbal fray. "So exactly what is it you hate about this place so much, then?"

Orph says, "They'll let anybeast in. They let good beast in and /bad/ ones and if you tell 'em that the bad beast did somethin' bad you get in trouble and not them! And I still say he was lynin' saying: "you can't steal from the Abbey" . I just don't like it here, ok."

"So... because the system isn't perfect, then the whole place is a wash, huh?" Layne honestly doesn't sound terribly concerned, as she crouches down near the edge of a furrow and eyes an impudent weed. I see you. That rock can't hide you forever. She toys with the errant vegetation, flicking at a leaf but not pulling it up.

Corbyn has left.

Martha has taken to working not far away and keeping her ears on the other two. She really has nothing to add, though, and so listens in, working in silence, that spring-dazed look returning.

You say, "I know no beast here is perfect, but I don't care for them saying there nice and good and then acting the other way. I've had enough of that already. I thought it was safe here, guess I was wrong."

So it's the hypocrisy that bugs you. Good to know." Layne stares at the weed, and stands. It's a dandelion, and she likes it well enough where it is. Let someone else pull it. "So that outweighs... ah... Benar. And the pottery lessons? And your father, I guess?" Layne has no idea who that is, actually, only that -someone- adopted him.

Orph sits down on the ground, "I made stuff with clay before I met Benar and I never said I wouldn't visit if I left. Pa said he'd go with me and live somewhere else if I don't like it here. I don't want to make Pa leave, but I don't want to go without him either. I spent the last season and a half out by myself. I don't want to go back to that - even if things were easier then."

"Sounds like you've got it all worked out, then," agrees Layne, mildly. Did you expect her to grab your ankles and plead with you not to go? Wrong mouse. There's even some of what the rat says that she agrees with. The abbey will let anyone in, and not always for the best. But she doubts an application process and a background check is in the works as procedure. What're you gonna do?

Orph shrugs, "Aikuen's not the best Dad, but we're working on it. He said he had a daughter and he was to hard on her and she ran off and killed herself or somethin’ like that. I don't know if all of that is true or not, but even I know that doing something bad gets ya some kind of punishment and a Father/Son exploring trip isn’t a punishment. Not for me anyway. I told him as much and now he's acting more like a Dad should. Though I probably shoulda just kept quiet about it. I could go back to Moledeep where I was living before Aikuen agreed to be my ninth family. I don't know if he'd like it underground though. I'll have to ask him next time I see him around. He's busy a lot during the day."

For a little kid, William seems more mature than some of the adults around here. Layne supposes wandering around on your own for a long time will do that for you. In any event, she's said her peace. It's not her job to defend the abbey-- she's not even in the order-- and his mind sounds made up. So.

Martha isn't in the Order either. And the only comfort she got, really, around here came from a resident bat. William and Layne seem to have it all sorted and she's frightened of saying the wrong thing, so Martha keeps working, drifting closer to the side of the garden near the building.

Orph sits plucking at some grass chewing his lip as he tends to do when thinking hard about something.

What did one blade of grass say to the other? Look! There's a rabbit! We're in danger! >.> It's probably funnier if you're a blade of grass. Layne's not the sort to interrupt heavy thinking, heavy lifting, or heavy drinking. She finds a nice medium in drifting in Martha's wake and being garden inspector. Line up, you rocks. Neater.

Orph asks, "Martha, do you like me?"

Martha blinks. She was getting closer to the building. Likely planning to escape and avoid the dinner rush in her room. "W-well... Y-yes, William... Y-you've always b-been very sweet and s-seem to be a g-good beast... Wh-why do you ask..?" She frowns a little, still hunched where she was being less kind to the weeds than Layne was earlier. And a worried glance is shot that way.

Martha's turn! No tag backs to Layne, who, in any event is over amid the lawn looking for something to look busy with. Hmm, that watering can needs attention.

Orph says, "I was just wonderin'," he looks off away from her, "Since you liked that thing I made and all ... and how you thanked me for it ..."

Martha smiles. "Aw. W-well, it w-was very sweet of y-you to make it... Sh-she lives on m-my windowsill, in the l-light n-now... I h-haven't given her a n-name yet, though..." She looks a little confused, but relieved. "I certainly don't n-not like you, W-William... If th-that even m-makes sense? I th-think it does..."

Orph says, "Your welcome ... how ... how come you kissed me?"

What? Hmm. He really didn't have the most conventional of childhoods at all, did he..? "B-because what you d-did was v-very sweet. I appreciated it, W-William... N-No one has d-done that before?"

Layne and Martha leave.

RW: Main Gate

Aikuen is sitting on the outside of the wall, and leaning against it on the left side of the gate. There is a stack of long sticks on one side, and on the other side are shaved and pointed sticks. He has one in his hands were is is shaving it down. He is humming something upbeat.

Orph walks out of the Abbey, "Hi Pa. ... Are you very busy?"

Aikuen was hoping no one would find him, guess that's what he gets for sitting next to the gate. He looks up and sees Orph, then he goes back to shaving the stick, "Hi William, No I’m not busy at the moment... Or I can take a break..." He holds the end of the stick to one eye, to make sure its straight.

Orph sits down, "I worked in the garden most of the day. ... do you like it here?"

Aikuen takes the top of the stick and with some difficulty, because he is unable to use his other arm, he begins to put a point on the end. He talks and grunts as he works on the stick, "Well good lad, I hope you did some good to the gardens..." He looks up from his work and looks at his surroundings. Taking a deep breath, then sighing, he returns back to the stick, "Aye, I do like it here, reminds me of me home when I was a young'un"

Orph sighs, "What was it like ... where you grew up?"

Aikuen finishes the point on the stick. Testing it by tapping the top, he gives it a good nod and places it with the others. He looks up and leans against the wall. He closes his eyes as if picturing it, "I lived in a Holt near a river, with other Otter families. Now our holt was huge, completely built inside the ground, it was about the size of the abbey come to think of it... I liked to sit outside and listen to the river run..."

Orph asks, "Mmm, what were you like as a dibbun?""

Aikuen snorts at this question, "I was what they call a 'Naughty Villain'. I was always leaving the holt without asking permission, and be gone for several days. I wanted to go explore everything, did not want to become a farm..." His voice trails off, then continues, "I was always hit for my leaving, but I didn't care! I wanted to explore the whole island before I... became of age."

Orph asks, "Was your family nice to you? Did you like them? Did they send you away?"

Aikuen nods, "Aye, I guess they were nice. I can’t complain, except for my pa... He was always 'I don't have a son!' and 'You'll never be a leader like that' and all that other stuff." He sighs then shakes his head, "No they didn't send me away, there were lots of bandits around, and I guess they didn't want me to die or anything..."

Orph nods, "They sent ya away so you'd be safe. Don't always work though. Ma told me t' stay put in my burrow I shared with Denny and not t' leave. Then they left an' now their all dead and I'm still not dead. We're not dead so maybe we're doin' alrioght, huh. You said you had a daughter before. She have a ma? I mean you was married an all right? or did ya find her like me?"

Aikuen sighs a bit, then says, "Aye I was married, and she was my own... My Mehra..." He breathes deeply, "She died soon after our daughter was born...complications they said..." He shakes his head, as if trying to remove the memory, "My daughter I also name Mehra, after her mother... She died also, About when she was about 3 seasons old..."

Orph nods, "It hurts when beasts ya like die," he smiles, "First thing I can remember is my brother Brutus and seein' 'im layin there on the floor holdin his stomach and he died there like that. I liked him. He was like me. Hehe he's the only rat I've ever seen, they didn't think I should be with my own kind said it'd be bad fer me. Like what Benar and others said about, K'oh, that kitten Darcy an Harper stole. Maybe his family would raise him to be bad but isn't that where he's supposed to be, with his family? I don't remember my real parents, but Brutus said they were nice to us. I don't like it at the Abbey. They say one thing and do the opposite or they ignore me. Would it be ok if we went and lived in Moledeep instead? I don't mind visiting the Abbey, but I don't want to live here. It's not safe. A home is supposed to be safe.”

Aikuen nods and gets in closer to Orph, there is a bit of a smell from his breath "I think your right little mate, they shouldn't have taken him away. Even if they were just trying to help the little cat..." He picks up one of the unaltered sticks, and begins to shave off the bark, "I didn't sleep last night, thinking about what you said to me... And I've decided to move away, find some place near a river... id like that..." He taps the wall with his head, "They’re nice and all, but im getting old... and spending the rest of my days sitting and eating may be good for some... but not me!" He looks back at Orph, "Yes, You can go live at Moledeep... you shouldn't be afraid of your home..."

Orph cocks his head at Aikuen as his eyes narrow, "Do you need a dunk in the pond? I'm not gonin' to live nowhere unless you are too. Don't forget, I picked you t' be my family and even if it turns out someday that I made a poor choice you'll still be stuck with me. Least til I'm grown anyway. So don't you go forgetin' it."

Aikuen looks at Orph, "A dunk in the pond... wha?" He then realizes what he means, and sniffs his breath. Oh well, he caught me. But that was awhile ago, He is sober now. He looks at Orph and then smiles and laughs, "Oh I won’t forget master William, so help me I wont!" He hold up the shaved stick, eyeing it. "Why do you think I’m making these javelins, eh? For making a fence! No, I’m going to go with yah!"

Orph relaxes. "Not that'd give ya a choice. If I had to I'd tied ya while yurr sleep and drag ya along behind me. Cause I'm not goin' wi' out ya," he grins playfully, "Are we goin' t' Moledeep or someplace else? We could make Moledeep before morning if we start right away, less you got a better plan."

Aikuen gets up from the wall, his creaking joints tell that he had been sitting for a long time... He smiles at the ratling, "Aye lets get a moving... I've never been to Moledeep, should be interesting" He heads over to the gatehouse, to pick up his things from yesterday.

Orph stands up and stretches some, "Martha kissed me the other day and when I asked her why she got confused and left."

At Moledeep

Orph sits the lantern down for a minute, "What do ya think?"

Aikuen looks around, he is in total awe, "Holy Moley (no pun intended), I didn't know this was in Mossflower!"

You say, "The larders not very full cause all the food that was in it was bad and made me ill so I threw it out and so I mainly eat from the orchard and garden right now and the medicine in the infirm here is locked up so I don't know if it any good or not still, but there's lots of beds and there's paper and ink for writing. Probably should head in though cause it's late. Tomorrow you can look at the outside and see the well and stuff."

Orph says, "That," he points at the dibbun hole, "Is where I sleep a lot, but you can go in there. It's much too little for an otter. Corbyn tried when he visited and got stuck. Maybe we should just stay out of that part of the tunnel, otters are always getting stuck in there. On to the other rooms."

Moledeep: Sleeping Hall

Orph says,"See there's lots of beds in here, but there's some special rooms on either end and an infirm too."

Moledeep: Left Guest Room

Orph says, "I sleep in here a lot too. See there a big bed and a little one. On the other end of the hall there another room like this one but it has two big beds and a writing desk with paper and ink and stuff."

Aikuen nods

Orph sits down on the small hospital bed, "You can look around more if you want to Pa. I'm gonna take a nap. It's good to be back in my tunnel.

Aikuen nods again, "Alrighty then..." Its unnerving the lack of beasts here... Hopefully he can find a place to call his own soon...

Aikuen wanders off to explore the rest of Moledeep.

Orph wakes alone in the left guest room - his room, maybe his and Pa's room soon? After the nice feeling of being back in his tunnel wears off he wonders where his Pa's gone to.

After some searching , Orph walks into the Garden Burrow, "Thought you went outside. You like it here?"

Aikuen is looking at the deserted room, Surprised at everything. He continues to search, dusting off objects to see what they are, "Its nice, right enough... Does need a little touch up though..."

Orph nods, "Yeah. I've been fixin' up the larder and sharpened the knifes in the kitchen some. Needed to to pick anything from the orchard or gardens. Haven't got around to doing much more ... bein' at the Abbey so much. Before you were my pa I told Corbyn he could take what he wants from the old smithy outside and told Flicky that the Abbey can use Moledeep if they need to. There's some books and maps in the study and paper and ink in the other bedchamber if you should need 'em. Want me t' help with anything Pa?"

Aikuen slaps a paw against one of the armchairs, which causes the dust to blow everywhere. Coughing, he answers, "HACK, ufff, Ukk... Um no I’m gonna still look around some more... Actually do you know where I could get some fresh food?"

Orph nods, "follow me." They walk into the kitchen.

Orph opens a drawer and pulls out a sharp knife before sitting it back down, "Don't need this anymore," he pats his sheathed dagger, but picks the knife back up anyway.

Out in the orchard andgardens area Orph waves a paw at the trees and other plants, "This is the larder anymore. Might need a knife or somethin' to cut 'em free though."

Aikuen looks around, seeing as this place hasn't been tended to in awhile. He goes over to the garden and kneels down, looking at any remaining vegetables. Most have rotted away, but there is a few potatoes left. He picks them, then heads over to the trees, Where he picks a few of the remaining apples. "Not much mate, but I can make something... I think..."

Orph holds out a basket for the food, "You gonna cook somethin'? Never bothered to myself, but then I'm just a dibbun."

After collecting a good amount of produce, Aikuen places it into the basket. He smiles, "I can do a little cooking, just enough to keep me alive all these seasons..." He goes to pick some firewood on the ground, but he asks, "Is there any firewood in the kitchens? I never looked in there, so I don't know."

Orph scratches behind one big ear, "I don't know, might be, but won't hurt to have more. We could have a fire in the fireplace maybe if we want."

Aikuen nods and picks up anything that might burn well. He laughs, "I never say no to a good fire!" He places the wood into the basket. He picks up the whole thing, and places it on his shoulder. Then he looks around, he is lost already..."Umm, do you mind leading the way?"

Orph says, "Tomorrow you'll be able to find the way better."

Aikuen bobs his head, in a half shake, half nod.

Orph runs off and returns with a bucket of water before leading the otter back to the tunnel, "We might need this. There isn't any water inside that I saw."

Moledeep: Kitchen

Orph sets down the bucket of water making sure to stand back and give his pa plenty of room for whatever he's gonna cook.

Aikuen places the basket on the table. He goes over to what he guessed would be the stove. What luck! There is already logs in there! He takes out his short sword, and looks around for some flint. Finding some nearby, he places the sword near the logs, and strikes the flint against it. The log begins to smolder a bit, as the fire comes to life.

Moledeep: Kitchen (The Next Day)

The next morning Orph walks into the kitchen, "Hi, Pa. What yurr doin'?"

Aikuen stick out his tongue at the bowl, "I’m not quite sure... I think I’m making...food...?" He pulls out a glob of the mess from the bowl. It looks like a dumpling with apples in it.

Orph cocks his head at Aikuen, "Did you taste it? When you're done can we go explorin' outside? It's easier to find stuff when it's not dark."

Aikuen throws the ...thing... back into the bowl. He wipes his paws on one of the towels laying around. "I've eating everything... I wouldn't eat that though..." He takes the short sword from the table, and sheathes it. Nodding to Orph he exclaims, "Alright matey, lets get out of here before I die of food sickness..."

Moledeep

Orph says, "See it's better out here when the sun's out."

Aikuen nods his agreement, "Sure is William. Though I’m beginning to wonder where is everybeast..." He bends down and picks up a wildflower and takes a bite out of it.

Orph says, "At the Abbey I guess. Of course I know one other place, follow me."

Camp Willow: Tunnel Recess

Orph sits down on by the canal. He likes it here, it's a good thinking spot.

Aikuen walks into view, still managing to hate Mossflower wood, and its maze of trees. When he sees the pool, he resists the urge to plunge in. But he does step in it, feeling the cool water go over his paws. He decides to sit down, yes in the pool, and looks back at Orph, "I like this..." He can almost imagine the holt...

You say, "Better be careful, Pa. Kip says that's where the giant monster fish are kept. Don't know if they're in there right now or not. This is a good spot fer thinkin'. I sat ere a long time before when I was tryin' to decided who I wanted for a family. It's a nice an quiet here."

At those word, Aikuen slips in closer to the water. He smiles as he looks around the pool for the 'Giant Monster Fish', "Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy! I’m not gonna hurt yah! Hee-hee!" He runs his claw through the water, like bait. He keeps his eyes on the water as he answers, "It wont be quiet for long, if I can help it!"

Orph shakes his head, "Yurr gonna get eaten if they’re in there."

Aikuen scoots in just a bit closer, He is about waist deep now. He laughs while keeping an eye on the water, "Something is about to be eaten, and it aint going to be me! HAH"

Orph watches Aikuen closely as he stretches out a short ways from the water, "There's fish in th' river too ya know. An' probably not pike in there."

Aikuen suddenly dives into the water. After a short bit, he burst out of the water on the other side. Landing on the backside and Shaking his head, to remove the water, he laughs a bit more, "I didn't see any big fish, or pike in there... Besides I wasn't going to eat it...I’m still thinking about the glob..." He shivers at the thought.

Orph laughs, "Maybe we could catch some fish later. When are we gonna take that trip down South?"

Aikuen crosses his arm with the other, he paces around the bank side. "Well, since were already at Camp Willow, Well spend three days here... Then we will leave and head south... and if we are enjoying ourselves, we may go west and visit the coast. Id like to visit the ocean again."

Orph smiles, "I like the sea. I was born there, on a ship, a long time ago. ... Well, a long time ago for me."

(Two Days Later)

Camp Willow

Kip hugs Orph, “Hey, you came back.”

Orph says, “See that otter sleepin there?”

Kip leans over and looks at Aikuen, “Yeah, what about ‘im, Matey? He givin’ ya trouble?”

Orph rolls his eyes, “No. /That/ is my new pa. He’s my family now,” he states proudly.

Kip says, “Ya don’t say!” He shoves Orph playfully, “That make you a OtterRat now or somethin’? Bet you like havin’ a pa. … Wanta race?”

Orph shakes his head ‘no’, “Not really … are we allowed to leave Camp Willow? I wanta show you something at the river, ok?”

Kip shrugs, “Well, not really supposed to , but that’s never stopped me before,” he grabs Orph by the arm, “Come on.”

Orph pulls away, “Wait I should write a note so Pa won’t worry about me.”

“You’re wasting time,” Kip growls impatiently, “Just come on, write a quick note and then we’ll leave, ok.”

Orph starts to write, “Pa can’t read. I forgot. Hm … I’ll draw a picture of us at the river so he’ll know where we are.”

Kip sighs, “Fine, matey, fine. Just hurry it up already!”

Orph glares at the otter silencing him.

River Moss

Orph says, "We're here."

"Alright. Where's 'here'?" Kip asks.

"This is where Benar and I dug for clay," Orph explains, "We found clay here and dug it up and put in in buckets and took it back to the Abbey. At the Abbey Benar showed me how to make things with clay on a potter's wheel and how to use the kiln."

"Neat. I'm not much for digging though and I don't know if Camp Willow has a kiln or whatever," Kip says from the water, "Why don't we race some? from this dammed up spot to ... over there." he points to someplace further up stream.

Orph says, "Fine we'll race. But just one time, ok. You know you're gonna win anyway."

"I might not now with you being a OtterRat," Kip teases grinning. "Come on. Maybe after we can explore some ... I know you like that. Haha, you got wanderlust written all over ya, Matey."

Orph smiles a bit as he wades out into the water, "I guess so. Now where are we racing to?"

Kip points again to that it does much good, "Up that way a piece. You'll know it when we get there," before diving and swimming off up the river.

Orph sighs and does his best to paddle after his friend calling out, "You don't /have/ to go /that/ fast, you gonna win regardless anyway!"

Kip says, “I’m gonna beat you!”

Orph says, “See you won, again. Now can we doing something else?”

Kip whines, “Fine.” He hauls himself out onto the bank, “Follow me and we’ll go exploring some before we head back to Camp.”

Orph nods, “Ok.”

Orph scowls at Kip, “Do you know which way you’re going? Move over and let me lead!”

Kip growls pushing the small dibbun away, “No, I know where we’re going! Camp’s not far.”

Orph says, “You said that hours ago! We’re lost! It’s you’re fault and we’re lost! I’m going back. /You/ can stay here.”

Kip panics, “NO! Orph1 Don’t leave me out here! …. Look there’s a light from over that way, maybe we can stay the night there and go home, tomorrow? It’s late and it’s dark out now. We won’t make it back.”

Orph closes his eyes and punches the otter in the side hard, “This is /your/ fault! You go first in case whatever lives there eats dibbuns and /if/ it’s safe you can stay. I’ll get a meal if I’m luck and head back.”

“Owch! Watch who are you’re hitting vermin!” Kip swings at the rat but misses hitting a tree instead, “OW! Stupid trees! I hate this forest!”

Orph pulls on Kip’s arm to get him walking the right way, as they near the light Orph stops, “It’s the Abbey?” he turns to his companion, “Only you would get lost and yet stumble into Redwall Abbey.” he shakes his head in disbelieve at Kip dumb luck.

Kip says, “Are we going in?”

Orph sighs , eyes closed, “Follow me and say /nothing/ or else!”

The larger dibbun nods mutely and follows the rating into the Abbey.

After a long over due meal the two ‘explorers’ take a tour around the Abbey grounds. Kip wants to look around since he’s never been to the Abbey before - Orph just want to find an adult to dump the otter with so he can leave.

“Orph we’re going in circles. What are you looking for?” Kip asks annoyed.

“Oh hush already. I know what I’m doing - unlike you,” the smaller dibbun grumbles.

Orph along with an otter dibbun walk past the pond into the orchards. The otter looks lost while Orph seems to be looking for something or someone.

Bartholomew flips his other paw to her, still grinning at the mouse. "You are a good friend to have," he remarks, glancing at the otter in a shy distraction. "And I am glad to have you here." His head tilts tearing his eyes from the otter back to the mouse.

Layne's peering too closely at badger-paws, carefully prying out splinters, to note the arrival of rat or otter. Her face makes a distasteful grimace. "That one's gonna bleed... erf... sorry... sorry, that's bleeding, there." At least she doesn't appear squeamish about the blood.

You say, "Hi, Miz Layne," he smiles at the badger, "Been gardening I see. I'm back again. Someone," he glares over at the otter, "got us lost."

Bartholomew clicks his teeth together, trying not to squirm. "S'okay," he mumbles out, turning full attention on the new comers. He sits a little nervously, the mouse picking splinters from his paws and a large stump torn in half and laying on the ground not far away. "Hi."

Layne's ears go back, but her head doesn't. "William. Little busy here..." She looks like she's repairing a watch, so intent is her gaze at the badger's palm. "I see you are havink a lonk life line," she muffles, in a moth-worn attempt at a gypsy accent. It will be longer once she gets her nails around that sliver of wood... ah, got it. Another one down. "You consider the next time maybe wearing gloves?"

The otter smiles, "Hi. I'm Kip," he holds out a paw, "from Camp Willow and a champion swimmer. Orph and me were exploring and we got a little lost. Was wondering if we could stay the night ..."

"None my size!" The badger blinks, wrinkling his nose. There is a pause, but that may be due to the fact there are pieces of wood being taken from his paw. "Hi there. I'm Bartholomew. Champion... um," he looks to Layne for a suggestion.

"Stump slayer," suggests the mouse. "Sorry, we'd like to help, but William is very particular about double checking everyone who stays at the abbey. Got any references?" Layne's special of the day is ironic humor. It's not like she has any say in who comes and goes, and the bunkroom is open all night. She doesn't see the outstretched paw-- her back is still turned, picking out splinters from the badger's paws. It's not likely he's going to be shaking paws with anyone for a couple of hours yet."

Oh, yes. That's good. Champion stump slayer." Bart chuckles. He sits quietly, letting the mouse handle the problem. He's still newish!

Orph pokes the otter in the chest, "YOU got us lost. I TOLD you you were going the wrong way, but did YOU listen? NO of course not! So be quiet and go sit over there somewhere." the rat tries to push the otter away.

Kip doesn't move hardly despite the rats efforts. He easily pushes the smaller dibbun out of his way and onto the ground, "It was my idea to follow the light to get here and out of the woods! If anyone needs to /go sit down/ it's you, you and that bad temper of yours!"

Bartholomew looks at the two other creatures with a small shrug. "Heh," he mumbles, digging his heels into the dirt as he takes a few deep breaths. "Yikes, thanks. I should really get some gloves."

The mouse's ears dip and her eyes narrow. Yay. Squabbling small creatures. Have we mentioned Layne has no maternal instincts to speak of? She grunts out of the side of her mouth, still not turning around. "William. Other person with William who may or may not have gotten them lost. I am. A little busy. Helping the large and potentially angry badger. William, you -know- the bunkroom is open to everyone. If the two of you want to stay, then stay." Her eyes cast about, trying to meet with Bartholomew's with a mute plea. That indebted thing? Layne's thought of something she'd like.

Orph leaves heading for the ramparts. Kip stands there confused.

Looking lost and confused the otter asks, "Do you think I should go after him? You know see if he's alright."

"Might be worth looking into, yeah," agrees Layne. She runs her gaze up and down the palms. "That's... uh... all I can see in this light... oh. Hold on..." This may sting a bit. She twitches one last shard of wood out with her fingernails. "I think that's it. Might wan'a have them look in the infirmary. Oddly enough, they have tweezers. And bandages." She finally turns to blink at the otter. "Hah? Who? William? Did you hit him or something?"

"No. Not lately. He ran off somewhere. Thought we should stick together so we don't ... get lost. Anyway you wouldn't know where he likes to go when he's mad would you? the otter asks looking back toward where the ratling had gone.

Bartholomew lets his gaze follow Orph, a small concerned frown on his face. "Odd," he tsks, pulling his head back. "Thank you, Layne. You have done this lion well."

Kip nods at the mouse and badger, "Thanks. Hope I don't get bit this time," he runs off in the direction Layne pointed to.

Yes ma'am," Bartholomew promises with a nod. He leans watching the next one that runs off. "What in all of Mossflower...?" the badger wonders at the mouse.

Orph, also known as William Redfang, sits on the ramparts trying to calm himself, “Leave that stupid otter here and get back to Camp Willow and … NO! Go home not to the Camp. They’ll want to know where Kip is.” “Stupid otter!” The ratling cries out in anger.

Kip walks up to Orph slowly and sits down, "They said you'd be by the kiln and you weren't," he looks out into the darkness, "Thought you didn't like high places."

Orph rubs his face, "Depends on the place. I wanta go home," the rat leans his head against the wall.

"Home? You mean back to Camp right?"

You say, "No. I mean home. .... Well back to Pa and then home. I /don't/ want to be /here/.""

Kip nods, "O-ok, but it's dark and .. do you know the way there?"

Orph nods some, "I can do ok even in the dark, "I do know the way, better then you even. I know how to get to my - to Moledeep from here and how to get to Camp from there." Orph starts down the steps, "... Are you coming?"

Kip looks around nervously, "Um y-yeah. R-right behind you."

Orph smile and shakes his head, “Silly otter afraid of the dark. You’re almost - never mind, just come on.”

They made the rest of the trip in silence, the guards were not happy when they came walking back to in at such an hour, scolding them sternly against leaving by themselves again.

Finding his pa sleeping by the canal where they’d ‘set camp’ Or- William tore up the note he’d left earlier and curled up next to his pa to get some much needed sleep.

Groups:

• Order of Redwall