Quinten Log 99 - 23 04 2006

Western Shore

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pale blue sky meets glassy green as you look out over the ocean to the

west. Gentle waves lap at the sand you stand upon. The sea is calm, and

so is the overall aura of the beach. A cool, salty breeze whisks

through and is gone as suddenly as it came. The distant cry of a gull, the

splash of a fish, and suddenly, all is still again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the road again, as the saying goes. The patrol has closed up their

camp, leaving only the most minimal signs, as usual. Fire leavings are

shoveled up and deposited in the sea and tracks are brushed out as best

as possible. The Colonel and the rest of the beasts are now trooping

along at a good clip, rested by a pleasant night under the stars.

Quinten is walking along amongst all the recruts, yawning softly as he

rubs sleep from his eyes and hurries to get in step with everyone else

For whatever reason, the recruits have been placed just behind the

officers in the march, and so it's not surprising that Zoe, with her limp,

has fallen back a little to walk amongst the youngers. The doe looks to

the side, eyebrows going up at the young buck's slightly frazzled

state. "All righ' there, lad?"

Quinten looks at Zoe and nods "Yes ma'am just a nightmare is all. i've

not really slept outside since well my days in the swamp"

Zoe_Lang hms at the explanation, then nods as if it's acceptable

enough. "Fair 'nough... The swamps, I remembah, c'n be rathah... unpleasant."

Quinten flicks his ears back and nods "Oh aye ma'am especially

unpleasent in summer, don't you remember wot i looked like when i came to the

mountain? Covered in muck and fleas"

Zoe_Lang offers the recruit a small smile and a shake of her head. "I

wasn't... 'lucky' enough t' see that, lad, though I did hear about it

from the officahs who assisted ya." 'Assisted' being a polite way of

saying 'bathed', of course. Hehe.

Quinten chuckles and lifts a paw "Yes ma'am...well they boiled the

fleas out of me fur and cleaned me up, then talked me into joining the

patrol, took me mind of me grief and it was the best thing i ever did"

Zoe_Lang's smiling drops off and she grows serious with a small nod.

She reaches across to pat the other on the shoulder. "We're glad t' have

you, lad. Glad t' have you."

Quinten grins and picks up the pace, keeping in line with the Colonel

now "Well Ma'am i'm very glad to be here, i'm enjoying the patrol, if

they let me graduate."

Zoe_Lang's eyebrows go up, a glance going to the side at Quinten. "You

seem in line t' graduate, though I s'pose it'll be delayed a coupla

seasons by yer time in Redwall."

Quinten nods his head "Aye ma'am i hope so" he smiles at her "If i can

manage to not upset the Major too much"

Zoe_Lang chuckles and bobs her head in an understanding nod. "Aye,

always that..." She grins a little bit, "And now you'll have the Brothans

'n' sistays t' deal with, s'well. You'll have t' be sharp 'n' quick on

yer feet t' keep everyone happy with ya, lad." She winks.

Quinten groans and lets his ears droop back "Ahhh colonel Ma'am its no

fair....i can't get through all these seasons without getting anything

wrong...i'm bound to do something by accident and then its right onto

my permament record"

Zoe_Lang's mouth quivers with the great effort it takes her /not/ to

laugh. "Lad, lad, lad... these things happen, y'know? Yer young 'n' yer

bound t' make mistakes. We're not all s'old that we don't realize that."

Quinten looks at Zoe and sighs "Yes ma'am but the Major put me on a

permanent report, said anything i did wrong won't be going being forgotten

when i reach Private, everything will go into my record as if i was

already a private."

Zoe_Lang inclines her head in a nod. "Aye, 'n' that's as it should

be..." She lets silence reign between them for a few seconds before she

glances to the side at him again. "Lad, everyone has a coupla little

infractions on their record, m'self included. Those little things, though...

they don't count fer beans alongside how ya handle yerself in battle

'n' the things you contribute t' the Patrol." She smiles, slightly. "Take

you, for instance. Surely, ya've probably gotten int' more trouble than

the average Recruit, but... how many recruits d'ya s'pose spend their

time devisin' ways t' improve the Patrol's night patrols? Or takes the

time t' write somethin' like that thing o' yers? Not many, I'll tell ya

now."

Quinten blushes somewhat at the mention of the fur dye "Well

ma'am...i'm sure they would if they could, i happened to come across it in an old

book, i just made it up that is all" he flicks his ears back "And i

won't really be in a battle for sometime it seems, on the way to the abbey

and all that, not much call for battle there."

Zoe_Lang's eyebrows go up. "Oh, aye? Ya think not, huh?" She conceals a

smile, shaking her head. "I think you'll be in fer a surprise, lad...

Mossflowah's not patrolled by the likes o' us, aftah all. But aye, if ya

stay /in/ the abbey, ya ought not see much action."

Quinten smiles and nods "Yes ma'am but i hear we'll be staying at the

67th, whats that like?"

"... A tad borin' when yer undah lockdown," the Colonel replies with a

reminiscent grin. She shakes her head, then, clearing her thoughts.

"'Tis an undahground structure, so it has much the same feel as the

mountain. Very closed-in 'n' such. But you'll be /stayin'/ at the abbey with

the othah Novices, save fer durin' yer recruit trainin', when I believe

Jarril will be takin' ya t' the 67th."

Quinten smiles and nods "Oh aye ma'am recruit training and novice

training at the same time, it'll be rather strenous i should thinl, still

it'll be a great experience i'm sure"

Zoe_Lang gives the recruit an approving nod. "That's a good way t' look

at it, lad. Remembah, too, that you'll have the othah Recruits around

t' help ya out 'n' keep yer spirits up."

Quinten smiles "And all that abbey food" said with a dreamy rather

pleasent smile on his muzzle, "Imagine ma'am we'll be living at the abbey

with all their food...i can't wait, all i've heard is stories you know"

Zoe_Lang chuckles, shaking her head. "Aye, the abbey food... It /is/

legendary," she responds. Thinking back, back, back... "Y'know, I was

around yer age when I first went t' the abbey, now that I think on it."

Quinten smiles at her "You colonel? you've been before then?" he flicks

his ears and grins "Why did you ever leave if it is as good as they say

it is?"

Zoe_Lang chuckles. "I've been a few times, lad. I've not lived m'whole

life on the shores, y'know." She then answers the question with an

absent shrug, looking ahead to where they walk, thinking back. "I didn't

leave by choice, lad. I was captured by some slavahs."

Quinten blinks "Slavers ma'am? nasty bussiness they are, glad to see

you got away from em Colonel, wouldn't quite be the patrol without you in

charge"

Zoe_Lang inclines her head in an appreciative nod. "I thank ya fer

sayin' so, lad." And then, because they're on the topic, she gives a shrug

as if to say 'Eh, why not?' and pulls up a sleeve, some. Scars circle

her wrist of the manacle-variety, and others twist around her forearm -

the whip. "'Twas a long time ago, but ya don't easily forget it."

Quinten nods his head "Aye ma'am you never forget some wounds" he

touches his chest, about heart height "Even if there are no physical wounds"

Zoe_Lang falls silent and looks at Quinten, silent and considering. She

nods and smiles faintly before looking back to the front, rolling down

her sleeve. "... Aye."

Quinten drops his paw back to his side and keeps the pace alongside the

colonel, near the head of the recruit column "So ma'am how long until

we reach Redwall? and what is the route like?"

Zoe_Lang considers the question for a moment, head tilted back to

consider the sky while she answers. "Well, once we get t' the Rivah Moss,

we'll be takin' rafts 'n' longboats int' the heart o' Mossflowah -

courtesy of Camp Willow 'n' the Gousim - 'n' when we've gone s'far as we can,

we'll get off 'n' hump it fer the rest o' the way, which oughtn't be

more'n a day's journey."

Quinten smiles "That'll be nice Ma'am i've never been on a log boat,

will we have to help out with the rowing?"

Zoe_Lang chuckles. "That all depends on if they'll let us. Rathah

particular, folks c'n be about their crafts."

Quinten laughs softly and nods "Aye i met a shrew once, he was a very

odd beast"

"Just you watch out fer those ottahs' Hot Root Soup too, eh? Sure we've

got it at the mountain, but they like t' add a little... 'extra' spice

t' theirs." The Colonel grins.

Quinten winces and his ears droop "I'm never touching it again Colonel,

tha stuff is vile, they should all be locked up fer alloing beasts to

drink it," he grins sideways at her "not to mention its a handy way to

sober a beast up"

Ohhhhh yes, her look of realization says. She turns her head to the

side and away from Quint, to hide her amused grin. "Aye... 'tis-" she

halts with a small snort, "'Tis that."

Quinten comes to a stop a few paces ahead of her and looks back "A

handy way to sober a beast up ma'am, the Major might be able to tell you

how effective it was on a certain dyed recruit"

Zoe_Lang tries to keep a straight face when she looks at Quinten again.

"Aye, well, we won't talk about that anymore, eh?"

Quinten nods and smiles "Yes ma'am all in the past now." he peers ahead

trying to see past the officers and patrl hares in front of them to see

what is ahead of them "So how much farther to the river do you think?

I've never been this far north"

There is a short, surprised cry of a young buck, coming from a bit

further into the forest on the right, just out of sight, followed by sounds

of broken twigs, rustling leaves, and the muffled sounds of beasts

rolling around on the ground, wrestling.

Quinten is about to move off again and catch up with the patrol when he

hears the crashing and shouting, he turns tolook towards the trees

"What on earth was that..."

Zoe_Lang is just minding her own business again, walking along, when

the sound of the struggle catches her ears. She looks up and to the side,

eyebrows going up. What ze heck? Several heads turn along with hers.

"Oy! What's goin' on ovah there?"

The sounds of fighting intensify, and the occasional shout of "leggo"

and "make me, pipsqueak" can be heard, and a "gonna pull your ears offa

your fat head". The angrier of the two voices belongs obviously belongs

to a younger buck.

Quinten blinks and looks at the Colonel whose he's stood next to "No

idea ma'am....want me to go take a look?"

What do you want to whisper?

.. Zoe's mouth opens in shocked surprise, but she glances at Quinten

with a sharp shake of her head. "No. You stay 'ere, lad." She then turns

on her heel, paw resting on the hilt of her sword as she heads into the

trees beyond which the sounds come. "What the bloody 'ell's goin' on

ovah here?!"

Quinten salutes and remains where he is, standing up on tip paws, ears

pinning forwards trying to see the colonel and what she is dealing

with.

The scene behind the bush has already attracted a bit of a crowd, one

or two recruits who are standing off to the side, and two older hares, a

fighter and a runner. On the ground two hares are wrestling, or were

wrestling. Now one of them is sitting on the other, who's pinned to the

ground. They're so similar looking it's impossible to think them

anything but brothers, although the younger, Dandelion, on the ground, is only

a recruit, whereas Tomas, sitting on top, wears a lieutenants uniform

(if a bit dirty).

Swiftgale is standing with the croud to see what will happen with the

wrestling not completely sure what to make of the Scene.

Zoe_Lang stops short at the sight before her eyes, her paw falling away

from her weapon. For a moment she just stands there, looking

dumbfounded, but in the end and with a great sucking in of breath, she places two

fingers between her lips and lets out a piercing whistle. Heads turn,

ears perked and eyes wide. "ON YER FEET!" she shouts.

Quinten winces as the Colonel shouts at them and grimaces, poor

Dandelion, he wishes he could move over to his friend but remains where he was

standing the colonel, quite outside of the crowd

Tomas springs to his feet, straightening out his uniform, and the two

other hares on his patrol snap to attention as well, all three of them

looking very surprised. Dandelion scrambles to his feet somewhat more

unelegantly, having been flat on his belly. "Ma'am." they manage to get

out, almost in chorus, with Tomas and his patrol sounding -quite-

surprised.

Swiftgale is not sure what to do he looks dumb-stricken and not sure

what to do he wish he could help but again he does not want to cause more

trouble for the Hares.

Zoe_Lang sends a severe look amongst the group of troublemakers,

folding her paws together behind her back. "... What is the meanin' of this,

Lieutenant?" Just him she addresses. Ought to know better, tsk. XD

Tomas isn't quite as easily shaken as his younger brother when it comes

to officers. He straightens up into his considerable length, and

salutes. "Ah' was on ma' way back to report when I came across a familiar

face, ma'am... Thought I'd stop an' say hello." He says, with a hint of a

smile on an otherwise serious face. "An' give him some pointers on

wres'ling. He was always bad at that."

Dandelion grumbles and gives his elder brother a glare, still trying to

get the dirt out of his ears.

Quinten blinks at Tomas and then turns to look at Dandelion and shifts,

he doesn't like the sound of that and he doesn't believe it either.

What do you want to whisper?

Swiftgale Just looks at dandelion not sure what to belive But Still

dumb-founded And is not sure why This had taken place But he wanted to do

something but not sure what.

Zoe_Lang's eyebrows go up, her eyes shifting from the grumbling

Dandelion to the lieutenant-brother. She gives them both a speculative frown.

"... Hm. Well. In the future, try not t' give him pointahs when we're

on the march. Eh?"

From further upshore comes a curious figure. A shrew flamboyant in

appearance but anything else in his current manner, drinking from a flask

with his only paw. He stops as he sees the gathering, with an observant

expression.

Quinten blinks in surprise but doesn't say anything, he can't quite

believe the Colonel is believing him..... surely she can see Tomas was

just attacking him.... or maybe its some officer thing he doesn't quite

get.

"Yes, ma'am." Tomas replies, saluting again. "Nothing to report from

the patrol, ma'am. Except Brownears found a really quick way down 'at big

slope up ahead..." He nods to the runner on his patrol, who makes a

face in return.

Zoe_Lang smirks at Tomas' reply, sending a glance to Brownears and his

discomfiture. "Very good, then..." She turns to go, and then glances

speculatively at Dandelion. "Might considah rejoinin' the othah recruits,

lad. Might save ya from any furthah 'lessons'." Her lips twitch, but

she turns without smiling and returns to where she was.

Quinten is still stood where he was with the colonel, he looks at her

and raises a brow but remains silent and salutes falling in beside her

again.

Swiftgale starts to get angry now he can't believe what Tomas is saying

though he knows that officers discuss in private out of ear of other

recruits he understands that officers should not be confronted in the

face of others beilive him but he can't beilive the lies that Tomas is

telling as the truth dawns on him.

Dandelion salutes. "Yes, ma'am." he says sullenly, and makes his way

over to the other recruits, still trying to get some dirt out of his ear.

Tomas glances after his departing brother. "I wasn't aware he was

comin' along for the march..." he remarks to Zoe, looking and sounding

serious all of a sudden.

Zoe_Lang hms? She glances to Tomas once more, then gestures for him to

join them for a short while. "Aye. It was open t' everyone who wanted

t' visit the abbey."

Tomas is quiet for a moment, tugging on his ears like all of the

brothers do. "It's a long way there." he says, finally.

Quinten shrugs and starts to walk along, not falling back or moving

forwards, staying level with the colonel for now, he glances at Tomas and

flicks his ears back, then looks towards Dande

Zoe_Lang inclines her head. "Aye. Concerned he won't make it or

somethin'?" She glances to the side at the silent but following Quinten.

Swiftgale is going to the other recruits and pondering what will happen

next but glad that this is over with for now when he notices the shrew

on the shore and says "Um Colonel I see something over there." pointing

to the Shrew.

Tomas shrugs and chuckles a little, trying to cheer up. "Nah, I just

keep seeing 'im as little Dande who gets lost on 'is way to fetch

firewood." he says, and then returns to a businesslike manner. "If there's

nothin' else, I need ta get back to the mountain..."

Trynt wanders a little closer to the group, swigging though he doesn't

seem too drunk. He scratches his snout with the hook on his wrist.

Quinten meets the Colonel's gaze "Would you care me to drop back

ma'am?" he asks politely

Zoe_Lang's ears twitch. She looks around at Swift, and then where he

points. She hms. "Well... we're bound t' see othah beasts on the journey,

lad. Eh?" She gives him a reassuring smile, then, and Tomas is given a

nod. "Very good, Lieutenant." Aaaand... then Quint is given a moment of

her attention. She raises an eyebrow and shakes her head. "... No. I've

got to attend t' some things with the officahs, anyway. Keep the othah

recruits in line, eh?" She offers them all a salute, then starts to jog

ahead to speak with the other officers.

Quinten salutes the Colonel "Take care ma'am and i'll do me best to

keep em in line...if thats possible" he smiles at Dandelion's brother

the panic fades off Swift's face and gets back in the march just

marching and Hoping they can get to redwall soon.

Tomas smiles at Quinten, and gives him a nod before he turns to his

subordinates, changing his tone to a loud bark. "Oi! Brownears! Hazel!

Homewards! Double-time!" He commands, and sets off in a quick trot

together with the other two, and is soon out of sight.

Quinten moves back to wallk besides Dandelion "Hey Dande you ok? wot

was that all about?"

Dandelion looks after his disappearing brother, having finished

cleaning his ears now. "Eh, he came out of nowhere an' jumped me." he says.

"They do that."

Quinten shakes his head "Well say something Dande" he says in a soft

voice so it does not carry tp far "I mean just attacking you is wrong,

they cannot be allowed to carry on with it"

Dandelion gives Quinten a surprised look. "What? He was just messin'

around. Don't your brothers do stuff like that?"

Quinten goes wide eyed at the mention of brothers and tugs on an ear

"No...my brother died...over a year ago...of a fever on the grasslands

east of the mountains" he points east, "The far side of the swamps, over

the mountains...and out onto the grassland.

Swiftgale he obviously knows something about brothers from his past he

speaks up saying in a sad voice "Mine to ... Vermin killed him." He was

still young but yeah he alwatys did stuff like that" He shudders at the

dark memory

Dandelion eardroops a little. "Oh. Sorry to hear that, Quint, Swift."

He turns to Swiftgale. "We weren't fighting, we were just messing

around... Stefan does stuff like that all the time, an' I suppose Tomas was

just happy to see me." He shrugs. "It was nothin'."

Quinten nods to Dande "its ok Dandelion no worries it was a long time

ago now," he touches his chest again "it just sneaks up on you at times,

we were triplets you see" he looks at th eother buck and grins "Still

its good you can mess about like that"

Swiftgale says, "Yes It was a long time ago and I understand still

Offisah's have to abide by a higher standerd when On patrol."

Dandelion grins. "Don' worry. If he gets too rough, I'm tellin' mum."

Quinten laughs and smiles "Its good you still have a mum to tell Dande"

he grins "Wots it like to be pampered by parents/"

Swiftgale Smiles at this Yes mom's can do that very well. You are lucky

to have one.

Dandelion nods towards the others. "She didn't pamper me much, she was

always worrying about Pat." he says, and then, "C'mon let's catch up

with the others."

Quinten looks ahead and curses "Damn...wot are they doing...colonel

will have my hide" he shoots forwards suddenly, aiming for a group of

recruits who appear to be moving slowly towards the sea, away from the

main group.

Colonel told him to keep the others in line, and he intends to do it,

he catches up and starts chivying them back towards the main group.

Dandelion picks up the pace to catch up with Quinten with Swiftgale following them.

End Log -