Ruadhan Finds the Clan
Location: Mossflower Woods
Characters: Treesong, Ruadhan
Eastern Outpost: Campfire
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Not in any sort of leader-like activity today, Song is busy giving pony-rides to a pair of very tiny squirrels, a couple larger dibbuns chasing her around and yelling their approval of the entertainment. Of her riders, the girl holds on tightly with a little smile, but the boy only holds with one hand, waving the other in a clear "look guys, only one hand!" gesture.
Ruadhan has been out in the woods for sometime now. He's freezing and he's had to eat bark for three days straight! No one told him freedom involved being cold and hungry. The smell of smoke and food from the fire is what first attracts him and with caution the small squirrel sneaks through the trees, searching out a spot where he can see what's going on. His ears prick to the sounds of beasts having fun but that doesn't reassure him.
Capering towards a big pile of leaves, Song carefully topples sideways, spilling her riders and making all of them crow with laughter. The tiny little dibbun girl tugs Song's ear, then makes a few little paw movements, which Treesong sits up enough to return, then ruffles the girl's headfur. "Me next! No, me! I called it!" come from the surrounding crowd.
Ruadhan meanwhile is watching with almost curiosity. Lots of squirrels and all playing happily? It needs further investigation and he hops from branch to branch, going to circle round the camp, see if there's more to it but no, there's no vermin encampment just beyond the trees, there's just squirrels. He carries on until he's gone full circle round the camp and goes more carefully to perch himself in some of the lower branches at the edge of the clearing. Considering his options.
"Who has had their breakfast?" asks Treesong, looking around at the little faces. "Because /I/ haven't. For some reason I've been busy all morning already." She grins at a few in particular, her previous riders included, and gets wide grins in return. "So you all are going to have to let me eat before there's any more rides." While there are lots of groans, the dibbuns let her up, a couple following her towards the tent at one side of the clearing. A brief hiatus inside, and then all three return with bowls of steaming porridge, dotted with brown sugar and cream. Song finds a seat by the central fire, and all "her" dibbuns collect around.
Oh dear. They had to add food into the equation. Ruadhan was thinking quite well and even enjoying the puzzling distraction until he's suddenly reminded of his stomach and it gives a little growl. He's reluctant to come down from the trees, it's safe there but then he's staring at the food and he paces back and forth along the branch a couple of times. Ideas of asking for food are not followed by happy memories so after a minute he heads for the tent they got the food from and drops down onto the roof, as quietly as possible he heads for the entrance but chances are any inside could probably hear someone on their roof.
Indeed, it seems they can. Insulated tent or not, it's still just a tent. "Oi!" comes the shout. "I thought I told ye not ta climb on my tent..." A well-rounded squirrel pushes his way out of the tent, then trails off when the squirrel he sees isn't who he seems to assume it'd be. Treesong hands off her bowl to one of the adoring crowd of dibbuns, then rises, moving over to the cook and placing a paw on his shoulder, the other paw waving off a guard who has appeared in the tree behind Ruadhan. "Come down please, sir. We don't appreciate beasts sneaking around our camp."
Ruadhan freezes at the 'Oi' maybe they won't investigate...no such luck. A nervous "Heh" and he bolts for it though only up to the top of the tent, half hiding just on the other side of the roof and peering over. Well, they're not chasing...either it's a good sign or they're tricky beasts. His attention goes from cook to Treesong as she's speaking. He gives a short look over his shoulder and up to the trees once she's spoken and after another moment's consideration he finally looks back to the squirrels on the ground "Ah. Erhm. Yes, well...I wasn't...well, I didn't know it was your camp?" he doesn't sound sure that it's the right answer even but he's not so much nervous as totally out of his element.
Treesong gives him a vaguely disbelieving look, but it's not threatening. "Rather than sneaking about, we would rather you simply come to us as a guest and visitor. You are welcome in our camp, provided that you do not sneak around, and..." Her eyes flick from the newcomer to the kitchen tent, "There is no stealing tolerated."
Ruadhan looks disbelieving himself but he finally decides on a tactic that can be adapted to work. He hesitantly comes down as far as the tent edge nearest to them. He's short, he likes high places. A small bow is offered "Yes, well, sorry for the sneaking thing, I was...looking. Erm, simple beast like me, not like yourself at all I'm sure...I just seem to be missing what the catch might be?"
Treesong sighs, eyes sympathetic now. "No catch, sir. We are a camp of squirrels, and we welcome visitors who abide by our rules. Our members assist in day-to-day chores, and are entitled to a share of all food, clothing, and shelter that the clan amasses." Simple summary, but it works. She looks behind her and beckons to one of the dibbuns. "And our rules are...?" He straightens up like he's answering his drill sergeant. "Respect everybeast, participate in da clan, an' share everytin'!" She gives him a smile before turning back to Ru. "Pretty simple. No catch."
Ruadhan is still sceptical, he's no stranger to beasts lying "Just squirrels?..." well it fits with what he's seen "And...I'd be allowed a share of the food, just like that?" stroking his beard a little as he flicks his eyes briefly onto the dibbun.
"We have guests at times who are not squirrels, but yes. Just squirrels. And you would be allowed to share our food, though we do tend to ask long-term guests to participate in our chores much as our members do, in order to keep the balance." She beckons the dibbun who'd responded closer, then whispers in his ear, and after saluting, he runs off to a nearby tree, climbing up to enter into the tree itself - no wonder Ru couldn't see more to the camp. "Ferr, kindly go make our guest a bowl of porridge?" she asks of the cook, who nods and reenters his tent. He returns with a bowl of porridge (extra sugar and cream) at the same time as the dibbun returns, panting, to salute, his arms around a blanket.
There's food, there's warmth, all Ru has to do is trust them. Granted they aren't vermin and they're not behaving anything like them. He's hesitant but again the thought of food and a grumble from his stomach makes him move and within seconds he's landing on the ground, looking at the bowl and wringing his paws together. He wouldn't dare just take it with everyone watching.
Treesong solves that little problem by gesturing her dibbun helper forward - he offers Ruadhan the blanket with a smile - and then takes the bowl from the cook herself, giving the cook a significant look that sends him back about his business. "Rides aren't gonna be till later," she tells the dibbuns, who groan again, some making pleading faces, but many just wandering off to various trees and in various directions. Song moves back to her own bowl, and places Ru's bowl off to her side. "Come, join me. My name is Treesong." It's hard to find anybeast threatening when she's eating porridge with one paw, and tickling a dibbun with the other. The little deaf dibbun seems rather attached to the leader.
Ruadhan is distracted from food by blanket! He blinks and of course takes the thing and fortunately gives himself a mental kick in the head before he can ask what he needs to do with it. It's clean, it has no holes, he just cuddles onto it, it's far too fine a thing for him. He nods to the dibbun though "Erm, thank you" his brief confusion is distracted as he looks back to Treesong at the offer and heads over that way with the blanket. He really is very short so for all the other squirrel is non-threatening she is huge. He settles down and arranges the blanket neatly on his lap before placing the bowl on top of it. He bows his head to Song "Ruadhan...and, erm, thank you for the food"
Treesong gives Ruadhan a polite little incline of her head, almost a small bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Ruadhan, and you're welcome. Your clothes looked a bit worn, I thought you might be cold." Another little nod indicates the blanket. "I hope you like porridge." The militant young squirrel who's been so helpful up to this point makes a quiet "yuck" noise on Ru's other side, which Song takes note of with a smirk. "Russ, porridge isn't the end of the world." He looks a little guilty at being noticed, but nods.
Ruadhan is already tucking into the porridge with some enthusiasm and it's a good thing it's an almost bow from the other squirrel, he'd have no idea who was in charge if he started getting bowed to. His clothes get a glance but he's had them so long he can't even remember where they came from anymore and the blanket is quite cosy on his legs "If it isn't bark, it's delicious" porridge is nicely defrosting him too. Russ gets a glance and a raised brow "Could do with some spice to it? A little honey perhaps?" can't imagine a beast not liking porridge.
Russ considers this suggestion, then nods. "I'd have ta try it ta see," he concludes seriously. "I like apples an' cinn'min an' allspice an' nutmeg... mebbe if we had those in de porridge it wouldn' be so blah." And quickly, "Oh, an' de honey too."
Treesong doesn't laugh, but there is a quiet 'hmmp!' noise that sounds rather like a tiny laugh from deep in her throat. "That sounds wonderful, Russ, I agree," she responds. "But porridge is simple because most of us eat it quick and run off to do other things. We don't spend a lot of time enjoying the flavorings."
Ruadhan's other brow raises to join the first one "Shall we just toss everything in the pot?...Actually might taste alright with the right amount" looks more thoughtful as he continues with his own porridge until his ear flicks to Treesong, shortly followed by his eyes "Have to enjoy food surely? Might need it but a truly excellent meal should be savoured" of course in terms of meals the porridge could have been sent down by the gods in his opinion.
Treesong nods. "Indeed, a truly excellent meal should be savored. But not every meal need be perfect, or our cooks would never sleep. This isn't Redwall, y'know, Russ." The kid makes a well-duh face at her, laughing a little. "Most of our meals are just regular meals, with what embellishments our cooks decide to add. If Russ wants to add lots of flavors to his porridge, he'll just have to get up extra early and do it himself!"
Ruadhan perks an ear to the mention of Redwall but doesn't bring it up, he has porridge to eat and he doesn't want to look foolish for asking if those crazy stories were actually true. A slow shake of the head at the rest of the conversation "Beasts who don't want the best of everything, very odd" he mutters.
Russ picks up on it. "See?! We should have the best!" He crosses his arms, every inch the vindicated squirrel.
Treesong sighs at the dibbun. "Russ, we don't have everything. We're not the richest beasts in the world. But we give you the best we /can/. And if you want to help make it better, everyone will support you in doing that. The way it is, each of us does the best work we can, doing what we're good at, to combine it all into the best whole we can. That's the whole point of 'participate in the clan', like you said earlier."
Russ blinks at her, his mouth hanging open a little. There's clearly a lightbulb flicked on in the little head as he processes what she just said. "Oh."
From Treesong's side, the little squirrelmaid tugs on the leader's sleeve to get her attention, then gestures with her paws, causing Song's slow smile. "You want to help too?" she responds, and clearly the girl can read lips if she heard the whole speech. "That's wonderful, Anni. What do you want to help?" Another couple gestures, and Song leans down to give the girl's forehead a kiss. "Ma would love to have you help in the infirm, dear. Whenever you want, just go ask her." Now seems to be the time, for the little one scurries off.
Ruadhan is listening quite intently as it's such a different idea to to what he's used to "...A clan being, erm, a group who...aids each other?...Which would make who in charge?" at least slavery was simple. The little silent and gesturing dibbun gets a stare...and then Song's talking or understanding her somehow...He shoots Song a look once he thinks the dibbun's out of hearing range "Can you read minds?"
Treesong smiles and shakes her head to the last. "Anni is deaf. She can't hear. Her parents worked out paw signs she can make instead of words, so she can still communicate with those of us who have learned the signs. As for the clan, yes. We're a group, a few families and more single squirrels, and we work together to keep everyone safe, fed, clothed, in a proper shelter, and healthy. Most of the time we don't need a leader, we're used to working together, and the families take care of their troubles on their own. But I lead, and I'm in charge of the guards who keep us all safe."
Ruadhan is growing more puzzled and it's staring to show as he frowns after the retreating dibbun. Strokes his beard idly to try and put off the urge to chew on his lip. Sadly he has no more porridge to distract him, it's all gone "And she's happy...They're all happy" it's unnerving to think he was content before and some place could be so different. He shakes his head to try and snap out of it "Erm..." he's all a muddle and comes up with the first solution he can "As strange as this may sound, may I wash your dishes or something?" distractions are the call of the day.
Treesong nods slowly, following his gaze. "It works for us. Each does what they like to do, and in return they are safe and have a secure life and future. I don't have to take time from teaching my students to make my own meals, because I can trust that one of my clan-cousins is doing it." Then she considers Ruadhan carefully. "You don't need to, Ruadhan. You are welcome to stay without paying your way with chores. However, I will never stop a beast from helping out in this clan."
Ruadhan scratches the back of his head in an uncomfortable sort of way "Sad to say I think I do need to...it's hard to...relax, when I have nothing to do..." some subconscious part of his brain is naturally going to expect to be beaten upon for slacking off with this many beasts about but mostly he just feels uncomfortable for it and a niggling feeling that he should be working.
Treesong nods. There's something in the gaze she directs at him that suggests she may have understood more from that statement than he may have intended. "By all means, do what you feel like. The guest tent is there," she points," when you need rest. "I'm sure you'll be well aware of mealtimes by the general noise that tends to appear. The cook tent here is where we do our cooking, as well as dishwashing and other preparations. The cook you already saw is our Head Cook, Ferrell. He tends to be a little... short with words among those he doesn't know, so please don't take any offense from it."
Ruadhan was never ashamed of his past until he met actually free beasts and it's all that bit too strange for him. He just doesn't understand them like he understands vermin. He follows the pointing and slowly nods, eyeing the cook tent for a moment before he finally gets to standing up "Thank you" for a lot of things. The blanket goes with him as he goes off in search of work, maybe he'll actually wear the thing once he's settled into the comforting regime of work.
"You're welcome," Treesong returns, watching him as he moves off, thoughtful until Russ moves closer to poke her arm and ask a question.
