Sad, Sad News

OOC NOTE: Lt Leroy is Windrose’s father and is spoofed by Oz, he shows up at the end of the log.

Salamandastron: Recreation Room

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The recreation room for the army of the Long Patrol. Here soldiers come to

relax after a hard day's work and the officers come for a game of cards or

a quick drink by the fire. The room is quite large, having to deal with a

lot of hares at one time. Along one wall there is a large worktop with

some cushioned stools lining one side of it. On the other side of the

worktop there stand many kegs and bottles, lined so that they can be

easily opened by someone standing on the inside of the bar but well out of

reach of the rowdy hares on the other side. There are a few woollen cloths

on the bar and mats in front of each stool. The next thing nearest to the

bar are the round tables, each with 4 chairs around and a lantern in the

middle of each one. There are a couple of slightly larger oval tables with

8 seats around, obviously for larger crowds. The other end of the room is

littered with armchairs, comfortable armchairs, each pair with a small

table in between. The armchairs are near the fire, used to heat the room

and provide extra comfort for the relaxing soldiers.

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                 Visible Exits:

[Out]

Flint is sitting at a round table, an empty mug in front of him and he is working on a 2nd one that now half full of ale. Others may be here, but he is not paying attention to them right now.

The door clicks open and Quinten strolls inside carrying a stack of papers, he nods to Flint and smiles, "Ah Flint hello there, how are things?"

Flint sighs, "I...well could be better sur. You look busy today, then guess if any hare had de paperwork, you would." He takes a drink of his ale after replying.

Quinten slides the papers into a box on the bar and smiles, "Nah not too busy wot, this is the latest newsletter about whats happening about here wot." He saunters to the bar and orders two tankards of fine October ale and brings them over, sliding one out before Flint, "Tell me your troubles, see if I can help at all wot."

Flint blinks and surprised at another ale brought to him, "Always best ta keep updated. Ya ever wonder if you could do better, or wish ya could redo a day in ya life or maybe more than one blooming day?"

Quinten smiles softly, "Yes sometimes ah do indeed, I could list days I could have done better or try ta do better. But we have to live with what we've done and forge forwards."

Flint frowns, "But..in a fight. It's important to always do your best and I let meself get ambushed and knocked out."

Quinten shakes his head "It happens to the best of us, even Taye has been ambushed, Darcy too, you cannot always see everything Flint."

Flint nods slowly, "But...I should of. I mean it could of been worse could of..died also. Some beast in the village helped me, woke up sort of dazed in the clinic"

Quinten shakes his head and sips from his tankard, "Then you are ahead, you woke up and ken learn from it"

Flint takes a long drink of his ale before speaking, " But..doesn't it bally well look bad, to..get ambushed and need help? I..do admit I need more practice de saber, I am use to de longbow but didn't have it with me at the time."

Quinten shakes his head, "Of course it doesn’t look bad, just exposes an area where you need improvement is all. It looks bad if ya keep harping on about it and don't try to reach out and improve wot."

Flint nods "I..do need ta get better at the saber, couple days go prove it, I am not as good with up close fighting and want to get better"

Quinten nods his head, "Well there you go then Flint, you know were ya need to improve, you need ta focus on that wot and drive toward it. Find a teacher whose better with the sabre and get them to help ya learn. You're part of the team you dun have to do it all alone"

Flint listens, he really is trying, " I..can try sur, but whom would that be? Should I ask my commanding officer, let’s see that’s Dagda..yeah"

Quinten says, "That would be the proper place to start wot, talk to him about these issues you are having and he will see to it you get that training you need."

Flint nods "That..can least help with the weapons issue sur." He still sounds a bit down

Quinten sips his ale and looks thoughtfully at Flint, "Dagda be a good hare, if you have doubts and worries he'll get ya on fighting form."

Flint nods "Of course sur..maybe some practice inside though and not outside till I know I won't...fail any hare"

Quinten says, "You will only fail a hare if you believe in your heart you will fail. Believe in yourself Flint, ya can do it! You wouldn't be on Dagda's patrol if he didn't have faith in you!"

Flint looks to be still listening as he downs the ale and sort of jut stares at the other hare, he slowly places the mug down on the table" but I...faith in me? I am the hare that was missing in action 3 seasons, I tried to get back in action and things were going well...till a couple blooming days ago"

Quinten smiles softly, "Well at least you aren't the hare who was full of enthusiasm but was so.. awkward in that ranks the colonel sent on a 6 season patrol to get rid of him for a bit before helping him find his real calling." Shakes his head, "You are a patroller Flint, through and through, you just need to believe in yourself"

Flint looks down and then back up the older hare, "I..can try sur, I...promise I can try. I just don't want to be that let anyone down or...have to report something that’s not good news to a higher up"

Quinten says, "Aye'd say you don't have to fear disappointing anyone Flint, you will do well just believe in yourself. Do not doubt."

Flint says, "Its..hard sometimes sur. Maybe I just worry bout nieces, I am sort of the only family they have now."

Quinten smiles, "Then focus on yer family, remember they need ya and strive ta be the best! Let protecting and helping them be your rock."

Flint nods, he looks to be feeling at little better, not totally but a little "Family is de most important thing to me sur, de MOST important and protecting the ones I love."

Quinten says, "Indeed, that is what drives a lot of beasts, protecting those they love."

Flint nods and does smile faintly, "Well it important sur and to protect friends also."

Quinten smiles and nods, finishing his ale and standing up, "I should get myself back downstairs, but mah door is always open for you Flint if you need to talk again."

Flint nods "Alright sur, I will keep that in mind"

---Maybe an hour passes ----

Salamandastron: Training Room

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This is the training room for the hares of the long patrol. The walls

seem to have taken a severe beating, more than likely not from stray

arrows missing the archery targets. There are several of said archery

targets lining the west wall, each with small oak stands a good distance

off to hold arrows, hang a bracer, and rest a bow on. The targets are of

simple design: a large, tightly wrapped bale of hay with a coarse paper

target on the front. A wooden mannequin, in no better shape than the

walls, is in the northeastern corner of the room. Besides that, several

wooden practice swords sit in a small pile. On the eastern side of the

room is a small, makeshift wrestling arena consisting of two mattresses

tied together. Then on the southern side of the room is a fitness area,

assembled from several pull-up bars, and a nice padded area to do push up.

Narrow, cylindrical weights (both wooden and metal) are pushed up against

the wall, along with a few straight metal bars for them to be mounted on.

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                 Visible Exits:

[Arm]ory [Out]

Flint is here, punching the punching bag over and over and over again as if whatever is wrong he can just bet it out of the punching bag. He then drops to his knees, worn out and shivering some.

Zinnia looks inside, looking for someone else and catching site of the hare and walks over "You ok? Should I get a healer?"

Flint frowns, ok drinking ale didn't help, punching the punching bag only made his bandaged side hurt, and he finally speaks" It won't bring her back..tis too late..and.." His good ear droops “I failed her..."

Zinnia tilts her head, she looks around to see if anyone else is here and finds no one as she walks over "Failed who? I am sure you failed no one."

Flint shakes his head, stares at the floor "I failed Windrose. I failed her. I let myself get surrounded, oh it be fine to take it slow home...she went to try and get help and..."

Zinnia listens "What..happen? Did you get help as it looks like you got back ok, or well..were the ones who attacked you t care of or are they still around?"

Flint frowns "Someone....some lizard and hedgehog helped us, but..." He stops and speaks again" The main one got away..think, but a couple ferrets and 3 rats..died. But some archer was thar and no clue where and..Windrose was..was shot in de back..she" Tears come now, "She..died..it killed her.."

Zinnia cups a paw to her mouth "W..Windrose? I..I've talked to her before just a few days ago." She knows what it's like to lose someone close "I am...sorry for your loss, anything I Can do to..help, I know whats it's like to lose someone close. When my father died during the harvest, I felt so..so lost, it took my friends a while to get me back to my senses, even Ciocan helped me some cause when I first came here I was still depressed, I am not depressed anymore. I still miss my father and always will, no one totally gets over any sort of loss"

Flint is clearly feeling all those grief stages and so even can mix. He was in shock that went to trying to believe it didn’t happen and all was sunshine and roses to crying his eyes out, trying to drink his feelings away or punch a punching bag and now anger," Just leave me bally well alone!" He will slap away any paw before he storms off into the hallway.

Zinnia backs up and lets the hare have his space and frowns, she looks around the room, well maybe she can do some excise or something while she is here.

Flint has already left to the hallway; he needs most likely a LOT of space right now.

--The next day---

Salamandastron: Common Area

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This is a large area designed for gathering and relaxing, where all the

beasts of the Mountain, whether green recruit or aged retiree, can come

together. A fireplace is set in one wall, its cheery blaze filling the room

with warmth, and a low, rustic chandelier spilling light across the

expanse. A variety of seating is strewn almost randomly throughout,

armchairs and couches, while a worn, patterned rug underfoot takes the

seeping chill out of the air. A pair of tables, each on far sides of the

space, stand in for the occasional shared snack, meal, or game.

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                Visible Exits:

[E]nlisted [B]arracks [Out] to Level Two

[R]esidents' [Q]uarters

Flint is up early, well truth being said he didn't sleep, like at all the whole night. He walks slowly into the common area and looks around to see whom is even here when it’s an hour till sunrise.

Zinnia is up, she usually gets up early and writes a little in her journal or reads a book. Her friends Dorarose and Leon are fast asleep as is Xander. No one else is in the room but her for now.

Flint frowns as he walks on in and stops close to her as he clears his throat "Ambassador Zinnia?" He waits on a reply as he stands at attention, weather that’s needed or not.

Zinnia looks up from her book, "Oh hello, and you can just call me Zinnia. You feeling ok or...sorry your most likely not, did you need something?" She closest he book and lays it aside.

Flint nods slowly "First, I am sorry for last night...didn't mean to yell and..well..you may be de best one ta bally well help me, I need to go to the v..village. Windrose is still thar and..." He frowns "In the clinic and her father lives in town and he needs to know his daughter..d...d...died. He will most likely news better or listen better if a non-patrol member is thar too.."

Zinnia nods as she gets up "I will, but I need to do something first." She gets up and starts to head out, she comes across the hare Celina and speaks with her and then enters the room again "Ok let’s go, Celina is going to let Dorarose and Leon know where I went and to let them know to tell Xander I will be back soon. But this shouldn’t take too long..right?"

Flint says, "It’s a couple hour walk....well maybe less and thank you"

Zinnia nods as she gets her warm cloak and goes with the hare into town.

--After the walk to the town, which is very quiet and this time Flint had his longbow/arrows and saber. He also asked a couple fighter hares to come along but had them wait at the tavern till he and Zinnia were done with what needed to be done. ---

Halyard Village: Clinic

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The clinic has certainly seen better days. Furnished in utilitarian chairs

with a simple military table laid out in front of the doorway inside, it's

certainly not much to look at with the white painted wood panel walls. The

floor looks to be of a similar material but left unfinished save for a coat

of clear varnish that looks like it needs a new coat sometime soon. A small

portable space heater fueled by wood sits by the waiting room chairs and a

coat hanger sits in the corner by the door for patients to use.

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                               Visible Exits:

[O]ut to Street

Flint sighs as he sits and waits, he couldn’t bring it to himself to say why come to the clinic, he just sent the letter as important and come ASAP.

Zinnia sits as she folds her paws in her lap, she is here for support even if she doesn’t know the hares too well.

A hare getting on in seasons and maybe around 30 or so seasons quickly enters the room," Hallo? I gots this letter bout me daughter Windrose. Where is she and who is Private Flint?"

Flint raises a paw "I am sur....ya daughter..she" He looks at Zinnia as if to say help me, his eyes plead it in fact,"I..can't...tis...hard to..."Yah if he explains he will start sobbing for the 100th time the past couple days.

Zinnia sighs and stands "Hello, I am Sister Zinnia, recorder of Redwall Abbey and Ambassador and..." How to go on, she just says it, “I am sorry sir hare your daughter Windrose was killed in a fight, an ambush from what I heard, I..I don’t know all the details I am sorry"

The older hare ears drop to his sides, he quickly goes over to the cot and raises the sheet and as he does his heart shatters and the tears come down his cheeks, he replaces the sheets and nods slowly" ..Tis...details are not needed. She joined the jolly Long Patrol knowing the details, the possible dangers." He coughs and regains his composure "I am Lt. Leroy now retired from the LP and have been retired for a few seasons now.." He looks at Flint and walks over, if allowed places a paw on his shoulder, “I do not blame ya, you did your best I be sure and I am glad Windrose had a friend like you."

Flint allows the paw there and then just starts sobbing now muttering something unclear, a sorry or maybe a loved her..something or other.

Zinnia nods and watches the two talk, she will not interrupt them as this is important.

The hare will hug Flint if he can and rub his back "Tis ok lad...cry." He looks at the badger “I will come with you guys, least till the funeral and then come back here." He even gives the ok for the hares that came with them and a couple others to take Windrose back to the mountain where she can be laid to rest in the catacombs in a day or two's time. He nods to the badger "I am guessing Sebastian is still around or..well been so long now wouldn’t surprise me if thar be a new Lord or Lady now..." He arches an eyebrow, wait a..badger. "Who is The Lord or lady now?"

Flint allows the hug and sniffs, he steps back and will wait till Leroy and Zinnia are ready to head back, depression has made him too sad to talk and his throat hurts also.

Zinnia answers "Lord Ciocan sir, he is the badger lord now and a very good leader and he has been told in a report about Windrose sir. I might be able to arrange a meeting with him if you like."

Leroy nods "Tis not needed lass...ok let’s get you two back to the mountain as well, wish me visit was under better reasons but...well so is life, let us go." He will lead the way back to the mountain.

Flint nods and simply follows the older hare.

Zinnia nods in understanding and exits the clinic and makes the slow walk back to the mountain with them.