There be's a thief in our midst!! (A Redwall Log)
RW Abbey: Wine Cellar
The wine cellar is cool, dry, and dimly lit. It is a very large, low room, extending far back into the Abbey's underworks. The vast space is almost entirely taken up by rack upon rack of wine bottles and ale casks, barrels of all sizes, and shelves of flagons and stoneware flasks. For all the space available, the drink here only fills a small part of it, and most of the barrels still stand empty. There have been obvious work efforts occuring here recently, and the cellar is, if emptier than seasons past, cleaner than it has been in a long while. The further corners of the cellar are hidden in shadow, and consist of many nooks and crannies.
Exits: [Up] to the Kitchens
Cynthia the mouse. Krystal the squirrel. LilyMoore the mouse. Lacota the squirrel. Benar, another squirrel.
Cynthia is in the wine cellar, but in one of those dark corners as she snacks on a pie and some scones she snagged from the kitchens. She is also helping herself to some of the cherry cordial from one of the barrels, letting some pour into a mug.
Krystal walks down the stairs as she said she would help get something, she stops as she sees movement in a corner and starts to back off back up the stairs as she is unsure if it's a foe or a friend.
Cynthia turns to see, or least hear, someone start to come down and quickly gets behind a couple barrels. There is a pie tin, full of crumbs now, on the stone floor, and a couple scones half eaten, but she still has the mug in her paw.
Krystal frowns, "W...Who is there?" She finds the pie tin and crumbs and frowns more as she looks around trying to find the beast that's down here.
The last thing the mousemiad wants is found, she stole the pie and a dozen scones and ate most of them. The mousemaid Cynthia peers around the corner at the squirrelmaid and watches her closely as she gets nearer to the hiding spot.
Krystal comes to the bottom of the stairs and slowly walks further into the cellar, "Hello?" She says carefully as she has no light so this fact makes the place even more edgy for her.
Cynthia stays in the shadows and watches her, she is not a fool and is not going to give away her hiding spot. But she also doesn't want a beast to know she is down here either so she lets the squirrel pass by and then slips behind her to grab her from behind.
Krystal looks around and her tail moves back and forth as she walks, she is fairly calm, that is till a cricket walks over her footpaw and then she screams and jumps backwards only to bump into the mousemaid. This only makes her panic more when she is grabbed from behind and her first reaction is to elbow who ever it is and hopefully get loose.
LilyMoore enters the cellar just as the squirrel screams. Dashing down the stairs, the mousemaid spots the other mouse and makes a running leap, trying to tackle her. "LEAVE 'ER ALONE!! Reeeedwaaaaaallll!!!" She may or may not get elbowed in the face on accident by the squirrel. Chaos is happening, so it'll be interesting to see what occurs.
Cynthia starts to say something along the lines of shut up but only gets out an ooofff as an elbow connects, as was aimed towards her and then she further is knocked into by another mouse and almost falls, but she lands on all fours and rolls to the side. She glares at Lilymoore "Hey...go away!!"
Krystal falls onto her bottom and quickly gets up to look behind her at Cynthia and Lilymoore, unsure what to say at first she finally finds the words, "Hey...you.." She points to Cynthia and that's about as far as she gets.
LilyMoore bares her teeth and goes to bite the other mouse. Not enough to draw blood or anything, but definitely enough to freak the other mouse out, probably. It doesn't look like she's going anywhere.
Cynthia gets a look of shock as her tail is bit and she yanks it away "Hey, brat, stop it, that's my tail!" She goes to shove her down if she is able to anyways, besides she needs to leave before someone finds what happen to that tray of missing scones and the missing apple pie.
Krystal blinks "Wait..no fighting in the abbey!"
LilyMoore stumbles back a few steps, then puts herself in the way of the other mouse. "Excuse me??? Who are you calling a brat?! I'm only a couple seasons younger than you! And you're the one who attacked my friend! Who are you and what are you doing down here and how DARE you attack the Abbey Bee Keeper??" She at least thinks the squirrel is the official bee keeper. She's too mad to worry about details right now.
Cynthia starts to walk around the squirrel and stops by Lilymoore as she crosses her arms over her chest "None ya bussiness and I was about to leave so excuse me." The pie tin and scone tray is near her, all but crumbs and 2 out of 12 scones, all that's left, are smashed up. She dusts crumbs off herself. "And she screamed before I grabbed her."
Krystal frowns, "You...you took a pie and scones. Lacota would not like that very much at all, and you were taking cordial earlier also and without asking, that's not nice."
LilyMoore points at the other mouse as the squirrel speaks and makes sure to stay in Cynthia's way. "So you're a thief, too! Give me one reasons as to why I shouldn't tell the Abbot all about your thievery!"
Cynthia rolls her eyes, "Oh no I am so scared of prob'ally...what some boring beast that likes rules, no thanks. And what's it to you if I brought food down here earlier." She is not about to mention she stole other things also, some sort of cloak, a couple candles, and some random set of earrings, which she is wearing now!
Krystal looks between the two as she is not sure what to say, she glances at Lilymoore "So...what do we do with her?" This is new to her and she has never had to deal with something like this before.
LilyMoore bites her lip. Well, being asked by an adult as to what the best course of action would be is very new to her, too. "Um.....we could....oo! I know! Let's lock her in a closet until Abbot Benar and Friar Lacota can deal with her!" That may or may not be the wisest decision, but okay.
Cynthia starts laughing now as if that's the funniest thing she has ever heard and goes to quickly climb on top of one of the barrels and smirks, " Yeah...like ta see you try, I have outwitted beasts before you're no different"
Krystal says, "Maybe we can go find Benar or Lacota soon..." She frowns when she sees the other mousemaid on the barrel "You should get down...please"
LilyMoore stomps her foot in frustration. "Are you mocking my intelligence? 'Cause I feel like I'm being mocked. Hey, get down from there!" She reaches out to grab the other mouse, but then shrinks back. "Um....do you /know/ where Benar or Lacota are, Miss Krystal?"
Cynthia chuckles as she easily walks on top of barrels and hops from one to another, "Take ya time...I will be gone before---" And one jumps she misses and gasps as she falls onto the barrel and grabs the handle, the handle of this one if loose or it just can't take the sudden jolt from above. She ends up loosening it more and stands up on top and sticks out her tongue at them, she then frowns as she falls onto the barrel cause of her wet footpaw and it cracks. Luckly only 1/4 liquid is in the barrel but that doesn't seem to matter as it starts to leak... "Oh well...this is a problem."
Krystal shrugs "I don't know where either is right now." She looks in time to see the barrel leaking and backs up a little now as the more the liquid tries to escape, the worse it seems to get.
LilyMoore runs over to the other mouse, hoping to catch her, then gasps as liquid starts leaking out. "Stahppit, you nincompoop!" She backs up some as liquid gets on her apron. "...I wonder if a beast can get banished for stealing and destruction of property?" she says venomously.
Cynthia was afraid a little and now she is just mad, "Oh go soak your head in the cold pond!" She stands and stomps her footpaw, "My outfit is ruined...RUINED!" She stomps again and gasps as that further makes the barrel crack worse and she stumbles off, grabs the handle and...well it breaks off and she falls onto the floor with it in her paw as the rest of the liquid pours out.
Krystal frowns and goes to back off and slips backwards from the spill. Luckily her head lands on her tail but a yelp of pain shows the top of her tail is a little bent now as she sits up and looks at it frowning. It may not be broken but its sprained fairly badly.
"AH!" Lily leaps backwards, then just starts laughing at the other mouse. "You're such a spoiled brat, you deserve to get your stupid outfit ruined!" She glances over at the squirrel. "Hey, you okay, Miss Krystal?"
Cynthia shakes cordial off her paws and wrings it out of her tunic, "I am leaving and now I need a new outfit..." But where to get one as it seemed that may of been her only one.
Krystal stands slowly "I am fine, but my tail hurts now near the top." She touches it and frowns, and when she goes to move her tail she tenses up a little, yep most likely badly sprain.
LilyMoore goes to grab the other mouse's arm and then tries to hang on like a limpet. "Oh, no, y'don't! You're a thief, and I'ma gonna tell the Abbot about you! Do you need my Nana, Healer Angela, Miss Krystal?"
Cynthia goes to try and move backwards and about falls again. Her arm is grabbed and she goes to kick at the other mousemaid "Let go of me!"
Krystal nods slowly "It may be a good idea to make sure it's not broken...I can go find her and maybe Benar and Lacota too" She sighs and heads upstairs slowly, holding her now swelling tail.
LilyMoore gets kicked, but she doesn't let go of the other mousemaid. "No! You're a thief! A dirty rotten thief! Just wait 'til Benar and lacota find out that not only have you /stolen/ food, when you could've had some for free just by asking, but you've DESTROYED a whole barrel of cordial!!"
Cynthia just glares, she is covered head to toe in cherry cordial, it's all over the floor and by the broken barrel that was 1/4 of the way full is a pie tin with crumbs and a tray of what use to be 12 scones, now two very soggy ones.
Somewhere up above, a door slams... And then...yelling. A loud voice, talking rapidly in righteous indignation. The voice starts approaching, and soon, words are made out. "...and I WON'T stand for a thief in this Abbey. THROW THE BRIGAND OUT! OUT, I SAY! I don't care!" A quieter voice cuts in, but can't really be understood, perhaps whispering. [Lacota, brouhaha]
LilyMoore grins wickedly. "Oh, look, I think that's the Friar now. Good luck not getting your sorry butt whupped." She starts trying to drag the other mouse to the staircase.
Cynthia goes to try and prevent herself from being dragged to the stairs "Yeah...I will just kick his butt..." Yeah she is being rude right now, this is the first she has been caught stealing anything, one time she was almost caught by some hedgehog, she kicks at the mousemiad who has her "Let go, you!" She is soaked head to toe in cordial, a mess of the stuff is downstairs here and a barrel is broken. Luckily it was only 1/4 full. There is also a pie tin and a cookie sheet with 2 soaked scones, the other 10 are most likely ate.
Lacota is still yelling. "I don't care, Jerome, I. Don't. Care. Either the thief gets thrown out, or I RESIGN!" And then, there he is, sweeping down the stairs in a huff, a younger hedgehog beside him. "Well, Lilymoore..."
LilyMoore smiles up at the Friar in a very strained fashion as she gets kicked again. Hey, she's stubborn. "Friar Lacota!! Boy, am I glad to see you! I caught a thief! I'M NOT LETTING YOU GO! She stole, like, a pie and 12 scones and broke a barrel of cordial and insulted my intelligence! AND she grabbed /Krystal/ and scared her!!" She continues to hang on to the other mouse's arm.
Benar descends the stairs, trailing along after Lacota at a distance, he heard the raised voices and shouting and for now lurks in the shadows at the bottom of the stairs, just waiting and watching. This is Lacota's domain he won't interfere unless he feels like he has to.
Cynthia hmmphs, she looks at the Friar, "Well....what ya going to do..." She looks at Lilymoore "She screamed before I grabbed her and I wasn't the one that hurt her tail, her falling backwards on it did that" That and all the liquid on the floor now...well the ants are happy
Lacota crosses his arms, drawing himself to his full height. He glares at Cynthia angrily, but keeps his temper in check. "Did I hear correctly that you attacked *my fiancé*?" He taps a footpaw on the sticky stone floor.
"YOU STILL SCARED HER!!! And you stole food! And broke a barrel of cordial! And questioned my intelligance!" Lily releases the other mouse's arm and crosses her own, glaring angrily.
"Shouting will not get you very far," Benar murmurs softly, his voice lowered so only Lacota will hear it, "Try the quiet approach, young mice do not steal unless they are desperate and homeless."
Cynthia just glares at Lacota, she glares at Lilymoore and glares at whom ever else dares come into her line of sight. She has also decided to go quiet, yep that will show these beasts who is boss!
Lacota smiles graciously at the other mousemaid. "Lilymoore, you are an asset to our Abbey, and a fine young lass...eh what?" He hadn't noticed the other squirrel arrive. "Who's yelling?" Still, Benar has a point. He looks levelly at the miscreant. "Alas, you will pay for the cordial, as you must. With our current lack of a cellar keeper, all our beverages are at a premium..."
"Oh, just lock 'er in a closet," Lily grumbles, but it has no heat to it. She is quickly losing her temper, and it's being replaced by hurt. She's not stupid, is she?
Benar steps out of the shadows and moves alongside Lacota and looks down at her, "It is your decision Friar, she has trespassed in your domain. If you want to deal with her personally I shall leave it all up to you."
Lacota crosses his arms. "Well, Benar, she will have to work off the cost of the cordial, for however long it takes." He sighs. "The food, as well. This Abbey does not charge for what we provide, but theft is a *very* serious offense." He raises a paw. "That is my decision."
LilyMoore stays silent, letting the grown-ups talk. She looks away from the other mousemaid and rubs her upper arms.
Benar says, "Well then that is your decision Lacota, I am sure the young mouse will be glad for a place to stay, I leave her entirely in your care." he grins at the Friar then turns back toward the stairs, "I shall be upstairs if anyone needs me.""
Lacota grimaces briefly. Then nods. "Certainly..." He's not entirely sure what he'll do with a ward, but he'll think of something.
LilyMoore follows the Abbot and goes to grab his paw. "Abbot Benar, am I stupid?" She asks anxiously, her forehead furrowed with honest worry.
Benar pauses as his arm is grabbed and shakes his head, "Of course you are not stupid, you where able to read Dandin's diary and understand the lessons inside of it. That is not easy, it took me over a season to read that diary you did it in three weeks." he grins at Lacota then, "I knew I could trust you Lacota my dear friend."
Lacota crosses his arms. "Good grief, child, what gave you the idea that you're stupid? You're one of the smartest youngbeasts I know." High praise. "Anyway, of course, Benar... I'll have the lass ship shape in no time... Jerome, I want you to get her up to have a bath, then give her a mop and her clean up every bit of the cordial..." The hedgehog nods. "Yes, Friar..."
LilyMoore stares at the floor and shrugs in an infuriating manner. She doesn't seem very convinced. "I bit her 'cause I was mad at her scaring Krystal." it sounds like she's changed the subject.
Benar raises an ear, "You bit someone?" he tilts his head to one side, "That is very much not acceptable behaviour young lady, regardless of their actions." he shakes his head, "But as for being stupid you are not stupid, you are quite intelligent."
Lacota shakes his head. "By Martin's whiskers... Why'd you do that? However, I do greatly appreciate your concern for Krystal..." His voice softens. "I'll have to find her, to see how she is..."
LilyMoore nods, releases the Abbot, and looks at the floor. "I know. I'm sorry. I just got so mad that I was having trouble thinking. I'm sorry." She scuffs the floor with her foot, not looking wither of the adults in the face.
Benar says, "Well I shall expect you to apologize for the young mouse for that, thief or not she deserves an apology for that.""
Lacota nods in agreement. "Yes indeed, and now that she's in my care, I have to be concerned for her wellbeing..."
LilyMoore nods. "I will, next time I see her. Sorry." She starts walking up the staircase, looking dejected and sad. And very ashamed. Why did she have to bite her, of all things?
Benar smiles and folds his hands away and resumes his walk, "I am proud of you otherwise, for stopping a thief like you did."
Lacota smiles as well. "Yes, Lass, that was very good of you. She'd have eaten us out of house and home, otherwise..."
LilyMoore smiles just a tiny bit, then gathers up her skirts and runs away to hide in the belltower. She needs to some thinking in quiet and privacy.
Benar reaches the top of the square and turns to his left, "Well I will see you later I need to go do some work."
Lacota nods as well. "As do I. I best supervise the cleanup down here. Later, all..."
Thanks for reading!
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