Not The Best Time For A Lecture
RW Abbey: Cavern Hole
This room is slightly smaller than Great Hall, but still of a size large enough to accomodate a great number of gathered beasts. A large fireplace is set into one of the walls, and there are a series of small tables and chairs near one end for beasts who are eating late, or simply prefer the smaller tables for their meals. Cushions and blankets have been set in one corner. A short flight of steps leads up to Great Hall, and along the walls of the stairs, going both ways, the word 'Redwall' has been carved into the stone.
Exits/Entrances:
[G]reat [H]all
[Ki]tchen
Oz has not had the best day, he woke up with a stuffed up nose and sneezed a few times, he coughed and grumbled as he got out of bed that morning and still had his duties as caretaker of the dibbuns, he helped more some barrels in the cellar, he had his class that was cut a little short today and now he needs to talk to someone.
Cynthia is sitting in a chair flicking bits of a corn muffin into the fireplace. She looks bored and she looks annoyed right now. She has not done much the past couple days but stare at the walls .
Oz steps into the room and has been told the mouse maid is here as he tilts his head "Well, seems you have been getting into a lot of trouble from a report I was read, you have also worried many bests, what do you have to say on this matter?"
Caleb pokes his head into the room and blinks as he is surprised at who he sees "Cynthia?...Cynthia your alive you’re ok?!" He goes to go in but stops before he gets to her..maybe this is a bad time.
Cynthia glares, "Yeah whatever..." She folds her arms over her chest, “Not that I wanted to be here, I was fine where I was" She looks at Caleb and frowns but says nothing right now.
Oz arches an eyebrow before he speaks" Well, you had been given the chance to live here, as far as I know that option is still there Cynthia, And Caleb please sit down I thought you were elsewhere helping out, in the kitchens maybe?"
Caleb frowns "I..was some, peeling potatoes mainly and washing dishes." He sits down by the fireplace.
Cynthia flicks some more muffins onto the floor, "Well, I refuse to peel anything or wash anything, did enough of that elsewhere and trust me not going back there either"
Oz folds his paws behind his back "And no one is saying to go anywhere, but it would be wise to listen to those who say do chores. I am not sure what form of punishment this all requires, but I have been thinking of one"
Cynthia rolls her eyes, "Like I would go there anywhere, that village is nuts and their cat boss is annoying, so is the stoat. That cat put me in a cell....stupid cat"
Caleb decides to ask, weather that’s a good or bad idea or not "Why were you in a cell, what did you do and I am glad you’re ok and back. There is a feast soon, the winter one and you could see what it is like maybe"
"Because she was lucky." The room is soon graced by a beast of vermin decent. A fox of girth truly immense. If one were to be poetic about such things. To be fair Bandit wore the weight well but it was quite obvious that the gluttonous vulpine's tabard was looking a good deal tighter than since he returned to the abbey.
"Lucky she the town took mercy on her crimes and /only/ tossed her into a cell." The head guard chews on a muffin as he enters the room. He nods to each of them, "Evenin Oz. Cynthia. ...mouse." He says finely to Caleb.
Oz nods to Bandit as he enters the room, "Greetings Bandit I see your visiting and as I said I got some of the report and yes someone read it to me. And yes there is the winter feast in about 3-4 weeks and a cookie bake or something, but whether she is there remains to be seen." He turns to Caleb "Or you as well Caleb, you did follow her without telling the guards, you may not of been out as long or got in a cell but you did leave the abbey..alone and over a wall with bedsheets at that."
Caleb frowns "I..I know but I was gonna tell her to come back and then that Kyran showed up and ..well...and I didn’t think to tell the guards I am sorry. And I am sorry I didn’t come back here right away when I go away from Kyran...but if I had come straight here..th...then well Mr. Zee could of like died or something, he was in the storm and passed out when we got to...to somewhere and I found help....ok help found me and..well" Ok he has no more to say and looks at the floor.
Cynthia chuckles at the bed sheets, "Bedsheets was cool, that was my idea and dummy here made them break!"
Stepping closer Bandit leans against the table, snacking on a muffin. "It's all fun and games until your folks find out. Words to live by kido." The fox continues to chat even with his mouth full. "It looks like everything has calmed down here...for better or for worse. I'll be heading back in the morning. Do try not to cause any trouble for the guards here, or in Ferravale. The abbey's patience is not unlimited..." He directs the last comment towards the thiefy mouse. To say that Bandit is still a bit...miffed at feeling sorry towards her to only have her pull a stunt like she did later on...is an understatement. "Is there anything else I should know while I'm here?"
Oz listens as they speak, "Yes and he was out looking for you is my guess, it was good of you to get help to him but still you being out DID cause him to be out and so you endangered someone's life, and your own life. You and Cynthia both endangered your own lives in fact." He tilts his head toward the fox “None that I know of"
Cynthia frowns and then snorts" I have no folks so go soak ya head fat fox"
Caleb blinks "Hey that not nice to say, you say sorry!"
The fox only laughs in reply, licking his claws after finishing the muffin. "Tis alright. The benefits of having a thick hide is that the insults of common thieves just roll right off your fur, like water off of a ducks back." His tone softens, "But that's all water under the bridge. Forgive and forget and all that. I just hope you enjoy your stay here...I have a feeling it's going to be a lengthy one..."
Cynthia smirks "No, he is a fat fox and the blind badger is annoying and your annoying also shut up" She half means it for Caleb, she was worried about him but she is moody right now. She rolls her eyes at Bandit and says in a sassy way "Lengthy stay...blahhhhh"
Caleb stands "Shut up!!!!!"
Cynthia rolls her eyes “You shut up Caleb, everyone needs to leave me alone. I didn’t ask to be followed!!”
Caleb shakes his head “I was worried about you!”
Cynthia snorts “Ya..right!” Was he really she wonders.
Oz has been quiet and rarely does he yell but he will sometimes, "ENOUGH BOTH OF YOU!!!" And yep it echoes and most likely draws attention, "Both..of you SIT down!" He knows when someone is standing and sitting.
A few abbey beasts poke their head into the room and look to see what’s going all but none come close to the gathered group.
Cynthia blinks and covers her ears and curls up in the chair she was in and frowns, ok she is sitting....laying? and gone quiet.
The fox fidgets an ear then shakes his head. "Yep, that's me. Bringing joy and delight to everywhere I go. Take care Oz. Don't be a stranger next time you are in Ferravale. I trust you can wrangle the, heh, dibbuns." The head guard moseys his way to the great hall, waving as he goes, tail swooshing behind him.
Caleb quickly sits down and folds his paws in his lap and looks at the floor, such a nice floor too.
Cynthia looks at the fox and back to Oz "You just echoed stripe dog..." Opps, that could be bad reaction, well not her fault she heard it from Kyran and she then frowns as she knows she just say the wrong thing and gulps "I mean...sorry, I didn’t say, I mean I did...Kyran calls badgers stripe dogs I mean that word…. it just slipped out!"
Oz tenses and then goes to grab Cynthia by the collar of her shirt and takes a few deep breaths and clears his throat, let’s say she is lucky she is not an enemy of the abbey, "I..suggest you don't repeat that word ever..anywhere is that understood young lady?" Yes he is angry but he keeps his temper at bay. He slowly lowers her to the chair and then speaks “I think I have an idea for a punishment and could fit fairly well besides the extra chores."
Caleb eyes go wide and he hides behind a chair, yep he got out of the chair but he had a good reason, right?
Cynthia stays sort of limp and whimpers, she quickly nods and then replies "Y..Yes sir..w..what punishment is t..that.?" Ok this has freaked her out, well could of been worse...much worse.
Oz replies after a while" The winter feast, if you’re still here you will be sitting in a room upstairs, you will get something not to worry but you won’t be going to it. You will also not be part of the cookie bake if you were interested in that. A brother or sister of the order will check on you and bring you something for dinner. seems fair to me and till then extra chores we can have the Friar decide them maybe, as will I or the abbot."
Caleb frowns as he speaks up "But that’s not fair...." He stands there, yeah words escape him right now.
Cynthia frowns and looks at the floor quietly and listens.
Oz asks, "And how is it not fair?"" The badger asks, he is as calm as he can get right now, he is still very much angry and a headache is slowly starting.
Caleb frowns he is not sure how to answer that one "I...don't...never mind"
Cynthia clears her throat "It’s...it’s fair, its fine I am sorry for causing any trouble."
Caleb frowns "If she isn’t going neither am I..or..or the contest..." He then quickly leaves the room and heads to his room at home, such a fun evening, well not really.
Oz listens as Caleb heads off and sits down as he rubs his forehead and mutters to himself, he has a headache now.
Cynthia looks at the badger from where she sits and slowly slips out of the chair and quickly goes to the room she has been given. She is not having the best night herself as she holds back tears and disappears up the stairs.
A couple hours later =
Oz is in a chair in the room sipping some tea. He is trying to relax and seems to be failing badly. He coughs and sneezes once. He takes a small sip of tea, some light willow bark tea smells like.
Flicktail walks in and succeeds in relaxing by the fire.
Oz hears the fox come in and just sips the tea, he doesn't speak or anything he just stays quiet right now taking a sip of tea every couple minutes.
Flicktail gets a scone and does not press Papa Oz.
Oz stays quiet, he knows the fox is there but the fox is quiet and maybe that’s for the best as he shakes his head and another sip of the tea is taken as he rubs his forehead slightly.
Flicktail rocks on his own rocker, the chair creaking as he slowly rocks and twiddles his thumbs.
Oz frowns "Can you...please not do that Flicktail, I have a headache right now, it would be most helpful" Another small sip of tea is taken slowly.
Flicktail peaks his ears "Um..Do wot Papa?”
Oz frowns "Stop making the chair squeak, it’s annoying. I have a headache right now"
Flicktail says, "Um..I wasn't MAKING it Squeak...um..sorry"
Oz nods and sighs, he sips more tea and coughs a little when it goes down the wrong way and grumbles placing the mug down, it’s still 1/4 full.
Flicktail sits quietly munching the scone and then he silently offers one to Oz
Oz doesn’t reach out for a scone, as he doesn’t see it." Sorry just a bad evening is all and I have a headache and possible trying to get a cold on top of it all"
Flicktail speaks up “Scone papa?”
Oz shakes his head as he stands up, “Not right now Flicktail, I am going to bed early tonight so goodnight.” He heads to bed, but first he drinks the rest of his tea.
Sister Jenny talks Oz into getting checked out in the infirm, after some grumbling he finally heads that way.
After some talking with Sister Jenny Oz goes to the infirm but it’s past dinner time before he came in and then finds he may need to stay in the infirm a couple days.
Oz is in the infirm and....yep he hates it as he grumbles with a healer, "I am fine...I don't need to lay down" A healer sighs "I could go te...."..." Tell who?" He coughs and snorts slightly and he has the headache still, what fun.
Velth strolls in, paws folded behind his back and he curiously takes in things. He stops for a moment as he sees the badger, then regains composure and gives him and the healer a polite smile in greeting. He browses the small work table where the compounds are prepared, giving the others a respectful space
Oz tilts his head "Whom else is in here?" Great headache and a guest, he doesn't know yet...the healer sighs and walks away from Oz finally, seems the badger will stay in the bed, least for now.
Velth glances over and gives a small wave. "Sorry; was just passing through." He says, "Names Velth. I was really just looking for something to do."
Oz nods and listens as the healer walks away and shakes his head "I dislike infirms, and rather rest in my own bed...." He grows quiet, "Well I can tell you’re a fox and now know your voice, not your walk yet but that will come in time"
Velth nods sagely, "Rest is the best remedy. Though what's bothering you?" He asks, curiously.
Oz raises an eyebrow and then speaks "I have a headache and a slight cold on top of it...had to deal with a couple young ones...teens..., I am Oz by the way or papa Oz to the dibbuns and some others as well."
"Aaah." Velth says, knowingly, "Then a warm bed, hot food, and cool water is all you need. We get quite a few colds each winter back home; the ill ones get bundled together till they're better." He grins, "It'd take a bit of bundling to see you right though."
Oz shrugs "I am from the northlands...then again age can be a factor in being well or not also"
"How far north?" The fox asks, curiously, "You don't look near enough to snow to be from the far north."
Oz says, "A place called Send "
Velth blinks, "Send? Is that across the ocean, or here?"
Oz says, "It is far North, past some mountains. I lived there many seasons ago when I was a lot younger"
"You've not been to Salamandastron then?" Velth inquires.
Oz says, "No...my niece has, another Mt is north, Salmandastron is elsewhere"
Velth nods, and sits down on a bed near Oz, "I see. Sorry; that mountain has become my obsession lately. What was your mountain like? We've some near my home, but I never travelled to them."
Oz says, " dangerous at times, other times peaceful...like most mountains"
Velth chuckles, "You might as well have described the sea!"
Oz frowns "Well the sea doesn’t have avalanches, the snowy north mountains do at times"
Velth nods wholeheartedly, "Aye! Though in a storm, the waves can burry a ship at sea. Have you seen an avalanche?"
Oz frowns and it seems a while before he nods "Yes, I..almost lost my life and at the time wished I had, I am glad I did not now but...at the time. " He sighs as a tear goes down his cheek "I lost my mate and dibbun who was 1/2 season old at the time..they died that day and I did not. My brother found me and took me back to the village we lived in and helped me recover...my wounds did but I was depressed"
The fox listens quietly.
Oz says, "I recovered enough to limp out of the infirm and had plans to take my own life with a dagger I took from someone.....but someone stopped me...just in time. There was a cry of a dibbun and the smell of smoke" He tilts his head "A band of woodland mice had a clan...maybe a dozen...but their camp was on fire and only one survived, a mouse of 1 season that I adopted and raised as my own, we sort of saved each other that day. Had the fire not happen when it happen...well I would of put a dagger in my heart and died that day."
Velth inclines his head in respectful silence. "Fate's strange like that." He says at last, "In the same paw it holds destruction and mercy." His lips twitch in a brief and mirthless smile, "it’s best not to dwell on its crimes; the blades it wields cut twice." He shakes his head, and stands, "I'm sorry; I've been quite terrible company to press you so much when you're ill and in need of rest. Let's both turn in, and feel better in the morning."
Oz nods "Sounds good. Besides rest is best and depending on who is on healer duties you might get kicked out soon" He manages a chuckle as he yawns and prepared to sleep, “Let’s just say some healers are stricter than others on who visits and when and when those in need of the infirm...sleeps" He is asleep within a few minutes of his chat as most are most likely in bed soon as its night time at Redwall Abbey.
