Plans to track Irinevok are made (Redmption of Marek TP)
Feeling introspective, you seek solitude in The Garden of the Late Rose.
RW Abbey: Late Rose Garden
The Rose garden offers solitude and peace from every-day life of the abbey. A feeling of tranquility is presented through the roses and the open area that seems to flow over everything around.
Buds stud the plants along with greenery that shows through the last remnants of icicles that simplly /won't/ leave. The last vestige of the winter snow has long since melted from the trainquil little spot -- seeing as it's a popular place for young couples it's no wonder that the new carpet of grass under foot is now trampled flat. As it matures it will come back, but for now, it can remain flat. The little buds are already showing their colors, even a few of the early-bloomers beginning to come out and open up. A lovely place to represent spring, no?
Exits: [O]pen [G]round
Zork the badger. DoraRose and Angela the mice. Lee the otter. Boaz the hawk. Phineas the cat. Chud, another otter.
Zork is sitting criss cross in the rose garden, his wheelchair close to him , as is his walking staff. Why is he sitting on the ground? Well its more comfortable to meditate and just feels more comfortable than the chair does for this and he has been sitting here about half an hour, but has not gotten too deep into meditation today really as he opens his eyes and sighs softly.
DoraRose is showing her grandmother some of the places the old mouse hasn't really been too before, even though she's been in the Abbey for quite a few seasons. They come p to the Garden, the Warrior saying, "This is where Leon and I had our first picnic....isn't it beautiful?" They freeze at the sight of the badger, then Angela gestures and they 2 mice start to quietly back out of the Garden to leave him in peace.
Zork looks over at the two as he speaks "Ya not disturbing me, having trouble before any one came over ta here." He gets the staff and lays it in his lap as he looks at the chair and sighs a little as if annoyed at the chair. He doesn't go to try and stand just yet, he just sits there on the ground for now.
"Ye should be restin', Zork," comes a voice from nearby, "Over-exertin' yerself." The otter steps around the bushes into view. "DoraRose. Angela." He nods his head in greeting. "So peaceful in 'ere... One can almost forget the troubles of outside. Almost." He frowns.
Angela hobbles forward and goes to sit in the wheelchair as her granddaughter glides over to one of the rosebushes and gently inspects one of the leaves. "What's the matter, son? Ye can tell yer 'ealer." The old mouse murmurs softly. DoraRose smiles at the otter. "I come here often to think. It's the calmest place in the Abbey....I feel the most at peace when I am in here."
Zork doesnt seem to worried when someone else is in the wheelchair, after all he was mediting and was sitting on the ground. He first looks to Lee, "I was meditating how that be doing too much...I wheel me chair here and get out ta sit down, not much to it." He looks at Angela, "I be fine...right now." He says quietly.
Lee hmms. "It is a beautiful spot..." He sniffs at one of the roses. "I spend time 'ere with Stream'eart sometimes." He sighs. "Too much be goin' on in Mossflower. Still, thank the fates that Redwall is still safe, though." He folds his arms across his chest. "I really don't think the abbey is in any real danger, to be honest."
Angela narrows her eyes and goes to check the badger's pulse. "'Ow 'bout earlier today, hmm? Ye seem too upset to be perfectly fine." DoraRose sighs and cups a rosebud in her paw. "I hope so. Although, if we weren't in any real danger, then why did that stupid mouse kidnap Leon? He obviously wanted to weaken us, and what better way than to kidnap the Master Healer?"
Zork lets his pulse be taken, it is fine right now as he has just been sitting here, "Fine.." He grumbles a little, "Getting tried of not being able ta do much, it's gettin' harder to get in and out of bed and have even overslept a couple times cause couldn't sleep well night before and when I stand, even for a moment it feels like I want to fall over."
Lee frowns again. "Aye, ye've got a point, DoraRose. 'Owever, if we remain vigilant, we can prevent 'em from gainin' the upper paw." He gestures with a paw. "It be really simple, ma'rm. Nobeast can be allowed to exit Redwall until the threat is passed. Warriors and beasts that can take care of 'emselves bein' excepted. That crazed mouse might 'ave an army, but it is small, an', from wot I've seen, rather disorganized. Not only that, but 'is best fightin' beast is dead. 'E has no hope of defeatin' us in armed conflict." The otter seems quite confident in his assessment.
DoraRose shakes her head. "But what if he gains more fighting beasts? What then? Plus, my brother is out there somewhere. Leon has asked me to not go searching for him, but I can't help but worry. What if he should be captured, and Irinevok try to use that to gain entry here? Or even Blisa, whom he already has as a captive. What would he not do?" Angela leans back in the wheelchair, glad to be off her paws, but concerned about her patient. "Mmmmm....you finished this chair none too soon, it would seem. Tell me, how well 'ave you been eatin'? 'Ave ye stayed away from richer foods and eaten more vegetables?"
Zork rolls his eyes, her questions are getting annoying to him "I eat just fine me legs just dislike me is all, a lot more than they use ta and before ya ask I do drink that tea I am supposed ta drink."
Boaz is flying around and decides to land nearby so he is more in the open ground area right before you enter the garden, too many thorns to deal with to suit him.
Lee sighs, shaking his head. "I'm gonna be frank, yer brother be 'eadstrong, stubborn, undisciplined, an' in need of a good thrashin'." The otter is uncharacteristically harsh. "'Owever, since yer worried, I'll see if I can at least locate 'im for ye." He winces suddenly, still having pains from his recent chest injury. "I can't be as active, though... Technically, I'm still recoverin'." He touches his upper chest. "T'is wot I get for neglectin' me armor foolishly."
There comes a rustle among a thicket of roses not too far off from the gathered beasts. In the wake of a few scattering bugs, Phineas appears, wearing a floppy hat and large leathery gloves. He seems to be in the midst of some chore: weeding or trimming or ousting grubs.
DoraRose rolls her eyes. "You have no idea how well my brother fits those words. And don't go chasin' after him. He's my brother and my responsibility. I just wish Leon hadn't asked me to stay in the Abbey....it's rather stuffy in here, with so many beasts everywhere. I have to leave Redwall if I want to be alone. I sometimes feel as if I'm going crazy!" She covers her eyes with a paw. Angela shakes her staff in the badger's face. "Don't give me cheek. I'm yer 'ealer, and whatever I say, goes..." she trails off as the cat enters the garden, and she sits there staring at him, a little shocked at his sudden appearance.
Zork folds his arms over his chest, "Like said...ok for now, no pain anywhere just..." He shrugs.
Lee likewise blinks at the cat, and bird, but instead replies to DoraRose, "Lissen, I can talk ta Leon, if ye'd like. I need ta carry out 'patrols', ye know, but until I be back in tip top condition, I really could use an experienced warrior ta... watch me back. I can't really ask just anyone, an' Flicktail is likewise busy... But ye sound like ye've got nothin' planned anytime soon... Hint, hint." He smiles a sly little smile, as if making an agreement with a dibbun to skip bathtime. "I'm sure ye'd be glad ta help out..."
Phineas's attention is drawn by the heated words, though he has been too far from earshot to decipher the fuss. The cat suddenly turns bashful, as if he fears the others might think him an eavesdropper. "Er, 'ullo." He greets the others with a friendly bob of his head. "Didnae' mean to intrude." Awkwardly, Phin tries to clear dirt from his snout with the back of an arm, but the gesture only serves to smear the grime.
Boaz decides too many are here and hops backwards some as he starts to head away.
Angela smiles slightly and shakes her head. "Ye're not intrudin'. I just was surprised, is all. And you!" she turns back to the badger, shaking her staff under his nose. "I'm very suspicious when my patients end their sentences with the words 'just' and 'but'. Just what??" DoraRose waves to the hawk, calling, "Good day, Boaz." then turns back to the Head Guard. Smiling with equal slyness, she crosses her arms and says, "I was going to start training my daughter, but I think that can wait. What, pray, did you have in mind?" She is perfectly willing to start trekking through Mossflower to find a crazy mouse. She just needs an excuse and something she can use to make Leon let her...
Zork frowns at Angela and goes to push away the staff gently, "Calm yaself, not in de mood to talk much right now."
Lee chuckles. "Well, I think we oughta take that mouse unawares. I imagine 'e 'as no idea I ain't dead, so that will be quite the surprise to 'im. 'E's completely insane, DoraRose, so I can't say this ain't ludicrously risky, but, I be worried for Scioto's daughter. She's feisty... I worry that Irenevok will tire of 'er an'...do the worst..." He frowns. "Also... I..." the otters sighs, "I owe Marek a...favor. 'E saved me life, I'm in 'is debt, as an honorable beast, an' the sooner I can repay this...debt, the better. I told 'im I'd 'elp rescue Reseda... I figure we can tack on findin' Emyuil, too, before 'e goes an' does somethin' damn foolish."
Boaz nods but decides he needs to go, there is fish to eat and they are at the pond, not in the garden and so off he flies.
Given the unexpected flux of visitors to the garden, Phineas decides to take a few moments' break. He moves away from the rose bushes--and their bugs and thorns--to sit nearer the others. "Sorry, m'love," the cat apologizes to Angela. "Been weedin' since dawn and musta' lost track o' the time. I c'n guarantee I were equally surprised to stumble 'pon you all here." Again, Phin paws at the mud on his face, to even less avail than his first attempt.
Angela narrows her eyes, obviously not satisfied, but she decides to drop the subject for now. Turning to the cat, she smiles and says, "I like to see a good, honest, hard-working beast. My name is Angela Quietfeet, by the way." She holds out a paw to shake. DoraRose nods slowly. "He possibly knows that I am still alive...when I went to find Leon, he had ordered his archer ferret to kill me, but I am unsure if Irinevok knows that he failed."
Chud saunters into the garden of the Late Rose. He always likes it here. It's usually quiet...But for once there's a few beasts in the garden, would ya look at that? He sits down by the Rose and hums to himself.
Zork seems glad Angela gave up trying to talk to him, least on the subject of just how he is feeling right now. He remains sitting as he looks at one of the roses and frowns a little in thought and then goes to slowly stand, wobbleing a little and so leans on his walking staff.
Lee smirks. "Well then, that's even better. He's nuts... I think he might could be influenced to believe we are ghosts from beyond... Scare the coward, wot do ye say?"
Gently taking her paw, Phineas returns the introduction. "Phineas--Phin, to most." He releases the handshake abruptly, remembering the how muddy his gloves had become. "Er, ah... sorry about the mud." His light eyes flit from his grimy glove to the mouse's paw, and he clears his throat.
DoraRose grins wickedly. "Ohhohoho, I like it, I most certainly do. Do let's! I haven't had a good adventure for quite a while." Angela smiles softly at the cat. "Ye 'ave no need to be sorry..." she looks up at the badger and is standing up in a flash. "Get in yer chair, 'urry, before ye fall! Ye are a little liar! What's wrong with ye? Where do ye feel ill?"
Chud ignores the whole situation, lost in his own thoughts. He stares at the Rose, (the flower, not the mousemaid,) entranced by its beauty.
Zork does get into his chair slowly, a couple steps and almost loses his balance once which only makes him mutter something under his breath, he manages not to as he takes a deep breath and sits down in the wheelchair and places the walking staff on the back of the chair on one of his homemade hooks, he then frowns and speaks, " I need ta take a nap..." He then wheels off and out of the rose garden and into the open ground.
Lee laughs. "Right. Then, I'll let it be known throughout the Abbey I need 'elp on me 'patrol', an' soon. If necessary, I'll talk ta Leon about it, too. Also... I'll need ta inform Benar wot we be plannin'... At least a little. I won't tell 'im ev'rythin', mind ye, but it's per me own rule that nobeast leave without first informin' somebeast."
Phineas matches the mouse's smile with his own lazy grin, but it shrinks at her rebuke of Zork. He watches as she reprimands the rickety badger. After Zork departs, the cat clucks his tongue. "Ye' sure know how to keep these young'uns in line," he says with a chuckle. An ear swivels to the side, catching some of the other talk, at which Phin exhales a little and dips his head.
"So wot ye talkin' about?" Chud inquires after letting the conversation run. "Maybe I could 'elp ye."
DoraRose smiles and nods firmly. "Deal. I'll try talking to Leon, but maybe you could help him see my side, also." Angela sinks to the bench and sighs, rubbing her forehead. "Aye, I just wish he would listen more. That crazy badger's gonna kill 'imself if 'e's not careful..." She glances at him. "Yer not a warrior, are ye? Neither am I, but my family always seems to have been tangled up in the fates of warriors....it's tiring sometimes...." Suddenly, the Matthias bell rings. The Warrior mouse looks to the belltower and smiles. "Looks like Lily's having her first bell-ringing lesson."
A smile splits Phineas' snout again after Angela poses the warrior question. In reply, he gathers up the edge of his wool sleeve, rolling it to shoulder height to reveal a very spindly feline arm. The lean sinew was obviously not honed by combat. "Nah, love. A warrior's heart I have not--nor the bulk. Much better suited to mops and flower-tending."
Chud waits for an answer still, now that he's offered his help to the group. He waits a tad impatiently, tapping one footpaw and his rudder.
Lee nods in agreement. "Certainly. I'll see if I can enlist Flicktail's 'elp, as well. The plan is formulatin', but I think it be best ta infiltrate 'is camp, with as few beasts as possible, an' use the element o' surprise to our advantage." He waves a paw. "Vermin will escape, though, most likely. Scioto an' Flick will be on the road, an' in the surroundin' forest, ta capture escapees." He smiles confidently. "It's a bold plan, an' risky, but I think we could cut off the serpent's 'ead, at a time they least expect it. Yer right that we should *before* that mouse 'as a chance ta build 'is army further." When the bell rings, the otter looks up with a smile. "She'll be a fine warrior someday, ye know." To Chud, he says, "Certainly, all 'elp would be appreciated..."
DoraRose raises an eyebrow. "Once we find him, you mean. And I've called dibs on his hide...nobeast hurts my husband and gets away with it." Angela nods understandingly and goes to pat the cat's paw. "I understand. Been a healer all my life. Although I do have some warrior spirit in me....especially when my patients won't listen."
Chud nods. "I'll get some Scouts together 'n see what we c'n do. Probably set stuff on fire, maybe cause a bit o'confusion."
Lee frowns. "Aye... that is the rub... We need a tracker." He looks to Chud. "Ideal, yes. Cripes, though, Mossflower is huge... 'Is camp could be anywhere."
"Aye. Ye' certainly got the warrior growl, an' moxie counts for 'alf of any battle," Phineas says to Angela with a wink. Still seated on the ground, the cat leans back on his palms. He listens to the young maid practice at the bells. "I suppose a real warrior shines in any form or field," he muses, half-closing his eyes against the bright afternoon sun.
DoraRose holds up her paws, "Yes, don't look at me. I'm not that good of a tracker. I found Leon merely by chance..." she sounds as if she doesn't really believe that, but she's saying it anyway. Angela chuckles slightly. "Thankee. Aye, my great-granddaughter has allot of potential, but also allot of spirit. It gets her into trouble, sometimes....her twin brother has the makin's of a marvelous cook."
Chud nods grimly. "I'll get y' trackin' done. Count me an' m'mates. A week, tops."
Phineas finally caves to the warmth of the sun, as his eyes fully droop shut. He blindly removes the gardening gloves, casting them aside so that he might recline in the dirt, paws behind his head. The mud on his snout has dried into a patina of golden dust, which cracks and flakes as he talks. "Fightin' beasts, fixin' beasts, and feedin' beasts... all noble causes." He wrinkles his nose. "Though I'd prefer it if we 'ad less of the first and more o' the latter two."
Lee says, "Thank ye, Chud. The sooner we get it done, the better."
Chud stands up. "I'll head back to camp now and get the crew t'gether." He nods a farewell to each and departs.
DoraRose nods and walks out of the garden as the bell stops ringing, saying over her shoulder, "I need to go see if Lily's done with her lesson. Have a good day, and let me know when we're ready to leave." And she's gone. Angela nods slowly as she rises to her feet. "Aye, so do I, Phin. So do I. I must go check on my bee sting patient. 'Ave a good day, and 'twas a pleasure meetin' you." and she, too wanders off.
Thanks for reading!
Groups:
