The New Blacksmith of Redwall Abbey!

Zork walks into the area where Benar and the others are, he starts to head over to them but is drawn to the small smithy area and walks that direction, the bandage is off his leg but he still has the one on his elbow to shoulder of his left arm. He grins a little.

Benar watches Ferdinand leave and shakes his head, "You just startled him is all, it took him a lot of courage to come seek me out. Still good day Chud and hello Zork, be careful in the forge it is a bit... elderly"

Zork grins as he moves slowly over to Benar "I's know how ta work a forge Benar, I can make armor and weapons, as well as other things such as nails, and other things the abbey might need. I wouldn’t' harm it tis a promise"

Chud pulls a piece of wood from the pile of spare firewood and once again whips out his pocket-knife, beginning to carve confidently yet delicately.

Benar says, "Oh I know you know how to use the forge Zork, I am just saying it is a bit old, it hasn't been used in several seasons and well it never properly got repaired after that business with the ravens in the summer"

"Thought that was the fall," Chud comments dreamily as he continues to carve.

Zork nods "I been...meanin' ta ask ya something and maybes two things now Benar"

Benar smiles at Chud, "All these attacks by vermin blend into one another after a while; it is hard to keep track of them all. Anyway Zork, you know you can always talk to me whenever you want. How can I help?"

The otter approaches slowly, unsure for now. He's still finding his way around the Abbey, and most of the creatures remain strangers to him. However, looking up, he does recognize the badger from last night in Cavern Hole, so he waves a greeting. "'Ello again, Zork!"

Zork nods, "Well ya see..". He waves to Lee, "Ello Lee.." And back to Benar, "I been thinkin' a lot and maybe I should give up me old travel ere' travel thar and stay inna one place, and de abbey be that place." He smiles, "I wanna help Ozzy, he is gonna need me more than ever now..though he won’t admit that probably, and also I could have a job and help ya all out, I could work de forge, make needed abbey stuff..and live at de abbey."

"Hold it!" Chud holds up his paws. "I know what Benar's gonna say. He's gonna say of course, 'cos all beasts are welcome here." He grins at having predicted this.

Benar chuckle and folds his arms, "Well just for that Chud I am going to say....."  He pauses and grins, "Of course Zork, you know you do not need to ask. Every beast is welcome, and if you want to patch up the forge and make us metal it will save us all a lot of bother."  He grins then waves a paw at Lee, "Good day friend."

Lee walks over toward the others. He smiles, hopeful that the other otter is right, because that is what he needs to ask about, too. "Good day, sir, might you be the Abbot 'ere?"

Zork grins large at this, one can tell he is excited at the fact he can be here, he goes to hug the squirrel being real careful as he does so, and one of the badgers arms are bandaged still so, it’s a gentle hug, well maybe slightly above it but he knows to be careful, "Thank ya Thank ya kindly, ha ha ha." He spins around once and then lets the squirrel be back on the ground again and mutters "Sorry.."

Benar laughs and clings to Zork as he is spun around, "Whoooof... heh... well I am glad you are happy Zork... you are always welcome here."  He smiles at the badger then glances at Lee and shakes his head, "Not me, but I am Elder Benar, how can I help?"  He remains leaning on Zork and pats his arm, "I take it you heard about Oz's eyes?"

Chud roars with laughter at the sight of the spinning squirrel before returning to his carving...A small, spikey wooden tower.

Zork nods slowly, "He told me on de way back from Ferravale...". He stops yeah he should explain, "See I was in de fight with de horde, and helped to fight against him, I was injured and guess Ferravale was closer anyway..Ozzy, Cera, Bastien and some ferret named Garrett show up and help me back 'ere...and 'ere I be, stayin' 'ere."

Lee says, "Elder Benar, I am an 'omeless otter from that far Southern shores...I 'eard tales of yer wonderful Abbey even there. I decided I wanted to an 'ome for meself 'ere, if at all possible. I'd be willing ta do work for that Abbey. I'm not really an expert at much, but I can do a lot...a jack of all trades, I suppose..."

Taran walks about the grounds, he slows as he sees the crowd and sighs loudly, well least he got some peace and quiet.

Benar smiles at Zork, "I heard you were at the battle, I am glad you made it home Zork... thank you for coming, Redwall shall always be your home, for as long as you want it to be."  He then nods to the otter, "Well as I am sure you heard me say and Chud comment on,"  He grins t the other other, "All are welcome here. If you wish to join our community and live here you are most welcome."

The otter smiles wide. "Why, thank ye, sir. I've traveled for so long... I wasn't sure I'd be welcome... Thank ye again!"

Chud carves, at last, the number 19 into the 'tower' and plunks the sharpened bottom into the ground; it stands about one-and-a-half mouse heads high.

Taran walks closer to the group, "So why is every beast here or just a place to be?"

Zork nods, "Alright Benar." He waves to Taran, "Ello!"

Benar smiles at Taran from his seat inside the open fronted kiln, "I was working on some clay and suddenly everyone found me," The squirrel smiles at Lee, "Well be welcome then friend, was it Lee I heard Zork call you?"  He then glances at Chud, "What... is that for?"

"It's the Tower, mate," Chud says with a twinkle in his eye. "It sees everythin'."

Taran nods "I see, well if your wondering, I am not looking to live here just staying a few days I think. Besides I do not want to upset my son, he seemed already upset and I do not blame him really after what happen, even if it was a while ago"

Lee nods. "Yes. That's wot I calls meself. I dunno me real name."

Zork takes a look at the forge a little closer, he doesn't touch it but does study it carefully while he listens to the others talk.

The forge is rather run down, it clearly hasn't been touched in ages and one side is still open and caved in from fire bombing. It will take some restoration work to fix. Benar listens to Taran and nods, "Well guests are also always welcome and I am sorry to hear that Lee."

The otter shrugs. "Ah, it doesn't bother me." He glances to the other otter and waves. "Hello!"

Chud lifts his rudder in salute. "'Ey there. M'name's Chud Streambattle...From the northeastern hills, so I guess we were born in opposite directions."

Taran nods "I will stay as long as feel welcome, then moving on..well somewhere"

Zork grins "I could fix de forge, maybe get it fixed by winter if ya allow me ta Benar, I may know where can get some tools"

Lee smiles. "Indeed it would seem. 'Ave you ever been to the South? And ye can call me Lee, like the 'leeward side of a hill'." He looks proud of the name he chose for himself.

Benar says, "Ah now tools I can help on. I had the original tools stored in the abbey attic to keep them safe. I can show you where they are if you like Zork?"  He then looks back at Taran and nods, "Well you will always be made welcome here..."

"Well met, Lee," Chud says, smiling. "I've been as far south as the fringes o' Mossflower once when I was younger, but no further. Is it good in the South?"

Zork nods "Yes ya can show me where de tools be and I will start..well as soon as me arm is complexly healed I will, start ta fix de forge"

Lee smiles somewhat wistfully. "Ah, the South...the ocean smells salty, all the time...the fish are always ripe for the takin'. And the gulls... Its a beautiful place, dangerous for the unwary...I'll tell ya more when I see ye again, Chud. I promise ye."

Benar stands up and smiles, "I'll get the tools down for you tomorrow Zork, you can start work then. For now I do need to clean up and go talk to the Abbot about all our new guests."

Lee asks, "Ah, Elder Benar, Just who is the Abbot 'ere?"

"That'd be great, Sai Lee," Chud says, a bit spaced out with visions of the glory of the south. He begins carving a seagull from a fresh chunk of wood.

Lee stretches. "Ah, this 'as been a pretty good day."

Benar says, "Lorimis is the Abbot of the Abbey, I am sure you’ll see him soon"  He waves and hurries off.

Zork nods, "Yep, any day ya alive be good"

The otter smiles. "So, Zork, I never got ta ask ye, why are ye so bandaged up?"

Zork says, "I had 6 vermin attack me at once and an insane rat with a bow shot me, but I still won or I wouldn’t' be a talkin' ta ya"

Lee looks awe inspired. "And ye fought 'em all off yerself?"

Zork nods "And I helped push de Horde leader off de bride and let im' taste me blade..then passed out and woke in an infirm"

Lee nods understandingly. "You're an 'ero, Zork, a real 'ero."

Zork smiles "Well I don't know..didn’t do it all ya know"

Lee chuckles. "Aye, but ye did enough, an' that's wot counts."

Zork nods "I had not planned on it, just they were on de bridge and well...I wanted ta just fight de stoat and he told his friends to kill me, well they failed"

Lee laughs. "Aye, you're too tough for a simple pack of vermin ta kill."

Zork says, "but me age..really I shouldn’t of done it but..it happen"

Lee says, "Ye were defending yerself.""

Zork nods "And helpin ta make sure de vermin no longer be a threat, now Ferravale it be safe they even have a peace treaty with de abbey"

Lee asks, "What is Ferravale? I am not familiar with that place."

Zork says, "A village to de north, chieftain Scioto runs he, he is a cat and it's mosty vermin, but not evil vermin...some are a bit, well...outta paw""

Lee frowns slightly. "A cat, ye say?"

Zork notices the frown" Tis ok lad, he is a friend ta de abbey..."

Lee says, "Hmm, if ye say so...I don't generally trust cats...""

Zork says, "well he can be trusted, but then unless ya at Ferravale probably won’t see him”

Lee nods. "I dunno that I'll be visitin' there anytime soon..."

Zork nods "I been thar, go thar rarely though, not de type of place for just any beast"

Lee says, "I would imagine not. Ye 'ave ta be careful around most vermin.""

Zork looks over the old forge a little again, "Yep won’t take long ta get this fixed, then can use it and help de abbey" He then speaks to Lee, " Yes always be careful, can't trust every beast, even thar...they may have a peace treaty with us but doesn’t mean they all like us at Ferravale, de chief keeps them in order pretty good though"

Flicktail walks in, "Hey wot ya doing?

Zork grins, "Fixin' de forge, I be de new blacksmith fer de abbey and live ere' now"

Lee waves to the fox. "Ey there, Flicktail."

Flicktail looks up "Ello Lee..you been gettin to know my Zorker beast? “

The otter chuckles. "Aye, I 'ave. I spoke ta Elder Benar a little bit ago, an' 'e said I can make the Abbey my 'ome after all."

Flicktail asks, "Well wot do Zork ere ave to say bout it?"

Zork asks, "About what Flicky?"

Flicktail asks, "wot about Lee comin to live here?"

Lee asks, "Yes, what?""

Flicktail says, "I wanna ear wot Zork thinks"

Zork says, "He can live ere'...it be good, maybe he can become one of those novice maybe, up ta him""

Lee nods. "A novice of wot, though?"

Flicktail  says, "He's a good fisher beast I bets"

Zork chuckles, "Well least de abbey has a blacksmith nows"

Flicktail says, "We just gotta get im WORKIN"

The otter smiles wide. "Now tell me, wot otter ain't a good fisher beast?"

Flicktail says, "Well I don't know that one....but I am glad we have anew friend"

Zork chuckles "I need ta fix the forge first Flicky, then I will make some metal for de abbey"

Flicktail asks, "Well how hard kin THAT be?"

Lee smiles. "Aye, I'm glad to 'ave friends, too. Speakin' o' which, I met yer son Nickolas in the Great Hall this mornin'. He's a darlin'."

Zork says, "I am unsure, but shouldn’t be hard and should have it fixed before de first snow falls"

Flicktail asks, "So Lee, wot other beasts ya met round ere? wot do ya think of Benar?"

Lee says, "Well, I met Brother Leon, an' 'is wife, DoraRose, an' their dibbuns, an' then I met Leon's father Taran, and a wildcat named Lason, an' another otter named Chud... An' Benar is quite nice.""

A young fox dibbun walks up with an otter doll and tugs on Lee's rudder

Zork has been examining the forge again as they talked, He walks back over  to them.

The otter looked down and smiled warmly. "Why 'ello there, young one. Who might you be?"

Benick walks up to Zork, "We have to talk business" He says like a Grown up Beast.

Lee says, "Well hello there, Luna. Yer just the prettiest little thing I've seen all day."

Zork raises an eyebrow, "We do?" He rubs his shoulder some, "Mayhaps laters lad"

Benick frowns, "I want a Job sir...please... “

Zork says, "Well that depend on what lad"

Benick looks firm "Please Mr. Zork, I am a hard worker and I wanna learn,  learn the forge...   “

Luna lifts her arms to the otter to get picked up

Zork frowns "Well, I will have ta look inta it, lessons won’t be fer a while yet if even did have one"

Benick persists, "You need a..a assistant. I’ll help with the forge..."  He looks to his father for help, but Flicky stays silent

The otter can't resist a little cutie, so he bends down to pick her up. "And so, miss Luna, I take it ye likes otters, is that right?"

Zork says, "Can’t just ok that lad, I'd get in trouble and no one be workin' on it anytime soon"

Luna smiles and kisses lee on the cheek, "Teaches Luna swims?"  While Benick frowns, "Who can ok It Sir?'  His eyes brimming with tears, as he is frustrated and not sure what to do, "I..I won't gives up sir, I will work real hards “

Lee laughs. "Aye, little missy, I'll teach ya to swim, but you'll 'ave ta wait till next summer. The weather be too cold ta teach swimmin' in."

Zork sighs "Look ya needs ta have patience and wait lad, I need to FIX it first and I do not think Benar would like a dibbun being here ta work on it, besides he said it’s real old and even I have to be careful"

Flicktail looks to Zork "Oh I do not think it would be so bad, and He is becoming older, needs to learn a trade.....I'd put in a good word for ya  “

Luna puts her small arms around lee's neck "Likes you" .she smiles hiding her face in the soft toy

Zork shakes his head, he yawns "Look just no touching it..at all"

Flicktail frowns some and whispers to Zork, "Zork...wots wrong why so...upset, my son admires you”

Zork says, "I was told by Benar, ta fix de forge so it can be fixed, its unusable till then and Benick seems ta not understand that""

Flicktail nods to Zork, "So what’s wrong with letting the lad watch and help abit? He will do wot ya tell him “

Zork says, "Sorry Flicktail, not gonna let a beast get hurt and sure Benar will say the same thing"   He then  asks, "I am gonna go to bed, anyone need ta say or let me know something' first?"

Taran walks into the yard and stays off to the side.

Benick stands proudly if frustrated, "I know you don’t think I am serious Sir, but I not givin up..I'll do what you say and won't go near yer forge but I wanna learn!"  He sniffles

Lee says, "Goodnight, Zork."

Zork sighs as he looks at Benick, "Hey laddy..talk tamorrow k " He walks off shaking his head.