The Strange Case of the Rat in the Infirm
Characters: Flicktail, Amethyst, Aikuen, rat spoof
Location: Moledeep
Moledeep: Infirmary
Flicktail stands guard on the rat who opens his eyes, he smells horrid, his skin red and blotychy underhis fur wich is falling out, his thick tail limp as he focuses on Amethyst.
Aikuen comes in from the Hall, with him a tray of bread, porridge and what seems to be just plain jane water. Without saying a word to any beast. He automatically goes to the work table and places it down. With a sigh, he then recognizes the beasts, "Flicky... Amy... Hows he doin?" he asks out of paw.
Amethyst on the other paw trying to breath as little as needed as she awaits instructions. The ratwife has her healer's kit and knife on her belt naturally she's unaware of what her victim er patient looks like though she is aware somebeast is staring at her.
Flicktail shakes his head "Beast hust woke up" the Rat pants and looks over "W....water? w..what is this place....smells like woodlanders
The rat manages a grin that looks more like something out of a ghost story "Nay oi can't but could ye ave that one there hold me head" he smiles at Amyethyst.
"We have otters," Amy says in response to the infirms smell as most of the residents would fall over 'vermin' by most standards and there hasn't been any other large woodlander population living at Moledeep in ages. "He just woke up," is the ratwife's answer for Aikuen as she's not sure what's wrong with the sick rat either.
Aikuen takes and pawful of water and drops in the rats eyes, "HeyHeyHey... Now. While you are in my care. You will only look at me. Or the ceiling... Are we clear on that?" he glares at the rat, "Now since you are so well, to be flirting... You can hold and drink this water. Only water you get..." he hmphs again.
Flicktail smiles but stays near by, he is feeling better after fainting yesterday.
The rat's paw trembles and he spills half teh water "don't be mad Woodlander...she be pretty oi won't hurt anyone...I feel like I am diein."
Amethyst doesn't seem to care one way or the other about being flirted with but she hasn't been too happy with this whole arrangement from the moment the rat was brought in. "You should listen to him. He's the one keeping you alive," she says matter-of-factly to the upset rat.
Aikuen holds his wrist tightly (more than should be), checking his pulse, and to steady the paw a bit, "Oh... I'm gonna be mad... My right. As an otter... and as a parent... Little high..." he hrms and places his paw over the rats head. Feverish, "... The only beast you should be calling pretty is me... AND GOOD..." the last part. He sighs and shakes his head, "Infection has spread..." he hrms loudly.
The Rat winces "Please mate..my paw..." he whimpers wincing, as you touch mostly fur and bones, he does have Mange. His fur falling out hs trembles The pulse is a bit fast, the Rat is scared but still strong. "Ok ok I got it, I will be yer slave...just same my life."
Aikuen sighs and goes back the the table, "You're not gonna be my slave... We don't do that here... And I will save your life..." Even though he doesn't want too. He then goes over to the cabinet, "You have a spread infection. Caused by you, not cleaning the wound. Its going through your body very quickly, and there isn't much we can do..." he sighs and pulls out a few vials, "But... I will do the best that I can..."
Amethyst could have told the rat the same but she still isn't clear on why this pathetic excuse for a rat was allowed to live in the first place.
The rat blinks "but I can't pay ya..your..just gonna help me?' then he says quietly, fear on his features "Am..I gonna die? I swear I am sorry for what i did....I won't NEVER do it again....."
Aikuen hrms, "Aye. I am... Though i shouldn't... You went after MY DIBBUNS... But i'm gonna assume your half-wit brain was too stupid to figure out that i am, in fact. An otter. We don't like having our family hunted down... We strike back quickly... And painfully... Just thank your lucky stars that the Champion of Redwall and several others kept me from killing you..." he sighs, "But... I can't... So... I'm going to do the best that i can to keep you alive... And you are going to redwall after this..." he nods going back over to the patient.
Amethyst nods as Aik finishes. Yes 'it' will go to Redwall and the beasts there can deal with 'it' if 'it' lives that long.
The rat says, "Oh but..but I will be so GOOD I can do all kinds of things for ya..I can get rid of other rats...I'll not be a bother really..if..if I could just have some...food?' he avoides looking at Amethyst, "She hates me..I know beasts hate me"
Aikuen doesn't put food in his paw, he instead takes the vial he was holding and places it in the rats paw, "Drink this first... It will help... Now... What do you mean?... Get rid of the other rats? Are there more of them after my young?" he frowns deeply, anger returning to his voice, "Tell me first. Then will see about food..."
The rat takes the thing...looking at it "wot is it?' he asks...No no there are no more, but if you get me well..i kin tell ya where the hordes come from...tell ya how ta divert them.....so they don't bother ya..." he drinks it "you won't wanna let me go...EEEYYYUUUCHHH!!!!!!
Aikuen smiles a little bit at the rat in pain. Ah yes. He says, "That... I have no idea... I don't know how it works. But its a mixture of every vial i have in stock... Mixed together... I don't know why. But it seems to clear up the infection some how... after a few days of rest... and sweat..." he looks to Amy, "Hey. Mind getting a few blankets... A lot of blankets..." he nods then goes back to the rat, "Well see about letting you go. But so far. Your life is in my hands. And so far... Your going to redwall. If you wanna tell Flicktail about the hordes. Go right ahead..." he doesn't seem to believe the rat.
The rat sinks back panting, not faking that he is exhausted "I..I will...I'll tell I'm... *cough* "Do..ya have a name?"
Amethyst returns after a while with the blankets and passes them to Aikuen. "How long is he going to be here?" she asks. She's only calling the rat 'he' to keep from upsetting the otter.
"The name is Aikuen. I'm an otter that used to fight for a country... I'm a Bladesmaster. If you must know..." Aikuen says that just to say it. He looks over to Amy and begins to toss blankets on top of the rat, "I don't know... a few days, I guess."
The Rat looks at Amethst, "May I know yer name?" as he makes a rat's nest of the blankets.
"/Mrs./ Tazan," is the replay the injured rat is given. "Shouldn't he be quiet while he's resting." she says to Aik.
The rat nods "Ms..Tar..zan.." the rat takes something from his robes, and puts it on the table. 2 turquoise stones "take ese..they..arn't stollen or anything....don't think they are worth much, just pretty."
Aikuen shoots a glance at Amy. She shouldn't be blabbing out that name. That's how she got her legs broken a time ago. And we don't know how much we can trust this rat. Frankly Aik trusts him as much as a foot stain. Which is not. Back to the rat, "Right. Now that you know our names... How about you tell us, your name..." his eyes glance to the stones, "Turquoise... Haven't seen that in years..." they are quite lovely. But from where they came from...
"Amy... Could you get me a few hunks of bread and treesap oil in them for me please... And get your laze'about husband to help yah..." Aikuen nods. That should occupy her time enough. He goes over and sits on a nearby cot, looking at the stones, "I see. Well they are lovely. But I see a problem in your statement. You never wanted a vermin to get it... and yet..." he waves a paw over the rat, "... and you are one... And i dont know what we could do with stones like this.. How about you just keep it..."
Amethyst hadn't intended to cause trouble by giving their surname but she had wanted to point out that she was married. However the patient seems to be too thick skulled to have picked up on that part. Amy wishes greatly to be able to shove the stones down the vermin's throat without the risk of Aik or the fox stopping her. Her tail swishes back and forth behind her slowly in agitation. She'll help to heal the rat if Aik and the fox insist but she doesn't have to like it. At least he wont be staying permanently if he recovers.
The rats ears perk "Amy? I thought she was Ms tarzan...." he looks at the Stones and pulls back "I don't want a Vermin ta have em...even me...please keep em....I'm vermin not stupid, I know...what I did...."
Aik would not stop her one bit. They had to stop him from chucking the javelin at the rat in the first place. And is only doing this because one more death under his belt is not something he wants. Nor anybody else for that matter. Even Amy, for example. He pushes back the stones, "... You do know. That even though you are a vermin. And stupid. I would never keep you from something your mate had. That's... Just not me... So. I'm gonna leave em... right there... Now... How do you feel?
The rat blinks "But....I *cough* WANNA give ya somethin....fer what I done....." he looks confused "I feel weak....hot.....scared
Aikuen hrms, "Then they are gonna stay. Right there. We don't need anything. And we do this strictly because some of us don't want beasts to die..." he nods, "Weak. Obvious. Your sick. Hot... That means its working. Going to boil the infection out of yah... and scared... Well... As long as you do EXACTLY what we say. You'll be just fine... Now... Are you hungry?"
Teh rat considers, pulling the blakets up possessively and then nods "I'll pay my debt Aikuen Blademaster....not all the vermin be like th stories
Aikuen chuckles a bit. Bad Aik! "Listen. Im not from around here. Where im from. Vermin and woodlanders mean nothing... Were just... beasts... Its just its hard to forgive you going after my young. My flesh and blood. My life. Their life... Even if you were a woodlander. Id be treating you the same way. An how so? How will you repay your debt?"
I dunno....but I will...and where I am from....some beast would kill me and roast me....I know yer upset..can't change what I done...but I kin change what I'll do
Aikuen smiles a bit. Dangit. The rat is getting to him, "Well. Your not there... And. Thats good. Reason why i was going send you to Redwall... Try to change yah. But first...." he waves a paw in front of his nose, "Is to clean the rotting smell from your fur... Pheww! Be a good beasts, and what not."
The rat scowls some "What do ya mean clean..i took a dirt bath....."
Aikuen tilts his head, "Well... That dirt must of have had something die in it... cause dang. Ever heard of soap and water?" he smiles, as he can guess the answer.
Teh Rat looks nervous "Soap..and water..that stuff's not good for ya....ye can't use At on ME...."
"What you mean... That stuff is GREAT for yah. In fact. If you had used it. You might not be as sick as you are now!" he chuckles, "And... If that smell begins to permeate into the other rooms. We might have too... For the sake of our noses. I'm okay with it. But the others, might not think so."
The Rat looks around, Obviously the others will not tolerate this smell..and teh dirt would endanger the healing. The Rat's to weak to stop anyone from washing him.
Aikuen continues, "SO! As soon as this little sweat is over. Were gonna take you outside. And you are going to wash. With soap and water. Were also going to give you new clothes... and burn these..." he points at his rags, "Because... come on. There awful..."
New...Clothes? I ain't never had....NEW clothes...."
"Why does the rat maid hate me? she's very nice....pretty.. *cough* "
Aikuen nods, "Aye well. Once again. For the sake of our noses. Your getting new clothes. Probably just a smock." he nods and glances toward the door, "Well. She is married. For one thing. You flirting with her was a bit... well. Off putting. And. Well. You're a vermin. As much as you have in common, she doesn't like that. Plus the whole dibbun thing. She loves my dibbuns."
The Rat shakes his head "I ain't never seen a rat maid that look like that.....she was like a Queen., but i didn't mean ta think SHE would ever see anythin in ME....I'm just a Rotfang."
Aikuen sighs, "Well. That's your problem. Maybe if you weren't... you know... The way you are. You might actually get in the good books. But Amy is Amy. So don't try. Don't bother." he yawns, "I'm sure Redwall has ratmaids..." he tires to say, at least, anyway.
Rotfang says, "Maybe if I wern't wot? never been around someone like at afore."
A rat pokes there head into the infirm but it's not the rat that was sent away it's that other rat. "I heard you needed help with something?" Will asks looking first to Aikuen then at the other two occupants in the room.
The Rat yawns and begins to look into nothing...gasping as he shivers, the sweating has begun..Flicky stands by for the night
Aikuen chuckles and shakes his head, "Ummm... Nothing. Redwall will teach you the way..." At least, he hopes so, "Well. There are always fish in the sea. Or... Rats in the world?" he shrugs. Not good with proverbs and such, "Anyway. You're young... You'll have plenty of time." He then blinks. Why the heck is he giving advice to him? He shakes his head vigorously, "Anyway. Talk to Flicktail if you need anything... I'll be back to check on you tonight..." he nods, "Rotfang..." he then nods at the fox, "Flicky... Keep an eye on him... Thanks..." and then he is off, past the rat "Do what Flicky says... Call me if yah need me..."
Groups:
