The fever, the fever! (p. 2)

Still in the Abbey Infermary, but later in the day...

DoraRose is dozing on a bed. She burns with fever and shivers with chills in turns, and sweat beads on her forehead and upper lip. The cool cup of tea on the table by the bed is a nice contrast to the heat outside.

Raymond had fallen asleep in a chair and wakes up, he looks around wide eyed and then remembers where he is and snorts, he sits up and then stands and dusts off his uniform and sighs.

The door from the main ifnirmary opens wide and a figure in a brown habit strolls in. The grey squirrel is moving slowly and talking to one of the healers who he then dismisses and turns to make his way to DoraRose's bed side, reaching out to touch her fore-head. "Dora my dear can you hear me?" He glances at the wild cat and quirks his ears, he wasn't aware he had a wild-cat guest but he inclines his head to them politely nonetheless.

DoraRose moans and stirs, her eyelids flickering open. "Benar..." she murmurs, smiling slightly.

Raymond stays where he is and quickly sits, he nods a short hello but doesn't bother the abbot as he is busy tending the mousemaid as he can wait the mousemaid needs him more than he does right now.

Benar asks, "Yes it is me, how are you feeling my dear? What ever happened to bring this on?" he settles down in the chair by her bedside and smiles softly, "Can't have you lying around being ill on me."

DoraRose tryies to answer the Abbot's question, but in her feverish state, it doesn't exactly work. "Marauders... attacked... fought..." she begins to shiver, moaning in pain as her shivers stretch the wounds on her upper left arm, right thigh, and the 2 on her left side.

Benar pets her arm and then picks up the glass of water and places it to her lips "Drink Dora... well done for protecting the abbey, now rest please... recover and soon all will be well." He glances at the feline but as he seems busy he turns back to DoraRose to watch her and make sure she drinks.

DoraRose drinks some water and tries to speak again. "Outside Abbey... in woods... sorry f... for run... running a...away..." The shivers are less sever now, but still there.

Raymond has quietly watched and glances around the infirm.

Benar shakes his head and strokes Dora's ear gently, "You are home now, that is what matters, rest... and remember what I said. Your sister will not be pleased if you turn up at Dark Forest without a whole life time of stories to tell her." He smiles at the mouse then glances back at the wild-cat and inclines his head, "Good day sir, I am sorry for not greeting you sooner, no one told me I had a wild-cat guest. I am Benar, Father Abbot of Redwall Abbey, be welcome in peace within our halls"

Raymond stands and bows, "It is alright good abbot, you had an abbey beast to help and so I waited, I have not been here long, I was sent by Dazzle, wife of Chieftain Scioto of Ferravale." He goes on "I am Raymond Quickblade, Head Guard of Ferravale...the chieftain is unable to come and so I have come to check on thier daughter."

DoraRose sneezes, then moans, 3 tears sliding down her cheeks. "Lily..." she is now sweating with fever, and tries to throw the covers off. "Blissa..."

Benar says, "Ah yes I was hoping you might have been here for the little one, she is probably outside playing with the other young ones with Papa Oz." he smiles softly and shakes his head, "I am still not sure how she managed to get all the way from Ferravale to here but she is quite safe. Though she is convinced Dazzle is replacing her because she is having another child.""

Benar blinks down at DoraRose and pushes her back "What about Blissa and Lily?"

Raymond nods as he listens, he speaks "I am glad she is safe here and not sure on...explaining, well...furture siblings to a dibbun."

DoraRose grabs the Abbots paw. "Lily... dream... rose... bush..." she falls back on the bed. She looks over at the teacup. "Thirsty..."

Benar says, "I think it would be best if Oz spoke to her about that, he is our expert on Dibbuns. But I understand if you want to take her home with you. Perhaps her mother would be a good one to talk to her too?" He glances down at Dora and frown and gets her more water. "Lily is in a rose bush?"

Raymond speaks again, "She did mention trusting the abbey to watch Blissa for a few days but if the abbey is unable I can take her home."

Benar says, "Oh no not at all Raymond, if there is one thing we can do it is look after children, we are quite good at it these days actually." He smiles at the cat then glances down at Dora-rose and strokes her fore-head "Rest Dora...""

DoraRose seems to take Benar's advice. Her eyes close and she relaxes slightly, but she is not smiling, and her brow is creased in... worry? distress? It's hard to tell.

Benar frowns down at Dora, wondering what she is worrying about and sits back down by her side, holding one of her hands and smiling down at her.

DoraRose is holding the squirrel's paw, like a child would that of a parent. She stirs and rolls onto her right side, murmering, "Rose shall speak to rose...Lily..."

Benar smiles down at Dora and chuckles, "Yes Lily you tell the girl to stay with us, not having her slip off to join you just yet."

DoraRose's eyes fick wildly back and forth under her eyelids as she flips back to laying on her back. "Ravens..." she seems frightened, and her tossing and turning is threatening to mess up the fixing of the healers.

Benar says, "Shhh Dora," he murmurs to the girl in her fever, "There are no ravens here, just a squirrel, only Benar... sleep easy, no ravens I promise."

DoraRose seems to calm at Benar's words. Might she be coming awake? "Benar... Lily...storm...evil...fox...stormfeather..."

Benar is sat by the side of Dora-Rose's bedside, holding her paw and talking quietly to her, "There is no storm here today Dora, there is just the Abbey and the long lazy days of Summer."

DoraRose is slowly coming awake, but she is still speaking nonsense... or is it? "Flashing blades...death...Lily...Lily...LILY!" she sits up straight, completely messing up the bandages on her side. "/LILY/!"

Benar holds Dora, a hand hold her shoulder gently, pulling her against his habit which smells of clay and summer and warmth, "Rose.. Dora it is ok, I am here.. wake up."

Leon walks towards the infirm on hearing Dora scream he rushes in and about trips over his robe and just about a chair, he blinks and looks over "Dorarose...hey" He sounds worried and then looks at Benar, "Abbot Benar..is..is Dorarose ok?"

DoraRose is definetly awake now. She covers her face in her paws and breaks out in gut-wrenching sobs. She leans against Benar and cries, messing up the bandages even worse.

Benar strokes Dora's ear, "Shh it is ok Dora, it was just a dream.. a nightmare, you are safe in the abbey." He looks up at Leon, his face serious, "Fever dreams Dora was injured in the woods nearby"

Leon says, "I can make some willowbark tea Benar...ummm Abbot Benar, would you like me to?"

DoraRose is resting against the Abbot. She glances at Leon and murmurs, "I like tea..."

Benar says, "Yes please Leon, I think Dora could do with some more, the pot the healer made earlier has gone a bit... stale." he smiles at the healer then pets Dora's hand, "You are ok Dora..."

Leon nods , he leaves and returns after a while with some fresh tea, the willowbark added and goes to hand it to Benar so he can help Dorarose with it, "Sorry about ...running in, I was worried was all, she is my friend after all"

DoraRose smiles weakly at the other mouse. "Thank you..." she whispers. She starts to shiver, and goes to pull the covers back up. It is only then that the blood soaking through her bandages and tunic can be seen.

Benar says, "You are welcome DoraRose and it is quite alright Leon, you are the healer not me... I think you may want to check her bandages again."

Leon nods and goes to carefully and gently change Dorarose's bandages, "I will apply some more of the herb mixture as well" He says quietly and pays attention to his work as he helps her.

DoraRose sips the tea and lets Leon replace her bandages , gasping as they meet the cool air. To somebeast with a fever, the air would seem quite chilly.

Benar tucks the blankets back in around DoraRose once Leon is done with his work, "You'll be back on your feet in no time"

Leon frowns, "Sorry..." he says quietly as he now makes sure it's clean and applies the herbs to help it heal, "There will help it to heal...and reduce possible swelling and infection" He then gets clean bandages and places them carefully on the wounds, he sits back and lets the abbot help tuck her in and smiles at her, "There..Dorarose, all done."

DoraRose lays back when Leon fineshes and is tucked in by the Abbot. "Thank... you...both." she says, closing her eyes a little bit and sighing. She looks at the other mouse and adds, "You may call me Dora, if you wish."

Benar says, "You are welcome Dora, it is part of my job, to be here for everyone when they need it. Now you rest up I want you back at full health in time for my feast."

Leon smiles down at Dorarose, he looks to Benar "When is the Feast...soon?"

Benar says, "Not too soon, she has until Mid July."

DoraRose smiles. "Feast?" She looks a little more alert at the sound of a party. "Wh...what for?"

Benar says, "For Summer of course, we hold one each season to welcoming it and give thanks for what it has brought to us."

Leon smiles, he looks at Dorarose "Are you..feeling better Dorarose?"

Blissa walks slowly into the room and glances around, she stays by the doorway for now.

DoraRose looks at Leon, a smile still on her face. "A little, yes, thank you." she turns her attention back to Benar. "What do you do at 1 of these feasts?" Sadly, she has not yet noticed Blissa.

Benar says, "We have more food then we know what to do with, fine drink, song, dances, we tend to just have a good time." his tail twitches and he turns to look at Blissa, "Ah Blissa dear hello, I have heard from your mother."

Blissa stays by the door and frowns. "Mama?"

Leon glances over at the dibbun then back to Dorarose sitting in a chair beside her.

DoraRose slowly drifts off to sleep to the sound of the other beasts talking. She is now asleep, a peaceful look on her face.

This also has a bit to do with the Thorns of Steel TP we shall be starting in September. Feel free to join us if you wish!