There's A Rat In The Tool Shed!
RW Abbey: Kitchen Yard
Boasting a decent view of the Abbey's orchards and gardens, this
space is mostly a work area, displaying well trampled grass and the
occasonal bare spot. An especaily worn spot is the path that leads
between the kitchen gardens and the vineyards.
From one end of the kitchen yard to the other, the space is nearly
filled by the tremendous gnarled trunk of an ancient apple tree,
roots and branches and boughs trimmed off and piled alongside for
later use. A deep groove of mud-churned sod and torn grass leads
back to the orchard, from where the fallen tree must have come.
There are also a variety of workshops around the edge of the yard,
the wood-shop, the cooper for making barrels. The small smithy
where the abbey's tools are made, the potters kiln and the brewery.
Exits: [Vine]yards, [K]itchen [G]arden
Zork is by the forge making some pieces for the gates, he looks one over and sets it back down carefully and takes a swig of some water he has in a canteen before going back to making a couple bolts and hinges.
Thorn has been sneaking around the past couple days, and recently she had decided to hide in the tool shed and no one seen her and now it’s locked and she is still inside to which of course she dislikes and starts pounding on the shed door "Open this, some beast open this!"
Zork pounds out one of the hinges into a shape and blinks as he stops and looks towards the shed and blinks. He sets down the hammer and walks over to the shed standing in front of it, "Who is in dar?" He calls out. He frowns as he doesn’t have the keys to the shed and looks around for a novice or abbey brother or sister who might.
Thorn kicks the door, "Why do you care, let me out! If ya don't there be trouble." She kicks the door again and tries to push it open.
Zork frowns, ok he doesn't know that voice and sighs, he sees a novice and motions them over "You have the keys ta this?" They shake their head as the badger sighs again and shakes his head " Ok..who do?" The novice shrugs. "Not helpful lad" The badger says as he looks at the door and hmmms "Umm..ya goin' ta have ta wait no key..wait how ya get in thar if its locked?"
There isn't an answer as whoever it is goes silent and backs up knocking over a rake and shovel which falls on her toe as she yelps.
Zork gets curious now, and tries the door and frowns "Ya didn't answer me lass, how ya get in thar if its locked?" He is by the tool shed.
Thorn crosses her arms, she doesn’t answer and instead just mutters as if that’s the only way out she is not answering any questions.
Zork shakes his head, he sees another novice and goes over to them" Find the keys to de shed please and open it" The novice nods and goes off to get the keys or find out who has them.
Thorn hears bits and pieces of the talk, keys is one word she hears and backs up looking to hide in the corner like earlier but now they know she is in here and she mutters, so instead looks ready to bolt if some beast opens that door.
Zork folds his arms over his chest as he looks at the shed door waiting on a novice or someone who has the keys, a vole comes along with the keys and a question “Why ever do you need the shed open?" The badger takes the keys, "Thank ya Brother Rafe..." He then goes to carefully unlock the door and step back after he opens the door slightly.
Thorn sees the door open and her eyes narrow, she knows someone is on the other side and its probably lucky the badger moved back some, though it may help very little as she bolts forward to shove the door open and about trips as she is out and free of her hiding spot, where she fell asleep unseen seems and if she isn’t grabbed right away she goes on to bolt away from the yard.
Zork had only moved slightly away from the door as he was not expecting the door to basically fly open suddenly as it just about slams into the side of his head, it misses but it goes get his shoulder and cause him to stumble backwards a little as he holds his shoulder and lets out a growl of pain, he looks to where the cause of the door flying open can be seen and sees the rat running and he failed to grab her as he is focused more on the pain in his shoulder now.
It is about then Lee shows up. "Oy, Zork, wot be goin' on?"
Thorn turns around to see who opened the door to the shed and then looks forwards again just in time to see the otter and gasps as she comes to a halt and balls her fist up looking between them.
Zork takes a deep breath, making a note to control the urge to yell loudly and shakes his head" She were in de shed!" Well he mostly controlled yelling too loud.
Lee frowns, and moves to grab the interloper. "Oh? An' who are ye? Wot are ye doin' in the shed?"
Thorn goes to punch the otter as she is grabbed "Let go of me! I aint goin nowhere and none ya business why I was in there!"
Zork shakes his head as he holds his shoulder still hurts, "I think she were in thar at least couple hours"
Lee rubs his jaw. "Ow! Wot is yer problem? No more punchin'!"
Thorn struggles and then frowns as she allows herself to relax, "I..I was locked in, cause I was hiding..I mean.." She goes quiet now, it’s clear she is not part of the abbey or it's guests.
Zork rubs his shoulder "Hiding from what?Who? And who are ya?" He walks over now to offer any help if it’s needed.
Lee frowns. "'Ow did ye get into the Abbey? Where are ye from?"
Thorn at first doesn't answer and looks afraid to answer, then seeing as she may as well she frowns, "I been here a while with my dad...well he was here till de hare killed him, I hid in the cellar and then that tool shed and fell asleep, didn’t know it be locked" Things suddenly come to mind and she struggles again, "Let me go...don't kill me, I didn’t do anything, I never did anything I was only here cause dad was!"
Zork sighs as his he will have to take a day or two away from the forge till his shoulder is better, he listens to the young rat letting Lee decide what to do with her.
Lee frowns. "Was yer dad with Marek? Answer me truthfully now."
Thorn gulps and nods her head, "Yes.." She shivers a little, yeah she is young but it’s clear she is a lot more mature for a beast that age, or around 4 seasons.
Ree pads silently into the yard. His keen ears had picked up the sound of shouting and he had come to see what was going on. He leans on the old apple tree, his head slightly tilted and his ears flicking to indicate interest.
Zork looks over at Ree and back to Thorn, before speaking with Lee, "So..wot do we do with her?"
Lee studies the young rat. "Well... She seems 'armless, ta be perfectly honest... But I be afraid that she may follow 'er father's footsteps... I say we take 'er ta Lorimis, an' per'aps put 'er in the Abbey school, teach 'er ta read, maybe... But first, she needs ta be cleaned up."
Ree only seems interested in learning what is going on, and fiddles with the belt of his odd, stained grey habit. He was not great at conversations....
Thorn frowns, "Clean up?!" She also is not so sure of who ever Lorimis is.
Zork nods, "yeah, like a bath and taking her ta Lorimis be a good plan. But where till then?"
Ree tells them, "Well, guess she could share our special infirmary space...the one that Winder is staying in, though he's nearly healed now."
Lee glances at Ree, then back at Thorn. "Tell me yer name... An' yes, ye need a bath, an' a clean tunic or dress. If ye cooperate, ye'll be fed well by Friar Lacota, I guarantee it."
Thorn folds her arms over her chest and then speaks "Thorn..." She says quietly, then a little louder, "My name is Thorn"
Ree flicks his ears and chuckles softly, "Nice name miss. Reenesh, but every beast calls me Ree."
Zork nods "Yes, no one will harm ya ere' in de abbey, long as ya don’t harm anyone that is as for where ta stay in the abbey...not sure" He looks at Lee "Best idea is ta keep an eye on her probably"
Lee peers at Thorn. "Lass, this be an opportunity, a chance ta 'ave a better life. I urge ye ta accept the Abbey ways, ye won't regret it. Alright, Thorn?"
Ree waits for her response. He too would like her to try staying here. He wishes he could, but he feels cabin fever as well.
Thorn looks between the three, "No one gonna hurt me?" She sounds worried still and looks unsure.
Zork says, "I won't, but ya do have ta obey the abbey rules and not punch beasts or hide places.Hmmss would say place her with de other dibbuns but..not so sure on that yet"
Lee shakes his head. "Nobeast will 'urt ye. I won't let anybeast 'arm ye." He says to Zork quietly, "She reminds me of Cera... How I miss 'er."
Ree nods to Thorn, "I have hurt many beasts heh....yet here, even I will not lay a paw upon anyone. Even 'Killer Ree' respects the rules."
Thorn nods slowly, she doesn’t catch the quiet talking and frowns, "Where you going to put me?" She looks at Ree "I have not hurt anyone...well punched a couple beasts but I was trying to get away"
Zork hmmms and nods "I remember Cera"
Ree peers at Thorn and chuckles a bit, "Nhihnhin....I was only making a point, dear Thorn."
Lee looks up. "Hmm, per'aps I can get ye an unused room for a little while. We got rooms ta spare at the moment."
Thorn shrugs "I don’t plan to...hurt anyone, I only stayed cause of.." She frowns "Dad..."
Zork listens "Well, it will be up ta you if stay, fer now ya stay..talk ta Lorimis maybe or Benar..how old are ya anyways?"
Thorn says, "4 seasons."
Ree has nothing to contribute, so he climbs into a low branch and relaxes there, listening.
Lee watches Ree, then says to Thorn, "Ye should meet me Daughter Starlight. She's about yer age."
Thorn shrugs" Maybe..I..I don't know, what if they don’t want me, talking to any dibbuns here?"
Zork smiles a little "Maybe Ozzy could watch ya, he watches all the dibbuns or beasts your age and younger." He says to Thorn.
Thorn pouts a little at the word dibbun, but stays quiet.
Lee nods, and smiles. "Now, come. I bet yer 'ungry, yes lass?"
Thorn looks up slowly and nods
Lee chuckles. "Wot is yer favorite food?" He would lead Thorn toward the Kitchen. "Are ye new, Ree? I don't believe we 'ave met."
Thorn says "I like fish..and scones are nice"
Ree tells Lee, "I am. Flicktail took me here along with my two friends. They needed to heal." He does not tell him about the misunderstanding-induced fight he had earlier.
Lee hmms, and nods. "A pleasure ta meet ye, Ree." He glances at Thorn again and grins. "Fish is the best, lass."
Thorn nods, she has yet to smile and may even still be a little afraid but looks willing to follow
Ree slinks along in the rear, pulling his hood over his head to look inconspicuous first. He was silent as the grave.
Lee heads in toward the kitchen. "Lacota might 'ave some fish available."
The beast in question, Friar Lacota, is busy preparing a stew. "Oy, Friar, this little lass 'ere desires some fish, can ye 'elp?" Lee points at Thorn. Lacota looks up. "Can you not see I am busy? As if my kitchen weren't wrecked enough, I'm worked like a slave..."
Ree enters the scene, his face partly hidden under his hood until he gets indoors and puts it down partway to reveal his face, "May I help, Lacota?"
Thorn stays quiet as the friar comes into the yard.
Zork excuses himself as he heads off; he needs to check on something anyways.
