Though the sorrow may last for a moment, joy can come again! :D
This happened after this log: http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/sad-news-pond
RW Abbey: Pond
The abbey pond is practically the place to go for relaxation. The orchards that settle onto one side of the water hole provide decent shade for the more heated months to come. Various types of wild flowers grow about the edge of the ground that lightly overhangs into the pond. The pond seemingly invites one into its cool depths, which holds its fish life and multiple species of shrimp and other water dwellers.
Spring has come. Due to the rains, the abbey pond is just gently lapping at the edges of the ground. Soon to overflow lightly if the spring rains don't let up soon. Plant life seems to explode here in a variety of colors, sizes and aromas.
Exits: [F]ire [P]it, [R]edwall [E]ntry, [P]ath by the [G]reat [H]all, [Dive] in the pond, [O]rchards
Contents:
South Wallgate
Castus the squirrel and Gos the Sparra. LilyMoore the mouse and Butterlcaw the sparrow. Nicholas the squirrel.
"Is big! Big trouble," a large sparrow says, hopping back and forth. Castus lays on the grass before the pond, eyes closed and paws behind his head. "It's not," he says. "You're making a bigger deal of it than it needs to be." The sparrow shakes it head violently. "Squirrel-worm not know! Squirrel-worm not know proud tradition of foot-wrestle. What if I lose? What if Spearbeak laugh at me?" "Then she isn't worth your time, Gos. Look, just go ask Skipper if you need help with leg-training." Castus smiles and settles down again, clearly unperturbed by the sparrow's nervous hopping.
"But- but what if-" "Gos," Castus interrupts, "I've been in a lot of fights. I've been stabbed a lot by angry vermin. I just got stabbed /again/ a few days ago. If I know anything, it's that *nothing* can't be conquered with some determination. You're s Sparra, aren't you?" The sparrow digs at the ground and errantly eats an insect, looking guiltily at his slightly protruding gut. "... Mostly," he replies.
LilyMoore comes from the direction of the Abbey building, her own Sparra friend, Butterclaw hopping after her, trying to get her to tell him why she looks so sad. The young mousemaid just shakes her head 'no'. When she sees the squirrel by the pond, she starts to wander to the other side of the small water body.
The other Sparra, Gos, hops around agitatedly before glancing up at the others approaching. With a squawk of surprise, he zips off into the sky. Castus remains on the ground, eyes closed and apparently paying attentiong to very little until Lily gets close. One of his eyes cracks open as he peers up at the mousemaid. "... 'Lo there," he says with a small smile.
LilyMoore jumps with surprise and looks up. She looks like she's been crying. She quickly wipes her cheeks and says quietly, "Hello." Butterclaw watches the other Sparra fly off, then turns back to his friend, chirruping in concern.
Castus's smile gets a little tight when he sees the maid's been crying. He sits up on his shoulders, looking at her kindly. "Hey now," he says in a whisper. "Hey. What's the matter here? Nobody should be this sad in Redwall Abbey."
LilyMoore sniffs and wipes her cheeks again. "It's something that not even Redwall can fix," she says softly as she walks over to him. "It happens to everybeast, but it still makes me sad." Butterclaw hops beside her, silent now, hoping that maybe a stranger will be able to make her talk.
Castus pats the ground next to him. "Well, perhaps two beasts talking can at least help. Come on, let's have a talk." He reaches into his tunic and pulls out a handkerchief. "Wipe your eyes, sweetheart, it's not good for your fur to cry!"
LilyMoore sniffs and accepts the hankie, wiping her eyes and cheeks. "Thank you..." she says sadly, crumpling it in her lap. "My name's Lily, by the way."
"Castus," the squirrel responds with a bigger smile now that she's accepted the hankie. "I don't live here, but technically I suppose nobody but the Order does. But I have been around Mossflower more than once and I like to think I've picked up a few bits of wisdom. So. What's bothering you then?"
LilyMoore sniffs and looks ready to cry again. "My Dad is the Master Healer here, an'....an' he said that one of my f....friends is....is dying....and I know th...that if h...he could do any...anything to f...f....fix it, h....he would, b...b...but h...h...he c...c...can't!" She really is crying again, and she holds the handkerchief to her cheeks.
Castus's tongue licks suddenly lips. "Ah..." he murmurs, looking down at the ground. "It's okay to feel terrible about it," he says quietly. "It's a terrible thing." He gently scoots a little closer, sitting up and wrapping his arms around his knees. "How long have you known your friend?"
LilyMoore is struggling to not sob. "M...m....my h...h...whole l...li....life....." She has lived here her whole life, too. Which is part of the reason why her dress and apron are made out of old habits.
Castus nods gently. "I'm sorry," he says. "There's not much that can be said. But you won't be alone if he passes. This is..." He shakes his head. "It's just one of those things that can only be lived through. There's no easy way to do it. I wish there was. I'm sorry." He very gently reaches out with his tail, coiling it about her shoulders. "What's their name?"
Nicholas is wandering around the Abbey, just lookin' around, an' doin' stuff. Soon, he finds himself at the pond, and spots some familiar-looking creatures. Smiling, he approaches them. "Oi, Castus! I see yer feelin' better."
LilyMoore allows the tail to curl around her shoulders. She debates about if she should tell the squirrel that it's Zork -- she doesn't really have permission to go spreading that information. Fortunately for her, the other squirrel comes wandering up and saves her from having to answer. She goes to try and wipe her still-flowing tears off of her cheeks. Butterclaw the Sparra is beside her, silent with sorrow for his friend.
Castus looks over his shoulder at Nicholas, quickly drawing his paw across his throat. "Ahem!" he grunts, flicking his eyes to the tears running down LilyMoore's face. "Don't worry about me, Nicholas. Just a scratch."
Nicholas looks at the mouse, his smile disappearing immediately. "Oi, I'm terribly sorry, I didn't notice ya weepin'... Please, fergive me, lass. Em...what's t'e matter, if ya don't mind me askin'. Maybe I could 'elp?"
LilyMoore just shakes her head. She's struggling so hard to not bust out sobbing she couldn't speak coherently, anyway. Butterclaw looks between them for a couple of moments then chirrups, "Lilymouse hasgot friendworm that dyinggoing."
Castus nods sadly. "Never a good day to lose a friend," he murmurs quietly. "But they're not passed away yet," he offers. "Have you spent much time with them? I'm sure they'd want you nearby. Especially if some miracle occurs and they recover."
Nicholas frowns. Dying friends were never good. He nods in agreement with Castus. "Oi... If t'ey're not dead, t'en t'at always means t'ere's still a chance. An' 'avin' a friend with 'em... Oi, I bet t'at alone'd 'elp 'em feel better."
LilyMoore sniffs and looks up at them with her blue-violet-hazel eyes. "R...r....really?" She asks, her voice suddenly filled with hope.
Castus spreads his paws. "Really!" he says. "There's no reason to give up hope where there's life, Lily. And no reason either to give up on your friend. Whatever happens, I know that your being there with him can *only* do good."
Nicholas smiles softly. "T'at's right, lass. Remember- not'in' is impossible if ya try. Believe me... I've seen impossible t'ings all t'roughout me life."
LilyMoore smiles a little. "But...my Dad is the Master Healer...an'....an' he said that....my friend prob'ly won't live...to see....autumn..." she sniffs and looks very sad again.
Castus reaches out to try and put a bracing paw on Lily's shoulder. "Then be with him till autumn," he says quietly. "Make him smile. Make him remember what good friends you are. And if he's still there come the turning of the leaves, you'll have a friendship even stronger than before."
Nicholas nods again. "Aye... Oi, make every moment special. An' never give up 'ope, lass. 'Ope can sometimes do amazin' t'ings. Make sure yer friend 'as 'ope, too."
LilyMoore nods slowly, thinking as she lets Castus put his paw on her shoulder. Then her face bursts into a bright smile and she goes to hug first him, then Nicholas. "I'll be sure to do that! Thank you! Here's your hankie back." After dropping the squirrel's handkerchief so he can get it, she runs off, waving good-bye as she shouts, "Thank you!" Butterclaw flutters after her, and soon they are out of sight.
Thanks for reading!
Groups:
