Troubleing Afternoon

Silverstorm is starting to seriously dislike this place as she keeps her paws in her robes and walks along the river bank. Its cooler here by the river and there is good shade from the hot summer day.

Aibne is by the river as well but he is fishing and already has about 5 good size fish beside him. He also has a basket of wild mushrooms and some watercress he has gathered.

Silverstorm looks up and sighs as she sees him and goes to head down a forest path.

Aibne catches sight of the other otter and yells out “Hey Silverstorm! Where ya goin’ ta lass?” He blinks as he catches another fish and goes to pull on the fishing pole to get it to shore. He grunts and then manages to get the large fish and adds it to the pile before he walks over to the other otter, “The woods are not always safe by ya self lass, there may be vermin about.”

Silverstorm turns and shakes her head “Whats it to you and why do you keep brothering me for?”

Mint comes giggling down the pathway and rushes over to hug Silverstorm “Friend! Tee hee” She smiles and smiles at Aibne as well.

“Mint said it better than I could lass, a friend. I like to be your friend lass” Aibne says as he smiles at the otter maid. “And I like ta add you look very nice this afternoon”

Silverstorm smiles and hugs Mint, “Hey there..” She looks at Aibne, “Umm, thanks but I don’t look that nice.”

Mint smiles and pulls on her paws, she idly looks at them “Paws no webbie? Where webbie?” It’s an innocent question as she is a dibbun after all.

Aibne answers “She doesn’t have any like a normal otter does Mint, she be different a little tis all”

Silverstorm gently pulls her paw away and frowns at Aibne’s words as tears come to her face and she glares “Shut up! Ok I know I am different..just..just leave me alone! I can’t help how I was born!” She then turns and runs down the riverbank back towards camp, yeah she rather not be here but it’s safer to stay with a group and she will leave when the Redwallers do still and not before again so she doesn’t worry them again.

Mint frowns and looks over at her brother,” She no like us?”

Aibne sighs and gathers up the fish, watercress and mushrooms and goes to follow Silverstorm “Mint help me gets the rest of that” He then heads on down the path leading to the camp.

Silverstorm is already at the entry and falls over her footpaws and a guard helps her.” Hey lass be careful…thar” He looks at her paw oddly and blinks, Silverstorm yanks it away “I..I am fine.” She then heads to the Mess Hall to eat lunch and sits away from the other otters and starts to eat some bread and cheese with some dried fruit. There is also some walnuts and water to drink, she didn’t take any hot root stew.

Mint helps her brother get the rest of the supplies he gathered and then runs over to get lunch as she giggles and gets served a large bowl of hot root stew and gets some bread and water. She glances around and smiles wide as she see Silverstorm and goes to sit by her. “Hi hi!”

Aibne has given his supplies to whoever is in charge of that and gets himself some hot root, an apple and some water. She slowly walks over to Silverstorm and sits down “Hey, ya ok lass? You rushed off fairly quick thar and I am glad ya made it to camp” He offers a smile to her.

Silverstorm looks up and then down as she eats her small lunch, she sighs a little as she has some tears in her eyes.

Mint tilts her head and quietly finishes her own meal as she puts away the bowl and glass she goes to play with some dibbuns she has befriended.

Aibne watches his sister rush off and again focuses on Silverstorm “Ya want some stew lass?” He waits on a reply.

Silverstorm shakes her head “I don’t like hot root stew, ok so please go away”

Aibne blinks “Ya don’t like hot root, wot kind of otter doesn’t like hotroot it’s in our blood may as well say” He grins large.

Silverstorm feels the tears now and stands slowly as she starts to get up, “Well then it’s not in mine and I am sorry I am not like you, my paws are wrong and my rutter is wrong and I am not even pretty”

Aibne smiles “I think you’re very pretty, even beyond that Silverstorm.”

Silverstorm frowns and points out her scar on her face “That’s pretty! Yeah right..it’s ugly.”

Aibne smiles “Its what matters inside and it’s a scar…so. I like you, I do and would like to get to know ya better and my sister Mint loves ya too Silverstorm. She has not smiled in weeks and she finally has after meeting you and..well I been a bit happier too. Ok you have no webbing and ya rutter be….ya have a rutter right?” He then frowns, he had not meant for that to come out of his mouth, “I..I am sorry”

Silverstorm glares at him, “Sorry for what..huh, yeah I am a freak among otters! Ya happy and yes I have a rutter, it’s just..juts..” Tears go down her face “I hate this place! I want to go home!” And now she has a lot of otters looking at her and she tense up.

Aibne goes to lay a paw on her shoulder and maybe give her a friendly hug “Its ok Silverstorm, I don’t care how ya look and neither should anyone else, in fact no one is saying anything.

Silverstorm goes to shove him away before he has a chance to hug her, and the paw on her shoulder was a bad idea .

Aibne shakes his head and just backs off"I..have to go check on my sister, maybe we can talk later or sometime if you’re out and about" He then just leaves without another word.

Silverstorm looks at all the curious faces and rushes out the door in tears. She finds a place away from any beast and ends up crying herself to sleep. She will follow the others to the quarry but she will be very quiet and slow walking.