Well, This Afternoon Turns..ummmmm....-Redwall Log

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Redwall Log:

Oz wants quiet time in the orchard thinking of last harvest time when Zork died....he then gets company and a quiet talk.....soon somehow ends up not so quiet an afternoon.....read

In Log:

Oz-Papa Oz and dibbun caretaker of Redwall

Cynthia-Abbey Novice and daughter to Lacota

Lacota-Abbey Friar

Elmef-Abbey Brother and keeper of the Abbey Grounds

RW Abbey: Second Orchard


Verdant green has swept across the orchard, taking over from the icy hand of winter, long since passed. Blooms and leaves have sprouted on the mature trees that dot the orchard and give it its name. Trees mostly of the apple variety dot this area of the immense orchard, though others of almonds, peaches, oranges, apricots, walnuts and others are spattered throughout. Why in the minority? /Their/ area of the orchard is a little ways closer to the pond. Grass sprouts as if on a mad quest to cover anything and everything with its pleasant, gentle emerald spreads across the ground. Soft to the footpaw and not so tall as so you have to wade through it, it's one of those plants that's taken for granted, even beneath the shade of the leafy orchard trees.

Sunlight lances down through the translucent leaves and patterns arrive on those blades of grass that let little specks of sunlight through, though the whole air of the forest is cool and green, a vision in jade. Against that jade, little specks of color of flours and fruit can be had whilst wildflowers can be seen scattered about the orchard floor along with the soft, springy carpet of grass. A shady/sunny portion of the abbey that's farmed and sat under, lunched and played under and an integral part of the abbeybeast's lives.


Exits: [F]irst [O]rchard, [P]ath by [G]reat [H]all, [Ki]tchen [P]ath

Oz decided today was a good day to have a little time off. It was not very often he took time off unless it was something important, rarely was it on his own thinking. Today was just a half day off as he came to the orchards to sit down and no one w working in the orchards this time of day, then not much to do just yet.

Cynthia has been here most of the day. Being a novice was harder than she thought, but she was doing well and would soon try to get one of those leaf charms. She found an apple that was ripe and started to eat it when she saw the badger. She got to a lower branch as she was fairly high up and sat carefully before speaking "Hey, you seem to be missing all your tag a longs" She chuckles a little as she smiles and tosses the apple from paw to paw.

Oz heard the leaves rustling before she even spoke" One needs time off sometimes Novice Cynthia and why are you in one of the trees?" He tilts his head listening for a reply to his question.

Cynthia shrugs "Just climbing, it’s fun and I have missed it. Plus we are allowed free time aren’t we? I have put in some good study time and pay attention to lessons, looked over the charter like toms of times, sides it’s not busy here today." She is curious though “When are they gonna start harvest stuff do you know, I could help" She takes a bite of the apple.

Oz raises an eyebrow “OH and what is the charter may I ask? Do you know all the words and meaning to them?" He smiles, course he knows but does the mouse maid, he wants to see just how well she has paid attention in class, then he can answer other questions.

Cynthia frowns, she was not expecting this, but clears her throat, “To be brothers and sisters of peace and goodwill while living together under the protection of Redwall Abbey. Forsake all unnecessary forms of violence, not only to Mossflower, its trees, grasses, flowers and insects, but to all living creatures. Help and comfort the dispossessed. Harbor orphans and waifs. Offer shelter to all creatures alike. Give clothing, warmth and food to any beast or creature that is deemed in need of such. Educate and learn, particularly in the healing arts, comfort the sick, nurse the injured and help the wounded. Take food from the earth and replenish the land by caring for it; husbanding crops, living in harmony with the seasons always. To honor and protect friends and brethren, only raising paw to do battle when life at Redwall is threatened by treachery and the shadow of war; at these times every Redwall creature should show courage, fortitude and obedience to the Father Abbot. The taking of another life must always be justify and never carried out in a wanton manner." She says, yep she remembered it well" And it means...well abbey beasts are peaceful and helpful to all, not just beasts but like plants and trees as well. You should only use whats needed and that’s it, maybe use a fallen branch to make something of wood, not like a whole tree and be kind to all...even vermin and some vermin even will thank you, course others won’t"

Oz listens as he nods.

Cynthia slides off the branch to stand beside him, she sits the one bite out of it apple down "And abbey beasts care for sick and injured beasts, we take in orphans and care for others in need as well. It there is ever any...well dangers we should do our best to not be afraid or least not show it if we are as its ok to be afraid at times, we listen to what the abbot says on different matters and not just in times like that..any times. We all do our part in helping around the abbey also, as its..well not just a one beast job, its a..well lot a beasts job"

Oz smiles "You’re doing well with our novice training, why else is the charter important?"

Cynthia explains "Well it shows how as an order beast we show peace and goodwill meaning we get along or try our best to get along with all beasts, we are polite and we share with others also. We are an abbey of peace and frown on fighting and war, in fact we don’t fight, unless it’s a last resort and even then that’s only under threat and still...last resort." She goes on “We offer shelter to those in need, we even teach healing and show care in how we treat even plants, crops and insects even. We replant where needed, we comfort, and not just like have some food and a place to stay, but like sad times too...right?" She then adds “And the abbey always does its best to stay peaceful, even when places around us may not be, we are peaceful, we treat beasts and plant life…everything with respect. It’s a lifelong commitment to join the order and hard work. We beasts of peace always and we spread that message to others. No violence or mean thoughts, ever…or least we try our best not to, that’s the abbey way. Like we have a forge but it’s not for weapon making or armor, nor repair unless again last resort cause maybe we are under siege and have no choice.” And she finishes.

Oz smiles "Yes..you are correct, you have paid attention well in class, you should let Benar know you earned your light and dark green leaves in your novice training and he can ask me if needed." He leans against the tree he is under, so much for time alone but its fine" Won’t be so quiet here in a couple weeks.....harvest time...then." He oddly seems down today somewhat.

Cynthia nods and then smiles as he mentions she earned a couple of her charms and she wasn't expecting any tests but hey she is still happy as she goes to hug him, she also notices the quietness" You seem to not like the fact harvest time is soon, why? I mean you probably help or maybe you just make sure dibbuns don't get in the way too much." She smiles at an idea, “You could distract them, I have a lot of ideas for that, fun by the pond or a picnic in a clearing by the abbey, or just something indoors that’s fun, and if you need help I volunteer"

Lacota comes toward the orchard across the lawn, talking to another abbey beast quietly. As they near an apple tree, the Friar stops, and looks upward. "Nearly ripe, Sister Violet. Make a note of that. I intend to tell the cellar hog we need more cider..." He stops, and turns. "Cynthia? Is that your voice I hear?"

Oz is listening still and nods "Help with dibbuns is always needed, and...I don't know. I did take the dibbuns on a picnic in the clearing last harvest time, and they had fun and it was enjoyable to have a nice lunch in the woods....sort of stayed out little longer than planned, but it was fine.....usually...maybe not so much that day" He frowns as he remembers that day still, maybe too well.

Cynthia listens and when she hears Lacota she calls out "Yeah, me and Papa Oz are here." She smiles and turns back to the badger but seeing the frown she is concern "Why was in not fine? Did harvest go ok that day or was ..they just needing extra help or something? Something happen in the woods?"

Lacota confers with Sister Violet some more, as the two leisurely stroll toward Oz and Cynthia. "Afternoon, Cynthia. Oz. Getting ready for the harvest?"

Oz is quite a long while before he speaks “No, nothing happen in the woods and no was hurt. The weather was even sunny that day as I remember the day clearly, and what was harvested that day...well it went fairly well, they got a good bit done from what I heard, I wasn't there...and the rest of the day they took off, and I think no one worked the following day either. Was the day after that harvesting started again." He nods to Lacota before speaking after another pause,"Just..something happen while I was outside the abbey"

Cynthia listens and is uncertain whether to ask or not, "Oh..."She nods as she goes over to Lacota "I think in about 2 weeks, harvest time will be a lot of work but I am sure there is ways to make it fun still."

Lacota nods at Cynthia. "Yes. Sister Violet and I are taking an inventory... You know the harvest feast won't be too far off, so I'm planning well in advance. We haven't enough cider at the moment, but this harvest should provide more than enough apples for it..."

Cynthia nods, "Cider is good and I bet the feast will be wonderful!" She chuckles but is still wondering as she decides to see why Oz seems bit quiet and even alone at first in the orchards in the first place" Papa Oz?...You ok today, did something happen today..."She thinks, maybe it’s something else as she sits beside him "Something happen last harvest time? I am sure things were ok, even if you stayed out a little longer they probably was glad not to have dibbuns running all over the orchards as they tried to work.." Ok she is curious, “What happen?"

Oz is still quiet and sighs as he does answer, it’s quiet a long while though, "Yeah...sure they were glad of dibbuns not in the way an extra hour or so....I don't know I wasn’t there that day I was in the woods with them on a stupid picnic" Ok why did he say that, he likes picnics with the dibuns as he frowns, " I wasn't there when he...when he died, in the orchards, I find out an hour after I came back from his daughter who locked herself in the book binding room "Well that explains him feeling down harvest coming back up soon.

Cynthia frowns, maybe she shouldn't of asked, this was shortly after she showed up, let’s see around winter right? She looks between them, "Who...who died?"

Lacota ahs, and makes himself busy again, talking to the Sister. He looks at Cynthia. "Umm, ah... Not my place to say, child." He'll leave it for Oz to decide whether he wants to say or not. "Sister Violet, we were needing to check the, ah... Check the... You know..."

Oz does answer, "Its fine, she wasn’t here at the time I don't think. Harvest time is going to be a little sad for me most likely." He speaks to Cynthia" While I had the dibbuns out in the woods, and during the harvest time that day, my brother...he died that afternoon. And I sometimes question weather it been any different...or worse if I had been there when it happen, or if it was better that I was in the clearing by the abbey. Could it of been better for my niece or would she still of been just upset, I don't know...who knows maybe it would of been worse if I was there at the time, not sure. I am not as sad now but also no one really..fully gets over the death of a loved one."

Cynthia listens and frowns, she remembers when someone else died and gives the badger a hug and is just quiet a while "Yeah....I know how you feel."

Lacota nods his head. "It is rather hard to deal with..."

Oz returns the hug as he nods "Yes..it is, but we should talk of other things maybe....such as this harvest season coming soon, it should go well"

Cynthia nods "Yeah...should" She frowns a little looking towards another area of the orchards, thinking of her mother "You know, I know where I could help, maybe I could collect honey from the bees, I never had a problem with them and a brother or sister could be there if needed"

Oz speaks "Maybe, I would ask Benar or maybe Elmef about that. That’s not an easy job to collect from the hives, there is risk of getting stung by the bees and few have the ability to calm them"

Lacota nods agreement. "Perhaps Krystal can help... She knows a bit about the skeps."

Cynthia frowns as he mother's name is mentioned, "But she...."She looks at Oz "She did teach me some things about the bees...a little anyways." She looks hopeful" Please..I would be careful and someone needs to do it."

Oz says, "I know she knew a great deal but...still she had skills, its why she was the bee keeper here."

Cynthia speaks up "I am not a dibbun anymore, I am almost 9 seasons old now and I can handle things better now, I just want to help and....maybe I could even be Bee keeper one day, they like my singing or they did one day I helped a novice who bumped one of the hives. I calmed the bees" She looks at Lacota "And Mother isn’t here anymore..to..to help with anything! " She blinks, she shouldn’t be yelling, she sniffs and quickly climbs into a tree fairly high up.

Lacota crosses his arms. "She *is* the bee keeper. Not *was*..." The Friar had not been quite himself since his wife had... gone. "Regardless, you'll do well, Cynthia. Just talk to..." And then his daughter is climbing the tree... And yelling at him... And he just goes silent. "I'm going to have a talk with you later, Cynthia, about yelling..."

Oz frowns as he hears rustling "Lacota...calm yourself please she is upset." He frowns "Didn't the novice..or someone tell you what happen? Krystal...Krystal is..dead." Duh course he was told, why wouldn’t he of been told.

Cynthia stays up high, "Go away!" She sniffs, ok she is upset "Both of you!" She goes a little higher into the tree.

Lacota looks at the badger incredulously. "Stop that, Oz. You stop it. She's not dead... She's just... She's just away. She's been away... She'll come back. She'll come back... And we'll have our dibbun, you know that, Oz..." He looks up at the tree. "Cynthia... Please, Cynthia, I am sorry... I am sorry... Please, come down again."

Oz frowns, he can't climb up there, and not just cause he is blind, he keeps focus on the friar, he knows he was told so something is up here, he frowns concern about Lacota and Cynthia as he tilts his head "Cythina..please come down!" He frowns again "Lacota...."

Cynthia looks as the badger and Friar talk and coughs a little as she sobs, she hates the world and they are making it worse right now, she also is not paying attention as she goes to get onto a smaller branch and try and reach another tree, a..weak branch as she gasps as it breaks and she falls, crashing into one branch and grabs another, hanging on and more tears, she suddenly feels like a dibbun again as fear comes "Daddy!..Daddy Papa Oz help me!"

Lacota is snapped out of his daze by Cynthia's screams. "I'm coming! Hold on! Oh Oz, what have I done?" He drops everything and rushes to a spot under his daughter. "Hold on! We're here! Oz, do something!"

Oz frowns "How am I to help? I can't see where she is" He can hear where she is and frowns "She is still fairly high up and I can't climb, the only other one here is you"

Cynthia is still holding on and has tears in her eyes and still fairly high up as she tries to get a better grip and screams as she almost falls and shivers, "Help me! Please...daddy! Papa Oz..!!"

Lacota sighs. "She's hanging from a weak branch, Oz, if I try to climb up there, my added weight will surely break it..." He looks up, and yells, "HANG ON, I'M COMING... TRY NOT TO MOVE TOO MUCH..." And with that, the Friar dashes up the tree with the elegance and quickness inherent to his species.

Oz frowns, all he wanted was a quiet day in the orchards, not an argument and then chaos basically and not seeing is not helping "Friar Lacota be careful!"

Elmef comes walking out of the trees, ladder resting on his shoulders, he's heard all the shouting and come to the rescue. Frowning up at Cynthia in one of his trees, "Friar, Papa Oz good day, could you use a little help?" He swings the ladder around and sighs, "I do wish beasts would respect the orchard, the trees provide us with our food they are not for casually sitting in."

Cynthia has her eyes shut as she hangs on, luckily she didn't damage anything as the weak branch that broke had no fruit on it, she gets a slightly better grip but just slightly as she slowly opens her eyes, she sniffs and doesn't speak right off and is too afraid of falling to move.

Lacota looks down. "My apologies, Brother Elmef. It is my fault... I... Upset my daughter, and she climbed up to get away." He sighs, then looks over at Cynthia again. "Hang on just a little longer, alright? We've got a ladder now."

Oz tilts his head at Elmef" Elmef....Cynthia is a bit...up in the tree, it can be explained later." He knows some will climb the trees, but he also wishes sometimes beasts wouldn't...well unless they are careful as he knows some are careful and they usually barely go up the tree.

Elmef sighs and nods to Lacota, "Well climbing one of my trees is a bad way to escape a squirrel." He opens the ladder and moves it slowly into place, holding onto it, "Cynthia I need you to look down, the ladder is right by your feet."

Cynthia look down, she eeps a little as she slides down some, but manages to keep a grip, she forces herself to look down when she sees the ladder a little out of reach and frowns, she slowly reaches out a foot paw and then the other and sort of ooofs as she is on the top of the ladder, least she didn’t fall backwards but on paw is on a branch and the other on the top of the ladder as she looks unsure of heading down, but maybe if she goes slowly.

Oz backs up and looks worried, but stays close by in case he is needed. Luckily dibbuns are nowhere in sight, they are elsewhere....hey he is not with them 24/7 after all.

Lacota drops down from the tree himself, and looks upward. "That's it, Cynthia, you got it... Just come down... Slowly, alright?"

Elmef continues to hold the bottom of the ladder, "That's it lass, great job, now shimmy on down"

Cynthia slowly gets down the ladder and shiver some, she is finally on the ground and seems to be ok, her paws are a bit skinned from hanging on and almost slipping, and she has a small bruise on her lower arm but she is fine, she looks at the 3 of them and stands there as tears go down her face.

Oz listens and sighs relieved she is down, he can relax or least he hopes he can. "Cythina?"

Lacota moves closer and hugs Cynthia close. "Shhh, shh... I'm sorry, lass, that I upset you. Come on, you need to get those paws of yours looked at... Maybe Angela or Leon is on duty..." He offers her his handkerchief. "Come on, dry your eyes... It makes your poor old dad quite sad to see you cry."

Elmef leans on the ladder and leaves Lacota to talk with Cynthia as he clambers up the ladder to inspect the tree

Cynthia sobs a little but does hug her father a little, "I...." She sniffs "I miss mom...I miss her." Tears go down her face more, “I want her back.." it’s been weeks since her mother died, and it was a reason she ran away a while, to try and forget and she can’t. “How long does it..t..t..take to not be sad"

Oz frown, he sighs as he speaks, "It can take a while, different things...pleases or even" He frowns, "Certain seasons makes you remember....like today when I got to thinking about my brother again, the orchards and..harvest coming up made me sad again, cause he died here last harvest time and..well still think on it at times"

Lacota squeezes his daughter. "I want her back, too, lass... And she will be back. I know she will." He looks down at Cynthia. "We both love her dearly. She'll come back." Poor Lacota. Still unable to face and accept the truth. "Even if she doesn't come back, though... I'm sorry, Cynthia... One never truly stops being sad..." He glances over at Oz and Elmef. "Can... Can one of you inform Benar that I...will not be filling my duties in the kitchen this evening... I have every faith in my novices, and both Sister May and Sister Violet... I... I need some family time alone with my daughter this evening... I've neglected her terribly..." He hugs Cynthia again. "And I'm sorry I did that."

Elmef nods his head, "I will take care of it for you Lacota and keep an eye on things, you stay at home with your daughter." He sighs sadly, "I am afraid Cynthia, you never quite stop being sad but in time you remember more of the good times then not"

Cynthia pulls away and sniffs "She isn't coming back and you know it she died!" She starts sobbing again and coughing “She...dead...dad....not coming...." She quiets as she leans against him almost falling as she ends up crying herself to sleep.

Oz frowns and nods "Elmef is correct?" He listens closely and sighs " Maybe the Friar should have a couple days off, I am sure the kitchens will be fine and there is a couple good cooks that could spend some more time in the kitchens, perhaps Novice Caleb could even help and there is Brother Sam also"

Lacota holds Cynthia, during her outburst. He's quiet, as if unable to reply. When she passes out, he carries her to a soft spot, and just... Sits there, staring ahead. "Krystal isn't dead. She isn't dead. Never was. We're having a dibbun, this winter... Our dibbun..." He cradles Cynthia. "She's not dead, Elmef. Every beast is wrong."

Oz frowns, as he whispers to Elmef and sighs at Lacota "Friar Lacota maybe you need to...get some rest"

  • Oz whispers to Elmef this”Krystal is dead and he keeps saying she isn’t”*

Lacota looks down at his sleeping daughter, then nods slowly. "I should... At least get Cynthia indoors. Worked herself up too much." He sounds melancholy. "I don't know, Elmef... She went out one day... She said she'd be back soon. That was weeks ago." He turns to look at Elmef and Oz again. "She knows better... Being with dibbun and all... Her condition. She ought not worry me so."

Elmef says, "I see Lacota," He climbs down his ladder and places a paw on the Friar's arm, "Perhaps you should go rest."

Oz frowns, but for now he knows to not upset the friar more so, "Yes..rest for now" He gets closer and talks quietly to Elmef "She was found..and my guess is no one told him., but of course he was told, I –KNOW-..would say show the grave but maybe..not tonight" He makes sure his speaking is low so only Elmef hears .

Lacota nods again. "Yes, yes... Rest." His voice or more forceful again, his usual cynical demeanor starting to return. "Agh, been working too hard lately. Listen, Elmef, I need to get with you next week so we can talk about the preparations for the harvest feast." He doesn't hear Oz, of course... He's thinking of his work again, the only thing that's really kept him grounded in reality since his wife... "went away". He stands. "Tell Sister Violet that I need to complete the inventory Saturday."

Elmef nods to Lacota and watches him leave with Cynthia and frowns, "I suspect he is in denial... we may need to ask the Abbot to speak to him," He says quietly to Oz then calls out, "of course we can talk about the feast next week."

Oz nods "Yes..when is the feast anyways?" Yes change the subject, "Soon my guess and of course the harvest time" He is quiet before he speaks "I will help more with it this year Brother Elmef, not to worry... I wasn't myself last harvest time.....I know Zinnia was in a sort of...well not denial but she avoided beasts for a while, I am sure he will snap out of it, just when he does....he is gonna need all of us to be there for support"

Elmef says, "Well it will not be until after Harvest as usual" He shakes his head and sighs, "And yes last year was hard on everyone who knew him... I suspect the harvest feast won't be until October."

Lacota wanders off toward the abbey again, carrying his daughter Cynthia with great care. Any beasts he happens to pass get little in the way of greeting.

Oz says, "Plenty of time for harvest, I think harvest will go well this season. We also have Zee around for any heavy lifting if needed, and I will help more and still find a way to make sure the dibbuns don't get in the way, maybe we could have a day they help get some of the lower branches.”

Elmef nods and excuses himself as a novice comes to speak to him and heads out of the orchards with the ladder.

And Oz is once again alone and sits down to think, well this afternoon was…different, he stays by the tree and ends up falls asleep, that is till the abbey bell rings and he wakes with a jerk and sighs as he slowly stands with help from his walking staff, “Dinner time…best get inside.” He then heads to dinner hoping Friar Lacota and Novice Cynthia is ok.