Why Can't I read My Letter In Peace
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:
Oz is by the pond speaking with a messenger bird, he nods as the bird flies off and he even backs off a little and starts to look over the letter, some dibbuns are nearby playing by the pond as a sister of the order helps keep an eye on things.
Jarvis is also by the pond staring at the water; he blinks as he sees the bird fly off and shrugs.
Zarok burrows up from a shallow tunnel he dug in an explosion of soil, grass, and moss, right behind Jarvis. "ELLOOOOOOoooooooo!" He yelps as he pokes his lizard head out from the hole.
Oz looks up from his letter to notice Zarok and frowns, he shakes his head and glances at the letter again reading it slowly, he sighs as he mutters and searches his pockets for reading glasses and places them on his nose to look at the letter again.
Jarvis screams and spins around getting into a fighting stance and looks at the lizard "Oh my..your fur, it’s gone!..I bet that otter with the foxfur on did it, yes it MUST be him that did it, he stole the fur and yours too you poor poor soul!"
Zarok hops to his foot paws and shakes his head energetically, causing soil to fly everywhere., "Fur? Wot fur, nevv'r 'ad furzzz...You a sh'oo? Watermouzze? Moler? Whatizya?"
Oz raises an eyebrow and looks at the shrew now, "What are you talking about, what otter?"
Jarvis frowns, "The one with the white fox fur coat, he even admitted it saying he was an otter-fox now...how else do you explain it and,," He looks at the lizard with a tilt of his head, "I am a shrew my boy and the fur you should have is gone..that’s bad, very very bad for you and..maybe there is a fur stealer around!" He seems a slight bit..panicked today?
"I a monit'r lizzerd--Ain't got no fur," Zarok sniffs pityingly. "Got _zzzcalezz_...is ARM'R, sh'oo." He bares his fangs proudly.
Oz shakes his head "Alright calm down Zarok, he is a new-comer and maybe he has never seen a lizard before"
Jarvis backs up and hisses at the lizard, "Show ya teeth, not a good thing and..what’s a lizard?" ,He asks very seriously," But what of the otter fox thing?...that’s not possible even."
Zarok is about to obey Oz but then Jarvis's hissing sets him off a bit, and in an instant he's in a fighting crouch, clawing at the soil and churning up grass and dirt, his tail lashing and his eyes gleaming wickedly. "I show y'my teef all I want t', sh'oo. You wanna _feel_ 'em?!"
Oz places the letter in his pocket and folds his arms over his chest, "Zarok and.." Ok he doesn’t know the shrews name "Sir..please no fighting in Redwall"
Jarvis smirks, "Ya teeth be ugly furless one and I have dealed with few worse I have...errrr..yeah course and feeling teeth what’s de point of it...wait that’s funny..teeth..point.." He starts laughing loudly.
Zarok, being young, thinks the shrew is laughing at _him_. He roars earsplittingly, sounding like a tyrannosaur or something, and hurls himself at Jarvis, going for the throat.
Oz takes a deep breath and goes to grab Zarok by the back of his tunic, he may or may not succeed depending on how fast the monitor is.
Jarvis eyes go wide as he screams loudly and dives to the left, "Ahhhhhhhhhh It wants ta eat me!"
Zarok slips like a fish, right through the badger's grasp, and thrashes to the left so he still lands on Jarvis. "No," He growls. "I am not 'it'. I am Heeeeeeee. ZZzZZZZZZZZZZZZZARRRROK! And I want to KILL youz!"
Oz frowns, "Zarok stop right now!" He yells. The sister who is watching the other dibbuns decides it’s best if she takes them away from the area and maybe even gets a couple guards down to the pond.
Jarvis errks and tries to look for a dagger, oh yeah that’s at the gatehouse, he goes to grab the lizard’s tail and to stay away from the end with Teeth!" Foul beast I am not food, someone do something!!!!!"
Zarok snarls and smashes his tail down--ouch, unlucky for Jarvis. It hurts just as much as getting bitten--like being pounded with a chain wrapped in hardened leather. "I am _not_--"WHAP "-a-" WHAP "-'foul-'" WHAP "-beeaaassst-" WHAM WHAM WHAM "I AM A PERZZZOOOON, you MAGGIT!"
Oz frowns, the one abbey sister got a guard but the guard seems unsure how to handle Zarok, "Zarok!"
Jarvis manages to avoid the tail a couple times but he is hit on the shoulder once and the back of his knee, he makes a fist and goes to punch Zarok and bite his tail with his teeth!
Zarok bites down on Jarvis's arm, completely and utterly ignoring the guard, also kicking at Jarvis's head with his clawed hind legs. "NEKRAAAAAALLRLRR!"
Jarvis gasps in pain as the teeth sink it, he panics now fully and starts repeatly kicking at Zarok as some blood goes down his arm “Make it let go! Make it let go!"
Benar come walking over the lawns from the direction of the orchard. He has seen what is going on and he looks enraged, "ZAROK!" His voice snaps out across the grass by the pond, "Let him go at Once!"
Zarok rips free of Jarvis, clawing the shrew one more time as he pushes off and tumbles to the ground, staring up at Benar from at the Elder's foot paws. "Hiyaz," He mumbles sullenly.
Jarvis whimpers as his arm is bleeding and he has a claw mark on his leg, upper arm and his tunic is ripped, the shrew looks at Benar and shivers "It tried to...EAT ME!"
The two guards stand ready to deal with Zarok if needed, the badger stays close by arms folded over his chest and is not happy either, its probably a good thing Sister May took the other dibbuns elsewhere and away from the pond.
Benar strides forward, habit billowing behind him, "you," He points a finger at one of the guards, "Help the young shrew with his wounds please...." , He turns to stare at Zarok and when he speaks it is in a cold quiet voice. "Just what do you think you are doing? Just what... do you think you are playing at Zarok! You know you are not to attack anyone! Is this the way a warrior acts? Is this how Flicktail would act! I am sorely disappointed in you" He points at the abbey gate house, "Inside now... we will talk about this when the abbot gets here." He then turns to the shrew, "Are you able to stand? One of our guards will take you to the infirmary, I am so sorry about this... that a guest should suffer such an attack inside our walls."
"He laughed at me...mocked me," Zarok growls. "Called me 'it' rather than...zzsssss...what I am...rrrrrsssssshshshrrrrrgh...You alwayzzzzz take the other zzide, 'nar. Alwayzz. I tired of everybeazzt I don't know thinking I a monszzzter. I 'ad enough..." His eyes narrow and his voice is defiant.
Jarvis manages to slowly stand and shivers, “You are a ..a monster, a no-fur monster for attacking me!" Ok it's not his fault he has never seen a lizard before.
Oz shakes his head at Zarok, "Zarok...I think it would be wise to sit and have a serious chat with Lorimis, as well as some others if needed about your behavior today"
Benar points a finger at Jarvis, "You... please be quiet. I am sorry you were attacked but you do not call abbey beasts monsters. This is Zarok, a monitor lizard he is not a monster, he is not a no-fur, he is not an it. He is one of our residents so please refrain from insulting him." He then turns back to Zarok and kneels, "I do not take anyone’s side Zarok, but you were attacking a beast I had to speak sharply to stop you from doing. I am sorry he insulted you and called you name but attacking him is not the right response my dear."
Zarok gulps and nods a few times, clamping his jaws shut, the defiant light gone from his eyes. "It...woss accident, 'nar. Wanted to gerrim, but didn't mean t'almost killem..."
Jarvis takes a few deep breaths, right now he is too sore and the fact he needs a healer it’s unwise to say anything much right now, he frowns and looks away "I..am sorry..I should go get some..yeah help and..sorry", He sounds truly sorry as he walks with help to the infirm.
Emmit ambles into the pond area, jogging and looking quite tired. He stops, catches his breath and says, "Hello there."
Oz watches Jarvis head to the infirm and shakes his head, "Need to have a chat with the shrew also"
Emmit asks, "what is it you need?"
Benar nods to Oz and holds out a paw to Zarok, "Come along Zarok.. let's go talk shall we? We need to discuss this.... I know you didn't mean to my oh dear..." He places a paw on Zarok's head and sighs, "I think the Abbot is going to have to talk to him... about this..."
Zarok jumps to his feet and takes Benar's paw, nuzzling the Elder with his snout, seemingly at ease, the young monitor's face bright again.....still stained with Jarvis's blood.
Emmit asks, "what happened? "
Oz sighs, he shakes his head, he then seems to remember something before all the fighting started and pulls out a letter, "Almost forgot had this"
Benar sighs softly and shakes his head, "I ... I really do not know what this is all about..." He sighs, "I really do not know Oz what we can do with Zarok..."
Oz nods "Maybe he just, I am not sure..it’s the first he has achally attacked a beast before in the abbey. I was reading a letter I just got when the fighting started and had Sister May take the other dibbuns away from the pond and get a guard or two"
Emmit droops visibly, looking upset.
Benar says, "You did Well Papa... but" He sighs, "I shall have to talk with Lorimis about this and... oh this is going to be a tangle..."
Oz looks at Emmit, "Are you alright sir?" He nods to Benar "Well..on a happier note I got a letter from Maxtor, he will be visiting soon and is in fact on his way now"
Emmit says, "Are you...getting rid of Zarok?"
Benar says, "No, we are not getting rid of Zarok, we just need to think of some way we can help him to master his inner rage"
Emmit brightens, "Ah! Well, perhaps I can help you. We too have this problem, and learn when and when not to use it at an early age."
Oz nods, "I am sure something can be done and hopefully sure"
Emmit asks, "Oh, Oz, do you need anything? I am getting good at serving, and I help clean the kitchen."
Benar stands up and shakes out his habit and sighs, "Right I need to talk to Lorimis, I will talk to you all later"
Emmit waves farewell
Oz nods "Alright Benar, talk later then" He sits down with a sigh and looks at a letter in his paws getting out his reading glasses again.
Emmit returns, carrying a small tray with a two cups of Cordial on it, "Are you thirsty?"
Oz looks up and smiles "I usually drink Mint tea, I was reading a letter my adopted son sent me"
Emmit sits down with an embarrassed grin on his face, "Sorry, Oz. Your adopted son?"
Oz smiles "It’s fine and yes his name is Maxtor and I adopted him when I lived near a village called Send, he is coming to visit and should be here soon, I have not seen him in a long time"
Emmit grins, "That's excellent. I would like to meet him."
Oz chuckles "Your get to soon"
Emmit grins speaking of visits, some of my people want to come over and visit our Flicktail. I sent them a letter explaining him, and some of them said they want to see this white fox in person."
Oz asks, "Some other shrews? Could be interesting"
A young mouse crouches along the grass. From a distance he spies a badger and shrew talking. As quietly as he can, he approaches the badger from behind. Fizzmit is down on all four, pawing lightly padding through the grass. He breathes lightly, eyes alert. In the daytime he knows it unlikely to surprise them both, so instead he focuses solely on surprising a badger.
Emmit says, "They are a mixed bunch, mostly woodlanders, shrews, otters, squirrels and a young badger, Eomund."
Oz says, "Oh, so friend ds of yours then"
Emmit nods yes, exactly.
Emmit says, "Too bad Vertia and Voilon cannot be here."
The young mouse approaches right behind the badger still as silent as possible for the mouse. Fizzmit bends as close to the ground and then with one swift movement springs with all his effort. He lets out a gasp thrusting both arms and legs against the grass, and springs upwards reaching out to grab onto the shirt, hair, neck, or whatever he can grasp of the sitting badger.
Emmit exclaims, "Look out Oz!"
Oz blinks and ducks so the small mouse almost flips, he will catch him of course and smiles "Well well..why are you not with the other dibbuns young one?"
Emmit chuckles at the young mouse, "You have quite the jump."
Fizzmit ends up looking up at the badger unsure what happened, just slightly dazed. "Uh .. I, I lost the game" the mouse manages to say breathing heavily.
Oz chuckles “Should be carefully who you try and sneak up on"
"Were you scared?” Asked the dibbun mouse.
Oz says, "I don’t scare that easily"
Emmit says to the young mouse, "I'm Emmit. If he was easily scared, would Oz be sitting next to me?"
The mouse frowns unsure if he should be sad or glad. It seems that the plan wasn't a good one after all. Fizzmit rolls back onto his feet sighing now a little embarrassed.
Emmit say to the little mouse, "What's your name dibbun, and what game did you lose?"
Oz chuckles as he takes off some reading glasses he has and puts a letter away smiling
Flicktail looks around his ears perked, his left am still in a sling, left shoulder still bandaged but more lightly
Oz nods, he looks at Flicktail "Greetings Flicktail, I just got done with a letter"
Emmit blinks, "Hey, It’s you! I remember you. It seems you got the whole Jumping thing down right!"
Flicktail blink blinks to Oz "I rather like the letter H, was that the letter you finished?" he turns to look at Emmit "Hello Sir Emmit Shrew, Jumping? aye I suppose I jump ok.
Fizzmit looks at Emmit grinning and then shyly looks down still with the grin.
Oz says, "No a letter. Message, from Maxtor he will be visiting soon"
Emmit asks, "to Flicktail, "May you follow me?"
Flicktail cocks his head "if you need Emmit, I will be happy to help however I kin"
Emmit waves to Oz an Fizzmit, "Glad to see you both again."
"Who is Maxtor?" Asks Fizzmit, but only maybe half interested in the conversation of the elder ones. He seemed more curious where Flicktail and Emmit might be heading.
Oz says, "My adopted son"
Flicktail waggles his fingers at Fizzmit with a wink.
"Oh" replies Fizzmit, "I don't think I ever met him."
Oz says, "Well when he gets here you will meet him"
