Mariel tramped along the little used path, a vague memory of her
destination brought up in her mind. She smiled inwardly at the sight of a
small cabin. Finally, she was there. The last half a season had been pretty
uneventful, almost every day it had been the same routine, get up, eat,
travel 'till nightfall, find a place to camp, then sleep. Her travels had
lead her to various places, many of which where for the sentimental values
locked away in her memories or to visit old friends. This was a bit of
both. She smiled slightly at the sight of a cabin. "Last place," she told
herself "then back home". She smiled slightly as an otter emerged from the
cabin, she waved, calling out to him.
"Ben!" the otter's head jerked towards the voice, and his features split into a grin as he recognized the mouse maid running towards him.
"Mariel! 'Tis wonderful t'see yeh again! Where've yeh been? Is that young rip Dandin goin' to be showing 'imself around here soon?" Mariel shook her head sadly, suddenly becoming quite interested in a tuft of grass at her foot paws.
"Ben, I'm afraid that Dandin died a while ago..." Ben looked at the mouse maid in shock momentarily before stepping forward, hugging her tightly.
"I'm so sorry to 'ear that Mariel, Dandin was a good beast..." He hesitated before going further, aware that he was treading on sensitive turf. " 'Ow did 'e die?" Mariel returned the otter's hug, pressing her face against his broad chest. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. Her body seemed to be deprived of the watery substance. Was there only a certain amount one beast could cry? Of course she was quite tired, maybe that's why...
"H-he took an arrow to the back...H-he didn't die right away..." she sobbed tearlessly "Why'd he have to die? Everything was perfect-we where going to be parents...do you have any idea what it's like looking at some beast you love so much, only to see some beast that you can never see again looking right back at you? It's just not right, it shouldn't be allowed!" Ben held the hysterical mouse maid tightly, offering some comfort to her.
"Parents eh? Shouldn't yeh be back at Redwall then, lookin' after t' young'un?" Mariel nodded against Ben's chest sighing deeply.
"I just needed to get away from it all one last time, y'know see old friends and explore once more before I have to settle down..."Mariel paused looking up at Ben "y'know, you'd like it at Redwall, it's nice there. Why don't you come with me? I-I mean you won't have me to come and visit you anymore..." Ben nodded grinning at the mouse maid.
"Yeh know, I think I will come with yeh...C'mon inside while I pack then." Mariel grinned and hugged the otter tightly before following him inside the cabin.
"Thanks Ben"
*
Coldclaw grinned slyly, watching the two figures head inside the creatures home. This was going to be easier than he thought...
"Ben!" the otter's head jerked towards the voice, and his features split into a grin as he recognized the mouse maid running towards him.
"Mariel! 'Tis wonderful t'see yeh again! Where've yeh been? Is that young rip Dandin goin' to be showing 'imself around here soon?" Mariel shook her head sadly, suddenly becoming quite interested in a tuft of grass at her foot paws.
"Ben, I'm afraid that Dandin died a while ago..." Ben looked at the mouse maid in shock momentarily before stepping forward, hugging her tightly.
"I'm so sorry to 'ear that Mariel, Dandin was a good beast..." He hesitated before going further, aware that he was treading on sensitive turf. " 'Ow did 'e die?" Mariel returned the otter's hug, pressing her face against his broad chest. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. Her body seemed to be deprived of the watery substance. Was there only a certain amount one beast could cry? Of course she was quite tired, maybe that's why...
"H-he took an arrow to the back...H-he didn't die right away..." she sobbed tearlessly "Why'd he have to die? Everything was perfect-we where going to be parents...do you have any idea what it's like looking at some beast you love so much, only to see some beast that you can never see again looking right back at you? It's just not right, it shouldn't be allowed!" Ben held the hysterical mouse maid tightly, offering some comfort to her.
"Parents eh? Shouldn't yeh be back at Redwall then, lookin' after t' young'un?" Mariel nodded against Ben's chest sighing deeply.
"I just needed to get away from it all one last time, y'know see old friends and explore once more before I have to settle down..."Mariel paused looking up at Ben "y'know, you'd like it at Redwall, it's nice there. Why don't you come with me? I-I mean you won't have me to come and visit you anymore..." Ben nodded grinning at the mouse maid.
"Yeh know, I think I will come with yeh...C'mon inside while I pack then." Mariel grinned and hugged the otter tightly before following him inside the cabin.
"Thanks Ben"
*
Coldclaw grinned slyly, watching the two figures head inside the creatures home. This was going to be easier than he thought...