Tomasal
part 1: The Birthday
It was deep winter…2 day till Christmas actually. Joseph, a young ferret lad, sat atop the wall with charcoal in his hand, skillfully drawing the landscape beneath him and singing a song that would put any bird to shame, when someone called up to him "Oi, Joseph! Ye sister wants ye… she says yer in a great amount of trouble." Before she could finish speaking, he jumped from the wall skillfully, "Russet? Aww dammit! I forgot to clean ma room again… awright, thank you Amber." Just after turning around he went back to the young mousemaid and said "jolly good scones by the way," she looked at him with a grin from ear to ear and said "I didn't make them, Sunflower did." she said pointing at a beautiful ferretmaid who started to blush, it was obvious they both liked each other but neither of them noticed it. Turning around He began a mad dash to his hometown, Tomasal. Tomasal was a beautiful town, especially toward Christmas time. Every house was decorated, from every tree to bush to the town square, gleaming in bright red, gold and green-blue, he ran up to the middle of town square where his sister met him head on, lips pursed and paws akimbo. Russet was a very fine young ferretmaid who had a firm but gentle figure, her fur colored reddish brown which she got her name for. "Joseph Triass Kraus!!! Yer room has been dirty for a month naow and ye promised me you would clean it!" Joseph simply said "Sorry sis, but I've hade extra works ta do at Redwall." She took the excuse knowing he was telling the truth. They both started walking back to their house that also doubled as a shop that sells rare items, and talking about the day that they'd had, when they made it inside Russet rushed to the stove, "My beet an' turnip soup!" She squealed. Joseph decided to take a break and rest for a bit, taking in his surroundings. Coats hanged on hooks against the door, each one with a little magic sewed in, the hearth with a fire going inside, Laundry hung near the hearth, but not near enough so the clothes could catch fire…and a sword hanging on the wall. The hilt of the blade was leather bound with magic sewn into it. The Quiet was broken by dibbuns playing near the house, than a big crack sounded and Joseph rushed outside, the was a huge forty foot tree was being carried by 100 different beasts carrying the tree towards Redwall, "Russet, You gotta come see this!" he yelled. Russet rushed out of the house to see the tree being carried by giant wheel barrows and anything that could be used to make the job easier to carry the huge tree, when the tree passed and the cheering died down they turned back towards the house when Joseph got tapped on the shoulder by a young shrew warrior, he said "Sorry to bother you sir but, I saw the for rent sign in the window." Joseph answered "yes, but you'll have to work to pay for the room." than the shrew said "how much is the room, and how much do I get paid for the job?" Joseph then answered "well one, it depends on how hard you work… about 50 gold pieces a day at the most." the young shrew smiled and said "I'll take the job and take the room! Names Shog," he stretched out his hand and Joseph shook it with a smile and said "My name is Joseph, now if you will sign these forms please." Shog then looked at the forms thoroughly, then noticed the last names of Joseph an Russet, Kraus. then in shock he Asked "Is it possible! I mean, are you really descendants of Tomasal!" Joseph than sighed and said "Guilty," Joseph than walked him to the attic room, which was very clean and nicely kept, than Shog jumped on the bed and stared at the ceiling, this comfort was the most precious thing in the world to him
Scribe ran to his father the Abbot, and said "Father, it's my birthday today!" his face was beaming bright, his father answered "Yes, and it's a beautiful day… its hard to believe that you are sixteen already, your going to have to make some very important decisions for yourself." Scribe considered the fact, than he liked the idea, his father has just stated, "Father… I've wanted to ask you this for a long time." there was a long pause than he said "I want to be part of the Tomasal knights," the Abbots face turned to shock and the silence ensued again, the silence lasted 5 minutes before it was broken by sister amber, she said "Father Abbot…The Holy Tree is here!!!" she said excitedly the father began to walk outside with amber when he turned around and said "We'll talk about this later." He walked out the door to the orchard to help decorate the tree. Scribe walked up to his room and knew that his father did not approve of his wish.