Disclaimer: I do not own Redwall or any of its characters, I only own Craig, Dune, Stream, Maria, Amelia, and now Dane.
0o0o0
The Night of Love and Caring
Abbot Theo smiled as he looked upon his Redwallers as they enjoyed the feast. The old mouse's smile broadened as he watched Craig the otter lead his mother from the table and out of cavernhole, with little Stream following at their heels.
'Those two have much to catch up on,' he thought to himself.
Theo's eyes then looked toward the other end of the table where the Guosim shrews were sitting together and talking amongst themselves. He then noticed that Skipper of otters was sitting beside Log a log Bullo, with a worried look on his face. When the otter noticed the Abbot watching him he said something to Bullo and then both he and the shrew chieftain made their way toward the Abbot.
As they came closer Theo's chest began to fill with sudden dread. Skipper stood beside the Abbot and cleared his throat.
"Father Abbot, there is something that me and Bullo need to tell you…"
0o0o0
Craig opened the door to his and Stream's room, and led Maria to his bed, where she sat down with a sigh. Stream climbed up beside her and looked up at Maria's face, noticing the tears that were slowly sliding down her cheeks.
"Miss, Maria? Why are you crying? Are you sad about something?" asked the ottermaid.
Maria smiled as she reached over and picked Stream up and placed her on her lap.
"No, Stream I am not sad. I am just happy that I have found my son after a whole year," said Maria as she looked at Craig who smiled back.
Stream nodded her head and was about to ask another question when she let out a yawn. Craig lifted her up and walked toward her bed.
"I believe it is time for you to go to sleep, Stream!"
Stream nodded with half opened eyes and the otter pulled the covers over her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Goodnight little one," he whispered.
"Gudnigh' father…" mumbled the ottermaid and then she fell asleep.
Maria smiled and the tears flowed again as she stared at her son. Craig quickly walked over to Maria and sat down beside her, pulling her into an embrace.
"Mom, what's wrong?" he asked.
Maria sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"I am just h-happy that you have found someone to take care of, Josh, just like your father," she whispered.
"Mother please call me Craig, I know its my real name but only Dune knows of it, everyone else, including Stream knows me as Craig. So, please?" Craig asked.
Maria nodded and pulled her son to her.
"Alright, I will try to remember that!"
They then sat there, side by side, telling each other of their adventures, more so Craig than Maria. With every story that Craig told Maria felt pride swell up in her chest.
'Its hard to believe that he is only eighteen, and he has done so much in his life,' Maria was broken from her thoughts when Craig asked her a question.
"What?" asked Maria as she turned to face Craig.
"I asked how did you get here? I would like to know, mom!"
Maria placed his hand in hers and sighed, this was going was going to take a while.
0o0o0
Dune pushed the doors of the Abbey open and walked out into the cool night air. The mouse took a deep breath and then let it out. It was a beautiful night, the moon casting its silvery-blue light all over everything, along with the stars twinkling high up in the nighttime sky. Dune was about to step off of the stairs when a voice from behind made him stop.
"Oh! Hello Dune!" came a familiar voice that made the mouse cringe.
He slowly turned around to face Sister Anna as she walked toward him, he swallowed.
"Good evening, Sister Anna. What brings you out here?" he asked.
Anna smiled as she stood beside him and looked up at the sky.
"I believe the same thing that you are out here. I like to do this every night, I come out here to stare at the stars," said Anna.
Dune continued to stare at the mouse healer, taking a real look at the person that he had tried to avoid all those days he and his friends had been there. It was like he was seeing her in a new light. Her brown eyes sparkled and twinkled just like the stars that shined above them. Her fur was a light brown that had a soft sheen to it, she had a slim figure and steady hands, which was a good thing for one of her position.
Anna turned a confused look at Dune and stared into his eyes. For some reason she noticed that the mouse that stood beside her wasn't going to run away this time. Dune cleared his throat breaking the stare.
"So, erm, Sister Anna…uh…would you care to join me for a walk across the Abbey grounds tonight?" he asked with a slight bow.
Anna's breath hitched in her throat as she stared into the depths of his hazel eyes. She then smiled and returned his bow with a curtsey.
"I would really enjoy that, thank you Dune!"
Dune smiled as her proffered her his arm and let her take it, then he led her down the stairs and across the grounds. They walked in silence for a time until Anna spoke up.
"Dune, I have been meaning to ask, but when did you and Craig meet and become friends?" asked the mouse healer.
Dune chuckled and continued to look forward as he spoke next.
"Let me see, ah yes! The day I meet Craig! Well let me tell you I had just came from a tavern after a bit of a tussle with the other patrons and was just walking down the road when I came to a spot with a boulder on the edge. And there sitting on the boulder was a wea-hurumf-I mean otter, almost got my stories mixed up!" Sister Anna giggled and then Dune started again, "Craig was actually lost, he had never been to Mossflower before so he did the only thing he could think of doing. He found a road and just sat waiting for somebeast to come along and give him directions.
"I don't know if you noticed but me and Craig are not exactly the same age, I am three season's Craig's elder. He was only seventeen season's at the time I met him and I wasn't going to let him wander an unknown land by himself so I asked him if he wanted to join me in my travels and with that, we have been the best mates for a year now!" exclaimed Dune with a flourish of his arms into the air, causing Anna to laugh at his antics.
"That was a good story, so you basically took the young otter under your wing, is that right?" she asked.
Dune winked at her.
"Thant's right, missy!"
Anna smiled as they continued to walk, now headed in the direction of the pond after having walked through the orchard.
"How did you two come by Stream?" she asked after another moment of silence.
Dune remained silent for a minute and his expression became grim as he then spoke next.
"We came upon a small vermin's camp last month, we had decided to play a ruse on the two so we could replenish our supplies. Craig disguised himself as a weasel and I bound my paws as if I was his captive, we then started toward the encampment when we heard a loud squeak of pain. Craig and I quickened our pace and low and behold we saw a Rat and a Weasel throwing a young ottermaid away from the fire," he paused when Anna let out a gasp and then continued, "In short we attacked the two vermin, stole all their food and liberated young Stream from their paws.
"Afterwards we took her along with us because she had no family left. According to Stream, her family had been killed in a vermin raid, that was something a young one such as herself should never have had to see! Craig took an immediate liking to her and took her under his wing, so to speak. He actually accepted to being her new guardian when she asked him to be. That's why she never wanted to leave his side when he was in your infirmary, she wanted to stay with her new father!" finished Dune.
Sounds of sniffing from his companion made him turn his head to see Sister Anna sobbing. Dune quickly stopped walking and pulled her into an embrace. Allowing Anna to cry on his shoulder.
"There, there its alright, Stream was fine when we rescued her, so please don't cry!"
Anna shook her head and looked at Dune with tear filled eyes.
"I-I know, b-but how could any beast t-treat a young one l-like her s-so badly?" Anna asked between sobs.
Dune sighed as he wiped her eyes with his sleeves.
"They were vermin. Vermin don't care what they do to others, they only care about themselves, that is all except for one weasel that I knew…" here Dune Broke off and stared up at the starry sky.
Anna stopped her crying and looked at Dune who continued to stare at the sky as a tear slid down his cheek.
"What happened to this weasel? What was his name?" she asked.
Dune paused, he had to think, then he looked at her.
"His name was Josh, an unusual name for a vermin, but it suited him because her wasn't like all vermin. I actually met him the same day I met Craig," said Dune.
"What happened to him?" Anna asked again.
Dune sighed and looked at the ground.
"He…died a few days before we ran into Stream. He fell into the river and he…he drowned! He was never a good swimmer, but he was a good friend!" said Dune as he continued to look at the ground as tears continued down his face, Anna never noticed the small smile that he had on his face.
"Oh Dune, I am sorry that you had lost your friend, I am sure that you miss him," she said.
Dune looked up at her and smiled.
"Aye, I do miss that scallywag of a weasel, but I will always remember him," he said as they restarted their walk.
They were headed back into the Abbey when they met abbot Theo standing at the Door with a serious expression on his face. Dune cleared his throat.
"Father Abbot, pleasant evening isn't it?"
Theo nodded.
"Yes it is, Dune, but it won't last for long," said the old mouse.
Dune frowned and then turned to Anna.
"Why don't you go inside, Sister, I will see you in the morning!" he said and then leaned over and planted a small kiss on her cheek.
Anna blushed then bid them both goodnight and entered the Abbey. When Dune managed to stop blushing himself he then turned back to Theo.
"What do you mean it won't last for long?"
Abbot Theo sighed.
"I remember you mentioning that you and your companion's were being chased by vermin before you arrived here at Redwall?"
"Yes?"
The Abbot sighed and he wrung his paws together.
"Well, I believe they have found Redwall…"
0o0o0
Amelia gave a weak yelp as she tripped over her footpaw and stumbled to the ground. Dane quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her feet.
"Are ye alrigh' miss, Amelia?" asked the young rat as he looked the female otter over with worry filled eyes.
Amelia smiled weakly as she placed a paw on his shoulder.
"I am alright Dane, don't worry!" she said, 'I don't want to scare him, he has already lost enough in his life, he doesn't deserve to be alone again!'
Dane gave her a searching look, then shrugged his small shoulders and they continued on. They had crossed the River Moss not that long ago and were making their way through the trees toward the road. The sky in the east was beginning to lighten as the sun started to rise. Dane continued to glance at the otter that stager walked beside him. He was growing worried for her, just the thought of losing her made him want to cry.
Over the past few hours Dane had worked his way into Amelia's heart. She now looked on him with maternal love as if he was her own son. To her it didn't matter that he was a young vermin, a rat, to her he was a young beast who needed some one to care for him.
Same went for Dane, Amelia had became to him as a mother, that was why he didn't want to lose her. Amelia stepped over a log, winced at the pain in her side and then looked back down at the young rat.
"Dane, when you were fighting, you kept shouting 'Gudfellow', why was that?" she asked.
Dane looked up at her with glowing eyes and a smile to match.
"That is my last name, marm. Dane Skyler Gudfellow," he said with pride in his voice.
Amelia smiled at him, but it soon disappeared when she asked her next question.
"Who is Ash?" she asked softly as they stepped through some shrubs.
Dane's happy expression turned to a grim one, his eyes turned sad and a tear slid down his cheek as a memory came forward.
"Ash, she…s-she was…m-my…little sister…" his voice trailed off as more tears came to his eyes.
Amelia felt her own eyes water as she pulled the young rat who had become her son, to her and let him cry into her chest. She rubbed the back of his head as she whispered soothing words to him.
"Shhhh, it's alright, Dane. It's alright!"
"I-I just…m-miss t-them s-so m-m-much!" sobbed the young rat.
Amelia felt a tear slide down her own cheek as she pushed Dane away and then winced as she knelt beside him. She picked up the edge of her ragged dress and wiped his face.
"I know you do Dane, I know. I also miss my husband and my daughter," she said to him.
Dane sniffed and wiped his nose.
"W-what happened to them, marm?"
"Ty, my husband…died trying to protect us. I took Stream, my daughter and ran…but I was soon captured. But before that I had Stream run and hide…I know not if she had been captured, killed, or even if she was alive. She would be about two season's younger than you by now…" Amelia trailed off as her own tears began to flow.
Dane hugged her and held her as she wrapped her own arms around his small body again.
"P-promise me Dane, promise me that no m-matter what, you will remain good! Please promise me!" Amelia said between sobs.
Dane nodded his head as his tears stained the otter's ragged dress.
"I-I promise, marm," he said in a squeaky voice.
Amelia smiled as she looked down at her young charge and he looked back up at her.
"I love you Dane, I want you to know, that when we get where we are going, I want you to live with me. Will you accept me, an otter, as your family?" she asked him.
Dane stared in shock for a few seconds and then with a cry of happiness launched himself back into Amelia's arms, the tears now tears of joy. Amelia held him with all the love a parent could for a child, his cry of joy was all she needed for his answer.
0o0o0
Hey guys! Sorry that this took so long, but here it is finally, the next chapter of my story! What did you think? Please review!
-Dune
