It was nearing daylight when the runner carried her emssage to Trillium, who was already awake. The messenger was a tiny hare, really only a Dibbun, called, simply, Violet. She gave a quick salute, which the mouse returned, then recited the memo.
"Miss, the Cap'n wabts you to come to his office and speak to him on the double."
"Thanks, Violet. Tell Captain Starear that I'll be there right away." The small hare skipped away, while the mouse followed at a more relaxed pace.
***
Trillium was in a wonderful mood that morning. Birds were chirping, and the wayt he sunlight shimmered on the river in patterns of liquid diamonds was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. It would be a glorious summer, once the spring faded away. The mousemaid thoroughly enjoyed the walk to Swiftpaw's office.
When she strode through the door, however, she saw two faces, instead of the expected solitary hare. One was grave and solid, while the other, belonging to Ash, was nervous and excited.
Trillium had earned a healthy respect from the captain nearly a season earlier, when she had fought, and beaten, him in his favorite exercise: swordplay. Since then, the two had becoem friends, each learning from the other. Now, he was asking a favor.
"Trill, I need yer help. I've received reports of some rotten vermin in the area. I want you to take young Ash here on a patrol of the woodlands. Nothin' more'n scouting 'round, then report back to me about dusk. Whaddaya say, are ye up to the job?"
The mouse gave a small smile; she would be the one to take her friend on his first patrol. But, on the other hand, he was unexperienced in hiding from and tracking enemies. Ash would be helpful, though, since he was Mossflower's current champion climber.
"Sure," she replied casually, "as long as you can keep up." Her pal looked about ready to jump for joy.
***
"Now, when you don't want to be seen, you never move in a straight line. Crouch, zigzag, just do whatever it takes to stay out of sight." Trillium was explaining scouting and tracking strategies to Ash over blackberry cordial and apple turnovers. "Oh, y'see those prints over there? One set is deeper than the other. What do you think that means? No clue? It means one creature is bigger than the other. Have you got all of that?"
Ash nodded vigorously. "I never thought you could learn so much at lunch time. If I got taught something every time I ate, I'd b--" Here the young squirrel was cut off by a chilling scream, which was then abruptly cut short.
Trillium was immediately on her feet. "Up that tree, now! Keep watch, whistle if you see anything. And STAY PUT! I don't want you coming down till I'm back." She left no room for argument, and she was gone before Ash could reply.
***
Nearly an hour had passed, and Trillium had not yet returned. Ash hadn't seen or heard anything to give him a clue as to what was going on, and, even from his vantage point in the treetops, his friend had disappeared into the woods. Under normal circumstances, he would have ignored the mouse's orders. However, her voice had carried a tone that made her very much in control, very much the warrior, and he hadn't dared to disobey.
Suddenly, he spotted her, and Ash was out of that tree in record time. He began to question her, but her facial expression stopped him.
The mousemaid's face was filled with such pain that he wanted to gather her up and hold her as if she were a tiny dibbun who needed comforting. That mixture of emotions was enough to make the strongest warrior break down sobbing. But she did not weep. Instead, she tried to hide her hurt from her inexperienced friend. It didn't work.
After a few tries at getting her to speak, Ash finally fell silent. The entire march home was spent in absolute quiet. Gorgeous shades of lavender and tangerine painted the sky, but all was lost upon the pair of young creatures walking back to Camp Rivermoon.
***
Two mornings later, Captain Swiftpaw arrived at his office to find a note pinned to the door. Well, he thought, maybe this will explain something. The mouse had made no sound since she and Ash returned from the patrol, but her eyes had spoken more eloquently than a thousand words. They held a powerful mixture of sorrow, anger, love, and hate, yet no beast could decipher their riddles. The note read:
~~Captain--
I apologize for the last day, and for what I do now. I know that this is improper behavior for a soldier, and I beg you're forgiveness. Ash will be able to explain everything.
Sincerely,
Trillium."
"Well, if Ash can explain, he'd better!" Swiftpaw set out for the squirrel's cabin, where Ash was just rising. Together, they found a much longer letter from the mouse, and the younger one read it to the captain.
"Dear Ash,
First of al, I'm sorry that I haven't said anything for a while. You see, I wasn't able to, plain and simple. Here is the reason for that: there were three beasts killed the other day in the forest. They were my father, mother, and little sister, who you heard scream. Some dirty vermi had cut them up and left them to die. I had to take care of my family--there are three fresh graves on the riverbank.
Thank you for so many things, especially for befriending me. Also for not coming after me the other day. It was a horrible sight, and it would have done you no good to see it. And I needed to be alone, as I do now.
In fact, that is the reason for this letter. I've always been one to let time heal my wounds, and that is what must happen now. It will take a long time; this is my deepest wound yet. I shouldn't be gone for more than a couple of years, but, if I do not see you before that time is up, it will be because I have passed the gates of the Dark Forest.
I am so sorry that I have to do this. Please do not come after me. I love Rivermoon so much that I won't be able to stay away for too long. I will return. Tell the captain not to think of this as desertion, but more of a reconnaissance mission, for I will have plenty of information when I return, and hopefully the world will be rid of a few more evil creatures. May all of our coming days be fair.
As always, Your loyal friend,
Trillium"
Both creatures, squirrel and hare, sat in stunned silence. She was gone!
Swiftpaw was the first to speak. "I won't lie to you, m'boy, she's one of the best we've ever had. I can't say I'm not sorry to see the gel go."
"I shouldn't have let her go alone," Ash said, referring to the other day's mission. "I should have made her stay. It's all my fault."
"C'mon, cheer up, laddo! Ya heard what she wrote; she'll be back. Anyhow, she's right, it only would've upset you, seein' as you've never been so close to death before." Swiftpaw spoke in a gentle, comforting voice, but it did little good. The young soldier believed that he had caused his friend to leave, and nothing could change his mind.
***
Meanwhile, the "gel" in question was making good time, although she had no idea where she was headed. She had brought only her weapons and a few absolute essentials If I'm leaving, she thought, I'd better get used to living from on my wits. Trillium probably wouldn't even be gone as long as she had written in the letter. Somewhere to the west, or so she had heard, was the ocean, a vast body of water that couldn't be seen across. Her plans were to make it to the shore and back in a few seasons. The extra time provided for unforseen problems.
Why was the grief so great? Trillium had seen many beasts die, so that was not it. And she had long ago given up hope of finding her family. The pain should have been gone by now, since she had already dealt with it. She hadn't wanted to leave Camp Rivermoon. Her going away had not been a choice, but a necessity. Still trying to understand, Trillium resolutely pointed herself due west, and began to walk.
Her new travels had begun!
"Miss, the Cap'n wabts you to come to his office and speak to him on the double."
"Thanks, Violet. Tell Captain Starear that I'll be there right away." The small hare skipped away, while the mouse followed at a more relaxed pace.
***
Trillium was in a wonderful mood that morning. Birds were chirping, and the wayt he sunlight shimmered on the river in patterns of liquid diamonds was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. It would be a glorious summer, once the spring faded away. The mousemaid thoroughly enjoyed the walk to Swiftpaw's office.
When she strode through the door, however, she saw two faces, instead of the expected solitary hare. One was grave and solid, while the other, belonging to Ash, was nervous and excited.
Trillium had earned a healthy respect from the captain nearly a season earlier, when she had fought, and beaten, him in his favorite exercise: swordplay. Since then, the two had becoem friends, each learning from the other. Now, he was asking a favor.
"Trill, I need yer help. I've received reports of some rotten vermin in the area. I want you to take young Ash here on a patrol of the woodlands. Nothin' more'n scouting 'round, then report back to me about dusk. Whaddaya say, are ye up to the job?"
The mouse gave a small smile; she would be the one to take her friend on his first patrol. But, on the other hand, he was unexperienced in hiding from and tracking enemies. Ash would be helpful, though, since he was Mossflower's current champion climber.
"Sure," she replied casually, "as long as you can keep up." Her pal looked about ready to jump for joy.
***
"Now, when you don't want to be seen, you never move in a straight line. Crouch, zigzag, just do whatever it takes to stay out of sight." Trillium was explaining scouting and tracking strategies to Ash over blackberry cordial and apple turnovers. "Oh, y'see those prints over there? One set is deeper than the other. What do you think that means? No clue? It means one creature is bigger than the other. Have you got all of that?"
Ash nodded vigorously. "I never thought you could learn so much at lunch time. If I got taught something every time I ate, I'd b--" Here the young squirrel was cut off by a chilling scream, which was then abruptly cut short.
Trillium was immediately on her feet. "Up that tree, now! Keep watch, whistle if you see anything. And STAY PUT! I don't want you coming down till I'm back." She left no room for argument, and she was gone before Ash could reply.
***
Nearly an hour had passed, and Trillium had not yet returned. Ash hadn't seen or heard anything to give him a clue as to what was going on, and, even from his vantage point in the treetops, his friend had disappeared into the woods. Under normal circumstances, he would have ignored the mouse's orders. However, her voice had carried a tone that made her very much in control, very much the warrior, and he hadn't dared to disobey.
Suddenly, he spotted her, and Ash was out of that tree in record time. He began to question her, but her facial expression stopped him.
The mousemaid's face was filled with such pain that he wanted to gather her up and hold her as if she were a tiny dibbun who needed comforting. That mixture of emotions was enough to make the strongest warrior break down sobbing. But she did not weep. Instead, she tried to hide her hurt from her inexperienced friend. It didn't work.
After a few tries at getting her to speak, Ash finally fell silent. The entire march home was spent in absolute quiet. Gorgeous shades of lavender and tangerine painted the sky, but all was lost upon the pair of young creatures walking back to Camp Rivermoon.
***
Two mornings later, Captain Swiftpaw arrived at his office to find a note pinned to the door. Well, he thought, maybe this will explain something. The mouse had made no sound since she and Ash returned from the patrol, but her eyes had spoken more eloquently than a thousand words. They held a powerful mixture of sorrow, anger, love, and hate, yet no beast could decipher their riddles. The note read:
~~Captain--
I apologize for the last day, and for what I do now. I know that this is improper behavior for a soldier, and I beg you're forgiveness. Ash will be able to explain everything.
Sincerely,
Trillium."
"Well, if Ash can explain, he'd better!" Swiftpaw set out for the squirrel's cabin, where Ash was just rising. Together, they found a much longer letter from the mouse, and the younger one read it to the captain.
"Dear Ash,
First of al, I'm sorry that I haven't said anything for a while. You see, I wasn't able to, plain and simple. Here is the reason for that: there were three beasts killed the other day in the forest. They were my father, mother, and little sister, who you heard scream. Some dirty vermi had cut them up and left them to die. I had to take care of my family--there are three fresh graves on the riverbank.
Thank you for so many things, especially for befriending me. Also for not coming after me the other day. It was a horrible sight, and it would have done you no good to see it. And I needed to be alone, as I do now.
In fact, that is the reason for this letter. I've always been one to let time heal my wounds, and that is what must happen now. It will take a long time; this is my deepest wound yet. I shouldn't be gone for more than a couple of years, but, if I do not see you before that time is up, it will be because I have passed the gates of the Dark Forest.
I am so sorry that I have to do this. Please do not come after me. I love Rivermoon so much that I won't be able to stay away for too long. I will return. Tell the captain not to think of this as desertion, but more of a reconnaissance mission, for I will have plenty of information when I return, and hopefully the world will be rid of a few more evil creatures. May all of our coming days be fair.
As always, Your loyal friend,
Trillium"
Both creatures, squirrel and hare, sat in stunned silence. She was gone!
Swiftpaw was the first to speak. "I won't lie to you, m'boy, she's one of the best we've ever had. I can't say I'm not sorry to see the gel go."
"I shouldn't have let her go alone," Ash said, referring to the other day's mission. "I should have made her stay. It's all my fault."
"C'mon, cheer up, laddo! Ya heard what she wrote; she'll be back. Anyhow, she's right, it only would've upset you, seein' as you've never been so close to death before." Swiftpaw spoke in a gentle, comforting voice, but it did little good. The young soldier believed that he had caused his friend to leave, and nothing could change his mind.
***
Meanwhile, the "gel" in question was making good time, although she had no idea where she was headed. She had brought only her weapons and a few absolute essentials If I'm leaving, she thought, I'd better get used to living from on my wits. Trillium probably wouldn't even be gone as long as she had written in the letter. Somewhere to the west, or so she had heard, was the ocean, a vast body of water that couldn't be seen across. Her plans were to make it to the shore and back in a few seasons. The extra time provided for unforseen problems.
Why was the grief so great? Trillium had seen many beasts die, so that was not it. And she had long ago given up hope of finding her family. The pain should have been gone by now, since she had already dealt with it. She hadn't wanted to leave Camp Rivermoon. Her going away had not been a choice, but a necessity. Still trying to understand, Trillium resolutely pointed herself due west, and began to walk.
Her new travels had begun!