Chapter 2
They walked forever Turning corners, Climbing up, climbing down always following the path of broken off stalagmites. After about an hour or two walking, Kinlin whispered back to him "We're almost there chap." As they rounded the final corner, Furgale paused in awe. Ahead of him was a giant cave room and across the width of it was a giant wall carved out of stone. The wall had three small windows that were up high on the wall. A gigantic door big enough to hold 5 hares standing on each other's shoulder and 10 standing side by side. In front of the wall was a giant crack in the floor that would've been spanned by the drawbridge had it been down. The wall had a sloping top that the stalagmites touched forming what looked like prison bars to keep someone out and right in the middle was a carving of the tree. Kinlin and Chris didn't even pause they just kept on walking and didn't even seem to notice. Furgale had to run to catch back up with them. As soon as they reached the wall a loud voice shouted, "Halt, Who... Oh, it's you two. Where is the wood and who is the hare with you?" "His name is Furgale Switchfoot a friend, and the wood. Well... he kinda burned it for a fire." "That's too bad we needed that load of wood for the torches, oh well, come on in. " With that the Drawbridge lowered and the front gates opened. As they walked over the chasm Furgale looked down and couldn't see the bottom. They continued for ward through the gates. The gates closed behind them and they walked forward as the other set of gates opened. Through them he saw in the distance a giant floor to ceiling carving of a mole swinging a leafwood at a white polecat. All around them animals mainly moles walk about doing odd jobs some were carrying wood others rock. Scaffolds lined the walls with squirrels on the top carving trees and squirrels. Hares, mice, hedgehogs, and the odd otter in the middle craving the tree trunks and representations of themselves. And on the very bottom moles carved in exquisite details males tunneling under the ground. "Who is that mole carved on the wall ahead of us?" "Oh, That old thing. It's Chiz Zoller the Bally founder of Loamhedge, Wot Wot. Yeah that spiffin' things been there as long as I've c'n remember." Chris motioned for them to follow him as he entered a door in the side of the cave.
The inside of the Room was well lit containing shelves apon shelves of dusty books, volumes, and scrolls. Chris strode right in and up to the desk in the middle of the room with an old mouse hunched over a scroll reading intently. The old mouse without even looking up said, "NO, I don't want any tea, food, or any thing. You've pestered me enough today Tunner. SO, PLEASE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" "Uh.. Brother Brian..." The old mouse nearly fell out of his chair in surprise. "My god, sonny don't sneak up on people like that you're liable to give me a heart attack. I wasn't expecting you back for another hour or so. Okay, What happened to make you come back so fast, and were is the wood for my new bookcases?" "Well, he happened. His name is Furgale Switchfoot, and he burned the wood to keep warm last night." "Oh, well that would explain. I guess is should get your arrival recorded." The mouse got up for his chair and with the help of a gnarled old cane, sauntered aver to the shelves and grabbed a dusty book. He opened it up to the place he'd last written and quickly scribbled something, then asked, "Name?" "Furgale Switchfoot." "Species?" "Hare" "Origin?" "What?" "Origin, you know where you come from." "Oh, Mossflower" "Occupation?" "Uh.. I don't know." "Oh, come on sonny, you're a warrior why do you think you carry that thing great big thing around to pick fruit with?" "Well actually yes, I've not seen a vermin for quite a long time but okay put down warrior if you want. It doesn't matter" "And last but not least would you like to join our order?" "Uh...." "Oh, how rude you'd probably want to have a look around first and see what we do." Furgale nodded yes. "Well then come back tomorrow and we'll see if you have an answer yet. Kinlin show Furgale around for the rest of the day." For a moment every one stood silent then Brother Brian spoke up, "Well you'd better get going now before dinner time comes."