Chapter Fourteen
Many storms followed the one that happened on the day Diathus, Skydrop, and Rosethorn met Mia, as they called Miameep, and Tamarillo, but the day seemed to be sunny enough for no rain. The two hares, mouse, and squirrel were headed for Redwall Abbey, chatting amiably as they went, and praying for fair weather also. Skydrop had left the company in search for the Abbey, so he could report back to the rest on how long it would take them to get there. Diathus and Tamarillo were getting along quite well. The other hare seemed especially interested in how Diathus escaped the Carassan. He constantly complimented her on her flee, and asked her to repeat the tale often. Diathus, not used to the attention, blushed quite a lot at Tamarillo's simpering flattery. Mia and Rosethorn were talking to each other a lot, and found many things to discuss, for example, their hate for rats.
"Ye were bein' attacked by rats? Horrible creatures, aren't they, Rosey? There were tons o' rats aboard Carassan, but there was one that I particularly didn't like. His name was Ragfang, an' he was the slave master."
What a terrible ship Carassan must have been. Mia, what's a weasel? I know it's a silly question, but I've never actually seen one, and back there in the cave when you said that Diathus looked like one, I couldn't help but get curious. So tell me, what does a weasel look like?"
Tamarillo grinned as he listened in on the conversation that the mouse and squirrel were holding. He turned to Diathus and winked at her while stealing the haversack from her shoulder and placing it on his own so she would be released from the burden.
"The two are getting' along fine now, eh? Mia's actin' like yore friend there's her liddle sister, an' she's never thought of anybeast as family before. Rosey there's sure done some good magic on me friend!"
Diathus grinned as she tugged on the haversack, trying to pull it off Tamarillo's shoulder. With on swift yank, it fell loose, and Diathus strung it onto her shoulder, winking roguishly.
"I don't think ye should do that again until I tell ye it's yore turn. Rosey's a really kind an' carin' beast; it's no wonder she can find Mia's soft spot. How long do ye think it'll take to get to this Redwall Abbey ye were talkin' about, Tamar?"
Tamarillo twirled his paw around in the air absently as he remarked vaguely, "Oh, I dunno, really. I suppose maybe we could make it around today evenin', right? I guess we'll jus' have to wait until your eagle friend gets back here, eh, Di?"
Diathus stopped dead in her tracks as she heard the other hare speak her nickname that she had once been called by her friend, Wynde. Unnoticeably to herself, her paws began and clench and unclench as she spoke through gritted teeth, "Wot did ye jus' call me?"
Tamarillo was taken aback. Fortunately, Rosethorn and Mia did not notice their two friends stop walking since they were in front.
"Er…I called ye 'Di' because I thought since ye called me by my nickname, I might as well give ye one. If it offended ye, er, I'm sorry, an' I'll jus' call ye by yore full name now I guess."
Diathus relaxed her tense shoulders and continued walking, not saying a word. This made Tamarillo even more surprised, and he didn't move an inch. Suddenly, Diathus whirled around and smiled cheerfully.
"Nah, 'tis okay, ye ken call me Di is ye like. One o' me old friends used to call me that. Come on, Tamar. Rosey and Mia are getting ahead."
Tamarillo was immediately replaced by his usual cheery self and rushed up and past Diathus, called out behind his shoulder, "Alright then, Di. Last one to get to them is a sulking squirrel!"
It was around noon when the four companions stopped for a small break. Diathus flung the haversack at Tamarillo as she sat down to rest her footpaws. Catching the pack in surprise, the other hare sank down to his knees and heaved a heavy sigh. Then he sprawled down onto his back and sighed again, this time with mock agony.
"Whew, I've never walked so much is me life. Owowow, me poor footpaws. Good thing we stopped or else I believe I would've walked off o'em!"
Rosethorn giggled at the humorous remark as Mia shook her head with mock pity.
"Poor hare creature, ain't he, Diathus? The sun an' tiredness must have gotten to him mind, causin' him not to think straight. Everybeast knows ye can't walk off yore own footpaws."
Diathus nodded sadly, joining in the fun. She crawled over the Tamarillo, pretending to examine him carefully.
"Aye, poor, poor Tamar. His brain must have melted. Widout it, he won't be able to live. Say Mia, wot do ye think about buryin' him? He's as good as dead now, since his brain melted an' he walked off his footpaws."
Mia grinned evilly and started kicking fallen leaves onto Tamarillo, attempting to cover him up. The hare leapt up from his position on the ground and glared at the squirrel who smirked mockingly.
"Wot do ye think yore're doin', kickin' leaves on me? Want to bury me alive?"
"Heehee, aye, that was our intention, hahaha!"
The angry hare turned to Diathus who was tittering immensely, then he pulled a mournful face.
"Pity on the poor hare who has to stay here and be buried alive an' insulted by a pretty haremaid and a villainous squirrel. Woe is me! I say, Rosey, wot do ye think yore doin', scoffin' all o' the apples?"
The mousemaid smiled innocently through a mouthful of russet apple. "What does it look like I'm doing, Tamarillo? Since you three are arguing, I might as well do all the eating!"
The two hares and squirrels immediately got up from the ground and lunged at Rosethorn and the haversack, causing them to land in a huge pile, stacked on top of the other, causing Tamarillo to moan and complain even louder. Having enough of the whining from the hare, the mousemaid graciously handed them an apple each and soon they were all munching away, chatting amiably as they did so.
"Wot do ye mean, 'villainous squirrel an' pretty haremaid?' I'm jus' as pretty as Diathus here!"
Diathus grinned teasingly and gave Tamarillo a light shove, winking at Mia.
"Aye, an' I'm much more villainous an' evil an' vile than that pretty squirrel. Wot's gotten into ye, Tamar; you've gotten it all mixed up!"
The squirrelmaid returned to wink and sighed with mock pity, hanging her head.
"Alas, me friend, our poor dear friend Tamar's brain has truly melted to the heat and exhaustion. Surely there is something we can do, Diathus?"
Diathus rubbed her paws together with a wicked grin, causing Tamarillo to shiver, even though he knew she was only joking around.
"I say that we let the poor beast end his sufferin' an' bury him like we were goin' to. Wot do ye say?"
"I say it's an excellent idea; let's get kickin'!'"
Both chuckling with mock malevolency, the two began kicking leaves onto Tamarillo again. Of course the hare knew it was all a simple joke, but he pretended to cower back in fear, showing no resistance as leaves began to pour over his head.
"Oh, no! I shall be buried alive, an' no beast will ever remember me. An' I haven't even gotten to right me will yet. Won't you pardon me for a moment so I can go fetch a sheet of parchment and quickly write me will? First, I give me share o' russet apples to me dear friend, Di, the pretty haremaid. Mia ken get…hmm…wot shall I leave to that villainous squirrel? Lessee, Mia, would you 'appen to want me old tunic buttons? That's all I have left fer ye."
Mia stared at Tamarillo in mock anger and folded her arms. "Why does she get yore share o' vittles? I've been yore friend longer; I know ye better! Humph…"
The hare on the ground, half covered with leaves, grinned teasingly and leapt up from his 'bed.' He ruffled Mia's ears with mock pity.
"Don't be that sad, Mia. Yore jus' not as pretty as Di here."
Mia pretended to think over the matter awhile, and when she opened her mouth to speak, she didn't get her chance to. Diathus grabbed Mia's paw and pulled her aside, just as a black fletched arrow shot through the air. Rosethorn ducked on instinct, although it thudded a few feet away from her head. Tamarillo immediately stopped fooling around and bounced over to Rosethorn and the haversack's direction cautiously. The alert hare grabbed his lance that he had brought with him from his cave, which was leaning against the birch tree which the arrow had thudded into. Immediately, another arrow shot out. Tamarillo jumped aside as the arrow thudded into the birch tree which his lance was leaning against. Studying the arrow closely, the hare's face broke out into a small smile. Still cautious, however, he grabbed his weapon and let out a low growl.
"Who's there? If yore a goodbeast, then show yoreself, but if yer vermin, I suggest ye go 'way afore I hurt ye. Come on now."
There was a slight snicker from the shrubs and a mocking voice called out, "Come on, yerself, rabbit. Did ye hear that, mates? The rabbit is goin' to hurt me. Oh, I'm shakin' in me tunic!"
The comment caused barks of laughter through the bushes. If you paid close attention to the chuckles, you would hear that it was not the laugh of a vermin, but sounded more like an otter. Tamarillo realized this and his grin grew broader. Loosening his grip on his lance, the hare called out, "Ahoy, Tidespark! Shakin' in yore tunic, are ye? Good, ye should be! An' how many times must I correct ye; hare, not rabbit. Hare! Anyways, matey, good to see ye again!"
A tall, brawny otter leap out from the shrubs, a slight smile pasted on his face. Over his back was an arrow with a quiver full of black fletched arrows.
"Well then, matey, let me rephrase that. 'Come on, yerself, hare. Did ye hear that, mates? The hare is goin' to hurt me. Oh, I'm shakin' in me tunic!' Anyways, good to see ye again too, Tamar! Wot are ye doin' around Holt Kintre fer this time? Is it somethin' serious, or do ye an' Mia jus' want some vittles?"
Mia bounced up beside Tamarillo and waved cheerily.
"Hello, Tidespark. How are ye doin' today? Tamar an' I are leading Diathus and Rosethorn," here, the squirrelmaid gestured to the mousemaid and haremaid who were inching forward cautiously, "And we have an eagle friend who is flyin' up ahead. Like I was sayin', we're takin' the three to Redwall Abbey, an' maybe they'll be able to stay there. Besides, I've never been inside the place meself; might as well, right? We've been walkin' all day, Tidespark. Do ye think Kintre would let us stay at the Holt fer a while?"
"Krrreeeekah! Ye aren't leavin' widout meh!"
In a blur, Skydrop had landed next to Diathus. The eagle grinned cheerily.
"So noo, laddie bucks, who's this Kintre that ye've jus' talked aboot?"
Tidespark beamed happily at the company and turned to his band of otters who had come out of the bushes also and were standing straight to attention.
"Well now, me mates, let's get these five to Kintre!"
Many storms followed the one that happened on the day Diathus, Skydrop, and Rosethorn met Mia, as they called Miameep, and Tamarillo, but the day seemed to be sunny enough for no rain. The two hares, mouse, and squirrel were headed for Redwall Abbey, chatting amiably as they went, and praying for fair weather also. Skydrop had left the company in search for the Abbey, so he could report back to the rest on how long it would take them to get there. Diathus and Tamarillo were getting along quite well. The other hare seemed especially interested in how Diathus escaped the Carassan. He constantly complimented her on her flee, and asked her to repeat the tale often. Diathus, not used to the attention, blushed quite a lot at Tamarillo's simpering flattery. Mia and Rosethorn were talking to each other a lot, and found many things to discuss, for example, their hate for rats.
"Ye were bein' attacked by rats? Horrible creatures, aren't they, Rosey? There were tons o' rats aboard Carassan, but there was one that I particularly didn't like. His name was Ragfang, an' he was the slave master."
What a terrible ship Carassan must have been. Mia, what's a weasel? I know it's a silly question, but I've never actually seen one, and back there in the cave when you said that Diathus looked like one, I couldn't help but get curious. So tell me, what does a weasel look like?"
Tamarillo grinned as he listened in on the conversation that the mouse and squirrel were holding. He turned to Diathus and winked at her while stealing the haversack from her shoulder and placing it on his own so she would be released from the burden.
"The two are getting' along fine now, eh? Mia's actin' like yore friend there's her liddle sister, an' she's never thought of anybeast as family before. Rosey there's sure done some good magic on me friend!"
Diathus grinned as she tugged on the haversack, trying to pull it off Tamarillo's shoulder. With on swift yank, it fell loose, and Diathus strung it onto her shoulder, winking roguishly.
"I don't think ye should do that again until I tell ye it's yore turn. Rosey's a really kind an' carin' beast; it's no wonder she can find Mia's soft spot. How long do ye think it'll take to get to this Redwall Abbey ye were talkin' about, Tamar?"
Tamarillo twirled his paw around in the air absently as he remarked vaguely, "Oh, I dunno, really. I suppose maybe we could make it around today evenin', right? I guess we'll jus' have to wait until your eagle friend gets back here, eh, Di?"
Diathus stopped dead in her tracks as she heard the other hare speak her nickname that she had once been called by her friend, Wynde. Unnoticeably to herself, her paws began and clench and unclench as she spoke through gritted teeth, "Wot did ye jus' call me?"
Tamarillo was taken aback. Fortunately, Rosethorn and Mia did not notice their two friends stop walking since they were in front.
"Er…I called ye 'Di' because I thought since ye called me by my nickname, I might as well give ye one. If it offended ye, er, I'm sorry, an' I'll jus' call ye by yore full name now I guess."
Diathus relaxed her tense shoulders and continued walking, not saying a word. This made Tamarillo even more surprised, and he didn't move an inch. Suddenly, Diathus whirled around and smiled cheerfully.
"Nah, 'tis okay, ye ken call me Di is ye like. One o' me old friends used to call me that. Come on, Tamar. Rosey and Mia are getting ahead."
Tamarillo was immediately replaced by his usual cheery self and rushed up and past Diathus, called out behind his shoulder, "Alright then, Di. Last one to get to them is a sulking squirrel!"
It was around noon when the four companions stopped for a small break. Diathus flung the haversack at Tamarillo as she sat down to rest her footpaws. Catching the pack in surprise, the other hare sank down to his knees and heaved a heavy sigh. Then he sprawled down onto his back and sighed again, this time with mock agony.
"Whew, I've never walked so much is me life. Owowow, me poor footpaws. Good thing we stopped or else I believe I would've walked off o'em!"
Rosethorn giggled at the humorous remark as Mia shook her head with mock pity.
"Poor hare creature, ain't he, Diathus? The sun an' tiredness must have gotten to him mind, causin' him not to think straight. Everybeast knows ye can't walk off yore own footpaws."
Diathus nodded sadly, joining in the fun. She crawled over the Tamarillo, pretending to examine him carefully.
"Aye, poor, poor Tamar. His brain must have melted. Widout it, he won't be able to live. Say Mia, wot do ye think about buryin' him? He's as good as dead now, since his brain melted an' he walked off his footpaws."
Mia grinned evilly and started kicking fallen leaves onto Tamarillo, attempting to cover him up. The hare leapt up from his position on the ground and glared at the squirrel who smirked mockingly.
"Wot do ye think yore're doin', kickin' leaves on me? Want to bury me alive?"
"Heehee, aye, that was our intention, hahaha!"
The angry hare turned to Diathus who was tittering immensely, then he pulled a mournful face.
"Pity on the poor hare who has to stay here and be buried alive an' insulted by a pretty haremaid and a villainous squirrel. Woe is me! I say, Rosey, wot do ye think yore doin', scoffin' all o' the apples?"
The mousemaid smiled innocently through a mouthful of russet apple. "What does it look like I'm doing, Tamarillo? Since you three are arguing, I might as well do all the eating!"
The two hares and squirrels immediately got up from the ground and lunged at Rosethorn and the haversack, causing them to land in a huge pile, stacked on top of the other, causing Tamarillo to moan and complain even louder. Having enough of the whining from the hare, the mousemaid graciously handed them an apple each and soon they were all munching away, chatting amiably as they did so.
"Wot do ye mean, 'villainous squirrel an' pretty haremaid?' I'm jus' as pretty as Diathus here!"
Diathus grinned teasingly and gave Tamarillo a light shove, winking at Mia.
"Aye, an' I'm much more villainous an' evil an' vile than that pretty squirrel. Wot's gotten into ye, Tamar; you've gotten it all mixed up!"
The squirrelmaid returned to wink and sighed with mock pity, hanging her head.
"Alas, me friend, our poor dear friend Tamar's brain has truly melted to the heat and exhaustion. Surely there is something we can do, Diathus?"
Diathus rubbed her paws together with a wicked grin, causing Tamarillo to shiver, even though he knew she was only joking around.
"I say that we let the poor beast end his sufferin' an' bury him like we were goin' to. Wot do ye say?"
"I say it's an excellent idea; let's get kickin'!'"
Both chuckling with mock malevolency, the two began kicking leaves onto Tamarillo again. Of course the hare knew it was all a simple joke, but he pretended to cower back in fear, showing no resistance as leaves began to pour over his head.
"Oh, no! I shall be buried alive, an' no beast will ever remember me. An' I haven't even gotten to right me will yet. Won't you pardon me for a moment so I can go fetch a sheet of parchment and quickly write me will? First, I give me share o' russet apples to me dear friend, Di, the pretty haremaid. Mia ken get…hmm…wot shall I leave to that villainous squirrel? Lessee, Mia, would you 'appen to want me old tunic buttons? That's all I have left fer ye."
Mia stared at Tamarillo in mock anger and folded her arms. "Why does she get yore share o' vittles? I've been yore friend longer; I know ye better! Humph…"
The hare on the ground, half covered with leaves, grinned teasingly and leapt up from his 'bed.' He ruffled Mia's ears with mock pity.
"Don't be that sad, Mia. Yore jus' not as pretty as Di here."
Mia pretended to think over the matter awhile, and when she opened her mouth to speak, she didn't get her chance to. Diathus grabbed Mia's paw and pulled her aside, just as a black fletched arrow shot through the air. Rosethorn ducked on instinct, although it thudded a few feet away from her head. Tamarillo immediately stopped fooling around and bounced over to Rosethorn and the haversack's direction cautiously. The alert hare grabbed his lance that he had brought with him from his cave, which was leaning against the birch tree which the arrow had thudded into. Immediately, another arrow shot out. Tamarillo jumped aside as the arrow thudded into the birch tree which his lance was leaning against. Studying the arrow closely, the hare's face broke out into a small smile. Still cautious, however, he grabbed his weapon and let out a low growl.
"Who's there? If yore a goodbeast, then show yoreself, but if yer vermin, I suggest ye go 'way afore I hurt ye. Come on now."
There was a slight snicker from the shrubs and a mocking voice called out, "Come on, yerself, rabbit. Did ye hear that, mates? The rabbit is goin' to hurt me. Oh, I'm shakin' in me tunic!"
The comment caused barks of laughter through the bushes. If you paid close attention to the chuckles, you would hear that it was not the laugh of a vermin, but sounded more like an otter. Tamarillo realized this and his grin grew broader. Loosening his grip on his lance, the hare called out, "Ahoy, Tidespark! Shakin' in yore tunic, are ye? Good, ye should be! An' how many times must I correct ye; hare, not rabbit. Hare! Anyways, matey, good to see ye again!"
A tall, brawny otter leap out from the shrubs, a slight smile pasted on his face. Over his back was an arrow with a quiver full of black fletched arrows.
"Well then, matey, let me rephrase that. 'Come on, yerself, hare. Did ye hear that, mates? The hare is goin' to hurt me. Oh, I'm shakin' in me tunic!' Anyways, good to see ye again too, Tamar! Wot are ye doin' around Holt Kintre fer this time? Is it somethin' serious, or do ye an' Mia jus' want some vittles?"
Mia bounced up beside Tamarillo and waved cheerily.
"Hello, Tidespark. How are ye doin' today? Tamar an' I are leading Diathus and Rosethorn," here, the squirrelmaid gestured to the mousemaid and haremaid who were inching forward cautiously, "And we have an eagle friend who is flyin' up ahead. Like I was sayin', we're takin' the three to Redwall Abbey, an' maybe they'll be able to stay there. Besides, I've never been inside the place meself; might as well, right? We've been walkin' all day, Tidespark. Do ye think Kintre would let us stay at the Holt fer a while?"
"Krrreeeekah! Ye aren't leavin' widout meh!"
In a blur, Skydrop had landed next to Diathus. The eagle grinned cheerily.
"So noo, laddie bucks, who's this Kintre that ye've jus' talked aboot?"
Tidespark beamed happily at the company and turned to his band of otters who had come out of the bushes also and were standing straight to attention.
"Well now, me mates, let's get these five to Kintre!"