A/N: I'm a total slacker, I know. Bad case of writer's block. You can't exactly blame me, can you? I'm guessing that there's be around another ten chapters of Spinner, and then it'll be the end.
Chapter Twenty
Crisp winds blew and rustled the leaves of trees and the soft sound of walking footpaws echoed through the woods. Twenty three hares marched through the vastness of Mossflower solemnly, their eyes set on the weathervane in sight in their position. Two angry voices rose, breaking the queer silence. Shoving and insulting took place somewhere near the end of the row, amid the organized line of hares. A tall, light brown hare glared angrily at one of his companions, hazel eyes alit which an angry fire. Finicky, the one Beynin had been arguing with, snorted and folded her arms across her chest, glowering back levelly at the archer, but not once loosing step with the patrol.
"Figgleface! You're much better when you keep quiet. Now shush up."
Finicky gave Beynin a hard shove, and though he didn't topple over, it took all of the archer's will not to push her back.
"Oh, shush up yerself, you great lard-bellied fiend. S'not my fault yew had t'come back to the patrol all bragging an' all that."
"Skinny slobjaw, you insulted me first! And I was not bragging. 'Twas simply a mere asking for arrows seeing as I had spent all mine in shooting the enemy."
"That is bragging, yer great nut-nosed boulder-head! If'n yer brain was as big as the nuts you keep stuffing yer mouth with, maybe yew could think properly."
A pair of long ears shot up indignantly as a certain hare archer exploded with rage. Forgetting all about the Long Patrol he was marching with and the rules her was to abide to, Beynin growled and shoved the defiant hare harder than she had pushed him. Finicky went sprawling onto the ground as Beynin shouted angry curses at her ill-temperedly, not caring if the highly ranked officers were in hearing range.
Major Starworthy held up a paw and the Long Patrol halted. Whirling around, the angry officer marched over to the section of the line Beynin and Finicky had been standing in. The Major placed himself between the two hares, preventing Beynin from leaping onto Finicky as she retorted with a long and awful insult.
"Enough, both of you! This has continued for too long. Finicky, stop provoking him. Bite your tongue for once and think about what you're about to say. You may not like him, but please refrain from any type of aggression or usage of that sort of language in my patrol. Beynin! You know it heartens her when she gets that sort of response from you. Ignore her for once! Separate, march somewhere else in line. But no fighting, shoving, or anything of that sort. She is your comrade, and though she may not always seem like it, you should still treat her with respect. That goes for you too, Finicky. Now get back in line. I want to hear no more from any of you. Actually, Beynin, move towards the front of the line. That way, you won't be able to communicate."
Finicky rose from the ground and dusted herself off, unable and afraid to look the Major in the eyes. It seemed Beynin was doing the same as the hare archer suddenly found much more interest in the dirt surrounding his footpaws. Starworthy sighed and headed back to the front of the line, followed closely by Beynin. As he passed Finicky, the rude hare hissed into his long ears.
"Daft, overgrown whelp."
Learning from his previous mistakes, the archer chose to ignore her, though his ears still stood rigid from the insult. Head held high, he marched up to the front of the line and stood next to Jansorio, the boxing hare. Although she rolled her eyes in an annoyed manner, Finicky was deeply disappointed, and placed a large frown on her face as she got back and line and began marching along with the Long Patrol.
**
Diathus's eyes widened as she entered the Abbey gates. The sight that greeted her was one that extremely surprised her. Different creatures were all around, chatting and playing. Little Dibbuns rolled around on the lawn, getting pieces of grass stuck to their fur. Some leaned against trees in the shade, talking to others without a care. Others were splashing around in the Abbey pond, laughing and tittering endlessly. Redwall radiated with peace. An elderly, venerable-looking squirrel caught sight of them in the corner of her eye, and excused herself from the young mouse she had been conversing with to greet the large group. Abbess Sencatina nodded courteously at the large group. Smiling broadly, the old squirrel gave Kintre a large hug, followed by a playful scolding.
"Back again, Kintre? And you brought the Holt with you. Here to eat us out of larder and kitchens, I suppose. Goodness, the Long Patrol and Holt Kintre! Careful though, Horvory doesn't want you or your otters to eat any of the prepared food for the feast. He's spent quite a while preparing. Here now, seems like you also brought along some new friends. Hello, I am Abbess Sencatina. Pleased to meet you all."
Tamarillo bowed formally, then stood back up and winked roguishly.
"Tamarillo, marm. Hope you have some extra food fer me. I'm pure famished. Eatin' Kintre's cookin' ain't all that dandy, doncha know. This here is me squirrel friend Mia, an' this is Rosethorn, the most excellent…growler." Rosethorn scowled at the hare, but Tamarillo tried to ignore it, and gave Diathus a sharp elbow in the ribs to bring her back to reality. The haremaid snapped out of her thoughts immediately and mocked a curtsy.
"I'm Diathus. Nice t'meetcher, marm. We used to have an eagle wid us, but he flew 'way to his home."
Sencatina motioned around her to the Abbey grounds and smiled.
"Welcome, you four. You are welcome to stay as long as you please. I hope you enjoy your time at Redwall Abbey. Brother Arenlor?"
The young mouse Mother Abbess had been talking to scurried over. Arenlor eyed the newcomers carefully, nodded a welcome, and then turned to Sencatina expectantly.
"You called, Abbess?"
Sencatina chuckled and motioned to the two hares, mouse, and squirrel.
"Brother, would you be so kind to show these four around the Abbey? Sort of like a tour; you know what I mean."
Arenlor smiled brightly and motioned to the four ex-travelers to follow after him, then dashed off. Tamarillo was quick to follow when the young mouse called out behind his shoulder, "First stop, the kitchens!"
**
Swiftspeed shielded his eyes from the bright sun as he looked up at the Abbey weathervane. Turning to his companion, he waited patiently as she finished her drink before speaking.
"We're almost there, Tweet. Ready for a quick dash?"
Tweetleg giggled and nodded willingly, shouldering her canteen lightly. The two hares sprinted off, both eager to reach the gates of Redwall Abbey, along with a good night sleep in a warm bed. Swiftspeed and Tweetleg had been sent ahead by the Major to reach the Abbey and tell them that the Long Patrol's arrival was not that far back.
Swiftspeed skidded to a halt, followed by Tweetleg, and winked at the Sprinter.
"Well, we made it, Tweet. Would you like t'do the honors?"
Clearing her throat officially, the green recruit marched up to the gates in military form. Clearing her throat once more, she began pounding on the gates, her previous formalness forgotten as she hollered out in the loudest voice she could muster, a very amused Swiftspeed standing behind her.
"Let us in, let us in, wot! There are two blinkin' hungry hares out here from the bally Long Patrol waitin' t'be fed! We're starving!"
Quieting down for a moment, she turned around and smiled brightly at the Galloper, then asked, "Howsat?"
Chuckled to himself, the tall hare walked past Tweetleg and began knocking on the door, though much softer than Tweetleg had.
"Hello in there! We're Swiftspeed and Tweetleg of the Long Patrol, under the command of Major Starworthy. Care to let us in?"
The gates opened slowly, and the head of a squirrel peeked out cautiously. Catching sight of the Galloper, Treetop immediately bounded out and gave Swiftspeed a friendly punch in the arm.
"Swiftspeed! Nice t'see yer scraggy face agin, mate." The squirrel peered over the Galloper's shoulder warily. "Where's the rest o' the Patrol? Waiting fer the doors t'fully open so they kin charge inter the kitchens an' eat us out of abbey an' home? We already got two hares in the kitchens right now, drivin' Horvory insane."
Finally catching sight of Tweetleg, Treetop bounded over to the younger hare and bowed, followed by a quick wink.
"Hallo, young miss. I take it yer name's Tweetleg. Pleasure t'meetcha, I'm sure."
The sprinter mocked a curtsy and flashed a smile as she replied, "Hallo t'you too, wot! Yes, I'm Tweetleg, an' it's most delightful t'meet you. Er…I hope you dun mind about that dent I made in yore Abbey's gates…"
The woodland squirrel laughed good-naturedly and motioned to the two hares to follow him.
"Ah, dun worry 'bout it, mate. Here now, come on in. I bet yer starvin', eh?"
Tweetleg threw Swiftspeed a quick wink before she dashed off through the open gates, shouting out behind her shoulder, "Last one to the kitchen's a sulky squirrel!"
Swiftspeed blinked in surprised, then ran off, followed by a mock angry Treetop.
"Oy, that was insultin' to squirrels!"
Chapter Twenty
Crisp winds blew and rustled the leaves of trees and the soft sound of walking footpaws echoed through the woods. Twenty three hares marched through the vastness of Mossflower solemnly, their eyes set on the weathervane in sight in their position. Two angry voices rose, breaking the queer silence. Shoving and insulting took place somewhere near the end of the row, amid the organized line of hares. A tall, light brown hare glared angrily at one of his companions, hazel eyes alit which an angry fire. Finicky, the one Beynin had been arguing with, snorted and folded her arms across her chest, glowering back levelly at the archer, but not once loosing step with the patrol.
"Figgleface! You're much better when you keep quiet. Now shush up."
Finicky gave Beynin a hard shove, and though he didn't topple over, it took all of the archer's will not to push her back.
"Oh, shush up yerself, you great lard-bellied fiend. S'not my fault yew had t'come back to the patrol all bragging an' all that."
"Skinny slobjaw, you insulted me first! And I was not bragging. 'Twas simply a mere asking for arrows seeing as I had spent all mine in shooting the enemy."
"That is bragging, yer great nut-nosed boulder-head! If'n yer brain was as big as the nuts you keep stuffing yer mouth with, maybe yew could think properly."
A pair of long ears shot up indignantly as a certain hare archer exploded with rage. Forgetting all about the Long Patrol he was marching with and the rules her was to abide to, Beynin growled and shoved the defiant hare harder than she had pushed him. Finicky went sprawling onto the ground as Beynin shouted angry curses at her ill-temperedly, not caring if the highly ranked officers were in hearing range.
Major Starworthy held up a paw and the Long Patrol halted. Whirling around, the angry officer marched over to the section of the line Beynin and Finicky had been standing in. The Major placed himself between the two hares, preventing Beynin from leaping onto Finicky as she retorted with a long and awful insult.
"Enough, both of you! This has continued for too long. Finicky, stop provoking him. Bite your tongue for once and think about what you're about to say. You may not like him, but please refrain from any type of aggression or usage of that sort of language in my patrol. Beynin! You know it heartens her when she gets that sort of response from you. Ignore her for once! Separate, march somewhere else in line. But no fighting, shoving, or anything of that sort. She is your comrade, and though she may not always seem like it, you should still treat her with respect. That goes for you too, Finicky. Now get back in line. I want to hear no more from any of you. Actually, Beynin, move towards the front of the line. That way, you won't be able to communicate."
Finicky rose from the ground and dusted herself off, unable and afraid to look the Major in the eyes. It seemed Beynin was doing the same as the hare archer suddenly found much more interest in the dirt surrounding his footpaws. Starworthy sighed and headed back to the front of the line, followed closely by Beynin. As he passed Finicky, the rude hare hissed into his long ears.
"Daft, overgrown whelp."
Learning from his previous mistakes, the archer chose to ignore her, though his ears still stood rigid from the insult. Head held high, he marched up to the front of the line and stood next to Jansorio, the boxing hare. Although she rolled her eyes in an annoyed manner, Finicky was deeply disappointed, and placed a large frown on her face as she got back and line and began marching along with the Long Patrol.
**
Diathus's eyes widened as she entered the Abbey gates. The sight that greeted her was one that extremely surprised her. Different creatures were all around, chatting and playing. Little Dibbuns rolled around on the lawn, getting pieces of grass stuck to their fur. Some leaned against trees in the shade, talking to others without a care. Others were splashing around in the Abbey pond, laughing and tittering endlessly. Redwall radiated with peace. An elderly, venerable-looking squirrel caught sight of them in the corner of her eye, and excused herself from the young mouse she had been conversing with to greet the large group. Abbess Sencatina nodded courteously at the large group. Smiling broadly, the old squirrel gave Kintre a large hug, followed by a playful scolding.
"Back again, Kintre? And you brought the Holt with you. Here to eat us out of larder and kitchens, I suppose. Goodness, the Long Patrol and Holt Kintre! Careful though, Horvory doesn't want you or your otters to eat any of the prepared food for the feast. He's spent quite a while preparing. Here now, seems like you also brought along some new friends. Hello, I am Abbess Sencatina. Pleased to meet you all."
Tamarillo bowed formally, then stood back up and winked roguishly.
"Tamarillo, marm. Hope you have some extra food fer me. I'm pure famished. Eatin' Kintre's cookin' ain't all that dandy, doncha know. This here is me squirrel friend Mia, an' this is Rosethorn, the most excellent…growler." Rosethorn scowled at the hare, but Tamarillo tried to ignore it, and gave Diathus a sharp elbow in the ribs to bring her back to reality. The haremaid snapped out of her thoughts immediately and mocked a curtsy.
"I'm Diathus. Nice t'meetcher, marm. We used to have an eagle wid us, but he flew 'way to his home."
Sencatina motioned around her to the Abbey grounds and smiled.
"Welcome, you four. You are welcome to stay as long as you please. I hope you enjoy your time at Redwall Abbey. Brother Arenlor?"
The young mouse Mother Abbess had been talking to scurried over. Arenlor eyed the newcomers carefully, nodded a welcome, and then turned to Sencatina expectantly.
"You called, Abbess?"
Sencatina chuckled and motioned to the two hares, mouse, and squirrel.
"Brother, would you be so kind to show these four around the Abbey? Sort of like a tour; you know what I mean."
Arenlor smiled brightly and motioned to the four ex-travelers to follow after him, then dashed off. Tamarillo was quick to follow when the young mouse called out behind his shoulder, "First stop, the kitchens!"
**
Swiftspeed shielded his eyes from the bright sun as he looked up at the Abbey weathervane. Turning to his companion, he waited patiently as she finished her drink before speaking.
"We're almost there, Tweet. Ready for a quick dash?"
Tweetleg giggled and nodded willingly, shouldering her canteen lightly. The two hares sprinted off, both eager to reach the gates of Redwall Abbey, along with a good night sleep in a warm bed. Swiftspeed and Tweetleg had been sent ahead by the Major to reach the Abbey and tell them that the Long Patrol's arrival was not that far back.
Swiftspeed skidded to a halt, followed by Tweetleg, and winked at the Sprinter.
"Well, we made it, Tweet. Would you like t'do the honors?"
Clearing her throat officially, the green recruit marched up to the gates in military form. Clearing her throat once more, she began pounding on the gates, her previous formalness forgotten as she hollered out in the loudest voice she could muster, a very amused Swiftspeed standing behind her.
"Let us in, let us in, wot! There are two blinkin' hungry hares out here from the bally Long Patrol waitin' t'be fed! We're starving!"
Quieting down for a moment, she turned around and smiled brightly at the Galloper, then asked, "Howsat?"
Chuckled to himself, the tall hare walked past Tweetleg and began knocking on the door, though much softer than Tweetleg had.
"Hello in there! We're Swiftspeed and Tweetleg of the Long Patrol, under the command of Major Starworthy. Care to let us in?"
The gates opened slowly, and the head of a squirrel peeked out cautiously. Catching sight of the Galloper, Treetop immediately bounded out and gave Swiftspeed a friendly punch in the arm.
"Swiftspeed! Nice t'see yer scraggy face agin, mate." The squirrel peered over the Galloper's shoulder warily. "Where's the rest o' the Patrol? Waiting fer the doors t'fully open so they kin charge inter the kitchens an' eat us out of abbey an' home? We already got two hares in the kitchens right now, drivin' Horvory insane."
Finally catching sight of Tweetleg, Treetop bounded over to the younger hare and bowed, followed by a quick wink.
"Hallo, young miss. I take it yer name's Tweetleg. Pleasure t'meetcha, I'm sure."
The sprinter mocked a curtsy and flashed a smile as she replied, "Hallo t'you too, wot! Yes, I'm Tweetleg, an' it's most delightful t'meet you. Er…I hope you dun mind about that dent I made in yore Abbey's gates…"
The woodland squirrel laughed good-naturedly and motioned to the two hares to follow him.
"Ah, dun worry 'bout it, mate. Here now, come on in. I bet yer starvin', eh?"
Tweetleg threw Swiftspeed a quick wink before she dashed off through the open gates, shouting out behind her shoulder, "Last one to the kitchen's a sulky squirrel!"
Swiftspeed blinked in surprised, then ran off, followed by a mock angry Treetop.
"Oy, that was insultin' to squirrels!"