Disclaimer: Not mine.
*
Rapieratce walked out of the infirmary with slumped shoulders and walked slowly up to his dormitory to clear it out. Hastily avoiding any hare that came his way, he strode dejectedly over to his dormitory. Almost running, he entered his room and looked sadly around.
This may be the last time I'll be looking at this place...
Throwing his stuff into a box and shoving it into the spare closet so as not to clutter up the next colonel's place in the room, he cleared all his belongings before taking out a long slim box. Dusting it off, Rapieratce withdrew an old rapier of his, his first. It was given to him, too long ago for him to remember. The sheath was barely even worn, he had not used it very much as he had trained with his given rapier from the beginning. The blade was not as keen, but still valid. Silently strapping it on, he closed the case and set it into the spare closet with the rest of his things, hoping that he would live to reclaim the stuff. Packing a haversack, but not really paying very much attention to what he was throwing in, he absent mindedly thought back to what Consellariel had said about his rapier.
I cannot promise you anything.
What did that mean? Wistfully, Rapieratce was dearly hoping that she would keep it from anybeast else. He had had the blade... for so long. Way back when he was only a regular hare, not even a galloper, he had that thing strapped onto his back. His old blade felt unnatural to him compared to the familiar sensation of the other sheath that he once had. Sighing, he knew that he could do nothing. Slinging the pack over his back, he walked out and closed the door softly, looking at it one last time before turning and walking away.
I will see this place again. I will see this place again. I will see this place again. Repeat.
You know that you may not, 'Atce. The odds are against you.
It does not mean that it is impossible.
It comes close.
Rapieratce realized that he was approaching the infirmary only when he heard the sounds of heated quarrelling between what sounded like Consellariel and Daleria.
This is most definitely not good.
From what he could hear, the conversation was going along the lines of:
Marm! You can't just let him leave like that! He won't survive out there! Not alone!
It was his choice, captain.
It does not give him leave to simple walk away and practically kill himself!
The ex-colonel cringed and thought to himself,
Speak for yourself, Dale. I had to stop you from doing that more than a few times.
The argument went on,
I cannot help what he thinks!
You could have stopped him as you stopped me!
He chose it himself! I had no right in saying no!
YES YOU DID! You told it to me yourself so long ago!
That was a different matter, Daleria!
No it is not! All the matters are because of ME and all the matters involve somebeast being endangered because of ME!
It does not matter!
Yes it does! Do you not see that he WILL NOT SURVIVE?! You are allowing him to go on a suicide mission?
I am not sending him on anything! He is no longer of the Long Patrol and I HAVE no control over what he does!
Rapieratce risked a look into the infirmary. It looked like Daleria had finally managed to escape the grasps of the white sheets, and she was burning up. Standing directly in front of the standing badger lady, both were shouting at each other in rage. The young captain was practically sneering at Consellariel.
You are afraid to admit it, then, marm? That he is never truly gone? Even though he left, it does not mean he is gone. Not from us.
He is gone captain. That is all!
You are a fool to believe that, marm.
It was not going well. Never before had there been such a direct argument against a badger lady from a hare.
He left of his own will. You see this a proof.
Consellariel lifted up his rapier. Rapieratce cringed at the sight of it.
THAT! Marm, you could have at least left him a weapon!
You heard him, Daleria. His has another.
Do not be obstinate, marm! That rapier has been in his use and possession longer than I have been alive! The one he now wields is probably damaged or blunt!
That is his problem, captain.
Rapieratce cringed again. Daleria looked ready to explode by then. What she did next was probably the most daring thing any hare in the Long Patrol had ever done in the face of a badger lord or lady. Reaching up, she snatched his rapier out of Consellariel's paws.
This,
She snarled, menacingly,
is going back to its rightful owner.
Consellariel was too shocked to do anything. In fact, every otherbeast was also stunned at the captain's actions. Before anyone could do anything, she ran out of the door, only to be stopped by Rapieratce.
'Rapieratce!'
She held out the rapier, but slowly, Rapieratce shook his head. To be truthful, every part of him wanted to take the rapier and flee, but he knew better than to do that. Daleria looked at him as if he was crazy. Firmly forcing her to turn around, he marched he straight back into the infirmary and handed the rapier back to Consellariel. It took every bit of effort to let it go. Refusing to look the badger lady in the eye, he quickly turned and began to walk away. He was stopped by a number of hares whom had all gathered in the doorway. In the lead was Remora.
'What on Mossflower are you doing, sah?'
Rapieratce winced at the title. Still refusing to look anybeast in the eye, he started to push his way through the crowd, but was instantly held back. Turning his head away, he tried again, only to be blocked again. Remora asked again.
'Where are you going, sah? And why-'
Rapieratce winced again and held up his paw to stop her. Softly, he said.
'Please, don't call me that. Just move away.'
Remora looked extremely shocked. The brigadier stared at him, as said,
'What? Don't call you what, sah?'
Wincing at the title again, he said still staring at the floor and refusing to look up.
'That. Don't call me sah. Just, please, just move.'
Remora was by then completely stunned. Stubbornly refusing to move away, she only pushed him further back into the infirmary.
'So what I heard was true? That you are leaving?'
Rapieratce just stood there, completely silent and unable to answer. Consellariel decided to add in.
'Do not act that way, Rapieratce. It is not as if you are doing anything wrong.'
Softly he replied.
'Not doing anything wrong, marm? Look at me. I am not exactly the best example of a Long Patrol hare at the moment. By Mossflower, I am not even a Long Patrol hare at the moment.'
A collective gasp came up from those at the door, and a buzzing of chatter went up. All of them did not want him to leave. Most had refused to believe the rumours alone, therefore deciding not to come up to the infirmary at all.
'Do not be imbicilic, sah.'
'I already told you, Brigadier, to stop calling me that.'
'I do not think anybeast will listen.'
Rapieratce just looked away.
'Just let me leave.'
Standing to take his leave, he was again stopped, this time by Daleria, who had once again snatched away the rapier from the inattentive Consellariel. She thrust the leather sheath with the rapier into his paws.
'Take it, 'Atce. You know that you want to take it.'
Looking sadly up at her, he shook his head.
'I could not take it even if I wanted to. You know that I cannot.'
Turning dejectedly, he forced himself again to place the rapier back into Consellariel's paws. But she did not accept it.
