::Departure::


Disclaimer: ... *roar*

A/N: Networking problems SUCK big time. So here I am, on my new (non-internet) computer, typing this down and hoping to send it over later, at 10:47 PM on a Sunday night, sipping camomile tea while I should be asleep. Oh well. New computers in ones own room is a good thing, I suppose, internet or no.

*

Daleria had been elated when she had heard that Rapieratce had somehow or another managed to attain her leave to go to Redwall for the celebration along with the others, and even more so when she had heard of the unusually long period that was allotted to them. Rapieratce smiled knowingly at the happy captain, who had abandoned her food almost immediately when she had heard the news, but still shook his head slightly as he sat himself next to her in the officer's mess.

'You should still go and clear things up with Consellariel though, Dale. It is not an affair that you should give time to worsen. It might turn out for the worse for the both of you.'

Daleria stiffened slightly at his suggestion, then sighed slightly and cast her eyed away from his. Rapieratce raised an eyebrow at her as he set his fork down to give the captain his full attention.

'Why are you so afraid of repenting and admitting that you were wrong and simply expressing that you are sorry?'

Daleria shrugged sadly, trying to portray what she felt into words, though she still found it immensely difficult..

'I have no idea, 'Atce. It's just the fear, I suppose. Knowing that it's... over. It's so strange. So empty, I suppose, compared to what I went through prior to this. Nobeast to hate anymore. It's very hard to adapt to such peace.'

Rapieratce looked at her sharply as she finished, eyeing her with slight suspicion. Daleria refused to meet his eyes, focussing instead on pushing her food around before shoving it down.

'So you intent to settle your more abusive emotions against the lady?'

Daleria immediately shook her head at the mere suggestion, laughing slightly, even.

'You misinterpret me, 'Atce. I may be ruthless sometimes, but please, question not my honour. I hold no grudge against the lady. Simply a misunderstanding that my heart is not eager to let go of. 'Tis a hard thing to explain.'

Rapieratce sighed at her in aggravation.

'You are so stubborn sometimes, Dale, I really don't know what to do with you.'

Daleria laughed slightly then smirked at him.

'Fine, oh valiant and righteous Rapieratce, I shall attempt to drag my insolent self over to the lady's quarters later.'

Rapieratce laughed a little at her in return, before finishing up his food then trudging unwilling back to his office and the mass of work that he was reluctant to acknowledge. Daleria cleared her own plate soon after, before retiring to her dormitory to think her situation over, and of what to say to the badger lady. Dropping down onto her bunk, she stared up at the ceiling above her as if wanting some inspiration to come from it. No such luck, and soon her mind began to wander slightly.

How that confounded colonel manages to talk me into doing things I never otherwise would have is getting quite out of hand. I must get myself back at him later.

Indeed?

I thought my conscience was over with me already?

Think about it. You still have something going on with Consellariel. I'm here to replace Rapieratce by pushing you to the point of immense guilt to go to the badger lady.

Mossflower save me now.

Reluctant as she was, Daleria knew that she was going to have to move sooner or later. Thinking her situation over carefully, she looked back on all the past happenings and realized that she had indeed had been a fool to put all her frustrations upon Consellariel. It was an act that must have seemed utterly incredulous to anybeast who did not know her. The captain cursed her own stubbornness and hot headedness, but was grateful that Consellariel still had the patience and compassion to put up with her attitude rather than pound her and cast her off the mountain. One day, she was going to have to pound some sense into herself not to act so rashly when ever occasions such as this cropped up, hard though it might be. It might save her from some unwanted situations such as this.

Finally taking things upon herself to get up, Daleria pulled herself up a floor to Consellariel's quarters. Taking a deep breath as she stopped outside the badger lady's door, she prepared herself for the ugly affair that was going to happen not long after. It took all the will inside of her to knock on the door and not to run away and hide in some unknown dark corner that nobeast knew of. Consellariel's by then trademark "enter" reached her ears, and the hare nervously pushed the door open and walked in, saluting to the badger lady in the process. Consellariel saw her, and immediately put down what she had previously been doing.

'Daleria? What brings you here?'

'Well, marm... Rapieratce has been talking to me the past few weeks, and I suppose I have to admit that I have been quite the inconsiderate fool in this matter. I apologize for my rather... difficult behaviour these past few weeks.'

To Daleria, the words sounded stupid even as they left her mouth. She felt like melting and flowing away. Consellariel looked at her for a moment, surprise evident on her striped face.

'Well, captain, this is a surprise. I'm merely glad that this matter is clear of. In return, I suppose that I myself must be criticized for the fact that I had done some rather unnecessary actions on my part as well. It must have been severely hard on you. I must say that I do not blame you for you behaviour towards me on any part.'

Daleria breathed out a mental sigh of relief.

'I am glad myself, marm. More than I can say.'

*