Book Two: The Quest
Chapter Nine: Home To Not Stay
After many seasons, Kenji still had not returned, or at least nobeast knew if he had.
"Neema, you're needed in the infirmatory," the infirmatory keeper, a young female squirrel named Bluerose, was calling to Neema from the window of the village infirmatory.
"Is something a bother, Blue?" Neema asked the squirrel as she walked into the hut.
"Squirrels are getting sick, we've got so many that are here that we don't have any beds left! There must be some kind of sickness going around. I don't know what it is! I've tried ever herb I own, but nothing has worked! Neema, you must do something!"
"What is there for me to do?"
"Well, you know the story of the Redwall Abbey, right?"
"Of course I do."
"Old notes from when this village was founded say that that abbey holds every herb for every disease. I may have many, but not the one I need."
"OK, so let me get this straight. You want me to go to Redwall?" The little squirrel nodded.
"Not alone, of course. I was thinking you could take someone with you." She waved her paw, and out of the hall came a squirrel somewhat familiar to Neema.
"Kenji? Is it really you?"
"In the fur, Neema. Wow! You sure have grown in the past seasons!"
"You have too! And You look so. so. Strong!"
"Of course I do. Do you expect a squirrel to go out and fight a war and come home with no muscle?"
"Of course not! I'm just so happy you're home!" She hugged him close to her. "Where have you been? You look so hungry! You know, I've become a mighty good cook since you left! Let me make you some lunch, or something!" The two ran off towards the kitchen.
"Oh, I'm so glad Neema's so happy. I haven't seen a smile on her face for seasons!" the infirmatory squirrel said to herself.
Neema's mother walked into the sick bay hut. "Who was that who my daughter was with?" she asked eagerly. "I've never seen her so happy since before Kenji left!"
"That's exactly who that was."
"Kenji?"
"Why yes."
"Now, what are you going to do about those poor sick creatures?"
"Well, I was thinking about sending Neema and Kenji off to Redwall. It would give them some time alone, and it will help the sick ones."
"That sounds lovely, Blue! I hope it brings forth something special in Kenji. I know he has a secret that he has told nobeast, and I knew that he was alive for all those seasons." With that, the elderly squirrelwife left Bluerose to tend the sick.
In the kitchens, Neema was whipping up her famous Island Blackberry Pasty.
"You'll love this, Kenji. I discovered the recipe myself!" She handed the well-made pasty to Kenji. He cautiously took a bite out of it. He chewed thoughtfully. After he swallowed, he said one word.
"More!" He stuffed the rest of the remaining pasty in his mouth, then, after chewing and swallowing, he reached for another. Neema smacked his paw away.
"No more now. You can have more later, after you tell me what you've been doing all these years."
"How about I tell you on our way to Redwall?"
"Oh, my! I've almost forgotten about that!"
"Pack same of those pasties in a haversack along with some good cordial and some more scoff, and let's be out of here!"
"Sounds good to me, but why do we have to leave so soon?"
"Must save the villagers from that awful disease, don't want them to die on us."
"OK, then, let's get some vittles and be off."
Chapter Nine: Home To Not Stay
After many seasons, Kenji still had not returned, or at least nobeast knew if he had.
"Neema, you're needed in the infirmatory," the infirmatory keeper, a young female squirrel named Bluerose, was calling to Neema from the window of the village infirmatory.
"Is something a bother, Blue?" Neema asked the squirrel as she walked into the hut.
"Squirrels are getting sick, we've got so many that are here that we don't have any beds left! There must be some kind of sickness going around. I don't know what it is! I've tried ever herb I own, but nothing has worked! Neema, you must do something!"
"What is there for me to do?"
"Well, you know the story of the Redwall Abbey, right?"
"Of course I do."
"Old notes from when this village was founded say that that abbey holds every herb for every disease. I may have many, but not the one I need."
"OK, so let me get this straight. You want me to go to Redwall?" The little squirrel nodded.
"Not alone, of course. I was thinking you could take someone with you." She waved her paw, and out of the hall came a squirrel somewhat familiar to Neema.
"Kenji? Is it really you?"
"In the fur, Neema. Wow! You sure have grown in the past seasons!"
"You have too! And You look so. so. Strong!"
"Of course I do. Do you expect a squirrel to go out and fight a war and come home with no muscle?"
"Of course not! I'm just so happy you're home!" She hugged him close to her. "Where have you been? You look so hungry! You know, I've become a mighty good cook since you left! Let me make you some lunch, or something!" The two ran off towards the kitchen.
"Oh, I'm so glad Neema's so happy. I haven't seen a smile on her face for seasons!" the infirmatory squirrel said to herself.
Neema's mother walked into the sick bay hut. "Who was that who my daughter was with?" she asked eagerly. "I've never seen her so happy since before Kenji left!"
"That's exactly who that was."
"Kenji?"
"Why yes."
"Now, what are you going to do about those poor sick creatures?"
"Well, I was thinking about sending Neema and Kenji off to Redwall. It would give them some time alone, and it will help the sick ones."
"That sounds lovely, Blue! I hope it brings forth something special in Kenji. I know he has a secret that he has told nobeast, and I knew that he was alive for all those seasons." With that, the elderly squirrelwife left Bluerose to tend the sick.
In the kitchens, Neema was whipping up her famous Island Blackberry Pasty.
"You'll love this, Kenji. I discovered the recipe myself!" She handed the well-made pasty to Kenji. He cautiously took a bite out of it. He chewed thoughtfully. After he swallowed, he said one word.
"More!" He stuffed the rest of the remaining pasty in his mouth, then, after chewing and swallowing, he reached for another. Neema smacked his paw away.
"No more now. You can have more later, after you tell me what you've been doing all these years."
"How about I tell you on our way to Redwall?"
"Oh, my! I've almost forgotten about that!"
"Pack same of those pasties in a haversack along with some good cordial and some more scoff, and let's be out of here!"
"Sounds good to me, but why do we have to leave so soon?"
"Must save the villagers from that awful disease, don't want them to die on us."
"OK, then, let's get some vittles and be off."