Though Mattachin had recognized a need to listen, he didn't want to do so just yet. In fact, nobeast out of the whole population of Redwall was feeling quite up to the challenge of listening to the incomprehensible emotional events of late explained as cold hard facts. They had their reasons, many of which fought with the prospect of rational interpretation in their minds.
Nyctllr didn't think of her inside knowledge as detached. While the Redwallers moped in a haze of black despair, Nyc brooded in a state of disquiet urgency that was comparable in hue. If they didn't take the time to listen soon, their own morbid fantasies and tales about what must have caused this all would take all mental space for consideration of the matter. As a bat, a colonial organism, Nyc knew full well how large groups reacted to big things. If she wasn't able to get her say in, they'd retaliate against fictional elements, and the situation would only deteriorate.
The refugees returned to the damaged Abbey the day after the flames were affirmedly quelled. The return march moved to a cadence of dread, only to be halted at the gates by a blast of horrible realization. would only begin to describe the manner in which each and every Redwaller regarded the former West Wall. Moving everybeast back inside took nearly as long as it took the head of the returning column to arive from the refuge in the woods.
The crews of able-bodied creatures that had worked to stifle the fire immediately began constructing a barrier with all available objects, for the express purpose of preventing losing any more lives to the disaster zone. Thus the kitchens, the library, the guest quarters, and several other small areas were denied occupancy, but nobeast felt the library necessary at such a time, no guests could be expected after such a disturbance, and the pantry was still accessible. They could make do.
An attempt to rest after such sleepless uncertainty was the immediate procedure. Many creatures slept long and hard, though not without the presence of troubling dreams. Physical exhaustion was, at least, countered. The following day, in the absence of both Badger Mother and Father Abbot, Mattachin called an assembly of Abbeybeasts, to be held on the eastern end of the Great Hall. Despite the fact that the Warrior mouse sat at the northern head of the table, most eyes faced west.
We are not going to let this setback be evident for long, Mattachin began. His voice held a harsh quality that comes only from lack of extensive use. Nobody can see Redwall with a broken wall. That's not only a deadly weakness, but it's against our very name. Nobody can see that. I won't let anybody else see that. With this loss, it's my duty to take charge. So I did. We're going to fix this place, and we're never going to let something like this happen again! And all as soon as possible!
Slowly, uncertainly, but eventually the assembled creatures applauded their warrior. Troyte clacked his beak, however, in disagreement. You missed something. Well, two things really.
The noise petered off to allow the hawk's voice through. First of all, what about a monument? Creatures died. We shouldn't hide everything and cover that up, too. And second, Nyc told me that you'd let her talk...
Mattachin regarded Troyte skeptically, wetting his lips as he sought the proper response out of all that cluttered his busy mind. Redwall is its own monument! He sounded definitive there, but he said no more.
In the following lull, Nyctllr stood, her tone softer but somehow stronger than that of the Warrior. I don't know what happened, but I know who and why. Nobeast listened to me before when I said that, but you can't make anything of information if you don't listen to it first.
There were no interruptions.