Hey! Sorry I took so long making this chapter. I've been away on
vacation, and, well enjoying the rest of my summer - Oh, I got my first
flamer recently. If he still reads this, remember Cluny liked Cornflower?
He went on and on about how mother nature wouldn't allow rats and mice to
like each other. Yeah yeah, I don't care. Ok! Back to the story!
The sun shone brightly through the windows of the infirmary, leaving shapes of light speckled across the floor. One such light graced itself upon Kimba's face. He groaned slightly, while his eyes fluttered open. He squinted, trying to adjust to the light, and saw two blurred objects moving about. Quickly feigning sleep, he listened as the two beasts held a heated conversation.
"He seems to be recovering quickly. He will be out of here in no time," said one of the blurs, with a sigh of relief. Kimba didn't recognize this voice though. It was cold and stern, with a sort of no- nonsense tone. He already didn't like that creature.
"I don't think we should be in such a hurry to get rid of him," said a voice he immediately recognized as Feli.
Even though his eyes were still cloudy, he saw the first blur's head snap sharply in the Feli blur's direction. "Are you serious? He's vermin!" shouted the creature, pointing an accusing paw at Kimba. "He can't be trusted. Probably as soon as he is well enough to walk, he will rob us blind and run." Kimba scoffed slightly. He was more then just some common thief!
"But he has shown no signs of hostility!" Feli protested.
"You can never tell with vermin," the other retorted.
"If I had a acorn for every time I heard that..." Feli mumbled.
The other glared viciously at Feli. Kimba's sight had improved enough that he could tell it was an old looking female mouse. "What?" she snapped.
Feli cowered underneath the stern glance. "M-maybe he c-can change and become a-another Redwaller?" she managed to say.
The older mouse sighed. "You're just as stubborn as your father, Feli, and that is not a good thing." She turned to go. "You're a fool to trust vermin, and it may be the death of you." And with that, the older mouse walked purposefully out the door and down the steps.
Kimba turned over, so he could see Feli. Her face was pallid, and her hands were trembling slightly. She bit her lip and her eyes became glassy. "You're not going to cry are you?" Kimba sneered.
Feli hiccupped with surprise. "Oh, hello. G-good morning." She quickly brushed away a single tear, pretending she was combing out her whiskers.
Kimba's sneer grew. "Sticks and stones mate, you shouldn't let that old hag get ta ya! Don't beya baby about it." he said in a mocking tone.
Feli sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right..." She looked away, out the window.
That wasn't the response Kimba was expecting, and you could tell because surprise was etched across his face. He expected her to get all huffy and storm out. He blinked twice. "You get 'urt too easily. You can't just let her push ya around like dat! Stand up for things you believe in," he said with a more scolding than mocking tone. He put his hands behind his head. "Now if I was well, I would have bopped 'er in the noggin' for comparin' me to a common thief."
Feli giggled slightly. "Well, even if you did..."bop" her...it would only prove what she was saying."
"That I'm a common thief!" Kimba exclaimed, obviously insulted.
"No, no. It will prove that the only thing on your mind is to hurt us, and once you slip up, they would instantly throw you out. They are looking for any reason to get you out of their fur." She calmly explained.
"Humph. Well, if every single one of these uh...Redtree or whatever you things call yourselves-"
"Redwall," Feli corrected.
"Yeah Redwall," Kimba continued. "If all you Redwallers are going to be following me everywhere I go, then I might as well just leave now." He made to get up, but groaned and fell heavily back onto the bed.
Feli sighed. "You are in no condition to get up and leave."
"If you Redwallers are sooooo afraid of me hurtin' ya'll, then why'd ya bring me 'ere? Why didn't chu just let me die?" Kimba crossed his arms huffily and scowled, which reminded Feli of a dibbun throwing a fit.
"Because we are Redwallers. We always help the needy, vermin or not. It's just that, bringing vermin into Redwall usually causes trouble, so they don't trust you. But I think that every one deserves a chance. I mean...they automatically labeled you a mindless...well murderer just because you are vermin. You should be given a chance to show you aren't a bloodthirsty killer. No one agrees with me, they think you will never change. Who knows, maybe if you want, you could live here in peace with the other Redwallers."
Kimba couldn't help a small smirk creep across his face. "Well, thanks for that speech m'heartie, but as soon as I'm better I plan on leavin'. Eh, who knows, maybe since you are bein' so nice to me, I will spare you on my killing spree." He said sarcastically. He laughed heartily, pleased with his little joke.
"Well...if you want to leave that is perfectly fine..." Feli said, hiding her disappointment. "I...I'll go get you some breakfast." She quickly hurried out the infirmary door before Kimba could say anything.
Despite his words, he was really, deep down touched that she trusted him. No one had ever done that before, and quite frankly he didn't know how to act. Living hear at Redwall couldn't be nearly as bad as living out in the woodlands, with no horde or mindless minions to do your bidding. Maybe, just maybe, he would stay.
Once Feli was out the door, she slowed her pace. She sighed. "Maybe vermin are all the same..." she said to herself. On her way down she ran into Skipper again. He seemed bright and cheery this morning.
"G'morn t'ya marm!" he said enthusiastically. "Hmm, why the long face, pretty one?"
Feli looked up at him. She smiled and said "Oh nothing, just another failed attempt to get the rat to change his ways. I'm on my way to get some breakfast, care to join me?"
Skipper smiled warmly. "Of course mate! Though, you really shouldn't try t' change vermin. They are as stubborn as..." he trailed off, trying to think of a good comparison.
"My father?" Feli suggested with a smile.
Skip laughed. "Yeah, I guess so. He was a great warrior, oh aye, but very stubborn." Skipper kept his warm smile on his face as they made their way down the steps to breakfast. He was happy Feli was getting over her father's death, even making jokes about it. He hated it when Redwallers accused her father's stubbornness was a burden.
When they finally made it to breakfast, they noticed there was some sort of activity commencing in the Great Hall. "What the..." Feli stammered.
Skipper laughed. "Probably somebeast messin' with Quayor."
"Quayor? Who's Quayor?" Feli asked.
"You haven't heard yet? He'sa hare that just dropped in...about two o'clock last night. He was a long patrol hare, but obviously lost 'is mind in some sort o' battle. He's fine if you are nice to him. Otherwise 'e will tan your 'ide with a soup ladle."
Upon closer examination, Skipper's guess proved true. There was a lanky, old hare whose fur had gone white with age. He had a single monocle on his left eye, and had unusually short ears for a hare. He wore a faded blue tunic with a red cape that's bottom was torn upon his shoulders. He chased a tiny fat squirrel around, which was hysterical with glee. Wielding a ladle, he chased the squirrel all around the great hall, much to the amusement of every beast present.
Feli immediately recognized the squirrel. "Reggo!" She said sternly.
Reggo changed course and run up into the arms of Feli, which she usually did when she was in trouble. "Hee hee hee, hiya Feli!"
Feli noticed that Reggo had an onion turnover in her paws. "Is that yours Reggo?" she asked, trying to suppress the laughter boiling up inside her and keep a straight face.
"Its mithta Quaya'th, he wooked wike 'e wath dom wit it, tho I taketh it!" Reggo giggled.
No sooner had Reggo finished than Quayor marched boldly up to Feli. "That blighter took what's mine, the little savage! I demand it back this instant wot!" he said, raising his ladle for emphasis. Feli extracted the onion turnover from Reggo's paws and handed it to the old hare. Satisfied, the hare nodded curtly to Feli and returned to his seat.
Reggo moaned, "Aww, what cha do that forra?"
Feli put the little squirrel down. "It is not nice to take things from others Reggo, now go and eat your breakfast," she said patiently, although her eyes were filled with humor. Reggo, looking defeated, waddled back to her spot next to her friends. Feli smiled fondly at the chubby little squirrel.
"That 'un needs to learn not to take things from others. She may get herself into real trouble one of these days," Skip said.
"Oh she's only a dibbun, Skip. She will learn to be a proper Redwaller in due course. Now if only that rat can learn too..." Feli trailed off.
"Yeah...well I'm starved how 'bout you matey?" Skipper said with a grin.
"Oh, yes of course." Feli said, returning the smile.
And with that the two friends walked over to the tables, enjoying their breakfast, both of their minds dwelling on the searat.
The sun shone brightly through the windows of the infirmary, leaving shapes of light speckled across the floor. One such light graced itself upon Kimba's face. He groaned slightly, while his eyes fluttered open. He squinted, trying to adjust to the light, and saw two blurred objects moving about. Quickly feigning sleep, he listened as the two beasts held a heated conversation.
"He seems to be recovering quickly. He will be out of here in no time," said one of the blurs, with a sigh of relief. Kimba didn't recognize this voice though. It was cold and stern, with a sort of no- nonsense tone. He already didn't like that creature.
"I don't think we should be in such a hurry to get rid of him," said a voice he immediately recognized as Feli.
Even though his eyes were still cloudy, he saw the first blur's head snap sharply in the Feli blur's direction. "Are you serious? He's vermin!" shouted the creature, pointing an accusing paw at Kimba. "He can't be trusted. Probably as soon as he is well enough to walk, he will rob us blind and run." Kimba scoffed slightly. He was more then just some common thief!
"But he has shown no signs of hostility!" Feli protested.
"You can never tell with vermin," the other retorted.
"If I had a acorn for every time I heard that..." Feli mumbled.
The other glared viciously at Feli. Kimba's sight had improved enough that he could tell it was an old looking female mouse. "What?" she snapped.
Feli cowered underneath the stern glance. "M-maybe he c-can change and become a-another Redwaller?" she managed to say.
The older mouse sighed. "You're just as stubborn as your father, Feli, and that is not a good thing." She turned to go. "You're a fool to trust vermin, and it may be the death of you." And with that, the older mouse walked purposefully out the door and down the steps.
Kimba turned over, so he could see Feli. Her face was pallid, and her hands were trembling slightly. She bit her lip and her eyes became glassy. "You're not going to cry are you?" Kimba sneered.
Feli hiccupped with surprise. "Oh, hello. G-good morning." She quickly brushed away a single tear, pretending she was combing out her whiskers.
Kimba's sneer grew. "Sticks and stones mate, you shouldn't let that old hag get ta ya! Don't beya baby about it." he said in a mocking tone.
Feli sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right..." She looked away, out the window.
That wasn't the response Kimba was expecting, and you could tell because surprise was etched across his face. He expected her to get all huffy and storm out. He blinked twice. "You get 'urt too easily. You can't just let her push ya around like dat! Stand up for things you believe in," he said with a more scolding than mocking tone. He put his hands behind his head. "Now if I was well, I would have bopped 'er in the noggin' for comparin' me to a common thief."
Feli giggled slightly. "Well, even if you did..."bop" her...it would only prove what she was saying."
"That I'm a common thief!" Kimba exclaimed, obviously insulted.
"No, no. It will prove that the only thing on your mind is to hurt us, and once you slip up, they would instantly throw you out. They are looking for any reason to get you out of their fur." She calmly explained.
"Humph. Well, if every single one of these uh...Redtree or whatever you things call yourselves-"
"Redwall," Feli corrected.
"Yeah Redwall," Kimba continued. "If all you Redwallers are going to be following me everywhere I go, then I might as well just leave now." He made to get up, but groaned and fell heavily back onto the bed.
Feli sighed. "You are in no condition to get up and leave."
"If you Redwallers are sooooo afraid of me hurtin' ya'll, then why'd ya bring me 'ere? Why didn't chu just let me die?" Kimba crossed his arms huffily and scowled, which reminded Feli of a dibbun throwing a fit.
"Because we are Redwallers. We always help the needy, vermin or not. It's just that, bringing vermin into Redwall usually causes trouble, so they don't trust you. But I think that every one deserves a chance. I mean...they automatically labeled you a mindless...well murderer just because you are vermin. You should be given a chance to show you aren't a bloodthirsty killer. No one agrees with me, they think you will never change. Who knows, maybe if you want, you could live here in peace with the other Redwallers."
Kimba couldn't help a small smirk creep across his face. "Well, thanks for that speech m'heartie, but as soon as I'm better I plan on leavin'. Eh, who knows, maybe since you are bein' so nice to me, I will spare you on my killing spree." He said sarcastically. He laughed heartily, pleased with his little joke.
"Well...if you want to leave that is perfectly fine..." Feli said, hiding her disappointment. "I...I'll go get you some breakfast." She quickly hurried out the infirmary door before Kimba could say anything.
Despite his words, he was really, deep down touched that she trusted him. No one had ever done that before, and quite frankly he didn't know how to act. Living hear at Redwall couldn't be nearly as bad as living out in the woodlands, with no horde or mindless minions to do your bidding. Maybe, just maybe, he would stay.
Once Feli was out the door, she slowed her pace. She sighed. "Maybe vermin are all the same..." she said to herself. On her way down she ran into Skipper again. He seemed bright and cheery this morning.
"G'morn t'ya marm!" he said enthusiastically. "Hmm, why the long face, pretty one?"
Feli looked up at him. She smiled and said "Oh nothing, just another failed attempt to get the rat to change his ways. I'm on my way to get some breakfast, care to join me?"
Skipper smiled warmly. "Of course mate! Though, you really shouldn't try t' change vermin. They are as stubborn as..." he trailed off, trying to think of a good comparison.
"My father?" Feli suggested with a smile.
Skip laughed. "Yeah, I guess so. He was a great warrior, oh aye, but very stubborn." Skipper kept his warm smile on his face as they made their way down the steps to breakfast. He was happy Feli was getting over her father's death, even making jokes about it. He hated it when Redwallers accused her father's stubbornness was a burden.
When they finally made it to breakfast, they noticed there was some sort of activity commencing in the Great Hall. "What the..." Feli stammered.
Skipper laughed. "Probably somebeast messin' with Quayor."
"Quayor? Who's Quayor?" Feli asked.
"You haven't heard yet? He'sa hare that just dropped in...about two o'clock last night. He was a long patrol hare, but obviously lost 'is mind in some sort o' battle. He's fine if you are nice to him. Otherwise 'e will tan your 'ide with a soup ladle."
Upon closer examination, Skipper's guess proved true. There was a lanky, old hare whose fur had gone white with age. He had a single monocle on his left eye, and had unusually short ears for a hare. He wore a faded blue tunic with a red cape that's bottom was torn upon his shoulders. He chased a tiny fat squirrel around, which was hysterical with glee. Wielding a ladle, he chased the squirrel all around the great hall, much to the amusement of every beast present.
Feli immediately recognized the squirrel. "Reggo!" She said sternly.
Reggo changed course and run up into the arms of Feli, which she usually did when she was in trouble. "Hee hee hee, hiya Feli!"
Feli noticed that Reggo had an onion turnover in her paws. "Is that yours Reggo?" she asked, trying to suppress the laughter boiling up inside her and keep a straight face.
"Its mithta Quaya'th, he wooked wike 'e wath dom wit it, tho I taketh it!" Reggo giggled.
No sooner had Reggo finished than Quayor marched boldly up to Feli. "That blighter took what's mine, the little savage! I demand it back this instant wot!" he said, raising his ladle for emphasis. Feli extracted the onion turnover from Reggo's paws and handed it to the old hare. Satisfied, the hare nodded curtly to Feli and returned to his seat.
Reggo moaned, "Aww, what cha do that forra?"
Feli put the little squirrel down. "It is not nice to take things from others Reggo, now go and eat your breakfast," she said patiently, although her eyes were filled with humor. Reggo, looking defeated, waddled back to her spot next to her friends. Feli smiled fondly at the chubby little squirrel.
"That 'un needs to learn not to take things from others. She may get herself into real trouble one of these days," Skip said.
"Oh she's only a dibbun, Skip. She will learn to be a proper Redwaller in due course. Now if only that rat can learn too..." Feli trailed off.
"Yeah...well I'm starved how 'bout you matey?" Skipper said with a grin.
"Oh, yes of course." Feli said, returning the smile.
And with that the two friends walked over to the tables, enjoying their breakfast, both of their minds dwelling on the searat.