8
Later that night Methuselah couldn't sleep well. His mind was too full of thoughts, and questions that he couldn't answer. Questions about the forest in his dreams, when he was going to get a reply from Snowfur, and what it would say, but the question that kept coming back to his mind no matter how many times he tried to forget about it was when was he going to leave the Abbey, and how.
He wanted to leave as quietly as possible because there were many beasts here who hated him, but there were also a few people here who like him, and he liked them, what he was afraid of was that if he left publicly he was sure that at least someone would follow him, and he didn't want anyone to get involved; "This is my quest and I will do this alone." he told himself over and over, but it didn't seem like it was enough to bring him peace of mind he was hoping for; then again he was running away from home, on a quest to find his true home; this was very confusing to him.
Ever since Martin came to him he has seemed quite restless, because all these seasons Redwall has been his true home, but so suddenly the whole world has turned upside-down for him. Methuselah got up and sat on his bed his head buried in his paws as his mind was racing with thoughts. It was all so frustrating...
It was a few hours later and still Methuselah couldn't sleep after many attempts which ended up in vain. So he decided to take a walk around the Abbey; it always seemed to calm his nerves whenever he felt stressed. It seemed odd to Methuselah walking down the hallways of the Abbey so casually, because the last time he was up this late, and walking through the halls he was sneaking, and his senses were on high alert. Now on the other hand he was walking down the hallways care free, and was only thinking about how he was going to get to sleep. But just then a thought crossed his mind. He remembered Melina telling him what Snowfur said to her "It is not a matter of if he will show his fox qualities, but a matter of when..."
This led Methuselah to think that may be Snowfur was right about him "Once a fox always a fox?" he asked himself.
He stood in the hallway in silence for a few minuets thinking, but then came to his senses "What am I thinking?" he asked himself with at grin "I'm Methuselah, the assistant recorder of Redwall Abbey. And all residents of Redwall are peaceful, including me!"
He continued walking until he made it to the Great Hall. It seemed odd how the entire atmosphere of a room changes by what time it is. In the day the sun shone brightly through the stained glass windows, almost as if the day were greeting you personally. But when it was night and the moon shone its light through the window it generated a calm feeling in the room, as if the night were saying goodnight Methuselah walked to the large oak table, and pulled out a chair so that it was facing the tapestry of Martin the Warrior. Ever since the tapestry was made Redwaller's have admired the tapestry. It has been stolen, ripped, torn, and worn down over time. Yet it is still the symbol of Redwall. Methuselah stared at the tapestry for a while hoping that it would bring him some comfort. The way the moonlight shone through the stained glass created a gentle collage of colors that flowed over the tapestry giving it the illusion of moving if you were to stare at it for a long time.
As he was staring at the tapestry he felt very cold for a moment, but it passed so he didn't think about it. "Martin," Methuselah whispered "why do I have to go on this quest?"
All of a sudden Methuselah shuddered again; he felt as if there was someone else in the Great Hall. "Did he say you had to go?" a voice called out. Methuselah jumped out of the chair and looked around the Great Hall, and on the other side of the table was an old mouse. His fur was gray with age, he wore an old robe.
"Who are you?" Methuselah asked.
The old mouse chuckled a little and sighed softly "Me? I'm just an old mouse trying to see as much of the world as I can in my final seasons. Who are you?" the old mouse asked.
"I am Methuselah, the assistant recorder of this Abbey." Methuselah answered.
The mouse had given its full attention to Methuselah "But how did you get here? You are a fox." The mouse turned his head away from Methuselah in shame "I'm sorry that was very rude of me."
Methuselah shook his head "No, it's alright...I'm use to it."
The mouse was silent for a moment; still looking away from Methuselah "That s very sad thing to say Methuselah." the mouse said quietly, Methuselah nodded his head slowly. "If you could live another life, one where you were highly respected, and no one dared to taunt you, would you accept that life?" the mouse asked looking back at Methuselah.
Methuselah let out a small sigh "If you are asking me if I resent being a fox, the answer is no; I would keep the life I have now."
The mouse looked up at the tapestry "Is it worth it though? Every day being mocked, made fun of, all of that, don't you just want it to stop?"
Methuselah turned his chair around so that it was facing the mouse "When I was a kit, I had very few friends, because everyone was afraid of me. The only friends I had at that time were Deyna, Melina, Nimbalo, Rosabell, and Rollell. But over the seasons I have made more friends. Sure some still try to avoid me, but as long as I know I have friends who care about me...Well those are the things that make it all worth while."
The mouse nodded his head "But why do most beasts still try to avoid you?"
Methuselah thought about that for a moment "I think it's because I'm so different. You see most foxes are thieves, and murders, yet the sight of me being peaceful makes them suspicious."
The mouse thought that continuing on with this subject might make Methuselah more upset so he decided to change the subject "Since I arrived at this Abbey I have heard the name Martin used quite a bit; who is this Martin."
Though Methuselah knew that the mouse was trying to change the subject he gladly decided to play along. "Martin the warrior, he was the Abbey's first warrior, and participated in the founding of Redwall. When he was alive he saved Redwall quite a few times. But even after he passed away he still continues to watch over the Abbey, and everyone who resides here. He put courage into the hearts of the good, and strikes fear into the evil ones who threaten the Abbey."
The mouse nodded his head, got out of his chair, and walked over to Methuselah. The mouse looked deep into Methuselah's eyes, as did Methuselah look deep into the old ones. Methuselah did not know why but he felt as if the cold feeling in the Great Hall had been wiped away, and had been replaced by a certain warmth. The old mouse turned away from Methuselah and looked at the tapestry "So when you see Martin in your dreams are you afraid?"
Methuselah gasped softly "But how did you know about my dreams?"
The mouse grinned "Methuselah, I am old. And in my seasons I have seen many expressions, yours is not the first."
Methuselah was still in awe "What else did you see?"
The mouse sighed "Something is bothering you. That is the cause of your insomnia. You know that you might feel a lot better if you told someone, and who better than and old mouse, who is not long for this world, and I might add is willing and egger to hear a good yarn."
Methuselah didn't know why but he felt as if he could trust the mouse. So he told him everything; about the party, Snowfur, Martin, his dreams about the forest, and that he was going to have to sneak out of the Abbey to find his home yet he has no clue where to go, and the whole time the old mouse was taking in every word the was told. When Methuselah finished he let out a small yawn; Methuselah still found it hard to believe that his teeth were so sharp, yet the only meat he has ever eaten was fish, besides that he ate vegetables, and fruit. When he was around the dibbuns he always tried to keep from showing his teeth less he scare the dibbuns.
"How do you feel?" the mouse asked.
Methuselah yawned again and rubbed his eyes "Much better and a little tired too."
The mouse chuckled "Good. Methuselah from what you have told me I can tell that if you walk this road that has been laid before you, you will have many good times" the mouse was silent for a moment "but even more hard times. You will be pushed to your limit and farther. Are you sure that you are ready for something this?"
Methuselah didn't need to think about this he knew what he was going to do "All my life I have wondered where I come from, and why I was brought here, who are my parents, where do they live, do I have any brothers, or sisters I want...no I need to find out."
The mouse walked over to Methuselah and put his paw on Methuselah's shoulder "Be careful, one should not dwell too much on the past. You might find out what you want to know, but you might not like it."
Methuselah got up and wanted to say goodnight to the mouse, but as mysteriously as he came, he vanished.
Later that night Methuselah couldn't sleep well. His mind was too full of thoughts, and questions that he couldn't answer. Questions about the forest in his dreams, when he was going to get a reply from Snowfur, and what it would say, but the question that kept coming back to his mind no matter how many times he tried to forget about it was when was he going to leave the Abbey, and how.
He wanted to leave as quietly as possible because there were many beasts here who hated him, but there were also a few people here who like him, and he liked them, what he was afraid of was that if he left publicly he was sure that at least someone would follow him, and he didn't want anyone to get involved; "This is my quest and I will do this alone." he told himself over and over, but it didn't seem like it was enough to bring him peace of mind he was hoping for; then again he was running away from home, on a quest to find his true home; this was very confusing to him.
Ever since Martin came to him he has seemed quite restless, because all these seasons Redwall has been his true home, but so suddenly the whole world has turned upside-down for him. Methuselah got up and sat on his bed his head buried in his paws as his mind was racing with thoughts. It was all so frustrating...
It was a few hours later and still Methuselah couldn't sleep after many attempts which ended up in vain. So he decided to take a walk around the Abbey; it always seemed to calm his nerves whenever he felt stressed. It seemed odd to Methuselah walking down the hallways of the Abbey so casually, because the last time he was up this late, and walking through the halls he was sneaking, and his senses were on high alert. Now on the other hand he was walking down the hallways care free, and was only thinking about how he was going to get to sleep. But just then a thought crossed his mind. He remembered Melina telling him what Snowfur said to her "It is not a matter of if he will show his fox qualities, but a matter of when..."
This led Methuselah to think that may be Snowfur was right about him "Once a fox always a fox?" he asked himself.
He stood in the hallway in silence for a few minuets thinking, but then came to his senses "What am I thinking?" he asked himself with at grin "I'm Methuselah, the assistant recorder of Redwall Abbey. And all residents of Redwall are peaceful, including me!"
He continued walking until he made it to the Great Hall. It seemed odd how the entire atmosphere of a room changes by what time it is. In the day the sun shone brightly through the stained glass windows, almost as if the day were greeting you personally. But when it was night and the moon shone its light through the window it generated a calm feeling in the room, as if the night were saying goodnight Methuselah walked to the large oak table, and pulled out a chair so that it was facing the tapestry of Martin the Warrior. Ever since the tapestry was made Redwaller's have admired the tapestry. It has been stolen, ripped, torn, and worn down over time. Yet it is still the symbol of Redwall. Methuselah stared at the tapestry for a while hoping that it would bring him some comfort. The way the moonlight shone through the stained glass created a gentle collage of colors that flowed over the tapestry giving it the illusion of moving if you were to stare at it for a long time.
As he was staring at the tapestry he felt very cold for a moment, but it passed so he didn't think about it. "Martin," Methuselah whispered "why do I have to go on this quest?"
All of a sudden Methuselah shuddered again; he felt as if there was someone else in the Great Hall. "Did he say you had to go?" a voice called out. Methuselah jumped out of the chair and looked around the Great Hall, and on the other side of the table was an old mouse. His fur was gray with age, he wore an old robe.
"Who are you?" Methuselah asked.
The old mouse chuckled a little and sighed softly "Me? I'm just an old mouse trying to see as much of the world as I can in my final seasons. Who are you?" the old mouse asked.
"I am Methuselah, the assistant recorder of this Abbey." Methuselah answered.
The mouse had given its full attention to Methuselah "But how did you get here? You are a fox." The mouse turned his head away from Methuselah in shame "I'm sorry that was very rude of me."
Methuselah shook his head "No, it's alright...I'm use to it."
The mouse was silent for a moment; still looking away from Methuselah "That s very sad thing to say Methuselah." the mouse said quietly, Methuselah nodded his head slowly. "If you could live another life, one where you were highly respected, and no one dared to taunt you, would you accept that life?" the mouse asked looking back at Methuselah.
Methuselah let out a small sigh "If you are asking me if I resent being a fox, the answer is no; I would keep the life I have now."
The mouse looked up at the tapestry "Is it worth it though? Every day being mocked, made fun of, all of that, don't you just want it to stop?"
Methuselah turned his chair around so that it was facing the mouse "When I was a kit, I had very few friends, because everyone was afraid of me. The only friends I had at that time were Deyna, Melina, Nimbalo, Rosabell, and Rollell. But over the seasons I have made more friends. Sure some still try to avoid me, but as long as I know I have friends who care about me...Well those are the things that make it all worth while."
The mouse nodded his head "But why do most beasts still try to avoid you?"
Methuselah thought about that for a moment "I think it's because I'm so different. You see most foxes are thieves, and murders, yet the sight of me being peaceful makes them suspicious."
The mouse thought that continuing on with this subject might make Methuselah more upset so he decided to change the subject "Since I arrived at this Abbey I have heard the name Martin used quite a bit; who is this Martin."
Though Methuselah knew that the mouse was trying to change the subject he gladly decided to play along. "Martin the warrior, he was the Abbey's first warrior, and participated in the founding of Redwall. When he was alive he saved Redwall quite a few times. But even after he passed away he still continues to watch over the Abbey, and everyone who resides here. He put courage into the hearts of the good, and strikes fear into the evil ones who threaten the Abbey."
The mouse nodded his head, got out of his chair, and walked over to Methuselah. The mouse looked deep into Methuselah's eyes, as did Methuselah look deep into the old ones. Methuselah did not know why but he felt as if the cold feeling in the Great Hall had been wiped away, and had been replaced by a certain warmth. The old mouse turned away from Methuselah and looked at the tapestry "So when you see Martin in your dreams are you afraid?"
Methuselah gasped softly "But how did you know about my dreams?"
The mouse grinned "Methuselah, I am old. And in my seasons I have seen many expressions, yours is not the first."
Methuselah was still in awe "What else did you see?"
The mouse sighed "Something is bothering you. That is the cause of your insomnia. You know that you might feel a lot better if you told someone, and who better than and old mouse, who is not long for this world, and I might add is willing and egger to hear a good yarn."
Methuselah didn't know why but he felt as if he could trust the mouse. So he told him everything; about the party, Snowfur, Martin, his dreams about the forest, and that he was going to have to sneak out of the Abbey to find his home yet he has no clue where to go, and the whole time the old mouse was taking in every word the was told. When Methuselah finished he let out a small yawn; Methuselah still found it hard to believe that his teeth were so sharp, yet the only meat he has ever eaten was fish, besides that he ate vegetables, and fruit. When he was around the dibbuns he always tried to keep from showing his teeth less he scare the dibbuns.
"How do you feel?" the mouse asked.
Methuselah yawned again and rubbed his eyes "Much better and a little tired too."
The mouse chuckled "Good. Methuselah from what you have told me I can tell that if you walk this road that has been laid before you, you will have many good times" the mouse was silent for a moment "but even more hard times. You will be pushed to your limit and farther. Are you sure that you are ready for something this?"
Methuselah didn't need to think about this he knew what he was going to do "All my life I have wondered where I come from, and why I was brought here, who are my parents, where do they live, do I have any brothers, or sisters I want...no I need to find out."
The mouse walked over to Methuselah and put his paw on Methuselah's shoulder "Be careful, one should not dwell too much on the past. You might find out what you want to know, but you might not like it."
Methuselah got up and wanted to say goodnight to the mouse, but as mysteriously as he came, he vanished.
