13
Methuselah's eye lids fluttered open as he lay in the orchard. He sat up yawning loudly, and looked around him as his eyes re-adjusted to the light; it seemed a lot dimmer than it was before he passed out "Oh my! I guess all that work finally caught up with me it's already late noon!" he said looking at the orange, rose colored sky.
Methuselah pushed himself off the ground and stretched his sore limbs, and smiled pleased with a dreamless slumber, a first in a long while. "Maybe even Martin thought that I needed a break after all that work I did." He said laughing about his dreamless slumber.
Methuselah made his way across the court yard to the Great Hall hoping that there were still some leftovers form lunch before dinner; it was odd thought because the closer he got to the Great Hall the stronger this ominous feeling got inside of him. When he opened the doors to the Great Hall his eyes widened with shock; there chatting in the Great Hall were Mhera, Deyna, Windsire, and Boorab was Rabsire. The five looked over to the doorway as his opened; all talking ceased. Rabsire ran over to Methuselah and talked in a fast paced voice "Oh well hello Mr. Sleepyhead! Boy oh boy we thought that you would never get up! But then again you did clean up the Gate House, which is no easy feat mind you wot! But that's enough about that, how are you?"
Methuselah stared at Rabsire for a few seconds repeating to himself in his head "Please be a dreamâplease be a dreamâplease be a dream!" but nothing happened.
Rabsire placed his paw on Methuselah's head "Are you alright?" he asked.
Methuselah gently brushed Rabsire's paw off "I'm fine I'm just a little sore, and a little tiredâI guess I zoned out for a minuet." Methuselah said scratching the back of his head in embarrassment as he lightly chuckled.
Rabsire nodded his head and lightly his Methuselah's arm "Oh I've been there. Just some good vittles hot vittles are exactly what you need to wake you up! I know I'll just take a quick run into the kith-"
Rabsire was interrupted by Deyna who pushed himself out of his chair "Why don't you let me? You know how Dill gets when there is a hare in his kitchen. How's about some hot root soup Methuselah?"
Methuselah nodded his head licking his lips "Sound's good." He said walking over to the table with Rabsire. Rabsire sat with his parents, and Methuselah sat next to Melina.
There was a calm silence in the Great Hall as everyone waited for Deyna to return so that Rabsire could finish telling them what happened while he was gone; they didn't want him to miss anything out of respect. After a few minuets Deyna came back carrying a bowl of the otter delicacy and set it down in front of Methuselah "Here you go. Rabsire's right this should wake you up!" he said with a grin.
Methuselah stared at the steaming bowl of soup and whispered softly "I hope so"
He slowly wrapped his paw around a wooden spoon that was left behind and dipped it into the soup stirring it a little as he thought to himself that this was just a dream, and as soon as he tasted the soup he would wake up, either that or taste nothing. He lifted to spoon from the bowl and gently blew on the soup and poured it into his mouthâit was real. A tear ran down Methuselah's cheek as he swallowed the hot liquid. Rabsire walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder "A little hot for you eh?" he said chuckling.
Methuselah pretended to fan his mouth as he as he breathed in and out quickly. When he stopped he looked at Rabsire and forced a smile "Well it has been a while since I have had hot root soupâguess I forgot how hot it could get!" he said laughing.
Rabsire folded his arm and nodded his head "Oh yes I know what you mean! I don't even know how you or those otter chaps can eat that stomach acid wot wot!" he said chuckling.
Rabsire's face grew somewhat grim as he looked at the bag on his shoulder "Before I forget in all this excitement.." he said reaching in the bag and pulling out Snowfur's letter holding it out for Methuselah.
Methuselah looked at Rabsire, he didn't want the letter, he didn't was Rabsire to be back yet, he wanted to continue living his normal life! He sighed and reached out pulling the letter Rabsire's paw. He set down his spoon and looked at everyone pushing his chair away from the table. "Methuselah? Where are you going?" Melina asked.
As Methuselah looked at Melina and smiled "Oh don't worry I just want to read this outsideâIt's just a little stuffy in here."
Despite him being a fox Methuselah was a terrible liar and Melina knew that Methuselah was lying but she simply nodded her head.
Methuselah decided to go the only other place that brought him comfort other then the Gate House, the bell tower. He rarely went up there though because it was so hard to get up all the way. As he ascended the steps of the bell tower he decided to un-bridle his mind and let it wander freely; unfortunately though he still couldn't stop thinking about how he was going to leave. He hit the guard rail out of frustration his paw ricochet back up in pain and he hissed grasping his paw. He shook it off and continued to walk up the stairs to the top. When he reached the top which took a good five minuets he collapsed on the hard wood floor.
While Methuselah lay panting on the floor of the bell tower he couldn't take his eyes off the beautiful bell that he was named after "Hi." He said to the Methuselah bell.
He knew that the bell wouldn't answer but he figured that he felt better when he talked to the old mouseâthis was no different he thought. It will listen at least, and it will keep it a secret. He walked over to the large window in the bell tower that overlooked Mossflower. He stared out at the sun as it slowly fell into the tree tops and the sky grew dimmer and dimmer. He could already see some stars in the sky faintly; along with the pale moon.
"I don't want goâYou hear me Martin I don't want to go!" he said loudly, his voice echoed inside the bell tower.
He leaned over the window and rested his head in his paws "But something tells me that I have too" he said sadly.
He turned to the Methuselah bell and asked "What do you think I should doâshould I go?" there was no reply; but he wasn't that surprised at this, he was after all talking to a bell.
He decided that it was getting to dark outside to read Snowfur's letter that was still in Methuselah's paw. But as he was going to make his way down the steps he was shocked at what happened. A small ding echoed through the bell tower. Methuselah gasped and looked behind him at the bell. The rope attached to it was swaying only a little with the wind, and it sounded like some beast struck the bell on the outsideâbut he was the only beast in the bell tower. Methuselah shook his head and sighed "I'll take that as a yes.." he said with a grin.
