"Dear friends. It's the end of spring. Until now we have not had a name for this summer. But the season brought with us a new guest," Here, he looked over at Cast. "Our friend, Cast, has provided us a name. We are now in the Summer of Peace and Happiness!"
This brought about applause from every beast present.
"Now, let the feast begin!"
At that moment, Cast grabbed all available victuals to his paws and stuffed them into his mouth. If Matthias didn't know better, he would think that a hare was one of Cast's ancestors.
"Sorry about my manners. I never tasted such good vittles," the squirrel said through mouthfuls. "I'm also very hungry."
"You said you weren't hungry when I asked you if you wanted some food," Matthias said.
"I wasn't at that point. But, after I slept, I grew very hungry, and that was what woke me up,"
Matthias felt guilty.
"Sorry."
"It's alright. I'm used to being hungry," Cast said, waving his paw, dismissing the apology.
"Where did you live before you came to Redwall?" asked Cornflower, who was sitting close by and had heard the conversation.
Cast stopped eating, then continued again, but slower.
"I was a traveler," he said, solemnly staring at his plate of victuals.
Cornflower's curiosity was aroused, but she didn't press the matter any longer. The feast continued as normal into the night. Most beasts left to sleep. Cast finished his plate and patted his enlarged belly.
"That was wonderful!" he said with a sigh. But Matthias wasn't paying attention. Cast followed his eyes again and saw Cornflower, walking up the stairs. She turned back and waved.
"Good night," she said, then turned back and went up to the dormitories.
Matthias was taken out of his daydream by Cast's giggles.
"There you go, laughing at me again. What's so funny?" Matthias said, dreading the answer.
Cast said nothing. He simply looked back to the stairs where Cornflower was, 2 seconds ago. Matthias looked the same way, then back at Cast, embarrassed, but not willing to show it.
"What?" he asked, innocently.
"I'm happy for you," Cast said, with a smile.
"I- I- Thanks but I don't know what you mean. Good night," Matthias said, quickly turning and taking to the stairs, skipping 2 or 3 steps at a time.
Cast waited a while, then, scaled the stairs himself, to his own dormitory. He dressed into a clean, soft, habit and got onto the bed. Sleep visited him quickly.
All was quiet now in Redwall. Crickets did not even sing their night lullaby, for fear of disturbing the peace. All of life in Mossflower awaited the first few rays of the rising sun at dawn.