Chapter 31
The day went by quickly for me and the other leaders as everyone was shown about and had things explained to them. Soon they had some semblance of calming down and after a good half hour, they were hungry. Typical of hares to think of food no matter what was going on around them. I talked to the sergeant to see what he could do about feeding them and told him that if they needed to cook anything that the stove in the kitchen was suitable for his needs after I gave him a quick explanation of what he would have to do to make it work. The sergeant soon had a meal going, but muttered about it being unnatural the way he was cooking. I decided to look around my home. It been years I've been told and I haven't even seen it for myself yet. Starting with the door I noted that it has never changed, going through the kitchen and dining room was next seeing as they were right there next to each other. I saw that the laundry room had a new washer and dryer but nothing else. My mother loves using what she has for as long as it'll work. I saw that the showerhead was new and beyond that not much else, other than a small scale in the corner. I decided to go over to the living room and noticed that instead of the open archway over which a huge 'W' made out of the cross bracings, his I thought odd cause there wasn't really any need for it. Inside the living room, not much had changed. The television was still the same one, the satellite service was the same, but I noticed something different about the corner. There was a small wood stove there. I knew that it's been there since the house was made, but opposite of that was the computer station. When he had gone out for that walk, the computer was an old one, running Windows ME. I chuckled slightly. That computer was the thing to have when it was bought, but it didn't last long. Sure it was buggy and not altogether reliable but he liked that old computer. Looking at the computer now in its place he could only stare and shake with unbound joy. This computer looked new! I decided against jumping onto it and explore its depths for the moment. Looking about, I saw it, the bookcase. Smirking I looked at it intently. This is where I kept odd items, loose change, bookmarks, wallets and the like, but I wasn't looking at those, I was looking at the books, when I noticed Sister Elm looking at something. Looking over her shoulder, I could see her reading one of my books. I noticed a parchment next to the book that she seemed to use to translate the writing. Deciding to leave her be, he went about the rest of the house. Going into the kitchen I watched as the sergeant and what looked like the cook attempt to use the stove to cook a flan. They were failing miserably however, and kept looking for where they were supposed to light it. Pitying them, I stepped in to help. "What seems to be the problem now?" The cook flung down a match in frustration. "Problem? Your blooming 'technology' isnt working! can't even light a proper fire!" I looked in at the wood inside and shook my head. "That's because it doesn't use wood, please kindly put it away." The cook growled slightly as he pulled the wood out and put them away. he returned soon after. "So. What now?" I nodded. "Watch and learn please." I turned one knob so it said 'Bake' and then paused at the temperature dial. "How hot do you want it?" The cook shook his head. "Dunno, hotter 'n blue blazes?" I nod. "Alright, three-hundred and fifty degrees for now." I turned the knob to the desired temperature. "Now, when this red light goes out, you can put your food in for as long as necessary. Alright?" The cook nods and listens as I tell him how the stovetop works, and show him the pots and pans and other items he may need to use. he smiled and then I showed him where the food was located and such, smiling at his awe of the refrigerator and such. Soon the light went out and he put the flan in, amazed at the fact that the door handle was cold yet the inside was hot. I showed him the timer, and how to check inside without opening the door, he nodded and I told him that later I'd show him how to use the sink nearby.
Meanwhile in the living room, Glen and Sister elm were talking while translating th ebooks she had taken from the shelf. 'So what do you think about all this?' Sister Elm put a finished book and it's entire translation off to one side. 'It's interesting.' Glen looked back at her. 'Oh? How so? Surely it's strange?' Sister Elm nodded. 'Yes, but it shows how their kind has evolved as a species.' She puts a paw to her lips and then brings out a thick book full of pictures. 'Their kind no longer needs to fight by spear and bow.' She points to a timeline at the bottom of the page. 'Not for hundreds of years.' Glen looked it over and nodded. 'Yes, but do not try to make changes when we go back, that kind of thing must occur on it's own.' Sister Elm nodded and began on a new book.
The difference between the two places were immense. What seemed to be a day in my world, didn't amount to much in mossflower woods, and Sharpclaw had managed to do quite a bit in the time that had passed. Camp was setup, meals eaten, and training beginning. They had to start anew, weapons selection and proper use (Or in their case how to not injure themselves) and practice battles in most of which they lost. Sharpclaw kept them at it though, cursing and scowling at times. The vixen however, was more curious in the trees where their enemies seemed to vanish without a trace. It felt like a powerful place, but she wasnt inclined to test it out, instead she chose a young rat. 'Go in there and bring back something not of this world, go!' The rat nodded, 'Yes miss Mysteye!' he wen tin, and like all of the others before him, disappeared. Mysteye waited patiently, he was t oreturn in five minutes with something, anything different. the young rat emerged into dark woods. Night had fallen in Maine as he looked around, assailed by ne wsmells as he looked around, it looked normal, but he needed proof. padding off silently he turned and headed east and slightly north. After an hour of travel he came across a graveyard, most of it's occupants had been there for a long time, as he looked he wondered why the creatures here even bothered making graves and headstones like those that adorned some of th emore elaborate graves. On one of the graves there was what looked a piece of iron thrust into the ground with an ornate shield at it's top. There were letters on it but he didn't know how to read at all. He gave an experimental pull and found it moved easily, a couple more pulls found him holding the iron in his claws. Silently he started to walk back, not encountering anyone, or anything as he made it back to the trees. Stepping through he was slightly blinded by the sudden light of day. Had he missed sleep? He rubbed his eyes and ignored the thought, he walked back over to Mysteye and gave her the object. She examined the object and asked him how long he took. 'A few hours madam.' She stopped, he wasn't gone that long... or at least, not here he wasn't. The rat flinched, tihnking he was going to be punished for making her wait. She only smiled and dismissed him. She looked at the object, according to the rat it came from a graveyard, but she had never seen this at a graveyard before. She could tell that nobeast could have made this, she decided to have a word with Sharpclaw later to tell him about the find.