Chapter Two
Windrose was feeling light as the wind on which she was sailing, with wings outspread she pressed onwards. She had successfully escaped Batmountpit and avoided her mother's guards. She had decided to travel for a season or two until her mother got over her running away.
"Well, it wasn't really running away," she thought guiltily. "Mother knows I can take care of myself better than most bats."
So caught up in her thoughts was Windrose that she didn't see the storm looming ahead. Thunder clouds reached to the top of the sky, higher then any bat would fly.
She was jerked from her thoughts as the wind picked her up and tossed her around. Windrose battled furiously, trying unsuccessfully to gain her original path. She was as a leaf in a gale, thrown around mercilessly, and her energy ran lower with every wingflap.
Suddenly, illuminated by a lightning strike, a huge, forbidding object, rising from the ground, loomed in front of the panicking bat. Windrose tried vainly to stop herself from being thrown into the mountain, but her failing wings gave way, leaving her at the mercy of the weather. She slammed into the mountain. Her breath came out in a rush and she heard the splintering of bone in her left wing. She screamed in agony as the pain threatened to overwhelm her and the storm beat upon her limp body.
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"I say! Jolly 'orrible weather we're havin', sire, wot!" Mayflower mumbled to Urthstone. She sat in the forge room with her Badger Lord staring glumly out of the window. "When d'ya think this lot'll blow over, sah?"
"It will blow over when it's ready, missy, so stop asking silly questions!" came Urthstone's stern reply. He was going to go back to his task when Mayflower suddenly went rigid, ears standing up.
"I say, m'lord, can you 'ear that?"
Urthstone's gruff reply came ringing back. "Hear what? I don't hear anything! Your ears are far better than mine, missy."
"It sounds like somebeast screamin' over the weather." She distractedly replied, busy listening for another noise.
"Well, missy, we best go see who is screamin' and why. Lead the way." Urthstone said, putting his tools aside. Mayflower got up and cocked her head to the side for a second, then started to lead Urthstone through the mazes of passageways in Salamandastron.
"I think its coming from over there." Suggested Mayflower, pointing her paw to one of the windows along the passage.
Urthstone stuck his head through the window and searched the area around it. A brilliant lightning flash illuminated the scene before him. The great badger glanced around but saw only the rocks and boulders of his beloved mountain. He was about to turn to tell Mayflower that she was mistaken when a shriek issued from a rock and it appeared to move. Drawing his back in he agreed with Mayflower, "You're right. It looks like a bird of some kind has been thrown against the mountain. We best haul it up and out of the weather."
Windrose felt herself being lifted up by a massive paw. Half conscious, she lay, knowing she was too weak to fight. Her broken wing, trailing along the ground, crashed into a rock, causing her to cry out in pain. Windrose blacked out.
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A full head taller then Silvera, Lanna bent down and picked up the Abbess. The silver skunk squirmed.
"Let go of me, you great brute! I'm the Abbess, you know." Silvera reminded.
Annabella sank to the ground, holding her sides in laughter. Though Silvera was still young, Lanna was very fond of the child she had adopted for her own. She was proud of Silvera.
The three friends continued on there way down in the orchard where the abbybeasts had gathered to eat. Silvera stood at the head of the table, and as she opened her muzzle to say grace, the storm that had been hanging near the Abbey through the day, broke loose. It was the same storm that had blown Windrose to Salamandastron. Abbess Silvera, with the help of the other elders, hurried the younger children and dibbuns into Cavern Hole to finish their supper. Friar Hummer and his kitchen crew were still outside trying to salvage their edible creations. Lanna lumbered out to help them.
Silvera was outside, hurrying in the helpers who were brining in the last of the food when a strong knock on the main gate made everybeast stop. Silvera gestured to Lanna to open the gate. She was walking forward when a voice called out above the rain.
"Let us in, it's Skipper! We're drenched to the skin, though us otters don't mind." The way he put his last statement made Silvera pause. It sounded as if there were more than just otters with Skipper.
The gate was opened and Skipper walked in with his crew, all thoroughly soaked. Following were about twoscore woodlanders, all looking worse for wear. Skipper bowed towards the Abbess.
"Marm," he said, "let these poor beasts in. Once the little ones are in bed we need to call the elders together in the Great Hall. Important matters need to be discussed." Skipper turned, leading his crew and the woodlanders into the Abbey.
Lanna called out to her companions, "Well, come on, let's get this food inside." She turned to Silvera, who nodded. The abbeybeast quickly gathered the last of the remaining things, and hurried into the shelter of the Abbey.
Inside, Silvera called out, giving instructions, "Friar Hummer, can you put up a small supper for the dibbuns in Cavern Hole? They will need to be put to bed as soon as they are finished. We also need supper to be served in the Great Hall for the elders later." She turned to the Foremole, and asked, "Bickley, can you and the moles set up a sleeping area in Cavern Hole when the dibbuns are done with their supper?" When he nodded, the Abbess turned to the Infirmary Keeper, "Sister Margary, I will send those of the woodlanders with injuries to you. The ottercrew will assist the rest of the woodlanders in getting dried off. There should be a goodly amount of clean habits we can lend them."
Lastly, she addressed three of her companions, "Skipper, I need you to give me a full report of what has happened. Lanna, I would like you to come also. Annabella, I need you to bring ink and parchment. I want this recorded."
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Extracts from the recordings of Annabella Squirrel, assistant recorder to Lanna Badger, direct descendant of Lonna Bowstripe.
See the previous documentation to see Skipper's account of how he and his crew came upon the twoscore woodlanders that are now taking refuge within our Abbey walls.
Abbess Silvera, Lanna, Skipper and myself are seated around a table in the Great Hall, accompanied by several members of the aforementioned band. Skipper is about to tell us his story of how he came across the twoscore beasts that he brought back to our Abbey today. I shall record the conversation and interactions as best I can.
Abbess Silvera called for everybeasts attention. "Quiet please. You will all get a chance to voice any concerns you may have. This is a council of reason; not chaos. I will have everybeast respecting one another." She turned to the large otter seated near her. "Skipper, if you would begin?"
Obligingly, he nodded. "Well, me and my crew here were swimmin' through the River Moss when we came upon this 'ere band of woodlanders." He shrugged. "We jus' popped up and had a chat."
"Had a chat, my foot!" and indignant hare called out. "Poppin' up out o' the bally ol' river, scarin' us out of our wits! An' with us runnin' from Tragon an' all!"
The Abbess stared. "Tragon?" She frowned, staring at the hare.
"Yah, 'ee nastiest vermin ever. That badbeastez got more in vermant in his command 'n 'ee leaves on 'ee trees!" a honey colored female mole spoke up.
Skipper cleared his throat, "Abbess, might I continue?"
Abbess Silvera nodded, thoughtfully, and gestured for the otter to continue.
"Well, anywho', we talked a bit with a number of the woodbeasts, and found out all abou' tha' evil beast. Tragon!" he spat the name in disgust. "I don't know all 'e details, but it seems he's headin' out way." Skipper glared darkly.
Ever the wise peacemaker, Lanna spoke, "I'm sure we can all sort this out in the morning. It is getting late, so why don't we all go to bed and try to get some sleep?"
Silvera agreed. "Yes, we should. We can meet again during lunch." Turning to Annabella and Lanna, she questioned, "Could I meet with you two after breakfast? I think we'll need to have a search through the records in the gatehouse."
And so we went to bed for the night. Many of us though, sat up, mulling over the past events, and what fresh horrors this unknown enemy would bring.
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During the first two days of her recovery at Salamandastron, Windrose spent her time floating in-between consciousness and unconsciousness. The time was spent in the Infirmary, where the healers set the bones in her right wing and tended to her many scratches, cuts and bruises. On the third day, Windrose finally fully awoke.
Yay! Another chapter up. The next one should be coming soon... and there is a new character introduced. She's actually one of my favorites... I think you'll all like her!
Please review? I thrive off them, you know!