Begon sat on a stool, in front of him a tin bucket full of soapy water stood. He was currently washing his beloved light-green habit. It had gotten filthy in the spar yesterday. In the meantime, Begon would wear a bland tunic while his habit was being cleaned. He did love his habit. He had to beg Abbot Nill for it, just like everything. He had just grown out of his dibbun years when Abbot Nill had said he was too young to join the monk ranks. But Begon was persistant, and finaly the Abbot gave in and let him join. Begon was ecstatic. He had always wanted to be a monk, to be important around the Abby. Perhaps he would even become Abbot and lead Redwall. But at the moment he was still a novice with his novice habit.
I'll get there one day, Begon thought. Content with his future plans for succsess, he smiled to himself and continued scrubbing his habit.
Beside Begon was his hut. It was roughly made out of boards and had a thatched roof and a stone floor. Begon had made it himself. Begon lives on his own though he was not yet considered a young adult. He was granted a room in the main Redwall building, like all the orphans, but he chose to make his own place. When the idea struck him, Gred had laughed, doubting that Begon could. But he did. Begon went to the library, his second most favoret place, and read on the process of building.
Begon held up his habit, dripping with water. He inspected it for any dirt. Satisfied, he hung it up on a line to dry before heading out for his morning run. It was part of Begon's rutine to stay fit. He ran around the perimeter of Redwall, where there would be little to no pedestrians to slow him down. He got halfway around when he ran into Gred.
Gred and two other beast where outside, already training for next year's Redwall games. The second best was an otter, Soma, practicing archery. And the third was a hedgehog, Hoff, sharpening a beautiful whittling knife.
Begon tried to avoid eye contact with Gred, but failed. Gred smiled at Begon smugly, the golden badge on his tunic shone as he walked over. The other two followed close behind.
"Good morning Begon," Gred said slyly, "or is it not? I bet you miss this." Gred flashed his gold badge in the sun.
Begon narrowed his eyes and thinned his lips, trying too seem angry though he was more so embarrassed. Embarrassed that he was envious of the most handsome, well-loved mouse in Redwall.
"Bah! You and that gold badge," Soma said sourly.
Gred looked at her sideways. "Oh, hush. Your just jealous."
The otter archer pushed him playfully. "Not a chance."
Both friends shared a giggle before Gred turned back to Begon.
"Fine. But I bet he's jealous," said Gred with a smile.
Begon scowled.
"It's okay, Begon," Gred said sarcastically, "you mite just beat me next year."
Hoff, not picking up on Gred's sarcasm, said, "yeah, there's al'ays nex' year." He flashed his wonderful whittling knife. "This beaut' only got me in second. But there's al'ays nex' time. An' I do love smithin'. In't that what the games are 'bout anyway? Doin' what you love?"
Gred rolled his eyes at the hedgehog's misunderstanding.
Begon was more angry then embarrassed now. He was fuming. But he had to admit that Hoff's words took away some sting. Hoff was always like that, gruff and sincere in a nice way. Begon almost liked him, if not for him being Gred's friend.
Just as Gred was about to say something, probably insulting, the Abbot's voice sounded.
"Ah-hem! I hope you all are being respectful to each other." Abbot Nill walked up and eyed them sternly.
Gred straitened up, not wanting to damage his reputation. "Yes Abbot, Father Abbot. Just a little friendly banter is all."
Begon wanted to wipe that charismatic smile off Gred's face, but before he could speak the Abbot said, "come Begon, I've been looking to speak with you. I knew I'd find you on your run. Now lets have morning tea, come."
"But-"
"Come!" Abbot Nill had a sternness in his eyes that was not to be questioned. Begon sighed and walked with the Abbot.
When the two mice where out of earshot of the other three beast, Begon spoke. "Why?! Why does Gred have to be such a rat?!"
The Abbot sighed. "Begon, young Begon, why must we keep having this conversation? You know very well why Gred acts like he does. He is older than you. He has more memories of the settlement and he was attacked and scarred. He's got his demons to face."
Begon was uncomfortable with talk of his old home, however he just had to ask, "but why's he got to pick on me?"
The abbot shook his head. "I don't know, I don't know. But what I do know is that you are both mountain mice. The biggest, strongest mice known to Mossflower. If only you two could get along. You two are the only survivors from the settlement, after all."
Perhaps that's it, thought Begon. Gred sees me as competition. We are the biggest, strongest mice in Redwall. Begon looked down and noted he dull grey fur. But he is much more handsome with his shinny fur, and he's better at sparing. Much better.
"But he's so much better than me," Begon said, responding to his own thoughts. "Better at sparing, better looks. Hellgates, everybeast loves him. Why's he got to pick on me then?"
The Abbot rolled his eyes at the repeated question. "Begon, stop repeating yourself. You are not a mocking bird. Besides, I know one thing your better at then him."
Abbot Nill smiled.
"What?" asked Begon, curious. "What is it? What? Tell me!"
"Living."
Begon scratched his head, confused. "What?"
"Yes, Begon. Living. Gred is so obsessed with sparing. He trains dust 'till dawn. It's all he does, all he thinks about. And it doesn't make him happy, I see it. I know why he does it, but that's between me and him. But you, " the Abbot smiled, "have many things you do that make you happy. Learning, reading, meeting knew beast by the berry patch, and, yes, sparing. See? You know how to live better than him."
Begon felt some unsure confidence. He questioned what the Abbot said, but it made him relax for some reason. Then one question came to mind that he just had to ask Abbot Nill.
"Where are we going? What did you want me for?"
"Oh, I just wanted to talk to you." The Abbot licked his lips. "I knew you wanted to win the gold badge."
Something Hoff said came to Begon's mind. "There's always next year."
"That a mouse!" Abbot Nill said proudly. "Now, I must go speak with Gred."
"Put in a piece for me!"
"Begon," the Abbot warned.
"Sorry"
And with that, Abbot Nill walked off.
There wasn't much else to do now, so Begon went to the library to occupy himself with a book. On his way there he passed mother Berna, the badgermum. She was by the daycare watching the dibbuns play outside. They waved to each other as he walked by. Begon sighed. He missed spending time with mother Berna. She took on caring for him and any other orphans as a mother. But when Begon grew up and moved out, he saw her less and less. She did have dibbuns to tend to, after all.
Begon continued on to the library.
