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Chapter 5
A sharp pain jolted Zürish awake. Opening his eyes, the old rat found himself looking at three little mice. Two of them, the female and one of the males, were from the night before. The third looked like the male from the night before.
"Wakey up mista Zooish, we want you to pay wif us." The younger male mouse said. He was sitting on Zürish's right foot. The older male was on his chest and the female was sitting on the bed, examining his tail.
Lifting the older male of his chest, Zürish sat up in the bed. Looking around, the events of yesterday flooded back to Zürish. It was the young squirrel Drogo, who had brought him up here last night. Feeling the bed with his one free hand, he smiled. It had been may seasons since he had sleep in or felt a bed as soft as this.
"Shure I go an' play wif ya, but first tell me yer names." The old rat said kindly setting the mouse he was holding next to the other mice.
"You big silly, you heard my and Kites' names last night when Father Abbot was telling us to go back to sleep. I'm Katheryn and the younger male on your foot is Kites," The dibbun mousemaid said letting go of the tail and grabbing the young male, Kites. "And the one you were holding is Ash, Kites' brother."
Ash, the oldest by a season, sat staring at the rat. Never before had he seen another beast like him. In a way Zürish looked some what like the mice in the abbey, but at the same time he looked nothing like them. Ash broke his gaze and started making orders. "First we will play hide n' seek, then we go find Foxgluve. Agueed?" Katheryn and Kites both squeaked in agreement. Ash being the ringleader pulled on Zürish paw. "Come un, follow me now."
As Zürish sat up, Kites jumped on to the old beast's back. When he stood up, Zürish picked up both of the dibbuns still on the door. As he neared the door a shaft of sunlight shown through the window and hit him in the face. The old rat covered his face from the blazing light noteing how bright it would be outside.
Outside, Zürish still had his hand in front of his face, when he suddenly tumbled backward. Moving his hand slightly he saw the big badgermaid. Waterlily growled slightly as she stood up and brushed off her kitchen apron. "Watch where you are going rat." The badger was forcing herself to stop from exploding at the rat because of the dibbuns. "There you three babes are. You should be in the kitchen helping me, Friar Granite, and Brother Jeb with breakfast." Waterlily's huge paw shot out and grabbed the male mice that were now on the ground. "Zürish pick up Katheryn and follow me, Drogo and his friends are in Cavern Hall. They have some questions to ask you."
Zürish sat dumbfounded as Waterlily started to walk away. He was sure that the badger hated him, but she had not slain him there. Probably because of the dibbuns their but still he was glad to be alive. After a few moments, the ancient rat stood up, lifting the mousemaid up also.
Inside Cavern Hall Zürish found the squirrel from the night before with two other squirrels and a mole. "Go on rat." Waterlily said dismissing him while taking Katheryn.
As the squirrel looked up the table he saw Zürish. "Over here Zürish," Drogo called to the rat. As the old beast sat down between Drogo and the mole, Drogo started speaking again. "Zürish this is my brother Ascen and my friends Natasha and Tirg."
The beasts that Drogo named nodded their heads in acknowledgement. The older squirrel, Ascen, scared the old rat. The main reason for this fear, was that Ascen had quite bigger muscles than the others at the table. The closest to matching Ascen was his brother whose muscles were still very pathetic compared to Ascen's.
"We have two questions for you, Zürish," Natasha asked sweetly. "What species is Foxglove and what is Tixtako" The three other sat not saying a word awaiting the answer.
The old rat keep silent for a few moments, lost in long ago thoughts. "Foxglove be a gray fox, pretty much a normal fox with gray fur. Tixtako be far different, he be a large wildcat with ginger fur and black stripes." As he spoke of Tixtako, the others could see fear in his eyes that told them more than Zürish was letting on.
"Would Tixtako be anything like Tsarmina, 'cause that would be dreadful?" Tirg asked fearfully. Every Redwaller had learned about how the horrible wildcat Tsarmina ruled Mossflower after the death of her father until Martin the Warrior came and rid the land of her.
"Sorry can't say, I lived far south of here," Zürish explained. "But if the a good way to describe her is sick, twisted and traitorous, then yes I suppose so."
Natasha the only one to not have spoken turned towards the old beast. "Mister Zürish, may I ask you, why are you so different from other vermin?"
The rat began scratching his head think deeply. "Ah, When I was younger, and still part of me family's clan, I saw me parents kill many beast. Most of them were fighting beast, but when I saw them kill peaceful ones; I realized that what they were doing was wrong. Half-a- season after slaughtering a family of mice that were heading to this very Abbey, I ran away and never turned back."
"One day after two seasons of traveling, I meet me close friend Baskel. We became friends quickly. He helped me build me home and learn the land. We always took care of each other from then on. I was there when both of his children were born. Those day are me fondest memories." Zürish's old features had formed a faint smile.
The old rat nodded to the four around him that his was done. Drogo stood up and started to head for the kitchen. "Well that sure explains a lot. I will be right back, going to get some vittles." But as Drogo opened the door, Kites came bursting into Cavern Hall. Before anybeast could stop him, he ran out a different door. Waterlily came panting into Cavern Hall covered in splotches of honey. "Are ye alright Waterlily?" Drogo asked supporting the badger to the table that the other four were still at.
Catching her breath in deep ragged gasps, she nodded her head. " I'm fine, but that blaggard is pushing my limits. He jumped into the bowl me and Granite were using to make honey scones, and started flinging it around the kitchen. I don't know why he does his antics at all. Whenever he is around you, Drogo, or Natasha is such a sweet dibbun, but when it comes to listening to the elders or doing chores he always causes trouble."
"Come on now Waterlily, he is just hyper since Zürish arrived last night, Drogo told me about it earlier today. Also with Keith going to be here in a few days, he is bound to be like it. And besides you are not me and Drogo. I'm close to all of the babes and Drogo has a special bond with Kites." Natasha said diplomatically in defense of the mouse dibbun.
The badger mum's huge paw slammed down on the table. "It doesn't matter that he is hyper, his is being very disruptive. You four young'uns come with me. Zürish would you please go the kitchen and make sure the other two dibbuns are still there."
Zürish answered idly. "Sure, um were is it?"
Tirg stood up and offered his help. "Don't worry marm, I'll show 'im were the kitchen is. Besides, 'e will need help if Ash and Katheryn 'ave wondered off."
"Thank you young mole, off with you both now. You other three listen to me." Zürish could hear the badger mum explain to the three squirrels what they were to do.
"Hurry up Zürish, the kitchen is this way." Tirg said to the old rat.
As Tirg and Zürish reached the kitchen, they heard the shouts of Friar Granite and Jeb, Tormund's son.
"Are you alright you two?" Trig called from the doorway.
Jeb, a middle age male hedgehog, popped from around the corner with one of his paws in his maw. "Aye everything bees all roight in here, forgot the oven mittens. So yer the rat they found last noight, welcome to Redwall H'abbey.
Zürish only managed to nod his head. Unlike the old stories that he had heard when he was little, the Redwallers were treating him kindly.
"Jeb, are Ash and Katheryn still inside the kitchen," Trig asked. "Waterlily wants to know?"
"Aye, they are right here, does the badger want know because of Kites?" Granite said as he strolled up with the two dibbuns trotting after them. The mole and the rat nodded their heads. "I guessed so, well come in and try some of my grub, it's just a sample of the what we are having for dinner. Come on now, won't take no for an answer." The friar chuckled heartily, leading the two beast into the kitchen.
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