Two As One Chapter 5
Ebonia rested in one of the infirmary's nice, comfortable beds. She had been treated by a sweet hedgehog, oddly named Sister Spring, and her wounds were feeling much better at the moment. It was odd to lie there, in a soft bed, for she had never lain anywhere except in the hard trees at night, so it was quite a change. The squirrel closed her eyes in comfort, only to be aroused as she heard voices coming up the stairs.
"Crim, I told ya mate, it ain't yer fault what happened. Now come on and let the healer's look at ya."
"But Malya, she..she took the arrow for me. If I hadn't been in the way, she would still be alive."
"Crim, uh, you're so stubborn. I'll say it once and I ain't sayin it again, it ain't yer fault that she died, mate" There was a silence then a quiet sigh as the door opened. Ebonia quickly rested herself back on the bed and looked as if she was sleeping.
Malya led Crim over to the bed near her father, who was sleeping quietly. SilverStreak was lying on another bed near him. She wasn't wounded but she didn't want to leave her brothers side. Malya looked around and she whispered to Crim as she began to wrap his arm from the arrow wound.
"Bet ya ol Sprypaw's down making a flippen feast for himself for getting me father back here." Crim looked at her and chuckled quietly then sat down on a bed next to Ebonia. The black squirrel, now brownish red, glanced at the other squirrel. She furrowed her brow for a moment and thought to herself, why does this squirrel look, rather feel so familiar? She shook her head slightly and pulled the covers over her shoulders while watching the otter maid and the squirrel.
Crim caught Ebonia staring at him and he looked over at her, a light smile on his face.
"Hello, you must be the squirremaiden that they rescued." Ebonia nodded quickly and sat up, trying to conjure up a sweet voice.
"Yes, those vermin have kept me a slave for quite awhile, thanks to your friends, I'm now free. I can't thank you enough." She placed an innocent smile upon her face but inside she just wanted to throw up. This was defiantly not her nature. Crim nodded while pointing to himself and the others.
"Well, I'm CrimsonRay, Crim for short, my otter friend here is Malya, the two otters over there are Jenkins, Malya's father, SilverStreak, his sister and that otter there is Skipper." Crim concluded as Skipper stumbled slightly into the room and plopped down on a bed. The squirrel frowned and walked over to Skipper as the otter released a shuttered breath.
"Skipper? Are you alright?" Crim asked as he came upon him. The otter chuckled and looked over at the squirrel, a fiery light still gleaming in his eyes.
"Aw heck mate, I've been through worse. I'll be just fine so long as Sister Shlamele doesn't try to treat me with any of her, er, concoctions. Last time she tried to heal me arm she turned me fur green. Imagine a green otter, by the claw me friends were laughin fer a week after that." Crim grinned slightly and patted Skipper on the paw.
"You're a strong one Skip, wish I had your courage." the otter shook his head and tapped his claw beneath Crim's chin.
"Aw mate, come on, ya got courage," Crim shook his head sadly and looked at the ground, a single tear beginning to stain his cheek.
"If I had courage I would have taken the arrow instead of Katal taking it for me." He was so lost in sorrow that he didn't even notice the sandal flying through the air until it hit him right across the head.
"Oww" Crim grumbled rubbing his head. He looked over at Malya as she stood with her paws on her hips and with one footpaw missing a sandal.
"Crim stop blamin yerself afore I throw me other sandal at ya mate." She said. Crim glared at her for a moment then laughed quietly.
"Alright Malya, just no more sandals." The otter grinned and plucked the sandal from the ground, waving it in Crim's face threateningly.
"Alright, but if`n ya blame yerself one more time I'm gonna bop ya upside the head, aye?"
"Hehe, aye Malya, aye." Both otter and squirrel stood up after a moment and smiled. Ebonia watched the two and she couldn't help but let a surprised look come over her face. She had never known the vermin around to act like that. They would kill each other and be done with it. The squirrel shook her head and closed her eyes again. When she opened them, she saw Crim and Malya staring at her.
"What?" She asked, a bit of crankiness sounding in her voice but she caught it and cleared her throat. "I mean, what do you need?"
"Oh, we just wanted to know your name, mate." Malya said with a smile. For once, Ebonia sat dumbfounded. Ohh! I new I forgot something, a name, I need a name, she thought frantically to herself. She looked around the room for a second and saw an ivy plant on one of the wooden tables. It wasn't a real good name but it had to do and she looked at the pair quickly.
"Ivy, my name is Ivy." She replied quietly. Crim nodded and held out a paw to her.
"Nice to meet you Ivy." he said gently. Ebonia a.k.a Ivy, sat completely still, wondering why he was holding his paw out to her, no beast had ever done that before unless to strike her for being insubordinate. Crim raised a questioning eye at her while shaking his paw gently in front of her.
"What's wrong Ivy? Don't you know how to shake paws?" He asked, curious as to why she was just sitting and staring at him. The young squirrel looked up at him confused and shook her head.
"I…I don't know how to shake." She muttered softly and almost felt surprised at how pathetic her voice sounded. Malya tilted her head to the side and grinned widely as she stepped up to Crim.
"Aw, don't worry mate. Here, we'll show you." The otter maid held out her paw to Crim and he quickly took it, shaking it in a friendly manner. Malya looked down at Ebonia and grinned. "Ya see, it be easy."
Ebonia glanced up and sighed, nodding her head slightly. So that's what this paw shaking business is all about, the squirrel thought to herself. Crim grinned at the brownish red squirrel that he saw before him and he held out his paw again. Ebonia looked a little unsure about it but after pulling her nerves together, she shook his paw. A wide smile spread across Crim's mouth as he felt her grip and once he let go, he nodded to her.
"So Ivy, would you like to get something to eat with us? We're going to give Skipper and the rest some peace and quiet and-"
"Much obliged young`n!" Jenkins said suddenly. Malya giggled quietly, already knowing that he would be alright, then continued Crim's statement.
"Anyways, we thought we'd catch a bite since we missed breakfast and we were wondering if you would like to come with, mate?"
Ebonia looked at the two of them surprised but then remembered she was playing a sweet abbey squirrel maiden and she quickly nodded. Crim smiled kindly and held out his paw to help her up. The younger squirrel looked at him curiously but took his paw and stood on her footpaws, nodding to them.
"Lead the way." They began to walk towards the door when it opened up to reveal a rather tall and bulky female vole. She was garbed in a long brownish habit with a cord at her waist which held several pouches. She looked at the three creatures while putting her paws on her hips.
"Now just wait a minute, I need to check and make sure that you are all alright." Malya quickly held up her paws and inched past the vole, a sweet and innocent look masking her face.
"Don't worry Sister Shlamele, we were all taken care of by Sister Spring mate." Shlamele raised an eye, showing that she was clearly unhappy about not being able to treat her patients. She was about to leave in a huff when she saw Skipper trying to hide under the blankets, some spots of blood dampening the white sheets. Though the sister was worried, she couldn't help but smile that she could help some creature.
"Oh dear Skipper, you're hurt. Let me help you." The otter chieftain quickly jumped up off the bed and backed up towards the wall while trying his best to hide a look of horror.
"Oh no no, that's alright matey, I'm alright." He said desperately, wincing as his shoulder moved. Shlamele walked towards him while pulling out her herbs.
"Nonsense, I can clearly see you are hurt. Now come here you silly otter." Skipper gulped visibly, making Malya and Crim giggle at seeing the strong, mighty otter chieftain scared of a little ol vole. He jumped and tried to make a speedy escape but Shlamele merely stood in front of him and held up a calming herb to his nose. The otter sniffed and grumbled.
"Aw clam shells." Then fell backwards onto the bed as his muscles relaxed. Shlamele grinned and turned to Malya, Ebonia and Crim while waving her paws at them.
"Alright then, away with you now, visiting hours are over." The three abbey beasts nodded quickly and left the room, Malya and Crim both trying not to burst out laughing as Skipper pleaded with them to come back.
"Please mates, don't leave me wit her, she'll turn me fur green again!" Shlamele smiled sweetly as she began to close the door to the infirmary.
"Oh nonsense Skipper I wouldn't do that, now where did I put my green healing herbs?"
"Ahhh! Save me, mates!" But Skipper's call went unanswered as Crim, Ebonia and Malya went giggling down the hall.
Back in Mossflower, Stelumos was pacing back and forth in front of Bemal, mulling over his plan while his paw tapped 'Doomsfate'. A confident smile formed across his tattooed face as he suddenly swung his sword aloft.
"It can't fail! Ebonia will play those fools in her little game and when they least expect it, she'll let us in the abbey and we take over! It's ingenious!" The mink roared with laughter at his own conniving plan. The aged vixen watched the mink with amused eyes as she swished her tail back and forth.
"If that is what you think, me lord," replied her silky and almost mysterious voice. This brought Stelumos' laughter to a grinding halt as he turned and glared at the vixen. His breath could clearly be seen as the warmth mixed with the coldness in the air. Taking a few steps forward, the mink held the sword beneath Bemal's chin and growled.
"What have you seen, me seer?" he hissed with a threatening tone. Bemal looked up at the mink and ever so slowly, she stood up and opened her long flowing cloak to him. Within her cloak, tails of all different types of animals were stowed away with care. Tails of rats, otters, mice, squirrels, any you could think of, she had. Bemal lowered her head to her leader and spoke in a hushed voice.
"Pick a tail and I shall look into your future." Stelumos looked curiously at the vixen and he grabbed the tail of a golden squirrel. Bemal took the tail from him and knelt down on the snowy ground. After clearing away some of the snow, she wrapped the tail in a circle and threw three bones, two gem stones and a pebble within the circle. She watched the way they landed with curiosity and she began to mutter beneath her breath. Her paws moved over the objects and formed odd shapes as she concentrated. The mink grew impatient easily and he growled at her.
"What do you see?" Bemal calmly stopped her chants and looked up at him.
"My lord, I cannot work if you interrupt me." Stelumos made to strike the vixen, but he thought better of it and nodded instead for her to continue. Bemal nodded once then put her paws close to the objects on the ground and began to speak.
"Your word right now is true
The black one shall help you through
She'll guide your wicked plan
And help you in any way she can
Yet if the red one finds her tale
Your plan of conquest then shall fail
And if she hears another call
You, shall never own Redwall."
Bemal nodded slightly as her vision came to an end. After a moment, she looked up slowly at Stelumos who was growling in anger.
"So, ya don't know what's gonna happen?" Bemal shook her aged yet wise head.
"No my lord, I just speak of what I see." She remarked carefully to the mink. Stelumos growled once more then nodded to the vixen and walked away, strange for one that would normally beat Bemal if she spoke badly of the future. The vixen stood up after stowing her objects away and gently sat down on an old tree stump, muttering.
"Be safe Ebonia. I wish I could have told you the truth of your life, then perhaps you would be prepared for this." As the words left her mouth, the vixen closed her eyes, and slipped into a meditated state, ignoring the rants and raves from the mink. Two eyes watched the vermin and moved suddenly towards the slaves.
Tellio opened his eyes slowly as he heard the sound of metal upon metal. The mouse had fallen asleep after the weasel had chained him back with the slaves and only now did he fully awake. As his eyelids flickered open, he saw Log a Log scraping a well concealed dagger within his chains in the attempt to free his paws. Tellio sat up slowly and whispered to the shrew.
"Any luck yet?" Log a Log grunted as he grew frustrated and set his blade within his cloak again.
"Naw, it be stuck tight, been tryin fer nearly two hours." The young mouse frowned and looked over at Log a Log's son Lezlo who was sleeping soundly against his mother. Log a Log looked over also and frowned deeply. "I wish I had been able to protect them mate, I really wish." Tellio patted the shrew's shoulder gently.
"Don't blame yourself, it's the mink and squirrel's fault that we are in this. But we will be free again one day, I swear it!" He spoke with such force that a whip suddenly swung out and struck him right across the face. The weasel slaver growled at the mouse.
"Shut yer trap mouse afore I shut it fer ya!" Tellio wiped away some blood from his face and nodded obediently to the slaver.
"Yes sir, sorry sir." he mumbled off. The weasel snorted and walked away, Log a Log snarling angrily. He looked down at Tellio as the mouse shook in fear and spoke in a kinder voice.
"Ya alright lad?" Tellio nodded slowly then looked up.
"The Redwaller's will save us, I know it, but we have to get out and warn them." Log a Log nodded and took out his dagger again.
"Well, then let's get to it." He muttered and began to work on the chains again. He never noticed the two eyes that watched him, the same two eyes that had watched the battle. They blinked once then disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
Crim, Malya and Ebonia sat together at one of the tables in Cavern Hole. A couple plates were set in front of them, one with candied nuts, one with some hot root soup that Malya had made that neither Ebonia nor Crim dared to touch, as well as some pastries and scones. Ebonia nibbled on a scone as she listened to Crim and Malya talk quietly.
"Malya, I'm telling you, the poem is coming true. I mean it said that we'd find trouble and we did. We lost Katal, that's considered trouble." The squirrel frowned deeply and Malya put a paw around his shoulders.
"Crim it ain't yer fault now continue." Crim nodded slowly then spoke again.
"We have to find the meaning to this poem but I feel like I'm forgetting something, like forgetting part of the scroll that I should look at." Malya shrugged her shoulders an stuck her paws in her pockets. Suddenly her face lit up and she snapped her claws.
"Wait, there was something else on that scroll that you didn't look at." She said excitedly. Crim looked at her side ways then noticed the confused look on Ebonia's face, for the squirrel had no idea what they were talking about. Crim smiled kindly and set the poem in front of her.
"This is what we're talking about. I received a poem a day ago that was telling me that I, well, I really don't want to explain everything over at the moment, it's…it's kind of hard." He said quietly, a frown taking over his face. Ebonia furrowed her brow slightly to the squirrel but then nodded slowly.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't wish, that's alright Crim." She replied and jerked back a bit at how compassionate her voice sounded. The black squirrel shook her head slowly as Malya pulled out the fabric that had fallen from the scroll. With a pleased look on her face, she handed it to Crim and sat back to wait and see what the fabric contained. Crim opened it slowly and gasped out at what lay in his paws. It looked as if it had come right off the tapestry in the Great Hall. It was a well fabricated square that had pictures sewn in careful detail upon it. Crim smoothed the picture out on the table and looked over the contents in wonder. On one side there was a red squirrel that had fur that looked like the sun. On the other side there was a black squirrel that had fur as dark as ebony. In the middle there stood a mink with a sword raised in his paws and an army behind him.
The young squirrel wrinkled his nose at the picture in confusion as Malya glanced over his shoulder.
"Whoa, that looks like something from the tapestry!" She yelled in surprise. Crim nodded and was about to speak when a huge commotion was heard from across the room. Ebonia leapt up startled and reached inside her tunic that still concealed her daggers and held them in her paws, expecting an attack to take place. But as she looked, she only saw Sprypaw looking down at a fallen plate with food on it. The hare had been walking out of the kitchen when Malya shouted and had become so startled that he dropped the plate.
"Tis a bally well sad sight to see such go tucker going to waste, wot" The hare said in a pathetically sad voice. He turned and went to yell at Malya when he saw Ebonia with the daggers and pointed at her.
"Whoa me gel, no need to go pullin bloomin daggers out on a chap, wot wot!" He said as he began to collect the broken pieces of the plate. Crim and Malya looked up at the squirrel in complete surprise. Ebonia looked back and forth at the creatures and then put her daggers away quickly, her face turning slightly red beneath her fur.
"Er….sorry about that, he just startled me is all." she muttered and sat down, cursing herself for being so stupid. Crim and Malya nodded slowly as the otter maiden glanced at where Ebonia had sheathed the daggers.
"How long ya had daggers mate?" She asked curiously. Malya looked down at them and shrugged her shoulders.
"For as long as I remember. I've always kept them hidden so the slavers wouldn't take them from me." It was actually the truth, she never remembered where she got the daggers from, only that they had always been with her during her life. Her paw stroked one of them as Crim spoke this time.
"How did you end up in slavery?" Ebonia stopped for a moment, her paw still in the air as it went to stroke the dagger again. Oh no, Stelumos never told me what to say, she thought despairingly to herself then looked at Crim and a frown came across her face.
"I'd really rather not talk about that Crim." She remarked quietly, praying that he would buy it. The red squirrel nodded understandingly, Sprypaw however was a different story. He walked up behind the squirrel and patted her gently on the shoulder.
"Come on me gel, better to get it out then hold it in wot wot!" Ebonia rolled her eyes slightly, how she just wanted to stand up and strangle the hare at the moment. Instead, she thought for a moment and as a story came to her head she leaned back in her chair and spoke.
"I was taken into slavery when I was just a babe. I remember that a fire had broken out and the vermin came and took me and my er… sister from my parents. The vermin killed my parents, slew my sister then took me away into slavery. I haven't been free since then." She furrowed her brow slightly. Why does that story seem familiar, like I've heard it or seen it before, she thought to herself. Crim sat still, sounds like my story only I lost my sister and she wasn't slain, only I hope she wasn't, he thought. All four beasts looked at one another in silence before Sprypaw, as usual, broke it.
"Well me chap and chapessses, I'll be going back to my jolly ol food, wot! Have fun!" The hare turned on his heel and walked over to the food on the ground. He swiftly plucked up all the pieces and walked back into the kitchen grumbling slightly.
"Confound it, that was a flippen good plate o tucker too, wot. Oh well, just gotta bally remake the plate, wot wot!" The hare grinned as he disappeared. Crim chuckled quietly then looked at Ebonia who began to shift uncomfortably in her seat. Thinking for a moment, Crim suddenly wrapped the tapestry picture up, stowed it in his belt and held out a paw to Ebonia.
"Want to take a look around the abbey with me so you can get your bearings?" Ebonia looked up at him slowly, contemplating. Careful Ebonia, you don't want to get to close to these creatures, she warned herself but she knew she had to start snooping around the defenses so she slowly nodded her head and stood. Malya giggled quietly beneath her breath at the two squirrels.
"Er…would ya like me to leave the two o ya alone?" She asked while batting her eyelashes. Crim shoved her and laughed.
"Oh knock it off water dog. Come on, let's show her around." Malya giggled again, winking at Ebonia that she was just kidding. The squirrel rolled her eyes slightly but followed close behind the two creatures. This is going to take some getting use to, she thought to herself as she looked around at the abbey.
Abbot Welkum sat quietly on a chair in the recorders room of the abbey, a quill in his paw and a parchment lying on the desk. He looked up at Kenyo after the warrior had related the facts and sighed intensely.
"I am deeply sorry that young Katal was lost. We…we shall set up a proper burial for her." He said in a deeply saddened voice. Kenyo nodded once as he shifted on his footpaws.
"Once it gets later, I'll go and retrieve her from the trees, I'm sure they wouldn't do anything to her body." The warrior mouse closed his eyes in sadness then opened them to find Abbot Welkum studding him. "What is it abbot?"
"You are not just saddened, you are worried, aren't you?" Kenyo jerked back slightly in surprise. After a moment, the warrior nodded slowly as he began to pace the room.
"Aye Abbot, I am worried. Worried about Crim and the abbey. I can't describe it but it's like I feel an evil of some sort is coming." Abbot Welkum slowly took off his spectacles and set them in his lap, a sigh escaping from his old figure.
"My son, evil is afoot. Young Katal was slain by evil, that is what you feel." Kenyo shook his head.
"No father, I…I think it is something more, like something is going to happen and the threat is near." This made the aged Abbot tilt his head in surprise. Never had he heard Kenyo speak so deeply and passionately about his thoughts. The otter leaned back in his chair and raised a curious eye to the warrior.
"What type of threat?" he asked in a quiet and wise voice. Kenyo shook his head slowly as he sat on a chair before the abbot.
"I don't know but I promise that I will use all I can to protect this abbey and get Tellio back. I'm worried about him also." He sat there for a moment, contemplating then finally looked back at the abbot. "May I set up some wall guards so that they can watch Mossflower in case the vermin try to come?" The abbot thought for a moment then nodded as he stood up.
"That is a wise idea. Now, I must confer with Renla on what has happened. You may put wall guards up then retrieve Katal but I want you to take another beast with you to watch your back, maybe SilverStreak, she's alright to travel I assume." Kenyo nodded slowly as he stood back up, his tail swaying a bit in thought.
"As you wish Abbot." He remarked quietly. Both otter and mouse moved towards the door, Kenyo moving quicker and opening the door for the abbot. Welkum nodded in thanks as he strolled through then began to walk down the halls towards Renla's room. The warrior mouse released a tired sigh while he began to travel towards the infirmary to talk with SilverStreak.
Crim, Malya and Ebonia walked down the Great hall as Crim explained the history behind Redwall, involving Martin the warrior, Matthias, Mattimeo, all the great warriors of Redwall. Ebonia listened with fascinated ears, surprised that she was actually interested in this stuff. As Crim began to talk about Song, one of the abbesses of Redwall, the black squirrel smiled slightly at the idea of a squirrel ruling an abbey.
They talked amiably when suddenly Crim stopped. Ebonia did the same and looked at the sun colored squirrel curiously.
"Why'd you stop Crim?" She asked then looked up at the Great Tapestry in the hall. Her mouth dropped down in awe as she stared at Martin the warrior and all the different pictures that were intricately designed for the great tapestry. Crim caught the look of awe on the squirrel's face and he couldn't help but smile.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Ebonia nodded dumbly as she moved closer to the tapestry and looked it over with wondering eyes. She had never seen such a thing of beauty before and she almost smiled but caught herself. What am I doing? I can't let myself be caught up with something as plain and simple as this tapestry, she thought in silence. Crim grinned and pointed to the mouse in the middle.
"That would be Martin the Warrior I told you about, and there's his sword, Kenyo carries it now though." She looked over to Crim, relatively surprised.
"You mean the sword still exists?" The squirrel nodded.
"Of course, that is what all the abbey warriors wielded and still wield." Ebonia nodded slowly then looked curiously at a spot on the tapestry where there looked to be a piece missing. She pointed to it.
"How come there's no piece there?" She asked and looked back at Crim and Malya. Malya shrugged her shoulders but Crim's face lit up suddenly and he pulled out the tapestry picture that Malya had given him. He eagerly ran forward and pressed the woven piece to the bottom part of the tapestry and gasped excitedly.
"It fits." He whispered to them both. Malya's mouth dropped open and she moved to look at the tapestry.
"Yer right mate, it does fit!" She exclaimed completely surprised. Ebonia looked at them a bit confused as to why it was so amazing that two tapestry pieces fit together but she thought it better to keep her mouth shut. Instead, she pretended to look surprised and amazed right along with them. Malya clapped her paws and smiled. "I don't believe it mate, yer part o Redwall history!" Crim looked over at her surprised.
"What do you mean?" Malya laughed and pointed at the piece of tapestry.
"What do ya mean what do I mean? It's sewn there right in front o ya! The red squirrel, that's you Crim!" Crim looked at the tapestry and shook his head laughing.
"Oh Malya don't be silly, that can't be me. This tapestry was made even before Matthias was born!"
"So! A lot o this was sewn before anything happened on the tapestry except fer Martin defeatin Tsarmina and some other stuff. Crim! You're part o it!" The young squirrel looked up curiously at the tapestry then furrowed his brow.
"Then the black one must be the ebony one the poem was talking about which means-" His mouth dropped wide and he hugged Malya and Ebonia together. "Then she must be alive!" He yelled. Ebonia pulled back startled as he hugged her and flopped to the floor by accident. Crim looked at her and held out a paw.
"Oh, sorry bout that Ivy." Ebonia nodded slightly and stood back up, Crim beaming the whole time. Malya leaned back against the wall.
"Good thing I found that tapestry piece, eh? I'm a true heroine." She said, looking as if she was lighting up with pride. Crim giggled and shoved her slightly as Ebonia stood by, a bit unsure of herself until Crim grabbed her paw.
"Alright, enough of this. Ivy, do you want to take a walk around in the orchards. I mean I know it's cold out but…" Ebonia nodded instantly, she wanted to get out of the abbey and be out in the air again. The squirrel wasn't use to being indoors and something about it bothered her for some odd reason. Crim grinned and began to move towards the doors of Redwall, Malya following behind. They were about to leave when they saw Kenyo and SilverStreak walk and leave through the gates of the abbey, while several squirrels, otters and the such, armed with bows walked up to the ramparts and spread across the walls. Crim stopped in his pawsteps and frowned. Ebonia looked at the squirrel curiously and questioned him.
"What's wrong?" Crim pointed towards Mossflower and sighed deeply.
"Kenyo and SilverStreak are off…off to bring Katal home. She was the squirrel that had been slain while we rescued you and tried to save Tellio." Crim looked down at the ground as Malya took her sandal and bopped him over the head with it.
"What did I tell ya about blamin yerself mate?" She asked disapprovingly. Crim stood rubbing his head and glaring at her.
"Geesh I didn't think you were serious." He remarked. Malya picked up her sandal and held it in her paws, grinning mischievously.
"Well I was serious mate, and I'll do it again too if you blame yerself.." She raised the sandal in the air. "Do you believe me now mate?" Crim nodded quickly and ducked behind Ebonia before spreading his paw to the courtyard.
"Well, let's go afore she hits me again." he muttered and all three left the abbey, trying not to giggle at one another.
The pair of eyes watched them as they left the abbey. It shook it's head and turned to follow Kenyo and SilverStreak as they went to recover Katal.
The warrior mouse and otter maiden walked in silence as they went about to fulfill the grim job of recovering the squirrel maiden that had fallen. Kenyo looked down at the ground in a deep thought though his ears folded back and forth as he listened to all the sounds in the woods. Both creatures were in low spirits as they trudged through the deep snow, their heads lowered and their breath mingling slightly with the cold air. SilverStreak looked at Kenyo quietly and wanted to speak but she thought it best to remain quiet to let the warrior think. After a few moments, Kenyo sighed and looked at the otter.
"You alright SilverStreak? Were you hurt at all in the fight?" SilverStreak chuckled quietly and patted the warrior on the back.
"Don't worry bout me mate, just got a couple bumps, nothing major." This seemed to brighten Kenyo up a bit but alas he soon elapsed back into silence. SilverStreak sighed quietly and looked down at the ground with him.
Kenyo was in a deep thought when he ducked beneath a low hanging branch, his mind lost to other things. He muttered quietly as he kept moving.
"Watch out for the low branch SilverStreak." The otter was also in a deep thought as he spoke and she swung her head up startled.
"What low br-"
CRACK!
Kenyo looked back to see the otter rubbing her head, grumbling beneath her breath. He bit his lip, trying not to laugh at the indignant look she gave the tree.
"Erm….that low tree branch." He replied quietly and continued to walk forward, still biting his lip. SilverStreak raised an eye brow at him and chuckled.
"Well no kidding that low tree branch." She said to him then walked beside the warrior, trying to keep a straight face, though it was no use. Both broke down into a quiet laugh as they continued their journey through the woodlands.
They walked for about an hour before a light snow began to fall again. Kenyo rubbed his arms to try to keep himself warm while SilverStreak pulled out a shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. She looked silently up at the sky then down again and gasped, skidding to a halt in her pawsteps. Kenyo stopped in his tracks and looked up at her curiously.
"What's wrong SilverStreak?" The otter pointed with a trembling paw in front of them, tears welling in her eyes. Kenyo frowned and looked to see Katal on the ground, covered and protected by the snow. The warrior mouse stopped and sighed deeply as the otter maid knelt down beside the fallen squirrel and wrapped her within her shawl. Kenyo looked around to make sure no vermin were watching them, his paw close to the hilt of Martin. SilverStreak wiped away a few tears before standing up and lifting the fallen squirrel in her paws. Both warrior and otter looked at one another before heading back towards the abbey, as tears started once again to stream down SilverStreak's face while Kenyo brushed something away from his eye and continued to walk.
The eyes watched the two in silence, a soft sigh escaping the creature's lips. It stood up and followed the two beasts back towards the abbey.
Crim, Ebonia and Malya were on the ramparts talking amiably to one another. Ebonia watched the two creatures before her with fascination. She had never known beasts to get along so well or be friends, she had always known of creatures as being mateys and the such but never as friends that could just joke and fool around. It actually brought a smile to her face though she was being ripped apart on the inside. Something kept telling her not to work with Stelumos, not to sell these creatures out, but then there was the fear for Bemal and the anger of how her parents had just left her to the vermin. The young squirrel shook her head and looked over the wall as Kenyo, SilverStreak and the slain Katal came into sight.
"They're returning." Ebonia said suddenly to the two young creatures beside her. Malya and Crim silenced immediately and looked down below to see the warrior and otter. A chilled wind blew and there was complete silence which was broken by a sob from Malya. Crim put his paw around the otter maid and sighed sincerely.
"Come on you two, we had better let them in." Ebonia looked at the two creatures, confusion on her face. How could they feel so much for another creature? She had never gotten attached to any creature except Bemal and it confused her but she masked it and followed them down the ramparts.
Crim opened the doors to the abbey, the guards on top watching, and the warrior and otter stepped through. Tears still streamed down the otter maid's face as she carried Katal towards the abbey. Ebonia, Crim, Malya and Kenyo stood in silence, just staring at one another. The eyes watched them also and looked back to where the vermin camp was set up. After a few moments, the creature spoke, though only to itself.
"Tis time, I must do my duty." With that, the creature fled from the scene, leaving a weeping abbey with a horde of conniving vermin, and disappeared into Mossflower woods.