[Another Reluctant] Author's Note
So, if you were following this story all those years ago, this is the place you should end up at, right? If that's the case, you'd better go back to chapter one right now! A lot has changed, yes indeed. Happy reading!

ZS

A Rose and a Warrior

Chapter VI

Felldoh's eyes burned into the back of her neck, causing Rose to walk in an uncomfortable silence. Windred babbled ceaselessly about Dark Forest's landscape, her son's cottage, and a good deal about food.

"And my grandson, Martin! If he were here-" The mouselady bit her lip.

"Martin? Why do I know that name?" Felldoh glared even harder at Rose, as though he could draw out the answers.

"Well, it's quite a common name. I'm sure there's one Martin for every species. For instance, I met a hare at a party once; Martin was his third name. Rutherford Cleveland Martin Bethel van Durren, or something like that," Windred chattered on. Felldoh remained unconvinced.

"I only knew one Martin, I'm sure of it."

Rose blinked hard. There was nothing for it, and Felldoh needed to know. He was searching for the answers in his clouded memory, but that obviously wasn't good enough. When she opened her eyes, she saw that both Felldoh and Windred were watching her carefully. The mouselady seemed to be trying to tell her with her eyes "gently." Rose nodded almost imperceptibly and swallowed back her uneasiness.

The young squirrel looked expectant. "What is it, Rose?"

"Martin was a great friend of ours…. Well, to me he was more than a friend." She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Anyways, he was the greatest mouse I've ever known, he gave hope to creatures when there was none. I don't know for certain that he killed Badrang, but I have a feeling that he-"

"Badrang?" Felldoh's eyes were hard as stone. "I know that name, too. What else can you tell me? There are other names that you know, tell me!"

"Stick with names, Rose," Windred said, barely above a whisper.

Rose bit her lip, but stared directly into the squirrel warrior's eyes. "Brome, Clogg, Marshank, Celandine, Juniper, Grumm, Barkjon, Mar-"

Felldoh gasped, and his knees gave out from under him. The tears had cut tracks down his cheeks before he could stop them. "No. No. I know those names, those faces, no! Why was I so stupid?! Creatures were counting on me and I… I let myself get killed! For nothing!" He sobbed into his paws, shoulders heaving with the release. "Why?! I left my father alone!" He curled in on himself, paws at his stomach, as though the pain were tearing him up from the inside.

Rose knelt next to the squirrel, but made no move to comfort. She couldn't. Suddenly he grabbed her paws.

"I'm such a fool, Rose! What can I do?" He broke down into sobs once more, choking on air and tears. Windred sat down next to him, and although it was no small feat, she sat and rocked him just like any mother, just as his mother must have. It may have been hours, or even days before Felldoh became quiet, completely exhausted by his own tears.

Rose stroked the sleeping warrior's head. "How long will he be like this?"

Windred shrugged, still rocking him. "He won't be asleep long, he just tired himself out, which is good. Sleep is a healer, even in Dark Forest. But he will have to face facts eventually, better it be sooner. He may not want to talk to you for awhile, and don't force him, even by apologizing. He needs to start on his own terms."

Rose stared out at nothing. Was Dark Forest meant to be such a lonely place?

xxxx

Martin waved goodbye to Ribad and the hedgehog twins the following morning, revealing one of his few smiles since Rose's death. The mouse warrior had decided to continue on southward, to distant himself as much as possible from Noonvale and its memories.

The weather was dreary with gray swirling clouds, like a thunderstorm was brewing. "The skies is ready t'split-can't handle humidity fer anythin'. I kin feel it in me whiskers," the aging beaver had predicted. "Stay away from the meadows t'the east; no sense getting caught out there when the storm lets loose."

Martin had never considered even going east, but thanks to Ribad's advice, he would be completely avoiding the mountains.

"Why'd yew tell Martin t'stay 'way from the mountains?" Octa asked.

The beaver shrugged. "That's a special mouse y'just saw. But he's got some that he needs dealin' with, an' Pluto an' hopefully Trixy'll help."

xxxx

Felldoh had refused to talk to Rose since he recovered from the shock, and she couldn't really blame him. There was too much to think about. He wasn't talking to Windred either.

"They should be expecting me, but it'll be difficult to explain you two." She chuckled. "I've got me some new grandchildren, Luke! One pretty as the dawn and the other won't look bad once we shave his tale. Ho, Luke!"

A grim-looking mouse had materialized from the trees, and even Windred looked surprised. Rose most of all.

Martin was an exact copy of his father.

Rose fidgeted and fell back from Windred unconsciously. Not much had surprised her in the Dark Forest, but this was too much. She was forming a thought to escape when the mouse warrior fixed his black eyes on her.

"So you're Laterose," he said, and the mouse in question wondered at just how much he knew.

"Y-yes," she stammered. "Good to… meet you."

Windred stood off to the side with Felldoh, leaving Rose like a mouse in the claws of a cat. Her stomach gave phantom turns. What would he say about her? She just wanted to hide.

Luke the warrior smiled amiably. "You're as pretty as your name suggests. I wish we could have met in better circumstances." He extended his paw for a shake, and Rose took his paw in both of hers.

"Martin looks exactly like you," was all she could think to say.

"Pity, isn't it? But at least he has his mother's eyes."

With that, the spell was broken. Rose laughed, and Windred breathed a sigh of relief.

"Windred has been telling awful tales about me, I can tell just by looking at you, Laterose. I hope Martin's view of me isn't nearly as strict." He smiled sadly. "I wish that fate had let us see your grandchildren."

Rose couldn't think of anything to say, and Windred had the presence of mind to intervene. "Cut that kind of talk, Luke! It's unfortunate enough for her that she and Martin were separated, you don't need to rub salt in those wounds. In any case, her name is Rose, and this is her companion Felldoh."

The forgotten squirrel nodded solemnly, still not in a talking mood. Luke was glad for some distraction from his scolding.

"Another warrior, eh? Dark Forest can't keep its paws off of them."

Windred scowled, and addressed the newcomers. "You'll have to excuse my son. He's never been one to mince words, even in the right way, but he means nothing ill by it. I'm sure you'll find Sayna balances him out splendidly."

"Indeed," Luke grumbled into his beard. "My wife had a feeling you would come around again Windred, and she sent me out for you. I think she'll also be delighted for the extra guests." The warriormouse turned abruptly on his heels and tramped into the undergrowth.

Windred looked about to say something, but Rose cut her off. "It's alright, it's the way of the warrior. And Luke is a grand mouse."

"You always were too understanding of the ways of warriors, Rose." Felldoh looked just as surprised as the two ladymice. "Well, come on, let's not lose him!"

xxxx

To be continued….

I won't say too much about my own experiences, but I've been through serious depressions before. I can't make it sound as awful as it actually is, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone to find out for themselves.

This chapter is kind of, well, it is all over the place, but I'm pleased with how it turned out, and I was more than ready to this story updated. The last time I tried to update I lost all of the files and had to start writing again from scratch. So. much. pain. The great thing that I can tell you right now is that I actually have the next chapter in my head as I type this, so it will. be. finished.