A/N: ... well, here's another chapter. After this, it'll be das mole... or das weasels...
Also, yes. There's a flashback in the story. The elder doesn't tell the flashback to the kids, the mouse just has a flashback... k? I realize that sounds like bad editing or storytelling... but I have been away from fanficition for a very long time, and I need to update something. Also yes, all the emotion I'm trying to hammer in does seem a bit rushed and sloppy doesn't it? Well I'm a douchebag who can't write so... yeah. That's my excuse... I mean reason.
The next morning all the dibbuns, along with a few new ones, went down to that small patch outside by the garden to listen to the elder's story, like they had the night before. Leading the group was Lilyflower, who was notably the most eager out of all of them, and she wore a big grin on her face as she spotted the elder sleeping in his chair. She had been so excited about the continuation of her story that she had barely slept.
"Hey! Mr.! Sir! Wake up! Wake up, please!"
The elder awoke with a snap and looked about to and fro before realizing where he was and who was with him.
"What? Er, hello little ones. What can I do for you?"
The little squirrel was talking a mile a minute.
"Well, you said that you were going to tell us the story about one of the beasts at the bar, and that you already got done talking about the fox even though we don't know what happened to her after her ship crashed and who was that beast in the weird mask and-"
The elder, who was still trying to wake up fully, rubbed his eyes as he tried listening to the dibbun prattle on. Finally, he interrupted her.
"Yes, yes. I remember. So, that seemed like a good spot to leave off on that character, so who would like to choose the next one?"
Lily raised her paw.
"But, why can't we-"
The elder put a claw to his lip and hushed her.
"I only take requests from good dibbuns who go to sleep like they're told. From the bags under your eyes, I can guess you only got about a half hour's rest?"
Lily looked toward the ground and rubbed her footpaw in the dirt, coyly. "Kinda... I dunno."
The elder motioned for everybeast to sit down.
One of the little dibbuns, a mouse, raised his paw eagerly.
"Yes?" The elder spoke, looking at the dibbun.
The little one got up from his spot on the grass.
"Who was the mouse? Why was he with them?"
"Alright, I guess we can talk about Old Oak."
"Was that his name?" the dibbun asked, confused.
"Yes. Though he wasn't always called that. Before, he was known as Abbot Oakfern.
It was a glorious autumn day at the abbey. The sun was shining a warming wave of light onto all the land. The leaves of the trees could be heard rustling ever so slightly as the wind blew on them, with the occasional crunch as a creature would walk on some of the fallen leaves. Each tree carried a variety of browns, reds, yellows, and oranges, making each individual plant a masterpiece of beauty.
It was on this day that Abbot Oakfern, a rather old abbot with a lack of energy to his step, was walking through the abbey grounds, taking note of the beauty nature had surrounded him with. It was unfortunate that there was a trial today. One of the newer vermin that came about a season ago was being charged for the murder of the abbey friar. He had been a dear friend to Oakfern, and his death had deeply wounded him.
The friar had been poisoned with a brew concocted from herbs native to this part of Mossflower. He had studied about them when he was younger, as he was a skilled herbalist. It had been wolfclaw and beaver-feversprout that had been mixed into his favorite drinking glass. They had found his body two days ago, laying limp in his favorite arm chair, with a dibbun poking him and yelling, trying to 'wake him up'. T'was quite the saddening sight, indeed. He still remembered having to make sure the dibbuns didn't see the body.
Having to inform them all of the beloved mouse's death was already enough for them. It was definitely enough for him. This was the second death the abbey had seen in recent seasons...
'Must try to stay positive, for the brothers and sisters.' the abbot thought glumly.
As he walked towards where the court case would be held, he remembered the fight that the friar had had with the accused a week before. Something about vandalism, wasn't it? It was hard to remember in his old age. He breathed inwards, trying to mentally prepare himself, as he did not like dealing with situations that enforced extreme punishment. He walked up to a large wooden door, made from oak... that or maybe it was birch... no it was most likely oak. He put his paw on the door and slowly pushed it open.
Now, Oak expected the sun to shine through a window, landing on a court of the inhabitants of the abbey. Each of the woodlanders would have looks of concern or hatred at the accused, and Oak would have to look at the evidence to see if there really was enough. Oak expected to hear the occasional murmur of disgust at the expense of the supposed murderer, mixed with the soft chirps of unseen birds outside. He was absolutely positive he would feel the pressure of countless eyes as soon as he entered.
And the last one was correct... he just didn't think that those who held those non-blinking eyes would also hold an array of weapons.
"You wait just a minute sah!"
The elder's eyes, which had gotten a little foggy as he told his tale, were suddenly opened at the loud interruption. They moved around to find the source of the noise, and they stopped on a hare maid who was bounding from across the field straight towards the small spot where he was telling the story to the youngsters. This maid wasn't an adult yet, but she was almost at the age.
This maid's profile was scrunched up in disgust and rage as she basically flew meters off the ground with each step. It was a look that might make an appearance in a nightmare or two for all of the dibbuns. The elder just got into a comfortable position on the chair as he waited for the hare to arrive.
When she got there, the daggers that shot through the maid's eyes were gazing into the apathetic and calm eyes of the other. She spoke in a slight Salamndastronian accent.
"What do you think you are doing sah! Telling these poor littluns a tall tale full of death and murder!"
The one response from the elder she didn't expect was the one she received. "That sounds about right."
"HOW DARE YOU SAH! These poor innocents shant be listenin to your evil stories!" she screamed.
Lilyflower and the other dibbuns glanced back from the enraged hare to the elder, none of them knowing what his reaction to the outburst would be.
"My good maid, I grant you the sincerest apology I can give if you do not find my... stories appropriate for these young beasts. I apologize if you find it wrong of me to tell of such things as death and consumption-"
"Ya spoke of consumption to these dibbuns!" She interrupted.
"Oh, it's not like they don't crowd around the cellars for a drink already as it is. Now if I may finish?"
The maid tapped her foot paw in anticipation for when the elder would be done speaking, getting ready to give him what for.
"And finally I apologize if you think I am, in any way, doing harm to the dibbuns. In my defense, however, these dibbuns have come here of their own accord, knowing full well what these stories entail, and continue to listen. Now I haven't watched these dibbuns every second of their lives, but I can personally say that ever since I've started telling them these... fables I conjure up... that they have in no way behaved differently, or gotten any more brash or violent. But, who am I to speak for those who have minds and mouths of their own. Little ones?"
The elder turned his gaze upon the small group that sat in an awkward silence. Each one either averted their eyes towards a random bird that flew across the sky, or pawed at the dirt with their... paw. Eventually, Lilyflower decided to stand, much to the elder's disappointment.
"I... I don't think there is anything too bad in his stories ma'am."
The hare maid looked at the small squirrel for a brief moment, and then consulted the elder.
"You wouldn't happen to be depriving them of sleep by telling them stories during their bedtime, would you sah?"
Lilyflower sat back down, an embarrassed flush covering her face underneath her fur. A few other dibbuns stood, wanting to help defend the elder and his storytelling, but the elder raised his paw to silence them. He faced the hare with a tired gaze.
"How about this: You go and ask the parents of these little ones if they should be listening to these stories. If they agree with you, then they can come and take their children."
The maid was off in a dash as the elder finished speaking. The old beast sighed as he turned back to the mass of dibbuns. After an awkward silence, the mouse who had picked out the next part of the story stood. "Can you try to finish before she gets back?"
The abbot's surprise was clearly visible on his face, as he glanced to and fro at the beasts of his abbey who now all sported a wide variety of javelins and small knives.
"What is the meaning of this?" Abbot Oakfern spoke slowly, but with enough authority and assertion to get a few gulps out of some of the younger ones. Just then, an otter came forward.
Oakfern recognized her as the leader of the new group that had entered the abbey. He tried recalling her name, thinking it was something along the lines of Naomi, or maybe that was somebeast else. Or was Naomi the young mouse girl who broke her paw from falling from the barracks? No wait, that was Ginge-
"Abbot Oakfern." Naomi spoke in a low pitch, which was a bit normal for most of her species.
"Yes?" Oak locked his gaze into the eyes of the tall, muscular otter. She was nearly twice his height, but she knew enough about the father's... unique abilities. She kept herself civil.
"You're suspected of the murder of Friar Johnathan."
The abbot had kept a stern, collected presence until that sentence. The accusation left him completely speechless, his shoulders slumped and his eyes wide. The audience around him stood in silence. He didn't see their reactions, as he was too busy looking through the otter's eyes into nothingness, choosing to not focus on anything.
Naomi continued past the statement, talking to the other inhabitants of the room, but Oakfern heard next to nothing. He didn't see the reluctant Skipper or Logalog walk down to meet him, he didn't feel their paws on his arms, nor did he hear the whispers of accusations or the unbelieving murmurs that came from his former brothers and sister, sons and daughters of the abbey that he had lived in for so many years.
For the time being, he was as conscious as a small leaf floating on a river, on it's way to a waterfall.
Lilyflower was awestruck by this story. Usually, most of the ones she heard never went this far into... bad things. There had been stories that had involved death before, heck, even one that involved some creepy, scarred monster that used magic to steal little dibbuns. She looked around to see her friends deep in thought, most likely also contemplating how unusual this story was getting.
Their thoughts were interrupted as a familiar hostile voice sounded across the grounds.
"THERE THEY ARE!"
Lily looked back to see a collection of stone-faced abbey beasts walking up. Beside her, her comrades scattered, not wanting to be in trouble. She glanced up to the elder, worried that he might get in trouble.
His face was as serene as the Summer sky. He looked down at her, and with a monotone voice said, "I wouldn't want to be here if I were you."
She nodded and bolted after her friends. She gave one quick look back to see the small crowd descending upon the elder, the hare maid waving her arms in over-dramatic gestures, and the elder just rocking back and forth slightly in his chair.
She stopped when she was far enough to catch her breath. She thought more about the stories. What happened to the fox? How would the abbot mouse get out of this false accusation? She straightened her posture, and with as much dignity as her young, squeaky voice could muster, she uttered her goal. "I'm gonna hear the end of that story."
A/N: This has been sitting here, half finished for over a year. Get this thing out, and then maybe see if I ever get the other half of it out. Probably not, but oh well.