This chapter was supposed to be longer but it made more sense to break it into two. Please let me know what you think and what you think I can improve on! I am having a blast writing this and I am happy you all are enjoying it!
Seabane had to bite his tongue not to scream in rage. He had thrown away his cutlass, his prized possession, like filth at the command of some mysterious Abbot! He had only done it because Marrow tossed aside his hammer, and the others had followed like good hordebeasts because of him. Now the Abbot had vanished! Seabane heard that Redwaller's always made good on their promises. Although, most of the stories revolved around some measure of vengeance against vermin. Whether it be for attacking the Abbey or killing one of its inhabitants those stories never had a happy ending for the vermin involved. He hoped he wouldn't become another example of that storyline playing out.
Ruddy mumbled something, but Seabane was thinking too loudly to hear. Just before he bitterly surrendered his cutlass, the walls above them were ablaze with light and noise. Mostly threats and insults against him and his bedraggled crew. But there was comfort in knowing that some beasts were alive on a night like this. Now the crisp air hung in silence as if the storm itself had taken a breath, holding its frozen gusts in eager anticipation. Only the gentle crunch of far-off paw steps, muffled by the icy ground, resonated briefly before being swallowed by the vastness of the night. The lights far above the rose-tinted stone had all but disappeared. Now a single faint glow of light from a sentry who probably wished the vermin dead glowed on the wall far above them.
"Yarr it's cold! I'm gonna grab me cutlass!" Seabane said to the beasts around him.
"Don't yew dare go out their rat! It was yer idea tah bring us to this cursed place, yew can freeze to death wid the rest of us." Crooksnout barked back at him through chattering teeth.
The weasel stood on the edge of the vermin group. Huddling as close as he dared to Marrow to stay warm. Crooksnout shook like a leaf caught in a gale as he struggled to hold his three kits in his one good arm. If he was concerned about the silence from his kits, he didn't mention it.
"Move over rat I'm freezing!" Sathe hissed as she stepped on his paw.
Cursing Seabane shuffled his footpaws. He was standing on Ruddy's tail, partially to try and keep the fox from falling asleep but more because it provided a little relief to his frozen footpaws. The ferret hobbled over stepping on the tail and leaned into him. Seabane exhaled as she did so, falling back into the solid embrace of the stone behind him. He stuck to it and for a moment Seabane was afraid that the stories about Redwall being colored by the blood of vermin were true. But he was too exhausted to move, much less fight back against whatever magic was imbued within the smooth stone walls. Seabane just hoped that if he was to be slain it would happen quickly.
The fire from the torch the vermin had thrown their weapons to vanished long ago. Even if he did go to retrieve his cutlass, he probably wouldn't have the strength to return. Seabane's eyes worked harder and harder to stay open, fighting the cold stone sapping whatever warmth remained within him. All Seabane could do was stare into the empty darkness and watch a light dusting of snow swirl in front of him.
"How's the fox?" Sathe asked as she rubbed the frost from her face.
Seabane had to collect his thoughts before he could answer. The tingling sensation he had felt earlier that night had reached his waist.
"He's showing about as much life as Herrik."
Sathe remained silent but shook her head.
Seabane didn't care to ask Sathe how she was doing. He didn't want to hear her complain. He was too busy watching the snow in its erratic dance downward. Snowflakes left dizzying trails in their wake. Seabane closed his eyes. The trails remained but a warm feeling emanated in the darkness of his mind. The warmth wasn't malice or anger, but it was peaceful and understanding, something the rat hadn't felt in seasons. More importantly, it reminded him of the reason he led the vermin on their ill-fated quest south. Seabane decided he didn't want to open his eyes again.
He didn't have much choice, as the creaking of the abbey's gate jolted him awake. Dazed Seabane was pushed away from the wall by Sathe in a desperate attempt to get away. Seabane awkwardly shuffled away as light poured from between the heavy doors.
"Don't move vermin!" A voice called from the other side.
Before any of them could respond a group of hares stormed from the gates. Each one barking order's while holding a spear or lance. Quickly the vermin were surrounded. Seabane swayed on his footpaws, struggling to hold both himself and Ruddy upright. A spear tip pointed at his stomach made balancing much more strenuous.
A hare with an absurd mustache and a thick coat with gold cuffs on his shoulders strode from the gate. He trotted towards the vermin, holding a long halberd which he deftly maneuvered to bring within a whisker of Marrow's throat.
"Are you the leader of this blighted brigade, wot?" The hare reeked of regality.
Marrow sent a bemused look towards Seabane, one that quickly turned to concern as the weapon edged closer to his throat.
Seabane swallowed the bile that had made its way up from his stomach.
"Yarr that'd be me, mate."
The hare looked between Marrow and Seabane with an incredulous look on his face before dropping the tip of his weapon.
"Ahh, well in that case." The hare said with a sheepish grin, before whipping the tip of the halberd at Seabane. The tip of the weapon slid by his neck impacting the stone wall behind him, while the axe head caressed his throat, pinning the rat against the wall. Seabane gasped as the hares once aloof look turned to fury.
"How many more of ye are there!" The hare shouted.
"We're the only ones, I swear!" Seabane squirmed.
"I hope yer right rat," the hare turned to the other vermin, "because if we find any more of you scum sulking about, you'll be spending the night outside the gates!"
The vermin nodded, each hoping that they were the only ones lost on a night like this.
The hare pulled his halberd away from Seabane's neck but kept it trained at him. He gave a signal and the circle of armed hares tightened. Slowly the vermin were corralled through the open gate.
Seabane shuffled forward. Ruddy had gone limp and Seabane, in his weakened state, struggled to move him about while the spears circling him gave very little room for error. By the time he reached the entrance of the gate, he was covered in a cold sweat. He had to squint as he stepped through it not to be blinded by the torchlight. When he made it through the entrance of the gate, he was confronted by what he could only call a horde of woodlanders staring back at him. There was a middle-aged mouse who tightened the grip on his spear and instinctively shuffled in front of his son. A mole with two torches held like swords stepped out of the way of the vermin when commanded by the hares. A lanky, mean-looking otter with fur the color of a black pearl holding a javelin spat at them. A murmur of disbelief rippled through the mob as the vermin were led through the gates. Each beast wore a different expression of disgust, rage, confusion, or dismay. The vermin were led to a shrewd old mouse with pursed lips and large ears. He stood flanked by the dark otter, and another straight-backed Long Patrol hare. The mouse stood like an ancient oak against the gusts of wind, which cut through his own thin vest like freezing arrows. It must have helped that he wore a heavy red robe which he unfolded his arms out of as he greeted them.
"Good evening our vermin friends, welcome to Redwall Abbey." The mouse had a weathered voice that rose above the grumbling and dismayed voices around him.
"I am Abbot Micah. We welcome you to our home in peace." The old mouse continued.
The mouse ignored the angry and confused looks he received. Including a vicious one from the lanky otter.
"I know you are tired and hurt but I think it's important to inform you of our rules." The Abbot spoke with little notice of the angry beasts ready to tear the vermin apart if given the opportunity.
Seabane tried to listen but the world around him seemed to slowly spin. The hunger that pained his stomach had returned in waves, while white trails made by the dizzying snow once more began to obscure his vision. He tried to think of a way to escape. To run off and find a forgotten corner of this cursed place to curl into a ball and fall asleep. At second glance most of the beasts around him didn't look like warrior material. Of course, the lanky otter and the armed hares would be an issue. But the others just appeared to be scared woodlanders. Scared Redwaller's to be exact. Seabane had personal experience fighting them and knew that looks tend to be deceiving. He closed his eyes to get rid of the sprawling snow that clouded his vision. As he did so memories flooded him.
Seabane could see himself as a young deckswab on The Damnation. They were anchored in a small high harbor with high-reaching cliffs surrounding him on Mossflower's southern coast. He remembered going inland and running into a round-faced hedgehog who claimed he was from Redwall. Seabane could hear his threats and feel the hedgehog's thudding punches. He remembered waking up alone on his back, with a fat lip and an egg on his head. He realized that even the most mundane of these beasts could probably defeat him, especially in his weakened state. Seabane sighed in grim acceptance of what would happen if he tried to run.
"You hear the Abbot rat!"
The voice snapped Seabane's eyes open. All eyes were trained on him. Seabane looked at Crooksnout and Marrow for support, they too stared at him in confusion. Suddenly the hare with the halberd grabbed Seabane by his collar.
"Did ye hear the Abbot vermin!" He hissed.
Seabane swallowed and nodded.
"Aye!" He squeaked.
"Aye what!" The hare barked back.
"Aye sir… Abbot."
"Much bettah, wot" the hare said as he released his grip on Seabane's collar.
"Maybe we'll teach you some respect while you're here, wot." There was a murmur of morbid agreement from the Redwallers.
"Shut yar trap ye long-eared heap o' dung, b'fore I cut ye ears off." Ruddy had managed to regain consciousness at the worst time.
Without hesitation, the hare slammed his fist into the fox's stomach with a great whump. Ruddy collapsed to the ground in a pained whimper, and Seabane dropped to a knee.
The fox's breathing was ragged, and he wheezed to try and regain his breath. The hare stood menacingly overtop him.
"He's hurt and he can't think straight!" Seabane offered in his defense.
"I don't care if his legs are gone! If I hear even another yelp from him, I'll throw all of ye out tah freeze!" The hare's voice was controlled but wicked.
Seabane scowled furious at these beasts' disregard for his comrades' well-being. He hoped that he hadn't made a grave mistake by coming here.
Abbot Micah strode up to the hare as Seabane dragged Ruddy upright.
"Captain Santain, remember you are representing the Abbey. Now please escort our new guests inside. I've already sent somebeast to notify Sister Beryl and Willard."
Seabane recognized Captain Santain as the Long Patrol hare from on the wall. He didn't like him then and he did even less so now.
To Seabane's surprise, the Long Patrol hare saluted the old mouse.
"Yes, sah. Just showing these vermin some discipline. I assume you'll come along with us, wot?" Seabane had to hold Ruddy's mouth shut to keep him from snapping at the hare.
"Yes, please escort them inside and I'll follow along shortly." The abbot said as he turned back to address the Redwallers whose size only seemed to have doubled. Captain Santain signaled to his hares who began to lead the vermin away from the main gate as it loudly closed behind them.
Seabane didn't know where they were taking him or the other vermin. He could see a grand stone building slowly growing as it loomed over him. Its stained-glass windows rippled and reflected the light of torches from beasts that quickly scurried about. But that was as much as he could see as Seabane was busy corralling the unwieldy fox toward the stone shelter. The vermin didn't speak from what Seabane assumed to be fear of striking the wrong nerve, but the hares were more than comfortable egging the vermin forward. A younger-looking hare bounded up to Seabane and Ruddy for what Seabane assumed was a closer look.
"Wots the matter with this poor sop?"
Seabane tried to ignore him.
"How fresh is his wound, wot?"
Seabane bit his tongue and looked away from the hare.
"I know ye can hear me rat. If ye want yer mate to die stay silent and I won't tell the healer, wot."
Seabane turned back to the hare. But the beast skipped away. Seabane cursed him under his breath.
Captain Santain loudly knocked on the doors to the hall and was greeted by a kind-looking mouse who yawned and rubbed her eyes. Her mouth dropped open when she spotted the bedraggled vermin.
"Good morning lass, mind if we come in, wot?"
"What are they doing here?" She squeaked.
"Who? Them?" Captain Santain said as he heartily clapped the nearest vermin on the back. Sathe reeled from the blow.
"Don't worry about the vermin, we have it all under control." The Long Patrol Captain added with his aloof grin.
The mouse quickly nodded and pulled the doors open letting the hares and their odd quarry into the Abbey's great hall.
Seabane was relieved to have finally made it inside. It was warm and there was no wind or snow. More importantly, there wasn't a bloodthirsty mob ready to tear him apart. It seemed that the whole of Redwall's fighting force had met the vermin at the gate. The vermin plodded and slopped down worn stone halls, through rows and rows of red columns and oak dining tables. The only beasts in sight were monks, maids, and the elderly. A few of them ran away shrieking in fear. One even fainted at the sight of the vermin being escorted at spearpoint. Seabane couldn't help but chuckle at the chagrin of the abbey dwellers. This is what he expected of these woodlanders, scared senseless at the sight of a few rough-looking vermin. Although, he admitted it didn't help that they were most likely his only chance at survival.
Seabane grinned wickedly for a moment. But the moment was lost when a large badger wielding a rolling pin came into view.
Seabane stopped in his tracks not daring to go any further. The vermin behind cascaded into him and cursed his ignorance before falling silent.
"What's the matter vermin? Afraid of a wee 'ol badger." Captain Santain chided. He stood between the shocked vermin and the badger whose raised eyebrow held a mixed look of bewilderment and annoyance.
"I suppose you're the lot that I was warned about." Her voice was a proud growl.
The vermin said nothing.
"I for one don't know what he's thinking letting the lot of you in here, but I assume he knows better than me." She said with an added huff.
Seabane heard Captain Santain and a few of the other hares grumble something under their breath before stifling their laughter.
"Willard has prepared some food and I have beasts gathering blankets and waking our healer, after that ye will be escorted to your quarters." She said with a curt glance at the hares. Their hushed joking fell silent.
"I'm certain Captain Santain has said this, but I want to make it clear." The badger lifted the rolling pin as if to strike them.
"If anyone of ye as much as thinks about threatening anybeast within these walls, you'll wish you'd have frozen at our gate!" Her voice rattled off the stone walls and echoed down the long corridors. Behind him, Seabane could hear one of Crooksnout's kits begin to fuss.
"I don wanna be made inta weasel stew!" Twinetail cried into his father's shoulder.
The badger raised an eyebrow and her expression softened.
"How many kits have you brought?"
"Three." Seabane managed to croak.
"Four!" Sathe blurted immediately.
"I'll let Sister Lilac know we have several new… temporary dibbuns." The badger sighed without further questions.
Quickly and quietly the vermin nodded their understanding. The badger turned toward a plump squirrel wearing a dirty kitchen apron.
"Willard, are you ready for our guests?"
Seabane didn't notice Willard until now. The squirrel had a large kitchen knife tucked into his apron which his paw rested upon. His face was chiseled in mock stoic confidence but Seabane could see the squirrel's knees quake as the vermin's eyes fell upon him. He stared at the vermin with a revolting dissonance.
"Err…yes. As ready as ever ma'am."
The hares drove Seabane and his comrades into the Abbey's great kitchen. The vermin desperately raced to a crackling fire that burned in the hearth. A few paces from the fire a cauldron that smelled of their meal bubbled sweetly. The Long Patrol kept within a spears reach around the outskirts of the vermin, except for Captain Santain, a barrel-chested hare who looked like he was second in command, and the hare from earlier who had asked about Ruddy.
Seabane noted that several beasts peaked in and out of sight. He expected the Redwaller's to be armed and looking for any reason to tear the vermin apart. After the attention they had garnered from their arrival and the Abbey's history with his kind, he found it hard to believe anything else. Seabane stood warming his paws with the other vermin by the fire and watched the Redwaller's try and get a peek at the vermin. It was hard to see but Seabane could've sworn he saw three small pairs of eyes watching him with fascinating curiosity.
The vermin sat silent, exhausted, and defeated, trying to warm and dry themselves. Marrow had lain the unresponsive Silvertongue and Herrik in front of the fire, while Seabane had managed to delicately place Ruddy in a heavy wood chair an arm's reach from the flames. Dark red blood slowly dripped onto the stone floor. Each drop was another reminder that they weren't safe yet. Seabane got up and walked to the hare who had asked about Ruddy on their way to the kitchen.
"D'ye know when the healer will be here?" Seabane asked, hoping he sounded sincere.
"No. She should be down soon."
The hare appeared to be as young as Ruddy, perhaps a few seasons older. He tightened his grip on his sword when speaking to the rat.
"Yarr, why can't ye go up and find her?"
"I could've done so when I asked ye earlier, ya empty-headed numptie!"
The hare reached for his spear, and Seabane took that as a sign to leave. He returned to the fire dragging his tail.
The other vermin waited patiently by the fire as the food was being prepared. The hares said nothing to the vermin. Seabane guessed they were as uncomfortable with the situation as their prisoners were.
Seabane didn't think about being surrounded, his mind wandered elsewhere like the fuzzy sensation returning to his legs and the delicious aroma coming from the pot that lay next to them. The squirrel cook Willard had cautiously turned his back to the vermin and stirred it as if he was intending to taunt them with its scent. Captain Santain and the two other hares stood between the vermin and the cook.
Seabane looked at the other vermin to see if he was going mad. To his relief, he could see the others were as enthralled with the food as he was. A low groan shattered the precarious silence as Sathe placed a paw over her stomach. Marrow sat mouth open, absentmindedly staring at the food with drool dribbling down his chin. Seabane guessed that the plump squirrel was afraid of being devoured by the giant rat who probably saw him as a small snack. The squirrel began to stir faster, calling for one of the hares to bring bowls for the vermin.
"Don't worry about that one." Captain Santain must have noticed the squirrel's apprehension.
"This lot looks worse than they are."
"They smell bloody worse too, wot." A different hare spouted from the ring to the humor of the Long Patrol. The vermin remained silent, their attention on more important matters such as food.
Thankfully for the chef, the hare returned with a tower of bowls that obscured all his face but his ears.
"Thank ye, lad. Pour the other gents some late-night suppah, we've earned it, wot." Captain Santain said with a slight smirk.
Willard looked between the starving vermin, then back at Captain Santain. He opened his mouth to speak. Captain Santain interjected before Willard could say anything.
"I told you not to worry about them. We have everything under control." The hare plucked the ladle from the squirrel and began pouring bowls and handing them to his fellow troops.
Marrow closed his mouth and glared daggers at Captain Santain. If Marrow decided to tear the hare apart, Seabane would sit and cheer.
"What's the mattah wid yew fools? Can't ye see we're starvin'!" Crooksnout hissed.
"Crooksnout!" Seabane had to bite his tongue to not cuff him. He could understand his anger, but Seabane had less faith in the injured weasel than in his fellow rat.
"Shut yer trap weasel! You've waited all night; you can wait a few moments more." a thin hare said as he greedily slurped from his bowl.
Part of Seabane wanted to silence the hare. He wished he had his cutlass, so he'd turn these lazy beasts into mulch. The other more reasonable side of him wanted Crooksnout to shut up before the vermin were slain or thrown back out to the cold.
"Shuddup Crooksnout!" He hissed. Seabane was beginning to hate his better judgment.
"You heard the rat, Crooksnout. Shut up before you have a taste o' my spear!" The hare sneered.
A fit of desperate anger lit upon Crooksnouts face. Seabane looked at Marrow, but the rat seemed to be disinterested in the weasel's squabbles.
"If you want some, come and grab a bowl." Captain Santain held a bowl out taunting the vermin to come and take it from him. Onions, carrots, peas, and mushrooms lazily floated in a brown broth as steam wafted through the air. Seabane instinctively licked his dry lips wanting more than ever to slay the Captain. But all he could do was look at the food with hollow eyes. It felt like it was locked away in the heart of Salamandastron.
Crooksnout stood up and walked to Marrow and handed him his kits.
"Don' worry daddy's gonna get yew some vikkles." He whispered to them.
"Crooksnout please don't," Seabane said with a defeated sigh.
"Just be quiet, rat! I'll get some for the rest of ya don't worry!" Crooksnout said with a mischievous smile.
"That's why he's worried idjit!" Sathe piped up.
"I'll get some for all but yew seer!" Crooksnout snapped back.
Crooksnout turned, swinging his injured arm about him without a care. Captain Santain held a bowl in one paw while the other paw lay on his rapier. The lanky otter from earlier snuck in unannounced and stood aside the hare. Captain Santain made no greeting but seemed to acknowledge his presence. Crooksnout stopped momentarily, surprised by the vermin's new guard.
"An who might yew be riverdog?"
The otter held back a snarl.
"Shut your mouth you thieving vermin!" The otter cracked his knuckles in emphasis.
Crooksnout quickly nodded, looking between the bowl in the hare's paw and the soup to his right. Willard smartly moved away from the three beasts, placing himself out of harm's way.
Crooksnout turned and looked at his kits then at the two woodlanders.
"Take it!" Captain Santain barked after he took a sip from the bowl.
"It's delicious!" The hare said thrusting the bowl toward the weasel. His paw was tight around the hilt of his blade.
"Don't mind if I do!"
To Seabane's surprise, Crooksnout smiled at the hare before diving head-first into the cauldron of soup.
"Blasted idiot!" Captain Santain dropped the bowl in a clatter and grabbed Crooksnout by the shoulders attempting to haul him out of the cauldron.
Seabane sat dumbfounded. It took him a moment to regain his senses before cursing and rushing to grab the weasel.
The lanky otter reached over the pot and grabbed the back of Crooksnouts head to force him further into the cauldron. Seabane managed to grab hold of Crooksnout's broken arm and yank it back before realizing his mistake. Crooksnouts knees buckled, and he dropped like a stone. The only thing keeping his head in the bowl was the otter who refused to let him resurface.
"Let him go you stupid riverdog!" Seabane shouted at the otter as other hares joined the jamboree to pull the two vermin away from the cauldron.
The otter came to his senses and let go of Crooksnout's head. Crooksnout, covered in the stew, snapped backward, almost head-butting Captain Santain. The weasel opened his mouth to gasp for air when a heavy fist connected with his head, snapping it to the side. For a moment, he went limp. The lanky otter continued to land blows as the hares and two vermin stumbled back. Willard had just enough sense to grab the cauldron before it tumbled onto the brawling beasts below.
Seabane caught an elbow to the ribs while he was on the ground which caused stars to fill his vision and left him gasping for air. The otter continued his assault before Marrow ripped him out of the scrum and held him furiously flailing about off the ground.
"What's going on here!" The Abbot's voice rattled around Seabane's head, making his stomach drop. He had rushed over to the fire with the female badger on his heels. The otter stopped squirming and jutted his head toward Crooksnout.
"This vermin scum tried stealing our food!"
Crooksnout spat before snapping back.
"Because yew filthy toads were hogging all the vikkles! My kits are starving while yer stuffing' yer fat-"
"Shuddup vermin before I break your other arm!"
"Enough!" The female badger silenced the bickering beasts.
"Captain Santain, what's going on?" The mouse said wilts rubbing his temples.
The hare pushed Seabane and Crooksnout off him and got to his footpaws.
"Sah, Chef Willard was preparing their victuals when this blighted savage jumped into the cauldron. I tried pulling him off it, but these vermin tried taking it with them." The hare said as he gestured to Seabane and Crooksnout.
"Thankfully Willard managed to save it before all was lost."
"And why did you feel the need to jump headfirst into your meal?" Seabane could hear the frustration in the abbot's voice rising.
"Yer Captain told me to grab some vittles. Those rabbits took all the bowls an were letting me kits starve! So I naturally took the only bowl left."
"We have plenty of other bowls. You could've used those!" Captain Santain corrected him.
"You fat toads were using them all, you lying snake!" Crooksnout snapped back eliciting an outcry from the Long Patrol.
"Look he's still eating out of his!" Seabane said, his voice rising above the commotion. He frantically pointed to the young hare from earlier. The hare promptly put down the food after receiving a disappointed glare from the abbot.
"All the rabbits have theirs and we're the ones starvin'!" Crooksnout shouted at the abbot.
There was an awkward pause as several other members of the Long Patrol silently tried to hide their bowls.
Abbot Micah sighed and looked at the ceiling as Crooksnout finished listing his complaints about the hares. Abbot Micah didn't move but mouthed a few of what Seabane thought were curses, before snapping his head back to them.
"Captain Santain, I asked you to bring our guests inside and feed them. You and your hares could have whatever's left."
"Abbot it's not the captain's fault the vermin couldn't wait for Willard to finish." The otter interjected. He had a youthfully grating voice, like a Redwall version of Sathe. Seabane wished Marrow would've squeezed the beast a bit tighter.
"Then tell me," The Abbot said turning his judging gaze towards the squirrel. "Was the food ready?"
The plump squirrel looked between the Abbot, Captain Santain, and the vermin. He remained quiet.
"Tell me truthfully." Abbot Micah said calmly. "You're the only beast here who acted responsibly."
"The food was done; I just was letting it cool." The squirrel looked like he wanted to run off and hide in some forgotten corner of the abbey.
Abbot Micah sighed and rubbed his eyes, before addressing Captain Santain
"We're not cruel. These beasts came to us looking for help, they don't want to be here as much as we want them to be. All I asked was for you to feed them and show them to their rooms. But that somehow seems to be too difficult a task for the Long Patrol."
Captain Santain looked irate but kept his mouth shut.
"As for you," the old mouse turned his withered glare back to Crooksnout. "If I hear one more peep from you, or if you do something as stupid as that trick, I will throw you and your comrades right out of this Abbey!"
Seabane was worried that Crooksnout would snap back but wisely he nodded.
"Now drop him." Captain Santain said as he pointed at Marrow.
Marrow did as he was told and placed the otter gently on his footpaws. As quickly as he was let loose, he turned around and punched Marrow in the chest. Without flinching Marrow shoved the lanky otter. The otter stumbled back and tripped over the stool Marrow had been sitting on, falling hard to his rear. Sathe acted quickly to stifle a laugh
"Why you dirty rotten!" The otter spat as he rose to fight Marrow.
"That's enough Dokkur!" Seabane and a few others jumped at the outburst. "I would hope Eli's pupil would show a bit more wisdom on a night like this! Now go to bed!"
The otter shot a furious glare at the Abbot before storming out of the kitchen, kicking overturned bowls of soup on his way out.
Abbot Micah shook his head as he watched the otter leave, before picking up the fallen stool and placing it back on its legs with a solid crack. The mouse collapsed onto the seat with a sigh and turned back to the vermin.
"If the food is ready you may eat. But please, use a bowl."