Part 2: The Abbey
Golden rays of sunshine filtered through the cool glass of the infirmary onto Sathe's masked face. Perturbed, she rolled to her side to let the sunlight massage her neck, keeping her eyes shut to prolong her sleep for as long as the daylight would allow. The sun was warm and felt good as long as it wasn't directed into her eyes. The squirrel babe had been up crying for much of the night. Initially, Sathe had tried to ignore it hoping that the vapid Mildred or dimwitted hedgehog Lilac would come and lull the baby to sleep. When that help never came Sathe was forced to coddle the despicable thing in the wee early hours of the morning. Between the babe and her fear of another encounter with her mystery assailant, It completely ruined her wondrous night's rest. But as much as she despised the abbey and all those who lived in it, their beds and blankets were the best she ever had the privilege to lay in. She tucked her knees into her chest and wrapped her tail around her footpaws as she snuggled deep into her pillow. Bit by bit she slowly felt the darkness of sleep wash over her.
"Good morning sweety! I hope you're ready for another beautiful day!" Sathe's eyes snapped open in a rage as she folded her pillow over her head to block out the noise. Unfortunately, Mildred's shrill voice cut through even the softest of pillows.
"You and Brin are going to be helping me today! I already have a list long enough to wrap about the abbey of things that need to get done. If you get up now our breakfast will still be warm! Friar Willard's making his famous honey walnut bread with apple cinnamon jam!" The old squirrel's voice squealed from a depressingly close distance.
Sathe pulled the pillows closer to her head. Hoping this was just a terrible dream. The squirrel's bony paw on her shoulder and honey-sweet words ended that hope.
"Come now sweetheart, I don't want to have to grab one of the hares."
Sathe rolled on her back to face the old squirrel. Her eyes were half open as she attempted to ignore the stubborn old hag as she forced the ferret out of her soft, warm bed.
"There's some new clothes for you in the drawer to your right. I have a cloak for you to wear in replacement of your old one back in my room. Once you're on your paws we can grab it on the way to breakfast."
"What iv I don't wanna?" Sathe yawned.
"Darling ye can't lie in bed all day! There's life to live and a world to be seen!"
Life didn't seem as important to Sathe as her sleep, but the squirrel couldn't be persuaded otherwise. Growling to herself Sathe rolled upright and tentatively put her paws on the stone floor. It was shockingly cold and she yanked her knees to her chest.
"Yar it's too cold!"
"It won't be once you get some breakfast!" Mildred sang as she thrust fresh clothes into Sathe's arms.
"Where's me cloak and boots?"
"Your old clothes are going to be washed today. Sister Beryl and Sister Lilac would like you to wear something nicer than black and grey, especially if you're going to be helping me in the nursery." Mildred gently plucked the sleeping squirrel from its basket. "We're not having a funeral are we?"
"I like my old cloak!" Sathe looked at the clothes in her arms with visible disgust.
"And you'll love the new one!" Mildred twirled the babe around as she turned back toward the hallway.
"Please hurry dear, we have much to do!"
Sathe groaned as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and slowly put on a long-sleeved tan sweater. She quickly and quietly pulled on a thick hand-woven pair of pants that just reached her ankles. The clothes were made for an otter and hung in the arms and the waist enough to be mildly annoying. Thankfully she was given a thick belt which she tied neatly at her waist. There was also a long red scarf which she wrapped around her midsection several times. Most importantly there was a pair of thick socks that she pulled snugly to about her mid-calf. Now fully awake she slipped on a pair of slippers that rested at the foot of her bed and put on her seer's amulet, tucking it under her sweater before hurrying after the old squirrel.
Biting the inside of her lip Sathe scuttled across the infirmary. The floor was freezing to the touch, and her slippers didn't do much to stop the biting cold. Brutish beasts couldn't have given her anything warmer! The hare who snapped to attention upon seeing her wore boots and a heavy coat. Despicable creatures were keeping the best for themselves! The slight was an innocuous one but an invalidation of her superiority over them nonetheless. Stewing over her horrific condition she felt the ice that had been forming on her fur melt then boil away. The furious fire tempered by the night's bitter cold and restless sleep had been reignited and slowly grew as she took stock of the depravity of the world around her. Now fully awake and feeling slighted Sathe was ready to begin the day.
The ferret was still fuming as she entered the infirmary waiting room where Mildred and Sister Lilac stood waiting with the dark-furred squirrel from yesterday. Mildred had been far too happy last night when she informed Sathe that she was to be her apprentice for the winter. Saying something about 'learning from each other to help others' or some filth like that. Yesterday Mildred had dragged the young squirrel to Sathe's bedside where she introduced the two of them. Nothing but hateful glares was shared aside between the two as the old squirrel's prattling fell on deaf ears.
"Good morning dearie you look lovely today!" Mildred chirped as Sister Lilac and the young squirrel eyed her with poorly masked disdain.
"Where's my cloak? I'm freezing in this cursed place!"
"I told ye sweetie it's going to be washed tonight. But I know how much you care for it so I got you a replacement." Mildred proudly held up a long hooded cloak that was the same bloody red as the abbey stone walls.
Sathe eyed it like a picky dibbun before snatching it from Mildred's grasp. There was a restrained gasp of shock from one of the other woodlanders which maliciously warmed her heart.
"It has a pouch sewn into the side and a hidden pocket on the inside!" Mildred added as if Sathe had never seen a cloak before.
Sathe didn't want to thank the squirrel but put it on as she was still cold. Instinctively she pulled the hood over her head before remembering the badger's threat and promptly pulling it down. The cloak was roomy but was new and thick and Sathe wrapped it tightly around her as she worked to stay warm. It wasn't familiar like her old cloak but for the time being, it would do.
"I'm glad you love it!" Mildred said without any words from Sathe. "The babe will be in the nursery with other beasts her age. Sister Lilac will give her back to you once your work is done."
Sathe eyed the pot-bellied creature. She didn't trust the hedgehog, but she didn't trust any other beast in the abbey vermin or woodlander. This could be a trap. A ploy to separate her from the squirrel babe so they could throw the vermin out! It would explain the old squirrel's absurdly chipper attitude. Mildred does play the part very well. But she would also be free of the burden of the baby, and Mildred didn't seem like she was cunning enough to do such a thing. Her tired brain concluded that leaving the babe with Sister Lilac was a harmless decision.
"Fine, have fun with it. I don't wanna have to worry about that thing for the rest of the day." She snapped.
"I'll care for it better than you can. Tell me ferret does she have a name?"
Sathe opened her mouth but shut it when nothing came to mind. The deserters didn't think of calling it anything other than 'the squirrel.'
"You've named it haven't you?"
Sathe shrugged her shoulders as a no.
Sister Lilac shook her head in disbelief. "What did ye call her all this time? The squirrel?"
"Yes."
By the look on their faces, Sathe knew they needed an explanation.
"Unlike you Redwallers, we don't usually name kits as young as her. They'll be given a name once they're old enough to speak."
Sister Lilac gave a defeated sigh. "Try and come up with one when I give her back to you later. I can't have a dibbun without a name! I'd never be able to keep track of her!"
Sathe followed Mildred as she led the way to the kitchen for the long-awaited breakfast. Beasts scurried about greeting Mildred warmly while not making eye contact with the ferret as she passed. Sathe didn't mind, she could destroy most of these gutless creatures if she wanted to. (Except for the angry-looking otters and hares that eyed her closely and the occasional well-armed squirrel or mouse.) They were still all beneath her. Besides she had what they didn't, cunning. Like she had warned Ruddy, anybeast could swing a sword but not everybeast could be a seer. She was confident in her ability to poison the entire abbey without a single beast noticing. But her seer-like wisdom would tell her that would be a terrible mistake. For who would pander to her every whim?
"Sathe dearie how does your kind come up with names?" Mildred asked as they entered the great hall.
Sathe snorted. "The same way yew do. If they look any different than the rest of us or do anything stupid they'll be named for that."
"Ahh so Crooksnout was given his when he broke his nose?"
"Probably. But I thought it's because he's ugly."
"Then where did Sathe come from?" The dark-furred squirrel asked as the trio got in line for vittles.
"Not all vermin are given names mocking their faults. The best vermin are given unique ones."
"Like Seabane?"
"No! He's a sea rat who hates the sea you stupid whelp!" Sathe snapped at the squirrel loud enough for the kitchen to fall to an awkward quiet.
Sathe felt heat rush to her face as she quickly grabbed a plate and piled on several scones a handful of dried apricots and a few wedges of cheese. She then quickly drizzled honey overtop for good measure.
"Why do you care about names so much? I don't even care enough to know yours." She muttered just loud enough to be heard.
"I'm curious that's all." The dark-furred squirrel said with a furious passing glance. "But I think Brin sounds much better than Sathe."
"Brin sounds like I ran into a wall. Sathe is as smooth as a saber's edge." The ferret snapped.
"And what about Mildred?" The old squirrel asked.
"It fits you." The two responded in unison.
The trio found their way to an empty table and sat to enjoy their food. Mildred couldn't stop laughing at her name fitting her personality and Sathe found it grating. What was so funny about it? Sathe pushed the thought from her mind as she focused on devouring her food. She could still see her ribs in the mirror but with a few more of the abbey meals they would disappear. Brin watched her in disgust as the ferret licked the crumbs from her plate and claws. Mildred just smiled and laughed at her new apprentice.
"Now let me know when it hurts?" Mildred sweetly chimed as she placed her worn paws on Crooksnout's arm.
Mildred, Brin, and Sathe had finished their breakfast and returned to the infirmary to begin the morning work. Mildred had instructed Sathe that she would shadow her in her daily chores but that any insight from the ferret would be greatly appreciated. Brin was told to learn from both of them. Sathe hated the idea of the squirrel learning anything from her. Not that she assumed the beast was smart enough to do so. Their first task of the day: checking the injured vermin.
Mildred poked and prodded the weasel's arm as he did his best not to vocalize his displeasure.
"Ow! You tryin' tah break me arm again?"
"Did it hurt?"
"Of course, it hurt!" Crooksnout held his tongue as the hare who was just outside the door poked his head in with a raised eyebrow.
"How about this?"
Crooksnout yelped and wrenched his arm from her grasp. Sathe struggled to stifle a laugh.
"If it hurt the last time why wouldn't it hurt now!"
"Sorry my dear I just needed to check," Mildred said with a motherly compassion.
"That should be all for now. The break is bad enough that it might take several moons to completely heal. Luckily there's nothing out of the ordinary aside from it. Have you been holding your kits in that arm?"
"Naw. Not unless they try an crawl inta my sling."
"Don't do anything that puts weight on that bone. If you do anything that hurts it stop it at once. I'll let Sister Beryl know that you're not to use that right arm until it's completely healed."
"What do you mean use it?"
"You're not sick are you?"
"No. It's jus' me arm."
"Then you're well enough to help somebeast around the abbey."
Crooksnout scowled but resigned himself to a bitter silence.
"Now let's take a look at that cut." Mildred slowly removed layer after layer of wrapping and moss to reveal a red and pink wound that looked like a bloody smile just below Crooksnout's shoulder. Mildred leaned in close as Sathe walked around to get a better look.
"It's a nasty scrape for sure," Mildred said as she dabbed at the cut with a bit of moss.
"But it's healed tremendously well considering you got this only two nights ago. Sathe dearie what did you use to stop the bleeding?"
Sathe was initially taken aback by the question.
"Uh, I cleaned it with snow then applied a salve. I wrapped it with moss and whatever else we had."
"Do you remember what was in the salve?"
Sathe glanced at Crooksnout who glared back at her.
"I think there was yarrow and willow bark. Then I might have added some dewberries and dogweed. We were in such a rush I don't remember much other than willow."
Mildred glanced at her as she pondered everything for a terrifying moment.
"I never thought of dewberry before. That genius Sathe!" A sly smile plastered on her face, pleased to have fooled the squirrel once again.
"Naw I just heal quicker than an oiled eel." Crooksnout interrupted, pulling Sathe from her thoughts.
"That you do. Now I was expecting to stitch up your arm but by the looks of the wound it just needs to heal the rest of the way." Mildred reapplied fresh moss and started to re-wrap the cut.
"Now Crooksnout, Sathe, and I were talking and I'd love to know how your nose got all bent out of shape."
Crooksnout glared daggers at Sathe. She didn't even look at the lowly beast but pinned her ears wanting to know.
"It's a long and nasty story but not for now."
Mildred laughed as she tightened the bandages.
"I've been a healer for seasons and I've seen things that would make even the most battlehardend beast swoon. But if you don't want to tell there's no need."
Crooksnout remained silent but winced when the bandages were pulled tight.
"Now let's take a look at these adorable babes!" Mildred said after wiping her paws on her oversized jacket.
"What's this one name?" Mildred chirped as she started toward the kits. They sat on top of eachother in the plush rocking chair Mildred had brought to their room when the deserters arrived. They watched the old squirrel quietly and curiously ready to pounce and tear her apart if she did anything to harm their father.
"Twinetail," Crooksnout responded as she walked to the closet of the three.
He was just a few seasons old but he had grown tremendously since Sathe first had the displeasure of laying eyes on him. The second oldest child he had teal eyes more akin to his father with his mother's slightly darker coat. The scourge was an excellent climber, he had organized a group of kits that had pelted Sathe with pinecones while they were still in the horde. All she could do was hurl curses back and tell his parents she'd boil him alive if she'd ever catch him. He looked to his father for help as the odd creature approached him. He nodded at him to let Mildred do her thing.
"Well, he looks big and strong! Can you open your mouth for me lad!"
He hesitated but slowly opened his mouth as wide as he could. Mildred looked at his tongue and teeth before feeling about his neck and his head. She looked at each eye individually up close and afar. She asked if his stomach, throat, chest, neck, head, or back hurt. He shook his head no. She looked into each ear and then put her ear to his chest and listened to him breathe. She had him turn around as she did the same thing this time listening to his back.
"Ah! This must be the famous twine tail!" Mildred exclaimed as she adjusted her spectacles observing the weasel's tail with great interest. "It's as amazing as I thought it be."
The bashful kit pulled his tail between his legs and held it in front of him as he looked between his mother and his father trying to hold in an embarrassed smile. Sathe was disgusted. Clearly, the old squirrel was half blind as the tail looked like a broken branch with a few half-dead leaves clinging to it.
"Now who's this rapscallion!" Mildred exclaimed as she moved to the next kit.
"Yarr I'm Ripeye!" The little weasel snapped before breaking out into a thick cough.
The oldest child of Crooksnout and Silvertongue he had his parent's teal eyes and a darker pelt. His most distinguishing physical feature was that the fur on his face was the color of clean rust. Ripeye loved to babble and had just about driven everybeast to madness on the journey. Even his parents couldn't get him to stop jawing about some odd log that he saw or wanting to fight Ruddy. Thankfully Marrow scared the kit into silence by picking him up and carrying him upside down when his mouth didn't stop. He was a natural born nuisance and in Sathe's eyes would make an excellent grunt to throw against the waves of woodlanders that ever threatened her.
"Ripeye hmmm. What a unique name how'd you come to be known as that?" Mildred asked as she started to check Ripeye the same way as his brother.
"When I was as old as Twinetail daddy took me fishing wid 'em an he caught this giant fish! It must've been a pike because it was as big as I am tall! Well, the fish was thrashin' and fighting like a madbeast when daddy brought it to land and it knocked daddy inta tha water. So I jumped on it and punched it and wrestled it and ripped its eye out! Dad said I was a terrifying warrior!" Ripeye bared his sharp teeth at Mildred who laughed in jest.
"Must've been a proud day for your father!"
"One of the best days of me life," Crooksnout growled beneath his breath.
Sathe was disgusted by Mildred's attempts to try and connect with the worthless weasels. She was also confused as to why she'd be checking on all of the kits instead of their parents. Crooksnout and Silvertongue were the injured ones and Sathe wanted to spend as little time in the presence of these whelps as she could. Brin looked as uncomfortable with Mildred as Sathe did. The stupid oaf hadn't done a single thing to help. When Mildred asked Sathe to grab some blankets and bandages from the other room, Brin had outright refused to grab them for the ferret. Sathe had to retrieve the items like some lowborn brute!
"Then this must be little Fenril."
Mildred took the little weasel from her mom's arms and began to check her the same way that she checked the other two kits. Silvertongue lay half awake, eyes glazed over as she watched the squirrel inspect her youngest kit with little energy to do anything else but watch. The sun shone through the window above her bed. The blue sky slowly melted the snow that remained from a few nights prior, but Sathe could see storm clouds rising high into the sky from just over the horizon.
"Where did this little cutie's name come from?" Mildred asked as she held the little weasel out in front of her. The weasel watched the odd creature with a curiosity only a kit could muster. She looked lost as her eyes, the color of robin eggs, darted between her father and the old woman who held her like a priceless treasure. Fenril sneezed, sending snot dripping from her nose and coating Mildred with a thin film of spittle. Chortling the squirrel wiped the kit's nose with a rag before brushing her fur clean.
"Her mother liked it." Crooksnout snapped, seemingly tired of all these worthless questions.
"She looks just like her mother! Doesn't she Brin?"
Brin smiled as she nodded her response before returning to her perturbed silence as she watched from a few steps behind Sathe.
"Well, you just have one lovely family!" Mildred cheered as she handed Fenril to her father. He awkwardly took her with one claw as she tried to bury herself in his tunic. Mildred reached into one of her many pockets and pulled out a pawful of what Sathe assumed to be pebbles. She turned to Twinetail and Ripeye who watched her with the same bewildered look as their baby sister.
"Close your eyes and hold out your paws." She instructed them.
The little vermin did as they were told as Mildred evenly deposited the little stones into their outstretched paws.
"This is for being so good during your checkup!" The old squirrel sang with proud compassion.
"What are they?" Crooksnout asked as he attempted to look around the old squirrel.
"They're candied chestnuts. I always keep some tucked away if I need to get a dibbuns attention. These kits did absolutely wonderful! I thought I might give them a little treat!" Mildred glided to the seated weasel.
"I have a bit of dried and spiced apple for the little one." Mildred held a flat white and cinnamon-colored object in front of Fenril.
The babe had watched the odd creature hand something to her brothers from the protection of her father's arms. Now this beast she had never seen before was offering her something? Fenril snapped her eyes shut and pressed her face into her father's tunic with a squeak.
Sighing Crooksnout snatched the bit of food from the squirrel and offered it to his kit. Fenril cautiously looked at the food then sniffed it before quickly snatching it out of her father's claw. Her pudgy paw stuffed it in her mouth and devoured it ravenously.
"How'r me kits?" Crooksnout snapped, careful that his daughter didn't choke on the apple.
"Aside from their colds, they're doing just fine. Nothing else appears to be wrong and after a few more days of rest and good food they should be ready to join the other dibbuns in the nursery." Crooksnout's shoulders dropped in relief but his jaw remained firm.
"They'd be fine now if they had beds to sleep in! Yar, Silvertongue, and I'd be doing better if we didn't hav' tah share a single bed an chair. Iv dey keep sleeping on tha floor they'll freeze tah death!"
"We don't have any extra beds that would fit in here, and until they kick that cold they're going to have to stay with you. That's why I brought some extra blankets for them."
"Blankets won't keep'em from freezing' tah death! The floor was as cold as ice when I woke up. How de ye expect them to get better when they're shivering in there beds?"
"I'm sorry dearie but there's nothing I can do about that." Mildred knitted her paws together as she pressed them against her stomach.
"They need to stay in their beds if they want to get better and there should be no roughhousing in the infirmary. Especially near your injured mate!" Mildred looked at Ripeye and Twinetail who were thrashing about on the floor. They had discovered their appetite for candied chestnuts and had made short work of the goodies. Ripeye had finished his pawfull first and as the oldest sibling, it was his duty to steal a few from his younger brother. Twinetail had taken exception to it and had defended his prized possession with fearless tenacity. The squirrels' stern glare separated the two.
"They're kits! Whaddaya expect them tah do all day? Lie around? If they need tah sleep they'll sleep. I don't wanna try an keep them still!"
"They'll need to if they want to get better," Mildred said with all the authority vested in her as Redwall's healer. "A cold is nothing to sneeze at this winter, especially for kits."
"Then give me kits a bed tah sleep in before I -"
"Before you what weasel?" Sister Beryl snapped before Crooksnout finished his sentence. The older weasel kits fled to their mother as Fenril burrowed her head into her father's chest. Sathe did her best to stifle a gasp of shock. She was too preoccupied with watching Mildred toy with the kits to notice the massive badger enter the room. Sathe stepped aside to let the badger through, she held her tongue as Brin cracked a wry smile.
"B'fore I take a bed for me kits," Crooksnout said without looking at the badger as he adjusted Fenril on his lap. "They'll freeze on this floor, an unless they get something bettah to sleep on I'll pull another bed in here, with or without yer help badger!"
The badger breathed a heavy sigh as her eyes lazily passed through the room. The beds for Twinetail and Ripeye were nothing more than flimsy sacks filled with moss, dried grasses, and whatever else soft and warm the Redwallers could fill them with. They each had a blanket and pillow, which was far more than any of them had when they were in the horde. All except for Sathe of course.
"Mildred brought additional blankets, and I might be able to find a cushion or two, but until they're healthy they're to stay in their rooms and beds." The badger growled and the two weasel kits scampered into their makeshift cots.
"How's Silvertongue?" Crooksnout snapped, not wanting to further any conversation with Sister Beryl who stood in the doorway blocking any exit.
"Well let's just check on that wound shall we." The vapid Mildred said as she shuffled over to the wounded weasel.
"Sathe come help me unwrap this."
Not wanting to keep the squirrel waiting in the presence of Sister Beryl, Sathe hurried to her side. She moved through the room with caution, as if she was expecting a lethal blow to come from the old stripedog at any moment. That feeling was shared amongst the other vermin, who kept their eyes low and sub-consciously held their breath preparing to strike or flee at any sign of trouble. Sathe didn't even complain about handling the dirty bandages Mildred handed to her.
"Ahh let's see here," Mildred said as she peeled the last bandage from the bottom of Silvertongue's footpaw.
Mildred had taken the liberty of cleaning and stitching the wound while Silvertongue was unconscious the night the vermin arrived. Sathe hated to give the squirrel credit but she was impressed with her handiwork.
"Now Sathe dearie tell me what you would do now?" Mildred asked smiling sweetly at her. "Be sure to watch closely Brin."
Sathe felt the bile build in her throat. This was an obvious test to make her look like a fool in front of this scum. Didn't they know how talented she was? She picked up a bit of moss and began to press firmly against the cut.
"The stitching is good. Although the bottom stitch is a bit loose, which is why the bandages are bloody." Sathe said with a snort.
"There's swelling and a bit of puffiness around the wound, but I would expect as much. She needs to stay off her footpaws-"
Suddenly Silvertongue yelped and jerked her footpaw forward smashing into Sathe's nose. Sathe was sent sprawling backward before Brin and Mildred caught the ferret from behind, stopping her from falling to her rear.
"Watch where ye put her paw!" Silvertongue snapped. "That hurt!"
Sathe's, face twisted in shock. She ripped the paws that had caught her away, horrid curses formulating in her mind as she worked to control her fury into a stinging whip.
"What seems to be the issue weasel?" Sister Beryl strode up behind. Sathe did her best to swallow her fury around the badger, but an infuriated look spread across her face. She'd find a way to kill this disgusting Silvertongue. A cruel idea came to mind, perhaps this badger might be able to do it for her.
"This brute just about stomped me nose in!" Sathe held her paw to her nose as she turned and faced Sister Beryl.
"After all I'v-we've done for her she's still as nasty as ever," Sathe said as she snatched a clean bit of moss from Brin's paws.
"If it hurts dearie, tell us before ye kick us." Mildred sweetly chimed as she re-wrapped Silvertongue's wound.
Silvertongue must've been scared into submission by the badger as she said nothing but nodded her understanding. Sathe thought the weasel was a lying wench, Mildred was wrapping the bandages far tighter than when she was cleaning her stitches. Sathe thought that a sprig or two of hemlock would be enough to permanently put the weasel to sleep.
"The wound will be a bit tender for a while but there appears to be no infection just a nasty scar. If you stay on yer back and regain your strength I'm sure you'll be on your paws in under a moon!" Mildred sang to the visible relief of Crooksnout, although Silvertongue showed no signs of ease as Sathe assumed this was her first time seeing the badger.
"Did your mate inform you of our rules?" Sister Beryl asked crossing her meaty arms.
Silvertongue silently nodded.
"Good. I expect you and your kin to follow it. Even if you're injured I'll have no violence in my Abbey."
Silvertongue averted her eyes and held her tongue, once more nodding her understanding.
"Oh, it was nothing but a simple mistake. Wounds can still be raw, especially after such a journey. Sathe was just unfortunate to be on the receiving end of it." Mildred laughed. Sathe wanted to slap her.
"I'd expect you to know best. I hope you don't mind if I accompany you for the next few hours. I know you already have Brin and …" Sister Beryl looked at Sathe waiting for an answer from the ferret.
"Her name's Sathe. Quite a pretty name isn't it?"
"Yes of course." The badger responded uninterested in Mildred's fascination with the vermin's name. "I know you have these two in tow but I'd like to observe and watch how our abbey's wonderful healer works her magic."
"Sister Beryl, I'd be delighted if you joined our little procession!" Mildred chimed as she went about disposing of the dirty bandages in the waste bin near the front of the door.
"If there's no other questions then we can attend to our next patient."
Crooksnout watched the squirrel with artificial disgust. "Where's breakfast I'm starving!"
"It's been served in the great hall. The same place the meeting last night was held. I could get Egbert to escort you there if ye need it."
"Why didn't ye tell me that earlier ye daft beast!" Crooksnout said fleeing the room before the badger could reprimand him.
"Watch your tongue vermin!" Sister Beryl shouted after him as he rushed from the infirmary.
Mildred laughed as she followed him out the door with Sathe and Brin in tow.
"Who's our next patient?" Brin asked, Sathe assumed she was quietly wishing for this day to end. Sathe felt the same.
"Another one of these poor beasts has a nasty headwound and has been unconscious since they arrived," Mildred said as she turned and walked to the next door down the hall. She rested her paw on the door handle as she waited for Sathe, Brin, and Sister Beryl.
"Struck by a stone, the poor thing." She said as she opened the door to Herrik's room.
The room was cleaner than the one Crooksnout and Silvertongue were stuck in. Sathe could see cobwebs growing in the high ceiling as the room looked just as empty as before the vermin had arrived. Herrik lay on the bed propped up under a mountain of pillows. Heavy bandages wrapped around his head with a large lump of what Sathe assumed to be mosses where his wound festered. The bed was clean and undisturbed. The sheets were tucked in with precision only abbey beasts could manage. There was a cup of water and a small plate of cold food resting on the nightstand underneath a square window next to the bed. The slow rise and fall of his breathing was the only sign of life.
"How long has he been like this?" Sathe noticed a twinge of horror resonating in Brin's voice as she followed Mildred to the right side of the bed. A small table with various salves and bandages sat within arm's reach. Sathe walked to the opposite side where the food lay, hoping to steal a bite when no beast was looking.
"Several days now. He hasn't woken up since and I doubt he will." Sathe responded ignoring the vile glare from Sister Beryl.
Brin's mouth fell agape. "How could you say such a thing? He's injured and he deserted along with you!"
Sathe scoffed. "You must be duller than you look. He was a madbeast when we left and he'll be more of one if he wakes up. I'm not sure if you know, but stones tend to kill beasts who get hit by them." Sathe snapped as she grabbed the cup of water.
"The stone barely glanced off his 'ead, if it was a direct hit we'd have no reason to carry him with us." Sathe tilted her head back, downing the water with a single gulp.
Brin's eyes narrowed, her lip curling in disgust. Sathe looked back with disregard for such a lowly creature before quickly stuffing a cold scone into her mouth.
"You're a horrid creature!"
"An yer a toadbrained fool! Now shut yer mouth, 'fore I wring yer neck with yer tail!" Sathe snapped back choking on her mouth full of food.
"Ladies!" Mildred snapped as she continued to unwrap the bandages around Herrik's head.
"Insults do nothing to help this poor beast, now stop bickering and please try to help."
"He's not going to survive anyway, he hasn't woken up in days and he hasn't eaten anything in almost a fortnight!" Sathe snapped, irate at being reprimanded. "He's going to die and if he doesn't he'll just be somebeast's burden for the rest of his miserable life. An since you don't want us here for longer than winter, that means I'm gonna be the one to take care of him!"
"Sathe!" Mildred said her eyes filled with disappointment. "I know you're scared and worried about your friend, but that doesn't give you any right to say such things!"
Sathe wanted to scream, yell at them until her lungs were coarse, and beat them until her paws gave out or they listened to her. But Sister Beryl's withering glare only just prevented her from attempting it.
"The two of ye haven't even tried to get to know each other for half a day and ye already want to tear at each other's throats. I'd have Sister Beryl paddle the both of ye if it were in my power or if it would solve anything!" Mildred shook her head. "I'd expect that from dibbuns not from you two, especially you Brin."
"I don't want to be here! Samuel put me up to this and both of you happily agreed without asking me!" Brin snapped at Mildred and Sister Beryl.
"I don't want her here either!" Sathe cracked. "She clearly doesn't know what she's talking about and I don't know what I can learn from either of you!"
"Then leave! You absolutely can leave ferret! But you won't because you're a coward wouldn't last a day without somebeast to pick on!" Brin cracked back.
Sathe roared and threw the empty cup she had been holding at the squirrel. It shattered on the wall missing Brin's face by a paw's length. Instinctively Brin looked for something to return fire with.
"No beast is leaving!" Mildred's voice boomed off the stone walls silencing the two of them. To Sathe's surprise, the badger hadn't wrapped her claws around her neck but stood at the foot of the bed with her arms crossed. A mean look fell across her striped face as she watched the scene unfold.
Mildred sighed and leaned against the wall. Her greying fur clung to her face and drooped from her exasperation. Sathe suspected she was more worn out than she let on.
"Clearly you both need to clear the air." Sathe and Brin opened their mouths to complain but stopped when Mildred held up a claw.
"We can do so once we are done with him. It looks like this dearie just woke up!" Mildred said as she pushed herself from the wall with renewed energy.
Mildred was right, to Sathe's surprise, Herrik was awake. He lay motionless but his eyes were wide open in terrified shock.
"Good Morning sweetie! You took one nasty bump on the noggin a few nights ago, d'ya mind tellin' us how you're feeling?" Mildred asked with the most loving intention.
Herrik didn't respond he just stared at the space in front of him in a mindless trance.
"Herrik ya stupid brute, how's yer 'ead feel?"
Again there was no response. Usually, the beast was a babbling mess when he was awake. Without Marrow to shut him up he should be driving everybeast insane with his mad quips and quirks. Sathe tried to remember when was the last time he had fallen silent enough for anybeast around him to think. The only time that came to mind was when he first saw Zidar. He was silent for several minutes before he had attacked. The mad brute thought Zidar of all things was a badger. Sathe looked at the other beasts in the room with her. Mildred was filled with a fake compassion, the empty-headed Brin who eyed her with contempt, and the large badger, Sister Beryl who watched Herrik with an unhappy expression knit into her brows.
Oh no.
Her stomach dropped as she sensed the impending battle. Sathe quickly grabbed Herrick's shoulders putting herself in between the weasel and the badger.
"Herrik everything's gonna be alright. You're gonna be just fine! I kin get rid of yer pain!" Sathe desperately tried to get him to look at her. But the vermin stared right through her, trained on the target at the foot of the bed.
"Dearie, what's going on?" Mildred whispered as she leaned over and gently placed a paw on Sathe's shoulder.
Sathe could feel cold sweat run down her neck as her heart lept to her throat. She whipped her head about to look at Sister Beryl.
"Stripedog you need tah leave!" Sathe sounded much harsher than she meant to be but fear had taken hold of her. Herrik could get her killed!
The badger's fierce glare swiveled from Herrik to Sathe. As she opened her mouth to reprimand the ferret a furious cry filled the room. Before Sathe knew it she was tossed aside into a wall with a wump. Mildred was as well her head snapping into the stone with a resounding crack. Brin screamed as Herrik howled at the top of his lungs as he tackled Sister Beryl. He laughed madly as he clawed at the badger's face and neck as she fell to her back unprepared for the assault.
"Die Stripedog! DIE!" Herrik screamed as he dug his sharp claws into her throat.
He proceeded to jump up and down on her chest digging his claws deeper. Sister Beryl desperately tried ripping the vermin off her but the vermin kept her pinned to the floor. Sathe lept up in a panic, blood, and fur flew across the room. If Sister Beryl died then she would be next on this madbeasts list! Sathe rushed forward grabbing Herrik from the side, attempting to pull him off the badger. Brin must have finally realized this as she rushed to help Sathe.
"Leggo!" Sathe cried as Herrik laughed, ignoring her attempts to pull him free. Brin and Sathe struggled to move him as he continued to stomp on Sister Beryl. Brin was caught by a wild elbow and knocked to the floor. She bolted upright and jumped on the weasel once more biting into his back just below the neck. Herrik screamed in pain as he let go of the badger and staggered backward flailing about like a hooked fish. Sathe lost her grip on the weasel before he slammed Brin into a wall. Stunned by the impact Brin lost her bite along with her grip. Herrik spun about and began to scream curses as he landed punches to the squirrel's midsection and head.
"Herrik stop!" Sathe screamed as she grabbed him from behind again and spun him away from the squirrel. Slowly Brin crumpled to the floor. Sathe knitted her claws together as she wrapped her arms around Herrik's chest and held him with all her might. She had seen Marrow do it before and it always seemed to work. To her horror, she felt her grip falter to Herrik's maddened strength. He burst free from her grasp as he simultaneously ducked and pivoted underneath her. In one swift motion, Herrik seized Sathe's arm, leveraging her body weight against her. With a powerful twist and jerk, Sathe felt the world around her rise and spin before she was sent crashing to the floor. A scream of pain ripped from her lips as her heel connected with the foot of the bed.
The door to the room burst open as a spearhead quickly entered.
"Die vermin!"
The hare Egbert thrust his weapon at Herrik, but Herrik was faster. As he lept back he tripped over Sister Beryl's body in the process. The hare pursued, stabbing the ground where Herrik was seconds before. Herrik dipped and dodged the spearhead as Egbert tried with all his might to strike the vermin. Herrik was faster than the hare eventually climbing and squatting atop the nightstand in front of the window as the hare attempted to catch his breath.
"The pain's gone! Hehehehehe! All gone!"
Herrik threw his head back and laughed like a mad beast as he lept off the nightstand toward the hare. With a shout, Egbert hurled his spear at the weasel which caught the vermin midair. The blow elicited a bloody howl and sent him backward crashing through the glass and falling to the snowy ground below. Then there was silence.
Happy to get this one out. It's a very large chapter but a good one to start the second part of this story.
As always please let me know what you think and what I can improve on. Any and all feedback is appreciated!