"Where's the healer?"
"Forget the healer we need moles! Diggers! Anybeast t' save the vikkles!"
"Are ye daft we've got injured dibbuns! One o' them's stuck under bags of almonds and glass!"
"Kerwin 'elp me get the dibbuns to safety!"
"Aye!" The burly hedgehog responded as he lifted the collapsed shelving. "Thunder an' lightning its Beskit! What monster did this t' the lad!"
"He's unconscious, where's our healer!" A determined Jakob shouted at Brin to be heard amongst the commotion in the destroyed cellar. "Brin, where's Mildred?"
Brin gasped. The storeroom was in a state of chaos. Stone, wood, glass, food, and drink were in a jumbled heap across the dark cobble floor. Friar Willard knelt at the edge of the rubble crying like a father who lost his sons in battle at the sight of the destroyed cellar. Beasts called for help as a crowd formed around the two dibbuns who were being pulled from the rubble. Brin didn't know if they were still alive.
"Brin!" The strong and stocky hedgehog Kerwin repeated.
"She-she's hurt!" Brin responded breathlessly. "She can't leave her bed or-"
"Then grab that ferret! She's some sort o' healer, and she's better than me or Wixby!" Kerwin ordered. With her heart in her throat, Brin scampered up the crowded incline. Beasts held torches in one paw as they passed vittles and other provisions up and out of the storeroom. Everyone was barking out orders and beasts were everywhere but where they should be. After squeezing past a frantic squirrel carrying two jars filled with preserved raspberries and tripping over the long oar-like tail of a loudmouthed otter Brin stumbled into the feet of Foremole Grumm.
"Clear all th' vittles ye can! Oi don't wants no more beasts gettin' squashed if'n th' storeroom up top comes crashin' down!" Most of the Redwallers heeded his warning and an orderly chain of beasts passing food into Cavern Hall was made.
"Ooo arr, Brin gel, oi needs 'ee t' get yoresel' to th' kitchens an' stop anybeast from goin' in th' storeroom. Any more weight an' th' ceilin' could come crashin' down on us, it could!" Foremole Grumm was the only beast whose voice carried any weight.
"I'm fetching a healer we found dibbuns under the rubble!"
The mole's eyes widened. "Hurr, hurr! Oi'll go find 'nother beastie, oi will." The old mole stepped aside to let her pass. Brin bolted through the cellar doors into another crowd of Redwallers. The beasts not handling the vittles being brought from below were craning their necks trying to get a look at the damage. Food was carelessly tossed aside or stomped to mush as the evening supper had ground to a calamitous end.
"Step aside! Make space for the vittles! Everyone who isn't helping stay clear of the door!" Dokkur barked as he pushed the curious beasts away.
"Sathe! Sathe! Where are you? We've found another two dibbuns!" Brin cried to be heard above the noise. There was an audible gasp of shock as her words reverberated off the stone.
"Whadda we need that wretch for?" Dokkur snapped with a look of horror and disbelief. "We need a healer, not a bloody vermin seer!"
Brin ignored him. "Sathe! Trilloway! Where are you?"
"Where's Mildred?" Someone asked from the crowd.
"She's sick. Where's Sathe?" Beasts looked about in dumbfounded shock, but Brin received no response aside from a loud wave of murmuring. Frustrated Brin weaved through the crowd calling for the surly vermin. When she found the nearest table, she jumped atop it. Kicking aside discarded bowls of salad and plates of bread she could see overtop the sea of beasts. To her right Abbot Micah could be seen but not heard scolding Eli and Sergeant Danburr. It seemed the usually sweet Abbot had been on a warpath as he gave the abbey's champion and Long Patrol ally a firm ribbing. As soon as he was done the two warriors bolted up to the kitchens with a troop of hares and Redwall guards at their heels. Abbot Micah then turned toward a bloody and bruised Conrad DuHoyt who sat dejectedly to the side with his embarrassed daughter. The old mouse said a few words and shook his head. The white hare's expression darkened before his shoulders dropped and he stared at his paws.
Further to her right near the walls of the great hall, the giant white rat struggled to keep the raging weasel mum in tow. She had been a furious little tyrant during her spat with Conrad even though she had gotten the worse end of the fight. By the time the giant rat successfully wielded a long bench like a mace several beasts including the weaselmum and Conrad had notable lumps on their heads. With beasts collecting their wits and rubbing their heads, Abbot Micah began to scold them for how immature and vile they acted. Yet for once in the Abbot's life, he was outshouted by the furious mother. In her furious rant, she charged Conrad, Abbot Micah, the white rat, the Corsair, her mate, and the rest of the abbey with attempting to harm her precious kits. As she launched into another tirade several crashes and a horrible roar filled the room. When the door to the cellar was thrown open a trembling and bloodied weasel kit collapsed at their feet. He had been carried out and the chaos and fighting started once again.
Trilloway huddled over the young weasel pressing a bloody tablecloth into the long cut along his back. The father weasel watched like a sentinel, keeping his composure as well as a wary eye for the hare. The corsair and one-legged fox lagged at a safe distance. Their apparent squabbling halted for the time being. Next to them stood the strapping Alaric Redfir and the smaller of the two weasel kits.
Just then there was a pained roar, and the great white rat fell to a knee as he clutched his head. The weasel mother, released from Marrow's grasp, rushed to her son's side and protectively wrapped her arms around him. She barked a few choice words at Trilloway when he tried to shoo her away before crooning over her injured kit. The white rat jolted upright like an arrow from a taught bow, his red eyes burning as if he intended to break another table overtop her head. Before he could wrap his claws around her neck Abbot Micah gently pulled on his arm. As if under a spell he dropped to a knee so that the older mouse could speak into his ear. The fox and corsair looked dumbfounded. Brin quickly shook the sight from her head as she looked about the cavern for Sathe. Unfortunately, the crowd of beasts in their red or green habits all looked the same.
"Sathe!" The squirrel tried calling again. There was no response. Brin cursed to herself. She wished she was a better healer, but she wasn't. She was there to keep the peace and a poor job she was doing at that.
"Sathe!" Brin called. Again, her voice fell over the crowded Redwallers who were more preoccupied with the first of the two Dibbuns brought from the cellar. The squirrel's heart pounded as a small cry of pain reached her ears. In desperation, she called for the ferret again. Across the cavern just out of the light of the torches and candles on the ornate chandeliers, a lean red-cloaked figure paused for a moment. Brin saw a masked face glance in her direction from beneath a large hood.
"Sathe!" Brin cried and pointed toward Trilloway and the other vermin. "Trilloway needs help! There are others!" Sathe's face lit up momentarily surprised before she scowled and broke eye contact. The ferret hurried her pace toward one of the exits.
What is she doing? She's the only healer here! Brin looked at Trilloway the weasel mother continued to harp the large hare, his pleasant smile had turned to a concerned frown. Thankfully a shrewmaid was trying to calm the furious mother. There was another uproar as the second dibbun was brought into the cavern hall. Sathe was a few paces from an exit and showed no signs of slowing down. Brin dove from the table and charged after the ferret pushing her way through the tightly bunched Redwallers.
"Sathe come back!" The ferret didn't listen. She swung open the door and rushed from the hall.
"Stupid vermin!" Brin swore as she pushed through the last of the crowd and followed the seer through the doorway.
The hall was quiet, with a moldy odor as water slowly slid down the stone walls and snuffed the flame of several candles. The ferret was over a score of paces away, but the dark-furred squirrel easily caught up.
"Sathe what are you doing there's-" Brin started as she grabbed a part of Sathe's cloak.
"Don't touch me scum!" Sathe snapped as she whirled about to meet the smaller beast. Her claw came a whisker from striking the squirrel.
Brin paused in astonishment before collecting herself and barking a response. "Sathe, we need you, this isn't any time for games!"
"No, yew don't! I've got a baby squirrel t' worry about!" Sathe responded with a snide raise of her nose as she brushed past the squirrel. "Trilloway's got enough paws he can handle that vermin runt."
Brin ran around the ferret and blocked her path, her face flush with anger. "There's two other dibbuns, and they're both hurt! You're our healer, or you're our healer until Mildred gets better!"
"Mildred would be better if that stupid rabbit didn't involve himself!" Sathe spat at the dark-furred squirrel as she stormed past Brin. "He knows better'n you or me, so wot's 'e need my help for, eh?"
"Is that what this is about?" Brin asked raising her arms in dumbfounded shock. Sathe unkindly pushed past her. "You're still mad at Trilloway because you two couldn't agree on that?"
Sathe didn't change her pace. Brin hurried to walk by her side again.
"You can't hold a grudge with him you both were trying to help."
"I wus tryin' t' help!" Sathe snapped, turning to face the squirrel. "I was helping and that idjit said I wasn't and I was gonna slay Mildred!"
"He didn't say that!" Brin sighed in disappointment as she slowly inched toward the wall behind her.
"Yes, he did! I don't wanna hurt Mildred an' he was gonna blame me for what happened!"
"Nobeast is blaming you for what happened to Mildred! Trilloway and I wouldn't dare do such a thing, but don't let that stop you from helping beasts who need you right now!"
"They're just a couple of dibbuns." Sathe looked away from her. "Minerva's the only beast I care about."
"And she'll be so proud when she grows up and hears you helped save her playmates," Brin responded and grabbed Sathe's paw and led her toward Cavern Hall. Sathe didn't complain but dragged her heels with every step. She slowed to a crawl as they entered Cavern Hall and skirted aside the worrisome glances directed toward the ferret.
"They think I'm the beast who caused this!"
"No, they've been wondering where you've been."
"You don't know that!"
"I know good beasts tend to care for kits, no matter who they are."
Sathe planted her food with a loud thump. "That didn't seem to help Veil Sixclaw."
"No. But you're not Veil Sixclaw." Brin responded without pause as she dragged Sathe toward the makeshift operating table.
"Excuse me, the healer is here." A beady-eyed mouse chirped at the crowd around the three injured dibbuns. The crowd parted and let the duo through without a word. Brin smiled at Trilloway but Sathe didn't dare look at him.
"Sathe, I need ye t' help me with Twiggy. He's-" The hare started before being cut off.
"You're not applying enough pressure on that wound." Sathe snapped as she slowly crept to the opposite side of the table. "You've got rags laying over it like a blanket you'll 'ave 'im bled dry before he makes it from this room."
Trilloway paused, it was clear he wasn't expecting her to barge in and take control. He smiled realizing that's exactly what she wanted to do.
"Aye ma'rm right ye are, wot. But wot of these two that just were pulled from the rubble."
"Yew worry about not lettin' the weasel slip to an endless sleep while I'll save those dibbuns," Sathe responded without emotion toward the hare but with bountiful pride in being the very best at what she does. Brin thought she saw the Corsair roll his eyes.
"Quickly you dolts, bring me those poor whelps!" Sathe snapped as she slammed her paws on the nearest drink-covered and food-encrusted feasting table. The Redwallers shrunk back. It seemed most of the abbey was unaware of how unapologetic the ferret could very well be.
Kerwin didn't seem phased as he carried Beskit in his arms like a fallen hero and gently laid him in front of Sathe. Jakob followed carrying Twiggy before turning to Elara who followed closely behind. "These are Karic's friends. Where is he?"
"He's with Alaric," Jakob responded jerking his head toward a short red squirrel. The small otter carefully watched, poking his head around the squirrel's puffy tail. Alaric and Brin knew each other personally; the brown-eyed lad was the same age as Brin and had a chipper smile. He had been infatuated with her since they were dibbuns, although she didn't share the same infatuation. They were playmates but she was never as close to him as Samuel, Eli, Dane, and Esther. He was a bit of a wallflower but easily came out of his shell when he was with the other guards. Alaric could be a bit of a brash cad as the hare captain claimed, but he was always sweet to the other Redwallers and the dibbuns always wanted to play with him over anyone save Eli.
"I knew it! Yew wants me son dead!" The hysterical weasel choked on sobs as she threw her arm around Ripeye's head. "You've been trying t' separate them from me so yew could stab them in the back! I hope all you filthy murderers die!"
Crooksnout tried to hush his mate's emotional rant by tugging on her shoulder. "Silverrtongue, be quiet-"
"Don't tell me to be quiet you worthless, one-armed, spineless craven!" The weasel snapped at her mate. He flinched but didn't move away. "If yew had a good arm mebbe yew wouldn't be a useless fool like yer father!"
There was a shocked silence as the weasel's face darkened. Brin expected him to strike her. The few vermin couples she had seen tended to settle disagreements with their fists, and it seemed to be a mostly one-sided affair.
"Let 'im go, Silver. Yew can't help him now." The father weasel responded in a hushed tone. His face remained cold, but a tight frown had formed beneath hurt eyes.
"Leggo of me fool!" The mother weasel snapped as she knocked her mate's paw away. "Where's Twinetail? I lost one son I don't wanna lose another because of yer half-brained attempt at being a father!"
"Twinetails with that squirrel." The one-armed weasel thumbed toward Alaric. Karic peaked out from behind one side while a skinny, confused, and curious weasel watched from the other.
"Get away from him yew murderous fiend!" The weasel's mother marched toward the guard and pushed him to the side before grabbing the little weasel's paw.
"He wasn't in any harm lass." Alaric held his paw up in defense.
"Keep yer filthy paws off 'im, treejumper, or I'll make you regret it!" The weasel mother's harsh reaction was as hurtful as an adder's fangs. Alaric said nothing, resigning himself to silence as he looked toward other Redwallers for support. Twinetail gnawed on his free paw as his mother pulled him toward her injured son.
"Where's Fenril I hope you didn't leave her with that vile hedgepig!"
"She's safe in the infirmary." Abbot Micah responded as he stepped toward the injured dibbun. His old face was tense, yet he remained composed amidst the weaselmum's fury. Brin was thankful that at least one thing hadn't changed over the past day.
"Safe?!" Silvertongue exploded, and her eyes bulged from her head. "Are any of us safe in this cursed abbey? You can't protect dibbuns how d'ye think you can protect all o' us!"
"Eli is heading a group of beasts to guard the infirmary and Sister Lilac has been made aware of this incident."
"That vile hedgepig wants t' dash me babies against the rocks!"
"Sister Lilac wouldn't-"
"Would yew two witless toads shuddup!" Sathe shouted and the room fell silent. The ferret had pulled a jagged bit of glass from the mouse's arm. She had cleaned the cut with a small jug of water and covered it with raw honey to bind the wound and kill any infection. She worked on threading a needle with twine through the wound as the weasel cried out in pain.
"He's crying you're hurting him!" The weasel maid shrieked. "I knew yews were nuffin' but a filthy murderer!"
"Shut yer mouth Silvertongue! Trilloway and I are tryin' to save yer wretched brood! Iv ye can't stey quiet t' let us work then get out!" Sathe roared. Brin knew the ferret was right, the mourning mother was getting in the way. Yet she couldn't help but think that Sathe should be handling Silvertongue with a bit more grace. It was unlikely that any beast would be completely reasonable after their child had been attacked.
"An the rest of yew!" Sathe cracked as her dark gaze turned toward the surrounding woodlanders and vermin. "Where are the stretchers? Where are my medicines? Why aren't any of ye so-called goodbeasts attemptin' t' help me? I'm savin' these beasties with th' hare I don't need ye watchin' unless yer helping!"
The Redwallers looked around at each other before a small voice squeaked a response.
"I can grab yer medicines m'dear!"
With that, the silence broke as scores of beasts asked what they could do to help or ordered others into work parties. Trilloway's strong voice dwarfed any single voice in the crowd.
"I need strong n' swift beasts t' carry stretchers from the infirmary! Jakob, Alaric, DuHoyt, Marrow, an' Seabane get t' the infirmary and grab those stretchers, wot! When yer there grab as many tonics fer pain an' infection as possible and any bandage yew see. Everybody else," The hare paused to catch his breath. "Get out of the hall! Either help the Foremole or get out! We need as little beasts in here if the walls fall, wot wot!"
The thought that the ceiling above their heads might fall caused a great commotion and Brin felt herself get pushed around every which way as beasts rushed to help or escape. The five beasts called to action by Trilloway rushed out of the hall heading for the stretchers. Conrad DuHoyt was the only beast who hesitated before following shortly behind. Others flooded out of the Cavern Hall hoping not to be crushed by the stone above them. A few stayed behind, namely moles and several otters to help with the clean-up effort spearheaded by the worn old foremole. Brin felt herself get spun around by all the action. She looked for somewhere she could best help, unfortunately, it wouldn't take long to find.
She stopped spinning as Sathe's furious glare caught her eye. A hook-like claw reached out and beckoned for the dark-furred squirrel. Swallowing her bile she hurried to the ferret, hoping not to be insulted. When she arrived at the makeshift operating table Sathe nodded toward Silvertongue.
"Get 'er outta here!" Sathe hissed as she tied off the stitching to the little mouse. Silvertongue bawled as she wrapped her arms around her unconscious son's head. Her mate and other son attempted to pull her away as Abbot Micah calmly tried to ease her worries, but his words fell on deaf ears.
"She's only makin' things worse an' she's been doin' it since dinner. Since yew don't look busy, I want yew t' calm her down!" Sathe added.
"I'm lookin' fer somethin' t' do," Brin responded. The squirrel didn't want to be the weasel mother's next target. Sathe shot her a cold uncaring glare.
"I jus' gave yew a job!" The ferret snarled. "Now scram before I get Trilloway!" The hare's ears perked at the sound of his name.
"Brin, ol' gel could ye kindly escort that wailin' wretch away, wot." The burly hare asked with a bit sweeter tone. Sathe's face scrunched as if she were preparing to spit some horrid insult at the squirrel. Brin admitted it felt better to be asked kindly by the hare than insulted by the ferret.
"Aye! I'm on it!" Brin responded as she rushed toward the weasel mum to avoid Sathe's cruel words.
Silvertongue was still wailing as Crooksnout managed to pull her away from her son. Brin grabbed one arm while her mate grabbed the other. The female weasel began to wail louder as she thrashed against the two beasts. Her younger son followed behind, not wanting to be left alone.
"Ease up now, missy, it ain't half as bad as it looks, I tell ya!" A short shrew chimed in a nasal voice as a path was opened for the hysterical mother.
"Dey almost killed me babies!" Silvertongue blubbered through her tears.
"They'll be right as rain! You need to calm down." Silvertongue didn't respond but continued to cry as she was led through the dining hall and into a quieter part of the Abbey. The shrew looked at Brin.
"That ferret's got a tongue as deadly as an adder, I tell ye! Can't see why yew or that Trilloway lets 'er jabber on like that!"
"It's hard enough just to get her to listen to us as is," Brin responded.
"Me thinks Sister Lilac was rotten, but my goodness!" The shrewmaid shook her head. "That vermin could make a gull blush."
"She's evil! She slays kits and knows vile magiks!" Silvertongue shot back as Crooksnout pulled the band into a private chamber.
"Damn you Silvertonuge, be quiet! We've already caused more than enough trouble tonight!" The father weasel snapped as he slammed the door shut to the small study. There was a square knee-high table in the center of the room and bookshelves on two opposing walls. Feathers and bottles of ink along with several sweet-smelling parchments lay on a sturdy desk. Across from the entrance, a window to the snow-covered outside was foggy and damp. Brin found several beeswax candles and lit them while Silvertongue wept into her paws as she sat in a plush chair.
"Shuddup! They want t' slay us!" The weasel cried. "They almost killed my babies!"
Crooksnout wheeled around to Brin and the small shew who watched like a helpless babe. "What are ye still doing here? I don't need yer help; I kin talk to me mate widout yew woodlanders peeping in!"
"Sathe wanted me to see that you both settle down," Brin responded as she lit the last candle in a smoky flash, and the room filled with a soft light transforming it into an oasis in the darkness.
"This is none of yer business squirrel!" Crooksnout stormed toward Brin. They were about the same height, only Brin's tail made her look a smidge taller than the one-armed vermin. "We've had enough ov yew woodlanders snapping at our kits and threatening t' slay us! We didn't do anything, and that vile, long-eared pond scum tried t' slay me whole family! I wouldn't be surprised iv he's the beast behind what happened t' Ripeye!"
"Ripeye's in the best paws the abbey can offer now," Brin responded, slowly backing away from the furious weasel. She didn't think the one-armed weasel would attack her, but instinct told her to keep her distance.
"Where's that old squirrel? I trust her more than that gutless, arrogant, snot-nosed ferret!"
Brin felt a lump form in her throat. "Miss Mildred sick. She fell unconscious earlier today and she hasn't woken since."
A flash of horror spread across the weasel's face. Over the past week, Brin overheard Mildred talking to the weasel father while Silvertongue rested from her injuries. The old squirrel never insulted the weasel or his family even after being called quite unsavory things when Trilloway wasn't present. Yet over time, and with much of Mildred's patience and kindness, the vermin's taunts ceased. He even reprimanded one of his kits when the kit thought it was good to tease the old squirrel.
Crooksnout swore and looked at his mate who was dabbing her eyes with the hem of her dress. "Well how d' ye know that whoever attacked me kits attacked that mad ol' bag?"
"Hold on yew empty-headed numpty!" The shrewmaid said as she stomped toward the vermin. "No beast in this abbey wants to see any dibbun harmed. I dunno what went wrong but looks like they were playin' and brought the whole cellar down on 'em."
"How d'ye think they did that idjit? They're dibbuns, not badgers with hammers! Besides that, was a blade that cut my son not glass, nothing could cut as smooth or as deep."
"Sathe was attacked and so was Trilloway," Brin added. "Somebeast has been hunting these vermin since they arrived."
The shrewmaid looked away, a flicker of distaste crossing her face, as though she couldn't bear to keep the thought in her head for a moment longer. The room fell silent aside from the sniffling and muffled cries of Silvertongue who hugged Twinetail with all her might.
"T'think somebeast'd stoop so low as t'go after dibbuns!" The shrewmaid responded. "A downright rotten deed, that is. Just thinkin' on it makes me want to wretch!"
She turned toward the weasels. "This might be wrong of me, but were ye the only beasts tryin' t' get inta the Abbey? There weren't any other vermin wid ye?"
The vermin remained silent as a furious wave crashed over Crooksnouts face while Silvertongue stared blankly into the darkness outside.
"Our horde was set upon by your vile badgerlord. Anybeast who didn't escape when we did was slain, if they managed to escape then they froze or starved to death." Crooksnouts voice quivered, and his eyes were beset by a morning mist. "We're all that's left, and we're all we've got."
"Aye want to trust ye." The shrew said, after a moment's consideration. "But I find it mighty hard t' believe that a Redwaller would go and attack dibbuns, or cause harm to the Abbey on purpose."
"It's not hard t' imagine iv ye could pull yer whiskers from the fog!" Crooksnout barked as she wiped his nose with his paw.
"I'm sorry I've been busy making extra winter cloaks fer yer family t' notice a raving murder that's been running about!" The shrew shot back. "Mebbe yew should join me an' the other seamstresses. We've had a grand old time locked away with our needles and thread doing our part to keep the abbey from goin' belly up!"
"You sit on yer tush jabberin' an sewing all day while me mate an' kits gotta fend fer their lives." Crooksnout snapped back with added vitriol.
"I wasn't trying t' insult ye, weasel." The shrew crossed her arms. "I was extending an offer t' yer mate."
Brin looked at Silvertongue who stroked the back of Twinetails while rocking back and forth. Her pretty brown eyes had dark rings around them and her face swelled slightly from her brawl with Conrad. Brin wished she could smack some sense into that arrogant hare.
Crooksnout must've been watching his mate as a dark cloud encircled his warped face. "No. I don't trust yew, an' I don't like yew. Ye bleedin' nagging she-foxes 'll let that attacker slip int' the room and cut me mate tah pieces!"
"She'll be far safer with us than stuck in that infirmary." The shrew responded throwing a glance at the taller weasel. "If this attacker hit the infirmary afore, they likely know every way in and out. With the seamstresses there, I reckon there're only two ways that scoundrel could come from an we're far better fighters than any beast, vermin, or woodlanders, would expect. "
She looked back at Silvertongue. "She'll also be far from that ferret and Sister Lilac." Silvertongue nodded slowly, showing the first signs of life from her traumatic stupor.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Brin started as she remembered a word of advice from Trilloway. "She might need a few days to recover from everything."
"Then she oughta come tomorrow. We're all mothers here, so we can understand her pain better than the two o' ye. We won't be givin' her anythin' too tough. She can sit, sip tea, munch on biscuits, and take it easy if she likes."
Crooksnout didn't look convinced in the slightest. "Why should I trust you 'eh? I don't even know your name."
"Aye that would help wouldn't it." The shrew performed a small curtsey for the vermin. "My name is Grace, and I can be your mate's guide for her time in the Abbey."
Crooksnout sneered. "She doesn't need a guide idjit she can be with me in the library. She'd be safer there than with you."
"You were as helpless as a babe during your scuffle with Conrad. What makes ye think you could do anything against this attacker?"
"I kin protect me mate an' me family! Yew filthy woodlanders have all your rules t' keep us from beatin' yew runts down. I swear iv I could insult and beat whoever I wanned I would've found our attacker before the sun sets!"
"Ye'd've ended up with yer other arm broke too, 'fore bein' tossed out into the cold with yer mate and kits!." Grace responded just as quickly. "I ain't got a clue what the abbot's thinkin', puttin' Conrad in charge of anythin' 'cept shinin' Eli's boots. That hare prances 'round like he's Tammo Tussok, but he acts more like a spoiled prince than anythin' else!"
"But enough about that fool," Grace said as she walked toward Silvertongue. "Are ye feelin' any better lass?"
The weasel sat tense, like a beast driven to the edge of a cliff, her eyes darting rapidly between the shrew and her mate. Grace must have noticed as she stopped a few paces in front of the vermin.
"Don't worry m'dear you and your family's safe here."
"Fenril's still in the nursery," Silvertongue said before jumping to her feet. "I have to get to her!" Grace quickly pushed her back into a seat.
"Eli might be a twinge-addled, but even Cluny the Scourge wouldn't dare challenge him. The same goes for the infirmary. The Abbot said he'll spend the whole night there so don't expect anybeast getting past that old mouse."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"I suppose not." Grace sighed. "But we can't do anything more about it now. Be happy two of yer kits stayed out of harm's way and you're third is being taken care of."
"It's not fair!" Silvertongue snapped as tears silently slid down her cheeks. "They're just kits! They haven't done anything wrong have they?"
"No, they haven't." Grace took Silvertongue's paw in her own. "They'll be fine, y'just need to get all that hurt outta yer heart. At the end o' this, yer family'll need yew, ye know."
Finally resigning herself to defeat Silvertongue sunk into her chair and wept. Crooksnout sighed and walked to her side and began to rub her back. A storm of sorrow etched into his face. Each ragged breath from his mate was another dagger of guilt plunged into his heart. He clenched his jaw as if forcing himself to bear her burden, even though he couldn't truly take it away. Brin stood back a respectful distance. She looked for a blanket but found a thin outer robe. Like a convicted criminal she shuffled to the weasel and draped it overtop just as the rain just outside the window began to pour.
Sorry for the long delay. I just finished a job today so I've been busy these past two months (I will admit I did get struck with inspiration to write "I'm Gonna be Badgerlord" so I had to finish that before I started on this so it is my fault). I hope to get another chapter out before school starts in a few weeks.
As Always please let me know what you think and what can be improved upon. Any and all feedback is appreciated!