Mission: Mossflower Part 2

[Django]

Cordin lived in a mountain. He was used to big places. Redwall was still impressive as he walked through its gates, met its people, and beheld all it contained. He'd pestered Ripley with questions the past few days as they made their way to the abbey. What shade of red is it? How many creatures does it normally house? How small are mice, really? Do hedgehog spines really hurt? Will there be more otters? And so on.

Cordin went a little speechless when he entered and saw beasts of all shapes and sizes bustling about. Awestruck, the hare simply took it all in, shaking paws with anybeast who came up to him, accepting a treacle tart from a tray that was being walked past him to a delightful picnic near what looked to be a little pond. The abbey may as well have been an entirely new planet. Cordin had never felt such tranquility in one place. 

"Oh, Rip, are we dreaming?" he breathed as he took off his pack and leaned it and his weapon against a nearby tree. He could see the huge bell tower and main building from where they were. A beautiful orchard nearby smelled of its summer bearings. Although Ripley had promised his questions would be answered when they arrived, he predicted more questions would arise as he learned more about other beasts' ways of life. 

[Tracy]

Ripley acted like she belonged no matter where she was, but she had at least called Redwall home for a small period of time, and had been back often enough to feel at ease inside the abbey. When they arrived, Ripley had abandoned her weapons in the gatehouse. Traditionally, visitors were not supposed to stay armed inside the walls, but Long Patrollers were longed considered exempt from this rule. Still, it never felt right to the haremaid to have the sword at her hip while in Redwall. It was hard for her to look less like a soldier than she did now.

The haremaid had a lot of hellos to say and food to eat and had to try very hard not to just ditch Cordin here on the grounds. He'd be fine. She looked over to say as much, and found him staring around wide-eyed like a Dibbun seeing cake for the first time. She just imagined one of the resident hedgehogs coming out and Cordin asking to touch their headspikes out of curiosity. No, she'd have to stay with him for now.

"Oh, Rip, are we dreaming?"

She had to smile a little at that, shaking her head. "Please let me be there when you try October Ale. I want to witness the moment you give up on the Long Patrol to stay here forever."

Violet eyes scanned the grounds, deciding where to even start. On her own, she would already have roped herself a room from one of the Brothers or Sisters and been digging into a Redwall meal, but she felt personally responsible for giving her companion a proper tour before all that.

[markab]

All things considered, it was turning out to be another perfect Mossflower day. It was midday without a cloud in sight; the sun was shining, the air was the pleasant sort of warm that made you want to doze off, there hadn't been a single sign of attackers when Hafi had gone out to patrol the woods yesterday morning and the grounds were filled with the chatter of other beasts enjoying the afternoon.

He could never, exactly, be accused of peacefulness once one knew his position at Redwall, but it would be all too easy to assume he was anything but the champion in his current state, sitting in the grass, his armor and sword nowhere to be seen. What he had to hand instead was the tiny knife he'd always used to carve with, several other instruments of varying size and purpose by his leg, and one young otter watching eagerly as he carved delicate patterns into the end of the nearly-finished flute he'd been working on for almost a week.

Last line finished, he put the knife down and held the branch flute out to the otter. "How's it sound?"

He'd tested it after he'd glued the pieces together, and every step of the way, but there was something to be said for the grin that spread across her face when she blew into it, and a clear, high note sounded above the lazy buzz of midsummer insects. He wasn't a musician by any means, but flutes were one of the more fun things to carve, and to hear someone play. "Perfect, Mr. Blackfish!"

He laughed. "Hafi to you," he said, and patted her gently on the shoulder. "Well, go on. A little practice, and you'll be playing with the best of them."

Still grinning, she thanked him, and sped off across the grass already shouting for her father to come listen. Hafi dusted his paws off and tucked his array of carving tools into a pouch on his belt, and got to his feet in perfect time to spy one very confused-looking hare staring around the grounds, another, vaguely familiar-looking one beside him.

There were a handful of hares in the Abbey, sure, but Hafi knew everyone in Redwall like the back of his hand by now. And, from the one weapon in evidence, it was fairly obvious these two were Patrollers.

No time like the present. Making sure he'd left nothing behind in the grass, he wandered towards them, lifting a hand in greeting as soon as he was close enough. The female hare, besides looking familiar, also looked like she knew what was going on, so he zeroed in on the other as he approached.

"Long Patrol, right?" he said cheerfully, coming to a halt. "Welcome to Redwall." He turned to the male hare. "Looks your first time here, eh? But you," a nod was given to the female, "look familiar."

[Django]

"Please let me be there when you try October Ale. I want to witness the moment you give up on the Long Patrol to stay here forever."

"Okay," Cordin nodded, already interested, even though he had no idea what she meant. He gathered it was some kind of drink, and it must be a strong one to keep him here forever.

A big bulk of a hedgehog ambled up to them. What an odd-looking creature. Cordin knew about other beasts from school and rare encounters, but being face-to-face with them was an entirely different matter. The spines seemed to defy the laws of nature. How could a beast comfortably live with those? What about clothing? Embracing? Cordin kept his questions to himself. He didn't wish to appear rude. First impressions, and all that.

"Long Patrol, right? Welcome to Redwall. Looks your first time here, eh?"

Cordin laughed, "Was it that obvious? Lovely place, here, mate. I'm Cordin Dorchester."

"But you look familiar."

"This is Ripley Contarelle. She used to live here, right, Rip?" He looked at his companion. The little world traveler. She'd never be satisfied in one place, would she?

[Tracy]

Ripley watched Cordin for a few moments, then her ears swiveled as she heard someone approaching. She knew plenty of Redwallers on sight, with the abbey's Champion being no exception. Stealing another quick glance at her companion, it was quickly confirmed that this would also be his first hedgehog sighting. This was going to be a long afternoon.

After Cordin introduced himself - it surprised her he didn't include his rank in this situation - she opened her mouth to offer her name was well. "Ri-"

"This is Ripley Contarelle. She used to live here, right, Rip?"

Blinking, she nodded. "Yes, I did briefly live here in my teens and I've been back a fair few times since then," this to Hafi. "It's been over a year since my last visit though. Maybe you don't recognize me because I'm so much taller now," the scout added, straight-faced.

She looked to Cordin then, lifting a paw toward the hedgehog. "This'd be Hafi Blackfish," she said to the other hare. If she couldn't introduce herself, she'd introduce the abbey's warrior instead. Besides, what good was having a mind like a steel trap for names and faces if she couldn't show off once in awhile? "He's the Redwall Champion."

[markab]

"Was it that obvious? Lovely place, here, mate. I'm Cordin Dorchester."

"Aye. Only 'cause I looked much the same walking through those gates the first time." Hafi grinned at him.

Several years and he still remembered the whole thing like it was yesterday -- after an entire life of sailing the seas with a vermin crew, seeing nothing but the occasional ramshackle town that more often than not ended up pillaged and left to burn, seeing Redwall for the first time was...hard to forget. Him and all the beasts who'd sailed the Blackfish to Mossflower with him, ending their long journey with the sight of red sandstone walls and the first friendly faces he'd ever seen. And beyond the gates, a whole host of beasts living in harmony, among green grass and orchards, gardens and ponds. Salamandastron was no sailing ship -- a mountain was about as far from one as you could get -- but he imagined it was at least a bit the same.

The other hare looked as though she was about to reply, Hafi squinting at her while he tried to piece together the face to the name he was certain he knew -- because he tended to forget visitors after a while with so many other beasts to remember, so she must have been around for some time -- when Cordin cut her off, apparently oblivious.

"This is Ripley Contarelle. She used to live here, right, Rip?"

Hafi scowled and snapped his fingers, face and name abruptly connecting in his mind. Embarrassing. She'd lived at Redwall for some time. "Ripley! That's right."

Wasn't that they'd ever been the best of friends, of course, but...he was the Champion, it felt like he ought to do the beasts he was trying to protect the simple courtesy of remembering their names. Though, admittedly, Ripley could certainly protect herself.

"Yes, I did briefly live here in my teens and I've been back a fair few times since then. It's been over a year since my last visit though. Maybe you don't recognize me because I'm so much taller now."

Hafi laughed. "Perhaps. I should still have remembered, though. Well, Ripley, welcome back."

He hadn't even introduced himself, though, had he? Ripley certainly knew him -- though, she might have detailed some of the creatures in the Abbey to Cordin on the way. He was saved from having to figure out which by her interjection.

"This'd be Hafi Blackfish. He's the Redwall Champion."

He nodded. "Aye," he said, offering a paw to Cordin for a handshake. "Good to meet you."

[Django]

Cordin shook the proffered paw, grinning ear to ear. A pawshake with a hedgehog! Delightful! And the Champion, no less. Well, sure this one was Champion. Just look at him! Cordin wondered if he'd be able to catch a quick spar from this one in the near future. 

"Well, Sir Hafi," the hare said, "if ye don't mind, we'd like to stop for lunch to discuss our business with you, wot?" He eyed the nearby orchard. That picnic looked tempting, but lunching somewhere with fewer beasts would be preferable to Ripley. He recalled her off-schedule breakfasting habits with... who was it? Lottie? Lorie? Nice old haremaid willing to dish out leftovers past breakfast time back home.

Of course, it being lunch time, there may not be a "private place" for them to eat. Everybeast could be tucking in to the food both outside and inside. He could smell some tasty dishes coming from what he could only assume was the kitchens. Gosh, what did that big building look like on the inside?

[Tracy]

"Perhaps. I should still have remembered, though. Well, Ripley, welcome back."

Ripley shrugged, clearly not at all minding that the Hafi hadn't remember her immediately. She was used to remembering many creatures who didn't remember her. When she was younger, it had come to embarrass her to some degree, like recalling names and faces of those she barely knew seemed strange and obsessive. Sometimes she would pretend to forget a face just to make it seem like she couldn't be bothered to care. When it became clear what a boon it was in her job as a scout, she outgrew that and was proud of her ability to recall just about any name and face at a glance.

Quietly watching Cordin and Hafi as they were introduced to one another, her gaze eventually wandered a bit to look out at the nearby picnickers. She didn't mind too much if they were going to eat among the other Redwallers, but she was a bit tired for the inevitable greetings and stories it would require. They'd been traveling since nearly dawn and this was the part of the time the two of them usually stopped for lunch and a mid-day nap. The heat of afternoon seemed to be serving as a reminder to this, making the scout a bit drowsy.

"Well, Sir Hafi, if ye don't mind, we'd like to stop for lunch to discuss our business with you, wot?"

Her long ears swiveled at this, followed by her gaze. "Maybe that can wait until a bit later?" she suggested mildly. "Before or after supper, perhaps. I'd like t'meet with you an' Abbott Emrick together." Ripley looked over at Cordin. "Lunch now would be lovely though."

[markab]

Ripley seemed unoffended by Hafi's forgetfulness, at least, so he turned his attention back to the handshake and the hare grinning back at him.

"Well, Sir Hafi, if ye don't mind, we'd like to stop for lunch to discuss our business with you, wot?"

Ah, right. There certainly had to be a reason for two Long Patrol hares stopping by Redwall. Perhaps something going on down by Salamandastron, then -- Hafi had, surprisingly, been seeing neither hide nor hair of any potential enemy around nearby Mossflower. They could be a little further in, but raiding bands were rarely that smart and even hordes were far too eager to announce their presence as loudly as possible to anyone within earshot, which certainly meant the Abbey they were always so eager to try and take.

Lunch was, at least, doable, in full swing around the Abbey which of course meant there would be plenty of food set out in Cavern Hole, not to mention being worked on in the kitchens. Though -- Hafi was the champion, admittedly, but generally for Long Patrol business the Abbess would want to be around somewhere --

"Maybe that can wait until a bit later? Before or after supper, perhaps. I'd like t'meet with you an' Abbott Emrick together. Lunch now would be lovely though."

Hafi opened his mouth to respond, and then his brain caught up with him, and instead he blinked. Ripley had been gone for a year, which meant...right. She would have missed the switch, and there hadn't been any real traffic from the Long Patrol since. "Sounds good. You won't be talking with Abbott Emrick, though. He retired from the position -- well, less than a year ago." He took a step towards the Abbey building in the middle of the grounds, waving them to follow as he continued. "It's been passed to Bardineta Glister. If you remember her?"

[Django]

Cordin listened politely as the much more experienced Ripley conversed with the hedgehog. Yes, perhaps lunch wasn't the best idea right now. He couldn't help his appetite, though. It had been a long walk to here from where they'd stayed the previous night, and breakfast had been rations. He hadn't had a proper meal in so long. The cruelty of the scout life. He wondered how Ripley managed it.

At the mention of the abbey leader position changing, Cordin perked up, hoping to save this important information for later. Ripley had mentioned Abbot Emrick on the way here, and he'd memorized the name. Now he needed to remember Abbess Bardineta. Abbess Bardineta. Abbess Bardineta. Of course, he wouldn't be doing much of the talking, he wagered, but it was still good to know these things, even if this was the last mission he'd ever have outside the mountain. Good to be up with the times, you know.

[Tracy]

"Sounds good. You won't be talking with Abbott Emrick, though. He retired from the position -- well, less than a year ago."

Ripley may have looked less surprised if one of them took the notion to slap her across the face. A look of stunned surprise gave way, soon, to annoyance. Never, never would she let herself be stuck at the mountain for so long again. Nearly a year there had been a new leader of Redwall and she had no idea! She reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes shut as she tried to process this piece of information. It bothered her to no end that she was learning about this now. Like this. It was a serious point of pride for her to always know things first, and this was embarrassing.

"It's been passed to Bardineta Glister. If you remember her?"

An image of the mouse immediately popped up in her mind's eye. Ripley remembered the mouse and her face without trouble, not only because it was in her nature to do so, but also because Bardineta had been the librarian back when Ripley lived at Redwall. The haremaid had spent many hours with the abbey's books. She had read extensively and Redwall's collection had been some of Ripley's first forays into other languages, and those language skills were something she's nurtured and cultivated ever since. What the haremaid didn't know was what Bardineta's opinion of her was.

Ripley had a strong rapport with Abbot Emrick, a relationship that started back when the haremaid was a young resident at the abbey. It only grew stronger and more trusting as Ripley became a soldier in the Long Patrol and found herself in a position where she served as a liaison between the mountain and the abbey. Having to start from scratch now with this new Abbess was not something she was excited about, and not at all what she'd planned for this trip.

"Thank you, Hafi," she finally managed, about the nicest response she could come up with right now. Although she was making mental plans to meet Emrick later, there was something more important she had to square away first. "Hafi, could you perhaps arrange a meeting with us, you and Abbess Bardineta, then? Before or after supper, whatever is agreeable with the... the Mother Abbess." The title change made her tongue-tied. "For now, the corporal and I need to grab a bite to eat."

[markab]

Neither seemed particularly keen to follow after Hafi's explanation, so he paused mid-step, waiting for them to figure...whatever things were necessary out. Cordin had a look of concentration on his face, perhaps trying to remember the new name he'd been given -- fair enough, Hafi supposed, though all one really needed was 'Abbess'. Ripley, however, looked more surprised -- and then, abruptly, irritated.

Hafi arched a brow and waited, thinking about where the Abbess could be. Their paths didn't cross that terribly often -- Redwall wasn't that big but Hafi had a distinct tendency to find the most secluded corners possible in his free time, if he wasn't out in the woods. Usually they saw each other, like most of the Abbey inhabitants saw them, for lunch and dinner, so Hafi could only hope she was around Cavern Hole -- if not, he'd leave the hares to lunch and go out to find her request the meeting. He held no ill-will towards the Long Patrol, of course, but their presence did make him a touch uneasy. If only because of what it meant for the peaceful inhabitants of Redwall just trying to find a place to live without fear of vermin attack.

"Thank you, Hafi."

The response came after a few moments, but Hafi inclined his head in a polite nod.

"Hafi, could you perhaps arrange a meeting with us, you and Abbess Bardineta, then? Before or after supper, whatever is agreeable with the... the Mother Abbess. For now, the corporal and I need to grab a bite to eat."

Corporal. Hm. Hafi sent a quick glance at the other hare, and nodded. "Of course," he said. He gestured at the grounds before them, warm sunny day and Redwallers chatting as they ate. "Find a spot. I'll head inside and bring some food down."

---

With their quick lunch finished, Hafi left the Long Patrollers to wander Redwall as they liked and set out to find the Abbess. Thankfully this particular venture didn't take long -- the meeting was requested, quickly scheduled for after dinner, and Hafi went about his afternoon as he usually did -- wandering the grounds, checking the ramparts, and chatting with the handful of Redwallers he stumbled across on the way.

The day lengthened into the beginnings of dusk soon enough, though. It was easy to tell when dinner had started by the relative absence of beasts down in the grounds when Hafi glanced down from his perch on the ramparts above the gate; the path to Redwall was quiet and clear, nothing but trees rustling in a cool early-evening breeze. His stomach growled a displeased reminder, and besides that the meeting would be happening soon, so he headed down the stairs and towards the building to find the hares in question.

[Django]

Dinner at Redwall was almost as lively an affair as dinner at Salamandastron, the main difference being everybeast seemed to know their manners much better than dozens of hungry hares. Cordin tucked in gladly, and had to stop himself from a phenomenon some might call 'defensive eating,' covering his plate with an arm, grabbing at food at the expense of somebeast else, etc. He ate lots and reacted little, marveling at how well even the babes seemed to know how to share.

He accepted a steaming bowl of some kind of vegetable dish from the claws of a little mole who gave the hare not only the food, but a huge, velvety smile. Cordin smiled back and gave his thanks in return, scooping a heaping helping onto his plate and then passing the bowl on to the next beast.

"I tell ye, the mountain's a bloodbath compared to this, wot?" he joked to a mouse sitting across from him. He spooned some of the vegetables into his mouth, talking while chewing. "Can't get a single bloody morsel with all the starved soldiers fightin' o'er the meal. Makes ya wonder if we shouldn't be working the lads that hard, eh?" 

He chuckled at his own joke, and the mouse across laughed with him, as did the mole next to him. What a cheerful place! He vowed to protect this bright happiness with his life. It needed to be preserved, for all good creatures in the world. Gosh, what light! What joy! He loved his mountain home, but had never been surrounded by this.

"Say, you don't know if a chap might retire here?" he asked the young mole with another laugh.

"Wot's 'ruh toir, zurr?" the mole inquired. 

Cordin just laughed again and returned to his food. He glanced about for Ripley and Hafi, knowing the meeting was set up for 'after dinner,' whenever that was. He figured he'd simply make himself available once he was done eating. Judging by the pile still on his plate, that may be a minute or two. Of course, he could always come back for leftovers if he was really needed.

[Tracy]

Once Hafi left them, Ripley had immediately dropped into her natural state: acting like she belonged no matter where she was. She'd procured her and Cordin a light, simple lunch, ignoring his disappointment at the lack of splendor that she'd promised were part and parcel to a Redwall meal. Cordin would appreciate it when he was hungry for the supper spread.

Ripley had also gotten them cozy accommodations for their stay, and then left the other hare to his own devices for a short time while she got cleaned up and changed. Dressed down and unarmed, the small haremaid could easily be mistaken for a Redwaller herself. They now had several hours of their own, so Ripley toured Cordin around Redwall. She started with the grounds, walking through the gardens, orchard and pond before going into the main abbey building. The bell-tower, the kitchens, and finally she ended with the Great Hall, taking him around to see the famous tapestry of Martin the Warrior.

As the sun went over and the hot summer day started to give out to a cooler evening, Ripley took Cordin back outside, taking him up on the outer walls to give him his first aerial view of Mossflower Wood. It was evident quickly that this was a favorite spot of Ripley's; this quiet, unobstructed view from the parapets over the woodlands.

-----

Suppertime came soon enough, and this was the first time (outside of the half an hour or so earlier while they were cleaning up) that Ripley decided to really leave Cordin to himself. She'd enjoyed being able to take him around Redwall for his first time, but they could both use some time apart, and the haremaid took the opportunity to have her meal with old friends.

As the meal wound down and Redwallers started to trickle out of the Great Hall, Ripley appeared and dropped down next to still-feasting Cordin. She looked to be in a pleasant mood and there was a bit more color in her cheeks than usual. She might've gotten into the wine.

"We should head down. I'd rather not make a poor first impression with the new Abbess by being late," she said a little wistfully. "We can have dessert during the meeting."

As she finally tore her partner away from the dinner table, she led them around outside to a door off the grounds. The heavy door opened onto a set of stairs, leading down into a cozy, dark, underground room. To their left was a collection of large, comfy chairs around an unlit fireplace and further back in the room was a table that could sit about a dozen, already set with a plate of baked apples and a basket of candied chestnuts.

"Cavern Hole," she announced, a location she'd skipped during their earlier tour as she knew they were coming down later.

[Jess]

Bardineta had been surprised but not unduly so when she'd been informed that a couple of hares from the Long Patrol wanted to speak with her. She'd heard nothing about any kind of disruption out that way, and generally she was kept pretty well informed about events in the wider world. Of course, there was always the possibility that it was simply a social call, but the mouse doubted it. It seemed a little extreme for two hares to come all the way from Salamandastron just to have a chat. One of the two, of course, had been back fairly regularly, and had even lived at the Abbey for a time, but Bardineta doubted that someone had decided all of a sudden that it was necessary to double their representation. Which left the worrying possibility that there was something seriously wrong going on out beyond the woods of Mossflower. Bardineta loved the Abbey, and everyone in it, but there were times when she wished that they were just a little closer to... well, everywhere else. By the time that they had heard any kind of news, it was generally out of date, and in the worst case scenario, the hordes would be beating on the doors of the Abbey before anyone knew that they were coming. The mouse had nightmares about that. Yes, the walls of the Abbey had been strong enough to hold off countless attacks before. That had been different. Then, she hadn't been the Abbess. Then, she hadn't been responsible for the safety of every beast in the Abbey. Then, if it all went wrong then it wouldn't have been her fault. But that was no longer the case.

So yes, Bardineta wished that there was some way of getting news more quickly, but there was only a limited amount that they could do. Salamandastron was a week's journey away, if not more. Whatever she did, news would always be a week out of date, and since she couldn't expect the Long Patrol to send messengers once a week without fail, it would generally be considerably older than that. Now, for instance; she hadn't heard anything from that part of the world for months, and even that had been hearsay from a traveller. This would be the first time that the Abbess had had reliable news from Salamandastron in over a year, and anything could have happened in that time. She would simply have to hope that it hadn't. But Bardineta was definitely on edge as she paced up and down the floor of Cavern Hole, waiting for her visitors from afar to arrive for the scheduled meeting. The mouse knew very well that the hares had most likely been expecting to speak with her predecessor, and she could only hope that she wasn't going to be too much of a disappointment for them.