Welcome to Gaia! ::

Donato looked confused himself at Shaftin's expression - until it hit him. "Yep, I just took over for Constant- oh! Oh, no- Hey, Eula!"

Jude came out then, pushing a cart laden with plates, scones, salad, and all the rest. On top of it all was a covered tray. He started laying out the table before he caught sight of the young mouse tugging Eula's sleeve. "Hullo there Woodrow. Looking for Constantine's lunch?" He nodded toward the covered tray. "I'll bring it up; make yourself a plate down here." He said, taking the tray toward the stairs before he could reply. "I'll be down in a minute." Jude clearly saw what the rest of the Abbey did - Woodrow needed to stay out of the infirmary for a while.

Almost as if they had planned it, Jude entered the great hall just then and Woodrow ambled over to him. He was about to go and grab Constantine's tray when Jude offered to take it up to him. He didn't really want to stay long; just wanted to get some food in him, grab the old badger's lunch and head back, but Jude wanted him to stay. And, he had learned well enough that it was rude to deny such an offer, so Woodrow just nodded smally and headed over to sit with the others.
He noticed a few new faces, but didn't ask about it. That might have been rude, too. But, Eula seemed to explain for him.

"Seth was in the Long Patrol, wasn't he?" asked the mouse, the name Long Patrol sounding familiar. Turan told him about it vaguely, told him some of the abbey dwellers used to be a part of it.
He looked over at the one Eula pointed to, her father he was guessing, and nodded his head a little in respect. He did the same for Payton, trying to be as polite as he could, "Nice to meet you both."

Jude came down a few moments later. He took a seat and looked around the table. "Oh, you didn't have to wait." He said with a smile. "Dig in."

"Sounds like a plan," Donato replied. "Anyhow, Faith's right. Woodrow's studying with Turan to be Abbey Warrior."

((Hooray restatement of Jasmine's last post. Go me.))

Who: Faith, Payton, Kusaa, and Shaftin (briefly)
What: Of sparring and awkward questions
Where: Grounds, right outside of main abbey

Faith: So then! ::Faith declared finally, setting down her finished tankard with a sigh:: May I borrow your son for a while?

Payton: Payton sat up a little as he licked his paw clean of some honey from a scone he'd just polished off. It was astounding what the small hare could eat and still be so lanky in form. He looked over at his father with a pleading look.

Shaftin: Shaftin took a drink from his strawberry fizz and looked at Payton, letting him give the begging look for a few moments. He set his cup down and then nodded. "It's all right with me," he said to Faith. He turned to Payton. "You behave. Do what you're told."

Faith: ::Happy enough, Faith hopped down, hobbling a second and seeming to hop on the spot until she fixed herself up on her staff once more, nodding with a respective smile to Shaftin:: He'll need his dagger back as well, if that's alright?

Shaftin: Shaftin smirked a little and reached back into his belt and pulled out the dagger he'd snuck away from his son. Turning and holding it by the blade, he reached across the table and handed it back to Payton.

Payton: Payton took it, frowning a little at his dad as in question why he'd taken it to begin with, he pushed the blade back into the small sheath at his hip. He sighed a little. "I can't really spar with a dagger..." he lamented.

Shaftin: "You aren't allowed to carry a sword in the Long Patrol yet," Shaftin reminded lightly, to which Payton just nodded a little and sighed.

Faith: Actually, one of our Abbey's oldest tails is of Dandin and Mariel, how we first received the badger's great bell... ::She beamed, a little proud to announce:: And Dandin's weapon itself was a long dagger! ::She reminded, to try and raise his spirits a little, hopping towards the door::

Payton: Payton stood and pushed his seat in, smoothing out the front of his tunic. "But mine isn't a long dagger. It's just a regular one for self-protection until I can carry a sword when I'm thirteen."

Faith: ::Faith mentally winced, but she tried her best to keep to it, as she smiled back:: It's not the weapon that makes the warrior, right?

Payton: "Well, I've already been training with a sword..." he said slowly, looking over at his father.

Shaftin: "You can't wield mine, sorry," he said apologetically. "It's considerably heavier than yours."

Faith: You can't feel less of a warrior just because you haven't got your own sword to your name yet though, can you? ::Faith asked curiously as she continued her curious little hopscotch towards the stairs, turning back with that welcoming smile and nodding to follow upward now::

Payton: "I don't," Payton said, sounding a little insulted. He never considered himself less of a warrior. He realized he was younger and wasn't allowed to carry a proper weapon yet as a new scout. "I was jus' saying I can't spar with a dagger. They only cut, I could only try to hurt someone, not spar them."

Faith: Well, you've never fought someone as skilled as our abbey's warriors then... ::Faith grinned wider:: I bet you'll learn all kinds of new ways to fight with that dagger by the time you leave here!!

Payton: Payton frowned again, "I wasn't saying I'd beat them," he corrected again. He was feeling a little insulted still, as Faith kept misinterpreting what he said. "I was just telling you I'm actually a swordfighter." He gave up and just walked along, not wanting to be misunderstood as a snobby child again.

Faith: ::Faith's appearance fell too...:: I'm... not saying you're bad either... ::She said, just as hurt it seemed that everything she said just seemed to keep coming out wrong:: But I know you'll enjoy this... ::She tried to smile a little, at least hoping he'd see what she tried to mean... but then the expression fell again, as they finally came back outside after all their walking and her hopping, when she finally sat on the abbey stairs, her smile growing back again:: Okay... are you ready now...?

Payton: Payton blinked a little when Faith sat down, moving off a bit and nodding. "I guess so..." he glanced around, rubbing his upper arm a little subconsciously.

Kusaa: ::And then without warning, she dropped from the sky like a rock, thumping to the ground before him, wings wide open and arms just as wide, a rapier in each paw, Kusaa crouched in landing, only a few feet away from him, as her deep, dark eyes seemed to pass over Payton, and right through him:: Arrived as instructed, Mother Abbess.

Faith: Kusaa... please no more Mother Abbess...? ::She begged as she sat there, rubbing her leg, but making no more effort to get up than to just sit and watch::

Payton: Payton cringed as the bat landed before him as she had done earlier before lunch. He really wished she wouldn't do that!! He eyed the bat again, sizing her up a little more than he had done earlier. He bit back a sigh. An abbey warrior. How had he not caught that? Now... he had to spar someone with wings who was... carrying two rapiers? He cringed again when she looked him over with those eyes. All right, this seemed a little unfair. But he said nothing, and just passed his grey eyes between the two of them.

Faith: I asked Kusaa if she would spar a little with you! ::Cried out Faith excitably, evidently not picking up just how he seemed to view the situation:: If there's anybeast here as good as Turan, it's her!! She nearly dueled him to the death once!!! ::She proclaimed in her excitement::

Kusaa: ::This time it was Kusaa's turn to flinch, wincing as she put away her second rapier into her flimsy belt, her head cast away and eyes shut, it was evident... whatever the story, she was not proud of it...::

Payton: Payton didn't raise any initial complaints, although he was feeling the whole spar was rather one-sided, both with him only having one small weapon and Kusaa having two of her own. He eyed the rapiers with some envy, but still, remained quiet, half-listening to Faith. It took him a few moments to get what the fox had said. "Wait! Wait wait wait..... wait. She what?!"

Faith: Welll... ::Faith looked up to Kusaa, seeing the bat still turned away... before waving her paw dismissively:: It was something that happened a long time ago... when she first came to the abbey...

Payton: Well, if Faith thought that would be comforting, she was much mistaken. Payton held his paws up a bit and backed up a few paces. "All right, er, I don't know..."

Kusaa: I am not proud of what I did. ::She declared simply, as she stood there again, pulling her wings back until they clung against her body, not in their usual cape form, but tied together by their tip claws and out of harms' way, as she looked back downward at Payton, standing herself at full height once more:: I assure you, I will not harm you here.

Payton: "I... er..." he stumbled over his words some more, nervous. He was frightened by Kusaa's dark appearance to begin with, now only to discover she had tried to kill the abbey's warrior. But he didn't want to be rude and miss out on his chances for more sparring here at Redwall. Defeated, he nodded a little. "All right..." but a possibility occurred to him, and he wasn't quite sure if it'd be rude to ask, but he had to try... "Could I try one of those rapiers?"

Kusaa: ::Soundlessly, without word, she removed one rapier from her waist, and handed it downward to him, holding the wrist guard precariously so neither could harm the other, bending her knee slightly to offer it::

Faith: ::And Faith only smiled, watching more there eagerly as she let go of her leg, and leaned forward, anticipating...::

Payton: "Thank-you," Payton said, still reminding himself to be as polite as possible. He turned his paw a little and took the hilt, stepping back with the weapon in his paw. He'd only rarely used rapiers, a swordfighter himself, but he found the rapier a good, light weapon for his still small form. He weighed the weapon in his paw, then the other. Payton was ambidextrous, equally efficient with both paws. He always chose which paw to use by how the particular weapon felt, though many swords he'd found were designed for a right-pawed creature. He was interested to find this one had neither preference to paw side, and decided to take the opportunity to use his left paw.

Kusaa: ::Kusaa watched on, waiting until he settled, and then finally nodded:: Do you have a warrior you train under? ::She raised her own weapon, slow in movement and easy to track like a metronome, back and forth, back and forth...::

Payton: Payton glanced up quickly and took a few precautionary steps back. He looked at the rapier in Kusaa's paw momentarily, but switched gears and looked her in the eyes, shaking off the feeling they gave off. He learned (after a few painful lessons) that you couldn't be distracted by a weapon, but had to watch your opponent overall. "I train with the Long Patrol. My dad mostly trains me, but I've received a lot of lessons from other Long Patrollers." He held the rapier across, wielding it as he still warmed up to the feeling of it in his paw, now on his guard.

Kusaa: ::Her eyes reflected nothing, seemingly empty, without even a recognizable pupil to see exactly where she was looking, as she nodded appreciatively:: So we go from the steps... ::And without warning, she moved forward, paws sliding and shifting as a series of movements, familiar as the swordbeasts first lessons of defending came from side and side, aimed at his sword, not him directly::

Payton: Payton turned his rapier down, not parrying the blows, but watching carefully where she went. He didn't much see the point in parrying hits that weren't aimed at him. But then he realized he didn't know how strong Kusaa was going to be against him, so he turned aside the blade and hit back to test the strength that was being used against him.

Kusaa: Don't misinterpret the importance of this exercise. ::Kusaa instructed without demand or request in her voice, as she struck, and seemed to touch with a butterfly's wingflap:: It's important I know what you're capable of before I try anything serious. I made my promise to be very careful... ::She said, as her eyes, if imagined properly, looked to the eager and excited Faith, who watched on with an animated tail::

Payton: Payton nodded a little, and hefted the rapier up his paw. He put a footpaw back a little for better balance and control, then went to lightly parrying each movement. His technique was much like his sister's, where he took more advantage of quickness and agility over strength... though that would probably change when he was older.

Kusaa: ::Kusaa nodded appreciatively, silently:: And up a little bit... ::And as before, the speed of the parries and charges increased dramatically, pushing him to respond faster and remember the moves to keep moving with it, while her own paws moved an intricate dance on the ground, always shifting and sliding effortlessly smoothly with the moves, as she made sure to keep a glance on his as well at the same time::

Payton: Payton didn't seem to have much difficulty keeping up with the increased speed, moving around lightly on his paws to stay parallel with Kusaa. He refused to give up any ground though, he would only pivot to stay in front of her, but wouldn't step back.

Faith: ::Again she nodded appreciatively, as their parries still swung this way and that:: Okay, now get ready. ::And with only a few more moments to process the thought, her rapier suddenly came, and the speed increase from before was incomparable, as it was like a strip of lightning attacking his blade from the side:: PARRY! ::She suddenly barked her instruction::

Payton: Payton was immediately on guard from the moment Kusaa warned him, so he already had time to anticipate the quick attack on his side. He shifted his rapier up as a barrier between himself and the onslaught of the other rapier. In the same movement, he used the footpaw he always kept a pace backwards to pivot his body sideways, which no longer left him parallel to Kusaa, but it kept his attacked side from being vulnerable.

Kusaa: Good. ::She finally said, removing her paw, before looking him once over again:: Is there a weapon you favor, or are currently learning to master? ::She slid her own rapier away, paw outstretched to receive the matching rapier:: Adaptability is good, but if we want a good spar, I'll need to see if we can match a weapon to you that's more suiting... ::Her wings flapped once, furling out and giving her full, dark figure again as she watched him, waiting possibly to retrieve said weapon::

Payton"Well," Payton blinked, losing his momentum as Kusaa suddenly stopped the spar while he was still on his guard. He dropped his right arm and shifted the rapier in his paws to give it back to Kusaa hilt-first. "I've been training with a sword, but I can't properly wield a regular sword yet. It is what I'm best with. It's sturdier, which gives a little more support if I'm not as strong as my opponent..." for being so ignorant about other things in life, he was very logical and knowledgeable of weapons for his age.

Kusaa: ::As she accepted the rapier, with as she fought before, just a butterflies touch, she replaced it and nodded:: Let me see what I can find... should only take a moment. ::And with a sudden flap of her wings and a simultaneous KICK off of the ground, she was up and away!!::

Faith ::When Faith finally clapped, as if it needed appreciation:: Well?! ::She asked excitably, almost admirably:: Isn't she one of the strongest warriors you've ever seen!?

Payton: Payton shook his head a little, to deter Kusaa from bothering, "Oh, I'm-" but in a blink she had gone off and Payton's sentence tapered off. "...All right." He glanced over at Faith. "I... um... if you say she is," he shrugged a little. He suddenly realized how rude that came out and hastily remedied it. "-I mean! Obviously she had to go easy on me."

Faith: ::She didn't seem to pick up on it, too eager herself as her tail wagged away animatedly:: Kusaa's always been one of my closest friends here at the abbey, I knew if anyone would help, she would!! She's so strong, but so gentle!! ::She complimented her, beginning to ramble away:: And all the time I had to stay so long in the infirmary, she'd always keep me company!

Payton: Payton half-listened, his eyes wandering around to take in the lush green ground around him. While he held back from being right-out rude to Faith, it was clear to see he still wasn't sure what to make of the young vixen.

Faith: ::And then...:: ...if I was a hare... would you have been my boyfriend?

Payton: Well. That made the list of STRANGEST QUESTION EVER to be asked. Payton turned back to her slowly, an eyebrow cocked and a look of pure confusion on his face. What was the right answer to that question? While he had no qualms with the company of his female peers, he wasn't particularly interested in them beyond friendship - he was too focused on his training in the Long Patrol. "You're the Abbess of Redwall," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "And I live at Salamandastron."

Faith: ...and a vixen... ::She said a little bashfully, wringing her tail between her paws now, as she began to let her eyes move across the lush green as he had only moments before... it seemed tables turned a little...:: It's... a little hard... to find friends my own species... ::She said a little more bashfully::

Payton: Payton was quiet mostly, not exactly sure what to say. How was he supposed to assure her it wasn't because she was a vixen, but rather because he wasn't interested in the prospect of having a girlfriend at all? Besides, he realized, if he were, then it WOULD come down to the fact that she was a fox. You can't help how you were raised. He was rather embarrassed by the topic in general, being eleven, so he attempted to keep it from going further by not replying.

Faith ::Silence, and then, finally, she put on a smile:: Sorry... ::She finally apologized, but her wilted ears belied any look she could try:: Just... when I saw you... you were so funny... and... ::She idly began playing with her tail a little more, like a comfort blanket, but then, she got up, managing her ears to stand as she did, but like her, they weren't quite the full way there, still half-wilted, and still wobbling:: I'll... let you and Kusaa continue... ::She said, with an embarrassed laugh, hobbling-slash-hopping back up the stairs:: I guess I was just a little silly... ::She waved it off, smiling to him one last time, before turning away and making her way back inside...::

Payton: Payton's eyebrows knitted as Faith made her awkward departure. He looked perturbed, but it was hard to tell if there was any real sympathy there. He didn't stop her and only sighed in frustration. Great! Now he seemed rude! He could not WIN with these creatures! Oversensitive mousecook, bashful Abbess fox who was insinuating on liking him... what next? He missed the companionship of his fellow hares at the mountain, who were neither sensitive nor bashful.

Kusaa: ::Speaking of that description, there was a familiar rush of wind, as Kusaa landed once more, her wings folding around her like a cape, as she looked immediately to the vacant space where Faith had been previously:: Where is the Abbess? ::She asked, not too concerned sounding, or even sounding of anything, although the concern did bleed through her words, as a scabbard's end was shown just below the ends of her wings::

Payton: Payton jumped a little when Kusaa landed, shaking his head. He was pretty sure he was never going to get used to creatures dropping out of the sky. He looked at her and shrugged, "I guess she had something else to do." He was definitely not about to describe the conversation that had just happened.

Kusaa: ::Kusaa looked intently upon on the spot where Faith had been, but her wings began to peel open, satisfied it seemed:: I hope this weapon will be of good use. ::She declared as she held the scabbard, black and beaten, with a set of silver rings etched around the casing at the hilt and bottom end, it seemed like a broadsword, but she held it without any look of strain, or any less of the gentleness she had shown earlier, offering it to him::

Payton: Payton eyed the sheathed weapon a little warily, looking at Kusaa uncertainly. It looked a tad too large for him to wield, but he stepped forward and accepted the weapon. "Thank-you..."

Kusaa: ::It WAS heavy, but not as heavy as its size may have implied when she leant him its full weight, and her paws slipped away, back into the fold of her wings as she stood there, waiting for him to unsheathe the sword and see it:: You're welcome. ::She added finally::

Payton: Wrapping his left paw around the hilt of the weapon, he curled his right paw around the hilt and slipped it from its sheath with a tad bit of difficult balancing both objects in his paws at once.

Kusaa: ::Although it's length was slightly cumbersome, it came easily enough, slipping out to reveal why the sword was so light as instantly, the light gleamed over it surface, yet lanced through the holes than had been bored through it and rounded, now replaced with decorative orbs of red, stuck fast into the blade, which was hilted by simple black leather, and protected him with a bronze wristguard, that could protect both paws at once, needed for the size of this blade. It was indeed long, but its edge was thinned to a point, and showed no signs of wear or blood, it was a fresh, real blade, although lost of its strength in one half, seemed still as strong on the other side, while an artisan of some skill had etched into it, some kind of bird along the side where the ruby orbs took place and reduced its weight:: Her name is Tremols. ::Kusaa said as a finality, watching the blade herself::

Payton: Payton weighed it down in his right paw, having to set the scabbard down to balance against his leg for a moment as he inspected the length of the sword. He looked up at Kusaa. "Is this yours?" He slipped his left paw onto the hilt as well and held it up before him, parallel to the ground. Ah, double-pawed sword, interesting. He was used to having a free arm for balance, but had had some practice with larger swords as this one, too.

Kusaa: ...One of many. ::She declared, a little cryptically even, as she still stood, cocking her head slightly to watch him explore the blade there:: What do you think of her?

Payton: "It's different," he said, letting those grey eyes inspect every inch of the weapon. "More... er... decorated.... ornate," he corrected. "And lighter than it should be for its size, but ah....the gems, those holes make it lighter, right?" He was obviously more one for weapon technicalities than grandeur. Regiment-trained? No kidding.

Kusaa: Don't let it's weight fool you. ::She advised, still standing with only her head and footpaws showing from beneath her winged cape, as her eyes turned from the blade instead to the one handling it:: I would guarantee you, this blade, her edge is willing, and her strength relentless and loyal... ::Finally, she opened her wing, to let an arm wave out, pointing towards a rock that seemed to be COVERED in heavy scarring... presumably one that was used for this sword of thing...:: If you'd like to try it out.

Payton: He listened to her as he ran his paw lightly against the flat of the blade, then took it again in both paws, having to readjust a bit from using the light, one-pawed rapier, to a heavier two-pawed sword. It was occurring to him how tired he was becoming - he hadn't rested since he arrived at Redwall after his long trip. He glanced over at the rock and shook his head a little. "Oh, no, I'm all right. One moment..." and he was about to work at his belt there... but the paused. "...Oh. Broadswords don't sit on the side..." he said slowly, realizing he couldn't keep the sheath at his hip while he used the word. "Er," he glanced to Kusaa in question of where to put the scabbard.

Kusaa: ::Almost instantly, when he looked toward her, she was upon him, it might have been near frightening now to see just HOW quick she moved, and how easily quick she could have been upon him in battle if she'd taken him seriously, without sound or warning, she had moved the gap between them... when? How long ago? ::But all that mattered was, as she gently slid the scabbard over his back, and buckled the belt, not too lightly, not too harshly over his chest:: Try practicing when you're less worn. ::She advised, almost floating backward with her wings open like that:: When you feel a little more ready, I'll show you a proper sparring... Until then, Tremols will be your aide. ::Her wings flapped again, signaling she was about to take flight::

Payton: Payton blinked, looking momentarily startled by how close Kusaa was. He held his elbows out a bit as the bat strapped the scabbard to his back, and he craned his neck a bit, watching in interest, as he'd never carried a scabbard in this fashion. He looked dejected when Kusaa mentioned him being tired. He'd tried very hard not to show it. "I -um - wait- I," he laughed a little. "My dad is never going to let me walk around Redwall with a sword..."

Kusaa: The design is my own. ::She nodded:: It will be recognizable to any abbey beast you see, by the silver rings on the scabbard. If your father has any complaints with your practice, please have him speak to me, Faith can find me. ::And with that, just as quick as before, she swooped upward in a single flap, rushing until she was a black shape against the pure skyline, and finally, swooping down and over the top of the abbey roof, out of sight...::

Payton: "I, er, well..." he held an amusing image as to when he tried to explain to his father why he was walking around Redwall with a broadsword strapped to his back. He hefted the sword back into his paws and used his right paw to slide it back into the scabbard. He glanced back up to the bat, nodding, opened his mouth... but the bat took off again. All right, he decided, that was another thing she really needed to stop doing. He shifted his shoulders a bit and ran his paw along the strap across his chest, watching the bat flap off. He shook his head a little then turned to go find his father and ask why everyone here was so weird...

Who: Jasmine, Sideswipe, Eula, Faith, Shune, Kusaa, Gem
What: More WELCOME BACK SIDESWIPE-ness
Where: Great Hall, then infirmary

((I missed a couple of the first posts...))
Jasmine: ::A paw quickly rose up, as she grinned, turning her head a little to try and avoid him getting close enough to complete a hug:: Seasons may look well upon me, but I'm not spry enough to take a good sized badger hug without a trip to my own infirmary, you know!

Eula: Eula, while Sideswipe was distracted by the infirmary fox, reached quickly across the table and stole a candied chestnut. She wasn't particularly hungry, she just knew it would annoy him.

Sideswipe: Hug warded, Sideswipe stood there looking somewhat foolish. Poor badger. He folded one arm behind his back and held the other out. "Half a badger hug then?"

Jasmine: Mmmm... fair enough I suppose... ::She chuckled, letting down her arm but preparing for the worst as she stood there, almost dressed the exact same ways as she had in the days before his departure so long ago::

Sideswipe: The badger wrapped his arm gently around her shoulders, not applying the rib-crushing strength that he'd emptied Whisper's lungs with. He released her then, grinning still. "I hear Faith is the new Abbess...you've nursed her well, then. Of course."

Jasmine: ::She let out an oomph still, but laughed... although her face didn't seem to reflect it well enough...:: Well... as best I could, Head of Infirmary, that's my sworn duty and all! ::She cleared her throat, smiling prim and properly again:: I suppose it's worth mentioning if you'd like to meet her now, you'll see another Dibbun you might remember?

Sideswipe: His grin faded a touch into a smirk. "Whisper said she was in trouble for a foodfight."

Jasmine: Mmmm, don't remind me... ::She sighed, about turning:: Reminds me of the time she and Faith covered all the infirmary's bandages in sand...

Eula: "Uh-huh, well, I see everyone is leaving me for Dibbuns now... so I think I'll just go find something else to occupy my time," Eula announced, after she effectively removed any sign of the candied chestnut, pushing her chair back.

Jasmine: Too bad they forgot I was going to change Faith's only later that afternoon course... ::Her eyes followed Eula sloooooowly...::

Eula: The haremaid stood and pushed her chair back under the table, and looked along, catching the vixen's glance. "What?"

Sideswipe: Sideswipe looked back to Eula, taking in the tray of food in passing. That glance was enough to count...he'd known the number of chestnuts there as soon as Jude had brought the tray out. One was missing, and since no one was sitting nearby....."The Abbey must be haunted, by candied chestnut stealing ghosts," he uttered, quirking a brow at Eula.

Eula: "Yes, didn't you know that?" Eula replied lightly, turning a pair of wide, innocent eyes on Sideswipe. "They particularly like haunting badgers. Unfortunate for you, eh?"

Jasmine: ::She just flung a tiny grin at Eula as she watched the exchange between the two there, staying firmly out of it...::

Sideswipe: "Unfortunate, yes. I'd glimpsed one earlier, but wasn't sure that was what it was...the long, pointed ears threw me off, I must admit."

Eula: Eula smirked a little in reply. She shrugged, and made to move off now. "What're you goin' to do? Nothing you can help with when it comes to ghosts."

Sideswipe: Sideswipe edged around Jasmine, moving alongside Eula as they passed the end of the table. "There is one thing that can stop them; the Wavedogs taught it to me." And with that, and a grin, the badger ducked in close to Eula, claws reaching out to tickle at her arms and neck.

Eula: "Oh no no no no," Eula threw her paws up to ward him off a soon as he reached up to touch her, moving quickly back from his reach. "No need to demonstrate on me!"

Sideswipe: "But my friend, you've been possessed! We must get the ghosts out!" He dodged to the side, attempting to get around her blocking paws.

Jasmine: ::And her, standing there with paws folded before her, the perfect image of vixen innocence as she stood there and watched her friend brutally mauled by the badger's most vicious assault, stiff faced with the flattest expression possible::

Eula: Eula gasped and bit back a laugh as she moved back again from Sideswipe. "I'm cured, I'm cured! It's a miracle! You'll never lose a chestnut again unless Donato takes it!"

Sideswipe: He stopped, grinning, and stood with his arms crossed at his chest. "Another goodbeast saved from the candied chestnut stealing ghosts."

Jasmine: Praise be! ::She raised her paws, before folding them into her habit sleeves once more, grinning:: Now then... would you look to see your old friend at all...?

Eula: Eula laughed, shaking her head. She still looked wary though, on her guard in case Sideswipe decided to go after her again. "Well! What would I have done without you?" She glanced around him back at Jasmine. She gave a wave to the badger. "Go on, I've other things to do right now. You're distracting me."

Sideswipe: A smile of thanks was flashed to Eula, and he looked back to Jasmine. "Where is she?"

Jasmine: Well... her and her inseparable friends... you might find them up in the Infirmary just now... ::She took a step back, allowing him to head on, or at least go first if he didn't takwe the invitation straight off::

Sideswipe: Infirmary was the only word he needed, and then the badger was off in his lumbering run. He cut the corner of the Great Hall, pounced the stairs, and began thundering up them with a noise that might be compared to a Long Patrol line on full march.

Faith: ::As soon as Sideswipe burst through the door, there was one, although not the one he looked for, as Faith sat on her cot, her arm raised as another bat swathed it in bandages heavily, until she looked to the door and lit up:: Sideswipe!? ::Things HAD changed so, as now, he could see the entirety of her face, a young, innocent face, with lush white fur and ruby eyes and petit face, all of which upon a time had been hidden entirely. ::And now there she was, in an overly large habit, with a grand oak staff... and... if going by the edge of bandages just visible under her neck, and covering both paws and those of her feet, still as gauzy underneath as she had always been to him, the sickly looking girl with a smile::

Sideswipe: Albino. She was an albino. The Wavedogs viewed the albino as cursed...and he shoved that thought out of his mind. This was Redwall, not the sea. Sideswipe bound into the room, grinning, and knelt down at the side of her bed.

Sideswipe: "Hello, Faith! Or, mother abbess. It's good to see your face, little one." The 'little one' title came of its own, for here was the vixen he'd known as a Dibbun.

Constantine: Lookit what the winds blew in ::the old badger spoke up from his cot. Constantine had changed as well, but for the worse. He looked more taunt and thin, for a badger at least, and always seemed to be tired. But he was smiling broadly at the other badger as Faith noticed him::

Faith: ::She giggled, and with a thankful nod to the other bat, got up, instantly that brought another fact back, the leg so stiff, and her weight upon her staff showed her other old injury of the leg had NOT healed as she looked up to him with a nod, before looking to Constantine:: It's good to see you arrived at such a time!

Shune: Lounging up on the counter was a young ottermaid, legs slung over the side and being kicked back and forth idly as she leaned back on her paws. Dark brown eyes shot to the door and widened in surprise as a badger came hurrying into the formerly quiet infirmary. She blinked a couple times as she tilted her head to the side, knowing she knew this badger when she was younger, but the time-gap from six to eleven was a difficult one. She was relieved when Faith inadvertently supplied her with the badger's name. Slipping off the counter lightly onto her footpaws, she smoothed out her clean green habit, smiling up at the badger, but waiting patiently to be noticed. The little infirmary assistant was a lanky thing now, long limbs, with that slender otter shape.

Sideswipe: "What is the time that it's especially good now?" He asked, almost confusing himself with the riddle, and swung his dark gaze round to Constantine when the older badger spoke up, and the grin became forced. The elder looked practically on his death bed already...but he threw cheer into his voice all the same. As if the ill needed reminding of their state. "In more ways than one, my friend." The throw of his gaze caught Shune in it, and to his eyes came a glitter of joy. Another little one grown. He held out his paws from where he knelt by Faith. "And Shune! There's only one missing now. You've grown, little one."

Faith: We'd just been talking with Constantine about how many badgers we knew of, how nice it would be to see you again... and... well...

Gem: ::FLYING AIR TACKLE!!!!::

Sideswipe: And suddenly he couldn't see through membranes flung across his muzzle. Gentle paws came up to hug the little hellion that tackled him out of the air, a chuckle sounding deep in the badger's chest.

Gem: UNCLE SIZEWIPE!!! ::Came the sudden blur that engulfed his head, wings wrapping around him face-hugging-alien style, as many a kiss was aimed upon him, and the bat, no longer as little, yet still quite little bat that was eventually pried off of him, the creamy white-tan fur, the emerald green eyes and ornate silken dress as she looked him over there, and quickly, was trying to examine his neck:: You've been gone forever!!!

Shune: Shune stayed back a little, taking in the scene quietly. She nodded politely and smiled at Sideswipe, but stayed close to the counter. She blinked a bit when Gem flung herself on the badger. She paused, then shrugging, she moved off around the pair to Faith's bedside, to check that her bandages were on correctly.

Kusaa: Did I do them correctly? ::Kusaa spoke up, not one to yell out loud to Sideswipe, as Faith only giggled at the occasion, and practisedly held out her paw to Shune to examine now::

Sideswipe: The locket was there, nestled amongst the thick black fur of his scruff. "Forever? Surely it hasn't been that long," Sideswipe said, the grin very much permanent now. "You've grown too, rascal! But not out of mischief, I hear." Kusaa hadn't been noticed yet, because in all honesty he couldn't see the others in the room anymore...just Gem.

Shune: Shune silently checked over Faith's bandages, checking the tightness with which it was wrapped and how it was tied. She nodded at Kusaa. "Mmhmm, they're fine."

Gem: Gem kind of hung there for a second, and then slightly more normal, flung her arms around his neck instead this time, nuzzling her head in against him with a giggle:: Was lonely without you to play with... had to play with everybeast else!

Kusaa: ::Kusaa seemed suddenly relieved, as she too looked to Sideswipe when she commented:: Good to know.

Faith ::And Faith just watched with a giggle herself, leaning in against her staff there::

Sideswipe: He ducked his head, chin resting over the bat's shoulder as she hugged his neck, and rubbed his cheek in a nuzzle against one of her ears. "I'll bet everybeast else enjoyed that to no end."

Gem: Yep yep!! ::She giggled, before suddenly pulling back to look him in the face again:: I got lots and lots to tell you!!! SO many stories, SO many songs!!! 'N... 'n.... I'm abbey songstress!!! 'N Faith's an abbess!!! 'N Eula sees ghosts!!!

Sideswipe: He just waited, nodding enthusiastically, until she was done. "No surprise you're the songstress! There's nobeast can sing better than my Gem." He lifted a paw to her ear, whispering as though sharing a secret. "Eula doesn't just see ghosts...she's been possessed. I tickled it out of her, but it might come back!"

Gem: ::Blink...:: Ooooooh... ::She suddenly had a very mystified look to her there, before she giggled again, and then taking off, wings open, began flapping her wings to turn Sideswipe to see the others!!:: 'n look who else is here!!!! ::She stopped on Kusaa, giggling madly as she took the age old perch atop the badger's head, snuggling down close there::

Kusaa: ::And meanwhile, Kusaa seemed to turn with a light embarrassment, the dark fur, the eyes... her body seemed to have aged so fast, almost as fully filled as any other full grown beast, but still... although it could have seemed impossible, compared to Gem's nearly inexistant growth, but the eyes, and the fur, everything pointed to her... and when she spoke:: It's been time since the battlefield. ::There was no doubt::

Sideswipe: Sideswipe studied Kusaa sternly, the grin only there on his muzzle because of the perch Gem had taken on his head. His love kept it there; that was all. "Kusaa...I am glad to see you well."

Kusaa: ::She stood there for a second, slightly awkward, looking away, when a distinct tapping of a staff brought her round, as she looked up:: I don't have a position here, yet, but I'm learning.

Faith: ::And in the awkwardness, Faith spoke up:: We're actually thinking on having a feast for Eula, ghosts or not, she DID manage to become abbey recorder while you were gone!

Sideswipe: Okayokay...so she was here, Gem wasn't dead, Turan wasn't dead, Faith was allowing her to be here....forgive? Not forget. He rose to his full height, and crossed the room to her with his paw out. "We all are."

Sideswipe: That news was yet again unexpected, but he would respond after Kusaa made her move.

Kusaa: ::She still looked so awkward, as her paws wrung themselves on a spare bandage there, her wings drawn low and drooped, ears as well... but after so long, her paw did limply reach out to his::

Shune: Shune moved over and rescued the spare bandage from Kusaa's grasp, raveling it up with the rest of the spare bandages. She took them and moved off behind the counter, setting the bandages in the storage cabinet.

Sideswipe: He clasped her paw between his, offered her a flash of a smile, and looked over his shoulder back to Faith...being careful not to dislodge the bat on his head. "Someone should challenge Eula to dance during it...get Donato to, maybe. She'll be appreciating us so much already.

Gem: ::She giggled quietly just a bit:: Already been done!! ::She looked after Shune, giggling again, as Gem made herself comfy upstairs there:: I think she's taking after my mother now, don't you?

Sideswipe: He released Kusaa's paw as he looked to Shune as well, fondness creeping back into the smile. "She's certainly become quite the healer."

Shine: Shune peered over the counter, tall enough now not to have to stand on a chair to see over. She crossed her arms on the countertop, setting her chin on her arms as she grinned over at Gem. "Well, that's what I've been trying for since I was five."

Kusaa: ::And in the seconds it took him to look at Shune, there was a flap, a rush of wind and the bat was gone quickly out the window::

Faith: Someone's going to jump out of there one day... ::Faith blinked, but giggled as if this was a regular occurrence for the bat to just slip off like that, making her way to the windows herself now::

Gem: And you do a great job, yep yep!!! Anything you need to heal Uncle Sizewipe for here? ::She asked eagerly, wings giving a quick flap of excitement there at the prospect of playing again::

Sideswipe: "Another feast, then! Somebody warn Jude," Sideswipe said. He blinked as a rustle of wings flashed by him, vanishing out the window. The badger followed Faith to it, lowering his voice to a murmur. Bats had really good hearing. "Is she entirely trustworthy?" Alarm flew into his eyes however, when Gem brought that up. "No, thank you! I'm quite well." He remembered playing the patient.

Faith: ::Faith blinked, and for the first time, her expression changed, from a smile to a look of confusion, while Gem let out a small 'awww' of disappointment:: What do you mean?

Shune: "Mmm..." Shune trailed off. She didn't much enjoy playing games as far as healing went anymore. She smiled however, when Sideswipe looked so worried. "I'm not as scary as Miss Jasmine," she laughed a little.

Sideswipe: He grinned at Shune. "Isn't it a healer's job to be scary, though?"

Shune: "I try to not be. Because then no one will come back if they're hurt," and Shune gave a very meaningful look at Sideswipe, as if he proved her point.

Sideswipe: Sideswipe pulled a regretful look, and made a slight bow toward Shune. "Your wisdom is beyond your age, little one." From there he muttered his reply to Faith. "She has proven ill in the past."

Faith: And proven regretful of her actions. ::She smiled, nodding:: As well as became one of my closest friends when I spent all my time stuck in bed here... ::She nodded with a bright smile:: She may look a little scary, but she's just like any of us underneath!

Sideswipe: 'Why the disappearance, then?' was his thought, but Sideswipe answered, "As you say."

Faith: Now now, no more ill words about anybeast, or you know my mother will come in here and give you a good physicking herself! ::She giggled, limp-hobbling-crutching forward to the other door:: She's just a little awkward...

Gem: Yeah! Like REALLY strange!

Faith: She did a lot of things she regrets now... ::Her smile faded somewhat, but still held:: ...while many of us have forgiven... I think she's the only one who hasn't really ever forgiven herself... and whenever she's reminded... well.. You get the idea... ::She waved to the window::

Sideswipe: He grimaced at the thought of Jasmine's 'physicking,' and straightened. A nod given to Faith. He rolled his eyes up, to look as toward Gem as he could. "Strange? Strange like a ghost that steals candied chestnuts?"

Gem: Strange like a ghost that steals candied chestnuts and then dips them in hotroot soup!!! ::She giggled back downward, suddenly thinking:: Did you learn any new stories?!

Sideswipe: "I did, but I can't tell them here! What kind of Abbeybeast tells a story in the scary infirmary?"

Gem: Makes it even scarier... ::She giggled, positively ready to take off with him as well!::

Shune: "Oh it is NOT scary," Shune rebutted.

Faith: It's scary. ::Faith snickered, outing Shune;:

Sideswipe: That comment had been made just to get to Shune, and he grinned when she rebuked it. "I've got a joke for you though, to make the infirmary less scary."

Gem: Oh? ::She blinked, leaning over until her head was JUST insight of his eyes there...::

Sideswipe: "Knock knock."

Gem: Who's there!? ::She asked, far too excitably::

Sideswipe: "Interrupting starfish." He said, lifting his paw just slightly.

Gem: ::She suddenly stopped, blinking profusely, THIS was a new one:: Interrupting starfish who?

Sideswipe: His paw came up all the way, laying gently but quickly over Gem's eyes. "Boo!"

Donato came in to Great Hall only a little late from washing up after dealing with sticky Dibbuns all afternoon. Like Eula, he felt he wasn't as happy as he normally would be under the circumstances - after all, who ever thought to see Sideswipe at Redwall again? But he hadn't been the one to have the prophetic visions; he wasn't overwhelmed with it all, just feeling somewhat detached. He took a seat across from Eula, taking note of her demeanor. "Hey, Eula." What else was there to say. With an inward shrug, he made up a plate, feeling suddenly ravenous after having the Dibbuns keeping him on his feet all day.

Eula glanced up momentarily at Donato's voice - so it was a definite plus that she wasn't ignoring him as she was others around her. "Hey. Busy day?" she asked rather pointlessly as he tucked into his food with gusto.

Payton did his best to pretend Jasmine wasn't there. Woe betide ANY creature who tried to mess up another dinner of his here at Redwall. He was much appreciative of the spread of food offered to him, and made sure to show it by sampling everything. He was going in for a second helping of the hotroot soup after he had wiped his watering eyes from the strong spice - good stuff!

Shaftin didn't even bother trying to make his son pace himself. The young hare just wanted an uninterrupted dinner at Redwall for once, and Shaftin saw fit to leave well enough alone.

Tracy only nodded sullenly at Jasmine's continued preaching, taking a bite of a carrot or a stick of celery to pacify Jasmine whenever her gaze wandered to her. However, whenever she was sure no one was looking, Tracy would tuck bits of celery into a folded napkin that sat in front of her plate, hoping Jasmine and her parents would believe she had finished the vegetables off completely.