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Merrick's eyes were focused not on the Abbeybeasts, but the trees several yards beyond as he sneezed. He was unaware that his round pupils were slightly slitted, though it wouldn't be immediately noticeable even if someone were staring straight into his eyes. "Something smells like... blood and burnt meat," he muttered, unaware that, no more than fifty feet away, almost directly where he was staring, was a filthy anthromorphic rat with sloppy plant dyes smeared in his fur. He blinked, distracted by the chattering voice. "‘Aleskin and purfy gool need baffs," a few voices chanted and mumbled. "Huh?" he said with mild confusion. "I think that the Dibbuns feel that you are in need of a hot bath and a good meal. I am Abbot Durral, and you are welcome to come join us for breakfast," a somewhat elderly male mouse said kindly. Merrick's gaze flickered to the weasel, noticing he was being guided into the large Abbey, though he heard several tinkling laughs from a small quartet of two mice, a squirrel, and a hedgehog.

Merrick blinked as they were guided into the Abbey as well, though the beautiful gardens caught his eyes almost immediately. "Beautiful gardens," he said softly. "Thank you, and this is Redwall Abbey, in the country of Mossflower," Durral said with amusement. "Is it odd... that this doesn't seem... surprising, somehow?" he said quietly.

Merrick exhaled softly, glancing away for a moment. "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by," he said softly, thinking of Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken". "Rest assured that you will find many surprises here," Durral said with amusement before he blinked, hearing the boy's soft words. "Indeed, often as the sun rises, we have paths to walk," Durral said in a musing, thoughtful tone. " About those baths?" Merrick said quietly. "I have no doubt that Tess will be more than happy to help you both. She is usually on the second floor, just above Cavern Hole."

Merrick closed his eyes, unaware he was swaying a bit. "Then," he started in a soft voice, though he was a good bit startled by the elderly mouse catching him. "Careful, my boy. Tansy, Piknim. Help them inside to Sister Tess. If I recall correctly, she likely has hot baths ready for the Dibbuns for later, after the Feast," Durral said with mild amusement.

Merrick inhaled sharply as he felt a rippling surge of energy pulse through his body. "I assume that the 'Dibbuns' are those... toddlers," he said softly. "Nonsense. We are more than happy to help you feel comfortable while here," Durral said with mild amusement, though he nodded at the intelligent, if strange looking male child. "Probably doesn't help that I have slept... five hours in the past three days." He failed to notice the concerned looks that Tansy and Abbot Durral gave him at that comment as the slim hedgehog maid pushed open the door, releasing a blast of delicious scents of baking bread, soups, fruits, and vegetables. "Thank you, Tansy," the Abbot said with a smile, making the hedgehog maid blush a little before she took Merrick's hand and tugged him towards the nearby stairs.

Merrick exhaled softly, blinking as he looked around with interest; there were beautiful rugs he could immediately tell were handmade on the hardwood floors. "It's beautiful here," he said softly. "After you and your sister get your baths, the Nameday Feast should be ready," Tansy said softly as she giggled a bit; she thought Merrick and Cassandra were related because they looked the same, unaware they weren't related at all. Merrick glanced at her before his ears twitched, catching Cassandra's footfalls catching up to them. Unfortunately, where Tansy stepped down into a broad room with several bathtubs, three of which were already prepared and steaming, he tripped and lost his balance, landing hard on his side. He winced as he pushed himself up before he felt hands on his body helping him up. He blinked, seeing a mousemaid with soft golden fur and kind deep green eyes helping him up to his feet. "Must be this... Tess that.... Durral mentioned," he thought, unaware he was correct. "Are you okay, dear? You are a bit of a mess, now that I see you. I assume you are here to bathe?" the mousemaid, Tess, said gently before she looked at Cassandra. "Such beautiful hair you both have!! Once it's clean, I'd be willing to help make it easier to manage," she commented with a smile. Merrick blinked before blushing; his unruly dark reddish blonde hair was far from manageable, and he well knew that fact.

Merrick looked around the room, yawning a bit before he realized that Tess was helping him undress to get into the bath, though he heard Tansy giggle as if amused by his embarrassment. "I... uh... can do that myself," he said softly, thankful Tess stopped when he wore only his shorts. "If that's what you believe. Aren't you going to get in? I don't think that you have anything we haven't seen," Tansy said softly a bit confused as she saw the longing look on the girl's face. "I don't mind helping you and your friend out," the mousemaid, Tess, said gently with a small smile as she rubbed the young boy's shoulders, giggling as he shivered and relaxed almost immediately. "Just ask for anything that you may need," she commented with a smile as she lightly pushed the boy closer to the bathtub.