Leaving ((Braythe, Jamie, Open))

[Cross]

The little white mouse stood outside the front gate of Salamandastron, clutching a sheet of parchment in her paws. Victiore had been standing there for nearly ten minutes, reading and rereading the message penned upon the page. Shock was clearly written in her big green eyes as she stood glued to the spot.

"Spring's . . . blossoms," she breathed, a smile slowly spreading across her face. She whirled around and scurried back inside, rushing up to her quarters in the infirmary. Roseleaf wasn't around, so she would just have to tell the Badgerlord when she saw him. Excitement welled up in her chest as she began to pack her few belongings. She was going to see her family!

Vicky changed out of her infirmary uniform and donned her old traveling clothes. It felt good to wear something that actually fit her again. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she left a note for Mizz Roseleaf and ran up to the forge room. She found the door partially ajar and knocked lightly, poking her head inside.

"Lord Braythe?" she called. "I, um, I have some news for you. If-if you're free, that is, sir." She still clutched the note tightly, biting her lip in apprehension.

((Sorry it's a tad short. My muse is a bit lacking this week.))

[.:Fawn:.]

The massive badger almost didn't hear her above the rhythmic sounds of an enormous war-axe being sharpened. Setting down the whetstone, Braythe looked over his shoulder at the tiny little mouse standing in the doorway to his forge. He yawned, slow to make the connection between her being out of her uniform and the 'news' she apparently had to tell him.
"You can come in, but shut the door, you're letting the warm air out."

Braythe held up the badger-made battle axe, admiring the way the light reflected off of it's newly polished blae, able to see his own face leering back at him, the Badger Lord entirely snow white thanks to the change of the seasons. His alarming resemblance to a polar bear wasn't earning him any points amongst the inhabitants of Salamandastron, if anything, it made him a little scarier -- to everyone but the leverets, surprisingly.

They were all pretty much convinced he was the Snow Badger, who employed an army of Snow Hares to make it snow outside. Braythe, rather than get into another pointless explanation of why he wasn't the Snow Badger, eventually gave up and took on his new role as the mythical sky king begrudgingly.
It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have leverets asking him every twenty minutes why he didn't have a crown, and why he wouldn't let him meet any of his snow hares. His answer involved a great deal of outrageous lying and slight loss of temper when one of the school teachers had rescued him from the babes, and he'd been allowed to return to his forge in peace.

[Cross]

Vicky did as she was told, closing the door as softly as possible and then walking up to Braythe. The axe he held was massive. The blade itself was at least twice her size. But by now she was used to the gigantic weapons the big badger carried. She instead admired its metallic sheen, how she could actually see herself and Braythe, in all his white splendor, in the shining surface of the blade.

She was still in awe at the Badgerlord's white fur. Did all northern creatures turn white in the winter? Well, it would be excellent camouflage in the snow. Could there possibly be a spell to change the color of a creature's fur? She'd have to look into that.

"S-sir," she began, reminding herself why she was here. "I, um, I just got a letter from my-my family. They're at Redwall, and I, well, I would very much like to go see them. So-so I'll be, um, leaving the mountain for awhile . . ." She trailed off uncertainly, folding and unfolding the note in her paws.

The little mouse wasn't quite sure how Braythe was going to handle this one. They'd become such good friends during her stay. In fact, she herself was sad to be leaving the big badger. But she hadn't seen her family in such a long time. It would be wonderful to spend time with them again, and they'd be at Redwall! She'd always wanted to go to Redwall, she'd just never really worked up the courage to go inside. Now she had a reason to go.

But that reason still meant leaving Braythe and her few hare friends here at Salamandastron. Why did goodbyes always have to be so bittersweet? Well, she was most likely going to end up coming back here. After all, she wouldn't have any reason to stay at Redwall once her family hit the road again, as they would inevitably do.

[.:Fawn:.]

Leave?

The badger frowned, his ears folding back against his skull as he put on a look of slight perplexity as though he had not comprehended her words very well. Family? Visiting? Redwall? Why did that sound so much like she was packing up her things and leaving the mountain?
Because that was more or less than what she'd just told him.
Braythe's eyes hardened, and he sat down in one of his very large armchairs, looking disconcerted. "When..." The Badger Lord glanced down at his paws, setting the axe onto a nearby table. "When are you leaving?" He asked the question he already knew the answer to, judging by her pack and sudden change of clothes, but responding to her felt better than sitting here like his world had just ended.

He was mad, yes, but he didn't know who to get angry at -- her family, maybe? It was selfish to want to hoard her attention all to himself, but Braythe wasn't exactly known for his ability to share, especially when it came to things that were important to him, or things that he cherished. Victiore was his only real friend, she had every right to leave Salamandastron and visit her family at Redwall, but that didn't mean he had to be happy about it, or send her off with a smile or some kind of false image of happiness. He was going to miss her, there was no way around that, and the Badger Lord's shoulders immediately slumped, one of his great big paws curling into a fist.

What was he supposed to do without her? Who was he supposed to talk to? Who was going to treat him if he got sick? Oh Brocktree, it wouldn't be Lieutenant Black, not if he had any say in the matter, but that was the least of his worries. What was he supposed to do with her not here? The badger's fierce bronze eyes seemed to fade a little with the weight of an unhappy parting, and while he intended to look down at the floor, trying to gain control over his emotions, looking down at the floor was pretty much the same as looking down at the little white mouse he'd come to like so much.
She was honestly the first creature he'd ever gotten 'close' to besides his own family. Alright so close was a little bit of an exaggeration, but he'd certainly shared a few things with her he hadn't shared with anyone, when he'd foolishly believed she'd be content with staying at Salamandastron forever.

"Have a nice trip then." He said flatly, feeling rather heartsick already, and she was still standing in front of him.

[Cross]

"When are you leaving?"

Vicky suddenly felt guilty for being the cause of the badger's sullenness. She bunched the note up in her fist nervously, trying not to meet his hardened gaze. "W-well, I was, um, hoping to leave today," she murmured, ears flicking back. "If I, um, if that would be . . . Since I don't, um, I don't wanna miss them."

She rubbed the back of her neck, her tail wrapping around her ankles. He looked so sad! Was it really because she was leaving? She would have to come back, in that case. But he'd get over it, right?

"Have a nice trip then."

Guilt began to strangle her tiny heart. Vicky nodded once. "Th-thank you, sir," she replied. She thought of something, then. "I'll, um, need provisions for . . . Do you, um, would you mind if I--if I took some food from the, um, the kitchens?" Oh, raspberries, he seemed so heartbroken! Well, she was feeling the same way, more or less. She was going to miss her big badger friend, too. There was certainly a reason for her to come back.

[.:Fawn:.]

Food? Food? There was no food. Yep. The kitchens were empty, and you can't make a trip without food, so I guess I'll have to stay here. Too bad. Better write to your parents to let them know.
That would've been a complete and utter lie, and a bad one at that, but Braythe was feeling miserable and she hadn't even left yet! He was already searching for excuses, searching for a reason good enough that would keep her here at Salamandastron without him coming off as too selfish... But that was easier said than done, clearly.
"Mind? Uh no, you can't walk to Redwall without food." Braythe responded in a slightly grumpy tone, as if her question was a dumb one, the badger lord getting out of his seat in an effort to duck out from under the perpetual storm cloud forming above his head. I should go to Redwall with her! I wouldn't mind meeting her family...but I might step on them... and I'm probably needed here for some...badger lord thing.

Braythe scowled at no one in particular, but it easily could've been mistaken that Vicky was his target, the great white badger striding across the room and tugging open the heavy forge room door. "You coming or what?" He responded with a sudden bout of overly cheerfulness. He seemed to be going to great lengths to conceal his completely dejected feelings, but was doing a lousy job of it, the sudden switch between angry and cheerful quite noticeable.

"Who are you bringing with you? To this Redwall place I mean?" Asked the badger, careful not to knock her down the steps, his right shoulder brushing against the wall as he kept to his side.
Surely she didn't plan on traveling to Redwall alone...

[Cross]

Vicky shrank back as Braythe scowled angrily. Oh, Autumn's Ghost, now he was mad at her for leaving! The little mouse held back a frightened whimper as the giant badger gave her an extremely sour response, stood up unhappily . . . and walked to the forge room door.

"You coming or what?"

His cheerful tone scared her almost as much as his previous scowl. "Um . . ." she scurried up to him, slipping out the door and onto the stone staircase. "Th-thank you, sir." Okay, so he clearly wasn't happy about this, but it didn't seem like he was going to stop her from leaving. The little mouse appreciated his efforts not to step on her as they descended the steps. She opened her mouth to tell him she planned on coming back when--

"Who are you bringing with you? To this Redwall place I mean?"

"I--" Vicky hadn't thought about taking anybeast with her. After all, she'd walked to the mountain alone, so she just assumed she would make the return trip alone, as well. It wasn't an ideal situation, at all, but she was just used to it. "Well, I-I'm sure I'll be fine on my own. I mean, if you think I should, sir, then . . . It-it's just that I, um, normally travel alone."

[.:Fawn:.]

Braythe stopped dead in his tracks, his head slowly turning to fix her with a disbelieving look. Travel alone? His tiny little mouse friend who couldn't hurt a fly wanted to travel alone? All manner of vermin flashed before his eyes; wicked stoats, cunning foxes, ruthless weasels, rats twice her size, and not to mention the occasional lizard with a little more guts than normal... The Badger Lord closed his eyes, as though concentrating hard on not yelling at her for her stupidity. Travel alone!
It would be on the same level as him shoving a leveret out into the cold and telling it to go play away from the mountain where no one could reach it if there was any trouble.
Growling under his breath, the badger shook his great white-furred head.

This definitely won't do.

"You aren't going alone," he muttered darkly, as though the idea of such a thing still harried him. "You'll be going with two escorts, and I'LL be picking them." Braythe knew all too well that she wouldn't want to bother one of the older officers to accompany her, feeling like she'd be asking too much, but HE had no qualms at all with forcing a lieutenant or corporal to tag along with her, even if escort duty might've been somewhat beneath them.

Walking out into the hallway, Braythe's fiery bronze eyes gleamed as he spotted the easily recognizable figure of Lieutenant Sersea on his way to the dining hall.
"Lieutenant!" Braythe barked with more enthusiasm than necessary. "A quick word!"

[Tracy]

The messhall was fuller than usual, even for lunchtime. A grey, icy morning kept most of the mountain's inhabitants inside, and as midday gave way to soft flurries, the few beasts left out were driven in. Jamie walked in now, brushing a few snowflakes from his own headfur, slipping off his cloak before the snow on it could melt and get him all wet. Although he hated the cold - and the snow even more so - it wasn't in his nature to find an excuse to skip out on training. He might've resigned himself to the indoor training compound, but it was brimming with patrollers keeping out of the cold.

Stepping into the crowded hall was like wrapping up in a blanket. The warmth was immediate and welcome. Looking around, he allowed himself a moment to enjoy the aroma of all the hot foods. Although lunch was normally a cold-food affair, the kitchen staff worked extra hard to give the mountain residents hot meals to ward off the coldest days of winter. Glancing about, he caught sight of his family on the opposite side of the hall, and was about to make his way over.

He was momentarily distracted as he walked past Ripley, knelt down talking to a leveret, which could never be a good thing. "You see," he heard her say. "It just started snowin' out an' the Snow Badger's come down from his room. Even he can't be around when the Snow Hares do their ritual, it's super-secret."

Before the young lieutenant could set things straight for the excited, wide-eyed little leveret, he heard a booming voice hail him. Turning back, but not seeing the source of the voice, he backtracked a few steps back into the hallway. That's where he saw the enormous white badger, with the little Vicky trotting along behind him. Lord Braythe wanted his attention, which meant it was probably something important, which meant he probably wouldn't be getting some of that potato and leek soup anytime soon.

Trying to mask his dismay, Jamie threw a salute to the Badger Lord. "M'lord," he said as way of greeting. "Something wrong?"

[Tulian Solum]

(Hope you don't mind if I sneak in . )

That it was...that it was. Now at least Seig had an answer to the question of what was the weirdest winter he had been through. Not the worst, as most questions would be, but the weirdest. This of course made it harder for him to answer such a question, while the worst, those were easy. Those could just be summed up in words; famine, war, roof falling down. But weird...words like that always needed more explaining.

For example, the last winter he slowly suffered through had been back home, just before he left the 'ol fortress, it was fairly good as winters went. There were no major wars, no serious famine, it was just them making sure they had enough to keep warm and fed. But at least then he could still do what he always did; train, patrol, talk with his mates...but this winter, none of those he could count on doing.

Thanks in...no. Due to Lord Braythe he was forced to lay instead of train, rest instead of patrol, and any talking he did at this mountain was generally either very short or about how he was feeling. It was as if he was a old veteran, resting his days away in the garrison. His only contact being the young recruits who came to him for advice or a good story when the weather went bad, and it was definitely way to early for that kind of attitude.

Thankfully, through the very impressive skills of the healers at the mountain, Seig was finally able to walk, albeit with a limp, without major pain for once. Although he knew it would maybe be a season more before he could fight like he used too. But that didn't mean he would just let himself waste away. But he had been wounded before in battle, and knew better than to move too quickly or try to train, as that would only draw out his recovery time.

So instead he spent his time, under guard mind you, slowly exploring the mountain or as much as he was allowed to see. It was actually very impressive both from a purely aesthetic perspective and from a military viewpoint. With so many passages and offshoots it would be nearly impossible for a invading army to find there way unless they had a inside agent, which Seig suspected was one of the reasons he was still under guard. But it was still quiet a fortress.

Today though he had thought about going to the training hall and observing the different styles of combat that these western creatures practiced when he was distracted by shouting and generally noise from what he had been told was the mess hall. Glancing to his stoic hare guard the hare only nodded and followed the now white ferret inside. Soon enough Seig was left by himself as the hare went off to appease his voracious appetite. Glancing around at the hares most avoided eye contact with him, but a lot of the younger ones started to whisper and debate amongst themselves if he was a part of some snow hare thing?

Shrugging Seig eventually managed to grab some of the food set out on the table and slow walk over to a little side table near the door. Munching away happily on the excellent food he looked up when a loud shout rang out and Lord Braythe entered, Miss Fawn behind him. Quickly clearing his mouth and throat of food he sat upright and gave a quick salute to both creatures, not trying to do a quick stand with his foot. "My Lord, mam." He said once he was done, the hare set to guard him still piling his plate high. Seig only nodded to the hare that walked over to greet the two before Seig let his arm fall back to the table, forgetting his food for the moment.

(o.o, that was longer than I thought it would be...sorry.)

[.:Fawn:.]

"M'lord," he said as way of greeting. "Something wrong?"

Of course something was wrong! Vicky was leaving the mountain! That alone should've sent everyone immediately into sulking heaps of misery and woe... But the cooks had prepared warm food to combat the unpleasant chill settling over Salamandastron, and the hares had, apparently, put aside their angst for the sake of filling up their bellies. At least, that's what Braythe assumed. Ears folding back, the Badger Lord didn't bother cutting corners.
"Vicky's heading to Redwall, and you'n'--" He paused, glancing around for the closest victim, and saw a lanky golden-furred hare with his arm in a sling chatting with a Brigadier who looked only mildly interested.
"You'n'Southpaw are going to be her escorts." He concluded, and the hare in question perked his ears, catching wind of the assignment he'd almost missed. Southpaw raised his arm to salute but winced and rested it back against the sling, habit apparently making him forget his injuries. Ow. Right. Why Braythe was sending an injured hare to be Victiore's escort was anyone's guess... Probably to help the poor lad stretch his legs.

"Good Afternoon your lordship!" Chimed the golden-furred Long Patrol hare, strolling over with a polite but cheerful expression on his face. "Do we get to eat before we go? You wouldn't be so cruel as to send a couple'o famished hares out into the bitter, driving wind with nought but a breadcrumb between us!"

Braythe, who was fully aware of the gluttony (and the overdramatization) of hares, gave a nod of his head, looking down at them. "Eat before you go, but you'll be leavin' today so be ready." There was an unpleasant bite to the Badger Lord's words, and Southpaw frowned as though he couldn't quite figure out why he seemed more...grumpy than usual. Oh right. Victiore was leaving! Those two really had gotten to be good friends, hadn't that? Feeling sympathetic, Southpaw made it his personal duty to eat as slowly and as much as possible in order to give Braythe more time with Victiore before she left.

The Badger Lord, feeling misery settle into his stomach like a stone, glanced around to spot an injured ferret addressing him as "My Lord". His first instinct was to grab the poor creature by the throat and throttle him until he explained his reason for being here, but then Braythe realized Seig was here before he had crushed his foot on accident... Oops. Still, the ferret was now sitting in the mess hall with his hares and eating some very good food, so Braythe didn't exactly feel too guilty (not that he ever had. A ferret was a ferret, which was no friend of his)...
The little pest probably LIKES it here.
The massive badger gave Seig a piercing look, clearly debating whether to take his misery and anger out on the poor creature or to just stare at him until he became so uncomfortable, he couldn't swallow his food.

[Tracy]

Jamie had been waiting for the opportunity to travel away from Salamandastron for months, but now that it had arrived, he found he wasn't terribly eager to trek inland in the dead of winter. If they all thought there was a lot of snow now, just wait until they were in the middle of a Mossflower Wood winter. Also, he was more than a little curious what could be so important to warrant an abrupt trip to Redwall. He could think of a few things, but none that would involve the reticent mousemaid.

Still, it wasn't his right to question an order from the Badger Lord, so he only nodded his understanding. His gaze only strayed momentarily as Braythe cast around for a second escort, choosing Southpaw apparently without prejudice. So had Jamie only been chosen because he happened to be walking past the badger at that moment? Swell. Still, he knew the badger's affection for Vicky, so he wouldn't send just anybeast, right?

Jamie stood there silently, waiting for more instructions, but was only brought into an awkward silence as the badger, instead, took to glaring down their current ferret ward. The hare had heard enough about the ermine and how he'd come to be injured, despite the Badger Lord's desire for discretion. Although Jamie had a fairly obvious source inside the infirmary, he also hoped Braythe would come to learn that secrets were never kept inside Salamandastron.

When Southpaw went back to his food, Jamie carefully cleared his throat. "Well, I should alert the kitchen on travelin' rations. We'll need more'n usual to travel in this weather." He meant to ask what time 'leaving today' entailed, but regardless, he didn't have much time to dally. Packing for a winter trip was tough enough, but he needed to oversee rations, as well as tell Roseleaf and his family he would be away.

Which reminded him. "You've told the infirmary staff, right? Don't want them thinkin' you're there to take care o' things when you aren’t." It seemed an innocent enough request of the mouse. He rather hoped Vicky would explain to him why they were going to Redwall, but he didn't want to ask with Braythe standing there.

[Cross]

"You aren't going alone," he muttered darkly, as though the idea of such a thing still harried him. "You'll be going with two escorts, and I'LL be picking them."

"Yessir," Vicky said quickly, ears flattening. It was clear Braythe was not very happy with the idea of her traveling by herself. But she thought it might be rude to ask two of the hard-working hares to just drop everything and come with her to Redwall. She knew Braythe was the Badgerlord and everything, but . . . Before she could work up any kind of nerve to protest, Sersea and one of the Varilde twins had already been chosen.

So, Jamie and Southpaw. (Vicky was glad Braythe had said the twin's name. She probably would've called him Eastpaw on accident.) These were the two hares she'd be traveling with, Badgerlord's orders. She knew Jamie somewhat, and South seemed friendly enough. Okay, this wouldn't be so bad.

At the mention of food, Vicky actually found she was quite hungry. It wouldn't hurt to eat before the journey. She barely noticed the ferret a few feet away as a lovely-looking bowl of fruit caught her eye. Were those . . . strawberries? In the winter? How had--

"You've told the infirmary staff, right? Don't want them thinkin' you're there to take care o' things when you aren’t."

"Hmm?" the question startled her, and the little mouse turned to Sersea. "Oh, um, yes, I did." Sort of. A note seemed like an impolite way to tell Roseleaf she was leaving now that she thought about it. Maybe she should go back and find Roseleaf herself. Maybe after they ate.
-----

((Sorry if that's not much to go on. Just wanted to get a post up.))

[Tulian Solum]

Soon going back to eating once he had offered his greeting Seig had just starting on chewing on something he could only guess the name at and had another piece on his fork when the Badger lord started to look at him. Swallowing his mouthful and setting his fork down on the table Seig calmly returned the stare. Which made several hares in the hall scooch a little away from the two staring beasts.

But by now Seig's hare guard was back, and completely oblivious to His lord and prisoners staring contest he set a bowl of piping hot soup on the table beside them, with a few other plates, and began to chow down. The steam rising up to flow between Seig and Braythe, making it seem like a staring battle to the death, and causing a recruit to comment to his fellow cadet; "Ye see m'gel, tis how the snow creatures communicate, can't be lettin us know their plans for later winter."

To which he only received a eye roll as they continued staring, the guard making all the food vanish off the table.

(Sorry for the shortness >.<)

[Kenyon]

"Ah-hem." Someone cleared their throat behind the white mouse. Somehow she managed to sound icy, even with such a small noise. Roseleaf stared down on her assistant, one paw on her hip, brow lifted as if asking for explanation. The other paw held out a note.

"Surely... after seasons of work together... after all ye've learned... ye would ken well enough to know that a note does not cut it, Victiore." No, a note did NOT cut it. Just as whispering to her tiny white feet when she should be telling the recruits just how much, and when, that medicine should be taken. Just as she should learn to stand up to that idiot of a badger. Snow Badger, her third left foot.

"I know ye ken better. So all I can say is that I am very disappointed." Roseleaf lapsed into silence, letting the quiet speak for her. She waited, eyes on her assistant.

[Cross]

"Ah-hem."

"Eep!" Vicky whirled around, green eyes wide with fright at the sight of the irritated haremaid. Ears flat, the mouse shrank back as she received a thorough talking-to from her superior. A well-deserved talking-to. No, a note did not cut it in the least.

Rubbing the back of her neck nervously, Vicky murmured, "I'm so sorry, Mizz Roseleaf . . . I--you--it's . . . You have every reason to be disappointed." She took a deep breath. "I c-couldn't find you at first, and then, um, I--well, I didn't think." That was true. Her main concern at that moment had been to tell the Badgerlord. But her mentor had the right to know. Had the right to be told in person.

"I really am sorry," Victiore repeated. "I was coming to tell you, though . . ." She trailed off lamely, as if that last part made up for it.

[Tracy]

Jamie turned at the clearing of a throat, allowing just a brief pleased moment that Roseleaf had shown up so he wouldn't have to go and find her. But she was clearly unhappy about something. As the infirmary-keeper started in on her tirade, brandishing the bit of parchment in her paw, he knew what had happened.

When he'd asked the mousemaid if she'd told the staff about her imminent departure, that was certainly not what he'd meant. Jamie gave Vicky a reproachful glance, but said nothing. Surely a verbal lashing from Roseleaf was sufficient enough punishment. He allowed the smallest smile of amusement to himself, noting how much more pronounced the haremaid's accent got when she was indignant.

But the young lieutenant remained silent as Roseleaf and Vicky hashed it out. He'd talk to Roseleaf when she wasn't distracted and hopefully less upset, then he could tell her he was also leaving. Jamie wasn't really sure how much she'd care, aside from just missing him a bit. She'd probably be even less concerned about the trip than he was. It wasn't just his first trip away from Salamandastron since the two had been together, but his first since he was brought back to the mountain unconscious and near death; so long ago now, it felt.

[Kenyon]

"I'm so sorry, Mizz Roseleaf . . . I--you--it's . . . You have every reason to be disappointed." She took a deep breath. "I c-couldn't find you at first, and then, um, I--well, I didn't think."

Roseleaf took a deep breath, deliberately not looking sidewise at what Jamie surely thought was a subtle little smirk. She sighed. “Victiore, child, I thought we had taught you better. You really need to learn to stand up for yourself. You will always run into creatures who doubt your abilities, whether they are a healer themselves or not. Stand up for yourself. Your patients will need it.” She paused, then added; “And come back to visit, yes?”

She turned to Jamie, “And you are obviously quite amused at something, Sersea.”

[Cross]

“Victiore, child, I thought we had taught you better. You really need to learn to stand up for yourself. You will always run into creatures who doubt your abilities, whether they are a healer themselves or not. Stand up for yourself. Your patients will need it.” She paused, then added; “And come back to visit, yes?”

"Muh?" Vicky was quite surprised at Roseleaf's reply. Mainly, that Roseleaf had not gotten angry at her. The surprise quickly turned to relief at the haremaid's request. The white mouse nodded eagerly.

"Of-of course," she mumbled. "I'm, um, only visiting Redwall, actually." She had come to think of the mountain as her home, or at least her place of lodging, over these past few seasons. She wouldn't be able to stay away very long.

[Tracy]

Jamie was also surprised by Roseleaf's sudden mood shift. The haremaid tended to be really hard on Vicky, and the one time Jamie actually thought the mouse was in the wrong, Roseleaf had let it go pretty easily. By the time Roseleaf had turned her attention to the lieutenant, his amusement had already changed to the look of surprise. However, it seemed she'd noticed the smile. He wasn't even aware he'd shown outward amusement.

"And you are obviously quite amused at something, Sersea."

The hare blinked, pointing at himself in confusion. "Hm? Oh, no. No. I was jus'... jus' thinkin' about... it's just funny... Ripley," he said blankly, recalling her little 'Snow Badger' lesson a few minutes ago. "She was tellin' some leverets about the mystical Snow Badger an' his magic hares."

Jamie might be the worst liar ever, but he knew it. He didn't even try to pretend his answer was serious. Instead, he opted for an irreproachable smile. But the smile dropped quickly with a topic change. "An' Sersea?" he said incredulously. "Really?"

Crossing his arms, he looked at Roseleaf. "Y'know, jus' for that, I'm going t'Redwall, too."