Afternoon Stroll

[Tracy]

Not only was it a stunningly beautiful day, it was also Jamie's day off. He had virtually no commitments; no training session of his own, no officer responsibilities, no group or private lessons. It was truly a free day. He completed his own routine in the morning so he could relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

After finishing his jogging and workout regimen, he had cleaned up and dressed down in a casual tunic, sleeves rolled up to his elbows in light of the warm day. On days he wasn't obligated to be in uniform, he also had a few personal accessories of his own he had a tendency to wear. Like today he wore a small wooden emblem that had been hooked onto a thick loop of brown thread and hung about his neck. Also, on his left wrist was a bracelet made of tightly woven thread and earth-toned beads.

Jamie spent most of the morning and early afternoon with his family, whom he rarely got to see all at the same time, though he specifically made time for his little sister as often as possible. This particular afternoon they'd all found time to lunch together and actually took a picnic lunch outside in the sunny, breezy warmth. After eating, they'd enjoyed the day more outside, running about playing tag and throwing a ball about. Eventually they all had various responsibilities to attend to: Jamie's mother with her music lessons, his stepfather with his officer commitments, and his little sister with afternoon history lessons.

Bidding goodbye to his family, Jamie made his way back inside. Although having enjoyed the impromptu events thus far today, he was looking forward to the only plan he'd had in his head all day. Jogging up a set of stairs near the mess hall, he swung around a corner and walked up to the infirmary. When was the last time he'd been here twice in three days? Never. Not once.

The door was open so Jamie held onto the doorframe and leaned in a bit, lightly knocking on the door to gain attention. "'Lo? Anyone here?"

[Grath]

The day had been going well. Not one hare was in sick, even the leverets and recruits had managed to escape practice without more than a scrape or a scratch.

However, midmorning brought an end to that. There was quite a lot of commotion as hares poured into the infirmary, all talking at once, it seemed, with varying views on what had happened. Roseleaf had come out of her office, where she was tallying up inventory, afraid she had the remnants of a big battle on her paws. Fortunately this was not the case, as she and Dotty soon ascertained after creating some order in the infirmary.

It was the Varilde runners, back from their extended patrol, and they had a guest with them. Roseleaf sent Jiffy off to inform Nicodemus of his sibling’s arrival and location, then to find food for the three hares. They were obviously exhausted.

It was some hours later, the infirmary was now silent as the new occupants slept their drugged sleep. She was staring at the wall of her office, debating the pros and cons on skipping out on inventory. By all accounts, it was a beautiful day, though she couldn’t be certain as her office had no windows.

"'Lo? Anyone here?"

She was starting to doze off in the warm closeness when she heard a series of knocks and a question. She appeared at her office door,

“Aye, an’ they’re sleepin’!” She said in soft-toned rebuke, coinciding with Dotty, who heaved herself from her chair in the corner and cam closer to inspect the Lieutenant. “Ye ain’t sick, are ye, laddie?” The harewife asked.

[Tracy]

“Aye, an’ they’re sleepin’!”

"Sorry," Jamie replied softly, glancing over a bit to see the various sleeping hares in the room. He'd heard about two of the Varilde siblings arriving from a run and that they'd run into a bit if trouble. Since, by all accounts, they were all right, he hadn't given it much thought. He hadn't heard about the spare hare they'd managed to scrounge up though.

He was pleased to see Roseleaf, even if she was reprimanding him for interrupting the quiet atmosphere. But he was even more pleased to see the older harewife milling about. Hopefully that meant it would be easier to get Roseleaf away from the infirmary for a bit.

“Ye ain’t sick, are ye, laddie?”

"No no, I'm fine," Jamie said, holding his paws up a bit defensively. Truth be told, the young officer had an irrational fear of the infirmary. While he could walk in and visit, it would hopefully be a brief visit, and he by no means would be "seen to." When he was injured or felt ill, he did everything in his power to avoid the infirmary. Clearing his throat, he slowly lowered his paws.

"Actually, I was jus' looking for Roseleaf here," he replied to Dotty, before then returning his attention to the younger haremaid. "So, I'm sure you're busy, but was wonderin' if mayhap you could afford yourself a little break?" he started in slowly.

"I'm sure Dotty could hold down the fort for a short bit, wot?" he said this as he looked at the harewife, his voice dripping honey, throwing her his warmest smile.

"Dunno if you've heard, but it's beautiful out. 'Twould be a shame to miss it outright, eh? How 'bout a little walk?"

He sincerely wanted to offer Roseleaf the opportunity to enjoy the day even for a little bit, but he wouldn't deny having ulterior motives. He wanted to get to know her better, preferably alone. Jamie had spent all of five minutes alone with the haremaid before being thrown into company with her older brother. Such a warm, gorgeous day couldn't be taken for granted, and Jamie intended to use it.

[Grath]

"No no, I'm fine,"

“Aye? Are ye sure, lad?” Dottie, in addition to being the mother of her own brood (now almost completely grown), was an aunt seventeen times over and a great-aunt five times over, and took her duties in the infirmary very seriously. She scrutinized him closely, then resided, paws crossed over her ample bosom.

"Actually, I was jus' looking for Roseleaf here,"

“Ah, so that’s what it is.” She gave the young lieutenant that patented look of old harewives, the one that said ‘I know what you’re up to’ and ‘you can’t fool me’ and whatever else it was intended to convey.

Roseleaf blinked in surprise, she wouldn’t have thought he’d come just to see her, though it was nice to be called on for something other than duty. “But you said yore not sick, lad?” She asked, coming closer, instinctively checking on each sleeping Varilde (plus guest) as she passed them.

"So, I'm sure you're busy, but was wonderin' if mayhap you could afford yourself a little break?"

“Or injured--Oh.” Roseleaf stood by the newcomer’s bed, turning the idea over. A legitimate reason to leave inventory, possibly the most boring thing in existence?

"I'm sure Dotty could hold down the fort for a short bit, wot?"

Dotty winked at Jamie, then moved swiftly into action, grabbing Roseleaf by the shoulders and manuevering her towards the door. She talked on and on, right over Roseleaf’s protests.

“Tis a good idea, lassie, ye nevva get outta here enough…they’ll be fine, ‘tis mostly exhaustion, anyhow…it’s a beautiful day out…inventory can wait…no, no, really, do go on.” In no time the two found themselves outside the infirmary, the door shut firmly behind them.

“Well…” Roseleaf began.

"Dunno if you've heard, but it's beautiful out. 'Twould be a shame to miss it outright, eh? How 'bout a little walk?"

Suddenly the haremaid smiled. “Actually, sah, I do think I’d enjoy that, wot!”

[Tracy]

Jamie hadn't been sure what to expect of Dottie; if she'd be all right with him taking Roseleaf away for a bit, or if she'd be annoyed that he was taking away her help. He was pleasantly surprised to find that not only was the harewife all right with his plan, but she was helping him with it.

He watched as Roseleaf finally understood why he was actually there, and she seemed surprised. Jamie had said he wanted to make their meet-ups a regular thing. Perhaps Roseleaf hadn't thought he was serious? He wondered what she would think if she knew he'd been waiting to see her ever since they last parted only a couple days ago.

Grinning as Dottie all but tossed them from the room, he turned to Roseleaf as they were very definitely closed out of the infirmary. “Actually, sah, I do think I’d enjoy that, wot!”

Jamie laughed, rolling his eyes a bit at this final admission. "I really don't think Dottie was givin' you a choice there, wot." He lifted his paw, meaning to take her elbow to lead her out, but thought better of it. Instead, he just held his paw out towards the nearby staircase. "After you, m'gel."

"Also, did you really 'lad' me again?" he queried in disbelief, shaking his head. "Roseleaf m'gel, if you keep actin' like some old harewife, believe me, I'll obligingly treat you as such."

He walked with Roseleaf down the stairs, meaning to start some idle chatter, but it was difficult with all the activity inside the mountain. They were constantly being jostled or having random acquaintances pausing to say their hellos. Jamie really couldn't understand why everybeast wasn't outside as they should be. Once they got outside, they found the main shoreside gate open wide this particular afternoon. With so many hares wanting to go out to enjoy the weather, even for a short bit, the guards finally felt it was pointless to have them closed.

Out of the gate and walking a bit down the sand, it was finally more quiet and peaceful. The sun was bright in the cloudless sky, warming the white sand beneath them. The ever-present sea breeze gently complemented the warm sunshine. The sun kissed the top of every ripple and wave in the sea, making the water look like it was covered with glittering silver sequins.

Motioning his arm to the right, he indicated they should walk toward the north. Although there were many hares out enjoying the day, the shore was so wide and distant, it still felt like they were very much alone. "Y'seemed a little hesitant to go out for a walk," he started in with a bit of smile, and he nodded a bit to indicate their surroundings. "Hope y'don't feel that way anymore, wot."

After a quiet moment, he continued. "So, tell me about yourself."

[Grath]

"I really don't think Dottie was givin' you a choice there, wot." He lifted his paw, meaning to take her elbow to lead her out, but thought better of it. Instead, he just held his paw out towards the nearby staircase. "After you, m'gel."

Roseleaf led the way towards the staircase, chuckling a little. “Nay, ye’re right, Jamie. Dottie can get the oddest notions sometimes!” She shook her head, trotting down the staircase. As hares stopped her or waved, she responded, calling out greetings and throwing waves at her friends.

"Also, did you really 'lad' me again?" he queried in disbelief, shaking his head. "Roseleaf m'gel, if you keep actin' like some old harewife, believe me, I'll obligingly treat you as such."

They were walking side by side now, out of the gate. She kicked at the sand, feeling it with something between gratitude and joy beneath her bare paws. It was a warm feeling, and it was a beautiful day, just as advertised. She had a sudden longing to just go pounding down the sand, racing away from the mountain and maybe never coming back. Instead she kicked up more sand and followed Jamie.

“It’s a habit, sorry.”

After a quiet moment, he continued. "So, tell me about yourself."

She shrugged, picking up a seashell and turning it absently in her paws. “Not much to tell, really. I’m 25, I’m head o’ the infirmary an’ my name’s Roseleaf.” She smiled impishly at him. “Now you, I’m sure there’s loads to tell about you. So spill!”

[Tracy]

Jamie continued the slow amble down the warm sand, watching Roseleaf as they made their way down the beach. He was a bit surprised by her short, uninformative response. He supposed, having convinced her to come out for a walk with him, he'd have been able to get her to open up a bit.

"Not much t'tell, Roseleaf? I find that jolly well hard t'believe," he said a bit disapprovingly. "Mayhap you can tell me how I was outshot with a bow by the infirmary keeper, eh? Infirmary keeper tends t'bring a bit of a different imagine t'mind. Somebeast older, more of a homebody... Somebeast... well, like Dottie." It occurred to him that was basically who he was describing.

Turning his sea-green gaze back to the haremaid, he gave her a little once-over. "Not a haremaid like you," he said, and there was a lot behind that glance, and that statement. No one could ever claim that Jamie wasn't bold; a confident hare with the wit (and looks) to back it up. However, he left it there, and could only hope Roseleaf was stuck thinking about it - and him - later.

"All right, fine," he went on lightly, also stooping to pick up a seashell that was half-buried in the sand. A pen shell, fairly common, but still a fascinating little thing. He turned it back and forth a little, letting the sun catch the shiny shell as it glittered in a seemingly endless array of colors.

"My favorite color's green," he started in a joking tone. "Well, I was raised most o' my childhood by my mother. Because o' her I'm embarrassingly good at a number of musical instruments, dancing, what have you... She remarried when I was twelve. My favorite creature ever is my little half-sister, Keely." He took a thoughtful breath as he thought of what else to say. "I became a runner for the Patrol the day I turned thirteen. Enlisted private at the age o' sixteen, officer two years later."

He turned then to Roseleaf to see if that was satisfactory. "Now, be fair. Tell me somethin' about you I don't know yet."

[Grath]

"Not much t'tell, Roseleaf? I find that jolly well hard t'believe," he said a bit disapprovingly. "Mayhap you can tell me how I was outshot with a bow by the infirmary keeper, eh? Infirmary keeper tends t'bring a bit of a different imagine t'mind. Somebeast older, more of a homebody... Somebeast... well, like Dottie." It occurred to him that was basically who he was describing.

She blinked in surprise, her face turning thoughtful as she turned the shell over in her paws. “Oh. Well. My father raised Aidan by haulin’ him after him in the mountain. When I came along he didn’t see any reason to change that, though I was always more interested in the bows.” She shrugged, tossing the seashell in favor of a different one. She picked this up, running a finger along the spirals.

"Not a haremaid like you,"

Roseleaf could just tell she was blushing, her face was so hot. She looked away, a small smile on her face.

"All right, fine," […] "My favorite color's green," he started in a joking tone. "Well, I was raised most o' my childhood by my mother. Because o' her I'm embarrassingly good at a number of musical instruments, dancing, what have you... She remarried when I was twelve. My favorite creature ever is my little half-sister, Keely." He took a thoughtful breath as he thought of what else to say. "I became a runner for the Patrol the day I turned thirteen. Enlisted private at the age o' sixteen, officer two years later."

He turned then to Roseleaf to see if that was satisfactory. "Now, be fair. Tell me somethin' about you I don't
know yet."

She pondered, thinking on her life. She didn’t see it too full of events or excitement. “I’m half an only child. I’m very stubborn. I almost joined the Long Patrol.” She gave him a light shove in the shoulder and took off like a shot. She ran, turning around mid-run to see how close he was, then turned around again.

Eventually she slowed up, waiting as he panted up to her. “An’ I’m a fast runner.” She grinned, pantomiming a curtsey, as if at some great applause.

[Tracy]

Jamie watched as the small smile crept on to Roseleaf's face and the way she looked away from him, and he knew his comment had hit home. Just because of that, this little venture down the beach was now a complete success. He decided he should lay off a bit now; he didn't want to scare her away.

“I’m half an only child. I’m very stubborn. I almost joined the Long Patrol.”

Jamie turned to her at this last admission, and was just about to ask her to explain further when she pushed him and darted off down the beach. It took him a moment to register what had just happened, but then he quickly took off after her. Jamie wasn't slow - what self-respecting Long Patrol hare was? - but he was definitely no sprinter, as he was quickly learning Roseleaf was.

The young officer was too determined not to be completely outdone by this haremaid again, so he ran hard to stay on her heels, although he knew there was no passing her. When she finally stopped running, he shook his head, setting his paws on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

“An’ I’m a fast runner.”

He glanced up, giving her a look, and then shook his head with a laugh. "Is that so?" he said breathlessly. Getting his breathing under control, he stood back up. "All right m'gel, we need t'stop doing things you're good at, wot. Makin' me look pathetic," he said with a laugh. "I'm no good at settin' broken bones either, so no challengin' me in that," he joked.

"B'fore y'said you almost joined the Patrol," he brought her back to her comment earlier. "You're a better shot than most veteran soldiers an' you're quick as the runners. What stopped you from joinin'?"

[Grath]

"All right m'gel, we need t'stop doing things you're good at, wot. Makin' me look pathetic," he said with a laugh. "I'm no good at settin' broken bones either, so no challengin' me in that,"

“I would never put my patients at risk like that.” She said solemnly, raising one eyebrow. She’d known it was a joke, but kept her face straight as she played like she hadn’t. “Rather irresponsible of me as infirmary keeper, wot!” Personally she liked the thought of being able to best him in things, it was a good thing he'd never challenged her to a duel! She was horrible with a bladed weapon.

"B'fore y'said you almost joined the Patrol," he brought her back to her comment earlier. "You're a better shot than most veteran soldiers an' you're quick as the runners. What stopped you from joinin'?"

Roseleaf shrugged, picking up a starfish and tossing it back towards the sea. “Oh, I was a runner for a bit, an’ I’m a dead shot, as ye say,” no false modesty for this haremaid, “But… well. I don’t know really. When my grandmum died I just saw no reason not to continue on, an’ here we are now.”

[Tracy]

Jamie smiled a little as Roseleaf played off his joke. Contrary to popular belief, a lot of this was fairly new to Jamie. Yes, he was being very flirtatious, and he always was. What he wasn't used to was a haremaid that could keep up with his playful banter, and who wasn't already tripping over herself from his flirting. It wasn't that the young officer was terribly egotistical - although he was a bit - it was just his experience that he could get just about any haremaid wrapped around his finger with a wink and one well-placed little comment.

Knowing they would need to head back soon, but wanting to take a little breather, Jamie sat down on the sand where they were, just above the tideline. Reaching up, he took her wrist and playfully tugged her down. "Need a break. We'll go back soon."

“But… well. I don’t know really. When my grandmum died I just saw no reason not to continue on, an’ here we are now.”

He tilted his head a bit, watching her. "Do y'regret it at all?" he asked casually. "I'm sure bein' the infirmary keeper's awardin' enough an' all. But yet you're out there workin' on your shot."

He looked back a bit the way they had come. They felt fairly alone before, but now they really were. Roseleaf's little burst of energy got them a fair distance from the gates now and no one else was around. It was all right by him. It was a lovely day, and if it was a long walk back, then so be it.

[Grath]

"Need a break. We'll go back soon."

Roseleaf allowed herself to be pulled down on the sand. She arranged herself comfortably, leaning back on her paws.

He tilted his head a bit, watching her. "Do y'regret it at all?" he asked casually. "I'm sure bein' the infirmary keeper's awardin' enough an' all. But yet you're out there workin' on your shot."

“Nah, not really.” She shrugged. “I did fight in the last war with Luna, in between waves of injured, I helped keep them off the mountain.” She grew silent. “In that last battle at the mountain, when the troops were so beleaguered. I h-… I kept the horde back so the Long Patrol could retreat. Aidan purposely got himself captured, to keep th’higher ups out of Luna’s bloody paws.” She smiled bitterly. “She wasn’t always Salamandastron’s friend, wot.” She hadn’t done it alone, Kenzie and many others had been there on the ramparts. Including one of her patients, a sea otter named Grath, who ought not have been out of bed at all. “Were you there, Lieutenant?”

[Tracy]

Jamie listened to Roseleaf as she related the story, nodding along briefly as he thought back on those events. He'd fought briefly but was forced to help his contingency retreat while archers held them at bay. He recalled the battle well enough, but hadn't been able to place Roseleaf there by memory. Of course now he knew what she'd been doing, and where she'd been. Jamie also didn't realize it was her brother who'd been captured. He also recalled that being the first time he'd thought being an officer wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The rank and file Long Patrollers were far more likely to be in the thick of a battle.

"Aye, I was there," Jamie said a little blankly, though he said nothing else about it. The lieutenant, as outgoing and talkative as he could be, was not big on reminiscing battles. Just as before he didn't discuss the events in Mossflower leading up to his officer promotion with Aidan, neither did he talk about what he'd done in this battle with Roseleaf, although the circumstances were extremely different.

After being quiet for a moment, he smiled over at her a bit. "Well, I guess not bein' in the Patrol doesn't really stop you, wot." He adjusted himself a bit as he made to stand up. "Not bein' in the regiment had never... really even crossed my mind," he said with a shrug.

Standing then, he offered a paw down to help Roseleaf up. "We should be headed back. We can walk slow though," he said with a smile.

[Grath]

Roseleaf did not particularly like thinking of the battles she’d been in, and that one especially. The badger lord had had to be drugged at the gate to keep him from going to rescue his hares, and him barely conscious. Nearly losing her brother, and the fierce golden eagle who had taken up three cots, for they’d run out of beds. The blood-soaked jaguar, who fought tooth and claw and who sat and sang to her friend, the eagle, in a strange language. Major Saki going nearly loony over the female otter’s refusing to leave the battle, even as she bled heavily through the bandages on her shoulder and back. The ratess giving birth to twins and still helping her in the infirmary… a pity she had forgotten her name. So many stories and so many lives, all passing through her world and turning her nearly inside out with fatigue.

No, she’d rather block it from her mind.

"Aye, I was there,"

They sat in silence, during which Roseleaf stared rather blankly into the distance, sorting through the memories their talk had stirred up and shoving them back in their places.

"Well, I guess not bein' in the Patrol doesn't really stop you, wot." He adjusted himself a bit as he made to stand up. "Not bein' in the regiment had never... really even crossed my mind," […]"We should be headed back. We can walk slow though,"

Roseleaf took his paw and stood, releasing it to dust the sand from her tunic and trousers. “Ye mean yore afraid I’ll beat ye again.” She said, back to her normal self. She smiled back at the lieutenant. “Besides, healing is a sort of warfare.”

[Tracy]

“Ye mean yore afraid I’ll beat ye again.”

Jamie shook his head a little with a smile. That had absolutely nothing to do with why he wanted to walk back slowly. It was entirely too beautiful out, and he was enjoying his present company entirely too much to make it pass so quickly

“Besides, healing is a sort of warfare.”

Jamie looked over at her and nodded. "I believe it," he replied briefly. "In fact, 's a fight that goes on way longer'n any battle. A fighter's job ends an' yours rather starts."

They continued their walk down the shore and were walking up toward the gate. "Well, I need t'get going. Keely's lesson gets out soon an' I thought I'd surprise her an' be waitin' for her." He beckoned Roseleaf ahead of him to the gate.

But he turned to her again. "Oh! Ah... Once a week a group o' us meet for a game day. Y'know, football, walking the Log... sometimes an archery competition is set up, be we generally avoid combat sports. You should come out."

The Log was a more popular game for the younger crowd, but some of the "big kids" enjoyed playing it when the youngsters weren't about. Off on the wooded side of the mountain was a sticky, muddy pond and a big mossy log lay across it. Creatures would challenge each other to battles on the log, trying to push their foe into the mess beneath.

"Day after t'morrow, we meet up right after lunch."