//Ponderings

[//Ah-Dol]

((ooc: Open to all. Join in at any time.))

Abbess Gale was stuck in a strange situation.

She had been wandering the grounds by herself as usual, then picked up the soft pitter of pawsteps outside the Abbey. Of course, the ancient fox went to investigate, finding herself looking down upon a mouse. No ordinary mouse, mind. This one was pure white, staring up at her with expressionless red eyes. Even odder, this one was a young maid, carrying a massive longsword upon her back. The Abbess stared back, a tad shocked. A white female mouse, with a large weapon.

The ancient fox snapped out of her state when the traveler made a sudden movement; lowering her head to rest on the gates before her. Gathering herself, Abbess Gale spread her frail paws out.

"Welcome to Redwall Abbey, traveler. You must have come a very long way, but I must request, like I do to all strangers, to deposit all your weapons when you enter our Abbey. It is a place of peace" she paused, then added "your belongings will be given back to you on your departure. I give you my word as Abbess."

---


So she thought, glancing up at the elderly fox then around her surroundings this is the 'Redwall'.

It had taken her awhile to reach this place. Three days non-stop since the shores. Of course, she had to beat information out of a few beasts along the way. The creatures she encountered in Mossflower Wood long ago only spoke of it; never gave directions. She needed directions. She got them.

So now she was standing infront of some worn down old fort. An Abbey? Please. This wasn't impressive. In the middle of a ragged forest, loaded with 'vermin'. Not quite as peaceful.

"I must request, like I do to all strangers, to deposit all your weapons when you enter our Abbey. It is a place of peace"

The mouse gazed up at the so-called 'Abbess' once more. Whatever that was...was beyond her knowledge. Deposit her weapons? She would do no such thing.

"No" she muttered, but luckily the large-eared fox could hear her. "cannot comply with request. A beast, fox like yourself, shouted 'Redwall' in warcry. Attacked me without reason days ago."

---

Abbess Gale frowned, folding her thin paws in the sleeves of her robe. Only defenders of Redwall shouted that battle cry. This mouse had been attacked by a Redwaller? But...impossible. The mouse didn't look like a vermin.

Perhaps their judgement was clouded by the fact this creature was carrying a weapon... she thought, then clenched her jaw gently. That was not an excuse! Plenty of goodbeasts carried weapons. If she found the Redwaller responsible for such a thing...our word of peace is shattered by foolishness.

The elder tipped her head to the mouse. "I am deeply sorry. Let me apologize for the actions of my creatures. I was not aware of such a thing; if I was...it would not have happened. We are creatures of peace. Redwallers do not attack unless it is the last resort. But..." another pause, pools of grey gazing at the mouse's longsword. "I am still wary of your weapon, traveler. Would it be possible for you to part with it?"

---

She was not soothed. Petty words for petty creatures, after all. The mouse shook her head slowly. Her decision was made from the start. She could not trust this Redwall place. She must see inside.

---

"Then we are at a cross road, my friend" Abbess Gale called down.

[/center]

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver moved from his spot in the grounds. He let out a big yawn, that trance he was in earlier.. it left him thinking. How many times did he travel Mossflower and the lands beyond? It didn't matter anymore, he loved Redwall; experiences here were great the last time he was here a couple of seasons ago.

He slowly climbed up a vine on the wall and sat down, letting his feet dangle on the sides. Oliver noticed the two talking, the old fox on the wall and the mouse outside of the gate. "Hey, Abbess! Who're you talkin' to?"

[William]

Walking out of the main building William smiled up at the sun. Standing still for a few seconds he let the beauty of it all sink in. But some voices caught his attention as he could see the abbess talking to some beast at the gate. The fact that she wasn't opening the gates yet told him that something was wrong. Walking up to the gates he was soon standing next to the abbess. Looking down at the white mouse he looked at her and her sword. "Whats the problem Abbess?" He asked, his eyes still looking at the mouse....

[R.ush]

((ooc: Man...I haven't posted with this account for awhile...))


"Not sure" Abbess Gale replied truthfully with a slight twitch of her tail. Her grey eyes looked over to the squirrel named Oliver, then glanced to her side; Redwall's Champion was next to her. She spoke to both of them for assistance. "I have never seen this mouse before...and judging by your reactions...niether have you both."

Yet there was something she had to tell William that no other beast should hear. The ancient fox did not turn her head, but spoke in a mere whisper so only the warrior mouse could hear her. "This white mouse spoke of a fox that attacked her. Not only that; this particular fox had shouted 'Redwall!' in a warcry. We know that only our Abbeydwellers do so. She also said that the fox came at her without reason. ...I do not believe this mouse had done any harm. She is alone. I cannot sense any others. But..." the Abbess sighed, folding her frail limbs beneath the sleeves of her robe. "the mouse refuses to part with her weapon. I suppose that is natural...as she was attacked by a beast that shouted 'Redwall!'...I am unsure to let her in, still."


---


Squirrel. Mouse. Fox.

It didn't matter if a pig suddenly flew over the wall or not...they were hissing words to each other...she couldn't make it out. The mouse simply wanted to get inside, see what the buzz was about, then leave. Psh. Leave her weapon...she observed many other beasts coming into the building, loaded to their tails with steel and wood.

She thought by being a mouse...

Hrm. No. Not while foxes held conversations with beasts they could eat. Species didn't matter much here.

[Shadow Flame]

"Hmm.." He glanced over his broad shoulders down to the mouse and gave her a friendly smile, showing her that they don't want to cause any trouble. "That seems reasonable, but she should really be a little more patient. She sounds like shes getting upset." He fixed himself to a better position to be more comfortable. "She doesn't seem dangerous, the abbey should be fine if she were to attack, I am a warrior and Redwall's very own champion is right here. We should be ready for the worst case scenario." He nodded to his own ideas.

[William]

Will's expression didn't change as the abbess told him the trouble. "If she was attacked by a beast who yelled Redwall I can't blame her. I would want to keep mine if I thought I would be walking toward a abbey filled with possible enemy's." He thought for awhile, his arms still crossed over his chest. "Then again if we let her in we might be able to figure this little problem out, see if this fox that attacked her really is from the abbey, could help her trust us." He smiled slightly at Olivers comment, but didn't reply to it, this was the abbess's decision.

[//Ah-Dol]

((ooc: Err...that conversation was only for Will to hear, Shadoweh. ^^' Abbess Gale doesn't want to alert anybody else to the situation. So I'll just ignore it...))


Abbess Gale frowned, tugging on the fabric of the sleeves. It was reasonable. She knew that. But...she asked for all creatures to give up their weapons as an offer of peace, and they would be returned to them when they left...or if they needed them at any point. This...this mouse chose a very large weapon for a creature so small. A reason behind it? Perhaps...But...

"Oliver, would you please go and let our guest in? Tell her that she needn't part with her sword, but there is no reason to use it; we mean no harm to her" the ancient fox requested, turning one grey eye to look at the squirrel, the other not leaving the mouse below. Then she spoke to the Abbey Champion once more in a hushed voice. "I believe this other mouse is a skilled warrior. She carries such a large blade with ease. Nothing against you, William, but experience tells me that some warriors seek revenge against those that wrong them. Perhaps this mouse has come to get at the fox who attacked her...could some beast accompany her around the Abbey to make sure we are able to find this fox and bring him to right justice before she could possibly get her paws on him?"

[/size]

[William]

Will thought about what the abess said for awhile. She had a good point. This mouse did look skilled. But somthing told him that she wouldn't attack any of them, unless they might try to help this fox. Still, you could never tell with some beasts. "I agree with you that someone should follow her around. But I don't remember any foxes coming into the abbey in the last few days. But hopefully after awhile we can gain her trust."

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver walked down the steps and to the gate. "Open the gates." The gate keepers opened the gates, Oliver walked out. "You don't have to leave your weapon, just follow me." he guided the small mouse into the wondrous Redwall.

[R.ush]

"Thank you, Oliver" Abbess Gale said with a short nod to the squirrel as he passed by them. Observing the gates creaking open, allowing the stranger into the Abbey, she begain to walk down the steps slowly, but still carrying a conversation with William. "I must disagree. I have smelt fresh fox within the Abbey in the last couple of days. None of which I am able to put a name on. ...We must make sure that our friends know that we are not searching for a fox because it is a fox. No. More like a beast that possibly attacked another." she paused on a step. Really, the ancient fox didn't want the Abbeydwellers to worry or cause alarm. It needed to be kept secret for the time being. Until it was sorted out.

"Would you be able to show this traveler around, William? Aye, she is a good warrior. If any trouble arose; I am sure she could assist our Champion. But do not let any beast bother her on why she is here. If there is a fox within the Abbey that did attack an innocent creature...we do not want it to escape because we where not careful. ...I hope I am not imposing." the Abbess turned to the warrior mouse and gave a weak smile, then continued down the steps toward the open gates.

---


She blinked once as the large barrier infront of her gave way, waiting until it was all the way through. The red walled place...wasn't impressive. She could see a lawn, few trees, pond, a door in the distance. How dull. Why did all the wood dwelling creatures insist it was so high and mighty? Must not see much. Needed to get out and see the world.

"You don't have to leave your weapon, just follow me."

The mouse's red eyes glanced to the squirrel infront of her. Same one she saw perched up on the wall. So, they allowed her in. Good. Easy on their end.

Follow...you? she thought, thin peach tail flicking idly on the dusty ground. I follow none. Ignoring Oliver, she zipped past him to walk by. What made this place so special? Psh.

---

"Welcome" the Abbess reached the last step, looking at the stranger with a friendly gaze. "I apologize for my suspicious behaviour; like Oliver the squirrel says...you may keep your weapon. Usually travelers give them up when they stay here, but we shall allow you to keep yours...as you have not been here before. May I ask of your name, so we may greet you properly?"

The mouse returned her gaze, but without emotion reflecting in her red eyes. She said nothing either, standing there silently. Abbess Gale took that as an 'ask no questions' sort of thing.

[/center]

[William]

William nodded as he followed the Abbess. "Indeed Abbess, and I understand your concern, hopefully that fox didn't get to far." He smiled at the mouse as she walked into the abbey. "Hopefully this will all be resolved soon." He wispered to the Abbess as he walked down the steps and stood a distance away from the mouse. Smileing cheerly he nodded to her, but didn't say anything yet, truth be told he wasn't sure what to say...