...the End of a Journey

[Marian the Badger]

Marian the Badger wiped her brow and looked up at the tall, imposing redstone walls. Her traveling cloak was clasped securely under her chin, and her red scarf wrapped around her neck to ward off the winter's chill. The female badger's paws left large, plate-sized imprints in the sludgy snow mixed on the road.

For a moment she just stood there, examining the famous Abbey. After long seasons of wandering, she had come here in the hopes of finding a new home. Hope was tempered by experience, but the wise badger was eager to give this a try. After all, the kind hearts of the Abbey dwellers was well known.

Lifting a heavy paw, she knocked soundly on the heavy oak gates. "Hello in there, any room for a pawsore traveller?" She bellowed, a smile in her voice.

[Cressida.]

[[ Don't mind if I join? ^ ^ ]]

Argyros Silverfur
^{_{-- Prince of Thieves}}

An argent snout twitched up and down thrice before the entire body of the owner emerged from behind a thick and stout oak tree. He was relatively lean but muscular, and there was a definite air of charm about him. Of all creatures to come upon Redwall Abbey, it was an arctic fox. Of course, he wasn't exactly like any old fox. His lithium-colored fur seemed to glitter despite the wintery chill that swept through the forest; not to mention he was only wearing a thin, silver-colored tunic that didn't stand a chance against the frigid gusts of wind. However, Argy pretended not to notice that he was partially freezing to death, and instead strode forward boldly and made an arrogant yet cunning bow in front of the badger.

Yes, he very well knew she was a badger, and she could rip him from limb to limb in a matter of seconds. Yes, he knew that she would think he was just a scrap of vermin trying to make money off of a passersby. Yes, he knew that he looked comically ridiculous with the humongous hat plopped comfortably on his head. Did he care? Most likely not. Argyrose's mind was not one to be meddled with. Despite his everyday hysterical foolishness, there was much more logic in his noggin than most would expect.. even if it didn't exactly look that way with a giant, green feather flopping down in his face every time he bobbed his head.

Well.. This marvelous hat gives me such a delightful aura. I was so fortunate that that silly merchant hare decided to stop by and show me his wares, he thought rather amusingly before straightening to look her in the eye with his own dark cerulean ones. "Oi, there, ma'am. Argyrose Silverfur, at'cher service. Y'say you want to get into that there abbey? Hmm?

[/b]" His voice sounded almost mockingly respectful, and yet there was a certain playfulness and joviality in his tone that made him seem altogether harmless ... and Argy really was literally harmless. Of course, he might pull the odd trick here and there, or even pinch a few pies or two from the kitchens every now and then, but he was really just a kind fellow at heart. What harm could he possibly be?

[[ ... ;; crappy post? Please note that he isn't at all a bad fox. ]][/blockquote][/size][/font]

[Marian the Badger]

The tired badger turned at the sound of pawsteps behind her, seeing the form of a fox standing on the roadside. He approached and bowed before her, but it wasn't a gesture of obesience or humility. Rather, it was more a bow of greeting, with a slight mocking turn at the edges. She didn't quite know what to make of it. Normally vermin types brought her suspicions up, but she was experienced enough not to immediately reach for her weapon on sight. Besides, her only weapon was her traveling staff, gripped in one paw - which was her other weapon. Paws, teeth and claws did quite well in a skirmish, though Marian preferred the more civilised method of the stave.

"Oi, there, ma'am. Argyrose Silverfur, at'cher service. Y'say you want to get into that there abbey? Hmm?"

She lifted an eyebrow, and then nodded. "Yes I am, Silverfur. I believe that I am waiting for a guardsbeast, perhaps, to answer my knock and allow me entry." her voice was slightly gruff, as she did not trust the fox.

"Are you familiar with the Abbey then?"

[falohn]

(Is it ok if I join?)

[Marian the Badger]

((The more the merrier!))

[Cressida.]

Argyros Silverfur
^{_{-- Prince of Thieves}}

[/b]

As usual, the cunning and dramatic creature took his time in reacting to her words. Out of nowhere, he feigned a surprised expression of mock hurt and injury. Continuing his conceited act, he nodded his head so slowly that it looked almost painful, and turned away with his lean back facing the brawny badger. "Ahh, 'tis a shame when not a single creature can roam about the woods without having a wagon-ful of suspicion loaded on his shoulders," he remarked to himself, casting a shifty glance back over his shoulder to see if Marian was still watching. He never had time to see if the striped head was still turned towards him, but nonetheless, he had a faint feeling that her eyes were still on him. Argy had no choice but to continue with his 'marvelous' dramatization, exaggerating his disappointment in today's society.

And then it was as if nothing had ever happened and he had been standing alongside Marian the entire time. At the sound of her question, he had immediately popped up beside her with a crafty, sly smile painted over his handsome, charming snout. "Well 'course I know the Abbey. Who doesn't?" He winked at her before putting a silver-furred arm around her shoulder (he really had to stretch, for she was still several feet taller than her) as if they were friends. Making a broad, sweeping motion at the looming form of the Redwall Abbey, he nodded his head sagely. "The question is whether I know how to get you inside without having to wait for those infernal rodents to show up with their whiskery old faces[/b]," he muttered, clearly expressing his distaste at the inhabitants' late response.

Argy's paw strayed down towards the sheath the cased his lockpicking dagger, Dismas. Would he really risk his reputation by breaking into the abbey so she could get inside. Frowning, he slowly broke away from the dagger and waited for her response.[/size][/blockquote][/font]

[William]

By now a long figure had taken up station right over the main gate. It was true that he stood out in his brown jacket. But they beasts on the path seemed a bit to preoccupied to notice him. The mouse smiled slightly at the foxes antics, he seemed harmless enough, but Will knew all to well that looks could be deceiving. But he knew the abbey rules, and would have to give this fox a chance. Blowing some snow from his snout he watched the two down on the path, watchign to see what they would do, making sure he had his sword hidden under the battlements just in case.

[Marian the Badger]

Marian smiled to the fox, but placed a friendly (yet heavy) paw on his shoulder. "Nay, I don't think breaking into the gates would be a way to receive a welcome. Let's ask that fellow up there,"

For she had noticed the mouse's arrival, her quick, trained eyes spotting the movement as the fox had been speaking.

Cupping her large white paws around her snout, she bellowed up to the unnamed guardian. "HULLO UP THERE! Any way for two travelers to stop inside?"

[William]

Will smiled down at the badger. Nodding he disapeared below the battlements. It was some time before a heavy thud, the sound of the large bar barring the gate had been dropped. The doors swung open and the mouse stood in the doorway. Stepping to the side he sweeped his paw to the main abbey building. "Welcome to Redwall friends." He said with a broad smile