Further ((OPEN))

[Promatera]

As Paggle called over several shrew wives, Dandelion remained by Cross' side. Memories of how helpless she was when both her mother and her father passed away came rushing back to her and and kept her distressed. Cross tried muttering things to her, but she was not paying attention. Dandelion felt a need to do something, but she just did not know what.

"Dandelion, please," he groaned softly, taking her paws away from the wound. "Listen to me." He turned her worried face to look her directly in the eyes. "It is just a cut. Do not fret over me. I have survived worse." He closed his eyes in shame once more. "I am sorry for causing you distress."

Cross' voice brought Dandelion back to the present situation and as the shrew wives arrived on the scene. Now she felt embarrassed. Normally she kept to herself, but after meeting Cross that morning she felt she had found a real friend. Seeing Cross hurt, she would do anything to help, but she was probably making the whole situation worse.

Dandelion nodded and silently stepped away just as medicine beast came onto the scene. As she left, Paggle approached her.

"Mizz Danny, yon shrewers appear ta 'ave zurr Crozzerz unner controol, that likkle ol' un'll have ee young ripper bunged'n'corked in noo toime, beleeve oi. An' ee'll 'ave nuff attenshuns froom ee granfer-shrewers, they'm gurtly impresserd by ee poike wot's been catcherd they'm'll bee a-tellin 'im a gurt story aboot 'isself zoon 'nuff. Do ya wanna help oi get ee skins off'n ee poike? Ol' Crozzerz gots a gurtly lot of help as 'tis, an' 'tis a-shamin 'im ta be worrierred aboot, oi can sees et in 'is likkle oye."

"O-of course," she stammered, "I don't know what came over me." Quickly donning her rough persona, Dandelion grabbed the knife she had used to peel the vegetables and quickly went to work peeling the pike. Now that she was doing something, she felt much more in control and felt the festive atmosphere returning.

"Thank you, Paggle," she said as she finished skinning the fish, "I was just acting ridiculous."

[Cross]

Cross held onto Dandelion's paws for a moment longer before Paggle pulled her aside. He felt so ashamed. He barely heard the old shrew wife telling him how brave he was, and how much better he'd be once she patched him up. He wasn't brave. He was stupid for causing his friends to worry about him so much.

He sat up gingerly and silently bore the treatment the shrew wives administered, lost in his thoughts. He really was an idiot. He had gone on a leisure hunt when he could have just stopped after catching the shrimp. What if the camp had been attacked? He would have been out in the middle of the water, unable to help his friends. Cursing under his breath, he closed his eyes again, inhaling sharply as a shrew struck a tender spot on his shoulders.

"I ain't seen no beast catch a pike that big'n twenny years!" the shrew exclaimed. "Yew got guts, planktail!" Cross winced, opening his eyes a little and nodding politely. The old shrew wife shooed the male away and began attending to the sea otter's shoulders, right above the big dark cross marking on his back.

With a short groan, Cross nearly doubled over as another sharp pain shot down his side. He looked up and saw Dandelion busily preparing the pike. The otter cursed again, dropping his head back down. How was he going to explain his reckless act to her? That instinct took over when he faced a predator in the water? That he just hadn't thought of his actions as dangerous? Both explanations sounded weak, but they were the truth. He just hadn't been thinking. He had only been acting.

"Will I be able to walk again tonight, marm?" he asked the ancient shrew wife, his voice still hoarse.

[King Benon]

"O-of course," she stammered, "I don't know what came over me."
"Thank you, Paggle," she said as she finished skinning the fish, "I was just acting ridiculous."

Paggle shook his great velvety head sagely, "Hurr Hurr burr no, marm. You'm not bein' reedikilix. Zurr Crozzerz bees thoi friend, you'm roight ta fret over 'im. He'm not a-meanin' ta worryer yer mizz Danny, he'm jus' behavin' loik all ee h'otters do. Daon't bee too 'ard on 'im. You'm loik ee tater, boi okey. At firs' you'm ak all tough'n'ard loik, 'cept when ee water gets a-boilerin you'm get all zoft'n'warm fer ee buddies. Et's good, bein' loik ee taters." He patted Dandy on the back, and handed her the unboiled potato he had used to demonstrate.

Paggle gathered up the skin of the pike and tossed it into the stream, watching as small fish came and nibbled little bits off of it.

((OCCURRING SIMULTANEOUSLY))


"Will I be able to walk again tonight, marm?"

"Bah, 'course ye young rip. Ye'll be fine, I 'magine th'liddle yella mousemaid put the shame onta ya did she? Jus' put on a strong face an' she'll be a'right. Hop up now, yer fine." The ancient shrew wife gave Cross a mischievous smile as she began prodding him with her cane, urging him to rouse himself. As she walked away the formerly banished male grandshrews came rushing back, clapping him about the shoulders and pulling him to his feet. They squabbled with eachother in their excitement:

"In my day, a catch like that took two boat crews!" "No it didden' yew ol' coot! Took three!" "I dunno when your day was, many a season ago I recon, bristlebonce" "Who're you callin' bristlebonce, spikefur?" "Yew yer grizzled ol prune!" "Gristled sthingy? Yer brain's scrambled, yer not makin' the sense no more!"

As the swarm of shrews approached, Paggle waded through and took cross by the arm, leading him away from the arguing shrews and towards where he and Dandy had been preparing the meal. He uncorked the barrel of nettle beer and poured three tankards. He passed one to Cross, Dandy, and kept one for himself.

"Hurr hurr, Oi never did congraturlate yer, zurr. A gurtly foine poike fer ee supper tonoight. An' a few noice zhrimps fer ee appertizler, oi moight add. Oh burr aye." He clinked tankards with Cross and Dandy and drained the nettle beer in one swig.

He left them alone as he went back to the fire, skewering the shrimp on a few oak twigs and seasoning them lightly before setting them over the fire. He filleted the pike, roasting half of it and salting the other half for storage, he stirred his pie filling with his trusty paddle and poured the steaming stew into the massive crust, rolling the top sheet of pastry over the entire Turnip'n'Tater'n'Beetroot pie. Having finished his work for the moment, he plopped himself down on a fallen tree and licked his paddle clean.

[Promatera]

Paggle shook his great velvety head sagely, "Hurr Hurr burr no, marm. You'm not bein' reedikilix. Zurr Crozzerz bees thoi friend, you'm roight ta fret over 'im. He'm not a-meanin' ta worryer yer mizz Danny, he'm jus' behavin' loik all ee h'otters do. Daon't bee too 'ard on 'im. You'm loik ee tater, boi okey. At firs' you'm ak all tough'n'ard loik, 'cept when ee water gets a-boilerin you'm get all zoft'n'warm fer ee buddies. Et's good, bein' loik ee taters." He patted Dandy on the back, and handed her the unboiled potato he had used to demonstrate.

In all her life Dandelion never imagined she would be compared to a potato. However, the mole's wisdom was comforting. Though she did wish he was easier to follow. Plopping the potato into the cooking pot she sat down to enjoy the evening hours. She watched as the all the beasts interacted with each other. It was fascinating to see all the creatures getting along so well. Dandelion was still foreign to society.

It was not long until Paggle reappeared bringing Cross along with him. After passing nettle beer around the mole congratulated them for the evening's work.

"Hurr hurr, Oi never did congraturlate yer, zurr. A gurtly foine poike fer ee supper tonoight. An' a few noice zhrimps fer ee appertizler, oi moight add. Oh burr aye." He clinked tankards with Cross and Dandy and drained the nettle beer in one swig.

Following the mole's example, Dandelion took a quick swig. She would regret this. As the drink poured down her throat, it felt as though she had just swallowed fire. She coughed, but quickly put on a smile to show she enjoyed her host's hospitality.

Paggle returned to his cooking for the moment leaving Cross and Dandelion alone. She decided not to try the nettle beer again and just placed her tankard down. A bit of silence passed before Dandelion broke it. "You needn't be ashamed, Cross," she spoke facing the festive shrews. "What you did was amazing," she paused as she turned her attention back to the otter, "I am sorry for causing a scene."

[Cross]

"Bah, 'course ye young rip. Ye'll be fine, I 'magine th'liddle yella mousemaid put the shame onta ya did she? Jus' put on a strong face an' she'll be a'right. Hop up now, yer fine." The ancient shrew wife gave Cross a mischievous smile as she began prodding him with her cane, urging him to rouse himself.

Cross winced with every prod, but he got to his feet, only to be swarmed by the male shrews, who hadn't finished praising his catch yet.

"In my day, a catch like that took two boat crews!" "No it didden' yew ol' coot! Took three!" "I dunno when your day was, many a season ago I recon, bristlebonce" "Who're you callin' bristlebonce, spikefur?" "Yew yer grizzled ol prune!" "Gristled sthingy? Yer brain's scrambled, yer not makin' the sense no more!"

"Thank you," Cross murmured politely, grunting in pain as he received more good, hard, congratulatory whacks on his back. He was grateful when Paggle rescued him from the sea of miniature old males. The otter took a seat near Dandelion and accepted his drink, clinking his tankard with his friends' and taking a swallow. The fiery beer didn't bother him. He'd drunk and eaten much worse brews than nettle beer. But it did still hurt to move a little.

"Hurr hurr, Oi never did congraturlate yer, zurr. A gurtly foine poike fer ee supper tonoight. An' a few noice zhrimps fer ee appertizler, oi moight add. Oh burr aye."

"Thank ye, sir," Cross murmured, setting his half-empty tankard down and rubbing his sore arms. He watched as Paggle got up to finish his cooking, and then he dropped his gaze, fully aware of Dandelion sitting near him. He took a deep breath, preparing to apologize, but she beat him to it.

"You needn't be ashamed, Cross," she spoke facing the festive shrews. "What you did was amazing," she paused as she turned her attention back to the otter, "I am sorry for causing a scene."

"You did not cause a scene," Cross replied, turning his good eye to look at her. "I was not thinking when I saw the pike. I could have avoided this injury had I returned to shore after catching the shrimp." He sighed. He usually did not like to speak this much in one day. "Would you like it if we both forgave each other and stopped feeling sorry?" he asked, holding out one of his big, webbed paws to shake.

[King Benon]

As the two concerned friends sat where Paggle had left them, he busied himself with his culinary chores until they had come to an agreement. He checked his pie, slicing six small slits into the top to vent steam. He also rotated his skewered watershrimp and pike flank. He had the nagging feeling at the back of his brain that he was forgetting something. He trundled over to the uncorked barrel of nettle beer, refilled his tankard. He swirled the green, heady liquid around the bottom of the glass, stuck his snout in, savoring the sharp smell of the beverage, and finally he tentatively sipped, swishing the beer about in his mouth before finally drinking it. Satisfied at its quality, he took another sip. The realization of what they were missing hit him like a thunderbolt, summer salad.

He immediately swung himself onto his barge, harvested radishes, carrots, leeks, lettuce, cabbage, mushroom caps, dandelion heads, and hard baked shrew bread from a storage chest. He sliced the vegetables expertly and rinsed them in the stream. He salted and peppered the salad and tossed it into a bowl. Atop the salad he drizzled a mixture of thick meadow cream and savory herbs, aged in his cabin for good flavor. After this ordeal, he went back to his hot foods.

He saw that his watershrimp kebabs and pike flank had finished roasting and were seasoned to perfection and delectably tender. His pie was in the final stages of the baking process, only few minutes longer. He clapped his digging claws together and his contingent of shrews began whisking the meal away towards a trestle table that they had set up at the bank side.

Paggle retrieved the pie, expertly balancing the massive pastry on his trusty paddle, he trundled over and set the pie in the center of the table, he turned to Cross and Dandy expectantly, hoping they had reached an accord and could join the crew at table.

[Promatera]

"You did not cause a scene," Cross replied, turning his good eye to look at her. "I was not thinking when I saw the pike. I could have avoided this injury had I returned to shore after catching the shrimp." He sighed. "Would you like it if we both forgave each other and stopped feeling sorry?" he asked, holding out one of his big, webbed paws to shake.

Dandelion nodded and gave a weak smile as she shook the otter's large, silvery paw. Just then, Dandelion noticed Paggle balancing a large pie on his paddle. With no trouble at all he set it down on the large dinner table and looked towards them as if to invite them down. The pleasing aroma of a baked meal made Dandelion's mouth water. She was ready for a proper meal.

"The pie looks sublime!" Dandelion cried from her table. "Cross should we join them?"

[Cross]

Cross shook her paw gently, holding on for a moment or two longer before he let go. He felt glad she was willing to put this behind them. His back wasn't willing, though, and he cringed as a spasm of pain erupted down his shoulder blades. He was cut deeper than he'd thought.

"The pie looks sublime!" Dandelion cried from her table. "Cross should we join them?"

Yes, the pie looked wonderful, but it was the fish and shrimp that caught the otter's attention. The pain in his back had settled to a dull ache, so he stood up, offering a cordial arm to the mousemaid.

As they made their way over to the table, Cross had to keep from grimacing as each step increase the soreness in his back. He was glad when they finally sat down to eat and his attention was caught by the food. It was a marvelous spread. Cross had never thought a mole could be such an excellent cook. Mossflower was full of surprises.

((This post seems a tad short to me. And sorry if it feels a little power play-ish to you, Promatera.))

[King Benon]

Paggle waited until all the beasts had taken their seats at the trestle table before he called the attention of everybeast assembled. He rapped the side of the table with his trusty paddle, worn smooth from almost constant use. He raised a hefty tankard held in an equally hefty digging claw, "Oi'd loike ta raise ee toost, afore alla you'm's tuck thoiselves inna moi vikkles. We'm gurtly blessered ta be acoompneed boi Zurr Crozzerz Poike Slayer, with oot 'oom we moight not be a'feastin on ee wadderyshimps an' a gurt poike wot ee'm's catchered us'n's; an' alsoo ta Mizz Dannyloin, a gurt moighty ole tater an' a wunndryful vegible sloicer. Afore we'm's eat, raise thoi coops in toost ta gurt frien's, gurt vikkles, an' gurt avenshurs!"

After Paggle's toast, he downed his tankard and began to eat. He took a slice of his signature Deeper'n'Ever Turnip'n'Tater'n'Beetroot Pie and a hefty portion of the pike flank, a good helping of the summer salad, and a shrimp skewer. He watched in delight as the elderly shrews tucked in with a will and began devouring the well deserved, and hard fought meal. A smile broke across his velvety gray face and he shuffled his footpaws under the table in delight.

[Promatera]

Dandelion was greatly surprised by all the food spread out on the table. She had not seen such a meal in some time and was eager to begin eating. Before she could grab for something to eat; however, Paggle rapped his paddle against the table to call attention.

He raised a hefty tankard held in an equally hefty digging claw, "Oi'd loike ta raise ee toost, afore alla you'm's tuck thoiselves inna moi vikkles. We'm gurtly blessered ta be acoompneed boi Zurr Crozzerz Poike Slayer, with oot 'oom we moight not be a'feastin on ee wadderyshimps an' a gurt poike wot ee'm's catchered us'n's; an' alsoo ta Mizz Dannyloin, a gurt moighty ole tater an' a wunndryful vegible sloicer. Afore we'm's eat, raise thoi coops in toost ta gurt frien's, gurt vikkles, an' gurt avenshurs!"

After clanging whatever cup they had together, everyone helped themselves to Paggle's delightful meal. With restraint, Dandelion took from the summer salad, had a slice of Deeper n' ever turnip 'n tater n' beetroot pie, and tried a slice of the pike which was exceptional. All around her everybeast was smiling. It was then she noticed herself smiling as well.

"How lucky of us to have been found by these creatures," she spoke to Cross who was seated right beside her. "Now if I could just understand Paggle properly," she chuckled.

[Cross]

He raised a hefty tankard held in an equally hefty digging claw, "Oi'd loike ta raise ee toost, afore alla you'm's tuck thoiselves inna moi vikkles. We'm gurtly blessered ta be acoompneed boi Zurr Crozzerz Poike Slayer, with oot 'oom we moight not be a'feastin on ee wadderyshimps an' a gurt poike wot ee'm's catchered us'n's; an' alsoo ta Mizz Dannyloin, a gurt moighty ole tater an' a wunndryful vegible sloicer. Afore we'm's eat, raise thoi coops in toost ta gurt frien's, gurt vikkles, an' gurt avenshurs!"

Sir Cross Pike Slayer . . . Cross could not resist a smile. He'd never been given a title before. Even though it was all in good fun, it felt good to him. He toasted to the great speech and tucked into the food with a will. Everything was delicious. The big sea otter ate mostly of the fish and shrimp, but he did try a slice of the pie. As he ate, Dandelion turned to him and spoke.

"How lucky of us to have been found by these creatures," she spoke to Cross who was seated right beside her. "Now if I could just understand Paggle properly," she chuckled.

Cross smiled, a short laugh escaping his lips. When was the last time he'd felt this good? He couldn't remember. Closing his eyes, he smiled wider, shaking his head. It had been ages since he'd had this much reason to smile. He swallowed a sudden burst of emotion with another bite of fish. "Miss Dandelion," he said, opening his eyes. "I don't think I've ever been this lucky."

[King Benon]

Paggle watched as all the beasts tucked in with gusto. He enjoyed seeing others enjoy his food.

The supper was delicious and all involved ate their fill and then some more. As the final crumbs were being polished off by Paggle and his shrews, he clapped his mighty paws together and proclaimed to all assembled: "Oil right, me ole' taterz! Et bees gettin' dork loike an' wee'm needs ta bee oop urly inna mornin'. Bedtoime straight eeway, yoozual watchers tanight, shrewers! Noighty Noight all!"

Paggle swaggered towards Cross and Dandy as the elderly shrews jumped up to clear the table and disassemble the trestle bench. He clapped each of their shoulders with a hefty digging claw. "You'm's and oi don' needa go ter bed roight yet, only yon shrewers. They'm thinken that they'm's ken stay oop all noight acuz they'm's roight old'n'elderly. They'm's gotta be told et bee bedtoime ever' so offen. Did you'm's enjoy ee's vikkles?"

[Promatera]

"Miss Dandelion," he said, opening his eyes. "I don't think I've ever been this lucky."

"Nor I," she sighed completely content.

As the night wore on dinner was soon finished and the shrews and moles were soon sent off to clean and go to bed. Paggle oversaw everything and clapped Cross and Dandelion on the back for a job well done.

"You'm's and oi don' needa go ter bed roight yet, only yon shrewers. They'm thinken that they'm's ken stay oop all noight acuz they'm's roight old'n'elderly. They'm's gotta be told et bee bedtoime ever' so offen. Did you'm's enjoy ee's vikkles?"

"Of course," Dandelion replied with a small smile, "I have not had such a wonderful meal in ages. What did you think, Cross?"

Dandelion's new friend appeared to be just as content as she was. Focusing on all the dangers she would encounter on her journey, Dandelion hardly gave thought to what new experiences and wonders she would find along the way. Friendship was an experience that had now become the first treasure of her journey. What awaited her next?

[Cross]

"You'm's and oi don' needa go ter bed roight yet, only yon shrewers. They'm thinken that they'm's ken stay oop all noight acuz they'm's roight old'n'elderly. They'm's gotta be told et bee bedtoime ever' so offen. Did you'm's enjoy ee's vikkles?"

Cross winced when Paggle's big digging claw hit his injured back, but he nodded, fiddling with the ring strung around his neck. This night was probably the best he'd ever had since he left home. Dandelion seemed to have enjoyed herself, as well.

"Of course," Dandelion replied with a small smile, "I have not had such a wonderful meal in ages. What did you think, Cross?"

"Everything was delicious, Paggle," the big otter agreed with a smile of his own. As he watched the shrews clean up, he thought about going to help, but a painful twinge in his back dissuaded him from offering.

Thinking back to the mole's suggestion that they stay up late, Cross doubted he would go to sleep at all tonight. It was a habit of his. No sleep meant no nightmares, plain and simple. But he would not keep his new friends awake if they wanted sleep.

Cross's back began to protest his standing up, so he found a spot by the fire again, beckoning to the mole and the mouse. It was a beautiful night, with a brilliant star-filled sky. He wanted to enjoy every moment of it.

((A bit scattered, sorry. I have no attention span tonight.))