A Quest for River Moss! ((OPEN))

[Cross]

Cross shouted out in fear as the falcon made another advance on him, pouncing like a cat. He rolled out of the way just as Koa threw the javelin. Groaning with effort, Cross reached for the weapon. But without depth perception, he didn't quite reach far enough, and the javelin skidded on the ground a few feet away.

Cursing as more blood spilled from his torso and mouth, the big otter dragged himself along the ground as fast as he could, praying the falcon wouldn't catch up to him. The weapon was just out of arm's reach. If he could just . . . get . . . closer . . . Then he heard a new voice enter the fray.

He then began to bang his sword against the rock surface calling out, "Here bird! I have your egg right in my paw! Come take it!"

The falcon whipped its head around in the direction of the weasel, squawking curiously. It saw the egg in the vermin's paw and screeched, holding out its massive wings and preparing to charge. Cross used the unexpected opportunity to drag himself the rest of the way to his weapon, grabbing it quickly and turning to face the bird.

He stood up with much pain, but the bird was still focused on the weasel, slowing pacing towards him with a menacing glare. Cross gauged his moment and then he struck. The javelin entered the bird's neck from one side and pierced it clean through. With a last gurgling caw, the falcon breathed its last, collapsing to one side, slipping off the shaft of the weapon.

Cross fell to his knees with a moan, placing a paw on the fallen bird. "Forgive . . . me," he panted. He hadn't wanted to kill the bird, but he was sure he couldn't just drive it off, not when its wing was injured. Besides, the weasel wouldn't return its eggs, anyway. It would have continued to hunt them, especially if it had still been able to fly.

"Koa," the big otter strained, locating the little one. He saw the tears flooding from the boy's eyes and felt his own eyes get damp. "Koa . . . are you alright?" He thought the lad was crying because he was hurt. Cross gathered his wide waist sash over his damaged middle and stood up, using his javelin for support. Making his way slowly to Koa, he knelt down, placing a paw on the boy's shoulder. Blood still dripped from Cross's jaws and nose, and his blue waist sash was quickly turning a sickly dark purple.

[Promatera]

His plan had worked, but perhaps too well. The bird lost interest in the otter and began to approach Bon Vaygan. The bird had a chilling gaze as it came near.

"That's right," he muttered, "this is your egg."

If Cross didn't make a move soon, Bon Vaygan would have to or else he would be food for the chicks if they hatched. Closer and closer it loomed. Bon Vaygan stopped clanging his sword against the rock and placed a paw against the stone. Any moment now the bird would strike, he was only several feet away from its menacing beak.

Then Cross struck. His javelin had pierced through the creature completely. With a weak caw the bird collapsed to the floor. Dead. Cross collapsed to the floor and as he panted from exertion, he apologized for killing the bird.

"Koa," "Koa . . . are you alright?"

Bon Vaygan watched in silence as the larger otter comforted the small one. He hadn't realized it, but the smaller one, Koa, must be very young. He wondered what their relation was. Were they brothers? Returning to the eggs he had hidden, Bon Vaygan did his best to shove them into his bag, but several would not all fit. He turned back to the otters, they would be able to take them.

"Hey otters, there are some eggs I can't fit in my bag, if you don't want to waste them I suggest you take them."

Bon Vaygan held two eggs, one in each paw, and presented them to the otters.

[.:Fawn:.]

"Koa," the big otter strained, locating the little one. He saw the tears flooding from the boy's eyes and felt his own eyes get damp. "Koa . . . are you alright?"

Feeling Cross's big paw on his shoulder was the last straw for the little ottercub, and he subsequently burst into tears, his own little webbed paws over his eyes, little rivelets dripping down his furry cheeks. In between the petrified/relieved/traumatized sobs, Koa shook his head from side to side slowly, managing to choke out a few words.

"NO," he blubbered, lifting his paws away from his face to look at Cross's mangled chest, the blood seeping though the sash he'd tried to cover it with. "Cross-s g-got-t h-h-hu-hurt!" The little otterbabe flung himself at the bigger otter and clung on for dear life, burying his face into his friend's shoulder as though he could hug his injuries away, shaking with grief.
Koa had never seen someone get attacked before, and he'd never seen someone get so hurt.

He'd also never seen someone recover from a wound that severe.

The most frightening looking thing (before today) that he'd ever seen was when Brother Attor got a fish-hook stuck in his paw, and the infermary keeper had patched him up right then and there -- the Abbey Dweller claiming it didn't even hurt!

But that hadn't been a fish-hook, and the infermary keeper was nowhere to be found.

Koa was petrified.

Was Cross going to die?

((xD Sorry Bon Vaygan, Koa doesn't mean to ignore you, he's having a little bit of a meltdown at the moment.))

[Cross]

"NO," he blubbered, lifting his paws away from his face to look at Cross's mangled chest, the blood seeping though the sash he'd tried to cover it with. "Cross-s g-got-t h-h-hu-hurt!"

Cross grimaced as the little one latched onto his neck, but he quickly returned the embrace, hoping to reassure the lad. But he had trouble doing that as tears flooded his own eyes, from pain and the sight of Koa's sadness. "Koa, it's okay," he murmured gently, pressing the little otter close. "I am going to be fine. I promise. I am just glad you are okay."

As Koa continued to sob wildly into his shoulder, Cross suppressed another groan of pain. If he was going to be fine, he had to start getting there soon. His shirt! His white shirt he almost never wore would be the perfect bandages to staunch the bleeding. Pulling back from Koa, Cross cupped the little otter's face in his big webbed paws. "Koa, don't cry anymore, okay?" he said soothingly. "I will be okay. I promise you."

He let the little one hang onto his upper arm as he tugged his shirt loose from the inside of his waist sash. He held it out before him for a moment. It had gotten pretty bloody, but it was clean enough. It had been given to him from a nice mousewife in the village he had stayed in. Tearing the loose cloth into strips, he tied them around his bleeding middle, wincing with pain as he tightened each one.

When that was done, he showed Koa the thick swatch of makeshift bandages. "See, Koa?" he said, putting his arm around the lad. "I am fine now." He was going to be sore for months after the wounds closed up, and he was going to constantly be changing the bandages for weeks before that. "I just need to wait until it heals up. I bet when we go back to Redwall, your healer can make me all better."

Then the weasel yelled out, "Hey otters, there are some eggs I can't fit in my bag, if you don't want to waste them I suggest you take them."

Cross shot a venomous glare at the weasel. Picking up Koa as he stood to his feet, the big otter gripped his javelin tightly and made his way over to the vermin. Standing a good head or so taller than the weasel, Cross made an imposing sight as he growled, "We all could have been spared this were it not for you."

He pressed the tip of his javelin against the weasel's neck, baring his teeth. He knew the perfect place for the weasel to stick those eggs, but he held his tongue for Koa's sake. "Be thankful, weasel. I could have let the falcon slay you when you distracted her, but instead I slew her. I saved your life, but do not expect any such treatment again. I am no vermin's bodyguard." With that, he turned away and set out slowly into the woods, still carrying Koa.

((Feel free to have Bon Vaygen follow them, Promatera. I tried to give you some ideas with that last part. Don't know if it's easy enough to catch on, but that's my fault. XD Oh, well, I'm sure you'll think of something. Cross can't move very fast now.))

[Promatera]

"We all could have been spared this were it not for you."

Well that was no way to thank a beast for just helping save their life. Sure he may have caused the situation, but at least he helped solve it too. Prejudiced beast. Perhaps if the otter was less self-righteous he could see that he had walked into the wrong situation at the wrong time. He was even making up for it! Here were two perfectly good eggs and this otter had just turned them down. Eggs were a delicacy yet this otter could not grasp that?

"Be thankful, weasel. I could have let the falcon slay you when you distracted her, but instead I slew her. I saved your life, but do not expect any such treatment again. I am no vermin's bodyguard."

Cross' words collided with Bon Vaygan like bricks. Cross saved him? Was this otter daft in the head? Was it not the otter who was nearly gutted had Bon Vaygan not intervened? Beside himself with anger and feeling the pangs of a stung pride, Bon Vaygan glared as the two otters exited.

Just then a nasty, immature idea sprung within his subconscious. This idea bloomed into thought and flowered into action. Loathing the otter for his harsh words, Bon Vaygan felt little remorse as he flung both eggs at the injured otter.

"Hey you worthless riverdog!" he shouted, "I am NOT some vermin scum!"

Having expressed his anger, he was rewarded with an odd satisfaction that he had not felt since he was a kit. This only lasted for a moment; however, he soon realized how juvenile his actions were. He had probably acted less maturely than the younger otter. Too little; too late unfortunately.

[.:Fawn:.]

"See, Koa?" he said, putting his arm around the lad. "I am fine now."

"I just need to wait until it heals up. I bet when we go back to Redwall, your healer can make me all better."

Back to the Abbey! Yeah, that sounded like a great idea!

The shock of Cross getting hurt had rocketed the idea of going to River Moss completely out of his head, and for the first time in his life, he was afraid for his surroundings. He wanted to go home quickly before any more terrifying birds or something worse. Rubbing his tear-reddened eyes, the otterbabe quieted his sobbing down to soft sniffles, the lump in his throat not going away just yet -- not until he could see that rose-stoned abbey again. Resting his head against Cross's shoulder, he was totally prepared to just lay here until they made it home, but Cross's sudden anger towards the weasel confused him.

"Be thankful, weasel. I could have let the falcon slay you when you distracted her, but instead I slew her. I saved your life, but do not expect any such treatment again. I am no vermin's bodyguard."

Why was Cross yelling at the weasel? From what Koa could remember, Bon Vaygan hadn't done anything wrong -- just stayed out of the way, and even distracted the bird at the very end so that Cross could kill it. At least, that's what it looked like. So then why was Cross so upset?

"whattif the bird comes back?" Koa murmured to his big friend, not wanting to leave Bon Vaygan all alone in this frightening place. "It could eat him!" He exclaimed, eyes huge as though this were a worse fate than anything he'd seen before. Koa's concern for the weasel was dampened a bit when he looked over his shoulder and saw Bon Vaygan chuck the two eggs at them.

"Hey you worthless riverdog!" he shouted, "I am NOT some vermin scum!"

Koa stretched out his arms, leaning heavily over Cross's shoulder as he -- surprisingly -- managed to catch one, the egg shell making a loud 'thunk' as it hit his chest. OW.
"it's rude to t'row things," Koa scolded the big weasel, "an Skipper says we're not 'llowed to call eachuver names." However, while he'd been addressing Bon Vaygan, and despite his heroic save, his little webbed paws -- which were still wet with his crying earlier -- could not grasp the big egg for long. He let out a little wail as it slipped right out of his paws to splatter on the ground.
Shocked, Koa looked at the weasel, then looked back at the egg, then back at the weasel.
Oops.
Frightened, Koa slowly lowered back down into Cross's arms properly, peeking over the big creature's shoulder to see what Bon Vaygan would do. He really hadn't meant to break the egg! It just...it just fell!

Koa blinked.
Wasn't it kind of the weasel's fault, for throwing them at him anyway? Why was the weasel throwing the eggs at them in the first place? And why was Cross so mean to him? What if that bird came back?
Gahhh....
Why can't they all just be friends?

Little Koa was starting to miss Redwall Abbey...

[Cross]

"Whattif the bird comes back?" Koa murmured to his big friend, not wanting to leave Bon Vaygan all alone in this frightening place. "It could eat him!"

"The bird will not come back, Koa," Cross replied, using his javelin as a walking stick. "It would have eaten him, anyway because he stole her eggs." Pausing as a red-hot stab of pain jarred his middle, he asked, "Do you still want . . . to go to the river?"

"Hey you worthless riverdog!" he shouted, "I am NOT some vermin scum!"

Cross cried out as one of the eggs hit him squarely on the shoulder. He whirled around, javelin at the ready. Wiping some of the gooey yolk off his thick fur, the sea otter turned to the weasel. Not some vermin scum? Sure, the weasel had helped in the fight, but really?!

"And you think throwing eggs proves your point?!" Cross yelled. He was not in the mood for this. Though he hadn't been around many children, he'd seen young ones behave with more maturity than this weasel. "What do you want from me, then? Gratitude? I am grateful that you distracted the bird, but it was your fault she was going to gut me in the first place!"

Cross could clearly remember the last time he'd been this angry, and it had been directed towards an equally obnoxious vermin. "If you're not some vermin scum, you would have left the d*mned eggs alone," he snapped. "If you're not some vermin scum, you could offer to find a healer for me. If you're not some vermin scum, you wouldn't have thrown eggs at me."

With a snorting huff, Cross stormed off into the woods, holding Koa securely. "I should take you home to Redwall, Koa," he said, trying to cool down from his outburst. "I do not want anything else to happen out here."

[Promatera]

"it's rude to t'row things," Koa scolded the big weasel, "an Skipper says we're not 'llowed to call eachuver names."

The pup was right. Bon Vaygan had acted poorly and even the young otter knew. If that stung his pride; however, what the older otter would spit back would crush it.

"And you think throwing eggs proves your point?!" "What do you want from me, then? Gratitude? I am grateful that you distracted the bird, but it was your fault she was going to gut me in the first place!""If you're not some vermin scum, you would have left the d*mned eggs alone," he snapped. "If you're not some vermin scum, you could offer to find a healer for me. If you're not some vermin scum, you wouldn't have thrown eggs at me."

Holding his tongue, Bon Vaygan's face became a mixture of rage and embarrassment. He would have to apologize. As much as he hated to do so, Bon Vaygan had done something that would deserved an apology. Not only that, but now his guilt would not allow him to leave these two until they accepted it and he helped them. He had done it before to several other beasts and now he would have to repeat it. It appeared they were looking for Redwall. Bon Vaygan knew just where that was, but would they listen?

Sighing he shouldered his pack and darted over to the two otters; grumbling all the way. As he approached them he took a deep breath and began.

"Do you need help finding Redwall?" he called. "I can lead you there," he added. The next few sentences came with great difficulty. "Y-you were...right," he spoke holding back his disgust, "I should...apologize. I can lead you to Redwall to make up for it."

He hoped the older otter would make this quick and easy and just let him help them. However, he knew there was no way this was going to be easy to fix.

[.:Fawn:.]

"The bird will not come back, Koa," Cross replied, using his javelin as a walking stick. "It would have eaten him, anyway because he stole her eggs." Pausing as a red-hot stab of pain jarred his middle, he asked, "Do you still want . . . to go to the river?"

The river? What river? Oh yeah, that river. The one he'd nearly gotten Cross killed trying to find it. Rapidly the little otter-cub shook his head, eyes wide, looking as though that were the last thing on earth he'd rather do. "letssgo home," he mumbled, not wanting to be out here any more... Besides, he could still smell the blood on his friend, and it continued to unsettle him despite Cross claiming to be okay. Absentmindedly, the little otter brushed egg yoke off of his eartip (it had landed there when one of the eggs Bon Vaygan threw splattered over Cross's shoulder), staring at the ground as that dramatic attack with the hawk flashed through his mind once more.

Yep. Definitely not leaving home ever again. The world outside Redwall Abbey was a scary...scary place.

He was abruptly snapped out of his dark, frightened thoughts by Cross sounding, well, cross. Koa always had mixed feelings whenever Cross put on a stern, angry tone. Even if it wasn't directed at him specifically, he still felt kind of bad for whoever was on the receiving end, and he didn't like hearing Cross sound upset. Studying the weasel, he had been about to ask him why he'd thrown his children at them (the eggs), when he got caught up in watching Bon Vaygan's face change like the leaves in autumn. First it showed rage, then embarrassment, and finally a look of apology.

"Do you need help finding Redwall?" he called. "I can lead you there," he added. The next few sentences came with great difficulty. "Y-you were...right," he spoke holding back his disgust, "I should...apologize. I can lead you to Redwall to make up for it."

Koa liked that last look the most.

"uh'polgy accepted," chimed Koa, ignorant to the fact that he'd mispronounced the word apology, the little otterbabe smiling at Bon Vaygan encouragingly. The youngster was quite relieved.
He didn't exactly remember the way back to Redwall Abbey, and since Cross came from someplace called far-to-the-south, he doubted Cross knew the way back either. Without Bon Vaygan, they were up a creek without a paddle...

[/font]

[Cross]

"Letssgo home," he mumbled, not wanting to be out here any more.

"I agree," Cross said quietly, already cooling down from his tirade. He felt strangely drained, both physically and mentally, from flying off the handle like that. He hadn't been that furious since . . . Well, not in a long time.

"Do you need help finding Redwall?" he called. "I can lead you there," he added. The next few sentences came with great difficulty. "Y-you were...right," he spoke holding back his disgust, "I should...apologize. I can lead you to Redwall to make up for it."

Cross stopped, turning around to face the weasel again. His expression was neutral as he weighed the vermin's words. All Cross really knew about the location of Redwall was that it lay to the west. He doubted Koa remembered where it was, the boy having been obsessed with his journey to the river and all. With a small sigh, Cross closed his eyes a moment and then reopened them, his good eye locking gaze with the weasel.

"I accept your apology," he said evenly. "And your offer to lead us to Redwall." He then pressed the tip of his javelin into the weasel's chest for the second time, his tone growing more threatening. "But if you lead us astray, I will take you with me if I die of these wounds. Is that understood?" He didn't want to sound like this in front of Koa, but the big otter knew how to motivate unwilling vermin.

[Promatera]

"uh'polgy accepted,"

At least somebeast accepted him! The young otter's innocence was heartwarming and Bon Vaygan couldn't help, but give a weak smile.

"I accept your apology," he said evenly. "And your offer to lead us to Redwall." "But if you lead us astray, I will take you with me if I die of these wounds. Is that understood?"

Moving the spear away from his chest Bon Vaygan responded, "Understood." Now that Bon Vaygan was closer to the two otters, he could see what his actions had done to them. Both otters were covered in yolk and Cross was in a very sorry state. He had only a meager sash to keep his wound closed. The sight began to elicit an empathetic reaction within the weasel. As a self-centered beast it was not a feeling he experienced often.

If he was to help these two beasts; however, he needed to lead them to Redwall fast. Although he did not trust the abbey, Bon Vaygan needed to set aside his own inhibitions for the moment.

Nodding to the younger otter he added, "Not to worry little one, I know just how to get you home before dinnertime."

Hoping to reassure the pup and the older otter, Bon Vaygan sought to reestablish himself.

"By the way, I'm not sure I got your names," he spoke, "I am Bon Vaygan." He gestured dramatically to himself removing his hat. He was still bitter towards the older otter; however, so he did not even bow.

"Now if you'll just follow me, I can take you straight to the abbey," he spoke jumping in front of them and leading them on. Thankfully they were not very far from the abbey. They really would arrive just before evening.

[.:Fawn:.]

"I accept your apology," he said evenly. "And your offer to lead us to Redwall." "But if you lead us astray, I will take you with me if I die of these wounds. Is that understood?"

A jolt of alarm shock through Koa like a lightning bolt, his brown eyes widening and watering up a bit at the harshness in Cross's voice combined with the mention of him dying of his wounds. That was not acceptable. Cross wasn't allowed to die. He wasn't allowed to leave him here all alone...
Sure, Koa liked Bon Vaygan, he liked everyone, but Cross was Cross, and Koa had grown extremely attached to the big otter -- so much in fact, that he didn't want to think about doing anything without Cross.
Trying not to get upset, Koa rubbed the tears away on his arm, gave a single sniff and perked up when Bon Vaygan finally introduced himself.

He smiled at the weasel's introduction, his dramatic gestures quite appealing to the otterbabe. Not to be outdone, Koa leaned away from Cross's body and towards Bon Vaygan, giving his arms ample room to give Bon Vaygan his signature greeting. Placing one little webbed paw over his heart, he extended the other one to the theatrical weasel.
"I'm Koa Shorehound," he said with pride, puffing out his chest. "Nice ter meet yeh, Bon Viggan." Koa, mispronouncing his new friend's name, was honestly a little confused by it. Did that mean his first name was Bon, or did that mean his first name was Bon Vaygan and he didn't have a last name? ...or was his last name Vaygan?
Despite his blunder, Koa gave the weasel a sincere smile. "I like yer hat, its vury nice..." Koa paused, not sure how to pronounce the weasel's name again. "Mister," he quickly finished, his confusion evaporating with another sunny smile.

Even if he couldn't pronounce Bon Vaygan's name properly, and Cross was still kind of upset, and Koa still didn't quite understand everything with the eggs...the good news was that they were finally heading back to Redwall!

Koa could finally go back home.

[/font]

((XD Koa's very cheerful attempt at lightening the mood. LOL. ))

[Cross]

"By the way, I'm not sure I got your names," he spoke, "I am Bon Vaygan." He gestured dramatically to himself removing his hat.

"Cross," the big otter replied simply. He didn't add a "nice to meet you," or even a "how do you do." Frankly, he was not in the mood for pleasantries. His back was covered in egg yolk and his abdomen was torn apart because of this weasel. Cross did not care how Bon Vaygen was doing.

As Koa cheerfully introduced himself, Cross silently prayed he would even make it to Redwall. He had told Koa he would be fine, but the falcon had really ripped into him. He needed a healer, and fast. If Cross had been by himself, he might not have minded dying so much. After all, it was bound to happen eventually, and he had little to live for now. But meeting Koa had changed something in him. He felt like he had to survive these wounds. If not for himself, then for Koa.

"Now if you'll just follow me, I can take you straight to the abbey," he spoke jumping in front of them and leading them on.

Cross took a deep breath and started off after Bon Vaygen. He noted the position of the sun and found they were in fact headed west. At least the weasel was going in the right direction. But Cross wouldn't believe him until he saw the sandstone abbey with his own eyes. What a sight it would be! He remembered the blacksmith's stories of the famous abbey. Each tale had instilled a sense of wonder in the big otter. And now he would finally get to see it for himself. The thought lifted his spirits a little as he followed the weasel, leaning heavily on his javelin for support.

[Promatera]

"I'm Koa Shorehound," "Nice ter meet yeh, Bon Viggan." "I like yer hat, its vury nice..." "Mister,"

Bon Vaygan nodded, acknowledging the young otter, and smiled. Even though the otter mispronounced his name it was close enough for him.

"Cross,"

For a moment, Bon Vaygan thought the otter was explaining his feelings at the moment, but then he realized the context of the situation. The otter's name was Cross. Ignoring the jabs he could make at the otter, Bon Vaygan led them westward towards Redwall.

((OOC: Here I'm just going to take them all to Redwall, if it's too much powerplaying feel free to let me know so I can just fix it!))

The journey was not long. As they reached the abbey, the sun was still in the sky. Having traveled mostly in silence, the sounds coming from within the abbey as chores were being finished and dinner being served were very distinct.

Stopping just before the gate, Bon Vaygan motioned for Cross and Koa to continue. Thankfully Cross had managed to press onward despite his wounds. He would need immediate attention, however.

"Here it is," he gestured, "you two should be able to enter just fine, but I think it may be best if I stay here."

((OOC: Switching characters here))

Leander was doomed. Of all days, today was the day he had decided to watch the dibbuns in the pond. Everything went perfectly until he discovered that there was an otter missing from the group. Shocked and hit by a wave of anxiety, Leander did his best to calmly ask the dibbuns if any of them had seen the otter, but the young creatures did not cooperate very well, but there was one dibbun who claimed the otter had secretly crept away to the gate while they were all playing.

That couldn't be it. It wasn't possible. No dibbun would leave the abbey. Or would they? Did the young otter really sneak off? Was it possible? Fraught with worry, Leander sent the dibbuns off for supper as he desperately searched among the ramparts for any sign of a hiding otter. If the young otter had left on his watch...he shuddered at the thought. With no luck searching the ramparts, Leander knew he would have to tell somebeast and form a search party. There was no way around it.

But just before he could walk down the stairs to the grounds, Leander noticed a peculiar sight just at the gate. Two otters, one holding the other, and a weasel were discussing something. Leaning over to get a better view of the visitors he noticed the older otter was carrying Koa, the young otter he was looking for. Relieved, but still weary because of the weasel, Leander called out, "State your business!"

[.:Fawn:.]

Yep, Bon Vaygan was definitely not an otter. He didn't return Koa's greeting...
The little otter-cub didn't have very long to feel bad about this, however, as his spirits soared as high as an eagle's when that beautiful rose-stoned abbey came into view.

It wasn't long before Koa was waving to Leander from Cross's arms, cupping his webbed paws as he shouted up,

"me'n'Cross come home," he announced to the older otter, and pointed back at Bon Vaygan, including him in this as well. "Can he come in too, Leander?" Even if the weasel had suggested that he stay there, Koa didn't feel like he was being a very good creature by leaving Bon Vaygan outside of Redwall.
He knew first paw how scary everything could be out there...

Glancing swiftly at Cross, the little otter's face scrunched up with pain at seeing his friend so badly injured. The short journey to Redwall hadn't exactly been a walk in the park for poor Cross...
Renewed with a sense of urgency, Koa's big brown eyes fixed Leander with a pleading look. "Open da gate! Cross needs help!"
Now that they were at Redwall, Koa scrambled down out of Cross's arms, only realizing just now that it had probably been difficult for him to walk all this way here and carry him at the same time.
Knowing he couldn't carry Cross inside, Koa instead took the otter's big ol' webbed paw in his, intending to walk him through the gates of Redwall himself. "come on Cross," he encouraged, "yew can do it. Wur almost home."

[Cross]

Though Cross was overjoyed to see Redwall come into view, he was exhausted. His torso hurt. In fact, it felt like his flesh was on fire. Even though his own spirits soared to set eyes on the abbey, his body was completely wasted. With a groan, he staggered forward, using his javelin to keep balance.

"Open da gate! Cross needs help!"

Please, Cross thought. He doubled over as Koa dropped from his grip and hailed the beast on the walls. Everything was going blurry in his good eye. Cross couldn't even tell where Bon Vaygen was anymore, even though the weasel stood right near him.

He felt a tug on his paws as his javelin slipped from his grasp. "Koa . . ." he gasped, shuffling forward. The gates were nothing but big, colorless blurs, and Koa was a slightly smaller, lighter-colored blur. Cross was getting dizzy. He groaned again and fell to his knees, releasing one of Koa's paws to hold himself up.

"Come on Cross," he encouraged, "Yew can do it. Wur almost home."

Home? Home! Yes! Home! Cross inhaled sharply with agony as he got to his feet again, making his way forward. The world spun, but he managed to stay upright, even though the path seemed to be above his head now. He heard noises as if from afar, none of it making sense, anymore. Was he home yet? He walked forward for what seemed like forever, following Koa as long as the little otter tugged on his paws. Then everything went black, and Cross collapsed onto his side.

((He's not dead! I promise!! And Promatera, if you want to continue this thread on the abbey grounds, or even in the infirmary (like a time skip where Cross was brought to the infirmary and he wakes up to see Leander or something) then go for it.))