The Frozen pond: Ice "Skating" Anyone? ((OPEN))

[Shadow Flame]

"Matey, 'e be a dislikin' mea a lot more den 'e be a dislikin' ye..."

Oliver chuckled, realizing how grumpy of a beast the Friar really was. Always wanting things to go his way, he could read the chef like a book. "At least you dun work fer him everyday! Right after my mornin' trainin' I 'ave to report back to that grumpy beast. Thats what I get fer taking up that assistant job fer free food whenever I want..'e mostly 'as me movin' those great 'eavy tables then cleanin' them."

"Aye," Travi joked. "If ye want ta bea big dis way aroun'."

Oliver laughed heartily at his friend's antics, "Gahaha, tis true matey. That why workin' 'ard in the trainin' grounds turns that food into good workin' muscle!" Oliver winked and flexed a thick arm, his bicep turning into a large, knotty ball of muscle.

"Ye gots any 'Otroot in dat pile mate?"

"Should be some in the pile, next to the potatoes" Oliver said, making sure he didn't forget anything in the cloth; the hootroot laid next to the potatoes and carrots.

Oliver dunked his mug into the October ale, then took it back out with a full cup. He took a mouthful of the beer and gulped it down. "Ah! That's a wonderful brew." Oliver went over and grabbed a large boiled potato, eating it happily.

[Prankster101]

"At least you dun work fer him everyday! Right after my mornin' trainin' I 'ave to report back to that grumpy beast. Thats what I get fer taking up that assistant job fer free food whenever I want..'e mostly 'as me movin' those great 'eavy tables then cleanin' them."

Travi nodded. "Aye, true." The Friar could get very, very defensive over his kitchen. Travi's knuckles found that out the hard way after being rapped a few times with various kitchen utensils.

"Gahaha, tis true matey. That why workin' 'ard in the trainin' grounds turns that food into good workin' muscle!"

Travi looked at his thin form. He was muscular, in a thin sort of way. His body was not built for extreme strength like Oliver or the average badger. Travi was built to be a champion swimmer and archer. So when he flexed his arms muscle a bit, there was muscle, but not a large one. Travi chuckled. "Aye, true, but nay e'erybeast 'as da same amount o' muscle as ye."

"Should be some in the pile, next to the potatoes"

Travi continued sniffing until his nose found what it wanted. Hotroot!! Reaching over, Travi grabbed the spicy seasoning, a scone and a slice of cheese. Pulling out his little knife, Travi slit open the scone and stuffed in the cheese and hotroot (a large enough amount to make even the bravest soul wouldn't eat it). Taking a large bite, Travi sighed with enjoyment. "Naw dat," Travi said while swallowing. "Be some good food."

"Ah! That's a wonderful brew."

Reaching up with his own mug, Travi dipped it into the ale and took a good sip. "Ummm...Dat be good. Dan't get ta 'ave muc' o' dis most o' da time. Dey try ta limit 'ow muc' da younger uns 'ave." Travi rolled his eyes. "Don't work dat often doug'. We 'ave our ways o' getting our drinks." He winked. "Da 'ealer don't want mea drinkin' eit'er. Da funny t'in' be, ah dan't really gets drink ye see. Bein' a sea otter, it dan't effect mea muc'."

Travi relaxed in his chair, taking another sip and another bite of his scone. It was good to be out of the Infirmary and have the ability to just relax...

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver nodded sagely to his friend; nothing could get between that friar and his kitchens.

The warrior squirrel smiled when he stopped flexing and then watching the younger Otter flex his muscle.
"Aye, true, but nay e'erybeast 'as da same amount o' muscle as ye."

Oliver nodded yet again with strong agreement, all beasts were built differently, most Otters grow up to be large beasts, but not all are going to be a big Otter built for power. Same for squirrels, Oliver was two heads taller than most squirrels; as a matter of fact, most squirrels would never even reach the size of Oliver as it isn't in their genes. "You speak true words, my friend."

Oliver laughed at a thought that came across his mind. "Ah, you need to meet a friend of mine, Rex Irontail, well known carpenter an' architect of Mossflower. Big ol' Riverdog; you thought I was a big beast? Wait til you meet him. One of the largest River Otters I ever seen, 'e's 'alf a body taller than I, an' much thicker. He's a very wide, powerful beast. You notice him by 'is opened up long sleeved shirt 'e wears an' 'is green tunic bottom, 'as a giant scar on 'is wide barrel chest. I tried to wrestle with the older fellow once, 'ad this bone crushin' grip on my wrists I couldn't break free, my wrists were sore fer days. 'E's bout thirty right now, 'e lived in redwall fer the first sixteen seasons of 'is life. Traveled an' 'asn't been back since."

Oliver chuckled heartily from Travi eating the hotroot like it was nothing. "You be a brave one, I don't even think I could stomach all that." Oliver said chuckling a little before stuffing another potato into his mouth. He swigged his ale again and sighed with enjoyment. He loved the feeling of not doing anything and just eating for a change.

"Ummm...Dat be good. Dan't get ta 'ave muc' o' dis most o' da time. Dey try ta limit 'ow muc' da younger uns 'ave." Travi rolled his eyes. "Don't work dat often doug'. We 'ave our ways o' getting our drinks." He winked. "Da 'ealer don't want mea drinkin' eit'er. Da funny t'in' be, ah dan't really gets drink ye see. Bein' a sea otter, it dan't effect mea muc'."

"Well yer with me fer now, you don't 'ave to worry 'bout all them rules." Oliver said with a wink. "Ahaha! So that's why when I go down to the cellars sometimes, some of the drinks are feelin' light." He said with a suspicious grin before taking down the last of his mug of ale. "I wish I could say the same, I'd be drunk as a sloppy searat if I drank too much."

[Prankster101]

"You speak true words, my friend. [...] Ah, you need to meet a friend of mine, Rex Irontail, well known carpenter an' architect of Mossflower. Big ol' Riverdog [...] 'asn't been back since."

Travi munched on his impromptu sandwich, as he listened to Oliver telling about his friend Rex. Swallowing his latest bite, Travi replied. "Ah mig't o' seen Rex around 'ere. Would 'ave been younger doug'. Probably didn't care at da time. Sounds like a big mate. Ah dan't t'ink Ah e'er be quite dat big."

"You be a brave one, I don't even think I could stomach all that."

Travi chuckled as he finished off his scone licking his paws for the remnants of any hotroot that was left. "Aye, us otters like it 'otter!" He smiled as he repeated the old common otter phrase. "An' ah wouldn't 'ave it any ot'er way."

"Well yer with me fer now, you don't 'ave to worry 'bout all them rules."

Travi laid back into his chair. "Ah rarely e'er do mate." He replied as he took another sip.

"Ahaha! So that's why when I go down to the cellars sometimes, some of the drinks are feelin' light."

Travi chuckled. "Aye, but nay tell any beast. Or ah'll be locked in da celler again...Da was an experience ta tell ye da trut'."

"I wish I could say the same, I'd be drunk as a sloppy searat if I drank too much."

Nodding Travi took another sip, the rough ale dripping down his throat. Wiping a paw across his muzzle to catch the dribbles, Travi replied. "Well, lets hope dat dan't 'appen, eh mate?" Looking down into his cup at the dark ale, Travi voiced his thoughts aloud. "Ah cauld probably drink mea life a way in dis stuff an' neer e'en notice...."

Putting his cup on the table, Travi slumped in the seat, his hat falling over the bridge of his eyes. Closing his eyes he listened about the room. The sounds of Oliver enjoying his snack and the fire hissing and popping.

[Shadow Flame]

"Ah mig't o' seen Rex around 'ere. Would 'ave been younger doug'. Probably didn't care at da time. Sounds like a big mate. Ah dan't t'ink Ah e'er be quite dat big."

Oliver nodded and smiled "Aye, I 'aven't seen 'im since I was seventeen and at sea, that's where all of us met 'im. 'E 'ad a lot of 'ome buildin' work to do at some of the islands. I'd imagine 'im by now, bein' much larger than I remember." Oliver sipped on his next mug of Ale, already three mugs down. He felt the buzz from the alcohol hit him and warm him up. It made him eat a little bit slower and much more calmed.

"Aye, us otters like it 'otter!" He smiled as he repeated the old common otter phrase. "An' ah wouldn't 'ave it any ot'er way.

Oliver chuckled as Travi repeated the Otter phrase. Oliver heard that phrase plenty of times in his travels, even from some of the Otters living here in Redwall. "Quite a phrase that is, Travi. Very catchy!" Oliver said, grabbing onto a small cheese wedge and a scone, popping both in his mouth at the same time.

"Aye, but nay tell any beast. Or ah'll be locked in da celler again...Da was an experience ta tell ye da trut'."

Oliver smiled, taking another slurp of his drink to help the food in his mouth go down before winking at his friend. "Yer secret is safe with me, just don't be tellin' the friar I took all this food." Oliver said in a chummy fashion.

"Well, lets hope dat dan't 'appen, eh mate?"[...]"Ah cauld probably drink mea life a way in dis stuff an' neer e'en notice...."

Oliver smiled at first, belching with his mouth closed to be polite about his burp. "Well, good thing I'm slowin' down now, it's just startin' to 'it me, slowly." Oliver heard Travi's next comment and frowned, staying quiet before turning to look at the fire.

He remembered coming here when he was injured in the spring after that big battle. Reading old stories and parchments that hid away or were laying around. The squirrel already had a good knowledge from some of the stories in the books since all he ever did in his dibbun and young teenage years was listen to them or read them.

He read the journals of many beasts and read the epic tales and truths of the many warriors. Oliver felt at home in the gatehouse.

[Prankster101]

"Aye, I 'aven't seen 'im since I was seventeen and at sea, that's where all of us met 'im. 'E 'ad a lot of 'ome buildin' work to do at some of the islands. I'd imagine 'im by now, bein' much larger than I remember."

Travi chuckled a bit to himself. "If yer mate be bigger dan you've been sayin' den ah'm not sure ah'd be wantin' ta meet him." Travioso had met large otters over the years, especially during his defense of Salamandastron, but this Rex Irontail seemed (if Oliver's proportions were correct) to be taller than any otter he had ever met.

"Quite a phrase that is, Travi. Very catchy!"

Travi nodded. "Aye, simple ta remember an' simply true." He could eat hotroot all day and not even notice the burn it caused to ones tongue. Travi liked the hot, spicy taste of the hotroot's spice.

"Yer secret is safe with me, just don't be tellin' the friar I took all this food."

Chuckling, Travi took a sip of his ale. "Ah steal food from da kitc'ens all da time mate! W'y would ah tell on ye? Just get mea inta more trouble..."

"Well, good thing I'm slowin' down now, it's just startin' to 'it me, slowly."

Travi nodded slowly as his hat still covered his emerald eyes, but he did not speak. Instead he listened. Oh how peaceful it was in the Gatehouse today. Oliver wasn't saying anything, and the snow was falling gently outside the windows. The fire, although Travi didn't like it, snapped and popped quietly, giving off a comforting heat.

The small warm space and the food and drink was getting to Travi. Resting his paws gently over his chest, Travi relaxed, and a gentle rumbling snore could be heard from under Travi's hat as he slowly drifted of to sleep...

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver sat down, staring at the fire with fierce eyes. The sounds of it crackling and popping while its warm glow illuminated off of his fur. He looked down to his paws, wrapped tight and hidden so others couldn't see what had happened. Besides the beasts in the infirmary and a couple of other beasts he told his story, most were clueless as to why he really wore his wraps. Most thought of them as boxing wraps because of Oliver's fighting style, hand to hand combat.

It was that warm glow of heat in front of him that caused this. Destroying some of the feeling and the look of his paws and footpaws. He didn't ask for this damage, but the life of a warrior is unpredictable; Oliver understood that.

He looked over at his sleeping friend and smiled. Out like a dibbun, he thought to himself. With a heavy sigh he finished the rest of his mug of ale in one big gulp. The large squirrel stood up and walked over to the books and parchment. He fingered through the shelves, seeing journals of past abbots or stories of heroes and vermin alike. Oliver already spent many of his time reading most of these stories, he loved the first hand experiences in the books and the first person views of life in Redwall and Mossflower in the journals.

He walked over to an empty area and popped open a piece of the floorboard. There his journal and story were hidden, where he would continue to write and hopefully share his own legacy like many others before. It wasn't too thick, but it was a quarter of the way full with writing, artifacts tucked into some of the pages he received or found and paw drawn pictures of beasts he adventured with. The bigger artifacts he had were hidden next to his book in the floor.

Everything brought back fond memories. He set it all down, covering it back up as it was tucked away under the floor once more.

[Rorgus]

Rorgus dashed towards the gatehouse as fast as he could. He risked a glance over his shoulder at his pursuers, they had stopped and were rolling up snowballs to throw. He put on another burst of speed and reached the door opening it and sliding through just as the snowballs hit the door where he was. He closed the door and collapsed laughing in a heap.
" Whew, that was close!" He said to himself. After catching his breath he stood up and looked around. He then realized that he was not alone. There, sitting in the chair was Travi! And Oliver was over near the bed kneeling on the floor. Rorgus looked at Travi again.
" Hello there matey! How did you manage to escape the infirmary? It's good to see you up and about again!" He saw that Travi was trying to fall asleep so he quickly shut his mouth.
" Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, should I leave?" He glanced at the food feeling his stomach,
playing is an awful lot of work! he thought to himself. Then he chuckled, he had just contradicted himself.

He looked curiously at Oliver,
" What are you up to Oliver, mate?" He had almost guessed what the two of them were doing here together. They were much alike, the two of them.

[Prankster101]

Travioso felt sleep slowly creep upon him as he sat with his eyes closed in his warm chair by the fire. Oliver was making little noise and the stuffy atmosphere of the room added to the calming effect.

Oh how nice it was to just sleep.......

The sunlight was bright and warming as the large ocean waves crashed against the boat's side. Travi's little baby paws held on to the railing of his family's boat as he sang a rustic old sea song. His mother held him tight as to not let him fall as she sang along with him. Travi looked back at the rudder to see his father smiling, his hat upon his head, singing along. Everything was happy....happy...

SLAM

Travi jerked awake, sitting up suddenly when he heard the loud noise. Owww! Travi's paw shut up and gripped his chest. The sudden start caught his breath in his chest causing his aching ribs to jolt with pain. Sliding his hat up his head and looking around, Travi gripped his chest with one paw and the arm of the chair with the other.

" Whew, that was close!"

Travi's eyes shot toward the door. Rorgus sat by a closed door laughing, a bit of snow on his fur. Travi relaxed a bit and looked away. O', Rorgus... Of all the creatures to catch Oliver, who was near the door by the floor (why Travi didn't know) and himself in the Gatehouse, it would be Rorgus. One of the few creatures who had seen Travi go into his bloodwrath and who most assuredly was worried about his healing.

" Hello there matey! How did you manage to escape the infirmary? It's good to see you up and about again!"

"Yea'...Managed ta escape alrig't." Travi looked away, toward the fire. Why Rorgus? Why him? Why now? And why did his best dreams always end so quickly?

" Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, should I leave?"

Travi looked over at the food and shrugged. "Oliver gots it, ah dan't really care muc'....If 'e says, ah dan't sea w'y not."

" What are you up to Oliver, mate?"

Travi sighed and leaned back into his chair as Rorgus began to talk to Oliver. His chest was hurting; alot! Rubbing it with his paw, Travi tried taking deep breaths, but when ever he reached the peak of his inhale more pain would shoot into his chest and Travi would struggle to exhale.

Travi guessed it was his punishment for trying to have a nice nap with a non-violent dream for once...

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver jumped slightly in fright from the slam and the commotion as his back was turned to everything in the position he was at. He sighed looking over his shoulder with a smile. Oliver shook his head then chuckled.

"Oliver gots it, ah dan't really care muc'....If 'e says, ah dan't sea w'y not."
The large squirrel stood up from the area he was at and walked out into the light of the fire again to where the other two were. "It's perfectly fine, I don't mind at all."

Oliver walked over to Rorgus and smiled.
" What are you up to Oliver, mate?"

"Oh nothin' lad, just readin' up on some things. Where all the books are." He patted Rorgus' back with a strong paw, sometimes not assessing his own strength or bulked size. The large squirrel read some of his journal to other beasts before, but since it wasn't completed, he didn't want beasts to know where it was hiding.

"Well mate, if yer 'ungry, grab some vittles off the table. Theres plenty to go 'round fer everyone." Oliver smiled as he spoke a friendly tone.

[Rorgus]

" Thanks mate!" He said as he dug into the food.
" Lots 'o' work playing!" He picked up the hotroot and pile some on a piece of cheese and putting it onto a pastie, he ate it hungrily, washing it down with a beaker of ale.


He looked carefully at Travi, then at Oliver. He could see that Travioso was disturbed, and Oliver wasn't so sure. Rorgus felt a little ashamed of himself. He quickly finished the rest of his pastie then stood up. He decided it was time to leave, he had cause enough distress already.
" I had better go now," he said turning to the door. He sighed to himself as he opened it. Just then something hit him square on the forehead, it hit him with such force that it knocked him backwards, his head hit on the floor and he was seeing stars. Everything was hazy too, he struggled to get up but fell back down, into blackness.

[Prankster101]

"It's perfectly fine, I don't mind at all."
" Thanks mate!"
[...]

Travi groaned a bit to himself while Oliver and Rorgus chatted. His chest hurt, really bad! It had probably been time to refresh his medicine and Travi missed it because he was here instead of in the Infirmary.

The fun time was over. Travi was ready for some quiet rest and some herbs to help his pain. Sitting up and looking around his chair, Travi searched for his crutch. It was time to hobble back to the Infirmary, be chided for leaving, given medication, and sent to bed for a nice long nap.

" I had better go now,"

Travi looked back up at Rorgus. "Naw mate..Ah.." But Rorgus had already turned to leave. Travi shook his head. See the effect he had on creatures. He was really a disaster.

As Travi struggled to his, well, footpaw. He slowly hobbled in a circle to turn himself around when he heard a THWAP and watched Rorgus fall to the floor.

"Rorgus!" Travi shouted as he hobbled across the room to Rorgus's side. He was unconscious. Knowing that he couldn't bend down easy to help, Travi looked desperately at Oliver for help.

[Shadow Flame]

"No Rorgus, don't leave, you could enjoy some nice ale with us.." He looked at Travi, who was getting up, obviously leaving as well, and sighed deeply to himself.

"Guess I'll just stay by myself..." Oliver went to walk back over to where all the books were, most likely to add on to his journal and then read some stories shortly after until he heard the sudden drop.

"Rorgus!

He quickly jerked his body around, hearing Travi yell out and seeing Rorgus laying on the floor, unconscious. The large squirrel jogged over from his area and slid to a halt next to the two. He saw Travi's look and bent down, lifting up Rorgus' limp form into his arms.

[Rorgus]

Rorgus felt himself being moved, he shook his head to shake away the grogginess, it was all so hazy, then he felt a whoosh of cold air. His eyes snapped open then, he felt a little dizzy, he felt his forehead, it was wet, with snow. Then he chuckled, and he began to laugh,
" Hohohoh ahahahaheehe, I guess hahaha I guess they got me back eh?!" He stood up still chuckling. He grinned at Travi and ducked outside. Grabbing up a pile of snow he formed it into a snowball and whirled it at the backs of the retreating dibbuns. He got one of them in the back,
" Ahaha," He laughed " good shot youngn's!" He went back inside plumping down into a chair with a sigh.
" How's about we go into the habbey? We might find something to do."

[Prankster101]

"No Rorgus, don't leave, you could enjoy some nice ale with us.. [...] Guess I'll just stay by myself..."

Travi looked over at Oliver, bitting his lip a bit in pain. He didn't want to abandon Oliver, but he needed his medication. His chest was really hurting now, and the worse it got, the more pain Travi felt when he breathed.

"Oliver...Ah dan't want ta go, but...Ah really be needin' ta get back.." Travi rubbed at his chest as he spoke. "But ah want ta continue our talk from before...Soon..."

Matching eyes with Oliver, Travi stood helplessly beside. Oliver picked up Rorgus as he began to move. Rorgus was OK, he was moving, and breathing. Suddenly Rorgus's eyes snapped open.

"Rorgus?.." Travi stammered a bit, as Rorgus felt his forehead and began to chuckle.

"Hohohoh ahahahaheehe, I guess hahaha I guess they got me back eh?!"

Travi sighed a bit as Rorgus stood up and ducked outside. Rorgus was OK. Gripping his chest again, Travi leaned slowly against the wall as he listened to Rorgus chucking his snowballs at the little ones.

" Ahaha, [...] good shot youngn's!"

Looking up at the ceiling, Travioso focused on taking deep breaths. Oh how he wanted to be pain free and rush outside and play with Rorgus and the little ones. But no, his headache was coming back and his chest was starting to jolt again. And his pain was of his own doing and he knew it....

" How's about we go into the habbey? We might find something to do."

"Actually..mate...Ye t'ink ye can 'elp mea ga ta da Infermery...Ah need ta 'ead back....." Travi bit his lip, as he looked at Oliver and Rorgus. If Oliver and Rorgus weren't going to go with him, he was going to go by himself. The pain was getting to be to much. "...An' soon.."

((Ooc: Just so you guys know, I'm not really planning on having Travi leave the thread unless you guys want to end it. I was just going to change the scenery. That is if you guys want to.))

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver sighed with relief, seeing that Rorgus was okay and able to move.

"But ah want ta continue our talk from before...Soon..."

Oliver stared back into Travis's eyes as he made his statements; he nodded his head to both. He understood what he needed, it was important.

He listened to Rorgus, smiling at the idea, than turned his attention to Travi and listened. The large warrior squirrel agreed with the both of them and signaled for them to go first. Oliver had to clean up the small mess first.

"Go on a'ead, I 'ave to clean up a little before I come along. It should only take me a minute or so, I'll be able to catch up pretty quickly."

[Rorgus]

Rorgus watched as Travi struggled to breath properly. He exchanged looks with Oliver and nodded. He took one of Travi's arm helping him along to the abbey through the snow. He dodged a few snow balls, and missed one. It was slow going but they made it to the abbey and after grabbing a piece of Apple and blackberry cake they headed up to the infirmary, Rorgus glanced around to see if the infirmary keeper was around. Luckily she wasn't as they made their way up the stairs.
Rorgus knew how Travi must feel, he wasn't a burden though. He was a friend, and friends weren't a burden to willing paws. He hoped Travi would realize they were his friends not his keepers. That's what they were here for!

[Prankster101]

Travioso matched Oliver's eyes. He understood what Travi wanted to talk about. Although Travi didn't think that the training would do much good, Travi could at least see what Oliver did. Maybe it would help. By this point, Travi had given up the fact that he would ever be normal, but maybe it might help.

"Go on a'ead, I 'ave to clean up a little before I come along. It should only take me a minute or so, I'll be able to catch up pretty quickly."

Biting his lip, Travi coughed a bit as he tried to take a deep breath. It was time to go. Travi leaned heavily on his crutch as he struggled to turn about. Rorgus came up beside Travioso with out a word and grabbed his other arm and helped him through the door and across the lawn.

It was slow moving across the snow covered lawn, especially with Travi's bad footpaw and trouble breathing, but Rorgus was patient and moved slow for Travi. He even took a hit from a snowball.

Travioso tried to concentrate on breathing and ignoring the pain as he walked, but his eyes wandered to the bunches of Abbey Dwellers that stood laughing and chatting in the snow. The Infirmary keeper wasn't among them, but he did get a couple of looks of surprise, disappointment, and slight worry.

Travi sighed and looked away. He hated being like this. He hated being a burden. An annoying, helpless, and hopeless burden.

As the pair traveled into the warmer Main Abbey Building, Rorgus went and quickly grabbed some snacks then came back and continued to help Travi up the stairs.

Taking one step at at time, Travi leaned heavily on Rorgus. "T'ank ye mate..Really.." He spoke through heavy breaths. "Ah know ah'm just a w'ole lot o' trouble ta deal wit', but ah really appreciate ye doin' dis, Rorgus...An' ah'm sorry dat ah caused all dis..."


((Sorry about the drop off end. Rorgus, you can move us into Infirmary, or you can wait till my next post. Not my best work I have to admit.))

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver had finished cleaning up the mess, everything disposed of properly. He even took the time to clean up the dusty old books on the floor and put them back in their shelves. Before putting out the fire, he couldn't help but to notice a stray book behind a shelf. He pawed through it until he reached a page that looked interesting.

"The bloodwrath was too much for us, we couldn't stop him.."

Oliver continued to read on the page, seeing as it was a badger, turned on his comrades after defeating an evil warlord. "By the fur.. I don't believe this.. Poor creatures didn't stand a chance." Oliver was taken aback as he read the last couple of pages. Travi was right, no matter how much you could use it to your advantage, it was still a nightmare, a curse, a dreaded disease. It pained Oliver to see such things in the story, and in the end, the training could be all futile. Bloodwrath! It could consume the beast completely without warning.

He tossed the book, hard, into an empty space, then fell on his footpaws. He held onto his head, eyes full of fright. The flashback of him turning on a beast came to; and even with the training he could give Travi, there was no guarantee the young Otter would be able to keep any control over it later in life. Oliver now knew that even he would eventually be consumed by the curse forever if it was activated more than enough times.

From the outside of the gatehouse all that could be heard was a loud, echoing yell.

[Eckolet]

Foremole Suilfurr was walking across the grounds on a peaceful hike around the main abbey building. He wasn't the type to hurry, he was more the leisurely type. And he definitely did not want to miss afternoon tea, so he stayed within the grounds. As he was passing the gatehouse, however, Suilfurr heard a yell. Without hesitation, the sturdy mole pulled the door open and hurried in.

"Who is in thurr? Bee you'm okay?" The Foremole looked around and spotted Oliver, the large squirrel, on the floor. Hurrying over, Suilfurr knelt down. "Mista Oliver, bee you'm gurtly injured?" Suilfurr was the type to care for everyone, not just his own moles, and his large digging claws went down to take hold of Oliver's paws.