Cool Mornings ((Tampa, open))

[Cross]

Cross leaned carefully against a tree, one webbed paw against his bandaged middle. The infirmary keeper would throttle him for this, but it was getting stuffy inside. The big sea otter needed a change of scenery, not to mention less company. It wasn't that he didn't like Koa and Leander, it was just . . . well, he wanted some quiet time.

It had been nothing short of a miracle that he'd gotten downstairs in the first place. His ripped up torso still hurt like mad, but it wasn't nearly as unbearable as it had been. He could sit up, stand, and walk for short distances. Sure, it drained his energy, but it felt good to be back on his own two paws again.

A gentle breeze blew against his thick, silvery fur, and he inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of impending fall. He liked this season. Having lived on the southern shores most of his life, Cross was more than a little fascinated with all the color-changing flora up north. He'd only experienced two autumns, coming on a third, and each one was more spectacular than the last.

Pushing himself off the tree, he moved down closer to the large pond a few yards away. With a soft groan, he lowered himself onto the bank, dipping his feet into the cool water. He didn't dare try swimming, not when walking was this strenuous. But being near the pond was nice. He was able to get his mind off things when he was in or around water. It was probably an otter thing.

Leaning back on one paw and resting the other on one bent knee, Cross watched as the abbey began to wake up. A few creatures came out of the main building to tend the gardens; he could faintly hear others inside . . . what was it called? . . . Great Hall, getting breakfast ready. Yet his solace remained. Exhaling slowly, the sea otter was content.

[Kenyon]

His solace was not to be intact for long. Farther along the wall, there was a rattle at the small wicker gate. Tam was trying to get in, but the lock held firm. Silence fell for a short time, just long enough to make anyone inside the wall curious. Then the noise returned.

WHAM. Something large and swung with quite a bit of force slammed into the gate. It shuddered under repeated blows until finally all fell silent again. Tam reconsidered the surprisingly sturdy gate. She shook it once more. Irritated, she rested against it, nearly worn out from her efforts.

Her eyes shot open and she stared at the rough wicker. An idea formed in her head. It was sturdy, but it was also dry and old. She smiled.

"IF ANYONE'S IN THERE, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO LET ME IN BEFORE I FIRE THE GATE!!!" She called, trying to peer through the weave. No such luck, she couldn't see a thing.

[Cross]

WHAM!!

Cross jumped, groaning as the sudden movement put strain on his injuries. He clutched his middle, wondering where the sound had come from.

WHAM! THUMP!! WHAM!!

Turning around, the big sea otter located a small wicker gate that shuddered as forceful blows were hammered upon it. Obviously, somebeast was trying to get in, but the gate was locked. Looking around at the abbey dwellers, Cross didn't see anybeast else who'd noticed the banging. Should he . . . let the outsider in?

"IF ANYONE'S IN THERE, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO LET ME IN BEFORE I FIRE THE GATE!!!"

Well, Cross didn't want to be the one responsible for damaged Redwall property, so he got to his feet. Moving slowly and gingerly, he wondered if it would take him the full five minutes just to reach the gate. But reach it he did. Stopping to take a break from all the walking, he leaned on the stone walls, wondering who could be on the other side. She had sounded female, but there was really only one way to find out.

Fumbling with the lock as his fatigue began to cloud his vision slightly, the big sea otter finally got it open. Before him stood an irate-looking ottermaid, sickly thin and covered in scars. Was she sick? Did she need the healer? Was that why she was at Redwall? Moving out of her way so she could get inside more easily, the sea otter wondered how this skinny creature had made such loud banging noises on the wicker gate.

"Hello," he greeted uncertainly.

[Kenyon]

Despite her words, Tam leaned on the wall, feeling the rough stone beneath her fur as she watched the gate. She was on the open side of the gate, so she could see in if it was unlocked. Finally there was rattling as somebeast fumbled with the lock, and she forced herself to stand up straight.

First rule. Never show weakness.

"Hello," he greeted uncertainly.

Tam was tall for her gender, for her species even. But she had to look up at this otter, who was tall and broad, not like Tam, who was just tall. She looked up at him, her eyes seeming to grow even bigger.

"You're a big one, you are..." She trailed off and fell forward, exhaustion from travel and ramming the gate overtaking her.

[Cross]

"You're a big one, you are..."

Cross let out a strained groan as the ottermaid fell into him. He was able to catch her, but there was nobeast to catch him. He stumbled back, the tall maid ending up on top of him. Gasping with the effort of holding her up, the big otter slid her off his torso, and she landed on his arm. Biting back a curse, he gingerly rolled to his side.

"Miss," he strained. "Miss, are you alright?"

She didn't answer right away, which gave him the distinct impression that she was not alright. Cradling her in one arm, he got to his knees, bracing his free paw on the open gate. Open gate . . . He shoved it closed. Leaving it open was definitely not a good idea. Getting the ottermaid into a more comfortable position in his arms, he held her gently, unsure of what to do.

"Miss," he tried again. "Miss, can you hear me?" Why wasn't anybeast else noticing this?! At least the infirmary keeper should be out looking for him by now. There was little chance of Cross getting this otter and himself back up the stairs, let alone back across the grounds.

[Kenyon]

Well, Rule Number One went out the window. Tam wouldn’t have any one fooled after this. She regained consciousness as suddenly as she had lost it, feeling the tight constriction of arms around her. Her eyes widened in fear before they narrowed into angry slits, she struggled in the embrace of whoever it was holding her, not seeing the otter from before. Finally she got a good leverage and shoved at his chest, sending them both tumbling away from each other.

Tam landed on her back but scrambled to her hands and knees, not feeling she could stand upright. She glared at poor, unobtrusive Cross. “What do you think you were doing?” She demanded, using language that was not at all lady-like. She clenched her fists and looked as if she was about ready to tackle him at his slightest move. She absolutely hated being restrained!

“Cross!!” The mouse was rather out of sorts that morning. Not only had five dibbuns eaten themselves silly after hours in the kitchen last night, but three mice and a squirrel had eaten some bad fish and were currently puking into buckets in his infirmary. And his patient was missing.

Up to this morning the only patient who needed to stay in the infirmary, the large otter was still not supposed to be up and moving. And so now Brother Halifax was combing the grounds. By himself.

“OH!” He growled in frustration, making neck-wringing motions with his paws as he passed the belltower. “If that blasted otter has pulled his stitches….”

[Cross]

“What do you think you were doing?” She demanded, using language that was not at all lady-like.

Cross cried out in agony, wrapping his arms around his middle and toppling onto his side, gritting his teeth. White hot pain shot up and down his chest, and he wondered if she had reopened his wounds. Maybe leaving the infirmary hadn't been such a good idea this morning.

"Helping you," he gasped in response. "You . . . fainted." Another strained cry left his throat, and he lifted himself up on one paw, his back facing her now. How could such a sickly-looking otter kick so powerfully?

"Cross!!"

Oh, no.

Brother Halifax stormed over, having heard the ottermaid's outburst. The old mouse did not look at all happy. Cross held back another groan and slid back onto his knees. He was met with the sight of perhaps the most irate-looking elder he'd ever seen. Yup, leaving the infirmary had probably been the otter's worst idea since arriving at Redwall abbey.

"What on earth do you think you're doing?!" Halifax demanded, placing his wrinkled paws on his hips. "You're not supposed to be up and walking about, and you know that! I only asked for you to stay in bed. Was that too much to ask? No, I don't think so. Now, you're coming back upstairs with me since there's no reason for you to even be out here! What were you doing out here, anyway?" The big otter wiped his damp eyes and indicated the female otter.

"She . . . was at the gate," he strained, nearly falling forward again.

[Kenyon]

"Helping you," he gasped in response. "You . . . fainted." Another strained cry left his throat, and he lifted himself up on one paw, his back facing her now. How could such a sickly-looking otter kick so powerfully?

Tampa glared at the big otter, refusing to let her sudden compassion show. She knew what pain was like, and he looked like he was in agony. It was his own fault, though! Guilt smothered her anger as he turned his back to her. She looked aside as the mouse stormed over, berating the other otter, glad for the reprieve. He said he’d been helping her, and she had hurt him in response.

She didn’t like that.

"She . . . was at the gate," he strained, nearly falling forward again.

She turned a baleful gaze on the mouse, daring him to say something. He seemed like a very talkative mouse, a very opinionated mouse. She bared her teeth briefly, as if she were feral, giving a warning to those who might come close. She watched the mouse and otter carefully, as well as the small crowd that was gathering now that breakfast was over.

The small group made for quite the show.

[Cross]

Brother Halifax glanced fleetingly at the ottermaid, but then he had to look again. What a mess! The poor thing must be half-starved, not to mention in a feeble state of mind. Well, that was what he gathered from that show of teeth, anyway.

"Now, now," he began sternly. "I'll be getting both of you up those stairs this minute. You're each in need of care. Cross, since you spent so much lovely time out here walking this morning, I'm sure you can gather up the strength to trudge back up to the infirmary." He offered the otter a sturdy walking cane, which he had had tucked under one arm the whole time. The old mouse was always prepared.

Cross sighed weakly, taking the proffered cane and getting slowly back on his feet as the brother continued to berate him. "And I don't want any of this to be repeated until you are fully mended, is that understood? A few weeks is certainly not enough to recover from a wound like that, lad!"

"And, you," Halifax declared, turning to the maid. "It's a miracle you've managed to survive in that sorry state. You need nourishment and rest, young lady, and I'll be darned if I withhold those from you. Come along now, don't be shy. There's plenty of room for both of you."

The mouse trundled on ahead, but when the otters didn't follow him immediately, he stopped on the path and began tapping his foot impatiently. Cross leaned heavily on the cane and turned to the female. "Sorry . . . about all that," he muttered. "I am Cross." Glancing up, he could see other abbey-dwellers looking their way with confused expressions. Well, a big silvery sea otter, one skinny ottermaid, and an irate mouse healer must make for quite the spectacle.

[Kenyon]

Blah blah blah… didn’t this mouse ever shut up? Nattering on and on, Tam curled into herself, drawing her knees close to her chest within the circle of her skinny arms. She rested her chin on her knees and watched. She was so tired. Couldn’t they all go away and leave her alone? She wanted to sleep but didn’t trust them enough to close her eyes. Why had she thought it a good idea to come here again?

"And, you," Halifax declared, turning to the maid. "It's a miracle you've managed to survive in that sorry state. You need nourishment and rest, young lady, and I'll be darned if I withhold those from you. Come along now, don't be shy. There's plenty of room for both of you."

She didn’t move, staring at him. Was he serious? He thought she would willingly go with him and then… then what? She sat until the other otter turned to her and spoke.

"Sorry . . . about all that," he muttered. "I am Cross."

She blinked at him, trying to comprehend the situation still. Finally her mind caught up to the present and she too staggered to her feet, standing uneasily. She followed the mouse reluctantly, but it was a lot to take in.

And all before breakfast time in the morning. Her mouth watered slightly at the thought of food (wasn’t Redwall the place everybeast always talked about, with such good food?) but her stomach didn’t so much as gurgle. It was used to a lack of food.

“I am Tam.” She finally spoke to Cross’s back.

[Cross]

Cross averted his gaze as one of the sick patients emptied his stomach into a bucket again. Disgusted, the sea otter was glad he had at least been able to find a bed on the opposite side of the room. Brother Halifax had confined him to the infirmary for . . . how long had he said? Cross was weary from exerting himself this morning, so he couldn't remember.

In the bed nearest him, the other otter was receiving a lecture and diagnosis from the healer about her state of physical health. Cross wasn't really listening, but he heard something about food, water, and rest. That didn't sound too bad, actually, and he wondered if Halifax would give him a similar schedule now that he couldn't even leave the d*mned room.

-----

Cyle and Trace Galahad was more than happy to assist the good Brother Halifax by providing meals to his sick patients. Whether or not the meals did the invalids any good had not been specified, so the squirrel twins had a field day in the kitchens as they gathered up the food. The normal kitchen helpers were out in Great Hall serving lunch, so there was no beast to stop the little brutes.

"I dare say hotroot would taste marvelous on this bread, don't you think, sister?" Trace snickered as he sprinkled the spice generously upon a loaf of bread. Cyle nodded, adding more than a few pawfuls of black peppercorn to a bowl of soup.

"Indeed, brother," she agreed. "And I believe sugar will taste divine on their fruit." She threw quite a few dashes of salt upon a wooden bowl full of strawberries, apples, and other assorted fruits. "Whoops! Maybe that wasn't sugar. Oh, well!" Trace laughed as he picked up one of the trays. Cyle grabbed another one and followed her brother dutifully up the stairs to the infirmary.

"We brought the food, Brother Halifax!" Cyle called sweetly as she and Trace entered the room. The mouse healer waved them over to Cross and Tam in the corner of the room; he was busy with one of the three sick mice and didn't think to check who it was he had spoken to. The twins looked at each other and smiled as they ambled over to the two otters.

"We hope you enjoy!" Trace said cheerfully, setting one of the trays upon a small table set between the beds.

"We made it just for you," Cyle added. "We heard how badly you were injured, Mr. Cross, so we made you a little something . . . special." She smiled warmly. Well, as warmly as a naughty squirrel could smile. She then turned to Tam. "I'm Cyle, and that's my brother Trace. We hope you like it here at Redwall!" and with that, the squirrels hurried out of the infirmary, giggling uncontrollably.

((Sorry if that was a bit scattered. My brain is not functioning properly this afternoon.))

[Kenyon]

Tam was roused from her sleep by giggling. And quite aside from her now-natural reaction, which was to awaken swiftly and silently in fear of retaliation, she narrowed her eyes and growled at the two miscreants.

“Go away, you liddle brats.”

She didn’t trust the two squirrels as far as she could throw them, which was certainly not as far as she once could have. There was that edge in how they had spoken, that little pause and devious smile from the female. Salt and seasons! She’d bet anything their mother didn’t spank them properly. Still, this didn’t stop the ravenous otter from sitting up and grabbing a piece of bread.

The bread was rather spicier than one normally found it, but Tampa was an otter. Furthermore, she was a starving otter and so didn’t pay the hotroot much mind. It was when she reached hesitantly, as if she was afraid they would disappear, towards a strawberry that she started minding. Biting into her favorite fruit, she expected sweetness. Instead she got salt. And quite a lot of it too.

Spitting the fruit out, she growled for real this time, clambering out of bed with some difficulty, for she’d become entangled in the bedclothes. Once she landed on the ground, she was headed towards the door, making dire promises about what would happen to those squirrels when she caught up with them.

[Cross]

Cross had been just about to fall asleep when the squirrels barged in. Now their high-pitched giggling was ringing in his head. Shutting his eyes, he rubbed his aching head, not really catching much of what Cyle told him. Something about food, right? He opened his good eye and noticed the trays of food on the bedside table. Oh, good, it was food.

Then Tam spit out some fruit, growled a few curses and threats, and Cross suddenly didn't trust the food. Though he had been at the abbey for awhile, he still didn't know the infamous twins. Brother Halifax heard Tam and bolted upright.

"Young lady, you are not to leave this room until you've eaten your meal," he snapped. "I don't care how badly you're feeling, you need nourishment. Now, get back in your bed this instant."

"It will get him to shut up if you just lay back down," Cross muttered, reaching carefully for some bread. He also didn't care that it was covered in spices; it just felt good to finally eat something.

-----

Cyle and Trace were still giggling as they crouched near the closed door of the infirmary, listening to the grumpy otter and overly-talkative mouse. They shook paws for a job well done and stealthily made their way a little further down the corridor, ears still perked for the voices emitting from the infirmary.

"Did you write down all those words she said?" Trace asked his sister. Cyle nodded, a satisfied grin spreading across her features.

"We can look them up later," she promised, folding up a scrap of parchment and tucking it into her waist cord.

[Kenyon]

"Young lady, you are not to leave this room until you've eaten your meal," he snapped. "I don't care how badly you're feeling, you need nourishment. Now, get back in your bed this instant."

“Oh, bugger off.” She spat at the inoffensive little mouse healer, “I ain’t getting back in that bed.” She swung the door open, looking around swiftly. Voices caught her ears as she spied the twins. “Ye.” She growled, her paws curling into claws. She headed for the miscreants with a purpose.

"We can look them up later," she promised, folding up a scrap of parchment and tucking it into her waist cord.

“Ye ain’t gonna have a ‘later’,” she promised them darkly.

[Cross]

Cross watched as the peeved ottermaid got up from her bed, promising to flay the two squirrels herself. The big sea otter groaned as Halifax scolded her for doing so. Baring his teeth, Cross shut his eyes tightly. He was not in a pleasant mood right now.

"Halifax, please," he begged, rubbing his head again. "I would like to get some of the rest you wanted me to--"

But then Tam slammed the door and Cross was fully woken up. Snorting once, the big otter swung his legs over the side of the bed, much to the discomfort of his bandaged middle. "I'll get her, Brother," he told the spluttering mouse.

"Tam," he called into the hallway, leaning on the walls for support. "I think you should come--"

“Ye ain’t gonna have a ‘later’,” she promised them darkly.

Cyle and Trace looked up suddenly, guilt flashing in their eyes for a brief moment. But then the moment was gone, and their naughty grins returned. They winked at each other none too subtly and stepped away unperturbed by the tall ottermaid.

"Yeah, an' what're ya gonna do, hmm?" Trace taunted, obviously unimpressed with the skinny, ragged otter. The squirrels knew they could outrun the otter easily, but why not toy with her for awhile?

Cross simply watched the scene unfold, too tired to intervene. Besides, if Tam was really going to hurt them, somebeast would stop her. Right?

((Meh, a little scattered, but I wanted to post.))

[Kenyon]

"Yeah, an' what're ya gonna do, hmm?" Trace taunted, obviously unimpressed with the skinny, ragged otter. The squirrels knew they could outrun the otter easily, but why not toy with her for awhile?

“Raaaaaaarrrrg!” Tampa lunged, ragged claws reaching for the taunting squirrel. She had been a nice beast once, but that was a mistake. Weakness could no longer be tolerated. These two would learn to their detriment what it meant to mess with Tampa, formerly of Holt Tiderunner.

They ran up and down the corridor, Tam missing Cyle’s neck by a pawspan as they passed the infirmary again. She was beyond rage. Silly to be so worked up over food, some might say, immature or even hopelessly violent and uncivilized. However, Tam had had the civilization stripped from her. Food was a precious, precious resource. Nobeast messed with another beast’s food where she was from, that was one point they could all agree on, despite their separation on other matters. Only the guards messed with food.

Only the tyrants. She growled again, reaching out for Trace’s tail. She’d learned hard lessons, and it showed in her body and in her actions. Civility and humor were foreign words.

[Cross]

Cyle and Trace screamed as the crazed otter pounced, pursuing them down the long hallways. They ducked into a room, leaping onto the beds (some of them containing sleeping beasts), and then bolted into an adjoining dorm, Trace chancing a quick glance back. The otter was still following them.

Yelling in fright, the twins raced back out into the hallway, darting past the sick bay once more. As Tam continued the chase, a big silvery wall of fur and muscle suddenly got in her way. Cross grunted as Tampa slammed into him, but he held firm, grabbing her arms securely.

"Tampa," he barked. "Settle down." He hadn't planned to interject, but nobeast had come to the aid of the squirrels. He didn't want Tampa to exert herself, not in the state she was in, and he certainly didn't want to be responsible for allowing her to harm anybeast.

Trace and Cyle stood panting on the other side of the hall, eyes wide with fright. That big silver otter had saved their lives! Or, so it seemed to them, anyway. Neither one of them would ever stoop so low as to actually apologize for their actions, but they had enough honor to at least say thank you. But, they would do that later, when the crazy otter wasn't around.

[Kenyon]

The twins led her on quite the obstacle course, but she wasn’t about to let little things like exhaustion and weakness from lack of food stop her revenge. She was taking in deep breaths of air more than she was growling, but she was still following as they darted past the infirmary again. Tam had just sucked in a deep breath when she’d barrelled straight into Cross. She hadn’t even seen him, her focus had been only on the squirrels.

Oof.

All the air was driven from her lungs, and she stood trying to get her stunned lungs to work. And then just as she took a breath, her stomach rebelled against the food she had so hungrily scarfed and the exertions she’d just put her body through, so violently stopped by this wall of an otter. She leaned over Cross’s arm and vomited.

[Cross]

Cross looked away as the female emptied the contents of her stomach onto the floor. A disgusted look crossing his face, the big otter was actually relieved when Halifax burst from the sick bay, crying out in astonishment at the sight of his two patients.

"Merciful seasons!" he hollered. "Both of you, get back inside this instant!" Cross would have gladly done so, but it seemed Tampa wasn't quite finished yet. Halifax's expression was one of utter frustration. "You are both trying my patience today . . ."

That's fine, you must come over and try mine, sometime, Cross thought irritably. Once Tampa settled down, Halifax was over in an instant, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief as Cross supported her. The big otter then moved her into a position to where they were face to face. "I hope you are feeling better by now," he said simply. He then proceeded to lead her back into the infirmary.

Halifax quickly turned to admonish the squirrel twins, but they had fled while their pursuer was otherwise engaged. The old mouse let out a snort and reentered the sick bay. "Now, if you're not too busy," he said, his tone dangerously level. "Would you so kindly lie back down? I'll send somebeast else to get your food so we don't have a repeat of this little incident, hmm?" He grabbed an extra bucket and dropped it by Tampa's bed as Cross helped her over.