Rainy Fall Day ((open))

[Romulus]

December Krell curled up in an oversized chair, a warm towel wrapped around her shoulders. Her calico fur was still a bit damp from running in the rain, and she felt a cold shiver run down her skin. The little wood mouse watched the healthy fire blazing in the hearth, sighing in content as she snuggled further into the overstuffed chair.

It was finally fall outside, and a thick shower of rain had unexpectedly interrupted her outdoor painting session. Well, at least she hadn't necessarily started painting yet. She had just finished setting up her easel when the rain hit. However, she and Miles had been quite a ways out in the orchards. It had been a sprint to Great Hall as the shower thoroughly soaked their clothing and fur. But the couple had been laughing the entire time, holding each other's paw and splashing through the quickly-gathering puddles.

Now December and Miles sat in Cavern Hole with a few other beasts seeking shelter form the rain and a bit of company. Miles had just made tea for himself and his wife, and he handed her a cup of the steaming liquid, climbing onto the chair beside her. She giggled like a schoolgirl as he planted a kiss on her cheek, and they clinked their cups together.

"Eeeeeeeewwww," two young beasts groaned in disgust from their seats near the fire. December stuck out her tongue at them and laughed. She could recall when she had been the same way. Miles chuckled, taking a long sip from his tea.

"Hey, Mi," a burly otter called from the entrance to Cavern Hole. He was drenched in rainwater and looked like he had been working hard. "Somebeast locked themselves in the gatehouse an' we can't find the keys. Mind helpin' us?" Miles knew where everything was in the abbey, so when something important was lost, he was the one who could find it.

"Sure thing," the mouse replied, hopping down from the chair. "I'll be right back, December." He blew a kiss and December pretended to snatch it from the air, smiling and waving goodbye. He chuckled. "I love you."

"I love you more!" she called as her mate followed the otter back outside. She heard more disgusted noises from the young beasts by the fire and giggled. Finishing her tea, she unwrapped the towel from around herself and fixed her messy calico fur. Glancing around, she wondered who would be fun to talk to. She noticed somebeast just coming into Cavern Hole and waved. "Afternoon, friend! Lovely day, isn't it?"

[Stryker]

Glancing around, she wondered who would be fun to talk to. She noticed somebeast just coming into Cavern Hole and waved. "Afternoon, friend! Lovely day, isn't it?"

"Burr aye, gud 'fternoon, marm. It be a luvurly day indeed, a'fore it started rainin'."

Shaking the water droplets from his velvety head fur, Duncan Sternclaw hustled a young rambuctious otter inside, the mildly wet dibbun looking quite quite annoyed that his outside play time had been canceled. "Oi caught 'ee likkle scamp tryin' ta take 'ee dip inna Abbey Pond."
Koa, glaring mutinously at the kindly mole who'd captured him (and it had been no easy feat), wriggled free of Duncan's hold to go sulk in front of the nearest fireplace, sighing frustratedly as though his world had just ended.
The otterbabe honestly couldn't think of anything more fun than playing outside in the rain. And Duncan had ruined it. Didn't the big ol' mole have a heart? He'd been a dibbun once, right? Koa sniffed, stretching out on his stomach in front of the fire. Definitely not. He'd been born a big mean ol' fun-ruiner. Duncan paid no mind to Koa's sulking, and instead tugged on his snout in politeness to December, secretly very pleased her husband was nowhere in sight. They were a bit too affectionate for this humble young mole's liking, and he'd always blush bright beneath his fur whenever he was witness to their latest bout of PDA.

[Romulus]

"Burr aye, gud 'fternoon, marm. It be a luvurly day indeed, a'fore it started rainin'."

December laughed, nodding in agreement. "Aye, I was hoping to enjoy the outdoors myself," she replied, tipping her wide-brimmed hat to Duncan. Even though her 'lovely day' comment had been meant as a joke, she was glad to see this friendly mole come in. It was always nice to speak with a mole. They were so quaint.

She giggled as Koa trudged by, slumping in front of the fireplace. "Hi, Koa," she called sweetly, fluttering her paw in a wave. Turning back to Duncan, she picked up her mostly-dry towel and offered it to him. "You need this more than I do, sweetie." Now if only Miles had left his own towel behind for Koa.

"What were ye up to this fine day, Mr. Duncan?" December asked, taking her hat off and laying it in her lap.

[Stryker]

"Hi, Koa," she called sweetly, fluttering her paw in a wave. Turning back to Duncan, she picked up her mostly-dry towel and offered it to him. "You need this more than I do, sweetie."

Koa, apparently, didn't have much need for a towel, as the half-naked, semi-soaked otter crouched on all fours and proceeded to shake himself like a dog, spraying all unsuspecting nearby abbey dwellers with droplets of water. Duncan scowled at him. "You'm be doin' that again, Mizzer Shorehund, you'm be findin' 'eself wiff 'ee rudder spanked," the mole threatened, and Koa grinned, walking over to sit in front of December as though preparing for something to happen.
Turning back to the kindly mousewife, Duncan returned to a cordial tone of voice, a smile creasing his soft, velvety features. "Oi wuz helpin' 'ee friar make candied chesknutters, m'arm. Eet wuz sticky bizness, but nuthin' me'n'ee friar cudn't handle." Duncan chuckled, remembering just how long it had taken him to finally wash off all that sugary coating from his digging claws. "You'm be paintin' agin, marm? Oi do loikes ee artwurk quite a lot, iffin' ye don't moind oi zayin' so."

Koa, however, chose this moment to chime in with a favorite dibbun past time.
"Can you tell us a story, Mrs. Krell? A fun one? Please?" Koa unleashed his secret weapon, turning those huge brown eyes upon Mrs. Krell as though they could instantly get her to do his bidding. Duncan, who wasn't too susceptible to 'cute', didn't fall for it. "You'm be vury rude, 'ee likkle rascal, 'inneruptin' two beasts a'talkin' loike that."

((xD Starting to get a grasp on this mole speak without having to reference the dictionary, lol))

[Romulus]

December giggled softly and held her paws before her face as Koa shook himself off. She loved the little otter. He was adorable! Not that all the other Dibbuns weren't adorable, as well. All of them were just so cute! She couldn't decide who was the cutest of them.

"Oi wuz helpin' 'ee friar make candied chesknutters, m'arm. Eet wuz sticky bizness, but nuthin' me'n'ee friar cudn't handle."

"Oh, how lovely," the mousewife exclaimed. "I'm not much of a cook, myself, but I do enjoy good food!" She rubbed her plump belly with one paw, giggling again.

"You'm be paintin' agin, marm? Oi do loikes ee artwurk quite a lot, iffin' ye don't moind oi zayin' so."

"I dare say I have," she replied, smoothing her fur again. "In fact, I was planning to work on a canvas for the Autumn Feast when the rain showed up. It was going to be a lovely dragon with scales the color of fall leaves." She shrugged, winking once. "Guess I'll have to work on it later." Picking up her hat, she moved to the arm of the couch, looking up at Duncan as she patted the seat. "Would you like to sit down? I don't need much space, y'see."

"Can you tell us a story, Mrs. Krell? A fun one? Please?" Koa unleashed his secret weapon, turning those huge brown eyes upon Mrs. Krell as though they could instantly get her to do his bidding.

December laughed again. "Oh!" she gushed. "Can those eyes get any bigger?"

"You'm be vury rude, 'ee likkle rascal, 'inneruptin' two beasts a'talkin' loike that."

"No harm done, Duncan, dear," December said, waving her paw. Koa was such an adorable little thing. "What story would you like to hear, Koa?" She jumped up on the arm of the chair, striking a dramatic pose. "The Tale of the Talking Tree? Switchback and Soren? The Day the Sun Stood Still? Or would you like to hear a story of one of the Redwall champions?"

[Stryker]

"I dare say I have," she replied, smoothing her fur again. "In fact, I was planning to work on a canvas for the Autumn Feast when the rain showed up. It was going to be a lovely dragon with scales the color of fall leaves." She shrugged, winking once. "Guess I'll have to work on it later." Picking up her hat, she moved to the arm of the couch, looking up at Duncan as she patted the seat. "Would you like to sit down? I don't need much space, y'see."

Certainly not about to put the kindly mousewife out of her place, Duncan hastily took a seat upon the floor -- which Koa found extremely entertaining, since only Dibbuns sat on the floor anymore -- shaking his digging claws at her in dismissiveness. "Oi be foine down 'ere on 'ee noice hard ground." Duncan smiled, recalling her words about the dragon. "If it weren't for 'ee drawings marm, oi wudn't be knowin' what 'ee gurt big ol' dragon is." It was true; apart from December's beautiful paintinges, Duncan had never encountered a picture of a dragon in either textbook or library scroll.
He found this peculiar... What he found even more peculiar, however, was that dragons couldn't be found anywhere! Where did the pictures come from them? Somebeast's mind?
It was all quite a curious thing for Duncan, who wouldn't mind sitting and thinking of this awhile while Mrs. Krell entertained Koa with a story.

"One about a champin!" Koa chirped, having listened intently to al of his options before spouting the one that had grabbed his attention almost instantly. Scratching his ear, the otterbabe watched the animated young mousewife jump upon the arm of a chair. Koa's eyes glittered. Normally they weren't allowed to jump on the furniture... Well, he could always assume that since Mrs. Krell did it, it would be okay if he did it too.

((and Koa's rebellious stage continues. xD))

[Romulus]

"Oi be foine down 'ere on 'ee noice hard ground." Duncan smiled, recalling her words about the dragon. "If it weren't for 'ee drawings marm, oi wudn't be knowin' what 'ee gurt big ol' dragon is."

"Seriously, man?" December asked, clearly quite shocked. "I was sure I left that dragon scroll in the library." Hse contemplated for a moment, tapping her chin. "Must've left it in my rooms again . . . Well, anyway, it was a scroll containing a story about a dashing young knight who slew a fire-breathing dragon. An old friend of mine gave it to me. I'll have to show you, sometime."

"One about a champin!" Koa chirped, having listened intently to all of his options before spouting the one that had grabbed his attention almost instantly.

December replaced her purple hat upon her head, assuming a regal stance as she inhaled deeply, preparing herself for the story-telling. She loved it when she was asked to spin a yarn or two. It was as much fun for her as it was for her audience. And, since Duncan had declined her offer of a seat, she now had the entire chair on which to perform.

"Matthias of Redwall was a young and restless mouse, tired of abbey life. He dreamt of grand battles, fighting off vermin foes, becoming a champion! But life was peaceful at Redwall, and his dreams showed little signs of coming true. That is, until one fateful night in Mossflower woodland."

Here her voice grew low and slightly menacing as she hunched down a little and spread her paws wide, the firelight flickering across her calico features. "It was just after an elaborate banquet when he appeared. Riding haphazardly in a horse-drawn carriage with his fighting vermin hidden in the hay, Cluny the Scourge entered Mossflower! An evil menace with only one eye and a poisoned barb at the end of his whip-like tail, Cluny struck fear into the hearts of good beasts everywhere."

Now she straightened up, clenching her paws into fists, nearly losing her hat. "Our young Matthias would not stand for this! He joined with one of the elders, an old mouse named Methuselah, to discover where the ancient sword of Martin was kept. They tried the Warbeak loft. . .

'Little mouse worm not find sword inna loft! Mouse worm leave Sparra kingdom!' But Matthias was met with only hostility. However, he uncovered a clue that led him to the den of the feared snake Asmodeus. Traveling to the old stone quarry, he discovered the glittering sword in the lair of the serpent.

'Assssssmodeusssssss . . .' Matthias had never been so frightened in his life!" Here Decembers motions grew frantic as she pretended to wield an imaginary sword. "But he swallowed his fear and struck! Asmodeus fell dead in its own lair, and Matthias returned to the abbey triumphant, sword in paw."

She grabbed her towel, which Duncan was not using anymore, and threw it about her shoulders, her voice becoming menacing yet again. "But Cluny the Scourge still plagued Mossflower like a rabid virus. His forces had breached the abbey's walls! He had assumed lordship over Redwall! Hope was lost until the brave warrior Matthias confronted Cluny himself. . .

'Who-who are ye?' Cluny whimpered, his gaze never leaving the shining blade.

'I am that is!' Matthias answered, and the two locked in battle. Their fight took them up into the bell tower, and Cluny began to get his confidence back, realizing now that he was facing a mere child. Matthias was forced to retreat to a safe place above the massive bell.

With an evil grin, the rat warlord hissed, 'Come down 'ere, mousey an' die like a warrior!'

Matthias saw his chance and bravely yelled, 'Redwaaaaall!!' as he chopped the rope that held the gigantic bell. Cluny did not stand a chance. The bell crushed him to dust, and the Redwall champion was victorious!"

December had performed an entire play for Duncan and Koa, hopping from one end of the chair to the other, dodging her own swipes with her pretend blade, striking herself as Asmodeus, slaying herself with the bell. When she finally finished, she gave a deep bow, not fatigued in the least. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up and asked, "Would you like to hear another one?"

[Stryker]

Here her voice grew low and slightly menacing as she hunched down a little and spread her paws wide, the firelight flickering across her calico features. "It was just after an elaborate banquet when he appeared. Riding haphazardly in a horse-drawn carriage with his fighting vermin hidden in the hay, Cluny the Scourge entered Mossflower! An evil menace with only one eye and a poisoned barb at the end of his whip-like tail, Cluny struck fear into the hearts of good beasts everywhere."

"Boo! Bad Cluny!" Crowed the youngster, smacking his rudder on the ground as if to make a point. "I bet Skipper'n'my Dad wuddn't 'ave been afraid of 'him!" Koa's nose wrinkled. "Icky rat." Duncan smiled, resting a thick paw upon the otterbabe's head in a brotherly pat. "hurr aye, yore father wudda tanned yon ratter's tail at ee heartbeat," Duncan reassured him, velvety black eyes glittering. Duncan had certainly been alive when Pike "Riverwolf" Shorehound was, and the otter had been a proud, kindhearted creature. Giving December the attention she deserved, Duncan watched, entirely enthralled, as the animated mouse continued her tale.

With an evil grin, the rat warlord hissed, 'Come down 'ere, mousey an' die like a warrior!'

Matthias saw his chance and bravely yelled, 'Redwaaaaall!!' as he chopped the rope that held the gigantic bell. Cluny did not stand a chance. The bell crushed him to dust, and the Redwall champion was victorious!"

"Redwaaaaall!!" Koa always liked to yell that apart along with Matthias in the story, much to the discomfort of nearby Abbey Dwellers as well as Duncan, who had stuck a digging claw into each of his tiny ears, attempting to block out the unnecessarily loud noise. "Hurr, you'm got ee gurt set'o'lungs, young mizzer Shorehund," Duncan winced.

December had performed an entire play for Duncan and Koa, hopping from one end of the chair to the other, dodging her own swipes with her pretend blade, striking herself as Asmodeus, slaying herself with the bell. When she finally finished, she gave a deep bow, not fatigued in the least. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up and asked, "Would you like to hear another one?"

Koa clapped loud, smiling up at December with gleaming eyes, Duncan too, was applauding wholeheartedly. Even if he was no longer a dibbun, the young mole still enjoyed it whenever December told stories -- especially one of his favorites, like Matthias versus Cluny. That one right there was a classic!
"I 'ave a story! issa 'bout a champin like Matthias! Wanna hear it Mrs. Krell?" asked Koa, the otterbabe having climbed to his feet, the young rip eager to give December and Duncan a performance at least half as good as the mousewife's.

[Romulus]

December stood on the chair, catching her breath after her longwinded performance. She loved that story. Although it wasn't her favorite out of the champion stories, it was an enjoyable one to tell. Matthias was her husband's hero. She smiled and bowed again, laughing breathlessly.

"Oh, my," she panted. "Always a favorite, that one!" She sat down properly on the chair, folding up the towel as Duncan and Koa finished their applause.

"I 'ave a story! issa 'bout a champin like Matthias! Wanna hear it Mrs. Krell?" asked Koa, the otterbabe having climbed to his feet, the young rip eager to give December and Duncan a performance at least half as good as the mousewife's.

"Of course, Koa," December replied, relinquishing the performance chair to the eager young otter. "I'm sure it'll be my favorite story from now on." She took a spot by Duncan on the floor, removing her hat once again.

((Sorry, kinda short.))