At last! Redwall Abbey!!!

[Nightfire]

Vulto Naraz, the Wanderer from the West, was limping steadily down the path. He was making his way to Redwall Abbey, and now finally saw it. "At last! Redwall Abbey!!!" he cried. The black otter smiled in relief, then went up to the main gate. He knew that there wasn't much hope of him being heard if he knocked, so he took out his otterharp and began playing a song. The melody rose and fell, sounding as though there was a sweet river flowing, and the otter raised his voice in music.

"Where rivers wend, then I shall go,
Where paths curl, I shall tread.
Up mountains, down valleys,
I ne'er shall stop until I am dead.
So please, goodbeast,
open your gates!
The Wanderer is here,
brought by the fates!"

[Romulus]

Strolling happily along the ramparts, December Krell inhaled the sweet autumn air. The calico mouse smiled to herself. Oh, such a lovely morning! She took out her journal and wrote a few lines on the scenery around her. What a wonderful season autumn was. The trees were lit up like a fireworks display! So inspiring!

She added a tiny sketch of a little dragon in the corner of her entry. Perhaps he could go on a small canvas amongst some autumn leaves and blackberries. She'd had blackberry pie this morning. Delicious. The plump little mouse closed her journal and tucked it back into her overlarge habit. Adjusting her purple hat, she began humming a tune to herself as she continued her walk.

Suddenly, her tune got words. The words didn't quite fit the tune, and she certainly wasn't singing. She was just over the west gate and looked down, beholding a black otter playing a lovely tune on a harp and singing at the top of his voice,

"Where rivers wend, then I shall go,
Where paths curl, I shall tread.
Up mountains, down valleys,
I ne'er shall stop until I am dead.
So please, goodbeast,
open your gates!
The Wanderer is here,
brought by the fates!"

December clapped her paws. "Oh, marvelous, good sir!" she exclaimed. "Anybeast with a voice like that is welcome, he is! Don't ye go anywhere. I'll be right down!" She scurried down from the wall top, having a little trouble opening the big gate, but she managed. Her ever-present smile greeted the big black otter as one door of the gate swung wide.

"Welcome to Redwall," she greeted, stepping aside to let him through. "I'm December, and I'll say 'tis a wonderful pleasure t'invite ye in, friend."

[Nightfire]

Vulto shook her paw heartily, grinning with pleasure. "Hello, miss, my name's Vulto Naraz. I've been traveling for quite a while, an I saw your splendid abbey, so I said to meself 'why not drop in for a visit?' And here I get greeted by a pretty mousemaid like yourself! Well, here's me paw, and here's me heart, an' I'll grace yer abbey with music as long as I breath!"
With that, the huge otter strummed his harp again, singing out in his deep baritone.

"Oh, 'tis wonderful to be alive,
Where the grass is green and the birds do fly,
An' I shall always sing and strum,
An' ne'er e'er play the drum!"

[Romulus]

December giggled, amused by the otter's charming demeanor, and marveling at his wonderful singing voice. She clapped her paws again as he finished a second song, her plump cheeks pushed up in her famous smile. Tipping her hat to him, she shut the gate after he entered the grounds.

"Astounding, Sir Vulto Naraz," she complimented. "I'm no musician, meself, but I do adore beasts with voices like yours! Music is so inspiring, you know." She took out her journal and wrote a note to herself about the otter's arrival. "Are ye hungry, Sir Vulto? Always plenty t'eat at Redwall, y'know."

She was cut off form further chatter by the arrival of another mouse, this one male. He greeted her with a sweet hug, and then he offered a friendly paw to Vulto. "'Ello," he said cheerfully. "Th' name's Miles Krell, fortunate husband of that little beauty over yonder." He winked at December, who giggled again.

[Nightfire]

Vulto shook the other's paw heartily, then turned back to December. "Aye, I could do with some vittles. Don't call me sir, it makes me sound like some ol' sergeant."