Fitting in (Phineas, Cross: OPEN)

[Django]

Cross had been up since dark, unable to sleep. His nightmares had returned at the onset of fall with a vengeance. He figured it would be best for his mind not to dwell on the traumatizing memories, so he'd left his dorm and opted for a late night/early morning swim. While in the water, he could let his mind drift with the current. 

He thought about quite a bit. His place at the abbey, his feelings towards a certain ottermaid, among other things. It was hard to believe it had been almost a year since he'd first come to Redwall. Granted, a good month or two of that year had been spent in an injury-induced coma, but it still counted. 

By the time dawn broke over the horizon, the big otter was sitting on the dock, letting his dense fur dry in a crisp morning breeze. After swimming so long, he discovered that he was quite hungry. So he threw his shirt back on and tried to shake out the excess water from his coat, making his way to Great Hall to see if breakfast was underway yet. 

Luckily for him, the kitchen workers were already up and cooking. Abbeybeasts were slowly streaming into the Hall from their rooms, many of them yawning, stretching, and fixing bedhead fur. Cross allowed himself a smile at the sight. He loved the constant reminders of how nice this abbey was. 

Once his growling stomach was satisfied, he returned to the outdoors, hoping for another peaceful day. Ever since Broden had challenged the otter to a duel, Cross had been wary of the big hedgehog challenging him a second time. 

"Good morning to you. I do not believe I have had the honor of making your acquaintance."

The unfamiliar voice broke Cross from his thoughts. He turned to see the cat warlord Phineas making his way purposefully over to Cross. The big otter looked behind himself, but he saw only the pond. Clearly the feline was speaking to him. But why? Masking his confusion with a blank expression, Cross stopped his pathway to the dock and waited for the lord to walk up to him. 

"Good morning," the otter returned the greeting with a nod. Though he didn't consider making his acquaintance any particular honor, he politely introduced himself. "My name is Cross." 

Well, he introduced himself. What more do you want?

[Directed by M. Night Shyamalan]

"Good morning, my name is Cross."

Strange. If this otter had spoken in such a manner only a year ago, he would have been beaten for disrespect, probably a day or two in the royal dungeon as well. But here there were no guards, no court, no nobles or respected military officers. There was just his Lordship and the otter by the pond in their simple habits.

"You wonder why I approached you, that's plain to see." Phineas commented, taking a step forward. "You are a sea otter, you do not tell tale of long residency in this abode. To an extent, you are new here, and in this I find familiarity. The good beasts of this hold are wonderful hosts, yet there is unspoken bounds between us, bounds made by our differences. There is less of such in you, being not a native of this place. Please friend, if you would, share your story with myself. I can sense an interesting history from you."

[Django]

"You wonder why I approached you, that's plain to see." Phineas commented, taking a step forward.

Cross resisted the urge to take a step back. He stood stoically before the feline, face expressionless as usual.

"You are a sea otter, you do not tell tale of long residency in this abode. To an extent, you are new here, and in this I find familiarity."

Fair enough. A slight perk of Cross's small ears was the only indication he found interest in this as of yet one-sided conversation. 

"The good beasts of this hold are wonderful hosts, yet there is unspoken bounds between us, bounds made by our differences. There is less of such in you, being not a native of this place. Please friend, if you would, share your story with myself. I can sense an interesting history from you."

The otter instinctively locked up. His good eye focused on a point behind the cat as he formulated a reply. One webbed paw went to his chest reflexively, but his prize ring was hidden beneath his shirt and fur, so he quickly turned the gesture into a shy rub of his neck. 

"I am from the south," Cross hadn't told anyone his story in a long time. Well, it wasn't his real story. Just a few vague sentences he told to satisfy curious beasts. "I left my holt by the sea some years ago to travel. I found Redwall when I returned a wayward Dibbun here."

[Directed by M. Night Shyamalan]

Phineas could tell conversation would lead to nowhere in this manner. Ears perking up, he craned his head towards a few of his guards heading outside the gates. He saw what they were up to, and an idea leaped to mind. Turning back to the otter Cross, he looked him in the eye and, in as cheerful a voice as he could manage:

"I pray you don't mind my intrusion, but would you be willing to partake in some physical exercise with me and my troop? You a strong and able beast as any, I imagine my heroes would welcome you with pleasure to our session." He stretched a hand towards the cats heading out the small side-gate into the flat terrain surrounding Redwall.