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Post by Tanon on Mar 18, 2008 0:15:51 GMT -5
As the sun left its zenith in a cloudless afternoon sky, Tanon exited the great hall of the abbey, patting his well filled stomach.
The otter's walking stick thumped softly on the courtyard's lush lawn as he made his way toward the pond for a relaxing rest in the warm sunlight. Spring had returned to mossflower and Tanon was ready to enjoy all the sounds and smells it brought with it once again.
He made himself comfortable along the ponds edge, dipping his footpaws into the cool water. Oh how he longed to swim as in the days past before the great battle at the abbey.
He could never forget the fearsome wounds he had received from it, especially the savage one to his right leg, which had lamed him somewhat and made him doubt that he would ever be able to run or swim again.
He stared into the crystal water longingly. Oh how it would be nice to swim again, he thought, But Star said that I shouldn't try it. I might go and hurt my leg from it. Sighing, he watched a couple of trout leaping out to snare a few insects that hovered near the waters surface, almost as if they were tempting him.
But it suppose it wouldn't hurt me to swim a little bit., he thought as he got up and half immersed himself in the water. As long as I go easy, I'll be okay. The water might even be good for my leg.
With a light smile, Tanon laid down on the water and paddled gently across on his back, kicking with his legs as gently as possible.
Just a little swim wont hurt.
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Post by Starspray Waymeet on Mar 31, 2008 14:01:11 GMT -5
"Tanon Fuldrik!"
A scolding, but laughing, voice sounded behind him. "Just what in the name of fates do you think you're doing?"
Star stood at the edge of the pond, paws on her hips, her stance fortelling a tounge-lashing to come. But her face was smiling as she watched Tanon fondly.
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Post by Tanon on Apr 1, 2008 0:36:54 GMT -5
Tanon cried out in surprise at the familiar voice behind him and briefly flailed about in the shallows as he struggled to his feet. His head became submerged for an instant, filling his mouth and nose full of water which caused him to cough and sputter as he got to his feet.
The otter blushed as he looked at Star, knowing he was definitely going to get it from her.
"Umm.. err.. 'ello Star.", He said uneasily as he forced a smile and rubbed the back of his head with a paw, unable to keep himself from stammering. "Well... Ya see... Umm.... I was... was just... err... thinkin'... thinkin' that the nice an' cool water would be uh... good fer ma leg. So I just thought that I'd uh... just float 'ere along the shallows an' relax. Thats all!" He chuckled nervously as his face grew even more red.
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Post by Starspray Waymeet on Apr 1, 2008 9:18:11 GMT -5
"Uh-huh." Star frowned at his sheepish explanation. "Well..." She tapped a paw against her chin for a moment, then broke into a huge grin. "I guess I'll have to join you to keep an eye on you then."
She waded forward, sighing with contentment as the cool water closed in around her. She floated on her back, paws behind her head. "Has your leg been giving you anymore trouble?" she asked Tanon, squinting in the sunlight.
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Post by Tanon on Apr 2, 2008 0:37:10 GMT -5
Tanon gave a silent sigh of relief and chuckled as Star entered the water with him. He once again laid carefully on his back and paddled alongside her.
"It ain't really 'urtin anymore.", he answered as he glanced over at her, glad that she was able to join him. "Its mostly a bit stiff nowadays."
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Post by Starspray Waymeet on Apr 3, 2008 9:40:20 GMT -5
"Good." Star glanced over at him. "It'll probably be alright if you exercise it gently; get some of the strength back. Swimming is good." she grinned at him before diving beneath the surface and popping up again a few feet away.
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Post by Tanon on Apr 4, 2008 0:17:17 GMT -5
Tanon frowned as he watched Star go underwater and sighed soon after she resurfaced. "I sure 'ope yer right, Star. 'cause an otter that can't swim is like a bird that cant fly."
He paddled over to her slowly, talking as he went. "I'll be as 'appy as a dibbun with an endless supply of candied chestnuts when that day comes." As he approached her he got off his back and treaded water as he drew close to her with a light smile. "An' I 'ave you to thank for it. Not givin' up on me on that fateful day a few seasons ago." He lightly grasped her paw affectionately.
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William
Initiate
Vermin, ye be warned
Posts: 116
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Post by William on Apr 4, 2008 8:52:00 GMT -5
(Good old Oregon spring break....Snow and rain almost all the time  ) Smiling and thanking the chef Will walked out of the kitchen, a small tray held in his paws as he walked out to enjoy one of the first sunny days this season. Sighing happily as the warmth from the sun hit his fur Will walked off toward the pond. But splashing made him look, but then he relaxed when he saw two otters. Then smiled as he saw which otters they were. Sitting next to the pond he chuckled slightly at them as he started to eat his breakfast... |
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Post by Starspray Waymeet on Apr 4, 2008 9:10:34 GMT -5
(sounds kinda like NE weather.)
Star grasped his paw gently, smiling, "I don't think fate would have let me leave you alone. So you'll just have to put up with me for some years to come." Her eyes twinkled, and she planted a kiss on Tanon's nose.
At the sound of Will's chuckle, Star looked up, and blushed slightly as she waved.
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Post by Tanon on Apr 4, 2008 22:54:05 GMT -5
(I don't think I'll be seeing too much rain where I am, according to a weather experts prediction.)
Tanon's cheeks reddened slightly from Star's kiss. "Aye, that I will. But I'm sure I'll find a way ta manage."
He then looked over in the direction Star was facing as she waved to Will and quickly responded to his presence in kind. "G'day to ya Will!"
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William
Initiate
Vermin, ye be warned
Posts: 116
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Post by William on Apr 7, 2008 8:53:20 GMT -5
(Well, you can only hope that they are more accurate then they are here.)
Will's smile grew has he saw both otters kiss. It was so nice to see beasts like that, especially those two that had been through so much. Waving back he put down his breakfast and looked at them both. But he didn't say anything, just relaxed against the tree, not wanting to ruin their happy moment.
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Post by Starspray Waymeet on Apr 7, 2008 9:51:56 GMT -5
Star squeezed Tanon's paw before releasing him. Twisting around so she was floating on her back, she stared up into the blue sky. "How many seasons has it been since the war, Tanon?" she asked softly.
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Post by Tanon on Apr 8, 2008 0:54:13 GMT -5
Tanon breathed in deeply as he also looked skyward. "Seven seasons.", he gently replied, "Though I often feel as if it was just yesterday. I remember it all too well. The sneerin' faces of those countless vermin. The sounds of weapons meetin' one another. The great shock to ma body when I got those nasty wounds that cut me down."
He sighed as he laid himself down on the water's surface again. "War t'aint a good thing ta see, or be a part of. I still 'ave nightmares from time ta time."
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William
Initiate
Vermin, ye be warned
Posts: 116
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Post by William on Apr 8, 2008 8:53:26 GMT -5
Will listened to the otters as he relaxed next to the pond. He soon started to sink lower in the cool breeze and slight heat from the rising sun. But he opened his eyes as he heard war. He had heard of that before, but during that terrible time he was still working in the slaves mine. Sighing as he sat against the tree he wished he could have been here to help, but he knew he couldn't dwell on the past, or he wouldn't be able to prepare for the future. "Tis a pity that war must grip this land so often, but there will always be ambition in the world, the world seems to be run by conflict..." He thought out loud as he looked over the walls of the abbey....
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Post by Starspray Waymeet on Apr 8, 2008 10:04:19 GMT -5
Star frowned gently. "I still have nightmares too, Tanon. Remembering the wounds I had to treat adn heal, the friends that died..." her voice grew softer, "you lying motionless on that bed for nigh five days, wondering and hoping that you would wake up." She sighed, then spoke up to answer William. "As long as there is evil in the world, there will be conflict. I suppose the most we can do is fight it and help those left in it's wake."
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Post by Tanon on Apr 10, 2008 0:38:12 GMT -5
Tanon glanced over at Star. "Five days?", he asked gently. "Well I'll be... It seemed a lot shorter than that ta me."
He took his gaze back to the sky as he thoughtfully continued. "I remember a dream that I 'ad, if ya can call it a dream. I remember walking on a long dark path which seemed ta go on fer miles. When I got to the end, there were there 'uge gates that barred the way to this forest on the other side and there through the bars I saw someone I recognized. A pretty young ottermaid that I had met on my way ta Redwall fer the first time."
The otter sighed lightly before he carried on. "Her name was Fernbreeze, but she preferred ta be called Fern. I took a likin' ta 'er an' she took a likin' ta me. But sadly tragedy struck soon after our meetin. Some crazed vermin attacked us, woundin' me..." Tanon paused as he fought back a tear. "an' killin 'er." I buried her in a nice lookin' meadow nearby, an' uprooted a fern an' used it to mark her restin' place."
"When I saw 'er in ma dream I was so glad ta see 'er again 'cause I thought she was the one ta be ma mate, but she told me otherwise. She said she found her own mate there in that forest and was 'appy. She must 'ave seen the sadness in ma eyes when I 'eard that, 'cause what she said next was something I don't think I'll ever forget, 'You'll meet her sooner than ya think Tanon." Tanon swallowed a lump of emotion that got caught in his throat before he finished. "An' thats the last thing I 'eard an' saw in that dream before I woke up."
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Post by Starspray Waymeet on Apr 10, 2008 9:48:37 GMT -5
Star couldn't help feeling slightly jealous that Tanon had loved another at one time, but a wave of empathy promptly swallowed it. "I'm sorry you lost her." she murmured, placing a paw on his. "Pain like that...it doesn't pass quickly." She blinked rapidly, looking away for a moment. "For the first few days, I was so afraid that I was going to lose you, that you would never wake up.." her voice trailed off, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
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Post by Tanon on Apr 11, 2008 9:13:59 GMT -5
Tanon nodded lightly. "Aye, I remember comin' conscious again fer a short while on the day of that battle. I felt pain all over and was ready to give up. I remember tellin' ya that I didn't think I'd make it, an' 'ow that 'urt ya deeply. I can still see them tears ya shed."
He looked over at Star smiling."But then ya said that ya wouldn't allow it, an' that you'd take care o' me. An' thats when I realized that I 'ad ta live, cause I'd be missed deeply not just by you, but by others, an' just as you said, wounds like that aren't easy ta 'eal."
He gently pulled Star closer to him as tears of emotion filled his eyes. "Thank ya, Star. Ya gave me 'ope when I didn't 'ave none. An' I wouldn't be 'ere today if it weren't fer ya. Thank you." He then kissed her gently on the cheek.
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William
Initiate
Vermin, ye be warned
Posts: 116
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Post by William on Apr 11, 2008 12:26:13 GMT -5
Will nodded grimly as Star spoke about his statement. He continued to listen to both otters as he looked at the clouds. sniffing slightly at Tanon's sad story. But they got past it. The war had passed, the only reminded where the injury's, and the memories of those that fell. Before Will even knew it he was asleep against the tree in the warm day sun, snoring quietly as the otters continued to talk....
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Post by Starspray Waymeet on Apr 11, 2008 13:26:13 GMT -5
Star wrapped her arms around Tanon's neck. "I love you, Tanon." she whispered in his ear. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
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