Balancing (Open)

[Wildrun]

((Gasp, otter invasion! : ) Question though, Skip. Is Meko an NPC? Or is he on the Melroch account?))

As Skipper swept her and Tirael inside, Oaklea tensed, her paw straying to the cord wrapped round her waist. She hadn't had need to use it since the last time she'd been near a skipper, and she'd also had the displeasure to make the accqautance of a wildcat, a stoat, and a fox. The beasts outside sounded like much more than three creatures. They also sounded like...

Otters! Oaklea left her paw go limp as Skip and the other otter in charge--Meko, was he?--chatted together, and Skip introduced she, Tirael, and Theurl. Skip was obviously happy to meet his friends again, and they were all given invitations to join them on the tour. It'd been a while she'd seen so many otters. She murmured to Tirael, "Are they sea otters or river otters? I can't tell, can you?"
And then she wondered what kind of otter Tirael himself was, but she didn't ask. The other otters seemed, including Skip, to be entirely thrilled about meeting again. Oaklea's lips twitched in what might've been a smile. This was why she loved hanging out with otters--always so cheerful and happy when there wasn't a fight!

[Tirael]

"Are they sea otters or river otters? I can't tell, can you?"

Being an otter himself, Tirael was more able to discern sea otters from river otters. Looking the crowd over for a moment, he murmured back to her. "Well, they look like river otters to me. I can't tell you for sure, though; they're all moving an' laughing too much." He was thrilled by everything that was going on; he had thought meeting two new creatures would be the highlight of his day, but this...

He silently pledged that he wouldn't shy out of this.

[Wildrun]

The mouse nodded to herself thoughtfully. The newcomers certainly were moving and laughing quite a lot! In fact, Oaklea realized, Tirael also semed to be enjoying himself, but it was hard to tell aside from his smile. It suddenly occured to her that he must be a beast who was usually quiet, maybe shy? Inwardly, she grinned. That tops it! A friendly mouse, a well-known Skipper, a slightly anti-social mouse--ha ha, I really am kind of anti-social lately. Oops!--and a shy otter. We'll take the Abbey by storm!

Translation for anyone inside Oaklea's head at the moment--it was nice to meet friendly people again.

[Tirael]

Tirael was already beginning to bend his resolution. He was too nervous to try talking to even one of the newcomers; he remained on the sidelines, still wearing a half-smile and trying not to betray his embarrassment. Unable to talk to any of the boisterous otters, he turned back to Oaklea. "Well, looks like this tour's going to be a bit noisier than before. Still, the more the merrier."

[Rausaro]

On the edge of Mossflower woods, a cloaked figure watched through the cold wind of the late fall {It is fall\winter in the rpg, right?}. Despite the long journey from the coast, he still stayed alert. Often, the deadliest of foes was the careless moments at the end of a journey. Regardless, he was there. Though... it had been a long time. His green eyes played over the ancient sandstone walls.... the sheer height had intimidated him as a dibbun, but when he became reckless, it became a great adventure, much to the dismay of his caretakers.

***
Moving stealthily to the gate, he pressed his ear against the door and listened. Rausaro detected the voices of several otters, and possibly the accent of a sea otter. "Well, here goes nothing."

With a single paw, he thumped the wall a few times, and stood back, waiting for a response. Redwall was said to be open to any travelers, but Vermin had taken her in the past. It never hurt to be cautious.


OOC: How's that for starters?

[Tirael]

((That's a fine post, Rau. Welcome to LoRA.))

Rausaro was fortunate that Tirael was socially inept; had he not been standing off to the side with Oaklea, he would have never heard the knocking on the gate. Not wanting to bother Skip in the middle of his reunion, he went over and unbarred the gate. Opening the door a small ways, he poked his head out. Another otter? he thought. As he knew from experience that otters were goodbeasts, he pushed the gate open wider. Beckoning Rausaro in, he said, "Welcome to Redwall."

[Wildrun]

Contemplating what she should do to make Tirael feel....less nervous? Oaklea really didn't know, and wasn't quite sure how to bring her new friend back into the conversation, when somebeast outside knocked on the gates.

Tirael had immiedately turned and inched the gate open. Standing on tip-paw to see over his shoulder, she was surprised to a cloaked beasts waiting outside. Tirael had opened the gate a bit further and welcomed the newcomer. Oaklea threw her weight agaisnt the wood to help close it again once the beast was inside, and extended a paw cheerily. "'Lo, mate. You've arrived just in time for a little party. At least, I think that's what this is. Anyway, I'm Oaklea. This is my pal Tirael, that big otter in the mob there is Skip and some o' his old friends..now where'd Theurl go? Eh, well, nice ta' meetcha!" Unconscious of how garbeled her introductions had sounded, she peered about, looking for Theurl. I hope an otter hasn't stepped on him!

((Hello, Rausaro. Welcome to LoRA, mate! )

[mullisbt]

(Sorry for the abscence, I've been sick)
Theurl laughed as he saw oaklea searching for him. He hid behind some bushes because of the sheer number of new beasts. He liked meeting new people but this was a good many new people. He was slowly growing more uncomfortable as the bushes were sticking him in the back with their branches. He decided the time was right and jumped out and said, "Boo."

[Wildrun]

((Glad you're feeling better, Theurl. Sure you're okay?))

Oaklea snapped her head around, blinked, then grinned once again she made an exaggerated bow, sweeping her bandanna off to Theurl and offering her paw to him. She smiled cheekily at Rausaro and said breezily, "...And there's Master Theurl, Grandmaster of Redwall Abbey Battlements! Where ya' been, boyo?"

[Rocky]

Skip couldnt help but smirk at Theurl. "C'mere, y'rascal." He said, as he scooped Theurl up and put him on his shoulders. "By the way, mates. These be river otters." He winked at Oaklea, for he overheard he previous question. Then he turned back and walked amidst the otters and greeted the newcomer. "Greetings, mate. How do y'do?" He asked Rausaro.

OOC: Not my best... Sorry

[Rausaro]

Rausaro smiled. "I'm doing fine, mate. T'was merely a long, cold journey from th' coast. I'd be happy t' join 'yew. He nodded at Tirael. "Thankee f' allowing me in." The otter was very happy to be in an area protected from the wind. On the coast, the wet and windy environment was terrible in the winter. Redwall, however, was a significantly warmer and drier location. Why he came to Redwall, however, would have to wait a bit.

{I'm trying to observe behaviors, so I don't rp a character's reactions or conversation wrong}

[mullisbt]

Theurl was about to answer Oaklea when he felt the strong paws of skipper pull him up on to his shoulders. Once he was adjusted to the height; he turned and said, "I was a hiding in them there prickely bushes."

[Wildrun]

The black-furred mousemaid sighed mournfully. " Luckky little Theurl! I've gotten to tall'n long to fit in a bush so nicely!" She winked at him andturned back to Rausaro. "Anyhow, mate. I take it ya' like a nice warm place after travelin', huh? Got any good talesto tell?" She added the last qustion lightly, a strange twinkle in her eye--amusement that for once she was the one asking a travler for stories, not the other way around!

[Tirael]

Tirael grinned inwardly; most mice seemed a little small to him, so the thought of Oaklea complaining she was too big amused him greatly. Turning to Rausaro, he said, "If you do have any stories to tell, I'd suggest you hold them for Cavern Hole; otherwise, you'll probably be repeatin' them to every beast in Redwall!" It was true, after all. He had seen it, or rather heard it, before. Looking around the area by the gate, he saw that the ecstatic chatter had barely slacked off at all. "Wow, looks like this has no end in sight," he said, smiling wryly.

[mullisbt]

"well, what we waiting for bruvver? Let's go to cavern hole." Theurl leapt off of Skipper's shoulders and bounded towards the abbey. "Come on everybody." The smile on Theurl's face was priceless. He loved stories and couldn't wait to hear some of the good tales from all these newcomers.

[Rocky]

Rocky smirked as Theurl leaped off. "Fast little 'un, eh?" He winked. He patted Meko on the back and started walking towards the abbey, "C'mon, mate. Lets show ye around the abbey, eh?" Meko nodded. "Aye, Id like that."

OOC: Writers block... Gr...

[Wildrun]

(( *hands Skip some pie* Sweets are better than antibodies to defeat writer's block! *innocent face* ...Especially sweets with hotroot, butttt...^^"))

((That's fine for you, Rau. Do you mind if we call you that, by the way?))

"Theurl! Wait up, mate!" Oaklea hurriedly grabbed Tirael's paw and tugged him after her. "C'mon, boyo, we don't wanna fall behind." She grinned. " 'Specially since it doesn't seem either of us knows this place well. C'mon, Meko, Rau, Skip!" she added, throwing the last bit over her shoulder. Raising her voice again, she called again, "Theurl, mate! Slow up!"

Entering the wide hallway, she stopped and let Tirael's paw drop. She was staring at a marvelous tapestry depticting a mouse in armour with a glittering sword. The very same blade hung above the tapestry--something that contrasted so greatly with the srest of the peacful Abbey. She breathed, "Woah." Nothing else seemed to be forthcoming, so she said again, "Woah, mate. Oi, Tir, who's that mouse in the tapestry?" Then, she suddenly remembered that her own short sword was still under her cloak slung across her back. WIth an exclamation of surprise, she unslung it from her back and asked, "Where can I leave this?" She didn't ask where she could leave her daggord weapon, considering she wasn't leaving it anywher.

((...Dang, Skip. Wirter's block is contagious!))

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Where can I leave this?

'Gatehouse.'

Verona shrugged as she rounded the corner to the tapestry, swerving around Oaklea, stopping to set her eyes upon the weaving of the warrior mouse. Her eyes flicked away as she adressed the mouse.

'He's Martin the Warrior, one of the founders of our Abbey.'

(I am too tired to write a good response.)

[Tirael]

Tirael stumbled rapidly along as he was half-led, half-pulled by Oaklea. Panting and laughing, he entered Great Hall a pawstep behind her.

"Whoa, mate. Oi, Tir, who's that mouse in the tapestry?"

Tirael was shocked for a moment, then remembered that Oaklea was a newcomer to the Abbey. Regaining his breath, he-

"He's Martin the Warrior, one of the founders of our Abbey."

-was beaten to the punch. Nodding, he added, "That he was. Martin was a great warrior; he defeated the evil queen Tsarmina and allowed the creatures of Mossflower to build Redwall. They say his sword was unbreakable, and history certainly supports that. It's been here since before this Hall existed; after all the battles it's been through, being stolen and found more than once, it's still in one piece."

Tirael was about to go on when he realized he was rambling. He managed to shrug off his embarrassment, finishing, "So that's why we have a tapestry of Martin. Without him, Redwall would have never existed; we owe all of this"-he gestured around the Hall with his paw-"to him." Turning to Verona, he bowed his head in deference. "G'day, Ms. Verona."

[Wildrun]

Oaklea tipped her head to one side, nodding slwoly as she listened to Tirael and Verona explain.She smiled sheepishly and murmured, "Sounds like he was a great guy." She fingered the pommel of the sword in her hand, comparing it mentally to the blade by thetapestry. She let out a low whistle. "I'm betting it'd be a pain to fight a beast weilding that. If it's as old as that tapestry it must be anceint! But it looks new not a speck on it. What in blazes is it MADE of?"

She trailed off, realizing she had been muttering to herself more than to the others. With another apologetic smile, she swung around to face Verona. If she was at all surprised that a wildcat was in the Abbey, helping explain to her who the hero in the weaving was, she didn't show it and instead smiled broadly at Verona, dipping her head quickly in greeting. "Hello. You're name's Verona? Nice ta' meetcha. I'm Oaklea Wildrun." She stuck out a paw cheerfully and then remarked, "I think Theurl lost us."