|
|
Post by Margorr on Dec 14, 2015 22:38:12 GMT -5
((Whoo sorry it took me so long to reply to this))
Tarlya read at a steady pace, occasionally stealing a glance over at the other otter. She hoped Taurian was enjoying this story as much as she enjoyed reading it. After a while, she stopped reading and closed the book, after being sure to mark her page.
"I think that's good for now. If we get much farther it'll be too exciting to set down!" Tarlya set the book down on the table and sat back. "I do feel bad for those otters of Green Isle though. They can't have had easy lives under the wildcats." She could relate, having had her own troubles with wildcats. But she shook her head a little and stood up, not wanting to think about that.
"I'll just put this back for now. You can come back and read it later, or we can read it together again, if you'd like, of course."
|
|
|
|
Post by Taurian on Dec 16, 2015 17:04:55 GMT -5
Taurian listened with rapt attention, and couldn't hold back the pang of disappointment when the other otter closed the book. "Aye. 'Tisnae good tae be livin' under the rule o' badbeasts." Taurian thought back to what Milren had told her about the night she was brought to the holt. Her parents had left her, and returned to the Maelstrom, presumably to fight against vermin. She hoped her ancestral home was not overcome, but a sinking feeling told her that it very well may be.
"I'd like that very much." Taurian grinned. "Now, where're we off tae next? I believe ye mentioned somethin' about a walltop earlier." Taurian held out her arm to the other ottermaid.
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Dec 18, 2015 1:28:20 GMT -5
Tarlya gently took Taurian's arm, and started heading back out towards the Abbey grounds. She was pleased that the other otter had offered her arm, it gave her an excuse to walk a little closer.
"Aye, I did mention a wall top. I've got the perfect spot picked out. I spend a lot of my free time up there, it's nice I think. Sometimes my good friend Cambri joins me up there, but you know moles, they don't like heights."
((sorry my reply is so short :c ))
|
|
|
|
Post by Taurian on Dec 19, 2015 10:20:12 GMT -5
{It's perfectly fine!}
An odd feeling settled over Taurian as Tarlya took her arm. The memory of the last time she felt a comparable feeling thrust itself into her brain. She frowned, and pushed back the sadness. Just got tae hold on a little longer. Ye cannae go spillin' yer guts out tae the first pretty maid ye meet. "I've met a few moles, but ne'er 'ad the chance tae see them up on a rooftop. They're not too fond o' the water either!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Dec 20, 2015 1:07:28 GMT -5
"That's true, but you wouldn't think that seeing how some of those mole dibbuns take to the water! All the dibbuns, actually. We've got to keep a close eye on 'em in the summertime, make sure no one drowns. Those dibbuns'll get up to all sorts o' trouble you'll come to find in your time here."
Once they reached the Abbey grounds, Tarlya took Taurian the nearest wallsteps so they could climb up and get a better view on the way around to a better spot. They could avoid getting swept back into the feast that way too.
"Er, how long are you here for, if you don't mind my asking? Somebeasts come for a few days, others end up spending the rest of their lives with us. I've only been here a few seasons myself."
|
|
|
|
Post by Taurian on Dec 22, 2015 15:39:52 GMT -5
"I'll be 'ere while, at least. Not forever, though." Taurian looked out over the battlements, away from the setting sun. "I've got tae go back east one day, tae find my ancestors' home. From what's been said 'bout when my parents left me with the Rambrooks, there was a war on in Maelstrom. Maybe I can fight fer my people, an' find my family." She turned back to Tarlya. "But it's a nice place ye got 'ere, Tarlya. I wouldnae mind maybe comin' back 'ere, even after I find the Maelstrom." The otter paused. "Maybe, when I go, if'n ye'd like, ye could come with me? We could always go back 'ere after." The ottermaid looked down, blushing slightly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Dec 23, 2015 2:49:21 GMT -5
It was unsurprising that Taurian planned on leaving, that was the answer Tarlya was expecting when she asked, though she had hoped otherwise. She could respect Taurian wanting to go and fight for her people, and find her family. Tarlya felt a brief pang of sadness thinking about how she could have done more for her family, but was pulled out of it by Taurian's invite.
Leave Redwall and travel east? The idea certainly was tempting, it was a chance to see more of the world, and to spend some more time with Taurian.
"I'm not sure. I mean, it sounds nice, going on adventures east and helping your family, but... I'm not really brave, or strong, or a fighter, or any of the things you'd have to be for a journey like that. I haven't even gone far beyond the Abbey since I've been here. I'd slow you down."
|
|
|
|
Post by Taurian on Dec 25, 2015 5:55:06 GMT -5
"Nonsense. Yer a good friend, an' I think that's what I'd need the most on that journey." Taurian sighed before continuing, "An' I know enough o' fightin' an' warriorin' tae teach ye the basics. As for bein' brave, well we're all brave in our own ways. I'd face an adder wi'out a problem, but I'm actually right terrified o' talking tae pretty maids." The ottermaid grinned. "Where did ye say yer from? We could circle back there afore or after we find the Maelstrom, if ye'd like. It's good tae keep in touch wi' yer folks."
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Dec 26, 2015 16:12:07 GMT -5
Learning the basics of fighting might not too bad. Tarlya did appreciate that Taurian considered her a friend, that alone almost made her want to tag along. She stopped walking once they reached the Northwest corner of the Abbey wall, overlooking the path and the woods. She took a seat on the ramparts so she could stilltalk to Taurian.
"I'm not sure I said. I'm from the south. I'm not sure how far, but I lived about a mile inland, in a village built next to a river. We don't need to go visit. It's the opposite direction I think and I don't know how to get back. Besides, I consider everyone at this Abbey to be family."
She wasn't sure if it'd be worth a trip back. She would love to grab some keepsakes from the house if they did visit, though instead of her mother greeting her at the door, she'd probably just find her parents bones. Tarlya wasn't sure if she could handle that. As it was she could barely handle the thought of it, She used a paw to wipe away the tears that were already forming, and changed the subject.
"I-if I do go, I think I'd just like to visit Maelstrom. Maybe Salamandastron if you want to go somewhere else too. That's on the western shore, I've read about it but never been."
|
|
|
|
Post by Taurian on Dec 26, 2015 21:13:16 GMT -5
Taurian sat across from Tarlya. She noticed the hesitation when the other otter spoke about her former home. "They're goodbeasts at this abbey," she agreed. "An we dinnae 'ave tae visit yer folks unless ye wantae," Taurian added. She knew there were places she couldn't muster the will to return to, places unwelcoming and unsettling, for a number of reasons. I'll get ye out o' my 'ead one day, Pikewolf.
"Salamandastron, eh? I've ne'er been tae the place either. I 'ave met a few 'ares though, an' they say there's a Maelstrom badger rulin' the mountain. Would be nice tae meet 'em, see if they know anythin' about what was goin' on when I was born."
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Dec 31, 2015 2:56:03 GMT -5
"Oh they might! I hope they do, at least. You seem rather determined to find out about what happened to your homeland, I really hope you're able to find out, and that you're not disappointed. Though if you don't find what you're looking for, at least you tried."
She really hoped the badger had some news for Taurian, the other otter deserved to know what happened to her family. Tarlya wished she had paid more attention to the stories about water badgers that the dibbuns liked so much, she'd have been more help to Taurian then. She felt those stories were somehow relevant, as they had discussed earlier.
"What'll you do if you can't find what you're looking for, or it's gone?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Taurian on Dec 31, 2015 16:30:41 GMT -5
"I...I dinnae know." It hadn't really crossed her mind that the otters might not be there any longer. "Even...even if they're not there, I'll know the place. I've seen a waterfall, in my dreams. Even if all the otters are gone, that waterfall will still be there." It seemed unfathomable, even saying it aloud. No otters in Maelstrom? It didn't even seem like a viable possibility. She had never considered it, but Tarlya made a good point. It had been many seasons since her parents left her with the Rambrooks. Who knew what had happened at Maelstrom since then. "There's another 'olt. In the east. If...if there's no one at Maelstrom...we...we'll go there, see Skip again. Wonder if the old fool's still alive. I 'ope so. It's been such a long time..." Taurian looked down, and then out over the battlements. I wonder if she'll be there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Jan 4, 2016 4:17:54 GMT -5
Not quite sure what to say, Tarlya got up off the battlements, and pulled Taurian into a hug. She felt a little bad for asking that and making Taurian get emotional. She let go after a few seconds. "Sorry to bring that up. I hope everyone you want to see is still around. You've got to cherish them while you still have them."
(( Sorry this is so short ))
|
|
|
|
Post by Taurian on Jan 4, 2016 17:35:30 GMT -5
Taurian hugged the other otter back fiercely. "Aye," she said when they pulled apart. "Ye never know how long ye've got left with those ye love." She managed a smile, even as her eyes filled with tears, which she tried desperately to blink back. "Sorry I'm a wee bit o' a wreck. It's been a while since I've thought o' the holt."
The last time she had spoken of the Rambrooks was to Elison and Lunda Meadowspring, an old pair of otters. She stayed with them a full two seasons, before Lunda confronted her, saying, "If'n y' don't leave 'ere, you'll ne'er find the Maelstrom, or yer friend. I ain't pushin' y' out, yer welcome to stay as long as y' like, but ye won't find yerself stayin' here, I can tell y' that." Taurian had left as Spring's first buds opened.
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Jan 10, 2016 4:13:11 GMT -5
"No need for apologies." Tarlya said quietly, nuzzling Taurian before stepping back from the hug. "You can cry if you'd like, goodness knows I've done it enough up here thinkin' about home and other things." She lifted a paw and put it to the other otters cheek. "I"m sorry for bringing it up. Tonight is supposed to be a happy one." Tarlya said, not only to try to lift the mood for Taurian but to remind herself to be happy as well. It was a feast to welcome in the new spring season after all, and she was here at Redwall with good company.
|
|
bye!
