|
|
Post by fernleaf on Feb 19, 2016 23:07:22 GMT -5
There was a hut down the road in Mossflower Wood, but within sight of the Abbey. A hermit's hut, simply built. The hermit pottered around, sniffing about for new herbs to study, and over the years, he had become strong in herblore, discovering their properties, which can heal, and what others can do. He knew what ones to avoid, as they were no good. He kept to himself, but was not too successful. For Dibbuns of Redwall Abbey had discovered his simple dwelling, and were quite curious about its inhabitant and his ways. They named him Fernleaf, a name he readily took to.
He had forgotten his original name, when he was a vermin in a horde, and wanted to forget that past. He loved the ways of a goodbeast, ever since that fateful day when he had been the guest at Salamandastron, fleeing the vengeance of the horde he had left. Others would have taken advantage of them, but something about the Badger Lord and its inhabitants touched his heart. He saw the way they lived, which was unlike his companions, who would stab him in the back as much as look at him. Something changed within him when he saw it, something he wanted very much. It was time for him to go, they were unwilling to have such a vermin, a ferret, as their guest for long. But he screwed up his courage and asked to see the Badger Lord. The hare guards brought him before the throne of the Lord.
"M'lord, you have touched me in the way you took me in when none else would. I want to be like that. And I make a vow in your presence." He raised his paws and knelt before the Badger Lord.
"Vermin I was,
And Vermin I am,
But I shall be Vermin no more.
Never again shall these paws bear weapon to harm any goodbeast.
I shall seek the life of a hermit, and learn the ways of peace.
If ever I break this vow, may I meet you in your bloodwrath and not escape.
But if I keep it to the end, and we meet in Dark Forest, think better of me."
Never before had a vermin made such an oath before a Badger Lord. And these fifteen seasons, he had kept the vow, and had yearly been visited by a Long Patrol to make sure he had kept the vow.
He thought of that time so long ago while Dibbuns thronged around him, asking him questions. He kept quiet of his grisly past, preferring instead to teach them the ways of herbs. The bell of the Abbey clanged. "You had best go back before you are missed, precious ones." he said.
"Bye, Master Fernleaf!" they said as they ran off to the Abbey. As they went out of sight, he drew back his hood, revealing the masked face of a ferret. A tear trickled down his face. "I don't deserve their friendship, or their love." They had told him of a visit by the Long Patrol, and he guessed one purpose of it. He went back into his hut. In there was two tables, one for sorting herbs, and putting them in pots on a shelf. A knife for cutting them, and scissors were on it. On a table next to his cot was a simple meal of bread and wine, which he sat to and ate before he went to bed. On the wall was a portrait of the very Badger Lord that had taken his vow. "I have kept my vow all these years, my lord." he said, as he lay down. He didn't know that very soon, fate would change for him. Strange dreams had come to him that he didn't know the meaning of.
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Feb 21, 2016 12:23:02 GMT -5
Lance Corproal Tugg kept his eyes peeled as he and Private WInters made their way through Mossflower. Tugg was grumbling to himself under his breath. Of course the Major would send him to go check on the ferret. Vermin of unknown quantity were possible marching straight towards the Abbey, and the Major sent him out on a walk through the woods.
"Pardon me, sah," Winters said quietly, "But where exactly are we headed?"
"To visit Fernleaf. Ferret showed up at the mountain, and promised old Lord Tokal that he'd be a goodbeast. Tokal made us go check on him every so often to make sure he's not harrassin' the good citizens of Mossflower. Not sure why we're still keepin' it up, Tokal passed on before Lord Lasair took over but orders are orders." He said, shrugging. It wasn't long after that they were in sight of the hermit's hut.
"Fernleaf! You still kickin' out here?"
|
|
|
|
Post by fernleaf on Feb 21, 2016 14:46:41 GMT -5
Fernleaf had a good snooze when he heard the hares of the Long Patrol calling him. It was time, anyway. They were in the right to check up on him, and he was beginning to enjoy their visits. The life of a hermit got lonely at times, but the visits of the Dibbuns made it more than bearable. If only those nightmares of his former life as a vermin would go away. That was not what he was anymore. He got up and stretched, put on his cloak and took his walking stick. He came out the door of his hut. "Welcome, Long Patrol. I was expecting you. Please come in. Is Lord Tokal well?" He stepped aside to let them in.
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Feb 24, 2016 0:13:45 GMT -5
"I'm afraid Lord Tokal has long gone to his rest. We've got a new Badger Lord now, Lord Lasair. They've been in charge for a few seasons now." Tugg explained. Private Winters looked around the hut. It was a cozy enough place, he supposed. He'd never even met Fernleaf before, and he wasn't sure what to make of the ferret. He knew Lance Sergeant Tugg had been here many times, so he let him do all the talking.
"Alright, what have you been up to, Fernleaf? Stayin' out of trouble I hope?"
|
|
|
|
Post by fernleaf on Feb 24, 2016 3:08:08 GMT -5
Fernleaf drooped to hear that Lord Tokal had passed. He went to the wall where his portrait was and gently touched it. "He was good to me. I will never forget him." He turned and said "Yes, I've been out of trouble all these seasons. In fact, a few months ago, I was able to nurse an otter back to health. They should know better than to eat funny looking mushrooms. I knew the antidote due to my study of herblore and she is fine now. I saved her life. I have kept to myself here, except for the visits of those precious Dibbuns who come to see me. They really like me, and I don't know why. But I am happy in the life I have chosen, and would never want to go back to what I was."
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Feb 29, 2016 1:29:12 GMT -5
"Well, keep up the good work then." Tugg replied. He turned to leave, when Private Winters cleared his throat.
"Sah, aren't you forgetting something?"
Tugg took a second to roll his eyes before turning to address Fernleaf again. "Y' might want to make your way to Redwall Abbey. There's the possibility of vermin in the area. So if'n you don't fancy dyin' or becoming some warlords foot soldier, It's Redwall or nothin'."
|
|
|
|
Post by fernleaf on Feb 29, 2016 4:26:07 GMT -5
Fernleaf's eyes got big. He stepped out for a moment and sniffed the air. His nose wrinkled. Even he could smell the distant horde. It was half a day away, but still too close. He came back in. "They're crazy!" he said. "They're stark raving loony if they think they can attack Redwall. It's never been taken, and hordes that have tried have come to a bad end. The place is haunted, by all accounts I have heard. Are you sure that place, Redwall, would take somebody like me?" Despite what he was saying, he was already starting to pack his meager belongings. The picture of Lord Tokal, his journals which had what he had learned of the properties of herbs and plants,gathering tools, and some of the herbs and stuff he had gathered and prepared.
"But then, vermin have a death wish, they really think they can do something great, and only succeed in getting their fool heads knocked off. I should know." He shouldered his bag of stuff and picked up his staff again. "I'll miss this place. I like the life of a hermit, and would have stayed here till the end of my days. Redwall of nothing. Both terrify me, but it seems I have no choice. Let's go." He stepped out and looked with trepidation at the huge sandstone walls in the distance. "Ghosts, here I come." He had never been to the Abbey since he had come here to Mossflower. Other than the dibbuns who had visited him, he didn't know of any there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Mar 9, 2016 20:29:14 GMT -5
The hares led the way back towards the Abbey, Private Winters occasionally glancing back to make sure the ferret was keeping up. Lance Corporal Tugg, however, was in a bitter mood. He'd have preferred to leave the ferret to whatever vermin were coming this way, but in memory of Lord Tokal, allowed the ferret to come. Maybe he'd luck out, and the Abbey would reject him. The hare knew he wasn't looking forward to sharing an Abbey with any vermin.
Private Winters fell back a bit to talk to Fernleaf. "So I take it y've never been to Redwall?"
|
|
|
|
Post by fernleaf on Mar 9, 2016 20:49:17 GMT -5
Fernleaf shook his head. "No, I've always been unsure of my welcome. But then, I have been content with my life as a hermit, and would have stayed in my hut till the end of my days." He looked up at the forbidding sandstone walls which were coming closer and closer with each step. He expected to see spooks on every tower, but didn't.
"The badger mother, her name is Snowpaw, brings Dibbuns to see me ever so often, and I enjoy their company. They ease my loneliness. They like me, though I don't know why." The ferret was keeping up with the hares. He also wondered how that otter he had healed was faring. The hut was no longer visible, but the abbey and its gate was coming closer. "I thank you for having me and bringing me. I am not a vermin anymore, and would rather die than go back to them."
Snowpaw was watching over her precious Dibbuns as the Council was meeting. She had heard the news of a vermin horde coming to Redwall, and feared for their safety. She hoped Martin would choose a warrior who would deliver them as he had done in the past. But there had not been any hint of any who had heard from their guardian spirit for many seasons. Then, she heard news from a sentry that a party of three was approaching, two hares and one who was cloaked, following them. She got up and hobbled to where the gate was and waited. Was it that hermit that she led her Dibbuns to see? She didn't know, but she would see if he was there. There had been others from the Mossflower woods, seeking the shelter of the Abbey.
Fernleaf stood behind the hares at the gate, trembling. He felt his life would change drastically if he crossed the threshold.
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Apr 9, 2016 3:23:52 GMT -5
"Hullo Redwall!!" Tugg called up to the wall. The sentry peeked over the top and waved at him. Tugg waved back, before turning to Fernleaf.
"Alright Ferret, we'll be keeping an eye on you while you're at Redwall. You put one paw out of line, an' I'll personally toss you over the wall." Tugg warned. Private Winters laid his ears back, but said nothing. He felt a little bad for the ferret, he seemed kind, and there was no reason for Tugg to say those things, but he trusted the Lance Corporal. As soon as the gates opened, the two hares walked inside with Fernleaf.
"We'll inform the Abbot of your arrival later. For now Private Winters will stay with you."
|
|
|
|
Post by fernleaf on Apr 9, 2016 18:59:28 GMT -5
"Understood." said Fernleaf. "I have kept my vow faithfully these past fifteen seasons, and they have been the best years of my life. I am not about to break it now, but will keep it until the end of my days." But he still looked with dread at the gate, knowing his life was about to change again once he was inside. His footpaws felt like lead as he stepped over the threshold. He was inside, but still trembling. But he saw Snowpaw, the no nonsense Badger Mother coming forward to meet him. He held his cloak tightly around himself, but Snowpaw laughed. "Fernleaf, you silly ferret, will you stop that? One would think you were entering a viper's den." She drew back his hood and looked back. "Look who has come to visit us, young'uns!"
The Dibbuns leaped with joy and rushed to meet him. "It's Mistuh Fernleaf!" They swarmed around him. Fernleaf couldn't help but smile. "It's more than I deserve." he said as he patted a nearby squirrelmaid on the head. He was still hesitant to go further.
"You better be careful. Keep that up, and Ma Snowpaw'll chuck you inna tub and scrub you somethink awful!" she said.
That had Fernleaf laughing in spite of himself. "I could use a nice hot bath." he said. "The nearest I've had in years is a dip in the stream when I was visiting the Guosim shrews."
"I can arrange that." said Snowpaw. "After all, we need to make you presentable when we show you to Father Abbot." She looked at Private Winters who was standing near him. "You don't mind if I take him for a while, do you, dear? You can come along and watch him as ordered."
|
|
|
|
Post by Margorr on Apr 30, 2016 1:59:48 GMT -5
Private Winters shook his head. "He's all yours, marm. Make sure somebeast in authority knows he's here, we don't want t' cause panic with a ferret loose in the Abbey."
Tugg rolled his eyes but did not disagree with what Winters had said. Though he wouldn't have minded not telling the Redwallers about the ferret. Let one of the younger, less knowledgeable hares take out Fernleaf. A vermin was a vermin no matter what he said or how peacefully he claimed to live. The hare knew that as long as the Long Patrol was in this Abbey and he was off sentry duty, he'd be doing his part to keep an eye on 'Mistuh Fernleaf'
|
|
|
|
Post by fernleaf on May 1, 2016 21:16:23 GMT -5
Fernleaf shook his head. His sad eyes fixed on Tugg. The hare didn't know Fernleaf at all. If he was still a vermin, he would have reacted angrily. He sadly said "I'm sorry you feel that way, but I'm going to prove to you that I'm a goodbeast if it takes all my life."
"Come on, Fernleaf, a bath awaits you. She looked at Winters. "You can stand guard at the door if you like." Fernleaf followed the Badger Mother and went into the place where a bath was already waiting for him. "I'll leave you to it, hun." she said.
Fernleaf undressed and got into the tub, scrubbing happily. It would feel great being clean for the first time in a long time. He got up and dried himself and dressed again in the Abbey tunic, trousers and robes that were laid out for him. He also picked up his pack and staff and exited.
"You look a lot better." said Snowpaw. Father Abbot is busy right now, talking with a vermin horde outside. I'll take you to somewhere where you can rest until then." She led him through several halls. Then he saw it. They passed the hall where the tapestry of Martin was. He looked up and trembled. The tapestry seemed to be made in a way where the eyes seemed to follow him wherever he went. And yet, his thoughts were on the Dibbuns who would be in danger from the horde outside. He suddenly found himself on his knees repeating the vow he had made to the Badger Lord. And an addition. "I make a new vow. The Dibbuns will be safe from the danger, even if it costs my life. I pledge my life, my service, to Redwall and to its people." He got up and felt a little better.
Snowpaw looked at him. "That tapestry has that effect on all goodbeasts who see it." she said, as she led him to the room that was prepared. A meal was ready for him. "I'll leave you in here until Father Abbot is ready for you. You can stand guard over him." she said to Winters.
Fernleaf sat down to his meal. He knew the place was too good for him to join them in a communal meal. He wondered if Balma was still there and how she was faring.
|
|
bye!
