Redwall Isn't Safe Anymore! (Is Redwall as Safe as they Say it is? Part Two)

[Ashleg]

Duncan grinned.
"Alright, well we're ready for the feast when you two are, so hop to it, wot!"

[LT Sandpaw]

"We're done." Rayne announced a few minutes later tucking the bandage around the fresh stitches a little tighter. "He should live, though he might not be as active as he once was, lets not keep the others waiting any longer, lets go eat." The mouse healer popped a few bottles of tonic into her satchel and marched to the door waiting for Mortembell to join her.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Aver having left the infirmary a short time ago entered the Great Hall. Grinning he wandered over to the tables and slipped into a seat close to Fang and Drubble.

[Groddil]

Mortembell rinsed her paws in a basin and followed Rayne to the door. Closing it behind her, the vixen walked with the mouse down into Great Hall.

[Ashleg]

Fangfang grinned cheerfully. "Hey, Aver, yer jus' in time fer th' spooky story of the Missin' Barnacle! 'Tis all true, mind ye. So once lived a fox, 'e was walkin' round near a beach when..."
Rapshade limped out of the kitchen after Grant, carrying everything he needed to. A scowl appeared on the ferret's face as soon as Fang's words reached his ears.
"It's not true," he whispered as he passed Aver. "It's a completely made-up pile of rubbish. 'E changes th' animal every time!"

"Make way for the all-time champion scone scoffer, comin' through!" Duncan exclaimed as he hightailed it down the stairs and into the Great Hall. He threw himself in the chair opposite Fang and next to Ava, grinning widely as he looked at all the food.
"I wonder what became of Petu and my salad..."

[Hickory]

Ava muttered a response under her breath, breaking a loaf of bread in half as she did. "I woudln't be surprised if they managed to burn it."

[Ashleg]

Duncan's ear flew up indignantly.
"What, marm? Burn a salad?" The hare banged a paw on the table and then sat back down, looking pleased. "Why you're bally right, we did burn it."

[Hickory]

"What? Impossible, I was just making a joke." Ava stared incredulously at the incorrigible hare.

Friar Rusk emerged from the kitchens, bringing up the rear of a procession of servers. Between him and two other mice, a large tray held a magnificent carp fished from the Abbey pond itself, garnished with watershrimp, variations of herbs and several sauces of the Friar's creation. They placed it down at the head table, in front of Grant's seat. The servers finished setting down their burdens and took their seats.

[LT Sandpaw]

 "Heh, I don' mind. 'Ey! Wot are ye doin' walkin' around free?" Aver twisted in his seat to glare at the ferret. "After clonking me brains in, 'ow could they ever let ye just walk about?" He stood up grabbing hold of Rapshade's wrist.

"He's being made to work." Petu voiced as he carried a massive salad bowl towards them. The bowl landed on the table's surface with a resounding bang making it creak ominously. "Here she is, enough salad to feed the Abbey's dibbuns for a week, if they ate salad that is." He glanced around the crowded Hall spotting Bracklew standing with Max under the tapestry.

"Hey Brack c'mon over here, and sit with us why don't you?" The squirrel waved in acknowledgement and walked over his shoulders slumped slightly. He slipped into place leaving some room for Max between himself and Duncan. He scrunched his shoulders together looking out of place.

"I don't like parties," He muttered almost incomprehensibly.

[Ashleg]

"I wouldn't've had any brain clonking t' do if ye hadn't insulted me mother," Rapshade hissed, pulling his arm free. "And the rabbit's right. I'm being made to work, so don't make a big deal out of it." He snorted and headed over to where he was told to stand, casting cautious glances over his shoulder every once and a while.

Roscoe raced in and grabbed two seats towards the back of the table, cloak streaming like a ribbon behind him. "Oh Stumbly, ya likkle brat," the weasel called, flicking his purple eyes up to look at the ceiling. "I've a seat fer you!"

"Trust me, Ava, I could find a way to burn a flippin' puddle of water." Duncan commented, winking in the Badgermum's direction. Max squeezed in between him and Bracklew, giggling excitedly. His very first feast!

[Groddil]

Stumbly giggled, dashing past Roscoe into her chair. The mousebabe clapped with glee at all the food in front of her. Ignoring any semblance of common sense, she began turning her plate of food into a tower.

*****

Mortembell found a seat near Drubble and Fangfang. The vixen cast a disapproving eye at Stumbly, but then she saw something else in the corner of her vision. Was that...RAPSHADE? Mortembell stood up.
"What in Hellgates is he doing out? I never..."
The vixen looked down at her sash. The keys were gone.
"Who took my keys?"

[Ashleg]

Roscoe smirked, hoping it would fall on her just so he could be amused.

Fangfang did a fake gasp. "T'wasn't us, was it, Drubble? Methinks it was th' ghost that lives in' th' Abbey hauntin' th' foxes." He winked all too obviously. "Right, Drubble?"

Grant appeared behind Mortembell.
"I don't know who took your keys, but it's fine. He's working."

[Groddil]

Mortembell caught the wink.
"DON'T say anything, Drubble. I don't know what you two are up to, but I don't like it. Forget working, he's going right back in that cellar, and whoever took my keys had better hand them back over."
Nobeast moved.
"FINE! Drubble, help me move him back downstairs."
The cellarmole stood up nervously. The keychain he had tried to keep hidden on his belt jangled. Mortembell growled and snatched them from him.
"Or, you can stay here."
The vixen stormed off towards Rapshade. She grabbed him roughly by the scruff of his neck.
"Okay, Rappy. Let's take a little stroll back down to the cellar."

[Ashleg]

Rapshade yelped and accidentally spilled some of the water onto his paws. "Aarg! B-b-but but..."
"I'm going to intervene here. Ahem," Grant said, waggling a paw at the vixen. "Mortembell, who's in charge here? Me, I am. And I told you he was working."

[Groddil]

"He JUST attacked Aver AND tried to escape. He doesn't deserve to stand around here idly mopping the floor every five minutes or whatever he's doing. If you're going to have him up here amongst us, at least chain him to the table, or do SOMETHING so he doesn't run away again."

[LT Sandpaw]

"Jus' let him try an' escape." Aver threatened cracking his knuckles. "He'll find me harder to hit twice, aye if'n e' tries to go anywhere I'll catch 'im."