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

[Ashleg]

"See, listen to that. Skipper Aver won't let him go anywhere, but if that's still not good enough for you, I'll be back." Grant hesitated and then ran off to the kitchens, leaving Rapshade with Mortembell for a brief two minutes.
"Attacked Aver...Don't give me that trash. He had it coming!" Rapshade snapped. "It was basically th' same reason y' attacked Fang last fall. He insulted m--ugh, what's this supposed t' be?"
Grant had returned with a very long coiled rope, which he had tied into a noose at one end and slung around Rapshade's neck. The wretched ferret looked none too happy.
The Abbot gave the string a light tug to test it, causing the prisoner to gag.
Grant's eyes widened. "Sorry. Just a...a leash, and for Mortembell's sake I'll hold it." He turned to the fox, not looking impressed in the slightest. "Will you please go sit down now? He's not going anywhere but around the table, I can assure you."

[Groddil]

Mortembell snarled at Rapshade.
"Except I'm not a murderin' pirate like you are. Or were anyway, now you're just a wreck, same as your ship, same as your dead crew of murderers. Aye, an' the tables have been turned. You just wait, Rapshade. You thought you were miserable beforehand? It's nothin' compared to what'll happen when I get my paws on ye."
At Grant's approach, she frowned.
"Fine. But anything happens, I'm taking him straight back down there."

[LT Sandpaw]

Grudgingly the Skipper of otters nodded and took his seat, though he kept a close eye on the ferret. "I'll be watchin' ye Rappy. Jus' make a reason for me to get up, ye hear?"

Bracklew who had half risen out of his seat at the commotion retook it feeling foolish. He should have stepped in and support Grant, but the other beasts were much older and had dealt with far more. Besides he wasn't needed. Instead he settled down waiting for Grant to start the feast.

Petu leaned over prodding Rusk lightly in the shoulder with his spoon. "That's one fine looking fish. I might have to try a portion or two of that eh?"

[Hickory]

Rusk glared at the insolent hare. "The Abbot take the first bite, and that's the rule! Y'know, I was a distant descendant of one of the kitchen helpers from a long time ago, and the story goes in my family that there was a hare named Basil, and I'm sure that you two would get along perfectly!"

[Ashleg]

"Aye Cap'n Skipper, I won't," Rapshade muttered.

Grant nodded and glanced back at Mortembell.
"Okay, so calm down and go take a seat. I'm going to start the feast now." He walked over to his chair at the head of the table and sat down, waiting for everybeast to be silent.

[Groddil]

Rusk glared at the insolent hare. "The Abbot take the first bite, and that's the rule! Y'know, I was a distant descendant of one of the kitchen helpers from a long time ago, and the story goes in my family that there was a hare named Basil, and I'm sure that you two would get along perfectly!"

OOC: Petu's a rabbit.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
PSOT

[LT Sandpaw]

Looking affronted Petu placed a paw over his heart not realizing most of the hall had gone silent. "I sir would never dare touch a scale on that fish before the good Abbot took the first bite. I am from a respectable family of rabbits known for their gentlebeast upbringing, the Woodbobs, and we-" Seeing many of the Redwallers looking at him the rabbit ducked down his ears going bright red.

"Ahem sorry Abbot sir."


OOC: Gentlebeasts is such an oxymoron. Lol.

[Ashleg]

The Abbot stared at Petu along with the rest of them until Fangfang burst out laughing in the dead silence. It went on for a while, each second getting more awkward and unbearable.
At last Grant cleared his throat.
"Ahem..."
"Oh, were ye doin' somethin', Father h'Abbot?"
"Yes, Fang. Please be quiet." Grant gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. "Welcome one and all to our lovely Abbey feast this great Winter's evening..."
Duncan cleared his throat.
Grant's eye did a very Rapshade-like twitch.
"...so here is a poem that has lots of meaning.
To Redwall and Mossflower and Salamandastron too,
And to creatures young and old,
I stand here knowingly and I'm bad at poetry, so sit down and get to feasting!" The old mouse grinned and sat back in his chair, raising his glass to the uproar of applause and laughter from the Redwallers.
Even Rapshade had an amused little smirk on his face.

[Groddil]

Stumbly squeaked with glee as the feasting began. The mousebabe climbed onto the table and began to munch away at the base of the food tower. Mortembell sipped from a glass of wine and pointed at Stumbly.
"Hey, Fang. How much d'ya wanna bet she makes it fall everywhere?"

OOC: CONRAD! Where are you?

[LT Sandpaw]

"She'll be alright." Petu cut in as he valiantly attempted to compete with Duncan, piling food onto his plate. "If it falls she can just eat her way out of it. Mmm, pass that cheesybread will you Friar?"

[Ashleg]

"The Friar will not be passing that scrumptious cheesy bread t' you, you great bally bounder! Friar, pass the cheesybread to me, not Petu, will you?" Duncan asked, giving Petu a greedy wink.
"Us older creatures have bigger stomachs, y'know! Takes more scoff t' fill 'em. Wot!"

Fangfang smirked crookedly. "Er, a lot? Cause it really looks like it's gonna fall?"
He reached across the table to grab a pastie from off a dish from which they were piled on, and was surprised when somebeast's paw smacked down on his.
Roscoe sat glaring at him from across the table.
"That'n was mine, I saw it first!" The weasel sneered.
The rat averted his eyes and let the Roscoe have the pastie, turning back to Mortembell.
"'S 'e like that with everybeast?"

[Groddil]

Mortembell nodded.
"Yep, smart move. I'll bet an acorn to an apple pie that this ends badly. She turned and shrugged as Roscoe took the pastie from Fangfang.
"Dunno, I ain't the one that knows him. You could always ask Grant, but he does seem to be fond of Stumbly..."

[Ashleg]

Fangfang shrugged and turned to watch Stumbly eat her way through the tower after piling a couple scones and a slice of Deeper-'n'-Ever pie on his plate.
He leaned over and whispered to Mortembell, giggling, "Oho, looks like it's gonna fall! On t' count o' three. One, two..."

[Groddil]

Stumbly stopped her gnawing off the food as the tower began to topple. The mousebabe shrieked and threw herself upon Roscoe. Scones, bits of pastie, beakers, and trifle scattered everywhere. Mortembell smirked at Fangfang.
"...Three. RAPSHADE! Looks like a mess that needs to be cleaned up! Start mopping, or you don't get breakfast tomorrow."