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

[Ashleg]

Rapshade leaned back on the pillows, watching Bracklew in mild amusement.
"And so are you." He commented, smirking crookedly. The ferret raised an eyebrow. "Who helped me, was it you?"

[Hickory]

The flap to One-Ear's tent was pushed aside as Asher thrust his head in. "Hi, Gukom, we need t'head over to the Abbey."

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Maybe we could have the Vigil guys bump into Roscoe while we wait for Sandpwa to psot.
IC-
Roscoe strolled through the snow-covered Mossflower Woods, confident and with a full stomach from partaking in the Abbey's feast of the previous night.
"What t' do, what t' do...Aha!" The weasel's keen eyes spotted a pair of travelers, an old mouse and an even older hogmaid. He grinned and started towards them, holding his dagger behind his back.
Looks like that spikedog's wearin' jewels...

[Groddil]

Gukom leapt a foot into the air.
"C-c-coming, Asher."
The hamster piled the remaining scrolls into his basket and hurried out of the tent.
"Over to Redwall, you say? W-what for? J-j-j-j-just the two of us?"

*****

Mortembell and Dregped had done it. The two creatures stared with satisfaction at the door set into the massive oak tree. The vixen set her back to it, forcing the door open slowly. She pointed at the writing in the doorframe.
"See, 'Brockhall'. If the records from Volume 1 of the Abbey history are to be believed, there should be a tunnel in here somewhere. Dug by moles, nice and strong. Shouldn't have collapsed yet...Care to go in?"
Dregped smirked.
"I can't read, ya stupid ole crow. Ladies first!"
Mortembell scoffed as she ducked through the doorframe into the dark staircase.
"So much for chivalry..."

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: I've been busy.

IC:

"No," Bracklew admitted smoothing down his fur. He wondered why he was bothering telling Rapshade anything, he still felt tremors of fear and disgust when he looked at him. "Sister Rayne helped you, and she want's you to stay there too. Your leg was hurt even worse, so your not to try and move at all."

Walking across the room to the door Bracklew was about to leave when he remembered he was supposed to be watching Rapshade. But for how long? Surely the ferret wasn't going to attempt an escape with a bad leg. Snorting and unwilling to take the risk of leaving Rapshade alone Bracklew stalked back to his chair dropping into it.

"Looks like I'm stuck with you for company. Sure hope they remember me up here and send up breakfast."

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Okie doke.

IC-

"Yeah, I sure hope so too, because I'm a bit hungry. Two scones a day doesn't really do much, y'know." Rapshade mused, watching as Bracklew returned to his chair.
The ferret pulled the blanket up a bit, still looking content despite his wounds.
"I'm not going anywhere," he admitted with a yawn. "Especially not if all I have t' do is lie here while you and Rayne tend to me."

[LT Sandpaw]

Forcing out a cruel laugh the young squirrel adjusted his sore behind trying to get a more comfortable position. All night on a hard chair hurt ones tail and Bracklew was slowly discovering just how uncomfortable guard duty was.

"Is it worth it?" He asked suddenly looking hard at Rapshade. "To live as a prisoner here in the Abbey, or do you wish you had gone down with your ship? Is it worth it to live in misery, or would you welcome death?"

[Ashleg]

"I've been living in misery ever since the day my mother died," Rapshade snapped, all the previous playfulness void from his voice.
He looked off to one side lest Bracklew could see how dull his eyes got when he said that. "Stuck here or not, it's always been this way. I'm just showing it now because before I couldn't...but I wouldn't welcome death."

The ferret kept his gaze averted, gritting his teeth.
"I was surprised when I killed her, you know. Your friend. I'm not sorry, but I can say that it hadn't been my intention."

[LT Sandpaw]

 "I wouldn't want your apology anyway." Bracklew said glaring hard at Rapshade. "You know how many times I've wanted to kill you?" His paw dropped to the sword hilt that rested at his hip. He looked at the ferret thoughtfully, as if considering.

"I could do it too, I'm no stranger to death anymore. I've had so much hate bottled up inside that some nights when the beast's I've killed keep me from sleeping, I would stand outside your cell trying to force myself to go inside. To end this torment..." He drew the sword holding it up to the morning light that streamed though the windows. It glimmered brightly for a moment until he laid it on a nearby bed. Holding his head with his good paw and balancing his elbow on his knee Bracklew forced the tears back by twisting his face into a glare.

OOC: Edited.

[Ashleg]

"If you killed me, would it really make you feel better? It wouldn't bring anything back, or fix what went wrong. All that would come out of it is that I'd be dead." Rapshade said, watching Bracklew sadly.
He glanced down at his paws just then, hacking up some blood.
"I can't stand it!" The ferret grimaced and shut his eyes. "...I've always been the bad child, the weak child, the good-for-nothing who his own father hates because he's sick. It's lingered and I hate it. I never...no matter what I do, I..."

[LT Sandpaw]

 Raising his head Bracklew grudgingly agreed with Rapshade. It was for that reason he hadn't slain him before, and why he couldn't kill him now. It would fix nothing, if anything it would hurt other creatures and make things worse.

"I was happy, before you arrived. I was learning to heal, to grow plants and live normally. Now everybeast expects me to protect an Abbey. I can't even put on my tunic without help, I get pushed around by bullies. I never wanted this life, I never asked for it..." He wasn't entirely sure why he was opening up to the ferret, still it was better to talk then just to sit silently together.

[Ashleg]

Rapshade raised an eyebrow, flicking his gaze back up to Bracklew.
"Believe it or not, I understand a little...Except that from what I've seen, they all love you." He smiled sarcastically.
"I was on the opposite end. You'd never guess, eh?..."

[LT Sandpaw]

"Huh, I wonder why?" Bracklew said rolling his eyes. "After all, who wouldn't like a creature who takes slaves and murders beasts?" He adjusted in his seat again, his bushy tail curled around his legs.

"Do you know who Martin is?" Bracklew asked suddenly his gaze traveling to the sword lying next to him, and then back to the ferret.

[Groddil]

Mortembell struck flint to a torch, lighting up the dark hallways. Dregped lit a second torch, following the vixen through Brockhall's ancient corridors. The ermine was fascinated. If there wasn't any treasure hidden here, where would it be? Dregped tapped Mortembell on the shoulder, making the vixen jump.
"Gah! What in Hellgates do you want?"
Dregped spread his arms in a wide circle.
"Any idea where to start, or do you want me to dig up the entire place?"
Mortembell's hackles fell with relief.
"The records were quite vague, but it should be somewhere in the main hall. Come on, I don't like standing around in this place."
The vixen and Ermine disappeared down the darkened passage.

*****

Unbeknownst to the two explorers, they were not alone in the cavernous tunnels beneath the giant oak tree. Strange shapes writhed around in the darkness, rough grating noises echoing through the chambers.

[Ashleg]

"Before that," Rapshade said, following Bracklew's gaze to the sword.
"I did nothing, yet in their eyes, I was worthless. I remember my father..." He trailed off when Bracklew changed the subject. It did feel good to finally tell somebeast this, though, even if it was his enemy. "Martin. Mm, no, can't say I do. Let me guess, he's a friend 'f yours?"