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Post by LordStripetail on Jan 23, 2015 19:51:27 GMT -5
Stripetail sighed as he walked down the path, a pale light showing him the way. right now, the seer was looking for any place to rest, even a campire would do. he had walked at least 50 leagues that day, on his back from Salamandastron.
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Post by Cerridwen on Jan 26, 2015 23:43:36 GMT -5
Further down the path a dim light flickered into being and a stooped form could be seen moving about fidgeting with things. The soft sounds of someone speaking indistinctly floated on the evening breeze.
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Post by LordStripetail on Jan 27, 2015 18:17:56 GMT -5
Stripetail continued walking, the sound of another traveller soon reaching his ears. Whether this beast was headed the same way he was, or another direction entirely, Stripetail was unsure. Still , company was company ' Good evening, sir or madam" he called out, putting as much mirth as he could in his voice at this late hour. "Are you by any chance stopping for the night? as I am in need of a place to stop and rest myself. Names Lord Stripetail, I'm a seer." Stripetail said, as he beheld another light showing a huddled figure in front of him.
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Post by Cerridwen on Jan 27, 2015 18:53:13 GMT -5
Abruptly the figure stopped what it was doing and stood up straight. The silhouette that was cast by the light made it difficult to tell what manner of creature it was because of the shawl that was draped across its head. Just as quickly the figure ducked back down out of sight.
"Whats does he want, Cadoc? Is strange folk to us, that he is. Should we let 'im join us, should we? Maybe you says." the quick sounds of whispered conversation, though oddly only one voice could be heard.
Once again the figure appeared, this time it held held up a small lantern. "Whats manner o' business has you out this way?" the figure called to Lord Stripetail...
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Post by LordStripetail on Jan 27, 2015 19:05:45 GMT -5
I am returning home from a meeting with the Badger Lord of Salamandastron " Stripetail replied. "he Asked me to scyre his future for him, as a favor. He wanted to be ready for the battles to come. Wise beasts those Badger Lords, always on guard for the future.' stripetail chuckled."I have travelled a great distance this day and am now weary. if you would permit me to rest for awhile in your company, I would consider it a favor. and I always repay favors ' stripetail said.
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Post by Cerridwen on Jan 27, 2015 21:44:33 GMT -5
The figure ducked back down again. "From Salamandastron he comes; scrying his business was. Aye, Cadoc, a favor he'd owe us if we let him stay with us. Yes, I likes this too. You stay here Cadoc, I go see."
Once again the figure stood up and began to approach Lord Stripetail. As the lantern bearing figure came closer, it became clear that it was an older female otter of a peculiar pied brown and white color dressed a sleeveless tunic with a long shawl wrapped around her shoulders and draped over her head to form a hood. The otter walked with a slight limp. She stopped a few feet from him, just close enough to get a good look but far enough to be out of weapon range. Nodding she spoke to him.
"Come Lord Stripetail, seer to the badger lords of Salamandastron, you may stay at the camp of Mardha and Cadoc." the otter said as she motioned for him to follow her, the lantern light causing her blind eye to almost glow a golden color.
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Post by LordStripetail on Jan 28, 2015 9:13:59 GMT -5
Thank you kindly, Lady Mardha' Stripetail replied as he followed her. ' the long patrol has quite a few jokesters in it. they say I've been around since Salamandastron was an active volcano.heavens I'm not THAT old. that would make me like a million years old! good beasts though, on the whole.
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Post by Cerridwen on Jan 28, 2015 17:13:07 GMT -5
Mardha laughed quietly at Stripetail refering to her as "Lady Mardha". She led him back to her simple camp that was off the path a little ways nestled in an opening in the brushwood. Mardha eased herself down onto the ground beside a cloth bundle and lit the small campfire that she had been building.
"Cadoc and I are not but humble folk that wander the lonely paths." Mardha said as she patted the cloth bundle. "Have a seat and rest."
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Post by LordStripetail on Jan 28, 2015 17:34:50 GMT -5
Stripetail took a seat opposite Mardha, the fire showing the features of Stripetail's face. Stripetail was a large brown squirrell, with bushy eyebrows, and keen brown eyes. In his Left paw he held a staff made up of what looked to be oak, embedded at the top of the staff was a large gem, pink in color, which reflected the light from the fire.stripetail stretched forth his free paw to feel the warmth of the flame. Stripetail was clothed in robes that had a faint pink hue to them, they were faded, likely from long exposure to the seasons,although at one time they might have rivaled the pinkest of roses in color. his demeanor was not that of a creature that has seen too many seasons however, he did not appear to suffer from the aches and pain that afflict the ancient in even the smallest tasks.'I know what it means to wander a lonely path Mardha,to scrye into the future and the past is not a easy thing.' Stripetail said "one creature's fate may be easy to foretell, another is clouded in myst and shadow and only some of it can be seen. it is only faintly understood by most , but it has been my task for many a season, ages even. I have supped at the table of kings and Badger Lords, yet it is the ordinary folk that impress me more.they do what they must in times of need, asking for no great honor to be given to them in return.perhaps this is why I return so often to Redwall Abbey' Stripetail said.' There I am always welcome, no matter the hour at which I enter. but enough of me. What brings you to these parts, and where is your friend Cadoc? Is he nearby?" Stripetail gazed at the otter, who was blind in one eye, the light of the flames turning the eye a yellowish hue.
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Post by Cerridwen on Jan 28, 2015 18:09:34 GMT -5
"Cadoc is here with me" Mardha said with a half smile as she patted the cloth bundle once more. "Many seasons ago we came down from the northern shores. Leave him in those cold lands of death I could not do and so I carried him with me. My one true companion he has always been."
Slowly the half smile left Mardha's face as she remembered things long past, a time she did not like to recall but always haunted her. Her expression took on the blank countenance of one who is seeing once more a troubled past.
"It was midsummer eve when they came...thieves in the night. The holt's festivities were starting to wind down...many were asleep. That when they came. Slashing and burning...murderers in the night. So many dead...too many dead." she muttered in an almost trance-like state, completely unaware of Stripetail. "Cadoc...Cadoc...we fought them...we fought hard...not hard enough...something's wrong...terribly wrong..."
Tears glimmered in the corners of Mardha's eyes as her vacant expression started to take on a look of grief and horror as she relived that long ago night's terrible events. She started to reach a trembling hand out to someone unseen. Almost as suddenly, Mardha shut her eyes and shook her head and turned away from Stripetail.
"Too much. He knows too much now, Cadoc. Those strange to us can't know. Secrets, yes. Secrets that past must stay." Mardha mumbled softly as she pulled the cloth bundle closer to her and speaking to it.
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Post by LordStripetail on Jan 28, 2015 18:26:37 GMT -5
Stripetail's face wore a look of understanding after seeing Mardha's reaction and her words.' I have communed with the dead before' he said quietly. ' some watch over those they loved or their homes, others simply wish to enter the Dark Forest.Some simply wish to understand what happened to them.it varies from spirit to spirit. Your memories are trying to speak to you Mardha. Let them.' he sighed. ' I can help you, if you let me do so."
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Post by Cerridwen on Jan 28, 2015 18:49:58 GMT -5
Mardha shifted nervously, still holding onto the cloth bundle. The cloth bundle was not very large and was made of what appeared to be several layers of cloth wrapped around an object with lengths on the ends that could be tied to form a carrying strap. It had been some time since she had a flashback that vivid little alone in front of another.
"It was those strange to us that made us this way. You are strange to us. You took care of me and now I will take care of you." Mardha said alternating between Stripetail and the bundle.
Whether Mardha was actually communing with the dead or not was hard to tell, what was evident was her deep attachment to Cadoc. He had been like both a father and a brother to her in life. It had been Cadoc who brought her to the safety of the holt when he found her as an orphaned youngster.
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Post by LordStripetail on Jan 28, 2015 19:02:51 GMT -5
'No, it was the pillagers who did this to you and Cadoc.' Stripetail said.' You can try to suppress what happened all you want Mardha, but memories like that have a mind of their own, they come whether you want them to, or not. You are not the first beast I have met with painful memories haunting them. The only way to free yourself of them to let them come freely, remember each detail. It is not easy, and often is a very painful ordeal, yet it is one that all beasts who have such memories must endure at one time or another.you carry something of Cadoc's in that bundle, I wager, as a token?' Stripetail said softly.
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Post by Cerridwen on Jan 28, 2015 23:39:56 GMT -5
Ever since that night Mardha had kept her distance from others because the emotional scars from the attack had been too raw. To protect herself in a way. Now, this squirrel that she had just barely met, had seemed to find a way around her defenses. She slowly turned back toward him without looking up, pulling the bundle up onto her lap.
"Should we tell him. Should we share our secrets, old friend. Long seasons these have been of just you and I." Mardha whispered to the bundle as she slowly ran her hand over it.
Mardha sat silently staring at the bundle in her lap and gently stroking it as thoughts tumbled over in her mind. How many seasons has it been since they had left the north with her carrying Cadoc on her back? What would happen to him if something were to happen to her?
"This is Cadoc. I have carried him with me from the north because I was the only one left. I could not leave him alone and forgotten." she said somberly as she looked up across the fire at Stripetail, both hands resting on the bundle.
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Post by LordStripetail on Jan 29, 2015 0:12:09 GMT -5
So you have carried his body with you then' Stripetail said quietly. ' you must have cared very deeply for him to do such a thing, and that is honorable." He paused.' show him to me, if you would. And.. did you ever find out who sent those vermin to your village?"
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