Post by Lark on Apr 23, 2012 17:51:45 GMT -6
One paw after the next; that was the way. One by one, the bare-branched trees passed, each one an accomplishment that brought them closer. The snow that dusted Mossflower's ground was just enough to send chills running up and down the travelers from nose to tail, and the bitter wind nudged them closer together, in hopes to gain a bit of warmth from proximity. Exhaustion was clear on their faces. They had started their trek far to the North, and it felt like they hadn't stopped once. It had been hardest on the dibbuns: a trio of little mice, two squirrels, and a mole-babe. They huddled under a quilt, amidst the meager rations in the small caravan's cart (along with Araceli's halberd and sword, which they were imposingly told by Araceli not to lay a paw on, lest they wanted to lose said paw). While they had started out the journey high-spirited, the young ones had fallen quiet. It was a long way to travel for such little creatures.
Araceli didn't think that the silence would make her uncomfortable, but it did. For the first part of the trip, before everyone grew too weary for unneeded talk, Araceli had longed for the noise to stop. But now that it had ceased, it was as if everyone's weighty thoughts had manifested into a tangible aura of gloom.
But according to the map, it wasn't far now. Setting her jaw, Araceli shouldered a bit more weight of the cart, and picked up her pace. It was she and a tall, russet squirrel pulling the cart, and he matched his steps to hers. Proportionately, at least. He had much longer legs than the small, dark-furred mouse.
"What, now you're excited?" he joked, though in a hushed tone, brush flicking in amusement. From beneath the hood of her rust-colored cloak, Araceli narrowed her eyes into an expression of disdain. False disdain. She was actually rather fond of the squirrel. He rolled with the punches, and didn't seem disquieted by Araceli's shady hints at her former line of work.
Araceli nodded her head in the direction of the dibbuns in the cart, who looked more miserable by the second. "They could start crying any moment now. I couldn't take it."
"Aww, it that Araceli for 'I'm worried'? You bleedin' heart, you."
Another glare, this one sterner. But Araceli was a bit tired to keep it up. Rolling her eyes, she nodded, drawing a wide smile from the sated squirrel. Who didn't like to be told they were right? But despite not wanting to openly express her worry, Araceli was set on getting these creatures to the abbey quickly. Their glum faces were really starting to get to her, and in a concerned way she wasn't entirely comfortable with. Her squirrel compatriot understood, and they brought the whole group to a quicker pace, as the heavy silence persisted.
Just as the sun began to flirt with the horizon, and Araceli was beginning to think that she'd misjudged the distance and they'd have to camp for yet another cold night, the path broadened, and she caught a glimpse of something in the distance. Something that wasn't just another part of the forest. One more ridge in the path, and then as they moved over it, she could see them: red sandstone walls. The run crept a bit further in the sky, and lit them nearly crimson.
Araceli couldn't help it. She actually stopped dead in her tracks, jolting the dibbuns from their glazed expressions. In her heart, Araceli felt something lift, if only for a moment. All her life, she'd known only brown and gray; wooden ships and granite fortresses. Though the wind still chilled her, Araceli could swear a warmth extended itself from the gates as they came into view. She got that one moment all to herself, it felt, for the few seconds before everyone else lifted their eyes from the snowy ground.
Then, they erupted. Deadly quiet only a moment before, a wave of noise washed over them. There were whistles, and a few cheers, as they burst into excited babble. The dibbuns rushed to the front of the cart for their first look at the abbey, bouncing up and down under their blanket, twittering, "Redwall! It's Redwall!" One tiny squirrel even used Araceli's head and shoulders to gain a better vantage point, climbing onto her from the cart. Araceli bore it with patience, and even a small smile. This was a special occasion.
It was practically a parade as they approached the gates, their haggard faces beaming. Although, as they drew closer, some began to shy back. They'd heard the tales of this place, and the benevolence of its denizens, but these were creatures from the North. Their lives had been hard, and now that they stood before this fabled place of peace, it was hard to believe that it was really... well, real. Nobeast seemed to know quite what to do, now that they were here. Araceli was oblivious to it for a few seconds, as she'd taken to trying to pry the squirrel-babe off her head. But once she did, and managed to place her back in the cart, Araceli realized that quite a few faces were turned to her hopefully. She glanced about the group, a bit surprised. More expectant glances.
Swallowing, Araceli nodded, and stepped forward, towards the huge oaken gate.
[[OOC:: Kinda rambly, sorry! Anyway, this is open for response, if someone wants to be the one to greet them. No obligation though! (:
]]
Araceli didn't think that the silence would make her uncomfortable, but it did. For the first part of the trip, before everyone grew too weary for unneeded talk, Araceli had longed for the noise to stop. But now that it had ceased, it was as if everyone's weighty thoughts had manifested into a tangible aura of gloom.
But according to the map, it wasn't far now. Setting her jaw, Araceli shouldered a bit more weight of the cart, and picked up her pace. It was she and a tall, russet squirrel pulling the cart, and he matched his steps to hers. Proportionately, at least. He had much longer legs than the small, dark-furred mouse.
"What, now you're excited?" he joked, though in a hushed tone, brush flicking in amusement. From beneath the hood of her rust-colored cloak, Araceli narrowed her eyes into an expression of disdain. False disdain. She was actually rather fond of the squirrel. He rolled with the punches, and didn't seem disquieted by Araceli's shady hints at her former line of work.
Araceli nodded her head in the direction of the dibbuns in the cart, who looked more miserable by the second. "They could start crying any moment now. I couldn't take it."
"Aww, it that Araceli for 'I'm worried'? You bleedin' heart, you."
Another glare, this one sterner. But Araceli was a bit tired to keep it up. Rolling her eyes, she nodded, drawing a wide smile from the sated squirrel. Who didn't like to be told they were right? But despite not wanting to openly express her worry, Araceli was set on getting these creatures to the abbey quickly. Their glum faces were really starting to get to her, and in a concerned way she wasn't entirely comfortable with. Her squirrel compatriot understood, and they brought the whole group to a quicker pace, as the heavy silence persisted.
Just as the sun began to flirt with the horizon, and Araceli was beginning to think that she'd misjudged the distance and they'd have to camp for yet another cold night, the path broadened, and she caught a glimpse of something in the distance. Something that wasn't just another part of the forest. One more ridge in the path, and then as they moved over it, she could see them: red sandstone walls. The run crept a bit further in the sky, and lit them nearly crimson.
Araceli couldn't help it. She actually stopped dead in her tracks, jolting the dibbuns from their glazed expressions. In her heart, Araceli felt something lift, if only for a moment. All her life, she'd known only brown and gray; wooden ships and granite fortresses. Though the wind still chilled her, Araceli could swear a warmth extended itself from the gates as they came into view. She got that one moment all to herself, it felt, for the few seconds before everyone else lifted their eyes from the snowy ground.
Then, they erupted. Deadly quiet only a moment before, a wave of noise washed over them. There were whistles, and a few cheers, as they burst into excited babble. The dibbuns rushed to the front of the cart for their first look at the abbey, bouncing up and down under their blanket, twittering, "Redwall! It's Redwall!" One tiny squirrel even used Araceli's head and shoulders to gain a better vantage point, climbing onto her from the cart. Araceli bore it with patience, and even a small smile. This was a special occasion.
It was practically a parade as they approached the gates, their haggard faces beaming. Although, as they drew closer, some began to shy back. They'd heard the tales of this place, and the benevolence of its denizens, but these were creatures from the North. Their lives had been hard, and now that they stood before this fabled place of peace, it was hard to believe that it was really... well, real. Nobeast seemed to know quite what to do, now that they were here. Araceli was oblivious to it for a few seconds, as she'd taken to trying to pry the squirrel-babe off her head. But once she did, and managed to place her back in the cart, Araceli realized that quite a few faces were turned to her hopefully. She glanced about the group, a bit surprised. More expectant glances.
Swallowing, Araceli nodded, and stepped forward, towards the huge oaken gate.
[[OOC:: Kinda rambly, sorry! Anyway, this is open for response, if someone wants to be the one to greet them. No obligation though! (:
]]