Nights Rest

[lorki]

Drip drip drip drip. Soko stared blankly at the bucket of water a few feet away. She tried to convince herself the slight annoyance was fine, considering the drip was not falling directly on her. However she was exhausted, her body was sore, her back ached she wanted to find peace while she could....

...But that drip. Soko curled herself tighter inter a ball, the blankets beneath her were still damp and a cool draft ruffled the fur on her back. She closed her eyes tightly, endure it, ignore it she told herself. Once she was asleep she wouldn't even be aware of any of it. She just had to get there. She tucked her head under her paw, forced her ears back and took a deep breath.

Finally she felt herself become able to relax. The drip slowly faded until she could hardly hear it. Being half awake she registered another cold gust of wind but it didn't bother her. She shifted slightly and dropped out of achy cold discomfort and into, hopefully, more comfortable peaceful slumber.

[Enon // SoMtW]

Martin the Warrior, who had protected and guided Redwall over the centuries, had not been able to help when Redwall was overthrown. Nothing had worked. Every dream sent to a woodlander to encourage or to the horde leader to intimidate, none had made a difference in the outcome. Now, it pained the kind and just mouse to see the condition his beloved abbey and its inhabitants had come to.

Martin had watched for many years for the right creature to come along. Now he thought he had found that person.

And times were coming to a crossing place, Martin had been watching Sokana Kehure for a while. She was not the typical choice for champion, both a slave and a sable. But these times were different, and she was a good choice. So he stepped into her dreams.

[lorki]

At first, the dream was like a gift. Sunlight and warmth seemed the first things she noticed. It took Soko a moment to realize she was standing in a place that was quite well known to her. The grounds of Fort N'ashi were... put quite simply very very different. The first thing she noticed was the lack of a slave shelter at all, the dilapidated building has disappeared, along with it the fence, the guards and even the daunting old and rotting torture devices used when N'Ashi first took rule of the place were suddenly gone. Along with these things the uncomfortable unfriendly feel of the grounds seemed to have faded. She felt oddly at ease.

The dream was quite lucid, it felt almost as if she was awake- glancing about the area to take in everything that in reality was not there. The sable felt really quite conscious and with this feeling came mild confusion. She knew her dreams were not like this. They were plagued with images of her past, her lost family and years of unwilling service. This was not at all like the others and somehow she knew that it wouldn't be turning sour.

[Enon // SoMtW]

"Welcome to Redwall Abbey, Sokana Kehure." Martin said, appearing on the front steps to the abbey. The warrior was wearing only his sword and a simple green homespun tunic. "This is not a typical dream." He continued, almost in answer to her thoughts.

"I am Martin the Warrior, guardian of Redwall."

[lorki]

Soko's eyes darted to the mouse, immediately her head tilted to the side curiosity written on her face. She had heard in whispers about the fort that it's old name had been Redwall, but the horde had taken control before Soko had even been born. It would have been many many years ago. His name, his position as 'guardian' all things that were quite alien to her. So far all she knew for sure was a Mouse, Martin to be exact who knew her full name was standing there in place she knew and yet did not know.

Awkwardly she shifted to the side. Normally she would have introduced herself but that was obviously unneeded. She swallowed finally and said, "Thank you... It's Redwall? I've never known it as Redwall." She told him honestly, her mind turned to the more obvious question, "...What sort of dream is this then?" She asked.

[Enon // SoMtW]

"Thank you... It's Redwall? I've never known it as Redwall."

Martin smiled and motioned for her to join him on the steps as he sat down. "It hasn't been Redwall for a long time, Soko." He motioned around to the peaceful scene around them. "This is what was...and could be, with your help, Sokana."

"...What sort of dream is this then?" She asked.

Martin smiled. "You won't remember this until someone mentions my sword.

Times will be righted and slaves will be freed,
When Sokana Warriormaid holds my sword.
Heed the chuckling Tide and scheming River.
My sword lies in three willows,
Fight and flight will find you safe."

"I'll see you again, Sokana Warriormaid."

[lorki]

Her eyes grew wide as she listened to him. This was a mistake, a fantasy, a dream of course. A little odd mouse speaking of her as a Warriormaid, freed slaves... a sword? She opened her mouth to ask him but found she couldn't form words.

"What do you mean? When will I-" She stopped, her eyes opened and she realized she was not speaking to the dream form of a mouse she was speaking to the darkness over her bed, the cold slave shelter, the disgruntled squirrel near by who shot Soko a dirty look before turning back to sleep.

Drip drip drip Reality seeped in as she stared wide eyed at the bucket beside her head. She sat up, put a paw to her forehead and smoothed back her fur. She sighed and stared at the mass of sleeping slaves around her. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, but she hardly noticed it because it was overshadowed by an odd feeling. It was something like triumph but not quite as severe, like the beginning threads of victory but she had won nothing. She turned her head to look back down at her own lap as thoughts fluttered in an oddly calm fashion through her head. A few minutes past before she whispered, "I don't know how to use a sword..."