Finding Family...((cont. "Blood is..."))

[greek101]

The little flakes of snow fell gently from the sky as Streamlilly's breath fogged up the small window pane. How many days had she stood here, watching the snowflakes fall?

One night too many, that's for sure.

Streamlilly sighed and sat down upon the little trundle bed. She had been given this little room to stay in after the arrival incident. Streamlilly was sure that she was given a room alone because no other beast would share a dorm with her.

The room wasn't much. It was a small room with a small trundle bed, a night stand with a candle, and a stool in the corner. On the stool was a folded up set of spare clothing. Streamlilly had tried on the green outfit, (What was that they called it, a habit?) but wasn't planning on wearing it. For one thing, Streamlilly felt uncomfortable in the baggy outfit, after wearing her tight black ensemble for so long. And also, Streamlilly felt that wearing it, the creatures here would dislike her even more.

Not that they didn't dislike her already.

Ever sense she first arrived, which had been about two weeks ago, Streamlilly knew that everybeast here didn't like her. First there were the rumors spread that she had poisoned the squirrel (What ever his name was...) when she didn't, then when her weapons were confiscated (Willingly!), and her tattoos...Within an hour practically the entire Abbey had prejudged Streamlilly.

In fact, even this morning when Streamlilly went down for breakfast, she could feel the tension in the air. After receiving her breakfast from the cooks, who gave her a few glares of suspicion, Streamlilly went to find a place to sit down. Where ever she looked, practically every best turned their eyes, not even making eye contact with her. Sighing, she had sat down at a practically empty table. The one creature who was there, an elderly hedgehog, got up and moved to a different table. Streamlilly ate her breakfast alone, wanting to sob, but holding it in till she could be alone.

She wouldn't take it anymore.

She had to find Tirael. She had to talk to him, once she said her piece and he made a decision, Streamlilly would either leave or go, but she couldn't take the glares and the whispering behind her back anymore.

Standing up from her bed, Streamlilly gracefully walked to her door and exited her room. Streamlilly guessed that if Tirael was the healer, then he would most likely be in the Infirmary. To tell the truth, Streamlilly hadn't seen much of Tirael. She didn't know if he was avoiding her, or they were just were always at two different places at the same time.

As she climbed the stairs and thought, Streamlilly hadn't seen much of any of the creature she met upon her arrival at Redwall. She was sure the squirrel was still in the infirmary healing, the Skipper was probably busy like Tirael as well, and the original squirrel that had led her here had said something about leaving so she probably wasn't at Redwall at all. The silver ferret and the large weasel? Okay, Streamlilly may have been trying to avoid them. The weasel gave her the creeps after grabbing her so roughly like he had done before, an the silver ferret had eyed Streamlilly so suspiciously that Streamlilly decided that it would be better if they didn't have contact, for now anyways..

Walking up the stairs, Streamlilly heard a noise from above that interrupted her thoughts. A mousemaid was descending the stairs. Dark blue eyes matching the maids, Streamlilly tried to smile. The mousemaid saw Streamlilly and froze. She stepped to the other side of the stairs and raced down, trying not to make eye contact.

Sighing, Streamlilly continued up the stairs till she reached the level with the infirmary. She was never going to fit in here at Redwall. It was so quiet and peaceful while Streamlilly had a track record for being the opposite.

Upon approaching the infirmary doors, Streamlilly stopped. If Tirael was actually here, what would she say? I'm sorry for loosing you in the forest please forgive me and call me sister? No, no. Streamlilly remembered Tireal's reaction from the first time they had met. He was afraid of her, he didn't remember her.

Maybe, if she just showed him the locket.

Pulling the chain so the locket was in her paw, Streamlilly opened it and stared at the engraved photo. Tirael was so happy in the picture. That was all Streamlilly really wanted, for Tirael to be happy. And if he was happy here without her, Streamlilly thought as she shut the locket and let if fall to her chest, then she would go.

All she wanted was for him to be happy.

Taking a deep breath, Streamlilly opened one of the doors with a small squeak and peeked her head in. "Hello? Tirael?" She asked looking into the room.


((Ooc: If you didn't see this in the C-box, then I will add it here as well. As the title of this thread indicates, this is a continuation of the "Blood is...” Thread. I really wanted to get this plot moving, and as most of the replies I had been getting indicated that we wanted to continue, I started this thread. If someone has a problem with this post, or wants something changed, please tell me and I will make the appropriate changes. Thank you all for putting up with me. ))

[Lucasaurusrex]

Leaf Eye was having the most peaceful drean. It was probably caused by the sleeping medicine he had been force fed, but he was too into his dream to care, though the thought of drugs and berries made him shudder a little. He was in a beutiful valley, with his father and mother, having a picnic underneath an apple tree. It was sunny, and the warm rays were glasing his back ever so sweetly. It was a clear day, and the tree had fresh apples perfect for picking. It was horrible... It brought grief, and he couldn't bare to watch, yet he had to. He knew what would happen next. As the vermin burst out of the woods, they were screaming for revenge. Later his father had told him about how he had killed their leader. They were raving swords and slings, and before we could move they were upon us. My parents scrambled up and told me to flee. Instantly, I ran as fast as my young stubby legs would carry me. I stopped at the edge of the forest. I heard my mother scream, and ny father roar angrily. Then flames erupted blocking my vision, and I was at my father's house. There was an intense heat coming from the fire, and I began caughing as I inhaled smoke. That picnic has cost my mither her leg, and my father his battle flame to be doused. My mother was forced to live as a cripple, doing nothing forthe tribe. Thus we got little food, a bad reputation, and once my father left, it was the last straw. My vision went back to the picnic. I saw a face... It was a weasel. He was an archer who shot a burning arrow into the apple tree... A red arrow. The same kind that had been used to kill my father. I woke up, panting, an was rattled by a fit of coughs. I looked up and saw the tatooed otter standing in the doorway. My eyes were wild, and they darted from side to side wondering how I got into such a peaceful room.

[Tirael]

She claims she's my sister. I don't know whether or not to believe it. I don't know if I even can believe it. What could have delayed her coming to me for twelve years? I heard Cindra say she's probably a con artist, but I told her that until we find out who this Streamlily is, she has no right to treat her like that. Guests are guests, after all, whether or not they happen to be long-lost relati

"Hello? Tirael?"

Visibly startled, Tirael accidentally pressed his quill too hard onto the parchment, and a puddle of ink formed around the tip. Turning to see who was at the door, he felt his heart rise in his throat. He still wasn't ready for this. He'd tried to talk to his family, but Tampa just seemed angry that somebeast was encroaching on her job as big sister, and the Skipper had said that it was something Tirael needed to do on his own. "Oh, um--" I am NOT going to let myself babble! "...er...hi."

Getting up from his desk, he gazed nervously at Streamlily from across the room. Neither seemed willing to approach the other; It must be a family thing, the healer thought to himself. "Can I, um, help you?" he managed to ask. A glance to the side told him that the squirrel was awake, and rather frantic. Uncertain whether he was glad of the distraction, he moved quickly to the patient's bedside. "Calm down, lay back!" he chided. "You've been in and out for a while, let your body adjust to being awake." Looking back up at the other otter, he went back to his cabinets and began taking out various herbs. If she wanted to talk, she would.

[greek101]

Streamlilly was almost startled herself when Tirael reacted her to entering the room, but she tried to be calm. The last time she got all emotional, Tirael was frightened. The last thing Streamlilly wanted was Tirael to be upset, or see her new instinct reaction.

"Oh, um--[...]...er...hi."

Streamlilly stood awkwardly by the door, her rudder swishing about her footpaws nervously. "Hi.." Oh, how was he going to start this? She just wanted to blurt it all out and get it over with, but she couldn't. Instead she just stood there, looking back at Tirael.

"Can I, um, help you?"

Streamlilly blinked as she registered Tirael's question. Can he help her? Yes, yes he could. He could remember that she was his sister and accept her, but Streamlilly couldn't ask him to do that. That was Tirael's choice, not hers.

Taking in a deep breath, Streamlilly replied. "Hopefully you can. I need to talk to you..."

Before Streamlilly could continue however, the squirrel who had been poisoned, awoke. Streamlilly had seen the squirrel when she arrived, but she assumed he was asleep. But now that the squirrel was awake, he was frantic. Tirael immediately rushed to his side.

"Calm down, lay back!" he chided. "You've been in and out for a while, let your body adjust to being awake."

Streamlilly took a few step forward, to try and help Tirael with the squirrel, but she stopped halfway forward. No, no. The last time she tried to help, everybeast though she poisoned him.

Standing aside, Streamlilly waited until Tirael looked up at her then began to sort though his cabinets of herbs.

Streamlilly berated herself in her mind. Stop stalling! If she didn't tell him now, Streamlilly knew that deep down in her heart, she would never get another chance.

"Tirael...I...I'm sorry, I am so so sorry...." A tear started to well up in Streamlilly's blue eye as everything began to surface. Every single thing that she kept hidden in her heart during her training as an assassin. Everything.

Everything...

[Tirael]

"Tirael...I...I'm sorry, I am so so sorry...."

Tirael began to feel panicked; he still knew little to nothing about Streamlilly, and she was crying and apologizing. Again. "No!--no, please, don't cry, it-it's okay," he blurted, almost more to calm himself than the other otter. Tentatively moving closer to her, he continued, "I mean...as far as I know, you have nothing to apologize for."

A moment of awkward silence passed. The healer was still uncertain how he should respond to Streamlilly's emotional outburst. He was too uncomfortable to do much of anything, besides stare at the floor and think of what to say next. "So, um..." he finally mumbled. Looking up at Streamlilly, he continued softly, "Who are you? I know what you said, but...it's a lot to digest."

[Maxodis]

Down the hall and around a corner, down a corridor that the inhabitants of the abbey had quickly learned to avoid, two creatures had come up with an answer to Tirael's question. The room, while generally filled with the noise of harsh bickering and the clatter of furniture being knocked over, was unusually silent. Both creature's expressions were grim as they considered the conclusion they had agreed to. "Makes a whole lot o' bloody sense," Redin growled, digging his claws into the apple he'd been toying with in his paw as they'd talked. Juice squirted out from around his claws, dripping from his wrist as he slowly squeezed the apple. "Knew them 'sassins looked familiar."

He lay back on his bed, which creaked audibly as he settled his muscled weight into it. Folding his free arm behind his head, he examined the apple distantly as he continued. "So yew were 'ired t'kill tha' otter an' paid t'keep quiet 'bout it... an' since ye couldn't find 'er in time, yore contact sent more o' 'is goons t'kill th' both o' us." His maw pulled back in a harsh grin. "Good job draggin' me inta this one, yer really an' inspiration."

He took a bite out of the apple with a crisp snap, swallowing half of it and talking around the rest. "So... if'n yore contact sent creatures t'kill us once, 'e probably 'as already sent more. An' if'n 'e wants this otter dead so bad, 'e prolly sent a good number out fer 'er too. Which means..." Snap, another bite out of the bleeding apple. "We got ourselves a bit o' a problem, wouldn't ye say?"

[lorki]

A heavy sigh escaped the ferret, she felt so displeased with her situation she swore it may be worthwhile to just poison the entire Abbey; no Abbey beasts, no problem. If only. Her dark eyes kept watch on her paws as she turned a splintered piece of wood in them, she missed toying with her knives.

"Good job draggin' me inta this one, yer really an' inspiration."

She raised her head, having been distracted by her own thoughts. "Aye, thank you. I do try my hardest," she muttered, sarcastically, while she shifted her position on the edge of her bed.

"We got ourselves a bit o' a problem, wouldn't ye say?"

A light grin flicked over her face, "well, you're such a pessimist, Redin. Look on the bright side, least we're safe in this stuffy, locked up fortress with all the high-strung, fearful, full o' themselves creatures you could ever hope t'meet." She flicked her paw back, sending the shard of wood flying at the door where it thudded and stuck in between two wooden panels. Sleet was becoming increasingly more hateful towards doors.

"Ought t'just snap that damn otter's neck," Sleet growled. As a target, the assassin Rajani was just about the most obnoxious sort, illusive. She'd been too damn hard to find, Sleet hadn't even noticed she'd run out of time, considering she'd been doing nothing but tracking the stupid beast. Still, the frustration of not making an easy, clean kill had very little to do with the current situation. Killing her wouldn't do Sleet any good any more, not to mention Sleet hardly wanted that group of assassins to have their way. She bent to pick up another piece of broken furniture,"probably best off jus'... makin' her tell us about them. Get an upper hand an'... I'm all in favor of a massacre at this point, if it'll get me out of 'ere..."

[greek101]

Streamlilly put her face in her paws as she felt a tear fall down her cheek. What was she doing? She was staring to sob and Tirael looked like he was going to panic.

"No!--no, please, don't cry, it-it's okay,"

Looking up, Streamlilly nodded and wiped her eyes. She was probably looking really pathetic right about now.

"I mean...as far as I know, you have nothing to apologize for."

"Then...Then you don't know much. Tirael, there is so, so much that I should apologize for." Streamlilly fought her tears to reply. She couldn't take it any more. Streamlilly had reached her tipping point. She wanted everything to stop. She wanted what she had before.

But Streamlilly knew that nothing would ever be the same. Not after all she had done...

Knees quaking, and starting to break into a cold sweat, Streamlilly reached out for the nearest bed and slowly sat down on it, trying to take deep breaths. She had to pull herself together if she was ever going to tell Tirael what happened.

Streamlilly looked up at Tirael who looked down at the floor and they stayed like that in an awkward silence. Sighing, she looked away as well. This was just getting worse and worse.

"So, um..." he finally mumbled. Looking up at Streamlilly, he continued softly, "Who are you? I know what you said, but...it's a lot to digest."

Her shaking paws had instinctively started fumble with the clasp of the locket around her neck as Tirael spoke. Looking back up, Streamlilly met Tirael's blue eyes, oh those eyes. How many times when she was young had she looked into those eyes?

Now, she had to do it now.

"I... I am Streamlilly...Your big sister. But, before I tell you anymore, " Streamlilly reached her paws behind her head and unclipped the locket. Taking it in her shaking paw, Streamlilly held it out to Tirael. " Look at this. Does it and the picture inside, does any of it, any of it mean any thing to you?"

[Maxodis]

"Well, you're such a pessimist, Redin. Look on the bright side, least we're safe in this stuffy, locked up fortress with all the high-strung, fearful, full o' themselves creatures you could ever hope t'meet."

The weasel responded with a huff. "Joy. 'Cos tha's jes' where I want t'be. 'Appiest bloody place in the world."

"Ought t'just snap that damn otter's neck... Probably best off jus'... makin' her tell us about them. Get an upper hand an'... I'm all in favor of a massacre at this point, if it'll get me out of 'ere..."[/b]

"Temper, temper." He chided as he shot her a glance. "Wots this talk o' massacre eh? After all these poor liddle goodbeasts 'ave worked so 'ard t'make us feel at 'ome." He chuckled darkly again, tearing a thin line in the skin of the apple with a claw. "I 'ear ya though... yew don't know jes' 'ow bad I need'ta beat somethin' 'till it stops twitchin'." He sat up, propping himself up on an elbow. "But yew know jes' as well as I: tha' ain't an option. We ain't gonna go far wit'out weapons. An' I ain't sure we should be leavin' jes' yet."

He fell silent for a time, slowly rotating the damaged, half-eaten apple in his claws as he thought. They were definitely in trouble. The pair had seen their fair share of bounty hunters. Having creatures out for their heads was nothing new. In some cases, it was more of a game. Catch-me-if-you-can with blood.

But these assassins were not bounty hunters. Redin hadn't been with Sleet when she made the deal, nor had he been in contact with her any time after. Still, they'd not only discovered his association with her, but also found his hiding place, which had bested all other would-be assassins. The assassins had surprised the both of them. None of the attackers survived, but to just get that far spoke volumes of their talent. This was no laughing matter.

"Yer right," He said finally, his amber eyes catching hers. "We needta talk to 'er." He took another massive bite out of the apple and swallowed it. "Or, t'be more precise," The sides of his maw pulled back in a wicked grin. "We need her. I'm workin' on a few ideas. Yew don't care iffn that otter gets a liddle..." He waved a claw in the air. "Roughed up, aye? Or are ye gonna cater to tha' 'ealer jes' cos she might be 'is sister?"

[lorki]

"But yew know jes' as well as I: tha' ain't an option. We ain't gonna go far wit'out weapons. An' I ain't sure we should be leavin' jes' yet."

The ferret nodded grimly. The poisoned wound had still not managed to heal, and still bled every time it was unbandaged and washed. She was hardly energetic, and although she spent most of her day wandering about and even occasionally battling Redin over petty things, she was still sleeping through most of the night, which was a clear sign of her continued fatigue. Her weasel companion wasn't looking his best either, and they both continued to grow impatient and restless. It was an unpleasant situation indeed.

"We need her. I'm workin' on a few ideas. Yew don't care iffn that otter gets a liddle..." He waved a claw in the air. "Roughed up, aye? Or are ye gonna cater to tha' 'ealer jes' cos she might be 'is sister?"

"That damn healer can throw 'imself off the ramparts," Sleet hissed. She rolled back to lay with her head propped up by the wall as she picked at the piece of shattered table in her paw. "'sides, I'm guessing that little otter can fend for herself, she managed to keep away from me long enough. I would think givin' her a chance for some revenge would be the only kind thing t'do. She did run away from her little group after all, an' they are all tryin' t'kill her. I'd be a bit vexed, if it were me."

[Maxodis]

"'Sides, I'm guessing that little otter can fend for herself, she managed to keep away from me long enough. I would think givin' her a chance for some revenge would be the only kind thing t'do. She did run away from her little group after all, an' they are all tryin' t'kill her. I'd be a bit vexed, if it were me."

The weasel laughed loudly. "Aye, but yer a bitch by nature!" If nothing else, this was a fact that Redin was absolutely certain of, having dealt with Sleet for the last 9 years. She most certainly would enjoy a bit of revenge, given the chance. Few creatures were quite as driven as Sleet, however, and Redin wasn't so convinced that this otter-assassin would be so keen on vengeance. From what he'd seen, she was disappointingly mild-mannered, almost timidly so. If she truly was Tirael's sister, then there was absolutely no hope for her at all.

But still, she would have her uses. She could tell them a number of things about the creatures that undoubtedly pursued them, information that they desperately needed in order to devise a decisive plan. Sleet would be better at prying that information from her. There was always the possibility that she would refuse to talk. The weasel's grin widened, stretching the old scars across his muzzle. That was where he excelled. The otter-assassin's brother was a healer anyway. He always seemed bored, might as well give him something to do.

"Roight," Redin said, throwing his legs over the side of the bed and standing abruptly. "Let's find 'er an' get wot we need outta 'er, aye?" He took three decisive steps toward the door before pausing for a moment and pivoting on his heel to look back at Sleet. "Er... where d'ye figger she'd be, wit tha' supposed brother o' 'er's?"

[Tirael]

"I... I am Streamlilly...Your big sister. But, before I tell you anymore..."

Tirael watched curiously as she slowly reached back, unclipping the small locket that hung around her neck. It was the first time he'd really noticed the thing, but now it seemed to stand out so glaringly from its owner that he didn't understand why he hadn't thought about it before. Taking it carefully, he scrutinized it closely. It was beautiful; though worn, the designs etched around the sides of the pendant showed that somebeast had clearly put a great deal of effort into making it.

"Look at this. Does it and the picture inside, does any of it, any of it mean any thing to you?"

"Inside...?" he muttered, hesitantly undoing the small clasp. With a tiny click the locket opened, and Tirael found himself staring at the carving inside. A happy little family of otters smiled back up at him, relics of some happier world that he had never personally known. One of them looked like Streamlilly, but the other cub was too young to be recognizable and the parents were just strangers to the healer. But if what Streamlilly was saying was true...if they were siblings...

"Is that supposed to be me?" he asked, doing his best to keep down tears that threatened to form in his eyes. He'd already come to terms with losing whatever family he'd had before the Tiderunners, but this was bringing back all the longing he'd had before he'd been adopted. "Well, I'm sorry," he said bitterly, holding the locket out to Streamlilly, "But I can't remember any of it. N'tashi's soldiers saw to that twelve years ago."

[greek101]

"Inside...?"

Streamlilly nodded, a small hopeful smile coming to her face. Maybe, just maybe this would work. But as Tirael opened the locket and his face did not change from it's confused state, the smile quickly vanished and more tears began to fill it's spot as she bit her lip.

"Is that supposed to be me?"

"Everyday..." Streamlilly bit her lip. "...Everyday I looked at your face, hoping that I would find you again, that I would see your smiling face again...." Sighing, holding her rudder in her paws. "Yes...it is supposed to be you."

It wasn't working. It wasn't working at all. Tirael wasn't remembering. Streamlilly wasn't making him happy, only worse...

"Well, I'm sorry," he said bitterly, holding the locket out to Streamlilly, "But I can't remember any of it. N'tashi's soldiers saw to that twelve years ago."

Reaching out, Streamlilly closed Tirael's fingers over the locket. "As am I. I'm so very sorry you can't remember. It's my fault. It's my fault you can't remember. It's all my fault..."

Looking down at the floor, Streamlilly hiccuped as her tears ran free. "Keep the locket, and this story. If you come to remember then you can do what you wish, but if you never do, then it can be just a story and you can forget all about me and what I tell you, but listen, please."

Taking a deep breath, Streamlilly turned her head and watched the snowflakes falling through the fogged window. The white flakes glittered in the reflection of her tears as she gazed out the window.

It was time to let it all out....

"Once upon a time, in a small little home just south of here, a little otter family lived happily. The father supplied for the family, and the mother watched over the little ones. They had two beautiful little ones. A young girl and a small little boy. Everyday they could, the children would play in the grassy fields nearby, and their laughter could be herd for miles."

"The mother talked about her parents often. How they lived in this large stone house that was the home to many creatures. It's walls were red and it had beautiful bells that tolled the hours. Everybeast inside lived in peace and was never afraid. She said it was called Redwall Abbey."

"The family got really excited and decided to take a trip to Redwall. The little ones were very excited! They were going to take a trip through the big woods to a happy red house. The small family packed up their things and headed out. However, they never made it."

"While they were in the woods, the little girl had wandered ahead a bit, and saw other creatures in the wood. They were big creatures, with many weapons. Running back to her mother, the little girl told her mother what she saw. The mother and father became very worried. The mother took the little ones and put them inside a hollow log, telling them to be quiet and still."

"The little ones huddled in that long for a long time. Loud noises echoed outside, screams and cries. When all went quiet, the little girl came out of the log. And what she found.....What she found...."

Streamlilly paused, regaining her composure, then continued.

"She found her parents. Dead....blood was everywhere, and under her paw on the ground, was the locket that is in your paw. Picking up the locket that used to hang upon her mother's neck, the little girl ran back to the log and pulled her brother out. Gripping her brother's paw, she ran as fast as she could away from her dead parents."

"But as she ran...she realized that her brother was no longer holding her paw...He was gone...Running back, she cried his name..trying to find him...instead she found more creatures with weapons. They grabbed her. She couldn't fight back. They hit her over the head, and everything went black."

Chest heaving, Streamlilly stood up.

"And there I will end this story. After that blow, the innocent little otter died, and was replaced by a monster...and so the story ends."

Wiping her tears, Streamlilly turned to leave.

[lorki]

"Aye, but yer a bitch by nature!"

"Aye, don't get too ahead o' yourself with the compliments. Your charm is becomin' unbearable," Sleet replied in a flat voice, narrowing her eyes at the weasel from across the room. Maybe there was something to being a sugar coated, passive, frightened little critter hiding from the world behind sandstone walls. She doubted any Redwallers had a friend as... dedicated as Redin. It surely had it's pros and cons.

"Er... where d'ye figger she'd be, wit tha' supposed brother o' 'er's?"

Sleet nodded, "the infirmary, Tirael would probably shudder and die if someone made 'im leave that place for more than five damn minutes. What a life." She grunted indignantly thinking about the healer, her feelings for him had yet to return to warm and fuzzy.

the ferret rolled and pushed herself up to stand, she was too lazy as of late. All she managed to do was lay around in a room and argue with Redin, it was pathetic. "Right... come on, ge' up." she gestured to him while she started towards the door. One of her paws went to tug the shard of table out from between the boards, heaven forbid one of the abbeybeast witness a door being abused.

She opened the door in time to see a shrew shuffling quickly down the hall and around a corner, casting a worried glance backwards. Sleet smirked and stepped out into the hall.

[Lucasaurusrex]

Leaf eye frounded as he listened to the story. So, this otter, blackened by evil forces and turned assassin, hadn't always been so rough. She had once been a little ottermaid. As Leaf Eye had once been a warrior in training. As his father had once been a vicious killer. His mother had once been kind and caring, but became bitter and angry at everything. Even him... He and this otter had a lot in common. Changes in common. They both had faced horrible life changing changes.
Leaf Eye felt like an intruder as this story ended. He felt a tear drip down his face as she mentioned her mother. He thought back to his own mother. She had hated him. She had probably died hating him. His father had dued dissapointed in his warrior ways. That was something he couldn't change. At least not until he avenged his father. He was a disgrace to his family... At least HER parents had loved her in the end. He turned his head, and closed his eyes.

He heard his mother, 'You good for nothin' idgit! You're not 'alf the man your father was.' His fathers dissapointed face looking away from him... Unhappy that Leaf Eye had not become peaceful... He would have no way of making it up to him. He was dead. And he had to avenge him. It was a burning drive in his heart. Forcing him onward. He had to avenge his father.... If he killed his father's murderer, he had a feeling his father would dissaprove if he killed fir vengance, but this wasn't about his father. This was about himself, as a squirrel. He had to do this. He couldn't explain it, but he had to. He thought... Maybe the otter may help. But not now. This was not the time. For once Leaf Eye had a grain of common sense, and decided not to blurt out his question now.