Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Um... the doggy did it? XD))

::There wasn't much to be said there, even Dux seemed to be somewhat quiter... but only because at the moment, she was experimenting with a particularly squishy armchair, as she repeatedly hopped up and down on it, and fiddled around with its cushions as she took in the cavern with an appreciative whistle:: Cor... ain't got mucha far to go in luxury here you lot, have ya?

's like we're off in the ole Badger's mountain!!

::Sideswipe was NOT present here it should have been noted... indeed, somebeast had to keep the guards in check while they were here...::

::Rosa and company... not here, although Antoine stood aside the entrance mindfully, perhaps waiting for news to take back to her, or stand guard until Turan said otherwise to him, he stood dutifully enough, watching around quietly, although occasionally passing Dux some strange glances...::

::Whisper... she was almost the same as Eula... almost...::

::She was the one who'd went without sleep most of the experience herself, and sleep was an evading thought with what they'd found, and with the throbbing pain in her arm as she just flopped herself back in one of the armchairs, her wings fully extended and left to droop to either side, as she just kept her paw over her forehead, and eyes closed as she sat there with a world heavy sigh...::

::Finally...::

Sorry to keep you waiting so long... ::Faith spoke ahead of herself moving through the doorway, the usual half-smile she put to these awkward events there, but it seemed even somewhat more lopsided than usual...::

::And the explanation, came right as Jasmine followed the steps after her, looking solemnly about:: Kusaa will still not be joining us. ::She announced, as Faith looked away slightly, clearing her throat::

...well... is there anybeast else to arrive, Turan? ::She looked straight to the Abbey warrior::

Donato looked down from his perch to watch Eula wake up, grinning lopsidedly at her. Catching her glance, he simply shook his head mutely and shrugged. Something would have to be done, but of course it couldn't be done now.
He turned his attention back to the proceedings, only to be distracted again by the entrance of Jamie. Wonder what kept him? Well, for all he knew, the hare was always late... He shrugged again and turned to listen to Turan's account.

When Turan was finished with the events of the previous night, he looked around for the general reaction, or any comments. He turned to Faith, then to Dux, and he nodded warmly at their newest member. “Thank you Dux. We all appreciate that. I feel it’s important now to have everyone represented here… this won’t just be a Redwall problem.” He glanced at Jamie to include him in that comment.

“We need to rally everyone who is capable and willing to fight. But I don’t think….” Turan began slowly, thinking, “we have the power or numbers to face that horde. We need to ask the Long Patrol for help. I know it‘s a long-”

“It’s taken care of,” Jamie said in a quiet voice, head bowed as he rested against the table, scratching the back of his neck. Well, perhaps that answered for his tardiness?

Turan lifted his eyebrows at the younger hare. “What?”

He nodded over at Faith. “Your little abbess over there already thought of it, sah. Sent one of your own, a squirrel lass, to send word to Salamandastron. She can get their faster than m'self. I'd still say we're lookin' at a solid four weeks before you can expect the Patrol, barring some frontrunners."

Turan nodded slowly, absorbing this. "In the meantime, we need to organize our defenses. I know the idea has been mentioned... but you've also heard me say this before: We will not go on the offensive. Redwall is here for protection, and that's how we'll use it until such time we find ourselves in battle." He paused. "Siege is a distinct possibility. Normally, I am sure, we would last longer than month, but we have many more to protect and furthermore, we're facing winter. We don't have the replenishing resources in the gardens."

He stopped to think for a moment. "I don't want to run us into a deadline for food though. We need to keep our options open on ways to replenish our supplies even if we're under siege." He shook his head a little, they'd discuss this later. "We need to have the leaders established, more so the Woodlanders know who it is they turn to." He paused again to think. "Myself, Tannia," and he nodded at each person in turn. "Whisper, Dux, Eula, Sideswipe, Jamie - of course, you'd take whatever position necessary when the Patrol arrives. We're in charge of defenses and organizing the fighters."

He turned to Jasmine then. "I don't want to seem morbid, but I feel we need some changes with the infirmary. I want it moved to the ground floor, and I want it larger. I suggest asking Foremole for help and removing walls from two or three rooms on the ground level and turning them into the infirmary. Anyone with experience in healing should also he allowed to help. Dux, would you see if that pertains to any of your Woodlanders? Jasmine, of course I leave you in charge of any preparations... it's your infirmary."

He glanced then to Donato. "The nursery and orphanage will be moved upstairs to take the place of the infirmary. That second-floor window will be closed off securely. You understand, Donato, that you'll likely be in charge of rather more Dibbuns than you're accustomed to, with many of their parents choosing to fight. Of course I don't expect you to do it alone."

"Tannia, Whisper, Eula and myself are going to make sure all fighters are properly outfitted with necessary weapons. Tannia, find the skilled long-range fighters. I'll find the short-range fighters and station them as the main guards. Yes, Whisper... I need you to scrounge up weaponry. I don't want Kusaa bothered too much.... I'd feel better if she knew we were dipping into her work before we did so." THAT would require the bat to wake up, so that remained to be seen... "Eula, I had a particular favor to ask of you. Dux may be able to help."

Eula perked up as she was addressed, eager to help despite her sheer exhaustion. At the idea of Dux being able to help, she appeared doubtful.

"I want the Gousim contacted. I don't necessarily want them to be campaigned into helping us, but I find it doubtful that they haven't noticed something going on. I trust you being able to travel and stay undetected, but I have a feeling you'd have a hard time locating them. You don't exactly spend much time traipsing up and down the Mossflower waterways."

Eula nodded, but was forced to agree that she needed Woodlander assistance. She swung her attention over to Dux questioningly.

: biggrin ux went to open her mouth, with a big, important breath of air, chest puffed out, when one small voice interrupted them...::

It's taken care of, too. ::Faith spoke up, making Jasmine raise her brows suddenly... for someone so unused to these situations... their little abbess had gained a sudden habit of making herself busy...:: I'd already invited the Guosim to Redwall for the season... and I doubt the Logalog is anybeast who lets things this big slide past him on the riverbanks...

You'll probably see them arrive within the day or so... ::She finalised, clearing her throat::

::And in the silence thereafter, she quickly added:: I'll speak to Jude later... see if there's any way we can be more creative with our food stocks-

I'll have Faith speak to the foremole. ::Jasmine suddenly cut in rather gruffly, whether or not she was trying to shift attention away from the Abbess' small figure to herself or not was a thought... or whether she thought Faith was obviously overstepping herself, she was cutting in:: The two are fairly good together discussing ideas... I doubt he wouldn't be able shuffle about a few rooms...

...Always had wanted a little more space, not sure this was quite what I had in mind...

And I'll start banging Kusaa on the head with a frying pan again, see if she wakes up any faster for those weapons. ::Contributed Whisper blandly::

Anything else I can be a' service with, sah? : biggrin ux threw in, as if missing the sound of her own voice in the frey::

There is one thing we're missing! ::Faith suddenly called out, having been suppressed firmly by Jasmine and the others, now looking a little sheepish about speaking out:: ...I don't suppose anybeast has heard further in their dreams... anything about the riddle... or even another part to the riddle we have?

...I'm afraid my sleep's been nothing but nightmares of late... no sign of Martin....


((Lol, d'ya know, I've forgotten Dux's full name!!! XD))

::With a best foot forward and grin firmly across her face, the raccoon threw her paw up in eager salute:: Happy to do me bit, sah!!!!

Ready an' willin'!!!!

::Faith seemed to blush like a dibbun caught thieving the strawberry patches, head down a little as Turan mentioned about getting sleep, but said nothing added about the arrangements or the groups for later, as wordlessly beasts were getting up obviously with their own tasks in mind,(Dux making a race of it to suddenly grab her bow and rush up the stairs) as only Whisper and Faith seemed about left, but even Whisper managed to lift herself up with a groan and go after the others, still fairly miserable about the whole injuring and sobering issues from earlier::

::And finally there was Faith, who waited until everybeast was out of the room, and finally, with a sigh of exhaustion herself, just slid forward and let her chin hit the table as she let everything wash over herself...::

::Well... she'd survived that... but now... how long would it be before her next test as Abbess?::

Who: Tannia (briefly), Donato, and Turan
What: Turan and Donato have their first ever conversation?
Where: Cavern Hole/Outside

Tannia: Tannia left pretty quickly, not even glancing in Donato's direction to make eye contact. Apparently she had something else on her mind, having left with something that needed to be done, quickly up the stairs and gone.
Turan: Turan let some of the others filter out, standing with his paws leaning against the back of a chair for a moment. Seeing Faith clearly sitting there and waiting for the group to leave, he then turned to follow everyone out. He caught Donato's glance, wondering why he was still down here. He didn't think much of it, but the younger hare was definitely working on getting his attention. "Hey Donato, let's head out." He meant to leave Faith to herself for a bit, but he acknowledged Donato in such a way, nodding his head toward the stairs, that invited Donato along to talk.
Donato: Donato noticed Tannia leaving and looked to Turan to see if he would talk to him or stay with Faith. Hearing Turan acknowledge him, he nodded and started walking with him. "Say, Turan, have you spoken to Tracy since yesterday?" He asked seriously.
Turan: Turan continued up the stairs, holding the door out for Donato, then let the door shut behind them. He turned to Donato. He could've given a pretty sarcastic reply... why wouldn't Tracy have spoken to him at all yesterday? He noted Donato's serious tone though. "Why? About what?"
Donato: Donato drew a breath. Well. "Er. Yesterday afternoon, when all the dibbuns were up in the nursery, I noticed that Gem and Tracy had left, and when I was going to go look for them they came back inside. I couldn't get a straight answer out of Gem, and I don't know enough of Tracy's sign language to figure out where they'd been." He recounted the story shamefacedly.
Turan: Turan quietly listened to Donato, crossing his arms against a chilly breeze. Turan was silent for a few moments, glancing off. He looked back at Donato. "From what I can gather, Gem flew them out and they went to the Great Hall, of all places. I think they were in the rafters. She kept trying to say something about a big stick falling. During the fight with Radaz, an unfinished sword fell to the ground near everyone. I can't figure out if they caused it or they just happened to see it. But I find it hard to believe that them being in the rafters and that sword falling at the same time is a real coincidence."
Donato: Letting out a breath, Donato ran a paw through his headfur. "I... wow, that was so much worse than I thought."
Turan: "Sorry for not telling you I knew straight off. Honestly, I just don't know you that well and I was curious if you'd fess up. I was angry before... but it really falls down on Gem and she's tricked all of us plenty of times before." Turan glanced across the grounds to a small congregation of creatures, all talking quickly and excitedly to each other about current events. He looked back at Donato. "So I just have to ask you... are you telling Whisper or am I?"
Donato: Donato looked at Turan curiously. Not to say that he didn't understand the urge not to fess up. "Turan, this is my job, and I'm not a dibbun." He groaned. "That being said, I guess I'm telling her."
Turan: Turan lifted his eyebrows. "All right, I never meant to insult you. I was just saying that Whisper really needs to know what Gem did. Gem put my daughter in danger. I know she's still young, but she knows better than what she did. That's why she didn't tell you what they did, of course." He looked over at the excited group again. Back to Donato. "You might recall my saying there won't be a window in the new nursery."
Donato: "No, no. I'm not insulted. In any event, I'll tell Whisper, but I need to keep a closer eye on Gem. I should have realized that the fact that she was being quiet was a bad sign." He shook his head. "Well, no complaints here," he responed with a grin.
Turan: Turan nodded vaguely, his attention clearly divided. "All right, well I have some things to take of, so I'll speak with you later. I don't think she will, but if Whisper gives you a hard time, you can tell me."
Donato: Donato nodded. "Alright. Thanks."

Leaving Turan to his other business, Donato headed back inside through the Great Hall. Catching sight of the dripping bat, he sighed quietly and approached her.

"Whisper, could I please have a word with you?"

Donato began to roll his eyes as Whisper snapped at him and prepared to respond, but was brought up short by her sudden change in demeanor. His brow furrowed, but he answered her. "Yesterday. I've got to tell you that Gem and Tracy left the nursery while that fox was here. I didn't notice they were gone almost until they came back, but they went to the Great Hall and from what I hear they dropped a sword down from the rafters, then came back to the nursery." He paused for a moment, embarrassed. "I know I should be keeping a better eye on them both, but for now I think you need to have a talk with Gem."