Post by Melody and Chaos on Feb 6, 2006 20:03:06 GMT -5
It was a lazy summer day. Butterflies floated on a warm breeze that lightly ruffled the trees. Inside the red walls the afternoon sun was mirrored off the still pond. Under a nearby tree a fat mouse was dreaming of cheeses and wines. In the bushes nearby sat three giggling Dibbuns. They sat in a circle with a big blue bowl at the center. From whiskers to ears they were covered. Squirrel, mouse, and otter. All covered in sweet golden-yellow meadowcream.
“Hee, hee, hee. Theysa ‘ever gonna fond us’n’s!” The squirrelmaid chuckled.
“Ha, ha. Youse right ‘Rimson!” the little otter helped herself to some more meadowcream.
“Don’t eats it alla up!” The mouse babe chided his friends. Crimson, the squirrelmaid, takes one more pawful of cream and puts the lid back on.
The kitchens were a happy buzz of excitement. Yesterday Abbot Marvelli declared an impromptu feast. There was no real reason for the feast except that the cooks and Father Abbot were wanting a feast. So all of today was spent in preparation, and feast to be held tomorrow. The assistant cook, a mole named Burrbowl, was looking for her bowl of meadowcream so she could finish the cake she was making.
“Burr, where moi meadowcream gotten to?” she puzzled as she searched the counter.
A young haremaid named Magnolia briefly glanced up from the trifle she was making.. “Steady ho there, marm. Find those Dibbuns, Crimson, Aquamarina, and Jalcar and you’ll find you’re jolly ole cream, wot!”
An ottermaid, Seafoam, wiped her paws on her apron. “I’ll go look for ’em marm.” As Seafoam skipped off Burrbowl called after her, “Thoink ’ee, miss!”
Seafoam skipped through the yard, humming happily. What a beautiful day? Upon coming to the pond she stopped humming and skidded to a halt. Shaking with silent mirth she slopped into the pond and swam over to the other side. She rose out of the water silently, making sure her skirts were soaked. Seafoam started spinning, fast. The sleeping mouse awoke with a start, soaking wet.
“Waah! Who goes there?” Seafoam burst out laughing as the startled mouse bolted upright. Upon hearing the bubbly laugh and seeing the laughing otter, the fat friar relaxed. “Oh, tis only you, Seafoam. What a way to wake someone, I declare!” He picks himself up and tries to wring out his habit.
“I’m sorry, Friar. It was so tempting.” Seafoam picks up the nearby ladle and offers it to him. “I hope you don’t mind too terribly much.”
Friar Fubdle chuckled and accepted his ladle, which never left his side. “It’s okay, dearie. What did’cha need anyway?”
“I’m looking for Crimson, Aquamarina, and Jalcar. Have you seen them, Friar?” Seafoam asked.
“Nope, can’t say I have, Sorry dear. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to be getting back to the kitchens.” He smiled guiltily, then turned and headed to the kitchen.
Alright then, I’ll find then myself, Seafoam thought, how far could they have gotten anyway? She set of toward the back orchard wall in search of three Dibbuns and a pot of meadowcream.
Ten minutes later Seafoam found the Dibbuns but not the cream. She had found them trying to sneak over to the pond to remove the now-sticky cream from their fur and smocks. They protested loudly as Seafoam Herded them up the stairs to Badgermum Cetera’s room.
“Wesa don’t know where the cream’s gotts to.”
“We bees no where near kickens all morninning.”
“Me no need baffs, jus took one.”
“What is all the racket?” In the doorway stood the kindly badgermum. Her paws on her hips she stared at the three sticky Dibbuns with mock severity. “My, my, you three are filfy. We’ll discuss everything over a warm bath.” She scoped the three up in her paws and carried them down to the infirmary. Having seen Seafoam coming, Mother Cetera had quickly prepared a bath. Now she dumped the babes in and waved to Seafoam for some help. Picking up a washcloth Seafoam started scrubbing Crimson’s ears. Crimson grimaced; then winked to Aquamarina as her paws hit the water. Splash!
Later that evening, up in the infirmary, there stood three dry, clean Dibbuns, a wet irritated badgermum, a soaking ottermaid, and an angry assistant cook. The three in question were seated in the badgermum’s overstuffed chair, looking the picture of innocence.
“Burr, hurr, you’m likkle rascles. Where moi meadowcream gotten to?” Her hands on her hips, Burrbowl was anything but patient with the Dibbuns.
“We no know.”
“Yeh, maybes we do.”
“We no tells you.”
“Why won’t you tell us?” Seafoam knew it was useless to yell or get mad. She thought, Perhaps if we play along we can wriggle the answer out of them.
Jalcar pondered that for a moment then announced. “Let’s play a game!”
“What kind of a game?” Mother Cetera wanted to know.
“A riggle!” The tiny squirrelmaids eyes shone. “Me gots a riggle for you.
Under the towers,
Between the corners,
Crawl through tunnels,
Claim your rewards!”
Crimson sat up tall, very pleased with herself. She had made the riddle, of course, and it led no where but to the missing pot of cream, naturally. Crimson looked around at the puzzled faces and knew they wouldn’t get it soon. She looked at her pals, they were thinking of escape as well.
Mother Cetera looked at her friends puzzled faces. “There aren’t any tunnels at Redwall. Are there?”
“Us molers moik tunnels, hurr. But no likkle ‘uns go down their.” Burrbowl pointed out. She passed a velvety paw over her eyes, “Burr, no towers they can cloim nither. Where’m theys got to?” She pointed to the empty chair.
“Probably out and in more trouble.” Mother Cetera sighed. “Let’s start at the beginning. ‘Beneath the towers.’ What towers can the Dibbuns reach?”
“Perhaps the answer isn’t exactly towers, but what towers over Dibbuns.” Seafoam went over to the window to hide the smile on her face. The short, simple riddle was a good one, with a simple answer.
Mother Cetera could feel her smile. Well, young one, do you know the answer?”
Seafoam beckoned them to the window. “I think so, Mother. I think to get the answer you have to pretend you’re a small Dibbun. Look,” se pointed to a small one beside the pond, “see how the trees tower over that one. To a Dibbun the are so tall. I think we should start in the orchards.”
Burrbowl smiled fondly at Seafoam. “Burr, thet waz good. But what’n bees tunnels thoin?”
Seafoam gestures back out the window. “Bushes! When you’re small you can easily crawl under them, resembling tunnels. With a little imagination, of course.”
“Very good, Seafoam.” Mother Cetera patted her on the back fondly. “What about ‘Between the corners.’?”
Seafoam pointed to the far edges of Redwall Abbey. “The corners are simply the corners of the outer wall.” She moved her outstretched paws in front of her. She was pointing to the orchard. “ ‘Beneath the towers’; the orchard. ‘Between the corners’; the middle of the orchard by the wall. ‘Crawl through tunnels’; go through the bushes. ‘Claim your reward!’; the meadowcream. Does that sound right, Mother?”
Mother Cetera hugged Seafoam close. “I’ll say that sounds right. C’mon let’s go find that meadowcream so Burrbowl can finish her cake.”
Down behind the orchards, near the south wall there is a patch of berry bushes. Inside the bushes Seafoam had crawled, As she reached the center she saw a blue pot. On it was tied a note that said, “Yay! Yu find it. Shhh doun’t tell Fathr Abbit.”
“Hee, hee, hee. Theysa ‘ever gonna fond us’n’s!” The squirrelmaid chuckled.
“Ha, ha. Youse right ‘Rimson!” the little otter helped herself to some more meadowcream.
“Don’t eats it alla up!” The mouse babe chided his friends. Crimson, the squirrelmaid, takes one more pawful of cream and puts the lid back on.
The kitchens were a happy buzz of excitement. Yesterday Abbot Marvelli declared an impromptu feast. There was no real reason for the feast except that the cooks and Father Abbot were wanting a feast. So all of today was spent in preparation, and feast to be held tomorrow. The assistant cook, a mole named Burrbowl, was looking for her bowl of meadowcream so she could finish the cake she was making.
“Burr, where moi meadowcream gotten to?” she puzzled as she searched the counter.
A young haremaid named Magnolia briefly glanced up from the trifle she was making.. “Steady ho there, marm. Find those Dibbuns, Crimson, Aquamarina, and Jalcar and you’ll find you’re jolly ole cream, wot!”
An ottermaid, Seafoam, wiped her paws on her apron. “I’ll go look for ’em marm.” As Seafoam skipped off Burrbowl called after her, “Thoink ’ee, miss!”
Seafoam skipped through the yard, humming happily. What a beautiful day? Upon coming to the pond she stopped humming and skidded to a halt. Shaking with silent mirth she slopped into the pond and swam over to the other side. She rose out of the water silently, making sure her skirts were soaked. Seafoam started spinning, fast. The sleeping mouse awoke with a start, soaking wet.
“Waah! Who goes there?” Seafoam burst out laughing as the startled mouse bolted upright. Upon hearing the bubbly laugh and seeing the laughing otter, the fat friar relaxed. “Oh, tis only you, Seafoam. What a way to wake someone, I declare!” He picks himself up and tries to wring out his habit.
“I’m sorry, Friar. It was so tempting.” Seafoam picks up the nearby ladle and offers it to him. “I hope you don’t mind too terribly much.”
Friar Fubdle chuckled and accepted his ladle, which never left his side. “It’s okay, dearie. What did’cha need anyway?”
“I’m looking for Crimson, Aquamarina, and Jalcar. Have you seen them, Friar?” Seafoam asked.
“Nope, can’t say I have, Sorry dear. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to be getting back to the kitchens.” He smiled guiltily, then turned and headed to the kitchen.
Alright then, I’ll find then myself, Seafoam thought, how far could they have gotten anyway? She set of toward the back orchard wall in search of three Dibbuns and a pot of meadowcream.
Ten minutes later Seafoam found the Dibbuns but not the cream. She had found them trying to sneak over to the pond to remove the now-sticky cream from their fur and smocks. They protested loudly as Seafoam Herded them up the stairs to Badgermum Cetera’s room.
“Wesa don’t know where the cream’s gotts to.”
“We bees no where near kickens all morninning.”
“Me no need baffs, jus took one.”
“What is all the racket?” In the doorway stood the kindly badgermum. Her paws on her hips she stared at the three sticky Dibbuns with mock severity. “My, my, you three are filfy. We’ll discuss everything over a warm bath.” She scoped the three up in her paws and carried them down to the infirmary. Having seen Seafoam coming, Mother Cetera had quickly prepared a bath. Now she dumped the babes in and waved to Seafoam for some help. Picking up a washcloth Seafoam started scrubbing Crimson’s ears. Crimson grimaced; then winked to Aquamarina as her paws hit the water. Splash!
Later that evening, up in the infirmary, there stood three dry, clean Dibbuns, a wet irritated badgermum, a soaking ottermaid, and an angry assistant cook. The three in question were seated in the badgermum’s overstuffed chair, looking the picture of innocence.
“Burr, hurr, you’m likkle rascles. Where moi meadowcream gotten to?” Her hands on her hips, Burrbowl was anything but patient with the Dibbuns.
“We no know.”
“Yeh, maybes we do.”
“We no tells you.”
“Why won’t you tell us?” Seafoam knew it was useless to yell or get mad. She thought, Perhaps if we play along we can wriggle the answer out of them.
Jalcar pondered that for a moment then announced. “Let’s play a game!”
“What kind of a game?” Mother Cetera wanted to know.
“A riggle!” The tiny squirrelmaids eyes shone. “Me gots a riggle for you.
Under the towers,
Between the corners,
Crawl through tunnels,
Claim your rewards!”
Crimson sat up tall, very pleased with herself. She had made the riddle, of course, and it led no where but to the missing pot of cream, naturally. Crimson looked around at the puzzled faces and knew they wouldn’t get it soon. She looked at her pals, they were thinking of escape as well.
Mother Cetera looked at her friends puzzled faces. “There aren’t any tunnels at Redwall. Are there?”
“Us molers moik tunnels, hurr. But no likkle ‘uns go down their.” Burrbowl pointed out. She passed a velvety paw over her eyes, “Burr, no towers they can cloim nither. Where’m theys got to?” She pointed to the empty chair.
“Probably out and in more trouble.” Mother Cetera sighed. “Let’s start at the beginning. ‘Beneath the towers.’ What towers can the Dibbuns reach?”
“Perhaps the answer isn’t exactly towers, but what towers over Dibbuns.” Seafoam went over to the window to hide the smile on her face. The short, simple riddle was a good one, with a simple answer.
Mother Cetera could feel her smile. Well, young one, do you know the answer?”
Seafoam beckoned them to the window. “I think so, Mother. I think to get the answer you have to pretend you’re a small Dibbun. Look,” se pointed to a small one beside the pond, “see how the trees tower over that one. To a Dibbun the are so tall. I think we should start in the orchards.”
Burrbowl smiled fondly at Seafoam. “Burr, thet waz good. But what’n bees tunnels thoin?”
Seafoam gestures back out the window. “Bushes! When you’re small you can easily crawl under them, resembling tunnels. With a little imagination, of course.”
“Very good, Seafoam.” Mother Cetera patted her on the back fondly. “What about ‘Between the corners.’?”
Seafoam pointed to the far edges of Redwall Abbey. “The corners are simply the corners of the outer wall.” She moved her outstretched paws in front of her. She was pointing to the orchard. “ ‘Beneath the towers’; the orchard. ‘Between the corners’; the middle of the orchard by the wall. ‘Crawl through tunnels’; go through the bushes. ‘Claim your reward!’; the meadowcream. Does that sound right, Mother?”
Mother Cetera hugged Seafoam close. “I’ll say that sounds right. C’mon let’s go find that meadowcream so Burrbowl can finish her cake.”
Down behind the orchards, near the south wall there is a patch of berry bushes. Inside the bushes Seafoam had crawled, As she reached the center she saw a blue pot. On it was tied a note that said, “Yay! Yu find it. Shhh doun’t tell Fathr Abbit.”
It was quite the enjoyable little adventure! I'm givin' you 35 Rose Petals for you valiant efforts. ;D
. I'll post in Blue.