| Subject: The Lord (or Lady) of the Spoon: the Fellowship of the Spoon: Part 1 |
Author:
Marie Blue-eyes
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Date Posted: 01:52:58 08/18/06 Fri
Name: Marie Blue-eyes
Dorm: DD
Writing:
The hedgehog gave a deep sigh and rolled over in her sleep, her left footpaw twitching. Wrinkling her nose against the strong odor wafting close by her nose, the young Dibbun groaned and flopped on her belly, burying her snout in her pillow. Around the sleeping hedgehog’s room various other Abbeybabes were lounging about, but most of the beds lay unoccupied. Through the open window, squeals and giggles could be heard as Dibbuns splashed in the pond with Skipper and his crew. The smell wafting in with the wind came from the kitchens, which were right below the dormitory of the Dibbuns. The old Friar was making cinnamon scones and strawberry fizz for an afternoon snack.
The sleeping hedgehog raised her head slowly and blinked a couple of times before fairly vaulting out of bed with a thud.
“It‘s today!”
When an irate squirrelbabe shushed her vehemently, the hogbabe stuck her little pink tongue out at him, but remained quiet. Slipping out of her nightshirt and switching to a green tunic, the Abbeybabe shuffled across the room, avoiding twitching paws and gigantic piles of dirty clothing. Pushing open the great oaken door produced a slight squeak, but the hedgehog slipped out before the squirrelbabe could shush her again.
Her tiny footpaws made a soft patter as she scurried down the hall and the stairs that led to Great Hall. When she reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped into Great Hall, she was met by a squirrelbabe with a freshly-cleaned beige smock on. With a grin, the Dibbun hugged her hedgehog friend, carefully avoiding the spikes.
“Tumbletail, what are you doin‘, sleepy head? It‘s Tangle‘s birthday today, and you‘re sleeping in?”
Tumbletail briefly hugged her squirrel friend before shuffling quickly towards the Abbey Grounds. “I know, I know, Star. I was still tired from last night‘s Spaz attack.”
Star nodded, knowing the effects the Dibbun-drink Spaz Juice could have on a beast. The two Dibbuns stepped out into the bright sunlight of a summer’s day in Redwall, blinking rapidly at the change in light. Paw in paw, they scurried down the broad stairs and across the lawns, reaching the Abbey pond just as a Dibbun mouse launched herself into the pool in a belly-flop.
Holding up paws to shield herself from the spray, Tumbletail called out to the mouse. “Marie?! Watch it! I just had this tunic washed!”
The mousebabe’s head broke water near the edge of the pond, a mischievous grin on her face. When she spoke, her voice was laden with jovial merriment. “Och, sorry, Tumble, ah didnae see ye there. Ye should warn a lass a‘fore sneakin‘ up on ‘er like that, mate.” Holding her paw flat a few inches above the water, she winked cheekily at the hedgehog. “Yes, ye should give a gel a chance tae prepare…for this!”
With a slightly insane giggle, Marie slapped her paw down on the still water, causing both her friends to be splashed with the pond water. As Tumbletail blinked in surprise, Marie chuckled and ducked under the water, swimming a safe distance away. Recovering from her surprise, the hedgehog Dibbun grumbled and wrung out her tunic. Pointing an accusatory paw at her mouse-friend, Tumbletail shouted a warning. “Silly mousey, I‘ll get ya for that!” Marie’s only response was to pull a face and swim further away from her friend.
Muttering something indistinguishable, Tumbletail walked along the grassy bank of the pond, Star having gone off to play with her brother, Wallie, and their otter-friend Kiri. As she walked, Tumbletail was suddenly hailed by a golden-striped badgerbabe who was passing by the same route. The badger carried a stick with a little piece of crystal stuck on the top with some messy glue.
“Tumble!” The badger trundled over, her homespun brown tunic offset by a bright blue party hat shaped like a cone.
“Trillium, haven‘t seen you in ages. Killed any annoying little Highlanders lately?” Tumbletail winked at the badger, referring to Marie, who had splashed her earlier. Trilli, as she was affectionately called, had a sort of a history with the crazy little mouse, who enjoyed taunting the badger immensely.
With a low growl, Trillium responded. “Not yet, but if she tries anything… let‘s just say she‘d better watch her back.”
Tumble coughed and held a paw to her mouth to hide the giggle that she couldn’t hold in. Unaware, Trilli trod on beside the hedgehog, enjoying the serene view… by “serene” I mean, of course, dozens of Dibbuns shouting and splashing and cannon-balling into the pond, with yelling ottercrew otters running around waving their rudders to gain the Dibbuns’ attention.
After a few moments, Trillium noted Tangle standing with some of her friends, and started forward to meet them. “Bye, Tumble, I hope you enjoy the party!”
“Bye, Trilli!” Exchanging a wave, the two split paths, the badger to greet Tangle and the hedgehog to join in with the party.
It was truly a party to remember. There was singing and Spaz juice and sugar and lots of food and chocolate and games. At one point during the party, Marie got herself into trouble with Trillium when she stood up to recite a poem she had written, a poem written purely for the purpose of annoying Trillium…
“O Trillium, O Trillium,
Thy stripes we love to poke.
Were it not for you,
Dibbuns need'n't fear the night;
As it is, your name makes them tremble in fright!
O Trillium, O Trillium,
Great Grumpy-Stripe you are.
May seasons take you
Speedily away
So that we may suffer no moooooooooore!!”
In fury, the badgerbabe chased after her mouse-nemesis, shrieking furiously. “I‘m going to kiiiiiiillll you!!!” As the two enemies ran about, the badger chasing a squealing Marie, Tangle clambered up onto a stool and tapped the spoon she always carried on the edge of it to gain her fellow Dibbuns’ attention. After a few minutes, they finally settled down and turned to listen to their leader. Clearing her throat, Tangle spoke.
“Thank you, good Dibbuns, all! First, I want to thank you all for coming, Dastardly Dibbuns and Wicked Wastrels; Active Array and Clever Clan; Mad Menaces, Jumping Jokers, and Rambling Rascals; Fearsome Fiends, Naughty Knot, and Pesky Pack; Bad Babes and Tricky Tribe; Giggling Gang and Slippery Sneaks; Happy Horrors and Unbathable Bunch; Irresistible Imps and Laughing Lot! All members of the greatest club on earth, Dibbuns Against Bedtime!” As each dorm name was listed off, the members of those dorms gave rousing cheers. When Tangle said the words “Dibbuns Against Bedtime,” the Dibbuns went wild, whooping and shouting. Tangle held out her paws for silence, then went on.
“Now, I know y‘all aren‘t much for long speeches, so I‘ll keep it short.” There was scattered chuckles among the crowd, especially those who had been in DAB for a while. “I am leaving DAB for a vacation.” The hedgehog grew quieter and her voice grew softer. “A very long vacation. One I have needed for a very, very long while. And I don‘t expect I shall return; in fact, I mean not to.” The Dibbuns started in surprise, having not expected this. “I shall be leaving now. Good-bye.”
Without further ado, the hogbabe clambered off of her stool and was whisked away by some of the veteran DABers who had known before-hand what was going on. Cries rang out in the clearing as the Dibbuns tried to figure out what had just happened and whether it was real or not, but Trillium had other things on her mind. She scurried off on a direct course to the only place she knew Tangle would stop before heading off to Dibbundell.
~-~-~
Tangle clambered into her secret hide-out, a tree-house of sorts, built in between the branches of an old oak. Inside, she was startled to find Trillium, still wearing her pointy cone party hat, patiently waiting by the window. The hedgehog mock-scowled as she bustled about the room, gathering her things into a flour-sack-turned-bag. “Trilli? What are you doing here?”
“Tangle, you know you have to appoint someone to rule in your stead.”
Tangle’s scowl deepened as she paused, her paw resting on the spoon she always carried. “Of course, of course. I put it in there.” She mumbled this quietly and wagged a paw in the direction of a parchment scroll sitting on the makeshift shelf. Sticking the spoon through her habit girdle, Tangle carried on preparing for a journey, purposefully ignoring Trillium, who had risen to read the parchment.
The badger’s eyes reflected slight surprise as she read, and she glanced in mild shock at the hedgehog. “Tumbletail? You‘re leaving it to her?”
“Yes, of course. Why not?”
“I dunno, it just seems to me that… she‘s so young.”
“Which is exactly why I chose her. She will have quite a few seasons ahead of her before she gets too old for this sort of thing, and Lauren‘s away in the Land Beyond the Abbey.”
“Hmm…” The badger shrugged and returned to reading the scroll. Tangle hefted her flour sack onto her shoulder and stood in the doorway, preparing to leave. Trillium glanced up once more and gazed intently at Tangle, causing the hogbabe to squirm slightly. “Tangle, you seem to have forgotten something.”
“What? I‘ve got all the essentials. Sugar, toys, extra itching powder…”
“Your spoon.”
Tangle glanced up at the badger’s words, reluctance showing on her features. “It‘s with the scroll.”
“No, it‘s in your belt.”
“Oh, so ‘tis. Must‘ve… slipped my mind. Yes.” Slowly, the hogbabe removed the eating implement, a symbol of power in DAB, and placed it on the ground. She sniffed and wiped a paw across her snout, staring longingly at the wooden spoon. “Er… you‘ll make sure it‘s taken care of, right?”
“Of course, good friend.” Mild relief showed on Trillium’s face as she strode across the small room and retrieved the spoon, placing it with the scroll. “It will be safe in Tumbletail‘s paws when the time is right. Now, go. You‘ll want to leave before it gets dark.” The badgerbabe’s normally stoic face crinkled in a friendly smile as she patted her friend’s spikes carefully.
Tangle nodded and clambered down the ladder that led up to her tree-house. The hogbabe smiled up at Trilli and waved. “Goodbye, Trillium. May you prosper well, my friend.”
“As may you. Long life and long Dibbun-hood.”
With a nod, the former ringleader of DAB strode off into the gathering twilight, humming an old tune to herself.
~-~-~
Tumble crept into the tree-house quietly, wincing as she stepped on a squeaky board. The hogbabe had come here, hoping to find answers, after Tangle’s mysterious disappearance.
She jumped in fright as a voice wafted from the dark corner where Trillium sat. “Very sneaky, Tumble.” The hedgehog maid blushed deeply as she recognized the badger’s voice. “Don‘t worry, come in. Tangle‘s long gone. She won‘t be returning anytime soon, methinks.” Trillium beckoned Tumbletail over with a claw and handed over the parchment scroll. “Here. Tangle said to give this to you.”
“What is it?”
“Just read. You‘ll find out.”
Uncurling the parchment, Tumble read the scroll’s words with a mixture of joyous surprise and rueful sorrow. The letter came in two parts: one for all of DAB and one for Tumble specifically.
My dear DAB members,
I hope this finds you well. I know my leaving came suddenly and will cause some unrest, and for that I am sorry. But I believe I may leave you in capable paws. Tumbletail Spikedog is your new ringleader. Obey her as you have me, and she will serve you well; of that I have no doubt.
Tumbletail,
Well, what is there for me to say? I think you will be a great leader, if given the chance, and I have put my faith in you. Listen to those with more experience than you, but be open to new ideas, never neglecting old standards. With patience and endurance, a beast can accomplish much, but if you also have the loyalty of those around you, there is no real limit to the possibilities. I leave you my spoon as a token of your new leadership: bear it well.
Signed,
Tangle Tumblehog, former Ringleader of DAB
Trillium watched intently as Tumbletail read the letter and fingered the spoon that was next to it. When Tumble finally spoke, it was with a shaky voice. “I can‘t believe she chose me. I haven‘t been here as long as… well, almost everyone! I mean, there were plenty of others that should‘ve been in line ahead of me… why did she choose me?”
“Because of your spirit.” Trillium leaned forward and gazed piercingly at the hogbabe. “Her words, ‘the loyalty of those around you.’ That is why she chose you. Look around you. Think. The majority of those Dibbuns out there would be willing to follow you, if nothing else because Tangle put her faith in you. I think you remind Tangle of how she was when she was younger.” Tumbletail stared at the spoon in her paws, awestruck. Trillium tracked her companion’s gaze, her brow knitted.
“Thank you.” Tumble looked up from the spoon to look at Trillium. “Your words have lifted me up. I do not deserve this honor Tangle bestowed upon me, but I will do my best in her stead.”
“Good. That attitude will serve you well. Now, if you‘ll excuse me.” The badger rose with a grunt and strode to the door. “I have business to attend to.” Without another word, she hopped neatly down to the ground below and strode off into the sunset on a quest of her own, leaving a bewildered and awestruck little hogmaid behind her.
~-~-~
That night, Tumbletail called an emergency meeting of the DAB. There, she announced Tangle’s decision and let the others read the parchment, at least the part to all of DAB. Though some, particularly the older members, were disgruntled that they had been usurped by a younger member, most were happy with the decision. Marie and Star declared it Tumbletail Day and decided to stay up all night in celebration. Of course, being Dibbuns, they fell asleep before midnight and were carted away, snoring, by the elders to their beds.
Tumble made her way to the tree-house, where she spent a sleepless night, too hyped-up by the events of the day to rest. Meanwhile, Trillium searched for answers of her own, sneaking around in the nighttime darkness, reading forgotten texts, and interviewing strange creatures.
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