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Involves:
- Grey
- Josiah
- Juniper


RW Abbey: Herb Garden
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This is where the many herbs used by Redwallers, be they for medicinal purposes or other things, are grown. The budding herbs serve as a herald of new life and new beginning with the arrival of spring and the beautiful summer to come. A few Abbeybeasts can occasionally be seen here inspecting the herbs. The smells of the various herbs is almost always present here and is overall quite pleasant and refreshing, the reason that some beasts also come here to relax. ------------------------------------------------------------------
Exits: [K]itchen [G]ardens
With:
[IC] Juniper


Josiah has arrived.

Juniper has been trying to think of a legend as they walk. Hm. He doubts that Jesmin would be the sort who likes pirate stories, or sea monsters... as they enter the herb garden, a sudden idea forms. He stops next to some early flowering basil, and plucks a white blossom from the plant. "Have you ever heard the southern legend for why the sea is so salty, then?" he asks, offering up the blossom as he does.

Jesmin, with her good wing trailing behind her and her paws folded loosely at her back, wanders on beside the squirrel. Her ears perk, smile forming as she accepts the basil blossom and replies, "No, I can't say I have."

Josiah approaches the Herb Garden quietly. When he sees the others in the dim moonlight, he realizes about then that perhaps the two beasts want privacy. He turns to leave.

Juniper's voice takes on a slightly different cadence, more of a storyteller's tone. More measured and with a touch of drama. "They say that long ago, the sea was a fresh as any stream. But then, a wicked king-- some say he was a wolf, others a great cat, though I myself think he must have been a fox-- gained possession of a great millstone. A magical thing, of rare power. It was said that he had only to command it, and the millstone would grind out anything he desired. Grain or gold, rain or sunshine. Anything at all." He continues... "Not content with turning out mere riches, the wicked king decided to use the millstone to conquer his enemies. He commanded that it grind out plagues to weaken their armies, hailstones to crush their fields, and fires to burn their villages. And the millstone did as he bid."

Jesmin's ears fix on the story-telling squirrel, interest peaked at the tale being weaved. The bat doesn't seem to notice Josiah.

Juniper says, "For himself, the king bid the millstone to grind out a great fleet of ships, and a crew of the roughest vermin that ever sailed upon the waters to crew it. And then the king ordered the millstone loaded upon his flagship, and had it grind out a wind fit to catch the sails of his entire fleet. And off they sailed to take the lands of any they happened near."

Josiah would leave, but now Juniper's storytelling has piqued his interest. The mouse sits down on the grass quietly and listens.

Jesmin lightly smells of the blossom as he speaks. Widening with a hint of fascination, her eyes flick back to the squirrel, ever curious as to how this story turns out.

Juniper voice has that shadowy quality of a campfire tale... "But the king's greed would prove his undoing. After they set sail, his ministers told him they had failed to provision the fleet properly. His crew would starve-- or mutiny-- before they reached his enemies. Unworried, the king bid the millstone to grind out fish and meat, enough for all the crew. For the entire fleet. And salt. For fish spoils unless you salt it. He commanded the millstone to grind out enough salt to preserve all the meat and fish it had just finished making... Juniper exclaims, "So quickly did his flagship's hold fill with salt that the hull burst! And still, the millstone continued to grind! His ship capsized, and the wicked king was hurled overboard into the sea, to drown among the waters. And the millstone, without him to command it, continued to grind out salt. Endlessly and always. When the ship sank, it carried the millstone to the bottom of the ocean, where it continues to grind out salt into the waters, waiting for the king to command it to halt."

Jesmin's lips turn a small grin, tapping one paw to the blossom-holding one's wrist in a clapping motion. "You make a grand story teller! I have to say that is an enjoyable explanation." She muses lightly, "I will have to remember that one, to tell the pups back at the colony."

Juniper bows lightly as he finishes. He grins, his voice dropping back to normal. "Aye, you're a grand audience, miss Jesmin."

Josiah listens to the rest of the story, and at the end ponders on whether or not to make his presence known. He makes that decision after a moment. Still sitting, he says, "Never heard a story like that before, Juniper."

Jesmin shakes her head, "Audience? All I did was listen." Her ears flick backwards toward Josiah, followed shortly by her gaze.

Juniper whirls to face Josiah, already blushing in the tips of his ears. "Aye... along with a few others it seems." He covers his mouth with a paw, clearly self-conscious about his unintended audience.

Josiah erms. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak like that." He stands up. "I'll leave if you want me to.."

Jesmin chuckles in a low manner at Juniper's reaction to Josiah's presence. She gives him the softest of shoves with a bump from her shoulder. "Like I said, you're a fine story teller. Come, I'm sure you have more?"

Juniper hehs, rubbling the back of his neck, and glancing between Jesmin and Josiah. "Hm. Well... I suppose I could recall one or two more, miss Jesmin." He switches the paw to rubbing his chin has he thinks.

Josiah continues to stand there, feeling more awkward by the moment..

Jesmin smiles at Josiah, noting his awkwardness, "You're certainly welcome to stay, in my opinion."

Juniper nods as he ponders. "Oh, of course. Always welcome, Josiah."

Juniper hmms... "I don't suppose either of you ever heard the Tale of the Tails, before?"

Josiah relaxes noticeably, as much as the moonlight can show, at least. He approaches the others. "Can't say that I have.." he replies.

Juniper grins, and starts off. His voice this time has a brighter tone, and one can already tell this story is more lighthearted than the other...

Jesmin's ears flick as Josiah replies for them, smiling as Juniper goes off on another story. A brief glance is given skyward towards the stars and moon, admiring the display before returning her attention back to Juniper. Jesmin, too, finds a more comfortable seat among the garden.

"Strange to say, but in some lands they say that the tails we beasts take for granted were not there when first we walked the earth." He flicks his own bushy brush of a tail by way of demonstration. "Hard to picture, but true. Once, they say, no beast had a tail at all. Not mouse or rat, rabbit or hare, otter or squirrel."

Jesmin blinks, flicking her own membrane-encased length of a tail in bewilderment.

Josiah gives his own tail an odd look as well.

Juniper says, "But the lord of all beasts-- a great, golden cat larger than the largest wildcat-- desired to give his people an extravagant gift. He called on his advisors to find for him a gift worthy of all his folk. Well, they debated and studied for weeks, before finally announcing to the king that he must give all his folk tails. At first, the king didn't even know what they meant, until they found a tail for him to demonstrate. And a regal one it was, too. Golden as the rest of him, long and elegant and with a great tuft of fur on the end. So pleased was the king that he ordered tails made for all his subjects!"

Juniper says, "The ministers labored for many a moon, before announcing that the tails were ready. And the king sent forth a proclamtion to all the directions of the winds for his subjects to gather on the day of the spring equinox and receive their tails."

Josiah scratches his head, as the mental picture of all this in his mind strikes him as strange. It's no surprise really, as...well...the mouse has always remembered having a tail, and can't really imagine not having one.

Jesmin is in the same boat as Josiah. But the 'tale of tails' proves interesting to her in any case.

The squirrel grins and leans in closer... "But the king's messengers couldn't find one of the beasts. The badger was still sleeping his winter away, and was nowhere to be found. Still, the other animals all began the long trek to the king's palace to get their tails. They say that the cats were the first to be given theirs, for they were favorites of the king. But there were still plenty of good tails to go around. The horse took a long, slapping one to keep off flies, the rat picked a quick, skinny one he could lash about, and of course... the squirrel picked a thick, soft one to keep him warm." Juniper's own tail wraps over his shoulder as he speaks.

Josiah stifles a chuckle at this.

Jesmin grins at the squirrel's reference, the tip of her in-flight rudder flicking.

Juniper says, "Finally, all the tails had been handed around, each beast getting the tail just right for them. And it was only then, after all the casks and boxes of tails were empty, that the sleepy badger finally showed up, having only just gotten word of it. The king was forced to scrape together all the last bits of fluff at the bottoms of the casks, and patted them together to make a sort of lumpy little tail for the poor badger! It was all he had to offer, and the badger, who wanted a tail to call his own, too, had no choice but to take it. But they say that the badgers have never forgotten that all the other beasts got to choose their tails first, and have always been a bit grumpy about the whole thing."

Jesmin giggles at the explanation of a badger's grumpy nature.

Josiah laughs lightly. "Well, that explains that for sure."

Jesmin grins, nodding, "Yes, it does!"

Juniper whews. "Hm. Thirsty work, these stories."

Josiah hehs. "Don't feel obligated to dry out your throat."

Jesmin sets the earlier given basil blossom into her lap, ears flicking backwards in a folding manner. "Interesting, though! Where did you hear these from?"

Josiah looks to both Juniper and Jesmin. "I'm sure all three of us have things like that to tell..."

Jesmin gives a thin smile.

Juniper smiles lightly at the bat. "Oh, here and there, mostly there. I try to collect local folklore along with the histories. Someone's got to write it all down, otherwise it might vanish."

Jesmin nods, "Ah, yes.. Too true."

Josiah nods in agreement as well. He looks to the bat. "Maybe you have a story you could tell us while Juniper lets his throat take a break?"

Juniper glances at Jesmin, watching her reaction to the request.

"Oh." Jesmin blinks thoughtfully, then looks sheepish. "We.. My clan, rather.. We are more creatures of song than stories. Actually, most of our stories are written into song. Otherwise our music is wordless."

Juniper suddenly looks even more interested. "Aye? Has anybeast ever scribed these songs? That's something I'd dearly love to add to my collection."

Josiah simply says, "Oh." The mouse is unsure about putting pressure on the bat. "You don't have to if it ..." He trails off as Juniper seems eager to hear something.

Grey has arrived.

Jesmin twitches the end of her nose a bit, "I'm sure there may be a few written here and there back in our small library.. But most of us just keep it to memory, and hope the next generation is as keen to remembering as the last." A shy sort of smile remains on her lips.

Soft pawsteps and the rustling of dirt and grass, those are the things that can be heard before Grey becomes visible. She's carrying a thin pole, no more than an inch in diameter, but for the most part she isn't using it for guidance. Her head is low with her nose thrust out in front of her, and her ears seem to be straining to make up for, at least judging by the wrap around her eyes, her handicap.

Juniper smiles back at Jesmin, before turning to greet whichever beast is approaching... but the greeting dies on his lips as he sees the fox enter. "..."

Josiah has not noticed the fox just yet. "I see," he says, deciding not to push the idea as he detects Jesmin's shyness on the matter.

Josiah notices Grey at this point, as well as Juniper's reaction. Wanting to pull the squirrel's attention away from whatever thoughts may be arising, he almost blurts out, "I have something!..." He then errs, his face reddening a little.

Jesmin is quite proud of her voice- at least around her own species, but she isn't too sure about it on the ears of other beasts. Her large ears quite easily detect the new sounds of another creature, fixing quickly on the fox.

Jesmin, too, notices Juniper's reaction- and the fact Josiah is trying to distract him. It's quite easy to see that the mouse's attempt is a false one, so after a moment of thought she pipes up, glancing at Josiah. "But I'd be glad to give a sample.."

Grey is entirely unaware of any facial reactions to her presence obviously, though a certain something in the air--maybe the falling off of conversation, maybe just that uncanny sense that someone is watching you--causes her to halt and turn her head. She sniffs the air briefly, then brings the pole to rest in front of her.

Juniper wrenches his gaze away from the fox with some difficulty, though certainly having Jesmin to look at instead is stong motivation.

Josiah says, "Well.." He is sincere, but his voice is softer as well. "I do have something, but you can go first if you wish...Jesmin, right?""

Jesmin has long come to a realization that the squirrel does /not/ like foxes, though she's in the dark still as to why. She makes a soft 'erm' sound, "Oh, pardon! Yes, Jesmin.. Well, you can certainly feel free to show us what you have."

Juniper remains silent, listening to his two friends. Whatever else he might be thinking, he's keeping to himself.

Grey's ears have been subtly twitching, and now she clears her throat. "Hrm, I didn't mean to interrupt. Hello?"

Josiah's face flushes a little more. "Erm, well, alright. It's, uh..it's actually a song too." He glances over to Grey. Not noticing how she's blind, the mouse still waves to her. "Yes, we're here." He sort of clears his throat as his attention is on the others again. "Er, yes,'s a song I've known for a good while."

Juniper nods at the mouse. "Aye. Go on then, and give us an earful."

Jesmin gives a thin smile, glancing towards the fox, then back to Josiah. "Yes, feel free."

Josiah looks a little nervous, and it shows as he clears his throat some more. He does eventually relax before he commences to sing. He actually does sound quite good for singing, but he doesn't bring it out that often. The tune he sings is a slower one, the words spoken fairly slowly.

Josiah says, "Sun's last ray...Light of day...Lazy sunset slips away.."

Grey pauses, waiting until Josiah begins his song before she ventures closer. It's a slow, very cautious walk, but an ordinary walk, not a shuffle. And while the pole is gripped in front of her, she doesn't tap it on things or move it around.

Josiah says, "Close your eyes...Go to sleep...Dream of heaven, dream of peace.""

Josiah says, "Starry skies, moon's soft light...Heaven keep you through the night.."

Juniper nods along with the song, his ears flicking.

Josiah says, "Morning light..brings the day. Sun's first ray." The mouse then hums a little interlude for a moment or so before repeating the last few lines. "Starry skies, moon's soft light."

Josiah says, "Heaven keep you through the night..Morning light..brings the day.."

The mouse then finishes it up with the words repeated again. "Sun's first ray..." His voice echoes into the night as he finishes, and there's silence. Again, he's looking a bit nervous and fidgety.

Jesmin laughs a bit before clapping, "That was grand! I didn't know you male mice could sing."

Juniper smiles wryly, fidgeting a bit himself. "Well done, Josiah. Very soothing."

Josiah nods a bit, his eyes at the ground as he shuffles his footpaws a little.

Even redder than before, the mouse softly says, "Thanks," to both.

Grey doesn't clap, but she is obviously listening.

Jesmin grins, then gives a slight cough. "I guess I could give an old tune a go myself.." She trails thoughtfully, glancing at the fox once again.

Josiah then quietly adds, "It's a lullaby I've known for a while." And the mouse can well guess that Juniper might know where he got it.

Josiah then nods to Jesmin, smiling a little. "Alright."

Juniper nods when Josiah says that, before turning his full attention on the bat. Though one ear keeps flicking back as he listens.

Before Jesmin begins, Josiah makes it a point to start quietly in Grey's direction, not wanting the fox to think she's being ignored. "I'm listening, Jesmin," he says as he goes.

Grey's ears swivel slightly in Josiah's direction, and the rest of her head follows. Apparently she's aware of his approach.

Jesmin ahems glancing at Josiah as he rises. She thinks a moment, staring skyward as if to look for inspiration there. The bat brushes the base of her ear before she opens her mouth, the most hollow and haunting of voices flowing forth in a tone that echoes unto itself. "Deep into the night.. In the shadows we know so well, the stars whisper secrets, that time would never tell..."

Josiah whispers a soft "Hey" to Grey as he turns around and listens to Jesmin's song.

Grey offers a cautious, "Hello," in return.

Juniper listens, jaw dropping a little as her voice seems to echo around the garden area. Any notion he might have had of recording the music for her song forgotten-- there isn't any way quill and parchement could capture the effect.

Jesmin's low melody continues, echoing on during each reviving inhale to instill the illusion of a ceaseless voice. "The keepers of these memories, call the sentries of the past.. And in the depths of our hist'ry, are songs sung to last..." A wordless hum follows, notes echoing about and causing her ears to quiver as they catch their rebound. The melody takes a slight turn for the following words, "Sleep away the light... And dream of yesterday... Haunt.. Tonight, with songs of tomorrow.. With songs of tomorrow." Another trailing, hollow hum follows after the words, fading off into silence.

Juniper... is... speechless. In the best possible way. His ears turn back and forth, capturing every last little echo as the song fades.

Josiah is quiet for a moment after the song finishes as well. Finally, he murmurs something to Grey before responding to Jesmin for her song. "Wow, Jesmin..I'd have thought we were in a cave, the way you sang that. I'm impressed."

Grey's muzzle twitches at the murmur. "Yes, well that's comforting. I would hope so in this place, but you never know. My name is Grey."

Jesmin's ears flatten along the back of her head, grinning in the most timid of manners, "Oh, thank you." The bat plucks idly at her ears.

"Miss Jesmin... I am in awe." The squirrel means it, too. "I don't think I've ever heard such a voice in all my born days. Not while I was awake, anyhow."

Josiah nods with Juniper. "I must agree." He then nods slightly to Grey, saying softly, "Good to meet you." he slowly offers his paw, wondering if she can sense him doing this as by now he can tell that she's blind.

Jesmin flushes, ears visibly reddening along their large expanses. "Oh posh." The bat sniffs, more as a means for something to do amid the compliments. She's unable to keep from grinning, however.

Grey's nose twitches, and there's something about her expression that makes it clear she knows he's moving, but the gist of the movement is apparently lost. She tenses a little, but doesn't make any attempt to take the paw.

Juniper hms. "Well. Juniper's voice has been known to make dibbuns hide in the trees... but I suppose it's his turn, then."

Josiah withdraws the paw, and instead lightly pats the fox on the shoulder. He grins at Juniper's suggestion about his singing. "Uh-oh..should I cover my ears?" He then softly asks the fox, "So what brings you here, Miss Grey?"

Jesmin laughs lightly, a more solid grin coming to her expression. "Oh, you've done your part with the story telling, I'd wager." She idly brushes at the fur of her throat, glancing at Josiah and the fox briskly before raising a paw to hide a yawn, then look back at Juniper.

"Grey," the fox corrects. "I got enough of titles in that damnable fox's city."

Josiah hums. "..Very well," he replies. "Grey it is, then. That city would be Ruingate?"

Grey says, "Yeah, it would."

The squirrel deftly plucks a tiny flute-like instrument from his cloak, and blows a hornpipe. His musical skill is more enthusiasm than talent, though all the notes seem to be in mostly the right places... they falter at the mention of the 'damnable fox' though. And Juniper is sure he knows just which damnable fox it is, too.

Jesmin's ears flick back and forth between Juniper and the other two, though one seems to keep itself constantly fixed on the squirrel's play. The bat's smile widens.

Josiah mms with a nod. He doesn't say much more, as his attention's on Juniper again.

Juniper plays a few more bars of the hornpipe, though clearly his heart isn't in it. He breaks off and turns the tiny flute over and over in his paws, his mind elsewhere or elsewhen.

Juniper says, "Ah, it's late. I'd best be headed back to my drey, or mayhaps I'll just have a doze in the orchard."

Josiah blinks. He's about to ask what the matter is, when Juniper speaks up first. His ears droop for just a moment before he agrees. "True, it is pretty late...and I'm guessing I'll be feeling it in the morning."

Jesmin nods with agreement, "Mm, yes, I was about to suggest the same thing for myself." She begins to rise, stretching herself lightly as she does so.

Juniper smiles at the bat. "My thanks for the walk in the garden... and the song, Jesmin. Aye, and yours as well, Josiah. Sleep well, both of you."

Jesmin smiles as well, "Anytime, of course.. Anytime. Goodnight, Juniper.. Josiah." She turns the smile in the mouse's direction, glancing at the blind fox.

Juniper nods at the fox as well. "Mi... Grey." He bows lightly at Jesmin, before turning towards the orchard and fading into the night.

Josiah nods to the squirrel, saying wistfully, "Night, Juniper.."

Jesmin begins heading off in the direction Juniper did, though turning in towards the Abbey and heading up for the dorms instead. "Goodnight, Josiah."

Josiah waves lightly to the bat. "Night.." He glances to the fox briefly after Jesmin departs.

- Back to Jesmin's Main Page -

:. Logs .:

- Log 1 - Capture

- Log 2 - Failed Escape

- Log 3 - Worries

- Log 4 - Confirmed Fears

- Log 5 - Escape to Redwall

- Log 6 - Legends and Songs at Redwall

- Log 7 - Recapture

- Log 8 - Spawn of Fenton