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From the kitchen comes Lark, carrying a kettle of stew almost as big as she is. Behind her is Clover, ushering several others from the kitchens, all older dibbuns. Oddly enough they look excited, not annoyed to be pressed into service. Each ferries his or her platter, bowl, or tray to the table while Clover stands watchful at the kitchen door, carrying a spoon like a scepter. When the table is full, the dibbuns all return to the cook, begging quietly. Glancing around as if checking to make sure no one is looking, Clover grins at each in turn, handing each a pastry - fresh from the oven by the way the dibbuns juggle.

Lucas enters in a hurry from great hall, a pile of parchments and a few books being messily held under one arm as he heads for the table. A few nods go to beasts he knows and a very brief smirk to the sight of the behaving dibbuns before he starts loosing the odd sheet of parchment and quickly stops to retrieve them.

As Clover returns to her domain, the dibbuns bolt for the table, one yelling 'Race ya!' and running with the others. On her way to find a seat, Lark stops and grabs papers for Lucas before he loses the lot to the floor, ignoring the racers rather maturely. "Here," she offers with a lopsided grin, moving to two seats next to one another and setting the pages on the table as she slides into one chair.

Lucas juggles the rest to keep from dropping all that too so it's just as well Lark gets those on the floor. He smiles faintly and follows her to the table, going to dump the rest on the table in a big heap "Thanks Lark," he says as he starts neatening the pile up with a slight sigh. "Must remember never to miss classes, they give out twice as much work."

Lark makes a face. "I don' wanna be in da Order if that's what I'd get," she says, waving a paw in the direction of his stack. The slight breeze makes one of the parchements slide off, so she grabs it quick and replaces it on the top of the pile. "Why're you in the Order, Lucas?"

Lucas quickly moves to hold down the rest of the pile before it bowl away, letting Lark put the top one back on before he moves the lot to one side and takes a jug of cordial from the table to put it soundly on top of the pile "Stay!" he clearly commands the heap before flopping down in his seat at last "It's not all like this..It's just what I wanted to do I suppose. Something that seemed worth it...why, what would you do with your life?"

Lark shrugs, then grins. "I'm an Ambassador, remember?" Then she sobers slightly. "I'm not sure what I want to do. I'd like to learn how to use a bow, like my father... well, better than my father, so I don't have people to shoot me."

Lucas leans across the table to gather a small plate of food as he listens "Hmm, well, I'm fairly certain that's not something the abbey would have taught in their walls. Though I'd assume the guards need to train sometime..even if it is just quietly out the way as I do." He clears his throat to try and sound all official "Obviously as a representative of the order of Redwall I can't agree with any activities that may harm another beast..." he lowers his voice "But on a personal level, fighters still have their place, may your arrows fly true..though I may hope they would not need to fly at all."

Lark listens thoughtfully, and after a pause she nods. "I can understand that. This place is about family, not fighting. Maybe I'll leave sometime, when I'm a little older, and go find someone who can teach me. Then I can practice on my own if I come back here." She thinks about this for a moment, then adds, "I think I'd like to come back here. It's kinda my home now."

Lucas selects a bit of salad to nibble on as he settles back in his seat, happy to relax for a bit "I'm glad that it seems like a home. It's a good place to hole up...though, I suppose it is best that everybeast gets to go out and see a bit of the world beyond it's walls. There's more to the world than Redwall."

Lark nods. "It's nice to not think about the rest of the world sometimes, though. Play snowfights, make pillow forts... not think about growing up and doing important stuff." Out of the mouth of babes.

Lucas chuckles faintly and glances to the pile of work next to him "Hmm, yes, I guess growing up can be not quite so fun. Alas though, it's unavoidable and can be no less enjoyable when you don't have work to do."

A faint, shivering rustle of velvety wing and cloth is the only sound that heralds the arrival of the Lady Lascaux, as she alights at the top of the stairs into the Cavern Hole. She moves slowly down the stairs, distracted to the point where she doesn't even bother to sound out the chamber below before entering. The voices of Lucas and Lark, coming as they do without shapes to accompany them, must seem a little like ghostly voices from beyond to the bat for the first second or two. Then her ears resolve their echoes, the interior of the room forming a picture of sound that only her kind can see. "Your pardon, Novice," she cheeps in a low voice, "I intended no intrusion..."

Lark has to puzzle that one out for a moment, not quite following all the negatives in that. "I didn't say I didn't want to grow up, just that I didn't really want to think about it. I like being a dibbun. It's FUN!" This is punctuated by the quick toss of a bread roll across the table at a young mouse pulling faces.

Lucas chuckles at the bread throwing "So I see. Though might want to watch what you throw, might be cleaning it up later" his ears perk faintly to the bat's voice and he looks round, a quick nod of the head offered "No intrusion caused Lady Bea, it's lunch, all are welcome"

Beatrix inclines her head at both mouse and squirrel, and quietly takes one of her usual undersized chairs where the dibbuns normally sit. She still has a black veil in lieu of her normal bright colors, and anyone who knows her sleeping schedule would count this a rather restless 'night' for the bat. Still, her eyes are clear and her movements precise and graceful; she seems to be holding up well given circumstances.

Lark's eyes widen and she immediately replaces the second projectile breadroll on her plate, rather than throw another. "We don' want to clean here, too!" she hisses across the table, getting a similar reaction from the young mouse across the table. Then Lark turns and nods regally to Bea, rewording Lucas' statement. "Welcome, Lady Bea, do join us..."

Lucas chuckles once more at Lark and her friend, see, adults do get their fun? His attention goes once more to Bea with the squirrel's greeting, letting the bat sit before he speaks again "How ye doing today Miss Bea?" pulls it off as a casual question but he does worry about her.

Beatrix's smile is brittle but no less genuine for that. "I would tell less than the truth to say I were unwell, Novice-- Gramercy. The abbey is, as ever, a most accommodating place. And does this sunlit day find you and the good Ambassador well, I hope?" She glances up the stairs towards the high light shining into the Great Hall though the windows, squinting a bit at the glare. It's no wonder she decided to come downstairs where the room is a trifle less bright.

Lark bounces in her seat a little. "I'm great!" Then she tries to calm down, attempting to return to her more dignified expression a moment before. "Is there anything my cook can get you, Lady Bea?" she waves at the kitchen door, where Clover idly waves back, deep in discussion with a novice of the Order.

Lucas taps the pile of work sat on the table next to him, complete with jug of cordial on top to keep it still "Kept busy but other than that well as ever.." if he was going to say anything else then Lark's words distract him and he raises a brow to the young squirrel "/your/ cook?" he says questioningly, a puzzled glance going to Clover.

Beatrix's expression warms a little more and she shakes her head at the offer. "Nay, it is a trifle early for me to dine, little one. I should take breakfast in a few hours, perhaps." Her tiny form turns to regard Lucas' reaction with some amusement, instantly zeroing in on the joke Lark is making... "Of course, good novice," she cheeps, arching one eyebrow in perfect counterpoint to his own quizzical expression. "You would expect the abbey's own embassy to have less then the service her station warrants? Cook, handmaiden, seneschal? Though..." she adds, her sly gaze turning to Lark, "there is little in the exchequer to furnish a proper steward or scullion, I do fear. I hope your grace can manage her household without them this season."

"Of course I can," Lark tells Bea, then looks at Lucas. "My cook. See, watch. Clover!" she calls, loudly enough to reach the mouselady. Clover nods to the novice she was speaking with, then bustles over to Lark. "Yes, dear? What can I do for you?" Lark grins at Lucas, then turns her attention to Clover. "Is there any cider, Clover? I'd like some warm. Please," she adds belatedly. The mouselady returns the grin, then ruffles Lark's headfur, ruining her regal pose. "Sure, love. I'll be right back."

Lucas turns a smirk on the bat "Well I don't know, for some reason we never had any ambassadors visit our little /shack in the woods/ when I was growing up. I actually had to go find out what one was after yesterday evening" he looks back up when Clover appears, a slightly bemused look appearing and he offers her a slight nod, another smirk to the fur ruffling "I can see she's clearly at your beck and call Lark"

Beatrix gently accepts Lucas' mild sarcasm with a sphinxlike smile; inscrutable. The bat primly folds her wings into her lap, watching the lunchtime bustle.

Having lost her pose anyway, Lark just sticks her tongue out at Lucas. "She'll do anything I ask." Then she sighs, admitting, "She kinda thought I was dead until she saw me yesterday. So she's been waiting on me, paw and footpaw."

Lucas switches to a rather confused look, tilting his head down at the squirrel "Why did she think you were dead?"

Beatrix tilts her head at this interesting bit of personal information, but deigns not to interrupt either the novice's question or the forthcoming answer...

Lark fidgets in her chair, looking down at her plate. "Um... a snowstorm knocked down our tree, with us in it. Mama had sent me outside for fooling around, so I got thrown free. Mama and Luke didn't. I buried them, but Clover thought I was there too, since I'd left."

Lucas's ears sink down and he just sort of stares for a moment "Oh..sorry Lark, didn't know" wishes he hadn't asked now.

Beatrix pales a tiny bit at the story, and close observation would reveal her wingtips clutched rather tightly together in her lap, not-quite trembling from the tension. "You have my condolences for your loss, little one. May your kin rest honorably among their ancestors." She bows her head slightly, eyes downcast and voice a slender hum.

Lark shrugs one shoulder, keeping her eyes fixed on her plate rather than look up and risk seeing Lucas' face, but does look towards Beatrix, eyes lowered, and nods. "Thanks, Lady Bea," she murmurs. "It was a month ago. Clover's all the family I got now. And her children... and I guess Redwall, now, too."

Lucas takes a little bread from his plate to nibble on quietly, if just so he doesn't look like such a muffin just sitting there "...Least you still got beasts like Clover..us abbey folks too"

Beatrix's head is still down, but her voice clearly modulated to carry to the dibbun. "The good novice speaks the truth, I do think. There are many in the abbey who have found in these walls a home, after losing all else."

Lark noddles, perking up somewhat when she catches a winter apple thrown at her from the other side of the table. "Quit throwin' things, we'll get in trouble!" she hisses... after bonking him with the apple. "S'okay, Lucas, Redwall's my home now. Even if Clover only stays for the winter like usual, I've got nice beasts around. Like you two," she concludes, looking at the pair.

Lucas smiles faintly, cheering up a bit again "Guess we've all got some sort of family here there. Might not be the original one or..even of anything near the same species but at least it's family...even when it is pelting apples at beasts" amused yet accusing look going to Lark.

Beatrix's eyes lift to meet the squirrel's, with more than a trace of gratitude in them. "Gramercy. Your words are most kind." The smile creeps out of hiding and quirks at the sides of her muzzle. "But I should expect no less from m'lady ambassador, of course." The bat rises from her chair and drifts over to the table, having to flutter up onto a vacant chair to see over the surface. Most of the abbey fare is not to her... particular tastes... though she is rather fond of sweets. A shallow dish of molded candied chestnut paste, looking rather like a large sunflower-- with holes where others have taken servings-- catches her eye and tickles at her senses. The bat delicately serves herself a smidgen, her table manners even now faultless. If one overlooks her having to stand on a chair, that is.

Lark shrinks in her chair, grinning guiltily in response to Lucas before turning to Bea. "You're the lady, not me," she points out. "I can't even curtsey right." Her eyes follow Bea's wing to her chosen fare and then widen. She elbows Lucas gently, pointing. "Can you get me some of that?" she breathes. "It looks awesome." It's at this point that Clover reappears with a ceramic pitcher that's steaming slightly. She sets it between Lucas and Lark, moving down the table to grab mugs and bring them to her chosen dibbun, pouring cider for Lark with a wink. "Be careful not to burn yourself. That's right off the stove, it is."

Lucas looks first to Lark then to Bea's meal at the question, whiskers giving a twitch as it does indeed look very nice "Hmm, well, I'm sure it's not the only bowl of it around the table" he says before he stands to scan the food cause of course he's not going to take Bea's plate.

Beatrix hops down from the chair, somehow even making that sort of movement dignified, and takes her plate back towards the side chair where she can eat with a bit more decorum. As she sets the sweet down, she turns to regard the squirrel. "We are all ladies, little one. It is not the station of life, nor her lineage, that makes a lady. It is her conduct, and her own internal grace. The trifles of manners and posture are easily taught-- but they do not a lady make."

Lark considers this, then winces when she's bonked by a chestnut from her dibbun friend across the table. "I guess I need to work on the conduct part," she suggests in Bea's direction, choosing to eat the chestnut instead of throwing it back this time. "I guess ladies don't take part in snowfights?"

Lucas looks down to find there's the dish right under his nose..well, not literally. He scoops out some into a smaller bowl to place it in front of Lark "I'd not be surprised if Lady Bea could teach that sort of thing...though the lack of snowfights sounds a shame"

Dante makes his entrance now, coming down the stairs from the Great Hall. His steps are calm and measured as he gazes around at the beasts gathered before heading towards the food nearest him - some sort of scone. He has one on a plate quickly, and looks around for a seat. Or, perhaps, a familiar face. There's one! That dratted squirrel, the one who can't seem to stop messing around. She's with a couple other beasts, looking like she's having some kind of conversation beyond the normal...craziness. What a delightful change. The young fox walks towards Lark (and all the rest of the dibbuns) a brow quirking as he notes that she is, indeed, talking to the lady bat. Very interesting, indeed.

Beatrix nibbles daintily at her fork, letting the confection melt within her mouth before replying. "Nothing which a lady should -choose- to do of her own free will can be beneath her, little one. Pride and self-respect are her core. Yet," she adds with a bit of a mischievous glint in her dark eyes, "none would fault the duty of a lady to protect her own honor in such an altercation, I warrant?"

Lark sighs, then brightens as she's given the sweet. "Thanks, Lucas..." Then Beatrix is given her full attention, after sneering prettily at Dante. "You're very smart, Lady Bea," she tells the bat, bowing partially to her (as much as can be managed while seated). "It is... um... /expected/ of me, to... um... entertain the community..."

Lucas chuckles at Lark's words "Oh dear, there's two, I'm going to have to start carrying a dictionary around" not that he can't understand Bea most of the time anyway, but for the purposes of a joke. A quick nod goes to the new fox on the scene "Good day"

Dante doesn't even respond to Lark's look. Of course he's grinning on the inside, since he obviously just won. Right? Oh, shoot. He's about to take a seat a few spots away from her when some hedgehog he's never seen before shoots in and plunks himself down. Lovely. Dante puts his plate next to Lark and coughs uncomfortably before taking a seat. Oh geez. He sits quietly, for now. Aaawkwaaard.

Beatrix acknowledges the vulpine with a gentle dip of her head and upper body. She continues to work her way through the serving of dessert, savoring the morsel. And privately trying to decide if it's worth going into the cellar later to hunt for crickets and black beetles among the abbey provisions. Winter is hard on an insectivore. "You are a most generous judge of wit, I do think, Maid Lark. You have my thanks, nonetheless."

Lark is busy with her own helping of dessert, which disappears rather more rapidly than Bea's. "You're welcome, Lady Bea," she says between mouthfuls. She eyes Dante sidelong, careful he doesn't see her. Finally she acknowledges him with the quipped, "Got the snow outta your fur, finally?"

Lucas smirks faintly "Not one of your friends who was trapped into gatehouse cleaning duty as well is it Lark?...Maybe I should be sat further away" out of firing range.

At this moment Clover reappears, coming over to Lark and clapping a paw down on her shoulder. "You miss, will be helping me make dinner. I've gotten you out of gatehouse cleaning," she adds when Lark opens her mouth, "But the four of you will report to the kitchens instead. I need help with the fish for tonight."

Beatrix elegantly arches a brow as she finishes the dessert, setting the plate to the side and steepling her wingtips. She watches as the wily Clover catches her natural prey, the naughty dibbun.

Lark waits until Clover leaves before groaning, a response echoed by her friend across the table, who whines, "I *hate* cooking!" Lark nods, sighing, "I can't cook..." Then she grins. "But Clover'll give us cookies when we help, not like cleaning." This prospect seems to aid her friend in cheering up. "Maybe after we make the fish, she'll let us make maple sugar candy. She used to let me do that back at home."

Lucas appears faintly surprised but slowly sinks into a smirk "Looks like you got off easy there..so not fair of course. I don't get cookies for kitchen duty"

Beatrix carefully sets her plate back among the others on the table, before curtsying a farewell to the kitchen-bound squirrel. "I should take my leave, then. Adieu, little one-- may your evening be bright. Novice Lucas, I shall see you anon. Good eve to you both." She sashays to the bottom of the stairs into the hall above, then spreads her wings and flutters up the stairwell like a dusky butterfly.

Lark laughs, then grins after nodding to Bea. "Clover's in the kitchen now, though, Lucas. If you ask, she *never* says no. Never. Trust me, I've had plenty of time to test it."

Lucas nods a farewell to the bat before his ears perk a little and he looks to the kitchen "Reeeally...shall have to try that next time..though, right now I suppose I have a small mountain to work to" of course talking about his little pile of parchments. He sighs faintly and stands up to pick up the lot "To the library!..Try not to break the kitchen too much!" he calls back as he heads back to great hall.

• Verminous woodworms apparently infest the Cavern Hole tables.
• Drama is life, though too much is death.
• Lucas is a raisin muffin, which Beatrix nibbled on.
• Dante carries around a plushie of one of Lark's old characters, whom he MAY have been in love with - because he saw her mocking someone in RP on the dirt road. This 'scares' Lark, of course.
• In the long-RP contest, Beatrix wins with a twelve-hour estimate.
• Reogan appeared, new to the MUCK, and we had a brief interchange welcoming him.

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