Characters involved:
Rahier
Matt
Maria

Salamandastron: Niche
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You are next to a niche in the side of the mountain, which blocks out
everything to the west with its immense rocky bulk. Just barely visible
is a small fissure in the rock, through which it looks like you could
'enter' the mountain.
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Visible Exits:
[A]way from [M]ountain [Enter] the Mountain
Contents:
A messily scrawled (Poem) is carved into the mountainside.

Rahier exits the small fissure in the mammoth hunk of rock that is Salamandastron, stepping into the small niche alcove. Boots sinking softly into the sand, the white healer stretches, nose twitching in the cold, wintry air. Brr. But it sure is good to get outside, occasionally. That small bout of stretching completed, he idles out to the edge of the niche, looking to the shore.

A young hare makes his way down slowly on the beach, towards that giant hunk of rock that sticks out of the sand.. He's a little nervous at first, but slowly ventures closer, towards the entrance of the mountain.. His quarterstaff isn't being put to much use, considering that he's walking on sand.

Rahier ambles a little farther from the relative safety the niche provides, making him rather clearly visible to the other, yet-unseen hare; as Rahier is quite... white, and it radiates in the moonlight. ;p The healer's breath mists somewhat in the wintry cold, and his paws seek warm refuge in his pockets. The buck merely stands, looking to the water in silent contemplation.

Matt moves his gaze over to the other Hare. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "You.. hare.." he says, slowly moving closer, "Is this place Salamandastron..?" he asks slowly, perhaps a little cautiously.

Rahier reflexively straightens as he is queried, paw dropping to the hilt of his weapon. After all, it is still rather dangerous to be on the beach. The healer turns, and peers at Matt. Ah, a hare. He relaxes somewhat, paw falling back away to his side. "...'Course 'tis." He gives the other, unfamiliar hare a closer look, one of obvious scrutiny. "Who might y'be?"

Matt steps back a few paces as he sees rahiers paw moving to his weapon. He swallows and also relaxes as his paw goes away from it, "Matt.." he says hesitantly, "Matt Longeyes.."

This prompts a browraise and a few slow blinks from the healer. "Longeyes, y'say?" Rahier mulls over this, staring more through the younger hare, than at him. Interesting. The buck waves that dismissive paw, eyes refocusing on Matt. "Anyway. What're y'doin' out 'ere? Don't rightly recognize yeh." The paw returns to its pocket. "S'gettin' bloody cold. An' there's all kindsa corsairs about."

Matt nods his head slightly, "I ran into a few Crosairs already.." he says, glancing around, "And I'm not from here.." He nervously starts to crack the knuckles in one paw.

The brow remains firmly peaked skyward. "...Really." Facial features ever on the move, Rahier's brows knit together, and the visual examination begins anew. "Y'a'right? Wanna, err..." A small nod towards the dark mountain, "Head inside, then?"

Matt takes a deep breath, glancing once more at the mountain. He nods his head slightly, "Ok.. Um.. " he says, looking like he's going to ask a question. He just sighs, nodding his head again, "Alright" he says quietly.

Rahier nods again, remaining standing in his spot. "Well, ah..." His eyes turn back towards the looming hulk of rock, then to Matt. "Let's go, then." And with that, he turns smartly on his heel, and walks back towards the niche, the sand crunching audibly beneath his boots. Aiming to enter the mountain, with Matt presumably following.

Matt does follow, rather nervously at that. He sighs softly, just holding his silence.

Salamandastron: Level 1
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You have come to a large intersection of paths. Passages lead off in
every direction, turning and spiraling off into the distance. There is a
clearing of sorts where they all meet, a circular 'room' which gives space
for traffic to pass smoothly in all directions.
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Visible Exits:
[Up] to the Second Level [Down] to the Caverns
[O]ut Along [P]assageway [D]ining [C]hamber
[K]itchens [S]tore [R]oom
[S]econdary [I]nfirmary [F]estival [H]all
[M]ain [H]all

Entering from the passageway, presumably leading.. is Rahier. The healer pauses in the center of the torchlit intersection, turning around to face the approaching Matt. Once reasonably close, he waves an encompassing paw at all the various doors and passageways. "Well. This is.. Salamandastron." A look sideways. "Any.. questions?" ;p

Matt glances about the inside of the mountain, "Yes, actually... um.. Do you know someone by the name of Maria Longeyes..?" he asks quietly, looking up at Rahier only half expecting an answer.

Rahier had already begun to reply with the usual, 'This passageway is the dining chamber' spiel, but this mostly unexpected question causes him to pause, mouth still slightly agape. "Uh." The healer blinks, squinting at the younger hare. "...Yes. I do. She lives 'ere."

The young hare's jaw just drops in astonishment, and he just stares at Rahier, "w-where?!" he asks quickly, pulling himself together after a short moment.

There goes that browraise again. The healer seems to be at an equal, though more hesitant lack of words. "...Erm. In th'library, I'd guess. Or in her dorm, may'aps." Rahier tilts his head. "Y'said y'name was Longeyes? You a relation?"

Matt nods his head rather quickly, "I'm her brother" he says, rather fast, looking around, presumably for the library or her dorm.
"Her...brother?" Rahier seems to be thinking back, to something, expression mildly troubled. The other hare's frantic searching goes unheeded, as the healer ponders. Interesting. It's now, that he notes Matt's looking around. "Guess we could go an' find 'er... library's up a level. Follow me." And so, he walks to the stairway, gesturing to follow.

Matt doesn't need a second bidding. He takes a deep breath.. finally.. he will get to see his sister again. He closes his eyes for a minute, and opens them as they head up.

Salamandastron: Library
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Here lies the collective efforts of a few good, intellectual hares of the mountain. Over the seasons, this room, which was once little more than a storage room, has been converted into a quite functional library, filled with books of all sorts. The room is staggered with bookshelves, all crafted within the mountain, which reach very nearly to the ceiling, with only a foot or two of space above them, in most instances. And, surprisingly, the shelves are basically all full. Apparently, over the seasons, hares have donated books, and books that were previously stored elsewhere have been brought here.
Some books are older than any of the hares alive in the mountain, and, even more, some are nearly as old as the mountain, itself. These sort are usually journals and records - histories of the mountain. In fact, there is an entire section of this, in a corner of the room, which one can only get to by making their way through the maze of bookshelves to that corner, which is quite like a room in and of itself, closed in by walls on two sides and bookshelves on the two others. However, in the center of the main room, there are two tables set, and upon these books like, some open and some closed, despite the efforts of the librarian hare to keep them on the shelves.
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Visible Exits:
[Back] to Second Level Intersection [C]orner of Library
[R]ecords [R]oom [C]rafts [R]oom

Standing next to a shelf of her own strength, Maria is putting another stack of books in their places. The librarian decided to see how well she could do with out her crutch today and appears to be doing fine. Sliding the last book of her pile into the shelf she turns around and moves over towards her table with books pile up and picks up a few reading the titles before slowly moving back to the shelf with only a slight limp.

Rahier steps through the library door, paws ever in his pockets. The healer's face has a dubious expression stamped all over it, and he pauses a bit from the door. "Ah... Maria?" Says the buck, announcing his presence to the doe. "Y'got.. er.. a visitor," said with a hesitantly bemused tone, he steps aside, waving behind him with a white paw.

Matt steps out from behind him, and he takes a few hesitant steps foreward.. "Is it really you..?" is the only thing he says, half sounding like he's in disbelief.

Maria turns around as she is addressed by Rahier, "Oh.." she says setting the books on the nearly empty shelf. She folds her paws in front of her and tilts her head nodding to him, "And who might that be?" She blinks perking her ears up as the unfamiliar hare steps forth, "Well, it all depends on who you think I am?" she says with a smile.

The young hare just watches her quietly for a moment, "I think.. your my sister.." he says quietly, almost sounding unsure of himself as the words finally come out of his mouth.

Rahier looks between the two hares from where he stands, slightly to the side, gaze questioning. "Says he's..." Then Matt speaks. Yeah. The healer shrugs, ambling over to stand somewhat closer to the librarian. Well, from what he remembers, the librarian didn't have any family. So he just stands, quiet.

Maria blinks a few times and looks at Rahier for a few moments then back to the younger hare, "Are you sure?" she asks softly, taking a few steps closer, "I am not aware of having a brother, in fact, I do not have any siblings." she looks down and says "I do not even have a mother or a father any more."

Matt takes a deep breath, trying not to talk too fast, "Who i thought was my mom, told me she was actually my Aunt when she was about to die, she told me taht she raised me fro ma baby, and acted like my mother.. she also told me that i had a sister named Maria Longeyes, who i was seperated from and wouldn't remember" he says, swallowing and watching her nervously, "you've gotta be.."

Rahier looks plainly doubtful. Especially when Maria voices his previous thoughts. "Yeh, or y'could jus' be some wanderin' grifter who picked up her name along th'way." The healer crosses his arms over his chest, eyeing Matt. Of course, he doesn't discount the fact that the two look somewhat similar. But that could just be convenience. "Y'got anythin' by th'way of proof?"

Matt looks over at Rahier, "How could i have proof? What am i supposta do? Bring my aunt rose with me?" he asks, looking pleadingly back to Maria, "Please, your the only family i've got left.."

Maria looks at Rahier and frowns looking back at Matt, "I am Maria Longeyes, and there is some thing about you that is unsettling..." she blinks as she is cut off, tilting her head again, her ears laying back against her head, "Who?" she asks looking towards Rahier again, a disconcerting look in her eyes.

Matt swallows, "my aunt rose.. the one that raised me, the one i thought was my mother.." he says quietly, feeling he is fighting a losing battle at this point, He sighs, his head tilting towards the ground slightly, "You don't believe me..do you..?" he asks, slowly looking up again, trying to blink away a few tears.

Rahier has voiced his opinion thus far on the matter, and his gaze flicks to meet Maria's. He gives nothing by reply except for a small shrug; she'd be a better judge of family than he would. The healer's silent gaze falls back to Matt.

Maria looks up at the 'brother' for a few more moments and shakes her head giving a shrug, "I do not know." she gets a small shiver and folds her arms, "Did aunt rose tell you any thing else?" she asks looking back at Rahier, as if to say come here.

Matt nods his head slightly, "She told me my mother is named Leena, and my father Jaren.." he says quietly, just looking at the ground. He sighs softly, closing his eyes and sitting hard on the ground.

Rahier also catches -that- look. And the shiver. ;p So shuffle closer to Maria his does, slipping an arm around her. "'Bout how old're you?" He asks, of Matt. Obviously, still running a corollary between what he's trying to remember of that distant conversation.. before looking to Maria. "S'that true? Their names?"

"I'm 7 and a half seasons" MAtthew says to Rahier, still just looking at the floor, a few tears coming from his eyes. He wipes a paw accross his face, taking a deep breath.

Maria gets a little week at the knees good of Rahier to put his arm around her. She does not fall but looks back at Rahier again, "My mother was Leena, and Jaren was my fathers name, I do not tell beasts that." she says quietly, looking back to Matt, "How do you know my mothers name?..." she asks softly putting her arm around Rahier as well, protective feeling yay.

Matt wipes the back of his paw over his eyes again, sniffing softly, "Because.. I'm your brother..." he says quietly, a few more tears coming to his eyes, which he brushes away again, just looking down at the ground.

Even he wasn't told that. ;p Rahier nods slightly, looking to Matt. "So. Guess.. y'are who y'say y'are." Hmph. Somewhat begrudging. His arm remains wrapped around Maria's waist, and he looks between them. "In that case.. what's this mean?" Another look to Matt. Pet peeve! "An'.. you, stop snifflin' like that."

Matt looks up at rahier with a soft snort, "What would you do if all you had left was a sister, and she didn't even believe you were her brother?" he asks, in somewhat of an angry voice as he wipes his facee. "And thats after you find out you've been lied to your whole life."

The librarian puts her other arm around the healer as all the pieces come together and start to sink in, her eyes well up and she shakes her head, "I... I do not know." she takes a deep breath holding back her tears, "I.. it cant be, but how could it not... I.. do not even know your name.."

Rahier blinks. "Well, I wouldn't be presentin' my case from th'bloody floor. An' get all broken up at some initial, likely, an' not at all unwarranted resistance." Huff. Though, Maria again grabs his attention, and the paw rises to rub at her back.. but he remains mostly looking to Matt.

Matt sniffs once or twice, "Matthew, Matthew Longeyes.." he says quietly, just staring at the dirt floor between his legs, almost completely ignoring Rahier for the moment.

Maria repeats the name quietly, "Matthew." she closes her eyes and steps away from Rahier, blinking, looking into his eyes for a moment before turning towards the younger brother, "It is nice to finally meet you Matthew." She walks forwards, limping slightly as she does.

Matt looks up to Maria, "Aunt Rose said she loves you 'n'hopes your life is goin good, and she also said she wishes she could have seen you once more.." he says, closing his eyes again, looking to the ground.

Rahier sticks his paws back in his pockets as Maria moves away, mostly just alternating his silent glance between them. "Well," he ventures, "It ain't all bad that y'aunt told y'so late. If you'd been here nary a season earlier, y'woulda missed 'er." The healer nods towards Maria, before shrugging and lapsing back into silence. ;p

Maria stops close to the younger hare and nods "She was a good beast." The librarian reaches her arms towards Matt and goes to give him a hug, "I have a brother." she says softly closing her eyes.

Matt smiles a bit up at her, "'n I've got a sister" he says, returning the hug.

Isn't that cute. Rahier just remains typically silent, and increasingly aloof. Erg, this is one of those intruding moments. Where he sticks out like a sore thumb. And he hates those.

The librarian continues to hold her arms around her younger brother, "Matthew Longeyes, my brother." she smiles and pulls away slightly, looking into his eyes, "So, we have so much to talk about."

Matt sniffs a little, nodding his head slightly, "I wanna know about mom and dad.." he says, looking at her almost expectantly.

Rahier blinks, looking between the two siblings. Well. Best not to interrupt. So, the healer gives a small glance to the side, and steps back a tiny bit- so that he can lean against the middle table. A more comfortable, out of the way position. ;p Resuming his silent watching, and folding his arms again across his chest.

Maria smiles and moves leading him to a table close to Rahier, pulling out a chair, "Here lets sit down." she smiles and looks around "Well, Mother and Father, I will tell you what I remember, did aunt rose tell you what happened?" she asks waiting for him to sit.

Matt takes a seat at the table, shaking his head slightly, "I only got to talk to her for a few minutes.." he says, a frown touching to his face,"when she was telling me the truth, anyway.."

Oh. Now they're behind him. ;p Rahier blinks yet again, and turns to look to the two sitting hares. If they're sitting, so is he. The healer elects to take a seat next to the librarian, sticking his paws into his pockets. Still silent, yet, he's apparently taken to peering quite intently at Matt, quirking a brow or an ear, every so often.

Maria looks over to Rahier and gives him the hold my paw look, as she reaches her paw out to him, below the table, "Well..." The librarian looks towards Matt and sighs, "They died, a long time ago, I imagine that is why you were with aunt rose for so long." she shakes her head and looks down, "They were punished for something, I do not know what but they used my life as their punishment."

Rahier squints, muzzle adopting a small frown of distaste as he's snorted at. Hmph. The healer looks toward Maria and.. oh. Paw, yes. His own white paw again rises from the depths of the pocket, to take hers, giving a reassuring squeeze. Ever on the move, his eyes flick to Matt at his question.. then back to Maria. Still silent, listening.

Maria swallows, slowly, remaining silent for a few moments before closing her eyes, "They were to die knowing how what they did would for ever cause pain to me." she opens her eyes a tear rolling down her cheek as she removes her glasses, "Mother was tortured till... till the end." she closes her eyes again and says "they killed mother infront of both me and my.. our father."

Matt closes his eyes and sniffs, crossing his paws on the table and laying his head down on them.

Rahier gives her paw another squeeze, his other paw rising to rest on the table. The healer's brows knit. Figuring he'll interject with something of a question of his own. "Y'were like, three seasons, righ'?" He questions, of Maria, obviously thinking back. Head turns to Matt. "That'd mean y'were nary a kit, like y'said. But.. how'd y'end up at y'aunt's?"

Matt just stays quiet, giving his shoulders a slight shrug after a few moments, letting out a sniff here and there.

Maria sniffs and looks up at Rahier slowly, "nearly six seasons." she says quietly, looking towards her younger brother, "I can not speak what completely happened to father, though I was forced to watch all of it." she shakes her head, "I can not forgive vermin for what they did to our parents."

Matt just stays quiet, aside for the few obvious snifs, tears flow silently from his eyes and he doesn't move at all.

Rahier blinks, giving Maria a sidelong glance. One ear tips forward. Oops. "...Oh." That's somewhat embarrassing. ;p The healer again looks to Matt, head tilting slightly to the side. "Small consolation, I s'pose, but at least y'two are t'gether again, righ'? Family?" A look between them. "I mean, y'might never've found each other. But.. here y'are. In th'mountain."

Maria nods slowly, leaning over from her chair towards Rahier, "Yes we should be thankful you found me." she forces a smile, "I am glad you did, we can be together now, like a family should be."

Matt sits up, rubbing the back of his paw across his tearstained eyes, "its not a family without mom and dad.." he says, turning away from the both of them and burrying his head in his hands, still crying soundlessly.

Rahier frowns, turning a distinctively questioning gaze to Maria. Hmm. "Ah, sure 'tis. Y'got y'sister here, an' she's got charge o' th'biggest library in th'bloomin' world." Gaze turns back to Matt. Again. "An' you don't appear t'have done too shabby y'self, either."

Maria looks down slowly, squeezing Rahier's paw gently, "Matthew..." she says softly, closing her eyes not bothering to wipe the tears from her eyes, "I am sorry, I could not do any thing but watch them suffer." she seems to be having trouble breathing probably from how emotional the moment is, "My memories of mother and father are too clouded by their last moments, I am sorry I can not tell you more about them..."

Matt sits up, somewhat angry at this point, but tears continue to roll down his cheeks, "At least you saw them! Even if they were being killed! At least you have one memory! I never knew them! I've been living my /whole/ life thinking that my aunt was my bloody mother! I don't have /anything/!" he says, dropping his head down on the table with a thud, crying harder than he was before.

Eek! Rahier visibly shrinks in his chair at the outburst, even if it wasn't necessarily directed at him. The bawling Matt is given one last, morbidly laden glance, before all the overbearing disappears- replaced by a piteous expression, and one of nervousness. "...P'raps instead of lamentin' th'things that're lost, y'should be thankful for what you do have..." Erg. ;p

It would be wrong of her to tell him that her whole life she would have given any thing to be able to forget the one memory she can keep. The memory coming quite clearly in her mind, watching her mother and father killed before her. She remains silent but turns her head into Rahier, crying softly.

Matt just keeps crying,rubbing the back of his paw accross his eyes, "I've got a sister.." he says between sobs, "No mother, no father.. no chance of ever seeing them again.. I don't have anything" he rubs his eyes hard, suddenly getting up and just running towards the door and out into the mountain, headed for where he came in.