07:29 PM

Sitting with legs tucked into each other and staff resting in his lap, Keiran is doing some light reading outdoors this early afternoon. Flipping through the pages of a small volume in his paws, the hare takes the time to enjoy the nice weather spring has brought the beasts in Mossflower, looking around and up towards the trees as they sway in the gentle breeze. Heaving a happy sigh and carrying a content smile, he goes back to reading.

Up and about, Jarril is taking a walk outside to grab some fresh air and peace before being called up for something again with the recruits or any other hare within the patrol.  He doesn't notice the other hare yet however.

Keiran turns the page in his book again, looking up towards the sky, squinting against the sun, but reaching both paws in the air, book in one of them, stretching and giving a long yawn sound. Done with this, the Brother begins to hum to himself, flipping glancing over the pages before him.

Twisting his head around, Jarril's ear the one opposite to where his eye had been removed a few seasons ago has caught the sound of another yawn followed by humming.  Moving his paws behind his back, the buck walks slowly in the general direction.

Keiran continues to hum, until attentive ears catch the sound of somebeast walking behind him. Turning slowly around and laying the book in his lap, he gives the default smile and cheery wave to the Major. "'ello, g'd aft'noon! Y'd be Major Jarril, righ'?"

Jarril nods his head slowly back to the other hare.  "Aye, and may I enquire who ya are?"  The hare not having seen all residents within the abbey as of yet.

Folding the book in his lap shut, bookmark in place, the Brother turns where he sits, still cross-legged. "M'name's Brother Keiran Fletchpaw. Y'c'n call me Keiran, Brother, Brother Keiran... Really, call m'anythin' 'cept late f'dinner." He gives a winking grin to Jarril, shoulders bouncing in a quiet chuckle.

Jarril gives a grin back.  "So what made ya choose ta be a brother then?  Can't say I saw ya here the times I was about."  The hare scratches his head in thought for a moment.  "Nope, can't remember any brother hares about nine or ten seasons ago."

"Oh, I was 'ere. Heh, s'how I r'member /you,/ anyway." Keiran shrugs to himself. "Wasn' a brother back then, jus' a novice, when y'came t'help fix our wall." The habit-clad hare picks up the book and staff and lifts himself slowly to his footpaws. "Wha' made me choose t'be a brother? Well, s'kinda a sense o'purpose, I guess. No better way t'give back t'th'abbey than t'serve it f'life, I think."

Jarril shakes his head.  "No, I was here long ago before I even joined the patrol, was only about 7 seasons of age back then, stayed for a short time though before headed off ta arrive two seasons later, wasn't in any rush, doncha know."  Nodding his head to the other reply he smiles.  "Ah, at least that's an honourable way of seeing it, wot."

Keiran nods. "Well, I try t'keep my 'ead up 'bout it. Nothin' t'complain 'bout, really; th'abbey treats m'nice. 'cept f'a couple o'mis'aps 'ere an' there, but y'll 'ave tha' outside th'abbey, too, heh." Leaning into his staff, the Brother grins. "Seems like f're'er ago since th'Patrol las' visited."

Jarril nods his head.  "Aye, we've had a few problems over the seasons that have kept us from patrolling ta far away.  But it seemed that ya Sister Sunrose and my Colonel Zoe were keeping contact hence this young'un swap on training.  At least it's on better terms though on this visit nothing bad happening for once here."  The major grins.  "Though I hope us being here won't tarnish that good luck ya been having lately."

"Haha! I 'ope not. Though I doubt't. Th'recruits y'brought us 'aven't been bad at all-- A'ready got one o'em 'elpin' me copy manuscripts 'n th'library." Keiran smiles wide. "By th'way, thanks f'bringin' alon' th'texts from y'library-- S'a slow process, rebuildin' th'Abbey's collection."

Jarril nods.  "Happy ta oblige, best ta have another copy elsewhere just in case.  I mean, the abbey helped us out seasons ago after we lost the mountain for a while.  Glad that our library is back ta where it nearly was, though we did lose some information however on the early days."  The hare shakes his head on that one.

"Yeh, I've read 'bout all tha'. S'a good thin' th'Abbey an' Salamandastron 'ave kept frien's o'er the seasons, d'spite th'thin's that 'appened las' time y'came." Keiran leans into his staff again, and sits down, inviting the major to join him. "Th'Abbey prob'ly wouldn' be wha' 'tis t'day without th'help o'friends, an' m'sure Redwall's always been grateful."

Jarril happily sits down on the grass and nods his head.  "Well, we know ya help out if we were in trouble and have done in the past."  He looks about the place.  "Though we are mightily impressed on how well ya done this place up after the wall went up."

"Well, it 'asn't been easy." Keiran drums his paws across his staff as it rests in his lap again. "S'a lot o'work, an' again, a lot o'help from frien's-- we jus' got r'placement windows with th'help o'th'otters o'Camp Willow. I'd like t'start construction on th'bell tower soon, but 't seems t'be jus' a large operation. It'd definitely take a lon', lon' time t'do."

Jarril nods.  "Well, best ta get squirrels for that, they like ta be high up and all."  The hare takes a look at the building and back again.  "I'd rather keep my footpaws on the ground if I can help it."

"Oho!" Keiran laughs at this, nodding furiously in agreement. "Couldn' 'magine bein' up 'igh like tha'. Makes m'wonder 'ow it got t'be tha' big 'n th'firs' place." He goes contemplative, turning his head to look at where he imagines the Bell Tower once stood. "Musta been a wond'ful sight..."

Jarril nods.  "Aye it was that wot."  The major smiles.  "Managed ta see this place before the quake or whatever the bally 'ell they called it.  At least I managed ta see Mossflower and the Abbey as it was written before everything changed.  Surely there are some drawings of it about still or the original plans somewhere?"

The Brother raises the book he'd been reading. "I've been lookin' through wha' we 'ave b'tween copyin' sessions. I c'n fin' all kinds o'descriptions, but no plans, 'r anythin'. Can' give up, though. Ne'er saw th'place b'fore th'earthquake, but m'sure th'abbey jus' isn' th'same without 't."

Jarril nods.  "Ya could say that, ya don't really have an early warning system for anyone out in the woods in case trouble does come.  My plan would be ta build a temporary one while the main one is being built again."  He shakes his head.  "But that is up for ya ta decide and all, it's ya abbey."

Keiran takes a big breath, and looks thoughtfully towards the direction of where the bell tower should be again. "Maybe a temp'rary one, but on'y if 't wouldn' delay th'real one a great deal o'time. Bes' take advantage o'th'fair 'mount o'peace while we can an' get all we c'n get done finished."

Jarril nods his head.  "Well, that's what peace is for, making plans for when it does go away."  He stops himself and coughs.  "Sorry, my apologies, I am always thinking of the worse ta happen...  Mainly as it's my job though I'll just kick it away if it does come though."  Changing the subject.  "So which recruit has been helping ya?"

"No, no problem at all, Major Jarril. S'nature o'a lot o'beasts, e'en m'own brother, as y'prob'ly know." Keiran chuckles, shaking his head reflectively. "Oh, th'recruit tha's been 'elpin' me... Nice young doe named Flaxpaw, very well-mannered, an' e'erythin'!"

Jarril coughs slightly on the name.  "I hope she hasn't been ta much trouble, been hearing she's been mentioning me a lot."

"...Really, she 'asn' been any trouble at all, heh." Keiran grins at the major. "She 'asn' e'en mentioned y'once. T'me, anyway." The Brother scratches behind his ear, smirking away. "Wha', what'm I s'posed t'hear 'er say 'bout ya? Nothin' bad, I 'ope?" he jokes.

Jarril shakes his head.  "Oh no, nothing like that, I don't think anyways, well I hope not."  Oh dear, the major is flustered slightly but it's cleared away with a slight cough.  "I've not actually heard what she has been saying, just that she has been mentioning me from time ta time."

"Ha, m'sure she 'asn' been sayin' anythin' negative 'bout ya," Keiran waves his paw as he says this, grinning and chuckling merrily. "Y'seem a li'l worried 'bout it, though, heh. I'll let y'know wha' she's sayin' 'f sh'ever mentions ya, but m'not one f'gossip."

Nodding his head, Jarril replies.  "Quite right as well, spot on even, wot.  I won't ask again."

"Sure thin'. So, will y'be stayin' with us while th'recruits are 'ere, or are y'goin' back, too?" Keiran asks, looking over to Jarril with curiosity.

Jarril doesn't reply back at first but thinks.  As he does so, his facial features does give off a frown for a moment before it goes.  "I haven't a clue, there was someone else going ta teach the recruits while I was away from the mountain but apparantely something happened that put that idea out.  I may have ta go back, not managed ta catch the colonel yet in discussing such matters though."

Quinten comes walking into sight from the direction of the orchards, he has a hoe resting on one shoulder and a basket in his other hand filled with small twists of paper. He nods to keiran and waves a paw in salute to Jarril "Major, Brother"

"Ah, tha's unfortunate. Well, I 'ope y'c'n stay, 'r at leas' tha' wha'e'er's keepin' y'from stayin' c'n be r'solved." Keiran shrugs, drumming his paw on his staff again. "I'd 'ate t'see y'go." At this point, his attention is caught by Quinten, to whom he gives an arching wave. "Aft'rnoon!"

Jarril doesn't reply back but gives a nod to Quinten anyways.

Quinten frowns at Keiran's words then looks at Jarril shifting his hoe "Your leaving sah? to go back home?"

Keiran's face squirms up in a slight twist, shrugging as he looks to Quinten. "Er, 'e migh' be. M'sure there's /somebeas'/ else tha' c'n take y'place while y'here, righ'?"

Jarril looks at Quinten.  "Well, unless I know there's another major that will be looking after the recruits and any of the young trainers heading back from here.  I may have ta.  But I have time ta sort that out before the patrol heads out anyways."

Quinten nods his head and lowers the hoe to lean on it "Oh ok sir...so who will be running our training here in Redwall?"

Jarril shrugs.  "I don't know yet, I need ta have word with the colonel about matters.  Don't worry about it for the time being."

Quinten salutes "Yes sah i'll not worry about it.." he grins "I was just helping to lay the seeds in the field plots"

Keiran just sits by as the Patrol matters are discussed. In the meantime, he flips through the book he'd been reading, not bothering to look at any words, just looking for anything that might help him with his cause.

Jarril nods.  "Well, far be it for me ta stop ya work.  Off ya go."  The major nods in letting Quinten be dismissed and all as he turns his head back to Keiran.  "I have no doubt that if I did stay I'll end up telling a few stories from time ta time of the patrah, for ya records and all?"

Quinten chuckles and heads over towards a small storage shed to put the hoe and basket away, ducking inside though leaving the door open so he can hear the others

Keiran smiles to Jarril up from his book, one ear flicked upwards in interest. "Well! 'f y'wouldn' min', I don' think any knowledge at all w'd be worth keepin' a secret from th'lib'ry, heh!"

Jarril hmms.  "Well, I don't know all.  I only have memories of about eight or nine seasons that I've been in service, two or three wars, several battles, what I did over here in Mossflower.  Then there's the stuff before I joi..."  The major stops and bites his lip.  "I don't think that would be interesting though."  He shakes his head with a grin.  "Listen ta me, there be a book all about me in the end.  I'll probably write that or get someone else ta at the mountain one day though."

Quinten walks back out of the shed and shuts the door, pulling up his cowl to keep the sun off him, he likes these things, handy for keeping the sun at bay. He moves back towards the brother and his Major.

Keiran shrugs. "Either way, m'a'ready glad f'all th'knowledge Salamandastron 's lettin' th'Abbey borrow an' copy f'th'time bein'. S'really gonna 'elp us restock our lib'ry shelves." He turns towards Quinten as he approaches again. "I see this'n in th'lib'ry all th'time, heh. Didn' think I'd get any 'ares int'rested in my line o'work."

Jarril nods.  "Aye, he's wanting ta replace our recorder that's about ta retire in a season or two.  Well, that's what the lad wants ta do, isn't that right Quinten?"

Quinten smiles and salutes again "Aye thats what i'd like to do if possible though i want to patrol still, not training to be a fighter to just do recording" he smiles at Keiran "Am hoping you mgiht be able to give me some help Brother."

"I'll be able t'give y'as much 'elp as I can." Keiran grins and nods towards Quinten, though he continues, "M'not th'recorder, but m'th'next bes' thin' to 't, heh. Jus' give me a day 'r two t'look int'what th'recorder really does, an' I'll teach y'all I can!"

Jarril keeps quiet as he listens to the other two hares talk now.

Quinten smiles and nods "Thank you Brother i would welcome any help you can give me Brother i want to be a good hare in the patrol"

Keiran smirks. "Well, as soon 's y'clear th'firs' level novicehood, make sure y'apprentice as a scholar. 'til tha' 'appens, y'c'n 'elp me in th'lib'ry all y'want. Jus' stop by aft'r y'daily duties, an' aft'r y'breakfast, an' we'll get workin'."

Jarril smiles and relaxes.  "Ya know I do feel bad that I don't have ta do any of what they have ta do."  The hare is lying, what with reports to write, training the recruits and the occasional patrol around the forest with the 67th lot and help out if needs be around the abbey.  No walk in the park here.

Quinten smiles and salutes the brother "yes sir i'll do so thank you" he smiles at the Major "Did ye hear that sir? Just like back home even duties outside my normal ones." the short hare seems happy to have something to be doing again. "Can i show you some of my writings too Brother?" he glances at Jarril and chuckles "Just remind me when i'm your age and training recruits to give em some breating space from time to time."

Jarril chuckles.  "I should be nearing retirement before ya my age, lad.  That's if I survive another war that is, been pushing my good luck now for a while."  He pauses with a grin.  "Though I'll keep on pushing it mind ya."

Keiran raises a brow Jarril's way, giving him a quick chuckle, before looking back to Quinten. "Yeh, I'd enjoy seein' y'writin'. Can't wait 'til I c'n really start trainin' ya, but 'till then I c'n keep y'busy with other thin's."

Quinten smiles and nods "Yes brother i'm looking forwards to it as well" he fishes in his sleeve and pulls out a sheet of parchment holding it out "This is my latest supplement of life at Sala" he glances at the Major and smiles "You retire sah? nbever you'll still be shouting at us young uns"

Jarril gives Quinten a really evil grin as he replies back.  "Me?  Nah, I am hoping there's a new badger lord on doing that.  I don't see why at one stage I got told off by one and ya won't.  No, lad.  I be hoping for that ta happen."  He scratches behind a ear.  "That's if one ever turns up again, could be a generation or two before that happens."

Keiran takes the parchment, and opens it, looking over it briefly, rolling it up and pocketing it. "I'll give 't a proper look in th'lib'ry. As f'now, I sh'd be gettin' back t'work. Nice speakin' with ya, Major. Good luck on stayin' 'ere, I 'ope y'can! An' Quinten, I'll see y'tomorrow mornin'." At that, he stands from his place, leaning on his staff as he does so, then hobbles right on back to the abbey.

Quinten salutes "See you tomorrow morning Brother" he turns on the Major then and grins, ears flicking rapidly "Did you hear that sah, he wants to teach me an he's lookin forwards tae it.." he chuckles "And your right sah hope we get a badger lord soon," he grins cheekily "I'd like to see you and the Colonel hopping when he hands out orders, i've read about some of the ones whe've had in the past"

Jarril nods.  "Hmm, yes.  Just one word of warning though."  The major waggles a finger.  "Don't evah and I mean this.  Get into a drinking contest with one of them, ya regret it."

Quinten smirks and nods his head "Yes sah you've given me that warning before i'll live by it," he chuckles "I've seen how much that badger in Halyard puts away normally, how did we ever have enough food for them and us hares?"

Jarril grins.  "Take up farming and scouting patrols and ya learn that I have no doubt.  But there are some mysteries that should never be worked out and as long as there's food, why wonder why.  I am happy ta have it, wot."  He slowly gets up from where he is sitting and dusts down his uniform.  "Well, I could spend all day and talk but it's not like we're snowed in during winter.  So I best get on with what I have ta do and I am sure ya have stuff ta do as well."  The major gives Quinten a pat on the shoulder.  "One more thing though, bit of advice.  When ya get through the ranks and end up as a majah one day.  Don't make the same mistake I made when one of my patrah's went wrong and beat yaself up ta much about it.  Things do actually get bettah, I mean it did for me and it did for Darklett for a short time anyways..."  Finishing his uniform, the hare makes a move to go.  "However, time for me ta get back ta it.  Laters, recruit."

Quinten salutes and nods "aye sir i'll take your advice and thank you for it...i'll do you proud yet you'll see" he chuckles "Though the day they make me a major is the day someone obviously was not paying attention when the signed the orders" he moves in the direction of the abbey "Now i have a lesson starting in a bit i should head on over, Abey History sounds fascinating"

Jarril nods as he starts to walk himself.  "Be sure that I won't be making that mistake, recruit."  The major says nothing else and heads off in another direction.