fancy meeting you here, wot

[carabadgermum]

Ally was still limping slightly but she had made up her mind not to accept any help if it was offered. She knew she was being stubborn but he hadn't seemed to show the least bit of interest in her since he had kissed her and she was feeling very put out. She tried to think if there were any other subtle hints she could give him. Or maybe she would just hold her tongue and let him figure it out on his own.

[Kal Skirata]

Jeremy's mind was in turmoil. Emotions clashed with logic, heart clashed with mind. I really like her, but it wouldn't make much sense to get involved now, we won't be safe before getting to the Abbey, and if I die, it will be better if we're not in a relationship. he thought. his mind had won the struggle with his heart and he kept marching, silently.

[carabadgermum]

Ally also knew the dangers of soldiers forming attachments. She had, after all, lost both of her parents in separate military actions on the same day. She wondered if that was what he might be worried about and hence the reason for keeping his distance. She bit her lip and then asked, "Do you like being in the Patrol? I mean of course you do you were so binkin' thrilled with your promotion to officer. I just mean everything that goes along with it."

[Kal Skirata]

"I love being in the patrol. That's all I ever dreamed of when I was a small Leveret. I wanted nothing more than to fight alongside comrades and destroy the evil and tyrrany that threatens the land." said Jeremy, smiling slightly at the memory.

[carabadgermum]

"It is a very noble profession." She agreed as they walked. "but . . ." she wasn't quite sure how to go on and managed only, "what about those who are left back at the mountain? Do you ever think about them and what they're doing?" It was as close as she could really get to asking if he thought about her.

[Kal Skirata]

"All the time. I worry constantly that vermin are attacking while we're out roaming the woodlands searching for vermin that are already behind us. I worry about those left behind and how they're doing." said Jeremy, still walking forward

[carabadgermum]

"We worry about you, too," she said quietly and then hurriedly amended the statement. "I mean those at the mountain worry about the ones on patrol. Every time a patrol goes out we wonder which ones will come back home again." She remembered anxiously awaiting the return of her parents only to learn that they would never be coming back. She knew now that she would be just as worried about hearing news of Jeremy even if he didn't share her feelings.

[Kal Skirata]

Jeremy smiled. "Its a rare patrol that actually finds vermin. We try to, but often we are unsuccessful at finding them." he said and sighed. "They're getting good at seeing us and running away before we can get to them."

[carabadgermum]

"I hope you never have to face them again," she said quietly, almost to herself, and in her voice there was a twinge of selfishness, not because she too wished to be out fighting, but because she couldn't stand the thought of him being in harms way. She knew now why her father had wanted her mother to stay back at the mountain and why he had found another patrol to try to go and find her. She knew she would do the same.
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and wondered if he could posibly know any of what was going on in her head. Then when she looked up ahead at the path again she thought she could see something in the distance over the tree tops. It was like a small bit of red gleaming in the moonlight. She pointed, "Is that . . . ?"

[Kal Skirata]

Jeremy peered through the branches. Sure enough, they were at Redwall Abbey. Jeremy let out a sigh of relief. "There it is. Redwall Abbey." he said as he cautiously moved toward the patch of red. Stopping at the tree fringe, he squinted as he looked up. "It looks like there are wallguards on top."

[carabadgermum]

Ally didn't know weather to find it comforting that there were guards on the Abbey wall tops or be worried about what they were guarding the Abbey from. She still smelled the powerful stench of vermin and knew they must be close. She hoped they wouldn't stumble into the middle of them with so little way to travel now. The red stone walls did look inviting and she wanted to reach them soon and in once piece. "Do you think they'll know we're friendly and let us in?" She asked Jeremy in a whisper.

[Kal Skirata]

((do you want Phil to see them first?))

"It all depends on who sees us. I think I should go first because of my regimental tunic. It's kind of obvious." said Jeremy, gesturing to his colorful tunic. "If we're lucky, one of the Long Patrol would see us first. They'd recognize me as friendly."