Jabber and Gab, wot!

[sweetmint]

Seaford watched his ruler leave the dining hall, a little quizzically. He didn't think Malum would be a problem, either, but that didn't change the amount of danger she may be putting them in. Giving himself a little shake, Seaford turned again, ears back, and swept his gaze around the mess hall.

Most of the hares had gotten back to the business of chowing down once the ferret stranger appeared to have been fobbed off on the first officer to approach, but there were still a few that looked perturbed. Seaford found the Peppercorns and Malum, and watched them for a moment, interested.

He knew there had been a huge to-do when Mercycotton had brought in a ferretbabe. Seaford had missed the entire thing himself -- he'd been out on Patrol, and had only heard about the situation in passing upon his return, when it was long over and done with -- and it occurred to him that the addition of another ferret might cause more problems. That perturbed him; if there was ever a foebeast to attack while the Long Patrol was disorganized, they wouldn't be at their best. They would lose more hares than necessary.

Seaford squeezed the handle of his saber and began marching slowly from the hall, thinking. Of course, there was no reason to believe Malum would be staying. But he had a bad feeling about that, too. He rested easy knowing she wouldn't do much immediate damage, being surrounded by elite warriors, and, having made a sudden decision, left the mess hall behind entirely, walking through corridors, up staircases, past doorways.

He intended to track down and speak to the Peppercorns' ferret child. They'd never met formally, but Seaford doubted there would be much wrong with the young 'un; unorthodox though his parents may be, they were still good beasts, and would doubtless be raising him as such. Seaford suddenly wanted very much to meet him.

[Lisolette]

Mercycotton sat between Peppercorn and Malum. She smiled at her, "My name is Mercycotton, this is my 'usband, Sergeant Fferifium Peppercorn!" Peppercorn nodded a greeting.

Mercycotton then began to feed her young guest, "'Ere, try this Strawberry'n'Apple Cordial, 'tis to die for, eh, wot!" She chuckled, handing the beaker of the drink to Malum.

Peppercorn grimaced, "We're not going to be taking in a ferret duaghter, now, are we?"

Mercycotton snorted, "Ignore the ol' sot, Miss Malum. He's got a pike eatin' his tail." The harewife began slathering some blackcurrent jam onto a honey scone. Smiling, Mercycotton put it Malums plate, "Try some o' this, ol' gel. I prefer my scones with cranberry perserve meself, but try this'un anyway!"

Peppercorn sighed as he twirled his spoon in his vegetable soup aimlessly. This was supposed to be a special day he and his wife were to share alone-not with some stupid ferret that had slayed thousands of innocent beasts! Peppercorn threw his spoon in anger. Mercycotton blinked with surprise and patted her husbands shoulders comfortingly, "Everything alright, Mister Peppercorn?" She whispered.

Peppercorn shook his head, "I'm...I'm afraid not, Mrs. Peppercorn...I guess I'm not acting like a proper sergeant, am I?" He sighed.

Mercycotton smiled and put a slice of Fruit'n'Nuts Cake between them. He smiled slightly, embarressed by his childlike behaviour, and together the couple ate down the cake.

[Malum]

Malum watched as food was piled on her plate.

"No, I couldn't possibly eat al of this." She said.

Suddenly, Peppercorn threw the spoon. Malum got up, and blushed.

"If this is a bad time, I can find my own way through the mountain.."

[Lisolette]

Mercycotton flinched, "No, no, ol' gel! Don' even think of such things! Now come on there, eat up, Mal-me-ol'-um!" She stuffed some salad into the ferretmaids mouth. Merycotton and Peppercorn halfed the last bite of the cake and ate it up.

Merycotton winked at him, "Good scoff, wot!"

[Gregory]

Hare instincts told Lupin to slice up the wee ferret into ant-sized pieces, but he held it back. Ever since the ferret walked inside the mountain he was quite jumpy and watched her every move. He knew ferrets and other vermin species have been causing murder and warfare way before the Ffolger line came to Sally. Heck! Leverets could name all of the vermin species by the time they were 8 seasons old. Those good maters...

He watched the hare couple stuff the ferret with a bunch of tucker thinking, That's right, eat y'evil ferret. Eat until you explode from all that scoff in your stomach. Wot! and began grinning like a dibbun who just got a whole bag of candied chestnuts.

[Malum]

Malum held her hands up.

"Now, now, I'm not that hungry! I can feed myself!" She said, grabbing a plate, and piling some bread on it.

She chewed slowly and swallowed.

"Hmmm... This is very good!" She said. "Who cooks all of this food?"

[Lisolette]

Peppercorn noticed the grinning Lupin. He blinked, "I say, old lad, are you bally well alright?" He asked, blinking in a confused manner.

Meanwhile, Mercycotton continued to feed Malum, "Alright, Malum me ol' gel, 'ave a bit of Marjoram Strew. Oh, and it's hot, so ye might want to gulp down this here Mountain Ale, eh, wot!" Mercycotton to take a bite of trifle, "Mmmm! The cooks outdone theirselves today, wot!"

[Gregory]

"I say, old lad, are you bally well alright?"

The surprised Lupin answered back with a, "Hunh?! Oh, yes, absolutely, fantastically, fine. You go on enjoy the scoff and tucker for your 'niversary Don't be worryin' 'bout the jolly Brigadier, wot!" he straightened his face and tried to reassure Peppercorn.

He suddenly started to take a liking to the lovely couple.

[Malum]

Malum looked at Lupin suspiciously, but shrugged, and went back to eating.

"I really can't eat all of this!" She said to the hares.

She dipped a spoon into the soup, and took a sip, her ears flicking back as she swallowed it.

"Very good!" She said, eating it fast, but slow enough not to burn her.

She looked up at the ale, and gave a shy smile.

"Sorry, but I don't really drink..." She said, instead, getting a glass of cold tea instead.

[Lisolette]

Peppercorn nodded to Brigidair Lupin, and continued to eat.

Mercycotton chuckled, "Heh! Well, if ye eat with such enthusiasm as yer doin' now, I thinks ye can scoff all this tucker, wot!"

Peppercorn grabbed the ale from his wife, "Thank you, deary." He smiled playfully at her before glugging down the drink. Mercycotton rolled her eyes and continued to stuff Malum.

-~*~-

Meanwhile, Trixty stepped into the Dining Hall. He searched for the faces of his adopted parents...

And that's when chaos broke loose.

The hare who had accused him of stealing his book jumped onto his seat and pointed at Trixty Peppercorn with an accusing paw, "It's you! You're the ugly pile of bilge ferret that stole my book."

Trixty flinched, "N-No...I was only borrowing it!"

"Liar! I told you I'd put a dent in yer nose the next time I saw you, you lil' thievin' rotter!" The hare growled, jumping down his seat. He advanced on the ferret.

Trixty swallowed, and held up some pleading paws, "N-Now, old bean...L-Let's not get to hasty while others are having their tucker, wot!" The hare didn't seem to mind, his paws curled into a fist,"Eep!" Trixty scurried away, the hare giving chase.

Somebeast grabbed them by the scruff, and with a snarl the beast collided their heads together, cuasing them both to go in a slight daze. Trixty looked up, and blinked. It was Sergeat Fferifiom Peppercorn, his adopted father. He dragged them both to his seat, but instead of sitting in it, Peppercorn stood right behind, setting the two troublemakers down on their footpaws. Peppercorns icy stare was just as gut-wretching with the furious glare of Galloper Mercycotton, "Now then..." Peppercorn took in a deep breath, "Wot in blue blazes is goin' on!?"

They both started their tale in unison, talking fast and furiously. Peppercorn silenced them with a paw, and pointed to the hare who had intended to bring Trixty harm, Of course he would let that bully speak first...Just becuase he's a hare! Oh...what is this, wot? Trixty turned and blinked at Malum. The ferret cocked his head to one side, confused to see another ferret in Salamandastron.