Sunrise Always Brings the Tears

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

(OOC: I made this Topic so we can all get to know each other's charries better. No violence... No fighting... Just our charries Talking, and Flashbacks. Lots of Flashbacks! XD Sorry. I'm just expecting lots of them.)

BIC:

Crystal's headfur whipped about her eyes and ears as she shivvered. Her brother comfortingly put a paw around her shoulders and pulled her close. Mortamus was much more loveing than his name foretold, and it now showed. Hugging his sister, he felt a wave of pity wash over him for his little sister. The vixen squeezed her eyes closed and burried her face in his warm tunic. It was a normal practice of theirs to come out on the walltops at dawn and watch the sunrise. Mortamus, being a healer, thought it would do Crystal good. He was wrong, it made her feel heartbroke every time, but she never told her brother why.

They weren't the only ones on the Parapet this morning. Umbraheart, the wolfmaid, sat on the cold stone that made the walkway, and looked right into the light, rembering her own reason of being out here. It brought happness, but when the sunrise was over, she wearily held back tears.

Crystal had finally broken away from her brother, and was leaning on the wall. Flashes of the hate this time brought flashed before her...

Today was the day she, Umbraheart, and everyone eles was to face their fears of anything they had seen... Or had been part of.

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**Song held Brawn's paw as they traced apattern into the stones of the rampart. SOng looked out at the sunrise, searching as always for Flexma and Alderjack. Two seasons they had been gone. Beautiful colors painted the sky as Song walked. Everything had happened, sShe had no family but Brawn. AT least he did not have to worry over his parents, they lived at the abbey. SOng's on the other paw, where dead. She noticed Crystal and walked over, a smile gently playing with her face.** Hi Crys.

[Raiden and Zahi]

Black? White? Grey? What will I see when I meet my fate?

**Raiden sighed as he lent against the ramparts. Contrary to his reputation as a veteran vermin fighter, he wasn't garbed for war. His attire consisted of a simple tunic, brown, and self-made, a black belt cinched tight round the field mouse's trim waist, and a red traveling cloak. Tied to the belt was a soft velvet bag. The bag held Raiden's most valuable item; A beaten silver coronet. The twisted metal hoop was in-laid with shards of emerald, and set with a large sapphire over where the wearer's brow would be. Wrapped around it was two smaller coronets of beaten bronze and brass; Zidane and Sunfire's.**

Am I fated to fight till my last day? Have I not suffered enough? WHY?!?!? WHY MUST I LIVE TO FIGHT?!?!?!?!?!?

**Slamming his fist against the hard stone was not the best course of action. Lances of sharp, hard, stinging pain hammered up Raiden's right arm, causing him to stop and cradle his arm against him. Looking to his right, he saw Song, Crystal, and Umbraheart. Slowly, he walked over to the small group.**

Hi ladies. Room for another in this little huddle?

[Aster & Sapphire Fleetpaw]

**Sapphire ascended the stairs quietly, silent paws padding on the rough-hewn stone. The darkness closed in around her as she walked, and Sapphire allowed it to envelop her. She was no afraid of the dark. Ever since her brooding days as a teen-aged mouse, which she had spent locked up in her room, the darkness had been her friend. She had always loved candles, not to chase away the darkness, but to infuse her soul with a burst of the intensity of fire. Sapphire was a warrior of fire -- others had always compared her to Aster as 'the quiet one.'

Sapphire was usually quiet, something which had persevered even into her adulthood, but she harbored her own strong opinions. In the darkness, her prickly outer defenses fell away, and her inner self had always seemed to become the candle flame. Sapphire wanted to watch the sunrise this morning. She respected the sun as the greatest source of fire, in complete balance with the moon and subsequently, nature.

The mousemaid spotted some of her comrades already up and on the walltop. Somewhat puzzled, Sapphire stepped over to join them. The boundary guardian spoke softly.** May I join you?

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**Song noted her companions confused or angry faces. She released Brawn's paw gently and smiled through her tears. She knew this feeling, but brooding on it didn't help. She looked at the sunrise, which reminded her of its oppisitte, the sunset, that was when she saw her brothers no more. Brawn was right, Fears must be faced.**


**Brawn felt SOng release his paw. An awkward felling settled over him. He had an easy life, caring only for Songs well-being. It did not matter,** speaking, a way fears can only enter if you will.

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

Crystal looked up at all the sudden company, shivvered and tried to make herself unnoticeable. She looked back at them again, Song's call to her directly, refuring to her as most did, Crys. Her face was sad, her eyes puffy against her will. She belived that crying made one weak, so she hated almost every emotion. Sadness had found a home in her heart. her face was forever silk smooth due to all the tears spilt, her fur patched from all the fights she had picked. Sadly enough, half her scars where from her friends, from when she went out of control.

Umbraheart almost choked looking at her 'friend.' It was true that the wolf really liked no one, felt an attchment to anyone. Not snce her mistake. Crystal's face saddned her to look on, then she worried about her own. She then stopped worrying about how she looked, sand kept her silence. Stareing at the sky above her, she ignored the others, trying to image herself alone.

Mortamus was in awe at all the sad, haunted looks faceing him. As a healer, he was upset he couldn't fix this. Nothing could fix the broken hearts of all his friends, and his sister. He himself wanted to cry in frustration, but he smiled weakly at Crystal, whom looked away quickly.

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**SOng, a fellow healer, forced another smile at Mortamus. Tears swelled at her eyes, but she held them back. She tried to dissperse the sad look from her face. The squirrelhealer, had never had the chance to know that many other healers, in fact, she had only known one, a female otter. SOng looked up at Brawn, hoping his smile would lighten her sadness. It did. An answering smile was awarded to him from the young maid. SOng remembered Brawn's words again.** Fears and sadness must be faced Crystal Mcfox Vallian Rosepaw,

[Raiden and Zahi]

Fear and sadness can be shared... I made the mistake of shareing mine too much once... Those that I shared it with are dead... But, as they say, "Life goes on"... I'd either still be up in the borderlands, or at Redwall if I could've chose my own path in life... Not had one forced upon me by a cruel father, and a prophercy... My fate is inter-twined with those I be-friend, be it for better or for worse... In Rose's case, it was for worse...

**Raiden let his numb arm drop down to his side as he faced the group. His eye soon feel on Umbrahart, and he asked her a question directly.**

What brings you to here Umbra? Please, tell us your tale...

[Laylark]

**The top of the walls had always been a place of refuge for Laylark. A place to wander on alone, a place to reflect over past doings. A place where, perhaps, one could come to their senses. Whether it was the chilling wind that so often blew through combined with the scenic beauty or the haunting yet mystifying light of a sunset seen from those heights, something gave the place a bittersweet feeling, though the visit was well worth the climb. Laylark was making said climb at that very moment, but not the usual time. This fox was one who preferred night to mornings and so he often drifted along the parapet by the light of a setting sun rather than a rising one. Whatever the case, insomnia had gotten a hold of him and getting up was now something welcomed.

Laylark wore a loose grey tunic, far too big for his thin figure. It hung loose off his shoulders and the thin fabric did little to keep him warm. His pants were black and ended at his knee, letting the cool breeze eat away at his shins. It was with hunched shoulders that he trudged along the stone pathway, dragging his footpaws, bleary eyed and dazed.

Despite the time, there seemed to be many beasts hanging around. The tall fox raised his snout and squinted in their direction, trying to make out faces in the growing light. Any other day, he would have avoided the group but his growing desire to be more outgoing. So he shuffled towards the group, almost all the faces familiar and raised a paw in greeting, a nervous smile on his face.**

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

"I killed her..." Umbraheart growled, looking away from the half blind warrior. She didn't want to speak her story, but by the faces on everyone's faces, she thought it best to speak her mind. Still, she wasn't talkitive. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and looked pleadingly at Mortamus and crystal. Crystal had been unsettled by Song's husband's words, and had her hood pulled over her eyes. Mortamus smiled back with smypathy.

"Umbraheart wishes for me to speak her tale. AS you know, she is a wolf. Her pack, her family, had a belief that, when becoming of age, their young had to leave the clan for a week, then come back, normally stronger and wiser. Umbraheart and her sister, Lily, went togther for their comming of age, both armed. Umbraheart had a short sword, and Lily had another, their family symbol etteched in the end. On their returning trip home, they where jumped just after sunrise. In the battle, and her lack of fighting experiance, Umbraheart was makeing wild strokes, howling to see if her family would come. She... Missed her target... And killed her sister. Her family arrived to late to save the silver wolf. It was clear enough that Umbraheart had killed Lily, but no Pack Member would accpect her.

She had carried the body away from the battlesite, and it looked as if Umbraheart had slain her twin in cold blood. Her family chased her away. Umbraheart was left omeless, all because of a mistake." Mortamus finished the sad tale, Umbraheart's eyes glazeing in pain as the nightmare flashed before her...

"You are no child of mine!" Darkfur, her father, had growled. Her mother was in tears, the rest of the pack advanceing. Every member counted to them, since wolves are normally very social. Umbraheart was crying, barely able to see.
"Dad, it's not my fault! I swaer, it's not my fault!" She kept repeating. But he snapped that no child of his was a murdering scum. In the normal family fighting style, he howled then rushed at her. Her own father was trying to kill her! She lept from his path. "Dad, I'm not going to hurt you!" She howled at him, still sobbing.
"You killed your sister, wretch! Now prepare to die of defend yourself!" He had snarled at her. He sunk his claws deep in her shoulder, makeing her fall to the ground. He stood over her, waiting for her to rise again. She did, her blood boiling. As she began the scream at him, he had aimed a puch at her. Her fangs ripped fur and flesh from bone on her father's arm, his own fault. He picked up Lily's sword and went at his former daughter, showing no mercy. "Pack slayer!"
Umbraheart was left with no choice. She disarmed him with a kick the the stomach and a punch to the wrist. Takeing up both blades, she stood over her father, panting heavily, blood smearing on her black fur. He got up and ran at her again, and Umbraheart held both blades up to defend herself. Closeing her eyes, she heard a gasp, then the whole pack felt silent. Opening her eyes, she looked down at her father, whom was holding Umbraheart's blade, that was etending from his chest. "Murder..er.." He sighed as he passed away. She made an atempt to run then, frightened at the thought of killing her father and Lily. The pack swiftly caught the wounded child.

"I killed my father... Then I was tied up and left for dead myself." Umbraheart murmered.

[Mary Narai]

* Mary looked up at the battlements and saw quite a few beasts up there. What in the name of hellgates is going on?She thought as she walked up the stair to the battlements. She was up rather early,she new, but that was becasue she wanted breakfast. Food and practice now seemed to fill the time she used to spend with her sister, now. Sure, Elena wasnt' dead, but the lack of her presence made the young mouse feel like it.

When she reached the top, she walked over to all the beasts and said with tinges of curiosity in her voice.* What are you guys doing up here? * Mary took a glance at their faces, and asked another question.* Who died? You all look like you've been sentenced to eat a maggotty frog or something.

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**Song smile thinly at Mary, Her patcience thin. I'm a healer, why can't I mend the broken hearts, the way I do bones? Brawn's pawsteps faded as he walked down the steps. Crystal was right, sunrise brings tears.

Song felt memories flood her mind. The normally bright happy healer looked at the assorted beasts. My tale, my life, shall I tell them? Thoughts whirled, Umbraheart had heard her story, and faced her fear, Song, had yet to do so. Her story wasn't as sad as most, but Song was a sensitive creature. She was also stubborn. She would tell them, for Flexma and Alderjack, For her mother Laurelbelle and her father Leafbow, for Brawn, aye, for Brawn.

Song stepped forward, seeing as her history was not the worst, she was not royal, although she had lost her mother; a dainty lady squirrel, with a lovely voice. She had never lost a lover, although her brother's made tunes for the dibbuns to sing about her and the subject. She had never lost a mentor; although her Grandmother taught her almost everything. She had never had a vision, but her father was always there with the wise words of one. No, SOng was a simple beast, but she questioned the group of animals.** Shall I tell my tale? FOr few will hear it again.

[Raiden and Zahi]

That's harsh Umbra... I'm sorry I asked... If any wish to know my tale, I will tell it after Song has told hers. As I for one wish to know her tale.

**Sighing again, Raiden sat down against the parapet. The battle-scarred mouse was weary of combat. It was one of those days where it seemed like he'd fought it all, and lived it all... That was one of his reasons for being on the wall that morning...**

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**Song smiled grimly. She prepared herself for her own story.** I was born at The Border. My father Leafbow guarded our home, and Grandmother and Mother would care for me. I loved to sing with them, such fine voices they had! Well, My mother was going to have a child, and she thought we should go to Redwall, since there were no healers. We began the journey, and my mother gave birth before her time. She-she... died. My father died of a broken heart a days journey from Redwall. My Grandmother died when I was ten, and five seasons later, my younger brothers left, and I have not heard from them. I tried to leave the abbey then, but was held back half a season. I wandered around and was healing in an army when I met a common foot-soldeir, and fell in love. Brawn and I married, and His parents moved to Redwall.

As I said, My story is simple, but pain is harsh. That is the way of things.

**Song sighed, little did she know that her words would effect her forever.**

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

"Yes... Go ahead." Crystal mumbled, her words slurred like that of a drunk person. No, she wasn't drunk, but she would like to be at the time. Anything she said could be excused at the time of her being drunk, but, now it couldn't. She wanted to know if anyone had it worse off than her, and if their was such a reason in crying about what was mostly her fault. She looked down at the sleeves of her dress, where her wrist would show if the long sleeves didn't cover them, and the rest of her arms, where most of her pain went. She looked sadly at the wolfmaiden who was running a paw over the letters stitched into the scabbards of the short swords. Crystal sighed. This proved just how cruel most of the world could be.

Mortamus starred hard at his little sister, tracking her eyes all the time. When her eyes locked on her arms and wrists, Mortamus intook a sharp breath. It couldn't be that bad could it? Trying to meet her gaze, he spoke for his sibling. "She will speak after you Raiden. Crystal will, that is."

"What?!" Crystal growled at him, her sharp touge comming instantly back. "OOh no, your not placeing ANYTHING on me, buster."