{"sf1_id":780460,"sf2_id":"XekpZB5m","title":"The Lead Crown: Ch 6b, The Brightest Blossom (Pt 3)","author":"comidacomida","words":2056,"posted_at":"2014-11-10T07:27:00.000Z","tags":["Antelope","Family","Mare","Mouse","Raccoon dog","Steam Punk","Tribal"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/780460-the-lead-crown-ch-6b-the-brightest-blossom-pt-3","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/XekpZB5m","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/af/6f/af6f5393-eb7f-4fa1-914f-e24ba7f341be","description":"#56 of The Lead Crown\n\nWelcome to part 3 of Chapter 6 for group B.\nWe get to see Cruff become even healthier in this post, all from Arlowe's point of view. Later, once the young Raccoon Dog starts resting, the Monk heads out into the house's living room and has the opportunity to meet someone new. Sadly, this only causes more complications.\nContributing Readers will have to decide on how we will further mess with our poor protagonists:\na) Malcom returns to Dr. Brownell's and sits down with Among-the-Reeds to hear about what's going on.\nb) Malcom returns to Dr. Brownell's and explains to the group that he needs to help with a problem that's developed in the Church.\nc) Malcom returns to Dr. Brownell's and explains to the group that he needs to help deal with an evolving danger to the Kingdom known as the Order of Blades.\nd) Malcom returns to Dr. Brownell's and explains to the group that he needs to help deal with an evolving danger to the Kingdom known as the Mechanists.\ne) Malcom doesn't return to Dr. Brownell's and nobody knows what happened... everyone will have to go seek him out!\nVotes will be accepted through midnight on Thursday, November 20th. Thanks for reading!","content":"Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown  \nCh 6.3b, The Brightest Blossom\n\nAlthough 'tea' was hardly a real meal in any sense of the word, Friar Arlowe considered it one of the greatest meals he'd had in days because it was one he shared with Cruffington.\u0026nbsp; The young Raccoon Dog had, under the care of Doctor Brownell made an incredible recovery.\u0026nbsp; While he was far from healed he was able to sit up in bed and join the Monk for a combination of tea, juice, and several small, semi-sweet cakes.\u0026nbsp; Those final items, in fact, were what had the young man's attention.\n\nCruff had polished off two and was working on his third when he addressed Friar Arlowe, muzzle still half-full of confection, \"Wow... where oo oo fink e gets eese?\"\n\nThe Monk smiled pleasantly, \"Swallow, and try again.\"\n\nThe young scholar reached for some tea, swallowed his bite of cake, and then took a swig of the drink and swallowed again.\u0026nbsp; \"These things are amazing... you think there's a bakery around here somewhere?\"\n\nThe door to the care room opened and Dr. Browell came in carrying a small tray with a collection of medical instruments.\u0026nbsp; Friar Arlowe smiled at her and then at his son, \"Well... here's the good doctor now.\u0026nbsp; Why don't you ask her where she gets these wonderful cakes?\"\n\nThe Monk sat back in his chair, smiling as he broke off a small piece of cake and gingerly set it into his muzzle.\u0026nbsp; Cruff sat up a little straighter and winced a little, but his smile remained, \"Thank you again for your help, ma'am.\"\n\nThe Mouse's welcome expression became a little more severe. \"I am not just a woman, young man... I am also a doctor.\"\n\nCruff fidgeted, \"Oh... uh.. I'm sorry... Doctor.\u0026nbsp; Thank you for your help, Doctor.\"\n\nThe smile returned easily as she set the tray down on the night stand. \"You're very welcome.\u0026nbsp; Now... what was it you wanted to ask me about?\"\n\nThe young Raccoon Dog's eyes went to the tray and Friar Arlowe watched as his son's gaze lingered on some of the bladed instruments, \"Just... uh... where you get... um...\"\n\nDr. Brownell traced Cruff's gaze to the weapon-like tools, \"Those are only for changing bandages... nobody's getting cut open today.\"\n\nA shout from the next room superseded Cruff's response, \"Dr. Brownell?\u0026nbsp; Mr. Severna says he needs to see you-- it's urgent!\"\n\nThe Mouse sighed and put on a playful smirk, \"Well... nobody in THIS room is getting cut open today... excuse me.\"\n\nBefore she left, Cruff managed to blurt out, \"Where did you get these great cakes?\"\n\nDr. Brownell turned back and smiled, \"You really like them, do you?\"\n\nThe young Raccoon Dog nodded, \"Yea... is the bakery nearby?\"\n\nHer smile widened, \"Yes... two rooms over.\u0026nbsp; I make them myself.\"\n\nCruffington seemed taken aback, but Friar Arlowe couldn't blame him; he was surprised as well.\u0026nbsp; The young scholar finally managed to voice his confusion, \"But... aren't you a Doctor?\"\n\nThe Mouse smiled, giving him a wink as she left, \"Yes... but I am not just a Doctor, young man... I'm also a woman.\"\n\nFriar Arlowe chuckled at that and slid the last of the small cakes onto his son's plate, \"I'm glad your hunger has returned.\"\n\nCruff nodded, looking down at the cake with a pleased expression, but he didn't eat it.\u0026nbsp; Instead, the young Raccoon Dog looked up at him and blinked, \"The Church really attacked the Yew Tribe... I can't believe it.\"\n\nThe Monk reached out and took one of his son's paws in his own, \"There is more to it than we can see at first, Cruffington.\u0026nbsp; We've heard a lot of conjecture during the time you were unconscious and it leads me to believe that there is something going on... something important that the average layman does not understand or see.\"\n\nHis son's ears raised thoughtfully, \"Like what?\"\n\nThe older Raccoon Dog smiled sheepishly, \"Unfortunately I am far too much of a layman to know, Cruffington, but Prince Malcom thinks that there is reason to--\"\n\n\"Prince Malcom?\"\n\nFriar Arlowe paused, \"Yes... he is here in Vallara.\"\n\nCruff blinked, \"We're in Vallara?\"\n\nThe next twenty minutes were spent providing his son with a review of the events that had transpired during the time he was unconscious and anything that hadn't stuck in his memory during his alternating bouts of coherence.\u0026nbsp; Cruff remembered the group fleeing the Yew Village; he recalled something about an inn room; his recollection of snippets of time in Dr Brownell's care was spotty.\u0026nbsp; What he did remember however was losing Vic, and he fell silent at that.\u0026nbsp;\n\nFriar Arlowe reached out and took hold of Cruff's paw.\u0026nbsp; \"He was a good young man, Cruffington.\u0026nbsp; The world is less for him not being in it... but he is in a better place now.\"\n\nHis son shook his head, \"We should have been able to bury him.\"\n\nThe Monk sighed, giving Cruffington's paw a light squeeze, \"We did what we were able with the time we had.\u0026nbsp; When everything's over we can--\"\n\nCruff looked up again, \"When everything's over?\u0026nbsp; HOW will everything ever be over?\"\n\nFriar Arlowe gave a faint shrug, \"Aodhan has been petitioning Prince Malcom to get his aid in helping us rescue the captured Sisters Divine... he is going to get the Church to set them free.\u0026nbsp; I don't know if that will make everything be 'over', but it will be a start.\"\n\nThe young Raccoon Dog nodded, looking down at his blankets, \"And what about us?\"\n\nThe Monk let out a breath, took in another, and then sighed, having very little to say.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't know.\"\n\nThe silence spread out between them for some time.\u0026nbsp; Friar Arlowe continued to try and find something to say-- anything to say that could help ease his son's fears.\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately he couldn't come up with anything and the silence continued.\u0026nbsp;\n\nUltimately, however, it ended when Cruffington spoke up.\u0026nbsp; His son gave his paw a light squeeze, \"... so... a sweeper, huh?\"\n\nThe Monk looked up at his son, whose gaze was focused entirely on him. \"What?\"\n\nThe younger Raccoon Dog blinked.\u0026nbsp; \"You said before the Church recruited you that you were going to be a sweeper.\"\n\nFriar Arlowe smiled faintly and nodded, \"It was enough for me... all I ever wanted was to be able to live a life full of family.\u0026nbsp; I didn't need money or prestige or fame as long as I had you and your mother.\"\n\nCruff nodded, \"If-- I.. I mean, WHEN this is all over do you think you'll go back to the Church and keep being a Monk?\"\n\nThe older Raccoon Dog shrugged, \"I honestly couldn't say.\u0026nbsp; I made a vow to serve God for as long as the Church would have me... and they decided that I should be put to death.\"\n\nHis son started laughing, \"Well... if there was ever a sign that they didn't want you, execution would probably be a good one.\"\n\nDespite the severity of the discussion, Friar Arlowe couldn't help but join his son in laughter.\u0026nbsp; It felt good; it felt very good.\u0026nbsp; The smile stayed with him for the rest of his visit with Cruffington.\u0026nbsp; After another hour their idle chat finally came to a close when Cruffington yawned, and Arlowe insisted that he try to get some rest.\u0026nbsp; The young Raccoon Dog objected, of course, citing that he'd spend DAYS resting, but it was not a point to which the Monk was willing to argue.\u0026nbsp; He gave his son's paw one more squeeze, and then showed himself out.\n\nThe living room of the small home was empty save for Prince Malcom's animal companion, the big brown wolf he alternatingly referred to as Berro and Gut which, to the Friar Arlowe's understanding, meant the same thing in the different languages.\u0026nbsp; Berro's head and ears were up as he tracked the Monk across the room.\u0026nbsp; As the Raccoon Dog approached one of the arm chairs the large lupine let out a very distinctive \"Uf.\".\n\nFriar Arlowe looked toward the wolf but made sure not to stare, \"I guess you're probably just waiting around for Prince Malcom?\"\n\nBerro set his head back down on the enormous pillow atop which he was laying. \"Uf.\"\n\nThe Monk smiled to himself, \"I'll take that as a yes.\"\n\nHe jumped in his seat when a firm, confident female voice spoke up behind him and to the side in halting Lehsunian, \"You... talk with... with wolf?\"\n\nFriar Arlowe stood up and turned around to face a Horse.\u0026nbsp; The Mare was dressed scantily in little more than a loin cloth and a halter-- each was a simple strip of hide wrapped around her body.\u0026nbsp; The beads and feathers adorning her windswept mane was pure confirmation that she was obviously from a Tribe.\u0026nbsp; The Monk offered a sheepish smile while averting his eyes from her nakedness, \"I was... um... talking AT him... not really WITH him.\"\n\nShe didn't seem the least bit bothered by his discomfort at her lack of decency, \"I look for Wild Wolf.\u0026nbsp; That is Berro.\u0026nbsp; Berro is--\"\n\nThe Monk nodded, \"I know... his pet.\u0026nbsp; Prince Malcom is--\"\n\nThe Mare shook her head, \"No... not pet. He is... is...\" she was searching for the right word but settled on \"More.\"\n\nFriar Arlowe nodded, \"Then I apologize... but, yes, this is Berro, and Prince Malcom WAS here, but he left earlier to--\"\n\n\"Slower.\"\n\nThe Raccoon Dog paused, \"I'm sorry?\"\n\nThe Mare let out a snort, \"Talk slower.\u0026nbsp; I no speak Stone words fast.\"\n\nThe Monk felt his ears redden slightly and was just about to try again when Doctor Brownell came down the stairs interrupting the conversation; his eyes, the Mare's eyes, and Barro's eyes all focused in on the Mouse and the wolf's big, furry tail beat out a simple one-two tap against the floor before he lowered his head again.\u0026nbsp; The Doctor smiled at the newcomer and bowed her head slightly, \"Oani Hamah.\"\n\nFriar Arlowe knew it was a greeting among the Tribal Folk but, by the time he'd realized that the two were already off in a conversation that he failed to understand, let alone keep up with.\u0026nbsp; He realized at that point how the poor Mare must have felt about his rambling.\u0026nbsp; Toward the end, he recognized the Mouse speak his name admits several words while gesturing toward him.\u0026nbsp; The Mare seemed taken aback but recovered quickly and responded in kind.\n\nAs the discussion came to an end, Dr. Brownell looked toward him, \"This is Among-the-Reeds.\u0026nbsp; She is going to wait here for Prince Malcom.\"\n\nThe Monk nodded courteously to the doctor, and then to the newcomer before trying to get the greeting right. \"Ah... um.. Oh-ah-knee hah-muh.\"\n\nHis attempt was enough to make the Mare's stoic face scrunch up slightly into a barely restrained smile which made his own that much more comfortable.\u0026nbsp; She took a seat in an armchair across from him and lowered her hand to gently rub Barro behind one of his ears; the wolf didn't seem to mind in the least.\u0026nbsp; \"You not like other Men of Symbol.\"\n\nIt wasn't exactly the best thing for starting a conversation, but at least it seemed to her that it was a good thing so he wasn't about to object.\u0026nbsp; \"You... uh... you know Barro?\"\n\nAmong-the-Reeds nodded, still looking at him and still continuing to pat the wolf, \"Yes.\u0026nbsp; I know Wild Wolf and Barro.\u0026nbsp; I come to get Wild Wolf and bring him to Grass Tribe.\"\n\nIt was a bit of a surprise, and more than a little alarming, \"He is busy here... helping the people of-- of the... uh... Rock Tribe.\"\n\nShe flicked an ear and stopped scratching Barro.\u0026nbsp; Sitting up a little straighter she leaned forward, \"We need Wild Wolf... other men come to Grass Tribe from over big lake.\"\n\nThe Mare's word choices confused him somewhat. \"Other men?\u0026nbsp; Big lake?\"\n\nShe nodded, \"They no talk to us but talk to him.\u0026nbsp; They say they wait for him for one moon and then kill tribe.\"\n\nComplicated situations had never been Arlowe's strong point, and he realized things were definitely heading in that direction.\u0026nbsp; Letting out a sigh he slumped in his chair, \"God, if you do not at least have a sense of humor then you have nothing.\"\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The Lead Crown","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/780458-the-lead-crown-ch-6a-a-world-apart-pt-3.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/773753-the-lead-crown-ch-6c-ghosts-of-the-past-pt-2.json"}}