Chapter Text
Reverend mother Ulla Woolington was slightly bothered as she walked beneath the arched walkway facing the Abbey’s courtyard with two sisters. Sister Berthe, a badger, and mistress of novices, was looking even more sour then usual as they were talking about her least favorite of all the Novitiates, and Sister Margaretta, a pony, and mistress of postulants, was trying to defend Skye’s actions... The grey sheep had not seen Skye at Mass, again she thought, and all the sisters she had sent out to find her had reported back all saying the same thing: Skye was nowhere to be found…
This was problematic in the least… There is no way that Skye Winter will make a postulant at this rate… she thought. She was wondering if there might be something she could do for the poor girl, but her constant disappearances seemed to point to something that Skye always vehemently denied when asked about it. Does she really want to even be here? Ulla pondered this as the badger and the pony seemed to quiet down from their near-bickering from earlier. Sister Bertha, as mistress of novices, was in charge of Skye and the other Novitiates, and had constantly been complaining of the vixen’s, among other things, tardiness, lack of proper etiquette, seeming short attention span, and tendency to get dirty. Sister Margaretta on the other hoof was arguing that despite these issues, that Skye was a genuine girl, that there was not a mean bone in her body, despite being a predator, (which earned some grumbling from Berthe) and while she WAS easily distracted, it was merely that she had a wonderful imagination. She also had a gift for music, and a soul-deep desire to help others. All winning qualities if only she could be controlled Berthe had argued, with Margaretta arguing back that while discipline was necessary, it didn’t do any good to try to break her soul.
Reverend Mother Ulla had forestalled any further arguing, and Berthe HAD been looking ready for more, with a wave of her hoofed hand as a sister approached them from the courtyard. Ulla remembered that this giraffe, sister Bernice, was the last sister who had not yet reported back on the disappearance of Skye Winters.
“Reverend Mother.” The giraffe said with a respectful nod to the tiny mammals that did not even reach her knees.
“Sister Bernice.” Ulla responded with an acknowledging nod in return.
The giraffe looked somewhat antsy as she continued “I simply cannot find her ANYWHERE.”
Though she knew of whom she was speaking, Ulla added “Skye?”
Sister Bernice nodded in confirmation, looking thoroughly frustrated. “She is missing from the Abbey again…”
Sister Berthe looked behind Ulla somewhat smugly at sister Margaretta. “Perhaps we should have put a COW BELL around her neck.” She said, looking quite pleased with this proposition.
Sister Margaretta let out a quiet huff through her nose before looking up at the giraffe with a more hopeful look. “Have you tried the barn? Or the pond? You know how much she adores the animals…”
Sister Bernice shook her head, a bit of straw coming off the top of her wimple. “I have looked EVERYWHERE, in all of the usual places…”
Ulla interjected without even blinking, “Sister Bernice, considering it’s Skye, I suggest you look in someplace Unusual.”
Sister Bernice looked confused for a moment, seeming to consider how to look somewhere unusual before giving a polite smile and nod and heading off. Ulla thought she heard something along the lines of “bottom of the well” but couldn’t be certain. Though, considering Skye’s track record, she didn’t think her being at the bottom of a well counted as unusual for Skye Winters. In fact just yesterday she had been climbing out of a mud puddle she had apparently fallen into while chasing a duck and ducklings. She had then rushed off to get cleaned but had missed mass because she had started washing more then just her clothes and singing to herself.
Ulla dispelled the thoughts. She couldn’t let herself become angry at the hijinks of a young vixen with a too big heart and an overactive imagination. Such mammals were not to be punished for not doing anything outright BAD, but perhaps these were signs that just MAYBE Skye was not suited to the life of a nun.
Ulla, Berthe and Margaretta left the cover of the colonnade and began walking through the courtyard, with Berthe giving a derisive snort. “WELL Reverend Mother,” she began; “I hope this NEW infraction ends whatever doubts you may still have about Skye’s future here.” She ended on a sort of smug note and it took a bit of effort to remain completely stone faced at the derisiveness in her tone. However sister Margaretta looked affronted and was about to say something when Ulla interjected; “I always try to keep faith in my doubts sister Berthe.”
“After all, the wool of a black sheep is just as warm.” Sister Margaretta added, then gave a sheepish pardon me when Ulla looked at her with an amused expression.
“We are NOT talking about sheep, black OR white Sister Margaretta.” Sister Berthe bit back. Ulla didn’t say anything. “Of all the candidates for the Novitiate,” she began as her voice started raising, “I would say that Skye is the LEAST likely to…” Sister Margaretta was just beginning to argue back, and so Ulla decided to intervene before it got out of hoof again.
“Children, CHILDREN!” She said as she held up her hooves to stop this petty bickering. She cared for all those who lived within the walls of the Abbey but sometimes these two could go too far. Why, she could still remember when the Abbey had taken in a litter of squirrels… Sister Berthe had been losing it almost every day and Sister Margaretta had been losing it that SHE had been losing it. Ulla needed to figure out some way to get them to agree on something someday, or there might be problems.
Ulla was glad when her hoof raise silenced the argument that was stirring up, but noticed a few other Sisters were staring in confusion at the near altercation. Ulla decided she needed to do something about Skye if the problem really was big, but decided also to use this opportunity to get some more feedback so she could modify her approach to the situation. These sisters might do.
She turned her little group towards the trio on the other side of the courtyard, who were now looking embarrassed that they had been caught staring, but Ulla belayed any apologies by getting straight to the point. Some unbiased opinions never hurt, she thought.
“We were speculating on the qualifications of some of our postulants.” She opened, noting the relief on the faces of the three sisters, a lioness, a tigress, and a bear sow. “The mistress of novices,” she continued as sister Berthe gave a small nod, “and the mistress of postulants” a nod from Margaretta, “were trying to help me by,” she kept a straight face as she added; “expressing OPPOSITE points of view.” She almost smiled as she did not see but felt the two mammals behind her share an embarrassed glance with each other. “Tell me sister Catharine, what do you think of… Skye?”
The lioness smiled as she stepped forward a bit, certainly relieved that the conversation was about someone else, her glasses shifting a bit as she smiled. “She’s a wonderful girl!” she stated, but then paused before rolling her eyes and adding; “Some of the time…”
Ulla nodded, curious about her choice of words before looking to the tigress. “Sister Agatha?
The tigress smiled as she said; “It’s very easy to like Skye!” But then her smile somewhat faltered as her eyes darted around a bit like she was thinking quickly how to modify what she wanted to say so it wouldn’t come out rude. “Except when it is… Difficult…”
Again, another two-fold answer regarding this vixen… “And you, Sister Sophia?” Third one’s a charm…
The bear smiled warmly; “Oh I love her dearly!” but she turned thoughtful as she added; “But… she always seems to be in trouble doesn’t she?”
Well there it is… Three for three… Ulla could hear the badger behind her start moving and knew what was coming.
“Exactly what I say.” Sister Berthe said as she stepped forward to be face to face with the elderly sheep. 🎼🎶”She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee, her dress has got a tear…”
The bear added to the badger's point; 🎼🎶”She waltzes on her way to Mass and whistles on the stair.”
The badger nodded to the bear as if her whole point was being made for her. 🎼🎶”And underneath her wimple, she has CURLERS in her hair!” She said pointing to her own head in emphasis as she nearly raised her voice disrespectfully.
The lioness added with almost shock in her voice; 🎼🎶”I’ve even heard her singing in the Abbey!”
Ulla shook her head as if that was a silly reason for all this, but didn’t stop them.
The tigress continued their point. 🎼🎶”She’s always late for chapel…”
🎼🎶”But her penitence is real!” The bear threw in…
The badger shook her head like that was a pointless point. 🎼🎶”She’s always late for EVERYTHING!”
The lion got an amused smile as she added 🎼🎶”Except for every meal…”
Sister Berthe, feeling like her point had won, walked in front of Reverend Mother Ulla as she drove to her greatest point like a panzer rolling into Pawland. (EN: Oh wait… a bit too early still… Oh well…) 🎼🎶”I hate to have to say it, but I very firmly feel…”
🎼🎶”SKYE WINTER'S NOT AN ASSET TO THE ABBEY.” The badger and her trio of followers concluded.
But now the pony behind Ulla couldn’t hold her tongue any longer… “I’d like to say a word in her behalf.”
Ulla turned, not surprised by this statement. “Then say it sister Margaretta.”
Margaretta tried very hard to hold a straight face… “Skye… makes me…” and failed miserably; “Laugh!” she finished as she broke out into giggles, the trio behind sister Berthe giggling as well, despite the badger turning with a betrayed look.
Girls… Ulla thought to herself as she looked past everyone in contemplation before thinking out loud. 🎼🎶”How do you solve a problem like Skye Winters? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?” She began walking while musing, making a needle motion at her reference to pinning down.
Sister Margaretta came up beside her and contributed; 🎼🎶”How do you find a word that means Skye Winters?”
The lioness and the tigress added; 🎼🎶”A flibbertigibbet?”
🎼🎶”A will-o’-the-wisp?” the bear questioned.
“A clown.” The badger did not seem too happy that her point was being questioned… Again…
Ulla decided once again that that did not need a response, and continued with her speculating. 🎼🎶”Many a thing you know you’d like to tell her… many a thing she ought to understand.” She thought aloud as she walked up a step at one end of the courtyard.
Berthe walked up to her continuing her argument, but for once settling on exasperated rather then combative. 🎼🎶”But HOW do you make her stay? And LISTEN to all you say?”
🎼🎶”How do you keep a wave upon the sand?” Ram, that was a good metaphor, Ulla thought to herself somewhat pleased.
Margaretta walked up as well and asked as if Ulla suddenly had an answer; 🎼🎶”How do you solve a problem like Skye Winters?”
Ulla shook her head, as no answer was forthcoming, nor did she think one ever WOULD. 🎼🎶”How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”
This discussion was starting to point to something… Ulla wasn’t sure she liked it… But it was something that MIGHT HAVE to be considered…
The tigress walked up to add to this conversation again; 🎼🎶”When I’m with her I’m confused, out of focus and bemused, and I never know exactly where I aaaaaaaaaaaaam.”
The bear joined the party. 🎼🎶”Unpredictable as weather.”
As did the lioness; 🎼🎶”She’s as flighty as a feather!”
And the pony could not stand for it any longer. “She’s a DARLING!”
The badger, feeling her point threatened again, almost snarled; “SHE’S A DEMON!”
The pony stamped her hoof and snorted in response; “SHE’S A LAMB!!!” Again with all these sheep references… Ulla thought.
🎼🎶”She’d out-pester any pest, drive a hornet from it's nest,” the tigress began…
Before the bear took over; 🎼🎶”She can throw a whirling dervish out of whirl!”
Ulla saw Margaretta's look of disapproval as she added; 🎼🎶”She is gentle, she is wild!”
The lioness shook her head. 🎼🎶”She’s a riddle, she’s a child…”
The badger was looking almost feral now at this pony who DARED oppose her view. 🎼🎶”SHE’S A HEADACHE!!!”
The pony was looking like she wanted to clobber some sense into this ruffian. 🎼🎶”SHE’S AN ANGEL!!!”
Alright enough is enough, Ulla decided. She raised her hooves to stop this and stated in no arguable way; 🎼🎶”SHE’S A GIIRRLL!” Not having a response to this, the combatants backed off and seemed to calm down.
All now turned to the sky and asked the only one who could answer this riddle; 🎼🎶”HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE SKYE WINTERS? HOW DO YOU CATCH A CLOUD AND PIN IT DOWN? HOW DO YOU FIND A WORD THAT MEANS SKYE WINTERS?”
The lioness and the tigress asked; 🎼🎶”A flibbertigibbet?”
The bear and the pony asked; 🎼🎶”A will-o’-the-wisp?”
The badger demanded; “A CLOWN.”
Ulla waved her hooves again. She was NOT going to allow this to escalate again.
🎼🎶”MANY A THING YOU KNOW YOU’D LIKE TO TELL HER… MANY A THING SHE OUGHT TO UNDERSTAND…”
Ulla was now starting to tire of all this, and asked; 🎼🎶”But HOW do you make her stay?”
Berthe nodded in agreement. 🎼🎶”And listen to all you say?
Margaretta came up behind them both and pointed out the obvious. 🎼🎶”How do you keep a wave upon the saaaaand?”
🎼🎶”OH, HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE SKYE WINTERS?” they all asked at once… To suddenly stop their conversation as they heard a *SLAM!!!* echo throughout the courtyard. All turned as one to see what the commotion was… And unfortunately for Margaretta’s argument, it was the subject of their current debate…
The Arctic Fox RAN from the alcove out of sight where the door was located and sped towards the pump-action well at the courtyard's center, her tail acting like a streamer as she was running so fast…
She was panting up a storm, her long tongue laying to one side of her head and her eyes were bulging and her limbs were shaking from what Ulla could guess was quite a long run, considering it was night now. Skye ran up to the faucet and pumped the lever a couple times to get some water running and splashed her face as she tried (unsuccessfully) to fix her mussed up facial fur a bit, and then began RUNNING again towards the chapel and almost seemed like she didn’t notice the group watching her with a mix of amusement and disappointment.
At the last moment she froze mid-stride… and turned to look Ulla straight in the eyes. Her eyes bugged a little more as she realized she would probably be receiving a new name soon, something along the lines of 'MUD', and relaxed from her halted run.
Ulla was saddened to see Skye seem to suddenly deflate as all the implications of this situation sunk in. Skye then slumped a bit as she started walking at a much slower pace towards her room, her ears pinned back and tail dragging as she started muttering to herself. Stupid fox, stupid dumb fox… Ulla thought she heard…
🎼🎶”How do you hold a moonbeam, in your haaaaand?” The little group mused as they all started towards Ulla's office at a beckoning motion from the sheep.
Well, there it is…
Ulla had some thinking to do… But the point was made.
Skye was not stupid, as Berthe seemed to think… She was a free spirit. When one joined the nunnery, it required a great deal of self-control and self-denial, and most mammals simply were not made to live by such a strict regimen. Ulla wondered if it would have been different if Skye had grown up with her parents, had the normal life that most mammals enjoyed, if she would have perhaps found love? She had noticed that what little control Skye had on her emotions and her whims had almost COMPLETELY disappeared between November and December…
Most mammals who had annual 'seasons' were more uptight during the winter months, but those who joined even the Novitiate were able to hide it far better then Skye had…
So what is keeping her here?
It was high time that she spoke to Skye. But what to do?
Well… there WAS that letter…
Perhaps a test is in order… To see if Skye is truly made for THIS life, or another…