[@PrankFox] Zaris regrets finally giving in... lol No more sling practice for Rigby. 
Using Zaris as a way to teach Rigby to be more circumspect and thoughtful in his questioning curiousity. He'll probably still have a few moments of not quite thinking things through, but Zaris'll be one reason he considers time and place and how necessary the information really is, as well as being more respectful of the things other beasts may not want to talk about. So I can see them having had an awkward relationship for the first bit of Zaris's time at the Abbey, but maybe it's settled into a more pleasant association now Rigby isn't pestering as much and is just being companionable. ???

[@Lord Wraith]Good mouse friends!
He'd definitely have wanted to tag along with Bancroft back to the farm fairly regularly, even as a dibbun since his friend is leaving! How often he's been, if at all before the start of the story, is up for debate though. And much as his parents trust him to look after himself, they'd probably be happier to know he has a destination and other beasts waiting there to look after him too. Though the first time he did/does go along I can just see him being so exuberant about the trip itself, excited to see everything, and then just very much wanting to help in whatever way they'll let him until it's time to head back. There's also the possibility that Lonicera and Rigby's mum became friends while commiserating over their dibbuns' mischievous ways.