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Post by lorki on Dec 20, 2008 17:19:24 GMT -5
She knew by his smile that she wouldn’t need to explain to him about the twins. And seeing him made her smirk as well, she could only image how odd it might seem to her if he popped up with little Redin’s following him around. At least he didn’t seem to mind them, he would once he got a better taste of their destructive nature. She cast a disapproving glance at Omri, “he does have a tendency to get in the way at bad times.”
She shook her head; well aware she was torturing them with boredom. Both had begun to stare in awe at Redin’s claymore, she knew there was nothing they would like to do better then to drag the thing around and slice each other apart with it.
Finally she caved, “you can go play, but please don’t get yourselves killed, eat everything you find, hurt each other too badly or interrupt anymore naps, yes?”
Two eager nods were all she could catch before the two bolted off, one disappearing after the other into a windswept pile of leaves. Not caring to see the ‘vicious’ play-fight she knew was beginning she turned back to Redin, “that’s one way to put it…” She smiled widely, “I think, actually, I’ve been having fun lately. What about you, just been napping in the woods? Didn’t know what to do without me, did you?”
Her ears twitched towards her twins, paying careful mind to their leafy tussle. She had had to chase them down enough so far that day, she wasn’t keen on doing it again.
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Post by maxodis on Dec 20, 2008 17:19:56 GMT -5
There was a time when he would have made a gruff reply to such a question. Sleet really hadn't changed much, by comparison. He, on the other hand...
His smile, uncharacteristicly, turned sad at the question. He glanced away. "I suppose you could say I'm doing the best I can. I don't have anything to..."
Redin cut himself off, realizing this was not the time nor place to express such things. His misery was something that he had dealt with alone for most of his life, it could wait some time longer.
Forcing himself to smile again, he met her eyes, hoping she didn't see the despair thinly veiled behind his. "I've found less dangerous pursuits since then." He laughed. "Well, perhaps it's dangerous in it's own respect, considering my complete lack of skill."
Dimly he recalled his hunger. Blinking, momentarily startled at all that had transpired since he found himself awakened, he glanced up at the tree once more, knowing there was no fruit to be gathered, but needing an excuse to look away. Sheepishly, he scratched the fur at the back of his neck.
"You wouldn't happen to have a bite to eat, would you?"
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Post by lorki on Dec 20, 2008 17:21:23 GMT -5
Sleet was quick to overlook his fleeting sad moment. She would follow his lead, and if he wanted to stay happy she would too. She smirked at him as he claimed to have a lack of skill; that was certainly not the Redin she knew speaking.
She had her kit’s now, she could tell when a beast was looking for food. She’d had to tear all sorts of things from their mouths, it seemed as if they would eat anything they found that didn’t smell deadly. “Do you take me to be a horrible mother?” She asked, faking a frown.
She pulled the bag off her shoulder and set it down on the leaf litter. She kneeled beside it and searched through the messy contents of the bag. “There isn’t much fresh… I’ve got bread… a scone… dried fruit… Aw, hell here you just take-” She was midway through holding the bag up for Redin to look though it when she noticed the sounds of a tussle had ceased.
She stood up slowly, still extending her arm and thrusting the bag towards her friend, but her dark eyes searched the clearing for the kits. They were missing… her eye’s grew wide with horror when she realized they weren’t the only thing that had disappeared. “Redin… you put your sword by that tree didn’t you? That tree that… doesn’t have a sword by it… right?”
(Okay basic introductions done, so feel free to interrupt whenever!)
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Post by maxodis on Dec 20, 2008 17:21:46 GMT -5
The Weasel's paw hung suspended in front of him, halted in it's efforts to recieve the satchel containing the food that would no doubt be consumed regardless of it's freshness. The heartfelt words of gratitude froze upon his lips as he saw the expression on his old friend's face. He had seen that expression many times previously. The resulting outcome was never exactly what one would call desireable.
He followed her eyes, pivoting at the heel to see what was there that produced such a profound reaction. Or rather, what was not.
The landscape behind him was as dull and plain as that on the opposite side of the clearing. The same clusters of trees in various stages of losing their leaves, the dense underbrush, shades of gray losing their golden tints as the sun rose further into the sky...
And the tree he was sleeping against.
That was now lacking a certain large weapon.
Both creatures were silent, eyes fixed on the same spot.
A short span of time passed, seeming to lapse on for an eternity, their combined silence only broken by the occasional gust.
Redin turned once more to Sleet, his jaw set in a grim cast.
"Your children cannot be trusted."
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Post by lorki on Dec 20, 2008 17:25:19 GMT -5
Horror erased, replaced with delight. The small ferret stumbled back, dropping the bag to the ground, her other paw quickly covered her mouth and nose as she found herself in a fit of giggles. Partly it was because she had become so use to the kit’s troublesome nature that Redin’s reaction was simply entertaining and she should have seen it coming, partly it was his words and how blatant and obvious the statement was, mostly it was the multiple ideas that sprang into her mind of what her sons could be up to with that thing.
“I’m sorry…” She held up a paw, still attempting to stifle her laughter, “I’m really sorry.” She was apologetic, both for laughing at him and for her children’s actions. It surprised even her that they could turn around so quickly to cause mischief again.
Finally she straightened up and cleared her throat, still unable to hide the large grin on her face, “well it did have a good sheath right?” She glanced about the clearing, thinking about where she ought to start looking for their tracks.
“…And worse comes to worse one of them will just stab the other and that’d make my life a hell of a lot easier anyhow.” She muttered as she took a few steps to the tree where he had set the claymore down and glanced about the ground. “After all kit’s can’t break a sword… I don’t think.”
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Post by Wolf Fenrir Helix on Dec 22, 2008 14:17:11 GMT -5
From down the way, a score and a half of mixed vermin from four different lands walked. Having been sent out foraging for food by Isold, the group heard some noises from up ahead.
"What's over there cullies? I hear some beasts chattin' away..."
"I hears it too boss."
"Shall we go check it out? Maybe they'll have some food with them?"
After muttering amongst themselves a little, the party headed towards the source of the voices. Before they could come upon Redin and Sleet, they found the kits and quickly surrounded them...
"Ohhh... Young'in's boss... Reckon the boss-lady will have 'em cooked? I hear some of them desert rats eat others..."
"We don't... Usually..."
"I saw yor kind eatin' some of them corpses form the last set of fools that defied the boss-lady."
"Enough! We take them kits back with us. Lady Isold will decide what happens to them after that!"
The arguement settled, the band turned their attention back to the young ones.
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Post by lorki on Dec 22, 2008 17:38:16 GMT -5
The kits had made their escape from Sleet and Redin with Redin's claymore dragged along behind them. Once they had found a small area in which to play with their new 'toy' they realized they didn't quite understand the sheath. So they began to do what young ferrets did best... bite.
While Dax, far more patient, toyed with the base of the sword and tried to figure out how to release it his twin sunk small fangs into the leather sheath and tore small bits off at a time.
They only noticed the vermin once they were surrounded. Dax's face fell, his ears pinned back. Omri stopped his mauling of the sheath and quickly pulled himself up. His ears too flicked back, but then shot forward again and his face contorted into an oddly adorable snarl. "You try ta eat us. I'll rip ya apart from the inside out!" He growled, quite prepared to fight his way out of the circle of vermin.
Dax held onto the sword, despite knowing with its weight there was no way he would lift it. He was quieter, shrinking down a bit and glancing from one hordesbeast to the next - sizing them up. Omri however was focused on the one's he'd seen speaking, giving no mind to the others or the fact that he was surrounded.
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Post by maxodis on Dec 22, 2008 19:43:43 GMT -5
Pinching his temples, misery forgotten, Redin found himself willing his jaw to relax. Finding himself unsuccessful, he left the now pronounced vein on his left cheek to spasm and pulsate as it would. With no small amount of cynicism he recalled that in the past when his and Sleet's paths crossed, his day usually ended in some sort of misfortune. Some things just don't change...
He crossed his arms, giving an exasperated sigh. For a moment he watched his friend search the area, his mind too distracted to make any logical connection as to why. Blinking several seconds later as his mind realized it should be doing something productive, he realized that her progress would be made faster if he were to help. Following her example, it did not take the weasel long to spot a place where the cumbersome weapon had touched the ground, leaving a barely definable furrow in the earth. scanning the ground in the direction it pointed, he began to see their trail though minor disturbances that he would have otherwise missed.
Still slightly irritated at her (in his opinion) poorly timed laughter, Redin made no attempt to catch Sleet's attention, only remarking, "Found where they went. Come on." before stalking off after the twin kits. The darkness of his mood reflected that which clouded the crevice of his furrowed brow.
"Cursed, thieving, evil little maggots....if something happens to my sword..." Redin muttered crossly, making no effort to quiet his angry footfalls that scattered the fallen leaves loudly.
((OOC:Ran outta steam at the end of that, but thar.))
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Post by lorki on Dec 22, 2008 21:39:27 GMT -5
"Making use of yourself?" She grinned as she followed along at a quicker pace to catch up to him. She threw an arm over his shoulder -it was difficult because of their height difference- to try to slow him down. "Hey now, they might be thieving evil maggots but they aren't that dumb. They'll hear you coming you ought to quiet down."
She stepped carefully, having been an assassin she knew well how to walk soundlessly. Surely her kits were busy and would probably not notice their advance even if they were playing musical instruments and marching. But those little ferrets had their highly intelligent moments and she suspected Redin didn't want to risk his sword for much longer then he had to.
"You have to admit..." She smirked, trotting along beside him, "they are a bit charming, in a horrific troublesome sort of way- babes. I think you'd like them if you... gave them a chance." The last half of her sentance faded awkwardly as she recalled what she knew of her friends history. She glanced sideways sharply and then back to him, quickly adding, "Dax and Omri." Her voice fell again but she tried not to let her uneasiness show in her stride or in her expression. Perhaps he could recover her fumble... she hoped so at least. She was too happy to see him, the idea of upsetting him so early on was not appealing.
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Post by Wolf Fenrir Helix on Jan 3, 2009 13:04:34 GMT -5
One of the vermin, a tough-looking arctic fox with a large axe carried over one shoulder, put his foot paw on the blade, easily pinning it to floor under his greater weight.
"Didn't yer mama ever tell ya to not play wid swords?"
The fox's joke drew laughs from the other vermin in the group... Two of them produced copious amounts of rope from under their cloaks... More than enough to retrain the kits and even a few adults. Tightening their circle on the two kits, the vermin fell at them with the rope, intending to tie them up quickly and with minimal fuss.
"Come on now buckos, put yor backs into it and git them trussed up for the boss lady, else she'll have yor hides for breakfast!"
The speaker this time, was a former corsair stoat. Drawing a wide-bladed scimitar from his belt, he pointed at four rats from the party.
"Yous four, go keep wath down the path and the bushes. We don't want nobeast sneaking up on us as we take these two wid us."
Silently, the four indicated desert rats did as they were bidden, each one concealing themselves in the bushes to each of the four sides of the group.
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Post by maxodis on Jan 4, 2009 17:46:39 GMT -5
As focused as he was on the task at hand, Redin failed to notice Sleet's slip-of-tongue. He continued to stride purposefully forward, there was no need to search for tracks any longer, it was clear that the twin kits had made a straight trail in order to escape with their stolen property as fast as possible. He did not, however, fail to sense the sudden uneasiness in his friend.
Realizing then that he had missed what was most likely an important comment, Redin halted, turning to face her. The question was half-formed on his lips as he found reason to hesitate once more. He raised a paw as his ear twitched slightly. Pivoting his head slowly, he cocked his ear towards the source of the distant sound he had heard through the relative silence of autumn.
Unmoved, muscles tensed, he tried to identify what sort of noise it had been. It was unquestionably a sound created by more than one creature. Was it only a figment of his imagination, or his fear? Could that have been.....laughter?
His grim expression returned. It did not matter what that sound had been, there was no doubt in the weasel's mind that it had been made by a group of some sort. There was no doubt in his mind that the source of it lay somewhere ahead of them, along the trail that they followed. This day had just gotten worse.
Wordlessly, he broke out into a sprint in the direction they had been traveling. There was no need to alert Sleet, either she had heard the sound as well and had come to the same conclusion as he had, or she would suspect what he feared had come to pass by his sudden action. Either way, time was of the essence, little could be wasted in explanation. She would surely follow.
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Post by lorki on Jan 4, 2009 19:00:28 GMT -5
The kits attention turned swiftly to the fox. Dax dropped the blade quickly and stood back away from it and the fox. Both seemed to become a bit more uneasy as they watched the group prepare to capture them. Omri glanced sideways to his brother who feverishly shook his head. The larger kit did not seem to take heed of his brothers gesture as as soon as the vermin got close enough he lunged- all claws and fangs lashing at its face and arms.
Dax's approach was a bit more reasonable, he attempted to dodge the ropes and was at first successful but a second quick leap to the left found him in a tangle. It wasn't long before Omri too was ripped off of the hordesbeast, although he had managed to inflict a few small wounds. Both plans having failed they settled to thrash wildly, snapping a multitude of words their mother would have immediately smacked them for.
Sleet meanwhile had heard the sounds as Redin turned to her. His immediate action quickly drew her worry towards her children and she silently bolted after him, drawing one of her knives and holding the tip carefully, ready to pelt it at any second if she needed. Being a not-so level headed beast Sleet's concern drove her to be considerably more dangerous in this particular situation. She stayed carefully behind Redin, her ears perked forward and her fur bristling.
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Post by Rakingclaw on Jan 16, 2009 11:58:12 GMT -5
Balash had been watching the horde for several days, his large yellow eyes focused specifically on the one called Isold. Her deceleration to take Redwall was just the kind of challenge he had been looking for. He traced the scar along his face absentmindedly as he quietly watched vermin's little dramas unfold before him.
"Lets go see if this one is worth her salt, shall we?" he spoke to the open air and slipped out of the tree and landed on the ground without a sound. He calmly walked over to the four rats his scarred lip pulling back into a wicked sneer of contempt "One of you flea bitten skum take me to Isold, or die it is that simple."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarak had been wandering the forests of mossflower for several months with no direction or purpose, taking what he needed to survive from the inhabitants there and moving on. Like a wild unchecked force of nature he was, simply existing to destroy and sow chaos, the counterweight to both anarchy and conformity. He scratched the scarred flesh on his side with his trident paw drawing small beads of blood that he paid no notice. As he looked around the thick forest, his breath hissing from his lungs. His one good ear picked up the sounds of rambunctious laughter, so without pause he walked to the source. The arctic fox had just left the four rats when Sarak slid into view from the thick foresty darkness.
"Hello neighbor...." Sarak snarled through gritted teeth "Thats a mighty beautiful coat of fur you have, would you mind if I took it.... It would look sooo good on me" Sarak drew his broadsword as smiled at his reflection on the blade "Oh where are my manners, before I skin you alive I am Sarak and this is Rakingclaw." he held out the trident bolted to his wrist and strangely enough the weapon did not speak. "Now that you know your death is here and we have exchanged pleasantries, it is time for me to TAKE YOUR SKIN!!" and with that final word he attacked.
~~~~~~~~~
Duskbloom ran his crimson beak through his ebony feathers, all the while his burning red eyes never leaving the Warlady Isold Gabriele Wilda. The black swan had followed the horde for days and was finally ready to strike. Like a ebony bolt of lightning duskbloom crashed into one of Isolds body guards breaking the wicked vermin's spine with the sheer force of the impact. The swan then calmly stared at the white ferret his words sliding out from his beak in a bone chilling hiss "I ccchallenge you Isssold to battle, ssshould you win I offer my ssservices, if you lossse..." The swan stepped off the dead beast never breaking the ferrets gaze "when you arrre rrready.." he said. His voice was the sound of scales on leaves and the freezing of meat on the most frigid cold night of the year.
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Post by dirgecallers on Jan 16, 2009 19:25:46 GMT -5
Lentle was currently sitting to one side by the fire. His acceptance into the horde had gone smoothly, there was somthing just a bit off...The other hordebeasts were avoiding him, and even his former gang would not sit by him. It was almost as if....the entire horde was apprehensive.
They certainly had every right to be, at least from Lentle's view. His first conversation with Lady Wilde had been tentative, each beast had been assesing the other. He was certain that was what happened at least. He was adamant though, not to let the slightest suscpion of any higher ambition reach her ears. He knew from past experience that leaders could not stand beasts of any ambition whatsoever. It always seemed to be those beasts who lacked any vision in life, who got the promotions. Come to think of it, flatterers usually never got promotions either.
The 'gift' he had given Isolde was obviously a boon to his cause though. It wasn't the only reason he was still alive, he was sure of that much. The Scorpion would be put to good use, perhaps as a Deuce ex Machina. He of course was respected as the capturer of this weapon, but for the same reason he would never have it under his command again. The Lady might be grateful, but she was no fool.
It was then that Lentle was sharply pulled out of his reverie. Over upon the borders of camp there seemed to be a disturbance. A huge rat, swarthy and gritty looking, had just requested admittance to the horde. His request had been followed by what amounted to a challenge to the leaders authority. At least thats what Lentle could gather, considering that the rats were seemingly hesitent to take him to Isolde. It looked like he might have to wait a whiles for his audience too. A mighty swan had evidently descended from the clear sky when Lentle's back was turned. It appeared from his posture that he was making a classic 'challenge' posture.
The ermine had barely enough time to take in all of these happenings when he heard a clamour behind him as well. Around the fire circle, there was utter chaos with creatures running to and fro. "What could this be?" Lentle muttered as he grabbed his quarterstaff out from the floor. This situation was close enough that he might not easily escape it. It happened that the crowd dispersed enough that the ermine could see what the cause was. A Lone Wildcat with a long trident was fending off the few who had stayed to fight. There were already a few carcasses of beasts who had fallen in the effort of trying to resist him. Lentle rushed over to the scene at once. By now there was only one beast fighting the cat.
"Stop! What do you hope to accomplish by this random violence?" Yelled Lentle at the cat as he approached. "If you think you can take on this whole army, you ar obviously crazy! Do ye not know that if they catch you here, they'll overwhelm you! There may even be beasts in that vast horde who would best you in single combat. I myself do not pretend to be one of these beasts. If it would stop you from needlessly killing yourself, I offer to be your chosen combatant in place of them."
( done)
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Post by Wolf Fenrir Helix on Jan 16, 2009 20:19:48 GMT -5
Isold never batted an eyelash as the swan appeared before her, killing a weasel from the forest areas she had recruited from. Cooly and levelly, she dropped her sword belt, the cross belt and her War hammer. That left her the daggers up her sleeves, on her hips and at the back of her waist, in addition ot her meteor hammer.
"Didn't give me much choice did ya?
Freeing the rope and metal weapon that was her meteor hammer with her right paw, she drew a long, thin dagger with her left. Taking several steps forward, she gave an almost psychotic grin.
"I'll let you make the first move... I'm feeling risky and generous."
~~~
The desert rat that Balash had spoken to curled his lip in contempt.
"Hold thine tongue rat-beast. You will get your wish to meet the warlady by tonight if you stop making noise. I'm to be watching for any potential ambush."
~~~
The stoat twiddled a claw in his ear.
"What orful words young'ins are coming out with nowdays, eh cullies?"
Getting a few laughs from several of the vermin with the ropes, the corsair watched the beats in their attempts to restrain the kits.
~~~
The fox raised an eyebrow at the wildcat. Drawing the claymore and round shield he had strapped to his back he held them lose but ready.
"Tyristan. Captain to Warlady Isold. Your death if you try anything foolish!"
Bringing the shield up to parry the first attack, he let himself be driven back a few paces, back down the path and towards the horde's camp.
"Kill me and our leader will have your head on a pike."
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