3-4-10 - Nimue, Tyree, Micah, Thad, Dagda, Flicktail, Tameus

Salamandastron: Underground Spring

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

This is a small, circular room with a pool in the middle - the lifeblood

of Salamandastron. This freshwater spring allows the mountain a water

supply in the event of a siege. The spring bubbles up from the center

(and providing a great assistance to bathing: having the water already

warm). A passage leads slightly uphill to the Store Room for easy

transport of water between the two rooms.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

                 Visible Exits:

[S]tore [R]oom [C]averns

Turns out the underground spring is good for something other than drinking water. Nimue has opted to take a swim. Whether or not that's what it's meant for, or even if it's allowed, doesn't seem to bother the doe much. She's waist-deep, kind of leaned back and halfway floating in the water, her arms out and eyes shut. Hm hm hm. Not like anyone ever comes down here, right?

Wrong, so very, very wrong. Tyree is down here. Getting water, in fact, for one reason or another. He's got a bucket, because he knows the water down here is precious and most definitely not for swimming. Or whatever he believes that is most sanitary. Swimming is definitely not sanitary for drinking water. The sound of a bucket clonking on the ground echoes through the spring. "What... are you... doing?" Tyree asks in a voice that says he already knows, but he's in such a tizzy he just wants Nimue to /say/ it.

Oh, what the heck. Why are there hares hanging out at the Spring? Mike stops short when he enters by way of the storage room, his brow drawing in a bit of a frown. The scarred buck catches sight of the swimming doe and the rather rigid Tyree. Well... at least it could be funny. "Am I interruptin' somethin'?" Smirk.

Speaking of interrupting, it looks like Thad's been sent down here to get water, too. Bucket and all! The runner stops short, though, when he sees the room already populated... Having heard Tyree's question, he just snorts in laughter. "Hahaha, that is... Well, not drinking water for a few days..." Doo doo doo, he goes to fill his bucket.

Soft footsteps echo down the passage to the spring, the favorite haunt of one healer. Dagda holds an open book before himself as he trails the other on the wall. The hare's ears twitch as he hears the hubbub down the hall.

Nimue jerks and stands upright, no longer floating, but standing with the water at the level of her stomach. Her hair clings wetly to the sides of her face, and she blinks at Tyree, her ears tucked slightly and expression a bit bewildered. ".. I... am.. swimming," she answers in the same manner, and her lips quirk in the start of a smile. Her eyes shift away from him. Whoa, hey there, lots of bucks all of a sudden.

"In... the... spring," Tyree says, barely noticing the arrival of other bucks. He tilts his head down at the young doe. "You are swimmin'... in drinkin' water," he mutters, and jabs a finger at the pool. "That is ta' be used for everyday livin', an' will be one of very few sources of fresh water in the event of a siege." He looks around at... well, everyone now. "We were interruptin' a misuse o' mountain resources," he says snippishly. Obviously, he's not in quite as good a mood as he was the first time he and Nimue met. But she is a recruit, and must learn. "You /can/ take the water somewhere /else/ before you take a bath, you know. It's what the buckets are for."

Okay, less fun if Tyree's going to be a stick-in-the-mud! Tsk. Mike rolls his eyes and steps around to the edge of hte spring while extending a paw down to Nimue. "C'mon, up 'n' outta there," he prompts the younger doe.

"Oh, yeah." Thad, quite unbothered by this, fills up the bucket. One must wonder where he's taking this water. "What they don't know won't hurt them." Whistle, and he pulls the bucket out of the water, smirking.

Dagda arrives on the scene, tucking his book away in the satchel at his side. He turns first to Tyree, whom he knows, but then turns again, because that's Tyree, who he knows. He addresses Mike. "What seems ta be the trouble?"

Nimue's ears twitch, and her smile grows. He's funny, is apparently the doe's opinion. "... not taking a bath. I said I'm swimming. I /promise/.. I'm not so dirty that I'm going to poison the whole mountain just by taking a dip." Her shoulders rise and then fall. Shrug! She glances at Mike, considers, and then comes to the edge and reaches for his hand to help her out.

Flicktail has arrived.

Micah grips her paw with a bit of a nod, and then tugs her up out of the water. It's a good thing she's a small doe, otherwise the small buck would be at a loss to do this. He glances at Dagda with a shrug. "She was takin' a swim."

"It's not the... it's the..." Tyree gestures between doe and pool. It's principle. Principle! Orderly conduct! "Huh... fine. I suppose it's not goin' ta' shatter the world... but when everybeast else decides it's a good idea ta' go for a dip, don't come runnin' ta' me." He picks up his bucket and fills it like Thad. "Lots of other water everywhere else, but nooo..." he mutters under his breath.

Flicktail moves along, his tail flicking, paw on the pommel of his sowed and his green cloak fluttering as he makes his way inside "um.. Ello Mates...oi ope oi not be interruptin....e hare up by e entrance said ou coudl come in and snoop aroudn some" he smiles and chuckles ducking to enter the area wherethe Hare's are

Nimue tips her head a little to consider Tyree, her arms curling around herself as she stands there dripping. "Hey. I'm sorry? You don't have to act like an arse about it." She looks at Flicktail in surprise, eyes widening slightly as she takes a step back. Uh.

Dagda shrugs indifferently, studying the doe, then the spring. "Well, tha's usually reserved f' therapeutic treatments, bu' I don't see tha' it's the end of the world."

Straighten. Thad spies a fox in the mountain and immediately puts the bucket down. Pretty soon it seems this whole thing is cool, though, so he settles. "...Uh. Suuuure," he responds to the fox, shifting awkwardly. Kind of unexpected, you see.

Wow, it's a crowded night in the Springs, innit? And now there's a fox? Mike glances around at the newest voice and looks, well. Surprised. The scarred buck arches his eyebrows. Unfortunately for Flicktail he's run into a bunch of young'uns that wouldn't know the Champion from a toadstool! "... Hi?"

Flicktail says, "well not ever day" she smiles amicably and moves next to Thad "at oi gets in a place loikes is...noice place ye ave ere.....don't get many foxes do ye? well oi be a rare OTTER fox" he nods to Mike "G'day lad....Oi can't waitto tell all me friends about is place ye ave ere" sounding suspiciously like a fox who is scouting for Vermin"

Nimue shoots a bewildered glance sideways at Mike. ".. I thought vermin aren't allowed..?" she says to him in a whisper, muzzle ducked in a bit closer to the buck's own.

Thad's jaw works for a moment. "Otter fox." He nods slowly. "Huh." A glance is sent amongst the other hares, trying to see if he's the only one who thinks this is a /little/ weird.

"I'm not bein' an /arse,/" Tyree insists. "If I were, you'd all know it..." He straightens up and finds something else to get angry about. A fox. Under. The mountain. His eye twitches and he drops the bucket back onto the ground. "You there," he says, pointing at Flicktail almost accusingly. Okay, /very/ accusingly. "Identify yourself an' your business here. If you /please./" He's not a hare. Or a woodlander. And he's in the bowels of the mountain in a fairly private place to boot. Tyree's lawbreaker sense is tingling!

Nimue is saved from the Wrath of Tyree as the buck's attention turns. That's fine by her. Still, she mumbles, ".. are too."

"They're not," Mike mutters out the side of his mouth to Nimue. He glances at Tyree, though, who saves all of the uncertain and awkward hares the trouble of hemming and hawwing anymore. He lets out a quiet sigh of relief.

( One paw easily moves behind Dagda's waist to rest on the handle of his dagger. "Otter fox, eh? Looks like y' ordinary fox t'me. Armed inside the mountain, no less." )

Flicktail turns to Tyree his tsil flicking rapidly like a squirrels "well oi ave manny names Lad, Oi be Flicktail, friend o dibbuns an a Redwaller by me eart and nature. Sworn ta do no arm" he smiles soudning again like a silly vermin just out to tell some story he thinks will mislead the hares "me friends call me flicky" he bows "Oi also be a Otterfox, a Guard o e camp willa otters.... Well met lads whot hay?

Nimue peeks over toward Flicktail, her ears back, scut twitching. Still dripping water onto the floor. ".. hey. Let's arrest him," is the recruit's suggestion.

"Shut it," Mike mutters to Nimue. He steps up alongside Tyree, then. "Someone ought t'get an officer. Either he's allowed t'be here... or the bloody mountain's overrun with 'em, or somethin'." Heh.

"...Otter... Fox." Thad's long ears swivel back for a moment. Then, he shrugs. "If you're a Redwaller, I guess you're allowed in, but I don't know what Camp Willow is." He picks up the bucket. "I gotta take this to some officers... I'll go ask them." He starts to walk off, then stops. "I have no idea why they need it," he feels the need to add.

Flicktail blink blinks "well o course oi be allowed in ere....though I don'tthink oi ever ran over a mountin afore. How about ya chaps tell me yer name, now at ye knwo mine?" He extends a paw to Mike, the lint of his blade showing itto be of an unusal metal

"Not quite well met," Tyree says through gritted teeth. Apparently the one taking charge of the whole operation he goes up to Flicktail and stands in front of him, barring him further entrance to the room and access to the other hares. He is the oldest Fighter here. ...Right? "Sir Flicky... otter-tail. Thing. You aren't authorized ta' be down here ta' my knowledge. I am obligated ta' escort you to a less... vulnerable... area, an' clear your visit with a superior officer."

Dagda leans toward Mike and mutters, "Betcha he stole tha' sword. He mus' think we're stupid or somethin'."

Flicktail scritches his head looking at Tyree "well...iffin ye think at be wot's roight....oi think oi saw Col Zoey up by e dorms oi be sure she could rize me author for ya....

Well, whether or not Mike would have shaken Flicktail's paw remains at large, because Tyree steps in the way. His brow furrows a little bit as he glances at Dagda. "I guess, maybe." He sounds a little uncertain about that, though.

"Mike?" That's Tam, as he heads down toward the springs. He hears voices, and looks a bit wary as he appears. The stump of his wrist is tucked semi-discreetly into the front of his jacket, that arm held near his chest. "... what's goin' on?"

Thad comes back down to the spring, sans bucket. "Hey. Um. I asked them if they knew of an otter named Flicktail. They kind of looked at me weird again, so I mentioned he was also a fox, aaaaaand it turns out he's the Abbey Champion." He is mostly just leaning into the room at this point. "Of Redwall Abbey," he clarifies. "...Sooooo... I don't know." He gives a less-than-animated shrug, walking the rest of the way in. And oh, so there's Tameus behind him. This is the natural progression of events, he assumes.

Flicktail blink blinks, his ears perking at the name Tameus, looking around "Tameus....TAMEUS? at be YE????

/Oh/. That's who it is!!! Mike knew he remembered Tameus rambling about /someone/ with a sword that was a fox or something. Maybe he should try listening better in the future! He glances around at the others, then, and clears his throat. "... Um, oh. Right. Sorry, si-" Mike starts, and glances around at Tameus. And then does a double-take at Flicktail's rather animated reaction to Tameus' presence. Blink blink blink. o.0;

"Tameus?!" Tyree blurts out when said buck arrives. But he's drowned out by Flicktail's... exuberant greeting. He had been hoping to find out how the young buck had taken his... internment. "Hold on, Thad... you said Abbey /Champion/?" he asks the runner. Suddenly he's all thrown off. He puts a paw to his forehead, a sure sign a vein was throbbing or something. Foxes shouting with Martin's Sword and bathers in the drinking water. Crazy night all of a sudden.

Dagda doesn't really know what the significance of Champion is, but he continues to eye the fox distrustfully. Also, everyone around him seems to be excited about this "Tameus" person. Dagda watches cooly as the crowd goes wild.

Given he's been trying to keep a low profile since his.. injury. It's understandable why Tam looks so disgruntled. Thoroughly disgruntled. His eyes shift from Mike to Flicktail to.. Tyree. "... hey guys." And one little doe over there. But 'guys' will suffice.

Thad flinches at Flicktail's reaction to Tameus. "...Obviously more popular," he mutters, before going to hang next to Nimue, that is, back and away from all... All /that/ over there.

Flicktail's ears flat a bit in embarrassment as he wrings his paws, like they suddenly do not know what to do "Really Lads, um..Oi just be a plain ol otter fox...Martin gives me is sword..but oi..oi aint all at....Oi just come to see all e hares oi loves so much....and maybe play somegames wi Col Zoey.... um...would it be ok ta kone ye names? Oi really does ..well admires ya

"Why's he keep saying otter fox? Flicktail," Thad steps forward. "It's okay that you're a fox. You've been cleared to run around the mountain all you want by some high-rankers. This otter ruse... I mean, it's..." He reaches out to pat Flicktail's shoulder. "It's just not working, mate." Not all that eager to surrender his moniker, evidently.

"Well, obviously I had fah too much wine last nigh'." Dagda's brow creases, and one ear folds in the middle to dangle limply.

Tameus clears his throat. "Hey, Flick.." He looks a bit.. what's the word? /Uncomfortable/? So much for keeping a lurker status. The way he keeps his arm hidden in the front of his jacket is probably conspicuous as hell by now, but he's not about to draw further attention there by bringing it out in the open. "He calls 'imself an otter 'cause he's one'a th' 'shield otters' in Camp Willow, th' otter camp near t' Redwall," he explains to Thad, and shrugs.

"Wait, wait, /wait,/" Tyree says to Flicktail. Flattery will get you nowhere with this one. "Why are you all the way down /here?/"

Well, however anyone else is feeling, Mike has relaxed with the knowledge of who the fox is - and that Tameus knows him, besides. He gives the others a glance, rolls his eyes, and scoots out from behind the others. "Aw, take a breath. He's the bloody Abbey /Champion/. He wants t'spit in the Spring, I don't care." He nods to the fox. "Mike," he finally offers.

Flicktail's shoulder is silken soft and warm, and there is a fair ammount of muscle beneath it, the famous sword belted to him he smiles "well Ye see me Friend" he says to Thad "when oi were a Verminous beast, ye long patrolers were afta me...and oi made it ta Camp Willa, it be a Camp o Otters... and they tooks me in, saved me not worth so much life....But when oi gots better, oi ad ta earn me keep...so they told me oi could be a Shield Guard..but..me old instructor said..if oi were gonna guard otters oi were gonn TRAIN loikes an outter..so Oi WERE an otter..hence..oi be a otter fox..see?' He smiles bringing his tail around "this be me rudder" he winks, obviously heknows now he isnot a REAL otter. See at olld Tameus E knows" he grins and moves toward Tameus to give him a playful pat on the arm. On teh way he smiles and takes Mike's paw Firmly "Calls me FLicky, Mike

"Uhhuh." Thad nods at both explanations. "Listen, if that helps you take care of the guilt, then okay... We all have our ways." Is that smile... Patronizing? Thad best be stepping off. Yet another one of those patented noncommittal shrugs follows. "I'm Thad."

Dagda spots his chance to exit the madness, since apparently the dream isn't going to end. The buck follows Thad.

Tameus slightly jerks at the pat to his arm, and takes a half-step back. ".. Flick, uh. This 's Mike, m' bes' friend, told y' 'bout him before. Mike.. Flick 'ere knows m' dad pretty well."

Flicktail smiles Aye, oi knowis Dad..Good Hare e be too.....Noice ta meet Ya Mike..." he seems to not even notice the "guilt" comment "lovely place ye ave ere....preaps some o ye coudl spar wi me some time..Ow about ye Tameus..show us ow yer sword arm be

Micah returns the shake with another little nod. "Good t'meetcha," he offers. Did he say that already? Who knows! He backs up, then, letting the others chatter for the moment.

"... I don' think arm-showin' 's really necessary, Flick," Tam says uncomfortably. He gives a little glance back toward the exit. Eheh.

Flicktail asks, "Tame? wot be up wi ye? ye be jumpier an a dibbun at bath time"

"Anyone want ta' move somewhere more comfortable?" Tyree asks, but is practically bowled over by Flick again. He sighs. "If he's not showin' us anythin', then he won't," he murmurs, though he doubts Flick will hear it the way he talks.

Al/right,/ introduced himself and he has nothing to show for it. Thad rocks on his footpaws. "Well, it's been an experience, certainly." The runner glances at Tyree sidelong.

Flicktail looks to Tyree and to Thad "sorry mates, all this be a bitnew ta me...." he extends a paw to Thad then to Tyree "Glad to meet ya lads...didn't mean ta be rude....

If by 'somewhere more comfortable' you mean 'not here'.. "Yeah, 'm gonn' get going. Enjoy y'r visit, Flick." Backing up, backing uuup. He gives Mike a look with raised brows and a subtle jerk of his muzzle.

Thad takes the paw and shakes it. "Well met, Flicky." The runner grins. And... Follows Tyree. "Tyree. Bucket," he reminds the hare. Hum, hum hum hum hum...

Flicktail says, "Well Met Thad.... " he smiles "Oi be goin ta look fer Col Zoey shortly ere meslef lads (OOC Meaning I travled all day and am quite RL tired and must pose out :) )"

"Bucket," Tyree repeats, turning to grab said bucket. Is Nimue still down here? He glances around to make sure she's not still hanging about, dripping wet.

Nimue kind of slips out when everyone else does. She's small, she can do the not-being-noticed thing fairly easily.

Flicktail slips out and heads out on his self guided tour