A Brotherly Chat

Characters: Tagger, William

Location: Tagg's Holt (Outside Ferravale)

Outside Ferravale

It's the next day from the archery contest. Its a little bit colder today. But the sun shines brightly high in the sky, almost like a bright orange glare. With the snow, slowly melting. If somebeast were to take the path out of Ferravale, and take a left at the bride, following the river about a mile or so. One might come across a strange looking encampment. As one approaches the camp, the first thing that assaults you is the delicious smell. The smell of smoked fish fills the air with its tantalizing draw. The next thing you notice, is a rather large tent. A yurt made entirely out of cloth and held by several trees above. Next you see is a medium sized bonfire with many logs for sitting around it. Hanging above the fire, are fish fillets drying and smoking for certain otters favorite food stuff. Over by a far tree, is a makeshift dummy, with many a red arrow plunged right though the head. But the one that that sticks out the most... Is that there is nobeast here.

William had been away from his shop for a while today. He'd had a dibbun to hunt down for sneaking off earlier. The little imp had stayed out nearly half the night before he'd tracked her down. Wilco had been punished for leaving without asking or telling either of her parents where she'd be. None of the rats had slept much last night. William had let Amy met out their daughter's punishment as he was afraid he might be too harsh with her. So the potter had went for a walk to distance himself from the goings on at home. He let his footpaws guide him out of the village and into the woods as his mind wandered. His wandering took him to the bridge. The rat idled by the river for several minutes before heading to where he knew his youngest sibling had set up camp. Will walked through Tagg's camp, now set on have a word or two with his brother and was a little surprised to find the place empty. At least it seemed empty. He called out for him, "Tagg? Tagger? Are yew ere?" Will helped himself to a bit of the otter's fish and took a seat by the fire to wait for some sign of ottery life.

Tagger is not home right now! He is out doing what otters do best. Fishing. He is in a pond a little further along the river. Stalking his prey. He uses his rudder to swim toward a tiny school of trout. He gets real closes... Then he lunges at the school with a harpoon and manages to catch a big en! He grins to himself as he surfaces and paddles to his net along the side of the pond where his catch for the day sits. He plops this trout into the net before tying up the net and dragging it along, as he swims back up river. Its not long where he gets to where the river gets shallow, and he will have to walk, luckily, its only a few feet from his camp. He emerges from the water, like some sort of swamp monster before he looks to camp and stops, "Well. This is awkward..." blowing water from his eyes. He wasn't expecting anybeast really... And the otter is stark nekkid. All he got on him is some tattoos, and a awkward smile.

William turns to look when he hears somebeast coming from the direction of the river. He rolls his eye at his brother. "'Ow old are yew now?" he asks, "Oi know yew know wot tousers are, Tagg. Even, Pa wore somethin' when 'e went swimmin'," the rat laughs, "Wot if yer girlfriend 'ad thought t pay yew a visit instead of me? Yew'd be in quite a mess then."

Tagger chuckles, and not really caring that he is nekkid. It was more surprising then anything else. Its how he rolls, "Trousers are for silly beasts. I like..." he starts walking toward the tent, plopping the fish by the fire, "I like the freedom!" as he enters the tent, he soon returns wearing a pair of shorts though he has still opted for going shirtless so he can dry off faster. He plops an another log next to the rat. On his right shoulder, tattooed are the words 'castra arcus' with a picture of a bow above it. He has another tattoo on his other shoulder, but he is facing the wrong. He puts his footpaw near the fire, "So. Beside having an early lunch." he nods toward the fish the rat is eating, "What up mate? You usually never come out here..." he drags the net toward him.

William smiles and continues to eat the stolen fish. "Oi'm jush makin' sure yew share," he says with his mouth full of fishy goodness. "Back when Pa was around, yew ever do anythin' real bad an get punished?" he asks. The rat had been distracted by being a new father toward the end of Aikuen's life and hadn't been around him or Tagg as much as much as he'd been around the twins. The age difference didn't help matters either.

Tagger doesn't really care that the rat is eating his fishes. But it’s alright. He can have as much as he wants. He pulls out a small knife that he keeps by the log and pulls out one of the fish, sticking it near the tail and gliding it up the underside. When he gets asks if he ever got punished he chuckles as he starts digging out fish guts, "Well. Aye, yeah. One time. I ran away from Moledeep. I think I wanted to see the camp or something. I was real little. Anyway. When pa found out." he shakes his head, "Well. Let’s just say he wasn't happy. I think I did his chores or something for a week." he rubs the top of his head with the knife, "Ill I remember was pulling weeds in the garden, and hating it." he laughs as he lops off the fishes head and tosses it next to the fire, "Why do you ask?"

William snorts. Compared to some of the punishments he'd been through weeding would almost have been a reward. "Did they ever tell yew wot 'e used t do t me when I didn't mind 'im? Or 'ow spoiled rotten yew an th twins are?" Will swallows a bite of fish and pauses before taking another. "Did yew happen t see yer niece yesterday by any chance?" he asks harshly, trying hard not get angry all over again.

Tagger cuts the fish down the other side, making fillet o' fish. He then stands up and hovers over the fire, placing the fillets where it can be smoked for many hours. When the otter stands you can see his other tattoo on his left shoulder. It’s just the words 'Ego sum Tazan'. The fish sizzle lightly as it meets the hangers, "I don't think so..." he then sticks his tongue out at the rat, "Well. I am the youngest... " he grins. It doesn't explain the twins. But nothing can explain the twins. "Yesterday?" he ponders through what happened yesterday and gulps. The archery incident, but Tagg doesn't remember seeing her, "Nah. I don't think so... Was... Out here most of the day..." he says going back to sitting on the log.

"So they never told yew 'ow Pa would half drown me if I was fool enough to drink anything stronger than fruit juice or water? Or 'ow 'e all but pulled my arms off for forgetting to let everybeast know where I was at one too many times after going off on my own? I was maybe six or so seasons I think when that happened. I think it was before 'e'd met Mum, but I don't recall now for sure," Will says casually. "Loike Oi said yew an th twins got spoiled. 'e never did none of thet t any of yew." The rat chuckles, "Amy'd 'ave probably had his hide if he'd tried. She was always doting on yew three when yew were liddle. .... Well mostly th twins." He frowns a bit when the otter says he hadn't seen Wilco. "Oi'd hopped somebeast had seen 'er," he says sounding a bit annoyed. He's annoyed with himself not the otter though it'd be hard to tell. His voice grows harder as he recounts what happened, "She ran off somewhere yesterday was out half th night lookin' fer 'er. Not th first time she's done it either. .......

He lets his words trail off and doesn't say what went on once they'd got home. "Of course now thet I think of et, I did get stabbed when I ran off. Least Coby didn't get hurt when she was off running around," he says reflectively.

"Oi was about four when he started dunking me in th Abbey pond. Oi'd been through worse before OI met 'im so et wasn't thet bad til the arm thing. Kentar was sore et Pa fer thet. Stoat's always been extra 'sensitive' about things. An' Pa never let 'imself get mad when 'e punished me. 'e always was real calm about et. Business loike even. Guess came from his bein' a Captain before an' all thet," Will says as though it were no big deal. He goes quiet when Tagg mentions the reason he'd stopped trying run away. "Yeah ..... Oi remember thet. At the time Oi didn't think 'e was bein' hard enough on yew fer doin' thet. ..... Until later." The rat goes silent again for a few moments before answering the otter. "She said somethin' about wantin' t see something thet was goin' on someplace. ...... Archery contest or somethin'." Will kicks the log he's sitting on with the heel of his boot. "Oi'd 'ave taken 'er iffen she'd asked! But No, she had t go run off when ....... Oi know she might not take t my work an ta take over th shop someday, but she's always seemed interested most th time. Oi never took up farming permanently, but Oi didn't mind et when Pa'd try an show me 'ow t do et. With thet one Oi got look at 'er th whole time just about, 'cause soon as Oi turn my back et seems she up an disappears. An this time wasn't t’ play hide-n-seek."

Tagger has gone silent while listening to the rat. He just looks and cuts at the fish, cleaning it. Though when he mentions the archery contest he looks up immediately, "Archery contest... Er ummmm...." he looks around, he can’t really flat out LIE to his brother so he pokes his eyebrow with the knife as he looks toward the fire, "I was there. the contest I mean. But. I didn't see her. If I had..." He doesn't know what he had done if he has seen her. He was in disguise, and couldn't' really give up his charade. He is an otter after all. He just stabs his eyebrow as he thinks. It’s not that sharp but it does hurt, "I don't know what to tell you mate. After dad died, my punishments changed from doing chores to cleaning the barracks... I guess maybe. Just talk to her. See what she wants to do?" he suggests.

"Careful with thet knife. Don't wanta put yer eye out," Will gently warns the otter, "Don't feel bad, probably was a lot of beasts there." Will nods a bit. "I got 'er a liddle bow an been showin' 'er 'ow t use et. Always planned t teach 'er some weapon. Can't let 'er have 'er own arrows yet. Maybe by next season ......" He shakes his head at the otter, "Oi 'ave talked t 'er, before. She never showed any strong interest anythin' other than being around me when Oi'm workin' or more recently usin' 'er bow. Much as she loikes th bow she hasn't been overly attached t et. Th new wore off about th time she figured out she wasn't gonna get t carry a full quiver all over th place. An' yew didn't have much choice in some of wot happened t yew with Pa bein' gone an not needin' t farm an' ever'thin'."

The otter look at the knife in his paw, "My guttin knife? Not much for poking..." he chuckles as he does place it back on the ground, standing up again to place the next fillet on the hangers. He pokes and prods some of the older fish, some have been there for days. Nice fish jerky, "Don't know what to tell you. Never was good around dibbuns to be honest. I mean, they are cute and awesome and all. But, me thinking of punishments. I leave that to the mother..." he goes slightly red as he pokes the fish some more, "Anywho. Well. If you ever need a babysitter. I can watch her for a bit. Show her some cool stuff. Take her anglin fishin and what not." he chuckles.

"Reminds me wot Oi was gonna talk t yew about, before Coby had t go on 'er liddle adventure. An 'er mother is takin' care of 'er," Will says. "Yew seem t 'ave got very close with this ferret girl of yers. An' from wot liddle Oi've seen of 'er she seems decent. An' iffen th other otters et th camp are anythin' loike Dina .......... Future'll be mostly Tazan otters or from Tazan otters. Almost feel bad fer yew otters." He chews on his lower lip before continuing, " .... uh ...... 'ave yew an Garolyn talked about th future much? About if yew want a family ever? Other than th ones of us yer already stuck with."

Tagger sits back down and picks up another fish. A little one. It will be good for jerky, "Yeah. I know. But if I follow what my dad said, gotta follow your gut. And my gut says Garo is the one...." he hums to himself before continuing, "I know it will be tough. But Dina... Is like most otters..." he rubs his eyeballs, "I will tackle that wall when we come to it..." he sighs and, sadly, shakes his head, "No... Not really. Sides what we yelled to Dina... not much has been said. Course I haven't seen her since that incident..." he grumbles, "But... I want one. Eventually. Not now... Maybe when I become a paladin. then it would be alright if my wife was a vermin..." he crosses his eyes at that thought crosses his mind.

"Our dad," Will corrects the otter. "Yew 'aven't seen Garolyn since then or Dina or do yew mean both?" the rat asks. "As fer yew 'aven' a dibbun someday .... Since Garolyn ain't an otter yer dibbun could be any one wot's not belongin' t some beast already. Worked fer Pa," he reminds his brother, "Just a thought. Not thet yew two need t be in any hurry t get one."

Tagger pokes at the fish before saying, "Sorry. I say that a lot. Even to the twins" he chuckles before sighing, "Haven't seen Garo since the day Dina laid one on me. As for Dina..." he throws a twig into the fire, "She was there at the archery contest. She was trying to mooch in..." he chuckles as he thinks about what he did. Then goes quiet, as he almost got caught. Will have to change his disguise. He then nods at the next part, "That is true. Though I think that's beyond us right now. Right now were trying to figure out how to not freak each other out" he laughs.

"If anybest gets t say thet, should be me. Oi knew 'im before any of yew, even before Fira came along," the rat says jokingly, "Oh? 'Ow do th' twins take t' yer delusions of bein' an only child?" The nods as Tagg tells about meeting Dina again. "OI'd 'ave been tempted t shoot 'er were Oi yew." Will grins as Tagg talks about Garo. "She seems loike our sort of 'vermin'. Yew 'aven't known yer too long yet. Yew don't usually get on perfectly with everybeast right off anyway. Not even ones yew loike. An' sometimes th longer yer around th same beast th less yew want t be." He yawns blinks his eye, he really didn't get much sleep last night.

Tagger chuckles as he sits back down again, "I know. I just forget that sometimes... And twins just think im stupid about." he reaches down for another fish, then grabs his guttin knife, "Oh, believe me. My life would be a whole lot simpler if she wasn't here. But I can’t let anybeast kill her. I can’t even let anyone hurt her..." he punches the air, "I can’t even make her shut up. She won’t listen to me. But I have to keep my record clean..." he sighs and throws more guts on the ground, before chuckling, "Well true. And maybe will just bug each other enough... Well. A beast has got to try! You didn't happen to bring any bread with cha?" he asks.

Tagger shakes his head, slicing the fish from head to tall and starts to scale it, "If she broke a rule or something. That's all her fault. But if she gets in trouble for doing something stupid. Like she tends too. Then I will have to protect the vermin in town. Dina is a fighter. And she has one HELL of a greatsword." he shakes his head, "I'm not sure what I would do. If I protect the Vermin the council would accept it, but would still keep me from the paladins..." he grunts as he stands placing the fish on the last empty hanger, "Oh. She and Thane would get along swimmingly before the slit each other’s throats" he chuckles before looking to the hard tack, and gives it a look, "Hardtack? I haven't had that... In forever. It’s like. Flour an water right?" he snorts and laughs.

William nods some as Tagg talks. "'Ow 'bout imprisonment rather than 'er bein' killed. Would thet get yew in trouble?" Will asks. "Thet's the idea. Oi doubt Thane's own mum would miss 'im iffen thet happened." He moves closer to pass the otter the hardtack. "Yeah, hardtack. Oi made et a few days ago. Pa showed me 'ow t make et seasons ago when we first settled at Moledeep. Pa was never a good cook and back theen et wa just th two of us so Oi figured Oi'd better learn 'ow if Oi wanted t eat. An Oi cook all th time since we left on account of Amy not bein' able t cook, for obvious reasons. Wot Oi make isn't th highest quality, but Oi 'ave made anybeast sick .... within yer lifetime."

Tagger takes the hardtack and clunks it against the rock. Its sounds like a rock, "Yep. Just like the hardtack i remember pops makin." he laughs as he splits it open and take one of the cooked fish and places it inside. He looks at it weird before taking a bite, "Mmmm. Good..." the sound he makes sounds like is he eating glass, "Crunchy..." he chuckles before splitting it in half and handing it to the rat, "I make a mean otter bread." he laughs before continuing on, snacking, "Well. I have to protect her. But i also have to protect the village. So... I guess imprisonment would be alright. As long as no one got hurt. But she is wiley. She will always skim the law when she can..." he grunts, "And the worst part is she is still hanging around... Luckily. She hasn't found my holt yet...".

William takes the half a fishwich and bites into it. "Uhmf. Did yew debone th fish?" he asks after biting into it and feeling it crunch in his mouth."It is lucky she hasn't found this place," the rat agrees. the rat falls silent and muches on the fish sandwich.

Tagger nods as he pokes the fish again with his claws, "Ummm. I should have. Id chew extra. Just in case." he chuckles going over to the tent and picking up his bow and some wax. Sitting back on the log, he gives it a rub down, "Oh aye. I have all my secrets here." he chuckles, "Well. At least everything i brought." he laughs, "But who knows. Maybe if she just sat down and talked to me. Instead of just trying to show me up. Maybe we would be good friends. Probaly not anymore..." he sighs, "Oh goodness. If i get called back to service. I have to WORK with her again!"

"'Ey yew any good wif dat?" the rat asks around a mouthful of fish and hardtack. He swallows and continues, "Yew say yew were in thet contest, didn't yew? 'Ow'd yew do?"

Tagger chuckles and nods toward the dummies with the spear like arrows shot through its head, "I'm pretty good with it. In fact in of the only otters that can actually use it..." the bow stands almost as tall as a badger when unstrung, "Its based off an old world weapon called a ballista. But i can handle it with just me paws. Actually. Sides good ole paw fightin' its the only thing i was good at... Never was good with swords..." he rubs it down, "At the camp, they call me the Artillery. Cause i shoot from far away and can nail armored opponents" he chuckles and then shakes his head, "I... Well. I didn't win the contest, per say. But i did win for what i was planning." he snorts.

William swallows and looks over the dummies. He whistles and nods at the otter's proof of skill. "Yer thet good, huh?" he asks, "Oi'm not too good with a bow. Fair enough not t kill anybeast and Oi could hit a target if Oi had reason to Oi suppose. Oi know enough t teach Wilco the basics of it. Never did too good with pawfighting, musta been all those pesky otters an stoats thet's t blame fer et. Pa made sure Oi knew 'ow t use a sword an Oi've pretty good with a sling fer distance. Surprised Pa never drilled yew into a miniature of 'imself or at least try harder to .... in th time 'e had."

The otter shrugs, "Well. Aye. I have to be! Its what i was trained to be. I like it well enough. Keeps me away from the battles and out of harms way... Most of the time." he then chuckles, lightly punching the rat, "That's all you need to know mate! Everything else is just extra" he laughs before going quiet, "He tried. I know how to use swords. Any sword really. I'm just not that good at it. Just enough to get by." he then looks at the rats sling, "Very nice. I never got the hang of slings. Always tossed the rock in my face!" he laughs.

William wasn't expecting the punch, usually he was more on his guard around his siblings. The rat is feeling sleepy again and topples over. He blinks and rights himself. He isn't hurt, just a little annoyed he the otter had caught him off guard like that. "Maybe. Guess Coby does ever get serious about archery Oi kin 'ave 'Uncle Tagg' take over her lessons." The rat chews on his lip, noticing the otter's change in mood. "OI didn't mean ...... 'E'd be proud t see 'ow yer growin' up. Same as th rest of us are." Will stops worrying at his lip and grins when the otter complaments his choice in weapons. "It takes a lot of practice when yew start out," he says, "My first one wasn't as good as this one is, but it did th job. Got a lot of t-sq- Got a lot done with it. Of course Oi'm better an yew at et, Oi've been at et since 'fore yew was born. ....... Getting by does fine as long as et's enough t keep yew alive." Will says.

Tagger didn't realize the rat was so sleepy, "Err... do you need a nap mate?" he asks before laughing, "Yeah. Ill teach him everything i know! Which ain't alot!" he then smiles warmly, "Thanks... He was one of the reasons i joined the guard in the first place. Be a soldier like him...Mum was none to happy. But she did cry when i graduated... though that might have been because i left for the wars after that..." he looks really confused now, "Oh damn. Never thought about that. Oh well. Too late now." he shrugs giving the bow a good once over now, "That is true. Though if i was as old as you. Id probably still be hittin rocks in my face! Ill stick to the bow." he pats it like an old friend.

"Eh, Oi'll sleep when Oi get home. An' Coby's a /her/ yew silly otter," Will replies. He chuckles at Tagg's confused expression. "Let's jus say there's a reason beasts don't get attacked by squirrels along certain paths anymore and haven't fer many seasons." Will shakes his head at the otter in amusement, "Eh, when yer old as me yew won't even feel th rocks hit yew." The rat makes a face at his brother, "Now yer makin' me feel old. Oi keep thinkin' of yew as a liddle dibbun half th time - mostly when Oi'm not lookin' at yew. An yer old as Oi was when Oi got married. Thet was ..... while ago now. Feels loike et too."

Tagger laughs, "I said em, not him!" though the otter could have said him. Who knows what the otter says anymore. Tagg stands and goes back into his tent, putting away his bow. He slowly returns with nothing and picks up his net, "I'm still young yet. Have my whole life before i get married.... Or. anything like that." he chuckles awkwardly before saying, "Anyway. I need to get back to fisin' gotta earn that shiny gold!" he chuckles before he heads off toward the river, "See yah rat thing! Need to vist me more often!" before he slowly walks into the river.