A Visitor For Aikuen

Characters: Fira, Aikuen, Kentar, Robin, Will, Windhunter

Location: Moledeep, Mossflower Woods

Moledeep: Infirmary

Nice to be back and in the safe again. Not that Fira's spent much of the time awake. Soon as she could sit down with Aikuen in the bed next to her the adrenaline started to wear off and she drifted off to sleep not long afterwards. She's still there too, sleeping off the day before.

Aikuen is sleeping on his stomach for obvious reasons. With the help of Fira and Kentar, he got all patched up as much as he possibly could, before they could be no more help. The area around his eye, is no longer swollen, but it is still black and dead looking. The cut cut on his right arm had been sutured, and the splint on his left arm, reset. Bandages are wrapped around his chest and back area. Keeping the very odd and gross way of healing removed flesh. All in all, he looks better than what he did yesterday. He becomes forcefully awake and jumps out of bed, before he realized where he was. He sighs and goes to sit on the side rubbing his eyes. He still in a lot of pain. On both side, emotional and physical. He blinks a few more times and looks to his wife. He smiles a little and places his right paw on her shoulder. Just getting a feel for her again.

Fira is sleeping perfectly peacefully until she's touched and jerks awake, nearly springing up from her chair until she sees it's just the infirmary. There's a little relieved sigh as she settles back, looking around properly and spotting Aik's awake. She offers a little smile "Hey, feeling better?"

Aikuen is very alarmed at her jumping. Like husband, like Wife? But he is not surprised at it, after what happened in the last day or so. He smiles back at her. "Hey, yah... it hurts... but its... not too bad... Sorry, didn't mean to wake you... are you alright? Need me to get anything for you..." he chuckles.

Fira shakes her head, still that little tired smile there "No, I'm fine. Should be asking you that really" still looks a little sleepy at the moment but she has only just woken up.

Aikuen smiles, and takes her paw to give a little rub "I'm fine... Really i am. If i need something ill make sure to let yah know..." he chuckles and leans in to plant a small kiss, "I just wanted to make sure that you don't need anything..."

Fira yawns a bit but shakes her head again afterwards before slouching back into his chair "More sleep apparently. I'm alright, I'm not the one who got more than a few bruises yesterday"

Aikuen shrugs a little bit, "I got a few minor scratches... not..." he sighs and rubs his eyes again, "Okay... i was... Kentar put it as, 'mangled'... but i probably looked worse then how i felt... I'm ... sort of... just used to that sort of thing... I know its a terrible thought, but i just am... Kentar is apparently jealous of that... but i don't see it..." he sighs and looks to her with a small grin, "What me to kiss your bruises, and make them better?" a small chuckle.

"That only works on Dibbun's Aik, and I think she's a little big for a dibbun." Kentar chuckles as he comes into the room, carrying a tray of food for the otters to enjoy if they so wish. If not. More for him. "Feeling better?"

Fira's expression says she doesn't like the idea of him being used to it but she doesn't actually say anything about it. The smile just returns at the offer of kisses "I'd accept but it'd take me a lot longer to kiss all yours better" it doesn't appear as though she's hear Kentar's first words but she does spot him out the corner of her eye and glances over to offer a nod "Hey"

Aikuen tilts his head at the expression on her face and sighs. But also doesn't say anything about it. He wishes he was different. But then he just smirks at her, "Well you can kiss the one, right here!" he points to his mouth. And then he blinks as the air just got stoatier. He quickly moves his paw back down and smiles awkwardly at the stoat, "Oh hey Kentar... Yah i feel better, yes thank you..." he then smirks back at Fira, "They may work on ikkle big dibbuns? Eh Fi?"

Kentar laughs and grins. "Oh, I'm glad you are indeed better." he smiles. "You'll be even better after your first home cooked meal." he chuckles, setting the tray down. Two bowls of stew. The bowls, made out of bread. "Was I interrupting anything?" he asks.

Fira smirks and leans over to give Aik a kiss even if Kentar is there "Anything so you'll get better" she glances back to Kentar again "Ahhh, food. Perfect. No no, not interrupting, only just woken up really"

Aikuen smiles at the kiss. Ah now he really feels better. He smiles warmly at her, and says softly "Thank ye..." He then grins stupidly at Kentar, "Yah, we just got out of our snoozing habits... And thank you for the food! Defense minister Kentar... Is this part of your civic duties? To bring food to starving otters? If so, keep on, Keeping on!" he chuckles and grabs one of the bread bowls. He chuckles at it, before breaking off a bit of the top, to dip in the stew.

Kentar laughs and grins a bit. "Oh, maybe." He smirks. "I might make Robin do it. Although he might poison it. After all, we're all after you now..." he laughs. "So, Aik, Fira. How are you two settling back in?" He asks.

Fira raises a brow at the Robin thing but assumes he's joking and takes some bread and a bowl for herself "Well the chair beats the floor had yesterday so would say it's a better sleep...nice to be served food too. I'd say it's going well"

Aikuen tilts his head at Kentar. He hopes he is joking. He then looks back to Fira and blinks, "Well yah that's true, but you should have come up here..." he pats the area on the cot next to him, "How about tonight you can join me... You wont hurt me... as long as, you know, don't slap me in the back, it'll be fine... I need something furry to sleep against..." he smiles and then looks back to Kentar, "Its great to be back home... even it is in the infirm, as least its still home..." he looks around and smiles, "Good to be back..." he yawns and leans his head back on the headboard. Closing his eyes, leaving the bowl to rest on his belly. He may drift off to sleep suddenly.

Kentar chuckles a bit at the otter who just drifted off to sleep. He GENTLY takes the stew bowl and sets it on something solid so he won't wake up with stew all over himself. Hot stew at that. "So Fira." He scratches his head. "What happened?" he asks, now that Aik is asleep.

Fira looks slightly concerned when Aik drifts off but it was a long day so she just turns her eyes back to her stew, only looking back up again when she sees Kentar moving Aik's and so she sees the question "Mm. Well Aik wandered off one night and ran into some group of these beasts looking for him. One got away and well, we had to move but they found us while we were in the woods. Shot Aik with arrows, which is why his back's like that"

Kentar ahs and nods a little. "Ah. But what about the rest of him?" He asks. "What happened? What did they do?"

Fira looks back to Aikuen to try and account for everything "Um, well the cut along his arm and the eye I know he had when he came back to get me moving. I don't know. They had us surrounded, I think it was their boss that knocked me out so it's a little fuzzy. Woke up again in, well it looked like a dungeon and after a few minutes they all came in and chained Aik to the ground. Um...their boss, he was talking a lot" she frowns slightly "About Aik..." a quick sake of the head "He punched Aikuen at one point then for some reason sent his guards away...Long story short he talked too much and I don't look threatening. Got too close, didn't pay attention and I elbowed him in the face next time he looked back at me and knocked him out. He woke back up later and caught up with us just before we left. Aik fought him and knocked him out again but got his arm broken and we ran for it...got lucky again"

Kentar nods. "And you. Your really lucky to have gotten out of that with not a scratch." he smiles a little. "We're safe here. I've spent all day setting up traps. I'll be going back out tomorrow to finish up. Robin's on patrol for tonight. And I'll be on Patrol tomorrow. We'll keep an eye. You know. Just incase anyone followed you back." he smiles.

Fira nods slowly "Yeah, just a couple of bruises but I guess I just don't look like I'm going to put up a fight so they weren't trying...was almost sure their boss was going to come after me for knocking him out...luck again...Thanks though. It's good to be safe"

Kentar nods and chuckles. "No offense, but you do look pretty weak. I guess its a good thing." He chuckles. "Anyways. Yes. Some of the traps are made to capture while the ones to the main doors of Moledeep will kill." he nods. "Anyways. Can't be too safe." He smiles. "Did Aik tell you about my...new rules?" he asks.

Fira smirks faintly at him "Knocked you on your tail on the eastern shore. Underestimated thankfully. Could be good to know more about these traps when Aik's awake, don't want to walk into them...what new rules?"

Kentar laughs. "I remember that." he rubs his snout. "That did hurt." He smirks. "Left me with a nasty bruise!" he laughs before nodding. "Yeah. I'll tell him. I know how to get around them, how to disarm them, and better yet, how to avoid them completely! I'm also going to get Will working on something I've always wanted to have in my home." he then ahs. "He didn't tell you. Okay. Well. Anyone who leaves the area of Moledeep has to tell me first, and no one goes anywhere alone. And you two, if you leave, I, or Robin, will be going with you. You maybe able to handle yourself but. Aik, I believe, isn't as good a fighter as he used to be. With you around." he scratches his ear. "He's agreed to them. Not very happy about it though."

Fira seems faintly amused for a moment, nodding slowly "I know, left me with a bruise for a while too...still have a little scar where you stabbed me" looks curious at the part about Will but moves on swiftly and the rules just make her look a little sad "Never wish to put him in danger...don't even ask him to protect me" she sighs faintly, forcing herself on "Yeah. Until this all blows over it seems wise. Guess my hope of swinging by the abbey quickly won't happen. I'll manage"

Kentar nods. "Yeah...I'm uh." he sighs. "Sorry about stabbing you..." he nods a bit. "I was just. Never mind." he scratches his head and then nods. "Yeah. Anyways. Just trying to protect you both." he smiles softly before chuckling. "I can bring you to the abbey if you'd like. Its not that big of a problem." he smiles. "If your up for it, I mean."

Fira shakes her head "Ancient history, it's just a scar, got a bigger one falling out of a tree years back. Don't worry about the abbey anyway. Will said they'd been there and now I'd be worried about them recognizing me. It's not worth the risk for me to use their library"

Kentar blinks and tilts his head. "What's the problem?" He asks. "What did you do, Fira?!" he looks stern for a moment then chuckles.

Fira raises a brow at him, clearly a little confused "What? Nothing! Well knocked their leader out and was seen with Aikuen so memorable but nothing bad"

Kentar ohs then laughs. "Come on. Its just to the abbey. I know a route that keeps in the trees. Besides, I'm probably a better fighter then Aik anyways. Mainly because if anything were to happen to you, he'd rip my head off." he laughs. "If you want to go to the Abbey, I'll take you. Robin could come too...the two of us together with the training we've had, I'm sure could do more to them then they could to us..." he's oddly confident in Robin for some reason. "Besides. Its probably a good idea to find something to do to take your mind off the past few days anyways."

Fira looks a little worried and gives Aikuen a glance "Maybe. Just...Ok, we'll go. I just want to go there for a couple of hours anyway then we can home again. Maybe in a couple of days if things are still quiet"

Kentar smiles a bit and then nods. "Fira. Aikuen will be fine. He's here now. Okay?" He smiles. "Write up a note for him, and I'll grab my pack." he smiles.

Fira raises her paws at the movement "We don't have to go right now, I don't think it's urgent and they'll probably still be looking around the woods for us" she just doesn't want to leave Aik really.

Kentar knows just what it is. "Come on Fira. You can't stay with him every waking moment of your life. Besides, I wanted to ask you something...and I don't want him hearing it anyways." he chuckles. He's very persistent. "But if you don't want to go, I guess I can't make you...no matter how many times I try."

Fira is still a bit too tired to really argue so when he comes up with the right reason she's sort of persuaded already "Right, yes. I forgot you wanted to talk...I've just got to write him a note before I get my things"

Kentar chuckles. "Thank you...there's parchment over there..." he points to a drawer. "And some charcoal." He nods. "I'll be back after getting my pack." he turns to leave.

Fira nods slowly and gets up to root through the draw, pausing to think before she actually writes anything. Trying to keep it short at least.

Aikuen wakes at the movement, and says stupidly, "None for me thanks...." he blinks a few times and looks around the room. His eyes then fall upon Fira, "Hey... Did i doze off?" he rubs his eyes, "Sorry, been tired... where i put my stew?" he smiles at her, "Guess i missed Kentar?... Oh well... so, What yah doing?"

Fira doesn't even notice he's awake until she turns, part way through the letter and thinking again. She blinks and looks back to Aik "Oh, you're awake again" letter's quickly scrunched up "Um, Kentar will be back in a second. I mentioned I'd wanted to stop by the abbey while you were asleep, he wanted to take me. It'd just be for a couple of hours. It should be alright"

Kentar returns after a little while, his long sword at his side, his dagger at his other, and his pack around his shoulder. He's also got two hidden throwing knives in his bracers. Not that he'll use them. But they're hidden should they get captured or anything. "Hey Fira, Ready to go?" He asks before looking to Aikuen. "Oh! Your a wake! Drat." He snaps his fingers. "Thought I'd get away with stealing your wife."

Aikuen tilts his head, "Oh... Okay sure, as long as Kentar is going with you... Why are you going to the abbey for?" he goes to sit on the side of the bed, "I know i say this all the time... But please be careful..." the his eyes pop to Kentar, "Yes i'm awake, and if your stealing my wife your going the wrong way about it..." he chuckles

Fira shakes her head and offers Aikuen a little smile "I just was wanting to look in their library before this all happened. Should be back before it's even dark probably depending on how quick Kentar's route is" again she's missing entrances but Aik's distraction to Kentar leads her to spot the stoat too. She just smirks at the wife stealing and she heads for the door as she speaks "I thought you /didn't/ want Aik to hurt you. I'll go grab my stuff and be back in a minute, then we can go"

Kentar nods and chuckles. "Right. I don't really." he smiles. "Anyways, yeah. I'll be here." he nods before sitting with Aikuen. "Don't worry Aik. I'll guard her with my life. And if not mine, someone else's." He smiles.

Aikuen nods at Fira, "The library? Okay, sounds great, bring me back any healers book or medical journals... thanks..." then she is off, and there is a stoat sitting next to him. He smiles and places his good arm on his shoulder, "Thanks Kentar, i trust you with my life, just gonna have to trust you with Fira's... and don't take too long also..." he grins, "Or else ill miss her..." he chuckles.

Fira doesn't take too long about it. Never did have much stuff and now she's taking even less. Just her currently rather empty looking bag and her spear back with her as she pops back into the infirmary "Alright, think I'm all set"

Kentar smiles and pats him gently on the shoulder. "Don't worry Aikuen. If I can't protect Fira. I will die...trying." he nods slowly. "I'd give my life for anyone here. That includes you, as hard as it is to believe." he laughs. "Besides. If she dies, I'll have you moping about. Moping otters aren't fun." he grins. "I won't take too long. Only five or six days. Just so I can have time to replace her as my wife...You can have Garnet." he laughs, smiling. He looks up to the arriving Fira, standing. "Great."

Aikuen shakes his head, as the joke has gone on far to long "I don't think garnet would like that very much... Fira said a few hours... i expect you guys home before nightfall" he then eyes and taps the stoat with his fist, "She better not die or else..." he just shakes his head. He then sees Fira, and he says, "WAIT! Before you go..." he pushes away from Kentar, and stands on his own volition, and walks over to Fira. He gives her a tight embrace, even so far to pick her up a little, "You will be back soon... i don't want to come looking for you, but i will... mangled or not..." and then a soft kiss, and he mouths, "Love you..." before he pulls away and looks to them both.

Fira was coming over to give him a kiss anyway, she just hurries up when she sees him getting up. Shaking her head a little as she hugs him back and gives him a kiss as well "Love you too. Now go lie down and get some rest! Want you getting better" going to lead him back to bed again and aim another little kiss at his cheek "I'll come straight back to see you when we get back" straightening up she nods to Kentar "Alright, best be going before he tries to argue and come" expression she shoots at Aik is very clear, it says 'don't you dare get up' though more smiley at the same time.

Kentar nods and stands. "Don't think she would either Aik." he nods. "Anyways. I promise to keep her safe. No matter what happens. I don't expect there to be much trouble anyways." he nods, heading for the door. "Anyways. Come on Fira. We'd best get going if we want to get home by nightfall."

Aikuen nods as he is lead, "I'm not tired..." and then he gets that look and he gets mock scared, and starts to pretend snore. And then says in his sleep, "I cant argue, i'm already asleep... dead tired... need to heal for the wifey" he laughs and wakes going to wave at them, "Goodbye guys! Hurry back... ill just stay in here... alone..." he then spots, and picks up his stew, "Well at least i wont be hungry" he laughs to himself.

Fira follows Kentar on out though she does offer Aik a little wave before she closes the door.

Mossflower Woods

The stoat leads Fira through moledeep and into the woods. "Right. So. Glad to be home?" he asks, walking along. He keeps an eye out for the few sets of traps he knows he set up this way.

Fira follows behind him very closely, wary that there are traps in the area though as the same time she's got to keep an eye on Kentar's head to lip read so she's keeping more to walking along side, just a step back "Yeah, I mean was great to visit the holt again, kind of missed the place but it's amazing how quiet it can seem...and of course the past day wasn't good, more than happy to leave that behind"

Kentar nods a bit. "Yeah. I know how you feel." he says. "I felt the same way when that darn fox had me." he scratches his ear. "That wasn't fun. Okay. Stop here. One sec. When you see a falling rock, its safe." he vanishes into the bushes for a sec. Then a rock falls from the sky. Or what looks like the sky anyway.s

Fira blinks at the idea and grimaces slightly when she sees the rock lack. Hesitating slightly before she edges forwards and around the rock, move past that trap.

Another rock falls, and then Kentar appears. "Right. Sorry. Making sure we could get around the trap." He chuckles, pointing upward. Looks like tree branches but on closer look, they're suspended in mid air by rope.

Fira jumps a little as the second rock falls and she frowns slightly at Kentar when he reappears "You said rock, not rocks" she's still too mentally tired for it and shakes her head, walking on "Never mind. Past the trap, good...What did you want to talk to me about anyway?"

Kentar starts a long again. "Sorry. I thought there'd only be one." he chuckles. "I put rocks up there to fall with the branches. Just in case you know." he nods. "Anyways. I think I may have come up with a way to make Aik a cake he can eat." he says. "I was sort of hoping I'd be able to get your help in getting some more of that stuff he uses as food for me..."

Fira tilts her head "Well, could easily get a bit, I'm underestimated remember?" there is a little smirk "He does eat a lot of hard tack and he'll eat fish and obviously stew. I sometimes get the impression it's just cake but I don't know. What would you do with it anyway? Little hard to make a cake out of it would have thought.

Kentar hrms a bit. "It would be made entirely out of that stuff. Just some. It would be mixed in with everything else. So that aside from solid food, that would be there too. Maybe his stomach would think its all whatever it is."

Fira thinks on it for a minute or two before she shrugs lightly "It's worth a try, worst that happens is he throws up and has to drink a bit more of it. Going to be a surprise I assume?"

Kentar nods and smiles. "Yeah. Just a try. I mean, it might work. Will seems to think its a good idea." he says. "It will be a surprise. Sort of a. Welcome back surprise." There's a loud crack and the sound of something get really close, really fast.

Fira smirks faintly "Perfect time to nab a bit of potion then since he's trapped in the infirmary. Still, I guess I don't get a surprise too now" completely oblivious to the crack and every other sound. Sometimes being deaf is dangerous.

Kentar goes to push Fira onto the ground, diving out of the way himself, a tree branch swinging down length wise, almost clothes lining the two of them. The stoat waits a moment before getting up, the branch now just hanging there by the rope. "Wow...Are you alright!?" he asks, going over to the otter, feeling REALLY stupid about having just tripped his own trap.

Fira squeaks and falls to the ground, the sight of the swinging branch encouraging her to stay down until it stops when she stiffly pulls herself back onto her feet "Well I think that added to my bruises but I've not been hit by a big chunk of tree. Yeah, I'm good. How many more of these traps are there?"

Kentar sighs. "Sorry. There's dozens and dozens but this route only encounters those two." he says. "Which now, means I need to reset one of them." He sighs. "Anyways. Lets keep going." he does cut down the branch though and moves it into the bushes before walking again.

Fira shakes her head slowly and starts to walk again "More likely to catch some random passerby out here. Never mind. Doesn't look big enough to kill unless they were unlucky, maybe old or really short"

Kentar laughs at the really short bit. "Like me?" he grins, looking -up- at Fira. Not up much, but up. "That would nail me in the face if I weren't careful." the stoat chuckles a little. "Not really. Since they're closer to home. Not many come out this way. Not many know the way."

Fira smirks faintly "I don't think you're quite that short, just shorter than us otters. Sooner we get there anyway, sooner you can get back and reset your traps"

Kentar chuckles a little. "Oh no, I'm short." he smirks. "Well. Maybe." he laughs. "Robin is taller then I am." he grins then shrugs. "Anyways, lets get going!" he smiles. Then they're off. They run into no trouble either way, and return home, safe, and sound.

Moledeep: Infirmary

Robin comes into the infirmary, carrying towels that he finished watching. He was unaware that Kentar and Fira left. But since he just finished the traps, he'll forget about guard duty tonight. He just stacks the towels and yawns.

Aikuen has long since finished his stew bowl, and was dozing lightly, propped up by pillows. At first, the movement around him just causes him to snort and sleep on. But then that yawn, somehow popped him up from his sleeping state. He sits up quickly and says, "Fira?..." he blinks a few times and rubs his unfocused eyes before getting a good look at Robin. He blinks and tilts his head, saying sleepily "Oh, hey Robin..." and he goes to lean against his pillows, "I haven't seen you much since i got here... course maybe its because im kinda cooped up in here..." he chuckles, "So, how are you my young... umm, friend. Towel duty i see..."

Robin huhs and looks over, the stoat oging. "Sorry. I didn't see you there. Didn't mean to wake you either." he nods a bit then shrugs. "Uh...Tired. Setting traps is harder without...dad helping." he sighs a little, shrugging. "Yeah. Cleaning takes my mind off things."

Aikuen smiles at the young stoat, "Its okay... Even though the healer, that be my wife, Told me too stay put and rest... I can only stay down for so long until i need to move again..." he yawns loudly and blinks a few more times, "I'll move around later..." he then nods at the next part, "I heard you guys are setting traps... Hopefully your not making a lot of Pitfalls in the area, at least if you are... don't spike them..." he then sighs at the dad part, "Come here... sit down and tell me about your father... and if you want ill tell you about mine..." he then scratches his head, "But only if you want too, or else i can help you to keep your mind off things..." he suggests, trying to be helpful.

The stoat shakes his head. "No spikes in three of the four of them." he says. "There's only spikes in the one that leads into moledeep." Robin explains before shrugging a bit, slowly sitting next to the otter. "He wasn't the best dad in the world, I guess. But he...was mine." he nods. "He kept me save. Trained me in what he knew even though it was, as Uncle says, vermin." he explains. "If it wasn't for my father, I'd have burned with the rest of the village, some three seasons ago now." he completely leaves out the part about being a slaver, and the way his dad used to whip and beat him when he didn't do things right.

Aikuen tilts his head, "I'd be careful with spiked pitfalls... I'd tell the guy in charge of supreme defense-a-tude to remove the spikes... put like... brambles in there instead... It'll cut up whoever falls in, but not kill them... Just in case its friendly" he listens as the stoat speaks, nodding occasionally, "No beast, is the best dad in the world... As for the vermin part... don't fret, I've been called that many a times... for what i could do..." he smiles, "Your dad must have loved you then... lucky..." he sighs and rubs his claw against his fur, "My father didn't want anything to do with me... and only really talked to me every once in awhile... but he talked more with his fists then with his mouth..." he sighs.

Robin nods. "I'll tell him." he replies. "You know. He did love me, but not as much as I'd have liked. He. Punished...me a lot for when I didn't do something the way he wanted, or when I did something wrong." He says. "Being beaten and whipped for not wanting to do things his way was...not fun." he frowns. "He didn't really care if I did them better or worse. Only cared if I did them his way. No matter if his way wasn't good. So he punished me the way his dad and Kentar's dad punished them. I guess...Uncle lost it when he took me out to the gardens when he killed dad..." he doesn't seem like he wants to talk about it much.

Aikuen nods slowly, "I guess he was trying to teach you. What he wanted... you to learn. Maybe he was trying to keep you from heading off a different path then the one he wanted for you... I don't know, just a thought..." he looks away for a minute, "Yah i heard about that... But i think Kentar learned his lesson from that... real quick..."

Robin shrugs. "He could have done it differently." he sighs, scratching his head. A habit Kentar has when he's nervous or upset. Seems like it runs in the family. "So. Aikuen. Where do you come from?" he asks, not sure if its a good thing to ask or not.

Aikuen shrugs, "It may be the only way he knows how to punish..." he then tilts his head at Robin, "Who me? Umm... I'm from a western island called Ashurah. The island is about half a season trip in that direction. The island is about... half the size of Mossflower... and almost eight times more populated..." Aik doesn't care too much about him asking. Its good to talk about certain things.

Robin shrugs. "Maybe." He says. "Knew..." there's a pause then nods. "Sounds like an interesting place. What's it like?" he asks, tilting his head. "Good, bad, evil, nice, boring...what?"

Aikuen shrugs, "It is interesting, never a dull moment... Not always good moments, but you will never find yourself without something to do..." and at the last part he blinks, "Depends on what you like... Its lawful, don't know if that is good or bad. The place it constantly monitored by troops. As the island is in a constant state of war..." he smiles a little, "But its home... or was home..."

Robin nods a bit. "Yeah. I guess." he smiles a little. "At least my home wasn't. Always at war." he nods. "Well. It was. For a while. A war that we lost, sadly."

Aikuen nods, "It happens when two opposing forces want to occupy the same space... Always a war, even if they claim it to be over... Its always been like that... since the island was founded..." he then looks to Robin and blinks, "You guys lost the war? Did that change anything to your lives?"

Robin nods. "Yeah. Uncle...did tell you the village was burned to the ground, right?" he asks, thinking if they knew anything about Kentar, it would be that. "Yes. It did. We left our home after Kentar did, hunted down those who killed our family and friends, then went off to find him."

Aikuen says, "Yeah he did... He told me when we went to the east coast. He also went to the new rebuilt home one day." he then watches robin for a minute, not saying anything, just watching. He then hmms and says, "I don't remember him saying that... Hmm..." he then nods slowly, "Well... revenge is great... but only..." he shakes his head, "No... i cant say that... as i was the same way... Well at least you found him..." not sure if he should be saying anything about anything. Don't want to upset the young one, at least anymore.

Robin nods a bit. "Yeah. I guess." he smiles a little. "At least my home wasn't. Always at war." he nods. "Well. It was. For a while. A war that we lost, sadly."

Aikuen nods, "It happens when two opposing forces want to occupy the same space... Always a war, even if they claim it to be over... Its always been like that... since the island was founded..." he then looks to Robin and blinks, "You guys lost the war? Did that change anything to your lives?"

Robin nods. "Yeah. Uncle...did tell you the village was burned to the ground, right?" he asks, thinking if they knew anything about Kentar, it would be that. "Yes. It did. We left our home after Kentar did, hunted down those who killed our family and friends, then went off to find him."

Aikuen says, "Yeah he did... He told me when we went to the east coast. He also went to the new rebuilt home one day." he then watches robin for a minute, not saying anything, just watching. He then hmms and says, "I don't remember him saying that... Hmm..." he then nods slowly, "Well... revenge is great... but only..." he shakes his head, "No... i cant say that... as i was the same way... Well at least you found him..." not sure if he should be saying anything about anything. Don't want to upset the young one, at least anymore.

Robin nods a bit. "I sort of wish we hadn't." He says quietly. "Found him I mean. Anyways. We did. So I just have to live with it. But...wait. Did you say...rebuilt?" He asks.

Aikuen tilts his head, "Aye, he said that the village was rebuilt when he where on the shoreline... He didn't talk about it much, or say much... Why?"

Robin gets a great big smile on his face, laughing and clapping his paws. "I know where I'm going to go when I come of age!" he laughs, smiling, seeming so happy. "Jasper said he'd rebuild. But we didn't believe him! Hahah!" Kentar never mentioned anymore survivors.

Aikuen goes wide eye at the young stoat. Apparently Robin didn't know about that. Aik wonders why Kentar never told him. He hope that he didn't upset anything by saying that. he smiles at the excitement though, "Oh good, i guess. Good for you then! I wish you safe journey then, whenever you go..." he tries to be supportive.

Robin bounces then laughs. "Thank seasons! Yes! Yes! I'm going home!" he laughs, standing and running out of the room, so very happy. He'll probably be back.

Will is nearly knocked over by the stoat as he runs past. The rat waits a moment to see if any other beasts will come running by before walking into the infirmary. He looks around a little noting Aikuen's the only one in there. "Feeling better?" he asks taking Fira's chair to sit by the Aikuen's cot.

"You look better. Better then yesterday anyway. Forgot t tell you Kentar an I clean out th chimney in th garden burrow so we can use it when it starts t get cold again. We did it all ourselves an since we got all dirty we went swimming in th river after," Will says. He leaves out the part about Kentar being captured by unknown beasts. The otter's been through enough.

Aikuen smiles, "I feel better, better enough to move around... but the ole healer, your mum, force me to stay in here to rest, which i guess is okay. Gets kinda lonely though..." he then tilts his head and smiles "You guys did? Good for you!... Good! I'm going to need the chimney... nice big roaring fire, all the time... i don't like the cold..." he is from a warm climate, where cold was not part of the vocabulary, "You know you can swim in the pond to get clean, true it will get dirty, but the water will filter out every few days or so... as its an Aquifer" good thing Will kept quiet about it, he needs to rest. And keep his mind off things for awhile.

Will shrugs, "I know and there was a wash tub somewhere in th kitchen when I first came here too. I'm used t using th river is all. I can use th pond if you want though." He switches back to talking about the fireplace, "Yeah, I'd been thinking we'd need th fireplace cleaned out before summer was over and it starts t get cold again." He smiles thinking about the coming winter. "It'll be nice t have a fire once it starts snowing an stuff. Th garden burrow's big enough for all of us t fit and then some though it's not as big as th hall is and it's a little farther from th kitchen but it has tables and chairs and things so when it gets cold we'll probably eat in there instead of th hall. .... Course you might start up a fire soon as fall starts since you like heat so much." the rat grins picturing Aikuen sitting before the fire on the first day of fall wrapped in a blanket like an elderly beast.

Moledeep: Outside

Windhunter strides along, examining the ground carefully. Aikuen did a pretty good job of covering his tracks, and for all Windhunter knows he turned and went a different way a long time ago. Frustrated, he looks up and sees a grove a head, and deciding to examine it breaks into a slow run until he feels something snap under his footpaw. He looks down to see the trip line, quickly looks about for the trap, but is caught in the swinging net before he can dodge it.

After having returned home, and having gone out on patrol, Kentar was wandering along, checking his traps, making sure none had gone off. He heard one trigger a few yards away, drawing his sword and slowly going over, eying the beast trapped in the next, going to poke him gently with the tip of his sword. "State your business." he growls.

Windhunter mentally berates himself for his carelessness. He starts to reach for a knife to try to cut the net, but then hears someone approaching and something sharp poke him in the back. He turns his head and out of the corner of his eye sees the stoat, and assuming him not to be friendly, slowly continues to pull out the knife. "I'm sorry good sir, I seem to have lost my way. I'm looking for a friend of mine but don't know exactly where he is. I didn't mean to trespass."

Kentar eyes him for a moment, slowly shaking his head. "What's the friends name?" he questions, poking again, a little lighter this time. "No lying, quick now. I've got things to attend to." the stoat growls, looking around in case there's others around.

Windhunter hesitates, but since the stoat is not wearing a red cloak he assumes that he is not one of Jericken's. "Well I doubt you'd know him, I'm probably just in the wrong place, but he's a big old otter by the name of Aikuen." He pulls the knife fully from his belt and starts to look for the best place to cut.

Kentar blinks and inspects the squirrel closely, but seeing no red at all, he takes out a throwing knife from his bracer, tossing it against the rope, cutting Windhunter down. "Aikuen, you say?" he says. "Yeah, I know him. Friend of his?" he asks, getting his knife. He doesn't untie the net though, leaving that for the captive to do.

Windhunter hits the ground with a thud. He cuts some knots at the top of the net, allowing him to open it, and starts crawling out. "Aye, pretty good friend of his. Got some important stuff to tell him, so if you're a friend of his I'd appreciate it if you took me to him." He stands up slowly, and puts his knife back in his belt, making sure not to act hostile in any way.

Kentar eyes him closely. "Fine. But I want your weapons. If your truly his friend, you won't mind giving them up and getting them back when you leave..." he offers out his paw for the weapons. "Only then will I take you to him."

Windhunter removes his bow from his back, inspecting it for any damage it took during the fall. He then looks at Kentar. "Could I at least get a name, and perhaps some evidence that you're his friend, before giving all my protection to a stranger."

Kentar chuckles. "Smart beast. I'm Captain, Kentar." he nods, wanting to burst into laughter, using his old rank again. "And since I know where he is, and I'm here, talking to you, and your in...my trap, that should be evidence enough."

Windhunter nods. "Well, alright then." He hands his bow to Kentar, followed by his quiver. Deciding not to bother with the knives and short sword individually he takes off his entire belt and gives it to the stoat. "My name's Windhunter by the way," he says, still ready to make a leap for the nearest tree if this all turns out to be a trick.

Kentar takes the weapons and nods. "Right. Nice to meet you." he nods slowly. "Follow me, do what I tell you, and that way, you wont get hurt by any of the remaining traps." he says, starting to walk along. "So. Why are you looking for him, if you don't mind me asking?"

Windhunter follows Kentar. "Well I'm guessing the traps mean that you already know about Jericken. I've been watching his troops since I warned Aik about him, and I'm trying to find Aik so I can tell him about it.

Kentar ahs and nods. "Yeah, I know. We got word of it just before they walked through the door. Well. Limped." he says. "I guess I can trust you enough to give these back." He hands back over the weapons. "Though, if you draw them, I will kill you." he says firmly.

Windhunter relaxes a great deal. "Thank you," he says as he takes his weapons back. "What do you mean "limping"? Did they actually have a run in with Jericken's forces?"

Kentar nods. "They did. From what I was told, captured too. Aik is pretty bad shape." he says. "Glad we patched him up. He can walk and everything but. Wow. You should have seen him." he slowly shakes his head.

Windhunter kicks a pine cone in frustration. "It's all my fault..." he mutters.

Kentar tilts his head. "How is it your fault?" he asks, walking still. "You couldn't have known they would be captured." he says. "You couldn't have known how bad a shape Aik would be in afterwards."

Windhunter hangs his head in shame. "I was being followed when I went to warn him. I should've expected it too, shouldn't have thought that Jericken was just gonna let me go about my business. It's just that I haven't had anyone successfully shadow me in so long, I didn't think anyone could. Then when it mattered most I let them tail me for leagues. They wouldn't even have found him if I had been more careful."

Kentar sighs. "Look. You couldn't have known at all that you were being followed. Okay? Its not your fault. It really isn't."

Windhunter decides not to argue. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he says, not really believing it. He decides to change the subject. "Did his wife get hurt?"

Kentar shakes his head. "A few bruises. Nothing more." he smiles. "Glad she's okay. Glad he'll be okay." he nods.

Windhunter smiles and nods. "So how long have you known Aik for?"

The stoat shrugs. "A couple of seasons now. Sort of saved my life a few times." he then smiles a little as he opens the gates to moledeep. "Follow me inside." he unlocks the door and goes in.

Windhunter smiles. Aye, saved my life at least once too.

Moledeep: Infirmary

Kentar leads Windhunter into Moledeep then into the Infirmary where Aik is. "Hey Aik, I'm back. And I've brought you a visitor."

Windhunter smiles upon seeing Aikuen. "Hey Aik. Looks like you've seen better days."

Aikuen smiles, "Well Mr. defence beast probably wont allow us washing in the river anymore..." and then nods, "Plus the garden burrow sounds nice, all warm and cozy... and yah we will probably eat in there as the hall will get pretty chilly soon... Not real soon... as fall is a weeks away... so its still summer, and even into fall, wont get real cold until about halfway... And yes i do like the heat... don't laugh at me..." he eyes the rat before chuckling. Then the stoat and another enter the room and he looks to it, "You did? Wh-... WINDY!" he gets up and goes to sit on the side of the bed, "Geeze mate you hard to lose... What you been up too after we split that night?" he seems nervous. And then he shrugs, "I'm okay... just look awful, and im tired..." he then blinks at Kentar, "Where is Fira?" and if by magic she enters the room, and goes to sit next to Aikuen, "Sorry Aik, went to our room to put away the books!" she kisses his nose. Aik just blinks and is lost to everything. But he still smiles at the kiss.

Will's ears turn toward the door first and then he turns his head to look when Aikuen calls out to the new arrival. He waves a little a Windhunter, "Hi. I remember you. Haven't seen you in seasons! Not since Pa an I were heading out on our trip south and that was a long time ago," the rat chuckles. "Hope my big brother didn't hurt you any. He's put himself in charge of defense and kinda everything right now."

Windhunter laughs. "No he didn't hurt me. Did get me in a net trap though, pretty good one. And I didn't realize he was your brother. How many beasts you been adopting Aikuen?"

Kentar looks to Will and chuckles a bit and sits down with the rat. "Seeing as how, right now, I'm probably the only one who could actually fight his way out of a cloth bag right now, I think I deserve to be in charge for once." He grins.

Aikuen blows a raspberry at Kentar, "I could fight my way out... may have to take a nap a few times... but i could do it..." then back to Windhunter and shrugs, "I don't remember anymore... Three i guess... Will, Kentar, and Racky wherever he is..." he then laughs, "Got caught in a net eh? That's not like the Windhunter i know!"

Windhunter frowns. "Yeah, well I guess I've sort of been a poor woodsbeast lately." He pauses and looks at the floor. "I- I'm sorry for the other day Aik. They wouldn't have found you if I hadn't lead them right to you."

Aikuen tilts his head at Windhunter, "Poor Woodsbeast? I don't wanna hear that, your excellent at what you do... must have been having a hard day..." then the next part. He blinks and stares at the squirrel. He doesn't say anything. After a bit he just shakes his head, "Don't be sorry. Not your fault. They would have found us eventually... you actually gave us a heads up... and a chance to get away. If it wasn't for you... They might have gotten us at the holt... And i do not want that..." Fira smiles faintly and grabs his good arm carefully. Aik smiles at her and continues, "You did a good thing that night... thank you..."

Kentar looks at Will for a sec. "Maybe we should give them some alone time?" He suggests to the rat, quietly of course.

Will just watches the others talk. He's only met Windy once or twice but if his pa says it's not his fault he figures it probably wasn't. He nods to Kentar and walks toward the door. "I'll see you later, Pa." he waves a little to let the otter know he's leaving the room.

Windhunter cheers up a bit, and nods to Will and Kentar as they leave. Then he pulls up a chair and sits down facing Aik, setting his gear on the ground beside him. From his belt he pulls a small piece of paper. "Ah yes, I almost forgot why I came here. Cozy place you got here by the way." He unfolds the paper to reveal a map of Mossflower.

Aikuen waves weakly at them as they leave, "See yah..." Fira kisses him on the nose again before getting up and heading off as well. Give them some time to talk. Aik smiles and mouths to her, "Love you..." before she is off. He takes a deep breath and looks back at Windhunter. The first nice beast he ever meet when he landed in Mossflower. He blinks at the paper and discover it's a map, "Aye, thanks. Yes it is nice and cozy and secure mostly. It's home... Why did you want to come here, other then to check up on me..."

Windhunter points to the map. "Well, I've been watching the redcloaks' movements since we split up. I came upon three of them trying to track you, which must have been after you escaped. Then a fourth one came along and said they'd been ordered back to camp. Long story short, they started heading for the western shore, and as far as I can tell that's where the whole lot of them are headed."

Aikuen nods, but he seems really out of it right now. But this is important, must protect his family and friends from them, "You have been tracking them... thanks..." he looks to the map, following the squirrels claw, "Aye... That coincides with what me and Fira discovered at the cell... all the tracks were heading west for some reason... " he then blinks, "They may be getting back to their ship... they probably didn't dock at a normal harbor. Probably just used a long boat or something on the shore... But im getting ahead, of information we don't know..." he blinks and points to an area on the map somewhere in the forest southwest of Redwall on the map, "This is where we are, at least i think so... So they don't look like they are following me, that's good..." he rubs his paws in his eyes.

Windhunter says, "Aye, I don't see any way they could be following you now. Even if they were trying, I had a pretty hard time following you, and I covered up any traces I found. Plus I had to ask a feathered friend of mine at one point or I wouldn't have picked up your trail again. "

Aikuen chuckles, "Well we were kinda in a hurry to get back home, so we couldn't have hit every trace of our trail..." he then leans back in his bed and looks to the ceiling, "Thanks for covering up what we missed... But make sure that friend of yours keeps his beak shut, about where i am..." he closes his eyes and think for a minute, before continuing, "I came to Mossflower... to escape... So many questions... Why do they want me alive... The ruler would not spend so much gold to try and bring me back, just to kill me... its not his style... there is something else... i can feel it..." he sighs, "Listen Windy, i know you went to a lot of trouble to get here... Thank you."

Windhunter smiles. "Well, just glad I could be of some help." He yawns. "I haven't gotten any sleep since we split up though. It alright if I lay my head here tonight?

Aikuen nods a little bit, "Yah sure Windy, take as long as you need too. We're pretty well stocked up on things. Just tell Kentar that you will be staying here... Sleeping hall is well... you saw it when you came in here..." he yawns as well, going to settle into his cot. He seems to have dozed off quickly but he mumbles out to the squirrel, "If you see Fira, tell her that she can come in now..." he smiles faintly before drifting off. Even though he doesn't act like it, he is very tired almost all the time now.

Moledeep: Mole Hall

Windhunter enters the room and nods to Kentar. "Aikuen's sleeping now. He told me to let you know that I'll be staying here tonight. I'll head out tomorrow to do some more scouting."

Kentar was just sitting in a chair when Windy came out. "Alright. Feel free to stay longer if you need to." he says. "Might be good to have an expendable scout..." he laughs. "Just joking, of course." he smiles.

Will nods a little at first from his spot on the floor where he's working on a new clay figurine. He gives Kentar a look for his joke and rolls his eye at his brother. "You're welcome t stay long as you need to," the rat says now looking over at the squirrel, "They're heading west .... good t know." The rat nods to himself as he starts to chew on his lip while thinking.

Kentar blinks a dozen or so times. "What? The west coast?" he asks. "Why would they be going there? They know that Aik isn't there. They know he's in Mossflower..." he thinks for a moment. "Alright. Thanks." he nods a little. "I'm still not removing the traps yet. I don't like it. Unless their going back to Azurah, I don't think they're done. But I've been wrong before." he smiles a little. "I'm glad Aik told me the name before. Or I'd feel rather stupid saying, that island place."

Windhunter nods. "Aye, I don't think Aik thinks they're done either. Anyway, I'll be heading to bed now, good night both of you.

Kentar nods and waves to the squirrel. "I don't like it." he frowns. "Why would they be going west!? WEST!?" he growls. "Darn cowards can't be running." he stands and starts to pace. "They're up to something...I can feel it..." No. He can't.

Will continues to chew on his lip, "Th island is someplace in th western sea or is it th eastern sea .... I think it's west. That could be where they first landed when they came from their island. There's ports there and towns .... probably where they're camped at when they aren't look through th woods. Th coast is a big place and they could get help from th beasts at th docks and in th towns .... Pa an I went down that way three seasons ago," he chews on his lip more, "Hit most every pub from tween here and there I'd think and at th time Pa was always asking for rum at every place ... nearly every place. Somebeast around there might remeber us, more if they were paid to ... but don't know if they'd be able to follow us all th way back that way .... not pass Tir Arnon if even that far I'd think." The rat chews on his lip harder thinking quietly again.

Kentar nods slowly. "They're not done. Its not that easy, I'm sorry. Vermin just don't take a piece out of your hide, then return empty handed. I think they'd be killed if they went back without Aikuen. They're not gone yet...I don't think they're gone yet anyways." he frowns. "Whatever. This is stupid. Why are they even hunting him!? What he did was seasons ago..." he's obviously worried. "Stupid vermin, stupid vermin, stupid...vermin!"

Will is still thinking and says without really being asked, "Treason, piracy, and being an assassin where at th top of th list of crimes I heard. There's more but they didn't say what they were." He's busy thinking things over and doesn't think much on what he just said.

Kentar slams his fist down on the table. "It doesn't matter what he did. It was seasons ago." he frowns. "If my brother was still alive, or even any of my old friends were, I'd go and hunt each of them down. I'd manage it too." So he thinks. "A bunch of us would do it, paws down." He sits and thinks. "Gahah!" he punches the table again, and again until finally he bangs his face off it once, now staring at the wood.

Will look up at the stoat a which a look of mild surprise at his outburst. "Yes it was seasons ago but they act like he didn't get punished for what he did when he did get punished for it already. They called him vermin and threw him out of his old house and I think they threw him out of th island and sent him away, here. Unless he just happened t come here after they made him leave th island. I don't know why they're looking for him now if they already punished him once. I guess th king he tried t kill or whoever that gives them their orders changed his mind or they got another king since then .... I don't know."

Kentar nods slowly and then frowns. "Look Will." he pauses and looks around to make sure Garnet isn't in hearing range. "If any of those red cloaked vermin show up here, or if I happen to run into any of them, I will kill them myself in the most painful way possible for wanting to hurt my friends, or family. They may not be after me, but I'd guess if they're after him, I'm in danger too. And I refuse to let a threat like that go unnoticed." he seems to be taking this more serious then anything before, leaning back, folding his arms, and thinking now.

Will cocks his head at the stoat, "It'd be better to make it quick rather than slow. And you need t re-read th other rules out front first. None of your new rules change those ones, I don't think. Even if you think they deserve it try not t break rule ten. Me an Garnet don't like that one being broken. First time I added a rule after th second time something was done stead of th first. ..... Kill em if you run into em, fine. You can get away with it more than I could."

Kentar frowns. "I will tell you now. If any beast...intending anyone here harm sets even a whisker into that door, I will kill them. Rule or no rule." he doesn't even have a clue what rule ten is. He stands. "I'm scared Will. Not scared of them. Not at all. Scared of what might happen if they find this place. Scared of what might happen to Aikuen if they find him. Scared of what will happen to you if he's killed. Or if I'm killed. I want everyone to be safe. And if I break rules to do it, then fine. I will." he turns to leave, moving to the door that leads outside, going to make sure Robin is on patrol like told, and then to reset a few of the traps.

Will nods a little, "There's no rules against killing vermin ... real vermin. Why don't you go read th rules out front before ya assume you'll be breaking em. I'll go with you if you want. And I'm always open t new rules that can be put on there but they're not much room on th sign ... ten might be th limit for that sign. Might have t make a new one if we need t add more rules.

Kentar frowns. "You can follow if you want. I don't care." he says, going outside, stopping to read the rules once over before he goes off to fix his traps.