Curious-er and curious-er. or The plot of the disappearance of the Ferravale Head Guard deepens.
FV:Guardhouse
The guardhouse comprises of a reasonably spacious wooden building with just one room in it and bars on all the windows. A few bunks for off duty guards back up against the wall furthest from the door often with at least one snoring lump in them. A couple of weapon racks hang out by other walls near a space of sawdust covered floor where training or just the occasional fight takes place while at a safe distance a round table surrounded by chairs holds the remains of a bit of food and drink, a tatty old pack of cards and a few dice to play with.
Exits: [H]ead Guard's Office, [Exit]
Ferdinand the male ferret. Spot the female ferret. Wesly the male weasel. A mysterious beast hiding in the shadows.
The guard shack is rather empty today, only in the sense that every guard is out patrolling the city. Ever since Bandit's departure, and then reappearance as a corpse, several guards have out right left the force, others struggle to keep up the slack, trying to keep beasts from thinking that now is the time to commit crimes and get away with it.
The paper work only continues to fill up in the ex head guard's office. The only beast present is a small ferret who munches away at her lunch as she cleans some armor in the far corner of the room.
Ferdinand has been suspicious of the disappearance of the Head Guard since, well, since he vanished. So he's doing something that few beasts know that he does well: spying. Wearing camouflaging tunic, pants, boots, and cloak, and carrying his sabre and recurve bow and quiver of arrows under his cloak, he hides under a window, only really able to be spotted if someone knew what they were looking for.
So far Ferdinand has discovered that Spot the ferret cheats on her diet. The chubby guard also has the habit of misfiling cases beginning with the letter P for reasons that have yet to be explained. Spot raises her head when the door to the guardshack opens. "Oh hello Wesly! Nice to see you! How's it going?"
The young weasel shakes the box in his paws, "I'm carrying Bandit to his office."
"You mean...is that..."
"Yep. We sent Bandit's remains to a taxidermist while we searched for any family and friends he might have." The weasel doesn't look comfortable. "Nearly made me sick to think that a whole beast is in here...or what's left of him."
"Well at least he will look proper for his burial. Oh! Reminds me. You got a letter." The chubby beast reaches behind her, pulling out a small parchment of paper. "I don't think the beast who wrote it knew what they are doing though. It's all gibberish to me."
Setting 'Bandit' aside on a table the guard picks up the letter. His eyes widen for a moment before stuffing it down his shirt. "It's nothing. Probably a mistake. C-can you make sure Bandit get's to his office? I...forgot the kettle on the stove back home."
Spot waves to the weasel as he dashes out the door. "Sure thing! Take care!"
Ferdinand narrows his eyes. Curious-er and curious-er. He goes to follow the weasel, sticking to the shadows and dark areas. He is obviously, somehow, very skilled at tracking beasts while remaining undetected. He pulls his fencing knife out of his boot, its blade darkened with soot, and continues to follow Wesly, keeping a lookout for anything that would require him to either fight or run.
The weasel's path doesn't take him very far, just back into town. He is looking at the ground as he walks, nervously biting at his claws. In-between the bakery and spintress shops a paw is seen pulling the beast into the alley way.
Wesly very nearly screams his head off until a beast tells him to calm down. The voice is obviously male but his figure is obscured by a pile of boxes. "Blast it! What in the blazes are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?"
"Given how much time you are spending at the tavern these days it wouldn't surprise me." The voice says with seriousness, "Did you really have to put in for new armor?"
Clutching at his stomach the weasel turns away from the beast, "N-no. Probibly. What's it to you anyway! What's with all the cloak and dagger stuff?"
"We are getting worried Wesly. You haven't been acting...normal."
"So? So w-what? Why should-"
"Let me rephrase that. Beasts are asking if you are ok. To the point some even suggested you be sent on vacation. You can see why we are concerned..."
"Concerned? Is that all?" Wesly hisses, "I'm bleeding freaking out man! An eagle dropped the head guard off in the middle of the square. That wasn't supposed to happen! What did that badger do? Feed him to an eagle?"
"Keep your voice down." The weasel gulps at the growl he is given, "I...don't know what happened or even how. I plan on asking that badger eventually. Just, look. We are close...so...close. Don't screw this up and get us caught by freaking out now."
"He was eaten...alive." The weasel wails. "I carried his remains from the taxidermist...I...no one deserved that...he was..."
"Wesly you fool. Just shut up." The voice growls again. "Look, just keep it together or it will be YOUR hide someone is burying. You think being eaten by an eagle is bad, try being eaten by a snake!"
The weasel rubs at his paw, "alright Markus...I will...try to keep calm."
Ferdinand has followed the weasel as close as he dares, and is now hiding behind a huge display infront of the bakery. He listens silently, then his strange golden eyes widen in shock as the weasel gives away the obviously traitor's name. /Markus/. The acting Head Guard. Oh, shnap. The ferret slinks off, quiet as a shadow, then, when he is out of sight of the alleyway, he bursts into a run as fast as his strong, lean, long legs can carry him. He's got to tell Blisa when she's feeling better, but for now, he'll confide in the other bodyguards. They are loyal to him as their Captain, and they /have/ to know what's going on.
Thanks for reading!
Groups:
