Deep thinking and Fighting Ravens with Mandolins.

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Sat, 10/13/2012 - 10:29

OOC: This is Darkwatcher, Hale, Benar, and Shandar. This is very long, but quite worth reading. It takes place on the ramparts, the entry, and ends in the infirmary. Enjoy! :)

Ramparts

-Ideally, Darkwatcher would have gone along with the plan and departed in the wake of the rescue party, but there're a few more things he had to see to, and now he stands on the western rampart, taking a break from his preparations to enjoy the autumn air.

-Hale is new to the abbey, and she only knows how to get to and from a few places, and one of those places happens to be the ramparts. She sees the dark fox, and she hesitates, but remembers being told that there are a number of foxes and cats, and not all are evil. She takes the last step and nods politely. ""ello. Nice weather t'day, yes?"

-The mercenary nods. "Aye. " After a moment, he adds, "Makes you wonder, though..."

-Hale goes to the battlement edges and looks over at the land, a small breeze playing with her headfur. "What's that?"

-"Out there, somewhere, is a mad killer, who, if he is victorious, will murder countless innocents...and yet..." Darkwatcher gazes out into the distance, saying, "The world goes on. Nature seems no different for all the turmoil for which it is the stage. Strange...Comforting, but also disturbing, how no matter what happens, some forces will still endure, unchangeable."

-Hale is surprised at the deep thought. "Aye. Your right." She sighs. "Nature doesn't care of the beasts she shelters. Tis all the same t' her." Hale thinks about all the families she knows that have been hurt in some way. "And after every evil beast comes another, but after every peaceful beast comes two more. Without them, we wouldn't be, either."

-Darkwatcher sighs. "Peace is a funny thing, innit? So many beasts strive for it, so many fight and die for it, yet those that survive sometimes cannot tell when they have it."

-"An' It never lasts too long. Just long enough that ye know tis there, an' when youve started t' take et f'r granted, ye got t' fight f'r et." Hale turns towards her companion. "Whats your name, and what part do ye play in this fight f'r peace?"

-"I'm Darkwatcher, and my mercenaries and I are going to do whatever we can to bring down Stormfeather," Darkwatcher says matter-of-factly.

-"I look after this region when I can. Stormfeather is a threat to said region, and I have a more...personal vendetta against him. I don't particularly have much allegiance to Redwall, but I'd on the whole prefer an Abbey to a fortified lair for Stormfeather." He adds in a murmur, half to himself, "I sell my blades to the highest bidder, but sometimes a black-and-white stance must be taken."

-Hale raises an eyebrow (mostly to herself), after hearing Darkwatcher. "Aye, Stormfeather is not t' be taken lightly. I'm Hale, though most o' my mateys call me Halestorm. She taps a paw aginst the warm sandstone. "I don't have much allegiance t' this place, either." She rubs her eyes with both paws. "Other..buisness brought me here. An' I'd never give up a good fight, so I'm here to defend this place as well."

-"Well met, Hale, although I'm not exactly going to be /defending/, as it were," Darkwatcher says.

-"oh? then what is it ye are doin'?"

-"We're taking a more direct approach," the merc replies. "You know the rescue party that's hunting for Stormfeather? We're providing backup."

-Hale thinks for a moment. "Then why arent ye on the trip? Id ave gone, but arrived to late."

-"There were a few things that I had to deal with," Darkwatcher answers after a moment. "Things to put in place, supplies to gather, messages to relay..."

-"Ah." Hale's reply is brief; she can't think of much to say. She isn't a very talkative beast, and she doen't like to pry, but she is determined to manage to hold up her end of the conversation. "So, ah...How many beasts do ye 'ave with ye?"

-"Not many," Darkwatcher admits. "Three, not counting myself, are able to assist--the others are either out of the region or...busy. So, we have a crow, a somewhat crazed wildcat, and a masked ermine, as well as myself. But," he adds proudly, "We make up for our lack of numbers with skill. I choose my fighters carefully."

-Hale has been a fighter long enough to know the power of a few incredible fighters, and she hopes that Darkwatcher is serious about the skill of the creatures he leads, including himself. She's silent for a bit, looking out at the woodlands, then thinks back to try and find something to speak off of. "ye said earlier that ye had a personal thing against Stormfeather. Care t' say more? if ye don't, thats ok..." her voice trails, as she realizes that this may not have been the best question to ask.

-Darkwatcher shrugs. "I don't mind. The question would've come up at some point...Stormfeather and I are related. Brothers. And I've had enough of my bro acting up."

-Hale dark eyes grow just a bit wider. Alright. Understatment. hale's eyes grow VERY wide. "Your /related/?!" She manages to choke out. "And I'd say this is more than /acting out/."

-"To say the least," Darkwatcher says with an almost impercievably swift glint of humor. "I intend to put an end to it, or at least to help other beasts do the same in my place."

-Hale manages to regain some composure. "It seems as if quite a few are after Stormfeather. I meself ave nothing in particular to settle with him. Es just another evil one taintin me home. So I join the fight to make im go." Hale shrugs.

-Darkwatcher nods. "Good enough reason as any, I suppose."

-Hale leans against the wall, looking out at the abbey. "Aye. Takes more th'n one beast t protect this liddle lot." She sweeps a paw out, showing the abbey and the woods. She thinks for a moment, one paw rummaging in her pouch as she thinks about what she is considering sharing. "I'm a guard at Camp Willow. Anglin' t' be a weapons trainer." She gestures at her swords. "My friend asked me t' come here to bring a letter t' a liddle un named Shandar. Though I can't manage t' talk t' her. I was told t' see Flicky, but c'nt manage t' find him. Hopin' maybe i c'n leave soon an' go home. Got t' protect em there. Tis my duty t' em all."

-Darkwatcher nods. "I've been a mercenary for many seasons now, and I've determined this: Loyalty and skill can be bought, but duty stays with you forever."

-Stepping up onto the Battlements warily is a Grey Squirrel in the robes of one of the Order. He looks around nervously and slowly approaches the group of beasts standing on the Battlements the guard detailed to look after him following along and watching the skies.

-Hale nods sagely back. "Aye. Duty takes time to learn, an' it never goes away." She holds up a paw in greeting at the squirrel. "Hello, brother."

-Darkwatcher nods to the approaching squirrel. "Hey, Benar."

-Benar smiles at Darkwatcher and bows to him then waves to a couple of other nearby guards before moving over to join him and the otter. "Good day, Welcome Miss to Redwall Abbey... I wish I could offer you greater hospitality in these times."

-The otter grins. "Ah, this is nothin'. I appreciate it, brother, and I'm sorry that ye have to live like this, but I don't feel fully alive without a good fight."

-Benar says, "Well I am glad you feel that way, me I will be glad when all this is over and we can go back to normal." he pulls the hood of his robe up against the increasing chill."

-Darkwatcher adjusts his dark grey stealth-pattern hood as well. "Normality is so fragile," he says, deadpan.

-Hale doesn't seem to notice the cold, except when she shifts her weight onto her left leg, she puts no weight on the right. Her scar is clearly bothering her a bit. She gives a little jump after a moment, sitting on the top of a battlement, one big footpaw resting in the space between battlements, the other hanging down over the edge. "How long do ye think this'll last, Brother?" She watches a few birds flying low over the trees.

-Benar watches the birds warily incase they are Ravens, "Not long I hope... we are expecting to be besieged any day now but our defences are stronger then they have been led to believe." he shivers and tucks his hands inside his robe sleeves, "So what brings an Otter from Camp Willow to the abbey?"

-Darkwatcher remains silent, only nodding once, reaching slowly for his quiver when he sees the birds.

-Hale sighs heavily, having been hoping that she would not be asked this. "I..uh..t'was a favor for a friend. I'm not staying long." She says, sounding a bit lame. It's clear that this isn't the whole story. She notices the others watching the birds, but doesn't draw a weapon. They are too far away for her to use swords, and she can't see far enough to tell what kind of birds they are.

-The squirrel nods his head, "Well be welcome anyway and please stay as long as you need. Though I would advise us to move indoors. It is not safe out here currently, everyone who is not on guard duty is being kept inside the abbey buildings."

-Hale ducks her head politely. "I thank ye. Though if i was t' be anywhere, I'd rather be here. Ye c'n go in, but not knowing if those are ravens, I wouldn't feel right dissapearin' indoors, brother."

-As all of this talking was going on, Darkwatcher became /very/ suspicous of those distant birds, and now his longbow is in his paws, tilted down slightly, a shaft held loosely in his other paw, close to the weapon for rapid nocking and release.

-Benar shakes his head and sighs, "As you wish, I only came out because I heard we had a visitor and it does the Guards good to see some of us outside. Morale and all that..." he lifts his habit and starts for the stairs, "I will see you all inside later."

-Hale watches Benar descend the stairs, then gives her attention back to the rapidly appraoching birds.Hale suddenly jumps down from her position, unsheathing both giant swords mid-jump. "Go! Down the stairs! Their ravens!" She puts too much weight on her bad paw in her landing and almost stumbles, but catches herself.

Entry

-Benar has just finished climbing down the stairs, unaware of the call of raven attacks up above, the squirrel lifting the hem of his habit to keep it off the ground as he starts back toward the abbey. He has a single guard following him but he's a nice big target for any oppurtunistic Ravens who want to snatch a high ranking member of the Order. Especially after being thwarted in their attempt ot seize the abbot.

-Darkwatcher reacted almost the moment that the call went out, /sliding/ down the stairs artfully and nocking the arrow, releasing it as a raven makes the last mistake of its life by swooping into view. SSSSH-THUD. The raven falls at last.

-Hale takes the stairs 3 or 4 at a time, landing with a small puff of dust from the earth. She throws one sword like a javelin at a low flying raven, skewering it through the neck. It squaks and falls to the ground.

-Shandar is crossing the grounds, when she sees the ravens. She drops her mandolin onto the ground and unwinds her sling, running to join the rest of the party. As she runs, she unleashes 2 stones, one missing, the other hitting the beak of a bird with a clack, causing it to hesitate.

-Benar turns around at the sound of fighting and watches as First Darkwatcher and then Hale strke down at the low flying ravens. He yelps as another one comes straight in toward him from higher up, swooping in really low talons spread wide and aimed at the Elder. Benar however was once a soldier, many seasons ago and he reacts quickly jumping to one side and bringing his arms up. He is saved from having to defend himself as one of Shandar's sling stones catches the bird upside the beak and makes it flare its wings and hesitate which gives the guard protecting the Elder time to spear the thing. Benar looks around for the source of the stone and gapes at the young mouse and starting running toward her, "What on earth are you doing out here!"

-Shandar rushes past him, halting next to the fox. She doesn't know him, but he reminds her of Flicktail, and she refuses to go near Hale. "I'm helpin'!" She shouts at Benar happily. She slings off another 2 stones with her sling, hitting either wing on a raven, causing it to flap miserably, and then fall, though it isn't dead.

-Hale runs over to the one Shandar fell, and thrust her sword into its chest, ignoring the loud cries of distress, retrieving her other sword from the already dead raven on her run back. She hears a raven flapping behind her, and she spins, driving both of her blades into it's stomach. She pulls up, tearing the beast in two.

-Darkwatcher: snaps off a precise pair of arrows, pinning both of a raven's wings back against each other, and the dismayed bird screams and falls, abruptly cut off as the black fox fires a third projectile, swiftly renocking and releasing, felling another.

-Benar picks up Shandar's discarded mandolin as the young mouse runs past him and throws off more slings. "I... remind me to scold you late Miss! And to confiscate that sling whatever was Flicktail thinking... you... ah.." he cuts off and swings the Mandolin over Shandar's head, braining the Raven that was about to swoop atop the little one with a SPROING. The Elder sends the bird spinning sideways across the lawn. "Oh dear.. I am sorry, do forgive me..." The Elder calls out after the Raven then hefts the mandolin that is still in tact.

-Shandar ducks her head as Benar swings the instrument. "please don't break it, Sir! Tis new.."Her voice fades as she sees another raven coming near her and the squirrel. She makes a mad dash for the gatehouse, grabbing a rapier most likely handed over by a shrew. It is a bit to big for her, but when her sling wont do, it'll work. She plunges it deep into the chest of a bird who was behind her. Her teeth are bared- she doesnt look so cute anymore.

-Darkwatcher snaps off a timely missile, making sure that the raven whacked by Benar /stays/ that far away. The mercenary whirls -around and pierces another feathered foebeast's brain with ruthless sharpshooting. Not revelling in victory, not gloating, not even vocalizing any confirmation of his kills, Darkwatcher's face is all grim satisfaction in his abilities and confidence that he leaves each job finished, although a slight laugh can be heard as he spots Shandar's blade work.

-Hale hasn't been paying much attention to the mouse-she knows what the dibbun is capable of. She throws her sword again, the blood leaving a trail like a dark, grutesque parody of the northern Lights, felling a raven and pinning it to the ground.

-The Guard on duty to look after Benar ducks a swooping raven and lashes out at it with its spear, "Elder Benar... please you must retreat inside they are after you." Benar turns to frown at the mouse, "I am not leaving a di..." he stops and stares, "Shandar...." he ducks and hurries over to the mouse dibbun and yelps as he has to lash out with the Mandolin again. "Oh gosh... I am so sorry.. do forgive me..." he calls after the bird as the Mandolin goes SPROING again, its holding out but is likely going to need retuning. The squirrel then goes to try and pick the mouse maid up if he can get hold of her.

-By now the ravens are wisely giving Darkwatcher a wide berth, but they aren't out of range entirely. He rattles off a few more arrows, then spots a flurry of dark shapes to the east. "Ravens--East wall! I'm going to deal with it," he yells as he sprints in said direction.

-Shandar doesn't see what benar is aiming to do, but her pursuit of a raven takes her away from him. The raven doesn't seem to be intent on much, just attaacking anything in general. But it isn't going anywhere. Shandar tackles it and slitls it's throat, but scores herself a few raking scratches.

-Benar stares at Shandar... shakes his head and turns to walk into the Gatehouse and get to cover only to find the way blocked by a raven. He frowns at it, "I do say old chap, do excuse me," and whacks the Mandolin into the side of its beak sending it crumpling sideways so he can step over it and get out of the way. The remaining ravens caw loudly to one another and start to break off their attack now that the important target is out of sight as several guards crowd around the doorway of the gatehouse to keep the squirrel safe.

-Shandar untangles herself from the dead bird. She's a bloody mess, and this is clearly visible, even though she has her back to both the otter and the squirrel. the gorey rapier is held in the grip of one paw, the now-slimy sling in the other paw.

-Hale doesn't think the retreating ravens are worth a fight. She cleans one sword, wiping it on the grass, the tugs the other one free of the raven carcass. She sheathes both. "Brother, ye may want t' get the dibbun inside. She won't go near me. I'll help clean up here." Her stormy eyes are narrow, and she's clearly not in a good mood. She isn't breathing heavily from the fight, and she has no trouble dragging one raven by the claws towards the gates.

-Benar steps back out of the gate-house and looks down at Shandar and sighs, "Oh Lords of the Green give me strength... Oz hurry home... Shandar dear... drop the weapons please and lets go inside. You need to have a bath, all that blood can make you sick if we do not clean you up quickly."

-Scioto walks out of the abbey, he had been given premission from Amarro to keep his sword for now and walks into the entry just in time to see all the ravens and frowns, "Ravens again!"

-Shandar turns slowly, revealing her front to the elder. Her dress is torn down one side, the sticky cloth strips hanging loosly. Her chest is heaving, her teeth are bared. her eyes are slightly pink. This could be from the blood dripping into her eyes from the small cut in her forhead, which chip into her ear, or is it...something else entirely? suddenly, she shudders violently, dropping the raiper and sling and falling to her knees. She struggles to get up.

-Benar details two of the guards to set aside their weapons, a female mouse and a hedgehog, the pair move over and the mouse as someone else retrieves the sling and rapier and takes them back toward the gatehouse. "Easy now little one... stay still, let one of us carry you inside." The mouse says softly as Benar hovers in the background looking worried.

-Hale hurries over, standing near Benar. "What was that?" She, too is worried, and she speaks softly. She's hoping that it isn't what it looks like.

-Shandar lets herself be picked up. her eyes are still slightly pink, and now they are a little glassy. There is gore and blood all over her dress and her fur. She is practically dripping in it in some places. Both paws are stroking the carving in her pouch, smearing blood on it, though it looks like that could be washed off.

-Benar says, "Blood Rage..." he whispers softly, frowning as the guards help Shandar, "It.... can affect others, not just badgers but in someone so young it could kill them. Their hearts cannot take the strain... heck it almost kills fully grown badgers let alone little mice..." He frowns worriedly as the guards start to carry Shandar back toward the Abbey, they've taken her sling and rapier away into the gate-house but they leave her the pouch as it seems important to her. Benar is about to say more when one of the other guards takes his arm, "Please sir, go back inside, it is not safe for you to be outside..." Benar nods and motion for Hale to follow as he starts to follow the guards carrying Shandar. "

-Scioto walks over to Benar"I need to let you know something, unless you have already been told about Flicktail and the search party."

-Hale looks at the beasts conducting cleanup, and decides that is may be better for her to leave. She follows Benar inside.

-Benar looks at Scioto and nods, "I heard... I... sorry Scioto tell Amarro... I need to get inside." He picks up his habit and hurries off and through the door by the breezeway into the kitchen the Squirrel looking very disturbed.

Infirmary

-The mouse and hedgehog guards carefully bring in Shandar, and lay her gently on a bed, nodding at the infirmary workers before hustling back down to their posts on the walltops. Shandar is still. She continuously strokes the carving, but doesn't seem to notice that she is. Sister Daisy recognises her, and takes charge, bringing over a bowl of clean water and some cloths. She starts with wiping the blood out of the dibbun's face and cleaning her head wounds.

-Hale enters the infirmary cautiously, never having been overly fond of places like this one. She hops into a windowsill and sits there. She can't help-she knows little of healing, and she knows that even if she did try to help, she'd just be in the way.

Shandar twitches a bit, and blinks, as the cloth gets in her eye, though she still stares at the ceiling. Sister Daisy speaks to Hale. "I know there are evil creatures about, but honestly, can't we manage to keep dibbun inside? You look like a capable beast-" She looks Hale up and down "-What did happen to her?" She pauses, taking note of Shandar's glazed, pink eyes. "OH, my.This isn't good. No, not at all."

-Hale looks out the window, watching the guards. "No. Not at all." She whispers, echoing the infirmary worker. She sighs, thinking about what a failure her trip to Redwall has become. Killed a few birds, scared a dibbun, /maybe/ made a friend in Darkwatcher, and didn't manage to give her letter to who it was supposed to go.

-Sister Daisy, being experienced, works quickly, and Shandar is now resting in a clean habit, too big for her, but it serves its purpose. She is devoid of all blood, and, though she struggled weakly when the sister tried to take her carving, she now has it in her arms again. shandar's eyes are closed, and she is sleeping deeply, due to some medicine. She has bandages around her waist (again). Her old scar has been re-opened there, with several new cuts next to it. She also has a bandage around her forhead, perfectly wrapped.

Hale stands, heading for the door. She nods at Daisy. "I trust ye c'n take care 'o her. I'l be..." She doesn't actually know where she will be, so she makes something up on the spot and hopes that she can stick to it. "i'll either be in the bunk room or on the wall if'n ye need me." She nods and leaves quickly.

-Shandar sleeps peacefully, an occasional twitch pulling on the bed covers. Every now and then she still strokes the carving of her and Flicktail, dreaming of happier days.

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