Going On An Adventure (Part 3)

Characters: Tagger, Garolyn, Christopher, Kentar, Robin, William, Amethyst, Wilco

Location: North Woods

North Woods

Right! So its the morning after the group arrived at the inn. Its pretty early into the morning, but not long away from midday. Robin is up, and so is Christopher though the stoats are doing two completely different things. Rob is standing at the back, on a crate, playing the lute and singing, though there's nobody here. Rob's song sings out quietly during the verse, but when he hits the chorus, he belts it out proper, but from upstairs, its really,. REALLY hard to hear him, which makes it quite nice that he can sing however he wants. "On the edge of paradise, poison burning in my veins. Unavailing compromise, my dreams remain the same..." And really the only beast who is listening to him, out of the few that's here, is Chris, though he's not paying much attention, busy talking to the female stoat behind the bar.

Its good thing that the sounds don't travel up the stairs. Because, finally, Tagg was able to sleep in. It sure is different then sleeping on a cot for days on end. He steps out of Garo's and his room with his entire breastplate in his arms. As he quietly tip toes out. Carefully closing the door behind him. He smiles faintly as he makes his way downstairs as he slides the pieces over his head with several muffled clanks. He makes it to the bottom and is immediately hit by the stoats music. He chuckles heading to a large empty table and stands next to it. Takin his time tying the two pieces together (breast and back plates) with shark leather already attached. He did it here because its loud, and he doesn't want to wake Garo if he can help it. While he ties them together he glances around the room. Spotting Chris, who is talking to the femstoat. He snorts to himself and continues on.

Rob glances up when he spots the otter, giving a wave before he continues on the song. Chris glances over his shoulder after he hears the noise though, of Tagger suiting up. He smiles and then orders two mugs of rum, the stoat taking the mugs over to Tagger's table, settling down across from him. "Morning ottery thing." he grins, offering out the mug. "Sleep well?"

Tagger yawns quietly to himself before the stoat comes over. Tagg has finished one side of his suit as he starts on the other side, "Morning stoat like object." he retorts back with a chuckles, taking the mug, but forgoing it right now as he places it back on the table, "Slept all right. A bed is so much different then a cot. Actually slept in for once, which was weird." he laughs before asking, "Sleep good?" then he glances to the femstoat, "Morning alright?"

The stoat nods a little bit, leaning back in his seat, sipping at the mug. "Yeah, it was good." he smiles. "Rob snores though." he grins at his older brother, who can't hear him anyway. "Nah, not really. But yeah, beds are SO much better. I don't understand why you don't sleep on a bed more often. You'd have to if you're with Garo. I'm sure that she wouldn't love sleeping on a cot constantly." he laughs, shaking his head slowly. "You should stay at the inn in FV more often." he nods. "Heck, stay up in the bakery. I can set out a proper bed. If you want that is."

Tagger chuckles reaching out to take a sip of drink before going back to tying his side, "I don't like sleeping in! I'm ready to attack the day at the first crack of dawn." he yawns again before just sitting don't with a soft thunk. He nods slowly at the mention of them, "Oh aye. But I will make the sacrifice when it comes down to it. Until then. Inns cost money and I prefer sleeping outside anyway. It's really. Stuffy. In here. If you know what I mean." he chuckles, "Hey. Why don't you ask that stoatmaid if she got any apples?" he winks.

Christopher chuckles quietly and nods his head slowly. "Attack the day, huh? What did it ever do to you?" he hrms a bit, the stoat tilting his head before shaking it. "Silly." He hrms a little bit before nodding. "True, but I could setup a tab of some kind, I'm sure. If you wanted." then he blinks. "Apples?" but that wink makes him frown a bit, reaching out to kick at him firmly in the shin. "Oh you."

Tagger snorts, "It called me NAMES!" he laughs quietly before leaning back in the chair, "I'll be fine you stoat thing. Houses are on the horizon. But I'll stick to tents for now." he chuckles before glancing toward the bar, "Oh aye! Apples!... OW!" he grumbles, moving his foot away, "What!? I want an apple! Nothing wrong with that. No ulterior motives I promise." he grins evilly.

Christopher chuckles quietly and shakes his head slowly. "If you want an apple..." he leans forward a little. "YOU...ask for apples." he nods, grinning a bit too before leaning back into his seat, flumping back down a little bit with a yawn. "Mm. Besides, we were JUST chatting." he nods, glancing over towards the bar for a moment, getting a smile, and a wave from the barmaid before glancing back to his otter friend. "So, Tagg! Looking forward to getting on a ship?" he asks, sipping at his mug.

Tagger chuckles and shakes his head, "Fine! I'll get my own darn apples!" He really does need them! "But I will get them laters...." he glances between the two before continuing on, placing his footpaws on the table and REALLY leaning back in his chair, "Chatting. Sure sure..." he grins with wink before nodding, "Oh aye! Never been on a ship before. Sides the one I was born on." he chuckles, "When do you think we will reach the coast?" he asks. Not sure of about the eastern coast.

Christopher smirks a little bit and then hrms, shaking his head for a moment. "Apples. Yeah right." the stoat then turns his mind onto the otter's question, thinking quietly for a moment or two. "Well. The LAST time we went, dad said it took five or six days. But we lived three days away from the bridge. So we live near the bridge now, and we've traveled for a day. So, maybe tonight? Or tomorrow?" he thinks, nodding. "Yeah. That should be right."

Tagger grins like a naughty dibbun, "Why yus! Apples! I need them for my afternoon snack-aroo" he taps his claws evilly together, "Tonight? Really? That's FAST. But I guess it makes since considering." he nods, "So. Is it a harbor were headed too? Gonna hitch a ride on a three hour tour or something?" he asks.

"Silly otters." Chris sighs a bit before nodding his head. "Well, either tonight, or tomorrow afternoon. Depends on how much time we make." he explains before glancing into his mug, smirking at the three hour tour part. "I wish. But no. It will be about three or four days on THAT, depending on how many stops the ship has to make. And then it's another two days of walking from there."

Tagger yawns again and reaches for his mug. But its /just/ out of reach, so he grumbles and goes back to leaning, "That's not too bad at least. Amy wont die of Seasickness or whatever if its only a few days" he tries again for the mug but still JUST out of reach. He sticks his tongue at it, "At this rate. Will be there in a week. Not to shabby!" he chuckles, "Have a ship waiting for us?" he asks.

Christopher smirks a bit. "We hope anyway. Though she'll kill us when she finds out she's on a boat." he laughs before reaching out to push the otter's mug forward just an inch with a wink. "But no...there's nothing waiting for us. We'll have to find a ship, and see if we can't book passage. Which might be hard but...who knows." he shrugs.

Tagger smiles as the stoat pushes it forward. Maha! His plan worked. He reaches out and grabs it, sipping from it again, "Yay!" He takes another sip before smiling, leaning back still, "Hmmmm. Well. I hope it wont be too long to find one. Sure it will be no problem." he starts to rock in his chair,"Whelp. I don't mind how long we stay near the ocean. The sea is very cleansing for my fur!" he puts on a 'suave' look and brushes his headfur.

Christopher smirks a little and shakes his head, laughing. "Oh you." he hrms a little bit, so very tempted to splash the otter with his rum, though decides against it, not wanting to unleash the wrath of Tagger the Otter. Chris ops to down the rest of the drink instead, plopping the mug firmly onto the table. "Mm...right! Yes. Good. Fur." he smirks, shaking his head. "Anyway! Is there anything you want to do while we wait for the others to wake up?" he asks.

Yus! It would not be a good thing. As much as this otter, is an otter. He likes to be as clean as he can for as long as he can. And having sticky stuff on him when make him miserable ALL DAY. And he will tell you every hour on the hour. Tagger chuckles and takes another sip. Not even close to being done, "Can't think of anything. Would like to do my exercises before we head off. But I don't when we are leaving and what not. What about you. What you wanna do?"

"I dunno." comes the reply, glancing over to Robin, who has ended up breaking a string on the lute, and is currently adding a new one on a table across the room. "Been pretty bored this morning actually." he hrms a bit. "Not much to do out here." he shrugs.

Tagger snorts and laughs, "You are just a wealth of excitement! Aren't ye?" he laughs before shrugging himself, "True. But you have to make your own fun. Don't you have any... Like hobbies? Read? Getting apples? Anything like that..." he asks.

Christopher shakes his head. "Nah, I don't really have any hobbies. I like to read, and generally curl up with a good book, but I didn't bring any with me. But other than that, not really. I used to enjoy running, but I kinda stopped that after I got really busy with the bakery."

Tagger chuckles, "Didn't bring no books? ill prepared I see." he laughs before nodding, "Well. We can always go running. That's something I normally do anyway." he puts his foorpaws on the ground and quickly stands, "You got no bakery work today! Unless you have something else in mind. Like apples for instance?" He will never drop it till he gets his dern apples!

Christopher smirks a little bit and then shakes his head. "I didn't because all my books are heavy. And I figured I'd travel as light as I could." he replies before glancing around. "Maybe I'll find a book somewhere. Or I'll borrow one of yours!" he grins then shakes his head. "nah, I'd probably die if I started running again."

Tagger shakes a paw at the stoat, "I at least brought a few. All the ones I have anyway... Which is three" he chuckles, the he thinks about the books he brought, "I brought Paladins Codex. The story of the Taggerung. And Mossflower: A history." All pretty boring books. But he likes them all the same, "You can borrow Whatever. Cept for the Codex I need that" he laughs before looking for an apple to throw at him. WHICH HE HAS NONE, "Die if you started running?" he steps back to prepare for a joke, "You aren't THAT saturated!" he chuckles.

Footfalls can be heard on the steps from down below, drawing ever nearer. Coby comes down the stairs wide awake and a little hungry. More footfalls continue down the stairs, each preceeded by a tap. Amy with staff in paw decends to the lower floor. Coby walks up to Tagger. "Mornin' Uncle Tagg," she greets the otter cheerily. "What's for breakfast?" she asks eyeing the mugs on the table. Amethyst heads over to the bar while the dibbun is distracted.

Garolyn feels rather disoriented. Sleeping inside was one thing. Sleeping on a bed was another. And then, of course, sleeping inside on a bed in an unknown place with random creatures in other rooms nearby was the third thing. She meanders down stairs, minus her usual attire. Her boots are unlaced, her veil sticks out of a pocket. She rubs her eyes, muttering a good-morning to the group as she slides into a chair next to Tagger.

Christopher is here too! Chris-a-bell is sitting right across from Tagger. When Coby comes down, he smiles, waving at the dibbun. "Morning Coby!" he smiles and there's a ferret. "Oh, morning to you too Garo. Hope you slept well.' he grins, winking at her.

Tagger laughs at the stoat before going back to sitting, but placing his mug back on the table. He turns when the little one comes to him and he smiles, "Ho there Wilco! Hows it going little mate?" he asks scratching her behind the ears, "Err. Apples. If the stoat would just go an ask the nice lady" he grins at the stoat before he sees Garo, and he smiles widely, "Morning Garo! How was you sleeps?" he asks nudging his drink near her.

Coby leans against Tagg. "Hi, Chris," she says waving at the stoat. "Where are we going today?" she asks. In the meantime Amy has ordered skilly n duff for three and drinks. The others can get their own food if they want it. With a mug of rum in one paw and food on the way she makes her way over to the table where the others are sitting.

Tagger is still scratching the little one behind the ears look over toward Amy as she comes toward the table, "Looks like were just missing the old foggies now." he chuckles, saying aloud. When he gets kissed on the cheek. He sits up straight in his chair and grins stupidly, "No-" his voice cracks, "-Problem" he is silent before continuing, answering the little ones question, "If we make good time. We might make it to the east coast by nightfall. Great sea. Itll be fun!" he laughs.

Chris nods his head and then smirks a bit. "Yeah. Either tonight, or tomorrow. But then we'll have to...sort things out." he nods, not giving away that they'll be going by boat. "I guess I'll go wake dad up." he nods, standing, and heading for the stairs.

Coby giggles and holds onto the otter's paw pretending that he's 'monster'. "Oh, no. The Tagger otter has got me," she laughs. "Coby, come eat," Amy calls over to the dibbun. The little rat ducks out from under Tagg's paw and sits down by her mother. "Leave something fer yer Daddy," the ratwife intructs as she helps herself to some skilly n duff.

Tagger laughs at the little one, "Rawr! Ima scary monster!" he chuckles before the little one runs off. Watching them eat before hmming aloud and standing up, "Best i get me some brekkers too." It made him hungry! He walks up to the femstoat barmaid and asks for some apples. He is gonna get his apples if it KILLS him. She soon returns with three golden apples. They are old. But still good. He pays for the lot, a single coin, before heading back to the table and sitting back down placing them on the table, "Finally can make my secret breakfast delight!" he grins as he pretty much rips the apple in half with his claws. Dunking one half into the rum and letting it steap, "so how long till Will thing awake?" He asks the rat wife handing the other half to the ferret.

"'E's already awake. Jus not ready t come down yet," Amy says between bites. "He's still looking for his eyepatch. I think Mum hid it," Coby explains. "I didn't hide it. I jus don't recall 'actly where I put it. It's still in th room someplace," Amy retorts, "I don't ave it on me ... this time." The blind rat nudges her daughter, "Eat yer food. I don't want ear yew whinin about avin an empty tum after we get walkin again."

Tagger chuckles, "Aye. Listen to your mother little mite. Might be a long while before we break for lunch..." He gives the little one a wink. Tagg always got a stash of something in his pack. All you have to do is ask. He grins reaching into his rum and pulling out the soaked apple. He then splits it in two and hands one half to the ferret, "See. My breakfast delight its not THAT bad!" he chuckles nibbling on the now vanilla flavored apple, turning back to the wife, "Well. hope he find it soon. I'm getting ants in my pants to get back on the road." and away from this creepy place.

“'E doesn't really need et. Could do fine without. ..... looks better without et," Amy says as she eats. Coby tilts her head at her mother's comment. The dibbun doesn't say anything knowing too well what her mother would do to her if she did. "'Ow many books did you end up readin', Tagg?" Amy asks the otter over her mug of rum.

Tagger shrugs, "Well. As long as he hurries. I want to get this show on the road. And Chris is TAKING FOREVER!" he chuckles polishing off the rest of his apple. that will be good for now. He then chuckles, resting his head on his arm, "We didn't read any. We just talked most of the night. Sharing stories. Kinda like readin. Without the words in all..." he laughs.

Tagger lifts his head from his arm, "What? I dont... Do i?" he looks to Garo who says nothing and looks away from Tagg. Tagg flumps his head back on his arm, "Ah nuts. Oh well. Guess it cant be helped." He chuckles looking back up again, "Probably not as bad as Kentar though" he snickers.

Tagger blinks a bit at the ratwife. Damn she got good ears. He chuckles leaning back in the chair again, "Eh. Ill take your word for it..." he passes the rest of his drink toward Garo. He is done with it. Only really needed it for his delight.

"Yer mixin' apples an rum?" Amy asks. She's never heard of that one, "'Ow is et?" The rat notices her mug is empty and gets up. She walks back to the bar and considers just buying a bottle of the stuff, it's not like she needs her liver for anything. After thinking it over for nearly a minute the rat puts down some coins. The stoatmaid at the bar hands her a bottle of rum thinking it's for the table. Amy returns to the group with the bottle. She moves her mug to the side a bit and sets the bottle in it's place.

Tagger nods, "Oh aye! Tis my breakfast delight. Usually i let it soak for a few days first. But a light dippin' is good too." he chuckles. Garo gets up from the table saying she is gonna go collect her things as she heads up stairs. Tagg smiles and goes back to putting his feet on the table, "Righto!" he says watching her leave like he normally does before turning back. Seeing the bottle magically appear, taking place of the mug he chuckles. Whatever floats her boat!

Amy prods her daughter. "When yew finish go check on yer father," she says to the girl. Wilco nods and shovels a few more mouthfuls into her gob before leaving the table. The dibbun chews a bit and swallows hard before running up the stairs, two at the time. "Papa?" she calls, "Papa? We're getting ready to go!" Amy stares vacantly in Tagg's general direction as the dibbun runs off. "So 'ow're yew an yer lady friend gettin' on?" the blind rat asks.

Tagger places his paws behind his head, getting very comfortable in his chair, "Were doing pretty good. Still a lot to learn from eachother. But thats always the way with seeing new beasts. We haven't killed each other. So thats always good." he chuckles, "Hoping this trip will bring us closer."

Amy nods and uncorks the bottle. She taks a long swig from it and holds it against her knee. "It may. Yew learn a lot about a beast th more yer around 'em. Don't think I've met yer friend yet. 'Ear she's nice," the rat says. "'Ow yer sisters been. Didn't see much of Ella when she was visitin'."

Tagger watches her drink from the bottle and raises an eyebrow. But doesn't say anything about it, "Garo is kinda mysterious like that. Took me forever just to get her to take that veil she has, off." Not really, but long in Taggs book, "From the last letters. Venei is good. Said that she got her 'lab' up and running from the coins she got from teaching the younguns at the Camp. As for Ella. She likes to be on the move. Doesn't like to stay in one place for too long. I have no idea where she went." he laughs.

"Well, yew let 'er know I want t see 'er next time she's around. I'll hunt 'er down iffen I ave to, axe or no axe," Amy states emphatically. It's a lie, she's make Will hunt the axe-welding otter down for her. "Wot's she need a veil fer?" Amy asks refering to Garolyn now. The rat doesn't notices the raised eyebrow, maybe because she's blind and can't see it. She takes another long drag from the bottle. "Not bad. Yer dad made better stuff though," she says of the rum.

Tagger chuckles and nods, "Oh aye. I will tell her. No need to hunt her down. As long she aint busy. She will be more then happy to see ye" he snorts yawning again, "When she hunts, it hides her face..." He wont say WHY she hides her face. Let Garo explain it. He nods and then shrugs, "I guess so. Never had his stuff. So cant really make a claim to it" he snorts.

"Pity. It was high quality stuff, not like yew get most places. Wouldn't recomend downing too much of it, yer dad said it could do some bad stuff t a beast if they over did it. Not like this stuff," she says patting her rum bottle with her free paw leaving her staff to lean againast the table. "She's not disfigured or nothin' ? Jus uses et fer huntin'?" the rat muses, "Wonder wot she hunts?"

Tagger shakes his head, "Nah. She aint disfigured or nothin..." He starts to tap his claws on the top of his head, "She is a mercenary type. Like Ella. So... You could say that she hunts beasts..." its something that he normally doesn't talk about. Yes, it is weird for the otter. But there is nothing he can really do about it. Its what she does.

"Good thing th beasts that would pay 'er t kill us are all dead then," Amy says with a smile as she lifts the bottle to her lips again. When she lowers it again a good quarter of the bottle is empty. "Always good t have beasts around thet know 'ow t care fer themsevles an even better iffen they'll help watch out fer th rest of us," she says. "Wot else she tell yew? Wot sort things she like?" Amy asks.

Tagger snorts, "I guess so..." He will just ignore that wanted poster he saw at the beginning of the season. No one is gonna follow them. Thats crazy talk, "Well. I know she has two brothers. Kaol doesnt really like me. But she doesn't really care for him... She likes reading. And, and drinks. The outside. Doesn't care for too much for snow... Adventure. Obviously. She likes a good laugh" Has to, to be with this otter, "And she said i was pure" He grins. That statement has really stuck with him.

Amethyst takes in the otter's words and takes another swig from the bottle. "Hmm, 'Ow long yew known this girl? 'Ow old is she?" the rat asks. The otter may be of age if just barely, but being the closest relation to him in the room the rat feels that she's allowed to find out all she can about him and Garo.

Tagger continues to tap his noggin, "Ive know her for about... 3 weeks or so. Maybe a month, depending if you mean... when we meet or when we started dating" he chuckles and continues, "She is a little older then i am...I turn 10 at the end of the season, and she turns 11." Not that much of an age difference.

"Longer than I'd known yer brother 'fore I moved in with yer family," Amy says, "A season apart. Same as me an Will. I'm sensing a pattern here. A few differences, but very much the same." She takes another drink from the rum bottle. "Did yew know yer brother was very briefly involved with a 'edgepig girl seasons upon seasons ago? E's was about 4 an she was maybe 8, as yew kin tell et didn't work out. Don't think she was ever aware of et," she says chuckling.

Amy shrugs and sets the bottle of rum down on the table. "Maybe. She gave 'im 'is first kiss from wot I 'ear, on th cheek. ...... It was a long time ago, b'fore 'e'd met Aik I think back when 'e lived at Redwall Abbey," she says. Amy drums her claws on the table. "Yew gonna head back t Ferravale when we get done with Kenty's trip or t th camp?" she asks the otter.

Tagger chuckles as he puts his feet back on the floorboards sitting back up and stretching. Boy. The others are taking FOREVER, "I don't know yet. I honestly don't have to go back to the camp until I'm called back into active duty. Which, hopefully will be awhile. So. I don't know. Ill cross that road when I come to it" Always the idea with this otter. Let future Tagger deal with it.

"We may be gone for a season or more," Amy says, "Hard t say. Yew plan on stayin' on call like this forever?" she asks him, "I've been t th camp before. Th natives weren't too friendly as I recall. I doubt Garo'd get any warmer a welcome fer being able bodied an wot not."

Tagger nods, "I already told my CO that i would be gone for about a season. He doesn't expect anything to happen between now and then. But he will let me know..." he nods, "Oh aye. Lot of otters have that mentality. Which is dumb. But you cant change what they have believed in for centuries." he rubs his eyes, "Ill be on call for 5 more years. Its my job. There is nothing i can do about that... Its a lifetime commitment pretty much. I can get out if i make the paladins." he smiles between his claws, "And if i do make the paladins. And if i make Garo my mate. The camp will have to deal with it." he chuckles.

"Don't they got a top otter or wotever? Iffen yew got th job would they let yew keep et and stay if they knew about Garo? Wouldn't they run yew off?" Amy asks. She's concerned for Tagger, like Chris and the twins she's known him since he was a baby. Sure he lost contact for a good part of his life, but she's trying to make up for that both the rats have been. "Wot if they don't or wont deal with it like yew want 'em to?" she asks the otter, "Yew got a plan fer if thet happens? ...... I 'ear Moledeep's kinda empty these days if yew've no where else t go."

Tagger stands up, his armor slightly clanking as it resets on his body, "The skipper. I have no idea how she would feel about it. But i got nominated for the paladins for the way i treated the the enemy vermin during the northern wars. If they nominated me for that reason... I'm sure they wont mind if i make Garo my mate..." But he is not absolutely sure. but he doesn't really care either, "Well. If push comes to shove. We will live outside the camp, and i will only go back when i need too..." he nods resolutely, "I cant run moledeep either. Its... A lot to do with just us..."

Amy nods. "As long as yew 'ave a plan," she says. The ratwife stands up and moves over closer to tagg, staff in paw. She lays her free paw on his shoulder after fumbling in the air for a moment or two. "Don't worry about et, but do plan fer th worst jus in case. I know yer about grown an kin look out fer yerself, but I remember craddlin' yew when yew was liddle, same with Chris an yer sisters. Can't help t worry about th lot of yew young beasts."

Tagger nods and smiles, "Thanks. Aye... Ill... figure out more as we go along. Right now im just happy to be with someone who aint crazy... And like me back..." he chuckles and looks around, "I'm gonna tell you something. Something ive never told anybeast... Remember Dina. That crazy Fem otter a while back who came to the market... Well. I did date her... And well..." he shakes his head, "She was the reason i now have a gold tooth in my mouth. She knocked a tooth out of me... for defending a vermin... That was pretty much the reason we broke up..." he shakes his head before heading toward the stairs, "Anyway... I told you that in secret.... Ill see you later. I'm gonna go see why everyone is taking so long"

Amy frowns a little. "Either yew really don't like Dina or yew don't know me too well," she says, "I'll go with yew. Find out wot's keepin' yer brother." The rat grabs the bottle of rum from the table, recorks it quickly and follows the otter up the stairs. "'Ope things go better with Garo,” she says to him before heading off to her room to find out what has become of her husband and daughter.