I'm Mad, You're Mad At Me For Being Mad, We're All Mad Here

A continuation of this log

Characters: Orph, Fira, Kentar, Aikuen

Locations: North Path, Cherry Orchard

North Path

Orph leads the band of four onward up the road which climbs higher and higher with each step. It's colder up here and other then some trees flanking the road there's little to see.

Fira has had a fascinating morning spending most of it playing with the mist her breath made before the sun really got up. She plods along to one side of the group, bit tired from the hill but still quite happy.

Kentar has been carried by Aikuen for a little while. He's been drifting in and out of the waking world for ages, quite a lot now, but every time he goes out, its for a much shorter time then it was yesterday. Although, currently he's being stubborn and walking, stumbling every now and then, but gets help from the otter still.

The going is slow due to the steepness of the road and the condition of the some of the party members.

Leave it to Fira to be reasonably chirpy in the face of unhappy stoats. She pulls up alongside Kentar "Hey, how're you doing? Bit better?"

Kentar slowly looks up, and shrugs. "My head hurts like all heck right now, and I keep going out for a little bit. But other then that, just fine" he smirks tiredly.

Orph calls back to the others, "Looks like it levels out some up ahead."

Fira smirks a bit more back "Still alive enough to complain always means you're on the mend" she doesn't see Orph calling, it's only any movement from the others that makes her look that way again.

Kentar hehs. "I've been though worse...this is the first time I've ever complained" he sighs quietly, looking up. "I don't think I'm very good at the moment" he sighs.

The quartet continues on their way. The ground flattens out some as they pass the North Mountains. Past the mountains the road starts to descend back down leading off into a wooded area, just barely visible as a greenish smudge against the horizon. Within this wood lays the Broadstream River.

Fira seems to be enjoying letting the wind ruffle her fur before she glances back to Kentar again "Hey, you'll get better. Cheer up, it could be worse" can't get her down.

Kentar Grins and smirks, going to pat her shoulder gently. "Yeah...You could be carrying me" he laughs. "See...I still...have my sense of humor"

Fira chuckles "Oh you don't think I could carry your sorry hide then?" she grins. Is that a challenge?

Kentar grins and smirks. "Not what I meant but yeah, I don't think you could either" he laughs.

It's nice and cool here. William sits down to rest a little, "How ya'll doin back there?"

Fira can just see that Will's stopped, squint at him, can't work out what he's saying too far away. Still, logical questions pop to mind and she guesses for an answer "Catching up with you!...And he thinks I can't carry him" paw jabbing at Kentar. She glances back to the stoat "Care for a little wager on that or I you too poorly to risk your poor coins?" another grin.

Kentar has drifted in and out a few times rather quickly for a moment, chuckling slightly. "I don't...have much after the fox stole most of it" he says, sitting down next to Will when they get the chance. "Maybe I could wager something else" he grins.

Orph, head ever swaying, looks at Kentar confused, "What are ya thinkin 'bout wagerin?" The rat did hear Fira but Kentar doesn't have anything .... or maybe he does.

Fira doesn't really have much either, she lacks the job to get any. Still, what better way to get any at all? She stays standing, looking down at the pair and leaning against her spear "Got something in mind?"

Kentar hrms and looks over at the two, taking his broken saber from his belt. "This...it...was...my fathers. I got it before he died. Broke the blade in battle. And I planned on forging the blade again someday" he says, shrugging. "Means a lot...would be not risking anything, since you can't lift me" he grins

Orph says nothing, just looks over to Fira to see what she's going to wager.

Fira snorts, amused "By the same right I could offer one of my earrings, but I won't because while they might mean a lot to me, they'd mean nothing to you, just like that sword means lot more to you. No deal. I'm not taking your dead daddy's broken blade. Lets see...I could...offer to catch you a very large fish

Kentar Frowns then grins. "Just cause you think your going to win" he laughs. "Aw, didn't realize you were scared for a good wager"

Orph looks upward, no help there .... still looking up he says to Kentar, "Don't fight otters, it never ends well less your th otter."

Kentar eyes Orph and smirks. "Oh, well. I'm sure I'd win" he smirks, setting his sword aside, looking over. "Unless you want to wager a single coin then" he shrugs.

Fira smirks at Will "Specially if they're female, we automatically trump everything" she glances back to Kentar again "Alright, a coin will do it" she twirls he spear over to stick it in the ground point first so it'll actually stand up and she can have the paw free to dig up the other sleeve. Apparently must be where she keeps her money.

Orph chooses to just sit back and watch. No matter which way it goes it should still be entertaining.

Kentar Grins and drifts off for a few moments before hoisting himself onto his foot paws. "You wont lift me" he grins.

Fira pulls out a very small pouch and then a single coin out of it with a grin "Coin says I can" she glances down to Will "Hey, care to be judge rat? Hold onto the coins and decide who wins? Should we make this a challenge and see me carry you a distance or a simple lift off the ground?"

Orph shrugs and holds out a paw for the coins, "Sure."

Kentar smirks and takes out a coin, handing it to Orph. "Carry short distance" he nods. "But you'll fall and land over me...probably kill me too" he laughs.

Orph takes the coins and shrugs at the stoat, "Not like ya weren't gonna die someday anyhow."

Fira chuckles back "Can back out if you really want" she looks back down to Will "Need a distance then, care to mark up a couple of lines?"

Aikuen has taken this break in walking to take a nap.

Kentar grins and hrms, smirking. "I wouldn't be a stoat if I backed out" he laughs, grinning.

Orph says, "Was a stoat who had no boat an ended up inside a swan."

Kentar blinks and looks over. "Wha?"

Fira awaits Will setting up the lines, looking back to Kentar and moving over towards him, getting ready "Assuming not going to make this easy on yourself and go for piggy back ride?"

"Nothin don't mind me just get on with whatever yurr doin'" the rat grins.

Kentar chuckles and smirks. "If you can pick me up, carry me a few feet...then set me down without tripping or falling, You get the coin" He smirks. "Those are the rules. at least so I understand, but no piggy back ride"

Fira splits into a grin again and cracks her knuckles "Ohh, a few feet, easy. Though, do apologise for your gut in advance" possibly because second later she's putting her shoulder into it, arms going to go round his legs to keep him from going straight over her back as she forces forwards and up. Use the momentum to make it lot easier to get him off the ground.

Kentar blinks as he is lifted up, kicking his feet a little. "Elp! Elp! Dah ottahs gotta mah!" he grins, trying to make it hard for her to keep him up off the ground like that.

Orph watches the other two as Aikuen sleeps on. Not bad, though lifting isn't as hard as carrying can be.

Fira doesn't actually pause to stop, just carries on with that forwards part of the movement, make half a dozen quick and heavy steps like she's started running and just purposely hit into the stoat to take him with her. She comes to a stop just as sharply as she started, bending down at the same time to very roughly put Kentar back down again, keep one paw on him to make sure he doesn't fall over with all the jerky movements going on.

Kentar ended up drifting off until he was on solid ground again, blinking and looking around. "Ah darn it" he grumbles. "Looks like you win" he smirks a bit. "A deal is a deal"

Orph chuckles a bit as he walks over, "Well, Fira did lift ya, Kentar and carry ya a ways so ..." He turns to Fira holding out the coins, "These it'd be yours then."

Fira straightens up, stretch her back as an apology to it. Still, she grins "All in the technic" she takes the coins off of Will "Thank you. Sure can think of a way to win your money back another time" smirking at Kentar again as she tucks both coins into her pouch and hides it back up her sleeve again.

Kentar chuckles. "Ah, nah. It was a single coin. Not worth winning back" he chuckles, sitting on the ground and sighing very slightly.

Fira smirks still "Ah come on, where would be the fun in that? Not the money that's important but the bet itself" all done just for a bit of fun in her mind. Though she has to turn and go back for her spear she keeps eye on the pair.

Kentar chuckles. "Maybe" he chuckles, yawning and closing his eyes, drifting off for a few minutes, blinking awake again. "What...oh..." he sighs. "This is getting annoying...And it makes me even more tired" he mutters

Fira returns with her spear again and goes to flop down on the ground a couple of feet from him "Well just lay back and relax for a while, Aik's asleep, you may as well have a nap as well while we're not moving"

Kentar Shakes his head. "I got a nap last night and that didn't do anything" he replies. "I over heard them last night talking...Saying I might die in the next few days" he drifts off again

Fira raises a brow and looks him up and down "...Naaah, I don't see it personally. I mean you're clearly tired but really, you don't seem to be having problems breathing or moving about. I've seen slow dying beasts, you don't really look like one"

Kentar eyes up and hehs. "You'd be surprised. I'm just to stubborn to let the fact its hard for me to walk get in my way..." he hehs. "I have my pride you know...I don't want to be carried by an otter all the time...no offense"

Fira smirks back "Oh trust me, if you were having major problems with it then stubborn or not you wouldn't even had been able to crawl this far. You've got some strength left in you, just got to hold onto it and get some more rest"

Kentar nods. "Very little...getting a few beats to the head didn't really help...and Aikuen doesn't throw his punches" he rubs his head a bit.

Fira chuckles quietly "That bad? Suppose be glad he's on your side or might have hit harder"

Kentar looks up again and chuckles. "I guess" he smirks. "Regardless, if I die, I'm going to haunt Aikuen" the stoat grins, drifting off again.

Fira snorts in amusement, only to end up laughing second later. Odd sounding laugh too but she doesn't know that "That's it! Always have a good back up plan"

Aikuen snorts in his sleep, then wakes up suddenly, "Vas?... no lerd". He rubs his eyes with his paws. With his eyes now in focus, he looks to the party, smiling somewhat.

Kentar is out like a light for a little longer this time before blinking and opening his eyes. "I hate this" he grumbles, laying back some.

Fira finds herself a nice spot to stretch out and relax in while Kentar's sleeping. Smirking faintly when she spots Aik wake up "Hey" and then Kentar's up again too "Seriously, if you keep dropping off then go to sleep, it's not going to hurt and you'll heal faster"

Aikuen scratches his head, when he hears what Fira said. then he looks to the Stoat, "Still blacking out at odd times..."

Kentar huhs and looks over at Aikuen. "Mornin' sleepy head" he smirks, even though its well into the day. "Yeah...still" he looks over to the other otter again. "Its not...because I'm tired"

Fira shrugs a shoulder "Alright. Seems very odd, really hope it doesn't last"

Aikuen shakes his head to get all the sleep out. He then looks at Fira, then to Kentar he says, "I hope its not serious... I know... it might could happen... but not now..." He places his head into his paws.

Kentar shrugs. "It probably isn't" He says, shrugging and laying back, staring at the sky.

Fira taps the side of her head "Probably just side effect of one to many bumps to the head that needs to get out of the system"

Aikuen looks up, but keeps his chin in his paws, "Well i didn't want to say this... but ive seen something like this before...Happens to boxing beasts a lot..."

Kentar looks up and frowns. "I don't box...I get boxed a lot, but I don't box" he says.

Fira tilts her head faintly "Oh yes? And what happens to them?"

Aikuen shrugs, "Well after so many..." He makes a movement of punching his own face, "Then they seem to get tired all of a sudden... but cant sleep... And after a few days... they just..." He makes a movement with his hands, "...Go..."

Kentar blinks. "Go...go...go where..." he blinks for a moment before ohing. "Go..." he sighs.

Fira seems to be more thoughtful about it, silent for a moment before she speaks up again "Anything else? I mean the whole not sleeping and being tired thing's clearly related. Something in the head effecting sleep which makes you tired perhaps? Other symptoms I mean like aches, pains, he can clearly still move and I'm assuming there are other warning signs than just lack of sleep then keeling over?" ten points to whoever can guess she wanted to be a healer when she was younger.

Aikuen looks to Fira with a surprised face, "Er... yah... right before it happens, their ears begin to bleed... I don't any other symptoms then that...You quite knowledgeable for a nomad..."

Kentar frowns and checks his ears, sighing happily after he finds no blood. yet. "Phew...okay well...i'm fine for the moment I guess"

Fira shrugs her shoulders "Childhood interest" brushing subtly right by that as if it's not important "Brain bleeding, bad. Well, I guess we should probably stop by wherever the nearest village is round here? See if we can get somebeast with actual proper knowledge have a look to be on the safe side?"

Aikuen nods, "Aye guess your right, i can do broken bones and open bleeding... other then that... im a moron at healing. Though my old sawbones couldn't figure out how to heal this problem... though we didn't call him sawbones for nothing..." He laughs slightly.

Kentar hehs a bit and smirks. "No, thats not true...you see...your good at making wounds go away..replacing them with others" he laughs and grins. "I'm never going to let you forget punching me" he grins.

Fira scratches behind one ear lightly "Oh I probably know of more diseases than any normal beast has a mind to know. Never healed a beast in my life though, not the sort of job I'd want these days either, got far too used to the life of freedom" she smirks and chuckles at Kentar before giving Aik a nod "He's even considering haunting you"

Aikuen groans, "Argh... I probably should have guessed that if you died... it wouldn't be the end of it..." He places a paw on Kentars shoulder, "If your going to haunt me... i have to warn you... I snore very loudly!"

Kentar Grins and laughs. "I know that, why do you think I wanted to go for a walk in the first place? Get tired enough to sleep though it" he hehs a bit, before...drifting off

Aikuen laughs lightly when Kentar drifts off. He decides to make some tea. From his pack, he pulls out a small cauldron and a flask full of tea leaves. He begins to prepare with the ingredients.

Kentar was out for a minute before he woke up again. "What...drat, this is getting annoying...dropping in the middle...of a bloody conversation" he sighs.

Aikuen stirs the cauldron with a stick, and plays with the stoat, "Oh yes... you were just saying that you enjoyed my snoring... A small feat in itself."

Kentar blinks. "What? I didn't say any such thing you otter" he smirks. "Please, I'm injured, not stupid"

Aikuen snorts and laughs aloud, "Haha... just playing with yah matey!" He pokes his claw into the boiling water, then he tastes the end of his claw, "Still a little while longer... So i heard that you were once a soldier..."

Kentar pretended to drift off before laughing. "Yeah...I was...a long time ago" he says. "Before my village near the eastern sea was burned" he sighs quietly.

Aikuen sighs, "Always happens to beast in the forces... If its not prying too much matey..."

Kentar Shrugs. "Should talk about it sooner or later anyways" he says, shrugging.

Aikuen nods, and dips an empty flask into the tea "Well i was a soldier too... not too long ago though..." He goes to take a sip, then stops halfway, sort of mumbling to himself "You give your life for a king... Who just stabs you in the back" He downs the whole thing then refills it.

Kentar frowns slightly and nods some. "Sorry" he says a bit quietly. "At least your friends and family weren't killed" he mutters.

Aikuen shuffles his footpaws, and says quietly, "My...daughter..."

Kentar blinks. "Oh..." is all he replies with, lowering his head a bit. "Sorry"

Aikuen shakes his head, trying to fill it with more happier thoughts, "Its alright... That was a long time ago... Live for today matey... Live for today..." He fills the flask again and hands it to Kentar, "Here... don't know if this will help or not..."

Kentar Nods slowly, thinking quietly before taking the flask. "Thanks..." he says. "I'm sorry I wandered off...I didn't mean to give you both something to worry about"

Aikuen looks to Will, who is currently napping at the moment, and Fira... who has gone off too. He shakes his head, "Dont worry about it... I mean i didn't... you look quite capable to take care of yourself. Tell me that if we didn't come, would you have escaped eventually?"

Kentar smirks. "It wasn't the first time I was captured" he laughs. "At least I didn't lose anyone this time" he drifts into thought for a moment before sighing, taking a drink of the tea in the flask.

Aikuen nods, "Thats always good, causalities at a minimum..." He thinks for a moment then bursts out laughing, "Good thing those Hares were stupid... It was easier then i thought... Led them in circles for a bit... then just left them, And they didn't even notice! HeeHee!"

Kentar hehs. "They were stupid. They didn't even believe I was from the abbey, or...with friends" he smirks.

Aikuen says, "There hares from Salamandastron... That mountain in the west... Always hate Vermin... Even if they are good beasts." He sighs, "Typical Mossflower..."

Kentar nods. "Indeed" he replies. "which is too bad. We vermin aren't all...that bad" he smirks. "My Father would have killed me if I had have said that around him..."

Aikuen tilts his head, "Im guessing that he was a 'Bad Beast'"

Kentar laughs. "Everyone in me village was. Were Weasels and Stoats living there mostly...pirates come along one day, massacred the settlement. Three of us were out on patrol. Three of us were left alive because of it" the stoat frowns a bit. "I guess they did the slaves there a favor"

Aikuen eyes the Stoat, "You were once a Slaver?" He claws begin to twitch.

Kentar frowns. "The village was...I slipped them food every time I could...real meals...I hated the village. Family, everyone there" he says. "I'm glad my village was burned...I may miss my family but I think its worth it" he sighs.

Aikuen becomes relived, "Though a am glad that a black smudge from the map has been wiped clean, and that you are a good beast. I am sorry for your loss..." He reaches out for Kentars paw, "A Beast Against Slavery, Is a Comrade of mine."

Kentar moves his paw away. "I may have been against it, but it doesn't mean I didn't do it" he says, leaning back.

Aikuen sneers and clenches his paw, all the bones in the paw crack, "Though you may be a friend now... If you ever do it again... I coming for ya..."

Kentar eyes the otter for a moment, letting a wicked grin fall upon his face. "Oh don't worry otter...I wouldn't dream of it...I know what you can do" he laughs, smiling afterwards. "Trust me, I wont" he sighs some.

Aikuen pulls his paw back, and smiles, "Good to hear matey... Good to hear..." He takes the cauldron off the fire too cool, "So what happened to your mates... the ones that also survived..." This otter may want to go hunting one of these days

Kentar hehs. "I killed them" he grins. "once the village was gone and my rank no longer meant anything to me...the first time they mentioned rebuilding and capturing more slaves, I killed them...got knocked about during the battle but won eventually" he says. "You'd be surprised how hard a Kora is to fight. Kora...rank...probably the same rank as a Colonel or something" he shrugs.

Aikuen laughs, "Two more scum waiting for entry at the Darkforest eh? But you killed a Colonel... I mean a Kora... Well as i told my recruits... 'No matter how hard you train, or what your rank is... Still only takes one arrow to end it all'"

Kentar hahs a bit. "wise words" he smirks. "But it was...very...rare a Gul could ever even touch a Kora, let alone kill them..." he smirks. "Gul, captain, whatever you want to call it" he chuckles a bit. "Was the youngest in the sort of small army we had...though for just a village, we had quite the forces..." he shrugs.

Aikuen points at the Stoat, "You were a Captain?"

Kentar laughs. "Hard to believe...It had something to do with the fact my father liked me quite a bit and he actually ran the guards we had. He was the one in charge of recruits and such, rank distribution and training. He favored me which is why I got the rank so quickly...Aside from the fact I was...a good fighter...until I gave it up"

Aikuen smiles, and points to himself, "I was what you called a 'Gul' also... And i was stripped of my rank before being booted out of my home..."

Kentar nods slowly. "Ah...sorry to hear that" he says, chuckling a bit. "Well, I guess that means since I still sort of hold my rank, I out rank you" he laughs.

Aikuen says, "You can try to order me around, but as you as you start that... That's when i start poking you with the pointy end of my sword. Besides... My king usurped his power... I still consider myself a Captain..." He pours the now cool tea into an empty canteen.

Kentar chuckles and nods. "Aye, I suppose" he chuckles softly before thinking. "You would have liked my brother" he laughs. "was a lot like me in some ways. Maybe a bit like you as well" he hehs.

Aikuen smiles and crosses his brow, "And what do you mean by that?"

Kentar grins. "Oh. Strong...stubborn" he laughs. "Strong sense of honor" he nods. "At least to his family. Kept to himself a lot after dad died" the stoat shrugs.

Aikuen laughs and nods, "Yah... I can see that... Ill be back..." He goes off into the forest. He shortly returns with three long sticks. And drops them on the ground, and sits back down where he was sitting, "What did you do to escape, When your father died?"

Kentar hehs. "What do you mean? My father was killed in the attack on the village. As I said, only me and two Kora's survived. My brother left the family long, long ago. Still alive as far as I know" he shrugs.

Aikuen ahs, "Oh, thought he died before the attack. Do you try to stay in contact... Or when you see him, you see him, type of thing..."

Kentar shakes his head. "I don't consider him family anymore. He walked out on me a very long time ago. He left the village to find somewhere peaceful to go. Didn't say goodbye, and kept out of contact for ages. I visited him every now and then and not once did he say I want you to stay with me, or at least leave the village...Not once did he offer help when I needed it" he frowns.

Aikuen comes aware of the sensitivity of this conversation, "Sorry if i Pried too much... Just interested in other soldiers lives i guess"

Kentar shrugs. "Nah...I had to tell someone sooner or later" he says and gives a bit of a grin. "And I'm glad its you...Will almost forced it out of me once or twice..." he laughs.

Aikuen sighs, "Yah... he'll do that... Just... if you do tell him anything... Leave out the more... 'Evil' parts... He doesn't need to know what you or I did in our past. He just doesn't need it at the moment." He shakes his head, and look toward the sleeping Will.

Kentar chuckles a bit. "I don't plan on telling him" he says.

Aikuen smiles, "thanks mate... He already say me torture some beast... Don't need anymore things contaminating his mind. Time to make the Lean to..." He goes over an using his sword as a hammer, he bangs in the sticks, he left on the ground.

Kentar blinks some. "Torturing some beast? Why?" he asks.

Aikuen rubs the top of his head for a bit before answering, seems to be a bit angry "Er... Well? You know how i said i was booted out of my home... That beast that i tortured... He is the one that sold me up the river... Used to be part of my squad... And he sent me to hell...

Kentar ohs and nods. "Ah...well.." he nods. "I know the feeling...quite a bit"

Aikuen places the third stick across the top. He then throws the tarp across it, but only pulls it on one side, Creating a large opening on one side. He then goes back to the fire and takes the pack and places it under the lean to. He sits back down and says, "You do? Then you understand that i wanted to hurt him as much as possible... though i didn't kill him... Will took care of that..."

Kentar nods and sighs. "Yeah...I did that a few times before I finally gave up fighting forever...Was only thing I knew how to do for a while" he says. "Kill and torture...half a season after my home was gone I still continued...then stopped" he sighs. "Almost did it again at the abbey...even had a squirrel in chains for an hour before I let her go and decided to leave...I was sort of hoping that fox would have killed me...so...Yeah, I know how you felt"

Aikuen was bringing the empty cauldron also under the tent, when he here Kentars last statement. It drops to the ground with a clang, and the otter looks to Kentar with open jaw "You wanted to end your life? I mean ive done some Evil things in my life... But i never thought about ending my life...

Kentar nods. "I've even tried myself lots of times..." he says. "couldn't do it" he says. "The fox was another chance...that didn't happen either" then he looks up. "hah...the first time in ages I don't want to die and I may just die anyways"

Aikuen shakes his head, like he doesn't understand what he is hearing, "Why? Why would you even think that! You will live... Never think otherwise... First step to the road of Hellgates..." He continues to shake his head, as he continues to place things under the tent.

Kentar sighs. "You said yourself last night I may not make it...I over heard you and Will" he sighs.

Aikuen slaps his face, with the armored paw, "OW! Sorry matey... Thought you were out... Sorry i said that... But now that you know... I tend to say the truth even though it may be harmful to others... Like ask me anything... and i will tell the truth... anything at all!"

Kentar eyes the otter for a few moments. "I wasn't. I listened for a moment" he sighs. "And see? You yourself just said its the truth...so..." he shrugs.

Aikuen drops his head and groans, "Oh you... ug... you caught me..." He rubs he claws his face, "Well... Now that you know that you might not live... But... Im not giving up... Dont follow me" He grunts and heads into the forest.

Kentar watches you go. "What...hey..." he blinks as the otter leaves, trying to stand up himself but falling over, still not all that full of energy yet. "Sigh"

Aikuen comes back into the camp from the way he came in. From Head to Footpaws, he is covered with dirt, at least on the front. He sits back down and grumbles, "Stupid otters..."

Kentar sighs and looks over, blinking. "What happened?" he asks.

Aikuen grunts out, "I heard them... Thought we were being followed... No! they are just moving north... Being louder then a badger at an anvil... Geeze..." He shakes his head.

Kentar ahs and nods, thinking for a moment. "Whats wrong? You don't seem...happy at all..." he frowns, knowing it started after they finished talking.

Orph had woken some time ago and gone to sit in his burrow, hearing the things Kentar had said had upset him a great deal. Though 'rouge rat' he was still in control of himself to a degree and so far hadn't allowed himself to go over as Alpha rat and discipline his stoat Beta for having tried to kill himself in the past.

Aikuen smiles sarcastically, "Its Spring... Heavy River Rat movement in the area... An the otters are drawing them like insects to fire...It just what we need... To deal with River Rats..." He grunts and takes out his sword, testing the point.

Kentar ahs, nodding some. "Ah.." he hehs a bit. "Yeah, since your the only one I believe could hold them off" he laughs. "Man, I'm a pathetic gul...captain...whatever" he hehs

Aikuen shrugs, "Your still alive, and you still have an arm... I think you can hold them off...River rats are not the brightest of creatures, Sides were too far away from the river... But best be moving... and i just set up the tent."

Kentar nods and laughs, slowly standing, wobbly, but standing. "Indeed" he laughs.

Orph, or so it seems to be, comes from the edge of the camp opposite the otter and stoat wordlessly he starts walking along the road again, only pausing briefly to glare at the stoat through his now red eye.

Aikuen removes all the stuff he had placed under the tent, then kicks one of the supports. The tent falls to the ground, then he stuffs the tarp into his pack. He lightly kicks Fira awake, when he sees Will moving up the road, "Oh matey... Er... wait up" He nods to Kentar before placing the pack on his shoulders and following after his son.

Kentar follows them slowly, paw resting on his new rapier, the stoat thinking as he pats his pack lightly.

Broadstream: Cherry Orchard

Orph who is obviously 'rouge rat' to those who've met him, heads upstream a short ways and stops in somebeast's cherry orchard.

'rouge rat' contempates the stoat Beta's punishment while grabbing as many floating cherries as he can.

Aikuen had to hustle to keep up after Will. He doesn't know that he went rogue on them. He tries to keep pace with Will, but also keeping slow, so as not to lose Kentar. He espies the orchard and yells back, "I think i see him, over there..." He points too what looks like a blob.

'rouge rat' sits hunched over his prize of stolen cherries gnawing on them happily for the moment.

Kentar looks over at Will and Aikuen. "So..."

Aikuen sees a now clearer form of his son. Obvious he is not in his right mind. He slowly puts down his pack, and quietly walks forward.

Kentar watches the two of them and stays quiet.

'rouge rat' looks up from his cherries. His Betas wanted something. Assuming they were waiting for the order to eat, since they were good Beta rats ... mostly, he walks over, now on all fours, and drops a cherry at Aikuen's footpaws. He looks up at his Otter Beta Buck, as the feral part of mind has started calling him, and waits for his right paw Beta to scamper away happily with the food his Alpha has so generously given him.

Aikuen picks up the cherry, but doesn't eat it. He looks to Will with stern eyes, "Will... Say something... Please... Anything..."

Kentar watches and tilts his head, very confused

'rouge rat is confused by Aikuen's tone a little but mentally shrugs it off as nothing to worry about right now. He drops another cherry for the large otter as if to ask 'Did you want more?' 'rouge rat' knows the otter wants something more than just cherries ... something .... "... w-want more?" it's little more than two odd sounding squeaks but it's close to words, right?

Aikuen is beginning to feel sorry for the rat, but this otter can no longer feel sadness. and instead he can feel his temper beginning to rise. He squashes the cherry in between his claws, and steps on the other one. And mutters out, "Yes i want something more... I want my Son back..."

'rouge rat' is not pleased. If the otter wants to squish his cherries that's fine, but what he said isn't. The rat hisses a little and walks off ... now he has two Betas to punish and the usual punishment may not work so well on the large otter given his size and the foul metal smell around him, even stronger than before.

The rat's ears perk up and he rises to his feet quietly, suddenly and swiftly he draws his sword and strikes at the nearby bushes. A River Rat falls across the bush, his throat slit, spear still in paw.

Aikuen watches as the dead rat falls from the bush. He is in slight shock, but years of service has taught him to recover quickly. He grunts back to Kentar and Fira, "FIND COVER! RIVER RATS!" In one swift motion, he drops the pack, and unsheathes his sword, running to where Will is standing. Even if he is 'Rogue' he is still his son, and needs to be defended. He kneels down and looks around, trying to spot any others that may be about.

The dead river rat scout, was the one in the bush, and his secondary scout saw it all happen from a tree not that far away. He silently drops from the tree, and runs back to the others. There will be trouble soon.

Aikuen eyes Will, before heading over to the rat. He checks the wound on the neck, before shaking his head. But he is surprised that a scout, yes he can tell that its a scout, would be carrying a spear. He mutters, "Idiots...." He checks the rat for weapons and taking his dagger and small sling. Using the dagger he cuts the sling in half, then he takes the dagger and throws it in the river. He hears the movement in the trees, and looks to Will, "You just had to kill him... There going to swarm us any moment now..."