Quinten Log 147

Salamandastron: Training Room

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This is the training room for the hares of the long patrol. The walls

seem to have taken a severe beating, more than likely not from stray

arrows missing the archery targets. There are several of said archery

targets lining the west wall, each with small oak stands a good distance

off to hold arrows, hang a bracer, and rest a bow on. The targets are of

simple design: a large, tightly wrapped bale of hay with a coarse paper

target on the front. A wooden mannequin, in no better shape than the

walls, is in the northeastern corner of the room. Besides that, several

wooden practice swords sit in a small pile. On the eastern side of the

room is a small, makeshift wrestling arena consisting of two mattresses

tied together. Then on the southern side of the room is a fitness area,

assembled from several pull-up bars, and a nice padded area to do push up.

Narrow, cylindrical weights (both wooden and metal) are pushed up against

the wall, along with a few straight metal bars for them to be mounted on.

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"Eh.. Can't complain... Tied up and starved this whole time, but I'll live." Owowowowowow. He's dealing with this well enough, watching the healers finish their job and walk off again to do other things. They could have helped with the paw crushing, anyway. Zeraph smiles genuinely, seeming relieved as well.. delirious maybe, flexing his fingers against Dark's paw.

Slowly, the pain medicine starts kicking in, the harsh shock through his body ebbing away, placebo effects kicking in even before any actual effect can. The grip on Zeraph's paw is now not so crushing, and Darklett relaxes, his eyes closing again, breath coming in and out steadily. "How're... casualties? Of last night?"

Zeraph sighs, and can start to feel his paw again, giving a reassuring smile. "We did good. Very few deaths... but we have many injured. However, most are definitely non-fatal." He tucks his legs in closer, shifting his position to make leaning over more comfortable for him and so he won't have his elbow on any of Darklett's wounds.

Quinten has been sleeping on his bench since the end of it all last night, curled up and hugging his sabre to his chest. The only time he stirred at all was when a Lt. directed him to go wash up and come back. Discovering that his bedroom was a state he returned to his bench and his sabre and promptly fell asleep again. Only now is he waking up sitting up and rubbing his eyes blearily as he stares at both Darklett and Zeraph. "Major....Lt...tha you?"

Darklett smiles, his eyes still closed as he speaks with the lieutenant. "Good... Just recruits, a lot... of them. Didn't like having to... send them into a fight. How are... the Redwallers?" is his next question, ears perking slightly as he hears Quinten's voice. He second-thinks raising his voice in response, and instead simply lays there.

Zeraph flicks an ear back. "The Redwallers are all fine. Some got hurt in battle, but they're fine." When Quinten speaks he glances towards the recruit, then smirks towards Darklett, directing his words to the Major. "Questions like that get me wondering who else I could be.." Finally he turns back to the young buck, nodding. "Yeah.. That'd be us." He can't really switch positions.

Quinten stands up slowly still looking exhausted and walks over to the two older, injured bucks. "Good...cause...i'd box yer ears if you was vermin." He then flops down next to them both and smiles at Darklett. "It worked sah...we beat em."

"Good... They, of all... shouldn't've been made to do that." Darklett seems like he's one hundred percent happy with yesterday, excruciating pain or not. The younger hare gets a smile at his voice, and he lets out a sigh out of an open mouth, which might have otherwise been a laugh. "Best news I've... heard in a long time. How're you, recruit?"

"Oh yes.. I don't get addressed, or called 'sah'. I just get threatened." Raph rolls his eyes and falls silent, his paw still occupied with Dark's so his attention just turns longingly towards the bowl that is now out of reach. Maybe he can will it back into his grasp.

Off to the side, Dandelion begins to stir a little as he grudgingly wakes up and looks around with half-open eyes, temporarily disoriented. "Whu?" he demands of his elder brother Stefan, who is sitting by his side, fast asleep.

Quinten follows Zeraph's glance and leans forwards to drag the bowl over to him, "I'm tired sahs but good, though i think aye should avoid yer family, that is both you and your brother now, who've led me into battle." His ears perk up, one of them still bandaged and lean towards Dande. "Dande...tha you?"

He may have fallen asleep again. Darklett's still, and his eyes are closed, breathing peaceful again. But he does open those eyes and look towards Zeraph. By now, the tension around his paw is plenty so he could let go at any time. "Got the crazy... marten that did this to me... Crawled away, but he should... be dead."

Mm. Soup. His best friend right now. Zeraph rests it in his lap, having to straighten up a little to do this and begins eating again - needing to balance the bowl on his legs cause he only has one paw to manipulate, even if the tension has lessened. Maybe it's helping him as well, just like using the Colonel for a pillow. :D "I'm pretty sure he thinks everyone has a-" Pause. Dark is talking to him. The Lieutenant turns his gaze from Quint and Dandelion towards the wounded buck at his side. "Crazy marten..." Blink. "Wow. You got him?"

Dandelion tries to sit up straight, but changes his mind after a sharp jolt of pain reminds him that he's bandaged, and why. "Ow... I dunno. You tell me..." he mutters to Quinten. "How'd it go?"

Quinten smiles at Dande, "We won Dande, we did it though i'm ead tired an seem to ave lost some ear." he points up at his bandaged lug. He then eyes darklett, "Ye got tha odd beast we left you with? Sure looks like he got you as well."

While the rest of him remains still, Darklett's ears perk, his eyes closing once more. "Yeah... Marten... didn't wanna give up. Got 'im, though. Did a number on me, but I got 'im." He grins victoriously at this. "Sorry I couldn't... help out more upstairs. He... Kept me occupied for a little longer than I w...wanted."

"That's alright, Dark." One sideways glance at Quinten. Zeraph looks back to Darklett even if his eyes are closed. "That marten killed more by himself than the horde altogether I think... Has bodies dangling in the dining chamber. I'm going to help take them down... He's the one who captured the Colonel, and injured Rahier." That's about all he knows for now. Seems that the older buck did a good deed.

Dandelion smiles a little. "I got one of 'em at least." he says, a bit of pride in his voice. "Perhaps two... And then there was 'at weasel..." He goes a little glum.

Quinten goes a bit silent himself and lowers his ears, "aye....we should go...see ta Vic later on.....don't like tha thought of im lying down there."

Darklett frowns at first, then smiles. Huh. "Good... The scum's got... huge holes in him from my knives. Expect he's dead... somewhere on the beach." He opens his eyes, not moving his head to glance down at the held paw, just using his eyes, before they close again. "M'fine, you can let go now..." He gives it a pat and withdraws, resting backwards.

"Good." Grin. So it's good that some beast was killed. Why of course! Zeraph suddenly realizes what Darklett is talking about as the last thing, so he retracts his paw and scoots away a little to enjoy his soup in peace, side or back turned to everyone close to him.

Darklett smiles as he shifts to get comfortable, wincing as that makes him /un/comfortable, then relaxes back again. "Gonna sleep... S'more." Boom, and he's out of it.

Quinten hangs his head and nods, "aye Dande...but alot alive too...." He looks around and turns to Zeraph. "Lt...where all all the young ones?"

Oh. NOW he's addressing him? Zeraph glances in Quinten's direction, gets the gist of the question, then stands up to start out of the room. "They're gone." Is all he says. Mm. Grumpy? Sore subject? We'll say yes.

Quinten stares after Zeraph and moves to sit down near Stefan with a bump. "Gone.....wha....how?" He turns to look at Dande

"Who's gone? Where?" Dandelion starts to get excited and forgets himself, sitting up quickly. A sharp, searing pain paralyses him, and he falls back on his cushion, biting his lip to avoid screaming. "Ow." he whispers weakly as the pain subsides enough for him to collect himself.

Quinten sits up sharply as dande flops back and places a paw on his shoulder, "Stay put Dande, seems our young uns are missing...."

Quinten lays a hand on Dande's shoulder and looks over at Stefan, sadness and tears in his eyes. "Sleep well Dande...Quincy will be about when you wake up, I'll go see to Vic." He stands up and walks towards the door.

Dandelion is half asleep already, and mumbles something that sounds like "tell him I said thanks" before he's finally fast asleep, his breaths deep and slow.

Quinten is crying by the time he reaches the door and makes his way down to the Dinning Hall, there hares are clearing away the dead bodies of vermin. Cutting down Roroth's victims but the body of the white buck Vic. Kneeling down he places his paws on his body and rolls him over. slowly closing his eyes and smiling. "Dande says thanks Vic...." Then the recruit breaks and starts to sob deeply letting it all catch up with him at last. Alone it seems in a circle of dead hares in the Dinning Hall of Salamandastron

- Change Scene - Several Hours later

Salamandastron: Leaders' Office

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This room is obviously and strictly all business. The walls are bare, except for the occasional military decoration of crossed swords or what have you, as well as the occasional, dim candle. In the room, there is an ornately carved, oak desk, behind which rests a comfortable arm chair. In front of the desk two slightly less comfortable and straight-backed chairs sit, most likely to keep the occupants on their toes. The desk is often covered by stacks of papers, sometimes haphazard, and sometimes neatly placed, depending upon the officer using the room at any given time.

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Zoe_Lang has not really been seen outside of her office all day. The room is in a state of disrepair, to say the least, papers through anywhere. Zoe, having gotten cleaned up and now in a fresh uniform, is seated on the floor sorting through them. Her back is to the front of the desk.

The door swings open slowly and a head pokes around it. "Colonel? can i come in?" It is Quinten only two hours ago he was wandering around in a daze after burying his and Dandelion's friend Vic along with the other dead. Now he's cleaned up, fresh and in a recruits uniform again.

Meh. Zoe's ears twitch upward as she hears the door opening, but she does not look up as Quinten greets her. She waves a parchment-holding paw in a dismissive manner. "Aye? What c'n I help ya with?" Her brow furrows slightly.

Quinten steps inside and looks down at the thing in his paws. Of all the things to have the recruit has a clip board loaded with papers. "Was told to come give ye these reports ma'am, on our foodstocks, tha state of the mountain an...our dead."

Zoe_Lang finally does look up, considering Quinten silently for a moment. Dropping the papers she was in the process of organizing, letting them fall back into the mix, she reaches behind her to use the desk to pull herself up. "Thank ya, lad." She holds out her paw.

Quinten removes most of the papers from his clipboard and hands them over to the Colonel. "Also ma'am....most of our young ones...are missing."

Zoe_Lang inclines her head in a nod, taking the papers whilst glancing at the top sheet. "... Aye. I know, lad." She bites back a sigh, moving around to sit in the chair. Brow furrow. "How're you doin'?"

Quinten looks on with a worried frown at the Colonel, "Aye'm fine ma'am...was tired earlier but i'm better now i've had a proper bath...are...you ok? I can get you some tea...we have plenty of that vermin didn't touch tha tea."

"Just spiffin', m'lad," the Colonel offers with a touch of irony. She offers a tired smile, then inclines her head in a nod. "Though a cup of tea would be appreciated, m'lad."

Quinten nods his head to the colonel his eyes lingering on her shaved head for a moment before he salutes and runs out. "Be right back." He calls after her.

It's easy to see the reddening of her features at his gaze, what with.... well. The shavedness. She drops her gaze, waiting until he leaves to rest her head in her paws. Ah, sigh. She worries at her temple.

Quinten is back in about fifteen minutes carrying a large tray set with a tea pot and two cups, Setting it on the desk he moves over to the fireplace and pokes at it stirring up the coals. "Your injuries all been seen to Colonel?" He pauses and sisghs, "I'm fussing aren't i? sorry ma'am not me place."

Zoe_Lang smiles slightly, lifting her head as Quinten reenters the room. "Fortunately, we had Rahier t' keep everyone reasonably healthy durin' the takeovah." She doesn't directly comment on what exactly is his place. After all, the rescued can't be too mean to the rescuers.

Quinten nods his head and moves back to the table and fills only one cup and hols it out to her, "you know....i been dreading seeing you for weeks now. Ever since ye ordered me home."

Zoe_Lang takes the offered cup, leaning back for a moment while she just... breathes in the goodness. Eventually she takes a sip, dipping her head in a nod. "Apparently life decided t' intercede so ya wouldn't see me fer a while, eh?"

Quinten sighs and nods, "Aye sadly ma'am.....not in a way any of us wanted."

Zoe_Lang chuckles softly, though it is humorless. "Well, we're all grateful you were here t' help us out."

Quinten shrugs, "Wasn't me ma'am, was tha Ma...erm Mister Darklett an the privates."

Zoe_Lang shakes her head, just a little too quickly. Placing her fingertips to her temple at the brief dizziness, she smiles. "I saw you, m'lad. You did jus' fine."

Quinten shuffles and tries to keep his worry off his muzzle as the colonel suffers dizziness. "Was just...lettin me training take over. Was no skill thar...did ye see the library? Its a wreck."

Zoe_Lang bites back a sigh, nodding once more. "Aye. I saw it... Looks like most o' the books themselves are all righ'. It'll be quite a project fixin' everythin' up, though. Fortunately I doubt a single one o' those vermin actually knew how t' read."

Quinten smirks softly and nods, "Oh aye...tha i bet they didn't Colonel, ye just leave it to us we'll ave the mountain lookin as good as new in no time. Though has anyone sent a message ta Halyard yet? They'll be waitin on news."

"I don't know, m'lad. I'll write somethin' up, though, if you'll find someone t' delivah it." And she pulls out a fresh bit of parchment, dipping quill in ink and then setting quill to page. "I'll address it t' m'daughtah, since she'd probably be the best fer spreadin' the news." And she starts to write.

Quinten nods his head and watches the Colonell write, "I could take it meself, but aye'm nah meant ta leave the mountain."

Zoe_Lang dips her head in a nod. "A good plan. Have one of the oldah privates delivah it, m'lad. We don't know how many vermin are still out there, 'n' it wouldn't do to have our runnah captured."

Quinten nods his head, "Aye ma'am i'll pass it on. Not gonna be a private fer a long time meself, gotta get used tae being just a recruit second class agin."

Zoe_Lang listens to the buck patiently while she sips her tea. She hasn't eaten much today, as most of the other captives, trying to give their shrunken stomachs time to adjust to richer foods again. Eventually she realizes that a response is in order, and offers one. "Considah it this way. We don't pretend t' think that our recruit system as it is turns out perfect soldiahs. A lot o' creatures could stand t' take some extra time in trainin', but don't. When you do become a private, yer chances of survivin' yer first season of active duty will be far highah than the rest."

Quinten smiles at the Colonel and just salutes her, "Thanks ma'am i'll do ye proud one of these days." He picks up the tea pot and refills her cup, she might not be eating but she can sure drink.

Drink she can, and does, offering murmured thanks. "Thank ya, m'lad. Unfortunately I've got t' get back t' sortin' things, but if ya need me, ya know where t' find me."

Quinten nods his head and salutes, "Aye ma'am i'll go give this message ta a Runner."

Said message is rolled and then sealed with the Patrol seal, as usual, before it is passed to Quinten. "Thank ya, m'lad." She offers a brief salute.

Quinten salutes the Colonel and then hurries out of the chamber with his clipboard.

- Back to the Training Room

Salamandastron: Training Room

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