Quinten Log 152

Salamandastron: Level Two

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

You are in a medium-sized circular 'room' from which several passages

branch off. Each passage fades off around a twisting corner, winding

around in the bowels of the mountain. One passage, however, hardly more

than a short, straight hall, ends abruptly with a large wooden door - the

forge room.

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The Mountain is rather quiet today, most beasts have taken off for the shore to enjoy the sunshine. Quinten is walking along the corridor head in a book and dressed in a Private's Uniform now heading towards the door to the library without looking up

Just then, a young male hare - perhaps eight seasons old - comes dashing down the hall, glancing over his shoulder tro shout, "Y' flippin' vermin-hugging blubber gut! Ge'way!" Unfortunately, he's headed straight toward Quinten... And following not far behind him is a doe of about the same age, "Not in y' life! Stop runnin' like a blinkin' dibbun!"

Quinten turns at the sound of voices and peers over his books. "Levrets! Front an centre, Attten-shun." He barks out in his best imitation of Major Jarril

The leading hare, Darril, makes a rather sudden stop at the sound of the voice, attempting to hurridely straighten himself up. But then he makes a loud, "YARG!" as the other hare, Spray, fails to make such a sudden halt and ends up tumbling right into him, taking them both down into a heap on the floor.

Quinten can't help but chuckle as he walks towards them both and leans down to help them both back to their feet. "Now now children....i said Attention not fall on the floor."

Both young hares straighten up once back on their footpaws, giving each other a brief glare. Then Spray looks back toward Quinten, "Sah, we ain't dibbuns. Ah'm a full eight seasons - near eight and a half."

Darril rolls his eyes, "Y' aren't anywhere near a half yet, y' fibber."

Quinten smiles at them both and rolls his eyes. "Come on you two buck up, if the Major caught you running the corridors he'd bung you both on Kitchen duty."

Spray shoots Darril a dark glare, who grins in response. She then turns her attention back toward Quinten, "Maybe. But the Major'd string that lump o'er there up by 'is ears after hearing what he did."

Quinten chuckles and leans against the wall, "Oh? What you been up to this time? Though if he heard me doing his voice he'd have a thing or two to say about me."

Darril shakes his head, "Ah admit I shouldn't've done it, but what she did was ten times worse, y' can take my word for it!" Spray exclaims, "Y' put /fleas/ in mah bed, of all things! Nothin' flippin' worse than goin' to rest your eyes after a long day and seein' a swarm of little' bitin' bugs all over your bunk. Horribly bad form. Everyone knows bunks are off limits."

Quinten frowns at you both, "Aye she's right ye knoo....bunks are orf limits except for the greatest of pranks an fleas are always out."

Spray nods triumphantly, "See? I told y', Darril!" Darril shakes his head, leaning to murmur to Quinten, as if he doesn't want anyone else to overhear this information, "...She stained every scrap o' clothing I had bright...bright...pink. Y' have not a blinkin' clue what it took to get that out!"

Quinten eyes Spray and frowns, "Now tha is even more out of order, messing with a chaps clothing especially if it was his uniform.

Spray's ears lower to give her the look of a wronged innocent, "He's done a hundred worse things t' me over the seasons, m' friend. I've been tormented by 'im since I was naught but a babe. I couldn't 'elp but snap."

Darril lightly elbows her in the side, "Quite the actin', Spray. Y' know perfectly well you've done plenty back!"

Quinten chuckles and raises a paw, "Ahhh lets forget that for now an go get something to eat, i'm too happy with me promotion to Private to want to hear bickering.

Both hares' ears perk simutaniously at the mention of food. Darrin smiles brightly, "Jolly good idea! Top notch!"

Quinten heads towards the stairs humming softly as he sets off. "Right then lets go see what we can find."

Darril nods, and the promptly begin heading in the direction of the dining chamber. Spray peers over at Quinten, "Congrats on the promotion, by the by. Good show'n well done. How's it feel?"

- Change Scene

Salamandastron: Dining Chamber

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

This is the dining chamber for the mountain of Salamandastron. It is a

veritable cavern, the necessity of feeding so many hares making the room

so big. Dominating the room is a huge banquet table made of solid oak.

Nobeast knows how such a venerable object came to be here, but its

presence is undeniable. Smaller tables skirt the outside of the room,

each sitting near a large torch burning brightly in its sconce. The chair

at the head of the table is different from the plain maple chairs that

occupy the rest of the room - it belongs to the Badger Lord. The massive

object is graced with a carving of the very mountain it is in, with the

sun setting over the sea.

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Quinten smiles at Spray and moves over towards where the kitchen staff are serving lunch. "Well thanks Spray still getting used to it. Its nice to have the mountain vermin free again as well."

Spray nods as they head in the same direction, "I think a promotion like that'd make me feel old."

Quinten laughs, "What recruit to Private? I'll feel old when they name me Colonel."

Spray grins, "Well, being a Private is still another step in the life'n all that.." Darril helps himself to a plate piled high with spinach salad and a honey vinegar dressing, saying teasingly, "Spray, y' hardly need to be worryin' about being old just yet." And this results in Spray giving him a poke in the side, "Don't forget I'm a week older'n you, m' young friend!"

Quinten smirks at them both and sits down drinking from a beaker of juice and peering at the salad he's collected to eat. "Well i'd say getting old is bad enough. I mean just think one day we'll all be as old as the Colonel but until then i intend to enjoy meself."

Darril shakes his head solemnly, "Naw, Ah'll never make it to a ripe old age. Spray'll kill me off long before then." Spray nods in response, grinning as she sits down with her own plate, "It's true. And he's goin' to leave a pack of fleas to eat me alive 'fore he goes. So we don't need to worry 'bout that. And you'll probably end in a battle, after single-handedly fightin' off two hundred and five vermin blighters. But at least you'll there'll be stories about you f'rever."

Quinten laughs softly and waves a paw, "I think i'd rather fight off the fleas." He eyes you both, "I hope your not still carrying em, if ye give me fleas i won't be pleased."

Spray shrugs, "Ah'm pretty sure I saw 'em before they saw me. Ah better've, or Darril's gonna have an even sooner end than 'e expected."

Spray says, "Dunno what you were thinkin', Darril! The whole mountain could've ended up crawlin' with the buggers."

The privates eyes them both and grins, "Bath time for you both then, I'm not risking you two spreading fleas over the mountain. Not after everything that has happened."

Darril frowns, shoving a large forkfull of salad into his mouth, "Bfrr uh ee."

Quinten smirks and chews on the lettuce on his plate, "I'm going to have to take one as wekk now."

- Change Scene - Later that afternoon

Shallows - Western Sea

Saltwater tinted in shades of green, blue, and grey swirl through the waterlogged sand where it meets the shore whirling over and pushing about beautifully colored stones and shells. The whitish sands of the seafloor shine through the thin depth of swirling water that conceals a slight undertoe.

---

Several hares of the Long Patrol are down on the shore enjoying the sunshine and their free time. Standing in the shallows with his trousers rolled up running back and forth and punting a ball towards the others

Ball punting. Pfft. Seven looks like he has a headache as he meanders down the shore in the direction of the mountain. Every now and then the buck steps off into the shallow water, which results in a washing over of his footpaws and lower legs with the lapping waves as they come in to shore. Every time this happens, he steps away from it.

Quinten jumps up as high as he can trying to grab the ball that is sailing over the air, whoever threw it gave it a bit too much welly and it sails over Quint's ears. Arching down towards the ground again going to bounce towards Seven.

Mmf? Ball? Seven gets it in the chest, which makes him both stumble back in surprise and also

grab hold of his assailant, ears twisting backward. "Grrmmf?" He eyes the object.

Quinten lands with a splash and hurries over towards Seven, bouncing over the waves, "Seven sorry about that, you ok?"

Seven looks to be alright. He gazes up at Quinten, then closes his eyes as he rubs his forehead, still clutching the ball to his chest with the other arm. "Mm.. Mm hm." Nothing but grunts in response.

Quinten smirks at the other buck and shakes hish ead, "Hangover Seven? I told you not to drink so much last night."

"No' like I've nevah 'ad a 'angovah before." Seven scowls at Quinten, looking like he would punch him in the face. Then again, he has a ball in his arms, so that's better. It is launched back at the other buck, aiming for the face.

Quinten laughs and jumps back bringing up an arm just in time to deflect the ball. "Well i can say i've had one hangover in me life an i sure don't want another one."

Seven isn't talking to him anymore. The buck is walking away from Quinten with his paws stuffed into his large pant pockets, not even seeming to care /what/ he just said. Oh well.

Quinten shrugs and picks up the ball and heads off towards the others, charging ahead to throw the ball towards a doe wading out in the sea water.

Well, if Quinten doesn't go after him, then that's the end of it. Seven slowly makes his way back into the mountain.. Ahh.. Mystical journey.

Aurelius walks carefully up the shoreline, watching the waves break and lap at the sand. He's walked a long way without water or food and this shows, sweat threatening to drip into his eyes. As he moves to wipe it away, he looks up to see many a beast and as a grin breaks his face it appears he has made his destination. And a day early at that.

A large leather ball comes sailing out of the shore and comes down atop the Aurelius' head. Some one shouts out sorry and races out of the water towards them. Its a young buck maybe about 8 seasons old wearing a Long Patrol Uniform though his trousers have been rolled up to his knees. "Gosh i'm sorry about that old chap i missed it..." he goes to help him back up. "Oh i say your a new face."

The ball bounces lightly off the hare's head and he neatly catches it after watching it into his paws. "That's all right, there's no need to panic.." He says, smiling and handing back the ball. "Is this Salamandastron?"

Quinten takes the ball back and smiles, "Aye that it is Salamandastron." He salutes. "Private Quinten at yer surface ye look lik eyou need a drink matey."

A nod. "Yeah, that'd be nice. I've come a long way to see this.." Aurelius pauses briefly before introducing himself. "Aurelius Huan Dior. It's a bit long winded, you can call me Aure if you wish, it's up to you."

You say, "Long winded why Aurs tha is nothing compared to me own. Quinten Taran Marben Teno Aluioscious Tof'marole Delmenare." He winks. "So coming to join the patrol are ye?""

"Well, if I was you I'd have shortened that a long time ago," the hare says jovially, still smiling. "I suppose people just call you Quinten? Well, Quinten, I was hoping to join yes, after I've found out a little about how it works. It's been an effort getting here so I hope I get on with the system."

Quinten walks over to one of the blankets and snags a beaker and fills it with juice from a jug. "Ok then Aurs, an ye can call me Quint or Quin either is fine. And well its quite simple they'll probably ask you to join the recruit programme, you spend at least two seasons in that and eventually get promotoed to Private."

Aurelius says, "Well that's all right then." eyeing the juice thirstily. "I'm quite tired actually, am I going to have to meet anyone, or go through any procedure to join straight away, or is it all right if I rest for the day?.." And, conscious he's not got the same accent adds slightly uncomfortably, "..old chap.""

Around the shoreline the hares of the long patrol continue to enjoy their day by the shore splashing in the water, sitting on blankets in the sun and enjoying a good meal. "Ahhh you can rest for as long as you like. You'll need to speak to one of the major's hwoever. about joining up."

Aurelius sighs, nodding. "Today?" He asks, his mouth an uneven line as he contemplates this thought. "Aaah well, I'm sure I'll be recovered after some refreshment of some sort.." 'Hint hint', he thinks to himself.

Quinten chuckles and nods and picks up a plate of pastries and offers them to the hare. "You don't have to speak to them today no. Can be any day you feel like."

Aurelius seizes this opportunity and takes three of the pastries, taking a quick bite of one and swallowing it hastily. "Good.. I appreciate that, at least," he murmurs, "You could say it's been an ..interesting journey down, at least." He winks at the buck, and polishes off the rest of the pastry in one bite, washing it down with some juice.

Quinten sits down and munches his way through a pastry himself before speaking up again. "Oh? Wot happened? Where are you from?"

Havoc wanted to get a closer look at that big old, shiny mountain she's heard so much about recently and, as such, has decided to leave Sindri's campsite for just a small while, to come out here by herself. And she's been very careful which, for a rather madcap, random beast like her, she feels, is a real achievement. As it happens, she's managed to crouch down to hid amongst the lumpy sand. Curse the hares, they would be out on the one day she decides to satisfy her curiosity, nasty (if not probably tasty) beasts... Oh well, at least she can see the big lump of rock properly now.

Quinten shows Aurelius the way into the mountain so he can go rest and starts to head back towards the shore line, shouting out to his friends in the shallows and catching the ball they throw at him.

Havoc watches Quinten enter the mountain and then return out again. She watches the other hares with interest, occasionally forgetting she's hiding and peeping up a bit only to very quickly throw herself flat in semi panic when she realizes she's in view. This panic only ever seems momentary though, and worse still, she finds it amusing... It's making her giggle.

Quinten stops and stares at where he just saw an ermine drop from sight. It has been too soon since the vermin where driven out of the mountain for him to ignore that and he lets out a shout of "Vermin!" at the top of his lungs and starts towards her.

Havoc hears the shout, and pokes up to see where the vermin are and, oh dear... hare coming her way... Ah! She's the vermin! Yes, that'd make sense... Um, plan, need a plan, need a plan... "Aaaaaaaah!" She jumps up and begins trying to scurry away from the approaching hare, okay, not a very good plan... Especially when the sand and her coat both hinder her.

Quinten watches the ermine starting to run and comes to a stop when he reaches her former hiding place, looking around for an officer. He spots an approaching Lt. and asks. "Shall we go after her?" He shakes his head. "No....but this picnic is over everyone inside...we'll send out a patrol to check over the shore."

Havoc reaches another little lumpy bit of sand and dives behind it, peeping up to see what the hares are doing now. Seeing they aren't chasing any more, she grins, giving a wave and then even blowing them a kiss.

The Lt. frowns ather and grumbles, "of course if we catch that one during our patrol we'll make sure to dispose of her...in fact you three." He snaps at Quint and two others, "Chase her off."

They nod and each one of them picks up a bow from the pile of training equipment left beind from earlier. They draw and take aim at her letting her see them.

Havoc halts mid-wave as arrows are taken up and her eyes can almost be seen to bulge just before she dives behind her sand mound again, just in case they fire.

They do indeed fire all three arrows zinging up and over smacking into the side of the sand mound... they have the range now and the Lt. orders them to fire again. This time they won't miss

Havoc pokes her head up and frowns, gah! Um, think fast... She unsheathes a knife and removes her hat and waves it frantically, sort of like a white flag... Except she doesn't really own white, so the hat is blue... It's a blue surrender flag that's waved frantically as she backs away slowly, standing in full view though, really hoping they don't shoot. "Hey! Truce! No arrows! I mean no harm!"

The Lt. orders the privates to hold their arrows and calls out. "Then leave vermin, run north right now and let this be a warning. The Long Patrol will no longer tolerate Vermin on these shores, spread the word and run."

Havoc frowns "But... I can't go north, my camp's to the South!" Aw, damnit, think before you speak, think! She mentally curses herself... "Anyway, what'd I ever do to you?! Shooting an innocent ermine, for shame!"

The Lt. shakes his head, "There are no innocent vermin here....One...two...three." He starts to count oh joy , "You got to ten to be out of sight."

Havoc puts her paws on her hips accusingly. "And how would you know?! You know every vermin around here? Because I can tell you now, that -I- have never met you before in my life! So there!" She pokes her tongue out. She's either not that old, mental, or both. From appearance, it might be said, both.

"Fire" Is the command when the Lt. reaches 10 and the arrows sail up and towards the ermine

Havoc blinks, wide eyes. "Ah... Oh -expletive deleted-!" She sort of turns to run away as the arrows go up, and is rather lucky, until a certain point. Whumf. In her panicking scurry, an arrow has managed to find it's way into the back of her leg, through the long-ish coat and a little above her right knee. She drops, coat now pinned to leg too, and cries out wildly, lying on her side in the sand. Well, she's never really been injured before... And it HURTS!

The Lt. and the three privates slowly start to make their way up the shore looking around for the vermin carefully.

Havoc lays in the sand for a while, unhappily. Hares, who knew they could be so... cruel... Pah, that's put her off hares for life. Evil long-eared stringy fake rabbits... The ermine eventually realises how unsafe her position is, she's not sure what to do about her wound though and it's still excruciatingly painful. She'll crawl back and see Butchy, yes, hopefully he'll know what to do... She casts a look back at the mountain of nasty hares as she begins her painful, and rather embarrassing, crawl back.

The hares can't find the ermine and decide to retreat back incase there are more vermin about. "You think it was one of Toroth's?" Quinten asks the lt. as they move back to the main group. "Probably i doubt ayone else is going to spy on us."

Havoc really wishes she had a big group really nearby like those hares did. But, she doesn't. *Sniff* She has to crawl all the way back to the camp where somebeast may, or may not, know how to fix her wound. Had she heard the hares talk, she'd have retorted that she was certainly not a Toroth and that the hares shouldn't say such rude things, but she doesn't here, being further away. She can still see the hares if she looks back, and now, rather than curiosity, she only looks at them with hate. And a large bit of fear. Just knowing they're back there is enough to make her crawl faster despite the pain. Evil hares. *spit back at the mountain*

- End Log