Twilight descended upon Mossflower like a blanket. The beasts of Redwall Abbey all slowly prepared for night and tidied up the last few tendrils of the days activitys. The dibbuns had all been tucked in and the elders were all retiring one by one to their beds. The only two left where the Abbott, an elderly mouse by the name of Karl, and the gatehouse keeper, a hedgehog with an over sized gut by the name of Gabe. They stayed up talking for two hours before they herd a muffled crash coming from the kitchens. The both jumped up and ran as quickly as an aged mouse and tubby hedgehog could.
They where met by a fallen lantern (that was the crash they had heard) and an extremely guilty looking ferrettes frozen where she stood with her arms full of food. They stood and stared at each other for a moment and then everything happened at once. The Abbott shouted, raising the alarm and Gabe grabbed a frying pan to us as a weapon. The ferretes darted for the other exit but was blocked by the friar who had been roused by the abbots shouts. She knocked him over slamming him into the wall and out of her way. She made a beeline for the nearest wall gate and was gone before they could catch her. She was Ravax-Setna, night wind.
Burian Hardpaw sat with his back rested against the solid trunk of a gnarled maple. It was late, and he had been traveling for a while without a rest. Taking a sip of water from a canteen, he closed the cap and replaced it in his sack. The otter closed his eyes as he mulled over what he was going to do on the morrow: He could go to Redwall, a place that was supposedly somewhere where beasts could find peace and good hospitality, but he decided against it: Too many creatures, he thought. No, I'll just keep moving. Why did he travel? He could easily find a place in Redwall, or even an otter holt where he might find a mate. Still, something made him not want to live such a life around beasts: He had seen darkness of both "goodbeasts" and "badbeasts". Perhaps he would travel forever.
With these thoughts, Burian allowed himself to fall asleep.
Ravax stopped in a clearing and put all her food in her satchel before continuing. After she had gone for a good distance she saw the glimmer of the embers of a fire threw the trees. She drew her dagger from her belt and approached cautiously, keeping to the darkest shadows. She crouched in the brush, her eyes taking in the seen, there was a dead fire, and an otter asleep by the tree, he seemed to be alone but then again you can never be to cautious. She made note of the sword he carried but what really caught her eye was the travailing pack that lay next to him on the ground. She glanced around making sure that the coast was clear before creeping out into the clearing. she opened his pack and took some food and the few medicinal herbs he had in there. She was about to turn and leave when something caught her eye. It was his knife (an odd curved looking thing). It would sell for a good price, she could probably get a good weeks worth of supplies for it. Stowing the stolen food in her pack she crept crosser careful not to touch the otter she began to slowly slide the weapon out of his belt.
OOC: Permission to do a bit of PP. Just so long as you don't draw blood or knock her out or something.
OOC: No worries.
BIC: Bur felt a slight shift in his belt, and he opened his eyes slowly. He woke up even more as he felt it again, and turned to see a female ferret trying to steal his knife.
"'Ey!" He rolled to the side, causing the object of want to fall on the ground, but the otter sprang up and lunged at Ravax. Even if his body didn't collide with her, the thief would be hit by his spread arms.
She had almost got it, just a little farther and... The otter woke up. He rolled over and lunged at her. She lay sprawled on her back but didn't stay that way for long. She swung back up into a crouch and grabbed her other dagger from her boot in one swift motion (She had left the other dagger stuck in the earth by the food pack). She pointed the weapon at him and bared her teeth.
Burian now drew his sword and held it directed at Ravax. She looked thin and desperate, and less ruthless and cold-hearted than others; if she had meant to kill him, she would have done it when he was asleep.
"Come on now, nobeast needs to get hurt here; hand me back my pack and you can go in peace. Otherwise. . ." He took a step closer to show he was serious.
Ravax held the pack closer, and eyed the weapon. She was not about to just had it over but she had not chance in a fight against a sword. She relaxed and slowly got to her feet as if in submission even going as far as almost throwing the pack to the otter but right before she "let go" she turned and ran. If he wanted his pack back he would have to catch her first.
Burian gritted his teeth and cursed slightly under his breath at the ferret's action. Grabbing the kukri up from where it lay, he leapt off after the other. Why did they have to try and steal? She could have asked for food, at least. "Come on, come on," he thought as he ran.
The one thing that Ravax highly regretted was having to leave one of her daggers behind, it was her best one too. She would have to try and get it back another time, that is if she got out of this in the first place. She had an ok head start but the otter was much larger than she was and faster. She was not going to out run him like this. She slung his pack over her shoulder and spun around, jumping up and grabbing the tree limb above her. She then swung her feet at the otters chest.
Burian's eyes grew large as Ravax swung directly into his oncoming body; it was definitely not an attack he would have expected. The ferret's paws connected solidly with his chest, sending his footpaws flying out from under him as he fell backwards. The wind was knocked from his body as he crashed to the ground several feet beyond where he was first struck.
Ravax dropped to the ground and darted back into the forest grinning at her success. She was going to make it. It was then that she tripped over a protruding tree root and went sprawling.
Gasping for breath, Burian sat up as soon as he could, just in time to see Ravax dash off into the trees. The otter scrambled to his feet and ran painfully after her, and when he saw the ferret trip, he called out, "Stop!"
"Stop!" Ravax heard him shout behind her. She scrambled to her feet cursing at her lost advantage. "Give me one good reason!" She called back and continued doggedly on. She was beguining to wonder how much longer she could go on like this.
"Is 'not hurting you' a good enough reason?" Bur gritted to himself. The otter wheezed as he continued, peering as well as he could through the gloom to where Ravax had gone; he had caught his wind from when the ferret had hit him, but it wasn't much better because he was tiring from the chase.
"Can't keep going like this!" he yelled at the running figure in front of him.
OOC: Not sure how we're going to end this. . . :P
her breathing was growing coarse, and her pace desperate. She did not want to know what would happen when he caught up with her but it seemed as if she was about to find out. She glanced over her shoulder, He was right behind her and... SMACK! She ran into the low hanging limb of a pine and fell back hard and knocking the wind from her.
The otter allowed himself a brief gasping chuckle as the ferret in front of him was laid low by a merciless branch. Drawing his sword, Burian held the point inches from Ravax's throat. "You done?" he rasped out. "'Cause if you are, then I'm going to have my pack back now."
Ravax couldn't speak she just lay there for a moment trying to find her breath, eyes shut tight, hopping that this one was not like the rest of them (the ones who said that the only good vermin was a dead one). The pack had slipped off her arm and lay next to her on the ground. When she had regained her voice and still not felt steal in her hide she opened one eye and crocked out "ye... ain't gonna... kill me?"
"What do I look like to you, a murderer?" Bur scooped up his pack and hooked it over his shoulder, looking down uncertainly at Ravax. "Look, it's not like you did much other than try to take a hunk of metal and a bite of food; hardly worth killing a beast. Now stand up."
Ravax got to her feet slowly still keeping a cautious eye on the otter. "Most o' yer kind wud ner even blink a'for killen a beast like me. Ner matter what ah'd done. How kin ye know ah wasn't 'bout ta stick ye with yer own dagger," She took a step back to distance herself from his blade not taking her eyes off it the entire time. Trust was not something you learned in vermin school, not like there was one.
"I figure you would have done it far more quickly." He slipped the sack off his shoulder and held it in his paw. "Now, I can give you a bit of food if you really need it, but I'm only offering once before you're off. Got it?" Not about to see a creature starve, he told himself. Even if it is a vermin.
Ravax looked at Bur like he had three heads. Had she really just heard that, she had just sneaked into his camp and stolen his things and now he was trying give her some back. She looked from the pack to the otter and back again "Yer actually offerin' me some?" She said still not able to believe it much less understand why anybeast would do something like that for another. "Ah left me dagger back ther, if'en yer ner about ta kill me just yet then I'd like et back,"
"That's asking for a fair bit," Burian said flatly. "We'll go back and get your dagger. . . But I'm keeping it. If you want it back you're going to have to do something for me." He drew his sword back a bit, but still kept it close enough to be dangerous.
"like wat?" she asked her confidence growing. She stood up straighter and crossed her arms in front of her. Making sure that the dagger she still had on her person was clearly visible. It was her way of saying, I am still armed and know how to protect my self.
"How far south have you been?" Bur asked, eyeing the dagger warily. "I need to know."
OOC: PM on the way. :P
"Ah'v been 'round tha block a few times. S'far as a place called Southsward. ((OOC: Spelling?)) Yer probably ner 'eard of et. et's very far from 'ere. Why?" She said.
Burian hesitated. "Well. . ." He took a tarnished silver band from his wrist, holding it where Ravax could see it.
"See the emblem on there?" Though it was corroded and slightly pitted, the indentation of a shape
(~>|<~)
was clearly seen on it. "I found this off a rat who claimed he got it from the 'South Stream'; any idea where that is besides being 'south'?" If the ferret was any help, than he would explain why it was significant.
"South stream... aye ah'v been there," She said purposefully not disclosing any details.
"Good; then you're going to help me get there."
Maybe he didn't have to mention the tattoo on his tail that matched the design; why say unnecessary information?
"You'll get your food back at where we started," Burian said, flicking his sword blade in the direction of Ravax's dagger.
"Right," Ravax said backing up slowly realizing that she probably would have to be the one to show the first signs of trust, She turned her back on the otter and started walking back to his "camp" as she silently complained to herself. How did she get herself into this?
((OOC: Short time jump to the camp?))
OOC: Sounds good.
BIC: As soon as they were back at the camp, Burian snatched up the dagger stuck into the ground before Ravax could get it. "Sorry, ferret: I keep my word. And likewise. . ." he opened his haversack and tossed the other a half-loaf of bread. "Enjoy."
Ravax snatched up the bread before the otter could change his mind and sat down across the clearing from him. She ate half of it right then and there and through the entire thing she did not take her eyes off him. Once she was finished she put the rest in her satchel.
Burian held his sword across his lap, keeping half an eye on Ravax. "We should get some sleep," he said.
"Right, ya do that," She said jumping up and climbing up the nearest tree Finding herself a comfortable niche where she would spend the night. She was not about to sleep on the ground with that otter, and his sword for that matter.
Burian made sure he new where Ravax was, and tried to stay awake until he was certain the ferret was. He didn't trust her very much still, and sleeping with one eye open was never a bad idea.
((OOC: Time jump))
Ravax spent most of that night switching between the pretense of sleep and quick naps. When the morning came she was up with the sun. She climbed down from her perch with the nimbleness of one who had done it many times before.
Bur watched beneath his hooding brows as Ravax climbed down from the tree. His night wasn't very restful, but he had experienced worse before. The otter slid his paw to the ferret's dagger, making sure he knew it was still there. Standing up, he stretched stiffly and took an apple from his pack.
Ravax sat down at the base of the tree and took the rest of the bread that he had given her and ate it. Once she had finished she looked over at the otter and eyes his canteen. "Hey, otter, got anythin' ta drink?" She asked. She had run out the day before and during her raid at the abbey she had been unable to get her paws on any.
"I don't have very much left," Burian noted. "I know there's a river not far from here, so I can refill this there." He reached to the side and picked a while dock leaf from the plant and used it as a shallow bowl in which he poured some water. "Here."
All of this felt oddly wrong some how. She shouldn't be here eating with an otter, she shouldn't be sleeping in his camp, nor should she be accepting his gifts. Her thirst was stronger than her instincts so she came forward took the leaf he offered her and after draining it she scuttled right back to her seat under the tree.
Burian sighed within himself; why was he doing this for this ferret, a vermin? Yes, he could use her help with her knowledge, if only slight knowledge it be, of the Great South Stream, but certainly he could find some other beast to help him. Well, when they reached that southern area, they could split paths.
Once the otter had left to refill his canteen. She followed behind staying out of sight till she reached the river. She went up it a little before going over to fill her own canteen before returning to his camp. "Sah, are we gonna get movvin' or are we jus' gonna sit round 'ere all day starin' at each other?"
"We're leaving now," Bur said. He looked up at the position of the sun and guessed which way was south. "Come on."
"Right," She said and followed behind.
((Time jump to noon))
Ravax looked up at the sun they had been walking for several hours in a stonily kept silence. She was however starting to get hungry. She looked around at the sound of a bird calling and looked up to see where it was. Her eyes lit up when she saw a bird in its nest up above her. The bird flew off to find itself some food and Ravex stopped "Lets stop fer lunch!" She said almost enthusiastically. With out waiting for an answer she darted up the tree and upon reaching the nest she was greeted by three small eggs. She Held them up to the light and just her luck two of them where duds. She took them and climbed back down careful not to brake them.
Burian watched curiously as Ravax clambered up the tree. When he saw her climb down with eggs, he gritted his teeth. "Ferret. . ." he growled.
Ravax shrieked with fright and Jumped be hind the tree at the otters angry out burst. "Et's Just egg's! Et's just egg's! No bird!" she said in a panicked shriek. Now he was really was going to kill her she thought.
Burian unclenched his paw, though his voice was still in a growl. "Rr. . . Fine, ferret. But I don't want to see you eating those." He turned away in disgust. "I've seen worse."
Ravax peered cautiously round the tree at him "I cook them first," She said dejectedly but obliged and went to go make herself a little fire on her own. She was actually a little grateful that she didn't have to sit with him again. The less time she spent around him the better. When she had eaten them both and put out her little cooking fire she returned to where she had left him.
OOC: Trying to figure out a decent post. :P
BIC: "You done, ferret?" asked Burian, who stood leaning against a tree; he had had his food already.
"Yes," Then after a cautious pause she continued "Why don't otters eat egg's?" She asked. She understood not eating eggs with the birds in them. They tasted funny and the texture was weird, but the other ones, the birds didn't even want those.
"I can speak for myself: I feel they should only be eaten as a last resort. I suppose I shouldn't feel as bad about it: I mean, we eat fish; what's the difference between that and an egg?" He let air out through his nostrils in a sigh. "I don't know."
Ravax'es face brightened a little and she licked her lips "Ah like fish. Fish, an' eggs, an' wine. Otters make good fish... but et's really 'ard ta get, an' then et's alus cold by the time ah can get et," She said a bit dejectedly.
"Yes, fish is good. If we get to the South Stream we might catch some and have some fresh." He looked up at the sun. "It's getting later; we should go."
Ravax grind with anticipation "Right," She said almost enthusiastically before following the otter. Perhaps she did have a good reason to stick around after all.
They had been travailing for around an hour when they reached a place where the underbrush got thick and matted mixed with thorns, brambles and creeping vines which sought to trip you up. Ravax didn't even say anything She just turned and started walking east following the perimeter of the mass.
"Oi! Where're you going?" called Bur, taking a stop from hacking at the brush with his kukri. "We gotta push through!"
"At that rate yew'll be threw en three days. Yew asked me ta guide yah, well then let me guide Yah," She said "Ah kin get yew threw en three hours," She called back
Burian, still holding the kukri like he was gong to continue, looked at the progress he had made, then back at the disappearing form of Ravax. "Ah, to blazes with it," he muttered, putting the big knife away and taking up his pack. "Wait up!"
"Wait up!" Ravax stoped and waited till the otter had caught up before continuing. They had only been going for a few minutes before they came to a narrow path threw the brush. "et widens out farther up," She said.
Bur guessed the ferret had been here before. "Right," he said. He stepped onto the path and began walking, turning to make sure Ravax was still there.
"Ahm not goin' anywhere," She said rolling her eyes and following Bur. "Last time ah came this way ah got terribly lost. Took meh three days ta get out again. Might 'ave taken longer if I 'adn't found this 'ere path," She said stepping over a creeper that intruded upon the path.
"Well, I suppose this path can be trusted then." He whacked at a low-hanging branch with his kukri, lopping it off easily. "How long does this go on?" It was a little eerie, a little path in the middle of a thicket, surrounded on two sides, and sometimes above, by choking, gnarled plants.
"How long does this go on?"
Ravax stopped surprised at the the question. She hadn't really thought about it. after giving it a moment she said "When ah found et, et wnet off en both directions as far as ye kould see, from there et took meh a good 'alf hour ta get where we are,"
"Hmm," Bur grunted. He didn't speak again for a while, just concentrating on walking forward with the path.
((Time jump))
They had been waking for a little over 2 hours and the sun was getting low. The path had widened out just like she had said and the going had been easy. "See ah told yew so, we'll be through en ano'er 'our," She said. Her statement however was short lived. After taking another few paces the path started to thin and soon after that it disappeared completely.
"Nice going, ferret," grumbled Burian. "Any other ideas?" He pulled out his kukri and started hacking away at the brush.
"Mah way was still faster," Ravax said sulkily floowing behind him muttering to her self under her breath. "'E should be grateful, ef 'e 'ad et 'is way we 'ud still be 'acking at un'erbrush fer hours on end. Ah save 'im some time. Ah show 'im 'ow ta get threw this mess an' all 'e kin do es blame meh. Of all tha ungreatfull sourgutted waterdogs..."
"If you're done muttering, would you mind coming here for a second?"
Burian was looking up at an ancient trunk of a tree, its bark blackened from age and its branches bare from being choked of life by the surrounding brambles. The tree wasn't too far from the side of where Bur was slashing a path, which was good for what the otter needed.
"I'm going to get in closer to that tree. You're a good climber, so you'll have an easier time getting up there and seeing if there's an end to this hellish patch."
Ravax stopped for a moment and looked at the tree. Climbing that monstrosity would not be a problem at all. When Burian had cleared a way to the tree she climbed up the tree and was at the top in no time, well as close to the top as she could get. To her right was the sun set and before her was the forest. She climbed back down and gave her report. "ef'en we go that'a ways," She said pointing a little farther to her left from the direction they where going, "whe'll be out en 2 hours. but et'll get dark a'fore then," She said
"Better than nothing," said Bur. "It'll be tough, but I'll get through." He wiped sweat from his brow and continued in the way that Ravax had said. He was getting tired, though he refused to show it.
"'Ere ef ye give meh mah dagger ah could 'elp ye," She said, she did have another dagger, three to be exact counting the one Burian had, but the two she still had where to short for this job. "Ef yer worried 'bout meh leaven ye, then rest easy, ah 'ave no ententions av leaven ye just yet, not till ah get some fish," She said licking her fangs with anticipation.
After a moment of consideration, Burian grudgingly gave Ravax his kukri. "Use this: It will do a far better job than your dagger. Besides, I said I was keeping the dagger, and so I shall." He folded his arms as a sign that that was the final verdict.
"Fine," She said taking the weapon from him and began hacking away at the underbrush. They took turns like this for the next 2 hours before they finally made their way out of there. By this time it had been dark for over an hour and Ravax was exhausted. She dropped the kukri and plopped herself down by a tree.
"Thank you. . . for the help." Bur took a pear from his pack and gave it to Ravax. "Have this." The otter took back the kukri and sat himself against a tree opposite the ferret, and leaned his head back against it, falling asleep almost immediately.
Ravax took the pear and ate it before falling asleep as well, really and truly asleep. She needed it to make up for the lost hours the night before.
OOC: Time-skip. (We're having a lot of those, aren't we? :P)
BIC: Burian woke to a dark sky that let down drizzle in a constant fall. Standing up and shaking himself, the otter went over to Ravax and shook her. "Wake up."
Ravax groaned and rolled over "Leave meh alone otter," She grumbled. A large drop that had collected on the end of a branch let go and landed on her face, "Hey! What was that fer?" She said sitting up and wiping her face "Oh et's rainin'," She added after looking up at the sky.
"Yeah, it's raining; that's why I woke you," Burian sniffed. He looked inside his pack as to what was left of his supplies: Two apples, a small loaf of rye bread, and a stale oat bake. "We're running low on food."
"Nah we're na't," Ravax said holding up her satchel. Then after a pause, debating with herself weather or not to share with him, she reached inside and took out two oat scones.
"Y'didn't say anything before," said Burian, looking at the other suspiciously.
"Ye ne'r asked," Ravax said simply. She had learned not to give away free information. Even if the price was only to ask.
Burian grunted, but thanked the ferret for the scone. He drank some water from his canteen and looked up at the unforgiving sky. "We either keep moving and hope this clears up, or we try to find a drier place here to wait it out. I'm looking more for moving forward."
"'at easy fer yew ta say. Yer an' otter. Yew like water," She grumbled but really she did not see a point in finding a dry place. The best choice was to keep going. She got to her feet and started off again eating her scone as they walked. "w'at's at t'is South stream any ways?" Ravax said with her mouth full.
"Well. . . I'm not sure. I'm hoping that I'll find something, but I have no idea if what I'm going off of has any significance toward it." Burian was not sure if he should say anything much more than that; it wasn't as if it was much of the ferret's business anyway.
"Fine," She said finishing the scone and washing it down with the water from her canteen. they walked for a little while in silence till Ravax stopped. Her ears perked up searching the woodlands for something, Her body tense and alert. She stood there fore a minute but did not hear anything.
Burian noticed that Ravax had stopped, and he turned to look at her curiously. "Hey; you fall asleep?"
She looked around perring threw the trees, "Ah thought ah 'eard some thin'" she said but then shook her head and kept going. "Must a been mistaken," She said blowing a drop of water from her nose.
Burian looked around cautiously. "Could have been a bird, or just the rain playing with the leaves," he said out loud, though he knew the possibility of it being something else.
"Right," Ravax said and continued walking. The rain began to come down thicker and harder and soon they where walking in a downpour. "'ahy 'ope yer 'appy otter," Ravax said i'll temperedly.
"And why should I be happy?" called back Burian over the deluge, equally sour in his voice. "This isn't like swimming at all! And why does it seem like you're blaming me, huh? We'd be equally miserable if we stayed where we were."
"Right," Ravax said sarcastically flicking water from her ear and rubbing water from her eyes. As she walked her paws slipped on the wet leaves and she let out a shriek. She fell on her back and went sliding down the hill
"Oi!" Burian half slid, half ran after the ferret, who was nearly flying down the hill. He caught Ravax by the tail and slowed her fall substantially.
She let out another shriek as Burian grabed her tail and they came to a stop at the bottom of the hill. "Let go of meh ye srcrimitpaws," She yelled jumping up but slipping again. "Hell gates! What are yew staring at mangychops!" She snapped crossly. She was soaked threw muddied and in miserable temper. She got to her feet and stormed on ahead not looking back her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Bur allowed the ferret to fume for a while before speaking up again. "Y'know, you might have gone headlong and cracked your skull against that tree at the bottom of the hill if I hadn't grabbed you."
His statement did not help her mood any and in response Ravax just snarled at him. She was muddy and wet and cold to the bone and she need someone to blame for her misery. If she was with anyone else she would have just taken out her discomfort on them, why in gates was she travailing with this Goodall otter anyway? Cuz he had her dagger and she wanted it back. Why hadn't she stolen it back by now? Because he said she would get fish when they reached the stream. But how did she know he would keep his word? He could just throw her in the river instead, say "here's yer fish, have fun". That's what a vermin would do, but he wasn't a vermin. He was one of those so called "goodbeasts" what was so good about them anyways. They never trusted you and would kill you or give you a good beating before you really could say anything, and once you did get your part in they didn't believe you. He wasn't like that though. Not really.
Burian bent his head against a wind that picked up, and bumped it against something. Looking to see what the offending object was, he was surprised to see a pear dangling from a branch right at his nose. "Hey, ferret: Look."
"What now," she snapped, not looking back and only slowing her pace a little.
Burian rolled his eyes as he picked several pears and stuffed them into his pack. "Nothing; I'll catch up in a bit."
"Right, suit yerself," She said grumpy. She did not want to stoup to his bidding even if it clouded her better judgement. She was not about to let him control her.
(OOC: XP sorry for the meh posts)
OOC: It's alright; mine aren't any better. :P
BIC: After picking about a dozen fruit, the otter hurried up to catch up with Ravax. Bur considered mentioning his find to the ferret now, but decided to wait until he had more of a reason to do so; neither of the beasts' moods were anything to be wondered at, the ferret's more so.
(Time jump)
The rain had thinned and was now but this did not improve Ravaxes mood. Her cloths and fur where drenched and muddied clinging to her body. her boots where filled with water and squelched with every step and there was a small breeze that chilled her to the bone every time it brushed her neck. To make things worse, she was hungry again. She stopped and shook her fur out. Water went flying and her fur settled in a mess of damp fluff. She Hurriedly flattened it out. And started to ring out her tunic. "Ah don't see w'at fish'es see en this," She hissed.
"Different beasts," Burian said simply, rubbing his fur to get the rain off. Burian unbuckled his chestplate and let a bucketload of water pour out from the inside. He considered trying to let it dry, but put it back on after knowing how useless that would be. "Hungry?" he asked, digging into his pack.
"Right," She said and leaned up against a tree while she took out some cheese from her bag, it had gotten a little damp on the inside and one of the few things that had not been affected was the cheese, and a slightly damp roll. She did not bother to offer the otter any. They where going to part ways soon and she did not want to run out of food.
Trying not to look at the cheese, Burian tossed Ravax a pear. "Have this; I found a bunch a while back." He bit into his own pear, enjoying the juiciness, but he was a little tired of dampness at the moment.
Ravax was a little surprised. She did not understand why he was still sharing with her. He knew she had food. Why did he wast his food on her? She took the pear though and ate it before he changed his mind. Soon all that was left was the core which she promptly threw aside. She then took off one of her boots and dumped the water from the sole.
Burian watched with an eyebrow raised at the amount of water that came pouring out of the ferret's boot. ". . . And that is why I go bare-pawed."
Ravax looked at the otter with a look of some one who had learned from experience "Right, an' let some beast slit yer ankles en a fight, or step on a sharp rock at ah vital moment, Nat meh. Little thin's like that kin mean like er death w'ere ah come from," She said putting the boot back on.
Just then she heard a loud crack. She looked up in time to see a beast leap at Burs back, It was a fox. "Watch out!" She cried before her keen ears picked up another sound behind her. The next few moment where a blur. she felt him grab her arm and she kicked him in the stomach there was a struggle but she ended up knocking him to the ground, She drew her arm back to punch him in the face but froze when she saw who it was. "Call!"
"Ravax, what ar-" He was promptly interrupted when her fist collided with his muzzle. 'Waht whaz dat fur?" He said threw his paw and a bloody nose.
"That was for leaving me behind!" Ravax said curtly as she got up calmly and brushed herself off.
((OOC: Feal free to dispose of yours in whatever way you wish.))
When Ravax cried out, Burian spun around quickly, his elbow connecting solidly with the fox's breadbasket. The winded beast doubled over, allowing Bur to recover from his surprise and slam the fox at the bases of the sides of his neck with both paws. His opponent crumpled to the ground in an unconscious heap.
"Ferret. . ." he growled, looking around cautiously and spying the other called 'Call'. "Something you're gonna tell me?"
"Yer with him?!" The weasel said (Call was a weasel).
"Shut up or ah'll give ye another, reminder," She said clenching her fist.
"Ferret. . . Something you're gonna tell me?" Ravax took her dagger from her boot and rested the tip on the weasels chest. "Ahd stay still ef ah wer yew," She said and continued to take his two daggers and toss them on the ground by Bur's feet.
"Ah, ye kin tie 'im up, kock 'im out, throw 'im en a ditch... run 'im threw... What e'er ya usually do wit' scum," She said
"Ah aught ta sicked yeh!" Call said angrily.
"Shhhh..." She said sliding her dagger to his neck "What did ah tell yeh about be'en quiet," She whispered. Then she proceeded to explain to the Otter "This 'un 'ere thought et would be a good idea ta take everythin' ah 'ad an' leave meh en a ditch. That was two years ago. N'er saw 'im again till taday an' n'er wanted ta,"
"Sounds like it should be your decision, ferret," said Burian in a low voice. "This other one isn't going anywhere soon." He picked up the two daggers and stuck them in his belt.
"Ye hear that Call? Ah get ta chose was appens ta ye," She said she waited a moment to let it sink in before giving him a sound rap to the head with the hilt of the dagger. He was out cold. "Ye kin tie 'em up so they kint follow us," She said getting to her feet.
Burian nodded, tying up the two senseless vermin efficiently. When he was done, the otter rubbed his paws on his tunic. "You owe me a rope, ferret."
"ef ye think ahm gonna give ye this, yer dead wrong, an we don't joke about that sort of thing," She said putting a paw on the rope she had slung over her shoulder and tied to a pouch filled with rocks. She used it as a weapon almost like a gullwacker but with rocks instead of a knot.
"Fine for now." Burian was not in the mood to feel if the weapon felt as bad as it looked like it did. "Think these two'll be good for a while?" he asked, nudging the fox with his footpaw.
"Ef ye know 'ow ta tie a knot they will," She said Taking her paw off her weapon and relaxing. Her mood was improving, in fact she felt like she had accomplished something. "'Ey shudn't bother us for a while... an then they might be a problem... Let's worry 'bout that latter,"
"Yes; later. For now, let's see how much closer we can get to the South Stream before nightfall." Burian readjusted his pack and started walking again. "Oh, and I still prefer going without boots."
((Time jump))
It was now getting dark again and the rain had stopped long ago and the sun had come out drying there fur and cloths. Ravax was still covered in mud but now it was just dry mud, her boots where now stiff from getting so wet and the ground was still quite damp. She looked around and took stock of where they where. After gauging how much longer they had till complete darkness she said "Wait 'ere," before she started up a tree. From the top she could see in the distance a silver snake making its way across the landscape turning gold in the light of the setting sun. They where almost there. She climbed back down and juping the last bit to the ground she said "Et's ah few hours walk from 'ere. Ah vote fer tavilin' en tha dark. put as much distance tween us and 'em back there,"
Burian waved slightly with his paw. "Good; we'll get there and do some searching in the morning." He looked behind them at the land they had crossed over; such a long ways, but at the same time, so short. "Aye, let's go."
They had reached the South stream without anymore trouble and had set up camp before falling asleep. Ravax herself had slept well. She sat up and breathed in the morning air and jumped to her feet refreshed. She went over to where Bur was still sleeping and gave him a soft kick to wake him up. "Hey, ahm 'ungry an' ya promised me some fish, wake up,"
Burian opened one eye. "Leave me 'lone, f'ret." He closed his eye again, but only for a little while. His brows knit together, and he opened his eyes and stretched. "Gaahhhh, why can't I go back to sleep once I wake up?" He scratched his sides. "'Old on. . . lemme wake up a bi' b'fore I go into the drink."
Ravax broke into sly a grin and taking here canteen she dumped some of its continence on Bur's head "There! now yer awake!" She said running to the waters edge. She took her dagger from where she kept it sheathed in her boot and stuck it between her teeth while she removed her boots. She also took her satchel and canteen and hid all her stuff up in a tree.
Burian spat water from his mouth and wiped it from his eyes. "Bloody ferret, why'd you do that?" he yelled, then went to a grumbling. "Ah, well at least I'm fully awake." The otter sighed as he watched Ravax go to the water and prepare to get in. He took off his armor and set his weapons aside, then went to the water as well.
Ravax waded into the water, her dagger in paw, her eyes searching for fish under the surface.
OOC: Surcharging? :D Lol.
BIC: Burian watched the ferret wade in, and waited with a bit of a smile on his face to see what would happen.
There was a flash of silver under the surface and Ravax dove and stabbed. Sh submerged for a moment but cam up empty pawed. She blew spray from her nose and shook her fur down "Ack, what ah need es a spear,"
"Stand aside, ferret, and let a real fisherbeast have a go." Burian grinned and dove into the stream. It wasn't very deep, but it was deep enough for the otter to swim comfortably. . . and see where he knew fish would be lurking.
He swam down to where he could see a shelf of dirt and sediment, peering over the edge and seeing several scaly backs of trout. Swiftly, he struck with both paws and mouth, and felt the fish wriggle in his grasp as he swam to the surface. "That's how it's done, ferret!"
Ravax ducked under and sprayed a jet of water in Burs direction when she resurfaced to show her annoyance.
Burian blocked the offending stream with one paw, and stuck the fish in his mouth to swam ashore. "Want to press your luck, or shall I get you one as well?" he asked.
In response Ravax frowned and dove beneath the surface. It took her two more tries but she finally came up with a fish. She came ashore her cloths and fur dripping. She handed Bur the fish and said "'Ere, now lets see what ye kin do wit' 'em,"
"Patience; I'll cook 'em."
After he cleaned the fish, then the otter lit a fire and got it to a good heat before starting any cooking. Burian set up some branches on which the fish could cook, and put some seasonings on the fish. These were just some simple dried herbs he had in his pack kept in a watertight package.
It took a while for the fish to fully cook and the flesh to become flaky before it was ready. "You can have yours, now."
Ravax licked her fangs and grabbed the fish, eating it greedily with her dagger and paws. Disregarding manners she stuffed her face, and talked with her mouth full. "Est gud, real gud!"
Burian was hardly any more polite, taking the fish and biting into it. He pulled the meat away from the bones, and bits of the flesh dropped out of his mouth as he spoke. "Shudden't talk wiv y'r mouf f'll."
"Ah lik ye, Yeh ehat lik ah verm'n," She paused to spit out a bone then continued "An cook lik an otter!"
"No, you eat like an otter," grinned Burian. "You should see how I eat when the fish is raw."
Now it was Ravax'es turn to be disgusted, "Ug! ye eat et raw?!" She said making a face.
"Of course!" Burian was surprised. "What, you've never tried it, mate? It's quite interesting, though I couldn't recommend some fish."
"Ugh, an ye think eatin' eggs es bad," She said while licking the food off her fingers.
Burian considered this, and shrugged. "Aye, I suppose there's just a point where each beast must choose some o' these things for himself." He tossed the remains of his fish into the fire, watching it smolder and burn slowly away.
Ravax threw her scraps in as well and then just stared at Bur in thought. Normally she would have demanded her dagger and been on her way. However with Cal on the loss it might be better to stick with the otter for just a bit longer. She had two options now, she knew of and otter Holt not to far from here but she knew she would not be welcome there. However if she mislead the otter he would be likely to find out and then she would not be safe anywhere. Finaly she spoke "Ah, know of a place, an 'Olt not far from 'ere,"
The otter was thinking about how he had left the creatures who had raised him, and wondered if he had done the right thing. But that was too long ago, and. . . "Ah, know of a place, an 'Olt not far from 'ere". Burian was surprised. "You do? Where is it, how far?"
"Et's down stream 'bout 'alf a days travail," She said scratching her nose as if it was little concern of hers. She then got to her feet and climbed back up the tree to retrieve her things.
Burian excitedly buckled his armor back on and strap his belt around his waist. Maybe this holt was where he had come from, his home! He did not think of the possibility that the holt might be an empty one, long ago forgotten. It was better luck finding anything than he had had for seasons.
Ravax scurried down the tree, jumping the last bit of the way and putting her things back on she started down the river.
***
Meanwhile Call and the fox who was called Slip had revived hours ago with splitting headaches and sore muscles. They had only just managed to free themselves from the ropes and where now tramping threw the forest.
"That ferret, ah'll 'ave a thin or two ta say tah 'er wen we catch up," Call said threw gritted teeth.
"We should report ta Jarrall,"Slip said
" Fine," Call growled, "But ah give tha report ta i'm not yew,"
Bur was excited, far more so than he had been is so many seasons. "Tell me when we near the holt," he said to Ravax. He thought of what it might look like as he jumped from a small boulder to another large rock.
Ravax watched the otter, curiosity getting the better of her. He was more excited than she had ever seen him... And because of what? A place like home, those of his own kind? She had never felt that way about anyone or anyplace and now there was an empty place in her chest where she thought it aught to be.
She had never had a family. Her parents had sold her to an rat before she could even remember. He was a disagreeable scrooge. He was always threatening her with this belt that he had on the wall, though he never carried threw. She had always been so scared that she would do what ever he asked to avoid it. Then one night the belt actually got used, but it was the rat on the receiving end. Ravax ran away that night, afraid of what he would do to her if she was caught. She never returned there and didn't care to.
No she did not have a place where she belonged and she knew it, no vermin really did. She had never really cared before. At least that is what she pretended. She had never rally had the chance to really think about it. Not that it mattered. No best would take her for who she was. The vermin only cared about themselves... and the goodbeasts, they only cared about their own kind.
She knew that she would not be welcome there and that when they reached to place they would have to part ways.
When he landed, Burian heard the sound of metal clanking against the rock. He looked down and saw the dagger he had confiscated from Ravax days before. He picked it up and looked at it thoughtfully before glancing at the walking ferret. "Hey, ferret: I believe this belongs to you."
Ravax looked at him with a look that would best be described as a mix of surprise and puzzlement. She didn't quite understand his honesty but she took it readily enough. "Thank you," She said and he could tell she meant it.
OOC: Not sure if I should have him mention his name now or after they meet back up. :P
OOC: Now is good because it will come in handy later.
OOC: 'Kay.
BIC: Burian took a breath and let it out before speaking again. "My name is Burian. I've been traveling around for seasons in an attempt to find my place of origin." He smiled thinly. "At least you won't have to call me 'otter' anymore."
She looked at him in shock and confusin, all that she could manage to say was "Ravax, ahm Ravax,". He actualy trusted her and he had shown this now more than once. No one had ever really trusted her, especially an otter. Why this one and why now? She snapped her self out of it and then continued on ahead "we should get goin'," She said briskly.
They didn't talk much for the rest of the journey. She finally stopped and turned to Burian "Ah aint goin' no further. The 'olt's up the stream just ah bit further on,"
OOC: I'll play the Skipper and stuff for you if you want.
OOC: Sure, that sounds good.
BIC: Burian nodded and walked a little further before stopping and saying back over his shoulder. "Thank you, Ravax." With that he hurried off to disappear behind the curve in the stream. It was not long before he heard voices, and he ducked behind a rock before peering out over it.
There were otters there, in the calm deep waters of a partially dammed-up area of the stream. They were also on the bank, but mostly around a cave mouth that opened to the outside world.
Ravax watched after him till he diapered threw the trees, He was the strangest otter she had ever met. Not that she had met many and the few that she had had tried to kill her. She hadn't thought to answer him till he was already gone and where he was going she could not follow. She turned and started back north not sure where she was headed.
***
Nearest to Burian was a group of otters playing ball. With a shout the ball went flying off course and landed in the underbrush near where Burian hid.
"I'll get it!" Said an pretty otter maid who looked like she was in her late teens. She ran around the rock and stopped short. "Oh , sorry." She said when she saw Burian.
It had been a long time since Burian had seen another otter, and he stared at the other for a little bit before shaking himself out of it. "Um. . . Hello." He picked up the ball that had stopped at his footpaws. "This yours?"
"Yup thanks," she said "Your not from around here are you?"
"Marissa! Who are you talking to?" On of the players called over, a tall strong male otter who looked a little older than Marissa did, strode over. Upon seeing Bur he halted "Who are you?" he asked critically, "Carrel Be plight!" Marissa said shoving him "Excuse my brother, he's a nit wit," By now others where starting to gather wanting to see what this was about.
"No, I'm. . .," Bur began, but was interrupted by another otter.
He disregarded the comment Marissa made about her brother, instead answering the other's question as the rest of the otters began to crowd around. ". . . My name is Burian; I've been trying to find a holt on the South Stream for a while." He looked around at the faces of the otters around him. So many. . . in one place! he thought. "Can you take me to your leaders or elders?"
"Sure, follow me," Marisa said, She turned and lead him across the clearing to the cave Carrel following behind. Many of the otter stared at Bur with friendly curiosity. Inside the cave looked like any other cave until you got farther in. Then it started to look like a home. There where touches lining the walls illuminating the entire corridor which twisted and turned. The walls of the cave where painted with stories, and every now and then there would be a tapestry. There where various tunnels and rooms branching off of the main corridor in all directions and some times there where even little nooks where you could sit or play a game. And all this time there where otter, more and more otter, In the nooks, walking in the corridors, working or playing, and they all greeted Burian with a friendly smile.
Finally they came to the end of the corridor which op pend up into a large main room there was a large round table in the middle and on the far wall was a large fireplace with a roaring fire in it. Loitering around the table talking as if they had just finished a meeting, where a bunch of older looking otters numbering around 12.
"Father! We have a visitor," Marissa said stooping in the entry way. An otter who had been talking to an elderly otter, came over and shook Bur's paw warmly. "Welcome, to Holt Riverdale of the south stream tribe, I'm skipper Rurrock and my home is your home," He looked younger than any of the others in the room but he was also by far the the tallest of the company.
"I-. . ." Burian began, but was left speechless. What if they were who -or what- he had been looking for this entire time? "My name is Burian, Skipper Rurrock. I'm. . . I'm not sure. . ." The otter decided to tell a bit of his story instead of stammering like a fool. "I travelled from up north, originally from the River Moss. I've been looking for my place of origin for a long time."
"Welcome, Burian, I wish you luck an good fortune in your search and any assistance we can give will be given gladly, but in the meantime you are free to say here as long as you wish." He said cheerily "Come Have you had noon meal yet?" He asked leading Burian out of the room and back into the corridor.
"Thank you sir," Burian said eagerly. "No, I have not eaten; what d'you have?"
"Splendid, You can join us for midday meal. Marisa, go and tell your mother we have a guest," Marisa nodded and ran off to tell her mother to set another place at the table, While Rurrock lead him threw the tunnels and corridors at a slower pace. This part of the tunnel system had more wall painting and tapestries and the side alcoves where replaced by frequent doorways covered by curtains many of which had baskets pots or lanterns out side of them. Rurrock stopped by a red curtain and pushed it aside and waved Burian in. "My home is your home," He said letting the curtain fall behind them.
The room was comfortable and well lit with candles and lanterns. there was a fire place in the left wall with a chimney which seemed to go threw the ceiling of the cave and to the surface. There was a table in the middle of the room with five place settings. there was a stack of flat bread and and a bowl of spicy water shrimp sauce for dipping to start off.
A tall, though not as tall as Rurrock or Burian, female otter came out of a back room, She wore and apron and had a dish cloth in one paw as if she had just come from cooking.
"Tallia, I would like you to meet, Burian," Rurrcok said.
"Nice t'meet you, help your self to what's set while you wait," She said brushing her paws off and shoving the dishcloth in her apron pocket before shaking Burians paw. Rurrock sat down in the chair at the head of the table and indicated that Brian could sit in the one next to him. Carrel came and sat in a chair across from Burian and listened in uninterested silence to the grownups talk while his sister helped in the kitchen.
"So This search or yours? Do you have any idea of what you are looking for?"
Burian took a bite of the flatbread with some of the sauce on it, trying to breath out the heat as he chewed. "Hoo, that's good stuff."
He swallowed. "I have very little to go on, sir. I was adopted by some voles up north, but I left seasons ago. Not long after that I had come across a vermin wearing this:" He held up the bracelet. "Strangely enough, I have the same design tattooed on my rudder. When I asked where he got it, all he said was that it was from the south, down here."
Rurrock took the bracelet and looked it over "This definitely belonged to someone of this Holt," he said pulling a medallion from under his tunic he held the mettle up to the bracelet. The symbols on them where almost identical the only difference being a squiggly line on Rurrock's where there where three dots on Burian's. "These here show the house," He said pointing at the dotes. "I don't recognize the house right away but I am sure old Torev will know who this belonged to,"
The otter continued eating as Rurrock talked, taking a swig of water to wash down the food. "And where is this old Torev?" Burian asked energetically. "Don't mean to be rude, but. . ."
"No worries, I under stand," He said passing the bracelet back to Bur. "Family is very important to any otter. Torev is one of the oldest otter of Holt Riverdale, You met him earlier, if but briefly, in the great hall. We can go an see him after we eat," He said as Marissa and Tallia came out with plates of fish and rolls and mugs of spiced beer. Carrel tried to steel on of the rolls from his sisters tray and got slapped with sauce spoon. "Keep your grubby paws off the food till yer served," She scolded while Carrel licked the sauce off his paw. Once the table was set and everyone sat down Rurrock said grace.
We thank the seasons for this meal
That we all partake of here
For good food and friends we say
Thank you for this blessed day.
Burian only nibbled a bit on the food, the nagging urge to meet Torev making him impatient. However, this wasn't the time for impatience. Besides, he had never been in the presence of so many otters, so he tried to content himself by being as friendly as he could.
Rurrock Could see that Burian was impatient and after he had quickly eaten his food, he was quite curious himself, he stood and gestured for Burian to follow.
"Come Torev should be in the library at this time,"
***
Rurrock entered a large cavern lined with shelves carved out of solid rock. Through out the room there where rows of wooden shelves. At intervals there where tables and desks set up for study, each with a candle to assist the users. Most of them where empty but on the far side of the walkway was a circle of light from one of the candles and a young otter maid no older than 12 seasons writing in a book with an elderly otter standing just behind supervising her work. He looked over at them when they entered and after tapping the young maid on the shoulders and giving her some instructions he came over to them leaning on a cane.
"Torev, this is Burian, he is on a mission to find his origins, We believe you may be able to help. Burian, show him what you showed me," He said in a hushed voice.
***
Ravax had crossed the river and was heading south she had not stopped to eat until she was sure that she was far enough away from the Holt she did not want to run into any otters. Even then she did not stop walking but ate on the move, most of her stuff had dried out from her morning swim by now.
She stopped and flicked her ears up listening hard... She heard something. She tucked her half eaten role back into her satchel and got down into stealth mode. She approached the noise cautiously and peering from the underbrush she saw a large camp set up in the clearing with several makeshift tents and small fires. around the closest on where three vermin but she did not pay much attention to them. She was watching the large ten near the middle of the camp and the short weasel that had just exited it. He was decked out in a barbaric assortment of finery. A necklace of bones and crystals hung around his neck and over his shoulders was draped a cape of dark bird feathers and a baby sparrows scull clasped it at his neck. But this was not why she was looking at him, even under all of his face paint she still recognized his face, she would never forget his face.
Burian nodded and handed the bracelet to Torev. "I have the same tattoo on my rudder." He waited as patiently as he could as the old otter inspected it. ". . . Well?"
Torev looked the icon over and nodded knowingly.
"Yes... Yes I know this house. This was the house of Mortec, Harrana was thought to have been the last of that house He left over twenty seasons ago. it was just after the outbreak of the black fever. Harranas father was one of the ones who caught it. After his death young Harrana had nothing so he left to escape the pledge taking with him a young otter maid by the name of Margret and her baby sister silia. They never came back but it is said they headed north but that was more than twenty seasons ago, no telling where they are now." Torev said handing the bracelet back. "Kelece come here," he said calling to the young otter maid at the desk, then to Burian "If you are the the son of Harrana and Margret that would make Kelece here you cousin," he said resting a paw on her shoulder as she came to stand beside him. "Kelece this is Burian, your mothers sisters son,"
"Nice t'meet ye sir Burian," She said with a little curtsy.
Unlocked at RPer's request.
Burian smiled a bit. "So, I really do have family." His already deep brows furrowed further. "But if she's my cousin, wouldn't that make her mother Silia?"
OOC: Sorry for the short post. :P
"No, my mother is Anisa, She was the oldest," Kelece said, "When the Black fever hit I wasn't even born yet but my mother said that Aunt Margaret tried t'convince her t'go with her but mama already had family here who she needed t'take care of an' she couldn't leave 'em. If ya like I could introduce ya t'her,"
Burian was silent for a moment. "Yes . . . Yes, I'd like that." He figured he might find out something else if he could talk to a close relation. "Where is she?"
Kelece thought for moment and then said " I think she was going t'elp Uncle Tony fix the shrimp nets..."
"Tony is her uncle on her fathers side," Torev explained.
"They should be outside. Come, I'll take ye there, " Kelece said and then started for the door.
"Good luck, friend, I should get going," Rurrock said slapping Burian on the back "Kelece 'll take good care of you," Kelece lead him back through the corridors of the underground cavern and back into the day light. The playing children where gone now, replaced by some elderly otters shelling peas and talking to each other in muttered tones. By the river was a group of middle aged otters working at nets and singing some sort of river song. Kelece walked over to a tall dark otter wife, she had a light in her eyes and her voice was strong and clear and carried over all the others with a passion. All the while she was singing her fingers where flying working at the net hardly looking at what she was doing.
When the song was over She turned to Kelece and asked "What is is sweetie?"
"Ma, this is Burian, he's Margaret's son," Kelece said. Anisa looked at Burian and stood up a look of sad recognition in her eyes.
"Oh, you look just like her... is she, is she well?"
A slight look of pain crossed Burian's face. "I wish I could say, marm. I have no memory of her." After a moment, he added a quick explanation of how they figured he was her nephew.
"So . . . I came to see you. As far as I know you're the only family I have."