Verdict padded forward best she could, though her paws were heavy as stone. The sun was dropping lower and lower into the western sky, lengthening the shadows of the little group.
Currently, they were in the most northern reaches of Mossflower Wood, heading south, where the trees were still sparse and the wind still biting through their fur. Verdict breathed in sharply as she stepped on a stick and stumbled. The trees weren't sparse enough.
Honestly, from all the places she'd been, Verdict hadn't ever found a place she really liked. At least as much as she'd liked home. "Could we stop for the night?" She whinned, "I'm tired."
"Why not?" Topper chimed, popping up beside the badgermaid.
Well, he seemed cheery enough. As usual.
As a vole, he was dawrfed by Verdict's height, but he seemed to take no mind of that.
He pointed ahead.
"I ran in front of you lot to scout before, there's a nice little clearin' somewhere up here. Or there should be."
Malcolm, a roughish squirrel sporting dark brown fur and a green cap, along with a leather vest, was perched a few feet above the group on an overhanging tree branch. At the time the large badger made her pronouncement, he had been absentmindedly staring at Ciro, an attractive red squirrel in his group. Shaking his head slightly, as if to clear his mind, he whipped off his hat and wiped a line of sweat from his brow.
He called down to them in reply: "It's a little early in the day to stop just yet. We could still get a ways if we kept on. If you're really tired, you could make camp, and I could take a look at the path ahead, if that's alright."
On the inside, Malcolm was slightly perturbed that the badgermaid wanted to stop. She seemed jumpy and frightened - which seemed ridiculous to him, considering Verdict had two or three times his own height and perhaps double his strength. Besides, there was plenty to see and do in the forest. Malcolm likely wouldn't have turned down an offer to keep traveling throughout the night, if it was given.
As he awaited the badger's answer, he glanced at Ciro, hoping she would be game to spend the last moments of the evening scouting ahead. She had joined their group quite recently, not long after Malcolm had joined himself. She seemed talented in the use of many weapons, but the small bow she carried had caught his eye. Malcolm considered himself something of an expert with a bow, and the similarity in their weapon choice intrigued him. Well, not quite as much as Ciro intrigued him. Malcolm had done his fair share of mingling with squirrels of the female variety, and the main problem he had with them was their desire to settle down and start a family. Naturally, he had done his share of weaving lovely stories of growing old together, but he found it impossible to follow through. Staying home was simply a boring path to take. Ciro was different than the others, however. She had the same excitement in her eyes that he felt coursing through his veins, that same sense of energy. He hoped to take any chance he could to get to know her.
Azalea walked along with the little group, admiring the scenery around them. She liked the forest and its peaceful atmosphere. Hearing Verdict ask if they could stop, Azalea stood still.
"I don't mind stopping for the night," she said. "We could go up to the clearing and make camp there." She shrugged. "Scouting ahead wouldn't hurt, I guess, Malcolm."
Ciro had been bounding through the tree tops, keeping the group in view or at least in range. She preferred some time to herself through out the days though having the group around helped. It made for much safer travelling conditions to be sure! That and it was nice to have other beasts to get to know...when she felt like it.
The red squirrel maid had been close enough to hear all of the conversation about making camp for the night. She nodded to herself, her eyes glimmering with the dying rays of the sun. Though she would have been fine with continuing on, it wasn't a problem to stop.
Ciro bounded ahead a couple trees and ended up right next to Malcom. She winked roguishly at the male and nodded to the further off trees.
"Aye, scountin' a bit before dark sounds like a plan to me!"
Malcolm grinned. He wasn't particularly concerned with what the badger leader thought of the idea, and he wasn't about to stop and ask.
"Let's get to it then. We've probably got half an hour before dark. If we're lucky we'll run into some trouble, huh?"
He awaited her until she drew even to his branch, and then bounded away, hopping from tree to tree.
"Try to keep up!" He called back, chuckling to himself. He kept an eye on the path as he moved. It was well worn and marked by footprints of the past. Malcolm had keen eyes, and he could make out the markings of boots and paws in the muddy bits of the path. Other creatures had likely passed by recently. He made a mental note to mention this to the group. Perhaps it would be wise to post an extra creature on watch tonight. He had heard tell of nasty creatures that could be found in dense woods such as this.
He didn't bother looking back at Ciro - he had a feeling she was keeping up just fine. In fact, he had a sneaking suspicion that if he wasted time to look back she may pass by him.
"So who are you Ciro? What makes you, you?" He called back as he continued.
Ciro flung herself from branch to branch. There was nothing better than the ground whipping by far below and the wind blowing through her headfur. There was so much freedom in skipping from tree to tree. She had no concerns, nothing to bring her down! What a feeling!
The male asked her a question as she came abreast to him. She launched herself to a nearby spruce and then to a pine further along. As she went past him she flashed a smile.
"Well now, that's quite a question! Better suited for talking around the campfire than to tree skippin' doncha' think?" She winked and continued on her way. "Maybe tonight we can talk!"
She was moving at a fast pace and it took all her muscle to grip onto a trunk and slow down. Her eyes gleamed as she peered ahead.
"Smoke!" She nodded, knowing Malcom would end up nearby her. "Whatcha make o' that mate?" She sniffed. "Smells like a campfire to me."
Malcolm nodded. "I knew those footprints on the path looked new. That's a campfire alright. We need to be careful - we don't know if they're friendly."
The two squirrel stealthily crept through the branches above the fire, causing slight creaks and moans to sound from the tree. The sun was nearing its resting place, as darkness crept over the woods. The slight echo of voices could be heard more clearly now.
Malcolm dropped his voice to a whisper as they reached a dead sycamore tree, just meters away from the firelight. "We'll be fine, it'd be a missed opportunity not to check it out. If we get any closer we'll be able to see them, but they may be able to see us too, you ready? Anything goes wrong, go warn the others." With that, he drew his bow, and notched an arrow, a slight smile of excitement on his face.
OOC: Not sure what we're running into here. Does our RP leader have a plan to follow, or can we make it up as we go?
OOC-
Why don't we...wait for them?
OOC:
The quote from the original OOC post: "If someone comes up with a plot point, we just do it. "
... also I didn't notice anything in the OOC as to posting order so I figured I'd just continue my posting.
BIC:
Ciro nodded in response, doing her best to peer through the slanting shadows towards the fire up ahead. She would have drawn her bow as well but her skills were shoddy at beast. In a pinch her dirks would do just fine.
She crept closer, inch by inch, trying to stay in the cover of the foliage until she could view the scene below.
Her eyes widened as the group came into view. These were certainly not the kinds of beasts she wanted to be crossing paths with in the dark of the night! It appeared to be a rough band of vermin. She could clearly make out at least three of them.
"Is that a hedgehog?" She whispered to Malcom, noting a small beast roped to a stump not far off from the campfire. "We should head back to the group."
They needed to tell the others what was going on.
OOC: That was my understanding as well, which is nice, honestly, because otherwise we wouldn't be able to move along unless WonWill was around. He hasn't been on in a day or so, we would not have gotten anywhere.
I'm going to create sort of a minor character here, just for plot movement. For the record, anyone in this RP is free to take control of him, and is even free to kill him off.
BIC:
Malcolm's face fell. This was a sickening sight indeed. The young hedgehog had a rope tied around his neck and the other end was tied to a tree. He was tied in the cold, far from the fire, and appeared to be wearing little more than a tattered garment. Close by, two large river rats and a weasel sat around the fire. They had set up camp in a small sheltered clearing. Several logs had been moved to places around the fire to act as benches, and a worn cloth, propped up by a few dozen sticks seemed to provide a temporary lean - to shelter.
He had to admit, the creatures looked rough even for his taste. The river rat farthest from them, opposite of the fire, wore a black bandana on his head and proudly displayed a rusty iron stair rail thrust into his belt, as if it was a sword. He wore a sleeveless garment, revealing steely arm muscles and black tattoos. He had a long ugly snout, and his facial expression seemed to portray disgust. The other two beasts were on the closest side of the fire, with their backs turned to the two squirrels. Their shapes were large and bulky, so it could only be imagined that they were similar to the first vermin.
Malcolm turned away from the scene, and back towards Ciro, who was awaiting his response, her eyes conveying worry. He was worried too; if this group ran into his, he wasn't sure he trusted the rest of them would handle themselves well. The badger in particular, Verdict, seemed ill suited to do battle with such creatures. He ran a finger up and down the shaft of his arrow, pondering the situation.
"Yeah, they need to know, but think about what we're dealing with here. These creatures could have lit that fire to cook the little hedgehog. It may be better for us to act sooner rather than later. I know it's dangerous, but if that little one is in trouble, we have to act. Besides, what will the others do? You've seen how Verdict is. He's practically afraid of his own shadow. If you're willing, I can create a distraction, and you can nip the little one. I'll lead them on a merry chase to the North, and you can take him back South to the others where it's safe. What do you think?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next to the fire, the river rat Malcolm had observed slurped at a muddy looking bowl of porridge. A farmer they had encountered a few days ago had been kindly enough to provide them with it, free of charge. The farmer's pitchfork was leaning against the lean - to, also provided with little complaint. Creatures have difficulty complaining when they are dead, after all. This rat's name was Ruplug, or "Rup" as his acquaintances called him. (Not friends, of course. Ruplug didn't see much of a need for friends.)
He spat out a spoonful of the porridge in disgust.
"This is the 'healthiest thing I ever 'et in me mi'serble life, mates. I wants to know why we curse ourselves to 'et this mess, when we gots a per'fetly good 'Edgepig right o'er dere. Nice an tender 'e looks, if'n I do say so meself. Lots of meat on 'is bones, mark me words mates. More use 'n his cookin' has ever been."
OOC: Yup, it's all fine. Whole point of this was so that it could continue while I'm gone, since I'm not the most active person, per say.
BIC: At first, Verdict had been perfectly content to let the two squirrels run ahead and scout or whatever squirrels did, but she'd grown a little restless, "they've been gone a while," she hummed to the rest still left with the group, "maybe we should go see what's up?" For all she knew, they were both bleeding out now, because they fell onto some sharp rocks, or gotten into a fight and tried to kill each other, or what have you.
...maybe she should have more faith in her group, but still.
"Mm, maybe you're right," Azalea mused, adjusting the strap of the satchel that hung from her shoulder. "Let's go." The ottermaid started off in the direction the two squirrels had gone.
"I bet they're fine," said Topper, getting up.
"But I'll come with if it makes you feel better."
ooc: JK ill join now
Mars sat on a boulder and glared at the group as they got to their feet. "Forget that, I'm tired. They're the fools who ran off on their own, we should just wait for them to get back."
Ciro flicked her tail as she thought through different scenarios that could play out from their next set of moves. Either way it went the squirrel was firmly determined to aide in the escape of the poor captive. She drew forth one of her dirks, blacked by soot, and licked the blade lightly.
"Aye, sounds like a plan to me!" She whispered.
The female eyed the beasts around the fire. They seemed capable of handling themselves in a fight. Some vermin were all bark and no bite but these ones looked like they could bite!
"Jus' make sure you leave from that merry chase without gettin' tagged mate... I'd kinda like to keep you around." She gave him a small smile and a wink.
She readied herself and nodded. "Make your way down, I'll watch from here and go for the hedgehog when the time's right. If you get into trouble I'll come help you out."
She sucked in a breath, hoping their plan would work.
Malcolm grinned - and bounded away, circling towards the other side of the fire - "Oh, you can be sure of that Ciro, good luck!"
~~~~~~~~~~~
As minute cracks and groans announced that Malcolm was circling the campsite, the weasel, completely unaware of both Malcolm and Ciro, nodded her head in return to Ruplug's comment. She was a fierce looking vixen wielding a skinning knife. "Aye mate, I'll wager this liddle tickler wud make a quick job of it. " - She waved the knife around as she spoke to emphasize its capabilities. This was Widdle the Weasel, a well known killer in these parts. She had harassed and robbed the woodlanders in the area for over a year.
Widdle was a clever one, even for a weasel. She already had the perfect plan: "Here's the deal mate, we tell the 'edgepig to make us some real grub, and if'n he don't, we eats him!" she cackled. As the other two beast agreed to the plan, She rose to go fetch the hedgehog. But she had only taken a step when Ruplug drew his rusty stair rail. "'Old up dere mate. Somtin' ain' right," he spoke suspiciously, he turned in circles in the firelight, as though trying to spot a ghost or shadow. He was facing is Ciro's direction when he heard the cheerful voice of Malcolm from behind.
"Hey! There's no need for that! I'm a friend."
The three vermin wheeled around to see a squirrel, armed with a bow hung around his shoulder emerge from the shadows.
"What the...? You... Watsit.... Who the devil are you?" Snarled Ruplug, stuttering in surprise
"Me? You can't be serious! Why, I'm Mumo the traveling player of course!" Malcolm waved his hands around mysteriously, "The greatest magician who ever lived! I saw your fire, and it was cold. I was hoping I might perform to earn a place next to it."
Ruplug grinned, and gave a slight nod to his companions. "Ho, aye, we'll give ye a space to be sure, matey. But firs' ya gots to show us what ye can do. Show us a magic trick, eh?"
Widdle and the other rat looked excited, neither of them had ever seen a magic trick before.
Malcolm grinned and took a quick bow. "See that apple our good friend with the pretty knife is roasting over the fire? I'm gonna make it disappear!"
The three vermin turned to look at the apple, and it happened in an instant. Malcolm sprang into action, he shrugged the bow off his shoulder, drew and released, sending an arrow straight through the fire, into the apple and into the tree, pinning it there. As the three shocked villains turned to react, they realized he was gone. Malcolm quickly swung through the trees around the campsite, and reached the arrow. He yanked it from the tree, removed the apple and took a bite.
"Thanks for dinner, friends! I told you it would disappear!" He ducked a thrown spear from the other river rat, sprinted across the campsite, darted past Widdle and took off into the woods, heading North, away from Ciro and the others. He gave them a quick wave as he left. "Ta, friends!"
Ruplug roared with anger: "It's a trick! After him mates! 'urry! Forget eating the 'edgepig, that'n's for dinner tonight, mark me words! Make it slow, eh Widdle?"
Widdle grinned, and nodded to the other Rat. The two took off into the woods with surprising agility and speed - Malcolm would have a job escaping them.
Ruplug was not one for endurance, and he spat into the fire, and sat next to the hedgehog. He had no intention of tramping through the woods after a maniac squirrel, and he didn't have any intention of leaving his prisoner unguarded either.
Ciro cursed under her breath as the rat took his position near the captive. She would have to get by him somehow if she was going to rescue the poor hedgehog. She flitted down through the trees and sucked in a breath. She would have to take care of this rat...one way or another. Adopting the best imitation of a smile she could muster she strode onto the scene.
The rat spat towards the bound creature in disgust. "Waste o' time trin' to catch that un'... we should 'ave done what I suggested earlier 'n spitted ya over the fire..." He licked his lips. "Who's teh say I don' jus' take care 'o that meself right now eh?"
The hedgehog moaned pitifully as the rat looked him over.
"Been a good long while since I've had any real meat teh eat..." Ruplug came nearer, holding the stair railing out over the hedghog's head. "One quick blow n' then onto the fire yeh go!"
"Hold on just a tick there!"
Ruplug cursed and spun around, his eyes widening at the sight of the squirrel maid.
"Well well looks like the menu jus' got longer," He chuckled. "Haven't had squirrel in a while,"
"Had squirrel for what mate?" She grinned at him rather foolishly. "Had a squirrel for a friend? I could be your friend." She stepped forward.
"Oh aye, that ya could missy. I'm sure ya could be a right good friend couldn't ya?" The rat slowly drew his stair rail, this was too easy. Soon there would be two nice meals ready to serve!
Ciro came closer, scoping out the set up. If she could get one of her dirks between his ribs she could grab the hedgehog and make a dash for it! She had noticed him going for the stair rail, the time to act was now!
"Earth n' sky!!!!" Ciro roared out her war cry and drew her dirks. She moved with agility but the rat was a seasoned fighter. As she went for his ribs Ruplug moved to the side, taking the strike in the arm. He roared out in pain and brought the stair rail into play. Ciro could not respond fast enough. The squirrel maid was brained between the ears by the rail and toppled to the ground.
The rat threw the rail to the ground and growled as his arm bled freely. "Hell's teeth! I'll gut ya fer dat!" He spat again and snarled. "No, no let's make this slow." He chuckled evilly and went for a coil of rope.
It wasn't long before Ciro was bound paw and foot and tied alongside the hedgehog at the stake.
Malcolm puffed for air as he sped across the forest floor. Twigs snapped and vines broke as he crashed through the underbrush. He ducked through a thorn bush, and chanced a glance back.
To his amazement, Widdle and the rat were still on his trail. He drew his bow, and leveled it at the duo. They both stopped, panting for breath.
"Mayhap...huh...mayhap ye can get one of us... but yore as good as dead once you fire dat arrer, treehopper." snarled Widdle through gasps.
Malcolm laughed in reply: "No one has to die. I go my way, you go yours."
Widdle agreed - "Aye, dat's fair. I'm too tired to foller you anyway. Le's go back ey, matey?"
Malcolm let the bow drop slightly, and both the rat and Widdle launched themselves forward immediately. Malcolm released the arrow, and it caught the rat in the thigh. He ducked under a nasty swing from Widdle, and shouldered his bow. He drew a small hunting knife and took a defensive stance.
The rat had fallen to his knees, gasping in pain "He shot me! He shot me, get this bloody arrer outta me! I beg yah! WAhhhgg!!"
Both Widdle and Malcolm ignored the rat, circling one another like tigers ready to pounce. Widdle was a seasoned fighter, and she took small skipping motions, as though darting forward, and each time Malcolm adjusted to meet the possible attack. Finally, Widdle sidestepped to the left, and Malcolm took a quick swing, but realized with horror that Widdle had feigned the move, and instead darted right, crossing the distance between them and slicing the air with her knife. he felt the blade drag slightly across his right cheek, and he felt blood drip from the cut.
He shook his head, muttering to himself to focus. Widdle chuckled to herself. "You'll 'ave wounds worse than that'n soon, treehopper. I'll carve ye skin off and feed it to da crows, I will." Malcolm opened his mouth to reply when a cry from the distance caused both adversaries to pause and turn their heads. "Earth n' skyyyy-" the voice was unmistakable. Realization dawned on Malcolm, as he glanced around the hollow they had been fighting in. The rat on the ground had snapped the shaft, and removed it, cursing as he did. He used his weapon as a crutch, pushing himself to his feet. Weedle was peering at him curiously, but there was no third creature. Where was Ruplug?
Malcolm locked eyes with Widdle for a moment. She glared at him, and spat in the dirt. "No treehopper. Ye stay 'ere an finish this." The squirrel ignored the creature, sheathing his weapon and jumping to grab hold of an overhanging branch. He swung onto the top and began to make his way back, hopping from tree to tree. As he left the yells of Widdle pursued him:
"Cowarrrrdddd! Cowaaaaarrrrddd!"
But Malcolm knew he had made a grave mistake. The three creatures had not followed them. The toughest of them all had stayed behind, and he had left Ciro to deal with him alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ruplug cursed. He was holding a handful of leaves to the deep cut in his arm, but trails of blood were leaking through. He used one of the insolent squirrel's blades to cut a piece off of the lean-to. He cursed again, and wrapped it around the wound, containing the bleeding, and leaving the a few of the leaves as insulation.
"Always 'ated your type. Nasty pieces of work, squirrels. Taste jus' fine though." He turned back, and approached the squirrel, dragging the stair rail behind him. It clinked and bounced off of the rocks and roots as he came. He circled Ciro, still dragging the rusty weapon. "Thought ya' pulled a fast one on ol' Ruplug, did ye? I'll make ye regret ever bein' born for this cut, squirrel. See, normally I guts travelers afore I cook 'em. But you? I'll roast you alive squi... What is yore name anyhow?"
Ciro woke in a haze of pain. Her head throbbed unmercifully and her eyes had trouble focusing. She could feel dried blood in her fur and as she licked her dry lips she could taste blood. Her paws were bound tightly, adding to her discomfort. Overall it was a terrible predicament. The squirrel racked her brain, unable to remember much of what happened before she ended up where she was now.
Ruplug's question as to her name filtered through her mind. At the moment she was in so much pain she could hardly recall her own name. She did know enough to figure out that the rat was the one that had done this to her. The squirrel maid spat at Ruplug's footpaws.
She glared at her captive from hooded eyes.
"Gah, don't really matter whot yer name is does it treejumper?. You'll be screamin' for mercy in a few minutes anyway." He turned to work on setting up a spit over the fire.
"Oh, yah shouldn't gone n' done dat now..." The hedgehog moaned from nearby. "Ruplug don't take no defiance from his prisoners..."
Ciro turned her head painfully to look at the other captive. The hog was covered with cuts and scars. It was obvious he had been poorly treated by the vermin group.
"Jus' hold on mate..." She muttered between clenched teeth. "I'll think of something to get us outta here..."
Azalea ignored Mars and continued walking along at a quick pace, twigs occasionally snapping underpaw. She was sure that Ciro and Malcolm could take care of themselves, but she went after them mostly because she was bored. After walking for a few minutes, she saw firelight up ahead. Unsure of who might be there, she crouched behind some bushes. She peered above them but kept her head low. To her horror she saw a rat standing by the fire, with Ciro and a hedgehog lying on the ground, both of them tied up. She looked around frantically, trying to spot Malcolm.
She couldn't see him, though.
What happened to Malcolm? Where is he? she thought. What if the rat killed him?!
She knew she had to do something, and quick. She hesitated, unsure if she should run back to the group and tell them what had happened. Or would that take too long? Should she take matters into her own paws?
OOC: I was awaiting the move of someone else, but seeing the lack of one:
BIC:
Azalea the otter heard snaps from the tree above, and a dark figure dropped down next to her. Before she could react, the figure put one finger to his lips.
"Relax, it's just me, Malcolm. We need to be careful. That rat must be quick with that rail if he managed to overpower Ciro. There's two more of them, another river rat and a weasel. I led them in circles out in the woods, but they were smart. If the two of us tried something, we could handle that one, but if his friends came back in the middle of the fight, we could all be in trouble. Where are the others?"
Azalea was relieved to see that Malcolm was all right. "The others are back where we stopped," she said, gesturing over her shoulder with her paw. "I came on ahead, though some of the others might be coming, as well." The ottermaid glanced back at the rat and Ciro, looking concerned. She raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Have you got a plan?"
There was a rustling behind them, and Mars stumbled out of the bushes. She tripped over a root and landed in the dust. "Hell's teeth," she picked herself up, annoyed, "there you are, Mal, we're all lookin' for ya. Gah, now where's Ciro?"
After Mars came Topper, looking clueless as to what was going on.
"Don't you just run away on us like that," he muttered, tapping his footpaw on the ground.
Malcolm chuckled nervously at Mars, who seemed to be as at home in the forest as a snowball might have been in the desert.
"Don't hurt yourself - we need your paws for cooking. Now listen up, pals. I do have a plan, but with those two troublemakers out there, things are bound to get complicated. He doesn't know about you lot yet, just me. So I'll draw his attention on the west side of the campsite. He will focus on me, and that'll leave you three in the clear to sneak up behind him from the east side."
Seeing some confused looks, he gestured towards the right side of the campsite. "That's East, for any who may be wondering." - his eyes darted towards Mars momentarily, but quickly returned to the center of the small huddle.
"Time is short, the other two will be coming from the North any second now, that's why we've got to come from the East and West - so they won't come from behind. No time for questions, and don't be timid - that one is made of sterner stuff than most. If those other two chaps arrive while we're still working, there won't be anything left to do but give 'em hell. Good luck mates." He darted off to the left (and West) side of the camp.
Once he arrived, he immediately broke cover, drawing his bow. "Hey there, ratface! Untie them, now!"
Ruplug, who had been previously occupied with attaching the stubborn Ciro to the spit (his bruised face gave a testament to the struggle she had put up), grinned in something of a horrifying fashion. His bulging muscles, bandana and tattoos made even Malcolm nervous. He lifted Ciro, spit and all, held her between the aggravating squirrel and himself.
"Yew again? Yew must have sum sorta death wish! Back off, or this treehugger gets it!"
Azalea nodded her consent. "Alright." She unsheathed her dagger and took off in an easterly direction. She was nervous, but they had to rescue Ciro and the hedgehog. She continued on until she spotted a clump of bushes, behind which she crouched. As she waited for the others to come join her, she gripped her dagger's handle and took a deep breath.
Ciro kicked back at Ruplug catching him unawares.He fell down and Malcom was on him in a flash. Azalea whispered "Mars, when we sneak out put your sleeve over his mouth so we don't alert anyone who might be around. I'll cut him free." Then they snuck out of cover towards the hedgehog. They succeeded in cutting him free but as they were going back Mars stepped on a dry twig.
Hey,
@Triss8... You gotta sign up for these in the OOC board. The OOC thread for this RP is here. (http://www.redwallabbey.com/forum/index.php?topic=9992.0)
Also, you can't control other players' characters like that, it's PowerPlaying. If you get accepted in the thread linked above, you need to make your own character and only control them unless given permission.
I am so so so so so sorry. I had no idea. Thank you for the heads up!
All good. ยบ-)
Topper drew his father's old dagger and motioned to Azalea with his paw as he crept slowly towards Ruplug.
Instead of making a move, the vole shouted out, "Hey, Vermin!"
Bow stretched taunt, resting slightly against his cheek, Malcolm knew they had the upper hand. He could see his mates sneaking stealthily towards the rat. He hoped Topper and Azalea had a good swing: one needed only to look at Ruplug to know that it would take a considerable hit to knock him out. And it had to be a knockout. If the rat stayed awake after the sneak attack, he would likely finish Ciro off then and there.
Without warning, the vole called out to the vermin. Malcolm, although normally quite proper and civilized, let out a curse. Hadn't the vole listened to the plan? They were meant to clobber the vermin over the back of the head, not call out to him! It was to Malcolm's great horror to behold how Ruplug responded.
The second Ruplug heard Topper's call, he knew what was happening. The squirrel had merely been toying with him, catching his attention so the unknown creature could sneak up on him. Luckily for Ruplug, he was just as cunning as he was strong, and he sprung into action. The scene became utter chaos in an instant.
Ruplug immediately swung Ciro over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and slid the spit over one shoulder as though it was a quiver. This left Ciro tied upside down on his back, as though she were a living backpack. Ruplug turned his back (and Ciro) to Malcolm, knowing he wouldn't dare let fly for fear of hitting her, and charged the two woodlanders, waving his stair rail in the air like a club!
Nearly in the same instant, Widdle and the other river rat burst from the trees! Widdle was supporting the rat, who was definitely feeling the arrow wound Malcolm had given him. The rat had turned a pale green, but he had a dangerous look in his eyes. He had dropped his weapon in the pursuit, but he glanced around, and found the pitchfork; still leaning against the lean to. Widdle had her carving knife out again and a nasty grin on her face.
"'Ells teeth! Look at what we has 'ere mate!" Widdle sniggered
The rat spat to the side. "Aye, I owe this'n. Le's kill him."
The pair darted forward, and Malcolm let fly - hitting the rat in the heart, even as he ran. The rat twisted with the impact, and stumbled into a fall. He lay very still. Malcolm drew his hunting knife and prepared to engage Widdle, giving one last fleeting glance to Topper, Azalea and Ruplug, who were sure to be in an epic contest soon.
OOC-
Which two Woodlanders? Topper and Azalea, right?
Quote from: Ashleg on June 22, 2017, 05:56:57 AM
OOC-
Which two Woodlanders? Topper and Azalea, right?
OOC: Correct
Topper yelped and dove out of the way, grimacing as he tumbled through the grass.
He grabbed his dagger and got back to his paws, where he stood and flung it hilt-first at Ruplug's head.
Azalea gasped and jumped to the side as Ruplug ran toward them. As Topper hurled his dagger at the vermin, Azalea lashed out with her own dagger at Ruplug's leg, catching him above his footpaw.
Malcolm and Widdle had both analyzed one another in the scrap earlier. This time, no second was wasted. Widdle performed a high lunge at a full run, and Malcolm ducked left, swinging low. Widdle spun away in mid strike, but carried the spin around another time, swinging the knife downward. Malcolm turned and raised his arm, catching her's at the wrist.The jagged skinning knife stopped only two inches from his left eye. Malcolm made two swift strikes at Widdle's abdomen, but the weasel surprised him by using the weight of his arm to vault above him. She landed nimbly and the two stood only two feet from one another. They ducked, swayed and swung wildly at one another, a single mistake meaning life or death. Cold steel moved so fast that the slight whistling sound of knives cleaving air could be heard.
~~~
Ruplug ducked deftly under Topper's knife, but this left him off his guard. He realized in pain and horror that the otter had taken advantage of this by giving him a fairly deep cut just below the knee. He cursed and gave a swift kick to Azalea's abdomen before she could jump back. As she doubled over, he raised the stair rail above his head, ready to crush the young ottermaid with a devastating blow.
"ARRRRRR!" The muscular rat yelled as he began the strike!
Just as Ruplug was about to strike, Azalea dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way, groaning from the kick to her stomach. Dagger clutched in her paw, she stabbed the rat in the thigh, grinning triumphantly. The ottermaid scrambled to her footpaws and backed away, dagger at the ready.
OOC: Ruplug is a Rat, not a weasel
BIC: Ruplug hands seemed to be vibrating as the stair rail bent under the force of the blow, which was directed straight into the ground. He hardly even noticed the deep gash in his thigh, for the adrenaline of battle had overtaken him. This time he approached more cautiously. The stair rail's reach was far greater than the tiny dagger, and any time Azalea darted forward, he forced her to jump back with a quick swing. He forced her backwards, towards a small thicket of thorns.
"Heh heh heh, yore gonna pay 'fer what you dis to me, riverbrat!" he growled dangerously
OOC: Ah okay. I fixed it.
BIC:
Azalea felt the thorns start to prick her through her tunic and gulped. She knew she had to do something, and fast. Ruplug took a swipe at her head with his stair rail, and she ducked, rolling under his legs. Her dagger slipped from her grasp mid-roll, though, and she only realized this as she ended her roll in a crouch on the other side. Ruplug turned towards her, a wicked grin playing across his face.
OOC: Now would be a good time for Topper to come in with his trusty ol' dagger,
@Ashleg .
While the two were fighting, Topper had sought out his dagger in the bushes from when he had thrown it. The weapon now glistened and glinted, deadly, in his paw.
The vole took a deep breath and started towards Ruplug, brandishing his blade at just the right angle as he got nearer and nearer to the rat's exposed back.
He exhaled. Now or never.
Topper tightened the grip he had on his blade and aimed to cut into the rat's back.
Ruplug swung the stair rail downward repeatedly, trying to crush the nimble otter beneath it. The rail was bending from the impact. He had no idea that Topper had a knife to hit back - he had quite forgotten the vole, but Ciro was still slung across his back, and the squirrel formed an unwitting shield protecting Ruplug's back from harm. As he swung, Ciro bounced up and down, making a strike at his back very risky and perhaps damaging to the female squirrel's health. It was quite a comical sight. Azalea was rolling and ducking - avoiding the devastating blows. Ruplug was jumping up and down with fury, trying to land a ferocious strike, while Ciro was tossed around on his back like a ragdoll. Meanwhile, Topper hopped around behind him, trying to find an opening, and narrowly avoiding the swinging squirrel at times.