(This thread follows the activity of the rats and the creatures around them, including the ones that stayed behind from the main group)
Avalanche looked around, his gaze sweeping over the small group. He looked up the trees to high branches, wondering if the vermin were hiding there. "Where do ye think they are?" he asked to no one in particular.
(OOC: Just to get this thread moving I'm going to post some redirection... If this doesn't work we can always modify and try something else :D)
BIC:
The group of Redwallers was unable to spot the rats, the darkness making it very hard to track. Most likely the two rats had ventured away from the area. The dawn was just beginning, with the sun tinging the sky and clouds pink. Birds chirped as the sun warmed the earth, evaporating the morning dew.
Chirrup landed amid the Redwallers and cleared his beak. "Ah hem!" He puffed out his feathers and flicked his head this way and that. "I've spotted those two rats. They are quite far from here and appear to be keeping to their own business."
The robin shifted his gaze towards the sea. "I think it is time to reconnect with the others from your group. They may need you when and if they cross bows with the Lashkeel. They set out to sea not two hours ago. You could catch up. There is a small ship docked at the harbor. Your best chance to catch up is to take the ship, and follow after the Freebeasts. A ship captained by a hare and crewed by Redwallers."
Chirrup waited to see if the Redwall beasts would accept the plan.
______
Grimly lifted his head from where he had slept outside of the "Gilded Duck". He smacked his lips and rubbed his eyes. His head was pounding. The rat tried to stand but staggered and sat back down. He needed to get back to his ship. Just a quick nap first.
Avalanche nodded his head, turning to the rest of their small group. "Well," he said, "wot do ye think? Do ye all wanna go now?"
"If there's no chance o' findin' 'em, then of course we should regroup. Any chance of finding the rats?" The otter switched his gaze from one to the other, waiting for suggestions.
The robin piped up. "The rats have gone far from here. You would have trouble catching up to them. I suggest we make for the shore so you can catch up with the other Redwallers."
The group made their way to the shoreline through the rest of the night. When they made it to the docks, a small ship could be seen resting at anchor there.
The robin yawned and spoke to the Redwallers. "If you take this ship, you should be able to catch up to the others."
The Rusty Scallop was not the finest of vessels but it would work to catch up with the Freebeasts.
Avalanche turned his head, looking at his party members. "Well, wot do ye think? Should we take it, mates?"
He didn't feel very good about stealing a ship, but it was the only way he'd be able to catch up to Tempest. He wanted to see her badly, and wondered if she was thinking of him.
Lusiphi furrowed his brow, "I don't see any wisdom in rushing this, they are already out to sea anyway, so it won't get any easier the faster we go. I say we find out who owns the ship first."
I don't see any wisdom in rushing this, they are already out to sea anyway, so it won't get any easier the faster we go. I say we find out who owns the ship first.
As Lusiphi was speaking, Grimly staggered into the scene. It was apparent he had consumed too much drink on his previous night. The water rat reeled forward, a sea shanty dribbling from his lips.
Oh I was a salty sea dog once
Don't mistake me fer a mouse
I'll sail the briny ocean deep
an' make the sea me house!
Oh I once tilled the curling waves
an' made a fish me pet
I had to leave 'er out at sea
I miss my fishy yet!
He stopped short of the Rusty Scallop and noticed the Redwall beasts through blurry eyes.
"Whot be ye doin' near me beauty of a ship eh?" He swung a balled fist forward at nobeast in particular. The momentum of the blow caused him to spin around and end up on his rump.
"I'll fight the twelve of ye!"
Avalanche stared at the rat. Such a strange, drunken creature. Avalanche vowed that he would never drink more than one pint of ale in one sitting from that time on.
"Who are ye ta tell us not to stand on the docks, hmm?"
Damyan snorted, clearly unconvinced, and glanced around. The other rat could have a whole crew with him out there, for all Damyan knew.
When he turned back to question Miro again his tone was slightly more diplomatic, but just as suspicious. "Why're you so far from th' sea? I ain't puttin' up the knife 'til you gimme a straight answer." But after a moment's hesitation, he added, "I don't wanna 'ave t' use this, mate..."
OOC: Sorry if this isn't right to the story.
BIC: Matthias watched from the woods wondering, 'What are they arguing about? Should I help out? No.. Nobody has ever helped mee so why should I?'
Marin was watching these beasts from a little ways away, hiding behind a tree. Should she take something from them? She decided to go ahead and do a little bit of thievery while it was still slightly dark.
Stepping out of her hiding spot, Marin put her hood up and sneaked along in the undergrowth, getting closer to the group of woodlanders. She made her way to an otter with brown fur, trying to reach into his pouch. She knew that she was well hidden because of the ferns she was crouched in, but she had her dagger out, just in case.
Avalanche was staring at the rat, slightly confused. Suddenly, he felt something at his hip. He turned to see a grey and white paw trying to find it's way to his coin pouch. He shouted out in alarm, slapping the paw away.
Matthias sunck around the edge of the woodline thinking, 'Hello, whats going on here?'
(OOC: This shall not die! These threads need to get completed because I think they are awesome... well, for other reasons too :D)
BIC:
"Who are ye ta tell us not to stand on the docks, hmm?"
Grimly snorted at the question and then hiccuped loudly. His eyes rolled back in his head and he plunked down backwards onto the deck.
Churrup looked about the group.
"How about this for a plan eh? If you don't feel like just taking his ship let's sling the rat aboard and get out to sea. When he comes to we can figure out what to make of him. Either that or leave him here on the docks. We can return his ship later." The robin glanced around. "There's not too many other vessels to choose from here."
Rikkendo nodded, thinking through the possibilities. The robin was right that it wouldn't be in Redwaller form to just steal a ship from somebeast. By the looks of the water rat, the crew of Redwallers could handle him if he turned out to be ornery.
The would be warrior moved forward and knelt down next to the rat. He checked the creatures brow and held a paw to his neck to check his vitals. "I wouldn't be surprised if he sleeps this stupor off for a week! Let's take him aboard and deal with him later."
Rikkendo looked to his Redwall companions. "Somebeast care to help me haul this poor beast aboard?"
Marin gasped and pulled her hand back. She shouldn't have tried to pickpocket that otter! She tried to back up, but she tripped on a root and tumbled to the ground. Avalanche pinned her down, glancing at his companions. "Well, are ye gonna 'elp me?"
He then turned to the mousemaid. "Wot do ye think ye were doin', tryin' to steal from me?"
Marin struggled in the strong otter's grip, spitting at him. "Let go of me, you big bully!"
Matthias thought he had seen enough, 'Nobody, I mean nobody hurts a mouse' So he stepped out of the bushes and held his oaken staff ready to fight. "Let the mousemaid go or you will know what it means to feel pain."
Lusiphi placed himself between the new mouse, and Avalanche, "I've got this, you carry on with that'n." He now turned to face Matthias, "Thieves aren't worth protecting mate, so I suggest you leave before somebeast gets hurt, and I assure you you aren't going to win." The otter fingered the tip of his lance in warning.
Matthias stood fast staring the otter square in the eyes not showing the least bit of fear. "I would hate to fight a woodlander but no beast alive, hurts a mouse and gets to walk away alive."
Lusiphi was on the verge of laughing," First mate, we don't intend on hurtin' anybeast that don't deserve it, second, this mouse is tryin' ta' steal. We can't let thieves go off easy 'cause then they don't learn. Now please refrain from these aggressive actions, Bravado won't get you past me, by the tides it won't!"
Marin kicked her footpaws at the large otter on her, grinning as he grunted in pain and stood up. She rolled out from under him and got to her footpaws, pulling out her dagger. "No beast fights over me like a piece of food! I am a living creature, not something that merely stands by while everyone argues over me!"
Avalanche took his spear from it's holder on his back. He pointed it at the mousemaid, saying, "Why were ye tryin' to steal from me, mouse?"
Marin glared at him. "Why should I tell you, riverdog? I can do whatever I want!"
Lusiphi spun around in a blink and swung his lance sideways at Marin's waist from her back, this mouse had definitely brought this on.
Matthias was getting very angry at the otter now and was beginning to get red build up in his eyes. "I mean it. Let her go." he said in a stern voice.
Marin gasped as the air was knocked out of her, and she fell to the ground once again. Avalanche ran over to pin her down, but she kicked out with her hind legs.
Quickly getting up, Marin tried to run off, running right into the other mouse. "Oof!"
Matthias got in front of her, and pointed his staff at the otters ready to swing in a moment.
Lusiphi lunged at the escaping mouse, "You aren't gettin' away with thieving mouse!" The barreling otter went just over Matthias's head holding his lance ready for a counter.
Matthias swung his staff at the otter ready to protect the mousemaid. "Alright you asked for it!"
Lusiphi was in Marin's way again, with a bit of a scrape that stung like a nettle, but still in her way, "Hey Avalanche, just make sure this little pest doesn't try escaping the other way!"
(OOC: Ok, so I'm going to time jump here. Sorry but we need to get these two ships connected so the threads can continue. You can decide whether or not your characters end up out at sea. If not you can continue to RP them out on this thread. However, we will merge with the quest for the Lashkeel thread by tomorrow. This is to keep the story arc moving. Anyone who wants to fight with the beasts aboard the Lashkeel needs to be on the Rusty Scallop.)
BIC:
A night and day had passed. The Rusty Scallop bobbed in the waves like a cork in a huge pond. Churrup clung to his perch in the riggings. The ship was fairly small so he was not far from the deck. He turned to the beasts on the ship.
"I think I see a ship up ahead."
Grimly was recovering from his drunken stupor. He sat in a small chair on deck, gazing out to sea.
"Aye, this track o' water hosts lots of vessels. Small chance it's the one yer lookin' for."
The robin puffed out his feathers. "I say we steer towards it, until we can see who it is."
After this he buried his face in the last seed cake he had brought along.
"back up.." said Matthias as they slowly backed up to the woods
OOC: Alf, I think that we're already on the ship and sailing.
BIC: Marin was rather unhappy, seeing as she had been dragged along. She didn't trust ships, and felt like this one was going to sink at any moment.
Avalanche turned to her and, seeing that she was uncomfortable, chuckled. "Wot, afraid of a bit o' water, Miss?"
Marin glared at him. "My name is Marin, not Miss. And no, I'm not afraid of water. Just boats." She muttered that last part, staring at the deck beneath her paws.
OOC: Sorry I thought we were still at the dock
BIC: Matthias lowered his staff a bit and said " how about we come to an agreement of some sort?"
Marin didn't want to show her relief at this idea, so she rolled her eyes. "Fine," she sighed, trying to look as annoyed as possible.
"How about you leave us alone and I will work on his boat for free."
OOC: lol, you realise that you're up against three otters (when Rainshadow comes back, and a bird.... You're ONE mouse. :D BTW She's (I THINK, not sure) already been retaken into our custody... Not sure what I should do right now.
OOC: Then what the heck do? I dont wanna realy fight right now.
OOC: Who said you had to fight?
BIC: Marin glared at the other mouse, irritated by his defending her. Though, at the same time, she felt strangely relieved to have someone standing up for her. Still, she felt that she didn't need anybeast's help. "If you don't mind, could you stop acting so chivalrous? I can take care of myself, you know."
Matthais said, "Pardon me miss- er- Marin, I was just doing what my father always told me. Always stick up for a mouse."
Lusiphi didn't have much of any respect for this pompous mouse. Who did he think he was! "Excuse me mouse, but if another mouse attacked an innocent creature, who would you defend? Your own race when the authorities came after him, or the innocent being brutally attacked?"
Marin looked at the otter in shock. "I didn't hurt anybeast! I was just looking for money so I could buy myself some vittles!"
Avalanche arched his eyebrow. "Well, if'n ye needed 'elp, why didn't ye just ask?"
Marin stayed silent, looking at her footpaws in shame.
"Let's not get this out of proportion. She didn't actually steal any money did she?" said Matthias trying to change topic because of that remark.
Marin glared at this other mouse. "Why are you defending me? I don't need defending, I can defend myself!"
Avalanche sighed. "Let's just stop this arguin' and get back ter work. N'kay?"
The Rusty Scallop plowed on through the waves. A day and a night passed. Grimly recovered himself sufficiently to take the tiller. At first he had been angry with these strange beasts for invading his ship and taking him out to sea. However, there was something about them he liked. Possibly it was their bickering. The water rat found it refreshing. Too many long seasons on his ship with little or no companionship made him want to sit back and listen to the transfer of words and rising tempers. The water rat decided he would sail his ship for these beasts. He was sober now and was actually enjoying what was going on around him.
Churrup has been in up in the masts for the most part oft he journey. The robin had become slightly worried. They were out at sea far enough now that he could never fly back to shore on his own. He was more caught up in the unfolding of this adventure than he now wished. The bird's stomach rumbled. There were no more seed cakes. The Redwallers would have to feed him for the rest of his life to pay back for this.
It was then that Churrup spotted another vessel. He could just see the sail of the Freebeasts coming across the horizon.
"There's another ship! Stop fighting and listen! There's a ship dead ahead!"
Matthias ignored her thinking, 'What is wrong with me? Maybe I am being a show off..'
Both Avalanche and Marin stopped their arguing to turn and watch the ship on the horizon. Avalanche looked to Churrup. "Er, Churrup? Do ye think ye could fly close to the ship an' see wot an' 'o we're dealin' wi'?"
Maybe this otter is sort of smart, Marin thought. After all, he had come up with that idea, and Marin didn't!
Matthias sighed and walked to the other side of the ship alone.
Churrup nodded to the otter and took off from the spar of the ship. He might as well go see what was going on since he was now stuck out at sea...
Churrup came back, motioning to the crew.
"It's your friends. Let's get this ship over there!"
Terr had been quiet in this dispute and was watching the other ship come over. She had a feeling that it was going to be trouble and anticipated a battle.
The heading of the Rusty Scallop was due to run towards the Freebeasts. They would meet the other ship soon.
OOC: I'm going to close this thread. Make all posts regarding this plot at the other Quest for Romance thread. The ships have now merged.