Ratty Driftwood

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

  Belladonna's face settled into a cold stony glare as she thought of the brutally cruel corsair king. She hated the stoat with every fibre of her being. The vixen forced herself to push Ulrik from her mind and focus on a course of action. She glanced around the camp at the four prisoners and the severely depleted crew.
  "Only twelve," she murmured. "Fifteen counting you, me and Firestripe. And Ulrik has how many beasts with him?"
  Mharbrow exhaled between his teeth. "Sixty at the very least," he guessed. "He could have hundreds."
  Belladonna bit her lower lip. "Mharbrow," she whispered. "We don't stand a chance." She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her paw to her forehead. "I can't do it, not again. Not again."

[shisteer of nothing much]

  Mharbrow nodded agreement, wrapping a paw around the vixen's shoulder and giving her a light squeeze.
  "I know. I can't either. That's why we're going to find some way to beat him. Maut said he knew of some beasts who could be recruited, but they won't be enough. We may have to join with some of the woodlanders to fight him off. I just hope the Long Patrol are too wrapped up in him to mind us, because we'll need to gather a large force to face him."

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

  Belladonna lifted her head suddenly and met Mharbrow's gaze, reckless fire burning in her eyes. "We could join them." she said. "We could join with the Long Patrol and send Ulrik to hellgates, even if it means personally escorting him there."

[shisteer of nothing much]

  Mharbrow was speechless for several long seconds, his mouth opening to respond, then closing again. When he did respond, his voice was angry.
  "Don't you remember that hare captain, Belladonna? He almost killed you, and if he sees us again, he will. The promise of a Long Patrol Hare is never broken. Do you really think I'll put you and the rest of the crew straight into the fire?"

[Ebantu the Kararehe]

  Belladonna flinched at her captain's tone but remained resolute. "I think you will if it means getting revenge. We will never really be safe until Ulrik is dead. You know that." She ran her eyes around the camp once more. "And besides, we have one of their hares. If we arrive with a hostage and demand to talk, they can hardly refuse us."

[shisteer of nothing much]

  Mharbrow rubbed his head, struggling with the decision. Belladonna was right in one area, at least: Until Ulrik was dead, they would continue to be hunted. As they were, they'd be hungry, tired and running from the savage pirate, but if they joined with The Long Patrol, they'd be dead.
  "If we arrive with a hostage, we'll be pincushions before we have time to notice we're there. You heard that hare captain; The squirrelmaid's death would be worth it if it meant we were all sent to Hellgates with her. They won't even hesitate to chop us to pieces. If you think they would, we could ask the hare. I'm sure he'll be able to assure us of our certain doom."
  The fox captain sighed, glancing over to where the long-legged creature sat, chatting with the squirrel. The Long Patrol were excellent fighters, but their main strength came in planning and discipline. Strategy was their life, or it seemed so.
  "Maybe we should ask Elgon anyway. Hares are good at planning these things. If he doesn't have anything useful to say, then we can just ignore him."

[Faclan]

A quiet cough would alert the conversing foxes if they didnt hear Tulian approach. Two steaming bowls of soup held by him as he tried to smile at them both.

"Cap'n, n ma'm - sa' so'op fe'r ye." He explained as if it wasn't obvious as he held the bowls out to both creatures. And if neither were taken he would set them on a stump nearby before rubbing the back of his neck and looking down. "La'tas smoo'ke inn'i sk'i. Ta' pat'ral gun' be' ran'd so'nn." Biting his lip as he looked back up. "Shl'd wi' pre'pa're?" Hoping enough of that passing through his long seas accent for the two to pick it out. But their hushed conversation even if not overheard seemed to be raising tensions in the camp. Those that were not talking with Elgon after all who was getting a few laughs with all his jokes.

(Captain, and mam - some soup for you / lots of smoke in the sky. The patrol will likely be by soon. Should we prepare?)

(Hope thats ok with both of you.)

[shisteer of nothing much]

  Mharbrow stood and nodded to Tulian. It was about time somebeast interrupted their conversation, since they weren't getting anywhere further. He glanced over at Elgon. The hare was talking to Maut, ears and paws moving about expressively. The fox waited until the beast had stopped talking before calling him over.
  "Elgon, I'd talk with you. In fact, everybeast gather around. We have some important business to discuss, and you should have a say in how your lives will end."

[Mara the Wolf]

Maut scoffed and rolled his eyes. "I've taken on twoscore beasts wit' only Veach at my side. I don' think I'll be goin' down to some pirates," he muttered to himself, but stepped up to Mharbrow nonetheless.

[shisteer of nothing much]

  Elgon looked up, interested that the fox captain wanted to talk to him. He eyed Firestripe's sleeping form cautiously, then shrugged and came over, replying quietly to Maut.
  "Most of the crew is capable of holding their own, ole chap. These are more than just every day pirates, wot!"
  Elgon saluted to the captain, coming to attention.
  "When do you want me t'wipe out the bloomin' bounders, ole chap? I've got some free time between luncheon and afternoon tea."

[Faclan]

"Le...leives w'al edd?!" The former map maker squeaked before he took a deep breath and nodded to himself mostly as he stepped back so the Captain could start to gather the camp. Stay calm. It was likely just some hyperbole and it would be less dire than that. And should it actually be a life threatening event then the crew would work on trying to fix it as a team.

Soon standing with the other crewbeasts Tul would stay quiet as he listened. Hoping for some grand revelation about the enemy pirate that would lead them to victory. Or a safe place to flee too. That would be acceptable too.

[shisteer of nothing much]

  Mharbrow took a stick from a pile of spare firewood, scratching in the dirt absently for a while. He watched the tip of his stick for a while, then looked up suddenly and met Elgon's gaze.
  "Ulrik is merciless. He has no hesitation, and he doesn't take enemies as slaves. His crew outnumber us and probably at least match us in skill, though most of them surpass the majority of our beasts. If we go against Ulrik, we'll die. The only advantage is that we'd go down fighting, and we'd take a good many of his creatures with us."
  The fox captain let his gaze travel to each crewmember in turn, studying their faces. They were apprehensive, nervous, even scared in some cases. Mharbrow hated seeing his crew like that. They were strong beasts who'd fought beside him for seasons. He didn't doubt their courage.
  "The other option is to hand ourselves over to The Long Patrol. The long-ears are fierce fighters, and determined to uphold their values and protect the innocent from vermin like us, but they'll be in as much trouble as we are, and they can use all the help they can get. It's a risk. There's no guarantee of success, but there isn't a guarantee of failure either. What do you think?"

[shisteer of nothing much]

  The vote was hesitant, but those who voted were in agreement: The Long Patrol was a better bet. Mharbrow nodded his head, looking again at Elgon.
  "What would be the best way to approach the mountain?"
  Elgon considered the question, tugging his ears in thought as he muttered his thoughts under his breath before finally glancing up.
  "I have it, wot! Hostages are worthless. The Bally Long Patrol is willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. You keep me tied up, and you'll have a harder time of it than with the pirate, wot. However, I can rock up to the jolly ole mountain no problem. Me and the little squirrel fella, Harold or somethin', can take you beasts with us. Loose rope stringing you all together to make it look good. It'll be a bally breeze."
  Mharbrow lifted an eyebrow, uncertain of the scheme.
  "I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to march through Ulrik infested territory pretending to be prisoners."
  Elgon nodded agreement, pointing to the sand to his left as though he were indicating the beginning of a plan he'd mapped out, though the ground was bare.
  "You won't be tied up the whole time. When we're near the bally mountain, we'll stop and get everything rearranged, but not yet. You'll still need your weapons and all before then."
  Mharbrow narrowed his eyes at the mention of weapons.
  "What's happening with our weapons?"
  "I'll carry them, obviously, wot! Can't let my prisoners keep their bally weapons."
  Mharbrow pursed his lips, glancing at Belladonna. She didn't seem to like the idea either, but she gave him a look that told him she still thought it was the best idea on the table.
  "You want me to make my crew march, tied up and unarmed, into the enemy fortress, as prisoners."
  Elgon walked around the fire to stand in front of the fox, spitting on his paw and holding it out as he spoke.
  "The enemy of my bloody enemy is my friend, wot. There will be no treachery between us. I solemnly swear to look after you and your crew. Should my superiors try to deal harshly with you, they'll have to go through me first. We will be comrades."
  Mharbrow didn't move to take the paw, thinking. Finally, he came to a decision.
  "Join my crew."
  Elgon considered the request, then took the Captain's paw and shook it once.
  "Done."
  Mharbrow grinned.
  "It takes a little bit more than that. Tul, come over here, and we'll begin."