The Meat Traders of Baldoshi RP

[shisteer of nothing much]

  Torgen nodded, placing the small bag on Praff's desk that contained the rest of their cash profits, after the crew had been paid.
  "No dissent. I keep my crew happy. Is that everything you need, then?"
  The captain didn't move to rise from his seat just yet. He was in no rush, and the other weasel's company wasn't so bad that he was desperate to escape from it. He'd let Praff dismiss him before heading off.

~~~~~

  Morgyn stretched his back as Cuffa's attention turned away from him. He'd have to thank whoever had created the distraction later. He had a fair idea who it might be, but he wouldn't mention any names.
  The squirrel froze as the weasel's eyes returned to him, but relaxed as she shoved him aside and strode off to deal with the new offender. The other weasel looked him up and down, decided he'd had enough punishment, and shoved him back to weeding the garden.
  Morgyn offered an apologetic smile to the hedgehog, who had been unable to rescue his vegetables from the angry paws of the guards.
  "Sorry about that, Abe. Clumsy me."

[The Skarzs]

  Dartur laughed a laugh as ugly as his smudged face. "Huh huh guh huh huh! Almost got ya, li'l thing! Whatchu doin' 'way from d' others, eh?"
  He scratched his lumpy chin as the mouse stammered something hardly understandable, though Dartur was hardly listening. Reaching out a grubby claw, he poked Nibbles in the ribs, checking his vitality. Small, very small, he thought.
  "C'mere, les'go back an' getchu somethin' to fat you up, you ain't grown yet." He attempted to pick up Nibbles and carry him away toward Cuffa, who would surely get this choice cut up to the big weasel's standards.

[Dannflower Reguba]

       Praff nodded along as Torgen spoke, one paw pulling the bag closer and loosening it so he could take a peak inside, an eyebrow raising momentarily as he appraised the contents. Looking back to the captain, he closed his eyes to concentrate on his calculations, letting Torgen's question hang in the air briefly before speaking, "Excluding the payout, how much stock did you bring back this go around?"

*****

       No more than a timid squeak issued from Nibble's mouth as Dartur hoisted him helplessly into the air, panic setting in more severely as the weasel expounded on his intentions, "HIiieek! Uh-buh-bu-but I's notta foods! Ah swear its!" Mouse legs and paws swung loosely as he instinctually resisted, if only half-heartedly, in knowing futility. It wasn't long at all before the odd pair turned the corner back towards everybeast else, an opportunity Nibble took to survey the surroundings once more, now from his significantly greater height. The chance was quickly stifled as his blood ran like ice and his eyes carefully dropped downwards, Cuffa and one or two other problem weasels were still here, a fact the mouse had promptly forgot upon being snatched up by the brute who's paw he still hung from.

[shisteer of nothing much]

  Torgen grinned, easing back in his chair. He'd wondered if the other weasel was going to ask, or had gotten distracted with his bad news, but Praff was a reliable beast and didn't let details like that slip.
  "Eighteen beasts. Most of them are fairly strong and healthy, though a few could do with fattening up. The cages were a little crowded coming in. Had to secure a couple of beasts on deck."
  The weasel had been more than pleased with his haul of fifteen, but the attacking otter crew had provided an unmissable opportunity, even if it meant holding some of the less fiesty beasts outside the cages for a while. There was no need to brag. The bare facts were impressive enough.

[JazzOfRedwall98]

As Cuffa was contemplating which of the other guards she would bully into overseeing the post removal, she perked, seeing the approaching Dartur and some small, unimpressive-looking mouse. She could recall overhearing about the existence of a little mouse among the meat. Not fat enough for the chop, by the look of him. Cuffa approached, paws on her hips and sneering at Dartur.

"Didn't think y'had the brains t'catch a beast tha' small, Dartur," she scoffed, venom in her voice as she spoke the male weasel's name. She did not get too close, however; she was no fool, and Dartur, much to her chagrin, was dangerous. "Must be sick an' dyin'. Only way you had any real chance, hehe."

[The Skarzs]

  Dartur lowered Nibble to the ground, though he did not release him. Scratching his stomach contemplatively, he squinted his eyes at Cuffa.He had never eaten weasel before. Of course, the female guard might taste as sour and grizzled as she was on the outside.
  "Dis un ain't full-growed yet. Give it some better food, I wanna see how big it'll get. If it's sick, fix it! Dat's what you're 'apposed to do. My job is ta keep 'em all 'ere for you, huh, an' I'm good at it."

[JazzOfRedwall98]

"Bah!" Cuffa waved her paw. "Y'got lucky, is all. I could've caught the mouse twice as fast if it weren't fer these noisy, good-fer-nothin' slavebeasts distractin' me. Anyway, y'best be givin' that'un t'me. Why don't y'make yerself useful and get rid o'tha' post? Can an oaf like you accomplish tha'?"

Glancing Nibble over, Cuffa couldn't help agreeing that the mouse needed fattening up. Not that she would give Dartur credit for his observation at all. He was already stronger than her; she did not need him feeling smarter, as well.


---


Things seemed calmer now, Sallow noticed. He snapped out of his self-induced trance and looked up from his work. Aside from Cuffa and Dartur's distant back and forth, the guards did not appear to be as hostile as they once were. The otter sighed in relief, before stealing another glance towards Morgyn. A great shame clutched at his heart, and his ears fell as he turned away. He was happy that the squirrel seemed relatively unharmed, but hated himself for simply standing by and unable to help. It was nothing new, but it stung all the same.