Norham (Completed)

[Norham Waterpaw]

Norham snapped out of his trance like demeanor. "Oh, er, right." Norham bent down, picked up the fox, dunked his in the icy cold streamwater nearby, and plopped him down. The fox, newly revived, sputtered water, and got up on his feet. "Hey, you and me have a long past together, let's finish it as "old friends", and duel properly this time...." Karnik knew he was no match for his old foe, but he must, and he would fight.

[KitrallStreamrippler]

Baypaw was extremely nervous, but knew that she should stay out of this fight. She found a safe place nearby and began preparing to tend to Norham's hurts- if he won, he would most likely have some injuries, and if he lost... Baypaw shook her head. He would win, she could feel it.

[Norham Waterpaw]

Karnik circled his opponent. He lifted his arm blade, and lunged at Norham. He spoke while he fought, thrusting, missing, and dodging sword slashes. "You know, that first time we fought, I had the upper hand, but now, I have no hand! It's because of you I'm like this, now die!" He plunged the spike deep into Norham's lower chest. Norham collapsed immediately. Karnik let out a triumphant cheer.

[KitrallStreamrippler]

Baypaw gasped in surprise and fear. She was trembling violently, and about to collapse when she heard a voice say, "Now is not the time to hesitate in fear- do what you must! Go, help your friend!" As if in a trance, Baypaw picked up her staff and stole up behind the cheering fox. She closed her eyes when she brought the staff down as hard as she could, but felt a sickening thud as oak met flesh and bone. She opened her eyes slowly, afraid of what she might find...

[Norham Waterpaw]

Karnik stood with a shocked expression on his face, the back of his skull had been busted in. He fell forward, still frozen in that position.

[Quickpaw]

"So, uh, anything I can do to help, ma'am?" Vash asked a little awkwardly.

[KitrallStreamrippler]

OOC: Whoa. Geez, I didn't think she could hit that hard...

BIC: Baypaw couldn't bear to look at Karnik's body. Instead she sat next to Norham, inspecting his wound. It was deep, but fortunately had missed any vital organs. She cleaned it, then bandaged it, putting a special numbing poultice under the bandages. She then splashed some water on Norham's face to wake him.

[Norham Waterpaw]

Norham was slowly coming to. blood was crusted on his face and arms. though short, the battle he had just fought was ecscruciating for both beats. "Well marm, you certainly did your job there, thanks!"

[KitrallStreamrippler]

Baypaw had tears running down her face as she shook her head and answered. "No, I didn't. My job is to heal creatures- I'm not supposed to cause harm to anybeast. Now look at what I've done: that fox is-" her voice faltered. "-dead. And it's my fault. I killed him." She couldn't say anything more, and merely put her head in her paws and wept.

Back at the abbey, Antura was growing restless again. Her fighting spirit had been stirred, and it would not quiet until the battle was won. She had complete faith in the abbey- in its creatures, in its guiding spirit, in its very stones. However, she also had good sense, which told her it would be foolish to go on another night raid. She just hated not doing anything...

[Norham Waterpaw]

Norham put a paw on Baypaw's shoulder. "Taking that foxes' life was the right thing. He was going to go after you next, I'm sure. If you hadn't... Er, done your job, then he would kill us both." Norham had known many people to come down with shock, after their first real fight.

[KitrallStreamrippler]

Baypaw looked at Norham. "I know he would, but I feel like I could have done something else- maybe just knocked him out, or something. I didn't have to kill him," she said softly. Then her face cleared a little, and she continued, "But I think- I think that it was Martin the Warrior that told me to help you. That's all right then, isn't it? But I still never want to take another creature's life again."

[Norham Waterpaw]

"It's alright marm, if Martin wanted that beast dead, and he's dead, than I'm assuming he's supposed to be dead, am I making sense when I say that?"

[KitrallStreamrippler]

She shook her head, a slight smile around her whiskers. "Not really, old chap, but I understand you. We'd best get going sharpish, before we're attacked again, wot."

[Norham Waterpaw]

"True enough, let's move." He began humming an old tune. He also began to start a slight jog. The fresh air and good atmosphere was getting to him. He might actually have been happy if Redwall were under better conditions.

[KitrallStreamrippler]

OOC: I have a question. Isn't Karnik's spike poisoned? Does Norham know about it? When will the effects kick in? How severe is the poison? (Okay, that was actually four questions, but they're all relevant.)