A Thirst For Adventure

[ShrewsForever]

Snap was a little disturbed by the cougar's remark about feeding them to maggots. She was about to reply when an arrow whizzed by, barely missing the mountain lion's shoulder.
An unfamiliar raspy female voice said "Y'call that firin' a bow? Yew blumberin' fool! I'll cut you yew like a loaf of bread an' feed ya to a snake for dinner!"
Thump!
Suddenly a sickly rat came flying out of the bushes and skidded along the ground until he finally came to a dead stop between the mink and the mountain lion's feet. He had dull grey fur, golden hoop earrings, an old, tattered brown tunic, a rusty grey shoulderplate, and crooked white teeth. He was holding the remains of a bow, now snapped in half from the other beast's force.
A chorus of laughter rang out from the bushes...


OOC: Thought I should add some action. Hope you don't mind.

[Hickory]

Aaron took swift action. In a smooth movement, he had hauled the rat up by his scruff and was holding the schiavona blade to his neck. "One move to many, and this one dies."

[Gonff the Mousethief]

When the mountain lion showed himself, Acirema just stood back, keeping her weapon still at arms. She was surprised by the rat appearing, and by Aaron's sudden actions. Her striped face showed fear and a sign she would fight.

[LT Sandpaw]

Fiver watched curiously as Snap and several others crossed the stream as if searching or something. He was about to comment on their movements when a massive mountain lion leapt from the trees landing behind Snap and Acirema. The mouse started to stand and shout a warning to the others when Snap turned and conversed with the creature seemingly confidante.

Deciding it was safe for now Fiver picked up his staff and walked cautiously over. Standing on the far side of the stream he listened in on the conversation. He didn't want to get involved seeing as he came up to the lion's knee, he knew that it would only take a single swing of the creature's paw to kill him so he stayed back watching and listening.

[ShrewsForever]

The wounded rat moaned pitifully at the threat of a schiavona blade to the neck. There was a short silence and then muffled conversation started where the beasts were located.

Snap could be quite fierce if need be. She had already drawn her cutlass and was holding it in front of her horizontally with her brown paw gripping tightly on the black hilt. She narrowed her eyes, planted her feet into the ground, and made herself look as intimidating as she could. Her tail waved this way and that.

The wind moaned softly like a weak wounded beast, the birds had shushed their singing and were deathly silent. Tension was certainly gripping the air this morning in Dawnriver.

[Gonff the Mousethief]

Marshall followed Fiver over across the stream. He saw the large creature, and hoped he would not attack. If he did however, he would stay back and fire arrows, or run in with his axe. The rat didn't really seem a threat, so he focused more on the mountain lion.

[Hickory]

Aaron very nearly drew blood from the rat as he pressed the blade closer. "Well? Are you going to respod, or ar you 'fraid?"

[Faiyloe]

Grace notice that several of the group had all crossed the river. She sat up and looked across and was surprised to see Snap and several others talking with a strange cougar but what surprised her even more was when an arrow and a rat came flying out of the bushes. She jumped up and ran back to where she had kept her things and grabbing her pack she ran back to the river. She stopped short there and looked nervously across the river. She would probably just get in there way if it came to fighting. it would be better to stay here she thought and hoped that the river would provide some barrier between her and the... Who ever was attacking them... Grace looked around and noticed another thing. Nutt was gone.

[The Skarzs]

Onagen looked into the bushes in vain to try to see the unknown beasts. "I see nothing. . ." He looked at Aaron and the wounded vermin. "The bleeding one isn't going to answer, I think."

He walked boldly into the bushes, his axe held at ready and his arm guard before him. "You want to try to hit me again? Here I am!"

[ShrewsForever]

The rats didn't have another bow; they lent it to the rat because he was supposed to be a "good archer". Finally the conversation in bushes quieted down to a earthly silence when the big cougar came their way.
.
The female voice from before shouted, "Save yer breath, riverdog, we're comin'!"
A moment later, seven vermin trudged out of of their hiding place, led by a big menacing weasel. "Let 'im down, ye big lump!," she called to Aaron.

Snap watched, ready for combat in case anything happened. She scanned the vermin behind the weasel and looked for their weaknesses.

[Hickory]

Aaron released his hold oon the rat, who slumped to the ground. The otter held his blade ready, flexing the length of steel in his paws. Vermin, they were always rude! He fought of the urge to attack them, using all his energy to keep the blade point close to the ground.

[ShrewsForever]

The rat dropped to the ground with a thud and followed the other vermin as the walked north, away from the group. The weasel kicked dirt Aaron's way before leaving. Snap watched them as the made their way through the dense forest and finally vanished from sight.

[Hickory]

Aaron was panting like a bellows. Keeping that anger down was more exerting then battleing ten vermin. He sighed and sheathed his sword, turning to Snap. "Well, Springpaw, when are we leaving? And what about our friend here." He guestered to the cougar.

[Skyblade]

Skyre woke up with burning, unexpected pain in a body part that she no longer had. Groaning and gritting her teeth, she grabbed at the stump left of her left arm with her remaining hand. She hadn't felt such pain in her nonexistent left arm for weeks now, and she had thought it had disappeared on its own. Clearly, that was not the case.

The badger lied there for a few moments, gripping the stump until she let go of it to take hold of the double-bladed sword she always kept no more than a reach away. Skyre had a feeling that she had been in the midst of an incredible dream, but the story which had come during her sleep was now somewhere in the recesses of her memory. Skyre frowned, staring into the clouds. She wanted to recall this dream - perhaps it was fascinating and meaningful. A dream was another world, and it was somewhat frightening but amazing.

Letting her heavy breathing recede, Skyre got up and stretched, looking around with her one eye. It appeared that most was well, but when she looked, she realized that Snap and Aaron were talking with...a cougar?

Skyre got up. Adjusting her satchel and carrying her sword by her side, she cautiously approached the three beasts. "Hello," she murmured, looking at Snap to Aaron to the cougar in turn so she wouldn't have to meet the gaze of just one.

"Are things okay here?"

[ShrewsForever]

Snap shuffled her feet idly. "Morning! We had a bit of a vermin problem earlier, but thankfully, nobody was injured." She turned her gaze towards Aaron and said, "I just have to make sure everybody's ready, and then I guess we'll go. As for him," The mink glanced at the big cougar. "He can come with us if he wants." Snap then turned so that she was facing him. "Pardon me for asking, but I never got your name. What is it?"