Redwall Isn't Safe Anymore! (Is Redwall as Safe as they Say it is? Part Two)

[Ashleg]

"He's long dead, Chief, that bird's delusional!" Rapshade blurted, leaping up and pointing an accusing claw at the crow.
Alfhild's cold eyes turned ever so slowly to Grah.

"I had Grenlik kill him right in front of me. So that's what this is about?" She hissed.

Rapshade nodded eagerly, tugging at his necklace.
"Yes, I saw it, and yes, we agreed that if'n she brings him back alive she'll get this. But instead she tried t' scam me out of it! What're you gonna do, Auntie?"

Alfhild went quiet and turned her back to the both of them, whispering plans under her breath.
She was secretly impressed that Rapshade, with his wound and illness, was able to hold his own in a fight against Grah.
"...Promote you."

[Hickory]

OOC: Oooo.

[Hickory]

Caught off guard by Bracklew's appearance, Asher started slightly. "...yeah. We can't save everyone. Sorry for her death, I'm sure she meant a lot."

The black squirrel sped up ever so slightly. This conversation was already heading towards awkwardness.

[Ashleg]

OOC: Oooo.

..Wha??

[Hickory]

OOC: Nothing.

[LT Sandpaw]

This threw Grah into a rage, and the bird rose filling the tent with her wings smacking them against the walls. "Soon," She croaked in barely controlled fury. "Ratstink breathe life creeaah. Grah kill, feast!" Refolding her wings the bird avian stalked out of the tent twisting her head around so that she was looking straight at Alfhild with a challenging glare. "Krah go out. Creeaah!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Keeping up the pace Bracklew trotted alongside Asher, not caring if the other squirrel wanted to listen or not. His tail flicked angrily as he went, and his eyes were narrowed. "I wasn't able to save her, I ran when I should have fought." He ground his teeth together spitting out the next words. "I had a chance to kill the leader, to get out with both paws but I was too weak, I couldn't do it. I want you to teach me to fight Asher, to really fight, not just how to stand and swing a sword. Any idiot could do that, I want to fight like you do! Listen to me!"

Bracklew reached out and grabbed hold of Asher's arm, keeping him from walking away. "Teach me how to fight, how to kill.... Please. I can't let something like Ava's death happen again. Like Mixy's death... I just can't."


OOC: Slight PP, hope that's ok.

[Hickory]

Gillpaw hurried up to Asher and Bracklew. She hadn't expected for this to happen, but the young otter realized that entering Moledeep had been a bad idea from the start. Her paw hovered over Bracklew's shoulder, ready to take ahold should the squirrel try anything more.

Asher stared, incredulous. "What?! Look, I get it tha' you want t'help the fight, but yer insane to think that I have the time or the patience t'train you. Can't you just get someone else who's not as busy? There's lots of other Vigil soldiers who'd be willing to do it," he said despairingly. He knew that not a single Vigil would give a second glance at the young squirrel, but Asher just wanted Bracklew off his tail. Pulling his arm out of Bracklew's grip, Asher tried his best to outpace the enthusiastic squirrel.

[Ashleg]

"I don't understand either." Rapshade remarked after Grah stormed out.
"Y' hate me--and I'm in trouble, aren't I? So what's this?"

Alfhild smirked and patted him on the head, murmuring kindly, "This is Grah's punishment. You've proven you can hold your own and thus I'm making you fight on the frontlines tonight when we attack the Guosim..."

[LT Sandpaw]

"Aaargh!" Bracklew trembled in pent up anger and anxiety, he hardly noticed Gillpaw standing behind him. The young squirrel was convinced he was right, and he wasn't about to back down now. Even at the limits of what Bracklew could stand he willingly ran after Asher determined to convince him.
"I know you're busy, and the Vigil keeps sending you out on these missions," Bracklew yelled at Asher's back, he had heard at least some of what One-ear had told him. Seeing as this had been his eventual goal, it was good knowledge to have. Granted this wasn't how he had envisioned the conversation would go. "I don't need your patience! I don't need your sympathy or anything like that. That's why no Redwaller or any other beast can train me, they all wait for me, feel pity and cringe when I try to hold a sword. 'Take your time cripple, do your best cripple,' its what they're all thinking! I know it!" Bracklew's paw had curled into fist as he practically ran after Asher.

"Just train me for Martin's sakes! I'll go with you, keep up, and do what you ask." His voiced had raised in pitch slightly and he grew in intensity. His red fur spiking up as he started shouting. His voice cracking, "Hell I'll do anything for you, just! Please! Train! Me!"

OOC:
I wonder what Harnam and Gillpaw along with any random Vigil creature they pass are thinking. BTW what are you thinking of doing with Ashleg? If you don't mind posting in the OOC thread before you post here...

BTW Grodds are you all good? Just waiting for some point to jump back in? Or should we be worried?

[Hickory]

"No!" yelled Asher. He looked over his shoulder to see Bracklew doggedly following him. The young squirrel might be brave, but he was still stubborn. Harnam leaned in close to Asher. "C'mon mate, wouldn't 'urt. Not like he's gonna run away, in his condition..."

Gillpaw was having her own conversation. "What do you think yore doin'? Last time you ran away you lost a paw."

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Grodds talked to me last night, so I believe he's fine...
IC-
"What?!"

Rapshade ran out after Alfhild, hopping on one paw.
"That's absurd!"

"Is it?" She smirked, pushing him aside as she walked away.
"Fardan?!"

[Hickory]

The wildcat in question was walking with the rat Fastooth. "...so I'll give you direct orders when the time comes. In the meantime, get the horde ready to move out."

"Alfhild," he said upon seeing the ferret. "I was just giving Fastooth orders to prepare for our attack on Redwall. That is, unless you have any objections...?"

[Ashleg]

"None at all, Fardan, that works perfectly with my plan." The ferret batted her eyes and slunk around him. "I'm taking some of the horde to attack the Guosim. When are you going to Redwall? If we match the times, their forces cannot help one another and so it's an instant success."

[LT Sandpaw]

 
"Aye, right away chief." Fastooth grunted. He had gotten some rest since his confrontation with Grenlik, and was eager for a little action. He stalled beside Fardan, waiting to see if there were any further orders from Alfhild.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Further away from the camp, perched amongst the highest branches of the tallest trees the crows were roosting, and having a lively discussion. At least they were having a discussion of some kind if the constant brattle of almost eligible squawking and croaking could be called that.

There were three groups present, the first and largest of which were Grah's loyalists, who were flaunting their authority with great abandon, bully all the others, and swaggering amongst the over weighted branches. The second was under the influence of a young male crow by the name of Barh, who was squaring off against Grah, his feathers puffed up so he could match the size of his female counterpart. A derision was forming in the flock. The story of Grah's fight with Rapshade had spread like wildfire; something many of the birds never thought possible had happened. An earthwalker had made a fool of their invincible leader. It was a revolution that the birds found both appalling and appealing. It meant that Grah could be beat.

The third group of course were just a few hungry birds who were itching for a good fight.

As the noise reached a crescendo the two birds clashed briefly, with Grah easily gaining the upper claw and forcing the smaller bird off the branch. He flew back to the safety of a lower spar, burning with resentment.  For the first time Grah had not killed her challenger, leaving him to live. Barh, to her, was dealt with, and soon forgotten as she flew off to hunt. He'd been bested. For now.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Yeah, but last time I ran away." Bracklew retorted to Gillpaw. "I ran away with a beast who betrayed me. I've learned my lesson about trusting ferrets. Especially former pirate captains." He hadn't told anybeast about how Rapshade had ended up saving him. And it would be a long, difficult story to tell and explain at that moment. Especially since he still couldn't even fathom Rapshade's motives himself. Instead Bracklew looked his otter companion in the eye, holding her gaze.
"I need this Gillpaw, I need to learn how to be a true warrior like Asher. I hope you understand, I don't know if we're friends, I'd like to think we are. So if you could be my friend, and understand that this, this is important to me."
The squirrel waited for Gillpaw's assurance, glancing back at Asher to see if he had made a true decision yet, steeling himself up to plead his case further if it was negative.

[Hickory]

Exasperated, Asher looked up at the ceiling. "Fine," he said at last. "Come with us. Do exactly as I say, and don't get killed, because it will be on my paws if you do."

He waved a paw at Gillpaw. "Come, stay, doesn't matter."

The otter nodded. "I hope Bracklew does fine, I don't see why not. I'll stay at the Abbey."