The Redclaw Camp (please join!)

[Directed by M. Night Shyamalan]

Farrel backed up, suprised at the agility of the vermin.

"Well, not as dim as you like now, huh scum." He leaped back five feet, and attacked, using one blade to entangle his opponets blade, while he used the other to try to run him through.

[Wildrun]

"Oh no, not dim," cackled Matecol with glee. His belt-club was entangled with one of Farrel's swords, the other of which was looking to spear him through. Letting himself fall backwards, Matey used the support offered by the sword stuck through his belt to hold him on his paws as he tried to avoid the other blade. Without much luck, the tip stabbed through his footpaw. Snarling, Matecol let himself fall over onto his back and kicked up at Farrel with his paws...

[Directed by M. Night Shyamalan]

The kick came out of no where and hit Farrel in the jaw. His head snapped up, and he saw stars. He backed up, shook his head, went over to his victim on the ground and stabbed both blades at his prostrate form.

"Good bye, my dear fellow."

[redclaw]

Zarek held his sword perpendicular to Tataroo's swing, blocking it. He then attempted to grab Tataroo by the neck, holding his scimitar up to ward off further blows.

Valdis felt left out of the action. Of course, what could he do? Trytsa stood next to him, drawing her cloak closer because of the cold. "I hope they hurry," she said, "or I'll freeze to death!"

"You can't hurry in dying," said Valdis, "But wish that stoat would just give up!"

[Wildrun]

Matey managed to roll halfway over when a piercing pain stabed through his paw. Letting out a schreech, he ripped himself free and blood gushed everywhere. The icey flint eyes flashed hatred towards Farrel. The stoat snarled slowly through his teeth, "Pretty words for you last...."

Tataroo stumbled backwards, his scimitar falling low before he could resecure his hold. He felt the tips of claws grasp at his throat and twirled on his paw, swinging his scimitar up and around in an ark. The cold was freezing, his muscles were starting to scream from exertion, and neither he nor the cat were done yet. The balck eyes narrowed and he gritted his teeth as he attempted to snake under Zarek's defense...

[Directed by M. Night Shyamalan]

Farrel laughed. He loved a vermin who took awhile to die!

"Well me bucko, You put up a poor fight, but yo0u are a tough one. I'll just cut your head off, no pain, okay?" Farrel laughed again, and swung both blades with lightning speed at his foes head.

"Good bye chap, been nic fighting you."

[ferretface]

'Retchen was watching all this with raised eyebrows. Matey dead, huh? That'd make HIM the right-hand vermin of choice...
Then his prudent side hit him. After the battle, what would he say if Tataroo asked him what had happened to Matey? 'Sorry boss, 'e woz gettin' clobbered, an' it woz funny' wouldn't cut it, nor would 'Sorry boss, 'e got 'is arse kicked, an' I dint do anyfing'...
Nothing for it then. Drawing two arrows, he nocked the bow and fired at Farrel's chest, screaming in triumph.

[Directed by M. Night Shyamalan]

Farrel was about to slay Matey, when he saw out pf the corner of his eye, another vermin knock two arrows, and fire at him with lightning speed. He leapt out of ones pah, but the other slammed into his stomach. Gasping in pain, he grabbed a dagger off the ground and hurled it at his assailant. He turn to run away, paused, stabbed his longsword at Mateys heart, and dashed off into the woods.

Farrel ran a distance from the battle, and stopped. The arrow should have killed him, but luckily, his two leather belts that ran diagonally across his chest had saved him. plus the angle of his fall, and the fall had also slightly knocked the arrow off course. The arrow hat hit a leather strap, and had only penetrated half an inch after the arrowhead. He knew what to do, he snapped off the shaft as much as he could, and grabbed a dock leaf. He took some cleaned tree sap out of his little pack, and plastered the dock leaf on, sticking it on so tightly so infection was greatly reduced. He Knew he would have to reach Redwall fast, or he could die. Redwall was a good two hours solid run away, he could make it, if he pushed himself. Turning to the direction of the Abbey, he dashed off into the forest at a hard sprint.

((Gone to Redwall abbey now))

[redclaw]

Tataroo's sword caught Zarek's chest as it arced upward. Though the chain-mail coat Zarek wore deflected most of the blow, it left a bloody scratch. Zarek, more angry than hurt, swung out at Tataroo's head with his long claws, using his sword to swipe at the legs of his opponent.

Suddenly, about a score of Zarek's guard marched into the clearing. Their armor clanked loudly as they started to surround Tataroo, their spears pointed inward. "Back off," said Valdis, "do not interfere with a dual." The guard grumbled, but regrouped around Valdis.

[ferretface]

'Retchen watched as the arrows sailed in their path, one missing with Farrel's dodge but the other hitting in the stomach. The marten rushed off, but gave the parting gift of the thrown dagger.
"Son'v'a-" muttered 'Retchen, desperately throwing his arm in the way. It splattered into it wetly. He wouldn't be able to fire for the remainder of the battle, but it was better than death. Trotting over to Matecol as he held his arm gingerly he asked, "Matecol...you 'kay, mate?"

[Wildrun]

Matey staggered as Farrel suddenly dodged away, and as the sword tip stabbed his chest he sprawled across the ground. The air he sucked in didn't seem to be making it into his lungs, and he could feel sticky luke-warm liquid trickling down one side of his chest. The weight of the belt-club pressed down hard on his stomach, where it had flopped when he fell. 'Retchen asked him something but the wrods were garbled, and he could barely make them out. And rather than respond, the stoat sucked in a deep breath...and laughed. Long and crazed, trailing off in a sudden wave of weakness, Mateycol chuckled insanely and grinned a toothy, blood-infused grin.

"I'm. Just. Perfect!" he gasped, grabbing 'Retchen and using him to pull himself up. Mateycol hissed, words like air deflating out of a baloon, "Get me. Som--something. Hot. Burning. Torch. Tar. Metal. Don't care. Now." He might've added please, but instead let himself slump backwards again and wheezed the same spiraling, crazed chuckles over apparently nothing at all.

---

Tataroo saw the swipe at his knees and jumped striaght upwards to avoid it, but was too late to stop the claws from smashing into the side of his head. Stars exploded in his vision, and the caped warlord tripped sideways, scimitar dipping in his grip to point towards the ground instead of Zarek. Stabbing the blade into the earth and righting himself, the stoat straightened up. While his jump had prevented the blow hitting his temple, a throbbing welt now rose along his eye and cheek-bone, and where the tips of the deadly claws had scored fine red lines blood oozed slugishly out. A quarter of his vision now obscured by the blackening bruise, Tataroo hefted his scimitar back up with one hand and smeared some of the blood across his face with the other. He looked at the residue on his paw disdainfully, flicked it off. The warlord gave Zarek a sweeping bow.

"First blood to me, I think," he said. Then, raising his head as if reconsidering, Tataroo shook his head regretfully and smiled coldly. "No, that's wrong. First blood to us both. Yes?"

Letting the faithful gaurd that had appeared catch a glimpse of the malintend radiated towards Zarek, Tataroo flashed another grin, reached for the vials on one side of his belt and snapped a finely-brewed bottle of poisionwith lightening speed straight at his opponent.

[ferretface]

(Is it okayn if I borrow a couple of stoats? In hindsight, I probably should've asked when I killed about six of them, but...anyway, if it's not okay, I'll edit post.)
'Retchen had almost been slammed to the ground by Matecol, but had barely managed to stand up, as the stoat captain made orders before laughing madly again. Backing off, 'Retchen thought. "Hot...burnin'...metal...tar...torch. Well...first, I'd better get back to the lads." Rushing off, he grabbed a couple of stoats, including Barfle, who passed for a 'medic', and brought them over to the captain. Kurrad was the other stoat, and he carried a torch.
"Dis won't 'urt a bit, I promise, boss," promised Barfle as he tended to Matecol's wounds. Normally, he wouldn't have gone near Matecol in this state, but there was an entirely sane and very violent ferret standing over him with a sword (Remember, 'Retchen's injured his right arm, but is left-handed, so can only use his sword. And if I didn't specify his injured arm and/or laterality, well, there you go). In the meantime, Kurrad, on 'Retchen's orders, thrust the torch at Matecol, muttering "I carn't wotch" under his breath as he did so.
"Hand it to 'im the uvver way, idiot!" said 'Retchen, hitting Kurrad in the head with his swordhilt. Kurrad almost dropped the torch.
"But....but dat's where da fire iz, boss!"
"I know, an' we wouldn't want cap'n Mateycol to grab it by th'fire, would we now? Eh?" explained 'Retchen. "Gimme that." Grabbing the torch deftly off the inept stoat, he forced the firy bit into Chopper's grimy hands and forced the whimpering stoat's paw closed. "Now, give it to 'im, ya git! How's 'e goin', Barfle?"

[redclaw]

(I'm guessing Tataroo threw the bottle of poison at Zarek?)

Suddenly, one of the zealous guard jumped right in front of Redclaw. The bottle smashed on his shield, sending poison shards every ware. Zarek jumped back, avoiding them, but the guard was not so lucky. A small piece of the poisoned glass had stuck in his neck. After walking back to rank, he stumbled and collapsed dead. Zarek turned to Tataroo. "So you were using poison," he said, "very dishonorable. I think our duel is over." The guard began to surround him pointing their spears outward. Zarek and the guard around started to back off, away from the clearing.

[Wildrun]

((Yep, that's what happened.))

The first mate was laughing again--madly, hysterically, and without end, his cackle went on and on as little blood bubbles popped at the edges of his lips. With a snarl, he lunged forward and latched unto the torch. With an evil grin, the ice blue eyes winked at Kurrad, and Mateycol's footpaws lashed out to knock the stoat unto his stomach, forcing Kurrad to look up into his face ((forgive me for the powerplay! D:)). "What, mate?" he hissed, as a drop of grease plopped out of the torch and unto his fur. "Ya' don't like horror plays?"

The searing heat licked at his paws, and with another sadistic grin and estranged cackle, he turned the flame unto his wound and burnt it shut.

The smell of burning flesh would linger in the air about Mateycol for days on end.

--

Tataroo lowered his arms slowly, lifting his shoulders in the smallest of uncaring shrugs. "Oh, no, sir," he said, as if offended, "There was never any poison on my blade. If you'd like to find out, I'd be hapy to show you. It was my personal opinion that any and all weapons were acceptable in a duel the kind of ours." Another shrug, and the scimitar hissed metalically as it slid slowly back into it's sheath. "If you have other ideas, then we must discuss them when we meet again."

Slowly, he began to back up, keeping his lack eyes on the retreating guard and Zarek. A sudden breeze came screaming across the ember-lit area, and the crimson cloak flapped about behind him as if it were alive. The shadows of the smoke clouds began to slowly swallow up Tataroo's figure, and but for the occasional flap of his cape, he might as well have been gone.

"...Matecol. Get up."

((Is the thread coming to an end, then, or should we relocate?))

[ferretface]

(Seems all we need to do for now is count up the bodies...)
'Retchen glanced at the scene between Kurrad and Mateycol with vague amusement. It had seemed to work, at least, and as he saw Kurrad slam onto the floor with a thud. Then, looking over at Tataroo, the duel seemed to be over, and he was now at Matecol's side. Sighing, 'Retchen figured he'd better get over there, and trudged to them sullenly, still clutching his arm.
"Some marten came outta nowhere, almost killed 'im, I shot 'im inna gut, and 'e ran off...prob'ly dead by now, but 'e mighta made it ter safety." he reported. "An' e threw a knife at me arm...won't be shootin' a bow for a while yet." He jerked a shoulder at Matecol vaguely. "'e wanted a torch, I gave one to 'im. The boys is clustered over 'round back."
Sitting down with a faint grunt, 'Retchen was finally able to attend to his arm a little.

[redclaw]

(Yes I guess this about the end.)

Zarek and his horde began to leave the clearing. It had much more of night than any of them had expected. Zarek spun his sword lazily, seemingly in a good mood. As his vermin cleared the ridge and entered another patch of forest, he stopped. "It is still night," he said calmly, "make camp."

"But sir," said Valdis, "we are only a hill away from were all the fighting took place."

Zarek turned to Valdis with a smirk, saying, "who cares! Let them come back if they want, we will fight them." He spread his cloak on the ground, and lay down on it.

"Sir?" asked Trysta, "do you want a different tent?"

"I am no wimp," hissed Zarek,"I don't need something to cover my head. Enough from both of you, get out of my sight!" Valdis and Trysta saluted hastily, stumbling off they bumped into each other before making themselves scarce. The silent winter night settled in again, as if to reclaim the space that had been disturbed by the fighting.