A net? A gang? A snake? What's Next?

[Prankster101]

Renaud Wildroar tried his best to remember how he got into this position. How did he managed to be tied up, suspended from a tree, unarmed, and an adder crushing the breath out of his lungs, getting ready to strike with its poison teeth into his unguarded heart? Oh, yeah...now he remembered.....

____________________________________________________

It had been a calm summer afternoon. Renny was swimming through a tributary on the River Moss; gliding gently with the current. He was in no rush to get anywhere and it was so peaceful under the water. Fish swam on either side of him with no care in the world. The water plants swayed back and forth with the moving water. The sunlight reflected into the water making ribbons of light dance under the surface. Renny swam at a nice pace until he came to a halt.

There was a large fishing net in his way. It covered the entire length of the little stream, from bank to bank. Renny gave it no thought, supposing that it was a small family's was of getting food for the day. His mistake. He back tracked a bit and charged at the net planning to jump out of the water over the net and not harm it. As he leaped from the water, the net whipped up out of the water, ensnaring him in mid-air.

Renny was quickly caught in the net. He struggled to free himself as he felt himself being roughly dragged to shore, but the more he struggled, the more he was stuck. The fibbers of the net tightened the more his squirmed in them. Eventually, Renaud felt himself hit dry land. BY now he figured that he was in a spot of trouble. He was surrounded by a small ragtag bunch of vermin. From what he could see through the net there were 6 of them; 3 rats, 2 stoats and a random fox, who appeared to be the leader. No sooner than having found this out, the fox put a rusty old knife to his neck saying, "You move and you die riverdog." Then Renny blacked out, after watching the knife's hilt come into contact with the side of his head.

The darkness eventually faded away from Renny's eyes and Renny could take stock of his position. The vermin had a small old campfire on the bank of the river, and that's about all they had of worth save for a small basket by the fire that gave Renny a bad feeling in his gut. Renny's paws were bound and strung up on the bow of a tree and his hind paws were also bound and staked to the ground, resulting in Renny hanging about a paw length off the ground and a paws length from the limb of the tree. Renny had to admit to himself, the fox may be a smart one, or at least he wasn't as stupid. He had been wise enough to tie Renaud's rudder to the middle of his knees, so he could not use it.

Renny was forced to watch as the two stoats were ransacking through his pack. There was nothing of much value to them, but they did find enjoyment in the small spinning tops that Renny used to entertain little ones with. The fox had put on Renny's Marlfox cloak and was admiring Renny's Katana. The three other rats were fearfully trying to keep the lid on the basket that had no begun to jump around. This was not good....

The fox had now realized that Renny had regained consciousness and proudly strutted over. "So, riverdog. Are you enjoying yourself? We are certainly enjoying the gifts you have so gladly given to us." Renny glared into the fox's eyes. Waiting..waiting..he had to walk a little bit closer....The fox continued on his rant. "We were just fishing for something to eat, but when you came along, why waist a perfect opportunity? All we had to do is catch you in the net and..*SPAT*" Renny waited till the fox had come close enough to him so he could spit at him, right in the left eye.

"Oh, ugh, oh..That's it! You are dead. You hear me riverdog! Dead!" The fox shouted trying to rub the spit out of his eye. "Shrink! Halfnose! Blackeye! Bring Dazzletooth over here! This riverdog is going to be lunch!" As the fox yelled and insulted the 3 rats that struggled to bring the jolting basket over to the hornbeam tree that Renny was tied to. Renny didn't like the look of the basket and wiggled his ankles up and down, inching the stake out of the loose soil. The stoats had finally lost interest in the spinning tops and came over to watch the entertainment. Renny had finally got the stake out of the ground when the fox had turned back to him, trying to regain his composure.

"Now, riverdog. We like ye to meet Dazzletooth. She's a pretty thing who will "captivate" your mind with a quick glance..Now do you want to apoligize to me for your insult or do you want to meet..*WONK*" Renny had shifted his body weight backwards and then launched himself forward kicking his bound paws into the fox's chin. The fox went flying backward into the remains of their campfire and ciaos ensued. The stoats went to help their chief and two of the rats tried to hold down the basket which had gone into large jolting spasms, and the last rat tried to catch Renny and hold him still.

Because Renny's paws were still bound to the tree, he couldn't do a whole lot and eventually the rat caught Renny's still bound hind paws and staked him back down while the fox dusted himself off cursing up a storm. "Enough talk!" The fox roared at Renny. "You have breathed your last breath Riverdog!" The fox then pushed his way over to the basket, threw off the lid and grasped what was inside it. Renny saw a glimpse of what it was and immediately shut his eyes. A snake, it had to be a snake. Renny's paws were all ready sore from holding his body weight and the ropes' bit harshly into his wrists.

Renny felt a large, smooth, and cold body begin to wrap around his ankles. The hiss of the adder resounded in Renny's ears, and he was unable to move to free himself from this slimy cold grasp. The snake continued its journey up his legs and bound rudder until it was rapping its entire body around Renny's red jerkin; conveniently around his lungs. Renny kept his eyes shut tight. He knew an adder's power of hypnosis, and wasn't going to let it try, even if he was going to die anyway. The adder brought its head up beside Renny's ear and its tongue tickled his ear.

"Rememberssssssss to ssssssssscream loudsssssssssssss. I likessssssssss a noissssssy lunch." The snake whispered. Renny however kept his mouth shut. He was going to be stubborn, even if he died. The adder made a shrugging motion with its head and whispered, " Your lossssssssssss." Then squeezed hard.

Renny let out a small gasp. The snake's coils tighten around his chest; crushing his ribs to oblivion, or so it felt. His breath came out in ragged breaths. He couldn't breathe. He felt the eyes of the vermin horde still watching, they began to laugh hysterically when Renny kept his eyes shut while trying to breathe. "How does that feel riverdog!" "Har, har, it looks like his face is turning blue!" "Teehee! Look at how his feet twitch!"

"Enough funsssssss." The adder whispered. "It's timessss for lunchsssssssss!" Renny heard the snake lick its lips ( if snakes had lips ) and open its jaws wide.............

____________________________________________________

So that's where Renaud was. He couldn't breathe and was about to blackout from pain and or die from an adder bite. He really hoped somebeast was out there and would have a heart kind enough to help him. If there was someone who wanted him dead...well....they would get to watch the show!


(The little Vermin gang in this tale are not a horde or characters that had to be approved. They are just here to create chaos and are up for killing! Have fun posting, and if someone could rescue Renny before he dies? Thanks. Happy posting!)

[Elizabeth]

The water was nice, the day was nice, and Silenis Wildlough knew it. She was swimming, she had been swimming, and of course she would continue swimming till something stopped her. Weird timeing... Right after she had that thought she came upon a large net... Very odd. It didn't look safe, It was probably just a fishing net but she wasn't going to try to get through it. She climbed up on the bank wondering what kind of creatures may have set up the net.

Behind her Silenis saw the water ripple. Probably a fish she thought. In front of her on the bank the bushes moved. She heard voices and a bunch of ragged vermin came out of the wood. The net lurched and the vermin saw it. They begin hauling the net and whatever was in it to the shore. Silenis followed the vermin a few feet to what looked like a camp and then she his behind some trees. The vermin lay the net down in front of a fox. They didn't look very nice Silenis thought. Whatever was in the net was certainly struggling.

"You move and you die riverdog." Said the fox.

Silenis gasped. This was an otter! An otter like her caught in a net and now knocked unconscious! How dare these vermin do that to it!... She waited to see what was happening.

The otter was awake again and the vermin were now wandering around taking things from his pack. Silenis clenched her fist as she watched the fox take the otter's sword. The sword was beautiful and very well made... It should belong to such evilbeasts she thought.

So, riverdog. Are you enjoying yourself? We are certainly enjoying the gifts you have so gladly given to us."

The fox strutted and babbled like the proud idiot he was.

"We were just fishing for something to eat, but when you came along, why waist a perfect opportunity? All we had to do is catch you in the net and..*SPAT*"

The otter had got the fox... Silenis grinned. He certainly wasn't giving up without a fight. The was good, she didn't ever like to see any of her species weak and yielding.

"Oh, ugh, oh..That's it! You are dead. You hear me riverdog! Dead! Shrink! Halfnose! Blackeye! Bring Dazzletooth over here! This riverdog is going to be lunch!"

The idiot whinny fox was rubbing his eye as he spoke and motioning to 3 vermin rats. Actually, now it didn't look very good for the otter. Whatever they were bringing to him in the basket didn't seem like a nice little lunch. She just felt it... It was deadly.

"Now, riverdog. We like ye to meet Dazzletooth. She's a pretty thing who will "captivate" your mind with a quick glance..Now do you want to apoligize to me for your insult or do you want to meet..*WONK*"

The otter had done it again. He had probably just sealed his death warrant.

"Enough talk! You have breathed your last breath Riverdog!"

As the lid was torn from the baskets top Silenis froze... No... It couldn't be... A snake... An adder.... How could they???!!! They let the deadliest creature in Mossflower attack an unarmed, tied up otter!

"Rememberssssssss to ssssssssscream loudsssssssssssss. I likessssssssss a noissssssy lunch. Your lossssssssssss. Enough funsssssss. It's timessss for lunchsssssssss!"

This was disgusting and cruel and judging from the looks on the vermin faces they thought it was fun. Silenis shivered... so vile... That's it! She had, had enough. If they were going to try to kill this otter they would have to take her with it! Drawing her bow she put an arrow to the string and stepped out in front of the vermin. The arrow was aimed at the back of the snake's slimy head.

"Enough Beasts!" She yelled, "Back off and leave the otter alone. One move and your fat ugly snake friend is dead!" Her hand trembled as she forced herself not to fire the arrow.

[Prankster101]

(( Thanks for helping Save Renny Bethy! I was getting worried for a moment there! *wink* ))

Renaud kept his eyes closed. The adder around his chest squeezed tighter and tighter. His lungs felt like they would burst! His breaths cam out in ragged gasps. He could feel blood start to trickle from where the ropes bit into his wrists that were supporting his body. The bump on his head that the fox had given him was making his head swim. He was going to die, and he knew it. Before he could even begin to think of those precious moments that creature think about just before they are sure they are going to die, Renny heard something, something other than the laughter of the vermin. It was some beast moving off to his right near the river. He hoped it wasn't some beast who wanted to kill him, but then he heard it speak.

"Enough Beasts! Back off and leave the otter alone. One move and your fat ugly snake friend is dead!"

Renny chanced a peek, with his right eye, over in the direction of the voice. It was another otter. She was slender, of averaged color and build, and was armed with a bow that had an arrow pointed at the adder's head. Renny closed his eye again. Ah 'ope ye knaws w'at ye be a doin', Renny said to the otter in his mind, while trying to concentrating on breathing and staying conscious.

"Dazzletooth" the adder closed her mouth when she heard the voice. There was an arrow pointed at her head and she didn't like it one bit. Trying to stare at the otter with her hypnotic glare, she squeezed tighter, making Renny gasp again in pain. No beast was going to interrupt her free meal.

The fox leader turned around at the voice. ANOTHER RIVERDOG!! He thought to himself. This was not his day, or was it.....There was only one of that one. Plus the first one wasn't going anywhere fast with Dazzletooth....a devious plot formed in his ugly head....The fox pulled out Renny's Katana and smiled slyly. "What gives you the power to order us around, huh? There's one of you and..." The fox had to take an embarrassing glace around him to count."...6 of us. What are you going to do to us? Ye go a head and shoot Dazzletooth. That riverdog is gonna die any ways."

SEA-dag! Renny shouted at the fox in his head. SEA-dag ye kelp-brain! Ne'er sean a SEA-otta' 'fore?

"If the adder doesn't kill him, we will after we kill you!" The rest of the little gang pulled out their makeshift weapons. The two stoats pulled out a club each. One rat graped the fox's old rusty knife; another graping a pathetic broken cutlass. The last rat looked dumbly around for a weapon and when he couldn't find one he balled his fists and got into what he thought was a fighting stance. A rather sorry looking group to say the least.

Renny heard all that the fox had to say. Idiot He thought. Renny hoped that the otter gal could fend for her self. Because he wasn't going ANYwhere. He focused on trying to breathe, just breathe...ow....just breahe....pain, pain pain,....breathe....gasp, gasp...breathe......

[Vikenti Whitedeath]

(I hope you don't mind me saying the fox had hired Merce as a mercenary. Also I controlled the vermin a little.)

Merce Whitedeath, self proclaimed greatest of mercenaries, stepped into the camp. In one hand he held his sword, in the other, his dirk. He surveyed the seen in front of him with amusement. One lone otter-maid was trying to take on his employer's gang single pawedly! A quick look into her mind told him that she hadn't even met the otter she was trying to save in her life. "Otters are very loyal to their kind," he whispered to himself, "it gives them a strength we evil creatures will never have."

Merce strode forward, right in front of the fox. "This isn't a very fair fight, is it?" he said with a smile, "I will fight her myself." The vermin backed off a bit, letting their mercenary through. Merce walked right up to Silenis, looking down at her. "You want to save your little otter friend?" he asked, "well you will have to get through me." With this he attacked, trying to kick Silenis's legs out from under her and stabbing at her shoulder with his dirk.

[Elizabeth]

The otter looked down at her as she spoke. She saw he was a male, rather large and strong to... Quite a shame that he was tied up, she could use some help. He was breathing very heavily now and the Adder only squeezed tighter. She thought for a moment... If she wasted to much time he would be gone before she knew it.

"What gives you the power to order us around, huh? There's one of you and......6 of us. What are you going to do to us? Ye go a head and shoot Dazzletooth. That riverdog is gonna die any ways."

"Fine!" Yelled Silenis... She knew that the tied up beast was a sea otter but she didn't care much about that comment at this time. She hated adders.... This one had breathed her last breath. Silenis let go of the arrow. It shot through the air hitting the adder in the neck with a dull thunk. It was dead. A shot like that could kill anybeast.

"If the adder doesn't kill him, we will after we kill you!"

Stands to reason... Yes, but they would Never get the chance. After shooting the snake she spun around to face the fox and his crew. She walked over to the otter's net till she was about 12 feet away. "Catch this!" She cried throwing her stiletto dagger to him... It's edge should be sharp enough to cut through some of the net. He'd better catch this right she thought.

Out of nowhere a weasel walked out. Right in front of the fox. She groaned... another enemy... She had never known a nice weasel.

"This isn't a very fair fight, is it? I will fight her myself."(this to the fox)

The weasel walked up to Silenis.

"You want to save your little otter friend? Well you will have to get through me."

"Alright." Silenis muttered. This might just get her out of an unneeded brawl. Suddenly the weasel attacked. She foresaw his attempt at a leg-sweep and jumped to avoid it. Then she dodged away from the dagger taking 3 steps back. She smiled. "If this was a fair fight I would agree willingly, but as my bow is my only weapon I don't think this is right." She paused. "But I would still be willing to duel you if you provided a weapon. I've had practice with a Katina before," Silenis said eying Renny's weapon, "If you don't mind I'll use that..."

[Prankster101]

"Fine!"

The new otter yelled. Renny opened his eyes to watch an arrow cut through the neck of the snake. Nice s'ot, Renny thought. This new otter had guts. Renaud still breathed heavily as the body was still wrapped tightly against his chest, even though it was surely dead.

"Catch this!"

A little stiletto whizzed through the air and cut the bonds on Renny's footpaws as it landed in the ground.Renny looked up at his bound paws. How was he supposed to catch that? Renny ignored the fact and gripped the little knife between his footpaws. With a small flick of his ankles, the knife spun through the air and Renaud bearly caught it between his teeth. Breathing was hard as Renny pulled himself up ward to grab on to the hornbeam branch that he was bound too. A jerk of the head and the bonds were cut and Renny fell to the ground with a loud dull THUD.

"Otters are very loyal to their kind,it gives them a strength we evil creatures will never have.This isn't a very fair fight, is it? I will fight her myself.You want to save your little otter friend? well you will have to get through me."

Renny watched as a white weasel walking into the clearing and began conversing with the otter gal. Renny listened to what he had to say as he wriggled out of the dead adder's grasp. The weasel had a point. Fighting for blood does make you stronger than when you fight for money, but as the weasel attacked the otter who was saving him, he wasn't going to complement him.

At least two of Renny's ribs were broken as he stood up, which made breathing painful, but at least it was starting to level out. The vermin around Renny back off. They were afraid of what his new otter would do to them now that he was free. But Renny didn't look at them as he walked over to the fox, still holding the limp form of the snake.

"Oy." Renny spoke to get the fox's attention. The fox slowly spun around and had a look of pure horror on his face as Renny shoved the Adder's dead face into his chest, the psionous teeth jammed into his heart. The fox collapsed on the ground, as dead as a doornail. The rest of the vermin took one look at each other and ran off through the foliage. They were cowards, and Renny knew it.

"Alright.If this was a fair fight I would agree willingly, but as my bow is my only weapon I don't think this is right.But I would still be willing to duel you if you provided a weapon. I've had practice with a Katina before, If you don't mind I'll use that..."

Renny wrenched his Katana out of the dead Fox's grasp and tossed it over to the new otter with a look on his face that said thank you and good luck. Once he did so, Renaud too collapsed to the ground. This head swam with pain, his chest hurt him to breathe and his limbs were too weary to hold himself up. Breathing slowly,lying on his back,and the little knife still in his left paw, Renny looked over to see how the new otter was fairing with the white weasel.

[Vikenti Whitedeath]

(Bad post, but then again, when have I had a good one?)

"If this was a fair fight I would agree willingly, but as my bow is my only weapon I don't think this is right. But I would still be willing to duel you if you provided a weapon. I've had practice with a Katina before. If you don't mind I'll use that..."


Merce smiled. "You are right," he said, "this wouldn't be fair. But I can defeat you just as easily if you have a weapon as when you don't, so feel free to pick up the Katina." He stood back and waited for her to retrieve the katana. Suddenly, Renny got up, killing the fox with the dead adder. As the vermin ran off, Merce saw that it was reasonless to continue the fight. His employers were dead or running, why should he stay? Because he enjoyed it.

"Defend yourself!" Merce roared as he sprang at Silenis, an insane light in his eyes. He didn't even wait to see if she had caught the weapon. Merce was not fighting with honor. He was fighting, killing, all because he wanted to. Merce was no warrior, he fought with for no honor, for no glory, only for money and death. Merce was a killer. As he landed in front of Silenis he immediately slashed at her chest with his sword and tried to stab her in the head with his dirk.

[Elizabeth]

Silenis saw the otter break free. Silenis saw the Fox die. Silenis saw the glinting Katina fly through the air. In one swift movement see caught it. While all this was going on Silenis DID NOT fail to see The Mercenary poised for attack. She parried all of the slashes from his wicked blade. Then she tried to slash at Merce's head. Rather awkward she thought while fumbling the weapon slightly. She had of course no practice in swordsmanship and was rather bad at it. She backed off slightly after her first attack. This had better go better than it has so far or we're done for, She thought sadly as she looked at the injured otter lying on the ground. (Shortie but I don't have much time to post and I know know I really need to or Mista P will kill me... XD )

[Prankster101]

((Yes, Yes I would have Bethy. .......KIDDING!!!!! ;D ))

"You are right, this wouldn't be fair. But I can defeat you just as easily if you have a weapon as when you don't, so feel free to pick up the Katina."

The white weasel taunted as Renny through the Katana over to the new otter. It was a gentle toss, for he had not a lot of strength to toss with and he didn't want to hurt the otter tossing the blade. He watched the otter catch it nicely then the weasel charged her with a shout.

"Defend yourself!"

A glance passed between Renny and the new otter. She was a good fighter, but she obviously didn't normally fight with a Katana like his. Renny looked over and saw a sturdy Maple near his left. He grunted as he tried to support himself on his arms. This was going to take out a lot of his energy, but it was better to be out of the way of the fight. Renny struggled, pausing often for a breath from his burning lungs, to army crawl over to this Maple with the little knife.

Renny finally reached the tree and slouched against it. Breathing hard and grunting in pain, Okay matey...Ne'er do dat AGAIN! Renny thought to him self. From here he could defend himself if this fight went badly and he could get a better angle for watching the fight. As Renny noticed before, the new otter struggled with his blade, while the weasel kept up his barrage of deadly slashes. Watching the battle, Renny barked out advice to the new otter (thinking it was the least he could do...).

"Remember matey!" Renny called out. "Be a keepin' bath paws on da blade! 'Ave the center o' da blade matc' da center o' yer body! Footpaws light me hearty! Dan't let 'im take control o' yer fig't!"

[dyrisk]

The observant gray orbs watched every movement of the battle, while the triangular ears heard every minscule sound produced by the fighters - ah yes, and the single sea otter standing - no, laying down - far to the side of the mélee, barking out encouragement and advice to the female river otter who was clumsily slashing at a snowy white weasel with a sharp, dangerous looking katana. She was probably going to end up poking her eye out. About the same time he hypothesised this he noticed the sea otter was speaking with a Northland accent.

He could hardly introduce himself as a member of the same mountains; there was a mini war going on here, and it would be cowardly to avoid it. Instead, he simply selected the arrow he had killed his brother, sister, and parents with, strung it to the bow, and drew back. The muscles in his wiry arm tensed as he pulled, stretching the string of the weapon as far as he could, half closing one eye to aim at the white weasel. With careful precision, he locked on Merce's face, aiming for the closest eye to him.

He took a deep breath before releasing. The grace of the arrow arcing through the air on its path to another kill was astonishing as always, taking the fox's breath away. The bloodied bone tip flashed eerily in the sunlight as it continued on its path to the weasel's head. In the time it took to do this, the canid had already strung another arrow and, with military precision, he'd trained it on Merce's chest before letting fly.

Easily, the beast stepped out of the brush, raising an eyebrow at the weasel before snapping his hand up in a respectful salute to the duo of otters. "Dyrisk Flintclaw." he said briskly; he didn't need an enemy knowing his real name - Anubis. "Freelance Mercenary, Assassin, and Hunter. I've been tracking that fox and his gang for a while - nice of you to get rid of him for me." The words were polite, but cold and cutting as surgical scalpels even as such.

[Vikenti Whitedeath]

(I made a lot happen in one post. I hope you all don't mind!)

Merce brought up hs sword and turned off Silenis's clumsy attack with ease. He brought up both weapons for an attack when he heard Renny shout...

"Remember matey! Be a keepin' bath paws on da blade! 'Ave the center o' da blade matc' da center o' yer body! Footpaws light me hearty! Dan't let 'im take control o' yer fig't!"

"Oh, its to late for that now," Merce snickered. But suddenly, he puased and the fur on his neck pricked. He heard an bow being drawn behind him with praticed ease. Quike as a flash he jumped to the side and threw a powerful roundhouse kick at Silenis's back, hoping to knock her into the arrow's path.

"Dyrisk Flintclaw. Freelance Mercenary, Assassin, and Hunter. I've been tracking that fox and his gang for a while - nice of you to get rid of him for me."

Merce stood in a thingyy pose, leaning back against a tree with his weapons loose in his paws. "Well that's a long title for one so young," Merce said, "well you have just met Merce Whitedeath, the greatest Mercenary in Mossflower." Then he laughed, not the deep throated laugh of a man, but the high pitched laugh of a child. But even then there was tone Merce put into that made it sound like a cackling of a demon.

Suddenly, another rustle came from the bushes near where Dyrisk had just stepped from. A glint of steel showed from a drawn weapon the beast was carrying. As quick as a flash, Merce thrust his dirk into its sheath, pulled a knife out of his coat, and threw it at the bush. It flew through the air, for a second it shone bright in the sun, then it smashed into the bushes and was gone.

There was a moment of silence. Nothing moved. Then, without a warning, another white weasel stepped from the shadows. In her right paw she held a sword, in the other, Merce’s knife. “That’s a nice way to greet you own sister,” she said to Merce. She walked right up to him, looking him straight in the face. She handed him the knife, which he slid into his coat. “I don’t know you,” he said to the newcomer, turning his back on her. “Yes you do,” she said, “look into my mind. I have already looked into yours.”

Slowly, Merce turned back to the female weasel. He concentrated on her face for a moment, looking into her past, his past. Then he seemed to find something in her mind that made reel back as if struck. “You are my sister,” he said, “Verusha Whitedeath.” “But most important is that you are not Merce,” she said with a smile, “you are Vikenti Whitedeath.” Vikenti looked around, as if seeing the world from different eyes. “I am,” he paused, then roared, “Vikenti Whitedeath!”

“We must get away from here,” Verusha said, “we have much to talk about.” “But first,” Vikenti muttered, “I have something to take care of.” The he ran at Dyrisk, an evil light in his eyes. He brought up his sword with both hands and slashed downward at Dyrisk’s head.

Verusha turned to the two otters, smiling wickedly. Both would be easy prey for her. One weak and ignored, the other was a puny maid. She advanced on both of them saying, “surrender and you will be my slave, fight, and you will die!”

[Elizabeth]

"Remember matey! Be a keepin' bath paws on da blade! 'Ave the center o' da blade matc' da center o' yer body! Footpaws light me hearty! Dan't let 'im take control o' yer fig't!"

Silenis nodded grimly watching the white weasel the whole time. She moved her paws and got a better grip on the sword hilt of Renny's weapon. "I have to learn to sword fight." She groaned as she took another slash at the weasels body (The last swing had no effect). The weasel was an expert Silenis sadly admitted. His stance was cool and professional. His swings were effective and fast. His paws were light on the ground and his dodges executed perfectly. She watched the way he moved and fought and started to copy some of his techniques.

An arrow whistled past her head and another past her body. It had barely missed both her and the weasel. Obviously someone was firing at her opponent.

"Dyrisk Flintclaw. Freelance Mercenary, Assassin, and Hunter. I've been tracking that fox and his gang for a while - nice of you to get rid of him for me."

Silenis glanced up. A fox had emerged from the foliage and was saluting her and the other otter. What was he thinking? Silenis didn't say anything.

"Well that's a long title for one so young, well you have just met Merce Whitedeath, the greatest Mercenary in Mossflower." -Merce laughed-

That laugh was evil, cold, and eerie. Silenis shivered visibly. That laugh chilled her to the bone.

Seconds later Merce was drawing a sword and throwing it into a rustling bush.

“That’s a nice way to greet you own sister." Said a female white weasel who had just come out from the bushes.

“I don’t know you,” Said Merce turning from her.

"Yes you do,” Said the female, “look into my mind. I have already looked into yours.”

Silenis blinked. What on earth was going on. She glanced at the other otter to see how he was taking all of this nonsense.

“You are my sister,” Said Merce after a long disturbing pause, “Verusha Whitedeath.”

“But most important is that you are not Merce,” Said the female, “you are Vikenti Whitedeath.”

Vikenti seemed different. What was going on? Witchcraft?

“I am,” Vikenti paused then yelled, “Vikenti Whitedeath!”

Silenis took a step back as she heard his cry. Loud and wicked.

“We must get away from here,” Verusha said, “we have much to talk about.” “But first,” Vikenti muttered, “I have something to take care of.” The he ran at Dyrisk, an evil light in his eyes. He brought up his sword with both hands and slashed downward at Dyrisk’s head.

"Watch your back fox-boy." She muttered.

Verusha turned to the two otters, smiling wickedly. She advanced on both of them saying, “surrender and you will be my slave, fight, and you will die!”

"Then I prefer death! I will never be your slave..." Silenis growled, obvious disgust in her voice. "And leave the injured one alone." She said motioning over her shoulder to Renny. "You have no right attacking the weak and injured. If you do, you will forever be labeled a coward!"

[Prankster101]

"Oh, its to late for that now,"

"I have to learn to sword fight."

Renny continued to watch the fight and winced as the new otter admitted the need for practice. He knew that wasn't the best thing to say while you were fighting, but he decided to keep his mouth shut. Meanwhile he heard something off to his right and saw a fox of molted colors fire an arrow at the fighters. He gasped as the weasel pushed the new otter in the way, but let the breath out when the arrow missed the otter by a few inches.

"Dyrisk Flintclaw. Freelance Mercenary, Assassin, and Hunter. I've been tracking that fox and his gang for a while - nice of you to get rid of him for me."

"Ah...yer welcome?..." Renny said confusingly. This was just getting strange, but this fox seemed like it was on their side so Renny decided not to worry about it as the other beasts began to speak.

"Well that's a long title for one so young, well you have just met Merce Whitedeath, the greatest Mercenary in Mossflower."

Renny rolled his eyes at the weasel Merce, humble he was not. Renny decided that he had to do something about his ribs and that the fox might give him a minute to stall and get them back into position. He put his paws up to his chest and gingerly felt the broken ribs. There were two, on each side. Renny bit his lip as he lodged them back together with a jolt. "Cahh!" Renny gasped out. Pain swelled into his brain. The next few minutes were a blur as he regained his breathe and the pain levels went down.

“That’s a nice way to greet you own sister."
“I don’t know you,”
"Yes you do, look into my mind. I have already looked into yours.”
“You are my sister, Verusha Whitedeath.”
“But most important is that you are not Merce, you are Vikenti Whitedeath."
"I am, Vikenti Whitedeath!”

From what Renny could tell, a new white weasel entered the scene, almost like a twin of the other, and the other had a change of mind. Great , Renny thought, gulping down pain, more o' dem.

Danju Tobias Wildlough whisked cheerfully through the bows of the trees. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, today was a happy day. He had just gone for a swim and was now scrambling though the limbs of a maple, when he ADHD mind stopped him. Somebeast was talking. He wondered who it could be!

Danju nimble climbed over to where he could see and looked down at the ground. He saw two otters, one he felt like he had met before and another lying at the base of the tree. There was also a strange looking fox and two white weasels that looked the same. Danju listened to what they were saying. This looked fun!

“We must get away from here, we have much to talk about.”
"But first, I have something to take care of."
"Watch your back fox-boy."

A white weasel then attacked the fox. Danju giggled quietly to himself. That otter gal was a cheeky one, just like him! Or so he liked to think. But what he heard the other white weasel say took the smile right off his face.

“surrender and you will be my slave, fight, and you will die!”
"Then I prefer death! I will never be your slave...And leave the injured one alone. You have no right attacking the weak and injured. If you do, you will forever be labeled a coward!"

Renny gripped the maple tree as best as he could and pulled himself to his feet. After popping his ribs back into place he was still week, but he felt it safe to fight if he needed to. Still holding the little dagger in his left paw, Renny replied to the weasel. "Nay. Nay will ah surreendur ta ye villan. Ah'll fig't ye ev'n if ah be injured, ah'll furever be a fig'tin' ta mea last breat'e."

Danju growled to himself. He had to help those otters, but how? ......*CRACK* *THUD*...The Branch Danju had been perched on broke with a resounding crash and he fell to the grown, but as he hit the ground he rolled up ending up on his footpaws with his dirk out and ready. "You will have to go through me matey if you want to fight them!" Danju said bravely.

Renny gawked in amazement as the new otter fell from the tree. W'at in da world was 'e a doin' up deres? Renny thought to himself. Ignoring the fact for later he poised himself for battle. This wasn't going to end well.

[dyrisk]

Fate for Fate and Truth for Truth,
Eye for Eye and Tooth for Tooth,
Scorn for Scorn and Trial for Trial,
Bite for Bite and Guile for Guile,
War for War and Woe for Woe,
Blood for Blood and Blow for Blow.

Well that's a long title for one so young, well you have just met Merce Whitedeath, the greatest Mercenary in Mossflower.

The cackle that followed this statement seemed to have no effect upon the dusty-furred canid. Anubis simply fixed his dark, storm gray orbs upon the thingyy white weasel and let out a short, somewhat annoyed huff. "And if your laugh is anything to judge by, that's a long title for one so young." The canine raised a quizzical eyebrow, daring Merce to fire another insult back at him - as before, Anubis would simply shoot it down with his astounding logic. At least, it could be astounding at times. He didn't even flinch as the white weasel whipped a sharp, pointed dagger straight at the bushes - remarkable because of the fact it could have been aimed just as easily at him.

With a rustle of the foliage, another white weasel stepped elegantly out, holding the knife that had just been thrown. The fact that the canid contented himself was that it would be a lot harder to catch an arrow aimed by a very pissed off fox.

That’s a nice way to greet you own sister.

The statement was uttered in an amazingly self-confident tone, and it was immediately obvious the female weasel believed every word that came out of her mouth. Anubis barely hid a smirk. If that was how his brother and sister had planned to talk to him in the future, he was even more glad, if it was possible, that they had met their ends at the tip of an arrow and a gleaming saber.

I don’t know you.

This was the male weasel's non-committal reply to his so-called 'sister', but there was barely a pause before the stuck up female answered again.

Yes you do, look into my mind. I have already looked into yours.

The canid gave a startled blink. Beasts that could look into other's minds? In the name of Hellgates...what era was he in? Ah, it was not like they could do any damage, though; simply looking at his real name was not going to be the end of the world. Maybe they were lying.

You are my sister, Verusha Whitedeath.

Nope, they obviously could look into each other's minds, unless this was simply a well-planned trick. Anubis attempted to bite back his retort, but it came out anyway. "Was this a family gathering?" he asked sarcastically, his paw moving from his quiver of arrows to his gleaming saber. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude."

But most important is that you are not Merce, you are Vikenti Whitedeath.

Vikenti Whitedeath. Although he hated to admit it, the canid had to agree it had a nice ring to it. Even as such, Anubis knew this was going to turn into a bloodfest sometime soon. The female weasel was going to make him fight even harder than before. "Here comes the storm." the canine muttered softly.

I am, Vikenti Whitedeath!

"Look at that, he knows his name!" the canid grumbled bad-temperedly. "Must have taken him ages to learn it." Although, he reflected, it kind of had. Another comeback flashed to the tip of his tongue. "You know that little weasel standing by you? Well, she's already informed us you are Vikenti Whitedeath. So kindly shut your trap and find something new to say. I expected I would eventually die fighting, not by getting bored to death by repeated jabber." Of course, Anubis knew how the weasel was probably going to reply. Something like he was going to kill Anubis now, blah blah blah. Vermin types, so full of themselves. He knew who he was hunting next.

We must get away from here, we have much to talk about.

The female again. The canine spat on the ground next to him as the male started speaking.

But first, I have something to take care of.

Anubis had been expecting the headlong rush at him, the brutal swing of the sword that showed how inexperienced the 'greatest mercenary' really was. Every beast with even half of a brain knew that skill, not power, was the key ingredient to any battle. Smashing down at your opponent would not accomplish anything - unless they had a very wimpy blade. But the canine's was not, no matter what it would seem; it was specially made for times such as this.

With a bright flash of light, the saber moved up, deflecting his opponent's blade in a slither of steel. Not even bothering to move, the canine stared, unafraid, into his opponent's eyes. "Not as skilled as you say, eh?" he asked, flicking his weapon forth in an attempt to gouge out the left eye of his foe before bringing it back, ready to defend. Faintly, he heard the words of the female.

Surrender and you will be my slave, fight, and you will die!

Now Anubis could definately confirm the fact that the white female was stuck up. From experience, the canine knew no beasts with backbones gave up - better to die nobly in battle then subjected to a humiliting half-life as a slave with no freedom and just work ahead of you. It would probably be nicer in Dark Forest; even Hellgates seemed preferable.

Watch your back fox-boy.

"Oh, I'm watching my back." came the certain response. Coming from a fox who's back was against a tree, there wasn't much truth in the words except hypothetical.

Then I prefer death! I will never be your slave. And leave the injured one alone. You have no right attacking the weak and injured. If you do, you will forever be labeled a coward!

"Vermin don't care whether they be labeled cowards or heroes." was Anubis' desolate reply. "As long as they're able to beg mercy from overly nice creatures and add a few hundred kills of innocent beasts into the bargain, they're happy." He snorted, recognizing the fact that he killed innocents too, and for no reason more then fun. This mission was different, though - and he did not beg for mercy from anyone. As he'd thought - better to die nobly then begging your life to be spared. He went silent as Renny added his own reply.

Nay. Nay will ah surreendur ta ye villan. Ah'll fig't ye ev'n if ah be injured, ah'll furever be a fig'tin' ta mea last breat'e.

"True, heroic words." was Anubis' response from his cornered position. "Better to be dead then be a slave to a beast's will. Especially a vermin's." The last words were added sneeringly, and even 'vermin' as he was, he would never enslave another for his own benefit, unless his employer ordered him to do so. A snap sounded next to him and, even unable to turn as he was, he saw brown fur out of the corner of his vision.

You will have to go through me matey if you want to fight them!

"Don't be a fool." Anubis ground out. It was one thing to go fighting from the get-go; it was another to jump in and say you had to be killed before the others. That was usually a recipe for certain death - especially in the canine's eyes. [/color]

[Vikenti Whitedeath]

(short post, but its a fight now, not much to say)

"Not as skilled as you say, eh?"

Vikenti smirked but did not reply. It appeared his opponent was fooled by his apparent lack of skill. With his sword he turned aside the sword headed at his eye, then with his left paw drew the dirk from his belt and stabbed it up at Dyrisk's stomach. Then he slashes at the fox's chest with his main blade.

"You will have to go through me matey if you want to fight them!"

"Bold words from a runt like you," Versuha hissed at Danju, "very well. By the time I'm done slicing you to bits the others will just give up." Then she whipped her sword upwards at Danju, not a killing strike but a painful slicing one. Then she leaned slightly to the side and brought the sword down at his right arm.

[Elizabeth]

Now... the newly arrived Fox may have been on their side but he was already getting on her nerves. Maybe she was sarcastic sometimes but this was over the top. Every single thing that eachbeast said was treated with a similar comment. "Very rude..." Growled Silenis... "Why can't he just mind his own rotten business?"

"Nay. Nay will ah surreendur ta ye villan. Ah'll fig't ye ev'n if ah be injured, ah'll furever be a fig'tin' ta mea last breat'e."

Silenis gasped... He couldn't fight like this. Not now... She could handle the vermin if only he was safe and out of the way.

......*CRACK* *THUD*..."You will have to go through me matey if you want to fight them!"

Silenis smiled and breathed a sigh of relief at the same time as another of her kin came to help. Maybe now they would have a bit of a chance.

"Bold words from a runt like you. Very well. By the time I'm done slicing you to bits the others will just give up."

"Never!" Hissed Silenis through clenched teeth. "Not while I still draw breath mam...!" She started advancing on the female weasel, waiting to see what her first move would be.

[Prankster101]

"And if your laugh is anything to judge by, that's a long title for one so young....Was this a family gathering?......I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude.....Here comes the storm.....Look at that, he knows his name!.......Must have taken him ages to learn it.......You know that little weasel standing by you?....Well, she's already informed us you are Vikenti Whitedeath.....So kindly shut your trap and find something new to say......I expected I would eventually die fighting, not by getting bored to death by repeated jabber.....Not as skilled as you say, eh?....Oh, I'm watching my back......True, heroic words.....Better to be dead then be a slave to a beast's will. Especially a vermin's...Don't be a fool."

Renaud rolled his eyes at the fox. Did he ever stop jabbering? Seemed like he had a rude retort to everything. And apparently the other otter shared his opinion...

"Very rude...Why can't he just mind his own rotten business?"

Renny side commented to the other otter. "Got's ta agree wit' ye dere matey." He watched as the fox and the male weasel spar off. Not at the moment caring about the details of that fight he turned his vision back to the other white weasel. She really had the intent of killing them. The other otter didn't like that fact that Renny said he would fight his own fight, but he wasn't a weakling, and he was going to fight his own fights. The pain was slowly ebbing away, but Renny still kept his back to the tree, just incase.

"Bold words from a runt like you. Very well. By the time I'm done slicing you to bits the others will just give up."

Danju was ready for her as the weasel struck out at his with two piercing blows, one at his head and the other at his arm. Danju took advantage of his short height and ducked as both blows whipped quickly over his head. He popped back up again, sticking his tongue out at the weasel "Missed me!" He said grinning like a little child. He then succeeded in taking out another blade and stabbing at the weasel's middle as his dirk took a swinging blow at it's head.

Renny rolled his eyes in annoyance. Ye missed mea! Ye missed mea!!! W'at arr ye a doin' matey? Renny thought to himself. This was not going to turn out well.

"Never! Not while I still draw breath mam...!"

Renny like the attitude of this otter. She had guts, plus she still had his blade which could prove her words true if used correctly.
Renny watched her start to close in on the weasel while she fought with the younger otter. Renny did the same. Watching carefully to make sure he didn't need to jump in.....

[dyrisk]

Fate for Fate and Truth for Truth,
Eye for Eye and Tooth for Tooth,
Scorn for Scorn and Trial for Trial,
Bite for Bite and Guile for Guile,
War for War and Woe for Woe,
Blood for Blood and Blow for Blow.

The canid had been expecting the foe in front of him to turn away his sword; whether the weasel wanted to appear casual or not was up to him. He knew his foe was liable to retaliate; the dirk that flashed at his stomach was all too easily spotted. Anubis deflected the small blade with his long saber. His opponent then attempted some cutting slashes at the canine's chest; he simply held the saber, turning it from a horizontal to vertical position when needed and letting his foe's sword rebound against his own.

As soon as the white weasel's final slash was done, the canine smoothly stabbed at his foe's chest before bringing the saber up in a long arc, slashing at the neck and torso of his enemy with practiced grace and ease. Sitting there, they would be pretty evenly matched; as such, the canine would clench his other paw and bring it up in an attempt to punch the white weasel in the jaw. As he did so, he slid to the side, grabbing his bow as he did so, leaping back a few paces, and then standing, fully armed.

Bold words from a runt like you, very well. By the time I'm done slicing you to bits the others will just give up.

Anubis barely resisted yelling out, "I told you so!", instead managing to hold it in. He shot Danju a warning glance and took out his bow. Fitting an arrow to it, he'd pull back and launch at Vikenti before whipping out another, stringing it, and aiming it, like a messenger of death, straight at the back of Verusha Whitedeath.

Gray orbs narrowed in concentration as he held his arms steady, refusing to let them shake from the tension of the bow.

Very rude...Why can't he just mind his own rotten business?

The canine raised an eyebrow. "Ungrateful, eh?" he asked. "I came along and started to fight your enemies to HELP you, and all you can do is complain? All right then."

Turning the arrow on the bow away from Verusha, he aimed the sharp arrow at Renny's chest and let out a sharp laugh before releasing the pointed arrow. Buzzing, the arrow leapt through the air towards its injured target. The canid bared his teeth.

Never! Not while I still draw breath mam...!

Another arrow arced through the air, heading for Silenis, followed by an arrow headed for Danju. "Idiots." Anubis said simply, aware he was now on precarious ground; making enemies of both sides was not recommended.

[Vikenti Whitedeath]

Vikenti watched with a smile as his enemy deflected all his attacks. Then, with grace, he did a back flip away from the fox, letting the canine's swings meet air. Dyrisk did not appear to keep fighting sword to sword. He backed away, drawing his bow. Of course Vikenti knew what he would do next. The white weasel rolled forward toward the fox, right under the arrow. The he jumped up, slashing with his sword. However, this attack was not meant for Dyrisk. Instead, it cleaved the arrow meant for Verusha in half in mid air. The two halves could not stay on a forward path, falling to the ground. Vikenti smirked as his foe started shooting at the otters. Foolish, thought Vikenti, very foolish. Then he took a quick pair of slashes in a "X" at Dyrisk.

******

"Missed me!"

"Yes, I did miss," Verusha said with a twisted smile, "but your luck will run out otter, and then I will eat your flesh!" She sucked her stomach in just in time to avoid being stabbed, then blocked the dirk with her sword. Then she swung her fist, trying to smash it into Danju's face while she slashed at his legs.

[dyrisk]

(Merce. I am obviously going to dodge all of your attacks if you continue acting like an invincible idiot. Honestly...ROLLING under the arrow and CUTTING the next one in half in mid air? I'm just going to keep dodging, kid.

I just read down all the posts. Nobody is allowing one single hit upon their characters. Since I realized this, I'm thinking 'I'll dodge everything too'! This is going to set a bad example for newbies. Please, people, characters don't dodge everything. Fix and I'll also get hit a few times.)