Bored in Dusk...

[shade]

In the rising darkness of dusk, low on a very thick root, sat a slim figure. Feminine and proud, Shadowsleek, a plotting and sly weasel, seemed deeply echooed in a daydream. Obviously far from where she sat. Her black cloak was wrapped closley around her body for warmth, making her very slim form seem like a blob, camuflaging with the scene around her. Boredome was also written on her serious face, betraying her deep thoughts.

Truthfully, she wanted to be near a warm fire, able to tell her genious, planning-to-over-throw Redwall thoughts to one she could trust.

[/color]

[Glavon]

The wind swirled lazily through the bare branches, producing an eerie howling noise like a wolf's song as Arawolf Rainclaw the river otter continued to travel through Mossflower. No birds frequented the forest at this time of year; there was no birdsong. There was nothing but wind and the gentle trickle of water, as yesterday had been warm and thawed most of the ice.

The otter felt like a giant walking block of ice as the cold penetrated her thick chocolate brown fur. The icy blade of her weapon, a wavy edged flamberge, seemed to burn into her leg. With nothing to keep her warm, she felt confident that she was going to freeze to death.

Her bright eyes spotted a flicker of black among the branches. She put a paw down to rest on the cold handle of her flamberge and approached the figure.

[shade]

A shiver ran down SHadowsleek's spinthe feelign of being watched crept on her. The theif stopped gripping her thin wool cloak around her and let it fall back so she could draw her weapon, a nifty curved sword gifted by her father.

Standing to her pink padded feet, the black weasel held i tout infront of her, her large brown eyes squinted ahead, was that a looming figure drawing close? It was impossible to tell at this time of night. " Who goes there? " [/color] she warned, hoping very much that someone was before her and that she did not look like a foold crying out in the dark. If it was a mugger, she could take care of the vermin, she was unafraid to slay her own kind, even though she rather not. If it be a horde member, it better be one of Tatteros, because she was beggining to get cold.....

[lorki]

Cold was one of those hard comforts for Sleet. It reminded her of home, and brought the same sorrowful chill that thinking of her childhood often brought. It made her long for warmth but she couldn't bring herself to sit beside a fire. The cold reminded her that she could feel.

The small ferret made her way through the sparse woods, she wasn't exactly sure of her location, she always had to figure things out again once winter inched in on the woods and some years were more difficult than others. She was going north, though, and she wondered absentmindedly what would stop her this time. Every year she stepped through the ice and snow and moved...home? But she'd yet to make it, either fear had turned her around or some other thing had demanded her attention.

Fur the same color as the skies above the woods bristled along her neck and down her back. Uneasily the black cloaked ferret raised a paw to brush over her face, some beast was near by. Sleet purposely moved off her careful silent course and snapped a few twigs with her steps, brushed against a tree and cast her dark eyes around.

[Glavon]

The black creature, who Arawolf now realized was a weasel, stood up, dropping a paw to a sword by its side. The otter warrior grinned in her turn and drew her flamberge, noting that she really needed to give it a more thourough cleaning soon; the blade was slightly brown because of the blood it had spilled.

Who goes there?

Arawolf's ears flicked slightly, and her blue-gray eyes blinked once. Now, her eyes freshly accustomed to the darkness, she could make out the female weasel's shape easily, the thoughts of cold forgotten as she watched the vermin and prepared to attack.

She smirked coldly, but made no reply; she couldn't get a good sarcastic remark out of that.

She heard the sharp snap of twigs suddenly. Pinpointing the location, she whirled around and watched a small gray shape take refuge behind a tree.

[lorki]

Sleet stopped sharply, her eyes watching as the otter drew a weapon, there was a beast beyond it... a weasel perhaps? She could see the glint of metal in what little light penetrated the forest. No emotion streaked over her face, she waited, hoping the otter would have replied to the weasel... but it seemed that the only reply was the produced blade. Not a good sign.

The ferret shifted uncomfortably, she half heatedly hoped that this otter had a reason for being here or for raising her weapon but that didn't seem to be the case. Too late now. Sleet took another step, her expression set, dark eyes hard on the otter. Her paws never sat far from the rows of knives about her waist but there was no need to pull them out yet. "Hello," she said steadily, her ears tilted back as she examined the chilled expression on the otters face.

[shade]

No reply. Trouble, without a doubt.
Raising her beautifully crafted blade higher to show she was armed, the weasel flicked her other paw to her belt, were three sharp daggers lay in wait, Happen something jump out at her, they would find a well aimed dagger whizzing towards their head. She hoped it wasn't a mad-beast or bored assassin, or, worse yet, a redwaller. If anything, she silently begged it was vermin as herself so she could make some sort of truce. Sad enough, she knew it wasn't Merce or Tatteru, or else they would have shown their selves by now. Lovely luck!

She was a thief; no hard-core battler. Though, her father taught her how to defend and fight with a sword very well. But, why must her mind jump to conclusions? If battle could be avoided, she would certainly stay clear from it. She lowered herself a little, glinting her blade in the moon light infront of her, hoping to see who dare bother her. A tall figure, certainly, but her had trouble telling Stoats, weasels, and ferrets from each other, ket alone this silent creature before her. Much to brave for a normal vermin....hah, it clicked, it was certainly a waterdog! Stupid pests, always thinking mighty of themselves. Well, Shadowsleek may change this ones midn dare it have thoughts of battle.

[ " Hello "

At first, she thought the water-dog had uttered the words, but when she saw no lips move, she realized their was a second. Gah, another otter? They traveled together, dont they? Well, better make herself heard......

She suddenly rushed forward towards the figure, hoping to win some surprise. Shadowsleek made a sudden stop when her eyes told her she was close enough and pointed her sword at the otter's chest, who now Shadowsleek could certainly tell was female. Her quick motion almsot suprised herself; she usually would have fled. " I said to show yourself, water dog " [/color] she snarled, a fang showing and her eyes searching over the beast's body until she saw the weapon, a flamberge was it? Sturdy, and stained with blood. Of all beasts she had to run into, it had to be a vermin slayer
Suddenly, her brown orbs went off the otter and examined the form behind her. Another female, of course, but this time it was of vermin kind, a ferret, kill if she was wrong. It seemed calm with a steady voice, but looks may always be deceiving. Luckily, this one didn't seem to want to murder her.

[Vikenti Whitedeath]

Merce Whitedeath was taking a break to eat. He had been tramping around in the woods all day and he thought dusk was a good time to stop. He sat next to a fire, eating a roast pigeon he had shot and cooked. "Boring day," Merce said to no-beast in particular, "nothing done, nothing won."

"Who goes there?"

Merce's ears pricked up as he heard the voice. It sounded like a voice he had heard before. Still, he could not put the voice with any face he remembered. He had met a lot of beasts on his travels. Merce stood up and went to investigate. He didn't sneak or creep as any wise beast would have done. He strode along confident his fighting skills would best anybody or anything he ran into. He took his pigeon with him, determined not to lose a supper over a unknown voice.

Merce entered the area to see three females standing about in various states of battle readiness. There was a ferret, an otter, and Shadowsleek. Merce knew her at once from her black fur an ordinate sword. Merce walked straight up Arawolf. He pointed the half eaten carcass of the pigeon at her, smiling broadly. "So," he said, "you got an argument with Miss Shadowsleek here. Well, then you have an argument with me." He made no move to grab any weapon. All Merce held was a dead bird.

[Glavon]

Hello.

Again, the sturdy river otter made no reply to the vermin. The ferret was not worthy of a reply. Plus, it would give Arawolf away, not that she didn't expect that the black weasel knew that she was there. In fact, she fully suspected that. The otter met the gray ferret's gaze steadily. But this vermin didn't seem to be that bad. She'd save the ferret for last, after she'd disposed of the weasel.

I said to show yourself, water dog.

Arawolf, sensing a great spot for a sarcastic remark, took advantage of the fact that the weasel knew she was here. "And I know you can see me fine, weasel. Are you too lazy to simply look? And do I look anything like a dog made out of water? I have brown fur, not blue fur. For that fact, do I look anything like a dog?"

So, you got an argument with Miss Shadowsleek here. Well, then you have an argument with me.

"Ooh, I'm so scared," she laughed sarcastically at the white weasel who had popped up out of nowhere. Eying the bird carcass with apparent distain, she stared into the white ferret's eyes.

"It's not the middle of winter, idiot. Get rid of that white fur. Anybeast could see you from a mile away."

[lorki]

The creature did not respond, Sleets head tilted lightly sideways.

"And I know you can see me fine, weasel. Are you too lazy to simply look? And do I look anything like a dog made out of water? I have brown fur, not blue fur. For that fact, do I look anything like a dog?"

Well that certainly set the tone. Sleetfang considered stepping back, the otter was focused on the weasel. A bounty hunter perhaps? A vermin slayer? Sleet detested both, but it would probably be better for her not to get the attention. Sleet knew most vermin slayers, or had at least heard of them and the knowledge was often mutual. She was an assassin and (much less often) a thief and poisons trader, her name wasn't unknown to the community this otter apparently belonged to... Not to mention she was an easily recognized creature with her shortened tail and tattered ear.

But then again... it could simply be an otter in a bad mood that took snappish remarks to seriously and thought that over analysis of a sentence was clever or witty.

Neither seemed particularly lovely to deal with.

Something else stirred in the area, this creature was difficult to miss even in the dark. Sleet glanced over the white beast, a weasel, she presumed by the way he came to defense of the darker one. And an albino to boot, interesting. And he was holding a... a dead bird?

A smile pulled at the corner of her mouth as the otter went off on another short tangent. That was something positive out of this little run in. While the white weasel pointed the dead pigeon like a threat at Arawolf, Sleet couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

"You know," she interjected in the same calm low voice, "I think you all might be getting ahead of yourselves, maybe.... forgetting your manners? I've yet to hear any form of introduction."

[shade]

"So," -- "you got an argument with Miss Shadowsleek here. Well, then you have an argument with me."

She flicked her gaze over to a white weasel......Merce. Praise luck! A smile twitched the cornor of her mouh once she saw what was held in his forepaw: a dead bird. You never knew with him. She flicked her bsuhey tail with simple greeting and thanks.

"And I know you can see me fine, weasel. Are you too lazy to simply look? "

A laugh turned n her thraot, high-pitched an airy. " I would hope, water-dog, no one but a blind mouse couldnt see someone five feet ifnrotn of them " she jabbed her saber forward a little, to barley touch the tips of the otter's chest. Surley this pahteitc being had seen her rush forward?

" And do I look anything like a dog made out of water? I have brown fur, not blue fur. For that fact, do I look anything like a dog?"

Another luagh, this was a very amusing otter, " Chalenge an old offense, air-head? " a slick smile appeared on her maw, this otter wanted to play sarcasim, she would throw more remarks to shut her up, " Well, you swim in water, and you look like a sloppery dog. Thus, youre a water-dog. "

"Ooh, I'm so scared,"

" You should be, you air-headed water-dog " she would never let the water-dog thing go now, to her, this otter's name was water-dog. She would not hold any offense to her good compainion who was as sharp as a dagger wiith wits.

"It's not the middle of winter, idiot. Get rid of that white fur. Anybeast could see you from a mile away."

Shadowsleek rose an eyebrow, now this beast was commenting on his fur? " Well, in the middle of winter ithink you'll stick out like the big spike you are. I'm sure some beast will run over you, thinking your dung with that fur. Not to mention your dry sense of humor and plain looks will only add. " a pplaying msile lifted on her dark black face. Now Shadowsleek was losing pateince, on emore offensive word form this water-dog's mouth and she would run her threw with her sword.

"You know," --- "I think you all might be getting ahead of yourselves, maybe.... forgetting your manners? I've yet to hear any form of introduction."

An eye-roll came from her great brown eyes. Was this ferret conterdicting? " Shadowsleek Shadefur " she said, qith a quick roll of the tongue like she said nothing.

[Glavon]

I would hope, water-dog, no one but a blind mouse couldnt see someone five feet ifnrotn of them.

Chalenge an old offense, air-head? Well, you swim in water, and you look like a sloppery dog. Thus, youre a water-dog.

Well, in the middle of winter i think you'll stick out like the big spike you are. I'm sure some beast will run over you, thinking your dung with that fur. Not to mention your dry sense of humor and plain looks will only add.

Arawolf had stood in silence as the weasel said this, the black vermin's blade touching her chest. And, as soon as the weasel was finished, Arawolf stepped back and burst into hysterical, slightly demented laughter which echoed around Mossflower. A beast wouldn't have been suprised if the creatures at Redwall could hear it.

Barely choking out the words from her laughter, she was aware that probably all the beasts here would be looking at her as if she was slightly insane by now. "Haha! That's why I love this job, going around looking for vermin to kill. Not all of them are as funny as you, though!" she laughed. "Sorry, haha, I didn't want to stick myself on your toothpick because I was laughing too hard, weasel," she chuckled at Shadowsleek and abruptly regained her composure, still breathing heavily from laughing so hard.

I think you all might be getting ahead of yourselves, maybe.... forgetting your manners? I've yet to hear any form of introduction. the gray ferret said. Before Arawolf could remark on this, the black weasel spoke.

Shadowsleek Shadefur.

Arawolf smirked. "That is the second stupidest name I've ever heard. Well, at least you aren't called-" she snickered a bit before finishing, "-Sweetfang."

[Vikenti Whitedeath]

"It's not the middle of winter, idiot. Get rid of that white fur. Anybeast could see you from a mile away."

"I'm afraid I don't have a choice miss," Merce said ruefully, "I'm an albino. Anyway, I don't have to sneak in the dark."

I think you all might be getting ahead of yourselves, maybe.... forgetting your manners? I've yet to hear any form of introduction.

Merce turned to the speaker, a ferret. He grinned at her and said, "My name is Merce Whitedeath, mercenary. My name is simple, but I'm a simple weasel." He stopped and took a bite out of his pigeon. With his left fore-paw he reached for his dirk. He didn't draw it, but he gripped its black handle tightly. The otter seemed to by looking for a fight, and he didn't want to be caught off guard.

[shade]

"Haha! That's why I love this job, going around looking for vermin to kill. Not all of them are as funny as you, though!"

At first, Shadowsleek jumped back with the sudden outburst of laughter. Surely a water-dog vermin-slayer would never laugh? Again, quick judged, wasn't she? Well, the otter deserved everything she said dare she kill more of her kind. " Its fun killing us? Of lovely " she murmured under her breath, drawing back her blade a little. For the moment, the otter wasn't in attack mode...much. And for so, Shadowsleek wouldn't stand here pointing a blade. She was a little suprised that another weasel ,ferret,stoat or fox hadn't given this much lip to Arawolf, well, maybe they did, and said the wrong thing before losing their head. This made the weasel sigh.

"That is the second stupidest name I've ever heard. Well, at least you aren't called-" -- "-Sweetfang. "

Sweetfang. Well, it was hard to imagine ant beast whos tooth had sweet words and lovely manner sbehind it. That sorta ring meant it was a vermin name, redwallers and loners were named simpler names like Emily or Mattimeo or whatever. Maybe not, maybe so, it did not touch any care. " Stupid, aye? I suppose you say that to evrey vermin who says their name outoud before you stab them " a look of disgust crossed her mouth, she hated those who wentr around to slay vermin.

"My name is Merce Whitedeath, mercenary. My name is simple, but I'm a simple weasel."

Again she flicked a glance too Merce, another smile drawing on her lips. In her eyes, he was far from simple. He need not be albino to tell what his personalty be.

[lorki]

"Haha! That's why I love this job, going around looking for vermin to kill. Not all of them are as funny as you, though!"

The fur along the back of Sleets neck bristled. Her automatic response was immediate anger and she felt it bloom as a heat in her chest and reach out to her limbs and face. She lowered her head just slightly at stepped forward, her black eyes staring with a bit more dark malicious intent they perhaps they had held before.

"That is the second stupidest name I've ever heard. Well, at least you aren't called-" -- "-Sweetfang. "

"Well that's awfully interesting," she said cooly, her words sharp and clear, "My name is Sleetfang, not to be confused. Sleet, if that is easier." Half of her hoped the otter recognized it, half of her hoped it could lend her into a fight, she hadn't been looking for one but nothing bit at her rage more than a pompous vermin hunter.

"Stupid, aye? I suppose you say that to every vermin who says their name out loud before you stab them "


Sleet nodded, glowering while she spoke, her paw brushed the edge of her jacket back and hovered over her collection of knives, "aye, stupid seems to be the word of choice. A good general overused insult. Appropriate."