Crisis of Kismet (Final Hour)

[Rocky]

Jacksaw just looked at Colonel Kenzie, smiled, and gave her a wink. He kept a level tone. "Ah'll take mah 24 hares and 16 editional hares. Ah'll give 'em four haversacks each. Ah'll go foragin' an' find what Ah can, ye ken?"

Jacksaw took the forty hares and went foraging. He found loads of food: Apples, carrots, leeks, seacress, peaches, pears, potatoes, onions, and some more edible roots. They got enough food to fill every single haversack. Altogether, there were 160 full haversacks.

They were on their way back to the Long Patrol. They made it back and Jacksaw ran to Colonel Kenzie. "Oi! Ah found tons o' food. 160 full haversacks of Apples, pears, potatoes, all manner o' foods. Ah'm gonna distribute the food now to yon beasties." He pointed to the Long Patrol. He gave her a wink and started passing out food.

Jacksaw gave everyone an equal amount. He even gave the cook some potatoes, seacress, carrots, and onions to the cook, in case the cook wanted to make soup or stew.

After Jacksaw was done passing out food, he walked up to Colonel Kenzie. "Shall Ah make oop a tray of food and give it to Laird Ashstripe? Also, Ah found a fresh water spring up yonder when Ah was foragin'. Would ye like meh to bring the same forty hares and fill up flasks for each other hare, and Laird Ashstripe?"

[Kiara]

With the sound of metal ringing in Talia's ear, she looked around, but could not see anything - just yet - she shook her head and looked at Darkhawk. "I don't know what you mean? What are you talking abo---"
She was cut off with the group of honour guards, surrounding them. "...Ohh, you mean that..." The she-fox say looking around at the circle of honour guards. She then looked over at the old fox as he spoke to her. She never really cared for the old fox because he was just that, old.
'Ya, well I better be getting something' She though and just simply smiled and nodded at the Archmagus. "It was an honour. I am just glad to be back home." She said shivers going down her spine as the old coot looked at her.
Talia smiled again and steeped away from his stare, and started to follow the pack of honour guards that were escorting Darkhawk back.
'Have they not got my last message? I told them to wait! But no matter...I'm done."

[Ashstripe]

Kenzie's bitterness slowly subsided with the dutiful hare's response, such a calm response; really it was a wonder if her attitude was fooling anyone these days.
"That won't be necessary, Captain." She replied in a formal manner, "His Lordship has had his fill." There was a slight pause in her reply, water sources would be good to secure.
"Go back, gather wot y'can and get yer paws wet, we'll need that water and keep it nice and open wot?" An expression almost like a smile was present on the hare maid's features; not quite a disciplined frown, but not quite a smile either.

((Ahh such an empty post..))

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

Zeffer made a low growl as he looked at Ashstripe. "Badger Lord... I am going to stab the next one of your rabbits that come up to talk to you." Zeffer had no intention to carry out the threat, but was merely voicing his annoyance at the several intruptions.
"We need to attack at least two posts... That would cause a large enough hole in the defense... There..." Zeffer circled two defense points that had between them a dam.
"We hit there and that should be..." Zeffer paused for a moment one of his soldiers came over.
"Ula'za hâstïa..." the soldier said in the Merrito language. Zeffer was silent for a long moment.
"Tōla?" Zeffer replied as he stared. The warrior nodded as he backed away. Zeffer was silent as he thought of the words. "...Or mutual 'friends' approach..." Zeffer meant friend not truely as friend.

***
The WARR Army was approaching the resistance's position. Do to Talia's spywork, the empire had been informed on the movements of the resistance. When they were comming, who were fighting, and most importantly, how many were in the ranks. The marching could be heard in the distance, the sound thundering threw the rocks of the mountains.
***

The Archmagus smiled at Talia with his normally creepy eyes. The old magus followed his Elite Guards as they escorted the two back to the Fortress.

(Hope you don't mind, Kiara, if I move the scene... as fun as RPing a mile walk... It isn't too fun...)

Rosethorn was sitting within his throne room, a grin on his face as he viewed the models to his peoples conquest. For the most part they had been the dictators of the world, the single greatest power in the world. So many races, over so many lands had bowed before the might of the Empire, the empire his family had brought to be. Rosethorn smiled darkly as he thought of final victory. He would be remembered as the ruler of the world, the only who rivaled that was Vulpuz himself. From one of the entrances from a Watch Post opened revealing several Elite Guards, Talia, and the magus. Rosethorn's grin disappeared the moment he saw his son in the ranks.
"...You were successful..." said Rosethorn as he stared at his disgrace of a son. "...Any... Trouble?"

[Rocky]

Jacksaw saw somewhat of a smile on the Colonel's features. He simply smiled back.

"Yes, sah!" He replied promptly. "Ah'll take mah hares and go fora--" He cut off suddenly. He just saw a black hare with a single white paw walk by him. "Twighlight?!" he said suddenly. The hare turned around and looked at him. "Dad?" the strange looking hare said. Jacksaw walked over and gave him a hug. "Ah thought Ah've lost ya! What are ye doin' here?" Jacksaw asked. Snowpaw told Jacksaw of everything including his name changing. "Ye changed your name?!" Jacksaw asked. "Yes, da'. Ah also joined the Long Patrol as a private!" Snowpaw replied. "Mah dream has come true, Dad!" It looked like Snowpaw was going to burst into tears.

Jacksaw noticed this and invited Snowpaw to get the water with him. "Och, AH'm bringin' forty hares and Ah'm goin' ta get water for yon hares, care ta join?" "Yes!" Snowpaw replied promptly.

Jacksaw saluted Colonel Kenzie and set out to get water. He had forty-one hares now and each carried 10 flasks. They filled up the flasks and marched in formation with Jacksaw and Snowpaw leading.

Jacksaw made it to camp and walked over to Colonel Kenzie."Ah've brought the flasks o' water. Each hare carried 10 flasks and they're all filled oop. Ah'm goin' ta distribute the flasks. Here is two flasks. One is for the Ole Badger Laird if'n ya wants ta give 'im one, and one is for you." He gave her the two flasks. "Ah'm goin' ta distribute them, now." Jacksaw said. "Oh, and Colonel... If yon beastie--" he pointed to Zeffer "-- tries to stab meh, Ah'll spit 'im on a javelin!"

Jacksaw glared at Zeffer, then walked away.

He passed out all the flasks and gave 3 to the cook that way he could make broth.

After Jacksaw was done, he went to talk to Snowpaw about what happened and what he missed.

[Ashstripe]

Had Zeffer not been one of their more important allies, Kenzie would've grinned or even laughed, but that would be bad form. Instead, she opted to wipe the lapse of discipline off her face and keep in step;
"I'll keep that in mind, Captain." She replied as she accepted the flasks being handed to her, "Stand easy after y'done wot?" That would be her final order for a while, lest the enemy had nothing to say on the matter.

Ashstripe simply smiled lightly at Zeffer's growl, he was the pivot on a very dangerous scale here.
"I'll let ye use mine blade." He replied simply, of course should it even come to a situation such as that, things wouldn't be so simple. He raised an eyebrow after the white fox had finished conversing in his odd tongue; mutual friends?
Breathing a deep sigh, he felt the handle of his sword reassuringly, as if it was under threat of being stolen at any moment.
"They be wastin' little time.." He muttered.


The steady pace of feet hitting the ground echoed throughout the mountain and reached the ears of many hares in the camp, a huge echo of dropped sp oons(Censor -_-) and other kitchen finery clattered on the hard ground as the hare's mobilized for what they assumed would be combat. Breeze pulled his head of the pot that he was devouring soup from and felt his rapier at his hip. He took a few paces away from the make-shift dining area but could not bear to leave. As he reached for his new 'comrade' it was quickly slapped by Sarge, the warm mauve liquid spilled all over the ground as Breeze gave a cry of dismay; a casualty of war.

With a little more then a quick glare to Sarge, he assumed his position, yelling orders and other raving threats as he went,
"To arms lads! Laddets! Th' vinegar's hit the fire now! Wot! Hoho! Young Harold's gonna show 'em their innards eh?" He ran wildly, the string of encouragement/orders constantly streaming from his mouth, quite frankly he was making more noise then the rest of the camp combined.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

Zeffer growled loudly with a hint of hostility in his voice as he looked at the 'rabbit' of the Long Patrol. These hares understood nothing of his Merrito pride. Actions that the hares did might have been a natrual thing for them, but to the Merrito it seemed disrespectful, and even dishonoring if action wasn't taken. Zeffer sighed after a moment as he controlled his anger. Some of the Merrito soldiers glanced back but said nothing as they ate. Zeffer's commanders came over to him.
"Môzmu... Empa Fiva'va um-"
"Please... enough speaking in our old language... We have nothing to hide."
"T'ee hare insulted yar' honor..."
"Call me beastie? He is merely protecting his honor... I called him rabbit... they perfer hare. Do not be troubled." replied Zeffer as he looked at the Badger Lord for a moment. "Merrito is ready to fight... Men... To arms..." Instantly the Merrito stood and fell into formation as commanded.

The WARR Army was matching closer, drums pounding as they remained in formation in the narrow passes of the Northern Mountains. There numbers mattered very little do to the fact they couldn't overwelm the enemy with them. In the lead were some of the high officials of the WARR Empire, such as the Master Warlords of the army as well as a Magus. They were there to offer to the enemy a peaceful surrender. Of course they knew that the enemy would never agree.
"The magus and I shall go on ahead and speak to the barbarians. Stay here an await our return." said one of the Master Warlords as the a drums signaled halt. The Higher officials continued to move forward so that they could meet with the Badger Lord and the other leaders of the Resistance. They moved quickly until they were on the outskirts of the Resistance's encampment. They remained out far enough not be be overwelmed and captured but close enough to be in view.

[Luna Broadsword]

(Sorry for the long absence. When I come up with a good excuse for it, I'll be sure to tell you.)

Philip gave a small groan. It felt like they had just started resting, and already there were getting up. They were lucky that Luna had taken a squad of men on a scouting mission for intel and food, or the horde might have had a very sparse last meal. As it was, the food had been cold, and hardly heartwarming. "No beast should 'ave to face 'ellgates on such a pathetic last meal." Philip complained to himself. He stood up, and roared. "Alright men, ya see the 'ares packin' up. Tha' means we're doin' the same! Hop to it, an’ try to be wee bit quieter than they!" Philip shouted, and than got into formation himself. He was in the front ranks, and would remain there until Luna came to lead the march. "I tell ya, there 'ad better be a bloody feast waitin' fer us at that mountain we came from." He said to no one in particular. He glanced around, and noticed a hare had managed to get mixed up in their ranks. He was kept from commenting on this when one of his fellow soldiers picked up the thread of Philip's dreaming.
"Donncha know capt’n that they're gonna have the biggest party this side of the ocean when we get back?"
"Aye," another soldier said, excitement in his eyes at the thought. "With a fish all decked out an’ roasted, with lime an' lemon and some of tha' green stuff."
"Dancin' an music,"
"A nice warm fire,"
"October ale straight from Redwall 'erself,"
"Yeah, an Luna won't even make a face when we drink ourselves silly with it,'
"She'll be so drunk in it 'erself, she won't 'ardly notice."
The soldiers chuckled at this. Luna might have an insane sparkle in her eye, but she still ran a strict army. As long as it made them rich, they generally didn't care.
"The girls will all be swoonin' over us war heroes," Even the intruding hare chipped in now, laughing with the others in the horde.
"Aye, an' I'm gonna be the biggest hero of all!" The hare exclaimed loudly.
"As long as there's a nice big warm bed, all give ya all me glory." They all let there minds wander to the warmth of the scene.
"Back behind a wall that will keep away the wind," The hare said.
"With the smell of the sea to take away the smell o' this place," Philip finished their peaceful scene. He shook his head, clearing it of the vision. "First things first though. We gotta get out of these cursed mountains, an' there's only one way to do that.” They all nodded, the dream of a warm place gleaming in their eyes, and fueling their determination to win.

Luna had returned from her second scouting mission in time to hear the clatter of spoons and the banging of pots. She shuddered at the awful noise the various clangs made. Couldn’t they be a tiny bit quieter? She cursed under her breath. “I suppose they already had the meetin’ without me… a well, I’ll get that bloody snow fox to tell me all about it. Make sure the men are ready, an’ no one’s getting’ cold feet… Figuratively o’ course.” Luna said to the soldiers accompanying her. They nodded wearily and left her to seek out Zeffer. Luna quickly found him and Ashstripe talking together. She bit her lip, reluctant to break into this little scene. Somehow, seigin’ things was a lot more easy when was just me, she thought and with a slight sigh she walked over to them.
“Sorry I’m late,” She said cheerfully, a large smile on her face. “I ‘ad to check out the local scenery. What ‘ave a missed?” She hoped to get this over quick, so she could check on her army and make sure they hadn’t gotten into to many fights with the hares. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Philip or her men, it was just that she thought they’d tie her second to a tree and attack the hares for no apparent reason… She mentally assured herself that they would never do that to the hares, and that the Long Patrol was perfectly safe at the moment… Except of course for the WARR army being after them.

[Rocky]

"Oi! Lissen to Cap'n Breez! Hasten oop there! To arms!" Jacksaw roared. "To arms me buckoes! If'n ye go any slower, Ah'll ahve your guts fer garters!" Jacksaw was running around yelling orders to everyone.

Jacksaw walked up to Ashstripe and took off his long bow and notched an arrow. "M'Laird, if'n ye need meh, Ah'll be right by your side." He tipped him a wink and stood right by him with his arrow still notched on the bow.

Jacksaw said to Zeffer "Ye know how ye called meh 'rabbit'? Weell, if'n ye keep calling meh 'rabbit' Ah'll just have te call ye puppy dog, ye ken?" Jacksaw smiled dangerously.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

As soon as Maj. Greenburrow heard the order of the call to arms he readied his axes, put on his helmet, and checked his breast- and backplate, shouting orders to his troops.

"Weapons ready! Form up! Officers to me!"

[Ashstripe]

"Just the start of the battle." Ashstripe replied quickly and cynically as he reached to draw his sword from it's make-shift sheath on his back. But he paused as he saw a few march forward, separate from the rest. Probably the leaders or some kind of official representatives of the horde.
He raised his paw slowly, "Hold!" He yelled, his voice banging off the rocks and into the ears of his hares. Before he took his leave to meet with these leaders he simply smiled and replied to his good Captain.
"I'll hold ye to that, lad." He gave a light chuckle as he began to stride towards the leaders of the horde.

The order rang true and the hare's immediately stopped their panicky preparation, most if not all had armed themselves and now it was simply a matter of falling in and listening to their superiors.
Breeze marched around confidently, striding back and forth in front of the ranks, all to prepared to give the order to his respective squads to move forward and secure the pass, of course no one would be giving that order other then Ashstripe. Kenzie was beside him, a keen eye sizing up the soldiers, some looked tired and frightened, others showed no sign of worry and the rest? Prepared as they could be expected to be.
"Keep an eye on y'regiments Major!" Kenzie barked out at Greenburrow, "Get in position, be ready to flood the blinkin' pass wot! Y'take the left side Greenburrow!"

Sarge leaned on his bow with his particular regiment of archers, their long bows all polished and their strings fresh with bees wax, a good quiver of arrows on each beast's back, tipped with good sparrow feathers. Seized not too long ago from 'volunteers' of the war effort.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

"Puppy?... I'll show you what this 'puppy' can do in combat... weakling..." growled Zeffer before turning to follow Ashstripe. He was the general of the Merrito Warriors, and it was only befitting if he followed to represent his race. Zeffer pause in mid-step as he noticed Luna.
"Well... you missed breifing... Contrats... We are going to go meet with the 'noble' WARR Leaders... For a... Final effort to peace...hehe... more like surrender."

((Since Naja is NPC.... I am stealing her *Kicks Darkhawk* My wildcat!))
Naja heard the noices that the made her ears point upward. The Badger Lord was walking toward where some other warriors were. After a moment she heard the Merrito Leader move off as well.
"Supreme Chancellor... Te' Badger Lord is meetin' with WARR Leaders..."
"Thank you..." replied the blind Wildcat as she walked forward to follow.

The WARR Leaders watched as their enemies approach. A grin came on the Magus's face as he walked forward as well. The fox was rather tall, similar build to Rosethorn, with the same blood red eyes. He was by far younger and was not nearly as decerated as Rosethorn.
"Greetings!" he said loudly so that the Resistance leaders that approached could hear him. "It is custom to speak to the opponent before battle... More civilized..."

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

((...I'm stealing Naja back...))

"Hey, lookit!" said one of the vermin under Freya's command. Freya was looking over her soldiers like a shepard to a flock. For a moment, she was off in her world, thinking about everything that was happening. It made her sad, even angry but she easily controlled her emotions as she turned to look at what the vermin was telling her to look at. She saw several of the leaders, Ashstripe, Zeffer, and Naja heading off toward the meeting group. She stood tall for a moment before turning to follow.
"Ike... Keep an eye on the soldiers..." she said before following. Ike was a rather large and intiminating looking soldier, with a large sword at his side. He nodded slightly before looking at the Freelancer and Vermin soldiers.

[Kiara]

(don't mind at all)


Talia shrugged. "Well, would I be here with him right now, if I wasn't?" She said with a smile on her face. "...Took a little persuading, but i got him in the end. I wasn't expecting to see you for another few days. You must have been in a hurry to see your son..." She said. "..and me.." She added under her breath.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna bit back a retort, choosing to pretend Ashstripe hadn't spoken instead. She heard Zeffer, and mentally rolled her eyes. Such pleasantries were usually dull and pointless. For a moment she wished she was back among her own army. Luna saw the leaders approaching their enemy, and squared her shoulders. She'd rather march into the Dark forest than let them claim all the effort behind the coming battle. In a few quick strides she caught up with them, examining their foes with dark eyes. Luna knew WARR was a serious opponent, and not beasts to take lightly. She would watch them carefully, and see if she might locate some of their weaknesses through careful examination.

[Rocky]

"Och, weel, ye puppy, Ah doonae need ta be strong to beat ye in combat, ye ken?" Jacksaw said to Zeffer, still having that dangerous smile.

"Steady in the ranks, hares." He said calmly. "Weapons at the ready in case them beasties try anythin' to ole Laird Ashstripe, Zeffer and yon cat Ah doonae know."

Jacksaw walked over to Snowpaw. "Ye scared mah son?" Snowpaw didn't bat an eye. "Me? Scared?! Ah doonae think Ah will be scared, Da." He had a strange but dangerous glint in his eye; sensitive but... dangerous. "Och, weel, thats mah son!" Jacksaw clapped Snowpaw on the back.

Jacksaw walked over to Sarge. "Oi, shall Ah get the archers and slingers in formation, sah? Ah'll have archers in front and slingers behind. Ah'll set 'em oop so it looks like this:

He dug in the sand with his feet.

X= ARCHER
O= SLINGER

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Course, there will be more archers an' slingers, sah. Plan look good, mate? If not, Ah'll let you make the plan, mah friend."

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe nearly spat out at them, feeling like he was a reckless young pup once more in his homeland. But he steadied himself as he continued his confident stride towards them.
"Aye, good to know who we're carvin' up and why." He called out even-handedly, his feet dug into the ground with an abrupt halt. That was close enough, they could communicate without yelling but they couldn't stab each other yet; as much as Ashstripe would've relished the chance to lash out at the enemy that threatened the peace.

Sarge twirled his mustache appreciatively as he grinned, his cheeks nearly pushing his delicate spectacles off their perch,
"Jolly good form m'boy!" He chuckled and slapped the Captain in the back, he was a higher rank but he was still a fair bit younger then he was.
"Y'heard 'im chaps and chappesses! Fall in, quick smart, blink and throw eh?" He, for the lack of a better word, barked out quickly, in between his chuckles and pats of encouragement.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

"Y'ar disrespect is nu't needed..." said the Magus as he stopped so that he was close enough to see the large Badger Lord of Salamanstrom, Cresent Moon Master, Azurrian Chancellor, Merrito Chieftain, and Freelancer Tribal Leader. He stared at them with blood red colored eyes. The Magus smiled after a moment as he looked at what the empire called an 'inferior' breed of creatures before him. Though Wildcats and Foxes were in the empire, they were not Irean or Sephron.
"My name is Amazar... Magus of the Empire. I am given the task of tryin' ta' enlighten the savage beasts of our warrin' future colonies 'bout the way of Vulpuz... It is our custom... Do ya' know whom Vulpuz is?"

[Rocky]

"Ok, Sarge!" Replied Jacksaw. "Archers an' Slingers, form a ring around meh and Ah'll explain yon plan." He pointed to the formation in the sand. "Ok, Ah need to have archers oop front and slingers in the back." There was shuffling and bumping but they finally made it to formation. "Och, Ah need yon archers ta' bend down so the slingers won't crack their slings over yer heads." Jacksaw shouted.

Jacksaw walked over to Sarge. "Care ta join meh? Ah'm gonna be givin' out some orders but Ah'm also goin' te be aimin', ye ken? Ah've heard yer not too shabby with a bow so Ah thought Ah would ask ye'." Jacksaw waited for a response.

[Ltc. Hubert Greenburrow II]

"Troops, we take the left flank! Get in position! Archers, slingers, and javelins go to the rear of the main body! Lances, spears, and pikes up to the front! Until the order is given, don't use your swords or any other close-range weapon." Greenburrow strode over to the long-range weaponbeasts.

"Archers, slingers, javelins, form into three ranks; first rank slingers, second rank javelins, third rank archers!" Greenburrow turned to a Captain. "You sir, are in command of the long-range weaponbeasts from this day forth. Here's what you'll do. When you see the villains coming, order the first rank to fire, then drop down and reload and order the second rank to fire, then drop down and reload and order the third rank to fire, then drop down and reload and order the first rank to fire and so on. Understood Lieutenant?"

The Lieutenant stood to attention and saluted. "Yes sah!"

"Very good." Major Greenburrow walked to the front of his company of two-hundred or so hared and looked to Ashstripe, seeking his approval on his battle plans and decisions.