Crisis of Kismet (Final Hour)

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

Freya looked to her unorganized vermin soldiers that lacked the formation dicipline that all the others had. She was silent still untill hearing the orders of Ashstipe.
"The city has hidden passages into it... correct?" asked Freya to the Merrito Messanger. He nodded after a moment pointing off to the way he came.
"These... passage under their watch spot... Not far run... Leads to the courtyard in front of the main capital structure... Follow."
"ASHSTIPE! There is a passage into the city!" called the fox as the Merrito warrior began running to lead them to the secret passage he was speaking of.

Darkhawk seemed to be having no problem as he easily blocked the two assassain's blades. He moved quickly, kicking the one at the side to knock him away as he focused on the second one. He gave another had kick, kicking the warrior high into the wall. The other he had kicked away charged again making Darkhawk do one simple move, a reinforced hit with his sword, sending the Merrito into the ground. Zeffer charged him making the Sephron-Azurrian warrior smile with a look that said he was enjoying the 'game'.

[Kiara]

"You are all crazy, if you want to fight him." She say looking at the white fox, knowing from his talk of the 'badger lord' that he was from Salamandastron like Darkhawk was.
'What have I done...' Talia thought to herself as two of the warriors escorted her away, opposite of the way Zeffer and some of the others were going. 'If they knew I was the one who brought Darkhawk here...I'd be dead for sure.' She thought, turning her head to watch Zeffer and the other shrink as both them and herself walked away from the meeting point.
Now she couldn't do anything if she wanted. She doubted that these two escorts would let her out of their sight.
Sighing, Talia followed the two to the command center, having nothing else she could do for the moment.
'At least I'm away from that crazed Vulpuz'

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna meanwhile was still near the Magus's dead body. She was kneeling down, the spear still jammed beneath her chain mail. She couldn't tell how bad the injury was, and was reluctant to remove the spear to find out. She knew she needed help, but with everyone eagerly running to the wall, there didn't seem much chance of that happening. Luna looked up from her injury, and glanced around with pain filled eyes. She swallowed deeply, trying to rid herself of a lingering fear that the wound would be fatal. There was a chance it wasn't as deep as it felt, she told herself. Still, waiting for someone to come to her aid was leaving her too much time to think on it.

[Ashstripe]

The Badger's eyes widened and his teeth glistened into a very wide smile as if it were the sole piece of good news that had reached his ears for the entire battle - it wasn't that far off.

"Change of plans!" Ashstripe roared again, wondering where all this sudden breath and energy had been hiding all this time, he'd have to ask himself that later. "Get into step! We're going for a walk!" He bellowed again, the previous agenda of charging wildly towards the enemy had been cast aside for much more favourable conditions.

There it was again, the euphoria was rising, peace was now once again within his grasp. The one thing he strove to maintain and find for his entire life time was nearly here, another few seasons of peace and living quietly was precisely what he needed. After all, he wasn't getting any younger.

__________________

The Captain quickly lent over and caught the young leveretts weight, he was weak, he was tired. He was in no condition to go on. Here he was, breaking down right in front of him and still Breeze managed to keep firm a grim smile. Despite all this, the young hare continued to fight his implied order, begging him to be sent to fight.

Breeze already had the blood of countless soldiers on his paws, both friend and foe alike, he wasn't sure if he wanted another. He gazed around him in thought, almost, mindlessly, as if he had ignored Snowpaw entirely. Gently resting the young hare he stood up and listened intently to his Lord's orders being delivered faintly on the wind. His self-proposed mission just became a whole lot easier.

"Lissen lad...If yore gonna start cryin', I'm gonna cry," He pointed in the general direction of the rest of the squad, "Their gonna cry and those vermin chaps are gonna laugh at us wot?" He grinned lightly as he turned to face Snowpaw, all too willing to carry out his 'threat'.

[Rocky]

Snowpaw couldn't help but smile at his captain. Wiping away some still falling tears, Snowpaw stood back up and hugged Breeze. The hug reminded Snowpaw too much of when Snowpaw hugged his father before the battle, when they were re-united. That memory brought more tear to the Private's eyes. Releasing the hug, Snowpaw wiped the tears from his eyes then said what he couldn't say before, "A'll go back tae camp if you want, sah." Snowpaw was torn in two; Hald of him wanted to fight, while the other half didnt. Snowpaw knew Breeze lost a friend when Jacksaw died. If Snowpaw died, that'd be another friend gone for Breeze. "Ah think I'll go tae camp." Turning around, Snowpaw started to walk towards the camp.

((Bleh, awful post... AWFUL!))

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

Freya walked over toward where Luna was noticing the bad spear wound that she had. "Healer!" she called to the nearest healer that was in the area. A particulary bloodied up individual came over showing he had already tended to a number of people came up to look at the Badger Lady.
"Don't worry, Luna, you'll be patched up in no time." he said as he immediantly tried to help.

[ferretface]

Retchen felt the need for some cheer on his side of the field, as some of the vermin were dismayed at their <cheiftains wound.
"Cmon lads!" he yelled. "Their boss is dead, an their castles burnin...press the attack! After all lads," he lowered his voice conspirationally, "think of the plunder ter be had if we get ter the castle before the whole thing burns down!"

[Luna Broadsword]

"That's good, 'cause I would really like not to bleed to death." Luna said in a slightly breathless and fast way. She was struggling to hold back her pain, and hold the spear in place at the same time. "Only problem i can see Doc, is that my armor is gonna prevent anyone from really stopping the bleeding effectively or getting at the wound. If it was just my mail, we could remove it rather quick, but seein' as there's plate over it..." She looked toward Freya for help, knowing she couldn't let go of the spear to try and remove her own armor without causing a bloody mess.

[Ashstripe]

((Hm...May as well get Breeze doing something.))

A a twitch of the lip became a grin, a grin became a laugh, a laugh became a joke. If Breeze didn't know any better, he'd say he was having the time of his life.
"Ho now lad! Is that wot a Long Patrol 'are would do? Eh? Wot wot!" He cried loudly with a boisterous laugh for good measure, "I'd sure 'ope not!" Paws cupped around his mouth for good measure, he continued his little pep-talk - despite Snowpaw being a few metres away from him at best.

"Anow..Iff'ns we's all finished mopin' 'bout, there's still ta' matter of th' festival eh?" He folded his arms in a huff once more, gazing out to the burning horizon to which the allied forces were charging towards,
"Tis' got everythin' but th' guest of honours doncha know?" He thought aloud, seemingly conversing with a nearby subordinate despite the rather pressing conditions.

[Rocky]

Stopping in his tracks, the young private turned to face Breeze, "No sah, tha' isnae what a long patrol hare would do." Snowpaw said, a smile creasing along his bruised face. Walking over to Breeze, Snowpaw stared into the eyes of his commander, his mentor, and above all, his friend. "So sah, when do we start the raid? I'm itchin' fer some food." He smirked. Turning to face the horizon with fire creeping its way up to the skies, Snowpaw pamled his saber, looked up the the heavens, and motioned to his heart. "Ah'll miss ye, father." Another tear coarsed its way down Snowpaw's battered features. Turning back to Breeze one more time, Snowpaw asked the one question that had been lingering in his mind for minutes. "Sir... Will you... Adopt me? Ah... Ah lost mah father.. and... you're the closest thing Ah got ta a family member now..." Hanging his head low, Snowpaw started to cry more, the tears falling on the sand, and some falling on his feet. Looking back up, Snopaw hugged Breeze again as he awaited a reply.

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

Freya frowned after a moment, not really certain about what she could do. However, she did move closer so that she could attempt to help to give the doc to assist the injured Badger Lady. Merculously, it seemed that the spear had missed anything vital. The She-fox held the spear in place, keeping it from moving about as well as keeping it steady so that the wound didn't bleed as bad as it could.

"I am growing tired of your presence, Merrito... It is quiet an annoyance... like an itch were I can not reach... How long do you think till the great and powerful Badger Lord comes? I don't know... I really just want someone to fight that is actually worth the aggrevation... Those we worshipped as gods should be a fight worthy of a Sephron... I shall kill all of the Thyal... and I shall take there spot as god... Hmm... That has a ring to it... The Great Lord of Hellgates acsends from the bowls of inferiority, to rise and cast down his own gods. My people were foolish... I want to fight a Thyal... NOT a Merrito weakling!" yelled the seemingly possessed Darkhawk as he beated away Zeffer again.

[Ashstripe]

Breeze's eyes widened in sheer shock, first, he wasn't used to the sudden display of affection - from anyone. Secondly, the very notion of him being a father figure in anyone's eyes was laughable. But Snowpaw was sincere about what his request.

"Eh-e-eh wot? Y-y-yer wot?" Breeze was at a loss, for once in his life, he was speechless. Something that the rest of his little squad found absolutely hilarious. Amongst the chuckles and laughter came a smaller hare and with her came a shadow of discipline and stoicism that quickly drilled into the consciousness of every hare present - it was none other then Kenzie.

"Wot's this then? Th' good Captain's speechless?" She gave a wry grin, letting her shield drop for now was something the Colonel could not resist. The young hare smiled again, deciding to exploit this weakness in her long standing battle with Breeze,
"Course ol' Breezer's would be glad t'! 'e'll teach ye' 'ow t'be a proper hare-chap won't 'e?" At this, Kenzie slapped his back heartily, winding the still stunned Captain.

"I...err...Yes o' course, Kenzie can be y' ma! And I'll be th' pa'!" Breeze eventually regained his awareness of the situation and the day when he lost a verbal argument with Kenzie would be the day that Ashstripe willingly ate his stew and complimented him on it. At this, Breeze grinned slightly, he would have to make another batch in celebration of the war ending.

[Rocky]

The young private was astonished as Breeze was at a loss of words. Was Snowpaw dreaming? No, surely not for it seemed all to real, and the fact that Kenzie was in the picture clearly made it life-like. "'Ow tae be prper? Ye sayin' ah ain't proper, ma'am?" He said, not quite sure whether he would momentarily have Kenzie at loss of words like his captain and his new father was.

Then, Snowpaw felt like all the joy in the world had all rolled into a ball and just landed in Snowpaw.

The young hare's lips curled into an ear-to-ear grin as Breeze said 'yes'in his own manner. He hugged him tighter, probably cuting off air, and said, through sobs, "Thank ye, sir." Then, releasing the bear like hug, Snowpaw straightened up, fixing his posture then deciding it wasn't really worth keeping it up, seeing as how the battle was soon to be over and the fact that Snowpaw was drop dead tired. "So, Jacksaw always told me ye made the best stew," Snowpaw said, not realizing that when Jacksaw had told him that he was big time being sarcastic.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Varjak Barkpaw stood and watched.

The rogue hare's dark eyes flickered back and forth on the heavily tattooed face, both hefty scarred paws gripping a katana hilt, drawing the sharp sparkly weapons from his waistsash, licking the blades each in turn, charging into the battle. And straight at 'Retchen Bowbeast. A hare interrupted his flight, winking at him. 'How'd ye get ye're face all tattooed up like that, eh wot-'

One stab of a katana went through the hare's shoulder. It staggered, another katana pushing through its stomach, and then it dropped to the ground with pleading in its eyes. Varjak finished the fight wih a thrust to the hares throat, the continued his charge at 'Retchen.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

The Messanger nodded after a moment. "I's 'ver at the command post that 'e took 'ver earlier... E'rry!" said the Merrito warrior, still having diffeculty converting his words into the woodlander speech. It wasn't a very far run, 20 minutes or so to the gate. Quickly he moved as fast as he could to see the Merrito Warriors that had taken the post.
"JAVA!" yelled on of the Merrito as he waved them toward him, an obvious sign that things were either wrong, or something had unfoiled that wasn't according to plan. The Messanger ran rather quickly do to his longer legs as well as stronger looking build. He stopped in front of the guard to hear the report.
"Zeffus-zâ Mesua-Ni..."
The Messanger glanced back to the warriors that he brought with him. "Zeffer not return... eh' was do t'come back... Supreme-Zâ mus'a be givin' trouble. Be careful when fight... 'caz... Supreme-Zâ of Empire is last Sephon... last Azurrian... Supreme-Zâ... Darkhawk... I not tell... My Appologiz' Ashus-Zâ."

[ferretface]

Retchen saw a hare hurtling at him with a pair of swords. But this was no Long Patrol soldier. This was a Juska, and a Juskarak no less, a deadly rival to his own tribe. Or, ex-tribe. Regardless, he calmly shot an arrow straight and cleanly at his chest before leaping to his right and grabbing his sword.
"Bring it on if ye think yer Juska enough!" he yelled.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Varjak had just about enough time to move a paw and slice the shaft cleanly in half. But a Juska beast like him was expected to do that well, the hare reflected, grinning.

Bring it on if ye think yer Juska enough!

'Aye.'

Varjak Juskarak Taggerung shouted out at the top of his voice as he cleanly slashed an archer's head off with a katana, then another, twirling both blades in a deadly pattern of light-reflected steel. Now he whispered the words to 'Retchen and the archer he swung at with his blade, using the words of Zann Juskarath Taggerung, the otter Deyna.

'Nobeast escapes from me. I am the Taggerung!'

[Rocky]

Axe's eyes went redder at the sight of a Juska hare. It was never before kown that a hare was a juska. Then he noticed the lightning bolt. That hare was a taggerung. Or at least that's what Axe thought. He ran over to Retchen, swung his sword at him, then concentrated on Varjak. "Fight me if you think your brave enough." He growled, then pointed his massive broadsword at Varjak, growling all the way. Then he charged at him, and swung up, down, then to the left and right, then held the blade pointing Varjak, and thrust forward.

[ferretface]

(And just randomly...GO OBAMA!)

"Oh yeah? Taggerung, huh? Not a bad gig for a puny hare!" So saying, 'Retchen ducked under the slashes of the Taggerung and then was saved only by honed reflexes and a warriors instincts from being decapitated by the wild swipes of the badger warrior. As the badger screamed a challenge of his own, the mercenary rushed well out of range of the pair of them.
"Hey! Yew two!" he called to a couple of clueless rats.
"Yeh?"
"Wot yew want?"
"Get be'ind me, an' protect me wid yer life!" barked the ferret.
"Or wot?" The bigger, braver and dumber one asked, trying to be tough.
"Or, I'll kill ye both where yew stand! Now GET BE'IND ME!"

The Lieutenant Parram Headtaker was almost frothing at the mouth. So many vermin on a field at once, and some were even on his side! Now, he'd barely even started to sate his bloodlust so far, and sticking rats from a distance was starting to lose its novelty. He then saw a very strange thing. A hare attacking a ferret. The thing was, the ferret was on his side, and the hare was an enemy! A badger had swung in there and nearly taken them both out of the picture. His gaze flickered to another badger, a female who'd taken a nasty wound to the gut. The leader of the vermin. Both events were happening in the front lines, and would provide an opportunity for some up-close bloodshed. Grabbing his zweihander, he recklessly charged into the fray to cut a way through to the injured badger.

EDIT: Involved the just-approved Parram Headtaker, newest and least sane of the Long Patrol.

[Ashstripe]

((Is that a challenge to our dysfunctional family that we call the Long Patrol, 'Retchen? =P

And yes, I'm glad he won too ^^))

Three became one. As the huddled masses of the would be Long Patrol gathered together into a shred of their former disciplined glory, not one had the energy to regain their bravado, let alone make themselves presentable in the eyes of the enemy. Such things were a formality to say the least.

But this was it, this was the final push. The enemy had been routed by some sudden fear and the passage to their capital was open. All Ashstripe had to do, was lead the final charge and kill whatever hell-borne sovereign presided over these fanatics. Quite a plan if he ever had one.

But his plans always sounded all good and well on paper but in practice he usually failed to account a significant amount of factors, in this particular scenario, he had failed to account for fatigue. It was subtle at first, he had felt the ache throughout the entire battle, the slow but sure signs that he was exhausted became more and more apparent with each swing and step he took. But this was different, it was as if he had just finally realised he had a body, a body that was all too glad to remind him that it was wounded in numerous places.

The Badger glanced himself over, most of his chain-mail had been discarded or broken, he still had a gauntlet that looked as if it had survived a life time of battle - truthfully it was only the second one it had endured. His torso was still covered in the honeycomb of metal rings, but at many points could he see the links breaking and parts of his defence were only suspended by one rung. Ashstripe smiled lightly, if armour wasn't meant to take damage, then what would he wear it for?

The weary eyes eventually turned to his other paw, it was still tightly woven over the handle of his sword, the latter of which was faring more well then the former - for now. But it was re-assuring, he always needed to see if his weapon was in paw, he was numb, he was cursed and probably insane at that - so who knows what atrocities he would've committed in his rage? Or blunders.

And finally, he appraised his feet, they were still walking and he was still making unconsciously making progress towards his destination. That was most fortunate for him, he simply couldn't expend the extra energy required for the thoughts. But each step came with a sharp throb of pain, each sharp throb of pain killed it's predecessor and claimed its place as the badger's suffering whilst being his salvation.

He squinted at the horizon, his vision blurred and view distorted from motion, he could make out the hares that had instantly obeyed and charged ahead of the pack, the cries were quite apparent.

"C'mon lads and laddets! Lets-go and be heroes!" Cried a young female officer, probably fresh out of training and only now finding herself at the front lines of battle. She was armed with a rather standard sabre and very little armor, So naive...She'll be dead by the end of the battle....The Badger frowned, did he really think that? Was he that cynical? No, it was probably the weariness talking - not him.

"Right b'hind yer Blossum!" Another young spry male hare came sprinting past into his peripheral vision, he charged with his lance pointed low and his arms tensed. In contrast, he bore as much armour as his rather thin frame could support - Heroes and Legends tend to be dead... Ashstripe mused again..How could he not have such control over his own thoughts?


______________________

"Eh?" Kenzie was rather unaffected by Snowpaw's sudden questioning, she was far more mentally resilient than Breeze was and when she spoke her mind - she cared little for the reactions of others.
"Yore still young lad!" She smiled sweetly once more, "And y'need a big ol' veteran like Breezers t'show y' 'ow to walk like a real hare-chap!"

Ignoring Breeze's little spiel on his vision of a future family life she glanced over to the passage that the hares had targeted. The small Colonel was in her mission frame of mind once more, the forces in her general area and therefore command were lagging behind the march. She frowned as she glanced over the the horizon and then snapped back to her destination - something definitely didn't feel right about this.

This wasn't the first horde she had fought and won, let alone one that worshipped some god whom demanded the blood of the wood landers. But they had always been false gods, figments of the barbarians imagination and justification for their actions. But this was different, the sceptical instinct wasn't there and the horde had suddenly routed themselves and she really doubted that was from the actual battle.

Another chill cut through her as she shuddered and clutched herself lightly, this was most certainly not right. She was a rational young hare, she was Colonel Kenzie! One of the most disciplined and cold-logic based hares to ever grace the ranks of the Long Patrol and here she was, trembling at mere spirits?


______________________

Another of Breeze's many rambles was cut short by words he simply could not comprehend. According to his vocabulary they were not supposed to be used in this context, he stared almost blankly at Snowpaw, his boisterous air lost for a fleeting moment.
"Thank ye...Sir?" He scratched his ear in thought, seemingly processing the sentence and eventually formulating a reply,
"I ain't no sir lad!" The Captain returned to his default expression and composure,
"Just call ol' Captain Breeze Chuffachop, Breeze or Breezers! Tis' wot everyone else calls me doncha know?" The Captain nearly broke into one of his long winded stories about the importance of his family name and history and his many achieved accomplishments but was thankfully cut short by Snowpaw's inquiry.

"Oh aye!" The hare's eyes crinkled happily and his ears twitched in excitement, "The best stew y'll e'er taste on this side o' Mossflower! Course I'm servin' a bunch of gruff army chaps with no appreciation fer fine cuisine!" He placed extra emphasis on the final word, cuisine, proud that he could string something as sophisticated as that into his vocabulary so fluently.

"Don't I Kenzie? Wot wot!" He glanced over to his would be rival and found her gazing over the horizon, lost in her thoughts and trembling lightly....Trembling? Such a word was never used in the same sentence as Kenzie! Breeze opened his mouth to fire off another smart alec remark, but found himself silent. Something definitely was wrong with Kenzie.


((Heh, I apologise for the raw volume of the post. I just had a sudden impulse. By the time I had finished Ash I realised it was a tad bit large..))