Sentry in the Shifting Sand

[Prankster101]

The setting sun beat harshly upon the sand. The cloudless sky was a beautiful blend of yellows, reds, pinks, and blues. Too many hues to describe and too beautiful to paint. The perfect reflection of the sky lay upon the great waters of the Western Sea. The waves of the great sea have calmed down slightly and gently lap at the wet sand. A few way-wered sea gulls cry out as they circle the magnificent dunes. The gentle sea breeze is just that, gentle. It takes the last of the sun's heat away leaving you feeling refreshed and cool.

The mighty mountain of Salamandastron stood in the middle of this serine picture. The strong solid rock stood proudly, catching the last of the sun's rays on its Western side, and the soon to come veil of darkness on its Eastern side. The Home of the perilous Long Patrol and Badger Lord never looked stronger than it did now.

All of this perfect beauty was lost on the lone runner upon the sand. The brown hare's fur stuck out in contrast to the pale yellow sand. He ran with an awkward gait, but in did not appear to slow him down; it only made him faster. Faster..faster...The hare ran with a solid pace. He couldn't be late. Those toads from the mashlands south of him could not make him late. He would report on time!

Corporeal Dallas Dwayne Delory Devereux's navy eyes were locked on the mountain ahead of him, his ears flapping in the wind behind him because he was running so fast. His twin scythe blades gently clinked together in their scabbards belted to his back. His large paws pounded the sand as he erged them to go faster. The little ankle bracelet did not move as his legs pumped like pistons.

But then he stopped. Dallas came to a heart-stalling stop. He heard something. Something he shouldn't have heard. His eyes flashed back at Salamandastron. This can't take long. He had to be back on time. He silently drew his blades from their scabbards and crept over to the dune where he had heard the noise; the sand gently shifting to conceal the sound of his paws. He snuck up the dune, so his shadow would not be seen by whoever was behind it. He slowly peered over the dune, to see who made the noise.

[Wildrun]

Mapel Wildrun was deeper in trouble than her footpaws were in the sand. Oh, how she hated her utter lack of fighting ability! The amphibians surrounding her certainly made it easy to wish for.

"Back off!" she hissed, swinging the staff she carried to and fro, pointing at first one toad, then the other. "I have nothing of value! Nothing you want, anyway."

"We'll decide that," burbled a toad with a marshy cackle. The ampibian in question suddely sprung forward, webby hands extended to make a grab for Mapel's back. With a startled cry, the mousemaid leapt back, smacking the staff down with all the power of instinct. The taod croaked in surprise, narrowly avoiding a clonk on the head, and looked at his comrades.

The rest of the taods laughed uproariously, as if this were very amusing. Mapel was panting hard, eyes darting madly. She knew there was nothing in her pack the toads would want, unless they were more fond of literature than she gave them credit for. She could simply let them have a look in the bag to prove it to themselves that there was nothing they could possibly want from the lone mousemaid--then again, Mapel highly doubted the pack would leave her be. It was fight or flight, and Mapel was in no position to attempt either.

Sand trickled from the dune abover her down into her ears, and she took a deep breath. It was almost dark...

[Elizabeth]

An arrow whistled past Maple's head hitting a fat toad in the stomach with a dull thud. The toad fell backward on the warm dry sand gurgling sickeningly. From behind a large sand dune Silenis Wildlough stepped out. She looked slightly disheveled with sand in her brown fur as it was blown around by the wind.

Silenis blinked once as she saw the creature she was attempting to help. She was glad she stepped in. A single mousemaid, not nearly prepared for any battle, and alone with a gang of rotten toads gathered around her. Silenis had no love of these slimy froggy creatures and had not regretted killing the first one.

Silenis sidled up to the mousemaid. Drawing her dagger from it's sheath by her side she held it in front of her. "Listen maid." She said speaking for the first time, "Take this, if they get too close to you, you know what to do. But, Please, don't lose it, and return it when you're finished." Silenis looked fondly at the engraving on the side of the blade. She ran her paw over it then handed it over reluctantly to the mousemaid.

The toads were advancing on the pair. With a cry Silenis spun around and shot a toad that had crept up behind her. "Defend yourself!" She cried. "Use that staff of yours, ok?"

[Prankster101]

(( Thanks for posting...I was beginning to thin no one would!.. ;D ))

As Dallas peered over the dune, he found the original creator of the noise. The toads were back. He inwardly cursed himself for not killing enough of them. Right now a small pack of maybe half a score or more (about 10 sense nobody made a count...if y'all don't mind....) had surrounded a mousemaid with a staff. She was trying to protect herself with little fighting ability in her paws. She held a brief conversation with the toads while defending herself.

"Back off! I have nothing of value! Nothing you want, anyway."

"We'll decide that,"

Then a warty toad jumped her and what looked to be out of pure instinct the mouse gave the toad a rather good thumpin', much to the amusement of the rest of the slimy crew.

Before Dally could intervene an arrow skimmed into the the melee, taking a toad with it. An otter ran beside the mouse giving brief directions while taking out yet another toad.

"Listen maid. Take this, if they get too close to you, you know what to do. But, Please, don't lose it, and return it when you're finished. Defend yourself! Use that staff of yours, ok?"

Dallas could no longer hold it in. He must act, NOW! His scythe blades gripped tightly in paw, Dally leaped from the top of the dune letting lose his battle cry.

"EEEEEUUUULLLLAAAAAALLLLLIIIIIIIAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

He landed on his hind feat in front of the two maids. His blades immediately taking the life of the first toad in front of him through two swift slashes to the neck. The rest of the toads backed of for a second, seeming to be afraid of Dally's battle cry, but when they realized it was just him, they regained their composer.

Dally was hoping the maids behind him would join in the skirmish soon. He could fight all of these warty things himself, but their assistance would be nice. He kept his back to them and the dune while he charged head long in to the next group of toads, who were some of the few ones that were armed. Dally felt that burning sensation arise in his chest again, his heart pound with the heat of battle. This was going to be good.....

(Just for the count.....if there were 10 to start...we've killed 3..and Dally is after 3 more..that's 3 more left unmaned..)

[Wildrun]

((Sorry for the long wait. Exams. *shivers* ))

Mapel blinked once, staring goggle-eyed at the toad that was, quite suddenly, dead. And arrow had just sprouted from his stomach and sent him tumbling backwards. A general chorus of hissing leaked into the air as, almost as suddenly as the toad's death, Mapel found an otter beside her and a dagger in her paw.

"Oh, er, right." Shaking her head vigourously, Mapel gritted her teeth and gripped her staff tight in her free hand--she had just made up her mind that the situation would be much more pleasant if her sister were here, when a bloodcurdling cry made her jump. The looked about wildly, but the ottermaid hadn't moved and was unhurt.

The same could not be said for the toads, as the utterer of the war call, undoubtably a Salmandastron hare, landed in their midst and dealt out his punishment. Mapel suddenly found it difficult to swallow--she'd have to fight, of course. She'd have to fight, and try hard not to remember the last time she'd joined a fray. Of course...

The hare had, without furhter word, engaged three more toads in battle. The three left were expanding, croaking with indignant alarm and swelling as if full of hot air.

Of course they were full of hot air! Like slimy, green, bug-eyed balloons! Now just...go...puncture one!

Sucking in a deep breath, Mapel opened her mouth and let out a strangled-sounding battle cry, "Wiilldrunn!" Taking a step forward, she threw the dagger--one skill she had in the art of fighting--and swung with desperation at the toad who caught it between his webby fingers. The amphibian had a moment to croak in surprise at the blood on his hand before he slumped onto the sand.

Despite herself, left with two toads and frozen in place, Mapel hoped dearly the beast wasn't dead. She had no idea how to kill a creature; luckily, the two remaining toads didn't know that.

[Wildrun]

((Bethy next, right?))

[Prankster101]

((Bethy's turn......I'm still here!!!! ;D))

[Elizabeth]

"EEEEEUUUULLLLAAAAAALLLLLIIIIIIIAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

Silenis grinned as a hare jumped in front of her and the mousemaid. He begin taking out toads left and right. She has always loved these long eared scamps. Brave, loyal, funny, food-loving, smart, fast, strong, untiring, that was a Salamadastron Fighting Hare for you.

Silenis gritted her teeth as a perfect opportunity revealed itself before her eyes. Two toads a little ways in front of her. The last two. If she shoot hard enough and strait enough she could get them with the same arrow. Almost impossible, but not for Silenis Wildlough. She took her aim and drew her bow back as far as she safely could. Letting go of the arrow she stared to see where it would hit. It struck the first toad directly in the stomach and propelled him back with great momentum. It flew on through the first toad and impaled the second toad on the end of it.

With a small shiver Silenis put away her bow. It was slightly gruesome but it had to be done. She didn't like to think of what would've happened to the mousemaid if she hadn't fired...

[Prankster101]

Dally felt the blood pumping through his ears as he swung his blades. These toads were no match for his power and skill. They croaked uproariously as Dallas struck. *SWISH* *SWISH* Two toads fell to the ground with deep slashes in their throats. The other blanched and tried to hop away, but Dally was to in the fight to let on get away. With one powerful leap he was atop the slimy creature, his twin scythe blades digging deep into it's scull. The a last dying lurch the toad fell forward with a muted *THUD* in the sand.

Dallas rolled off the dead beast and sprung back up to watch the mousemaid try her best at throwing a little dagger at a toad with a yell.

"Wiilldrunn!"

The toad fell over after catching the dagger in it's webbed appendage. It wasn't dead; it nearly feinted at the sight of it's blood. Full of bloodlust, Dally ran and lept over the toad taking one last swish of his blades, silencing the toad for good. Landing on his hind paws he spun around to watch an arrow from the otter pierce the last two toads silencing the enemy for good.

Dally's cold navy eyes surveyed the cine, his breath short and quick form fighting. The enemy was defeated. He slowly closed his eyes; his breathing gently smoothing out. Then his eyes flashed open again. All sense of bloodlust gone from them. Dally then gently bent down and wiped his scythe blades clean on the sand grasses of the frog blood and returned them to their scabbards.

Straighting up like the Long Patroler he was he turned to the mousemaid and the otter. He curtly saluted them with a brief bob of his head. His eyes caught the sunlight flickering off the top of the dune of sand. The sun was still setting. He must get back to Salamandastron. He had to report...

[Wildrun]

In the span of what could only have been--Mapel tried to wrap her mind around it--perhaps five seconds, the skilled beasts who had appeared to help her had put an end to the toads. She opened her mouth once, closed it, took a slow, deep breath, and held it in her chest as she bent over the unconscious--now thouroughly dead--toad she had attacked and retreived the dagger.

Don't look at the blood don't look at the blood don't look at the blood...

Her chest was starting to burn as she turned around, clasping the little knife rigidly in her fist and extending it for the otter to take. Finally letting the breath go, she flared her nostrils to avoid the prevading scent of rust. "Er...thank you. Um..." Reshouldering her pack, she managed a wobbly smile. "I owe you both. But, first--" she looked to the hare, "You're obviously from Salmandastron." Or you're insane. "Would you mind taking me there? I can keep up." Probably.

Mapel Wildrun was no fighter, but she did know how to lie--stuffed into a bouquet of other scrolls was a small roll of parchment. Inscribed upon this sheef was something the odious toads would very have liked to take. Even an illiterate creature had the power to descipher a plain map. A map they could sell to corsair and pirates for a very high price; the inside of Salmandastron.

((Just adding a plot twist.))

[Elizabeth]

They had taken care of all the toads now. Thanks to the help of that Salamandastron hare. The mousemaid handed her back her knife. Silenis smiled and put it away carefully thanking the mousemaid.

Silenis made her way over to the hare and gave him a slight bow. "Thank you," she said, "I don't know what me and the mousemaid would have done without your help."

"Er...thank you. Um... I owe you both. But, first-- You're obviously from Salmandastron. Would you mind taking me there? I can keep up."

The ottermaid stood to the side while she listened to them talk. She sighed. She didn't like being left out of things, and considering she had nowhere to go she wanted badly to go with them. She tried to force back her desire for attention and company for a bit and be as polite as she could. She hoped the hare would invite her to come with them, otherwise she would have to continue her wandering alone.

[Prankster101]

"Thank you,I don't know what me and the mousemaid would have done without your help."

Dally nodded again. He wasn't one for talking much, especially when he had other things to do, remembering that he still had to report to the Mountain by sundown.

"Er...thank you. Um... I owe you both. But, first-- You're obviously from Salmandastron. Would you mind taking me there? I can keep up."

Dally raised his eyebrows in surprise for a brief second. Questions fulled his mind as to what the mouse was doing, who she was and what she wanted to do at the mountain. Keeping his form regal and stiff. He replied in a short, pained to be soft manor.

"And just what would be yer business at Salmandastron?"

His eyes briefly glanced at the otter as well as the mouse. She looked like she wanted to be included in this conversation. Again, straining to be polite, Dally turned to her as well.

"Were you thinking of coming as well wot?"

[Wildrun]

Mapel flushed, her tail twitching in self-irritation. She smiled at the otter, silently apologizing for leaving her out of going-ons.

Were you raised by corsairs? Where're your manners? What am I doing, jumping down the throat of a Salamandastron hare?"


She swallowed, letting out a low sigh. Holding her pack close, Mapel hesitated--should she show him? It couldn't hurt, could it? The otter, too, should see. A cold feeling of dread spread like a spiderweb, thin and ghostly, through the pit of her stomach. This would require explanations.

The mousemaid slid her paw into her sack and silently held out the scroll of parchment. "You should both see this. I want to go to Salamandastron because this definetly belongs there."

((Bleh post. *fails*))

[Elizabeth]

"Were you thinking of coming as well wot?"

The hare turned to her and she replied. "Well sah, I wasn't counting on it but I was thinking of it."

The little mousemaid smiled at her and Silenis smiled back.

"You should both see this. I want to go to Salamandastron because this definetly belongs there."

The mouse pulled a parchment scroll out of her pack. "Aye, what is it missy?" She asked, "Pardon my ignorance but I'm not sure." She studied the paper with a puzzled expression.

[Prankster101]

"Were you raised by corsairs? Where're your manners? What am I doing, jumping down the throat of a Salamandastron hare?"

Dallas raised his eye brows in amusement, however his face wads not likely to show that. Pretty close.Dally thought almost chuckling to himself as the mousemaid bristled in mild frustration at Dally's usual colder attitude.

"Well sah, I wasn't counting on it but I was thinking of it."

Dally nodded curtly to the ottermaid as if to say alright then, with out speaking. His Navy eyes, still cold and dark.

"You should both see this. I want to go to Salamandastron because this definitely belongs there."

Dally watched as the mousemaid pulled a scroll of parchment out of her traveling pack and handed it out to them. The ottermaid grabbed it first and started looking at it.

"Aye, what is it missy? Pardon my ignorance but I'm not sure."

Dally watched as the otter became confused by looking at it so Dally stuck his paw out and as politely as he could he asked for the scroll. "May I?"

After receiving the scroll Dally's eyes widened in surprise and then his brow furrowed in heavy thoughts, almost anger, but he kept his voice level. How dare this mousemaid have a MAP OF THE INSIDE OF SALAMANDASTRON!!Dally thought to himself. What was she doing with it! And what inside her told her to to take it to Salamandastron!!!

He rolled up the scroll, trying to be delicate with it. And tried to not let his questions take the better of him as he tried to gently question the mousemiad. "May I ask how ye came across this bally map wot?"

[Wildrun]

((About the "manners"--she was thinking it about herself, to herself. My bad!))

Mapel hesitated, blinking slowly in an effort of concentrartion. The uncomfortable rush of adrenaline was still humming in her ears, a foreign sensation that resurfaced with unwelcome memories. Inhaling steadily, the mousemaid forced her shoulders to relax. She could trust this hare and otter, right? She'd be a fool not to.

"That map of Salamandastron--I stole it," Mapel said frankly. She added quickly, "from corsairs. They had the map and were planning to sell it. I think they may have had copies, but their ship...ah, caught fire." What do Salamandastron hares think or arsonists? "I was with my sister. I'm not sure where she is right now, but I knew if I came in this direction I would run into the mountain. I was hoping I could get some supplies there and drop of the map in safe paws."

((Sorry for the wait and the shortness, but I'm not supposed to be on the computer right now. I'll get in again once my grounding is over. ^^" Sorry!))