Embrace the new Sun! [Continued from CoK, OPEN]

[Sigurd]

(You know what screw it. I'm going all out hare, kinda, im not waiting for anyone right now)

Sigurd had met five lance corporals, fifteen sergeants, a crazy captain, and two cooks, one of them being the head cook. All were interested in the ranger, or mercanary, even the mad march captain. suddenly, Bump! He fell backward, after bumping into a female fox (Freya, hope you don't mind Darky). "Sorry, mate, um, lady. Oh right..." He murmered, thinking of his charts, he remembered her, a chieftess or something. "Sorry M'lady" He spoke out in a fluent voice, with a slight rebellious sound at the back.

This fox wasn't as important as many of these beasts here, Luna, Ashstripe, Zeffer, and he knew by her charts, her companion Darkhawk Shadowheart. She was only a mere chief. Wasn't too high a rank, but not too little. He hated these nobles and high ranked officers. (srry, but he does Darky)

[Luna Broadsword]

(Sorry, I must have passed over Ash’s post last time I checked in here. I didn’t see it.)

“I hate such places.” Luna said, not looking at Ashstripe. Her pace slowed for a second, and then she shook her head as if to free herself from a particularly troubling spot before returning to a normal walk.

“Perhaps that is not an accurate way ta describe my meanin’. Redwall is a magnificent place, but when ya’ve scrubbed every single brick ever laid in it, it loses some of its glory. I listened all my life to stories about great deeds an’ heroes an’ battles an’ found them to be the only bright spots in my life. My mum said that it was a Badger Lady’s place to help the weak an’ that the role of Badger Mother was important an’ something to do with honor an’ everythin’ I didn’ care fer.” Luna trailed off. She knew her thoughts weren’t making much sense at this point, but it had been a long time since she’d visited them. She continued after a moments thought.

“I hate children. I really do. They’re smelly, annoyin’ an’ always getting’ into trouble. I don’ care fer cookin’ or cleanin’ an’ I ain’t talented at either. My mother said that these were important things though, an’ tha’ I had ta learn them. She wanted me ta be ‘Badger Mother' after her… I didn’. I didn' want ta get married an' 'ave children only ta see my husband walk away an' leave me ta care for 'em by myself. I didn' want ta spend my life helpin' other an' doin' everythin' expected of me. I wanted to fight. I wanted battle… but that isn’t what a good beast should hope fer, is it? I couldn’t stand peace, but to hope fer war…" She paused logest here, letting unspoken words fill the silence.

"So one night, I left." She said and any bitterness that had entered her voice previously, left it. "No plan, no friends nothing except a sack o’ food an’ the beginning o’ an idea. On the way I met Philip and had my first fight an’… I loved it. I didn’t know hardly nothin’, but I still managed to beat him. Together we joined a horde an’ sieged fortress after fortress. I loved it; loved the fighting, the chaos, the way individual thought died an’ gave way to the instinct to fight an’ survive. I loved planning out a battle, figurin’ out a building’s weakness an tryin’ ta find the best way to exploit it. The taste of victory when the last of yer enemy is slain.”

At this point Luna did look at Ashstripe, her eyes shining darkly with her memories. “I rebuilt each place I destroyed an’ left a trusted friend ta watch over it… I have seen many beasts weary of fightin’ an’ killin’ an’ I tried my best ta find a way to grant them peace… A peace I can never know. The reason I fight, Ashstripe, is not fer hate. It simply is because peace does not live in me.”

Philip grinned as Breeze messed up his character, but decided not to try to correct him again. It wasn’t worth it. “Anyway, after the alliance was made we battled on for several days. We used all manner o’ siege weapon an’ trickery. Till at last, we broke through the wall.” He paused here to see if Zeffer would give any reaction to the news his wall was broken. Then, he continued.

“Tha’ nigh’, me an’ Luna dined with Graystripe in celebration. An’ it was this nigh’ he decided ta betray. Now, one migh’ o’ though’ he’d poison the food, bu’ apparently when he decided ta stab someone in the back, he was very literal about it.” He paused to give the actors a chance to perform the scene. “We barely escaped with our lives.”

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

(No problem at all)

Freya's eyes were panned downward as she thought to herself. I wish I could tell him... Tell him everything... I can't though... He has to beat those demons that are eating away at him from the inside... But... he should know...
Something made her jump as a figure pushed against her. In fright she gave a slightly yelp but quickly stopped as she turned to see the figure responsibly hit the ground after bumping her.
"Sorry..." she said instinctively only to hear that they very same moment him apologizing. "... M'Lady? You don't have to refer to me as such a noble tone... I'm no longer anyone of that stature... My name is Freya... I should be sorry... I wasn't paying attention...Mr?" The she-fox offered her hand to help the warrior up.

"...Why you got to go breakin' my wall... I hadn't even finished payin'..." said Zeffer in a voice that wasn't even remotely serious but slightly whinny as it was met by some laughter do to the oddity of tone. This was meant to be a happy occasion, serious plays would defiantly dampen the glee that this party was about.

Darkhawk was silent as he watched the party, his eyes not moving as he stared.
"You know... Darky, you don't have to keep on fighting..." Daeton was sitting on a rock, facing the young fox before him. Daeton was older by six seasons and was praised and loved by the Sephron Empire when he was a Seraph. He smiled slightly before standing up to address Darkhawk. "You can stay here... In Mossflower and live a life."
"And leave everything to everyone else."
"You aren't the only hero around, Darky..."
"I'm-"
"-Not a hero... Yeah, yeah..." Daeton gave Darkhawk an awkward looking hug as he looked at the fox that to him was a younger brother. "...Come on... You might not think you are one... but, by the Dark Forest, you act like one... A reluctant one, I give you that... but you defeated the evil that so many died fighting. You defeated the Sephron and that demon that was living inside you fears, rage, and frustration that was eating away at you... You deserve to smile sometime... You got Freya, you know."
"She deserves better..." A paw cuffed him as Daeton shook his head.
"She choose you... When will you get that threw your thick skull Darky? You want to be with her..."
"I have to do this..."
"I know... but at least talk to her about it.... sometime... not now... now, enjoy yourself... LIVE A LITTLE!"
Darkhawk glanced up as he watched the play, keeping any amusement or joy to himself as he watched the Hares and vermin warriors that had aided the war celebrate. A weak half smile was on his face as he watched from a corner he had chosen.

[Sigurd]

The fox's tone suddenly changed, "Ah, so were the same, ma'am. We both gave up nobility. Different kind of life, the normal type... Well mine isn'y normal still. But it is better than a life in court with aristacats. By the way, name is Sigurd Bladedale, not my noble name though, changed it, kinda."

The ranger he remembered his childhood in the court. It was a large hall with about fifty beasts, the patriarchs of each noble family, and his father, the Chancellor. Ten knights stood at each of five entrances. Each knight belonged in custody of one noble. Two Knight Commanders stood aside the Chancellor. The nobles and his father would argue about what to do for Luminar, what was right. He was the Chancellor, it was his decision. But nobles stood their anyway, saying they were right, not him. He hated that life. Harder now, but better.

[Ashstripe]

The Badger frowned, but he kept his pace constant and his mouth silent, he didn't realise when or how exactly this period of semi-reconciliation had occurred, but he wasn't going to go and disrupt it.

And leap head first into another full-scale war.

He winced and unconsciously reached for his side in reminiscence of past battles - and wounds - that had resulted of this unexplainable opposition between the two leaders.

“Perhaps that is not an accurate way ta describe my meanin’. Redwall is a magnificent place, but when ya’ve scrubbed every single brick ever laid in it, it loses some of its glory...

Ashstripe listened with a surprising amount of focus, no longer did his paws stray into fists or did he find himself feeling a pang of annoyance; it was just curiosity now, pure undiluted curiosity.

How uncharacteristic of him; better not think too hard about it, he supposed.

He chuckled dryly as she continued with her tales of her past, of how she hated children and other more maternal roles typically taken up by Badger Ladies, of how she desired battle and only battle, and questioned this,

"The only future peace offers is war." Ashstripe replied sagely, his eyes held no judgement in them, Luna was not the first to live and die by battle and she would certainly not be the last.

That was just another reality in the twisted reality of fate.

And Luna's story picked up pace, how she became a Warlord, how she met Phillip and how she became what she was. He listened politely and intently, this was a strange experience for him - one, the enemy was somewhat confiding in him, two, he was listening, three Luna was no longer just a 'warlord who needed to be put down', but a beast as real as any hare in his mountain.

And four, he felt himself reveal his past openly.

Peace does not live within me

The Badger's lips curled at this point, not into a smile, but rather an annoyed glare. Those were the words of a naive child,
"Of 'course peace does not live within ye!" He snapped quickly, "Ye have killed. Ye have felt blood run down ye paws - blood that is not yer own," He waved a paw around him, "Everybeast in this Mountain gave up our 'peace' 'fer the sake of another. Not one passin' of the moon have I slept in silence."

He had heard her words. But he had not understood?

"And the Bloodwrath..." Ashstripe chuckled darkly, "Oh the cursed bloodwrath...Every day...I always wonder...Will I come back? Will I protect and not murder?..." The Badger smiled grimly, he understood full well what Luna was on, he felt her pain; once.

"And the best...We can do...Is spill blood for a good cause..."

He was old now. Not young and so reckless. He wanted to live a life of peace, but Salamandastron was all he had. And all Salamandastron had to offer was war.


_______________________________

"Ye' get wot yer' pay for." Kenzie remarked slyly and nonchalantly as her interpretation of her character allowed,
"Oh aye!" Breeze nodded enthusiastically, "No more shall good wall-makin' chaps 'ave t' live on th' pittance y'paid them!" He proclaimed proudly, his accent starting to break at the seams.

Taking their cues from Phillip, the pair quickly assembled themselves, whilst co-coordinating the others in hushed whispers into a some-what makeshift dining scene.

"And y'see, that's how I met ol' Luna here. Drinkin' 'erself silly, singin' a ditty!" 'Phillip' boasted proudly, Breeze was acting as he did best in any dinner situation - playing the bragging fool.

Kenzie shook her head, The real Luna probably doesn't have to put up with this. She mused in cynical silence, but the show must continue,
"Keep talkin' like that and th' guests 'ill want t'stab yer quiet!"

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna was not offended when Ashstipe glared at her and chided her like she was a young pup. She felt an amused smile come onto her face as Ashstipe gave his speech. It was an interesting experience for her, to talk of peace with one whom she'd fought many times in the past. Perhaps it was this amusement that kept her paw from reaching for a weapon when Ash spoke to her as if she were a child. As he finished, she gave his words a moments thought.

"By most beasts’ definition, I've never fought fer a good cause." She reminded him. It was a statement utterly devoid of tact, but Luna didn't care much for dancing around facts. Perhaps a small part of her also wanted to remind Luna that she was still a warlord. And, baring any life changing event, tomorrow they would probably be enemies once more.

She turned away, not wishing to see Ashstripe's reaction, or for him to see her own internal conflict. Up to this point, Luna had never thought herself an emotional beast, but this night seemed to be making her one.

"I've told ya of my mother," Luna said after a moment, her voice slightly stiffer than she wanted it to be. "She's the only kin I've ever known. What of yer family?" Her question stemmed both from politeness and a general wish to know more about the older badger. He knew most of her life story at this point, but she knew little when it came to him. She risked a glance to see how he had reacted to her question. Luna had found through previous questions that Ashstripe wasn't very willing to part with information about his past. A wise policy, Luna told herself and she felt herself smile at the internal reprimand.

[Ashstripe]

"Then why bother fighting at all." Ashstripe's reply was resigned, tired, frustrated and confused at best. He had given up attempting to understand the minds of 'vermin' so long ago, he simply lived by the assumption that they are evil by nature, not by choice.

Damning them - and the so called 'good beasts' to an eternal cycle of bloodshed.

But here was Luna, a Badger, a species by all rights that were supposed to be the most naturally honour-bound, certainly the legends spoke of this to be true; Brockhall, Salamandastron, both legacies of great Badgers come and gone.

It simply defied all logic.

Tell me of yer family.

He winced noticeably, like Luna had just stabbed him with an unseen knife. Painfully. The question was unexpected, though he failed to see why, she had revealed her past so it was only right that he told her his. It wasn't like it would make much of a difference either way.

The large Badger blinked, then sagged his shoulders noticeably with a loud sigh,

"I've had brothers, sisters. Mother and Father. Wife, sons and daughters," At first he seemed to keep a uncharacteristically cheerful tune at reminiscing of much more better times gone. But then he smiled grimly, "All gone. I know not where they are - lest they draw breath."

He quickly waved a paw, dismissing his own pessimism more than anything else, "Though it be of no import."

[Luna Broadsword]

"I am sorry fer yer loss… but I'd ‘ave ta disagree," Luna replied. She noticed his wince and the grimness in his manner. He didn't give away many details, though Luna didn't really mind as much as she thought she would. For a moment she had the perverse wish to comfort him somehow. She quickly suppressed the urge, but it was still troubling. She continued without much of a pause.

"We’re shaped by our experiences... our family life is often part of it. Perhaps if my mother had been acceptin’ of my tendencies for battle she would ‘ave encouraged it in the protection of others. Than again, perhaps this path I travel was the one I was always meant fer.” She stopped for a moment, thinking. Her thoughts lingered on the war they’d just finished, and one of the major players.

“Darkhawk would be able ta form a better argument on it than I… Regardless, each of our lives are partially shaped by those we loved… or shared blood with. Tha’ alone makes ‘em important.”

She looked at him, compassion bleeding into her stare despite her best efforts to contain it. She knew the pain of loss like any other living creature. Her paw twitched slightly, as if wanting to reach out to pat his shoulder in sympathy.

“I lied before when I said I'd never fought fer a good reason… In my life, I 'ave fought in two such battles. Once with ye against the WARR empire… the second was against the same empire…” She smiled darkly, looking away. “Perhaps tha’s my true path… an’ in tha’ case, bein’ a warlord led straight to it.” She shook her head at the silly thoughts.

“If ya believe in such things.”

[Ashstripe]

((I.O.U - One Quality Post; Love, Ash.))

Ashstripe felt cold. His skin shivered all over. Longing for a warmth that he never realised that he had lost; as Luna began to remind him with a story of her own warmth that she had.

Warmth that a family brought.

He was in denial, seasons upon seasons of denial. That his family didn't matter. That the past was just memories and nothing more. That there was only the future and the present.

The Badger winced again, this time a lot more noticeably and turned away uncomfortably. He squinted his eyes in a show of self-control and felt a lump rise in his throat as his mouth suddenly became dry. It wasn't pleasant, being reminded of such a loss and it wasn't pleasant when the only way you dealt with it was by telling yourself that they didn't matter.

It hurt when the truth made itself known.

"I were...Supposed to shape them.." He muttered ominously, as if Luna knew the full extent of his thoughts, as if the fact that he was referring to his family was as obvious as the whiteness of his fur, "Their lives..." He continued and drifted into silence and shook slightly.

The night air was chilling him to his very bone.

As quickly as the feelings came. Did he suppress them once more. With a discipline that came from seasons upon seasons of restraint, he silenced the voices and the sadness. Focusing only upon what little logic there was of the situation.

"Then I be glad. That ye know honour." He smiled wryly a half-hearted thing at best, the part where he said 'even if it was twice.' remained unsaid.

"The world..." He waved a paw towards a large gap in the wall that served as a window in the corridor, "Works in many ways." He appeared to be addressing the moon that hung lowly over the Western seas, beyond the coast of Salamandastron.

"I be nae trying to understand, a long time past."

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna listened to his mumblings and experienced yet another moment of sympathy. Inwardly she shuddered. This whole mountain was making her soft. Soon she’d be talking about settling down, or worse; looking for a husband and planning a family. This time her shudder wasn’t very contained, though she was fairly certain their walk covered it up.

Ignoring her personal fears for a moment, Luna watched as Ashstripe’s own feelings for the past became apparent and then repressed. Probably not the best thing to do, she thought absently. But than, who was she to judge what was healthy for a mind and what wasn’t?

The conversation seemed to have become so deep with thoughts of destiny and how the world worked. To be honest Luna didn’t much care for the seriousness of it all. Not when it reminded her of her own demons and Ashstripe of a past he was trying to forget. So she let the last comment pass without adding a thought of her own to it. After a moment though, she had another question.

“How far away are we from your forge?”

[Ashstripe]

The Badger blinked, having realised just how immersed he had become in their tales and conversation to the point where all apathy had been deserted.

"Yes, the forge. Should be," He took a few hurried paces forward, feeling like he had embarrassed himself in front of Luna, "Right through these doors." He patted the somewhat larger doors to the room, there was a faint orange glow filtering underneath the warm rims of the wood.

Without waiting for any signs of acknowledgement, he simply pushed the doors wide open with a single grunt and walked forward slowly, showing no reaction to the smell of burning charcoal that assailed his senses and the sudden burst of heat that tingled upon the fringe of his fur.

For a place that supposedly forged the weapons of legend, it appeared rather bland. There were a few weapons hung on racks and hooks for display purposes more than anything else, a small round brazier which struggled to compete with the furnace, it sat near a large anvil that stood half the height of a Badger and in a corner was a small bed carved into the rock; small that is, for a Badger.

"My forge." He declared proudly, placing extra emphasis on his ownership.

((Hooray for taking liberties on the descriptions.)

[Luna Broadsword]

(Taking liberties in describing anything makes the world go round... much like writer's block stops it.)

Luna smiled as she took it in. She looked at the weapons, taking note of their quality, before examining the forge itself. She didn't mind the blandness, her own lifestyle choice being similar to it. She preferred to travel with only what she needed, rather than every bit of treasure she'd ever won.

Luna touched the anvil lightly with a paw, checking for dust and how much wear had taken place on it. "Have there been any adjustments made to this place since it was first made?" She asked, curious to know how unchanged it was compared to the time it forged its first sword.

Luna remembered hearing that it was the tradition that the Badger Lord's of Salamandstron were also master blacksmiths. Whether it was true or not was another story, but she was pretty sure it was. She herself wasn't unfamiliar with forges, though for the most part she had little experience with working one. She knew enough to do repairs to swords and armor, but had never actually forged anything from scratch.

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe chortled a restrained chuckle, as if the Mountain kept records of their renovations. He barely knew how many Badger Lords had preceded him, let alone what they had done to the Forge.

"Oh aye," He remarked in a tone that suggested diplomacy, "I put those racks up and made those weapons." He motioned a paw to a few of the shinier hooks that held a variety of swords and unfinished axe-heads - it was clear that the Badger Lord started a lot more projects than he actually bothered to finish.

He hefted a sword and self-consciously brushed aside some charcoal that dusted the floor, he wasn't used to visitors entering his Forge and as such never cared much for it's appearance; almost everything near the fires had a thin layer of black charcoal.

The Badger smiled as he saw the fire-light reflect off the metal, if there was one thing he took pride in, it was creating, not destroying - there was a certain beauty with every weapon that could only be appreciated by an eye that had witnessed it's creation from a lump of ore.

"A finer edge ye could never see." He boasted as he ran a paw down the sleek sharpened edge of the weapon.

[Luna Broadsword]

(Sorry for taking so long, I've had the worst cold of my life. First week, and I thought I was getting better, and then I relapsed. Lost my voice, my brain slowed down... Anyway, things are only starting to get better. I still have a bad cough, but now I can think clearly... somewhat.)

If Luna thought the chuckle was at her expense, she didn't say so. She turned her studious gaze from the forge to the weapons. They were well crafted, though she expected no less from a Badger Lord. She didn't care that the area was less than clean, as long as there wasn't an air of neglect.

"I do believe it's time you choose a topic for discussion." Luna said absently as she picked up one of the blades hanging on the rack. She might not be much of a blacksmith, but she knew her weapons. She felt the balance, before testing its edge with a bit of her fur. During her examination of the blade, she listened carefully for whatever Ashstripe might say.

[Ashstripe]

((If that doesn't qualify for an excuse, then I dunno what does.

'Tis quite alright =].))

It was abrupt, but Ashstripe was torn back into reality, away from his fantasies and immersion in the beauty of weaponry and their craftsmanship. He frowned as Luna pitched her brazen request, he was never one for conversation - despite living in a mountain filled with hares, as legendary for their skills in combat as they were with the sizes of their mouths.

And what was there to talk about? The Badger had precious few interests outside of war and fighting. His entire life thus far had been devoted to fighting, whether it was a conscious effort or not. There was an uncomfortable silence as he racked his brain attempting to think of something - anything - that he could talk about.

He found nothing.

"What is there to talk about?" He said stubbornly, "Ye know everything there is to know."

[Luna Broadsword]

(The bad cough has dissapated and I can now eat cereal without fear. Yay!)

"If there's one thing I know, it's that I don't know everything there is to know." Luna replied with a slight chuckle. She picked up another sword, testing it's sharpness and balance as she had done the first sword she'd laid paw on. She smiled slightly at it, finding all of these characteristics to be quite good.

"Ya could ask me a question abou' my life. Or ya could tell me a tale o' yerself, o' something ya've done or seen." Luna suggested ofter a moment's though. She didn't sound as distracted as she appeared.

[Ashstripe]

'Or ya could tell me a tale o' yerself....Somethin' ya done or seen'

Deep creases formed in an already well wrinkled brow, as if the phrase was somehow offensive to the Badger. Indeed, the mere mention of his past was unwritten taboo for the hares with the consequences as dire as his supposed story - the fact that anyone knew anything about him was the compilation of the snippets that he revealed every so often, culminated throughout the seasons of his rule.

"I'll tell ye a story." Ashstripe said, more so to break the silence then anything, "I grew up in the North, I lived with a clan of Badgers. Brothers. Sisters. I dun' even remember how many," He chuckled lightly as he stared into the flames of the brazier,

"'Tis was a simple life. There was fightin', but of the good kind. The kind between kin - the world was no bigger than the horizon and there was no day longer than dinner.

And then ye grow up. Then ye leave the home. Then ye go wanderin'. Ye find the world is big. Ye find that it's harsh. But then ye find it's also beautiful - ye find a lass and call her Bonnie,"

He paused as his lip pursed, the previous smiles of reminiscence having died with his story,

"Ye have pups. Half of ye and half of her. Each one ye'd gladly die to protect.

And I didn't."

His brown eyes were starting to moisten as he started to blink more rapidly, "Ye never realise just how much blood ye can lose without dyin'.."

Ashstripe shook his head - signalling the end of the story - that was too much. Far too much. He had revealed most of his life to Luna and was now regretting his mistake - if he had ever wanted to confide his inner thoughts with someone, it'd have to be a friend.

A friend he could trust.

[Luna Broadsword]

Words were lost to Luna as she listened to Ashstripe's tale. She cursed the drink served with the feast, the warmth and comfort of the hall. She blamed it for the change in her mood, which seemed to have led conversations down roads that should never have been tred. It frustrated her to no end, to not know what to do.

As Ashstripe brought his story to an end with a shake of his head, Luna felt in the core how much he'd shared with her. It scared her to have anyone put that sort of trust within her, especially with no reason. It must be a hard burden to carry, the memories of loved ones that had passed on, and without being able to share it...

Luna reached out a paw and gripped Ashstripe's shoulder. It was a gesture, a silent message when none could be adequately conveyed through words. If Luna knew or understood his loss, she did not say, and simply looked at him with dark brown eyes.

[Ashstripe]

The gesture did not go without notice as Ashstripe stiffened noticeably, it was a violent gesture as every muscle in his body convulsed in a poised reaction at the unforeseen contact. It was a natural reaction, the only contact the two had shared was with their weapons.

His peripheral vision caught Luna's gaze and he immediately pulled away. This was rapidly encroaching on the borders of his comfort zone and needed to change direction quickly. He couldn't even find the will to furrow his brow in a show of apathy. His burden had been lifted to a degree, yes, but it was replaced with a feeling of discomfort.

"Was there something in particular that ye were after?" He broke the silence and waved a paw about his forge, "This was yer request - after all."

[Luna Broadsword]

The gates behind Luna's eyes shut as Ashstripe stiffened. As he pulled away, she allowed her paw to drop to her side, and took a step back. Her expression seemed to become closed off, and the slight smile she wore during normal circumstances reappeared. It gave the impression she was untouchable, at least in an emotional sense. Nothing gave away what she might be thinking.

"Yeah, it was." Luna admitted, turning away slightly so that she was no longer directly facing Ashstripe. "I was wondering' what yer thoughts were on our... peculiar situation." She kept an eye Ashstripe to see if there was any change in his stance that might give away some violent reaction. She hadn't carried her sword with her to the forge, but there were some lining the walls. If worse came to worse, she could choose one of them.