Standing Out (Open to all!)

[Elicia]

It was cold outside-maybe too cold for some beasts, but not for the hare that was bounding across the frozen earth with a light step. Ori, as she was known to most beasts, was enjoying the weather. Well, not exactly enjoying it, but smiling all the same. It didn't matter that she was standing out-her black fur didn't exactly provide the best disguise sometimes-and it didn't really matter that she had been alone for quite some time.

Ori smiled, and glanced up at the sun, checking the time. A little past noon. The hare's stomach grumbled slightly, and she sat down where she was, her back to a small tree. She pulled the small bundle from her back and took out a bit of cheese. Munching happily, Ori sang an old ditty to herself.

" 'Tis a-wanderin' Ah go,
through rain or sleet or snow,
let th'foebeasts come,
aye, every one!
Ah'll beat them all, hi ho!

This is the life fer me, my friend,
Away from holt or home,
Let th'rain fall down,
but Ah'll never no-tice..
Aye, 'tis a-wanderin' Ah go!"

It was a song of her own composing, made seasons ago when she had began her life as a mercenary. It always served to cheer her up when she was alone at night, and she often hummed it while traveling. Ori had a pretty voice most of the time, so she had absolutely no problems with anybeast hearing her song.

[Rorgus]

It was a beautiful day and the sun was beating down on the tree tops. Although under the trees it was quit cool and a lovely day for wandering. Rorgus was doing just that! He strolled around not going any were just walking. He did happen to come upon a young hare though. He hid in some nearby bushes and watched her.

" 'Tis a-wanderin' Ah go,
through rain or sleet or snow,
let th'foebeasts come,
aye, every one!
Ah'll beat them all, hi ho!

This is the life fer me, my friend,
Away from holt or home,
Let th'rain fall down,
but Ah'll never no-tice..
Aye, 'tis a-wanderin' Ah go!"

He heard her sing a ditty. He listened to her sing, she had a lovely voice. Rorgus decided to make his appearance and walked out of his hiding place.

"Hello there young maid." He said in a cheerful voice. " Lovely day, don't you agree?"

[Elicia]

Ori didn't even turn her head when Rorgus spoke to her, merely played with a small pebble that was on the ground. "Aye," She said jovially. "'Tis better than th'bloody rain we had a while ago, eh? Ah'd rather travel on a nice day than a rainy one, tha's fer sure!" Her curious brogue mixed her words a little-it was neither hare nor Northerner, otter nor squirrel. It was her own mix of accents from her days of traveling.

"But, matey, Ah'm no a young maid like ye think Ah am!" Ori laughed, and turned to face the otter, extending a paw. "Mah name's Ori, Oriana if'n ye must. Ah'm a true blue fighter-ye'd have t'be t'survive out here fer any long period o'time."

[Rorgus]

Rorgus took the proffered paw and shook it.
" And my name is Rorgus, please to meachu' Ori! Are you wandering too? I just happen to be wandering, no any particular place i wanna go, what about you? We could travel together!" He hoped she would agree because he wanted company. He had been wandering for seasons and he was starting to get lonely.

He sat down next to her and took out his pack and began eating.

[Elicia]

Ori nodded. "If'n ye don' mind mah profession, sirrah, Ah'd welcome a companion. 'Tis lonely, wanderin' 'round the countryside without a mate t'keep company with." The hare looked the otter up and down approvingly. "So, matey, wot do ye do out here all alone? Simply wanderin', or have ye got some sort of profession tha' Ah should know about?" She smiled.

"Ah pick up th'odd job here an' there. Ah go wherever there's work, y'see. Means Ah travel a great deal." She winked at him cheekily. "Tha' explains mah brogue, eh? Never too long in one place, eh wot?"

[Rorgus]

" Oh good ah'd be glad o' some company. No ah don't have any profession o' any kind." He stood up.
" So shall we get goin' matey?" He thought it was a lovely day for wandering and enjoyed if fully.

He dashed ahead then ran back. Soon they came upon a stream and Rorgus dove head long into, he surfaced and said to his companion.
"Come on Ori have a swim, the water is lovely!" With that he went under again and stayed there for about three minutes. He popped up at the edge of the water where Ori was and began splashing her.

[Elicia]

Ori nodded, and packed up her things. She wondered at three things as she walked, however.
1. The otter had said nothing about the dark-wooded bow or quiver that she carried slung across her back.
2. She had actually been friendly to a creature other than herself.
3. She had been friendly.

Ori was never friendly. That was a well known fact. She was a cynical, treacherous hare that was likely to rob you bare if you gave her the chance, according to her reputation. However, she had been pleasant and cordial to this otter. The hare blinked, surprised at herself, and self-consciously touched the black tattoos that marked her cheek and brow, and then the silver flute that she had 'picked up' during her travels.

What had caused her to be friendly? She didn't know. However, she did watch as Rorgus dove headfirst into a stream and began splashing about. "Um." That was her only reply when a wave of cold water drenched her. Ori stood there awkwardly for a moment, not knowing what to do. Then, decisively, she set down her pack, bow, and quiver, and stepped daintily into the water.

"Ach, it's a wee bit cold, wouldn't ye say, mate?!" Her brogue grew more distinct when she was distressed, and she shivered visibly. "'Tis all well fer ye; otters aren't meant t'be bothered by th'cold. We hares are."

[Rorgus]

Rorgus splashed her then dove underwater again. He enjoyed playing about in the water even though it was chilly. He reluctantly climbed out of the water when Ori didn't join him. "Ah wee'l ye don't 'ave to i suppose." He said imitating her brogue. " So matey where to next?"

He skipped along beside her through the woods he thought it a lovely day to be walking and he was glad he was a wanderer.

[Elicia]

Ori sighed softly as the otter practically bounced along beside her. Eventually, she slowed down, so as to drop behind him and save herself from his incessant happiness. Finally, she could take it no longer. "Do y'even know where yore goin', laddie?" She raised an eyebrow, stretching the black tattoos on her cheek a bit longer than they already were.

"Ah'm goin' t'Salamandastron. May'aps ye'd lak t'tell me where yore goin' afore Ah follow ye there unwittin'ly." Ori shook her head, and touched her bow. "Look, matey. Ah'm a fightin' beast. Ah've got t'get t'the mountain, an' Ah'd rather make good time when doing so." The hare shook her head slowly, and stood still. "Look, mate. Ye said ye don' 'ave a occu'pation. Ah tol' ye afore, Ah'm a fightin' 'are. Ah'm a mercenary. Ah h'appreciate yore company, but if'n ye dinnae know tha' afore, an' now ye wan' out, Ah won' blame ye. But Ah've got t'get t'the Mountain."

[Rorgus]

" I'm not going anywhere in particular. I'm just a wanderer I go wherever my paws take me. So if your headed some place specific then you'll have to tell me which way it is. I'd be glad to go with your though, I sure wouldn't mind the company. I've never been to Salamandastron will you take me?" Rorgus was exited about the idea of going to the legendary mountain.

" So which way is it to Salamandastron?" Rorgus began skipping along excitedly." Is it true that only hares and badgers live there? Is there really a fire dragon? I've heard tales but never actually seen it."

[Elicia]

Ori sighed, barely covering her growing exasperation. "Th'mountain is tha'aways." She indicated the direction they were facing. "And as fer whether only hares an' badgers live there, that's nonsense, ye ken? Th'people there're good beasts, an' they'll take in any beast who wants t'come. Elseways, 'ow would we expect t'get there alive? Th'Long Patrol is fearsome, laddie, an' if'n they diddnae want us t'approach, we would be dead afore we got within a league o' the bloody place." She kept her voice carefully guarded so as not to betray the sharpness that was beginning to cut into her strange brogue. She had been nice- ugh, NICE!- before, and now she was stuck with this beast. The least she could do was put up with him.

[Rorgus]

Rorgus had not lost any of his cheerfulness at Ori's outburst. He skipped along a happily as ever.

When night fell he scouted around for a good camp site. He found one near the river. A small clearing at the bank of the river. He made a small smokeless fire and got out some scones and berry's and cordial he had in his haversack. He made up some cakes with the berry's in them. Soon all was ready and just before they sat down to eat Rorgus took a quick refreshing swim in the water. When he had gotten back out and dried off he lay back next to the fire and began eating.
"So how far away is Salamandastron? Any idea how long it will take us?"

[Elicia]

Ori frowned at the otter's antics, and at his painfully everlasting cheerfulness. She wondered how he had stayed alive out in the wilderness, because he seemed like the sort of creature that would prefer to stay at, say, Redwall than to wander alone. But he wasn't alone anymore, because he had picked her up, and she was stuck with him until they reached Salamandastron.

The hare felt her jaw clench as Rorgus went about making camp, but forced herself to help him. When he asked how long it would take, Oriana frowned again. "Ah dinnae know. If'n ye keep stoppin' fer yore swims an' whatnot, we'll never make it. If'n ye can walk- nay, run- for a day straight, then Ah think we can reach it by nightfall tomorrow. That is, assumin' we get up b'fore dawn and don't stop until nightfall." The hare tugged at one dark ear.

"But Ah suppose, if'n ye need motivation, th' food provides certainly enough fer me. 'Tis better than eatin' on th' road any day."