Red Like Fire ((Open))

[Cross]

"No fox I cannot," she replied.

Joaquin laughed. The mouse's bitter attitude amused him, since he planned on breaking it soon enough. He made a snide remark in his language and then pretended to translate it, "Every beast can sing, señorita. All voices different. All voices, eh, how you say, especial--unique, yes?"

He started walking backwards, facing her with a roguish grin. "I di' no mean if joo could sing. I mean if joo would sing. I sing already for joo. Song of my homeland. Now joo sing, too, yes?" He turned back around, obviously in good spirits. "Don' be shy, señorita."

[Promatera]

"I di' no mean if joo could sing. I mean if joo would sing. I sing already for joo. Song of my homeland. Now joo sing, too, yes?" He turned back around, obviously in good spirits. "Don' be shy, señorita."

This fox wanted a song? Fine then. She'd give him a song.

All around the mulberry bush
The mouse chased the foxy
The fox thought 'twas all in good fun
Pop! goes the foxy

She smirked at the fox. The vermin got exactly what he asked for. "What do you think?"

[Cross]

"What do you think?"

Joaquin could not answer her for nearly a full minute. He was laughing too hard. Throwing his head back and howling his mirth to the sky, the fox shoved the mouse playfully. When his laughter died down, he wiped his eyes.

"Ah, joo are secretly funny," he remarked. "I like daht, señorita. Always good joking on trip, yes? Keeps, eh, good fun present." He trend to her again. "Joo sing another one?"

He wasn't stupid. He knew this mouse hated his guts, but he simply didn't care. He was going to roast her alive for her "song" as soon as he got the chance. It was only a matter of time.

[Promatera]

Although irritated that the fox had taken the song rather well, Dandelion managed to fake good humor and laughed along with the fox.

"Ah, joo are secretly funny," he remarked. "I like daht, señorita. Always good joking on trip, yes? Keeps, eh, good fun present." He trend to her again. "Joo sing another one?"

"Don't press your luck, fox," she replied meeting his gaze and then laughing right in his face.

Dandelion began to wish she knew where Redwall was so she could slay the fox where he stood, but as much as she loathed to admit it, she needed the fox to guide her.

[Cross]

"Don't press your luck, fox," she replied meeting his gaze and then laughing right in his face.

Joaquin held up his paws, another disarming smile crossing his handsome features. "Alright, alright," he said, chuckling again. "No more sing, eh? Fine."

They walked along in silence for another five minutes before the fox began to notice how late it was. The stars and moon shone brightly above him. Hmm, perhaps a rest would do them both well?

"Joo want rest now, señorita?" he asked casually, pausing to dislodge a pebble caught in his hind claws. "We can go more mañana--tomorrow, yes? Or joo want keep going?" He glanced around. Nighttime was predators' time. He would rather not meet up with another snake, or an even more unsavory nocturnal hunter.

Besides, if they stopped, he would only have to wait until the mouse dropped off, and then he could get that weapon away from her. And then he could watch her burn for her insolence.

[Promatera]

"Alright, alright," he said, chuckling again. "No more sing, eh? Fine."

Satisfied, Dandelion enjoyed the silence in the moments following as the pair trekked through Mossflower. She had failed to notice until then that night had slowly crept upon them. The forest tune changed from pleasant birdsong to that of chirruping crickets and the occasional hoot.

"Joo want rest now, señorita?" he asked casually, pausing to dislodge a pebble caught in his hind claws. "We can go more mañana--tomorrow, yes? Or joo want keep going?"

Although she was tired, the pursuit of her goal had pushed her inhibitions out of her mind. She only thought of them now because the fox had brought it up. Personally she would rather try her luck in Mossflower alone than trust the fox during the night, but if he could help her reach her goal, then perhaps it was necessary.

"...Very well," she sighed, "I suppose we could set up camp here."

[Cross]

"...Very well," she sighed, "I suppose we could set up camp here."

Joaquin nodded cheerfully, immediately setting about making a nice camp. His mood was drastically improved around the mouse now that she had actually agreed to something he'd said. It was only a matter of hours, now.

The fox spoke little after they stopped. He feared if he did speak more, he would start laughing with joy. His thoughts kept imagining what this yellow-furred mouse would look like in flames. As he pulled out some matches to light the pile of firewood he'd gathered, his paws trembled slightly with anticipation.

Sticking the match, he got himself under control. The mouse would suspect something if he suddenly started acting overly excited. "Ah, sorry, señorita," he murmured. "I yam . . . no' calm during night. My nerves, eh, on edge."

[Promatera]

The fox nodded and together the two began working on a small camp. As the fox worked on a fire, Dandelion set to work making sure the area had no predators lying in wait and found a few branches that would allow her to make a small lean-to with a blanket she had brought from her former home. It was cramped, but it would work.

She turned from her work and found the fox still working on the fire. Something was off about him. He seemed to be anticipating something.

"Ah, sorry, señorita," he murmured. "I yam . . . no' calm during night. My nerves, eh, on edge."

"If it's predators you're worried about, I saw none nearby," she replied, "unless...it's something else..."

What would make this fox so anxious? Was there something he knew that she didn't? Was he hiding something? If so what was he hiding from her?

"You wouldn't be trying to hide anything from me, fox?" Dandelion added. She had left her weapon near the lean-to and was starting to move towards it.

[Cross]

"If it's predators you're worried about, I saw none nearby," she replied, "unless...it's something else..."

Joaquin laughed halfheartedly, shaking his head as he built up the fire a little more. "No, no, ees no't'ing else," he said, holding up his paws. "Ees only la oscuridad--eh, dark. I yav, eh, no' ever like la oscuridad."

"You wouldn't be trying to hide anything from me, fox?" Dandelion added.

The fox laughed again, once more shaking his head. "No, no, señorita," he chuckled. "I yav no't'ing to hide from joo. Ees only dark, Te prometo--I promise." Oh, he was such a dirty liar. It almost brought that wicked grin back to think how fun this night was going to be.

((Meh, short.))

[Promatera]

"No, no, ees no't'ing else," he said, holding up his paws. "Ees only la oscuridad--eh, dark. I yav, eh, no' ever like la oscuridad."

Dandelion gave him an odd glance as she sat down across from him. Why would a fox who's familiar with the area be afraid of the dark? It sounded like a very juvenile fear to Dandelion.

"No, no, señorita," he chuckled. "I yav no't'ing to hide from joo. Ees only dark, Te prometo--I promise."

This did little to ease her concern. The only thing she could trust the fox with was directions.

"Very well," she coldly replied. She turned her attention to the fire the fox had made and felt comforted by its warmth. Pulling out her satchel, she rummaged through it and removed several provisions of oatbread and some fruit she had found during her journey. She assumed the fox had some food with him and didn't even bother asking if he did.

[Cross]

"Very well," she coldly replied.

Joaquin shrugged. It didn't look like she'd completely bought his excuse, but she was still going along with it, anyway. Leaning back against a tree trunk, the fox took out a small container of matches. Choosing one, he struck the head against his glittering white teeth and began to twirl the minuscule flame with the fingers of one paw.

It was a trick he often performed when he was bored. Or thinking intensely. The latter was apparent tonight as he subtly watched the mouse unpack her provisions. He was a little hungry, as well, but he had his own food. Not that he thought this vermin-hating mouse would share.

At length, Joaquin spoke. "I yam want to know, señorita," he began, hoping to ease the tension enough for her to relax. "Where joo come from?"

((I . . . don't think he's asked her that yet. If so, just let me know.))

[Promatera]

((OOC: You're fine, Jan! XD I did a quick double check just to make sure))

Dandelion watched the fox use his teeth to light a match. Wouldn't that hurt? Oh well it mattered not if the fox was foolhardy enough to try it. Returning her gaze to her meal, Dandelion savored the night atmosphere. The fire crackled before them and a grasshopper was chirping in the background.

"I yam want to know, señorita," "Where joo come from?"

Slightly irritated the fox broke the silence, Dandelion decided to reply nonetheless.

"I am from the North beyond Mossflower," she replied without even looking up from her food. She had decided the question could be answered with a vague response as the North lay in the past.

She decided to let the fox decided if he would return her answer with one of his own, but it did not really matter to her.

[Cross]

"I am from the North beyond Mossflower," she replied without even looking up from her food.

Well, that answered that question, apparently. Joaquin grinned again, still twirling the match in his paw. "I yam, cómo se dice, honored joo would say to my question, yes?" he laughed. The mouse seemed so reserved and almost angry, that he had actually been expecting a threatening silence as a response. But she'd actually answered him.

At the subsequent glare he would no doubt receive from her, the fox rested a paw behind his head, chuckling lightly. "Joo are more talking dehn joo t'ink, eh?" he remarked. "Joo no like me, I yam know to daht. But joo talk to me, y I yam feeling especial now."

Yes, it was an attempt to annoy her. Because he could. And because he actually was getting a bit bored by now. He hoped she finished eating and went to sleep soon. He might have to 'fall asleep' first to get her guard down.

((Kinda late and short, sorry.))

[Promatera]

"I yam, cómo se dice, honored joo would say to my question, yes?" he laughed.

That laughter. She could feel anger seize her, but she quickly swallowed it along with a mouthful of fruit. This fox was very irritating.

"Joo are more talking dehn joo t'ink, eh?" he remarked. "Joo no like me, I yam know to daht. But joo talk to me, y I yam feeling especial now."

"Don't flatter yourself," she grumbled shooting the fox a glare. "I answered your question, you owe me one in return."

Why did the fox have to break the beautiful silence?

[Cross]

"Don't flatter yourself," she grumbled shooting the fox a glare. "I answered your question, you owe me one in return."

"Eh?" Joaquin looked over at her, one of his ears flicking sideways. "Joo want ask me question?" Hmm, he'd have to be careful around this one. If he said something that even sounded suspicious, he'd be in for the fight of his life, no doubt.

"Alright, alright," he said in acquiescence. With a small sigh, he resumed twirling the match. "What joo want to know?"

[Promatera]

"Eh?" Joaquin looked over at her, one of his ears flicking sideways. "Joo want ask me question?"

Dandelion's eyes burned with an intensity that, had it been day, would truly be frightening. Glaring, she did not respond.

"Alright, alright," he said in acquiescence. With a small sigh, he resumed twirling the match. "What joo want to know?"

"Before I go to bed, I was hoping you would be able to tell me why you were in that quarry?" she asked. Dandelion had wanted to know what exactly had caused the fox to arrive at such a location. Perhaps she would be able to get a better glimpse into his character. She fixated her attention on the fox in the hopes of gaining some insight into his character.

((OOC: Yeah sorry this thread has not gone anywhere just yet, but I plan to kick it off in the next post or so))

[Cross]

"Before I go to bed, I was hoping you would be able to tell me why you were in that quarry?" she asked.

Joaquin raised an eyebrow. That was an odd question. At the same time, it was amusing, though. What did the mouse expect him to have been doing? Hiding the dead bodies? Another grin stretched across his snout. If everything went as planned, he might be doing just that. But it was difficult to hide ashes . . .

"I was, eh, cómo se dice, admiring de scenery, yes?" he answered. "Beautiful rojo--red color dehre." It was actually an honest answer. "Y I was working on my act. My, eh, balance act, yes?" That was true, too. Of course he'd also been looking for a campsite, but now he was dissuaded from ever returning to the quarry after the arrival of the snake.

((It's no problem. Awkwardness ensues when two characters like Dandy and Joaquin are put together, lol))

[Promatera]

"I was, eh, cómo se dice, admiring de scenery, yes?" he answered. "Beautiful rojo--red color dehre."
"Y I was working on my act. My, eh, balance act, yes?"

As disappointed as she was she had to admit the fox was probably telling the truth. She paid very close attention to his every movement as he spoke, but nothing seemed to suggest any sort of lie. She nodded to the fox.

Seeing as there was little left to discuss, Dandelion broke her gaze and gathered her things. After she had gathered her belongings Dandelion turned to the fox.

"Well I am tired and if we are to start early tomorrow we should get some rest," she spoke. "I will see you in the morning."

As she said 'morning' she narrowed her eyes as if to suggest that if the fox tried anything tonight he would still have to face her the next day.

Without another word she turned to her lean-to and crawled inside. With her bag as a pillow she curled into a ball and closed her eyes. All around were the frightening sounds of the night, but Dandelion was always comforted at night when she had her halberd beside her. Very slowly she drifted off into a light sleep.

((OOC: Okay Jan you have permission to do what you would like at this point just so long as you do not kill Dandelion please XD))

[Cross]

"Well I am tired and if we are to start early tomorrow we should get some rest," she spoke. "I will see you in the morning."

Joaquin's whole body perked up. He almost didn't believe what she'd said. She was . . . going to sleep? Right in the same camp? With only about two yards or less separating them? Oh, this was just too, too easy. Didn't she know not to trust strangers? Shifting position, he too made as if to drift off, casually awaiting the mouse to get comfortable in her little lean-to.

He had to stifle his gleeful laughter. The naive rodent! 'I will see you in the morning,' she'd said. Well, 50/50, he couldn't guarantee anything. He waited until a full fifteen minutes had elapsed before taking out his matches. Moving towards the shelter ever so silently, the fox paused every few seconds, just to make sure she was still asleep. Too bad he wouldn't be able to hear her scream, unless of course, she woke up.

Striking a match, he couldn't resist a malevolent chuckle before setting fire to the branches of the lean-to. "Buenas noches, mouse," he whispered, dropping the lit match.

[Promatera]

Dandelion's dreams did little to comfort her. She was in her former home in the north. She could hear her parents speaking together in another room, but for some reason she did not want to disturb them. It felt...wrong. Had she done something wrong?

Suddenly a crackling noise was coming from there kitchen. What could it be? She turned her head to see that flames had spouted from the hearth.

"Mom?" she called.

"Dad?"

But there was no reply. Instead her parents continued their conversation together. The fire continued to grow bigger and bigger, but she was at a loss of what to do. The fire continued to spread until it soon consumed the kitchen and was spreading to where she sat. She wanted to run, but her body would not let her. What was going on? A spark flew out from the flames and landed right on her paw. It shouldn't have burned, but it did. This wasn't right!?

Dandelion bolted awake to find a fire was beginning to engulf her small lean-to. What was going on? Desperate to escape she tried to pull the burning blanket off of her, but the flames had engulfed it. She grunted as the fire scorched her paws, but at least she had freed her self of the flames. However, a blaze of flames had begun to burn the surrounding foliage. She needed to leave the area fast or else the fire would trap her.

Wincing with the pain in her paws as she grabbed her halberd and bag, Dandelion sped off further into the forest. The thought of the fox had completely vanished from her mind as survival took precedence.