A Maid Comes Calling

[nikki]

Heartsease Whitefoot's excitable young heart had been thrumming with excitement ever since Salamandastron had come into view; the rabbitmaid had found it difficult to sleep ever since the ancient volcano met her eyes. Now it was less than an hour's march away, and it was all she could do to keep herself from breaking into a full run.

No good arriving exhausted, after all. What if they refused her on those grounds? No, she had to look hale and hearty and ready to train and march and fight alongside her hare heroes.

She took a deep breath to steady herself - no sense arriving looking like an addled songbird either - and strode forward, white footpaw first, sliding only slightly as strong little claws sought purchase on the shifting sand. The rabbit kept her posture straight, spear resting jauntily over her shoulder, humming a cheerful sort of marching tune she'd heard some seasons ago but was not quite able to remember the words to. Before long her overall cheerful mood became too much for mere humming, and she began sustituting her own words for the forgotten ones.

"I'm the little heartsease,
I don't care for pouting skies!
The long path to the mountain
Leaves no time for longing sighs!
A rabbit of the Long Patrol -
Is that a funny thought?
A smallish sort of hare am I,
With long lance close at paw!
A clear blue day for marching
And the mountains fill my eyes,
Fine sights for little Heartsease,
With no signs of pouting skies!"

Hm, 'thought' and 'paw' didn't quite rhyme. Ah well, surely the hares would teach her the real lyrics, or the words to another song entirely.

Heartsease made good time across that final stretch; she came up to the path leading into the gates somewhat sooner than she anticipated.

"Hmm, hm, boldly march along, la-a, wish I knew the song... hello? Anybeast about?"

She raised her weapon in what she hoped was passable salute as she called out.

"Ah, well. I suppose that's a silly question, there's got to be somebeast at the gates after all."

The rabbitmaid suppressed a giggle at that, eyes bright and whiskers twitching lightly. Oh dear, she hoped she didn't sound too nervous, or too flighty!

Wait, hares were flighty. Weren't they? So maybe that was all right.

She hoped so, at least.

[Stryker]

"I'm the little heartsease,
I don't care for pouting skies!
The long path to the mountain
Leaves no time for longing sighs!
A rabbit of the Long Patrol -
Is that a funny thought?
A smallish sort of hare am I,
With long lance close at paw!
A clear blue day for marching
And the mountains fill my eyes,
Fine sights for little Heartsease,
With no signs of pouting skies!"

For the lazy galloper Southpaw "Bloodfire" Varilde, to hear a cheerful little marching tune this far from the mountain was a bit of surprise. Even more so, was the fact that it was a hare who sang it! The golden-furred hare had been stretched out on a huge, flat, warm rock to sun himself, Southpaw greedily attempting to soak in as much of the afternoon sun as his body could handle. Flicking some sand off his ear, Southpaw sat up, eyes bright, the unbuttoned green tunic lay open and his chest swelled with air as the officer briskly called back.

"Oh I've never heard a rabbit sing,
of marchin' with the lads, have you?
I guess there ain't no finer thing
Than learning something new!

Oh I know the way to Salamandstron,
for I'm a perilous hare,
that's the mountain I call home,
So scurvy vermin beware!

I'll box the cads from here to Tuesday,
and give the maids a kiss,
but for a weary traveler who's lost their way,
I'd stop and help a pretty Miss!"

The hare chuckled at his own on-the-spot rhyming skills, standing up on the rock to cup his paws around his mouth -- shouting gaily to the approaching figure throwing him a salute.

"Oh they call me South,
But I'm from the North,
and I'm a gallant sort of chap.

So harken to me your purpose there,
I'll have ya there quick as a hare
In a hop, skip and a tap!"

Southpaw grinned, noticing the sprightly little rabbit approaching from the direction of Mossflower Wood -- carrying a weapon too.

"Of course there's somebeast about, but excuse me for inquirin' about your purpose here at Salamandastron? I ask because you're marchin' on our blinkin' front lawn, wot wot!" Hopping down off the rock, Southpaw "Bloodfire" Varilde loped up to meet her, buttoning up his tunic as he went.

[/font]

((XD that rhyme was terrible, I'm sorry! ))

[nikki]

Heartsease's ears flicked fully upright as she heard the hare, the rabbit's eyes looking up to the larger creature above her. Once he was finished speaking she laughed, calling back to him.

"This rabbitmaid will feast and fight
With golden boxing hares!
I've come to join the Long Patrol -
So aye - foebeasts beware!

A rabbit miss
Won't go amiss,
If she can wield a spear!

So, gallant South,
From maid's own mouth,
That's my true purpose here!"

She grinned as she finished, spear resting on her shoulder as she waited for the hare to approach. As he reached her she bobbed a quick curtsy, balancing the spear easily as she straightened.

"Just as I said, sir. Heartsease Whitefoot, at your service and the Long Patrol's if you'll have me."

The rabbit smiled again as she looked the hare over with no small amount of admiration. A real Long Patrol boxer, at the very gates of the mountain fortress - amazing! She awaited the dashing figure's response, quivering with eagerness from the black tips of her ears to her mismatched toes.

[.:Fawn:.]

"Just as I said, sir. Heartsease Whitefoot, at your service and the Long Patrol's if you'll have me."

Southpaw grinned, looking the little rabbitmaid up and down, returning her courtsey with an elegant leg. "I'm Southpaw Varilde, Galloper and Boxing Hare of the Long Patrol. Welcome to Salamandastron!" He finished his introduction with a sweeping gesture towards his enormous mountain home, shielding his eyes with a paw as he glanced off towards the sun. Turning back to address Heartsease, the hare gestured for them to start making their way towards Salamandastron's entrance, the boxer feeling inclined to satiate a few of his curiosities? "Do you mind if I call ya Heart, Miss? Tis' a bit shorter and easier on the ol' gums -- South or Southpaw's fine for me too." Southpaw's blue eyes were bright, for the hare had discovered an opportunity to be the first to show Heartsease around the mountain -- and he couldn't possibly turn down such a chance. Besides, he was an extremely friendly chap by nature, and was always looking for a new messmate or training partner to sit next to at meal times or go exercising along the shore.

"What made a cheerful lookin' maid such as yerself want to join the Long Patrol, if you don't mind me askin'?" The hare tilted his head to the side just a tick. "I mean, it's not an easy job, but it's got it's fun moments and it's tough moments, and you shouldn't try and join if you haven't given it some serious consideration." Southpaw cautioned; the last thing he wanted to see was a charming little maid such as herself have her spirit broken because of the strictness and the taxing duties a hare had to go through in order to survive this kind of lifestyle.

[nikki]

Heartsease giggled at the hare's introduction, nodding.

"Heart will do nicely, thank you! It's an honor, South."

She trotted merrily at the hare's side, eyes wide and ears twitching as she tried to take in everything.

"What made a cheerful lookin' maid such as yerself want to join the Long Patrol, if you don't mind me askin'?" The hare tilted his head to the side just a tick. "I mean, it's not an easy job, but it's got it's fun moments and it's tough moments, and you shouldn't try and join if you haven't given it some serious consideration."

"Well...." The rabbit paused briefly, smiling a bit; she had only really explained the story to the old squirrel who had taught her, and blushed a bit as she tried to articulate it to the hare. "You see... when I was just a kitten - not that I'm such a fogey now, but you know - I had the good fortune to meet some Patrol hares. They helped me out a bit. Not fighting, I was only lost, but even so."

She smiled, shaking her head.

"I suppose it sounds silly, but I felt better knowing they were out there somewhere even after they left. And it was something I couldn't stop thinking of. Something to help or protect anybeast needing it - real comrades for anything needed. You know? It's not something I expect to be easy, but...."

She laughed a bit nervously.

"Sorry. My mother says I talk a bit too much, and don't I just? It's not something I've discussed before."

The rabbit cleared her throat, looking around again.

"So! Now that I'm here, do I have the pleasure of you as a guide?"

[.:Fawn:.]

"You see... when I was just a kitten - not that I'm such a fogey now, but you know - I had the good fortune to meet some Patrol hares. They helped me out a bit. Not fighting, I was only lost, but even so."

She smiled, shaking her head.

"I suppose it sounds silly, but I felt better knowing they were out there somewhere even after they left. And it was something I couldn't stop thinking of. Something to help or protect anybeast needing it - real comrades for anything needed. You know? It's not something I expect to be easy, but...."

Southpaw smiled at her encouragingly, pleased that her answer was along the lines of a lifelong dream rather than her explaining how this was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Staggering back dramatically, Southpaw clutched at his heart, ”Oh a gel after m'own heart! That doesn't sound silly at all, why dontcha know a desire to protect and serve is one of our basic principles?” The hare gave her back a soft pat, grinning. ”If you keep talkin' like that, Heart m'gel, they'll have to accept ya! Some of the new recruits aren't even this pure of heart and intentions.” Chuckling, the Varilde sibling could easily recall several complainers back during his school-boy days, and it was easy to see now that the complainers either had learned to stop complaining, or they'd gone home back to their mothers rather than tough it out. It was the leverets and cadets who'd had similar aspirations to both himself and Heartsease that made it to the end.

Sorry. My mother says I talk a bit too much, and don't I just? It's not something I've discussed before."

The rabbit cleared her throat, looking around again.

"So! Now that I'm here, do I have the pleasure of you as a guide?"

”Talk too much? Nahhh, no one talks too much, it's just that a regular ol' chap's attention span is rather short, wot wot? But not like mine – I could flippin' listen to ya chatter on forever! Oh! Look, it's Lieutenant Brigsby, wonder what he's doin' all the way out here?”

Unintentionally contradicting his own words, Southpaw threw a smart salute to the Lieutenant, who nodded as he passed – glancing over at Heart curiously but continuing on his way. Walking towards the entrance hall, Southpaw was the one doing all of the chattering this time.
”Of course I'll be yer guide marm, it t'would be an honor, Miss Heart! Come along then, step lively now – there's lots to see and even more to do in side this sturdy ol' mountain home of ours!” Jovial as the day was long, Southpaw's pleasant mood just couldn't be stopped.

[nikki]

”Oh a gel after m'own heart! That doesn't sound silly at all, why dontcha know a desire to protect and serve is one of our basic principles?” The hare gave her back a soft pat, grinning. ”If you keep talkin' like that, Heart m'gel, they'll have to accept ya! Some of the new recruits aren't even this pure of heart and intentions.”

Heartsease smiled with relief at Southpaw's reassurance, twitching her whiskers forward as she gazed up at the hare. He really was a gallant and charming beast, and the rabbitmaid could feel her confidence rising to match her excitement. The pat was accepted with a cheerful little squeak, the rabbit giving a little twirl as if with the momentum (careful to tuck her spear close so she wouldn't strike her new friend or any passersby).

”Talk too much? Nahhh, no one talks too much, it's just that a regular ol' chap's attention span is rather short, wot wot? But not like mine – I could flippin' listen to ya chatter on forever! Oh! Look, it's Lieutenant Brigsby, wonder what he's doin' all the way out here?”

Heartsease imitated Sothpaw's salute, just barely able to keep still long enough to pull it off before giving her head a curious tilt, shrugging.

"S'pose a hare has to be out and about once in awhile.... checking things over, perhaps?"

She followed him in at a brisk trot, listening closely to his chatter as she did. For now, her attention was fully focused on the hare.

”Of course I'll be yer guide marm, it t'would be an honor, Miss Heart! Come along then, step lively now – there's lots to see and even more to do in side this sturdy ol' mountain home of ours!”

"I can't wait to see it all!" she all but sang as she followed, eyes wide and eager as she hurried to keep to the bigger beast's side. "Everything already looks perfectly lovely - even more than I'd hoped. Have you been here all your life, South? Have many hares been here that long? The Badger Lord right now is called Braythe, right? Brathye the Savage... what's he like? Er, aside from the 'Savage' bit, anyway."

She paused for breath and to let the hare sort through her sudden assault of questions, gazing expectantly up at him as she walked.

"Hm, and you're a boxer, right... haven't got the reach or strength I think, but I'll try anything. Would you show me sometime?"

[Stryker]

"I can't wait to see it all!" she all but sang as she followed, eyes wide and eager as she hurried to keep to the bigger beast's side. "Everything already looks perfectly lovely - even more than I'd hoped. Have you been here all your life, South? Have many hares been here that long? The Badger Lord right now is called Braythe, right? Brathye the Savage... what's he like? Er, aside from the 'Savage' bit, anyway."

At mention of Salamandastron's resident badger lord, Southpaw laughed -- oh that was an entire discussion in of itself, what Lord Braythe was like... "Oh he's a bit of a touchy chap, I supp'ose you could say!" Southpaw paused, trying to find the right vocabulary word for their agitated, rude, inconsiderate Badger Lord. "He's...uh...I reckon you'll be better off meetin' the big ol' blinkin' badger lord than me tryin' to describe him. He's a bit on the aggressive side, but once he identifies you as friend and not food, you'll get along just fine." The hare laughed, ears waggling -- half serious half joking about the 'friend not food' thing...
Southpaw had heard rumors about the way Braythe had eyed Sola for a few minutes at breakfast the other day -- as though he were contemplating whether or not she'd taste good covered in honey and powdered sugar.

"Hm, and you're a boxer, right... haven't got the reach or strength I think, but I'll try anything. Would you show me sometime?"

At mention of his boxing skills, however, Southpaw did a demonstration on the spot, taking down an invisible enemy with a powerful left hook -- the young hare light on his feet and like greased lightning when he punched. Grinning cheekily, the galloper made another elegant leg. "t'would be an honor, Miss Heart -- oh look, we're at the flippin' front door already! Time flies when one's having fun, eh marm? Excuse me just a tick!"
Flighty as all hares seemed to be, Southpaw was clearly no exception, the buck already opening the door and calling in jovially:

"I've got a pretty young maid lookin' to prove herself in the Long Patrol, wot wot! Now where can she sign up?"

((XD that's the cue for another person to join the thread, lol.))

[nikki]

"He's...uh...I reckon you'll be better off meetin' the big ol' blinkin' badger lord than me tryin' to describe him. He's a bit on the aggressive side, but once he identifies you as friend and not food, you'll get along just fine."

Heartsease grinned at that, twitching a blacktipped ear at the hare.

”Well, then - suppose I should shout out a ‘hail Lord’ soon as an overlarge shadow looms, eh? Compare me to a badger or even a fine hare like you and I look like a bit fell off the table!”

She watched his impromptu demonstration with bright eyes, both paws on her spear as she admired South’s nimble strikes. Inexperienced as she was, she had at least watched her squirrel mentor long enough to recognize skill and power.

”Marvelous! You know, I’ve never seen boxing before… I’m a bit smallish as I said, but a beast should give anything a try, don’t you think? So long as you keep a sling out of my paws. Nearly took my teacher’s head off with a stone, poor fellow was standing behind me to boot!” The rabbit beamed at the boxer, head tilting cheerfully. ”And you certainly look like the gentleman for that!”

Grinning right back at him, she bobbed a quick curtsy in response and then fell silent as Southpaw called out, shifting her weight restlessly from footpaw to footpaw. It didn’t take long for the odd pair to be directed to recruitment; as he was already accompanying the rabbitmaid, Southpaw was given charge of her. Heartsease was more than happy to follow the golden hare, bouncing along with sprightly step as she chattered to him.

”So d’you formally teach a boxing class? What about other classes? I do like my spear, nice reach and I can slice or poke or thwack depending what I need, but other things wouldn’t go amiss, would they? Hm, and I’m good with navigating but not so much tracking, recruits take that too, don’t they? Oh - something smells rather good, doesn’t it?”

She broke off to sniff the air, whiskers twitching.

”Fine lot of cooks for a fine lot of hares I imagine, hope that isn’t too off-track. Looks like I still have some candied blackberries left, though, would you like some while we walk?”

[Stryker]

”So d’you formally teach a boxing class? What about other classes? I do like my spear, nice reach and I can slice or poke or thwack depending what I need, but other things wouldn’t go amiss, would they? Hm, and I’m good with navigating but not so much tracking, recruits take that too, don’t they? Oh - something smells rather good, doesn’t it?”

She broke off to sniff the air, whiskers twitching.

”Fine lot of cooks for a fine lot of hares I imagine, hope that isn’t too off-track. Looks like I still have some candied blackberries left, though, would you like some while we walk?”

Southpaw grinned, completely delighted to have such an eager young rabbitmaid as his companion. Take on the role of 'expert guide and and gallant noblebeast', Southpaw puffed out his chest, his cheery voice ringing out loud and clear up to the ceiling, the hare showing her around the training facility. "To I teach a boxing class? Marm, I wrote the bloomin' book on boxin'! Though all boxin' classes are held by Sarn't Miggory, and for classes in the use of polearms are lead by Colonel Fwopple -- in fact, I know a few chaps takin' the class right now!" As if on cue, a member of the Long Patrol who had been practicing with the use of a spear stopped and waved, Southpaw waving back with a grin.
"Those straw dummies won't cut themselves, Harper! Give 'em the ol' blood'n'vineager, eh?"

Turning back to Heart at the mention of food, Southpaw perked up (if that was possible), a grin lighting up his face. "Oh top hole Miss Heart! I was feeling a tad peckish this mornin', only 20 minutes to lunch you know, I was just thinkin' about how a flamin' famished chap such as me could use a little nibble to hold me over!"
Candied blackberries sounded absolutely divine.

Going to sit out on one of the unoccupied Lookout Points, Southpaw sat upon the ground, intending to stop and eat rather than walk and munch (a chap might get a bloomin' tummy ache, and then where would he be?), and couldn't help but realize just how nice his day was going so far. almost too nice.

[nikki]

"To I teach a boxing class? Marm, I wrote the bloomin' book on boxin'! Though all boxin' classes are held by Sarn't Miggory, and for classes in the use of polearms are lead by Colonel Fwopple -- in fact, I know a few chaps takin' the class right now!"

["b]"Sarn't... er, Sergeant Miggory and Colonel Fwopple, got it."[/b]

She grinned at nearly copying the hare's accent, giving the hare he was speaking to a cheerful wave as well. Another spearbeast! It would be interesting to see how what they had to teach her differed from what Timothy had already taught her. She mulled that over, following South.

Well, she did still want to try boxing. Even with her lack of reach she might surprise herself!

"Oh top hole Miss Heart! I was feeling a tad peckish this mornin', only 20 minutes to lunch you know, I was just thinkin' about how a flamin' famished chap such as me could use a little nibble to hold me over!"

"Didn't have much this morning myself I'm sorry to say. The blackberries will do us both a world of good!"

She sat beside the hare, settling the little parcel of blackberries between them as she gazed out over the mountain.

"Really lovely out here, isn't it... d'you suppose they'll let me start right away, after lunch of course? Or are their other things I need to do first, meet some officers and what have you?"

She popped a berry into her mouth and leaned back a bit, footpaws kicking idly as she gazed up at the sky; it seemed oddly closer here, bigger and brighter too.

"Kind of exciting, and lucky me to meet a fellow like you first! How'd you come to be a Patrol hare, South?"

[Stryker]

"Really lovely out here, isn't it... d'you suppose they'll let me start right away, after lunch of course? Or are their other things I need to do first, meet some officers and what have you?"

She popped a berry into her mouth and leaned back a bit, footpaws kicking idly as she gazed up at the sky; it seemed oddly closer here, bigger and brighter too.

"Kind of exciting, and lucky me to meet a fellow like you first! How'd you come to be a Patrol hare, South?"

Southpaw blinked. He hadn't really thought about what she'd need to do in order to properly join the Long Patrol... Let's see here... "Well Heart, you'll probably have to pass some sort of physical, get your hearing and eyesight checked... Hmmm...You might get enrolled in Salamandastron School for a little while, just to make sure you know the basics." Southpaw winked. "But don't worry, I know all the answers when Mrs. Waverly assigns homework -- I was a star student, dontcha know?" Okay that last part was a total lie... He'd been a class clown. It wasn't that he was unintelligent, quite the opposite really, but he was too distracted with having fun to focus on stuff like world geography or battle strategies.

At her last question, however, the Varilde smiled, glad she'd asked. "Well m'gel, it's been in my blood! Right from the very flippin' beginning! My ol' mammy was Captain "Wild" Amber Varilde, the fiercest Captain to ever draw a sword! And my father, good ol' Wontap, was a major of the Long Patrol, and a perilous beast if there ever was one!" Puffing out his chest with pride, Southpaw's eyes sparkled. "My whole family's in the Long Patrol; myself, my twin brother Eastpaw, my younger brother Nico, and my sisters Leilani and Crystin -- they're twins, it sorta runs in the family -- are all serving proudly like our ol' mum & pop."

[nikki]

"Well Heart, you'll probably have to pass some sort of physical, get your hearing and eyesight checked... Hmmm...You might get enrolled in Salamandastron School for a little while, just to make sure you know the basics." Southpaw winked. "But don't worry, I know all the answers when Mrs. Waverly assigns homework -- I was a star student, dontcha know?"

"Well, as to the physicals, I at least know I'm healthy as... as... as a hare!"

This pronouncement had the rabbitmaid bouncing energetically back to her footpaws, giving her spear a quick twirl to prove the point. The twirl ended with the spear at a proper readied position, Heartsease balancing delicately on tip-paw a moment before laughing a touch nervously, laying the spear back against her shoulder as she relaxed her stance. She tilted her head as she listened to South's tale of his family, a bit envious.

"That really is something... I've got three older brothers and three younger and none of them nor my parents ever did anything so interesting." She shook her head, shrugging. "Well, maybe that's not fair. Banwurt does some interesting things with plants - he could be a real healer. Not like me, I'm awful with plants, as likely to poison you as poultice you!" She gave a brief grin at that before sighing. "But he won't pursue it... not the thing for a buck rabbit, let alone an oldest son. So there's just me."

She tilted her head the other way, one ear ticking toward Southpaw.

"But nevermind... with your history, family and otherwise, you really must know a lot! So what do you think I need to know about the School? I can do geography and navigating best, it's how I hoofed it all the way out here, but what else?"

Bright, long-lashed brown eyes focused on the hare; it seemed the maid had every faith in his 'star student' proclaimation.

[Stryker]

"Well, as to the physicals, I at least know I'm healthy as... as... as a hare!"

Southpaw chuckled. Awwww. She was a cute one; she definitely reminded him of one of his little sisters, when they'd been younger and thought he was the coolest thing since strawberry fizz. The hare listened politely as Heartsease told him all about her family, particularly her brother Banwurt who, apparently, had a great deal of skill in healing.


"But nevermind... with your history, family and otherwise, you really must know a lot! So what do you think I need to know about the School? I can do geography and navigating best, it's how I hoofed it all the way out here, but what else?"

This one caused Southpaw to think about it for a few good moments, the hare's ears twitching erratically as he thought, blue eyes clearly concentrating. "Probably battle strategies, you'll probably have to learn all the basic fight styles -- paw to paw combat, long range, short range, endurance runs, lotsa trainin', and definitely parade marches." Southpaw grinned at that last one. "Oh be prepared to march yer bloomin' paws off before good ol' winter's run 'er course! We march in the snow, wind'n'rain, blisterin'heat and all kindsa nasty weather, so be prepared for that too!"

[Romulus]

"An' wot in a bloody blue moon've we got 'ere?" Corporal Dorchester came up behind South and the rabbit maid, grinning like a Cheshire cat. He carried his spear-length halberd casually, having just come from the training grounds after a solid two hours of practice. Setting the end of his halberd on the floor and placing his free paw on his hip, he tilted one ear playfully.

"Afternoon to the blinkin' both a' ye," he greeted, offering a small bow. "South, where'd ya flippin' pick up this pretty little bundle of energy, wot?" He winked at the rabbit. "An' 'ow many bloomin' lilies died t' make that little number?" Tipping an imaginary cap to her, he proudly introduced himself. "Th' name's Cordin Fuzthrite Liztine Harlington Dorchester, Missy. Most folks jus' jolly well call me Cordin. Or even Fuzzy Lizard, if that's yore idear of a good time. Wot d'they bloomin' well call you, or d'ye mind me jus' callin' ye 'Beauty'?"

The outrageous flirt gave no sign of remorse as he nudged South with his footpaw. "We seem t'be bloody well bringin' in a slew a' rabbits this season, eh, me ol' messmate?" he joked. "First Sola, and now this lovely piece a' flippin' handiwork, wot?" He turned back to the maid. "Fantastic to bally meet ye, Miss."

((Hope y'all don't mind.))

[nikki]

"Probably battle strategies, you'll probably have to learn all the basic fight styles -- paw to paw combat, long range, short range, endurance runs, lotsa trainin', and definitely parade marches." Southpaw grinned at that last one. "Oh be prepared to march yer bloomin' paws off before good ol' winter's run 'er course! We march in the snow, wind'n'rain, blisterin'heat and all kindsa nasty weather, so be prepared for that too!"

Heartsease listened closely to all of this, black-tipped ears flicking now and again as she considered this. After a moment she tipped her head in the opposite direction, speaking slowly.

"Hm! Definitely looking forward to training - I've had a bit with Tim Highleap, he's this old squirrel, but I think I still have some room in here!" She tapped the side of her head with a laugh. "Long range, though. That's one thing I know I can't do, I'm a danger to everybeast but the enemy, myself included, with a sling. Er... they won't chuck me out for that, will they? Because, you know, I can load a sling, and whirl it, and then it has a way of... going... wrong, y'see? But I want to try paw-to-paw, and more with the spear, and other weapons... maybe if I work especially hard with that... and I don't mind being out of doors in all weathers, really, and I can run faster and longer than any other rabbit at the warren, but I think I could be faster then, if still not as fast as a hare...." She paused for breath, looking a bit worried; then a determined look overtook that, and she wrinkled her nose, shifting her footpaws to a more balanced stance. "...but nobeast can be good at anything, so I'll at least try it all and work especially hard at what I am good at! That will be all right, won't it?"

"An' wot in a bloody blue moon've we got 'ere?"

The arrival of the second hare shook Heartsease out of her rambles, and she blinked as she looked over at Cordin. The Corporal's flirting had her blushing to the eartips; she laughed as she curtsied, giving him a doe-eyed look through long lashes.

"Well! A gentleman like you might get away with calling me anything he wants, but my name is actually Heartsease Whitefoot - Heart if you like!" She grinned, mirroring his ear-tip with her own ears as she eyed his weapon with some interest. The rabbit looked up again as she heard his next statement, stepping forward slightly.

"Wait... there's another rabbit here? I've never met another who'd want to be! But then, I suppose this is the place for it, isn't it!" Heartsease leaned on her spear, marveling at the coincidence. "If nothing else, talk like that to every rabbit doe you see and we might just keep coming!"

She plopped beside South again with a light little laugh.

"So. A rabbit comes twice in a blue moon, is that it?"

[Stryker]

"Afternoon to the blinkin' both a' ye," he greeted, offering a small bow. "South, where'd ya flippin' pick up this pretty little bundle of energy, wot?" He winked at the rabbit. "An' 'ow many bloomin' lilies died t' make that little number?" Tipping an imaginary cap to her, he proudly introduced himself. "Th' name's Cordin Fuzthrite Liztine Harlington Dorchester, Missy. Most folks jus' jolly well call me Cordin. Or even Fuzzy Lizard, if that's yore idear of a good time. Wot d'they bloomin' well call you, or d'ye mind me jus' callin' ye 'Beauty'?"

Good grief, Cordin was a dreadful flirt, wasn't he? Southpaw snickered. "Oh 'Beauty will suit me just find, ya silvertongued rogue, but I much prefer 'gallant&handsome' instead." After a bit of playful shoving with 'Fuzzy Lizard', Southpaw turned his attention back upon Miss Heartsease, the little rabbitmaid forcing herself to speak slowly as she went into another long-winded explanation. Southpaw smiled. "Oh there'll be sprintin' tests and endurance tests, and tests to see just how fast you can wriggle the bally old ears! Kidding a bit on that last one, but there will definitely be lotsa tests - say Fuzzy Lizard, remember when ol' Major Crumbly used to get out 'is clipboard and write down how well we did on the long jump and the endurance runs? I swear, it's like he hated us or something. We'd run and jump as if our flippin' footpaws were on fire, and we'd get 'average' on everything." Southpaw flopped onto his back again, paws folded to support his skull, ears wagging a bit with indignation.

"Haha, I guess some grizzled ol' chaps are just out to get us handsome roguish types, wot?" Southpaw pinked at Heartsease. "Such a flamin' tragedy, bein' born so good looking. Jealous types are likely to treat us unfairly -- so if anybeast kicks ya down or treats ya badly, it's cuz they're so green with envy they can't help themselves." The Varilde gave her a supportive nod. "Really though, if anybody's got a problem with ya bein' here and tryin' yer hardest, then they've bloody well got a problem with me -- you just send 'em on over to ol' Southpaw and I'll give 'em such a talkin' to they won't be forgettin' it in a hurry!"

By talk he meant punch.
Oh yes, he'd be doing a lot of talking...

[Romulus]

"Well! A gentleman like you might get away with calling me anything he wants, but my name is actually Heartsease Whitefoot - Heart if you like!" She grinned, mirroring his ear-tip with her own ears as she eyed his weapon with some interest. The rabbit looked up again as she heard his next statement, stepping forward slightly.

"Heart? Well, shore seems like ye've got a blinkin' lot a' heart, Miss, and that shore puts me at ease," Cordin chuckled. "Pleasure's mine, wot, wot?" He tilted his head in the direction of her spear. "I say, lovely ol' thing ye got there, Heart. May haps ye'd like t'spar with me some fine blinkin' mornin'? Oh, do say yes. Only a bloody pawful of these bloomin' hares knows anythin' about true-blue flippin' spear-play, doncha know?"

That was just like Cordin, to be thinking about training all the time. But now that he knew of another hare with similar weapon preference, he wasn't going to miss the opportunity. Besides, he hadn't yet gotten the chance to test a rabbit's fighting skills. Sola avoided sparring as much as possible, since she was basically halfway out the door.

"Oh 'Beauty will suit me just find, ya silvertongued rogue, but I much prefer 'gallant&handsome' instead."

Cordin jostled with South, laughing. "I'm terribly sorry, m'lady," he apologized, bowing low. "Yore absolutely right! Gallant and handsome are much better flippin' words t'describe a maiden of your caliber." His attention was drawn back to Heartsease with her inquiry.

"Wait...there's another rabbit here? I've never met another who'd want to be! But then, I suppose this is the place for it, isn't it!" Heartsease leaned on her spear, marveling at the coincidence. "If nothing else, talk like that to every rabbit doe you see and we might just keep coming!"

Cordin laughed, winking again. "Ah, she wasn't as bloody excited about bein' here as ye are, Heart," he remarked. "Packin' up her blinkin' bags, she is, actually." He looked to Southpaw as the Varilde spoke up again.

". . . say Fuzzy Lizard, remember when ol' Major Crumbly used to get out 'is clipboard and write down how well we did on the long jump and the endurance runs? I swear, it's like he hated us or something. We'd run and jump as if our flippin' footpaws were on fire, and we'd get 'average' on everything."

Cordin chuckled. "Aye, but it wasn't jolly well like we were helpin' things," he replied. "He had a flippin' right t'hold a bally grudge against ye, Sir Salt-In-The-Tea." He jabbed Southpaw playfully with the butt of his halberd. His next statement was directed at Heart. "Ye'll do bloody fine, me gel. Ye'll even have the support of ol' Bloodfire and Fuzzy Lizard behind ye. Nobeast can flippin' go wrong with a Varilde and a Dorchester on their side, eh, wot?"

[nikki]

"Really though, if anybody's got a problem with ya bein' here and tryin' yer hardest, then they've bloody well got a problem with me -- you just send 'em on over to ol' Southpaw and I'll give 'em such a talkin' to they won't be forgettin' it in a hurry!"

Heartsease grinned at that, tipping an ear toward the golden hare.

"I'll keep that in mind! A language I could stand to learn I take it?"

She looked over at Cordin's offer to spar, sitting up a bit straighter.

"Sounds like a fantastic time to me! Only ever had one beast to work with, y'know? Not that he's a bad teacher, but variety and all that. Besides, I'd love to see real Patrolers in action, and what better way!" She looked over at Southpaw, head tilting. "And you'll show me too - right?"

She sighed at hearing the other rabbit just wanted to leave - how disappointing! - but a grin crept onto her face as she listened to them discuss their old officer.

"Salt in the tea, is it? Never tried that one - used flour. See, my father's so muzzy in the mornings he never noticed I'd switched them until suddenly he was drinking morning batter instead of morning tea." She gave an impish little giggle, brown eyes sparkling. "Took him absolute ages to get it out of his whiskers, never mind the cup!" She folded her paws in her lap then, an expression of mock contrition creeping onto her face. "Which was of course all very wrong and not something a nice young doe does. Hee hee....!"

She nodded, one paw to her mouth to stifle her giggles before she spoke again.

"And I'm delighted to have you both on my side - I couldn't ask for a better welcome!"