Head in the Clouds ((Eagle Plot, open))

[Kenyon]

Eastpaw leaned casually against South, his own fur and limbs sweaty and trembling. After he gained his breath a little he stood, bouncing lightly on his toes in the constraints of the rope. He rolled his shoulders, stretching the feeling back into his arms and the tenseness from his legs. He wasn’t a climbing beast. He didn’t make a point of climbing cliffs.

After what seemed like a good interval, he looked back at Captain Rakefur, awaiting the signal to carry on.

[.:Fawn:.]

Thanks to the amount of hares contributing, the ladder making was going a tad faster than the climbing party was climbing. When one beast got tired, it was a simple matter of rotating in a fresh one, and before too long, a very large, very sturdy ladder was being built right up against the mountain side. Nailing it down as it was made, such a ladder would be too heavy and too tall to lift (even for a badger lord) so they had begun stabalizing it to the mountainside with carefully cut iron strips every few feet, a perilous hare on each side to continue hammering in new parts of the ladder as it was built.
Despite all of that progress, however, they had come to a bit of a problem. The logs weren't exactly light, and the taller the ladder got, the more slow-going it was to carry them all the way up and put each one into place. It was actually Braythe the Savage who came up with a solution to this problem; he would bring the logs up himself, considering his strength was considerably larger than that of any hare in his regiment, and when even he got too tired, he'd just have to grin and bear it, eh?
Time was of the essence, after all, so they had no time to brain storm for a better idea.

Unfortunately, however, some of the birds were a bit...upset that the Long Patrol were chopping up their homes into an obnoxiously large ladder, and several weren't afraid to express their disdain. Dive-bombing several hares, the spearbeasts were kept busy fending off the winged avengers. One particularly irate crow, however, had taken to circling Braythe, even as he climbed the ladder with a log strapped to his back to contribute to the ladder's progress.
"Annoying little rat with wings," Braythe growled as it squawked noisily at him. The Badger Lord pulled the log off his back, having reached the top of the ladder -- the crow boldly choosing to dive straight for him with it's talons outstretched.

BANG!

Swinging the log like a baseball bat, the unfortunate crow was sent rocketing off into the opposite direction it had been flying, Braythe squinting as the winged creature, stunned, made an emergency crash-landing into one of the sandy dunes nearby. The Brigadier, who was below him with a canteen of water, grimaced a bit.
"I'd say that was a home run, but it's really not nice -- the poor ol' chap was just upset about his home, you know."

"Aye," replied the badger, fitting the log into place. "But he coulda wrote me a letter or somethin' -- not tried to scratch my eyes out." Braythe hid a grin.

~*~

The loud noise made Southpaw jump, his tired muscles protesting as he soon clambored to his feet, Rake wiping sweat from his brow. "Ah take et that's our cue -- e'ery beast up and aboot, we've got tae reach yon rabbitmaid 'n haremaid before dark." The scarred hare seemed to eye them all grimly. "Best naw tae be up 'ere when it's too dark tae see where you're goin'."
Southpaw whole heartedly agreed.

They'd been climbing for a good while when they were given a signal as to just how close they had come. The eagle let out an agitated scream, reaching in with sharp talons to try and snag either Ripley or Sola, beak clacking with frustration -- another scream shattering the late afternoon and the climbing party's silent efforts. Blood running cold, Southpaw felt a desperate kind of strength returning to his limbs, and he nearly bumped into Nightfur trying to climb faster. Rake shot him a dark look, "Easy Southpaw, we ain't quite there yet -- doan't go chargin' up ahead with you're poor comrades tied up behind yeh."

((XD it's very late, so sorry if the post came out bad! Someone can have them arrive at the nest, that's fine, and can give an update on the ladder, it should be 75% done by now. If you guys need me to add anything, I definitely can.))

[nikki]

Saxifrage chuckled as Braythe belted the crow, shading his eyes with a big paw as he watched the unfortunate bird's trajectory.

"Twas a braw stroke, Bray! Ha, next time yon birds'll ken tae use all those quills!"

The mountain hare surveyed the ladder a long moment then, nodding in satisfaction.

"It's a quick roogh job, but a bit mair an' it'll dae. Ho, any beasts mair far-sighted than yer auld sergeant? Can anyain mark th' climbin' team's progress?" he called down to the other hares, ears forward expectantly.

[Romulus]

All seemed quiet around the eagle's nest for the moment. Sola peeked out from their hiding place, nudging Ripley wordlessly. The rabbit couldn't see the eagle from where she was, but she prayed it had flown off in search of other food (hopefully something like fish, and not another hare). Unsheathing one of her blades, Sola took a tentative step out of the alcove.

As soon as she had fully emerged, she regretted it. A scream tore from her throat as the eagle descended upon her once more. Its talons rammed into her middle forcefully, but she managed to contort herself enough to avoid being picked up again. Flat on her stomach now, she yanked out her other blade and watched the gigantic bird circle around clumsily. It screeched angrily, and Sola sprang to her feet, hurrying to the edge of the nest.

And then she found she had nowhere to go. A sheer cliff dropped away from her, the shore far below. The hares were busy doing something, but she was unable to tell what, as the eagle charged her again. She managed to scurry around it before it blocked her path back towards the nest and the alcove. She sliced one of her blades across the bird's leg, running for all she was worth.

But she was suddenly jerked back, her arm nearly dislocating as her hook sword caught in the eagle's flesh. As she crashed to the ground, her other blade skidded away, and the force of the impact made her lose her grip. The bird shrieked in fury, raising its wings and clamping its uninjured talon over the downed rabbit.

-----

Cordin's keen ears heard the shrieking, his sense of urgency flaring once more into high gear. They were so close to the nest! He could actually see the offending bird, now, and it seemed to be chasing somebeast. Oh . . . h*ll . . . It was Sola! It took the last of Cordin's frayed willpower to keep from rushing the bird then and there.

Finally, they arrived. Cordin's common sense and caution died. He drew his saber and severed the cord tying him to the other hares, yelling the famed war cry of Salamandastron as he sprinted towards the eagle, "EULALIAAAAA!!!"

((Sorry if that seemed a little rushed. Let me know if I should change something.))

[Tracy]

At the nudge, Ripley lifted her eyebrows, shrugging with a wordless question. So what if the eagle was gone? Where were they going to go? If she dodged the eagle, she'd only be met with a deadly fall off the cliff. When Sola drew her sword and started creeping away, Ripley immediately tried to grapple at the rabbit to pull her back. "No, don't! What are you doing!? Get b-"

Her hissing commands were cut off abruptly when the eagle dropped out of the sky to attack Sola. "You sorry, stupid…" Ripley, still stooped in the low cave, hopped to her feet readily. Shuffling to the entrance of the cave, her paws fumbled about in the earthy rock beneath her feet. Finding a sizeable stone, she threw it at the eagle, trying to distract the bird long enough for Sola to make it back over.

When the rabbit tried to make a run for it, Ripley beckoned with her paws, egging her on. She threw another stone, hoping to slow the eagle. She saw Sola get yanked back, felled by her stuck weapon. The haremaid reacted instinctually, running out to help. She went for the sword that had flown from the rabbit's paw. The eagle threw out its wings, nearly knocking the haremaid over. Finely-tuned reflexes saved the haremaid's life as she threw herself to the ground to avoid the flailing wings. Crawling the rest of the way, she wrapped her paw around the hilt of Sola's hook sword.

Rolling over, she jumped fluidly back to her feet, dodging the agitatedly flapping wings. Getting as close as the dangerous wings would allow, she swung the weapon at the bird's leg. The eagle still kept the rabbitmaid pinned firmly to the ground, but was annoyed enough to turn its head and snap furiously at the haremaid. Ripley, underhanded, managed to turn the sword just quickly enough so the deadly beak smacked into it instead of into her.

The hook sword was weird, not a weapon she was accustomed to in the least. However, with a blade in her paws, the scout seemed to be gaining some confidence, and some momentum. She went to take another swing at the eagle, knowing any moment the eagle wasn't distracted could be the end of Sola.

"EULALIAAAAA!!!"

The suddenness of the war cry nearly caused the haremaid to drop her sword in surprise. It surprised the eagle too, and its wings flailed out again. Ripley just barely managed to throw herself to the ground again, feeling the brush of feathers over her long ears.

[nikki]

"EULALIAAAAA!!!"

Saxifrage's ears shot up at the cry; forgetting his call to the hares only moments ago, the hare went into action - shooting up the ladder past Braythe to see what was going on. The hastily built structure wobbled a bit under having the badger and the huge hare in such close proximity, but held - for the time being, at least.

In truth, Saxifrage was too large to safely climb past Braythe's perch at the top of the ladder. He was a mountain hare, true, and fairly experienced in climbing, but the sheer face was a bit more than he'd ever tackled. Still, he was game to try, bellowing an answer to the warcry as he came.

"EULALIAAAAA! Give it tae 'em, lads, we're oan uir way!"

They were not, after all, exactly sneaking anymore, and if nothing else the calls might confuse the bird.

Below, the warcries were further agitating the birds circling the hares; several of them dove on the parties carrying wood, leaving spearbeasts and archers with their paws full trying to fend them off. Heartsease gritted her teeth as she slashed up at the creatures - even going so far as to bound up onto a cart to take a swipe at one harassing its attendants. The rabbit had taken a few nicks from talons in this endeavor, but there was no time to worry about that.

A warning call from a young hare drew her attention to a large young crow. Not quite bold enough to attack the badger as its comrade had, the bird had been circling the carts to dive on bearers to try to force them to leave their loads and was now swooping down on Heartsease. Without time to move from the bird's surprisingly swift stoop, or to swat it away as she had another, she acted on instinct - the maid skipped back a bit in hopes of getting out of immediate talon-range before bringing her spear sharply up, crouching a bit to be further out of range as she braced the butt of the weapon against a log so it wouldn't be jostled from her paws when bird came against spear, giving a shout of her own to bolster herself.

"EULAAAALIA!"

[.:Fawn:.]

"EULALIAAAAA!!!"

"CORDIN WAIT!"

And just like that, things seemed to enter pandemonium. Rake Nightfur, who was at the head of the climbing party, tried in vain to reach Cordin and stop him from charging, but the young Corporal's blood was up. Yelling out his war cry, Southpaw scrambled up the cliff after Rake, the experienced veteran pulling one of the twin claymores from his back, twirling it deftly in his right paw and picking up a large stone in the other. "Cut yore ropes! Get ter Ripley and Sola! Quick's the Word and Sharp's the Action!"
Damn it, Cordin was the one carrying the net!
Southpaw, slicing through his ropes with his teeth, felt his heart skip a beat as the enormous eagle reared up, screeching in what was probably a death threat with it's wing span fully extended, the sun behind it illuminating the creature in an almost god-like fashion. To Southpaw, who had never seen an eagle this close, it was like facing some mythical creature straight out of a fairy tale, but that didn't matter right now -- all that mattered was getting Ripley off this crazy mountain!

Gripping the hunting knife he had brought along with him, Southpaw darted past the eagle -- who was dividing it's attention between Cordin and Sola, screeching in frustration as the numerous hares began to get on it's nerves. Gripping the knife with the butt of the handle facing his left, the blade was parallel with the hare's chest in a defensive stance. Keeping his eyes trained on the eagle, Southpaw's eyes darted to Ripley -- relief washing over him as he saw that she was, for the most part, relatively unharmed. "Are you okay?"

"EULALIAAAAA! Give it tae 'em, lads, we're oan uir way!"

The rescue party's Captain, who was currently antagonizing the bird with a mixture of rocks pelted at it's face and a sword brought up to guard against those claws, felt his ears twitch as the faint yell of Color Sergeant Bigbones reached them.

"EUUUULALIAAAAAA!"

It was Rake Nightfur who shouted the famed warcry time, but it was Braythe who answered back, his voice a thunderous roar that mixed in with the rescue party's yells and the eagle's screeches.

"Come on! More logs! Hurry UP!"

Barking down the ladder, Braythe's bronze eyes turned skyward as he saw, about 100 feet away, what appeared to be the rescue party fighting with the eagle. They were so close! So close!
Sensing the urgency, the hares below Braythe scrambled to and fro, both Braythe and the gargantuan hare that was Saxifrage helping to carry logs up the ladder. They were so close! The goal now, wasn't to build the ladder all the way to the nest, but to build it close enough that they could fire another rope and have the rescue party slide down far enough, where Braythe & Sax could help them down further.
Judging by the noise up above, they didn't have much time.

((Nikki, you can have the ladder completed in your next post if you like. . I hope that post was okay for everyone! ))

[Eastpaw]

"Easy Southpaw, we ain't quite there yet -- doan't go chargin' up ahead with you're poor comrades tied up behind yeh."

“Aye, we’re all tied together, wot?” Eastpaw, who was slightly disgruntled about being yanked about, chimed in. They all started climbing faster, trembling limbs and tired muscles burning as they rushed to the aid of their comrades.

"EULALIAAAAA!!!"

Cordin rushed past Eastpaw, saber lifted as he charged the bird. The captain shouted orders, separating himself from South as he drew his sabers. Eastpaw drew his dagger, slicing the rope between himself and his twin, red filming over his eyes as he charged on South’s heels. The eagle reared, flaring his wings in threat, but East didn’t see it as South did—it was just another obstacle in his way. A huge monster that endangered his mountain and his family.

The eagle flapped his wings, enormous gusts of wind driving them backwards. Eastpaw shielded his eyes from the raised dust, gritting his teeth. Lowering his arms, he sheathed the knife at his belt, eying the eagle. If he could hold it back somehow… where was the net?

“EULAALIIIAAAAA!! SOUTH!” He charged forward, trusting that his twin would realize what he was doing and give him a boost. He’d need it to land on the eagle’s back. “Net, where’s the net!” He crouched and took an enormous leap, launching himself at South.

[Romulus]

Sola praised the high heavens when the Long Patrol hares showed up. She took back every low thing she'd ever said or thought about them. The eagle's attention was drawn away from her and she rolled out from under the bird's lifted talons, jumping to her feet once she was a safe distance away. Skidding to a halt near the edge of the cliff, she suddenly collapsed to her knees.

Pain shot up her sides as she doubled over in pain, blood staining her clothing red. She hadn't even noticed that the bird's claws had broken skin. But her best bet now was to stay out of the way. The rabbit looked up as she heard a familiar voice. "Cordin!" she shouted with a strangled gasp.

The corporal had to halt his charge as the massive bird reared up and flapped its wings. Standing his ground firmly, Cordin adjusted his grip on his weapon, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He saw South and East prepare to make their move and changed his own strategy.

“Net, where’s the net!”

Yes, Cordin had forgotten about the net, but he remembered, now. The golden-eyed hare swung the net over his head and threw it towards East. Or, where East would be going. Cordin guessed what the fighting twins would do next, and he inwardly cheered them on. At present, however, he was making his way over to the maids. Ripley was on the ground, virtually unhurt, but more in harm's way than Sola.

"Rip, are ye alright?" he asked, kneeling beside the hare maid.

((Let me know if I need to add something.))

[Tracy]

"Are you okay?"

"Rip, are ye alright?"

"Fine," Ripley mumbled, ignoring her ear. Before getting back to her feet, she scrambled a few feet away to pick back up Sola's sword that she'd dropped when startled. She couldn't believe she'd dropped her weapon at a comrade's shout. If the eagle had her right now, she'd deserve it for her abject stupidity. Wrapping her paw around the hilt, she pressed the palm of her free paw against the ground and hopped lightly back to her feet.

The haremaid cast her gaze around a bit, violet eyes landing on Sola, seeing she'd at least survived the attack. She also heard Sola call out for Cordin in obvious pain. Just as she was about to suggest that someone check on her, the eagle's violently flapping wings swung at her again. This time she quickly scattered back, stumbling into Cordin behind her. Making quick work of catching her balance, she pivoted around him, tugging his arm back quickly to maneuver him out of the bird's wingspan radius. "You should check on Sola, she got pinned pretty rough an-"

“EULAALIIIAAAAA!! SOUTH!”

Spinning around, eyes wide, she saw Eastpaw sprinting in their direction, then Cordin tossing a net to him. It took her another moment to realize what was happening. She waved her arms frantically. "Get back, get back!" That eagle was going to go berserk in about two seconds. "But stay away from the edges!" Their height on the sheer cliff-side was just as real a danger as the hungry bird of prey.

[nikki]

"EULALIAAAAA!"

Saxifrage's gray eyes blazed with excitement as he scrabbled his way up, bellowing like a hare gone mad. A glance behind him showed that the ladder was as complete as it was going to get; now the trouble was getting the maids - and the rescue party - down from the nest.

"Ahoooooooooooy Lang Patrol! Eulaliaaaaa! Maids tae me an' yon savage, I'll help ye cover their way doon!"

He paused on a small ledge, one big baw locked on a handhold as he drew his dirk with the other - not enough room to manuever with his greatsword, more's the pity, but with luck and skill the rescuers could start moving down. The rabbit especially looked like she could use some aid; that one might need to be bundled down gently, or as gently as they could manage.

Below, the eagle's shrieks had brought a momentary still to the other birds; it was this hush that had allowed the final few logs to be placed. With that task done, the spearbeasts and archers below were watching the marauders warily, waiting for further orders or activity.

[.:Fawn:.]

“EULAALIIIAAAAA!! SOUTH!”

The elder Varilde twin's eyes darted to Eastpaw, who was sprinting towards him as though his life depended on it. Fortunately, it clicked in Southpaw's mind with a few seconds to spare, the hare putting away his knife as he cupped both paws near his stomach, watching his twin catch the net and leap straight at him. Southpaw threw him into the air with all the strength he could muster, watching with battle-gleaming eyes as his twin sailed through the air towards the eagle. Then his eyes fell upon Sola -- uh oh, she wasn't looking too good! Nightfur was the closest creature to her, and Southpaw cupped his paws around his mouth, careful to keep himself in between the eagle and Ripley.
"CAPTAIN! GET SOLA!"

Rake looked up and noticed the danger the injured rabbit was facing, the highlander hare shouting out his war call and charging the eagle's left side, both swords drawn now as he went on the defensive. "Easy does et naow, Miss Sola -- Good ol' Saxifrage will help ye doun." Even as he spoke, Rake could hear the aforementioned hare thundering up the mountainside to reach them. There wasn't much time for talking, however, as Southpaw Varilde had suddenly flung himself at the eagle's scaly, taloned feet, yelling a hearty "EULALIA!!!" as he did so, the combat knife out and slashing at the creature's legs, Southpaw clinging on for dear life. He couldn't very well let that behemoth of a bird fly off with his twin, now could he?

"Get back, get back!" That eagle was going to go berserk in about two seconds. "But stay away from the edges!"

The Badger Lord, meanwhile, was waiting anxiously below them, knowing perfectly well that too many hares up there already was going to make it dangerous. If he climbed up there, he could very well end up knocking some of the rescuers off the cliff! The ladder creaked as he shifted his weight, bronze eyes peeled for any signs of somebeast coming down. What was going on up there?

[Kenyon]

The net made a swooshing noise as it arced through the air towards Eastpaw. He caught it just before he crouched low and threw himself at his twin, landing precisely in his cupped paws. His momentum combined with Southpaw’s throw sent him sailing at the eagle, the net’s edge trailing behind. He landed on the eagle’s back, clinging with paws and knees, trying his best to entangle the eagle in the net.

The eagle thrashed and shrieked, flapping his free wing and getting his left wing and talons tangled in the net. East was shouting, scrambled Eulalias and streams of negative comments on the bird’s heritage. He heard his brother’s voice echoed below him as South charged the bird’s claws, and his face was set in a snarl and his eyes were wild and red, his mind only concerned with the battle, blood rising with fury.

[Romulus]

"Ahoooooooooooy Lang Patrol! Eulaliaaaaa! Maids tae me an' yon savage, I'll help ye cover their way doon!"

Sola looked down at the massive hare at the top of the ladder. Oh, Fates . . . Breathing heavily, the rabbit carefully started in that direction. Her sides were screaming in agony, and her yellow shirt was more red than brown by now. She tried to stand up, but she was barely able to crouch comfortably.

"Easy does et naow, Miss Sola -- Good ol' Saxifrage will help ye doun."

Sola gasped in pain, but accepted the captain's help. Next thing she knew, she was standing directly above the ladder, tears of relief, agony, and fright streaming down her face. It finally dawned on her that she'd have to jump down to the big hare. Oh, cruel, cruel Fate . . .

"Yes!!" Cordin watched the fighting twins launch themselves at the giant bird. They were magnificent, but d*mn, he should be helping them! Weapon drawn, the corporal kept himself and Ripley back from the eagle's outspread wings. He continued to glance back, making sure they were still a safe distance from the ledge. "Rip, we're gonna head for the captain and Sola, alright?"

The maids' safety was what he most cared about at the moment. He knew the twins could handle themselves. As much as he wanted to help, he had to get Ripley out of here.

((Let me know if I need to change or add something. I'm really hoping we can finish this soon. And I don't know why I'm so stressed tonight. ><))

[nikki]

Saxifrage gave Sola a smile, calling cajolingly up to the rabbit.

"Aw reit noo, mah pretty one, jist a guid hop fur a brave lass, eh?"

He sheathed the dirk, moving to a firmer position and opening his arms to Sola.

"Come on noo, Sola isnae it? Let's head oan doon an' Ah swear tae ye yoo'll be snug an' bandaged in a jiffy. Yon hares'll deal wi' 'at big brute an' yoo'll hae somethin' tae teel those ye meet travelin', eh?"

Catching the maid was the difficult bit here - Sola was small, especially compared to him, but the sun was above him and the perch was awkward. Still, he had a bead on her and he was more than strong enough to take cushioning her.

"An' ye can curse th' eagle, th' ben, or me myself as ye jump an' nae one'll think less ay ye."

Well, Sax wouldn't, anyway.

[Tracy]

The eagle was going crazy, hopping about on the ledge, putting both Varilde twins in danger. Southpaw was within the target of the viciously sharp talons that had already cut into Sola and Eastpaw was very close to being thrown as the massive bird of prey tried to flap its wings out. With each movement, the beast got itself more entangled in the net, but it was still battling savagely for its freedom. She took a tighter hold on Sola's hook sword, about to jump in with Southpaw to attack at the bird's legs to keep it grounded.

"Rip, we're gonna head for the captain and Sola, alright?"

Only then did the haremaid tear her gaze away to look at Cordin. For a moment, it seemed like she hadn't really heard him, but her violet eyes strayed to Sola. Even from the other side of the ledge she could see the bloody mess that was the rabbit. Sola was hurt worse than Ripley had realized. Her eyes darted between Sola and the fight going on with the eagle. The battling hares were still outmatched by the deadly bird; any wrong movement could be the death of them… the strike of a deadly beak or talon, or being thrown from the cliff-side.

Ripley nodded at the fighters. "No, Cordin, go help them, I got Sola." She didn't give him the option to argue as she disappeared quickly. The haremaid paused only momentarily when she had to get past the eagle. She hesitated only a moment, then swiftly ducked a flailing wing and made her way to the edge where Sola was.

"Hey Sola," she said, a bit short of breath, she set the hook sword at her feet. "Set your other sword down here, I'll let them down with me."

"Listen, I'm goin' t'lay on my stomach. Hold on to my wrists, I'll hold on t'yours and we'll lower you down so y'don't have to fall so far." She gave the rabbit a wry smile. "I know it's the last thing you want t'hear, but you'll have to trust me."

Ripley squatted on the stony ground, eyeing the rabbitmaid, briefly taking note of her injuries. Hopefully being lowered a good portion of the way would be less traumatic on her wounds. "Ready?"

[.:Fawn:.]

Undeniably anxious, the Badger Lord's eyes were fixed on Saxifrage and Sola, the enormous creature silently hurrying the rabbitmaid along – the sooner she was on the ground, the sooner he would be able to climb up there and deal with that eagle. From the roars of Southpaw, Eastpaw, Cordin and Rake Nightfur, they were giving their absolute all to ensure Ripley and Sola's safety – Captain Rake covering the haremaid as Ripley did her very best to ease the injured rabbit's suffering just a bit. Well, they appeared to be on friendly terms at last.

Southpaw could hardly see. Some of the eagle's blood had spurted into his eyes after a particularly nasty slash with the knife – the crimson fluid stinging uncomfortably as he clung on for dear life. Was Eastpaw doing okay? Was Eastpaw hanging in there? Were they winning? Gritting his teeth as the enraged Eagle made another hop-skip, and then tried to shake him off, the motion making him a bit sick to his stomach – but that was the least of his problems. The eagle, head lowered, turned it's fierce eyes upon him, the leg he was clinging to raised up off the ground as the eagle stabbed downward, perhaps trying to spear him in the face with that long, lethal beak of his. Southpaw's piercing yell of pain suddenly split the air, the hare's whole left shoulder bleeding, left arm hanging uselessly as the eagle's beak had severed the tendons – his face white with shock.
Rearing back, the eagle went in for a second strike, but Rake Nightfur charged forward, his swords smacking against the bird's beak in retaliation. ”Get back ye brute! Move yerself Varilde! Get offa that eagle and doun yon ladder afore ye pass out!”

It was good advise, however, it was also easier said than done. Southpaw stumbled out from the eagle's talons, his heart beating in his chest as the shock began setting in – a shaken paw clasping his bleeding shoulder, a trail of crimson as he staggered for Ripley and the ladder. But he couldn't just leave Eastpaw hanging on for dear life, now could he? What kind of brother would he be?

[Django]

"Come on noo, Sola isnae it? Let's head oan doon an' Ah swear tae ye yoo'll be snug an' bandaged in a jiffy. Yon hares'll deal wi' 'at big brute an' yoo'll hae somethin' tae teel those ye meet travelin', eh?"

Sola took several deep breaths as she prepared to jump. She whimpered as her burning side protested any movement. She knew she'd be safe jumping down to the giant hare. She could trust him. But she was just so terrified! She didn't care who saw her fear. Not even--

"Hey Sola," she said, a bit short of breath, she set the hook sword at her feet. "Set your other sword down here, I'll let them down with me. Listen, I'm goin' t'lay on my stomach. Hold on to my wrists, I'll hold on t'yours and we'll lower you down so y'don't have to fall so far." She gave the rabbit a wry smile. "I know it's the last thing you want t'hear, but you'll have to trust me."

"Ha," the laugh Sola gave was a weak one. "I'd hate t'hear anything else right now." Her banter was just as feeble, but she just didn't care. Her past fights with Ripley were completely forgotten as the maids grabbed paws. Breathing heavily from the agony in her sides, the rabbit was grateful for the haremaid's help. The drop wasn't quite as daunting when she didn't actually have to drop all the way.

She fought to keep consciousness in the big hares arms, but fight she did, until she saw solid ground again. Oh, sweet, merciful heavens . . . She had to remember to thank Ripley when she woke . . .

Cordin, knowing that Ripley wasn't horribly injured, figured the maid could take care of herself. He turned to help the twins, instead. Cursing when he saw South's injury, he sprinted toward the eagle, torn between fighting with East and aiding South. The eagle was shrieking its lungs out as the net entangled one of its wings. Cordin decided to relieve it of the use of its other wing.

He darted back and forth as the bird skipped and hopped rather comically, tangled up as it was. The corporal found his opening and hurled his saber at the eagle's shoulder. The blade buried itself in the feathers, missing East's leg by inches. The massive bird screamed, and Cordin dove for South, (who was still in the eagle's way, the imbecile). Tackling the other hare, Cordin aimed for the top of the ladder.

"Saxifrage!" he called as they landed, skidding to a halt a good few yards away from the bird. Grunting with effort, Cordin ignored his new cuts and scrapes as he hauled South to his feet. "Help him down!" At least South was closer to the ladder, now. But as Cordin turned back to the bird, he remembered he was now weaponless. A most ungentlemanly curse left his lips as his eyes caught sight of his blade embedded in the bird's shoulder.

((Unorthodox, Cordin. Real unorthodox. Let me know if I need to change something, y'all.))

[saxifrage]

Saxifrage allowed himself a sigh of relief as Sola landed in his arms; noting the little female's condition, he then shifted the rabbit to one arm so he could use the other, and his sharp incisors, to tear away a sizable chunk of the 'cloak' half of his greatkilt. This cloth was used to bind Sola up as well as he could while still leaving her limbs free; then and only then did the hare start his descent.

Going down was rather more difficult than going up, to his surprise - partly because he wasn't sprinting up on sheer adrenaline and partly because of the need to be careful of the wounded Sola. Soon enough, though, she was safely passed to Braythe and from there to waiting paws below; that done, Saxifrage bounded right back up.

"One maid doon lads an' a guid job ay it ye did! Noo let's see tae th' other!"

Heartsease's heart rose as she saw the bundled figure passed down. As far as she could tell, the maid was still alive - which left only the other captured one and the rescue team itself. The rabbitmaid had no time to ponder her friends' position, though; each scream of the eagle seemed to drive the other birds to greater frenzy, like knights rallying to their king; her atention couldn't slip from the task of the spearbeasts and archers on the ground, not when they were so close to victory!

[Tracy]

Ripley had a tight grip on the Sola's wrists, lowering her down slowly as far as she could. Holding tight to the rabbit, she heard a horrible scream of pain behind her. The haremaid gritted her teeth and laid her ears back, resisting the urge to immediately see what had happened. When Sola was in a good position, she counted off, and released her, dropping her safely down to Saxifrage below.

The haremaid only took the briefest of seconds to see that the big hare below had the rabbit safe before she turned, leaping to her feet. What she saw was Southpaw staggering away from the eagle, wounded. Heedless of the flailing eagle, she ran out to meet him. Before she could, however, Cordin ran out past the eagle and tackled the wounded hare. Ripley winced and was beside them instantly, helping the corporal get Southpaw back to his feet. Smaller and shorter, she was able to tuck herself under the hare's wounded arm without jostling it.

There was blood everywhere. Southpaw was going to pass out before he could get down the ladder if they didn't bind him up. Ripley was surprised he was still conscious as it was. "Sit here for a sec'," she said gently to Southpaw, but also nodded to Cordin to set him down. The haremaid scurried further out on the ledge where she'd seen Rake set a small medical kit. Hurrying back over, she opened the bag and rifled hastily through it, making a mess of everything.

She tugged out a canteen and quickly unscrewed the cap. Lifting it to her nose, she took a quick sniff, relieved to find it was some fresh water. Rifling through the bag again, she took out a ball of bandaging before dropping to her knees by Southpaw. "You okay, you still with us?" she asked, glancing at his face. Taking the canteen, she poured it slowly around the wounded hare's shoulder, washing away the blood so she could actually see where it was coming from.

Setting the canteen down, she took the bandages and unwound them. Ripley took Southpaw's elbow and, as easily as she could, angled his arm out so she could wrap the bandage around it. She took the end of the bandage and set it against his shoulder. Quickly, wanting to get through this as quick as possible, she started wrapping the bandage around the wound. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry…" Ripley murmured. Her small paws were gentle and quick, but there was just no way to keep this from hurting.

Tucking away the end of the bandage after she wrapped it tight about the wound to slow the bleeding, she took stock of the situation. Leaning over, she looked down to the ledge where Saxifrage had returned. Turning, she looked at Cordin, then frowned at Southpaw. "South, you have t'jump down there. I d'no that there's much else for it. We can help y'down the ladder after that."

Looking down again, she nodded. "All right, I'll go down first, Cordin, come down after South." When she turned, she remembered Sola's swords sitting on the ledge. She took them up, adjusting them so she could hold them with one arm. Hardly about to jump down to Sax with swords in her paws, Ripley pressed herself up against the rocky mountainside and found a foothold. Light and surefooted, she was able to slowly climb halfway down to the ledge, and then jumped down, landing easily on the ledge.

She looked up at the large hare next to her, holding the pair of hook swords to him. "Could y'take care of these while I help South down?" Violet eyes shifted up then, back to Southpaw and Cordin. "Whenever you're ready!"