And then there were three

[Ashstripe]

((Continued from the Assassination of Time))
The Mountain's normal quiet atmosphere had been utterly destroyed in the recent passing of event's despite the complaints of it's many inhabitants, it was a welcome change to the constant boredom and drill that was carried out on a daily basis; this was after all the purpose of the harsh regime that the Long Patrol and their Badger Lord endure.

Though despite the welcome change it was still exhausting no matter how you looked at it, scout patrol's and watches had been doubled, healer's worked tirelessly to no end and amongst it all Ashstripe was the pivot between the war and the daily routine of the Mountain; understandable it wasn't easy. He had sat himself at the long wooden table within the Mess Hall, the cool air caused his ear's to twitch occasionally, this was the first time in a while that he had managed to obtain a few moments of peace at this table, since it was usually occupied by at least one hare.

He rested his head in his paws with a slight sigh, his mug half drained of it's liquid brown ale; gold in his eyes. Really it was all relaxing until the door swung open with an extremely loud smash that nearly caused him to throw the chair in the direction in sheer shock,
"Sah! We got visitor's wot!" Sarge panted heavily, it had taken all of his stamina and strength but he had somehow overtaken Alaris, though not by much.
"I be aware, Luna's horde.." He replied with some stoicism, having recovered from his shock and regaining his composure,
"More then that m'lord! We got some jolly ol' sea-wallopers and a fox wot?" Sarge replied with a pant as he collapsed into a seat, he was probably one of the few hare's that could get away with breaking from attention whilst reporting.

Ashstripe frowned, more allies perhaps? Unlikely he hadn't sent request for any more aid as he had obtained a fair amount and exhausted all of his known resources. Refugees? He was uncertain, but they probably did want an audience with him since Sarge had nearly killed himself to deliver this message; what was the rush anyway?

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

"What! More steps!" voices shouted a short distance. A few seconds later, the backs of two otters came into view from the door. They backed into the mess hall hauling the limp form of Celeron up the steps into the room, The skipper of sea otters relaxing on Celeron's chest. He jumped up stretching his limbs and turned towards the two. "See mates? That wasn't so hard, now was it?" he said turning toward the Sarge walking up behind him and slapping him on the back with a hefty paw. He turned his attention towards the badger. "Im gonna take a stray arrer of a' guess and say yer the leader of the rock 'eh?"

Celeron came around and stood up shaking his head. He stood up and looked over in Sarges direction. With a the friendly grin snake he walked over behind Sarge and placed a paw on each shoulder and gripped it hard. "Friends....." he said grinning madly with a "all in due time look".

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe couldn't help but smile at the sight that lay before him, Otters, just as or even more so jovial as the hare's under his command; and if Sarge was telling the truth they were Sea Otters, probably originating not too far from the Mountain.
"Aye, that be true, I be Lord Ashstripe." He replied with a grin as he rose from his seat slowly, his bones having become used to the new posture creaked in annoyance,
"What brings ye to the Mountain, lads?" He inquired cordially, never being one capable of making conversation; what was there to talk about?

Sarge grinned having taken influence from Breeze for some time. He knew full well what that expression meant but acting aloof usually worked wonders for Breeze, perhaps he should give it a try,
"Glad t'hear it ol' boy! Wot!" He patted Celeron's paw lightly, he was playing with fire here.

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

Celeron grinned bigger as Sarge patted his paw. He seized the monument flipping his paw around and grabbing Sarge's. He gripped it hard and pulled up and the paw turning it backward. With his other hand he grabbed at the back of sarges neck and pinched it hard with a twist to the side. "Tell me friend....which am I....A river-walloper...or a Sea otter....." He said grinning madly.


"Well mate!...." he said with a sigh afterward rubbing his neck. "Ya see...It would seem on a first glance that some corsairs have made home just inside mossflower....well...thats where they were a hour ago...they're probably miles away by now...Our original intentions where to get your 'elp with em....but...I'd say its pretty pointless now however...I hear around this rock your havin' some trouble of yer own 'eh? Perhaps we could be of assistance..."

[Ashstripe]

Sarge was squirming wildly with the energy and vigor of a hare half his age,
"Arrgh! Gerrof! Wot! Bad show! I say sah! Get this blinkin' madbeast off me!" He continued his blind scramble to no avail he glanced over at Ashstripe, whom simply glared at him; it was obvious that he had gotten himself into this and he had to get himself out.
"Yer a bally Sea Otter!" He cried out in pain stubbornly, he was going to have to tread lightly around this berserk otter.

After Ashstripe had finished glaring down Sarge he eventually returned to the matter at hand,
"Aye that be true.." He sighed with resentment he had been having nothing but trouble ever since he became Badger Lord, one war after the other with only a few seasons to rest.
"At the current time we be havin' a truce with our former enemy, to go against our initial foe." He shook his head in frustration, he could use all the aid he could possibly get.

"Any aid ye can offer would be welcome..But whilst we be allies..I would hae t'ask yer sub-ordinate t'be nay killin' mine soldiers.." He nodded in the direction of Celeron, "That be the foe's job."

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

Celeron pushed the hare forward onto the table as he released him as he laughed in his ear. He stepped behind The Skipper still snickering to himself. The Skipper grinned at Celeron's personal amusement and continued with the conversation.


"Aye! Allies me mate....We'll help ye anyway we can!" he said before remembering somthing from all the book he had read. "This place be Salamandastron right? Its got a forge...'aye? You think later I can look at yer books and such? Im a bit of a bug when it comes ta' history...I love tha' stuff! I've read about everthin from Marshank ta' tha icy mountains! Ya know...I never knew this place was here..."

[Toriphess]

Alaris had kept silent, knowing full well that the badger lord would believe the otter's tales. He was there for support, if the otter crew needed it. Which, by all appearances, they didn't. So, finding himself not needed, the midnight fox decided to eat. He had more stamina and energy then most would believe, but that kind of stuff took a lot out of him. He strode up to the area where food was placed. As he wasn't a newcomer to the mountain, well-known and well-liked by most of the hares, he heard a few greetings as he went up to the window looked around. He returned the greetings with a nod, and returned to the search for sustinance. Nothing. He felt snuffed. He put a paw on the top of the window and ducked his head down to look in the kitchen. A single hare stood at a huge cauldron, stirring regularly. "Hey! Where's the food? I'm starving!"

Maken had followed the rest in. He knew all about the war, of course. He hoped that the otter crew would be an asset to the battles ahead. He, of low rank and little experience, knew he wasn't allowed inside the inner councils. So he busied himself looking around the hall. He looked at the his friend and then looked beyond him. "Oh no." he muttered. "Please don't tell me that's who I think it is in the kitchen."

[Ashstripe]

Not wasting another breath or second, Sarge grasped his freedom with both paws tightly, scrambling away quickly until he had reached a safe distance. Just enough so that if Celeron were to lunge or even approach him, a get-away would be possible.
"Flamin' brute.."He muttered under his breath and removed himself from the audience, he had a heard it all before.
"'Fraid so m'boy, that be Alaris wot?" Sarge grinned and replied despite Maken's statement of not wishing to be informed.

"Aye, a forge we hae..Be mine quarters s'well." He scratched his chin idly, books were far beyond his capabilities, never finding the time to learn to read or write nor did he have a reason to.
"I'm sure we be possessin' a library o' sorts." He replied slowly and unsurely.

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

"Oh great meh' mate! Id love a tour sometime of th' place! But first the task at hand...How can we help ya out?" he asked clapping his paws together, eying sarge in amusement.

Celeron pointed a paw towards Sarge with a mad grin on his face as if to laugh in his face. He came out from behind the Skipper and began inching closer to the sarge. Celeron was having his fun

With a quick movement Celeron started running after Sarge with a howl.

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe chuckled lightly, a simple question deserves a simple answer,
"Simply put. Live. Rest. Fight." He grinned at his three word explanation, "That is all we hae at the moment..Our foe has the upper paw.." He shook his head, the war simply never went well, from the beginning all those years ago.

Sarge simply wailed and ran as fast as his lanky legs could carry him, he couldn't take much more of this and he sure wasn't going to pro-long it. He dashed out the door and into the depths of the Mountain, he should be able to lose Celeron somewhere in the tunnels.

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

Since Celeron was a tall otter his was able to make long strides with his powerful legs. Also since he was almost black in color he blended in to the dark halls almost perfectly. "C'mon Sarge! Lemme give you a friendly hug....Hopefully you wont fall apart. Bahaha!!!"

"So your under siege then? Exactly what upper-paw does he have? You need a battle-plan mate...Somthin' to turn it to your will...I think my crew here might be that somthin' 'eh?

[Ashstripe]

Sarge shook his head and put on a even bigger burst of speed, darting through corners and twisting around turns, he didn't even know he could run this fast; let alone keep it up for the duration that he had been going for,
"Blinkin' river-walloper!" He yelled out in defiance and frustration, that was probably going to result in his death when or if he eventually got caught, but he didn't care; if he was going to escape he was going to have the last word. I can't blinkin' lose 'im! He gritted his teeth and kept going, Faster..Faster. Bystanders simply gawked at their old Sergeant, he was running as if the Dark Forest gates themselves were after him. Then again he could be just becoming senile.

Ashstripe ground his teeth in frustration, this hurt his pride a lot, admitting that he was in a bad way and that the Mountain needed help. Though he was going to risk the hare's lives due to his pride and ideals,
"Numbers. Sheer numbers.." He uttered quietly after a few moments. He rested his chin on his paws in thought, "I be nay sure of the figures..But they be many more then we."

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

"Numbers...." he said with a blank stare as if the badger was half off his paws . "Mate...mere numbers are not tha' answer...sure they help...but they cant win a war...One beast can defeat a whole army if 'e 'ad tha' ability. Trust me I know!" he said with a grin raising a paw. " Its tha' one thats got the best plan that wins...tha' one with tha' best weapon...." He reached into his haversack and pulled out a small red back and placed it on the table. It was just small enough to fit in his paw. " A weapon like this helps...."


Celeron laughed. " How about I realign your back friend? It looks a bit crooked!" he shouted loosing ground on him. He reached into his haversack which was swaying with the movement of his body quiet a bit and pulled out a Bag of the Reddust...Habberath Reddust...

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe smiled slightly, "A battle cannae determined by one factor, true. But one ant be nay able tae defeat a swarm." He rose his posture slightly and observed the strange new weapon being presented to him,
"Plans can fail.." He muttered pessimistically, as negative was he was being it he did have a fair point.

He stared for a few moments before eventually piping up, "And what, does it do?" He inquired slowly, in his eyes anything that wasn't fire, sharp or heavy and blunt couldn't possibly kill.

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

"Oh nothin' much mate...just causes pain beyond all imagination! Baha!" he said pushing it towards him on the table.

Celeron turned around and head back up to the Mess hall. There was no point chasing him now he would have his fun later. He walked in and sat beside the Skipper and glared at the bag on the table with a grin. He began laughing. The skipper looked at him from the side and grinned and looked back at the badger. "That hare of yours...Sarge...he's been irritating me mate here...He'd be a good beast to show ye how it works....'eh?"

[Toriphess]

(actually, Ashstripe, Maken was referring to Breeze. I didn't want to seem to be godmoding, so I didn't have him say;"Oh-no, not Breeze!)
Alaris had managed to grabe a whole pile of food. It balanced precariously on top of a tray, and he tried to keep it from falling as he found a seat. He placed the tray down with a thump, but then he became aware of most every hare's eyes on his plate. "Hey, Alaris! How you doin' old buddy? You wouldn't mind sharing that with us, would you?" Was the general sentance heard in the hall. "Bloody heck." The fox muttered, and was immediately assaulted. After the flurry of movement stopped, Alaris was left with a tiny slice of pie, while every hare's plate was considerably fuller. "Blaggards, Thieves, flippin' food snatchers!" The fox shook a fist at the general populace and went back to refill his tray.

Maken looked at the hare in the kitchen. "Not Breeze. He can't cook, why does he try?" He was distracted for a while by the hares eating in the hall swarming to steal his friend's food. But it didn't distract him for long. He backed away from the kitchen, and away from Breez's pitiful excuse at cooking. As he backed up, he felt himself bump into something.

[Ashstripe]

((Ah, Breeze? I don't recall using him..Meh he can be there *Snaps fingers*..And I wasn't referring to you, Maken. I was referring to Skip about the God-modding...Bleh so much misunderstandings..Ash is confused now..I'll try to make a head or tail out of the situation.

Edit: Wait now I understand, it would've made it easier if you asked me to use Breeze or whatever, I wouldn't mind.. Meh no harm done eh?

And why did you modify my post Skip? >_>))

Ashstripe frowned and stared at the small sack for a second, Otters were well renowned for their love of all things hot and spicy. Perhaps this was just something a few notches up from the level one would consider edible.
Ashstripe gave a slight smile, "Ye shouldn't let 'im bother ye..I live with him.." He muttered darkly, they would only have to put up with him for some time. He then shrugged at Skipper's suggestion,
"Tis' would be one way of testin'.."He narrowed his eyes, "As long as ye don't go killin' mine Hare's ye can try.".

Breeze grinned broadly as he threw some more ingredients in the cauldron, seemingly at random and it probably was at random. The cooks cringed but had once again failed at ejecting Breeze from the kitchen,
"No! Y'supposed to peel th' flamin' potato!" Came a loud cry from a cook that could no longer stand the abomination being created before them,
"Pish'n'tush ol' boy! Y'never get anywhere wit'out tryin' new things wot?" Came Breeze's casual reply as the sound of another ingredient plopped into the bubbling broth,
"I don't think y'can eat that.." Piped up another, but it was futile Breeze had completed his dastardly creation and was prepared to serve it to the masses.

"Stew's up! Wot? Come and get it eh?" He yelled as he banged the cauldron that he was hauling into the Mess Hall, which resulted in a deafening silence, all eyes were fixated on him. Many of them twitching in sheer repulsion, some hare's began to file out quickly, tales of bravery were halted abruptly; it was the return of the long feared scourge that was 'Breezer's stew'.

"'E cooks 'cos 'e reckons it's fun.." Replied a young private, the poor miss had the misfortune of trying Breeze's stew based on many false recommendations from other Hare's as a joke; she obtained her revenge by tipping her bowl on them, word has it the stench still lingers over them.

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

((I took out the OOC part and modified my post cuase matters like that especially between staff should be handled through the PM system))




Irvine laugh and clapped his paws together. "Great! You want to summon him 'er should We get Celeron too?" he asked, ready to display his work.

[Toriphess]

Alaris muttered darkly as the remains of his second tray were taken by greedy paws. He picked it up and headed to the kitchen, when he heard Breeze call out. "I'll take some!" He announced. He took a bowl and dipped it in the cauldren.
"The fox is crazy, wot!"
"He's going to kill himself with that slop!"
"Don't eat it Alaris!"Too late. With a greedy gulp, the midnight fox finished the bowl. There was an expectant hush as everyone waited to see him splurt the concoction out. He didn't. With a smacking of lips, Alaris dipped the bowl in the cauldron again. "Magnificant soup, complements to the chef!" Whithin minutes, the entire cauldron was empty, not a single drop of Breeze's stew to be seen. Alaris licked up the last drops from his muzzle, then turned to face the remainder of the mess hall. Every beast was staring at him in shock. Most of them had suffered at least one of Breeze's 'recipies'. And here came the fox, whom everyone knew, and he had claimed that the hare's expiriment was delicious.
Alaris turned to Breeze. "Anychance of seconds?" Thereafter, the majority of hares dropped in shock.

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe smiled slightly and barked out quickly, "Sergeant! Double time, at attention this instant!" He boomed, his voice bouncing off the walls and traveling throughout the Mountain eventually falling upon Sarge's ears. Sure enough a few moments later he emerged from behind a wall hesitantly; orders were orders after all.

"As long as that crazed blighter don't kill me.." He cried out in defiance, which was met with a glare from Ashstripe, who then turned his gaze to Celeron. "Ye'll stand down, will ye not?" He inquired sternly.

Breeze was as stunned as everyone else, only a few times had his recipe struck success and even rarer were the times when he remembered what he had used for those successes; this was one of those times where he didn't remember.
"Certainly ol' boy! and he rushed into the kitchens quickly, dragging the cauldron behind him, the sounds of his paws and bronze hitting the ground was followed more more gasps and exasperations as who knew what hit the boiling water.