Fall's Unexpected Arrival (Oliver and Eckolet)

[Eckolet]

The leaves were just finishing falling from the trees above, welcoming the new frost from winter. The snow had yet to fall, but the air had cooled seemingly overnight. The migratory flocks had already abandoned their summer nests, and many creatures had settled in to home and hearth to wait out the falling snow. But one creature had nowhere to wait out the storms. A lone squirrelmaid was traveling north, away from her temporary home. A squirrel warrior is making his rounds to his training grounds outside of Redwall Abbey, a peaceful home to woodland creatures. Their meeting is highly unexpected. For both.

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver frowned, he couldn't accept this change... the change of weather! Something about the cold, it didn't appeal to the large warrior. Changing from his regular half top tunic to his hooded clothing, he was still prepared even if he hated it.

He blew warm air into his tight, bandaged wrapped paws, and noted the quiet but cold breeze before warming himself up for his training. The squirrel bulked up quite well during the end of summer and all of fall, which helped prepare him more for winter; it made his gain of muscle mass quite noticeable.

He warmed up by climbing up vines, up and down the trees. Some vines were coated with different materials that made the warm up much more difficult than normal. Oliver finished, stretched his body, then ran over to his acrobatic station. It was an area that tested his reflexes, flexibility, balance, and mobility. He tripped a wire which sent some small boulder stumbling down a hill, where he had to do side rolls and flips to dodge them. After that area, he tripped another wire which sent logs swinging from trees, which he either had to duck, back bend, or jump out of the way to dodge. He finished this station up, wiping the sweat from his brow and smiling from a job well done. He went on to the next station.

[Eckolet]

Eckolet ran through the branches, trying not to slip where the branches seemed to have gathered moisture in the cool air. She hated fall. Mostly because while on the ship it had meant the extra work of navigating the winter seas was due to start. Now, she hated it because it meant that her thin tunic was going to do nothing against the winter weather that was taking over.

Knowing that she was not the most graceful squirrel in Mossflower, Eckolet also knew that her chances of falling to the ground while out on one of these runs was much higher. This had been her first year in a wooded area that she could remember, so, while she was letting her natural instincts take over, some mishaps were bound to happen. Such as earlier in the day, when she had missed her handhold and had plummeted to the ground in a shower of broken branches. The empty haversack on her back thankfully broke the fall, otherwise she would be in a much worse state.

As she was leaping from one branch to another, her footpaw caught on something that was tied to the tree. Eckolet had neither seen it nor felt it, but as it caught her paw and sent her falling to the ground for the second time that day, she saw it during her plummet. Curling up her body tightly, Ecko tried to slow her free fall by grabbing onto the vine in front of her, but it did little to stop her as it seemed to be coated with something slippery. She crashed to the earth with a dull thud and lay there for a moment, completely winded.

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver bobbed and weaved, practicing his ducking and dodging while throwing punches and kicks at a straw dummy that was about a head taller than him. Each kick was hard, shaking the inanimate object with his powerful blows. "Yah!" He threw a hard right hook which sent his fist into the head of the dummy, but it went through its face from the force of his hit. He stumbled forwards caught off guard from what he did, but caught himself before he fell. "Phew.. Hmm?"

Oliver's ears twitched, probably from the faint thud that was made from a small ways away. "Wonder what that could be? I'm pretty sure that sound wasn't my imagination. I know I 'eard somethin'." With that said, Oliver ran over to where he heard the sound, only to spot a smaller creature, much smaller than Oliver was.

A squirrel maid? Never seen 'er before.." Oliver pondered at the thought and slowly walked over to the felled creature, towering over the body with his wide frame. "Uhm, excuse me miss, but are you okay?" He said with a friendly tone, but scratching his head in the process.

[Eckolet]

"I know I 'eard somethin'."

Eckolet started to panic slightly. She had no idea who was in this forest with her, and hearing a voice after falling like that told her that not only was she completely helpless at the moment, she was also not alone. Someone else had either witnessed her fall or was about to come across her. And she was too winded to move.

When the male squirrel appeared, Eckolet was not sure if she was hallucinating or not. He was huge. Almost the size of the otters she had lived with. And here she was, a tiny wraith of a squirrel, laying where she had fallen.

"Uhm, excuse me miss, but are you okay?"

"I am...ouch...I will be fine." Eckolet tried to push herself up, but her muscles seemed to not be working their best. "Prithee, will thou help me upright? I seem to have fallen on something." Indeed, underneath her was the squashed remains of a small branch that she had taken with her on her long plummet to the ground.

[Shadow Flame]

"Prithee, will thou help me upright? I seem to have fallen on something."

Oliver's puzzled look changed into a happy expression, he smiled and nodded. "I would be 'appy to." He stuck out one of his paws and hoisted her upright by her paw, gently, with minimal effort. "Yer lookin' pretty beat up, 'ow did you discover my trainin' grounds anyway? I thought I 'ad this place 'idden pretty good." He said with a small chuckle.

Oliver padded the dust and dirt off her back and folded his arm approvingly of this newcomer with a wide grin. "I also never seen ya 'round 'ere before. You can tell me later, I 'ave some cordial in the small 'ouse over there next to the boulders. Thirsty?"

[Eckolet]

"Yer lookin' pretty beat up, 'ow did you discover my trainin' grounds anyway? I thought I 'ad this place 'idden pretty good."

"I did not know thy owned training grounds," Eckolet said with a frown. "I was traveling to a place called the Abbey of Redwall. I was told I could find good beasts there." She paused, looking up at the big squirrel as he helped her upright. Ecko was embarrassed about falling in front of him, but he seemed nice enough.

"I also never seen ... the boulders. Thirsty?"

"Very. I would like to thank thee for thy help. I have been traveling for what seems like forever." She tried to turn to inspect her back, but found her own tail was covering it. With another embarrassed sigh, she turned and gave the big squirrel a smile. "My manners must seem appalling to thee. My name is Eckolet. The otters just called me Ecko. Thou may call me whatever thou decides is best."

[Shadow Flame]

"I was traveling to a place called the Abbey of Redwall. I was told I could find good beasts there."

Oliver's grin became much wider, "Well, miss, look no further, you ran into the right beast. I am the trainer an' kitchen 'elp of the Abbey. This is where I take the in'abitants to 'elp them stay in shape an' teach them self defense."

The large squirrel warrior gestured her to follow him to the small house as he listened to her words.

"Very. I would like to thank thee for thy help. I have been traveling for what seems like forever." ... "My manners [...] call me whatever thou decides is best."

As he led her to the back, he chuckled heartily before his response. "No need to feel bad, an' that's a wonderful name, Eckolet." Oliver smiled, facing her to introduce himself as well. "Fer me, my names Oliver Swiftstream, champion wrestler, an' paw to paw combat specialist. But you can call me Oliver, or Oli if you'd like." Oliver was the right beast to crash into, even though he wasn't done with his training. It didn't bother him one bit.

"Come, Ecko, I 'ave some fine strawberry cordial that we can share."

[Eckolet]

"Well, miss, look no further,...' teach them self defense."

"Thou teaches self defense? I was told that the Abbey was a place of gentle beasts." Eckolet figured they would need warriors of some kind, but to have this large specimen as a trainer would mean they would have much more talented fighters than she.

Ecko listened as he spoke, nodding as she learned his name. Oliver was a good name, she thought to herself. She was immensely glad that it was Oli who had found her and not some wandering vermin.

"Come, Ecko, I 'ave some fine strawberry cordial that we can share."

"Strawberry cordial? What is this, pray tell?" Having no real experience with the food or drink of Redwall, Ecko had no idea what was in store for her here. She had grown up on slop and oat mush. Not even the otters had anything with strawberries.

[Shadow Flame]

"Thou teaches self defense? I was told that the Abbey was a place of gentle beasts."

Oliver chuckled and sighed, a slight seriousness crossing his tone of voice as he looked down for a second. "Well, times are changin', I think you know it too. Somethin' bad is comin', for some reason I can feel it. I want to make sure the able bodied of our beloved Abbey can protect themselves from any incomin' threats."

"Strawberry cordial? What is this, pray tell?"

Oliver broke free of his seriousness after she asked what strawberry cordial was like and laughed aloud. "Hahaha! Oh you definitely need to try this!" He patted the smaller squirrel's shoulder lightly and smiled. "It's only the best fizzy sweet drink yer ever gonna 'ave, miss." He showed her to his small home outside of the abbey, walking by the various training stations as he led her.

[Eckolet]

"I want to make sure the able bodied of our beloved Abbey can protect themselves from any incomin' threats."

"I have felt something. It seems as if trouble is following me. Whether it is true or not, thee and thee friends are better off prepared." Eckolet walked on, watching the path she was on carefully. She realized that the big squirrel probably thought she was younger than she actually was. She did not look much like a full grown squirrel, but malnutrition had done its job well, and she was stunted slightly.

"It's only the best fizzy sweet drink yer ever gonna 'ave, miss."

Eckolet's face lit up. "Really? Fizzy sweet? Thy home of Redwall must be a magnificently rich abode to be able to produce sweet drinks!" She was quite excited at the prospect of tasting something that was not bitter like the teas of the otters, spicy like hotroot, or plain like stream water. Though, if she thought about it, the stream water was sweet to her when it flowed down from the cool passes she had crossed in her travels. Ecko barely paid attention to the training stations as she looked up at Oliver, a smile on her face.

[Shadow Flame]

"I have felt something. It seems as if trouble is following me. Whether it is true or not, thee and thee friends are better off prepared."

Oliver nodded with agreement and stopped before the home. "Aye, but that is true. The more prepared, the better."

"Really? Fizzy sweet? Thy home of Redwall must be a magnificently rich abode to be able to produce sweet drinks!"

Oliver clasped his paws together with delight as she spoke, it made him happy to hear such excitement. "Oh you don't even know 'alf of whats in store fer you! Just wait until ya reach the Abbey." He ran inside of his home for a minute or two before reappearing outside with two wooden mugs full of the stuff. Foam spilling slight over both as he handed one of the mugs to Eckolet. "Drink up missy, this is some of the best stuff they 'ave to offer! I keep my own stash of it out 'ere, it's a nice perk fer workin' in the kitchens." He said with a smile and wink.

"Though, the friar doesn't like me too much, as you can tell, I'm a much larger beast than most. I need to eat much more to sustain this size and my energy levels. You can probably see why 'e isn't too fond of my eatin' 'abits.." He gave off an embarrassed chuckle.

[Eckolet]

"Oh you don't even know 'alf of whats in store fer you! Just wait until ya reach the Abbey."

Eckolet was finally starting to get really excited. She could not even wait to see what sort of food was in a place like this if the drinks were sweet and fuzzy.

"Drink up missy, this ... fer workin' in the kitchens."

Tasting the fizzy drink, Eckolet giggled suddenly as the sticky sweetness went up her nose. "This is very good," she said with a smile. "It tastes much like the berries I found a few days ago. Thou has very good taste, methinks."

"Though, the friar ... too fond of my eatin' 'abits.."

For some reason, the mention of food in relation to size caused Eckolet's merriment to die slowly. She gave her own stunted form a brief glance before staring at her footpaws. "I must tell thee that I am not as young as I appear. I am aware that I look much like a youngling, however, I am not. I am most likely not much younger than thee." She wondered if he would ask the same question that every other beast asked when they found out she was no dibbun. It was always 'Are you a pygmy? How did it happen?' or the like.

[inkmusic]

((Hi! I just my grumpy squirrel character accepted, mind if I join?))

[Shadow Flame]

OOC: Of course you can, but its up to Ecko, she made the thread ^-^

Oliver flashed a white toothed smile from her giggling and enjoyment of the wonderful drink. It brought him great joy to have others pleased with his offerings. As she commented on his tastes of food, he rubbed the back of his head and noticeably blushed. "Awh, well thanks, Ecko."

He chuckled before putting his empty mug on a barrel close by.

"I must tell thee that I am not as young as I appear. I am aware that I look much like a youngling, however, I am not. I am most likely not much younger than thee."

Oliver looked to her and frowned. Carefully, he put a strong put on her shoulder and used his other paw to tap on her head lightly, indicating for her to look at him. "Oh, Ecko, do not fret. I could already tell yer age by 'ow you carried yerself. Yer face 'as a mature look, I could tell that yer at least the same age as me."

[Eckolet]

((OOC: Of course, Ink. By all means.))

"Awh, well thanks, Ecko."

Eckolet immediately smiled at his blush. He seemed flattered by her simple compliment. And she had fully meant what she had said. He had great taste in drinks. She was enjoying this one immensely. "I really meant it."

"Oh, Ecko, do not fret. I could ... the same age as me."

"I am highly relieved," she said with a slight nod of her head. "Tis been a long time since I have interacted with beast such as yourself, the southern otters notwithstanding." She looked into her cup, noticing that it was sadly empty. For such a small creature, she had an unnormal ability to make food and drink disappear, though most likely at a much smaller rate than the big squirrel in front of her.

[inkmusic]

((OOC: Well, here she comes!))
Dhari the Wanderer strove into the training area, her stride long and purposeful. She paused for a moment and looked around at the various training equipment around her. There was a hint of confusion in her eyes as to where the equpiment came from, but then the realization dawned on her as she saw the massive sandstone building rising above the treetops.
"Ah, Redwall. Place o' plenty'n'peace." She muttered to herself. "Well, 'opefully they'll let me in. I must look a mess!"
She was about to go on towards the abbey when she noticed the little house at the edge of the clearing ((?)). Crossing over towards it, she peered inside, seeing two squirrels like herself, appearing to be laughing and enjoying themselves. They seemed friendly enough. Could she trust them?
She was about to turn away and continue towards the abbey--you never could tell, even if they were squirrels--when suddenly one of the shudders slammed against the wall behind her. She froze in place.

[Shadow Flame]

"I really meant it."[...] I have interacted with beast such as yourself, the southern otters notwithstanding."

He gave a soft smile as his blush went away then nodded as she spoke once more. "I'm glad I ran into you, jus' talk to me whenever you need to."

Snap!

His paw quickly jerked away from her shoulder as he heard the sound, turning his body quickly to the direction. "Is somebeast out there?.. Ecko, stay 'ere fer a second." He realized the shutter slammed the wall, which is what surprised him, but he felt like he was being watched. He cautiously walked around to the opposite side of the house, away from the shutter.

If something was out there, best bet was to avoid all danger by sneaking around from behind for a sneak attack. Oliver was also doing this, just in case it was friend; no sudden attacks until he knew what he was dealing with.

The muscular squirrel took off the short sleeved part of his tunic, leaving only the tight hooded sweatshirt and tunic bottoms on his body. He held the shirt with both paws and twirled them around, like knotting a towel. If the beast was vermin, he would use it to choke the beast into slumber.

He made his way to the other wall...

[inkmusic]

"By the fur..." Dhari swore. If anybeast inside the house had heard that--no doubt they had--then they would be out here in a flash. And once they did, they would not take kindly to somebeast sneaking around their training area.

Slowly, keeping an eye on the little house, Dhari backed out of the clearing, staff held out in front of her. She watched carefully for any movement inside the house or from the door. Nothing. Not yet, anyway. Had they really not heard the bang?

She was almost home free, ready to turn and bolt into the welcoming shadows at the fringe of the clearing, when she tripped over a dumbell. Sprawling on her tail, tangling her footpaws in her staff, she struggled to rise. It was then that she saw the squirrel.

He had been in the house with the tiny one. But this squirrel was no small beast. Dark-brown fur, numerous scars pocketing his paws, muscle rippling under his fur.

Attempting a grin that looked more like a grimace, Dhari finally rose to her footpaws and offered her paws in a gesture of peace.

"Uh, 'ello. Sorry to 'ave--er--trespassed. But I-I'll just be leavin' now."

[Eckolet]

((OOC: Ink, wait for everyone in the thread to post before posting a second time. It's just curtesy.))

SNAP!

Eckolet jumped as the shudder slammed shut. She looked around, wild eyed, her hand flying to her bow. She would not get captured again. No way.

"Is somebeast out there?.. Ecko, stay 'ere fer a second."

She had no intention of leaving, but she did go to the door, her bow in hand, an arrow on the taut string, and looked out. She saw what was happening at a glance and frowned. Another squirrel? Was this one friend or foe? She could never tell.