Fall's Unexpected Arrival (Oliver and Eckolet)

[Shadow Flame]

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

Oliver let out heavy sigh of relief, dropping the shirt he wound up that went over his long sleeved hooded top. He quickly relaxed himself and grabbed both of her paws with his and shook gently. "Phew.. I'm so glad that yer not who I think you were. Well, no need to leave, If'n yer tryin' to get to the Abbey, that's where me and my friend were 'eaded." He gave her a soft, friendly smile and let go of her paws.

Oliver called out as soon as the feeling of danger quickly vanished, '"Ecko! You can come out, everythin's fine!"

He looked back to the new face and chuckled, "It's so nice to see a friendly face, but 'ow rude of me I 'aven't properly introduced myself." Oliver cleared his throat and continued. "I am Oliver Swiftstream, I been apart of the Abbey since I was nineteen. Long story though.. Anyways, I'm the trainer an' one of the kitchen staff. Been a warrior fer most of my life too." Oliver smiled brightly and stuck a paw out, "An' what is yer name, miss?"

[inkmusic]

((OOC: Sorry about posting before you got a chance, Ecko. It won't happen again.))

"Phew....my friend were 'eaded."

Dhari was taken aback by the squirrel's sudden friendliness. And who had he thought she was? She tried to keep herself from shrinking back as he took ahold of her paws. His grip was firm. She could feel the bandadges on his palms and wondered if he was wearing them for the same reason her back was scarred.

Don't touch me! She wanted to shout, but knew that it would be rude.

"Oh...yes, well, I was 'eaded in that general direction...." She trailed off and breathed an inward sigh of relief as he released her paws. Tucking one paw into her belt so that he would not see that she was missing a finger, she picked up her staff with the other paw and held it loosely.

"Ecko! You can come out....an' what is yer name, miss?"

"Charmed, I'm sure, Mr. ah...Swiftstream. I'm Dhari the Wanderer. Been wanderin' since I was...." She threw her head back, pretending to count the seasons. Now did she really want him to know her whole history? "...a young'un." She finished. "A trainer, eh? Thinkin' the abbey's gonna be attacked or somethin'?"
What in the name of seasons would they need a trainer for? They were peaceful, weren't they?

[Eckolet]

((OOC: Oliver is a squirrel.))

'"Ecko! You can come out, everythin's fine!"

The small squirrel came cautiously out of the shack, arrow still on the bow string, though the string was no longer taut. She made her way carefully towards where the other creatures were standing, eying the newcomer cautiously. She was older than Eckolet, and looked more traveled. Though, and Ecko knew this for a certainty, she probably did not have years of being an oar slave under her belt. Ecko slowly put her bow up and listened to the conversation.

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver listened to Dhari and noticed her slight awkwardness towards them; he didn't blame her for being surprised or cautious.

He gave a friendly smile as she spoke and responded after she was finished. "Aye, travelin's 'eavy duty stuff. We can learn more 'bout each other later, both of you wanted to see the Abbey. An' yes, I like to make sure some of the beasts can protect themselves in case of sudden or major threats." Oliver slid on the top part of the short sleeved shirt over his long sleeve that clung tight to his body then walked ahead of the two.

"Oh, an' both of ya will 'ave to leave any weapons you got with the gate keeper. It's Abbey rules. Now just follow me and I'll take both of ya inside." Oliver said with a sudden cheeriness to his tone. It was exciting to have newcomers enter the wonderful gates that contained the beautiful abbey building.

[inkmusic]

Dhari nodded to the tiny squirrel who had joined them in the frosty air.
"'Ello."

"Aye...sudden or major threats."

Travelling was heavy-duty, indeed. But what would he know? Although he was a formidable-looking beast, he'd been at the abbey since he was nineteen, he'd said. Abbey life would have softened him up. He wouldn't have had it as heavy-duty as her, surely. Nobeast had. Wait...he was walking towards Redwall. Were they going inside? Dhari shook her head inwardly in disbelief. This was a fighting trainer, and she'd just been trespassing! Wasn't he going to beat her up, or box her ears as a warning, then send her on her way? Certainly not invite her into Redwall. Well, she thought ruefully, she'd get as far as the gates, and then she'd be sent out. That was the way things worked. Who was she to question it or complain?

Oh, an' both of ya....both of ya inside."

Oh, no. This would never do. There was no way she was giving up her weapon to anybeast. That sling was hers. It had been her uncle's. Who cared if the abbey was surrounded by a twenty-foot wall? Something might happen, and then where would she be? Utterly defenseless, surrounded by equally defenseless, stupid abbeybeasts.

"Ah, no!" She finally blurted out. "There is no way. My weapons stay with me, or I'm not goin' in. I can find some other place to sleep, but I ain't stayin' in there for one minute without my sling and staff."

[Eckolet]

"Ah, no... my sling and staff."

Eckolet felt strongly the same about her bow and sling, but she would relinquish them if it meant seeing the abbey. Giving the female squirrel a look, she just moved to follow Oliver, putting her weapons away as she did. Unlike the other two, Eckolet traveled much like a young squirrel would, running on all fours until she caught up to Oliver. It was easier that way.

"Thou are taking us to the Abbey of Redwall?" she asked hopefully. "Prithee, I have hoped and prayed to see thy abbey." Ecko looked back at the other squirrel. "Are thou coming along?"

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver looked to Dhari, noticing her body language, and reading her face before looking ahead. "It's the rule to invite all beasts into the building, goodbeast or not, to talk peace an' negotiation for the evil ones or to 'elp and 'ave the good ones to come in an' 'ave refreshment." Oliver sighed, "Whether I like it or not, I 'ave to follow all rules while I live 'ere."

"There is no way. My weapons stay with me, or I'm not goin' in. I can find some other place to sleep, but I ain't stayin' in there for one minute without my sling and staff."

Oliver hit his head with a free paw and looked at the sky in disbelief at her reaction. She could of put it nicer instead of blurting out. Again, it wasn't his Abbey or rules, so he had to bite his tongue at how this newcomer's strange behaviors bothered him. He breathed out a long breath to calm himself, "Look, I don't make the rules 'ere.. but the weapons rule usually goes for steel weapons, such as swords, knives or daggers. I fight with a staff myself, an' I carry it 'round with me all the time, I never got into any trouble. Just 'ide yer sling somewhere safe in a pocket of yers."

"Thou are taking us to the Abbey of Redwall?"[..] to see thy abbey."

Oliver smiled when the smaller squirrel ran next to him; he was fond of this one. Her upbeat body language and emotions made him feel joyed. "Why yes, Ecko, I am takin' you both to the Abbey, much more comfortable than my dank messy trainin' grounds." He smiled as he kept walking along. "You'd both like it, its a wonderful old place."

[inkmusic]

((OOC: Sorry, Oliver! No, I'm glad you reacted like that. That was what I was going for. ))

"Are thou coming along?"

Dhari backed away, gripping her staff firmly and fingering the sling at her belt.

"No....I ain't goin' anywheres near that place."

It all seemed rather controlling to Dhari. She wasn't a vermin, she obviously wasn't going to kill anyone! And what could a sling or a staff do against a couple scores of abbeydwellers? She wasn't a threat! She frowned as she listened to the big squirrel's lecture.

"It's the rule....while I live here."

Well, that was just stupid. No wonder they were so suspicious of everyone! If they invited vermin in, it was very likely that they'd been attacked! She noticed the squirrel's agitation at her reply.

"Look, I don't make the rules...pocket of yers."

That was all very well and good, but the more she heard about this abbey place, the less she liked it. Tiny miss squirrel here, with her "thees" and "thous" might be excited, but Dhari for one was not.

"Thou are taking us....to see thy abbey."
"Why, yes....'tis a wonderful old place."

Dhari shook her head. "I'm sorry." She said allowed. "I don't think I would like it. I've got to....I've got to go."

She bounded to the trees at the clearing's edge, shoving her staff into its holster on her back as she went. Reaching a low-hanging limb, she swung up, scrambled to the uppermost part of the tree she could go without falling and watched.

[Eckolet]

"No....I ain't goin' anywheres near that place."

Eckolet could not help but wonder what this squirrel was doing around here in the first place if she did not want to see the abbey. Maybe she was a spy of the enemy, or perhaps she was a rat in disguise. Ecko tried not to let her imagination run rampant and just shook her head, following Oliver.

"No one is forcing thee to go," Ecko said after Dhari, watching the other squirrel take off.

"Why yes, Ecko... wonderful old place."

Hurrying after Oliver, Eckolet smiled to herself. "If thy abbey is better than thy training grounds, then I have much to look forward to," she said. "Are there woven grass beds? Or perhaps soft hay pallets? Mayhap you have ledge beds like the otters, with woven rush mats?" This was all that Eckolet had known as far as beds, and when she thought of someplace to live, she always thought of beds. It might have been because of her experience of sleeping on a slave bench, but a warm bed always made her happy.

[Shadow Flame]

OOC: Haha, Oliver's a hard one to crack, but the way Dhari is acting, is actually one of Oliver's biggest "Pet Peeves" It's one of the of the couple of things that make him pretty angry. You nailed that part perfectly. xD If the site wasn't so PG rated, he would be cussing like a Sailor at this point!

BIC:

Oliver found a nice thick piece of round wood and started to swing it around and twirl it happily as he lead them onto the Abbey. Little did he know, that mood would come to a screeching halt.

"If thy abbey is better than thy training grounds[..]woven rush mats?"

Oliver chuckled with great excitement from the eager squirrel's questions, it made him smile greatly. "Yes, yes! You'll find out fer yerself, miss!" Oliver got his last chuckle out before he heard something foul cross his ears.

"No....I ain't goin' anywheres near that place."

Oliver whipped his head to look back and stopped twirling the wood, slightly gulping at the clear message he was given. The seasoned fighter was speechless. Before he could get a word out, he watched as Dhari left them with such agility.

The fur on his neck stood up with his cheery looking face turning into an angry scowl. He started to grit his teeth, baring them as his mood worsened. The large beasts muscles flexed as he gripped onto the wood with both paws.. SNAP!! If one didn't know better, you would think he was having one of his Bloodwrath episodes.

Oliver snapped the thick piece of wood in two, his breath heavy with great frustration. He gripped onto both pieces of wood like a vice, almost as if he was crushing the handles with his paws.

[inkmusic]

((OOC: OH CRAP))

Dhari listened to their voices from her perch in the trees. Well, good for them for finding a nice place to stay. Dhari, on the other hand, would never be truly happy around other beasts. Even around other squirrels. It was her curse to never be comfortable around anybeast.

However, as Dhari saw the large squirrel's reaction, she began trembling like a leaf. What in the name of blood and fur...? It seemed this large squirrel was not only large and a good fighter, he also had the bloodwrath. Lovely. And she'd just insulted him. Well, it was time for her to go.

((OOC: Just waiting for you guys to post, then I'll probably remove Dhari from the thread.))

[Eckolet]

((OOC: Okay, I.M.))

Eckolet froze as Oliver reacted to Dhari's parting words. At the sound of the wood snapping, the poor, tiny squirrel was back on the ship, listening to the whip crack over head. With a terrified squeak, she dropped to the ground, curled up as tight as she could get, her long tail wound about her body as a shield. Ecko was no longer the confident traveler. She was an oar slave once more, about to be beaten for not pulling her weight.

None of the last year registered with her, she was caught in the midst of her own memory. And this was a bad place to be. Oliver was no longer the friendly squirrel taking her to Redwall. He was an evil corsair bent on beating her for the sheer glee of it, and Ecko was purely terrified.

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver usually had a decent control over his emotions, but something about this made him snap. Insulting his kindness and hospitality, the hesitation, the rude and unfriendly decline of offers, and not to mention the bad vibes and body language! The nerve!

Oliver's eyes started to tint over with red, his anger was taking him to that point; bloodwrath. He growled low and deep within his chest while dropping the broken piece of wood. "The.. nerve... grr. I can't believe.. 'er! Kch! I'll.. I'LL.." Oliver put a paw to his head, he had some composure still, and it was the way he calmed himself from his emotions turning extreme. The paw kept pressing harder onto the side of his headm, which let the red tint in his eyes leave slowly.

It was until he looked back, noticing the smaller Eckolet, huddled into a ball. He shook his head quickly, the whites of his eyes returning and his pupils going back from their shrunken size to normal. "E-Ecko?.."

[Eckolet]

Fear, pure fear. It was as if Ecko was being sucked into the past by some unknown force. She heard her name being said, and in her mind it sounded like the dying gasp of some beast nearby, calling for help that could not come. Calling for something that Ecko could not give. She shivered violently, trying to pull her tail around herself for warmth against the spray of the northern sea. With any luck, the ship would be headed south for the winter, but for now, she was stuck, chained to a bench alongside another creature, waiting for the night to pass and the dawn to come, hopefully bringing the sun out with it.

Trapped in her own mind as she was, Eckolet did not notice the change in Oliver. She was too busy shivering and huddling down, trying to keep the warmth in. "Please quiet thyself," she said in almost a whisper. "They will hear, they will hear thee and come back. I do not wish to feel the whips again this night. Please...quiet thyself."

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver went to go walk over, but that short outburst he had moments ago took it's toll. "Errg!.." his eyes widened for a second as he took a step, then grit his teeth as a shock of pain shot up his spine. He stumbled backwards a couple of steps into the wall, using it to hold himself up. "Ecko! 'Old on, I'm comin!" He shouted, trying to get an answer to the felled squirrel. "I'll save you!" He panted heavily as he used the Red stone wall as a guide to walk with.

He felt extremely fatigued and out of breath; an all out attack if he was still in Bloodwrath would of rendered him useless and temporarily paralyzed. This was the biggest drawback of that state.

"Ecko.. please get up. It's me, Oliver.." He said helplessly, as he trudged onwards to his new friend.

[Eckolet]

"Ecko.. please get up. It's me, Oliver.."

This simple statement seemed to snap something back in Ecko's mind. Whether it was because Oliver was not a corsair name or because the creature moving towards her had known her name, she looked up, finally registering that she was no longer on the ship, that it had not been a whip crack, and she was safe. Well...more safe than when she was on the ship.

Squeezing her eyes tightly, she slowly let her body relax once more from the death grip she had put it through. This was not the first time she had reverted back to being on the ship, and she doubted it would be the last. But now her new friend knew her weakness. And him being a warrior would look down on her a bit more than he had been.

"O-Oliver?" Ecko said quietly, her voice cracking slightly. "I-I am sorry." She stood unsteadily, the fear still gripping her slightly.

[Shadow Flame]

Oliver put his back against the wall and smiled. "Phew.. I thought I lost ya there. I'm glad yer okay.." He slid down the wall and fell onto his butt with a Thump! He was breathing pretty hard, looking down at his wrapped up footpaws, obviously covered with sweat from his drenched looking fur and dark sweat stains all over his clothes. "No need.. to apologize." He felt so weak right now, knowing that Bloodwrath takes all limiters on ones body away, leaving a consequence for going into such a primitive and beast like state.

"Give me a moment my friend, I am awfully tired.."

[Eckolet]

Eckolet shook off the remainder of the fright and hurried over to Oliver, peering at his face, which was almost at perfect eye level for her. "Are thou injured?" she asked, looking him over. She had never seen bloodwrath before, so she had no idea what he had barely avoided. Of course, most of her worldly experience was limited to corsairs, kindly otters, and the random traveler. None of whom exhibited the slightest bloodwrath.

When checking him for injuries proved fruitless, Ecko crouched down in front of Oliver, studying his face. "Thou appears to be uninjured. Has thy training tired thee?" She would have offered to help him up, but her slight frame against his heavy muscles would not have helped at all. She was quick, but she was not strong.

[Shadow Flame]

"It's not my trainin' that did this to me.. it's that darn curse.." As much as Bloodwrath helped him out in battle, it also was too much of a double edged sword to be seen as more than a hindrance. All it did was give a feedback of suffering and pain.

The large squirrel took a deep breath, finally having his heavy breathing stop. He planted the palms of his paws on each side of him and use them to forcefully push himself up while using the his back to crawl up the wall until he was standing. He sighed and then smiled to his companion beside him. "Well, lets get to Redwall, shall we?"

[inkmusic]

((OOC: This is my last post in this thread, guys. It was nice posting with you!))

Dhari watched them, half a mind to go and aid them. But then the little squirrel got ahold of herself, and the big squirrel calmed down. Well, she had narrowly avoided that. Perhaps some other day, when the fates were smiling more kindly on her, she would come back to visit the famed Redwall Abbey. As she turned to go, she waved a casual salute to two of her fellow squirrels, sitting against the wall.

"Farewell."