The Thief ((OPEN))

[Promatera]

Nik's anger towards him was flaring up and talking was not working. He needed to do execute his plan before-

WHAM

-that happened. Nik had knocked Bon Vaygan quite hard in the eye socket, staggering him a bit. Although his rush had numbed the pain, he could still feel his eye throbbing; it would puff up soon. Lifting a paw to his eye he could feel something warm to the touch. That was never good.

Having turned from Nik, however, he noticed the hay stack he had previously rested on and remembered the food bag he had hid there. Now he had another plan! He just needed to reach the hay stack!

Looking to his feet he realized that his hat had fallen he had been dealt a hard blow. There was an opportunity! However, Nik's sword was still pointed at his throat. Still clutching his eye he turned back to Nik and asked, "Do you mind?" He began to slide down against the wall to pick up his hat.

[Django]

Still clutching his eye he turned back to Nik and asked, "Do you mind?" He began to slide down against the wall to pick up his hat.

Nik didn't even hear him. As Kirk slid down, the shrew brought his knee up into the weasel's chest. For Nik, seeing a beast writhe in pain after being dealt a blow from him was half the fun of punching some beast. So, when Kirk registered no pain, Nik's anger shot up past boiling point.

His emotions were already raw from the failed patrol. Now to learn his mates had been stolen from by this . . . this . . . character. Nik was really having trouble keeping his blade from actually piercing Kirk's heart. It took a few seconds for the weasel's words to reach his ears, his own heart was racing so.

"Aw, worried 'bout ye poor ol' 'at?" the shrew said with mock sympathy. "B'lieve me when I say it'll look lots better'n yew will once I'm done wi' ye, weasel." At this point, Nik was merely venting his anger (at multiple things) on Kirk. With a powerful kick, Nik sent the weasel sprawling in the direction of the haystack, not knowing that was exactly where Kirk wanted to go.

((Again, I really hope this isn't too much power-playing. Please please please let me know if you want me to change my post, and I'll do it without hesitation.))

[Promatera]

((OOC: Don't worry about the posts! It's great!))

"Aw, worried 'bout ye poor ol' 'at?" the shrew said with mock sympathy. "B'lieve me when I say it'll look lots better'n yew will once I'm done wi' ye, weasel." At this point, Nik was merely venting his anger (at multiple things) on Kirk. With a powerful kick, Nik sent the weasel sprawling in the direction of the haystack, not knowing that was exactly where Kirk wanted to go.

Knocked aside by a powerful kick, Bon Vaygan actually felt a moment of panic as the air was knocked from his lungs. Now sprawled out on the floor, he noticed he was closer to the hay stack. Not exactly how he had planned it, but it worked. Gasping for breath he scrambled over to the hay stack, but in his haste he stumbled head over heels into it. Fumbling about he managed to grab a hold of his food bag. Having almost two weeks of food in the bag was good for surviving in more ways than one.

With the air returning to his lungs he quickly bounced onto his feet. Nik had already struck him twice. That was two times too many. The euphoria he experienced was now turned to fuel for his rage. His smile became distorted into a sinister predatory grin. Quickly stepping towards a post he began to undo his cape.

"This has gone on long enough," he grumbled as he adjusted his cape around himself, "let it be known now that my real name is Bon Vaygan and I will be leaving with that sword tonight!" He had shouted his reveal just as a booming thunderbolt roared in the sky. Shaken he jumped, but regained himself.

"N-now come at me!" he taunted flouting his cape in front of him much like a hero he had played in the past. Hoping his experience in drama would prove somewhat practical he needed Nik to come to him. Once he rushed at him, Bon Vaygan would swiftly leap aside and the post he stood in front of would handle the rest.

[Django]

"This has gone on long enough," he grumbled as he adjusted his cape around himself, "let it be known now that my real name is Bon Vaygan and I will be leaving with that sword tonight!" He had shouted his reveal just as a booming thunderbolt roared in the sky. Shaken he jumped, but regained himself.

"B'lieve me, weasel," Nik growled, yanking the rapier out of the wood and advancing on Bon Vaygen. "This ain't gone on fer nigh on 'ow long it should." He couldn't care less what the vermin's real name was, be it Kirk, Bon Vaygen, or Happy the Clown.

"N-now come at me!" he taunted flouting his cape in front of him much like a hero he had played in the past.

Nik laughed in scorn. "I'll do more'n come at ye, blasted vermin!" he yelled. He charged, rapiers poised to strike. But he stopped short at the last second, whipping the handle of one blade around and slamming it into Bon Vaygen's good eye. He kicked the weasel in the gut for good measure and then took two steps back, flipping the hilts of the rapiers around so the blades rested against his forearms.

[Promatera]

"I'll do more'n come at ye, blasted vermin!" he yelled. He charged, rapiers poised to strike. But he stopped short at the last second, whipping the handle of one blade around and slamming it into Bon Vaygen's good eye.

He had not expected, Nik to be able to stop on a dime, nor the sucker punch. Clutching his other eye he stumbled, which Nik took full advantage of.

He kicked the weasel in the gut for good measure and then took two steps back, flipping the hilts of the rapiers around so the blades rested against his forearms.

He collapsed on the floor clutching his gut. The last blow had projected his saliva onto the floor. His plan had not worked too well. Now he was beginning to feel the pain. However, he was still in a rush and abandoning all caution he decided to take the shrew head on.

Letting out a roar, Bon Vaygan launched himself at the shrew's legs, hoping to knock him off balance.

[Django]

Nik jumped over the weasel easily, ramming the rapier hilts into Bon Vaygen's back as he did so. The shrew landed lightly behind him, spinning on one heel and kicking the base of the weasel's skull forcefully. Unbeknownst to the weasel, Nik was highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, the best fighter in the Guosim. This was child's play, roughing up Bon Vaygen.

"Yew got no idea who yore messin' with, vermin," the shrew chuckled darkly. Nik could tell sense and caution had left the weasel, and he was just desperate for the rapier now. The shrew couldn't blame him. It was dangerous to roam Mossflower weaponless. But no beast stole from the Guosim on Nik's watch.

Lightning arced across the sky, lighting up the barn again. Nik blinked away the after-images, listening to the loud crack of thunder that followed. Would this storm never end? Well, as long as it was raging, Bon Vaygen had nowhere to go. A sadistic grin spread across Nik's scarred face with the thought. As he dropped into a ready stance, he suppressed a laugh. He always welcomed a new punching bag, especially a pathetic one like Bon Vaygen.

[Promatera]

"Yew got no idea who yore messin' with, vermin," the shrew chuckled darkly.

"Nor d'you..." he muttered absently. He was beginning to see stars. Bon Vaygan had never really been pushed this far, but he was not giving up now. Spotting the food bag he had set aside, he scrambled to it just as the arc of lightning flashed through the barn. Grasping the bag in his paws, he realized it was now or never.

He noticed Nik bore a sinister visage. Bon Vaygan was going to change that. As the flash faded out he whipped around and tried to strike the shrew in the cranium just as thunder screamed to the night.

((OOC: Now this is a short post... xp))

[Django]

Nik recovered from the flash and tried to dodge the swinging sack, but he wasn't quite fast enough. He whipped an arm up to block the sack, still with a rapier resting blade side out on his forearm. The sharp blade ripped the bag open, splattering food all over the dusty barn floor. Nik grimaced as the impact of the heavy sack jarred his arm, but at least he hadn't been hit in the head. He stumbled to one side, but managed to stay on his feet.

"Yew really want this sword, don't ye?" the shrew chuckled. "I'm jus' curious, though, can ye e'en use one?" Nik was tense and ready for another attack, but he could keep up a conversation easily while fighting. To him, Bon Vaygen didn't seem like the type who'd be versed in the art of swordplay, or any style of fighting, for that matter.

((Don't worry, mine's short, too.))

[Promatera]

The impact of the food bag, though not as effective as Bon Vaygan thought, still roughed up Nik. He noticed the shrew grimace as it hit his arm. Unfortunately this also sacrificed all the hard work Bon Vaygan had put himself to in the last few weeks, yet it hardly mattered to him.

"Yew really want this sword, don't ye?" the shrew chuckled. "I'm jus' curious, though, can ye e'en use one?"

Panting he responded, "I would think it would be rather obvious I want the sword..." he clutched this stomach as he paused for air. "Do you think...I like pain? Experience is irrelevant, it is only a personal matter..."

Ripping his cape off himself to ease his breathing he realized he did not really know why he wanted the sword. It was not even his, but he was trying to regain it back as though it were his own life. When living alone perhaps it was, but there was something more to it. The rapier had been with him for years now, through thick and thin. Perhaps once he regained the rapier he would consider actually learning how to use it. Stage combat did not quite provide the skills necessary.

Either way, Bon Vaygan was running out of options and another assault could lay him low. His euphoria was slowly fading out and he could feel the pain beginning to increase ever steadily. Scanning the immediate area, he noticed the food scattered all over the floor. Also to his right the fire pit was still burning. A ridiculous idea came to him and he decided to run with it.

Leaning down he picked up a nice, juicy apple. Taking a quick bite he smiled and then quickly tossed it at Nik. Without wasting another moment he quickly grabbed a pasty from the floor and threw it hastily. Grabbing a quick armful of more food he retreated towards the fire pit tossing a random assortment of berries, fruit, and other foods. Anticipating the shrew to charge at him again, Bon Vaygan quickly reached for a burning plank from the fire pit that had not yet been fully consumed by the fire. Keeping the burning end pointed towards the shrew, he felt his confidence rise a bit now that he had a weapon of sorts.

[Django]

Panting he responded, "I would think it would be rather obvious I want the sword..." he clutched this stomach as he paused for air. "Do you think...I like pain? Experience is irrelevant, it is only a personal matter..."

Nik scoffed, rolling his eyes. He was taking this whole thing personally, too. And the shrew knew creatures got most infuriated over personal matters. But Bon Vaygen was just--SMACK!!

It took the shrew a second to recover from being hit. Glancing at the floor, he saw an apple rolling away. Had the weasel just thrown food at him? Looking up, he barely ducked in time to avoid a flying pastry. Soon, a volley of food was barreling his way. Bon Vaygen really was desperate. When the food stopped flying, Nik quickly got into a ready position again, wiping pastry off his eyes to find the weasel.

Bon Vaygen was by the fire, a makeshift torch in his paws. Nik shook food off himself and took a split second to think. The weasel was obviously not shy about using the torch, and Nik was not fancying getting burnt. But there was the elevation issue. Nik was higher by a few feet, but that just meant the weasel could burn his hind paws if he got too close. And running away was never an option for the stubborn Guosim shrew. So what to do? He couldn't surrender the sword, could he?

An idea struck him then, and Nik knew what he should do next. With a yell, he charged Bon Vaygen, whipping the rapiers around him in complex maneuvers. With a final spin, he let go of the stolen rapier hilt, allowing the blade to slid down his wrist until he was holding the mere tip. His spin deposited him right in front of Bon Vaygen, and he held the blade out to the weasel, grinning widely.

"Alright, Bon Vaygen," he said, his own blade tucked behind him. "Ye can 'ave yore blade back, but I'm gonna train ye t' use it proper." If Bon Vaygen accepted, it would give Nik an excuse to rough him up some more during his 'training'. If he didn't accept, then Nik would have to figure out how to get that torch out of his paws. It was a bit of a desperate idea, but, hey, Bon Vaygen was desperate, too, and, as said before, desperate times call for desperate measures.

[Promatera]

The food hit its mark. It also did a great job of drawing Nik to him, just as he had hoped. As the shrew charged, he readied himself. This was it, it would end here. However, he was not ready for what was about to happen next.

Spinning in a flurry of blade swipes, Bon Vaygan was amazed to see it end with a hilt pointed at him rather than a blade. Grinning the shrew cleared his confusion.

"Alright, Bon Vaygen," he said, his own blade tucked behind him. "Ye can 'ave yore blade back, but I'm gonna train ye t' use it proper."

Was he serious? He couldn't be serious. After pummeling the living life out of him, now he was offering to teach him? There was something afoot here. It could not be as simple as handing over his sword and hoping he would happily accept his new master. Or was it? Either way Bon Vaygan would not miss the opportunity to reclaim his sword.

Reluctantly he tossed the blazing plank into the fire and grabbed hold of the hilt. Watching Nik to see if he was going to try anything. He then took the blade from his grasp. It was great to have the rapier back in his paw. He realized now, he could make his escape. All he had wanted was his blade. Now he could make his grand exit. It would be very easy for him to do, just a few leaps and bounds and he was free to plunder the land once more.

He stirred as if to make a break for it, but then he stopped. No. He was not going to do that. Something within him kept him anchored to the spot. Was it his sense of honor? Or perhaps it was just he was too proud to charge back into the wilderness, defeated by only a shrew. Either way he decided to take up Nik on his offer.

Nodding his head he began to grin again, "Sounds like a reasonable deal..." He chuckled, but then he felt his stomach lurch after being hit one too many times in the gut and clutched his abdomen in pain. Shrugging off the mounting pain he did his best to regain his composure. He was going to pay for this in the morning...

[Django]

Nodding his head he began to grin again, "Sounds like a reasonable deal..."

Nik nodded back, flipping his own blade around. "Good," he said simply. "Yore first lesson's pretty simple." He offered a paw to Bon Vaygen after the weasel's sudden convulsions had stopped. "But since ye've gotten the livin' daylights knocked outta ye, I'll give yew a demonstration first." The shrew decided to get right to the lessons, since they really had nothing else to do, and so he could 'prove' to Bon Vaygen that he was willing to go through with this.

Pulling Bon Vaygen out of the hole in the floor, Nik released his paw and backed off a few paces. He then performed a few simple swordplay maneuvers, like parry, thrust, etc. He was just glad to have an excuse to keep his rapier in paw in case Bon Vaygen tried anything. But judging by the state he was in, the weasel didn't look like he was willing to try much.

((Bleh, short.))

[Promatera]

"Good," he said simply. "Yore first lesson's pretty simple." He offered a paw to Bon Vaygen after the weasel's sudden convulsions had stopped. "But since ye've gotten the livin' daylights knocked outta ye, I'll give yew a demonstration first."

Grasping Nik's paw he was lifted out of the fire pit and watched as the shrew began to demonstrate to him the proper technique and handling of the rapier. He tried to pay attention, but after being beaten quite harshly, he was having trouble focusing. Still clutching his stomach he blinked through his swollen eyes to try and catch everything.

"I see...well almost see everything you're doing," he responded doing his best to reproduce Nik's movements. Standing almost nobly he thrust the blade in front of him and kept his other arm behind his head, paw pointing to the roof. Bon Vaygan's stance was perfect, but it was only for show. His actual movements were frenzied and less refined.

"I feel as gallant as a hare!" he commented before staggering a bit.

[Django]

"I see...well almost see everything you're doing," he responded doing his best to reproduce Nik's movements.

Nik laughed lightly at the weasel's fumbled attempts. It was clear this lesson would take awhile. Even though Nik wouldn't try to teach Bon Vaygen the more complex maneuvers, it was going to be a long night. Well, they had time. There was really no rush.

"I feel as gallant as a hare!" he commented before staggering a bit.

"Well, yew look like a clumsy toad," the shrew replied, stepping up to his student. "Don't jus' flail 'round with it." It occurred to him that he would have to explain what Bon Vaygen was doing wrong in a way the weasel could easily understand. The terms Nik normally used during swordplay were a little foggy to beginners. "Yore bein' too loose an' wobbly. Ye got some excuse 'cos a' yore injuries, but ye gotta be stronger in yore movements."

He thought for a moment scratching his head. "Think of it this way. Say ye was t' perform a play, an' yew was stumblin' o'er yore lines, stammerin' an' stutterin' an' all that. Thats jus' what yore doin' with th' blade now. And yew wouldn't flub yore lines on stage like that, would ye? Make a statement with yore motions. Swordplay's lot like when yew project yore voice onstage, eh?" The shrew was in his element. Fighting styles where his favorite thing to talk about. He was gesturing with his own blade all while he was explaining.

"If yore voice is strong an' clear, every beast can 'ear yew," he went on, swiping powerfully at the space between them with his rapier. "An' if yore movements're strong an' clear, ye'll be able t' 'andle yoreself in a battle."

[Promatera]

"Well, yew look like a clumsy toad," the shrew replied, stepping up to his student. "Don't jus' flail 'round with it." "Yore bein' too loose an' wobbly. Ye got some excuse 'cos a' yore injuries, but ye gotta be stronger in yore movements."

"Something like might makes right I suppose," he smiled wryly in reply. Bon Vaygan appreciated Nik for giving him these lessons, but the ultimate motive behind this remained a mystery. He had not quite thrown out the fact he could have walked straight into Nik's trap, but at this point he did not want to focus on that.

"Think of it this way. Say ye was t' perform a play, an' yew was stumblin' o'er yore lines, stammerin' an' stutterin' an' all that. Thats jus' what yore doin' with th' blade now. And yew wouldn't flub yore lines on stage like that, would ye? Make a statement with yore motions. Swordplay's lot like when yew project yore voice onstage, eh?" The shrew was in his element. Fighting styles where his favorite thing to talk about. He was gesturing with his own blade all while he was explaining.

"Well said, Nik," Bon Vaygan remarked astounded. He had never given thought of drama being part of a method to learn swordplay. He was impressed with Nik's excellent analogy to bring the two together, but Bon Vaygan realized he must have taught younger shrews how to use a blade before so he must have experience in teaching.

Nik seemed just as enthusiastic in his topic as well. He had been thrusting his rapier about very animatedly, clearly enjoying himself.

"If yore voice is strong an' clear, every beast can 'ear yew," he went on, swiping powerfully at the space between them with his rapier. "An' if yore movements're strong an' clear, ye'll be able t' 'andle yoreself in a battle."

"I understand," he responded, eager to try out Nik's advice. With a flourish Bon Vaygan began to thrust, but lost his balance again. His pain had reached its peak, but it was still hard to endure. Groaning he clutched his gut, "You sure know how to treat a foebeast,"he added, trying to make light of his injuries.

[Django]

"I understand," he responded, eager to try out Nik's advice. With a flourish Bon Vaygan began to thrust, but lost his balance again.

Nik held out a paw to steady the weasel, chuckling. "Seems ye do," he remarked. "But yore sword arm shore don't." In the past, the shrew had taught plenty of the newer Guosim fighters the finer points of swordplay. Though he was still young himself, Nik learned fast, and he was a pretty good teacher.

Groaning he clutched his gut, "You sure know how to treat a foebeast,"he added, trying to make light of his injuries.

Nik laughed, raising an eyebrow smugly. "Yew mess with a bull, yew git th' horns," he replied, twirling his blade expertly. "Now, come on, s'long as'is storm's goin', we're trainin' yew. On ye footpaws, sharply now." The shrew was going to waste no time. Sure, he might give Bon Vaygen a break every now and then, since he'd roughed him up so good. But the weasel wanted his sword, and Nik wasn't about to pass up the chance to train an eager student, especially one who needed as much help as the weasel did.

[Promatera]

Nik held out a paw to steady the weasel, chuckling. "Seems ye do," he remarked. "But yore sword arm shore don't."

"Thanks,"he replied eyeing Nik with gratitude. The last thing he had expected was sword lessons, but at least he would be getting out of here with his life. Too bad about the food though. Looks like he'd have to get straight back to work after tonight.

"That was only a warm up!" he shouted trying to force his body into cooperating, but the pain still remained. He just needed to keep working through it. The euphoric rush he felt was still steadily declining.

Hopping back into his stance he thrust the rapier and then slashed. Swinging as hard as his arm would allow he let out another shout and thrust into a nearby post. He had put so much strength into the blow it stuck the blade into the wood. Satisfied with his performance he tried to pull the hilt from the post, but having stuck the rapier in deep it would not budge at first. Giving a great tug the blade freed itself from the wood sending Bon Vaygan falling back onto the floor. Laughing he turned to Nik and asked,"Now how was that?"

[Django]

"That was only a warm up!"

"A'course," Nik nodded seriously, but the smug grin on his face suggested otherwise. Many a learning shrew had labeled their mistakes as practices or warm-ups. Nik had been mo different, and obviously neither was Bon Vaygen. It was a pride thing. "Now, less try th' real thing, eh?"

He watched the weasel's slightly better attempt at a thrust and swipe, but it was still clumsy. Nik couldn't blame him. He was sure those bruises were causing his student much pain. The shrew chuckled when the blade got stuck, and merely watched as Bon Vaygen struggled to pull the blade out.

Nik strolled up to the weasel after Bon Vaygen fell flat on his backside. It was a pretty amusing sight, and as the weasel began to laugh, so did Nik.

Laughinghe turned to Nik and asked,"Now how was that?"

"Clumsy," the shrew replied. "But ye'll get it sooner or later. May haps ye need a sparrin' partner, eh?" He twirled his rapier again. "I'll go easy on ye, I promise."

[Promatera]

Laughing together the two beasts were having a great time once more. The storm also seemed to die down a bit, though it still rained, the roaring thunder and bright lightning had disappeared. Nik seemed quite amused by Bon Vaygan's antics, which strangely enough did not cause him to grow angry as usual. Or it could just be that he had taken too many hits to think straight. Bon Vaygan lifted himself up as Nik commented on his erratic swordplay.

"Clumsy," the shrew replied. "But ye'll get it sooner or later. May haps ye need a sparrin' partner, eh?" He twirled his rapier again. "I'll go easy on ye, I promise."

So that was what Nik had wanted. Bon Vaygan finally realized why the shrew had given him the blade. Now the shrew could cut him down through practice! Or would he? Could Bon Vaygan trust this shrew? It seemed the shrew trusted him enough to actually stick around so perhaps Nik could be trusted. If not, it only meant Bon Vaygan would lose his life, but that did not matter...

Wait something was wrong there. Something had snapped within him and he just remembered it. After a huge rush of energy came an even larger crash. During these periods, Bon Vaygan cared little for himself. Clearly his depressive state was almost at hand.

Bon Vaygan turned to face Nik, smiling simply as he had been. "I will accept your offer," he replied, "but on one condition. You have been able to trust me, after all you did give me this blade back, but now I must make sure I can trust you. Within the next several hours, I will enter a 'blue period.' In this state you could do practically anything to me and I would not fight back. During this time, all I ask is that you leave me be."

He paused for a moment to let his offer sink in, "Should you choose to mess with me in anyway, however," he added sliding his paw across the blade of the rapier, "I will find you and I will make sure you pay." Returning to his more jovial tone he asked, "Do you agree?"

[Django]

Bon Vaygan turned to face Nik, smiling simply as he had been. "I will accept your offer," he replied, "but on one condition. You have been able to trust me, after all you did give me this blade back, but now I must make sure I can trust you. Within the next several hours, I will enter a 'blue period.' In this state you could do practically anything to me and I would not fight back. During this time, all I ask is that you leave me be."

Nik tilted his head curiously. Blue period? Did the weasel go through random states of depression? The shrew flicked an ear in confusion, but he kept his mouth shut, since it seemed Bon Vaygen wasn't finished yet.

He paused for a moment to let his offer sink in, "Should you choose to mess with me in anyway, however," he added sliding his paw across the blade of the rapier, "I will find you and I will make sure you pay." Returning to his more jovial tone he asked, "Do you agree?"

Nik merely shrugged, sliding his rapier into his belt but keeping a tight hold on the hilt. "Shore, I s'pose," he replied, growing ever more confused and slightly suspicious. This weasel was a lot more than met the eye . . .