The Thief ((OPEN))

[Promatera]

As Bon Vaygan awaited a response, he noticed the shrew seemed somewhat confused by all he had just said. Perhaps it was a lot to swallow, but it was crucial this was discussed. Eventually Nik just nodded and replied,

"Shore, I s'pose,"

There was a bit of hesitance in the reply. Bon Vaygan knew Nik may not be fully on board with everything he had just said, but he had to trust him.

"Excellent!" he responded jumping into his stance. He winced slightly as pain shot through his body. With a shaky paw, he pointed the rapier at Nik and shouted, "En garde!" Hopefully the lesson would not be too exerting, if it were Bon Vaygan worried it would hasten the arrival of his crash. The euphoric rush he experienced had nearly completely vanished and as the pain remained, his movements became labored.

[Django]

"Excellent!" he responded jumping into his stance. He winced slightly as pain shot through his body. With a shaky paw, he pointed the rapier at Nik and shouted, "En garde!

Nik gave a half smile and held up a paw, drawing his blade. "Whoa, mate," he said. "Slow down 'ere. Yore stance ain't near balanced as it should be." He flipped his blade around, walking up to his pupil and tapped the hilt against the toes of Bon Vaygen's back footpaw, an indication the weasel should move it further back. "Jus' a bit this way, yeah, an' then," he tapped the handle against the heel of the weasel's front footpaw. "Now for'ard wi' 'at'un. Don't wanna fall o'er jus' 'cos ye can't stan' right."

The shrew moved back, taking his stance opposite his student, gripping his blade the correct way now. "Now, don't be sore if'n I best ye, ar'ight?" he began. "Yore still new at this, eh?" He lunged then, aiming his blade at Bon Vaygen's neck. He slowed up a bit, accounting for the weasel's obvious fatigue and little knowledge of swordplay. He wanted to make sure Bon Vaygen could easily block him . . . for now, at least.

[Promatera]

Bon Vaygan did his best to act energetic and as Nik smiled back at him he wondered exactly what the mindset of this shrew was. Nik had just survived a vermin raid and now he was teaching a weasel how to fight. He wondered if perhaps Nik really did see him as different from other vermin.

Hplding up a paw and slowly drawing his blade, Nik replied,

"Whoa, mate," "Slow down 'ere. Yore stance ain't near balanced as it should be."

The shrew then proceeded to correct his stance, adjusting both footpaws. Not used to the more proper stance, Bon Vaygan felt rather awkward with his paws spread apart. However, he knew better than to question somebeast who actually knew how to fight. Taking up his stance just opposite of Bon Vaygan, Nik began,

"Now, don't be sore if'n I best ye, ar'ight?" "Yore still new at this, eh?"

Before Bon Vaygan could respond the shrew lunged at him and he had to quickly react and block the blow. With Nik's blade in range to his, Bon Vaygan quickly brushed aside the thrust with the blade; an effective parry. He winced as the sudden movement caused more fatigue.

[Django]

Nik nodded at Bon Vaygen's form. "Good," he approved. Although they were both performing at a speed slightly slower than a normal fight, the weasel needed to learn the stances first, and then the speed could come with practice. The shrew smiled wider as he spun on one heel and brought his blade down in a swipe at the weasel's side.

Once again, he moved slowly, allowing Bon Vaygen to parry easily. As the weasel effectively blocked the next few moves Nik threw at him, it became apparent to the shrew that his pupil was exhausted. Stepping back, Nik sheathed his blade, holding up both paws. "Yore gettin' tired, mate," he observed. "Less stop fer a bit, eh?"

((Sorry. Bit of a time skip, you could say, but if I hadn't, I would've had an infinitesimal post.))

[Promatera]

((OOC: Good idea with the time skip. Saves the thread from lots of similar looking posts XD))

"Good,"

Somehow Bon Vaygan managed to deflect Nik's blow. It was obvious though that Nik was just going easy on him. It would only get harder from here. Taking a quick breath he braced himself for a test of his endurance. Nik's smile as he prepared to strike was further proof to Bon Vaygan that his new instructor was a fan of sadism. Spinning on his heel, Nik tried to slash at his side. Bon Vaygan brought his blade to his side and caught Nik's rapier just in time. The test had begun.

Nik continued to go easy on Bon Vaygan, but now his assault was not stopping. Struggling to maintain his form, block, and predict his opponent's next move, Bon Vaygan could barely keep up. In practice, he had forgot his pain, but his fatigue remained, slowing his actions. Finally after yet another successful parry that kept Nik from striking his face, the shrew stopped his assault. Panting, Bon Vaygan sat down. The shrew stepped back and held up his paws to show he was finished.

"Yore gettin' tired, mate," he observed. "Less stop fer a bit, eh?"

This was a very welcome offer at the moment. He nodded as he continued to pant and laid down on his back. Bon Vaygan was sure that in all of his years of carrying the rapier, he had never done so much sword fighting.

[Django]

Nik was hardly panting, but he had once been in Bon Vaygen's place. He remembered his father teaching him swordplay for the first time. Chuckling at the fond memory, Nik settled down opposite the weasel. The shrew was wary of when this 'blue state' of the weasel's might start, but perhaps an anecdote or two would lighten his spirits.

"'Eh, Vaygen," he began. "Would ye like t' 'ear th' story a' when I were first learnin' t' fight?" His smile took on a much less sadistic look, and more a friendly one as he laughed. "I were worse'n yew."

[Promatera]

Not that he was resting, Bon Vaygan had finally stopped panting. Slowly his breathing returned to normal and he could feel his body begin to relax itself.

"'Eh, Vaygen," he began. "Would ye like t' 'ear th' story a' when I were first learnin' t' fight?" His smile took on a much less sadistic look, and more a friendly one as he laughed. "I were worse'n yew."

Bon Vaygan chuckled, "I'm that bad eh?" Stretching himself out on the floor Bon Vaygan decided a story would be great about now. "I think a story sounds great," he added.

[Django]

Bon Vaygan chuckled, "I'm that bad eh?" Stretching himself out on the floor Bon Vaygan decided a story would be great about now. "I think a story sounds great," he added.

Nik situated himself comfortably and cleared his throat to begin. "Well, I were naught more'n a young'un," he said. "When me dad tol' me I should learn t' fight. 'E wanted me t' be on patrols soon as possible, y'know. So's 'e 'ands me 'is ol' rapier, an' he gits out 'is own blade an' strikes right at me face." Nik chuckled again.

"So, a'course I'm screamin' bloody murder this 'ole time," he went on, still smiling. "An' when th' blasted blade was naught but six inches 'way, me dad turns it sideways and hits me with th' flat of it. I went flyin' 'bout ten feet 'way." He laughed heartily. "An' th' rest a' me first lesson didn't go much better arter that. By th' end, I hadn't managed t' block a single blow, an', hellsgates, was I covered in bruises. I couldn't move without it hurtin' fer two weeks. But me dad kept up th' lessons, an' it took me four years, plus constant practicin', t' be as good as I am. I'm better at paw-to-paw, y'know."

Nik liked to tell stories, obviously, and he wasn't a bad orator, at that. Or, so he and the other Guosim shrews thought. And he especially liked telling stories of his younger days, when he was clumsy and uncoordinated. Those tales were entertaining to both him and others.

[Promatera]

As Nik told Bon Vaygan about his childhood two things came across his mind. The first was that this was probably the reason Nik was so sadistic. The other was his own father. Of course not not his actual father, but his adoptive and true dad. Bon Vaygan hated thinking about him as he almost always felt guilty about what happened many years ago. He would also wonder about how different things would have turned out had he just obeyed his dad. Maybe he would not be a thief scrounging around for food.

It could not be helped, however.

As Nik finished his story, he had a far off look on his eyes, which probably meant he was dwelling fondly on his memories. Bon Vaygan could not say the same for himself. "So your father really helped you in the long run," he replied. "My dad did his best, but..." he trailed off. He still felt ashamed off the incident.

[Django]

"So your father really helped you in the long run," he replied. "My dad did his best, but..." he trailed off.

Nik's smile faded. He got the weasel's hint. Rubbing the back of his neck, the shrew looked aside, feeling a little awkward. But he could share Bon Vaygen's feelings. "Oh, aye," he agreed. "T'ain't fun t' lose some beast ye love." Nik was actually referring to that wonderful girl he'd known years ago. His own father was still kicking, and kicking hard.

[Promatera]

"Oh, aye," he agreed. "T'ain't fun t' lose some beast ye love."

"Quite so, my friend," Bon Vaygan nodded. The shrew's smile had vanished and he seemed to be thinking of someone he had lost. Perhaps his own father or someone else he loved. At least he had not run away from them. Bon Vaygan did not even know if his dad was still alive. The memories of discovering that the family he had known for years had left him were returning.

Through his puffy eyes Bon Vaygan could see that the fire they had lit earlier was beginning to grow dimmer. Outside the storm had gradually subsided, but it still remained dark. Even though it began to grow somewhat chilly, Bon Vaygan did not care enough to move. His body was now feeling sore from the beating he had taken from Nik. Laying himself down, Bon Vaygan faced the ceiling and sighed.

A silence had fallen over the pair yet again.

[Django]

Nik sat pensively, barely registering the weasel's words. As the silence deepened, it took the shrew awhile to notice the dying fire. Finally, he stood up and jumped down into the alcove, tearing off a chunk of wood form the floor above and dropping it onto the embers. He blew on the tiny flames steadily, and after adding a few more boards, he got the fire going again.

"Cold, Vaygen?" the shrew called, warming his paws by the fire. He heard a quiet rumble of thunder from outside, but it really did seem like the storm had passed over them for the most part. That was good. It meant Nik could return to camp soon.

[Promatera]

For some time the two remained in silence until Nik finally picked himself up and rekindled the fire.

"Cold, Vaygen?" the shrew called, warming his paws by the fire.

A thunderbolt could be heard far off in the distance, but Bon Vaygan was no longer very jumpy. In fact, Bon Vaygan would not be moving at all. As it normally happened, a void had opened itself within him, swallowing almost all of his joy. It would leave him as a living husk for some time. His depressive state had finally taken him down. Spurred on by all the excitement he had just been through.

Drowning in his own guilt and self-pity, Bon Vaygan did not even bother to respond to Nik. Instead he just laid there. Wallowing in apathy.

[Django]

Nik waited to hear the weasel's response, but none came. He flicked an ear back, raising one eyebrow in confusion. Why was Bon Vaygen so quiet all the sudden?

"Oi, Vaygen, ye still 'live o'er there?" he called, climbing out of the alcove. Walking up to the dejected weasel, the shrew stopped a few feet away. Vaygen was curled up on the floor, obviously in some kind of distress. Was this his 'blue state' he'd mentioned?

"Ye a'right, mate?" Nik asked, kneeling next to the weasel.

[Promatera]

"Ye a'right, mate?" Nik asked, kneeling next to the weasel.

Once again Bon Vaygan did not respond. Though the cold was getting to him, he began to tremble. Within his mind he was reliving the night he discovered his family had left him, all over again. It happened every time he crashed and it was always horrifying.

Bon Vaygan's normally vibrant eyes had suddenly grown glazed over and his face contorted into a look of sorrow. Curled almost into a ball he tried to keep himself warm, but to no avail. Shuddering he muttered something that sounded almost like an apology.

[Django]

Nik was growing mildly concerned for the weasel. He watched as the saddened creature curled into a ball, a look of pure horror and guilt on his face. Nik could see him start to tremble, and he knew he should do something about that soon.

"Ye gonna freeze if yew stay 'ere, mate," he murmured, gently lifting Bon Vaygen's arm and looping it around his own shoulders. "Come on, less git yew warmed up, eh?" He half-carried, half-supported the weasel into the alcove, positioning the depressed beast close to the flames, but not close enough to get singed.

"There, now, nice an' warm," Nik soothed, draping the cloak over the weasel's shoulders. The shrew continued to speak in low, calming tones. If Bon Vaygen didn't respond, then Nik was talking just to keep silence from reigning in the big, dark barn. "Don't fret, now, mate. Everythin's jus' fine. I know it's sad, but don't ye fret. Yore a'right in 'ere." Despite his tough exterior, Nik could be a bit of a softie, especially when another beast was sad, like Bon Vaygen was now. It felt strange comforting a weasel, but Nik tried not to think about that. Too much.

[Promatera]

Bon Vaygan could see Nik's growing concern for him and the chill in the air was growing, but Bon Vaygan did not care. Absorbed by his own depression, he was blinded to nearly everything.

"Ye gonna freeze if yew stay 'ere, mate,"

Nik then worked Bon Vaygan's arm around his shoulders and lifted him up a bit.

"Come on, less git yew warmed up, eh?"

Nearly dragging Bon Vaygan, Nik brought him to the fire to warm up. Positioned close enough to feel the warmth of the flames, Bon Vaygan could feel the heat envelop him and banish the chill that had surrounded him. His shivering greatly subsided, but he still remained curled up.

"There, now, nice an' warm," Nik soothed, draping the cloak over the weasel's shoulders.

Though kind, the gesture went almost unnoticed to Bon Vaygan for all he could see was his own misery.

"Don't fret, now, mate. Everythin's jus' fine. I know it's sad, but don't ye fret. Yore a'right in 'ere."

This seemed to break through to Bon Vaygan as he muttered something which almost sounded like "Thank you." Not used to kindness from other beasts, it would always surprise him whenever he saw it.

The fire continued to burn and radiate a gentle warmth. The sound of the wood cracking reached his ears, but he could not recognize it. What had his attention was the fire itself. The low fire reminded him of the night he and his father fought. The fire had been low that night as well. He could barely remember what exactly it was, but he was so angry afterwards he had run away. Was it worth it? Bon Vaygan need only look at himself to answer that.

[Django]

_{"Thank you."}

Nik hardly heard the weasel, but he smiled nonetheless. At least something was registering in Bon Vaygen's head besides his own depression. "T'ain't nothin', mate," Nik replied. "Yew jus' rest easy now. Git nice an' warm. Ye'll be fine."

The shrew the. Noticed the fire getting low again, and he got up to grab a few more planks. In another few minutes, he had a good, lively blaze going. He settled down again near Bon Vaygen, quietly shifting his gaze from the weasel to the fire and back again.

"Don't do a body no good t' dwell on th' bad stuff," he muttered after awhile. Bluntly, he added, "Yew keep this up an' yew cain't 'njoy no good stuff proper." Leaning back, the shrew fiddled with the bloodied bandages around his paws, tightening them or ripping off loose ends.

[Promatera]

"T'ain't nothin', mate," Nik replied. "Yew jus' rest easy now. Git nice an' warm. Ye'll be fine."

After some time the fire grew low once more and Nik reignited it. Bon Vaygan watched as the plank was slowly devoured by the crackling fire, popping as it was consumed. Memories of the raid he had participated in flooded through his mind. Was this what his life culminated in? A horde beast? Bon Vaygan had to desert. There was more to his life than this.

"Don't do a body no good t' dwell on th' bad stuff," he muttered after awhile. Bluntly, he added, "Yew keep this up an' yew cain't 'njoy no good stuff proper."

He nodded slowly. His view of reality was muddled as terrible memories continued to rear in his head, obscuring the present with the past.

As Nik fixed his bandages, Bon Vaygan could recall the time he had to bandage the stub that was left of his tail. He was humiliated. For several weeks he had to keep his tail end bandaged while he waited for his wound to close up. Now here he was beaten and bruised. Had anything changed?

Bon Vaygan shuddered and moaned slightly as he shut his puffy eyes tight. So concerned was he with his own suffering, he failed to notice that the rain had begun to calm down.

[Django]

As silence reigned, Nik noticed the weasel nod slightly. At least something else had gotten through. Nik had no inkling of what was going on in Bon Vaygen's mind, but he felt for the weasel, somehow, lying all curled up and depressed over there.

Gradually, the rain began to pour less forcefully, and the thunder was all but gone. The shrew got up and opened one of the big doors halfway. The gale-force winds were gone, too, but the air was still cold. However, what mattered right now was that the night was clear. This meant he could go back to camp!

But, something held him back. Certainly it wasn't the weasel, was it? That dejected little pile of bruises and fur? Not possible. He had a responsibility to the Guosim. A clear night meant he needed to leave. But how could he? Bon Vaygen was sprawled on the floor back in the barn, acting as if his life was crumbling before his eyes. Nik stood at the barn doors, indecision written clearly on his features. His grip tightened on the wood as he realized what he would have to do to keep a clear conscious.

Harrumphing under his breath, Nik reluctantly turned back into the barn. "Rain's gone," he announced, settling down beside the weasel again.