The Thief ((OPEN))

[Promatera]

Nik took notice of the storm moving away from the barn and opened one of the doors to take a look. Bon Vaygan heard the shrew sigh slightly and return to the fire beside him.

"Rain's gone," he announced, settling down beside the weasel again.

Had Nik just turned down an opportunity to leave? The shrew did not need to stay, but he did. He was moved. The last time anybeast had shown kindness like this was when he lived with his father.

"T-thank y-you," he murmured facing the shrew. He would not let his appreciation go unspoken. "T-thank y-you..." his voice faded as exhaustion overcame him and his swollen eyes closed. Bon Vaygan passed out.

[Django]

"T-thank y-you..." his voice faded as exhaustion overcame him and his swollen eyes closed. Bon Vaygan passed out.

Nik watched as consciousness left the poor weasel. He'd stayed in the barn for this? He felt a slight twinge of guilt that this was his initial thought, but mentally shoved it away. Bon Vaygen needed company, and he had proven himself to be . . . well, at least better than most vermin. So, Nik would stay, even when yet another opportunity to leave had presented itself to him so quickly.

But it was getting stuffy in the barn, so he decided to open the doors. Outside, the air was thick with humidity and the scent of fresh rain. Nik gazed up at the night sky. He could barely make out a faint light behind the clouds still rolling lazily overhead. That must be the moon. It was late. And yet Nik was hardly tired. Despite everything that had happened that evening.

"Shore ne'er thought tonight'd end up like this," he murmured quietly, the dampness of the air settling onto his fur. For a long while, he stood there, lost in thought. Thinking this pensively was an odd pastime for him. He normally settled things quickly and decisively, especially within himself. But the evening's escapades had changed his view on vermin a bit. And his opinion on vermin had been pretty concrete before this: they were all murderers and thieves; wound mortally first, ask questions later. But Bon Vaygen was different, or so it seemed.

Nik couldn't trust any vermin completely of course, unless given good reason to.

[Promatera]

((TIMESKIP))

Sleep brought little solace to the tortured weasel. In his nightmares, Bon Vaygan was constantly harassed by those he had stolen from previously. They almost always ended with his death one way or another and this nightmare was no different. Waking with a start, Bon Vaygan awoke, panting as he did so. The fire had died out and the barn had grown darker without its light. It must have been very early in the morning.

Without the sound of rain Bon Vaygan could listen more attentively for signs of Nik, but could hear none. Perhaps the shrew had decided to leave him after all. It did not really matter, but he decided to call for the shrew just in case.

"Nik..." he moaned in a feeble voice. "Nik?" he tried again with a slightly clearer result.

[Django]

"Nik..."

The shrew was mentally wishing for a pipe to smoke when he heard the feeble call. Still leaning on the barn doors, Nik glanced back into the dark building. He could have just been hearing things, but it sounded like Bon Vaygen had called for him.

"Nik?" he tried again with a slightly clearer result.

Yup, that was the weasel, alright. Pushing himself off the doors, the shrew turned and strolled into the barn again, leaving the grey-tinged outdoors. Dropping into the alcove again, Nik stopped, crossing his muscular arms and studying Bon Vaygen with a light smirk on his face.

"Mornin', Sleepin' Beauty," he chuckled. "Rest easy, I trust?"

[Promatera]

Bon Vaygan did not have to wait long for a reply as Nik soon strode into view. His arms folded looking somewhat amused by the sight of Bon Vaygan.

"Mornin', Sleepin' Beauty," he chuckled. "Rest easy, I trust?"

Bon Vaygan groaned as he pushed himself off the floor. His bloodshot eyes were still swollen and his body was still very sore. He had not slept well either.

"Thanks for staying around," he yawned groggily, "though don't you need to be somewhere?"

Bon Vaygan would like to be somewhere as well, but he doubted he could work up the will power now to actually leave the barn. He just wanted to lay down again. He just did not care anymore.

[Django]

"Thanks for staying around," he yawned groggily. . .

Nik shrugged off the gratitude. He hadn't done anything for the weasel to be thankful for. He'd given Bon Vaygen two black eyes and a boatload of bruises besides. But the shrew's nagging conscience had been the only reason he'd stayed behind.

"Though don't you need to be somewhere?"

The shrew didn't reply for a moment. Yes, he needed to be somewhere! his thoughts yelled. He needed to be back at camp, for crying out loud! Letting out a sigh, Nik quickly figured out the best way to explain.

"Arter roughin' yew up so bad, I didn't wanna leave ye 'lone in 'ere, since ye was wallowin' near th' fire an' all," he began a little awkwardly. "So I stayed 'til ye woke up so's I could 'elp ye git 'ome. Leastaways ye'll be safer there than in 'ere, I 'spect."

[Promatera]

"Arter roughin' yew up so bad, I didn't wanna leave ye 'lone in 'ere, since ye was wallowin' near th' fire an' all," he began a little awkwardly. "So I stayed 'til ye woke up so's I could 'elp ye git 'ome. Leastaways ye'll be safer there than in 'ere, I 'spect."

Bon Vaygan shrugged, "Suppose so..." he sighed and added, "I live not far from here, if we leave now we can arrive by noon."

Bon Vaygan looked out into the early morning sky, just peaking in through the barn door. He was not impressed. Turning to Nik once more he continued, "Well I'm ready,"

Though he started his small journey well, Bon Vaygan was now ending it with spoiled food scattered on the floor of the barn. It was only food, but then again he had little left to survive off of. Perhaps it was what becomes of thievery? With downcast, puffy eyes he waited for Nik to help him.

[Django]

"Suppose so..." he sighed and added, "I live not far from here, if we leave now we can arrive by noon."

Nik eyed the weasel curiously. Not even rest had helped his depression. Nik vaguely wondered how long this "blue state" would last. Maybe the weasel had mentioned how long before, but the shrew couldn't remember. "Right," Nik replied hesitantly.

"Well I'm ready,"

"Don't look it, but a'right, then," Nik murmured. He noted how shaky Bon Vaygen was on his feet, so the shrew took the weasel's arm and gently looped it round his shoulders, using his own muscular arms to support the sorrowful creature. Walking out of the barn, Nik made sure they didn't slip on any of the spilt food. He then wondered if Bon Vaygen had more provisions stocked up in his home or not. Nik made a mental notes of that.

They made it outside the barn and he turned to Bon Vaygen. "Where to, mate?" he asked.

[Promatera]

"Don't look it, but a'right, then," Nik murmured.

Looping Bon Vaygan's arm around Nik, the pair stepped around the wasted food and left through the barn door. Outside mud puddles were abundant and it was almost impossible not to get one's footpaws wet.

"Where to, mate?" he asked.

"Just a few miles west of here," he replied, "even with you dragging me it should not take too long."

When Bon Vaygan said drag he was not exaggerating. Being taller than Nik meant that Bon Vaygan had to squat down beside the shrew or else he would be dragged along. Eyeing the westward wood, Bon Vaygan knew he was heading home, but the thought did not comfort him.

[Django]

"Just a few miles west of here," he replied, "even with you dragging me it should not take too long."

Nik nodded, chuckling a bit, and set out due west. The dense forest foliage was still damp, and the two sent droplets splattering everywhere as they moved through bushes and the like. Birds chattered in the trees, and other small creatures went about their daily business. Were it not for the muddy ground and the damp undergrowth, Nik would have questioned whether it had rained at all.

A few big clouds still drifted across the sky, covering the sunlight every now and again. Oddly enough, Nik wondered again if Bon Vaygen had plenty of food. They had both made a mess of his bag of provisions.

"Were that all th' food ye 'ad, mate?" the shrew asked. "'Cause I c'n 'elp ye git s'more, if ye need it." He would probably have to convince the Guosim shrews he was giving some of their extra rations to a nice, non-vermin hermit before the cooks would let him have any food to share. But Nik was fine with lying this one time. It wasn't as if he wanted to take care of Bon Vaygen, but he wanted to help him during his 'blue state' before they parted ways.

[Promatera]

Together the duo set out westward. Their pace was slow, but Bon Vaygan did not mind. In fact, he enjoyed their sluggish pace. The fresh air and movement distracted his mind from the bitter memories. Though they still remained in the darker corners of his mind. After travelling for some time in silence, Nik finally posed a question.

"Were that all th' food ye 'ad, mate?" the shrew asked. "'Cause I c'n 'elp ye git s'more, if ye need it."

Bon Vaygan had indeed lost all of his food so anything Nik could spare would be a blessing. "If you could," he replied, "I would appreciate it."

However, he did wonder how Nik planned on finding any food.

[Django]

"If you could," he replied, "I would appreciate it."

"A'right then," Nik decided. He would do it. All he had to do was learn exactly where Bon Vaygen lived, go to the Guosim to get some food, and return to the weasel's home. It would be a simple thing, so long as no Guosim offered to go with him. Then it would get complicated . . .

((Time skip, please ))

Nik lost track of how much time had passed before they reached a clearing and Bon Vaygen said to stop. It was a nice little grove. Quiet, peaceful. Nik set the weasel down gently on a stump and looked around, paws on his hips. "This the place, eh?"

((Sorry, I didn't want to get into a traveling scene that wouldn't die. XD))

[Promatera]

((OOC: Your time skip is very much appreciated XDD))

After travelling for what seemed like an eternity to Bon Vaygan. The two reached the clearing where his house was.

"This the place, eh?"

Bon Vaygan nodded. Moving himself from Nik's help, Bon Vaygan stumbled over to a nearby ash tree. Several vines of ivy were protruding from the branches. Bon Vaygan grasped one and pulled. Where the vines had touched the floor a moment ago there was now an opening right at the base of the tree. The vines had lifted open a hutch that kept the hole hidden from view.

"Come on in," he yawned getting on all four paws as he crawled into the entrance. It was not a tight squeeze, but it was a rather narrow, downward sloping passage. The path was not very long and after several paces Bon Vaygan led Nik into a spacious hollow. "Welcome to my humble abode," he said pulling himself out from the hole and placing his foot paws on the floor.

Leaning against the dirt walls, Bon Vaygan looked around the circular room they had entered. It was dark, but several shafts of light beamed in from the outside. In the center of the room was a small table and chairs constructed from nearby wood and right behind the table was a bed. To their left was an empty cupboard. Just above them along with some small holes for light, several roots had tunneled in from nearby trees.

[Django]

Nik pulled himself, with some slight difficulty, out of the narrow tunnel, grunting with the effort. Brushing himself off, he took in his surroundings.

"Welcome to my humble abode,"

"Humble ain't exactly the word I'd use," Nik chuckled, whistling low at the impressive burrow. "Not bad, mate." Noticing the empty cupboard, he remembered his mission. "A'right, afore I forget, I'll go git ye that food."

He made for the entrance to the burrow again, but had a thought. Untying the green headband he wore, he handed it to the weasel. "Jus' so ye c'n be sure I'll be back," he said with a wink.

It took him mere moments to get back out into the sunlit day. Getting his bearings, he set off in the direction of the river. Twenty minutes later, he arrived back at the Guosim camp. His best friend, a younger shrew named Ban, came running up to Nik and demanded to knew where he'd been.

"Out onna patrol, Ban," Nik replied dismissively. "But that ain't important right now. I need food fer a starvin' beast." Okay, so Bon Vaygen wasn't starving, but it didn't hurt to spur the Guosim on a bit. Finally, after a hurried and somewhat untrue explanation, Nik was able to coerce some food from his fellow shrews, and he set off again towards Bon Vaygen's burrow.

"Hey, Nik!" Ban ran to catch up with his friend, who was slightly weighed down by the bulging sack of food on his back. "I'll come with ye!"

"No, Ban, ye shouldn't," Nik insisted, trudging on ahead. He and his friend argued back and forth for a long time before the older shrew gave in. As they walked on, Nik tried to think of a way to keep Ban away from the weasel.

He still hadn't thought of a solution by the time they arrived at the burrow. The only thing he could think of was leaving Ban outside. "Uh, yew jus' stay 'ere, mate," Nik said, herring the sack. "I'll be back." Walking up to the ivy wall, he noticed it was still wide open. Bon Vaygen must be down there sulking still. Rolling his eyes, the shrew called down into the tunnel.

"Oi, Vaygen, ye still 'live down there? I brought ye food!"

[Promatera]

"Humble ain't exactly the word I'd use," Nik chuckled, whistling low at the impressive burrow. "Not bad, mate." Noticing the empty cupboard, he remembered his mission. "A'right, afore I forget, I'll go git ye that food."

Bon Vaygan simply nodded as he carried his worn body to his bed.

Untying the green headband he wore, he handed it to the weasel. "Jus' so ye c'n be sure I'll be back," he said with a wink.

Grabbing the bandanna he watched as Nik left to grab food. Now that he had finally found a peaceful place to rest, Bon Vaygan could not help himself falling asleep.

After a good rest, Bon Vaygan felt himself refreshed. Stretching in his bed he opened his eyes, it was dark out as he could see the stars in the holes overhead. Then suddenly from his side a figure approached. He gasped and was about to dart away when he realized his paws had been tied down. Above him now, a dark rat raised an ax. It was his executioner, after all his years he had finally been found. Bon Vaygan wanted to wail for help as loud as he could, but nothing could come out. He had no mouth. Then to his horror, the rat's face melted away to reveal a grinning skull. Gazing into its eye sockets, Bon Vaygan saw only darkness and that darkness was swallowing him. In a flash of silver the ax had been swung.

Waking with a start Bon Vaygan realized the mortal peril he was in. While he slept, a snake had slithered in through the entrance he had forgotten to close and wrapped itself around him. Slowly squeezing the life out of him. He was short of breath and lacked the strength to pry himself free. There was no way out of it, Bon Vaygan was doomed.

"Oi, Vaygen, ye still 'live down there? I brought ye food!"

"Help!" he cried as the snake's squeeze tightened on him. He would not last much longer, but he hoped his voice would carry through the cavernous hole.

[Django]

"Help!"

Nik was instantly alert at the faint cry from within the tunnel. Dropping the sack of food, he launched himself down the earthy tube, drawing his rapier and holding it out before himself. Ban noticed his friend's sudden action and followed suit. Nik didn't even notice the younger shrew after him. He was intent on answering Bon Vaygen's call.

Dropping into the burrow, Nik blinked once or twice for his eyes to adjust to the dark. He gasped when he saw the snake, and who it had in its coils. "Oi, slithers," the shrew yelled, stomping on the scaly tail. "Don't pay no mid t' that'n! Look o'er 'ere, eh?" The shrew circled around the edge of the burrow, luring the snake closer to him. Unfortunately, it did not release its hold on the weasel, and Nik had to think of something quickly before--

"Nik, what's goin' on down 'ere?" Ban emerged from the tunnel just then, crying out in surprise at seeing the snake. The serpent turned its focus to the younger shrew, and Nik cursed below his breath. As the scaled creature prepared to strike, Nik dove towards Ban, knocking his friend to the ground just in time. With expert reflexes, the older shrew swiped his sword upwards, catching the snake squarely in the jaw. It hissed and reeled back, ever so slightly loosening its coils.

"Ban, draw yore sword!" Nik ordered. The younger shrew did as he was told, his paws trembling. "You go that way, I'll go this way. Whoever the snake doesn't chase goes to rescues the weasel!" He waited for just the right moment, when the snake had focused on them once more, and then he shouted, "Go!" Ban darted to the left, so Nik took the right.

((Didn't think it'd be power playing if the snake was a non-player character. Feel free to write for him in your next post!))

[Promatera]

((Feel free to powerplay the snake XD))

Bon Vaygan felt life rush into him as the snake laxed its hold on him. However, his slow suffocation had left him completely spent and he could do little to free himself. Gasping for air he did his best to wriggle his arms free and keep space between the snake's coils and his chest.

The snake was surprised by the arrival of the two shrews, but emboldened by their small size it believed it have no trouble at all crushing the two. What the snake lacked in venom it made up for in bite and strength. Noticing the two spreading around the snake to trap it, the snake tossed the table in the middle of the room at Nik and shot towards Ban. It lost interest in Bon Vaygan and left him alone for now.

Fangs bared the snake tried to bite the younger shrew and incapacitate him with pain.

[Django]

Ban shrieked a terrified curse and swiped his sword at the oncoming serpent. He caught it in the eye, and it hissed in agony, reeling back. The younger shrew leaped out of the way, but the snake caught his leg in its teeth. "NIIIIIIIIK!!" Ban yelled as the snake shook its head back and forth vigorously, as a dog would do to a toy.

Nik, meanwhile, hadn't quite dodged the flung table in time, and his leg was pinned beneath it. "Jus' a moment, Ban!" he called, kicking at the table with his free leg. Liberated of the heavy furniture, the older shrew leapt to his feet, but groaned in pain as one leg buckled with pain. It might be broken, but he couldn't be sure. It was not his concern right now.

The snake's attention was focused on Ban, who was its new chew toy. Gritting his teeth, Nik muttered a quiet apology to his friend and went for Bon Vaygen, still grasped in the snake's coils. The shrew vaulted onto the giant, scaled muscles and sheathed his rapier, trying to pry open the thick coils. It wasn't working, so he resorted to more pervasive means. "Desperate times call fer desperate measures," he muttered, drawing his rapier again.

He raised the blade high above his head as he stood over Bon Vaygen. With a yell, he drove the rapier into the snake right in front of the weasel, cutting the serpent's body open completely with a long drag of his blade. He and Bon Vaygen were immediately drenched in warm, crimson blood. The snake let out a deafening hiss of agony, releasing Ban, who scurried to the edge of the room, groaning in pain.

Nik dragged the weasel from the snake's coils, trying to get out of the way of the throes of the serpent. With another shrieking hiss, the snake banged its head against the ceiling of the burrow, and then the walls, and then it found the exit tunnel. Dragging itself through the opening, the serpent slithered brokenly back to the woods.

Panting, Nik wiped snake blood out of his eyes and rushed over to Ban. "Where ye hurt, Ban?" he asked. The younger shrew shoved his friend away, anger blazing in his eyes.

"Traitor!" Ban yelled. "Ye helped that vermin, but not me?! I could'a died, an' yew wouldn't have bin able t' help me! Why? 'Cos yew was off rescuin' yore new vermin friend!"

"If the snake had had me, ye wouldn't have helped the weasel, eh?" Nik spat, grabbing the collar of Ban's shirt. "Ye would have let me an' 'im die inna coils uvva snake, eh? Some friend yew are!"

Ban immediately looked guilty, and he dropped his head. "I'm sorry, Nik," he mumbled. "I jus' don' unnerstan' . . . Yew wanna 'elp a weasel?"

"S'complicated, mate," Nik replied, checking Ban's injured leg. "Ye'll heal up quick. T'ain't broke, jus' bit deep." Nik used Ban's own shirt to wrap up the wound, and then he went to Bon Vaygen. "Tell me where i' hurts, mate," he said gently, bending down next to the weasel.

[Promatera]

Bon Vaygan was relieved as the coils unwound around him. Air quickly filled his lungs and returned his body to life. His depression, however, remained. He knew he also needed to express gratitude, but for some reason it didn't seem like he could put his heart into it. He was alive, that was about it. As his breathing returned to normal the voice of Nik started to come to him. He had blacked out for a moment, but everything seemed to be okay now.

"Tell me where i' hurts, mate," he said gently, bending down next to the weasel.

"Thank you... but I should be fine," he replied, his breathing still faster than normal. To prove his point, Bon Vaygan lifted himself slowly and carefully off his back and he began to pull himself back to his bed. Until now he had failed to notice the younger shrew, but suddenly he realized Ban was there.

Who's this?"" Bon Vaygan asked dragging himself back.

[Django]

"Thank you... but I should be fine," he replied, his breathing still faster than normal.

Nik did not like the sound and rapidity of the weasel's breathing, but he didn't argue. If Bon Vaygen could walk without pain, then he was fine enough. Wiping snake blood off his favorite vest, the shrew remembered the sack of food outside the tunnel entrance. He made to retrieve it, but Bon Vaygen stopped him.

"Who's this?" Bon Vaygan asked dragging himself back.

Nik did not necessarily detect a hostile tone in the inquiry, so he replied in a relaxed manner. "Me bes' mate, Ban," the older shrew said simply. "Who were s'posed t' wait outside for me." He shot the younger shrew an angry glare. Ban smiled roguishly.

"Yew allas do th' fun stuff 'thout me, mate," Ban objected. "I wanted in on it. Didn't know ye was 'elpin' a vermin, though. T'were news t' me ye was weasel-friendly."

"Ah, shuddup, pondweed," Nik spat. "If ye don't like yon weasel, then go git the food I lef' outside. Give me a moment's peace, eh?" Ban winked, mocking a salute and scurrying up the tunnel. Nik snorted, turning back to Bon Vaygen, keeping his eyes one the tunnel entrance. "Ban's harmless, mate, trus' me. I didn't wanna bring 'im 'ere, but 'e can't leave me be." His gaze focused on the weasel. "Don't worry. I'll give ye th' food I promised an' me an' 'im will be on our way."