Morning in Brockhall (Mossguard)

[Wildrun]

Swing twitched his ears in response to his leader's order, but hesitated to sheath his blade. A thin squirrel and the otter he had been speaking to earlier set about lifting the rat to his feet. The beast couldn't seem to stand on his own, and the recruits ended up on either side of him, one arm around each of their soldiers to keep him upright. Flicking his eyes toward Cooper, Swing twitched his ears again and slowly slid his epee into it's scabbard.

"Anybeast 'ave any suggestions, wot? 'Ave we got a mediciny beast with us or 'erebouts?" The hare sent a meaningful look to Rewhane, trying to convey his uneasiness in taking the rat back to Brockhall with them. He knew that was the nearest place to get help, but something...something in the back of the hare's mind whispered wariness. Instinctively, he raised his eyes to scan the area, looking for some sort of trap.

There was nothing--some flicker in the treetops gave Swing a second's glance at some bushy tail, but he wasn't afraid of a squirrel. Rather, he didn't want to miss what could be right in front of him. After another moment, the officer let out a huff through his nose and crossed his arms. "Well, let's get the blighter some help, wot?"

[Eckolet]

When it became clear to Eckolet that these creatures were not going to kill the rat, it took a great deal of inner strength to loosen the taut bowstring and let the arrow droop downward. She kept the bow ready, however, as she lowered herself towards the ground. Landing towards the outer portion of the circle made by the creatures, Eckolet looked towards the large badger, not sure of whether these were the creatures she was looking for all along but certain that they would know where the Mossflower Guard was if they were not them.

[Cooper]

Cooper caught Swing's glance, then turned away to watch the otter and squirrel help the injured rat up. Although he'd been one of the first to sheath his own weapon, the hare was also unsure about allowing this creature into the safe and secret confines of Brockhall. To be fair, Cooper wouldn't feel comfortable allowing anybeast, rat, squirrel, or otherwise, into their headquarters unless they were of MossGuard or definitive allies. This rat was clearly neither. He cast his gaze around, thinking.

About a fortnight ago, just before Cooper had left on his recon mission, a group of the MossGuard had finished putting together a small base just a bit east of where they were now. It was rough, but it was a decent shelter and they'd already stored some of their things there; food, water and cloth. It was about the same distance from the main Brockhall entrance from where they were now, so he hoped it would keep from piquing the suspicion of the beleaguered rat,

He wanted to mention this thought to Rewhane, but found the badger some distance off, being approached by a strange squirrel. The hare quirked a curious eyebrow, more alarmed by the sudden appearance of this squirrel than by the rat. He was about to walk over but wanted to go ahead and speak his thoughts before other plans were made; he didn't want to rat at Brockhall.

So he reluctantly slid his attention but to Swing. "Captain, how 'bout that garrison east o' here? Seems close enough an' we've some supplies that may help him. I think Treewind over there," he nodded his head to a female squirrel on the other side of the clearing, "has some medicinal skills. Mayhap send her an' a few others along with this chap."

[Onyxwing]

Rewhane looked over at the new squirrel and gave it no mind. Probably another aspiring woodlander looking for the now quite famous MossGuard. Looking at the hare scout Cooper he announced.

"We will head to the garrison cooper mentioned even though we are running low on most supplies (Rehearsed lie among the MossGuard) we can still help him. We will take the... "looking at his map he feigned not being able to read " Trail that winds up over there."
He said pointing to a path some distance ahead. picking out two recruits he ordered them to make a stretcher for the rat. He then began marching to the path. The MossGuard was nothing but country bumpkins from what the rat heard. Perfect Rewhane thought has he neared the path. He then heard an echo in his thoughts and placed it on his past readings of the Rommel battle tactics " Feign ignorance and stupidity to make the enemy arrogant and sure of victory. Strike him down when he thinks he is on the top of the tree. Nothing is more demoralizing to troops then being beaten by supposed idiots. Use this to your advantage and triumph!"

Upon reaching the garrison he called out

"We'll stay here for the night!"

If this rat was from a vermin band he wasn't getting anything out of this excursion.

"Leave nothing to chance" His thoughts echoed

[Wildrun]

Swing's ears twitched as if decoding what his leader was saying, and the hare hid an uncharacteristically grim smile. He shook his head to dislodge his uneasiness and left Cooper to watch the rat while he turned to face the squirrel. Eying the apparently immobile rat as the recruits loaded him onto a stretcher, he took a deep breath in and assumed his usual swagger.

Approaching the squrriel, he tossed her a grin and ear-flop salute. "I say, wot, you're a bloomin' shadow, comin' out of nowhere! You picked an interesting time, too, m'gel." Proferring a paw, Swing felt the tug of duty telling him to follow his leader and assure the others' saftey--but a few seconds for manners never hurt anyone, right? "Cap-i-tan Swingshard Keinny McVoolren, at ya service!"

It was instinct to trust a "goodbeast" when one appeared, but with a rat appearing in the middle of a Mossguard operation, no one was above being suspicious.

[Wildrun]

((Who's next?))

[Cooper]

Cooper's eyes followed Swing as the other hare made his way over to their badger leader. He glanced a couple times between Swing and the nearby rat, considering his options. He really wanted to leave. It was his own fault, he supposed. Don't go making suggestions if you don't want to be involved. The squirrel healer, Treewind, had since wandered over with a curious expression, having heard her name mentioned. Cooper puttered around for a moment or two more, debating whether he should just return to Brockhall and take his rest, or help with this rat. Swing and Rewhane were apparently preoccupied and one more glance at the rat and he decided they shouldn't wait any longer.

Although he was no leader in the group, the pair of otters who were holding the rough litter bearing the rat stared expectantly at Cooper, as it had been his idea to take the rat to their eastward garrison. Dashing away at his hopes of decent sleep in his near future, he beckoned the otters and the squirrel healer eastward.

"Let's go, then," he relented, barely concealing a sigh of disappointment. As if to add insult to injury, the bottom finally dropped out of the sky. He stood there momentarily, not making any reaction to the rain at first, then eventually shook his head in disbelief and followed the others.

With the rat being carried along on the litter and the now steady rain soaking them and their surroundings, it would be easy for anyone else to catch them up if necessary.

[Ocutrum the Scourge]

Ocutrum grinned inside. He was no fool. He knew that the badger was very tactful, he had hesitated on the map too shortly. It would take a lot to fool him. Then they had put him on the stretcher. He was getting in! Of course, when he got to the area, he would pretend to wake up.... And see how things got there. But first things first; play your part.

Ocutrum turned, shuddering, his body now laying on its side. His slightly stumped tail hung over the side as he felt heavy raindrops fall on him. He began to curl up as if he were cold and weak, and shuddered, his breath emitting a white cloud.

[Eckolet]

Eckolet turned from the badger to the hare now introducing himself. Taking his paw, she gave him the smallest of smiles. "Captain. I am called Eckolet, most recently of Southsward and Mossflower. I am in search of the ghost, and am thinking that thee and thine friends know his whereabouts." She looked past Swing and to where the rat was being loaded onto the litter. Her paw twitched slightly. She oh so wanted to shoot him, but now was not the time. Those surrounding her would probably stop her anyway. They were all easily twice her size, if not bigger. Ecko cursed her stunted size. They would think her a dibbun. Most creatures did.

Looking back at the hare in front of her, Ecko smiled again. "If thee does not know the way, mayhaps thee could point me in the correct direction?" she asked, looking up hopefully. If he thought she was a youngling, maybe he would feel somewhat responsible if he left her wondering about on her own.

[Rorgus]

Tanyn looked curiously at the rat. What was he doing here? He did as Rewhane ordered though and sheathed his sword. He watched as two recruits helped the rat up onto his paws.
He stood next to Rewhane and standing on tip-paw his whispered into the badgers ear.
" What are we going to do with him Sir?"

[Wildrun]

Swing made a mental note to thank Cooper later--if the other hare ever let him start a conversation. It seemed Cooper always had somewhere else to be when the cheese-lover appeared, and in the few times they had exchanged words Cooper's reluctance to say muchto him at all had not gone unnoticed. Still, that was a matter for later as the rat was carried off on his stretcher, the majority of the recruits trailing behind.

The captain tipped his curiosly as the squirrel spoke. Her accent was strange, and her size confused him; she looked like a Dibbun, but no Dibbun he'd ever met was nearly so polite. Nor did any Dibbun he'd ever met carry a bow, and clearly know how to use it.

"I'm not sure wot ye mean exactly by ghost, sorry m'gel, but I've got a splendid idea, wot!" Swing twitched is ears comically and smiled, the very image of a disarming officer. "Why doncha come along with us while we attend to that there wounded ratty fellow? Mayhaps we'll all find wot we're looking for along the way, wot!"

The squirrels of Southsward were honorable, he knew, but Swing was no novice--he'd caught the glance Ecko had thrown the rat and seen her in the trees with her bow. If she wanted to shoot the vermin, he wanted to find out why.

Seeing that most of the recruits had cleared the area following Coper, Swing briskly leapt forward. "C'mon if ye feel so inspired to, wot! Quick march an' all that, let's go!" He tossed Rewhane a jaunty salute and tried to catch Tanyn's eye. Don't let our gaurds, down, wot. It's a gloomy enough day without havin' some bloomin' diaster.

The foreboding feeling tickled in Swing's gut as the rain poured down.

[Cooper]

He hadn't seen a real bed in a fortnight, his footpaws were so tired they'd grown numb - he'd had to blame a few odd stumbles on non-existent tree roots - and now his clothes were utterly soaked through by the pouring rain. And yet here he was, the definition of a real trooper. He supposed, after all this, he'd be owed something, even if it was nothing more than the privilege of sleeping past sunrise... in a bed!

The rat's sudden appearance nagged at the back of Cooper's mind, but for the very same reason that he could not seem to work through why it was odd was why he figured he was being paranoid. He was just tired, and not quite on his mark. But why would a rat show up before them, right out in the middle of the woodlands, in this condition? It was especially disconcerting to the hare who'd just spent the last two weeks scouring Mossflower for any sign of danger, and he'd encountered virtually nothing. It didn't make any sense. Well... what difference did it make really? They'd of course station extra guards in case of any extra threat, and all they could do was take care of this creature now and see if he had information for them when he was conscious.

By and by, the front group arrived at the garrison, which was hardly more than a lean-to, it's main structure being a dark, massive, four-topped oak. The tree itself probably provided more protection than the small building lying within its ample shade. The building was sturdy, built by capable paws and designed by knowledgeable minds. Having used the trunk of the tree for much of the structure, they were able to use much less lumber. The roof was thatched with rush, secured and tightened with various dried reeds. To the builders' credit, there was no water leaking despite the relentless downpour. Along the edges of the roof were small, hollowed logs that caught the rain and send it riveting down into several large buckets that were already overflowing with fresh rain water.

Inside the small building were several large chests, filled with the most basic of supplies; some blankets, cloth-strip bandages, a few waterskins filled with river water and a large basket filled with various nuts and roots. Along the trunk of the tree, lined up side-by-side were half a dozen stripped-down cots. Moving into safe and dry structure, Cooper immediately went for one of the chests while he beckoned the otters toward the cots. "Set that'n o'er there, I'll get some blankets to dress the cot. My bush-tailed friend," he said, turning then to Treewind, the squirrel healer he'd dragged alone. "I hope you've somethin' or other to make a paste... salve... what have you? We've at least a few cloth bandages here, but at least plenty of large clean leaves."

While the squirrel went to work with both her supplies and the items she'd had the wherewithal to snatch up on their brief journey there, Cooper dragged an armful of blankets over to the cots where the rat was being set up. "All right then chap, let's see what we've got here, eh?"

[Eckolet]

There was something odd about these woodlanders and their attitude towards vermin. Eckolet had only been in their presence for a very short time, and already she was seeing something she didn't particularly care for. They were actually going to help that rat. Anyone with eyes and experience would tell them that he was an evil doer. Eckolet's paws ached to put an arrow through the rat's head, but she restrained herself and instead followed through the woodlands.

It was strange to see, hares helping rats. Following close behind Swing, Ecko noted the path they were taking. She would not get lost trying to find her way back. It had happened too many times, but not this time. This time, she would keep track of the trail, and know which way to head.

[Ocutrum the Scourge]

Ocutrum lay still as he was layed on the cot, and mumbled, turning over. His one eye began to flicker open hazily, and his mouth opened and closed, words coming out catchily. "Water... Attack... Fire... Water..." His body stiffened slightly, and his tail twitched slightly. Lifting his paw he waved about, his body thrashing on the cot, abolishing to have actual nightmares. Then he went still, his body shaking slightly with a tremor. "Water..." He said with a last croak, knowing not to oversell it.

[Wildrun]

Swing's keen ears should have been focused on the rat, but he found himself unashamedly eavesdropping on the very thin, almost fine accent of Coopers as the other hare muttered a few things while he went about his task of seeing to the rat. No matter his distraction trying to place the hare's accent--so incredibly familiar!--the captain's eyes did not miss the very slight, almost non existant tensing as Ecko eyed the injured vermin.

"Now, m'gel," chortled the hare, hiding his scrutinty--how he noticed that she was remembering their path, how anger flared in her eyes at the sight of woodlanders tending to a rat--"What can we do for ye? And, vice versely, what can ye do for us, wot?"

((I am so, so, so sorry. If I'm missing that long again, just skip me.))

[Tracy]

Cooper was usually quite vigilant about what he said around whom - and more particularly HOW he said it. The hare was not on the top of his game just now though, being not only sleep-deprived but also focused on something other than masking his place of origin. Now he finished dressing one of the cots and allowed the others to transfer the rat onto it while he went to fetch some clean water. Going to another chest, he popped it open and yanked out a canteen right from the top.

He was near Swing and the small squirrel at this point. Looking pointedly at the squirrel, he commented in a low voice, "Yore bein' quiet enough, but try not t'be shootin' angry looks about, eh? We've an injured rat here an' you pop in moments after we fin' him, unexpected an' armed." He paused and gave her a tight-lipped smile. "Just don't go givin' us reasons to be suspicious of ye." Cooper didn't offer her the opportunity to reply, turning and leave.

"So, what is your name my friend?" Walking back over to the rat, the hare took his time slowly opening the canteen, buying himself a moment for the creature to answer him. Despite what the strange little squirrel that was following them about thought, they weren't being complacent. There was an injured creature in their midst, and they were doing what any truly decent beast would.

[Eckolet]

It took Eckolet a moment to control her reaction. She had to be calm. Pretend she was back on the ship. Hide her emotions from them. It would be easier said than done, mainly because she had spent the last year learning to voice her thoughts. But around here, she was in dangerous territory. And one false move might put her back to being a prisoner.

Instead, she looked at Swing as he questioned her. "I was a prisoner on a searat vessel. An oarslave. I just wish to help fight those beasts that kept me locked to a bench for most of my life. And if that means fight next to thee and thy friends, so be it. I am prepared." She puffed out her small chest with pride, showing that she was not afraid of anybeast.

[Wildrun]

((Next?))

[Ocutrum the Scourge]

((I believe that would be me.))

Ocutrum's eye swiveeled open, the white showing as he lolled it around to look. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly, trying to speak, when a single raspy word grated from between his thinfully parted lips. The word was grating and barely audible to most ears, yet it showed painfully how weak he was. "W-w.... W-a-a-a.... W-a-a-t-ee-r." His eye closed suddenly again, lolling around a few more times, his mouth holding open still, ragged breaths escaping now and then, his pulse low and controlled. His body limp again, a white mist protruding from his mouth, he looked every bit the injured woodlander.

((Sorry for the length. ))