Obsessions ((OPEN))

[Promatera]

"Ah, you again," Alykas murmured, grabbing the hilt of one knife. "It seems you dropped something in your haste, my dear. Is it important?"

Dandelion did her best to ignore the stoat as she focused on swimming to the opposite shore. Having been raised away from water, she was not a strong swimmer. Pulling herself ashore she noticed the stoat had already moved along the river in a shallow edge jutting off the bank.

The stoat gave her a haughty smile that made Dandelion beside herself with rage.

"Want it back?" she called cynically, keeping her stance low and wide in the water. "Come and get it, sunshine!"

Brows furrowed and eyes burning with hatred, Dandelion was definitely going to make sure this stoat never forgot her.

"Coward!" she cried. "How easy it is for vermin garbage such as yourself to challenge another when they know they have the upperhand!" Her paw grip around the rock tightened. "However, I warn you here and now that if you continue to act as you are I will kill you! I swear it!"

Dandelion, in her rage, had completely forgotten about the otter that was growing concerned on the other bank. Slowly she moved towards the stoat, there was no denying the warrior gleam in her eyes.

[Cross]

"Coward!" she cried. "How easy it is for vermin garbage such as yourself to challenge another when they know they have the upper hand!" Her paw grip around the rock tightened. "However, I warn you here and now that if you continue to act as you are I will kill you! I swear it!"

Alykas threw her head back and laughed at the mouse. "Did I ever tell you little woodlanders how I love it when you go all noble?" she jeered, leaning on the halberd casually. "You think you're above me? You think because of my species that I am garbage? Every goody-goody like you has the potential to become as bad as I am, mouse!" She cackled again, hefting the halberd in her strong paw. "You've been unbalanced by the loss of your weapon. Here, let me HELP!!" She hurled the halberd at the mouse with impeccable aim, unsheathing her other knife as soon as the weapon left her paw.

"Now we're even, sunflower," the stoat called. Even she was surprised at how easily she had given up the halberd, but she too had noticed the otter coming closer. Two beasts against her, and her with a weapon she had no idea how to use, put the odds against her, and not the mouse. Alykas knew when to back down a little, that much was true. "Though I would be a little hurt if you did kill me, mouse. I did help save your life, after all."

Guilt trips seldom worked, and she knew it would really do no good here, but she liked to talk before a battle, it helped the adrenaline flow throughout her entire body, and not just to her limbs and torso. Her mind was engaged, as well as her hearing, for she would be awaiting a response from her opponent, even if none came. She held up a knife on either side of herself, one pointed to the mouse, and one pointed to the otter. Keeping her eyes flicking between the two, she called to the otter, "Ah, come to join us, I see. Just in time, actually. We were just getting ready to kill each other." She turned back to the mouse. "Care to make the first move, dandelion?"

[Tulian Solum]

A splash was heard off to the side of the field as a rat tumbled into the water meadow. Coughing up water and slowly pulling himself up onto a fallen down tree the rat tried desperately to get his breath back. Spitting up some more water the rat looked down at his wobbly reflection in the water. At least he was still able to, and not dead.

Completely unaware of the drama that was happening quiet near him the rat plopped down into the water, holding his head in his paws while sitting up and resting. It did seem like the horde had stopped chasing him. Maybe he would finally be able to relax now.

After a few seconds of deep breathing he pulled himself to his feet again and looked forward with a smile on his face for escaping. But then the smile went away as he saw a stoat, mouse, and a otter about to engage in combat. Grimacing a little as the stoat hurled a halberd at the mouse the rat just stood by the fallen over tree, hoping that he hadn't been seen. One near death experience was enough for him.

But due to his tired mind and body he didn't think to move behind the tree, so just stood out in the open watching the assembled beasts.

(Hope it's alright guys.)

[King Benon]

SPLASH

Uhtred heard the crash of another beast plunging into the water meadows. He quickly scanned around him and identified the source of the noise. A rat had flung itself headlong into the meadow, and was looking at its reflection and then at the ongoing scene. Uhtred rubbed his temples with a paw.

"What'n'th'name'a seasons?" he cursed to himself, rolling his head in exasperation as he rounded on the new vermin. He drew his knife, the water meadows would make using his longsword clumsy and he wouldn't risk soaking the longbow's hempen cord by re-stringing it and using it in the water-meadow. He sloshed toward where the rat sat infront of a fallen tree, seemingly dumbstruck.

"Ahoy! Rat! What's your business!?!" Uhtred yelled at the stunned vermin, he was willing to talk with the rat because it didn't appear to be of the sea variety. If it were a sea rat he would have cut it down in cold blood, but he was feeling unusually curious at about this time, and less inclined to bloodshed, as it appeared his previous company seemed to have that particular base covered.

[Promatera]

"Did I ever tell you little woodlanders how I love it when you go all noble?" she jeered, leaning on the halberd casually. "You think you're above me? You think because of my species that I am garbage? Every goody-goody like you has the potential to become as bad as I am, mouse!" She cackled again, hefting the halberd in her strong paw. "You've been unbalanced by the loss of your weapon. Here, let me HELP!!" She hurled the halberd at the mouse with impeccable aim, unsheathing her other knife as soon as the weapon left her paw.

Dandelion smiled. The stoat had just made fatal mistake. The halberd was never designed to be thrown, its weight making it far too impractical an option. Though the stoat's aim was great, it was no great chore to simply move out of the way. The halberd flew true, but slow, giving Dandelion ample opportunity to quick dart aside.

The halberd lodged itself in the ground beside Dandelion's foot paws. With a swift paw she dislodged her weapon and birthright and placed both paws along the shaft. The spear tip was pointed straight at the stoat now, its sharp, metal point reflecting the beautiful summer sun. Although the stoat had a speed advantage, the halberd made up for Dandelion's shorter stature and gave her better reach. She would see to it that the stoat would not be able to even come close to her.

Moved beyond words, the mouse warrior slowly advanced on her enemy. Completely engrossed in the unfolding battle, Dandelion failed to notice the rat's intrusion (which was probably best). Separated now by only a distance of about ten feet, Dandelion gazed at the stoat with burning eyes. Her battling spirit awoken. Then in flash she charged. Her weapon, "Blitz" was thrust at the stoat like a flash of lightning.

[Cross]

Alykas had expected the mouse to regain her weapon, so it mattered little to her whether she actually struck the mouse with her throw or not. She heard the splash and saw the otter race in that direction, but she mostly ignored the new arrival. The stoat was now in combat as the mouse thrust the halberd at her in the next instant.

Alykas dropped low, bringing a knife up to block the razor end of the weapon. "Ooh, did I anger you?" she mocked, her odd-eyes dancing with the light of battle. She swung her blocking arm around, shoving the halberd away while at the same time bringing her other knife up to protect herself.

"I'm curious, sunny," Alykas said, preparing to block another strike from the mouse. "Is your blood as yellow as your fur?" She decided it was best to go on the defensive in this battle, since her weapons were a much shorter range than the halberd in the mouse's paws. Blocking the halberd was her best option right now, until she found some way to disarm the mouse.

[Tulian Solum]

Blinking a few times as the otter called out to him the rat err'ed but was then silent. He was still recovering from the strain, both physical and mental, and wasn't really thinking up to speed at present. Opening his mouth again to reply he quickly closed it again.

This otter had a weapon and was advancing toward him, there was also a mouse that looked very bloodthirsty with him. Such a situation didn't bode well for him or the stoart. It would probably be a good idea to egress from the situation sharpish before the mouse or otter turned on him. But then again the only path he could take that wasn't back the way he came was past the otter...not much to do except try to play along until a chance to flee came about.

Opening his mouth for a final time he tried a little smile as he replied. "Well ye see..." Was as far as he got before he noticed that the tree trunk he was holding onto seemed to be getting taller. Looking down at his feet his eyes widened when he noticed that he was sinking. Letting out a good long steam of sea swears he grabbed madly at the tree as he tried to stop himself sinking into the thick mud.

(Man you guys get on those posts fast o.o)

[Promatera]

((OOC: Yup, Tul that's how we roll Also, Ben sorry I didn't wait for you to post, but I wanted to keep the ball rolling!))

"Ooh, did I anger you?" she mocked, her odd-eyes dancing with the light of battle.

So this stoat knew how to defend herself? At least Dandelion now knew she would not murder a defenseless beast. The stoat could not keep up her defense forever though and eventually she would leave an opening that would prove to be her greatest mistake. Dandelion knew just how to exploit that.

"I'm curious, sunny," Alykas said, preparing to block another strike from the mouse. "Is your blood as yellow as your fur?"

This stoat's stupidity would soon serve to silence her forever. Now that she had forced the stoat into blocking her thrusts it was time to switch up tactics. From her previous onslaught, Dandelion had managed to slowly move them away from any nearby trees, giving her plenty of space to move to her stronger attacks.

After the stoat blocked her final thrust, Dandelion quickly pulled back her weapon and grunted as she swung in a huge horizontal arc with all her might. Even if the stoat blocked her swing, daggers would not protect her from the mighty impact of the blow. Knocked aside, she would stand no chance against a quick strike.

Eyes ablaze Dandelion grimly responded, "Yellow shall be the last color you will ever see." Metal clashed against metal; a sharp ringing noise reverberated throughout the once peaceful river.

[Cross]

Eyes ablaze Dandelion grimly responded, "Yellow shall be the last color you will ever see." Metal clashed against metal; a sharp ringing noise reverberated throughout the once peaceful river.

Alykas grimaced as she figured out what would happen next. A block would be useless, but instinct took over and she brought her daggers up to protect herself, anyway. She held back a cry of pain as her paws smarted painfully, but she managed to hold onto her knives. She felt herself falling to the side from the impact of the halberd's strike, but she spread her feet apart instead, dropping low into the shallows.

The stoat cringed as her paws refused to stop hurting and fell back onto her tail. She rolled in the shallows, leaping onto her feet a few yards away. "Oh, come, now," she said, shaking her wet fur out a bit. "We both know that's not your best comeback line. You're dealing with the stoat you want to kill, remember? Honestly, give me something to remember when you send me to Hellgates, will you?"

Alykas knew that strike could have been the death of her. She knew this mouse was taking the fight completely seriously. And yet Alykas wasn't. She didn't know why, but killing the mouse didn't feel good anymore. It must be a balance issue. The mouse seemed intent on ridding the world of vermin. Alykas was intend on ridding the world of imperfections, by any means necessary, even if she killed so-called "good" beasts.

Alykas and the mouse balanced each other out. It was against the stoat's nature to disturb a perfect balance. She curled a lip back in scorn as she realized her nature would not allow her to kill the infuriating mouse. Yet the mouse was going to kill her. What a revolting development this was. The black and white stoat prepared herself for another strike, wondering how long she would last.

[King Benon]

((OOC: Totally cool, I was really waiting to see what you guys were going to do))

Uhtred watched as the hapless rat began to sink into the morass that was the ground beneath him. The rat began scrambling around, clinging to the tree trunk as the sucking mud began to weigh him down. He would sink ever so slowly, unable to regain control if no one helped him. The thought crossed Uhtred's mind more than once, but his inner goodness throbbed within him and he could not for the life of him let the poor rat die, in this particular way atleast.

He made his way over to the rat, nonchalantly, without haste or rush; heel spurs clicking dangerously. He cut the perfect figure of a heartless swashbuckler as he swaggered up to the sinking rat, bent himself, and hauled the rat by the scruff of the neck out of the stinking sinking quagmire. He tossed the rat to the ground, and with his knife clutched dangerously in his hand he inquired:

"Rat, again I find maself askin' ye, what business do ye have here this afternoon?"

[Tulian Solum]

(Well its certainly a welcome change from the threads I used to be in . Just have to find a place for my ferret wanderer now P:.)

Finally finding a branch to grip the rat gamely clung on for all he was worth, but the branch was a lot weaker then it first appeared and soon broke. Letting out another few choice sea swears he looked back at the otter. So casually walking over with his knife held at a jaunty angle. This was it, the otter was going to slit his throat and them just let him sink away into the swamp. Giving one last effort to pull himself out he only succeeded in tiring himself out.

Sighing as the otter reached for him, no doubt to hold his head back to make his throat a easy target, the rat closed his eyes and tryed to ready for it. But then he felt a sharp hold on the back of his neck and then a sudden strong pull upwards. Shouting out in pain as his footpaws were yanked out of the sticking mud, not to mention some fur coming off his legs and the back of his neck. Grunting as he was tossed on the ground he kept his eyes closed for a few seconds, holding the back of his neck as he waited for some of the pain to subside.

Finally opening his eyes and looking up he frowned a little, but the creature had saved his life so he should at least try to seem grateful. Looking back at the forest to make sure that some of the horde hadn't sneaked up on him he turned back to the otter, sitting up a little with a paw still on his neck. This otter was still armed and he was not, need to play this safe. Clearing his throat a little he tried again.

"Well, good woodbeast, ye see ta forest?" He flicked a ear back at it at he continued. "There be a horde in eit, that I be runnin from." He nodded matter of factly, trying a smile at the otter, hoping that the mud would be his only near death experience today.

[Promatera]

((OOC: Ooh Jan I'm thinking Alykas and Dandelion could become arch-enemies XD))

"Oh, come, now," she said, shaking her wet fur out a bit. "We both know that's not your best comeback line. You're dealing with the stoat you want to kill, remember? Honestly, give me something to remember when you send me to Hellgates, will you?"

Dandelion ignored her taunt and followed the stoat into the shallows undaunted. She had been right. Even though her blow had been blocked, the stoat had barely survived a strong blow. The stoat was already growing weary, but Dandelion was still ready to continue the assault.

Halberd raised at the stoat, Dandelion slowly tread forward. However, the stoat would be expecting a strong blow, she needed to change tactics once more. Perhaps it was time to draw the stoat towards her. After walking a few paces, Dandelion stopped. With eyes ignited by battle, Dandelion stood her ground, glaring at the stoat.

It was her move now.

[Cross]

Alykas stood her ground, waiting for the yellow mouse to make her move. But when the smaller creature stopped suddenly, the stoat braced herself for another strong attack. It never came. The mouse had fury in her eyes, but she wasn't moving. Alykas realized the girl was waiting for her.

Cursing quietly, the black and white stoat kept her knives up, protecting her torso and neck as she decided what to do next. She mentally weighed her options, taking a step back in the shallows.

First off, talking was virtually useless. Secondly, the mouse was obviously much stronger than she looked. Third, Alykas was getting tired. Fourth, the stoat had already decided she wouldn't kill the mouse lest she upset this new balance. Fifth, there seemed to be no way out of this situation outside the death of one of them. Even though she'd pretty much ruled it out, talking civilly might do something. At the least, it would give Alykas more time to think.

"Alright, mouse," she began coolly. "You hate me, and I hate you. You want me to make a move, now, which I probably will. But first, let me put something in perspective for you. What would killing me actually do? Would it make you feel like a good little mouse, hmm? Ridding the earth of a mean ol' stoat like me? Once you finish me off, I'm just blood on your paws and a body for you to dispose of."

It was a total long shot, but Alykas was really not liking her chances against this mouse anymore. Switching tactics from haughty snob to composed diplomat in less than a minute was one of her strengths, and the stoat would use it to her advantage as much as possible.

((They would be epic arch-enemies, Promatera! XD ))

[Promatera]

"Alright, mouse," she began coolly. "You hate me, and I hate you. You want me to make a move, now, which I probably will. But first, let me put something in perspective for you. What would killing me actually do? Would it make you feel like a good little mouse, hmm? Ridding the earth of a mean ol' stoat like me? Once you finish me off, I'm just blood on your paws and a body for you to dispose of."

For a moment, there was only the sound of the river running between their foot paws. Dandelion's mouth twisted into a smug grin as she broke the silence. "Stoat, you misunderstand me," she spoke eyes ablaze, "if I were a 'good little mouse' I would have died long ago. You think I am trying to kill you because it is what is right?" She paused.

"Then you are wrong, it is far more than that. I have killed vermin like you for years and as the years passed I realized how disgusting your kind is." Dandelion spat in contempt, her grin replaced with rage. "Your kind would serve us all better dead."

"Now, come at me!" she shouted. "I shall at least give you a better death than you deserve."

[Cross]

"Stoat, you misunderstand me," she spoke eyes ablaze, "if I were a 'good little mouse' I would have died long ago. You think I am trying to kill you because it is what is right?" . . . "Then you are wrong, it is far more than that. I have killed vermin like you for years and as the years passed I realized how disgusting your kind is." Dandelion spat in contempt, her grin replaced with rage. "Your kind would serve us all better dead."

"I understand you completely, mouse," Alykas yelled, her own anger returning. "You're a simple-minded, self-serving, high-and-mighty little heroine who can't see past her own d*mned prejudice."

"Now, come at me!" she shouted. "I shall at least give you a better death than you deserve."

"I will not!" the stoat raged, suddenly vehement. "What does this fight prove, anyway? If you kill me, you'll still spend the rest of your life hunting down vermin just because they disgust you. You're worse than I am, mouse!"

"What is this vermin killing-spree about, anyway?" she continued, pacing around the mouse, her knives held up for defense. "Was your precious family killed by raiders? Did a lone rat take the life of your lover? I have news for you, sunny: killing random vermin doesn't solve anything. It only eliminates competition for other vermin."

((My gosh, this thread is exciting!))

[King Benon]

"Well, good woodbeast, ye see ta forest?" He flicked a ear back at it at he continued. "There be a horde in eit, that I be runnin from." He nodded matter of factly, trying a smile at the otter, hoping that the mud would be his only near death experience today.

Uhtred's instincts instantly kicked in, he knew that he needed to act quickly or the sound of any scuffle might lead the horde into the peaceful watermeadow, which could have serious repercussions to the watermeadow and any beast visiting the serene landscape in the near future if the threat was not contained forthwith. He growled at the rat as he hauled him to his feet.

"Yer lucky rat, ha, lucky that is if you can stand your ground in a skirmish to ward off yon horde from this watermeadow. Find yerself a weapon."

He cupped his hands and bellowed to the combatants across the watermeadow.

"AHOY YE DELIGHTFUL DEGENERATES! WE'VE GOT A LOAD OF VERMIN IN THE WOODLANDS ROUND HERE AND POSSIBLY COMING UP ON US FAST, THEY'RE CHASIN' THIS FOOL RAT! MEBBE YOU CAN VENT YER BLOODLUSTS ON THEM FOR A WHILE!"

[Promatera]

"What is this vermin killing-spree about, anyway?" she continued, pacing around the mouse, her knives held up for defense. "Was your precious family killed by raiders? Did a lone rat take the life of your lover? I have news for you, sunny: killing random vermin doesn't solve anything. It only eliminates competition for other vermin."

The words the stoat spoke brought back distant memories of her father. Together they bravely defended their homestead even when they were far outnumbered. For years small vermin bands threatened Dandelion's home, but she never failed defending it. Seeing this vermin before her it was as if she had returned to her days in the north fighting alongside her father. Killing vermin was what she had been raised to do and a stoat would not sway her.

However, before she could respond the otter shouted a warning from the other bank.

"AHOY YE DELIGHTFUL DEGENERATES! WE'VE GOT A LOAD OF VERMIN IN THE WOODLANDS ROUND HERE AND POSSIBLY COMING UP ON US FAST, THEY'RE CHASIN' THIS FOOL RAT! MEBBE YOU CAN VENT YER BLOODLUSTS ON THEM FOR A WHILE!"

Dandelion could feel her body pulse with energy. She wanted to move now to destroy the new threat, but she and the stoat were locked in a deadly battle. She glared at the stoat as she thought of a solution.

"Stoat, you are very very lucky," she spat, "I am going to fight this threat, but I assure you, we will meet again."

Without turning her back Dandelion waded deeper into the river and then without a second glance darted through the water to the other bank. Paddling with her new found energy, Dandelion made it to the other bank and took up her warrior stance. Spearpoint to the forest, Dandelion kept her eyes open for any sign of vermin. With slow, quiet steps, Dandelion made her way to the otter who had shouted the warning.

"Do you see them?" she whispered when suddenly she noticed the rat in front of him. "Are you going to kill him?" Her eyes reignited once more.

[Tulian Solum]

(Not what I was expecting but hey that works )

The rats smile disappeared as the otters did aswell. Looking back at the forest he squinted a little, had the otter seen something that he hadn't? Shrugging after a few seconds he looked back just in time to be hauled roughly to his feet as the otter began rapping out orders. Seems he had enough time to think about what he said. Only nodding a little at the commands he looked back at the forest to see if their were some of the horde licking weapons or something. Turning around to filly face the forest as he flicking his ear a little at the shouting he picked up the broken branch he had tried to save his life with and hefted it. Better then his paws only.

He really hoped the horde didn't burst out, it was only him and the otter as the mouse and stoat were just staring at each other. Looking back at the otter to express his objections to this plan he was surprised to see the mouse start to move over, only catching the last part of her words to the stoat. Trying to give a smile as she moved over to them it was soon wiped from his face after her two questions.

"Tat ain't nice mousy. I ain't done naught ta ya. Shou.." The rest of his chiding was cut off as five beasts burst from the undergrowth around the water meadow. Two rats, a weasel, a fox, and a ferret roved their eyes over the beasts until the Fox, wearing a bright red bandana, grinning at the rat. "Chief wants ya back Tul, pieces preferred, just the way I's likes it."

Tulian only gripped the makeshift branch club tighter, hoping these woodlanders wouldn't leave him out to dry, or die in this case. He didn't want to look back to see if the mouse and the otter were still there. Partly because he would then not see the fox and partly because he didn't want to see if they had left...

(Hope everyones fine with the new threats. I'll mod if you want anything changed.)

[Cross]

"AHOY YE DELIGHTFUL DEGENERATES! WE'VE GOT A LOAD OF VERMIN IN THE WOODLANDS ROUND HERE AND POSSIBLY COMING UP ON US FAST, THEY'RE CHASIN' THIS FOOL RAT! MEBBE YOU CAN VENT YER BLOODLUSTS ON THEM FOR A WHILE!"

Alykas glanced in the otter's direction. A vermin gang? Oh, that was just perfect. Even more mindless travelers who wanted her head. As if the yellow mouse wasn't bad enough! "Tch, woodlanders," she muttered darkly, rolling her eyes. Her attention was brought back to the mouse as she spoke a disconcerting threat.

"Stoat, you are very very lucky," she spat, "I am going to fight this threat, but I assure you, we will meet again."

"Oh, don't make me laugh, dandelion," Alykas retorted, a scornful smile crossing her features. "But since I do so enjoy this new balance we have, I actually hope you don't die. Fare thee well!"

With that, Alykas sheathed her knives and pulled herself onto the bank with lightning speed. Then she bolted into the woods as the mouse darted back into the water meadows. The stoat found a hiding spot in a dense thicket and got into a crouch. She heard a noise from behind and was startled to see five vermin make their way noisily through the underbrush, passing by her hiding place and emerging out into the water meadows.

This oughtta be good, she thought, watching the extremely unprofessional vermin square off with the three beasts on the opposite bank. Vaguely, Alykas wondered if she should aid the woodlanders and the hapless rat. She then decided if things turned sour, she might as well. The vermin might upset her new balance with the infuriating mouse.

[King Benon]

"Chief wants ya back Tul, pieces preferred, just the way I's likes it."

"Well isn't this just a charming ol' dog fox we've got here? In pieces ye say? We'll see who ends up in pieces if ye don't wipe that smug grin off yer mug, fox." Uhtred was tired of threats, he had had it with these bloodthirsty creatures. He had to do something to alleviate the bloodlust, and perhaps slaking that thirst for blood on a vermin gang might do the trick for the belligerent mouse and the crazy stoat.

Uhtred, in a blurr of motion sheathed his knife and drew his longsword and dropped into a fighting crouch: torso erect, knees bent, right leg forward with the footpaw pointing forward, left leg back with the footpaw pointing perpendicular, his right arm came up with his forge-welded longblade held firmly in his paw. He had come to learn this fencer's stance, he had been trained in the art of courtly fencing back in his home holt and aboard his father's ship. His stance kept him balanced and allowed lightning fast advances, retreats, parries, ripostes, lunges, and slashing attacks. His senses were on alert, the muscles all over his body coiled like steel springs, ready to launch into an attack and tear this vermin "negotiation delegation" into bloody ribbons if need be.

He cast an eye across his companions, his gaze landing on Dandy, "Well, marm, ye ready for some action? I'm tired of looking at these vermins' ugly mugs."


((vermin killing spree anyone? Who want's to fight the horde?))