Dusty Exploration ((open))

[Django]

Django braced himself against the old, wooden door, pushing with all his might. The rusted hinges groaned in protest, but they would not yield. Django stepped away from the door and took a few paces back. Then he charged the door at top speed. There was a loud CRACK!! and an even louder GROOOOAAAAAAANNN!!! as the hinges gave way. The mouse cried out as the door fell inwards, sending up a massive cloud of dust as it slammed into the floor.

Coughing hoarsely, Django stood up, wiping off his green tunic. Sneezing once, he grinned in satisfaction and began to assess his circumstances. He had effectively entered the upper dormitories of Redwall, the old rooms that were too musty to use anymore. No beast was willing or brave enough to give these rooms a good cleaning, so hardly any beast came up here. It was the perfect place for Django to have some fun. There had to be something good left up here from ages past. Even if there wasn't, the spotted mouse would still have a good time exploring.

A long hallway stretched before him, identical to the dormitory hallways a few floors below. Only this hallway was covered in cobwebs, dust, and . . . was that mold? Oh, well, it didn't matter. The entire floor was his to search. He entered the first room, excited and a little apprehensive. What would he find up here?

Suddenly, he stopped. Just as he was about to open an old nightstand, he had heard footsteps on the stairs. Someone must have heard the door being slammed in and come to see what the noise was. Biting his lower lip, Django stood undecided as the footsteps grew louder. Would he be in trouble for breaking down the door? The obvious answer was yes, but he didn't want to find out for sure. Ducking beneath the musty bed, the spotted mouse prayed he wouldn't be found.

[Onyxwing]

Rewhane opened the ancient door and bent down to get under it. As he stood up he took in the upper dormitories. He thought he had heard a slam of the door and several telltale footprints lead down the hall. He looked at them closer. Mouse, young and walking slowly down the hall. He eyed them again and concluded a young mouse was somewhere up here. I imagine I can share my space with a mouse! I should give him a talking to about being up here when I find him! He thought. The Badger followed the tracks into an old room.
Mouse tracks, picking up speed, scuffling of the tracks here and here. Touched the nightstand and... slid under the bed!
Rewhane analyzed the tracks well, but he would let the mouse have his fun. He walked over to the window and pried it open. He was provided with a wonderful view of Mossflower but he was thinking about the defensive uses of this space

"If I put ballistae up here we would have unrivaled range... Possibly a 100 pounder here and an ammunition storage there, supplemented by several Mossguard crews on each..." He talked to himself as he watched the woods below.

"We'll need plenty of bolts and stones so we should secure a tract of that old pine stand over there..." He said as he again looked over the land he was protecting

"... From evildoers! Both smart and dumb. From foxes, rats and stoats alike! Use cunning and tactics and own the night. Hide deep in the forest during the light!" Rewhane sang forth several more lines qouted from the large book he held in his paw. hundreds of years of tactics, cunning, and stories were held in this book.

Rewhane quickly remembered the mouse under the bed and he walked over to it.

"Come on out! I'm not going to punish you! Field mouse of around... 16, light build, who is obviously not supposed to be up here! Why would you hide if you were allowed?" Rewhane boomed without meaning to be so loud. He waited for the mouse to come out, hoping he hadn't scared it.

[Django]

Django listened to the big badger mutter and hum quietly to himself, certain he had been caught by now. Badgers were excellent trackers, weren't they? Well, it wasn't hard to see paw prints in the thick layer of dust and dirt that covered the floor. However, the bigger beast seemed immersed in his monologue. The mouse was just starting to get bored when the badger addressed him directly.

"Come on out! I'm not going to punish you! Field mouse of around... 16, light build, who is obviously not supposed to be up here! Why would you hide if you were allowed?"

Django swallowed hard and scooted out from under the bed, moving backwards, away from the badger. When he emerged, the bed was between them. The mouse was shocked this badger knew so much about him, but there was one detail he'd missed. Trying to appear indifferent about being caught, Django crossed his arms.

"I beg your pardon, sir, but I am only half field mouse," he corrected. "My father was a field mouse, and my mother was a harvest mouse." He flicked an ear, always annoyed when some beast overlooked that fact. "But, to give ye a good answer, I dunno if I'm allowed up here." He started to dust off his green tunic, still feigning indifference and avoiding eye contact with the big badger.

[Onyxwing]

Rewhane watched as the small mouse scooted out from under the bed to the other side. The badger watched the mouse trying to appear like he could care less.

It wasn't working too well.

"I beg your pardon, sir, but I am only half field mouse," he corrected. "My father was a field mouse, and my mother was a harvest mouse."

"Well you have the feet of a field mouse, do you not?" Rewhane replied smartly.

"But, to give ye a good answer, I dunno if I'm allowed up here."

"Maybe I'll just go ask one of the beasts downstairs if they think you're allowed up here or not?" Rewhane said "This is supposed to be a closed off area, and I don't think they care for beasts who kick in doors."

Rewhane waited for a reaction. He wasn't going to turn the mouse in, but he was giving him a fair punishment. Making him THINK he might get in trouble!

Rewhane let this sink in before he introduced himself.

"Field Marshal Rewhane Rommel Pier, commander of the Mossguard."
He said as he extened a massive paw to the mouse. The badger had had to sneak into the abbey for fear of alerting anyone to his prescence. And the two friars wandering around the stairs were actually Mossguard soldiers to protect him. In a trying times like this nowhere could be safe. But Rewhane felt he could trust, and possible employ the help of this little mouse.

[Django]

"Well you have the feet of a field mouse, do you not?" Rewhane replied smartly.

Django felt his cheeks go hot. He considered the option of simply running back downstairs and pretending he had never been here, but the chances of that plan working were slim.

"Maybe I'll just go ask one of the beasts downstairs if they think you're allowed up here or not?" Rewhane said "This is supposed to be a closed off area, and I don't think they care for beasts who kick in doors."

The red color deepened in the spotted mouse's cheeks as his ears flattened against his skull. "Nobeast uses this place ennyways," he mumbled lamely. "'Sides, what were you doin' up here? Jus' 'cause yore older'n me . . ." His previous hopes to explore and have fun were being dashed to pieces. He felt like a little mouse babe again, caught with his paw in the cookie jar. He hated feeling so small. And it didn't help that this badger was at least head and shoulders higher than he was!

"Field Marshal Rewhane Rommel Pier, commander of the Mossguard."

Django hesitated before replying. He wished the heat would fade from his face already so he could at least feel confident when and if he said something again. Furrowing his brow, the mouse took a step sideways, aiming for the door, but only managing to widen his stance a little. His long, thin tail flicked in indecision behind him, tapping the floor once or twice.

"Django," he murmured finally. For a moment, he felt even more lame. Even his name couldn't stand up to this badger! All he had was Django, while the other creature had a title, middle name, and surname. But the feeling passed as the mouse cleared his throat and spoke his name again, louder. "Django."

[Onyxwing]

"Nobeast uses this place ennyways," he mumbled lamely. "'Sides, what were you doin' up here? Jus' 'cause yore older'n me . . ."

"I am on the official business of protecting Mossflower from vermin gangs, hordes, and general troublemakers. I would say that gives me fairly good reason to be up here, right?"

Rewhane was starting to feel bad for the mouse and figured he had been given his just punishment. He watched the mouse step sideways widening his stance. Rewhane was suprised. Is this mouse going to try and fight me? he thought. He had to give it to the mouse, he was tenacious for making even a motion towards a badger.

"Django," he murmured finally.

But the feeling passed as the mouse cleared his throat and spoke his name again, louder. "Django."

Rewhane had barely heard him the first time, but the second time assured him.

"Django, eh? Well there Django I won't be turning you in. In fact I might just keep you around up here for company." Rewhane reassured the mouse. "In fact for sneaking up here you might as well take this!"
Rewhane said before handing Django a cloth bundle. Inside the bundle was a Mossguard arming sword that Rewhane had forgotten he had in his pack. The mouse looked like he could use some adventure and perhaps some direction in his life.

"Don't tell any of the abbey folk I let you have that! Hide it somewhere, please!" Rewhane bellowed laughing.

[Django]

"I am on the official business of protecting Mossflower from vermin gangs, hordes, and general troublemakers. I would say that gives me fairly good reason to be up here, right?"

Django averted his gaze once more, resisting the urge to sneer. Grown-beasts always had the best excuses . . .

"Django, eh? Well there Django I won't be turning you in. In fact I might just keep you around up here for company." Rewhane reassured the mouse. "In fact for sneaking up here you might as well take this!"

The spotted mouse once again hesitated before acting. He finally took the bundle, relaxing his stance with the movement. He hadn't even noticed his posture was nearly a fighting one, in fact. However, most of his embarrassment and slight malice towards the badger disappeared when the sword was revealed.

In his short life, Django hadn't seen many swords, especially considering he'd spent all of his life (excepting the short time he'd spent at Redwall) in Mossflower. The only other sword he'd seen was the sword of Martin, hung high in Great Hall above the proudly displayed tapestry. The sword Rewhane gave him was the second. The mouse didn't even try to hide his surprise.

"Don't tell any of the abbey folk I let you have that! Hide it somewhere, please!" Rewhane bellowed laughing.

Testing the blade's edge against his paw, Django didn't even notice the badger's comment. A thin stream of blood trickled down the mouse's wrist. Well, the blade was real, at least. Very real. A low, pained hiss escaped his lips as he wiped the cut on his tunic.

"Uh, thanks, I s'pose," he murmured. "But, what'll I do with a sword? I already got me own staff. Besides, no beast thinks I should learn how ta fight. They say I'm too young." He shrugged, offering the blade back to the badger.

[Onyxwing]

Rewhane was amused at the mouse's amazement with the sword. It was a simply blade but it had entranced the mouse.

"Uh, thanks, I s'pose," he murmured. "But, what'll I do with a sword? I already got me own staff. Besides, no beast thinks I should learn how ta fight. They say I'm too young." He shrugged, offering the blade back to the badger.

"Nonsense! I was already fighting rats when I was a year younger then you!" The badger said before drawing his Zweihander which was already as tall as two mice.

"Well then it's time for you to learn how then! This abbey will need some able bodied defenders!" Rewhane said before showing the mouse some basic manuevers.

"If you have those down, the rest just comes naturally."
Rewhane said.

"Now show me your form!"

[Django]

"Nonsense! I was already fighting rats when I was a year younger then you!" The badger said before drawing his Zweihander which was already as tall as two mice.

Django took a pace back, glad to still have the old bed between himself and the badger. Although he wasn't sure how much protection it could really offer from the sword that was twice his height. "Um . . . right," he muttered, taking another step back.

He watched in growing fascination as the badger displayed the basic maneuvers. The mouse was almost positive he'd be unable to perform those moves as flawlessly as Rewhane. It wasn't that Django didn't like swords, he just preferred to stick with his staff. With a sword, all you had to do was hold it wrong and you'd get seriously injured. With a staff, there was little danger of holding it the wrong way, much less getting your paws cut open on it. Besides, he had a thing against blood . . .

"Now show me your form!"

Django stared at Rewhane incredulously. "What?" he replied after a moment of shock. "In case ye didn't know, Mr. Rewhane, this is my first time ta even 'old a sword, much less wave it round like I know wot I'm doin'." Nevertheless, he assumed what he thought might be a good "form" or whatever. Widening his stance again, he held the sword out facing Rewhane and held his other arm out behind him.

[Prankster101]

Peeking around another corner, Travioso Trueflight slowly worked his way up the stairs of the Abbey into the upper dormitories. Dust coated his dark brown fur and green jerkin. Adjusting his hat, Travi paused, listened and continued. He did not want to get caught.

No, not now.

Travi's footpaw was doing much better. He was able to walk around the Abbey with out a cane or crutch in the longest time. He still did have a small wrapped bandage on his paw and a slight limp, but he could run for short distances without pain and walk longer.

But it still wasn't easy work getting up there.

Not only would Travi be in trouble for being up here where it was 'dangerous' right after being in the infirmary for a while, but his headaches still lingered, and he was armed...

Travi had been sneaking up to the upper dormitories for a while now. Being invalid as long as he had been, Travi knew that his archery muscles were relaxing, and he wouldn't have that.

So Travioso had been sneaking up to the upper dormitories to practice. Normally he would have gone out of the Abbey, but since he was being watched, he knew he couldn't do that. And besides, there were rumors of a horde coming. Travi wanted to do something, but everyone said no, he was injured.

Ignoring everybeast, Travi would come up to practice anyways, but this time he had more trouble then usual.

At the entrance to the staircase, two 'friars' were standing guard. Travi didn't recognize them and was sure that he could see weapons under their habits.

Wary of the 'friars', Travi caused a slight distraction by standing behind a pillar and rolling a rock across the Great Hall until it hit a door with a bang. When the 'friars' went to investigate the cause of the sound, Travi hurried up the stairs.

Now that he was upstairs, Travi thought he may have found out why...

Looking ahead, Travi saw that one of the doors had been broken in and he heard voices. One, lighter and slightly familiar and the other very deep and much less recognizable, but both male.

Drawing his bow and knocking an arrow, Travi made his way slowly to the door and paused, just outside, listening.

"Now show me your form!"

"What?...In case ye didn't know, Mr. Rewhane, this is my first time ta even 'old a sword, much less wave it round like I know wot I'm doin'."

Weapons training? Travi tighten his hold on his redwood long bow. Okay, he had to find out what was going on.

Stepping in front of the door, bow drawn, Travi growled at the mouse, whom Travi was sure he had seen in Redwall from time to time and a large badger whom Travi was sure had not. "Weapons trainin' in a peaceful Abbey? Tisk Tisk mateys. Makes creatures suspishous o' w'at yer doin'."

_{(Posted while still a member of this site)}

[Onyxwing]

Rewhane watched the mouse assume his stance.

"Wider! You have to..."

Stepping in front of the door, bow drawn, Travi growled at the mouse, whom Travi was sure he had seen in Redwall from time to time and a large badger whom Travi was sure had not. "Weapons trainin' in a peaceful Abbey? Tisk Tisk mateys. Makes creatures suspishous o' w'at yer doin'."

Still not turning around Rewhane spoke

"And I imagine the Otter tracks I saw in the dust on the way here were that of a ghost?" He spoke back before turning around.

"I am Field Marshal Rewhane Rommel Pier, commander of Mossguard forces, and if you don't put that bow down... I will impale you!" Rewhane said his voice growing in rage. This might just be the time!
The Bloodwrath was starting!
The edges of his vision blurring and turning red.
Oh, how that wonderful feeling of killing! To thrash the otter around...
Remembering the small mouse, Rewhane quickly shook the feeling off. It wasn't a good thing to have all the time. Just some of the time. Supressing the feelings with his training he raised a paw to the otter.

"I order you to lower your bow!"

Hopefully this situation wouldn't escalate...

[Django]

"Weapons trainin' in a peaceful Abbey? Tisk Tisk mateys. Makes creatures suspishous o' w'at yer doin'."

"I order you to lower your bow!"

Django was shocked and confused. He had been completely caught off-guard by the otter, who now had his bow aimed in his direction. And Rewhane had looked like he was on the verge of tearing somebeast's head off. To top it all off, the spotted mouse held a sword, and he had absolutely no idea what to do with it.

Without thinking, Django tossed the sword onto the bed and raced to a door that joined this room to another one. Jerking it open, he sprinted away, skidding out into the old hallway and running as fast as his legs would carry him. The sight of a bow had drained his nerve. The arrow nocked and ready, aimed right at him, its sleek, feathered shaft ready to pierce his heart. The same fate his father had suffered just a month ago.

Choking back a sob, the mouse ducked into another room, trembling uncontrollably as he ducked beneath another old bed. He buried his face in his paws, trying to calm himself. He hated feeling so helpless, but he just couldn't do it!

No, he had to collect himself. Panic wouldn't solve anything. What did he know about those two beasts? The badger could be any beast, really. Django had never seen him before. Rewhane was a new name to him, and possibly to the abbey. The mouse knew he'd seen that otter before, though. Something about the otter having been in the infirmary to heal up. Okay, so he knew the otter, sort of. But obviously the badger and otter didn't know each other. How would that turn out?

Django really didn't want to know . . .

[Prankster101]

"And I imagine the Otter tracks I saw in the dust on the way here were that of a ghost?" He spoke back before turning around.

Travioso didn't quite understand what the badger meant by that, but he decided that by the tone the badger was sporting it was most likely an insult. Tightening the grip on his bow, Travi kept his arrow steady and unmoving, ready to fire, just in case. He wasn't planning on it, but this Badger was starting to get on his nerves.

"I am Field Marshal Rewhane Rommel Pier, commander of Mossguard forces, and if you don't put that bow down... I will impale you!" Rewhane said his voice growing in rage.

As the mouse raced off into the other room, Travi ignored him. He had seen the mouse around and getting out of the way was probably the best idea until Travi and his new found 'friend' finished 'talking'.

Travioso Trueflight looked the badger up and down, unafraid. This wasn't the first badger he had come across and wasn't as impressed as the first time he met the species. The badger was tall, well built, battle scarred; a real warrior, but as he got angry, Travi could see a bit of flushing in the eyes. A flush that Travi knew all too well.

This badger probably was Rewhane-whatever, but Travi was getting more and more annoyed at the commanding tone the badger was giving him and was unwilling to obey. Travi wasn't under his service, and impaling a beast in an Abbey? Oh yes, that would look very well in the eyes of the Abbey beasts.

Being his cheeky self, Travi thingyed his head lightly. "O' yes. Ye good a'ead mate. But ah'll bet ye mah arrow be faster den w'ate'er ye'll impale mea wit."

"I order you to lower your bow!"

"Why?" Travi growled back. "Why s'ould ah? Ah ain't under yer command. Ah ain't part o' dat Mossguard. A't'oug' ah 'ad been t'inkin' bouts it, ain't sure naw. 'Specially ifn da leader be givin' mea deat' t'reats."

This badger was really getting on his nerves. No, no, no. Travi kept his breathing steady. he would not do it now. Not now. He wasn't even that angry! And this badger wasn't vermin! No, don't waste your energy. Calm, that was what he needed to be.

Calm...and ready...


((Ooc: Egh...he's really rude today...Sorry.))


_{(Posted while still a member of this site)}

[Onyxwing]

"Why?" Travi growled back. "Why s'ould ah? Ah ain't under yer command. Ah ain't part o' dat Mossguard. A't'oug' ah 'ad been t'inkin' bouts it, ain't sure naw. 'Specially ifn da leader be givin' mea deat' t'reats."

"Wait! I wasn't myself there! The bloodwrath..."

Rewhane apologized before putting his Zweihander on his back again. " Now, I would hope you have the sense to put that bow down." Rewhane said with his paws open in front of him. This was a rather delicate situation for a beast who had been known to break small objects.

"Now then, I will have you know the reason for my hostility is that, yes the rumors are true. There is a horde marching to Redwall. I'm going to need as many able bodied beasts as I can get to guard the abbey. Now if you would like to help your abbey, and Mossflower. I implore you to listen to me." Rewhane said calmly.

"Now on friendlier terms, I am Field Marshal Rewhane Rommel Pier, commander of the Mossguard here on official business. That business does not involve being shot, so put the bow down." The badger said.


Wait. What was that? Had he seen it at the begining of the conversation? That otter had Bloodwrath!

"And I might be able to help you control your Bloodwrath." He added. Hopefully this otter would see sense.

Hopefully...

[Django]

Django took deep, calming breaths as he lay beneath the bed. He berated himself endlessly for being so weak as to run away like that. What would his father say? The mouse shook the dust off his fur as he crawled out from under the bed and stood, coughing once. For a brief moment, he wondered what the otter and the badger were talking about.

He might as well go and find out.

Stealing down the hall with all the stealth he could muster, he arrived at the door that joined a second room to the one where the badger and the otter were. Pressing his ear up against the door, he silently thanked the Fates that it didn't creak. On the other side of the door, Rewhane was speaking.

". . . Yes, the rumors are true. There is a horde marching to Redwall. I'm going to need as many able bodied beasts as I can get to guard the abbey. Now if you would like to help your abbey, and Mossflower. I implore you to listen to me."

Django's eyes widened in shock. A horde?! The whispered threats were true? Django had prayed they weren't. But Rewhane, from what the mouse could tell, seemed to be speaking the truth. But something just didn't make sense. If a horde was marching on Redwall, why hadn't the badger alerted the abbot yet? Should the mouse warn the rest of the abbey? No, this seemed like a delicate situation. Perhaps the badger had notified the abbot, but they'd kept the news secret so as to not panic the rest of the abbey-goers. Or perhaps only the badger and his Mossguard fellows knew about it.

Whatever the circumstances, Django knew he could not afford to miss this conversation.

[Prankster101]

"Wait! I wasn't myself there! The bloodwrath..."

Travioso did not lower his bow and gave Rewhane a serious look. "O'?" He said sarcastically. "Ah wouldn't 'ave guess dat was it..."

Rewhane apologized before putting his Zweihander on his back again. " Now, I would hope you have the sense to put that bow down." Rewhane said with his paws open in front of him.

Silently, Travi lowered his bow, but did not unstrung it. His arrow remained knocked. He simply pointed it at the floor. He was not ready to disarm himself totally, just yet..

"Now then, I will have you know the reason for my hostility is that, yes the rumors are true. There is a horde marching to Redwall. I'm going to need as many able bodied beasts as I can get to guard the abbey. Now if you would like to help your abbey, and Mossflower. I implore you to listen to me." Rewhane said calmly.

Travi's ears twitched and slowly he nodded. He knew the rumors were true. He could feel it. His paws were itching with the unrest of the beasts around him. The reports weren't good. He knew.

And it was his inner most hope, that it would not be like last time. Anything but that....

Of course he wanted to help! He would die defending this Abbey! No vermin was going to soil it's paws in Redwall's Halls.

Not While Travioso Trueflight was still breathing...

"Now on friendlier terms, I am Field Marshal Rewhane Rommel Pier, commander of the Mossguard here on official business. That business does not involve being shot, so put the bow down."

"Travioso Trueflight." Travi replied. "An' ah ain't disarmin' meaself w'ile ah ain't sure ah trust ye an' yer business."

"And I might be able to help you control your Bloodwrath."

Jerking his bow back up swiftly, Travi had his arrow point aimed directly at the badger's throat. His eyes narrowed, and his muscles tensed. "Yer steppin' on a fine line dere matey. Tread carefully. Aye, ah gots Bloodwrat', but ah'll tell ye fur sure, ye'll be able ta da not'in' abouts it."



_{(Posted while still a member of this site)}

[Rorgus]

Rorgus walked along the hallway towards the infirmary, he reached the door and opened it. Stepping inside he closed it quietly. He went over to Travi's bed, but he wasn't in it. He looked around the room, he noticed then that Travi's bow wasn't standing in its usual corner. Then he realized what he was doing.

He left the room to look for his friend. He knew Travi well enough to know that he wouldn't have gone to the grounds to practice. There were too many beasts there. So he tried to think where his friend might be. Then he thought of something, he turned and headed towards the attics. That would be a good place to practice, with nobeast there to see him. He took the steps two at a time, and soon reached the landing.

The door was lying on the ground, it's hinges ripped off. Rorgus wondered if Travi really had enough strength to do that. He stepped over the door and saw many paw prints in the dust, not all otter. He looked around the dusty place, wondering who else could be up here. Then he saw a mouse, it was listening at a door. He looked curiously at the mouse, and quietly went over to it. Trying not to startle the mouse too much he creaked a board in the floor, and when the mouse looked up he held one paw to his lips.

Going to the door, he heard his friends voice. Once he heard his tone, he decided he had better go in. He opened the door, and stopped. In front of him was Travioso, with his bow pointed at a large badger.
Rorgus looked surprised. He had never seen this badger in Redwall Abbey, where had he come from? And what was he doing up here?
"Travi? What is going on?" He asked the otter. He knew the otter shouldn't be target practicing, but he wasn't about to tell any beast.

[Onyxwing]

"Travioso Trueflight." Travi replied. "An' ah ain't disarmin' meaself w'ile ah ain't sure ah trust ye an' yer business."

"You're a smart one aren't you?"

Rewhane said before presenting a sheet of paper with both a Mossguard and Redwall stamp on the bottom. "Now that my paperwork is out of the way, I would dearly prefer you put that bow away." The badger said before turning around to look out the window.

Jerking his bow back up swiftly, Travi had his arrow point aimed directly at the badger's throat. His eyes narrowed, and his muscles tensed. "Yer steppin' on a fine line dere matey. Tread carefully. Aye, ah gots Bloodwrat', but ah'll tell ye fur sure, ye'll be able ta da not'in' abouts it."

"I'm sure there are plenty of things I can do about it, you just have to have an open mind..." Rewhane said before turning back around.

"Now I would prefer to have a friend then an enemy" Rewhane said before extending a paw

"Your call on which you are."

[Django]

"Travioso Trueflight." Travi replied. "An' ah ain't disarmin' meaself w'ile ah ain't sure ah trust ye an' yer business."

Django vaguely recognized the name Travisio, but he hadn't formally met the otter yet. Something about some perilous adventures outside Redwall. What was more concerning was that the confrontation was getting more than a little hostile.

"And I might be able to help you control your Bloodwrath."

"Yer steppin' on a fine line dere matey. Tread carefully. Aye, ah gots Bloodwrat', but ah'll tell ye fur sure, ye'll be able ta da not'in' abouts it."

Bloodwrath?! Django had never heard of an otter with the curse. Apparently, Travisio had let it show while the mouse had been hiding under the bed. Like a scaredy-cat, he thought angrily. Pressing his ear closer to the door, he half-expected the two beasts to start yelling at each other again, but the badger was really making an effort to calm himself down.

Suddenly, paw steps on the stairs alerted Django of another beast headed this way. He flinched back from the door, searching for a place to hide. But it was too late. Another otter arrived, another one Django didn't recognize. Putting a paw to his lips, the otter got the hint that the mouse was trying to be quiet.

But then the newcomer did something that caught Django completely off-guard. He padded up to the room where Travisio and Rewhane were still talking and went in! The mouse jumped back in alarm, hiding against the doorjamb behind the open door.

"Travi? What is going on?"

Django prayed he wouldn't be discovered. That this new otter would be enough of a distraction that Rewhane and Travisio wouldn't think to look for the mouse. He didn't know why, but he just couldn't confront either of them right now. He also prayed the new otter wouldn't mention finding him. He prayed fervently.

[Prankster101]

"You're a smart one aren't you?"Rewhane said before presenting a sheet of paper with both a Mossguard and Redwall stamp on the bottom. "Now that my paperwork is out of the way, I would dearly prefer you put that bow away." The badger said before turning around to look out the window.

Travioso saw the paper and most of what was on it. Just because the badger had a fancy piece of paper, didn't mean he was to be trusted. Warlords could have fancy pieces of paper, but you wouldn't trust them now would you. Travi's rudder swished in the dust on the floor. He wasn't ready to put the bow away as of yet. Taking the arrow off maybe, but not un-stringing it.

"I'm sure there are plenty of things I can do about it, you just have to have an open mind..." Rewhane said before turning back around.

Scoffing quietly, Travi muttered in an barely audible voice. "Bah...ye'd 'ave more luck catchin' smoke wit' yer bare paws den 'elpin' mea..." He looked away slightly, lowering his bow once more.

"Now I would prefer to have a friend then an enemy" Rewhane said before extending a paw.

Travi looked up into the badger's eyes. He still didn't fully trust him, nor his boast that he could help Travi's bloodwrath, but making another enemy for himself wasn't the best idea in the world.

Relaxing slightly, Travi took the arrow off his bow and put it back into his quiver. He then shouldered his bow, still stringed, as for quick and easy removal to fire if needed.

Sticking out his paw, Travi accepted the shake. "Fine...Buts Ah still want ta know w'at yer doin' up 'ere."

"Travi? What is going on?"

Travioso didn't even look over to see who it was, for he could tell by the voice. "Not'in' ye need ta be concerned wit' mate." He replied. If things did come to blows, Travi didn't want Rorgus in here. The possibility of that had gone down now, but was still possible. And with this badger still talking about bloodwrath, he really didn't want Rorgus to be here...



_{(Posted while still a member of this site)}