Fowk Obligations ((Saxifrage, Open))

[tenor]

Saxifrage,
These leverets are as much a trial as you ever were, so I'll give you some of the ear-pulling madness you gave me. Lark and Rasp will do well in the Patrol if you just box them til they run straight instread of circular, so try to teach them any manners you've accidentally picked up there. There'll be a winter's store of candied berries if you CAN get them to run straight.
Your loving and exasperated sister,
Bearberry Bigbones

Additional news after the response would give the leverets' arrival time from the period they had set out from their Northern Mountain territory. Though it would not be the day they were supposed to arrive that the twins would find themselves staring up at the mountain in its glory.

"Hoo dae ye suppose thes place got tae be aloyn it loch thes?" Rasp asked, paw raised to shield his eyes from the midday sun.

"Ah dunnae kinn, Ah only ken thes heat is smotherin'! First we ur exiled, an' noo aw thes sin!" Lark complained, ears twitching as he observed the gate.

"Och, och aye. Mammy saw fit nae only tae exile us but attempt tae send us tae uir deaths. Sic' a sweit a body, huh?" Rasp agreed, and noticed the door further up. A simple gesture, the twins shrugged to one another and in perfect unison shouldered their halberds, pressing on towards the gate.

"Helllloooo! Anybeasts thaur?"[/i] The two called out in unison, searching for any signs of immediate life.

[Romulus]

Corporal Cordin Fuzthrite Liztine Harlington Dorchester gripped his spear-length halberd tightly, swinging it with precision and skill at his imaginary foes. An entire army of unseen vermin surrounded him on the sandy shore, all of them armed to the teeth. The young corporal disposed of them with sure, swift strikes. He then straightened his red uniform and wiped sweat from his forehead.

"Teach you bloody lot t'mess with a Long Patroller, eh, wot?" he murmured to himself, twirling his halberd expertly. Strolling back along the shoreline, the hare wondered vaguely what time it was. He'd been out all morning. Was it lunchtime yet? He'd only had a light breakfast (and, come on, eight muffins and six scones couldn't possibly be expected to tide a body over until lunch).

His tall ears perked up at the sound of two beasts talking. Nearing the fortress, he noticed two dark hares chatting in front of the gate. They didn't look familiar at all. New recruits, perhaps? Oh, look, they carried halberds! Kindred spirits, no less! Cordin picked up his pace, jogging up behind the two.

"Helllloooo! Anybeasts thaur?" The two called out in unison, searching for any signs of immediate life.

"Aye," Cordin answered, smiling as he leaned on his halberd. "Right flippin' behind ye. Let me be the blinkin' first t'welcome ye both to Salamandastron, lads!"

[tenor]

"Aye," Cordin answered, smiling as he leaned on his halberd. "Right flippin' behind ye. Let me be the blinkin' first t'welcome ye both to Salamandastron, lads!"

A flick of the ears closest to the other twin, the two turned in-wards as they ceased walking to see who had spoken to them. A lighter hued hare, armed with a halberd himself and greeted him with a bright smile each.

"Stoatin, a local! Ah thooght thes place was deserted fur a second," the first began, Lark with the cream spot on the left side of his muzzle as the only sign that broke him from his mirrored opposite twin, Rasp.

"Didne hink thes was th' place at first - nae signs ur anythin'! Guid tae ken we foond it aw reit," Rasp picked right up from Lark, scarcely a breath of time between the two.

"Fa ur ye, guid sairrr?" Lark asked quizzically, keeping that smile of his as he observed the cream furred elder. ((OOC Note: Accent may be thick here: "Who are you, good sir?" Anyone feel free to poke me if you need clarification!))

"Ah say, that's a raither familiar weapon, eh Lark?" Rasp pointed out, indicating the halberd and grinned to his twin, rather amused at such luck as to find another who carried such a weapon. Of course, this was Salamandastron after all. Who knew what all they were going to see here?

"Och aye, Rasp. Ah bit we can reason thes is a lang patrol fellaw aw reit!" Lark agreed, the two finally pausing int heir own discussion to let the more seasoned Hare speak.

[Romulus]

Cordin watching, amused, as the twins spoke to him, continuing off the other's words every now and then. Their accents were extremely thick, and Cordin stored them for future recall. He did love emulating others so.

"Fa ur ye, guid sairrr?" Lark asked quizzically, keeping that smile of his as he observed the cream furred elder.

"Corporal Cordin Fuzthrite Liztine Harlington Dorchester at ya service, sahs," the tan buck announced, tipping an imaginary cap to them. "Ye can bloomin' well call me Cordin for short. Or even Fuzzy Lizard, if 'at's yore idear of a good time, wot? Now, if ye two don't jolly well mind givin' yore own bally names?" He straightened the flipped-up collar of his uniform, grinning as the newcomers noticed his prized halberd.

"Aye, I be a bloody Long Patrol fellow," Cordin chuckled. "Wot brings two hares of yore fine calibers to ol' Sali, eh? Ach, d'ye wont tae enlist in yon patrol, ar were ye jus' 'angin' aboot liek blaudy stone figyars?" The corporal winked at them, enjoying copying their accent. He'd not done a Highlander in awhile. He was a bit rusty, but not dreadfully so.

[tenor]

"Corporal Cordin Fuzthrite Liztine Harlington Dorchester at ya service, sahs," the tan buck announced, tipping an imaginary cap to them. "Ye can bloomin' well call me Cordin for short. Or even Fuzzy Lizard, if 'at's yore idear of a good time, wot? Now, if ye two don't jolly well mind givin' yore own bally names?"

The twins certainly seemed to keep that amused grin between them as the Corporal went about introducing himself.

"Och, a lang a body!" Rasp complimented, seemingly impressed as Lark and he tilted their heads a bit towards one another, brown eyes catching the other's gaze when asked for their own names. "Dornt min' at aw!"[/i] They stated in agreement, once more in unison and they gave a flourish of their dominant paws (Rasp's his left, while Lark's right), and settled into a dramatic bow.

"Larkspur Elderberry Foxglove Twayblade Bigbones."

"Raspberry Ivy Thrift Elm Bigbones."

"Ur Lark an' Rasp fur those fa cannae handle tay mony syllables at ance!" The one called Lark stated as the two popped back up properly, Rasp motioning as Lark spoke as to which were who, just in case the Hare had not caught their names as they introduced themselves.

"Aye, I be a bloody Long Patrol fellow," Cordin chuckled. "Wot brings two hares of yore fine calibers to ol' Sali, eh? Ach, d'ye wont tae enlist in yon patrol, ar were ye jus' 'angin' aboot liek blaudy stone figyars?" The corporal winked at them, enjoying copying their accent. He'd not done a Highlander in awhile. He was a bit rusty, but not dreadfully so. "

As if catching on, a brow quirked from the twins at the attempt at their accent. Their own was rather thick as they had never been exposed to another accent before, so the harsh levels were rather natural for their younger tongues. Were they offended? Oh, not at all. Finger to chin-tap, the two separated, moving to walk in a circle around the officer to examine him curiously, almost like two sizing up someone for potential.

"Whit dae ye hink, Lark?" Rasp began, an ear twitching a bit as a signal to already give his own answer to his twin.

"Ah hink 'at odd accent ay his makes it stoaner fur heem tae say words loch a proper beest," Lark pointed out with a merry chuckle.

"Ah thooght th' sam, but it was a raither guid try. Hink we can teach heem hoo tae spick correctly?" Rasp offered as the two leverets stopped back where they had begun, on opposite sides this time however.

"Aiblins, but at a later time. He diz want tae ken wa we ur haur efter aw," Lark pointd out, resting his cheek against the sftaer of the halberd still across his shoulder so his head could roll to look at his twin with an expression that was turning somber.

Rasp seemed to pause at this in rather critical thought, eyes casting to his brother as both paws took hold of the shaft of his own halberd. "Dae ye hink we shoods teel heem?"

"Ah ken it is stoaner, hen brither, but th' truth will be knoon ance uncle Saxifrage hears ay uir tale," Lark said reassuringly, reaching over to pat his brother on the shoulder as Rasp's ears drooped back, looking a bit concerned about it all.

"If ye feel we main," Rasp finally would say after a pause, almost dejected as he looked away from the other two, staring off at the shoreline. Lark cleared his throat (a bit dramatically, perhaps), before looking to Cordin.

"We dae want tae enlist, but honestly it is a lest choice matter. Naethin' wrang wi' th' lang patrol, but we ken wee abit it sae fur stories ay uir uncle haur. Uir mammy, th' evil beest, exiled us puir creatures fur somethin' sae simple!" Lark was rather talkative with his one paw as he began to explain - though blinked, surprised, as Rasp would jump in:

"She exiled us fur havin' served 'er too-hot tea!" As if hurt, he gave a frustrated yet dramatic cry about it all. Lark sighed, shaking his head before continuing in an apologetic tone to Cordin.

"Och aye, she did aw reit. But lucky fur us, she cannae treat us loch slaves aw th' way it haur, reit Rasp?" The last of Lark's tone was to try and sound supportive to his distressed twin, who did seem to pause thoughtfully at this.

"That's true, Lark."

[Romulus]

"Larkspur Elderberry Foxglove Twayblade Bigbones."

"Raspberry Ivy Thrift Elm Bigbones."

"Ur Lark an' Rasp fur those fa cannae handle tay mony syllables at ance!"

Cordin kept a half-smile upon his handsome features as the twins examined him. He tried to memorize who was Lark and who was Rasp. It was easy enough with those spots on their muzzles. He'd just have to remember. But he was pretty good with names and faces.

The tan hare chuckled at their comments about his accent. Oh, yes, he was quite rusty at Highlander, having most recently done otter, mole, and a much more exaggerated gentleman hare. Once they finished circling him, the corporal rested the long shaft of his weapon across his shoulders, drumming his padded fingers along one end of it.

"Aye, I admit it, boys," he said sadly. "Yore lovely speech ain't the bloody best in me ol' forte, wot? I'd be flippin' honored t'learn from nice gents such as yoreselves." Even if they didn't teach him, studying them for a day or so would be enough. He'd be talking like them by tomorrow evening.

"We dae want tae enlist, but honestly it is a lest choice matter. Naethin' wrang wi' th' lang patrol, but we ken wee abit it sae fur stories ay uir uncle haur. Uir mammy, th' evil beest, exiled us puir creatures fur somethin' sae simple! . . ."

Cordin's ears at least would swivel between the twins as the story unfolded. He nodded in understanding at the end, having known what having a strict mother could be like. "Well, lads, don't ye bloody worry yore pretty 'eads over nothin', eh?" he said encouragingly, lowering one ear to half-mast comically. Utter hams, these two were. But Cordin knew he could be just as melodramatic.

"I dare say the ol' Patrol is just the thing for two aspiring perilous beasts," the corporal went on. "By the by, chaps, if'n I may jolly well ask, yore carryin' two gorgeous-lookin' halberds, an' I can't 'elp but wonder if'n ye be needin' some blinkin' tips on learnin' the bloody finer points of fightin' with them beautiful things, wot?"

[tenor]

"Well, lads, don't ye bloody worry yore pretty 'eads over nothin', eh?" he said encouragingly, lowering one ear to half-mast comically.

Both had to wonder at hearing that if the Hare were serious or merely toying with them. They played along, however, as Rasp turned to right himself properly next to his twin, the two mirroring one another naturally.

"Braw an' weel awa' frae sic' a tyrannical monster." Lark had spoken up, Rasp with an amused smile now on his face.

"I dare say the ol' Patrol is just the thing for two aspiring perilous beasts," the corporal went on. "By the by, chaps, if'n I may jolly well ask, yore carryin' two gorgeous-lookin' halberds, an' I can't 'elp but wonder if'n ye be needin' some blinkin' tips on learnin' the bloody finer points of fightin' with them beautiful things, wot?"

The two seemed thoughtful to this, eyes glancing to one another and both straightened.

"Teel ye whit. We will teach ye hoo tae gab properly," Rasp began.

"An' ye can shaw us a hin' ur tois wi' th' twirlin' ay these beauties," Lark finished, both twins patting their halberds properly.

"Lets coopon it, we did nae learn much wi' them oan uir way haur," Rasp admitted with a chuckle, holding his halberd out to look it over curiously. They hadn't, indeed. Their father was sweet for the gesture but, lets face it, it was a pretty walking stick at this point in their paws.

"Ye still tried tae clip mah lug aff!" Lark snapped, attention breaking from the Corporal to his twin.

"Ah wisnae!" Rasp stated, twirling to his brother with a haughty look. "Ah was aimin' fur yer fat gut."

"Ha! jist loch ye tae start slingin' insults abit a handsome hare's looks!" Lark pointed out, reaching out to flick his twin on the nose with a smirk. Rasp frowned, and went to wind back the Halberd as if going to swing it like a bat to knock his brother's block off.

"Gezz a second an' Ah will fix 'at 'handsome' fur ye."

[Romulus]

"Teelye whit. We will teach ye hoo tae gab properly," Rasp began.

"An' ye can shaw us a hin' ur tois wi' th' twirlin' ay these beauties," Lark finished, both twins patting their halberds properly.

Cordin smiled again. "A bloomin' brilliant idear if'n I ever 'eard one, wot?" he agreed. "Ye've got yoreselves a jolly ol' deal, Sirs Lark an' Rasp." He bowed, still with his weapon perched across his shoulders. He knew he was going to like these two.

"Ye still tried tae clip mah lug aff!" Lark snapped, attention breaking from the Corporal to his twin.

"Ah wisnae!" Rasp stated, twirling to his brother with a haughty look. "Ah was aimin' fur yer fat gut."

"Ha! jist loch ye tae start slingin' insults abit a handsome hare's looks!" Lark pointed out, reaching out to flick his twin on the nose with a smirk. Rasp frowned, and went to wind back the Halberd as if going to swing it like a bat to knock his brother's block off.

"Gezz a second an' Ah will fix 'at 'handsome' fur ye."

The Long Patroller's spear-length halberd clanged against Rasp's before it moved from behind his head. Cordin had swung his own weapon off his shoulders and around to his front to block the younger hare's. He stood in a perfect lunge, paws gripping the haft securely. The corporal's face had gone serious, but his golden eyes sparkled.

"Do yoreself an' others a bloody favor, Sir Rasp," he said. "Foolin' 'round with a weapon ye don't bloomin' well know how t'use only flippin' gets other beasts hurt, aye?" He moved his halberd away, twirling it deftly and winking. "I know ye were jolly well jokin', but that's no way t'handle such a lovely weapon, wot, wot?"

[saxifrage]

"Gezz a second an' Ah will fix 'at 'handsome' fur ye."

Saxifrage's well-notched ears stood straight at the tones of his own homeland, followed by the clang of weapon on weapon. Well now - both seemed like something worth investigating! The mountain giant brushed the last crumbs of a pilfered pastry from his whiskers and tunic and picked up his pace, trotting toward the sounds. He paused just where Cordin and the twins could see him, observing the situation for a moment.

"Do yoreself an' others a bloody favor, Sir Rasp," he said. "Foolin' 'round with a weapon ye don't bloomin' well know how t'use only flippin' gets other beasts hurt, aye?" He moved his halberd away, twirling it deftly and winking. "I know ye were jolly well jokin', but that's no way t'handle such a lovely weapon, wot, wot?"

"Attend 'at guidbeest's words afair Ah clip yer lugs aff myself, mah wee divit tatties - Ah've a wee whittlin' chib big enaw tae dae it."

The big hare pawed the hilt of his greatsword to illustrate as he strolled up, surveying the twins closely.

"Hm. Conall said yoo'd be haur thee weeks back. Didne gie guid auld Berry's looks ur 'er smarts, did ye? Ah suppose 'at leaves ye wi' whatever yer puir auld uncle's got tae his nam."

He scruffed both's ears lightly, grinning as he turned to Cordin with a lazy sort of salute. Not strictly necessary, perhaps, but the big fellow seemed to like doing it (even if the gesture was more an odd wave than anything properly military).

"Kinbeasts, ye ken hoo 'at goes, eh mah auld fuzzae lizard?"

He knew Cordin mainly by sight, but that was never a bar to treating someone familiarly.

[tenor]

"Do yoreself an' others a bloody favor, Sir Rasp," he said. "Foolin' 'round with a weapon ye don't bloomin' well know how t'use only flippin' gets other beasts hurt, aye?" He moved his halberd away, twirling it deftly and winking. "I know ye were jolly well jokin', but that's no way t'handle such a lovely weapon, wot, wot?"

Rasp blinked as his weapon had clanged against the Corporal's, pausing before he scoffed lightly, as if he wasn't going to do it at all. "Weel that's whit teachin' us hoo tae use them right'll shaw, reit?" He stated non-nonchalantly, as if he had not been possibly in trouble (and pointedly ignoring his twin's smirk).

"Attend 'at guidbeest's words afair Ah clip yer lugs aff myself, mah wee divit tatties - Ah've a wee whittlin' chib big enaw tae dae it."

The twins looked over to the huge beast who had been approaching. Though neither had really any memories of their uncle who had slipped off when they were young, but the accent gave it away.

"Hm. Conall said yoo'd be haur thee weeks back. Didne gie guid auld Berry's looks ur 'er smarts, did ye? Ah suppose 'at leaves ye wi' whatever yer puir auld uncle's got tae his nam."

"Weel we certainly didne gie yer looks," Lark pointed out, his ears pointing right back up after the scruff as he did not seem to mind the contact from the near-stranger. "Ee wooldnae hae taken sae lang if Rasp wasnae lookin' aff th' wrang direction."

"Enjoyin' th' cloods isnae th' wrang direction when we're nae movin' coz ye hae tae gonnae-no an' swatch at everythin'.," Rasp defended himself, the twins glaring to one another before sticking their tongues out, before back to attention as their uncle addressed Cordin. With his attention off them, they moved to the left, Rasp using his halberd to try and gauge how tall their uncle was, and their own height in comparison. In hushed whispers, they proceeded to speak to one another.

"Ever seen a beest his size?" Rasp asked, looking to his twin as they leaned in to one another to better hear in their whispering course (though it was not exactly masked).

"Nae but dad aye talked abit trees 'at grew 'at thick," Lark pointed out with a nod, turning his own halberd sideways to measure the 'thickness' of their uncle's chest by eye-balling him against the shaft of the weapon.

"Hink we'll gie 'at big?" Rasp inquired curiously, head tilting the opposite direciton of his brothers as he, too, was measuring from Lark's weapon.

"Ah micht, yoo'll jist gie th' belly loch mom."

[Romulus]

Cordin chuckled as Rasp tried to wave off being corrected. He raised his eyebrows briefly at the smirking Lark. "Oh, I'll bloody teach ye alright, wot?" he promised, tapping a finger at the bridge of his nose.

When Saxifrage ambled up, Cordin returned the half-hearted salute, suddenly feeling rather short. But he opposed most beasts felt short in the presence of this mountain of a mountain hare. With all the Highlander accents around him, he could almost imagine himself in the northlands.

"Kinbeasts, ye ken hoo 'at goes, eh mah auld fuzzae lizard?"

The corporal laughed. "Aye, Bigbones," he replied, amused that even the giant Saxifrage knew his ridiculous nickname. "But I didn't know ye 'ad bloody kinfolk comin' t'visit, wot? Would've flippin' let ye know they'd arrived." No wonder the twins were big, even though they seemed quite young. They were related to gargantuan Sax.

((Sorry it's short.))

[saxifrage]

"Weel we certainly didne gie yer looks."

Saxifrage shook his head, adopting an expression of mock sorrow as he looked the pair over.

"Nae, ye didne, ur else yoo'd be a braw strang pair ay handsome beasts insteid ay wee bits swatchin' loch they've come ben a famine. Did ye lose yer rations when ye tint yer way, ur diz Berry hae ye oan th' cuttie stick?" He appealed to Cordin then, paws spread in melodramatic pity.

"A stoaner life it is up north. See hoo they've starved their faces an' their brains?"

"But I didn't know ye 'ad bloody kinfolk comin' t'visit, wot? Would've flippin' let ye know they'd arrived."

The big hare grinned ruefully, ears twitching cheerfully as he shook his head.

"Weel, Ah made it knoon, but th' wee terrors waur due thee weeks pest - cannae e'en fin' a big auld badger ben, th' rips. If Conall hadnae bin bringin' me news Ah woods hae asked Auld Savage tae lit me tak' a search crew."

He didn't blame the kite for failing to set the leverets back on the right course, of course. Let the little scamps learn a lesson about keeping their eyes on the trail and getting where they were going before rations ran dry!

Sax grinned then as he heard the boys discussing his size, shaking his head.

"If ye hink aam a big beest, bide until ye meit Braythe. Seasons! There's a beest fa can make me feel wee as a lil by standin' up straecht!"

[tenor]

"A stoaner life it is up north. See hoo they've starved their faces an' their brains?"

The twins' ears cocked back at first, as if contemplating insult to the first portion. However, after a moment, they rode along with it. "Ye lived thaur, ye ken hoo it coods be," Rasp began exasperated about it all.

"Mom is a harsh a body, 'er. Works 'er slaves tae death, she diz," Lark explain, looking over to Cordin to give a nod.

"If ye hink aam a big beest, bide until ye meit Braythe. Seasons! There's a beest fa can make me feel wee as a lil by standin' up straecht!"

The twins blinked at their uncle, trying to picture this as they leaned their heads back, then looking to one another.

"Wa nae? There's awreddy th' ben 'at stands alang 'at makes nae sense." Rasp was perfectly content to believe this. They were sure to meed the old Badger at some point, right? (Or at least see him).

"Will ye drap 'at awreddy? Thaur is nae reason tae fash yerse abit 'at - it works, fa needs onie other reason than 'at?" Lark questioned, resting the butt end of his halberd on the sand to lean against it.

"Aam jist curioos is aw!" Rasp defended, perfectly fine with his own curiosity in such things.

[Romulus]

"A stoaner life it is up north. See hoo they've starved their faces an' their brains?"

Cordin laughed with another nod. "Doesn't seem like they've bloody starved their tongues, though," he remarked, idly flicking one ear back. He looped one arm over the blunt edge of his halberd's blade, enjoying the interaction between the twins and their uncle. Tightening the black twine wrapped around his paws, the corporal was reminded of something he needed to check on at the mention of Braythe.

But it could wait. "I say, Saxifrage, ol' boy," Cordin began. "I hate t'interrupt yore lovely banter, but is it bloomin' well time for lunch yet? I'm famished, y'see, and I've no flippin' doubt the perilous travelers be so, too, wot? Those bloody cooks servin' up the grub yet?"

Maybe Cordin had been out training longer than he'd thought. The sun's position suggested it was already noon, if not past then. Maybe he was obsessed with training . . . No, he just lost track of time.

((Grr, more shortness. Sorry.))

[saxifrage]

Saxifrage chuckled as he listened to the two leverets converse. They were cute little things, relatively speaking; this was certainly going to be an interesting task. Leave it to Bearberry to try him as hard as she could.

"Thaur was ne'er a Bigbones born who was short ay words, mukker," he told Cordin, laughing.

"I say, Saxifrage, ol' boy," Cordin began. "I hate t'interrupt yore lovely banter, but is it bloomin' well time for lunch yet? I'm famished, y'see, and I've no flippin' doubt the perilous travelers be so, too, wot? Those bloody cooks servin' up the grub yet?"

"It's aye bally weel time fur a bit ay tuck, as i've aft heard ye fellows pit it." He waggled an ear at the corporal, nodding toward the twins. "An' thaur was ne'er a Bigbones born who coods turn a scrap doon either."

He started off toward the gates proper, still chatting to Cordin.

"E'en if it's nae time a pair ay handsome auld warriors coods charm a fair an' generoos kitchen maid intae partin' wi' a bite, eh? An' aiblins those handsome auld warriors coods fin' it in their hearts tae spaur a crumb fur a pair ay yoong rascals."

Saxifrage didn't even break step as he called back to his young nephews.

"'main 'en 'en, lest ye be left oan th' sands tae starve!"

[tenor]

The twins continued their bickering, not seeming to hear the two until Saxifrage confirmed the time:

"It's aye bally weel time fur a bit ay tuck, as i've aft heard ye fellows pit it." He waggled an ear at the corporal, nodding toward the twins. "An' thaur was ne'er a Bigbones born who coods turn a scrap doon either."

That seemed to get the twins so shut up near instantaneously, their attention turning properly to their elders.

"E'en if it's nae time a pair ay handsome auld warriors coods charm a fair an' generoos kitchen maid intae partin' wi' a bite, eh? An' aiblins those handsome auld warriors coods fin' it in their hearts tae spaur a crumb fur a pair ay yoong rascals."

Saxifrage didn't even break step as he called back to his young nephews.

"'main 'en 'en, lest ye be left oan th' sands tae starve!"

"Ha, we jist gie haur an' he's awreddy threatenin' tae starve tois puir growin' wee jimmies loch us, eh Lark?" Rasp asked, the twins quickly moving to follow with no intent on being left behind. "An' it in thes unbearable heat, tay!"

"Ah daur say he obvioosly has a bit ay mom in heem. Ye hink she sent us tae a fate waur than haem?" Lark asked, not at all refraining his melodrama about their 'exile'.

"Knowin' 'at hen? Withit a doobt! Uncle," Rasp cut off in his speech, ears tucking back with a bit of a distressed tone in his voice, "ye wooldnae starve us, reit?"

"Efter aw 'at trekkin' we need jist a bite tae eat fur uir looks as growin' wee jimmies," Lark picked up, the two switching off as they spoke on the same wavelength of thought and drama.

"An' tae be able tae gie ready fur th' Corporal haur tae shaw us hoo tae swin' these fancy weapons aroond correctly!"

"Ye wooldnae want tae deprife heem ay a proper demonstration, woods ye?" The two would look to Cordin; surely this Hare would understand their plight if their uncle did turn out to be a cold hearted beast like their mother!

[Romulus]

"It's aye bally weel time fur a bit ay tuck, as i've aft heard ye fellows pit it." He waggled an ear at the corporal, nodding toward the twins. "An' thaur was ne'er a Bigbones born who coods turn a scrap doon either."

"Marvelous," Cordin exclaimed, leaning his halberd on one shoulder as he followed Saxifrage inside. "T'would be a bloomin' concern if'n a hare didn't 'ave a jolly old appetite, wot?" He gave a polite nod to the few cadets they passed; no doubt the younger hares were on their way to the parade grounds.

"Efter aw 'at trekkin' we need jist a bite tae eat fur uir looks as growin' wee jimmies," Lark picked up, the two switching off as they spoke on the same wavelength of thought and drama.

"An' tae be able tae gie ready fur th' Corporal haur tae shaw us hoo tae swin' these fancy weapons aroond correctly!"

"Ye wooldnae want tae deprife heem ay a proper demonstration, woods ye?"

Cordin laughed, looping his free paw in the upturned collar of his uniform. "Oh, aye, lads," he replied. "An' 'ow in the flippin' name a' bloody seasons am I going t'demonstrate me techniques when neither a' ye got yore blinkin' tummies filled, eh, wot?"

-Bit of a time skip. Hope y'all don't mind.-

Cordin finished off the last of a meal fit for two beasts, wiping crumbs off his snout like a proper gentleman should do. Not that he cared about manners, it was more force of habit. The young corporal sat on the right side of Saxifrage, across from the twins. He didn't want to be caught between them when they started speaking like they were the same beast again.

"So, boys," he said. "D'either of ye have any bloomin' weapons trainin' between the flippin' both of ye?" He straightened his uniform. "It's not required, y'know, but it's bloody helpful when yore first startin' out, doncha know?"

[saxifrage]

"Knowin' 'at hen? Withit a doobt! Uncle," Rasp cut off in his speech, ears tucking back with a bit of a distressed tone in his voice, "ye wooldnae starve us, reit?"

"Bless ye, bairns - yer Uncle Sax wooldnae pure lit a guidbeest starve, nur onie beest at aw." He shook his head sadly, pausing to allow the two to catch up. "Tis nae a fittin' end fur onie creature, is it? Pure torture! We're abune 'at at thes braw auld badger den."

-----

Saxifrage sat back once he was finally more or less satisfied, one ear tipped toward Cordin as he studied the twins.

"So, boys," he said. "D'either of ye have any bloomin' weapons trainin' between the flippin' both of ye?" He straightened his uniform. "It's not required, y'know, but it's bloody helpful when yore first startin' out, doncha know?"

"Tis standard procedure in uir fowk, fur a yoongster tae ken hoo tae slin' a staine afair he can totter up," he supplied, nodding. "Ah was ne'er onie guid at it, but Ah ken hoo." He grinned at the twins, crossing his arms.

"Sae whit abit it, wee jimmies? Did either ye ur Berry slack aff, ur can ye knock a feaither frae a crow's behin', ur anythin' in atween?"

Come to think of it, it would be interesting to find out if any of the sling-and-bowbeasts COULD knock a feather from a bird without harming the bird. He couldn't see any use of it, but it would be fun to see!

[tenor]

The twins had quite the appetite between them. They probably very well had eaten their poor parents out of home; but that was to be expected for growing Hares, right? Having quite easily the biggest meal since they had left home, the twins were rather content and in good spirits. Rasp sat directly in front of Cordin, while Lark was in front of Saxifrage. While the food was not exactly what they were used to back at home, it still was pretty good and perfectly suitable for two handsome Hares.

"So, boys," he said. "D'either of ye have any bloomin' weapons trainin' between the flippin' both of ye?" He straightened his uniform. "It's not required, y'know, but it's bloody helpful when yore first startin' out, doncha know?"

"Tis standard procedure in uir fowk, fur a yoongster tae ken hoo tae slin' a staine afair he can totter up," he supplied, nodding. "Ah was ne'er onie guid at it, but Ah ken hoo." He grinned at the twins, crossing his arms.

"Sae whit abit it, wee jimmies? Did either ye ur Berry slack aff, ur can ye knock a feaither frae a crow's behin', ur anythin' in atween?"

The twins chuckled and gave a nod at the same time with one another.

"Och aye, slin' we can dae," Lark admittedly rather proudly.

"A guid pass time tae be makin' up competitions wi' th' other fellows back in th' clan," Rasp timed in.

"Ne'er tried tae knock aff a feaither frae a crow's behin' but aam willin' tae gie it a shot."

"Hawhaw! Ah see whit ye did thaur."

"We dae ken hoo tae use a huntin' blade fur melee weapon when need tae an aw."

[Romulus]

((Be prepared for a bit of a scatterbrained post. Uninspired tonight, sorry.))

Cordin listened attentively as the northerner hares described the stone-slinging tradition. It sounded like Saxifrage took it more seriously than Lark or Rasp. But the boys sure seemed to be proud of their talents, no matter how limited such talents may be. The hunting knife part sounded promising. Okay, so they'd handled blades before.

But still . . . "T'would be a jolly ol' boon t'the both of ye if ye got some bolly weapons experience," the corporal asserted. "An' far be it from a fighter like meself t'withhold such knowledge from eager young minds, wot?" His golden eyes scrutinized the twins.

"Ye . . . are eager t'learn, aye?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. It was hard to teach unwilling students. Like Sola. She hadn't wanted to learn anything from him, or from anybeast here, for that matter.