The Lost Ones

[Caterpillar]

The sun was setting at the end of horizon dyeing the sky with colors of red and orange, with hint of yellowish gold. It looked like the sky was on fire by those bright colors. However, night's darkness was slowly creeping to take over that magnificent glamour as on the east the sky had already turned dark blue. Some of the evening starts were already lit and they shined over the Mossflower woods.

However, in Redwall Abbey no-one noticed this beautiful sunset nor the night first stars. Anxiety and sorrow had taken a reside inside many Redwallers hearts as three Dibbuns had disappeared at the summer picnic in Mossflower woods.

A mouse-babe Little Daisy, his big brother Mirthin and their hedgehog friend Moel had gone missing when adult's eyes hadn't been looking. At first it just seemed that three of them had just wandered too far from the picnic place. Everybody knew Mirthin and Moel loved to play adventurers and it was usual to them wander off by themselves (and by that they caused lot of trouble for Badger Mother). And Little Daisy with his squirrel-rag doll was just in that age when he wanted follow his big brother everywhere. But when calling out Dibbuns names and looking for them proved to be just naught, Redwallers truly started to worry. The picnic was halted and searching parties were to send to the woods.

But nothing had yet to be found. There wasn't any sign of three Dibbuns. It was like the ground had swallow them whole. And now, the darkness was starting to fall, making it harder to continue the search.

[lagg]

When the news of three dibbuns have gone missing Lagg cursed himself not keep a better eye on the Daisy, Mirthin, and Moel. He quickly ran into the Abbey, heading for his room. "I knew I should have kept a better eye on them....!" muttered the otter under his breath. After search a few minutes or so in his room, his sword was no where to be found. "Aye and that's perfect too! Now my sword has gone missin'!" While in a fit of rage the otter had turned around and hit the Redwalls Abbot, both being knocked on the floor.

"Sorry Father, I should have looked where I was going. I couldn't find my sword and I can't believe that trio had to leave the Abbey." explained the otter, helping the Abbot up, who brushed the dirt off his habit and held the otter's paws. "Oh Lagg, it's ok. Dibbuns will be dibbuns, besides I knew you were going to go after those rascals, so I took the liberty of retrieving your sword for you, but you rushed by me and I had to come back to your room." explained the Abbot. With that the Father gave Lagg his sword, the bronze hilt could be seen sticking out of it's holster. Dawning the holster and giving his goodbyes to the Abbot, Lagg made for the kitchen for some vittles in case the Dibbun trio had gone farther than anyone would think.

After making sure everything was accounted for Lagg made his way out of the Abbey onto the wide dirt path that lead north and south from the Abbey. He noticed three sets of tiny paw prints leading off into the woods nearby, heading east. The otter quickly followed the trail, calling out their names but no answer was given except the sounds of insects and owls in the distance.

[Caterpillar]

They had set a camp near Moss River or whatever that river was called by locals... Knar had started to prepare their supper and sent the Errot fetch some water. The weasel had complained loud and clear about it, but after realizing he wasn't going to win the argument, he had grabbed a kettle and stormed towards the river.

The boy really took his time and finally marten had gone to find out, what took the brat so long. But all he found was the kettle lying on the riverbank's wet sand and the set of young weasel's footprints, ending at the waterline. No sign of Errot himslef anywhere. Calling for weasel's name proved useless and after sometime Knar understood this wasn't weasel's prank to take revenge on him.

Knar's very first thought was that it was finally happened - That the pursuers had finally caught up with them and taken Errot. But why take only the boy but not the sword? No-one had attacked to the camp where the Bloodfang was... And if they planned use the cub as leverage make him surrender, they would already shown up the dagger on the kid's throat. Surely they wanted the Bloodfang more than he wanted the boy...
Something was badly amiss in this whole picture.

In the searching of his ward Knar had crossed the river and looked for paw prints from the other side. He had found nothing. He swept the area in each side of the river, searching high and low for signs if any bigger group had walked there. But still nothing. Either they had managed to cover their tracks very well or then there never hadn't been any group walking near the river to begin with. In the lack of evidence of third party it would be easy to presume if Errot had slipped into the water and drowned, but that was impossible. First, he would have heard it - no-one drowned without making any sound and the camp wasn't that far away from the riverbank. Secondly, he had taught the lad how to swim - stone tied onto his tail if needed. It would be sad affair of things if future leader of Grendel Horde had such a weakness like inability to swim.

But really, he was now out of clues where go from here... Knar stared angrily the kettle and footprints, like glaring them meanly would make them tell him, what had happened here. The lad had stood here and what? Just disappeared? Many beats, vermin included, were superstitious a lot, but Knar had never been one of them. There wasn't such a things like monsters or boogiebeasts - an if they were, they bled and were as killable as any breathing things. He wasn't going to swallow up an explanation Errot had been "spirited away" What was it he was missing here?...

A movement caught Knars eyes. Something was floating slowly past him on the water and before Knar thought twice he was already wading in the river, catching it.

It was a rag doll. Somewhat resembling a squirrel or so the marten thought as recognizing a big tail and pointy ears. The doll was heavy from all the water it had soaked in and the only reason it had managed to float on the water, was because it was tied into... What was this exactly?
Returning to the dry land, Knar turned the toy over in his hands, examining it.
...It was a small ring, made from clump of straws and shreds of fabric that bound the straws together and kept the creation's shape together. Doll had rode it like the round raft. Knar grunted murky. Really now, just some woodlanders brat's stupid toy...


# Yes, it's Little Daisy's rag doll... Just thinking it might be interesting to see what happens when Lagg steps in the scene and sees a vermin holding dibbun's doll in his paw xD #

[lagg]

Lagg made his way in Mossflower woods, the dibbuns trail getting harder to track. Getting to a riverbank, the trail ended near the rather broad river and the otter hoped that the three young ones didn't go into the river. He looked for signs of his concerning thought and luckily nothing appeared to be positive they did go into the river. Lagg made his way down the side of the river, the noise of nature itself putting his mind in ease steadily. He knew it was going to start becoming harder to focus on following the trail. "Come on, pull yourself together. This isn't the time to start getting relaxed." Lagg told himself, trying to keep himself focused.

The otter looked out into the water, noticing all the fireflies dancing above the reflecting surface. As Lagg watched the bugs play together he didn't help but bump into someone unintentionally. "Oh, sorry about that mate, I wasn't seeing where-..." the otter stopped apologizing as he noticed the creature he bumped into, a marten, was holding a little squirrel doll. At that moment, Lagg knew the doll belonged to little Daisy and the otter drew his sword pointing at the marten, "Don't move and tell me where you got that doll!"

Lagg's adrenaline was back up again, his eyes watching any sign of movement from the vermin. The rage inside of him boiling up, hoping nothing had come harm to the dibbuns. The otter was ready to slay the beast if anything had happen to the trio. "And don't lie to me! For every lie I here I'll remove a piece of your body and I'm sure you wouldn't want that to happen..!"

[Caterpillar]

Lost in his own gloomy thoughts Knar wasn't aware of company until that company, in form of an otter, rammed into his broad back. Snarling the marten put instantly some distance between two of them, cursing his lack of alertness. Had that been an enemy's assault, he would been dead now... Dammit, that brat's disappearance was really getting him off his balance - more than marten wanted to admin.

Backing away from the otter turned out to be wise decision, as suddenly the otter turned angry and pulled off his sword.

Knar wasn't the easiest beast to intimate with threats. And at the other place and time marten would had just sneered nastily and told the woodlander put off his sword before he poked out his own eye.. But this time... this time Errot was missing, the soldier had spent hours looking for him and hadn't found a slightest clue of the cub's whereabouts... He was running out both ideas and plans what to do next, so all in all there was quite lot of pent-up frustration boiling inside the marten. And it didn't help the slightest when out of nowhere a woodlander cropped up and turned his sword towards him, spouting of some nonsense about the drag doll... Honestly Knar couldn't darn care less, so his ears stopped listen at the middle of the rant.

But he didn't like that sword pointing at his way. And after all what had happened on that day, it was the last straw. The ex-Arms Master, quite frankly, have had about enough.
"Don't bare your teeth to me, woodlander", the marten gnarled with dangerous tone, his own yellowish teeth showing "Or you might lose 'em for good!"

Suddenly Knar drew own sword and it clanked loudly together with otter's, in attempt to sweep that blade out of pointing in the marten's way. And knowing Knar's strength, the otter had better to be holding firmly on his weapon, or that swing would make his sword flying out of his paws.

[lagg]

When the swords made contact, the reverberation made the otter stumble to the side, almost losing his grip on the sword. On this split moment of weakness he knew his dumb perseverance to battle this creature was stupidity on his part considering he's never been in an actual battle. The rage in his blood though wasn't ready to settle, his mind and eyes clouded by the thought of giving it his all to save the three dibbuns. He quickly got back up "If I find out you laid one claw on them..." growled the otter as he made another swing at the marten. He tried to put his whole strength into the next attack, either to make contact with the enemies sword or with the marten himself.

[Caterpillar]

Otter stumbled but didn't fall. His hold on the sword's hilt wavered, but Otter didn't lose the grip. He even managed to got his posture back quickly and make another attempt to sever limb or two from marten's body. Knar however wasn't the easiest to impress.

Knar lift his sword, blocking Otter's next swing. It was a strong blow, but clearly lacked all the skill and experience that made a good swordbeast. Swordsbeastship wasn't just swinging your sword once and seeing if it would do the trick. It was a constant movement, it was... Should Knar been even a slightest bit poetic, he would use the world "dance". But the marten wasn't, so he didn't have the imagination manifest his thoughts in some fancy-pansy poetic way. So he would just say it was a constant movement. You didn't stop after just one strike. You didn't give your opponent the time or luxury adjust into your pace. More importantly you didn't give him a chance to move from parry to advancing . After first strike you moved on to the second and the third strike... You moved your body through countless of strikes or as many as it took take down your opponent.

So, as Knar blocked Otter's swing, the marten's lips twisted into mocking sneer. Just a one swing? Nothing else?
"You gotta do better than 'dat..."
With one quick twist of his sword-hand, Knar's blade glided over Otter's sword and under it, and with sharp movement thrust the blade to the side, in attempt break Otter's guard open wide. Not giving the woodlander time to re-adjust his posture, Knar stepped into the close range and clenching his fingers in tight fist, tried aim a blow in Otter's unprotected midriff. If the Otter wasn't sharp and quick enough, he would soon be bending in half and gasping air.
"...Or is 'dis all the fight you got in ya?"
Knar's voice taunted near Otter's ear.

[fernleaf]

ooc: Is it ok if I enter into the thread? I want to try out Bomboar.

[lagg]

OOC: I don't mind, and I'm pretty sure Pillar won't mind either.

The marten's taunting was lowering Lagg's confidence at his skills on wielding a blade. The way the marten handled his own sword was pretty masterful he had to admit. When the marten's sword had made contact with his own, Lagg's sword flew off. But the taunting and almost an inch from losing was enough to keep going for now. Before the marten could make contact with a fist blow this side, the otter quickly side stepped, missing the blow. "No, but what I do lack in skills it seems as a swordsman, have skills with other conveniences." explained Lagg. He quickly went into a crouch, and a spinning around as fast and as much force, swung his rudder around his body, hoping to make contact with the marten lower half.

[Caterpillar]

# OOC: I don't mind either. (: Hop in Fernleaf! #


Well at least Otter had sharp reflexes as he managed to avoid the blow. These waterweasels where slippery both in land and water. He should know as this wasn't the first time he fought against other's ilk. He knew the tricks the riverdog's kin used, so he should had been prepared for what was coming when Otter crouched. But he wasn't ready. Slaggit, he always fell for that frigging tail-trick.

Knar wasn't quick enough to leap away from the big rudder's range. He was too close and tail was too long. It hit him in the side and hurled the marten backwards. He was sturdy enough keep his balance, so he didn't trip, but he had felt that blow.
"Well, well, lookie 'dat... Woodlander gots some teeth after all", It almost sounded like the marten was chuckling. But if he was, it was instantly replaced with dark sharp glimmer of his eyes that flashed in the night. Followed by the dark voice, floating through the darknes like a whisper.
"Doesn't do ya any good if you can't kill with 'em"

Knar suddenly charger, like he was going to pierce his sword right through the otter. But when he was close enough to the swords make a contact, the soldier swiftly made a twirling step to the side, a leg making a sweeping tackle to Otter's angles while his sword-hand made sure, that if Otter's sword followed him, his blade was there to block the strike.

His free hand (he had tugged the rag dog under his waist-guard), however pulled out his dagger and aimed its pommel right into the back of the otter's head. He could have used the blade and make this troublemaker spill his life-blood on the grass, but Knar hadn't come here looking for a trouble - which would surely follow if he killed an otter here. Locals were never happy when they found one of them dead and he had better things to do than fight of revengeful woodlanders. Mainly, he had to find Errot.

So he wished cut this brawl in short. If the otter would stumble and fall - either for tackle, the hit or both - Knar would be on him in an instant. The otter would find tip of Knar sword leaning over his shoulder, the cutting edge pressing slightly against side of his neck. If the other was to stumbled and fall.



#OOC: feel free to decide if you want the match continue or not, Lagg. I'm fine with either way (: #

[fernleaf]

There was an unexpected development in the fracas. A hissing sound. SssssssssTHUNK! A large double bladed battle-axe clipped the dagger and buried itself into the ground beside the marten. There had been an unseen observer watching it all. Until then, the otter had been holding his own against the vermin, but now he intervened. "Eeulaliaaaa! he cried out. A large male badger rapidly approached from the woods, grabbing the axe and holding it against his shoulder.

"I believe the otter asked you a question, vermin. It would be wise for you to answer it." The badger was a traveler, and had not been in this area for many seasons.

[lagg]

OOC: Yay Fern! Oh and Pillar, was gonna say that Lagg's sword was flown off so he was unarmed atm, but it's all good. Doesn't matter heh.


BIC: Before Lagg could notice what happen, the marten's sword made a moment of contact on his shoulder leaving a slice into it. Not a major slice, but enough to draw blood. Luckily though the rest of the strike was blocked when a mighty battle axe came in between the marten's sword and him. The otter looked over his shoulder to see an impressively larger badger loom over the two. Lagg took this as a moment of reprive as he quickly backed up from both members of the ordeal, grabbing his sword which had flown to the bank of the river. Walking back over to the two again he nodded to the badger, "Thank you Sir."

[Caterpillar]

# OOC: Sorry, I misunderstood that part of your post Lagg ^^' ...well, no real harm done so let's overlook it and continue (: #


A sudden appearance of battle axe made Knar step backwards from the otter, the marten turning arpund towards the direction the weapon had flied from - which gave the otter the distraction enough to escape from under the marten's sword.

Knar's eyes nailed in this new beast who stepped out the woods. A grimace flashed over his usually unmoved face.
"Bah, a badger", the marten spit that word out of his mouth like it was a bad taste. " I thought I smelled somethin' rotten"

Badger and vermin never were a good mix and whenever they met, the blood was sure to be spilled. His kin and stripedog's ilk were always on the throats of each others. For both sides it was more like law of nature which had always been: Vermin feared and hated the Badgers with same devotion as the Badgers hated and loathed the Vermin. The enmity between them was like endless circle of hate feeding in on itself.

So no wonder the appearance of stribedog made Knar's blood boil. He would have let the otter live... but leaving the badger alive? That was much harder decision to make as the marten would gladly sever stripedog's head from his shoulders just to make sure there was one badger less walking on this land.

Of course killing the badger meant he had to fight him - fight against both of these two goodbeasts, and while he didn't see otter as much of threat, badger surely was going to be trouble. And when you had badger sized trouble going for your hide, you didn't wish to have other opponent pester your turned back, no matter how unskilled that one was.

He looked at his dagger, which was now reduced into only handle with small stub of the blade by the Badger's axe. Grunting he tossed the useless thing away, moving to the spot where he could see both of his opponents without difficulty. Fighting outnumbered didn't disquiet him. If the two beasts decided to gang on him, let them come! They would find him ready and hard to bring down.

Knar took a stance, readying his sword.
"I don't feel lik' talkin'. " was the only answer he gave the badger and the stripedog should be glad he even bothered in that. "Why don't you come 'ere and try make me?", the marten taunted both of them with sneer.

What was it the otter had asked anyway? All Knar could remember was the moment he had snapped... But yeah, Otter had been talking about something, hadn't he? Not like Knar cared anyway... Whatever these two thought he would knew, he wasn't going to tell.

[fernleaf]

Bomboar watched the antics of the marten. Frankly, he didn't care. One less vermin in the world would make the world a better place. But he had more important things to do than fight or bandy words with this slime. " Not to smart, are you? You ignorant vermin are all alike. Kill first, do nothing later." he said. He then charged, holding the axe straight in front of him, not to slice, but to knock his enemy down. "Eeulaliaaaaa!" he cried, as he charged. For a big creature like him, he was remarkably fast and agile.

[lagg]

Lagg's blood rage was already starting to simmer down since the badger intervened, his mind clearing. "Hold on there! Fighting it seems isn't getting anywhere!" explained Lagg, hoping his words would reach the badger before he did any major damage. He realized this pointless fighting wasn't getting him closer to the Abbey babes, he even wondered if the marten was telling the truth.

[Caterpillar]

# OOC: If you don't mind Fernleaf, I made this vague summary from Knar's and Bomboar's fighting. (if there's something you disagree in, please let me know and I'll edit my post)
I figure Bomboar is fierce fighter too, so maybe these two manage exchange some minor blows and cuts but still avoiding of getting badly injured. #


Knar roared too, stepping to meet the badger middle of his charge. The sword clashed against the war axe as two beasts engaged into battle growling and snarling, blocking and thrusting, dodging and weapons whirling. It was unclear if Badger had heard the words otter had yelled, but it was sure as heck Knar hadn't heard them. The marten was giving no quarter to the badger.

Weapons cut the fur and claws ripped the flesh but neither of these two beast seemed to notice those small slashes as by turns they stepped out off close quarters to circled each other looking for an opening and then attacked again. The ground tramped under swiftly moving paws as two beast's combat took them closer and closer the river bend.

It had been long time when he had last battled someone bigger than him. He usually had advantage over his opponents, due his height and strength, but this stribedog provided him an equal match. He would have to work for this victory, Knar knew it from the instant his sword clashed with Badger's axe the first time. And knowing it thrilled him. This was more like it - a real battle to test your skill and push your limit even further!


# OOC: If you want lagg, your otter can push Knar over the river bank and wash some sense in him. It'll be easy take him by surprise as he's now so concentrate on Bomboar ^^ #

[lagg]

Lagg watched as the marten and badger took to arms fighting each other in an fight that didn't seem to have a victor. When the two's weapons clashed together the otter made a quick decision on how to stop the fight, unsure if it would work though. "Alright that's enough!" yelled Lagg as he ran to the marten, grabbing him as he forced the marten into the nearby river. Not trying to think of the pain it was causing in his shoulder, Lagg threw the marten into the river. He then dove in after the marten, grabbing his clothes, pulled back out of the river. "There, that should you cool off." said the otter, his and the marten's clothe now soaked from the "swim" they just had.

[fernleaf]

Bomboar knew he wasn't trying to kill the marten, just knock him down and hold him, which is why he used the axe in the flat. But then the battle was interrupted, as the otter grabbed Knar and threw him into the river. Bomboar smiled. He had gone into the battle without going into that accursed Bloodwrath, under which that marten would now be sliced in pieces.

He leaned on his axe, watching what Lagg was doing, and jumped into the river with a splash himself, leaving the axe behind. He emerged from the river. He was trying to live up to the legacy of his hero and role model, Sunflash the Mace.

"Now I hope you're able to listen to reason." he said. "All both of us want to know is where you got the doll, and what happened to the owner if you know," as he shook himself off. "And I haven't had a fight like that in many seasons." He gave a rare smile, but he was watching the marten for any moves anyway.

[Caterpillar]

Knar's attention was so keenly focused on the badger, so the marten didn't realize the upcoming danger until the otter charger towards him, yelling a top of his voice. That did get the marten's attention, as vermin's eyes darted to the cry's direction and that was about all he had time to do when the otter rammed into him.

Knar stumbled backwards and the marten tried to steady his balance by seeking a solid ground for his feet. But suddenly there was no more the ground under his paws as if someone had just stolen it from there. And in that split second Knar realized the otter had pushed him over the edge of the river bank.

The world flipped over as he fell backwards and angry cry of frustration escaping from the vermin's mouth just a moment before the world burst into bubbles. The deep dark water closed tightly around him and water poured in through his teeth, filling his mouth and choking his throat. Knar fought against the growing panic as hard as it fought to take over him. He needed the air but didn't know anymore which way was to surface. It was dark everywhere like in belly of enormous beast.

Swim, he ordered himself, and made his first attempt kick the water, to stop himself from sinking further. Knar knew swimming would be easier with two hands, if he would just let go of his sword... But as if a protest marten's finger wrapped even tighter around the swords leather handle. If he would let it go, his sword would sink bottom of the river, lost forever. Even the thought was unacceptable. No, he couldn't lose his weapon. So stubbornly the marten kept his hold, even though it didn't improve his chances even e bit.

A figure swam towards him and then there were a set of paws grabbing a hold of him. Instinctively Knar tried to fight them off but to his upset and anger, water made his movements slow and sloppy while the other moved quickly and without difficulty.

Oh that cursed otter - trying to drown him, didn't he?

But instead of pushing him to the deeps, paws pulled him up. And a moment later - it felt like much longer time when you were dying for the air - river's surface broke and otter emerged from the middle of the the spatters, dragging the marten with him.

Knar gasped the air hungrily, trying to get his feet work and place them back under him. Then the vertigo struck him and Knar wasn't sure if he stumbled or if he was pushed down to the shoal. Nevertheless there he was now, panting and coughing off the water in turns as he laid on the sandy river bank, lower body still on the water, his soaked fur dripping water. He wiped drops from his face, lifting his gaze to the otter hovering above him. There was something odd in the way Knar stare at the otter. Something you couldn't right put finger on it.

"Skills with other conveniences, indeed Otter", Knar said, looking straight to the riverdog. The corner of the marten's mouth was twitching, like not knowing if it should grin or sneer dangerously. So it settled to do neither. "Hadn't seen 'dat trick yet"
It had to hand to the wetfur: the otter had used both opportunity and his surroundings as advantage. Not bad from the woodlander who just barely could hold his sword in combat.

Knar gazed from corner of his eye beside him. His other hand was still gripping the handle of the sword which was now resting beside him, under the shallow water. For a moment it really looked like the vermin was considering lifting it, his eyes shifting to otter, then quickly towards the badger (who was standing in the water too, looking sharply down him) and back to the otter, like weighting his chances.

Knar snorted, sounding anything but ready to yield, but then the marten let go of his weapon, lifting casually his hands, empty palms turned towards to the otter as a sign of showing he wasn't holding any weapons.
"...your win, Wetfur. So what was it you wanted?"

It was Stripedog that spoke first and this time Knar listened. So weapons had been pointed at him because of -- the drag doll? Well, hang him from his tail -- And they said the vermin were the eager ones to start the fights! Knar would have sniggered, but Badgers last sentence made his eyes narrow into thin slits instead. Getting a praise - as vague as it might be - from Badger was disgusting and as welcome as bird's dropping atop his snout.
"If ya liked it that much, Stripedog, let's continue right after 'dis. I gladly try out how my sword bites into that flesh of yours"

Knar returned his eyes to the Wetfur.
"The rag doll, eh?", Knar shrugged, indifferently. "It came floatin' down the upstream."

[lagg]

Lagg couldn't help but have this strange feeling of trust to the marten after everything that just happened. He somehow believed the answer that was given to him. "....My gut says your telling the truth, but I hope I'm right by trusting it." said Lagg, sheathing his sword as he picked the doll which was covered in some mud and dirt now. He brushed some of the clumps of mud off of it's face and dress even though it was going to need a bath along with it's, hopefully, still alive owner and friends. He sighed as he put the doll in his knapsack. "Let me ask you this, what are you doing out here? And I should say the same goes for you mate!" asked Lagg, looking at the marten then the badger that from the otter's point of view, must have been following the marten or him for awhile now.