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Post by unknownsoldier on Dec 1, 2014 13:54:27 GMT -5
"Why I didn't take the job? Simple really, I said no, and he was quite surprised, probably because he knew the parts left out from the songs and such." Lance said nonchalantly. "Another reason...probably because unlike most mercenaries, I can do other jobs that don't require fighting. More like odd jobs, a bit of carpentry and other such, learning a bit of this and that." He said giving a shrug. "Besides, I like kids anyway, so even if did find you while during the job, I'd probably just leave while saying you weren't there. I tend to be much more of a loner anyway." He said while he leaned against a pillar. His ears then perked as he heard chopping sounds. "Well...seems like dylan is in a chopping mood today, I wonder why crookeye?" He said to the marten.
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Post by Caterpillar on Dec 2, 2014 16:30:49 GMT -5
"Well, I can agree in his craziness, if all the things you have told about him are really true..."
This Dylan Locke sounded like an extraordinary beast - an extraordinary stupid beast, that is. The lizard had told much about his so-called leader and how he just stumbled from misfortune to another (which seemed to be more or less caused his own incompetence) but still managing to pull through with some streak of luck... Almost fascinating -- did ALL martens have some kind of extraordinary trait?
While still speaking, almost in a lazy movement, Draggan drew out a sword - not his own, but the additional one which had been hanging on his belt from the moment the weapon had been delivered to him from the eagle's carcass. If Liam wasn't totally consumed by the fear, he might notice it was Crookeye's sword.
"Personally I find it hard to believe he would bother for someone like you", Draggan continued, as he examined the blade, running his fingers carefully over its sharp edge. "But I'm bit curious to see if you actually ARE right. It would be amusing if you were..."
In one sharp and sudden move the tip of the blade turned towards Liam's face, so accurately close that just a millimeter more would have created a third nostril for tge lizard. Draggan smiled in the way which almost looked like good-natured -- but it got horribly ruined and twisted by the gleam in the weasel's eyes, which was colder than breezing winter.
"...But in that I don't really need you, now do I?", the warlord tilted slightly his head to the side as the tip of the blade traveled under the reptile's jaw bone. "As I can spread the rumors of you being alive just fine -- but those rumors doesn't have to be true..."
The sword moved again - but fortunately for Liam it didn't slash open the reptiles throat, which it could have easily done. But instead only gave slight pats on the lizard's cheek as if some kind of reassuring gesture.
"But maybe - maybe there is some purpose you can serve yet.... And you're bit amusing - so I have decided to keep you alive for now" Draggan said with small utter if laughter.
"...Though I must warn you - I don't laugh to same joke twice" With that dark promise the sword was pulled away and returned to the Warlord's belt. The Horde Commander turned, like ready take his leave, but before that he tossed apassing look over his shoulder at the guard standing behind Liam
"Cut only half of his tail", the warlord then said, almost sounding merrily, flashing out a cruel smile. "After all he hadn't got anything to eat since he become our guest..."
___
If Knar got it correctly, it seemed like Lance had, as somebeast could say, a soft spot for kids. And that was the reason why the ferret hadn't taken the job: because it had included a weasel-pup getting in a harms way (Knar had to ponder, would Lance chance his mind if he got to known Errot and his charming ability to annoy everybody around him)
But could the ferret truly be trusted?
Knar 's arms over his chest slip loose, marten letting them hang on his sides in much more relaxed fashion.
"Then I take yar word, ya won't speak of 'dis to others", Knar then said. For now he would settle with the intuition the ferret didn't mean harm him or Errot. At least, Knar rationalized, a foe wouldn't have stepped right up and revealed himself like this.
"I don't want --"
Knar's ears perked at the sound of cutting wood. It was a bit alarming - especially after the fact Kinktail had just been thrown out and was now counting the starts on the muddy ground. Whatever the reason was, it sounded like Dylan was really vexed - maybe the marten was really cutting down a pole so he could tie the princess on it and toss the whole thing in the river... Knar recalled he had heard the younger marten muttering about such plans last time the weasel-lady had been real pain in the tail.
"...I go check it", he said, moving to the door.
As soon as he got inside, it wasn't only the sound of chopping wood that he heard clearer. Now there was also an unmistakable sound of Errot's panicking voice. And it made the marten move much more faster, warrior rushing for the stairs. For the all the lost souls of---What had that kid done now?!
___
"Are you CRAZY?", the weasel shrieked, as he wrapped his arm around the beam which jolted forcefully every time the axe struck the pole. "This place is in verge of falling apart and you're cutting down one of its supporting poles?"
"Please Dylan, be reasonable!", Cat tried to plead side-stepping around the marten, not daring to go too close though. It was always dangerous get near an angry beast who held an axe. And considering what kind of mindset the cursed little pawn had worked Dylan into, this was a life-threatening case.
So he tried to reason with the marten - though he had a horrible hunch it wasn't working.
"Yes, the runt deserves a lesson, but if you break his neck, Crookeye will break every bone in your body..."
And the archer really didn't want to see the ceiling coming down - he liked all his bones whole and intact as they now where - and even less he wanted to find out what Crookeye would do to the Dylan would the marten find their leader choking the life out of the brat. The gang was on its way to make a good amount of money so Cat didn't want this thing fall apart - not before he was rich as he had been promised.
"I'm not a runt!", came a protest atop of the beam where Errot was hugging the beam as tight as he could.
"SHUT UP THERE! I'm trying to save your worthless life!"
'Well, this is not job well done!' Errot was about to shout, but decided it would only be a waste of time -- that stupid marten was seriously going to cut the pole down (and the beam was bending under every contact the axe made) so he needed to act quick! It was up to him save himself!
He adjusted his position and fixed his eyes right at Dylan and at the very moment the axe again cut in the pole, the weasel leaped, landing right onto the marten, his nails clawing bigger beast's back and face, the kid trying desperately keep himself not falling off. Because if he was knocked down the floor, he would be at the reach of that axe..
"HERE! Here is you stupid hat! "Errot shouted pushing the hat over Dylan's eyes, tryong to conseal his line of sight. "Take good look at it, muttface!"
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Post by coolcoyote on Dec 2, 2014 17:35:27 GMT -5
The pine marten howled as the weasel's claws dug into his hide. Grabbing at his hat Dylan let go of the axe, dropping the top of the tool right onto his boot. He howled again, clutching at his foot and hopping around on one paw as his vision was obscured by his hat.
The madness came to a sudden and abrupt halt when the beast ran head long into the pole. Dylan scream the fowlest of obsenities before falling backwards onto a pile of box's with a loud crash.
Slowly the pine marten looked up, eyes blazing with anger from under his hat. His steel gaze spoke for him. Errots time had come. No force in heaven and earth was going to save the little pip squeek now.
It was then that the door opened wide. Elena stumbled in, breath stained with ale and her belly visibly swollen with food. "Hey guys! Did you miss me? You know that wasn't (hic) nice of you to leave me all alone to recruit peoples while you lazed about here and..."
The vixen caught sight of the look Dylan had and paused. Slowly she began to back out the way she came, closing the door behind her. "On second thought...I'll just...head back to the tavern..."
----
Liam let out a paniced gasp. He was still seeing his life flash before his eyes from the sword being pressed against his neck when a pair of guards grabbed him by either arm. "What? No! Wait!" Liam cried as the guards forced him downward, "You can't do this! You can't do this! I gave you what you wanted!"
Behind him a burly armored weasel stretched out the lizards fleshy tail. In his paws was a rather sharp, wide bladed ax. He was expecting to use it on a beasts neck but...well orders were orders.
The weasel lifted the axe high, "I gave you what you wanted!" Liam shouted once more before the axe fell...
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Post by unknownsoldier on Dec 5, 2014 19:57:35 GMT -5
Lance waited a bit before heading off after the marten. He quickened his pace as well when he heard the axe chops clearly and Errots panicking voice as well. He may have taken the job from Dylan, but if he so much touchs the young weasel...that lance tip may just come out after all. He won't kill the marten, but that didn't mean he couldn't maim him though, as much. OOC: Short post for this time, until the action starts that is.  |
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Post by Caterpillar on Dec 8, 2014 14:56:07 GMT -5
It actually worked better than Errot had hoped. The marten dropped the axe on his toes and top of that rammed into another pole - Errot jumped just in time off Dylan's back, saving himself from the impact leaving the marten crashing against pile of boxes on his own.
Errot landed on the floor on all his fours, turning around to see if the marten was knocked out or... Aww no fair! He was still moving!
And the marten's glare just announced whole word to see, that boy was only managed to make him more angrier. Errot couldn't help but gulp - and then he dashed quickly for the axe, picking it up from the floor and turning himself towards the marten, taking a stace while holding the wood-cutter ready.
The axe was a bit heavy weapon for him - Errot had difficulties to keep it balanced in his paws as he wondered, how in the heck he was going to use this as his defense. But taking the axe it was better than leave it on the floor for marten to pick up.
When the marten lost the axe and fell among the supplies, Cat hurried to him, either trying to calm Dylan down or hold him from attacking the twerp -- which ever seemed a better option.
"Okay Dylan, just -- just take deep breath or somethin'..." And damn that vixen, just running away with tail between her legs, leaving him to deal alone with one raving marten... And that number could possibly increase by one if that big guy found out...
"...What is meanin' of 'dis?"
A pained look spread across Cat's face at the sound of that voice, and the archer's head turned towards the direction where Crookeye stood at the end of the stairs, his stern stare looking at the ongoing scene.
"Oh, H-hey Crook", Cat tried to smile, his voice trembling, as he desperately tried to think how prevent things end more badly than they already were."It -it's just -- you see...."
"Crookeye!" there was a great amount of relief when Errot saw the giant marten. The weasel quickly pointed a accusing finger at Dylan "He's trying to kill me!"
Now Of course Knar would always come to his rescue, he had nothing to worry about! However, next time the warrior should be more quicker.
...And now you're in trouble, Knar is going to leave you as wet stain on the floor and no miracle in the word is going to patch you back together... Errot thought smugly to himself as he looked at Dylan. So the young weasel was surprised when he felt the warrior's strong grip from scruff of his neck.
The warrior even gave a small shake and Errot yelped. "What did you do this time?", Knar growled, his voice hard and demanding while he was looking down the young weasel.
"N-nothing!", Errot squeaked. Why Knar sounded so angry at him? He hadn't done anything! Dylan was the one to blame! "He just snapped without reason!..."
Knar looked quickly at Dylan and other's fierce expression. It was hard to believe that Errot had done 'just nothing' to get Dylan so worked up.
"Dylan..", Knar started, his eyes on the younger marten.
___
Draggan had already planned to leave the lizard to his fate and attend to other, more important matters. But suddenly, after hearing the reptiles cries, he stopped, At this point Warlord only bothering look over his shoulders this pathetic creature while small, amused smirk was playing on his lips.
"What I want", Draggan began slowly, like he was spelling out the simplest thing for a silly child. "Is a certain pine marten -- and since you have failed deliver any useful information his whereabouts..."
There was a pause between Draggan's words, as the axe suddenly dropped and the air was filled with high pitched scream of pain,
"...This is your well-earned punishment for wasting my time."
And then me marched away.
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Post by coolcoyote on Dec 8, 2014 19:23:25 GMT -5
"The dibbun speaks the truth Crookeye." Dylan said as he slowly rose to his feet. Adjusting his hat in such a way that only the red gleam of his eyes could be seen.
"I'm going to tie that little pip squeak to the wheel of the mill Crookeye. He messed with my hat. No one messes with 'the' hat." He said in a serious tone. It was odd to see the marten with out any humor. It was clear though that a line had been crossed and consiquences where about to be paid.
"No one messes. With. The. Hat!" The marten repeated himself. "That little snot messed with the one thing I have from my..."
The bandit leader cringed as a loud SNAPING noise. All hatred forgoten Dylan turned his head towards the pole he had been chopping down. No, one little beam couldnt have been holding up the whole structure, could it?
Another snap from the beam as it bent forward caused the whole mill to shift, lifting dirt from the walls.
"Out! Now!" Dylan shouted. In an instant he darted pasted the pine marten and his offending charge. Instead of saving himself the lithe marten dashed down the stairs towards the basement.
With out warning he found the princess and scooped her up in his arms, tossing her over his shoulders like a barbarian before turning back for the stairs.
A third creak produced another loud moan through out the frame work of the building.
It was the final warning they would recieve...
(Ill spare us the sight of liam eating his own tail XD and focus in on just these alts. After we resolve this scene i will focus again on the bounty hunters, unless someone wanted to spoof them on their way to this city.)
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Post by unknownsoldier on Dec 8, 2014 19:39:02 GMT -5
(OOC: You spoof the bounty hunters. XD)
Lance arrived just in time to the near end and before he could get a word in edgewise, that was when the loud snapping creak was heard. It was only after the young marten said to get out did he finally register what happened. He understood immediately and with experience in getting out of sticky situations, he ran to the nearest exit. "Move!" He yelled out to Cat as he attempted to pull him along with him to get the beast moving.
OOC: Up to you if lance succeeds in helping Cat.
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Post by Caterpillar on Dec 13, 2014 15:58:28 GMT -5
Most likely that one little beam wasn't the mills most important supporting pole, but lets not underestimate the power of the domino-effect and how rundown the whole place actually was. The old mill was feeble like house of playing cards, each of the beams and poles doing their utmost to prevent the whole building fall apart. And now one of those poles had been cut down.
If you built a card house and pull off one single card out of it, you pretty much get the impression what happened to the mill next.
At the alarming sound of cracking wood surely made the beasts at the present move fast. Cat was pulled along with Lance, which was good thing, otherwise the feline would be still staring at the ceiling stunned and open mouthed. Dylan dashed to the cellar and Knar grabbed Errot, lifting the weasel boy off the floor as he made run for it.
"Clench your teeth", the warrior ordered and Errot looked at him, surprised. "What? -- Why --?" was all the young weasel had time to stammer before he was tossed out of the window which had been Kinktails exit.earlier.
Right after ensuring Errot had made it to the outside, (maybe with some bumps and bruises, but the kid would live through them) Knar turned around. But the warrior didn't run for the exit, but to the area where bedrolls and other things were spread over the floor. There was no way the marten would leave Bloodfang, his late lord's sword, to be buried under the debris...
Knars tossed aside the bedroll, grabbing the sword at the same time when the ceiling gave one last creak of warning before starting rumble down with all its might. The warrior turned to run, dodging the falling pillar, then jumping over the next one... This place was becoming a deathtrap!
Outside Errot crashed on the ground rather ungracious manner. He bit his tongue in the hard landing and was now swearing with the words that shouldn't be coming from eight-year-old boy's mouth. And then the young weasel made a small 'meep' when seeing how the mill was starting crumble down with loud rumble. Errot was about to run further away, when he almost tripped over a unmoving creature: the unconscious Kinktail.
For a moment Errit stared the rat, then the mill and again the rat like weighting things out in his mind.
"Ooooh nuts!", Errot barked as he grabbed Kinktail by his tunic, trying to pull the rat away from the harms reach. Had it been Dylan, not Kinktail who was lying there and Errot would have left the other where he were. But actually Kinktail wasn't that bad -- at least he didn't deserve to be crushed under the falling parts of the mill... But why this rat had to be so freaking heavy?!
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Post by coolcoyote on Dec 16, 2014 12:04:43 GMT -5
The mill was indeed falling appart. Years of neglect had finally caught up to the structures integraty.
The structure finally settled into a new position with the tower hanging half hazardly to the side. And for one precarious moment it looked like it would stay that way.
Then all at once the mill collapsed. A cliud of dirt was sent out across the water front. Every light and candle in the city was lit as beasts came out to investigate.
Among the rubble a small pile of Debris shifted and a pine marten's head popped up from the remains of the mill collapsing. Dylan lifted himself up from where he had thrown himself over the princess and his hat to protect them both from...most...harm.
"Oh..."
------
"Shoot!" Kacy said as she paced back and forth. Poppin's merely watched the creature from a distance. In reality he had given the creature a very wide berth from the begining.
Experience in working with the king had giving him a keen eye to identifying beasts with something...wrong with them.
And there was most certainly something wromg with Kacy.
"What's taking that stoat so long? He should have been done by now!" The otter fumed as she paced.
"Basil is an artist at making people talk. And you can not rush art." The fox said as he crossed his arms and yawned. The moon highlighted the forrest around them.
Around them was a thicket of woods on the out skirts of Mo'kan, a small village less than an hours walk from the capitol. It was where the capitol got most of its lumber.
The bounty hunters had left almost immidietly when the otter began speaking of a possible lead out here in the woods.
Appearently, in the small cabin Poppins leaned against, there was a polecat who...dabbled...in the murky waters of the black market. Or at the very least kept his ear low to ground in criminal matters and information.
Or so the otter said. Poppins failed to see how any beast who lived this far from civilization could keep track of anything going on in the kingdom. At this point the fox was grasping at straws though. Anything that would save his life...
"Well we don' have time for art. Every moment we wait Dylan and his crew of traitorous mistfists are getting farther away!"
Poppins raised an eyebrow at the word, 'traitorous'. "You know miss Kacy, I have got to hand it too you. You are really well informed. Letting us know not only the description of the kidnappers but also leading us to a possible source they used to hide themselves..."
Kacy paused in step. Tenitivly tapping her paws together Kacy chuckled half heartedly, "Um...uh...yes!" She said simply. Boy she dodged that question there! Behold her mastery of subtly and cunning! "Does this mean I get paid more?"
At that moment the door to the cabin opened. Basil came walking out whistling a merry tune and cleaning his paws with a dirty rag.
"Tell the others they can stop watching the place. We got a lead." Basil said. While Kacy watched the front Basil had the other members of their crew station themselves where they felt they could watch the place for intruders, or stop any beast who fled the cabin while the stoat himselfwent to 'work'.
"A pine marten matching the description Kacy gave did come by here. He was looking for a place to lay low from the law but didn't tell him why. The polecat refured them to a beast in Dar'vin. If we leave now we can reach the town by morning."
"N-now?" Poppins gasped. "But...but we havn't slept! At all!"
"There is no rest for the wicker sir. Nor those who chase after them."
Before Basil could walk away Kacy stopped him and asked, "So mr. Kings spy, how did you get him to spill his guts? Go on! Don't spare the details! I wanna take notes!" Notes to use on Dylan later on.
"Me and the polecat came to...an 'arrangement.'" Basil said with a wink. Kacy nearly giggled in excitment.
Then, turning abruptly towards the fat bellied fox Basil added, "Oh that reminds me. You owe the beast 10 pounds of silver for the information. Do be kind enough to pay him before we leave."
Kacy paused in motion as she watched Basil leave. "You mean we spent the last hour guarding a cabin...so you could BRIBE him?"
"Ten. POUNDS!" Poppins jaw dropped. Rubbing his eyes he turned faintly towards the cabin. These people are going to be the death of him....
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Post by unknownsoldier on Dec 23, 2014 11:38:07 GMT -5
Lance had shoved open the door and tossed the wildcat along with himself away from the mill just in time as it collapsed a second or two behind them. As the dust settled, the ferret slowly got up and checked himself over, seeing no injuries, maybe minor scratches. He then noticed some debris move and a pine martens head stick out. How the blooming heck dylan survived such a crash, that he'll find out later, but for now they should be leaving now and quickly. He dusted himself off as he made his way to his "new" leader now. "Need help?" He asked the marten extending a paw to him.
---
The hooded ferret, as he rather remain anonymous, had set a perch for himself in a tree over looking the cabin. In his paws was a small crossbow, one he had liberated from a bounty since it had uses that served him nicely. As such, he could hide and carry it easily, while it still packed quite a punch for its small size. He then noticed the stoat leave the cabin and realized he got the information they needed. Took him long enough, the stupid stoat, he could've done the same thing in half the time, less if the beast in question was weaker willed. He put the crossbow away in its hidden sheath and climbed down silently from his perch, heading for the fox, stoat, and otters spot. That otter knew much more then she let on to that potbellied fox and stoat spy. It was only evident and quite clear that she worked for the one they were chasing called Dylan and had a falling out, no reason to ask why. He arrived just as the stoat said where they were going next, "Finally." He said as he walked out of the shadows, not on purpose, just a habit developed from his line of work.
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Post by Caterpillar on Jan 22, 2015 18:14:23 GMT -5
He wasn't going to make it out in time, Knar realized as the ceiling was about to give in completely. The warrior's gaze moved wildly around, trying to seek anything to use as a last resort's cover, when his eyes noted the stone-stairs.
The basement!
Knar made the run for it - and was only few meter away when Dylan emerged from the stairs, carrying the princess. Well stick a needle in his eye! He hadn't expected to see that to happen -- many beast would had run to save his own hide, not waste time for fetching someone who had been major pain in the tail...
There was no time to be discreet and to be frank, Knar never was. Dylan- and the princess - wouldn't make it so it was his job to prevent the younger marten to do anything reckless which would cost the gang its leader's live.
"Git back in 'dere!" he shouted as he run towards and without further ceremonies warrior just grabbed Dylan, pulling both the marten and the princess with him into the stair case.
The cellar's stair case rumbled as the whole mill came down with the power which would most likely squashed any unlucky beast flatter than paw-print. However, the beams and boards couldn't fall further than the solid ground: they stacked on the cellar's entrance, but they couldn't reach the beasts laying low on the stairs.
When the racket and rumble, alongside with thick cloud of grain dust, finally settled, Knar lifted his head, rubbing it. He was lying in rather uncomfortable position on the stairs, his back aching from the impact as he had fallen on the stone steps. The stairs sharp edges pressed against his back unpleasantly but in this narrow space there wasn't room to do something about it. Especially when there was weight on him pressing him down.
Three beast had landed into nice pile of furs and limbs, and Knar was the bottom of it all. Lying a top of him was the weasel princess and atop of her was Dylan - The younger marten seemed have thrown himself over the princess, protecting the rotten-spoiled royalty from the small pieces of the wood which had fitted in the stairs case.
Knar grunted. This clearly wasn't his most dignified moment, but at least he and Dylan were still alive. As well the princess, though Knar had hard time think it as a good thing when the weasel-maiden started kick, hit and scream top of his lungs....
.....
This was the worst day of her whole life! (for some reason that phrase kept repeating itself in every single day she was forced to spent with these bandit-scums!). First the gang-leader had stormed inside the cellar and tossed her over his shoulder like cheap sack of potatoes! Then he had carried him up to the stairs just to be stopped by that giant brute who had pulled them both back to the stair-case, making them all lose their balance at the process....
...And then, after that horrible noise had stopped and young weasel-maiden got finally the time to comprehend what had exactly happened, she found herself lying on the giant brute's chest while the other marten was over her!
Right then and there Senerre's mind just snapped. This was! -- Not in his whole life! -- HOW DARE THEY!?! He was the princes! He was the royalty! She was the Jewel of the Crown! All the other lowly beasts were supposed to keep their disgusting presence at bay of her and if they dared to be closer than hand's reach, they should have been crawling on the dirt before her! This was outrageous! These--!
"...You savages!" the princes started to scream with high pitched voice, tossing both his arms and legs, trying to get up or at least push those parasites away. But there wasn't much space to do so. So she resorted to the next best thing, which was punish these two responsible of this violation.
"Trying to sully me with your dirty paws!" she screeched, hitting the brutes face and trying to kick the other one top of her. "This - this is first-degree offense! GET OFF OF MEEEE!"
"Cut it out", the brute snarled but the princess kept slapping his face. Punishment! Punishment for this unspeakable insult!
"--for all the unholy...! CUT-IT-OUT!" the marten roared as he dared to grab her wrists, keeping her from hitting him. What more he even had nerve drag her face closer to his, adding in dangerous tone: "....Do that one more time, missy, and Blight help me I'm gonna bite your hand off"
.....
All the ruckus coming out under the debris, as well emerge of Dylan's head, proved the rest of the gang that three beast were still alive and kicking. As it was hard NOT TO hear the princess' shrieking or Crookeye's murderous shout which put end to it.
"I can't believe it -- they're actually still alive!", Cat exclaimed, feeling confusing mixture of relief, disbelieve and disappointment, as he climbed over the ruins, starting to move the boards and beams aside. Errot was quickly beside the feline, helping in moving the debris. The weasel wouldn't never admit it, but for a moment he had been startled about the fact that Knar didn't appear out of the door before it crumbled down with the rest of the mill. But of course he should have known better -- no way something like collapse of a building was going to kill Knar! In fact he hadn't been worried at all... Not at all. But seriously, he should tell the marten be quicker next time.
Speaking about martens...
"Be careful", he warned Lance when the ferret offered his hand at the Dylan "if he's still in the crazy state, he might bit off your pawn "
.....
The rat with snake-skin clothes laughed coarsely. "Money is the answer to any problem"
So the royal rescue-team had grown into eight beast-large in total after Poppins and Basil had managed to find such an... eager help from the thugs' hang-out. There was that otter and bounty-hunter ferret... And four brother-rats.
And those brothers... They really gave out the creeps. There was, of course, the one-eyed rat which the Poppins and Basil had first met in the shady tavern. His name was Malicious and he was the leader - and everybody could agree the name fitted perfectly with his looks. And when the group had left the tavern, Malicious had right away introduced his brothers to the rest of the party.
There was Carcas, a rat who had lost half of his tail, tip of left ear and two finger from his right paw... Slices here and there from all over his body. He carried a flanged mace and was giggling a lot without any visible reason.
The third one was called Creeper. All the brothers had a dark fur, but Creeper had the darkest. And he was also the smallest of his brothers, skinny and frail-looking like he hadn't had a good meal for years. His cheeks were only dents both side of his head and his eyes were sunk deep inside the eye sockets. They were so faint blue that they seemed almost white... And they had a sharp, burnings stare in them. With eyes like that, no wonder if Creeper did look undernourished: there were some serious flames burning down in that rat's soul, eating him from inside.
The last one was Splitween,, a bulky rat who carried a big weapon which looked like a chopping knife, only it was as big as long sword. Malicious had urged others to ask why his brother was called Splitween (like it was a story he was dying to tell), but nobeast hadn't yet to asked about it.
"Hey bro", Malicious called, turning towards Creeper. "Care to scout a bit ahead? Would hate to run into some uncivilized beasts here in the woods - they have nose to sniff out the gold"
Creeper didn't answer, he just adjusted his bow and quiver and sprinted ahead. What Creeper lost in size he compensated in swift and silent movements. The rat lived up his name as it seemed he could creep over anything without sound.
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Post by coolcoyote on Jan 30, 2015 19:07:39 GMT -5
Dylan's crazed state was long gone by now. Buildings dropping in on ones head tended to beat some sanity into them. That and the princess yelling into his ear and beating him with her fists and feet as well as his fellow marten bandit was certainly a sobering situation.
"Will you SHUT UP!" the bandit's temper flared for a moment. He chose to use this new found source of energy to fuel the savage kick to the pile of debris ontop of him. It was only by a mirical that the tree had not becomed trapped under the mill.
The sounds of broken beams being moved could be heard as Dylan struggled to uncover the enterence to the basement.
Outside Elena felt her jaw hang open. The vixen pulled at her ears and let out a terrified howl at the site. Oh light...Dylan is dead. She left her home and her life to follow a bandit and now he was dead!
"Can someone give me a paw here!?" Dylan's voice sounded above the weasels angry screams.
The fox let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness he is alive. The fox will MURDER him!
Turning her attention to the town the vixen felt her heart sank as several lights were lit in windows and homes. Something like this was bound to be noticed. And if they saw they were carrying the princess with them...
"I'll stall the guards!" Elena shouted as she dashed off with out another word. It seems their stay in this village had come to an end...
-----
"I often find money is the answer to many problems. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Poppins?" Basil smiled pleasently as he walked.
"Not when you use someone ELSES." The fox said on a sour note, trying his best not to look the beast in the eye.
"Ah don't you worry your fuzzy little head." Kacy said as she threw her full weight upon the fox. Wrapping her arm around his shoulder and ruffling his head fur. "Your kingly weasel won't give two coppers for a pile of silver if it got his daughter back."
"Ack! Get off!" The fox pushed the otter away from him. Brushing himself off he growled, "Will you stop doing that, PLEASE!?"
"I'm so sorry...its just...you are so FLUFFY and FUZZY!" Kacy said cheerfully. "I just want to hug you and cuddle you and gut you and make you into a coat!"
The fat fox by now had learned to ignore the otters ramblings. Waving a paw dismisivly at her Poppins said off handedly, "Sure, sure. Fine what ever. Just stop...ok?" He paused, "Wait...what was that last part?"
"That you are fuzzy?"
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Post by unknownsoldier on Feb 6, 2015 14:58:49 GMT -5
Lance pulled back his paw as he laid his staff to the side as he started moving some of the debris along with Cat and the young weasel Errot. He grunted when Errot told him to be careful of Dylan, "He should be the one careful of me when I'm angry." He said flatly as he started moving a particularly large piece of debris. His muscles strained as he slowly started pushing it out of the way, dusting off both his paws from the action. He then resumed moving other pieces of debris to help in getting the three out of the basement.
---
The hooded ferret just remained silent as everything went on. He was a loner overall, only making social contact to get a bounty and receiving the reward for said bounty, he never worked that well with others. The first, and last time, he worked with someone else ended with him killing the rat when he tried to stab him in the back for the reward, so he returned the favor by stabbing him in the back himself with his own dagger. Quick, silent, and no trouble afterwards when the dagger went through the rats heart, leaving the body in a ditch somewhere that he never bothered to remember where exactly. So when he had to work with others a second time, he was reluctant enough already to get what information he could get and leave to find them himself, but when the group included four rat brothers, his reluctance grew less. Then there was the otter called Kacy...enough said when he caught the conversation between her and the fox Poppin. So he remained somewhat away from the group, leaning back against a tree in the shadows, waiting for the group to finally move on.
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Post by Caterpillar on Feb 9, 2015 14:42:43 GMT -5
# Sorry, my brains are half-sleeping so this post is bith short and clumsy. I'll do better next time ^^' #
Senerre glared daggers at the brute, but managed to collect what was left of her self-control and settled for waiting , prying she would be soon freed from this humiliating situation. She would have much rather died under the those beams than suffer this shame! She, the Princess of the Gilmar, the Fairest of the all, was lying on the lab of the dregs of society! In her father's court a noble-beast should consider it privilege if she allowed him to hold her hand to kiss it!
'You will pay for this disgrace -- All of you will!', Senerre swore in her mind
____
Meanwhile the feline, the ferret and the weasel-boy tried to dig their companions out of their trap. They were in hurry -- after all there was no telling how long Elena could hold back the guards and how much time they had before unwanted audience would reach the mill's ruins.
But finally they managed to create a gap between beams (which were too heavy to be lifted by Lance and Cat only). The hole looked big enough to allow three beast squeeze through.
"Can you fit through?", Cat said, trying still to widen the gab little more. "Give it try -- I got this hunch we're getting company soon..."
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Post by coolcoyote on Feb 14, 2015 18:06:51 GMT -5
Poppins nervously drummed his fingers together as he walked. He had no idea how he got roped into this mess. His mum had always told him to accounting but no he had to go for an aid and advisor to the king!
He never knew why so few people bothered to stand in his way when he applied for that job until after he got it. To congragulate him on his promotiong the king had given him a fur coat made from the beast he had replaced. Appearently the king felt the beast was not writing enough inspiring speaches for him and so disposed of him.
Poppins could only imagine what he would do to him if he failed to bring his daughter back safely.
But now they had a goal! A plan! A course of action! There was, dare he say it, a glimmer of hope!
Now all that remained was matching wits with the fiend who had so cleverly carried out a kid napping plot against the kings daughter....
----
"I swear, the first person who laughs gets stabbed! I swear!"
Dylan shouted as he struggled to pull himself through the opening created by his team mates. He had become stuck around his midriff. Possibly due to all the ale still settling in his gut, or maybe from too rich a diet this past week.
"S-sure thing Dylan. No worries." Kinktail said as he helped out where he could. The young rat had re appeared a few minutes ago. He was helping as much as he could. Which was to say not much.
Forced to suck in his gut Dylan squeezed through and then helped to keep the debris off of the opening they had created, "Come on! This aint no picknick! Pick up the pace!" He growled.
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Post by unknownsoldier on Mar 16, 2015 0:08:06 GMT -5
# A bit of a short post, off day today and its a bit late as well. Better post next time. :3 #
The hooded ferret just sighed in annoyance and walked a bit away, trying to get a bit of distance from the group. If he had to give a reason, he could just say he was making sure there path is clear. Why did he even take this job in the first place? Was it the money, the glory...or his stubborn pride? Or....something else entirely and he just didn't know it yet, he shook his head to clear his thoughts and climbed a nearby tree, resting on a branch, clear view of the forest beneath him.
---
Lance just grunted as he helped Dylan keep the debris off as well. Some job this turned out to be, a simple position to say the least and yet, doing more then a thug would be doing right now. Mercenary, hes a mercenary, but pickings were slim for sometime so he might as well not have been one anyway and could've settled down as a handybeast looking for work. Yet....it wasn't really his way, having spent most of his life fighting tends to do that to one beast and he was no exception.
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Post by Caterpillar on Mar 22, 2015 15:33:12 GMT -5
As Dylan was huffing and puffing to get his swollen belly through the hole, Errot tried to hold down his laughter as best as he could. But only because he concluded it was best not to make fun from Dylan before Knar was out of that the hole as well… Who knew if the marten snapped again and if he did Errot wanted Knar to be there to teach the so-called leader a lesson.
After Dylan had cleared through the small opening, there was at last some room in the narrow staircase. The princess used this opportunity pull away from the big marten, turning to the exit. Senerre was a slender beast ,so Cat and Kinktail only need to lift her up from the hole. Now it was Knar's turn try to squeeze through and it wasn't an easy task for a beast that had suck a board shoulders…
"I say!", Senerre started right after the bandit got him out and under the endless night sky. "Whose imbecile's bright idea was stay in rundown place like this? That collapse could have killed me! And what is the worst -- look at me!"
Senerre pointed at her clothes. As if the fact that she was forced to wear an old and ugly dress wasn't bad enough, now it was old, ugly and DIRTY dress. The dust and filth covered every inch both the clothing and her fur and after seeing it Senerre felt strong urge start sobbing, just out of the frustration. But only almost - she had, after all, her pride as a princess on the stake here. She couldn't be seen shedding even a tear before these lowly worms!
"Oh, it was our genius leader who decoded to chop down one of the supporting beams", Errot informed almost in joyfully glee, not longer capable of keeping his mouth shut.
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Post by coolcoyote on Apr 7, 2015 14:48:40 GMT -5
The look the marten gave the young weasel was for once absent of any mirth or joy. It was the look of a bandit, an experienced fighter not afriad to take what belonged to others.
"You think this is a joke?" The marten hissed. "Do you think the kings army will show you any mercy when they catch up to us? Do you think the princess threats to have us killed are idle banter?"
Dylan kicked at the dirt, "Blazes. Grab what you can. We are heading for the exchanve point. Lance, scout ahead for danger. Knar, after you get done gaging the princess find something for your miserable welp of charge to do. Either he starts pulling his own weight or so help me I'll stew him and force feed him to the princess."
The bandit leader growled as he dusted off his hat. Not a word of thanks escaped his lips. Only a dark storm cloud followed in his wake. It was time he started taking this seriously...
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Post by unknownsoldier on May 3, 2015 15:15:30 GMT -5
He left like that, silently grabbing his staff to go do what the marten asked. Heading off to find a tall enough tree, he set the staff down and proceeded to climb up, just high enough to give him a good vantage point. Once reaching a sturdy enough branch, he looked about towards the village first, seeing orbs of lights heading towards the collapsed windmill, slowly but surely.
The ferret looked in the other directions and saw nothing out of the ordinary for now, so he climbed back down quickly enough. Picking up his staff he headed back to go give Dylan his report which didn't take him too long getting back and heading over to the marten.
"Everything looks clear now. The villagers aren't far off, but are coming slowly enough." he said flatly and to the point, time to see what Dylans orders were now.
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Post by Caterpillar on May 7, 2015 15:11:21 GMT -5
# OOC: I taket it thet when Dylan says "Knar" you meant "Crookeye", coyote ^^ (as Dylan doesn't know Knar's real name)#
Dylan murderous glare made Errot jump behind Knar -- Not because he was scared of that stupid toad-face or anything…! He - he just took some precautions in case if the bandit leader would snap again.
And who was a miserable whelp?
Knar too noticed the evident change in Dylan features - and in his whole body language in general - in which younger pine marten looked more like ruthless road-robber than merrily-fooling-around fop. And because of it, Errot was practically clued to his side, keeping the warrior between himself and Dylan. Maybe the sudden change in Dylan had made the boy finally figure out this was no time make stupid jests just for his own convenience.
Just what would he give for making this self-centered brat understand that before he did something utterly stupid.
Knar secured the Bloodfang on his back.
"On it", he aswered, turned around and grabbing Errot by the boy's scruff yanked him along while the pup quibbling loudly:
"Ou-Ou, let go, Crookeye, I can walk on my own -- Ouch! That really hurt!"
But Knar didn't listen. He had given but one order to the kid - one order only: stay with Kinktail (and out of trouble) when he was gone. And what had the brat done? Pissed off Dylan - royally, if he might add - and now the kid had really landed on bandit leader's bad side.
Great, Knar thought, this was just what he had needed… As soon as it had become evident that he could trust kid's behaviour when Dylan was around, he had done his best to keep Errot away from the younger marten''s way as much as possible. But somehow this stupid kid always found way to get on the gang leader's nerves. And this time, Knar feared, the boy had crossed the line. Just what was wrong with this kid? Couple year back he wasn't this much trouble!
And speaking about trouble... Back there Dylan really had been after the whelp's dear life. That was a serious trouble. Luckily (if one could call it a luck) this whole commotion had caused far more important things to Dylan be concerned ebout than of being interested in skinning one insolent brat... But that might be just for now. Knar had never seen Dylan that angry… He needed to talk with the younger marten to know if it was save for Errot still stay in this group. So for now he had to make sure Errot stayed far away from Dylan untill ge giot a chance do that.
Knar pushed Erro past him, practically tossing the pup against one of the scrap piles. Kinktail was already there, trying to find anything useful.
"Help Kinktail in searchin' ", Knar ordered, already turning for another task Dylan had given him. His cold disregard seemed to upset pup more than his rough handling did, as the boy looked up to him with hurtful eyes.
"But I --"
Like a whip, the pine marten's head turned quickly towards the boy, the sudden movement both startling and silencing the weasel. Knar never showed much emotions on his features, but right now there was a clear gleam of anger in his eyes, which shadowed his whole face.
"Search", Knar did not raise his voice, but it was still heavy with the sterness that made absolutely point-blank clear that the warrior was at his wit's end in patience and would tolerate no objections coming from Errot's mouth. The hardness in the warriors features the made Errot flinch and he left in hurry, joining with Kinktail in search of survived supplies.
Knar returned to his other task. Cat was guarding the princess, so he had enough time to find some rope to tie her majesty up, not forgetting her sharp mouth. Princess made some mumbled protests and glared daggers, but when the deed was done and captive secured, they both could go and try to help find anything that wasn't destroyed in the collision.
Meanwhile Errot was helping Kinktail and Cat salvage anything they could from the ruins. The young weasel's mind was racing because of the hurt and anger he felt, as he tossed aside pieces of the wood absorbed in his inner tantrum.
What? What had he done wrong? Absolutely nothing! It was Dylan who had freaked out and caused the mill to collapse! It had been the pine marten's fault, not his! Well, alright, he maybe had annoyed Dylan in purpose, but it was only because he wanted to create some diversion so no-one would wonder, where Knar and the new beasts were! He had just wanted to help, was it so hard to see?
…And top of everything Dylan had tried to kill him! But was Knar angry about that? Nooo -- he had just jumped at the Dylan command like a tin-soldier! Why wasn't Knar angry at the no-good-gang-leader? He should have butchered Dylan the very moment he saw the bandit leader threaten him. It was the warrior's job to protect him!
Errot sniffed softly and rubbed his eyes. This darn grain dust was getting in his eyes and it stung!
In the end there wasn't much they could save. Pretty much everything had been buried under heavy beams and lot of debris, so digging everything out would have taken days. Luckily they all were carrying their weapons with them when the mill came down, so they didn't get buried. But everything else were rendered useless, including their food-supplies. By the time Lance came back and reported about the nearing villagers, Knar came to tell Dylan what they had managed to find: only four bedrolls, a bit od rope, two flagons and one rucksack which still had some food in it that hadn't gone totally wasted.
" 'Dere ain't much more we can salvage", he added. "Rest is under too much scraps."
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