Tales of Deadly Daring Do

[coolcoyote]

Elena returned shortly after. "Guys! We got company soon..." she announced in a loud but nervous voice.

"Then its time to leave." Dylan said grimly. "Gather what you can. We are heading out."

"Er...where are we going next boss?" Kinktail asked as he threw a nap sack over one shoulder.

"To see the king." Dylan adjusted his hat as he spoke. "We are going to Wulf Lake."

At first the rat thought the beast was joking. He came to realize that the marten was however, serious. Dead serious. "Um...why are we going to see the King? And how...how do we know that he is going to be there?"

"Because I told him to be there." The marten's smile returned, "Its where I told him to wait until I gave him instructions on how to find his daughter. Now are you lot going to stand around waiting for those villages to come and string us up? Or are you going to help me finish this job?" With thaf the marten srode off down the northern road out of town. The lake wasn't far from here, barely a half a days journey to Wulf River, and then another hour to Wulf Lake. It wasn't going to be easy from here on out. There was no room for error now. No more time to consider the wants and needs of crazy otters,warrior martens or their pets.

But first, he had to see a man about a boat.


---------

"Well then. There is something you don't see every day." Poppin said to himself az he stared at the wreckage of what was once a windmill.

Perhaps it was the stress of the job, or the current company he kept, but he found a strange...beauty in the fallen structure. Who knows the labor it took to build the windmill, the hours it was spent in use, and to have collapsed so suddenly.

It remind him of his own life actually. He spent his youthfull days locked away in class rooms while his friends enjoyed themselves out side. He studied hard to work his way up to the top, only to have the rug pulled out from under him by their tyrant king.

It was...profound really.

Kacy though, she was just sorry she missed the windmill collapse.

The otter was looking rather worse for ware. She came to the fox with her fur ruffled and her tail dragging.

"You're not a morning person. Are you?"

"Not after a hike like that, no." Kacy worked the kinks out of her back with a loud pop. "How on earth do you look so chipper this morning."

"Hmmm? Oh yes, that " Poppin's gestured to his smile, "When i service with a king such as ours one learns to keep themselves happy while around him. Or at least learn to look like they agree whole heartedly with what ever he says no matter how scared, worried, or nervous you are. Today though...I feel refreshed. I actually AM happy."

"Oh? Does that mean one of our beasts found something usefull?"

Poppins shrugged, "I have no idea. No, I'm just happy because I think I have finally gone mad. I should be worried you know. Heavens knows I was yesterday. The deadline for the bandits to return the princess is fast approaching and if I don't have the princess before then, the king will have me killed. Most likely in a horrible, painfull way. He will probibly have my family tossed in the stocks for my failure as well."

"You...have family?" Kacy paused. Her gaze cast low to the ground. She felt horrible now for planning to steal the fox's hide after all this was over.

Poppins laughed, "Family? No. Only extended family. My uncle owns a vinyard near the capitol. My parrents live off in the country side in their own estate. But I never married if that is what you were asking." The fox rubbed the back of his neck, "Almost did once. I was couting a vixen once but...it didn't work out."

"Oh. Ok." Kacy smiled. She could collect his hide after all!

"She ran off with a lietenant in the army." The fox continued, "Kind of broke my heart but...I got over it. I ended up advicing the king to send his regement as a decoy to draw out the enemy forces in the last border skirmish we had with our neighboring kingdom. So it all worked out in the end I guess..."

The fox paused. Quickly he said again, "Er...it wasn't on purpose. It was just tactically sound and he just so happened to be in the same unit." He waited for Kacy to reply. When she didn't he growled, "Hey! He made it out alive! Mostly. Not like a tail is a vital organ..."

Again the fox shrugged, "Ah well. It doesn't matter any more. Nothing does. I'm most likely doomed to a horrible fate anyway. Most likely disembowled, and then turned into one of the kings dreadfull coats. A warninv to others he calls it. And yeah. I mean I'm a little afraid of thqt happening to me but... some reason...it...it just doesnt bother me today. You know?"

Kacy didn't reply. She just quietly stepped away from the fox. "Right...I'm...just going to go help them search for clues...over there..."

[unknownsoldier]

Lance just followed after the marten, not giving a glance back to the others as he walked. Something....didn't feel right about all this, and he never had this feeling happen during a job especially. Either something was going to happen when they reached their destination, or before it, but it could be from rumors he heard about the king and how he did not take too kindly to kidnappers.

---

The hooded ferret had listened in on the conversation between the fox and otter from behind a tree. He stayed out of it for the most part and when Kacy backed away from the fox, thats when he decided to leave as well. Crazy beast that fox Poppin was, its always hard to tell whos the more dangerous...the honest ones or the unhonest ones.

[Caterpillar]

Weeks earlier….


Back in Grendel Army' camp Rathide, the Second-in-Command of the Grendel Horde, was summoned to his leader's tent. Upon his arrival he was surprised to find the warlord not in his regular mail armor, helmet and gauntlets, but wearing plain ordinary half-chest and shoulder guards made of leather, all atop of black eel-skin vest.
"Well?", Warlord suddenly tossed a question. Too quickly for Rathide to catch. So instead another voice answered in his place:

"Like a decent road-robber, my lord."

Rathide almost jumped, then quickly turned his head realizing he wasn't the only beast at the present besides his lord. Slinkteeth stood at the edge of the tent wrapped in the half-shadows. Rathide couldn't stop wondering how the polecat did that - was nowhere to be seen and then suddenly popped up like he had always stood there. But then again, Slinkteeth was the Horde's Scout Master. Staying undetected and hidden was part of his job description.

Still, Rathide disliked the Scout Master and went to the great lengths to show it too. But right now he tried his best to look like he had knew all along about Slinkteeth's presence when he bowed down in front of his lord.
"You summoned me, my lord?", he then said, face turned towards warlord, but still glaring the polecat from corner of his eye. That polecat had been sending out his scouts since the day they had "saved" that lizard. And every end of day lord Draggan wanted a personal report from the Scout Master. If possible Rathide disliked him even more.

"That I did, Rathide", Draggan said as he fastened leather wrist-guard around his arms "I let you know that I'll be leaving for a hunt"

Rathide blinked his eyes and for a moment he was a lost.
"Hunt, my lord? - Where--?"

"To Gilmar", Draggans said as he circled toward a table where a big map lied unfolded. "A puny country, not even worth of raiding, but…" Draggan grabbed a dagger from his belt and with loud 'thonk' struck the slim blade inch-deep into the wooden table. It had impaled the letters of 'Gilmar' with strong conviction.
"…My prey is somewhere in there."

There was no need to ask what sort of prey Commander of Grendel was hunting, because Rathide knew. And that's why he was so keen to show his usefulness.
"Then let me organize the troops, sire", the mink said quickly. "I'll bring you the head of the traitor AND the sword…"

Nothing made a beast shut up his trap quicker than Commander's frigid stare.
"…Do you know how he has managed eluded us this long?", Draggan asked leisurely but didn't give his captain even chance to open his mouth when he answered the question by his own. "An army this big can't possibly travel as fast as the news of it... Of course he'll know when Grendel Army is closing in. And so he always slips away through my fingers…"

Draggan closed slowly his fingers around the dagger's handle, his piercing stare still on Rathide. The mink started to feel how his skin wished it could crawl away and hide.
"But not this time. This time I travel with handful of soldiers, all dressed like ordinary bandits and cut-throats. I travel faster and without suspicion. Roaming bandit-group isn't anything new...", the weasel lord continued as he yanked the dagger free.
"I leave you in charge here. March the troops to the Gilmar, but do not cross the border. In fact stay at good distance from it, camp there and wait for my orders. I'm not in the mood of waste my time with some small country's king because he thinks I'm trying to invade his pitiful kingdom..."

The more Rathide listened, the more he felt like he had been summoned here only to receive orders - of course it was part of his job as Second-in-Command to make the Commander's order to happen, but shouldn't there be some room for his own opinions? Why wasn't lord Draggan interested of hearing his input for plans -- he surely seemed listen that cursed polecat!...
But Rathide didn't dare to object. The golden rule in this army was never object Commander's will.

"Now, go prepare me twenty beasts: six archers, three hunters and two scouts... And rest of capable fighters. No-one is permitted carry Grendel Army's symbol of any sort." Draggan handed out his last order as he leaned over the map, his eyes now on it. ""...Make sure they differ in age -- It will be a suspicious group of thugs if we round up soldiers at the same age."



Slinkteeth stared after Rathide, his mouth twisting like he was about spit on the ground. "…I can't stand beasts like him, my lord", Rathide let his dislike to be shown, Slinkteeth kept it under the lit - except sometimes at the present of his lord. "Beasts like that let envy take the better of them… And that was what made him betray his previous lord"

"Your concern is noted, Slinkteeth", Draggan discarded Scoout Master's words. "Now have you heard anything new from your scouts?"

Slinkteeth bowed. "Gilmar is a small spot of soil, my lord... Give me four days and I have news for you about the group you're looking for. Shall I company you for this hunt?"

Draggan shook his head. "No, but make sure one of your crow-handlers is among the group. You, on the other hand - I want you to stay here and report how my order are carried out"

"You don't trust in him enough, my lord?"

"Like you said: he betrayed his previous lord"


----


Days earlier…


A bit later when the otter and ferret had gone to do their jobs, Malicious came to Poppin, humming merrily.

"Poppin, the beast I was looking for! Got som' pretty good news!", the rat laughed as he slammed his hand at the fox's back. "Creeper found some interesting footprints in the bushes… A group of beats left here in such hurry that they didn't bother to pay much attention in concealing their trail. Found a two sets of pine marten's footprint and one cat.. Everything else was too muddy…. But if we're gonna believe the otter's description, me thinks we're on hot track"
Malicious' glass eye whirled in rat's eye socket, in wicked glee . "And - hold tightly on your furr now - Me bro thinks he can follow the trail easily…"

----

…And now.


At the bank of the River Wulf there was a small cabin with wide wooden porch which merged to even wider wharf. And it all belonged to an old water vole Foss who now sat on his porch, puffing in his pipe.

A nasty piece of work that vole was, or so could say any-beast who had met him. Foss was stubborn and would bargain like devil himself and like a demon would leave the customer with less coin that he was first agreed on.

Right now the ferry-beast was looking at two boats which floated on the river water, tied on his wharf's poles. And those were not just any plain ordinary small boats. They were long and narrow, like a miniature of those long-boats shrews favored so much.

But those vessels had only one rowing oar at their stern, used in a sculling manner. Both of them were painted wholly black and their bow and stern curved strongly upwards out of the water up to the sky. The other boat's uprising bow merged into a big brass front-ornament, molded into shape of curved fernleaf. The passing years had turned the brass light green, but that didn't matter since now the boat's name, Jade Lady, fit perfectly for the vessel.

It's sister had a brass ornament which looked like a sword-shaped leaf, which pointed at the river like challenging the current. Lady Veil was that boat's name.

Those strange looking boats were familiar sight around the Wulf River, Wulf Lake and village Wulfgren which resided on the banks of the lake. The main reason for that was because Wuldgren was founded on marshland and almost the whole village was practically built on the beams and poles which kept the wooden houses above the water. Hanging bridges and solid wood bridges, stairs and ladders connected the village's platforms and different levels together, but the easiest -and a fastest - way move around the town was to use boats. And no-boat was as light weighted and swift as Wulf Lake's black boats, so they suited perfectly zigzagging along the water streets below the platforms.

But Foss was a descendant of long line of ferry-beast who had paddled travelers across the Wulf River for generations. For many years that river had brought bread on his table as no-beast in his right mind wouldn't try to cross Wulf River without the boat. The river was wide than an otter's rudder when a hammer had slammed it flat (which meant it was very wide). Its current was strong and it made unexpected twists and turns which would get inexperienced ferry-beast trapped in the flow of water.

But then the current of the river had changed and up to upstream a shallow had been born. So of course a new road was trampled there. Why pay a ferry-beast when you could walk over the river? Even traders got their wagons across the river now…

So nowadays Foss got paid of his work only if there still were fools who didn't know about the shallow or were too lazy to walk there… Or if there were beasts who wanted get quickly to Wolfgren. In those cases Foss didn't paddle the beasts across the river. He brought them downstream since if you wanted the get Wulfgren with haste, the quickest way was the river. It subsided into Wulf Lake near the town and saved the beast for hours of traveling.

But downstream the current became restless: the water foamed and splattered over the stones and treacherous turns which ended up in pitfall. Of course Foss had been rafting down that white-water ever since he was a knee-high d**e. He knew its every stone, turn and jump like the back of his paw so he could steer his boat through it even his bloody eyes closed. The travelers would arrive to the village three times quicker than by foot, which made the old ferry-man proud…

But of course these days few beast weren't in that such of hurry. And if they were, after hearing the rapids of the water they were quickly cancel their trip down the river. Bah, those yellow livered cowards! Can't stomach a bit of excitement, that's what it was…



# Another gigantic post -- I never learn…. U.u

Even so, here's our ferry-beast… And I hope it's okay that I went ahead and illustrated the lake village… Got a bit carried away with the boats and so ^^''' #

[coolcoyote]

There was a bit of chill in the air as the bandits moved along the Wulf River. The river could be heard off to their right as they moved westward by foot.

The road was longer that the marten certainly expected, more than Elena and Kinktail expected either. "Hey boss. I say, hey boss! Can't we take a break? My poor paws have plum fallen off and walked away!" The rat wailed.

"I could use a bit of a breather as well actually..." the vixen admitted.

Dylan only rubbed his eyes and sighed. This was...not going to plan. At this rate they would never make it to the drop off point. Timing was everything. If they got there too late the King would have more time to prepair. Surely his letter with further instructions should have reached the king by now.

If they didnt make it in time they might as well gift wrap themselves for the kings hangman.

It was then that Dylan caught something off to the side of the river and his smile returned. "I have good news for you then boys...and lady. We don't have to walk the rest of the way."

The marten pointed with his paw to the cabin up ahead.

"Crookeye. Kinktail. Stay here with the princess and the welp." It was quite obvious who Dylan ment by welp. "And keep yourselves hiden. Cat, Elena, Lance keep a look out while i go hammer out a for a boat ride. If anything goes wrong I'll give you a signal. " His smile broadened. Finally. Things were looking up.


----

Things were starting to look up for Poppin. He was still certain that he was going to die but for the first time in a long time a glimmer of hope was present.

They had a trail to follow now thanks to the rats. Yes...they could still do this.

"...really? I never heard of such a move! You have got to show me this." And then Kacy opened her mouth and the fox scowled. The otter was currently chatting with the stoat body guard / executioner should Poppin decide to flee.

"Oh yes. The knife goes in just below the ribs, then you twist..."

The fox plugged his ears. Such talk of death and dismemberment and i some cases disembowlment only made Poppin ill. The fox stepped out of the bushes and onto a roadway by the river. To the east he saw a small cabin...a ferrier. Excellent! The kidnappers seemed to be heading to the city to the west, this would get them there in half the time!

Finally! They were one step ahead of the pack. "Hey guys, take five here. I am going to go secure us a boat."

Happy to be rid of the bounty hunters...for the time being...Poppins whistled as he walked towards the cabin from the west while Dylan walked closer to the east.

They met up in front of the cabins door. Both beasts locked eyes for a long, perilous moment.

Then Dylan opened the door for Poppin. "Oh well thank you kind sir."

"Oh no problem. What are we without manners, right?"

The two beasts then walked in together...

[unknownsoldier]

Lance....had not particularly enjoyed this job that much. Hes had bad jobs before, but this particular one...is getting on his nerves even more so then past ones. It wasn't just because he had to work with...such a bandit group, or how a child is even part of this. Involving royalty, especially with such an annoying princess who doesn't know how to shut up, is a tricky business he'll admit, let alone crazy or brave enough to even pull of such a heist.

He laid his back against a tree as he kept watch, thinking over past events and what would if they were caught. If they didn't die on the spot, they most likely would've been tortured first before being probably publicly executed. From what hes heard of what the king does...a head chopping is too quick, hanging...possibly if the rope didn't break your neck and then it slowly choking you to death. He'd rather die fighting then go through either, running just wasn't a part of him unlike other vermin.

---

At the same moment a similiar ferret with a hood was leaning against a tree as well, thinking over past events, with less on what happens if they failed. He wanted to kill one slowly for himself at least, keep a trophy most likely but...a job is a job. Again...the rats got on his nerves, considering their...highly original names for the brothers. Though...that knife move the stoat was talking about sure sounded interesting....he might have to try it himself later on one of the bandits possibly, if given the chance. Though....the old garrote wire hasn't been used in a while now, so satisfying as the victim trys to say something, possibly for mercy, but inevitably.....give their final breath instead.

[Caterpillar]

As Dylan had instructed, the rest of the gang - counting out the beasts nominated as look-outs - with their captive stayed behind and sought a good hiding spot behind the trees. Kinktail, Errot and even the princess welcomed the small break arms open and practically just flopped on the ground.
"I'm not walking anymore steps", Errot proclaimed

---

Foss looked up and around, a frown forming above his eye browns. Shadowing his eyes from the sun the ferry-beast peered to the east. The distance was still long, but he could tell a small figure marching determinedly towards his cabin. The water vole lowered his paws and looked to the east, seeing yet another singular dot making his way along the riverbank.

With wide grin the old water vole stood up and entered inside his cabin, rubbing his hands together while chuckling softly. It was time to do some business…

The cabin was as grey form the inside as it was from the outside. It lacked all the possible colors apart from dusty-grey and stain-brown and it got only the necessary fixtures what beast needed if he didn't desire any comforts in his live. There was a fireplace on the corner, a table in middle of the room, cabinet and alcove which was covered with moth eaten curtain. Barriers stood in the line against the wall as did small pile of sacks. Pike poles and fishnet hang from the walls and whole place smelled like a tar.

It seriously looked more like warehouse than cottage where beasts lived in.

Foss was sitting on a bench carving tinders when Poppin and Dylan entered. The water vole took his time before looking up from his work, glaring at the vermin on per turn.

"Yeah?", the water vole said with tone that made perfectly clear he had much important things to do and attending to sudden visitors wasn't one of them. "What do you fellows want

[coolcoyote]

"To pay! To pay you my good sir!" The lanky pine marten announced while waving his rather pitifull looking money bag in the air. "My party needs a ride down river, to the lake."

"What a coincidence, My party needs to travel down river as well." Replied Poppin. The pine marten took a step back as the fox moved ahead of him. He gave the obese creature a quick look over then clutched at his own stomach while the fox wasn't looking.

Dylan felt the sudden need to go on a diet. "Yes but we would like to go first. You know, incase there isn't room."

"I'm sure his ship has space enough for both parties. I mean we only have, er...how many do we have...there is the otter, the stoat, the ferret, the rats..."

"And then there is you, who counts for too many." The marten pushes ahead of Poppin, waving his coin purse about in the air. It wasn't out of pure rudeness that the marten didn't seek company but rathwr survival. The less beasts who saw her royal pain in the tail, the better.

"No see here you weasel with a fox tail..." Poppin began in an angry tone.

Little did the two leaders realize that their parties were almost literally a stone throw away from each other. All it would take is one lucky (or unlucky depending on your view) sighting and it would all be over...

(Sorry for the wait. Feel free to have someone get spotted if you want, or not get spotted, your choices ^.^ I will let you both decide on who.)

[unknownsoldier]

(Skip me this round, got really nothing to post this time)

[Caterpillar]

# Oh what should I do, what should I doooo? Part of me wants Dylan's gang notice Poppins' group, the other part wants contrariwise... But maybe I'm the most curious to see whose group gets boat-ride first! xD #


"Now listen you both", Foss said as he put down his knife. "Did you see the two black boats outside? No ships, boats… And me and my brother can take up to eight beast -- that's four for one boat - in one go. So if your number goes over it, no chance no how we can take both parties in same time"

Foss was ready stake his thirty-years as ferry-beast on it: both of these beasts were in hurry. And where there was a beasts in hurry geti to the Lake Wulf, there was an opportunity get some extra coin, if you knew the tricks how…

A small devious smirk appeared on the Foss' face.
"And since you both arrived on the same time, we really can't do first-come, first-served here… Tell you what: make your best offer. And if it tops the other, I'll take your party first. The usual rate is ten chopper from a head... And of course we can ferry the second party to the downstream after we've returned, no problem at all... "

"Thought you should know…", the old vole added, like he was just mentioning an insignificant detail "….that after we have rafted to downstream, me and my brother have to paddle a big circle, using side-rivers, before we end up back in here… So the party who stays here needs to wait, let see---", the ferry-beast tapped his chin with his index-finger. "---It's midday now so I'd say we'd probably be back before the sun sets…But even if you start walking now, by the foot you wouldn't reach the lake before the dusk..."

The old vole eyed both the pine marten and the fox in turn. But of course his eyes stayed longer on the fox whose obese built indicated wealthy eating habits. The wealthy beast could always make a better bid.
"So -- which one of you is in bigger hurry?"

[coolcoyote]

#i know! I will pose only both dylan and poppin for now#

Ah yes. Money. Both Poppin and Dylan think at the same time. On the one paw Dylan is broke. On the other Poppins King defines the term frugal.

Well, looks like Dylan will have to do this the old fashioned way after all. His paw begins to drift for his sword when the fox pipes up, "Oh no no no. I am afraid there will be no bartering today kind sir. This is the matter of the utmost importance. For you see. I am on a mission from the king! So I'm afraid I will have to commendeer your boats. And your services."

Dylan raises an eyebrow then laughs, maybe he wont have to kidnap the beasts and steal their boats after all. "Get a load of this? Commendeer your craft? Dont let the 'man' push you about sir. Let us rent your boats! Stick up for your rights! What mission could be so important that tubby here can push you around?"

"Tubby?" Poppins raises gags and rolls his eyes. "It's winter fur 'sir'. And I happen to be..." the fox hesitates, he doesnt wish to let others know about their mission but at this point, would it really hurt? "Its a matter involving the king. I can say no more. Just that you will be handsomly rewarded if you can comply."

"Well I say to the dark forrest with the king!" Dylan shouts. "Or who ever he really works for. I've seen plenty of beasts claiming to be some viceroy or noble trying to get a free ride out of poor hard working commoners. Now me on the other hand Im shipping some cargo, very important cargo and I would be glad to pay you what ever you like...after I get paid. Think of it...as investing and think of this, as your first return." He hands a rather small bag of coin to the vole and smiles broadly.

"I can pay you double that." The fox states flatly.

------------

Filling the need to quench her thirst Elena wonders off from the back. As a bandit she is not one to fear those of her ilk and as a fox there are few wilder beasts she would need to worry about. Heading down to the river bank the fox dumps her head into the water and laps it up. Its only after a moment that Elena realizes, she is not alone.

There beside her doing much the same is Kacy. The otter waves to Elena, "Oh! Howdy Elena!"

"Oh! Hai Kacy!" The two beasts return to getting a drink then part ways.

A moment passes before both pause to preform a double take. "Oh shhhhhhoooot." They chorus.


#feel free to imagine that both time gapped and told you they saw the other to their respective parties. ^.^#

[Caterpillar]

# So sorry! I looked wrongly and thought it's my turn to post! ^^'' #

[unknownsoldier]

(What do you mean pillar?)

(Skip me....just this time again, I want to see where this is going.)

[Caterpillar]

# I accidentally posted before my turn, so I deleted it away ^^' But with your permission, soldier, I put it back n.n #


Neither of Poppins or Dylan were winning any favors from the old water vole. Dylan because he was clearly a penniless bum. Poppin because it was never a good idea try to take the bread out from mouth of hungry citizen while declaring: "in the name of the king, we commandeer your livelihood". Seriously, that was as wise as standing in the basin of oil, juggling lit torches.

"Oh yeah?", the water mole said with a dull voice, his expression far from unimpressed. He looked up and down Poppins. "Then, do you have some kind of proof of that? Like a golden emblem imprinted by king's crow or something? No? Figured much…."

Then his attention moved on Dylan, or rather, on his pitiful meager coin pouch. Foss rolled his eyes.

"You can both be the next crown-princesses late for their wedding for all I care. But until I see a sum equal to my trouble, my boats aren't leaving the wharf."

"And it's real coin I'm interested, not some vacuous promises of paying back afterwards… Boy, if I had a copper for every time I'd heard a promise like that, I would be rolling in the riches right now…."

But finally it came down to talk about the money… At least the fox seemed confident in paying better sum that the pine marten offered.

------


"You saw who?", Cat repeated when Elena had returned in hurry, explaining just who she had encountered by the riverbank. The look on the feline's face was utterly horrified. Cat shot his hands up to the air, like giving up. "Oh this is great… Just when things started to look a bit brighter…"

"Who is this Kacy?", Kinktail inquired sunnily, clearly missing all the hints that implied that the name didn't mean a pleasant encounter.

"Bad news!", Cat cried out high-strung. Knar couldn't really blame him. Kinktail and Lance hadn't had the pleasure meet Kacy, but she was inside-out crazy. Both in raving you-can-hear-the-battle-cry-miles-away insane and in lethal you-don't-know-when-there's-a-butter-knive-between-your-shoulder-bones.

But how the otter had managed to caught up with them? Maybe she had been clever and peeked inside the written message and later on figure out that if hostage exchange was about to occur near the Wulfgren, Dylan and his gang would be there.... But whatever of the reason, Kacy's showing up here meant trouble. No way the otter would have happily accepted the fact she had been cleaned out of the gang without her cut. Knar had implied Dylan that if Kacy was too much problem to have in the gang, he could take care of it. After all there was little trust from warrior for those who so eagerly drew out their weapons at their leader (like Kacy had done in the Tower).

But Dylan had it rather to send the otter away. And now it came back to bite them.

"Lance, you go tell Dylan Kazy is here", Knar ordered, warrior's eyes turning towards the ferret. First thing first: send someone for Dylan. Both to report in and guard the pine marten's life. If Kacy was here, she might first go after the gang leader who was responsible for deceit. And the otter was a praiseworthy opponent, so you couldn't send just anybody or that poor bastard would end up as a carcass on the grass. He would go himself, but he was ordered to guard the "cargo".

So Lance with his fighting experience was next best thing.


-----


At the same time other side of ferry-beast's cottage another group got the unexpected news.
"Well, well, weeeeell … Ain't this a coincidence of lifetime!", Malicious chuckled and his glass eye rolled in its socket purely put of the excitement. He tossed his arm around the stoat's shoulders all buddy-like, giving him a wide grin which made him - if possible - look even more repulsive.

"They're here, we're here, so what do you say we go and sniff them out? They can't be far, considering our otter-lady here just spotted one of their group member… Whadda you say soldier-boy, huh?"

[coolcoyote]

"But I /am/ on a mission from the king." Poppin gives them each a look. One that details the extent of his joy at being called a liar.

"Look at that.Still trying to cling to his facade after being caught in a lie. How sad." Dylan tsks. "Well at least he got the look of a pudgy government offical down."

Poppin grows even a deeper shade of red. Reaching into his coat the fox produces a large bag of what can only be coins. "Maybe THIS will prove who I am? Here! Take your fee like the parisite you are and be quick about it. So help me the king will hear of your insolence!"

Crossing his arms Poppin turns his head away from the sailor unable to watch as he counts the money. "Also I should inform you of a scoundral that might stop here looking for passage. He will be a pine marten, like this fellow. About the same height, perhaps a bit thinner." Poppins rubs his chin while he peers over the beast. "He will be wearing a vest...rather simular to what he has on. And a...feathered hat..."

The fox trails off as the marten stares back at him, a look of confusion on his face until he too realizes that he has been made. Paw on his sword hilt the marten steps forward, practically looming over Poppin, making him lean backward, "I wish I wish you had not said that friend."

"You...you can't be him...you can't be Dylan..."

"Oh, but I am. And if you really are a kings official then I can hazard a guess about your business. Which kind of puts us at odds you see..." the marten begins to draw his rapier. "Now. There are two ways this ends. The first is a bad, bad ending. One where I'm forced to inflict horrible violent things upon yer person, and I'm afraid you have a big, meaty target just hanging off your front there."

Backing up until his back is to the wall the fox trembles as the blade tip is pressed against his stomach, "Have you ever seen a beast die of a gut wound?" Dylan begins. Poppins sucks in his stomach as the blade presses deeper, sliding upward slowly and popping the buttons off of the fox's coat. "Tis a horrible way to go. First comes the cold iron of the blade working its way along yer hide, then out fall yer squiggly bits...tis not for the faint of heart...or instant either." Dylan rests the blade finally on the fox's shoulder. His threat is a bit more graphic than he would actually do to him, but if a graphic depiction of the fox's fate keeps him doing something stupid and forcing the marten to kill him, all the better. Might even threaten the sea captain into giving him a discount! "Now how about you hand over yer gold an-"


"/GRAAAAAAH!/"

Dylan never expects the fox to react as badly as he does. Pushed to the brink of stress and fear something in Poppins snaps. His paws flail into the air and he yells like a mad beast. The effect is so shocking that when he pushes forward Dylan is at a loss.

The fox pushes Dylan to the ground, paws wrapped around the marten's throat. The heavy set beast baring down on him Dylan can't find the strength to oush him off and his paws scramble for the rapier that fell from his paws. All the while Poppins foams at the mouth in fear, anger, stress as he strangles the life out of the king...no...the marten...that's right. He's strangling the marten.

Even better.

[unknownsoldier]

(Alright, just before Lance comes to a supposed rescue, time for the first fight between warrior ferrets. XD)

As Lance still stood in thought, he heard the fox...Elena, yes, speaking hurriedly about something. He couldn't catch most of it, but from her and the felines expressions....so much for an easy job as he slid the maroon tinted lancetip onto his staff turning it into his namesake weapon and headed over to the group. Just as he did, Knar ordered him to go report to Dylan a Kacy was near them and guard the pine marten. Without a second thought he reversed and turned around, quickly heading towards the cottage, by process of common sense and elimination, he could surmise why hes going instead of Knar.

---

At the same moment the hooded ferret made his move as well, heading for the cottage as well when Kacy arrived. Finally a chance to end this job quickly and efficiently before one of those idiots botched it up. No....something else seem to tell him to go before the others....a feeling, a feeling he never felt before and ignored it as he kept running.

---

Both ferrets reached the cottage, then noticed each other....the Bounty Hunter fired his crossbow first and Lance hit the dirt to avoid the bolt as the Hunter drew his longsword. He got up quickly to block the stroke with his lance blade and both disengaged to get distance. The Lancer and Swordsbeast....waiting for the other to make the first move.

They both heard the commotion go on inside and Swordsbeast moves in, Lancer blocks and jabs unprotected center with thee blunt end. Swordsbeast is put on the defensive as the maroon lance tip jabs rapidly toward him, its range being put to use as steel clashed with steel.

A deadly dance to be sure, with flashes of red and clashes between blades as both try to find openings in the others attacks and blocks. A duel of blades between warriors of the same caliber...neither giving the other a chance to rest. All that mattered now was Block, Counter, Block, Counter, back and forth, back and forth....then the opening.

The sword catching Lances flank, but the lance caught his opponents shoulder directly as blood splattered both. Using the momentum Lance barreled straight into the Hunter and sent him into a bush as he covered his flank as much as he could and hurried to the cottage, kicking the door open to see the scene before him. Dylan....the pine marten leader being strangled....by a almost obese fox, a new experience sure but he reacted accordingly. He closed the door behind him and dropped it to the side as he got the crazed fox into a stranglehold of his own using his arms in case he had to snap his neck.

(Strangle fight, unless he somehow doesn't succeed)

[Caterpillar]

Lance turned to carry out the given order and Knar turned to finish his. He was about done when he heard Cat's a nervous warning from his lookout-spot:

"Erm, Crookeye…? I think we have a company… I'm counting three-- no, four beasts…"

That the warrior quickly turn towards the feline. There were other beasts? Knar really didn't know what to make out of that, but at the current situation he didn't like the news. Something in it spelled the word 'trouble'

Knar hauled the princess up to her feet and practically pushed their "cargo" into the arms of Elena. THis royal highnesses' hands were now tied and her snout gagged, just in case.
"Take her and the boy - and hide behind the bushes", he ordered curtly. "Don't let her make any sound"

That said Knar gestured Kinktail to follow and they both moved behind the tree next to the Cat's own lookout-hiding spot. And as the feline had said, the pine marten caught a glimpse of closing in beasts… Still too far away to distinguish the details, but there was definitely three rats and one stoat… And they were moving like they were looking for something. But no sight of Kacy yet. Now, Knar wasn't a beats to jump on quick conclusions but even the thick headed pine marten comprehended this was odd consequence: Elena spotted Kacy and after a while some group unknown beasts appear searching behind the threes. That just didn't feel right…

Knar gave a meaningful nod to both Cat and Kinktail and two beast replied to it with action. The archer readied an arrow, moving little bit better shooting position. Kinktail, who had remained silent three whole minutes ( which must be a record, pulled out his dagger.

Knar, in turn and still without a proper weapon, closed his fingers around Bloodfang's handle and drew the weapon out. By the let the bladeremain wrapped in the rags.


#And yes, you read correct - three rats… Wonder where the fourth one is…. And left Kacy out since only Coyote knows whatever goes in that crazy mind of hers.....>XD

So how the story pocees from here? Are our "heroes" captured by their pursuers? Or do they beat their pursuers instead? If you ask me, I'd think it fun have gang spent bit quality-time in king's dungeonns, but their capture needn't happen right now… There's always time later. What you two think? #

[coolcoyote]

#gah! Ive been absent so long! So sorry! Ill leave what happens up to rp and dice...lots of dice."

The fox is rather hard to wrangle at least at first. Slowly he is pried from the marten who quickly rolls to his side gasping for breath. "Blazes...Remind...me to give you...another percentage of the share..." Standing up Dylan gives the fox a swift kick to the side of the head. Poppins slumps forward in Lances grasp unconcious.

"Lance bring the others to the river. We are leaving..." he scowls dangerously at their future captain as if daring him to dissagree, "By boat..."

[coolcoyote]

(Ok...so...yeah. Trying to decide how my characters fair from all this. Did they get rich? Did they go bust? Did they all end up gutted and turned into mince meat?)