Lost in Los Lobos

[coolcoyote]

Los Lobos...

A thriving city made rich from its port and merchant markets. A city of vermin, woodlanders and creatures beyond mossflower, exotic breeds of beasts that came to do trade with the beasts of Mossflower.

The city itself was a network of miss laid streets, alley ways, and shanti homes.

Cobbler's Road was a wide cobble stone road that zig zagged through the city down to the warf. It was a place where beasts of all types set up shop and sold their wares. It was a a crowded, busy place even in the mid day heat. The calls of merchants could be heard all down the street, selling jewelry, food, nick nacks, and even weapons.

Among the many stores was the Sea Serpent. The eatery was more or less a tent with a stove under it. Customers are served outside in small rounded tables.

A pole cat dressed in a white blouse and green dress moved between tables, dropping off food and picking up dishes from one particular table of noteworthy attention.

The fox was spread out in his seat, feet resting on the table and leaning back in his chair. He was a brown fox dressed in a red cloth vest. The last button failed to button around his swollen stomach which broke an otherwise slender figure.

"Enjoy your meal honey?" the polecat asked with a chuckle.

Baro Ermile picked at his teeth with one claw, "De-lishious!" Baro let out a small belch.

Picking up a large quantity of empty dishes the polecat raised an eyebrow, "I swear, you eat like a stuffed wood pidgeon. Keep this up Baro and you'll grow plump and slow!"

The fox gave his over filled belly a pat, "Me? Fat? Right! That will be the day."

"You paying your tab, THAT will be the day. Speaking of which..."

Baro gulped. "Er...yes, about that." The fox tossed a few coins onto the table.

"You call this payment?" The polecat growled as she pocketed the change. "Now get out of here before I run your gluttonous tail off with a broom!"

With a yelp Baro removed himself from his chair. The fox yelped playfully as the waitress shooed him away.

The beast shook his head and laughed. Running a paw over his vest to smooth it out he paused at his stomach. "Me...fat." Baro smirked and shook his head again. Walking down the street his tail swooshed behind him.

It was time to go to work.

Los Lobos was certainly a haven for beasts of his profession.

Baro bumped into a rather burly rat. With out appologizing the fox quickly dissapeared into the crowd. Baro grinned deviously, tossing his newly aquired coin purse into the air and catching it.

Coming to Los Lobos really was the best idea the thief ever had...

[coolcoyote]

Ooc this story takes place several months before the "You scratch my back I scratch yours" story arch. The main players are CoolCoyote, Catipillar, and Rorgan but its open to all who would have an alt here. Pose order is set by the order of your first post.

Please try not to create any time paridoxes XD

Also, look! Skinny Baro!

[Rorgan]

Los Lobos could probably be considered a rather diverse city for sure. It was made up of all sorts of different beasts, and some could be considered generic, but others...others were different.

Nissaya certainly wasn't in his element in the city. Too many beasts around him, and far too many potential things that could go wrong, but then, Nissa always had been a bit of a worrier.

The otter really did stick out in a crowd though, even in a crowd like the one he was in. He had managed to purchase a gray cloak to wear that concealed the robes that very obviously signaled him as being a monk.

He was already noticeable enough. He didn't need to give anybeast more of a reason to notice him.

Nissa's fur was colored a solid white, with no breaks in the color at all. His eyes, however, could probably be considered the most interesting thing about him.

While others had green, blue, brown, or other types of common colors, Nissa's eyes were a solid pink color, but as odd as the otter looked, he didn't look much like a beast others would want to mess with.

He seemed like the type of beast that would normally be rather scrawny, but instead, he was quite the opposite. He was very obviously muscular and very in shape at first glance. Despite this, Nissa didn't want to have any issues in this city.

Besides, he was only planning to stay for a couple days, and then he could leave.

[coolcoyote]

The crowded streets proved to be no hassle for this one particular young fox. The brown furred scamp moved rather nimbly through the crowd like a fish to water.

The young fox scurried halfway up a city lamp post. Resting his feet around the base Baro peered out over the sea of beasts, shielding his eyes with his free paw.

It was indeed a sad fact of life that Baro made his fortune off of the hard work of others. He made no illusions about the work he did, nor did he make any attempt to justify his actions. He dared not insult his victims so.

Baro was a thief. Plain and simple. He chose the easy way out of life's hardships instead of earning his keep through more honest means. As if there were any in this town.

The fox however had no wish to rob people willy nilly either. The poor were always an easy target but Baro didn't have the stomach to rob from beggars...and if the poor had something worth stealing then they were not actually 'poor'.

Baro's tail twitched impatiently in an almost feline mannor as he scanned the crowd. Anyone who was armed was immidietly ruled out. Baro liked his insides to stay that way, as INsides, thank you very much.

Those who traveled in large groups were excluded next. Too dangerous. Those who were obviously wealthy were also excluded. Los Lobos was a seedy underbelly of crime and villainy. Only a fool would wander these streets, flaunting his wealth, with out body guards.

Very few beasts caught Baro's eye as potential marks. One particular vixen certainly caught his attention. She had a simular fur pattern to his own. Brown fur with a yellow belly. Her paws started at deep brown and gradually broke off into small dots along her arms, it reminded Baro of fire for some reason.

The vixen wore a sleevless green vest with three brass buttons. It left a small sliver of fur exposed around her belly upon which rested a thick snake skin belt, set an angle over her hips. She also wore a red scarf about her neck and both ears had wooden hoop peircings.

She was caught somewhere between well fed and healthy; she had some 'fluff' to her tummy but the muscle to her arms pictured her as anything but lazy.

Baro would have been smitten with the vixen had she not been carring a wickedly curved halberd across her shoulder. The blade of the staff weapon was long and thick with a trio of hoops running through the back for added stopping power.

Baro shivered and cringed. He still had scars from the last warrior vixen he had dated. So the fox turned and looked for another mark as the vixen went on about her business.

He of course saw the otter. How could he not see such a beast? The cloak stood out like a sore thumb among the beasts who dressed more casually due to the heat of the harbor town air. Not to mention that he looked as imposing as a fearsom badger.

He was though...unarmed. And not obviously rich. If nothing else the otter might prove interesting to follow for a while, at least until Baro found a more worthing beast to rob...

It was not like the fox had anything better to do.

[Rorgan]

At the moment, Nissaya didn't exactly realize just how much he stood out. Of course, he didn't want to check around him either.

His hood was down, and his head was bowed as he moved smoothly through the crowd.

He wasn't planning to linger out on the streets much longer than he needed to, and eventually, he managed to sight a tavern and change his course to head off in that direction.

Upon entering the tavern, the otter looked around for a few moments before heading to a nearby empty table and sitting down, putting his hood down.

No sense in looking dangerous. Or at least, more dangerous than he may or may not look.

The hood coming down revealed the otter's white furred head and his startling pink eyes, and they roamed the room, though not making contact with any of them.

[coolcoyote]

The fox followed shortly after him. Despite the food still churning in his gut the scent of fried meat assaulting his nose made his mouth water for lunch.

It was a pitty Baro had no more money to spend.

A pitty for the poor beast he was going to rob to fix that problem.

It didn't take long for the fox to find the otter. It was mid day on a week day, the tavern wasn't overly crowded. A large pot bellied badger with one eye was sleeping off his drink in the far corner of the bar. The tavern keeper lifted the badgers head up to wipe away the drool he was leaving on the counter. The rat let go of the badger and his head flopped once again against the oak counter with a mighty crash. The drunken badger however slept on.

A pair of chesnut colored squirrles sat on the far end drinking and laughing and making a rather loud ruckus along with a green scaled lizard. The lizard had golden bracelets banded around his tain and wore a bandana. The squirrels wore an assortment of clothing fit for woodlanders. Clean...ish, and made from cloth.

The necklace made from stoat claws around one squirrel's neck dispelled any thoughts of stealing from them. And the badger well, he terrified the theivery out of Baro.

The otter however looked like an easy mark. Ok, easier than the other beasts here. And he had the most unusual fur pattern. Pure white like an arctic fox. Maybe he was an arctic otter? Did those even exist?

Reguardless Baro sat down on a table across the room to examine his potential target and decide if he was worthy to rob...and how.

[Caterpillar]

# OOC: Here I come! Sorry for the wait ^^ #


An existing day in Los Lobos it was going to be - or so Errot had decided, regardless what his "guardian" might have said.

Knar had just left him in the their rented inn's room (because he had some business to take care of!) and expected him to sit put inside the four walls? Errot snorted. Yeah, like that was going to happen!

So after the warrior had closed the door behind him, Errot waited just enough for him to be sure the marten surely had made it out of the inn and to the streets before hopping off from the flea-filled bed he had sat on. Full of excitement the young weasel-boy rushed to the door and peeked to the corridor, ensuring the coast was truly clear.

No sign of Knar anywhere. With a gleeful smile Erret slip out of the room, locking the door.

Like he was going to stay all holed up in some dusty room! He wanted to see the city! And if the marten refused to take him with him, then he would explore it all by himself! This was a rare opportunity since they usually stayed on wilderness, only stopping by in small towns and villages if needed. But Los Lobos was a huge port city! It was far more different and exciting than those backwater in middle of nowhere.

So he had to go and see it -- and of course he would be back before the pine marten... Knar had said he would return before the dark which meant he had all the day spent in the city! Walk the streets and see the wonders of the city! It was going to be great! And Knar wouldn't have the slightest clue about it. He would be back before the marten and act all innocent like he had stayed all day in the room like the warrior had wanted.

Errot giggled to his brilliant plan as he made his way to the stairs. Hopping down two steps with one leap, he arrived to the inn's tavern, a big hall with lot of tables and chairs. And of course beasts who sat on them.

The tavern was as full of beast as it had been in the last night when he and Knar had arrived, but there were still some beasts enjoying their time, drink or food. Errot didn't pay too much attention to them, as he was anxious to get outside already. However one beast still manages to capture his attention: a snow white otter.

Errot stared at him rather inconsiderate manner, as he walked towards the door. He hadn't seen a white otter before, much less one with pink eyes!

[Rorgan]

Once again, Nissaya isn't really one for looking around unless he felt the need, but now, he could practically feel the two sets of eyes on him.

His eyes continued to roam until he noticed a curious looking fox across the room, and that's when his eyes fixed on the beast.

The otter didn't exactly mind others staring at him, for he had learned a while back that it would happen regardless simply because of how he looked. It was a strange thing to think about, but at this point, he could've cared less. He wasn't hurting them of course, and they usually didn't try to hurt him.

They learned their lessons if they did though.

Finally, a female ferret server made her way to Nissa's table, and he quickly just mumbled an order for a mug of the most popular ale. Evidently, the monk didn't seem to know much about Los Lobos or the drinks, which was partly why he had wanted to come in the first place.

The server began to leave the table, and that's when Nissa's eyes caught sight of the young weasel staring at him.

Great...just what he needed.

[coolcoyote]

The thief of a fox quickly turned his head away when the otter returned the stare. Baro tried his best to look non schalant even if he had no idea what the word ment...or how to spell it. That dang blasted 'shlant' letter was still eluding him.

After a few moments of twiddling his thumbs and twitching his tail back and forth the beast slowly looked towards the otter once again. He caught sight of the weasel standing in the door way but for the most part ignored him.

'Best father of the year award goes to the dolt who brought his dibbun into a run down dump like this,' Baro thought as he continued to examine the otter.

Baro wondered where such an odd beast would keep his money. In a pocket or in a pouch along his belt. Either way would make it hard to pick pocket a beast wearing a cloak.

He would have to get close to the otter to even have a chance of succeeding. He hoped the challenge was worth the effort.

Meanwhile the door opened to the tavern once more. A second brown furred fox entered the tavern. It was the vixen from earlier. She carried her weapon of choice through the door with ease and promptly made her way towards the bar. Her long bushy tail sweeped the floor as she walked by.

Baro found his gaze drifting towards the vixen as she passed but he quickly shook his head clear. It was inpolite to stare and the thief was more concerned about getting money for dinner at the moment.

[Caterpillar]

Errot couldn't get his eyes off from that strange otter so he failed to notice how a tall figure hovered over him, until he felt a violent yank grabbing a hold from back of his tunic's collar.

At first Errot thought it was Knar, that the marten had stayed behind to ensure he didn't disobey his orders. Unintentionally Errot gulped thought he shouldn't have - after all, he was supposed to be the warrior's master. So if someone was supposed to give orders around here, it should be him! Knar had no justification to give him orders! In fact, he should say that aloud right now. That should teach the warrior his place...

...But he already was in trouble because of the stunt he had pulled last night - and now he had been caught red-handed trying to sneak outside! Without doubt Knar was angry with him... Of course he wasn't scared of him or anything -- but maybe he should think up some good excuse for him to leave the room...

"Got you now, ya runt!" Errot heard unfamiliar voice snarl and his heart skipped a beat. That wasn't Knar's voice!

And sure enough, when he was harshly turned around, he wasn't facing a big marten, but dark-browned mink who was glaring down at him with piercing eyes. Errot immediately recognized the beast. Last night when he and Knar had dined their supper in here, this mink had arrived with group of other vermin. And during their stay the mink had been so loud and boastful about his experience as a fighter (in which Errot betted the other clearly wasn't as good as he declared to be) that the weasel had wanted to see a proof of mink's so called "talent".

But of course Knar wouldn't never fight just because he told him so (that stupid marten -- what good was the warrior who didn't obey his master's orders?). But Errot knew the warrior would always step protect him, if he ever was in danger.

Long story short: he might had, more or less intentionally, caused a small scene in the tavern which had ended in rather loud crash when Knar had practically send the mink flying. It had been rather amusing to see how a "experienced fighter" hand turned into a trembling heap in couple of moments. And when the terrified mink had scrambled out of the door at top speed on his all fours, the whole tavern had had a good laughs - even the group the mink had arrived with. So Errot had thought the mink wouldn't even dare show his face around here after such humiliation. Or so he had thought...

"What's a matter? A cat got you tongue?" the mink sneered nastily clutching weasel's tunic even harder. "Not so talkative when your babysitter isn't round, huh?"

"He's not my babysitter", Errot snapped back trying to squirm free, but no avail. "But he will be back soon! And when he does he'll make pair of leather mittens out of your hide if you don't let go of me!"
Like he was going to appear frightened in front of this mink. He was going to be a Horde Lord and Horde Lords weren't afraid anything or anyone!

The minks eyes narrowed, as he wasn't expecting the brat act so cocky considering the situation he was in.
"Oh, I don't think so" baring his teeth the mink yanked the boy off the ground, rising him at his own eye's level. "I'm here for some compensation, you know. Because of you, I was made fool of before my group!", he hissed, murder written all over his features.

Errot realized that if he didn't do something soon this would turn very ugly very quick. There was no counting in the outside-help since in many vermin populated town, everybody minded their own business. So there was little hope for that someone in the tavern would actually step in to help. Think, think...

Suddenly Errot got an idea and acted according to it, his eyes averting from the mink and going past him to the tavern's door. And making his expression brightened, he said in loud voice:
"Crookseye! You're back!"

It worked like a dream as the mink startled and without further thinking turned half-way around, his eyes trying to find the big marten on the doorway. Of course the warrior wasn't there but both mink's grip and attention to young weasel had loosened and Errot didn't let the good diversion go to waste. Right away he bit the paw which was grabbing him as hard as he could. Mink howled out, more out of surprise than from pain, unintentionally letting go and Errot was dropped back to floor, the boy quickly putting some distance between him and the mink.

Boy's sharp teeth had left their making on the paw and it was dripping blood. The mink covered the bite-marks with his other hand, though it was more his pride that had got hurt just now.
"Now ya've done it!", the mink snarled his eyes flaming. "Ya're gonna have the beating of your lifetime, little snot!"

The mink charged at Errot, trying t grab the boy, but the weasel avoided another capture by diving under the table.


# The mink is free game -- feel free to do what you will with him ^^ #

[Rorgan]

Nissaya's eyes had widened upon watching the mink picked up Errot. The young weasel looked like he was a little too young to really help himself against this fighter, but he forced himself to remain in his chair.

His eyes stayed on the two conversing beasts as the situation began to develop into something dangerous, and he could feel his paws tightening into fists on the table in front of him. The otter really hated fighting, but this mink was really starting to tempt him. Of course, it would take a good bit more than that just to provoke him to fight.

He was really starting to contemplate getting up and interceding when the weasel bit the mink's pad and the ran and dove straight under the table that Nissa was sitting at.

Well shoot...that left only a couple options, especially now that he was being pushed right into the middle of this entire argument.

The first option was to stay seated and let the mink try to get at Errot, which was more a crime against Nissa's conscience than anything else. The second option was to stand up and actually get involved in the argument, which was also a crime against his conscience, because in his mind, it meant submitting to Kyho, and that normally wasn't an option, but he was defending another, so that made it alright...didn't it?

Without another thought, the albino otter stood from his chair. "Hey!" He says firmly, cutting a rather intimidating figure already simply through size. Slowly, his paws undid the chord that held the cloak around his neck, and he let it fall to the chair behind him.

This definitely revealed one of the most interesting outfits possibly ever seen on a beast. He wore a pair of sky blue pants along with dark blue undershirt. The sky blue top that went over his undershirt looked almost slanted in that there was only a sleeveless hole for his left muscled arm. The cloth traveled diagonally down his front and back, and a strap of sky blue leather seemed to be fastened to the top at the middle of the slanted top, which also traveled down past his waist on both his front and back, though not on the sides. At his waist is a strip of similarly colored sky blue cloth wrapped around his body, seeming to act as a belt.

All in all, Nissaya definitely looked like a monk, both in appearance and in composure.

"Do the smart thing and leave this weasel alone, mink," came his voice again. His pink eyes stared straight into the mink's in a way that was almost scary intense.

[coolcoyote]

Conversation in the tavern promptly stopped. The beasts quickly summed up that a fight was about to break out. Most beasts quickly scurried out of the tavern or at the very least out of the way of danger but not so far away they couldnt see the action.

The brown furred vixen leaned forward over the tavern bar, rubbing her eyes with a sigh. Why does this always happen when she is around?

Baro leaned forward over his table, tail swooshing back and forth behind him in excitement. He had to admit that the otter was truely intimidating. No fool in his right mind would rob such a beast. He would tie the fox into a knot! Probbibly the mink as well!

And then Baro would rob him. Or the otter, depending on who ever won this battle.

Then a horrible thought crossed his mind. What if, what if the mink had enough sense to NOT fight? What if he just walked away like a reasonable person? Then who would Baro steal from?

Blast.

Deciding to ensure there would be a fight Baro got up from his chair. Plopping himself down next to the vixen with his back to the bar the greedy fox cupped his paws together and shouted, "I bet ten gold on the otter! He's going to make a hat out of a fat lazy oaf like him! Look at him! His shaking in his boots at a woodlander!"

The vixen turned to the smiling beast beside her and stared at him with a less than ammused look. She then slid her stool a paw length away from Baro.

[Caterpillar]

Errot landed on the floor, rolling to the other side of the table, planning to keep it between him and the mink. He was going to be fine if he kept dodging the ballistic beast like this... And at the first opening opportunity, he would run for the door and vanish into the city.

So the weasel was quite surprised when one beast actually stood up to defend him. Errot looked at this white furred otter and his odd outfit

The albino otter indeed looked intimating, not just because he looked different that most beast, but because of the look in his eyes and the way he held his posture. It reminded Errot much of Knar's bearings -- maybe the otter a warrior of some sort?

Anyways, otter's stare and posture made the mink took a step aback. But then the beast expression hardened, as he was too angry to be (if he had been a reasonable beast, he wouldn't have gotten into humiliating position in the first place) soothed down by the words.

And it didn't help at all when some fox was taunting him on the background ( the mink threw a murderous glare at the brown-furred fox, like it was some kind of promise). Oh he would show them - he would show them all! He wasn't made fun off without consequences!

"Mind your own business, freak!" the mink shouted, drawing out his cutlass as kicked the table over so he could reach the brat. "This has nothing to do with you!"
 

[Rorgan]

Nissaya just sighed. Why did every beast he confronted decide to fight? He tried his best every time to avoid violence, but most beasts seemed to think it was the only solution.

With scary speed and power, the otter took a step towards the mink, and his paw shot out as a flat palm to catch the mink directly in the chest. Visually, it wasn't all that powerful of a move, but the strike carried almost the same amount of force as a push or a strong punch.

Retaining his position after the strike, his voice grew hard as he spoke again. "First, don't call me freak. Second, you /will/ leave him alone. I have no wish to fight you, but I will if I have to.

He paid no attention to the fox in the background. Beasts always liked fighting, and he supposed the beasts of Los Lobos was no exception. Especially when they weren't involved in the fight and there was technically nothing to lose. Still, it wasn't something that was helping the otter at the moment, who now moved until he had Errot directly behind him. "Thirdly..." Says the otter finally. "You spilled my drink. It would be polite to buy me another."

[coolcoyote]

(Ooc not much for me to add yet. Feel free to pose again pillar. I'll pose affer you ^^)

[Caterpillar]

The mink stumbled backwards, surprised both by the punch and the force behind it. He glared the otter, this time more cautiously than before, thinking his strategies over.

But backing down wasn't an option anymore, not in mink's mind. And really now, why should he back donw? This otter didn't even have any weapon! Was he seriously afraid on a beast who didn't carry anything? Never! The otter might know how to punch, but against a beast with a weapon he clearly was in disadvantage! With his cutlass he would run the fool through - that punch just now had been a lucky shot. He had been so concentrated to the kid, that he hadn't paid attention, but he wouldn't do the same mistake twice.

Like, what bad Otter could possibly do with just his bare hands?

"Oh, I'll get you a drink", the mink sneered with venom in his voice. "It's waiting for you in the Dark Forest where I'll send you!" His focus now fully on Otter, the mink jumped at him. Rising his cutlass, he lashed it out towards Otter, trying to cut the nuisance's stomach open

----

A startled 'meep!' escaped from Errot's mouth when the mink flipped the table over, in attempt to reach him. And maybe he'd had, if the otter wouldn't had stepped forward and punched the ballistic mink away. Errot's eyes widened with surprise - and they grew even bigger when tTe otter even placed himself between him and the mink.

Errot watched the white beast's back a bit wondering and a bit amazed. As for him it was a wholly new thing to see somebody helping out somebeast he didn't even know... Of course, it could be possible that Otter was just pissed because of his spilled drink and it hadn't nothing to do with eagerness help a weasel-pup out. But Errot wasn't going to complain about the reason if the result was still same.

When the mink moved to attack the otter, Errot dodged away, clearing himself out of the two adult's way. Now somebeast with a rotten nature would have used this as an opportunity try to sneak away - clearly the mink had found a new enemy focus on so he wouldn't notice his original prey's vanishing before it was too late.

But even though Errot had his habit of being selfish and arrogant, he wasn't that rotten. Maybe living with Knar hadn't taught him how to live in "righteous way", but it hadn't taught him to be ungrateful fragger either. Knar, despite how the marten would be considered more "evil" than "good", had still some sort of code of honor.

And though Errot nagged at the marten in a daily basis, he really wanted be like the warrior: as strong and unyielding before any threat and danger.

Knar wouldn't never run and leave somebody else to fight his battle. And so wouldn't he! He would help thi white otter gain the victoryas they now had a common enemy. He had noted that the otter didn't have any weapon - really now, who ventured into a vermin city without one? Were all adults dimwits? - so he decided to find one for the white beast. There gotta be something...

There were two foxes closest to him and Errot tried quickly examine, if either of them would have something useful.

[coolcoyote]

The vixen was obviously armed, resting a tall halberd against the bar. She also had a small knife wrapped about her ankle. The brown furred vulpine seemed to try and tune out the fight as much as she could by focusing in on her drink.

The tod, the lanky brown furred fox seemed to be focused in on the trouble he had helped start. He was signifigantly less armed having a small dirk strapped to the small of his back just under his vest.

Both vulpines took an increased intrest in the mink and otter when their quarall turned from fist fight to sword fight.

Baro clutched at his muzzle in shock. In retrospect he did not think things through. He just wanted to mug one of them and steal their wallet. Baro had no wish to see one of them killed but he lacked the bravery to stop it.

Xia on the other hand had the bravery to stop the fight. She just lacked the reaction time to do anything about it.

The fox opened her mouth to shout in surprise as the mink came at the otter, "Holy..." her jaws snapped shut, cutting off her own curse. Instead her paw darted forward towards the halberd...

[Rorgan]

Nissaya's facial expression never changed a bit. He watched the blade come slashing towards him, and he moved with almost lightning precision. His left arm rose, his paw bent so that the wrist slammed into the mink's wrist, completely breaking the motion of the swing and very likely breaking the mink's grip on the cutlass unless the said mink was strong enough to withstand the block. Either way, another paw slammed into the mink's midsection, and this time it was a fist, angled to let the knuckles impact flesh.

The otter wasn't holding back at all for this. He never tolerated those who picked on others that couldn't defend themselves, and it was just as well that the mink thought that he couldn't defend himself simply because he had no weapon. All the better advantage for Nissa.

In all honesty, he had been expecting the mink to attack, just not with a blade, though that didn't really hurt the otter's chances any as far as he could tell. The mink was too enraged to do much of anything aside from swing widely, though that was just speculation from observation.

[Caterpillar]

The mink, known by name Uhar, managed to hold on his weapon, (maybe he wasn't the easiest beast to reason with, but he still was pretty strong) though he was taken aback by the tactic otter used to halt his swing. And he didn't even had time to react when otter's fist buried into his stomach, making him gasp and bend a little.

But in instant he recovered, and with fierce flame in his eyes his free hand lashed out, grabbing the otter's cloth as he yanked the otter forward, ramming his forehead right into the white beast's snout. Just to pay in kind that previous punch for the fragger...!

"Don't get cocky you bastard", Uhar hissed as he side-stepped out of the instant reach (he really should start pay more attention for the otter's hands) aiming a a hard kick towards otter's legs, in attempt to make other fall.
"You're not only one who knows how'ta fight!"


----

...The halberd wasn't there anymore when Xia reached for it. Because of some weasel-brat had hit his eyes on it just a moment before, realizing that it was perfect weapon for the otter. The halberd had a longer reach than sword - if the White Beast was armed with it, the mink wouldn't stand a chance!

So Errot had snacked the weapon away when the vixen attention had been captivated by otter's and mink's skirmish. But now he had some serious problem get the big weapon where it needed to be. The blasted halberd was so heavy and difficult to support up...! However he was going to get this over to White Otter? It wasn't like mink would just politely stand still and allow him deliver this big thing to the otter...

[coolcoyote]

An unusual feeling crossed the vixen's face when her weapon did not come readily into her paws. Her ears shot up in shock as she realized her halberd was not there!

It was truely a horible feeling, almost like being caught out in public wearing nothing but your fur.

The vixen's head twisted this way and that in search of her lost weapon. It didn't take long to find the halberd. No thief could hide a weapon, especially when it towered over the theif like it did the young weasel.

Any sympathy the vixen held for the dibbun was instantly lost. "H-hey!" Xia snapped. She bolted from the chair which proved to be her un doing. Her paws wrapped between the pegs of the stool the fox yelped as she fell forward.

With lightning reflexes Baro shot forward to catch the vixen in his paws. "Whoa! Carefull there. It's no fun to fall down BEFORE you start drinking." Baro said as he helped the vixen back on solid ground.

"Yeah...uh...thanks." Xia said, obviously hapoy to not have her face go splat against the ground. "Excuse me for a moment."

Baro watched as the vixen stormed off towards the weasel. She grabbed hold of the halberds staff just below the blade. Giving it a yank back towards her direction she demanded, "And just WHAT do you plan to do with this?"

Behind her Baro leaned against the bar again. Things...certainly got interesting. The mink and the otter appeared to be on even terms. It was proving to be a rather interesting fight, at least the rest of the bar seemed to think so.

Twisting in his seat Baro flagged down the in keeper. Placing Xia's money bag on the table the fox said, "I'll take a bottle of wine and what ever kind of dinner this'll buy me."

He would feel like a heel in the morning for stealing from the vixen as she fell, but the morning was still a long way off and he lots of money to burn before then.

At least, he did now.