Mission

[Kiara]

(Continued from 'Gathering storm')


After completing her first mission of getting through Mossflower and finding a good spot for the rest of the WARR army to settle in, Talia set out on her second mission. which was to bring Rosethorn's grandson back with her.

Talia traveled to the great mountain with as little rest as she could. The only thing she had to figure out was to get inside the structure that sat atop the mountain. She had stolen a journal in which she would write in and rip out a page every new and full moon for Rosethorn's updates.

Talia walked up to the gate and knocked on the door, looking up watching to see if any beast would peek over to see who was knocking. "Please up your door and let me in. I'm so tired and hungry." She said, waiting....

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

"THERE SHE IS!!!" screeched the harsh loud voice of Honor Guards. They made there way closer to the gates of Salamanstrom. There swords were up, pointed hostilly forward as they charged towards Talia, and towards the gates of Salamanstrom.

[Ashstripe]

Breeze's head inched over the battlements, a vixen; tired and hungry? He could relate to that in these recent times, he rose with a javelin in paw, all too ready to give his customary Salamandastron greeting when he was interrupted suddenly by the cry of the Honor Guards.
He frowned, the greeting was going to have to wait and if she was being hunted by them her intentions were probably aligned with the Mountains.

"Hold on m'gel!" He cried out as he threw the javelin wildly at the Honor Guards, whether he hit his mark or not he didn't care; he didn't even have a mark to begin with.
"Open the flamin' gates! Raise th' bally alarm! Get some chaps and chapesses out 'ere!" Breeze yelled at the top of his voice, his cry was quickly echoed through the Mountain and sure enough the gate's slowly swung open and behind them was a full line of hare's all armed with a pike and a sword of their choosing.

"Steady chaps.." The commanding officer spoke slowly as the regiment marched forward, just enough to be outside the gate's by a few paces,
"Stationary!" He barked and the regiment responded in kind, the front row kneeled wordlessly with the second row placing their pikes between them.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

SHING! One of the Honor Guards were peirced threw with the javelin of one of the hares.The Honor guard stopped as they saw the rows of pikes. It was a small group of maybe a score of Honor Guards, lead by a single Elite Honor Guard. Instantly, they lined up, their Guan Dao's out and pointed at the group of hares that had left thier mountain.
The Elite Honor Guard was at the center of the formation staring at what he believed was the leader of the hares before him.
"By command of the Imperial Order, and will of 'is Overlord, ye' are commanded to surrender, and give us the deserter! Comply NOW, else ye' see the wrath of Vulpuz 'imself!" commanded the Honor Guard as they looked prepared to fight and die.

[Ashstripe]

Breeze winced at the word deserter, odds were that she had claimed her fair share of Hare blood but now wasn't the time to settle personal dispute. The fact that she was deserting probably meant she had some hope of redemption after all.

He shook his head and grinned at the leader,
"'Fraid not ol' boy, surrenderin' is against our orders doncha know? Ol' Vul-thingy can take it up with 'is Lordship if'n's y'want wot?" He cried out in a rather lazy yet defiant manner. He made a motion with a paw as he leaned on the battlements and soon enough he was flanked by archers, all had their arrows notched and a target picked, ready to fire as soon as the command was given.

The hare's stood their ground, the fallen member being quickly dragged off for treatment and another promptly took his place and the ranks shuffled; there was a tense atmosphere of fear within them for they were fairly vulnerable, but until Talia had gotten inside their orders were to remain in the stationary formation.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

The Honor Guards looked furious as their weapons remained fixed in position. They didn't move, didn't flinched at the possiblitiy of certain death.
"Perhaps, 'is lordship of the 'Great' Salamandastron 'ould have better time adding bite 'hind 'is words if ye' were not cowaring in the dirt, afraid ta' fight us, eh? Ye' are pathic creatures...but ye's times grow nearer and nearer...FINE... take the wench! She is no where near as willing to fight for the cause as needed...Ya' 'ear that?! Ya' wench! Ya' are weak for not havin' the strength to destroy these pitiful beasts...Compassion is weakness, and 'ye have to much of it!" yelled the Honor Guard. He rose his claw, signaling for a fall back.
"Ye' might 'ave this day, but ye' will burn soon enough, along with Redwall. Vulpuz will descend upon ye' with all 'is rage and power, and ye' will be ended, when the heir is returned to his rightful spot...ah yes...ye' think he's good...but Zulu assures us, 'is soul is as black as 'is fathers...." The Elite Honor Guard growled angerly with spite as he turned to march his troops away. "Sometime soon, rabbit...sometime soon...."

[Kiara]

Talia winced as did Breeze. 'Easy boys. You didn't have to go that far and call me a traitor. Now befriending them is going to be even harder now that they know that I 'was' on your team.' She thought to herself as the Elite Honor Guard talked back and forth with what she assumed was the hare leader. She smiled to herself for an idea struck her, however she'd have to use it when they question her. And Talia knew they wood after what the Honor Guard had said about her.

Talia used this time to slowly creep behind the hares and through the gates of Salamanstrom. Once inside, she figured that the hares outside would come in and close the gate. If anything, she didn't want any of them to get killed or injured. They may as well throw her back out if that happened.

She looked around the place, trying to figure which was the best place to start looking for this grandson. Of course she wouldn't get to far before they stopped her to question her. Talia winced at the thought at be questioned, for she remembered Rosethorn's warning.

[Ashstripe]

The threat's made little to no penetration into Breeze's skull, but he couldn't let them go without the final word
"Well y'see chaps, we're kinda outnumbered doncha know? Good thing we have this 'ere mountain wot? Otherwise we'd be in a real boilin' mess eh?" He slapped the stone to emphasize his point as he called back his cheerful reply to their insult.

As they began to retreat he relaxed his posture and waved farewell to the Honor Guard, "Toodle pip ol' chaps! I'll tell 'is Lordship y'stopped by wot?" He carried on his string on farewells and frantic waving for a few moments until the severity of the situation eventually made way into his mind.

They had a deserter to contend with, they couldn't fully trust her, after all she had served with the enemy. But they couldn't exactly cast her aside either. It was quite the situation, but Breeze was never one to let the stress affect him in the slightest. He childishly bounded down the steps as the gates began to creak shut; after the hare's had broken formation and retreated of course.

Funny, she seemed particularly observant of her surroundings; then again she was probably wary of being surrounded by her former foes and this was likely to be her first visit into the Mountain,
"Y'got some jolly friends in that there 'orde of yores miss, wot?" He slapped her on the shoulder quickly from behind and grinned, an expression that hadn't diminished in the slightest from the moment he made himself visible.

[Kiara]

Talia could hear the gates begin to shut and she smiled at that. She wondered who had made the first call to retreat. From Breeze’s yells, she figured that it was the Honour Guards who had retreated first. ‘Phase one complete.’ Talia thought to herself as she watched the hares that were outside with her walk…or hop…around, going back to their own business.

Talia jumped a little when Breeze had slapped her on her back, not expecting him to do so. She turned around to face him. “…They’re not my friends..” She said, trying to be as saddened by the thought as much as possible, but then smiled when she saw the grin on his face. “Thank you for saving me. I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for you. Even though I probably deserve it.” She said and looked away from him.

[Ashstripe]

"Eh? Nonsense m'gel! Like the ol' sayin' goes, an enemy of an ally is a...Wait no..Erm..An enemy of a mole-chap..Oh bother I seem t'ave forgotten!" He scratched his head, perplexed at his newly found conundrum. He would've made it his mission for the rest of the day to remember that saying,

After a few moments of thought he eventually settled on setting aside that task and focusing on what everyone else deemed more urgent,
"Well, we best take yer in and get a place set up eh?" He ushered Kiara in quickly, in case the Guards were bluffing about letting them have her; she could after all be a good source of information, after she had settled first.

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

Slowly, Darkhawk walked by the gates noticing a group of hares with weapons out. He could feel the tension in the air and quickly moved to get a better view of what was going on. He could see the WARR soldiers slowly walking off. After a moment he scanned over the feild till his eyes saw Breeze and a fox that he had never seen before. He narrowed his eyes, already suspicious but said nothing. He quickly walked to the gates, just in case the hares needed any help.
"What happened, Breeze?" asked Darkhawk as he approached the group of hares, and the fox.

[Kiara]

Talia looked back up at Breeze and smiled, seemingly holding in a giggle at the hare as he tried to remember an old saying. “I’m sure you’ll think of it. And when you do, I’ll be glad to hear it.” She said, being as nice as she could. Talia smiled as Breeze ushered her in. “Thank you for letting me stay here. I promise I won’t stay long. I have a feeling that most would prefer me gone anyway.” Talia said in thanks to Breeze.

Talia turned to face Darkhawk as he approached her and Breeze when he had made he’s presence know by asking the question. She smiled slightly “This hare here just saved my life.” She said and looked at Breeze then back at Darkhawk. Talia held out her paw to him and smiled. “I’m Talia.”

[Ashstripe]

Breeze's ears perked and he took an expression of pride, he was going to milk this feat for all it was worth; the bragging rights were near enormous. But that could wait for later, for once.
"Oh nothin' much ol'boy, just as ol' Tally-thing said," He shrugged and grinned, "Couple o' our good neighbours stoppin' by wot? Declarin' doom, Vulpuz..Black soul...Some kind of Zulu chap.." He scratched his head once more in thought. Really, the ramblings of a bunch of religious fanatics was beyond him.

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

Darkhawk was quiet for a moment as he heard Talia tell him what happened moments ago. When he heard her name he was quiet for another moment before reaching out and shaking Talia's hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, Talia. Names... Dusk." he replied before releasing, using the fake name he had been given by the Azurrians. He glanced over to Breeze.
"Zulu...you are sure?" said Darkhawk in a worried manner. "No wonder they have been talking about Vulpuz so much...Zulu is the leader of the Magus, a religious order that is the very culture of WARR...Why is he....oh..." Darkhawk turned, saying no more about it.
"Talia, wasn't it...you're not injured or anything, correct?"

[Kiara]

Talia smiled "It's nice to meet you as well, Dusk." darn it, wrong fox. She thought to herself. Talia tilted her head in mock confusion as Darkhawk went on about Zulu. He may not be the one she was looking for but he had to be of some interest if he knows this much about WARR, after all, she was just starting to get the just-of-it and she was a member. She'll have to be friendly with him so she can find out what else he knows.

Talia shook her head a bit coming back from her own little world. "..oh, umm..yes, I'm fine. a little tired and hungry from all that running and traveling. But I had worse days."

[Ashstripe]

Breeze shrugged he wasn't sure of anything anymore. He winced at the mentioning of 'Dusk', why would Darkhawk lie? He wasn't sure but a number of glares from some of the passing hare's that happened to eaves drop somewhat into the conversation told him to play along,
"As sure as the Mountain is made o' rock wot? I 'eard 'is name." He grinned and looked questioningly,
"It is made o' rock right? Oh no matter it's a bally mountain eh? He sounds like quite the jolly ol' fellow." He continued his rambles slightly and snapped back to the conversation at hand.

"Ha! Haven't we all m'gel! Eh? Wot?" He laughed loudly without the slightest care, recalling one of his many patrols that resulted in him getting lost, severely so.

[Darkhawk Shadowheart]

"I see...Breeze, do ya' think that we should head to the Mess Hall? Sounds like Talia needs some of the hares food. And to be truthful, I could use some." said Darkhawk as he looked at Breeze. He bit his tongue slightly as he realized that by turning he showed one of the marks of WARR which undoubtible any high ranked WARR soldier would have such as Honor Guards, Magus, and even an Overlord. Darkhawk hoped quietly that she didn't reconize it.

[Kiara]

Talia smiled at Breeze's ramblings. It somewhat reminded her of the ramblings that Rosethorn did about the empire.

"I'm willing to bet it's way better food then what we...I...was given by those horrid beasts." Talia replied in response to the mention of actually eating.

She silently gasped to herself as she seen the mark on Darkhawk. It was true, she didn't know much about it (she never did pay an attention to the things Rosethorn or Zulu said), but she had seen the mark on Rosethorn himself. She'd be sure to mention it in her notes to Rosethorn.

Talia looked around a bit. "I'd get us all lost, so after you." She said to the hare and fox, not caring who lead the way.

[Ashstripe]

Breeze's standard grin only broadened further, reaching it's limit,
"Off we go then!" He yelled triumphantly and marched ridiculously forward, any excuse to eat was fine by him. Though as he began his brisk and ridiculous journey towards the Mess Hall the corner of his eye caught sight of Darkhawk's markings. He had seen them before hadn't he? He wasn't too sure, though he doubted any good would come from it.

((Bleh short post..Anywho..New thread?))

[Kiara]

((actually that's why I didn't put this thread in any sub-board, because we'd be moving around a bit. But it doesn't matter to me.))