Watching the fighters train (open)

[Maeflower]

Maeflower walked over to her special hiding spot in the training hall. SLightly higher then the ground, it gave her the best view on what went on. Yet, it was hidden so she wasn't seen. Of course, it didn't hurt that she was wearing the sand-colored jerkin that most Salamandastron hares wore.

Though, it didn't do much to show off her beauty, for she was quite, with a great singing voice....but that didn't matter to her....

All she wanted to do was one day, become one of them....One day, be part of the Long Patrol!

But, it was always the same....You're to young, or inexperienced, or that hated phrase.

"Wars and fighting is not the place for a pretty young thing like you Mae, why don't you go with your mamma and mend something, wot?"

But Mae was better then most at a bow! If only she could prove herself!

[Ashstripe]

((Heh, I'm not entirely certain on how Breeze should blow her cover. But he's Breeze I suppose.))
Training, day in, day out. That was the life of a Long Patrol hare, the only solace Breeze could obtain was through his various 'scouting' missions which were a little more then a self assigned holiday. But no one was going to prove that wrong now were they? Today was different though, every few days or so the higher ups would get suspicious of his constant 'necessary' missions and so forcefully assign him to drill and other such tasks of tedium while assigning the 'horrible, dangerous' job as Breeze put it, to someone else.

He had already trained with nearly every beast in the hall, nearly lost an ear, taught the leverets more curses then most beasts knew existed and would soon stab his own foot just to get into the Infirmary. Breathing a sigh, the normally joyous hare glanced around the hall, most had already called it a day others were simply resting. Perhaps he should follow suit. But something caught the corner of his eye, call it obsession but he knew there was supposed to be a particular crack in that wall. As the biggest joker in ol' Sala-thing, he had to know all the ins and outs of the mountain after all.


"Well then, wot's a flower doin' in this 'ere crevice eh? Wot?" Breeze stood in front of the ledge to which Mae observed training. Really, if it were Breeze he'd do everything in his power to get out of the Training Hall.

[Maeflower]

Maeflower saw Breeze's eyes on her crevace to late, knowing he'd spotted her when he went over.

"Well then, wot's a flower doin' in this 'ere crevice eh? Wot?"

I like to watch the training, sah. I want.....

She started to look down and play with the corner of her jerkin. Most of the pretty young hares would dress themselves up more, adding color and making everything less plain, but not Mae. She prefered being plain.

She had wanted to say she wanted to be like them, training, throwing their life on the line for their Badger Lord.

But she knew he'd laugh at her.

[Ashstripe]

A wry grin spread across Breeze's features as he listened intently to Mae's reply, which as she trailed off began to diminish with her reply.
"Y'want to...? 'Ave some stew? Clap y'paws? Eh? Wot?" He chuckled lightly at his own oblivious remarks but quickly redirected his focus.
"Out with it m'gel, ol' Breezers is listenin'..." He assured her again, this time with a more serious poise.

Perhaps there was something distressing the girl? He doubted it, it wasn't uncommon for young hares to watch the older members train against each other, after all learning by example was second only to learning by practice. But it was uncommon to be watching from a hidden place, something had to be amiss to usually dismiss the confidence of a Salamandastron hare!

[Maeflower]

Mae closed her chocolate eyes, gaining her composure, knowing he'd probably just laugh and say the phrase all she told said to her.

I want to fight, sah.

She opened her eyes, their depths blazing with fire. Sure, she was young, 15 years of age. But she was a good bowbeast.......but did he know that? She straitened up, feeling slightly dwarfed by Breeze.

[Ashstripe]

The grin that Breeze had measured in anticipation as Mae spoke was quickly cut down. In all honesty he had not expected that answer, he was naive to not see it in front of him. All the dots were waiting to be joined but he simply refused to acknowledge their presence.
He was about to give his usual lecture, that she was a bit too young to join the Long Patrol and a young maiden of age shouldn't be out getting herself hurt and seeing the horrors of war. But Mara's eyes and stance dismissed that speech before it could even take the form of words.

He 'hmmed' for a moment, pondering the words that had come out, hoping he had perhaps misheard her. Unlikely. He took a different angle on the matter, what was the issue? She certainly wasn't the first female into the Long Patrol (A fact Kenzie all too often reminded him of.), was it her age? Perhaps.

"Y'want t'fight...In th' war...Against th' WARR 'orde?" He eventually replied slowly and haltingly, as if he himself was trying to process what he had just said. Concealing the little storm of thoughts in his head with a smile, it would've appeared this was just another big joke to him. Eventually, as if at complete random he came to a decision, a decision which erupted from no where, destroying the train of thought he followed; he would humour her, at least.
"And pray, m'gel...How would y'fight a big burly fox eh? Wot? Call fer ol' Breezer's to giv' 'im a one two?" He replied with a light chuckle, disguising the seriousness behind his question.

[Maeflower]

Mae's eyes blazed at his mockery, but he seemed to start to take what she had said.

Yes, against the WARR horde, sah! What OTHER horde? I'm not a Leverett anymore! I can take care of meself, wot!

She went into the middle of the training hall and picked up a bow and a single, straight arrow.

Siteing down the shaft, Mae shot the bow straight and true into the set up targets. She turned to Breeze.

That's how!

[Ashstripe]

Indeed the arrow had struck true within the set target of the training room, indeed she was no longer a leverett and she probably could take care of herself. Yes that was significant proof to Breeze, but he wasn't really one to object another recruit forsaking their life for the sake of war.

He grinned wryly, seemingly oblivious to her apparent frustration with his attitude. Somewhat due to his nature, his amusement often came at the exasperation of others but this was mostly due to his approval of her willingness to prove herself to be correct; therefore rendering Breeze wrong.

"That's how? Y'don't say?" His eyes widened, a little bit of shock was in there but he had amplified it to greater proportions. He strode slowly towards the target and examined it more closely, probably a fatal wound had it been a real target. At the very least it was painful.

He chuckled lightly, as if his focus was disarrayed, "Ah yes, the WARR 'orde...Y'wouldn't think it, but ol' Sala-thing has a lot o' foes wot wot?" Still smiling as he strode slowly back to Mae, only upon reaching his destination did his expression flicker into a stern frown,
"And wot of paw-to-paw? Eh? Wotcha gonna do when 'e gets close?" He smiled slightly, something of much more maturity then his usual childish grin, "Don't go answerin 'y'gonna smack 'im o'er th' 'ead with y'bow.' I've tried that."

[Maeflower]

Mae watched him with her chocolate gaze go and inspect her arrow. She waited until he came back and played with the bow in her paws, testing the strength of the string.

She prefered her own bow, with her straight, red fletched arrows.

Of course Salamandastron had a lot of enemies, who wouldn't want someplace like this, with it's easy to hold position, and all in all, solid foundation.

She watched his gaze grow more hard, and heard his words. A slight pout showed on her lip.

Well, I could snipe from the mountain a little bit! And....well, I could learn to use a staff! I'm a quick learner......Please Breeze! At least let me TALK to Lord Ashstipe!

[Ashstripe]

The maid was persistent, Breeze would give her that. Who was he to stand in the way of such determination? He smiled again, the frown seemingly forgotten and his cheerful persona making a swift return.
"Oh sure, y'can talk to 'is Lordship." He motioned to another hare as he spoke, whom quickly nodded and vanished up the stairs.
"Though I doubt y'would like wot 'e'd do an-" The Captain was cut off,

"And what would he do Breeze?" Ashstripe's gruff voice cut right in the middle of Breeze's sentence, how fitting that he was in fact nearby, the guard only having to run a few steps before bumping rather abruptly into the white mass of fur. As if he knew of this before it had begun, really though it was coincidence. Breeze couldn't be trusted when it came to be confinement to the mountain.
"Surely ye were not discouraging yon maiden?" His furrowed brow held steady, he was the polar opposite of Breeze. Smiling was an expression he attempted to avoid but he was mortal and capable of feeling emotions stronger then discipline.

Breeze could only smile back at his Lord, not intimidated in the slightest,
"Course not, m'lord." Placing extra emphasis on their hierarchy, "She wants t'sign up, wot wot!" He saluted smartly, as if an expected protocol would erase his insubordination.

[Maeflower]

Maeflower looked at Breeze, and felt the hot sting of tears threaten her eyes, and the rising lump in her throat that threatened to choke her when he sent for Lord Ashstripe.

When he arrived at the scene, Mae did a small curtsy towards her Badger Lord. She remembered what her mother had said to her when addressing the Lord. Chin up, chest out, never say die. Ok, she added that last bit, but stiff upper lip! She swallowed down the lump, and blinked a few times until she was sure she wouldn't burst into tears.

If I may be so bold, m'Lord. I'd like to be part of yon Long Patrol. I just demonstrated to Breeze here my skill with a bow. I....I know what....what you'll probably say, sah. That I'm young, and a sweet young maiden such as m'self shouldn't be fighting vermin, and putting my life at stake....but....I don't want to sit on the sidelines while I have this talent of mine sah. Please, sah. Please.

She looked beseechingly into his eyes, craneing her neck as she did so, he was a tall beast!

[Ashstripe]

The Badger Lord tilted his head slightly, it was quite clear that gazing down upon others was not unusual for him; of course size didn't define strength as he had learned so long ago.

Eloquence was something he had yet to adjust to completely, he had taken many of the formalities to heart but still couldn't understand why such rituals were performed. Ashstripe couldn't help but smile lightly at the young hare in front of him, she was no different; a curtsy, pleases and thank yous. Things he hadn't the time to properly learn.

"Don't go sproutin' talk like that!" He chided lightly almost to the extent that one could say he had snapped at her, "A sweet young maiden shouldn't fight?" He chuckled from the depths of his throat, if only his sisters had been taught such ethics, perhaps his childhood would of involved a few less fights.
"Perhaps ye be right, perhaps a maiden shouldn't fight..." He now slowly circled and inspected Mae, as if he was going to lash at her throat the moment she showed a sign of weakness,
"...Are ye capable of wagering yon life? Are ye capable of claiming another's?" He launched his flurry of questions, one after another as if he didn't care if she answered or not, "Are ye capable of sleeping at peace afterwards? Are ye capable of dying in the name of honour and freedom?" Ashstripe's voice grew dangerously low as he continued with his almost insane ranting,
"That is what a Long Patrol hare does, can ye do that lass?" He almost whispered as he leaned forward slightly, meeting his eyes at her level.

He wasn't going to test her physical strength, that was what the officers were for. No, he was going to test her mental strength and loyalty; after all even the biggest of badgers are weaker than dibbuns without willpower.

[Maeflower]

Mae felt a slight surge of relief at the smile the Badger Lord wore. She wasn't as prepared when he started to circle. But, learning quickly that he was inspecting, Threw a hare's salute with an ear across her brow, straightening up to her full....rather small.... height. Eyes were forward as she stood her ground, listening to how his voice got lower and lower.

"...Are ye capable of wagering yon life? Are ye capable of claiming another's? Are ye capable of sleeping at peace afterwards? Are ye capable of dying in the name of honour and freedom? This is what a Long Patrol hare does, can ye do that lass?"

Yes, Lord Ashstripe, sah! Yes, sah! To be sure, sah!

Inside, she thought about all this. She could do it! She knew she could.....Yes, of course, the first kill would be....hard, but after that, she'd get more caloused to the foe-beast dieing by her paw. But she'd make sure that she wouldn't be caloused to death though....if an allie died in battle, she'd shed a tear when the time was right, then keep fighting until the day was done.

[Ashstripe]

The tense air that Ashstripe carried around him dispersed almost instantly as Mae's reply reached his ears, suddenly as it had come it had disappeared and everyone could breath easy again.
Another smile creaked across the badger's features, such swift confident replies. Good, there would be no time to think when the time for battle eventually arrived.

He clasped a paw on her shoulder suddenly as he completed another journey around the hare maid and nodded lightly, showing his approval and signaling the lack of threat.
"That's what I like m'ears to tell me, lass." Smiles turned into a grin, "Let it be known, that from this moment; ye will live and die. As Maeflower, Hare of the Long Patrol!"

The Badger Lord was convinced of her calibre, after all if Breeze had even considered bringing this to his attention she should be worthwhile physically at least. Mentally, he couldn't quite say, but who was he to fight against such determination? He only hoped that war wouldn't horribly scar her, but then again he was probably being as over protective as the hares.

[Maeflower]

When Lord Ashstripes heavy paw came down on Mae's shoulder, she felt her knees buckle slightly under the weight, a smile on her features.

"That's what I like m'ears to tell me, lass. Let it be known, that from this moment; ye will live and die. As Maeflower, Hare of the Long Patrol!"

She felt her ears stand rigid with excitement, mouth slightly agap.

Thanks Lord Ashstripe, sah! She had a pretty smile on her face, she couldn't believe it! She had to tell her matter at some point, but she knew she'd just fuss, probably put her in that frilly little yellow dress and bonnet, showing her off to everyone.

[Ashstripe]

((I take it you'll get involved in our little war in CoK then?))

Such jubulation without Breeze was an insult of the highest order, he simply had to be involved in every celebration held within his presence in one way or another. Without wasting another moment he shoved his Lord aside and draped an arm around the young hare maid tightly, his mind obviously uncaring to what reaction his actions may merit.
"Well done m'gel!" He cried out loudly, as he almost performed a little jig around the relieved and newest member of the Long Patrol.
"I expect yer in th' hall tomorrow mornin' eh? Front'n'Centre! That's the way! Wot wot!" He winked after finishing his celebration, a new recruit was always something to celebrate and celebrations always helped to further distract him from the times that loomed ahead.

____________

His paw shoved aside by an exhubarant Breeze, Ashstripe smiled and chuckled lightly. Now was not the time for such useless protocol anyway, now was a time of more jubilation for the young hare maid and if Breeze wanted to share in that, he was more then welcome to.

[Rakko Streamwater]

**Is this still open?**

[Ashstripe]

((I wouldn't say so, now that Mara has left.))