Exploration

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Canyon was walking through Mossflower, paw on his sword, admiring the scenery. He looked up and immediately put his head down, the light was blinding him. He peered ahead and twitched his ears. He thought he could hear something around here but he was not sure what.

[Rocky]

Rocky was stalking the ferret. The ferret looked cautious. But Rocky was even more cautious. He tried not to make a sound. He was traveling behind the ferret. About 3 meters away was Rocky. He unsheathed his sword and ran into some trees. He traveled right next to the ferret warrior without the ferret knowing... yet. Rocky pulled out a bow he had and some arrows. He shot an arrow at the ferret.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

It was a small movement that saved Canyon's life. When he heard the hiss of the arrow he turned and the shaft sped by his face. He quickly grabbed a dagger and flung it in the direction of the otter, yelling 'Juskaaaaaa!' He clapped a paw across his mouth. He was not a Juska anymore. 'Show yourself, I'm not a vermin!'

[Rocky]

Rocky dodged the dagger and watched it go into a tree trunk. He wrenched it free and tossed it to the ferret's feet. "Prove it!" Rocky said. He let fly with one more shaft. "If yer no vermin, prove it. Drop yer weapons and hold your hands up in the air." Rocky said.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Canyon sighed and let his broadsword drop to the ground. He bent down, picked his dagger up, and stuck it onto the belt he was wearing, dodging the other shaft. He unfastened the crossbelt and placed it onto the ground next to the sword and raised his paws. 'There! Believe me now?'

[Rocky]

"It'll do." Rocky said. He strapped his bow on his back and unsheathed his sword. He walked out of his hiding place and over to the ferret. He kicked away the ferret's weapons. He said to the ferret. "Who are ye and why were you yellin' 'Juska'? Are you a Juska?" Rocky said. He held his sword point at the ferret's throat.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Canyon put his paws down and relaxed, placing a paw on the face tattoos. 'Once I was, but that's no more. Tis just an old habit I've picked up. I'm not a vermin anymore and I've never harmed an innocent beast since then, just vermin.' He smiled and stared into Rocky's eyes with his cold blue ones.

[Rocky]

"Oh, pick up yer weapons. Ah see that yer true to yer word. " Rocky said. He sheathed his own weapon. "Where ye headin'?" Rocky asked. "By the way, Ah'm Rocky. Ah'm just wanderin'. Ah like fighting. Bad habit Ah picked up. Ah have many battle-scars from 'em." Rocky said. "What's yer name?" Rocky said. He held out his paw.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Canyon strapped on his crossbelt of daggers and his broadsword. 'My name's Canyon. Nice to meet ye', Rocky.' He clasped the otter's scarred paw and shook it. 'Do ye' know the way to Redwall Abbey? I'm looking to go there. I don't think they want a type like me in their gates, though. I mean, everybeast except ye' has called me a vermin, and I have a touch o' the bloodwrath when I get called that.' He winked.

[Rocky]

((Let's arrive at Redwall in a couple of posts.))

"Yes, actually, Ah think I know." Rocky said. "Ah'm headin' to Redwall, too." Rocky said. "Why you goin' there, mate?" Rocky said. "Ah heard there was a feast there." Rocky said. "That's why Ah'm goin'."

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Canyon shrugged. 'I've been tryin' to gather up the courage for a while now. I'd like to live there.' He fingered one of his dagger handles. 'But they won't let a ferret in there I don't think, and if I'm with you, they'll realize I mean no harm.' He threw the dagger up into the air and caught it deftly, inserting it back into his belt.

[Rocky]

"Well, then... Stick with me an' you'll get into Redwall." He said. He watched the ferret throw the dagger and catch it. "Pretty impressive." Rocky said. He took out two daggers. "Can ye do this?" He threw one dagger in the air, and threw the other right after it. He criss-crossed his paws and caught one in each paw. He gave the Canyon a wink. "If ye show yer of no harm, ye'll probably get into Redwall." He said again. "Care for a friendly duel?" Rocky said. "We won't hurt each other, just hone in on our skills, ye know, just parrying and all that stuff. Wanna duel?" Rocky asked.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Canyon smiled. 'Sure.' He grabbed his broadsword and swung it lightly at the otter, while throwing a dagger in the air. He lifted the blade, struck, and caught the handle of the dagger in his teeth. 'Can ye' do that?'

[Rocky]

"Probably not." He chuckled. "Ah can do this though." He picked up a stick, threw it up horizontally. His sword flashed twice and the stick fell in three pieces. "Ok, let's get ready ta duel." He said. He grabbed his sword and swung at hers. He pulled out a dagger and threw it right by her ear and waited to hear the thud it left when it buried in the trunk. He started acting serious now. He swung and slashed.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Canyon ducked the blow and tried to land a punch to the otter's muzzle. Then he jumped back and swung his blade at Rocky's as a thud came from the tree behind him. He grabbed a dagger and flung it in the air, it landed right next to Rocky's footpaw. He swung the blade again.

[Rocky]

Rocky was too busy parrying to realize the punch. It nailed him square on the cheek, because he slightly moved. He started rubbing it. "Ow, that's gonna bruise. heh heh." He chuckled. Rocky saw Canyon swing the blade, he breathed in and the blade barely slit him open. He pulled out a dagger and slashed down with his sword, and sideways with his dagger. Rocky jumped four feet back. He ran, and spun and sent his rudder-like tail seeking Canyon's arm.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

Canyon dodged the blade and the dagger created a razor thin line on his chest. He smiled, then winced as the otter's rudder hit him on the arm. Stabbing with the sword, he flicked his dagger left and right around Rocky's body.

[Rocky]

Rocky dodged the sword but was grazed by the dagger. He dropped his sword and dagger and said. "Don't mind if Ah start boxin', do ye?" He said. Rocky was an excellent boxer. "Let's dance" He said. He dodged some swipes and retaliated with an uppercut. He then jumped and turned around and went to slam Canyon with his tail. Then he followed up with a thick left to the jaw.

[Varjak Juskarak Taggerung]

'No.' Canyon said as the hefty tail slammed him in the legs and he fell, avoiding the punch to the jaw. He stabbed his dagger at Rocky's footpaw, intending it to pin the otter to the ground.

[Rocky]

Rocky barely dodge the dagger at his fottpaw. "Oi, let's get goin'.. Its gettin a bit late." He said. "C'mon, up ye come." Rocky said. He held out a paw and lifted Canyon up. The sun started to set. Rocky picked up his weapons, and sheathed them. "Oi! Ah think Ah see the belltower ta Redwall." Rocky said. "Stick with me and ye'll gain entrance." Rocky said.

The belltower to Redwall was just in view.