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Post by hemlock on Feb 25, 2011 18:48:12 GMT -5
The rat ran. Twigs crunched under his feet and leaves crackled as he leapt and sprinted through the forest, his breath coming up short and his eyes rolling. He had to get away... Get away... A dagger whizzed out struck his foot from behind, causing him to cry out and fall. His head thudded against the forest floor and he closed his eyed tight, tears leaking out from behind his closed eyelids. "I-I'm sorry..." He whimpered as pawsteps approached. "I'm sorry I stole from you, I won't do it again, I swear--" A foot stomped on his back, making him wheeze and choke. "I don't want to hear your excuses," said a voice, cold and full of hatred. "All you vermin are scum, and will never change your ways. All of you should die." The rat swallowed and gripped the ground as he heard a sword being pulled out of a sheath. "NO!" He cried, struggling. "I'll tell you anything you want, just please let me go!" That seemed to have an effect, because the voice said again, slower and with less malice, "Have you ever been to east Mossflower? Do you know, by chance, of a family of squirrels that was killed there? Which vermin did it?" "I--don't think so--" He was promptly cut off by the sword that flashed down and buried itself in his back. He screamed as the cold steel sunk deeper into his flesh, and let his head thud back down as blood ran in rivulets down to the ground. Elito Wintertree pulled the sword out of the rat's back, wiping it on the grass. "Looks like this one didn't know anything either," he sighed. "There are a lot of vermin in Mossflower," replied a high, sweet, piping voice. Elito straightened up and turned around to face a pretty squirrel maid hugging a tree. He sighed. "That's true, Maia. It will probably take us years before we find the vermin that did it. By the way, good shot with the dagger." he bent down to pull it out of the dead rat's body and tossed it to her. She caught it lightly. "I'm sure it was just a lucky shot..." she said, gazing into his eyes. "Your swordplay was even better." He grinned and looked up at the moon. "Thanks...We'd better find someplace to stay for the night, somewhere warm. We nearly froze to death in that tree during last night's cold front." "I know," replied his companion. "And my earrings kept catching on the bark. It was quite annoying." Suddenly, Elito stiffened and held up a paw for silence. "I think I hear something..." Maia turned fearfully to gaze where he was staring, and caught sight of a orange speck a little ways off. "Is that a fire...?" she asked. "I don't know what else it would be," he replied, still staring hard. "Let's check it out. If it's goodbeasts perhaps we can stay the night, and if it isn't... we can always fight them. He grinned and started towards the fire. Her eyes narrowed, Maia did the same.
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Chepsonek
Traveler
Awesome pic by Vela! Thanks Vela, you are an amazing artist.[0:Offline, and stuck in my room [Mo0:0]
Posts: 126
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Post by Chepsonek on Mar 1, 2011 22:24:30 GMT -5
OOC: D'you mind who is beside the fire?
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Post by hemlock on Mar 3, 2011 2:22:17 GMT -5
Not at all
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Chepsonek
Traveler
Awesome pic by Vela! Thanks Vela, you are an amazing artist.[0:Offline, and stuck in my room [Mo0:0]
Posts: 126
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Post by Chepsonek on Mar 3, 2011 22:10:09 GMT -5
OOC: Thanks!
BIC:
A pretty squirrelmaid leaned against a tree, well out of the light of the fire, playing a small double flute as the other squirrel sang.
Listen to the tale that I will tell, Of the heros of fair Dwimmerdwale, How they fought till the foebeast fell, Alisdemar and Fallofale. In Dwimmerdwale they once did dwell, Proud Elgetar the fair Dwimmerdwale, There never was a fairer dell, To Alisdemar and Fallofale. Alisdemar the Nighthawk, Who hunts by night and day, Fallofale the Strongrock, To the foebeast bars the way. Together they saved fair Dwimmerdwale, In those long and far off years, With his last breath, Fallofale, slew the captor of his peers. Nighthawk left us slowly then, Waning like the lovely moon, She told a new name to her kin, Mourner, Kial-inoon. She went, still weeping, to her grave, Kial-inoon of Dwimmerdwale, Together they lie, the honored brave, Kial-inoon and Fallofale.
The ball of fur beside the singer spoke. "Hmm, wich one of you wrote that one? I can't tell." The squirrelmaid laughed. "He did. I wouldn't dream of writing a song about my own namesake, but Fallo doesn't care. I don't mind playing it though." The male squirrel boffed the ball of fur. "Get up, Farny, stew's on." The furball lept up, turning into a black ferret. "Yay! I get first dibs, Alis!" Alis stretched and put her flute down. "All right, you can be first. After me of course." She grinned and flew at the pot. Fallo handed her a filled bowl before she could make a mess. Then he handed one to Farny, who slurped it happily up. "Mm, good job, Fallo. who would'a thought that you'd be such a good cook?" Alis giggled. "He did." Then, she perked her ears up, dropped her bowl, and shot up through the trees. Fallo shrugged and finished off the stew. Alis came back, dropping to the ground quietly. "Two squirrels, coming our way."
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Post by hemlock on Mar 5, 2011 1:57:09 GMT -5
Elito's ears twitched as the song floated through the trees. "Whoever it is, they don't sound like vermin..." he murmered. Maia smiled. "It sounds like a pretty maid's nearby." Elito grabbed her hand and stepped into the camp. "Good day," he announced, his eyes on the stew. "My name is Elito Wintertree of eastern Mossflower. What are your names?"
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Chepsonek
Traveler
Awesome pic by Vela! Thanks Vela, you are an amazing artist.[0:Offline, and stuck in my room [Mo0:0]
Posts: 126
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Post by Chepsonek on Mar 5, 2011 20:52:30 GMT -5
Alis stepped in between the newcomers and Farny, giving him a chance to slip into the trees, which he didn't take. She bowed politely to the squirrels. "Good evening. I am Alisdemar of Dwimmerdwale, descended straight from my ancestress Alisdemar of Dwimmerdwale. This is my brother, Fallofale, also descended straight from my ancestress, and his ancestor, Fallofale. This also is my brother, though by adoption only, Farnogran. In our tounge, my name is Nighthawk, my brother's is Strongrock, and Farnogran's is Diamond. If it does not seem to imposing of us, may we learn your names?" She dished up some stew into two clean dishes, and handed them to the newcomers, along with spoons. She left the ring of the fire, motioning Farny to follow. They held a murmured conversation, and Alisdemar came back, leaving Farny with a warm cloak, to keep watch.
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Post by hemlock on Mar 5, 2011 23:24:21 GMT -5
"It's great to meet you all. My name is Elito Wintertree, and this is my companion Maia." Elito said sombrely, taking the stew and sitting down. "So...what are you doing in this part of Mossflower?" he said, trying to make conversation. Maia was standing still, a frozen smile on her face. She was staring at the squirrelmaid, her brown eyes quickly hardening. This would not do. Quickly, she sat down and accepted the bowl, leaning against Elito's side. Her mind was whirring as they talked. That squirrelmaid. Doubtless she would try to steal her beloved away from her, Maia just knew it. As Maia leaned against Elito's side, her sanity-devoid mind was already concocting plans to murder her.
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Chepsonek
Traveler
Awesome pic by Vela! Thanks Vela, you are an amazing artist.[0:Offline, and stuck in my room [Mo0:0]
Posts: 126
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Post by Chepsonek on Mar 6, 2011 19:54:44 GMT -5
OOC: (something is wrong with her.............)
BIC:
Alis wondered at the obvious forcedness of the new squirrelmaid's smile. She inwardly shook it off as wariness, and answered the other squirrel. "We are searching for Redwall Abbey. We have heard that there is an abundance of bothe female squirrels,' here, she lightly punched her brother, 'and female ferrets. You wouldn't happen to know the way, would you?" Farny whispered something in her ear, and she slapped him. "You know very well that as future matriarch of the Island, that I am not allowed to look beyond the boundaries? Redwall Abbey, or anywhere here on the mainland, is off limits for me. And anyways, Diel is waiting. I can't dissapoint him, can I?" Farny snorted derisively. "You don't care for......" He got no further. Fallo had wacked him in the back of the head, effectivly silencing him. Alis turned on him. "Thank you, but I believe I can defend myself." She turned to her guests, smiling as if nothing had happened. "More stew?"
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Post by hemlock on Mar 7, 2011 3:28:00 GMT -5
OOC: Oh boy, is there ever.
BIC: "Thankee," said Elito, smiling as he held out his bowl. "I'm not sure where Redwall is, but I'd sure like to go there. Pray tell, what is The Island?" He caught sight of the ferret and his smile faded, but thought that he was obviously all right if he kept the company of goodbeasts, so he decided to trust him. Maia, however, was having rather different ideas. The mention of Redwall Abbey being filled with squirrelmaids made her insanely jealous, and she curled up tighter, flexing her claws. These beasts were going to die, all of them, and preferably shortly.
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Chepsonek
Traveler
Awesome pic by Vela! Thanks Vela, you are an amazing artist.[0:Offline, and stuck in my room [Mo0:0]
Posts: 126
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Post by Chepsonek on Mar 7, 2011 17:17:06 GMT -5
Alis sat down, on the other side of the fire, and served more soup. Then she took some water out of a canteen and poured it on Farny's head. "The Island? Well, my home. Our home really. Me an' Fallo were born there, and all three of us were raised on it. We call it Dwimmerdwale, after the home of our ancestors. If we ever go back, which we no doubt must eventually, I will become the Matriarch of our tribe. Although, being the future matriarch, I can't have all the liberties that the other squirrelmaids there do. I am more bound to tradition than they. We really left the Island to find a better place for Farny. He is out of place in Dwimmerdwale, and we want to find him a place for him to be in place. Where do you come from?" She looked at them expectantly, but her paws were busy sharpening four deadly looking stilettos.
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Post by hemlock on Mar 8, 2011 7:06:59 GMT -5
Elito spared a nervous glance at the stilettos, then patted Alis's shoulder in comfort. "I'm really sorry. That must be so hard for you... I can't imagine not being free." Maia had stiffened, her eyes wide, not even noticing Elito patting Alis's shoulder. She had known what it was like to be captive, to be deprived of freedom. Tears of horror welled in her eyes as she recalled what her life had been like before she met Elito. Her brother... she remembered what had happened to her brother... her precious brother...
"Hey... little sis. Big brother loves you, you know? I want to make you happy. So if I die..."
Maia stood up suddenly, the bowl clattering to the ground. "I'll be right back," she managed, stumbling out of the clearing. Elito looked after her quizzically. "Be careful!" he called, then turned back to Alis. "Uh, I'm from eastern Mossflower. I lived with my parents until..." He stopped, then hurried on, "I'm not sure where Maia's from, though. We found her one day, and she said she forgot everything before meeting us."
Maia puked. Bending over and clutching her stomach, she heaved breath after breath as waves of nausea swept through her body. Oh my god. Brother. Brother. Straightening up, she wiped her mouth on the back of her paw and stared with distaste at the remains of the stew she had eaten. Then she turned around and stared in the direction of the camp. She sighed. She couldn't go back yet. She needed to take a walk.
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Chepsonek
Traveler
Awesome pic by Vela! Thanks Vela, you are an amazing artist.[0:Offline, and stuck in my room [Mo0:0]
Posts: 126
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Post by Chepsonek on Mar 8, 2011 21:50:27 GMT -5
Alis laughed. "Its not that I'm not free, I'm just bound by tradition. I don't mind a lot. If I had a sister, I wouldn't be as bound. I could pass my inheritance to her. but I don't, and I'm fine with the brother I've got. I'll be summoned when my mother leaves Dwimmerdwale for her reunion with my ancestress." Then she stopped talking, aware that she had been chattering like a brook. "Oops, sorry. It's been awhile since I have been able to speak to somebeast about home. In fact, I've never met anybeast, excepting Farny, but he doesn't count, who hasn't been under the same traditions as I. It has been an amazing treat to meet you and Maia." She placed the now glittering stilettos into her sheath. "I don't know why I polish them...... I have no clue how to use the cumbersome things."
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Post by hemlock on Mar 9, 2011 4:23:27 GMT -5
Elito laughed. "If you think that's cumbersome, you should see Maia's axe. I can't believe she wields it so well, that thing's got to be taller than I am..."
Speaking of axes, Maia was currently sitting on a branch, polishing hers. The iron blade glittered in the moonlight and she lifted it to her paw, running her claw along its edge. She could hardly wait to slaughter those beasts. Those beasts who were taking Elito's attention away from her. She leaped nimbly to the ground, holding her axe in front of her. Than, slowly, she began to make her way to the camp.
Elito yawned, stretching. "D'you mind if I go to sleep?" He asked. "I had a really rough morning, and I sleep on the grass anyway..."
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Chepsonek
Traveler
Awesome pic by Vela! Thanks Vela, you are an amazing artist.[0:Offline, and stuck in my room [Mo0:0]
Posts: 126
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Post by Chepsonek on Mar 9, 2011 21:59:55 GMT -5
Alis shook her head. "No. We don't mind. We were going to practice some with our instruments, but we can move into the woods to do that. Sleep well, Ichoura, or friend." She stood, bowed, picked up her flute and began to walk into the woods, her brother and Farny following, and then stopped and looked back. "If we do not return before you and Maia must leave, then good luck on your quest. Maybe someday we may meet again." She left, bending slightly to pick up her pack. Farny went next, only hesitating a second. "Well, I can't add much to Alis, but good luck." Fallo went last. He stopped and grinned. "Hope to see you at Redwall sometime! And maybe, just maybe, you might come to the Island some day?" There was a querulous note in his voice. "Well, bye. Maybe." He left, and a second or two later the trill of a flute sounded. It seemed to say 'sleep sound'.
Alis sighed as they got away from the campfire. "I wish, almost, that we could have kept traveling with them. But it is impossible. They have their own quest, as we have ours. Who's for a night in a tree? I claim first watch!" Farny climbed up into and ancient oak. "Suits me." Fallo grinned evily. "I get third watch. Farny, you can't sleep yet. You'll have to take second." "Blast."
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Post by hemlock on Mar 10, 2011 2:17:57 GMT -5
Maia smiled softly. The beasts were going away, away from her Elito. Perhaps she didn't need to kill them after all. Slinging the axe over her shoulder, she listened to them prattle for a little bit, then turned towards where Elito was sleeping. The squirrel lad was curled up in a ball on the grass, his side rising and falling with each breath. Maia smiled and crouched down beside him, smoothing down the fur on his head. She was so glad that they wouldn't be seing those beasts again... hopefully. Turning around, she seated herself on a low-slinging branch to keep watch over him, her axe clutched firmly in her paws.
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