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Bonetail, a stoat,
and Jakan, a weasel.
Pvt Dominik,
Sgt. Terrence,
and Cpl. Zolomon, hares.

Bonetail is still in the village, and starting to rethink grabbing the dibbun. One it's loud and two he is not so sure he wasn't seen, his plan...get rid of the dibbun, somehow.

Jakan has arrived in Halyard, and grins "Lovely place to spend a couple weeks, till things cool off elsewhere." He notices the stoat and walks over "So what's a good place to...hang out in Halyard sur?"

Bonetail backs up, "W..what?" Oh it's just a weasel "Umm..tavern?"

The dibbun of course chooses now to wail and cause stares to happen.

Jakan walks over and raises an eyebrow and then frowns "Why would a vermin have...a woodlander's  dibbun, you some friend to woodlanders?"

Bonetail tenses up and then makes a face... "No...some fox had it and I rather get rid of it."

Jakan arches an eyebrow and goes to grab the stoat, pulling him into an alleyway... "Then  get...rid of it if your not some...friend to woodlanders"

Bonetail glares at the weasel and lets him led him to an ally, he lays the dibbun down... "I think the fox killed it's caretaker, no clue why he had...this...too much a target if ask me, for sure here."

Terrence hadn't returned to Salamandastron after coming back to Halyard, and neither did two of the privates from his division. The sergeant and his small squad were looking for Bonetail, striding down the streets in uniform and fully equipped. Many town-goers avoided them, parting to let the hares pass by. Terrence held a paper with a rough sketch of the stoat on it, asking beasts at random if they'd seen him. So far, as they pass by the alley unaware of the two vermin inside, the hares had received very few useful answers, if any.

The dibbun isn't very old at all, somewhere between newborn and maybe 1/2 season old. Not at all dangerous...yet anyways, given a few seasons it could be...a badger cub, a very loud badger cub!

Jakan lets out a growl, he hates woodlander, hates dibbuns and...he has voiced his  views on badgers as he flicks a couple daggers at the dibbun......well one way to get it to shut up as he smirked "Problem solved, if only it was that easy all the time" He looks at Bonetail "Jakan...and you are?"

Bonetail gaps, eyes widen as he watches that take place "But but...ok ya insane, you know how much one of those  can get ya...a lot...raise one to be like your body guard...think of it evil vermin badger..." He  looks around to make sure no one heard much as he motions to just...walk away "Bonetail and insane around here gets unwanted attention from the Long Patrol and they have an over 8 foot tall stripiedog I heard"

Someone had heard. One of the hares next to Terrence stops outside of the alleyway where the crying dibbun was cut off by a whimper.  "Sah?" The private asks, nodding down the alleyway. "I think there's something down there." The sergeant had heard something as well, and he draws his saber. "Greenhill, go see if you can get to the othah end of the alleyway to cut off there escape, just in case." The private who had spoken earlier salutes and runs off down the street and around the corner. "Harolds," Terrence says to the remaining private who is setting a stone into his sling, "Come on." The two advance into the alley and it takes one glance at the dead dibbun and the two vermin for the bespectacled to raise his weapon. "Filth." He hisses, glaring at the weasel and stoat. Then he collects himself, saying in a loud and commanding voice, "Bonetail, surrendah you'h weapons and come quietly - you have my word you won't be harmed. I wish to ask you some questions. Weasel, do so as well. Now."

Jakan truns to look at the hares "Oh goodie, long ears are here...."He then  grins "Wait..uniforms..the long patrol,I have heard about you lot"

Bonetail backs off "I didn't kill the dibbun...the weasel did" He bumps into the wall and then draws forth a cutlass"And why surrender to you? You got your hare back...lost me gold but there is more beasts out there"

"Than you should bloody well do as I say," Terrence fixes the weasel with a long, hard look, "O'h you'll be as dead as that badgah soon." At this point the private named Greenhill found the other exit to the alley, coming down from the other end holding a spear. Terrence glances at her before turning his attention to the stoat. "Well, then, Bonetail, if you didn't kill the poo'h thing that's perfectly fine. But you'h still a slavah, and we cannot allow you to continue. And you can't out run hares, so like I said to you'h friend the weasel," There's a burning hatred in the sergeant's eyes as he speaks, "We will kill you if you don't surrendah."

Jakan chuckles "Kill us? I suppose you hares do that, oh you vermin, kill them" He smirks and doesn't seem too concerned right now.

Bonetail watches the hares closely "You hares have no proof I am a slaver." He stays calm as he  grips his cutlass.

Letting out a long sigh, Terrence gives Bonetail a look that screams really? "I daresay capturing a Long Patrol hare and being complicit in the murdah of a babe is enough fo'h you to surrendah. I just want to ask you questions, really. As fo'h you'h weasel friend." The sergeant nods to Jakan, and Harolds twirls his sling taking aim at the weasel. "I'll say this one more time - surrendah, o'h we will attack. If you escape, we will come fo'h you - and even if you kill us, many more will come fo'h you and in a day o'h a season, you will die hunted and ragged by a hare's paw. I sweah it."

Jakan chuckles an insane laugh "That a promise...long ears?" He grins as he goes to flick a dagger at one of the nearby privates! Hey he is a skilled assassin when he wants to be and he keeps hidden daggers in his sleeves, and his boots.

Bonetail folds his arms "Questions..what sort of..." And then Jakan attacks the hares, a groan escapes the stoat "WHY!?"

The knife hits Harolds in his left shoulder, and the private looses the stone from his sling as he stumbles backwards. The small rock bounces off the wall of the alley - and at the nearly same time, Terrence bounds forward bringing his saber down at Jaken in a powerful and quick blow. "BLOOD AND VINAGAH!" He yells, as Greenhill rushes forward and points her spear at the stoat. "Stay out of the fight, Bonetail, o'h I'll stick you." She looks like she might just stab the stoat anyway, but she hasn't made a move... Yet.

Jakan chuckles as he sidesteps and  does to take a slice at the Sergeant, The hare's blade did clip part of, what was left of an ear.

Bonetail slowly puts his paws up, the cutlas is dropped...for now he is gonna just stay out of this, it's true he didn't want to deal with the Long Patrol, it wasn't his plan to deal with them right now.

Parrying the knife, quick as he can, Terrence turns and thrusts at the weasel's stomach. There's a raging fire in the sergeant's eyes and it is clear his goal is to kill the vermin who harmed one of his privates. Greenhill quickly kicks the cutlas down the ally, giving Bonetail a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Good boy." She says, keeping the spear turned on the stoat. Private Harolds, in this time, had fallen against the wall and was holding his left shoulder- knife still in it - with his free paw and letting out a low groan.

Jakan goes to block the weapon, just barely and goes to move backwards, He smirks and again goes to swing at the hare with his blade.

Bonetail keeps an eye on the hares, he then snorts he just wander to leave in a boat, thats all and now he is stuck here for now "What ya lot gonna do with me?"

Terrence parries the blade again, bringing his foot up to unleash a powerful kick that only a hare can give at Jaken. The sergeant had been practicing kicking since his bout with Felicity some time ago and he'd gotten quite good. Greenhill shrugs, still keeping her spear where it is. "Interrogate you. Aftah that, who knows? Maybe you'll 'elp find all the slaves you sold, o'h maybe you'll rot in a cell, o'h, hopefully..." She bears her teeth, spitting out the next words, "You'll be executed. But you'll 'ave at least a few more days of life than that weasel does, I think, wot."

Jakan gets kicked in the the stomach and tumbles backwards, the kick was clearly a surprise as he wasn't expecting it from the hare. He bumps his shoulder into the building with a loud yelp of pain and very possibly dislocated it.

Bonetail just glares ever so slightly at the hare maid but he doesn't go to attack her, he stays the way he is, for now a surrender.

As Terrence hears the yelp of pain, he brings his saber up and over the the weasel as if to strike a killing blow - but something stops him. Taking several deep breaths, the sergeant lowers his blade. It's still pointing at the weasel, but Terrence won't kill him now that he's calmed a bit. "I'll give you one last chance, weasel. Are you going to surrendah?" Greenhill relaxes a bit, lowering her spear ever so slightly. "'Opefully this'll be the end of it." She mutters, still keeping an eye on Bonetail.

Jakan is beyond peeved off at this hare, his eyes blaze with hate as he looks at the hare and takes his chance as he moves rather quickly, pulled a dagger from his boot and goes to stab the hare in the chest! "I..HATE..hares too...!"He  cackles insanely as he believes this a win for him, he can succeeded and cause chaos, he can flee in the chaos and who cares if the stoat flees with him or not.

Bonetail frowns, what he is  not going anyways "So..chat?" His eyes widen at the weasel, what is with this weasel does he have a death wish? He looks ready to bolt now but at the same time there is still a spear near his face.

As soon as the weasel started moving Terrence thrusted out his sword to stab in defense - but even so, the sergeant stumbles backwards, the knife in his chest just beneath the caller bone and a hair away from hitting any major internal organs. "Sergeant!" Greenhill shouts, forgetting Bonetail for a moment and lowering her spear to run toward the officer. Harolds had during all of this been checking to see if the badger cub was alive, but when the shout rings out he looks up, and, with one paw, starts to load a stone into his sling and twirl it with a glare at Bonetail. "You there, stoat - don't run, please. I don't tend to bloody miss."

Jakan chuckles and then a sort of straggled gurgle as the blade from the hare enters his  throat and there is a look of shock and surprise on the face of the weasel as he slumps down to the ground, limp...and very lifeless...

Sadly it looks as if the weasel had succeeded in killing the dibbun earlier.

Bonetail says, "Oh trust me...I am staying where I am..." He does back up a little though, just a little but doesn't run, he looks a little concerned but not for the hare, more for himself cause if one of these hares dies...oh boy he likely has a badger to worry about, a much bigger very much alive one thats likely to get  fairly angry."

Two injured hares and a dead dibbun for one dead weasel. Perhaps the most disastrous action Terrence has lead so far, but he hadn't the time to think of that yet. "Private," He grunts as he falls against the far wall, sliding down to sit on the ground next to his fallen saber. "Make sure the stoat doesn't get away." There's a moment where Greenhill looks as if she'll ignore the order, but she turns, taking a piece of rope from atop a nearby barrel and approaching Bonetail with it. "I'll bind you'h paws. We'll toss you in the brig fo'h the badgah lord to decide what to do with you, 'opefully." Harolds, who had carefully taken out the knife in his own shoulder and bandaged it, comes over to do basic first aid on Terrence to stop outside bleeding. The knife remains were it is, as the healers in the mountain should be the ones to deal with it. "Come on, sah." The private says, pulling the sergeant up, "We have to get out of here." Before trying the his paws, Greenhill looks at the dead badger briefly and then looks back to the stoat. "Carry that poo'h dibbun, would you? Least you can do is 'elp give it a propah burial, wot. We'll leave the weasel to rot."

Bonetail backs up and bumps the wall, "I will come..quietly..and carry the..." He gulps "It was not my idea...I was gonna sell it to this beast I know...badgers are worth a lot and one that age would of...could of been trained to like...one day attack ya stupid hares"

Greenhill just prods the stoat with her spear, ignoring his babbling. "Yeah, yeah, wotevah. Just get a bloody move on." Harolds, helping the sergeant walk, scrunches his nose at the dead weasel. "I can't say you'h friend was very wise, Bonetail." Looking very pale and glossy-eyed, Terrence just looks over at the stoat with a very, very annoyed look. "Oh, and word of advice?" Greenhill adds, poking Bonetail's tail a bit more harshly than before, "I'd not insult you'h captahs, if I were you, mate."

Bonetail just follows the hares, they likely can bury the dibbun on the beach, then he has to get an unwanted cell, but he  doesn't fight back, he  listens to the hares least he end up like poor dead Jakan.

It had been a long day for Terrence and the two privates that came along with him. The spear wielding private Greenhill stands behind the stoat bearing the dead badger cub in his arms. Private Harolds, wounded in the shoulder, is helping Terrence walk down the beach - the sergeant is in bad shape with the knife left in to stop the bleeding below his collar bone. Pale faced and bleary eyed, the bespectacled hare gives a grimace as they near the mountain. "Hopefully somebeast'll see us..."

Bonetail walks slowly, ever so slowly. Some beasts dream of seeing this place, vermin may want to try and take it over...the stoat?...Looks at it in fear right now "Umm...you know we can..lots of sand for a grave here...and there...and over there too"

Dominik had decided to head outside to the beach for a walk, to clear his head. He had informed Felicity where he'd be going so she was aware, since she'd been put in charge of his welfare, and so the giant arctic hare is sitting in the sand, staring out at the horizon as he tries to get in a bit of relax-time. All that goes out the window however when he first hears the small group approaching; his hearing tended to be better than his sight...and so Dom's head shifts in that direction. As the group finally appears, Dom catches the scent of blood on the air, and he recognizes most of the group almost immediately. He knew Terrence had gone back to the village after they'd returned with Zeldove the previous day, and so he was aware that he would be returning soon more than likely. Pushing himself up to his footpaws, the large hare jogs quickly in their direction, concern etched upon his features as he approaches. "...sir?" His voice booms out as he gets nearer.

Seeing the big white hare, Terrence manages to raise a paw and give a weak wave. "Don't kill the stoat, please." He gets out, as Harolds gives him a look. The private calls, "Oi, Dom, mind getting some healahs fo' the two of us? In bad shape, here." Greentail laughs at the stoat, shaking her head. "No, not yet, buddy. You're gonna carry the poo'h thing all the way."

Bonetail frowns, seeing the  tall...large...white hare, he seems to freeze up, looks ready to bolt or run even, he gulps as he just sort of stands where he is.

Zolomon sighs, he needed air also after trying to talk to Zeldove and getting no where...basically a crying doe, not the best thing and he failed at cheering her up and with good reason if seemed as he looked at a paper, and frowns, he looks up and frowns more "Wot..the?!"

Dominik pauses to examine the situation in front of him. The fact that it is requested he not kill the stoat that is with them strikes him as rather curious, and for the time being he doesn't get to ask why exactly as Terrence requests aid from the healers. Bonetail gets a quick glare, but noting the injury seems to be serious, Dom turns and quickly hurries away towards the mountain without a word to retrieve the healers and bring them back down to the beach. He is quite fast for his size, and soon enough is returning with a couple of the healers from the infirmary, who he's gotten to know quite well over the past season or so.

Giving a thankful smile to Dom when the healers arrive, both Terrence and the private Harolds are taken in to treat their respective wounds. Greenhill, the only remaining private, gestures to Bonetail with a sheepish look to Zolomon and Dominik. "The sarge wanted to ask this slavah a few questions - like were he sold the previous beasts, and where. The badgah cub..." Her face falls, "The poo'h thing was killed by the weasel who injured the othahs. Terrence killed him, though, so no need to worry 'bout that monstah."

Bonetail gulps again and stumbles backwards almost dropping the dibbun. He stays sat in the sand and just watches the hares, not moving for now.

Zolomon frowns, he then nods "Then Sergeant Terrence needs to be in the infirm, Dominik can carry him if needed..." He looks at the stoat and folds his arms over his chest "What of the stoat though?" He looks at Terrance as if he wants to update him on one other thing but it can wait for now he decides

Dominik watches Terrence and Harolds being led back to the mountain, and once they are safely inside, the massive hare slowly turns back around to regard those now left on the beach, i.e. Greenhill, Bonetail, and the newly arrived Zolomon. Dom listens quietly to Greenhill's explanation, staring at her as she speaks, his face an expressionless mask as he takes in the information. As she finishes, his gaze slowly shifts to Bonetail, the hare recognizing him from the previous day down at the docks. "This vun..." he replies, his voice a quiet rumble, like distant thunder on the horizon as a dangerous storm approaches. He points a paw at Bonetail. "...this vun vas at docks, yesterday. Vas vun who took Zeldove," he states. "Vat did I tell you vas going to happen if I saw you again?" He takes a step closer to Bonetail, glowering down at him in his most intimidating fashion. Just then, as his eyes fall upon the bundle Bonetail is carrying, Green's words seem to strike him at the same time. His eyes lift to regard the stoat, that building thunder within getting closer and closer. Slowly, the hare's ears fold back against his head, and his paws close up into tight fists. His jaw clenches, eyes narrowing to slits as he gives out a command to Bone. "Let me see." He lifts a paw and points at the bundle. "Now."

Bonetail is now visably shaking as he gulps "I...I didn't do it..t..t..the weasel did....he also  attacked the others..I wo..wouldn't of...I was just go gonna sell it" As if selling it would of been better, then again maybe seeing as it would of been alive and right now the  dibbun is very much dead. One thats maybe 1/2 season old it seems.

Greentail's eye widen in alarm, and she steps partially in front of the stoat. "Now, 'ang on, Dom!" She turns to Bonetail, holding out her arms. "I'll take them, now." As Sergeant Terrence passes by Zolomon, he nods. "Corporal, please make sure Dom doesn't kill the captive- he's name's Bonetail. You're in charge now...make sure the stoat is put in a cell..." He coughs, and is dragged inside to the infirmary.

Zolomon listens as the stoat speaks "Weasel?.." He watches the Sergeant be taken inside and edges forwards a little to where the stoat is and frowns. He looks at Dom a moments before looking back at the stoat wondering what is to happen next, everyone knows Dom and how he is protective of dibbuns and the stoat comes...here with a dead one?

Dominik's ears give a twitch as Bonetail stammers and sputters his excuses, the hare's expression now icy cold and stony, that murderous rage that had adopted the name Erg beginning to bubble beneath the surface. The hare's icy eyes are on the verge of shifting into a gaze that no one likely ever wished to see, and he watches as the small bundle is handed over to Greentail. "...that...is Dibbun?" he asks her, his voice cracking a little as he attempts to keep it calm and steady. A little shudder goes through him, and the large hare's teeth are bared as a low growl begins to rumble deep within his chest. His heart begins to pound, paws still clenched tightly enough at his sides that if possible, they'd be even whiter than they already are. He turns back to Bonetail, and he takes a step towards him. He reaches down with those large, spadelike paws, and grips the stoat tightly by his shoulders as he slowly lifts him up so they are eye to eye. He holds him this way, just staring holes right through him.

Bonetail whimpers and drops the dibbun to the sand as Dom grabs him and looks him in the eyes, he shivers and looks ready to faint....in fact he does faint, the  what he views as ghost hare is likely looking into his very soul...maybe.

Zolomon steps a little closer "We can put him in a cell...his Lordship can deal with the stoat, we may need info from the stoat still"

Greenhill shows the big hare the body, looking grim. "First we need to burry this one... Dom," She asks, fear of him clear in her eyes, "Do you want to 'elp?" Glancing at Zolomon, she adds, "Certainly, Corporal. I say we-" She cuts herself off as the stoat passes out in Dom's arms. Personally, she'd rather the stoat die. "Well..."

Dominik's eyes shift over towards Green as she shows him the slain little badger, and he stares down at it for the longest time, his heart breaking right in half, his expression showing his grief as his muzzle twitches at the corners, teeth clenched within his muzzle as soft sounds of both distress and anger mingle within his throat. "...mnnn....mrrrm...." His eye begins to twitch, his gaze returning towards Bonetail who is still held tight in his grip. His paws squeeze tighter on the stoat, and then he sees that he had seemingly passed out in fear. This does not really help matters much, and so with a distressed growl of frustration, the large hare tosses him down to the sand with a bit of force. Luckily it is sand and it cushions the fall, though it sends up a cloud of sand as the stoat lands hard. Still trembling with his pent up anger, Dom's eyes fall back on Green as she requests his help to bury the Dibbun. He gives her a single nod, before he turns and trudges off towards a spot that would be good to bury the poor little badgercub.

Zolomon looks at the stoat and then where Dom and Greenhill go and catches sight of one of the sentries "The stoat needs in a...cell" The sentry nods and then Zolomon goes to follow the other two beasts to where the dibbun will be buried.

Picking up the dropped body, Greenhill, still wary of Dom, follows after him at a slight distance. "How 'bout 'ere?" She offers to an out of a spot above the tideline. "I wish we knew its name..." She mutters, looking down at the dibbun.

Dominik comes to a stop as Greenhill suggests a spot. He stands there with his back towards the doe and the deceased badger cub she is holding, the large hare still seething and desperately trying to find a way to contain that anger that has build up within his chest. He very easily could slip back into the Erg persona at any moment, though he is hanging on by a tentative thread for the time being. Slowly he turns around, certainly noticing that Greenhill seems to fear him, and so he does his best not to take out any of that anger on her. He moves to the indicated spot, and begins to dig with his paws. The more he digs, the more sand flies, the hare taking some frustration out that way...in no time, there is an adequate hole there in the sand for the badger to be placed in. Dom climbs out, then stands there near the hole, staring down at it with clenched jaw and narrowed eyes, his arms folding against his chest.

Zolomon stays right beside Dom, he may be a bit worried but he doesn't show it, he was left in charge so in charge he will be. He keeps an eye out for trouble along the beach . He watches Dom quietly and speaks calmly "The vermin who did this...was slain...so the  dibbun can rest in peace now."H e slowly reaches out to lay a paw on Dom's arm, if he is allowed, to just assure him a friend is there.

"Do eithah of you 'ave a good cloak o' something to wrap him in?" Greenhill asks, settling down on her knees next to the grave. She's avoiding making eye contact with Dom, as she's still scared of him. "I don't won't to just leave the body exposed to the... sand..."

Dominik reaches down and tears off a good-sized strip of cloth from the bottom of his tunic. It seemed to be a more than adequate size to wrap the Dibbun in, and he holds it out towards Greenhill. Once she takes it, the large hare fixes his gaze down on Zolomon as he reaches out to touch a paw to his arm, and a soft word is growled. "Don't." It seems he is not in a touchy-feely mood right now, especially with someone who had, until recently, been on Dom's 'dislike' list. Despite this, he does not step away, his eyes focusing back on Greenhill and the badger cub, and he merely stands there and watches as she prepares to bury the cub in the sand...likely far away from its parents, and its home. The least he could do was remain here, watching over the fallen cub, feeling both angry and completely helpless at the same time.

Zolomon stays beside him but  takes away the paw and just nods. He sighs sadly and goes quiet, a glance at the mountain as he frowns, he has yet to update the Sergeant on other recent news, well it can wait for now.

Greenhill takes the cloth and carefully wraps the badger cub in it and gently lowers the body down. She doesn't say anything when she stands back up, turning away from the grave. "I think..." She starts, quietly, "I think I'll 'ead inside now. Today's been enough fo' me."

Zolomon speaks "I will get Dom inside, check on Sergeant Terrence and I will be in soon to talk to him, need to give him a report" He frowns "Not that he wants to but he knows Lt Greg already knows of the report, and Terrance was away at the time.

Dominik's eyes fall on Greenhill as she finishes burying the cub, and at her words, he gives her a curt nod. The large hare, however, was planning on remaining there in that spot for as long as he was able. At Zolomon's words, Dom gives him a dangerous look and a soft growl that says 'I am staying right here'. And so he does, keeping vigil over the unknown badger cub's grave, the large buck standing guard as he stares out at the horizon.

It had been quite difficult to properly treat Terrence's wound as the knife was close to several major arteries. Luckily the sergeant hadn't bled out by the time he was brought in, though it was touch and go for a little while - he pulled through however and, several hours later, awoke. Bandaged heavily around his chest and one his right shoulder, it will be some time before he can get up again. So he lays in his bed staring up at the rocky ceiling.

Zolomon walks in and over to the bed, a quick sultan... "Sur..." He says quietly and waits for a reply. He glances over at a bed in the far side of the room, likely the sleeping Zeldove and frowns a little.

"Corporal..." Terrence mutters, "Can't say I was hopin' you'd be the first face I'd see waking up, but..." He jokes, giving a weak laugh that turns into a cough. With a groan he sits up ever so slightly to get a better look at Zolomon as he takes in several deep breaths and says, in a stronger voice, "So, what brings you here?"

Zolomon replies first with "To check on you sur, then will..let Sergeant Felicity know how ya are..." He is silent and speaks "And...a matter that  came up, you need to know of sur, me and Lt. Greg got the....notices, I was looking for you when...well saw ya injured so...waited"

Terrence squints at Zolomon. "Notice of what?" He lets himself fall back down to look up once again at the stoney roof. "I assume from your eh," he lets out a cough, "Expression it wasn't good news, was it?"

Zolomon frowns... "No...but who knows how it will...go, never know" He pulls it out and clears his throat "Should...I read it or did you...wanna?"

Holding out a paw Terrence sighs. "I'll read it, don't worry. Before I do what's the main point of it? At first I thought someone died, but that's clearly not the case... Meh." He coughs, again, "Just hand it ovah and I'll find out."

Zolomon frowns, he hands it over and sits down, likely the General didn't write it, Likely Lord Ciocan himself did. "No one died...thank goodness...well you almost did, but you didn't"

"No indeed..." The sergeant observes, taking the paper and reading it over. There's a long time before Terrence speaks again. "So..." He begins, quietly and carefully, "Zeldove is relieved of duty - temporarily, of course." Closing his eyes and letting the paper rest on the bed he sighs. "Thought that might happen..."

Zolomon sighs, "She is worried she will get kicked out...told her I didn't think she would, she asked if Ciocan ever...kicked anyone out, I mentioned one hare and that one hare was banished...course Hanzi did kill a fellow private, tried to kill...a 2nd...one" He clears his throat "Became friends with the enemy and other issues..."

"Yes, yes," Terrence says, waving his left paw lightly. He'd been hearing quite a bit about Hanzi recently. "I'm rathah certain she won't be kicked out, no. But ultimately that's up to the brass and the lord, and honestly who knows what they think sometimes..." He coughs, shaking his head. "I spoke too much, forgive me. Zeldove should be fine, once she gets ovah he'h attitude."

Zolomon nods "I am...not sure how to help with short tempers, My grandfather supposedly had a real bad one"

Terrence laughs, which turns into a fit of wheezing. After he gets that under control he nods. "Indeed... Though I imagine she's not fit to return till that short tempah is at least somewhat undah control. Apparently deep breaths help somewhat, but they nevah much affected my fathah..." He scrunches his snout.

Zolomon frowns, he nods "Yeah...." He stays seated thinking on something but its not clear what.

Eyes remaining closed, Terrence mutters, "Of course even if she has a bad temperament it doesn't exactly hold a candle to Dom." Shifting and opening his eyes, he says, "Perhaps Dom could help he'h?"

Zolomon arches an eyebrow "How can Dom help..Zelly?" He clears his throat "Sorry I was....quiet, was just thinking...you know who the private was Hanzi....failed to kill, but almost did and likely would of if his Lordship didn't show up at the time."

"Dom somehow's managed to get his angah reigned in, so he might know something..." Terrence offers, doing his best to give a shrug. "...And no. I don't recall who the private was, Zolomon."

Zolomon says, "Me...and think a..Rudford...or other was thar too, at the time...he almost slammed Hanzi face with his hammer...like cms away" He decides to change the subject "Anyways....so with you being in...here...who is in charge? Me...Lt. Greg...both?""

Terrence lays his head back down, letting out a breath. "Ah, I see." He mutters, bringing his left arm up to cover his eyes. "The lieutenant, corporal." he says, flatly, in answer to Zolomon's question, "He's always been the one in charge when Majah Jinora's not around. I've been answering to him this entire time."

Zolomon nods "He likely heard about this, think Lord Ciocan heard too...not sure wot he plans to do with the stoat...I have not heard...he seemed more concern about you...which makes since...I will have to update him and let him know you're awake, then he is likely in bed and so not gonna  knock...he seemed...grumpy earlier" Probably 'cause there is a stoat to deal with.

"The stoat needs to be questioned." Terrence replies, "I didn't get myself stabbed to not interrogate him. Aftah all, he did surrendah without a fight..."

Zolomon nods "Right...I am gonna let you rest sur...goodnight" He then slips out, but before he does he does check on Zeldove and then he slips off and on to bed himself.

Lord Ciocan, a badger,
Sgt. Terrence,
And Mjr. Varus, hares.

Ciocan came up here after he arrived, first thing first he told Zolomon to go get a couple  of the higher up hare and  didn't explain why, just go get them...who? ...He didn't care just go, yes the badger was  grumpy and pacing  up on the crater.

Varus comes up the steps, grimacing as he doesn't particularly care for the wind up here on the crater. He salute. "You wanted t' speak, Sah."

It had been an odd day for Terrence. After breakfast, the fact that Zeldove didn't immediately show up for the days exercises didn't come as a surprise as she was more than likely busy with the dishes. By eleven o'cloak he began to wonder just how slow she was at her chores. At lunchtime he took it by himself in the hallway, and thus didn't really think to check up on her in the kitchens. After teatime, the sergeant made up his mind to go make sure everything was alright in the kitchens - where he learned Zeldove never show'd up to. He had just been trying to find her when he got the Badger Lord's message, and, running up to the top of the mountain, came out just a few moments behind the major. With a salute Terrence stands before Ciocan and Varus, getting his breathing under control. "Sahs!"

Ciocan stops his pacing, he had another hare try and find out whom was missing as he had yet to know who, but he was slowly narrowing it down, he turned to give a nod, a deep breath "At ease....we have a missing hare maid. I do not know whom...yet. Just some clues from a hedgehog named Mack..." He snorts "And a weasel in Halyard who mentioned a stoat."

Varus had heard mention of a missing hare. He has a suspicion, though certainly not backed with as much evidence as Terrence has, but he leaves his suspicion unsaid. "A weasel? Can't usually be trusted undah any circumstances, Sah..."

"Sah, if I may," Terrence, hesitantly, "I have not seen Pvt. Zeldove since yesterday. She has not turned up to the daily exercises o'h training, no'h is she in the kitchens and I was looking fo'h he'h when the corporal delivered you'h message - could it be he'h?" He bites his lip. "I don't know why Zeldove would be in the town, though. She was ordah'd by Lt. Gregorian to be on kitchen duty, so that could be a reason, but I don't know. Of course she could also still be in the mountain, but perhaps a headcount of the hares might clarify who's missing, sah?"

Ciocan nods "I have a couple checking around that was  with me in Halyard, and I don't trust the weasel...Mack though is trustworthy, he is keeping an eye on the weasel, there was also a fire in a new cafe in Halyard tonight, it was then the weasel came and mentioned the stoat had a hare maid and something about the docks in a couple days, but didnt say anything else"He looks up as a hare salutes and he nods, the hare comes over "Sur...de only ones not  accounted fer is Private Zeldove and a recruit by the name of Dale.." The badger nods "Dale is visiting his parents in Halyard..." He  dismisses the hare and  goes quiet, least he  yell or something, he then speaks "I am gonna need some hares for a rescue mission it seems. I am sure you two can find some to  go with you...my only request is not Zolomon, I don't  want  a hare thats  emotionally attached  with who is missing to go,  goes for any  mission...if a hare is family or  close to them...rather not have them go unless there is no other logical  choice"

Varus frowns sharply. "Ah, somethin's afoot in Halyahd. Damn." He pounds his fist into his palm. "Only one 'are is missin', though, so this should be a fairly straightforward rescue mission..."

Terrence nods. "Understood, sah." Glancing down at his feet briefly before looking back up, he adds,  "I would like to request myself to go, sah, as she is in my division and as such is my responsibility."

Ciocan nods "If you see it best Sergeant Terrance. It is only one hare missing yes and hopefully an easy enough mission. Your need to find that hedgehog Mack, he seems to know more as I  only  seen the fire so went to see wot was going on."One of the  rare times he goes further than the beach, and thats only to do some training  early every morning, he finds trouble with one of his hares,. A simple  tavern fight  would of been  better but this is a missing hare and it  looks bad to have any hares missing."Who else  would be good to send?"

Varus harrumps. "I'll lead th' search. I know Halyahs bettah th'n most beasts, because mah fam'ly 'as lived there f'r generations... We'll only take a few othah hares, not enough t' draw attention, wot..."

"Right sah." Terrence bows his head to the badger lord. "And I suppose Lt. Greg will have to stay here? I imagine he might be easily recognized." He suggests, "As fo'h hares to go along without Zolomon only two o'h three privates I believe are currently fit fo'h duty, the rest are all still getting the basics down." Then the sergeant turns to Varus, asking, "Majah, are there any from you'h division you'd ask along?"

Ciocan nods as he listens and sighs, "Just find her, whom ever goes along..and hopefully found alive" He thinks quietly after a while adds "And once she is safely back, see to it she is punished for leaving the mountain, if she was given an order to stay then she needs to learn to follow orders. She is in no danger of being kicked out...I have only ever kicked out one hare...Hanzi ...but he killed a fellow private and almost another one and was some reason helping a slaver..."

Varus frowns again, and shakes his head. Hanzi was his private. A promising young buck, till he went psychopathic. "That was a black mark on th' patrol," he says simply.

Terrence thinks better of mentioning how Greg thought of Hanzi the day before, so he doesn't. "Indeed. Considering she hasn't even finished training and as such isn't yet fully used to the patrol, I certainly don't want he'h kicked out."

Ciocan nods "Yes...if you will excuse me I need some rest," He sighs as he mutters "The one time I get talked into taking a day to go to Halyard this sort of....stuff happens" He is grumpy, and tried and hopefully some rest will help him as he lets the two officers  talk.

Varus salutes, as the Badger Lord goes down below. He sighs, and rubs a paw over his face. "If it isn't one thing, it's another..."

Terrence also salutes the badger, relaxing a bit after Ciocan's gone. "Sah?" He asks, turning back to the major, "When should we start heading out?"

Varus casts his glance out in the direction of Halyard. Toward the west the sun is setting, the sky taking on an abundance of pinks, reds, and golds. "Too late this evening. We'll 'ead out first thing tomorrah. I'll bring a few of mah fightahs. As an aside, yahr doin' an able job leadin' yahr unit while Majah Jinora is off on 'er secret mission."

"Well, it's been Gregorian doing the most work, sah, but thank you." Terrence dips his head in gratitude. "And understood. I'll inform the hares in my division aftah dinnah's finished. I have about three in mind..."

"I'll be speakin' t' Sahgeant Felicity this evenin'. I wish I could bring Private Dominik. 'E's good f'r roughin' up vermin, but A. 'e's still on leave, an' B. 'e sticks out like a bloody sore thumb..."

Terrence nods. "Probably fo'h the best, leaving Dom out of this one..." There's a pause as he debates fulfilling the promise he made to Felicity or not. "Sah? About Sgt. Felicity..." He sucks in a breath, "Yesterday, the lieutenant and I talked with he'h about taking a holiday of sorts as to be frank she's been running herself ragid- both Greg and I had to do some convincing fo'h he'h to even begin to considah the idea." He pauses, waiting for Varus' reaction.

Varus turns away, to watch the sunset. "An 'oliday? Now? The reason she's busy is because I'm busy. I'm th' only active duty Majah in th' mountain, wot. Jinora is off on a mission, Taye is effectively retired, an' Rahier is in Mossflowah... I need Felicity f'r this..."

"I...see, sah." Terrence stays were he is. "But admittedly if we are only taking a pawful of hares besides ourselves, two sergeant is ovehkill? Someone needs to stay and make sure the rest are all doing what they're supposed to be doing, and I certainly don't trust Zolomon to do it alone, even if Lt. Greg is here."

Varus hrrms. "Y' may be right, Lad. I'll make mah decision tonight, wot."

Bowing his head once again, Terrence mutters, "Thank you, sah." In a more relaxed tone, he adds, now watching the sunset as well, "Hopefully this mission'll serve as a good exercise fo'h those who come and a warning to not run off when you're not supposed to fo'h the rest."

Varus harrumps. "Are we sure she ran off, though? Or was she taken? Questions, questions... An' no answers."

"Well, she was ordah'd on kitchen duty," Terrence starts, "With an understanding she wouldn't be on leave for at least a few days, so there's no way she'd be captured in the mountain. Still, we should do a head count tonight just to be safe..."

Varus nods his head. "O' course. But there's any reason she might've gone outside, even f'r just a moment... It 'as 'appened before. Recruits were kidnapped off the beach durin' trainin' exercises by pirates. It's been many seasons, though..."

Terrence shrugs. "Maybe. But wouldn't the watch have seen something then? A ship would be easy enough to spot, considering today was relatively cleah. And why to Halyard if she was captured on the beach? There's plenty of witnesses up there like that Mack the Badger Lord mentioned..."

Varus mmms, and nods. "It's all unlikely, I'm afraid. Jus' tryin' t' give th' lass th' benefit o' th' doubt, wot. It's desertion. Dereliction o' bloody duty. Tha's a serious chahge..."

"That is true, sah." Terrence pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "If I had my way, she wouldn't be a private yet - I plan on putting my entire division through basic training again. I wasn't really involved with Zeldove's training, o'h really any of my division's training at all, and that, frankly, bothahs me."

Varus harrumps. "Tha's because y' were still a Corporal at th' time, wot." He turns, and fixes the younger buck with a gaze. "Take mah advice. I was a Sahgeant once, too. A long time before y' were born, eh wot. Be firm, yet fair. Nevah show any weakness, wot. Make those hares respect you. Show respect to yahr superiahs, too, but... Don't take any flak from 'em, eithah. If yahr Lieutenant is bein' unreasonable don't be afraid t' inform yahr Majah. Superiahs an' subordinates are s'posed t' work wi' mutual respect... Nevah f'rget that."

Nodding, slowly, Terrence doesn't immediately answer. "I will admit I've not been the best at all that, sah. Of course, Lt. Greg's been the one making up fo'h my lack of firmness, and considering how my majah's away I can't really report to he'h..." He smiles, giving a light laugh. "I suppose I'm lucky that Greg went from my sergeant to my lieutenant, so I didn't have to change anything beyond what I call him when not using 'sah'..."

Varus nods his head. "Right-ho. Yah're on th' right track, wot. I've 'eard Greg singin' yahr praises, so yah're doin' somethin' right..."

"Does he?" Terrence seems at least somewhat surprised, "Does he indeed...Well, that's good to heah, if nothing else. Admittedly I had a rathah severe cold when Zeldove first joined, and I sweah she got private fah soonah than is normal."

Varus sighs. "Everybeast is gettin' private fastah th'n they used t'," he complains. "But... It's a necessary evil, wot..."

"Maybe it is," Terrence scrunches his snout, "But maybe not. Just because we're low on numbahs doesn't mean we should skimp out on training."

Varus glances over at the other buck. "That's why I've set Dominik loose on the recruits. I got 'im whippin' the poor beasts inta shape now..."

Terrence raises an eyebrow. "And no one's dead yet?" He coughs. "Sorry. A joke in poo'h taste on my part, sah. Felicity and I were actually discussing the othah day a way to get them able to march 'bout 18-20 miles in a half day, and be in fighting condition aftahwards."

Varus harrumps. "Dominik will get them t' mahch tha' in one quartah of a day, eh wot."

"Well, sah, the idea is fo'h them to be able to actually function aftah the march." Terrence laughs, "And I daresay I'd run like hell if he were my drill-sergeant. Not exactly the most ideal fo'h battle, eh?"

Varus shrugs. "Th' results speak f'r themselves, I think... Discipline in mah unit 'as been at an all-time 'igh, wot."

Terrence nods again. "Well, the training was fo'h both recruits and privates." There's a pause as Terrence watches the last ray of sunlight disappear. "And, well, sah, Dom is still a private, yes? O'h has that changed...?"

Varus shakes his head. "By all respects, 'e deserves a promotion, but as he's officially off duty any such promotion 'as been put on hold. 'E's a private until 'e gets reinstated..."

"Well, frankly," Terrence says, turning from the lip of the crater, "If he's training the troops that doesn't sound much like being off duty, sah." The sergeant shrugs. "Of course," a chuckle escapes him again, "Maybe torturing the poo'h hares is how he relaxes, so what do I know?"

Varus shakes his head. "'E enjoys it. It was that or I banish 'im t' th' gahdens. Can y' imagine? No, no... 'E 'as t' stay active, or 'e could relapse...."

Terrence scratches his chin absentmindedly. "So he does, does he? And I can, sah. But I like the garden untrammeled... Now that I think about it," the sergeant straightens up, an idea having occurred to him, "What is the dangah of being recognized? A bunch of armed hares nearby Salamandastron can really only mean one thing, can't it? Even a half blind pirate would be able to take one look at us and run away. So maybe we can take Dom along, and see how he handles it..."

Varus rubs his own chin in turn. "I just worry about causin' a scene, wot. But per'aps yah're right... I'll consult with the chief medic..."

"Eh, so what?" Terrence shrugs his shoulders. "I think a scene will made whethah o'h not he comes along. It's been quite a while since the Long Patrol has had a, well, patrol in Halyard, so its bound to turn heads with o'h without a white giant among us. Hell, I say if we're going to go fo'h it we might as well go all in. What if a doo'h needs breaking down, o'h a wall even, eh?" He winks. "Dom might be the best hare fo'h the job..."

Varus harrumps. "I'm not convinced Dominik is ready for a fight, wot. 'E was talkin' t' a dead toad 'e called 'Blarg' or 'Blorg' or 'Bargle'... Somethin' like that. Tha's pretty damn extreme, eh wot..."

"Blorg, I think sah." Terrence says, "And maybe you're right sah, but maybe a fight alongside fellow hares could help. And maybe there won't be need fo'h a fight at all - if the captors have even half a brain they might turn tail and flee the moment they spot Dom."

Varus doesn't seem entirely convinced. "I'll speak t' 'is doctah, eh wot. Wotevah 'e says, goes. I've 'alf a mind t' put 'im undah yahr direct command, since y' seem t' 'ave so much faith in 'im..."

"AH." Terrence gives a forced cough. "Ah ha sah. I do not think that would go ovah well, unless..." He pauses, in thought. "Perhaps if I were to tell him to come along to save a poo'h private it'd be fine?"

Varus waves a paw dismissively. "I said 'alf a mind. I'm only jokin'. No, if I do this I'll personally supahvise 'im..."

In all honestly, there seems to be a part of Terrence that looks disappointed. Of course that's overwhelmed by the other half that's relieved. "Ah, right. Sah." The sergeant looks up at the twilight sky, saying, "I daresay we should start preparing fo'h tomorrow if we plan on leaving as soon as we're able, eh?"

Varus mmms. "Yes, yes. This chill air is not good for mah old joints," he declares, rubbing his arms. "Tha's th' bloody problem o' gettin' old, I swear..."

There's little Terrence can do beyond cast a furtive glance at his own still young and functioning joints. "So I've heard, sah. Meh. Of course," He grins, "I have at least a few years 'efore I have to deal with all those problems.'"

Varus side-eyes at Terrence. "Yah're a whippah-snappah, lad. Yah're right. Yah've got years..."

"To be faih, sah," Terrence begins, walking towards the way down into the mountain, "Before myself and Felicity were made sergeants my thoughts on evah being one was when I'd be old and grey." With a snort he continues, "Honestly sah I'm not nearly crusty enough to really feel like one, but I guess that comes in time, doesn't it?"

Varus harrumps. "Back in mah day th' Sahgeants weren't that old. I should know. I was one... That said, I was married already, an' you 'n' Felicity are both still single..." He mounts the stairs, to head down.

The sergeant freezes for a moment at the top of the stairs, but Terrence soon laughs, following the major down. "Yes. Though if I'm being honest, I hadn't truly thought of reaching sergeant till I was at least fifteen seasons."

Varus looks at the other buck. "Yah're not fifteen seasons already?" he asks. "Goodness gracious."

"Not even thirteen yet, sah." Terrence shrugs. "It's a bit surreal to be frank. Feels like I was just ten seasons a few months ago."

Varus shakes his head. "Blimey. My son Adrian's oldah 'n' you are. Goodness me..."

Terrence stops on the steps. "I am, am I?"

Varus nods. "By a season or two, thereabout, wot. Not tha' great a diff'rence, really."

"No, I suppose not..." Terrence says, thinking, "Of course, that'd put him neah fifteen seasons, doesn't it?"

Varus nods, and counts on his fingers. "I think so," he remarks. "I do get forgetful. Somewhere thereabouts..."

"Huh." Terrence mutters, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. "I wondah when he and that private he was with'll be back here, o'h if they evah will be back?"

Varus stops in his tracks, and hmmphs. "They'll be back." He's trying to sound confident. In truth he's come to regret sending his son so far away. "Aye, they'll return. They 'ave to..."

Nodding, slowly, Terrence responds, "Hopefully. Of course, I say if they take anothah season to get back here we will have to heckle them fo'h taking how many seasons has it been? Two, three, fouh?"

Varus stops to think. "Four, I think. They left last spring." He eyes Terrence. "Did you know 'em well? Montgomery or Adrian?"

"Not at all, sah!" Terrence smiles, "Met Adrian once o'h twice but that Mongamy? Nevah!"

Varus mhmms. "Not surprisin'. From wot I've been told Montgomery was in a similah position as Dominik for over 5 months... One too many knocks t' th' bloomin' noggin, wot."

"Oh, he's that Montgomery, is he?" Terrence blinks, "I heard about him then. Five months? Really?"

Varus nods. "I read 'is record. Nearly drummed out, but managed to work through 'is slow recovery an' rejoin th' Patrol. A bit of a success story, apparently."

Terrence raises an eyebrow. "Really? I just skimmed through it. He's apparently in my division, so there's that...ehem."

Varus shrugs. "The Badgah Lord saw fit t' send 'im out there on a recruitment mission. I 'ave t' assume he was well enough..."

"I see." Terrence shrugs. "Well, it's not exactly my issue, yet, so I won't worry about him. No, I'll just leave the worrying fo'h the here and now." Letting out a long sigh, he says, "I'd thought something might happen, with how quick Zeldove was here and how Zolomon treated he'h. But not this. Bah."

Varus harrumps. "It's hahdly yahr fault, eh wot. We'll find th' lass, an' th'n she'll be appropriately punished..."

"Indeed, sah." The sergeant bites his lip. "Of course," Terrence looks at the major, "I think if she's been captured by pirates o'h some othah villain that might serve as part of the punishment already."

Varus harrumps, like he is wont to do. "Well... Y' got a bloody point there..."

"Perhaps." Terrence leans against the wall. "Of course, we will have to see when we get there. If it turns out she's perfectly fine and this is all just a coincidence, the burning building I mean, I'll hand he'h ovah to you and Dom fo'h a season o'h more."

Varus grimaces. He'd forgotten the possible arson. "Ah heavens. That's a thing, isn't it?"

"It apparently is, sah."  Pushing himself off the wall, Terrence gives Varus a salute. "If you will excuse me, sah, I think now's about the time I need to make the announcement concerning Zeldove and ou'h expedition tomorrow."

Varus returns the salute. "Right, as y' were... Dismissed, Sahgeant. Get yahr rest..."

"Right, thank you sah - one more thing." Terrence stops himself before he goes, "What time will we be departing in the morning, sah?"

Varus rubs his chin. "Th' bloody crack o' dawn, I believe," he replies. "I want this done an' dusted as fast as possible, wot."

"Ah, right then." Terrence nods. "I'll start getting them ready tonight so things go smoothah tomorrow morning then. See you then, sah!" With another salute the sergeant disappears down the hallway to go notify some very soon to be upset privates.

Varus will retire to his private quarters, but not before speaking to the CMO about letting Dominik out of the Mountain...

Sgt. Felicity,
Lt. Greg,
Sgt. Terrence,
and Pvt. Zeldove, hares.

Takes place before this log...

After a morning of banging metal on an anvil Greg has settled down at a workbench to work on something a little bit quieter. At first it might look like he's doing paperwork, he has it all set out in front of him but then he's got distracted and so instead he appears to be making a ring on top of the paperwork.

Ah, yes, paperwork.  It's so boring and at times frustrating, it's amazing that anyone can focus on it for longer than like 2 seconds.  Felicity has been arguing with it all morning, and is now trying to take a break before she breaks anything.  Hearing a lack of noise from the forge room, the Sergeant decides to visit and see what Greg is doing.  The Runner quietly enters, then pads over to the Smith, paws behind her back so she doesn't accidentally bump anything off of anything.

Gregorian's ears turns as the door opens with a creek. He always refused to fix that. It's a moment before he stops to look at the visitor though "Felicity...the dibbuns haven't locked themselves in somewhere again have they?"

Felicity smiles.  "Well, if they 'ave, I 'aven't 'eard o' it yet, wot!"  She looks at the scattered papers, then at the thing the Smith is fiddling with.  "No, I decided t'stop in t'say 'ello.  Been workin' on papahwork all mornin', an' 'm 'bout ready t'beat th'snot outta somebeast if I 'ave t'do anymoh.  I kinda needed a break."

Gregorian snorts "Probably a good sign that they're where they ought tah be...though I'll admit I'd be happy tah hear Grace was up tah her usual trouble again" she'd been a bit quiet and nervous since the Dom thing. Greg glances back at his own paperwork "Hrm. I fear mine isn't keepin' my attention very well tahday eithah. I promise not tah ask yah tah help if yah promise not tah throw any punches though. How are yah doin'? Work aside"

"Fair 'nough, wot!"  Felicity gets a quizzical look on her face.  "Is Grace...oh, yeah, Dom scared 'er.  'Ow is she doin'?"  When he asks her how she's doing, she gets that distant look in her eyes that comes whenever someone mentions the toads.  Her smile fades, then she forces it, but the smile doesn't make it up to her eyes.  "Oh, y'know....I'm thinkin' o' 'avin' Julia visit Dom 'ere soon," she says, not actually answering the question of how she is.  "I don't 'e actually meant t'scare Grace, an' I don't think 'e would do anythin' t' 'urt th'leverets.  I just wish I could figah out whot all t'do t' 'elp 'im."  She rubs her eye, which makes her look very much like her little sister.  Would helping Dom count as work?  Maybe?

Gregorian sighs heavily when she asks how Grace is "Bettah but she's nevah been in actual dangah before, or seen me in dangah. It's the little things like not wantin' tah sleep when I'm not there, she's...well, she's not her independent, opinionated self" he frowns a little sadly with a bit of worry that he's also trying to hide. He shakes his head "I know Dom didn't mean it, it's like he turned intah anothah beast and lost his mind all ovah again. Problem is it doesn't mattah if he means it, he did it anyway...and don't yah think I didn't notice yah dodgin' the question there. There's somethin' wrong, I can see it" he pushes a stool by the workbench out with his foot "Sit"

Felicity sighs herself and nods.  But her face quickly hardens when he readdresses his question about how she is.  Staring at the stool, she scowls darkly, crosses her arms, and stays standing.  "Whot would make y'think thah's somethin' wrong?  May'ap I'm just still gettin' o'er m'stupid papahwork."  She continues to refuse to sit, because apparently she has an obstinant streak.

Gregorian's expression softens as she refuses and with a sad sigh he gets up instead, going to close the distance between them and try to put a paw on her shoulder as he bends down slightly to look her in the eye "Because it's not the first time yah've avoided the question...and I notice these things"

Felicity keeps scowling, her brow furrowing even more, but she allows him to rest a paw on her shoulder.  Looking into his eyes, she then looks at the floor, her own expression softening as she gently kicks a chair leg.  "....that obvious?"  she asks quietly, keeping her gaze on the peice of furniture she's bumping.

Gregorian keeps staring at her but his shoulders relax slightly when she speaks. In his experience that either works or they double down and storm out "If yah know wot yah lookin' for...Benefit of bein' around for a while, yah get tah know the look...Wot's goin' on?"

Felicity's face crumples slightly, making it look like she may start to cry if she's not careful.  She stays that way for a few moments, her kicking of the chair slowing down until she finally stops.  When she finally does speak, her voice is small, and it even sounds like she may start crying.  "Evah since we got back from th'swamps th'fihrst time, even befoh we went back t'get Dom, I....I've been 'avin' nightmahres an' flashbacks.  Th'toads...." she swallows and takes a few moments to semi-compose herself before continuing.  "M'uncle, Flint, was their slave foh a numbah o' seasons, an' apparently I look a lot like 'im, 'cause they seemed t'recognize me.  An'....an' they were mad...mad at me standin' up durin' th'.....th'trainin'...." tears start to trickle down her cheeks.  "I was tryin' t'make sure th'Recruits could get away safely....." she stops as she tries to stop crying, wiping the tears away furiously, turning to the Smith can't see her face anymore.

Gregorian while apparently pretty good at getting a confession still doesn't entirely know what to do with crying does. His ears go back and the thought 'Oh hell, wot have I done' flash through his head, he has to remind himself that he's done this before and to stay calm. His paw gets dislodged when she turns but he goes to put it back even though she's faced away "Yah alright, I undahstand...somethings they stick with yah. Wot yah went through there..." he frowns at the floor himself, failing for a suitable description.

Terrence had exactly one reason for entering the forge at this time, only one. In his paws the sergeant held an arrow with a crudely made cushion instead of a sharp head - a prototype of sorts. He had hesitated to come to and 'bother' Greg for some time, thinking the blacksmith already had enough on his plate. Of course the realization that things like his request are more or less the reason Salamandastron even has a blacksmith hit Terrence and so here he was, opening the door after a polite knock and saying the words, "Hello there, Lieutenant, mind if I bothah you with an idea I have? I'm planning on using it fo'h..." He trails off, paw still on the door handle, as he takes in the scene in front of him. "The, uh, recruits..." Attention now thoroughly away from why he came, he stands there awkwardly. "Uh, Felicity?" He asks, falteringly, "Everything, uh, alright?" Obviously not, but Terrence can't really think of anything else to say.

Felicity takes a shuddering breath, which absolutely fails at stopping the flow of tears.  "I....I 'aven't told anybeast.....not really.  Sorta told..."  Terrence comes in just then, and she gestures at him to finish her sentence of who else she'd told.  "But....I didn't....put....write a report....'bout it...."  She starts crying harder.  "Don't wanna....get drummed out....can't....Patrol's m'life..."  She starts crying in full earnest now, not able to speak any more words, not even to answer her fellow Sergeant.  Greg's paw on her shoulder is either allowed or ignored.  It's hard to tell which.

Gregorian doesn't even notice the door open until Terrence speaks and he sharply looks up in surprise. His eyes flick between the pair quickly "Erm...Terrence, could yah, erm, would her a hug please, I think that would be wise" he slowly removes and lowers his paw as he delegates the awkwardness before he talks quietly "Felicity, believe me when I say yah not alone in the nightmares, everyone has one that gets them. Yah not gettin' drummed out"

"Excuse me?" Terrence looks rather alarmed at Greg for moment before understanding dawns on him, and he sheepishly nods. "Ah, well, right sah." Setting the mock-up arrow to one side, he stands by Felicity and will hug her if she allows - there is a cautiousness to his movements, however, as he is aware of how hard she can kick when she wants to. What bloody terrible timing, the buck thinks, really have a way with walking in on the absolute perfect moment, don't I?

Felicity isn't sure who to be grumpy at, so she gives Greg a small glare through her tears.  But she can't really do anything more because she's crying too hard.  She lets Terrence give her a hug and she turns to him to hug him in return as she continues to cry.  She's to tired, she can't really do anything more yet.

Gregorian catches that glare but he turns to shut the door again before anyone else happens to stop by "A hug normally helps" he mutters, half reassuring himself. A small sigh and he looks back at the pair and stands there awkwardly for a moment before muttering again "Sorry. I thought perhaps I could help...Don't know that I did though, might be the opposite"

Terrence just gives a fake cough in response, still holding Felicity. Of course there's a part of him that wants to laugh at the predicament, but he feels silence is the best option for now. And he certainly doesn't have a clue about what to say as what he had witnessed was after most of the conversation - leaving him with only a vague notion of what happened before he came in. So he sticks to being quiet with a few pats to her back for comfort and awkwardly avoiding Greg's eyes.

It takes a few minutes for Felicity to calm down.  First she stops crying, then she takes a few shaky breaths.  "Y'coulda 'ugged me y'self," she finally manages to grumble to the Smith.  She starts wiping her cheeks, sniffling.  "I'm just so tired all th'time....'tis like every time I close m'eyes, I c'n see those....those accursed toads agin...."  She hiccups, then coughs.  "We came back an' I was immediately promoted....still not used t'that...tryin' t' 'elp Dom, still raisin' m'sistah....an' then beasts keep askin' 'bout th'toads, which gives me flashbacks...."  She finally steps back from Terrence, although she probably isn't feeling any better, seeing as how she's hugging herself.  "'M 'fraid next time I'm in battle, I'll crack like Dom did...."  So many things to worry about!

Gregorian scratches the back of his ear at the first bit "Hrm, well, I didn't want tah ovah step and make yah uncomfortable or somethin'..." admittedly getting someone else to do it instead is probably worse. He looks back at Felicity when she goes on "...Dom's comin' back. Doesn't mattah wot happens tah yah, him or any of us, we pull each othah back. The flashbacks will fade, yah first time fightin' again might be different or it might not" he suddenly sounds very firm and certain "but yah goin' tah be alright"

"Of course, there is the mattah of when that next fight will be." Terrence speaks up for really the first time since he entered, "I daresay with what Dom did in the swamps means we won't see much of them," The sergeant's making an effort to avoid saying toad, "For some time...So they won't be an issue. At least ou'h next likely foe'll be vermin, and they at least speak the same language as us if that's any comfort to you." With a shrug and a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth he adds, "And I might crack before you do, Lissie, if not fo'h the same grave reasons. But hopefully we won't have to worry about that fo'h a long time yet."

Felicity's tears have dried up, but she still looks sad, maybe even a little broken.  "I....I 'ope y'both right...I sure don't feel alright," she sniffles, rubbing her eye again.  "I'm always worried 'm gonna wake up screamin' an' scare Julia.  We sleep in th'same bed.  Surprised I 'aven't woken 'er up yet."  She glances at Terrence.  "Why would you crack?  Y'seem t'be 'andlin' bein' a Sergeant an' stuff well."

"Yah might not be alright again yet but yah will be with some time" Greg says before glancing at Terrence and after a moment of thought he nods along "Bit of a fight can even help sometimes...Sometimes feels like yah gettin' control back" he finally shakes his head "We're all one really bad day away from the nightmares"

"Do I?" Terrence responds with a raised eyebrow. "Admittedly I do have more to my life than being a sergeant. And if I have to see Zeldove and the corporal make googly eyes one more time while they're on duty..." He snorts, shaking his head. "But Greg is right. I can't tell you the amount I've read which mentions hares having nightmares. I don't believe you're an odd on out, Lissie."

"Tha's whot th' 'stuff' is, Terrence.  I know y'got more goin' on, y'just seem t' 'ave it all t'gethah."  Felicity looks slightly less sad, though.  "Well, Zolomon an' I are officially just friends, so 'm not surprised Zeldove's makin' 'er move.  Per'aps y'should instruct 'em t'be more proffessional?"  She rubs her upper arms to soothe herself.  "I just.....I've been in battles afore, an' I've nevah been so terrified, or so badly affected aftah."  She then relaxes slightly.  "But....well, okay.  I 'ope they 'urry up an' go away..."

Gregorian hehs faintly at the mention of Zeldove and Zolomon but doesn't comment on that. He scratches his beard as he wanders back towards the workbench to flop on to his stool again "It's not always the fightin' that gets yah. Certainly I've heard it more from recruits who've just killed a beast for the first time but yah went through somethin' terrifyin' and personal and then yah got yah added stress of everythin' else...Maybe wot yah need is a holiday"

"Perhaps..." Terrence echoes, picking the mock arrow up again. "I do have a feeling Zolomon might say yes sah in the moment then continue on the same way as always." He coughs. "Honestly I don't really want to talk about him right now. I daresay you did get a dose of stress right aftah you made it out- being made a sergeant and immediately fulfilling the duties that come with that, due to the short supply of hares, you've more than likely been pressed more than you should've..."

Felicity looks slightly flustered.  "Well, I mean....we're s'possed t'be able t'face anythin', rise up t'any challenge..."  She starts fidgeting and shifting on her feet.  "A 'oliday?  I can't take a vacation!  Like Terrence just said" (because scapegoats are the best invention ever) "we're short on 'ares!  Can't afford f'r me t'go on a 'oliday!  Besides, 'ow would that affect Dom?  Or th'new trainin' thing Terrence is comin' up wi'?  I was wantin' t' 'elp wi' that."  So many excuses to not take care of her mental health!

Gregorian snorts "We're hares, not invincible badgahs or somethin'. Risin' tah the challenge doesn't mean we're not allowed tah be scared of it. We'll be even shortah on good hares if yah don't learn tah stop and rest sometimes" he finally gives Terrence another look at the mention of the training thing and raises an eyebrow at the arrow.

"Felicity." Terrence says, tipping his head to one side as if to get a better look rather, "You said yourself you're scared you'll snap. You will if you continue adding things on - and who said anything about not seeing Dom? Besides, if you'h scared also fo'h the hares undah you I can look aftah them - because we're so short on hares its not like I'll beyond the limit expected fo'h a sergeant." He winks. "As long as Zolomon doesn't run off with Zeldove fo'h bloody wintah picnics, I should be fine." His eyes follow Greg's gaze to the arrow. "Ah, this. Speaking of those two, I wanted to have a safe way fo'h them to practice on targets that are charging towards them to give them a little lesson on why all the close combat is important, because I don't think it's sinking in."

Felicity continues to fidget, her shifting from foot to foot turning into full-out pacing.  "But Majah Varus just put me in charge o' 'im until 'e thinks Dom's ready f'r full active duty agin...."  The thought of taking a break, even with Terrence's reassurance (and Greg's cautionary statement) being obviously valid, is something she's not really very comfortable with, apparently.  She stops mid-pace and stares at her fellow Sergeant.  "Wait, they're not?  Zolomon survived the battle t'reclaim Redwall, 'ow could 'e not take this seriously?!"  Yes, let's change the subject so maybe she can get away with not taking a vacation

Gregorian eyes the arrow "Hrm. Trust me when I say recruits will find a way tah get hurt wotevah yah do but but it's an important lesson...Could double up as a lesson on how tah approach bow beasts without gettin' shot too" he folds his arms and leans back against the workbench, looking a bit thoughtful "Hrm, maybe Dom needs a holiday too. I could have a word with Varus ovah it"

"Indeed. But hurt doesn't mean dead, eh?" Terrence smiles more fiendishly than is normal for him. "I'm joking, of course. I don't need more hares moaning about this o'h that. As for you'h majah," He turns back to Felicity, shrugging. "I could try and speak with him, if you'd want... He seems to like me, half the time at least." Of course, once Dom is brought in for needing holiday too, his lips purse. "I don't think letting Dom leave the mountain would be a good idea. Too many dumb beasts out in the wild who'd end up dead by his paws, I think." Holding the arrow out to Gregorian, he shrugs. "Really what I hope to do is to get it in both Zolomon's and Zeldove's heads that personal skill really doesn't mean a thing when faced with numbahs."

Felicity notes the fiendish look on the other Sergeant's face, and secretly decides she likes him better when he's like this, instead of all proper.  But instead of saying that, she focuses on the idea of them talking to Varus.  "Could you?  I mean..."  Part of her really wants to, but the more stubborn part of her wants to not take their advice to heart.  "I wouldn't be leavin' th'Mountain much -- I don't feel comfortable takin' Julia t' 'Alyahd or whotevah.  So Dom could still take th'time off with me 'ere in Salamandastron.  I could leave 'em both be'ind to visit th'village."  Hey, she's figuring out ways to make this work, instead of arguing about all the ways it couldn't possibly work out.  Progress!  "An' I agree wi' y', Terrence."  She gestures at the arrow.  "They're not gods, they can't shoot a dozen arrows in th'span o' a pawful o' 'eartbeats."

Gregorian nods at Terrence as he points out Dom probably shouldn't be leaving "Fair point, not a good ideah. Hangin' around the mountain wouldn't be much different tah wot he's been doin' lately but anythin' that keeps him out of the catacombs it good tah me" he leans back again, squinting at he thinks on the subject of the Z's "I don't mind a little personal competition. Bettin' who's the fastest, strongest, that's just part of the patrol. They're good hares, so long as they're workin' with everyone and not runnin' off ahead when no one can keep up or thinkin' they're invincible then, well" he shrugs. There's a faint smile as it seems like Felicity is finally giving in to the idea of a break "Yah deserve a lie in at least once a year"

"I can talk to him. Hopefully." Terrence says, sounding a bit unconvinced himself. "Zolomon and Zeldove need to learn how to work with the rest of the unit..." Shrugging again, he doesn't have the happiest expression on. "Still, I think some ideas are best shown rathah than told - competition is seems useless fo'h living through a fight, at least to me, sah."

Felicity smiles slightly.  "Wellll...okay.  I guess I could use some time off, maybe...."  She'll wait to see what happens.  Thinking for a few moments, she adds, "An' while competition c'n lend itself well t'earnin' respect, y'need t'also know 'ow t'be a team in ordah t'survive.  I think anythin' that c'n teach that is worth it, so long as nobeast dies, wot!  An' from volunteerin' wi' th'leverets, I've come t'th'conclusion that all lessons are bettah leahned from experience instead o' a lecture."

Gregorian hrms quietly "If they're braggin' on the battlefield I'll certainly agree. A friendly competition in peace times I'd allow but we all do need tah work tahgethah. We'll see how they take tah the trainin' and if they all work as a team" he glances back to Felicity with a faint smirk "Heh, the dibbuns just taught me tah fear silence...means they're up tah somethin'"

Terrence nods. "Considering I plan on being one of the hare being shot at, I certainly hope no one dies." The sergeant gestures towards the arrow. "The idea I had was a more round-almost ball shape cushion of sorts. The strength of the bows will also have to be reduced, I think - goodness knows the hares need to start learning with thei'h own eyes instead of thei'h ears listening to me."

Felicity smirks back at the Smith.  "Aye, tha's true, too."  She turns her smirk to Terrence, imagining him getting shot at by overly enthusiastic Recruits and Privates.  "Well, I've always believed that y'll get moh respect when y'participate in th'drills wi' th' 'ares undah you.  Just make sure t'take off y'glasses befoh'and so y'don't 'ave t'get anothah replacement paih from Greg, 'kay?"

"Recuits usin' eyes when learnin' tah use a bow, novel ideah. Certainly not traditional" Greg mutters "They shoot each othah every year, may as well make some of it on purpose" he offers out a paw for the arrow to have a look at it. He snorts and smirks at Felicity's words "If only there was a way tah make yah some glasses yah foes couldn't break"

"Glad you understand, sah." Terrence says, "And I certainly don't plan on needing a replacement anytime soon, Lissie. Besides, I doubt I'll be hit in the face." He scrunches his nose. "Of course now that I say that I certainly will be now, won't I?"

Felicity snerks at Greg's sarcasm, then laughs out loud at Terrence's procolmation.  "Even if y' 'adn't said tha', y'still shouldn't take such chances as leavin' y'glasses on."  She looks at the floor, still smiling, then looks between the 2 bucks.  "...thanks.  I feel bettah than I 'ave in weeks.  Months, even, maybe."  She straightens.  "I 'ope Varus agrees wi' you.  I think I should go check on Dom an' m'sistah.  I'll see you 2 latah."  She smiles at the Smith, then at her fellow Sergeant.  Her gaze lingers for a moment longer, then she turns and walks out of the room.

Gregorian snorts at Terrence "Hah! Yep, yah've doomed yahself before yah've even started" he nods to Felicity as she's leaving "Yah take care" there's a long pause after she's out the door again before he speaks again "Well, touch and go for a moment there but worked out in the end"

"Indeed, Felicity! Goodbye for now." Terrence says before she goes. "Well, perhaps the training'll prove if I jinxed it o'h not." Falling quiet as well, he nods when Greg speaks again, responding, "Hopefully, sah, hopefully..."

Gregorian glances around to the workbench behind him and his shoulders deflate as he remembers the paperwork he'd been ignoring before Felicity arrived "So long as they learn somethin' from yah bruised face yah can still call it a success"

With a laugh Terrence looks around the forge. "Well, I could borrow any helmets you have laying about to avoid being bruised, sah. O'h commission you fo'h them if you'h in want of work." He grins.

Gregorian gestures at the walls of the forge where some of the weapons and armour hang "Help yahself, there's more in the armoury. I encourage the use of one that'll covah yah face since yah jinxed though it'll limit yah vision...not sure how well some of them would fit glasses actually now I think about it"

"Any sallet helmets? The hinged visah might fight spectacles easiah." Terrence says even as he moves to look around the forge. "Perhaps this exercise can also serve as an excuse to make the division start wearing helms as a regulah piece of the uniform..."

Gregorian squints as he tries to remember what they've got "Hmm. Yeah, I think there's some in the armoury. Couldn't tell yah how old they are. Yah need that many helmets let me know first eh?" he digs through the papers on the workbench as he's talking in an attempt to find something "I tried makin' a chest piece light enough for everyday patrollin' once. Somewot of a work in progress"

Zeldove has learned her way around, for the most part but she does get a couple doors mixed up still at times, of course when  she walks in she is reminded right away, "Again..I did it again not the blooming Library." She pouts and then sees the two hares and right away straightens up and has a salute ready.

Terrence heads for the back, saying over his shoulder, "Well, sah, its you'h division too so just give the ordah... Oh." He grabs a helmet from a rack, blowing dust off. "Found one, though it looks a bit small fo'h me." When Zeldove enters he calls, "At ease private! The library's the third doo'h on the left." He emerges from the back holding a lobster-backed sallet helm that may or may not have a bit of rust on the rim. "Doesn't covah the jaw, but works fo'h the eyes, I'd think... Just need to get it cleaned."

Gregorian looks faintly surprised as if he forgot he was in charge "That is true...heh, yah forget the ranks in here sometimes" he glances around when Zeldove appears and he chuckles "Again. I have a book around here somewhere if it'll help yah feel less foolish" another turn and he narrows his eyes at the helmet Terrence has and then looks around "Hm, well we've got everythin' for cleanin' of course" he just has to remember where he left it.

Zeldove is just curious "Why the helmet sur?"She frowns and hopes its not something they plan to make others where. She nods at the book "I can return a book sur"

"The moveable visah, the neck protection, the general lightness..." Terrence lists off, setting the helmet down on the bench. "Make it more practical than some great helm fo'h battle and whatnot." Blinking he looks around the forge, trying to search for the cleaning 'stuff' despite having no clue what it looks like. "Shameful to say it, but I honestly cannot remembah last time I returned a book to the library- of course I usually just read them in there, so the pile ups not that bad..."

Gregorian stares at the helmet for a second, silently wondering if he can improve it before he snaps out of it and finds the right box for removing rust and cleaning supplies. He dumps it on the workbench by Terrence "Oh, the book is mine. I was just offahin' tah make the place seem more like a library in here for yah"

Zeldove nods and looks between them "And wouldn't a helmet be...bad in a fight, be hard ta see things on the sides and maybe in the front  at times, got to see well in a fight right?

After examining the cleaning supplies for a moment, Terrence turns around to face Zeldove with a raised eyebrow and slight grin. "What's the easiest way to kill somebeast?" He taps his temple. "Go fo'h the head. A helmet can protect against most blows from blades o'h stones o'h arrows - and this particular type," the sergeant picks up the helm and lifts the visor up, "Has a moveable visah so you can see. Generally the only time the visah'd be down is fo'h heavy combat, and it's easy enough to see through."

Gregorian gestures to Terrence as he looks back at his paperwork "Wot he said. Seein's good. Livin's bettah. Armour has its uses, particulahly in the stayin' alive department"

Zeldove frowns "Looks uncomfortable to wear and..well maybe for like large battle sometime, not gonna go wearing it all the time, it be  dumb and like how often are we gonna be like..lets go fight so and so."

The look on Terrence's face is far from pleased. "Well, it isn't in the regs yet, so you don't have to weah it. But I can't say I told you so when you'h dead." He turns the helmet upside down to look inside. "Usually there's a clevah set of straps inside so it keeps the metal from touching the head, but these seem to have worn away. It's only about five pounds, so it's not that heavy. Specially compared the packs we'll all be carrying in the field."

Gregorian keeps looking at his paperwork as he talks "Yah can't always predict a fight" but he looks up with a frown as Terrence says the straps are missing. He sighs irritably "I'm goin' tah have tah do a propah inventory and check for this stuff, beasts just keep puttin' them back when they're broken. Pass it ovah and I'll get it fixed for yah"

Zeldove sighs "Helmets are not something I ever had to wear in  the defenders...." She could of worn one  but had chosen not to wear one, helmets to her are dumb"Well..wot if a fight happens while one is..walking to or from Halyard, not gonna be wearing a helmet then, they are like when ya know there is a battle to like..come" She starts to go back out of the room looking bored now.

"Of course you wouldn't be in uniform even in that case." Terrence grits his teeth as he hands the old helm over. "You aren't in the defendahs anymore. And you can't just go off to Halyard when on duty- it isn't in ou'h jurisdiction anymore." When she leaves he turns to Gregorian and lets out a long sigh. "You see why I need the mock-arrows? They don't seem to take my word fo'h things."

Zeldove was in the hall, big on WAS and this is one of those times she  clearly is not totally thinking as she pokes her head back in a moment "I have not went to Halyard when on duty..why would I? Heck more free time be lovely Sergeant bossy" She then  hmmphs and  storms into the hallway before  she hears any sort of reply back, likely not  wise to do.

Gregorian takes the helmet but frowns at Zeldove "Mmm" is his response to Terrence. He shakes his head and looks down at the helmet to inspect it but before he can say anything Zeldove leaves and returned with sass. Greg's head shoots back up with a glare and his jaw tightens but he doesn't need to chase her down the halls "Send a runnah in here. She's not goin' tah be enjoyin' any free time for a while"

"I sense the second coming of Cera..." Terrence mutters, stepping towards the door. "Well, she'll regret it when training starts. I'm not going to give he'h special treatment and I certainly won't have Zolomon doing so eithah." He pokes his head out looking up and down the hall and waves a hare in. "Reuenthal, mind coming in here fo'h a sec?" The runner does, looking from the lieutenant to the sergeant, saying, "Sahs?"

"I was thinkin' of Hanzi" Greg mutters back irritably "But yah right, Cera did call me bossy. Bloody idiotic" he nods to Reuenthal and quickly digs out a blank bit of paper to write some orders on "Take this tah Private Zeldove and inform her tah her disrespectful attitude has earned her a spot in the kitchens washin' dishes until I say othahwise...and inform Corporal Zolomon if he tries tah help her with the chores I'll have him separated and cleanin' the trainin' rooms every night"

"Sah!" Reuenthal takes the paper with a salute and exits.

"I do hope Zolomon doesn't try to help he'h..." Terrence sighs, rubbing his temples "I need a healthy corporal and I don't need him falling asleep on the job... Why in the blazes the brass didn't put Zeldove in Mjr. Varus' division is beyond me, but we're stuck now."

Gregorian looks irritable as his eyes return to the helmet "My concern is not that Zolomon will actively defy ordahs given tah him directly but that she will ask and he will not see his help as a problem. The warning will hopefully be sufficient tah prevent that" he glances back to Terrence briefly before his angry tone finally softens a little "Grab me a tea and get one for yahself but take yah time, yah need the break"

"I suppose that's true." Dipping his head, Terrence nods. "Thank you sah. I won't be too long." The sergeant says in passing, leaving the warm room.

Sgt. Terrence & Cpl. Zolomon, Hares.

Zolomon was eating dinner at one of the tables and finishing up some paper work. He has managed to  not let paperwork get behind and smiles as he finishes what needed done and takes a bite of his soup and a sip of his drink.

Terrence wanders in, a troubled expression of his face. Avoiding most other hares, the sergeant makes his way back towards the large soup pot to dish up a rather large portion for himself, as well as grabbing more than one bread roll. Bowl in paw, he turns back to survey the room, looking for an empty seat.

Zolomon has..well no one else at his table, then again he was a little hard on some of the archers training so they are avoiding him today.He has yet to notice Terrence as he eats dinner quietly, double checks paperwork and a smile cause it's done so he lays it neatly beside him.

It seems only Zolomon's table is free - it is dinnertime in a mountain full of hares, after all, and the crowded is getting to Terrence as he makes his way over to sit with his corporal. "Zolomon." He grunts, setting his bowl down across from him, "Mind if I sit?"

Zolomon looks up and gives a quick salute and nods "You may sit sur..course sur. I just got some paperwork done and was having dinner myself. And just so ya know I did find Zeldove she was just in the garden and was just fine"

"Eh, what?" Terrence had almost entirely forgotten the incident. "Oh. Right. Good to heah." The way he says that as he sits seems to make clear he's distracted by something. Without another word he starts eating his meal slowly.

Zolomon tilts his head "Is..all ok Sarg? Bad day?" He hmmms and nods "Well I can tell ya something funny, well not too..funny, it missed though so that was good....one of de Privates barely missed me ear at archer practice."

Terrence doesn't immediately answer the question, and by the time he does, he's already started on his second roll. "No, nothing like that. Just a lot I've been thinking about, that's all..." The corporal 's story, however, does anything but cheer him up. The sergeant stops eating, looking up at Zolomon intently. "How...?" He shakes his head, incredulous. "It's a bloody good thing indeed it missed." There's little humor to his voice.

Zolomon frowns, ok not the best story, "I..suppose a lot to think on being Sergeant and all..paperwork and such right? I could help with paperwork maybe, or maybe not if its hard"

That gives Terrence pause, and after a bit he gives a small smile. "Er, thank you, Zolomon. But I don't need help with paperwork and all that, but thanks for the offah." Returning to his meal, the sergeant adds in a lighter tone than he's been using, "Really, don't worry about me. I'm alright." With the second roll finished, he leans back ever so slightly. "I do need to warn you 'bout training that should be coming up soon. Sgt. Felicity and I are intending to combine divisions and have every hare undah us go through basic training again, though heavily changed from what you and all us went through."

Zolomon nods "Though I found it far from..Basic" He chuckles and frowns a little in memory of something else and sighs, his good ear drooping a little, he then smiles faintly "But hey...I learned though and got some unwanted battle practice, that was rather hard..barely survived, its how i lost me other ear "

"So I've heard..." Terrence says, "But this new training will be even more. Less dangerous too, hopefully. More or less to start out the hares will need to learn how to march at least eighteen miles in half a day and still be in fighting shape at the end of it - from there quicker and quicker marches should be learned. Afterwards, basic combat will come in and I sweah I won't let a hare move on until they mastah using speahs, slings, and daggahs. Then, we'll move on to battlefield tactics and all that - staying as a cohesive unit, working with battlelines and such."

Zolomon listens "Thats a...lot of miles in a day sur, and one thing that made it dangerous at the time I joined was de siege happen." He likely don't have to mention which one "But if still in fighting shape after that, that be very good sur and tis good to know different weapons like I know longbow, saber, dagger somewhat, and sling I have used as well. Spear is fairly easy, just not done too much with it, but it is easy to use when needed"

Terrence nods. "Yes. The sling, speah, and daggah'll be considered the basic weapons and every hare'll have to master them before moving on - including myself. I'm adequate with the sling, but nothing special. Aftah the hares have gotten those three weapons down, then they can move onto othah things, like archery o'h sword-fighting in theih spare time once basic training's done."

Zolomon nods and hmmms "Wouldn't a blade other than dagger like..dirk or saber be good to know though? I know Zeldove mentioned knowing throwing daggers , if that counts"

"A dirk's more o'h less a daggah," Terrence shrugs, "And in shoulder to shoulder fighting which this is preparing hares fo'h, swords are surprisingly useless." His soup now finished, the sergeant rests his elbows on the table. "Think about it. If you have a fellow hare on you'h right and a fellow hare on you'h left, you don't have much room fo'h a long blade like a sword. A daggah o'h dirk's much quickah and easiah to draw too."

Zolomon nods "Ya..have a point sur, smaller weapon and better in small spaces right?" He smiles "Maybe I need to learn more  battle stuff like that, I have trained archers and made sure some runners did laps, and exercises done by recruits and privates. And they are improving."

Dipping his head, Terrence grunts. "Indeed. We all do, to be frank - battlefield training that is. And that's the next part, but I'll just hand you what I wrote about it to explain when it come to it."

Zolomon nods again " I can look it over sur and you can even let Lord C take a look maybe and Jinora as well."He smiles "I like the idea you and Felicity had though on  doing some training of the units together at times, could be useful"

"Yes." Terrence narrows his eyes at the nickname for the badger lord and especially the lake of rank for Jinora. "Remembah that it's majah Jinora, corporal." He laughs suddenly, shaking his head. "But we're off duty so don't worry about it - just be careful using nicknames while in uniform and in front of the privates and recruits."

Zolomon nods "Right...right..understood" He smiles "But better training will be good sur, a very good well rounded patrol"

Terrence, looking down at his now empty bowl, says, "Hopefully, Zolomon, hopefully." He stands, picking up his dish and gesturing over towards Zolomon's bowl. "Want me to take that?"

Zolomon nods as he scoots over the bowl "I am sure all will be alright sur, and the whole use buddy system if out and about, not that it always works. An ambush can happen...even with a ..sergeant.." He frowns again and then clears his throat "Anyways sur..that was a  different matter or..so I heard, I don't think beast that hypotise are around , thats like..rare"

"Buddy system?" Terrence asks, picking up the bowl. "I daresay hares will not be allowed to go without thei'h squad unless directly ordah'd to. The dangeh should be minimized." As he walks away to deposit the dishes in the wash bin, the sergeant comes back. "What was that about hypnotizing creatures, if I heard you right?"

Zolomon nods "It was some...marten thing he was..insane, he's dead now thank the seasons. He had managed to  hare nap a couple privates and....on a ..wot was to be a simple patrol...but he..he..." He tries to stop the tears and fails.... "Sergeant Tarsa...she died..he somehow....." He wasn't there but found the report when looking for old battle stuff..like how some battles went ect ect to ..well prevent in the future and found it.. "I had started to go and she ordered me to stay..she be back in the morning and..she wasn't back..a...alive that is.....so the all hares need more training is good..very very..good sur so no one else...dies like that again"

Still standing, Terrence is silent for a long time. "Indeed." He finally says, quietly. "I can say that is the goal, Zolomon."

Zolomon nods and seems to stand there a while and then nods "Yes, the sooner..the better" He looks at Terrence a long while and then nods "I know you make sure Sergeant Felicity is always safe and sound. Just as I..will make sure Zeldove stays safe....cause...." He stops again and  smiles, why is thinking of Zeldove making him feel better, he is not sure really "I am...I need some sleep...any meetings need to know of Terrance before I...maybe get some sleep?" He does look tried.

"Go on and get some sleep then." Terrence says with a slight smile. "There's nothing more fo'h you to worry about today." The sergeant will remain in the dining hall late into the night however, rewriting his work while nibbling on the leftovers.

Zolomon nods as he heads on out, a salute and then he disappears around the corner, he will likely fall asleep fairly quickly.

Hey, for the next couple weeks I'll be traveling and wont be on the muck. Just wanted to post on the forums so people
I'll be gone from the 3rd (tomorrow) to the 16th, but I'll still be about the forums from time to time

Lt. Gregorian,
Sgt. Terrence,
and Rct. Zeldove, hares.

For nearly two days Terrence had been in a rather sullen mood, staying mostly separate from the other hares. The sergeant has been taking out his energy by partaking in fights down in the boxing ring in the name of 'practice', but by this morning very few were interested. With a rather large bruise on his cheek Terrence leans against the rope, tapping his foot against the ground in an impatient way.

Gregorian barely seems different despite the news but then he's been in a grouchy mood for weeks so perhaps it's just harder to tell. He appears in the chamber, for once not trapped in the forge or training "So keen tah break the new glasses already?" he says instead of a greeting as he's heading towards the ring.

"Not really." Terrence replies with roll of his shoulders, but leaving the glasses on. "I've been smart enough to take them off before going in for blows, sah." By now he turns to face Gregorian by gripping the rope with both paws. "I don't intend to cause you even more work, sah."

Zeldove was learning her way around the mountain, even went to see Halyard  for a short while. She is a little lost but the sound of voices brings her to the boxing ring area, she steps on inside and takes a quick glance around.

Gregorian leans against the ring from the outside and snorts at Terrence "Yah'd be the only one, the work nevah seems tah end, they just keep givin' yah more papahwork up the ranks" a short pause and he glances around "Yah already driven off the whole mountain?" in his glancing he spots Zeldove's arrival "Ah, except there's the newest recruit"

Terrence looks down, letting out a forced chuckle. "All ten of them that's willing, lieutenant. And I lost half." When he looks up again, he sees the recruit. "Zeldove, isn't it?" He sighs, glancing once again at Greg. "Sah, I don't think that'd be the best thing to do, too much like hazing for my tastes..."

Zeldove steps forwards, she does a salute as she has seen other hares do "Yes sur...Zeldove Rose Fay Swiftpaw." She lowers her paw and remains standing where she is.

Gregorian shows a brief bit of confusion at Terrence for a moment after the hazing thing before Greg suddenly understands "Oh, hm, not really my intention tah suggest it. More distracted by the new face. The poor choice of words is my own though" he throws a quick salute Zeldove's way "Lieutenant Gregorian Formalis Harthwill" another little puzzled look to Terrence for a second "Didn't we have a Swiftpaw once?" he shakes his head and waves his own question off with a paw "Probably unrelated. Apparently I'm easily distracted tahday"

"Only name I can think of similar is Mjr. Varus' Swiftbuck, but that isn't quite the same." Terrence mutters, stepping over the the rope to give an even more relaxed salute than the lieutenant's. "I'm Sergeant Terrence W.H. Cadwallader, recruit Swiftpaw." He drops his paw to his side, looking down briefly. "I heard you brought the news from Redwall, yes?" He looks back up, gazing intently at Zeldove. "Pvt. Ewan," He begins, slowly, "Ewan was in my squad way back before he went to Mossflower. It's a bad thing, what happened..."

Zeldove frowns as Ewan's name comes up and she silently looks at the floor a while before speaking "He's....dead sur. It happen not too far up the road from de abbey, someone ran to get a healer but they....they didn't get back in, in time....he died before, before they likely even, got thar. He...was stabbed in the back and the blade came out the...front, I don't know if they...could of done much  even if they had got back in time."

Gregorian shakes his head "Swift somethin', first name I think...Years ago though, probably lost tah some battle" he nods slowly to the mention of Ewan and the news. Though they already know of Ewan's fate he still sighs and then it's distraction again as a private sticks their head in the door and after spotting Greg quickly comes in with a pile of paperwork "Ah, sah" a quick salute "I was told this was important" Greg nods to the private and takes the papers, giving another sigh as he glances over them "Perhaps I'll go boxin' the next time I can surface for air through the papahs" a little grumble and he heads for the door "Anothah time. Excuse me"

"Sah!" Terrence salutes to the departing lieutenant, more formally than before. "Anyway, yes." He says, turning back to Zeldove, "I heard." Another sigh and he closes his eyes for a bit longer than a blink. "I had hoped, when I heard he was staying at that Redwall, he'd be safe and well. I was rathah afraid if he'd stay here he'd be killed, like so many othahs..." Shrugging, the sergeant leans back against the rope. "But it seems that the Long Patrol is cursed when it comes to Mossflowah. Something always terrible happens in those woods."

Zeldove frowns, "I do know...maybe tis true more so here than other places...being a member is a life long thing and one thing, any hare would know is...the chance of death happening...The Long patrol is to protect the helpless, defend the weak...a family of squirrels are safe now and maybe had me and him not been where we were, they would not be safe now"

"Indeed..." Terrence mutters, thinking. "But the Long Patrol does have limits. It's a lesson very few seem to learn - one cannot be everywhere, especially now with how few of us there are." Biting his lip and glancing up at the ceiling, he adds, in a quiet and controlled voice as if he's trying to hold something back, "There's a part of me that wondahs if Ewan should have been alone at the abbey, in terms of patrol hares that is. It doesn't mattah how good a fightah one is, as even the best will easily fall on theih own..."

Zeldove listens as he speaks, then she does "Maybe it was thought he would....not get into danger, I...don't know. I am an archer, but I do know how to fight with a blade if needed and use a sling"

Dipping his head, Terrence nods. "Maybe. But whatevah the reason it's not like I had much say." There's a slight hint of bitterness to his tone, "I was a newly made corporal back then, and certainly was nowhere neah the decision makahs, wot." Another sigh comes from him, and he seems to deflate. "I wish I could have seen him again - now all of that squad are dead..." The sergeant falls quiet, looking at the floor, remembering. After a little while he shrugs his shoulders. "But I suppose that's the way of things, eh? Can't change it, no mattah what we do. But besides that, I'd like to get you as good with the blade, particularly a daggah or something short, sling, and speah, as you say you are an archah."

Zeldove nods "Yes...a darn good archer as well." She smiles "I was in a group called Mossflower Defenders before coming 'ere...I heard about that siege...not much of it though, I mean I suppose I  could of asked the hare that showed me around, he even  got me dinner at Halyard, he's nice."

"Corporal Zolomon, I assume?" Terrence asks, already guessing the answer. "I saw part of his report. He also claims to be a crack shot with the bow, and was a part of that defendah's group himself." He leaves the way he's been unimpressed by the corporal's skills - and what he's heard of the Mossflower Defenders - unsaid. "He's directly undah me, so I suppose he'll be the one to help you out the most. He's a good hare, all things considered, if a bit clumsy."

Zeldove nods "He's handsome too..." She clears her thoat "I mean...others are too...and..." She tilts her head "Clumsy sur?"

For the first time since the news of Ewan's death was announced two days ago, Terrence laughs genuinely. "There's at least one othah doe that shares you'h views on the good corporal that I know of, wot! And there might be even more than that." He's grinning from ear to ear. "As fo'h being clumsy, well, he's not the most careful of hares. You might see it if he tries one of his somersaults again." The sergeant's smile, while smaller than before, remains - though now its with the twinkle of some private joke. "But don't give him a hard time fo'h it." His expression returns to somberness again, "Goodness knows I and a few othah's already do..."

Zeldove nods "Well he is a high rank so I likely would get into trouble if I did. He sounds...funny, I can't do cartwheels at all."

"I suppose you could say that." Terrence shrugs. "But in the grand scheme of things corporal is the lowest of the officahs - noncommissioned o'h commissioned - you'h not technically supposed to say 'sah' to them even! But it's become a sort of tradition 'round here, and I don't know when it started to be frank. And I'm one to talk!" He says, chuckling with a shake of his head, "Being only one rank above Zolomon that is, and I certainly nevah minded being called sah when I was a corporal."

Zeldove says, "Is not any rank above your own to be called sur or...maybe madam though? " She glances around the room "It also seems there is working to get beasts better at paw to paw training also."

"That's quite right," Terrence says, walking over to a bench and sitting, "Every hare, sergeant and above, is to be addressed as 'sah', particularly when in uniform and on duty. It gets more complicated the highah up you go, though, but you don't have to worry 'bout that just yet. As fo'h training well," he mutters, "If I'm being honest, everything needs to be worked on. I plan on having every hare in my division, corporal and below, train till they're considered experts with the speah, sling, and daggah- as well as paw to paw, wot. And if you want to, I'll give Cpl. Zolomon the ordah to train extra with you fo'h both you'h bow skills."

Zeldove nods "Sounds good....is thar many archers in the Long Patrol? I know it was good to have the skill, as up close fighting is not always good in some fights, others it might be best"

Terrence shakes his head. "No, there is not. Least not any dedicated archahs. I've been thinking about proposing to the general staff a rehaul of sorts fo'h the patrol. Instead of just having fightah, runnah, and the like, there'd be more specialization to those, like skirmishahs, shock troops, o'h archahs. If that doesn't get through, I'm still thinking of having Zolomon's squad all train in archery so we have something fo'h ranged options, wot."

Zeldove nods "Doesn't sound like a bad idea...and make sure there is healers, a healer is important or least all have some basic healing first aid knowledge to help a beast till get to a skilled healer, yes...not all the time a life will be saved, but other times it could well be saved if a fellow patrol member had some basic healer skills...wrap a wound to stop bleeding, know how ta hold pressure...that sort of thing"

Terrence gives a dry chuckle. "Obviously - don't worry," he smiles, "I hadn't forgotten ou'h healahs. Hopefully, we can have at least one in every squad, and yes, every recruit should learn first aid. Do you happen to know any of the basics? It'd go a long way and you'll have more time fo'h the bow."

Zeldove says, "I know...some, keep a beast calm and talking if can. I can take a pulse and check breathing. I can sort of bandage a wound, I did sew a leg wound once, of course  wasn't the best and needed redone BUT...it lasted with bandages till the  mouse got to a real bally healer...but yeah sewing beasts wounds not  really de same as sewing a hole in an outfit or like a patch on to a shirt maybe"

A rather grim smile plays across the sergeant's face. "Indeed. Hard alcohol works to clean such wounds, as well. Without it they run the risk of infection, which is probably the biggest killah of fighting beasts..." Terrence nods, slowly, as if preoccupied by another thought. "I daresay you should go through at least one day fo'h a refreshah in healing, but beyond that I don't believe you'll need the same level of training in that area as most of the othah recruits do, so that's good."

Zeldove nods "Of course...sur. I am hoping to not be a recruit for too long but I suppose we will see"

Nodding again, Terrence replies, "Yes, I suppose you do hope that. But we shall see - recent events have shown to me a lot more work is need fo'h both recruits and privates before they're ready fo'h the field."

Zeldove says, "Well unlike some I do have some fighting in...though...nothing against my former leader...he likely should do more training than he does, but one good thing is he did do things like  exercise like push ups, some jogging...even has this thing in the woods that requires a little jumping and there is a rope to swing across this pit, it's...interesting but he only ever used a blade...my longbow skills I learned from my mother, my uncle and  a lot, LOT of practice." She yawns and frowns "Sorry...sur  a little tried is all, been doing a lot of walking today"

"Right, right." Terrence stands, rolling his shoulders. "I daresay I'm a bit tired myself. But I'm hoping you'h - and the rest of the recruits' and privates' training - will be more than just exercises and weapons practice. We all need to learn how to work as one again, and how to relay on each othah. Perhaps we'll begin you'h formal training tomorrow, but I'll let you know then." He nods to her. "Anyway, I need to go check in on some of my division, as I've been admittedly neglecting them the past couple of days...Recruit Zeldove, it was pleasure to meet you." He says with a small smile, "But I'll take my leave now." The sergeant gives a hasty salute as he heads for the exit.

Zeldove nods, a salute and then she heads on  back threw the tunnels, luckily she finds the correct one and gets to bed, she will get a somewhat good amount of sleep, then who truly gets a good night's sleep the first night or two in a new place.

Domminik & Blorg,
Felicity & Julia,
Gregorian & Grace,
and Terrence & Earlbuck, hares.

Up upon the western crest of the crater Terrence sits, bracing himself against the cold north wind. The young sergeant has a mostly cleared schedule for the rest of the day, and he intends to spend it away from most hares; hence taking refuge on the most battered and unfriendly part of the mountain. Looking out at the grey sea he leans back to rest his head on a rock, the spectacles he wears working well as protection from the wind.

Alas his plans may be ruined because of other hares who also seek the quiet spots to escape to. Unable to visit the catacombs for lunch lately Greg heads for the crater instead with his sandwich. He pauses by the door and closes his eyes to let the cold wind blow and ruffle his fur for a minute. It was a welcome change after a morning in the forge. It's not until he reopens his eyes and starts his way out properly towards the gardens does he spot Terrence "Sergeant? Wot has yah hidin' out here?...And should I perhaps be leavin' yah to it?"

"Freezing my eahs off is what, sah." Terrence replies, looking down from his perch. "Figured I might try to see how fah I can, well, see." There's levity to his voice as he says that, and a full answer to Greg's question doesn't come. The sergeant shifts to face the inside of the crater - and the lieutenant - more fully. When the sandwich is spotted, he raises an eyebrow. "Is it lunch time already?"

Gregorian wanders towards the edge as they're talking so he can peer down at the outside world "Hrm, so long as it's well enough tah see the blightahs comin'" he raises his sandwich "It's my lunchtime, nevahmind the rest of yah. Sometimes it's easiah tah take the meals when yah find a good spot tah stop. Wot's out there down on the shores tahday then?"

"I think I could see blightahs coming, sah," Terrence casts his gaze down to the shore, "If there were any so be seen. Like usual, there isn't - just sand, rocks, and seaweed. Oh, and the driftwood. Can't forget that." Leaning back down, he looks up at the sky. "All in all quite desolate, if I do say so myself."

Gregorian chuckles quietly "If yah can see driftwood yah'll be able tah see vermin no problem" he shifts about a bit, finding the more comfortable spots to sit "All for the best it bein' quiet like this...Though yah don't tend tah get much in the way of hordes in the wintah. A few desperate rats scroungin' for travellahs tah try and rob but no one wants tah do a siege in this weathah"

Terrence sits upright. "Indeed. Though," turning towards Gregorian, the sergeant has a more serious expression on his face. "I actually can't remembah the last time any sort of attack took place on the mountain, sah. Did something like that evah happen before my time?"

Gregorian scratches his beard as he draws his memory back "Oh sure, the whole place got taken ovah once. That was..." he squints "...Well, I was a recruit so a long time ago. We were out, down the shore on a trainin' exercise. Apparently that sort of thing must be cursed" a shake of his head and he starts eating his sandwich.

A very surprised Terrence blinks at the lieutenant. "I think I heard tell of that - but I always thought, well..." He mutters something about the passage of time, then coughs. "Anyway, I do think training exercise trips are cursed. But what about one which take place on the parade ground right at the base of this mountain, eh? Beyond a few accidents, I've nevah read or heard anything about those going too badly, wot."

Solitude can be a wonderful thing.  It provides space to think, to ponder, to come to know oneself better.  It can aid in mental health.  It's also incredibly difficult to come by when you're living in a military base, as is proven when a 3rd hare joins the crater.  Felicity's brow is furrowed as she finishes buttoning up her quilted jacket and tugs her hat down farther over her ears.  She nods to the bucks, then starts checking around the various boulders and things up here.

Gregorian raises an eyebrow at Terrence's muttering "Wot? Didn't think anyone still remembahed this stuff or didn't think anyone lived that long?" he seems amused at least as he glances back at the sound of another hare appearing and vaguely waves an ear at Felicity "Anothah for the hide out?" he asks before looking back to Terrence "Problem is, yah only train at the mountain yah nevah get used tah travellin', sleepin' in tents, livin' on rations. It's not the same when yah can pop back tah the mountain at any time"

"Well, yes, and you look great for your age, sah." Terrence gives a rather cheeky smile, but it becomes more soft when Felicity appears. He waves, calling down to her, "Hello there!" he leans back, his attention mostly returning to Greg. "That's true, though I think some propah battle formation and all that can do some good- I feel the most needed thing right now is cohesion in the ranks." With a scowl, he adds, "Honestly seems most hares don't know even basic principles like staying togethah o'h not rushing in head first..."

Felicity comes over to the bucks after searching the crater thouroughly.  "Oh, 'llo, thah.  'Ave y'seen Julia?  She's missin' again.  She wasn't in th' catacombs or th' kitchens."  The obvious first places for her sister to run off to.  "Whot are you 2 talkin' 'bout?"  She asks after a moment of looking around some more, curiosity getting the better of her.

Gregorian snorts at Terrence "Watch yah self" he warns but with a smirk. He has to nod about the hares running in to things blindly "It's true, they do need tah know when tah stop. Doesn't help when most of yah forces wants tah be a hero" he looks back at Felicity with a small frown "Hrm. Probably off tah cause trouble somewhere. Or hidin' from consequences of causin' trouble. Well, she can't have gotten far"

Terrence's ears shoot up and he shivers in the wind. "I don't believe she's up here, but I've not been paying attention much..." He glances at Greg again, his attention now rather far from their conversation. Not strictly because of worrying about danger Julia is in, but more so what trouble she'll more than likely be the root of... "I can agree with that, sah..." The sergeant says to Greg after a moment or so, "And unfortunately the easiest way to be a hero is by getting oneself killed, and easiest way to get oneself killed is by acting stupid and tossing caution to the wind, so to say..."

Felicity nods.  "Aye, I know Julia's 'ere in th' Mountain.  I just 'ate it when she 'ides like this."  She wrinkles her nose.  "I tell m'sistah that 'eroes are th' ones who do whot's right, no mattah th'cost.  'Eroes work with othahs, an' put the needs of othah's a'ead o' their own.  An' 'eroes let othah's 'ave th'spotlight because real 'eroes aren't lookin' for attention.  They're just wantin' justice and kindness to rule th'world."  She sits down and observes Terrence's bare ears, but instead says, "Who got themselves killed now?"

Gregorian glances around the mountain top too but no dibbuns to be seen "Well, we can look for her if yah worried. She can't have got far, the guards aren't goin' tah have let her wandah off outside" he shakes his head quickly at the question "No one died. Just a generalisation."

"I was referencing how the recruits and privates handled the toad attack," Terrence begins, quietly, "And in particualah how Dom charged away from all us...He didn't die, but, well..." A grim look spreads across his face. "If it were any hare 'sides Dom I do believe they'd be dead." He sighs. "Luckily that wasn't the case, and the toads were more interested in capturing, howevah horrible the conditions were fo'h...you and the othahs." He looks intently at Felicity, brows creased. "Yes, I can help look for Julia."

Felicity gets that look in her eyes again, like she's withdrawing from the present and putting up mental and emotional shields.  This has been happening every time the toads have been mentioned.  The Runner hops up, grasping at the other conversation topic.  "Oh, yes, please.  Could you?  I know I'm prob'ly worryin' too much, but....Julia's th'only fam'ly I 'ave left.  I just wanna know where she is an' that she 'asn't, like, eaten toxic paint or somethin'."  Not the first time that would have happened, either.

Gregorian scoffs the remainder of his sandwich quickly and gets up, headed back towards the passage inside "Come on then. Yah know the likely places. We'll start there and work our way through"

Terrence didn't miss the way Felicity reacted hearing about the toads again. "Eh, sorry 'bout that, Lissie." the sergeant says with an apologetic look to her, but once the conversation topic is change he drops the it. Then, standing as well, he follows after the lieutenant. "Don't suppose there happens to be any majah place you know she likes hanging round that you haven't checked yet, eh?" He asks with a slight grin, not really expecting anything useful.

At that moment, down in the dark catacombs deep beneath the mountain...

A few days had passed and not much had seemingly changed really, down in the catacombs. Things were quiet on the Dom front...the large buck had largely kept to himself, not making any particular disturbances anywhere else in the mountain. He'd remained in his little alcove, apparently comfortable there with simply himself and his best friend, the toad skeleton he had dubbed Blorg...who sits against the wall across from where he crouches. The hare had been busy, however, the stone walls around him covered in little stick drawings and various random words and phrases, and it much resembles the inside of the cave he'd been living in in the marshlands. Sitting with his back to the wall, Dom stares over at Blorg, the hare's gaze blank, ears perked and listening for any sounds outside of his little area. He didn't get any visitors, and frankly, he liked it that way.

Solitude is a beautiful thing, but, as happened up in the crater, it is quickly shattered.  Julia, her arms wrapped around a bag full of something lightweight, comes trotting into the catacombs.  "Dommy?"  she irreverently calls as she stops by the grave of her parents and older brother.  "Dommy, you down heres?"  She could've sworn she heard he was down here, possibly from eavsedropping while hiding from adults.

Grace waits by the door for a minute, playing lookout after they'd taken the time to sneak off and avoid the sitters. She would happily tell any dibbun that would listen exactly where Dom is. She's got a bag too and satisfied that they're not being followed she quickly ducks inside to catch up with Julia "'e was over there before...an' 'e said he'd changed 'is name" she had not told them about him being a big ball of fluff now because she'd hoped it might be catching and she would have puffed up too by now. Alas she has not and remains her usual sandy brown colour.

Dominik's solitude is indeed shattered as he hears Julia's voice. Much as when Grace had found him and approached, the buck isn't alarmed as he realizes the source of the voice. Head lifting, it turns just slightly in the direction of the entrance to his alcove, and he watches there to see who exactly had managed to sneak away and find him this time. The name being used is still a little unfamiliar to him, though he also understands that no one else was down here, so it is likely referring to him. He grunts softly in reply to the question, figuring that's really all the response that was needed. "Hrmph." His attention diverts back to Blorg. "...is more, coming down, to see..." he mutters. Ears perk as he picks up Grace's voice, and the large white buck smiles, remembering their last encounter. "Leetle vun Grace..." he rumbles.

Of course, even the best lookouts can miss something small. Trailing some distance behind the two leverets is another younger one, who only just recently began to talk. "B'ula Gwath? Issa dawk..." Earlbuck breaks his silence to call out, looking from side to side. He soon break into a run with a little shriek at a spiderweb and barrels down the catacombs towards Julia and Grace, not caring about making noise or being caught.

Julia plops her bag down and opens it, spilling streamers and ribbons all over the floor in front of her family's grave.  "Dommy!  Is me, Julia.  We hewe t'make y'new home pweety."  She ties a ribbon onto the flower vase thing on her family's grave, shushing Earlbuck.  "Yousa gets us caught!  Meep!"  She tries to dart out of the way, straight into the mountain hare's cubby.  "Eeek!  Skelton!!"  the leveret squeaks as she comes face to face with Blorg.  At least she stops before she knocks him over.

"Shhh!" Grace quickly urges Earlbuck and moves to try and grab him before he bumps in to anything while running "Y'gots t'be quiet so the grown ups don't find us" she says before jumping as Julia starts squeaking in fear of skeletons now too "SHHH! It's just 'is friend!...An' this place is fulla skeletons so y'can't go screamin' at 'em or we'll get int' trouble" she seems perfectly at home in creepy places.

Grace's attempts are successful, and the youngest leveret of the three is lead safely to Dommy and Julia. Of course, if Earlbuck could have articulated what he felt at the moment he saw the former's home and heard the latter's intention, it may have come off as an indignant remark. However, for the time being he couldn't, so he settled with looking confusedly from the leveret guiding him, the big white hare, the other leveret in the cubby, and finally the skeleton next to her. Surprisingly, he doesn't seem the least bit scared, having never seen a bone in his short life before. "Fwiend?" He points to Blorg while ignoring Dom and he reaches out to touch the long dead toad, unperturbed by Julia's shrieks. "Fwiend?" He repeats, looking up at Dom with wide grin while poking at Blorg with a small paw.

Julia scowls deeply and pulls herself up to her full diminutive height.  "I KNOWS dere bes skelatins down 'eres.  Me mum an' da an' bruvver are in dat one," she points to the grave her family is resting in (that now has a ribbon on it).  "I jus' wuvn't 'spectin' one wif Dommy.  Why you no warn usns 'bout dat??"  She stalks out past Grace and starts pulling more ribbons out to decorate her family's grave with.  "An' 'tisn't my fault Early twied t'wun int'me.

Grace huffs and frowns back at Julia when she points out her family's graves "We're not talkin' about tha'" she nods at Earl "Yeah! 'e brought 'im back from the swamp" she watches the younger hare poking the toad and waits for a second to see if anything happens but shrugs when nothing does "May 'e moves when we're not lookin'" she shrugs again at Julia's question "I dunno...he was just there...'e's called Blurg!" she remembers incorrectly.

Earlbuck looks deeply offended by Julia's words, but the leveret soon loses interest when Grace starts explaining who the toad is. "B'u-g." Earlbuck tries the name out, wrestling it in his mouth. "Bu-g." He says again, plopping down next to the skeleton and looking up at its empty eyes as if it were alive. "Issa Dommy's fwiend?" He asks Blorg, awaiting patiently for the toad bones to answer.

Julia scowls.  "Blurg no move!  Blurg's a skelatin!  Skelatins don't move 'cause dey bes dead!"  She doesn't 'duh,' but it's obvious that's what she's thinking.  "'E can'ts answer yous...'cause 'e's dead!" she adds grumpily.  "Lissie said Dommy's sick, an' maybe dat's why 'e finks a skelatin's bettew fwiends den we are."  Makes sense to her.  She starts to decorate the grave of Greg's mate, being careful to not knock over the metal flowers.

Grace again pauses to see if the skeleton responds to Earlbuck but with the only response a blank stare she drops her bag at last and offers Earl some ribbons "Maybe 'e only talks t'Dom. Y'can 'elp 'im be all pretty though" Julia gets another frown "Y'don't know tha'. There's ghost stories, ghosts are dead but they move around" her ears flick at the mention of Dom being sick and she looks less sure "'e did forget 'e was a hare an' wot a classroom is..." Julie may be right but Grace isn't going to say it. She knows the grave her dad usually comes to see though and notices Julia's decorating it so she's quickly over to make sure it's alright "Y'gots t'be careful with tha'. That's dad's friend or family or somethin'"

"Dead...?" Earl begins, not quite understanding, "Like daddy...?" The morbid train of thought is soon derailed, however, as he hears Grace's theory. "Well, me gonna g'Bu-g tak. Righty, Bu-g?" He looks up again at the toad, still grinning. "No listen to them, they'w b'us' b'elous."

Sniffing, Julia lifts her nose haughtily.  "De onwy ghost I bewieve in is Martin da Wawwiow of Wedwall."  When Grace starts getting all nitpicky, Julia goes to shove her away.  "I knows 'ow to bes nice t' a gwave.  I've been visitin' mum an' da an' Davvie since I was bown!!"  Actually, it's been since she was, like, 2 months old.  But she wouldn't be able to remember that.

Grace huffs again when Earl mentions his dad "We're not talkin' about tha'" she repeats. She does not like to think or talk about dead family members. It's alright when it's toads or long dead hares she's never met. A little glare for Julia "Why would Martin be d'only one? Tha's just stupid" and then she gets shoved and immediately she goes to shove Julia back "Dad's been visitin' Uncle Fred since before y'was born an' I come all the time! This ain't yer family, leave it alone!"

When the two other leverets start fighting, Earlbuck starts snuffling. It seems that between both Grace and Julia's abrasiveness the leveret has had enough. "Com'on, Bu-g," He says, grabbing the skeleton's paw to drag it after him, "Let' leafe the meanieth." The tiny hare pays no heed if Blorg come crashing to the ground, intent as he is to leave the two to fight it out.

Julia goes to kick Grace in the shin.  "Is not shtoopid, YOU shtoopid!!"  Decorations forgotten, Julia goes to slap Grace across the face.  "I was twyin' tos makes it pwetty to be NICE!  Yous just a jewk!  So FINE, I WON'TS make it pwetty!  It'll be ugly wike you face!!"  Julia doesn't mean that, she's just mad.  She's also like 4 years old, so she'll be mean to get back at whoever ticked her off

"Ow!" Grace goes at the shin kick but it's the slap that really hurts and surprises her. For a second she can only stare as her lip quivers and she looks like she might cry until her face twists in to rage "Y'the jerk! Y'stupid an' y'don't even know wha' pretty is!" she yells as she launches herself at the other dibbun, trying to slap her back and grab her "Y'so stupid...so..stupid" she struggles for an insult as she keeps trying to attack "Yer parents probably died so they didn't 'ave t'live with yah!" she also doesn't mean that and is just mad. Though it's the worst thing she's ever said. She'll probably regret it when she's not caught in the moment.

In Earlbuck's mind both doe leverets have cemented themselves as the worst hares he's ever had the misfortune of meeting, and he's halfway out of the catacombs dragging the detached arm of Blorg behind him, the rest of the skeleton lying on the ground next to the fight. Of course Earbuck doesn't notice, as he never looks back, and he certainly thinks he is quite capable to drag his new found friend along behind him, so the lightness of the arm doesn't bother him. "Listen to them meanieth, B-ug. 'Ope they 'hurt eathothah..."

At that moment, Terrence pokes his head around the corner, his ears casting long shadows down the catacombs. "Oi! Greg, Felicity!" He calls behind him, entering the catacombs more fully now, "I think I found something!" Earlbuck squeaks and runs back to the fight. "GWON UP, GWON UP!"

Julia gasps, then embraces Grace, tries to bite her repeatedly, and starts cussing her out with all the curse words she's ever heard, which is almost all of the ones in English and a couple in the language of Tuscani.  Terrence's appearance and Earlbuck's alarmed squeaks don't even get her attention, she's to busy trying to get even with her nemesis.  At Terrence's call, Felicity comes running and enters the catacombs herself.  She takes one look at the fight and curses as beautifully as her baby sister.  "JULIA RACHELLE ROSINBLOOM!!!"  And that's what finally makes Julia pause and look up from the fight.  "Uh-oh," she whispers.

Grace is learning many new words today! She squeals as she's bitten and starts trying to kick the other dibbun until suddenly the adults are here and everything stops. She quickly scrabbles up and off of Julia but it's too late, dad's there, he's seen her fighting. Greg doesn't even need to say anything, he just has his disapproving frown and Grace freezes and shrinks a little. She's in trouble and she knows it. There's a long pause before she stomps her footpaw and points at Julia "She was messin' with Uncle Fred's grave!"

Terrence doesn't say anything nor try to stop the leveret in front of him, instead opting to follow the tiny hare who is trying to flee in a panic - after all, Earlbuck must have been calling to someone, and perhaps he's running back to them. The arm he's still dragging behind him gets a raised eyebrow or two from the sergeant, but he doesn't comment. Of course, that all changes when he gets in shot of hearing range of the fight and the words being shouted, some of them causing a slight blush on Terrence's cheeks. "That... That is quite the mouth youh sistah has there, Lissie." He says with a laugh when he gets to Dom's cubby just behind Earlbuck, who blurts out, "THEY BOF ARE BIG MEANIES TO ME AND BU-G, and, and they sta'ted figh'ing, and me b'us wan'ed a fweind and, and..." The leveret bursts into tears, sobbing loud enough to be heard in every corner of the catacombs.
For his part, Terrence casts a helpless gaze at Greg and Felicity, having no clue what to do about the hare.

Felicity has a mouth of her own, which Terrence just got an earful of.  "Take care o' that little buck, would you, Terrence?  Just 'old 'im an' comfort 'im," the Runner mutters, still glaring balefully at her sister.  Julia bounces up and points at Grace.  "She said t' make it pwetty down hewes f'r Dommy, sos I was justs twyin' t' 'elp."  Felicity sweeps up here sister, trying to keep her own temper.  "Julia Rachelle, I've told y'time an' time agin t'not fight, an' whot d'y'do?!"  "But Gwace--"  "I DON'T WANT T' 'EAR IT!  'Eroes don't act this way.  Now c'mon.  We're gonna go an' ye're gonna make apology notes..."  She turns to the Lieutenant.  "'M sorry, Greg.  I 'ope she didn't 'urt y'daughter.  'Scuse me."  Felicity carries her sister off upstairs, and for once in her life Julia weeps over what she's done instead of arguing.  Having her big sister cuss her out may be part of it...

Gregorian's frown deepens as Grace immediately starts blaming the other doe "And yah believe that will make fightin' acceptable tah me?" he questions with calm irritation though his eyes do flick to check the grave over. Just decorated with ribbons. A little unsightly but not damaging, permanent or entirely inappropriate "I told yah not tah come down here. Instead yah come here and yah start a fight!" his voice is slowly getting louder "One which I'm sure yah had just as much as part in as Julia!" Grace tries to protest but quickly looks down at the floor silently. Greg glances at Terrence to make sure he's got the other dibbun before he goes to at least brush a few of the ribbons off the grave marker.

There's also the fact that the toad skeleton lies nearby missing one arm - which is being gently tugged away from Earlbuck by Terrence. The sergeant crouches down next to the leveret, paw still on the arm bone of the toad. "Now, lad, what's your name?"
With a sniff, the leveret replies, "Earlbuck..." He taps himself on the chest before pointing to the Blorg. "And tha's Bu-g. Dunno we'h 'e's a'm wen'. Gwath and B'ula mus' 'afe los' it..."
Terrence leans back on his feet. "I see..." He doesn't quite understand the young hare, but he does recognize the name. "You're Greenhill's leveret, right?"
"Yes..."
"I imagine you'h mothah will be missing you right about now, laddy. Come on, lets get out of this place - and leave poor Bug's arm behind, eh?" The sergeant does his best to lead the leveret out of the catacombs once the arm is place back generally were its supposed to be - Blorg's skeleton is still lying face first on the floor, however.

Gregorian sighs quietly as he looks at the grave for a moment, folding his arms and pausing...before he snorts and leaves the remaining ribbons where they arm "Yeah, well yah would" he mutters back to the stone in response to some unknown comment. He goes to grab the dibbun's bags and avoid's Dom's alcove. Wherever Dom's hiding (And who could blame him from avoiding fighting dibbuns) Greg wanted nothing to do with it while he was already in a mood. He points Grace to the door "Out. Now...And yah writin' an apology too" Grace does as she's told but it comes with a whine "Aww but that's not fair!"

Thanks to everyone who took part not just in this RP but the entire mini-TP, especially Dom!

Pvt. Dominik A. Kasimir,
Lt. Gregorian F. Harthwill,
Sgt. Felicity E. Rosinbloom,
and Sgt. Terrence W.H. Cadwallader, hares.

Since his cave was found, a final attempt to retrieve Dom is begun...

In the predawn light the camp was busting, with hares going this way and that. All the movement centered around one spot, were the smoke of the cooking fire rose high into the sky. Despite the cold, hares who are not on errands (or somehow still sleeping) are standing nearby the kitchen tent, waiting for breakfast. Terrence, however, was not one of these.

The sergeant was overseeing the cleaning and preparations for what was hoped the final expedition into the wider swamp around them. Leg wraps, great coats, and nets lay on tables before him, and he was currently working on a rather nasty tangle in one with a private on the other end.

Gregorian had been one of the first awake but not necessarily up and about. His leg ached worst in the mornings so if he was going to be marching about all day he just had to wake earlier and let the medication work. By the time they were getting ready he was back in working condition and appears out of his tent. With breakfast still being worked on he heads to check on preparations instead "Sergeant." he greets as he heads for Terrence, "All set up and ready?"

"I don't bloody care whot 'e did!  'Tis bad enough we could 'ave enemies attack us at any moment, we don't need t'be rippin' the Patrol apart!!"  Felicity is lecturing the pair of Privates whose fight she had to break up the other day.  One has a black eye, and the other has a bloody lip.  They appear to not like each other.  "I'm gonna write a report f'r y'Majahs, because so 'elp me, I've 'ad enough o' y'2 idiots tryin' t'kill each othah!"  She sets them to work in the kitchen doing the yuckiest work, the she marches over to the preparations table, fury communicated in every muscle of her body.  If she wasn't wearing her hat, her ears would be standing up straight and rigid.  "C'n y'believe those idiots?!"

"Sah," Terrence gives a tired salute to the lieutenant, "Just 'bout so, sah." He flips the net over, being careful to keep it open on his side- the private, for his part, manages to make it half-way so the net is folded in on oneside. "Sorry 'bout that, Reuenthal," The bespectacled hare mutters as he set about straitening the laced ropes, "Forgot to worn you..." Both sergeant and private look over as Felicity makes here presence known, and the latter barely suppresses a chuckle. Terrence pauses in his unknot making, looking at her over his spectacles. "I think I can, wot. Course depends on what they did, this time?" He asks, vaguely aware of who the trouble makers are - all he really knows is that they're not in his division, thank goodness.

Gregorian eyes the private caught in the net but he's not asking how that happened. They've had enough trouble with traps for him to think twice about asking how anyone gets caught in anything. "Good, good...One good push out tah get him and we'll be home." he looks around as he hears Felicity coming "Hmm. Longah yah share a tent the more the tempers flair. Wot happened this time?"

Meanwhile, further out within the marshes within the cave that the trackers had spotted the previous day, the massive form of Erg sits hunched in the corner, the shadows covering him and only providing brief glimpses of his stony, grim expression. The floor of the cave is littered with bones; they are all toad bones, but still, it doesn't make the scene any less morbid or disturbing. The small fire that he'd used to basically keep himself alive still flickers and burns within the center of the cave, and it throws odd shadows upon the opposite cave wall that dance and wave with the movements of the flames. His latest catch is skewed on a stick and is leaning over the fire, the toad roasting and sizzling as the mad hare simply stares at it, his blue eyes flickering. His uniform had been torn quite badly in a previous excursion, and whatever was left of it hangs off of his shoulders, the remaining cloth dirty and covered in rips and tears. Erg's fur is dirty as well, his true color really difficult to discern at this point in time. Sections of him are colored black with dirt and mud, while other sections still hold tiny traces of his previous mahogany color. The majority of his fur however is a dirty shade of white, a result of the hare's winter coat coming in. It makes him look rather patchwork and haphazard, only adding to his jumbled and crazy appearance. He simply crouches there and waits, seemingly knowing that sooner or later, they would find the cave. He truly hopes it is soon, for he wishes to put an end to things once and for all. Whatever form that would take, well...that would remain to be seen.

Felicity scowls darkly.  "They got into a fistfight ovah who knows what!  Yestahday they shoved each othah inta traps that we 'ad some'ow missed!  If they fight 1 more time, so 'elp me..."  She looks ready to sock someone in the face.  "I 'onsetly don't know whot they're fightin' about, eithah.  They only tell me whot th'othah did, not whot started the blasted thing!"

The private, Reuenthal, is freed from the net after a bit of struggling on both his and Terrence's part. "I see." The sergeant says, starting to fold the net more neatly. "If you want unsolicited advice, I'd suggest making both of them do triple the work they normally do, if you've not done so already... especially if they continue." The private, now having nothing left to do, just looks from higher ranking hare to hare. "Reuenthal, go get food." Terrence says, setting the now folded net with the others on the table. Once the private is gone, the sergeant sits down nearby Felicity and Greg. "Welp, that's that part done..."

Gregorian grunts and then shakes his head at Felicity's description, "I'd be willin' tah bet money they don't remembah what started it now eithah or they at least can't decide wot came first anymore." he nods to Terrence's suggestion, "Seems reasonable. At least until who evah their superior officah is can get tah them."

Felicity smiles grimly, and perhaps a little wickedly.  "Oh, that's a great idea!  Be right back..." she marches off to the kitchen tent, where she can be heard giving a series of orders.  After a few minutes, she returns, scribbling on a piece of paper.  "I wish I'd thought o' that.  This whole Sergeant thing is still pretty new and overwhelming."  Seeing as how she hasn't even had the time to change the applique on her jacket from her Corporal's marks, that may be a touch of an understatement.  "They're goin' t' 'ate me," she mutters without the slightest sign of remorse, just her grim smile.  She may be nearing her own breaking point.  This tiny campaign will be over soon, right?

Dominik, completely oblivious to whatever scuffles and fights are occurring at the Patrol camp, ever so slowly rises from his position, emerging from the shadows like a wraith as he takes a step towards the fire. A hefty paw reaches out, grabbing the still-cooking toad, and brings it up to his muzzle where he tears a large chunk out of the flesh, chewing and swallowing, his expression still stony and emotionless. After taking another few bites, he tosses it down, taking a step or two towards the entrance to his cave. He stands there a moment, eyes staring out into the marshes, before a frown crosses his muzzle. The giant hare exits his cave, slipping back out into the marshes, slinking off to who knows where. Who knows? Only Erg.

Standing once she returns, Terrence nods to both his fellow sergeant and superior officer. "Anyway, all this stuff," he waves to the gear laid out on the table, "Great-coats and wraps for the weather and the nets for, well," leaving the purpose unsaid, he continues. "All should be set for today, sah. And right now I think I might go get a bite to eat-" He salutes to Greg, then waves to Felicity as he exits the tent to pursue the scent of breakfast. "I'll see you two later, wot."

Gregorian hehs. "If they hate yah yah probably doin' alright." he throws a quick salute back Terrence's way as the hare leaves before he turns attention out to the swamps to just stare for a moment as he talks, "Probably helps if yah not their friends eithah, sad tah say. It's a fine balance and I don't think anyone evah gets it right. Firm enough tah demand yah word is followed but at the same time they need trust yah more than they trust themselves sometimes."

Felicity frowns.  "Oh."  She folds up the paper and stuff it and her pencil back into her pocket.  Buttoning the pocket shut, she sighs.  "Well...I've nevah seen 'em afore 'cept durin' trainin' exercises, so I got that goin' f'r me."  She stares sadly in the direction Gregorian is looking.  "I guess may'ap 'tis good I nevah 'ad many friends, then.  Don't 'ave t'worry as much 'bout that."  She sounds sad, though.  She knew this promotion would have it's downsides....

Gregorian looks back at her as she's sounding sad. "Now, now, I didn't say yah couldn't have any friends. I'll gladly joke with Jin while followin' ordahs." he's not even calling her Major, "Used tah be I'd avoid the officahs like the plague for fear of sayin' something that would get me in trouble. These days I'd call a of them few friends. Yah hang around the rec room enough and they'll get past the uniform. Just make sure, no mattah who they are, yah still prepared tah yell their ears off when they do somethin' stupid."

Felicity looks up at him, smiling slightly.  "Really, sah?  Y'know, I've always struggled t'make time t'relax with othah 'ares.  Too busy wi' m'sistah an' patrollin', y'know?"  She figures he understands, since he has a daughter and all.  "I don't really know 'ow."

Gregorian looks at her quietly for a minute, just thinking of his words before he speaks. "Felicity, soonah or latah yah sistah is goin' tah grow up but while she does she's goin' tah be learnin' how from you. It's not always easy and yah can't juggle everythin'. Late night drinkin' and random unplanned trips tah Halyard are right out but the mountain has hares who's entire job it is tah look aftah dibbuns while their parents are out on patrol. Yah've been out here for a few weeks and when yah get back she'll be fine. Yah can go out for a night sometimes without feelin' like yah neglectin' her...Believe me it can take a few tries. Making plans and cancellin' them or cuttin' them short because yah feel yah have tah get back but as she gets oldah it'll do her good tah have the space tah figure out things on her own sometimes too." he looks back out to the swamps again before continuing, "Love tah say I practice wot I preach of course but I do work too much...If I can fit in one quick drink before pickin' her up from time tah time I will though."

Felicity is sad, but she knows he's right.  "I....'tis 'ard, you're right.  I'm just the only fam'ly she 'as left....'tis 'onestly easiah t'not do much else othah than work and be with 'er.  We lost our parents an' brothah when I was a Recruit.  She couldn't even 'old 'er 'ead up, she was so small.  The othah 'ares my age stopped talkin' t'me when I became basically 'er mothah.  It's been 'ard evah since."  She refrains from mentioning the harsh remarks said behind her back.  She's not wanting pity.

Gregorian nods along. "Yah had it hard at a very young age. Recruits aren't usually the family sort. More interested in the drinks aftah trainin' and if yah can't be part of that, well..." she obviously knows "Yah look around yah now though...Well, there's less hares tah see now but hares who lost families are in abundance. As are privates who have settled in tah their lives and are lookin' tah start one. Yah already have multiple options confessin' tah yah already. Heh. The hares yah age are finally catchin' yah up...Hares my age have already had their families grow up." he's been mistaken for Grace's grandfather multiple times but he fortunately has a look that means he generally only has to correct someone once.

Felicity smiles, then blushes.  "Yeah....I don't even know whot t'do about those 2..."  She smiles.  "May'ap I'll take y'advice an' spend more time wi' 'ares my age.  Or our age...ish."  Her eyes crinkle as she includes him in her age group.  Maybe he'll feel less old now.  "Maybe I can 'elp the 'ares who didn't 'ave to grow up as fast until recently."

Gregorian shrugs. "Hell if I know, nevah had two bucks likin' me at once before. Spend some time with each of them if they can take the competition and try tah figure it out and let them down gently?...And don't just pick yah favourite. Yah allowed tah decide yah don't like eithah of them if that's wot yah feel like." he snorts with amusement when he gets included in the age group, "That's a pretty big 'ish'...Everyone's had tah grow up a lot since Redwall. Yah might have yah work cut out...But maybe yah can start on Dom. If we can get in tah the head of that one and get the crazy out it'll be a good start."

Felicity thinks for a minute.  Not pick either of them?  That's news to her!  But maybe good news.  "I'll think 'bout that.  An' they c'n 'elp wi' m'sistah, too.  Can't marry a buck whot can't 'andle Julia, wot!"  She becomes more serious, her smile disappearing, as Dominik is mentioned.  "Aye.  I 'ope we can get 'im back without anybeast gettin' 'urt.  I was...I was 'opin' t'talk t' 'im about the leverets -- 'e 'elps with 'em, so I thought maybe 'e would miss them.  But I think my idea was..." she looks at the net and stuff "...downvoted."  Glaring at the trapping stuff for a moment, she adds, "I was already plannin' on doin' m'best t' 'elp Dom come back t'us.  I was captured by the toads f'r a week, so I 'ave an idea of whot it was like.  I only 'ope I c'n get through t' 'im."

"Just don't let who yah sistah likes be yah only way of judgin'. Yah not yah sistah and yah have tah like them too...othahwise yah may as well just marry whichevah dibbun sittah she likes best" Greg says with a snort, his last bit of advice before he looks back at the swamps. He lowers his voice as they're aware Dom sometimes liked to lurk and listen in "Hm. He did seem tah like workin' with the dibbuns. Problem is, the way he's been, we're worried about someone gettin' hurt. If yah can calm him and stop him figthin' maybe we can avoid the trouble but yah can't get close. If he's goes aftah anyone...well I'd rathah we catch him and have tah calm him down in a cell than have him hurt someone."

Felicity shuffles his advice away in her mind, appreciating the advice he's given her.  Makes her wistful for her dad and brother, though...  "Oh, don't worry, I wasn't gonna get within his arm's reach," she murmurs back.  "Plus, I know I'm fastah an' lightah on m'paws than 'e is, even on 'is good days.  I think I'd be okay, so long as I stayed outta arm's reach."

At that moment Terrence returns from the meal, nursing a mug of tea that steams in the cold air. "Welp, good morning again!" With a smile and slight wave of a paw he comes back into the tent, much more awake than before- and in a better mood than he's been in for the entire trip. The sergeant, completely unaware of where the conversation went in his absence, sits back down in his chair. "I'm glad you won't get in reach of his arms - I don't want another hare tossed at me!" He laughs.

Gregorian can dish out the advice though with his bumpy love life he talks better than he lives. He looks back as Terrence reappears. "I imagine the experience was not pleasant for Zolomon eithah. If we can avoid angerin' him altogethah I'll be pleasantly surprised."

Felicity gives Terrence a low-smoldering glare.  "Aye.  So long as nobeast goes insultin' 'im, everythin' will be fine.  Mm, might be good t'keep Zolomon back, too."  She sighs and rubs her eyes.  She hasn't eaten yet today because she's a genius.  "I doubt we can avoid angerin' 'im, though, if we do end up 'avin' t'chuck a net o'er 'im.  Oh, poor Dom.....stupid, blasted toads..."  the haremaid stumps off to the kitchen tent, cursing the toads under her breath.

Like a bucket of water on embers, the glare brings Terrence back to normal. He remains silent until the other sergeant leaves, were he sighs. "Zolomon brought it on himself, sah. I told him to stay cleah of Dom and he didn't." Burying himself in the mug, he finishes the tea. "I think being thrown and knocked out was punishment enough for that. And speaking of private Dominik, I don't think he likes our corporal that much...Or me, for that mattah."

Gregorian hasn't yet eaten either and as soon as he figures out where Felicity is going he yells after her, "Grab some for me too" before he looks back at Terrence. "Hrm. So I heard aftah his last appearance. Perhaps yah the one who needs tah watch about gettin' grabbed. If he focuses on yah I'd be very careful."

Felicity gives Greg the thumbs-up sign, then enters the kitchen tent.  She gone for a few minutes, then comes trudging back carrying 2 heaping plates of steaming food.  She offers 1 to the Lieutenant, pulls a spoon out of her pocket and hands it to him, then pulls another out and starts eating her breakfast.  She missed what they had said about people getting chucked around and stuff, so she just chows down without a word.

"Of course, sah." Terrence sets his now empty mug down, turning towards the lieutenant. "I had thought at the time to try and get Dom to chase me - and for him to focus on me rather than Zolomon. I'd honestly thought the corporal was about to bite the dust, so to say, and I did what came to mind first." The sergeant shifts, uncomfortable. "Daresay it was stupid of me at the time, fo' sure."

Gregorian settles in to a seat while he's waiting. "It's a fine ideah on papah but even when it's planned and practiced," he pauses to take his breakfast and nod thanks to Felicity, "Bein' bait is a dangerous thing. Nevah mind if yah try and improvise it. It can work but if it doesn't it can go badly wrong."

Felicity nods, but eats her food in silence, saddened by what they might have to do later in the day.  Trapping Dominik is the last thing she wants to do...

Terrence nods, sparing a glance at Felicity before going back to Greg. "I know sah, had I time to plan things I'd nevah try aggravating and using myself as bait." Another sigh comes from him, and the sergeant looks back at the gear all laid out neatly on the table as hares start to filter in and prepare for the coming day. The sun is risen by now and already the mist on the marsh is clearing.

Gregorian eats fast when he needs to. Never let a mission make you miss a meal. "We'll stick tah tryin' tah talk him down and the net. I just hope we can get t his done tahday." he can see the hares all getting ready so he's getting up again, getting ready to leave.

Felicity finishes her breakfast in a hurry, too, suddenly wondering if her idea will actually be allowed to happen.  She gets what she needs to grab, ready as she'll ever be to go try and save her friend.

Now that the hares of the patrol are equipped and ready, they set off. Terrence, as usual, is bringing up the rear, the sergeant falling back to his usually quiet and somber mood. The scout who had found the way to the cave are leading them, and, so far, the path has been safe and clear of traps.

Gregorian doesn't take long to gather his things and join the others in time to leave the camp. He walks in silence. His ears twitching about as he watches the swamps as he walks, following the scouts.

As the hares approach the location of Dom's cave, even amidst the early morning light, there is a certain spookiness and strange feeling that comes over the Patrollers as they get closer and closer. As they have generally made it past most of Erg's defenses he had spread in a wide range around the marsh surrounding said cave, there are oddly very few traps within close range of the large hare's chosen home. Finally, the cave comes into view, and it is an odd and macabre sight. In the trees surrounding the cave are hung multiple toad skeletons, most of them slowly swaying in the breeze, their bones making a chilling rattling noises as the shift back and forth. The cave itself is quiet, the mouth dark and foreboding, and there are a trail of toad bones that lead up to it, and away in the other direction. Who would be the first to approach? That would be up to the Patrollers, themselves. Still, there is no sound from within, though the smell isn't exactly what one might call pleasant.

Felicity slips through the ranks on silent feet, helping a Private here, steadying a Corporal there.  It's as if she's a ghost, that's how silent she is.  As she passes both Zolomon and Terrence, she slips them each a note.  The words are the same for both: 'I'm sorry I've been so mad.  I just don't like it when my friends put themselves in danger.  I hope you can forgive me, and that this all turns out okay.'  When she had time to write these notes is a mystery.  As they approach the cave, she makes her way to the front, eyeing the skeletons with distaste, but no fear.  She looks to the commanding officers, waiting for the signal for what to do.

"There it is!" The scouts stop some hundred yards from the cave, with one pointing forward. "What now, eh?" The other asks, looking back at the hares. Terrence remains silent, watching and waiting for orders, if they come. He's not willing to put his hat in this ring as he fears he will make things worse, but when the note is handed to him he reads it, wondering when she wrote them and brightening a little. The three scouts at the head look ready to go in, and they're waiting for the word.

Gregorian's jaw tightens as he looks at all the skeletons as they're getting closer. "Wot the hell happened tah yah Dom." he mutters. He nods to the scouts, "Careful for traps. Check it out tah see if he's in there or if yah see any fresh tracks goin' back out." he nods to the sergeants, "Nets and talkin', there's yah jobs. Get too it soon as they find him."

Upon entering the cave, the first thing to hit them besides the smell, is the fact that there is still a small fire burning within the center of the cave. There are more bones scattered about, as well as various broken pieces of pottery, various sticks, and roasted toad corpses in various states of decay. On the walls of the cave, revealed by the dim light of the fire, are various writings and little pictures drawn here and there of what appears to be utter nonsense upon first glance. It is all very surreal and unsettling. Despite all the odd things found in the cave, Dom is not amongst them...though whatever remained of his uniform lies there tattered at the mouth of the cavern. There are tracks leading away from the cavern, however, that head out into the marsh.

Felicity nods.  Talking.  She can handle that.  As she waits for the scouts to reappear, she glides back to her fellow Sergeant and murmurs, "I'll try talkin' t' 'im, if I can.  May'ap 'e'll come without resistance when 'e 'ears whot I 'ave t'say.  An' don't worry, I'll be careful," she smiles at him a little, then turns her attention back to what's happening at the cave.

"Yes sah." Terrence doesn't move ahead immediately, letting the scouts inspect the ground in front of the cave first. "Freshest tracks lead from in there, wot." One scout says, covering their snout. "Back that aways!" They point in the direction the paw prints lead off to. "So, Felicity," Terrence says, doing his best not to gag at the sight and smells coming from the cave. "Should go in or follow the trail? Frankly I don't think I have the constitution to go closer, wot."

"Follow th'trail, o' course!"  Felicity says as if it's obvious.  "We're 'ere t'get Dom, not inspect 'is new home decor ideas."  She nods for the scouts to lead the way.  Her face seems tighter, her nostrils narrower, but other than that, she doesn't seem affected by the scent of the place.  Maybe she's encountered the same or worse on all of her patrols and adventures.

A short distance from the cave, the tracks lead directly to a stream. It seems to be a freshwater stream, the water clear and unlike most of the boggy pools that bubbling within the marsh. The tracks come to a stop there, a large stick lying there upon the ground. And there, in the middle of the stream, is the unmistakably large form of a hare. His back is to the shore, and he is simply sitting there in the water, staring out at the opposite bank. It appears he had been bathing, and in the process, all that built up dirt and muck had been washed away, leaving nothing but the white fur of his winter coat. If one were to not know that Dom was a northern hare, they might not even recognize him, but...it is most certainly Dom, as what other hare of his size would be out here in the middle of nowhere? On the bank also lies the form of his skeleton companion, Blorg.

"Right, right." Terrence mutters, following as the scouts lead the way - in time the stream comes into view, and he waves to his fellow sergeant and scouts to get down. "Suppose that's 'im, then?" One of the scouts say, having never seen Erg in the marsh until now. "'E's cleanah than I'd expected, wot." Terrence nods, looking at Felicity. "Well, Dom is in your unit, wot, so you should deal with him first. We'll back you up if you need it." He certainly trusts that she'll be careful, certainly more than himself. "And good luck, wot!"

Felicity follows the scouts to the stream.  Her eyes widen for a moment, then she rolls her eyes.  Duh.  She'd forgotten he was from the North.  Of course he's turning white.  She smiles a little nervously.  "Thanks....'opefully luck'll be on m'side."  She takes a deep breath, and steps ahead of the rest of the hares.

"Dom, love, is that you?"  Everyone who knows her knows that she calls her dear friends 'love' -- it's not romantic or anything.  It's almost like they're her family.  "Whot are y'doin' out 'ere?  We've been worried sick.  The leverets are missin' you somethin' fierce, they are.  They won't stop askin', 'Where's Dom?  When will 'e come back t'play?'  They miss you terribly."

She takes a step closer, still cautiously out of his arm's reach.  "You remembah the leverets, right?  All the games y'lot played?  Goin' t'th'beach t'collect paint makin' supplies?"  Her voice cracks a little, like she's about to cry.  "Julia dancin' 'er dolly 'cross y' 'ead.  Y'remembah that, don't you?  Please, Dom," she pleads as a tear trickle down her cheek.  "Please come back.  Come t'th'leverets.  Come back t'me, your friend.  Come back t'th'Mountain.  We care 'bout you....I care 'bout you."

The Runner swallows.  "Y're m'friend, Dominik.  Please come back."  Her plea finished, she stands there, waiting to see how he'll respond.

Dominik remains sitting there in the middle of the stream, blue eyes staring out at the opposite bank. His ears both perk, swiveling a little, and it is obvious the hare is listening to Felicity's words. His head lifts a little, the sound of the trickling stream really the only sound one can here aside from the light splashes the river makes as it travels around the giant hare's form. He slowly rises up from the water, the water trickling down through his white fur, though he does not turn to face them. There is a frown upon his muzzle, eyes flickering for a moment or two in recognition as the names and events are mentioned. A few moments later, however, they harden again, and a single word booms out to echo amongst the trees. "...LEAVE."

Felicity flinches and backs away, another tear trickling down her cheek.  Then her face hardens and she informs him, "No!  I will not leave this marsh until you do!  I don't abandon m'friends!"  She scoots away and lets the net plan go into action, grieving that the gentle giant she knew seems to be gone.  But perhaps nothing is as it seems....

Terrence tightens his grip on the net in his paw. The sergeant was anxious that Dom might try something, especially when the leave comes to his ear. Though reluctant, he's prepared to use force to subdue the big northern hare, even if it spits in the face of everything Felicity said. And so he waves the order and the sergeant and one of the scouts fling out their nets at the bathing hare, with the other scouts rushing to the waters edge and adding their nets to the mass. Terrence stands, looking sympathetically back at Felicity and starts to cautiously approach behind the others, who are already moving to try and hold the big hare down.

Dominik appears to have been ready to turn around to face Felicity, but at that point, he is suddenly beset on all sides by the thrown nets. As the first ones strike him and being to weigh him down, he rises up out the stream with a strong surge and a roar. This likely yanks those holding the nets into the stream. Beginning to wade towards the bank (and likely dragging the others with him), Erg is then hit by the second set of nets, and it drags him down to his knees. His eyes are in a panic, flicking this way and that as the memory of that day when they had first been captured begins to surge back into his brain. That feeling of being weighted down and helpless, those spears constantly striking him, knocking him into unconsciousness. He roars again, pulling himself back up again against all those nets, and it is certainly a struggle to keep him held down. "NO!!!!!!!" he shrieks, his voice cracking painfully as he fights his way towards the bank with as much strength as he can muster.

Two of the scouts are dragged forward, with Terrence and the other close behind. "DOM!" The sergeant shouts, wrestling with the net and doing his best to keep up. "Move towards the bank!" He orders, as the two being pulled along find their footing. They let the big hare forward, doing their best to keep enough tension so as to slow his movements but not entirely stop him - the four hares are incapable of that, more than likely. Terrence is deeply unsettled with Dom's shrieks and they seem to make the sergeant hesitant to continue- but he really can't do anything about that, not now. Private Kasimir will probably hate him forever, he thinks. Gritting his teeth he does all he can to keep the AWOL private in the nets, pushing aside his personal feelings.

Dominik continues to struggle, and it is indeed a fight to keep the massive hare pinned down. Water is splashed around everywhere, the scouts being dragged around all willy nilly, some of them even being swung around as Dom manages to find his footing and make another strong surge to escape. Panic mixed in with his already massive amounts of brute strength are not a good combination, and if he were anywhere near the ability to feel bad for those poor scouts, he more than likely would. "NO!!!! Nooooo...NOT....AGAIN!" he roars, staggering along the bank and dragging the others with him as he simply tries to get away. The more he struggles, the weaker he seems to get, however, and he is dragging the others far away from the stream, and onto the marshlands once again.

Terrence had been thrown clear across the the marsh, landing with a loud plop face-first in the freezing mush. The scouts all manage to hang on, even when their footpaws are lifted off the earth below. Groaning, the sergeant pushes himself up, spectacles long gone. His ears perk as he listens for the cries of Dom and the curses and swearing of the scouts, and, slowly, starts to make his way after them, stumbling often but coming closer. Two of the scouts, veterans, plant their feet firmly behind a log, using their combined weight to pull back and topple Dom - the last scout, having been dragged through water, mud, and dirt, continues to hang on for dear life, keeping a dead weight on the ensnared private.

Dominik strains and struggles against the nets that are weighing him down, the large hare putting as much of his weight into his shoulder as he tugs and pushes. His strength is almost enough to withstand that of those veterans and the scout who is hanging on, however his struggling has seemingly weakened him. He appears more afraid than angry at this point, which is more than likely a good thing for those holding onto the nets. An arm manages to slip through some of the netting, as the massive hare reaches out and clutches at thin air, helplessly, his face a mask of terror as his eyes flicker and tears run down his now-white-furred cheeks. "NO!!!!!!" He slumps down to the ground in despair, his cheek hitting the damp earth as he stares out at those who have recaptured him, his legs kicking feebly as those nets weigh him down.

"Well..." One of the scouts pant, "Seems we got him, sah." Terrence had come close enough to hear Dom last No and when he hits the earth, and something in the sergeant seems to break - though he can't quite see or make out the face of Dom, he can guess what he looks like from his shrieks. The others start to debate how to get their captive back and Terrence sits down in front of the private (out of reach), practically useless without his spectacles. "Dom?" He sighs, exhausted, "Will you come with us now?"

Dominik's chest heaves with his heavy breaths, the nets covering the large hare shifting up and down in the process as he begins to hyperventilate. His eyes dart back and forth, paws clutching at the ground and tearing up large chunks of earth in the process as the already soft ground is churned up beneath him. "...can't...do this...again! Can't!" he chokes out, his arm swiping at the air again helplessly, before finally dropping down to the ground. Squeezing his eyes closed, a tear squeezes out and runs down his cheek as he realizes he more than likely can't do anything else at this point. His shoulders heave in a heavy sigh, his voice a lot smaller and weaker than his form, sounding more like a scolded leveret than anything else. "...yes. Vil go."

Nodding, Terrence begins to stand. "Right then, Dominik." There's a sorrowful look in his unfocused eyes as he gazes down. "Come on then, we'll get the nets off you..." The scouts look at each other alarmed, with one venturing, "Sure that's wise, sah? 'E might just run off soon as 'e's free!"

"I'm not so sure." the sergeant replies, "But go on, do it."

There's a distinct delay before the three other hares respond. "Sah." So they start to untangle Dom slowly and carefully, with at least one afraid the big white hare will turn and kill them all. Terrence, for his part, holds out a paw to the caught hare, doing his best to be unthreatening - which isn't hard with how he clearly is having trouble seeing what he's doing, squinting here and there to try and better see the now fuzzy world. "Dom?" He starts, quietly, "You remmebah your name, Dom, yes?" 

Dominik doesn't move from where he lies there in a heap on the ground, cheek still pressed into the earth, his paw extended out but also lying on the ground. He stares out into the distance, his eyes still flickering and damp, still wide with the panic and trauma of having those nets thrown over him. His jaw slowly moves up and down, nothing really coming out as he seems to be fighting to find any words to respond with. "...am not Dom. Am...Erg..." he finally manages to rasp out, obviously still not all there, though he's really not in much of a position to do much about it. "Am not...Dom..." he repeats, weakly, his ears still held flat against the back of his head as he begins to tremble. It is most definitely a major change from the large beast who was rampaging through the Patrol came not a couple nights ago.

"Right, Erg then." Terrence kneels down in front of him - the sergeant can't quite see Dom's face, nor can he tell if the hare is looking at him or not. "Erg, can you stand?" The scouts seem ready to spring back if the arctic hare tries anything - whether to run away or toss the nets has yet to be shown. "I need you to follow us, Erg." The sergeant's brows are furrowed in worry as Dom's weak protests seem more troubling to Terrence than any trap or skull the big hare left for them.

Dominik's whole countenance seems to be a complete 180 from how he'd been earlier. Despite his large size, he seems no more intimidating than a Dibbun at this point in time. It could be the lack of facepaint, or the lack of toad skulls, but the northern hare seems utterly defeated. Very slowly, the hare begins to shift up to a sitting position. He remains sitting there for awhile, shoulders slumped, his gaze focused downwards. "...Erg...can stand," he replies quietly, before he eventually does shift himself up to a standing position. He merely stands there, waiting for any further instructions, his expression a haunted one as his gaze averts to the ground.

Standing as well, Terrence bows his head to Dominik. "Well now, we need to back, Erg." He's being careful to use the self-given name. "Do you remembeh majah Varus, at least?" The sergeant tries to look the scared hare in the eye, failing, "He'll be glad to see you again, I bet. Berle, Addersmith, you still there?"

"Yes sah."

"Lead us back then. Come on, Erg." The sergeant gestures for Dom to follow the scouts, and does his best to keep in step next to him behind the two.

Abbot Benar,
Friar Locata,
and John, squirrels,
Badger Mother Krisha,
Cota and Caleb, mice,
and Nardo the ferret.

The regular autumn evaluation of Abbey stores has been well under way the past couple days, and Lacota has a good idea how much food the residents have to get them through the coming winter. For now, though, the squirrel needs a break, and tea with the abbot is the ideal to do that. The squirrel exits the kitchen, carrying a tea tray laden with a pot of mint tea and raspberry scones, and starts to head down the stairs to Benar's room.

Benar comes walking down the stairs, his arm no longer in a sling, his eyes bright, tail bushy and thick and his habit arranged just so. The abbot's arm has recovered from his accident and he is determined to get out and about once more and check up on the abbey. He pauses as he spots Lacota and smiles, "My dear friend, how are you? isn't it a wonderful day?"

In a chair by the fire yet another squirrel sits, dozing off. John's shoulder and leg are fully healed of their wounds now, and he seemed to have taken the opportunity to take a nap, or at least read a book. His eyes open at the voices, and he leans out of his chair to peer at the abbot and friar and give them a small wave.

Lacota stops short at the foot of the stairs. "Oh, Benar. I assumed you'd be in your room... I was bringing tea... We haven't shared tea time in some weeks. However, if you'd prefer, we can have it here in Great Hall..." He spots John, and hmmms. "Good day to you, too."

Benar smiles and sways his tail from side to side, "Anywhere but my room, I have been cooped up in there for weeks! But my arm is fine, I have a clean bill of health so i wanted to get out... we could have it by the fire in here? Or retreat to the library or Cavern hole." he waves his tail at John, "Anywhere but my room."

John, standing reluctantly, comes over. "If y'want it by th'fire," he says, gesturing behind him, "I can leave if y'd like to have it alone, I can."

Lacota tuts at John. "Pish-posh. You'll join us. I can grab another cup. Come on, by the fire..." He carries the tray over to a side table next to the chairs.

Benar exclaims, "Of course John! No need to Rush off like that, we can have tea together," he moves over to the fireplace and starts moving the armchairs, pulling three of them into a semicircle by the fire and moving a table into the middle of them all, "Perfect."

There's a reclusiveness to John that tugs him towards leaving, but the efforts of the friar and abbot dissuades him. So he smiles, "Right then." He returns to his chair, "Thank y', both."

Lacota sets his tray on the table, then nips into the kitchen to fetch another cup, before returning, and starting to pour three cups of tea. "So, I do trust you won't be breaking your arm again anytime soon, Benar?"

Benar curls his legs up under him and spreads a blanket over his lap as usual and smiles at lacota, "As long as beasts refrain from pushing me off the walltops I think I can avoid breaking my arm again," he smiles at John, "And how are you John? Word reached me that you had been injured as well?"

"Aye," John sinks into his chair, "Got a few wounds fighting a monitor with that Ewan and Krisha, I did. Th'one that was after the badger mother..." He sighs, putting his head back to rest against the cushions. "It's what I get for being t'careless, it were." The comment about being pushed doesn't go unnoticed by him, however, and he soon is looking intently at Benar again. "Now y'heard of me, what exactly happened t'you? I heard tell y'fell, but I don' think that were the case, were it."

Lacota harrumps, as he hands the abbot his cup. "Pushing beasts off walltops... What *is* the world coming to?" He sighs, then hands John a cup as well. "I brought cream and sugar, too, by the way, in case either of you want some..."

Benar frowns, "I want to know why Krisha was out of the abbey in the first place.... she was in charge whilst I was recovering, she really should not have been out and about," he picks up his tea-cup and stares into it before lifting his eyes to meet Lacota's gaze, "I was pushed off the top of the wall steps by Xander, I was trying to talk to him after he'd been acting oddly, I don't believe he was trying to kill me, but it was a lucky thing I landed on my arm and not my neck."

John takes the cup gratefully. "Thank y'," He eyes the cream and sugar, "Think I might take both..." With that he turns back to the abbot, swirling his tea. "I think she were looking for Xander at th'time." He sighs. "I don' think he were, either. He felt terrible abou' it, I think even now. I ran int' him after it happened, and he was sure convinced he'd killed y', though he only ever told me y'd fallen - some of th'other abbey beasts said th'same when asked."

Benar smiles and settles down in his chair, setting his tea cup aside and sighs, "Well... he pushed me, in a moment of anger I am sure but still...." he stares into the fire, "I am going to have to have words with Krisha," he sighs, "I left her in charge, she really should not have left the abbey like that, even to search for Xander but... I guess I can't be too hard on her for wanting to find him...." he sighs and his head drops, the abbot nodding off, he may be well but he still tires easily.

Lacota harrumps again. "And I'd have said the same, as well," he remarks, whilst pouring cream into John's tea, then follows up with the sugar. "One lump, or two?" He is quick to save Benar's cup from spilling when the other squirrel dozes off.

"Two." John says with a wry smile as he hold up his up. "More than likely no' h'best for m'health, but I've a few seasons yet 'fore I should really worry.." He glances at Benar's dozing form and sighs. "This all were a month ago, now. Th'lizard also sacked th'caravan I'd been with, with the survivors here." Looking down, he adds more quietly, "There's a part of m'suprised Benar's still friendly with m', considering th' last time I were here..."

Lacota sets Benar's cup back on the tray, then adds two sugar cubes to John's tea. "And how long ago was that, hmm? It's most likely water under the bridge now..." He pours his own cup, adds cream and sugar, then sits, selecting one of the raspberry tarts for himself. "Long enough ago that I don't believe I even remember it..."

With a laugh John shakes his head. "Summer 'fore th'last." He sips his tea, mirth dying down. "Back with th'business o'Marek and his brother, it were. So no' too long ago. An' I were playing a part o'a warmonger then, I were."

Lacota thinks back. "Mmm, I see. I must not have heard of it, because I had no idea, myself..." He sips his tea, watching the fire. "We at Redwall don't generally hold grudges, however..."

"Indeed, and that's been a sore point for m'in th'past." John replies, a small smile on his face. "I often were too harsh when trying t'make m'reasoning clear - and pragmatic, I were. Funny thing is," he takes another drink of his cup, "I spent many a season here, and only in th' past few have I begun t'know why this place is what it is, and realize how important Redwall is."

Lacota raises his paw. "Don't misunderstand me. I know where you're coming from. I'm fully committed to the vow of peace I took when I joined the Order, but that does not mean I have always agreed with their pacifism. Heavens knows that I held an enormous grudge after my wife was murdered. Dare I say it, I wanted... Revenge." He stares at the fire. "But, you're correct. Redwall calls on us to listen to our better natures..."

"Ah, revenge. That ol'lie." John leans back to sink further into his chair. "I wasted season upon season seeking it out, blaming this beast and that, only for t'find more reasons for it. Then with h'turning of th'seasons all beasts were t'blame are dead, and I were left with nothing but myself."

Lacota stirs his tea with a spoon and nods. "Precisely. Only I never got that far. But I wanted to, mark my words, I wanted to more than anything. I've never truly hated a beast before that." He sighs. "I would have broken my vow had Benar not talked sense into me."

John nods, slowly. "Better than m', for sure." Gazing down into his cup, he adds, "I hated many a beast 'fore I ever came here, and I hated many more since. O'course, never had any vow or oath t'tie m'down, or talks with th'good abbot."

Lacota mmms. "He's a good listener... Perhaps you should talk to him..."

John raises an eyebrow at the frier. "What, and ask t'join the order?" He smiles, shaking his head. "No, I don' really want t' - leastways no' while I still can walk long miles on m'own two feet."

"I never said join the Order," Lacota replies, "Just... Let Benar give you advice. And listen to it..."

"Hmm, maybe," John leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and can in his paws. "Maybe...Right now can' think much on what I need advice for, I can'."

Lacota mmms, and nods his head. "Eh, I understand... Just a bit of friendly advice, is all." He bites into his tart. "You planning on sticking around very long?"

"Till th'spring." John replies, finishing his tea. "Had planned t'go t'th'coast 'fore th'snow with a caravan, but now that's gone and th'snow's been coming in..."

"Ah, the Western Sea, I take it?" the Friar asks, "Gorgeous view. I've been once. Will never forget it..."

"Aye, t'town named Halyard," John pauses, "I think. Never been that far west m'self, though some o'th'others I were traveling with have. But I don' think that's h'plan now..."

Lacota sips his tea. "Been to Halyard. It's... Interesting, is all I can really say..."

"So I've heard..." Falling silent, John stares into the fire. "Either way," the squirrel begins at last, "Th'beasts who'd been are all dead, now, they are."

Lacota frowns. "I probably shouldn't ask, but... What happened?"

John shrugs, "It's fine - I weren' th'beast most affected. From what I were told th'same lizard who were after th'badgermum raided th'camp at night, and slew many o'them. Th'survivers are here, now - don' suppose y'saw them, they're no' in abbey clothing, so they might stand out..."

Lacota shakes his head. "I don't believe I have, yet, but I likely will, soon enough..."

Benar stirs, ears twitching and lifts his head, "Oh... I... sorry did I drift off?" he looks at the two squirrels and smiles, "I... am so sorry."

John falls quiet again, only nodding to Benar as he wakes. He seems to be in a rather grim and contemplative mood, now.

Lacota passes the abbot his teacup again. "Yes, I kept you from spilling this, too. I think it's still pretty warm. Here... John and I were just...chatting."

Benar asks, "Oh thank you Lacota," he holds the cup around the base, warming his hands, "Oh what was the topic? I am sorry I drifted off like that, I guess I am not as well as I think."

"Eh, just recent events." John breaks his silence, leaning on the arm of the chair. "What were m'plans for th'next seasons and th'like, with a healthy amount o'lamenting on m'part, eh?" He winks. "Our good friar can fill y'in better, I wager."

Lacota hmms. "Aye, seems our friend was heading for Halyard, but his plans were forced to change rather unexpectedly..."

Benar says, "Well I hope your plan is to stay with us for the winter at least John," he glances toward the doors, "It is getting frightfully cold out there, I can see the frost and ice every morning on my windows, and it is only going to get worse." he shakes his head, "I am sorry your plan to go to Halyard was interrupted though."

Dipping his head, John replies, "Aye, 'tis. And it's no matter now. I'd planned on leaving 'fore th'snow started, but missed that window. Now I've got no plans t'go anywhere while th'winter's here...Course, I'm no' complaining 'bout that."

Lacota side-glances at John. "Is it because of my cooking? I put my all into it, you know..."

Benar smiles and settles back into his cushions, "Well that is nice, I get to enjoy your company thorughout the winter, that is nice, your company is always welcome John."

"Partly, Lacota." John says, dryly. "And thank y'," he bows his head to the elder, "Father Abbot. It were many a season since I've been 'round here for th'winter, it were."

Lacota mmms. "And this is shaping up to a particularly brutal winter, I'm afraid. You'll be glad to know we've got more than enough provisions to get through it, though..."

Benar says, "Harvest was a good one this year, but yes from all accounts the weather is taking a nasty plunge, we've not had cold like this so early in the season for oooh over ten seasons."

"Never were one t'care much for th'cold and snow, I were." John says, "And till now I've been good at avoiding th'winter. Wen' south or east usually...." with a sigh, he adds, "But I suppose that's no more, now."

Lacota mmms. "I used to travel, many, many seasons ago, back before I wound up here... I still miss it, somewhat, to be honest... But my fate lies here, I'm afraid..."

Benar sighs softly and grins, "I remember the south, I lived twenty seasons in Southsward, it... was always a lovely place for winter, warm and balmy and they had a great fayre down in the Castle courtyard every year. Ah planning for that was always so much fun." He glances at Lacota and smiles, "I miss the wandering sometimes too, that is why this Summer's little tour of Mossflower was such a nice treat."

Nodding, John sinks back into his chair. "I spent a season or so in Southswards myself, some time ago..."

Lacota shakes his head. "Can't say as I've been there myself. I have only been as far south as Salamandastron. A few too many hares for my tastes..."

Benar says, "Gosh, I haven't actually been to the mountain since before I became abbot," he shakes his head, "It is nice and warm but... oh so very plain."

"Really?" John tilts his head to one side, a questioning look on his face. "Never got as far west as th'mountain, but I sure heard tales o'it."

Lacota sets his empty cup aside. "This was quite a few seasons ago. Lorimis was still Abbot at the time, so that gives you an idea. We went to the mountain to get help... Well, rather, I basically forced myself into the group..."

Benar says, "It was needed at the time Lacota, and I am sure they appreciated having you along to cook," he shakes his head and sighs, "but gosh when I went there... it was well I was still a novice I think.""

"Y'know, think I heard o'th'trip at th'time, frier..." John says, before looking at the abbot incredulously. "That might've been 'fore I were born, then, it were. No' meaning t'be rude, o'course."

Lacota pushes his spectacles back up his nose. "Pretty sure I'm only a few seasons younger than Benar, myself. Didn't realize you were so young, John..."

Benar chuckles softly and shakes his head, "Hey now! I am not that old.... honestly! Get made abbot and everyone assumes I am as old as they come," he chuckles and glances at Lacota and grins, "Though I do think I out strip all of you young'uns"

"Well, compared t'y'two I suppose I am..." John mutters with a chuckle. "And considering y'were already ol' when I were but a young'un 'round here, Benar, I'd say y'are." He grins. "O' course, I passed int' mid-life some time ago, now..."

Benar stands up and folds his blanket over his arm and smiles, "Well for as long as I can keep going I will do so," he smiles, "Now I think I am going to go back upstairs and lie down again, it has been loving chatting to you both."

Lacota stands as well. "Yes, get your sleep, Benar. I'll clean this up, and keep John company a while longer yet..."

John remains were he is. "Aye...farewell." He falls quiet for a moment, then, "Though 'tis odd, a few beasts only few seasons older than m'self already have grandchildren, which more than boggles m'mind."

Krisha walks into the Great Hall from the steps, she looks tried a bit as she finds her way to the chair she sits in and sits down slowly, leaning back and looking ready for a nap.

Lacota hmmphs. "I know what you mean... I'm one of those beasts now, to boot." While he's talking, he's busy clearing up the tea items. "Ah, Krisha, hello," he says, without looking up.

"Seems m'youth's escaped me..." John mutters, looking up as the frier greets the badger. He nods to her, but says nothing else.

Krisha smiles. "Hello Friar Lacota, how are you this day?" She straightens up and smooths out her robes."I was just taking a small break from the dibbuns."

Lacota passes off the tea tray to a passing novice, who takes it back to the kitchen. "I can't complain. Had tea with Benar and John here. Probably should get back to my duties eventually..."

"Aye," John breaks his silence, "Ol'squirrels being ol'squirrels, we were."

Cota seems to be one to make an entrance and today it seems to be roll down the last couple steps as he  tries to punch a fellow mouse a season older than him, the two seem to be wrestling and...yep fighting as is heard, "You give it back!!".."No way loser!"

Krisha looks up and snorts. She stands and walks over to the two mice, one paw goes to grab one by the back of their shirt, the other paw grabs the other mouse to separate them and look to each of them. "And why are you two fighting? What is going on, speak now and explain?" So much for a rest and now she is a bit moody.

Lacota throws his paws up, then goes over to the two fighting mice. "Alright, ALRIGHT! I'll let you handle the older one, Krisha, but I'd like a word with Cota... And *you*, Cota, with me." He reaches to grab Cota's shoulder firmly. "We're having a chat. But first, you apologize for disturbing Krisha. Come on now... And make it sincere."

Cota kick out and then just sort of hangs there till he is set on the ground. "PJ took my quill pen, it was mine..and he took it." Pj just smirks. "Gonna cry?" Cota starts to go to punch the other mouse and then looks to the Friar and frowns deeply, looks at the floor and then to the Badger Mother and back to the Friar.

John decides to remain silent for this, trying his best to disappear into the chair.

Krisha takes a deep breath and nods to Lacota, she looks to the other mouse and carries him to the other side of the room to chat with him. "Now..one of teh rules is no fighting and your old enough to know that, you both are in fact. Now I think your gonna help wash dishes tonight and sweep the classroom in the morning."

Lacota guides Cota over toward the fireplace, and he sighs. "Lad... Fighting isn't the answer." He shakes his head. "You know who I am. We may not be related by blood, but we are related. So the number one thing you need to know is that... I'm here. I'll listen. You can talk to me, anytime... Even when I'm busy, I'll listen..."

John sinks even further into the chair, if such a thing is possible. "Especially if y'start th'fight." He tosses in.

Cota folds his arms over his chest, he can tell the Badgermother sorry later as she seems busy now, he nods. "You're..Friar Lacota..You...you adopted my mom." He sighs a little as he frowns, he then speaks, "PJ took the..pen It was mine.....and." He just sigh, ok he can always get another pen. "It was just..rude sir and he also laughed when I said I was gonna be a warrior some day cause I am."

Meanwhile the other mouse just hmmphs, he mutters a fine to the badger on washing dishes and sweeping a room, he seems annoyed though, "Isn't Cota gonna get punished too Mother Krisha?"

Krisha nods. "He is, but I decided to let Friar Lacota deal with that." Its lucky she doesn't hear the warrior bit mentioned or she likely say something to him on it. She studies the mouse PJ and shakes her head. "Now..after dinner help wash the dishes, sweeping can wait till morning, right before class and I will make sure you do both and not try and get out of it"

"John's right," Lacota continues, but then he says, "Adopted your mother, making me your Grandfather, by all accounts. And I don't treat that lightly. Understand, Lad?" He sighs. "Ah, but you want to be a warrior, hmm? I won't stop you. I don't think anybeast would, to be honest... But perhaps we'd urge you to try and emulate Martin, Matthias, and Mattimeo... You won't likely go wrong... And don't pick fights, either..."

John decides to fully get involved. "PJ?" The squirrel comes over to the other mouse, as the frier is handling Cota. "PJ's your name, is it?" His voice is quiet as he asks this.

Cota frowns, ok he did throw the first punch, "Mother and...father always said I can be what ever I want to be when I get older and warriors protect beasts." The mouse PJ gives a nod to the Badger Mother and looks over at John, "Yeah...so." Ok he is grumpy, but then he hates chores..then again who loves chores?

Krisha grumbles and sits down in a chair, she will have an order beast make sure those chores are done. She looks over at Cota now, "Warrior? That's..." She frowns "Something like that is not easy."

Lacota nods his head. "And that's noble. Protecting beasts is perhaps the most noble thing a beast can choose to do," he says. "But, as Krisha says, it is not easy..."

"So," John leans forward, looking down at PJ, "If y'took Cota's pen and quill as he said, thief is more fitting a name for y'." The squirrel fighter looks back at the other mouse. "Cota, is it? Being a warrior's no' all it's chopped up t'be, lad. Take it from m'."

Cota frowns, he then speaks. "Grandmom is a warrior and she is fine." He looks ready to cry a little now.. "I'm...I'm sorry I punched PJ, he just made me so mad when he took the pen, he just took it and laughed and ran away."

PJ just snorts and gets the quill pen from his pocket and throws it at Cota. "There....happy?" He mutters something about annoying stupid adults.

Krisha takes a deep breath and exhales.How did someone else handle this she wonders quietly, and speaks, "Kitchen now PJ.." She barely keeps her now rising temper down. She nods to Sister Ginny who goes to make sure those dishes are washed and dried as well.

Lacota harrumps at the juvenile delinquent. "Even so, that was no reason to fight him, Cota. Take it from. I got into plenty of fistfights at your age..."

John has no qualms with showing his rage, which now bubbles forth. "LADDY," His old accent slipping out, the squirrel soldier bellows at the young mouse as a drill sergeant yells at a recruit, then drops to a low fury. "Y' speak like tha'tae me again, an' Ah swear, Ah'd have y'doin' chores an' thae like fo'thae rest o'yore miserable days, Ah will."

Cota frowns, he then is curious. "You..fought..." And his attention is on Pj who just glares at the adults and storms into the kitchens to wash dishes, and dry dishes and he is far from happy doing it as he mutters something about hoping someone freezes into an ice statue next time they go outside.

Krisha peers at the others through her fingers as she lays a paw on her face, she decides to not get up again and just stays calm best she can and speaks, "Did..Oz ever deal with this?" She is sure he did at times as he was here many MANY seasons.

Lacota frowns, seeming somewhat reluctant to discuss his younger seasons. "I didn't grow up here the abbey, Cota. I lived far to the north... I...had to use my fists to survive."

"Ah'd bet," John mutters, "But even Ah weren' so bloody mouthy when Ah were that age." The squirrel sighs, calming, his usual accent returning. "At least had th'sense t'keep it t'm'self, I did."

Cota frowns and starts to hug Lacota but he seems unsure of weather to or not. He stands there quiet now.

Krisha sighs, she clears her throat, "Well....so now what to do with you Cota...I think I will still let Lacota be in charge of that." She leans back tried, there would likely be more times she would have to break up a fight or punish someone, mainly a dibbun or novice.

Lacota's arms go around the younger mouse. As if he wouldn't hug his adopted grandson. "I had a brutal upbringing, without parents. You're blessed, lad. You've got your parents, and you live here, where there's plenty. Be thankful that you *don't* have to live by your fists..."

By now John had returned by the fire, looking at the remaining mouse. "Aye. I had a rough time till a came here as well." The squirrel mutters, "An' I weren' thankful for th'life here until I'd gone through long hardships, I did..."

Cota hugs the squirrel tightly and sniffs a little.. "Grandfather....I..I would not ever leave the abbey, even if I do become a warrior one day. I would stay and protect you."

Krisha watches and manages a smile, she looks to the entry and frowns again thinking on something else and going quiet for now.

Lacota rubs Cota's back. "Well... I do believe you would, too. I'll never need be afraid again..."

"Say, Krisha," John says, glancing at the badgermother, "How long has that PJ been a problem?"

Krisha frowns. "A couple weeks, this is the first time have dealt with a fight, likely won't be the last. I have thrown a beast out of the abbey one time, some..ferret or rat think it was, forgot now...why?"

Cota nods, he then asks, "So..what do I need to do? Peel potatoes? Wash pots and pans..mop? Sweep?"

Lacota gives Cota's question some thought. "I think potato peeling and dishes ought to be sufficient. But, just this once, I'll actually help..."

"Why?" John shrugs. "If he continues t'be an issue I'd suggest having him do chores 'till the summer, I would. And I don' think Cota and Pj should do work anywhere near each other, just t'be safe."

Krisha nods. "You, likely have a point on not being near each other."

Nardo is lead into the abbey by an order beast and glances around, he frowns deeply as he seems to try and pick out who to speak to.

Cota frowns. "PJ hates me I think..." He nods at the peeling potatoes, he will do so when ever he is told to do it.

Lacota overhears the other two, and he nods. "Yes, Cota, it would be wise to avoid this... PJ fellow. For the time being, at least..."

Krisha glances at Nardo, she recognizes him from Ferravale and stands to go over to him, "Hello." She also notices the frown and gets a little worried, then maybe its just her over worrying. "Is everything ok or you just here to visit?" She hmmms, maybe .. "News from Ferravale?"

John kneels down to better match Cota's hight, saying, "Aye. An' if this PJ does more, I'd like y't' tell m'." The ferret is unnoticed by him for now.

The ferret dusts some snow off his tunic. "It's...news....it's..." He frowns and whispers to the badger maid. He is not sure what to say or not say out loud as he steps back frowning more, muttering something along the lines of he is just the messenger and please forgive this news.

Krisha arches an eyebrow as Nardo whispers to her and a deep frown forms, she glances over at Lacota and Cota before looking at Nardo. "When was this?" She stays calm pulling him off to the far side of the room.

Cota is busy speaking to Lacota and John to really pay attention to what is going on.

Lacota only halfway notices the ferret, and he frowns, but his attention remains on Cota for now. "Yes, you tell me, too. I have a certain way of handling young beasts..."

John, however, sees Krisha's frown and the way she pulls the ferret to speak privately. Assuming the worst, a dark look passes on his face as the squirrel disengages himself from the conversation with the frier and Cota to come over to the two beasts. "What happened?" He whispers, voice low.

Nardo speaks with a quiet tone, "It..happen....this afternoon. The weasel is dead though, so..that's...good news."

Krisha just sighs, she looks at the Ferret. "You're telling them. I...need to check on some other beasts, please excuse me."

Cota nods, he looks over at the ferret and watches Krisha walk off, he gets curious "Tell who..what?"

Lacota watches as Krisha makes a hasty exit. "What was that about?"

John looks back at the young mouse for a moment, then the frier. "A weasel dead?" The squirrel mutters to the ferret, turning back to him. "Nardo, were it? What happened?" His voice is still a whisper.

Nardo seems to tense up, wait why him? He looks over at the beasts in the room and just frowns. Ok may as well get it over with. "An..ambush on the road or..well guess was an ambush, a weasel named Sykes. He had this crossbow...he killed a...mouse and.." He frowns, "I was unable to save her, I did try but the crossbolt was not in the best place..the weasel then fought Xander and was injured, he told the weasel to leave Mossflower and it, well seemed the weasel would but he like reloaded the crossbow and was gonna get Xander in the back and..Patch sort of stabbed the weasel in the back or rather flicked this dagger...weasel died..good riddance I say, it was just by the Ferravale path where it like, meets the road..I am..." He looks at Lacota and and Cota and sighs, "I am..s...sorry. I didn't want to bring bad..news to any beast."

Cota listens. "Who is Sykes or..guess was?" Ok why is the ferret seeing to avoid eye contact with some beasts, he then frowns and looks ready to bolt to the entry. He actually does when he sees Caleb walk quietly in and seems to cling onto his father as his father whispers to him.

Lacota frowns slightly. "Not an order beast, I hope? I hate hearing this type of news..."

"Crossbow?" John mutters, his mind whirling, "It couldn' been mine, it couldn'..." The squirrel shakes his head. "No, no...Is it good th'weasel is dead? What if he weren' th' only one like him, eh?" 

Nardo frowns, he has seen the Friar from a distance, not spoken to him, in fact he may of slipped a pie from the kitchens a few weeks ago. "You're..Friar..Lacota..aren't you?" He glances at John. "I believe just him, he had..caused issues at the tavern." He again looks at the older squirrel, "It...was."

Cota rushes off towards the entry, his father Caleb reaches out and lets his paw drop as he walks into the great hall and sits down, not looking at anyone, just the floor.

Lacota sighs, and rubs his face. "And Benar was having a good day... I'll break the news to him... Right now, I suppose..."

John remains silent. Deciding instead to watch, and wait. He's no stranger to dark tidings.

Caleb stands and looks to Friar Lacota, there is..tears. "I..I need to...if anyone needs me I am gonna be in the gatehouse ...Light is suddenly darkness now....I...." And he just leaves, he needs fresh air.

Nardo frowns, he sits down. "I'm..so sorry for ill news. I got her name before she..died."

Lacota is stopped in his tracks by Caleb. His words. The squirrel frowns. Then he blanches, visibly, and his eyes go wide. He shakes his head. Not again. This can't happen again. He made her promise. She promised. "No. Don't you *dare* say it. Damn it, no." It can't be what he dreads. "...Cynthia." He doesn't need to hear it from Nardo. He knows. A father KNOWS. And that anguish, the same anguish he felt when his wife was murdered, crawls forth. It chokes him. And without even realizing what he's doing, the squirrel is on top of Nardo, grabbing the ferret by his clothing and hauling the beast upward. "WHAT WAS SHE DOING OUTSIDE THE ABBEY??? TELL ME NOW, DAMN YOU! TELL ME!" The Friar's yelling echoes through Great Hall.

"And yet another falls..." John mutters as the yelling rings out, passing a paw over this eyes. "I'm tryin' t'help beasts with no common sense. Bah." Then he softens with a sad look towards the frier. There's nothing he supposes he could say so he opts for nothing.

Nardo screams and tries to back away from the upset Friar, "I don't know!! Calm down...please." He looks surprised the abbey beast can actually lift him and reaches out a shaky paw as he seems to decide weather to know him out, a simple pinch to the neck and he be out for a few moments and he could flee, not like it's his fault. Ok he is gonna have a chat, the badger should of just delivered the news!

Lacota is fully enraged at this point, and he frankly wants to tear the unfortunate beast limb from limb. "YOU DON'T KNOW. WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT A CROSSBOW?" The squirrel's angered yelling has drawn the attention of more than a few abbey beasts, who have gathered around, talking amongst themselves. The normally taciturn Friar is never this angry. "You're a filthy vermin," he spits. "You killed her, didn't you?"

John steps in between the frier and the vermin, raising a paw. "Don' go and say things like that, Lacota. If there's any beast t'blame it might b'm'self." He scowls, "Ah may have more t'do with it, I do - I'm th'only beast with a crossbow, an' I've been far t'careless with th'placement o'my weapons."

Nardo looks around at all the gathered beasts, his eyes seem to plead to help him, he gulps. "You..you're an abbey beast, you..you're not supposed to harm others. I didn't fire the bolt...Sykes did..I wasn't even there till after it happen, I am a  healer...you're..hurting my shoulders." He tries to speak calmly. "Please..you..you have other..f..family, and they will need you..w...what about the kid. I know you're upset, you're hurting..." He takes a deep breath ok, ok what to do, this is new...he has been punched out before not this though. "Let me down...I can go away and you never see me again." Or so he hopes.

Lacota is practically seeing red. Is it even possible for Lacota to get Blood Wrath? But then John steps in, and speaks. Nardo's words have fallen on deaf ears, but what John says... "You..." His grip on the ferret's shoulders loosens, allowing the unfortunate beast to escape. "...You..." He's turning on John now. "Your...crossbow...murdered my daughter?" He clenches his fists. "...Get out of my sight."

Nardo blinks as he hits the floor, he is alive..ALIVE! He is having so many words with that badger once he gets back to Ferravale, he gulps as he speaks, "S..someone is bring Cynthia to the abbey soon....have..have a good eve goodbye!" And he is so SO outta here!

"Nae, Ah don' think Ah will." John says, calmly, and ignoring the retreating ferret. "An' nae weapon murdered her, it were tha' Skyes beast." John doesn't seem to be a creature easily cowed, even if he's been hit in the head by the frier with a pan in the past. "Don' be a damn fool, Lacota."

Lacota snorts angrily. "Your...carelessness caused this. You said it yourself." His anger is starting to cool somewhat, but he's no longer the normally placid beast he is usually. "Where was it? How did Sykes get your crossbow?"

"Ah may have spoken t'soon," John replies, raising a paw, "It should be locked with all th'rest in th'guard house. So I don' think it were my crossbow. Either way, Skyes is dead. There's nae point in going after th'living and innocent."

Lacota is starting to deflate now. Without the object of his anger, Nardo, around any longer, his rage is quickly giving way to overwhelming despair. He'd only gotten a scant few weeks with his daughter. She'd been so long, and come back, as if a miracle, and she's gone again...Forever. He's done this song and dance before. "And he's lucky, too. Because I swear this time, my vow be damned, I'd have killed Sykes with my own two paws..."

John nods, slowly, an unreadable expression on his face. "I," He begins, quietly, "I were once derided by an elder here for wanting revenge on th'beast who I still think my have killed someone dear t'me. I stormed out, an' didn' return for seasons, I did. So I won' do that t'y'."

Lacota sighs, his shoulders slumping. He looks so much smaller and older than before, as if the news has aged him ten seasons. His anger is gone now. He can't sustain it. He faces the other squirrel. "Revenge is hollow," he replies. "In many cases, ultimately pointless. So it's for the best that I can't break my vow, not least because it would have changed me... forever." He sighs. "But I suppose we both understand the desire... So thank you."

Dipping his head, the younger squirrel replies, "Indeed." Yet it seems he's only half convinced, now.

Lacota sighs. "I am... Sorry, I yelled at you, John. Cooler heads prevail. I should not have lost my temper." He seems drained, listless.

"No worries, and mayhaps y'should, actually." John says, "Meaning y'temper, o'course. Anger and sadness and th'like - I can' fully imagine losing a child... Hell, doesn' stop m'self being angry with whomever let this happen."

Lacota collapses into a nearby chair. Now that the former commotion has passed, the crowd of beasts have mostly dispersed by now. The Friar rests his head in his paws. "I've lost two children, actually," he replies, his voice almost a monotone now. "My wife Krystal was pregnant at the time she was... You know. We'd already started thinking of names... Cynthia got me through that dark time... I don't honestly know what I'll do now... Other than try my best to provide Cota support..."

John stays nearby, quietly listening, a sad look on his face. "I... see." He manages.

Lacota hmms, and shrugs. "Eh, such is life," he murmurs. "She was the love of my life, but time moves on... I should speak to Caleb..."

"Perhaps." John almost to says that more to himself than the frier, slumping down in a chair. "Time moves on..."

"Who did you lose?" Lacota's question comes suddenly, without any pretense.

There is a long time before John answer that. "Rather t'th'point, are y'?" He sighs. "No matter, she were named Trillis," there's a brief pause once he says the name. "Losing her might be th'best way t'put it. I don' know what happened t'her, really. Killed, fled, or what have y'. That happened th' last time that damned Marek took over, four or five summers ago. Last thing we said t'th'other were an argument, it were. I've spent many seasons searching for any sign o'her since, though I've long moved on, now."

Lacota frowns. He doesn't recall the name, unfortunately. "...I'm sorry to hear it," he murmurs. "I hope someday you get proper closure..."

"Thank y'," John nods, staring into the fire that had by now burned low. "Though I've long giving up hope for that, I have." He shrugs. "There's no point for me t'look for a ghost and spend my seasons chasing dreams..."

Lacota mmms, nodding his head. "Very true." He sighs. "I'm sorry for your loss, regardless..."

Standing, the younger squirrel stands. "As I'm yours, Lacota." John says, simply.

Lacota waves a paw, remaining slumped in his chair. He won't be moving from this spot for awhile. "Thank you," he says quietly. "For talking..."

"Y'welcome." John mutters, turning from the frier. "I think I'll take m'leave now, Lacota, as I need a drink."

Lacota nods. "Goodnight," he replies listlessly. He will stare at the embers of the burned out fire for the rest of the night...

John pauses for a moment before he goes, casting a glance back at the grieving father. There is little to nothing he could say that would help, now, so the younger squirrel dips his head with a barely audible, "Good night." Then he is gone, perhaps to spend another restless night staring up at the ceiling or drown out the world with a barrel.