Redwall MUCK Forum

Good Hop, Bad Hop
Ft. Riley, Jinora
Halyard Village:

Though the Long Patrol no longer patrols the streets of Halyard on official business, there has been an exception made in the matter of the ghastly, ghoulish beasts haunting the Western Shores. Major Tottheim, on the information included in a list from Saja the fox, has brought but one beast with her to do, what she described herself as: 'dirty work and intimidation tactics'. But they've threatened patrollers, they would have killed Dominik had it not been for quick-thinking and a skillful pair of beasts in the Village. It wasn't hard to have this approved.
So, now they are here. The building itself is little more than a ramshackle beach shack, typical of Halyard construction. "Allegedly, this is th'business of one 'Rottooth'. We need t'find out who 'es been sellin' these to." The parchment is passed off to Riley: it contains a list of venoms and strange herbs, poisons, and corrosives usually reserved for the act of smithing. Ergot, Wolve's Breath, Tendril of the Dark Forest, spider venoms... "We shake 'em down, we find who is buyin' tha' lot, we find our... Ghosts." Is she convinced? It isn't clear. Jinora, though she does her best to hide it, has been thouroughly rattled by the foxes since day one. If Martin the Warrior can aid the beasts of Redwall, who is to say that vermin ghosts wouldn't do the opposite? She pushes the thought from her mind. "Ready?"

The runner might be an odd choice. Riley Whorlbuck is short and unassuming doe, but she's dressed the part. Instead of her patrol uniform she is in a toad-leather jacket. which makes her a bit uncomfortable as she scratches at the collar of the jacket made up of long-dead beast. Weapons line the thick belt that wraps around her waist. One shortsword and two knives, along with a third knife tucked into the wrist gauntlet under the jacket sleeve. Riley tugs the hood up around her ears and glances over the parchment with a narrowed-eye expression. "Ready, Majah," she agrees grimly.

Jinora, though taller than Riley, couldn't look roguish if she tried - her danger comes strictly from the pressed uniform of a Long Patrol official and the saber that hangs at her side. She pauses with her paw on the door and passes a quick look up and down her fellow Patroller. "I cannae decide if th'jacket works fer ye'r not." She smirks before throwing the door wide and storming inside. Inside, the shack looks much as it did on the outside: a bucket sits on the floor near the door, half-full of stinking water from the last rain... Or the one before that? Jinora puts a paw over her nose and grimaces in disgust. Rottooth himself, a one-legged pine marten with surprisingly adequate dental hygiene, is seated behind the counter, his boots resting on its surface. He leaps upright when the Long Patrol and some apparent assassin enters. "Thought ye weren't 'ere botherin' ol' Rottooth anymores, ya long-eared slops! I ain't done nothin'!" He jabs an accussing claw at them. "G-Ge' out!"
Jinora crosses the shack in three long strides and slams her paws against the counter. "Si'down." She growls. "Or m'associate 'ere will see t'yer legs in'a way tha' won't leave ye much choice."

Riley steps into the shack, her nose wrinkling at the foulness of the place. "Thinkin' don' seem like yer bloody strong suite, stinksack." Her hand goes to the sword on her belt and she stomps in closer. "Gonna let m'associate ask yeh some questions, huh? An' yer gonna answer 'em."

Rottooth stares, terrified at Riley a moment before his eyes roll back up towards Jinora. "Fine." He snarls, dropping back into his seat. "But don' think Rottooths no snitch, eh. Y'ain't gettin' nothin' outta me that's... That's what yer gonna get!" Jinora rolls her eyes and slaps the list down in front of him. He stares at it a moment before his gaze slowly rolls back up to the hares. "This sposed t'mean somethin' t'Rottooth?" He demands, obviously unable to read. The Major groans. "Slashah." She sighs, motioning to Riley. "I 'ave t'read 'im what we're lookin' for. If ye think he's lyin, best set t'work on th'leg 'e 'as left." She stoops low to mock-whisper. "Staht with th'toes."

"Ergot. Who ye sold it to? Wolve's Breath. Ye sold any spider venoms? Tendril of th'Dark Forest? Poppy Oil?  Anythin' fer metal workin'?" He shakes his head violently. "Rottooth'd remember tha', he would! Rottooth ain't sold none'a that - w-well." He looks to Riley, gulping. "Th'Poppy Oil, yeah. T-To a couple beasts! Bu' it's popular! But!" He shrinks away from the smaller hare. "Lavish th'fox was braggin' about sellin' enough poison t'some dignitary what t'put Rottooth outta business! Ye... Ye should go bother /'im/! Cut /'is/ toes off, ye should! Rottooth don't know nothin'!"

Riley snarls, snatching the larger of the two knives from her belt. She grips it in her paw, glaring down at the weasel. But... he begins to talk and she stays her paw for now. "Wot beasts did /you/ sell to, huh? Dun' you gather we /know/ 'bout Lavish?" Riley spits a wad to the dirty floor. "I know it's neigh impossible fer ya, but /think hard/, yellow throat."

The vermin shrinks away from Riley. "L-Lotsa beasts! Rottooth promises! Talk t'Lavish, I ain't go' nothin'. M'stores'a ergot an'... An'... All tha' - check 'em! S'hardly a market fer it! Ain't nobeast tha' hardcore! Rottooth swears, he does!" Shaking, he looks pleadingly at the short doe. "D-don't even get no names normally, don't you know how Halyahd work? R-Rottooth jus' does 'is business an' gets on with 'is life, bu' I ain't sold... Sold /all/ tha' stuff yer askin' about." Jinora sighs, glaring down at the marten. "Where cin we find this 'Lavish'?" Lending credit to the marten's story, the name was one of the ones Saja gave her. "On North Street!" Rottooth whimpers. "Please don' take Rottooth's toes."

Riley snorts with distaste, standing back and flipping the knife skillfully in her paw before glancing to Jinora. "Pity," she sighs. "Toe bones make good button toggles." Her eyes slide back to the pine marten. "Keep in mind I know exactly where tah find you in this smear of ah town, got it?"

Halyard Village: North Street:
After a good deal of nodding and simpering and pleading from the marten that did, eventually, lead to more detailed directions to the beast in question, the two hares find themselves at the business of the fox, Lavish. In a stark contradiction to the shack they came from, this place looks, or at least attempt to look, as if it lives up to the name of the beast who owns it. The wood is well patched and there is even a chair set up on the porch, near a reed mat that marks the front entrance. "Care t'take th'lead on this one?" Jinora asks, gesturing with a flourish and a bow towards the door.

"Wot, I didn't last time?" Riley asks with a cocked brown. She smirks, turning towards the door and bracing. "Also, I look /damn good/ in this getup." BAM. The door is kicked in and Riley storms in with a rage of a noise. "LAVISH." The knife is out.

Inside, the shop shows an obvious affinity for the finer things in life. A plush rug is draped in the center of the room, strange scents drift from exotic lanterns and carvings that hang from the ceilings; the fox himself sits on a cushion, spread on the ground beside a strange, glass vase on a box. A coal burns softly on top of it, and the fox holds a glass mouthpiece that attaches to the vase with some pliable fabric and plant material - Jinora has seen them at the Smoking Den from time to time, but they're incredibly expensive. Lavish himself doesn't seem too surprised at Riley's entrance, rather he gives her a fiendish, winning smile and pats a cushion beside him. "Ah, welcome. How is it that I may help you fine beasts?" Smoke curls out of the all-black fox's muzzle as he speaks, his eyes half-lidded.

The doe heaves a breath. "Answers," she spits. "We need answers. Talk 'round town is you've got blood on yer paws, an' we're here tah sniff it out." Her adorable little hare nose sniffs widely at this. Riley doesn't look around the ornate room, instead allowing her eyes to bore into the fox.

Lavish holds up his paws briefly, and then slips the mouthpiece back into his muzzle. "Well." He speaks around it. "Looks like you're the type with more than a little blood on your paws. I didn't know the Patrol was pairing themselves with such distasteful sorts these days." He smirks again, yellow eyes not wavering from Riley's hard gaze. Jinora steps forward with the list of undesireable substances and lays a paw on the Private's shoulder. "Woah there, Slaughtah. We don' want t'disrupt th'beast's business too much." She gives a simpering, professional smile. "We jus' need some information, s'all." She offers the list out. "Anybeast buyin' all this?" She asks, and then frowns. "An' please be 'onest... Slaughtah, she... Gets th'job done, bu' I'm real sick'a cleanin' up aftah. Hate t'see such a fine cahpet ruined." The fox turns that unreadable grin back upon Riley before letting his gaze lazily drop to the list. "Hmmm..."

"I do wot they won't, ya keen?" Riley growls and straightens just a touch as she allows Jinora to take over. Her ear ticks back at Jinora but she remains silent for just a short moment. "Faster," the doe grunts. "You seem like a beast who knows time is money."

"Very keen - patience, madam... Slaughter, was it? Oh, I do, my dear. Time is money... Especially when you are paid by the hour." The fox smirks up at Riley, taking another long draw and exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. "I am afraid that I will not be of much help. My supplier of ergot dried up about two months ago. Said he no longer required my business." He props himself up on his elbow and waves with the mouthpiece towards a desk. It's made of fine mahogany. "You may find all of my books and ledgers there to verify this, but oh I /do/ wish I could be of more help." He doesn't sound sincere.

Riley smirks back, her's a little more crazed than the serene fox. Some of the smoke from his pipe has wafted her way and it trails back out of her lungs through her nostrils as she widens her eyes just a /touch/. "You know wot they called me in Northsward? The Mad March hare." Her knife lifts, angling at it the fancy pipe on a box near the fox. "But I dun' /always/ gotta murder." Suddenly the knife flies and the water pipe launches off it's perch and explodes! "Sometimes I can 'urt a beast in other ways. Now /tell the bloody truth/, because this encounter is startin' tah cost you money, ya /keen/?"

Lavish doesn't react as Riley "Slaughter", the Mad March hare, destroys his water pipe. With a sigh, he carefully sets the mouthpiece down and pushes himself to his knees and then his feet, brushing himself off. "This was hardly necessary, Madam Mad March. As I have told you, I am no longer /capable/ of acquiring not only ergot, but Wolves' Breath as well, as my supplier now refuses to sell to me." He crosses to the desk and opens a drawer, pulling a journal out of it. He closes the drawer quickly before dropping the book onto the desk. "Here are my ledgers. Every sale, every copper. Jinora taps a paw on the desk. "I am /terribly/ sorry abou' th'mess, good sah. I implore ya t'tell us /everythin'/ ye know - I really... 'Ave no authority ovah 'er."

Riley's lips curl as she watches the water spread onto the rug with her ears twitching under her hood. Her eyes snap to Lavish and she watches him move to the desk. After a moment she hobbles after, eyeing the book with almost an aire of distrust. "You know I dun' read," the doe grouses at Jinora. "Wot's it say, patrollah?"

Jinora, lazily thumbing through the pages, sighs. "Numbahs, names, plants. Seems... In ordah." Her eyes narrow and her gaze flicks back up to the fox. "Surprisin'ly legal ventah ya got, Lavish." She whistles through her buck teeth. "Commendable, commendable. Could use more beasts like ye aroun' 'ere. Bu' I don' see anythin' abou' th'ergot? Ye said yer supplier stopped supplyin', bu' s'hardly a mention of it in yer books." Lavish sighs, raising his paws. "Ah, ye caught me. Please, leave my limbs intact." He winks at Riley. "Ergot is hardly something I want on my books, so please, forgive the transgression. This on the shelf behind me is all that is left of my stocks of all that you've mentioned - though I haven't carried these weapon tarnishes in quite some time. I'm afraid that, because of my dastardly supplier, I shall be /quite/ the legitimate business in a few weeks time." He sighs wistfully.

Riley glowers at Lavish as he winks at her. She turns, heading over to gather up her thrown knife. She makes no move to avoid broken glass, treading through it without wincing as it cracks under her heel. With it back into her paw she turns again, facing the pair and finally glancing around the room to make not of anything out of place.

Lavish, it seems, is finally shaken by Riley. Wincing as she stomps across his carpet, likely leaving blood on it. "Alright, fine. I will tell you how to find my supplier, /former/ supplier... At least where he /used/ to be. I daresay you may find more answers from him than from me." He bows deep before pulling a spare piece of parchment from a drawer. He draws a map. "He did, of course, make things rather difficult for me with his sudden... Dismissal of my business. It forced me to some unsavory ends - I would be happy to help you take such dishonest and backstabbing scum off the market." He takes a long puff. "Or the streets, rather. For the good of Halyard and the Mountain, both." He winks at Jinora, this time, and hands the map to the Major. "Now... Please stop messing up my shop. That coal is going to leave quite the mark."

Riley just sort of stares. It's a manic, deadpan sort, and she doesn't appear to even notice the shards of glass in her foot. As soon as Jinora is handed the paper she marches to the door, leaving spots of blood behind her. "One more thing," the doe remarks, turning to jerk-nod to Jinora. "We'll be takin' the rest o'that Ergot."

"Good thinkin', Slaughtah." Jinora nods, stomping past Lavish, his jaw clenched. "Thank ye for yer business, sah." The major simpers, following Riley out the door, stepping around the spots of blood she's left behind. "Sorry fer th'mess." Once outside and safely out of sight of Lavish's business, the Major sighs and drops to a knee beside Riley. "Tha'." She breathes. "Was bloody terrifyin'. Let me ge' th'bloomin' glass from yer feet, ya wondahful lunatic."

As soon as they're out and away from Lavish's, Riley sinks against the wall of a building, letting out a moan. "Gods, I almost cried in front of him. It hurts, bloomin' /'ell/, it hurts!" Her eyes screw closed and she whimpers as she nudges her bloodied paw at Jinora. "Yeh wanted intimidatin', Majah. I dun' do nothin' 'alf arsed."

Choking back a laugh, Jinora tugs at the pouch on her belt. She is useless as a healer, but at least did learn in her recruit training how to patch a laceration. "Private Whorlbuck, yer bloody terrifyin' an' I-" she clears her throat without finishing the thought. "Chew this an' give me yer paws... 'Ow about we grab ye some boots on th'way t'this 'suppliah', lest we 'ave ye gettin' all weepy in front of 'em." She has bandages and a strange shoot of plant (which is what is offered to Riley). "Ain't perfect, bu' I'll carry ye if I 'ave ta." She winks, teasing - though it's clear she would.

Riley takes the plant, sticking it between her buck teeth and chatter-chewing it into her mouth. She wads it up and sticks it into her cheek, chewing thoughtfully. The doe lets her head rest back and attempts not to whimper as the glass is fished out. "No boots. M'good. If it breaks back open and bleeds again, only helps th' image, dun it?" Riley puts on a strained smile and crawls back to her feet. "M'a lil' terror, I am. Got th' blood o'the grand ol' patrol in m'blood." She stamps on the hurt foot to prove it. "Let's go."

Jinora shakes her head with a smirk. "Tough as nails, Patrollah. Careful, yer like t'find yerself promoted if ye keep tha' attitude up." She winks, knowing the doe's reluctance. "C'mon, map says it's in th'bally swamp." There is plenty of daylight left to make the journey to the swamp, though there will likely not be enough time to make it back to the Mountain after, when night falls. Another night of Halyard's inn looks to be in store for the pair of Patrollers.

The Swamp:
"Bally stink-pit, this place." Jinora breathes deep, scratching nervously at her neck. The Major hasn't been in the swamp since she escaped it some seasons past - a phantom ache in the leg the snake crushed throbs at every step. "Let's find this bloody suppliah an'get our scuts back t'the Tavern fer a stiff drink, eh? Looks like this is th'place." The cabin, if it can be called that, juts lopsided from the muck of the swamp. Smoke curls from the chimney and vines crawl up the building, covering cracked and foggy windows. "Dun' like this." She mutters as they near the door.

"M'/obviously/ too unhinged tah be promoted!" Riley counters at Jinora, sounding rather offended by the idea. She follows after the Major, not having the same bad association with the place... but it doesn't appear as if she's enjoying herself, either. Her hood, around her shoulders now and allowing her ears to be up and alert, hone in on the shack. "Really?" Riley snorts at laugh. "Brilliant vacation spot iffen yeh ask me." The doe motions at Jinora. "Your turn."

Jinora smirks and gives a mock curtsie to the other doe. "As y'wish." CRACK! The door, made soggy and warped by the humid environment, doesn't open as Jinora kicks it in... It splinters. A shout of 'HELLSTEETH!' is heard from inside, and the Patroller rears back and throws her shoulder against the ruined door, bursting through on the second hit. "Alrigh' keep yer paws where we cin see 'em, scum!" She growls, immediately ducking as a dagger zips their way. It buries into the wood of the doorway. The "supplier" is a rat - a mottled colored beast wearing a thick cloak. She hisses at the two hares, and makes to leap out the window behind her, shattering the glass with her elbow first.

Riley steps in an over the rotted door bits, her sword out this time. Riley leaps in the direction of the rat, grabbing at her tail to yank her back. "Good try, ya feral worm. My employer needs t'talk to you, understand?"

The rat is yanked from the window and slams to the ground with a hiss. She flips over to her back and flings another dagger at Riley, her arms bloody from the broken window. The room itself is packed, floor to ceiling, with all manner of plant, herb, and crystal. Several cauldrons bubble over low flames, making the room even smokier and more humid.

Riley ducks, but the long side of the blade strikes her jacket, leaving a thinned scuff on it. "Oooh, wrong move." Riley stamps a foot down on the rat's throat. "We know you talk. Even livin' out here. You talk 'cause you sell tah beasts, that right? Poison an' the like?"

The rat struggles beneath Riley's foot, her mouth opening and closing uselessly as she tries, and fails, to take in breathes. A paw goes to her side, and the rat pulls a dirk from her belt - how many weapons are /on/ this beast?! She tries to stab it into Riley's thigh, movements growing weaker.

The blade sinks in and Riley leans in to the rats face without flinching. "Was that supposed tah hurt?" she demands of the rat with her head tilting in a ghoulish way. Blood trickles from the blade, bubbling around the base. "You aren't the only one who dabbles in the dark." At this, Riley allows some of the spit built up from the plant stock dribble out of her mouth, red as fresh beets. "I'm going to let off my foot a little, witch. And then you'll answer our questions." Her foot lifts, just enough to allow air to pass through the rat's gullet.

The rat gasps, her eyes wide with fear. "Demon!" She manages to gasp out, her voice hoarse and pained, wincing as the spit flicks on her cheek. Jinora stands back, her eyes wide and paw on her saber, staring at the hilt of the weapon protruding from her Patroller's thigh. "Asssssssk yer quessstions, demon."

"That's right," the doe-demon replies with a harsh curl of her lips. "You have been granting powers to certain beasts who have not earned them," Riley hisses. Her head twists on her neck mose, eyes wide and bloodshot. "Powers do not /come/ from nowhere, witch. You know this. They must be sourced. You have angered the source." Her foot pumps on the rat's neck for emphasis. "Whooo are these false demon fox, rat? You sold your wares to those who seek to play in magic they did not earn!" Riley's tongue flickers and she pushes more of the root red out of her mouth, letting it dribble down the corners of her mouth. "Ergot, ergot, the gift of famine! Venom of the eight legged ones, servants of my master! Tendrils of the Dark Forest, my prison and tomb. /WHO ARE THEY, WITCH/? They must die for their errors, so your servitude to my deed will grant you life!"

The rat's eyes are wide with terror, and her body shaking so violently that it's a wonder that she can speak at all. "N-No! Please! It - they would have killed me otherwise! You know n-n-not what you messsss with, demon!" The rat paws weakly at the paw against her throat. "H-He comes... Once a week.." The witch finally gasps out. "He... He keeps his hood up but I can /feel/ the ghosts within him. H-" She shrinks away from Riley more. "He comes from the water, only when the moon has - has pulled the waves away from the cliffs. I can hear their screams, the souls he's trapped." She swallows, her throat bulging beneath Riley's foot. "It is all I know, demon!"

Riley's lips pull back, revealing red stained teeth. "He is false," she chatters. "False demon! Never having stepped foot in the Dark Forest. Can you smell it on me, witch? I reek of death!" But she rises, lifting up her foot off the rat's neck. "You have served well, rat. This will be remembered, ayyye. Begone from this place when the waves have peeled from the cliff like flesh from bone. Begone and I will dispose of this curse on your hide!" Riley backs up with crazed eyes on the rat. She reaches down, yanking the blade from her thigh and letting it drop uselessly to the floor. "I release this beast. Let them go, witch, let them go. I will need her body again." And then Riley crumples into a heap, passed out from the loss of blood.

Jinora lunges forward with her arms outstretched, falling to one knee to help brace the impact as Riley collapses. "Haven't ye used 'er enough?!" She cries to the empty air of the cabin, trying her best to go along with this. Riley is a much better actor than her. "Tell nobeast of this, or we will end ye." She growls to the rat, the witch already scrambling out the door of her own home. The Major pulls Riley into a fireman's carry to make the walk easier, but before she leaves the cabin, takes a chunk of wood from the ruined door and lights it with the flame a cauldron. She drops the flaming wood to the middle of the floor - getting rid of the supply. Hopefully, they can make it to Halyard and the clinic before the sun sets, the light of the burning cabin growing more distant behind them.

It was Death
Ft. Ironbark, Jinora as GM
The Dunes:

Night bends to kiss the shore, parting its lips with a gasp of chilled, coastal air. The moon, nearly full, shows her face only intermittently in a sky made starless by the thick cloud cover as the Western Shores submit to the calm of night. Few, if any, wander the beaches once the sun begins setting - scared off by the rumors of ghosts and ghouls haunting the dunes after dark... Who knows what waits for those foolish enough to try?   

Ironbark is maybe foolish, or insane, can he be both? It's clear he has been in a fight as he limps now, a bandage on upper leg and the tip of his ear is missing. He has decided to not stick around the area and to get back elsewhere, only he has gotten a little loss in the dunes as he founds. "Ok...got to be..somewhere...right, the path to the river?" Talking more to himself of course.   

He may be speaking to himself, but Ironbark's word do not go unanswered. "The river?" A voice answers him, sounding strangely distant and echoed in a location that should not echo sound at all. "Is isssssss this way!" The directions are followed by a giggle, a chilled, soulless laugh that grows in volume - until suddenly going silent. No sound follows, save for that of the waves against the shoreline, and the wind softly humming through the dunes.   

Ironbark jumps and looks around quickly and frowns, "I have lost me mind...." Then he has been through a lot the past few weeks.He decides it's just the wind playing tricks on him and he limps hopefully away from the noise, he has no weapon, wait he did find a rock so he has that as he picks it up and looks around "If ya be those slavers..you can go away, tried of ya lot"   

"It looks familiar." The voice calls again, sounding off eerily close to Ironbark's shoulder - but should he turn around, there will be nobeast there. "Because we've met before!" A different voice answers, cackling. "Oh it'ssssss him!" One voice calls, giggling childishly from behind a dune. "It issss." Another answers, equally gleeful. The voices build upon each other, none seeming to come from any one place at all - it's impossible to tell if the voices belong to a male or female, nor is it possible to gauge how old the speakers are... They simple /are/. "It is! You look lost... Come, come - the river is here, the river is safe... You will be sssssssafe in the river! Ahehehe!"   

Ironbark gulps as he looks behind him quickly and trows the rock towards where the voice was and backs up triping once and quickly standing back up "G..go away...leave me alone I..I can find the blooming river on me own!" He decides not to go towards teh voices, they do seem familar and now he is starting to panic. He shivers and looks left, right and behind him as he starts to limp , hopefully away from them.   

"Master didn't /want/ this one before." A raspy chortle announces, just as Ironbark starts trying to flee. "But this has /changed/! It has changed! It has changed!" The disembodied voices begin to chant, and a gust blows a cascade of sand off the top of one of the dunes, momentarily choking the air with sediment. When the wind dies down, a trio of twisted, ruined vulpines are silhouetted atop the dune - the shortest one, in the center, lifts a bow and notches an arrow to it. "Master wants him now." It whispers.   

Ironbark coughs and then his eyes widen "Y..you...not you again!!" He backs up and looks ready to bolt, "I..I won't make a good slave, trust me" He lets a whimper escape him, least he can see the foxes, are they foxes?   

"Master doesn't need anymore slaves." The voice whispers in response, letting its arrow fly. It buries into the sand near the squirrel's paw, and the sand sizzles dangerously - there is something coating the weapons. The two foxes flanking the archer giggle again. "Is it slavers you run from?" The beast on the right asks. The other, its twisted face splitting slowly into a grin as the moon peeks from behind the clouds, illuminating the terrifying figures, leans forward. "Or... Is it death?"   
In the silver light of the moon, the squirrel is awarded a clearer view of the beasts - they look to have branches bursting from their backs and their sides, and in places their fur is hanging and burnt away. Their teeth are blackened and their pupils far too wide to be normal - they are all grinning as the archer notches another arrow and lets fly.   

Ironbark shivers and is unable to move, as the arrow hits the sand and seems to melt the sand or burn it maybe he backs up best he can, "W..W..What are..."He tenses up as the arrow hits him in the arm and he goes to pull it out, weather tha'ts a good idea or not remains to be seen.He knows one thing, he likely should try and run away.   

"See?" The archer says, flashing black, rotted teeth. "It is /death/." It points a claw at the squirrel as he lays, terrified in the sand. "Go." It whispers to the beasts at its side, and the two other foxes rush forward. When they run toward Ironbark, they look like leaves blown in the wind - their limbs just don't move the way they should, they jerk and twitch... But they move so quickly. They are fast approaching the squirrel - one holds a dagger, the other a spear. "Bring him back for master." The archer whispers.   

Ironbark backs up and screams in pain as his arm burns badly, he holds his arm and fights back tears what is going on? He quickly opens a flask of water to pour onto the wound and looks around wildly as the fox things get closer and shivers as the pain and burning get worse. He also starts to feel weaker as he falls sideways and groans as he lays on his back and shivers holding his arm...."No....."He speaks quietly.   
As Ironbark screams, the wind shifts the clouds once more, cloaking the beach in inky darkness. The shadows of the two foxes come to a sudden, jolting stop and stand beside the shivering, whimpering squirrel in the sand. Their heads twitch and jerk as they stare down at him, as if curious, as if savoring the fear and torment they cause. But only for a moment. The dagger-beast is still, but their companion lifts their spear, its point poised over Ironbark's middle. "Yes." They whisper... And bring the weapon down.   

Ironbark can't pull away, the poison has made him weak and his vision blurred by tears of fear and pain, his arm still feels like it's on fire and then when the spear is brought down all feelings end after a mere second or two.The squirrel is dead now, his blood coating the sand under him.   

"Bring him to master." The two beasts speak in unison, giggling. The archer is gone, nowhere to be seen, and the two foxes take Ironbark by the ankles and drag him away with them, leaving a trail of blood that will be gone come morning. He could run from the slavers... But he could not run from death.

Rudolfo, as Willow said: of course! I would recommend you sifting through the old log that started it (it's three parts, first part is HERE and the other two are linked from that page) just so you can flesh out the background and know what he's coming from

We can have them return ASAP, it will depend on RL for the involved players. I'll talk to Juniper's player about it today, if I can, and touch base with Willow.

Minor updates (edited into top post).

Consider This a Favor
Ft. Saja, Jinora, Jacenta, Dominik
Halyard Village: Saja's Shop:

The shop of one Saja Hawkeye is a ramshackle place that was once one of the more prominent vermin apothecaries. He and his mouse 'assistant' Poppy have converted it into a proper clinic-slash-apothecary that's on the more legal side of things if you're willing to stretch definitions and slip the constable some coin every once in a while. And so, there's a front desk, a few shelves filled with herbs and poltices, as well as a back office and a door back to what passes for a clinic. Or, as of late, a moratorium. Poppy is asleep in the more-ramshackle sleeping quarters in this shop. Saja himself is pouring over a medical text with several vials, a half-empty bottle of wine, and parchment before him. He is, for once, looking confident.   

As of late, Jinora has found herself spending an increasingly unfortunate amount of time in this business and in the company of the one who runs it. As such, the Major feels little need for decorum as she bodily shoulders open the door with a wild 'BANG' - she's trailed by two hares with a stretcher, and is currently supporting the weight of the massive hare, Dom. "Saja." She grunts, face tight with effort. "/Fix this/." Her free arm is still strapped into her shield - three arrows protrude from it. Sorry Poppy, nap time is over.   
The stretcher is covered in a blanket - but underneath it is the form of a dead fox, weird branch protrusions peeking from under the cover.   

Jacenta is helping and keeps looking at the tall Dom every so often as if making sure he doesn't pass out, she frowns at the wound on his arm which, well it's getting worse and that just makes her nervous.   

Dominik hadn't put much thought into the fact that he'd been poisoned, even after Jacenta had made it abundantly clear with her diagnosis after seeing the dagger wound. Stubbornly, he had refused any help, preferring to walk on his own for as long as he possibly could, and even growling at the hares carrying the stretcher if they got too close. The closer they had gotten to Halyard, the worse he had gotten, however, and by the time they reach the clinic he is completely soaked in sweat, his expression showing obvious pain despite his efforts to mask it. The wound on his arm had greatly increased in size at this point, and it was not particularly a pleasant thing to see. He staggers a little as they barge into the room, "...can make it...by self. Am fine..." he gasps, that not being true in the least.   

'Hawkeye' is not a misnomer. Nor does Poppy prove to be a heavy sleeper as she rushes into the main room slapping on glasses in her nightclothes. Saja is up as soon as the door is forced in. The wine bottle is tipped over, and the fox has the decency to drop the crossbow he'd been pulling out onto the desk without comment. "Close the door! Lock it. Leave the dead, living first! First shelf, second row, sprinkle paprika on the corpse. Bring the buck with me! Major? See my assistant. Do not die, please." Then he punts open the clinic door. Poppy is helping Jinora to a side table within the next room. Saja motions in, and there's two medical tables with sheets oddly clear of blood for a vermin clinic. Dominik speaks. Saja grabs a sugical knife, as well as a trolly of herbs. "What do you feel?" He asks Dominik.
   
It takes some fenangling to get Jinora, Dominik, Jacenta, the stretcher, and Private Bobbin in, but they manage it somehow. "Shut y'perfectly sculpted head, y'daft, sweaty beast." Jinora grunts to Dominik, attempting to lead him, with Poppy's assistance, to the side table in the next room. She let's the other's deal with the corpse. "Up with ye."   

Jacenta frowns, she is not dealing with the dead beast, the other private can put, what ever it was, on the dead beast. She frowns and looks over, after she makes sure the other Private does what he needs to do, she will follow slowly "His arm is getting worse as time goes along and little too quickly too for my likeing.There was something really bad on the dagger, like seriously bad"   

Dominik goes to move in the direction of the room that Saja had opened, with Jinora and Poppy's assistance... and in the process his legs wobble then completely give out, and he collapses heavily to the floor in between them. Still, he struggles gamely to push himself back up again, absolutely despising showing any sort of weakness whatsoever in front of his squadmates. "Is not...daft..." he mutters, in an almost pouting tone despite his agony. Sinking to the floor again, his face is a mask of pain, rivulets of perspiration running down his face, streaking through the coal-darkened fur...the rest of his fur looking as if he'd taken a nice relaxing swim in the ocean. "Have small nick....on...arm. Is...fine. Is like...fire. Is...fire...." he mumbles, blinking. Obviously he hasn't taken a look at his own arm yet, the wound is festering and it appears as if he'd been doused with some sort of acid, as the fur is burned away around the wound.   

Saja and Poppy share a glance at the wound that Dominik has. That acid-washed fester earns the pair a shared look of recognition. And, either wouldn't admit it, horror. Poppy quickly abandons Jinora and her wounds for favor of the big hare. She's rushing him up to the table with gentle urgency. Saja is over with the knife and a vial. He nods to Jacenta. "Yes. This is a horrible poison. Healer, make sure your patient drinks that vial. It is an anti-toxin that will help. We will need to bleed him some to ensure it does not go further than his arm. Understand? He'll take it easier from you than me." He offers sternly to Jacenta. She's the new star, it seems, as he hands over that vial. A glare to Jinora. "Hold him down." Then Saja is starting make quick, decisive cuts along that festering wound. Enough to get out any pus. Herbs are quickly being slapped on by Poppy.

Poor Private Bobbin, a fighter, just stares at Jacenta as the care of the body is apparently left to her. "Aren't you a healah?" She asks, staring at the pepper in horror. Jinora, now that Dominik is settled, pulls a dagger wrapped in cloth from her side. "This." She lays it on a table nearby and lets her shield rest in the front room. She isn't sure if the arrows were dipped in the concoction as well, but she'll be sure to give them for study once Dominik is tended to - but, for now - she is only in the way. "Gimme that." The Major snarls, snatching the pepper from Private Bobbin (who just... Stood there with it) and, wrinkling her nose, flings back the cover to sprinkle it over the dead body as instructed. Now, unfortunately, her only purpose... Is to wait. She isn't the touchey-feely sort, so having her extra lump of flesh in that healing area would only be detrimental, and she is able to offer little by way of comfort.   

Jacenta nods as she looks at Dom, "Drink it"She says in a sort of demanding tone.She also tries to keep an eye on the wound and what Saja is doing. She is worried, and a little grumpy maybe now.   

Dominik is still somewhat apprehensive as he is helped up to the table. Unable to stand very well (if at all), he has no choice but to lie down, and with his size it's pretty much a guarantee that his limbs would be hanging off the edge on all sides. He accepts the offered vial, choking it down as best he can, and as Saja begins to slice at the wound, he buries his face on the table and bites back a scream of agony. Instead, he merely groans, the table vibrating with the low sound. His arm indeed feels as if it had been hit with a flaming arrow and had caught fire, and he hadn't felt anything so painful in his entire life. Still, he gamely holds back showing the extent of this, his eyes open, bewildered and glistening as he peers helplessly at Jinora and Jacenta. It seems at this point, a slight fever had begun to develop, the buck getting increasingly warmer as the time passes.   

It might be superstition, but the pepper at least has some preservative properties! /Vermin/! At least the body isn't in the way. Saja nods as Jinora sets that knife, wrapped up, aside. "Nobeast touch that weapon! It is a valuable piece of evidence." Saja gives Jacenta a swift nod. It seems she's right in forcing that vial, as whatever is in it seems to start to slake the festering in Dominik's arm! It doesn't do much to help pain though! Poppy is quick to rush off and grab some moonflower. "Major! Grab a cork, shut your hare up before he screams his tongue off! Healer! Grab the bandages and help apply the poltice to his arm! He's bleeding out the bad blood, we need to add the moonflower before he dies of fever!" Saja has already laid a paw to the forehead of Dominik. He speaks like a commander in this clinic, directing and acting all at once.   

Jacenta frowns but nods, she will get the bandages and help apply what herbs are needed, but she will also talk to Dominik..."Dom...we are helping you ok, just focus on me or focus on Major jinora..ok?" Yes try and least have some fear leave her fellow hare, if she can that is, and at the same time do her best to save his life.   

There is no joy as Jinora rushes to the cupboard and yanks the cork out of a fine bottle of amber liquid. She doesn't even steal a sqig, just strides into the medical area with a grimace and attempts to stuff it into Dominik's mouth. "Dun' like this anymore'n you, Private." She grumbles to him, though the concern and worry is evident in the furrow of her brow, even if her handling of the task is rough. As all Long Patrol hares are, she received some medical training during her recruit and Private training - but only what is needed to keep a body from bleeding out on the battle field, she is sorely out of her element.
   
Dominik weakly moves his legs as if attempting to slide off the table and try and get to his footpaws again, still not fully accepting that he'd been poisoned. It had only been a nick by a small dagger, how in the gates of Dark Forest would it be able to make him feel this weak and helpless? He blinks as Jinora stuffs the cork in his muzzle, eyes darting back and forth in alarm as he cannot help but bite down hard on it to keep from screaming again. He is absolutely drenched in perspiration, his fur damp to the touch, and despite being treated with the herbs and poulticed, his arm still feels as if it were on fire. A numbness had begun to settle in eventually, and the poor buck is just awash in numerous unpleasant feelings all over the place. "Mmmmmffffff!!!!" A cloudiness has begun to creep up within his eyes, the wildness slowly beginning to fade as he slumps back against the table, his brow extremely hot to the touch. He struggles to keep his eyes open, feeling a strange lightheadedness as he merely stares at those hurrying about trying to help him.   

Jacenta's bandages are placed, and so at least Dominik won't bleed to death. Packed with herbs, even Saja knows that much of this procedure will be on the big hare's willpower alone. Still, he doesn't stop. A stubborn git of a fox, he fully intends to fix this big buck as best can be. A nod to Poppy and Jinora alike. Jin has that cork into teeth, and so there's one worry down. Poppy has grabbed a clean towel, and is doing her level best to wet the thing lightly, and clean up his sweat. Saja checks the poor beast's brow. As it turns out, he goes for that amber bottle that Jinora opened up. Poppy grabs a lot of coriander, and the pair mix it all up. "Major? Hold his mouth open if you can." A minor dose of calming opium to the mix, and he's ready to force this horrid sludge down Dominik's throat. It's more than enough to dull the senses and with luck, reduce that horrible fever along with the anti-venom swimming in Dom's system.   

With the mangled fox body properly spiced and Dominik corked, the Major is thanking her past self for her choice in specialty. If this is the future a combat medic like Jacenta has to look forward to, she is happy to accept her 'bludgeon them or nothing' tract with grace and humility. "Yes, sah." Jinora jokes, darkly, moving to grip the Private's muzzle and keep his mouth open. "M'bedside mannah may be lacking, little one." She teases the taller buck. "M'bettah at breakin' bones than mendin' 'em." An awkward pat on the shoulder is awarded, then. "Bu' yer in good paws..." She pauses, gaze flicking up at Saja and Poppy and then back down. "I think."   

Dominik isn't really in much of a position to protest, his arms too weak to lift at this juncture. He can do nothing but helplessly watch as his muzzle is opened and the mix of alcohol and herbs are ungraciously shoved in. Trying to swallow it as best he can, he manages to get the concoction down, a shudder rippling through him afterwards. He's put his share of strange alcoholic mixtures down in the past, so this one should be a piece o'cake. He watches Jinora dazedly, her teasing causing a flicker of a smile to appear upon his trembling muzzle. "Eees not... leetle vun..." he rasps, softly. "Eees beeg...lug..." His smile widens a little at her comment about breaking bones. He most certainly can relate to that one. His eyelids drift a little, though he struggles to keep them open, and at this point he is at the mercy of both the poison and those who are doing their best to fight it off.
   
Saja's fuzzy fox brows flash morbidly in turn. "Two sides of the same coin, dear Major! Breaking and mending often are within the same paws. ...Besides, if you want kindness, find an Abbey beast." A shrug. He happily hawks their superior skills as overall healers. "If you wish to not die from a vermin's black blade, Saja Hawkeye and his apprentice Poppy will serve you instead." So much pride and an odd fixation with Dominik's suffering. Light flashes upon overly thick spectacles, and the deft-pawed mouse Poppy holds that same glance wrapped in many more self doubts. "W...we'll make sure he'll be...in one piece!" Offers Poppy unsurely. Gulp. Jinora seems to be helping though. "Jinora. Speak to him." Offers Saja. Then he's over to a cabinet. Some water, a quick mashing of a rare handful of dark beans fill with multiple stimulants to keep his heart pumping, and a final addition of more of that anti-poison. "May Martin the Warrior slap you back from Hellgates itself. Tell him my neck is on offer instead, Private." Smirk. Then the fox pours it down the unfortunate hare's throat.   

"Nah, y'ain't tha' big." Jinora nods to Saja's urge to keep speaking to him. "I seen biggah. Y'ever meet a Wolverine? I boxed'un once. Righ' here in Halyahd." She snorts. "Bloody blightah knocked me 'alfway t'nex' Thursday, me grinnin' th'whole time like an idiot. Ye'll be, uh, gettin' knocked t'next Thursday yerself, soon. In fact, it's an ordah tha' ye get through this. Yeah? Tis a mattah'a pride, I want t'best ye in th'ring. Call it a vanity project, totally selfish." As she chatters, the hare glances up at Saja, wincing at the last addition to the mix. She pats his forehead uncomfortably. "Ye tell anybeast abou' this an' I'll let Saja keep ya. M'not kissin' anymore boo-boos."   

It does indeed seem as if the chatter is helping to keep Dom's mind off of the struggle his body is going through, and despite him being quite close to unconsciousness, the large hare gives a deep chuckle at Jinora's words. "...wolferine...vat...is...? Never heard...such thing." He then is forced to once against down a strange concoction, and he squeezes his eyes shut at the unpleasant tasting mishmash of things. "...ugh. Vat is...stuff? Mebbe let...die instead...." He seems he can still joke even when hovering between life and death. "Yes. Meet...in ring. Dom vil show...how to box. Show proper...way...to..." The hare shudders, head lolling to the side as he feels himself beginning to drift away. He still peers at Jinora, and for a brief moment there is a rare flash of helplessness there, the large hare unsure of how to comprehend the current situation he is in.   

Smirk. "And trust me, dear hare. Your Major's company is far better than mine." When in doubt? Claim that you're on the superior officer's side. Yet, that doesn't seem to be nearly enough for this overly large hare. Pure white foxy teeth grind. And then fury overcomes him! Turning to Jinora, he nods, and then bows. "...Consider this a favor." And then Saja Hawkeye rears back with his paw, and dares to try to punch poor Dom (lightly) in the jaw. "SOLDIER! How dare a hare of the LONG PATROL act so driftless while a mere /fox/ tries to heal him!? Come, catch my single bright out and pour liquor on my muzzle you fool!" Call this shock treatment. Poppy sighs. And Saja is offering himself /way/ too easy for a response for the intentionally slack-wristed punch. His entire body tenses in response for the big buck.   

Before he manages to completely drift away, the buck's ears perk at the strange fox's suddenly odd behaviour. Clawing back up through whatever fog it was he'd been sinking down into, the large buck is woken even more by the attempt at a punch by Saja. When Dom's eyes open again, the look within them is one that absolutely NO one wants to see. Incredulousness mixed with pure rage, Dom manages to move his head back, then ram it forward in a headbutt aimed towards the fox. Hey, if his arms don't work, why not use the next best thing? "Catch...forehead..." Dom growls, the buck awake again, breath heaving in his chest at the sudden bout of activity. He sinks back down to the table, staring daggers at Saja, who likely has flown across the room at this point.   

Saja Hawkeye, assassin, mercenary, medic, beast of many talents...is still a fox. He might be strong for his species, but a beast that should be down in medical joy ramming his forehead up /just/ in time not something even a fox of his particular talents can endure. Swat. That pure /smug/ of a fox. And then a hare-butt cracks into his beautiful, charismatic muzzle. He lands with a heavy thud, amidst a minor bit of debris on the end of the desk. He has the gall to make a rude gesture mid-fallback just before he goes unconscious. As for Poppy? She sighs, ready to clean up both her master, and the beast he brought back to life.

Blisa offers a really valid point! I think that it really is up to the situation, the players, and the scene in question.

Also I deeply apologize for anyone who roleplays with me on a time-crunch! I think that OOC communication at the start of a scene is very important for that reason. I try to let players know when I am working and will therefore be slower on poses, and it's also beneficial to know when someone only has a limited amount of time!

Again, it really just boils down to specifics. How you prefer to play, the kind of scene you want, and the kind of time you and the other players involved have.

The Hunt
Ft. Zolomon, Dominik, Jacenta, Varus, and Jinora as GM
Western Shores:

The moon rises and the hares rise with it. While night-time excursions and patrols have been all but eradicated in the face of the current blight plaguing the shores, the small group of hares that step out of the Mountain seem prepared to face it. Armed to the teeth and led by Major Tottheim, the group stands in the moonlight before Jinora turns to address them. "Ye remembah th'plan. Absolutely /no/ splittin' up, no mattah wot. If anybeast tries t'be a hero tonigh' an' puts themselves, or this team, in peril, I will /personally/ feed ye t'the vulpines." Those gathered are there with one mission: find one of these foxes and capture them. While the Mountain's medical and historical knowledge has been unable to fully wrap their heads around this issue, the Patrol has... Hesitantly... Enlisted the help of one Saja, an expert, in Halyard - and a fox himself. Unfortunately.   
Jinora carries a small shield, and has encouraged the rest to do the same - they've seen how these beasts fight, and it's by ambush, arrows, and fear. "These... Spirits 'r tricksters 'r whatevah they are, are dangerous - dinnae underestimate'em." Jinora pauses with a sigh. "An' keep eyes on th'sky, as well. Seems they've got a penchant fer birds." With that, the Major sets off downshore. She had made the decision to keep the small team in the dark, without torches, which would make them more visible and vulnerable to ambush. Without the light, eyes will adjust more acutely to the darkness - though visibility is still rather low. In the dunes, every shadow is a beast lurking to attack, every breath of wind is a hollow laugh, and every crash of the waves against the shore is the roar of something sinister... And hungry.   

Zolomon wasn't sure at first if he should join or not, but a couple knew of his archer skills and they asked, he did join after some thinking. Besides he was back on duty in a couple days anyways may as well start a little early and this would be his first REAL patrol since joing the Long Patrol. Well he did have a couple times he was a scout before he got to the western shores but he isn't sure that counts.He has his longbow and quiver of arrows with him, even a saber at his side just in case. He is in his uniform, Private first class.

Dominik had been eagerly anticipating the chance when he would get to finally confront the beasts that had plagued his nightmares for the past few days. Ever since the incident with Skylark in Halyard, the hare had had many restless nights, those godforsaken whispers constantly echoing within his head, never seeming to dissipate regardless of what he did. Carrying his shield, his massive blade in its usual place upon the scabbard on his back, the massive buck moves alongside his Patrolmates with a quiet determination within his eyes. Knowing that the plan was to stick to the shadows and be as stealthy as possible, Dom had taken the liberty of darkening his normally mahogany fur with charcoal, making it much easier to blend into the shadows. Piercing blue eyes peer out from a now blackened, steely expression, and the buck seems to be as ready as he's ever been. To Jinora's commands, he gives a simple nod, showing that he understands completely and is ready to do this thing.   

Jacenta taged along, they would need a healer and she came along.She has seen them so she is a little jumpy, but she has a sling with her and is fairly well skilled with it if it is needed. In her pouch at her side she has herbs and some bandages.   

And they will do the thing indeed! "It is good t'ave ye back, Private Zolomon. Congratulations on yer promotion." The Major offers, giving another look over her provided patrol. If she is scared or worried (spoiler: it's both), she doesn't show it.   
The beach is windy, but quiet. If it weren't for the tension borne of expectation and apprehension, Jinora would be taken in by the peace of the night; the sand gives and crunches pleasantly beneath her boots, the waves add a soothing lullaby to the chorus of the chill, coastal wind... But this isn't just a stroll, and it will not be peaceful for long.   

Zolomon nods as he keeps alert, very alert and looks around as they walk slowly.For now he stays quiet as well just focusing on his surroundings.   

Dominik gives Jinora a firm nod, the look within his eyes showing neither fear or apprehension. It's probably a good thing he is on the side of the Long Patrol, especially on this particular evening. All of the normal silliness and banter had been put aside for his deadly serious side, and it's a side that no one wants to meet, let along some creepy old ghost foxes with parlor tricks. His normal superstitions had also been left behind, for until he actually witnesses it for himself again, to him they are just foxes. And foxes break in half just as easily as any other creature.   

Jacenta frowns, she is already jumpy when she frowns even more. She slows slightly as she almost stops and then gets closer to Jinora after a moment or two of almost getting left a little behind the others "I..I think I heard something but..sort of faint but...yeah a yell..scream of some sort, by the dunes, it came from that direction"She points and is already a little on edge, a couple deep breaths and she calms...for now.   

At Jacenta's urging, the Major steels herself. "Thank ye, Private. Double-time, Patrollers." She orders, and increases her speed to lead the hares downshore and behind the dunes, where Jacenta heard the scream. As they get closer, there is another scream - this one loud enough to be heard by everybeast, and Jinora draws her saber. "Steady." She growls to the Patrol, and they carefully round the dune...   
...Just in time to hear the pleas and watch the demise of a mouse. She screeches, her paws held in front of her face - but they do not stop the arrow that pierces through the side of her neck. Going slack-jawed and wide-eyed, the mousemaid falls to the sand and then goes still. The air fills with hollow, cackling laughter, though no foxes are in sight. "Jacenta! See t'her!" Jinora shouts, and holds her saber and shield aloft. "Somebeast keep covah on th'healah! Shields up, stay'n formation!" She barks, to her hares, and then to the darkness: "Show yerselves!"   
From the surrounding darkness, a voice calls out: "Ahhhh, the Long Patrol... Master knew we would be seeing you again, he knew, he knew, he knew... Ahehehe! He knew!" There is no way to tell where the voice comes from - it seems to come from everywhere at once! But another arrow zips through the dark with a deadly 'hiss' to bury itself in Dominik's shield. "Private Zolomon! Fire an arrer everyplace ye see one come from!" In the dark, there isn't a visible target for any of them, but it's the best shot they have right now.   

Zolomon is deadly with the longbow but he has to see a target first, he frowns as voices seem to bouch off everywhere but he does have an arrow ready to fire when he does see a fox, or something that sort of looks like a fox as he has heard they are sort of foxes with fir falling off or something like that.   

Varus is definitely out here, too, his old ceremonial rapier polished to a shine, and he says to Dominik, "Keep yer eyes peeled for th' enemy, Private..."   

At Jinora's command, Dominik immediately moves to cover Jacenta with his bulk and with his shield, and it seems it's a good thing he does for not a moment later the arrow buries itself into his shield. He takes a half-step back from the impact, eyes narrowing before reaching forward to yank the arrow out with a low growl. Snapping it in half with a paw, he tosses it back in the direction from where it came. Watching the unfortunate demise of the mousemaid only causes his anger to increase, though he does stay in formation knowing it was the best possible thing to do right now. "Will not know ven sword is shoved down throat," he mutters, seething and fidgety, just wanting to get his paws on one of the shadowy beasts.   

Jacenta quickly goes to check on the mousemaid, she frowns as she goes to check for a pulse but if the arrow is in the mouse maid's neck it's likely too late for a healer at this point. She frowns and looks back at forth, she clearly doesn't like all the laughing and echos around her.   

Around the hares is nothing but dunes and darkness... The mouse is, most certainly, dying, but it isn't a fast process: weakly, her paws reach and curl for Jacenta's - but there is nothing to be done for her. Another arrow hisses through the air and narrowly misses Zolomon - and all through this, the laughter continues. "Master told us, he did, he did, he did!" The unseen speaker cackles. "He told us you would be so foolish! Ahehehe!" Jinora grits her teeth, gaze flicking back and forth, her shield raised - an arrow thuds into the wood of it and she grunts.   
As if borne on a gust of wind, the hares suddenly find a cloud of smoke washed over them. It stings the nose and mouth and Jinora begins coughing almost immediately, her eyes watering. She tugs the collar of her tunic up over her muzzle in an attempt to stave off the effects of whatever they've been blasted with. "Jacenta, d'you know wha' this is?!" She coughs.   

Zolomon frowns, he blinks and moves slightly as he aims his arrow, "Something..someone is here just..was beside me" He has to then cover his mouth and nose and frowns.Its best to not take a chance what ever that stuff is, doing this it will be a bit hard to fire an arrow.   

Jacenta frowns, her eyes and nose burns a little as she coughs " Irritant....pepper..."She thinks, "Think pepper dust, it's not poison but can make your thorat and eyes burn a little, but it will wear off in short..short time"   

Dominik does his best to provide cover for Jacenta as she checks on the helpless mousemaid, his shield held in a position to protect her from any arrow strikes. As the smoke begins to curl up around them, the large hare squints his eyes as they begin to water, his nose beginning to burn as well. He too pulls his tunic up to cover part of his face, and he feels something brush by him. Not quite sure of what it is, regardless Dom reaches down with a lightning-swift paw to try and grab it. Nevertheless, there seems to be nothing there, and Dom comes up with nothing but air. This only seems to anger him further, and he's about two seconds away from drawing his sword and charging. Common sense takes over however, and he merely remains there with the others, trying his best to see anything at all.   

"Ahehehe!" The laughter cackles, suddenly sounding very close to where Varus stands, but when the voice speaks again, it sounds further away once more. "Hares, hares, hang 'em by the ears! Hares, hares, cook 'em in a stew! Hares, hares, plenty for me, plenty for you! Ahehehe!" Thankfully, the coastal breeze makes it difficult to keep the hare's bogged down with the effects of the pepper dust for long, and they will notice it growing easier to breathe once more.   
As it does, a figure crests the dune to the side of them, silhouetted by moonlight. The fox looks wrong - twisted and broken with branch-like protusions bursting from it's left side and right shoulder. Its right arm seems to hang, uselessly, as it cackles down at them. It's impossible to tell, by the voice or form, if they are male or female - but they laugh with a chilling cackle all the same. Atop their head is some sort of head-dress; in the darkness and distance, it looks to be made of bones and raven's feathers.   
"Archer!" Jinora gasps out, her throat raw and voice raspy from the pepper dust. The laughter sounds from all around them, though the beast does not open its mouth. "Stay in f-formation!" She coughs, but even as she does, another green-fletched arrow buries itself into Dominik's shield from the direction opposite the visible fox.   

Varus hacks and coughs, sputtering until the dust clears. "Hold yer ground, Dominik..." Then there's a voice right beside him! But he's no fool, not even bothering to draw his rapier.
   
Dominik has seemingly had quite enough of this nonsense, the normally quiet hare's voice finally booming from his chest to echo out over the dunes, drowning out the laughter of the foxes as he shakes in anger. Remarkably, he still doesn't break formation yet. "Will not rhyme...or laugh...ven get paws round throat! Stop being coward, step forward! Fight!" He grunts as the second arrow collides with his shield, and once again he yanks the arrow out and flings it away in defiance.   

Zolomon aims and waits for the right morment, yep there is a fox...ummm its a fox like creture, well he lets his arrow go as he aims right at that fox creture!   

Jacenta coughs a little and frowns.She stays where she is and as calm as one can with , what ever those are around her.She frowns "The mousemaid is...she's dead by the way wasn't anything I could do..sorry" She feels bad healers are suppose to save lives after all.   

As Zolomon fires arrows at the fox on the dunes, Jacenta kneels, protected by Dominik, by the now-dead mouse, Varus and Jinora stand their ground, another complicaton arises. Zolomon's arrow takes the fox on the dune in the shoulder, but they don't give any indication of pain. They open their mouths, cackling again, before disappearing.   
"Boo!" The voice is soft, chilling... And right at Dominik's side! The fox's ruined muzzle twists into a grin, revealing rotten teeth. So close, it is clear that his pupils are so dilated that his eyes appear black, his fur hangs loose about him, appearing torn in places to reveal gristle and muscle underneath... He came out of nowehere, and now he dances backwards almost immediately before leaping forward with surprising speed toward Varus.   
With the fox on the dune gone, Jinora chances a look over her shoulder at the individual attacking them head-on! He is dancing with terrifying speed to swipe at Dominik and Varus with his dagger and then dancing out of reach. Another arrow buries itself into her shield, keeping her from coming to their aid or risk opening them all up to an attack from behind. "Jacenta, stay wi' me!" Major Jinora commands, trusting the attacking fox to Varus and Dominik. "Zolomon, keep firing where th'arrers come from! They're tryn'a break us apaht!"   

Zolomon is quick to get another arrow and pays close attention to where the foxes arrows come from, he fires one of his won arrows, hopefully at a fox, and quickly gets another arrow as he stays alert and serious and waits, another arrow he fires and is already notching a 3nd arrow.   

Varus does draw his blade this time. The terror said demon fox is trying to instill is entirely lost on him. He's seen to many genuine deadbeasts to be phased in the least. "Dominik, stick close ta me... Don't let th' fox's appearance throw yah off..."   

Dominik immediately whirls as he hears the voice right beside him, his paw once again swiping at nothing but air as the fox moves just out of reach of the steaming mad, frustrated hare. The fox's dagger swipe just barely misses Dominik, and it seems the hare has no idea how close he had just come to some major hurt. Pointing a paw at the fox, he growls, "Try again, this time...stay in von place!" He braces himself, footpaws digging deep into the sand as he readies himself for another possible attack, and at the same time trying to keep himself in front of Varus to protect him.   

Jacenta gulps and stays close to the major as she is told to do.She is not brave, but she does try to be brave and not have full blown panic mode.It takes a lot to not panic and she manages to not run, just barely manages to not run and stays very close to the major.   

Because the foxes show no pain nor make no sounds they don't mean to, Zolomon may never know that two of his arrows /do/ find targets in the dark - quite the feat! The second fox rushes again at Varus and Dominik, cackling wildly. He ducks, rushing past Varus to get at Dominik. "Boo!" He screeches, gleefully, and with shocking speed rushes, pivots, and slashes out with his knife. He is barely able to get close enough, so the cut that he carves into Dominik's arm is shallow - it probably won't even scar. Good thing, too! But the fox seems incredibly pleased with this, and dances away - putting himself foolishly close to the knot of hares in the process.   
"Master will feast well tonight! He can feel your fear, little healer! Ahehehe!" The voice comes from nowhere, the fox that Zolomon shot is nowhere to be seen.   

Zolomon stays very alert, should he fire an arrow at this fox, or should he wait.   

Dominik takes another swipe at the taunting fox as it gets near again, and as his paws pass over it, it leaves him open for the assailant to cut into his arm with his dagger. Dominik grunts at the quick flash of pain, a rivulet of blood trailing down through his fur to drip onto the sand. Paying it no mind since it seems to be nothing more than a simple nick, the large hare trembles in his anger. Noticing that the fox is spending too much time gloating and not realizing that he'd put himself within reach, Dom fires off a strong, hammerlike punch in said fox's direction. If he could at least knock him down somehow, it'd leave an opening for Varus to be able to get ahold of him.   
   
Varus is quick to react. His older age has not dulled his reflexes. When the fox dashes past him, lunging at Dom, the older buck spies an opening that the vermin foolishly left wide open. Taking full advantage of Dom's punch, he pivots on his left foot, delivering a loud, crunching kick to the fox's side. "Quick, Dominik! Tackle while he's down!"   

Between Dominik's crushing punch and the kick delivered from Major Varus, the fox is incapacitated and trapped! Once captured, the fox doesn't seem to show any panic - he goes perfectly still and rigid... "Master?" He asks, softly, before the arrow to pierces him perfectly through the center of the forehead, fired from the darkness. His eyes do not close nor change, just fog over as his ruined, twisted body goes slack in Dominik's arms.   

"Blast!" Jinora barks - but it's apparent that the foxes are in retreat, leaving no sign behind that can be found in the darkness. They are simply... Gone, leaving the beach quiet and peaceful once more. "Private Jacenta, see if anybeast is injured... We need t'get this t'Halyahd." She growls, furious at the vulpine's acts.   

Zolomon stays focused and alert for other foxes close by, He is ready to fire an arrow if needed, "So...where to?" He asks quietly.   

Dominik finds himself quickly grabbing ahold of the fox after Varus levels it with his kick, and it takes him absolutely everything in his power not to just snap the creature in half with his bare paws. The arrow seems to put an end to the fox's life, and Dom takes a step backwards, concern etched upon his darkened features...that one could have easily had his name on it, but it obviously wasn't intended for him. As the fox dies in his arms, the hare quickly slings the body up and over his shoulder as Jinora barks out her command. Unbeknownst to Dominik, the small gouge in his arm had begin to quietly sizzle, whatever odd liquid that had been present upon the dagger beginning to do its work as the wound begins to very slowly increase in size. All Dom can feel currently is a bit of typical soreness, as he readies to trudge after Jinora in the direction of Halyard, with their quarry in tow.   

Jacenta frowns as they head out "I..don't like..."She frowns and likely will freak the tall hare out as she makes Dominik stop and gets a close look at his arm"This is..bad, very very bad....something was on that dagger!"   

Varus grimaces as the fox is slain. "We won't be gettin' any stories from this deadbeast... Where to, Jinorora?"   

"Private Dominik, that'un is comin' with me t'Halyahd. If ye wouldn't mind totin' 'im, please come wi'me." She leaves it to Varus and the other hares of his unit to bring the report to the Mountain... That is, until Jacenta's reports Dom's condition. Jinora swears wildly under her breath. "We need t'get you both t'Halyahd. New plan, all'a ya come wi' me. Jacenta, Zolomon, keep our guard in case we need t'carry Dominik, too." This is not going at all as planned, and now Jinora, Dominik, Varus, Jacenta, and Zolomon have to high-tail it to Halyard, toting a horrifying body, where a shady fox awaits with help... Hopefully.

Level Three is under construction. Please excuse the mess.

Edit: fix is complete. As you were!