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Willow

Member

Registered: 2018-10-31

Posts: 87

Homecoming - The otters return

Featuring:
Jarvis - Returning otter
Aqua - Returning otter
Invar - Badger
Taran - Camp Willow otter
Gaheris - Skipper
Starting pose provided by Lutea

The Sun Sail may have began her journey with a singular goal, but blessed by the priestesses of the Sol Clan, honored by the hardened tribesbeasts of the Saltmoon, and crewed not only by beasts of both tribes, but by a denizen of Mossflower as well, the ship represented more than a simple rescue mission. It was a union, a journey.

A victory.

And the air grew warmer.

Hugging the shoreline from a safe distance, those aboard the Sun Sail were treated to sights and smells that grew more familiar; the scent of pine caught on the wind, the distant call of a sparra, or the sight of woodlanders on the distant shore, waving at the ship that drifted past on the horizon.

And the air grew warmer.

The sun was just pulling itself into the sky when they caught their first glimpse of the Mossflower River Delta. The sea was a blanket of jewels in the rising sun, blindingly beautiful - but it could not compare to the sight of the River. There was /home/. Of course, when the delta made its first appearance, everybeast that wasn't on deck had been roused from their sleep to greet it; a roar had shaken the ship, dozens of paws beating into the wood and echoing their delight until their shouts became songs and their excitement became dance.

The Sun Sail's journey ended with music and revelry, blessed by the voices of the free returning home. Beasts threw themselves from the ship's railings to swim to Mossflower's shores and taste the rush of the sweet, fresh, river waters of home.
And the air was warmer.

It was easy, from there, to conscript some shrews into escorting them upstream on their vessel. Lutea and Juniper, warriors of the Saltmoon and Sol tribes, remained with the Sun Sail - their journey was far from over; but it wasn't a tearful goodbye! No, it was one of raucous laughter and joyful tears; hugs that could split a beast in two - especially for Invar, of whom the pair had become incredibly fond. They stood upon the prow of the ship, waving until the rest were out of sight.

And from there, as the tales go, it was smooth sailing. Camp Willow was there, mere days away. They were coming home, and the air was so much warmer.

Now...

Rionach, the carpenter, leans over the edge of the shrew vessel, letting one paw draw a long, lazy wake beside them. She is reserved, even as the mood grows more frantic and excitable - because their journey truly is at it's end. Camp Willow rests only moments away, tucked in the reeds and waiting for them. 

...And the air is so much warmer.

Jarvis has not forgotten the river, even if its a little different now, some trees taller, maybe some bushes that was not here before.He grins as they edge closer and closer.

Invar doesn't recognise the area at all but the excitement is catching and he's grinning too until the shrews take a sudden turn on to a fork of the river and he's trying to stay very still, sat in the middle of the little boat, afraid if he moves he'll tip the whole thing over.

Aqua goes to stand by Jarvis and smiles "Home..home is so close now Jarvis, isn't it wonderfull?"She scan the shores to try and see anyone or anything as they do...get closer.

The shrews seem to know where they're going as they suddenly take a turn off the main river and a familiar sight of the the inlet by the camp where hidden around a bend a small dock still stands as it always did. Normally back before the otters were taken there might have been some fishers around but right now there's no one. Not so much as a sign of life, just the sound of a few chittering birds somewhere in the trees.

Taran is nearby, and has seen the ship but stays out of sight, as well as a couple guards with him.Some other sort of bird is heard, but the bird is not seen anywhere as the sound echos a little.

Jarvis nods as he hmmms, well it is winter after all but the river never toally freezes, maybe some ice in the center but thats a little less seeing as it's spring soon but it's still cold feeling, to most anyways To the otters on this trip winter in Mossflower now is sort of like spring after being in the harsh harsh cold of the frozen northern lands and seas.

Invar perks back up again when he sees the dock "I guess we're 'ere?" he questions as he doesn't see anyone but the shrews are definitely heading for the dock and tie up the boat there. He lets the others get off first, he's still a little wary of actually moving.

Aqua is the last one on the litle boat, she looks at Invar,"I think your be ok sir badger and your close ta land"She chuckles a little, and he at least has this small group of otters if he does, well sink.She finally gets off and stands once more by Jarvis and glaces around, she looks to the others and smiles"I am sure..someone is around, we are not yet truely in the camp yet after all"Always full of hope, someone had to be on this long trip, someone had to help keep sprits up.

One of the guards with Taran is listening carefully to the bird calls as he squints through the reeds at the group. He too old to really be there but the camp will take any able bodied otter it can get "Wha' are they then lad?" he questions Taran in a whisper because he refuses to wear glasses and can't see that well.

Taran, well was a dibbun when the camp was attacked so he doesn't really reconize anyone from those days.His mother and father are dead, as is an uncle he knew "They..be otters"He says quietly. "And..a badger." He stays quiet and out of sight still, sides he isnt the main one to give any all clear or it's safe after all.

Jarvis stays close to the traveling otters, not all who were saved made it back, some died on the way back and there was that one ship, he shivers remembering it, he still had a bandage under his tunic in fact."It's too quiet..not sure what to do yet"He is very alert, he likely make a great guard at the camp.

"Easy for y't'say, it doesn't rock" Invar pauses mid-sentence as the boat sways dangerously when he shifts his weight too much to one side "When y'move" he finishes as he waits for it to slow down, one of the shrew holding it steady before the badger suddenly makes a jump for it and with less grace than he'd like lands on the dock. He sighs with relief and takes a moment before finally getting up "Y'water folk are all crazy. Who invented sailin' and thought it was a good thing?" Jarvis isn't the only one alert as one of the other otters is frowning as she listens "Those birds don't sound right"

Aqua stays quiet, as if to ad to the quietness around them.She shrugs to the what to do question and frowns"I..don't know, been a while since heard the biards from Mossflower, got to use to sea gulls the past few seasons"

The old guard frowns "Badger? We don't know any badgers...Otters is good though" he's nearly about to chirp an all clear signal when he hears the maid questioning the birds and he stops and thinks..."Tha's River..." he mutters, confused before he raises his voice "I swear tha' was River!" he suddenly breaks cover, appearing out of the reeds towards the group "River?!". Apparently he's right because the maid is River "Dad!" she yells back, breaking away from the group.

Taran is a little confushed as he peeks out  to get a slightly better look at these otters and the badger, he blinks and speaks to another guard "Gonna go find Skipper."And he slips off to where ever Skipper would be, he likely knows or has an idea anyways.

Jarvis lays a paw on a dagger and then relaxes as it's a fellow otter.A couple other otters stay by the small boat."Well, that be a good sign then"He scans the area he seen the otter break cover, he remembers that day, so long ago all too clearly.He, his father and a brother were taken, and he was the onlt one that survived for the trip home.By what of his mother...was she stilll here or was she gone.

Invar is barely on to the dock when there's suddenly life and he nearly jumps out of his stripes but then he sees it's an otter and he laughs "Best sign I think we can get!" he says to Jarvis as he fishes his axe out of the boat before looking around again "Anyone else out there watchin'?" he yells at the woods.

Aqua frowns, she already knows her family was either killed here or at that horrible slave camp.She leans agaist Jarvis and sighs softly but is curious, is any other ottters alive.They were told some otters were at camp when the recueers headed off, but that was...how long ago?

Gaheris is in the camp and listening because there's an awful lot of bird calls come from the guards but he hasn't heard any say everything's alright yet. He's already on his way with more guards when he comes across Taran "What's goin' on?" he quickly questions as he heads for the inlet. The old otter guards seems entirely focused on his long lost daughter for minute until the badger starts yelling and he finally looks at the others and laughs "Haha! Yer all from 'ere ain't yah? Well where the 'ell 'ave yah all been? Come on! We ain't 'ad anyone come back in a while, they'll all want t'see yah" he quickly beckons the group forwards as he heads for one of the paths that seems to be more hidden than they used to be.

Taran follows Skipper as he speaks "There is a small group of otters and a badger that arrived and one of the guards knew one otter from this group.I don't..recogize anyone, they look sort of scared up."Then as said before he was pretty young when the vikings took the otters from camp, he just got lucky to of avoided the viking and was found by another beast who hid him for a while.

Jarvis is still a little tense, something that will likely never go fully away as he takes a deep breath and nods, ok they can follow a fellow otter after all.He looks around remembering paths, yes they changed somewhat as likely forest overgrowth now here and there.

Invar is in contrast nice and relaxed, smiling and happy "I guess that means there's definitely more otters" the says as he takes up the back of the group, still making sure everyone's together and not getting lost now.

Aqua stays close to Jarvis still as the group walks along the path, she smiles as she does remember the path, even if it's been a while its still mainly the same.She smiles again "The berry bish with thorns is still her' I see."She chuckles, she and a friend from dibbun days always hid in that bush, she frowns a little as her friend is gone now.

Gaheris relaxes the moment he hears it's a group of otters "Oh. Well that's not worth rilin' up half the camp" he's about to send back the other guards when it suddenly registers with him "Wait. Recognised them? There's no groups out today though, who were they?" he suddenly takes off at a jog "We 'aven't 'ad anyone return in seasons" between the old otter leading them and Gaheris running down the path with a few guards trailing behind him it doesn't take long for the two groups to meet. The Skipper stops as soon as he sees them for a moment he's shocked but then suddenly he grins "Haha! Yes! Y'er all from here ain't y'? Yes! I didn't think anyone else was still out there" he's excited. They probably might remember him as being the Skipper's son though he was obviously younger then and didn't have the now old burn scars on his back and tail.

Taran chases after them and comes to a stop, he studies the group and blinks "Wait...it's the ones that were...lost, they are home"He smiles and even if he may not recogized any of them he smiles "Hey...Welcome Home friends"

Jarvis looks around, hopefull but frowns a little. Is this all of the camp willow otters still alive after all this time. He smiles and grins as he does remember "Gaheris...how are ya."And a look around..where is Hallow, is she..gone.He seems a little afraid to ask.

Invar breaks a lot of undergrowth as he squeezes down the path but stops when the Skipper's group meets them. He grins but as the only unknown beast here he stays quiet and lets the otters reacquaint.

Aqua smiles, she is home and she is glad.She be happier if her family was here, but its ok..there is still a couple friends here as soon the rest of teh camp will surely arrive to greet them.

Gaheris is grinning too as he focuses on individuals "Jarvis! 'ells sake, I never thought I'd be seein' y'again!" he laughs and starts waving the group on "This makes my season. Go tell everyone we're 'avin' a big party in the mess hall, tell the cook t'do somethin' nice" he grins back at the group "Y'better be hungry and willin' for attention...Assumin' yer all alright and not in need of healers or anythin?"

Taran smiles as he stays off to the side and watches some happy reunions and there is likely to be more happy reunions in the mess hall as not ever otter knows they are back yet.

Jarvis grins "Tis good to see you too...Ya be Skipper now it seems" He smiles and looks over at Aqua, but back to the skipper as the guards do confirm it, he does wander where Hallow is but decides to not ask, this is happy reunion time after all

Invar waves at some of the otters but is otherwise the big looming mystery badger until they mention food and he perks up "I could eat" he grins, following the group further in to the camp.

Aqua chuckles at the badger, as does some of the other otters that were in the returning group. She feels happy to be hpome and will follow the others to get something to eat "Food would be nice and it will likely be the best meal...wait it WILL be the best meal we have had in a long time" There was only so much they could eat on the ship after all.

Gaheris waves the group along as he talks "Yeah, mum retired, tha' last fight kinda forced it. She can't run about like she used t'but she's still tellin' me wha't'do whether I ask or not" Hallow lives. Once they're in to the camp properly they start to see life. There's not as many otters as there were but they're around and more and more appear as word spreads fast and it's soon a big crowd gathering since everyone wants to know who came back.

Taran smiles, he will slip off and help make sure food is ready for the returning otters, oh and the badger will get food as well.

Jarvis looks around as more and more otters come, one otter gasps and rushes off, it's not know till she comes back a few morments later as otters part for her and...an eldery ottermaid with glasses, Jarvis feels tears as the otter maid who brought the elder here speaks "See Korra....he's alive..."Jarvis walks forwards and smiles, hugging the otter who clearly hugs him in return, happy tears "Mother..."

Invar gets some attention from the dibbuns who have never seen a badger before but to the adults he may as well be invisible as they're focused on the returning otters. He grins every time he sees family or friend reunited.

Aqua smiles, a couple friends are still here and greet her, she watches Jarvis and smiles.She is happy for him.Others likely have family still or friends, a couple look sad but still happy to be back.Not everyone has family alive, friends liklely or if not any one here is a friend after all.

Gaheris grins as Jarvis' mother makes it out "Guess I should have mentioned tha'" his grin suddenly falters a second later as he glances around as Aqua and the group and grimaces "Oh 'ell, I really should 'ave thought of tha'. I'm so sorry, y'll want t'know about yer families. We 'ave a record of everyone, just ah, give me a second" he quickly runs off though the group continues to the mess hall. The camp in general might be a bit strange to see. Buildings that were there aren't, sometimes new ones are in their place. The tavern is still a building site but at least the old giant willow tree in the centre is still there. It's from the tree that Gah gets the lists of everyone in the camp and he catches up with everyone at the mess hall where the rest of the camp is waiting. The mess hall itself is in the same place as before but rebuilt like new.

Jarvis smiles at his mother and will help her to the mess hall where food awaits the returning otters. Some of the otters from the retuning ones do follow Jarvis, a couple others look around before they head to the mess hall and soon it seems everyone is there.

Invar doesn't know his way around but he's good enough at following his nose if the big crowd of otters weren't enough of a hint that he's going the right way. He ducks in to the mess hall with the others and keeps close to the group he knows though he ends up sat on the floor by one of the tables due to a lack of badger sized seating.

Aqua smiles as she walks back over to Jarvis, she looks around "Its..its good to finally be home"

Gaheris returns with three rolls of parchment and leaves them on the table but first things first. He quickly whistles to try and get some quiet so he can yell over the crowd in case anyone didn't get the message already "I think most of y'ave already 'eard but some of our missin' 'ave made it 'ome! Now y'all know how this goes, we might not 'ave done it in a few seasons now but eat, be merry, we'll break out the good ale, finish the shrimp an' we'll all 'ave tomorrow off!" except the minimum amount of guards but Gah will probably sort that out later "Now y'know don't crowd 'em, I'm sure we'll 'opefully all get t'ear excitin' tales of darin' adventure but first welcome home!" he yells before shouting at the kitchen "Now bring out the grub!" the rowdy group is quick to get very noisy as they're excitable. Gah finally sits down and speaks more quietly for the group, gesturing to the parchments "I'd like t'ave a happy party an' all but y'been gone a long time an' if y'need t'know anythin' before y'can relax just ask. These lists 'ere are everyone here, missin', moved away or tha'...we know died. If y'don't feel a need I suggest not lookin' at them but if y'need t'know about anyone it's there. I get the great pleasure t'day of takin' y'all off the missin' list, there ain't a thing I enjoy more than tha'"

Jarvis nods as he smiles "Being home is...great.Never thought see home again." He will glace at the list here in a little while and will update on a couple of the mising that died, a couple others were saved but died on the way home. Others will likely give an update here and there as well.

Invar chuckles at the excitable otters all settling in to celebrate the night away. He's got pretty used to being around otters by now "Is it all you imagined?" he asks Jarvis with a grin. He even gives Jarvis' mum a little wave to be polite and friendly.

Aqua knows who is alive and not alive, she doesn't need the list, but she will mention one otter that is missing on the list and update that they have died in fact.She is tried but will stay awake to enjoy the meal they will have, she will drink some ale and enjoy being home.

Gaheris needs those updates on who died but he knows that'll wait and he's not going to spoil the mood by asking tonight "Y'll get used t'it again in no time, the camp is still the camp an' we're really 'appy t'ave y'all back"

Jarvis smiles,"Glad ta be back and it can only get better I am sure." He already quietly gave a couple updates to Gaheris.