Survival Training - LP Log

Willow · 2019-10-17 11:45:57 AM

What starts off as a training exercise ends in an invasion of toads!
Involved:
Gregorian
Cera
Zolomon
Terrence
Isla
Dominik
Felicity
Varus
Map: https://imgur.com/a/oQF5eL4

The hour was early, the day was grey and chilly with a threat of rain later. They'd marched out at first light, before breakfast unless anyone was smart enough to get up extra early for it. Across the beach and through the dunes Greg had marched the group until they came to the edge of the swampland between the mountains to the east and the shore to the west. "Form up! Stand tah attention!" the Sergeant roars over the crowd to get them lined up before he runs through the warnings and instructions "Before yah is the swamps! For the green-ears among yah who've nevah had the pleasure of wandahin' through them pay attention tah where yah step and don't wake the frogs. If yah get wet make sure yah dry out again or yah will become one with the swamp and start rottin'"
On to instructions "Yah have been assigned yah groups. Each group will be given a map. On this map yah will see some crosses. Yah job is tah pick yah route, safely navigate yah way tah those five points, collect yah teams' marker" he raises up a loop of cord with a numbered rock hanging from it "And reach the camp amongst the rocks in the middle of the swamp before nightfall"
"Now, I would love tah have yah out here all week until yah hungry, homesick and good and lost but we'll be doin' the best we can with our limited time. Yah will each have one set of rations and a canteen of watah, this is not a picnic, that is all yah gettin'. If yah brought an extra snack with yah then give it up now. Yah don't have tents or beds out here. When yah out on patrol yah can't just skip back tah the mountain for a drink. Yah have all been taught wot's safe tah eat so if yah hungry yah'll have tah find food. If yah cold yah'll have tah make sheltah and start a fire"
"Officahs will accompany yah. They are not there tah help. They are there tah keep yah from doin' somethin' stupid enough tah get yah killed. The first team tah collect their markahs and reach the camp will be awarded with tents for the night but it will only be the first team and yah all have tah be there tah win. Any questions?"

Cera listens closely to the directions, she has not been in the swamps before but has heard of them, ok maybe she was a few feet into the swamps and decided...no way and didnt go further.She frowns as it's clear she will have to go much further this time.She at least knows some skills on finding food, though not in a swamp so much as normal woods, but she knows some plants so..it will help, she hopes.

Zolomon nods.He tilts his head "Frogs are around too? I bally well have heard of toads..nasty things supposely...so be careful and don't sink in like quicksand, got it Sargent G"

Terrence, one of the NCOs tagging along to make sure the privates don't do something stupid, stands at the rear of the group. He frowns at the private-first-class, but otherwise stays quiet, adjusting the straps of his pack as he does so. In his paws is a simple spear.

Isla is /ready/ for this. She lived on the road her whole life, she has travelled in the worst of circumstances, she has slept in ditches and burnt out buildings, woods, and desert... But that feels like a lifetime ago, and she always had help. There was always song and dance... The Long Patrol is different. This isn't the circus. "Yes sah!" She parrots back when appropriate, adjusting her canteen against her hip and glancing nervously at the other hares, hoping that this map will be all she really does /need/. She doubts it, somehow, as she reluctantly pulls a wrapped pastry from her pocket and hands it towards the Sargeant.

Gregorian turns his steely gaze to Zolomon at his question "Frogs and toads. If yah close enough tah tell the difference then yah too close and likely about tah get shot or taken for their dinnah" he leave the gathering of food to one of his handy helpers as he's busy looking stern "This will be a propah test for those of yah who don't get out of the comforts of home and the Halyard tavern enough" he gestures for the maps to be given out to the groups "Split yahselves in tah yah groups. Figure out where yah goin' and get tah it. This is a race!"

Cera nods as she listens"Yeah tons of fun this is...when would we ever be in this dump?" Ok she had little sleep so she is grumpy today and she hates the swamp or even normal mud really.She glaces at the map quietly.

Terrence leans on his spear, watching the privates and recruits splitting up. Giving small chuckle at how /thrilled/ they all are, the corporal heads to stand by the nearest group. "All righty then," He says, "I'll be coming along to make sure you lot don't go and end up ears deep in the muck, wot."

Zolomon nods, he might be a privare first class but he hasnt had any real surival training"Umm ears deep in.."His footpaw sinks and he backs up "In this stuff sur....ya likely be too late ta help"He frowns at the muck around"Wouldnt want a vactions here thats fer sure wot"He grins, always the funny one

Dominik seemed to be one of the only ones in the group actually excited to be outside the mountain and partaking in such a taxing and strenuous activity, and so the large hare is eagerly and impatiently pacing about, back and forth, as he listens to the barked instructions carefully. Some of the others may not have been used to the conditions they would be subject to, but to the towering, intimidating hare, it would be nothing but a cakewalk. "Ah, yes. Dom has qvestion..." He raises a paw. "Vat if...ve make it back too early?" He grins, the buck not lacking confidence, if anything else. With everything he'd been through since arriving at the mountain, he's certainly seemingly earned it.

Picking groups! This is something Isla can do. Looking at those gathered, she anxiously eyes Terrence - he's the corporal for her unit, but just overseeing this. So, another familiar face will have to do. Dominik - he's big and strong, which is a good balance to her own lighter and brainier style of fight and survival. The recruit angles towards the big hare. "Allo, Dom!" She greets, under her breath, careful not to speak out of turn and get in trouble. She once lost a toe to the chill of a Northern winter - she can deal with the swamp, Isla thinks to herself as she angrily slaps at a bug on her cheek.

Giving a small wave to Isla as she comes over, Terrence looks around at the others who have yet to get into groups. "Come on, hurry up you lot, we haven't got all day!" He calls, adjusting his spectacles. They have a small string attached them that links back to his tunic.

Gregorian directs his attention towards Dom as the paw is raised. He snorts at the question and about manages not to smirk as he's trying to be strict "If yah get everythin' and get tah the camp before noon I'll see tah it yah get a special prize...Arrive aftah dark though and I'll have yah doin' extra chores!" this seems to spur a couple of groups to quickly head off already and decide they'll figure out where they're going on the way.

Cera looks at the map and sighs, she tilts it and then grumpbles as one recruit mentions its upside down.An eyeroll and she fixes it, to her it looks not that much diffeernt, "Wot fun..."She then trips over some sort of vine, a chuckle and then the recruit gets a stromg shove into some gross mucky mud, luckly its not the deep kind but that uniform is not clean now."HEY she pushed me..."Another eyeroll "Cry baby"

Zolomon looks over and frowns "I say..we should not be too loud,Lets see..first item ta find is...close I think"He does look up at the path a fair amont to avoid areas and can feel under his footpaws when it sinks more and when its more soild.

Dominik spots Isla heading over in his direction, and he greets her with an eager and welcoming smile, wiggling his ears at the doe. "Isla, hello! Is good mornings, yes? Velcome to Team Dom." He hops from footpaw to footpaw with a nervous energy, having been up long before the time they had been instructed to meet here. He hadn't slept much as it was, and now that he'd had an excuse, it only seemed to make him oddly more alert and raring to go. Watching her slapping at her cheek, he chuckles. "Insects are liking you. Is because you are so sveet." He gives her a wink, before turning his attention to Greg. "Special prizes, yes. Vil remember. Vil see you soon, sir." The large buck takes a look at the map, studying it carefully even as others begin to set out. "Let them go. Vant to make sure is going in right directions. Speed vil do no good if getting lost, yes?"

Isla exclaims, "Thanks! But call me sweet again and I'll pluck out yer whiskers one at a time." Isla gives a wide grin at Dominik - and it's hard to tell whether or not she's kidding. However, The threat of extra chores is enough to spur Isla to action. Looking at those in her group - Cera, Zolomon, Dominik, and Terrence looking out - she puffs out her chest in a show of confidence and nods once. That confidence is shaken when she watches Cera blatently shove another recruit, a frown deepening. But she isn't of the rank to say anything, instead, she says: "We should probably start moving West." She suggests. "We can follow the lake's edge to that first 'X'... Right?" She takes a tentative step in that direction, waiting on a group affirmative. "

"And for the love of all that is good," Terrence mutters to the hares closest to him, 'team Dom' as its been labeled, "Please try not to do anything /that/ stupid, wot." Having seen the shove, he walks over, shouting, "OI! PRIVATE!" Then, quieter, though clearly peeved, he stares hard at the one who pushed the other into the mud. "You bloody well do that again, bucko, and you'll be carrying this here recruits pack. Do I make myself clear?" The corporal offers a paw to help the receipt up, still looking at Cera. "Though some good news for you, you can have mine right now." He shrugs the straps off, holding the bag out to her. "Go on, Cera. Don't ever do that again, you hear?"

Dominik laughs, the deep, booming sound echoing within the swamp and bouncing off the trees, more than likely scaring away any wildlife that was nearby. "Vil remember. Leetle angry Isla is best Isla for mission. Dom vant to keep remaining viskers, so no more of the sveet. Is promising." He makes an X over his heart, before giving Isla a grin. The little altercation catches his attention, and the large buck's expression shifts to a more serious one, his voice getting a little louder. "Vil not be having this nonsense on team. Focus on mission, and mission only. Dom vatch leverets back at mountain, is not job to do out here." He stares hard at the offending recruits, eyes narrowing, before turning back to the task at paw. He gives Isla a nod of confirmation. "Yes. Is good idea. Head vest, near lake." He readies himself to set out as well.

Zolomon looks around, studies the map and avoids another sink hole of muck as he sighs but they may be close to one of the first things to find as he scans the area.

Since one voice affirmed her plan, Isla's steps gain gumption. She's going towards the lake, and she hopes that the others are going as well. The recruit makes the tactical decision to avoid Cera entirely as she forges forward, her map clutched in one paw, though there is a little knot of relief in her stomach that the corporal did say something. Where is the sun? She puts her back to it, and follows her shadow forward through the treacherous swamp growth. She's already sufficiently muddy, which isn't a problem - it's kind of nice. It reminds her of dibbunhood, getting dirty just for the sake of it. If it wasn't so warm and smelly, this would be enjoyable. She slaps another offending insect. West, west, west.

Terrence doesn't answer the hare maid now carrying his pack beyond a quick glare over his spectacles. He turns back to the others, thankful they seem to know what to do. "Righto, Dom, Isla! Lead the good way!" Using the spear as a walking stick, the corporal is ready and following after them.

Cera mutters something, she would turn around but thats not a choice she can make ready, she kicks a rock as she looks around.The list of items is looked over as she sighs a little.

Gregorian handles a few additional questions and he sees the argument but Terrence seems to have it under control. With a satisfied nod he steps off, going to follow a path he knows will be dry enough to follow and let them figure out where they're going while he's off to hang around in camp and organise.

As more groups head off the disgusted sounds of hares accidentally stepping in a deep bit of mud increases. The closer to the lake one gets the wetter and softer the ground gets. The markers are hooked on a pole that they've somehow got right by the water's edge in the swampiest, foulest smelling bit they could find. The obvious solution being to wade through it one group was cautiously trying and had got a head start until one hare stepped in what looked like a puddle and found it was far deeper than it looked. One leg up to the knee in mud they were having to get their group to help pull them out already.

One major advantage Dom seems to have is his height and strength. What would be deep mud and water to others isn't nearly as treacherous to the large hare, and he strides across the ground in wide steps, occasionally having to pull his footpaws free of the muck with a sucking noise, but he generally doesn't seem to be having quite as difficult a time of it as some of the others. "Is only mud, not sure vat problem is..." he calls out, that little grin upon his muzzle returning. "Is thinking Dom vil retrieve markers, yes? Give to Isla to carry." He nods at this plan, as he searches out the first of the markers. Finding it, he begins to make his way towards it.

Ears standing start as he hears the noise from Cera, Terrence glances back at her for a moment. Not sure on what was said, he turns back to the others, using the end of his spear to test the ground in front of him, never stepping foot into the muck. "Be careful about cleaning your feet when you come out of there, Dom," He says, peering at the large hare, "And be careful to not sink any further..."

Squelch, squealch, squealch, squuuuuuealch! Isla's boots are sinking deeper and deeper with each step, and she finds herself needing to use her paws to yank her legs out of the muck one by one. This is not getting them anywhere fast - and Isla doesn't want to lose this race. She casts her gaze around, making note of the tree-cover... She could use that branch, there, to climb up and then crawl across to /that/ branch, there, and then sidle along and avoid a lot of mud... With an affirming nod, Isla pauses to share this plan with her team. She doesn't trust Dom's weight in the deeper mud, no matter the ease he has now... Best to have plan B. "I think we cin make it to th'point by climbin'. Avoid all this muck, yeah?" She frowns at the junction of branches she has in mind. They would allow her to get /close/, but not directly over the marker. Still, it's an advantage... The doe starts climbing, grunting at the strain.

Zolomon says, "I say when would we ever wander inta here...didnt even hardly go this route when they went ta the abbey, mainly took de river..lot blooming better too""

The trees dotted about the swamps are a gangly sort with a lot of roots spread all over. They're more likely to topple over in the soft ground than break but they're strong enough for a hare to climb at least. More than one or two at once may be an issue which is a problem because the other group, having pulled their friend out of the mud, are watching Isla, getting ideas and heading for the trees too.

Dominik pauses to give Isla's plan a good think-over, and eventually he gives her a confirming nod. "Hmm. Yes, is good idea to avoid muds. Vould climb, but...is not good climber. Too heavy, branches vil break ven try." He makes his way back towards more solid ground, the large hare's lower half beginning to get sufficiently muddied. He, like Isla, doesn't really seem to mind this...they were outside and actually doing things, and that automatically makes Dom happy. He gives a nod to Terrence at his advice, as well. "Vil not sink." He'd also left his sword back at the mountain, figuring the large blade would more than likely weigh him down even more. Traveling light...that is definitely the way to go. As he watches Isla climb, he heads over and reaches up to give her a boost, to get her just a little higher in the tree so she wouldn't have to exert so much effort.

"You'd wonder into here, Private, if you were balley well ordered to." Terrence says, unamused. "Think of it as this: if you know how to make it through all this, you can make it through most things, eh?" The corporal frowns as hares start climbing. Though having gone a long way around the patch of mud, Terrence stands nearby, still dry, looking Dominik over. "You won't sink, eh? Still better safe than sorry."

Cera asks, "sinking be death right now so how close are we to finding wot we need already?""

"You will definitely sink!" Isla laughs, though there's obvious effort in the words as she hauls herself (and her pack) up into the branches, with a boost from Dominik. It's a tricky maneuver, but she carefully picks her way from branch, to branch. Judging her footing, slipping a few times. She's inching closer to the marker, her tunic darkening with sweat already. A biting remark rises in her throat as she hears Cera and Zolomon's complaints, but she has been in training enough to have the discipline to bite her tongue. She doesn't reply, but that self-control won't last long. The branches don't take her all the way to the marker, so it'll be another drop into the mud... Hopefully she doesn't sink. "Here goes nothin'." The recruit sighs, lowering herself as slowly as she can... She makes it! Without sinking or falling or otherwise maiming herself, at least. But that reward isn't in her paws, yet.

The other hares meanwhile start clambering up one of the trees "Come on Dom, toss 'im up the tree too!" one jokes, nodding at a private who's scrambling up. They are a bit quick to lose patience though and another start climbing after him. Still at the bottom of the trees though the hare with the very muddy leg yells at Isla "Hey! Recruit! Bring ours back with yah too!"

Terrence comes to a stop a little ways from the tree, leaning once again on his spear to watch their antics, impressed by Isla and not so much the others. "If I were you lot, I wouldn't be so quick to pile up on that, wot! Never know when a branch'll snap, 'specially considering how much you lot eat, wot wot!"

Dominik grins up at Isla. "But only so far. Up to heres..." He motions towards his knees..."Not up to heres..." He points towards his chest. The large hare glances over at Terence and nods. "Yes. Safe, alvays much better than sorry." He turns his attention back to watching Isla as she clambers across the branches, the hare following her from below, there to catch her in case she happened to slip. Once she manages to make it with no incidents, he gives her an encouraging cheer. "Woo! Is almost there, Isla!" He does make sure to watch where he is walking, making sure to avoid the deepest spots and trying his best to remain on the firmest ground possible. He shoots a hard look over at the catcaller, before giving him a smirk. "Vant to make it to branch, or end up in top of tree?" he calls back, before turning his attention back to watching his teammate and assisting whenever possible.

Zolomon stays below, he is not a tree climber and yes too many are on one branch or two as he frowns backing up a little.

Cera chuckles, she is getting the hang of this trip now and studys the area..so far no troubles other than gross muck and bugs everywhere,,

"Suck m'scut, Lackley!" Isla shouts back with a laugh, now doggedly pushing through the mud near the markers. It's hard to keep her head in the present; she remembers a time, after a horrific storm further South than here, their cart became lodged deep in the muck. It took all of them to haul it out, and when they were finished, the entire troup looked like mud monsters. They had performed an impromptu children's play as their muddy alter-egos, and had collected a large amount of coin and good graces because of it. The teen smiles to herself at the thought, struggling forward against the oppressive muck. Her canteen is covered in the stuff now, and it's going to be miserable the next time she takes a sip... But that's a worry for Future Isla.

The corporal sets off again, and, for the first time, accidentally steps in the mud. His leg immediately sinks downward, and, with several curses and a lot of struggling, Terrence manages to pull himself out with a plop, hauling himself up onto the dray patch with his spear. "Blasted, bloody- bah!" The hare mutters darkly to himself.

Zolomon is close to one of the items and might even see it as he points it out "Is that one of the list items?"

Dominik continues to watch Isla making her way towards the marker, the large hare really not able to do much until she manages to retrieve it. As Terrence gets himself stuck briefly, Dom looks in that direction in preparation to head over and give him a paw, but he seems to handle things just fine himself. He watches the other groups struggling nearby and simply grins, with a shake of his head. This swamp area would likely never be the same again after the contingent of hares is finally gone, that's for sure.

Cera is close "Is wot an item..."Her back and shoulders hurt, she has two packs after all and is far from having a good day today.She looks that direction and smiles "Yeah..and we like need to get it"

Terrence makes his way slowly towards Cera, having noticed her discomfort. "If you have one bag on your back and the other on the front, that should help a little, wot." He's far more careful in testing the land with his spear point, prodding the squishy earth several times with each step.

The marker, a big stick stuck in the mud by the water sits there as Isla gets close. The mud just bubbling slightly as it's disturbed. On the marker are a bunch of loops of cord with numbered rocks attached.

Snatching the strung rock, Isla holds it aloft with a victorious grin before beginning the difficult wade back to her team.

"Ah come on! Be cool!" The hare hereafter named Lackley yells back at Isla before their own accompanying officer sighs faintly "I don't think that would be in the spirit of the task" he calls out before glancing at Terrence as he is the fellow supervisor "We're goin' tah be at this all day"

Leaning the spear against his shoulder, Terrence gives a small clap as the marker is retrieved. "Good for you, wot!" He calls to Isla, before turning to the other officer. "Yes, yes." He says with a chuckle, "That's why I packed a few more extra vittles for myself, wot wot." He winks, "Though I might not need them at this rate." He turns to Cera, offering a small apologetic smile. "That's why that thing's a bit heavier, wot. Sorry."

Zolomon grins maybe they will win and get back first, he hopes so anyways

Cera is not having fun, she tried to climb and fell onto her bottom and torn a sleeve as she screams and kicks a paych of weeds and pouts. "I blooming hate this place!!!"

They got a thing! There's alas no fanfare but the mud does a little victory bubble around Isla as the movement stirs things up and lets out some truly awful smelling bubbles of gas. One down, four to go. The question is which one will the go for next?

"Complaining won't do much good, let me tell you, wot." Terrence says, raising an eyebrow at the pouting hare. "Just slows you down, it does." He goes back to the others, saying in a cheery voice, "Righto, lads and laddies, were to next, wot?"

Zolomon nods "Lets go and lass..tis best to be quiet in de swamps"

The other group of hares 'Boo' quietly as Isla gets the thing before they try climbing a tree again but all piling on at once makes it creak and they quickly back off until one has the bright idea to knock it over on purpose, towards the marker to make a mess of branches as a bridge "Yah might have got the first one but we'll catch up to yah!" Lackley yells as they get to work.

"Can't believe ya cin still talk smack with all my dust in your mouth!" Isla calls back at Lackley, rejoining the group. "Where next? We cin swing th'further route t'get the one on the other side, then loop back so we don't cross our path... Or jus' get the next closest one?"

Cera shrugs, her map bit sort of is covered in mud so its harder to read but luckly each team has a coupy copies so its ok.

Terrence is waiting for the recruits and privates to pick a direction, and he impatiently tap his spear as the other group starts making a bridge. "If you lot don't get moving, I say, you'll soon be eating their dust, wot." He looks pointedly over his spectacles at each of the hearts around him. "So where to?"

Nilear, fighter recruit, kind of on the short side, has been along with the group but largely silent. He stares at his map "I'm all for goin' south around the lake. It says hills down there. Hills sound dry" he reasons.

Cera says, "Yeah..wot he says, lets get going and win, wining is good and the sooner we get done the sooner we can like rest and forget we were even in this place."

Isla is caked in mud, but the upside is that the mud keeps the insects off her. So she isn't going to complain. "If we're down fer a swim, might be able t'just cut right across... But..." She eyes the dark lake waters. "Dunno what might be /in/ there, yanno? Anyway... I hate doublin' back, so I say we take th'one on the other side of th'lake. But I chose last time." Thankfully, fur hides an embarrassed flush. She's only a recruit, she shouldn't be the one making decisions, here. She's glad for the next bit of helpful information. With a nod, she starts walking towards the hills, gritting her teeth at the difficulty in wading through mud. To the hills! "Maybe we bally well /should/ swim. This mud is no joke."

Terrence nods, moving to stand behind the group. "Well, you should get going, then, wot!" The corporal, far more confident in his group than when they first started, has one thing to say before he goes into a more paws-off role. "Don't swim, please. As Isla said, you never know what type of fish or other nasty creatures can be lurking in the depths, eh? And your gear'll be ruined quicker than in the mud, wot. Plus," he adds, "Being wet'll make you a beacon to the little blighters nipping at us..."

Zolomon asks, "Fish that bite are in the swamp?"

Nilear wrinkles his nose at the idea of swimming "The mud's foul enough, I don't even want tah see wot decides tah live here" he's quickly off though, trying to hurry through the mud towards the hills in the distance. He does look back at the corporal after Zolomon's question though. He might not want to meet the local wildlife but he is curious.

Cera frowns "I hope not.."And now she doesnt want near water,just in case as they make thier way to the hills

Slapping his cheek were a bug landed, the corporal responds in an irritated tone, "Maybe, but I was referring to these bloody little horrors, wot! Anyway, I think you lot can manage something, eh?" Terrence drops back a few paces from the main group, still testing the ground his spear end and not saying anything more unless he has to.

"Walkin tis!" Isla nods to Terrence, adjusting her pack and going for her canteen. It's very muddy, and she spits gunk, pulling a face. "Urgh!" She continues walking towards the hills, struggling with the mud. But she's light and quick, and uses rocks and branches and trees to navigate wherever possible!

Zolomon sis till careful of the swamp muck and goo as he walks, and they are seemingly almost to the hills as he grins "Look alive, de next item is in sight almost"

Nilear flicks an ear at the bugs when they're mentioned "Well, I was tryin' tah ignore those" he mutters before suddenly going "Eek!" sharply as a bush in their path stands up and looks surprisingly like a hare underneath "Wot ho chaps!" the bush greets cheerily "Here tah warn yah of the great balog! He's in the hills, guardin' yah marks. If he catches yah he'll make yah stay tah help with lunch and" the bush looks grim "Yah won't be able tah eat any of it" back to cheery again and the bush waves them off and disappears to go make other groups job "Best of luck!" amongst the hills was one of the cooks making lunch for the officers. Though they'd given him a hat with horns on so clearly he was actually some sort of monster. Sala cooks obviously make excellent guards though and the little pile of stones on cords was sat next to his fire.

Isla laughs at the bush that appears and disappears with its cryptic warning. "So we bally well don't want t'get caught." The recruit nods, eyeing the cook. "So, a stealthy approach, then?" She whispers to her team, nodding at the rocks. "I'll make a distraction, an' one of you can go for it!" Without a better plan in place, the hare shrugs off her gear and leaves it in a safe dry place, takes a deep breath, and takes of /running/ into the hills. "BALLY HOOOOOOOO!" She shouts, ducking and dodging and racing away from the fire, in the hopes that the cook will abandon their post and the rocks the group needs to be snagging!

Felicity has been tagging along silently, mostly there to help make sure the Privates and Recruits don't get themselves killed by eating stuff that's not actually food. Raising an eyebrow at the dressed-up hare, she comes quietly up just in time to see Isla dash off. "Isla! We're s'possed t'agree first....oh, for th' love, don't run off by y'self!" Groaning, the Corporal scowls. "S'pose I oughta go aftah 'er an' make sure she doesn't get killed by drownin' in a 'idden mud pit...."

The cook/monster looks up sharply at the noise and lurches forward to protect stone markers with a ladle. He figures out the game when Isla runs off though because he knows he's going to have hares distracting him but he's supposed to be a big scary monster so he's got to play the part! He remains civilized long enough to take the soup off the fire but then he gives chase, clutching his hat to his head as he runs after Isla with an angry "Aarooooooo!"

Cera is getting better at avoiding troubles and hidden dangers fairly well"We need those stones so we like...win"

Zolomon keeps an eye out for anything or anyone else, its too quiet to suit him and he sighs "Come on we need ta do all this while tis still light out"

Isla is running. "GE' TH'BLOODY ROCK!" She yells over her shoulder, taking a hard turn and slipping on a patch of moss. She hits the ground and takes a face-full of mud. Sputtering and spitting, she scrambles upright again, looping back towards the group. She sees Felicity hollering and chasing after her, and just shoots a tired thumbs up. She really hopes that someone in her group goes and gets that rock!

Felicity knows that they're only supposed to supervise and make sure nobody actually dies, so she goes ahead and chases after Isla, easily catching up to her and keeping up with her (seeing as how she and Zolomon are the fastest hares in the Mountain). "Y'supposed t'make sure all y'party agrees b'fore y'run off!" Her footing isn't as steady here as it is out on the sands, and so that's becoming a bit of a bother to the Runner.

Cera goes to help get the rock as well, a grin as she so SO intends to grab at least one rock!

Zolomon trips a hare thats clearly from the other team and just grins at them and chuckles,"Watch ya step lad..slippaery here huh?"

Nilear looks highly surprised as Isla disappears off running and that it works and the cook chases her. He snaps out of it when everyone starts talking though "Well we're not goin' tah get them and win if yah two keep standing there! Get the rock an' scarper before he comes back!" he hisses the words out before sighing with a little relief as Cera grabs one "Right, leg it! Two down, three tah go chaps"

Back from her successful distracting mission, Isla is out of breath and somehow muddier than she was before. Gathering her things, she nods at Cera with the rock in paw. "Good... Job.... You lot..." The recruit pants, a grin on her face. Two down! She is eager to keep going, and following the lake edge seems to be the best bet to get to the next one quickly. She points this out on the map, and walks with the others. Almost done!

Zolomon keeps focused as they are doing well, but its also slowly getting dark as they walk along and get close to where some woods are, he hmmmss softly as he is slightly away from the others, then he is a runner so he can get clues to the others as he scouts ahead a little tp get a better look at where the next marker stone is and grins, maybe he can get it and surprise them all and be a saved the day hero as he goes to creep to the stone, his focus only the stone.

Nilear gives both Isla and Cera a grin and thumbs up each "Team work!" and with that it's on to the next on by the woods. The woods is essentially a treasure hunt. There's just a sign nailed to a tree saying 'Good luck finding it. It's been hidden well' and they have to search for it. As it's turns out it's hidden in a hole between some roots and with Zolomon's headstart and finding it before the rest of the group even gets there they might catch up some time...Except Zolomon's not there when they arrive. The woods appear deserted. All that's to be found is some drag marks and some webbed footprints.

Felicity is grumbling quietly as she glares at the mud splattered on her legs from her run. When they (finally) arrive at the tree roots, she notices the webbed footprints because she's had the training needed to keep in mind that you could die at any time...and also because she's still upset about having to run after Isla to make sure she didn't find a mud pit. Freezing, the Corporal draws her sword as she hisses at the others to be quiet. Pointing at the webmarks in the mud, she starts to scan the woodlands around them, hoping her fellow hares are actually listening to her.

Cera follows and frowns, "Wot?" She whispers as she sees the drag marks and blinks and the web marks.."Umm....wot the...?" She treis to whisper best she can, wait who is missing? Or maybe its some trick of the other team.

Nilear looks alarmed as Felicity draws a sword and he immediately starts looking around all over the place as he inches closer to the others and pulls out his own sword "Wot's goin' on?" he whispers. The woods seem quiet until the silence is broken by a loud CROAK. The toads are hiding, blending in with the trees but there's a quiet hissing laugh coming from at least four spots. They apparently find the hares funny.

Felicity mutters a curse under her breath. "Well, that's just bloody great." Her sarcasm oozes like the mud around them. "Shoulda thought o' th'fact that woods tend t'be warmah than out in th'open. Try t'go back out th'way we came...carefully." She urges them to go, keeping herself between them and the toads (hopefully).

Cera frowns and looks suddenly worried she has heard stories of toads and frogs and lays a paw on her saber as she tries to stay brave, come on she tells herself you survived a siege and basically doom day in Mossflower and this scares you "I..I wanna go home....can we now...please?"

"But we didn't finish" is all Nilear can mutter. It of course doesn't really matter now but he's just a recruit, he's had lots of training but very little real danger. He does as he's told at least and edges back the way he came, slowly moving towards the edge of the woods. From the woods there's slowly more and more laughter and it gets louder as the hares back off until finally one of the toads throws a rock at them. They of course find this hilarious and more rocks are quickly thrown followed by a few spears as a dozen frogs and toads all have their fun trying to scare the hares and hit them with the rocks.

"We're prob'ly 'bout t'DIE an' y're worried 'about WINNIN'?!" Felicity growls in a low voice, shuffling behind those under her care, blue eyes blazing as she keeps a watch for attack. As soon as the first rock is thrown, she gives one of the sharpest commands she's ever spoken: "RUN, BACK T'THE MEETIN' PLACE, NOW!!" She turns and flees, keeping the Recruits and Privates ahead of her (which is hard since she's a Runner by nature, and her body was built to go fast), glancing over her shoulder to make sure they're not being followed.

Cera rowns "Die? I..I dont wanna die!!! I still have things I want to do in life..."She whimpers now "I..I have to tell Private Konnor I love him...."WHat the? ok then...well thats for SURE important "Yes run..."A spear barely missses her and one recuit faints and she catchs them, oh joy two packs and now this!! She hates today why didnt she just over sleep and get yelled at later!

Nilear is just trying not to panic, he knows life and death trumps the trials really but his mind just went to being disappointed about losing instead of facing potential death. He eeks as the first rock is thrown and doesn't have to be told twice, he's off running as fast as he can until he looks back and sees Cera with a fainted recruit and springs back to help carry them away "Declarations of love latah!" he yells as he runs but suddenly changes direction towards the slow winding river to the north "There's a crossin' on the map! The camp's by it! There's hare's there!" it's closer than the starting point at least. The toads do chase them out of the woods but they don't go far beyond the trees, just throwing things until the hares are out of range after which a couple get the hilarious idea to grab the limp Zolomon from where they'd stashed him, hold him up above their heads and dance around laughing and taunting in some other language. This brings on more laughter from the group.

Felicity urges the other hares onward, quickly changing direction. "Oi, all o' you! Follow 'im!" She orders, pointing to Nilear and silently promising herself that she's gonna suggest nametags for everyone whenever they do this kind of training thing again. She glances back and sees Zolomon being paraded around, and something snaps within her. She pauses where she is, takes as deep of a breath as possible, and screams as loudly as she can, "EEEULLLAAAALLLLIIIAAAAA! PATROL T'THE FORE, WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! EULALIA!!" Then it's back on the run, vowing that she'll return to save her fellow Runner, so help her!

Cera frowns ass she goes faster and trips over something, skinning her knee..joy! Two packs and a limp passed out recruit can slow you down easyly.

For his part, Terrence had been half-paying attention the hares' antics from were he was some yards away, until the toads appeared and start chasing them. "COME ON!" The corporal bellows, waving his spear franticly. "FOLLOW ME! It's pretty solid this way!" He remains in place, intending to take the rear of the fleeing hares. Until Cera trips, of course. He runs forward to her, offering a paw. "Here, let me take my pack back, wot! And get moving!"

A couple of the toads venture out to try and catch the stragglers with nets as Cera trips but then Felicity starts yelling and they know that war-cry. They know what the patrol hares are of course but the war-cry is a promise of battle. The mood in the woods changes instantly from laughter to anger and they charge regardless of the cold. Spears ready to attack, nets ready to capture. Only the two with Zolomon stay behind and drag him back off in to the woods.

Cera looks behind her and eeps as she barely missses a net...the poor passed out recruit she was carrying is taken away! She sighs ...not her fault! Ok maybe it is a little as she runs faster now

Felicity turns and stands her ground a distance behind the other hares. She knows she basically just invited the battle, but she also knows any decent and sober hare within earshot will come to their aid. As the toads advance, the Runner screams her warcry again and meets an amphibian as he closes on her. Ducking under his spear, she goes to stab him in the skull, trying to give the Recruits and Privates enough time to escape and bring back help! She quickly loads her sling in her left paw, keeping hold of her sword in her right paw and using her loaded sling like a flexible club to bash a toad upside the head as she stabs at another with her blade.

And as all the other hares turn and begin to head in the opposite direction, fleeing from the sudden onslaught of toad attacks, there is one who appears to be going in the wrong direction...which is in the direction of the toads. Not heeding the warnings of his fellow Patrollers, the massive hare can see one thing and one thing only...his companions being attacked. This does not sit well with him, to say the least, and the crash of his footpaws is heard as he barrels towards the attackers. His attention laser-focuses on the two toads with the nets who are out in front of the others...perhaps this was not their lucky day. Lacking his sword, it still didn't seem to matter as Dom's paws immediately thud into the first toad's belly. Pushing him off to the side, the other is met with a footpaw to the face, which completely knocks the toad flat. Dom's eyes are burning with rage, and he lets out a loud bellow, avoiding the flung spears and nets as he heads towards the other attackers.

Another net is caught on Terrence's spear point, entangling it. The corporal lets the weapon go, drawing from his belt his blade, slashing at a nearby toad to detour it as he slowly falls back to stand by the other corporal. "Well, today's going south right quick, eh?" He mutters, grimly.

Cera is not the best fighter but whne one tries to grab her she bites its paw and jabs her blade it its eye...ouch for the toad as she runs further away!

All the yelling of course attracts other attention. The big ears aren't just for show! The camp is close enough that Greg and the small group waiting there know something's going on and have started heading towards the noise "Wot the hell did yah do?!" shouts the voice of Greg out of the distance. It's a funny sort of war-cry. Help is on the way though as the hares can hear fighting and charge straight for it. The captured recruit by Cera is swiftly dragged away back towards the woods while the other toads continue in their attempts to catch the rest of them. The injuries and losses on their side just seem to make them mad and the try to split the hares up and get in between them and the rest of the group. Trying to get behind them and attack from both sides. Dom has a different tactic. They try and keep back and start throwing things at the oversized hare.

Felicity doesn't reply and instead continues whacking and slashing at the toads, her face frozen in a furious grimace. Hearing Greg, though, she shouts back, "'Twasn't our fault! Y'lot promised the toads would be asleep!!" Yes, blame the higher-ranking hares. It's usually their fault, right? She trips over a spear, rolls, and springs upright, getting a slash to the cheek as she takes the weilder of the spear out with a stab and a clobber with her still-loaded sling!

Dominik is rather limber despite his size, and he easily manages to avoid the projectiles thrown in his direction. The large hare even finds some grim amusement from the fact that they are trying to play it smart and attack him from afar instead of simply ganging up on him. Well, I mean, wouldn't -you-? The fact that he is gradually being cut off from the others doesn't really seem to phase him, and he picks up the occasional misthrown spear from the ground and flings it back into the group of toads. Rocks are tossed as well, and Dom really doesn't have much of a weapon aside from his own paws. Until he sees the small, half-uprooted tree nearby. Making his way over to it while at the same time ducking and weaving projectiles, the buck finally reaches said tree. Wrapping his arms around it, he tugs upwards as hard as he can until he finally manages to uproot the thing. He then proceeds to turn, using the tree as a battering ram as he trounces towards the toads unfortunate enough to be closest to him. Swinging the tree like a bat, Dom sends some of the toads scattering...others are sent flying back into the swamps as utter chaos reigns around him. He'd put himself in a dangerous position, being closer to the toads now, but all he concentrates on is seeing how many he can bat into the air.

The loud croaking from the toads can be heard on nearly every side of the hares, and, while several rush around to block off the hares' escape, some of the others seem wary of the noise in the distance from the main camp. However, that doesn't stop them for long, and the toads are soon on the hares again, replacing their fallen kin, with some going in between Dominik and the others, encircling the large hare though keeping a safe distance from him now. They're scared of the private, though not too scared that numbers won't boost their morale.

Terrence, for his part, has been doing a decent job of not being caught up by the spears, sparing a glance at Felicity. "That-" He jabs at a toad that got too close for comfort, "That might bite you back later, wot!" The corporal looks around, biting his lip. "OI!" He calls, "Stick close together and try to firm up in a tight group! If you have spears, try to point those ou-YOCH!" he gets cut off as a toad jabs him in the arm.

Gregorian doesn't have a huge force with him, there was only a few in the camp during the training but they've also got the first two groups to make it back to camp with them as they appear on scene to see the exact scale of the problem "Archahs! Careful with yah targets. Everyone else stick tahgetah and get tah the othahs!" he orders as they surge forward in a clump and try to get to the others that have been split off and join them up with the main group.

Felicity glances at Terrence. "OI! Y' 'EARD 'IM, GET IN A FIRMER GROUP, QUICK!" She fights towards the other hares while staying close to Terrence, letting lose her slingstone at one of the toads attacking Dom, quickly reloading and turning it into a club again. "Get y'speahs into a wall stickin' out! Try t'keep th'monstahs back, wot!"

Dominik uses his improvised weapon to keep the encircling toads at bay, slowly turning in a circle as he swings it at the group who are encroaching upon his space. The space gets smaller and smaller as more toads arrive, and they seem to correctly realize the biggest threat and try to neutralize it. Dom can see that fear in their faces, and he cannot help but give a satisfied grin to himself despite his dire circumstances. Striking fear into the hearts of vermin is always number one on his list, and accomplishing that gives him a bit of satisfaction. "Take step closer, get tree in face..." he booms, his ears now flattened upon the back of his head. "Vil take as many of you vith me as I can. Who vants to try first?" The occasional net is thrown, which he easily sidesteps, though once the toads realize that they probably could throw multiple nets at once, the large hare likely would be in a bit of a spot.

As arrows and stones are loosed into the toads some are driven back, either turning tail and fleeing or jumping into nearby pools of water and muck to disappear in the dirty water. However, the majority are still in a frenzy. They croak and gurgle, waving their spears madly as they charge the smaller hare group, still some distance from the Sergeant. The toads who had circled around the hares to cut them off, however, start to realize they've been caught between a rock and a heard place, running away with little effort on the Patrol's part. But they soon join the main body of toads, adding to their numbers. Those around Dominik give ghoulish grins, rushing at him all at once with a cry of, "GLRRRG!" One does fall to Felicities well aimed stone, though, but it unphases the others.

Terrence manages to slay the offending toad, though his arm hangs loosely at his side. He nods in thanks to the other corporal for reinforcing his call. Sword still pointed out, he moves closer to the others. "If you have slings, try to use them as well - don't worry about aim, wot! Just harass the little buggers!"

The larger force of hares push forwards as fast as they can towards the others. Though a good chunk of their numbers are recruits there are at least a few seasoned privates and officers to keep the group from getting split up in the chaos. Greg yells orders when needed including "Dom yah blatherin' idiot! Yah cut off! Get back tah the group!" but he spends a lot of the time knocking the living daylights out of toads that don't get out of the way fast enough. He melds in with the crowd, one blur of weaponry flashing among many.

Felicity relaxes just a /tiny/ bit when the beleaguered hares finally form a circle. But her relaxation doesn't last long as she slings a stone at the toads near Dom. "Fight t'Dominik! Stay in formation, but move! Afore 'tis too late! EULALIAAAAAAAAA!!!" She shoots another stone, then another, keeping her sword out, just in case. The larger group of Patrollers has been slowed somewhat now that they are engaged in battle, but they are working their way to the smaller group of fighters, nonetheless.

Dominik had accomplished quite a few impressive, and one might say even Herculean, tasks in the past, and had garnered a reputation for being one not to be trifled with or angered for any reason. Upon seeing the scene currently playing out in the swamps, one would understand this reputation, as the toads being to all rush at him at once. As they close in, it becomes increasingly difficult for the large hare to use the tree as he'd been using it previously, and so he is forced to abandon the weapon in the fight for his life. Still, he gets one good last use out of it, flinging it horizontally at the first line of approaching toads. Aww, he is touched...they are using an entire unit just for him! Now that his paws are free, he thwacks left and right, not aiming anywhere in particular, just striking out at the multitude of toads that are within his personal space. His footpaws come into play as well, as he leaps and kicks out, and toads fly left and right off of the rapidly growing pile that is closing in and beginning to subdue Dom. "EULALIAAAAA!" he bellows, struggling and fighting even as he is finally swarmed over by his adversaries. Still, he slowly rises once again, just a pile of toads lifting off the ground, before he finally is weighed down beneath them all.

Crawling over an increasing number of their dead comrades surrounding Dominik, more toads pile onto the hare, some casting their nets to catch him, while others try to beat him senseless with their spear ends, while still more simply try to stab him. The rest of the toads not in the withering mess around him turn towards the war cries, with some more fleeing here and there. Yet still the majority of toads are set on fighting what they see as trespassers and challengers, leaping over fallen bodies forward with their nets out and spears pointed.

"EUALIAAA! GIVE 'EM BLOOD AND VINEGAR!" Terrence joins in, roaring as he lunges forward to skewer another toad. "Quickly now!" He barks out, looking behind him for a moment, "Let's start making an orderly retreat to the good ol' Sarge, mates!"

Felicity REALLY wants to argue with that idea -- it seems nothing short of perfidious of them to abandon Dom under a heap of toads! -- but she knows arguing would only sow dissention and confusion amongst those under the command she shares with Terrence at the moment. "You 'eard 'im! Join forces wi' th' Sarge, then we can save our comrades as a largah force!" As stream of curses cuts off anything else the Runner was going to say as a stray rock clips her forehead and blood gushes into her eye. It's a pretty shallow wound, but facial injuries always bleed a lot, and so she is partly blinded. The larger group of hares is coming steadily closer, their war cries giving the Recruits and less seasoned Privates courage to keep pressing onward. The groups are coming closer together, so maybe they can save Dom here in a few minutes??

Dominik is facing odds currently insurmountable even for the large hare, as he is piled on by his attackers. The nets entangle his arms and legs, and despite him struggling he isn't able to do much...especially once the toads begin to lay in with their spearbutts. Despite his struggle, Dom eventually crumples to the ground helplessly as he is thwacked relentlessly with spears, sustaining a few stab wounds here and there as well due to his inability to defend himself very well. The attempted help from his comrades was admirable, but there were just too many toads in one place for them to handle, let alone one hare. So their retreat is understandable...not that Dom would really be able to tell, anyway, in his current situation.

The toads throw back their heads and croak victoriously when the big private is brought down and they soon are dragging him away. Some are in clear awe of Dominik, even as they take him, and that may keep him alive longer than most if the worst comes to pass. The rest of the toads start to realize while they have superior numbers, the second group of hares headed by the one-legged long-ears might be too much so they start to try to get away from the hares. The small group with Felicity and Terrence, however... More toads start attacking them, tossing nets and small rocks into their midst, catching at least one private and slaying another.

"Felicity, I don't think we can go after him," Terrence mutters to her out of the side of his mouth, quickly dipping his head to avoid a stone. "He's beyond our reach, and going after him will get yourself or the rest of us killed!" The corporal slashes a toad across his face as another recruit goes down next to him. "WE NEED TO MOVE BACK, NOW!" He roars out.

Varus had intended to join this routine training exercise. Totally routine. So routine as to be boring. However, at the last minute, the Major found himself with a stack of paperwork. More recruit evaluations. Slightly more boring. By the time dusk is beginning to settle over the mountain, however, and the trainees are not back... They're hours overdue, after all, Varus and the badger lord are concerned. Displaying remarkable initiative, the Major handpicks 10 of the remaining hares in the mountain... The downside being that they're all unfortunately his age or older. Oh well, age equals experience, right? Varus and his merry band of old fogies march out into the waning sunlight, making double-time toward the Marshes.

Felicity has clasped a hankie to her forehead wound with her left paw, thus rendering her sling useless. She stabs at toads who dare to get to close, a tear trickling down her cheek. "I know....but we'll come back. 'Tis what we do. EULALIAAAAAAAAA!!!" She fights ferociously, slicing through nets and knocking aside spears. "ADVANCE T'TH'REAR! QUICK, FIGHT Y'WAY BACK T'OUR COMRADES, WOT! EEEUUULLLLALLLIIIIAAAA!!!" The larger group of hares is close, yet with how many toads are here, so far away. But they are fighting their way closer, closer to the rescue.

Dominik isn't really in much of a position to do anything, as the unconscious and bloodied hare is encased in the toads' nets and dragged away with them into the swamp. He did indeed take some of them with him, however...as a matter of fact, quite a few, judging by the pile of toad bodies scattered about the area around where Dom had been cornered. It was rather impressive, that is, if one had time to really survey the whole scene instead of being accosted by more and more toads. Still, one cannot help but wonder if the toads are aware of what exactly they are about to put themselves through once the large hare awakens and realizes the situation. Perhaps it may have been better if they had just killed him on the spot.

The toads seem to finally catch on that the smaller group is trying to fight their way back to the larger group, and so start to filter in-between the two, intent on getting as many hares as they can. The ones dragging Dominik are almost excited to bring back the 'great warrior' as they call him in their tongue. The smell of dead toads mixed with the already foul swamp fumes is revolting, yet the toads are clueless to it, their croaks getting louder and louder. A particularly big and ugly toad, with a large wart right between both eyes, lunges with his crude spear at Felicity with wolfish look. Another picks up a rock and tosses it right at Terrence.

"O it's hard 'n' dry when the sun is high, an' dust is in yer throat! When the pours down, near fit t' drown, It soaks right through yer coat! But th' Hares o' th' Long Patrol, my lads, stout 'earts they walk wi' me, over 'ill an' plain 'n' back again, t' th' shores o' th' wide blue sea!" Varus leads his comrades in this old Long Patrol marching song, as they cross the dunes, ever southward. The sun is quite low in the sky by the time they near the marshes, and the sounds of unmistakable battle can be heard. "Right'o! There's blood 'n' vinegah t' be 'ad, boys! Sounds like th' trainees got in ovah their 'eads, wot!" One older hare, who only has one eye, one ear, and one leg, grimaces. "I 'ear *toads*, Varus..." "Aye, so do I... So, shall we?" The elder hares all draw their weapons, and yell, "EULAAAALIAAAAAA!"

The rock connects with the corporal right on the jaw, and Terrence stumbles back, dazed. He blinks, spitting out a bloody tooth, managing to catch himself in time. The hare waves his blade wildly at the advancing toads, not really aiming for any of them, just trying to keep them away. Then his ears perk up, catching the warcry. "Seems 'elp is here, wot!" Throwing back his head, he lets out, "EULAALIA!" In answer to the veterans' cry.

Felicity avoids getting stabbed, but catches a rock with her head and falls to the ground, unconscious. As she's netted, a Recruit who knows of her grabs her sword to take back to the Mountain, knwoing how important it would be to the Runner for her baby sister to get their family's sword. The Corporal has been captured! Blasted toads!

The toads have nearly wiped out the smaller group of hares by now, but the Sargent's group is fight fierce. Most of the toads are in the fray, striking out savagely with their spears and rocks - after they drag away Felicity, it seems they're no longer interested in taking more prisoners. However, some of the wort-covered amphibians hear the war cries from a new direction, and start croaking and pointing in the old hares' direction, panicking. Some turn and run, though most are too preoccupied with the hares in their midst.

Terrence, still too dazed to fully react to his fellow corporal going down, tries to help her only to take another spear in his leg. He backs off, standing with the recruit who retrieved Felicity's sword. As the small group grows even smaller, they finally make their way to the sage's force. As the two groups merge, Terrence limps his way over to give tired salute with his rapier. "Good evenin', Sarge, 'ow are you?" The corporal says through a fat lip. Stumbling slightly with his left arm hanging uselessly by his side, he returns to fight alongside the other hares while the group waits for the aid of the 'old fogies'.

Varus raises his sabre, and launches himself savagely at one of the retreating toads, killing the wart-covered beast instantly. Alas, he was a little too slow with escaping. In fact, all the stragglers are swiftly cut down by the older hares. Unfortunately, the bulk of the toad forces have got away. Those that remain are like shooting fish in a barrel. Pulling his blade from the toad he'd killed, and and cutting down another, Varus makes his way to the group of surviving trainees.

The toads, who had moments before been so sure of killing the troublesome long-ears, now croak wildly as they're cut down on two sides. They trip over each other to escape the patrol veterans, pushing each other down to give themselves more of a chance to escape the wrath of the hares. The surviving trainees and other hares seize their chance, surging forward with a yells of, "EULAAALIA!" and, "BLOOD AND VINEGAR!" The remaining toads are trapped between the two groups of hares, being dispatched easily.

Last edited by Willow (2019-10-18 02:46:58 PM)

Ol'random · 2019-10-18 04:42:28 PM

(OOC: The following was RP'd after Dominik disconnected and took the radio with him )

The corporal lags a little behind them all, limping over to Varus. He offers a very shaky salute, nearly falling over as he says, "Sah! Fancy meetin' ya here, wot! Thanks f'the help, y'bloody good chap!" Terrence gives a wide grin that looks like death, what with the wounds to his arms and legs, his bloody lip and missing teeth.

Varus peers around, and sees only Terrence as the ranking hare. He returns the salute. His force of ten veterans is mopping up the resistance, leaving not a one of the toads alive. "Corporal Terrence. I take it yahr commandin' officah is... I don't see Gregorian, eithah..."

The toads are now dead or fleeing far away from the hares, their croaks fading in the distance.

Still reeling from the rock to the face from earlier, Terrence simply blinks at the major for a moment. "Oh! Eh," He pauses, looking with unfocused eyes at the hares behind him, "Well, Sergeant Greg's back there I think, wot." He points for good measure. "We were split up inta smaller groups an' the like, I dunno know where tha' officah's are, sah."

Varus nods. "Right then. F'r now yer mah second in command. Gi' me th' situation report, Corporal. But per'aps y' should sit... Julian, y' got got medic experience, correct?" A hare who looks ancient and walks with a noticeable limp makes his way toward Terrence. "Yes sah, I do. C'mon, lad, let's get y' looked at..."

Nodding gratefully, the young hare moves to sit on a nearby log. The left side of Terrence's face is turning an ugly shade of blue and yellow around the cut lip, and his arm has a deep stab wound with his leg likewise injured. "Thank ya', sah..." The corporal mutters as he sits. "As far as I know, sah, Corporal Felicity, private Dominik, private Zolomon, private Konner are captured or killed, with at least five hares I know of unaccounted for - Privates Cera, Nilear, an' Isla. Tha's all I know off in mah group, wot. Haven' tha' time to find out abou' tha' othah group-s, sah! Toads an' frogs attacked Zolomon when he rushed on ahead, and we've been fighting for our lives since, well, till ya came along, o'course, sah..."

The medic hare Julian starts pulling out rolls of bandages from his pack, and begins to wrap it around the stab wound on Terrence's arm. Varus, meanwhile, listens intently, and nods. "That's a sizable numbah t' killed or captured. Y' fought well, though. Agh, but we're goin' t' have t' send a rescue pahty. As soon as possible... I 'ate toads..."

"Thank ya, sah, an' remember t'bally-well sign m'up fo'tha'!" Terrence says with a toothy grin. "Don' wan' to leave m'mates in their slimy clutches any longer than necessary, wot!" He winces as the bandages wrap around his arm, taking a deep breath. "I think in th'othah groups th' losses are mim-mininal," The corporal stumbles over the word, continuing, "Minimal, wot. Think I see jolly ol' private Lackley ovah there, sah, I do..."

Varus squints into the waning light. Stars are coming out. Being out so far from the mountain after dark with so many injured hares is not the most ideal situation. "Mmm, Well, don't die on us, lad. Ah, right... Wherevah Greg is... I need t' find 'im. We're goin' t' make a strategic retreat, wot. We're fahr too exposed out 'ere." He finally sheaths his sabre. Yes, c'mon, all beasts that c'n walk on their own, 'elp those that can't. We c'n get back t' th' mountain in about an hour..." He regards Terrence again. The old Major likes his fire. "An' I'll see about gettin' y' out 'ere f'r th' rescue..."

Terrence beams at those last words. "Thank ya! Don' worry 'bout me, sah, don' plan on dyin' now." In the dark, he pulls himself up on wobbling legs. "Also, sah," The corporal fully focuses on Varus, with some obvious effort, "If corporal Felicity's still kickin' when we rescue them, I think she needs some recognition, wot. Fought braver than th'rest of us, an' I think our group would all be slain or captured if she weren' there, sah...Went down fightin', she did, wot wot..."

Varus nods. Felicity is in his patrol. "She may well be due a commendation, in that regahd," he replies. His group of ten veterans are helping the injured hares get up on their feet, to start the march back toward the mountain. "I'll suggest that per'aps you ought get some sort of recognition, Corporal. So long as y' don't lag be'ind, wot!"

"Oh! Uh, right sah! Won't fall behind, no sah-ee!" Still addled from the knock, Terrence does his best to not 'lag be'ind'. He limps along with the hares, while more able-bodied beasts not helping with those wounded retrieve the bodies of their fallen comrades.

Yes indeed, Varus likes this Corporal. He'll have to try to remain professional regarding the smart up-and-comer. In the meantime there's the slow march home, with the injured... And the dead.

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#1 2019-10-17 11:45:57 AM

Survival Training - LP Log

#2 2019-10-18 04:42:28 PM

Re: Survival Training - LP Log

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