02-22-06

Characters involved: Darklett, Taye, Quinten, Audri, & Dandelion.

Salamandastron: Infirmary

"Sorry, sah, you still have quite a while in bed. Ya won't be fully healed for a while." Darklett just looks up to the healer giving him the bad news, and his ears flop over. He nods to the healer, who takes this as a dismissal, and walks away. Hrrmph. Already getting restless. Though the healer was right, the major could still barely move without having to wince and grit his teeth in pain. So, the major sits in his cot, still looking quite beaten up and pitiful.

Another pitiful sight has just wandered into the infirmary. Taye walks stiffly into the room, still working off the wear and tear of a poisoned system. However, that is not the pitiful part; the pitiful part is hidden. Beneath a hat. A big, floppy hat, his ears tucked hidden away inside. It's the sort of hat you'd expect to see in Halyard amongst the fisherbeasts. When he enters he scans the room, searching for someone or multiple someones. The way his shoulders slump would suggest he was hoping to stumble across Miyrr, but the way they raise somewhat and straighten when he sees Darklett would indicate he's found the second of the two. He heads over, stopping at the end of the older buck's cot. He salutes, paw knocking into the floppy forward brim of the hat. Grumble-mumble. He centers the hat and nods. "Sah."

Quinten has been spending his free time volunteering in the infirmary again, he's sat on a stool at the far end of the room a pile of unrolled fresh bandages infront of him, he is slowly rolling them up, piling them on a table to one side. He looks up when he sees Taye and smiles softly "Hey Taye," he eyes the hat and is about to say something when he looks at the Major, wondering if Taye knows it was him wjho found them yesterday, and if the Major knows, best not to say anything"

Darklett's eyes sweep the room, and he tilts his head, spotting some scrawny stranger in a ridiculous hat. Psh, they're just letting -any- hare roam around the mountain, aren't they? He leans into the pillows sitting up on his cot and tries to close his eyes, only to have them jarred open by the sound of Taye's voice greeting him. "...Taye?" His eyes go up to the hat, then down to the runner's face. "Hello, Taye." And another glance to the hat.

Fortunately! Taye has on a hat. Or every inch of his shaved ears would be bright red, right now. He squares his jaw, determined to ride this out. The way he looks at Quinten would seem to suggest he /doesn't/ know it was Quin who found him. ".. Hullo, sah. Um. Just... reportin' fer duty. Um. Nothin' much t' report. Everythin' seems t' be in ordah, aaaand..." You know, in the 'oh, silly me, but I suppose I'll mention at least /something/, even if it /is/ trivial' sort of way. "Me 'n' Majah Jarril were captured the othah day, soooo... 'm okay. So that's good, righ'?" And without any pause, his eyes squint and he looks around, as if absorbed. "Oh, hey, have ya seen Miyrr about, sah? Can't seem t' find her anywhere." He makes a soft tsking sound, shaking his head. "I swear, that gel just disappears int' the woodwork, ya know it, sah? Honestly."

Darklett's brows furrow, all while Taye is talking unable to keep his eyes off the big floppy hat. That is, until he mentions the part about Taye and Jarril being captured. Everything after that is just thrown out the window. "...Taye? You were captured? And Major J... Wha...?" He is clearly confused, here. "...Why are you wearing that hat?!" he finally asks, just a little more overwhelmed than an injured, cot-bound hare should be.

Quinten stands up and walks up to salute "Sir....i can report me and a group of recruits found the Major and Taye on the shore yesterday.....we brought them back in and the Major took over" he lets his paw fall, he's refrained from saying anything at all after the Major's veiled threats but now Taye has told someone it should be safe enough to say something

"So that's a /no/ on the seein' Miyrr front..." With a soft click of his tongue to the top of his mouth. His eyes narrow thoughtfully and he tilts his head up, considering the ceiling. "Ummmm... well. They /kinda/... shaved m'ears. A bit. A little bit. Soooo..." He shrugs and glances back down, one eye almost squinted shut and just kind of peeking at the major in question.

Darklett just blankly stares at Taye, trying to take this all in. "...You got captured. But... now you're back. Only with shaved ears..." He shakes his head, and rests back into the pillows again. "...How in the world did you let that happen to yourself?" He asks, pointedly, to the runner, still looking in a state of disbelief.

A dough covered squirrel rushes into the infirmary just then, not taking note of the hares present as she dives under a cot, pulling the blanket down to hide her presence. A hare cook is the next to enter the infirmary, also covered in dough and little vegetable bits. His narrowed eyes scan over the hares. "A'right! Where's the little devil at?"

Quinten looks at Taye with interest, the Major wouldn't give them any answers when they foudn them yesterday and he really wants to hear how it happened.

Dandelion comes walking in, munching on a cookie, another cookie in his other paw. As he spots the cook, he quickly hides both paws - and cookies - behind his back, and goes to stand with his back against a wall, looking inconspicuous.

Taye's ears twitch under the hat. He grimaces at the conversation, finally giving in to the embarrassment factor. He's beginning to notice the growing number of creatures in the room, especially at the entrance of the cook. He folds his paws together behind his back, looking down. "Well, I was hel- uh. That is, Majah Jarril 'n' I were walkin' back from Halyard Village. Aaaand... just all of a sudden outta no where, it musta been five beasts popped right outta the sand 'n' shot blow darts at us. I thought I was dead fer sure." He shrugs uncomfortably. "Woke up with a sack ovah m'head 'n' all chained up. They... whoevah it was, asked a buncha questions, sah - jus' /real/ weird ones. I didn't tell 'em anythin', but..." He pauses, glancing off to the side. After a few seconds, he shakes his head. "I didn't tell 'em anythin'. Next thing I knew was wakin' up in m'dorm. Guess someone brought me 'n' Jarril in."

Darklett's face twitches, watching the squirming runner and glancing around at the filling infirmary. Knowing just how much it -stinks- to be embarrassed in front of lots of other beasts, Darklett quells his curiosity, and just nods. "Good job on not telling them anything. Very brave..." He nods to Taye, and looks around at Quinten. "Next time, recruit, I'd like who I asked to explain themselves to do so. Taye's an officer, he can speak for himself."

The cook peers around the infirmary once more, finally giving a grunt under his breath before stalking out into the hall, uttering dark mutters to himself. Audri, who's been hiding under the cot, finally pokes her head out, eyes going straight to Taye..who is wearing a hat. o.o Not wishing to interrupt the conversation, she crawls out from under her cot, taking a seat upon with perked ears.

Quinten raises a paw in salute, standing at attention, great was just trying to help and now the Major's delfecting Taye's embarassment by rillaing on him, great, he looks at the cook and then Dandelion before looking back to Darklett "Yes sah...sorry sir was just trying to help" he manages to not glare at Taye and walks back to his stool and bandages.

As the cook leaves, Dandelion pulls out his cookies again. Spotting Quinten's glance, he discreetly holds out the cookie for him, offering it.

Taye sends an apologetic glance to the side at Quinten, but at the not-glare he blinks and looks away. Meh. But then again, his eyes rest on the dough-covered Audri, so that's not so bad, is it? He grins very slightly and his ears twitch under the hat once more. But before he allows himself to greet the squirrel, he turns his eyes to Darklett again. He salutes. "Thank ya, sah. I should've been watchin' out more carefully, but that'll teach me fer next time." Pause. "How're ya feelin'?"

Darklett nods again to Taye, before he spots a rather messy squirrel out of the corner of his eye. Huhuh. "Hey, Audri." He gives a brief smile to her, before turning it back to Taye, trying not to laugh at the question. "I'm feelin'... Well, I'm feelin' like I've got ten or eleven holes in me, Taye..." He smiles in good nature, and laughs a bit, only letting out one chuckle before his body reminds him that that wasn't a good idea. "Mmf."

"'lo da." Audri murmurs, offering a small grin before attempting to pluck bits of various vegetables out of her fur. She glances over to Taye again, focusing on the floppy hat with a head tilt. "Taye, what are ya wearin' that hat?"

Quinten looks over at Taye and the Major and sighs, flickig his ears back and turning his attention back to rolling bandages, he never thought Taye was that ungrateful, either that or he's just not been paying attention to a thing Quinten said. He looks at Dande and shakes his head at the offer of a cookie.

Dandelion shrugs and puts the cookie in his own mouth instead. More cookie for him. He, too, has been casting curious glances at the hat, but hasn't said anything, and still doesn't, mouth being full of cookies.

Taye looks even more uncomfortable at Audri's having asked the question. He looks briefly to Darklett for help then ducks his head, smooshing the hat down with a paw. "Uh..." He squints, searching for an answer. Eventually he glances up, looking vaguely hopeful. "Well, why're /you/ covahed in dough?" Because that's a valid answer.

Darklett is about to step in and talk for Taye, until the runner gives that morsel of absolute genius. He keeps himself shut up, then looks over to Quinten with a bit of concern. Meh, he's just being too sensitive. He listens between Taye and Audri, content to keep quiet for now.

Audri nose crinkles, lips pursing thoughtfully as he avoids the answer. Hm. "My pie exploded cause I forgot to put holes in it." Audri finally offers, giving up on trying to remove the dough from her form. "It was quite a sight really. Though I think the cooks are gonna ban me from cookin' again."

Quinten shuffles back across the room carrying an armful of rolled bandages and puts tem in a cupboard, closing it he moves back carrying a fresh set of pillow cases "Excuse me Major need to change those pillows" he looks at Taye and smirks in good humour again "I could tell you why he has a hat on Audri"

Dandelion grins at the memory of the sight of it - him having been there, and taking advantage of the confusion to raid the cookie platter. He almost manages to not snerk.

Taye sends a forbidding look Quin's way, shaking his head in short, sharp little twitches in the pathetic hope that only Quinten will notice them. Ahem. Right. He looks back to Audri, putting on an over-enthusiastic grin. That is /fascinating/, his look says. "Reeeeally? Well, that's too bad, Audri. Mayhaps they'll get ovah it, though. Just a mistake, 'n' all." Nod. Nodnodnod. Shupt, Quin! XD

Ooh. Darklett's ears flick, and he glances quickly from Audri to Taye to Quinten, the latter lingering, watching if he's really going to say... The major tries to hide emotion from Audri, so as to not drop any hints, but he doesn't look like he'll be very happy with Quinten if he squeaks. O___O

Audri glances to Quinten, a slight frown appearing on her face. "If he doesn't want beasts ta know, ya shouldn't be off tellin' 'em since it ain't none of ya business." Rawr. Her attention turns back to Taye again, head slightly tilting at his odd behavior. "Yea, maybe. But it left huge mess 'n a few of the cooks got hit by the explodin' pie."

Quinten grins and winks at Audri "Why he's got nothing to hide, Its because its cold up ontop of this mountain and with such big ears we get cold pretty quickly why else would he wear a hat" he winks at Taye and then tries to get his paws on Darkletts pillows so he can replace them.

Taye looks... relieved. He doesn't look directly at Quinten, though. Hmmm. He does, however, just about die trying not to grin out of his head at Audri. He takes a couple steps her way to stand beside her and hooks an arm around her shoulders, giving her a playful shoulder-shake. "We-ell... if looks could kill, all o' us hares'd be dead at the paws o' those cooks. I wouldn't worry about it." And because he just /can't/ help it, he goes in for a headfur noogie. Beam. XD He apparently doesn't mind the mess. Mm-hm.

Dandelion nods in agreement with Taye, cheeks temporarily puffed up from trying to gobble down two large cookies at the same time.

Darklett's ears, which had been perked in alertness, fall over as soon as he hears Quinten's explanation. The stern glance turns into a proud one, giving the recruit a nod of approval and a smile while Taye's got Audri occupied. "Hey, Taye... Not too hard, wouldn't wanna yank her headfur..." Grimace. "Hey, Quinten, you've been volunteering a lot here. What's up?"

Audri gives a very doubtful look to Quinten, rolling her eyes with a sigh. She leans into Taye at the shoulder shake, head dipping in a slight nod. "That's true. I'll just avoid the kitchens for a few days though just ta be safe." Eek. Audri squeals at the noogie, eyes scrunching shut as she tries to push away from the runner while her tail thrashes.

Quinten smiles softly at Audri and Taye and can't help but stand a little taller at the nod from the Major slipping the injured hares pillows back into place "not got much else to do sir, With you in here and the Lt. several of my classes are cancelled and i can only do so much extra practice so i wanted to help out"

Darklett leans back more comfortably on the resituated pillows. "Good work, then, Quinten. Just don't get rusty, heh. There're plenty of other recruits around the training room to spar with." It's not scolding, it's more of a... well, one of those officer to subordinate moments. "I plan on giving you your exam as soon as I'm out of this here cot, you got it?" Grin.

Taye laughs at Audri's reaction, but relents and releases her after ooooone final noogie. It's a gentle one, though, as per Darklett's request. He grins cheekily at the messy squirrel, explaining. "Had t' make up fer not seein' ya fer a few days." Mm-hm.

Quinten freezes in place for a moment at the Major's words and salutes him "I won't get rusty sir, most of me day is still spent in the training room..i'll prove i can pass sir" he's smiling now, all grumpy teenage angst forgotten, he grins over at Dandelion "Did ye hear that?" trying to keep his eagerness in check, best not to appear to eager.

Oops, he's flushed out. Dandelion coughs quietly to make his prescence known officially, and he steps into the room proper, saluting Darklett as he does so, pretending he just arrived.

Audri is quite the fluffball now, looking in desperate need of a bath. She gives Taye a light shove, attempting to smooth down her hair. "Yea yea. Ya could of y'know just given me a hug or somethin'." Audri mumbles, nose crinkling. "Ooh! I forgot ta tell ya, the boat's finally been painted."

Darklett grins at Quinten's -obvious- eagerness. :P Then, he looks towards Audri to hear the news of the famed boat! Of course, bad dad that he's been, he has no input, but listens intently, although in the background.

Quinten leans forwards and around Taye and smiles at the squirrel "Wot boats this little miss? if i can ask?"

"Well, I did give ya /half/ a hug. So." He grins at the shove, giving with the pressure and stepping to the side. He gives his shoulder a mock-painful rub and makes a face at the squirrel, but at word of the boat he grins. "Oh yeah? What colah?"

"My name is Audri, not /little miss/. 'n its one I fixed up." Audri replies, tailtip twitching as a small frown appears. "Oh, its blue with a white trim. With all the trouble on the beach lately, I haven't gone down to try it out. But ya 'n Dark half ta come try it with me sometime."

Dandelion smiles at Quinten, and then turns back to Darklett. "How're ya feeling, sah?"

Quinten raises his paws "Sorry Audri now i know your name i will never call you little miss again wot." he grins back at Dande and flicks his ears from side to side.

Darklett winces at the question Dandelion asks him, and he shakes his head with a grin. It's hard to keep coming up with responses to that one. "I feel like I was tackled by a wildcat and just about clawed to death." Grin.

Dandelion eardroops at the major's comment, and deflates a little, shamefully. "Ah... I'm sorry about that... I tried to stop'im, but..."

Taye looks impressed, but at mention of the beach he sobers, soemwhat. "Keep that up, a'right? Don't go out on that beach without at least a coupla othah beasts, 'n' keep an eye out fer... things." Erhem. He nods, scruffing at the back of his head. Blush-blush. He is distracted by Dandelion's sudden embarrassment, though, looking around at the other buck. Brow-quirk.

Quinten turns his head back to look at the Major and stands up "Can you move sir? or are you still stuck in the bed permanantly? I really should change those sheets" he looks at dande and blinks "You were there? when it happened? the attack?"

Audri nods, rubbing at her arm idly. "I will. I don't wanna cause any trouble or anythin'." She glances over at Quinten's request, ear perking up. "I don't think he should be movin' just yet.'

Darklett shakes his head. "Hey, Dande. Don't worry about that... I drew his attention to me on purpose. I just wasn't expecting him to be wearing chain mail." He winks at the hare, and shakes his head again to Quinten. "No, no, I really can't move any of my upper body without a large amount of pain... The sheets are fine, though, heh."

Dandelion turns to Quinten. "Ah, I wasn't supposed to, but I sorta... wound up in it." he says, chuckling nervously.

Quinten nods at Audri "Your right after those words he shouldn't be moving at all." he frowns "I can change your top sheet though sir, it doesn't do for sick to have the same sheets for too long." he then shoots an envious look at Dande "Lucky you, i was sat in the library all evening."

Dande is indeed the much-envied buck, today. Taye looks almost green with it, but he does his best to grin. "Good on you, mate. What'd you think of it?"

Dandelion turns to Quinten. "Lucky? I was lucky to survive! I tried ta skewer that wildcat, an my spear broke on his shield and I fell over in the sand... And he would've killed me if the major hadn't jumped 'im... and then there was this rat..." Dandelion's voice rises in volume along with his excitement, and he starts to gesticulate wildly - until he remembers where he is, and falls into an embarrassed silence. "Uh... I'll... tell you later."

Audri grows silent, continuing to rub her arm while her ear remains perked at the talk.

Darklett didn't know he saved Dande's life, too. Huh. Well, that makes him feel a bit better, but he looks away, avoiding being on the receiving end of too much praise.

Quinten removes Darklett's top blanket and then tucks a frehs clean one back around the Major "Well you still go to go into a real battle....i can't wait to hear more about it Dande." he smiles at his friends, ears splaying sideways

Taye looks away at Dande's discomfort, glancing to the side at the quiet Audri. He nudges her, gently. "A'right?" Mutter.

Audri shifts on her cot, her happy mood seeming to fade with all the battle talk. Her eyes glance over to the door, whiskers twitching thoughtfully. Audri's attention turns back to Taye, giving a nod and a small smile. "Yea, I'm fine."

Darklett nods to Quinten in thanks, and looks over to Audri, ears folding over at their tips as he hears Taye ask her if she's alright. Seeming to think her response good enough, he looks back to Dandelion and smiles. "They're right, you know. That's somethin' to be proud of."

Dandelion squirms a little. "Well... I didn't -do- much, sah..."

Quinten says, "You were still there and you helped out Dande that counts for alot""

Dandelion smiles. "Thanks. Maybe next time I'm ready for it too..."

Taye's lips twitch in a slight, worried frown at Audri's response. His arm snakes around her, again, but he doesn't say anything more about it. He manages a slight smile for Dande's sake. "Aye, mate. Ya should've seen me at my first battle... It gets easiah as ya go along."

Darklett smirks at Dandelion, and looks back to Audri. "Hey, c'mere, Auree." His lips spread out a smile as he beckons her over.

Quinten grins "Well i got to buckle down and get in some extra revision before the Major is back on his feet" ears flicking radily at that thought, he steps out of Audri's way so she can reach the bed

Dandelion nods. "Yea, and I'd better get back to chores..." he says, and - saluting the major first - starts to turn to walk back out.

Audri leans against the runner as the arm goes around her, still rubbing her arm. Her ear perks, glancing over to Dark before sliding off the cot to walk over to him.

"Hey," Darklett says, shifting in his bed and smiling at the squirrelmaid. "How're you doin'?" He leans in and whispers in Audri's ear...

Taye watches Audri sit beside the major and grins at the both of them. He nods to

Quinten then, and jerks his head to the side and away from the two. "'Ey, Quin. Think ya could give me some help ovah here fer a moment?" He takes a couple of steps in that direction.

Quinten moves to the next cot, replacing the bedding on it he looks up as taye speaks and nods, walking over to stand next to the othert buck, looking up at him "Sure i can taye"

Audri shifts a bit, chewing her lip before leaning in to whisper a reply.

Darklett's ears twitch at Audri's response, and he gives her a little nod, leaning back in to whisper back.

Darklett grins, and gives Audri a little nuzzle to the ear as he leans away with a sigh.

Taye pats Quin on the shoulder as he comes to stand next to him, directing the other buck away from the the small family conversation. He also takes the moment to nudge the other in the shoulder. "Thanks fer not tellin' Audri, mate."

Quinten lets himself be led away oblivious to Taye's ulterior motive "Yer welcome Taye, was glad i could help get you and te Major back inside, so wot did you need me to help yuo wit?"

Audri grins, face slightly cheering up. "Is there anythin' ya need at all?"

Taye grins a bit. "I need ya t' help me with givin' those two some privacy, s'all. Thanks." He gives Quin another hardy pat on the shoulder. "Thanks fer that too, mate. 'Tis kind of an... embarrassin' situation."

Quinten smiles and nods "Oh sorry, i should have been paying attention and moved off myself" he looks at the hat again and gives it a tug as its riding a bit high "How did they get you? was it really with blowdarts? and why did they let you go?"

Darklett grins widely at the squirrel, shaking his head. "Nothin', really... Maybe if you could just bring me some water, but that's all. You know, when I get out of here, I'd really like to see this boat of yours, maybe you could take me out for a bit," he suggests.

Audri nods, glancing around before spotting a pitcher. She walks over to it, quickly pouring a small glass for the buck before going back over and taking a seat upon his cot. "Here ya go." Audri says, handing him the glass while her smile grows. "That'd be fun. I'm hoping it'll stay afloat."

Taye moves over to an empty cot; the infirmary has been emptying out day-by-day. He nods to the empty cot opposite. For the sake of this little chat. "Yeah, they took us out with blow darts... I /honestly/ thought I was dead. Nevah been so terrified in m'life." He grins faintly and shrugs. "And... I dunno why they let us go. I don't know they captured us. The questions they asked were the sort I wouldn't mind discussin' over an ale in Halyard, y'know? So... I dunno. 'Twas confusin', Quin. I don't think I'll evah undahstand it. I'll jus' be glad t' have gotten out alive."

Darklett takes the glass and raises it to his lips, drinking before talking back to Audri. "Of course it will, I bet you did a great job building it... Hey, do you know how to swim?" Ha, -thank you,- Taye. :P

Quinten sits down on the cot opposite and shakes his head in bewilderment "Your right...it doesn't make much sense...if they didn't even want any sensitive information. What was te point...maybe they learnt someting your not aware of? Imean wat did they get out if it except for some enemies now aware of them and a load of..." he glances at the hat yyou can almost hear the words /ear fur/

Audri's ear flickers, glancing over to Taye worried as she catches bits of his conversation. Her attention turns back to Dark, nodding again though her smile has weakened. "Um..not yet actually. Taye was suppose ta teach me, but things kinda got busy 'n stuff."

Darklett's ears perk, and he smiles. "Well, hey-- maybe when the spring gets here, and it gets warmer... And I'm out of bed, maybe I can teach you how to swim. It's easy, really... and I wouldn't want you out there in that boat without knowing how to swim!"

"Really? That'd be great iffen ya could." Audri says, mood perking up again. "Have ya ever gone boatin' before?" She shifts on the cot, pulling her legs up to sit indian style.

Darklett shakes his head. "No, that'll be a first for me, heh. But nothing to worry, you look like as seaworthy a squirrel I could ever meet..." He grins playfully at Audri.

Audri grins, tailtip twitching behind her. "Thanks. I named the boat after that ol' hare friend of yours. The one who rescued me." Her nose crinkles thoughtfully then, paw going back to rub her dough covered arm. "Oh, I wanted ta ask ya somethin'. Um..do ya think when ya're better that maybe ya could give me some tips on throwin' daggers maybe? Cause I kinda been practicin' but I don't think I'm doin' it right."

Taye shrugs, a little miserably. "I dunno, Quin... Mayhaps. There was nothin' I could see as useful, unless they were lookin' for ways to badmouth the patrol. Majah Jarril, he-" But he pauses. And shakes his head. "Nevah mind. 'Twas just a bad time, all around. Not somethin' I'd want to repeat."

Darklett's ears twitch in a melancholy fashion as she talks about Duncan, but... Hey, this is supposed to be happy time, so he cheers up quickly enough. "Oh, you want to learn from the master, then?" He grins, shifting against his pillows. "I'll be glad to show you once I feel comfortable with throwing again." At the very least, he looks amazingly proud that the squirrel's following in his blade-slinging footsteps.

Quinten leans over from his cot and pats Taye's paw "Best to ferget about it Taye its over an your back safe and sound, we can see about keeping your secret, we got to find a way to do it without the hat....its not really uniform"

"Yea. Ya are the best blade thrower I know in the patrol 'n all." Audri replies, eyes glancing over to Taye again before returning to Dark. "Ya ever gone fishin'?"

Darklett looks over at Taye too, this time. Hmm. Talk -quietly,- guys. :P "Oh, I'm a -real- good fisher... Well, at least I -was.- I haven't done it since I joined the patrol, to be honest, heh. We'll have to do that out on your boat, how about that?"

Taye blushes at mention of the hat. He lifts his paw to it again and almost looks like he'll tear it off. But with a glance sent to Audri, he hesitates and lowers his paw once more. "I'll figure somethin' out." He, at least, is doing his best to keep his voice low.

Audri nods, smiling lighting up her face. "Sounds good ta me. If the cooks let me in the kitchens again, I can cook what we catch." She says, missing the glance from Taye, though her paw seems to be rubbing her arm awful hard.

Quinten keeps his voice low this time as well, shooting a glance at the family and nodding "Maybe a bandana? can get away with one of them, and its more secure too"

Darklett grins, and nods. "That's a great idea..." Hm, what's with this rubbing? "Hey, don't rub too hard. You'll need to get a bath to get that stuff out, I bet, don't want you to pull out any of that fur of yours, eh?"

Taye noticed the rubbing, too, even from this distance. With a puzzled frown, he looks back to Quinten. "... Mayhaps. I s'pose I could jus' claim a headwound or somethin', wrap it up with bandages or somethin' 'til the fur grows back..." For /this/, he keeps his voice /very/ low.

Quinten taps his nose keeping his voice just as low "Aye that you could, i'm sure you can do someting...and did you hear waht the Major said? about me exam? what do they test you on? they won't say"

Audri hms, glancing at her paw, biting her lip while she places them on her lap. "Yea, probably should go see about that soon. I don't want it ta be stuck in my fur forever." She mumbles, tailtip resuming its twitching.

Taye grins and shrugs amiably enough. "Dunno, mate. Guess you'll have t' wait 'n' see like everyone else, huh?"

Darklett grins. "Yeah, imagine everybeast's surprise when your arm starts baking on a hot summer day, hah!" Ouch! Wince.

Quinten prods Taye in the arm "Thats no fair or do they test every recruit differnetly?"

Audri giggles. "Yea it would." Her eyes linger towards the door again, whiskers twitching. "I..think I might go see if the baths are free so I can get this dough off. I'll be back tomorrow though."

Darklett smiles, giving off a small, quiet grunt of pain as he lifts his arm to place his paw on Audri's shoulder, trying to pull her in for a hug. "Alright. I'll see you then, looking forward to it."

Audri goes into the hug, smiling faintly. "Get some rest, and I'll try to bring ya some candies when I visit." She says, as she draws back. "See ya tomorrow da."

Darklett lowers his paw to his side, ears flicking. "Heh..." Well, she didn't call him Dark. "...Heh." He grins and nods. "That'd be great, Audri. Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams."

Audri grins, nodding again as she slips off the cot. "You too." And off she goes.

Taye grins. "Depends, mate. I mean, m'second test fer promotion to recruited ended up bein' a live battle, so... yeah. I s'pose it can change from beast t' beast." He leans forward, patting Quin on the shoulder. "You'll do jus' fine."

Darklett watches Audri leave with a wide grin on his face, ears upright and even swaying a bit. Leaning back once she's gone, his footpaws flick back and forth underneath his sheets, and his eyes look around the room, the major looking in higher spirits than he's been in since he was first brought into the infirmary.

Quinten smiles and nods his head "I'll just have to wait and see then have to hope the Major gets well soon" he grins and stands up "Well if you can excuse me Taye i got to report for a class"

Taye watches Quinten go off, then glances back to Darklett and Audr- oh. Where'd she go? He blinks, standing and ambling back across to the major. "Where'd Audri run off t', sah?"

Darklett just grins up at Taye. "Washin' the dough out of her fur." Grin, grin, grin. "Taye, I owe you one. Thanks."

Taye looks a teeny puzzled, having not been listening closely to their conversation. He seems to understand what he's referring to, though. He shrugs it off with a grin. "She seems happiah lately," he notes. Grin-grin.

Darklett smiles proudly up at the runner, still looking just plain giddy. "I'm glad. I need to make those past seasons up to her, heh. What better time to do it than now, when I can't leave this cot, let alone the mountain?"

Taye grins at the major's giddy mood. "Just be careful she doesn't fatten ya up too much with all that bakin' she's doin'..." He trails off, glancing towards the door. He worries at his lower lip thoughtfully. "... I s'pose I owe it t' her to tell her what happened. Sah? Will ya be all righ' if I go?"

Darklett looks towards the door along with Taye, and sighs. "Guess so. Ah, yeah, I'll be alright, think I'm gonna grab some shuteye, anyway." He lifts up the glass of water, and pours some in his mouth, swallowing. "Thanks again."

With a nod, Taye steps back. He offers a salute. "... Welcome, sah." With a surprisingly cheerful grin for a lad with shaved ears, he turns and heads for the door. He pauses long enough to wave before he disappears through.

Salamandastron: Crater

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

You are on the very top of the mountain of Salamandastron: a large, bowl-

shaped crater. The crater is not smooth, quite the contrary in fact.

Numerous boulders and large chunks of rock are strewn around randomly,

making the crater top just as craggy as any of the mountainside. The

crater provides an outstanding view of the surrounding country. The sea

sprawls off to the west as far as the eye can see, and north and south

along the endlessly rolling sand dunes. In the distant east, a tinge of

green is just visible from this height, marking the vegetation in the

foothills of the Western Mountains.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Visible Exits:

[N]ortheast [M]ountainside [Down] to Third Level

A light drizzle falls from the heavens tonight, the rain drops pit-pattering against the cold rock. The usual occupant of the crater is here this night, oddly pacing back and forth while her paw furiously rubs at her arm. And she's still covered in dough.

Taye comes out into the drizzle, blinking and ducking his head. He knows this is where he'll find her, though, and so he continues out. He sees her, pacing, and walks quietly across to her, one paw up to shield his eyes against the sprinkle. He looks one way and then the other, his worry for her earlier returning. "... Audri? Are you a'right?"

Audri stops her pacing, her lone ear flicking upon hearing his footfalls. Her paw continues to rub her arm, the small patch looking irritated underneath as she turns around to face him. "No, I'm not." She mumbles, body trembling slightly. "What happened ta ya out on the beach? I heard something about bein' captured 'n vermin 'n ya wearin' that goofy hat. First I thought ya lost yer ears, but then ya wouldn't be able ta hear then I thought what if ya just lost one."

... Awr. Taye shuffles a couple steps closer, his eyes wide and worried as his paw drops away from his face. "... I. I didn't mean fer ya t' hear all that, Audri." He bites at his lower lip, then in one movement reaches his paw up, slowly tugging the hat off. It slides first off one shaved ear, and then the other, until the hat comes away in his paw. He lets it drop to the ground, his eyes lowering to it. He doesn't look up, nor does he say anything more.

"Its alright. I was kinda listenin' in on the conversation some so its partly my fault." Audri mumbles, paw still furiously rubbing her poor reddened arm. Her eyes widen when the hat comes off, tears welling up in her eyes as she stares at his ears in shock. She's quite for a moment, biting her lip before mumbling softly. "Ya should play it off like ya got an ear infection 'n just keep em covered with ear warmers."

Taye doesn't look up. "I didn't... didn't want folks t' laugh." He shrugs helplessly and finally does look up, his ears looking more pathetic with the rain drizzling on them. There are little shaving nicks in places, though they've scabbed over. "Was afraid /you'd/ laugh, though I s'pose I ought to've known ya wouldn't." He reaches up a paw, rubbing nervously at one of the offending ears. "... Heh. Think I might jus' have Quinten brain me one so I c'n legitimately say I've got a head wound. Wrap 'em up."

"Taye, I wouldn't have laughed at ya. I would have helped ya find a better way to hide em than a hat." Audri says quietly, finally letting her paw drop from her arm as she grabs the hat. Taking a step closer, she gently places it atop his head with a small smile. "I think we could find a better way then havin' ya get knocked in the head."

A smile dares to find its way onto his face and he ducks his head, looking humbly down at her as she replaces the hat. He sets his paws atop her shoulders and leans forward and down, placing a fond kiss to her forehead. "... Yer the best, Audri. Really." He releases her and steps back, his smile now grown. "... I need t' report for sentry duty. Will ya be around in the mornin'? I'll tell ya all about the last few days, I promise."

Audri blinks her eyes some at the forehead kiss, cheeks flushing ever so slightly. "I do what I can Taye." She nods at his question, rubbing her arm again. "Course I will. Just look in the library for me."

Audri's words get a laugh, and Taye takes a step back with a shake of his head. "Ya know, m'pretty sure this cratah 'n' the library don't exist unless yer in 'em." With a smile and a wave, he turns, jogging for the mountain entrance, where he ducks inside.