02.28.09 - More Than Enough

Location: Near the western shore

Characters Involved: Darcy, Harper, Magramba, Crow, verminspoofs

They've camped a short walk from the shore, near the bank of the river. Barring any more disaster, the group is due to finally reach Salamandastron tomorrow evening. Darcy has fed Crow and the kitten is asleep in her arms, as the doe walks slowly back and forth just beyond the firelight, letting the steps rock the dozy kitten. It's a clear, calm night.

From the way Harper is pacing, eyes invariably turned towards the not-so-distant shore, Harper is antsy to be on. If it was himself, no doubt he would have continued on through the night. But for the sake of all, they have stopped. But that doesn't help him keep any stiller.

Magramba is sitting comfortably in one of the last trees, nestled up against the trunk, one leg on either side of the limb beneath him. The squirrel gazes out at the sand, and ultimately, the sea, the stars glimmering in his eyes.

Darcy absently pets back the kitten's ears with her fingers, watching Harper, her expression sort of thoughtful. "Hey mister," she murmurs in the buck's direction, "how far are we from the ocean?"

Harper's ears twitch. He glances back. "'Bout an hour," he sighs out.

"... let's. Let's go for a walk?" Darcy suggests.

Harper glances to the sleeping kitten. "What about him?"

Darcy shrugs. "He'll come with. He'll probably sleep the whole way. Like a never ending rocking.. thing." She's not rocking him anymore, just standing still, watching the buck. "I want to see the sea Harp.."

Harper shrugs, then. Nods. He doesn't take much convincing. "Aye, yeah. I'd like t' see it, too." And Harper, already at the point closest to the shore, extends a paw in a gesture for her to come over. He glances to the other two, to see if they have any interest in coming with.

Magramba glances down from the tree. "Now?"

Darcy is getting good at this sling thing. She eases Crow into it and shifts it around so the kitten is nestled against her back, while heading across to Harper. Her hand slips into his.

Harper looks up at Mag. Smirks and nods. "Now."

"So another question," the doe aims at Harper, with a brief glance at Mag's tre descent. "If we'd taken the most direct route - how long would this whole thing have taken?"

Magramba picks up his sword and scoots off the edge of the branch. "Sure, why not."

"Let's not think about that," is all Harper says. Ha. He rubs at his face, smiles a little bit. "Let's just not." He turns to take a few steps in the direction of the water! Waits, though.

And Sivaine is left to chill at camp all on her lonesome. Darcy finds her satchel, slips this over her shoulder, and follows along with Harper, giving him a light tug with their connected hands.

Magramba adjusts his sword for a moment, then starts off after the pair. "I don't see what the big deal is. Why is it that if you get enough of anything together, it becomes 'beautiful?'"

Darcy shoots Magramba a look over her shoulder, bangs in her eyes. "I've just never /seen/ it before, okay."

"I wouldn't say it's /beautiful/, but it's home." Harper grins.

Magramba steps up beside Darcy. "I've never seen the gills Harper uses to live in ocean-home, but that doesn't mean they're beautiful." Grin.

"How is this a discussion of beauty anyway?" Darcy mutters. "/I/ didn't say 'beautiful' did I? .. did I? No, I thought not." She walks with her muzzle angled up, looking toward the star-studded sky.

"... Well it /is/ a little beautiful," Harper allows after a few seconds.

Darcy digs her elbow sideways into Harper's ribs. Lightly. "You really need to make up your mind, mister."

"Beauty seeped out of the world seasons ago." It's a murmur, and Magramba's pace slows, watching his feet churn the sand.

Harper's ears flick. He glances back at Mag, but doesn't say anything. He gives Darcy's paw a squeeze. "Well, I'm a little biased."

"Biased by what, having lived on the shore? I don't think it matters," Darcy says with a shrug. "If you view it for aesthetic beauty rather than with any sentiment.. some things just /are/ beautiful and others aren't. I figure the ocean is probably one of those things." She lifts a brow sideways at the buck. "Guess we'll find out when I see it, right?"

Magramba slows to a stop. "Y'know what, guys." He looks up. "I think I'm just gonna go back to camp. We shouldn't leave Sivaine there by herself, pirates roam the coastline."

"Aye, I guess we will." And then Harper turns, walking backwards. He nods to Mag. "That's probably a good idea. All righ' - we'll see you in a few hours."

"Or .. tomorrow. Depending on if you wait up," Darcy adds onto this, with an expression that suggests she doesn't know /why/ he would. "Pretty sure we'll do better if you're not backpedaling the whole way," she quips at Harper.

Yeah, yeah. He smirks at Darcy and turns. There's almost a /hop/ to his step. "I wondah what Jacob looks like, now. Spirits! He's prolly outgrown me by now." He couldn't sound more excited if he tried. "And Tam. I bet Tam's grown. I /bet/ he has."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Tam was taller than /me/ by now," Darcy responds to this. "And how old's Jacob? I swear you told me but it's not like I remember much anyway. .. now if /Zeraph/ has grown," she snorts, "then we're really in trouble."

"Jacob's... ah. Eight? No. /Nine/ seasons," Harper says with an amazed shake of his head. "He was just a little guy last time I saw 'im."

"Aha. Well let's see.. my brother, hm." Darcy's eyes narrow a little as she thinks about this, doing the calculation in her head. "Just a bit over three seasons now? Maybe? But he's a half-brother anyway. Are we getting close?" Her eyes are ahead, waiting for the ocean to present itself.

"Little guy, eh? Jacob's a half-brother, too." Harper hms. "Mayhaps we could visit /your/ family, next. Get all the awkward out of the way." Ha.

"Uh." Darcy shoots him a skeptical look. "That's all kinds of not necessary. It's just my dad and brother and.. his second wife. The kid was a babe when I left and his mom dislikes me, so. No need, right?"

"What about yer da'?" Harper shrugs.

Darcy shakes her head. "I don't think he'd enjoy having me visit."

"... Aha." Pause. "Not on good terms?" Harper quirks a brow.

"It's complicated," Darcy mutters. She's silent for a little while. "I mean. I'll tell you. If you want to know.."

Since he is being toted everywhere, Crow has less energy than he normally would - so he has been cat napping for most of the travel, chin rested on the doe's shoulder blade and ears flicking in his sleep.

They just kind of show up out of nowhere from the beach. Ten, eleven, maybe twelve vermin, loosely armed and grouped together seem to come across Darcy and Harper. "'ey, that'n's all small. She ain't gonna be no use. And 'im?"

"Shuddap, any beast's useful." A rat spits at the ferret who'd been speaking before. They work their way around the pair, cutting off any getaway rather swiftly.

... Oh, great. That's. Great. Harper grabs Darcy's wrist, pulling her close. And he turns in a circle, but. They're everywhere. "... Okay, look. We don't want any trouble.."

Seriously. Come /on/. Darcy looks not so much freaked out as just annoyed. Oh god does she look annoyed. She fingers the hilt of her dirk. "We've had more than enough recently.."

"Aw, sweet'eart." Obviously the leader, a weasel steps forward towards Darcy. "We don't wanna be no trouble to youse. We just wanna take ya's on a li'l boat ride. 'ow's 'at sound?" The circle of vermin tightens considerably as they close in on the pair.

Meanwhile Crow is playing third wheel to the pair - almost like the spare tire on the back of a Hummer. He isn't really aware of the vermin's suddenly appearance either. Zzz..

Lucky Crow. Harper unslings his bow and draws an arrow, notching it to the string. "We are on a /peaceful/ mission for Redwall Abbey. Why don't you just go your way 'n' we'll go ours?"

"I get seasick." - so says the doe who has never even seen the ocean. Her ears are pinned back. "Really. I'll puke all over everything, it'll be a mess, you'd be /much/ better off just. Leaving us alone." There's the tiniest growl in her voice.

While Harper is unslinging his bow, four vermin are doing the same thing, all sights aimed on the Redwall Brother. The leader chuckles. "Now, now, ain't no need to be a 'ero, me 'earty. I'm afeared it won't be much use anyways."

One of Crow's ears twitches again and then he shifts in his sleep, huffing and settling his cheek on Darcy's upper back instead. One hand has lifted from it's position to settle near his face instead, curling his fingers lightly into the fabric of her jacket. Purrrr.

Harper's eyes narrow at the vermin doing all the talking. His eyes shift briefly to the side at Darcy and Crow. His teeth grit. He doesn't lower the bow, but he doesn't raise it, either. "Please, don't do this." Please? Please, really?

Okay /this/ is worrisome. The bravado ebbs a little out of Darcy's expression. "Harp.." Anxious.

"I think ya best be droppin' that weapon, matey. If ya know what's good for you and yer lass and yer... Kitten?" The weasel grins. "Aye... Aye. I think ya best be droppin' any weapons ya got at all." The four bows focused on Harper don't move an inch.

Darcy's toes scuff the ground, scraping the dirt. "If you /touch/ the kid.. it will be the end of you.."

Harper's jaw sets in an angry line. A hopeless, angry line. He shakes his head, silently. No.

"No?" The leader quietly laughs at Harper. And in a flash he's swinging the butt end of a cutlass at the side of Harper's head.

There is something of a prickle in the air that Crow tunes into now. It causes him to stir, licking at his mouth as he does and still giving the lightest of purrs, but this one more confused than content - as it had been before. Both of his ears perk curiously. There are new people here now. His green eyes lock onto the vermin uncertainly.

Darcy lunges, dirk in hand, with a sudden little spitfire growl as she tries to.. stab the leader. Or /something/.

Oh, Darcy. Don't do that. Harper jerks back from the swing of the weapon butt - which, of course, puts him closer to the vermin behind! It's a vicious circle. Uh. Literally. "Darcy, /no/!"

"Whoa!" The vermin leader steps out of range of the dirk stab, and suddenly vermin are swarming. The captain stays back, shouting at his men to "Keep 'em alive! They're no good ta us dead." They try and snag Darcy and Harper from behind to immobilize them.

.. and so Darcy lunges into a fight with a toddler on her back. This kitten is suddenly rather awake and startled at that. His fur fluffs out as he shoves his palms against her back as if trying to sit up straight. His tail sticks out rigidly behind him and bristles to twice its original size. A hiss escapes the babe and he goes to climb further up the doe's back so that he will not be tangled in the sling. Perhaps he is planning on making a run for it. The vermin are encircling though and he seems.. annoyed.

The first guy to try to snatch Darcy gets elbowed. She has lost her temper, completely. "Don't bloody /touch/ /me/!!" Her wrist is grabbed, the dirk pried from her hold.

Darcy's free arm comes up when Crow climbs, instinctively making sure he doesn't fall from her.

If he could just /that guy/, the /leader/, is Harper's only thought... But instead his arm is grabbed at the elbow and it is twisted behind his back. He spins, dropping his bow, and drives the arrow into the rat's neck. And hey, look, the rat lets go! Exceeeept... there are three more on him in a second. "/Darcy/! /Crow/!" Because yelling their names, that will help.

The rat is left to die. A small group of vermin overwhelm Harper and work on tying his arms behind his back and holding him down. Others go for Darcy, one of them grabbing for Crow to get him out of the way while others look to tackle Darcy to the ground and give her the same treatment as Harper.

It seems that Crow was being rather nice to the two hares when they first encountered him, because the finicky little cat has a bit of a mean streak when threatened. He spits out a hiss while clambering almost onto Darcy's shoulder and then going for the vermin that tries to grab him. The claws have come out and he aims to bite too, sharp teeth fully developed - unfortunately for his attacker.

Darcy does /not/ approve the grabbing of Crow. One of the vermin after her is bitten and shouts angrily while pulling back. Darcy curls her free arm around Crow, getting the kitten close to her, protectively, against her chest. The first arm is twisted until she cries out, forced with a jerk onto her knees, then sideways, held down - having to be pinned because she kicks and twists. Then her other arm is pulled away, behind her as well, and she's struck in the face, dazing the doe while she's hurriedly and roughly bound.

Harper can only do so much. He struggles - and he gets a few punches in and a lunge or two towards Darcy and Crow, just trying to get to them - but it doesn't take long before he too is bound, face down in the sand.

Almost squish. Darcy is not a big doe, but she is larger than the toddler that ends up nearly underneath her for a second there. And luckily he is not clawing /her/ in the process. This hold only protects him so long, though, and then that arm is wrenched away from his body. He tumbles to the ground fully - looking too much like a ball of fluff with teeth and talons. He sprawls a little away from Darcy now to try to crawl off.

They're fighters, alright. Crow almost gets away unnoticed, but there's a stoat that scoops him up from behind just in the nick of time. Harper and Darcy both get nice, thudding kicks to their bodies to try and quit their bothersome squirming, and the weasel leader crosses his arms, watching all of this happen. "Wouldn't this've been /so/ much easier if ya just went along with us?"

"Or /you/ could've chosen less difficult beasts to capture!" Darcy snaps at him, very much a-bristle and shaking a little, muzzle forming a cringing expression. She's pressed on her belly and chest to the ground, face turned to the side, taking heavy breaths and then yelping at a particularly rough kick to her ribs. She twists and curls up, fetal-like.

The toddler is fairly vibrating with the anger within his little body - too strong of an emotion to be properly contained. Crow spats another hiss as soon as he is touched to be lifted and he tries to rend the stoat's arms with those hooked claws. It's hard to hold onto something trying rather hard to bite and rip into you. Feral mode activated.

Of course, each strike or kick to the doe just makes /Harper/ struggle more. It's just a whole big thing. But when he hears /Crow/ hissing, oh. It's on. "Leave him alone! He's just a /babe/!" I mean, come on, a little babytoddler! Sad-faces abound. A knee presses into his back between his shoulder blades, a paw pressing his face into the sand. That's just. Annoying.

The vermin who'd grabbed Crow does not like being clawed or bitten. So, he drops the tyke to the ground, though he quickly reaches down to grab at the toddler by the fur on the back of his neck, ha try clawing and biting now. "Brat."

Oh Darcy is /pissed/. She gives a little noise of 'NNGHHH!!' as she rolls on her back, feet lashing out together, catching a guy in the knees. Hope those caps /break/. Her expression is absolutely murderous. "Don't. You. DARE! Hurt my kitten!" That's right, /hers/.

And the ground comes rushing in. Crow scrapes his knees on that one, though keeping his head from connecting as he sprawls in an ungainly fashion. Ow. He has little recovery time before he is scruffed and hefted free of the earth. "Maaawwwrrrr." He kicks a few times, but this kind of hold is far more effective for a kitten than a cat - feral or otherwise. The youth curls up instinctively, swinging heavily from the stoat's grasp with his ears pinned. Suddenly he is rather docile.

Harper spits out a mouthful of sand, halfway choking on it. He's breathing in angry little bursts, but there's only so much you can do tied up with three vermin on you, isn't there? He turns his face, cheek pressing into the sand so that he can watch Darcy and Crow.

Darcy tosses her head and /snarls/ at the treatment of Crow. She's hit and kicked until she finally shuts up, gasping, shuddering with discomfort.

Crow is a baby and can't do much more than he has. Oh well.

Then the two hares are hauled upright, getting more rough treatment as they're led the fairly short walk to the shore, where a ship waits, and the trio are loaded onto it.