03.02.09 - Potential for Airborne Mustelid

Location: Ruingate Main Square

Characters Involved: Darcy, Harper, Crow, Tobias, Serjian, Soraku, Spyrus, Edge

There's a line of slaves, a dozen or so, all chained together being led into the square from the direction of the gate by a handful of slavers. Darcy is among them, looking worse for wear, exhausted and sore with a kitten in her arms. Her muzzle lifts a little as they reach the square and she looks around, ears pinned back, looking distinctly displeased with this entire situation.

The kitten within the doe's arms looks sick. His ears are settled in a loose position on his head and his eyes are mostly closed, tongue tip showing between parted lips as he takes in ragged, weakened breaths. Crow hangs loosely in Darcy's arms, silent and still with a runny nose.

Harper is in the line of slaves behind Darcy, resting one paw supportively on her back. Keeping her going.

Soraku walks through the square, largely uninterested with most of the goings on around him. Until he sees the slaves that is. He perks a brow and heads over towards the chain, he could always use a new slave and his last mark earned him a chunk of spending money. For the most part the slaves lacked a certain fire that he liked smothering. But there were a few that made him raise a brow. He stands close to the slave line, inspecting each as it passed like a piece of meat. "Would ya look at this wench," he comments when he looks at Darcy with a smirk, "Looks like she has some fight in her."

Edge steps up to the line of slaves silently, black eyes flickering over the slave. He agrees with Soraku although he never even seen him before. "Aye, I kin agree wit ye on tha 'un..." He smiles a little, showing the tips of his fangs. "Betcha she's mean." He adds, paw resting on the pommel of his sword.

Darcy doesn't have the energy to do much to reassure Crow other than just hold him. Her ears pin and she gives a sharp sideways look toward Edge and Soraku. ".. you couldn't afford me anyway," she says with distaste.

Harper bristles, the fur at the back of his neck standing up as they speak of Darcy. "... Back off."

Soraku laughs, "I'd bet she would be fun to break. And a slave of your quality is easily affordable." Then he looks at Harper, "Ahh, this little rabbit has a voice too?"

The Ferret chuckles dryly, taking a step toward the buck. "Ooohoho...She special, matey?" He mocks, leaning close but not too close. "And whatcha gonna do, bunny?" He glances up as he thinks he hears somebeast else coming, taking a step back from the prisioners and giving a nod toward the kitten. "I don't think he is going to bring much." He says, addressing the weasel.

Crow doesn't look quite all there at the moment to need any sort of reassurance. He seems mostly asleep or just plain out of it because no reaction is given to the new vermin's presence at all. Up closer, though, he is seen to be trembling vaguely every so often - though this is perhaps due to being cold?

They're not being rushed through. In fact the slavers are kind of taking their time, slowing. It's in their best interest for the slaves to get attention, anyway. Attention which Darcy does /not/ appreciate. "You know. I'm a redhead. It's harder to 'break' me than you'd think."

Among the crowd, a black-clad marten curls his lip. Slaves. Uncivilized. Ah well. Spyrus makes his way through the crowd, gently pushing and turning others aside to get to where the action is. Anyone worth liberating?

Soraku gives her a rather unplesant grin, "All the more fun for me." Then he looks at the kitten and agrees with the ferret, "You're right though, this one is best left in a gutter." Casting Harper a glance, he looks back to Darcy, "I'd think that taking your tongue would give you a little attitude adjustment. Or perhaps a daily meeting with the nine-tails." He closes his eyes and grins, "Ahh...to spill the blood of a cheeky slave..."

Harper's jaw clenches and he just. Stares straight ahead, at the back of Darcy. "... Just ignore them," he mutters.

Now they're not even moving. Just standing there. They're on display. "I'm trying," Darcy mutters, and grits her teeth.

Try /harder/. But he doesn't say it. He breathes a sigh through his nose.

Soraku looks Darcy up and down, now just trying to get at Harper since he showed that there was something there. "Hmm....throw you to the pens with the male slaves. That would get them to work harder..."

Regardless of his being a professional killer, Edge Alkazz doesn't really like the idea of slaves and he takes a step toward the slaves, pretending to look at a slave beside Harper. "Keep quite and don't stand so straight!" He hisses just high enough that the buck hears him, moving off down the line.

Spyrus flicks his gaze from one to the next. Too cheeky, not enough spirit... hm, a kitten. "How much would the kitten be at market?"

Darcy hugs her arms protectively around Crow when this question comes from Spyrus. "Shove off." Mutter.

Soraku turns and glances at Spyrus, "Maybe a few copper, if that." Then he looks back to the dibbun, "Not worth it though. It'll be too long before he'd be worth a damn."

Ah the first real sign of life! Crow gives a pathetic little mewl of discomfort when he is hugged in closer to Darcy's chest. He huffs a dry note from the depths of his chest then closes his eyes fully. Shiver.

Oop, too much. Spyrus' interest moves on, down the line. Nothing worthwhile today, it seems.

Edge shrugs, stepping back and studying the kitten carefully. "Hmm, young enough, could be turning into a trained soldier..." He mutters to no one is particular, then glances behind him at Soraku, raising an eyebrow to see if he agrees. "I could use him, then...If he wouldn't die until I train him."

Soraku steps closer to Darcy and the kitten. He gives a slight shrug, "Well, with his being very young, you could train him to be whatever you wanted. That would be his only selling point." But then he starts to regard Darcy again, if only to provide more mental turmoil. He gives her another sick grin, "How would you like that, huh wench? Being thrown into pens with nothing but starved male slaves. I'll bet that would curb your attitude." Then he glances at Harper with a sadistic grin, "Might even get you too, let you have a go at her after all the other beasts."

Is less and less liking the idea of slaves, cold hearted as he is in taking lives and he turns to Soraku. "Lay off." He hisses under his breath, taking a few strides away before spinning around to study the slaves more. Taking a life was different than owning one, he was beginning to see this.

Harper just keeps staring ahead. He doesn't say anything, though he's probably grinding his teeth down a bit with the effort.

Darcy twists her muzzle around and fixes Soraku with a cold, cold look. If she had fangs they would be bared. "If you're so interested in 'breaking' why don't you come /closer/, you great big git, and I'll break your face!"

Soraku glances at the ferret and laughs, now paying him no more mind. The ferret obviously didn't know good sport when it was shown to him. He gives Darcy a bright smile, "Such language....tsk tsk tsk." He waves over one of the guards, "Whats the starting bid on this one gonna be?" referring to Darcy.

One of the slavers shrugs in reply. "Hundred silver maybe. She's tiny."

Um. But Darcy? You kind of have a toddler in your arms and that would really not be possible. She's always picking fights when she's carrying Crow. He would protest but.. well, afore mentioned state really does not assist in being alert.

Harper's paw shifts forward, resting comfortingly on Darcy's shoulder. "... It's gonna be okay."

Edge speaks up to the slaver. "What about the kitten?" He asks, arms crossed over his chest and eyelids half closed, agile brain whirring with the effort of quick thinking.

Soraku nods at the slavers words and crosses his arms, "Thats doable." He grins at the hare, "Well my pretty little bunny, you may well be coming back to my home in Jettekstan."

"Ehh...Ten coppers." Is the slavers reply this time....Edge gives a small nod then looks back over the slaves, black eyes resting on Harper for several moments, thinking...

"Great. Jettekstan. Just what I need to top off this /trip/," Darcy mutters. She is glaring daggers at Soraku. Knives. Spiky stare of death.

Harper's ears are flattened back. His wrists are sore from the rub of the shackles. "... It's going to be all right, Darcy. Just. It's going to be all right." His voice is a murmur, meant for her ears only. Not the stinky vermin things.

Soraku nods, "It really is a lovely place." Then he gives her a cold chuckle, "I'm sure you'll enjoy it plenty." Turning to Harper, "And what about you, hmm? Feel like coming along with your love here?"

Darcy flinches a little, and squeezes her eyes shut. She grits her teeth, silent for a moment. What better way to distract herself than sing? So she does. "What do you do with a drunken sailor.."

Ugh, The Ferret only has enough gold for maybe one of the slaves, but he doesn't know which one to choose...The kitten may die if not taken care of, Darcy will be...Yeah...And Harper...Hmm, he could actually survive Ruingate better than the other two. What to do...Or, rather, who to buy. "One fifty gold for the doe and the kitten!" Alkazz roars, woo, he is going to be broke.

Harper's ears flick at Soraku's question. His eyes glance briefly that way, because hey. That'd be a /good/ thing.

Soraku hears the ferret, and looks back at the kitten. This time he gives the little one a closer look. A paw comes up and he rubs his eyes. He points at a guard, "I want to see the kitten closer..." Seems a different tone and attitude has come over the weasel.

"What do you do with a drunken sailor, what do you do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning..." Auugh it's not /working/.

"What in blue 'ellsteeth is goin' on out 'ere?" Serjian is curious and talking aloud to himself. He looks sober enough, which is noteable in itself, as he approaches the gathering. "...We get slaves or sommat?"

"Auction's not til tomorrow, lads," one of the slavers says over the chatter. "Just get a good look now, ey?" And he goes toward Darcy and Crow, to reach and tug the kitten from her grasp. Darcy protests, tries to hold onto him, and gets a cuff in the face for it. "Stupid witch," the slaver mutters, and holds Crow out for Soraku to see him closer.

Crow is mostly hiding in against the doe's chest, ears wilted into black, messy locks and tail tucked between his feet. That is until he is suddenly being wrenched away from Darcy's hold. The kitten gives another mewl of discomfort but the fight is gone from him so when he is free of the hare's arms he just dangles from the guard's hands lethargically. Snuffle. Shiver.

Edge looks at the Kitten, something close to pity in his hard eyes, then they glance back out over the other slaves...Ugh, he had been bad too long, probably wasn't any use to start and try to go good now.

Soraku takes the kitten and looks closely at his face, actually holding him rather gently, then he notices the little ones dirty clothes. A look of realization comes over his face, but it's only evident in a slight widening of his eyes. "Hmm, the ferret might be right with this one. With some training from a young age he could be a vicious fighter," the weasel says, new thoughts of deals and money flowing through his head. Giving the guard another look, "The hare and the kitten a pair deal?"

The slaver shakes his head at Soraku. "They're sold separate. Show up tomorrow if you want one or both."

Soraku nods at the slaver, then looks back at the kitten, "I'll be seeing you tomorrow little one." Then he steps forward and hands him to Darcy, again, alot more gently than one would expect given his very recent behavior. Turning his attention back to Darcy, "And what is it that you can do huh? No more games, tell me and you may stick around this little one past tomorrow."

Someone in the gathering crowd responds to Serjian, "Just showed up, they're being auctioned tomorrow sounds like, Captain."

Stepping up to the beast that responded to him, he nods. "I'm gonna hafta show up for it, then." Not that he particularly /needs/ a slave. But eh.

It's all the same now. Just as long as he doesn't have to walk himself. Crow curls into Soraku uncomfortably and another tremor takes his small form captive. The dirty clothing is only thus because of the treatment his has withstood up to this point and from his travels in the wild before that. The garments are finely knit and more that of a child born into great wealth - even if he does not look it. No reaction is given to the weasel nor to the fact that he has just been passed back into Darcy's arms once more.

Edge has pretty much interest but is now just passing time, strolling up and down the line, paw always resting on the pommel of the rapier.

There's just not much Harper can say or do, aside from his characteristic grimace.

Darcy curls her arms around Crow and cradles him against her chest. She gives Soraku a reproachful look. "I'm supposed to convince you to buy me, is that it?" she says crisply.

Soraku shrugs, "Well, you obviously have some attachment to the little one. So, yes. Convince me that I wouldn't be wasting my money."

Serjian decides he wants a closer look, and walks in front of Harper with an inspecting eye. He doesn't say anything immediately.

Turning around, Alkazz directs his attention back to the doe, ears going forward a little. He admired spirit, perhaps not in the same way as Soraku, but he was wondering how long the doe could go before she broke...He also kept a weather eye on the buck as well. He glances from the kitten to the doe to the weasel, silently.

Darcy stares at Soraku, hard, not at all pleased with the situation. Finally she mutters, "He needs someone to take care of him.. someone he knows."

Harper's eyes fall on Serjian. His jaw sets and he just stares back, silently. Meanwhile he's listening to Darcy and the weasel.

Soraku was distinctly aware that he was being watched. Comes with the job. For now though, he pays no overt attention. He nods, "Yes. And thats one thing you have going for you. One more and I'll be more convinced. Otherwise he's going to be raised by myself and maybe another slave."

It's almost like a staring contest between Harper and Serjian, except Serjian's eyes are more inspecting than piercing. Finally, he breaks the silence between the two. "What d'/you/ do?"

"Unless I get them." Edge rasps, stepping toward the weasel, carefully studying the two slaves again.

Darcy licks her teeth, cringing, like the interaction gives her a bad taste. "He's picky. He's been with us a while.. he'd sooner scratch you than let you care for him.." Her fingers pet at Crow's ear, a little reassuring gesture.

Another one of those Harper grimaces. "Spin plates. I have the Mossflower record."

Soraku gives her a smirk, "Oh I'm sure." Then he looks at the ferret, "That's all well and good, yes. I do like to keep things interesting. But, if the bunny doesn't answer me, I may just let you have her and take the kitten and be on my way."

Cough. Crow is once more cradled into the doe's chest and so this little expelling of air is muffled. His ear flicks at the motion of the fingers over it.

"Amusin'. What can you do for /me?/" Serjian stands up straight next to the hare, measuring his height in comparison to his own. "Aside from potentially breakin' my dinette sets?"

Darcy's eyes narrow. "What other sort of answer are you trying for?" she fairly hisses at Soraku.

Soraku glances towards Serjian, "Like he said, what can you do for me? Aside from care for the young one."

Darcy's nose twitches, fingers moving across Crow's dark hair in petting motions. ".. I'm a healer. For whatever that's worth in an anarchic hellhole like this."

Harper's ears twitch at Darcy's response. But to Serjian he says. "Anything you ask me t'do if you take all three of us."

Soraku nods, "Well, thats a very useful and marketable skill." Then he turns and walks over to the slaver, leaning in close and lowering his voice, "I know that you said the auction is tomorrow, but I also know that selling slaves early is not unheard of for the right price..." He slips a few gold into the slavers paw, "Ensure that the doe and the kitten are not sold early and there will be alot more for you."

"Tchah!" Serjian laughspittles in Harper's face. "What, do I look like Lord Bloody Regent t'you? Don't think you can talk the slavers into givin' me a lower price, do ya? Cause that's the only way I'm gettin' any more'n one o'ya."

The slaver lifts his brows, glancing at the coins in his hand and then pocketing them. He nods. "I'll see what I c'n do."

Harper kind of doubts it. "They're somewhat disinclined t' acquiesce t'my requests."

Soraku nods and gives the slaver a grin, "Trust me. In your best interests." Then he turns away and starts off to find one beast in particular. A beast that would take special interest in the slaves today.

"Disinclined, huh?" Serjian nods, slowly, to hide the fact that he has only maybe half an idea of what either of those big words mean. "...Well maybe if I jus' get you then you can invite the other two over for a play date."

"I don't think I'd do you much good," Harper grunts out.

Darcy's ears rest back along her skull as she focuses on Crow, petting her fingers across his ears still. She sways a little side to side, rocking him. "Hold in there, kiddo," she murmurs, and casts a curious glance over at Harper.

Serjian leans in close to Harper. "Aye? And why not?"

"Because I'm not planning on bein' separated from them," and Harper nods towards Darcy and Crow.

But Crow doesn't look so good. Now he really just looks more listless and nauseous than before, fingers weakly curling into the doe's shirt as he lets her support all of his weight.

Darcy sighs, ducking her head, nosing against one of Crow's pointed ears. "It'll be okay.." One ear is angled up to pay attention to the conversation between Harper and Serjian, and she actually smirks, minutely.

Crow is lingering fairly close to just falling back into an unconscious state, his chest slightly rattling as he breathes - which is more felt than heard due to the fact that the child is pressed against Darcy's front.

"So you're gonna be useless unless you're still with them? Apparently you ain't too savvy on the slave market." Coming from Serjian, that's pretty bad, Harper.

"Enlighten me," Harper replies, humorlessly.

"You see, usually it's the /owner/ that decides what the /slave/ does. Not the /slave/ decidin' what the slave does." Serjian already doesn't like the hare. Didn't your mother tell you anything about first impressions?

"'ey," one of the slavers says to Serjian, "finish it up, we're taking them to the compound."

"Lucky thing I ain't a slave, eh?" Harper says 'sucks to your mother'.

Serjian's a bit flabbergasted by that, but he tries not to show it. Really, he just has no idea what to say. "...Well... You will be tomorrow." And that's it. He steps back, giving a little glare to whoever was telling him to hurry. Nobody tells SERJ to hurry.

"Arrigh', lazy oafs, get moving," one of the slavers calls to the group, and the chained slaves start to move.

Harper just arches a brow at the ferret. Sure he will, that look says. When slave ahead of him starts moving, though, he does too. Because you can say you're not something all you want, but when you're chained up, it's either get moving or fall on your face!

Just as the slaves are being led from the main square, Tobias appears from the direction of the tavern, his long-legged stride brisk, tail lashing. "Hey!"

Soraku trots along beside Tobias, pushing through the crowd and moving strait to the slaver he spoke to earlier, "Hold up now....stop the slaves. The commander wants a look."

And they're stopping again! Harper just looks irritated by the whole process.

"...Heeeeeeeey!" Serjian spins on his heels to face Tobias, assuming that 'Hey!' was for him. "Buddy, you missed it. Got some new slaaaaa..." He hears Soraku and raises his brow. "Oh, alright... Sure, flaunt the title..." Eyeroll.

Darcy's ears give a minor flick in response to the shout. She glances over.

Tobias makes a gesture at Serjian, waving him off, a sort of 'not now' indicated by the motion as he aims for the group. His eyes cut over the slaves as he gets closer, voice nearing a snarl. "/Where/ is he? Where's Crow!"

Soraku steps over to Darcy and Crow, looking strait at the kitten, "Over here Commander Venin." Might as well give him respect in public. He remains silent and gives Darcy a quick wink before looking back at Tobias, forgetting all the others in the square. Yep, pays to know people. He leans in towards Harper and Darcy, lowering his voice a little, "It would be a good idea to keep quiet around that cat, slaves."

One of the slavers narrows his eyes. "None of us're named Crow." It's about /this/ time that the title registers, and he nods. "What is it ye need?"

Darcy has her eyes fixed on Tobias as she responds to Harper, "Not good..."

Harper worries at his lower lip, shaking his head ever so slightly.

The little tom isn't even in the state of mind to hear his adoptive brother nearing them, demanding to see him. The toddler is warm to the touch, but at least he has survived this long. They may be moving or not, whatever, it's all the same.

Tobias's gaze cuts to the slaver that spoke. "Not /you/," he growls, and steps toward the line of slaves, gaze on Crow. He reaches to pluck the kitten out of Darcy's grasp. "Him. ... hey kiddo." He curls the toddler toward his chest, frowning at his sorry state.

Darcy has no choice but to let the kitten out of her grasp, again. She watches closely, leaning a little sideways into Harper.

Weeeeell, that's... not... good? Harper sees this newest development and takes a half-step forward before he restrains himself. Well, the chains do their part too, of course.

Soraku just stands there, waiting for something to be said. He gives Darcy and Harper a glance, knowing that likely, they were going to be split up the next day. That made him grin. He steps inbetween Harper, Darcy, and Tobias, shaking his head at the two slaves.

Serjian's interest is piqued, dismissed as he was. He walks over to Tobe. "'ey, you're not allowed to cheat. The auction's tomorrow."

Frail, rattling breaths escape Crow once he is lifted away from Darcy, coming with the fact that he is disturbed from his half-asleep state once more. Another disturbed, weak mewl escapes the ill child and he paws towards the comforting warmth of the doe as it leaves him. Soon he is cuddled into Tobias though, not even aware of the other tom really.

"Hey!" One of the slavers walks over to Tobias, shaking his head. "No, no no no. We got all of 'em up for auction tomorra, you can get whatever ones you like for whatever price you can then." He reaches out to take the kitten back.

Tobias cups Crow's little form in his arms, one holding his weight, the other cradling the back of his head. He just shakes his head at Serjian, dismissive. The slaver, however, gets a sudden venomous glare and bared teeth. "Take one more step.. or even /think/ about laying your hands on him..." His voice is deep with a thick, threatening growl. ".. I will rip you apart, one /layer/ of flesh at a time."

Soraku steps in front of the slaver, a kunai appearing in his paw and moving to the slavers gut. His other paw reaching for the slavers tunic to pull him closer, "It would be advantageous for you to turn around and send your superior over....now."

Serjian's brows raise. "Mate. You ain't allowed to steal. I don't 'ave ta remind you of this." Moral irony and dilemmas aside, that is.

"... at least he's safe," Darcy mutters, blinking slowly at the big cat and the tiny, tiny kitten in his hold.

The slaver doesn't seem all that commanding anymore. He takes a step back, or at least tries to until he's tugged forward... Into a dagger. "B..." He stares at Soraku, stammering for a moment. "B... Bobobob... Boss! We 'ave a... Situation!" Soon enough a weasel, only marginally more well-dressed than the others, steps forward, grunting, more of a demand to know just what the heck's up anyway?

Harper's paw rests on Darcy's back, the best he can do with the restraining chains. Rr. His eyes are all for Crow, though.

Crow hangs like a broken doll in Tobias's arms, cheek rested against his bicep while he gazes blearily into nothing. His normally brilliant green eyes are glazed over to make them appear more grey. Another little cough escapes the small child.

"Shut up Serj," Tobe rumbles in his friend's direction, the growl hardly abating. "Leave off, weasel," he directs Soraku, and turns his attention to the boss of the group of slavers. "This is my brother. I'm taking him." There's no bargaining to be had from the big tabby.

Soraku pushes the slaver lackey away and resheathes his dagger. He turns and gives Tobias a 'you owe me for this' look. Information is never free in this world. He bows his head to the tabby, "I'll be in touch." Then he turns and starts away, pretty displeased with how things ended up going.

Serjian snorts, and just backs off. "Well /fine/ then..."

The slaver boss stares at Tobias, smirking. "You're kiddin' me, right? You ain't takin' nobeast from me without the proper payment. I'll let you take 'im early for a good price, though..." He's trying to bargain anyway.

Tobias gives the slaver-boss a flat, harsh stare. "Serj," he says, and turns, taking a few steps toward the ferret, "hold him. If you drop him.. I will kill you." He lifts Crow away from his chest to hand over to Serjian.

Serjian almost recoils away from the baby when it's held out to him. At the threat he's quick to grab it and hold it, though it's awkward, both paws around the waist, then sliding to the underarms. "Er..."

Crow gives an arm flail when he is lifted from his brother's chest then he dangles uncomfortably from Serjian's hands as he is held almost like he has something of a disease - well, technically... But either way the babe only hangs there listlessly for a few moments before starting to give choked sounds of displeasure, weakly. He knows he's not secure.

Darcy's hand brushes against Harper's arm, voice low and questioning. "Harp.."

Tobias turns, then stops. He gives Serjian a look. "Arms /around/ him," the tabby directs, and then his attention is back on the head slaver. He takes a step forward. And another. "Let's try this again.. I say 'I'm taking him' and /what/, exactly, do you say...?"

Harper glances briefly to the side at Darcy. His ears are flat back against his skull. He doesn't know what to say.

"I say you give me some /coin/ for 'im an' I let you take 'im!" The slaver boss is not backing down. So he ends up staring /up/ at Tobias, and it's evident who's got the advantage one-on-one here.

"...Er." Serjian shifts Crow, arm underneath his bottom laterally, his other arm around his back, using his torso and shoulder for support, too. It's awkward, but at least more secure.

The kitten huffs as he slumps heavily into the ferret's shoulder and chest, cheek ending up pressed nearly to his neck. A warm breath flutters there and the feverish toddler is quiet again. That's all he needed it seems. Crow begins to doze off once more, turmoil ignored.

"See, I just don't like that," Tobe says with that growl. His teeth show, one hand flexing so the hooked claws slide free. "That would be /me/.. paying /you/.. for capturing and mistreating /my/ brother." He pauses, ears twitching, and suddenly he's starting to grin. "So I figure, you let me take him without a fuss.. or I can do all sorts of really awful things. Things you don't want. Starting with telling his parents - the rulers of Jettekstan, heard of it? - just who is personally responsible for his disappearance."

Darcy says, ".. his parents are what."

Soraku has to stop and watch whats going on. His interest was piqued when he overheard Tobe mention 'kill' before he got too far away. He didn't want to leave the area anyways, the commander owed him.

"Mate, yer mistaken..." The boss gets a little nervous. "I ain't never been to Jettekstan. I found the tyke with these two hares in the middle of Mossflower. I usually ain't in the business of slavin' kittens, but it was that or leave 'im out there alone. I'm a slaver, but I ain't a murderer."

Serjian still looks somewhat awkward, holding the kitten and kind of rocking? But it's more like he's rocking 'cause he thinks he's supposed to than rocking to actually accomplish anything.

Crow is rocked. How.. pleasant? He huffs again and this time it is Serjian's shirt that the kitten's fingers curl into in a loose hold, seeking comfort naturally.

Tobias shrugs, and spreads his arms wide. It'd be a friendly gesture if he didn't look so mean. "... need someone to pin the blame on, aye?" he about hisses.

Harper just looks. Shocked. Well... hey. Good for Crow, eh? He's just moved up in the world from abandoned kitty to a prince or something.

Soraku stands off to the side, watching and listening with his arms crossed.

"What." Darcy just says it again. "He .. what."

"Well blame it on the hares, then." The boss turns and spots the two of them. They're adjacent, so it's easy. "Them, the buck and the short little doe. The doe was carryin' the kitten." Heh, heh! Don't kill me?

Tobias's attention flickers toward the pair of hares, eyes narrowing, his attention thoughtful. A motion is made at Harper to come forward. "Who are you, then?"

Well, he can only come forward so far. Harper takes a kind of shuffling step forward, eyes on Crow rather than the adult cat. "We're from Redwall Abbey," he answers. "We were on our way to visit family on the western shores when /these/ idiots," and he thumbs a paw at the slavers. "Grabbed us."

Darcy lets Harper do the talking. She's preoccupied. Maybe it's the really really big cat a few feet away. Who knows.

Serjian tries to get a look at Crow. Why are you so pathetic?

Soraku raises a brow and looks at the two hares, Redwall huh...

Tobias tilts his head a little to the side. He glances Harper up and down. "You've been taking care of him?"

Pathetic? Because he is. Being branded and then not eating has taken its toll on the small creature. He is just a babe after all. Crow mewls weakly when he is shifted again. Stop moving him. He's sick.

"We have. We have been," Harper says with a nod, including Darcy in this. "We found him during a rainstorm and couldn't find any family, so we took him with us..." And then he breathes out a frustrated sigh. "Stop /talking/ to me and let a healer look at him. He's sick and he's /hurt/ and..." His eyes linger on the small shivering toddler.

Tobias doesn't look exactly pleased by Harper's chastisement. His teeth bare slightly, lip drawn back. "I would've been satisfied by a considerably shorter answer," he says gruffly, and gestures at the slave boss. "Release him. I'm taking him also."

"No, don't take /him!/" Serjian holds Crow still, but certainly not on purpose. "That one's difficult."

"... What. No. Wait," Harper protests. "She helped, too! She's been caring for him and she's a healer. She can help him." Nono, him? A healer? Not at all. What's healing?

The slaver doesn't even look slightly amused. "Wait a tick, cat. You ain't takin' /two/ from me without compensation of some sort." He follows behind the tabby, shaking his head.

Tobias gives Serjian a glance and sort of smirks. The look he gives to Harper is harsher. "Shut up, please." Then he turns toward the slaver, brows up. "My compensation to you is /not/ bringing the wrath of certain royals down on you like the burning rain of hellfire. /Release/ him."

Soraku hmm's. This just keeps on getting more and more interesting.

Darcy's ears twist back anxiously. "No. No, that's not .. no. We come in a /pair/, okay! Two for one!"

"Oh no, royals, hellfire, listen, I sell /them/ slaves, too." The boss is not backing down. Apparently he found a courage backup source. "You know what woulda happened if I 'adn't picked 'im up? He woulda been out in the elements an' died. You should be thankin' me!"

All this drama over such a little thing. A little thing that still looks nauseous. But he's half asleep anyway, so maybe he won't suddenly lose his stomach contents - or lack thereof.

"Is he supposed to thank you for branding him, too? Check his back," Harper demands of Tobias.

Tobias is tired of this. He really is. His mouth opens - and shuts. "... you what." The boss is pinned with a death-look. Tobe turns around, goes toward Serjian, and reaches to tilt the kitten and pull up his shirt in the back.

This was great, you couldn't pay for this kind of entertainment. Soraku continues to watch from the sidelines, wondering what was going to happen next. Only thing that would make this better is a pint and something nice to eat.

Harper fixes the head slaver with a cool smile and an arched eyebrow. That's karma, git.

The slaver tilts his head, taking a deeeep, deep breath. "It's /standard,/ and... I brand /everybeast./" He bites his lip, turning towards Harper and just... /Wailing/ on him, fist coming down to batter at his head repeatedly. "You ain't free yet, rabbit!"

Crow is hot to the touch, especially when his shirt is yanked up in the back. This just exposes his fur to the air and he seems to almost be radiating the heat with Tobias's hand so close to him. There in between his shoulder blades and near to the back of his neck is a branded X mark. It still looks sore though, despite the time having passed since it was burnt into his flesh.

Serjian sort of offers Crow out, but not too far away from himself. "Tobe. Tobeeeee, 'e's burnin' up."

Tobias drops the shirt, and nods at Serjian. "Take him back to my place." He sounds... murderous. The tabby turns, and in a few steps reaches the slaver, snatching for him. He grabs the weasel by the scruff to jerk him back, away from Harper, and send him sprawling on the cobbled ground. Actually he's kind of /hurled/. There is potential for airborne mustelid.

Harper can't raise his shackled arms enough to protect himself and he can't drop unless he wants to drag the other slaves with him - Darcy included - so he just. Falls back a step as he is pummeled - but oh. Hey. The pummeling stopped! He squinches one eye open. Where'd the - oh. There he is. He's flying. Huh.

Soraku can't help it. He starts to laugh at the other weasels predicament. He knew how the Venin family could get, and how unlucky the slaver had just become. All because of him! It was truely fun ruining another beasts life without having to do anything.

Darcy looses a very soft growl as she catches Harper by the arm, keeping him steady. "You okay..?" It's a distracted question, her gaze on the scene in front of them.

Harper's face is a little worse for wear, but. He nods. "... I'm okay," he murmurs. "... Darcy. Darce. Tell him you want to go with him. /Tell/ him, okay?"

The slaver rat flies through the air, thudding to the ground with a loud grunt, wind knocked free from his lungs by the impact.

Surprisingly, being hurled in such a vicious manner has also changed the slaver weasel's species. How about that.

Imagine that.

Serjian nods to Tobe, frowning down at the little cat. If Tobe's cool with you, I'm cool with you. He starts carrying the kitten towards Tobe's residence.

The weasel-turned-rat gets a boot slammed heavily downward into his stomach. Again, and again. Is that crackling we hear the sound of ribs breaking? "Do you want to not /die/ in the next /thirty/ /seconds/?" Tobe snarls, and hauls the species-confused slaver upright, getting his muzzle veeeeery close to his, teeth bared. "... free the buck. And never. Come. Near. My brother again." He releases, shoves.

".. and the doe!" Darcy quips. "The doe! Free the /doe/ dammit!"

Harper finds Darcy's paw and grips it, tightly.

The air doesn't come back all that quickly, considering the boot bashing into his stomach, and then... yes, the cracking of ribs. He grasps at his body in pain, rolling to the side to try and escape the pain. He mouths the word 'stop' a few times, but can't actually form it. He crawls to his knees, reaching for his keys at his side and slowly getting to his feet. "Ok...kay..."

Everyone is cool with Crow! He's tiny and cute and when he's annoyed he fluffs up like a chickadee! He clings instinctively to Serjian as he is carried away from the group and towards his brother's house. Good bye slaves. Good bye vermin. Good bye species-confused slaver with freshly broken ribs.

Tobias really looks like he'd be happy to break some other bones, too. Spine, maybe. Or skull. He waits with his arms crossed. Darcy is just ignored.

Soraku still stands there, chuckling. There is no way that he was going to go up to Tobias and remind him of the debt while he was this mad though. Even if now would be the best time to get away with all of it without paying anything.

Harper is desperate. "Please, sir..." He's imploring to Tobe, here, folks. "The doe, here... her name is Darcy. She's. She's my mate. Please, I... I'll do whatever you ask. Just..." Plz don't seprate us, kthnxbye?

Clink, clink. The key enters Harper's shackles, one after the other, unlocking and unlatching them and freeing his hands and feet. The slaver, while he does this, stares hatefully at the hare.

Darcy squeezes at Harper's hand. "I'm really small and .. and I sing well!" Lie. "I'm a good cook!" Lie. ".. I'm really /nice/..!" ... let's not even comment there.

Harper's paw is still linked with Darcy's. He's not letting go.

Darcy adds, "I don't eat hardly anything!" Okay that one's kind of true. Ish.

Tobias's ears twist back and he fixes Harper with a long look, tail bristled out. "Maybe you should've protected him better," the cat says coldly, and that's the end of the matter. When Harper's free he reaches to take him by the arm.

Soraku just watches the scene with a grin, "Oh. Poor things, two little bunnies in love. Being seperated...truely heartbreaking."

No. Nonono. Harper's ears pin back. He looks at Darcy. And okay he's going for it. He pulls her into a fierce hug, muzzle burying against her neck. The chains clink. "... I'll /find/ you. I'll come. I'll /come for you/. I swear." It's a hurried whisper in her ear.

Darcy takes a shaky breath as she wraps her arms tightly around him, squeezing. "I'll be okay.. I'll be okay Harp," she promises hurriedly.

"Aww... How tragic." The slaver boss sneers after Harper, feeling very much like he got the last laugh in the matter. "Say g'bye to your pretty maid, matey..." He almost swaggers as he says it, maybe from lack of oxygen.

Soraku calls out to the slaver from the anonymity of the crowd, adopting an accent for it, "Cain't go maken fun 'o 'im when 'e could beat ye soundly right now matey!"

Tobias's fingers dig into Harper's arm impatiently, and he yanks to break the hold the two hares have on each other.

Harper gives Darcy a hurried kiss, just before Tobias yanks them apart. Their paws are the last things to separate, and Harper's fingers curl, trying to hold on. But no. Nope. Clearly, Harper is not a man. He cannot hold onto his girl.

"Iloveyou," Darcy mumbles, reaching, tugging against the chains to try to hold on, before the contact breaks. She sags. When did they get this pathetic.

Soraku chooses this moment to come out of the crowd into the foreground where all the drama was happening. He starts clapping slowly for the two hares, "Bravo...bravo....good show 'wot'!"

Tobias yanks Harper around so the buck is in front of him. He shoves his newly acquired slave in front of him, headed toward his house on the residential street.

It was probably around the time they had their freedom taken from them. Oh who am I kidding, they got pathetic long before that. 'I love you, too.' he mouths. And then he's shoved around. He stumbles but he keeps his feet. And he walks, his head turning resolutely back towards Darcy. As much as he can, anyway.

The line of slaves - now minus Harper and Crow - finally starts moving again, aimed for the slave compound. One of the other slaves reaches to pat Darcy's back, consolingly, and the doe shakes off this touch without a word.

Soraku turns and gives Harper a friendly and energetic wave, "I'll take care of her! Don't worry about a thing!" Then he laughs again, turning back to the slave line walking beside Darcy, "And in one fell swoop, lives are ruined. How does that make you feel?"

Darcy gives Soraku a look, but doesn't say anything to him either.

Soraku shrugs, "Either way, I'll be seeing you tomorrow." Then he gives her a wave and blows her a kiss before he starts off towards where he was staying, laughing and singing a song the whole way.

Darcy is not looking forward to it, no she is not.