06-20-05

Characters involved: Taye, Lily, Audri, Drais, & Noxtooth.

Western Shore

The birds are chirping, the sun is rising, and... two of the younger Sala residents are on their way to Halyard. Taye is presently using his staff as a walking stick of sorts, as well as occasionally using it to launch himself into the air. You know, the whole "stick stick in ground and propel self over it" game. Indeed. The true picture of a Long Patrol hare, this one. Ahem. The two are walking along the edge of the forest, just inside the tree-line, on their way to the village entrance.

It's a completely different story not but a good thirty or forty paces away. Sure, the sun is still out and the bird are still singing... but this creature was far past playing stick and jump games. There was a rather ratty looking doe, slinking about the dunes, her tattered old clothes looking vaguely like an old uniform of sorts. Her fur, ruffled and in some places worn to stubs, is covered in sand and grim, the little skin visible long burnt and tanned from the sun above. Slowly two ears perked up over a dune, one with a large chip on the lover left side. Even slower a head peeks out, tired eyes squinting to see who was coming down the beach.

Audri stifles a yawn, brush tail flicking lazily as she follows beside the hare. The squirrel has a satchel slung over her shoulder, her paws attempt to braid her tousled hair whilst humming some tune to herself.

After one final and rather spectacular leap, Taye settles down to walk along beside Audri. At the yawn, he grins down at the squirrel, and gives her a light nudge on the shoulder. "Wake up, sleepy head. We're just about t' Halyard."

Drais is evidently napping, or some such lazy act. He's pretty much leaning against a dune, idly picking up pawfuls of sand and letting them fall back down to their origin. He yawns idly, his eyes to the side, watching the waves of the sea as they crest and tumble towards the shore. But what's this? Movement on these here desolate shores? He smiles and sits up, resting himself on one elbow, and waving in a rather friendly fashion. "Hullo, there!" he calls, to somehow get their attention.

Lily ducks down quickly as the ferret lets out a call. Her upper lip curls up, a snarl emitting from her throat as she slides down the dune face. The doe jerks her head around, her arms tightening around the paw-woven basket full of odd shells and bits of beached seaweed. Looking rather suspicious at the other dunes, Lily digs at the side of her own dune, shoving about half of the basket into the shallow grave. She looks around again, much like a squirrel burying a nut. Suddenly, in a flash, Lily is scrambling back up the dune, peeking over.

Audri giggles, giving Taye a light tail back at the nudge. "Mm, I am awake. Just enjoying the scenery." Her tufted ears cup forward, the squirrel coming to a halt, taking a quick survey of the shore, spotting the lounging hob. "'lo."

Taye also spies the lounging hob, and stops next to Audri. Peer. He steps closer to the younger squirrel, protectively. "... G'day."

Drais continues that good-natured smile (although, due to his mouth, he probably still looks hideous) as he sits up with a yawn. "Having a little holiday, are ya?" He looks over his shoulder to Halyard's walls, giving his shoulders a nice, slow, stiff roll, a paw moving to his right one to give it a little massage. He stands, and starts to very casually stretch out.

Lily digs her bottom feet into the shifting sands, trying to keep her grip on the slippery stuff. It's probably a good thing that her rather reddish fur is covered in muck and sand, or she'd be an easy spot. Instead she keeps low, using the long ago training of the bob-and-weave, inching her way closer to get a better look at the little gathering.

Audri eyes the ferret suspiciously, paw grabbing onto her satchel. "Aye, we are. Thought we'd have a look about town."

Much with the suspicious eyeing is Taye. The young buck grips his staff a bit tighter. "Aye. Just a bit of a walk, sah."

Drais nods slowly. "Ah, I see. Well, if you're into big parties, there's one in the town over there. Place called Halyard. Apparently there's some sort of big feast. Much ado, and all, and that's why I'm out here. Too loud for a beast like myself!" He stops walking several paces short of the two travellers, and leans backwards, arching his back and listening to the vertebrae pop.

Audri moves behind Taye, hugging her bag close, her tail starting to floof up. "Well, we'll check it out then. Thanks for tellin' us bout it."

Lily lays her ears back, her head tilting just slightly as the talks about Halyard go on. The grumble in her throat catches up with her again, and she leans forward, trying to hear everything that can be heard.

Taye nods, in quick agreement. "Ahhh - yeah. Thanks. Fer tellin' us." Taye reaches a paw around and rests it on Audri's shoulder comfortingly as he begins moving towards Halyard and awaaaaay from the verminy type.

Such species prejudice. Tsk, tsk. "No problem, it's all I could do, really. You look like a young, scrappin' fella," the ferret nods to the hare of the two. "You'll probably have a good old time in there." Drais lets the two go past him, sitting down on the spot and relaxing.

Audri smiles faintly, keeping a tight hold of the satchel, following along beside Taye. She takes one last glance of the ferret, tail flicking before she looks off towards the city.

Lily inches more over the hill, unaware that somebeast might spot her now... but they are distracted, and the ferret isn't even facing her. The doe breaths heavily, the basket of shells and seaweed long forgotten.

Drais reclines on the sand, sighing and turning his eyes to the sea again. His paws rest behind his head and his legs cross at the ankles.

Audri nods, ears resting flat. "Yea it was. What kind of party would they be having?"

Drais room-pages, "That's it.".

"I dunno... I can't imagine Halyard'd have a party without extendin' an invitation t' Sala, though. Seems a bit unkind of 'em." Taye shakes his head, looking discomfited by the whole situation.

Audri hmms, glancing back off towards the ferret.. "Oh. Do ya think there's some sort of trouble then?"

Lily ducks back down behind the dune, her eyes turning to the faint outline of the town. She presses her back against the sands, letting the loose earth slide her down back to her basket. The doe has a suspicious look about her face, and she tugs the basket free of it's sandy prison. In a blink of an eye her foot paws start scrambling over the sand as she heads back to the beach shack.

Drais slowly raises off the sand, tilting his head backwards to watch Taye and Audri with one eye open. Even slower, he raises off the ground and slinks on his belly behind a dune, following them from a reasonable distance.

Taye shrugs his shoulders, and, coming to a halt, he stabs his staff into the ground 'til it stands on its own. "I dunno about trouble, Audri, but I do feel awful funny about goin' t' a party on the invite o' a ferret..." Probably that good ole "don't talk to strange vermin," Sala-raising kicking in.

Audri sighs, letting go of her satchel. "Yea, its probably something that isn't good. So, should we check it out or go back to the mountain?"

Taye looks truly torn, looking at times towards the mountains and at times towards Halyard. "Majah Jarill 'n', well... 'n' /everyone/ would pitch a fit if'n I took ya in there and somethin' bad happened, Audri."

"I can take care of myself 'n ya can't go in there all alone. That'd be real stupid." Audri glances towards the city gates, tapping her nose in thought. "If we go in, we should have some sort of plan first incase something happens."

Drais lies, nonchalantly eyeing the two travellers.

Taye sighs, running a paw through his headfur anxiously. "I dunno, Audri. Mayhaps we ought t' just turn back. I ain't even a propah patrollah yet. I can't take care o' ya if somethin' bad /does/ happen. Mayhaps we should just go back, 'n' we c'n tell Majah Jarril, 'n' he c'n come back in check it out." He's not /trying/ to be a wimp, he's really not.

Drais gets up and walks down the dune, heading back towards the town. His head swivels to the right to see the squirrel and hare, and he shrugs, heading on towards the town.

Audri nods, watching the ferret walk off. "Alright Taye. Hopefully nothing bad is goin' on."

Taye nods, and makes a final turn around /away/ from the village. "Yeah. Let's go home, Audri."

Audri glances back, heaving a sigh. "Yea, lets go. I can come back later."

Taye leans over, linking an arm 'round her shoulder to comfort her. "We'll come back soon, after we know for sure nothin's wrong, k?"

Audri nods, resting her head against his shoulder. "Long as ya promise we can. So, do you think we'll make it back tonight?"

Taye nods. "Oh, yeah. No doubt. Ain't but a coupla hours." Besides, he doesn't want to spend another night out. The ferret's made him nervous, and he's starting to rethink having come out here in the first place.

Audri says, "Alright. That ferret was awful creepy. Is he the sort that hang out in Halyard?""

Taye shrugs, a bit uncertainly. "Like I said, they usually keep t' themselves... Wouldn't do t' be fightin' with their neighbahs all the time 'n' all, but... well, don't worry about that ferret. The officahs'll sort things out."

Audri sighs, glancing at her bag. "Sorta weird then. I bet something is up in the town."

Taye looks at her satchel, as well. "Mayhaps next time we ought t' secure those a bit bettah. Hide 'em in yer socks or somethin'." He grins.

Audri giggles. "I could probably hide em in my tail. Or not take them all with me. Shame we couldn't get anything in town though."

Taye nods, and glances one final time over his shoulder. "'Tis. It's a nice town, 'n' I could've shown ya around a bit. But that's a'right... we'll go back righ' soon." He grins, and ruffles her headfur playfully. "It was an adventah, anyway, yeah?"

Audri eeks, waving his paws away as her hair gets tousled again. "Don't do that. Ya gonna get it all in knots." She goes about smoothing down her ebon locks, a smirk on her muzzle. "It was. We'll have to take a few more sometime."

Taye grins, almost cheerfully now that the "danger" has passed. "Oh, we definitely must. At least one adventah a week." He considers ruffling her headfur again just to tease, but thinks better of it.

Audri nods, humming a soft tune. "Mm, sounds good. So, whats the next adventure goin be then?"

"I dunno. Guess we'll just have t' wait 'n' see. Though I do hope the next 'un doesn't involve a ferret." He chuckles, and "launches" himself forward with his staff again. "First thing we're gonna do when we get back is have a nice hot meal. 'Least that's I'm thinkin'."

Audri watches him go about his stick game again, contenting herself with toying with her hair. "Yea, I'd rather not meet any more vermin. And a hot meal sounds good. I'm starving."

Taye stops with the launching himself about, and slows 'til Audri is in line with him again. "I'll keep an eye out for some berries, anyway. Mayhaps we c'n find a good bush."

Noxtooth has arrived.

Audri glances to the side, before she looks back to her braid. Suddenly she stops, ears perking up. "Ooh, we could fish. That'd be a quick way to get some grub 'n it'll be fun too."

Taye looks incredulously down at Audri. "Fish? But we haven't got a fishin' stick..."

Audri grins. "We just make a spear then. It'll be fun. We just need some sticks 'n rocks 'n twine or something."

Taye stops, and looks down towards the water line. "Well, I got m' carvin' knife with me, so I guess I /could/ fashion a spear..." He still looks skeptical.

Noxtooth is snogging herself up out of the water, more like crawling on all fours as she comes out of the water, panting...coughing, spitting up water. It clear does not taste good. Looking something like a soaked to the bone rat. Clearly, now thinking it wasn't smart to try to swim...not that she is the brightest or anything like that...

Audri nods, already walking off to look for drift wood. "Good good. If you make a spear, I'll get some fish for us to roast." She doesn't notice the water logged rat, eyes down upon the sandy shores.

Noxtooth lets herself drop down on the sand, laying there for a minute or two collecting her strength. Mumbling to herself, something about just because she sees the fish doesn't mean she needs to jump in after it, not when you where out floating on a log. Slowly, pushing herself up slowly as she hears the voices. Turning her head to spy on them...

Taye doesn't notice the soaking rat either, not right off. He's digging 'round in his satchel at the moment, searching for his carving knife for the spear. As he's finding it difficult to search and hold his staff, he lets it drop to the ground, and then crouches down, setting the bag down in the sand. "Make sure the stick's not t' brittle, righ'?"

Noxtooth groans alittle as she stands up fully, water dripping down off her. Dripping down off her tunic. Coughing again, spitting up alittle more of the saltly water. Speaking up, "Yeah...make sure the stick's not t'brittle...fish is sounding good to be" Panting as she speaks, running a paw through her head fur to ring some of the water out...

"A'right." Audri calls back, holding a few promising sticks in her arms. Grabbing one more stick, she turns around in time to spot the rat in the water. Audri lets out a squeak, sticks falling from her arms while her tail fluffs up, standing frozen still.

Noxtooth takes a few more steps on the sand, her tail dragging behind her, leaving a thin trail. She stumbles down to her knees. Clearly, looking like it too all of her stength to make it swim ashore. Raising her head alittle, looking at Audri as she suddenly cries out. "Water please...p-please..."

Taye turns at the squeak, and he too freezes for a few seconds. Then, he acts - sorta. "Audri, come away from it!" 'It'. Very nice of you, Taye.

Audri stumbles back when Nox talks, falling down on her bum with another squeak. Tears are beginning to brim in the squirrel maid's eyes, shoulders trembling while Audri has a very frightened look upon her face.

Or... that works. Taye grabs up his staff and jogs over to Audri. He offers his paw down to her. "C'mon, Audri. Let's /go/." He really doesn't want to deal with any more adventures today. Home is good, home is very good.

Noxtooth pants softly, wiping at her mouth as she looks at Taye, frowning alittle and then lets her herself fall down, rolling onto her back. Laying on the sand, fine just leave. Granted it isn't help, but at the same time you aren't trying to brain her. So, atleast that is something on the positive...

Audri's eyes remain on the rat, her breaths becoming quicker, looking like the poor girl is going into a panic attack. Taye's words fall on deaf ears, paws digging into the soft sand.

Argh. Well, then. Taye reaches down to grab the back of Audri's shirt to yank her up - as gently as possible. "C'mon, Audri! We'll go fishin' anothah time." Come on, please... Taye can't handle much more of this. ;p

Noxtooth lays on the sand, the far enough out of the water so that it is just barely lapping at her feet. Speaking up slowly, licking her lips alittle as she does. "L-looks like she doesn't want to do fishing, you think she never seen someone getting drowning and getting washed up on the shore" A thin smirk playing across her lips.

o.o Audri squeaks again, eyes blinking back a few tears. "..kay." She mumbles, wrapping her arms about her waist, looking ready to follow. Audri shudders again as the rat talks, moving closer to Taye.

Taye puts an arm around the squirrel, and leads them off away from the Noxtooth, guilt nagging at him at the state of the rat /and/ the tears in Audri's eyes. Mrr. He glances back one final time before quickening their pace and heading for the woods.

Audri actually clings to Taye, hiding her face on his shoulder. She follows beside him silently, a few sniffles coming from her.