06-21-05 1

Characters involved: Taye, Audri, & Darklett

Salamandastron: Dining Chamber

The final preparations having been finished for the evening meal, now all that's left for the cook's helpers to do is to set all of the lovely-smelling food out - and without eating any of it in the process. :D Taye is carrying a particularly heavy casserole of some sort over to a serving table. After working a long day, all of the good smells are enough to make him feel weak. He sets the dish down, and collapses into the nearest chair at the main table. Ugh. At least that was the last of them. One of the other helpers - another young trainee - sits down to one side of him, and says something along the lines of, "Foooooooood...." Taye grins, appreciatively.

Audri pokes her head in from the hall, the sweet aromas of the meal to good to resist for the reclusive squirrel. Slipping in, she makes her way towards the serving table, eyeing the food curiously before spotting Taye. Audri nods, ears flicking back. "'lo Taye."

At the sound of his name, Taye looks up - seeing Audri, he grins. "'Llo, Audri! Why doncha take this seat?" He gestures to the empty seat to his other side.

Audri smiles faintly, sitting down beside him, eyes going back to the food. "Food looks great. Ya on kitchen duty today?" She asks, turning back to him while reaching over to snag a warmed scone.

Taye grabs a biscuit from the center of the table and takes a big bite out of it. Then, chewing, he replies. "Mmmff - yeah, kithen -" He chews a bit more, and swallows. "Kitchen duty. Majah Jarril put me on it... I told 'im about us goin' t' Halyard, 'n' he said that no one was t' go t' Halyard 'til furthah notice. He wouldn't tell me why, though..." He shrugs, and glances back to the serving table.

Audri ears flick back again, taking a bite of her scone. "...oh sorry ya got stuck with kitchen duty. Strange that no one can go to Halyard though. I bet something is goin' on there. 'n..sorry about yesterday with the rat 'n all."

At her apology, he grins and pats her on the shoulder, "Don't worry 'bout it. I was pretty scared, too, what with the rat jus' comin' outta the watah like that..." He then gives her shoulder a squeeze and stands. "What say we get us some food? An' if somethin's goin' on, I bet they'll tell us all soon."

Audri smiles, standing up along with him, looking relieved. "That sounds good. So what'd ya 'n the cook make for dinner? 'n I hope they tell us soon cause I'm really curious about it."

Taye snorts. "We made just about everythin' I c'n think of... but you'll see." He walks over to the serving table, and gestures expansively with a paw. "That." He grabs a plate for himself and for Audri, which he holds out to her. "We'll find out soon, I bet. He said he was goin' t' talk t' the colonels abou' what I told 'im." This makes them both very important, of course. :D

Audri looks over the food, whiskers twitching as she takes in the aroma, tail flicking. "I'm really starving." She takes the plate, ears tilting forward. "Really? Good thing we went for that adventure then."

Taye begins to load up his own plate, piling it /especially/ high. "Oh, yeah. 'Tis lucky we did, or they might notta known 'bout it..." He reaches faaaar across the table to grab another biscuit or two, and then turns, "I'm ready when ya are." To head back to their other table, that is.

Audri watches his pile of food grows, shaking her head while she loads up her own plate with less food of course. XD "Yea. Maybe they'll let ya join in whatever they're gonna do about it. 'n if they do, ya have to tell me everythin'." She nods, moving back to their table, sliding into her chair.

Taye walks back over and sits back down, as well. He looks like he'd /immediately/ like to dig in, but he waits, so that he can respond. "Well, I dunno if they'll let me help 'r not, but if'n they do, I'll be sure t' tell ya every single detail, righ'?" He then takes a simply huuuuge bite of the casserole dish he'd been carrying previously.

"Oh, they might. I mean Major Jarril asked ya to be his apprentice so he might let ya go on whatever they plan to do. I bet it'll be excitin'." Audri looks over her plate, trying to decide before she takes a curious bite of the casserole.

Taye starts in his seat all of a sudden, and turns quickly 'round to Audri. "Oh! I almos' fergot! I got picked t' take the exams! They posted it this mornin'." He grins! Proudly! Apparently the bit about the apprenticeship reminded him. ;p

Audri's ears perk, swallowing her current bite, a bright smile appearing. "That's great Taye. I'm sure ya'll pass em fine."

Looking around first, Taye leans in closer to Audri, "I hope so, but Audri, the othah guys've been talkin', 'n' some of their oldah siblings told 'em about the final test, 'n' it's apparently a whole week long 'n' /real/ tough..."

Audri frowns, ears flicking thoughtfully. "Hmm..well did they hear anything else about it? Cause if ya could get idea of what its like then ya could be prepared. I could help listen around to if ya like. I'm great at hidin."

Taye leans in closer. "I dunno... Seems like they change it a bit each time they do it... but yer kept isolated from the rest o' the mountain, 'n' they make ya do all sorts o' things, 'n' I hear lots don't make it through the whole week. 'Parently ya can drop outta it any time ya want, 'n' lots o' folks do..." He trails off, looking as if he's dreading it a bit, but he tries to look a little cheerful for Audri's sake. He nods. "... Yeah, see whatcha c'n find out. I'm doin' all the trainin' I c'n do. I jus' hope it's enough."

Audri nods, munching a bit of scone, looking thoughtful again. "Mm..they probably make ya do things that happen on a patrol. See ya well ya react 'n can calm I bet. But, ya'll do fine Taye. Don't fret over it 'n I'll try to find out what I can."

Taye sighs, softly. "Yeah... Guess it'll all work out." The buck looks down at his food and starts picking at it. He's not so hungry anymore, but he forks a forkful into his mouth. Chew.

Audri smiles, giving his shoulder a nudge. "Ya'll do fine Taye. Just keep training with Major Jarril 'n ya'll be set." She covers another scone in jelly, munching on it quietly.

Darklett shuffles into the dining chamber, taking his usual route to the kitchen. He gives a wave to Taye and Audri, and looks quite intent on just walking right on past them to the kitchen. Of course, if one were to hail him and begin talking, he'd probably stop. Right.

Taye sees Darklett's wave as he passes, and hesitantly raises his paw in a return wave... then remembers that Dark's a lieutenant. Ooh. He turns 'round in his chair to salute. "Evenin', sah." Nod.

Audri gives a small wave, sliding down into her chair further. She quietly eats her casserole, letting Taye do the talking.

"Evening, Taye." The lieutenant gives a quick look to the kitchens, and, as predicted, redirects his course towards the two. "Evening, Audri," he greets, verbally this time, to the squirrel, standing just in front of a chair at their table, his paws resting atop the seatback.

Taye relaxes his salute, and turns to a more natural sitting in his chair. "Try the casserole, sah. 'Tis good - I helped make it." Which... might be a reason /not/ to try it, buuut.

"Evening Dark." Audri mumbles, nodding to the lieutenant, grabbing a biscuit from Taye's plate. She spreads more of her jam over it, putting a forkfull of casserole atop, taking a quick bite.

Darklett looks over the casserole appraisingly. He raises a finger in protest, but then sees Audri take a bite. "Well, guess it's not -poison...- You know, Taye..." He takes a biscuit and begins to spread casserole onto it, much like Audri did. "I had my own cooking escapades, too. I must say, I make a great mushroom-leek-onion-potato-veggie-surprise-watercress stew." With a nod, he munches into the casserole, and widens his eyes delightedly as he takes a quick second bite.

Taye grins at Dark's delighted look, and laughs a bit. "What's the "surprise"?"

"Probably that ya didn't die from eatin' it." Audri giggles to herself, reaching for another biscuit, piling it with jam and casserole.

Darklett makes some nasty murmur/chew sounds. "Mmrchsnffgrch! Gulp! Oh, the surprise was--" He squints his eyes with a playful smirk at the squirrel. "Ha. Hahaha, funny, Auree." He rolls his eyes, and continues. "The surprise was that I didn't know what I was throwing in it. I guess I got caught up in the moment, and threw everything that wasn't fighting back into the pot!"

Taye grins appreciatively. "Sounds like my kind o' cookin'..." He takes a bit of his biscuit, but not before dipping it in the casserole. He munches, and tries to swallow everything before starting up the chat again. "Darklett, d'ya know anythin' about what's goin' on in Halyard? Majah Jarril said that Halyard was off-limits, but 'e wouldn't tell me why. He just sent me down fer kitchen duty, 'n' here I am."

Audri grins, sipping from her mug. "Ya make a very good casserole Taye. Very delicious." The squirrel's ears perk up, looking interested, grabbing another biscuit to eat.

Darklett's paws slightly tighten around the back of the chair he'd been leaning on since he popped the last of the biscuit in his mouth. "Halyard?" he repeats the town's name. "Off-limits to the Long Patrol? That's absurd." He idly grabs another biscuit, places casserole on it, and shoves the whole thing in his mouth, speaking around the mouthful. "Prob'ly jush dushent want choo goin--" Gulp. "Out by yourself, you know?" He... tries to be convincing. :P

Taye frowns, not looking satisfied with this answer. "But he told me t' tell the rest o' the recruits, s'well. An', well... why? If I pass the exams, I'll be a full patrol membah, so..." His frown deepens. "That's not that far off, so what's the difference if'n I go there now 'r aftahwards? An'..." He trails off, and shrugs.

"Well, guess you should just follow orders, then." Darklett seems rather satisfied with this outcome, giving a confident nod. "No use thinking about it too hard, you'll just hurt your noggin or something. Anyway, I'm not the one to ask about it if you want to know more. This is great casserole..."

Nodding slowly, Taye looks down at his plate for a moment, before shoveling a bit more casserole. While chewing, he keeps his silence. Then, "... Dark, are ya any good at close combat?"

Darklett quirks a brow at the question, turning his whole head instead of his eyes to Taye, now. "No, I'm not, that's why I stick with my throwing knives. I mean, I can hold my own, but... Why do you ask?" He looks rather concerned that he might have said something he wasn't supposed to.

Taye shrugs, and pushes his food around on his plate quietly for a moment. "I dunno... I've just been lookin' fer someone t' train with, I guess." Because he's awful. XD "Y'know, tryin' t' get ready fer the exams."

Audri quietly eats the rest of her plate, snagging a biscuit or two from Taye's. Her ears flick thoughtful, glancing off towards the hall.

Darklett smiles. "Ah, okay. Well, if you can't find anyone else, I can train you just fine." He pulls out a chair and finally decides to sit. "What kind of weapon did you have in mind, anyway?"

Taye continues to look down at his plate self-consciously. "Well..." He flicks a glance over at Audri, and then over at the other trainees nearby. The other trainees that are for the most part much larger than he is. ;p "Somethin'... that gives me a lotta reach. I've been tryin' a staff. I'm not s'good with blades."

Darklett thinks. "Well, a staff's not as effective as what I'd like for my tastes, but a solid weapon anyway. I can try, I can't promise it'll be the best training, but if you can't find anybeast else..." He shrugs and takes another casserole biscuit, shoving it into his mouth.

Taye rests his chin in his paw a bit dejectedly, and looks across at Darklett. "What d' /you/ use fer close combat?"

Audri finishes off her last biscuit, glancing off towards the hall again. "I think I'm gonna go upstairs. I got some stuff to do 'n all." Scooting back her chair, she stands giving a nod to the two. "I'll see ya two later. 'n Taye don't worry about yer exams." And off she goes.

Darklett turns his head to see and wave Audri off. "Night, sleep well, Auree," he offers as the squirrelmaid walks out. He watches her leave, then answers Taye. "Well, I use a couple of rapiers when I need to do close combat, or I just use my throwing knives as daggers."

Taye also turns to see Audri off, and waves a paw. "Night, Audri..." He looks back to his plate, and starts picking at it s'more. He's silent, for a bit, and then adds thoughtfully, "She's grown up a lot."

Darklett nods. "Mmhmm. Like a little sprout, that squirrel. Seems like it was just a single season ago I had to take her in." He's pretty indifferent-sounding about this, but his eyes show the slightest bit different. "You have, too, at least from what I've seen. Almost ready to be a full-time patroller, that's... exciting." He shoots a grin at the other hare.

Taye grins nervously but, yes, excitedly. "'Tis. I'm lookin' forward t' it... I hear the final tests're pretty hard, though. The othah bucks've been talkin' about 'em."

Darklett chuckles. "I can't see how hard they could possibly be. I mean, they're just what's expected of a patroller, nothing else. If they think you're ready enough to take the exams, then you should be confident that you're ready enough to pass them, eh?" He raises a brow quickly, grinning and trying to be encouraging.

Taye nods. "S'pose that's true..." He pushes his plate away and sits back in his seat with a yawn. "I guess I should prob'ly be headin' off... Early mornin' 'n' all, gotta report t' Majah Jarril..."

Darklett smirks, taking the pushed plate over for himself. "Ah, that you should. Can't have a patroller-to-be dragging about like a grump, can we?" He takes a bite of whatever was on Taye's plate, and, once again, takes a quick, delighted second bite. "Mmf. Don't schwet the eckshams. Ool do fine!" Swallow.

Grinning at Darklett's antics, Taye stands and pushes in his chair. "Nigh', Dark, 'n' thanks." He waves a paw in farewell and turns, heading for the door and out.