06-22-05 1

Characters involved: Taye, Audri, Miyrr, Jarril, & Skipai

Salamandastron: Dining Chamber

After another long day, Taye is finally sitting down for a meal. One of his footpaws is propped up on the chair opposite him, and he is leaning back and... relaxing. Food can wait.

Audri wanders in, her head looking down at an open book in her paws, while she skillfully weaves her way through the hares. The squirrel lass heads towards the serving table, tail flicking thoughtfully. "Hmmm.."

The door opens and in walks Miyrr. Feet dragging, ears drooping and a dull sheen to her eyes. She walks up to the serving line grabbing a tray. Various foods are placed onto the tray haphazardly, a drink is taken and she looks to find an empty seat somewhere.

Entering the room as it is beginning to fill up now of the main long patrol hares of various sizes and strengths. The major strides in and makes for one of the tables that has most of his usual rank of friends to talk to or from his own patrol itself.

Fiiinally, Taye stands, ready for some tuck. He steps gingerly on the paw he had propped up, and walks slowly over to the serving table when he does. He spots Audri /and/ Miyrr quickly enough, though. He waves a paw to the both of them, "'Ey, Audri! 'Ey... Miyrr, righ'?" He was listening during the line-up this morning, sneaky little him.

Audri was about to run into a wall, her book having all her attention but luckily Taye's call saved her from this. She halts, glancing up with perked ear, spotting the runner with a grin. "'lo Taye. How was ya trainin today?" Audri nods to Miyrr, smiling. "'lo there. Ya a new recruit?"

Miyrr hears her name and looks to see where on earth it's combing from. She sees Taye waving and a smile breaks on her tired face. even some of the gleem is back in her eyes. She walks over to the table he's at and takes a seat. "Ah, food....Taye right? How ya be?" Miyrr nods to Audri, "Yeah, first day." She takes a bite of something green from her tray.

Speaking to the hares on his table, the major nods his head as he's already tucking into food. "Oh, the training. It's going well I suppose. Still taking time away from doing actual patrols though. I be happy for them ta pass so that I can get back ta the real patrolling." His voice goes off as he munches down at a pastie. "Wonder where the cook is, he's still hiding I take it?" Seeing a hare nod, the major frowns. "Ah well, each ta their own I suppose. Can't do much with otters, not my species so wouldn't know what ta do about them. Hmmm, makes good nosh though, wot."

Taye sits, now that he's drawn their attention. "Ahhh, y'know trainin', Audri. 'Tis goin' a'right..." He grins at the squirrel dibbun, and tosses her a particularly good-looking scone. And - in answer to Miyrr: "Aye, 'tis Taye. And.... good, but tired. Long day, wasn't it? Ya look beat." So tactful, him.

Audri catches the scone, slipping her book into her belt. "Thank ya." She joins the two at their table, slipping into a chair near Taye, munching on her scone quietly.

Miyrr nods shoveling in another bite not seeming to care what it tastes like. "Ye It'was...thanks for the...help earlier. So, no smile, look forward salute and then give name, right?" she says rather unsure of the order.

Jarril leans over as he grabs some bread and spots the otter padding into the room with another tray in his webbed paws. "Speaking of the riverdog." Coughing, the major goes back to dipping the bread in the soup. "So anyways, what have ya lot been up ta while I was busy with the young'uns this morning?"

Taye nods while chewing on a big mouthful of greens. After he swallows, he concludes with one final nod. "Oh, aye, jus' so. Don't ferget yer rank, 'course. Say it all loudly, but not /obstinately/, eh? Make sure ya show up with yer uniform pressed, 'n' everythin' shiny, an', heh. Make sure yer headfur's combed." Or you'll get a reminder to bring your comb next time. XD

The otter moves about and nods his head to the food that is out on the table and on the trays before sampling the soup for a moment in thought. Taking a small pouch, he adds some more seasoning and mixes the large bowl again before resampling it with a approving nod.

Audri reaches over to snag another scone from Taye's plate, placing her book down. "So, how ya enjoying the mountain Miyrr?"

Miyrr nods, "Ok will do." taking a drink from her cup. "What do i do about keeping it washed?" she asks. Turning to Audri, "It's rather nice. Large open rooms, I like that."

"Drop it off in the laundry room.... 'tis on the second floor, next t' the storage room. An' trust me, ya /don't/ want t' get assigned t' laundry duty." Taye reaches for a scone, but... Audri's just taken the one he wanted. He glances at her, shrugs, and reaches to the middle of the table where there's a plateful. Munch.

"Why not? I' Done laundry before?" Noticing the scones for the first time she reaches for the center plate taking a couple and pushing her tray of mixed tastes away. Ah, the taste of freshly baked scones, this place can't be that bad now can it? She breaks off a piece and pops it in her mouth enjoying it thoroughly. "Mmmmm..."

( Skipai moves back out again and into the kitchens to continue with his neverending duties. Jarril on the other hand is taking a drink of something from a mug and is still talking about thing. "Well, I don't see how that could be a problem." Listening, he blinks slightly and nods. "Oh, well in that case, yes it may be...." The discussion fades again as some loud big fighting hares move down the room, talking about the boxing match the night before and doing some shadow boxing with the one explaining it. )

Audri grins. "That's good. Its a great place to live." She munches her snitched scone quietly, looking to her book

"Well, if ya like cleanin' hundreds o' uniforms, dirty with who knows what..." He trails off, leaving it to her to decide what, exactly, they're dirty with. He takes a few more nibbles of his scones before setting it down and digging into his greens, again. Strong appetite. XD

Jarril getting up, he nods his head. "Well, can't do anything about it right now. I'll request about getting another patrol." Picking up an apple, the major smiles. "Tell ya the truth, I be happier myself getting some action also. Anyways I have ta get going. Got things ta do and all." Turnign around, the major starts to head out again.

Miyrr wrinkles up her nose at the thought of that, "Ah....got'cha." She finishes her scone and sits back. "Ah, tired legs and a full belly, I's be sleeping well t'night." She looks over at Audri, "How long ye' been here?"

Audri shrugs, glancing up from her book. "Dunno exactly. I came when I was little. But its really nice at the mountain. Lots of great places to hide. Ya'll enjoy the patrol though. Great beasts 'n all."

Taye grins at Audri and leans over, linking an arm around her. "Yeah... the mountain catches 'em young, eh Audri? We're jus' two membahs o' the stray brigade." He ruffles her headfur, but pauses mid-ruffle with a thoughtful look, which he directs towards Miyrr. "Miyrr, where d'you come from? Why'd ya decide t' join the patrol?"

Audri giggles, shrinking down at the ruffling of her hair. "Yea yea. But, we're probably the best two members of the brigade ya know." She grabs another scone, taking a bite while her gaze turns to Miyrr curiously.

Miyrr sighs and thinks for a moment, "well t'be honest. My Father made me join...thought it would teach me some...oh...what's the word..." she seems to not be able to come up with the word she's trying to use. "stick-with-it-ness."

Taye quirks a brow, half-grinning as she tries to think of it. "... Responsibility?"

Miyrr still trying to form a complete thought on the subject, "Well....that too.../gah/ I must just be too tired ta' think of it tonigh'." She shrugs. "I think I /know/ why your joined. "she says attempting to change the subject.

Audri has gone back to reading her book, ears flicking every now and then. She hmms, making a note on the page, grinning again.

Taye's grin widens just a bit, and he sits back in his seat. "Ya do, do ya? Well, then... why'd I join?"

Miyrr smiles and sits back in her seat. "Well from what I saw an' herd this morn' It seems it's a /family/ thing...

"

Miyrr exclaims "That's the word! Discipline...I /knew/I'd remember eventually."

Well, remembering /that/ is certainly blush-worthy. "Yeah..." He glances down, running a paw self-consciously through his headfur, as if it might still be messed up at this point. "That was m' Da'." He pauses, and chances a look up. "That's not the /only/ reason I joined, though..." He trails off, suddenly shy. "I joined 'cause... well. 'Cause it's been a good place t' live. Felt like I ought t' repay the mountain some."

Miyrr smiles and nods, "I's just teasing ya a bit. That's a noble reason." she says still smiling sweetly at Taye. "I gues I'd have to say it wasn't completely my fathers fault. It does get me out and away from home now doesn't it. Now don't get me wrong, I've got good parents, but I think I've just kinda outgrown them..."

Taye glances up long enough to see the smile - the /sweet/ smile - directed at him before he quickly averts his eyes to Audri, to whom he grins, a bit overly goofily. Saaaaave him, Audri, save him before it's too late. He hehs, and looks back to Miyrr, doing his best to wipe the nervous/goofy grin off his face. Serious, Taye, be serious! "Aye, well... that c'n happen t' a beast." Right. You're an absolute dork, Taye.

Audri glances up at Taye, trying her best to surpress her giggles. Closing her book, she looks to the doe, trying to find something to ask. "So..Miyrr where exactly did ya live at fore ya came here? Anywhere interesting?"

Miyrr shrugs, "Out in th' woods, lots a' open air, plenty a' running space. Nothing special really." She picks up her second scone breaks off a small piece and eats it brushing off the crumbs from her uniform. "...and now I'm here. At first I was a little concerned about living /in/ a mountain but It's not 'alf bad." she says smiling again at Taye.

The smile, again. Urgh. Taye returns the smile with a nervous grin of his own, as the tips of his ears turn red. He takes this very convenient moment to stare down at his paws. It needed doing, you understand. Yeeees. Let the girls chat.

These are the times Audri hates being the only squirrel in a mountain of hares. She looks between the smiling hares, letting out a small sigh. "Yea, its not to terrible. Sometimes it can be borin' but that's about it. I'm sure ya'll be kept busy bein' a recruit and all. So, I'm guessin' ya gonna be one of the runners?"

Miyrr shifts her herself more forward on her chair placing her elbows on the table and supports her head on the backs of her paws, "Yeah, I'm a runner and if today is any indication I will be very busy...So, what do you do to keep yourself from being bored?" she asks Audri.

Audri nods, resting her arms across her book. "Yea, most of the recruits are like that. I think it might get easier once ya are a full patroller. Oh, I do various things. I have been doin' a bit of training with throwing knives, but I'm mostly in the library."

Miyrr asks, "Really? Are going to be part of the patrol someday then? "

At Miyrr's question to Audri, Taye looks a bit uncomfortably from the doe to the squirrel, and then.. down at his long-forgotten plate. Let Audri handle that one, heh.

Audri's ears seem to lower just a smidge. "Ya have to be a hare to join. I'll probably just help out where I can. Doing kitchen duty or laundry or maybe helpin' the healers."

A more compassionate look appears on Miyrr's face. "I'm sorry, I didn' mean to say it that way. You 'r obviously a great help around here and well respected." She glances up at Taye feeling the full weight of her blunderous comment. Miyrr sighs...

Taye's nudges a finger at a now-stale scone, his ears too a bit droopier, now. "Y'know, Audri... there's othah things ya could do. There're othah jobs. Like..." Heh? "Like bein' a cook, or a librarian. I'm sure when Maria gets back, ya could apprentice with 'er, maybe even be the mountain's Recordah one day." He reaches over to her, and puts an arm around her shoulder as comfortingly as he can. "That's not s'bad, is it?"

Audri smiles weakly, nodding to Miyrr. "Its alright. Ya didn't know so no big deal." She leans against Taye when the arm goes around her, staring at her lap. "Nah, it wouldn't be bad bein' a recorder or helpin' ya mum out."

Miyrr slouches a bit staring down at her plate. "Sometimes my mouth just runs...if there's anything I can do to make it up to yas, jus' ask. ok?"

Taye leaves his arm around Audri 'til she decides she doesn't need it anymore. He looks across to Miyrr, and tries his best at a reassuring smile. "Don't worry 'bout it.. Was an honest mistake, righ'? Besides... jus' means Audri gets t' make fun of us while we kill ourselves every day with trainin'." Nod. He gives the squirrel dibbun a little hug with his arm.

Miyrr chortles, "Yeah, no kidding. I'm sure there'll be plenty of ammo for that cause." She says smiling at Audri. "...and tomarrow we have our 'check ups' to deal with too."

Audri stays resting against Taye, smiling to Miyrr. "Good luck with those. I'm sure it won't be to fun." After the hug, Audri sits up again, grabbing her book while looking off towards the hall. "I think I'm gonna take this back upstairs. I'm sure ya to get recruit stuff to talk about anyway." Standing, Audri nods to both, holding her book close. "Night ya too. 'n nice meeting ya Miyrr."

Miyrr smiles and nod, "It's been a pleasure to meet you as well."

Taye watches Audri as she gets up to go. He still looks a little worried about her, but he offers her a wave and a half-grin nonetheless. "Nigh', Audri."

"Night." Audri smiles, waving to the two before slipping out the hall.

Miyrr returns the wave. "G'night."

Taye watches Audri head off, and doesn't realize 'til she's gone that... now he's alone with Miyrr. Meep. He fiddles nervously with his paws, and glances over at the doe. Er. "...She'll be a'right. Y'know? Don't worry about it."

Miyrr nods, "I hope so, that must'a really hurt. I can be so stupid sometimes." she says still fiddling with what's left on her tray. She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly looking at Taye, "So anything else I need to know so I can keep my keister outta trouble tomarrow?"

Taye thinks about this. "Well... mostly there's just gettin' used t' the routine. Don't do anythin' that the rest o' the recruits aren't doin', an'... make /sure/ ya go t' the infirm t'morrah. The majah doesn't like it when 'is ordahs aren't followed." He hmms, scritching at a spot behind an ear. "I guess, if ya wanted, I could show ya the ropes t'morrah. Y'know, maybe give ya a tour o' the mountain?" He pauses, "Oh, an' the trainin' schedule's usually posted ovah there on that board, 'n' up in the rec room, s'well."

A smile returns to Miyrr's face, "Yeah, nothing like getting poked and prodded at in the morning. Hmmmm, a tour of the mountain would be nice. Get a chance to get my bearings so to speak. Oh, where do you run for fun around hear? I used to just bound though the woods." she asks.

"Well... /usually/ I run down on the beach, but with the majah's ordahs not t' leave the mountain, I s'pose that's out fer a bit... Othah than that, I'd say yer best bet's down in the caverns. 'Tis the most open space I c'n think of, inside o' the mountain. Or mayhaps the entry tunnel..." He looks skeptical, not used to having to run /inside/ the mountain.

Miyrr stands up yawning. "Ooo. I sat too long." she stretches her back and legs a bit. "I think I'm about ready ta' get cleaned up for bed." She gathers up her tray and cup and puts them in they're respectable places. "So, bright and early, eh?" She asks smiling at Taye.

Taye scrambles to his feet as Miyrr stands, and he too assembles his tray and assembled other things in their proper place before turning to face the doe. With a small, nervous grin, he nods. "Bright 'n' early. I'll meet ya outside o' the dorms and walk ya t' the infirmary, if ya like."

Miyrr smiles, "I'd like that." she says heading for the hall. "G'night." she says looking back at him over her shoulder.

Taye raises a paw in farewell and, smiling 'til she exits, he too heads for the door and out.