07-13-06

Characters involved: Zoe_Lang & Ender.

Salamandastron: Store Room

Well, the stock of food supplies has been much diminished, but that's what you get when a vermin horde settles in for a stay. All the same, there's still a decent amount of food. Rather than brave the kitchen - or worse, the dining chamber - the Colonel has found her way here. She's sorting through the disorder to find something suitable to eat.

Ender's not been well since the fight. Not well in the mind, that is. He obviously hasn't washed at all, and hasn't received any medical care beyond his small knowledge, a tight bandage around a wound on his left arm, and another cloth wrapped around his right wrist many, many times, making it appear about twice as thick as it actually is. This one looks the worst, but isn't too noticeable, simply for the splashes of red across the rabbit's face and torso, now dulled to nearly a copper. His brows are furrowed and his breath is coming in slow, heavy gasps. Ender doesn't notice anyone in the store room, merely enters and heads towards the small amount of alcohol held in the room, the tavern cellar containing too many bad memories for him to ever return. But...what's this? The food is in scarce supply, and there /seems/ to be another beast crawling about in the back. The rabbit automatically grabs his dagger, demanding; "Who's that?"

Seriously, how hard is it to move around in a mountain full of hares without running into somebody all the time? Well. Apparently, pretty bloody hard. Zoe's ears twitch but she doesn't exactly look around, staying crouched where she is. "Colonel Francis. If yer not a vermin come t' kill me, I'd suggest leavin' while ya still can."

Ender glares and sheathes his weapon, stance not changing from the agressive. "May as well be a vermin come to see you, Zoe. You're not one I usually take commands from, especially recently, eh?" The rabbit takes a few steps towards her, making sure she can tell who it is.

Aha. She recognizes that voice. Zoe finally does look around, if only briefly, before averting her gaze and turning away from him. "You nevah were part o' the patrol, so I've no righ' to expect ya t' follow ordahs."

Inclining his head towards her, Ender gives a small smile. At least she knows what to expect. "Very good, Zoe. Very good indeed." This is dripping with sarcasm, and something more hidden behind that. "Surprised you would let vermin take over your mountain so easily. Seems someone was talking about the ability to make it by themself?" ...even if that wasn't true, it had been hinted at. Or had it? Ender's memory = bad.

"Is there a point t' this, End, or d'ya just delight in rubbin' salt in m'wounds?" She snorts softly, locating a sack of apples that are actually still good. She opens it and pulls out two, going to stand. Her back is still to him and she's looking toward one of the exits. "'Cause, if so, you /could/ just punch me in the eye. Works much fastah."

"Rubbing salt in the wound? Oh, Zoe. You, of all these beasts, should know I delight in that which is far, far worse than that, eh?" Ender's voice is now taking on a bit of anger, and his left paw strays over his weapon hilt again. "Injuring you physically would let you off easy, now wouldn't it?" Definite anger there now, any sort of nourishment, or something to dull the pain, is all but forgotten now. He came back for her.

With a grimacing shake of her head and without looking back at him, she limps slowly for the door. "G'bye, End."

Ender bites his lower lip hard, trying not to cry out in frustration or sadness. "What've you let happen to you, Zoe?"-sniffle-"Where the hell's the Colonel I knew, eh?" A tear falls, running down his dirty face, smearing the dried blood. "Damn you, Zoe. /Damn/ you!" She'd been through more than one captive situation, and so had he. That wasn't what this was about. But she was leaving. The rabbit decides not to follow. Perhaps they'll meet again.

Zoe_Lang pauses in the doorway, resting a paw against it. "It's not me who's changed, End, 'tis you." And without another word, she passes out through the door.