07-20-05

Characters involved: Taye & Jarril.

Salamandastron: Caverns - Archery Range

While most of the hares and recruits at archery practice have grouped together, talking and chattering and generally just goofing off, Taye has isolated himself on the far end. He has a large bushel of arrows beside him, and for the moment his bow is held slack while he stares down the range.

A new day, new challenges and new problems for the Major it would seem. Jarril steps into the room and looks about for a moment. Moving to the table, the major sits down next to a hare who is writing something down. "So how are they doing t'day?" The major going into conversation for the time being.

Taye is unaware of all else but his bow, the target, and his arrows. Speaking of his arrows, he draws one from their container without looking away from the target, and slowly sets it to his bow. Sighting along the arrow, he pulls it back until it's taut. Then, whisperingly, "/Do/ it..." He lets the arrow fly, and quickly stands to attention to watch it's course. It strikes /just/ on the inner circle, right on the line. He frowns.

Jarril looks towards Taye at the far end of the room. "So, just how long has he been there?" Nodding his head to the reply, the major shakes his head. "All day. Okay, thanks." Getting up, he slowly makes his way over but keeping to the far wall at the back for the time being.

Lowering his bow again, Taye's brow is wrinkled in thought. "... Pulled it at th'last minute." He picks up another arrow and sets it. Sighting once more, he takes a long, deep breath and holds it. The arrow is released and away it flies. He stands up, bow falling to his side dangling from one paw. He bites at his lower lip nervously. "C'mon, c'mon..." It strikes - just off of dead center. Nevertheless, he's still frowning. Just in a frowny mood today, perhaps.

Jarril just stands there in the dark corner and watches Taye for a while, silently. After a short time, the major coughs. "Ya know, trying ta perfect ya archery while in a bad mood isn't going ta work, lad." Coming from the shadow, the major sidles up beside Taye and nods. "So what's the problem then?"

Taye Turning, his bow still held slack in his paw, Taye sees that it is Jarril and immediately the bow paw comes up to salute - with bow still in paw. Er. He quickly switches to the other paw, and salutes correctly. "Sah?"

Jarril shakes his head at Taye. "At ease. So you've been hiding away all day then I take it? I didn't see you at morning mess for one. Well, actually." Rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I've not seen ya all day. You're not avoiding me are ya?"

Taye averts his eyes down to the floor. Whether he was avoiding him or not, he looks like he wishes he was now. "... No - 'course not, sah. I was just... gettin' some extra practice in. Like ya told me to." He shuffles his feet.

Jarril frowning slightly so only at times when Taye isn't looking. "Report ta my room right away. We need ta have words." Moving back a bit, he gives a nod. "Ya finished here for the day. Now, let's move." The major deciding to not do another public show this time around.

Taye's eyes widen, and his mouth opens in silent protest. With a look his bow, to the range, and then /back/ to Jarril, he closes his mouth and gives a resigned nod. "Yes, sah..." He couldn't sound any more miserable if he tried. He turns and goes to put his bow away before returning to follow Jarril.

Salamandastron: Jarril's Dormitory

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

This is one of the dormitories of the mountain of Salamandastron. The

room is sparsely furnished, the perilous hare that inhabits it no doubt

too busy to have time to collect many things. A small oak table is on one

side of the room with four chairs made of cherry wood sitting around it.

Against the opposite wall sits a mattress, barely more than a sturdy

rectangular sack of carefully stuffed with hay. Another oaken door rather

near the bed leads off to a small closet.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Visible Exits:

[Out] to Hallway

Jarril sits down on one of the chairs and beckons Taye to do the same on another by his table which as a few bits and pieces on there such as a bottle, tankards and some food. "Look, Taye. Relax, we're just having a talk, not going to tell you off but sort out things that's all. So relax, okay?"

Hesitating at the door, Taye nevertheless feels himself inexorably pulled towards the table. Finally, he sits and stares down at the table top. "I don't know what needs t' be sorted, Sah..."

Jarril coughs. "Right, I shall be frank with you." Pouring some drink and pushing it towards Taye as he then offers food. "There is only one thing right now that is stopping me from going up ta the colonels and saying that ya ready for the final test, but then maybe this is a test or not but who can tell?" The major smiles. "Look, every day everyone is tested, even I am but there is something that does need to be sorted out. Ya got told off yesterday and I don't apologise for it." Pouring himself a drink. "Taye, ya a good lad, top of the class in many areas but ya have ta learn not ta look down shyly if ya about ta be told off or afterwards like just now. Stand up for yaself. If ya have a problem then by all means, ask ta speak freely and if given, tell me what is on ya mind." Pausing as he takes a sip of the ale. "Besides, ya not the only one ta get told off from time ta time. I should know, been in enough trouble myself, doncha know."

Taye runs a finger-tip over a small fissure in the wood of the tabletop and continues to stare down at it, his eyes going a bit squinty 'round the edges. He worries anxiously at his lower lip, and places both paws palm flat on the table top. "Sah... I don't undahstand." He takes a deep breath, and if it was possible, his intensely confused gaze would be burrowing a hole in the table right about now. "I... I do everythin' that I'm asked t' do. I... I've been trainin' twice s'much as the othah recruits. I've picked up boxin' t' help with m' combat. Ya told me t' get bettah at archery, I got bettah at archery." He finally looks up, just the slightest glint of confused tears in his eyes. "I'm bein' kept back fer /not/ talkin' back?"

Jarril shakes his head. "No, it's not that." Leaning back in his chair. "I want ya ta be more assure of yaself. Right now, you're not showing that ya ahead of the class. I don't want disobedience or big headness. I want an officah that isn't afraid of speaking up, giving his own idea on a situation if it comes about and if ya want ta know what is being said. Then bally well come up and ask if ya can sit down and join whoever it is than slinking about eavesdropping. I am not the one holding ya back, ya are." Pausing for a moment. "How much do ya want ta end up in my patrol? And I may as well say I did request that I get ya when ya do pass as well. But how much do ya want it?"

"But... when I asked ya about the Halyard situation, ya jus' sent me off fer kitchen duty." Taye looks down at his fumbling paws, with a small frown. "I'm happy t' help out when I can, but I'd rathah not risk kitchen duty whenevah I have a question, sah." At Jarril's last question, he looks back up, eyes wide. "... More than anythin', sah. I..." He shakes his head, not sure what else to say. "More than anythin'."

Jarril chuckles slightly and sups his ale. "Well, relax and eat and drink what I have offered ya at least. Look, ya a recruit at the moment. Of course ya be given kitchen duty or do errands for this officah or that officah but its were it all begins. I didn't do it because ya asked a question. I did it as ya don't ask enough." Placing the tankard down, the major leans forwards. "Okay, Taye. This is off the record and all but this is how ya will impress me and others. Drop this uncertainty from ya right away. Ya a Long Patrol recruit and soon to be a full blown officah with all the privileges that comes with it. All I am asking is be yaself. I have seen ya with other recruits and ya not as shy as when ya dealing or talking with higher rank. All I am saying is be yaself, remember the rank and ya will do find. No one is going ta punish ya for asking something. They may say it's not ya business ta know just yet but even the colonels don't tell me everything and I get told off a few times as well. But I get on with it, ya get on with it and as such ya be a fine officah ta make anyone proud ta work with ya." Smiling more. "So ya going ta relax and not worry. Just be yaself, that's all I am asking now. Just drop the uncertainty but if sometimes ya have it that's fine. Ya nearly at the finish line, it's up ta ya ta cross over it. Why not take that first step now, eh?" The major reaches down and takes a bite from a scone.

Taye suddenly realizes that yes, there is food and drink there. He picks up his glass and takes a quick drink before setting it back down. He nods. "Thank ya, sah..." The food is dug into almost ravenously, his appetite up from what it used to be, just lately. Whilst chewing, he considers what Jarril has said. He pauses between mouthfuls. "I... think I c'n do that, sah." He takes another mouthful, chews, and swallows before continuing. "Sah... what /is/ that monitor lizard doin' in the mountain?"

Jarril ponders that one for a moment. "He came from Redwall with news from afar and from what was closer ta home. I can't say much but I think he be able ta help us with our situation at the moment. That's all I can say for the moment, okay?" Sipping his drink.

Jarril ponders more. "Well, Mossflower at any rate though I think he said he's been at the abbey once."

Taye looks mostly satisfied with this answer. "Yes, sah. Thank ya." He dips his head to the meal again, and yes, he obviously did miss breakfast /and/ lunch. Silly buck. Nevertheless, he does pause again, to look to Jarril. "D'ya know when we'll be returnin' t' Halyard, sah?"

Jarril shrugs his shoulders. "Even I haven't been told that one yet. Only those upper than me know the answer ta that one. They let me know in due time and then I do the same for those below me. So, no I don't." What a long answer which would've worked with the last sentence but that's hares for you. "Anyways, I need ta get things done and no doubt ya have some spare time ta relax and catch up on others." The major gets up and smiles. "Ya done one thing better than me. Ya made friends here, more than I have but that's a good one as well. Work on what I have said and ya may get called up sooner than ya think or not. I haven't decided if the test will be announced or not. Mind ya, I ain't saying if this was a test in itself. But for the rest of t'day, go and relax, have fun and start afresh t'morrow. Ya dismissed recruit." The major smiles.

At the dismissal, Taye stands - with his plate. He salutes, grinning for the first in this whole process. "Thank ya, sah... I appreciate ya talkin' t' me." He takes a step back, keeping his eyes up the whole time. "I won't let ya down." Finally he turns, making for the door with far lighter a gait than he entered with. The buck exits.