07-30-05

Characters involved: Jarril, Darklett, Zeraph, Rothal, Akakios, Ralai, Vansinnig, Daclon, Taye, Keita, Jarsune, & Slain.

Halyard Village: West Square(#93069RJA)

Three, two, one.... Jarril stops the patrol as he's already loaded his sling and kept his small runner sword out. "Alright. Keep a look out. File in and move around on the inside of the periment walls. Any movement, fire ya slings at them. The fightah's will come in." Taking a step inside, the patrol begins to carefully move into formation, slowly letting the fighting hares and anyone else who's going to fight slowly move into the village itself.

Darklett's eyes glance towards Rothal before placing themselves on Vansinnig again. "Rothal, are you okay?" He does sound caring, although his stance and features wouldn't show it. After all, the buck almost -died.-

As the hares step into the village, windows open up, and vermin archers open fire on the hares from the houses. With shouts and warcries, the vermin rain arrows down on the hares.

Zeraph moves into the gates, without a glance backwards, taking his place with the rest of his companions. The buck doesn't show any of the fear that he feels inside, then the arrows start flying at them. A few of the fighters drop from the attack. The fighter jumps off to the side and is scraped across the leg by one, while another nearly pierces his ear.

Jarril moves quickly to the side as he unleashes his sling towards one of the windows, making sure he knocks one of the vermin down as he ducks behind something. Several hares fall but with fire from the sling shots, some fighters get to the first nearest two houses.

Rothal shakes his head. "Dunno, Dark. Mah face h'is cut up real bad. Very bad. h'It won't stop bleedin'."

Darklett's ears perk at the sudden noise of the ambush. Oh, no... what'd he done? "...Find... a healer that stayed back, Rothal. There's one that will take care of you. Ralai, snap this badger's neck if he so much as coughs wrong. He's weakened, he won't be able to resist." At that, Darklett charges off towards the melee.

Akakios bursts out of a house, followed by five screaming vermin. With full body shields, held at ready, they push through the scattered hares in their way, ignoring them and heading straight for Jarril.

Ralai tries to bandage up the other badger even with his protesting... probably by now loss of blood would have weakened him enough that the large badger shouldn't have much of a problem overpowering him if need be

Jarril curses under his breath as he prepares himself, the hares being pushed in the way quickly begin to fire slings or throw blades from behind them. He shouts out. "Someone get outside and get fire shafts. Shoot them into the homes themselves!"

Vansinnig snarls a bit, still trying to push the other badger away.

Daclon is followed by several vermin as well, these armed with pikes and spears, and hit the hares who have turned to fire on Akakios's group.

Taye stands with sling in paw amongst the front ranks with Jarril and the other slingers, and as the windows open and the arrows rain down, he drops down into a crouch and ducks behind an abandoned fisher's cart which has fallen over onto its side. His ears are lowered, and he in general looks rather terrified. However, he's keeping his eyes open and they catch upon

Jarril where he is hiding. Ducking his head around the edge of the cart, he fires off a missile from his sling and it strikes one of the vermin still firing out of the window.

Zeraph just shakes his head quickly and rushes for the oncoming vermin, slamming his shoulder forcefully into one of the full body shields to knock the beast behind it over onto his back. This only half works, as the vermin stumbles, but doesn't go completely over. The fighter keeps his side against the shield, trying to shove his heavy sword forcefully through the protection. This keeps him sort of safe from Daclon and his group for the moment. The buck recognizes the leader immediately.

Ralai continues to bandage up the weakened badger saying "come on let me bandage you up you idiot you really want to die?"

Darklett reaches the melee rather quickly from his run, but halts just outside it... He squints, and climbs through a window stealthily... Soon enough, there are no more arrows coming out of that house. He slips out, and walks behind, in the shadows, to the next, creeps in, and that building is, like the last, no longer a threat.

Rothal manages to stand up, while everyone else seems to be having some sort of action happening, Rothal begins to busily stagger around in the hopes of finding a healer.

Vansinnig grits his teeth, before passing out.

Keita to the rescue! Suddenly, the rather harried looking healer doe crouches down beside the two badgers, keeping low in order to be as little a target as possible. "Well, 'ey now, badgery ole thing, ya look like you're bleedin'..." She flashes a grin at Van, but... then he passes out. Well then. She frowns, perturbed, and then looks to Ralai. "Can you fix 'im up?"

Ralai finishes wrapping the wounds before pulling a small canteen of water and pours a little on him saying "well now that he stopped struggling i've stopped the bleeding" (water is attempt at waking him back up)

Vansinnig snarls a bit in his unconscious state, before suddenly snapping awake as the water hits him. His paw shoots up suddenly, moving for the closest thing...Keita's neck.

Akakios rushes into combat with Jarril, unaware that only one of the vermin who had aided him in his charge still lives. "C'mon, hare. I'll kill yer!"

Jarril fights as best as he can while he ends up finally getting the brunt of the vermin attack but the major's mood doesn't let him falter. Loaded sling kept hitting body armour or helmets with such force that loud bangs can be heard. The hare making the fire ends up being killed and falls on top of it, putting it out completely. Wincing from a cut on his arm, the major backs away slightly.

"Urk!" The paws find their closest target, and Keita grabs at Vans' paws, hitting at them. Her eyes turn to Ralai.

Jarril blinks and looks at Akakios with a frown. "Ah, another. Ya the leader then? If not, I am sure he's cowering in some building. Such a shame." Swinging his sling about as he brings up his blade slightly. "Though, nice plan on the badger. Shame he was ta slow though, wasn't it."

Vansinnig gasps a bit, his eyes squinting. "Leya..." Then...he is aware. "Eh?" The paw stops strangling, but holds.

Jarril blinks and looks at Akakios with a frown. "Ah, another. Ya the leader then? If not, I am sure he's cowering in some building. Such a shame." Swinging his sling about as he brings up his blade slightly. "Though, nice plan on the badger. Shame he was ta slow though, wasn't it." *repose*

Keita smacks at Vans' paw some more. "N-not Leya! Keita! Gerroff!"

Darklett walks out of the third building, which is now filled with dead vermin instead of live ones, and charges again, this time heading for the melee. For a brief second, he falters, then shakes his head and heads back in, keeping his head low. Knives. Start. Swinging.

Rothal has noticed Keita, and stumbles in her direction. Hopefully, he'll get close enough to have her help and. Surprised at Van's sudden move, he speeds up, but falls in the soft sand.

Vansinnig releases her, snarling. "Yah know, ya were pretty stupid ta run into a buncha vermin like 'at."

Ralai frowns at van "your lucky you weren't aware"

Akakios laughs. "I'm not Daclon. He's behind me, rabbit. I did shoot a couple of your beasts, though. Now I'll see how ya fight with yer paws."

Keita collapses back as she is released, rubbing ruefully at her throat. "Yeah, well. You were pretty stupid comin' out in the open 'round all those bloody 'ares, weren't ya?"

Ralai looks up at keita "i take it he is a friend of yours?"

Zeraph is busy taking out those vermin that have moved from the houses. The buck kicks a rat down onto his back, stabbing his sword into its gut with both paws on the hilt, then yanks it out, pushing it under his one arm to kill the other charging up on him. The fighter is soon close to those with spears and pikes.

Vansinnig smirks. "Cheeky, cheeky, bar owner." He struggles up, his bandages all ready leaking blood. "You, other badger. Wot did I say 'bout touchin' me, eh?"

Jarril replies back. "Ah, okay. My fault. He's cowering behind ya then." The hare keeping at a stand. With a flick of the wrist he smiles. "Well, whenever ya ready ta start.."

Daclon has snagged a hare with his hook, pulling him close and banging his head against the hare's. The chainmail patch gouges a hole in the hare's forehead and knocks him out. Kicking him aside, he glances around. Darklett has harmed plenty of vermin. Slicing a hare open, he steps back. The hares are better than he had expected.

Darklett has windmilled his knives right through vermin, looking for some sort of mark that identifies the leader, but mostly just swiping at everything that doesn't have long ears... He tilts his head up to survey things, and... blinks. Nuh-uh, not this time. Darklett changes his direction, plowing his way through hares and vermin alike.

Zeraph watches Daclon move through the group of fighters, using his hook as a weapon. The buck scowls as he takes out many of his companions and he moves forward again.

Akakios glances around, suddenly aware that only one of his comrades can help him. Throwing his shield into Jarril's face, he turns, cutting through three hares and making it out of the melee. Whether the shield did any damage was hard to tell.

Ralai looks directly into the other badgers face "i had to otherwise you would be a bloody corpse by now"

Daclon shakes his head, pushing forward again. His sword flashes, and another hare is cut down. Bringing him face to face with Zeraph. His eye narrows in recognition. "Step back, Zeraph. I don' want to have to kill ye."

Jarril gets a bit of pain from the shield as he ends up with his nose bleeding. Frowning, he snarls. "Thought so. Like leader, like low vermin..." The words go into the most foul words that hd left the major ever. Taking out his anger on some other vermin near him, the hare begins to cause more damage than what Darklett is doing.

Taye is still crouched behind the cart, and for a moment it almost looks like he's frozen up. But then, a vermin comes around the corner of his cart, and rather forces him to move. Coming at Taye with sword raised, the rat looks fierce and frightening up until the very moment Taye raises partially from his crouch and pushes his dagger into the rat's thigh. Blood spurts, and the rat goes down like a sack. Eyes narrowed as he fights against faintness at the sight of all the blood on his paws, Taye reaches out and grabs the dagger out of the rat's thigh and proceeds to jam it back into the rat's chest. Disgusted and fear fight for dominance in his expression, as he stumbles up and away from the cart, just kind of waiting for whatever the next attack will be.

Rothal spits sand and blood out of his mouth. It's getting kinda hard for him to see, and he presses his paw against his cheek to try and stop the blood.

Keita reaches for Vans' shoulder to try to push him back down as he sits up. "What c'n I say, badgery ole thing? I missed havin' someone t' cheek at." She manages a small grin and glances to Ralai. In answer to the friend question? "Ya... might say that."

Zeraph just glares at Daclon, seeming only aware of the ferret, muscles tensed and not moving, just studying the leader. Slowly he begins to lower his sword, paws still upon it, as he gazes up at the vermin, ears turning backward. An arrow flies past his face and he doesn't even flinch. The buck is obviously feeling conflicted.

Jarril slowly pushes on himself a bit more into the village, the major barking orders to those that are near him as they pull in rank, small group with their backs to each other before dealing out blow after blow. Still with firm eyes of a soldier, the major kills another finding a slight gap in a fox's armour.

Rothal blinks, and falls back into the sand, breathing heavily. Before blacking out, he begins to wonder whether going on the diplomatic mission was such a good idea...

Vansinnig grits his teeth. "I ain't talkin' to ya anymore." Glancing at Keita, he smirks, licking blood off of his teeth. "So, got bored in the tavern, eh?"

Darklett looks around him, and sees... all hares. So, he turns around, placing his back against the grouping of Long Patrollers, sheathing his knives and pulling out his rapier, fending off attacks and dealing out his own, staying still for now... Perhaps so he can catch his breath.

One hare speaks next to Jarril. "Tight spot we're in here, ain't it?" Jarril smiles as he parries away. "Nah, been in worse situations, besides who wants life boring. Shame I can't find Taye though but maybe he's busy, just hope he hasn't done that hide away thing again." But he carries on fighting, not knowing where Taye was at all.

Keita shrugs and gives Van a look over. "... Bit. Ya c'n only have glasses thrown at ya so many times before ya just have t' ask yerself - what else is out there, ya know?"

Daclon shakes his head, grinning. "I'll see ye later, no doubt." Walking back slightly, he taps the vermin around him. "C'mon, fall back to the next square! We're losin' to many here!" Vermin begin to fall back, only a few with spears and shields covering their exit, stretching across the street, from one side to another.

Vansinnig turns his head and spits blood. Struggling to sit up, he glances around. His chains lie quite a distance away. Back to Keita. "Uh-huh. So? What's out there, eh?"

Zeraph scowls angrily, then kills a weasel beside him, teeth gritted, and leaving his sword in the dead beast for now, just watching the leader back off with the other vermin. The buck growls and drops into a seated position, holding his knees, face hidden.

Ralai looks at keita "you know it may be a good idea to g myself bandaged up before i end up as eak as him..." he points at the deep wound on his side and the shallow wound on his neck "your friend there is a pretty good fighter"

Darklett notices the retreat, and lays off the attack... He really really halts himself from giving chase. Keeping his rapier up for any last shots the vermin might have, he lets them all pass by, until he's out of danger... He looks around his body, and... Completely unscathed. Of course, knowing superstition, he says nothing about it. ;)

Jarril watches as most vermin are pulling back but in the mood that he's in, the major kills another that thought of getting another cheap shot in. With nothing showing as dangerous now, he moves over to where one house is and flops down, the major clearly in pain from the battle, bleeding in some places from the battle with the badger before then this one. Resting his head against the wall, he smiles. "I'm getting too old for this...."

At the question, Keita lifts her head and looks around, and notices the considerable number of hares who are just standing around looking at other hares, at this point. Her gaze shifts towards the main street, in which direction the majority of the vermin are headed. "Looks like the vermin're fallin' back." This is said dispassionately, but at Ralai's request, she turns her attention to him. "Ah - sorry, Ralai. Sit down 'n' I'll have a look."

Ralai sits down looking at van saying "are you really going to do what you said or will you go back to killing needlessly once i leave your presence?"

With a shaking paw, the major places his sword and sling on the floor before reaching for his still intact water pouch. With a shaking paw, the major drinks gently, before pouring some over his bleeding ear to clean it.

Zeraph stretches his legs out in front of him, staring off in the direction that the Bloodthirsters went, then puts a paw to the base of his ear, pulling it away bloody, from the arrow wound. The buck just gazes at it for a moment, then looks at the one on his leg. The dagger wound on his arm has reopened from the battle, and there is a new one on his side it seems. Oh..when did that happen? The fighter suddenly just lets himself drop over onto his back, gazing blankly at the sky.

Well, it seems there will /be/ no more attacks on Taye, for now. Dazed, he turns to watch the vermin retreat, and his dagger drops from his blood-soaked paw to the dirt. He promptly drops to his knees, and loses whatever he managed to force himself to eat for breakfast this morning. He groans dully, and continues downward, resting his forehead to the ground. He somehow manages to avoid lying in his own mess, fortunately. Go Taye. XD

Vansinnig stands up shakily. "Gave ya me word didn't I?" He chuckles, heading towards his chain. Rather shakily.

Keita begins looking over Ralai's wounds and does what she can to clean up the blood with the supplies she still has. She then goes about the task of patching him up. Her ears perk. "What word?"

Ralai nods saying "well you were being a vermin and they don't seem to have issues with lying"

Jarril see's one of the Lt's come towards him, asking what to do now. Frowning as there's no rest whatsoever, he replies calmly. "Put sentries and establish a perimeter. Also send a runner back ta the mountain and arrange for more hares ta come ta take the injured home and arrange for the reserve hares ta come out. Actually, no. Get a runner here so I can send word as well ta the colonel that's there and see what they want ta do next."

Darklett immediately starts looking around at the casualties... Uh, oh... The lieutenant starts fumbling around, putting away his rapier very clumsily, almost stabbing himself several times. "Good work... fighters..." He gives several pats on the back, and sets a course directly for one of the Halyard homes.

Vansinnig picks up his chain, slowly wrapping it around his chest. Glancing towards the town, he snarls, spits bloody saliva, and ignores Ralai. Moving towards the others, he walks right by, towards the beach. "I think I'm gonna take a li'l vacation from th' Bloodthirsters." He snorts. "First fight an' they didn't even win."

Ralai looks at van "if i ever see you on the vermin's side again i won't hesitate to kill you remember that"

Jarril see's the hare nod as he looked about, pulling another hare. "Arrange for a small party ta go back out and bury our dead. They did well t'day and I don't want the birds getting at them. Leave the vermin as they are. Just drag them ta the sea. It can take them." After this, the major closes his eye, then shudders as cool wind blows past him.

Zeraph's eyes are half closed now, seeming rather warn out. The fighter is away from the others, further into the town because of where he was positioned before falling over. The buck remains on his back, one arm rested across his middle, the injured one loosely at his side, palm up and blood running down the limb.

Vansinnig snorts a bit at Ralai's comment. "We'll see, eh?"

Taye rolls slowly over onto his back, his eyes still closed. With one paw he picks up a fistful of dirt and this is rubbed against the other paw, and up his forearms. Another fistful of dirt is rubbed into the wet fur of his arms, before he finally opens his eyes again. The blood is... still there, but not as shockingly blood-like. He sits up and looks around.

Darklett walks out of the home he'd just walked in, looking marginally better... He looks over the battlefield one more time, then makes his way towards Jarril. "Major, sah!"

Jarril having a few moments, he gets up and takes a deep breath. "Can't see me not doing anything." Mumbling. Taking a few steps. "Alright, those with healing skills, ya need ta go about and deal with the injured." Remembering he's injured himself, but not that bad. "I want all supplies stored in one of those homes, after the vermin have been taken out and the place at least cleaned. And..." He looked about. "I want at least six hares who are fit enough ta stand on sentry t'night. So get some rest now..."

Ralai looks at keita "done yet?"

Jarril looks at Darklett while giving orders. "Yes, what is it?"

What's that smell? It smells suspiciously like smoke and...something else. Something less pleasant. It isn't terribly far away either, seeming to come from further into the village.

Zeraph flicks his ears dully as he listens to Jarril's orders, though he is off further away. The buck nods and mumbles a 'yes, sah', while still resting where he is.

Hares that have healing are going about and dealing with the wounded now. Taking care of those who need it more urgently.

With Ralai taken care of, Keita stands with a nod to the badger. "Done... Have a propah look-ovah at the mountain, though." She turns and heads off to find another injured hare to tend to. This is when she spies Zeraph, and with a small frown, over to him she walks, side-stepping a few hare and vermin corpses as she goes. When she is within ear-shot she hears the mumbled "yes sah", and she continues the rest of the way over to him, where she crouches. "'Raph?"

And howls. Howls of pain and suffering. "AAAAAAAGH!" The screeches are bloodcurdling almost, as they resound against the walls of Halyard.

Vansinnig licks his teeth again. "Keep livin', Keita." He heads off...and stops at the screaming. "Hmmm?"

Jarril looks about and shakes his head. "Ah well, that's what ya get for failure within vermin I suppose." Mumbling to himself.

The smell of smoke is far more pungent now, aided by a breeze blowing in from that part of the village. And that pungent smell, that nasty smell...it's burning flesh, for any who might have smelled it before.

Ralai looks at keita saying "not planning on returning to the mountain any time soon..." he crinkles his nose at the smell

The screams get louder, and more frequent, and more urgent... Until finally, right in the middle of a shrill, uncanny howl... They stop, and all that remains are the signs of fire.

Vansinnig snuffs the air...then breathes deeply. "Ahhh. Beautiful." He walks off down the beach.

Zeraph pins his ears and closes his eyes, trying not to listen, or smell. The buck rolls over onto his side and curls into the fetal position, blocking out the screeches as best he can. He suddenly hears Keita move towards him and opens his eyes, gazing up at her.

Darklett takes a deep breath. "The badger... He's not a problem anymore."

Taye's ears swivel around at the screams, and almost drunkenly he turns. His eyes blink slowly, and he breaths in the rather pungent odor. Swallowing with difficulty, he tries to fight down more sick and is fortunately up to the task, though he looks far from cheerful. He stands, ears flat against his skull as he looks in the direction of the smoke cloud. "What's... what're they burnin'?"

Ralai stands up saying "not right now at least..."

Jarril shudders slightly. "I should bally well hope not. If I was older I don't think I would've been fast enough. Just glad I kept him on the side I can see..."

Another hare passing Taye, a fighter. "They're burning dead bodies...."

Ralai walks slowly over to jarril the bandages on his side having already been stained red with his blood...

Darklett nods to the major, bringing a paw up to the side of his head. "Just thought I'd let you know. If he's not dead, then I doubt he'll be raising another paw to harm the Long Patrol." He looks over his own body, as if still in disbelief that he hadn't taken a single bruise, cut, slash, stab, jab, or anything. He even pats himself down to make sure it's all still attached.

Keita's ears go up to cover her own ears at the shrill screams, but as they die, she slowly lowers her paws and rests one on Zeraph's shoulder. "... 'Ey, shh. Yer all righ'."

Jarril chuckles at Darklett. "Ya know. Some minor injuries aside." The major refusing any help until his patrol had been fixed up before him. "I am beginning ta wonder when my luck will run out."

The smell takes on a whole new meaning for Taye and without another word, he stumbles behind a building and promptly begins making more unpleasant noises. At least he's out of sight, this time. Ahhh, the joys of one's first battle.

The smell of smoke and not-quite-the-usual burning materials continues, though there's no sign of the fire spreading, or the fire itself, in fact.

Zeraph half smiles at the doe, eyes slightly closing again, then he looks away. "I couldn't kill him, K..." The buck shudders a little as he suddenly begins to feel the wounds and the exhaustion.

Ralai stands near jarril saying "well so far it seems we did okay... though i don't think it would be a good idea to continue on this battle.... that other badger did a bit of damage to me"

Darklett raises his gaze to smile at the major, the lieutenant looking a great mix between pleasantly surprised and proud. And as the officer speaks, the hare dips his head, then looks up. "You know, sir, I think you oughtta have a talk with my brother about luck sometime."

There's movement now, from that end of the village. A lone figure is making her way rather opening down the streets, though it seems like all she can do to keep from stumbling, and now and then she fails even in that. It's a marten jill, and she's extremely bloodied, most especially around her face. She's carrying two equally bloody knives under one arm.

Keita touches a paw to Zeraph's cheek, and shakes her head. "Don't think about it... jus' rest." She then begins touching up his wounds, doing what she can in the present situation, which is basically just enough to be getting on with.

Jarril turns to face Ralai. "I've been ordered ta finish this off and finish this off I will." Frowning slightly. "Besides, I won't bally well dis-honour those ordah's or stop because a few long patrollers died in fighting for what they believe in either." Looking disgusted the major walks away quickly.

Ralai looks at jarril saying "i meant myself sir not you"

Jarsune continues onward, approaching the sentry line at an ever increasing stumble. The paw that isn't holding the knives lifts into the air, palm outward.

Jarril moving through the other hares and leaving Darklett and Ralai behind, the major stops and turns to face Taye. Seeing that look, the major nods and slowly heads towards him. "Y' okay?"

Zeraph nods and his body trembles again, breathing out a heavy sigh. The buck goes to push himself up off of the ground, ears lifting to listen to what is happening around him, now that the screams have died down. Suddenly he sees the jill movingly along and he nearly bolts up to his footpaws.

Taye finally returns from behind the building, looking rather shaky as he does so. This is just when Jarril approaches him, and he looks rather dully at the major. Slowly, he nods.

Ralai heads off at a slow pace saying "good luck with freeing halyard...i may not see you again depending on what happens"

As Zeraph bolts up, Keita stumbles back before she too stands, looking in the direction of Jarsune.

Jarsune is either completely oblivious to the hares, or she's just not paying much heed to the fact that they're right in her path. She keeps on going, straight for the sentry line, with that one paw raised and the knives tucked under her arm.

Jarril nods and looks at Taye's paws. "Okay. First time then?"

Ralai turns calling out "good-bye my friends may you live many years in happiness i may never see you again" before he disappears into the distance

Zeraph hurries for the marten, seeming unaware of his wings, and not even /thinking/ about the fact that she may be an enemy. The buck goes to support her, ears pinned against his skull and looking very concerned. Blood runs down his own side. He'll worry about that later. ;) "Are you alright?"

On the verge of collapse as she is, Zeraph is a very handy leaning post. Jarsune blinks vacantly at him once, twice, and then simply falls against him, the knives, amazingly, still gripped tightly to her side.

Zeraph just catches the young jill and lets her rest on him, brows furrowing and holding her there easily. He contemplates picking Jarsune up and carrying her into one of the vacant homes, and actually goes to do so, supporting her back under the one arm, then leaning his injured arm down to sweep her legs up and heft her.

As Jarril looks at his paws, Taye's own attention is drawn to them. He promptly begins wiping them repeatedly on his tunic. "Y-yes, sah." He suddenly notices that Jarril's injured, and his brow wrinkles. "Ya should see a healah." He turns, a bit jerkily, and starts calling out, "There any healahs 'round here? Healah!" No one pays much attention to him, though.

Jarril pads closer to Taye and shakes his head. "No, they're dealing with other serious injuries right now. I am fine, I assure you." Nodding his head. "Ya sure there isn't anything ya want ta get out at all? There's no shame in it whatsoever. If ya must know." He says, leaning against the wall. "I couldn't stop shaking for a week after killing someone for the first time."

Darklett is just sorta standing there, now, in the middle of the lake of blood and bodies. "A lot of these're..." He grits his teeth, looking up at the sky, anywhere away from the corpses. Instead, he heads off towards the outside of the gates, patting his belt.

Jarsune can't, and doesn't, offer any protest to Zeraph's actions. Her head lolls limply against him, and she gives a sudden, snorting hack that consists mostly of blood.

Well now. Can't let Zeraph carry all that weight by himself. Keita steps forward, and gently supports Jarsune's rolling head, keeping it level. She looks up to Zeraph and silently nods, ready to follow.

Zeraph winces as she coughs up blood and then, after sharing a glance with Keita, he moves towards Jarril and the vacant house there, with a slight limp again now that he has been on his previously injured leg a lot.

Taye turns slowly back around at Jarril's reassurance, though his brow still wrinkles uncertainly, as though he's not quite sure he believes him. At his continued words, Taye only shakes his head, the wiping of his paws on tunic slowed to only occasional swipes. "N-no." Pause. "What should I do now, sah?"

Jarsune has a death-grip on those knives. The rest of her, however, is limp and unresponsive. There's something shiny and slightly rounded beneath a tear across the front of her tunic, which, if one were to look more closely, holds all the appearances of something silver. And now, considerably scratched and dented.

Jarril nods his head slowly in thought, then rubs his chin slowly. Eventually, he answers Taye. "It took a lot ta do what ya did t'day..." Breaking off, the major thinks for a moment and then nods his head as though he had come to terms with something that he was debating from within. "Recruit, stand ta attention." Looking at Taye.

Keita reaches out her free paw slowly to pull open the tear in Jarsune's tunic. "What is tha'...?" She frowns thoughtfully.

Darklett is outside the fallen gates of the square, kneeling down. His hand roots through some tall grass, and picks out a shiny knife. He wipes it off on the grass and places it in his belt, doing the same to yet another one found in the same spot. Standing up from that place, he looks around for the others.

Jarril looks about for Darklett. Spotting a hare. "Go fetch Darklett for me please. I need a witness." He turns back to face Taye again.

Zeraph gives Keita a glance that states they can worry about it later, then he moves into the vacant home with the bloody jill, where he goes to lay her down slowly, ears still turned backward.

( One of the hares finally finds Darklett and pants, saluting. "Sah, major Jarril requires ya for a moment. That's if ya not ta busy that is." )

Taye responds automatically to the order, standing to attention. His dirtied paw raises in salute, and he just stands there, looking up at Jarril. Clearly he hasn't quite figured out what Jarril has in mind that wants a witness to do it.

Jarril doesn't do anything at the moment apart from looking at Taye, not saying a word. Placing his paws behind his back, ignoring the bleeding that is going on for the moment. The major neither smiles or has a frown.

Slain makes his way into the town, casually humming his usual tune, he takes a moment as he enters to look over the scene.

Darklett takes two more knives out of the grass, and places them in his belt, his head moving to see the hare that beckons him. "Eh? Alright." He gives another glance around, then heads towards the village square again. On the way, he spots another knife, and puts it in his belt. Eventually, he makes his way over to the major. "Yes sah?"

Jarsune gives a very soft mumble of protest as Keita pulls back the torn edge of her shirt, but otherwise remains limp and unresponsive. The nastiest injury seems to be the one on her cheek--it's bleeding profusely, apparently on both sides, as her mouth is full of blood as well.

Jarril looks at Darklett and nods his head. Turning to face Taye once more. "Recruit. Ya have done a lot over the past seasons." He said. "Been through a lot of my orders, be they bad or good. However...." He took a deep breath. "I have seen enough of what ya did t'day while ya were with me and from what I can see, what ya did when I wasn't around. I was asked ta stay by ya side at all times but I see that wasn't necessary. So recruit." The major puffs out his chest. "I hereby give ya field promotion from recruit ta full blown Long Patrol Runner and therefore placed in my patrol." Smiling. "Do ya accept?"

Darklett jumps a little as Jarril starts speaking. Uh, uh... oh! Yes. He turns to face Taye, looking all official like, straight-faced, straight-backed, ears at attention... The whole nine yards, so to speak.

Keita catches the look and indeed doesn't worry about it until Jarsune is laid down. Then, though, she moves to the marten's side and begins examining the object beneath the tunic. Blink. "... It's a mask. Well - was." However, this doesn't distract her for long, because soon enough she moves to examine Jarsune's injuries. "Wondah what happened t' her..." She grabs a roll of bandages from her pocket and tears off a strip, which she dampens with water from her canteen. She begins dabbing at her cheeks, and pours a little extra water on the wounds to be able to better examine the situation.

Slain looks at all the dead beasts, his expression remains emotionless and he continues his tune as he makes through the town. He spots Jarsune but does not approach, he examines her condition from a far and then continues on.

Apart from a great many bruises, focused about evenly over her body, all of Jarsune's wounds are of the slashing and piercing variety. The one on her cheek proves to actually go right through to the inside of her mouth. Ouch. She's got a slice along one side of her neck, and a much deeper stab that apparently got caught in in the thicker, loose skin on the back of her neck. Beyond that, everything's nicks and scratches.

Zeraph slumps into a seated position beside the wounded marten and just gazes down at her, then to the silver object. A mask? Hmm...The buck doesn't think much about it for now though, just resting there, against the wall, and looking over Jarsune as if he is silently willing her to not die, though the fighter seems rather exhausted and his muscles still give a shudder every now and then, making the hare's body twitch sometimes.

Somehow, Taye never quite pictured his promotion happening like this, nor did he quite expect to feel this way when it did happen. He looks quietly from major to lieutenant before finally settling on looking at Jarril. "I accept, sah." He lowers his saluting paw to his side.

Slain stops in his tracks, even though he and Jarsune have never gotten along that well he can't just walk away when she's injured like that, he turns and makes his way back over to where the hares are seeing to her wounds "Greetings, will she be okay?"

Jarril nods and pads over. "Good lad." Smiling. "Now, ya first order is ta get some rest. Speak ta anyone that ya need ta talk ta about this, okay Taye?" Looking back to Darklett. "Could ya let the others know that he's been promoted and is there a clean home he can go into as well." Giving Darklett a look that Taye couldn't see, one that said. 'He doesn't need to see anymore death right now...'

Zeraph perks his ears up in Slain's direction before his eyes travel to look at the lizard. He nods slowly. "I hope.." Is all that the buck responds, and he gives another shudder, then wraps his arms around his middle, stretching one leg out in front of him while the other remains up, bent at the knee.

Keita doesn't look up as Slain makes his way over. Instead, she grunts softly and bends her head a bit closer to Jarsune, content that Zeraph will handle Slain's questions. She digs in a tunic pocket and comes out with a packet of some powder. This she sprinkles liberally over the cheek wound, "Ought t' help stop the bleedin'..." She digs in another pocket and comes out with a curved needle and some thread. This is set to the marten's cheek, and Keita begins the unpleasant task of sewing up the tear in her flesh.

Jarsune squeaks, a sound that's hardly dignified, and hardly appropriate to all the blood that's covering her, not all of it being hers. Her fingers tighten even further on the knife handles, and her eyes suddenly flicker open.

Darklett takes a breath, and nods to Jarril. "Yes, sah. Taye." He turns to the brand new runner, stepping back to give him room to take a step, and turns around, walking towards a home he hopes is uncluttered. "Follow me."

Jarril gives Taye a pat on the back and speaks gently. "Go on, but know this. I knew ya had it in ya. Ya did me proud." He stands there and nods to a healer who beckons him and pads over to get his injuries dealt with.

Slain takes a seat beside Zeraph and looks over at the hare with a slight smile "You hares sure did a number on this place." His attention turns back to Jarsune at the sound of the squeak to which he glances down at her.

Taye looks around at Jarril as he is patted and smiles weakly, slowly starting to come around to the realization that he's actually still alive. The promotion part? Will hit later. With a nod to Jarril, he turns to Darklett and moves to follow after him. He looks up at the older buck quietly as they walk, comparing his and Darklett's considerable lack of injury. "Yer not hurt?"

Zeraph's attention turns back to the jill and he leans forward slightly to see if she is alright. The buck looks very solemn right now, being very quiet. Perhaps he's like this after every battle. The fighter actually offers Slain a light smirk as he speaks to him though, and half nods. "..aye."

Keita sees Jarsune's eyes come open, and inwardly she winces. It's always the worst when they wake mid-stitch. "'Ey there, deah..." She's just starting to realize how /young/ the marten is. "I'm Keita... don't try t' speak, though, 'n' don't try not t' move..." She holds the needle poised at her cheek.

Jarril begins to talk to the healer and nods his head gravely to him. "Aye, well I am sure I get told off when I get back. My cousin doesn't exactly take me getting injured that well these days." Wincing to getting his ear cleaned. "Doesn't help that I am beginning ta look like a 25 season old hare either. War takes it out of ya, makes ya grow much older, don't think we can take it over and over again ta be honest..." The major's voice trails off as he winces again to the ear starting to bleed again.

Darklett leads Taye into a house, swinging a door open and stepping in, turning around a few paces inside. "Luckily, no, I'm not hurt at all. I see you made it out fine, too." He gives a reassuring grin to Taye, spotting a table inside and pushing out a chair for the new runner, and pulling one out for himself. "Congratulations, it's a big step being promoted to full-on Long Patroller."

Jarsune should really follow the healer's advice, because she almost immediately tries to do both--the first fails miserably, occupied as her mouth is both with the injury and the accompanying blood. The second is a little more successful, only in that her eyes snap from Keita to Slain, and she tries to sit abruptly upward.

Slain sighs and says to Jarsune "You should do as she says Jarsune, you'll just make your wounds worse."

Zeraph has turned back to gazing at the jill, looking her over for a moment once she sits up. The buck heaves a sigh and shakes his head. "..just lay down..It'll be fine.." He states softly to Jarsune, looking a little sad. The fighter suddenly seems older.

Jarril nods his head as he slowly gets his ear patched up and a graze on his arm. Chuckling to the question. "Don't suppose so, no. Glad that there are young ones moving up ta be honest. Mind ya, first time isn't exactly the most memorable one ya want ta go through. I remember mine. Thinking it be great, that I feel fine and proud and then one day I got attacked on my way ta Sala for the first time by a rat...." The voice trails off again under the noise from other hares. "....couldn't stop shaking for a week after that. Ta be honest, couldn't stop throwing up either but then I remember it was either him or me when he pulled that knife. Can have all the training in the world but nothing prepares ya for that first kill or seeing someone get killed...." Eventually the major gets up after being fixed up and nods. "Thanks, tell anyone that I am resting in one of the homes if they need ta find me for anything. I am going ta get some rest." Without another word to anyone, the major makes his way into one one of the buildings and leaves the going ons behind him.

Taye moves over and sinks into the chair, then looks around thoughtfully. "D'ya think they've got a bath 'ere? Could use... clean up." He waves a paw vaguely, but then registers the congratulations. He looks up at Darklett again. "Thank ya, sah... I guess I jus' wish it was undah different circumstances."

Keita was expecting that. She moves with Jarsune, and manages to avoid nicking her with the needle. "A'right... I'll fix ya sittin' up." The doe rolls her eyes, and then looks closely at Jarsune. "Ya ready t' stay still, now?"

Jarsune starts to nod, regrets it with a wince, and then stiffens considerably, as if preparing for the inevitable unpleasantness. Her attention flicks almost immediately back to Slain, however, and if one can judge by the look on her face, she's two things. Tired, and severely displeased at him.

Darklett actually winces a little, his paw gently tapping on the table and his head barely bobbing up and down in a fraction of a nod. "Ah, what better circumstances than this, though?" The lieutenant is trying to be consoling as possible. "Right after you've proven yourself, you know you did a great job, 'cause your superior noticed, and promoted you." He puts on his best 'good job' face, smiling at Taye with a shrug. "Besides, I knew you were Patrol material all along, I'm just not the beast that goes about making those decisions."

Slain doesn't show much emotion towards her usual look of displeasure at his presence, he then looks back to Zeraph "I'm sorry I was unable to attend your battle today sir, but from the looks of things I wasn't needed in the first place. I really must get one of you Long Patrol hares to spar me some time."

Keita nods, satisfied as she goes back to work. Slowly, the needle pierces the skin of Jarsune's cheek. After the initial plunge, Keita moves as quickly as she can whilst still being thorough. Best to get it done. "You c'n hit me aftah I'm done, if'n ya want." Small grin.

Zeraph smirks a little as he turns his eyes back to Slain and nods. "It's fine.." The fighter rubs some of the blood off of his arm, to try and get it before it sticks into his fur, then licks it off his paw and begins rubbing again. The buck pauses from this to look at the lizard. "I'd spar you, of course.." At this, the Long Patroller remembers his sword and stands, leaving the house again to retrieve it. He returns soon, wiping the blood off on a cloth he had in one of his pockets and sitting back down.

Slain smiles towards Zeraph "I would like that, after you've healed up I'll take you up on your offer."

Zeraph nods and returns his attention to the stitching process, ears beginning to lower again. "Weapons or not?" He questions, without looking back.

Jarsune fidgets, grimacing terribly, though she still somehow manages to hold her head mostly still during the stitching. Her glare remains settled on Slain, and she seems concentrated on maintaining it--as if she might just hit him instead of taking Keita up on her offer.

Slain looks back to Jarsune, still not seeming to care about her usual distaste of him "I'd prefer no weapons personally, less chance of us hurting each other too much, but we could always use practice weapons of some kind."

Zeraph keeps his eyes on Jarsune and Keita as well now, just noting the look she is giving the monitor, then he nods slowly. "..aye...No weapons then.." He lays his chin on his arm, which is rested upon his knee.

Taye is silent for several seconds before he speaks again. "... I threw up. I didn't want t' kill them, but they were gonna kill me, 'n' they hurt Miyrr so I couldn't..." He's rambling, just a little bit.

Darklett blinks at Taye. "You threw up?" He's silent for a while. "...That's it? You threw up once?" Now, Darklett's putting on his impressed face. "Ever think about becoming a fighter? Really. Don't worry about that, everybeast... goes a little crazy the first time. Just throwing up once is pretty good!"

Slain pats the hare's shoulder gently "Good to hear then friend, I look forward sparing with you."

Keita continues through until she finishes. She ties off the thread and snips it off. She sets down in her needle and thread and then digs in her pockets again. She comes up with a poultice which she then presses to Jarsune's cheek. With her other paw, she takes Jarsune's and lifts it 'til it too presses to the poultice. "Hold this." She then moves around to Jarsune's side so that she can see to the other wounds. These are handled in much the same speedy fashion.

As soon as she deems the job done, Jarsune turns her head to the side and spits several globs of saliva-mixed blood onto the floor. Nummy. She continues to spit for several moments, before her eyes hood and her head dips a little too far downward before straightening up. Then, as if she's been waiting this entire time to say it, she practically demands, "What are /you/ still doing here?"

Zeraph gives another shudder, though it is further spaced from the others and not so violent. The hare still looks tired and out of it. He smirks and nods, this being the only response.

In the face of Darklett's positive words, Taye's shock is slowly start to recede. He refrains from mentioning that he threw up three times. "Well... I nevah liked blood. Seein' it all ovah m' paws..." He looks down at them, but with the dirt he rubbed in and the fact that it's dried, it looks far less concerning. He shrugs. "I'm a'right, now... Are we all goin' t' be sleepin' here?"

Slain looks to Jarsune, keeping his emotionless expression and replies to her "What does it matter to you?"

Jarsune mutters, "'Cause you're annoying me, and I thought you were leaving."

Zeraph says nothing as he looks back and forth between the two.

Darklett smirks. "Good... You'll need to be alright, wouldn't want you out of shape. You're the real thing, now." He leans back in his chair, and nods to the young buck. "Yeah, we'll be sleeping here, for the most part. Maybe if they send reinforcements if this lasts long enough, some of us will be relieved and return to the mountain, but not me. I'm here for the whole thing."

Slain replies with a slight smirk "I said I was leaving the mountain, I didn't say I was leaving the area. Besides, I still haven't found what I'm here looking for."

Only a healer can manage to grin while looking at a bloody neck wound. "See, lizardy thing? I told ya the Patrol had this'un, didn't I?" Keita goes to work on the stab wound, cleaning it out and sprinkling the same powder onto it before going to sew it up, as well.

Jarsune's paw, the one not still death-clutching her pair of knives, clenches into a very tight fist. "And? What're you looking for?"

Slain says in a stone tone "I seek my spirit and a sense of justice."

Zeraph decides not to get in the middle of this one, smartly. He closes his eyes again and rests his cheek against his arm now.

Jarsune snorts, very, very loudly. This answer seems to have set her off even further, though the work on her injuries probably isn't helping her mood. "Fine. You stay here. I'm going home."

Slain replies to her keeping his composure "Be my guest."

Taye's ears dip thoughtfully, and he looks around to Darklett. "If the majah'll let me... I'm stayin' for the whole thing, too." His head bobs in a small nod, and then he stands. "I'm gonna look around... see if there's any watah I c'n clean up with."

"Not /here/," Jarsune says suddenly, sharply. "Some other house."

Darklett grins. "That's the spirit! You'll be just like me in no time!" Whether that's a good thing or not is hard to tell. XD But at Taye's standing, Darklett does, too. "Actually, you do that. Stay in here and get yourself cleaned up, and I'll go spread the good news to everybeast." He nods smartly to Taye, and steps towards the door. "Congratulations, again."

Keita makes a face at Jarsune's slight movements, but she continues working stolidly. The stitching of this wound is quickly done, and she presses a poultice to this one as well and begins wrapping it around the tetchy marten's neck.

Zeraph nods a little as he looks up to Jarsune. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but if you'd like, I'm sure you can rest at Salamandastron for a while, before you go." The buck says softly and quietly to the marten.

Slain sighs, he's no doubt loosing patients with Jarsune's usual attitude "Do as you wish, as usual I don't plan to stop you at any time, I don't see why you're getting angry at me."

Taye watches Darklett move to the door and nods again. "Thank ya, sah..." He turns, seeking out the stairs, which he finds. He moves over to them with a final glance back to Darklett. He waves, which seems unnatural, until he remembers to salute. This he does, with the smallest of tiny grins.

Jarsune's eyes flick to Zeraph, and the expression on her face suggests she's completely forgotten his presence, up until this point. Slain, however, quickly snatches her attention back. "Because you're /annoying/," she states harshly, as if this were the most obvious thing in the world.

Slain replies "You're not the easiest one to get along with either."

The new runner's behavior is enough to elicit a chuckle from Darklett, who gives another nod in return before stepping out of the door and heading next door, to where Zeraph, Slain, Jarsune, and Keita are. But then he actually listens to what's going on there, and changes directions over to another grouping of hares.

The slight fidgeting of Jarsune is driving Keita batty, but fortunately she finishes the bandaging and ties off, at which point she steps back, with a relieved sigh. "There..." She moves over to Zeraph and shares an exasperated look and a shake of her head with him. "Ya doin' all righ'?"

Jarsune only has one response to that. A terse, "Go away."

Zeraph doesn't seem effected by the look he is given and then just looks up at Keita as she moves over to him and nods. "I'm fine.." The buck stands now. "..I think I'm going to find somewhere to wash up actually."

Slain doesn't respond, instead he just lets out an annoyed snort and removes him self from conversation.

Jarsune slumps back into the bed as soon as Slain starts to leave, allowing her irritated look to fade away completely, replaced by one that proclaims Pain and Tired in capital letters. She scoots her knives next to her, and wraps a measure of sheet over them, heedless of the bloodstains.

Keita nods to Zeraph. "A'right, well. If ya need anythin', give a yell."

Zeraph looks thoughtful at the doe, then nods. "Yeah..Could you direct me somewhere I could do this, please?" The buck just stands there for now.

Slain does not reply to Jarsune, instead he gives an angry snort and moves away from her, he puts his back to her as he leans against a nearby wall to over look the aftermath.

Jarsune's eyes are even starting to slide closed--but that moment of near peace is broken to hell and back as she jerks her head up again. "I've got to go."

Slain doesn't look back at her "Don't be foolish, you have to rest, all you'll do is make your wounds worse if you move about in your condition."

Keita considers for a moment. "There used t' be a pump in the west cornah o' the square. I dunno if the vermin bothahed t' fill it with fresh watah regularly or not, but ya could give it a try." At Jarsune's words, though, she turns in the marten's direction. "Go where?"

Jarsune gives Slain's back a dark look as she starts to slide off of the bed, knives in tow. She answers Keita, "I left Nagia. He's going to be angry."

Slain says again "Nagia is an experienced warrior, he'll be fine on his own, just rest before you kill your self."

Keita looks reluctant to say it, but she does. "The lizard's right... ya ought t' rest."