09-03-05

Characters involved: Zoe_Lang, Jarril, Terrance, Taye, Lesperance, & Nivik.

Halyard Village: West Square(#93069RJA)

The beasts gathered in the village square are once again preparing for battle. Dozens of hares ready their weapons and themselves, some exchanging bets and others barbs. Half of the hares are dressed in red tunics and the other half the usual green. Zoe, for her part, is on the red side. She has apparently opted for fists and feet for her weapons.

Jarril has on orders been placed within the green side of the hares, the major idly resting against some wall while looking about. Giving the back of his neck a slight rub with a paw, he nods to a passing hare and remains where he is.

Terrance is wearing his normal green tunic, wooden sword in his right paw and a shield on his opposite arm. The young recruit is rubbing at his right arm, trying to ease the bruise. Glancing about, trying to pick out other recruits, he notices that most of the hares that have been picking on him are in red. Great. Tom and Flatpaw are in the center of that group of red tunics, getting worked up for the battle.

Taye is, as luck would have it, on the side opposite Terrance. In fact, he's standing near Tom and Flatpaw, holding his own wooden sword and shield, just waiting for the call to start. Mostly he's spending his time eyeing the two bullies, however. They always were an annoyance in recruit classes. Spotting Terrance, he raises his sword in a wave and grins.

Zoe_Lang occupies herself with the task of wrapping her knuckles in preparation, to perhaps protect them somewhat during the blows. Mostly she ignores the other hares scattered around, as well as the spectators encircling the group.

Terrance's ears droop a little bit as he spots Taye on the opposite team. He's going to get even more of a pounding then he was expecting, he can just feel it. He waves his own sword back though, but still doesn't look that happy. He makes his way to a group of fighter recruits on his team and stands on the outskirts of their circle, trying to listen in and pick up on any tips he might be able to hear. He's going to need all the help he can get today.

Taye notices Terr's anxiety, but all he can do is grin encouragingly and make a rude gesture towards the two offending recruits behind their back, in an attempt to cheer him up. He winks.

Slowly pushing himself of the wall, Jarril moves about through his side of things, nodding here and there. Looking to where there's another group of hares in yellow uniforms, the referee's or enforcers of this battle. He waits for signs of them getting this thing started. At the moment, he hasn't got anything to paw either, the runner wanting to try out his speed than brawn for this one.

Terrance glances back towards taye to catch the gestures towards Tom and Flatpaw and that gets a smile out of him, ears lifting a little more. He then glances about, wondering himself when things are going to get started. Nothing worse then knowing a thumping is coming and having to just wait around for it.

Well, it looks like everyone's anxious enough for things to start. With a small smirk, Zoe raises a paw in a gesture to the referees - signaling the fact that she's going to start this thing. She moves the short distance to the central empty space between the two "forces", holding up a paw for silence from all. "It wasn't long ago that many of us fought t' save this village, with blades 'n' blood loss... Now, howevah, we return t' this free village - at the permission o' its inhabitants - t' have us a bit o' fun!" She waits for the requisite cheers before continuing. "Fight fair, 'n' be mindful that though we fight each othah, we are not enemies." She then steps back to the red side, standing at the forefront while she watches one of the referees move to center stage. He raises a flag over his head and, without another word, he brings it down in a sweeping gesture. The signal for the melee to begin.

Without a word, the major hops up, unarmed to one of the recruits on the red team and smiles at the buck. "Well, now. Tuckface is it? Hmmm. Aren't ya the one that's been saying all last year about ya could beat me. I let ya take the first go." Tuckface swung the wooden pole to the side that the major couldn't see but his other eye could see the signs from the body and ducked just in time. Without wasting time, he punched the young buck in the stomach hard and moved out of the way as he fell. "Ah well, maybe next season." The major goes to look on how to take out next.

Terrance looks towards Zoe as she speaks up and moves towards the forming line on his side. He grins a bit and gives a cheer with the rest on cue. Once the colonel finishes up, he falls back a little, not wanting to get caught up in the initial clash. As the two sides meet though, he seeks out a hare about his size in red and swings at the hare. They exchange a few blows on their shields, and then the other hare swings downward at Terr. Stepping to the side, he swings the flat of his blade at the back of his opponent's legs, tripping him. Grinning a bit he says, "Good fight chap" and then moves on

The signal given, Taye jumps forward, meeting with the first green tunic that he comes across. A few strikes are exchanged on either side, though they all fall squarely on the other's shield. Finally, though, the other strikes a blow with the flat of his sword on Taye's shoulder. With a grimace he drops his shield. Dropping down, he tumbles forward and grabs it up, then kicks out backwards on the other's knee. It works - the other drops down and Taye regains his feet, grinning.

Zoe_Lang has also held back from the initial clash, waiting and watching for a particularly tasty challenge to make itself known. She flexes her wrapped fists, just waiting.

Jarril doesn't waste time, the major having a few issues with some of the unruly students from within his class or is it some disgruntled students wanting to prove something to the teacher. No matter, within a short time, the major has knocked down two other bucks and made two more who had tried to attack him at once to hit each other on the head. Picking up one of the fallen staffs, he shrugs and throws it away to the ground.

Tom and Flatpaw grin as the signal is given and jump after a group of green clad hares flanked by three other of their buds. The group of green hares are a little younger than the reds coming at them and Tom and Flatpaw and the others don't take much time to bruise and otherwise devastate them. Laughing with Tom, Flatpaw moves on to attack another hare, seeming to target ones smaller then himself on purpose.

Within short order, Taye has his sword tip to the kneeling green's back and with a laugh, he removes it. "Sorry, chap. Yer out." And with that, he turns to spot a new target - which is when he notices Tom and Flatpaw, and their little game. Grimace. "... Ruddy idiots."

Jarril has turned up between a few other fighters and making a bit of fun. "Oh come on, that's just slow." Ducking and weaving under or around their attempts to knock him out. "Nope, slow... Hmmm, not a bad uppercut of the air there chap." The major keeps them busy while a few green fighters come up behind and tap them with their wooden swords to the back. Not saying anything else, Jarril keeps on moving here and there.

Terrance has managed to engage a few other hares and come out on top, having only gotten hit a couple of times on the arms and legs. Maybe he wont get as bad a thumping as he thought. That thought is then expelled as he spots Tom making way towards him. Frowning a bit, the recruit jumps out of the way of a pair of officers having at it fairly well. Looking towards Tom, he confirms that he's been spotted, guessing by the grin on the other hare's face. Well, no way out of it. Might as well go out charging, so Terr charges at Tom, shield raised in front of him, planning to try and bowl into the older and larger hare.

No one seems very interested in challenging Zoe. "Hm..." With a perusing look, Zoe shrugs and spots the nearest unoccupied hare and charges for them. She shoulders into them, to which they reply via stumbling back. The doe puts up both fists, waiting for their response.

Taye sees Terrance's attack upon Tom and, though he's cheering for the wrong side, he raises his own sword other his head and, "Woop!" He heads over that way though he meets with a couple of hares on the way.

Jarril hasn't quite made it to Zoe yet but is getting quite deep into the red section of hares. Using every trick in the book that he knows the major is doing quite well being weaponless against some that are trying to hit him. Coming up to another runner, he stops and looks at the other hare. Their eyes staring before the other runner drops the staff, moving his paw across the sand. Hopping forwards both face each other with one paw firmly on the line. Moving quickly, Jarril gets punched in the face but gets a good kick in the leg of the other runner as the very close combat begins.

Tom just laughs a bit as he spots his prey charging at him shield first. Shaking his head he just digs in and holds his own shield out, planning on just absorbing the hit, figuring that Terr will just bounce off. And that's probably what would have happened, had not another hare bumped into him from the side right before, knocking him off balance a bit just as Terrance's shield collides with his own, sending him sprawling back, waving his arms around trying to keep from falling.

Terrance blinks as he sees Tom stumbling back after the hit, not expecting that to happen at all. But he'd better make lemonade while he still has some lemons and so he dashes forward again, swinging his wooden sword across his chest to hit Tom on his sword arm, hoping that Tom doesn't get his balance back in time.

The green, having recovered himself from the shove, brings his sword around in a downward strike at Zoe's shoulder. Her reflexes /almost/ as quick as ever, the doe responds by raising her paw up, catching the buck's sword arm by the wrist and pushing him back, back, back, and then brings her foot around, tripping him over it and onto the ground. She disarms him quickly and takes his sword. The nearest yellow-tuniced hare makes his way over to the disarmed creature, prepared to lead him off the battle and into the "dead box". That is, those that have lost.

Jarril has taken a few hits from the other runner as the major has winced from time to time as both keep on putting in hits quick and fast before the major ducks a jab, springing back up again with his paw ready and hitting the other runner clearly on the chin. Not able to keep on the line now, the hare falls backwards as Jarril moves on again.

Tom takes a few more steps back before regaining his balance, but he does manage to do so right before getting hit on the arm by Terrance's sword. Wincing at the hit, he glares down at the smaller hare, "You're going to regret that one runt" he says swinging his shield at Terrance hard, taking full advantage of his larger size.

Keeping one eye on Terrance's fight and the other on his own, Taye matches swords with one of the other recruits who is, fortunately, about his size. When the other gets too close, he shoves him back forcibly with his shield and brings his sword over top, striking him upside his head. Eep. That's a somewhat sickening sound. The other buck's eyes roll up into the back of his head and goes down like a sack.

Uh-oh, here it comes. These are Terrance's thoughts as he just barely gets his shield up in time to meet Tom's, but the force of the blow knocks him back none the less, his feet coming of the ground a few inches. Landing on his back, the young recruit just blinks, getting his wits, and wind, back.

Looking around for another hare to battle, Zoe's eyes fall upon none other than... dun-dun-dun, Major Jarril! With a cheerful smirk she heads straight for him, tossing away the borrowed sword as she goes.

Taye turns in time to see Terrance fall to the ground and, with a gritting of his teeth, he turns at a jog for the matching. What he intends to do, well... he's not really sure. That Tom fellow's wearing a red tunic, after all.

Jarril stands there idly, the major nodding his head at Zoe. "Ah, good. Was bally well wondering if I be fighting my disgruntled recruits all through this battle. You'd think they like me, wot." Pausing. "So how ya want ta do this then?"

Tom grins but doesn't waste time and makes up the distance between the two of them and swings his sword at Terrance's side. He is currently unaware of Taye, he is on his own team after all.

Zoe_Lang grins and inclines her head in a nod to Jarril. "How else?" She flexes her fists again, waiting for Jarril to make his move.

Terrance see's Tom coming and quickly rolls to the side, getting glanced by the tip of the sword on his ribs. Popping up quickly he raises his shield and then swings for the back of Tom's knee

Taye waits at the outskirts of the Tom-Terrance battle but, much to his pleasure, Terrance is doing all right for himself. Thus he turns to meet an oncoming green tunic with little reservation or worry for the younger recruit.

Jarril nods as he takes Zoe's answer to not being tied down to a line which suits him better. Moving about quickly, the major sidesteps around the colonel circling her. "Oh no, I did that last time and I paid for that mistake. Ladies first, cousin dear..."

Zoe_Lang laughs, shrugging in response to Jarril's "invite". "Afraid t' hit yer eldah?" She follows his encircling, turning with him.

Tom is already in mid swing when Terr's sword makes contact with the back of his knee, forcing him down on that knee quickly and throwing off his swing, and forcing him to drop his shield, leaving him pretty expose. Terrance takes advantage of this and quickly swings downward towards the base of Tom's neck. When the hit connects, Tom goes limp and collapses. Terr doesn't have much time to celebrate as a red comes up behind him and tags him out with his sword. Grinning, the hare heads off to the dead zone.

Jarril shakes his head back at Zoe. "Afraid no. Just wondering if and when I beat ya, what sort of extra duties ya give in retaliation." The major takes an experimental jab anyways, not expecting much from such an early time in this one.

The jab is easily avoided, as Jarril expected. She grins agreeably. "If when ya beat me? Somehow I doubt that, cousin..." And with nothing more said, she barrels forward, ducking low to bring her shoulder into his stomach and force him back onto the ground.

Jarril does actually get hit by the shoulder, knocking the wind out of him. Cursing slightly under his gasping breath, the major knows its a bad move to just lie there and forcing himself to move, he rolls over quickly before tucking his legs in and rolling to the side and springing back up again, paw holding onto his belly. "Come on, I can dream, can't I?"

Not surprisingly, Taye stops to be jubilant at Taye's winning. He really is an impressive fighter for his age. Of course, as a result of this jubilant, cheering moment, Taye gets whacked in the back of the head by a wooden sword by none other than... Flatpaw. His eyes cross and his legs go out from under him and down he goes. The last thing he hears before he's out for the count is the other buck's snickering, and then nothing.

With a chuckle, Zoe nods. "I s'pose you can. Anyone c'n dream..." She brings both fists up again, balancing her weight forward on the balls of her feet while she maneuvers around the recovering major.

When Taye reawakens from the blow, he is being dragged via a yellow-tunic towards the dead zone. He raises his paw to the back of his head and feels the ugly welt, there, with a grimace. Yep. Mock battle or not, you're going to get hurt. "Stop, stop... I c'n walk, now."

Jarril doesn't reply to that one but lunges forwards again to try and get a few quick jabs at the colonel's face. Not often does a lower ranking officer have in trying to land a few on the uppers.

Lesperance approaches the village, his steps careful as he looks about. A raised eyebrow at the combating hares, but the ferret hob stays quiet, moving closer to watch. He stays off to the side, so as not to get in the way, but makes no movement to hide his presence from the others should they be looking about.

Buckthorn has disconnected.

Nivik follows Lesp at a distance. Not really with him, but just tagging along, his tail flicking as he takes everything in a little.

Zoe_Lang brings her fists up to block the jabs, stepping back quidkly as Jarril moves forward. Finally, though, she retaliates, pushing his paws away from herself and then shouldering forward again, bringing her fist - one, two, three - at his side. A small circle of open area has formed around them, the lower ranks doing their best to keep out of the two officer's way while they, too, do battle with the other hares.

Jarril is prepared this time and has already moved out of the way of those fists, the runner having the slight advantage on speed. Ducking down, he kicks out at the colonels legs with a foot, while keeping balance at the other end with a hand on the ground, his rear never once touching the floor.

The yellow-tunic obliges, allowing Taye to stand up though he wobbles at first. He brings his paw away from the back of his head and looks at it, noting the small amount of blood on his fingers, now. Ow. He is offered a damp cloth and he puts it to the back of his head, nose wrinkling as he continues towards the roped-in area provided for those who have already lost in the battle. At this point, at least three quarters of the original hares are in this area, some nursing bruises and others milling around.

The kick connects with her ankle and her ankle rolls. With a grimace she drops down onto one knee, paws going down to break her fall. Hissss. Reaching out with one of her paws, she grabs quickly at Jarril's ankle to yank him down, as well.

Jarril doesn't have far to fall in his position but he does land nonetheless and immediately uses his free foot to kick out at Zoe quickly, while trying to get his other foot from within the colonel's grasp.

Zoe_Lang twists to the right and away from his other foot and releases his other, as well. She then rolls back, getting to her feet though her usual limp is now slightly more pronounced. She brings up her fists again, waiting.

Lesperance circles around, moving carefully so as not to disturb those still in combat. His eyes are all for Zoe and Jarril as he finds something to lean back against, watching the combat between the two with a slight smile.

Nivik watches them for a few moments...then diverts his attention around and about the scenery, before refocusing his attention on the combat.

Jarril slowly gets back up again and carefully dusts himself off as if one has to keep respectable, even in battle. "Ya okay, cousin?" He asks while moving around the colonel again slowly.

Ducking under the rope holding in the "dead", Taye moves to join the spectator, still holding the cloth to the back of his head. Not surprisingly, he spots Lesp amongst the crowd. He moves towards him.

Lesperance shifts his head, ear twitching as someone approaches. Violet eyes turn away a moment later, as the fight is at somewhat of a pause as the two recover. "Ah, good afternoon, Private Taye." a paw lifts in greeting. "Too bad I didn't come out earlier."

Zoe_Lang rolls her eyes at the question and, instead of answering, she moves forward again. She punches forward with her right but just at the very last second she pulls the punch and brings her other paw around at the underside of the buck's jaw.

Taye nods to the ferret as he approaches, bringing the towel away for a second to give the collected blood a displeased look. "Aye, ya could've seen me go down if ya had." Eh heh. "Aftahnoon."

Jarril doesn't see it, he only could see the first move, his blind side (Quite literally...) is the major's biggest weakness and it hits him square on with a sickening thud. Not saying anything but just having a bit of blood slightly drip from his muzzle, his eye rolls up and he falls heavily on the floor, knocking his head on the ground as well hard and lays there.

Lesperance's eyes dip to the towel, and he offers a smile, turning his eyes back to Zoe just in time to see her uppercut approaching the buck. "Ah, I ment more along the lines of perhaps participating. Self training is one thing, but its better to have another to practice and learn against."

"Aye, well, that's too bad, then." Taye looks in the direction that Lesp does as well, just in time to see Jarril go down. He actually /gasps/ at the sight, though he tries to cut it off once its out. "... Woah."

Zoe_Lang feels a crunch in one of her knuckles despite the padding when it connects with Jarril's jaw. However, that is the least of her concerns as Jarril goes down and strikes his head on the cobble stones. Urk. She immediately calls for a medic and one of the yellow tunics hurries over. With his help, she begins dragging Jarril off from the rest of the fighting, though only a few fighting pairs remain.

Jarril is at this moment, literally quite out of it and thus won't have any memories of what is happening at the time. However, he is light enough to be moved without much trouble, even for his age. A large lump is forming at the spot where he had hit his head.

Lesperance winces a bit, watching the buck get carried over. "Nice left paw you got there, Zoe." the ferret hob comments when the trio grows closer. He unleans himself, moving away from whatever it had been, and stepping over to the Colonel.

They set him on an empty stretcher to keep him off the ground and roll him onto his side, examining the welt on the back of his head. Of course, the only thing to be done is to apply a damp cloth to keep down the swelling. This Zoe does with a sigh, before looking up at Lesperance. "Too good, looks like."

Lesperance shrugs a bit, and looks down at the hare, but lets his own healers take care of him. "Perhaps, perhaps." he gives a little shrug. "Good to see you again, Colonel." the hob bows his head to the hare. "Though I have heard that there was some trouble recently."

Zoe_Lang inclines her head then steps away from Jarril to give the healers some room. "Aye... but as ya can see," she gestures around, "the trouble's ovah."

Lesperance nods. "I'm here to give what aid I can then, until we depart. And I have something for you, that really shouldn't be passed around." he produces a rolled parchment, passing it over to her.

Taking the rolled parchment with a curious look given to the ferret, she nods without opening it and places it inside a tunic pocket. "I'll look it ovah latah, then."

Lesperance nods, then motions out over the area, taking in the hares that were particpating in the combat. "A daily thing, here?" he looks around, then returns curious eyes to Zoe_Lang.

Zoe_Lang looks out over the remaining fighters, which has dwindled to four. "Oh, no... just a little somethin' t' lighten the mood."

Lesperance smiles a bit. "Well.. I'm here, and sound, though with a few more than I thought I'd be coming with, indeed."

Zoe_Lang smirks lightly. "Aye, so I heard..." She then looks back over her shoulder to the fight, where coincidentally enough, the last pair has just become one. One of the two has just gone down, leaving just one... doe, in fact. A yellow tuniced hare runs over and lifts her paw into the air and a cheer goes up. The champion. Zoe looks back around at Lesperance. "Well, duty calls." With a nod to the hob she moves over to congratulate the winner and other such things.