11-30-05 1

Characters involved: Audri & Taye.

Salamandastron: Library - Corner of the Library

Since her return home, Audri has spent most of her time in the library, hiding away in the corner. The squirrel quietly walks along with a limp in her left leg as she pulls old dusty tomes from the various shelves, humming to herself. With a stack of books, Audri goes back to her corner, plopping down in a chair before beginning to thumb through the books, her stump of an ear twitching.

It has been a long time since he's had a reason to come looking for a certain squirrel in this particular corner. When Taye peeks his head around the corner, therefore, it is with a look of uncertainty. "... Audri?" Ah! There she is. He smile-winces as he comes around the corner, leaning against a bookshelf. He rubs at his shoulder. "Hey. Whatcha doin'?"

Audri's head snaps up, glancing off towards the voice with a grin. "'lo Taye. Oh, just trying to find something in these books is all." She replies, pushing her current read aside before standing. She walk/limps over to Taye, looking to his shoulder. "How's ya shoulder feelin'?"

He smiles - unconvincingly. "All righ', thanks." He looks over the young squirrel, his first opportunity to really notice the changes in his friend. He looks down. "Whatcha tryin' to find?"

Audri crinkles her nose, looking in debate on something before nodding. "That's good." Her head turns back to her pile of books littering the floor, rubbing her arm idly. "Oh, just some maps 'n stuff. Nothin' important really."

Taye looks unconvinced. He straightens, squinting at the books she was reading. "Nothin' important?" His nose wrinkles and he smiles. "What're you up to, Audri?"

Audri grins, shaking her head. "Should've known that wouldn't 'ave worked on ya. I found out some stuff on that trip I took, 'n now I'm trying to find the places they told me bout." Her paw rises up to run over her stump ear, nose wrinkling. "I'm not finding em though."

Taye looks towards the books. "Well, I'm at least familiar with the area 'round the western shores. Whatcha tryin' to find out?" He moves over to them, dropping into one of the chairs and turning one around to him, reading its title.

Audri shifts in her chair, pulling a slip of parchment from her pocket to read. "Umm...its called the Broad..Broadstream. I think its up north though, but I'm not sure. And there's this other one but its a bit squiggly so I can't quite make it out." She mumbles, looking over to the runner. "Its supposedly where they got me from..."

Taye smiles - not because she's uncertain, but because he knows what she's talking about. "Well, that's the Broadstream. Aye. It's up in the northern lands, Audri. Up 'round Mapleleaf. It empties on the eastern seas." He grins. "They drill us on all the land regions 'n' the big landmarks. Well - they did. When I was still a recruit."

Audri nods, a tiny smile tugging at her lips. "Ahh. Well, maybe I can find some reading on it then since I know what it is now. So, how's being a patroller?"

Taye flips one of the books open and scans through the pages, not answering her question right off. "Well, I've come to the conclusion that the battle part righ' stinks." He smiles and shrugs his good shoulder, flipping the book shut again. "So... how'd ya lose yer ear?"

Audri nods. "Yea, well most battles aren't gonna be fun. Tis alot o' work tryin' to keep yaself unharmed." Audri hrms, picking a rather dusty tome to scan the title. "Oh, uh. Well, I made a fox pretty mad by snitchin' his dinner which he had snitched from this tavern. One thing lead to another 'n my ear got chopped off."

Ooh. Taye winces. "Well... that doesn't sound like any fun." He sits back in the seat, rubbing at his shoulder again. "Why'd ya go 'n' steal the poor foxy's dinner anyway?" Grin.

"Yea, it wasn't much. Course it could have been worse really." Audri giggles, leaning back in her seat. "Well, I was hungry o' course. Plus he had stolen it anyway so I didn't think he'd mind stealin' himself another one."

Taye makes a small tsking sound with his tongue, feigning sternness. "Now, now, Audri, you know two wrongs don't make a righ'." Hehe. No, no, don't grin Taye.

Audri shrugs. "Yea, but I made up for it didn't I. But, the trip wasn't all bad. I found some stuff out bout the ship 'n all. 'n I got more clues to wear to look now."

Ahem. He nods, looking /actually/ serious now. "That's really great, Audri. What all'd you find out, anyway?"

Audri shifts in her seat again, curling her legs underneath her. "Well, I probably was from the North. I don't know how far, but supposedly my parents were picked up around that Broadstream so I thought I could look around there. Maybe someone might know about them."

Taye's lips part in silent surprise, but with a shake of his head he gets his surprise under control. Well. Somewhat, anyway. "Audri... d'ya know how far away the Broadstream is from 'ere?"

Audri frowns, scratching her stump ear thoughtfully. "Its probably a month's walk or more than that. But I 'ave a plan y'know. I've been thinkin' this out 'n all. Course, it'd have to wait till the Spring or Summer even. Be too risky in the winter. That's why I came back here."

Taye tries not to look disappointed. Really, he does. But it doesn't work, and he looks away again. "So yer just here 'til the cold weathah clears out, then. Well. I hope ya find what yer lookin' for." He stands up, wincing. And moves to the end of the stacks. He glances back over his shoulder. Smiles, awkwardly. "Gotta get t' my dorm." Pause, turn. "Night, Audri." And he slips around the corner.