12.01.08 - 'Eulalia' is Not Supposed to End in a Gurgle.

Location: Dirt Road near Redwall

Characters Involved: Darklett, Sidney, Jove, verminspoofs

Well, as it turns out Darklett's making good on that promise to go find Tameus's brother. Though if the guy hasn't shown up yet... Well he doesn't feel that there are reasonable odds he'll find anything good, if anything at all. He and two of his finest -- er. Well. It's the new fighter and a recruit. He, Jove the fighter hare, and Sidney the recruit, are heading down the dirt road in the vague direction Tameus pointed him. He's ahead of the other two, keeping his eyes peeled for... Well, anything?

Jove is certainly doing her best to appear her finest, at least. She trots along at a steady gait, leaving a pin-straight line of tracks over those already dappling the dirt road, looking 'round with stubby ears up and eyes alert. A little too alert, maybe. She's trying hard, but she looks like she's got a case of the twitches, doing her best to scan both sides of the road at once.

Sidney is easily the least enthusiastic of the three. It's something to do, anyway, but the recruit is more enjoying the cool air on his face than doing much searching. Okay. He's looking. His ears are up and his eyes are open and he moves a few steps behind the other two, hands in his pockets, breath fluttering out as misty clouds in front of his muzzle. If not for the uniform, the grayish buck would just about blend in with the landscape. "... so who're we looking for?"

"There's a hare in the Abbey named Tameus who came here with his brother. Apparently his brother made him leave him behind to get to the Abbey after he suffered a leg injury and said he'd catch up." Darklett swivels his head the other way, and continues talking. "So we're looking for a hare, kind of dark-furred, and looking like a frozen corpse because I'm sure that's what he is by now." And his head goes back the other way. "Honestly, I'm not expecting to find anything at all, but... Due diligence, and all that."

Tameus, Tameus. Tiny thing, long ears, big personality. "Is that the kid who showed up .. two weeks ago?" Sidney ventures, trudging up further to fall into step next to Darklett. His brows are lifted, dark eyes angled away from the surrounding area to watch the Major's face. He doesn't have to put the emphasis on the amount of time, it stands on its own.

Jove stiffens slightly when Darklett turns to address the lower ranks, big eyes blinking. "Well, 'e might've found a warm place t'hole up, sir? Or some local folk.. no, scratch that'un," she decides, thinking better of things.

"Yeah, that's him," The major responds to Sidney's question. "And yes, I know. But I said I'd go out looking, and it's not completely hopeless." Darklett pockets his paws and continues to scan for any evidence of life, or at least evidence of where they can keep looking for life. "Kinda wish we had an idea of where to look, but you're right, Jove. He could be just about anywhere."

"Well not to, uhm, question your authority, Dark.. lett..." Sidney hesitates. He still isn't quite sure if he's even allowed to call Darklett by his nickname? For more reason than one. "... but if the kid's been around for that long, shouldn't we have done this ... sooner?"

"Sah. Might.. er." Jove starts to say something, but at Sidney's words she falls silent, mouth a careful line. She'll wait to see how this turns out before doing anything else.

"I did, but I figured maybe I was missing something and needed a couple fresh sets of eyes." The major halts for a moment, turning his head to either side. Evidently, he doesn't care enough about titles right now to bother correcting the recruit. "So do either of you have any ideas on where to look? I obviously haven't had much luck."

She'll take that as 'permission to speak,' but Jove does a quick salute regardless. "Well sah, I can't think they wouldn've gave some notice to th'Abbeh by now, but might it be worth askin' the locals? Bein' they know the areah, bein'.. local."

"Well," Sidney mutters, tugging his hands out of his pockets to rub them together. "If he couldn't make it far enough to the abbey for shelter.. figure he'd find someplace else? Burrowed, like. To get away from the elements and.. ... certain aviary monstrosities." His nose twitches as he looks upward. "Maybe we're looking for a few pieces."

Sidney says, "Or a large owl turd."

"...Well. I like the idea of asking the locals, but no Abbey visitors from the area seemed to have any clue, and well... Good luck finding any locals about in the winter." Darklett keeps his paws pocketed. "If you've got any ideas on where any live, then we can go ahead and ask." The major hms to himself. "And if he's burrowed somewhere, well... Then he could be just about anywhere, and trust me, I'm keeping my eye out for the worst, recruit Sidney."

Jove's mouth quivers, ever so slightly, before she snaps back into complete seriousness and attention. "Well sah. Th'one squirrel's been on sentry duty, Robin, some squirrel clan sent hah out. She might be worth a try. Sah," she adds, in the way other people say 'er.'

"Mmph," the recruit responds, shoulders rolling in a shrug as his eyes cut to the side. "Well if you didn't find anything along the road the first time, we ought to.. erm. Great." He doesn't finish his sentence before spying a bit of .. reddish? Yes, those are definitely foxes. Just a pair of rag-tag foxes, your typical vermin sort.

"Hm?" Darklett turns on his heel. Yeah, there are some vermin. "Oh, good. Locals." He glances over his shoulder at Jove. "Think you wanna go ask 'em?" Snerk.

The foxes seem to have already seen the hares. Their expressions, as they come closer, are a combination of mean and indecisive. And, oh. They have weapons. As anyone outside the abbey tends to, vermin most of all. "Hoy," the bigger one snickers at the pair. "How y' doin', rabbitses!" Big, gap-toothed grin on this one.

Jove has spotted them as well, and gives Darklett a doubtful look while being as, well, politely confounded as she can. "Sah," she repeats - this could be 'no sah,' 'what do you mean sah,' or 'are you havin' me on sah' before her gaze darts back to the foxes.

Sidney has just been called a 'rabbitses' and it gives an odd unpleasant tinge to his expression. They advance and now there's the glint of various metal devices on their persons. Definitely foxes, definitely armed, definitely bigger than him.

Snerk, snerk. Darklett turns towards the foxes. "Oh, doing well. It's a bit cold, though, don't you think?" The major grins, making sure the foxes don't get too close. Gee, he sure hopes Sid and Jove grabbed their weapons on the way out. "You didn't happen to see another ha- er, rabbit around, did you? With a leg injury?" His paws go to his hips, but really it's for proximity to his dual daggers. Just in case.

The larger fox aims for Darklett at a casual walk. "Heheheh.. heh, no, no sirree, jus' y'. Y' an'.. what a pretty lil' party this is. I oughta make a stew!" His companion bursts into a sudden fit of giggles, his curved sword held up and tongue flicking against the edge. "..rabbitses /stew/..."

It's Jove. Chance favors those armed to the teeth, though it seems she's limited herself to sword and bow at the moment. Her paw goes back to her hip where the hilt rests as she takes a step to the side.

"You know... We kind of outnumber you right now." Darklett takes a step backward, giving quick glances to either of the other hares as he tightens formation with them. "If you're smart, you'll start callin' us /hares,/ 'cause that's what we are, and you'll also go on your merry way and leave us alone."

Wasn't there some point in his life when he was a pacifist? But now Sidney has a sword and his fingers drum on the hilt of it, brows up, and edging in closer to Darklett on one side. "... I'm not sure you'd taste very good, Dark."

"Sure 'e will," the bigger fox growls, and with a grating sound his sword comes out of its sheath. "All three o' ya, you'd taste /mighty/ good.. roast.. chopped up with some taters..." He licks his lips. And lunges at Darklett.

Out comes Jove's sabre, blade flashing in the winter light to block. "_Righ',_" the stubby haremaid mutters. "No ordahs t'be polite t'these rotters, sah?"

Well, if there was any moment to take out his weapons, now would be it. Darklett quickly unsheathes both of his daggers and uses both to deflect the lunge out of the way, holding the sword at bay and elbowing the bigger fox right in the front of the muzzle.

Meanwhile the 'companion' fox brings his paw to his mouth and whistles, and out come nine-- no, ten... Eleven?! more vermin come out, assorted rats, stoats, and more foxes, all wielding shiny, sharp weapons and heading their way. The second fox then strikes at Jove, hissing. "I'll show ye manners, rabbit!" Meanwhile, the vermin work their way into surrounding the three hares.

Ohhsh--. And a variety of other curses. One actually escapes Sidney's muzzle as he scoots out of the way of the big fox going after Darklett, turns, and tries to avoid presenting his back to anyone. A weasel comes at him and he brings his sword up, wearing a startled expression when this clangs against.. an axe. Lovely. His hand and wrist feel slightly numb.

The big fox steps back with a grunt, then twists his muzzle into a snarl and comes at Darklett again, swinging his sword out in front of him. More range on that than the Major's knives.

"Sid, backs t'gethah," Jove warns, jaw setting as her sword absorbs the blow and transfers it up her arm. She takes a step backwards to do just that - oh, no, she was just having a run-up. The fighter's blade strikes out at her opponent, aiming for the kidneys.

Darklett doesn't really need range, typically, but boy those vermin came out of the woodwork, didn't they? He narrows his eyes in focus and once again uses both of his daggers to block the swinging sword, ducking and forcing the blade to go over his head, creating an opening and striking with one of his daggers for the gut of the big fox.

At the same time, a few rats enter the melee, trying to create a double-team on each of the hares, though Darklett temporarily fends one off with a hard kick to the knee, sending the vermin hobbling backward. Jove's strike takes the fox off guard, and he's fallen almost instantly, but another rat goes to try and take advantage of Jove's focus on the fox to strike at her side with a spiked mace. The third rat stays slightly to the back of the weasel facing Sidney, waiting for his own opportunity.

It's safe to assume Sidney .. has only handled this sword in practice and training. He flinches back a little and deflects another swinging axe-blow. The good thing about something hefty like that is it's slower to move, and the buck lunges in before it comes back around in the other direction. There's the sweet, sweet feeling of his blade sinking into the weasel's torso, below the ribcage. Hurriedly, he backpedals to put his back against Jove's, free hand itching for another weapon as he fights mainly a defensive battle.

The big fox grunts and backs up, bleeding and blanching somewhat. That probably hit something at least semi-vital. Another fox goes at Darklett, and this one is a knife fighter like the Major. Oh, it's on. Two vermin - a pair of stoats - have backed up further, going up the slight slope of the side of the road. Both have bows, and the first notches an arrow, then lets loose at Jove.

That's one. Jove pulls back her sabre, now darkly glistening at the tip, in time to take a step that moves her out of the mace's path, her arm darting out to stab into the weasel's side before he can recover. It does put her back-to-back with Sidney, though, which is probably a bit uncomfortable since she's got her quiver on. Her eyes widen slightly as the arrow goes whizzing past her upper arm, taking a clip of flesh and fabric. "Majah, archers!"

"Got 'em!" Darklett sheathes one of his knives as soon as he hears the call that there are archers, reaching slightly backwards on his belt for a throwing knife. He grunts loudly as he throws it at the archer that was preparing to fire his first arrow, hitting him square in the chest. He falls, the arrow lobbing uselessly to the ground, and the stoat archer soon dies. For now, he can't handle the second archer. "Get the other one!" Anyone! He's got to take care of this fox coming at him with a knife. He dodges a swipe and sidesteps, keeping an eye on other vermin to make sure there are no sneak attacks. "Watch your backs!"

The rat waiting his turn for a piece of Sidney gets his chance, and he comes at the recruit with a saber, swiping down and across for the young hare's body.

"Unf," Sidney grunts. He bites at his lower lip and glares at the .. rat.. thing? That just slashed across his ribcage. His eyes squeeze shut for a moment and then he lunges at the rodent, slashing and hacking, giving a sudden shout of just plain pissed-off-ness. That one falls and he steps /onto/ the body to take on the next vermin that comes forward. Something is fueling the inexperienced hare, yes it is. He's further from Jove, though - no more back-to-back.

Another rat tries to dart into the opening, a dagger in one hand and sword in the other. The dagger scratches a line across one of Sid's shoulderblades and the sword aims to stab into Jove from behind.

"Sah!" Jove barks in reply. And so she would, if it weren't becoming a bloody mosh pit down here. A sudden lack of pressure against her back - "Sid!" she looks 'round, the twisting movement bringing her hipbone in line with the rat's sword. The doe's ears slick back and for a moment, her leg wobbles. "'Ell," she mutters, aiming a slash at the rodent's wrist while they're still connected.

There's a bit of a stand off between Darklett and knife-fox, the major's other paw going to recover his other dagger from his belt. The fox swipes again and he parries the strike, going in to counter, but the fox leaps backward. Too bad for the fox, because as soon as he leaves the ground and thus loses footing to dodge or parry, the major charges in and both knives are quickly in the side and heart of the vulpine, felling him on contact, the major having tackled the fox in the process, kneeling on the midsection of the fox and yanking his weapons free.

The rat attacking Sid and Jove gets his wrist slashed, causing him to drop the sword, but leaving him with that knife, which he uses to try and stab right through Jove's gut with. Meanwhile, the stoat archer has restrung another arrow, and takes aim.

Suddenly there's an odd sensation on Sidney's ear. He shakes his head and some blood flecks the snow as he ducks back a little, dodges sideways away from an attack, and pierces his sword neatly between two ribs. It goes in at an angle and comes out his back; blood burbles to the rat's mouth and Sidney kicks him back while pulling his sword free.

The archer's arrow zips through the air, and has just barely been released toward the kneeling major when four of the remaining vermin move quickly in to try to take the hares' leader while he's ducked down. The archer stoat aims at Jove now, while the quadruple gang-up goes after Darklett all at once, one with a mace, two with swords and the last stabbing at him with a javelin.

Jove uses her free paw to pull the sword tip out of her side, using a layer of her tunic to keep from cutting herself, while the saber flicks out to do just the same to the rat, only with a much longer reach. Don't pull out things embedded in you without a healer, she knows, but there are limits. "Tha' was nearly a verra embarassin' injury," she huffs, breath forming little steam clouds in the air. Her stubby ears are up and swiveling, catching the sounds of battle going on around her, and in a moment she'll sort them out and pay attention. The arrow razes along her leg, opening a gash there and sending a small sewing kit tumbling from a torn pocket.

"Agh..." The major feels the arrow pierce his padded tunic and dig into the back of his shoulder. He stands, turning to find himself surrounded. His ears pin, and he takes stock of the situation... Yelling like a madbeast, the hare unleashes the battle cry of the Long Patrol as he lunges for the mace and one of the swords, taking out the two of them. "Eulaliaaaaaaa! Aaagh..." At least it'll draw attention to him. The other sword scores a strike over his undefended upper arm, and the javelin clips his side. The major grimaces and falls away, grabbing for throwing knives out of his belt, but neither of his arms cooperating for the moment.

Sidney slashes at the last one in front of him - slices the guy's head right off. It wobbles on his neck and then the head falls one way and the body falls in the other, and the buck gasps for breath, turning around. The stoat archer draws back his bowstring again and sends another arrow zipping toward Jove; at the same moment this is released the shaken recruit lunges, trying to get himself between the fallen major and the last two remaining of the gang-attack on him. The rat's javelin is drawn back, and is aims in a thrust downward into Darklett's belly just as Sidney gets there. The javelin glances off his sword and buries into the muscle of Sid's thigh.

'Eulalia' is not supposed to end in a gurgle. "Maj-" Jove starts, cut off by an arrow that whizzes right past her scut. "Righ'," the haremaid mutters again, sword getting a quick wipe-off on her tunic's edge - she winces - before it goes back in the sheath and the bow is unslung and strung, an arrow nocked.. she sidles, raising it up to aim for the stoat archer and release.

Darklett backs off, scooting on his back and growling, the arm with the arrow in its shoulder finally managing to start responding, and its paw grasps around a throwing knife and lets it fly, the javelin user having no chance to defend himself with his javelin stuck in Sidney. He fumbles around, trying to get his paw around another throwing knife. "Sid, watch out!" The weasel carrying a sword swings in an arc for the midsection of the recruit, looking to finish him off.

The stoat archer topples, an arrow in his chest. Sidney's leg feels about ready to give out, but the other is braced back behind him. He flinches while bringing his sword up, more or less vertical, to catch the swing; though to stop the momentum fully he presses his other hand into the blade higher up, cutting into his hand. The first swing prevented, the weasel draws it back to repeat the same motion - and in the instant opening he has, the small buck lunges it, jabbing the sword in nearly dagger-style through his chest at a slight angle. Whatever it punctures, that does the trick. The sword grazes along his hip before falling from a lifeless hand, and with a little 'nnh!' of shock Sidney lets his sword go. It's still stuck in the weasel as this last opponent falls.

Jove does a quick check - right, that's everyone - before she legs it over to the pile of bodies with bow in paw, dark stains growing on her uniform. "Majah! Sid!" Huff. Huff. The bow is reslung, sabre out. Her nose quivers.

Making sure that is all of them, the major sighs and winces as he gets to his feet with much struggling. Dark manages to get to one knee, though, and decides that's enough for now. "Anything serious?" His eyes go back and forth between Sidney and Jove, especially the recruit's thigh. That could be dangerous. "Search's off, let's get back to the abbey..." He rises to his feet, going to retrieve throwing knives out of dead vermin. Never mind that he's bleeding all over the place.

Sidney has his eyes shut, huffing tensely in and out of his open mouth. It's difficult to take stock of how beat up he is when he feels this faint - head swimming, heart still galloping. The increased pulse is doing nothing for the bloodflow from his leg. He stands there for a moment, then sags down onto his rump - is he sitting on a dead body? ".. serious," the recruit mumbles with a nod. "Def..initely. Serious."

"Nothin' vitahl, sah.. ah." The rapier is sheathed and Jove kneels in the blood and muck, paws going to press down on the wound at his thigh. "Righ', Sid. Leh's get some pressah on this.. ah.." Cloth. Cloth would be nice. She tears a strip from the rags Sid's seat is wearing.

Darklett shoves the knives into his belt after cleaning them off on his uniform, returning to Sidney and Jove. "...Think you'll live..." The major looks around at the thirteen dead vermin. "Nice work." He grimaces, looking down at his side... He kneels, ripping off a piece of the shirt of one of the rats, using it as a stop-gap for the wound there, his other paw occupied with another piece of dead rat's clothing, pressing it against his upper arm. And there's still an arrow in his shoulder!

Sidney never knew he could bleed so much. The buck looks dazed and out of it, staring at the injury on his thigh while Jove twists the strip of cloth and ties it snugly around his upper thigh. Pretty soon that leg starts to feel funny, but the blood has slowed for now. He grunts, squinting at Darklett while more cloth is used for a makeshift bandage wrapped directly around the leg wound. "... you okay, Dark?"

"Oh. Yeah, I'm fine." And he really looks like he means it. Darklett turns his head to look at that lodged arrow. "Definitely not the worst shape I've been in." The major grins, winking in good nature at Sidney. "Can you walk?"

"I'll manage," the buck grunts out. With Jove's held he gets to his feet, favoring that leg, the foot just scuffing the ground as he leans to tug his sword out of Number Thirteen. The recruit is really kind of a mess, actually. The tip of one ear is.. not even there anymore, he has a few gashes, and a bloody graze down over his hip and side. The bleeding ear hangs down in front of his face, and Sidney eyes this, then mutters, "Dammit," and starts to limp his way back toward the abbey.

It doesn't appear anything important was damaged on the three hares. Great. Darklett walks side-by-side with Jove and Sidney towards the abbey, holding his makeshift bandages in place. "So, was that your first action?"

Sidney glances sideways at Darklett and huffs a strained exhale. Mist flickers in front of his muzzle. "Yeah," he gruffs, nose twitching a little. "Yeah, it was." Deep breath, and it shudders on the way out.

"...You did good," Darklett comments. "Both of you, great job." The major faces Sidney with more concern, though. "You alright with what you just did?" He doesn't even know what the poor recruit is training to be.

Sidney swallows and nods. His heartrate is slowing down and he's feeling calm. The pain isn't connecting directly and feels kind of blurred out. "Yeah," he says, muzzle tilting to look at Darklett with the start of a faint smile. "Yeah. I.. liked it."

Liked it? "...Really?" Darklett's forced to grin at that. "I've seen some pretty nasty reactions to the first kill... That's... That's not bad at all. You training to be a fighter, or what?" Keep the mind... Off the pain!

Uhm. Well he was training to be a runner. Now he's having second thoughts. The teen shakes his head, and that's all the response he gives for a moment, limping onward. Forget the stitching and bandaging, someone just get him to a bed. "Runner," he gruffs now. "... can I switch?"

"...Of course, yeah. We'll just take care of that as soon as we head back to Salamandastron." The major grins. Score. "We'll see how you feel about it in the morning when everything's sore, but..." He laughs, trekking alongside Gimpy Sidney.

"... back to Salamandastron?" Sidney mutters, eyes squinched shut for a moment. "I'll be impressed.. if I make it back to the abbey." Huff. "And then I'm gonna flop in a bed.. and sleep for a year."

"Hah. Get used to that if you're gonna be a fighter. Though... It gets better as time goes on." Darklett shrugs the shoulder without an arrow in it. "But a good battle will still wear you out /real/ quick."

"Then this must be /the/.. best. Battle. Ever," Sidney says with a serious nod. "'cause I.. I'm about to fall over." Really. He's tipping sideways. That hurt leg has stopped cooperating. "... nnh."

Uhh-uhh. Darklett can't carry you right now, Sidney. He reaches over and tugs so he can at least support the other hare. "...Hey, try and keep upright, okay? Lean on me if you have to, but stay off the hurt leg as much as possible."

Of all ridiculous things, Sidney actually gives a slight giggle. Now he's grinning. His tongue presses at his upper lip for a second and he chuffs out a soft laugh. "... I did good, didn't I? Did you.. did you see me... slice that one guy's head off? I /chopped/ his head off!" Like a freaking guillotine.

"Y... Yeah, you did." Darklett blinks. "Sid, try and relax a little. I don't think you're... I don't think you're feeling as well as you think you are."

Sidney is grinning broadly as he turns to look at the Major, ears stuck up straight, the chopped one a little wilty at the tip. "... no. You.. don't get it. I actually feel.. I feel /amazing/.." Which is a few steps up from depressed and heartbroken, anyway.

"Well, that's good." Darklett chuckles. "You're taking it... Very very well." He's still skeptical. We'll see what the morning brings.

Sidney gives Darklett a look with his eyes half-shut, still a little grinny. "... there's, heh.. heheheh.. Dark." He takes a breath and lets it out. Trying to be serious, trying to keep his face straight. "There's an arrow in you."

"...Yeah, and it kinda hurts." Darklett has an arm at the ready to catch Sidney if he passes out or anything, which he looks like he's gonna do.

Jove has been, uh. Keeping a careful eye on Sidney as she helps him along, but saying nothing so far. "Pullin' 'em out makes worse'n leavin' 'em in 'til a healah sees t'you," she informs the recruit. The stout haremaid looks over to Darklett, questioningly. Her nose quivers slightly.

Sidney grunts and turns his grin to Jove. ".. did you see me cut the guy's head off?"

Oof. Are they nearing the abbey yet? Darklett trudges along, holding the pieces of slowly reddening cloth to his two more major wounds.

"Verrah impressive," Jove replies diplomatically. "Good enthusiasm, wot. So. What kin' o things d'want rustled up from th'kitchen, Sid?" Change the subjects, change the subject. Her wounds sting in the open air, but she pays them no mind. Every once in a while, she glances at Darklett to see how he's faring.

"A pillow," Sidney says with a serious nod. "A.. hm. Pillows don't come from the kitchen." His ears give slight twitches as he wanders along, side-by-side with Jove, who he lists sideways into somewhat. "... so apparently I, heh. I lost a chunk of ear." He gestures.

Darklett is getting along just fine. Just kinda might be nice just a little if the abbey was just a bit closer? At least they're nearing it, but... Jeeze. Makeshift bandages can only do so much, here.

Jove is a sturdy thing; for a hare, she's built like a barrel, and supports Sid without much effort. She _is_ developing a limp on the side she was stabbed, but. "Mint pillows, mebbe." The doe glances up at the indicated appendage and twitches her nose. "So y'did. Give y' a rakish look when y're healed up. Th'girls like tha'."

"The.. girls... like that?" Sidney repeats, looking puzzled. Still grinny, but in a confused way. And suddenly he starts to laugh, like /really/ laugh. "Ohhoh, oh, ahehehehehh, heh.. heheh... that. /That/! .. hee. Is .. hilarious..!" Maybe Darklett would understand better.. why he's suddenly so amused.

So close... Almost there. Darklett actually starts limping, which... Given that he has no leg injuries, is a little strange. He is losing lots of blood though, leaving a trail in the snow. They're merely paces away from the gates of the Abbey, when the major murmurs something. It's not very audible, but... His straight-ahead stare and arms dropping to his sides says all that needs to be said.

Aheh. Jove grins back uneasily. "Mebbe th'boys too, Sid. Calm down there, m'not tha' funny.. sorry sah, I didn' heah?" She turns her attention away from Mr. Hilarious for clarification and blinks. "..eh, buggah. Righ', Siddy-boy, look sharp 'n give me a paw."

"Well, ah. If y'can." She eyes him doubtfully.

Darklett is really close to making it to the infirmary, too. He just sort of leans against the wall, and drops to his knees. Lucky for Jove and Sidney, Darklett is not a particularly large hare.

Unfortunately for Jove and Darklett, this is when Sidney tips over all the way. He's still laughing as he goes down, tucking in around himself and hugging himself. Sprawled in the snow, injured leg out, he cackles with breathless laughter, shaking his head - utterly incapable of helping haul Darklett anywhere.

Aaand that answers that. "Well, s'a fine t'do." Jove huffs and taps her foot in the snow before she slings down her quiver and bow and trots over to the Major. Officers and those nearly passed out from blood loss first. The haremaid draws a deep breath, and "OY!" she /bellows./ "'URT 'N WOUNDED OUT 'EAH!" That done, she kneels down beside Darklett to take him by the wrist and move his arm over her shoulders. "'Scuze me, sah.. up y'get."

Sidney runs out of laughter. It bubbles off and he just pants for a while, sprawled there - thigh bleeding through the makeshift bandage onto the snowy path. He's okay, he'll just... yeah. Over here, for a while.

Darklett blinks a few times, as if just being made aware of Jove's presence. He... Sloooolwy stands with the help of Jove. "I... I'm alright, I can get... make it infirmary." He can't quite get sentence finishing, though.

"Yes sah, m'sure y'll make a fine infirm'ry, sah," Jove bobs her head obediently, doing her best to carefully guide him toward the stairs. "But a faintin' flower like m'sel' is close t'swoonin, so would y'do me tha' honah 'f escortin' me up?" And just so Sid doesn't feel left out, she'll let him 'escort' her up afterwards.

Down he goes. Jove twitches her nose at the prone major, then does what she was going to do in the first place - arm over the shoulders, grab the leg - "'Scuze me, sah, glad yer unconscionable.. ehh, hup!" Up rises Jove with Dark in a fireman's carry and a worried but determined expression on her face. "Stay sane, Sid," she mutters, then: "OY!" Again. She starts for the stairs, hunched a bit under the weight.

One of the thoughtful sentries hurried off for help, so as Jove reaches the stairs a.. very large otter shows up. Zade is now like the official abbey transportation, or something. He takes one look at the girl, struggling under Darklett's weight and her own wounds - and steps in to relieve her of the Major. "Jus' th' two o' y'?"

Jove tilts her head up at the bigotter, and a brow raises appreciatively. Well well. "S'alrigh', I got this'un," she grunts, and nods toward Sidney in the snow. "S'one more, leg wound, n'quite himsel'."

Zade's muzzle twists in a slight smirk, and he nods. "I'll get 'im, then," he says, and heads past her, letting Jove haul Darklett's sorry hide up to the infirmary, where healers have been alerted and are preparing. The otter heads outside the gate, hefts up Sidney - who by now is more or less unconscious - and carries him inside.