2-17-10 - Zoe Lang, Jarril, Thad

Western Shore

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A sea of sand surrounds the magnificent mountain now to your side. The golden sand is flat and hard, easy to walk on. You stand directly between the volcano and the sea. The refreshing sea spray tickles your

face as a tropical wind from off the sea whisks it in your direction. The serene roar of the blue-green waves and perhaps the call of a distant gull are typically all that can be heard.

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Exits: [W]estern [S]ide of the [M]ountain, [Sh]allows, [U]pshore, [D]ownshore

Zoe_Lang is just starting out for her daily run... though her daily run tends to be more a jog, these days. That leg of hers is giving her more and more trouble, these days. Now she's just heading down

towards the beach from the mountain, where she pauses at the tide line to do some much-needed stretching. She rubs absently at her hip and thigh, kneading the muscle into compliance. You. /Will/ work. Today!

She breathes out a quiet sigh, as her eyes roam up and down the shore. It's a fairly chilly day, but it's as pretty as ever out here.

Ah to be young again, Jarril isn't the fastest hare within the runner division anymore and some old war injuries have started to become more than a nuisance as he steps out of the mountain and looks about,

shielding his only eye from the sun. With a frown he starts off on his own run.

Thad has arrived.

Which will undoubtedly take him Zoe's way. She seems to be finishing up her stretching routine, because she too breaks out into a bit of a jog. Jarril's faster than her, of course, so no doubt he'll catch

up.

Jarril takes a bit longer to catch up than he used to at any rate and he slows down alongside Zoe. "Not seen ya out for a run in a long, long time."

Zoe_Lang's muzzle quirks in a grin when Jarril comes up alongside, glancing to the side at him with her one eye - which just so happens to be on his side. Lucky thing. "I like t'go when there won't be too

many young'uns 'round t'laugh at me, eh? Figure suppah time's s'good as any, for that."

Running is awesome! Thad is doing this, too. As he is younger and more fleet of footpaw than the oldbees over there, he is currently behind but catching up to them quickly. Well. Significantly less quickly,

now that he sees who they are. Oh brother...

Jarril frowns somewhat. "Ah well, can't be young all the time and be the best, surprised I've lasted this long without being killed in battle. So anything ya been up ta? Not seen ya about lately?" The

busy life had kept him from seeing his cousin for a season or two.

"Ya know, the same old sort o' thing. I went t'visit family not too long back, hadn't done that in I can't tell ya how many seasons." Zoe breathes out a sigh, shaking her head. "What a mess t'come home to,

though. Seems we've got a pick-up in vermin activity 'round here, again."

Jarril smirks somewhat. "Ya can remove them but more turn up like a bad burnt piece of toast."

Pad, pad, pad, pad. He's getting closer...! Thad veers off into one direction to pass up the Colonel and Major, coming up alongside them momentarily. Please don't accost him, please don't accost him, please

don't accost him...

For a moment there it looks like Zoe might do /just/ that... leave him alone, that is. But when she catches Thad /just/ in her periphery (she almost misses him thanks to the eye), she glances around at him

and quirks a brow. Well well. "Hullo, lad. Out fer a bit of a run, eh?" And without salute or acknowledgement! Tsk. If only he'd waved or something, she'd have left alone. Now she's honor-bound to mess with

him.

Jarril leaves it up to Zoe but he mutters about youngsters and lack of respect or forgetting proper procedure with higher ranks. He gives a slight snort and frowns at Thad a bit, then coughs looking away

again.

Agh! Thad slows, skids a foot into the sand, and turns, running backwards for a moment before coming to a halt. Agh agh agh! Such an inconvenience! The runner salutes to Zoe, then Jarril, steadying his

breath as he does so. "Evening, Major, Colonel. Yes, I am out for a run. Gotta... Stay sharp." Heh?

"Ah, aye? Hm." Zoe tilts her head to the side as she continues to jog along at her slow place, only assuming that Thad will stop saluting and keep along with them. "Ya know, Jarril, this reminds me of a time

when I was young doe. Somehow I got dragged into a run with some of the oldah officahs? And I remembah it was just /torture/ tryin' t'keep t'their pace 'n' not run ahead. Always havin' t' worry about not

offendin' those old bones, ya know? Pure torment." And now, with a big grin flashed at Thad, she arches a brow. "Care t'join us for our run?"

Jarril tries to supress a laugh as he keeps his face firm and serious. "Oh yes, I remember doing the same back in the day, said it built officah character..."

AGH. Officer character? Dangit. Thad does turn and start jogging alongside the stupid old dumb stupid hares. Begrudgingly. "Uh... Yes, absolutely, it'd be an honor." Liar liar liar liar.

Zoe_Lang glances to the side at Jarril again, that grin still present. I mean, if you can't abuse your power, what good is it? "So, Thad. Tell us about yerself," she drawls.

Jarril keeps himself out of this, it's his cousin's time here and he can't exactly go above her and just nods, remaining silent for now.

Well he'll certainly have plenty of breath to do so! Thad grits his teeth together before answering, "Uh." First, oh man she knows his name. Second, "Well, I'm... a runner? Been one for a while now. I...

Mostly keep to myself." Such an interesting buck.

"Mm, so I gathah." It is a miracle she does know his name. Perhaps it's the similarity between 'Thad' and 'lad', which is her default... for pretty much everyone even a tiny bit younger than her. "A while,

eh? How long's a while, then?" She's eyeing him like he could be an infant as much as he is a runner in the patrol.

Jarril grins as he moves a bit closer to Zoe and whispers to her a bit loudly. "Hmm, suppose we could make him go run messages to all our furthest patrollers still on duty or retired. Should take him

everywhere if he's eager to run even faster than his superiors..."

"I'd say a few seasons, now. I haven't been counting" Liar liar liar "or anything." Thad shrugs, noncommittally. At Jarril's suggestion, his ears flicker and he instantly slows down. He laughs nervously

because Jarril is /obviously joking./

"Ah, no, I think I'd rathah keep this one close, eh? We'll be pals, won't we, Thad? 'Ey, mayhaps we could go on runs t'gethah every day from now on, whatcha think?" Zoe griiiins, reaching across to smack the

buck on the back of his shoulder. For an old girl, she's got a bit of power behind her.

Jarril nods his head. "Ah yeah that's a much better idea, no one would dare ta decline such a request from the colonel, oh I remember one that did. Such horrible punishment, put the poor blighter out of

his mind eventually..."

Oh no no no no. "I'd... Love to, Colonel." Maybe she'll die soon? Thad forces out an enthusiastic smile. "Er, so long as it doesn't interfere with my other training." A way out! Smooth.

Zoe_Lang can't help it, she stops mid-stride to double forward, unable to contain the near-cackling chuckle. "... Ah, bloody 'ell. These kids these days." She holds up a paw, for them to give her a moment.

"Jus'.. jus'... 'is /face/, Jar. 'Is /face/..."

Jarril nods his head as he is ahead of Thad as he gives Zoe one more look and then composing himself he speaks up. "But of course I suppose ya have been looking for a permanent replacement, what about him?"

The major pointing back at younger hare.  "He can help /all/ the older hares in the mountain."

Thad comes to a halt, turning to face the two officers. "...Uh...?" Confused runner.

Poor Thad. Finally Zoe just drops to one knee in the sand, wiping at the corner of her eye. And then she makes a gesture at Thad. Go, go! "... Ease up, lad. I'm just messin'. You go run t'yer heart's

content. But - 'ell. Say hi every now 'n' again, eh?" She grins at him.

"...Sure, will do, Colonel. Sir." Thad offers a parting salute to Zoe and Jarril, turning and kicking up sand once more as he takes his own pace. They were joking! Stupid Thad Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid

Thad!

Jarril shakes his head, smiling. "Yep, young but so gullible..."

Zoe_Lang chuckles a little more before she rises, leaning forward to dust off her knee. She shakes her head, finally, and glances up at Jar with a nod for them to keep going. She breaks out into a jog again.

"I swear, if some'a these kids can't handle meetin' up with us on the beach, how d'they figure they're going t'do against a mob o' vermin?" Tsk.

Jarril keeps up with Zoe as he nods his head. "That's the problem, we've had no actual conflict for them ta gain any experience, then again most will probably end up well.."

"Ah well... I s'pose we'll just have t'wait 'n' see how they fare." Zoe watches Thad move off ahead of them at a good clip and her paw comes down to rub at her thigh again, with a slightly rueful grunt. She

used to be fast like that. Damn.

Jarril nods his head as he looks about and slows down a bit. "Aye, that we all will." He looks back to the mountain and nods. "I have to get back again, so I see ya around, don't mess with the young'uns

that much, okay?"