A Friendly Fight

Location: Great Hall, Outside the Gates, Infirmary

Characters: Dragoon, Aikuen, Zen, Calingaladha, Orph, An NPC Healer

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Dragoon walks into Great Hall, looking like his..."jolly" self, keeping quiet and to himself mostly.

Aikuen is in a chair by the fire. He may be sleeping, bit its hard to tell.

Zen is sitting infront of the fireplace, gazing into the flames..

Dragoon heads over to the table and sits down a couple of seats away from

Aikuen, sighing softly and resting his head on a paw, elbow propped on the tabletop.

Aikuen eyes are still closed and he smiles, "Hello... Who ever you are... and hello to you too..." He yawns, and leans back in the chair.

Dragoon blinks and says, "Umm, hello, Aikuen.."

Zen glances around, looking at Dragoon and then Aikuen. He gives a gentile nod at Naje as he continues to look around the room.

Aikuen nods, "Aye, that sounds like Dragoon!" He pops open his eyes, he was right! "How ya doin' mate... I guess your not going on the priory trip eh?"

Dragoon shakes his head some, "No...for some reason, I can't bring myself to go."

Zen remains silent, though his ears are perked up. He leans forwards just a little more, the warmth rushing over his face a bit. "Hmmm..."

Aikuen says, "Aye, me neither... just too old now... Plus there are other reasons i don't want to go with them..." He glances at Zen leaning into the fire. He shakes his head, then looks back at Dragoon.

Dragoon nods slowly, "I'm not old, I know that....I just...I can't bring meself t' go. It's almost like...I don't have a reason t' fight since me mate's died..."

Zen smiles faintly, the warmth of the fire calming him a bit. He sighs happily, wishing he could just lay in the warm fire, but knowing that would only hurt him. He closes his eyes, his mind still racing.

Aikuen tilts his head and chuckles a bit, "When i lost my mate, i joined the militia! Funny how the world works like that, huh..." He sighs, "Well hopefully there will be no reason to fight, course they are going to Ruinedgate, a vermin city"

Dragoon shrugs some, "I don't know...I just....I feel like I lost my purpose when me mate died, y' know...like I almost have nothin' t' live for or die for."

Zen finaly gets to his feet, his eyes still closed. He takes in a deep breath, then lets out a deeper one. Opening his eyes, he raises a paw to clutch at the chain around his neck before he turns and starts to head towards the entrance.

Aikuen, without even looking at him, asks Zen, "I hope your not planning to follow the troop, are ye little mate?"

Dragoon remains quiet now.

Zen stops, not bothering to glance back either. "If... I dids... I'd gets hurt and makes beasts angers...." He clentches tighter at chain, tearing up a little. "I's.... jus... jus gonna sees the stars... Even... if.. if I did goes, I... I couldn'.... d.. d-d-do... an.... anythings..." He falls silent, the weight of some of the beasts, mainly Mayeul's, departure setteling in.

Aikuen says, "Okay mate, just stay within the walls ..." He sighs because he feels sorry for Zen, but there is nothing we can do until they come back...

Dragoon looks over at Zen, trying to put on a smile, "Don't worry, lad. They'll return."

Zen nods his head slowly, then continues to make his way out.

Aikuen hears Zen leave, he explains to Dragoon, "The reason he is so sad, is that Mayeul has left. He and Zen have gotten close over the last few days, in fact Zen started calling Mayeul, Uncle... tis a sad thing..."

Dragoon nods slowly, "Yes...seems everybeast has a reason t' be sad nowadays..."

Aikuen smiles, "Not me, at least not anymore, because i have great news..."

Dragoon hmms and tilts his head a little, "What's that?"

Aikuen says, "Do you remember little Orph, the other little dibbun that sometimes hangs around Zen?"

Dragoon nods, "Yes."

Aikuen smiles a big ole' smile, "Well yesterday night, he asked me if i wanted to be part of his new family... and i said yes!... He calls me Pa now! And i call him by his real name of William. Its been happiest that I've felt in a long while..."

Dragoon smiles some and nods, "That is good news for ya, Aikuen. Good

for you."

Aikuen scratches his chin fur, "Actually there have been a lot of things happening that's good. Im a resident now, Im going to start reading and writing lessons soon. and hopefully, with the abbot's permission of course, im going to start teaching swimming to the young ones soon ...It makes me feel young again!" He looks at the Dragoon, becoming embarrassed that he was just ranting about himself. "So, whats goin on with you, got any plans..."

Dragoon listens to all that, smiling some as he hears all of it, then when he's asked about what he's doing, the otter's ears seem to droop, "I...I don't have any..."

Aikuen is walking into dangerous territory, but its okay, "Im sure you'll find something to do... Like... Well...umm...Well, What are you good at?"

Dragoon sighs some, crossing one leg over the other, "Fightin'. Killin'. Defendin'," he pauses a moment, "Carin'...."

Aikuen bounces his head, like a shake and a nod at the same time, "Well, Killing and fighting are pretty much out of the question. But as to Defending, Well the abbey could use more guards... as for caring..." Once again dangerous land "The abbey orphans could always used some of that..." He looks around the room, looking for more inspiration.

Dragoon shakes his head a bit, "I use too many unconventional methods, Aikuen....as for th' dibbuns, I know nothin' of dibbuns. I'm....I'm....you know what I am."

Calingaladha, with a mighty yawn, ambles slowly down the staircase. It's clear that she's only just woken up, her hair in a slight state of disarray, and her eyes drooping. Stifling a second yawn, she waves to the creatures already gathered as she approaches sleepily. "'ullo."

Aikuen laughs a bit, for he thought of a lame joke, "How unconventional does it take to kill a beast, i mean the pointy end of the sword goes into whoever you want to kill!" Yes the joke was barbaric, but that's him. He waves at Calingaladha, "Good Morning sleepy head!"

Dragoon hmmms, not really in a laughing mood at all.

Calingaladha grins. "Hello there." she says as she returns the wave, finally getting close enough to speak comfortably. "Though sleepy head isn't quite as accurate as sleepy everything." she chuckles.

With another beast in the room, this gives Aikuen an idea. Giving a Wicked smile, he asks, "Hey, How you'd you like to have a little sparring match right now, Long Patrol Style!" He would hope this well help Dragoon feel better.

Dragoon shakes his head some, "No, no...I just...no." He sighs and lays his head down on his forearms, his face hidden some save his ears and the back of his head.

Calingaladha grins. "A sparring match? In the middle of the abbey?" she asks, still unfamiliar with the place. "Is that...allowed?"

Ahhhhh, Nuts! Aikuen was actually looking forward to it. He smiles at the badger, "It was just a thought... and no... well not really. See, long patrol style matches are between two beasts that use only there fists to knockout the other opponent, so technically its not allowed because we're fighting, but were not using weapons... i was thinking we could just go outside the gates to do it..."

Dragoon looks up from his arms, giving off a sigh, standing up, "C'mon. T' th' outside, then."

Zen paces back in, feeling a bit better. He has a soft smile on his face as he looks around, but of course, he goes over to sit infront of the fireplace. He glances up at the crowed, his head tilting a little.

Calingaladha chuckles. "Well if you'd really like a spar, I could always spar you." she offers, then nods. "I think that'd be best." she agrees, and turns to the entry in preparation to follow.

Dragoon sits back down, "If th' lady's goin' t' spar, then I stay here. I refuse t' hit females. Even if it is just sparrin'."

Aikuen is surprised at what Dragoons says, "Huh, what... Really? Well okay..." He looks at the badger up and down, "I've already lost that battle..." He gets up from the chair, and he sees Zen on the floor by the fire again. Hopefully Zen wont follow them, he might get ideas..." He walks toward the entry, telling the badger, "Your going to be there to supervise and... oh, lets wait till we get there..."

Dragoon sighs, getting right back up, heading towards the doors, "Let's go." He says. It's pretty obvious he really doesn't want to.

Calingaladha chuckles. "I was only kidding. That'd be an unfair fight anyway." she says. "I don't want to spar anyhow until my shoulder's completely healed." she smiles.

Zen watches the situation, his facing turning into a bit of a frown, or a scowl? Either way, he turns his head, glazing back into the fire though. He's had enough of fighting and such for today. He's MOURNING over a loss today, he doesn't have the compacity to witness much more madness.

Dragoon heads outside and into the Abbey Entry..

Dragoon is waiting outside, standing out and looking up at the stars above.

Aikuen passes through the main gates, and goes about a few lengthy paw steps toward the path. Checking the ground for nice fighting area. Smiling to himself, "Aye this looks like a good place, but where's the badger? We need a third beast..." He sees Dragoon, "Come on mate, this will at least take your mind off things for a little while..."

Dragoon unsheathes his falchions, stabbing them into the earth and gives off a sigh, "Some things...ye can't keep yer mind off of, whether ye want to or not. I'm not made o' stone like you are, Aikuen..."

This causes Aikuen's temper to rise a bit, but he remains calm, "Hey, i was like you too, but i got over it because on the field, you had no time for thinking, except for trying to figure out how you not going to die today!" He points at Dragoon "I've seen far worse then you. I've seen things that would make you die... But i go on..." He makes a line in the ground about two feet long.

Dragoon keeps his same face, walking over to the line, "Then show me th' fool I am."

Calingaladha frowns as she walks out of the abbey walls. "Now what's going on then?" she asks, having thought this was a friendly spar.

Aikuen Shakes his head, "Were just having a normal discussion, Here!" He tosses the flask, that was at his waist, to the badger explaining what it is, "If one of us gets knocked out, force drink them this, twill waking them up." He goes over to the line placing his right foot paw on it. He explains the rules, "Alright its simple, we both take turns hitting each other, we can dodge or block, till one of us falls down. at that point we stop and see if the beast is still around. If he is we continue, if not

the game ends. Got it?"

Dragoon places his right footpaw on the line, look to the other otter, his face plain.

Calingaladha catches the flask and nods as he tells her the rules. "Alright." she says, and looks between the two.

Aikuen nods, "Alright, the rules go that the lowest rank goes first. I was a Captain, what were you on your ship" He says this with a smile.

Dragoon sighs softly, "I had none. I was just a lackey, used fer goin' on missions everybeast was scared of. I had no rank."

Aikuen says, “well alright then. You have first go!" He places his right arm in front of him vertically, with his fist near his forehead, he is ready for your attack.

Dragoon brings his paws around his back, spreading his stance far apart into a horse-stance, then brings his paws up, the one in front open-pawed, the other close to his chest a fist.

Orph, who had followed Cali out of the Abbey, sits by watching the otters spar.

Calingaladha crouches closer to the ground to watch, resting one knee upon the ground as she seeks a better vantage point.

Aikuen smiles, "well come on! HIT ME!"

Dragoon nods, closing his eyes a moment, then his open paw comes out with a burst, aiming to strike his palm to the other otter's nose.

Calingaladha glances down at her own paw for a moment, picturing herself sparring. She shakes the image from her mind and looks back up to the fight, giving a slight sigh.

Aikuen didn't expect him to fight with open paw, but you roll with it. We waits until the palm hits the back of his fist, then he grabs it and pulls it down. He then uses this time and momentum to swing the arm up for an uppercut.

Dragoon expected his paw to be caught. It may have been an unexpected strike, but knowing fighting with somebeast with as much experience as Aikuen, he felt he knew the otter would defend against it. Seeing the uppercut come, he opens up his fist, striking the fist hard with his palm against the fingers and knuckles before lifting his back leg quickly, swiftly bringing his paw that he first struck with head into a backfist

for Aikuen's temple.

Aikuen right fist bursts with pain, and it cause him not to realize until its too late. Dragoon's other fist explodes onto his head. He drops down, but he recovers quickly and using his whole leg he makes a sweeping motion under Dragoon.

Dragoon feels the strike crack into his ankle, sending a bolt of pain to him, but he uses it, twisting his body around to send a hook-kick towards Aikuen's middle.

Aikuen is still on the ground, and he cant dodge the kick,so he prepares for it. It hits his left arm. Yelling "Ha!" he gets up using the movement to make another uppercut.

Calingaladha hmms softly as she watches and plays a bit with the flask she is holding. Lifting her eyes once more, she focuses again on the battle, wincing lightly at some of the heavier blows.

Dragoon grunts as the uppercut hits home, striking his chin, dazing the otter for a moment before he shakes it out and sends a kick to the otter's temple.

Aikuen only has to lean back to dodge the kick, an he does. He uses Dragoons recovery time, to make a sucker punch at the side of Dragoons head.

Orph chews on his lip not sure what to make of this. He'd heard the rules. Hit each other til one fell down. Pa'd called it a game. This didn't look like any game he'd played before. Maybe coming out here wasn't such a good idea after all.

Dragoon gets struck easily, falling over, holding his head as he winced, standing back up, his eyes getting a touch of....something in them....

Aikuen is jumping from paw to paw, getting ready for the next blow. The arm is back in the ready stance. He asks, "Come on mate!"

Calingaladha turns to Orph and beckons with a paw for him to come over to her, stil keeping one eye on the spar as she does so.

Dragoon growls, getting his right paw back where it was, then he does probably the most unexpected thing he could do: a full-powered hay-maker of a punch.

Orph stands up and walks over to the badger, "This is just a game right?" he asks a bit worried still chewing on his lip.

Aikuen just laughs to himself, easy pickings. He decides to let the arm take the blow. But when it hits, there is so much force that it actually causes his own fist to hit his own face, and it still had a lot of power in it. Stars appear in his eyes, and he staggers back a few paw steps. He shakes his head trying to get the stars out.

Calingaladha nods to Orph. "Yes, just a game. Nobody really gets hurt." she assures him. "It's only for practice." she smiles.

Dragoon is standing at the line, breathing hard and growling.

Aikuen slaps his head a few times, to make sure it was still there, yep still there. That hit was like a hammer even with the block. He decides that something changed to dragoon, or maybe he was just saving up. Yeah, that's it... He extends his elbow and charges the other otter, Hopefully getting him in the stomach.

Dragoon suddenly scoots to the side, bringing his own elbow hard towards

Aikuen's head in a horrifyingly hard downward thrust.

WHAM! It hits Aikuen right square in the upper part of the neck. He falls down to the ground, trying to recover as quickly as he can. He is struggling to get up. That hit was like getting hit with a Spear, except there is no wound.

Dragoon growls and yells, "Get up! Get up!"

Calingaladha hmms and leans forward as Aikuen hits the ground, waiting for a moment to see if he will stand again, though she glances over at Dragoon.

Orph takes a step forward not sure what to do. This isn't right somehow. He can feel it.

Aikuen is still conscience, but the pain is excruciating. He is more worried about another problem... He's not getting angry about it... Which is strange. He gets up and tries to balance himself. He is swinging from side to side, But suddenly he swings his whole arm like a mace, at Dragoon.

Calingaladha notices Orph hesitating, and she beckons again, giving him a soft smile. "It's alright, come here."

Dragoon growls, grabbing that arm and yanking it towards him, bringing his own fist around in a full swing towards Aikuen's middle. If any were to look close, his eyes are now red.

Aikuen collapses to the ground, having the wind knocked out of him. He gets back up, but then doubling over and Spiting a few times. Quickly regaining his composure, he aims a quick punch at Dragoon's face.

Dragoon does something that truly shows his rage right now: he full-on head-butts that fist...and hard!

Aikuen Pulls his arm back, shaking life back into his fist. How is he doing that! Not even the most reckless beast would head-butt an incoming fist. But no time to think about it now! He goes in and jumps while leaning, trying to land both his footpaws on the otters stomach.

Dragoon scoots to the side again, grabbing for Aikuen's headfur, to get a fistful of it.

Aikuen lands on the ground, managing to dodge Dragoon's grab. Course it still cause himself some pain, but something is wrong... He quickly gets up, and tries another uppercut, trying to get him off guard.

Dragoon drops a palm-strike to Aikuen's fist, then brings that into a fist and straight up into a strange form of his own upper-cut.

Its a direct hit too Aikuen's Jaw. There are several Loud cracks, as the jaw becomes dislodged from the skull. He stands there for a moment, then he looks at Dragoon, he manages to get out, "okaa... dat un hurt..." His eyes roll up into his head, and he falls over backwards, completely Out.

Dragoon stands, panting heavily a moment before his eyes slowly go back to the way they were, the otter holding his head as shots of pain come to him, dropping him to his knees.

Calingaladha hears that one, and she cringes, standing and walking over to Aikuen. She looks him over. "You alright?" she asks, not sure if he can hear her, her brow furrowed as she also glances to Dragoon. "And you?"

Dragoon winces and then he gets back to his senses, looking at Aikuen before rushing over to him, "Aikuen? Wake up!"

Aikuen is completely out. He lays on the ground, with his mouth grotesquely open.

Dragoon covers his mouth with a paw, "Oh.....oh.....I broke his jaw!"

Calingaladha frowns and once again looks over Aikuen. She nods. "We'd better get him back to the abbey." she says, and reaches under the otter with her massive paws to pick him up, careful not to jostle his jaw.

Dragoon stands there, his paw over his mouth as tears start to form in his eyes, "I..."

Calingaladha turns to Dragoon and growls softly, deep in her throat. "Don't just stand there. What's done is done, now go ahead and inform the infirmary." she says as she adjusts the otter in her paws.

Dragoon nods, running towards the abbey to get the infirmary ready.

Aikuen gets picked up by the badger. His jaw doesn't seem to move, like its locked...

Dragoon has everything and everybeast prepared by the time you get here.

Calingaladha seems slightly out of breath as she carries the otter up the stairwell and into the infirmary. She makes her way over to the nearest empty bed and sets the otter carefully down upon it.

When the Otter is placed on the bed, an old mouse steps forward. He what you would expect from an abbey healer. Wearing a brown habit, and several pouches at his side. He tut-tuts at Aikuen, "Getting yo'self beat up when its my bed time" He pulls open one of the otters eyelids and looks at his pupils, continuing to rant to himself, "Fighting within the abbey, tsk, tsk" He checks the otters jaw, then the brusies on his arm, neck and face. A blackeye has formed on the right side. Making a satisfying nod, he turns and puts his old eyes on the pair. "So which of you, popped the blighter..."

Dragoon has left.

Calingaladha raises both paws. "It wasn't me, though it wasn't really

within the abbey walls, see." she says. "He's alright, isn't he?"

The old mouse responds, "Well since you didn't do it within the abbey, i wont tell the abbot..." He begins to dig within one of his pouches, continuing, "Well, he is out cold. and luckily his jaw is not broken, just popped out of the socket..." He pulls out a feather from within the pouch. Grabbing a candle, he lights the feather on fire. the room is immediately filled with a reeking stench. Holding his noes with one paw, he extend the other with the smoldering feather near Aikuen's noes. He laughs like a child, "Tee-hee, This should wake him up..."

Orph stands by the bed close to tears, one paw over his nose. He pets Aikuen's arm, "Dou're gonna be ok, Pa. Th' healer'll make you all bedder."

Aikuen comes instantly awake as the smell reaches his noes. Sitting bolt upright, he glances around the room. Last he remembers he was outside, But he is in the infirmary. He sees Orph patting his arm and he tries to smile, But he cant and a shock wave of pain shoots through his mouth.

Calingaladha smiles down at Orph and puts a massive paw on his shoulder. "It's alright, lad, he'll be made alright." she assures him, and nods to

the healer.

The old healer, laughs as he sees the otter in pain, "Tee-hee, got your jaw all broke up i see!" He looks through his pouches and pulls out a small vial, of brown liquid. He uncorks it and shoves it front of the otter, telling him what to do, "Drink this, it will lull the pain" He then pokes the broken jaw, and says, "Then all yah have to do is... pop it back into place... It'll be good as new..." He looks coolly at Aikuen, "You've unhinged your jaw many a time haven't yah ..." He laughs again.

Aikuen takes the vial, and he reluctantly drinks it. The healer is right, it did lull the pain... But how did he know this wasn't the first time this has happen? He feels his jaw that is jutting out to the right.

Orph squeezes Aikuens paw, I dont like that game, Pa. I dont think that fella was playing it right. He had a bad look on his face. maybe he went rouge otter on you. The ratling looks around the room for the first time since coming in. Looks like he ran off too, he scowls.

Aikuen looks at Orph, the way the jaw is on him makes his features all gruesome. He tries to say, "illiam, could you urn aound just foo a sec..."

Orph nods and turns around.

Aikuen places his right paw on his jaw. then counting to three, He shoves it in the opposite direction. There is a deep thump, as the bone is placed back in the socket. He moves his jaw around, there is light cracking as his bones are reacting to the dislodgement. Then he says, "Okay, you can look now..."

Calingaladha winces as the jaw pops back, glad she hasn't had such a thing happen to her. The stitches in her shoulder seem nothing compared to a dislocated jaw. Yeck..

Orph turns back around still upset by Dragoon's 'running off' as he sees it. "Is that /all/ that's wrong?" he asks the healer.

Seeing that the patient is on the mend, The healer heads into Dormitory. He turns back when Orph speaks, "That's all i can do, except for him to get some rest, don't eat anything that's not soup. And for my sake, try not to get into any more fights..." And with that he closes the door.

Aikuen tilts his head at the old healers departure, "Thanks Mate!" He feels a lot better, now that his jaw is back in place. He looks around the room and then frowns, "Hey where's Dragoon?"

Orph grimces, "I think the dirty rat ran off." and sits on the edge of the bed looking cross about it.

Aikuen moves closer to Orph, he speaks softly, "I need to find him, so i can thank him for that amazing round... What minute... were you watching the match?" He becomes alarmed.

Orph closes his eyes, "I followed Miz Cali out to see what was goin' on. You said it was a game and she said no one was gonna get hurt. I don't like that /game/. And I think Dragoon was cheatin' somehow. He had a bad look on his face. It wasn't right." He shakes his head, "It wasn't right. I could feel it, but not like I coulda fought him ... well fought him and won anyway." He sighs then turns back to his pa, "But you're ok now. I thought ... I wasn't sure if you were ok at first, but you're ok /now/. He's awful rotten if he did run off."

Aikuen picks up Orph, and places him in his lap. He smiles then says, "I know what happen to Dragoon, He has a condition which makes him have super strength. I guess you would call it 'Berserk'. See, one reason that i wanted to fight him in this game is to find out if i still had the same condition. And im so happy that i don't!" He sighs he lays back, closing his eyes he says, "I think he ran away because he was afraid, but not of me or you or anybody else, but of himself..."

Orph quietly chews his lip a moment, "That's not like what Zen has though, right?"

Aikuen says, "No, He has another condition, something like... Split-personality something or other... When Dragoon goes... Berserk... He is still him, just an angrier him..." There must be something else in that vial, because all of a sudden he feels really drowsy... he Yawns aloud.

Calingaladha hmms. "I think everyone's lucky I don't go berserk." she chuckles, trying to joke lightly. "Or else I might've knocked down the stone walls."

Aikuen is on the brink of slumber, but he manages to laugh with the badger. He settles down in the bed, and reaches over to pat Orph on the head. Pretty soon, it stops, and light snoring is emitting from the otter.

Orph smiles. Everything seems to be better now. He hop down off the bed and walks around the side to the head of the bed. He glances at Cali before leaning over and kissing Aikuen's head, "G'night, Pa." He straightens up looking over at the badger, "You didn't see that ok." He slips out of the room to see if Zen is still awake, maybe they can play marbles or something.

Calingaladha smiles at Orph and nods. "It's our little secret." she agrees, and stretches her arms with a yawn. "Oh, I should go back to my bunk, I think"

Calingaladha departs for the hallway.