A Horse of a Reunion
« continued from Harsh Mistress.
- Location: North Mossflower Woods
- Participants: Delilah (Stubb Spoof), Angus, Amos, Sandy, Dangeon, Malcolm, Darkmane, Frigg, Moruwil, Drystan
Delilah's mutterings precede her as she stalks heavily down the night-shrouded path through the forest. Her feet find their way with ease, guiding her lithe frame with a grace that elicits barely a crunch from the foliage that hems the sides of the trail. Her voice is tight but quiet, and her breaths come in ragged pants. Now and again, summer insects creak their mechanical songs in the moist air, breaking the still that has come in the wake of a storm.
Angus is eventually keen to pry himself from the amorous embrace, and, as soon as he does so, the dragon catches sight of the stomping weasel. "Lilah .. wait," he calls, wresting Scaith's doting digits from his arm. He beseeches the marten, "Hang up a tick, love," and half-stumbles along the sodden path. "Lilah! Hang--rrg." The mud suctions his feet; each clumsy step is a battle.
"Dangeon, ya ain't slacking off eh?" Amos turns back to look at the hare, watching as the others start to move out slightly amused. His fur is beginning to dry, so he's no longer quiet so wet and miserable and seeing the reuinion between the marten and Angus lifted his spirits a bit. Still, time to move and he motions for Dangeon to do so before moving to follow and catch up.
Sandy was sulking quite a bit. From the cruel comments of two beasts she was following, she'd fallen right back to being quiet, following the group near the very back. And as tempting as it was to just leave the whole group behind, she was needing some protection, and a way to get away from her ex-master and any patrol groups that might be out, trying to reclaim her.
Dangeon grumbles under her breath as the cat checks up and calls at her. She's still trudging along, neither fast nor slow as they walk through the mud. "Slacking... Says the /cat/. Who bally well hogs every fireplace we come 'cross and sleeps f'r entire days..." She mutters her exaggerations none too quietly. "I'm here, 'm here."
Malcolm is still hanging to the back of the group, but he isn't trying to 'escape' anymore. Even though he still has his arms folded, and a frown planted firmly on his face, he looks almost...content....to just stay there and go unnoticed by everyone else.
Darkmane having been following the tracks of the group for a while now smirks slightly as he finally catches up to them, his head tilting to the side for a moment as he ponders what to do then decides to slip off the path and quickly but silently make his way up ahead of them
The slender weasel throws a desperate look behind her as she hears Angus giving chase, but upon seeing his sorry state, this look soon melts into an expression akin to derision. Rather than wait for the clumsy brute to stumble his way through the muck, Delilah skips all the faster, darting further into the forest. She whips past dodging low branches as if she's come this way a hundred times before and soon fades from sight.
Angus spars with the sludge, spewing curses. His hands flail for the support of a branch. "C'mon, Lilah. What gives?" he croaks, able to stabilize and lever himself with the limb. Once beyond the thickest mud, the dragon quickens his pace, albeit is not so deft among the boughs. They lash at his face; their wet leaves smack and blind him, as he uselessly howls after the weasel.
Amos grins at the hare for a moment despite all her grumbling and bellyaching, "Dang love, ya gonna have to move faster than that, " He quickly leaves the hare behind, slipping and sliding in the mud a bit but recovering easily enough so that he's soon passing through further into the forest and has likewise left the others behind.
Sandy looked up from the ground, frowning a little bit. To her, it seemed like everyone was just trying to leave her behind. Out of desperation, she broke out into a run, waving her paws a little bit. "WAIT UP!" she called out, following the beasts into the woods.
And Frigg. Is at the back of the group, barely associated given the growing gap spawning between her and the last of the others. She looks absolutely miserable, a fraction of her former self, having dragged herself out in the rain, into a muddy temple, and down into the filthy sludge of the sewers which they seem to still be tracking through even on its fringes. She takes a deep breath and rallies her legs to close the gap, even though she knows it'll open up again, soon after.
Dangeon grumbles a little more and pointedly doesn't speed up when Amos tells her to, believing she'll be fine at her current speed. "'S a bally fine speed. A non-slipping-in-the-bally-mud speed." Of course, as least at this speed she's not really leaving Sandy or anyone behind as much.
Darkmane furrows his brows as he hears part of the group start to run and decides that it might be wiser to check who is NOT running, having decided as much he makes a quick turn and stops up a short distance infront of the 'slower' group leaning against a tree while studying them as they get within view
Delilah's quiet strides are gone, now, from hearing. She leaves in her wake only the insects and their eerie shrieks. A stray firefly wanders in the woods, but its timid light cannot draw back the curtains of a moonless night in a dense forest.
Moruwil has been stalking the group. In the trees, he turns to the shrewmaid that was part of his plan back in Collinsel, "Why is my father always better at these things than I?" After getting a completely blank stare from the sidekick shrew, he sighs, keeping his eyes on the group. "Everybody needs that lizard, don't they? The fox didn't shove him onto us for no reason, likely... we were trusted with him, and, well..." He looks back at her, "I don't have to tell you what will happen..."
Coming to a gradual halt, the heaving dragon pivots, eyes probing the misty vegetation, but there is no sign of Delilah. His nostrils flare, tongue flits; Angus is disoriented, lightheaded from the sprint. He snorts a ruffled breath, and wipes his brow with the back of a hand, baffled. "Lilah!"
Amos catches up with Angus, stopping beside the dragon, "Ain't see which way she went eh?" He grumbles, sighing, "What the blasted is she up to, I thought she was suppose to be helping us!"
Frigg sees them stopping up ahead and catches up to Sandy, "Ms. Sandy, excuse me, dear... do you know what the problem is, up there? Where did that weaselmaid head off to?" She looks around in the trees - they give her a distinct uneasiness that she can't quite put her finger on. Being watched? She puts it out of her head, but can't help her eyes darting from the squirrelmaid back and forth to them.
Malcolm is still here. He's trying to stay as close to Angus as possible, but he keeps his distance to make it seem like he really doesn't care too much. He can't help but look around the place over and over and hums quietly. "At least its nicer than the sewers." he grumbles to himself. And there's lots of trees he can vanish into if he decides he's bored and wants to leave.
Sandy stops after a small distance. So much exertion in her escape from her master had dulled her strength a bit, and she felt really tired. Smiling weakly at the mousemaid, she shook her head just a little bit. "I don't know what's going on, ma'am..." she replied, huffing to catch her breath. "Think someone left everyone behind though..."
Dangeon slows as she sees something... It's vague and dark, so she has to venture closer and closer until the towering figure just ahead is clearly a horse leaning against a tree. Her mouth splits into a grin; he's a pretty distinctive being. "Well... Unless there's another horse wandering around, it's bally nice o' ya to join us, dear..."
Darkmane grins wryly and mock bows to Dangeon "Well, if there is another horse around that is impersonating me then i'd like to know since I'd have to settle some business with the equine." A soft chuckle escaping his throat "And i aim to please sunshine, I aim to please" A hand gesturing toward where some of the others ran "I take it things are just about normal for this group what with the sudden running?"
The older monitor's bellow goes unheeded by the forest, except for a bullfrog's lowing song, which sounds from the west.
Amos doesn't wait for an answer from the dragon, moving further as he finds the path again and disappears down it.
The shrewmaid looks at Moruwil, "Your Princeship, perhaps you should call to the lizard, in the manner we taught him? He seems attached to his father now; anything else might disturb and upset his feelings toward us..." Moruwil looks out at Malcolm. "Yes, right... you know, having shrews is much better than squirrels, I think." He grins, and promptly gives the toad call.
Frigg nods at Sandy, and hears the toad call. "Are there many... toads... around here?" She looks even more uneasy than before, and takes the opportunity of the slowed pace to catch up to the rest of the group.
At the toad call, Malcolm blinks a little bit. Just a bit though, and slows himself down, lagging behind. But the moment no one is looking, he turns and heads towards that sound, his eyes peering through the woods.
It would seem the merry group has picked up a follower. Drystan has followed them on their mad romp through the forest, alternately silent and stifling laughter. Whatever had him in such a foul mood, this mismatched band seems to have cured it with their apparent hilarity. He catches up with them just as the toad call sounds forth, drawing to a halt somewhat apart from the group.
Sandy flinches just a little bit from hearing a comment on how having shrews was better than squirrels, and fought back a tear, taking it badly. All she was enduring, it seemed, was cruelty... "If there are... Well... I'm sure we'll be okay..." she replied.
Dangeon grins at the horse. "'S normal 's usual. There's a couple o' newbies t' the gang. Y'll meet them any second. Sooo. What took you, hm? You owe me lots of hugs and carrying." The doe grins, half jokingly. Not even a mention of alcohol; she just seems happy to see the horse.
Darkmane lets out a loud and proper laugh as he scopes Dangeon up in his arms and gives her a friendly nuzzle and hug. "All at once or over time sunshine?" A quick glance further down the path before sneaking a kiss in as well. "In that case I look forward to meeting the newcomers, and knowing the normal criteria I assume i'm still the only sane one?"
The aggressive croak of the bullfrog strums its bass call once again from the west, as if in challenge to the treble toad. It is followed by a splash of water, then silence. Even the insects have hushed themselves, cowering for fear of these anuran foes.
Moruwil isn't too happy with that bullfrog vying for the attention of his lizard. But then there he is, walking toward them, "Ah, good! Here we have him, at last, for a few moments." The squirrel is careful not to cause unneeded rustling, but gives the toad call once more to refresh the lizard's bearings on the sound. After he's within sight, the squirrel meets him halfway, still out of sight of the others, "Mally... there you are! We were so worried that we lost you in that cave-in! How are things? Your new father - you must be so happy!" The squirrel is enthusiastic, his tail too, as it fights to welcome the lizard. Nevertheless, he keeps his shouts at a whisper.
Amos trudges through the mud and the forest, looking behind himself to see if anyone is catching up with him. Nobody, he continues along the path hoping Deliah hasn't left them too far behind.
Hearing the bullfrog now, the mouse stays close next to Sandy, "Why are you crying? I think I should be doing my own share - if that's a bullfrog, I'm liable to be eaten! Mind if I stay close to you? I think you're a bit much for a frog, m'dear." She smiles, "Not that you don't look in fine shape, mind you!"
The young monitor looks around but that last frog call sends him in the right direction. He stops dead in his tracks, staring at the squirrel. He resumes his arm folding and frowning. "What are you doing here?" he asks. "New father? Happy? Not really." he shakes his head. "Well, maybe just a little. But no more than that."
Moruwil and Malcolm recede further into the forest...
Sandy stops as well at the sound of a bullfrog, and looks over to the mousemaid, wiping her eyes with a weary smile. "It's fine... I'm not going to let them get anyone." she replied. If only she had a weapon, she might have been able to make that promise stick. "I'll be fine, too..." she added, commenting on her crying. She was certain she could be of use!
Drystan watches quietly at the varied reactions of the group in view to the alternating frog and toad calls, sparing a glance to the trees every now and then.
Angus vanished among the brush some time ago, having deliberately forgone the path. Well within earshot, the lizard listens to the cawing of his pack, uses it to roughly gauge his proximity to the beaten route, while maintaining a watchful distance. He is on all fours, slithering nimbly, though cautiously, through the undergrowth.
Dangeon snuggles back with Darkmane, settling comfortably into the embrace. "Aye, same time." She agrees before kissing back. She points vaguely at where she thinks others might be but has forgotten, a little, about what or who she was pointing out for a moment. They're no longer where she's pointing anyway. "Aye, 's mad as the usual lot, am sure."
Darkmane chucklesnorts "Well, if there is one thing that seems a pattern with this crew is that it keeps getting led by people new to the group or outsiders." A very slight shake of his head as he focuses on the other two approaching. "Its good to see you again Frigg, and its an pleasure to meet you Lady of the squirrels" a respectfull bow offered as he holds Dangeon gently.
Frigg bows in return to the horse and nods to Dangeon, "Nice to see the rest of the group again. We're sorry to slacken the pace, back here, if it's of any consequence to the progress ahead. We seem to have lost some of the others, I see..." She looks at Sandy, "Should we all give it an extra effort and catch up?"
"I suppose." Malcolm says from behind the remainder of the group on the path, arms folded, looking down at the ground as he appears to haven't even budged since the last time anyone payed attention to him. "In fact, I'm bored." he says as he walks past. "Lets go already."
Frigg looks back at Malcolm, "Oh, hello Mal. I know, it must be not the kind of adventure you've hoped for, but be careful not to want it to get too exciting too quickly. At least for my sake, if not yours." She sighs, and look at Sandy, "Shall we?" She trudges ahead, toward the pond.
The lizard shrugs his shoulders. "I wouldn't mind a good fight right now." he says absently. "So. If I get my wish, just stay out of my way and you'll be fine." he says before he vanishes up the path.
Sandy grumbles a little bit. A fight? If he continued being whiny anytime after this, he'd have it. Shaking her head, she helped the elderly mousemaid with a smile. "Come on, let's go..." she whispered, leading her after Malcolm.
