A Preview of the Training to Come

Characters: Kentar, Robin, Amy, Aikuen, Will

Location: Moledeep

Moledeep: The Mole Hall

There are stoats here! Two of them. And they're playing a game. But not the game they were playing the day before. Kentar had the otter twins today, and had put them down for a nap in the stoat's room with Garnet watching over them, and now, as a break, they're playing! And they're playing MARBLES! On the table! And Kentar's loosing

Amethyst rolls in from the garden burrow where she'd been spending the last day or so sewing. She sings as she comes in, which isn't so strange but for once it isn't a song she's heard before but one's she's made up herself. "In the lea lay a fox so wicked and cruel what killed beasts so much greater than you. He was a great plague to our lives every day and was killet not once nor twice nor thrice but four and yet returned same as before. But we needn't fear for listen and hear. Do you hear the bells at the Abbey? Listen and be still. For th fox is locked up in the belfry and will dwell in the meadow no more. Listen my friend, listen closely. Hear the bells? Do they ring? For the fox is locked in th tower of Redwall and no more shall he roam cross th woods and our homes." She can hear other beasts in the room and it only takes her a moment to match the accents to the beasts, "Hello, stoats," she says putting a paw out to feel long the edge of the table.

Kentar flicks his ears and cringe quite noticeably, hating every mention of that fox. "Why does everyone have to talk...or sing about that vial creature?" he asks. His good mood was squashed then. And even more squashed when Robin flicks a marble against his nose. "Ow!" Robin chuckles a little. "Sorry dad."

Aikuen and Fira comes in from the outside world, paw in paw. Him and Fira had just got down swimming in the pond together, so the otters fur is a little damp. But it will dry off soon. Aikuen nuzzles her before kissing her, as she heads off for the kitchen. Aikuen smiles goofly before going over to the table and leaning against one of the chairs, "Hey stoats, and rat!" he chuckles. He totally missed the song.

Amethyst can't see the cringing stoat but his tone is very clear. "Alright. Do you have a request then?" she asks coolly, she'd spend a good part of the morning working on that song.

Kentar sighs a little bit and looks towards the otters. "Hey Aik." he greets with a little wave. "Not that I can think of right now Amy." he pauses and takes a deep breath. "Sorry Amy. I just...don't want to hear any songs about the beast that almost ruined my life three times in a row. And I don't ever want to hear anything else about him other then the news of his death." he then flicks his last marble, missing and losing.

Aikuen blinks between the older stoat and the rat. Trying to figure it out. Though its not that hard. He slicks back his headfur as he assumes its the fox, and as he always does. Ignores any mention of him. Gets him riled up too much. So he decides to watch Kentar lose the game.

Kentar lost already. And they were playing for keeps. Robin takes the marbles and stores them in his pouch, chuckling. "Better luck next time dad." Kentar frowns. "If I get anymore marbles to play you again." he laughs.

Amethyst raises her lute slightly in acknowledgement of the old otter and starts to tune it.

Aikuen chuckles as he sits down on the chair. Still a little damp, so it makes a little squashy sound, "Heh... Marbles eh?" he rubs his chin fur and chuckles, "Sorry mate i cant help you avenge your lost marbles... and your marbles..." TeeHee, small joke!

Kentar shoots an evil, evil glare towards Aik before bursting into laughter. "Haha, nice Aik, just nice!" he smirks before looking towards Robin. "You know the drill, Robin!" He smirks, pulling out two cups and ten dice from his pack that was laying next to him on the floor. "I want my marbles back!" he laughs! "Daaad. Can't you go one day without finding something to challenge for?" he smirks. "You shouldn't have taken Christopher's marbles!"

Aikuen blinks and chuckles as he leans back in his chair, "Chris is going to be maaaaaad! If he find out! So you better win Kentar..." he smirks.

The stoats roll the dice in the cups then set them down with a loud smack. They do that just to see if either of them flinch. They drag the cups back then think. "Three threes." Robin starts. "Three fours."

Amethyst wont sing about the fox then, she'll sing something else. She hums a tune to herself for a while then starts to play and word follow after, " ... Teach to their dreams not shining steel It's not in war where lies the glory But in what's shattered on the field. The potters wheel takes love and caring, Skill and patience fast and slow. The works it makes are easily broken Once they survive the potter's throw. Take a little clay Put it on a wheel Get a little hint How does it feel? Give a little turn Listen to it spin Make it in the shape You want it in. ... Some day some dibbuns will be digging In some long forgotten ground. And they'll find our civilisation Or what's left of it to be found. They'll find the weapons of destruction, But buried deeper in the hole They'll find a message and a promise In the sand, the potters bowl. Take a little clay Put it on a wheel Get a little hint now how it feels. Give a little turn Listen to it spin Make it in the shape You want it in. Earth and fire and wind conspire

With skillful paws, and love, and fire." She doesn't care if she interferes with the game or not though she does sing very softly this time.

Aikuen yawns a little bit as Amy begins to sing, slowly going to tap his claw along with the beat as he watches the game precede on. His mind starts to wonder on his olden days with the song, though he thinks otherwise. Course he would, but he has his own theories about that entire subject. After the song begins to get nearer the end, his mind begins to drift on Fira and the kids. He smiles softly. That's one of his theories.

Kentar hms a little and looks towards Aik and then Amy, smiling some. "That song is really good, Amy." Robin snaps his fingers. "You know the rules dad, no outside distraction. Hurry up and bid." he says. Kentar ergs and checks his dice. "Four fives."

Aikuen comes back to reality and goes back to paying attention to the game. He is nearest Kentar at the table. But still too far to actually see anything. He tires to lean over, though he doesn't know why, as it doesn't help him see any better. He shrugs and decides to distract the stoats. Could be fun, "Four Fives? I don't know... That doesn't seem right... I mean..." he shrugs and chuckles.

Amethyst starts up another song, a slow one, it doesn't have words far as she knows so no more singing for now. "Do you not want Chris to get his marbles back?" she asks Aikuen though she's sure he'll get them back eventually one way or another no matter who wins.

Robin ignores Aikuen completely. Kentar flicks his ear. He's trying HARD to ignore him but its obviously hard. "Five fives." Robin says. Kentar thinks before checking his dice again to see just what he has.

Aikuen smiles at Amy, "I do... but maybe this will teach the father to not play for keeps with your sons marbles." he laughs and leans over again, "Five Fives?... That's a lot mate... you should try... fives sixes. That'll teach him..." he grins stupidly.

Amethyst just shakes her head, "Yes it's so much better to be in here than outside while you still have a chance before winter comes." The sarcasm is very evident in her voice.

Kentar decides to try and elbow Aik in the stomach if he's close enough. If not, it looks like he elbows the air stupidly. Robin hrms and tilts his head for a few moments before checking his dice. He checks his father's face for a moment before taking a deep breaths. "Six fives." Robin nods once. Kentar gulps and stands. "Your a liar, Robin." He moves his cup, showing that he's got 3 fives, a two, and a one. Robin moves his cup and grins. He also has three fives. But instead has a three and a six. "Ha! His marbles are mine dad!"

Aikuen chuckles as Aik is probably halfway across the table. He then snorts as Robin wins, "Ah, tuff luck mate... looks like your going to have make some more for him... or win it another way!" he chuckles before blinking at what Amy said. It made little to no since, even with the evident sarcasm.

Amethyst doesn't have to makes sense she knows what she meant. Which was that the stoats could be playing their game or another one outside rather than inside because she's of the opinion Kentar should outside more.

Kentar wanted MORE marbles for his son but ended up losing all of them. "Come on, Robin! Have a heart!?" he shakes his head. "Sorry dad." The stoat shakes his head and grins. "You heartless vermin!" he laughs, sitting down and sighs. "I'll buy them?" Robin shakes his head. "I'll win them back!" he shakes his head. "You have no marbles to win with." "Well then I challenge you! Again!" he puts his dice in his cup before looking towards Aik. "Help meee....please?"

Aikuen leans back in his chair and rubs his chinfur, "Hmmm... I don't know...What do i get for helping you? If i do get it?" he chuckles and shakes his head, as he goes to sit in a tri pattern to the other stoats, "It better be something worth it..." he laughs.

Amethyst continues to play. "You shouldn't encourage him, Aik," she says.

Kentar hrms. "I'll put in..." the stoat thinks. "My father's sword." he nods. He's desperate. "If, of course, you win." he nods. "If you lose, you have to put something in...what is it?" he asks. Robin smirks at them and gets out a cup and five dice for Aik.

Aikuen chuckles, "I'm not encouraging... I'm..." he snorts, "Okay I'm encouraging... but hey! Why not!" he runs his claws through his chin fur again, "I'm not sure... i don't have a lot of possessions..." That he is willing to part with ever, "Thanks Robin... Lets see... how about... A gold ring? Hows that?" its all he can think of.

Kentar nods once. "Yeah, that's good. You keep it of course if you win." he chuckles. "And you'd better." he nods before looking to Robin and nodding. He shakes his cup and slaps it down on the table. "Alright." he nods. He peeks at his dice and hrms, looking between the two. "Three threes."

Amethyst is bored of this and wheels herself off toward the sleeping hall.

Aikuen nods, "Of course..." he doesn't slap the cup on the table like the others. He lifts the side and hrms, "Three fours..." he nods as he glances between the other two. Trying to keep his cup hid from them. He wants to win!

Robin tilts back his cup and thinks. "Five fives." he really upped the bid then. Kentar blinks and gulps a little, checking his dice again. "Six fives."

Aikuen blinks at all these high roll bids. He looks under his cup and shakes his head. He takes a deep breath and says, "Kentar... i do believe that you... are a liar..." he removes his cup revealing one two. Three threes. and one six.

Kentar looks to Aikuen and blinks. The stoat pulls off his cup, showing one five, two fours, a three and a one. Robin smirks a little and pulls off his own cup. Showing four fives and a three. Kentar blinks at Robin's dice. "Wow."

Aikuen blinks and snorts, "Heh... You lose Kentar... Sorry about that..." he then thinks for a moment, "Okay... so... who owes me what?" he knows he gets something.

Robin grins but Kentar sighs. He just can't win. Robin tosses Aik the full bag of marbles. And Kentar frowns. "My sword is yours, Aik." he says. "Its in our room on the wall for whenever you want it."

Aikuen wasn't prepared to catch the marbles. Good thing he has otter like reflexes... which means he bounces the bag in his paws a few times trying to catch them. He then places the bag on the table, as he walks over to Kentar, patting him on the back, "Gee thanks Kentar... but I'm too lazy to get it... Besides... your going to need it to defend yourself during training..." he chuckles.

Kentar laughs and smirks. "I have a rapier of my own, Aik." he says. "My father's sword is old and rusted. Its useless to anyone! It means a heck of a lot to me, but hey...I got Chris's marbles back so its worth it." he chuckles. "Thanks Aik.

Aikuen chuckles and folds his arm, "Who said I'm going to teach you to use, just, a rapier? That saber will come in handy... you wait n' see!" he chuckles and tosses the bag to Kentar, "Here yah are mate... One bag o marbles... And i might actually take you up on that sword..." he grins evilly. Many plans by the otter.

Kentar eyes Aik. "What in the world is a rusted saber going to be useful for?" he asks. "One hard tap, and it'll break." the stoat blinks. "Waaait now. I can fix it." he hrms. "Just set a new blade. Yeah. I can fix it." he chuckles. Robin has since vanished, gone off to find something to do.

Aikuen goes to walk around the table a bit, "Hey... a rusty sword is still a sword... it can be a great replacement for a shield if you have the skill to do two things at once. And if even if it does break in the first go. One block is all it takes to save your life... Are you writing this down?" he laughs, "But yeah refold the metal ... Then it will be of some use, as a actual weapon... I hope your ready Kentar..." he grins.

Kentar nods and hrms. "Yeah." he smirks a little bit. "Yeah, I'm writing it down!" He then blinks a little. "So. Aik." he takes a deep breath. "Just how hard is this training going to be?" he asks.

Aikuen continues his pace around the table, "I've been thinking about it... and i think I'm able to compress the long drill... give or take for weather and the like... its mostly just going to be teaching, with some in between training exercises... Running, climbing, tumbling... Etc... Etc..." he runs his headfur back again, "It wont be as hard as the real thing... but it will test your limit... i hope you like the cold..." he chuckles.

Kentar nod slowly and sinks into his seat. "I want you, Aik, to make it as hard, and as testing as you possibly can, okay? I don't care how much I change. All I care about is my ability to protect everyone here." he nods. "Please."

Aikuen stops pacing to lean against the chair, "Are you sure Kentar?... That particular training program was taught to beasts who were just about to go to war with beasts to fight for their homeland... The hares at the mountain don't even go through that stuff..." though they are very similar. He takes a deep breath, "Listen Kentar... even with the lesser stuff ima about to teach you... it will rival anything any other beast can do... you will be able to protect us... just with that..." he tries to persuade the stoat.

Kentar stares right at Aik. "Aik. I am more sure about this then anything else in my life." except marrying Garnet! Of course. "I was trained by the best warriors on the eastern shores. And still, I've been bested four times. Four times I've almost had my life ruined. Please. I want the best and only the best. Even if the best, is the worst." Yeah, that makes sense. Sort of.

Aikuen crosses his arms, and nods slowly, "Alright then... But i expect a full, and absolute, commitment from you..." and the pacing continues, "I will bring you to the edge of death... but don't worry... i got my paw on yours to pull you from hellgates... You have to see it, you have to touch it, you have to feel it... to understand..." he takes a deep breath and checks the kitchen, "Want to get started? The sooner we start the easier it will be, when the grounds are built..."

Kentar flicks his ears quite a bit. The stoat closes his eye and thinks it over for a few moments. He has no idea what in the world he's about to agree to. "I've been there, Aikuen. More then I've cared to be." The fox has something to do with that. Although, he knows, deep down, that he'd be closer then ever if he agrees to Aik. "Yes. I will commit fully." The stoat looks up. He's got something in his eye that shows...fear. Lots of it. But he won't let it control him. "Get started?" he asks, gulping a little. "On...wh-what?" he asks.

Aikuen walks over to Kentar, and places a heavy paw on his shoulder, "I was thinking a little tree climbing exercise... just as a little warm up..." he grins evilly, "It will be nice and easy... But a skill worth knowing..." he takes a deep breath, "If you want to of course..." we can always start later.

Kentar looks at Aikuen and hrms. "I can climb trees just fine Aik." he says. "Tree climbing is none that needs to be practiced." the stoat then takes a deep breath, looking around to make sure there's no one else listening in. "Aik. How...different. Will I be after the training is done?" The stoat asks quietly. "If I manage to complete it." and he stresses if.

William is in the kitchen but he can hear the other two in the hall quite well especially since he's making use of some skills of his own.

Aikuen shakes his head, "Everybeast can climb a tree. That's why its called an exercise... But I want you to climb it... with broken legs, and carrying me ... theoretically of course..." he sighs and rubs his eyes, and quietly says back "If you do... You will be an awful beast... you will be hard, and tactless. Everything will cheese you off... the littlest things... It was designed to drain your emotions and thoughts... But you will be strong, and fast... and skilled... in the task the army set ahead of you... which is to die in the name of a flag... and to take as many with you to hellgates as possible..." he blinks, as the sounds of his Sargent just flew though his lips, "Sorry..." he shakes the thoughts away.

Kentar listens and ergs a little bit, looking down at his legs. He had just gotten back to being able to run again after that last wound, the stoat thinking to himself. "Carrying you?" he grins slightly. "No one could carry you, you silly beast." he then sighs, and closes his eye, putting his head in his paws. "I. Really." he pauses. He isn't sure. "I don't know Aikuen." A few minutes ago he was ready to die for everyone around him. But now. He's scared as anything. "What else is there?" He means other then the broken leg, otter carrying, tree climbing.

William frowns behind the kitchen door. He'd known the training would be hard but this doesn't sound like training. He keeps quite and continues to listen anyway.

Aikuen continues his pace. Oh the pacing! "Well yes carry me... The scenario is... that you are to rescue a beast... after being tortured. From a fortress... So you would have to carry an extra beast... while your footpaws are less than helpful, because of the torture... Except we don't have a fortress to train on. See... Tree... I would tie your footpaws together, and put a heavy pack on you..." he sighs and runs the program, picking one at random, "Speed... Sprints from here to the north river... no stoping..." he takes a deep breath, "I can teach you the lesser one... you will still be strong, fast, and skilled... but still the ole Kentar we know in love..." he, once again, tries to persuade the stoat.

Kentar hrms a little bit and nods slightly. The stoat thinks to himself quietly, taking a few, long, minutes. "I...want more." he says. "How about this." he takes a deep breath. "We'll do fifty fifty. Half of the hard stuff you had to endure. And then half of the not so hard stuff you want me to learn." he says.

William thinks this is making more sense now however the stoat may be trying to get in over his head. He goes back to help Fira with the soup they're making for dinner. Along with some fish she'd caught ealier.

Aikuen nods slightly,, "Alright then... i can do that... Good... cause i don't think i could live through the whole hard thing... I'm getting too old, for junk like that..." he chuckles, try and lighten the mood a bit. He goes over to Kentar and places both paws on both shoulders, and gives him a little shake, "I hope everything goes alright..." he grins and sighs.

Kentar nods and sighs, leaning forward, not shrugging the paws away. "Aik. I want to pick what ones I do less of and what ones I do the full thing." he says, very sternly. "Sit down. Run the program over with me." he nods.

Aikuen nods a bit and sits down next to Kentar, "Okay... First off is conditioning... i want your body to be able to hold the stress of training. Your going to do that. And if you say no. I'm not training you, as that is imperative. Next is basic protection. Armor and shield training. Next is blades, from utility daggers too claymores... Then, my speciality, paw to paw training... Then its ranged weapons, from throws rocks to crossbows... Then, placed throughout all the teaching, is going to be skills. Swimming, breathing, eating, climbing, tumbling... and Will power... That's the most important..." Why Aik is Aik.

Kentar nods and thinks. "Of course." he says. The stoat thinks for a bit. "I don't need armor or shield training. I don't use them. Blades, I could use. Paw to paw I can use. I don't use bows, or crossbows and you know how deadly I can be with a set of throwing knives." he hms. "What's involved wth breathing and eating?" he looks up, tilting his head slowly.

Aikuen taps his claws together, "What about that breastplate you have?... Alright then... less to buy or make... Though i think you should learn slings, as face it... once you run out of throwing knives... what else can you use? And those skills..." he takes a deep ole breath, "Your going to learn too... not need them... or... not as much..." Meaning: choacking and starving yourself.

Kentar eyes Aik closely and nods slowly. "Alright." he nods. He doesn't seem to object. "Although, if you start choking me, I'd better be able to speak afterwards. Or I won't be able to comment on how a horrible trainer you are." he says, keeping a serious tone. "And Aik. There is one thing I want at the end."

Aikuen slowly looks over at Kentar, "More efficient use of your breathing prevents you from tiring out quickly... key... " he tilts his head slightly at the next thing, "Aye? What is it Kentar..." he asks in a no-nonsense voice.

Kentar takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "Death's door." he says simply. Referring to the thing about being put there by him and then brought back. "That. Is a must." He takes a deep breath and looks back to Aik.

Aikuen seems to have stopped breathing as he leans back and places his paws over his eyes. He is very quiet. He no longer breathes, and is completely motionless for a good three minutes before, breathing out and refilling, "That Kentar... is what I'm afraid off..."

Kentar had almost drifted off but sitting back keeps him awake. His arms are folded, the stoat's eyes closed. "Why?" he asks simply. "Not confident you can keep me alive?" He's serious at this point. There's no jokes. No anything. Just a bland, emotionless tone. Maybe he's practicing?

Aikuen nods slightly, "Aye... To bring you to that point... i have to pretty much kill you... And if you are not strong willed enough... you will die... It is something, that i do not want to do... i will not bring your sons or your wife with that burden... that you might die... from training..." he sounds dead serious.

Kentar takes a deep breath. "That's just what I want Aik." he says. "To prove that I am strong willed enough." the stoat closes his eye again and nods. "If I lived, then my training would be complete. If I were to die. Then I'd have failed. And right now Aik. Failure, to me, is not an option."

Aikuen shakes his head, "If i believe that you can handle it... we will do the two week kill program... Until then, its considered off the list... That's final with me... Because even if you aren't strong willed enough... you have too much to live for... and i will not take it away from you... or us..."

Kentar stares at Aik with a hard stare. "Aikuen. You lived through it." he says. "You had nothing to live for." the stoat nods once. "I have a family. I'd live. Trust me." he then tilts his head. "Two week...kill program?" he asks.

Aikuen still shakes his head, this is something he really doesn't want to do, "Yes, but my will was fueled with my hate... i hated everything then..." his dark brown eyes pierce, as he almost glares back, "Aye... two weeks... of no food... no clothes... and laborious tasks... the kill program..."

Kentar takes a deep breath and looks back to his paws. "I'm sure I could do it." he nods. "Your will was fueled by hate. And mine is fueled by love." he says. "Love...conquers all boundaries." he nods. "At the end, I will take that test." the stoat stands and turns away, tying the marbles to his belt. "And I will live." he heads off to his room.

Aikuen sighs resolutely and stands up with Kentar, "As far as I'm concerned... its off the list... but..." he nods, "I'm sure you will do great... when we get to it..." he still shakes his head as he heads for the clearing outside to clear his head. After an hour or so Fira joins him as he rests against a tree. Their tree in the clearing. He hugs her lightly as she rest against him. He kisses the top of her head, as he thinks... What has he gotten himself into...

Groups:

• Moledeep