Betrayal In the Burning Chapel

« continued from Moonless Night at the Pond.

• Location: Pond, Pond-side Chapel

• Participants: Amos, Frigg, Sandy, Malcolm, Delilah (Stubb Spoof), Darker Voice/Glabrous rat (Stubb Spoof), Drystan, Angus, Moruwil, Towering Badger (Stubb Spoof), Scaith

(Sometimes Club)

Moving through the trees, the wildcat Amos finds the path more clearly but is prudent enough to keep himself hidden. Crouched he spots the pond, and the figure and what looks like another by the pond. Not really getting a good view from his vantage point, or seeing any of the others but still for the moment he thinks it best if he stays where he is. Watching.

Frigg is just behind the cat, and peeks out at the pond from behind him, using him as an anchor for her curious peeping. The mouse shakes her head, "What do you suppose all this is, then?" She leans back toward her center of gravity, turning around and coughing sickly, shivering. She spots a soft patch of dry ground off the path and sits there until they all make a move. "L-let me know if you all are going to rush in, but I'll be f-fine here until then."

Sandy stops just behind Frigg, folding her arms. She wasn't truthfully sure what to make of tonight... Following a bunch of oddballs, getting mentally attacked, and now stopping at a pond. What, exactly, was happening? She thought that over and over, but didn't think she would ever get an answer... Giving a deep sigh, she moved to stand next to the wildcat, frowning. "The world is quiet here."

Malcolm is there too, but he's not crouched down. The monitor is still standing, but at the back, leaning on a tree. He watches them for a moment and unfolds his arms, yawning a little bit.

Amos seems slightly annoyed by the closeness of the two rodents, especially when both haven't proved themselves to be very useful, "Uh huh, ya just take it easy grandma, " He rolls his eyes as Sandy states the obvious, its a moonless night and the wildcat at least is trying to keep it quiet, "As long as ya keep your yap shut it will be, now make sure ain't nobody sneaks up behind us."

'Grandma' glares at the cat, not fond of Amos' tone. "W-well, when I have grandchildren, I'll let you know, s-sir; until then, you can call me 'Frigg'." She looks over at Malcolm, and then at Sandy, "I could've sworn I saw him leave the group - it was a while, I think, too. Seems like everybeast is up to something but us, eh?"

Sandy sighs sadly at, pretty much, being told to shut up. Turning around and holding back some angry words, she gave the mousemaid a weak smile, nodding softly. She knew their time would come where they'd prove to be useful... Otherwise she'd just irritatedly push the damned cat into the pond and run as fast as she could.

"Friggy, we are doing something, we're waiting to see what happens before we rush into who knows what, " He snarls, he gives Malcolm a glance. Only a glance before looking back to the pond, "Shussh, and keep an eye out for anyone else coming this way."

Frigg folds her paws and rests a weary leg atop the other knee, ignoring the cat for a moment while she looks around for signs of that bullfrog. Suddenly, it croaks again in the distance, and her eyes widen, ears swivel in its direction. She slowly makes her way over to the cat, but approaches with feigned interest in the pond clearing. She doesn't say a word, just pretends to watch as her eyes rove around to make sure no amphibious forms come hopping out of the woods!

Whispers of dialog continue to issue in a gentle stream from across the pond, where Delilah stands with her unseen interlocutor. Delilah's voice occasionally spikes to a volume that renders it recognizable even at this distance. Her body language conveys exasperation even in the dark, but then she freezes and the stream of words dries up. The weasel's head gives a cursory sweep over the bank of the pond, then she hurries into the vine-encrusted chapel.

A cool breeze drags its damp fingers through the heads of the trees that stand at attention around the fringe of the pond. They sway. Their trembling leaves overlay a low, wrinkled hiss over the quiescence of the night.

More atmospheric things happen.

Frigg looks back at Malcolm, still curious about the lizard, but keeps her attention on her periphery, for anything lurking near the group. Her fingers go to the chain dangling around her neck, to the pendant hanging at its end.

Sandy closes her eyes, shivering just a little bit. She felt something was about to happen... Turning around to face the pond with the wildcat and mouse, she folded her arms. Shivering once again.

Malcolm sighs quietly and watches the beasts in front of him. He stays quiet for a little longer then just frowns. "So...why are we wasting our time here?" he finally asks. "I'm bored. Lets go down there or go home." he rolls his eyes and shakes his head a little bit.

Amos is already heading out of the woods and towards the pond, heading towards the chapel in a run, "Come on you lot!" He calls after them, not sure what he'll find but determined not to let the weasel get away again.

Frigg is startled by the cat's sudden move, and twitches as his voice yells back at them. "What....? Wait!" She picks up her robes and dashes after, more to keep from tripping than to save the already ruined bottom of the fabric - she's no match for the cat's pace, and only resolves to keep him within sight, which doesn't prove too difficult. "Is that Delilah up ahead? I heard something of he-- of her, I t-- I think!" She's already huffing and panting! Out of shape mouse.

Sandy squeaks in surprise at the wildcat breaking out into a run. Waving her arms wildly once again, she took off at full speed as well, trying to keep up. "Hey, wait for us!" she called out. Personally, she was impressed the old mousemaid could run!

Delilah's voice grows in strength as the crew draws nearer to the chapel. It is clear now that a candle is flickering within: its light nips at the edges of the doorframe with its warm hue. From the shadows cast by this glow, it is clear as well that Delilah and the other speaker are not alone. "...all you got?!" The weasel's tone, usually composed and polite, is ragged with disbelief even as she tries to keep it quiet. A clatter ensues as a limp object is thrown down. "It will have to do. That lot knows nothing. I couldn't wait to be clear of them."

Malcolm blinks a little bit and stares at them as they take off. "Wait now...what?" he stands there in surprise, blinking. He just smiles a moment or two later, the young lizard quite proud of himself, taking his annoyed tone to be what sent them all off. He heads along slowly behind, keeping his pace slowly before running to keep up, grinning to himself.

"They're coming, m'lady." A darker voice creeps out of the chapel doorway, followed by the silhouette of a peculiarly glabrous rat's head that ducks back inside nearly as soon as it appears. "Aye, they're coming down the shore."

Amos approaches the chapel, weapon drawn as he hisses and growls only thinking that Delilah has somehow betrayed them. He'll soon enough fix that problem, and approaches closer seemingly without consideration that he might be out numbered. Or that this plan it self might not be the wisest.

Somehow, some way, and for some reason, Drystan has followed the group. The todd hangs back from the rest, gnawing idly on a root. Not much in the way of gourmet meals out here.

Frigg slows down much earlier than Amos, and looks toward the chapel. "Amos! I... I don't think it's such a good idea, to.. why are we...?" She turns around to see where Sandy is, but is too late to stop her either, "Oh!! My..." She isn't sure where to stay or how to proceed, so she walks cautiously around the perimeter of the woods, able to make an escape quickly via a change in terrain.

Sandy charges on behind the wildcat, frowning. She had a dark feeling now... And, even though she was aware she had nothing to protect herself with, she was certain that she could be of assistance. If not to drag the guy away as quick as she could if he fell!

The voices inside the chapel lapse into silence as the column led by Amos charges noisily toward it along the bank of the pond.

Frigg holds her arms in her paws, shaking her head. "What have I-I... I'm s-supposed to be home, with a husband and children around... I'm not cut out f-for these adv... adventures." She sneezes, shivering; still, it seems, the mousemaid is recovering from dragging herself through who knows what with little sleep in the past few days. She'd be dead if anything happened to the group now, and her stupidity is shouting at her, making her ears ring - or is that something else? Frigg stumbles, feeling faint.

"Delilah, ya foul tongue wench!" Amos calls as he approaches the chapel. He brandishes his weapon and rushes into the chapel foolhardily.

Drystan trails along the beach behind the group, the root protruding from the side of his muzzle. This is better than any play he's ever seen.

Sandy shakes her head, stopping at the door of said chapel with a frown. "Amos, you idiot!" she yelled out. She couldn't believe what he did! She could believe, though, that the weasel had played them like a drum...

The lot enter the chapel...

Angus stumbles blindly into the chapel. "Hello? Lilah?"

Amos lets out a growl of frustrating as he enters the chapel, nothing and he puts his weapon away. He turns to Angus, having saw her rush into the building just before him, "Looks like we were fooled, bloody weasel, " He snarls at Sandy, "Leave that alone!" Obviously realizing who's pack it is.

Sandy blinks, and steps in behind the wildcat, frowning. "That's odd... Was there not a lot of beasts in here just a few seconds ago?" she asked to no one in particular, going over to squat down in front of the pack laying on the ground. "Wonder who this belongs to..."

Malcolm blinks as Amos runs into the chapel, the lizard shaking his head slowly as he follows down the path and into the chapel behind the others, looking around carefully. He looks to Sandy going past him and then to Amos. "Idiot." he grumbles.

Sandy squeaks in surprise and falls back, looking over at the wildcat. "What are you, my MASTER?" she asked indignantly. She was really getting sick of people telling her what to do.

Frigg is huffing and puffing in after the others, passing Malcolm, who passed her before that, "Hello, Mal. A glance around the place and she remembers the last time, being cut off from the others, and then blanking completely. This time, she's sure to keep up, and puts herself between Sandy and the younger lizard. "Is that?..." She trails off, pointing to the pack.

Frigg jumps! "What the--!"

"I ain't your master, but don't'cha be touching things ya ain't got a right to, " The wildcat glares, still frustrated and angry that Delilah has slipped away again. He approaches the pack, inspecting it, "Yeah, " He answers Frigg's question, kneeling down to open it up. He grabs it and turns towards the closed door cursing.

Malcolm turns and blinks at the door. Slowly he moves over towards it, and tries to open it, putting his shoulder right into it, pushing most of his strength into trying to open it but gives up after a moment. "Its locked." he says brilliantly.

Sandy frowns, getting up and dusting her rear end off, frowning. "Then quit ACTING like my master, pussycat..." she replied irritatedly, only to give a loud cry of shock from the door seemingly closing by itself. "What the hell?! How?!"

Frigg shakes her head, "How did we come to be so trusting of that weasel, is a better question. And then, when it seems like we should have trusted her the least, how did we come to be following her into a dark place? Oh, we all deserve this for our lack of wisdom!" She sits against the door, knees in her arms, rocking forward...

An acrid whiff of smoke teases at the air of the room. It's a mere hint at first, but before long it becomes unmistakeable. The door, too, grows warm against Frigg's back.

"Angus, ya with us?" Amos calls to his friend, he then turns to Frigg, "Oh shut up grandma, ain't nobody made you come after us."

Sandy frowns a little bit, and holds up a paw, sniffing the air. "Um... Does anybeast else smell... smoke?" she asks, nervously.

Malcolm sniffs the smoke and blinks a moment, gulping. "Uhm. Does anyone smell that?" he asks, putting his hand to the door before pulling it away quickly. "Uhm...uhm..." and for once, he's at a loss of what to say next.

Frigg eeks and jumps up from the door, almost falling the opposite way in her excitement. "The door.. it's... oh no..." She sniffs the air, nodding, "It smells like... smoke!! We're going to burn in here! Look for a way out, everyone! Hurry!" She scurries around the place, pushing at stones, doing whatever she can with her frail, puny form to scratch at an exit!

Delilah parts the curtain of leaves at the back of the chapel. She does so silently, barely letting the vines make a scratch, so that her face seems to hover in a state between darkness and light. Her eyes fix upon the panicked group, but she makes neither a smile nor a move to assist her former friends.

Angus, dizzy from the gradually thickening smoke and heat, spins slowly in the fracas. "Lilah, how could ye'?" he grumbles sadly, but maintains his poise. A hand slips to tug his turban free, which he drapes over a shoulder. Then the dragon rubs his bald noggin with a bare palm, surveying their predicament. "Well, mates. This might just be it. Roasted alive in a bleedin' *church*. How fittin'."

Sandy tried to remain calm. She felt this was her chance... Quickly, she surveyed the room, or as much of the room as she could possibly see from the smoke. "Windows, doors, weakened walls... There's three potential ways to get out..." she muttered to herself, before grinning. "Does anyone think we could ram the door down somehow?!" she said, before coughing a bit. This was NOT the way she was hoping to spend her first day of freedom!

Amos removes his weapon again, still clutching the patch and moving over to the door as he tries to use the blade somehow to cut or smash their way to freedom. He isn't giving up, and as Angus pipes up he turns, "Angus, don't'cha give up. Ya got a son to raise right, and we gotta get back to Stubb!"

That thought doesn't go well with Malcolm at all. He growls and stares at Angus. "YOU KILLED ME! YOU BLOODY WELL KILLED ME! I knew getting dragged out this way was a terrible idea, but you brought me anyway! NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" he growls and looks around. He huffs and stares at the wall. "I'm going to go die in a corner, thanks." he moves towards a corner and flumps down, arms folded, frowning up a storm.

"Some friends you lot are," the weasel's voice says in a voice that could break skin. "Leaving your beloved Stubb, sick, in need of care, all alone while you waltzed off on adventures with a lady you'd only just met?" She tsks. "It seems you'd follow anyone who promises you a taste of adventure. Well, you've got your adventure now."

Angus silently suffers the wrath of his son, blank. When Malcolm has finished, the dragon gazes vacantly around the chapel, pausing, but not looking, when Delilah's voice penetrates the haze. "Truer words never spoke, m'love," he solemnly remarks, and sinks to his sweaty haunches, kneading his face with his hands.

Sandy was getting more and more desperate. Since it seemed that the others were losing hope... She charged the door, with all her might! Though the most effect it did was knock her back... She just got back up, and started to ram the door with her shoulder as hard as she could, sobbing. "I W-WON'T DIE! N-NO ONE WILL DIE! I WON'T L-LET IT HAPPEN!" she shouted, shaking. "T-that damn weasel, I'LL-" but she cut herself off. She wasn't going to say what was on her mind.

Frigg is giving up fast. The heat is intense, and she's coughing and getting very tired. Hard to breathe... "Ugh, no use... no use at all, there's not one thing that will budge in this... thing." She smiles at Sandy.

There's a sudden clanking of mechanical parts just behind the door, of steel hitting steel, then of something falling away, and the door is pried open! Beyond stands a squirrel, black, with red robes and a tail that frantically dodges the embers that fly up around the entryway. The squirrel is holding a magnificently decorated sword, which was probably the source of the sound. He shouts, "Come on! Run for it, before they shoot up too high for you!" He waves his paw outward, the sword point-down in the ground. (Moruwil)

At the squirrel's entrance, a scratching of claws thumps through through the dirt outside, audible even over the crackling crescendo that fills the chapel. Delilah's visage has faded behind a curtain of smoke. She, too, has probably taken to her heels. A pair of figures streak past a window on the wall adjacent to the now-open door.

Faced with burning to death the wildcat darts towards the opening and towards the stranger, "Come on!" He shouts after his comrades, still clutching Stubb's pack as he holds his weapon in his other paw.

Angus still squats, observing the efforts of his chums. A lop-sided smile is flung at the squirrel, even as she tumbles, but it vanishes as some unknown mechanism unbolts the door. "Well. Lucky us, mates." The figure beyond the threshold is vaguely familiar, but the dragon pretends not to recognize it, and shoves to his feet. "Malcolm. C'mon. No more broilin' fer us." He wags a paternal paw at the youngster.

Sandy falls back one last time, as the door finally clicked open. She thought her last ram had done it... But it wasn't her. Frowning, she quickly picked herself up, and rushed over to Frigg. "Frigg, come on!" she urged, and, not waiting, lifted the mousemaid to her feet, and swiftly led her out of the burning church. The fire of vengenace still burned within her though - she was going to KILL that damn weasel!

Malcolm blinks when the door is open. "Yeah, that's nice." he says quietly, standing up and 'bolting' to the door, going to try to shove Angus right out of his way, should the older lizard be anywhere in his path that is.

Angus, indeed, is in the warpath, but Malcolm's shove barely ruffles the elder dragon. He glances at his son, smirks, and then follows through the door.

Frigg is saved! Yay! The mousemaid hugs Sandy! "My... h-hero...ine..." She faints, the smoke has gotten to her. Still, she seems peaceful in the arms of the squirrelmaid, and doesn't look injured. Whether or not appearances deceive, she is saved from a worser fate of being locked inside, or having jumped over the flames of the door and catching fire!

The group expeditious retreats from the burning chapel...

Moruwil tries to draw little attention to himself after the fact, standing by and letting the group gather itself up after the debacle. Quietly, he looks at Frigg, tilting his head. Hm. He gets a good look at her for the first time, albeit in her unconsciousness, and seems to register some recognition. He walks over to Sandy, "Madame... I hope your friend to be okay." He smiles.

Sandy sighs heavily, feeling a little TOO hot under the collar! Making enough distance between the church, she gently laid the mousemaid next to the pond, smiling up at the other squirrel. "She will be... I'm sure..." she replied, before gently splashing some water on the mousemaid. "Come on Frigg, wake up..." she whispered, before standing up. "If I get my paws on that damned weasel..."

It is premature to be calling anyone okay, let alone saved. A towering badger, bulging with cords of muscle, stands a short distance outside the door of the chapel. The crown of his head is shaved. In the firelight that splashes across him, a scowl can be seen sprawling across his broad, dark face. He wears a chest plate emblazoned with a silver star and holds a mace in one of his paws. Looking down at the little squirrelmaid, who seems not to have noticed his presence, he barks, "I wouldn't count on that happening."

Malcolm brushes himself off after diving through the flame, the lizard standing up. "I'm okay, no body panic..." he nods his head importantly before looking at the badger, his eyes widening. "Well, that's just great." he sighs a little bit and looks to Angus a moment, and then to everybody else.

Frigg lies next to the pond, limp, and doesn't seem to be responding to the water treatment. Her face seems to lose a shade of color, and nothing of the mist of life can be seen to be coming from her mouth or nose. The little mouse is now regretting having scampered around inside the chapel, expending too much of her energy...

Well past the chapel, Angus lingers at the rocky rim of the pond. He stares at its crystalline surface, at the reflection of the smoldering little church, but only shifts a notch when the badger materializes. The lizard straightens his spine, as if reacting to a subtle chill, but does not yet turn to greet the monster. A sidelong look is cast for Malcolm, all though he is confident that his son will escape in a huff, safely out of lendri range.

Still recovering somewhat Amos stares at the badger after moving away from the burning structure and grins, "Eh, bound to happen, " He mutters to himself, and addresses the badger, "Ya gonna stand in our way eh?"

Sandy frowns. "Frigg...?" she whispered nervously. "Frigg... No." she said again... Only to go wide-eyed, looking up at the badger. Too early, indeed. Her first instinct? She screamed, loudly, out of fear, grabbing Frigg and starting to pull her away, as fast as she possibly could. "THIS ISN'T HAPPENING!"

Moruwil nods, "Yes, this brute. I was surprised to see him there, after I had started to free the door, but he wasn't stopping me... I should have known that I might not be scare-worthy to run off those evil folks what had meant to burn you all." He turns to the badger, backing up a pace, "But... then you say you're with them? Why /not/ stop me?"

Frigg is tugged along like a ragdoll, rapidly losing life, unless anybeast has instincts to save her. The mousemaid looks calmest of all of them, though! Smoke still gently rolls off of her garments..

The badger is a creature of few words. He does not stray from his marmoreal stance, electing merely to sweep his head first one way than the other as the noisy group pierces him with pointless questions. Finally, he looks down at Amos. "I mean to stand in your way if your intent is to pursue. If you turn away, I will not follow you. I think you know that I am quite serious."

Malcolm looks to the badger and then to Amos but when the badger speaks, he smiles. "Good! Cause we're not going after them, are we? I don't feel like dying...so...bye! Have a nice stand there...or...something." he shrugs and turns to start walking the way they came.

Angus, at last, turns to size up the blockage. "Bewarted toads," he grunts, and flags for his son. "C'mon Mally." The child is all ready prancing past; the elder dragon follows Malcolm with a brief but grateful smile, before turning to the others. "Mates, c'mon. S'no use in budgin' that boulder. Ferget' it." He scrapes his foot along the edge of the pond, idly sloshing the moss. "Let's go."

Moruwil grins at Malcolm's words. Good! He should use every instinct to keep himself alive... the squirrel turns to Frigg and Sandy now, looking worried. "She's... not looking well, I fear. Is there anything I can do? Your friends... they're quite cold not to stop for her." He shakes his head, and bends down to examine her. He raises her eyelids, leans down to her mouth, "She is still alive; barely so."

Frustrated to again be without anything but the victory of having their lives the wildcat stays in place and glares at the badger while still holding the hilt of his weapon. Still, even he can see that trying to go through the badger isn't a solution. His shoulders slump, and he sighs before turning after his mates. He grips Stubb's pack tighter, least something was gained. He eventually picks up the pace, moving past some of the others as he moves to be at the front of the pack.

Sandy looked highly offended by the departure of the others. "YOU ASSES! SHE'S DYING!" she called out in anger. Looking back to the squirrel, she had tears in her eyes. "I won't lose her... I WON'T!" she said, determinedly. With no other thoughts, she took a deep breath, and placed her mouth on Frigg's, exhaling. She repeated such two times, before locking her paws together, pressing down desperately. "Live! Please, LIVE!" she sobbed.

The badger watches Sandy with indifference for a spell. He takes a vial out of his vest and peers superciliously at it, dangling its contents from between two digits to give it a gentle shake. Then he summarily tosses it to the ground near Sandy.

"You may need that to cure your weasel friend," he says flatly.

Before Angus starts his final retreat, he turns to find the source of the squealing. He had not noticed the curmudgeon until now, and had even managed to ignore the exuberant squirrel, but, with a heavy sigh, the dragon cannot allow this to continue. He trudges to the pair, watching for a beat, before he dips to clutch Frigg unceremoniously by an ankle. The vial, also, goes unnoticed, as he begins to lug the incapacitated dame to the safety of the forest. "C'mon, puff-tail. Let's go."

And here's where Scaith, the unlikely, leaps from the leaves of a bush that borders the badger. Before her jump reaches its arc, she raises her bare paws to help latch onto the hulk's bulk; her aim is sure, but the balance of power remains with the badger, were she to succeed. A grand and bellowing, "Hoo-raaaah!" pelts from her throat.

Malcolm happens to see the vial. And so he follows Angus back and swipes it. "I'll hold on to this." he says with a nod. He'll probably try to sell it to them later or something though, but either way, he stuffs it in a pocket and goes back to walking.

Frigg remains motionless, although her heart seems to be responding, erratically. On the final few attempts, the mousemaid's eyes flutter and she coughs and gasps loudly! As starts to sit upright, she's thrown back down in a fit of more coughing! She seems unaware of her surroundings, paws groping at the air, eyes wide. "Am I... *augh augh augh!!* am I... d...."

"Who knows, could do the old lady some good too." The badger grins and looks into the fire as it digests the remains of the vines. The marble structure, though scorched, still stands. It looks enfeebled now without its viny sheath: the cracks that course down its length---the badger's face pinches into a grimace and he swings his free arm back to grab at the lamprey now clinging to his back.

Moruwil feels somewhat cheated of the deserved 'thank-yous-for-saving-my-life's, but he gets over it quickly and, looking over to make sure Frigg's condition is stabilized, he smiles and departs in his own direction. He eyes Malcolm most of the way before he's back within the security of the trees.

Angus, jaded by the bungled journey, spits at a tree trunk. He wipes his nose and mouth with an arm, then crunches off into the forest; his hunched silhouette vanishes among the first long shadows of daybreak.

Amos stays close to the dragons.

Malcolm keeps walking along ahead of Angus, humming a little bit. "So. Where are we going now?" he inquires almost boredly.

Sandy sighs in relief as the mousemaid seemed to be revived from her attempts. The relief wasn't exactly long-lasted though... Reaching for the vial, to her surprise and anger, it's quickly swiped by that damned... LIZARD, that she found annoying from moment one. It seemed that things in her head had boiled over - charging, she lept apon Malcolm, bringing her full weight down on him in an attempt to topple him. Paws on the back of his head, to slam him in the ground. "BLOODY THIEF! GIVE THAT BACK!" she screamed loudly.

"Back t' th' town; facin' our fails," the elder dragon grunts, dejected. "See iffn' Stubb even made it this long." The somber consultation is wrecked by the intrusion of a screeching, grabby wad of hair and angst. "Unhinged toadhips," Angus groans, smacking a palm over his eyes. Without removing the first hand, he fishes for Sandy with the other, hoping to pluck her from his delinquent child.

The badger, lunging his arm awkwardly behind him, manages a fistful of marten fur. He pulls the feisty creature off his back and tosses her aside. "I suggest you go with your friends."

Malcolm moves forward quietly and even when the squirrel jumps on top of him, he stays up. He stumbles a little bit, and almost goes over. And then he just tries to shake her loose. "Get off me, stupid idiot." he grumbles, hissing and aiming his elbow as hard as he can at her ribs.

Also hoping to bring peace to the situation, Amos approaches the badger and is thankfully close enough to catch the marten as she's thrown from the badger's back. He struggles and falls back but a softer landing than she would of likewise gotten, "Hello there."

Sandy growls in a rather violent-sounding manner, wrapping her arms around the male's neck as tight as she could. It was almost like she was having a little episode of the bloodwrath, except she wasn't. She was even somehow managing to resist being thrown off. "GIVE ME THE GOD DAMN VIAL YOU STUPID LIZARD!" she screamed angrily, pressing harder. She was on the warpath, and only one thing was getting her off of it.

"Oh, deary me," Scaith chirps to the air as she is flung, breath lost as her bearings fly free. And into the cat's cradle she goes! Her hefty poundage bears down upon Amos, but the tubby tabby grants her cushion as she flops. "Ahh- y'r no'... my Angus," she manages, paw settling on his chest to hoist her up. "My... kitten, my cat! I've come back."

Malcolm's eyes go wide and he blinks over and over as she wraps around his neck. The lizard takes a step forward and his arms come up to try and grab her arms, putting his full strength into prying her off before he just falls backwards, going to crush her between the ground, and his heavy form. "Legh...go off me!" he manages to get out.

The badger wanders behind the chapel.

Amos doesn't seem to be terribly affected by the weight of the marten on him, oofing but grinning at her, "Nah, but you're welcome just the same and welcome back, " He laughs, his belongings sprawed to either side of him where he dropped them, "Ya okay little missy?"

"Yeah, y'bett'r run!" Scaith shouts at the badger's behind.

The badger's behind has no ears.

"Mally, give th' squirmy squawker her veil," Angus laments, as he continues his futile crack at dislodging the squirrel. "Er' whatever it is't she's so batty for." But he, sizing up the scrimmage, figures neither combatant can commit much damage upon the other, and simply skips from range. "This night," he groans, again rubbing at his face; it burns, both from his recent proximity to a rather hot fire and a budding headache. The lizard breaks sticks and mumbles things as he starts to walk off, cursing the fresh shards of dawn and the birds that trumpet them.

And to Amos, Scaith's eyelashes flutter, as a fly caught in honey. "M'perfect, aside from th' patch o' hair that oaf has stolen!" She indicates a now plucked-bald portion of her scruff.

Sandy goes wide-eyed with surprise as the male starts falling backwords. She quickly lept off him once he fell, administering a rather-hard stomp to the muzzle out of sheer fury, before adding a kick, just for good effect. "Give me back the vial, god damn it." she said... "He tossed it... to ME. Not YOU." she added.

Malcolm rolls off to the side and gets up, staring at her. The lizard feels his pocket and makes sure the vial is actually still in tact, and thankfully, it is. He's slightly hunched, in a fighting position, but when she speaks, he glares at her for a moment before standing straight. He reaches into his pocket slowly and picks out the vial. "This thing?"

The wildcat relaxes, danger of any sort gone for now and everyone safe for the most part except for the racket going on with the squirrel and Malcolm, "Heh, ya'll live and ya still a purty creature as I ever did see, " He laughs, relieved and glad to see the marten.

Sandy glares at the male, trembling in rage. He was lucky she didn't have a cutlass... Apon seeing the vial, she nodded softly. "Give it to me..." she repeated, only to smile. "I'll do anything." she finally added. Maybe a little bribery... After all, that IS how she was able to convince a few of her old slaves to cooperate!

Malcolm arches an eyeridge and thinks a moment and when she says she'll do anything, he instantly changes. "Anything huh!" he thinks for a moment, throwing the vial up and catching it a few times before he finally nods. "Alright! I'm sure we can agree on something." he grins. She's lucky she didn't attack outright. He's a lizard. That has to mean he's good at fighting, RIGHT!? Right? "I want you to stay at the back of the group all the way home, AND be quiet the whole way there too. Deal?" he offers.

Sandy nods again, still smiling. "Anything at all!" she said. She was half-expecting to fall right back to the slavery business with this... But, to her surprise, he just wanted her to stay in the back, and keep quiet. And for the vial? She didn't say anything. Just nodded, and held out a paw, still smiling. Waiting for the vial.

Malcolm nods his head in an agreement. But instead of giving the vial. He just turns and starts walking again. "Catch." he says over his shoulder as he tosses the vial behind him, right in a good spot for her to catch it. His hands stuff themselves into his pockets again and with that, the trip home seems much more enjoyable already.