From the Trees - Hookclaw and Hactor

Continued from “From the Trees”

Hookclaw looks at the fox and tilts his head "I am Hookclaw,..I fly where I please" his voice is deep as he watches him. "I do as please."He clicks his beck and tilts his head at the two before him, studying them closely.

Stubb steels himself to look up at the mighty raptor, doing his best to hold his voice steady. "An where moigh' you be from, Hookclaw? Wha' brings you to tha northern lands?"

Hactor is impressed by the bird of prey, but not frightened. He tilta his head in return and apon hearing Stubb's enquiery listens for Hookclaw's reply.

Hookclaw watches them "I come to mossflower to look around, hunt some prey..." He looks at them "From the great North lands, may return..but have..unfinished bussiness in mossflower, my..-guest- should not be left too long"

Stubb keeps his distance. "Prey? If yore' lookin' for prey wha' don' foigh' back, dere's an Abbey full a dem no' far from 'ere." He glances quickly at Hactor. "Though' oi wou'dn' stay too long. Jes' for a snack."

Hactor grunts and mumbles to himself, "Prey." He then looks to Stubb for a moment thinking on the abbey. Yes an Abbey full of woodlanders. Resoursefull, strong woodlanders! The fox would never show his face there again, that was for sure. He then looks to the owl and asks, "You say you have a guest? If your a stranger to a land, wouldn't that make /you/ the guest?" He leaned heavily on his cruch as he spoke, watching the owl's features closley.

Hookclaw watches the fox, "Captive..guest..what ever they are in MY nest" he says deeply, he looks at Stubb and back to the fox "This abbey sounds most..intresting prehaps I shall...look within it, but what be beast of your kind be wandering about for?"

Stubb glances at the sky again, shifting.

Hactor seeing that Stubb in still nervous replies, "We were resquing Dangeon the hare from the black fox Anba_Hor. No doubt you could smell the whiskey on her a mile away." He decides not to guve all the messy details.

Hookclaw listens as they talk and nods "Well fox the color of night be hard to see at night, but yes my smell be keen..." he seems slightly intrested in the fact its a hare but other wise pays the fact no mind, it not be the one he seeks out.

Stubb nods. "Now we seek anuvver. A young dragon, shou'd be close to here, if our... source was reloiable." He looks at Hactor.

Hactor cocks an eyebrow at Stubb. This was news to him. Frankly he was surprised Angus hadn't rung his mangy neck over this. It didn't quite surprise him Stubb had been spared the dragon's wrath. He then looks back to Hookclaw and gives a slight nod in agreement.

Hookclaw is curious of this and nods "If I spot such a thing from the sky I can relay info to you."

Stubb turns away from the owl and puts a paw on Hactor's shoulder while leaning in to offer some private words. "Keep 'im 'ere for a few, ma'e. See if you can get any more out a him, bou' tha fox... bou' tha squirrelking. Oi'll be back in a momen'." He offers to Hookclaw a bow as he steps back toward the rest of the group.

Hactor nods after Stubb, then turns back to Hookclaw. He asks solemnly, "I don't suppose you've spotted the Black one, carrying a squirrel?" Truth be told he hoped the squirrelking was dead. That pompous fool had proven to be more trouble than he was worth.

Hookclaw shakes his head "Only thing I be seeing was a lone small hare....no black furred fox or squirrels, but if do see to you will relay the message to."

Hactor nods. Although on the outside he appeared grim and tired, inside he was jumping for joy. This was excellent! A large owl that could move as quietly as the wind and swoop from out of nowhere. It was too delicious. The old warlord nodds slightly and contiunes, "Ah well. If you do see the fox, feel free to eat him. You'de be doing the world a service. As for the squirrel though, if he's alive we need him that way."

Hookclaw would frown if he could, but "Bring the squirrl alive..as you say." he states calmly as he watches the fox.

Hactor nods slightly then is silent. He checks over his shoulder to see if anyone ellse is listening. After he is satisfied he leans in slightly and asks, "Share some gossip with an ol' beggar. Who's the unlucky beast to cross you tallons?"

Hookclaw tilts his head at the fox, and nods "Just a hare...smallish hare, but that be not ya concern fox"

Hactor raises a paw chuckeling, "Not ta worry young fellar. I just wanten ta hear some gossip from across the wood. You don't mind keeping an old fool as meself compny for awhile?" He then added quickly with a slight bow, "It is said owls are wise in the ways of the world."

Hookclaw tilts his head at the fox and nods "I can stay for a short time, then other bussiness to atend to...but will keep an eye out for the black as night fox and his squirrel and report back to you on where abouts."

Hactor nods once again. He sayes, "As I said earlier, it's been ages since I've seen an owl. You are obviously powerfull!" A little flaterry never hurt. But then the fox adds warningly, "If I were you I'de avoid that Abbey. They may seem peacefull at first but aponn poravoction...Well look at me!"

Hookclaw looks the fox up and down and nods "If I go near said wall would be carefull, I seek none there...those I seek live in the woods I do believe."

"That's good," continues the fox. "Best keep thing in the natural order and hunt in the wood were we belong." He was hoping Stubb hurry back. The fox hadn't had small talk in what seemed like weeks, and wasn't use to it.

Hookclaw watches the fox, "Yes the woods...prehaps shall...eat the hare, prehaps not"

Hactor was getting slightly nervous around this large raptor, and sorley wish he hadn't lost his sword when Anba kidnapped him. He nods slowley and sayes, "Ah ..aye. What erm, exactley did this hare do? If'n ya don't mind me asking?"

Hookclaw listens as he speaks "Hare not do much...just be snack possible,..seek another who be getting on nerves, but young one may still be...ate as must eat if not find....other prey"

'Figures," thought Hactor in his head. An owl would kill someone over slight iritation. But he nods simpatheticaly and sayes, "Ah. Well the best of luck to ya then."

Hookclaw spreads his wings out as he nods "Yes prehaps we talk again soon then, I must go feed and I know where some shrews hang out....shrews are.good meat" he nods and steps back a few feet and flaps his wings and is off into the skys to find said..food.

Hactor has left. Continued here.