Homeward We Go Part Two

(Continued from Homeward We Go Part One)

Broadstream River: Northern Bank

Aikuen, as he continues to walk upstream, has slowly drifted toward to the side of Fira. Anytime he can spare it, he smirks at her. Then after awhile he finally says, "Besides the fact we almost got killed several times... i think this trip has turned out quite alright."

Kentar is lagging behind a bit, mostly cause he's thinking to himself and keeping oddly quiet. He's not said one thing since they left and doesn't seem to notice. His tail has slowed him partly too but he doesn't care really, following the group as they go.

Will's ear prick up and he steps behind some trees hoping to have been unseen as a lone eagle flies overhead.

Fira keeps an eye on the bunch of them, has to or she'd miss the random chatter and Aikuen's smirks. She smirks as well at his words though "Oh sure, ignore the bad stuff and everything's rainbows and butterflies...Had it's good points though."

Aikuen laughs, "I like the Rainbow and butterfly parts!" He picks up the pace a little bit, before slowing his gait again, "Those are my favorite" This otter is being a little strange right now. He laughs so more, then he sees Will hide behind a tree, "Er whats going on?"

Kentar almost bumps into Aikuen but looked up just a moment early and halted to a stop, wondering what was going on.

Will points up as the eagle starts it's decent. The rat doubts the bird could carry either of the otters but he's not as sure about the stoat.

Fira can't keep track of them all when they're all a bit spread out so she sees Kentar coming up but takes her a second longer to spot and follow Will's point to the eagle. She grimaces and backs under the trees quickly "Definitely not butterflies" she mutters.

Aikuen looks up and sees the eagle, He squints at it, "Oh wow..." He slowly backs under a tree. though the otters are big enough for the hawk to ignore, He still doesn't like the talons on that monster.

Kentar blinks a few times and looks upward, hrming a bit and not actually seeing the creature. "What are you guys hiding from?" he asks.

Will is having trouble believing this stoat who was scared of an osprey at the Abbey where it's safe is now oblivious to an eagle out in the woods. He's about to motion for the stoat to come over to them when the bird drops down and skims across the water grabbing a fish in it's talons before turning and flying back up over the trees. Will counts the stoat as very lucky and stupid right now.

Fira relaxes her grip on her spear a little as the eagle flies off again "Huh...just fishing I guess?...Well that's spot of luck."

Aikuen when the eagle skims the water, the otter automatically drops to the ground. Seeing as it was just fishing, he breathes with relief, and stands back up, dusting himself off. He looks to all, "That was close...Lucky indeed..." He glances at the sky, not seeing the hawk anymore, he walks out of the cover of the trees.

Kentar looks around and still sees nothing. "What!? What was lucky? What was there?" he asks.

Will's not quite used to this whole group thing. Somethings are just easier when you only have to worry about your own hide and not anyone else's. The rat is the last to leave the safety of the trees, he doesn't answer the stoat.

Fira scans the sky but since the eagle has a fish she assumes it won't be back. She shakes her head to Kentar "Big eagle, just swooped down and grabbed a fish out of the river."

Aikuen just stands there, continuing to scan the sky for any more eagle or birds.

Kentar ohs. "Oh..." he scans the sky before shrugging. "Well, its gone now I guess."

Will's ears are swiveling about non-stop and his eye scans the area often as he falls back into old habits now. The buzzing of insects along the edge of the river catches his attention. It's been a while and he's slower than he once was but that can be remedied in time. Snap! The dragonfly didn't see it coming and the rat quite pleased with himself.

Fira leans against her spear "Does look like it. It'll be busy eating fish by now. Better we get moving again before it finishes."

Kentar nods. "I agree" he says with a mutter. "We should get moving now" he starts to walk again.

Aikuen nods to Fira, but his attention is drawn too Will... ew, well its food I guess. He starts to walk upshore again, tapping Will on the shoulder, "Come on mate, there are more bugs where that came from."

Will stands back up nodding in agreement and still happily munching on the dragonfly.

Aikuen tilts his head, "er... i know a few... Have you heard 'River Driver', its from where i was born" He continues to walk forward, not grossed out at all, in the bug munching.

Will finishes the last of the dragonfly and swallows. "How's it go?" he asks the otter having not heard of the song before.

Kentar looks to Aik, not able to bring himself to even think of Will at the moment.

Fira is confused by Kentar's ewing but doesn't ask. She tilts her head faintly to the mention of a song, attention going back to Aikuen with some curiosity.

Will's attention is divided between focusing on his surroundings, the group and the remaining insects at the river's edge.

Aikuen frowns some. Nobody stopped him from doing the song... and no one else suggested anything so he tells the basics of the song, "Er... well its an old otter song, that they used to keep rower's in time." He begins snapping his claw every time his right footpaw landed on the ground. Its slow, and after a few second of showing the time, he stops and asks, "Are you sure you want to hear this?" He doesn't mind, but still.

"Don't matter t me. You rather we try 'Home Returning' or something instead?" Will says watching the bugs at the shoreline very closely.

Fira smirks faintly "Just go ahead and sing whatever you like" not only is she biased but she's safe in the knowledge that even if it's terrible she's not going to hear it.

Aikuen nudges Kentar, "Then im going to sing a few bars, just for you mate!" He clears his throat, and hums a few bars of the song. His singing voice is baritone and growl sounding, "I was just the age of 8, when i first when on the drive. After 6 months hard labor, at home i did arrive. I courted with a pretty girl" He stops and winks at Fira, then continues, "t'was her caused me to roam. Now I'm just a river driver, and I'm far away from home." He stops and looks at the others, seeing what they think.

Kentar blinks. "What have I done?" he mumbles to himself. He thinks of covering his ears when the otter starts to sing, but figures it would be too rude. He sticks it out and doesn't bother to smile when Aik stops to look at the others.

Snap! Snap! Splash! The ratling pulls himself out of the river quickly with a large dragonfly in his paws, it's head already eaten. It's too large for him to fit it all in his mouth at once like the last one so he holds it in his paws and chews on it as they walk. His ears lay back at his pa's attempt at singing though he likes the song's lyrics well enough.

Fira snerks at the wink, clearly amused. She only gets the lyrics so she's perfectly happy. She glances to the other two briefly, Kentar doesn't look happy and Will, well apparently didn't like it either and has taken to eating bugs, at least that'll save on the supplies...She slowly looks back to Aikuen again with a small smirk "Well I liked it"

Kentar's ears flick as he turns, the stoat turning green as he slowly stops his walking. "Ergh...uh...The combo of the dragonfly and the song is making me sick...I'll...uh hang back a bit" he nods.

Aikuen crosses his arms and scoffs, "Well... Least someone liked it." He glares at Kentar, "Yes I know I sing bad... don't vomit because of it..." He is concerned, just not at the moment.

Will is confused, what's wrong with Kentar? The rat knew Aikuen didn't care to eat bugs and Kentar didn't seem to like the idea either but .... Aikuen never acted like Kentar is now. He starts to ask what's wrong but finds it hard to do with his mouth so full, he'll have to finish eating before he can ask.

Fira doesn't find it particularly pleasant herself but it's probably easier for her to ignore, all she has to do is look away and it may as well not be there. She watches Kentar for a moment "Sit down, have a drink and think of other things."

Kentar looks over and uhs. "No, no, I'm fine" he says, walking his normal speed again. "So...is there more or are we spared?" he grins.

Aikuen grunts, "Yes, in fact there is twenty more verses..." He waves a paw, "But obviously no one is a fan of my singing... so im just gonna remain quiet." He grunts again, and follows along.

Kentar laughs and goes to give the otter a slap on the back. "Go on mate, its better then any song I know" he laughs.

Will is glad Kentar is feeling better now but having put two and two together the rat scoffs down the rest of the dragonfly as quick as he can without choking himself. He also makes a mental note not to eat bugs around Kentar in the future, if he can help it.

Aikuen shakes his head, "No, No! Dont mock me... I know I sing bad... don't beat around the bush..." He grunts and drinks from his canteen.

Kentar sighs some. "You sing better then me. I never been able to sing very well" he says. Or so he thought anyways. "Come on, go on" he nods.

Will pips up, "It wasn't /that/ bad just kinda loud. Come on, we want you to sing again." All traces of the dragonfly are now gone.

Aikuen shrugs, "Fine I'll sing the next four verses... Because I like 'em... Then I'm gonna close my mouth, and any of you can sing whatever." He clears his throat again and begins to sing the next part, in a lower tone "I'll eat when I am hungry and I'll drink when I am dry. Get drunk whenever I'm ready, get sober by and by. And if this river don't drown me, it's down I'll mean to roam. For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home." When he finishes, he makes a motion over his mouth, and remains quiet.

Kentar listens and did his best to remain quiet as the otter sang. "Come on, wasn't that bad" he smiles. "You don't need to be totally quiet" he laughs.

Aikuen bobs his head, still keeping his mouth tightly shut. He is smiling though.

Kentar grins. "Why are you not talking, eh?" he asks. "Maybe a cat got your tongue?" he laughs.

Aikuen laughs a little. Its getting harder to keep it shut, so he frowns. And shakes his head.

Kentar grins. "Don't make me get Will to get some more dragonflies...sure there's enough for you too"

Aikuen has too say something about that, and he blurts out "I don't mind them... I just prefer a biscuit, to bugs any day... oh nuts..." He grunts as he realized that he spoke. The otter sticks out a tongue at the stoat.

Kentar Grins widely and evilly. "I'm a stoat, matey. You can't out wit the witty me" he laughs, grinning. "Now...I say since we had to put up with your singing, you should put up with a song sang by me or Will" he nods.

Aikuen waves a paw in front of him, "Thats fine by me, after the first verse, i knew you couldn't stand it!" He grunts, "Well, belt it out! I'm ready..." He covers his ears with his paws.

Kentar frowns and goes to slap the otter's paws away from his ears, laughing. "Come on mate, I may not be able to sing well but you gotta put up with it just as much as we did yours!"

Aikuen places his paws behind him, "Alright matey... im listening" He makes a half hearted attempt to be good and listen.

Will waits for Kentar to start singing though a bit miffed the others disaprove of his eating bugs.

Kentar takes a deep breath and thinks. "Well...its been ages since I've sang anything but uh...I'll give it a try" he nods slowly. "One dark an' stormy night, as the sun set in the east, to granna's house I went to partake of a feast, with frogs and fat hedgehogs. Some otters an' a sparrow, an a squirrel who attended too, armed with a bow an' arrow" he starts, his voice carrying well. Despite his claims, he's a fairly okay singer.

Aikuen is surprised at Kentars voice talents, and pats him on the shoulder, "You said you couldn't sing... that sounds great so far matey" He places his paws behind again, to listen for more.

Kentar can't help but to chuckle a bit. "The seedcake had been served, when a dormouse in a bonnet took one bite, oh what a sight, she broke her teeth upon it" he sings on. "Then backward fell a mole, tail first into the custard. 'Ole Granpa grabbed his spoon, lookin' quite disgusted. He hit the mole a smack, then light a flash of lightnin', An otter smacked him with' a flan, that started off the fightin'.'"

Aikuen laughs as he imagines what it would look like. He make sure, that as he drift in and out of his imagination, that he doesn't fall in the river or something.

Kentar grins and draws his rapier starting to fence the air. "Annnnnnn!" he stars. "We fenced with celery sticks, with pies an' puddens' pelted. The squirrel with a bow, by a pot of soup got belted...A sparrow flung a scone, laid the otter senseless. Then Granma' swung her pan and left us all defenseless" he throws his rapier a few feet in front of them.

Aikuen watches the sword being tossed. He chuckles, as he starts to act out parts in the song. He smiles, "This is a hilarious song..."

Kentar grins. "not done yet mate" he nods. "Two frogs sailed out the door..." he dives forward and lands on the ground. "...A hedgehog up the chimney..." he jumps up. "Whiles me an ole Granpa', to the mantelpiece hung grimly. So hark an' hear me tail' stay safe at home an' starve sir! Steer clear of Granma's house, When there's goin' t'be a feast there!"

Aikuen doesn't want to clap if its not done yet. He looks there, trying to hold it in. He looks like he is getting ready to be attacked at any moment.

Kentar grins and chuckles. "I'm done" he nods.

Will smiles listening to the silly song.

Clapping just explodes the air, as Aikuen pounds his paws together. He says, "That was Excellent matey! Never heard that one before! Did you make it? Either way is was great!" He pounds Kentars back.

Kentar laughs and shakes his head, owing a bit when his back is pounded. "No actually. Remember those hares that captured me? I uh...heard it from them" He nods.

Aikuen snorts and nods, "Aye, well that makes sense. That's all they ever sing about, scoffing and fighting!" He taps will on the shoulder, "What did you think of the song?"

Kentar picks up his rapier and sheathes it on his belt, looking to Will with a bit of a smile.

Will wishes they'd all quit staring at him. "Um ... it was a nice silly song," he says at last trying to smile back at the stoat though the mention of the hares had tainted the song, in the rat's mind.

Aikuen chuckles, "Yes it was a silly song! I like the part with the otter and the flan..." course he'd like anything with otters in it, "... Heh..." He looks back to Fira, who has sort of lagged behind a bit. He tilts his head, and walks next to Kentar. A bit of a smile on his face.

Kentar laughs. "You would, yole' water dog" he smirks. "So...What do you think o'me voice? Personally, I don't think I can sing all that well.

Aikuen shrugs, and says with an old beast voice, "Well you could have been better on the higher notes young'un. And your lower notes could use a little work. And your middle voice, well don't get me started on that!" He snorts and laughs out loud again, "Well your not the greatest, but by all means, you have the greatest singing voice of all of us!"

Kentar chuckles and nods some. "I could sing something else now" he chuckles a bit, thinking.

Aikuen shrugs, "If yah want too mate... Me personally, i prefer the peace and quite of the stream. Sing to your hearts content... and if i cant stand it anymore, ill just sing also... That'll make things real quiet." He chuckles.

Will grins, "But we like your singing so how'd that make it quiet?"

Kentar nods and chuckles. "Thank you" he nods before starting to walk along again, laughing at Will's comment.

Aikuen frowns as his plan was foiled, but he cant help but laugh at it, "Haha, real funny" He stick out his tongue again, and slowly follows along.