How Not To Let Sleeping Otters Lie

Characters: Aikuen, Amy, Will, Skuld, Kentar

Location: Moledeep

Moledeep

It's a nice cool afternoon. And the two older otters are outside... sleeping. Aikuen and Fira are near one of the trees, the one with the platform, curled up together, in each others arms. Aikuen had slept outside, and she joined him. Why not? She likes the outdoors as much as he does. Aikuen lightly snores, resting his forehead against her, his paw on her side. Fira smirks in her sleep as she slowly breathes in and out, a paw on his hip.

Amethyst had been spending much of the day in the rose garden but now comes out into the main garden unaware of the otters. A warm shawl is draped around her due to the coolness of the weather. She stops near the shed and goes about tuning her lute, snoring otters are of little concern to her.

William is also outside of course but presently out of earshot, at the kiln, otherwise he might have said something to Amy about playing her lute around sleeping otters.

For those who can see her, a cat appears at the end of the garden nearest the entrance. She makes no moves to greet or actively alert anyone to her presence but simply stands there, not at all hidden. Her ears twitch, and that one good eye roves, watching the beasts around curiously, though her muzzle has neither a smile nor a frown.

Aikuen is the only that can really hear the lute. Duh. But over the past season or so, he has come to ignore the lute playing. A trick that he was glad to learn. He likes the quiet. He snorts in his sleep as he pulls, and nuzzles Fira closer. Before going back to snoring quietly. Unaware of the cat. Or the other rat, for that matter.

Amethyst is not yet aware of the cat and continues to play knowing full well that unless the sleeper is Fira they are bound to be able to hear her sooner or later. Just to vex the otter, so she assumes the sleeping beast to be, she beings to sing as well, "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. ..."

The cat's ears perk at the song, and she stands there, eye finding the singing rat now, and staying there for the moment. She listens curiously to the song, and finds herself fidgeting with the rattling pouch she wears, dipping a paw. Remembering the rule, though, she doesn't take anything out of it.

Aikuen frowns slightly, as Amy did wake him up. He grumpily groans as he places a claw in his ear. The one exposed to the air. He continues to frown as it didn't do much, but it makes him feel better. All he wants, is too sleep outside with his love. So much for that.

Amethyst smiles, as if aware of the otter's discomfort, then her head turns to face the cat. "Someone there?" she asks when the song ends and another begins. The smile remains.

William comes up the path from the kiln. He has a few hours to kill while his latest project's in the kiln so why not see what Amy's up to? He scowls at her a little once he's in ear shot, "Otters are sleeping, Amy." the he notices Skuld and the scowls is replaced by a unsure smile. "Hello again," he says to the cat then addresses Amy again, "Skuld's here. I told you about her remember?"

"There is." Skuld replies. And then William's here, and talking. His unsure smile is matched by a similar one from the cat, though the twitch upwards is mostly only to one side. Her paw retreats from her pouch, and reluctantly drops the little piece of wood it had found back before it's fully out. "Hello William." Then her eye wanders back to the other rat. "Hello Amy." It's a difficult tone to place.

OH GREAT! The signing has been replaced by voices... What a minute... Voices? Multiple? Aikuen blinks as he removes the claw slightly from his ear, so he can hear better. Ah, so it's Will... and... HOLY.... Skuld. He remains silent as he eavesdrops, though that might not last long.

Amethyst does remember hearing about the cat and her face briefly shows fear in knowing a cat is so near, partly since she can't judge other beasts reactions and mask her emotions as well as other beasts. It's only for a moment or two that her fear takes over her and then she's in control again. "I remember hearing something about a fortune teller, yes." she says casually still playing without interruption all the while.

"Fortune teller, of a sort. But... Not here. It's one of your rules..." Skuld pipes up, carefully. She's still watching Amy, and her ears are twitching with the lute. Whether she's enjoying it or dislikes it can't really be told, though; her expression remains somewhat smug, but curious.

William just watches for now. Things aren't going too badly yet and the otters seem to still be asleep, mostly. "It's good t see you again, Skuld." he says sitting down on the grass.

Aikuen puts his paw back on Fira's side, and tries to go back to sleep. Even though he wont. Doesn't mean he will ruin hers as well. He nuzzles her softly, before trying to drift again. He clears his throat, but other then that he looks like he is asleep.

Amethyst hmms and asks the cat, "And what /sort/ of fortune teller are you?"

The cat looks over when the otter clears his throat, but the rats are interesting enough. She twitches her whiskers, and stares at William a little oddly when he says that, as though she's sure he's just made a joke that she didn't get. Her attention snaps back at the question, though. "I say what I'm told by the runes."

William continues to sit on the grass not saying anything at the moment. The cool weather doesn't seem to bother him.

Amethyst nods, "I see." She again tunes her lute and asks, "Any requests?"

Skuld seems to be thinking for a while, or maybe she's just staring. She's quiet for a long while, before, finally asking "Would you know the song, 'Blow, Northern Wind? It's old, so I would not be surprised if not. But it is music that would suit your instrument." Oddly, her eye shifts to Will after asking the question, though, perhaps that's because she's aware that Amy wouldn't see it.

William isn't sure why Skuld is looking at him and he looks back, "Do you want to say something?" he asks puzzled.

Amethyst plinks at her lute a bit idlely and thinks it over, "Hmm ... I think I've heard one called that before. let's see if I can remember it right," she starts over and picks out the tune, nodding as the words start to come to her, "Blow, northerne wind Send thou me my sweting Blow, northerne wind Blow, blow, blow! ..." When the song is through her lute falls silent and she asks, "Was that the right one or did I remember it wrong?

Skuld shakes her head at Will, then looks, even with one eye, clearly surprised for a few moments. "That is the song... I didn't think you'd know that one." She admits, staring more thoughtfully at the ratmaid now. "I remember having it sung to me, and being told it was an old song..."

Amethyst chuckles and nods, "It /is/ an old one. Haven't played it in a /long/ while. Almost thought I'd forgotten it there for a bit but I still remember th words."

William thinks this is going quite well and takes the opportunity to head back to the kiln for a while. "I need t check on things in th kiln. Don't want t have somethin shatter and make a mess. ... Amy, rules apply same as always." he says before standing up and going back down the path and out of sight around the bend.

Skuld watches Will go, then regards Amy. "Thankyou. For the song." She starts to rummage in her pouch again. "I read these for you the other day- before it was against the rules, here. William mentioned your name. A name is all I need to read them. Hold out your paw, please?" She asks, something clutched in her right paw, that she's taken from the pouch.

Amethyst sets her lute down and holds out her right paw, she's not he sort to cross a fortune teller.

Skuld drops a small stiff circle, woven of dried grass, and threaded all through the edge with little black, fluff feathers; you'd find these on a black bird, but they're the fluff for warmth rather than the stiff, large flight feathers. The circle's a little too small for a bracelet. The cat drops it into her paw without explanation. "It was nice to meet you."

Aikuen, once the cat is away decides to 'awake' and see what the happy haps is. He nuzzles Fira one more time, and rubs her side, before yawing loudly and looking up, "Heh... seems like ole Skuld found the place..." he chuckles. Last time he met the cat, was the day he proposed to Fira.

Amethyst tucks the gift away and says, "Thank you," but the cat is gone already, not that she'd know that. She turns her head back around when the otter stirs and smirks, "Have a nice sleep, Aik?" she asks then nods, "She's been here twice now, shame you keep missing it."

Aikuen still does not get up, still risky to wake his wife, "Aye... it was pretty good. Better than I had in a long time..." he then looks off to where he thinks the cat might have gone, "Ah, it's okay. Me and Skuld don't really have a good history... only recently has she become tolerable..." he shrugs.

Amethyst hmms, "Did you try to kill her too? I imagine I've become /tolerable/ as well by now." She doesn't expect an answer and goes to tuning her tune once more.

Aikuen hrms and shrugs a little bit, "Not really... she almost got me kicked out of the abbey..." he then smiles and chuckles. He is going to answer. Cause he is Aik "I don't know... Over the past few weeks you have become... quite pleasant really. The only thing now is to let sleeping otters lie... and you would be just fine and dandy." he snorts and laughs.

Amethyst says, "It's not my fault you choose a poor place to sleep."

Aikuen shrugs again, "I like sleeping outside... and this is my tree... Besides, it might be awhile until I get to ... once winter comes... I don't like the winter... Comes from living in a very warm climate for most of my life..." he sighs, "Besides what are you doing hanging around here anyway? I thought you liked the rose garden?" And this is pretty far from that.

Amethyst smiles, "It's your tree? Are you a squirrel now? Yes winter is coming and since you have some sense there should be many nice fires to sit by soon."

Aikuen looks up and spies the platform he built up in it, "Aye, my tree. Just because I'm a otter doesn't mean I can't have trees to call my own... And yes... I already got a nice warm brown habit that I...*ahem*... 'borrowed' from the abbey..." he chuckles, "Which reminds me... need to starts collecting more wood for this winter... thanks for reminding me..."

Amethyst says, "Welcome. If we're lucky it'll just be a normal winter and not a bad one. But either way the sooner it's over the better."

Aikuen nods a bit, "Last winter was okay.... Though it was my first 'winter' I'd never seen snow before then... BUT IT WAS COLD" he chuckles, "Aye the sooner the better... wish is was summer again... I like the summer..." going fishing weather.

Amethyst nods, "It would be very nice if we could skip winter but doesn't seem likely. We'll need a lot of wood. Enough for cooking with, for the main fireplace and my fireplace. I don't think there are anymore fireplaces but I doubt they'd be used as much unless they were in your room or the stoats' room."

Aikuen shakes his head, "Nah... the guest rooms don't have much at all but a bed... And even then..." he shrugs, "But I think one good size evergreen should be enough for the entire winter. For everything." he never did take account the rats fireplace. Didn't think it would be needed.

Amethyst plucks at her lute, yes she's picked that thing up again, "Hope so. Wouldn't hurt to have a little extra on paw though."

Aikuen tilts his head, "A full evergreen... not enough?" he blinks a few times and shrugs, "Well if push comes to shove... we can always go out and get more... It's not like... it's scarce around here..." he chuckles, because they are in a forest. Aik looks to the lute and eyes it for a minute, before laying his head back into the dead grass.

Amethyst shrugs, "It should be enough. And we'll need kindling but that's easy to get right now. We'll want t keep a shovel by th door for those that want to go outside to clear a path with. .... I may be forgetting something but it's just the usual things."

Aikuen shrugs in the grass, "I have no idea anymore than you do... The shovel is a good idea though... with the snow..." he is not looking forward to the snow, "Well have to ask the others... for what else..." he hrms and yawns a bit.

"Ask the others what!?" Comes a voice. It's Kentar. The stoat smiles some and waves to the two as he moves over towards them. "You can ask me now!" he grins.

Amethyst nods, "I've been though a few winters I just can't remember all the things right now." She puts her lute down again and pulls her shawl closer around herself, it's getting colder out. "I'm heading in," the maid says pushing away from the shed and turning toward the entrance. She waves a little at Kentar as she passes him, "He wants to know what we'll need on paw to be ready for when winter comes. .... and don't say snow forts." With these parting words the maid goes into the tunnel.

Aikuen waves a bit to Amy, "See yah Amy..." he yawns as he was just about to resettle against his wife... When low and behold. A stoat comes to wreck the day. The otter just can't catch a break now cant' he, "Heyo... Kentar..." he says all the same.

"Heyo, Aik-o!" he smiles before waving at Amy. "Bye Amy" Kentar chuckles before plopping down near Aik. "Oh, really? No. No snow forts. Er. Snowballs, yes. Lots of em!" he grins. He's in an good mood.

Aikuen shakes his head, "No snow... none at all... I am not looking forward to Winter... if you throw a snowball at me... I swear..." he points a claw at Kentar, before chuckling.

Kentar grins and makes a mental note to fire snowballs at Aik all winter long. "Haha! I wont, I promise!" He grins. "So Aik!" he smiles. "How are you!?!"

Aikuen blinks at Kentar, "You're just a barrel of sunshine today... aren't yah..." he would be too... if some beasts would leave the otters to sleep. He shrugs, "I'm fine... Trying to spend as much as I can outside before too long..."

Kentar nods and smiles. "I am! I am! I talked to Garnet today!" he laughs. "Of course I'm in a good mood." he nods before laying back on the grass, not going anywhere any time soon.

Aikuen eyes him, "Glad that you are talking to the wife then..." he snorts. He knows the stoat isn't going anywhere soon. Maybe a little strategy is required. He flips on his side toward Fira, placing his forehead on hers.

Kentar chuckles and nods. "And I have good news for you." he says with a slow nod, not seeing Aik turn away. He just wont pay attention.

Aikuen says very simply as he places a paw on her side, "Oh aye?..." he yawns again.

Kentar eyes the sky for a few moments. "I won't take the kill program." he says. "We'll find something different." he nods. "Figured you'd want to know." he nods.

Aikuen was not expecting that. Not after all the fuss Kentar put in it yesterday, "What? Really? Well... What changed your mind... I mean... I'm glad... just curious..."

Kentar sighs slightly. "Garnet did." he says. "And also suggested we do, instead of the full thing, just something similar. That. You know. Wont kill me."

Aikuen snorts, "Kinda expecting that... Wives have that effect.." though he blinks at the next part, "Something different?... Well... there is nothing different... you can do less, much less... but it wont be the same..." he still thinks that he should just skip the whole thing all together.

Kentar hrms a little bit. "I'll figure something out." he nods. "I'll put together something." he nods again. "So Aik. What are you up to this evening!?" its almost as if he's TRYING to annoy his friend.

Aikuen nods, "Well.. keep me informed on that... I would like to know..." and its working, "Walking around with my wife..." like last night. Maybe these short and sweet answers will bore the stoat.

Kentar nods. "I will!" he smiles, then chuckles. "Sounds nice!" he hrms. "I should do that with Garnet sometime!"

Aikuen cant handle all this energy, "It is nice... and you should. Its good for you. Enjoy the outdoors... Step on a leaf. Brush through the bush... and... so forth..." just not during the otters time.

Kentar tries hard not to laugh. "I think I'm going to grab a little nap." he stands up. And makes like he's about to leave but instead sits closer to Aik. He lays down and closes his eyes and after a few moments, he starts to snore loudly. All fake, of course.

Aikuen's hopes and dreams were about to come to fruition.... NUTS! He grumbles a little bit as he elbows the stoat, "You take a nap then..." he then reaches for a leaf and place it on his nose, "And stop snoring or I will hunt you..." he eyes him.

Kentar snorts once and almost laughs, but just keeps snoring, rolling over towards Aik and trying to give him a big hug. All in his sleep of course.

Aikuen could really do some serious damage to the stoat. He would be out, and Aik would be happy. Must resist. When the stoat hugs him, he ergs and bops him again with his elbow, "Geroff! Dont make me hurt you..."

Kentar snorts and gurgles a little like a little kid, trying to grab Aik and bite him! Just like Venei or Ella but that just makes him burst into laughter.

Aikuen just shakes his head, and was about the twists the stoats nose at the almost bite. But he didn't "You do that... and I will put you in time out... and no dessert for you..." he chuckles.

Kentar laughs, smirking and laughing more. "Aww! But paaaaaaa!" he frowns. "PWEEEESE!?" he makes big stoaty eyes at the otter, his lower lip quivering.

Aikuen snorts and points a claw back at him, "But son... you know better than to bite beasts... you grew out of that seasons ago... haven't we taught you anything..." he chuckles.

Kentar stares at Aik's claw then lunges out to try and bite it! "But my sisters do it!"

Aikuen quickly withdraws it and shakes his head, "Yes... but they don't know any better... you do... And in time, they must stop as well... why don't you teach them how... eh? Be a big brother to them! OF curse, when they are old enough..." he chuckles.

Kentar awws and nods. "But daaaaaaaaaaaaaad." he frowns. He looks around before flopping over and snoring loudly again.

Aikuen just shakes his head, "You are such and idiot... you do know that right?" he shoves Kentar, try and roll him on his face, "Snore to the ground..." he laughs.

Kentar laughs a little bit and rolls on his face, snoring into the dirt before sitting up. "I'm the idiot? Your the one that adopted Will!" he laughs.

Aikuen rolls his eyes, "Aye... but he is your brother... so... there yah go..." he chuckles.

Kentar laughs and nods. "Yeah, I suppose. He's our little idiot." he laughs.

Aikuen nods and chuckles, "At least according to Amy... Calls him an idiot a lot... Though i think he deserves it..." he chuckles, "But he is ours... "

Kentar laughs a little and nods slowly. "Yeah. Sometimes, he's an idiot. Sometimes, he's not." He smirks. "Anyways. I'll see you later, Aik." he stands up.

Could it be true?! Could his dreams finally be fulfilled?! WELL HE FINALLY GET THE PEACE!?!?, "Ummm... See yah Kentar..." he blinks and smiles. It might be true!

Kentar grins. He vanishes for a few seconds but then, when Aik isn't looking, tries to creep up near him, trying hard not to give away that he's here.

Aikuen smiles as he leaves. He curls up to next to Fira. Sort of snuggling up next to her. His ears do catch something, but it was so meningeal, that Aik just ignores it.

Kentar grins and super quietly lays down near Aik, but on his blind side. He closes his eyes and after a few seconds, starts to snore loudly. Again.

Aikuen was just about to go to sleep. Nice and cozy... when.... Aikuen grits and elbows the stoat harder than normal in the side, "Don't sneak up on me... you'll lose a head that way..." he grunts and ignores the stoat.

Kentar oofs and starts to laugh nice and loud before standing and brushing himself off. "Sorry Aik, I couldn't help it!" he laughs before starting to go off again, this time for real. "Heh. I'll see you later Aik." he says as he vanishes.

Aikuen just shakes his head as Kentar leaves, for a second time. After a bit he finally is able to get nice and cozy, and was just about to drift off.. when... Fira yawns and blinks awake smiling, and kissing Aik. Aik just blinks at her, and slaps himself mentally. He... was so... close...

Groups:

• Moledeep