Jinora's First Kill

Characters Involved:

Jinora, a female hare

Vannon, a male fox

4 Pirates, spoofed by Vannon

Halyard Village: Eastern Alleyway

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Halyard Village ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It is hardly even fair to describe this as an alley. It's hardly wide enough

for a single creature to pass through. It almost appears that the creation

of this alleyway was more that the two buildings that butt up against each

other here have settled apart over the course of the seasons. The ground is

dirty and sandy, and quite uneven. Best to watch your footing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jinora is dutiful, and has returned to the village to continue the search for the missing recruit, Celina, as well as the ruffians from the tavern incident. She's finally secured herself a new pair of glasses and the swelling in her muzzle has gone down, though the discoloration remains as impressive as ever. She is paired with another recruit, a taller buck who does /not/ look as interested as she does in the goings ons - she has a job to do and by jove she will give it 100% no matter how boring or pointless! The young hare stands, proud and vigilant, in her Long Patrol uniform, trying and failing to make idle chit-chat with her partner for the night.

Vannon is also engaged in a chat...with himself. The young fox is pacing back and forth infront of an alley way, his right paw weighed down with a limp. "Hey...Rioko...mind if I call you Rio? I saw this flower and thought it was pretty and..." the fox pauses and sighs plucking a pedle from the sun flower in paw. "Ah blazes...Im doomed..."

The grey fox catches sight of a pair of rats staring at him as they walk by. "What are you lookin at?" he growls, causing both rats to hasten their departure to a dwindling sunset to the west. After market hours the streets are almost barren...

The two continue their patrol, passing by the alleyway that Vannon is currently...going insane in? Jinora's breath catches and she hastens past the mouth of the alley before roughly elbowing the recruit accompanying her. "Luke! Tha' was the one Ava shot in the arse!" She hisses, nodding over her shoulder towards the alley, where the ambient tones of Vannon's romantic ramblings can still be heard. Luke grimaces, looking over his shoulder to follow her gaze. "Well? Waddya s'pose we do, wot? Arrest 'im n' drag 'im back te the Mountain ourselves?" Jinora rolls her eyes. "They 'ave a keep /in/ Halyard, mate. We detain 'im an' then alert a superior. They cin question 'im te find ou' where that /scum/ wi' the hook is hiding." She growls, still not over that whole 'hostage' thing. Luke nods, and the two approach the alley, drawing their weapons - both carrying sabers.

The fox's ears twitch to the tell tell sound of metal being drawn from a sheath. Slowly he turns his head around to face the hares.

Admittedly Vannon didn't get much chance to aqaint himself to the beasts in the tavern, but he reconizes trouble when he sees it. "N-now now fella's...what ever it is you think I did I assure you I didn't do it. That warehouse started that fight! It asked to be burned down and...wait." The fox stops to rub his chin, "Wait, no...wrong cover story. Sorry. I mean...ah cheese it." The fox tosses the sun flower towards the hares before turning to...limp away from the approaching hares down the alley to the street on the other side.

Of course he would 'run' for it. "Ah know yer arse is sore - give it a rest!" Jinora calls, angrily. She tries to force some false - reassurance into her voice as she breaks into a run after him. "We jus' 'ave questions - tis not ye we're aftah!" She waves for her partner to circle around the other side and box him off if she isn't able to catch him. But between long hare legs, built for power and speed, and his limp, she doesn't forsee much issue. Jinora charges the fox. "Stop, or Ah'll take the othah cheek out too!"

"Questions asked by the point of a sword are questions I would rather avoid!" the fox quips as he breaks into all fours...or rather all threes. He reaches the end of the alley way with surprising speed, unfortunetly so does the pine marten coming around the corner. A burly beast with muscle tempered by a pot belly. His upper torso os covered only by a belt full of daggers and the crate of wine that he carries between his paws, a crate he drops with a loud crash as Vannon rebounds off of the marten and onto his tail end.

Vannon's pain yell is nothing compared to the shout of anger the marten shrieks. He peers down at the crate full of broken bottles, pulling at his ears then glaring at the whimpering fox. "Now...now wait a minute. There is a perfectly reasonable explination for this...see...see...the hare back there is trying to rob me! She's a mad beast! Mad I tell ya! She-" Vannon stops as the marten lifts him to his feet by his vest and shoves him, hard, into the brick wall of the alley, "I dun care ya stupid mutt! That cost me me last quid!"

Well, this certainly complicates things. "Sah!" Jinora shouts, bravely, as she and Luke approach the marten and the fox he is so graciously holding for them. "This beast is wanted fah questionin', Ah ask tha' ye 'and 'im ovah te the custody of tha Long Patrol." He...definitely doesn't look like the type who will comply. The two recruits pass each other nervous glances, and the young doe tightens the grip on her weapon. "A-An' we cin be /certain/ tha' this criminal pays ye fer yer lost wares." She motions towards the mess on the ground, hopefully. Luke just nods - he volunteered for the easiest job he could find, he wasn't prepared to actually /do/ things.

"Oh ye can be certain he will pay for it ya long patrol trash." the pine marten reaches for the cutlass at his side. "Ya kin question him as soon as I feed 'em his paws..." is as far as the marten gets. Before the beast can fufill his threat the fox sends his good knee upward, connecting below the belt. Grabbing the shocked marten by his chest Vannon throws him face first into the wall behind him. Throwing up his fists in a boxing stance while standing over the marten as he wails and clutches his broken nose Van growls, "Back! Back with the lit of you. One more step and Ill tan both your hides..."

And then the door to the ale and spirits store opens wide, out steps three beasts dressed simularly to the downed marten. A weasel, a rat, and a stoat. They peer at the fox and hares and their fallen ship mate. "Ah shhhhhhhhhhooot..." Vannon gasps as the beasts draw their sabers...

/This/ is not what she wanted to happen! Luke shoots Jinora a panicked look as she gives a final attempt at placating the situation. "Alrigh', fox - come with us or this lot is goin' te kill ye much slower than ye'd like, I assure ye." She levels her saber at the group, Luke doing the same. "We dinnae wan' trouble, mates. Jus' arrestin' this fox fer causin' trouble an' destroyin' yer wares, which Ah assume are all /perfectly/ legal so there is no need te inspect further, eh wot?" She asks, thinking quick. Luke nods, offering little help.

Choices choices. Murderous vermin, or anti vermin hares...In the end Vannon chooses the third option. "Help! Help! these hares are attacking us vermin! Help!" He shouts. The vermin seem less than convinced, especially when the fat pirate marten rolls to his feet, backing away from the beasts, "Don' 'ust 'and thar!" he says with a broken nose, "'ill 'em!"

The fox rolls his eyes backward, "And derp. Were dead. For the record. I blame you..." and with out further adue the pirates leap into action....

Well, the situation is certainly much more complicated now - but Jinora is of the esteemed Long Patrol, and is not going down without a fight! The recruit passes her partner a look, nods once....and then he flees. Jinora smirks: Good, he can alert the others, but she doesn't plan to leave any fight for the other Long Patrol members. "So, are ye lot goin' te waste yer time on a little girl or are ye goin' te back off so Ah cin take the fox n' be on my way?"

Jinora tightens her grip on her saber and ducks low, letting out a cry of her own as she charges, ducking to the right and spinning around the ferret's side, swinging out at him, experimentally. She expects her blow to be blocked, but this is what she wants, and drops to the ground, sweeping her leg beneath him and jabbing upwards with her weapon simultaneously. "Don' kill the fox, please!" She barks at the rat.

The ferret lets out a yell for alarm as his feet are knocked out from under him. Before the blade can rupture his stomach though the pirate tucks and rolls, the blade shaving off a few hairs from his back and cutting his vest before he lands on his feet and thrusts the but of his saber towards the back of the hare's head.

"Yes! Please don't kill the fox!" Shouts said fox. Well, he already had a lot of success it seemed with kicking beasts below the belt and thusly does to the rat. The rat cringes and leans forward, then glares murderously at the fox. "That...that wasn't the effect I was going for..."

"I kin tell." The rat says, in an admittedly higher pitched voice. Then decks the fox across the snout.

What a pain! Jinora is hasty enough to avoid the brunt of the ferret's attack, but she feels the blunt pressure pound a hearty bruise into her shoulder. Annoying, but not deadly. Alright, here we go again. Jinora pivots on the ball of her foot and exhales sharply, calming her breathing and clearing the brief panic from her mind before lashing out at both of her opponents in quick succession. First, she kicks out to her left, ducking low and aiming to punch an uppercut at the weasel before she spins to the right, striking out at the ferret with both paws on her saber. Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving - the hare is careful to keep her feet on the move throughout the whole attack, shuffling forwards and back, keeping light and springy.

There is a cracking sound as the weasel is launched up and off his feet and onto his rump. The ferret grips his cutlass with both paws to perry the blade, having his own weapon nearly jarred out of his paws and stumbling backward from the inpact.

The fox is having quite less success as he lands on his rump, oh his poor pain filled rump. Don't let them get you down. He thinks as the rat thrusts forward once again with his saber. Vannon yelps and rolls to the side to dodge the attack, then rolls back this time sending his foot paw upward into the rat's knee.

Jinora can't worry about the fox right now - this ferret, on the other hand, is certainly proving to be a pain in /her/ rump. Now that he is on the retreat, she charges forward with renewed vigor, not intending to give him enough time or room to go on the offensive. Her unrelenting battery drives her ever forward, and she is continuously moving the sides, trying to strike first at his right, then his left, then his right once more - she lets this last attack drive her further right, hoping that he assumes that she will be coming from the left.

The sound of blades ring in the ears of all beasts as the ferret parries the blow to the right, the blow to the left, and again the right. For the forth and final blow he raises his sword high to strike at the hare.

SpLoRcH!

His eyes widen as the hare splits him open like a mellon from one side of the belly to the other. "H-help..." The ferret is clutching his fatal wound with both paws as he collapses forward onto the street.

"Ye land lubbin woodlander! I'll murder you!" The weasel hisses as he picks himself up from the ground and lunges for the hare, swinging his cutlass widly.

The marten would move to help but he is distracted by the sudden yell of the rat as the fox mouse pounces him, tackling him to the ground and...biting deep into his neck. The rat makes a sudden terrified squeak as the fox begins to maul him...

That's more like it....But her first kill is a lot less glorious than she had imagined it being. She doesn't have time to vomit like she would like, though, as she hears the weasel approach from behind, and spins wildly around - barely managing to bring her saber up to block the attack in time. She struggles against his weight for a moment - her head still spinning too much to think straight. But she needs to snap out of it. The hare sucks her next breath in and leaps backwards, hoping that the weasels weight will bring him stumbling forward with the sudden absence of support. Regardless of the sureness of his footing, the recruit dances to his side, ducking and weaving and thrusting her weapon at him from low, then high, always circling him. It's just like boxing...just like boxing...

The weasel shouts as the sword strikes his upper arm. It doesn't deter him though and he continues hacking and slashing wildly at the the hare, hounding her with wide eyed anger. So this is what pirates are, beasts who attack like beserkers, clawing, biting, swinging their weapons with purpose and experience.

In the end the rat pushes the fox off of him. The pirate drags himself closer to the marten for help before he collapses from his injurries. Peering down at the rat then to the fox he says in a grovely tone, "Y'll pay fer that too..."

By now Vannon is up and on his feet, gasping and shivering like a crazy ferral fox. A crazy ferrel fox armed witha stolen pirate saber! "Enough...I've had enough of you. Vermin...hares. Getting shot, getting stabbed, getting hit with a hook. I've had enough of you all!" The fox crouches low as he moves slowly towards both pirates, glaring at them with a wild, ferrel look. "You're all on the menu now."

This is more than she bargained for - his rage drives Jinora back. She can't even gape at the crazed fox's horrifying onslaught. She leaves him to his...uh, lunch, and continues blocking the weasel's attacks. She feels the blade bite into her shoulder, then nicks a thin line across her cheek; the recruit lets out a cry of pain - /that/ is going to be a scar. But only living beasts can enjoy the liberty of scars, right? With another shout, this one full of anger, the hare throws her full body at the weasel, she feels the blade slice her thigh, but she focuses on forcing her own saber straight through his chest while his blade is in her leg.

The weasel let's out a pained gasp as the blade strikes true, running through his chest. Instead of immidietly dieing as any good beast should the weasel leans forward, grabbing the hare's paw with his free hand and raising his bloodied cutlass high for a final downward strike.

Without warning a furry arm wraps around the weasel's neck, ripping the weasel away from the hare and tossing him to the ground. Vannon doesn't give the weasel time to get back up before he stabs him in the chest as well.

Sword still in paw the marten watches as the last of his buddies are dispatched by both hare and fox. He swollows what little courage remains before he takes a step away from the battle, "Ya know...ya kin keep the ale." And tries to turn tail and flee!

Vannon for his part merely collapses onto his knees, supporting himself with his blade, "Well...that went well..."

Jinora cannot chase him, she falls back against the wall of the alley, and stares at Vannon, her mouth hanging open. And then she turns to the side, and expels her lunch with a splatter to the floor. Wiping at her mouth with the back of her paw she mutters "Sorry...nevah killed a beast before." Nodding towards the ferret. "Been holdin' that in fer ages." The recruit stares at the weasel on the floor, then looks to the fox. "Ye saved my life, fox. Why did ye do tha'?"

Gently The fox lowers his tush to the ground with noticable effort. He really did NOT need to be moving about like this. "Not really sure myself. Seemed like a good idea at the time." The fox shrugs, "Maybe cause I didn't want to get murdered by pirates? Maybe I didn't want to get murdered by Long Patrol when they eventually get here? Maybe I'm just not that bad of a beast after all and didn't want to see an innocent beast die?" Vannon thinks on this for a moment, "Nah, maybe not that one. Just don't make me regret it please. Speaking of which why the heck were you after me to begin with?"

Jinora slides to the ground as well, resting her elbows on her knees as she faces the fox, drained. "Well, Ah will remain grateful for it, regardless of ye' meaning." She wipes the blood from her cheek. "Ye were involved with the characters at the tavern, when tha' hook-paw took me hostage. We've been on the patrol for any of the beasts tha' were present, we want answers." The recruit groans. "Bu' of course Ah can't arrest ye now. Care te make things easy, an' give me some answers? Ah'm in no bloody shape te keep chasin' ye through the streets."

The fox squints at the hare for a long while until reconition sets in. "Oh! That was /you/? Hai! So nice to, see you again." He chuckles, "Sorry, Long Patrol kind look the same after a while, at least now I can tell you appart easier." He gestures with his blade to the cut along her cheek. "Unfortuently my boss would not take kindly to me spilling the beans about him, but I will tell you this." Using the sword as leverage the fox stands up slowly. "Don't go poking your head into Halyard shadows miss, or you will get burned and burned pretty bad." He stares down the street to the docks, "Also you might want to stay in that pretty little mountain of yours, least until what ever ship these sea rats belong to leave port. Pirates are not like the story books miss, and they don't take kindly to beasts killing their own."

Vannon begins to hobble off, giving Jinora a half wave, half salute with his free paw, "Thanks for not killin me off miss. Top of the morning to ya."

Jinora shakes her head with a low chuckle. Well /that/ was bloody pointless. The recruit pushes herself upright and leans with a sigh against the wall - she has spent more time being injured in the line of /bloody/ duty than she has actually spent /in/ the line of duty! "Hope yer arse feels better!" She calls over her shoulder, scooping up a discarded spear and using it as a walking stick.

-Several Hours Later -

Salamandastron: Recovery Room

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

This is the recovery room for the Long Patrol. It is the place that, once

initially treated, injured Patrollers retire to convalesce. As such, it is

dimly but pleasantly lit, the lantern light casting a calming light on its

inhabitants. One row of cots have been provided for short term patients,

with a bedside table between each, while the long-term patients receive

considerably more comfortable lodgings. With curtains for privacy, the beds

are larger, they have extra padding, and When in season, fresh flowers are

kept in evidence. A small bookshelf with a rotating selection is kept well

stocked. The other half of the room is devoted to providing therapy to the

recovering Patrollers. All healer supplies are stored in a long row of

cabinets that line the wall from one end to the other, and from floor to

ceiling, while the rest accommodates a variety of therapy tools - light

weights, balls, jumping ropes, and other such strengthening equipment.

Crutches are hung neatly on pegs on the wall.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Tucked away in the recovery room is Ava. She spent the night at the tavern, was walked / carried back by Taye and the patrol to the infirmary for further support. Now resting in a cot, half of her head is bandaged after fresh stitches were put in, and her arm is in a sling and propped up to keep the wounded shoulder level. She has a coloring book of sorts on her lap and a bored expression on her face as she stares out across the room to the wall before her.

Jinora wouldn't want the corporal to be bored, all alone in the recovery room, would she? Of course not! The hare is assisted in by a healer, a crutch under one arm and bandages wrapped around her thigh. A bandage is stuck across her left cheek, and another on her right shoulder - though that wound is the least severe of them. "Corporal." The young doe dips hear head and half-salutes, something...off in her voice.

( One ear perks upwards at the sound of Jinora's voice, and Ava shifts herself back a bit to peer over towards her. "Hey." She rasps out in a dusty voice. "What happened to you?" With a grimace of pain, she slips her legs off the side of the bed and pushes herself upwards, then heads over to her. )

"Don' stand on my account, m'am -" Jinora frets, hobbling to take a seat near Ava. "Ah ran inte tha' fox from the night a'the tavern - when Ah tried te take him in fer questionin' we were both attacked by pirates." Her face darkens. "Obviously made it bu'...Ah'd nevah killed before." She gives a sad smile, "Ah chucked my guts everywhere aftah it happened. T'was four aginst me n' the fox an' he saved my life...Ah couldn't get any real information out of'im except a warnin' not te look inte the business of his group. Ah guess they have some hold on the underbelly of the village." She sighs, leaning back against the wall and thumping her head gently against it. "Ah come back empty-pawed, an' scraped up ta boot..."

As the recruit takes a seat next to her, Ava slips her good arm around her, pulling her in for a hug. Letting out a sigh, she says, "I know how hard that is. I remember the first time I got my first kill many years back and I was just as sick to my stomach. As many hours as you put in to the sparring ring and the archery ring, you never, ever, get used to taking a life. And, you shouldn't." She gives the young doe's ear a soft stroke. "The moment you start to become numb to it, means that you start to lose what makes you tick. It is apart of the job, a nasty part, but do not let it ... ruin who you are inside."

Jinora nods, swallowing the lump in her throat. "T'was awful...his insides came spillin' out of 'im... An' Ah didn' deal the final blow to the othah, but Ah stabbed 'im straight through the chest while 'is sword was stuck in m'thigh...The fox finished 'im though, pulled 'im off me." The young doe shakes her head and buries her face in Ava's shoulder, her ears pinning back. "On the plus side, the healers said Ah'll 'ave a nice, dramatic scar cross my face. At least it'll look kind of cool." She jokes, before leaning back. "Ah'm going te take a rest, though. Ah 'ope te see ye when Ah wake." She settles into her bed, ready for, what she can assume, is going to be a nap full of nightmares.