Logging (Trees)
5/28/10
Including
Lin
Micah
Sephora
Tyree
Thad
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Halyard Village ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The main street of Halyard is not so much a street as a rubble field. It is
as if the narrow street has crumbled in on itself, with but a few buildings
unscathed. Even Halyard's symbol of law and order, the Town Hall, has not
escaped the brunt of the storm. THe front face of the building is entirely
gone and the roof has been shorn away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Visible Exits:
[T]own [H]all [W]est [Sq]uare
[A]pothecary [E]ast [S]quare
( A street replaced by a rubble field. You can't even take a cart down it anymore- so clearing it is kinda high priority, eh? Well. That's not for Lin to do, but rather for some of the fishermen that can't do their jobs so well without boats. A couple otters are picking up or rolling big pieces of rubble off to the side or into the beds of carts. Where Lin comes in is when one drops one of the heavy stones on his foot and she's mending it with some bandages. )
Thad is not lugging rubble; rather he's lugging lumber. You know, for those boats. It's really, really warm, and quite sunny, and not cloudy, and so Thad is not the most excited worker bee in the hive at the moment. He wipes at his brow, and nearly falls over -- his carrying-mate, a weasel, seems to have suddenly dropped his end of the load, leaving the boards to clamber to the ground. "Hey. Hey, what're you doing..." Thad turns, shifting his end of the lumber stack from one shoulder to the other as the weasel just... Walks away towards a tent, his path a crooked line. Heat exhaustion. Whee. Thad wipes his brow again, looking around.
The otter winces as Lin wraps his foot, making her half-grin. "Aw, man up, big guy," she says, mildly admonishing him. "Big rocks and feet don't mix." That's why you wear those steeltoes! But at the clatter of lumber from behind her, her ears perk and she turns around, to look at.. Thad. "Hey," she greets of the fellow patroller. "Y' look beat."
"...More like defeated," the runner states, idly and visibly wondering if the weasel's going to come back and help him finish carrying this stuff. Just to see, he attempts to hoist the whole load over his shoulder and... No, no way. He'd maybe make it five paces, if that. "I guess you're on accident duty?"
"Any kinda duty I can find, I think," she says, now turning that smiling face up to him. "Y' look like y' could use some help, then." She pats the otter on the knee and stands, stepping over to Thad. "He can do on his own, f' now." She kneels down by the weasel's end of the wood. "Lift?"
"Mhm," is his brief response, lifting and re-shouldering the lumber, his paw separating the wood from his body. "Just taking it down to the docks," he comments over his shoulder. "You okay to make it that far? Just tell me if you want a break... Don't just walk off on me, heh."
"Talk if need break, don't walk off. Sounds easy, I like this job already." She adjusts the load on her shoulder and finds it agreeable. "I'm okay, are you? Y' look beat, m' bucko." Ahh yes, poke and prod. The doe steps after him.
"Yeah, well. Almost done," Thad says, seeming kind of resigned to his exhaustion. "I'll be okay when we drop this off," he assures himself more than her, really, stepping carefully forward, making the dreaded mistake of looking up towards the sun, quickly lowering his head and pressing onward at a decent pace.
"Well don't go dyin' on me, I've had enough of that lately." She follows dutifully along, the load not troubling her unduly. "Passin' out is acceptable. I got plenty o' places t' stick you while y' recover."
What are they doing? Hum. Mike doesn't know. Carrying something, one presumes! On the other hand he's just enjoying a leisurely stroll. Aside from what work he volunteers for, and training, his schedule's pretty open! The recruits life. Wooo. "Hey, guys," he greets the familiar pair.
"I'll try not to die," Thad assures Lin, gulping dryly as he soldiers on towards the docks, lifting his eyes up enough to meet Micah. "Hey. You don't look busy. Mind taking up the middle?" Of the big wooden boards the two are currently carrying, that is.
What /are/ they carrying, anyway? Seph shows up from the other direction, her path relatively aimless, like she's stretching her leg between tent shifts maybe. She heads over in the direction of the duo-turned-trio, and it's so nice to see that they're all actually hares she likes. "Hey," she says to the group, then, "Hey Linny." ... oh, it's boards. Okay.
Boards. Huh. Okay. Mike shrugs and nods. "Sure, okay," he agrees, and ambles over to slip between the pair. The shrimp has to stretch a bit, but he manages to provide some amount of assistance.
"Bundle of wood, what else's it look like." Lin greets the arriving pair with a grin. "Apparently we're goin' to the harbor. Buildin' ships would be my guess?"
"Yeah," Thad confirms. "These are to be used for building fishing boats." The runner's stress is lessened by Mike's help, and he seems pretty grateful. "We could use another paw, Lieutenant," the runner SUGGESTS.
Sephora stands for a moment watching as Mike joins the wood-carrying mission. "S'pose I could help some," she chuckles, and steps in, taking up the spot between Mike and Linny. ".. bit awkward, innit."
"Ah, boats," Mike tosses out there. Because what else is there to say while hauling wood?
"Very," Seph agrees.
It's a wood-carrying train! "I think y' can step out, Thad," she says, with a little laugh. Between the four or even three of them, it's easy. Fortunately, they are pretty much at their destination, and Lin huffs out. "Lumber, delivery?"
"Better than having just one other helper who decides he can't finish his job before running off," bitter Thad spits bitterly. At Lin's suggestion to step out, the runner stalwartly stays the course. They are, after all, pretty much there. Of course... "OK, just drop it here, they knew it was coming and they'll know what to do with it." He steps out from under the wood, a little too quickly as he sways backwards, having to catch his balance. Nobody saw that. >.>
Micah totally did, haha! But he won't say anything. He sets the wood down when they all do, glancing 'round a bit. "How's the buildin' goin', anyway?"
When Thad drops the wood before the others, the weight of it is dispersed to the two does and... lil' Mikey. "Oof, hey," Seph huffs with a laugh, grimacing as she shifts the wood toward the ground, and releases her hold as well. "... good times. Oh, uh. 'm not th' one t' ask, 'm trapped in th' sickbay tents all day."
Yeah, definitely time to get out of the way. Lin drops her end, thudding it down onto the ground, next to the other bundles of lumber. Lin laughs at Seph. "I had t' get out, too."
"Tell you, 'm half tempted t' ditch th' whole thing f' a day'r so," Seph says with a grin, brushing her hands off on her pants. "'course it wouldn't be very lieutenant-ly of me, but 's temptin' noneth'less."
Thad stares at the boards for a few moments while his paw goes to his side to snatch at his canteen (always prepared) and uncork it, tilting it against his lips and being met with a few drips before it's dry (maybe not). "Building's going great I could... Use some water?" The canteen slips out of his paw, which comes up to shield his eyes from the suddenly unbearable brightness.
Micah hasn't much to say about that. He does his time in the tents, but it's not like he's living there, eh wot? His ear twitches towards Thad, who is acting maybe kind of odd maybe? He grabs for the canteen at his own waist and tugs it free, holding it out to the other buck. "Here, you all righ'?"
Thad blinks unsurely at Micah, grabbing for the canteen shakily and drinking from it... Just a sip at first, then a few nice, big gulps. Swallowing those, he mutters a "Thanks," and grins, offering the canteen back to the smaller hare. "Been lugging this stuff all morning..." He doubles, paws on his knees, panting. "Think I'd trade it for the healer tent."
Sephora reaches out to give Thad a light pat on the back, and shakes her head. "Try a few weeks, though."
Micah takes the canteen back with a little dip of his head. He hooks it back on his belt and smiles slightly. "Think I'll stick with the healin' tent, m'self."
"Hey, I didn' say I'd /rather/ haulin' wood 'round. Just wouldn't mind some time away from it," Seph says, hands in her pockets. She glances around. "'m actually gonn' head back t' th' mountain, though. See y'all later?"
Lin huffs and runs a paw through her hair, giving Seph a grin. "Y' jus' gonna show up an' then leave? Where's th' fun in that?" She sidles up to the doe she knows.
Thad sways, still doubled over as he shakes his head slowly. "I think... I'm going to go to the healer tent right /now./" He rights himself, taking an initial, unsure step in that direction. "Thanks for the the help..." And off he goes.
Sephora makes a face at her friend-slash-daughter-kinda. "F' you? /Maybe/ 'll stay." She hooks her arm around the other doe's waist, chuffing at her playfully. "Or you c'n come with, huh? Wanna get back soon 'nough t' tuck m' kiddo in, then maybe a drink in th' rec room." She glances at Thad, but.. he's leaving. Hm.
Ha! Don't worry about Thad. He'll be okay! Oop, no, he reaches out to support himself on something that isn't there, and stumbles in one direction before he rights himself again. "Ugh. I don't feel..."
Lin is tugged into Seph's hold with a little omf, putting her paw flat against the other doe's side to steady herself. "A drink sounds great," she replies. "Need a lil' time t'unwind." Then she looks over to Thad, who seems to be stumbling. "Thad?"
Sephora leans slightly, both arms now around Lin's middle, her head cocked as she eyes the buck. ".. so good?" is her guess, finishing his statement for him. "How 'bout you sit down a mo', mate."
Thad's face turns towards Lin, then Sephora, looking at each of them in turn with a vague demeanor of confusion crossing his features. His eyes seem a little unfocused, but sit down he does, unceremoniously. "What?" is his question to the both of them, though it's whispered. He licks his lips, squinting upwards. "Need a break," he concludes, all by himself.
Lin frowns. "Looks like someone's a bit overstressed." The doe gently seperates Seph's hands and kneels next to the buck, reaching up to feel his forehead. "Got any water?"
Where'd Mike's canteen get off to? Seph takes her own from her belt and holds it out, staying a few feet back so as to now crowd the poor buck.
Thad reaches up to take the canteen, his eyes still unfocused. "Thanks," he whispers, unfastening the canteen and pouring water into his mouth, swallowing slowly and steadily, his paw actually shaking with the effort of holding it up. When he lowers it, he also lowers his head, able to control his breathing, kind of.
And here comes Tyree, paws behind his back. He looks rather haggard, but nowhere near the delirium that Thad seems to be experiencing. Yes, the work was rather draining on the body's resources, wasn't it? Hacking, carving, overseeing... He comes up to the scene and looks down at Thad with a look that's something between concern and confusion. At least he's being cared for. "Stand down, soldier," he observes wryly. He needs to not move for a while.
Lin reaches her paw up and brushes back Thad's hair, peeking into his eyes. "Yeh, overexertion. Think y'can walk back t' th' tents?"
Thad is having approximately zero trouble standing down. "Think I can make it. Yeah, no problem." Duh, Thad, he starts standing up. "Mind if I hang onto this...?" He half-raises the canteen. And doesn't wait for an answer. Tyree gets a wincing glance and that's all as he turns to walk shakily towards the tents. Too much!
"Good ta' see hares at work," Tyree murmurs, "but it looks like he tried ta' pull down a tree on his own. An' then it fell on 'im."
"You're jus'.. charmin', aren' you," Seph comments with lifted brows to Tyree.
"M' workin' on it, thank you for noticing," Tyree replies to Seph with a completely straight face. Is he being sarcastic?
Lin makes a little giggle. "No tree, jus' a pile of lumber." She turns, and indicates the dropped pile of chopped logs. "Gonna be a boat. Or.. part of a boat."
"So. Drinkin'. Kiddo-tuckin'-in, an' then drinkin'," Seph reminds Lin, lacing her fingers with those of her friend. "Righ'? C'mon. Leave him t' his etiquette lessons."
"A very small part," Tyree notes, and looks between the two, noticing Sephora ready to drag Lin away again. His company can't be that bad, can it? Surely they have plenty of girl's night's out already! He shifts his weight and rubs his nose. "Actually, I was hopin' ta' find someone I knew, see. Got a bit of a request ta' make, before I leave."
"Uh huh," Seph says mildly.
Lin's fingers are laced, but she leans in with her other, free hand to poke Seph in her collarbone. "You hold on a sec, 'kay?" Then, with a grin, she looks to Tyree. "A request?"
"'m holdin', 'm holdin'," Seph mutters, and she is! Her fingers squeeze at Lin's fingers in the same playful manner as how she's just been poked, a small grin appearing on her muzzle for the other doe.
"Yes, the whole cavalier expedition ta' get Darklett's mate back an' all, could happen any moment," Tyree notes, and decides to make this quick. "Just in case the worst should happen, there's a package in the far left corner of my room, under the dresser. Just somethin' else ta' go ta' my family in Southsward," he says very conversationally, as if this were something he'd discuss over afternoon tea. "So it's not missed... 'Preciate if someone'd at least make sure it went along, too."
Of course, of course, the old 'if I don't come back' speech. Being soldiers, they've heard it all before, and she doesn't bother trying to dissuade Tyree from being told he can do it himself when he gets back. They've heard that before, too. "'Kay," she says. "I won't forget. Just don't get killed, eh?"
Sephora cocks her head to the side as she waits, fingers drumming on Lin's knuckles.
"Don't plan on it," Tyree says with a gentle nod of his head to Lin. "But, you know... good soldiers always know ta' take inventory from time ta' time." He shrugs and begins to turn away. "Just hope it's not an inconvenience. Ta ta, have fun." With... whatever they go do when his back is turned.
"Good soldiers also know t'..." Seph's voice trails off in a mumble only Lin will hear.
Lin raises a brow at Seph at this, and gives her a slight push with that laced-finger arm. "Stop bein' a jerk."
Sephora responds with a huff, almost a laugh, and shakes her head. Her shoulders move in a bit of a shrug. "He's impedin' on m' Lin-time," she protests with a darling smile at her friend.
Tyree's flick back towards Sephora, almost temperamentally. It's important to /him,/ and frankly that's all he cares about. He looks over his shoulder at Sephora. "You're one of the reasons I never go ta' parties, you know," he says simply.
Lin draws back her paw and looks a little testily at Sephora. "Y' Lin-time is fast dwindlin' if y' don't stop this. What's got into you, huh?"
Sephora lifts both hands slightly in a gesture of surrender. "Hey, fine, 'll leave off," she returns wryly. She glances at Tyree, but doesn't retort, given Lin's testiness.
Tyree sighs when Sephora just... leaves. He looks up at the sky with a sort of 'heaven help me' look, then back down to the ground. "I don't mind that everyone seems ta' hate me," he says to Lin with a look bereft of optimism, lightly scuffing the ground. "Just wish they'd bally well stop confirmin' it so enthusiastically."
Lin frowns as Seph leaves, and then looks back to Ty. The doe huffs in consternation, rubbing her chin. "Everyone doesn't hate ya, Ty. Seph is jus' havin' a hard time, I think."
"With /what?/" Tyree all but squawks incredulously. "She's got darn near everythin'. A child, a mate, she's not down here lookin' over plans an' blueprints an' keepin' a lid on vermin tryin' ta' steal unfinished boats!" He should probably put that last one in his next report, come to think of it.
Lin sighs. "I'm not tryin' t' defend her. I called her a jerk, din' I?" The doe just looks troubled now, turning slightly away from Ty to look at the piles of lumber. "I think you're doin' a good job."
Tyree mumbles to himself, scratching the back of his head as he shifts between footpaws. His shoulders are actually slumping, ye gads! He looks at the same lumber she is, and shakes his head. "You an' Rahier are the only ones who seem ta' think so." He sounds bitter. He trusts Lin enough to let some of his true feelings shine through, here. "Suppose I should walk around with a few vermin heads on my belt? Or wave my paw an' command this mess ta' clean up? Bring back Dark's wife single-pawed?" He spreads his paws haplessly and lets them flop back down. "Just go home ta' the farm an' save everyone the trouble?"
Lin shrugs her shoulders, putting her paws into her pockets. "I can only speak f' m'self," she mumbles. "But I know y' f' who you are. Mos' people don't. Maybe that's it." Her eyes turn up, from the wood to him. "I don't think quitting is the answer."
Tyree puts a paw over his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. He's silent for a few moments, deep in thought, before he turns to Lin, paws on his hips. "An' what do you know about me?" he wonders.
Lin steps on over to the pile of unused lumber, hopping up to take a seat on it. Her feet dangle a little as she considers. "Um. I know that.. y' often have troubles in social situations. Y' don't particularly like them. Part of why people might misunderstand you."
"Don't particularly..." Tyree would scoff at the notion if it weren't so true, blast it. He follows Lin over and props an elbow up on the one she's sitting on. "S'a what then? Everyone's allowed their little quirks but weird old Ty?" he mumbles darkly. It's who he /is./ At least he hasn't made anyone punch him in a while, so he thinks he's making progress!
Lin looks down at Ty and gives him a little grin. "You're right, everyone has their little quirks. It's just, uhm.." How can she put this. "Everyone's quirks are very.. private, in the patrol. Then y' wear your public-face f' everyone else. Y' jus' kinda wear your particular quirk on your sleeve." She grins a bit at this.
Tyree considers this deeply as evidenced by his eloquent reply. "Huh." And here he thought he'd been very private and unknowable this whole time. In a way he was... he didn't exactly blurt out mental and physical health problems left and right. Not explicitly, anyway. "I'm tryin' ta' be more sociable, you know. Me an' Seph had a grand conversation in the antique shop couple days ago, you saw it. At least until, er..." Yeah, that other stuff happened. He clasps his fingers together. "I'm glad for this mission with Dark, in a way. May show 'em I'm actually a hare like them." He sniffs. "Trustworthy."
Well that's not really what she meant. It's more like he wears his social dysfunction on his sleeve. So. She bobs her head in nod. "I'm sure Dark'll like ya." She raises her head, then turns it back to him. "Speakin' of dark, it's gettin' there. Wanna head back?"
Tyree was just about to start thinking about work again, when he notices it's pretty much stopped everywhere, for the night. And he can't very well stalk around in the dark, can he? He nods, gently, and then a smirk graces his features as he reaches a paw up to help her down. "A moonlit walk on the beach? I'd love to."
Lin snerks. "Bit romantic f' you, isn't it?" The doe takes his paw and pulls herself off her perch, plopping down onto the sand.
"I guess you just bring out the best in me," Tyree says blithely. "Besides, we've all gotta start somewhere." He gives her paw a gentle tug, and off they go.
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