Mudfur Meets His End!
- I did not arrive right away in this log, I arrived little later on…enjoy ***
Mossflower - Mossflower Woods -----------------------
The woods are quiet as you step into this serene site,
Not a single sound is made except the crunching of your
paws as they tread upon the leaves of last autumn's fall.
To the east of you lies the ageless and endless forest of
Mossflower Woods. To the north, you see a small clearing
In the woods. To the west lies the grasslands and the
broad dirt road. Towards the south, the way is blocked by
A fallen Oak tree. There seems to be a sort of hole by
Its base covered with leaves. What could be under there?
Mossflower - Mossflower Woods -----------------------
Mudfur is here; he has a small campfire as its cold and sits near it warming up as its cold today.
Oakenpaw Circles around with murderous intent, Snow shoe hares at home in the snow, silent, cameo...Deadly
Mudfur ears perk, he is alert as who wouldn’t be, and footprints can happen in the snow, he looks around slowly.
Oakenpaw is a LP hare, he knows how to cover his track. He hugs the ground close letting snow cover him, still white, his darker paws hidden in the snow gripping his staff. He has time to wait, the patient hare, nose is all that twitches, the hare is down wind from the Cat so his scent will not drift to beast.
Ink is hidden in the woods- you would think her dark fur would stand out, but her intense stalking skills make it impossible to see her unless she wants to you, or if you have incredible luck on your side. She watches Mudfur impassively.
Mudfur has his twin blades with him, he steps over to the fire again.
Oakenpaw moves whenever Mudpaw's back is turned and there is wind or he moves...Oakenpaw creeps closer, staying within the wood line..for now.
Mudfur ears perk, he sniffs the air and goes to draw a blade, he stays very alert.
Ink remains still, nose quivering. She'll wait for the right moment to move- and that will be a time of her choosing.
Oakenpaw waits his eyes narrow, fears down his back as he almost burrows down into the snow, the soft stuff muffling any sound, the hare a master at staying unseen as he gets closer on the hunt.
Mudfur stays alert still, he knows there was a chance to be followed.
Oakenpaw will creep closer but he is patient Mudfur will have to be facing the other way....AND there would have to be some wind, or Mudfur moving to cover any sound the Hare might make as his intent is get close enough to thrust the butt end of his staff into the back of Mudfur's head, if need be he can wait till the cat sleeps...Cats like to sleep a lot.
Ink watches in silence. Time to make an appearance. She steps forward deliberately crunching the snow, making herself visible.
Mudfur turns, he is still alert as he sees the otter, "Well, not a good time to be in the woods alone, now is it lass?"
Ink blinks a few flakes of snow from her lashes. "A matter of opinion. Laddie." She adds the 'laddie' an afterthought, a poke at the cat.
Mudfur smirks, "Whatever you say, but I rarely share a campfire"
Oakenpaw Sees the Otter beast..and if he is behind Mudfur grips his staff and rises up. His large foot paws keeping him silent atop the snow as he moves from tree to tree closer to strike range.
Willowheart slowly wakes up, she is tied up and looks back and forth between the two beasts.
Ink grins, showing every one of her sharpened teeth. Finally, some action. More dangerous with the tied up hare awake, but that’ll only make it more fun. She sees the hare in the woods stand- but she doesn’t give him away. Ink draws her javelin-pike and stands, ready. "I not lookin’ for a fire, buckoe."
Willowheart frowns, she doesn’t speak and stays quiet.
Oakenpaw makes his move to come up directly behind Mudfur, careful he does not throw a shadow, the Hare lunges not aiming at Mudfur's head...but right between the shoulder blades...really cause some pain in that spine ,he is a healer hare after all.
Ink snarls. "Let’s hope this someone doesn’t get here to find you alive!" She twists, lifting a heavy foot paw in a kick, balancing with her rudder. If she’s timed this right, and if that hare hit Mudfur hard enough, shell bang into Mudfur's chest and knock him over. If not, shell end up spinning and using her momentum in a lunge later.
Mudfur steps sideways away from the fire and forwards and goes to slice at the otter, he growls as his shoulder blade is hit hard by the are. He gets a kick in the midsection by the otter and is temporally winded, he crawls over and grabs the hare maid as he now sees both the other hare and the otter, "Fools!..you need me or someone dies, then no problem for me"
Willowheart eyes go wide as Mudfur grabs her, not like she can run as she is tied up.
Oakenpaw doesn't seem inclined to be willing for a hostage situation as his staff plants and his large foot paw comes vaulting at Mudfur's face almost as soon as he turns to face them with Willowheart .
Mudfur has already grabbed the hare maid and moves out of it, "Now you will listen..I want Astra and I know you want something, two things"
Ink s creepy grin seems permanent now that the fighting has begun. Her quick mind races through possibilities of action. The hostage must not die- that is against her rules. As long as the doe is released, she can always come back later and kill the feline. So the most important thing is to get the doe away. Ink dodges around the buck- why must he be here? Circumstance yes, but not in her favor. "Then speak Cat." She spits out. "Release the rabbit and we can talk. “
Mudfur awaits an answer as he keeps ahold of the hare maid, the kick was barely side stepped. "Well?"
Oakenpaw lands behind Mudfur in the snow, his staff at the ready, a cold unemotional look on him, hearing Ink speak he has his staff ready for another thrust he will let Ink play her card.
"I said /talk/, Cat." Ink doesn’t have respect for Mudfur and his games, so she refuses to call him by his name. “What do you want? What do you think /I/ want?"
Mudfur chuckles coldly, "I want Astra brought to me, I get her the hare is free to go, also the head guard of Ferravale needs this," He pulls out a vile and smirks, "In 2 days time or he is a dead beast"
Oakenpaw says, "Coswollop, I've already given im' the antidote, I wasn't born last night Blighter, you have one chance to live till morning..surrender...otherwise nothing you can do will deter me from sending you to the Dark Forrest"
Mudfur says, "no you have not, it’s my poison and I have the antidote hare"
Willowheart tries to stay calm while this is going on, she frowns deeply.
Ink growls low and deep. "Let’s not argue bout poisons. There are many antidotes for poisons- I know of one who knows more about poisons than you, Cat, and he is near Ferravale." She doesn’t chance hitting Mudfur- she can’t let the doe be killed. But maybe if she could get the hare with the staff to distract Mudfur so she could release the doe.
Oakenpaw seems to know enough about working as a team, the Hare with his staff is lightening quick...and looks to be unpredictable to the cat, instead of thrusting for the Cat in an attack..his staff flicks up trying to hit the cat wrist, hopefully break it and pop the vial up so the Hare can catch it, the cat should expect a direct attack.
Scioto is walking in the woods, his guards told him a general idea what has happen, hearing voices he steps forwards and sees the group.
Mudfur growls, the staff is seen, slightly late, his paw is hit as he growls more, "Ok..games over!" He goes to lay the sword at Willowheart's neck.
Willowheart closes her eyes, this can't be good and she rather not see whats going to happen next.
Scioto has his blade out, "If it is not Mudfur, you don't hide well do you."He has three guards wit him.
Ink is grining, if possible, becomes broader. That’s distraction! She jumps in, cutting the ropes with her weapon with one broad swipe- her experience as a fighter should allow her to not cut Willowheart, and the now free doe should be able to twist away and run for it. That is, if Mudfur is distracted /enough/ and if the doe has the guts, and all these other ifs
Oakenpaw moves to grab Willowheart, again IF the cat is distracted enough...twisting to again try to knock the vial from the cat's paw.
Mudfur growls, his paw broken, he moves the sword to slice at the otter as she slices the ropes, so the blade is away from the hare’s neck now, the staff hits the paw that has the vile and it falls towards the ground.
Willowheart screams at first when the ropes are cut and allows herself to be grabbed by Oakenpaw once the ropes are loosened.
Scioto grips his blade and stands ready to face Mudfur if he comes towards him, he frowns, "Someone catch the vile!"
Oakenpaw twists his back, so if a Stroke comes at Willowheart..it will land in the Hare's back. He cannot grab the vial it would have to be either Ink, or Willowheart herself, otherwise the vial would likely fluff in the snow
Plan successful! With the doe out of harms way, Ink doesn’t care what happens- as long as Mudfur dies. She dodges the blade swipe from Mudfur, sliding in the snow and hitting the ground with a thump. She rolls over grabs the vile, twisting out of the way as she stands- grinning, wet, breathing heavily.
Mudfur growls low, "You’re all fools! And will pay for this!"
Willowheart gulps and keeps ahold of Oakenpaw, she has fear showing and clearly dislikes this fight going o around her.
Scioto keeps a close eye on Mudfur, "You sure will pay? You have tried to kill me..twice, tried to kill Astra, kidnapped a beast and poisoned my head guard." A couple ferret guards step up beside him.
Mudfur chuckles evilly, "So, if beasts just listen to me, then this would not happen."
Oakenpaw keeps Willowheart out of harms way and keeps his staff ready for fighting.
Willowheart frowns, she backs up towards the two guards and Scioto and stays close to them allowing Oakenpaw to better fight.
Scioto nods to one of the guards, "Take Willowheart back to the tavern" The guard nods and motions the hare to follow him as he heads back to the village, the other guards stays there.
Willowheart looks to Oakenpaw as if she wants to say something, but it can wait, she follows the guard back to the village.
Ink catches the eye of one of the guards- she flings the vial and he catches it. It will be safer with him than with the sea otter. She takes a few paces, placing herself opposite the guards and Scioto, so they form a bit of a triangle around Mudfur.
Mudfur growls low as he scans the beasts around him, he holds his twin blades, one badly as that paw is broken.
Oakenpaw watches the hare maid taken to safety and then all his attention is on Mudfur.
Scioto has himself and a guard, one guard took the hare maid away and another keeps the vial safe, a nod has the guard head back as well as Scioto looks at Mudfur, "You have a choice, surrender or die."
Ink doesn’t take her grey eyes from Mudfur as she speaks to Scioto, taking a step back from Mudfur, so she can dodge any thrusts, but attack as well. "Not sure who you are, sir, but this Cat is not going to survive. I have no mercy for him"
Mudfur smirks, "I don't surrender, and I kill those in my way." He slices at the otter maid with one blade and the hare with the other blade.
The hare moves and swiftly blocks the blade, the blade most likely in Mudfur’s broken paw, he is knocked down though from the force still and moving back stands again.
Scioto grips his blade, he nods as his guard still here rushes forwards with their blade aiming to slash Mudfur in the chest.
Ink doesn’t bother to move- all she does is stab her javelin-pike into the ground in front of herself, satisfied with the clang it makes as it connects with Mudfur’s blade. Dodging a pace to the left, Ink takes her weapon with her and lunges, going to strike the prone cat in his center.
Mudfur growls, he slices at the guards throat, just as the guard slices at his chest, a large gash forms on Mudfur as he growls in pain, the guard gets a bad cut across the shoulder instead and stumbles sideways, guard is luckily out of the way of the javelin as it slams into Mudfur chest, Mudfur gasps and his eyes get full of surprise as the javelin goes to his back and he stands there dropping his weapon in shock as the snow goes from white to red, he gasps a couple times alive..barely.
Scioto watches as Mudfur is well...injured, he goes to help tend to the ferret guard and gets a bandage to tightly tie to the wound, stopping the bleeding till he can get back to Ferravale and be tended to better.
Oakenpaw quickly tends to the ferret guard, not much he could do to help Mudfur if he even wanted to.
Ink pulls out her javelin with one swift tug, watching Mudfur struggle for breath impassively. She pulls her arm back, ready to finish him off.
Mudfur looks like he is in a daze, the weapon is pulled out and only makes it worse, he falls over as death takes him away, the evil cat is dead.
Scioto watches and looks over at Oakenpaw as the ferret is tended to, then he and Oakenpaw get on either side of the ferret to help him back to the village.
Ink brings her arm down, and crouches, wiping her blade with snow. The snow is stained red as it cleans the dark weapon. Her grins goes away in an instant- the fight over, she’s back to her silent self. Standing, she sheaths the blade and takes a moment to breath deep. Enjoying the scent of evil-less-ness. Bending down once more, she goes to drag the body of Mudfur under a bush- there the carrion birds will take care of him. After she’s done with her task, she goes to follow Scioto. May as well.
--- FV:Tavern----
Outside a sign swings on a rusty creaking frame above the doorway of the tavern depicting a faded painting of what appears to be three rather rich looking skeletons slumped over a table around a black chalice, perhaps such a thing could be taken as a warning but it doesn't appear to work on the locals. The noise within on a normal day is usually heard before the door is even opened and only rises in volume when one actually steps inside.
There are the typical qualities of a tavern within, from the bar to the chairs and booths and the odd drunk who never seems to move it's the little details which encourage a patron to pay his tab if he likes his fingers. One look at some of the staff or customers might give the impression but the room is decorated to the fiercer tastes with bones, mostly skulls cropping up here and there to fill a gap on a shelf or decorating the walls above the doorways, fireplace and bar, a pair of axes joining the one over the fire with some signs that they've been yanked off to join in a fight a couple of times. Some of the comfier chairs are lined with fur and very rarely one might be found with a few pointed bits of bone to decorate the back. Despite the looks there is entertainment and fun to be had, some form of music usually played on a small stage in the corner and at least one bouncer usually tries to keep the peace while beasts gamble, drink and be merry.
A small door behind the bar leads out the back to the kitchen and cellars while one wall has been opened up in a wide arch to increase the space off into the next room where what seems to be a wooden fence with gates on either end has been set up as a fighting pit as further entertainment and something to bet over.
Exits: [Out]
Scioto after making sure the guard is in the infirm with Oakenpaw, this cat goes to the tavern and sits down, he orders an ale and sips it slowly as it arrives.
Ink, while she followed Scioto to the village, gleaned some information from the village beasts, so she now knows who Scioto is. She orders herself a tap of beer in the tavern, and slams herself down into the chair next to the cat, taking a long draught.
Scioto looks at the otter as he speaks, "You’re a very good fighter." he says, his tone simple as he speaks, he sips his own ale and looks around, not too busy tonight, yet.
Ink puts her glass on the table and shrugs. Nice you consider me so, Sire. I should very well hope so. You’re not too bad yourself.”
Scioto nods “Good fighters are needed all places and you most likely helped save lives"
Ink nods as she takes a sip of her drink and sighs. "Aye. I do. That’s my purpose. He's dead, and no more'll be killed by 'im"
Scioto nods, "He was after a cat named Astra, I will have to let her know of his death"
Ink continues to nurse her drink. "Aye. You do that, Sire. She should be glad. He won’t be coming around anymore. The birds'll take care 'o his body."
Ink tosses her empty glass on the tabletop and wipes her mouth with the back of her paw. Her chair whines as it scrapes along the floor when she stands. She doesn’t want to answer that comment, and she doesn’t want to say why. “ Nice talkin te ye. May the winds be behind your sails. “ She drops a coin by her glass, waving her rudder and letting loose a loud bark to get the barkeeps attention, signaling that she’s done.
Scioto listens, he is called over by a guard and nods "I must tend to something" He starts heads off.
Ink nods, and she makes her way, agilely dodging beasts, to the tavern doors. A blast of cold air enters the tavern as she leaves, and the door slams shut behind her. The sea otter fighter has left.
Scioto watches her exit and then heads off.
