No One Is Having A Good Day-Jedrick Log

• • • This first part does not have any of my characters in it, but I included it as a request to help understand about the mentioned cave and boat, in this first part Liam spoofs some vermin that our friend Sorex stumbles upon before finding an even more dangerous foe come later in the day ****

The only sound on the beach is the gentle and ever present crash of waves against the shore. It is a relaxing scene this far out of halyard. Not a beast can be seen except for the occasional sea gull high over head. A cool breeze blows in from the sea tempering with the heat of the sun to produce a warm climate. Hundreds of years from now when cities are built beasts of all kinds will flock here to enjoy such weather, but for now, the beach is seemingly devoid of life...

Sorex has been walking along the beach from the area of the river, the one who let him on the boat kicked him off, but that’s fine as he could just walk to the village...right?

Walk? Sure he could walk! He would reach a destination...eventually...surely there was a village here, somewhere. One would hope...

Truth be told the beach just continues to prove to be that, a beach that seemingly stretches on forever in either direction. Until that is there is an anomoly ahead, an oar boat is dragged out on the beach, far enough that the tide won't drag it back in. There are foot paws leading off into a cave along the opposite end of the beach.

Sorex looks over at the boat and the foot paws leading to the cave and blinks in the sunlight as he wipes his brow of sweat, he seems to debate on whether to go inside out of the hot weather or go further. He edges closer to the boat and peers inside for anything of value, maybe a bit of food or water even would be good.

Food is in abundance here, so is wine. Unfortunately both happen to be located in the bellies of the caves occupants. The cave isn't too deep but fairly wide and spacious.

A smugglers den of goods and contraband lay scattered about the cave, boxes and crates and chests full of clothes, supplies, weapons and spices line the walls. A trio of vermin sit along the edges of the cave, drinking wine and eating supplies with great glee while they chat about their victories. "And then I say to him, Mercy? I ain't going to cook ya, thars your mercy! And stab him right in the gut." Says a female rat witha red bandana over her head. The ferrets in the room laugh. There are two of them. A grey furred creature against one wall and a very fat brown ferret against the other.

"I know. I was there." Says the forth beast. A silver fox lays face first onto the ground, his paws and feet hog tied behind his back.

"Quit yer complaining, yer alive? arn't ya?" The rat kicks the fox in the side. The vermin, all of them, don't appear to have seen the shrew yet...

Sorex hears them though and carefully walks to the cave, he stops a short distance away and draws his short blade he has and narrows his eyes, “Vermin...nothing but vermin scum" He mutters to himself, “And possible thieves as well"

There is a lull in the laughter. It takes a while for the realization that there is another beast here to work through the ale and gluttony. "You just chose the right place for your hide out, ya know that?" The rat steps on the foxes back.

"Two armed groups of beasts raiding it in one day?" The fox retorts, "Yeah, I'm thinking I could due for a relocation..."

"Don't just stand there, get him!" Souts the grey ferret. He is the first to leap into the action, followed by the rat and second heavy set ferret.

Sorex narrows his eyes, are they after him or someone else. Well he is not taking chances and will charge one of the rats close to him and goes to slice at their side! He can move fairly well on the sand, maybe his hate of vermin fuel him.

Catching them while they are full of wine and rich food, the bandits move somewhat sluggishly. The rat let's out a yell of pain, staggering back as a wound appears across her side. It's shallow, but it draws her out of the fight for a moment. And in a 3 on 1 fight the shrew will need all the help he can get. The ferrets press in with their cutlass'. The grey one strikes high the brown one sweeps low for the shrews leg.

Sorex jumps back and about trips as he slashes towards the closest vermin’s throat. He pants as he is starting to tire out, never was wise to fight in hot weather.

The grey ferret dies, clutching his throat. The fatter brown ferret presses the attack while the rat leaps back into battle!

Sorex gets a cut to his left leg and blood falls freely from it, he barely avoids another slashing blow and frowns. He yells and goes to quickly stab the rat in the gut when they get closer again. He tries to keep his ears open for sounds of another attack

The rat let's out a terror squeak as the blade runs her through the guts. "No! Not like..." She collapses to her knees while the ferret raises his cutlass high over his head with both paws for a downward strike

Sorex smirks as he laughs a little and goes to push the blade in further and pull it out to stab the rat again, it’s then he feels pain on his shoulder and makes a very unshrew like growl and swings around to slice at the ferret! Blood goes down his own shoulder but he cares less right now in anger and pain he swings his blade

The rat makes a gargles squeak as the blade finds her flesh once again. She collapses onto her side while the ferret scores a blow across the shrew. Unfortunately the wound proves shallow and as a reward for his effort the shrews sword flashes through the air. The ferret gasps, staggering backward as his belly spills across the floor. He lands on his back, breathing deeply as his life flows out of him.

"Jolly good show." Says the smuggler fox on the ground. "Now. I don't suppose you can untie me?"

Sorex slowly goes over to the fox..."Untie?...Why would I DO THAT?" His voice sounds cold as he looks at the fox and grips the blade he has, ready to slit the fox's throat, “You’re a vermin you would just slay me so......"He then goes to end the fox's life, the last of his strength he frowns and stumbles backwards and passes out, well...least he is out of the sun and the sand will clog up that wound.

The fox twitches an eye, "W-what? No! Please! Mercy! Let's just-" The fox let's out a gurgle as his throat is slit. He falls limp on the ground, "WhyyYYYYyyyYYyy..."

Later in the day, the shrew meets Jedrick =

Sorex woke from his little adventure on the beach and slowly made his way down shore, he came upon the edge of the village finally and sighed in relief, he had his side bandaged from some –borrowed- bandages and herbs from the smugglers cave, as well as helped himself to some gold and jewels, he looked around the path, his first thoughts on this sea village were not the best as he seen vermin, as well as woodlander together trading and shopping and rolled his eyes. “My stay for sure won’t be long here this I can already tell”

A cloaked figure was making their way out of the market place, they seemed to be on high alert as they looked back and forth and then would run a few feet, right now straight for Sorex unless he moves out of the way.

Jedrick was not in a happy mood, he had trusted the badger to come right back, how dare it disobey him, “Once I catch him, he is in big trouble.” He glances around for anything out of place or least a familiar cloak one would be wearing.

Sorex snorts and then oofs as he is knocked over and glares at the cloaked beast “Watch yourself you stupid beast! Or do beasts like you even watch where you are going?” He stands and dusts himself off and folds his arms over his chest “You best answer me, you one of those sea vermin?”

Xander frowns and shakes his head “N…N….No sorry sir I was just in a hurry” He looks around and behind him, before back to the shrew ”I..have to…to go before he finds me” Frist part of the plan, get out of the village, then get to Salamadnastron, hopefully with not much risk, if that was possible seeing as the beach between here and there was fairly wide open, one could easily be seen by foe…or hopefully friend.

Jedrick had yet to spot Xander as the market place was busy today, but he did hear yelling and decided to get closer to the yelling just in case.

Sorex gets a good look at the cloaked beast and his eyes widen “You’re a badger, and a young one at that. Why would a badger want to live here?”

Xander looks near tears “I..I don’t live here…well I do right now but I don’t want to, I want to go home to Mossflower, to Redwall Abbey with my uncles and my..my mom” He frowns “I was taken by a wildcat, and he sold me to his brother who brought me here”

Jedrick was close, he knew he was and then his ears perked and a low growl formed as he centered in on the close voice, while the badger was distracted he growls “Xander!!!!!!!!!!!!!” He then draws his blade and proceeds to narrow the as crowd both woodlander and vermin get out of the wildcat’s way, a ferret who tries to be tough loses his head and a nearby hamster screams, as does a rat maid and…well chaos happens as beasts scream, and run, push and shove to get out of the mad cat’s way

Sorex starts to reply to the badger when he looks up at the panic and blinks, he looks to the badger “Trust and follow me kid, we are getting out of this crazy place!” He goes to take his paw or least allow him to follow him into an alley, and down it to another street, around a corner and down a side path towards the boat dock area, or least a small part of where it’s by the sand, “Come on kid, I know a cave not too far away!”

Xander quickly follows the shrew, he doesn’t know Sorex but it’s better to get out of Halyard, “You need to find a Long Patrol Hare, they wear green and black uninforms! And if Lord Ciocan is around he is a very VERY tall badger that’s over 8.5 feet tall!”

Jedrick loses track of them, but only for a few moments and soon finds their trail again, his eyes narrow as there is no way he is letting them get to that beach, or least very far on that beach. He gives chase, energy fueled by rage.

Sorex leds the badger to where he was himself just this morning and frowns “Ummm…ignore the mess kid, tis….still a good place to stay”

Xander is out of breath and takes one look around and frowns deeply, he decides not to question what happen here.

Jedrick, meanwhile, has caught up to them and angles his blade “Shrew…you have something that belongs to me, hand it over and you shall live” His voice has an icy edge to it.

Sorex glares, “Like I will listen, I have slayed many vermin scum as ya self…whats another one to me list!” He right away is charging the wildcat.

Xander gasps and quickly goes to hide behind a nearby over turned rowboat and watches the fight from there.

Jedrick was ready for this, he sidesteps and slices at the shrew’s already bandaged side.

Sorex barely avoids being cut and smirks as he flicks his wrist and aims a slice at the wildcat’s sword arm.

Jedrick growls as blood forms on his lower arm, he starts to circle the shrew “Foolish woodlander this will only end in your death”

Xander watches from the turned over rowboat and gulps, he hates fights and seems to debate on bolting further down shore as he can see the mountain from where he is, he could run while they are distracted or, least try to.

Sorex only chuckles “Is that so kitty cat.” He uses the cat’s anger against him and slides between the wildcat’s foot paws and picks up a rock and aims it for the wildcat’s head and lets the rock soar!

Jedrick snorts and goes to grab the shrew by the throat, that leaves him open for the rock to hit him in the side of the head and he slumps unconcious to the sand, his sword held limply in his paw still.

Xander blinks as he is surprised, could he be….free? He steps from behind the boat and looks at the shrew, “You..you knocked him out…”Another thought ”We got to get otta here!”

Sorex pants and nods, he puts his blade away and walks away from the wildcat, “Yeah,…kid or..what be your name, and where do we go?”

Xander answers “My name is Xander, and we have to find the Long Patrol hares”

What happen next was unexpected… totally unexpected. While they were talking the wildcat had regained consciousness and slowly, quietly griped his sword that had fallen beside him. The next second or two was a lightning quick move, one of those things that would happen in slow motion in one’s mind. Jedrick had stood up and raised his blade and plunged it downwards with all his strength towards the shrew’s unprotected back.

Sorex eyes were on the badger as he spoke, “Well I could..find some random hare in unin---“ The word uniform is halted mid-word as a gasp of pure pain is heard instead and a look of shock as the shrew see’s the sword suddenly growing out of his chest, his vision dims and he slumps sideways, limp and lifeless.

Xander looks on in total shock; he starts to shiver and is too afraid to bolt away. He watches the shrew…the shrew’s death and panic starts to form, he wants to run but he can’t, his legs seem to fail him.

Jedrick grins in triumph and pulls the blade back out just as quickly letting the shrew fall lifeless to the sand, he narrows his eyes at Xander,” We go back home now or your fate will be the same as his, do you understand me Xander? I hold your life in my paw and I –WILL- end it if I so choose it, and end the life of any beast who tries to” He chuckles coldly” Free you. You are mine and will always be mine. Now…let us go.” He waits on a reply, his blade angled and his muscles ready to spring into action if needed.

Xander nods and shivering uncontrollably he finds his voice “Y….Yes sir…”

Jedrick grins and walks over, “Good…my pet, now let’s leave” He looks up as sea gulls start to circle “ Besides the sea gulls want their lunch, you on the other paw will not get lunch, or dinner….just some water for a couple days and be locked in your room, a punishment for disobeying me and I feel you have learned your lesson, a life was lost…be glad it was not your own.” He makes sure the badger cub follows him, he will then once home lock he badger up for 2 days, with a little water to drink during that time and then after the 2 days are up…..well let’s just say life just got tougher and training just got harder and longer.

Once inside his room and hearing the lock click xander runs over to his bed and collapse on it crying himself to sleep, in fact he will do a lot of crying the next couple days.