Shootin' the Breeze - Camp Willow
Characters: Pheone, Zephyr
It's late evening in the tavern and Zephyr is the only one sitting at any of the tables. Eli, the burly bar otter type, is finishing up wiping down some glasses and polishing the top of his bar. The mood is relaxed and the only lighting is from lanterns and candles scattered around. Outside the glass windows, a storm is bearing down on the camp, threatening to bathe everything. The leaves and branches from nearby trees occasionally tap the windows as if frantic to get in. The Skipper is sitting at a table in the back writing on a piece of paper and thinking every once in awhile. She's also muttering to herself and counting on her paws.
Acting on the summons of the acting skipper Pheone makes his way into the tavern, its not a place he has yet seen the inside of and has been avoiding entering. Moving back to where Zephyr is seated Pheone stands to attention in front of the table, waiting to hear the reasons as to why he was summoned. Pheone seems about as disgruntled as he usually is, mostly owing to the fact that the place is deserted. The otters fur and clothing appear to be dampened in splotches, making it seem like the rain might of been trying to give it a go here and there as Pheone made his way to the tavern, atleast he isn't already trying to make an escape like he was back at the library.
Zephyr glances up when she hears the otter arrive. "Oh, Pheone, thank you so much for coming." She motions for him to sit down. "I realize this probably isn't the best time for a meeting." As if in response, a flash of lightning illuminates the main grounds and a few moments later is followed by a crash of thunder. "But I have no other time for this." She pauses, taps the pencil she is using on the paper and then begins. "How can I put this...I need to know what you thought of Flicktail. Not the Abbey beasts. Flicktail."
Taking the seat Pheone seems slightly animated for once as relates what he thinks " Skipper, I had no direct dealins with him or any o the other beasts that them Redwallers brought but kept my eye on all of the vermin that were allowed into the camp, I numbered him as one among many not to be trusted simply because of what he was. From what I saw the fox acted rather daft an foppish while all the while bein overly friendly an tryin ta act like 'e belonged here. In short Skipper, he's a fox an foxes are not beasts that ya trust, not if ya ever want ta wake up breathin, they act sly er coy ta try an put ya at ease when they want somethin but they always have reasons for what they are doin, bad reasons."
Zephyr nods slowly, taking in the assessment. "Aye. There were no reports of anything damaged or any beast wounded - which I would expect from a member of the Abbey. I am in agreement with you that he is a fox and that in and of itself is a good reason for suspicion. But the fact that the abbey has made him their Champion....well, it's going to look bad on us if we take a stance against it." Her last statement is just that - a statement. She doesn't appear to care what other beasts think and she leans back in her chair, eyes trained on the older otter, to see how he responds.
Looking down at his knobly paws Pheone intones a reply " I don't know anythin first hand about the Redwall place but knowin that they named a fox protector only makes me think that either the fox is much more clever than the fool acts or the beasts that run the place are more daft than he acts. ". Looking back up and straight at Zephyr Pheone resumes " I hear that the place will treat any beast what asks fer sanctuary, but you know how most of us out here treat vermin, the only time a vermin is truly good is when it's good and dead. I know this first paw and don't intend ta change my stance on it, I will tolerate them if that is what we must do to maintain relations but I will not work with or get near the beasts if I can help it. Besides, I doubt that I would be the only beast that don't like the fact that a foppish vermin is allowed to do as he pleases in the name of an order that he has no bearin representin. " Having spoken his thoughts Pheone's eyes go back to his paws which have clenched to fists while he was speaking.
Zephyr is quiet for a few moments, listening to Pheone speak over the splatter of raindrops against the window. Somehow the moment is peacefully intense. Eli, the barkeep, finally breaks the atmosphere by bringing Zephyr a mug of mint tea. "I suppose I should tell you that I am in the process of writing down Camp Willow's official policy for visitors of vermin species." The sentence is clumsy and it's clear that she never thought she'd have to say something like that. "You are correct, we do need to tolerate them for the sake of our allies but I do not feel that it would be wise for us to pretend as if we have no problem. Better to be safe than sorry. Would you like some tea?"
The offer of the drink seems to bring the animation that had been present in Pheone to a halt for a moment as he stops to look around as if trying to figure out where he is. " Sure, just tea though, with nothin in it. " Trying to cover his lapse Pheone looks over towards the window and the commotion that the rain is starting to bring out there until he can pick back up the thread of the conversation, which he tries to bring himself back into in poor taste " Ya mean the javelin em on sight an don't stop till they look like a hedgehog rule? I thought that was an unspoken for the most part. " Eyes going back down to his paws Pheone makes to start again then just stops, figuring that what he had just went on about was totally improper.
Zephyr grins and cradles her mug in both paws. Eli obligingly brings out another mug full of hot water and floating mint leaves - nothing else. "As interesting as that would be, I'm fairly certain it would not go over well. At least not if they are an abbey beast. But you might be interested in knowing that I've heard rumors of another group that we might start seeing in the area. And /these/ guys you can throw as many javelins at as you wish. Provided you leave at least one of 'em alive." Her eyes dance as she takes a sip of the hot liquid.
Leaving the mug where it is for the moment Pheone works up a reply as the steam from the mug starts to curl around his snout " Sorry Skipper, but how am I supposed to tell the difference? I saw atleast four foxes in that group and I'll be darned if I will be able ta pick any one of em out of a crowd of vermin. ". While Pheone rambled he was setting a good sniff on the tea, just to ensure that it was infact just tea. " Now whats this about other vermin? And why do ya want one alive? " Satisfied that the mug by smell is what he asked for Pheone picks up the mug and starts blowing at the top of it.
"Personally, I don't care if they're left alive. But the squirrel, Nicholas, specifically asked me to keep one if we do come across them." Zephyr leans back in her chair and tries to recall everything correctly. Her eyes narrow and she purses her lips. "They all wear cloaks with spiders on them and they are led by a vixen what calls herself the spider queen. I tell you no lies." She sips the tea again. "At any rate, he claims they are terrible beasts and need to be questioned, apparently, as to their motives. Not sure what sort of information he plans to get but there y'have it."
With a paw that starts to play with the hilt the hangs from his waist Pheone replies " Sounds like this Nicholas isn't used to dealin with types that get so uppity as ta start callin themselves somethin silly like that. But I will keep me eye open for anythin like that Skipper. " Trying a sip of the tea Pheone then starts in again " I suppose the next thing ta ask will be what to do if somehow we do manage ta find one o em still alive, who does that Nicholas represent? An how far is he willin ta go to... persuade any vermin ta talk? Should we decide ta hand them over to em. ".
Zephyr laughs. "Well, he's a good friend o' Flicktail's apparently. Got his panties in a wad when one o' the otters talked bad 'bout 'im or somethin'. Kept tryin' to get me to lecture 'im." She snorts. "Lecture an otter about not trustin' a fox. Yeh, that'll be th' day." She shakes her head disparagingly. "All joking aside, he told me his homeland had been overrun by the spider queen and her army. I guess he escaped and they've chased him here. He wasn't too clear on that point."
With a shake of his head at what Zephyr speaks Pheone looks up again before he does start back up " Well then it seems ta me that we had best find one o em first since this Nicholas is already in cahoots with a vermin himself, that and if he is part o that then he is probably part of that Redwall crowd an squeamish when it comes ta finding out what a beast needs ta know. ". Trying to meet eyes with Zephyr Pheone goes for another point " Least ways if I find one o em they will talk or they won't be a problem for any beast any time soon. "
Zephyr pushes her chair out from under the table so that she can lean back and relax a little more. She's decided on the vermin policy and now just wants to chat. As skipper it is sometimes difficult to find otters that don't mind having a casual conversation and now that Pheone has relaxed some, it looks as if Zeph will be able to get some real, adult conversation in. "Aye well, we need to talk to th' other otters 'ere in th' camp. Get them all on the same page. We're havin' a meeting tomorrow afternoon to sort all this stuff out...." Zephyr keeps talking and Pheone keeps responding. The two otters will keep this up all night and into the morning. Eventually, Eli leaves and instructs them to lock up when they go. His absence is hardly noticed.
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