Talk and other such things.

BottleBrush makes his way out of the tavern, the half-faced fox singing a soft shanty with a definite pirates brogue. His good eye is alert, however, darting here and there as he walks.

Ekon has ventured out of the infirm, a light limp and a tightly bandaged chest, as well as a bandaged arm in a sling now.

A squirrel comes comes up the road, and, as he makes his way to the tavern, John glances at the elder squirrel. Nodding a greeting as he passes, he slows and asks, "Yore 'un o' tha' Tribe, arn't ye?"

BottleBrush pauses as he spies Ekon, then sees John approaching his fellow squirrel. The fox falls silent, about ten paces from the Tavern door, and watches for a few moments, keen ears perked up.

Ekon looks at John and nods, but frowns, "Tribe..taken from me was.." He stumbles a little and decides its best to sit down, even if its on the pathway.

"Ah see." John remains standing, his tail twitching. "So tha' beast Alvar succeeded, then?" the squirrel lets out a sigh and sits next to Ekon. "So nae 'elp fom thae Gawtrybe, then..." He says, more to himself.

Behind BottleBrush, Trillis exits the tavern. She looks around with a rather bleary look on her face, but she seems to be sober enough. After a moment of standing on the threshold, she walks forward a bit, swaying uneasily as she bumps lightly into the fox's shoulder with a small 'whoops!'

BottleBrush makes a surprised noise as he is bumped, the fox turning towards Trillis, which lets her see that disfigured face. His good eye blinks a moment as his paws shoot out to catch the squirrel, in case she stumbles again or falls, "Careful, lassy! It's not possble to walk through beasts." He chuckles.

Ekon frowns, he doesn’t reply he just looks between the beasts gathered and sighs deeply.

Trillis reaches out and uses the fox's arm to steady herself, giggling lightly, "Thanks mate." She makes a 'phffft' noise with her lips, "Walkin' through beasts. Don't be silly. Tha's perfectly locoigl." She frowns for a moment. That would didn't sound quite right.

John's eyebrows raise as two healers help the old squirrel back to the infirm, then, hearing the fox and other squirrel, he turns. Shaking his head, he walks over to them. "'Ello there, Tillis. Who's yer friend?"

BottleBrush smirks, "It makes about as much sense as a reformed fox." Of course, such a beast stands right here, and Flicktail is another, so that's two hat give lie to that comment. He looks between Trillis and John with a chuckle, "I am Bottlebrush." his voice has lost that pirates brogue, "Former well-known pirate captian DeadEye, now a Redwall Healer."

While everyone is distracted, a young otter exits the tavern and attempts to pass without drawing any attention to himself.

Trillis gestures loosely to the fox, nodding in agreement at his words, "Aye, tha's who he is. As true a beast as I've ever known!" Though she hardly knows the beast, she's sure her drunken senses can't be /that/ far off. It takes her clouded mind a moment to realizes who John is, but once she does she lets out with a pleased sounding moan and throws her arms open wide, "John me'boy! Where've you been?" The otter goes unoticed by the female squirrel.

"Ah am hardly yer boy." The older squirrel says, sighing. "Ah leave ye for a'bit an' this is what 'appons." John backs away slightly. "Ah also seem tae remember ye sayin' tha' ye'd never touch drink again." John sees the otter but says nothing. Turning to the fox, he holds out a paw. "Ah'm John McGrove, friend. Thae AH must say Ah've never 'eard o' Deadeye before."

BottleBrush glances towards the otter a moment and chuckles, but it's not his place to point out sneaking beasts, unless they seem to be up to no good as well. He looks back at John and makes a small face, "My fame was not so big that more inland beasts would know me." He shakes Johns paw, "I was more known in shoreside settlements, for good or ill. I would slay beasts who did not surrender, or my own crew if they broke my rules, but anybeast who dropped their weapon was spared and I never took slaves."

William pauses, hearing the strange fox speak, and he stares silently at him, for several minutes, without a single word.

Trillis shrugs at John, chuckling to herself, "Did I say tha'? Ha! Wada you know. An I'm perfectly capible of takin' care of myself." As if to prove herself right, she starts to wander off down the street, muttering something about finding a bed.

John's eyes widden as she wanders off. He starts to follow, but she's gone. Cursing, he makes his way back. "She has a 'abbit o' startin' fights. That Ah have tae clean up." He shakes his head. "Anyway, as for me no' hearin' o' ye, Ah come from thae North-East..." John's face darkens. "Ah've had bad experiences with pirates." he pauses, the adds, "Thae most beasts 'oo 'ave met pirates dae."

BottleBrush looks after Trillis and then smirks at John, "Even my experiences with pirates are bad, matey!" he taps the dead flesh on his face, "Was a pirate that gave me this and set me on the path to being one, when I was bust a dibbun." The foxes ears twitch and he looks towards William again, "Can I help you, lad?"

The squirrel nods slowly. "Ah see..." Again he glances at the otter, "Aye, what dae ye want, friend?"

William is staring at Bottle's face, not meaning to be rude, but when the two beasts speak to him, he frowns, and says nothing, then looks moderately upset.

BottleBrush frowns slightly at the look on Wiliams face and dips his head to the two beasts, "I should probably get going. My willing looks seem to be upsetting the young otter, there. Plus, I need to do my rounds at the infirmary."

John nods to the fox "Right..Fare thae well, Bottlebrush." Turning back to the otter, he asks, "What 'tis wrong?"

William frowns. Normally he has his notebook with him, so he could just write a reply... Unfortunately, this time he forgot to bring it. He raises his paws, and opens his mouth, then points, hoping the squirrel understands.

John narrows his eyes, then, after a moment, it clicks in his mind. "Ahh. ..Ye can' speak, can ye?"

William nods repeatedly, and sighs in relief. He wouldn't have to play charades with this squirrel, thankfully.

"'As it always been tha' way?" John gestures to his throat with a paw, "Ye no' bein' able tae speak?"

William looks down, then shakes his head softly.

The Squirrel's eyebrows raise, and he shakes his head. "Ah guess 'tis nae good askin' what 'apponed, nae is it?" He some-what jokes. "Though Ah'm sorry for ye, mate."

William looks up and nods, then studies John. He points at the squirrel, then at himself, then at the tavern, apparently asking a question.

John, after trying to figure out what the otter means, asks, "Dae ye won' tae go to thae tavern?" the squirrel heads for the tavern. "Com'on, then." John says after turning back.

William nods, smiling brightly and following John in.

Farra

As John enters, a serving beast runs by, holding a tray. Gesturing for the otter to follow him, John makes his way over to an empty table. He sits down, leaning back in his chair. "Now then, dae ye won' somethin' tae drink?"

William sits at the table, then nods. He then reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a charcoal stick, and begins to pantomime and gesture the motions of writing something, hoping to get his meaning across.

"Ah see..." John says, and he waves the waiter over. "This beast woul' like somethin' tae write on, if ye don' mind. While yer at it, can ye brin' me a drink as well?" The things asked for are soon brought. The squirrel takes a sip of the ale as he pushes a birch-bark paper over to the otter.

William smiles gratefully, then starts to write. After a few moments, he shows John, "My name is Will. Are you from here? Could you order me some cordial, please?"

John nods, calls the serving beast over again, and asks for the Cordial. Turning back to the otter, he then says, "'Ello, Will. Ah'm John Mcgrove." He offers his paw. "As for bein' from 'ere, Ah'll have tae say otherwise." He takes another sip. "Ah'm from thae North East, around the Eastern sea..."

William nods, smiling, as the beast sets a mug of cordial before him. He writes out, "I am from Camp Willow, not far from here. Nice to meet you."

John smiles back. "As 'tis nice tae met ye, tae." He leans forward, saying, "Yore from camp Willow, ye say? Ah've never been there meself.

William nods several times as he takes a sip of cordial. He seems thoughtful a moment, then yawns. Taking his charcoal, he writes, "Thank you for being polite about my... problem."

The Squirrel leans back again, this time downing the mug in one go. He nods to Will. "Anytime, anytime...Though Ah must ask, 'ow did it," He points to his throat, "Happen? Ah don' mean tae be rude..."

William frowns, sighing. He doesn't move for a few minutes, then writes, "My parents died," but doesn't appear willing to explain further.

The squirrel's expression darkens. "Ah see. Ah'm sorry for yer loss..." John stand up, saying, "Here, Ah must leave ye. Ah got some...things tae look to." He puts some gold on the table. "Farewell, Will." With that, John walks away.