The Good, the Bad, and the ...also Bad.

Nightfur squares off with Bandit and an unexpected visitor on the northern bridge.

The warmth of the previous days was welcome and will be missed after the coming snow storm. Ice forms along the stone bridge running over the river, which is moving slowly at the moment. Dark clouds hang in the sky to the north and a south ward wind blows gently through the area. A lone fox sits on the bridge, leaning himself against the railing. Bandit has his arms crossed, the fat bellied vulpine is wearing his Old Rusty rapier and a small fencing dirk on his belt. He glances at the scenery around him every so often.

Nightfur is walking along the river and slows when he sees Bandit and comes to a stop as he goes behind a tree and simply watches for now, nearby are about four rats and a ferret.

The fox on the bridge looks up at the sky, he holds out a paw and catches a single snow flake. With a sigh Bandit pushes himself away from the railing, "Well...it was worth a try. Looks like I can't wait out here for much longer..."

Nightfur smirks as he snaps his fingers and the rats start to go onto the bridge and he walks onto the edge of the bridge himself and glaces over at the other fox and smiles coldy.

The heavier brown fox pauses when he sees the rats and the fox. He narrows his eyes and returns Nightfur a smile of his own. "Heh, I guess I was right. If I waited long enough in your usual hunting grounds I would run across some slavers eventually...didn't expect to see you in person Nightfur." Bandit keeps his paws resting on his rapier as he takes a step forward, "You look like you are doing well. How goes the slaver business by the way? You seem to be on everyones mind these days."

Nightfur chuckles some, not a friendly chuckle either, "I remember you, yes intrupted me twice when I was just doing my job. "A closer look shows a bandage on his neck, half a ear missing and he is in a fouler mood than he usually is. "Can't have intrupts now can I..it loses slaves and causes more beasts to be after me or find me out"

Nightfur smiels colldy as he draws his twin blades slowly and nods "Attack the fat one" He says and the rats, four of them, obey and draw cutlases and charge the fat fox as Nightfur chuckles.

Bandit scowls at nightfur. Blast it. He wasn't hoping to kill anyone this trip...but one does not go looking for trouble with out expecting to pay the consequences. Bandit draws his blade in one fluid motion. He won't hold back this time. And these rats are about to find out why the fox earned the name Bandit. He slashes with his rapier first, hoping to lock blades with the lead rat and then stab him with the fencing dagger.

Nightfur slices with one of his blades at the fox, one of the rats is killed as he gets a wound in the chest from Bandit , as a 2nd rat slips behind the fox, Nightfur chuckles "Then maybe I will -help- the abbey this way as seems you eat a LOT of thier food fat one"

From a distance, something comes flying and the rat behind Bandit falls over dead. A barbed crossbow bolt in his back. Surely the symbol of his death by Marek's hand. 2 rat Remain

Bandit is too busy to care about who is shooting arrows at the rats behind him. When he blocks night furs attack his rapier flashes quickly to the rat to his side, slashing him across the chest then going back to swipe at Nightfur, first with his rapier then his fencing dagger.

Another rat falls over, and surely this has gotten the attention of both beasts, from a tree a figure in the distance steps towards them, his identity slowly becoming clear

Nightfur notices the dead rat and the cross-bolt "Well, that clearly hurt...oh joy it's You Stoat"

Marek grins. "My name is Marek, or have you forgotten that already, Nightfur?" he draws his sword. "Mossflower will be mine, and not the property of slaver scum. Kill the lackys, fat one. I'll take care of Nightfur"

The pudgy fox Bandit growls at Marek's appearance. Great, now he owe's him for saving his life, twice. How dare he treat the fox like a minion the ...oh right fighting. "Just keep yourself alive so I can give you a proper death stoat..." Bandit launches himself at the weasel and ferret, growling deeply as he lashes out with them with quick deadly strikes, each aimed at a vital area, when his blade is blocked he refuses to break momentum and attacks elsewhere

Marek smiles as he blocks Nightfur's attack while drawing his secondary sword. "Oh you amuse me, Fat one. You're hardly qualified to kill me" he stabs one of the ferrets, leaving few minions left. "Justice will come to the slaver scum whose family imprisoned mine so long ago. It is only a matter of time. It would just be a Bonus if I could slit your throat myself after all these seasons"

Nightfur chuckles coldly, he watches the the others attck Bandit as he blocks one of Marek's blades"Oh..that so. how exciting maybe I will finish both of my hated enemies today, both of you are intrupting my plans and will pay"

on the other end of the bridge the weasel throws as series of blows and drives bandit towards the railing. With his tail against the stone wall, he locks blades with both at once. The fox hisses a curse then puts his paw against the wall and rebounds, making a half leap between them both and rolling to his feet to block a sword attack to his head, and another to his belly.

Marek doesn't actually care too much about the fox, so he ignores it. He is mainly focusing on Nightfur as Bandit attempts to kill the lackys. Using both his swords now to combat Nightfur, Marek's eyes are aglow with the rage of battle.

Nightfur growls, he is loseing more and more beasts in this fight and hopes more come to his aid, he chuckles as Bandit starts to get hurt, he blocks one blade and the other cuts into his arm a little, he growls and slices at Marek again, if done right maybe he can get both of them to visit the cells..and guests of his or slaves, however want to state that.

Bandit can't say that he is enjoying the fight. He hasn't enjoyed fighting for a long while. And he will regret all the death he has caused to day later. But in the here and now he doesn't feel the ache in his muscles, doesn't feel the soreness in his softened body, and doesn't feel the dozens of small scrapes and bruises along his arms and legs. He tosses his fencing derk into the chest of the ferret who screams and backs up as the weasel jabs at bandit's gut. His blade pointing down bandit deflects the blow and rams the hilt into the weasels chest, then noses. As the weasel recoils bandit slashes him twice up and down his middle. "Nightfur! I'm coming for you...GAK!" the fox yelps as the ferret comes back, dirk still in his chest and tackles the fox, both go up against the railing and over.

Marek smiles as it appears the fight is going his way. "Nice job, fat one. Now lets finish it of-" Marek frowns as more vermin seem to appear from the shadows, and signs seem that yet more are coming after that. "I think it is best to retreat, fat one. This is an ambush"

Nightfur chuckles, oh yes finally some come to his aid, with them about 3 archers, who dont fire yet, they wait and make sure both sides of the bridge are blocked as the fox smirks"What fun, I can let you two be my guests, a nice cell!"

A loud yelp from over the side of the bridge replies, "I CAN SEE THAT!" Bandit is hanging on the bridge for dear life with one paw, the ferret has hit the water below...he struggles and finely grasps the edge of the bridge with both paws. He growls deeply as he tries to pull his bulk up and over to safety.

Marek frowns. "No, no, no. I know trouble when I see it, and this is trouble" he drops a couple bolts and kicks them to the side, none of the vermin notice. "Very well, Nightfur. It is clear that you have us surrounded" he blocks the blade, but gets one cut down his arm. "All the more reason to KILL YOU NOW!"

Nightfur smiles coldly, he points to Bandit, "Tie up the fat one and.."He smirks as if he is enjoying this alot more "And him" He points to Marek and chuckles coldly, "This is so..deliously fun."

Marek growls and slices to get one more cut at Nightfur before he is tied up and forced to the ground. "You'll die by my hand one day, slaver scum. You can be assured of that"

Bandit pulls himself over the railing and lays there on the ground panting, clutching at his chest and breathing hard. HE sees the slavers coming and whines, reaching for his rapier that he dropped to the ground before falling over the side. Before the fox can react though the slavers are upon him...

Nightfur growls as he gets a cut on the arm and looks at it, he has had some bad luck the past couple days but soon smiles as he has them both

Some time passes...

Nightfur arrives at the cells and has the two new captives placed in teh cell and smiles coldly, "This is how I..win, do enjoy your stay"

The slavers were not too kind with the fox that killed four of their own. Beaten and bruised Bandit slowly comes too. The emotions that run across his face as he realizes where he is range from confusion, shock, fear then anger. He snaps his head around to see iron bars between him and Nightfur. With a grunt of effort Bandit rolls over onto his tail, leaning back and supporting himself on his paws behind him, "Ah well...blast..."

Nightfur watches as the new captives are placed in a cell and looks at them "Well well well..how delightful, two new slaves and see..I DID show you where your friends are and you get to keep them company"

Bandit nods slowly to the comment from where he sits, "I...suppose you did..." he is tempted to cuss the fox out in pirate lingo but that would be a waste of the very little energy he has left, "Talk about your ironic outcomes. I set out to find my friends and...got what I wanted...in a weird sort of round about way..." Now for the all important question, "What...what do you plan to do with me?" not quite as friendly as scioto's jail, but not nearly as terrifying as the prospect of being caught by the Order...but still...Nightfur has the power of life and death over bandit and that knowlege cause him to feel queesy.

Nightfur makes sure all weapons are taken from the new captives, like he always does, "Maybe you and Marek will slay one another, less to feed that way"

Bandit gulps. He is relieved to not be slated for becoming a fur coat but...wait, The fox snaps his head around to see Marek is here as well, "Oh...that is just mean Nightfur...that is just. mean."

Nightfur smiles "I didnt plan on you both being here but its an added bonus see, less after me and more here the better, I am just so SO HAPPY with this turn of events" He grins "I think a celebration is in order for me and my men, I am winning and others are losing"

Starlight yawns as she slowly opens her eyes and looks around the cell quietly.

The fox in the cell snarls, "I hope you choke Nightfur..."

Starlight blinks and whimpers as she backs up to a wall and stays there frowning.

Nightfur chuckles, "Do have fun, your be feed..a little" He smiles coldly at the dibbun, "And hello to you as well dibbun, I would come closer but I have a feast to plan" He walks out.

To heck with wasting energy, Bandit is going to cuss that fox out so much his ancestors will be feeling the sting of it. Before he can begin he however realizes what the fox just said, "Dibbun?" Turning his head around bandit's eyes widen, his jaws drop in a gasp, and his ears go strait up, "Starlight?"

Starlight looks at first afraid of the fox, but then why is he in here? She edges a little way from wall, "Who foxie?" She asks Bandit.

The fox's heart warms. He is so glad the otter dibbun is safe. It's been so long since she dissapeared it feels like a life time ago, "I'm B-Bandit. I'm a friend of Lee's." Bandit painfully rolls onto his stomach and sits up, he moves closer to the dibbun.

Starlight perks up at the name Lee and smiles, she walks over slowly, she frowns some as if something is on her mind.

Bandit says in the best soothing voice he can muster, "Don't worry little gal. Your moma and your daddy are ok. Lee is out there searching for us." The fox says that more to reassure himself than the dibbun really.

Starlight frowns, "Daddy..daddy gones, mean fox kill"

The not mean fox shakes his head, not understanding, "No...your daddy is ok. Lee is fine."

Starlight frowns, "No Lee..means Daddy..daddy go bam bam to bad stoat"

It takes a while to process this...her dad, her REAL dad...the otter...the otter Rorgan brought in!" Despite claims to the contrary Bandit hasn't survived bounty hunters, assassins, and the dangers from his adventures by being dumb. "Your daddy is the otter...no, don't you worry Starlight. Your daddy is alive. A friend brought him to Redwall. He is alive."

Starlight smiles at this and looks very happy.

The fox gives the otter a serious look, "And you are going to be ok too. I don't know when but that mean fox is going to run into our friends from the abbey and when he does, they are going to..." Bandit holds his tongue. Best not to describe the gruesome, grizzly things a pirate does to their enemies when they catch them... not in front of polite beasts, and most certainly not dibbuns, "They will make sure you will never have to fear him again." Bandit says with a smile.

Starlight doesnt understand, she just knows she dislikes it here.." Other foxie...bad fioxie"

Bandit goes to give the small dibbun a fox styled bear hug, "Yes....foxie is bad foxie." To himself Bandit growls. He thinks, 'You will pay for this someday Nightfur...just you wait...'

Starlight is a little tense when he hugs and then giggles and hugs him in return, "You be..nice foxie"

Bandit holds back a stream of tears. Pirates do not cry, pirates do not cry. "I...I really ain't little miss..." The fox lets the otter go.

Starlight tilts her head confused now."Whys?"

Bandit is taken aback. He rubs the back of his neck and looks away from the dibbun. There are plenty of reasons why he is not a nice foxie. He sailed with pirates for one thing, he was even pretty good at it. After that he became a mercinary, then a rebel fighter...he even tried to steal something, something important, and tried to betray his fellow theives to keep it for himself..."I...well...I just...its...its complicated." the fox stammers.

Starlight blinks she just sits down and stares at him, she yawns some

The chubby fox sighs deeply, ruffling the head fur of the otter, "No...I'm not a nice foxie...not to Nightfur." he smiles, "But I'm a nice foxie to you and everyone else here."

Starlight smiles and giggles, she goes to snuggle close to him to fall asleep"Nice..foxie" She yawns and closes her eyes to sleep.

Bandit feels his heart break, knowing that the small otter is trapped here. He feels his heart break at being trapped himself. Well...if this small dibbun can endure, then so can he.