The Travels - Unexpected
Characters: Kassle, Philio, Kag, Duxia, Edartsel
Location: Camp Willow; Mossflower Woods
Ring-a-ding. A bell is heard around the camp. Signaling for lunch for those still working. That its time to get your grub on. Phil stops working before lunch. So he is in no rush for anything. He leans against the side of a building, near the edge of the forest. Waiting for his love. To do the thing they have been doing for the past week or so. Checking up on the nests. To see if their friend is here yet. He nibbles on a whole loaf of bread in one paw. And the broken necklace in the other. Hrming to his self. Not a care in the world.
Kassle is already up a tree. o.o Or was. Here she is now, falling to the ground behind Phil, with a short sharp scream. Seems she's already been checking on a nest. And now she's taken a rather faster than expected route to the ground, falling past and vanishing into some rather dense undergrowth. And silence.
Philio is completely oblivious to the bird/otter. Bread, Necklace, and Kass. His entire train of thought. Though the scream makes him turn toward it. Quite surprised and alarmed. That voice! He knows who that is! And its really close by! Turning, only just in time to see the bushes shiver slightly. And that was it. He blinks toward it, "Hello?" he asks, walking over.
There is a sort of Kassle-shaped depression, where the ottermaid has fallen through the undergrowth, and upon approaching closer, one might see her, laid a little awkwardly, on her back. There's something in her paws, but she's out cold. And then there's the squawking. Angry squawking from the tree that Kass' just fell from. (re_
Philio hrms as there us no response from the bush. So he ventures closer, and moves a branch out of the way. Thats when he drops his bread and jaw, "...KASS!" he ergs, quickly putting the necklace away and moving over to her, "Kass! A-Are you alright?" Of course not stupid, and he tries to set her body... less awkwardly, and support her head "Kass Are you? ...What is this..." taking the note from her paws. Gears are turning. Going to frown heavily at the squawking. Wellwellwell. He looks up, and growls, "HEY... What the Hell happened!"
The note looks much like that first one, with some difference. It stops mid-sentence, with a red stain upon it, but has been sent anyway by someone... The squawking gets louder, and then something limp and feathered is thrown from the tree. It's their bird, but not very alive. There's movement above as several birds start hopping down a little closer. They're all brown, not much bigger than sparrows, and not overly differently looking but for some very sharp predatory beaks and talons. To those who know, they're clearly shrikes.
Philio eyes the note and blinks at it. He doesn't feel very good about what he sees. He quickly stashes it in his pocket. Before looking up at the birds. Now he doesn't feel good at all. He has to look away at the lump of was once a bird, "Oh my lord..." he mutters, "...This is F'ed up..." he curses quietly. At everything. Kass. The letter. And now the ex-bird. He blinks and looks back at Kass. Staring before looking back up at the now emerging birds. Running has not come up as option, "What happened..." he says more quietly, "Please..." he asks the killer birds.
The shrikes drop another couple of branches, and if it weren't for the beaks, they'd be growling well. Kassle remains completely unmoving and silent; if there was time to check, she'd clearly be alive, though it might not be so apparent at the moment. A few scratches, and an obvious peck wound, can be seen on her paws and on her neck.
Philio gulps a few times as he watches the birds. Look like they are not in a talking mood. He tries to think of something. Quickly, "Don't come any closer... You stay away from her!" he growls back, trying to reach down to feel where she is. While he draws his dagger and points it at the birds, "Stay back..." Going to try and pick her up and get the crap out of there.
Kassle isn't co operative while she's unconcious. But a gasping sound reveals she's alive at least, even if she's awkward to carry. The birds shriek down at the two otters madly. Who knows what their motives might be, but they seem likely to try and tear the two otters apart.
That's the whole thing Philio is trying not to have happen. He is trying really hard. He sheaths his dagger quickly and focuses all his energy into picking up Kass. Which means his eyes leave the birds. Happy beyond belief that she is alive. But worried to what the birds did to her, "Come on Henrietta... Wake up..." Going to pick her up horizontal across his arms.
"..won't come near.. camp." There's a brief moment of lucidness from Kassle, and those are all the words she gets out before she's gone again. Meanwhile, angry shrieks and ruffling feathers forewarn that the birds are ready to attack. And then, they're wheeling through the branches, descending for the otters!
Philio hefts her, curious at her words. Not the time to worry about that now, "OH S-" he curses loudly as the birds drop down on him. He quickly start to run toward the camp. Kass in arms. He screams with pain as a few manages to peck and scratch at his back. Tears forming in his eyes. But he must get into the camp. He must get her to safety.
The birds keep coming, and are determined, but as the otters near the camp proper, the numbers get fewer, until only one or two are brave enough to keep attacking. Kassle moans slightly as awakens a little more. And right into feeling her wounds, and some new wounds; those were some determined birds.
Philio continues to run, the scratching and pecking getting to him now. As the wounds are pierced over and over. He blinks away, trying to get rid away of the sleepiness that now overcomes him, from the pain. Just the thought of getting the camp is the only thing that flows through his mind. He pants heavily before tripping on a hidden rock. And both otters are throw to the ground.
Kassle grunts. And then groans with pain as she's sprawled to the floor. So close to camp, though. At least it's not the huge number of birds that it was before. She blinks awake, just in time to feel a bird rake its claws to her belly, and she cries out, but spots one of the wicker carts used for transporting the grown food around. Lightweight, being wicker and willow, means light enough to pick up. She grabs it, and drags it, crawling to Philio. But is then too exhausted to do more. The basket-cart should be just big enough, if they curl up together, to be shelter for the both of them, but Kassle's out once again.
Philio grunts and tries to stand up. But his energy is being drained from him quickly. Its the cry from her that bring him back to reality. He leans up and watches her for a second. Before the birds begin to drag talons across his back. He screams and turns quickly and kicks out at one. Giving him enough time to look back. And she is out again. More tears begin to stream down his face as he uses the last of his energy to flip the cart, dragging her inside...
And they're in! The bird's thud the cart for a second. Then one rips a few holes in it on a pass. Kassle is too exhausted to do anything more, and the birds are determined to get in; they've probably even forgotten any motive they did have, and are now just enraged. Another passes, and rips another few holes... If they holes get big enough... But, wait. There's a swooshing, humming sound outside, and shouting. And then again. Suddenly, a bird drops on top of the cart, and bounces off. And then an arrow swooshes through, barely missing Kass's head as it burrows itself in the dirt. There's an angry shout from outside, after that arrow. And then, all is quiet. No more birds... Silence, but for approaching footpaws of three beasts.
Philio is too tired to do anything as well. He breathes heavily, trying to pull Kass close. But he soon blanks out and tries to get his vision back. When he does he pulls his paw back, and it is covered in blood. That's about the time there is no more sound of birds and the sounds of approaching beasts. He ergs and manages to shout, "...H-Hey. Help..."
The basket is lifted away. And there are three guard otters; two with slings, one with a bow and arrow. There are some dead shrikes around, but most have been driven away. The otter with the bow keeps her weapon trained out at the trees. "Tsk. Lousy birds. And look't my cart! Destroyed... It took ages to get that made. How are they? Duxi, Kag?" The two other guards are crouching near Philio and Kassle. One male tending to Kassle's wounds- this guard is one of those who helps in the infirmary, with some medical experience, so Philio may recognise him. Kassle would, were she awake. "She'll be fine, if a bit hurt when she wakes up. She can probably treat herself though." He notes. "How's the other, Duxi?". Duxi is a younger female, a new guard, and is crouched near Philio. "A bit torn up, I, um, think... How are you, sir?" She asks, directly.
Philio wont let go of Kass as he looks up at the otters. Blinking up at them as his eyes wont dilate correctly. So everything is mostly a blur, "Kag... Hey hows it goin... Help please." he blurts out and then looks to the other blur, "Duxi... I. I think im bleeding..." He mumbles, "Is she alright. Is she okay..." he reaches out and grabs the nearest otter, "Is she okay! I cant hear her... I cant see her!"
"She's fine. Well. Will be fine. As long as we get you both to the infirmary..." This is from the rather dubiously named 'Foggy', the female with the bow and arrow. Though she's lowered that now, and is ready to help get them to the infirmay. Kag's turn to speak. "You're both scratched up. The wounds need to be cleaned and seen to, sewn or... whatever... and you'll both probably be wanting something to ease the pain. But, we think you should both be fine. Just some deep scratches and some shock. Lucky it's you and Kass' really; she can medicate you and self medicate herself..." Duxia just nods along. She looks a bit scared; first time she's attacked anything not a fish. Edartsel looks a little upset over her cart, mostly, knowing that the two are likely okay.
Philio blinks up again and nods, "Okay... Thank you..." he puts his paw back down and rubs his eyes. Everything is still unclear, "I just want you to know. I cant see very well...." he blinks some more and uses a good bit of his strength back, enough to sit up, "Holy..." another curse, "My back!... Agh...." he grunts, and looks toward the blob that is Kass, "Im alright... I can get myslef. Just help her." he grunts and goes to stand with a bit of strain.
Kag has already picked up Kassle, and is carrying her off toward the infirm. Duxi and 'Foggy', or Edartsel, to use a real name, remain. To help. And for 'Foggy', to complain about her cart. "Well, you need to get better, of course, but... I'll need you to do something about my cart when you are. It was pretty hard to make." "Leave him alone, Foggy Ed, he's injured!" Duxi protests. "Hey, who outranks who here? And besides; it /was/ hard to make." Foggy argues back. They're both trying to fuss a little and 'lead' him toward the infirmary, though, at least.
Philio blinks as he listens. As he is lead toward where he needs to go. Walking with a since of purpose in his step. But lacking... coordination. His vision is begging to get better. As he realizes where he is and where they are headed, "...Ill do something later... I dropped my bread..." he muses with a smirk but it soon disappears, "...Why did the birds attack us?" he asks.
"Dropped bread?" Well, that's probably bird food already... Both the otters shrug as they walk with him, trying to keep him steady. "We were hoping you could tell us; shrikes hardly ever show up 'round here..." Foggy explains, with a frown. Duxi nods. "I've never even seen those things!" She is young, though, so she's probably not seen a few things before.
Philio chuckles lightly at the bread comment, "Dang... That was good bread..." he hrms and tries to think back at what happened, "I was waiting for Kass... She fell from the tree. Our friend, a bird. Was killed... And then... they started attacking us. I carried her and ran... We made it under the cart... That's all i can remember..." he shakes head, "So, I have no idea why they attacked us... They killed him..."
"Your bird friend? Maybe he upset them somehow..." Foggy frowns, looking back over her shoulder. The shrikes are gone. They can't even be seen in the branches. "Why was Kass' up a tree? Anyway.. Infirmary first, all that stuff later. Look, Kass' is already in there." Sure enough, Kag and Kassle have vanished inside.
"I don't know." Phil mumbles, "Why would they attack us so... Violently then... It just doesn't make any since" he sighs, "I bet she was getting a letter from him... We've been waiting for a few days for it..." he pulls out the note from his pocket and looks at it. He looks up at the mention of Kass, and he pockets the letter again, "...Aye marm. Thank you for saving us... Ill make sure the cart is fixed again..." he nods as he runs in after her. You cant stop him.
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