The journey of a thousand steps starts with one miss step. Part 1

Velth the fox heads out on a noble quest to visit the great fire mountain. His first encounter with a badger...goes about as well as expected.

Velth the fox, Slade the badger (me) Marek the stoat.

Velth steps out onto the road. The fox has managed to convert a rather old potato sack into something of a workable backpack using a bit of twine he found somewhere. It's pretty slack, indicating that he either has no possessions, or has no provisions. He adjusts the pack a bit, getting it comfortable, then tosses his light travelling cape over it and kneels down to tend to a pair of foot wraps he's made for himself out of old bed sheets.

The day is cold but still warm enough that the light snow falling about the fox won't be there in the morning. The road however is quite deserted save for the squirrel who exits the abbey right behind Velth. A red furred beast witha tattered green cloak wrapped tightly about her shoulders strolls past Velth with a currious glance, then continues to move down the road.

Velth glances back at her, his ears swivelling a bit, curiously. He could not remember anyone following him out on his walk over, nor had he seen many people coming and going during his time at watch on the walls, though that was likely due to sheer absent mindedness. Tucking the last fold of his footwraps in to make sure they were secure, he allowed the squirrel to get a bit ahead of him before setting off in her wake, habitually making sure to check his pace so he didn't overtake her.

The squirrel has a cloth scarf wrapped about her muzzle and a burlap sack tied to the end of her quarterstaff. Her tail twitches about as she walks. Once the pair of travelers near the woodland area, leaving the abbey behind a large shadow looms ahead through the snow. "It's about time. What took ya so long?" A burly voice cuts through the weather.

Leaning his back against a tree is a large badger with a solid build. Dressed in a black cloth over coat with leather shoulder pads and a wide brimmed hat. The squirrel makes no move to explain her supposed absence, simply tossing her bag to the badger he catches it with glee. As if for the first time the badger notices a fox following the squirrel. He greets the traveler as warmly as his yellow toothed smile allows. "Well helloooooo thar friend."

Velth eyes the much larger badger with suspicion, and glances over his shoulder before he responds with a quick nod and a short "Hullo." The fox skirts the pair, keeping to the opposite side of the road to put a bit of distance between them, though he can't help curiously darting glances at them as he slowly moves by.

The badger? Suspicious? Can such an innocent, twice reset muzzle really be that suspicious? The badger follows the fox, announcing himself in a loud, boisterous fashion while the squirrel trots along with out reply. "Hey! Wait up! Your heading this way too? Fancy that." The badger moves along, falling into step with Velth. "Hey, did I really see you coming from the direction of that thar abby? The big red one?"

Velth glances over his shoulder, muzzle twitching with a slight grin. "Aye." He says, standing a bit taller. "I've just come from there." He announces, feeling a bit proud of himself. Even if other foxes have done the same by now, maybe it's still worth a bit of honor-currency with people.

The badger bows slightly, "I must say I am im-pressed. Woodlander folk don't take too kindly to beasts of yer kin sometimes. All dem otters, squirrels, and peacefull beasties react rather...unkindly to vermin types. Very impressive for a member of dem fox folk to walk out of der with thar hide still intact."

The squirrel growls.

"Actually foxes you crazy bush tailed beast..." THe badger growls back.

Marek is walking along the roadway and appears to be looking for a beast prehaps, but thats not too clear. He has a warm winters claok around him.

Velth fully puffs up, his smile now quite obvious as he beams at the praise being heaped on him. "Well, perhaps it's just luck." He muses, slowing up a bit so the other two can walk comfortably beside him. "Though all foxes tend to be known for that." He says. His ears swivel a bit as he tries to keep track of the conversation between the bager and squirrel. "I'm afraid I don't know either of your names." He says, hoping that will give him a clue, "Mine's Velth." He says, spotting yet another figure coming into sight further up the road.

The badger chuckles, "Ah, yes, names. I'm known as Slade by my friends and this here is...well, she doesn't really have one...or at least never gave me one. I just call her Fox for now." The squirrel beams at being called a fox.

"Yeaaaah. Just don't ask..." The badger says, shaking his head, he glances ahead towards the new comber. He seems to...consider something for a moment then his crooked smile returns. "Where you going fox, ifin you don't mind me askin. Storms bound to get rougher, so yer welcome to make camp with us if you need to.

Marek glaces at the two and rolls his eyes at the badger, and he keeps his distance thats for sure as he only trusts one badger and Slade is not him and the badger he dos trust he sees as annoying.

Velth smirks, nodding at Fox. "Well, you'd be a regular pleasure where I come from." He says, before returning his attention to the stoat. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you where I'm going." Velth continues, trying to be nonchallant, "I'm off to the fire mountain to have a bit of work done." He inclines his head in a silent greeting to the stoat as they draw near enough for such a greeting to be recognized. "Don't figure I'll need to bed down till night though." He says, tugging his arctic pelt for emphasis.

Again, why do people not trust Slade? He looks so innocent! At least, the badger thinks so, never mind the fact that he is armed with a machete under his coat...

"Now that IS bold. But you know, the quickest way to get there is by de river. And I happen to know a beast who has a boat..." As slade speaks the squirrel peers intently at the stoat, her eyes after a moment grow wide with anger. Quarterstaff in paw she lunges at the beast, only to be stopped by Slades quick reflexes as he grabs her tail, pulling her backward.

It seems that not all woodlanders have forgotten the ex warlords face...or his crimes. "Bleedin blazes gel, what in the dark forrest has gotten into you!" Slade growls as he struggles to contain the squirming squirrel.

Marek only catches part of what they are speaking about as he arches an eyebrow at the squirrel and smirks, he then speaks "Someone seems eagar to speak to me, why is this? I am simplly walking and looking for a beast before I head back to my tavern."

Velth Velth steps between the stoat and the other two to help Slade restrain fox. "I'm sure she is." He observes, "She's speaking the universal language." He holds his arms out wide either side to make sure Fox can't get past him if she manages to slip free.

The badger holds the squirrel tight. "Fox. Enough." He says flatly, He releases her onto the road. "Get back to camp." The squirrel begins to protest in her own, silent way until the badger points. "Git! I need you to get the camp ready, with out murdin any beasts along the way. Go on and cool yer head off!" The squirrel hisses at the badger before giving Marek an evil eye. Instead of attacking the stoat the squirrel does at she's told, slinking off down the road and kicking rocks as she goes.

"Well...that was new." The badger turns to Marek, "Sorry mate. I have no idea what got into her. My name's slade, This is Velth. Sorry about well..." Slade gives a wide burly shrug as an explination.

Marek clears his throat"Well, prehaps I should get going back to my tavern soon, I do have a couple beasts to check on but I am sure Zaram is doing a fine job keeping them in line"

Velth rolls his shoulders, relaxing and turning to face the stoat. "Well, I'm sure you wouldn't want our patronage after all that, but perhaps we should accompany you to be sure our companion doesn't try to wring you dry again." He looks to Slade, "That's if you'd agree, of course. I'm quite interested in that boat you'd mentioned..."

The badger raises an eyebrow, chuckly, "Me? Pass up a tavern? Never. But I'm afraid that the nearest village is Ferrevale...and well...let's just say that I'm a little too vermin to step foot into redwall and not vermin enough to go to Ferrevale." He laughs, "But I have no prob-lems escorting my new found freinds to the village though. Afterwards, perhaps I can introduce my friend by ze river, no?"

Marek folds his arms over his chest"Yes it is Ferravale tavern I speak of, I own it and in fact built the new one myself, the first one sort of blew up" He doesn't go into detail on what happen."But the new one is even better and beside the Inn"

Velth nods, "Well then we're settled, it seems. It might do me good to know the land a bit better." He sets off down the road, walking backward so he can keep talking to the other two, "It's this way, isn't it?" He asks, more guessing and hoping than knowing.

"Yeap. It's not that far...unless you consider a half a day's journey far. Then yes, it's far." The badger let's out another chuckle. He reaches into his jacket to produce a pipe. "Now arn't you a bit far away from yer tavern?"

Before the stoat can reply the squirrel again returns. This time instead of attacking Marek the beast frantically waves her paws in the air, pointing down the road while hopping up and down on her feet.

Marek tilts his head and now the squirrel is acting very odd, he looks at the badger "Something is wrong with your friend there Mr. Badger, you may want to find out what it is"

Velth stops walking, his ears drooping a bit dejectedly as he sees Fox return. "What's the trouble?" He calls back to them.

Velth sighs, and goes trotting back over to the group. "What?" He inquires, a bit put off.

Marek decides to let them handle it, maybe thats best "I am off to my tavern, good day" He heads off.

A small gold furred chipmunk sticks his head out from behind the wagon. His large brown eyes blink at the sight of three beasts coming out of the snow. "Rescuers! Finally! I'm saved!" The chipmunk, dressed in the a brown and green tunic with baggy tan trousers rushes to greet the party. "Thank all that is holy! Help! Bandits have made off with my cargo! I my workers were captured I..." Once the chipmunk pauses and sees exactly who, or rather what is coming up the road the beast comes to a skidding halt. "Grk." He says with a cringe, turning and flailing his arms as he tries to run the other way, "GAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Velth turns around, ears pricking forward as he watches the chipmunk first approach, then go running off in the opposite direction. "Well then..." He says, a bit indignant, before turning to the others, a smile breaking out across his face, "I doubt they took all his wares!"

The badger, paws folded behind his back leans closer to the fox, "Only one way to find out." Slade likes the way this fox thinks! "After you my good lad." The squirrel behind him growls slightly. The badger turns grinning deviously at her, "Hey, a free cart is a free cart you know!"

Velth laughs, "Besides, we can always look around for tracks and other clues if we're feeling particularly useful." He trots off down the road to the cart to start his inspection, not really intending to take anything.

The badger does the same, but for far less noble reasons. The cart has been picked clean by bandits. Nothing is left but a few stray peices of cloth and empty whicker baskets. The cart itself looks useable. "I say, this will work just /fine/." He turns to the squirrel, gesturing with his head towards Velth. "Hey Velth, buddy, do take a look at this. What do you make it out to be?" The badger points to an empty whicker basket in the cart.

As he does, the squirrel steps lightly behind the fox, raising her quarter staff like a club above her head before bringing it down towards the vulpine. She applies enough force to render a beast unconcious, but not enough to crack his skull open...

Velth curiously comes over, having seen nothing of interest during his initial scan. He leans on the edge of the cart and peers inside. He can hear footsteps behind him, and his ears flick back, just in time to realize the stupidity of his own blunder. The loud crack of wood on skull resonates through the woodlands as the fox topples, without having bothered to so much as turn around.

Before the fox is even done falling the badger picks him up by the shoulders, hefting him over the side of the cart. First his upper torso then his legs. "Fox, why don't you hop on and make sure our new guest is 'secure'." The badger chuckles as he steps lively around to the front of the cart to pull it. "An arctic fox. Do you know how rare that is? His hide will fetch a pretty penny at market..." The badger grins in a devious, doubious way. He whistles as the cart begins to move, carrying the young tod away to his possible doom...

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Velth Fox

Velth is a lightly built arctic fox, with clear green eyes. He has the black stockings, muzzle marks, and ear and tail tips of a red fox, and wear a copper medallion and light traveller's cloak.

Slade Jerkbag Badger

They say you can learn a lot about a beast from the way they keep up their appearance. One can only wonder what Slade's appearance speaks about him.

The beast has the common grey and white fur coloring of his species. Patches of dark grey fur line his eyes and circle around his cheeks and the chin of an snout that has been broken and reset improperly at least once. A tuft of fur hangs at his chin in the form of a small goatee. When he smiles it is clear that what teeth have not been knocked out are yellow from neglect.

Not losing out on the brutish figure that so many badgers have come to be known for Slade has a burly build to him. There is a good deal of muscle to his body as well as a good deal of meat, most accumulated around his stomach in a well rounded pot belly.

A green tunic hangs loosely from his chest. The shirt is sleeveless and has a deep, almost vest like, neck line that leaves most of his chest fur exposed. Belted over the tunic but under his stomach is an otter hide belt where a cutlass hangs without a proper scabbard.

A flat but wide brimmed hat adorns his head. The hat is made from leather of an unknown animal and wrinkled from age and water.

Marek Ex warlord Stoat

Marek is a very tall stoat, he stands before in rather plain, but well kept gray clothing, you can tell by his face that his fur is nearly cloaked in black that chokes the few silvery-white patches of fur. On his side in a small pouch where he holds various types of crossbow bolts and other small weapons in a larger pouch on his back he carries his crossbow (that is when he's not holding it) in the larger section and various foodstuffs and other assorted needs in a smaller section. He keeps his fur well kept and his bags and clothes clean.