Tie Captured

It is a beautiful summer day and the trickling water seems to laugh with the thought of life. The birds are chirping to each other and every now and then you can hear the buzz of a bee. All the wonders of the day seem to be lost to the eyes of Tie who is walking south toward the bridge. He still enjoys the sounds and he is whistling a happy tune while letting his stick rove in front of him.

Off on the left side of the road, a little past the bridge, three beasts, a rat, a ferret, and an ermine argue in hushed tones about the creature approaching. "He's blind I tells ya, can't cha see that? He's no use as a slave!" the ferret hisses. "I'm tha boss here an' I say we take 'im, yew got that, dirt-fer-brains?" the rat says back, his voice equally low. They await his approach anxiously, crouching down, tensed to strike.

Tie carries on blissfully ignorant of the scheming beasts that await him on the other side of the bridge. His stick starts to tap on the stone and he slows his pace slightly, muttering to himself "either this is a bridge or a random stone part in the road." He shrugs and continues to walk until finally he makes it to the other side of the bridge when this is accomplished he sighs and leans one part of the bridge for a short rest before furthering his travels.

After a bit more hushed conversation, the three vermin step out onto the road, careful in case Tie isn't really blind. The ferret nocks an arrow to his bow and the rat steps forwards, cracking his whip, "Why hello dere, squirrely. How're yew dis fine afternoon?" he chuckles vilely.

Tie First response to the voices is to reach for his daggers, but then he shakes his head at himself and smirks in the general direction on the rat "I am doing just fine mud brains. How about you?" He takes a quick glance from under his cap to see how many beasts there are. He curses quietly for there to many for him to fight off if he still wants them to think of him as blind. He keeps his stick by his side and ready for any paw whacking he might need to do.

The ermine wheels to Tie's left, trying to get around him, while the rat continues speaking, scowling slightly at the squirrel's insult, "How'd yew like ta come wit' me an' my friends 'ere, huh? Jus' a liddle walk trew tha woods." he chuckles again. The archer keeps his bow at the ready.

Tie frowns as he hears the movement of the ermine, but than a smile spreads across his face as he says to the rat "A walk in the woods is always enjoyable, but with you lot I am likely to get lost. I will stick to the main road if it’s all the same to you." To show his point he pushes himself off the bridge and takes a step, getting ready to run for it. He will probably not get very far, but He figures that annoying these vermin might not be the best idea so that's all the more reason to do so!

The sound of a bowstring drawing back can be heard as the rat speaks again, "Well it's not all tha same ta me." he takes two paces forwards and grabs at the squirrel, cracking his whip with his other paw. The ermine circles around to cut off any escape for Tie.

Tie dodges the grab, but stops moving at the sound of the bowstring "Now why would you have a bow beast?" He asks the rat innocently "You were saying something about a walk in the woods. I may have to join you if you don't mind." He grins rather sheepishly.

Gwaihir is flying high in the sky.

Hakit, the lead rat, is in no mood for more conversation, and he cracks his whip dangerously close to the squirrel, "Yes, I think ya will come and join us. Snubs, tie 'im up!" he calls, and the ermine advances behind Tie, a short length of rope in one paw, his curved sword in the other.

The scene below caches the eagle’s eye, and Gwaihir flies down a bit to get a better look

Tie sighs and seems like he is going come quietly, but that’s not quite what he is thinking. He hopes the ermine is close enough as he suddenly swings his cane behind him. If he missed 'Snubs' than that means things will go a lot worse for him. If he hit Snubs things will probably go equally bad so he really has nothing to lose. He does not notice Gwaihir.

Snubs falls backwards with a yelp of pain as the cane cracks against his nose painfully. As he writhes on the ground in agony, blood flowing from his nose, Hakit advances on the squirrel, and the archer, Haron, fires at him, aiming for the leg, aiming to disable, not kill. The ferret also notices the eagle coming towards them, and gets ready to shoot at him as well.

Tie Growls as the arrow thunks into his leg and he falls to his knees. He still holds onto his cane and he swings it around himself hoping that it just might keep the vermin away, but that is rather doubtful as his arm will get tired. With the paw that is not holding the cane he reaches up to make sure his cap is still secure on his head.

Maria walks up the road, still a long way off from the bridge

Hakit holds out his forearm to fend off a few blows from the cane as he moves in on Tie. He grabs at the cane wildly, trying to wrestle the weapon from the squirrel's grip. Meanwhile, Haron turns his eyes and his bow skyward as he aims an arrow at the eagle flying overhead. Snubs is still trying to get up after the blow that likely broke his nose.

Tie tries not to get his cane taken, but his arm is feeling rather weak and after throwing a few more blows the rat wins and gets the cane. Tie is tempted to use his daggers, but he shakes his head for what blind beast would be using daggers? He sighs and leans back on his arms with a resigned frown.

Gwaihir sees this and says, "what are you doing to that squirrel, may I ask?" as he lands

Maria looks at the vermin and then the eagle, then she goes over to them, calling: "Hay! ye there, what are ye doing?"

The eagle's question is answered with an arrow sent zipping towards him by Haron. Hakit throws the squirrel's cane aside and grabs his tunic, hauling him up with one paw. He turns to growl at Maria and cracks his whip at her. "Yew'd best stay away 'less yew wanna join him, missy!" he snarls. Behind Hakit, Snubs has finally gotten back up, and though he holds one paw to his nose, he holds his sword out threateningly.

Gwaihir moves to one side, flies up, and dive bombs Haron letting out a great cry

Maria unties the sling out her belt and puts a stone in it "Ah dae' have tae get closs tae put a dent in yer skall."

Tie yells at Maria "You best do as he says. You would help me more by getting help not slinging stones! " He growls at Hakit and bites at his paw

Maria says, "hm, right" she runs to the west.

Hakit curses as the squirrel's teeth dig into his paw. He drops his captive but quickly grabs him up again, "Aye, dat's right, run liddle squirrely! Haron, shoot her down!" he yells, looking over in time to see the archer toppled over by the eagle's attack, talons raking across his chest. He curses, "C'mon, let's get outta here, we got one!" he yells to the other vermin, holding Tie in a weak headlock as he half drags him towards the edge of the road.

Tie looks victorious as he is dropped than he frowns as he is picked up again. He tries to keep his feet-paws on the ground while he is dragged to the edge of the road and he starts to wiggle and squirm feebly, hoping it would make the rat drop him which is not likely.

Gwaihir picks up the ferret holding him just a few feet of the ground and throws him after the other vermin. Gwaihir exclaims, "Ha! next time you should think better about attacking in eagle!"

Snubs and Hakit run for the safety of the tree line, the latter still holding on to Tie as he runs. As the ferret flies towards them he slams into Snubs, knocking them both to the ground in a tangle of arms legs and weapons. As they try to get up and go, Hakit keeps running, "C'mon yew lazy slobs run, afore that eagle gets us. Soon they and the squirrel disappear into Mossflower, the canopy too dense for the eagle to track them, even from overhead.

Gwaihir is now flying high over the trees, looking for them. But he cannot find them so he turns back south to the abbey.