Vile Vermin Vittles

Amos, Dangeon, Darkmane

The noise and smells return as the hare and wildcat come back into the main camp area. Amos having looked behind him as he left to see if she followed. The horse it seems, has elected to stay. The usual construction noises, some smells not very pleasent too but overall the smell of food cooking overpowers everything and the cat follows his nose. As they arrive there is already a large amount of beasts gathered about. The cat wonders for a moment how to get to the head of the line, a planned hatched he moves forward and tries to move past the others. Of course they oppose, "Ya gotta wait in line like everyone else!" "Ya, ya wait ya turn.. ya wildcat!" Amos grabs a ferret by the neck, "Ain't'cha know who we is?! We's part of the secondary force you lowly rabble... so make way or I'll talk ta Hactor personally about loosening your head from ya shoulders!"

Dangeon just walks in the wildcat's wake. He's large enough to make most back out of his way, and he's already threatening those that don't. "Ayup, oy. Wot he says. Hungry force an' we need th' feeding... So, bes' t' let us through, yah?" She's even sauntering past the wildcat and ferret now, toward the head of the line...

Amos hisses at the ferret and lets him have his neck back, glaring at the rest of them, "If a horse feller comes by, he's with us and ya best be letting him through, " He grins, turning and moving to follow the hare. There is some grumbling, but mostly the hare and wildcat are let ahead of everyone else. The cooks look slightly annoyed, isn't even a proper mess tent made yet and they're suppose to feed this rabble. They heard the wildcat though, convinced enough of his words that they rustle up a table in the suppy tent. Hares cooking, rabbits, birds, and a few mice. The wildcat takes one of each and has them bring their best bottle of booze before sitting and looking at his meal.

Hrm. Well, clearly Dangeon doesn't want hare... or rabbit... And she looks a little skeptical of the mouse... She settles on some of the bird, and twitches her nose at the lack of salad. Still, booze after all. She manages a grin with her small portion. "Good call on tellin' 'em t' let Maney through, bu' y' know, he'll just bulldoze through if 'e needs t' anyway- 's a horse. Polite o' y' though, Catty Boss, y' softening?"

Amos digs into his hare, pulling its flesh into his mouth with his sharp teeth. He rolls his eyes at the doe, pulling back from his meal after swallowing, "Nah, just rather him not make a scene and get us lot in trouble for pretending to be more important than we are, " Teeth sink into the meal again, ripping it again as he watches her. He's quick to finish it, with only bone remaining.

Dangeon picks at her bird. "... We need a baker." She decides after a moment. "This'd be miles bett'r wi' bread." Her nose twitches as Amos devours her kin, but she shows no other objection to it, and no real disgust. "Ah. Heh. 's not like we would. I'm thinkin' Ol' Foxface'd be more likely impress'd wi' our... what's tha' word... moxy? F'r pretendin' such a thing..." She grins. "Seems t' reward odd stuff."

The table isn't exactly large, with the tent mostly being crowded with cooking supplies. Still its better than what the others have, which is mostly standing and eating or bringing their meal back to their work site. So there is a throng of beast moving through this area, some of the weaker and younger of the lot gather about looking for scraps. They also crowd around the tent Dangeon and Amos are under. Some look at Dangeon as potential food, but soon abandon that idea with the moody wildcat nearby. The wildcat is in the middle of picking the hare clean when he notices them, glaring at them he tosses the rabbit and the bones of the hare their way, "Off with ya!" The fight over both, but eventually get off and away from the tent, "Maybe, and maybe we should get ya some leafs and such." He grins.

Dangeon actually grins at the predators. She probably would, even without the wildcat about; she has her sword. "Hrm. 'Leafs'? Y' realise y' can't be gettin' just any leaves. Y' know how y're meat has differen' flavors? T'me, the leaves are th' same. A dandelion tastes mile bett'r than a cabbage, f'r instance. Bu' honestly. 'd settle f'r bread." She picks some more at her bird, then traces a finger over the table. "So... What an' when d'ya reckon Stubb'll have us doin' on our job?"

Amos asks, "Eh, is that so?" Mildly interested, though mostly focusing on the bird he's taking apart. He puts his bird down, licking his paws and reaching for the bottle. Swinging it back down his gullet, grinning as he looks over to her, "I gather we'll be scouting and taking what we can or what we want." He smirks. "

"Yeah. Bu' when? I /liked/ th' Inn. This place 's full o' idiots an' tents. 'S borin' too." Dangeon gestures at the bottle he's drinking from. "Sub par. The Inn was an inn.. Had some nice stuff; as Maney prooved when 'e splashed out..." She grins at that. "This place 'as nothin' t' do, disappointin' booze an'... interestin' food."

"Yeah yeah, don't'cha complain... maybe ya and the horsey feller could even share a tent, " Amos laughs, grinning, "Am sure he'll give us something soon enough... don't'cha worry... and don't try ta get eaten..." Munch munch on the birdy, meat pulled free. Now for a few apitizers, crunching the bones of the mice easily as he snacks on them whole.

Some of the bird is launched at Amos' right ear. Hare glare for a moment. Then, a grin. "Try t' get eaten? 's an odd way t' put it... Mos' o' this lot couldn't hunt th'mselves a fly any'ow, Ol' Cat. 'M pretty sure 'm safe 'nuff." Dangeon leans back to look around. "Hope 's soon. 'M bored."

Amos ducks, scowls and hisses as some of the meal just misses him, "Ya always bored... unless ya got plenty of booze, " He corrects, "Besides, ya seemed perfectly happy to longue about forever without no job before we came here, " He chuckles, putting his bird down on the table and grabbing the booze. Taking a swing from the bottle.

Dangeon emphasizes each point with a finger jab to the table top. "We. were. in. an. inn." She points out. "Y' already said, bored wi'out plenty o' booze. And inn 'as plenty o' booze. Here has... flea-bitten hordebeasts, that muck," She gestures at Amos' bottle again "And very little t' entertain wi'..."

The hare and the wildcat are sitting at a rather small table with boxes and stools as seats. Having convinced the rest of the lot looking for food and the cooking staff that the secondary force was something special enough for them to have a table. This despite much of the camp still under construction, "In an inn on my tab, ya gotta earn that keep, " He response gruffly, "So far ya haven't... am sure Stubby will give us a job soon enough don't'cha worry and we ain't going back to the Inn so ya might as well gets used to it."

"I'd earn it if I knew more specifically wot I was meant t' be doin'... An' I'd earn it happily, bein' in here. I liked th' Inn. An' y' were th' one who set m' wages and agreed, y'know..." She finishes her meal, and drums her fingers again, muzzle twitching to one side. "Kind o' want t' earn some coin, no' jus' booze, now too... Need some new gear. We goin' t' get a chance t' buy any 'fore these jobs start rollin' in? Maney was on 'bout gettin' some new clothes, an' all..."

"I ain't buying ya any new clothes, let horsey face buy ya some if he thinks ya need some, " Rubbing his chin, then reaching for the bottle as she hasn't touched it. Finishing it as he throws back his head and guzzles it down. Burp, he shakes his head of the sensation of the booze, "Ya just go find ya'self a tent, as I reckon we'll be here a while soon enough... maybe with the horsey, " Teeth showing into a wide grin as he teases her.

^Amos

Dangeon makes an irritated gesture with her right paw. "Gi'e that a res' already! Find m'self a tent? 'S probably less o' a stink t' be sleepin' outside... See 'ow many beasts are here? Couldn't keep 'em out wi'out a lock, horse or no." She leans back again. "We're bein' paid in coin, righ'? Gettin' an advance, I'd hope? Was goin' t' use m' pay f'r some 'f it. Nothin' fancy. Y' could splash out on a new knife f'r me, though? Provide y'r employees wi' the proper equipment an' all, right?" She tries, with a pleasant grin.

The wildcat pushes up from his seat, staring at the platter of bones before him, "Maybe, ain'cha got nutin' yourself?" He mumbles, straighten and looking about the camp, "I figure I'll go see abouts some accommodations for the night and then go find the weasel feller."

The hare shrugs. "Spend mos' o' mine on booze. An' I told y' I was runnin' low when we met ag'n outside tha' inn. All's gotten since then, 's wot y've passed on..." Dangeon explains, and reaches to toy with the empty bottle. "Tell me 'ow that goes, Boss." She's trying to balance the bottle upside down on the crate table.

Darkmane slowly steps into the tent as he yawns loudly and looks around being quite confident he had heard some familiar voices emating from it. His lips twisting into a wry smile as he nods to Dangeon and Amos

Dangeon is somewhat focused on balancing the upended bottle. So she's not immediately aware of the horse. She glares at the bottle as it wobbles while she slowly takes her paws from it. /Don't you dare/ fall over bottle. It wobbles, but, perhaps her threatening glare is working...

Darkmane cocks his head to the left as he grins wryly and crosses his arms, silently watching Dangeon and her bottle act since it seems like an bad idea to disturb her currently.

Amos turns to see the horse, giving him a wave.

Dangeon holds up her paws, beaming delighted as the bottle stays upright! Hoorah. She then twitches her muzzle. Now what? Fine though, she pokes it. Then quickly re-uprights it. Bored hare?

Darkmane dips his head once more to Amos then makes a gesure asking for silence as he sneaks up behind Dangeon as silently as he can and whispers "Who's winning, you or the bottle?" His voice playfull and teasing.

Amos grunts disgustedly, "I'll leave ya two be." Moving out of the tent and past Darkmane.

Dangeon tilts her head back to look behind and up at the horse. The bottle falls with a thump, but luckily doesn't smash for now. "Ah. Think th' bottle is..." She grins. "How'd that fight turn out? Would o' watched, bu' Boss an' I were hungry." She indicates the remains of both meals. A couple of bones of a small bit of bird on her bit of the table, various remains littering Amos' former place. "If y'r hungry, jus' take somethin' from o'er there. No un's gonna stop some un as big 's y', and Catty Boss remembered t' say y' might be in here, any'ow."

Darkmane snorts slightly and shakes his head "Lets see, two guards tried to stop him with one guard accidently killing the other and the remaining being killed by Hactor for his folly" His lips quirking slightly in distaste "Then a somewhat interesting fight happened between Hactor and the intruder which ended with Hactor conceding and the marten leaving after threatening Hactor to not cross him again in a bit more colorful words"

"So the fox is still crazy an' people 're still fightin' him... Least this one wasn' as borin' as t' win -and then- start takin' orders..." The doe smiles, thoughtfully. "What'd y' think of it?" She's showing very little surprise about the guards killing eachother. Vermin, it happens. Upended is the bottle once more, balancing again.

Darkmane gives a slight shrug "I found it an facinating fight to watch since I don't usually use their tactics and as such it was educational for me incase I ever need to fight somebody using similar ones" chuckles wryly "Aside from that tho it wasn't all that special I think, would likely have been a better choice for me to simply follow you two and Amos here earlier" Cocking his head slightly as he settles down to study Dangeon more closely "Atleast it made me sure imade the right choice earlier"

Dangeon gestures at Amos' vacated crate seat. "Y' can sit, y' know. Save m' neck, craning up at y'. Like this." She's looking back and up again. "Tactics? ..Killing y'r allies?" She teases, and continues with the mini question barrage. "Aye. Well, y'd have gotten fed sooner. What choice would y' mean?"

Darkmane chuckles wryly as he moves to sit on the crate seat. "Naah, that was more dumb foolishness then tactics, was more refering to their unarmed combat styles." A slight shrug of his shoulders "And the choice was that he asked me if I wanted ta be a cap'n" The last four words adopting most of Hactors style of talking "I turned him down since I had more important business going on currently."

Dangeon grins, smirkily. "Ah, wise. I think I both see an' don' see 'is logic... Sure the crazy mist'r Foxtor wants sold'rs who c'n fight well, bu'... If they c'n all outmatch 'im, what's t' stop 'em takin' 'is hoard from him?" She shrugs, and pokes the bottle over again. "As f'r the combat... Surely, unarm'd y' c'd just... squish y'r opponent?"

Darkmane snorts and grins wryly in return "He is lucky I have no interest in leadership or that would have been an possible route I might have taken." A slight shake of his head "Sides, I think guarding you is more rewarding and fun then ordering a bunch of vermin around would be." Darkmane then lets out a deep sigh "And you would think that just squishing my opponents would be be easy unarmed but I've met a few who can stand up to me, one vixen even managed to get me flipped over on my back before I knew what had happened"

"A vixen?" The doe grins wider. "I s'pos if someone's fast 'nuff, y' size counts f'r little... Bu' still. It mus' serve y'. An', I think y'r jus' bein' charmin' wi' that," She's simply idly spinning the bottle with a paw now "But 's appreciated. Bet Foxtor's pleased y' not goin' f'r his role, either... Maybe 'e should pay me f'r keepin' y'r interest away from it." She muses, tongue in cheek.

Darkmane nods his head "speed and knowing how to use somebodies strength against them which is what she said she did, I basically defeated myself." His lips quirking into an amused smile. "Merely telling the truth methinks that its charming is an added bonus" His eyes moving to the bottle as he watches it toughtfully "An interesting idea, tho I don't think he'd pay" His voice fairly amused due to the image that situation creates in his mind.

"Ah, like that cat, Dessie talks 'bout. Says she's good wi' a dagger, 'cus she's fast an' such." Dangeon recalls, still spinning that bottle. "N', I don' think 'e'd pay, either, bu' 's a nice idea. Catty Boss w's complainin' 'bout me spendin' 'is money, an' I think we were gettin' low... Should be tha' job soon though... Still, be nice t' make more."

Darkmane nods his head slightly "Don't think I've heard her talk about that cat so wouldn't know." His eyes trying to keep track of the tip of the bottle "I take it your group shares the money then rather then having each your share?"

Dangeon grins. "Ah. I said tha' badly... Sorry, nah. Dessie /is/ tha' cat. Bu' she talks 'bout the guy who taught 'er too, I s'pose... 'E's also a cat..." She twitches her nose, and spins the bottle in the other direction. "Yah, mos'ly i's been Amos takes th' money an' buys f'r me. 'Ave start'd buggin' 'im 'bout gi'in' me coin, though."

Darkmane nods his head slightly in agreement "Would make more sense I think for you to have your own share rather then having to ask him everytime you want to buy something." A wry chuckle escaping his lips "Lets ya get the drink ya want as well then, tho might not afford as much of it" His eyes blinking once before he shakes his head to avoid becoming dizzy "Do you think its possible your group could fit one more?"

Dangeon holds up the bottle. "I refused to drink this. This swill w's 'is stuff. 'm jus' playin' wi' the bottle." She grins then. "Oh, I think almos' certainly! I mean, y'd 'ave t' talk wi' Amos 'bout it, but... c'mon. Y're a horse, I don' think 'e'd object; pro'ly be delight'd to get more muscle. Plus, y'r good company."

Darkmane snorts amusedly "Can't really disagree with that I'd bring extra muscle" His nose wrinkling slightly "Not sure if he'd agree with calling me good company tho, I do think he has already started to consider me a part of the background is if its no surprise I am around."

Dangeon shrugs. "He's certainly takin' your presence in stride. 's what 'e does though. Only a little ev'r really surprises 'im." She grins and places the bottle upright. "I c'n tell y' that he certain doesn't dislike y'. An' 'm sure on that."

Darkmane grins slyly "Maybe he is worried how you would react if he told me to get lost" his eyes twinkling with mischief. "He seems a sensible fellow tho and you are correct in that he does not seem to dislike me, I'd say he is mostly neutral about my presence, possibly only slightly worried I might distract you from your job. "

Dangeon smirks. "Hm. Maybe, bu' I doubt 'e cares much 'bout that, really." She nods then. "He tends t' seem tha' way. An', nah, he knows me bett'r 'n that. If anythin' 'e's probably delighted y're aroun' so 'e's got somethin' funnier t' rib me abou' than th' rat. Because tha' was startin' t' wear thin..."

Darkmane cocks his head and looks toward Dangeon's face "Really now, ribbin ya in regards to me." his voice getting a curious undertone "Mind if I ask how he's been doing that?"

Dangeon tilts her head. "Y've not heard 'im? I was sure 'e made a comment 'r two wi' y' around. Jus' the usual ribbin'." She grins. "Again, 's wot 'e does. Finds it fun. I throw food at 'im sometimes."

Darkmane chuckles wryly "only comment I can recall was in regards to not even wanting to know what we did at the inn after we left" His head shaking slightly as he gazes toward the exit for a moment then back at Dangeon "So I'd likely be the serious one in the group if I'm allowed to join then it sounds like....well, seriousish"

"Y'know... I really don' think there'll be an 'if'... I think 'e'd like 'avin' y' in the group..." Smirky doe, though. "But, yah, I think y'd be 'the seriousish one' o' the group. 'R the sanest, 't least..." More grinning from Dangeon. "We may turn you silly, though. Jus' warnin'."

Darkmane peers suspicously at Dangeon for a few moments before he grins back "Or even worse, i might turn ya two more sane" Shivers slightly "That would be no fun, would be safer for me to dive into the world of the silly or insane, shouldn't be that large a leap I think" His eyes going to the bottle for a second "Would be a lot like yer bottle methinks."

Dangeon pokes the mentioned bottle. "Like th' bottle, what y' mean?" She eyes it curiously. Can a bottle be insane? "Anyway, y'd have a lot o' work t' drive us 'normal' or 'sane' or any other term y' like. I'd agree, safer th' other way."

Darkmane shakes his head and smirks "I mean that the gap between sane and silly is as easy to cross as you toppling yer bottle, the return tends to be a lot harder tho." His lips quirking slightly as he extends a hand to ruffle Dangeon's head playfully. "Should be fun to see what happens in any case."

Dangeon splays her ears to make the ruffle easier. "Ah. Huh. Guess tha's right... Honestly, though, y' couldn' be normal 'r sane t' do the job unless y'r... well, horse-sized." She pokes her tongue out. "I mean. If I were like 'm expected, I'd be 'oled up in some mountain sayin' 'yessir' an' 'bally' this and addin' 'wot' t' everythin', still... An' that would fit, there. Gotta be different, walkin' outside the comfy normal..."

Darkmane shakes his head and gives Dangeon a playfull poke "Well, that much is true, and i guess in some ways i am walkin outside the comfy normal" His other hand lifting to tap his cheek slightly "Now how was that quote I like so much again...aah yes" His lips twisting into a soft smile as he recites it. "To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any being can fight and to never stop fighting."

"Sounds like somethin' from a... whassem... thing. Abbey 'as 'em. Books. 'R scrolls... Somethin' written." Dangeon muses, her grin a little altered, less mirthful. "If we're gonna be talkin' stuff like tha', we're gonna need drink again. 's a nice quote though."

Darkmane dips his head "Yer right in that it was originally on a scroll, belonged to some traveler my clan demanded I kill to prove I was an adult" Shakes his head and snorts in distate "At that time I was trying to be like the rest, that silly little quote changed my mind quite a bit"

"Huh. Rather convenient." Dangeon's back to smirking, but she's curious. "A clan? Y' have, or had, a clan? Um. I don't wanna be rude, bu'... A clan a /horses/! Did... earthquakes happen a lot where y' clan lived?" She may be serious.

Darkmane blinks once, twice, thrice before he starts to laugh "Not really no, tho it likely have sounded that way to some if they were to hear a lot of us run around and such" A few deep breaths taken as he fights back his laughter and instead adopts an amused grin "And it was had a clan, my ever so friendly brother left me stranded in these lands after a raid." His eyes rolling slightly "I bet he is still thinking himself smart even after all these years in getting rid of me, I've come to decide that he likely did me a favor I could never repay him"

Dangeon tilts her head, putting her paws under her chin. Her elbows finding the table. "This land? So, y'r an outlander then?" She grins. "Explains why y're the firs' horse 've ever seen... Y' never had a desire t' go back t' y'r clan, find y'r brother? Surely this land, full o' company like me an' this rabble we got around, can't be that special?" Genuinely curious, tone is gentle, for her, and lacking any suggestion of mocking or insult.

Darkmane's eyes twinkling slightly as he grins at the Hare "That is where most my riches come from actually, me doing most the things needed to try and scrape together money for a large ship and ending up not buying one" His hand extending to hold hers gently "As for these lands and comany like yours "I would not trade it away for anything now"

Dangeon probably isn't used to having her hand held much, she has a quirky brow in reaction, but an upwardly quirked mouth corner too, with a noise of amusement. "Hmph, did they inven' the term 'gen'le gian jus' t' describe y'?" She shakes her head. "Ah. Now, y' see, tha' makes sense. About y' spendin'. An', the time thing- not knowin' 'ow long somethin' might take. I c'n und'rstand that one. But sailin' to see somethin' new? Sounds like more oughta 've wanted too, really. See. 'm odd."

Darkmane smiles softly as he cocks his head to the right "Well, it would fit me I guess, so thank you for the compliment" his eyes gleaming mirthfully "As for others not wanting to join me, I think a part of it might have been linked to the idea of heading for a land full of horses like me, many who would be a lot more bloodthirsty then me as pointed out by the rite of adulthood I mentioned" snorts slightly "I must admit its kind of nice to not having to worry about where to find the money for food and room tho, especially when I think back to all the years I purposfully slept in the woods, caves, catacombs and who knows what just to save that extra coin for a boat"

Darkmane's lips quirking upward a bit "Yea, I was quite singleminded in gathering wealth back then"

"Ah. Slow an' steady winnin' th' race, though. 'R whatev'r the expression. Years of hoarding up, an' y' get the rewards now aft' all. Mos' of us don' have the patience." Dangeon grins, then holds up the bottle. "'R we've found somethin' that makes us f'get t' save... So. Y'r land's dangerous f'r non-horses. G'd t' know if Catty Boss ever gets the crazy idea t' start explorin' by boat..."

Darkmane chuckles softly and nods "Most have something they enjoy and like to spend money on, I still save most mine except when I want a new weapon to train with or something new to wear" A finger tapping his cheek "Or if I decide somebody deserve a nice gift" his gaze turning to watch Dangeon closely "As for my lands, if you were to simply travel the interior then yea I'd say its quite dangerous, if you were to come to trade tho most villages or coastal towns would be more then happy to trade with you peacefully."

Dangeon quirks her grin a little higher again. "Weapons, clothes. Yah. 'is wot 'm botherin' Catty Boss f'r m' coin for. An', tha' nice gift was much appreciated, bu' y' knew tha' already." She listens, toys with the bottle, and nods a little. "If 't's full o' horses, I'd be on m' best behaviour, ev'r... I think I c'd do peacef'l, even."

Darkmane leans back slightly as he keeps his sly smile "Its all I really need currently after all, I don't have a set home within these lands so all that is needed is, clothes, weapon, food and somewhere to sleep from night to night" his head leaning in slightly as he whispers "Even if the weapons are mostly just to scare troublemakers away" His body straightening up again "Tho I know how to use all the weapons I carry quite well since I practice with em when I can." His head nodding slightly as he snickers " Yeam I think most would manage peacefull if they knew causing trouble would have a herd of horses after em"

Dangeon leans out to peer over and around the crate table, not that she really needs to, to see the weapons he mentions. She twitches her nose. "Got 'nuff blades t' be doin' so... R'gardless o' y' size. D'n't think anyone 'd question y' could use 'em." Still smirky. Finally, she knocks the bottle over and stands up. "Y' know. 'M slidin' back into that 'quotey' mood we 'ad goin' earlier... So, I think th' cure's gonna be booze, an' somewhere t' pass out in..."

Darkmane grins slightly "Ya know, I think I'll join ya in that cure, but more to get my own mind my old home and such since there is no reason for me to think more about it then when people are curious" A soft chuckle escaping his lips "So where would be a good place for booze?"

"Still got a few drops o' wot y' bought. Some'ow." The hare sounds surprised about that herself, and holds up a bag she's been carrying around. Bottle is in here. "Bu' could do wi' more. Nothin' tha' good 'round the camp, bu' we can find somethin'. Catty Boss drank this swill..." She points at the bottle she's been playing with on the crate/table. "'M sure there's somethin' better 'round 'ere somewhere, though."

Darkmane nods his head slightly in full agreement "And its not like I shouldn't be able to buy it of somebody if we find somebody with the proper stuff one way or another" A sly grin appearing on his lips "I do afterall have some standards in what I drink, and I'm going to trust your definition of that liquid as swill"

Dangeon tilts her head and waves a paw as she starts to walk from the tent. "Yah. 'T was swill. Can't e'en smell 't bu' 's sickly. Mos'ly bad water, 'd think. C'mon then, Maney!" She grins, and pretends to be sniffing the air. "Le's find a real drink!" And she exits the tent.

Darkmane gets to his feet and marches after Dangon "lead the way o' mistress of the drink" A slight bow offered to her back as he recites her new title then stands up and muses loudly as he steps out of the tent "Immorality, the morality of those of us who are having a better time."