Trouble in the North - Redwall RP

[Myrkin]

“I say: it depends on the badger I would have to take on, sah!” Mellana said with a smile. She had been watching the fights with interest, although she thought this way of picking officers was a little unorthodox. On the other paw, she was glad for Williams and Louis to be welcomed to officer’s mess. They had fought more than well enough to deserve that honor.

She was looking around, wondering who will take up Roth’s challenge next, when she felt a tug on her green jacket. It was Young Tom.

“I think we should join the rest,” he said, pointing with a nod at the line that had assembled several hops away from the main gathering. Everybody from 13th was already there, except for Captain Keystone. Sergeant Cedar Oaktree was there too and she was giving Mell and Tom a very stern “hurry up, you two!” kind of look, the seriousness of which was enhanced by eye-patch she wore over what had used to be her right eye. Nobody knew for sure how she had lost her eye, but there were many tales about it amongst members of 13th, each more gruesome (or incredible) than the last. Sergeant had never told which one (if any) of them was true. Not that many had asked her, as she was an intimidating hare.

“You’re right. It’s time we fall in line with others,” Mell said, rushing with Tom towards the formation. They quickly took their places in it and not a moment too soon, as they saw Captain approaching.  

“Attennnn-tion!” Sergeant called. Backs were straightened, shoulders pulled back and eyes looked ahead. Even the most strict and demanding drill instructor would have found no flaw in their stance right now.

“At ease,” Captain Keystone said in calm but firm manner, gazing from face to face. He was an experienced soldier and officer. Half of those standing in line had still been small leverets when he had already been patrolling the Mossflower and fighting bandits.

He got straight to business, “As you’ve heard already, we are leaving for Redwall in two days and then we are going to Noonvale,” he said, walking along the formation. “This won’t be an ordinary patrol, lads and lassies. We are going to war. That means we have to be prepared.”

He stopped in front of Tom and asked, “Do you think you ready for war, Bradberry?”

“Yes, Captain! I do!”

Keystone gazed into young buck’s eyes for a moment and then looked at others, “And you? Are you ready?!”

“SIR, YES, SIR!”

“Show me. You’ll fight in pairs: Sergeant Oaktree and Bradberry, Greysky and Peppermint…” he called out a dozen or so names, “…Woodrunner and Levendertail. Grab your training swords and let’s get to it!”

Everybody took up their weapons and faced their assigned opponent. Mell stood sideways, with her sword paw extended forward. She waited for Terrek to make a move. She didn’t have to wait for long, as the other hare slashed at her from right to left. Mell easily deflected that strike with her own sword, but it had been only a test, as Terrek stroke again, aiming at her chest. She had to fall back to the ground in order to dodge that attack. Seeing the opportunity, her opponent jumped to her, raising his weapon. However, she was ready. She kicked at him with her leg. This hit didn’t land perfectly enough on his stomach to have the wind knocked out of him, but it made him pause and gave Mell time to get up.

Now she was on offensive. She slashed at Terrek several times in quick succession. He was able to deflect her attacks, but he was still forced to step back after each one, giving ground to Mell. He was getting slower. Looking to finish this fight quickly, she stabbed at his chest. All of sudden, his sluggishness disappeared. He dodged her blow and stroke at her sword arm. Mell hissed in pain, dropping her weapon. Despite the agony that was her right paw, she punched Terrek’s face with her left. He backed away, rubbing his mouth.

“If this had been a real sword, you’d have lost your paw, Mell,” he said with a grimace. Even though there was no blood (or at least none that Mell could see), that blow must had hit him hard.  

“If I had punched you for real, you’d have lost all your teeth, Terrek,” she told him. The pain in her arm was receding quickly.

“And that would be horrible. I mean… How would I eat anything harder than a soup? Somebody would have to chew everything for me, like a mother bird for her chicks,” Terrek said with a grin. Mell laughed at that image.

“Ready for another round?” he asked.

She took up her training sword. “Yeah, but let’s not get carried away. No point in putting ourselves in infirmary two days before the march.” She glanced to the side, at other fighters. She wasn’t the only watcher, as Captain Keystone was walking around practicing pairs, observing them attentively.

Mell looked back to Terrek, who assumed defensive position this time. Mell attacked and their fight resumed…
 

[Capt. Rake Nightfur]

(OOC This as been a long time coming, sorry about that, real life and all that. It's not too long either)

The morning of the departure arrived and the ninety hares chosen for the mission sat in the mess for an early breakfast. There was not much talking among the hares, and even William wore a more somber look than usual as he ate next to Louis in near silence.
“TEN-SHUN!” yelled one of the hares seated near the door, as Roth, Captain Keystone, and Sergeant Oaktree entered the mess. The company stood at attention with the clatter of forks and spoons being dropped to their plates.
“As you were,” Roth huffed, letting out a sting of curses under his breath as he sat at his table and started picking at his food.
The meal continued, but there was tension in the air after Roth’s entrance and his apparent mood. Nobeast dared talk now, and most of them jumped when Roth slammed his paw on the table with a resounding crash that echoed through the room. Then he started chuckling, which grew louder until it was a full-on belly laugh.
The patrollers were confused at first at this most uncharacteristic action, and remained quiet while he stopped laughing and stood,
“You flop-eared sods, what’s wrong with you? You’re hares, you’re supposed to be the ones lightening the mood, not me. Look alive there!"

[Myrkin]

Mellana chuckled at otter’s words, adding her laughter to those of other hares. Roth’s comment helped clear the atmosphere and shake them out of their somber mood. When the laughter died, Captain Keystone rose from his place at the table and said loud enough to be heard by all in the mess hall.

“Well said, General. I think we’ve been somewhat neglecting our duties in that matter. Perhaps a song could make up for this blunder on our part,” he looked around the room, as if searching for something, “We need somebody to start it. Who’s a good singer?”

“William!” Tom Bradberry shouted in slightly squeaky voice, which brought further merriment to assembled hares and blush of embarrassment to young buck’s face.

“Tom’s right. You could sing us a song, Will,” Mell said with a smile to member of Fightin’ Fifth. Terrek begun rhythmically hitting the table with his fork and spoon and chanted:

“Sing! Sing! Sing!...”

Others quickly joined in and soon the whole mess was chanting that one word.


---


(OOC: I am sorry that it took so long for me to post this)

[Capt. Rake Nightfur]

William stood and cleared his throat before beginning in his most aristocratic voice,

“One dark stormy night,
I had a great fright,
My friends were all gone from their bunks, you know!

I checked through the halls,
Around all the walls,
To figure if they were hiding from me, but no!

So I saw fit to see,
To gather company,
And set off on a march to get them home!

I grabbed an old broom,
And a big shiny spoon,
And a bucket I named after colonel Down!

And I took all three,
And marched happily,
To bring my companions home to me!

When I was halfway,
A young rat to me did say,
Good sir are ye lost or just plain mad?

I turned on my heel,
And gave him a great peal,
Like the great big bells at the abbey ho!

He pointed me the way,
And I bid him good day,
As I marched away quite smartly!
 
It was then I saw them,
When a strange stratagem,
Found itself in my mind, it did!

I whooped and I called,
And took them empty pawed,
And I got a feast in my honor I did!”

[Myrkin]

As soon as William finished his song, the hall was filled with sounds of clapping, cheers and few good-natured jokes.

“Well done, William! Top hole!” exclaimed Mell, joining the chorus of applause.

“I’m not sure about that. I’d like to know who taught you to sing, Will?!” Terrek in mocked outrage, “Who should I blame for the harm done to my ears?! Ouch!”

The “ouch” was caused by Aeriell Greysky, another patroller from 13th and great tracker, who grabbed one of Terrek’s ears and pulled it painfully.

“Now, now, Terrek. It’s not nice to hurt William’s feelings after all his efforts to entertain us,” she said in calm, lecturing tone. Some of the sitting by the table laughed at hare’s misfortune.

“Just a joke! It was just a joke!”

“So is this,” Aeriell told, releasing buck from her hold. Poor hare immediately started tending to “wounded” part of his body, massaging it slowly. He glanced at Aeriell angrily and muttered:

“Very funny... It really hurt, Aeriell. I would have expected you’d know by know which parts of me are the most delicate and not to be handled so roughly…”  

The hare-maiden grinned, “I tend to forget it without regular reminders.” Terrek chuckled at that, while Tom gave the pair a questioning look.

Mell just slightly shook her head at two’s antics. “Some beasts never change,” she thought in amusement.  She looked to officer’s table and wondered how soon they will set out of Salamandastron. Mellana hoped there will be enough time for her to say goodbye to her mother.

[Capt. Rake Nightfur]

(OOC: Wow, it's been a while, not sure if any of you want to keep going, but I would be willing to.)

“An interesting tale you spun there, Will. Tell me since when has the abbey had bells? They don’t even have a tower to put them in yet.” Louis asked, waving his knife in the air. Will scoffed around a bite of scone,
“Mm...creative…licensing…ole boy…Mmrfgh!” He waited a moment to finish swallowing before he commented,
“Mell’s been getting letters from somebeast in the abbey, why don’t you ask her? Hmmm?” Will spun to look over to Mell and asked, “Oh Madame Mellana, would you mind terribly to put my dear friend’s worries about authenticity in a silly ditty to rest? If that is indeed within your capabilities?”

[Myrkin]

(OOC: I want to keep playing. )


„Actually, we were in the Abbey once, Will,” Mell answered before taking a bite of scone. “It was three seasons ago, I think?” she said, looking questioningly at Terrek and Aeriell.

“More like fourth seasons ago. It was before that ugly business with Grock the Firebringer and his band of weasels, remember?” Aeriell said.

“The Firebringer?” Tom asked with curiosity in his voice.

“It’s a long story and not one fit for mealtime, lad,” Terrek told with (unusual for him) somberness. “Better ask us some other time.”

Young Tom looked from the other buck to Mell and Aeriell, but hare-maidens wore similar looks on their faces, so he decided against pursuing that topic. More often than not his comrades were more than happy to share with him tales of their adventures from the time before he joined 13th Woodland Patrol. Terrek in particular needed little encouragement to begin reminiscing about his exploits, although Tom suspected that the older buck had embellished most of those stories. Therefore, if they were unwilling to talk about something, then it was better to drop the subject.

“Anyway,” Mell said after a moment of silence, “Fourth seasons ago we fought against a band of vermin and some of us got wounded. At the time we were close to Redwall, so Captain led our unit to the Abbey. I spend most of my time there recovering in the Infirmary, but I didn’t see or hear any great bells.”

“Well... They had some small bells in the kitchen,’ Aeriell joined in, “They were always ringing when it was time for eating. No bell tower though and I’m pretty sure they weren’t hiding any big bells anywhere in the Abbey. I inspected the whole thing from what they call Cavern Hall to the attic, so I know.”

“Why would you go to attic?” Tom asked, puzzled.

„I love exploring,” Aeriell answered with a smile, „Besides… I had to pass the time somehow till those two lazy bodies decided they had enough of being pampered by Redwall’s healers,” she said pointing at Mell and Terrek.

Terrek looked up from his plate. “I think somebody is making light of our wounds here, Mell," he said, with exaggerated expression of injured pride, "And those were very serious wounds. Very serious indeed. In fact, they were so serious, they wouldn’t laugh at any of my jokes.”

“Which isn’t saying much,” Aeriell teased.  

[Capt. Rake Nightfur]

“See, Will, no bells,” Louis said poking his friend in the gut.
“Well isn’t that just wonderful? Every image of that place I have had. Alas, a lie!”  Will said, clapping his paw to his forehead dramatically.

Roth sat watching the antics of the mess; half listening to whatever Starbuck was saying about how there was soon to be a new badger in the mountain. In actuality, he would be at a severe disadvantage if another badger arrived, but that wasn’t important. Roth smiled at Starbuck and excused himself. As he stood he waved down the patrol from standing to attention again, and in passing Captain Keystone, he whispered,

“I’d like to be gone by midmorning. Ready the patrol, I will be getting my things.

[Myrkin]

“As you command, General,” Keystone said back, then he turned to Sarge. He gazed at the table where the members of the 13th were sitting, counting them in mind. He frowned when he came one patroller short.

“Where is Peppermint?” he asked Sarge, who was just finishing her ale.

“In a bed, I imagine. Last night one of does went into labor,” she explained.

“Ah… I see. Go find him and wake him up. We can’t set out without our healer. I’ll get the rest of these ruffians going,” Captain said, smiling at the last sentence slightly. He rose up and approached his patrollers. As he did so, Tomasso almost jumped while standing at attention, while others did so in far less nervous manner. Lad was always eager to prove himself to be a good soldier, although he had yet to experience what true war was. Keystone caught himself thinking whether he was doing the right thing by taking an untested fighter on the excursion that would certainly lead to battle. He pushed those doubts away. “Cedar said he has enough skill to have a place in fight and she has never been wrong about those things before,” he reminded himself. He had seen Tom’s duel with Sergeant of 13th, and even though to someone else’s eye that fight would had looked visibly one-sided, the Captain had no reason to disagree with Oaktree’s assessment of young patroller’s readiness.

“Breakfast time’s over,” Keystone addressed his patrollers, “We’re leaving in 20 minutes, so if you have any last check of equipment to make or need to say goodbye to your loved ones, then now is the last chance.”

“We’re already leaving, Sir? I was hoping we would have a cake before setting out,” Terrek said.

“Not to worry, Lavendertail. I ordered the cooks to load some cake on our supply cart,” Captain responded in deadpan manner, which caused Terrek ears to rise.

“Really?” he asked hopefully.

“No”

And with that, buck’s ears dropped. The rest of 13th laughed at Terrek’s disappointment.  

“However, I‘m sure they have some in Redwall, so the sooner we leave, the sooner you will get your cake, Lavendertail,” Keystone continued when the laughter died down. “I expect to see you all by the gate in 20 minutes, fully equipped and ready to march. Are we clear?”

“Sir, yes, sir!!!”

“As you were,” he said, turning to exit the mess. As he was going, he was able to hear Young Tom ask a question in incredulous tone:

“Cake?”

“What? I have a sweet tooth,” he heard Terrek’s response, as he was exiting the room.

---
 
“I guess it’s time to go back to barracks and get our things,” Mell said to Aerriel, after Captain had left the mess hall. She glanced towards the kitchen, where her mother was working. They hadn’t spoken a word since their argument a couple days ago, but surely Alana would come to the gate to say last goodbye to her before she left? “Or maybe I should go there and…” she thought, but was interrupted by Aerriel’s response:

“We should check we have everything packed for the last time, just in case. It wouldn’t do to set out and find out on the way that we’ve forgotten something.”

“Uhm… Yeah. Let’s do that,” she said, following her friend to the barracks.