The Baleful Balladeer

[nikki]

A horrendous sound, like that of a beast in torment, was echoing down the mountain.

Those who had spent more than a few weeks on the mountain, however, could readily identify the source. Saxifrage Dillworthy-Bigbones was a mighty boxer and swordhare, a cheerful comrade, a true-blue defender, and a perfectly awful singer.

A perfectly awful singer who had, scant hours ago, decided that the best use of his free time would be to compose a song praising each high-ranked officer of the mountain.

Starting, naturally, with the Badger Lady herself.

"Hark th' tale ay Silverclaw,
Th'Lady ay th'mount!
A fine auld badger strong an' braw,
An' luvly too, nae doubt!
Uir Lady, she's a fighter true
Defendin' uir great coast
An' ye know she's a true beauty too,
'Tis nae an empty boast!"

The great gray hare tapped his footpaws merrily against the boulder he was perched upon as he repeated these lines to himself, humming thoughtfully as he considered the next stanza. He was, of course, wholly unaware that the atonal bawling had frightened off every shorebird in the vicinity (and likely a few young hares as well).

[Treble Tiderunner]

Slow clapping came from behind the hare. It certainly wasn't for the young hare's enthusiastic singing, but the brigadier meant it all the same. Saxifrage was not the best singer in the mountain, but he was more than fair at making up the lyrics.

Or so Aidan judged. He smiled as Sax turned to see who had stayed near enough to hear his horrid singing, waving away the hare's salute. He kept the title of brigadier by courtesy only, he was retired now, a civilian. He remained at the mountain to teach the younger generations, from the smallest leveret to recruits, even to officers and hares of the Patrol. As Armsmaster, he filled a spot long left vacant by his predecessor, who had taught him all he knew.

"Saxifrage, isn't it?" He questioned the younger hare. "Composing songs?"

[nikki]

The mountain giant grinned at the older hare as he hefted himself up to his footpaws, well-nicked ears waggling in greeting.

"Th' same! Colur Sergeant Saxifrage Dillworthy-Bigbones at yer service. Sax will dae me aw reit, ay coorse." Sax apparently had no issues with Aidan waving away the salute; he was not a creature of formality himself. "An' yoo'd be 'at braw auld bladebeest Brigadier wavebob, arenae ye?" He grinned, gray eyes taking in Aidan from eartip to toetip as he nodded.

"Och aye, jist a wee hobby ay mine. We've some fine fightin' beasts oan thes ben, dornt we? Seems tae be we coods howl it out loud an' strang, pit th' fear in vermin types afair they ever hae a change tae see th' shine ay uir swords!"

Saxifrage bounced forward then, light on his footpaws for such a big fellow.

"An' whit brings a guid fellaw loch ye out haur? Nae tae hear mah tunes?" Though there would, of course, be one for Aidan too; Sax admired the older officer's blade skills far too much for it to be otherwise. He tucked scarred paws beneath his back with a that merry grin, scraggly whiskers twitching as he ran through his head for words that rhymed with 'brigadier'.