A Plan Unfolds [Soko/Open]

[Treble Tiderunner]

“Good.” ... “I know where it is.”

Sitting back, Tam gave Soko a sheepish grin. She ate the last of her sandwich slowly as she considered her uncle’s words. He knew where it was? At no time in her 19 years had she even a hint of that, but the again, for the leader of all Camp Moss he was a rather secretive otter. She shook her head, swallowing the last bite with some cordial.

"Skipper... Do you think it will be alright... I mean we shouldn't ask some of the others I don't want to..."

“It’s fine.” Tam said for Skipper. “You’ll do fine, and nobeast really can argue with Martin, can they?”

"Well, I guess that doesn't matter much though, does it?"

“Nope. You’re stuck with us, and its hard to argue with a dead mouse, anyway.” Tampa mused, her eyes dancing with mischief.

"You what?..."

“Know where it is.” Skipper repeated patiently. He stood and stretched, wincing at the pain in his arm. “C’mon, young’ns, time to get your feet wet.”

[lorki]

“Nope. You’re stuck with us, and its hard to argue with a dead mouse, anyway.”

Soko smirked, she was beginning to feel better with Tampa's nonchalant joking around her now. All the others had been so serious, she'd had no emotional 'wiggle room' per say. She was either evil, trustworthy, or the crazy sable who had blown up at a bunch of beasts in the hall one day, stormed off and proceeded to avoid further contact.

She could not argue that she had expected something better coming here, but of course that was foolish. Acceptance for her would always take work, she might as well get use to it. Although this idea left a sour taste in her mouth it would be reality, reality was never kind to Soko, she could move past it.

“Know where it is.” Skipper repeated patiently. He stood and stretched, wincing at the pain in his arm. “C’mon, young’ns, time to get your feet wet.”

Soko stepped back from the table, watching the older otter stand and stretch. Could the rest of them notice his age? She certainly hadn't at first, but what stress he must be under trying to keep an entire community safe. She had already blatantly ridiculed his leadership and called them all cowards, but they were as kind as the world would let them be. Like her, in this aspect at least. The poor tattered leader of the camp could not possibly be expected to offer anymore. She let her mind wander to a hopeful thought, that once she was named champion, once she had the position and the power to accompany it, at the very least she could take some of the pressure from the Skipper.

She glanced back at Tampa and Tirael, "You're both coming, right?"

[Tirael]

“C’mon, young’ns, time to get your feet wet.”

With everything still whizzing around in his head, Tirael decided it would be best if he stopped trying to get all of this and instead just go with it. Standing, he began to muse about exactly why his feet were going to get wet. If the sword was stored somewhere wet, wouldn't it get rusty? Not much of a legendary weapon if it was..

"You're both coming, right?"

Glancing at Tampa, Tirael said, "Of course, if you'll have us." He looked briefly around the room at the few beasts who still remained. Fortunately, they didn't seem to notice that the four were about to do anything out of the ordinary; somehow, he felt that having a whole crowd coming with them would ruin the experience.

[Treble Tiderunner]

Skipper picked up a sturdy stick from its place on the bench, tossing it to Tampa as she rose and stretched too. “Don’t forget.” He cautioned his daughter. Don’t forget the cane/staff that Tirael had ordered her to use. He didn’t need to say the entire thing, she knew what he meant.

Tampa pulled a face, leaning on the staff that was as tall as she. She didn’t like it, using a crutch made her feel weak and useless. “I suppose I’m not allowed to get my feet wet?” She inquired. Skipper shook his head in Tirael’s direction. “Right. Tirs?”

“You're both coming, right?"

“Can’t get rid of me.” Tam said, stumping after Skipper as he led the way out of the main hall and down the corridor.

“Can you swim?” Skipper asked suddenly, looking over his shoulder at Soko. “’course, if you can’t, someone else could get it, but I’d think you’d want to do it yourself.

[lorki]

"Of course, if you'll have us."

Soko smirked, so Tirael's timidness was not an act. No wonder she felt akin to him. "Of course, Tirael." She nodded.

Behind her Tampa was stumbling up with her crutch. Soko made a face in her direction as she asked Tirael about getting her feet wet. "It's so obvious you two are siblings. Tam, do you ever give him a break?" She chuckled, partially amused, partially jealous of the tows relationship.

“Can you swim?”

Soko hadn't in awhile... but there had been the odd few times she'd had to go follow a drifting piece of laundry into the pond... and once when she was younger tossed in during a particularly rough 'play date' with a group of young hordesbeasts. She could swim... as long as Skipper wasn't expecting something too miraculous. "I can swim..." She tilted her head slightly sideways, "...Well enough."

[Tirael]

“Right. Tirs?”

Hoping that the sword wouldn't be too hard for Tam to get to, Tirael said, "Umm...wet isn't a problem, as long as the wound stays closed. Go easy on it, if you can." He was worried that where they were going would be dangerous for her; she could walk somewhat without her crutch, but she would be a little unstable, which isn't a good thing in a wet, slippery place. "Just...don't push yourself, okay? I don't want you getting any more hurt."

"It's so obvious you two are siblings. Tam, do you ever give him a break?"

Tirael grinned, partially because he liked having Tam as a sister and partially because of how Soko was flipping reality; she wasn't the one who had to give breaks most of the time. However, he decided to have a little fun. "Nope, she likes to drive me crazy, don't you, Tam?" Helping her along, he did his best to keep a straight face for Soko.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"I can swim..." She tilted her head slightly sideways, "...Well enough."

Skipper shook his head, scratching his chin again. “We’ll need an able-bodied beast to help you. Tam can’t, I’ll need to lead the way, and Tir can’t with his arm.” The older otter considered as he stumped along. “Preferably two or three.”

Tam considered as well. “What about Fern?” She asked, with a wicked grin at Tir that didn’t match her appearance. “And Brookesong? Is she injured? Or her brother?” All three were good swimmers. She supposed. She’s never seen Brooke or River swim.

Skipper stopped, turning to look at Tir. “Well?” He asked.

[Brooke]

Brookesong and River had been walking around Camp catching up on what they had missed since the two had been divided. They had been walking past a room when they heard their names come up in a conversation. The two otters, never ones to pass up making a grand entrance ran in. River struck what he thought was a heroic pose, and Brooke was about to when she saw her brother's expression and collapsed into a chair laughing. River, trying not to laugh stood up, placing a paw on his heart he said solemnly, "Did somebeast say River and Brooke?" He shot his sister a look willing her to stop laughing. "We are they and.. Oh forget it!" He said exasperatedly. If his sister wasn't going to play along, it wouldn't be any fun at all. Brooke calmed herself enough so that she was able to speak. "You called?'' She asked still grinning.

[Tirael]

“What about Fern?”

Tirael gave his sister the withering look he felt her comment deserved. Instead of the helpful advice he had hoped for, he had just received a good dose of friendly teasing. He now realized she probably wasn't any more knowledgeable in the subject than he was, but it didn't help him much at all to realize it. Putting this into the back of his head, he said, "I guess she could help. If she wants to, that is."

“And Brookesong? Is she injured? Or her brother?”

“Well?”

Tirael was about to make some sort of decision when Brookesong and River made it for him by entering. Any thought of objection evaporated instantly. How could he reject them to their faces?

"You called?''

Blinking after the pair's rather blustering introduction, he turned to Skipp. "Well, I can't see what harm they could do. I guess I'll go get Fern, if she wants to come." Smiling briefly at Tampa, he left to go find her.

[lorki]

Soko listened quietly to the conversation. She still felt as if silence was one of her greatest aids about this place and she used it quite regularly. Her ears perked up at River and Brookesongs names. First in relief that River was alright, although she should have figured as much, and then in realization that there was yet another pair of sibling otters she knew. The third name, Fern, that one she did not recognize but she had hardly given any effort to being friendly and going about meeting the residents the past few weeks. She supposed she'd have to get on that pretty quickly if she was to be champion.

Just as soon as she had registered all of the names though, two of the three on her mind popped in from a doorway. It would appear that countless beasts in this camp had impeccable timing. She grinned widely as the performance... or blunder, whatever one proffered to call it. Once they were finished she spoke, "Its good to see you again River." Her eyes passed from him to Brookesong who -although Soko had avoided everyone for awhile- she knew to be particularly friendly.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Did somebeast say River and Brooke?" He shot his sister a look willing her to stop laughing. "We are they and.. Oh forget it!"

Tampa snorted, ignoring the exasperated look her brother had sent her way because of the Fern comment, and trying not to laugh at loud at the brother and sister pair. Finally she gave in, leaning on the corridor wall and letting out whoop after whoop of her characteristic earsplitting laugh.

"Well, I can't see what harm they could do. I guess I'll go get Fern, if she wants to come."

It took Tam a few minutes to calm, but eventually she did, winking at Tirael as he turned away. Despite what he suspected, most of her motivation behind suggesting Fern had been honest.

Skipper shook his head at the actions of the young ones, and started to fill the two new arrivals in as Tir left to find the other chosen member of their party.

[Tirael]

Tirael caught Tam's wink as he turned to leave. He couldn't help but smile; after all, he knew her intentions couldn't be that bad. After all, wasn't it a sister's duty to have at least a little fun at her little brother's expense? Walking out of the room, he hesitated, wondering exactly where he might find Fern. She hadn't found a permanent job yet, so far as he knew...that meant she could be in any number of places within the Camp. Helping out in the kitchen, Dibbun-minding, foraging, helping in the Infirmary...

Sighing, he decided to head for the infirmary as he tried to scratch off possibilities in his head. After a moment, he realized she wasn't at the kitchens; he had been there just a short time ago, and she hadn't. Then he realized the day was young, and he didn't have much else to go on. Resigned to that, he poked his head in the infirmary, where a squirrelmaid, Aruko, proceeded to 'shoo' him.

"Tir, we told you to rest, you've done plenty of work already! You need to-"
"Aruko, I promise I'm not here to work!" He'd never had to make that promise before. It made him want to laugh, but that was cut off by Aruko's suspicious look. "Then what're y' here for, buddy?"
"I'm just looking for Fern. Is she here?" Aruko's look of suspicion turned to a knowing grin. Tirael tried not to squirm in embarrassment. "Yeah, she's over there. What d'ya need her for?"
"Nothing, Aruko..." He thanked her and walked over to Fern. "Uhh, hi, Fern. D- do you think you could come with me for a minute? We need you for somethin'."

[Treble Tiderunner]

Fern finished rolling the last bandage and stood, fists raised high in a stretch. With all the bandages needing changing, washed bandages and new needed rolling. It was a slow, boring job, but it needed to be done. A commotion at the door caught her attention, she turned to look, trying not to laugh as she saw who Aruko was scolding.

"Tir, we told you to rest, you've done plenty of work already! You need to-"
"Aruko, I promise I'm not here to work!"

Tirael. Why was he here then, if not to work? She sighed with exasperation, gathering up bandages and putting them away. He’d work himself to exhaustion, this way. She’d thought that she’d be able to count on his sister, Tampa, to corral him, but apparently not. She was injured, and pushed herself as if an arrow had not come perilously close to bone.

"Yeah, she's over there. What d'ya need her for?"

Fern felt her cheeks heat, they were talking about her.

"Nothing, Aruko..." He thanked her and walked over to Fern. "Uhh, hi, Fern. D- do you think you could come with me for a minute? We need you for somethin'."

Fern put the last bandage on the shelf, turning to face him with a smile. “Sure. What do you need?” She asked, following him out. “I’m not singing to anymore dibbuns…”

[Tirael]

“Sure. What do you need?”

Tirael smiled as he led Fern out of the infirmary. She was one of the kindest people he'd ever met: helpful, willing, gentle, and with a great sense of humor. Really a great...friend. Just a friend. Inwardly, he sighed.

“I’m not singing to anymore dibbuns…”

Fern's remark caused Tirael to dip his head slightly and hold back a laugh. Their little duet had won both of them that sort of attention, though once the initial wave of teasing Tirael was over, Fern was given the brunt of it. Secretly, he felt relieved at that. Fern seemed much better at handling all the attention than he was. Turning to face her, he said, "Believe me, I wouldn't put you through that. I'm not that cruel, you know." He flashed her a smile and dropped his pace for a moment so they came side by side. "Anyways, this is more important. We have to retrieve a sword, and apparently Skipp knows where it is. It's our job to help Soko and Tam along." They then entered the main cavern, which was empty except for the search party. "We're back."

[lorki]

Soko waited in uneasy silence as Tirael disappeared to find his friend. She wondered inwardly when she would eventually allow herself to let her guard down... not anytime soon, she figured. To be honest as long as she was the black sheep of the group no matter what sort of power she held wouldn't really help her case. Perhaps enough of it could cover up who... what she was, but she wouldn't want that.

Tir appeared then, shadowed by yet another otter- this one was a girl. Her instant suspicions could clearly not be voiced at the time, though she smirked at his entrance- and attempt to appear less out of place than she actually was. "Good to hear you could find your way back, Tirael. Who's this?"