Reinforcements [Open]

[Treble Tiderunner]

Elicia popped up by Brush and Aidan. "Well, have any of you blighters check the bloomin' trees? It seems like any foebeast would hide up there, dont'cha know!"

Enon stood, casting a contemptuous look over the Lt. Colonel with her one eye. The black squirrel, while not knowing the officer personally, had spent nearly ten years training or in service with the patrol and knew the hare’s reputation. “Elicia.” She said in an over-patience that was nearly insulting, “If ye had paid any attention at all, ye would know that Brush has already been oot on scowt. As ye dinna know, Ah can only assume ye are as over’ssumin’ an’ clueless as yer reput’tion implies. And we're squirrels. We always look up.” She stood with arms crossed as she stared at the hare, with a glint of something hard in her eyes. As far as Enon had ever been able to tell, Eli had advanced on sheer bluster and willingness to insult, put-down, or intimidate anyone under her command or not, with a ruthlessness towards other officers and an ambition that drove her higher, no matter who she stepped on.

"Lieutenant Colonel Elicia Pittney, at ye service! Sorry 'bout that, don't know if we were introduced, been a bit busy with the ranks, ye understand! You've met the Major, I see." Her eyes passed right by Aidan. "And if the beasts at the camp didn't know we were coming...the how did they know to meet us? I say be on our guard-don't know what these chaps will do, if they can supposedly read minds!" She tightened her grip. "Not sure that we want to meet these blokes right now. Not if we didn't tell them where we were-I assume no gallopers were put out, Major, to inform them of our presence? Bloody heck. I don't like it...but what do you say, sah?"

Enon snorted and turned on her heel, finally releasing Eli from her flat stare. She disappeared up the tree, appearing a few moments later, dropping lightly by the young galloper, who startled before she steadied him with a paw. She conferred a moment with both galloper and woodlanders. As they neared, the galloper spun on his heel and headed back out to his position as scout.

Lady Farryn Silverclaw sighed. "I'm a small badger, for goodness sakes! I'm not some great hulking beast or something!"

“Yes marm,” Enon said with respect as she reached the group again, “But most entrances are the smallest they can be, to aid in camouflage, and I’d say ye would not fit through the largest were it not enlarged.”

"Hurr, et wuz Marthen, Brush.” A mole spoke up from the rear of the group, lifting a heavy digging claw for attention. He looked about at all the attention brought by these words and waved it away from him, as if pushing away their confusion. “Hurr, ‘twas Marthen, Tirr said ee visited ‘im, ee did, zurrs an’ marms.” He bowed to the badgerlady, brushing the dirt from his digging claws.

[Elicia]

Elicia rubbed her head ruefully. "I told ye, I was in the bally ranks, wot!"
OOC or //What's with being mean to Elicia??? It was my fault-I only read a few posts back....//
IC: "Sorry old chap! I'm just on edge..." The Lt. Colonel looked utterly deflated. "A bit of a bloomin' misunderstandin'! Please, marm, give a gel a chance, got to be sharpish, wot? Can't help what I've jolly well trained to do, and a bloody hare ain't gonna look UP for the foebeasts, being as we stay on the ground. C'mon, old chaps, can we just forget the whole incident? Please? Oh, bloody heck." Eli muttered to herself. "Never going to get yourself out of this one, are you old gel? Jolly well unfair. I hadn't heard the bloody conversation!"

The Lady looked at Enon and Elicia sternly, speaking in a directed whisper. "You two stop it, that's an order. Enon, I know you were offended, and I apologize, and so has Eli. Eli, that was unnecessary and rude, however you did not know who it was who was arriving, and you had not heard the whole conversation." A shaft of light hit her huge claws, and it reflected menacingly. "I cannot stand for two perilous warriors of the Long Patrol to be fighting over a silly misconception!"

Elicia saluted sharply. "Marm!" And walked away stiffly, headed nowhere in particular.

Lady Ryn sighed. "Enon..don't be so hard on her. She is truly kind, but she has worked so hard for this, all of her life. Now that she is finally in office...Eli's taking advantage of every second she's got. She has a heart of gold, really, or I would not have promoted her. Don't strike stakes into that which may be saved." Turning away, she addressed the mole who had spoken. "Even better! Martin himself...I did not think we would get such a welcome, albeit that you have already been so kind this far. I hope..." She said, looking back at the Patrol. "That your kitchens are...let's say prepared for our arrival as well?"

***

Elicia sat in the woods with her back to a tree. She hadn't mean to be rude-no, not at all! She had liked Enon when she was a Patroller...but something in the squirrel's manner kept her away. "As ye dinna know, Ah can only assume ye are as over'ssumin' an' clueless' as yer reput'tion implies." What had she meant? Over-assuming? Clueless? Eli tried to AVOID being those two things. Was her rep. really as bad as that?

//I see a nervous breakdown in the future!//

[lorki]

Estlin turned his body, curling like a snake around the backside of the tree and leaning back on his haunches to throw his paws up and sink his claws into the trunk. He hoisted himself up, climbing slowly in an attempt to not draw much attention... but if he did or did not it wouldn't matter much.

He reached the larger branch a few feet above his earlier one just in time to watch a small conflict irrupt within the ranks. He tilted his head, listening carefully to hear bits and pieces of the car away conversation. They were quite emotional little creatures, but then again most of the beasts here were like that. His eyes reached farther, to the group of beasts from the camp.

He leaned back and balanced himself carefully before moving a paw over his shoulder to press lightly on the bandage there. He scowled lightly at the pain but then left it be, the wound ought to be healed soon.

As was usually true with the wildcat, where he was a dead body was not far behind. The wildcat cast a downwards glance at the body resting on the tree limbs below him, a hare...possibly a scout from these ranks. He recoiled then, and shot out from the foliage and for a short moment was airbourne before he crashed through more branches and grabbed onto the new tree to steady himself as the branch swayed under his weight. He dropped down behind the trunk, imagining he must have been seen and soon some calls would ring out, perhaps and arrow or two. He thought calmly about where he ought to go, wondering nonchalantly if there was still blood on his face.

[Elicia]

Elicia sat up, startled. "What was that? Marm!" She called to the Badger Lady from all the way where she was standing-her voice projected across the gap between them. Something had moved in the trees above her, the same tree that she had been sitting under earlier.

Ryn looked up from her discussion with the Campers, then nodded her permission. Without a second glance, the Badger Lady turned back to the goodbeasts in front of her.

That was what Eli had been waiting for. The permission-it was there! And hers. The Lt. Colonel walked silently into the woods, aiming for where she had seen the rustle stop. A silly joke played through her mind as she walked deeper into the woods. "What ho? A foe!" It was a little joke that new troops played when they were challenged to a duel. She herself had said it, so many seasons ago, when she had been in the ranks of the Long Patrol as a simple Private. But I'm past that now! She thought as she advanced slowly. There was another big tree up ahead-Elicia told herself she wouldn't go any farther than that. She was scouting, not hunting.

[Enon // SoMtW]

The Lady looked at Enon and Elicia sternly, speaking in a directed whisper. "You two stop it, that's an order. … I cannot stand for two perilous warriors of the Long Patrol to be fighting over a silly misconception!"

Enon stood straighter, stiffening her back under the badgerlady’s admonition. Her skin prickled under her fur, and she pressed her fingers together, determined not to fidget, she felt for the first time in years like a dibbun caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She seemed as impassive as ever, but her ears flicked uneasily once. When Ryn finished, she saluted sharply, knowing that she’d been out of line, and if she were still part of the regular patrol things might have gone worse.

"Enon..don't be so hard on her. She is truly kind, but she has worked so hard for this, all of her life. Now that she is finally in office...Eli's taking advantage of every second she's got. She has a heart of gold, really, or I would not have promoted her. Don't strike stakes into that which may be saved."

Heart of gold? Enon wasn’t so sure on that point, but movement caught her eye and she broke her gaze from the badgerlady to look. It was Aidan, shaking his head slowly from where he leaned against the tree. Enon remembered that Aidan was one of Eli’s friends, and felt ashamed for disappointing him. “Pardon me, marm.” She said, nodding to the assembled creatures and bounded into the tree. She’d take to the trees, that was certainly the fastest way to get where she was going. Of course, duty and honor dictated she apologize, and she had to find the Lieutenant Col. to do so.

Eli was on the move once Enon reached the tree she had been sitting under, some sort of alarm. The squirrel prepared herself to jump, but paused, something seemed wrong. She sniffed, descending the tree a little ways. There it was, the source of the coppery smell. Her blood turned cold as she stared at the dead body, one of the Varilde twins, Eastpaw, the more serious one. “Ryn! Brush!” She called, taking a red kerchief from her pouch and tying it to the branch before drawing her longest daggers.

“Elicia!” She called, sprinting the short distance through the trees to land next above the hare. “It’s a big cat!”

[Elicia]

She had seen Eastpaw first. Of course she had, for the Lt. Col.'s face was stormy, and her eyes were dark. Yet another young beast had gone, and her honor would not let it go unpunished. Eli picked her pace up to a light trot. She didn't want to lose the creature in front of her, nor the one behind, but she still went fast as Enon caught up with her. "Not the brightest thing in the bally lot, eh?" She smiled painfully at Enon, thankful that the squirrel warrior was talking to her again (and not inquiring about anything), and ran a little faster. "Blasted creatures...can't get a moment alone without someone sneakin' up on yore back, eh!"

Then the Lt. Col.'s face tightened in pain. "I saw Eastpaw.." Her voice almost betrayed a bit of emotion, but not quite. It was as hard as steel from years of practice, ever since she had learned that lesson...never show your intentions. It brings pain, pain and suffering to those around you. "I-I'm sorry 'bout wot I said to ye before, old gel. Didn't mean it..." Elicia nodded slightly, but it might have been the drumming of her footpaws against the ground as she ran after the 'big cat'.

***
Ryn looked up immediately at Enon's call. "Enon! Elicia!" She left the Campers without looking back, forgetting her manners. It wasn't that big of a deal, though. The badger raced over to where Enon had tied the red kerchief. "Brush! Ah...where's the twin?" The Badgerlady turned away for a second on the pretense of looking for Eastpaw's brother, but her eyes were sparkling and she was squinting. No tear fell from her black eyes, however, and she composed her face with a sigh of resentment. "Don't see him, honestly, Brush!" She let out another sigh, this one of annoyance. "And those two sillies ran off into the woods, too! Just when I could've used either of them!" She was hiding her grief, and barely covering for it. She knew that her friends and hares were her weakness-hurt them, and you could hurt her too.

[lorki]

“It’s a big cat!”

So they'd noticed. A small smirk spread over his features. He'd planned on not making an entrance at all, and even if he did he would have wanted it to be a more civil one... But they also seemed to have noticed the body hanging high up in the tree. It was a bit obvious, he supposed, but he'd assumed they wouldn't notice it so quickly.

No matter that though, Estlin didn't mind being found out. If anything it gave way to number of potential games. He could lead them on a chase, he could drop down and engage in what promised to be a short uneventful fight... Or he could stay hidden, like a killer shadow lurking about the woods. That was, at best, his identity to most.

His long striped tail wound around the trunk of the tree that he'd stuck himself in, there was another not far from him he could leap into if he needed to. He bent forward and with the agile movement known only to cats he slunk down a branch, tearing off small bits of bark with his claws as he moved slowly deliberately down the tree. His bright eyes peered from the upper branches down onto the dark shadowed forest floor where the two hares were. He was hidden in the thick leaves and tangled branches, the limbs and trunk blocked the sun from hitting his vermilion and saffron dappled fur. He would watch and wait before he executed his plan... but a game of tag did sound awfully fun with quick footed hares.

[Tirael]

Brush eyed the proceedings uneasily, knowing that this wasn't something for him to be involved in, no matter what his opinion was. He wasn't a member of the Long Patrol, and while they were in Mossflower now, this particular situation did not require his input. It was best to stand aside and let those already involved work it out. Moving off discreetly, he conversed with the mole who'd spoken up about 'Marthen.' What he had to say was rather interesting,

“Ryn! Brush!”

Turning toward Enon's voice in alarm, Brush broke into a run. She was clearly alarmed, and given her relatively level state of mind, that wasn't something to take lightly. After a brief glance around, he saw Enon drop from a tree and begin sprinting. Changing course to follow, he arched his eyebrows in surprise as she yelled again.

“It’s a big cat!”

"Brush! Ah...where's the twin?"

Stopping briefly to answer the badger lord, he said hurriedly, "Don't know yet, but he shouldn't be far." A more regretful expression flashed across his face as he said, "No matter what's happened, we'll find 'im," and with that he continued pursuing Enon.

Once he'd caught up, he studied the surrounding trees as he asked, "Enon, what exactly did you see?" He grasped his javelin in the ready position, hoping to be ready for whatever might happen.

[[Eh, not good, but now we're all caught up/]]

[Elicia]

Elicia stood with her basket-hilt over her paw. She had stopped when she heard yet another beast join them. Every single blighter that I've insulted today seems to be followin' me, wot! She sighed, but turned to face Brush. "What exac'ly did the gel see, sah? Wot is that suppos'd to mean?" The Lt. Col. cocked her head to one side, and her ears tilted comically, flopping over each other. "Bloody bastard. Got Eastpaw." She grimaced, pain on her every expression. "Dang it." She turned around and drew her sword. "All right, me buckoes! Weapons a' the ready for wotever appears, eh?" She tossed it up, and caught it by the hilt again.

***
Lady Ryn sighed heavily when Brush left. She had just complained about both Enon and Eli leaving, now him too? Was there going to be no officers left by the end of this? They were disappearing all over the place now. "Beggin' your pardon, sirs and ma'ams. A bit of a setback-only temporary." Ryn's voice was hard as she called over to the Campers.

The Badger Lady nearly raked her long silver claws down her long muzzle in annoyance. Did no beast listen to her anymore? "Somebeast get me Varlide, sharpish!" She shouted out to the hares assembled, a tic starting in her forehead. "NOW!" Her temper had snapped. She was furious that Eastpaw was gone, taken from them. She was furious that she was so weak when regarding her hares and officers. She was furious-and that was all that mattered. No longer did Ryn, the kind badger Lady win out. This was Lady Farryn Silverclaw, Badger Lord of Salamandastron. She was giving orders, and by jove if those hares didn't listen to her!

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Not the brightest thing in the bally lot, eh?" She smiled painfully at Enon, thankful that the squirrel warrior was talking to her again (and not inquiring about anything), and ran a little faster. "Blasted creatures...can't get a moment alone without someone sneakin' up on yore back, eh!"

The black squirrel dropped down from her perch in the tree above, landing lightly next to the hare. She also wore a grim expression, pulling taut her facial scar. Young Eastpaw... he hadn't been much younger than she, really, but his lightheartedness had brought a youthful air to the patrol, for all he was probably the most perilous boxer in the Patrol, half of a well-oiled machine.

“Damn cat.” She swore vehemently, but with her characteristic curtness. He'd snuck right by her and Brush, and it came as a personal failure. If she got that cat... maybe it would fix things. SHe knew nothing could bring the hare warrior back, but at least she could get the blasted creature who killed... and then ate.


"I saw Eastpaw.." Her voice almost betrayed a bit of emotion, but not quite. It was as hard as steel from years of practice, ever since she had learned that lesson...never show your intentions. It brings pain, pain and suffering to those around you. "I-I'm sorry 'bout wot I said to ye before, old gel. Didn't mean it..."

“Nae problem, lass. Ah was owta line.” She scowled ahead of them, “and 'e snook roight past us!”She left unsaid the part about her not meaning it to, but Enon was a squirrel of few words, and she opened up rarely.

“Enon, what exactly did you see?"

“Eastpaw.” She gritted, shifting her grip on her long dirks minutely.

[Elicia]

Elicia fingered the hilt of her long sword. It was worn and beaten...and well used. It fit well into her grip as she tested the edge on her paw, drawing a thin line of blood. She didn't wince, merely blinked, satisfied with the results. The blade was sharp and ready for the bastard that had killed young Eastpaw. It was ready, and so was she. Two squirrels and a hare against a cat. One a young beast, with a javelin. One a wandering warrior with dirks. And one an officer of the Long Patrol, wielding a razor sharp saber. Brush...Enon...and Elicia. All against the beast that had so brutally killed a perilous hare. "Vermil'on 'ells!" The officer swore, not caring what it was that she said in front of the others.

[lorki]

"Bloody bastard. Got Eastpaw."

Estlin's fangs gleamed in a dangerous smile as his sharp ears listened to the creatures below him. He stood and leaned back in the tree, pressing his back to the trunk and taking his time to undo the bindings on his gauntlets and tighten them. His eyes wandered over the black pattern tattooed around his wrist, as if forgetting why it was there. His expression fell to a blank empty stare as he failed to remember its origin. The wildcat shoved the concerning thought aside and turned his head to peer through the branches at the beasts below him.

He listed one arm and let the razor like gauntlet fall heavily on a branch near his head. A few more strong whacks and he reached up with his other paw to hold the branch in place as he swiped it clean off the tree. Holding in steady the cat hunched over under the weight of the wood and he searched for the right opening.

Estlin found it, a perfect little patch clear of twigs or leaves, a clear path to the gathering woodlanders and patrol hare below him. He heaved the branch away from him, sending it crashing through the tree towards Enon, Brush and Eli. As the branch made its decent, surely distracting the three of them, Estlin moved.

He lowered himself and slid down a few branches, claws in perfect placement to keep him moving fast without a single slip or misplaced step. He forced himself back and then sprang forward, shooting from one side of the tree to the other and then out of the coverage. He landed back in his original tree and bounded quickly down to kick the lifeless body of the hare out of the tree, towards the three others as well.

Perfectly comforted knowing they would be fully distracted with falling branches and bodies, Estlin made his leap into the next tree, this one in line with where the trio stood. He slipped behind the trunk quickly, hoping that they hadn't noticed this last move and wouldn't be able to porperly guess which tree he was now hiding in.

[Tirael]

“Eastpaw.”

...that hadn't exactly been what he'd meant. Brush had actually been asking about the cat, but he knew now wasn't the time to press the issue. Enon was smart, she'd tell him anything he needed to know, and he could figure out the rest. Back-to-back with his companions, he scanned the trees for any-

"There!" he said, pointing his javelin at something falling from the trees. He scrutinized it briefly, realizing it was only a branch. This killer wasn't so careless as to do that by accident; it had to be on purpose. Maybe he wanted to be found... Searching for other signs of movement, he turned and saw as the body fell from the tree. He hadn't seen it before now, and it was a rather disturbing site. Gritting his teeth, he said, "We'll make him pay for that."

[Elicia]

Elicia snapped her head around when the branch fell. She was in attack position, her feet light and swaying gently. Her saber felt cool in her paw...and she fingered its basket hilt absently. Her dark eyes glazed over the body and focused on the movement. Brush said something beside her, and she half-listened through the crash of the branch. "Brush, Enon. You're the blinkin' squirrels. Which way's the blighter gone, eh?" The Lt. Colonel asked quietly. "Don't think 'bout Varlide-we just need t'get the killer!"

The Long Patrol officer surveyed the trees, looking for the cause of the branch. Eastpaw Varlide was blocked from her mind. She had to focus this time, as the trees were not her strong point. To be honest, she didn't see anything at all.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"We'll make him pay for that."

"Told you he got Eastpaw." Enon said, licking the edge of her blades absently as she watched the trees, merely sidestepping the brand that fell near her head. She was cold, her mind working on autopilot and intuition to help he pinpoint the exact location of the moving cat.

"Brush!" She said, clamping her smaller blade in her teeth as she motioned up, then took a few running steps towards him. They'd done this before, a way to boost one or the other into the trees quickly, without bothering with tree trunks. The booster would lace their footpaws, and give the scout a lift into the treetops.