What the...?

[lorki]

The small badger smiled faintly as his paw closed around the chestnut. He knew there was something he was suppose to say in response to retrieving something he wanted, but manners were not exactly his specialty. He popped it into his mouth just as Sleet made a face, as if she didn't want to tell him to say thank you to that badger. All the same... "Thank you," she muttered to him quietly.

"Ah, 'ank yew." He managed between bites.

"Really, who?"

Annoyance trickled down her spine as the badger addressed her. Her fur bristled but she tried not to lose her composure, rather then speaking to Carwyn she did not move from facing towards Arturo, though her head angled just slightly to acknowledge the badgers presence.

"I know an otter at Camp moss... not to say we could exactly drop in on them unexpectedly but I know him well enough, that and he owes me, not to mention those beasts are such bleeding hearts they'll take in almost anything. " Unhappily her eyes shifted to Carwyn, "you could help us to get in, if you tell them we're not out to decapitate them all."

Of course there was the small hiccup of the multitude of beasts that had at one point in time come into a confrontation with Sleet and possibly were still brooding... not to mention the one Camp beast she'd killed being witnessed by possibly the whole patrol. But they were quick to forget those sort of things, she told herself, when. every ferret is evil it was easy to blend her bad deeds into a melting pot of unplaced evils her species had done to the world.

[Grath]

"Look, you don't like me. I get it, alright? But this isn't about us, it's about hi-"

Carwyn narrowed her eyes at the two ferrets. “Can you two at least

pretend get along?” She asked sharply, red eyes flicking between the two ferrets.

"Ah, 'ank yew." He managed between bites.

“You’re welcome, Caion.” Wyn turned her attention back to the dibbun, who had, typically, needed a reminder to say thank you. The older badger smiled nostalgically, remembering her younger days spent with the young of Fort Bane… she’d even considered settling down once, but quickly realized as much as she loved children she wasn’t the type to settle down like that.

"I know an otter at Camp moss... not to say we could exactly drop in on them unexpectedly but I know him well enough, that and he owes me, not to mention those beasts are such bleeding hearts they'll take in almost anything. " Unhappily her eyes shifted to Carwyn, "you could help us to get in, if you tell them we're not out to decapitate them all."

“Well.” Carwyn stood to her full height, dusting off her paws. “I think I can manage that. Lets be off, shall we?” She looked to Caion. “Would you like a ride, young one?” She asked, picking up her long pike more easily than she’d first done so when her father had gifted the heavy thing to her.
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[Arturo]

“Can you two at least pretend get along?”

Arturo turned to deliver a blistering and witty retort, only to open his mouth and realize he'd never been good at making up comebacks. Closing his mouth, he turned back to Sleet and acted as though he hadn't heard Carwyn. Nice save. Uh-huh. Yeah.

"I know an otter at Camp moss... not to say we could exactly drop in on them unexpectedly but I know him well enough, that and he owes me, not to mention those beasts are such bleeding hearts they'll take in almost anything. " Unhappily her eyes shifted to Carwyn, "you could help us to get in, if you tell them we're not out to decapitate them all."

Some bleeding hearts, he thought as he remembered when he first encountered a patrol from the Camp. After a rather pressured and hostile interrogation at spear-point, he was pretty sure he'd been followed by a squirrel or two for at least a mile. How could a group so dedicated to 'justice' and 'peace' be so intolerant? They ranked pretty low on his list.

“I think I can manage that. Lets be off, shall we?”

"Wait, wait," Arturo said. "Do either of you even know where Camp Moss is?"

[lorki]

“Well.” Carwyn stood to her full height, dusting off her paws. “I think I can manage that. Lets be off, shall we?” She looked to Caion. “Would you like a ride, young one?”

Caion, who had been sitting around for far longer than normal already, shook his head. He leaned forward and pushed himself up to stand, "Ah can walk." He said quietly, still not exactly sure what was happening or where he was going. The feuding ferrets weren't doing such a good job with the explanation, but he didn't expect them to notice that.

Sleet was pleasantly surprised by Carwyn's quick agreement to help, it didn't do much to deter Sleets hatred of the badger... but it did some good.

"Do either of you even know where Camp Moss is?"

"I know its hidden," Sleet shrugged, "I know the general direction, with all the patrols they have out they might find us before we find them if we get close enough... We'll find it."

[Arturo]

"I know the general direction, with all the patrols they have out they might find us before we find them if we get close enough... We'll find it."

The plan didn't appeal much to Arturo, who had very little interest in being 'found' by another patrol from the Camp. However, he knew that the presence of two badgers probably did increase their chances of being treated well immeasurably. What with Carwyn's noble appearance and the pity and affection that Caion was sure to engender, who was going to be pointing spears at him or Sleet? Besides, she knew some otter. Hopefully, that would count for something.

Following the others, he realized that they were headed away from the river- and his raft. He hadn't expected to leave it for any great length of time, but he had a duty to perform here. Resigned to that, he trudged through the woods with the others.
_________________________________

"I'm not sure...they're with two badgers. That's got to mean something, right?"
"I dunno, but this is pretty peculiar whether or not they're trustworthy. What if they tricked 'er?"
"Come on, mate, look at 'er! You really think any vermin would take a chance trying to play a beast that big? She looks deadly, she does."
"Well, we're not going to figure out much by arguing. You go ahead and warn the others. I'll follow them and make sure there's no funny business goin' on." With that, one of the squirrels swung off quickly and silently to make her report. The other followed the odd little group, remaining concealed and quiet.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Wait, wait," Arturo said. "Do either of you even know where Camp Moss is?"

Carwyn shot Arturo a look, then turned and looked to Sleet, who she still hadn’t been introduced to, but judging by that ferret’s expression, it was good that this was so. Shrugging, the massive badger answered, “I think she must know. If nothing else, I don’t exactly blend in, do I? And this party is quite a strange one, at least for hereabouts. She tugged at one tattooed ear. Personally, she’d had quite a few loyal ‘badbeasts’ in her band.

"Ah can walk."

Wyn nodded in assent, slipping him another chestnut. “Good lad. We’re taking you to Camp Moss, where they can take care of you.”

She followed the female ferret, trusting that she knew where she was going. If not… well that was different. She wasn’t totally a fool, just because she’d trusted her so far. The ferretess didn’t seem to like badgers very much.

[lorki]

"It gets pretty obvious, as you get closer..." Sleet said calmly, she picked up a stick jutting out of the ground and tossed it to the side where it snapped a snare trap. "Keep an eye out for those," she chuckled lightly and turned around to push Caion into direct line behind her.

He shuffled along in that way that badgers tended to, paws dragging a bit through pine needles and dead leaves, occasionally kicking up a pine cone. He didn't connect the name 'Camp Moss' to anything, other than the obvious assumption that it was a camp. He grinned widely as Carwyn slipped him another chestnut, if wherever they were going had more of these, he'd be fine.

Sleet scowled forward, her tail twitched- something was happening and she wasn't sure what. One paw went to her hip, resting lightly on the handle of a single small throwing knife. Her dark eyes looked ahead and then slowly raised towards the trees, she was quite sure something was up there. "Ahem." She cleared her throat loudly, hopeful that possibly whatever was up there might show itself.

[Arturo]

“I think she must know. If nothing else, I don’t exactly blend in, do I? And this party is quite a strange one, at least for hereabouts."

Carwyn was using quite reasonable logic, although the implication that they would be the ones discovered still made Arturo uncomfortable. Silently, he resolved that if any sort of trouble were to pop up, the other two could talk. He might as well be mute until he was spoken to directly.

"It gets pretty obvious, as you get closer..."

Raising an eyebrow, Arturo tried silently to figure out what that meant, although Sleet's warning about a snare trap gave him a bit of an idea as to what she meant.

Absorbed in his thoughts, he almost ran into Sleet as she slowed down and twitched her tail. Noticing how pensive she seemed, he followed her gaze up to the trees.

Something moved.
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"Ahem."

The squirrel cursed himself for allowing this ferret to see him. Readying his bow, he dropped from the tree and approached slowly. He looked briefly across the four faces of the group; it seemed the two females were in control here. Addressing them, he said, "What's your business in Mossflower?"

[Treble Tiderunner]

"It gets pretty obvious, as you get closer..." Sleet said calmly, she picked up a stick jutting out of the ground and tossed it to the side where it snapped a snare trap. "Keep an eye out for those,"

Carwyn shook her head, stepping around the tripped trap. “Not that one of my size would be supported by that…” She eyed the narrow ropes cautiously, looking around for more traps.

"What's your business in Mossflower?”

Carwyn lowered her pike, pointing with it at the squirrel. “Stop lurkin’ about in trees, laddy buck! Stand to attention when you speak t’ a superior officah, no shenanigans with that bow!” She shook her great white head, the dappled sun lighting her fur with a bright glow. "Your commandin' officah musta taught you better manners, sah! Your mother, certainly!"

[lorki]

“Stop lurkin’ about in trees, laddy buck! Stand to attention when you speak t’ a superior officah, no shenanigans with that bow!” She shook her great white head, the dappled sun lighting her fur with a bright glow. "Your commandin' officah musta taught you better manners, sah! Your mother, certainly!"

"Good job answering the question," Sleet muttered sourly, her eyes shifting slightly to scowl at Carwyn. Her gaze returned to the squirrel, "I live in mossflower," she stated coldly.

"I'm assuming you're trying to ask what we're up to in the rudest way possible, yes?" Her dark eyes glinted, though none of her paws strayed anywhere near her weapons... she couldn't bring herself to brandish anything frightening while a small mass of dark fur was pressed against her back legs, peering out only just slightly with a child's curiosity.

"Clearly we're on our way to your camp to kill you all and eat your offspring," brandishing frightening words she would still willingly do, with a sarcastic tone of course. "Mind pointing us in the right direction? I've picked up something I can't keep." She gestured back to Caion who quickly his his curious eyes behind her again.

[Arturo]

“Stop lurkin’ about in trees, laddy buck! Stand to attention when you speak t’ a superior officah, no shenanigans with that bow!” "Your commandin' officah musta taught you better manners, sah! Your mother, certainly!"

That caught the squirrel a little off guard, although it didn't have quite the intended effect. Eying Carwyn, he spoke with an irritated edge to his voice. "With all due respect, miss, you don't hold authority in my chain of command. And my mother raised me just fine, thanks."

"Mind pointing us in the right direction? I've picked up something I can't keep."

Point you in the right direction? After a speech like THAT? "That's up to the Skipper, ferret. In the meantime, you and your mate there-" he pointed at Arturo "-can stay right here." As if to punctuate the thinly-veiled command, several more squirrels appeared and surrounded the not-so-merry travelers.

Arturo stepped back a pace, keeping his paw away from his sword; no reason to give these clearly trigger-happy rebels from taking a literal stab at him. Tilting his head, he murmured, "So much for us getting in. And where's your otter? We could use a contact right about now..."
__________________________________-

The squirrel who'd gone off to report previously held a brief conference with her scouting companion, and she was not happy. "What is wrong with you!? I should never have left you alone, you power-hungry little!..." The two maintained a whispered argument, both trying and failing to look as though their conversation was more civil.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Good job answering the question,"

Carwyn waved a paw in dismissal, indicating the question hadn’t been worth answering.

"With all due respect, miss, you don't hold authority in my chain of command. And my mother raised me just fine, thanks."

Seeming to loom larger, Carwyn’s red eyes narrowed in on the squirrel as she moved closer. “Carwyn the Pike. You will address me as ma’am, and I am your superior if I say so.” Others moved in, and Carwyn looked around, her expression just this side of pissed.

"What is wrong with you!? I should never have left you alone, you power-hungry little!..."

Brushing a pair of squirrels aside, Carwyn approached. “Look, I don’t have time for this. Call this Skipper here,” She motioned sharply as the male opened his mouth. “Save it, sah. I’ll ask for your opinion when I want it.” She nodded towards the hidden Caion. “Or at least call a healer, missy. We have an injured young one here.”

[Arturo]

“Or at least call a healer, missy. We have an injured young one here.”

Taking an actual look at Caion, the female said, "Right. Go get the Skipper and Tir." The male glared at Carwyn and was about to go when his companion grabbed his shoulder and said, "Wait. You're not going alone." She signaled for another one of the squirrels to go, and the pair left. Having done that, she turned to Carwyn and bowed her head. "Sorry about that, ma'am. He's a bit of a hothead. Well, more than a bit. Anyways, I do apologize, although I do have to ask what's going on that ends with a hurt Dibbun."

At this point the squirrels around them had relaxed, along with Arturo. He was still wary, though the feeling in the pit of his stomach had vanished. As Carwyn was addressed by the squirrel, he turned to Sleet. "I just realized...what's your name?"

[lorki]

"Right. Go get the Skipper and Tir."

Sleet almost jumped into the air in triumph, but she kept her composure. If she shouted 'Tirael, Tirael!' they might become suddenly suspicious. She uncrossed her arms, relaxed, this was happening the way she wanted it to and she wouldn't stress to make it worse.

"Sorry about that, ma'am. He's a bit of a hothead. Well, more than a bit. Anyways, I do apologize, although I do have to ask what's going on that ends with a hurt Dibbun."

Sleet raised her head, attempting not to make her face look so harsh and unsettled she answered honestly, "I found him." An odd story, she could give a larger explanation if it was needed but she wanted to wait for Tirael, he would take her more seriously than this squirrel was. He would (or at least, he better) respect that she'd rather not discuss it in the middle of the woods.

She did, however, move out of the way, leaving Caion standing awkwardly where he had been in her shadow. He blinked, looking at the squirrel with mild interest, he hadn't seen many up close... alive.

"I just realized...what's your name?"

Sleet smirked, "Its never been of much importance anyhow. Sleet."

[Treble Tiderunner]

[[JP - NCP, Carwyn & Skipper]]

Skipper waded out of the river pool, shaking the water out of his fur. "Alright mateys, bring it in!" He called, motioning to his crew members, who dove and grasped the edges of a net laying on the bottom of the river. Skipper and the others on the bank and at the edge of the pool moved back, closing the net and capturing shrimp, fish and other aquatic edibles.

"Skipp!" called one of the squirrels (the non-angry one). "Somethin's goin' on over thataway, you and your son are both needed." With the message delivered, the currently disgraced squirrel left for the Camp with only a muttered salutation. Looking after him with a look of irritation and disappointment, the other squirrel continued, "I'll lead y' there, he'll go get Tirael. We should hurry, though, there's a badger lady there and she doesn't seem to keen on waiting."

Skipper nodded in acknowledgement of the message, but continued hauling on the net. The otters moved in until they were in a tight circle, finally hauling the catch out to lay flopping on the bank. Skipper spoke briefly to Fogg, who agreed to take over and turned to the squirrel. “A badger lady?”

"Sorry about that, ma'am. He's a bit of a hothead. Well, more than a bit. Anyways, I do apologize, although I do have to ask what's going on that ends with a hurt Dibbun."

Carwyn watched the squirrels head off, then turned to look at Caion. “I’m not sure, missy, but when I find out who did it…”

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