Under No Disguise

[lorki]

The rain drizzled in miserable sporadic patches across the forest, bright colorful leaves were dripped larger droplets down onto her ruffled fur. Blood was still covering her legs and trousers and some was wiped across her light gray shirt, giving her a particularly gruesome appearance. However, she hadn't exactly had the time to change since what had happened, this visit was too necessary.

Her tracking ability had been keen, the camp had moved and she'd had to follow Tirael's trail back to them. Now she could observe from the forest that there was no longer an underground for them to dwell in, they were stuck out in the open with little makeshift tents. She didn't want to walk into the crowd of them, she knew it was selfish and awful of her to fear the horrified stares and animosity that would surely follow her appearance... but it was there all the same.

Sleetfang swallowed and hung her head guiltily. This could be her fault, if she'd listened to him ask her to end the fight... If she hadn't shoved him off or been so determined to get at that ignorant otter, this entire thing could be fine. She liked to think it was easier to blame Ephriam maybe- for antagonizing her, or even Tirael- for being stupid enough to bait the horde... but either way.

No angry glint in her eyes, no sneer, no twirling knives or grinning fangs. She limped out of the coverage and into sight, advancing slowly on the crowd of beasts with her paws held up slightly, away from her weapons. She glanced across them but then quickly cast her eyes down a bit, "I'm not dangerous." She promised, her voice empty of expression, "I need to talk to our leader, your Skipper. It's very important."

[Treble Tiderunner]

A stocky otter stepped forward from his conversation, apparently serious, with a young mouse. "You're injured, Sleet." He motioned the mouse forward. "Run and get Hazel, thats a good lad." He sent the child off through the tents and came forward to meet Sleet. "When Tir gets back, he can see to you." He brought her to a low stool, motioning her to sit. "What happened?"

[lorki]

"You're injured, Sleet."

"What? Oh... no, It's just old blood," She lied, having forgotten about her grizzled appearance.

"When Tir gets back, he can see to you."

Her stomach turned uncomfortably as the Skipper said that. She sat uneasily across from him, sighing out a long rush of air as she tried to calm enough to focus on what exactly she ought to say.


"What happened?"

She was silent for a moment before she spoke, "I'll be honest with you. But you won't like it," she paused and took a moment to think before continuing, "Tirael ran into me, near the river... as did one of the otters from this fort I didn't know. I apologize if he was a friend of yours but we sliced each other up a bit and Tirael... Well You know him, he hated it... And he got the attention of a patrol from the Fort to stop us from killing each other, but I couldn't follow him when they went after him and..." She glanced down at her bloodied legs, realizing she'd given up her lie but failing to care, "... And he's gone, they caught up to him and the took him..."

Her voice trailed off but just as quickly her head shot up and she added, "but listen I'm going to help you and.... and it will be alright." At least a hefty chunk of her last addition was there only to calm herself, she'd never been a good bearer of bad news... nor did she ever really have to be.

[Treble Tiderunner]

[size=1"What? Oh... no, It's just old blood,"

"It's old blood my granny's foot!" Hazel said, pushing through the surrounding creatures to stand over Sleet. The fat volewife made short shrift of inspecting the ferret's wounds. She expressed disgust over the bandaging, muttered about the state of Sleet's leg, and in general distaste for beasts who hadnt the smarts to get themselves treated properly.

She was silent for a moment before she spoke, "I'll be honest with you. But you won't like it," she paused and took a moment to think before continuing,Ti "rael ran into me, near the river... as did one of the otters from this fort I didn't know. I apologize if he was a friend of yours but we sliced each other up a bit and Tirael... Well You know him, he hated it... And he got the attention of a patrol from the Fort to stop us from killing each other, but I couldn't follow him when they went after him and..." She glanced down at her bloodied legs, realizing she'd given up her lie but failing to care, "... And he's gone, they caught up to him and the took him..."

Skipper sat and listened to the story Sleet had to tell, at first amused at Hazel's antics, his face darkened with every word. The burly otter stood abruptly, his face tight. He smacked a fist into his paw, turning and walking away a short distance.

"But listen I'm going to help you and.... and it will be alright."

"WHAT!" This was not from Skipper, who still stood with back turned, stiffness in his every line, but from a slim, still slightly underweight young female otter. She moved from her position in the crowd, standing with arms crossed in front of Sleet.

"You're telling me that Tirael, that onion-bonced flap-eared," she started pacing, continuing with her tirade, ".... absent-minded, daft, blitherin', muddleheaded idiot of a brother of mine got himself captured???[/b]




[/size]

[lorki]

"WHAT!"

Sleet had been about to rush after the clearly angry Skipper and hopefully keep him from doing anything stupid but a small female otter had appeared from the gathering crowd and screeched.

"Uh..."

Sleet's ears pinned back and she angled her head back slightly as this otter carried on about Tirael. She acted like a mother, but clearly was not. She could compare in easily to herself with Kutenai, a sister perhaps? Either way she was painfully noisy.

".... absent-minded, daft, blitherin', muddleheaded idiot of a brother of mine got himself captured???


"Um..." part of her considered holding up her paws to shield herself in case this particular creature got carried away, "...Yes... But, but wait a second it's not that big of a deal," that was a lie, "Listen I can get someone in there to get him and it'll work out fine,"... If Kute could keep from being his regular airhead self... "I'm sure he's fine so far," A VERY optimistic assumption.

The ferret didn't like the growing rumble around her as the beasts about the camp seemed to stir in a mild panic. She set her face in a glare at the female otter, "you need to calm down."

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Um..." part of her considered holding up her paws to shield herself in case this particular creature got carried away, "...Yes... But, but wait a second it's not that big of a deal,"

"Not that big of a deal?" Tampa gestured a sign of contempt for that idea. "Listen, missy, I don't know about you but I know what goes on in that fort and its not fine, and if you--" He voice was lower, less screechy [] but no less upset, and starting to gather a promise of death.

that was a lie, "Listen I can get someone in there to get him and it'll work out fine,"... If Kute could keep from being his regular airhead self... "I'm sure he's fine so far,"

Tam felt herself grow cold, icy as she contemplated what could and probably was happening to her brother inside the fort. She shuddered, continuing her interrupted pacing.

"you need to calm down."

"I am calm." She hissed, and indeed she was. Gone was the initial shock and anger, replaced by a cold assuredness, a guarentee of death to those who stood in her way. "I need to talk to Uncle." She said shortly, going the short distance away to speak to Skipper in low tones.

[lorki]

Sleet scowled as she was left alone. She knew what these otters would plan and she disliked it already. She knew her own planning skills were awful when there were such high stakes... but at least she had an idea that didn't put anyone in anymore danger.... more or less.

She cast an annoyed glare over the multiple eyes she felt against her, sending most of them fleeing. They might not like her so much once Ephriam was back... luckily she didn't see him anywhere and honestly hoped he'd been ripped up by the remaining patrol of vermin. She distracted herself with this thought enough to avoid getting angry at all beasts around her.

She hadn't liked meeting with a tiny portion of these camp beasts before, after she'd found that Badger Dibbun... she certainly was not keen on buddying up with the whole camp. Her face set in a displeased stare, at least she wasn't thinking about Tirael...

[Treble Tiderunner]

"So that young'un finally got 'imself in trouble." Hazel said conversationally as she cleaned a wound with alcohol. "Bound to happen one of these days, 'im not being a warlike beast and goin' off on 'is own all the time. You'll have to forgive Tam, she's more his sister than anybeast'd credit, being as they ain't even kin. Poor lad was orphaned... Skipper took 'im in and adopted 'im as 'is own... has to be hard on 'im... 's lost more family to the Fort than most beasts can lay claim to... " She started bandaging the cleaned wounds. "... and Tam, she's been in the fort, she knows what goes on in there." Hazel continued her gossip as she wrapped up the last wound.

"But--" Tam was heard to say before the two otters' voices sunk back down to inaudibility. "Fine." She was heard to mutter before Skipper turned and walked back to where Sleet was waiting. Skipper's face was set, but anger didn't show as strong as it had been.

"Who did you have in mind?" He asked, retaking his seat and leaning back in a way that belied his true emotions. Tam muttered something about Fern and walked off, disappearing into the crowds.

[lorki]

Sleet tried to hide her displeasure as Hazel tended to her wounds. Sleet didn't like healers, she didn't like being poked or prodded or bandaged. She could do these things herself... and would have (maybe) if she hadn't had to rush over here. All the same, she knew there was no argument she could raise so she kept her grievances to herself.

Her eyes raised as Skipper turned and walked slowly back to her. He seemed thoughtful, at least much more calculated then that young frazzled thing that still looked ready to explode.

"Who did you have in mind?"

"Well I would go, but I can't, they know me already..." She didn't mention she'd saved his sorry pelt already, she figured Tirael was in deep enough with this crew. "Not to mention your damn otter did a mighty good job with my leg" she mumbled under her breath.

"But," she continued quickly, "my brother, I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem getting in there. Getting out... might be a bit of a trial and error but if you attack them now... well after the slave escape I think they'll be keen on killing any prisoner's before you get the chance." Sleet liked to keep tabs on the place, not to mention she was on casual speaking terms with the occasional scout from the fort.

The only problem would be finding Kute...

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Well I would go, but I can't, they know me already..." She didn't mention she'd saved his sorry pelt already, she figured Tirael was in deep enough with this crew. "Not to mention your d**n otter did a mighty good job with my leg" she mumbled under her breath.

Skipper nodded, his fingers twisting long strips of leather (we won’t look to carefully into how that got into the Redwall world) into braid, busywork that required almost no thought, his mind was busy calculating and discarding plans as Sleet continued under her breath with a sentiment Skipp thought it best to pass over.

"But," she continued quickly, "my brother, I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem getting in there. Getting out... might be a bit of a trial and error but if you attack them now... well after the slave escape I think they'll be keen on killing any prisoner's before you get the chance."

The scarred otter shifted position, leaning in the direction Tampa had gone before turning his attention back to the ferret. “No worries there, miss. Tam just went to cool off. Probably went to find Fern. Now, providing you can find your brother, you think he’ll go in and help us take Tirael out?” He knotted the leather, coiling it in his large palm. He stayed quiet for a few moments, gazing at it. “Make sure your brother knows who’s in charge of the Fort now, Lorna Russetfur. I won’t force him to go in, she’s a murderer and he might get killed.” He paused again, then looked up into Sleet’s eyes. “But I’d take it as an almighty favor if he helped us out.”

[lorki]

“Make sure your brother knows who’s in charge of the Fort now, Lorna Russetfur. I won’t force him to go in, she’s a murderer and he might get killed.”

Murderer. That was a funny word for the otter to use with such malice. Sleet was sure that he himself could probably be named a murderer, just as she was one. The truth was all the titles thrown around took the blunt scary meaning out of the word. Warrior. Assassin. Mercenary. Soldier. Vermin. Goodbeast. Each one no much better then a murderer so why was it that the word still stood out so sourly in his speech?

Murderer. Sleet glanced down at her belt and bloodied legs. The prospect of Kutenai dieing hadn't even tipped into mind, he'd gotten himself in the worst of situation and either his undeniable charm (groveling) or some quick form of distraction had always managed to keep him safe. But Sleet was nothing if not a protective older sister, and still there was no real other way to go about this.

“But I’d take it as an almighty favor if he helped us out.”

Sleet shook her head, "Tirael was stupid, but he was trying to help me," her mind wandered by to the young otter stepping angrily in front of the javelin for her... and she'd only managed to clock him in the head in return. "I'm sure that once Kutenai understands he'll be more than willing to help you." She glanced across the forest, he could be anywhere. "Do you have squirrels?" she muttered curiously.

[Elicia]

Join had been traveling alone. It wasn't a surprise-that's what he liked. If there was anything to bother him, he deferred it to his friends and they took care of it. So maybe he didn't like traveling alone. It was hard to tell. There were good and bad points to each....and the squirrel wasn't too sure as to which one outweighed the other. It didn't matter, however. He was traveling, and that was what mattered. He was traveling and had been traveling. It wasn't anything new to the somber squirrel.

The conversing creatures caught him almost by complete surprise. Join hadn't been paying attention at all to where he was going, and as such he stumbled upon the two. Not letting himself be seen he hid behind some nearby flora-the fauna being skittish and not worth the effort. There was no doubt about it-these were beasts who knew their trades. It wasn't the best thing for the loner, but they would have food and shelter for him. He shook some of the leaves, testing their reflexes. If what he guessed by their looks was true, he would have a blade at his throat in no time at all.

[Treble Tiderunner]

Skipper watched silently as Sleet considered his words, but his thoughts were definitely elsewhere. Lorna Russetfur. A simple enough name, and even a simple enough seeming young fox. But what he’d said was true: Lorna was a murderer. Skipper had no illusions about himself, he had killed and would kill again. But he believed one thing: when it came to stop killing he’d retire gratefully, he was merely a soldier, killing for what he believed, killing in battle. But Lorna… from what he knew and what Lady Carwyn had told him, the young fox killed on a whim and tortured without a thought. He believed that if she were so inclined, Lorna would hold the Fort for decades more, and her reign would be worse than N’tashi’s. If you asked Skipper what his deepest, darkest fear was, he wouldn’t answer you.

That’s because Skipper feared most was becoming what he fought; a murderer. He feared not being able to stop killing.

Sleet shook her head, "Tirael was stupid, but he was trying to help me," her mind wandered by to the young otter stepping angrily in front of the javelin for her... and she'd only managed to clock him in the head in return. "I'm sure that once Kutenai understands he'll be more than willing to help you." She glanced across the forest, he could be anywhere. "Do you have squirrels?"

“Do we have squirrels.” Skipper threw his arms up, in a gesture half despair-half amusement. “We have squirrels, lots of them. They’re our tree-guard.”

“Hi.” Enon had seen the squirrel coming from her position as sentry. Now she’d dropped down from the tree where she hid (and incidentally he had) She held her dagger loosely, not a threat, but still prepared. “Stop hidin’. Come into the open.”

[lorki]

"Oh," Sleet said softly, absentmindedly. "Well it would be nice if you could send out a few to take a look around for him... he should be around, He said he would try and find me in the fall so he must be close enough. He's dark, taller than me... 'bout Tirael's age I'd bet." Her mind still hung on the melancholy word, stuck in the hatred and the disgust that had become her. She hated her life, hated what she did, hated the impulse, the necessity, the demand to kill. Detested the social standards, the stigmas, the untamed and unquestioned fear and malice. And her disgust welled for herself, for all of them, for every single creature allowing themselves to live in such horrible chaos and violence.

She glanced up as a squirrel dropped down, she wasn't surprised when it addressed the bushes rather than her and Skipper. Sleet had sensed no danger, either that or she simply wasn't physically up to the task of keeping tabs on her surroundings. Her arms had begun shaking about an hour or so ago and had yet to stop, she couldn't think of the last time she slept, let alone ate. Fatigue piled on her heavily thoughts, brought her down further than she might have come normally. She hugged her arms to herself to try and stifle the shivering, peering with a dull disinterest at the Black Squirrel. She looked forward to leaving this camp, having strangers drop in on her like this was terribly unnerving, Sleet had gone solo long ago and even small groups wore on her thin ability to trust or even tolerate.

[Elicia]

Join smiled wryly at Enon as he rose from where he had been sitting, hunkered down, however he had one paw on his quiver of arrows and the other had a firm grip on his fine bow-already strung. "Sorry. Never know." It was almost as if he was apologizing for the strung bow and arrows, but he could have been apologizing for hiding from the beasts. It was hard to get meaning out of his words,because of the odd way he spoke. His words were short and sharp, almost like he was cutting them off as soon as they were out of his mouth. In the light around him, his chocolate fur shone, and his almost auburn tail twitched as he bowed his head to the assembled beasts.

"Um, Jonathan. Actually, Join. I prefer it to Jonathan. Too formal." If there had been grammar police out searching the woods that day, Join would have been caught red-handed. Many of his sentences were fragments that only made a sliver of sense when compared and added to the previous sentence. Join was a quiet squirrel, and didn't talk a lot at all.

"Archer. Tracker. Wanderer. May have stopped by here is seasons past, can never remember-travel too much." He looked apologetic, as if forgetting where one traveled seasons before was such a crime. "Um, you?"