Day Four [Lorki/Open]

[Tirael]

Thud.

There it was again. Thud. Tirael had heard that sound so many times today. The gate had made it as guards had shoved it open, he'd made it as he was shoved into a chair in some old storeroom, various fists had made it as they came into contact with his body, his hoe had made it as he swung uselessly at the frozen ground, and now, he heard it one last time as he was kicked back into the slave compound.

Thud.

It was really all his life had been for the past few days he'd spent here, working at impossible tasks and being asked questions he'd refused to answer. Just that constant, blunt sound that pervaded everything.

Thud.[/b]

At least now he could rest and, more importantly, in a little while, he could eat. The fare wasn't exactly tasty, but bland was better than disgusting, and even better than nothing at all. Besides, at least it might distract from the rest of the situation; there was nothing else to do. At around this time of day, all the slaves could think of was the approach of the dinner now making its way from the kitchens...

[Rocky]

Filthy rotten soldiers. He hated them so much and merely wanted to kill them all, but his strength was lost. He had already been recovering from a broken arm, and he couldn't do much. The poor otter walked around the camp, being forced to work with one arm while the other hung uselessly in a sling. He felt pathetic, he felt stupid, and most of all, he felt angry. Not many people wanted to be around this particular otter when he was fuming, as he could be very dangerous. He was upset that he had been made a fool in front of all the woodlanders, and upset that he was man-handled so easily. His weapons were taken from him, most importantly his curved dagger that he treasured so much.

What had happened was awful for him to feel, and the others to see. He had been whipped because he had chosen not to work, despite the warnings of the guards and the pleas of the woodlanders. As the whip came cracking towards him, he held out his wrist, the throng of leather wrapping around his arm, and with his other arm, he gripped it, unrolled it, and yanked it from the guard's hand. He ran at the weasel, enraged at the actions of the pathetic animal, and knocked him down, wrapping the whip around his neck. The weasel sputtered and protested, until his movements slowed down, and two pairs of strong arms, heaved the black otter from the guard, and threw him down. Rocky looked up at the ferret and the fox, baring his teeth at them. One stomped on his face, breaking his nose, then they hoisted him up. Rocky spat blood in their face, laughing at them despite the excruciating pain in his face.

The fox wiped the blood from his face, grabbed the otter from one side, the ferret doing the same to the other side, then the fox twisted his arm back, threatening to snap Rocky's arm like a twig. Rocky grunted in pain, agreed that he would be calm, then when they slacked on their grip, he wheeled around, throwing a punch with what little strength he had left in him. The short rations did their work, and the ferret caught his fist before it made contact with the fox. The fox wiped the surprise from his face and glared at the otter. "You're either very couraqgeous, or very, very stupid." He laughed, and with that, the ferret straightened Rocky's arm, another guard appearing from nowhere and holding the struggling otter firm, then with one, quick movement, the fox swung his arm up, cracking the otter's arm, breaking it easily.

The rest was too hard for the otter to remember. They fixed his nose and his arm, throwing it in a sling, then sending him off, not even giving him a break to heal properly and forcing him into even harder labor, with even lower rations. He still couldnt believe that yesterday they broke his arm and the next day they were making him work. Boy, if he was back to his full strength and had his weapons, he would kill as many as he could, not even caring if they took his life anymore, just as long as he took many of theirs.

And now, at this moment, the enraged otter was struggling to carry a heavy pitcher of water back to the slave's tent for the "dinner" that was to be served. It was one of the few breaks they got all day, and Rocky was glad of it. His arm was in excruciating pain, and it had started to become unbearable. He wrinkled his nose, trying to get rid of the itch, then grunting sharply as the cut he had from getting his face stomped in threatening to open again. Boy... he hated being a slave.

[Tirael]

The slaves in the compound, Tirael included, looked up expectantly as the gate opened. While the pitcher of water wasn't as welcome as the hot, watered-down mush they were hoping for, that wasn't what Tirael was concerned with; he was focused more on the otter carrying it. Injuries and exhaustion momentarily eclipsed by jubilation, he practically jumped up and ran to the object of his joy.

"Rocky!" he said happily, skidding to a stop near his friend. At least having the presence of mind to relieve Rocky of his burden, he nonetheless continued babbling. "You're dead!--well, we thought you were dead, but you're not because you're here, and--what happened to your arm?" His healer instincts took over, and he set down the water, which was soon beset by the other slaves. Glancing back up at Rocky, he said, "Let me check it, I want to make sure it's alright." Gingerly, he untied the knot of the sling, supporting it so that the arm wouldn't drop until he was holding it.

Slowly, the otter shook his head. "This isn't right, we have to fix it before it heals wrong." Those idiotic soldiers didn't even bother to set the bone first... Looking up, he said, "This might hurt a little bit, so get ready. One--" Cutting off, he gave Rocky's paw a firm tug, and the bone set with a crack. Now he could put the sling back, and as he began, he sighed. "Oh Rocky, how did we end up in here..."

[lorki]

"Well," he'd said gruffly, smirking, "depends on what y'mean by torture... y'mean slow painful death like er... this'll stop soon as y'tell me all o' tha' sorta torture? I mean... I can do both, if y'like."

And that must have been enough for the Captain. Kutenai knew one thing about hordes- no matter how new a beast was if they offered to take the most obnoxious job (ie: dealing with the obnoxious slave that wasn't talking) they got to do it.

Ignoring the not-so-warm and keeping his long dark coat draped over one paw he stood outside the kitchens shirtless, two short swords from the armory crossed over his back, the thick leather straps creating an X over his chest. He watched the salve compound, getting once again 'in character.' He let his expression become a bit darker, this part -at least- would be easy.

A procession emerged from the kitchen with the rations for the slaves, he turned as a weasel handed off a large plate of food to him. He grinned and held it as he followed the group to the rickety slave housing. As they entered he quickly glanced around, his eyes skipping over multiple otters for the one that had been pointed out to him earlier. Tirael, there he was talking with some other otter.

He glanced over the other otter with the broken arm, not feeling too much remorse for the creature his eyes shifted back to the task at hand. Sleet had asked for Tirael, the rest of this wasn't his problem. He stepped towards the otter right as some beast tossed a bowl towards Tirael. Kutenai stepped after it and caught it moments before it fell into Tirael's paws. He looked down at the otter and grinned, "Surry mate, yer comin' with me."

[Tirael]

"Tirael!"

Turning to see who'd shouted his name, the otter subconsciously adjusted his paws to catch the bowl headed his way; however, as he watched it sail toward him, it took him a moment to realize it never made it. Retracing its path, he saw it in a different set of paws. Glancing up the arms, a little bit of bare torso (what kind of idiot went without a shirt in this weather?), and a neck, he saw it was some ferret.

Except...something was familiar...but...what?...he'd never seen this soldier before, but...

"Surry mate, yer comin' with me."

After a moment of scrutiny, Tirael still couldn't figure out what it was that his subconscious was screaming about this ferret. Maybe he was going crazy, but after only four days, that wasn't likely. He probably just didn't remember that he had seen the ferret. After all, when he was working, or being interrogated, he rarely thought about who was guarding or smacking him or holding him down or whatever.

Oh, well. Judging by the glance shot at him by one of the other slaves (who, for some reason, had seemed satisfied by his being captured; probably an extra-bitter type), refusal would have consequences extending past himself, so he just nodded silently and offered Rocky a last glance. With his arm broken, there was no reason to get him involved...

[lorki]

Kutenai cocked an eyebrow at the otters complacency. Beasts like this otter surprised him, Kutenai knew rage- he and his sister suffered the same viciousness in the face of distress. Imagining himself in Tirael's place almost sparked and anxious fear in his chest, almost cascaded from anxiety to anger. No, he didn't understand them and their calmness. But, then again, he was born and would likely die a hell-raiser. Nature, he presumed.

His eyes followed Tirael's to the darker otter sitting beside him. That one looked a bit worse for wear, holding his arm in a sling. The dark sable ferret swallowed uneasily. He had come for Tirael, and his only intention was to get Tirael. His plan was already in mind and Sleet would know by then... she always knew. There was no point in dragging it out and making it harder on himself. He wasn't going to... but hell, he might as well do some good... subjective good, that is.

"Yer a healer, yeah?" He gestured the paw towards Tirael but didn't wait for an answer, after all he already knew.

"'Ey," he turned to address a large fox, "think I oughtta take 'im too? Tha' one can fix 'im up... so as 'es not so d**n useless."

The fox glanced past him and nodded, reaching out to clap a paw down on Kutenai's shoulder. The ferret grinned and turned back, his face falling to a more stern expression, "aye, and yew." He pointed at Rocky, "yer comin' too, ge' to it." He turned swiftly and began walking away from them, stupid creatures would dawdle for hours if he let them... oops, that was a rude thought.

[Rocky]

His name shouted in exclamation filled Rocky's mind, and he nearly dropped the water as his head snapped up to see where the words had come from. Tirael. That homely face of the young otter brought a smile to the older otter's lips. Tirael, his friend was here, and he knew he would not be alone. But that thought brought sadness. Tirael was a slave, too. But why? What had he done to deserve this? The otter was just a mere healer, caught up in the troubles in Mossflower, but then again, Tirael had a right to fight for his home, no matter what his occupation was, just like Rocky. The frown on his face turned back to a smile as Tirael helped him, placing the jug of water on the ground then looking at his arm. He only grinned at the babbling of him being dead, but now alive, then when he spoke of his arm, Rocky gingerly raised his bicep so it would slowly lift the arm upwards without much pain. He could sense what Tirael was thinking, probably before the young otter even thought of it. Tirael was going to set the bone.

As they made their way back to the tent, Rocky was thinking of what Tirael had said. THey hadn't fixed it properly. It had to be healed the right way before it healed the wrong way. He looked up as his friend started counting.

Just be calm.. It'll be alright. Don't tense up.

"One--"

Just re--

"Augh!" He gasped out in pain, a growl of pain escaping his clenched teeth. His arm hurt by now. A lot more then when it was in the sling, but he assumed what Tirael had done had been the proper way of doing things.

He sat down next to his friend, after his arm had been put in the sling once more, his breath coming out heavier. Footsteps started interfering with all the other sounds he had heard, and soon, after they had appeared close, they stopped. Rocky looked up, hoping it was another slave, but knew, by the apparel on his legs before his eyes saw the species, that it was no slave. The pants were too clean, and not ripped and as his eyes met the newer pair, he knew that this was indeed, no slave. As he spoke to Tirael, saying Tir had to go with him, Rocky nearly stood up and placed his arm in front of his friend, protecting the one who had helped him, but instead didn't. "Why should you go with them, Tirael?" He asked through a weak voice. His gaze never met the guard's gaze again, until another one showed up. This one a fox.

When they spoke, the one asking if he should come, saying Tirael could fix him up so he wouldn't be so "d**n useless", Rocky did stand up. "Useless?" He asked, his words coming in a whisper, his eyes narrowed in confusion. " Useless." He said again, his eyes showing anger. "Me -- and everyone else here who was hurt -- wouldn't be so useless if it wasn't for you." He said, speaking more so towards the fox walking away, then the ferret. He had a reason behind this too. Why would a guard be so interested in a slave if they weren't somewhat nice? And besides, this ferret, Rocky had never seen, so he didn't know much. But if he did know, then his words would've been completely different, and directed towards a different person.

Despite the guard telling him to come, Rocky stood firm, not going, as he would not go anywhere with a guard, not even if he thought the guard was a little bit nice.

((Bleh. Me sorry >.< Im tired and its early -______-))

[Tirael]

"Augh!"

Tirael winced. Setting bones was a nasty business; it always felt like he was causing more pain than good, but at least now the bone could heal properly. It was still a good healer's duty to be apologetic, though. "Sorry, that was kinda necessary..."
_____________________________________________

"Why should you go with them, Tirael?"

Tirael gave him a sad glance, murmuring, "Because then they'll stick to hurting me instead of taking it out on the others." Ever since they'd threatened it on his first day, he'd made sure not to upset them any more than was necessary; they would already be irritated by his silence during questioning.

"'Ey, think I oughtta take 'im too? Tha' one can fix 'im up... so as 'es not so d**n useless."

"Me -- and everyone else here who was hurt -- wouldn't be so useless if it wasn't for you."

Tirael didn't say anything--it wouldn't have made a difference--but he moved slightly to be between Rocky and the ferret. If there was going to be any violence, it would have to get through him. Of course, it would get through rather easily, considering his lack of skill as a fighter, but it was the thought that counted, really. (Not really, but it made him feel a little better about himself.)

"Yer comin' too, ge' to it."

Looking down slightly, Tirael began to follow the guard, but he soon stopped as he realized that there was a distinct lack of otter behind him. Stopping and looking back, he saw Rocky standing obstinately in the same spot, not moving even an inch. He's going to get himself killed... For a long moment, he stared pleadingly at his friend, trying to silently will him to follow. He was almost certain that one of them would be hurt if he didn't, and Tirael couldn't bear the thought of Rocky dying for being stubborn.

Please...

[lorki]

"Why should you go with them, Tirael?"

"Because then they'll stick to hurting me instead of taking it out on the others."


"Wrong," Kutenai snapped, looking sharply at the pair, "Y'do it cause I tol' yah to, tha's why." They were starting to bother him, to think he was honestly trying to do some good for them... well once they were out of sight and hearing rage for any other beast. but hell if they didn't seem to want to make it difficult for him. Maybe it was the atmosphere, driving up the usually good nature ferrets nerves. Must be, this was why Sleet insisted he stay away from hordes and groups of bandits. He obeyed generally... excepting, of course, the occasional rowdy night of drinking.

He turned back and took one more step.

"Me -- and everyone else here who was hurt -- wouldn't be so useless if it wasn't for you."

Annoyance bristled his fur down his back, being a somewhat thickly furred beast the rise was quite noticeable where the straps of his swords did not keep the fur pinned down. He turned around, his ears pinned back. Tirael was right behind him- as he'd expected- but the other one stood there like a sorry excuse for a martyr.

"If yah feel do strongly 'bout that I'd be 'appy ta snap off tha otha 'un for yah. Y'can shut yer mouth and sit down, streamdog, or y'can shut yer mouth an' realize I'm doin' yew a favor. "

His eyes went back to Tirael, scowling. At least that one wasn't yapping back. "C'mon, then." he growled, turning and walking quite quickly away from them, any sympathy he'd had for the other one had dissipated. He wouldn't mind Rocky staying behind.

[Tirael]

[[Sorry, Rocksters, we can't wait forever....]]


Tirael stared desperately at his friend, who appeared as obstinate as ever. He wasn't moving, however much Tirael wanted it. However much he needed it. Now that he knew he wasn't alone here, the healer-turned-slave couldn't bear the thought of losing that; but Rocky simply stood there, and if Tirael made the guard wait any longer, there could be unpleasant consequences. So, with a heavy heart and one last, pained look, he turned and followed Kutenai out of the enclosure.

As soon as they turned the corner of the main building, he knew where they were heading. He'd been lead this way every day; something about old, dark, dusty rooms called out to vermin with prisoners to "question." For all the energy they put into punching him, they really didn't seem to put any into creativity. How sad.

Soon, they were passing through the former-Great Hall. The sight depressed him every time he was forced to experience it; everything was dark, dirty, decrepit, old. Broken windows had been boarded up, the colors of the stained glass panes never gracing the floor. The place was filthy, and he could never get rid of a nagging thought as to whether the old abbey was even salvageable. If they ever did take it back, it would still be a long time before it would be Redwall again.

One flight of stairs and a hallway later, here they were: the good ol' interrogation room. It was the same every day. The old chair still sat in the center. Ropes for the unruliest prisoners sat in one corner of the room, and two torches by the door shed dim, flickering light. Hard to believe there used to be preserves and other foodstuffs stored here.

Tirael just sighed. Here we go again...

[lorki]

Kutenai took a few calm bites of the various foods piled on the plate as he strolled towards the location. He took long strides, confident with the paw steps shuffling behind him. At least the important otter was following him, the one Sleet had asked for. Oh, she owed him.

He turned sharply into the little room and stuffed a small roll into his mouth. He turned as Tirael entered behind him and motioned for the otter to close the door behind him, muttering, "'ose de 'oor." Through his mouthful of food. He didn't like the set up of this room, not one bit. Even if it was Kutenais intention to get information out of this beast, he wouldn't do it in the fashion this room suggested.

He grunted something under his breath and grabbed the chair with one paw and pulled it towards the back wall and left just to the side of the small barred window. He moved to the other side of the room and kicked a small crate over to the chair. He grinned and turned to Tirael, "look a' tha'." He said proudly as he walked over to set the plate down on the empty crate and sat in the chair, flicking a few ropes away.

"Right, well then." He motioned a paw to another old crate in a corner, "yew can 'ave that one if y' like. Me an yew, we 'ave some important things t'talk 'bout."

[Tirael]

"'ose de 'oor."

Still trying to figure out what he knew about this ferret, Tirael distractedly followed the order, shutting it and fully expecting to be shoved into the chair immediately after. Turning around, he found that his expectations were off. The guard was shifting furniture around, occupying the prisoner chair himself.

Hmm...

...maybe there was going to be some creativity after all.

"Yew can 'ave that one if y' like. Me an yew, we 'ave some important things t'talk 'bout."

This was definitely unlike any of the other four sessions he'd been through, but he still felt fairly certain it was an interrogation; Kutenai hadn't said anything to indicate otherwise. This could just be a prelude to something more unpleasant, for all he knew. Too wary to sit on the offered crate just yet, he stared hard at the ferret until something in his brain finally clicked. "...Sleet..." he said quietly. Looking away, he said , "You have the same eyes..."

[lorki]

"...Sleet..." he said quietly. Looking away, he said , "You have the same eyes..."

Kutenai tried to stifle his surprise as soon as his head jerked up and his mouth fell open just slightly. "uh-" He hadn't expected that. In fact he was looking forward to the look of surprise on the otters face when he revealed the truth. He'd been just about to bite into a slice of fruit, but he slowly lowered his paw and put it back on the plate. "Hers are darker, actually."

He raised his paw again and brushed it over his head, "well, y'ruined my grand entrance, so lets ge' right to it, eh?" He let his paws fall to his knees and he leaned forward and quieted his voice, "yew can call me yer savior... or Kute, tha' works too... But actually, y'gotta play along an' not call me neither." He glanced at the window, "now listen, otter, this isn't too simple but all yew gotta do is jus' play along, can yew do that? I 'ave the plan. Its a... a decent 'un, I'd say."

Kutenai sighed and leaned back, "well, anyhow... Nice t'meet yah. I heard yew were a mighty idiot."

[Tirael]

Glancing back at Kutenai, Tirael smiled faintly at the look of shock on the ferret's face. He was pleased to be, for once, the one who was surprising someone else. He'd been the surprised one enough in his life.

"Hers are darker, actually."

He just shrugged a little bit. "Close enough."

"Well, y'ruined my grand entrance, so lets ge' right to it, eh?"

Finally trusting the ferret, Tirael nodded and sat on the crate. Of course, it did seem a little perfect that the only ferret he knew would just happen to have a brother to send along; he wasn't even sure why she would, considering her opinion on him. Then again, she did owe him for cutting her down from the tree...

"Yew can call me yer savior... or Kute, tha' works too... But actually, y'gotta play along an' not call me neither." He glanced at the window, "Now listen, otter, this isn't too simple but all yew gotta do is jus' play along, can yew do that? I 'ave the plan. It's a... a decent 'un, I'd say."

Tirael perked up at the word 'plan.' Of course, Kute hadn't specified what this plan entailed, but he had a pretty good idea. And besides, anything was better than just sitting in here.

"Well, anyhow... Nice t'meet yah. I heard yew were a mighty idiot."

The otter winced slightly; the sudden insult was too random to respond to. "Uh..."

[lorki]

"Uh..."

"Right, good enough." Kutenai shrugged and motioned towards the plate of food, "y'can eat too, if yew like." Kutenai was alike and different from his sister in multiple ways. They both could calculate quickly and effectively, they both organized information in their mind and manipulated it to fit the puzzle of the world around them. But Sleets more often held a reason than his own, she always had a goal... he was more of a hobbyist.

Where Sleet fell short he filled the gaps, there weren't many, more often than not she was the one correcting his errors. But when it came to plans, Kutenai could always think abstractly. Sleet, while creative, never thought of the masses. it was only ever herself and the target. Kutenai saw the world his sister refused to look at and interacted with it. He knew what he was doing... well... sort of.

He addressed Tirael again, his voice lower and more serious. "Listen, Tirael, was it? Listen, I only need one thing from yew righ' now. Jus' one. I need yew t'be honest. Trust me when I say this won't 'urt yew if y'listen ta me. I need to know your weakness. Got a... a kit er somethin' like.. a neice? Or a girlfriend? Sibling? Favorite... stick er whateva?" Kutenai was rushing things yes, supposedly he was pretty darn good at interrogations so one shouldn't take to long... after this he had only one more use for the otter but he'd save that shock for after the creature answered his existing question.