Well this is a set back....

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

"So...your crew does know we're not enemies, right? It'll be difficult to work together if they're grabbing their weapons whenever we're nearby."

The Skipper of Sea otters found this to be slightly amusing. Yes. His crew might have been overreacting, but his crew was very protective of his Skipper. In that sense...is there a such thing overreacting or over protection?...Yeah okay, maybe so...

Out of these who wanted to protect the Skipper was Blade, The Skipper's First mate. He would even give his own life to save the Skipper's. But again...The Skipper needed very little protecting. He could very well fend for himself...

"So...your crew does know we're not enemies, right?

"They're just protective is all...always on their feet. I Like them that way..." He grinned looking over to the squirrel.

It'll be difficult to work together if they're grabbing their weapons whenever we're nearby."

"In that case I don't suggest to burst through the leaves like you did when you make an appearance..." Said Blade, Skipper's First mate who had an irritated tone about his speech, looking over at Brush. "Easy Blade..." Skipper said putting a paw on Blades shoulder to warn him before things got out of control. "He should be more careful Skip...what if We'd a killed 'im?"
"One less beast to worry about..." Said a deep, demonic sounding voice on the other side of the Skipper. It was the tallest beast of the entire group, Undertaker, the dark, black-furred, muscular and emotionless. The Skipper grinned and shook his head.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"In that case I don't suggest to burst through the leaves like you did when you make an appearance..." Said Blade, Skipper's First mate who had an irritated tone about his speech, looking over at Brush. "Easy Blade..." Skipper said putting a paw on Blades shoulder to warn him before things got out of control. "He should be more careful Skip...what if We'd a killed 'im?"

“I don’t burst through leaves, otter.” Enon said flatly, looking at Blade. Nothing on her face suggested she was doing anything other than stating a fact. If they wanted to point fingers at imaginary reasons for their jumpiness, let them. She knew they were seabeasts. Seabeasts never did well in the thick forests of Mossflower.

"One less beast to worry about..."

“Ah, you needn’t worry ‘bout us, laddie. She said easily, following Brush as he led the short way to the main camp. “Though if ye are that uneasy aboot our forests ye kin go an’ shoot at Fort N’Tashi until ye feel better.” She grinned a short, feral grin that exposed her teeth, flashing white in her ebony fur. “Skipper!” she hailed as they arrived. The otter leader turned from his conversation with Lady Carwyn to greet the new arrivals.

“Ah, Skipper m’lad!” He said, reaching to shake the SoSO’s paw. “You’ve met Lady Carwyn o’ course, and Badgerlady Ryn and her lieutenant? I don’t think you’ve met my first mate, this is River…” He continued with the introductions, ending with Soko. “And this is our Champion, Sokana. She called the meeting.” He stepped backwards, motioning Soko into the middle of the group, encouraging her to speak.

[Brooke]

River sat on the ground entertaining some of the Dibbuns Brooke was watching while she hustled around to make sure none of them disappeared. He wasn't doing much to help. In fact, he was making things worse by encouraging them to run around. Just when Brooke looked about ready to brain him with a nearby rock did he stop and solemnly look up at her from his seated position. "I do believe I'm needed over there." He said jerking his head toward where Skipp and several others were meeting.

He ran across camp and got to the little gathering just in time for introductions. Either Skipp failed to notice his late entrance or chose to not say anything. Either way he wasn't getting chewed out. At the mention of his name, he shot everyone a jovial grin and winked at the hare that always seemed to be with the badgerlady. If there was someone who needed to lighten up, it was her. With a sheepish grin, he turned to the sable next to him. "And why, might I ask matey, am I needed here? Other than to look good y'know." He said laughter booming from deep within his chest.

[Elicia]

Ryn smiled, content as all of the selected beasts began to file in. "Eli, what did I tell you? They are all here." Elicia sat in silence for a little while, sulking. She hated to be wrong. As Skipp began introductions, Ryn smiled softly at the hare by her side. She takes life too seriously. Her job is too important to her. I guess that I don't know who Eli is, really, and she is my Lieutenant Colonel. Maybe she was too young for the job. Ah well. I have promoted her, and I wouldn't risk breaking a perilous warrior like her by demotion... Jerked out of her thoughts at her name, the Badger Lady smiled at the Skipper of Sea Otters. "It is wonderful to meet you." She bowed her head slightly, then shot out a paw to her left, covering Eli's mouth. The hare had almost shouted in protest at the fact that her rank was rather messed up. Ryn bent close to her ear and whispered, "You know, they said you were MY lieutenant. That's a higher position than even brigadier or general." The hare quieted, but stuck her tongue out at River when Ryn wasn't looking.

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

There was indeed quite a gathering of beast here. The Skipper assumed it was for plans to retake whatever it was they were after. The visions Skipper had while at sea were beginning to take shape. Everything was coming together as the Warrior mouse said it would...and he was apart of it...he was now beginning to feel as if he had a place after all...but only slightly...

“You’ve met Lady Carwyn o’ course, and Badgerlady Ryn and her lieutenant? I don’t think you’ve met my first mate, this is River…”

So the Land skipper had a First mate as well? These two might not have been so different at all. "Oh, uh..." The Skipper said looking about for his first mate who was talking amongst some other rabble. He grabbed him by the upper arm and jerked him over. "This is Blade. My first mate on board mah' ship, The Lancebreaker. " The shorter otter stumbled still and gave a quick salute in greeting to the other beast. "Blade Steelclaw, Atcha' service..." the otter said giving a side glance to his Skipper. "With his permission of course..." Blade was a indeed quite a little bit shorter and less muscular but none-the less could hold in own in a fight. He had a short cutlass and a Spear tied to his back which he would use together. The spear to block and parry in one paw and the Cutlass in the other as his main-hand. He was skilled in this fighting style as it would be mainly defensive...he would always be there to protect his Skipper...Even if the Skipper didn't need protecting at all...

"And Undertaker...Tha' Ships Doctor..." He said pointing a thumb to the side of him. Undertaker was the toughest beast of his Ship...the most dangerous beast to be around on his ship. He was predictable once you got to know him...and to know him meant to Stay away from him...unless you were one of the unfortunate ones to be sent to be mended. He was a whole 7 inches taller than the Skipper, which was saying alot cause the Skipper was already pretty tall for a River Otter. And brawny, And boy was Undertaker brawny. The Skipper had seen him break a stoats, thigh-bone with a good hefty kick, not to mention crush a rat's skull smashing it against the wall of his ship. Undertaker had dark, dark, dark, brown fur. Almost black. His eyes seem to have a milky white/red hue to them..it almost looked like he had no pupils. But this couldn't be the case...or was it? He hardly ever spoke and never showed any other emotion but the one he always seemed to have. A stern, almost angry, look on his face. It struck fear into quiet a few vermin that saw him.

Undertaker had his arms crossed and a simple that seemed to stretch past the group...he didn't say a word...it was obvious he wasn't a River or Sea otter...but where could he have come from? One like him wasn't known to anybeast in these parts...



Jerked out of her thoughts at her name, the Badger Lady smiled at the Skipper of Sea Otters. "It is wonderful to meet you." She bowed her head slightly,...

The Skipper turned his head to face her. As quick and painful as lightning, Images and thoughts of his Visions struck his head with the last one, being that of the Badger Lady and then he Warrior mouse. He Let out a sharp growl of pain as he stumbled backward grabbing his head, covering up the scar over his eye where the pain seemed to sear from. As quick as it was there, it was gone. He leaned up from Undertaker's brace and stood straight again. "Uhg...Good to meet ya miss..." he said stretching out his Paw in greeting almost reluctantly, scared of what might happen. It wasn't everyday he had a vision with searing pain...although here lately it almost did seem that way...


"Well...I'm here...Whats this about...?" he asked, Slightly Impatient to know what his next plans would be.

[Tirael]

"In that case I don't suggest to burst through the leaves like you did when you make an appearance..."

“I don’t burst through leaves, otter.”

Noting the glances shot around, Brush resisted a sigh. He could understand why they were so startled by anybeast appearing; on the ocean, you could see an enemy as their sails appeared over the horizon. That lack of sneaking ability was lost in the denseness of Mossflower, and Brush, ever trying to maintain reason in a situation, didn't want any...incidents happening because of that. Hoping to dissuade her from getting ruffled by the conversation, he shook his head slightly at Enon, then glanced back at Blade before looking ahead once more.

"One less beast to worry about..."

“Ah, you needn’t worry ‘bout us, laddie."

Keeping his emotions locked down, the squirrel ignored Undertaker's comment and just kept walking. Somebeast must have trained him; he was so melodramatically dark that he almost seemed unreal. Ah well, some creatures were just odd. If the SoSO could trust him, that would do...

...for now.

[Elicia]

The Badger Lady stepped back slightly as the Skipper of Sea Otters reacted as if she had punched him in the stomach. She had, of course, done no such thing, but he still acted as if he did. Elicia looked nervously from the sea otter, to the land skipper, to her Lady, to Undertaker, and back. The hare shifted her weight, unconsciously balancing herself on the balls of her feet and picking her heels just a hair's width off the ground. Something was not right here, and she shivered. Eli didn't want to know what it was, but she had a feeling that it wasn't in the normal line of reasoning. However, Ryn put a hand to the hare's shoulder, and Eli fell back on her heels.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Skipper." Ryn took the Skipper's hand and shook it warmly, then looked at Undertaker and Blaze. "And your friends. Since we're doing more formal introductions, my name is Farryn Silverclaw, Lady of Salamandastron. Please, though, call me Ryn. Everyone does, and formalities get so tiresome after a little while. This is my Lieutenant Colonel, Elicia. You can call her Eli if you like." The hare stepped forward and saluted sharply, then fell back to her Lady's side where Ryn put a protective hand over the hare's shoulders.

"Pleased t'meet you!" Elicia rapped out her words sharply, and Ryn smiled sadly. The badgerlady could tell that her friend didn't like Undertaker one bit, but there was nothing Ryn could do about it. The Lady of Salamandastron figured that no one liked the giant otter, and so resigned herself to keeping pleasant terms with the beast.

[lorki]

Sleet watched the beasts that gathered with a rather observant eye, if not a bit scornful. She studied the group of three otters that appeared, immediately liking their company over the others. The small ferret was not easily intimidated but she knew a decent fighter when she saw one. Not only that but the otters lacked the obnoxious optimistic glee that seeped from other creatures, pointedly the loud bouncy hare. She didn't join in the introductions, she wasn't here for much other reason than to be sure Kutenai would be safe as long as he was in the fort. Still, she couldn't help but smirk as the burly dark otter was introduced as 'the ships doctor.' Making an immediate comparison between him and Tirael, she actually had to cover her mouth to stifle a small chuckle.

The sable, too, watched the creatures enter. She was hardly concerned with the paranoiac tenancies of the sea otters, or the cold glances some of them were getting. Help was help, and goodness knows they needed all they could get.

“And this is our Champion, Sokana. She called the meeting.”

Her head jerked sideways at her name, still easily forgetting that she had a formal title. Champion, pfft, hardly.

"Uh... Right," She nodded at the Skipper before turning around to face the rest of them once their introductions were done. "First, I'd like to say thank you to you two," she motioned at the Badger lady and at the Skipper of Sea otters, "for coming when we needed you."

She glanced sideways at the Skipper, she knew nothing about war, let alone how to lead a conversation about it. She sighed "Listen," she turned back to the group, "excuse my ignorance, but I have no idea how to go about this. Hell, I hardly know how to swing this thing around..." she smacked the hilt of her sword, "...let alone form war plans. We need to have options, plans, we need to make room for changes because... lets be honest, we are the ones out in the open waiting just waiting to be found. We don't have much of an advantage so I figure we have to make as many possible things go our way as we can."

She stopped and glanced expectantly around, wishing adamantly that rather than a still silence she'd get some form of suggestion... or something like that.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Oh, uh..." The Skipper said looking about for his first mate who was talking amongst some other rabble. He grabbed him by the upper arm and jerked him over. "This is Blade. My first mate on board mah' ship, The Lancebreaker. " The shorter otter stumbled still and gave a quick salute in greeting to the other beast. "Blade Steelclaw, Atcha' service..." the otter said giving a side glance to his Skipper. "With his permission of course..."

“I’m sure Skipper is lucky to have such a loyal first mate.” Skipper said, saluting in return. The Skipper(soso) then brought Skipp’s attention to the large black otter at his(soso’s) side.

"And Undertaker...Tha' Ships Doctor..."

“Good to meet you as well, Undertaker. I cannot imagine a more complete opposite from our own healer, Tirael. Perhaps you will meet him someday.” He nodded to the massive otter as the others converged, responding to their introductions and adding their own bits of info.

"Uh... Right," She nodded at the Skipper before turning around to face the rest of them once their introductions were done. "First, I'd like to say thank you to you two," she motioned at the Badger lady and at the Skipper of Sea otters, "for coming when we needed you."

Skipp smiled reassuringly at Soko, inclining his head slightly in an indication to go on. She underestimated herself, he knew. She’d been here almost a year already, and had learned much. He and others had taught her all they knew… or at least all they could squeeze in.

Listen," she turned back to the group, "excuse my ignorance, but I have no idea how to go about this. Hell, I hardly know how to swing this thing around..." she smacked the hilt of her sword, "...let alone form war plans. We need to have options, plans, we need to make room for changes because... lets be honest, we are the ones out in the open waiting just waiting to be found. We don't have much of an advantage so I figure we have to make as many possible things go our way as we can."

“We need t’be in before winter truly falls.” Enon spoke up in her deep northern brogue. “Otherwise we will freeze or starve slowly t’death. We ‘aven’t much food and we ‘aven’t much shelter. They know where we are, they just ‘aven’t gotten at us yet. We are at the strongest we will be this winter. It must be soon.” The black squirrel then shut her mouth, her one good eye searching the assembly for signs of dissent. She knew there wouldn’t be any, she’d merely stated the facts as they stood.

[Elicia]

Elicia frowned. "As much as I hate t'say it, the gel's right." Ryn smiled wanly as the hare continued. "Suppose we wait. We'll get weaker and weaker, an' there won't be much fer us t'do anymore, eh?"

The badger nodded her consent. "You have the Long Patrol at your command, Sokana. Whatever you say. However, as for you not knowing how to use your sword... well, that I highly doubt."

"Wot we need," Elicia interrupted her Lady, and didn't notice. "Wot we need are bloody maps of the place. Without that, we can't even expect to get our forces near the bloomin' area!"

Ryn nodded in agreement. "Do we have any? Maps, I mean. Or scouts that have been there? Any sort of visual or map we could use would be wonderful, although what we really need..." Her voice trailed off as she tapped one of her long claws against her leg. "Hmmm... do we have any birds here?"