Nor'easter! [Plot + OPEN]

[Naturally Penned Complex]

"Nor'easter comin', laddie!" The owner of the voice shimmied down from the mast of the large dory, landing with a thump on the deck. Here was a creature of far renown; the sea otter, seafarer by nature. This particular one was grizzled and gray, but still strong, and he peered with worried, still-sharp eyes at the quick brewing to the northeast. A young otter, barely into adulthood from youth, peered to the starboard curiously. He was excited, the storm was his first; a real nor'easter! The older otter swore quietly, "Wish Hawk-eye were here. Or your sister, Eagle-eye." He ran back up the mast, giving instructions to the youngster. "Bring 'er 'round, lad, we 'ave a long run t' shore."

---

The storm was a powerful one, fed by conflicting cool and warm fronts, bringing low pressure enough to drop the barometers far enough to terrify those long at sea, and most made a dash for shore, or straight east, anything out of the path. Rain lashed sails, furled or open, flooded plains and swelled rivers. Hurricane force winds tipped boats, destroyed houses and uprooted trees.

---

Far down the River Moss, a single otter patroled the river. Water roared, heard miles downstream of its location, and the terrified young otteress dove and swam for Camp Moss, where she ran through the tunnels, shouting.

"FLOOOD! FLOOOD A'COMIN'!"

[Tirael]

"FLOOOD! FLOOOD A'COMIN'!"

Throughout the main chamber and all the connecting passageways, the frantic shouting drew gasps and fear from everybeast who heard it. Brush, who happened to be in the main chamber, knew that wasn't going to end well, so he jumped up and ran over to the frightened messenger. "Stop that, you'll cause a riot! Go tell the Skipper, we've got to get everybeast out now!" Turning to the other creatures in the cavern, he raised his voice. "Everybeast get only what you need and get out of the Camp! Don't dawdle! Move!" With that, he moved about, gathering more of the level-headed creatures to keep the rest under control. The last thing they needed was a stampede.
______________________________

Several more Camp inhabitants were ordered to take the message down the various tunnels of the Camp. "Evacuate! Evacuate! Everybeast take only what you need and get to the nearest exit, a flood's coming!" In the infirmary, Tirael and his patients heard the call, and he stepped into action almost immediately. After a few hurried orders, the injured were being assisted out of the room and down the tunnel. A few more of the infirmary workers gathered as many blankets and cloaks as they could before leaving as well. Tirael grabbed his field bag and, after a brief look around the room, he hurried out.

The corridors, despite the best efforts of the various orders being shouted by various people, were in chaos. Families trotted closely together, while those who were still alone called desperately for friends or family. More than once, Tirael had to firmly tell some creature or other to keep going and not slow down. Climbing a ladder, he opened one of the trapdoor entrances and emerged into the rain. Once he was up, he began helping out the others trying to escape. Time was of the essence, and he could hear the River Moss roaring nearby.

[terg]

Ephriam woke with a start, rolling from his bunk where he had been taking a nap and landing heavily on the floor. He rose with a groan and rubbed his side. Suddenly the message registered in his brain. Flood. Thinking quickly he gather all his javelin, dirk and long bow. WOndering how long they might be gone he threw a cloak over his shoulders, and stuffed a blanket into his haversack. He glanced around the room that had been his for several seasons now and then ran off to find Toby.

=---------------------

Toby looked up from the parchment he was studying, a simple blueprint of Camp Moss. The urgeny of the situation hung in the air as he jumped from his seat. His gaze passed over the room which contained several books and scrolls. He was tempted to take them with him but knew they would sloow him down and probably endanger him. Instead he unhooked a leather bag that hung from a hook on the wall and began dropping hte smallest books in. Most of his toold where already in the bag so he was already running as the neck of the bag tightend over it's contense.

[lorki]

Soko sat cross legged on the small bed shoved in the corner farthest away from the door in her room. The sword lay across her lap, as it had for hours. She'd taken to spending less time alone, feeling only slightly more comfortable among the others now that she held such an important weapon. There were the dirty looks of course, the suspicious and jealous looks too. The mumbled questions over if it were right or not, that she even be allowed to hold the sword... but none had raised their voices. Not yet at least.

The end of the sables dark tail flipped back and fourth while she stared at her morphed reflection in the steel. She ran one paw over the red pommel in the hilt and tapped a claw on her reflection. Whatever magic this weapon was suppose to work it didn't seem to have put into effect yet. Sure she was decent at wielding it, even though she'd only practiced a few days. She'd heard that the skills came easily to whoever held it, that was a plus, considering her complete lack of experience. But still nothing much seemed to have changed, they were still tied down to their underground camp, still ultimately stuck... with no real way of getting out.

A voice rang down the hall, her eyes tore away from her own reflection and towards the door, both small triangular ears perked forward.

"FLOOD!"

...What?

Another voice called... evacuate?

Soko shot upwards suddenly, the sword clattered loudly to the ground before she quickly bent to retrieve it. Her bag (more of less packed) was plucked off the nearby table as she shoved the sword roughly into the scabbard at her hit. A flood? Soko already knew what an awful swimmer she'd proven to be...

She ducked out of her room and down the hall, she did not rush towards the exit however, she made multiple stops to wake any napper and check for scattered dibbuns. The rivers rushing was easily audible by then as she threw a young vole over her back and paraded a small troop of weary eyed squirrels towards one of the back hidden exits.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Everybeast get only what you need and get out of the Camp! Don't dawdle! Move!"

Enon looked up from the book she was reading as Brush took charge of the hysterical young otter. She slapped the book shut and tucked it in her ever-present pouch as she stood and started gathering creatures. The ebony squirrel thought only briefly wistfully of her few belongings back in her room, but she had her weapons, as she had been preparing to go out on guard, and the few things back there were replacable. She handed the last dibbun of her group up to a mouse aboveground, smiling tenderly at old memories. Yes... she had all her personal belongings... she touched her mother's necklace with a paw as she turned to help an older shrewmum up the ladder.

Where was it!? She groped around her neck for a moment, not believing, but quickly admitted defeat, not finding the necklace. Impatiently the warriormaid finished helping the group she had gathered, then she bolted, racing down the solidly built passages to her room grabbing creatures stalled or lost and directing them to move on, quickly! The flood was making itself felt, water splashed ankle deep in the higher passages, nearly knee deep in the lower. As she ran her mind processed her memories, trying to recall the exact location of the necklace.

---

Fern was helping in the kitchens, taking inventory of stocks and creating a list of things they needed to harvest or scavenge. The panicked cries echoed down the halls, eventually replaced by the order of evacuation. Tam rushed into the room, trying to hide her full mouth by brushing crumbs from her whiskers. The older ottermaid swallowed in a gulp and shouted orders down the short hall to the kitchen. "Grab sacks, barrels! 'urry!" She turned to Fern. "You know the order o' things, get as many supplies out as possible!" She turned and bolted out the the door. Her job was to patrol halls and keep people moving, to check side passages and rooms.

---

Carwyn sat up abruptly, banging her head hard on the low ceiling. The badgeress snorted, she'd fallen asleep again. She rubbed a heavy paw over her ruby-red eyes, wiping the sleep away. What had woken her? She looked down at the scroll in front of her. Well, at least she knew what had put her to sleep. The scroll was-- "Excuse me, marm?" A vole stuck her head into the chamber, a pair of young faces peered around her skirts.

"Marm? Its an evacuation. You'll have to exit the way you came in, otherwise you'll be stuck down 'ere."

The white badger blinked, thinking back to that day. So the cries of "flood" hadn't just been a dream. She stood, stooping in the low place. "Very well, thank you, Mrs. Banksweet. You'd best get those young'uns out safely." She gathered her pike and mace, picking up her rucksack and slinging it over her back. With her necessities, she took a detour to the nursery, where she determined to check on Caion and see how the young badger was taking to evacuation.

---

Skipper too heard the panicked cries, but was saved having to lecture Serim by Brush, who intercepted the panicked sentry and set in motion the evactuation plans. Skipper dashed here and there, helping and lending a paw where it was needed, taking a dibbun or two off the paws of a burdened mother, rounding up a gaggle of young babes and herding them to an open door.

[Tirael]

[[Oh jeez...first I think of the Enterprise, now the Titanic...I need less obsessions.]]

Leaving a few of his squirrels to keep the main entrance under control, Brush headed hurriedly down one of the tunnels to his room. He didn't need much, just a cloak and his javelin. He was knee-high in water by the time he got there; wasting no time, he simply took what he came for and sloshed out. Hurrying back toward the main chamber, he realized he wasn't getting much higher in the water.

It was rising faster.

When he got back, a decent chunk of creatures had left, though several were still filing up the exit passage. "Hurry! Everybeast move as fast as you can now!" If they were still there when the water arrived, the panic would be completely unmanageable, and somebeast could be trampled. If they didn't get out now, it would be too late.
____________________________________

After a few stronger creatures came up through the exit, Tirael decided his efforts were needed elsewhere. Rounding up as many as helpers as he could, he sent a few off to rendezvous with those at other exits and figure out where to muster. Presenting several of the less warmly-dressed evacuees with blankets or cloaks, he found his thoughts drifting to his family, and Fern. Knowing how much the loss of one of them would affect him, he put all his discipline into remaining calm and focused.

It worked, sort of.

[terg]

Ephriam finally reached the camp enterance. Water was slapping his waist and he was weighed down with several young ones he had picked up along the way. Behind him several mothers where barely wisible behind the piles of blankets and food they carried. Ephriam hurried over to where everyone seemed to be congregating. He deposited the young ones on a blanket, well away from the danger and rushed back.

"Skip!" he called to his leader. He emptied the paws of a passing mousewife as he looked about for the familiar figure of his cheif. Finaly he spotted him. "Skip, and specific orders?" His footpaws kept slipping in the mud that had been created by the water.

-------------------------

Toby reached high ground and dumped his burden to the ground. Without hesitation he loped back toward the flooded camp. Suddenly the ground disappeared from under him and he was swimming instead of walking. He had fallen into one of the pits that had been dug to discourage trespassers. The covering of branches and laom had obviously been swept away leaving only a deep hole filled with muddy water.

Ducking his head under Toby zoomed through the wetness as only an otter could. His paws touched ground again and he surfaced glancing around in search of somone to help.

[Treble Tiderunner]

[[Silly Tir. –pats-]]

Tam battled her way through the lowest tunnels… always reserved for otters in case of something like this. She swam through rooms and corridors, searching and ignoring the pain in her leg, it was nearly healed anyway. She’d already found a mouse and two shrews, but a quick check and it was plain they were dead. She gritted her teeth as she undulated through the water, hoping their deaths had come quickly. She popped up for a few gasps of air, and noticed that her nose was scraping the stone ceiling. She swam forward, meeting up with the other four otters who had the job of checking the lower tunnels. She looked around, checking that they were all there, then gave the signal and led them up a sloping tunnel which led. Along the way they met another group, carrying a few older beasts and others who could not swim. They shared the load and ascended the natural slope that lead to the higher tunnels, where water was approaching waist deep on average, though Tampa was finding the water only thigh-deep on her own long frame.

“Out Out OUT!” She was at the back of the group and felt the trembling as water rushed. “Get ‘em all out, lads ‘nd lasses!” The otters rushed forward, sweeping up the few beasts in the way, and emptying out the main entrancein a steady stream that belied the apparent size of the willow crack. “You too, Brush.” She reached a paw as she went by, shifting the weight of the babe in her arms to better grip the squirrel and bring him along.

Enon felt the surge of water, and barely had time to gulp in air before the wave passed over. As the surge died down, she struck out swimming, using her tail as a rudder, refusing to let it weigh her down. The next wave was coming permanently, and she meant to be out by then. She reached the main entrance, the water flooding so much that she was able to stick her head out of the hole into the willow hollow. Bracing footpaws against the wall, she clawed for a grip, but the hollow was all slippery mud, with not a root, rock or tree within reach.

"Skip, any specific orders?"

“Get everyone to high ground, and get Toby to take a headcount!” The burly otter had just climbed through the last exit, looking around at the beasts hovering. “We’re still vulnerable here. Where’s River?” He named his first mate. “Everybeast’s as scattered as the tunnel exits. That big clearin’ deeper in the woods oughta ‘old us safe.”

The big otter cupped his paws around his mouth. “Oy, lissen up! We’ve got to keep movin’, so ye squirrels get up in the trees an’ scout! Ever’beast else, head for ‘igh ground. Follow Ephriam and Tam!” He lowered his voice slightly as the noise died down. “Fogg, Treesage, bring a few ablebodieds and come with me, we gotta gather in the scattered beasts. Join, you can organize th’ squirrels?” He nodded as the big red squirrel gave him a short salute and gathered squirrels about him. Skipper looked at his own patrol, waiting as they organized themselves and their weapons. They set off at a trot as the squirrels streamed up a tree.

[Elicia]

Elicia, looking remarkably wet, tapped Skip on the shoulder as he and his patrol readied themselves. "Nice to see you chaps again, wot! Thought you might use the help of a h'officer and Lady, sah!" She flicked her ears back a bit, indicating Ryn who stood behind her. "Abelbodied beasts, if yore a-lookin' for some!" She kept up with the Skipp as he set off for a while, but then fell back a few paces to where Ryn was jogging with them. "Marm," she said "It's too small for ye!"

Ryn shook her head. "You'll need someone to lift heavy beams and such, so no. I've got to go over! And if the opening's not big enough, I'll wait outside and keep the passage clear. Understood?"

Elicia gave her Lady a half-smiled. "Yes Marm!"

[Tirael]

“You too, Brush.”
Brush was about to respond when he noticed something below: a paw. Peering down, he was alarmed when he found out who it was. "Enon! Hang on!" Getting on his knees, he grasped her paws and began to pull. A sound from the main cavern made him look up: another wave was coming. An idea popped into his head, and he readied himself as it made its way toward the exit...

Once it hit, he pushed off from the ground, allowing it to carry him and Enon up a little ways into the exit tunnel. Once it began to recede, he grasped an outcropping root with one paw, keeping the other firmly gripping his friend. Getting up in the shallow water, he helped Enon up and said, "Now would be a very good time to leave." Seeing his javelin floating a few feet away, he grabbed it, and, still holding Enon by the paw, lead her up and out.
_____________________________________

As a few older, more experienced soldiers had gathered with those by Tirael's exit, the healer had relinquished control to them. The group, though small in comparison to those that had massed around the other exits, was still rather difficult to control, given the overall confusion and terror that surrounded this kind of situation. A ring of warriors surrounded the non-combatants, with children and families in the center. Tirael moved around the group, giving his help here and there, though his thoughts were still distracted.

From what he'd heard, the Skipper was alive, and that was to be expected. By association, Tirael assumed Tam would be alive, too, as both his family members were stationed by the main exit in a crisis situation, and they could look after each other. But he still had no idea if Fern was alright. Nor Soko, whom he felt protective of after introducing her to all the trouble she'd gone through in her time at the Camp. Thus, he walked a little quickly, trying subconsciously to reach the rendezvous point more quickly.

[lorki]

Caion, having snuck out the nursery promptly after being returned there, joined in with a bit of excitement into the hustle of the beast around him. "'Ey, 'ey!" He called to a small group of dibbuns escaping the nursery as well, he imitated an otter guiding confused beasts to the exists. "'Ey, we goin' dis way," He pointed eagerly down the hallway towards the main exit.

A small following formed around the black badger who grinned widely at the attention. "Run, yeah? An' stay low... y'know yew can duck 'round 'em an' fallo me." He announced gleefully, turning and bounding ahead of the group. They scattered after him in a confused unorganized fashion as the small badger dodged about in the crowds, leading the most agile of the dibbuns on a quick scurry to the exists... without really knowing the reason for it.

---

Soko darted along the outsides of the chaos, she jumped around from small opening to small opening using her speed to her advantage for the first time in a long time. She finally made it to one of the further exits and waited patiently for a chance to scurry up and out of the inner tunnels. Even though the day was gray and wet and a storm threatened over the sea it was brighter outside than it was in the in light of the caverns and tunnels.

She cast a wide eyed glance around, searching for a familiar face. A few of the camp beasts still regarded her with a deep suspicious, she'd grown to understand it... but still dislike it. It would be nice to find someone who would like to see she was alright... or even someone that might accept her help.

The vole dibbun slid off her back and darted into the crowds before she could stop him. No matter though, no beast would be stupid enough to go back down there...

[terg]

Ephriam, following Skipps orders, began ushering the stragglers up to high ground where other already where. He caught a shrew who stripped and helped to boost him through the water that was up to his chin. He flicked water from his fur and glanced back over his shoulder to see if any one else needed help. He urged the others on, desperatly willing them to go faster. As soon as the last beast was most of the way back up the hill he had led them to he ran back down to find his brother.

_____________

Toby saw Ephriam rushing down a hill where what looked like the main body of Camp dwellers was. He pushed off, swimming instead of walking since hte water had become to high to walk quickly. His rudder flicked from side to side, steering him easily around a floating branch.

"Toby!"

He heard his brothers call and increased his speed. He arrived by his brother who had also taken to swimming.

"Skipp needs a head count. Can you get it?"

A quick nod was enough for Ephriam. He zoomed off the help another group who was struggling because of a fallen tree limb. Toby made his way to the flargest group of animals by him. He ran up the hill they occupied on all four paws. Once at the top he stood and stretched up on tippaw to get a better view of all the heads. He began counting, organizing the beasts in rows in his head. Unfortunalty counting scared, paniced beasts was not easy, as they kept moving around, some looking for family members and others just trying to make themselves useful. Toby huffed in frustration. He couldn't yell to get their attention, so he began counting faster trying to rember each face he counted.

[Elicia]

Elicia and Ryn had broken off from Skipp's group when they saw that they could be of no help there. They headed towards the main group of Campers. Eli was soaking, and hated it. "My blasted tunic...!" She complained to the Badger Lady.

"Hush, Eli. It's just a tunic. Just keep your saber dry, will you?" Ryn's voice was stern, but not unkind.

"Yes Marm!" The officer held her saber up above the water. "Would ye look at that, eh?" Eli indicated the two otters with one ear. "'Ey! Need any 'elp with the masses?"

[Enon // SoMtW]

Hurrth heard the cries of flood, and then the subsequent evacuation call. The chubby mole froze, his paws stilling on his work. Flood. That meant water. Most of his life, Hurrth had lived in these tunnels. Most of his life, but in 37 years he’d never gotten used to, essentially, tempting the river to rise just that much and flood them. Now it was, and Hurrth was afraid. Water he could stand, but in any pool deeper than a puddle and he stayed far from the edge. True, he built boats for the little ones, but it was always an otter crew member that launched them, as he stayed far from any resemblance of contact with the water. His body was tense, his paw tight on the wood he was sanding. By now the water would be rising… rising… he’d never escape! Rising swiftly, he barely took time to throw his tools and clothing in a sack before charging out the door… straight into a black furred body, the owners of which gripped his arms firmly. “Hurrth. Calm down. Stop it, you great furry lunkhead!” The black squirrel’s temper was noticeably shorter today, and she soon tired of the mole’s frantic struggles. “Its ok. You’ll get out before the flood, no worries.” She soothed, leading the mole and the rest of her group to the nearest exit. She sent Hurrth up first, where she directed him to help the mothers and babes out of the hole. Hurrth felt his chest relax as he exited the tunnels, surely there wasn’t a chance of this place flooding?

---

Hurrth and his group followed the main crowd towards the clearing, Hurrth clutching his bag and looking over his shoulder ever so often... until he ran into somebeast.


not done

[Grath]

"There you are, you little rascal." Carwyn scooped up Caion and a couple of his accomplices. "Sister May said you'd escaped again. Well, this is not a game. Stick with Barkjon over there, no messing about!" She pinned the dibbuns around her feet with a stern gaze, before motioning them off. "You three are coming with me." She said to Caion and the mice in her arms. "Would you like some dried fruit?"