Lost

[lorki]

Soko stared wide eyed at Brookesong, but she quickly understood the joke. It seemed she was about to give it away from the fast tackle took Tirael by surprise all the same. Soko stepped carefully sideways to avoid any contact with the two flying bodies and chuckled as they disappeared into the pile of snow.

She smiled as Tirael stood up and made the introduction, "Brookesong," She repeated, holding out a paw both to help her up and in greeting. "You're from the Camp too, right?"

The sable found herself again surprised by the friendliness of these creatures. She quickly reminded herself that two out of... well however many there must be in the camp was not anything to depend on. She kept herself braced for harsher reactions.

[Brooke]

Laughing, Brookesong stood up.

"Unh, good morning t' you too, Brooke. Now d'ya mind gettin' offa me, this snow is kinda cold.."

"Oh, Right... Sorry, but your back was turned and it was tempting... Geez I've been spending too much time with the dibbuns..." She held out her paw to help him up.

"Uhh, Soko, this is Brookesong, my half-crazy friend." Tir said motioning to her. So this is Soko... when what he said finally sunk in;

"Nice to meet you too Soko..." then turning to Tirael "Half crazy!! If I'm half crazy... what's Violet?" She pretended to look indignant.

"You're from the Camp too, right?" Soko asked, extending her paw. Brooke took the proffered paw and shook it.

"Yes, I am. I generally take care of the Dibbuns or young ones, whichever. Where are you from?" She asked. Brooke noted the change in Soko's eyes from surprise to the blank look that warrior's get when they are about to fight a battle.

[Tirael]

"Half crazy!! If I'm half crazy... what's Violet?"

Taking Brookesong's paw, Tirael levered himself up and brushed snow off himself. "You're right, excuse me. Violet's half-crazy. You're beyond all hope." He said it only because he knew she would take it in her stride; he often teased her for being so hyper.

"Where are you from?"

Remembering how Soko had avoided being open about what had happened to her, he jumped in. "She managed to escape from the Fort. I was taking her to Camp." Turning his head so Soko wouldn't see, he gave Brookesong a look that indicated her question hadn't been the best one to ask. Fortunately, this didn't need to last very long, as they had entered the clearing; the three willows were a few pawsteps away. Walking over and leaning against them, Tirael said, "So, what d'you think of Camp Moss, Soko?" He remembered months back, when he had brought Fern to the Camp. Now she was one of his best friends. With any luck, Soko would find friends just as easily.

[lorki]

Soko was in the midst of forming an answer for Brookesong when Tirael spoke for her. She was grateful of this, and it signaled to her that the otter had taken some understanding of her from their short conversations so far. She only stood behind Tirael and nodded to back up what he'd said.

She followed quietly, her eyes set on the three willows as they approached them, just as the riddle and Tampa had both stated. had she been alone she would probably not have noticed, but here it was quite clear.

"So, what d'you think of Camp Moss, Soko?"

A grin lit her face, "I think it's perfect, Tirael. Especially for avoiding N'tashi. I don't think he could ever squeeze himself through there." She gestured to the small area between the trees. Perhaps it was a bit early to be cracking jokes with these new creatures, but it had been the first thought to enter her head... and it was also quite true.

[Brooke]

"You're right, excuse me. Violet's half-crazy. You're beyond all hope." he said. She just laughed it off as he often teased her about her hyper personality.

She caught his look that said it was a bad question to ask.

Brooke doubled over with laughter when she saw Soko's expression when they got to the three willows. She took the momentary distraction of the riddle of Camp Moss to slip inside. She headed down to the kitchens to get anyone working in their to prepare food. She also stopped by the room where they stored the extra clothes and grabbed a new set of clothes for Soko. Running back to the kitchen she started to help out, glad for a break from watching the dibbuns.

[Tirael]

"I think it's perfect, Tirael. Especially for avoiding N'tashi. I don't think he could ever squeeze himself through there."

Soko caught Tirael completely off-guard with that joke. He hadn't expected her to know about the three willows, much less that she would know how to get into Camp Moss. For a moment it unsettled him; then he remembered that she had been talking to Tampa. Knowing she had a legitimate source of information made her that much easier to trust. Watching as Brookesong dashed into the hole, he raised an eyebrow, then led Soko to the opening. They ducked through and went down through the passageways that eventually led to the main hall. As they walked, he made sure she didn't trip; it was a dark entryway, and not the smoothest underpaw.

Eventually, they made it, and Tirael helped her down the small drop from the entryway to the main floor. It was empty, considering breakfast had been over for a while and most everybeast was about their business. Taking a few steps inward, Tirael said, "This is Camp Moss."

[[Eh, not my best, but whatever.]]

[lorki]

Soko's head tilted slightly sideways as Brooke disappeared suddenly into the underground Camp. Brushing the odd behavior off as the otter could simply be, as Tir had described her, crazy beyond all hope.

The sable was well fit for entering the camp, though the first few odd turns and drops had surprised her. She figured she would soon figure out the many corridors. She took in all that she could, but was careful to keep up behind Tirael.

She entered the main hall... and well with his words seeming so dramatic, she was somewhat surprised to see it so... empty. "Um... it's..." Well she couldn't say she was blown away. "...Campish."

Immediately she mentally kicked herself for sounding so stupid.

[Brooke]

Brookesong strolled to the main hallway where she thought Tirael and Soko might be... And sure enough there they were. She ran over to them and said:

'Tirael, Soko, I have breakfast all ready for you two in the kitchens. Might wanna get there sharpish... Violet was on patrol all morning and she's hungry!"

[Tirael]

"Um... it's..." Well she couldn't say she was blown away. "...Campish."

Tirael wilted slightly at the less-than-spectacular reaction. Looking around, he realized that the emptiness of the big room merited her response. A little stumped by this, he blinked a bit and tried to compensate. "W-well, it's a little empty right now, but nothing's really going on right now, I guess..." He sighed and wilted a little more. His timing was apparently no better than hers. He was glad as Brookesong came back in.

"Tirael, Soko, I have breakfast all ready for you two in the kitchens. Might wanna get there sharpish... Violet was on patrol all morning and she's hungry!"

Tirael put on a look of mock determination. Pulling Soko towards the kitchen, he called to Brookesong, "What!? I'm hungry! No mouse is getting my breakfast, especially not Violet!" Coming into the kitchen, he found a pot of vegetable soup still hot on the stove. Snifing it appreciatively, he ladled a bowlful for himself and for Soko. Handing her the bowl, they walked back into the main hall. Pulling a seat for her, he said, "Have a seat. You could be here awhile, might as well make yourself at home."

[lorki]

"W-well, it's a little empty right now, but nothing's really going on right now, I guess..."

Soko smiled widely at him, "Well I think that might be for the best. I don't think I look my best right now." She shrugged in her oversized clothes. She was continually grateful that Tirael seemed to friendly, but she continued to be reserved and wary, even nervous to meet the others.

"Tirael, Soko, I have breakfast all ready for you two in the kitchens. Might wanna get there sharpish... Violet was on patrol all morning and she's hungry!"

Her ears perked forward and her head tilted. Suddenly she felt herself being jerked forward as Tirael pulled her towards the kitchens. She realized that being dragged about seemed to happen to her quite often.

The odd thought dissipated as she saw Brookesong. She had wondered what had become of the otter after she had made her hasty disappearance into the Camp. She took the bowl from him, slightly overwhelmed by how quickly everything was moving on, "Thank you."

[Brooke]

Brookesong laughed as Soko was abruptly dragged in by a ravenous Tirael. She let them have a bit to eat before approaching them. She handed them some bread and water.

"I have a blackberry crumble if you want some." Then turning to Soko. "Now, Miss I'm guessing you would want to be rid of those old clothes Hmmm?"

Then noticing Violet, she grabbed the young warrior's arm and brought her over to Tirael and Soko.

"Soko, this is Violet, Vi this is Soko... She's new here."

---

Violet was suddenly dragged away from her delicious breakfast. She turned around to see that Brooke was the one dragging her.

"What was that for?"

When they finally stopped in front of Tirael and a Pine Marten she inhaled sharply.

"Soko, this is Violet, Vi this is Soko... She's new here." said the otter.

"Hi. I hope you enjoy your stay..." Then turning back to Brooke "Can I continue eating now?"

[[Vi has no manners]]

[Tirael]

"Thank you."

Tirael smiled and nodded at her. He noticed that she seemed a little overwhelmed by all that was going on now, something that embarrassed him a little. Mentally chiding himself for getting overexcited and possibly alienating Soko, he decided to move a little slower. As he and his new (hopefully) friend ate, Brookesong came up and offered them some bread and water. Not exactly a spectacular offering, but considering he had missed the actual meal that morning, he supposed he was lucky to be served anything. Usually he had to prepare something for himself on days like these.

Before long, he looked up as Brookesong dragged Violet over. His fur bristled slightly as she reacted to the sight of a sable; though he understood, he was still offended for Soko that she be immediately given this treatment. As she asked Brookesong if she could resume eating, he realized that her opinion of Soko also reflected on him somewhat: if she didn't trust him, it implied that he hadn't had the proper judgment in bringing her to Camp Moss. She wasn't any older than him, and sometimes it irritated him when others assumed his being a healer and not a warrior made his judgment less credible.

Standing up, he gave Violet a look and said, "Can we talk a minute, Vi?" Giving Brookesong and Soko a smile, he said, "Excuse me a minute," and pulled Violet over to a relatively isolated stairwell. Once they were in private, he said in angry murmur, "You mind telling me exactly what that was?" He didn't intend to let somebeast who had seemed so nice be treated so rudely, even if Violet didn't have any awards for manners.

[lorki]

Soko tried hard not to down the food as fast as she really wanted to. Had she not been in the company of others she would have tipped that bowl back and downed the soup in seconds. Keeping carefully reserved she sat with Tirael to eat and thanked Brooke when she was given even more food. At least it seemed she could let her guard down a bit around these two.

"Now, Miss I'm guessing you would want to be rid of those old clothes Hmmm?"

Soko, mouth full, graciously nodded to the otter. Although in truth they were the newest and nicest clothes she could remember wearing they were sizes to large and dirty from days out in the forest.

Pleased, she turned back to her food but was distracted moments alter by a sharp gasp behind her. Her tail quickly twitched, ears flicked back slightly she tried desperately not to appear to rigid as she turned to look at the small mouse.

"Soko, this is Violet, Vi this is Soko... She's new here."

"Hi. I hope you enjoy your stay..."

Soko was on her feet quickly and had opened her mouth to speak her own greeting but the mouse had already turned away from her. Defeated she quickly took her seat again, afraid to appear odd. Following this rather short and tensioned exchange Tirael stood and moved to speak with Violet.

Soko didn't attempt to listen in, rather she turned to Brooke, appearing slightly worried, "Are they alright?"

[Brooke]

Brooke smiled as Soko turned the clothes.

"Are they alright?" asked Soko after Tirael and Violet left.

Waving her off nonchalantly, "Yeah, this happens all the time... Vi is not very social nor very good tempered when there is food." Not wanting to admit that Violet was hostile to anyone who looked like vermin, or where invading the space she was in. She didn't take well to new people.

Turning around and fussing with something or another, she asked without looking back, "I also think you would enjoy a bath, no?" Grabbing Soko's bread and handing it to her, she hooked her arm through the sable's and dragged her back to her room.

"This is me 'n' Vi's room. You're welcome to stay here. I'll grab a towel and a tub and you can just make yourself at home. Be back in a flash." Brooke walked calmly out of the room, making sure she was out of sight before breaking into a full out run. She had been telling the truth, but she had to make one other stop...

---

"Can we talk a minute, Vi?" asked Tirael somewhat tersely. Leaving her no chance to respond, she was dragged out of the room and into a secluded area.

"You mind telling me exactly what that was?" he asked in an angry murmur.

"That was me reacting how a normal beast should when someone bring vermin into our camp! What were you thinking?" she said just as hotly.

Violet was saved from continuing her answer for a bit because at that moment Brooke came skidding in.

[]

[Tirael]

Tirael hardly noticed as Brookesong ran up; he was focused angrily on Violet.

"That was me reacting how a normal beast should when someone bring vermin into our camp! What were you thinking?"

Tirael almost cut her off when he spoke. "She's not vermin, Violet! She's nice, and maybe if you'd actually met her before you judged her, you'd notice! And why is my judgment automatically wrong here, anyways!? I'm just as old as you are! Is it because I'm a healer, is that it? Because I don't kill others, I can't tell who's bad!? I think I have enough sense to know that much!" Looking from Brookesong to Violet, he crossed his arms and sighed angrily. He was pretty worked up; being soft-hearted can do that to you.